Slam! The door banged loudly as an angry Vegeta made his way into the room. He marched towards the cell, slamming his hands onto the bars.
"Kakarotto!" he barked. The caged man immediately emerged out of the darkness and kneeled in front of him.
"I thought you would never come, Sire –"
"Cut the crap!" Vegeta snapped. Kakarotto looked at him, stunned. He stood up.
"Sire…?"
"Do you really think you can threaten my wife and live to tell the tale?" Vegeta stared into his eyes, his rage burning. Kakarotto's eyes widened as his jaw dropped.
"What – I told her I'd never touch her!"
"What's this bullshit about teaming up to destroy the earth? Are you out of your fucking mind?" Vegeta gritted his teeth.
"But Sire –"
"Don't call me that!" Vegeta grabbed his gi, pulling the saiyan close to him. "You listen to me very carefully Kakarotto, you'd better put an end to this horse crap or I'll –"
"Vegeta!" the caged man's voice softened as he struggled pitifully against Vegeta's grip. He looked pleadingly at Vegeta, his eyes gentle. Vegeta hesitated, staring at him for a moment. He sighed in disgust before releasing the man.
"So you're Goku now?" he grumbled.
"Don't let him come back." Goku begged. "Keep calm, okay?"
"Me keep calm?" Vegeta's eyes bulged in shock. He couldn't believe his ears! "I'm not the one that's seeing things!"
"I told you Vegeta, I'm not –"
"Oh yes you are!"

They stood silently for a moment, staring back at each other. Goku's stomach tightened, his heart skipped a beat. Why did Vegeta still not believe him…? He needed Vegeta's trust – he needed Vegeta's help to get through this! Kakarotto was weakened by Vegeta. Every time Vegeta turned against him it knocked Kakarotto down; Goku was depending on Vegeta to co-operate with him. He had to… he needed Vegeta's help to keep Kakarotto away.
"Listen…" Goku spoke calmly, softly. He had to make Vegeta believe him. "He trusts you. He says you're his prince – I need you to get him back until my control –"
"I don't give a rat's ass what he says I am." Vegeta ruthlessly interrupted him, his anger growing. "You really think he's a different person, don't you?"
"Vegeta, we've been through this!" Goku whined. "Don't you get it?"
"Don't you?" Vegeta retorted. He sighed, looking at Goku. "Look… Kakarotto isn't real. Not in the way you're claiming."
"He is, Vegeta!" Goku protested. "He's a monster! He's bloodthirsty, he's a killer, he's –"
"A saiyan!" Goku froze at Vegeta's response. He watched the prince cautiously, a cold chill running down his spine. He looked around frantically. Kakarotto wasn't here. For the first time since he'd arrived here he was in his cell alone. Did that… mean he'd gained control back? Was Kakarotto actually defeated?

"Goku…" Goku's eyes met with Vegeta's as he spoke. Vegeta stared into his eyes calmly. Sternly. Softly… "Kakarotto… doesn't exist." He said. "If he did, I'd be in here too."
"… I don't understand." Goku said uneasily. For the first time in a long time he wanted Kakarotto here! He wanted Kakarotto to protect him…
"I think you do." Vegeta approached him, staring deeply into Goku's soul. Invasively. Goku felt naked under his stare, afraid of what the man would find in him. "Kakarotto didn't kill your mate, Goku…" Vegeta said. "You did."
"I…"
"You know you did."
"I didn't!" Goku screamed, tears in his eyes. He looked at Vegeta in desperation, his heart racing so fast he thought it was going to explode. He grabbed the bars desperately. "I didn't kill her, I swear!" he wept. His hands trembled, his breathing jagged. "I loved Chichi…"
"I never said you didn't." Vegeta replied. "You just hated the life you had with her."
"No… no…" Goku crouched onto his knees, too weak to stand. He ran his hands through his hair. "How can you say that, Vegeta?"
"Because…" Vegeta knelt down beside him, his face close to Goku's. "… I've thought about killing Bulma."

Goku froze. His blood turned to ice. He turned and stared at Vegeta, shocked and terrified by what he had just heard.
"You… what?"
"You heard me." Vegeta growled. "I'm not proud of it."
"…" Goku looked around again, frantic. His eyes darted around the room in search of Kakarotto. He must be here!
"You can't see him, can you?" Vegeta's voice echoed at his side.
"I can, I just…"
"No you can't." Vegeta watched the man struggle. He followed his eyes around the room. Walls. Empty spaces. There was nothing there. "Can you even hear him now?"
"…" Goku looked at Vegeta, his hairs on end and his body trembling a little. "Vegeta, what's happening to me?" he whimpered. "I fucking hate being in here."
"I know." Vegeta replied. "That's the problem, Kakarotto."
"Don't call me that!" Goku snapped. "I hate it when you call me that! The only reason he got so strong is –"
"Don't you dare blame this on me!" Vegeta snarled. "This is all you 'Goku'! This is your problem!"
"What problem?" Goku frowned. "What the hell am I supposed to have done?"
"You killed your mate!" Vegeta snapped. "You terrified your friends, you killed Yamcha and you threatened to kill your own son."
"That wasn't me!" Goku exclaimed. "What in the hell is wrong with you? Why does everybody else believe me but you –"
"Everybody else forgets that you aren't a fucking human!"

Goku looked at him coldly, insulted and confused by his response.
"What does that have to do with it…?"
"Everything, Goku…" Vegeta growled. "Everything."
"I don't know what you mean." Goku said, rising to his feet. Vegeta rose alongside him, his eyes locked onto Goku.
"I wouldn't kill Bulma." Vegeta said softly. "No matter how many times I think about it…" he looked at Goku. "But… it would give me a hell of a lot more freedom if I did. I'm sure Kakarotto would agree with that."
"Yeah, he probably would." Goku sat on the bed in the corner of the room, hidden under the darkness. "Why are you telling me this…?" he whimpered. "I don't believe you… This is sick – do you really think I want to hear this?"
"No." Vegeta answered. "But you're going to listen. You're going to stop playing this game right now."
"What game?" Goku groaned. "Vegeta, I'm not playing any games! For God's sake –"
"Then look at me when you say that." Vegeta challenged. He looked at the faint outline of Goku's form as it tried pitifully to hide in the darkness. He smirked a little. "You can't hide from me, Kakarotto. It doesn't matter what you do or what you call yourself. I can still see you for what you really are."
"Oh yeah?" Goku replied. "And what's that?"
"A killer."

Goku remained silent. All that could be heard was his gentle breathing as he formulated a response.
"You… don't know me." He mumbled quietly. "Kakarotto did all the killing –"
"Ah, yes. Kakarotto." Vegeta announced. "Your imaginary friend."
"He's not –"
"You still can't see him, can you?" Vegeta said flatly. "He isn't here, is he?"
"Vegeta…" Goku grabbed his hair. "I don't know how else to tell you…"
"Cut it out, Kakarotto!" Vegeta ordered. "Listen to me you goddamn weakling. You're a saiyan. Just like me – and as much as you pride yourself on morals and friendship it doesn't change the fact that you're a bloodthirsty killer."
"Vegeta –"
"Killing is in your blood, Kakarotto. It's the reason you love to battle, the reason you get excited when you meet a new opponent and the reason you are so fucking bored with your life that you killed your mate –"
"Stop it!" Goku's scream echoed around the cell as he jumped to his feet. He made his way over to Vegeta. "None of that is true! I didn't kill –"
"Who the hell are you kidding!" Vegeta shouted. "You're lying to yourself, Kakarotto! You're so ashamed of your feelings – so ashamed of your blood and your fighting instincts that you've created an illusion!"
"That's not true –"
"Kakarotto I'm sure you adored your wife," Vegeta continued. "But you adored fighting more. You were so bored with the peaceful life she forced you to lead that you killed her –"
"No!" Goku screamed, his eyes glistening. "I didn't do it! Kakarotto did it!"
"You are Kakarotto!" Vegeta exclaimed. "'Kakarotto' is part of your imagination! He only exists because you aren't capable of accepting who you are; you had to invent someone to take all the blame for every wrong thing you ever did! And your mate had to pay the price – you were so desperate for freedom you let this whole thing get out of your control –"
"Stop it!" Goku threw his hands between the bars and grabbed at Vegeta's throat. He began to crush his neck, squeezing hard for a long moment before he caught a glimpse of his reflection in Vegeta's eyes. In a heartbeat he released the man, jumping back and staring in horror at what he had just done. He watched Vegeta cough, wondering why he hadn't put up a fight. His heart was racing, his body shaking. He felt weak. Ashamed. A failure.
Vegeta raised his head to look at the frightened man that stood before him. He smirked, a look of satisfaction sweeping across his face.
"That was Kakarotto, was it?" he asked. Goku just stood there, frozen. He swallowed.
"Vegeta…"
"I'm getting tired of this." Vegeta approached the bars. "You haven't heard anything from him this whole conversation, have you?"
"I –"
"You know I'm right. Why won't you just admit it?"
"H-He's here…" Goku stammered. "I can feel him."
"Oh…" Vegeta frowned, annoyed. "Really. Well then you can both rot in hell."
"Vegeta –"
"Listen!" Vegeta roared, pushing his body up against the bars. "I am done with this, Kakarotto! If you want to spend the rest of your life talking to yourself in here then fine, you do that! Just stay the hell away from me and my family. Do you understand?"
"Vegeta…"
"You're a big boy, 'Goku'. You don't need me to tell you whether or not you want to be a saiyan. If you want to pretend all those times you killed someone and liked it, all those battles you hoped would last a little longer, all those thoughts of freedom you've had… if you want to pretend that was all someone else, then do it. I am donetrying to talk some sense into you!" before Goku could say a word in response Vegeta stormed out of the room, angrily closing the heavy metal door behind him.

Goku stood there, looking around. Where was he…?
"Kakarotto?" He felt nervous. Kakarotto had to be here! "Kakarotto!" Goku's cries became more desperate. His chest tightened as he thought about what Vegeta had said. What if Vegeta was right? What if it was never Kakarotto? Yamcha, Chichi… what if all along it was…
"You think he's onto something?" Kakarotto's cold voice came from a dark corner of the room. Goku sighed, relieved. He looked over at him. Yes. It was definitely Kakarotto. Standing calmly against the wall, dressed in saiyan armour. The same armour Goku imagined his father would have worn. Kakarotto looked over at him. "Do you think he's right? That I'm just the dark side of you?" he took a step towards Goku, slowly approaching him.
"Get away from me…" Goku backed up onto the bed.
"Oh, so now you want me to get away? You couldn't stop crying for me before." Kakarotto said.
"Why didn't you show up?" Goku asked, pressing his back against the wall as Kakarotto neared him. "He thinks I'm crazy."
"You are crazy Goku, you're schizo." Kakarotto replied. "Who the hell is going to believe you in court? Either everybody will think you're lying and you'll be locked up in here for the rest of your life… or they'll believe your little 'Kakarotto' story and you'll be locked up in a loony bin." He smirked. "Not a lot of choices, buddy." He raised his foot onto the bed, causing Goku to flinch. He smirked at Goku's fear, savouring the smell of it. He'd waited so long for this… "Or maybe…" He crawled onto the bed, taking a seat beside Goku. Goku curled up into the corner of the wall, trying to get away from him. Kakarotto sniggered. "Maybe Vegeta was wrong. Maybe I'm not the bad side of you… maybe you're the good side of me." He shrugged. "After all, I was here first."
"I don't care." Goku mumbled. "You had your chance."
"Yeah, and I'm taking another." Kakarotto said. He smirked again. "Haha… hey Goku – remember when you were a kid and that bear tried to attack you?"
"… It was a dinosaur." Goku said quietly.
"Right, whatever. Remember how I jumped in and saved you? I punched its skull in."
"… Yeah…" Goku looked away.
"I bet you wish I hadn't done that now, don't you?" Kakarotto smirked. He patted Goku on the shoulder. "I bet you regret all those times I saved your ass, brother."
"I'm not your brother!" Goku snapped, pulling his shoulder away.
"Oh, that's right." Kakarotto's smirk faded. His eyes turned angry as he narrowed them at Goku. "Raditz was my brother." He hissed. "You killed him."

Goku swallowed as Kakarotto climbed off the bed and walked over to the bars.
"You know… I don't think Prince Vegeta's going to support me." He said.
"Of course not." Goku frowned. "He's not like that anymore."
"Yeah… it's a shame." Kakarotto sighed. "It's against my morals, but… I think I'm gonna have to kill him too." Goku stared at him.
"What?"
"He betrayed his planet, after all. He betrayed his father… what would King Vegeta say if he saw his only boy betray his comrade and spare the earth? I know I'd be angry if Goten went against me like that."
"You can't hurt Vegeta!" Goku stood up.
"Oh. What are you going to do about it?" Kakarotto didn't look at him, his back still turned to Goku.
"Don't hurt Vege –" Goku choked as his advance on Kakarotto was stopped by Kakarotto's fist. The saiyan's attack sent him flying into the back wall, almost shattering it. Goku gritted his teeth and he rose back to his feet, wincing in pain at his broken ribs.
"I told you, Goku…" Kakarotto muttered. He turned to face him. "Your place in the sun is over, buddy. This is my show now." He made his way over to Goku, pinning him against the wall. He smirked at the fear in the man's eyes. "Bet you wish you'd been nicer to me, huh?"
"What are you gonna do…?"
"You'll see." Kakarotto patted his cheek. "Get some rest for now, I'm not going anywhere until the morning." He made his way back over to the bed and lay down on it. "Maybe I'll stop by and check on the boys on my way over there." Goku stared at him, his heart filling with dread.
"You're… going to kill them?"
"No, not mine." Kakarotto replied. "Just yours." Goku's fists clenched, his blood boiling in anger. He ran towards Kakarotto.
"You stay away from the – ah!" he cried out in pain. "Ka… Kakarotto!"
"Yeah?" Kakarotto answered as he watched Goku gasp in pain, trapped by Kakarotto's ki. He tightened his grip on the man, watching as Goku's energy slowly drained away and he fell limply to the ground. He smirked, lying on his back to sleep. "Sweet dreams, Goku." He closed his eyes.

The voices that had bounced around the room seemed only to have had one source. From outside the cell no trace of Kakarotto could be seen. The bed was unmanned and Goku's limp, unconscious body lay on the ground in the centre of the room. There was no apparent cause.