Chapter 3

Kakarott was now thirteen years old. He had a chi-level of over 50,000, and he just kept increasing. Yamm was still stronger, but Kakarott was fast catching up. He was definitely an elite at this point. He was tall and agile and he walked with the grace of a gazelle. His face was very similar to his father Bardock's, but his spirit was strong and unconquerable. Yamm realized the boy didn't realize he couldn't do everything. He had never had anyone tell him his limits, so he didn't think he had any. Kakarott now was powering up, and Yamm struggled from being thrown back by the boy's power. Yamm watched his scouter. The boy's chi-level was rising again. He broke 50,500. Then he dropped it down to 5. Yamm was always stymied by the boy's technique and the fact that he refused to wear a scouter. He seemed to be able to tell where Yamm was regardless of whether he wore one or not. Yamm, who had a chi-level of 500,000 was amazed at the rate at which the boy was growing. He seemed to accelerate as he got older. Right now he was in the gravity room at 200 times Planet Vegeta's gravity. He struggled and sent chi balls flying at the walls, which bounced off an flipped at him. With 20 balls going at once, it was hard for him to dodge them all, but he did it. He was blossoming into an amazing young Saiyan. His tail whipped angrily as a ball came close, but then he sliced his hand through it and it blew up. He began to attack the balls as they came close and soon, Yamm couldn't watch for the smoke. When the smoke cleared, Kakarott stood, tired and sore. He limped over and turned off the gravity, and wiped perspiration from his face. He was bleeding and several of his muscles were torn, but as he headed over toward the healing chamber, Yamm stepped in front of him. "Time to fight me, Kakarott," he said.

Kakarott smiled. Even battered and bruised, Kakarott loved the concept of a good fight. Without warning, he charged at his teacher and caught him by surprise. His fist crossed Yamm's face and Yamm flew back surprised. Then he charged at Kakarott and Kakarott phased out coming behind his teacher and slamming his fists into his back. Yamm growled becoming angry, but Kakarott's mind was full of tactical knowledge. He had learned from the best after all, and his memory was superb. Yamm began to power up and then the real fight began. Although Yamm was much stronger, Kakarott was young and clever. More of Yamm's punches were getting through, but Kakarott used his brains to hit his Master with surprise punches and chi blasts. Yamm lost his temper and hammered into his student. Kakarott kept his cool, but against the wild fury, he just wasn't strong enough. Yamm slammed him into the wall, and Kakarott was unconscious. Yamm however, filled with so much fury, continued to hammer his student until he was almost dead. Finally, Yamm recovered and carried the boy into the healing chamber.

An hour later, Kakarott was recovered and walked out of the chamber. He looked at his Master and smiled.

"Well, let's see your chi-level now," the Saiyan said to the boy.

Kakarott grinned and began to power up. In a matter of moments, he hit 50,000 and passed it. He was much stronger as he continued to build up. After a few minutes, he hit 100,000. Then he turned to he Master and smiled.

"Shall we go again?" Kakarott asked.

Vegeta angrily pushed himself harder. The reports had been coming in about the boy, Kakarott, and even though he was seven years younger than Vegeta, he was already past his level. Vegeta screamed in rage as he threw his power about him. He was at 50,000, but it wasn't enough. The boy was rising more quickly than anyone had anticipated, and it was making Vegeta crazy. At this rate, he would never be stronger than Kakarott.

"Very impressive," a voice behind him said, and he turned to see Freeza watching him. "Prince Vegeta, I think you have been left here too long. I would like you to come and train under me."

At first thought, Vegeta was appalled. He hated this monster! Then, the thought hit him, if Freeza taught him, he might be able to pass Kakarott, and he would be closer to kill Freeza.

"As you wish, my Lord Freeza," he said, and smiled.

Yes, he would be the one to kill Freeza.

The communication came several weeks later. Kakarott was to return home. After being beat to a bloody pulp and then healed over and over again, Kakarott had reached 2,000,000. He was now 14 years old, and he was amazingly powerful. He walked with an air of confidence that made the weak tremble with fear. He wasn't evil by any means, but he was calloused. He had felt pain, and he had caused it in others, and he could shield himself from his feelings in a way that made his Master tremble with pride. He and his Master had grown as close as father and son, and though neither would ever show it, they loved each other in much the same way. Kakarott had passed up Yamm a while ago in strength, but he still learned from the versatile Saiyan.

They climbed back in the ship, and all the way home, Kakarott trained. He was now in 500 times Planet Vegeta's gravity, and it was difficult but he continued to increase. They were an hour away from home, when he stumbled bloody and weak into the healing chamber for one last bout. The ship settled just as he emerged, once more powerful beyond belief. He followed his Master as was proper for a student, but a sense of excitement kept his step quick. He would finally see his home again, and he hoped that he had finally made his father proud.

His arrival was kept quiet for obvious reasons, but waiting was King Vegeta, Bardock, Kakarott's grandmother, his mother, Raditz, Turles, and Broli. Broli was large, and very much a bully, and his mind had fixated on Kakarott with a single-mindedness that was frightening. For some reason, he hated the younger boy. Raditz stood, his long hair laying jaggedly on his back, a bored expression on his face. Turles stood in much the same way, but he couldn't hide the flicker of interest that crossed his face as he watched his younger brother descend. Kakarott passed his gaze over their faces, but his eyes lingered on his father, hoping for some sign.

Finally, Bardock smiled. His youngest son was broad-shouldered, lithe, and muscular. Grace moved with his every step, and his eyes were quick and calculating. His tail was wrapped confidently around his waist. He was almost a mirror-image of his father in facial features, and Bardock, though he never would voice it, was proud of his youngest son. Kakarott's grandmother and mother watched, but neither showed any love, just simple curiosity. There might have been a trace of love in his mother's face, but to show anymore would be considered weakness. Kakarott kept his chi-level low as he looked over his family.

King Vegeta snorted. "Chi-level 1000? That is not powerful, Yamm. If you were lying to me about the boy's power, I..."

"Excuse me, your Highness," Yamm bowed, quickly interrupting him, "it is simply a trick the boy knows. Why don't you power up, Kakarott?"

Kakarott smiled. Then setting his hands and feet widely apart, he began to power up. King Vegeta watched in shock as the scouter on his face leapt upwards. Luckily he had calibrated it to read numbers over a million, or it would have exploded. Kakarott continued to power up until he reached 3,000,000. Then he stopped and surrounded by a glowing aura, he bowed to his King.

All of the Saiyans stood in stunned silence. King Vegeta, himself, could barely reach 600,000. Finally, King Vegeta smiled. "Time to test out that power, boy, but not yet on Freeza. The Elder has instructed that I send you to a small planet, and to have you to find the strongest individual and destroy it."

"What planet, sir?" the 14-year-old boy asked.

"It's a planet called Earth."