"Come on! Wake up! Please!" The body shuffled along the dirt with each little tug and push. The body of a child, clad in armor. Covered from head-to-toe in wounds. Even when being pestered by another, his eyes remained sealed and his body limp. Though the one above him would not quit. He continued to try, constantly shaking him and hoping for some kind of response. Anything at all. But nothing came of it.

"P-Please!" He stuttered, "Tullece!"

His expression was one of many emotions. Fear, sorrow, and pure shock. Though before he could determine whether or not to mourn, it was as if the sky had been blotted out by dark clouds. Looming high above him was the monster who had created such a tragedy: a massive beast dragging its tail along and tearing through the earth. Vicious in nature, it swung a terrible claw down towards the boy. His heart already racing, he knew he would have to move or else he would meet the same end as his allies.

He went soaring! Using his strength, he threw himself off the ground and into the air, flipping away in the hopes of gaining some distance. Both of his hands came together, preparing to launch an attack. Unfortunately, his weakened body had struggled to stick the landing, and as he touched back on the ground, he felt himself stumble over debris. Two balls of energy shot out from his hands, completely missing the eager predator. That one slip-up. That one accident. It could very well be the thing that would cost him his life. It couldn't be. He refused to die here. Only one option remained. An option he despised. However, in a moment such as this, it was his only choice.

Tail whipping back and forth behind him, he dropped his combat stance. In a moment, he was sprinting in the opposite direction as fast as his legs could possibly go. It was cowardly. Yet it was his only chance at survival. Both of his closest friends had their lives snuffed out in combat and as he ran along the gray dirt, he could feel an overwhelming sense of both dread and guilt swelling within. All of this, his friends deaths, it was all his fault. His fault and nobody else's. He had gotten them into this mess. He got them killed. Now all he could do was run from the problem he created for as long as his body could keep moving. Until…

… a dead-end. A massive wall of stone stood before him. He clawed at the rocks, trying his best to find something to grab onto. He couldn't muster the energy to fly. He felt tears taking their place in his eyes as his beaten hands struggled to climb, "Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! No..!" He cried. When he finally found some footing along the side of it, when there was some hope in front of him, it fell apart just as quickly as it arrived.

The boy had been dropped back down to the ground, hacking up dirt while trying to push himself back onto his feet. Some sort of bad dream. Right? When he wakes up, everything will be okay. His friends will be there. Waiting for him. That must be it, no doubt about it. Just a nightmare. After all, nothing else could explain the horror he felt in his soul as his gaze met that of the hulking monster.

It would appear this was his end. Still, he needed to fight back! No matter what… he couldn't die sniveling on the floor like some infant! Using what little power remained in his body, he created a small orb of purple energy. It had this almost electrical look to it. His body trembled and his throat ached, but he let out as loud a shout as possible before lobbing the blast straight at its head. He would not win. He would perish. At the very least, he stood his ground.

Direct hit! To his surprise, a greater explosion came off of the monster's face. It stumbled backwards, falling over onto its side with a thunderous crash. What just happened was something that could only be explained away as a miracle. He had no clue of what he had just done, only that it had been done at all. What was once sadness turned to happiness. It was a moment to celebrate.

"They really sent a runt like you all the way out here? Hell were they thinking?" Called out a much older man. It came from above. Quickly, the saiyan boy scurried away from the wall and took a look straight to the top of it. Of course he hadn't done a thing. It was all the work of somebody else. A duo staring him down from high above.

One giant of a person and a child standing right by his side, palm extended out to the beast. He had this great plume of hair, a red cape flowing behind him. His eyes carried this stone cold look to them, completely opposite to the adult accompanying him. Another kid was the one that killed the monster? But… how?

Perhaps it was because of his injuries, but he had not quite processed just who he was faced with at the moment. When it hit him, he felt a chill go down his spine. His eyes widened and his tail stiffened. The two continued to stare down at him like he was nothing but an insect. Because really, he was. At least, in the presence of this one. While he wasn't sure who the other one was, the child was somebody that all people of their kind knew.

"P-Prince Vegeta!" He stuttered, shouting out as shock spread across his face.

"The one and only." The giant said, "Say, I recognize you. Aren't you Bardock's kid? Think I've seen you around before with your dad."

At first, he wasn't sure what to say, but it was clear they were expecting some kind of response. He had to muster up the courage to speak to someone working so closely to the prince.

The boy stood up straight, nodding in silence. The big lug proceeded to just… laugh. Like the fact amused him or if it were some kind of joke, "Some low-class offspring like you got shipped out to this place?! What were they thinking?! But you really held your own, even if you almost got eaten alive, didn't you? Say, what's your name?"

Of course. He was treated like some sort of worm. Their positions didn't exactly help. The boy was used to it, but it didn't change how much he despised the feeling he had now. That feeling of weakness, of being treated like he's nothing. And the worst part? He was face to face with the most elite out there, the prince of all saiyans. Their eyes met, burning holes into one another with their glares.

He was thankful for the rescue, but in the face of this boy, how long would that gratitude last? He gripped his arm, blood dripping down and staining the dirt beneath his feet.

"Raditz. My name is Raditz."

Steam hissed, metal creaking as light cut into the darkness of his pod. Raditz opened his eyes, gazing out upon the purple planet before him and the city far into the distance. His arms came out and gripped the sides of his attack ball. Slowly, he hoisted himself out. His tail quickly whipped around, tying itself by his waist like a belt. 25 years into the future, it was amazing to see how much the boy had changed.

Wasting no time, he marched forward, joining the other two. His fists curled, fingers practically digging into his palms. Nappa placed a hand on his shoulder, "Some romp we had, huh? The three of us really tore Shikk apart! I'll bet Frieza will give us a huge reward!"

He grunted, "Of course. They never stood a chance. After all, they were a bunch of yellow-bellied weaklings! At the first sign of danger, most of their population scattered like rats!"

"Sounds familiar, doesn't it?" Vegeta added to the conversation.

"What?"

They stopped, the prince turning to face his much larger comrade, "Isn't it obvious? You compared them to rodents scurrying away from danger. But you're one yourself, aren't you? I'd expect cowardice from the space bilge we found there, but from a saiyan warrior? It's disappointing how you choose to willingly dishonor the name of our kind. Perhaps it's my own fault for expecting anything better from the runt of a low-class family."

How could he even argue his stance here? He was right, wasn't he? Raditz had run away. It happened almost every time. Every single time there was a hint of death or danger, he hid.

The three of them stood there, practically locked in place. It was tense. The air was cold and Raditz couldn't help but feel some sort of weight pressing down on him. It was shameful of him. But he felt so… angry. Why did he have to take this? Maybe he deserved being chewed out for his choices, but still. It aggravated him that this feeling of being looked down upon was a constant for years at this point.

"You son of a…" He muttered.

"What was that? I'm sorry, I didn't quite hear you." Vegeta said with a sneer.

"Fighting again, are we? The constant squabbling of you apes never ceases to amaze me." A new voice. The three of them turned to look straight ahead. There was this sudden chill. All attention had been called to a different trio, led by a man who garnered the fear of all who came face to face with him.

Frieza. The indomitable emperor of the universe. His name was one that all beings knew. A name which inspired fear in the hearts of billions. He was a monster, a tyrant, and so much more. As soon as he spoke, the trio ceased all conversation, falling to a knee with their fists pressed to the floor. The emperor seemed amused. How quickly they fell into line. It was like entertainment watching people do just that alone.

"Greetings, Lord Frieza." Vegeta began, "Having returned from the Planet Shikk, we've come to give our report. We nearly razed the world and its population, leaving but a few survivors who pledged loyalty to your empire. The planet is now prime for the taking after three short days."

It would appear his amusement was short-lived, to say the least, "Is that so? Well, perhaps we will make a stop there once we have finished our current business. Though I must admit, I'm surprised it took so long for your little group. Zarbon? How long do you think it would have taken you? Alone, might I add."

The one to his left turned his head, arms crossed with his golden eyes glaring towards the saiyans, "I think I could make a rough estimate of about one whole day. It's a small world, after all."

"A single day? Really? I suppose you may be right on that one. How about it, monkeys? Would you say he's correct?" It was more than clear he was simply trying to irritate them. Vegeta understood this, but the others, perhaps they didn't, "Now… is there anything else you would like to report? Or can we take our leave?"

It worked like a charm. Raditz felt his anger rise. This day had been nothing but problems for him. First from Vegeta, and now Frieza. It was tiresome. But the one who felt it the worst was none other than the brutish Nappa, who rose to his feet. Visibly fuming, he clenched his fists, "Is that really all you have to say to us?! You cocky bastards..!"

It didn't take long before he started to charge, rushing Zarbon who seemed more than prepared for whatever came. Raditz himself seemed shocked. He extended a hand towards his ally, but before he could utter a single word, Vegeta shouted as loud as he could.

"Stop, Nappa! Get a hold of yourself!"

Like a deer in headlights, he came to a complete stop, his once rage-filled face becoming one of shock. What was he doing? He'd be throwing his life away if he attacked them. Despite the way he felt… despite everything… he knew he couldn't do that. But that urge he had to destroy Frieza and all he stood for, it was powerful. Like a flame raging inside of him without any release.

For the sake of the saiyan race, however, he would return to the others, disappointed in his own actions. Though was it for the fact that he had charged their lord? Or could it instead be a result of his refusal to follow through against them?

The three saiyans gave Frieza and his men one final look before the tyrant spoke to them, "Well, we will be taking our leave now. Continue your work and perhaps you'll gain an ounce more of our respect."

Step by step, they left the warriors behind and soon enough, they had nearly disappeared from view as a whole.

The giant snarled, gritting his teeth in anger, "Not a day goes by where I don't dream of crushing that half-pint. I don't get how you can be so calm, Vegeta. I mean, haven't you heard the talk? We've got all the reason in the universe to hate that shrimp!"

"What do you mean?" Raditz asked. He did despise the monster, but still. What else could Nappa be going on about?

Every time I hear about it, there's always little holes in the things they say. At first I didn't notice it, but then people started to say how there wasn't any meteor that collided with our planet! Isn't it obvious?! They say Frieza did it!"

Immediately, there was a shock that filled Raditz in his entirety, "W-What?! Why?! Why would he do such a thing to our people?!"

"Beats me. Hell, I'd call him a coward! That's gotta be it! But Vegeta! Listen to me! The deaths of all those people… our people! It's blood on his grubby hands!"

Silence.

I already knew all of that."

"W-What?! T-Then… how can you bear to be in the same room with that demon?! To follow his orders so willingly..! I can barely stand looking at him!"

"Because I know I can't beat him!" He roared, shocking the other two, "I know he killed my father! I know he killed our people! I know he is the reason for the destruction of our entire planet! But so what?! That doesn't change a damn thing! What matters now, above all else, is strength! Strength is what commands respect! Strength is power! The only certainty in life is that the strong will always stand atop the bodies of the weak! And I know that right now, I'm nowhere near as powerful as that bastard! But remember my words well... We are the last saiyans remaining. We have warriors' blood flowing through our veins! Every battle brings us closer and closer to his level and one day, I will become stronger than Frieza and rule the universe just as I deserve!"

The two of them stood there… stunned. They didn't really know what to say. But perhaps he was right. They needed to get stronger. Then they could really give it to Frieza. Whatever it took, they would grow! But Vegeta quickly pointed a finger towards Raditz.

"However, you are our weakest link."

"W-What? Me?"

"Frieza is right. We could have taken Shikk far faster if it weren't for your cowardice. You need to keep up with us before you drag us down with you. If it ever comes down to it, I won't hesitate to kill you."

"Vegeta! You don't mean that, we're the last saiyans out here!" Nappa added.

"He needs to understand that I can't have deadweight constantly attached to me. Either shape up or get lost. Got it?"

More than anything Frieza had ever said, his words struck deep. He hated them so much. Every single bit about them. But what could he say? After all, Vegeta was once again correct. He needed to be stronger. For the saiyan race. If only he had the power his father had. A low-class warrior, yet still so confident and strong. But thinking about his family… an idea came to his mind.

"Okay… I'll work my body every day and every night to become stronger. I won't drag this team down! But I know where we can find more manpower! I know I haven't brought him up in some time, but my mother and father sent my younger brother offworld before the planet had blown up!"

"Younger brother?" Nappa questioned, "Oh yeah! Think you mentioned him way back when… What was his name? Kakarot?"

"Yes! I can go out and retrieve him. If I recall, he was sent to conquer some dirtball of a planet! I have no doubt he would help us in our conquest!"

"A good shot. If he could convince Vegeta to let him go, not only would have time to himself to think, but he could finally reunite with long-lost family. They would be brothers in arms, working together towards the ultimate goal of eradicating Frieza and taking control of his forces!

Vegeta was skeptical, "How sure are you he will be able to help us? After all, wouldn't he simply be another low-class runt like yourself? How much more 'manpower' could he offer?"

"Well… if things went according to plan, he must have half my strength at least. The two of us could fight and train together. I would grow and so would he. We would have four saiyans total with decent strength. I imagine we would have been able to take Shikk in just the same amount of time as Zarbon."

There was barely another word spoken. At least, not for a few more seconds while they locked eyes with one another.

Finally, Vegeta assented, "If you wish to find this brother of yours, go ahead. Losing you for some time wouldn't change how much work Nappa and I could do together. Take your leave, but make sure to keep your scouter on hand. Contact us when you've gotten him. Understand?"

A smirk broke out on the lesser soldier's face. Things were starting to turn his way. He nodded, momentarily bowing to the prince before rising, "Thank you, Vegeta! I'll leave immediately!" He turned towards the direction of their pods.

"Raditz."

He stopped.

"Don't fail me." Was all he said, a grin of his own taking form. The group had split, leaving only the duo of Nappa and Vegeta while Raditz gave them his goodbyes and took to his pod.

It opened, steam hissing into the air while he took his seat. He wasn't sure why, but he felt… excited. Of course. He was going to be able to redeem himself, after all. To become far stronger. To bring honor to the saiyans! It was the only other thing on his mind besides tracking his sibling.

The door came to a close and blue screens illuminated the inside. Now, he had to remember just where the boy went. As he scanned through names of planets, he finally found it. Some backwater world by the name of Earth. Extremely low level. He was sure Kakarot could have taken it.

His pod rose higher and higher into the sky, turning towards the stars before rocketing off to join them in the cold void of space. How long it would take, he wasn't sure. Especially with the amount of stops he would have to make on the way. But he would make it.

Raditz crossed his arms and closed his eyes, remembering the boy in that incubator. Hair just like their fathers. Such a low power level. Yet loved by his family nonetheless. When he finally opened his eyes, he saw the great expanse of the universe before him.

He took in a deep breath… then let it go.

"We're finally going to see each other again. You won't know who I am, I'm sure of it. But that doesn't matter. I hope you'll have made or family proud enough that I can bring you back… Kakarot."

There was the chirping of birds, the buzzing of bees, and the sound of a calming breeze coming in from far away. The sounds of squirrels, deer, and many more. The sounds of the world, these were. It wasn't long before more 'unnatural' sounds were thrown into the mix. Plastic wheels moving against the hard earth and the words of… people.

A man first, "These woods have always been a nice spot for me, ever since I was a kid. Just loads of fun to run around in, you know? There's always something to love about this place and I'm glad it hasn't changed a bit."

"I think Gohan likes it too." Said the woman beside him.

"I guess so." He chuckled.

He was just a baby, giggling and enjoying life as his parents pushed him along the nature path in his stroller. A child by the name of Gohan.

"You know? Everything's so lush out here in the spring. Never been a bad time to come around here."

His wife seemed to be admiring their surroundings, staring down at a small patch of flowers, "That's for sure. Look at this place! Everything's so beautiful! And what a smell, it's heavenly, isn't it?"

"It sure is."

A pink butterfly flew right by Gohan, the boy reaching his tiny hands out for it. Though he didn't exactly succeed. Meanwhile, his mother had set her sights on the top of a tree in which three birds could be seen watching from above.

"Oh look at them!" She clasped her hands together, her husband coming in close, "A mommy, a daddy, and a baby. Just like in our family."

The man let go for only a moment, but the slope ahead of the path was a steep one. He raised his hands, getting a clearer view with one over his forehead, "That's adorable. What do you think, Gohan?"

The wheels began to rock louder and louder for a moment, but then, they began to grow quieter. As if they were getting further and further away. They could hear their baby crying out, but his noise was also getting just as far.

"Gohan?" The wife questioned, turning her head. Only to see her baby being sent flying straight down the beaten path, a scream parting her lips at this sight, "There goes our son!" She cried.

Immediately, the two gave chase, running after the speeding stroller as it went past tree after tree with the boy wailing throughout the whole ride. The little hat he wore had flown off, his father quickly spotting it and catching it. He took one look at the glistening, orange ball on the top of it before passing it to his wife, "Chi-Chi, take care of this, I'm going to try and catch up!"

O-Okay!" She shouted back as he passed it to her.

Suddenly, he had this burst of incredible speed, kicking up the earth beneath him with every step he took as he drew closer and closer to his boy, who had just passed through a mess of bushes.

It took him little time to catch up, quickly prepared to grab his son and keep him from getting hurt. But they had hit a speedbump on the dirt, causing the stroller to bounce and send Gohan flying into the air. Straight towards a massive tree.

His father gasped and did all he could, darting straight in front of the tree and holding his arms out wide. The two collided, the boy crashing into his fathers warm embrace, "I've got you!" He called out, his back hitting the tree.

Short as it was, the nightmare came to an end and he had managed to rescue his child who cried in his arms. Carefully, he'd rock the boy with a sigh of relief, a smile on his face. For any parent, that'd be quite the scare. He was just happy knowing everything had turned out alright in the end.

Chi-Chi quickly rushed to join the two of them, coming in right next to him so that she too could cradle her boy, "Gohan! Is he alright?! Is everything okay?! I-I…"

But the man held her tight, trying to ease her mind, "Calm down. He's okay. Everything's okay." He took the hat from her, placing it right on the boy's head and letting it rest there. It certainly helped to comfort him. Just as the love of his parents did.

"Oh thank goodness… That was terrifying. But he's safe thanks to you, Goku."

He couldn't help but laugh a bit, "Thanks to the both of us, really. Now… let's get home. I'm starving."