Ch 2 - A Great Sign Off

Bulma wiped the sweat off her brow as she shakily stood back up from the hard ground. She'd just finished the final touches on her latest project: the fastest spaceship known to man and alien alike. She'd just need to run diagnostics and fix any errors before it was ready to go. Her daughter-in-law was very helpful with this project. After all, she and Ana disassembled and reassembled the original time machine from Cell years ago.

"Okay, Mom, looks like the dash is set and ready. I've adjusted the gravity controls, so you should take a look at it," Ana announced as she exited the ship with a tablet reading results from the tests she conducted.

"Alright, I'll have a peek," Bulma nodded, stretching her arms behind her as she shuffled into the ship to view the control panel.

Vegeta leaned against the middle column, his arms crossed and eyes closed as she approached. After a minute passed as she checked the readings, Vegeta spoke, "I don't have to go, woman."

Bulma glanced up to her husband, gave him a knowing smile, then looked back at what she was doing, "You and I both know that's not true. You need to rest, Vegeta. And you're not going to get it by staying here worried about me all the time. The kids understand."

He grumbled at her stubbornness before Ana added, "I think it's best, Dad. It's better for the kids to see you leave proud and strong. You know how much they look up to you. Besides, we'll take good care of Bulma for you. You know that."

"Oh, that reminds me!" Bulma shrieked before shuffling herself out of the ship towards one of the work desks and pulling a capsule. "Before I forget, you should take this now, hon. It's new battle armor. You should wear one tomorrow before you set off for the kids to see!"

And so, the once proud saiyan prince stood in the Capsule Corp lawn that next day in saiyan warrior armor and an adorned cape for his wife's entertainment. At first, he'd refused to wear the cape as it made him feel unsettled with the idea of bringing back memories of being a prince, but his wife was very persistent. She always had been.

Bulma had, of course, set up a party full of her family and friends. Typical human customs which he had grown used to, though still despised even after all this time. He couldn't say no to the buffet and it was the last time he'd get to see them all, so he'd let it slide. His eyes scanned the yard and he watched the party from a tree.

"Don't go off just to die, you hear me?" a familiar voice called from his side to which he turned and identified easily.

"I won't, Lettiche. That isn't the saiyan way," he answered.

"Make us proud, 'kay? Don't go engaging in a fight just because you can. It needs to mean something. You once taught me that a saiyan elite picks his battles and knows he has won before he takes them. So you best win out there. Otherwise I'm going to have to drag you back and teach you what for, old man."

This made Vegeta chuckle, "I'm sure you would. You've grown strong."

Pride flashed across her face and she bowed, "Thank you, sir."

One of his hands rested on her shoulder as she stood back straight, "It's up to you now. Keep them all in check."

She chuckled, "I will. Mom's already said the same thing when Shorts was declared Prince."

It wasn't long before the party came to its climax as old friends and family gathered together to see the saiyan king off on his final adventure. Vegeta's cape gently pulled in a slight breeze, the only sound on the Capsule Corp property. Eerie but powerful. These were the people he had come to know and learn to protect. The people he had come to know as his people. No longer strictly the saiyan race but now the mix of saiyan, human, and even namekian. Those who were present, but also those who had passed. Vegeta could feel their presence there, be it real or his imagination.

King Vegeta took his first step, then another and another, towards his ship. As he passed, the people gave a nod or encouraging words. He couldn't help but ask how he, Vegeta the once proud Prince of all Saiyans, came to realize the respect that he'd always declared in his youth. He'd wondered what made him deserve it after everything he'd done. But then again, his very thought process proved why. Only humans were foolish enough to convince him that he was more than just space scum.

"Find some young ladies out there, 'eh, Vegeta?" the elderly Krillin joked.

"Nothing can take you down," the grown Goten encouraged.

"Go prove you're stronger than my dad when you get there, 'kay?" the grown Gohan asked.

"Can you make a light show at night so we can see?!" a young teen saiyan hybrid asked as he passed.

Vegeta was mostly down the aisle of people as he approached his family at the end by his ship. His daughter excitedly waved, but he didn't miss the quiver of her lips as she held back a sob. He stopped before her, remaining straight and looking forwards, "Do not cry. A saiyan warrior does not need to rely on anyone but themself. We are a proud warrior race and as such we will not let petty things hold us back."

He tilted his head to see her face as her back straightened and her face hardened. She nodded strongly and as he looked straight again, she whispered, "I love you, Dad."

The man took another step and turned to address his grandson Shorts, "Your shoe's untied."

Shorts looked surprised and looked down to see that it was a lie, "Oh, ha ha."

"Dad…"

"Son…" Vegeta turned his attention to the grown Trunks. "I'm proud of you."

"Thanks, Dad. I'll be sure to keep Shorts in check."

"You better. Otherwise the whole race is nothing but a waste. Better in the hands of a low class than an idiot," Vegeta replied in a strict tone, but both men knew he wasn't serious.

Shorts whined, "Hey! I'm right here, you know?!"

Ana added in agreement, "It's not too late to let Lettiche take charge."

To that, Lettiche yelped out, "Oh, no! Shorts can take that responsibility! No, thank you!"

Ana sighed, "Was worth a try."

"Take care of yourself out there," Bulma said, the last in line before his ship. Vegeta stepped in front of his wife and gave a nod. She wrapped her arms around him to which he did not stop the act even in front of all those that stood before him. He didn't stop her as she kissed him, either. It was his last taste of her sweet strawberry lips. She whispered in his ear before letting him go, "Meet you on the other side, Hon."

Vegeta gave one last look to all those who respected him. Every last one of them, even the children, knew who he was. He was Vegeta, King of the Saiyans and protector of Earth. His eyes lingered on Trunks who gave a reassured thumbs up. Trunks, his heir, was King now. A sentence Vegeta never imagined he'd be able to say. A sentence that only Bulma was damn well stubborn enough to make happen for him.

A turn of the cape, and Vegeta was gone into the spaceship. A close of the door, and Vegeta was left in awe at the cheers outside that door. A push of the button, and Vegeta was flying out into space with the fleeting thought of his dear wife who was too strong to cry but too attached to smile.