8: Complicated
Goku threw a hard right hook to the side of Turles's face, and it connected with a resounding crack. Turles had a much bigger build while Goku was more on the compact side, but Goku had learned that he could use his size as an advantage, much like Krillin. He ducked and swerved under and over each punch Turles threw with expert precision, his trained eyes locked on Turles, predicting each movement the larger Saiyan would make before he made them. It was something Whis had taught him to do. Not to blindly run into battle guns blazing, but to examine the opponent, take in their movements and use that to create a basis for how to properly plan out the next move. While Goku wasn't the sharpest nail in the toolbox, he had learned a lot, from the Tournament of Power, from Whis, from Master Roshi, and even from Frieza. Sure, he enjoyed fighting as much as the next Saiyan, but from all the intense training he had been through, he had picked up a thing or two when it came to sizing up an opponent before battle. Besides, he had fought Turles before, so he knew all his moves and tactics.
Powered up in his Super Saiyan form, which he didn't have when he fought Turles before, Goku delivered powerful blows to every part of Turles's body, not letting up an inch. He recalled the mistakes he had made in the past when he battled Turles, and he didn't intend to make them again.
Goku swept his leg under Turles's feet, knocking the larger Saiyan onto his back. He jumped up to pin him down when Turles fired a quick ki-blast. It hit Goku's chest perfectly, sending him skidding back several feet. His back hit a concrete slab protruding from the ground and he groaned loudly. His vision blurred for a split second before he saw Turles charging at him.
"Gah!" Goku shouted as Turles tackled him. They broke through the concrete slab, both pushing against the other. Goku struggled to stay on his feet, his hands gripping Turles's shoulders and pushing with all his strength. Turles wrapped both arms tight around Goku's waist and pushed him back, groaning from the effort. He didn't recall Kakarot being so strong. The last time they fought, it was almost too easy to knock him down. But now, Kakarot was actually overpowering him.
I can't stand for this! Turles thought, biting his tongue. I won't allow myself to lose against this fool!
Goku brought his elbow down on Turles's back with so much force that he actually thought he broke the large Saiyans' spine. Turles growled roughly, sounding almost feral, and drove his knee up into Goku's groin. Goku felt the breath leave his lungs as he staggered back, wincing with each step he took. Turles regained his posture and reached out, grabbing Goku by the hair. The smaller Saiyan cried out as Turles yanked him close, trapping him in a tight, very aggressive blood choke. Normally, when done correctly. this type of move was harmless. But Turles was intending to kill. His thick arm wrapped around Goku's neck, enclosing the smaller Saiyans' back against his own chest. Goku struggled and thrashed, kicking his legs out like a child throwing a tantrum. This only made Turles tighten his hold, and he grinned when Goku's movements slowly began to become sluggish.
"What...w-what do you want with Basil?" Goku managed to choke out.
Turles chuckled. "That's the thought that's going through your head right now? I'm not surprised. You're the type that cares for others with undying loyalty."
"And...y-you're...the type that..." He coughed and squeezed his eyes shut. It was almost getting too hard to form a proper sentence. Or, at the very least, one that could be understood. "...that loses against...the good guys."
"I don't think so." Turles felt Goku's breathing begin to slow. "You want to know what I'll do with Basil? I'll tell you, since you won't live long enough to see it play out. I'm going to use her to create my own powerful offspring. They'll take over planets before they can even talk. Oh, just thinking about it now brings a smile to my face. A female pure-blood Saiyan existing in our universe was something I never thought would be forged into reality. Yet, as it turns out, one actually lives. You don't have to worry about her, Kakarot. I'll take good care of her."
I can barely think, Goku felt a panicked feeling rise in him. That feeling rose even more when his Super Saiyan form slowly died down. In a matter of seconds, his spiked black hair returned and the gold vanished. His bangs fell over his eyes, which returned to their normal black color, the green flickering away. It was as if he was a balloon, and Turles had poked a tiny hole in him. All the fight was coming out of him like the air in that hypothetical balloon. His hands, which had clung tightly to Turles's arm, slowly let go.
"DAD!" Goten powered up into Super Saiyan mid-run, his chest tight. His heart punched his rib cage with each jolting step he took. Hurry up, Goten! Hurry!
Turles raised an eyebrow and looked over his shoulder right as Goten launched into the air, bringing his arm back as far as it could go. A blue light burst to life in his palm, and it grew larger and brighter as Goten neared Turles. Before Turles could properly react, Goten thrust his arm downward, and the blue light shot down like a torpedo, spiraling until it made abrupt contact with the pirate. It exploded instantly, lighting up the area in a brilliant blue glow. The raged shout from Turles was drowned out by the much louder boom that invaded Goten's ears. He flew down to the ground and ran before his feet fully made contact with the solid terra firma.
The dust swirled around like a tornado, and he charged through it, the golden Super Saiyan aura around him being his flashlight. He looked around, his eyes searching for orange or blue. His heart skipped a beat when a saw a torn piece of his father's Gi laying in a crumpled wad on the ground. He picked it up and gripped it tightly, balling his hands into fists. You can't be dead. I wasn't too late. I couldn't have been. I made it just in time.
He told himself that as long as he kept repeating things like that, everything would be okay. Though, a different part of him, one deep down, told him that not everything would be cupcakes and rainbows.
A cough sounded from the deafening silence, making Goten jump. He whirled around, hope rising in him. Laying on his back, gasping roughly, was Goku. His eyes were closed, and he lay limp as if all the energy was sucked out of him. Goten beamed and ran to him, sliding to his knees beside a barely conscious Goku. "Dad? Dad, are you okay?"
Goku gave a series of coughs and managed to squeeze a sneeze in there, then slowly sat up. "Where...where is he?"
Goten looked around, then sighed. "I don't know. I highly doubt he's down for good. But are you okay, Dad?"
Goku rubbed his throat and forced a smile. "Yeah. Thanks to you. You did really well, son." He patted Gotens head, then doubled over and started coughing again.
Goten patted his dad's back. "Take a deep breath, Dad."
Goku did as he was told and sucked in a deep breath. It felt refreshing to get cool air into his lungs. He swallowed, his mouth dry, and scratched the back of his head. "That was scary. My life flashed before my eyes, like Chi-Chi said would happen when you're about to die."
"I was so scared that you would die," Goten threw his arms around Goku, burying his face in his dad's shoulder. Goku froze and looked down at Goten with a confused look. Goten had never hugged him like this before. Goku had to admit, it felt nice. He didn't get hugs from Gohan anymore, so the fact that, even though he was growing up, Goten still deemed it necessary to hug his father in desperate times. Goku smiled and wrapped his arms around Goten, holding him close.
"I'm okay," He said softly. "You took care of it."
Goten took a deep breath and pulled away, pulling his dad to his feet. "Good. 'Cause we still need you."
...
Piccolo sat with his arms crossed, his stern gaze lifted up to the sky. He wasn't particularly worried about the group. They had been through their fair share of fights with countless foes. Sure, he was worried for Trunks and Goten. The two were young and not as battle experienced as their fathers. All were good fighters, no doubt. It was the idea of there being separate life on Planet Vegeta.
How is that even possible? Piccolo thought. Whoever it is, they must be pretty clever. Surviving alone with no outside support is hard enough, but surviving with no outside support on a planet that's already dead is a real achievement.
"Hey, Piccolo," Gohan said, joining his friend on the large balcony overlooking a brilliant view of the ocean. Bulma was rich, so it was only natural that she own a flamboyant and luxurious house. Actually, you could hardly call it a house. It was more like a mansion of never-ending hallways and far-too-large bedrooms and bathrooms.
Piccolo didn't look away from the sky, his gaze was one of intense examination and thought. "Gohan," was all he said, by way of greeting.
Gohan rested his forearms on the railing of the balcony, letting out a long sigh. "Just got Pan to sleep. Man, she was so full of energy."
"That's what you get for having a kid." Piccolo replied.
Gohan laughed. "Oh, come on, don't be like that. You love it when you babysit her. I've actually seen you smile at her more than once."
Piccolo chuckled. Truthfully, he had a soft spot for Pan. After spending so much time raising Gohan, he had started to warm up to children. Not enough to want to have one of his own, however. He was perfectly content in simply babysitting Pan when Gohan and Videl were busy.
Gohan stretched and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Trunks told me about them going to Planet Vegeta. You think it could be a hoax? A false signal?"
"Hardly," Piccolo said with a sigh. "Nobody would sit around on an old, dead planet just to send a distress signal to random ships passing by. It doesn't make sense."
"I know. I thought Dad and Vegeta were the only Saiyans left. Then Broly came along, and I thought that was it. Now, I don't know what to think" Gohan shook his head. "Things keep getting more and more complicated. But, I guess that's expected when you're around aliens."
"I guess." Piccolo agreed, then closed his eyes. His mind wandered, thinking about the many possibilities of what could go wrong. He didn't doubt the idea that someone might still be alive on the ruins of Planet Vegeta. While it seemed very unlikely, stranger things had turned out to be true. Goku and Vegeta were smart. Well, Vegeta was smart. If something wasn't right, they would take care of it. He found it strange that a distress signal barely popped up now. Why not 50 years ago, when the planet was first blown apart? Whoever was still alive on that planet, Piccolo was interested in meeting them. I wonder how they figured out how to live, he thought. How they put things together, learned with no one to teach them. He figured it was a Saiyan, since the signal had come from Planet Vegeta. From the Saiyans he knew and the power levels he had seen, it piqued his interest as to what power level this new, mystery Saiyan possessed.
A loud scream broke through Piccolo's thoughts. He startled and turned, chuckling when he saw Gohan trying to comfort a crying Pan in the doorway to the balcony.
"She missed me." Gohan said with a laugh. Pan giggled and gripped Gohan's hair, holding it tightly in her tiny fists.
Piccolo shook his head, but he couldn't hide his smile. She's a lot like you when you were little, he thought. It made him miss Gohan's child years. He was growing up to be a fine young man and a solid warrior. Piccolo couldn't be more proud.
