The Day Dreams Died
Chapter One: The Disgusting Planet Earth
"16:34 universal time," The computer piped as its data screen lit up from its long slumber of auto commands.
The small capsule ship hummed to life after several years of space travel, emitting long forgotten messages to the other parts of its memory chips. All around the sleeping sayian the digital life was awakening in perfect time. After several seconds of humming and clicking, the ship checked on the sayian that was sleeping soundly beyond the walls of the computer. His life signs were reading as perfectly as when he had gone into rest those many years ago. There was another check to make sure his age still maintained a stop in the time he was traveling. Perfect. Everything was perfect. Just as any super computer liked to have it.
"Master Raditz," The computer spoke in its dull female voice. "You have reached your destination with 3.362 seconds to spare."
There was no answer right away. The Sayian's dark eyes fluttered open focusing in on the words printed across the transparent screen before him. He stretched out his muscular arms as far as the small capsule would let him, and removed the awkward breathing mask that had been placed about his mouth and nose. He smirked slightly at the point of being early.
"Just how I like it," Raditz smiled. "I wonder if Kakarot needs those precious seconds to prepare this planet? The nitwit is probably still playing with the leftover slaves."
"Kakarot, Son of Bardock. 3rd class D sayian. Estimated strength- 100.3782."
"I did not ask for an analysis computer," Raditz snapped coldly. "I know my own brother."
"My… mistake," The computer uttered slightly trying to figure the words.
"Is Earth in sight, computer?" Raditz snapped. "I request a visual."
"Request accepted," The computer beeped releasing a section of it's screen to view the vacuum of space.
Between the stars and other hovering rocks, held what appeared to be an over sized marble with swirls of blue, green, and white splashed across its delicate surface. Raditz's face twisted into what was a look of utmost disgust.
"Oh what a horrid little mud ball," Raditz sneered. "I almost feel sorry for Kakarot being left on this poor excuse of a planet."
"Analysis requested, master Raditz?" The computer beeped helpfully.
"Analysis on landforms," Raditz ordered rashly still scanning the planet with his beady eyes.
"Earth," The computer piped importantly. "75.323% liquid substance of H2O. 25.787% mineral compounds. Size estimated to 1283021.2371 NI."
"Scan on life forms," Raditz interrupted impatiently rubbing his brow and returning his gaze back to the computer screen.
The section of the screen containing the image of earth faded back from the computer memory but still was strangely implanted in Raditz's. He was still pondering over why King Vegeta would send his younger half brother this far out in the universe…
"Approximately 12932.2170212 billion life forms on earth-sei to date increasing at 3971.212 billion pure minute."
"Ah. So its an active planet still. Maybe Kakarot decided these aliens would be worth something as slaves. Do a scan on intelligent life forms," Raditz hissed mildly interested.
"Scanning…" The computer uttered emotionlessly. "Estimating 65.3823 billion intelligent life forms."
"Hm. So they aren't as primitive as Prince Vegeta thought," Raditz muttered. "What are their IQ and Strength Stats?"
"Scanning… Strength stats ranging from –10 to 23."
"I requested-"
"Some life forms have higher then others…" The computer beeped. "Scanning 4 life forms with levels above 200."
"Funny," Raditz mused. "Kakarot isn't even near 100 at this stage of his life. How could he become so strong on a out of date planet like this?"
"IQ ranging from –15 to 1503," The computer uttered dully not letting Raditz to finish.
"So we do have some intelligence on this planet after all," Raditz smirked still wondering about the strength. "Range the number of inhabitants that have IQ above 1000."
"Tracing 3 life forms."
"I thought so," Raditz grinned. "So the Neanderthals have some gifted about them… maybe they retaliated against Kakarot… I might have clean up duty after all."
"Landing in 30.721 minutes," The computer reminded.
Raditz smiled at the thought to finally stretching his legs.
"So how ugly are the dominant species of this planet?"
"Scanning…" The computer chirped as two digital make ups of the male and female of the species flashed onto the screen, "Humans. More data requested?"
Raditz scanned over both the male and female wire frames and thumbed his chin, "They are primates."
"Yes sir," The computer continued. "They have evolved from the species of ape."
"Distant relatives," Raditz chucked. "I do hope I am not late for the family reunion. Ugly things though."
Raditz pointed to the point which a tail should be attached,
"Have they no pride? No tails? They're like ugly bare-butt aliens."
"Humans have adapted to their environments without the use of a balance bone structure. They have very précis balance on their own."
"Revolting. The mere sight of those pride less creatures is disquieting. I can't wait for this mission to be finished with."
Raditz glared at his younger brother with malice at the state of his bizarre armor and kind face. He noticed an infant ducking behind his brother, hugging Kakarot's legs for protection.
Why does he baby the child? Raditz thought darkly as he eyed the child. Is this really my younger brother… It has to be!
"What are you doing here, stranger?" Kakarot demanded strongly.
He seemed uncertain of what tone to use with the newcomer. As if he feared of offending the man by accusing him of nothing. Sayians did not use that type of caution.
Raditz did not answer right away. He was still musing over the child and how he took cover behind the younger Sayian. As if this was someone… as if… Raditz couldn't place a finger on this outlandish behavior.
"Why does that child cower behind you?" Raditz hissed in confusion. "Is he not sayian?"
"Sayian?" Kakarot repeated as if in a faint daze. "Sounds familiar…"
"Answer me!"
"Because he is my son," Kakarot snapped. "And he's scared!"
Scared? Raditz thought darkly. At his age? I need to stop this behavior before it spreads... And create the warrior a true sayian should be.
"Shut your trap." Raditz hissed tossing the young sayian by his tail into the pod.
The boy lay sprawled across the control panel blinking furiously against his rising tears. Raditz shut the padded ship door sealing the boy and his cries inside the mute pod. The child climbed to his feet and rammed his fists continuously against the strange reddish glass that separated him from the outside world. And from the ditch he was in, the boy could no longer see where his captor went to.
Gohan rested down on the awkward floor and began to wail uncontrollably listening to his own voice vibrate about the walls that obscured him. Fat tears rolled down his rosy cheeks as the fear of being alone forever was starting to rip his heart. He missed his daddy… they were supposed to get ice cream later. But Gohan doubted he would ever taste ice cream again. It was starting to unnerve him how independent his mind was from his heart.
"Let me out!" Gohan screamed. "You can't lock me away like I'm your toy or something!"
Raditz blinked as his ki detector indicated a power level of 500 surging from the depths of the ditch. Raditz scrambled over his own feet glaring down to the pod where he had flung the wailing boy. It was so impossible… yet… A hybrid child to have so much energy as such a youthful point in his life was almost frightening.
Raditz raised his palm dazed by the waves that struck against his body as he stood there. He had to destroy the child before this got out of hand. The longer he stood uncertain of what to do the stronger the waves of energy became until they had reached 1008. Raditz bit down hard on his lip as he formed a ki blast… the boy was too strong now and this might be his only chance to hit him.
Suddenly the waves of energy drew back down into the ship as if it was now low tide. Raditz drew his energy back into his body trying to figure if he was just imagining his spurt of panic.
Gohan swallowed his tears and wobbled up into the cushioned seat in the center of the pod. It was much more comfy here then the floor and now he could see a bit better. The ugly man was watching him from the side of the ditch but as Gohan had relaxed back into the chair, Raditz turned and exited Gohan's view.
Gohan thought of calling out to his uncle again but he decided not to. He would find out how to work this ship and make his dad real proud of him. The idea of making his father pleased was almost overwhelming for the two year old. Almost as soon as he had made that decision, a transparent screen flashed before him with strange lettering printed across it.
"Hi," Gohan smiled not understanding the sounds the computer was emitting.
"H-hi," The computer copied.
"My name's Son Gohan," Gohan piped. "What's yours?"
"H-hi?"
"Oh! Hello H-hi!" Gohan smiled cheerfully. "Do you know how to get out of here?"
"Get out of here?"
"Yes," Gohan agreed. "I have to. My Daddy will be happy if I do. Could you open the doors?"
"Open doors?"
"Uh…" muttered Gohan. "I said that. Yes."
"Yes?"
"Yes!"
The computer suddenly started talking in a rapid sayian to the other parts of its system preparing the launch sequence. Although the computer identified the newcomer as a smaller form than Raditz, it could tell that this was a sayian. If a sayian left this ship and then a sayian entered, surely there was nothing wrong…
Right as Raditz had greeted his little brother, Goku and the green Namek, there was a loud rumbling from behind them. All three of the warriors turned looking towards the pod as it shot up into the air.
"No!" Raditz screamed. "That brat!"
"Gohan?! Gohan's in that thing!" Goku shouted in fright as the ship picked up speed in the earth's atmosphere. "Stop it! Where's it going?"
"Argh," Raditz growled irritably. "This is going to be a pain to rebuild."
He pointed his left index finger up at the rising dot in the sky as the red energy curled about it. But before he could launch his attack, Goku dove on top of his brother.
"I won't let you hurt Gohan!" Goku screamed thrusting his fists repeatedly into Raditz's face.
But Raditz's beam was sent off anyway by the force of Goku's body ramming into his. For the brief seconds that Goku was focused on Raditz, he didn't realize this. And at the sound of the explosion, Goku went a deadly pale.
Goku stared up into the red and orange flames was were painting the sky gray with their smoke remains. Goku's eyes reflected the horror but yet he still could not truly see the image of the flaming detonation. Tears slipped down his cheeks mixing the heated sweat he let off in his battle. His only son… gone.
Their was faint ringing in Goku's ears as he heard Raditz laughing unmercifully. Piccolo stood at Goku's side staring blankly at the disaster faintly shaken. He looked over at Goku with a look of slight concern and muttered, "I'm sorry this had to be so, Goku."
"I said… I wouldn't let him hurt," Goku stuttered pointlessly as he tried to grasp the realization that sweet innocent Gohan was dead. "He… killed my son. I couldn't protect him. I couldn't even… He died so fast… I…"
Abruptly, the horror and confusion that had creased across Goku's face faded into a deepening fury that had erupted from the depths of Goku's soul.
"You," Goku said spitefully. The flames of rage glowed powerfully in Goku's dark eyes.
Raditz smiled slight as the blood spilled down from his damaged face, "He was worthless anyway, Kakarot."
"How dare you-" Goku snarled powering up his strongest attack he had ever mustered.
Before Piccolo could stop him, Goku had released his energy into the body of the man causing him to explode. His screams rocked the earth with an unsettling removal of his evil presence.
Goku fell limply beside the ash remains of his half brother that he had never known. The tears continued to fall as Goku felt a power weight drop down onto his weak shoulders. His son's death had been his fault and the death of Raditz did not ease his agony. Goku covered his face in his arms as he wept. Piccolo put a kind hand on Goku's shoulder,
"Time to go home."
"No…" Goku whispered softly. "I want to be alone for awhile."
"As you wish," Piccolo nodded taking off.
Even his greatest rival allowed Goku to morn the passing of his only son. It was the respectful thing to do… Someday Goku would return to normal. Someday he would be happy again. He would move on. But the wait would be long and painful.
"Prince Vegeta," Nappa smirked as he finished his dinner of a strange lizard creature. "Should we go and get revenge on those who killed Raditz?"
The younger man wiped the blood from his mouth with a tan cloth and flung it into the roaring fire before the two of them. He smirked slightly and turned to his bald companion, "You go ahead to be the clean up crew. I am rather tired of blowing up planets right now. I will return to Frezia's headquarters."
"Yes, sire."
Frezia walked down the platform to the strange beaten up pod that had just arrived. It had made quite a rough journey and was traveling the whole way on auto pilot. Some spoke of it being the sayian Raditz's space pod. But it was enough to scare all the landing crew, so they sent Frezia to open the pod.
Prying against the hot metal, Frezia ripped the door clear off the banged up ship. Inside there was an enormous golden glow along with a lot of high pitched shrieking noises. All of the ki detectors within fifty feet exploded causing all the crew members to run for their lives wailing about it being a ghost. As soon as the light and screams subsided, Frezia caught the sight of two teal colored eyes staring straight at him. There was one last blast of unnatural wind and light, and everything died away. Frezia blinked and glared down into the darkness of the pod. There lay a bloody and bruised child of only two turns. And, Frezia stared at the fuzzy tail laying limply underneath the child, it was a sayian too.
"Contact Vegeta immediately," Frezia snapped to the nearest cowering solider.
Vegeta glared down at the child as the doctors surveyed his wounds and breathing. The tattered cloth that was wrapped about the dying child did little to clue in to who he was.
"I have never seen this sayian before," Vegeta announced to Frezia who had been watching him carefully. "He's too young to be from Vegeta-sei. Besides that, he is a hybrid."
"How can you tell?" Frezia asked curiously.
"His eyes, they are shaped differently from a sayian's. And he does not have any identification mark," Vegeta hissed. "His tail is too soft and it isn't curved showing he does not rest it about his waist like a proper sayian is taught to do."
"So he isn't a Sayian?"
"Not a full one," Vegeta nodded. "Why does he interest you so, Master?"
"The same reason you interest me so, Vegeta," Frezia smirked causing Vegeta to cringe somewhat. "What color are his eyes?"
"Dark brown," Vegeta shrugged. "Like any sayian. He isn't that awkward. Why do you ask?"
"No reason," Frezia smiled slightly surprised that his eyes were not the color he had anticipated. "Remove his tail."
"What?!" Vegeta protested. "That is a Sayian's pride! You are stripping him of the one thing that separates him from all others!"
"But you said he wasn't a sayian," Frezia muttered calmly. "I want him to have more balance without that thing in his way. Tails can be nice in some ways but I don't want him knowing he is related to you, Vegeta."
"Are you sure you want to take this child in?" Vegeta hissed taken aback. "What if retaliates against you?"
"That is for me to decide," Frezia smiled. "I have my reasons for him just as I did for you."
Once all the doctors had departed, Frezia watched the child float limply in the healing tank. He didn't know why but his child made him so curious. He reminded him of someone he once knew… But he couldn't place it quite yet.
"Ah. Bardock. So this is your son?"
"Grandson," A voice corrected from the door.
Frezia turned to see one of the land crew members standing there with some computer readouts.
"What did you say?"
"Grandson," The crew member said a little less coolly. "To my calculations that is Bardock's grandson."
"What calculations?"
"The computer was able to read out some of the data from the ship's memory for the last hours of its function. It was flying from a planet called Earth. And it was Raditz's ship. Raditz was on a mission to retrieve the sayian-"
"Kakarot," Frezia nodded. "I remember now."
"This is Kakarot's son," The member continued. "And Kakarot was son to Bardock."
"Oh I see… Bardock's grandson."
"His name is Son Gohan. That's what he told the computer."
"Oh really?" Frezia nodded, "Well, Gohan it is. Not a sayian name but it suits him fine. I must commend you on your discovery…"
But when Frezia turned the crew member was already down the hall running for his life. Frezia smirked and turned back to the tank Gohan was in.
"I'll take good care of you, kid," Frezia hissed. "You'll be the perfect warrior and the defeater of that darn Super Sayian that might come someday."
To Be Continued…
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