A Past Revealed! Vegeta Wants What?!

The next day comes very quickly for all present within the town. Goku pulls himself from the comfort of his bed and walks outside his room. Moving downstairs, the Earth-raised saiyan sees Zamasu already up and speaking with the Herians they met the day before.

Making his presence known, Goku looks around curiously and says, "Hey, where's Vegeta?"

Saigo looks up and says, "The prince's injury got infected during your short time on the planet. He will be joining us shortly, but he also won't be able to fight for at least a week." Goku nods in understanding, a little saddened, but still excited.

Then, Saigo looks up as the door opens. "Speak of the devil, here's the prince now." Vegeta walks in, his armor on and looking completely normal. However, his lack of crossed arms and the subtle straightness to his posture speaks of his discomfort.

The prince takes a seat next to Toga, the saiyan-Hera looking at him in slight worry. He gives her a small growl in annoyance, not wanting the pity, then turns to Saigo and says, "What's the mission, old man? We need to get off this planet sooner rather than later."

Saigo chuckles a bit and puts his arms up in surrender. "Woah now, calm yourself! We haven't even gotten a lead on your ship, so it'll still be a while. For now, let's keep things slow."

The old Hera rubs his silver beard and says, "I've been debating what to do with you three, seeing as one of you can't fight." Vegeta tsks in annoyance. "However, I think there is something. Not a mission per se, but just something to help you three along."

Saigo leans forward, his eyes hard and serious. "Tell me, do you three have visions of the future?"

The three present saiyans look at him in confusion. Goku frowns, eyes wide with confusion. "What do you mean?"

The outcast leader sighs. "Well, do you have any plans for the future? You know, what do you plan on doing with your life?"

That makes Goku grin widely. "Oh, that's easy! I wanna become stronger and fight even stronger opponents!"

Saigo imitates a buzzer and yells, "WRONG. That isn't a way to live your life! What're you gonna do, train all the time and nothing else?"

"Well… yeah?" Goku scratches his head in confusion. "It's fun. Plus, I can get stronger and help protect my family!"

Saigo looks at the saiyan in curiosity. "Oh, you have a family?"

When Goku nods, the old man lets his head fall back as he sighs deeply. "Tell me, did you ever think of your family in your goals?"

As Goku opens his mouth, Saigo raises a finger and cuts him off. "Ah, not protecting them! Protection doesn't mean anything if they aren't happy! What I mean is, did you ever plan on spending time with your family? Did you plan on neglecting them just to get stronger?"

Goku goes to respond, but then pauses. Saigo continues, "Getting stronger is fine and all, but having it be the only thing you do is a surefire way of never seeing the sights. You'll never meet new friends or enjoy the memories of your family. Tell me, if you spend your life doing nothing but train, will your mind fill with moments of pride in a son or events with your daughter, or will your brain be filled with battles and techniques, leaving no room for those you love?"

Silence falls as everyone looks at Goku in curiosity. Zamasu doesn't feel as curious. The saiyan went completely berserk when Zamasu and his counterpart stated that he killed his family. Of course the saiyan has a deep connection-

"I… I don't know."

Zamasu's thoughts grind to a halt as he hears this response. His eyes narrow as he sees Goku grip his head in confusion. "I love training, but I can't see myself satisfying that desire and spending time with my family? Why can't I picture it?!"

Vegeta scoffs in annoyance. "What's it matter? A saiyan is built for battle. We train and get stronger and that is our purpose. We have no time for 'friends' or 'family'. Battle is all we need."

Goku turns to Vegeta with wide, hurt eyes. "Easy for you to say! I'm not really a saiyan! I've lived on Earth my whole life, I love my friends and family! But this urge to battle… I can't fight it! Is it really going to make me neglect everyone?!"

Once more, silence falls. Goku looks at his hands in disgust. For the first time in his life, Goku feels ashamed of his battle lust. For the first time in his life since he lost his grandfather, Goku feels completely and utterly lost.

Saigo nods calmly, his eyes closed in sympathy. "I know the feeling. Urges and drives can be difficult to resist. They can consume us, bring us down a path that we don't even realize is hurting us in the long run. Others may enjoy our presence and accept our goodwill, but we will never truly be friends with them as long as we put those urges first."

The old man stands up and rests a hand on the saiyan's shoulder. "However, the fact that you feel so concerned is enough to prove to me that you still hold your friends and family in extremely high regard. If you were completely consumed, nothing would matter more than a good fight. I think there is hope yet to give you a balanced life."

As Goku looks up and Saigo lumbers back to his seat, Toga widens her eyes in shock. "Wait. You can't be serious Saigo?"

Saigo sits down heavily and nods. "Of course I am."

Toga shakes her head. "But for an outside to use it, it's our greatest treasure-"

"Toga!"

The hybrid saiyan stops talking as Saigo levels a stern glare on her. "They need to know. If Goku here is confused with something he was so certain of before, then the others will be as well. Remember, she offers her gifts to all of those that wish to know of their lives. It'll help."

"Excuse me." Saigo and Toga look at Zamasu as he speaks. The kai-saiyan then continues, "What is this 'she' that you are speaking of."

Saigo smiles and says, "Well, it's Hera's greatest achievement! Or, her achievement. You see, there is an old Hera sorcerer that can view any person's past and help them create a plan for the future. You wouldn't believe the number of people she's assisted with her magic."

The old man looks at Goku and says, "Her magic is just what young Goku needs. And if my instincts are anything they used to be, you and the prince could use a divination as well."

Vegeta scoffs and looks away. "I don't need help with my life. I'll do it on my own."

Saigo shrugs his shoulders. "Well, I can't force you. However, I recommend you come with us. There isn't much to do here otherwise."

Cheelai looks at the group, then turns to Saigo. "So, how long till we leave?"

Saigo stands up and stretches a bit. He groans, then says, "As soon as we can. Grab your things, we're heading to the gates!"

Outside the town, a large vehicle rests. Goku looks at it in slight childish awe. "Woah, that's a big car!"

Saigo laughs and slaps the side affectionately. "This baby here is an HX Burd Hummer! Built for speed and sand travel, it's the best to use out here!"

Cheelai grins slyly and leans closer to Goku. "And it has a TV inside." Goku's eyes widen in surprise.

Saigo climbs up to the driver seat and yells, "Get in! No ki, so this is the fastest way to get there. Won't be a long trip though!"

Accepting the explanation, everyone enters the vehicle quickly and quietly. Goku watches the screen in amazement as it plays an old Hera movie, Toga and Cheelai giggling at his childish demeanor. Vegeta sighs and closes his eyes, content to let his body heal for now. Zamasu looks out of the window and watches the landscape blur past, his eyes traveling across the world with deep curiosity.

As the landscape transitions from sparse greenery to shifting sands, Zamasu looks at his current student and one-time-enemy. The earth-raised saiyan seems content with watching the movie, his childish antics bringing joy and amusement to the young Herian girls in the vehicle. However, Zamasu is not fooled. He's been with Goku for far too long, both as a companion and as a host, to be tricked by his facade. The saiyan's eyes sparkle with something greater than mild curiosity. Goku knows he is bringing Cheelai and Toga joy, and he's using it as an escape from his own inner dilemmas. The kai sighs softly. Maybe this trip really is what they need.

Vegeta looks at his companions with curious eyes, something not often seen in the prideful prince. Zamasu is still an enigma to this day, but maybe the prince will finally discover the origins of this fake saiyan and why he currently has the body of a saiyan, despite lacking the heart and soul of one. Then there is Kakarot. Never before has Vegeta seen a saiyan so conflicted about their battle senses. Sure, there are plenty of weaker saiyans who wished to use their powers for quicker building or technological development, but they were never conflicted as Kakarot is now. What was in that spiel of nonsense that is making Kakarot so upset? And why does that old man look familiar?!

These thoughts are kept silent as Saigo announces, "We're nearly there. Just a moment, and we'll have this whole thing settled."

Everyone looks outside and sees a particularly large sand dune up ahead. The front is carved out and filled with sandstone, keeping the tons of sand held above and acting as a natural camouflage. Well, it would've been a good disguise, if not for the line of torches leading to a door surrounded by clinking trinkets.

Saigo stops the car just before the line of torches and steps out onto the hot sand. Toga and Cheelai jump out and run over as Goku, Zamasu, and Vegeta follow slowly. Goku looks at the place in slight wonder, Zamasu is intrigued by the various items, and Vegeta stares with indifference.

The old Hera lumbers forward, his face set in a display of calm seriousness. He reaches the door, everyone following, and turns. "She is a bit quiet until the session starts, so don't be alarmed when she suddenly starts talking as she is divining." Receiving nods of understanding, Saigo opens the door and they all step inside.

The inside is much stranger than the outside. Various objects and unknown substances hang from the ceiling like Halloween decorations gone wrong. The colors mix and spiral, nothing ever staying the same, resulting in a tapestry of confusing mystics. And in the center of it all sits an old Hera woman, her silver hair waning and her clothes consisting of a thin-fabric dress. Wrapped around her neck are countless necklaces, each laced with a different object, and sometimes with a different kind of string. She stares into a large stone bowl filled with water, her eyes closed and mouth moving as if to speak, but no sound exiting her mouth.

Saigo gestures to the old woman and says, "This is the treasure of Planet Hera, our very own sorceress. She has a name, but she refuses to share it with anyone but me for some reason." The old man chuckles as Cheelai and Toga groan.

The sorceress smacks her lips, her eyes opening, and she smiles warmly at Saigo. "Ah, Saigo, good to see you. New visitors?"

Saigo nods and sits down in one of the many chairs surrounding the bowl. "Yep, and all three of them need divinations. One of them is quite distraught when I brought up some points you have given me."

The old woman looks up and studies the three saiyans intensely. After a moment, she nods solemnly and says, "Yes, very much needed. Sit, I can do two at once. The third is a mystery until we see."

Saigo glances at the three saiyans, but none of them are certain of what they mean. However, they each have a suspicion as to who the odd-one-out is, and they show it in their subtle glances at Zamasu, including the kai himself.

All six members of the group sit down around the bowl and watch as the sorceress begins chanting in an unknown language. The water in the bowl swirls and shifts, the colors of the building spiraling into something more mysterious and long forgotten. Zamasu looks at the sorceress subtly, his mind filled with familiarity, but not recognition.

Then, suddenly, the waters still, and a planet is seen. Everyone looks at the planet in interest, but none more so than the prince. "Wait," he exclaims. "That's Planet Vegeta!"

Saigo snorts and says, "Nice of you to name a planet after yourself."

Vegeta scowls, annoyed. "That was my great-grandfather. It was a bad idea. Things get confusing fast if multiple Vegetas are brought up."

Everyone falls silent as the scene shifts. The water zooms into the planet, showing that it is night, and flies across the landscape. Lush, green landscapes filled with strange, stone-like trees are seen, giving rise to a beauty not seen on Hera or Earth. Goku watches, mesmerized, as the bowl seems to give a tour of the world. "Wow! This is Planet Vegeta?"

Vegeta smirks in satisfaction. "Yes, a beautiful planet! Nothing in the universe could ever compare to its sprawling towers of stone and magnificent greenery!" Zamasu sighs in exasperation. At least the prince can recognize nature's beauty.

Then, the water slows down. The view shifts downward toward the ground and everyone sees two people, presumably saiyans. They are bounding across the trees, the distance being eaten away by their strides. The water zooms in, and everyone is able to get a good look at the two strangers.

One is a woman, her hair reaching to her middle back and spiky, but more affected by the pull of gravity than most other saiyans. Her armor is similar to most pieces of saiyan armor, but the bottom is more like a skirt than the traditional thigh guards. Her eyes are wide and worried, filled with kindness and deep concern as she follows the other saiyan.

This saiyan is a man, his body covered in the traditional set of saiyan armor. His face is set and grim, his eyes hard and determined. A scar stretches across his left cheek, evidence of a grueling battle. His body is fit and well-defined, showing his prowess and experience of fighting. His hair…

Goku's eyes widen. "He looks just like me!"

Vegeta's eyes follow suit. "Wait, it couldn't be… Are they Bardock and Gine?"

The earth-raised saiyan looks at Vegeta curiously. "Bardock? Wait, is that the guy from Namek?!"

The prince nods. "Yes, it is. Bardock was a proud saiyan warrior, one of the few born as a low class that really stood out in battle strength. He grew as strong as an elite, and his tactics in battle were next to none."

Goku takes this in eagerly, then turns to the bowl once more as a sound begins emanating from it. It's soft at first but picks up volume as the group sees the saiyan woman's mouth moving. "Is this really necessary?"

"Yes."

"But what if it is just a mistake? What happens then?"

Bardock shifts the weight on his shoulder, and everyone finally notices the saiyan pod resting there. "If I make a mistake, I'll go and look for him. But if I'm not… we just can't risk it."

Gine looks at the star-filled sky, then says, "Then why don't we all go together?"

Bardock shakes his head, his eyes narrowing and showing that he's thought of the idea and rejected it. "They'd just follow us with those damn scouters. He has to leave alone."

As Gine looks down, her expression saddening even more, Goku mutters, "They can't suppress their power levels. Whoever they are running from, they wouldn't be able to escape."

Zamasu hums softly. "I have a bad feeling about this." Vegeta watches with a stone-cold gaze.

Back inside the bowl, Gine looks up with a confused grin. "Why are you doing this? It's not like a saiyan man to worry about his children."

Goku frowns deeply as Bardock says, "Maybe… I'm just tired of destroying. Maybe I just want to save something for once." Goku smiles softly.

After a moment, the two seem to have reached their destination. Bardock sets down the saiyan pod and the group is finally given a look inside. Everyone gasps softly as they see a mini Goku staring at the two saiyans with wide, tear-filled eyes. Goku looks at the scene with a burning feeling in his heart, his eyes wide. "No… is this?"

Bardock looks down with a smile that could rend Goku's heart in two. "I've programmed the pod to go to a distant planet called Earth. It's on the very edges of Frieza's sphere of influence and the natives have low power levels. He'll be safe there."

Gine's eyes water as she looks at her confused and scared baby boy. Goku's eyes begin to fill with tears as she smiles widely and says, "If your father is wrong about this, we'll come and get you, ok?!"

Bardock presses himself against Gine, letting them both look inside the red glass. "Listen son, you do whatever you can to survive, got it?!"

Then, Bardock presses a hand against the glass. Little Goku looks at it in confusion, then presses his own hand against the glass. The material acts as a barrier, a reminder of the separation the family will undoubtedly feel. Bardock's hand tenses, unable to feel the warmth of his son, and he mutters, "Goodbye."

As the engines with the pod begin to whir, Gine shakes a bit with tears, then yells, "Don't forget us Kakarot!" The pod lifts off the ground, then blasts into the night sky. Bardock pulls Gine close and they watch little Goku depart for his new home. Gine turns to Bardock and begins crying into his shoulder, her wails filling the moon-lit landscape. Bardock holds her close, his own eyes watering, but never shedding a tear.

Goku can only stare with wide, tear-filled eyes as he finally sees the moment he's long forgotten. His family sent him away to protect him from a powerful threat, not to destroy Earth. "Raditz was wrong… And I forgot them..."

The water shifts and the group can see the planet as a whole once more. However, there are massive differences compared to before. Ships litter the planet's airspace, the designs very familiar and one, in particular, standing out above the rest. Frieza soldiers fill the space in front of the largest ship, and a familiar face grins malevolently as he gazes upon the planet. Goku's eyes widen immensely and he shouts, "NO!"

Vegeta's eyes widen as he sees the past Frieza conjure up a Supernova and send it toward the planet with a delighted yell. The group is left shocked as Frieza mercilessly kills his own men to reach the planet. Then, Zamasu's eyes narrow. "Wait, why are his men there anyway?"

Suddenly, a blue orb forms in front of the Supernova. Everyone focuses on the small dot and the view shifts, swinging around to the culprit. Floating there in space, surrounded by injured or unconscious Frieza soldiers, is Bardock. His armor is damaged and his body bloodied, but he holds an energy fiercer than anything the saiyans have ever seen before.

Bardock grits his teeth as he stares at the massive orb of death, energy building in his hands. Then, with a roar filled with determination surpassing anything anyone has ever heard, Bardock sends his attack flying. The beam strikes the attack right in the middle, creating a visible impact against its body. Bardock slows the orb down, his body clearly straining from the overwhelming weight, but it isn't enough. Bardock stares with wide eyes as he sees his attack nearly swallowed up completely.

Then, the view shifts again. It lowers to the planet's surface and everyone can see the saiyans below. The observing group gapes with utter shock as they see the saiyans simply… staring!

Vegeta grits his teeth, a wave of anger deeper than anything he's felt before rising within him. Goku grabs the edges of the bowl and screams, "Fight back! Why aren't you fighting?!"

The Supernova suddenly lurches forward in the sky, continuing toward Vegeta unhindered. Goku grips the bowl tightly, his eyes shut, and he knows that his father didn't survive. The saiyans continue to stare, not a single one moving. The view rises back to outer space, settling just behind Frieza. The group watches with horrified eyes as the planet explodes and they are given a clear view of Frieza's scouter. The tyrant laughs with delight as he sees the planet explode. The numbers on the scouter climb down rapidly, until finally…

"Zero…" Zamasu stares with horrified eyes. "Not a single one lived."

As Goku and Vegeta grit their teeth in frustration and sadness, Zamasu can only gape. Is this what he was planning on doing? Was he really going to bring this kind of pain and suffering to others? What does it matter that he leaves the planets untouched, he kills all the inhabitants, they all suffer anyways! Something in Zamasu snaps, and the kai is left speechless at the realization of his own sins.

The sorceress frowns grimly and looks at the three saiyans. "I see that I left a life-changing impact on all of you."

Goku and Vegeta blink, confused, then turn to Zamasu. The kai is staring into blank space, his expression still stuck in absolute horror. Then, the sorceress speaks again. "You have seen a past long forgotten and never before seen. What shall you do with this information?"

Silence falls as Goku closes his eyes tightly, his expression pained. "I…" Goku opens his eyes, and a new resolve is there, something not there before. "I need to see my family. Not just my son and wife, but my WHOLE family. I want to revive my parents."

Everyone stares at Goku in surprise. Then, Saigo smiles warmly. "An admirable goal. To lose your parents like that, it must've been hard."

Goku shakes his head, his eyes filled with disgust, not in anyone else, but himself. "No, that's just it. It wasn't hard, because I forgot about them! How could I just… how could I just forget about them so completely?!"

Goku nearly shatters the bowl in anger, but his martial arts training helps him calm down. The saiyan takes a few deep breaths, then says, "They didn't deserve to die. I need to revive them."

As everyone stares at Goku with sympathy and understanding, Vegeta suddenly stands up. Everyone looks at him with confusion, even the shattered Zamasu, as the prince says, "I have a goal. It can happen alongside Kakarot's, it'll fit in quite well actually."

Saigo raises an eyebrow curiously. "Oh, what's that?"

Vegeta looks at everyone around the bowl, then stops on his companions. Two saiyans, faker included, and two-thirds of the remaining population in the galaxy. Vegeta closes his eyes, then opens them again, a fire burning within. "To bring back a race that has been cast with travesty after travesty. To bring back a people that has been ruled over for far too long, never given a chance to truly shine. This is my goal in this uncaring universe. I will bring back the Saiyan race!"

As the book closes, Chronoa stares with an expression of awe. "Wow. Just... wow. I never expected this to come about. This is truly a massive change! But will it be good? I don't know..."

Chronoa frowns, then looks up. She smiles and says, "Hey there, haven't seen you all in a while! The author had some issues lately. His appendix got infected and he had to get surgery, but he's recovering just fine! Fine enough to make this chapter he's had in the works!"

She waves a bit, stating, "Don't worry about him, he just had to get some rest. And a little rest from EVERYTHING, really. Busy being a college student, and Winter break is the perfect time to whine down. He really hopes you all understand."

The Supreme Kai stands and grins widely. "New changes are fast coming, and many plans are being made! So many adventures, just like when Goku was a little kid! And seeing saiyan culture too?! That's exciting!"

Chronoa begins waving, her eyes wide and filled with joy. "Thanks for reading! And please leave a review, we appreciate it every time! Thanks again!"