Hello and HAPPY NEW YEAR wherever you may be! May the dumpster fire of 2020 finally be behind us.
Previous chapter was a doozy, so let's see where we go from there.
Based on MasakoX's What If series "What if Gine went with Goku to Earth?", but a retcon with some changes of my own on how I think the story would have went down had Goku's mother escaped planet Vegeta with him.
DISCLAIMER: The following is a fan-based work of fiction. Dragonball Minus, Dragonball, Dragonball Z, Dragonball Super, and Dragonball GT are all owned by FUNimation, Toei Animation, and Akira Toriyama.
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CHAPTER 31: DIFFERING STRATEGIES
Gine, Kakarot, and Raditz touched back down onto the sandy beach of Roshi's island. The journey back from the Lookout had been in complete silence. Neither son of Gine, especially Kakarot, wanted to be in her way. She was on a mission now, but fuming still.
From within Kame House their friends began crowding at the screen door and window, their expressions meant they were full of questions. Gine paid them no mind as she walked her way up to the steps of the porch with Raditz and Kakarot following suit uncertainly. Opening the screen door, Gine entered the small home and the gang stood back as they eyed Raditz, who had to duck under the door frame with Kakarot behind him.
Gine glanced around at her assembled friends and family, looking between Raditz and her for answers. She then noticed that Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu, and Blonde Launch were here too. They must have arrived in their absence, and was probably filled in by the rest of the gang of what happened. Grandpa Gohan stood by the sofa with Chi-Chi and Little Gohan sitting down, giving her a inquiring look. Gine made a mental note to thank Grandpa Gohan later for holding everyone off until now.
"So, uh... who's he, Gine?" Bulma asked, pointing to Raditz.
Gine figured they must know by now, but wanted to hear it from her. She gestured to him, "Everyone, this is my eldest son, Raditz."
They all stared at him in amazement. Raditz looked uncomfortable at the attention, particularly from the blonde girl who was ogling him.
"Uh... hello." He greeted, sounding annoyed.
The torrent of questions began, all of them unable to contain their curiosity. "Gine has another son?!" Chiaotzu exclaimed. "Oh wow! I didn't know Kakarot had a brother." Said Oolong. "What's he doing here?" Asked Yamcha. "Where's he been?" Asked Turtle.
The questions came flying at her faster than she could answer. She held up her hands and impatiently yelled, "QUIET!"
While everyone was startled by her curt tone, they obeyed and stopped talking.
"One a time, please." Gine said as she looked over at Grandpa Gohan. His questions were the only ones she would answer.
Grandpa Gohan clasped his hands together and gave Raditz a respectable bow. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
Due to decades of being constantly put down by others, Raditz was put off and unsure of what to make of this weakling old man's show of kindness to him. He didn't know if he was supposed to thank him or feel insulted, so he just stared back at him uncomprehending.
Grandpa Gohan seemed to pick up on his thoughts, and decided to move on with his question rather than dwell on Raditz's culture shock. "Where have you been all this time?" He asked gently.
Gine's mood darkened at that question and answered for Raditz. "In space... where he-" She cut herself off, not wanting to divulge any gruesome details yet or get herself more worked up than she already was. There was a serious matter to attend to anyway.
"I wish this could be a more jovial moment to celebrate, but we bring some bad news."
Everyone fell silent and their smiles faded.
"We are not the only Saiyan survivors left. There are two others who are on their way here as we speak." Gine spoke, turning more solemn. "They are coming here to kill us."
"WHAT?!" Everyone in Kame House collectively exclaimed in horror.
"But why?!" Asked Roshi, puzzled and disturbed. "I thought they'd be happy that there were more survivors of their kind!"
Gine shook her head. "Not these Saiyans. These two were some of the cruelest warriors of our race, and they serve the galactic tyrant, Frieza. They are powerful and-"
"Who's Frieza?" Asked Yamcha suddenly, then Krillin spoke up too.
"Wait, you said he..." Pointing at Raditz, "...came from outer space, as in... you guys are from another planet?!"
Gine sighed. It occurred to her that not everyone (Yamcha, Krillin, Tien, Chiaotzu, Oolong, Launch, and Puar) knew the truth of her and Kakarot's origins. Kakarot may have told them, but she guessed that they didn't fully understand or believe him given Kakarot's nature. It was a topic she herself had avoided talking about with them if she could've helped it, but now that cat was out of the bag for everyone.
"Of course they are, idiots!" Said Bulma. "Kakarot told us already, remember?"
The other Turtle Hermit fighters, plus Tien and Chiaotzu, looked speechless.
"Uhhhh... he may have mentioned it, but... I didn't believe..." Krillin sputtered.
"Wait, so... Kakarot, you were telling the truth about Saiyans being aliens?!" Yamcha shrieked.
Kakarot was about to answer when Gine cut him off. "Yes, Yamcha, myself and my sons here are Saiyans from the planet Vegeta."
Almost all of them gawked at the trio as if they had never seen them before, shocked by the knowledge that their friends all this time had been extraterrestrials. Kakarot frowned at his mother in disappointment. He felt that her interjection was part of how upset she was ever since what happened at the Lookout, but he stayed quiet as his mother spoke again.
"The Saiyans were a race of warriors." Said Gine, she thought it was no time like the present to tell all of them everything. "We... I mean, they, used to conquer other planets and civilizations in the name of a tyrant named Frieza. He has an empire that spans across half of our galaxy, and the Saiyan race was the most feared and powerful soldiers that served in his armed forces. I was part of it too, so was the father of my sons, Bardock."
The room was silent as Gine went on, "But one day, Frieza turned against us and destroyed our home planet, killing nearly our entire species. I don't know why, but on the day it happened, Bardock said he had a vision of the future. He foresaw our planet's destruction at Frieza's hand."
"Your partner Bardock had the gift of foresight like Baba?" Asked Master Roshi. Raditz raised an eyebrow too, for he had no idea his father had precognition.
At the mention of Baba, Gine was reminded of the enraging lie Kami had told her. Unknowingly, her anger flared up along with a spike in her ki. It was subtle with just a clenching of her fist, but Kakarot and Raditz could sense the turmoil in her aura. Grandpa Gohan and Roshi sensed it too, their faces turned into that of grave concern.
"He did." Gine answered tersely. Soon every ki-sensitive person felt her uneasy energy, but none of them said anything. She had to regain control of her anger less her thoughts turn to darker things.
With a shaky deep breath, Gine continued. "It's another long story, but he somehow was given the ability to see the future. He said he had a vision before that fateful, and in it he saw Frieza's betrayal, and the eradication of the Saiyans. Before it happened, Bardock warned me to get Kakarot away by sending him here to Earth. I went with him at the last moment, and Bardock..." She tried not to tear up thinking about that memory. "He stayed behind to confront Frieza."
She didn't finish what happened next, but she didn't have to as everyone could figure what that meant. They all sat in silence, awed by Gine's story.
"Only myself, Kakarot, Raditz, and two others are the last know survivors of our race. Kakarot and I escaped here to Earth where Gohan found us. Raditz was serving with those two other Saiyans off-world when that happened. Right, son?"
"Eh, yeah." Raditz agreed. "We had no knowledge of mother being here... Nor did we know that it was Frieza that doomed our planet..." He said angrily, still not over that little withheld detail.
Gine spoke again. "His two comrades sent Raditz here to bring Kakarot back into their army, but they overheard about me, and are on their way here because we refused to join them."
"But I still don't understand, I thought they would be happy that other members of their kind survived?" Said Roshi again.
"Like I said, not these particular Saiyans. General Nappa and Prince Vegeta are not your typical Saiyan warriors..."
"A prince?" Said Bulma with interest. Gine gave her a sharp look.
"He isn't some noble knight in shining armor, Bulma. Prince Vegeta and his right hand man, Nappa, are extremely ruthless killers. They have done things that would've made King Piccolo look like an amateur. They slaughtered billions of beings across hundreds of worlds for profit and fun. They are cold-blooded murderers, plain and simple. They have no concept of remorse, honor, or mercy. The blood of countless innocents is on their hands, including women and children, and they enjoy it. And they are as strong if not stronger than we are."
Everyone's faces turned pale white in horror at the description, Chi-Chi clutched Little Gohan protectively. Raditz shifted uncomfortably and looked away, remembering he had a part to play in all of that too. Some of the gang turned to gaze at him with knowing looks, they guessed that notion too but no one dared to rudely ask about it.
Then they all remembered that these powerful and genocidal beings were coming for them.
"So they're coming here?!" Asked Krillin, still trying to process the horrific weight of it.
Gine nodded grimly.
A deathly silence fell upon the group that lasted several long moments. Tien was the first to break it with a question.
"So... what do we do?"
They all looked to her for her answer. Gine for a moment felt Deja vu from their looking to her for guidance, like they did in this same room nine years ago before they went off to face King Piccolo.
A determined expression spread across Gine's face. Roshi told her once that she had a knack for leadership. Now would be a good time to harness it.
"We will fight them."
"Mother..." Raditz started protesting.
"I have a plan." Said Gine, cutting him off. "We have a year's time before they arrive, and I would like all of you to train with us."
That peaked the interest of all the fighting members of the gang, whom Gine each addressed. "Krillin, Yamcha, Tien, Chiaotzu, Chi-Chi, I know it's a lot to ask of you to help us stand up to these guys, but with Kakarot, Raditz, and myself, I believe we can teach you everything we know so all together we'll be ready for the Saiyans when they make planetfall."
"No, we shouldn't be getting ready!" Raditz yelled. "We should be running!"
They all turned to him as he spoke to them all. "No offense, but you are all a bunch of weaklings compared to Vegeta and Nappa. To stand against them would be suicide! Now I don't know if your kind have any spaceships, but your best chance of survival would be to jump into them and find another planet to hide out somewhere. Maybe you could start over again, and-"
Gine whipped around and slapped Raditz across the face. She used minimal force, but her great strength caused him to stumble backwards, nearly falling over. Everyone was wide-eyed by her show of violence. She had never been like this before, at least not since Crane.
"No, Raditz. We can't just run away." She said firmly, drawing a surprised look from Raditz from her words as much as the slap. "We're gonna stay here and fight."
"But mother..."
"Earth is our home." Said Gine, the resolve in her voice was like iron. "Everyone here has taken us in, and gave us another chance at life. I will not abandon our friends and family..." She stressed that word, looking at Grandpa Gohan, Chi-Chi, and Little Gohan. "...or the people of this planet to their fate just to save our own skins."
"Egh-I..." Raditz sputtered in exasperation. Gine didn't expect him to understand that Earth has been more of a home to her than Vegeta ever did, but she had to convince him to stay. Despite all their bolstering of fearlessness, most Saiyans would ditch their own kin if faced with an overwhelming threat, and she was convinced Raditz would be desperate enough to do so. She couldn't be sure, and hoped against hope he wasn't like the rest of them.
She tried to drive the point home further. "We're marked for death anyway, so even if we run the prince will still hunt us down."
Raditz was about to retort to that, but stopped when he realized his mother was right. Even if they all escaped Earth, Vegeta and Nappa would still follow them wherever they went. There were only so many planets in the galaxy that were tolerable enough places to hide, let alone start new lives on for these Earthlings.
No, they would be hunted down and killed eventually, so running was just as futile as standing their ground. Raditz looked at the floor, regretting ever coming to this blasted rock at all.
"Raditz..." Gine pleaded. "I know it seems hopeless, but it is not. It would be a lot easier to defend our planet if you stayed and helped us out."
"And just how could I even help? By telling them how screwed they all are?!" Raditz spat, waving his hand over the gang. His temper and defeatist words were making the already frightened Little Gohan whimper in Chi-Chi's arms.
Gine shook her head. "No. You can train with us too, and tell us everything you know about Vegeta and Nappa. You saw how strong Kakarot and I got despite everything, right? I'm sure that in a year's time we can get you just as strong too."
This gave Raditz pause.
"With enough preparations, we can beat them. So please, Raditz, stay." Said Gine with some desperation in her tone.
Raditz thought this over in his head. His mother and brother had indeed defied the odds and became nearly as powerful as his former comrades, and had to admit that the idea of getting just as strong as they are now was more than appealing. He could finally have the retribution he secretly wished for all these years against his tormentors. To beat them within an inch of their lives and stick it to them that he was not their plaything anymore. But as cathartic as it sounded, there's no way it could be done for him.
He was the weakest Saiyan among them all, and his power never grew significantly no matter how close he came to death as other Saiyans had. However means his brother and mother used to get stronger, he still didn't believe he was destined to earn that kind of power no matter how hard he tried. It would be a waste of time, and on top of that these weakling humans want him to train them in order to beat the Saiyan Prince?! It was beyond laughable, he and the rest of them didn't have a snowball's chance in hell to match the most respected Saiyan in the galaxy. It's a lost cause... right?
Most of Raditz's being was screaming for him to just flee back to his pod and make for the most obscure parts of space to lay low, no matter if everyone here wished to stay. He wanted to act on that flighty impulse, but a glance at Little Gohan's direction made him reconsider. The scared look on his young nephew's face, and his wide innocent eyes containing the fear he must of felt of their imminent doom, was reminiscent to Raditz's own when he was about to be sent off into space as a child. He remembered how afraid he was, thinking about how he was never going to see his family again, or worse, about to die at such a young age. A kind of terror that no one should ever feel.
Raditz's long-deadened heart panged. It was an unfamiliar sensation that he did not like at all. But... it told him that he couldn't just leave them. That despite his doubts about himself and his family's abilities, his brother had started a family here. And he couldn't just leave them to the mercy of Vegeta and Nappa if he could help it.
Grunting in frustration, he nodded. "Alright." He said quietly.
Gine smiled gratefully. "Thank you, my son." She placed a comforting hand on where she smacked him earlier as a silent thanks and an apology.
She then turned back to the group. "Anyways, we should all train together. Even though Kakarot and I are strong on our own, these Saiyans are very resourceful and may bring some form of back up. If that happens, I would like everyone to be ready to fight so we don't get overrun. But... if you do not wish to risk yourselves, I'll understand."
"Are you kidding, Gine?" Exclaimed Yamcha. "There's no way I'm just gonna stand by and let some monsters destroy our planet! Count me in!"
"Yeah, me too!" Krillin followed.
"No problem! Chiaotzu and I are in too, Gine. Right Chiaotzu?" Said Tien.
"Yeah!" The doll-like child agreed.
Bulma and Blonde Launch gave their thumbs up. "You know you can count on me for help, Gine. Whatever you need, let me know!" Said Bulma.
"Yeah! When those Saiyans creeps show their ugly mugs, I'll gladly fill'em full'a lead!" Blonde Launch pulled out a submachine gun and popped off a few rounds through the ceiling to punctuate her threat, drawing the irate shouts from Roshi about putting holes in his house. Despite feeling less enthusiastic than everyone else, Raditz snickered at the intriguing blonde wench's show of bravado.
Gine turned to her daughter-in-law, the only one who hasn't answered. "Chi-Chi?"
The young woman held Little Gohan close and shook her head sadly. "I can't."
"Huh?" Everyone was surprised. "Why not?" Asked Gine.
"I've been out of training for too long. I don't think I would be much use."
The doubt in her voice sounded half sincere to Gine. She figured that since becoming a mother, Chi-Chi hasn't had enough time to keep her skills honed. It seemed reasonable, but Gine knew Chi-Chi was far more capable, and suspected the girl was content with squandering it for her homely duties.
"Are you kidding, honey?!" Said Kakarot, speaking up at last. "You're an amazing fighter, and we got a whole year to get ready! We'll get you back up to speed in no time!"
Chi-Chi eyed her husband hopelessly. "I don't know about that, sweetheart. I'm not sure if you noticed or not, but being a mother is a full-time job. Besides, Gohan here needs to keep up with his studies so I'm busy enough as it is."
Gine frowned. "I think the studying can wait, Chi-Chi. There are bigger things to worry about."
"No, it absolutely cannot wait!" Chi-Chi said firmly. "Gohan's already doing so good that he could get into college before grade school! I don't want my boy to have his chances screwed up!" Little Gohan fidgeted uneasily from all the arguing about him.
Chi-Chi looked up to Gine apologetically. "I'm sorry, Gine. I wish I could help, but I have to take care of Gohan."
"Then let's have him train with us." Gine offered.
Chi-Chi went wide-eyed. "WHAT?!"
"Think about it. You two can train with us AND make sure he continues studying. Problem solved, right?"
"NO!" Said Chi-Chi in exasperation. "I don't want my son to learn how to kill people!"
"That's not the point, Chi-Chi." Gine retorted, trying to retain her already stretched patience. "We'd be teaching him how to at least defend himself, he wouldn't be out with us on the battlefield unless it was a last resort."
"He's only FOUR!"
"I was purging planets before that age." Gine shot back heatedly. "He has a birthright to learn how to be a warrior anyway."
"But he's NOT a Saiyan like you!" Chi-Chi shouted.
"He's also not entirely human, EITHER! YOU KNOW THAT!"
Gine felt her anger flare up again as she shouted back. "Chi-Chi, if we don't face these Saiyans with all the help we can get, then THERE WON'T BE ANY COLLEGE LEFT ON EARTH FOR GOHAN TO ATTEND TO, LET ALONE A PLANET FOR HIM TO LIVE ON!"
Everyone backed away from the women's raised voices and tempers, both their stares at each other resolute and their fists clenched hard. Raditz stood by watching the chaos unfold with some interest.
Gine knew Chi-Chi could be as frighteningly stubborn as she was, especially when it came to matters of Little Gohan. But Gine knew that if she let her anger get the better of her, she had the strength to accidentally kill Chi-Chi, so in the end she backed down before she did something regrettable. She then looked down at Little Gohan in Chi-Chi's grasp. He was almost about to cry.
Gine's expression softened, guilt tore at her heart. "Oh, Gohan, I'm so sorry." She said sadly, kneeling down at his level and trying to sooth him. Chi-Chi saw how upset her son was too and immediately calmed down as well. "Shh. It's alright, sweetie. Mommy and grandma are just having a little disagreement." She said as she hugged him, planted a kiss on his head, and slightly rocked him back and forth. Both mother and grandmother eyed each other feeling ashamed. They didn't mean to get angry in front of Little Gohan and scare him like this.
Gine knew she wasn't going to get anywhere with Chi-Chi through a pissing contest, so she had to convince her another way.
"I know you don't want Gohan to get involved in life-or-death situations." Gine spoke softly and diplomatically. "I really don't want that for him either, he deserves a life of peace and opportunity. But he might have to join us too someday, whether we all like it or not, and that day will be when the Saiyans arrive. They already know about him, and will be curious about a species that can interbreed with them. They will come for him, so I believe it would be better for his sake that he learn martial arts now so he can at least be able to protect himself from them if the need ever arises."
Chi-Chi opened her mouth to speak, but Gine held up a hand. She wasn't done talking.
"Chi-Chi... let us train him together. He can still study, I know we can make it work. He's a very bright boy afterall. You will be there with us, so you can train him and teach him, while I train with you to get your old strength back."
Her daughter-in-law looked down at herself pensively, taking in her words. "I don't know. I'm...I'm not what I used to be back in the last tournament. Even then, I'm nowhere near as strong as you."
Gine smiled, she was making some headway. They just need to give Chi-Chi her old confidence back. "Well, maybe so. But it's still true that you were a great fighter. I don't think you realize your own potential."
Chi-chi looked up at her uncertainly. "Really?"
Gine nodded. "Absolutely. You were incredibly strong when you fought my son at the last tournament, and you remember that technique you came up with to fry anybody on the spot with that laser of yours?"
"Burn You To A Crisp, yeah." Chi-Chi said fondly.
"Well, that'll be more than useful in a fight, and it's not something that can just magically disappear. All we would need to do is a few weeks of training to get you back up to speed and even stronger than ever after that."
"Yeah, she's right! C'mon, Chi-Chi!" Said Krillin. Soon the other human fighters of the gang voiced their support.
"I agree with Gine." Tien opined. "We could really use your help, Chi-chi. You were incredibly strong back in the day, and you could be even more powerful now if you applied yourself like you do in everything else."
"Yeah! And Little Gohan could help us too if he wants to join, right squirt?!" Yamcha said to her and Little Gohan but then backtracked nervously. "Er, But- it's not ever gonna come to that. Little Gohan isn't gonna actually fight these guys. Gine and Kakarot here will see to that, right Kakarot?"
"Yeah!" Said Kakarot. "C'mon, honey. It'll be great to see you fight for real again! And don't worry about Gohan, we'll make sure he's out of harm's way when the time comes. This is only a precaution, and we're not going to put him on the frontlines, okay?"
While Gine said nothing to back up her son, for she hadn't forgiven him for siding with Kami, she was grateful for the support behind her to convince Chi-Chi.
Chi-Chi sat there with every set of eyes in Kame House rested on her. She then looked over to Master Roshi. "What do you think?"
The Turtle Hermit raised an eyebrow. "About you or your son, dear?"
"Both." She said without skipping a beat. If there was anyone she was going to look to for guidance to get back into martial arts and drag her only child into it, it would be her old master himself.
"Hn." Roshi contemplated for a moment. "If what Gine and Raditz say are true, then the fate of world seems to be in our hands. There definitely will be trying times ahead of us, but it would be foolish for each of us here to not do our part to stop those Saiyans if we have the power to do so."
Chi-Chi felt what little resolve and reasons she had left to not help out crumble. She was hoping her old master would rebuke her mother-in-law somehow, to say that Chi-Chi getting involved and dragging Little Gohan into it would be unnecessary. But it seemed like she lost. Then the fear of what those Saiyans were coming to do crept back in. They were going to kill them all, kill her and her little boy. What could she even do to stop them? She wasn't as strong as her husband or mother-in-law. Or worse yet, what if they failed? She and her boy would be helpless to those monsters...
Grandpa Gohan then put a hand on her shoulder, and spoke as if sensing Chi-Chi's doubts. "No one should be forced to do something they are not comfortable with, but those with the power to defend what matters most to them has the responsibility to do what has to be done. You can protect your family from those fiends if you help, and your son should be at least be able to protect himself. It would be better than if he were helpless. But the final choice is up to you, my dear."
Chi-Chi sat there quietly and thought over his words. Everyone watched her silently, and Little Gohan looked at his mother expectantly as if his future was being decided for him. In a way, it was.
Finally her shoulders sagged. "Okay."
Before any of them could cheer, she jabbed a finger at Gine. "BUT... promise me that Gohan's studies will not be interrupted no matter what. Are we clear?"
Fair enough. Gine thought, and shook Chi-Chi's hand. "Deal."
With Chi-chi now onboard, Gine realized they were all set at last to tackle the Saiyan threat together. Now they could actually formulate a plan.
"So how will we go about our training?" Asked Tien.
Kakarot decided to chance a suggestion. "Uh, well, I know a place where could train. It's extremely harsh, but perfect for-"
"No." Gine said flatly over her shoulder at him. "We're Saiyans and even we barely lasted four months in there. I doubt many of our colleagues here would survive in there at all. We can't take that chance."
Kakarot was about to say that the time chamber was still worth a try but his mother shot him a glare, it was the first time she looked at him since the incident at the Lookout.
"Don't want to hear it." She said with finality.
Everyone else saw the look Gine gave to Kakarot, and sensed the cold anger towards her son. Her back and forth mood between those who disagreed with her since their return from the Lookout had them all vaguely concerned about Gine, now they knew something was up with her. But no one dared to ask her what was wrong.
Kakarot decided against speaking but didn't back down from his mother's scowling at him, staring back with concern and disappointment. He knew it was futile to argue with his mother at this point. She was still inconsolable about Kami's actions, and at him for getting in her way. But he wanted her to know that he was worried about her.
He hadn't seen her this angry since the trouble Crane Hermit caused them two tournaments ago, and remembered how she nearly lost control of herself. She was doing the same thing now. Her long-buried temper was bubbling to the surface and clouding her judgement. All her training to control her emotions undone, and her stubbornness refusing any help from Kami that might give them every advantage over the coming invaders. As much as he would like a fair fight, he knew not to wager the lives of his family, friends, and the entire planet. They will need to do everything to protect Earth, but his mother was squandering it with counterproductive pettiness. What was he supposed to do?
Suddenly, before the tense air thickened any further, a familiar voice entered his head.
"Kakarot... Gine... can you hear me?" Kami's voice echoed.
Everyone screamed in shock.
"AH! Uhh-Uh-Who's there?!" Shouted Yamcha, looking around affrightedly. Apparently they all heard Kami's voice in their minds too.
"Ah. Greetings. I am Kami, the Guardian of planet Earth. I come in peace and wish to bring word to Gine and Kakarot."
Their friends all gasped in amazement. It had been known that the Guardian was real after the aforementioned duo trained with him, but hearing his own voice was something else entirely.
"Hey, Kami, we hear you!" Said Kakarot gladly.
Gine however, was not happy at hearing his voice. "You've got some nerve trying to contact me, Kami."
"Hear me out, Gine. For I bring news that may help you defeat the Saiyans."
"I told you that we don't need your help. Leave us alone." She spat.
They all turned to her in astonished confusion. Why was she so angry at the god of this world? And wasn't she just saying moments ago that they would need all the help they could get? Raditz gulped where he stood, hoping his mother wouldn't go berserk again right here and now.
"I know what you told me, Gine. But please, I beg of you, just spare one minute to let me say what I need to say."
Gine was about to shut him out when Grandpa Gohan spoke aloud for her. "I don't think it would hurt to listen what he has to say, my dear."
She glowered at Gohan, feeling slightly betrayed and refusing to concede that he might be right. But deep down, she knew he was. So she relented.
"Okay, talk." Gine said curtly.
"There is a martial arts master in Otherworld who is familiar with Saiyans, and the threat posed by the ones in particular heading to our world. His name in King Kai, the god of the north galaxy. I have just spoken to him and he is willing to give special training to help you defeat the Saiyans."
There's a god in charge of a galaxy? Thought Gine, temporarily forgetting her grudge against Kami. It would seem to make sense if there was a god in charge of their planet, and for a moment she wondered what other echelons of deities there were above Guardians.
Kakarot was ecstatic. "That's great news, Kami! We can definitely use his help! When do we get to meet him?!"
"There was one stipulation, however." Kami warned. "My immediate superior, King Yemma, could only grant permission for just one living mortal to travel into Otherworld to train with King Kai."
"Wait, gods have superiors?" Krillin asked no one in particular.
"But why can only one person go?" Asked Master Roshi.
"Granting passage for a living mortal into the afterlife is no easy feat, Master Roshi. King Yemma is the Lord of the Dead, he is responsible for overseeing the judgement of every soul from all sentient beings who passed on from throughout the universe. He is the busiest being there is, alive or dead, and is rather impatient. Asking him to let someone alive into his realm was hard enough, it required an equivalent to a mountain of paperwork and I wish to remain on his good side. So whoever you choose, you must make a decision quickly before he changes his mind."
Kakarot stood there silently, pondering the dilemma. Everyone was looking between him and his mother, they already knew who ought to volunteer.
But Gine answered, "Well I'm sorry, but you wasted your time, Kami. Thanks, but no thanks. We can handle this themselves."
She could almost sense Kami's disappointment. Everyone regarded her with bafflement and wondering what really had happened up there? Gine seemed to sense their questioning looks and glared back at all of them accusingly.
Kakarot shook his head. His mother was taking this too far now. But instead of protesting, he looked around.
His friends, his family... save for Ox-King they were all here today. He cared very deeply for each and every one of them. For their companionship, for all their adventures together, for the things he learned from them all, everything that made him the man and warrior he was today. Chi-chi, the woman whom he cherished everything about from the way she fought, they way she took care of him, and her beauty. His son, from the way he made him feel warm in his chest whenever he thought of how proud he was to be his father. And his brother, Raditz... how a part of him wished that he had been freed all those years ago from the clutches of the tyrant their parents tried to escape, and thought of the upbringing they could've shared together, and a future they could share. He then thought of his grandfather Gohan, the ultimate paternal figure in his life that guided him in ways his mother never could. He thought of his home on Mount Paozu, he thought of all the food Earth had to offer. The little things that made life here so worthwhile... the sky, the grass, the people, all of Earth... to be destroyed soon by these incoming Saiyans... And the chance from to be stronger than those that threaten them.
If his mother won't do everything to defend what mattered...
"I'll go, Kami." Kakarot said aloud.
Gine wheeled around on him with eyes like daggers, but Kami spoke before she could.
"Very well then, Kakarot. Make your way to the Lookout as quickly as you can, and I will take you to Otherworld. I will see you soon."
And with that, Kami's telepathic connection was ended, leaving deathly silence between mother and son as she stared him down.
"Son..." Gine muttered, which sounded more like a threat.
Since he was a boy, Kakarot had always shrank back whenever his mother glowered at him the way she did now, the same look she gave him whenever he did something very wrong. But this time he didn't retreat.
"Mom, we're gonna need all the help we can get, just like you said. While you train everyone here, I can go train with this "King Kai" and see what I could learn to get stronger and pass on to you guys."
"I told you not to accept his help!" Gine snapped, startling everyone.
Kakarot help up his hands. "I know, I know. Look, mom... I know what Kami did was wrong, okay? But that's not important right now. We need to get ready how ever we can for these other Saiyans, and..."
A soft but dangerous growl escaped Gine's lips, her tail jerking behind her. Raditz, who stood next to her, felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up in alarm. He remembered what she nearly did to that Namekian back up at that floating temple. Did his brother have a death wish to invoke their mother's wrath?!
Gine herself was stunned, and livid, about her son's (in her mind) betrayal. Her youngest dared to side with the useless Namekian bastard that lied to her about Raditz's fate and subjected them to years of unnecessary torment?!
"Now you listen to me, son! I-" She yelled, but before she could go further, Kakarot slammed his foot into the floor with such force it shattered the wooden paneling and shook the whole house.
He raised his voiced and shouted back, "No, you listen, mom!"
His outburst stunned even his mother out of her encroaching rage. He knew he was never to talk back to his mother in such a way, but his mother wasn't listening to reason, he had to stand firm.
Realizing she might set off at any moment, Kakarot gathered his words carefully and spoke calmly. "Look... you're very angry right now. I get it, and you have every right to be. But there are bigger things happening right now than between you and Kami. Those Saiyans are coming to destroy Earth! Don't you understand?! They are going to kill everyone here! Everyone! Grandpa, your grandson, Raditz, EVERYONE! Please, mom, don't let your... damn stubbornness blind you to what has to be done. We have to stop those Saiyans no matter what, so PLEASE..."
He placed his hand on Gine's shoulder but she pulled away, staring at him coldly. Despite this, Kakarot went on. "...just set aside your anger to Kami for now, and we can deal with it later. Let him take me to King Kai so I could get whatever training that could help us save our friends, our family, and our home."
Everyone was speechless, especially Gine. She was utterly surprised her sweet little Kakarot could stand up to her so verbally. And he was physically too, standing rigid and pumped for a potential battle like he did back at the Lookout, eyes hardened like hers.
Her maternal instincts were screaming for her to slug him where he stood, with the Saiyan part of her wanting to drive that same slugging fist through his face. She had taught him better than that, and how dare he contradict her this way and deprive her of what justice she wanted for them!
Their fists clenched up besides them. Painfully long seconds went by as mother and son stared each other down, the air between turning colder than ice and ready to launch at each other...
Everyone watched and waited in horror, expecting the two Saiyans to tear each other apart. The deafening silence broken only by the ticking of the wall clock and the lapping waves outside.
"Awkward." Oolong coughed from the corner, drawing murderous wide-eyed looks of incredulity from everyone that made him shrink back and squeal for the snide comment.
Then, after a long and palpable moment of tension, Gine breathed out through her nose and slackened her stance.
"Fine. Go." She said with a deadpan tone.
A sigh of relief went through everyone. But Gine was not capitulating for her son's argument. She refused to believe that her son was right about Kami's lie being "not that important", but he had a point that the Saiyans were the immediate threat to focus their energies on. Plus she didn't want to cause a scene anymore than she already had.
Kakarot relaxed and inwardly smirked at how he had broken through his mother's blinding rage with words for once. Hopefully there could be a peaceful way to deal with her grudge with Kami, but that would have to wait.
"Right! Well..." Kakarot cleared his throat uncomfortably. "I guess I better get going then, don't want to keep King Yemma waiting."
Gine didn't react and just stood there looking away from him. Kakarot clasped his hands together and looked around at everyone. "Alright, everyone. Good luck to all of you! I'll see if I can let you know when I get to King Kai's and see what I find!"
"Do you have to go now, Kakarot?" Chi-Chi asked with hesitation.
Kakarot turned to his wife and shrugged sadly. "I have to, Chi-Chi. Kami said I have to get there soon or else it'll be too late."
"But... you'll be gone for a whole year! What if something happens?! I might never see you again?!" She said, tears now streaming down her cheeks. Kakarot went over to her and swept Chi-Chi up with a loving hug.
"Shh. Don't worry, honey. I'll be back, okay?" Kakarot said soothingly. "If King Kai is as good a teacher as Kami says he is, I'll be back in time and strong enough to take on those Saiyans when they show up."
"I hope." Raditz remarked from the side.
Chi-Chi clung to Kakarot as if for dear life and croaked out, "Okay." She released herself from his embrace and cupped Kakarot's cheeks, committing to memory their shape and feel, then kissed her husband.
"I love you, Kakarot. Come back to us, okay?" She commanded.
"I will." Kakarot affirmed. He then bent down to Little Gohan.
"I love you too, son." He held Little Gohan, who returned the embrace just as tightly. Then looked his son in the eye with a smile. "You're the man of the house now, okay Gohan? Take care of things for me until I get back."
"Okay, daddy." Little Gohan numbly agreed. The boy was saddened that his father would have to leave for a long time, but trusted him that he would return.
Kakarot got back up and headed back towards the door, to where Raditz stood.
"I'm glad I got to finally meet you, Raditz. You and mom have a lot of catching up to do! I'll see you in a year, and when this is over we can all catch up together. Take care... brother." He said with an honest smile and extended a hand.
Raditz looked at the outstretched hand, his Saiyan manners ought to have had him feel disgusted by his brother's display of familial affection, but he was moved by it instead. How a fellow Saiyan and blood relative no less could accept him with open arms despite everything telling him that he was not worthy of an ounce of concern from them was beyond him. But, he welcomed the strange yet enticing feeling.
He shook Kakarot's hand tentatively. "Uh... likewise, brother."
Gine, while still simmering with muted anger at her youngest, felt a ghost of a smile at him already bonding with his brother.
Kakarot let go just as Grandpa Gohan spoke up too with a bow. "Good luck to you too, my boy. I know you will succeed, we will take care of everything else here."
"Thanks, grandpa." Said Kakarot. With that, everyone else cheered and waved their goodbyes as Kakarot stepped out of the door. But he quickly turned back around to address the last person.
"Good luck to you, mom." He said to her, "I'll see you in a year, okay?"
"Hn." Was all Gine bothered to muster. She was powerless to stop her son, and too angry with him to say goodbye properly.
"Well... I love you, mom." Undeterred by her indifference, Kakarot wrapped his arms around Gine in a tight hug, and which she only returned with a pat or two on his back.
"I know." Gine mumbled hollowly.
Kakarot flinched. She was still angry, he knew that, but her not bothering to say those three words back actually hurt.
He had no time to dwell on it, however. Kami was waiting.
So without another word, Kakarot went out the door of Kame House and leapt into the sky with a mighty jump. A moment later, a sonic boom cracked across the water as the youngest son of Gine rocketed over the horizon to the Lookout. She didn't watch him go, and he didn't look back...
A/N: This chapter was split into two as I realized doing the second half was taking longer than I expected. Will have it posted soon though.