Chapter 9: Pledge
Goku has been gone for three months now. Vegeta disappeared after the funeral, so all I had left to do was train Gohan, as I promised. He's about as strong as me now, only a few levels apart actually.
Right now we're taking a break, and as I stare into the clear-blue sky above I can't help but think of Goku.
Goku. He was on my mind a lot. He was such a great person, why did he have to die so young? I guess the good do die young, as the saying goes.
And since Goku died Bulma invited Gohan, Chi-chi and I to live with her. It would be easier for all of us this way, especially after the expenses for Goku's funeral. We scattered his ashes at the Lookout, over the planet he loved and protected for so long.
But our sunny little patch for sparring was near the place Goku and Gohan and I had trained so often. It was nicer here when you took a break. The sky seemed endless and deep blue, and the sun never seemed to get too bright or hot. A breeze would blow by and the tall grass of the nearby meadow seemed to wave at you.
"Katie, tell me a story about my dad. Something from before I was born."
"Like what?"
"Anything." He sighed. We were both tired, and we both missed Goku very much.
"Well, he was already strong when he was eight. He took on the entire Red Ribbon Army. He destroyed the Red Ribbon Army. They wanted the Dragonballs and your dad needed them to help a friend. Everyone thought that the Red Ribbon Army wanted to conquer the world, but when your dad got to their base he found out that their leader wanted the Dragonballs to make himself taller."
"What?"
"Yeah, weird, huh? The leader was even shorter than Krillen."
"Yeah, go figure. Hey, weren't you suppose to go to Capsule Corp. today for something?"
"Oh yeah, I was! Darn it, I forgot! Bulma wanted to test me so she could place me at a job at Capsule Corp."
"You better hurry."
"Yeah, we're done for today, Gohan. You coming?"
"I think I'll stay out here for a while. If I go home now mom will make me study. Its pretty here."
"Alright, I'll see you at dinner, okay? Bye!" I teleported right to my room and changed clothes, then I ran to the other side of Capsule Corp.
Bulma said to go to the east entrance and go to the receptionist. Then she would direct me to my testing room, and then once I was done Bulma would meet up with me.
I followed those directions and the receptionist directed me to a large room. Only one other person was in there, and he looked official. He wasn't much older than me, probably in his early twenties. He had glasses and blonde hair. He looked English.
"You're Katie Son?"
"Actually here its Son Katie."
"Oh, sorry, I forgot that. I just transferred here from another CC organization. You speak English very well." he commented.
"It's my native language. Long story."
"Very well then, my name is Brian Smith. I'm going to test you today. Are you ready?"
"I think so."
"Don't be nervous, Ms. Briefs said you would have no trouble. She thinks highly of you, you know."
"Yeah, we're close."
"Alright, anyway, first I'll have you identify some of our products. Follow me." We walked to a table and there were many different gizmos lying about.
"Alright, I don't think you'll have any trouble with the first one."
Each gizmo was labeled with a number. I assumed Brian's clipboard had he answers and he'd mark how I did.
"The first one is a Capsule." I said, matter-of-factly.
"What else can you tell me about it?"
"It looks like a vehicle-type capsule. Possibly an airplane, or hover-scooter."
"Very good, and next…"
And the rest of the test went smoothly, I thought. After that he had me rebuild a disassembled computer hard-drive, and then I had to decipher some blueprints.
This is great. I always wanted to be a scientist. Though I was leaning more toward biology than engineering.
Then that test came up. The biology test. I had to identify different animals, then I was asked about classification. One question dealt with an animal's features and what kind of animal it most likely was, such as mammal, insect, reptile, etc.
"Well Katie, you did very well indeed. You scored high on everything, so that means you get to choose. We have openings in Capsule Development, Prototype Testing, Aerospace Engineering, Weapons Development, Field Zoology, or even top Assistant to Ms. Briefs. She definitely would like that since it's only her."
"Well, I did always want to work with animals, but something's telling me to go with the Assistant job. Bulma works so much, and I'd love to work with her."
"We all would, but frankly you tested higher than I did on my annual evaluation. Alright, you'll start next Monday for orientation."
"Great! See you then!"
I was happy. Extremely happy, so happy that happy doesn't begin to cover how happy I was. Did I mention I was happy?
How many kids my age get such luck? I didn't even go to college and here I am with a job that would pay well and its something I want to do.
Goku would be happy for me right now. He wouldn't want us to be sad forever.
Just as I exited the room Bulma turned the corner.
"Katie! You're done already? How'd it go?" she called as she waved and ran up to me.
"Meet your new assistant!" I said.
"You're kidding! Get out!" she squealed.
"Nope, I got the job! Wait, do scientists squeal?"
"Who cares! You did it! This is great, now I can actually get some sleep." Bulma walked with me as I headed back toward the living quarters area of CC.
"What do you mean by that? You don't look like you haven't been sleeping."
"The wonders of makeup, kid. You really should think of wearing makeup sometime, I bet you'd be really pretty then."
"But then I'd be a girl! Heaven forbid!" I laughed. "But seriously, what's wrong?"
"Oh, just over worked. That's all." I could tell she was hiding something, but I just could figure out what it was.
What's that smell? I've never smelt something like that before. Usually my instincts tell me what it is, like food or a person, but this is new. Its almost like I'm smelling two people at once.
"Bulma, you're not pregnant, are you?" I asked. That was the scent, I just knew it.
"What? How did you find out?" she stopped and turned to face me. She looked really surprised and shocked.
"I smelt it. I'm a Sayjin, remember? I have a tail and everything." I said. She smiled at that.
"Yes, I am pregnant. In fact, I just found out last night. I took a home pregnancy test because I've been feeling crappy lately and I thought maybe that was it. I didn't really think I was though. I just came from our on-site doctor, and he said I was two months along."
"Wow, you don't look it. Wait, you broke up with Yamcha before Goku died. Yamcha couldn't be the father, right?"
"Right, it's not him." Bulma sighed. "Can we finish this somewhere else?"
"Oh, sure. Lead the way." Bulma headed for the housing section as we were before and we stopped in the living room. She sat on the couch and I sat on the loveseat next to her.
"The baby has already started kicking."
"What? Really?" I replied. That seemed odd.
"Yeah, I thought it was too early, too."
"…So, who's the father?"
"You won't believe it." She paused, and in the heat of the moment I leaned closer, "It's Vegeta."
"Nani?" I nearly fell out of my seat. "Vegeta? Really? But how did you- how did he- when did you-"
"It just happened. Afterwards he left and I haven't seen him since."
"Well now it makes sense. Sayjin children mature faster that human children, so your baby is further along than a human child would be."
"How do you know?"
"I got Vegeta to talk to me about Sayjin anatomy a while back. Where is Vegeta, do you know?" I asked.
"No, I don't. You could find him, right? You can teleport, and I know he's somewhere on the planet."
"I'll look for him. He should know that he's going to be king now, right?" I laughed.
"Owe, the baby just kicked again."
"Can I…?" I gestured to her stomach.
"Oh, sure."
I knelt down and placed my hand on her stomach. A charge went through my hand, and it felt like my SG, but different. I jerked my hand away from the shock.
"Katie, what is it?"
"It's a boy, I can tell you that. This kid is going to be special, Bulma. I can feel it. This kid is going to be important, he'll do something to change everything one day." My tone was so plain and clear she didn't argue. I don't know how I knew it, but I did. "I swear to protect this child from anyone who may want to hurt him."
"How do you know all of this?" she asked softly.
"I just do, Bulma. I just do."
"You better go find Vegeta. I want to tell him as soon as possible. Too bad Goku…"
"Yeah. I'll be back when I find Vegeta."
I stood up and searched for Vegeta's Ki. Instant Transmission varies with the person, so I don't necessarily have to locate Ki to teleport, but it's the quickest way. I could just think of the place I want to go, but it isn't as reliable. I tried to do that once to go to Otherworld because I wanted to see Goku, but I messed it up somehow and ended up on Planet Yardratt. And since Goku's dead he technically has no Ki for me to locate. I really miss him.
I located Vegeta's Ki and teleported away. For a few seconds you're in an absolute nothingness when you teleport, the void I call it.
The Void is an area of absolute nothingness. There is no light, no color, no smell, absolute deprivation of the senses. Its hard to get through, so it's a good thing its only for a second.
When I came out of the Void I immediately felt pressure around my neck.
"Katrin, how nice of you to pop in." Vegeta had grabbed me from behind.
"Vegeta, have you gone crazy! Let me go!" I choked out.
"But this is so much fun." He snarled.
"Vegeta, I don't feel like fighting you right now." He let me go and I fell to my knees, inhaling deeply and coughing. "How did you do that?"
"Its simple. When you teleport you Ki travels faster than your body, so I sensed you coming."
"Ingenious, Vegeta." I said as I got up. "Your skills have improved quite a bit since last we met."
"And your's haven't." he spat.
"It's not so easy when you're training someone else as well. I promised Goku I'd train Gohan for him."
"While you've been training Kakorot's spawn I've trained myself harder than ever. Soon I will become a Super Sayjin, just wait and see."
"I was going to say the same thing."
"Like a female could achieve that level of power."
"Damn you, Vegeta. Too damn arrogant for your own good. I didn't come here to argue, I came here to get you. Bulma wants to see you."
"Damn females, never get any peace." He said to himself.
"Its important, Vegeta. It's about that night." I replied. He knew what I meant because I saw his eyes flicker.
"And why should I go see her? So she can talk about how special it was and how she wants me to stay? I'm a warrior, Katrin, I don't get close to anyone."
"If you come with me now, I'll spar with you later. You know I'm stronger than anyone else on the planet. It would help you obtain your goal."
"Oh, fine! Lets get this over with!" he placed his hand on my shoulder and I teleported us back to Capsule Corp.
Do I know how to manipulate Vegeta or what? I just hope this goes well.
Bulma was still sitting on the couch, and as soon as we appeared she stood to greet us.
"I'll wait in the next room." I said. I wanted to know Vegeta's reaction, but I didn't want them to know. I walked out to the hallway and stopped, lowered my Ki so Vegeta wouldn't sense me, and waited.
"So woman, what is it that is so damn important that my training was interrupted?" I heard Vegeta bark.
"Do you remember that night we shared together?"
"I've been trying my best to forget. I told you, it was a mistake. Now Katrin knows!"
"Vegeta, please, keep it down! Someone might come in here wanting to know what all the noise is about."
"Fine, but only because if someone did come in I'd kill them." He snorted.
That almost made me laugh. It's funny because it's true.
"Vegeta, I'm pregnant." Bulma said nervously.
"So you finally allowed yourself to be knocked up by that loser boyfriend of yours, what does that have to do with me?"
"Yamcha isn't the father. We really haven't been together since Goku died. I went to the doctor today, and he told me I was two months along. You're the father of this child."
"What? I most certainly am not!"
"Vegeta, you're the only person I've been with, ever. Yamcha and I had agreed to wait until we were married."
"You have to get rid of it. I will not have an abomination in the royal bloodline!" Vegeta yelled.
"Unless you plan on sleeping with Katie then you'll have to if you want to continue your bloodline anyway!" Bulma screamed.
"She's only now of age! Besides, I wouldn't mix my blood with that of someone in Kakorot's line!"
"I will not get rid of this child, Vegeta. And if you're as much of a Sayjin as you say you are then you'll help me raise him!"
"If you don't get rid of it, I will!"
I felt Vegeta's Ki rise and I heard Bulma scream. I ran and stood before Bulma, trying to protect her.
"Katrin, move out of the way!" he was growling and in one hand he had a Ki blast that surely could kill a human.
"No, Vegeta. I swore to protect this child, and I plan on doing so as long as there is breath in my body."
"You know I can't let it live, you know my pride!" he yelled.
"Yes, I do. That's why I'm stopping you. It doesn't have to be this way, Vegeta. I may not know the future anymore, but I know this child is important. That's another reason I can't let you kill him."
"Then I'll kill you both!"
"If you wanted that you would have done so already. I won't let you hurt this child or Bulma." He went to open his mouth, but I cut him off, "I realize that you are much stronger than me, but I will not let you harm this child or his mother." I stared him straight in the eye, not flinching or showing fear. Just like on Namek, if he knew I was scared he would go ahead and attack. He lowered his hand and stood erect.
"Fine, but don't you think for a moment I will stand by and let it live." Then he turned and left.
Once he was gone I let out a huge sigh of relief. I'll admit, Vegeta does scare me sometimes, but I think I know him well enough to stand up to him. I knew he would feel little remorse for killing me or anyone else, though he might be a little hesitant to kill me. He was training to become a Super Sayjin because of the threat I knew was coming but that didn't make him a good guy.
Bulma fell to her knees and began to cry. I knelt down and comforted her. Her hot tears were falling on my shoulder and I just did what I could.
"Shh, it'll be okay. I won't let him hurt you or the baby."
"I just thought… I didn't think he'd be so angry."
"Vegeta has a high sense of pride. To him, this child must look like a stain. I'm not defending Vegeta, I'm just clarifying the situation. But trust me, Vegeta will try to get to the baby. But I promise to keep you and him safe."
"Then I guess this would be a good time to ask you to be the godmother?" she tried a laugh.
"Of course I will. Now come on, stop crying and lets go tell Chi-chi and Gohan the good news."
Seven moths later Trunks Briefs was born at the Capsule Corp. hospital. He had purple hair and a matching tail. When Bulma let me hold him he opened his eyes and smiled at me, like he knew me.
"Hi little guy, I'm Katie. I'm your godmother."
He wrapped his little tail around my wrist and went back to sleep. I handed him back to Bulma and carefully unwrapped his tail. I knew how painful getting your tail yanked was, and this little guy didn't need that so soon after birth.
That night Bulma went to sleep easily and Trunks was taken to his room. Bulma's room was just two rooms down the hall and my room was the same the other direction.
I don't know if it was warrior's instinct or maternal instinct, but I went to Trunks' room and watched him sleep. We made sure his room didn't face the moonlight so he wouldn't transform on us. Like Vegeta had told me, at 18 a Sayjin is mature, so once Trunks turns 18 his tail can be removed. A child-Sayjin's tail will always grow back, but not an adult's. Weird, huh?
I was sitting on the window seat guarding the precious cargo I had sworn to protect. I looked at the bassinet, not seeing Trunks but listening to him. His eyes and hair may have come from his human side, but the rest of him was Sayjin.
I nearly fell asleep like this, but I jolted awake when I felt something brush by me. I jumped up and saw Vegeta staring into the bassinet.
"Come to see your son?" I walked over and stood next to Vegeta. My reflexes would be quick enough to stop Vegeta if he tried anything. I had taken Vegeta's advice and I kept training while Bulma was pregnant. Anytime I felt his Ki I'd automatically go to Bulma's side, just in case.
"I came to destroy the abomination."
"I won't let you. Even now you want to kill him, even after seeing him?"
"My blood runs through those veins, but so does human blood."
Trunks moved and started to cry. My maternal instinct kicked in and I picked him up. If Bulma heard him then she'd see Vegeta and she didn't need that right now. He wasn't hungry or wet, he was just crying because Vegeta woke him up.
"You woke him up." I said, then I looked at Trunks, "It'll be okay, little one. You're safe as long as I'm around."
"I doubt that, Katrin. I'm going to kill it, and if you try to stop me I'll kill you, too."
"You'd really kill the last of your people?"
"I killed Nappa." He growled.
"Look at him, Vegeta. Just look at him, he's your son."
I held Trunks away a little so Vegeta could get a good look at him.
"His hair and eyes are wrong. He is no son of mine."
"Don't look at the faults, look at him as a whole. He is Sayjin and human."
"He's small, even for a baby. And his Ki is really low."
"Vegeta, you just can't accept him, can you? Yes, he was a little underweight and he was born with a low power level, but that can be changed. The fact that he is your son cannot."
I saw something in Vegeta flicker. His eyes changed for a second, but only a second. I believe that was recognition.
"I will allow him to live, but I don't not claim him in the royal bloodline. He is a human with Sayjin blood, and no more. But don't you think this means I'm going to play daddy."
Trunks stopped crying and was sleeping. I turned to put him back into the bassinet and when I turned back Vegeta was gone.
"Don't worry about your dad. One day he'll change his tune."
