***********
Chapter 4
Training
Goku glared at the floating figure, only a few yards away, slowly touching
down, kicking up dust. Piccolo was staring directly into Goku's eyes, arms
crossed with a sinister smile on his face.
"Piccolo," Goku said. Piccolo scowled.
"I was going to wait for the next tournament, but you never showed.
I suppose this place is as good as any," Piccolo said.
Uncrossing his arms, he immediately screamed as he began raising his
ki. Goku soon began the same.
Raditz stood some distance back, trying to make out was what was going on. His scouter told him that this green thing was stronger then him. He circled around, trying to get a good shot in.
"Piccolo, leave here now!" Goku said, looking serious. Piccolo only
laughed.
"You think I fear your pathetic strength, Goku? Fool! Now, you die!"
Goku barely blocked Piccolo's punch as the demon king charged forward.
Goku grabbed Piccolo's wrist with one hand and tossed him to the side.
Moving quickly, he kicked Piccolo hard, knocking him away. Stopping in
mid air, Piccolo launched a blast which Goku deflected and flew forward
to meet in hand to hand combat.
Goku dodged a kick to the face and, grabbing Piccolo's leg, tossed
him to the side. Flipping back, Goku landed and cupped his hands.
"Kaa....mee....haa..." the energy began building, but Piccolo regained
his balance quickly. Gathering energy, he formed an enormous ball of ki
and fired.
"Damn!" Goku shouted, fearing he would lose the ki he had gathered,
but a blast collided with Piccolo's attack, destroying it. Raditz, standing
with his hand open, was breathing heavily.
"That...is for trying to blind side me!" he shouted.
"Meee haaa!"
Piccolo cursed and shielded himself. The blast hit and went off.
The dust cleared slowly. Piccolo had some bruises and his clothes were
ripped, but he had taken far less damage then Goku expected.
"Fool. I told you, I am now too strong to lose to you!" Piccolo sneered
and quickly fired a blast into Goku's left leg. Goku screamed and fell
to the ground. Piccolo walked up to him and smirked.
"Good bye, Goku," he said and prepared the fatal blow.
Suddenly, Raditz dashed up and hit Piccolo in the neck with a chop,
sending Piccolo sprawling to the ground some distance away. Jumping into
the air, Raditz fired a large blast that exploded nearby, knocking Piccolo
to the ground and into temporary unconsciousness.
Goku managed to pull himself up. Raditz looked to the sky. He was unsure.
Something was familiar about this warrior.
"Listen. I feel like I know you, so I will warn you," Raditz said.
He wondered why he was doing this, but still, he decided it was his Saiyan
code, since the warrior had let him live.
"In a year, I will return with two far stronger warriors. More then
likely, they will want to kill everyone on this planet," Raditz said. Goku
froze, with expression shocked.
"I warn you to leave now with your family and friends, I should
not be telling you this, but..." he paused. "...I suppose since you let
me live, I'll return that," Raditz said. Pulling a remote from his armor,
Raditz pushed a button. Soon, his ship flew overhead and landed. He got
in the ship and within a few moments, it blasted off.
Goku could only stare.
Krillin, Tien, Chao-zu and Yamcha arrived immediately, having sensed
the battle. Goku explained everything to them and the now conscious Piccolo.
"Wait, Goku, you're saying we're all going to DIE in a year?!" Piccolo
exclaimed angrily. Goku stared at his nemesis.
"That's what he said. But I'm not just lying down to die! I am going
to train!" Goku said defiantly.
"Me too, Goku! We can beat them!" Yamcha exclaimed. Piccolo chuckled.
"I guess we will be on the same side for once. But afterwards, you
are all dead," he said. "Now, who's training your brat?" he said casually.
"What? Gohan can't fight!" Krillin shouted in outrage. Piccolo shrugged.
"Why not? The kid has great potential like his father, and you all
know it," he said simply, dusting himself off. Goku nodded.
"But who? Only a year..." he looked down in deep concentration.
"How about I do it?" Piccolo said with a smirk.
"What?" Chao-zu shouted.
"Hmmm..."
"GOKU? ARE YOU GOING MAD?" Tien shouted. Goku shrugged.
"I'm the only one who can! That old man takes too long and Goku is
way too soft!" Piccolo said.
"Sure, I guess that'll work Piccolo," Goku said. The others almost
fainted on the spot. Piccolo smirked.
"Good," he said simply.
"Hey, Goku. Long time, no see," Bulma said as the Goku landed in the
back yard of the Capsule Corporation. She was lying on a lawn chair, sipping
a glass of lemonade.
"Hey Bulma, it's nice to see you, but do you know where your dad is?
I need to talk to him," Goku asked.
"Yeah, he's inside," Bulma answered. Goku opened the door and walked
in, and was greeted by Bulma's genius father.
"Hello, Goku," he said. "It's been awhile,"
"Hello, Dr. Briefs. I need to ask for your help. I need a spaceship..."
Goku said.
Kami's Lookout, six months later...
Kami looked on as the earth's only hope [minus Goku] sparred and trained
with each other heavily.
Kami was glad they were taking it seriously. They were are stronger,
now. But, are they strong enough? Kami knew they were not. Goku was taking
far better training. The great King Kai, himself, agreed to train Goku.
Usually, this was a service reserved to the dead, but when Kami told King
Kai of his plan to use Goku to topple Kold's empire, he couldn't refuse.
And now, Kami had to ensure he could train the human fighters well enough
to hold the Saiyan's off. They all had extremely heavy clothing on, now,
and were doing well.
And the warriors themselves were taking their responsibilities well,
using everything available; the time room, the heavy weights, the high
altitude of the lookout-everything. They had even managed to last some
time in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber; only four months inside of the chamber,
but that would help immeasurably. Kami knew he was pushing them beyond
their limits, but they needed to be strong enough to survive the battle.
Their strength raised rapidly, but Kami still knew they had only one
hope; a warrior above, named Goku.
"Do you think we can win?"
The question later that night came as a surprise. Yamcha had asked
it during a break in the training.
"I'm not sure, Yamcha. But we won't be able to save earth if we don't
try," Tien said. Chao-zu nodded in agreement.
"I know...but I'm a little worried. About Bulma, Puar, Dr. Briefs,
Master Roshi...everyone,"
"I know, I am too. But we can't let it stop us! We just have to remember,
we can't lose..." Krillin said. Yamcha nodded.
"Still, I have to wonder, just how strong can these guys be?" Yamcha
said. "Maybe they aren't much stronger then that Raditz guy..."
"Don't think that's even remotely possible," Tien said firmly. "You'll
end up subconsciously thinking it's true, and then you'll end up training
poorly,"
Goku panted heavily, King Kai's training was extremely hard. Catching
Bubbles was bad enough, but learning to use the Kaio-ken takes a lot out
of you.
"Take a small rest, Goku. You have done remarkably well for such a
hard technique,"
Goku looked up and wiped his brow. The technique seemed impossible;
an ability that raised your strength and speed?
"But please do not try anything over 2!" King Kai said. "It is highly
dangerous!" but King Kai knew somehow his breath was wasted.
"Now, try again," he said. Goku nodded. He concentrated on himself.
He felt his energy and the energy of those around him. He had to imagine
himself stronger and faster then he really is. Concentrate, concentrate,
concentrate...
The explosion of ki was almost too much, nearly sending King Kai and
Bubbles flying. Goku's aura became a powerful red, and although no one
present had a scouter, King Kai could calculate Goku's power level double.
Kaio-ken 2! Goku fell to the ground and began breathing heavily, exhausted
instantly and clutching his chest.
"Well done! Excellent! You need a little more work, and you will be
ready for the Genki Dama!" King Kai said happily. He was ecstatic. His
protégé was going to beat Vegeta and then Freiza!
"Hey, King Kai, is it lunch yet?" Goku asked. King Kai face faulted.
"Come on, Gohan. Surely you can do better then that?"
Gohan punched slowly, tired from the constant training. Piccolo blocked
his attacks easily. A single counter attack sent the young warrior out.
"Perhaps...we should take a small rest," Piccolo muttered and sat down
to mediate. The night sky was bright that night. Piccolo had to admit Gohan
was annoying for awhile, but he had made good progress; he should be ready
in time.
Assuming anyone can possibly be ready in time. He had spoken to Kami
briefly. He hated him but was excellent at reading him. Kami knew how strong
these Saiyans were, and he didn't think anyone except Goku after this special
training could do it.
Heh. Why couldn't he get the training? He's stronger then Goku!
Because the "great and honorable" King Kai would never train the self
appointed Demon King.
Still, he wouldn't let a small amount of special training let Goku
surpass him forever. He'd get stronger then him eventually.
"Mr. Piccolo, why do you and my dad fight?" Gohan asked suddenly. Piccolo
was instantly brought from his thoughts.
"I don't think we'll get a chance for awhile," Piccolo muttered darkly.
"That's good," Gohan said, "I don't want my dad fighting my friend,"
"Go...to sleep," Piccolo said.
"Ok. Good night Mr. Piccolo," Gohan said and laid. He yawned and fell
into sleep.
I need some air... Piccolo thought and raised into the air, flying
around.
What's wrong with me? Am I going soft? He thought to himself.
No, that couldn't be it. He's the Demon King. Why would he care for the
brat of his arch enemy?
He wouldn't. He's just tired. Yes, tired. He landed on one of the tall
mountains and decided to meditate. Then he'd be back to normal in the morning.
"Come on, Raditz, try harder!" Nappa said.
Raditz' ship had met them part way to earth. Radiz was glad, since
it would give him an opportunity to train.
Raditz was throwing hundreds of punches and kicks at Nappa, and a few
got through, but most were stopped cold. But he was getting stronger. Every
sparring session ended with a trip to the regeneration chamber, and Raditz
grew stronger, and both Vegeta and Nappa noticed him doing better and better.
Nappa was growing in power quickly, too. Vegeta did not train with them.
He didn't train, figuring he didn't need to get stronger for weak earthlings.
"Six months left," Vegeta said simply as Raditz got a strong kick to
Nappa, getting past his defense. Nappa smashed him with a double handed
blow to the face, sending him away. Raditz shot back and threw several
attacks, but Nappa countered with a powerful punch, and Raditz was down.
"Nice one, Raditz," Nappa said. "I actually lost my breath that time,"
Nappa said. Raditz gasped for breath and got up.
"I think that will do for now," Vegeta cut in.
"Yes, prince," Nappa said. Raditz opened the door to the room where
the regeneration chambers were kept and walked in, closing it behind him.
"He's getting stronger," Vegeta commented. "Either you're a much better
trainer then expected, or Bardock wasn't an exceptional member of his family,"
Nappa nodded. "I noticed too, but it can't be that. Bardock's parents
weren't any stronger then their rank would show,"
"That is true, Nappa. But my father was a weakling, and I will one
day be the legendary Super Saiyan, and if I ever had a son he would be
even stronger!" Vegeta shouted.
He is just like his father, Nappa though. Perhaps...too much
like his father. He needs more patience...
"Still," Vegeta said. "the Saiyans were wiped out, and that will never
happen. My line will die here. But, I will insure that Frieza's does as
well! He will regret making a mockery out of the Saiyans!" he said.
Oh no...he's EXACTLY like his father. That last line was exactly
what he said before he fought Frieza...
"May that day come soon," Nappa said.
Nappa was confident it would be, after all, what could interrupt their
plan?
Only the strongest warriors on earth, and they could be no contest to three powerful Saiyan warriors,
Atleast, that's what they thought...
***********
The fight starts next time, as does why it's rated PG-13. Luckily,
much of it is done, although it needs heavy editing.
