Here's Chapter 48! Thanks to Diosa de la muerte, ZeronSama, Mskiki1219, Ryo-chan wolfgirl, Perfect Carnage, DarkDomination, Apope, Mikazuki ninja, icewolf, Scimitar X, Hoshi124, Masenko56 and Guest for all the reviews on chapter 47. Thanks also to humancygrax for the reviews on chapters 38, 39, 40 and 41.
Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or any of its characters, Akira Toriyama does!
…
Raditz stormed from the quarters he shared with his two fellow Saiyans. Nappa's mocking laughter echoed in his ears. When he had protested Frieza's order Nappa had been quick to point out the lack of regard the third class Saiyan had had for his own nephew. Vegeta had been quick to agree.
A ragged sigh came from the long-haired Saiyan as he recalled his humiliating defeat at the hands of his own brother and that cursed Namek…..
(Flashback)
Raditz stared down at his shattered breastplate in anger and disbelief. How had the miserable spawn of Kakarot managed to inflict such damage on an adult Saiyan warrior? He decided to remove the brat from existence in recompense. As he powered up the blast that would seal the unconscious child's fate he was seized from behind.
In a desperate attempt to save his son Kakarot held fast to him and called out for assistance from the Namek.
"Hey, Piccolo! Can you manage that attack again?"
"Certainly, Goku! If YOU can manage to keep that brother of yours occupied for a few minutes," Piccolo replied.
"Sure thing!" Goku shot back.
Raditz vainly struggled to free himself, failing to do so he appealed to the soft-hearted nature of his Earth-raised sibling.
"Kakarot! You can't do this! Would you purposely cause the death of your own brother?"
"Hah! Some brother! You tried to kill me first!" Goku snarled.
"Think of your son! If the Namek fires that blast at both of us you'll be killed as well!" Raditz reasoned.
"Guess that's just how it has to be," the youngest son of Bardock said with a bitter laugh.
"WHAT? YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!" the long-haired Saiyan protested.
"It's just fine with me!" the Namek known as Piccolo chuckled evilly.
Not only would he be rid of the annoying Saiyan from space but his most hated rival would be disposed of as well. It was a win-win situation as far as Piccolo was concerned.
Blue energy crackled from the one-armed Namek's fingertips. Raditz desperately tried to free himself from his younger sibling's iron grip.
"SPECIAL BEAM CANNON!" Piccolo bellowed as a blue spiral beam of energy began to radiate from his fingers.
In a last ditch attempt for survival , Raditz slammed the back of his head into his brother's face as hard as he could possibly manage. The startled Goku loosened his grip. Raditz barely managed to phase out of the way in time. Piccolo gaped in disbelief as his attack struck only Goku. His evil brother had escaped at the last possible moment.
"Gohan! Get out of here! Find your father's friends!" the Namek yelled to the confused child that just roused himself.
"B-But D-Daddy.." Gohan began.
"NOW OR I'LL BLAST YOU INTO NOTHING!" Piccolo roared.
"NIMBUS!" Gohan screeched.
The frightened child took to the sky aboard the small cloud. Piccolo sighed in relief. At least the Saiyan wouldn't get his hands on the boy.
His energy spent, an exhausted Raditz collapsed to the ground. He smirked as he watched the life fade from the eyes of his critically wounded younger brother.
"You and that disgrace to all Saiyans failed after all, Namek!" Raditz taunted.
"Goku's friends will wish him back," Piccolo insisted.
"That's impossible!" the long-haired Saiyan warrior sneered.
"They have something on this planet known as the Dragon Balls. When all seven are gathered any wish can then be granted," the Namek pressed.
"How VERY interesting!" Raditz laughed.
As much as it injured his pride, Raditz knew he was in no condition to take on the Namekian again. Besides he had relayed the information about the 'Dragon Ball's' to his fellow Saiyans. They would want a wish too if such a thing were actually possible.
"In a year's time I will return and I will bring two more Saiyans with me. Be forewarned, they are far stronger than I. Your fate is sealed."
'I'll take Goku's son and train him personally. Maybe we can be ready when the Saiyans return' Piccolo thought to himself.
Reaching into a pouch at his waist, Raditz pulled out a device that would summon a replacement for his damaged pod. There was a small station not too far from Earth on planet Treilais…..
(End of Flashback)
Raditz grimaced. Thanks to assignments from Frieza, their departure had taken a little longer than a year. Vegeta had been furious when they arrived at the planet Earth to find only a dried husk of a world with the remains of a gigantic tree. Frieza had been highly amused at their wasted effort as he had listened in on the transmission from Raditz's scouter. The punishment had been severe when they returned to Frieza's ship but they had retained their lives.
'As if serving Frieza is actually having a life' Raditz thought morosely.'If only those 'Dragon Balls were truly real!'
….
In Otherworld on King Kai's planet:
"How can you stand it Goku? That Saiyan monster is going to completely corrupt Gohan," Yamcha protested.
"I don't know Yamcha. Gohan's done pretty well. I'm awfully proud of him," Goku mused. "If only there was a way I could speak to him"
"I can help there Goku," King Kai spoke up. "Here put your hand on my shoulder and reach out with your thoughts. C'mon! Give it a try."
A wide smile crossed the spiky haired Saiyan's face as he placed his hand on the rotund Kai's shoulder. He focused on Gohan….
…..
Gohan was sitting inside his quarters on Turles's ship when he felt the strangest sensation. It felt as though something was trying to peer into his mind. The youngster immediately went on the defensive. He blocked whatever was trying to get to him.
"OOWWWW!" Goku shouted as he grabbed both sides of his head with his hands. "What happened? That really hurt!"
"H-He blocked you! Gohan was able to stop you from getting through to him! Where'd he learn that at his age?" King Kai demanded.
"He learned that from Turles no doubt," Piccolo cut in.
"How's Goku going to get through to Gohan now?" Krillin wanted to know.
"Let me handle this!" King Kai insisted.
Gohan felt the strange sensation again. He immediately fought against it. Panic coursed through him as he realized the sensation was getting stronger he couldn't quite block it out…
"Gohan! Stop fighting me!" a voice seemed to echo in his mind.
"W-Who are you?" Gohan asked nervously.
"I am King Kai. I have a message for you from your father Goku," King Kai declared.
"DAD?" Gohan repeated. He nearly burst with excitement. His concentration was gone.
"Hey, son! You've grown so much!" Goku gushed.
Tears welled up in Gohan's eyes "Dad! It REALLY is you! I've missed you SO much!"
"I've missed you too, Gohan. Listen we don't blame you for what happened to the Earth. It wasn't your fault. I know you didn't have a choice you HAD to go with Turles…"
"Gohan! We'll be landing in four minutes!" Daiz's voice called out.
"I..I have to go Dad!" Gohan choked out.
He wished he could speak to his father just a little longer. But how would he explain things if Daiz was to overhear him?
"Take care, son. Never forget that you know the difference between right and wrong," Goku quickly added.
Gohan swallowed hard as his father's voice faded away.
…..
Chi-Chi moved mechanically through the kitchen of the eating establishment on planet Arturay. If she didn't think too much then she could block out the horrible news Bulma had given her the night before. Her Namekian assistant wondered about her behavior.
"Chi-Chi, You're not yourself today," Makalo said flatly.
Goku's widow shook her head as she vainly tried to stem the flow of tears that began to steadily run down her cheeks.
"My baby….my poor boy….he was killed by that Saiyan monster who stole him! I s-saw him once! I was SO close but I couldn't reach him. I might have saved him…I wish…oh how I wish…"
Chi-Chi wiped her eyes on her pristine white apron.
"What good does it do to wish anyway? Wishes NEVER come true!" the Ox-King's daughter sniffled.
"That's not true, Chi-Chi," Makalo said with a mysterious smile…..
…
Bulma tapped her foot impatiently as she waited for the arrival of the emissary Artruay had promised would meet her at a lovely spot that would have been right at home on Earth. It could pass for a fancy bistro in an affluent area. The blue-haired genius sat in a plush cushioned chair beneath a small potted tree that perfumed the air with its beautiful white blossoms. She sipped a delicious fruit-flavored pink beverage out of a delicate crystal glass.
"Patience, Bulma. He'll be here soon," Artruay assured her.
The former heiress amused herself by watching the passers-by. Obviously this place only catered to very wealthy clientele. Thankfully her choice of a dress in a deep royal blue looked appropriate in such surroundings.
A flutter of movement caught her eye Bulma gasped in surprise as she took in the sight of the being that stood before her.
He had long emerald green hair that hung in a braid which cascaded down his muscular shoulders. Amber eyes glittered against his teal-colored skin. Something that looked like a silver tiara rested on the top of his head and long silver earrings hung from his ears. A long white cape was about his shoulders and he wore blue and white armor similar to that of Turles.
'Someone that handsome can't possibly be evil' the azure-haired scientist thought to herself.
"So sorry to keep you waiting Artruay. Lord Frieza has kept me quite busy today. And who is this absolute vision beside you?" the teal-skinned male asked.
Bulma blushed but was quite pleased at the compliment.
Artruay gestured toward her," Lord Zarbon, This is Bulma."
Zarbon gave a deep sweeping bow," A pleasure to meet you Bulma. I was not informed that I would be graced by the presence of such beauty this day."
Bulma smiled,"I wasn't aware that Lord Frieza had such handsome men in his employ."
A bright smile lit Zarbon's face. Her compliment pleased him immensely.
Zarbon took a seat across from them.
"Now let's discuss business…"
…..
"This is the THIRD planet now! Doesn't that damned Turles ever stay in one place?" Nappa snarled.
"Not for very long. That's how he's been able to evade Frieza's forces," Vegeta mused. "We'll catch up with him eventually…."
…..
Raditz slowly walked away from the horrific scene of carnage that was once the thriving civilization of Kafnir. The populace had been completely decimated in one day's time. The third-class Saiyan bristled as he remembered Nappa's cutting remark just before he left Frieza's launching bay.
"Should Vegeta and I stop by to help you wrap things up on Kafnir after we've taken care of Turles and the brat?" Nappa had taunted much to the Saiyan prince's amusement.
Several of the launch bay crew had burst into laughter as the son of Bardock made his way to his pod.
"One day I'll show you what I'm really made of, Nappa!" Raditz growled.
...
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