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So here's the next chapter.
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Chapter 4
I flew at top speed towards my target when another few blips emerged from the horizon, small powers probably belonging to his friends, and another half-breed, definitely his son. I thought to myself, desperately trying to convince myself, was this was going to be an easy task?
Various plans were floating around inside my mind, all of them not worth trying, but still I played diffrent scenarios back and forth in my head. I sped off towards Kakkarot's position and still nothing concrete came to mind. Empty and hollow. Something eventually came to me and I had to give a second thought to it as I was not at all sure if it would work.
What if I tried the 'I am so pathetic and I need your help to stop the devil himself from taking over the universe' plan. That sounded just right, but how do I convince a bunch of idiots, that I have 'truly changed'? Kakkarot seemed gullible enough, but it's the others that needed convincing. Especially that annoying brat of his. I also picked up on another smaller power, it was human and definitely female. That blue-haired tart was probably with them too, she would be a bit of a thorn in the side. Her know how of technology could, on the other hand could become useful if I needed it. She's close friends with the baka as well. which could also prove useful. Perhaps… One more power made itself noticed, another human, and then I knew that my work was cut out for me…
I slowed down as I approached my destination when I was greeted with a most familiar face. Surprised to see him appear right in front of me was something I did not expect. There he floated in mid-air looking straight at me, probing? A scowl on his face was more than evident. I guess if you were mortal enemies with a person its what you get, isn't it? What I was to do? I gave him my trademark grin as I returned his scowl with a sarcastic expression of my own.
"Vegeta" Kakkarot said as we stared at each other.
"Kakkarot" I said back as if it were the second part of an overly dramatic opera.
"What are you doing here, did Freiza send you here to take care of us? Because if he did you know that you don't stand a chance against me."
Kami, I thought, sneering in my minds eye, what cockiness! He may be stronger than what I am but I could actually I can put up a damn good fight. But this was not the time for ego's to get in the way of my objective. With a heave of my chest I readied myself to speak not taking my eyes off him. A Third-Class having the full attention of an Elite, a Prince no less, was unheard of, yet he had it.
"No, I am here to help you defeat Freiza" I simply stated with a deep look in my eyes, I told myself that I have to stick to my initial plan, but how could I? I have to stop Freiza no matter what. And I asked myself: Do I really need the Dragonballs? Do I need the help I so desperately came searching for?
"What do you mean, here to help?" His voice came over loud and clear and as cold as ice, yet somewhere in the wind there was that curious purity. A purity so unnatural that it put a new born to shame.
"Look, if I explained it, it would be much too long a story" Was this easy?
"Explain then" He spoke with such authority yet he had that innocence of a little schoolgirl with pigtails and a lollipop lodged in the mouth looking at you as if she lost her puppy. How did he do it?
I could feel his power surging through every fibre of his perfect-self.
I did not wish to make use of the scouter to confirm his power level, for if I used it, then something to them, would seem off. I didn't need that distraction. There was only one thing to do, tell a little lie? Yes, something which came naturally to me would surely work. The Gods were on my side, or were they?. His son and the chrome dome friend of his floated up next to him, giving me death glares. I could care less, they were nothing, nothing at all. I looked back at Kakkarot as I noticed something strange in his eyes. But it was gone in a flash as if he knew I saw whatever is he hid so quickly.
"I want to stop him from getting all the Dragonballs. You do know that once he gets all of them he is going to wish for immorality and then what do I do? What do we do?" My voice like a plead for help; my eyes were lost, lost in something scary.
"Do you really think that I should believe you? How dumb do you think I am?" I was going to have a hard time convincing this third class nobody of the dreary situation we were in.
"You have to believe me Kakkarot, I know I was a bastard without a heart or soul, but I need your help. Or should I say this… do you need my help?" Silence followed for what seemed to be eternity. He looked at me puzzled as if grasping the concept of the Big Bang theory.
"Someone as cold and as heartless as yourself offering help for the greater good is a bit hard to believe. I am sure you understand Vegeta, why should we trust you? You never believed in justice before" He was cold as he spoke. The words for some reason stung at my heart. But why? I moved my lips, readying my tongue for a counter attack on his words. But I held it back. It was not going to get the better of me. Not this time.
"For the long time I have been with Freiza I have learned that, no, I have realized what a cruel bitch he can be" I emphasised on the word bitch to add a little effect. "He destroyed my planet and killed my family. He has taken away my identity and he has killed my soul. I have to put a stop to it. Still I don't know how I am going to accomplish such a task. That is why I need your help in stopping his reign of terror. I have dealt with so many ghosts and still I am where I am today. The real reason why I came to earth is to see if it was true, that there really is another of my kind still alive. And also to wish for immortality because I did not have a selfish ambition, I just wanted him dead. That's my reason for doing what I did so that I could do everyone a favour and rid the universe of his evil ways. I am asking you because I would like Freiza to be taken down by that which he destroyed. I am the Saijin Prince and I need justice for my people. You too are Saijin, Kakkarot. It is also your people that he has killed" I paused at that moment to see his expression after the 'your people' bit. He looked straight into my eyes not daring to look away, I went on… "and if we don't do something in stopping him I am afraid that nothing will remain of your planet or this one. Nothing will remain of anyone who is close to you. Everything will be destroyed without a thought. The dreams and hopes of you, me and your family will be shattered in a heartbeat and I cannot have him do that to me for a second time. I hurt too much Kakkarot. Yes, I may not have a heart, but everyone has demons. You of all people should understand"
I could not believe myself. I was trembling and sweating. I went in with the intention to lie to him, to lie to someone was second nature to me but what I had just told him was just not like me.
"Nice speech, to bad we don't believe you" It was the unmistakable voice of Kakkarot's bald friend. How dare he. I could blast him for his insolence to a Prince. That was years ago though. Trash that thought.
"No Krillin, I believe him, he does want to help and everything he just said was the truth. I don't sense any mischievous acts in his heart. He has already been through much and I can tell that he is telling us the truth. He wants to stop Freiza just like we do"
Kakkarot spoke those few words, words that scared me. What has become of me? Did I not have the intention of being underhanded and just plain evil? Was everything Kakkarot just said true? Can he really sense things from people? If so then I better watch out. So many questions afloat within me. Help.
I then realized something as I was floating in front of that gentle giant. It hit me hard, words, which I have almost forgotten.
'Never despair my son. The greatness, which are our people, will forever live within you. Remember you are not alone'
The words of a great man returned to me like a haunting spirit. Was this all just in my mind? Couldn't be… could it? His eyes were focused straight at me, so warm and happy and at the same time so serious. It was eyes I could get myself lost in…lost. Did he really 'see' my feelings? The inner me? Could he really know everything about me in such a small time? I don't know! My head started spinning and I lost myself in a sea of confusion. It scared me. I then thought of this whole thing as a big mistake, I should not have come to him in the first place. How stupid of me! Vegeta the mighty warrior, prince of Saijins, how laughable don't you think? They say that curiosity killed the cat. And in this case stupidity killed me. I remember that even on earth he brought out the good in me. But why do I think of good as being bad? So many questions that will probably never be answered. I was knee deep in shit. I got this far didn't I, so why am I doubting myself? I remembered a promise I made. I will not break that promise for anyone no matter what. Father…
Time stood still as we stared at each other. I was beginning to feel very uneasy when finally I broke the silence.
"So does this mean you will help me?"
So uncertain I was that I dared not look at him for fear of rejection, but what type of rejection was I anticipating?
"Vegeta I will help put a stop to Freiza. I am putting my total trust in you. I too want to stop Freiza and I know that I cannot do it on my own. Sometimes one should ignore their pride. Am I right Vegeta?"
Pride? What does he know of Pride? Has he gone through what I have to have such an opinion about me? I thought to myself keeping our eyes locked. Softened for a moment I put up my defences, walls were quickly being put up around me. I had to protect myself. He now knew my weakness. What was going to become of me? Kakkarot made me feel so uneasy, uneasy about myself or uneasy just being around him?
"OK then… What do we do from here?"
My voice was soft as I spoke which really surprised me. And again I felt the blood rush to my face. I descended to the surface of the planet as quickly as I could for fear of him discovering my little blush… I felt like such a pussy. I could kick myself, really I could. I looked up and saw that he looked at me with confusion plastered to his face. Concern? I was just seeing things, maybe he thought of me as a freak show. What a laugh!
"Vegeta are you alright, is something wrong?"
I looked at him and then at his friends. They looked as puzzled as I did. They looked at Kakkarot and then back at me. If only I could read minds I thought at that time.
"Don't you concern yourself with me baka. I am capable of taking care of myself!"
I looked at him and he just smiled at me, that big ear-to-ear grin of his. I couldn't help but look in disgust at all of them standing there. Feeling so fuckin superior. Oh how it made my skin crawl.
"Is that why you came here for our help? Since you can take of yourself you don't need our help do you?"
The baldhead spoke with a newfound cockiness in his squeaky voice. I could blast him then and there, but I stopped the thought dead in its tracks. I could end up being blasted. But what the heck, lets scare the idiot a bit.
"Are you capable of taking care of yourself when I might get the urge to blast you?"
I was cool as the words rolled off my tongue and I just loved the look of fear on his face. I could taste it almost.
"There is no need for this fighting, Vegeta cool down. I'm sure he didn't mean anything of it. Heh Heh"
There it was again, his smile was so, so dis-fuckin-picable! I had to get these irate thoughts out of my mind. Out of me completely. I looked away from the little group and my scouter started to beep considerably. It seemed that Freiza was on his way to our location and he would be there in a short while. They weren't going very fast, but they could be here in a heart beat.
"Vegeta what wrong?"
Kakkarot asked me in a serious tone.
"Freiza is on his way here. We better get a move on if you do not wish to meet him. The lower you keep your ki down the less likely his scouters will be able to pick us up. We have to hide. We need time."
Everyone ran towards the cave, which I later found out was where they put up a little base, to hide. Hopefully his on another course completely. I could only hope. Freiza is one thing but his Ginyu Force and his two right hand men was enough to put us out of commission. The beeping on my scouter was getting more erratic Freiza was very close and we kept our ki as low as possible. A few minutes later he was in the vicinity no longer, he was a good few kilometres away. That was a close situation. We cant just go out and attack Frieza, we needed a plan and now we have a bit of time to formulate one. I sat on a comfortable chair and didn't bother to look at the others, although something kept on telling me to look at the baka. I dared not to. I did not have the strength to deal with more unwanted emotions. But was it an unwanted emotion? Everyone stared at me with an edgy expression, except for Kakkarot. It seemed that he too had troubles of his own. He was just sitting there not bothering to converse with his friends. He too seemed lost. I shifted my gaze towards the floor when the baka stood up, made his way to the entrance door and just walked out. I looked at his friends and then back at the door. Dare I talk to his idiot friends?
"Where's he off to?"
I asked in a 'I don't care' tone and surprisingly I was answered.
"My dad gets like this sometimes, he'll be okay."
His brat spoke as if it happened all the time, like it was a norm. Was it?
I thought nothing of it and got lost in my thoughts. I already had problems of my own and I would first kill myself, rise from the dead and then kill myself again before I would help him with any of his problems. What a joke…
A hollow sound came from the room up ahead, a light shining through from under the door creating the only light, which dimly lit the hallway I was in. The hallway was long, narrow and dark. The hairs on my neck and back were on end and another faint sound could be heard. A tap dripping ever so quickly with the drips two seconds apart. Something was putting fear into me, but what? I did not want to proceed for fear of what I could find on the other side of the door. The dripping of the tap was now louder and the light on the other side of the door was getting brighter but then fading again, slowly, till again it would be even brighter than before. I decided to walk to the door, but another thing was keeping me back. I was curious, very curious. Funny really, Curiosity killed the cat and something told I was going to be killed.
I slowly made my way to the door and that fear I felt was now more intense. My heart beating out of my chest and beads of sweat dripping down my face, some of it getting into my eyes, blurring my vision a bit. Slowly but surely the door grew bigger as I was nearing it and the dripping of the tap was much louder than before. Drip, drip, drip. Eerie.
I reached the door and forced my hand to grip the handle. I turned the knob and it stuck halfway and that was when something else turned the handle, tugging at it vigorously. I let go of it so damn fast from shock, but I am Vegeta, how could something like this scare me, I'm the one to scare people not this, this ghost or whatever it was. The dripping of the tap was louder than ever and getting louder still.
The fiddling of the door on the other side finished and the door slowly opened, just a tiny bit though. My hand reached out and I pushed it open, gently. It swerved open revealing the light, it pierced at my eyes and I then brought my hand up to my face to cover them. My eyes was slowly adjusting to the divine-like light I slowly saw the contents of the room. The dripping of the tap was slowly going silent. But that drip drip of it was still audible. Not going away completely as if daring me to shut it down.
In the far corner was a chair with a little doll on it. The doll was a bit mangled as if chewed by something with nasty teeth. Looking up I could the source of the light. A light bulb slowly getting brighter and then fading out, over and over again. In the middle of the room was a table and on that table was a medallion. I gasped when I took a closer look at it. The crest of Vegeta. I immediately picked it up and held into the light admiring the golden-red glow it gave off. I was transfixed. Tears welled up in my eyes gently flowing slowly down my cheeks tickling it on its way down. I could not believe what I held in my hands. The only person allowed to wear this was the King. 'Father' I spoke so that only I could hear what I was saying.
Then without warning, the medallion turned to dust in a matter of seconds. I could hardly breath. What sicko would do this to me? But no sooner than I asked myself the mangled doll sitting on the chair laughed and looked at me with its beady, chewed-on-eyes. It then spoke to me in voice I could never forget.
"Vegeta! This is what you have done to me. Look at me you nothing. LOSER. You don't deserve the crest of Kings.. Only true kings can wear it. The crest of Vegeta will never be yours. NEVER!"
And just like that the doll burst into flames and the dripping of the tap was now louder than ever Faster and faster like drums banging in my head threatening to explode. No longer could I handle it. I fell to the floor covering my ears desperately trying to block out the sound curling myself into the foetus position. I was beside myself. I couldn't believe it, how could my father speak those words, how could he? Why don't I deserve the crest of Kings? Why! I still remember what he told me that day he died, those powerful words which will always be so close to me, I thought of it as the only thing to wakeup for in the morning. No I wont believe it, I WONT!
"FATHER!"
I shot up and realized that it was all just a nightmare, a horrible nightmare. Heavy beads of sweat ran down my face soaking my armour's delicate yet robust material. I got my bearings together and saw that the idiots friends were staring at me quite intensely. I couldn't tell if shock or general curiosity were overflowing from their eye's malicious intent. Kakkarot's son was the first to speak…
"Hey Vegeta, what's wrong?"
Oh my, something new. Where did this concern come from? He kept looking at me with such innocence. Could I deny a face like that… Oh, but of course.
"Mind your own damn business. The lot of you"
I did not bother to look at any of them as I made my way to the door. I dared not look back for fear of what I might do to them or was it the fear I had of what help they might offer me?. I hated people staring! I hated other people in general, Period.
I found that the brighter of the two Namakian Sun's was slowly rising heating the day even further. The only relief was a sweet yet strong breeze. The landscape darkened a bit as the clouds above drifted slowly overhead bringing some tranquillity to my fucked-up self. Something nice to look at after my little 'adventure' I would say. I hated the fact that they saw me like that, so vulnerable, so weak. I HATED IT!
I just stood there a moment soaking up the feel of this planets natural tranquillity…
There were a lot of things I hated, but when it came to a breathtaking view of natural beauty, it was something that I just couldn't pass up. The trees were gently swaying, dancing in tune to the rhythmic beat of the wind. All the splendour melded together, creating the effect of a carefully choreographed orchestra, and the breeze being the skilful conductor. Perfect. I remembered how sometimes I would sneak out of the palace, ignoring my duty, to soak up the Vegetan music, which the fiery landscape created. The perfect painting, the centre-piece to the worlds most exclusive gallery.
I then turned around a guess who I saw. Kakkarot was sitting on a rugged hill overlooking the expanse. Altogether seeming lost? Whatever, I thought to myself. I have my own problems and I sure as hell wasn't going to go up to him and ask 'what's wrong?'
Time was slowly going by and I just realized something. I took the scouter and pressed it a few times for the whereabouts of the Dragonballs that I hid to show. All five of them were still on the same spot, but something made me sweat. Freiza's unmistakable power came up on the scouter as well. He must have discovered the Dragonballs were gone from his ship. I could only imagine his anger. I could only imagine that all of it was directed at me… Kakkarot on the other hand was just sitting there on his spot over looking the expanse of the planet. I could care less I told myself, but something was off. From what I could gather with the small talk I overheard from his friends is that he is a happy-go-lucky person with no cares whatsoever. His face was gloomy and the overall aura of his presence was screaming for help. He did not move an inch from his spot, just sat there… looking. I sighed. Everyone had there problems so why am I like a fussy mother worrying over her childs problems? Gross!
"Kakkarot, its time to go. Freiza has discovered that five of the Dragonballs were gone from his ship. His on his way to the place I stashed it. We have to go now!"
Still he sat, not daring to move. I repeated myself again.
"Kakkarot! Its time we get a move on!"
He quickly turned around looking me straight in the face.
"Oh, sorry I didn't hear you there. Its just that… Never mind"
Now he got my attention. The last part to his sentence was a bit interesting, but I let it go, I was curious but not a busy-body. He stood up and patted himself on his ass, getting rid of the dust and dirt on his gi. He smiled at me, but that was no smile I received. It was a shadowy smile hiding the real feelings he had bottled up. I dared not venture further. I had things to take care of…
"Freiza discovered that the Dragonballs were gone from his ship. He knows where I hid them and he just needs those five to summon the Dragon. We have to go, right now!"
The last part was more of a command than gesture. But he obliged nonetheless.
"Dad, we can feel Freiza's power!" The shout came from his son.
The others came out from the cave with a most worried expression glued to their faces. Too much drama for my taste. I looked at Kakkarot and he nodded.
"You guys will have to stay here. Its too dangerous if you came along. I hate to say it but you will just be a distraction if you came with" His voice was kind yet it had that ring of authority on the others. They understood immediately and nodded in understanding.
Off we were to 'rescue' the five other Dragonballs. Kakkarot flew ahead of me. How fearless he was. It was nice to see that he had Saijin in him. I picked up my speed to catch up to him.
There we have it, the fourth chapter. I do hope that you guys really enjoyed this one.
Stick with me on this as I plan to finish it.
Thanks again…. The next chapter will be up soon. (YAY!)
