Disclaimer, in case it wasn't obvious. I don't own Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, or really any other property. Thank you.
The Cataylst
Act IV
Chapter 50: A Saiyan Proverb
Raditz:
What a dismal display. Watching Turles get entirely crushed by Kakarot hadn't been the best moment he'd seen so far. In fact, it was a dismal failing on his own part. If he'd kept better tabs on Turles, or worked harder to keep this from happening in any other way, things wouldn't have degenerated this far. Sensing Vegeta's energy fading was hardly the worst part of today. The worst part was watching Turles fall on his own sword out of arrogance and a misunderstanding of his current hand. Raditz didn't know why the Great Ape form hadn't performed for his once proud brother, but the second it failed, he knew that Turles was finished.
What followed was a one-sided affair. Turles never stood a chance against Kakarot once their brother was serious. How could he? Kakarot was the legendary Super Saiyan. Defeating Frieza, overwhelming Cooler, and stopping him like this were seemingly simple feats for the greatest warrior alive. The second greatest Saiyan alive was now in a ruin. The shame this brought to Raditz for having tried his best to keep everyone cohabiting with one another was real.
When Kakarot landed, still in his Super Saiyan form even as Turles passed out, it raised some red flags as Raditz approached.
"He needs to go," Kakarot said bluntly. "I won't have him on this planet for another moment. He's dangerous and unpredictable."
Immediately the eldest of the three brothers looked at Turles's fallen body before looking at Kakarot.
"Brother, Turles may have been in error-"
"I'm not playing around about this, Raditz," Kakarot's voice was stern as he walked towards the broken body. "He's a danger to everyone here. I don't even know where I can take him, but it's not going to be here-"
"Reconsider what you're doing, brother," Raditz interjected this time feeling his voice becoming more hostile. "We are among the last of our species! And he is our brother, and your twin. He also worked to save your son from Vegeta! One mistake-"
"One mistake and he nearly got a lot of people hurt or killed. You know exactly what kind of monster he is, Raditz. He attacked Bulma on Namek. He intends to kill anyone who gets in his way. We're trying to stop monsters like this from emerging. I don't mind training with him, or fighting him, but if I'm off one day, that's it for everyone. They'll all be left under this beast, and I can't have that."
"I know exactly what kind of monster he is, because I was a monster just like him," Raditz quickly countered. "Vegeta is a monster just like him too. Don't think for a second Vegeta couldn't kill everyone you care about. He nearly killed your son just to spite me. Over something the boy had nothing to do with. And if it hadn't been for the boy's stronger uncle, I know your son would be dead."
Two blue eyes turned to face him as Raditz felt his own heart racing as Kakarot stood over his double. He just needed him to back off, just for a second, and then this could all get resolved. There was contemplation on his other brother's part before he turned his attention back to Raditz, his eyes sharpening.
"He's killed countless people-"
"So have I, and even that rat Vegeta."
"He has no respect for anyone-"
"And? Again, you have our Prince. You have me from not too long ago. Kakarot, this is our brother."
The pause between them felt like it took forever before Kakarot spoke again.
"Never again, Raditz," Goku said seriously. "One more chance. That's it."
Relief washed over Raditz before he nodded.
"Brother, thank you for the wisdom-"
"Raditz, this is the opposite of what I think is a good idea," his younger, conscious sibling pointed out. "I give everyone a chance. But I've seen what monsters like Frieza can do. And when I look at Turles I see the same things I saw in Frieza."
That was enough for Raditz to wince, but he nodded all the same.
Great. Now I need to figure out how the Hell I'm going to get Turles to listen to me at all. Me and my big mouth. That bastard owes me for this.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Vegeta: Two Days Later
It was warm.
Half his face ached, and the other half felt hot. It was like feeling a sunrise. This didn't feel real for several seconds. The dull ache seemed to spread through most of his body as he trembled for several seconds. As soon as his one eye opened, it peered out the window to his left. It was the star of this primitive world's star system. And it was very warm, it felt like days since he'd been touched by any natural light. His right eye didn't seem to open, but was still moving. It was covered by bandaging. With his one free eye, the Prince peered down, seeing his savaged body.
So, I didn't just imagine being shredded by that traitor Turles.
It was disappointing to say the least. First to be defeated again by that wretch, and then to be saved by Kakarot. It was impossible to hide his anger or shame at the entire scenario. All he would strive for, so long as he breathed from this moment going forward, would be to become a Super Saiyan and reassert himself as the master of all others. He was failing to live up to his destiny, and that would stop now. Even worse was seeing his future son, and Kakarot's future boy, had mastered what it was to be a Super Saiyan years before he'd even come close to the goal.
How am I going to surpass them like this? Trapped in this bed with a body which has been torn to pieces.
Worse still, he'd destroyed the space ship in the battle with Turles. And for what? To lose a moment later anyway. The beaten had been twice as painful as the one he'd received the first time he'd fought Turles, not from the physical pain, but the inability to match Kakarot's brother. The weaker of the two, even. What did he even achieve, or get out of any of it? He should have let Turles beat the human fool Yamcha half to death, and just told the woman she was unharmed.
Turning his head, finally being able to see on the other side of his vision, the woman was sleeping at his side, her body slumped onto a nearby table as she half sat in a chair. This was the second time he'd intervened on her behalf when regarding Kakarot's brother. The gratitude of a harpy was all he'd earned for his loss. Even worse, this time he'd not even truly protected her. He'd been little more than a diversion.
What has helping this foolish woman gotten me? Beyond fulfilling the wishes of a maddened vision, I had.
This was an alien world, with alien customs, and the only small comfort were the locals looked like Saiyans. In all the galaxy, this was perhaps the only place with creatures which bore a true resemblance to his people. Trying to rise, Vegeta immediately regretted it as his entire body's aches turned into burning bright spots of agony. It was enough to make him growl in pain as he tried to keep himself together. The sudden noise had been enough to cause a flicker of life in the woman, which irritated Vegeta even more.
Damn.
"Mmm... M?... Vegeta?" she half whispered as she was waking up, her eyes not even fully opened yet.
It was pointless to answer her as Vegeta's frustration at being trapped in this bed was supreme. The injuries he'd incurred could have been life threatening, and even with his Saiyan body, it would take time to heal. Time that was going to be wasted sitting here in this damn bed.
It took several seconds as the woman awakened, walking around the bed to see his one eye open.
"V-Vegeta! You're awake!" she almost shouted.
The noise was unbearable. It made his skull ring as he winced, feeling his nervous system respond instinctively, making his already damaged body tremble. There was a realization almost immediately from the woman, who put her hand over her mouth.
"I'm sorry Vegeta, I didn't mean to startle you-"
"You didn't startle me," Vegeta grunted with irritation in response, even if his voice was surprisingly weak. He barely recognized himself. "That loud mouth of yours was left ringing in my head."
An irritated look crossed her face before she placed her hands on her hips, leaning forward and leering at him.
"Well you listen here mister Prince of all Saiyans, I've been taking care of you for days. I apologize already about startling you, the least you can do is show me some gratitude," she challenged immediately.
I wouldn't be in this damn bed if you weren't for you. And my head wouldn't be ringing if it wasn't for that unbearable voice of yours!
It'd been only enough for him to hold his tongue as his one eye seethed at her. Instead of saying anything, he just went quiet and fumed internally.
It was strange when he felt something warm touch his exposed shoulder a second later. His eye turned back towards her, seeing a feature he didn't expect to see. She was smiling at him. What a bizarre group of people these humans were. Did she want to fight him or not? He didn't understand, but it was a strange sensation seeing her looking at him like that.
"Thank you," she said after a few more moments. "I didn't have a chance to thank you before you blacked out on the street. For stepping in like you promised."
Looking at her hand on his shoulder and what he knew was a sincere smile and gratitude, Vegeta looked away a second later, choosing not to say another word. The last thing he needed was for this creature to cling to him over all of this. He didn't need the woman's gratitude, he needed the equipment she provided him.
"When will you have a new ship with a gravity room ready for me?" Vegeta asked after a few seconds.
Blinking, the blue haired woman was stunned for a second and he didn't understand why. She almost turned her nose up at him before crossing her arms. Whatever he'd said to irritate her, he frankly didn't care. As far as he was concerned, this was supposed to a business relationship. He didn't want to be friends with her or get along. None of that mattered to him at all.
"It's going to take a few weeks. Not that it'll matter to you, because you're going to be stuck in here for at least a couple months," she responded, her voice sounding somehow happy at the outcome.
"Provide me with one of Kakarot's cursed beans," Vegeta grumbled in turn.
"Oh? You need me to go and get you something? Well your royal highness, maybe you should ask Goku yourself."
A frustrated curl appeared on his lip as Vegeta's eye vengefully stared at the woman before she placed one hand on her hip, beginning to walk away.
"Woman, you will get me a bean-"
"I'm going to be too busy getting you a space ship, with a gravity room. I'm a bit done with Vegeta-requests in my busy schedule. I'll let you know once I have an opening."
"Woman," Vegeta warned, but she was already walking out the door.
Staring ahead, the Prince was left along in the room. Left stranded here without anyone to speak to or anything to do. This was a prison he was being left in, wasn't it? A figure emerged darkly from the hallway as Vegeta looked towards it.
"Oh my! You're finally awake. It's a good thing I brought all this delicious food!" the blonde-haired woman announced, before starting to laugh.
... ... ... I hate this planet.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Turles:
"Bet you wished you listened to me now, hey?"
Ignoring the irritating voice in his head, Turles just glared ahead as he lay in the very humble bed in one of the room's in Kakarot's home. He'd been confined to this wretched bed for days now. The only thing he seemed to receive were hateful glances from the woman Chi-Chi as she delivered him food. The argument he'd heard shouted between her and Kakarot about the state of his bandages had been the only thing to bring a smile to his face since he'd been in this terrible condition.
Namely in how she wouldn't redress his bandages, and that it was either going to be him or Raditz. Neither of his dear brothers had shown up yet, leaving Turles to roll his eyes. Clearly, he'd managed to upset his dear brothers, but not enough for them to leave him for dead. Kakarot was clearly the angrier of his family. All the conversations he'd been quietly listening to were very, very valid to him. Given that a common discussion in this small house was to his inevitable fate. They'd yet to give him a Senzu bean either.
The cowards haven't even come in to speak with me yet. They leave the woman to tend to me, whose distrust of me is now peaked due to Kakarot.
Kakarot's mate was strict and severe to the boy whenever he was here, and not training, as well. She was really the one in charge here, which was why she was butting heads with Kakarot so much over his being here and his treatment. It felt strangely familiar, even if he'd never really been in this condition before. When the door creaked open a few seconds later, Turles eyed the door, looking for Kakarot's wife to come in once more.
At least the woman is worth something out of the oaf and my cowardly brother Radit-
His nephew slipped in a second later, looking around cautiously before moving over towards him putting his finger up to imply he should be quiet. A smile quirked on Turles's mouth before he nodded in turn. Another Saiyan, even if they were only a half Saiyan, was more than welcome as long as it wasn't Vegeta, Kakarot, or Turles.
Heh. Just most of the species. How ironic.
"Nephew," Turles greeted quietly, nodding his head to him.
"Turles," Gohan answered, looking around the room for a moment. "Dad is really mad at you. And I think uncle Raditz is trying to think of how he's going to talk to you. Mom's really mad too, because she says-"
"I've been listening," Turles whispered back, unable to conceal his smile. "But I'm glad to know that my nephew's looking out for me."
"Someone has to," the boy responded with a smile. "I brought fresh bandages. Mom says she won't go near you because..."
"I heard," Turles reminded, before starting to try and sit up, hissing as he did. "The next time your father comes around, let him know from me that he's got a hell of right punch."
The ache in his abdomen was the most prevalent pain he suffered. It was frustrating to deal with. The pain in his spine was a quick contender for second place however. Hissing again, Turles managed to sit up entirely. The boy started to take his bandages of, much to his own surprise. Several open wounds breathed for the first time since their concealment, leaving Turles to breathed painfully again. The kid started dressing his wounds again, which left him to look over at him.
"Who taught you how to do this?"
"Mister Piccolo, my mom, oh, a couple of the Nameks-"
"Nevermind," Turles gestured his bandaged left arm as he did. "When are they going to give me a Senzu Bean?"
"Uhhh... They're not going to give you a Senzu Bean," Gohan admitted.
That's why that coward hasn't come in here to talk to me. Raditz doesn't want to be the one to deliver that news to me, is he? Fascinating.
Eyeing his nephew again, Turles gave a slick smile.
"And what're the odds I can rely on my nephew to get me a bean?"
Immediately having put his nephew on the spot, Gohan stopped for a moment, looking away for a few seconds before looking back up at him. It was a simple shake of the head which left Turles to frown. Once he finished applying the bandages to him again, Turles laid back down shakily, trying to stay quiet despite the pain.
"Figured as much," he admitted. "At this point, you're the only one around here I can rely on, you know that kid?"
Reaching out his hand, he ruffled Gohan's hair before smiling at him genuinely. The kid seemed receptive enough but looked wary.
"Everyone's really upset that you hurt Vegeta and Yamcha. I think dad wants you to leave once your well enough to move on your own."
"I'd be well a lot quicker with a Senzu bean."
Gohan gave him a look which was more than telling. Kakarot didn't want him having a bean because of an agenda. Oh, there was a probable reason. The first one being that he suspected that Turles would attack him of the people he loved at the first chance, he was sure that was at least one reason. The woman and the kid seemed fairly off limits if he wanted to extract his revenge on Kakarot now. But Kakarot himself, the one he'd eventually bury for this humiliation, probably didn't know that. Another reason was he'd not put him in his place yet, another monologue he was reasonably sure was coming. It was like prey were trying to tell the predators what to eat. It was ridiculous.
Looking at his nephew, he could see the makings of a predator as well, if the right buttons got pushed. Even Raditz had gone from a predator to prey. The only one's on this planet who had any credibility were Vegeta and himself. It was pitiful. This was a group of sheep trying to protect themselves from a pack of wolves which were coming. And they didn't even know all the wolves out there. Cooler and King Cold wouldn't keep their word, he was certain of that. These machine people, these androids, were coming to murder them. And that left out the micro-penis he'd killed on Namek, representing some group of "Catalysts".
And here he was.
"We're training to try and stop the androids. I don't understand why you did it."
Ah, the hidden meaning behind it all.
"Kid, this may be a surprise to you. I went there to grab things I needed for my training. Saiyan armour, maybe a space ship if I could find one. I even tried to take it without letting anyone know-"
"So, you were going to steal from Bulma?" Gohan's face turned soar at the remark as Turles rolled his eyes in response.
"You've been living in a pleasant little space, haven't you? You still don't get it do you? The weak get weaker. The strong, get stronger. The only way around this is seize the moment for yourself. Sometimes it means being violent, breaking rules, or taking from others for yourself," Turles explained. "It's the realization that you and yours matter more than someone else."
"I think that if you just work harder, you'll get stronger," Gohan offered. "I think-"
Light filled the room as the door swung open, revealing the figure of Kakarot in the doorway, along with Raditz.
"Gohan, go to your room."
"Dad, I was just-"
"Now," he followed up.
Looking back at him one more time, Gohan made eye contact with Turles, who just nodded back to him. His nephew was someone with so much potential. Hell, out of everyone he'd met since his first faithful steps on Namekian soil... almost what? A year? Two years ago? The kid had been the one he could understand the most. Make no mistake, he could see his potential. But whether he was the predator Vegeta and himself turned out to be, wasn't the only aspect of the kid's life. The kid understood what it meant to be family.
As soon as the boy was out of the room, Turles gave a genuine smile.
"He's a good kid. Reminds me of a Saiyan Proverb," Turles remarked, his genuine smile turning cruel before his eyes darted to Kakarot.
Not that he'd know any better. The Son kills the Father.
There wasn't a response from either of them as they walked towards him. If they'd been anyone else, he knew they'd have been signing off on his death warrant by now. Instead, they were going to do exactly what he expected, they were going to give him terms-
Kakarot pulled up a Senzu Bean, which immediately drew Turles's attention.
"We're here to talk frankly," Raditz said bluntly. "This is your last chance."
Last chance, hm?
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Raditz: Three Days Later
Fire breathed in and out of his lungs as he stared at Kakarot's golden form across from him. They'd been training for days, and every day became more difficult. But unlike the other days where he was sluggish, falling behind the Namekian and Kakarot, Raditz felt invigorated. The last week had been the hardest training he'd done in his life, and all of it was under the shadow of Turles's exile. Not an exile from the world itself, but from their merry band. The fact he was weaker now than he was when he challenged Kakarot was noticeable, by everyone. It was counter to Saiyan Physiology and he didn't understand it at all.
When he wasn't training, Raditz spent his time now trying to discover more about this world. So far it was just as backwards as he expected and surrounded with friendly creatures he'd come to understand. Despite how foreign they were, they'd become increasingly familiar. It was strange to see creatures which bore the masks of your people, a proud warrior race, behaving so... weakly. Compassion was everywhere, and these people often seemed to be 'good natured', even the greediest among them. The biggest exception he knew of, involving this trend, was Violet. The one who still haunted his dreams even now.
"You're different than Vegeta or Turles," Kakarot's voice broke his thoughts as Raditz breathed heavily for air. "And you're getting a lot better. When we started you couldn't keep up at all? You've already started getting stronger Raditz."
A smile crossed the exhausted Saiyan's face. They only had a few more days of this before they rejoined the others, but he felt a weight lifted off his shoulders. The world was lighter to him now than it had been in some time. It felt like his pride and dignity were being restored. He could sense how he moved and fought had advanced as well, not just in technique, but in how he understood how to learn as well. It took less time to adjust to Kakarot's moves. It was like rewiring how he fought in so many respects.
There was a second where his brother just looked at him with a confident smile, before his hair turned black once again.
"I think we're done for today," he said with a bright smile, beginning his casual approach to him a few seconds later.
It was all for the best, they'd been at it for over 9 hours so far, only taking a brief break for food. When his sibling stopped next to him however, they didn't just take right off, instead Goku, who looked at the very least mildly winded for once, just sat down on a nearby log. It was impossible not to follow, and he knew full well that his own exhaustion was worse.
"It's incredible to think that you have such power," Raditz admitted to his brother a second later. "You achieved the legend, Kakarot. Someone who doesn't even know the stories of our people has become the First Super Saiyan in over a thousand years. I don't think I've had a chance to tell you how proud that makes me."
And it was true. It was a privilege to be the brother of someone who'd achieved that goal which all Saiyans had sought after for so long. He had been there to see his brother become everything Frieza feared. Truthfully, it must have been the greatest moment of his life.
"Man, it's so weird to hear that," Kakarot laughed. "I mean compared to when we first met."
It was years ago now, wasn't it? When he first met the brother that would achieve what no one else could. He was so small back then, in terms of his own perspective. Cowed by Vegeta and Nappa after years of being in their shadow, he only thought in such a primitive way in time's past. Everything was about achieving his job to support them in their lives under Frieza. Time on Earth and Namek had slowly changed his views on what it meant to be a warrior. Kakarot's sacrifice, and his struggles there after, showed him a window into being a different kind of warrior, even if it wasn't exactly a Saiyan one.
Still, he didn't see himself as anything but a Saiyan Warrior still. He was the eldest, the one who could still remember more about his culture than the others. Well, Nappa had known the most, but that son of a bitch was dead.
"I think you changed a lot from who you were when we first met on Earth," Kakarot almost laughed before turning his head. "What is it that changed you though? I know it wasn't me. At least not at first."
This was the second time he asked him.
"You are a monster, Raditz."
Apparently, there was no real escape from it, either in this world or the one's in his dreams. The last time Kakarot had asked had seemingly been at the end of his last life, and the beginning of his new one. It was the reason he could never forgive Vegeta. Never.
"What kind of answer do you want to hear?" Raditz asked bluntly, not making eye contact as he felt his head peer towards the ground almost naturally. His hands came together as his elbows rested on his knees.
"I know Piccolo and the others managed to stop you. Was that it? Is it a pride thing?" Goku asked honestly. "If that's still keeping you down, that's a bit weird. I think you and Piccolo get along pretty well. Oh! I remember, you mentioned that Vegeta had you punished, I think? Man, that seems so weird. What was so bad?"
...
The silence that followed was deafening enough even for Kakarot to notice it. His brother sat awkwardly for a moment, repositioning himself several times before scratching the back of his head nervously.
"I mean, you don't need to answer if you don't want to. I'm just trying to understand why you made such a big change. I mean, my son calls you Uncle Raditz," Goku laughed. "Hard to even imagine that one, am I right? Look, let's forget about it-"
Turning his eyes to the right, Raditz saw his brother awkwardly posturing himself, trying to retract his question. The question was, did he want to talk about something so private? And with an oaf like his brother Kakarot. He was the Legendary Super Saiyan, but he was hardly someone who Raditz thought could understand what really drove him to change.
"Do you want to know, Kakarot?" Raditz asked openly and honestly.
When Kakarot stared back at him, there was a moment that he only understood as a mild curiosity, mixed with something akin to sympathy.
"... I don't think I need to know," his brother finally said, smiling as he did. "I think all that matters who you are now. How you got here is your own story. If you don't want to share it, you shouldn't."
Perhaps the oaf had more wisdom than he'd originally given him credit for. Giving his brother a smile, Raditz just nodded before starting to get up.
"Your woman will have food for us ready?"
"She better," Goku said seriously, before smiling goofily a second later. "I'm pretty sure Chi-Chi would kill me if she heard me say that."
"You're mad to even joke about it," Raditz took a second before laughing. "You married the closest thing to a Saiyan on the planet, Kakarot. Even you can't escape that."
Grabbing Kakarot's arm, he pulled his brother up before they started to hover.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Turles: One Week Later
"I convinced Kakarot to spare you. Your life was forfeit. According to our traditions, defying your betters, you should have been left to die or killed for your disgrace. If you make one more mistake, Turles, that will be your fate."
"You owe me."
Raditz's words were still fresh in his mind as Turles landed his feet firmly on the balcony of his South City apartment. Forty stories up definitely gave him the isolation he wanted. He didn't know any of his neighbours, beyond the fact that they were insufferably weak. All of the best laid plans were now tossed aside, weren't they? Despite having two Senzu Beans, his power had never returned, least of all in the form he expected. His strength declined, substantially, and left him an empty shell of the greatness he'd once been. Oh, most certainly he guessed he was about as strong as the others. Perhaps he was stronger than Vegeta still, and Raditz. But it meant he paled in comparison to Kakarot. Worse yet, even vermin like the Namekian could stall him, or harm him.
To be brought down to this level, after being so high. It was like there was a hole in his chest. And not only to be the weakest, but to be powerless. All of that drive for dominion was now in ruins. All of his bridges were burned. It was all from one miserable miscalculation. He could blame that miserable human Yamcha, Bulma, or Vegeta. Blaming himself was totally out of the question of course. It was hardly his fault. The flawed morality of his brothers had brought him to this point.
Worse, Raditz was now claiming he owed him. A turn of fate he hardly wanted to acknowledge.
"You always make problems for yourself, don't you?"
It was instinctive to flinch. He wanted to lung out and strike at where the voice was coming from. Unfortunately, it was coming from within him. Or rather, it was coming from Hell, and then being rerouted through his brain. Grit teeth locked together as Turles's eyes stared out over the balcony he'd just entered from.
"What the Hell do you want, old man? I don't have time for your nonsense."
"You ready to start listening to me again, or are you wanting to get your head beat in again and again?"
"Oh? You mean I get an opportunity to listen to how I'm doomed and that you want me to perform suicidal acts? Thank you so much for the opportunity father, but I'll be fine without the input. Why don't you give Kakarot some tips instead?"
"You know I can't-"
"Then don't bother giving me them instead!"
For a brief second, his room jarred as his power still circled around him. This wasn't the addition he needed to his problems right now. Especially since he needed to determine exactly how to become a Super Saiyan, now more than ever. If he didn't reach the goal and reach the goal before Vegeta at the very least, his fate would be sealed.
"You can become a Super Saiyan."
That was enough to give Turles pause, his head turned slightly in consideration as he listened to the misinformation, he was sure Bardock was feeding him.
"Oh? Didn't you tell me I'd die instead? I believe you told me history wouldn't even remember me."
"Hey, you're alive which is more than you're supposed to be. Get over it."
"Well, how fortunate for me. Without Kakarot to train me, and without my original power-"
"Becoming a Super Saiyan doesn't require Kakarot. Kakarot didn't understand it either you dumb asshole. There was a trigger which set it off and allowed him to destroy Frieza and avenge our people-"
"I know," Turles snapped, seemingly speaking to no one at all, his eyes narrowing hatefully at the wall. "I was informed, you ignorant monkey-"
"You can do it as well. In fact, you need to do it Turles. Things are changing."
"So, what?" was the blunt answer. "Is your precious future in jeopardy again? Do you need to march me off to my death again to switch places with that dog Kakarot? Whom I now play second to in all respects? What would you have me do, beg to train with them again? Ask Raditz? You're a little late, you pitiful-"
"Turles. I can't read the future anymore. It's gone."
Pausing for a moment, Turles felt his eyes almost widen at what he was hearing. He knew Bardock was prophetic in some capacity in all this. So, what did he meant he couldn't read the future anymore? Was this all part of the ploy? Or was there something more to this than the statement lent? It was almost enough to make him interested enough to care.
"This world is warping. Time is being interfered with on too many levels. Too many changes are happening and it's beginning to splinter. Different timelines are breaking away. But I know that if you want to survive, you need to become a Super Saiyan. Because the last thing I saw before time diverged too much for me to see it was the monsters coming from beyond."
"Who? The Androids? We already know about that."
"Androids? Oh, those human things? No, these things were green… Namekians."
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Author's Notes:
Hopefully we'll be able to get this onto a more regular schedule. I put notes in my previous Chapter for The Long Road. My job's eaten up tons of my time, and I've had a bunch of other things happening in the periphery. Also got sick a few times
But! I am endeavouring to try and get more content out.
Also, I named this chapter after Chapter 16 of The Long Road. There are some subtle clues as to why of course. 😊
Also, Merry Christmas everyone.
Reviewers:
Perfect Carnage: It's a really hard balance to write The Catalyst, versus my other story. As the other story is really about one character and those who surround them, The Catalyst is about a multitude of characters. Goku, Turles, Raditz, Piccolo, and Vegeta are definitely all main characters in it. They all have important roles to play, and they all interact with each other. It actually makes it harder to write if you'd believe it. I really don't want anyone to be in the background per say, but I also wanna stay true to those characters.
Blades of Fury: I'm not big on GT I hate to say. There won't be any Super Saiyan 4 :P
Pyromania101: I'm not even a big fan of the Matthew Good Band, but when I heard that song the first time, Had It Coming, I imagined Turles being revealed as the loser he kinda is. And that was literally years ago at this point. Lol
OuterspaceHooker: YEP!
Ki Ai Sky: I hope you enjoyed the read. :P
DarkFalconZ: I laughed when I wrote that scene. Turles has no shame, lol.
Maxridelover: Oh, Turles and Raditz in my opinion have the best rides to go through in this story. The brothers of Goku have not nearly gotten all they deserve yet :P
Masvan: I dunno. I think so, but we'll see.
Guest1: Thanks!
TheSkyBreakerV1: I enjoyed the ToP. 😊
Luke: Thanks!
Thomas-The-TMC: My updates in general are slower now, in just work a ton and I run a lot of RPG's and local gaming community stuff. My time is a resource which is sadly, quite finite.
Team Soda: All the Catalysts are Dragon Ball characters from the Manga or Movies, except maybe a few, but that's complicated. And your theory on the Trio is really close to accurate, so much so that you can consider that to be really close. No spoilers of course. Vegeta in this story, is really redeemed from his own changes of character. But unlike the Manga, he's still got some… bad influences around, that may make it a bit of a rocky road.
Guest2: O.o
Karina: Hottest?!
Kacarrot: I literally laughed for like 6 minutes after I wrote it. I thought it was funny as Hell and kept it through my editing processes. And yea, I was really happy to see Turles lined up with Xenoverse when I started playing that years ago. Vindication! Lol
Anonymous: If Brass, Junia, and Taro still land in this story (and I do intend to stick with my original plan for them… which I won't reveal here!) they're going to be far weaker than TLR, as they're a different, splintered reality fragment of them with less "experience". Won't spoil anything on Catalysts however. :P
ABCD: Turles is an arrogant jackass is probably why. But also, The Cataclysm Cannon was shown in Chapter 30 originally as being a big increase on Turles's power when he used it. The buff from that, combined with his power, would put him ahead of KK Goku, though to be honest that's just one attack. I think Red Goku would beat Not Red Evil Goku.
FC: Thanks!
Bulma: :\
Laydee2slow: Raditz is to Vegeta, what Vegeta is to Goku sadly. But I super can't wait to delve more into it. 😊
Cyberas: It was pretty fun to humiliate him honestly. Lol
Jetiq: Raditz's big moment comes up after the next fight, and has a pretty big role in the upcoming Saga.