SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE ADDED THIS STORY TO THEIR SUBSCRIPTION LISTS. AND I AM GRATEFUL TO chibi dende AND melbulma79.
Disclaimer: the usual blah blah blah…
Chapter 4
Vegeta and Gohan had to step in to bring things back under control. But the mood was ruined already. Everybody decided to return home.
It was planned that the guests should be given more time to settle in, and after a couple of days, further interactions with others may ensue.
Bulma suggested that Bardock could visit the CC lab, and Gohan could give King Vegeta a tour of the world.
If things went smoothly, a party with the whole gang could be arranged later on.
Tien, ChiaoTzu, Yamcha, Krillin and 18 were relieved without the prospect of too much interaction with the Saiyans. Piccolo grimanced that come what may, he was too intricately interwined with the Sons too be excused altogether. Besides he wanted to help Gohan in any difficulty.
Vegeta and his family (+ Nappa) headed towards CC, Tien and ChiaoTzu left for their secluded mountains, while Yamcha decided to crash in with Krillin at Roshi's.
As they left, Radditz sat pondering how to best approach his nephew. He felt then he was as ready to apologize as he would ever be.
Sensing his emotions, Piccolo subtly indicated Badock to follow him to a barren place suitable for a spar. Afterall, eversince he saw the Goku look-alike, he was burning in anticipation of a good fight. Added to this was the fact that bardock was not yet a SS. Therefore the fused Namek still had a chance to beat the Saiyan!
ChiChi realised it was time to relent a bit. So she huffed and left with Goten to prepare dinner (a lot to cook, afterall). Now left alone, Radditz and Gohan faced each other and looked eye to eye for the first time. Before the uncle could swallow the lump in his throat and say something, the nephew said:
"Dad forgave you, so did I, a long time ago. But I cannot forget."
And he turned back, his mid-teen emotions threatening to flow out of his eyes, as his head swirled with memories of being snatched from the security of his father, feeling true Fear for the first time, being helpless and held in contempt a prisoner the entire night, and in the morning, experiencing the agonising frustration of watching his father suffer.
Gohan felt an unexpected gentle touch on his shoulder and turned back to gaze into two hollow, black irises that spoke of going through greater agony and sufferings.
"Why?" Gohan choked on his question.
"Because I had to." Radditz had asked himself the same question a million times already. "I did what I did for a specific purpose, but I never intended the outcome to be as horrible…"
He started explaining, more to himself than to Gohan,
"The three of us, that is the Prince, Nappa and me, had endured years and years of abuse and torture under Frieza. But we had no alternative to turn to, as there was no Planet Vegeta left for us to return to. After one of the purging missions, we came to know of the true reason behind its destruction…that it was not a meteor shower, but the lizard himself who destroyed it.
"We were just desperate to avenge our fallen race, to redeem ourselves for serving our destroyer for so long, yet we were not strong enough to do so. In our despair we tried to clutch on to any straw we could, without making Frieza suspicious. Then one day, one of the free-lance purgers, whose brother used to work with Turles, mentioned Earth. Suddenly, an alarm rang in my head – I always knew my kid brother had been sent to this insignificant planet, but since he never completed his mission, we thought he had died.
"But if it was he who killed a fellow Saiyan, then his strength could add substantially to our plan of beating Frieza. Of course, no one had even considered the possibility of Kak-Goku's refusal to avenge his people.
"Then the Prince decided that I should approach him as he is my brother. Upon landing, I was disgusted with the too peaceful ambience in contrast to the hell we lived in. I met the Namek, he did nothing to improve my mood, and then I found my brother. But was he the brother I was searching for? He was clueless about his true heritage, did not even know of Frieza, behaved in a most un-Saiyan manner imaginable, and was leading a family life and wasting his true potential…
"Then I saw you – a snivelling coward whom I took to be an insult to the Saiyan blood. Throughout the night, the more you cried, the more I hated you. I wanted you to fight back, at least not to be afraid, in your actions I searched for some hope, some reassurance.
"No, I am not blaming you for anything. Now I know you are already far stronger than I could ever dream to be, but at that point, with the accumulating pressure of knowing the truth behind my planet's destruction, still being forced to work for Frieza, the hope of enlisting my brother's support, and the hopelessness of the situation I found myself in, was too much to handle.
"Add to it the strength of your lungs, kid" Radditz finished lamely with a lopesided smile.
Gohan was still not satisfied.
"But why did you … push things too far?"
"Well, the next morning, the Namek intervened, and there was no way to trace back my footsteps. I gather now Goku has come to terms with being born Kakkarot, but at that time, he was still in denial. And the years of servitude under Frieza had taught me not to step down – If I did, I won't survive. That, added with my instinctive blood-thirst and a vent for my pent up frustrations took things beyond my control.
"I know my actions were inexcusable, and I am not defending myself. But I did wish that the outcome was different."
At CC, Vegeta had locked himself up in the GR, and demanded that his dinner to be delivered there only. His father took the opportunity to know his daughter-in-law better. Nappa, quite suspicious of the humans, followed Mrs. B into the kitchen to ensure that she did not poison the food, and the ever happy host was ecstatic to get an ever ready tester for her cooking. Dr. B had taken Trunks to the study/play room, where the genius grandson was playing with electronic circuits and in the process learning some advanced Physics. So the King followed Bulma to the spacious living room and sat down in the sofa across her.
Not bad, softer, much softer than his former throne, he mused. He realised that Bulma was eager for some answers too. So he mustered the most approachable, fatherly expression on his face and looked at her. The blue haired beauty took the hint and asked,
"um…well, technically I should call you 'father', but would you prefer 'King Vegeta'?"
"No, you need not be so formal, you can call me anything you want."
Bulma decided this was the perfect chance to test his limit of tolerance.
"Great, then I will call you 'Dad V', 'kay?"
"If you feel inclined to, then certainly. I have never been addressed in such terms before, but this life for 2 weeks on Earth is a new venture too.
But first let me express my gratitude to you for rearranging my son's disastrous life."
"Oh, don't mention that. Veggie and I just complement each other perfectly. So it should be me thanking you for such an arrogant, moody, destructive jerk who keeps me busy with extra work for his GR, argues satisfactorily with me everytime we speak, and – "
"Well, I am glad you find these qualities amiable, but truly speaking, I never intended him to be the way he is. And it is all my fault."
"You are guilty about the whole Frieza thing, aren't you?"
King Vegeta looked sad, confirming her guess. He then told her about their genocide, meeting Frieza at hell, and finally what Future Trunks had told them - his son had survived Frieza (or revived at least), carved out a new identity, found a mate from an alien race that can boost Saiyan genetics, attained The Legendary, and was fighting a strong opponents for a worthy cause (Cell)! That son, whom he had given to Frieza when the lizard offered to give the prince ample scope and experience to enhance his skills and powers, in return of working as his henchman in purging missions. Saiyans have done that before also, so there was no reason to refuse. When Planet Vegeta was destroyed, then only did the Saiyans realize the boundlessness of Frieza's cruelty. After death, he was secretly happy that his son was at least alive, though the shame of him working under the lizard was overwhelming. When the Ice Prince came to hell, he had described his son as a cold hearted, arrogant murderer, a ruthless warrior – a failure at that.
But the mauve haired demi Saiyan had given them the true picture, and somehow struck a chord in the King's heart that had lead him to the path of remorse and repentance.
Mrs. B (followed by Nappa) came and announced dinner. Bulma led her 'Dad V' to the dining hall and said,
"I still have lots and lots to ask, and learn. Will it be alright if we continue this conversation sometimes later on? Specially regarding Vegeta?"
"Certainly, and I have a lot to learn about you too, and may be I will get a better picture of whatever irrepairable damage I have (unintentioanally) inflicted on my son."
Piccolo and Bardock had fought neck to neck, nonstop, till the latter's stomach had started grumbling loudly. On their way back to Mt. Pao, they met Radditz and Gohan, apparently at peace and both looking somewhat relieved.
The Namek felt like twisting his ears off when all 3 Saiyan Stomachs started growling together.
ChiChi was surprised when Gohan invited Radditz to stay in his room. Goten was more than happy at the prospect of bed-time stories about lots of fight among unknown aliens in distant galaxies from his tailed grand father. Piccolo returned to the Lookout for his nocturnal meditation.
After finishing his lonely dinner, Prince Vegeta entered the main complex of CC as everyone was finishing dinner. Trunks was being hugged by his new grandfather for beating him in the Eating Competition. Vegeta tried to ignore the scene and go up to his room, when Dr. B interrupted him,
"Son, now that I am a bit too busy with other things, will you please wait for a week more for your improved ki-bots?"
"Whatever, old man! I always knew you were too senile to keep up with me."
Bulma joined him and wished good night to her 'Mom', 'Dad', 'Trunksie Dear', 'Nappa' and 'Dad-V'.
Vegeta almost hiccupped.
ChiChi stared at the dark, blank ceiling. She recalled the jolt of seeing the Bardock with the big blue fish. For one moment she had thought that her husband had come back to her. Then she had realised that he had not. It had been a very strainous day for her. Everybody had felt irritated with her short temper. And nobody had understood the agony of her helplessness.
Vegeta felt his wife fall asleep. He should be sleeping too, but could not, as the image of his father holding Trunks kept floating in his mind. It was disturbing, he did know why. Was it because he himself never had shown Trunks such open affection, or was it because he had no memory of such contact with his father in his childhood? Vegeta did not know.
Directly below, downstairs, in the best guestroom at CC, King Vegeta could not determine what hit him harder – Dr. B calling Vegeta 'son', or seeing Vegeta actually respond to it.
A/N: can anyone please tell me the exact words Bra had said in GT that made Veggie darling shave his moustache (or MOOS-TAASH as he pronounced it) ?