In Search for Home
Chapter 2: Days Nearly Forgotten
"You'll never catch me! You're too slow!" Prince Vegeta said as he and Vichell played in the garden of the castle. Normally, Prince Vegeta would be expected to be training with his father, but the saiyans had just received orders from Frieza to seize another planet. King Vegeta was meeting with his advisors to discuss strategy and Prince Vegeta took the chance to spend time with his best friend.
"That's not fair, Prince Vegeta! You've trained more than I have! We agreed no phasing in and out! You're not playing fair!" Vichell yell as she desperately tried to follow her friend's movements, but it was no use; he was simply too fast.
"I'm the prince. I can do what I want," Prince Vegeta chided as he appeared behind Vichell. Vichell pretended to pout, knowing Prince Vegeta would do anything for her when she did so. "Come on, Vichell, I was kidding. I promise I won't do it anymore. Come on, I'll be it and I'll give you a head start," he said, trying to cheer her up.
Vichell giggled and flew off. She didn't see two other teenaged saiyans who lived in the castle, Nappa and Raditz, walk into the garden. Nappa was Mikal's brother while Raditz was Riya and Bardock's son. Vichell nearly ran into Nappa as she tried to run from Prince Vegeta. "Watch it, pip squeak," Nappa said as he knocked Vichell away.
Prince Vegeta watched, moving fast enough to catch Vichell before she hit the ground. He landed on the ground and set Vichell down gently as she tried to catch her breath. Vichell was a relatively weak saiyan, especially compared to the other noble, elite saiyans, and the hit had injured her. "You will never do that again, Nappa," Prince Vegeta said to the saiyan who was nearly twice his size.
"Yes, your majesty. I'm sorry, I did not realize you were here," Nappa replied as he and Raditz bowed. They despised taking orders from the small ten-year-old boy, but he was the prince and they could be imprisoned for disobeying him.
"Good, now be on your way," Prince Vegeta said. As they left, he turned his attention back to Vichell who was still sitting on the ground trying to catch her breath. "Are you going to be okay?"
"I think so," she said and stood up with Prince Vegeta's help, "But I don't think I can play chase anymore. I wish I wasn't so weak, but I guess I'll never be as strong as you and the other elite saiyans." She looked at the ground. Even though her parents had trained her every day since she could walk, she just couldn't seem to gain much strength or speed. Her greatest asset was she was a quick thinker and could find a way out of any situation. She had even stumped the most elite scientists on Planet Vegeta with some of her techniques.
"Don't worry about it, Vichell. Maybe you don't rank in strength and speed with the rest of us elite saiyans, but you're one of the smartest saiyans I know. Father even told me they used some of your strategies on the last planet they seized. Now come on. Why don't we go see what Bardock is doing?" Prince Vegeta said as they left the garden. Prince Vegeta and Vichell loved to watch Bardock work. They were awed at what he could do with a piece of gold or silver using just his bare hands and powers.
The two young saiyans left the garden and walked toward where Bardock worked. They talked along the way, walking slow because Vichell was still weak from the blow she received from Nappa. Even though it would not normally be allowed, Prince Vegeta wrapped his arm around Vichell's waist and she wrapped her arm around Prince Vegeta's shoulders for support. As they walked around the corner, they saw their mothers and Riya walking toward them. "Vichell! What's wrong?" Mikal said when she saw her daughter. She ran to Vichell and Prince Vegeta and knelt in front of them. "Were you sparing with Prince Vegeta again? I told you not to; he's far stronger than you."
"It wasn't Prince Vegeta, mother. If it weren't for him, I'd be worse off than this. Nappa did this to me. Prince Vegeta and I were playing chase in the garden when Nappa and Raditz walked in. I was the one running and I didn't see them until it was too late. I nearly ran into Nappa and he punched me in the chest. I would have hit the ground but Prince Vegeta caught me. Then he told Nappa and Raditz to leave," Vichell told her mother.
"Thank you for saving my daughter, Prince Vegeta," Mikal said as she stood and bowed to the prince, "I told father he needed to be stricter on Nappa. He's out of control and he's too strong for his own good. Already he's stronger than I am and he's close to Recknee. And father died several years ago. I don't know how much longer we can control him."
"Bardock and I fear the same about Raditz. He's stronger than both of us now. His rank has been moved up to first-class; he is almost an elite. He won't listen to us anymore. We don't know what to do and we are afraid this child is going to be the same way, if it gets to grow up," Riya said as she placed her hand on her stomach. She was expecting their second child within the next few days but they all feared he would not get to grow up. Frieza was becoming more and more impatient and the saiyans lived in fear more than ever. They truly did not know how much longer any of them had to live.
Prince Vegeta walked over to Riya. "Don't worry," he said, "I won't let Nappa or Raditz do anything to anybody. They may be elite and first-class, but I'm super elite; there's no saiyan stronger than me other than father. And for your second child, he will live and grow up, I promise. I will make sure of it. One of these days Frieza will meet his end at my hands. Then the saiyans can live in peace; with no more fighting and no more fear."
"I promise, too, Riya," Vichell said as she walked over and stood next to Prince Vegeta, "I may not be that strong, but I'm tops at strategy. No one can beat my tactics, not even father, and he's King Vegeta's top advisor. With Prince Vegeta's strength and my intelligence, we'll beat Frieza one day."
The three women smiled at the children but inwardly were crying. Prince Vegeta and Vichell had no idea how grave the saiyans' situation was, but even as bad as it was, none of the saiyans were prepared for what was about to happen. "Where are you two headed?" Victoria asked.
"We were going to watch Bardock," Prince Vegeta answered.
"Okay, just don't get in his way," Victoria said as the two young saiyans bounded off to the workshop. Victoria, Mikal, and Riya looked after them, hoping the two would live and grow up, able to see the day when their own children were innocently playing together.
Prince Vegeta and Vichell giggled as they resumed their game of chase on their way to the workshop. While Vichell wasn't as fast as him, Prince Vegeta knew the more she chased him, the faster she got. They went all over the castle, nearly running into many courtiers and servants because they were not paying attention to where they were going. Eventually they made it to Bardock's workshop, but were disappointed to see Bardock wasn't working on jewelry but weapons. "Hey, Bardock!" Prince Vegeta said as he and Vichell walked in.
"Hm?" Bardock said and then turned around, "Oh, hello, Prince Vegeta, Countess Vichell." Bardock bowed to each of them in turn. He enjoyed the company of the two young children; they always lifted his spirits while he worked. "Is there something I can do for you?"
"We just wanted to watch you work, if that's okay," Vichell said as she and Prince Vegeta sat on two stools along one of the walls. Bardock nodded and turned back to his work. Normally he would be working on jewelry and crests for the saiyan royalty and nobility, but now he was having to fashion weapons for the saiyans to use so they could seize planets for Frieza more easily.
After a while, Vichell began to hear noises coming from the grounds outside the castle. She walked to the window and looked out. "Oh, my! Prince Vegeta, come look at this," Vichell said and Prince Vegeta and Bardock joined her at the window. Outside, warriors were gathering children of all ages and leading them to the prison next to the castle.
"Bardock! Bardock! Have you seen...Prince Vegeta, Countess Vichell, I'm glad I found you, your mothers are looking for you. Bardock, have you seen Raditz?" Riya asked as she ran into the workshop.
"Riya, what's wrong?" Bardock walked to his upset wife.
"The children. Frieza's ordered all the children be gathered for him to inspect them in four days. King Vegeta is making arrangements for Prince Vegeta, Countess Vichell, Count Nappa, and Raditz to leave the planet before then, to save them, but we can't find Nappa or Raditz. King Vegeta fears Frieza's about to kill us all, at least the four children can be saved. We have to...ah!" Riya screamed in pain as she fell to her knees.
"Riya! Riya, what's happening!" Bardock knelt and held his wife.
"Mother!" Raditz said as he and Nappa ran into the workshop. They had been walking by when Raditz saw his mother collapse.
"Raditz, my son..." Riya said as she reached for her son. Raditz knelt down and took his mother's hand.
Prince Vegeta and Vichell walked over and Prince Vegeta knelt next to Riya. He placed his hand on top of her child. "Her child is coming," Prince Vegeta said, "We have to get her to her room. Nappa, listen to me. Go and find my mother and Mikal and tell them what is happening. Tell them we are taking Riya to her room and that Raditz, Vichell, and I are with her and Bardock. Go! Now!"
"Yes, your majesty," Nappa said and ran out of the room.
Bardock lifted his wife into his arms and the small group walked down the hall. "What are we going to do, Prince Vegeta? Raditz and Bardock aren't nobility. They don't know how to deliver a child and we're too young. We haven't learned yet," Vichell asked.
"Father has taught me; everything will be fine," Prince Vegeta answered as they walked into a room and Bardock laid Riya on the bed. They were now in frantic times, but Prince Vegeta knew he had to remain calm. He knew they would come up with a way to beat Frieza, somehow. Prince Vegeta walked over to Riya as Bardock, Raditz, and Vichell stood against the wall, scared. "Vichell, I need your help. The child's almost here. Go in the bathroom and get some towels. Hurry!" Prince Vegeta said as Riya struggled against her pain, "Hang in there, Riya, you're doing great. Bardock! Raditz! Get over here and hold her hands. She needs you two." Bardock and Raditz moved to either side of Riya and Vichell returned with towels just as Prince Vegeta delivered Riya's child. "It's a boy!" Prince Vegeta said as Riya collapsed into Bardock's arms.
"Vegeta! Thank goodness you're safe!" Victoria exclaimed as she, King Vegeta, Mikal, Recknee, and Nappa walked into the room. She then realized Prince Vegeta was holding a tiny baby boy. She gasped, "Riya, are you okay?"
"Yes, your majesty," Riya said weakly as Prince Vegeta handed her son to her.
"Nappa, close the door," King Vegeta said. Nappa bowed and closed the door as they all looked at King Vegeta, "I hate to say it, but this boy's birth could not have happened at a worse time. Frieza is demanding all the children be gathered by four days from now. We have told everyone it is only because Frieza wishes to examine them for strength; however, this is not true. Frieza is going to kill everyone from newborn to fifteen-years-old. I have to make the choice of two of the children to save. In four days, Frieza will take Vegeta from us. At that time, I am to have two other children of fighting age chosen to go with Vegeta. I have chosen Nappa and Raditz to go. Hopefully, this will allow the three boys to survive. Frieza wants them to seize planets for him. I have taught you three everything I know and you are of a strong warrior race, but after Frieza takes you, your survival will be in your own hands."
"And the others? What about the boy and Vichell?" Mikal asked, her voice shaking. She was glad her little brother would be saved, but she did not want her daughter or Riya's son to be killed.
"I have already made arrangements for Vichell to be gone by the time Frieza comes. If you remember, a while back I sent Recknee on a mission to find a new planet for our home, one where we would be safe from Frieza. He found one called Earth. It is similar to Planet Vegeta. In three days, Vichell will leave here to go prepare Earth for our arrival, we hope. It may be she will be the only one to find refuge there. For that reason, Vichell, you will not destroy the Earth's inhabitants. You will try to assimilate and learn their culture. The main race on Earth is called humans. They look just like us with one exception; they do not have tails. So, you will have to keep yours hidden. In time, hopefully the surviving saiyans will join you. You will then teach us their culture so we, too, may assimilate and hopefully live in peace among the humans," King Vegeta said.
"And our son?" Bardock asked. He hoped King Vegeta would save their newborn son as he was going to try to save their other children.
"I will have an infant space ship prepared for him to accompany Vichell to Earth. Vichell, when you arrive to Earth, you will say he is your brother. You lived in the country away from civilization. Your father was killed in an accident four months ago and your mother died giving birth to him. This way, you will be able to move freely without question as to where your parents are," King Vegeta replied.
"He is just a baby. They are all just kids..." Riya said as she began to cry, as they all began to cry. Riya was right, they were just children. They had done nothing yet Frieza was going to destroy them. The saiyan race feared it would soon be destroyed.
Three days later, in a secret place in the country, King Vegeta, Recknee, Bardock, and their families gathered to see Vichell and Kakarot, Bardock's three-day-old son, off to Earth. Riya stood crying, holding Kakarot close to her. She feared it would be the last time she would get to see her sons. Vichell was saying goodbye to everyone and she turned to Prince Vegeta. "Take care of yourself. Be careful around Frieza. Hopefully one day we will get to see each other again," she said as she embraced Prince Vegeta.
"You take care of yourself, too. And keep our promise to Riya. Make sure Kakarot lives. When I destroy Frieza, I will join you on Earth," Prince Vegeta replied as he tried not to cry. Vichell was the only friend he had ever known and now he was saying goodbye to her, possible forever. He wished no one had to go to Frieza with him, but if they did, he wished she could go. But she was too weak. Frieza would kill her and probably the entire saiyan race if King Vegeta sent her to him.
"Goodbye, father. I'm going to miss you," Vichell said as Recknee swept her into his arms.
"You take care of yourself, you hear. We better find you two when we come to Earth," Recknee said as he held his daughter close. Mikal walked over to her husband and daughter with tears streaming down her face. Vichell looked at her mother and began to cry, too. Recknee pulled his wife to them and they both held their daughter close.
"I'm afraid it's time," King Vegeta said, "We have to get them out of the solar system before Frieza arrives." Bardock took Kakarot from Riya and laid him in his space ship as Vichell crawled out of her parents' arms and into her ship. Around her neck was a locket carrying a picture of her mother and father and another necklace with a single saiyanite drop jewel on it which Prince Vegeta had given her. She programmed her ship and then used a remote to program Kakarot's. She waved goodbye to everyone as they stepped away. Soon, the doors on the two ships closed and they blasted off into outer space. "May you have safe travel. Our faith is with you," King Vegeta said as they watched the ships leave.
The next day, King Vegeta, Prince Vegeta, Nappa, and Raditz watched helplessly as Frieza destroyed all the other saiyan children. Frieza then turned to King Vegeta. "You better have chosen the other two saiyans wisely, or they and your son will suffer the same fate as the others," Frieza said as he snapped his fingers. Three of his henchmen grabbed Prince Vegeta, Nappa, and Raditz and then they all returned to Frieza's ship, leaving King Vegeta with his head hung in despair.