He wants so much more than I can give him. I feel really bad every time I leave him, but if I don't go home, Chichi will have my head on the proverbial platter and my kidneys on a side plate. I can tell that he really wants me around, but I just don't know what to do. He needs a wife. I'm not trying to be facetious, but he needs more than just friendship.
But maybe I should tell him that I do consider him highly. I'm not boasting, but I'm pretty good at judging how people feel. Alright, I admit that I make mistakes when it comes to believing the best in people. I think Vegeta just needs to hear that someone cares about him. His whole life, he's been alone. Even when he was with Bulma, I get the feeling that it a passion thing with the two of them, but thankfully, they stayed friends. Two fiery people like them…Capsule Corp isn't big enough to house both their egos.
I open the fridge, scanning the shelves for a midnight snack. My eyes latch onto a platter of chicken drumsticks, which I'm sure Chichi has set aside for some occasion. No matter, I'll eat them and talk my way out of trouble, as I usually do. I pull the platter out, and grab the mustard with my other hand, then shut the door with my foot. I put the food down on the table, get a tall glass of mango juice and rub my hands as I look at my snack. Two dozen chicken legs should be just enough to fill the holes in my teeth. I pick up a stick, and as I bite into it, I resume my train of thought about Vegeta, before the rumbling of my stomach drowned it out.
He's a difficult person to be friends with. He lives behind a wall, and he finds it hard to relate to anyone emotionally. I just don't know what to talk to him about. I don't want to bring up battles, because I don't want to seem as though I'm rubbing it in his face that I'm stronger than he is. And neither of us follows sport, so that's out. But I seem to be more comfortable in his silent company. I can't just relax in undemanding silence with my other friends. I like sitting with Vegeta on his lawn overlooking the sea. I envy his island home. The forest is great, but I love the sea.
Come to think of it, maybe things aren't all that strained between us. Maybe he would have sooner ripped my trachea out than share his thoughts with me not long ago. But that's changed. He's got a great sense of humour. And I used to think I was the prank master! He always catches me off guard. I guess he's only like that around me. He has an excellent memory for jokes. Apparently, us Saiyans have a penchant for playing around. Well, for us, battles are a game, while to others, it's the scariest thing there is. Heck, I can't lie to myself. I look forward to the times we plan a getaway from everyone else. I'm the only person that knows about his island home, besides his family. And probably Piccolo. That guy knows way too much.
I think that I'll go see him in a couple of days and actually tell him that he is my best friend, and that he has no reason to think any less of himself. But I've got to somehow explain to him that I can't be there for him 12/365, and maybe he should consider getting out a little more. I'll even go out with him in the evenings.
Well, as long as I am back by twelve.
Goku was flying out to Vegeta's island, after convincing Chichi that he'd be back soon, he just forgot something at Vegeta's place. Goku was enjoying the warm afternoon sun on his back, his black T-shirt flapping in the breeze, his blue jeans rippling. He'd telepathed Vegeta that morning to let him know he was on his way, and Goku checked his watch. He still had time to kill before he was expected there around two PM. But to the east, he heard a huge explosion. It sounded like an energy ball detonating, but he couldn't sense a being there. He braked in mid-air, and turned to the island on his right. The entire island was on fire, the animals screaming and running onto the beach. Goku flew over at high speed, and saw that someone had set the entire place alight. He frowned. Fires caused by energy tended to have a different smell. A coppery, metallic smell. Someone did this on purpose. But he decided to worry about that later. First, he'd deal with the fire.
Goku powered up, and hovered right above the forest. It would be easier to blast the sea and cause a tidal wave, but he didn't want to drown the animals. He choked as the smoke filled his nostrils and made his eyes water, but he still kept powering up. Then he created a blanket of energy below him, like a thick carpet of bright gold energy. He stretched it out until it was larger than the fire, and as thick as the average skyscraper. He gritted his teeth as he lowered it slowly, suffocating the fire the same way we would throw a blanket on top of a smaller fire. He held it there for about ten minutes to make sure that the fire died. When he was sure it had, he dissipated the energy and breathed out, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. It had worked. He floated down, just to put out smaller fires that might have still survived. As he walked around the forest, his forehead wrinkled into thought.
Who started this fire? It still smelt like an energy blast, and Goku was no idiot. He knew that it would have been done on purpose. But why? He wondered who would or could have done it. His pondering was sharply cut off by a foot to the side of his head, the kick sending him crashing through the blackened forest into the side of a hill. He choked, as soot and burnt grass pervaded his airways. He got to his feet, wiping the dust out of his eyes with a grimace. He heard someone laughing and looked around, ears on high alert.
"Stupid Goku."
A fist smashed into Goku's windpipe, the assailant invisible to Goku. The Saiyan gagged, as he swung out with his fist in retaliation, his fist only parting the air.
"Who's there! Who are you?!"
Another laugh echoed from his attacker, as Goku took to the air. He was at a disadvantage in this dead forest, which only made it hard for him to breathe.
"Who am I? How rude of me, I haven't introduced myself."
Twenty feet away, a being materialised in front of Goku. Goku's eyes widened.
"Cell? But you're supposed to be dead!"
'Cell' laughed, making Goku cringe inside. Not again…
"My brother Cell, is dead. I am his twin, Candrone."
Goku shook his head.
"But…Trunks and Krillin destroyed Gero's lab! There was nothing left!"
Candrone laughed. He looked almost exactly the same as Cell, but with red and blue covering instead of green and purple. And his eyes were pupilless, just white orbs with a single black spot right in the middle. He made Goku feel slightly sick.
"Simple fools. Gero was so far ahead of you. In the unlikely event of Cell failing, I would be activated, and begin my growth in a lab thirty miles west of his main lab. After all, Cell died about twenty years ago, and at that time, I began my growth cycle. I only reached maturity last week. And because I am not formed of organic particles like my brother, I have the benefit of not having a ki signal."
"So that's why I couldn't sense you! What do you want?"
The creature cocked its head to the side.
"Nothing much. Revenge, destruction. That sort of thing. You don't mind, do you?"
Goku swallowed, clearing his throat of the last few particles of soot. First, he'd find out more about this enemy before he started fighting it.
"Are you also made up of my genes and the genes of all the other fighters on Earth?"
The creature lazily inspected its red claws.
"Yes, of course. But with a few slight modifications. You see, I don't have the flaws of some of my genetic donors. For instance, I may have Frieza, King Cooler and Vegeta's lust for power, but I am not blinded by the same arrogant pride as them. Perhaps that's why my brother was defeated; too cocky and pride-blind to see what was in front of him. And, I am already in my perfect form so I don't need to scramble around for other androids."
Goku snorted.
"Just how many bloody androids did Gero have anyway!?"
"I'm the last one. Technically, I am android 22, if you count my failure of a brother as an android. But enough talk, Goku."
Candrone shifted into battle stance. Goku smirked. How hard could this be? Just another Cell. He was Super Saiyan three now, so no reason to worry.
"So be it, Candrone. I was wondering if I would get a decent sparring match today."
"Cocky Saiyan. It will be your downfall."
Goku launched towards Candrone, fist pulled back, starting with a battle roar that would make Vegeta proud. But as he tore through Candrone's after-image, a double-fisted hunk of android metal hammered into the small of his back and sent him into the sea, a huge wave forming due to the impact of Goku's body on the water. The Saiyan, not to be defeated by such a minor attack, was back in the air in moments, grinning. He burst into Super Saiyan two, electricity skipping around his torn shirt.
"Your speed is good, Candrone. But match this!"
Goku disappeared by instant transmission, but as he appeared behind Candrone, a hard foot smashed into his jaw, an audible crack as the bone splintered. Goku flew backwards due to the impact, and Candrone appeared behind him, driving his knee right between Goku's shoulder blades, shifting a disk out of place from between his vertebrae, the bare bones rubbing against each other, Goku yelling in pain as his body bent around Candrone's knee. Candrone laughed as he axe-handled Goku into the water below, as satisfying splash as he crashed headfirst into the sea. He floated above the sea, the ripples spreading out the only sign of the strongest warrior's entrance into the ocean.
"Is that all, Goku? You mean to tell me that that's all you can do?"
There was silence for a few minutes, before the water turned golden, the sea boiled, then Goku shot out of it, his hair brushing the back of his thighs, panting slightly. He winced, as his spine caught on an exposed nerve. But he wasn't going to let that stop him. Instead, he broke into his usual cocky battle grin.
"Haven't you ever heard the motto of the Saiyans? 'Impossible is an opinion, not fact.' You're about to find out why the Saiyans were and are the most feared race in the universe."
Candrone turned his back to Goku, and gestured over his shoulder for Goku to attack.
"By all means, try."
Goku's aura exploded out of him as he powered up, and tried again.
Vegeta looked at his watch. Surely Kakarot should be here by now? It was already three PM. He sighed, his shoulders slumping as he sat down on the edge of the couch. I knew it. He doesn't want to see me after all. I hate vain hope. I hate it!
Vegeta closed his eyes as he searched out Kakarot's energy signal. Odd. It was very erratic. It read as though he was in battle, with peaks and dips. But Vegeta couldn't sense another energy signal nearby. So who the hell would he be fighting with? Kakarot isn't one for sparring against himself. He finds it boring. Vegeta's battle senses were jangling. Something wasn't right, and Vegeta's sixth sense, although it warned him on few occasions, it was never wrong. In two seconds, he was running outside, taking off at the beach, and turning Super Saiyan as he ripped through the sky.
An- because I'm on a little mission to update as much as possible in 45 minutes, theres no time for shout outs. But I will put them in when I get back.
