Chapter 5 – Return to Earth

Goku's eyes surveyed the landscape. Saw Uub lying face-down on the ground. Goku's mouth grinned.

So, thought Baby. I suppose I have that effect on people when I exit their bodies. He got up. Suddenly, he heard above him, "Goku! We've come to help!"

It was Trunks. He and Goten were flying overhead, having gotten rid of the damaged-beyond-repair spaceship. They had also hidden the Black Star Dragonballs in a safe place. Baby looked up at them. His eyes returned to black and white, like Goku's. He spoke to them in Goku's voice.

"Guys!" he called. "Over here! Something's happened to Uub! It must be that android Dr. Myuu built!"

Goten and Trunks flew over to Uub. Trunks examined him quickly. "He seems to be in a coma or something," he said. "He won't be waking up for a while. That android must have escaped!"

"That's what it looks like," said Baby in Goku's voice. "We should probably look for him!" He pointed behind them. "I saw some kind of grey gooey stuff fly off in that direction!"

Goten and Trunks nodded in agreement. They both turned their backs and tried to sense the ki of the android. In an instant, Baby had one hand on each of their necks.

"What did he call it?" he asked, in his own high-pitched voice. His hands began to glow. "Kamehameha, was it?"

Piccolo, meditating in his quiet cave nearby, sensed something wrong. Being the most finely tuned at sensing ki, he alone could tell what others could not: there was something evil in Goku's ki. He snapped his eyes open.

Goku, what's happened to you? he thought.

"You can get out of my way," said Baby, as he picked up Uub by one leg and hurled him into a mountain. He flew back toward Capsule Corp, where Vegeta, Bulma, Chi-chi, Gohan, Videl, Pan, Hercule, and Mr. Buu were waiting for the return of the warriors.

Baby entered through the hatch where the ship was supposed to land. Everyone stared at Goku.

"Goku?" asked Bulma uncertainly. "What happened? Where are the others?"

Goku's scratched-up body added to the illusion. "The ship...got badly damaged..." said Baby in Goku's voice. "...on the machine planet. I had to...come back here by teleporting. Uub...I lost Uub. And Trunks and Goten...they're...dead..."

Chi-chi's eyes widened in shock. "What? Trunks and G-Goten? D-dead?"

"Vegeta, is it true!" asked Bulma desperately.

Vegeta closed his eyes solemnly. "I cannot sense them. How did this happen, Kakarot?"

Hmm. There is another. Who is this Kakarot? thought Baby. Only when he realized that Vegeta was staring at him did he speak. "Hmm? Oh...sorry, Vegeta. It happened on the machine planet. There was an android...liquid metal. He snuck up on them and killed them one at a time. I couldn't stop it."

Vegeta eyed him critically. Then he lowered his head. "It's true, then," he said, trembling. "Damn it! After all of this, you had to go and get them killed!"

"Sorry," Baby said coldly. Pan stared up at him.

"Grampa?" she said, her eyes filling with tears. "D-don't you feel sad about this? I can't believe it's really happened..."

"I used up all my tears trying to get out of there alive!" said Baby. "Sorry if I can't bring them back for you now!" Everyone stared. He looked around. "I'm...I'm sorry," he said. "Guess I'm just having a hard time with this."

Vegeta nodded. "I understand. Goku, could I speak with you for a moment? There's something I'm still not clear on."

"Sure," said Baby, and followed Vegeta out the door. Once they were outside, Vegeta took a long, hard look at Goku's face. Then he punched it as hard as he could. Baby was thrown onto the ground. "Oof!" he yelled. "Vegeta! What was that for!"

"Idiot!" yelled Vegeta. He flew over and kicked Baby farther away from the others. "If you're going to impersonate Kakarot you should at least do your homework! The minute you started speaking I knew. And you didn't even respond when I called you Goku!"

Baby glared at Vegeta. His eyes turned back to their blood-red color. He spoke in his normal voice. "I suppose I need to get better at this," he spat. "Still, it makes no difference. There is no one here who can defeat me."

"Perhaps there isn't. But if you don't think I'll fight you anyway, then you don't know Saiyans!"

Baby smirked. "I've already killed two 'Saiyans.' What chance do you have?"

Vegeta screamed and became a Super Saiyan 2. "Fight me, you bastard! And tell me what you've done to Kakarot!"

Baby went Super Saiyan 2 as well. "Oh, I'll tell you. We'll start off with a reasonably even battle, before I completely annihilate you!" He charged.

"Dad!" yelled Pan, tugging at his jacket. "Something must have happened to Grampa! They're fighting! Can't you do something?"

Gohan was shaking. "I..." he stammered. "I..."

"Gohan, what's wrong!" asked Videl.

Piccolo flew as fast as he could. Seems like Vegeta has Goku under control for now, he thought. I'd better tell the others, though.

After briefly explaining who he was, Baby charged. His elbow connected with Vegeta's, making the ground shake. He jumped back. Vegeta flew in and began fighting with Baby extremely fast. It was getting dark outside. Vegeta and Baby fought their way into the sky, neither one of them missing a beat. It was a ferocious battle.

Finally, Vegeta ducked unexpectedly. He kicked upward into Baby's gut and made him gasp for air. Vegeta brought his elbow down on Baby's head, and he rocketed downward into the ground. Vegeta lost no time. He flew down after Baby, picked him up by his arm, and threw him back into the air, hitting him with a big ki blast. Baby was hurt.

Vegeta spoke. "I bet you had an easy time taking Kakarot's body," he said. "That's because Kakarot wasn't trying his hardest. He didn't want to kill his friend. I do not have that weakness. I will not hesitate to kill if the need arises."

"Grrr," growled Baby. "I still have more power than you, Vegeta! AAAAAAARGH!" his aura shot up, and he teleported next to Vegeta, fighting furiously again.