Disclaimer: I don't own Dragonball Z.
A/N: Thank you guys for the reviews and not giving up on this story… I promise, at least once a week there'll be an update… I think I'll write two or three chapters of Until we meet again, then one of this story, then again two or three of the other, one of this and so on… This way I won't forget you!
Chapter 10: "Destination: Namek"
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One week has passed since Bulma had been kidnapped. One afternoon Son Goku sat alone in his cabin of his ship, staring down at his desk, or rather, what was lying on his desk. It was the map of the Treasure of Power, one of three magic maps that showed the whereabouts of those seven spheres. But it wasn't the map his mind was focused on. His thoughts were somewhere else. No matter how hard he tried to concentrate on this map, they always wandered back to his family.
His family.
The thought was still strange. ChiChi and Gohan. His soon-to-be-wife and son. Just a few days ago, he would've never thought that his life would make those turns. One day he was Son Goku, best man of the General, whose life it was to go on one mission after another and the next day he was Son Goku, father of a five years old son, who planned to quit his work for the General as soon as this last mission was over.
No matter what the others said, he couldn't and didn't want to work anymore for the man who had lied to him in all those years. The man, who kept his heritage from him. In the last twenty-five years he had thought that he was the grandson of the legendary Son Gohan. All his life he had worked to become like him. But just through one simple coincidence that he was at the right place at the right time (or was it at the wrong place at the wrong time?) he got to know that he was one of them. Kakarotto. That was the name he got as he was born, as a Saiyajin. Maybe it was just a coincidence, but maybe it was fate that he had to find out about his true heritage like this. The anger towards the General, the anger and hatred towards Vegeta and the other Saiyajins that he felt flowing through his body could maybe help to rescue Bulma from the cruel Prince. His Prince!
No, he didn't see this monster as his Prince. He might be born as a Saiyajin, but he was raised as a human. But the strength of the Saiyajin brought him to where he was now. And the anger always made him stronger. Older soldiers looked up to him because of his success and the place he had under the General. But Goku asked himself if he would have been able to become what he was now, when he was just a human. Probably not. He had to admit that the Saiyajin was a part of him, a part that he didn't want to miss, no matter how much he despised this race.
It had been a hard decision to turn his back to the General. He was the man who had raised him after all. He had given him chances and the education most of his friends could just dream of. But the knowledge that he had a family waiting for him made it easier. He had sworn to himself that he would do everything for them. He knew that ChiChi let their son study much and he really appreciated it. He knew how important a good education was and Gohan was smart. For his age he had already learned a lot. Goku didn't know as much as the boy as he was at his age.
Of course he'd rather been somewhere else, playing with some other kids, mostly kids from the streets, like Krillin. First as he got older he saw the importance of studying, but he didn't want to do it alone. So he somehow convinced the General and Son Gohan, who had still been alive at that time, that Krillin could have the same education he had. That's how his friend came to live with the old turtle hermit.
An important part of his education had been the art of fighting. And that was one thing he wanted his son to learn as well, even though he's already pretty good, as he could tell after the few spars he had with his son in the last days. Gohan was really promising. He's already much stronger than Goku had been at his age. Piccolo had really been a good trainer and when they kept up this training, he was sure that the boy would become even stronger than his father.
Goku knew that ChiChi wanted Gohan to become a scholar, but he also knew that they couldn't stop Gohan, when he wanted to go to sea. How often had Gohan told him in the last few days that he wanted to become exactly like him? That must be the Saiyajinblood in him that was itching for some adventures. He just wondered if it was a good or a bad thing that Gohan and ChiChi were on his ship.
Suddenly he looked up startled, as he felt two arms wrapping around his neck, but he relaxed, as he saw who it was. "Hey ChiChi," he greeted softly.
"Hey," she answered smiling, "what were you thinking of?"
"I don't know… My life… The last few days… Us… Everything is still so confusing…" Goku said. "I guess I'm still searching for the answer to where I belong…"
ChiChi let go of his neck and sat down on a chair next to his. She laid her hand over his and squeezed it lightly. "I know where you belong. You belong to Gohan and to me. And to your friends. For us it's not important who you are. It doesn't matter if you're a Saiyajin or a Human as long as you're still you. Stop worrying about those unimportant things. You have to concentrate on how to get Bulma and the sphere back."
"You're right ChiChi," Goku sighed, even though he still wasn't completely convinced and turned his attention back to the map.
"Do you have any idea where this Vegeta is going?" ChiChi asked, also looking at his map.
Goku nodded. "I guess that he's on his way to steal the next sphere. Look here, those two spheres that are slowly moving are his and up there in the north, just across the oceans, are two other spheres. Not that far away, also in the north, is another sphere, but it doesn't look like that this one will be his next target. I think that the next one will be there," he said and pointed to a small x a bit more in the south. "We are right now here and I think that tomorrow we'll reach this ravine." He showed her a small line on the map. "As you see Vegeta is already there. When we got through this ravine you'll arrive at an island."
"And what island is it?" ChiChi wanted to know.
"It's Namek," Goku told her.
"Namek?" they suddenly heard a voice asking. They turned around and saw Gohan standing there. "Isn't that the island where Piccolo comes from?"
"Hey Gohan," Goku said cheerfully and motioned for the boy to come and sit on his lap. Gohan grinned and took the invitation. "You're right. That's the reason why I have to talk to Piccolo. I've heard that this ravine should be a bit dangerous, because at some places the water is too low for a ship to pass through and there should also be reefs."
ChiChi swallowed hard. "Isn't there another way to go to Namek?"
Gohan carefully studied the map that was lying in front of him and began scribbling something down on a piece of paper, while Goku answered ChiChi's question. "Yes, there is another way to Namek. It would lead us around the ravine and we would arrive on the other side of the island. But that would take too long and time is something we don't have."
"Dad, may I say something?" Gohan asked thoughtfully.
"Sure Gohan, what is it?"
"You said that Vegeta will reach the ravine today, but according to this map and my calculations he won't be able to get through it until the sun sets. Because of the reefs I think that he won't sail during the night, so shouldn't it be possible for us to catch a bit up to him, when we sail all night and reach the ravines tomorrow morning?" the young boy wanted to know.
Goku scratched his head and looked at the map. "You're right Gohan. I don't think that Vegeta would be so stupid and continue his way through the ravine when he doesn't see anything. That could really work for our advantage," he said, smiling down proudly at his son. "But now, let's go outside. I still have to talk to Piccolo and maybe we can spar later."
Gohan nodded eagerly and jumped down from his father's lap. Goku also got up and padded his son on the head before he left his cabin together with him. ChiChi just shook her head and followed them, muttering under her breath, "Like father like son."
~*~
At the same time on another ship Bulma sat on 'her' bed and stared out of the small porthole. The only things that she could see was the blue sea, the blue sky, some white clouds and white seagulls flying over the sea. She groaned and flopped down on her bed. She knew that if she didn't get out of this cabin soon, she would get crazy and she had just been on this ship for one week.
The only chances to leave this room were to the meals, that means in the morning, to lunch and to dinner and when she had to go to the bathroom. Much to her surprise Vegeta always got her when he wanted to eat and they had the meals together. But then they either ignored each other or provoked the other until they were engaged in a fight. That was the funny part of being on this ship. For some reason she didn't want to miss those fights with him. Those fights were the only highlights in her gloomy life on this ship and she always looked forward to the meals to get some entertainment.
But the time between those meals was just too long and she was quickly growing bored. She wanted to get out of this small and stinky cabin. She needed to get some fresh air, see the sun and feel it on her skin. Well, she just had to ask him, if she could go outside for a while. She sat up again and knocked at the wall, hoping that Vegeta would be in his cabin and hear her.
And it didn't take long until she could hear some shuffling on the other side of the wall and then on the corridor. She heard how a key was turned in the lock of a door and then saw how it opened. "What do you want, woman?" Vegeta asked with his typical scowl on his face. Bulma silently wondered, if the guy even knew how to smile. "Don't tell me you're hungry again, because dinner will be served in two hours."
"Don't worry, I'm not hungry," Bulma told him, biting on her tongue to keep herself from telling him that her name was Bulma. That could just set him off and destroy her chance to leave the cabin. "I just wanted to ask you, if I can go on deck a bit. This small cabin is starting to drive me crazy."
Vegeta grunted. "You could be lucky that I just wanted to go on deck, so I allow you to come with me."
"Really?" Bulma clapped her hand in excitement and then went over to Vegeta, hugging him, not feeling his body stiffen in her good mood. "Thank you so much!"
"Whatever woman." He roughly shoved her away from him. "Come."
Without saying anything Bulma followed him through the corridor to the deck. She had to shield her eyes from the glaring sun, but as soon as her eyes had adjusted to the surroundings a huge smile spread on her face. She took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh and salty air of the sea, ignoring all the stares she received from Vegeta's crew. She looked around and suddenly spotted something not that far away from the ship and getting closer any minute that let her hold her breath. "Vegeta, what's that?" she asked astonished. There was a ravine directly in front of them. The gray walls on the left and right side were rising steeply and were at least one hundred meters high, if not higher.
"This is the ravine that leads to the island Namek," Vegeta told her. "Our next destination."
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So, sorry that it took a bit longer with this chapter, but I had to write another one of Uwma before I could continue with this.
I hope you like it! Please review!!
Eternally yours
ChibiChibi