Dragon Ball Z: The Catalyst
Act II:
Chapter 32: The Prince
Helpless.
They were all completely helpless as Vegeta was being beaten to death in front of their eyes. His neck was wrapped in Frieza's tail, limply being held in the air as Frieza drove his fist into the saiyan's back repeatedly. Each punch that came immediately caused Vegeta to eject blood from his mouth. Even if they could get Frieza off him now, he was dead.
Another thundering blow came to Vegeta's back as he coughed blood up once more, this time his body didn't even struggle after the blow however, there was just nothing left in him to continue his resistance, even pain wasn't enough to move him. Flinching with disgust, Frieza's tail snapped to the side, discarding Vegeta. Clearly, he'd used up the Saiyan as a means of entertaining himself.
Raditz had found his feet again, standing up, but with one arm painfully holding his side. Vegeta lay there on the ground dying only a few metres away from him. It was a strange feeling, seeing the Prince laying there dying helplessly didn't bring him any great joy. There was no great moment of triumph, no glory to be had. All he saw was a man dying, as he'd seen thousands, millions die before. But the emptiness he felt in that moment, no matter how void, could only have been there for one reason. Vegeta wasn't dying by his hand, he was dying by the hand of a monster even Raditz would admit, was worse than him.
The monster who'd destroyed their race, and who'd killed his brother not minutes ago, now loomed over Vegeta, preparing to make the kill. After minutes of being subject to Vegeta's slow death, even Raditz just wanted Frieza to get it over with. In Vegeta's death, he saw his own impending doom, to be tormented before being killed by this monster. They all had to have seen it. Even his nephew Gohan.
There would be no escape from this.
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It'd been terrible. When the fighting started she was nearly killed by falling debris, before massive tremors and force winds sent her flying off into the distance. Quietly she'd found a place behind a small set of rocks and just sat there trembling, waiting for this nightmare to be over. Islands were annihilated all around her, she saw them explode. She saw the waves violently crash near the shoreline of the very island she was on. Several times she thought she'd be swept away into the sea. Brief flashes on the battle appeared uncomfortably close at times.
When everything started to calm after nearly an hour, Bulma slowly stuck her head out, looking into the sky above. It wasn't that things had calmed.
It was that there wasn't anything anyone could do anymore. Bulma was no stranger to seeing how a battle went, and even her eyes could see what Frieza was doing to Vegeta.
A few seconds later, there was another blast. Picking herself up Bulma nearly cursed herself for what she was about to do. They were on her island now, and she needed to know if it was time to go or not. Blue eyes peaked around a rocky corner.
Piccolo, Gohan, and Krillin stood together, near... near the dead body of Dende.
Oh god. I'm so sorry little guy. You didn't deserve that. This shouldn't have even happened.
Metres away to their left, and her right, she saw Raditz, standing there holding his side, looking injured.
It was then she realized there was absolutely no sign of Turles, he was just... gone? He was like Dende then, dead. She had little doubt about that, because she'd seen him fighting briefly. There wasn't much sympathy over the idea that the monster who had tried to rape her the other day was now dead, but it didn't make their chances any better. Goku deserved a better brother than him, no one deserved a brother like that.
Finally however, her eyes traced to the scene which brought a sense of terror to her eyes. Vegeta lay there, his body looked utterly brother, blood covered his mouth and armour. Whether he'd admit it or not, and she knew, he'd saved her from Turles. He'd tried to destroy the Earth, he'd nearly killed her friend Goku, and had been responsible for thousands dying on Earth, including Yamcha.
But Bulma did feel herself looking at him with Sympathy as Frieza shoved his foot down on him, causing blood to cough up once more.
"It pains me to see you like this Vegeta," Frieza remarked, looking down at Vegeta with a small, controlled smile.
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A lone figure stood atop Frieza's ship.
So much had happened, he'd been watching it all from his medical pod, constructing the battle with his mind as best he could with the energies he felt. Every moment he'd been stuck in the healing tank, he'd wanted to break free and come for his friends and family. They'd fought so hard, but now Frieza was picking everything apart.
Only minutes ago, he felt two energy signatures go silent. One of them was Turles, his brother. To say that he knew Turles well was a lie, but no one deserved to have their life cut short. Even as of right now he felt Vegeta's energy dwindling rapidly as well. It was almost non-existent.
I'm sorry I haven't been there helping you everyone. Just hold on a little long.
In a rush of speed, Goku launched himself from the top of Frieza's ship. He'd never felt so powerful, so alive. It was an incredible feeling. Words couldn't do it justice. It was unbelievable, he felt like he could take on the entire universe and win. It was different from any other time he'd ever felt strong. Flying through the skies of this alien world, he felt like he was flying with destiny.
Feet landing on the ground finally, a wave of force washed over everyone.
Seeing the monster known as Frieza in front of him first, Goku narrowed his eyes on him. As soon as he did, the tyrant which held Vegeta's life in his hands, turned towards him instead. With a dull thud, Frieza released Vegeta, before standing at his full height to address Goku.
"Oh? So you survived, again? Aren't you a resilient little thing?"
Goku narrowed his eyes. Survived again?
Turles.
"No, no you aren't that other monkey are you? Tell me, do all you third class saiyans look alike? Because you'll be the third monkey I kill with that face," the Arcosian boasted, his features turning to one of delightful amusement.
What kind of cruel beast could derive such pleasure from hurting others like this?
"Goku," Piccolo finally said from his side.
Turning his head for a moment, he saw Krillin and Gohan staring up at him with relief. This must have been incredibly hard for them. They'd been fighting this monster for what must have been an eternity to them. His best friend Krillin had survived and fought bravely, despite being outmatched at every step. His son had shown incredible courage and strength as well, and had kept them all alive more than once.
"Hey everyone. All of you have improved so much. I'm glad to see it. I'm proud of all of you. But you guys don't need to worry anymore, I'll take care of Frieza," Goku promised, smiling to himself as he walked forward.
He's incredible, its dark, but his strength is immense. I know this will be the hardest fight of my life, but I feel excited by it somehow.
Staring into the red eyes ahead of him, Goku started to walk forward. The first thing he had to do was get Vegeta out of the range of this monster.
"I don't like being ignored," Frieza said finally. "Are you related to that fool who I killed just a moment ago? You know he was nothing compared to my power. He was an arrogant ape without a shred of a chance. And by the looks of you," Frieza crossed his arms, smiling to himself before closing his eyes, tilting his head away. "You are even weaker than he is. You are hardly worth my time."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Goku responded. "Because I'm actually pretty sure I'm about to beat you."
There was no choice but to beat him. This was it.
When Frieza disappeared, he only disappeared for the others. Goku tracked the movement, feeling out every motion this beast made. He was coming right for him, but he was being sloppy. Frieza thought nothing of him. He was about to get a wake up call. Feeling the exact moment to retaliate, Goku pushed his energy only briefly, before disappearing.
Reappearing, Frieza looked confused as he looked at where Goku should be. Taking his moment to act, Goku reappeared, driving his foot into Frieza's face, sending the white and purple alien flying off. With a loop in the air, Frieza landed himself, looking confused and holding his cheek.
"Well," Frieza started. "It would appear you are a little stronger than the rest of these weaklings."
Raising his finger towards Goku, Frieza smiled to himself.
"Unfortunately, I don't think it'll make much of a difference."
With that, Goku saw his opponent launch an energy blast towards him, it was a "Death Beam". Sensing out the energy behind the attack, putting confidence in his own strength, Goku discarded the energy wave with a wave of his hand.
When the red bolt went flying into the sky, everyone stood in shock, even Frieza. Goku did smile however as he looked back at Frieza.
It was then the next wave of attacks shot towards him, one after another.
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Slowly, Vegeta managed to look up, regaining enough strength to see Kakarot standing there unscathed by Frieza's attacks.
He's doing it.
Kakarot was doing something he couldn't, he was standing up to Frieza, even with Frieza as he was at that moment. It was just as he thought when Kakarot first arrived on Namek, when he defeated Recoome in one hit, and moved so fast he couldn't even follow him. This third class saiyan had surpassed him. There was a Super Saiyan.
Pained eyes looked at Kakarot with this realization.
Kakarot, you are the legend. You are the one who will stop Frieza.
"Hey Kakarot, you made it," Vegeta barely managed. "... But I never dreamed you'd be the one."
Despite the pain, despite the physical pain he was enduring in this moment, Vegeta propped himself up. The words that came next were despite the emotional pain. The agony he felt underneath it all, that he wasn't the one. The only reprieve from this was the fact that Frieza would die at Kakarot's hands.
"You don't get it, do you Frieza? Kakarot isn't just a saiyan, he's not like Turles was... Kakarot is a Super Saiyan."
The look on Frieza's face had made all the pain of sitting up, all the pain of swallowing his pride, worth it. He could see the fear in Frieza's eyes at his words, because he knew that the only way Kakarot could challenge him was if this was true. He would be struck down by a Saiyan. To Vegeta, in this moment, that was enough.
A laugh managed to escape Vegeta's lips, it was pained, but it was too hard to hold it back.
"If there is a God, he must be good for letting me long enough to see this day!" smiling at Frieza, Vegeta continued. "Because I'll have lived long enough to see you defeated by a Saiyan Frieza!"
His laugh couldn't stop, it couldn't be halted. His ribs and failing organs protested vehemently, but it didn't matter.
The only thing that stopped the laugh was when pain shot through his chest, piercing him through the front and out the back. His already abused body now stopped, not allowing him another moment to enjoy his pained joy. Falling back Vegeta felt blood rushing through his body again. Without so much as a second as soon as his back hit the ground, blood vomited from his mouth, focused up from his lungs.
This is it.
Vegeta was no fool, he was dying before, this had sealed the deal. The pain was unimaginable, the fact he wasn't dead already was a miracle.
Kakarot.
"Vegeta!" Kakarot's voice shouted out. "Why? He couldn't even defend himself anymore. There is no honour in that."
Honour? You're a fool Kakarot. If you fight him with honour... its all over. He'll kill you.
It wasn't a plea for Goku's life, in Vegeta's mind. It was the fact that no one would ever stop Frieza, if Kakarot didn't stop Frieza. The Saiyan race would be left to the dustbin of history, without an avenger.
"Oh? Well I must apologize then, perhaps Vegeta will be soothed by my regret. I'll be sure the next time I kill a Saiyan, I put a bit more honour into it. Perhaps your friend didn't have to die even. Vegeta was almost impossible to stop once he started rambling on and on about that pathetic legend. The Legendary Super Saiyan? What a joke."
"Kakarot," wheezed from Vegeta finally, his hand gripping the soil it hurt so much to even speak.
His voice sounded laboured, wheezing, and that of a dying man.
"Don't... there is no honour in what this is. There is no honour in what we do. This is just a game, play to win," Vegeta started, his voice struggling more with each word. "You'll have to get over that soft heart of yours... he'll... he'll use it against you. He'll kill everyone you love in front of you if he has to. Feelings will just get you killed Kakarot."
How many times had he seen people die because they felt something? Because they were urged towards something? Feelings meant nothing, they were just a burden, something that shackled you to your death. Anger and hate were the only feelings worth having in a fight.
"I can't do that Vegeta. My feelings are my guide. Besides, everyone deserves a second chance, just as you did."
It was the response of a man who lived an innocent life, or largely innocent one. It came from a soul somehow untouched by the violence with which they lived. He'd never seen worlds burn, or worlds explode, because one man wished it so. He'd never killed billions in an instant, because he'd just decided to do so.
"Don't be a fool, Kakarot," Vegeta gasped, blood coughing up a moment later. "We did so much for him. And he... he killed us for it. He's the one who destroyed our home world, our home planet."
"Another walk down memory lane?" Frieza asked, exasperated as he rolled his eyes. "Please Vegeta, if you could be more courteous and die, rather than droll on about unimportant drivel, I'd consider it a personal favour. I know, I'll even dedicate a planet's waste facility to you if you just stop this blather."
All the memories of what he'd done for Frieza came to the fore. All the people he destroyed, all the lives he'd ended, all the things he'd sacrificed. He did it all to appease the monster before him, before and after this beast had taken his world away.
"Kakarot, he killed my father, he killed your father, and just now he even took your brother from you. He'll take everyone else as well, your son, your elder brother, the humans. They'll all die or worse at the ends of his fingertips."
"Vegeta," Kakarot finally cut in. "Please, stop talking, you're draining the last of your energy."
The last of his energy? After all he'd done, Kakarot was concerned for his life? Even as he lay here with a hole in his chest.
If Kakarot didn't listen, everything would be lost. His whole life would be for nothing. All he'd given up would be for nothing... His eyes began to cloud. Tears slowly slipped from his eyes as he realized that this was it.
"We worked so hard for him. We did everything he asked. He took me from my father, when I was just a little boy. He made me do whatever he wanted, and told me he'd kill my father if he didn't. I did everything he asked but he killed him anyway, along with everyone else."
The last words were particularly pained. His entire life he'd felt guilt over the very idea that somehow he'd not saved them. He'd failed to save his father, and his people. It was a child's belief at the time that somehow he could have kept Frieza from harming his people. Even now, knowing everything he knew, he still carried that guilt underneath it all.
"He was scared," Vegeta's voice weakly continued, finally starting to lose strength rapidly. "He was afraid that one day a Super Saiyan would appear, and overthrow him."
Rolling his eyes in the distance, Frieza smiled a moment later.
"Well, isn't that touching. Care to pull a few more heart strings for us Vegeta?"
"Please, no more Vegeta," Kakarot started, looking him in the eyes. "You need to save your strength."
No. It had to be said.
An injured, tired, and ruined arm reached out for Goku, his fingers twitching as the last of his strength moved through it.
"Kakarot... kill Frieza," he wheezed, pushing his body and the last of his energy. "He made me what I am. Don't... don't let him do it to anyone else. Stop him. Please."
Finally the world became a haze, he felt all the power in his body escaping him. It was very dark and cold in that moment, his last images in life were Kakarot staring back at him, his eyes in shock. The last thing he felt, before escaping his ruined body, was his head falling to the side.
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Everyone stood in shock at the confession, save for two figures. One was clearly Frieza, who displayed a mild amusement at the death of his former employee.
The other was Raditz, who watched the entire scene with a sense of Vegeta no one else knew. He'd known Vegeta for twenty years. They had bled together, survived together, killed together, eaten together, and lived together. From the age of five Raditz could recall the Prince. He even recalled the day he met him, emerging from his space pod on Planet Frieza 081. The first words he'd been addressed as, by his Prince, was 'weakling'.
Where was the innocence Frieza had supposedly stolen from him? Perhaps Vegeta justified everything he did through the lens of Frieza's rule over them? Or did he just choose to forget what they were. They were Saiyans. They were a warrior race who conquered worlds and sacrificed their populations on the alter of profits. That was how they fell into the alliance with the Planet Trade to begin with, Vegeta's father signing them over to servitude to satiate their bloodlust. The only thing that quenched it was the destruction of their home world, and the annihilation of their race.
"He made me what I am. Don't... don't let him do it to anyone else. Stop him. Please."
The words escaped Vegeta's lips and Raditz sneered with disgust. That was his excuse? Frieza made them this way? Frieza was to blame? Was that why his father had desperately tried to increase his status as a child, losing everything over it? Was that why Vegeta looked down on him his whole life, even since they were children? The Prince was a monster, even without Frieza's tender care. Why? Because they had been monsters, they, the Saiyans. They still were monsters, it was their destiny long before Frieza.
Despite the betrayal of Guru, Raditz had learned something in their mind link. He'd learned what his people really where, especially as he saw it from the perspective of their victims. He'd forced millions to suffer through what had happened to him. And now the monster who had taken Violet from him was dead.
How dare he try and justify what he'd done, blaming Frieza?
He could remember it. There was no need for the old Namek to remember the fond memories of his childhood. Staring at Vegeta's corpse, he remembered him as a boy.
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Planet Gras, 25 years ago.
Bodies lay in the shattered remains of cities, the locals having been completely crushed hours before. Unfortunately a magnetic storm from the local star had left them stranded for at least another day. But it was a day without responsibility, for the first time since the destruction of their home world, Raditz had been allowed to be a regular boy.
Even Nappa seemed to relax, well, relax as much as he could anyway. The eldest of their race was currently resting against the side of a ruined wall, enjoying the warm rays of the local star.
Running through the streets of the destroyed metropolis, Raditz jumped over a toppled skyscraper, his mouth turning into a grin as he did. He imagined himself to be a Super Saiyan saving his home world. Currently the "Super Saiyan" was tracking down the monsters who plagued his people, the nefarious Tuffles. After he vanquished these imaginary foes, he'd stop the Comet before it destroyed Planet Vegeta. It was a silly child's game, created in the mind of a 9 year old trying to use the first free time he'd had in months.
Suddenly there was a figure in front of him. The child braced himself for a survivor, something to stamp out. It was when his scouter beeped that he realized it was a familiar face.
"What are you doing?" Vegeta demanded. The child almost half his age crossed his arms.
"Uhm. I'm just, I guess-"
"Wasting time? That's why you're such a weakling you know," his Prince shot back before he could finish his answer. "What's the point in running around like a fool?"
The older boy blinked in shock at the way his Prince addressed him, he still wasn't used to it. A child younger than him, but with a power level almost ten times larger. Quietly, Raditz frowned, before he thought of something. Maybe the Prince wanted to relax as well.
"Well, having fun," Raditz rationalized. "I started it on the Planet I was sent to. When you're alone and there is nothing to do, you play a game trying to chase down the Thraken. Well, I changed it a bit since then, because we don't have any Thrakens here. But if you want to do it as well we can."
Raditz could see the Prince became interested, looking at Raditz with a suspicious eye before smirking himself. "So you are trying to play a game hm? Well then let's play a game. I'll chase you, and then you chase me, how does that sound?"
The rules clearly weren't fair. Vegeta was many times faster than he was. But, he wasn't going to say no to him, that was for sure.
"Alright Vegeta-"
"Prince Vegeta," the other child immediately snarled.
"Alright, uhm, Prince Vegeta."
The younger boy smiled at Raditz, nodding his head. "Go, five second head start."
Blinking in shock, Raditz immediately took off for the ground. His body rushed through several ruins, quickly moving between buildings and rubble before finally ending up inside the ruins of a massive building. Before he could even think to move further, something struck his back, knocking him to the ground.
Turning his head, Raditz saw the arrogant Prince smiling down at him.
"That wasn't very hard at all. It's your turn weakling."
Closing his fist, Raditz immediately jumped to grab the Prince, who disappeared with pure speed. His scouter beeping, Raditz realized that the Prince was gaining huge lead on him already.
There could be no complaints, no matter how much Raditz wanted to state how unfair it was. Life wasn't fair, he already knew that, and he knew the punishment. There had to be a way to win, or at least keep up.
Rushing after Vegeta, the long haired child followed him through buildings, through the streets, through the air. His body was beginning to tire, and he knew Vegeta was toying with him, enjoying it the entire time. There hadn't been any exchange of words between the two since he was called a weakling. If he stopped giving chase, he knew Vegeta wouldn't just claim victory, he'd rub it in. Stopping to catch his breath however, Raditz tried to gather himself enough to continue the chase.
In the air above the roof he rested on, Vegeta hovered, glaring down at him.
"What's wrong, third class? Can't keep up?"
Immediately Raditz took off, grabbing at where Vegeta was as the saiyan disappeared, before reappearing in the distance. The two flew through several miles of destroyed rubble, before Raditz finally had a plan. Pointing his palm out, he fired an energy blast far into the distance, right of Vegeta, aiming for a fuel tank they'd left intact. When the blast hit, a massive explosion of fire exploded in the distance, well far away.
Vegeta stopped in mid flight, his eyes turning towards the flames which brightly licked into the air as black smoke billowed out from the core of the explosion. A second later, Raditz's hand landed on his back.
The two boys froze for a moment, Vegeta's eyes peeled ahead, cold and furious.
"... That's cheating!" the younger Saiyan immediately accused.
Heaving for air after the exertion, Raditz just stared at his Prince. He gave a weak smile however, feeling proud of himself. He didn't have to be fast, he just had to open up a way to win, using the tactical brain his father had bestowed to him.
"I didn't cheat," Raditz reasoned through his laboured breathing. "Prince-"
A severe chop immediately landed on his shoulder, sending him flying to the ground, his body slamming into an already opened piece of road, landing face first in currently wet mud.
Slowly pulling his head up, Raditz felt himself barely able to move, his entire right side was in pain. Suddenly a gloved hand grabbed him by his hair, yanking his head up. The whole front of his body was covered in mud.
"Admit you cheated," Vegeta ordered.
"But I-"
The vicious strike came across his face, slamming him back into the mud, and forcing blood out of his mouth. Now a boot came down on his back, shoving him further into the mud. He could hear the angry breathing from his Prince.
"Admit it or die, weakling! You could never catch me with such a low power level!"
Swallowing his pride with a cocktail of pain and fear chasing it, Raditz finally uttered.
"I'm sorry I cheated, Prince Vegeta," he spoke weakly.
Within a second, the boot pressed harder on his back.
"Good, third class. Remember to never cheat again, or lie to me. Or you'll be sorry!"
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"Goodbye Vegeta," Kakarot said quietly, sounding remorseful even at the loss of the Saiyan Prince.
There was an emptiness in Raditz as he looked at the corpse himself, his resentment hadn't been cured by Vegeta's death. But he didn't expect that to be the case, not with Vegeta's death having been stolen from him. But it made his stomach turn as he watched an explosion appear next to Vegeta, creating a hole in the ground.
He doesn't deserve to be buried.
"You're not as cold hearted as you believed yourself to be, Vegeta. A heart of stone can't shed tears as you did. You must have been holding them back you're whole life."
Quietly, Raditz chose to ignore those words, taking steps now towards the others as Goku watched over the corpse of the last Saiyan Prince. There was nothing more to gain from analyzing Vegeta. His revenge was denied, and Vegeta was a corpse. Perhaps when he found himself alone after all this, if they survived, he would drink to the Saiyan Prince's last gasps of life, and hope that was enough to fill the void he now felt.
Vegeta's body was placed in the hole Kakarot had blasted out for him.
It's still too good for you. I'm glad that grave is shallow.
For a brief moment however, Raditz saw his former Prince as the young boy he'd first met all those years ago. He was just as vile then as he was now.
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A/N: Hey guys :)
Just letting everyone know, after Chapter 34 is posted, The Catalyst is going to alternate, week from week, with The Long Road. So basically one week TLR will update, the next week The Catalyst will update. That way I can have time to ensure that each chapter that goes up, is a better quality chapter with better content in it.
Reviewers:
Guest1: It was really a sad day to be Turles. And Raditz is left behind helpless once again to stop people from killing the things he doesn't want to die.
DaOneinDaCorner: Yea, Raditz x Videl is not going to happen. Ever. Lol
Guest2: Cargo is on a magical adventure.
Guest3: It does indeed suck to be on Namek :(
Jason9000: Can only speculate, Great Apes have a problem with not being fast.
Guest4: Frieza would never die! He'd be immortal!... by virtue of awesomeness! XD
Demod20: You'll find there are still some divergences to come. Keep your eyes peeled for chapters 33 and 34. I may surprise you yet.
Guest5: Dude, I did update.
Peter1398: I try my best to be as authentic as possible.
Fightingchampion: Asking to heal Vegeta is one thing, then asking him to heal another little Vegeta? That's just not very happy fun times for Dende. You can only push Little Green so far!
Ness Frost: Goku is currently whistling. Only he can't whistle underwater.
Dark Impaler: Raditz is nowhere near strong enough to become a Super Saiyan, nor is the shock of Turles's death enough to push him over.
Super mystic Gohan: There are surprises waiting in the following chapters.
Treeger: It will be interesting to see what you guys think of chapter 33 and 34 :D
Cosmic Cannon: Are things as they appear?