A/N: I apologize for the hugeness of size of this chapter.

Dragonball Z: The Catalyst

Act I:

Chapter 10: Prince of All Saiyans

Vegeta stared up towards Kakarot.

Today hadn't gone as expected at all. Firstly, he certainly wasn't expecting the Earthlings to put up as much of a fight as they did, though their strength was laughable outside of maybe the green one. Then there was Raditz, the traitor, betraying them over punishing him for his incompetence. Now there was this, a low class warrior sent to Earth, becoming its defender, and being powerful enough to annihilate Nappa without any visible effort, and without taking a single blow. Worse yet, he didn't want to kill anyone apparently.

Well, at least he'd be impressive sport.

For Goku's part however, he stood atop his own set of rocks, staring over at Vegeta. This was really the source of the evil that was coming to attack the Earth. Raditz and Nappa were just the thugs who fought for this beast. A supposed Prince who oppressed and destroyed people because of the pleasure of doing so and to profit from it.

This would be the most difficult battle of his life.

"Well Kakarot, I have a proposal for you. Join me, now that Nappa is dead I need a good second in command. You could have anything you wanted."

Goku just smiled in response.

"No, I don't think so. I could never commit the acts of evil you do."

Vegeta raised a brow to the comment. It was like talking with a child, the world was black and white to him, wasn't it? Yet he 'saved' Raditz? He was so intent on being good, he saved the lives of potential enemies even. This was going to be a walk.

"Well then Kakarot, why don't you come at me?"

By the time Vegeta had finished his question, Goku was already upon him.

To say that the opening stages of this battle were slow would be a complete misinterpretation of what was going on. Goku's assault was a flurry of blows, and Vegeta's defence perfect. The two scattered about the wasteland, engaging one another with quick strikes. However, very shortly it became very clear that Vegeta was the dominant player in this game.

With a swift boot to Goku's midsection, the third class warrior was sent flying back, hitting a rock face and quickly recovering to hover in the air.

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Krillin felt the powers in the distance, his own feeling increasingly insignificant to them. Goku must have begun pulling out all the stops.

But there was something off, something wasn't right. His eyes traced to a flying figure, blasting towards where the fight was.

Raditz

Damn, Goku had told him to stay away, and Krillin sincerely doubted they could just tell him not to go. Looking over to Gohan, who just looked tired and worn, Krillin felt the need to go and make sure Raditz didn't interfere with Goku's fight. Maybe he'd betray them to try and get back in good standing with Vegeta even? Either way, they needed to keep an eye on him.

"Gohan." Krillin said seriously. "We've gotta head back, that way."

The boy paused, before feeling Raditz's energy rocketing towards the wastelands. He was going to interfere.

"Right," He said, nodding his head seriously.

With that, the two figures blasted off, they themselves heading to interfere.

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When Raditz slowed himself down finally, stopping just in almost an orbit of the battle, he immediately began trying to suppress his power level. He felt the two powers clashing with an incredible amount of energy, he could barely even comprehend having fighting potentials that high. He'd read Vegeta's power level before, it was another thing to feel it.

"Kaioken!... Times 3!"

Just as he'd arrived, he saw the flashes of blue and red clashing through the sky. What was more disbelieving... Goku was the superior of the two.

With a mighty punch being landed on Vegeta's face, the saiyan warrior was sent flying back through the sky. Moving his gloved hand up to stabilize himself in the air, commanding the energy around him, he gathered power for an energy blast. Hurling the bolt like lightning, the blast chased the dwindling figure in the distance that was Goku. With a flash of movement that Vegeta couldn't even follow Goku's foot slammed into his chest, sending Vegeta earthbound. His body broke through several rock pillars before smashing into a cliff-face, breaking through layers of rock, leaving a hole as his point of entry.

Goku stood there breathing, his body heaving from the exertion and his muscles feeling as if they were about to rip themselves apart.

Vegeta had been an incredible opponent so far, he'd pushed him to his absolute physical limit. His muscles burned from overuse of Kaio-Ken. He needed to somehow finish this before his body ran out of all of its power and potential. When the cliff he'd kicked Vegeta into exploded, he guessed that the fight would continue.

Standing there with his arms extended out furiously, Vegeta cried out furiously.

Goku had already started to blast off towards him, reigniting the Kaio-Ken attack.

Throwing a quick punch, trying to intercept Goku, Vegeta did his best to counter Goku's approach. But unfortunately for Vegeta, Goku appeared behind, kicking him in the back and sending the Prince flying forward, Bouncing off the ground and quickly recovering, Vegeta came back at Goku with a fierce punch, injecting energy into it making it almost an energy attack in and of itself.

Instead of landing this blow however, Vegeta found Goku's own punch imbedded in his abdomen. Vegeta felt pain like he'd not felt in years. The whole battle seemed to have a noise about it, and that noise silenced beyond the barely audible groans of Vegeta as he slowly stepped back, holding his stomach in desperate pain. Blood even trickled from his mouth.

To say the fight was undecided at this point would have been foolish. It appeared Vegeta was finished. Even when battle reengaged a moment later, it was very clear Vegeta was finished.

Each blow was blocked, and each blow in turn sent the saiyan prince back. Finally, Goku began almost a rhythmic dissection of Vegeta. A series of blows landed on the prince, kicks and punches, giving him no time to recover, even battering him before he could hit the ground. Finally Goku slammed Vegeta's frame into the edge of a cliff, driving his own knee in Vegeta's back, and the edge of the cliff into his belly.

Carefully moving back to a lower level on the battlefield, Goku awaited things to continue.

But he knew it was over. Vegeta had been left howling in agony on the surface above. His own body could barely keep together, but he knew Vegeta was done. The battle could continue for only a short time. When he saw Vegeta rise however, he smiled. He wasn't going to quit, just as he wasn't. Pulses of pain shot through his muscles however, the Kaio-Ken taking its toll on its very operator.

Raditz, watching from the side, realized what Vegeta was going to do.

Shit.

Vegeta looked furious, just as mad as Nappa had been as he was being destroyed by Goku. Power began to gather through his body.

"Dodge this next attack if you can! But even if I miss this whole planet is going to explode!" Vegeta cried out, finally a purple aura completely covering him as he took off into the sky.

On the ground below, Goku's body reignited with the red aura. The two powers were growing rapidly. Lightning traced across the sky around Vegeta, while whole rock formations tore apart under the power of Goku's power being unleashed.

"Gallic Gun!"

"Kamehameha!"

The two blasts were released just in time for Krillin and Gohan to see.

Blue and Purple beams collided, and the world around them simple broke. There was no better word for it, the landscape was catastrophically destroyed. Boulders were shattered, cliffs collapsed, debris exploded in mid air just from being in the presence of the two powers colliding.

Raditz had seen whole planets destroyed. He'd seen Vegeta's Gallic Gun a dozen times. What he'd never seen was Vegeta's blast be countered, least of all by an attack that he'd known to be so weak in its prior use. The Kamehameha wave was a Goliath now, crashing against the Colossus of Vegeta's attack. Kakarot was saving the world, and Raditz couldn't believe it.

"Kaio-Ken!... Times Four!"

It had to be done, Goku determined. As it was his body couldn't keep up the times three any longer, which meant his beam would begin to fade, he had to end the standoff now, even at the expense of his own body.

A huge pulse burst through the Kamehameha wave. The stream of purple energy now seemed to become increasingly insignificant.

"No! NO!" Vegeta's words echoed out as his beam was repulsed.

Finally, there was no purple left, and Vegeta was directly hit by the wave. Fragments of armour blasted in different directions as he was went screaming into the sky as the blue wave carried him.

Wide eyes of surprise were written across Yajirobe, Raditz, Krillin, and Gohan's faces as they saw Vegeta seemingly defeated in one climatic moment.

A low class born saiyan, had just defeated the supposed most powerful known saiyan in the universe. This left Raditz with a sense of awe as he couldn't take his eyes off the sky. Then, behind his awe, he felt something... Vegeta's power, it hadn't disappeared yet, or merged with the beam. Which meant he was still alive.

Goku could feel it as well. Damn, he was in no condition to continue the fight at all.

"Alright dad!" Gohan shouted however, getting an ire filled glance from Goku, who realized his son and Krillin had disobeyed him.

"Gohan! Krillin! I told you two to get out of here!"

"B-but Goku, we saw Raditz heading here and wanted to make sure he didn't intervene!" Krillin shouted back.

Goku immediately started feeling out for Raditz's power, looking in each direction for it.

However, a blue bolt of energy, containing Vegeta within it, came hurtling towards the earth, crashing into the ground a dozen meters in front of Goku, looking furious.

Goku knew that his only remaining hope was the Spirit Bomb, his own power was too depleted and his body too ruined to finish this fight.

"Well done, Kakarot. You have surprised me." Vegeta admitted as he started to calm.

An arrogant smirk appeared across his face.

"And I see you have conveniently destroyed this planet's moon. But that is fine. I will show you the true power of the saiyans, something you lack completely due to your handicap of not having a tail any longer."

A ball of moonlight appeared in his hand.

Blinking and remembering his own tail in that moment had been ripped off by Nappa, Raditz realized how bad this had just become. Without a tail he couldn't transform, but Vegeta...

Uh oh.

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It didn't take long exactly.

Vegeta had completely overpowered Goku in a matter of minutes, just as Raditz guessed he would have. Gohan and Krillin were sent fleeing for cover. Every moment of watching the fight was almost painful, the pair even travelling miles throughout their battle, as Goku tried to gain distance for some special attack.

However, Vegeta in his Ape Form was just too powerful. They watched as finally Goku was completely immobilized, his legs crushed by Vegeta.

"No more running away too bad isn't it, Kakarot?" The voice boomed.

Goku was too busy screaming in agony on the ground to respond.

"Time to die,"

Raising his arm and pointing out the index finger, Vegeta intended to crush Goku. Instead, he found an energy wave colliding with his right eye, fusing the eyelid shut and badly burning his face, blood ejected from the wound at high velocity as Vegeta staggered back, the ape now howling with agony.

But that was all Goku had left.

Angry hands reached down, scooping him up.

"Just for that, we'll make this slow."

Krillin and Gohan watched together as this unfolded, they had to do something.

Hearing his father's cries of agony, knowing full well Vegeta was crushing him alive, Gohan found himself rushing to intervene only to be stopped by Krillin.

"I've got a plan Gohan." Krillin finally said, just as Yajirobi walked over to the pair.

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"Well look, its the kid." Vegeta boomed, looking down at Gohan.

Vegeta was still in the process of crushing Goku as he referenced Gohan shouting at him.

"I said stop it! Stop hurting my father!"

"Well, let me start by saying no. I am not going to stop hurting your father. In fact, this may surprise you, I'm going to kill him."

"Destructor Disk!"

The disc went flying towards Vegeta, who noticed easily in time, jumping instead of being cut in two. The disc slashed through the pillar which Gohan current stood upon, before coming crashing down. He kept his feet stable however.

"Fools! Do you think me an idiot? As if the kid would challenge me alone, let alone the fact that my ears can pick up a pin drop a kilometre away!"

Then there was a sudden burst of pain where his tail had once been. The short, fat human holding a katana made a run for it. The huge tail plummeted to the ground before landing with a boom, flexing naturally as the nerves were separated.

"No! What have... you done!"

The huge beast howled, staggering back, his form slowly shrinking from the massive ape monster, to the human sized monster that all could recognize as being Vegeta.

Vegeta's frame stood there, shivering from the effect of the transformation.

"You!... You little bastards! So you want to die is that it?! Well get ready!" He snapped furiously, looking first to Krillin, then to Gohan.

"Gohan, look out!"

Within a second he'd taken off, knocking Gohan off his rocks, in both senses, and kicking him into a pile of dirt and sand a few meters below. When Gohan got up, all he had to look forward to was a punch in the stomach. The boy hunched over in pain, staggering back.

Krillin's would-be intervention was short lived, as soon as the human warrior approached Vegeta, flying at full speed, he was kicked away helplessly. His body hit a cliff, and fell limply to the ground. He seemed completely unable to rise.

With that, Vegeta picked up Gohan.

"Well now, your Kakarot's kid, aren't you?" He said coldly, before headbutting the boy. "You are just as useless and weak as your father." And with that, he threw Gohan helplessly next to Goku some distance away.

The two of them lay there, Goku clearly in worse shape.

Gohan just felt pain, but looked towards his father as Goku struggled to speak.

"Gohan, you need to get up. Your our only hope to hold him off any longer." Goku said.

It wasn't a position he wanted to put his son into, but Raditz clearly had taken off since Vegeta transformed. Worse, without Gohan holding off Vegeta, he couldn't help Krillin form the Spirit Bomb. It was something he knew Gohan was up to the task for, but as a father it was a terrible thing to throw your son to a wolf as hungry as Vegeta was.

Reaching out his hand to Gohan, Goku smiled as best he could despite his position. Gohan looked up, smiling briefly to his father, trying to reach out himself.

"You can't give up Gohan."

"Dad, I'm scared."

"Son, don't be scared. Piccolo trained you very well. You have to do this. I believe in you, Gohan." He said, reaching out his hand.

Only to be stopped rather abruptly by Vegeta.

Vegeta's grin was born of a sinister intent as he pulled back from Goku, his knee leaving his side as Goku coughed up blood helplessly.

"Please, that boy couldn't stop me Kakarot, why even give him the sick idea that he could. If you are lucky I may spare him after you die, maybe he wants a job, and if he doesn't he can die right along with you." Vegeta said, before shoving his boot down on Goku's now broken ribs.

It was then that Gohan shot to his feet.

"Stop it!" He shouted furiously.

Vegeta turned, seeing Gohan ready to fight.

"Good, that's what I want to see. Let's see how much of a saiyan you are!"

With that, Gohan attacked, flying straight into Vegeta and landing a vicious kick on his face. Vegeta was shocked, being sent flying back and towards the air.

Goku meanwhile, turned his attention to Krillin. "Krillin, quickly, you have to come here."

He needed to transfer the remaining energy of the Spirit Bomb.

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Vegeta felt his body flying back after Gohan's second kick. That kid's power must have increased dramatically over the last few moments.

He was getting tired of all these fluctuating power levels.

With that, his leg snapped out, catching Gohan across the face as he spun about to stop his fall.

Both fighters balanced themselves in the air. Vegeta narrowed his one working eye as he prepared himself. He was exhilarated from the new challenge as Gohan assaulted him once again. The two began exchanging blows in the air, before finally Vegeta took the advantage with a brutal right hook, sending the boy rapidly back.

"Well now kid, just what are you going to do?-" Vegeta's question was answered as a huge blue energy bolt came flying down from the sky, hitting Vegeta head on, sending him into a dive straight towards the earth itself.

There was an explosion that followed of course.

Gohan froze in the air, before looking up.

Gazing down towards the crater was an exceptionally nervous looking Raditz. His palm was still outstretched as he realized he'd just attacked, and likely harmed, Vegeta. This was the death sentence he knew he'd receive. Vegeta's power was still immense, however he was either going to get killed sooner or later. He might as well die with the best chances possible of killing his 'Prince'.

There was a furious almost scream from the crater below as the smoke and dust cleared.

Vegeta looked up, his eye cracked with fury as he stared directly at Raditz.

"Is that all you can do?! Attack from behind! Well now I'm going to show you what happens when it doesn't pay off you useless third rate coward!" Vegeta shouted, energy forming in both his hands. "You and the kid are finish, you hear me! Finished!"

Looking towards his nephew briefly, making eye contact, Raditz knew he still didn't have the eyes of a warrior.

"Kid," 'Uncle' Raditz said bluntly. "Follow my lead,"

Krillin carefully stood there, blue orb hovering above his hand as he stared in bewilderment.

"Remember, Krillin, you need to only attack once you feel the time is right." Goku said weakly. "That is the only shot we're going to make, we cannot make another one."

With a nod and feeling almost sick to his stomach at the idea the entire world was on his shoulders, and not Goku's, Krillin accepted his role in the defence of the Earth.

"Don't worry, I have faith in you, Krillin." Goku said.

If only I had faith in myself.

Krillin thought to himself, but nodded to Goku regardless. He looked for a good vantage point all the same

When he reached the highest point he could, he looked down at the battlefield, watching it unfold.

In the midst a vicious, desperate battle against Uncle and Nephew, an alliance of necessity, Vegeta found himself trying to push the offensive.

Raditz fist shot over Vegeta's head as he ducked, only to find Gohan's fist connecting with his face as the three sparred in the air. Once the blow had landed, the blood was in the water as it were. Raditz's knee slammed into Vegeta's abdomen and Gohan's leg came about, kicking the Prince in the back.

When Vegeta was forced almost to the ground, before pulling up, he shot right back towards the two, snarling like a rabid animal almost. Using some of his power, he boosted his speed, appearing above the pair. Spinning into a kick Vegeta began his assault, Raditz raised his arms to block however he spun about the other way immediately. Chopping Gohan down towards the ground, Vegeta turned his attentions back to Raditz.

This left Raditz and Vegeta to square off alone for the moment in the sky.

Raditz felt himself rushing power to his forearms and hands as he powered his next attack. He had no idea what Kakarot and the midget were doing, however he felt a radical power in the hands of the midget, clearly they intended to unleash it on Vegeta. So, how it would be released was still up for debate.

"Did you really think that intervening would somehow save you Raditz? You've become so soft and weak you now fight for the humans, or at least for the one I had Nappa kill. You are pathetic, and just as much of a failure as you've always been!" Vegeta said furiously.

Vegeta was preparing his own set of energy attacks as well, it was obvious.

"I'll be glad to be rid of you, Vegeta. I feel sick I followed your rules for so long."

"Is that a conscience bugging you Raditz?"

Raditz smiled, and it was a sinister smile, like looking at the devil give you a grin.

"No, Vegeta, its because you are such a pathetic, whining coward. Who fears Frieza and everything else. Your ego is huge, but just like your body, your bravery is lacking in size."

An intense sound of hatred came from Vegeta, throwing his energy blast, just as Raditz threw his. Vegeta's energy beam overwhelmed Raditz's, who dodged to the side of the bolt only to have Vegeta's fist thrown into his chest. Knocking him off balance and disrupting his defence, Raditz saw what was coming next. Vegeta landed another punch, and then another, before double axe handle smashing him from above.

The older brother of Goku went flying, dropping straight into the soil below. It was then that the energy blasts started to come in.

"Well, shit." Raditz said.

He saw the dozens of blasts descending towards him as Vegeta unloaded more and more shots. He raised his arms to defend himself. There was no time to move. He felt something grab his arm however, looking over he saw the kid?

In a blur of motion. Raditz felt himself moved just in time. In the background a series of blasts annihilated where they had once been.

Raditz felt pain shooting through his side and back, but knew he'd be back in the fight shortly, however what he didn't understand was what was staring him in the face.

"Are you alright?" Gohan asked quietly, looking back out towards the skyline. Vegeta was looking for them.

"Where are you!? Cowards!" Vegeta shouted.

Raditz looked back towards the kid. He'd just risked his own neck to save him? Why? It would have been better to attack Vegeta to buy more time. Maybe the kid was just stupid?

"I'm fine." Raditz half lied, wincing.

"No way, you look hurt. Look, hold on. I'll go deal with vegetable head for a minute. Just gather your energy and get ready to help, k?"

Seeing the kid staring at him with a kind of pleasant attitude wasn't some Raditz was accustomed to. Gohan's features however, as if on queue, switched to those of a serious warrior, and he blasted back off to meet Vegeta.

"Fine then! I guess its just time for me to kill Kakarot and Baldy then!" Vegeta shouted spitefully.

"Hey! You big Bully! I'm down here!" Gohan shouted back up towards Vegeta, who blinked, looking down at the kid.

Really? Raditz wouldn't come out, instead he had to face this stupid kid?

Gohan for his part felt a confidence he'd not before. Vegeta looked so small up there, nothing but a big bully who fought those weaker then him.

"So, what are you going to do, brat? Tell me its entertaining at the very least."

Vegeta then felt something, for the first time, he could almost feel the energy inside the boy. It was an incredible feeling, and it was terrifying all at once. He felt the boys power multiplying multiple times over.

"Masenko!" The golden bolt left Gohan's hands, heading directly at Vegeta.

At the last moment, Vegeta plunged his fist into it, sending the blast flying off to the north, streaking through the air without direction or control before exploding into the emptiness of the wasteland.

That was enough for Vegeta. He zipped to the ground, charging Gohan directly, sweeping in with a kick to the boy's mid section, sending him flying back towards a set of rocks.

For Krillin, he felt it. He felt that moment Goku told him about.

"Spirit Bomb!"

The attack went sailing towards Vegeta just as he was preparing to continue his assault.

Vegeta turned about, seeing the Spirit Bomb approaching him. He felt himself barely able to understand what was coming towards him.

"What the Hell is that?" He asked in shock.

With a leap, Vegeta managed to dodge it.

Raditz watched from the side as the boy who had saved him moments ago, was condemned to die by his own father's collaborative attack. Barely pulling himself to his feet, his legs and back working again, he prepared himself to rush in, only realizing it was too late. The boy looked into the face of death like a saiyan should however.

It was when he put his hands up, and bounced the attack back that Raditz blinked, left in disbelief on his face, before he saw the bolt now heading right back towards Vegeta. When the saiyan prince turned his head and looked down, he knew what was coming.

"NO!"

The Spirit Bomb hit with a deafening sound, before it surged in power, blasting all around Vegeta. His body looked as thought it was being electronically baked in the centre of this monstrosity of an energy attack. His screams of agony echoed out across the wasteland, before his body shot straight into the sky once more, except this time, on a jagged path, and with each jag in the path there was an explosion of energy, further wrecking Vegeta's body.

"We did it!" Krillin shouted with joy.

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Barely able to do so, Goku looked over to Krillin, who was sitting there looking just exhausted. What a long day, what fighting had occurred. Goku had never experienced such an intensive, to the wire battle, the planet itself was even in jeopardy from one attack.

"Man, that was too close." Krillin said, almost falling back.

Gohan for his part just sat next to his father, looking even more tired than Krillin.

"At least he's finally gone."

There was only one figure standing, looking at the three of them and crossing his arms. His clothes were almost annihilated, shreds of his jeans and shirt were all that seemed to remain. Raditz stared at the three of them for a moment. He could finish all three of them off in an instant, it would be easy. All he needed to do was open his palm and point it at them. Then he could finish this world off and place it for sale. With Nappa, Vegeta, and Kakarot dead, he'd be the last saiyan alive. It would be just that easy to finish his brother off.

However, they had helped him kill Nappa, even if they did not intend to do so... and then there was the fighting with Vegeta, where the kid had actually saved him.

He was getting soft, he thought almost violently. It was an infuriating feeling to have!

It was then everyone remained quiet, hearing something in the distance. It was like the sound of raining artillery almost, at least to Raditz ears.

It was then, not 10 meters away, Vegeta's body slapped into the ground, bouncing at least once before laying utterly still.

No way.

Raditz looked at this with something stuck in this throat, a thick lump or some sort. There was no way Vegeta survived all that.

"It can't be." Gohan whispered as he looked over.

"Maybe he's dead already?" Krillin asked, walking over to the prone Vegeta.

"Yea, thank goodness, it looks that way." Krillin confirmed, appraising Vegeta from a good foot away. "Good thing too, now we don't have to look at his ugly face anymore."

Vegeta's eye opened however, as he grinned.

"Whose face is ugly?"

Krillin jumped back, shrieking in terror. Gohan cried out in fear as well.

Raditz didn't cry out, but was certainly in shock, as was Goku.

As Vegeta slowly began to rise, he spoke.

"Was that it? Was that all?" He rasped, clearly his lungs not working as well as they once had. "I am going to finish all of you off, and then once I've gained enough of my strength back. I'll kill everyone on this planet."

With lightning quick reflexes, he slapped Krillin aside violently.

Vegeta shambled forward like a zombie, his body urging each step almost with raw willpower rather than his bodies remaining functionality. He stared down Raditz even as he walked, the much fresher saiyan still intimidated by his old boss, especially now.

"No more games. Why won't all of you just die already?!"

It was then that he stopped, increasing his power dramatically before unleashing it all in a huge energy wave in all directions.

The wave was still overwhelming in power. Gohan, Krillin, Goku, and even Raditz were sent helplessly in all directions.

When the smoke cleared, only one of the fighters was even moving. Raditz, now painfully sat up, his body barely managing to pull himself up.

Vegeta however started to nod off, he could barely stand, before he shook himself to.

The two saiyans stared one another down. This was it.

Both Raditz and Vegeta couldn't afford to fight long, however Raditz's injuries were far from as extensive. He wouldn't bleed to death soon for example, where as Vegeta would.

"Fine then you coward! See if you can finish me!" Vegeta shouted, feeling himself summoning the last of his strength.

With better movement, Raditz quickly rushed in, conserving as much energy as he could. He dodged easily under Vegeta's first attack, slamming his knee into the Prince's ribs. The saiyan's mouth gaped open with agony from the blow. Grabbing Vegeta's left arm and hoisting it up, Raditz then mimicked the manoeuvre he'd seen Violet perform on a human commando months ago. He snapped Vegeta's arm after he hoisted it over his shoulder and brought it crashing down onto it. The saiyan prince cried out in agony from his bone being snapped like a twig, and his elbow being dislocated. As soon as Raditz leg go he fell to his knees.

No, not like this.

Vegeta thought as he moved his one arm to support the other. It was then that Raditz sharply throw his elbow back, smashing it into the middle of Vegeta's face. He fell to the ground, blood now streaming from his nose as well. Raditz placed his boot on his chest, looking down at Vegeta arrogantly. Raditz pressed down, and revealed to Vegeta just how many of his ribs were broken.

"That move I broke your arm with," Raditz said bluntly. "Is something I picked up off the woman you killed earlier today."

Vegeta just spat to the side, a mixture of saliva and blood.

Sneering back before shoving his boot down again, causing Vegeta to scream out in pain, Raditz felt a wave of satisfaction overcome him.

"I'm going to make this one slow, Vegeta. Just as I am sure you and Nappa would have done for me. Its the least I can do for an old friend."

Vegeta finally did speak up, through his pain filled expression, he glared at Raditz.

"Raditz?"

"Yes, Vegeta?"

"You talk too much."

With widened eyes as Vegeta's one good arm shot out towards him, opening his palm and as blue energy formed in it, Raditz realized his folly. Vegeta had been gathering this power the whole time.

"No! Not agai-!" Raditz felt the beam hit him head on, burning away at him as it discharged violently, blasting him into the side of a rock formation. The blast that followed left shards of rocks raining from the sky.

Vegeta was in worse shape now that he was moments ago. He couldn't even move his left arm anymore, and it hurt just by its very being there. Stumbling towards Gohan, he found yet more terrible news. The boy's tail had grown back.

Grasping the furry appendage, he just turned, looking up to the artificial moon he'd help create.

"His tail grew back! Plus he's still getting light from the moon." He realized.

Dropping the tail, he began forming energy again in his right hand. The kid had to go.

"BANZAI!"

Vegeta only had time to turn his head, before a fat man carrying a sword, the same one who cut off his tail, cut clean through his armour. His one good arm reaching back as he fell to his knees, he could only utter.

"You cut through my armour," He whimpered, before collapsing.

Yajirobi began his mockery of Vegeta.

"I got him! I got him! Defeated by the great Yajirobi! Yea! Take that you jackass!"

It was then that Vegeta slowly climbed to his feet. "How dare you? You filthy bastard," He breathed.

This was very awkward for the human warrior. Yajirobi's mood immediately changed of course.

"Uhm... I. Well. I was just kidding you see. I didn't mean to cut you, are you okay?" He asked, feigning support for Vegeta. "We should be friends. I mean-"

Kick.

Blood spewed from Yajirobi's mouth and nose from the impact as Vegeta's foot crashed into his cheek.

It wasn't long before another blow was landed, this time sending Yajirobi into a boulder, shattering the boulder itself and leaving him helpless.

"I'll make you pay for what you've done to me," Vegeta murmured.

However, he realized something at that very moment.

The kid!

Turning around he rushed back over, as quickly as he could, but it was too late. Gohan was staring directly into the moonlight.

"Oh ,shit,"

And with that, Gohan's form started to grow, and Vegeta could do little about it.

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The Shame of Defeat:

Vegeta's body barely responded anymore. He had only one arm to use to drag himself, the other even more useless.

The great ape had completely overwhelmed him, the kid's rage was too vast in that state to be controlled however, and he did managed to cut his tail off, but not in time to avoid being crushed by him. He doubted many of his bones were still functional, in fact he had a great deal of evidence to support it. His arm struggled to finally drag him to the entrance of his pod, just as his body gave out.

There was just no strength left in Vegeta's body, even in desperation he couldn't climb into the space pod. It was then that the human started to catch up to him. The bald headed human now bearing the sword of the fat one.

No, this couldn't end like this. He was the Prince of the Planet Vegeta, and of all Saiyans. Was this how it was to end? At the hands of a bald, weakling human? On a world no one ever heard of until someone had mentioned the legendary magic balls?

Where had it all gone wrong?

He'd have been better off if Raditz had just died on this mud-ball. The warrior in question had become so weak that he had been willing to betray him, his prince, over a simple disciplinary action. Not only a disciplinary action, but one that was part of purging this god forsaken planet! Now he realized, perhaps Raditz hadn't had the stomach for the job, simply because these humans looked so Saiyan. He was glad he killed that purple haired, obstinate woman, especially now. He would see Raditz suffer and die for his treachery.

Kakarot and his son were his only two other subjects, and they would suffer and die the same. Kakarot especially for being even weaker in will than Raditz. He didn't fight for the vengeance of one woman, he fought him because he was the defender of this blasted place. His son was his echo as well, a disgrace heaped upon disgrace.

Vegeta vowed in his mind, that he would annihilate this planet at his next opportunity, and kill everyone here. It had served as nothing but a beacon of shame for the saiyans now. It broke the remaining saiyans.

Nappa died here, he was defeated, and the others defected.

Still, the fantasies he thought of in his mind did little to console him any further as he heard Krillin's foot stop next to him. He was kicked onto his back, and could only look helplessly as the human arched the sword for the kill.

Vegeta felt his heart pounding in his head, and then saw baldy freeze.

The two of them there for only a the briefest seconds.

"Krillin, let him go." He heard Kakarot say in a strained voice. It was barely able to be heard, but Vegeta could still make it out. "He deserves a second chance, just like Piccolo did. And just like Raditz. Let him go, show him that we have mercy, and compassion."

Vegeta's mind raced at what was being said. They were going to just let him go? Like that? The fools! He'd see this planet come crumbling down around them. With this new gained knowledge, Vegeta felt his strength slowly inch back just enough that his one good arm pulled him towards his pod again, barely propping himself up against it.

"But Goku, he'll just come back and do the same as he did now! We have to stop him, here and now!" Krillin turned about, putting the sword to Vegeta's neck, preparing to make the final blow.

"No Krillin! This isn't the way! Be strong Krillin, please. Show him mercy."

Vegeta felt his body trembling, for the first time since he could remember, save for when in a room with Lord Frieza, he was helpless, completely at the mercy of someone else. It was terrifying.

Finally, Krillin dropped the sword.

Vegeta felt a weight lifted off his shoulders, slowly turning and crawling back into his space pod.

As the door began to shut, the human couldn't even look at him.

"I'll be back... and when I get back, I'll show you how merciful I can be, as I crush the life from your bodies, and stare into your eyes as I do!" He barely managed, before the door finished closing, and he passed out.

With that, the ship blasted into space.

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A/N: Phew! Even bridging a bunch of the fight that didn't change, damn that took a while. I'm exceptionally happy however that I get a much broader slate to paint on now that the most linear aspect of things were over. The saiyans were going to attack earth, especially starting with Raditz's fight as I did. So, that means coming forward a lot less things are going to be predictable.

Also, to my reviewers who've reviewed as "Guest" I'll respond in story for the first time:

Coldblue: Thanks! That was a very nice review, I appreciate it.

Luke: Thanks for the input so far Luke.

To everyone else. Thanks a whole bunch for all your input so far, no matter how big or small. Now this is the end for the first act, Chapter 10 is the cut off for "Act 1" essentially, the Saiyan Saga. If you have anything you wanna tell me, or any input you have as a whole so far. Nows the time to send it.

I hope everyone has a great week.