Chapter 5: The Four Star Ball
Kakarot was frustrated. After his father had left, he continued his training. Visualising a opponent, punches and kicks began to cut through the air. Kakarot laid into his opponents open chest but something sat heavy in his mind. Like a paperweight for his thoughts, Kakarot ended his training and stared into the river past his home. The water cast a faded reflection of the young saiyan's face. Bruises and dryer blood clung to his tired face. His father's deathly training had been taking a toll on Kakarot's soul. Frustration and anger flowed like molasses through his veins. Clots of infernal rage dotted his internal organs and hung behind his eyes. These conditions were perfect for the cultivation of hatred. Many nights had been visited by vision of Bardock's death. And Kakarot liked it.
"Hey Kakarot, I've got someone you have to meet."
The introductions between Bulma and Kakarot didn't last long. Tension still blanketed the group. Kakarot didn't like the girl very much. She annoyed the hell out of him with her incessant whining. There was something else about her that annoyed him but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Bulma re-explained the Dragon Balls, showing them to the indifferent and moody child. Once she was finished, the saiyan's collected their sparse belongings and Bulma stood patiently,
"Where's the next 'Dragon Ball' then," Kakarot remarked. Bulma was incredibly scared by the young boy. If his father's face was that of a demon, then Kakarot's was the devil himself. An aura of seething angst swarmed underneath the child-like veneer that made her hair stand. Bulma ungracefully rummaged through her bag, pulling out a round, metallic device,
"Well, it's nearby... I think," Bulma muttered, fumbling with the buttons that lined the circumference, "There we go. It's only about a kilometer way."
Kakarot stared at her for a moment.
Sighing, he asked,
"What the fuck's a kilometer?"
Bulma blood froze. The absolute last thing she wanted to do was piss off her 'companions'. Luckily for the scared girl, Bardock intervened by slapping his son in the back of the head.
"Don't swear at Bulma, Kakarot," Bardock whispered venomous, "She's doing a us real favor by telling us about the Dragon Balls. We don't want her to think we aren't gracious companions, do we?"
Kakarot held back his tongue. He knew it was better to just hold back rebellious thoughts rather than act on them. Bardock was just much too strong for Kakarot to kill. But a kid could dream.
Once Bardock and Kakarot had gathered up all their belongings, they prepared to head to the next Dragon Ball.
"So how are we planning on getting to the Dragon Ball. In case you forgot, you blew up my car," Bulma whined. Though she was trying her best, her feisty personality shined through. She could only hope that the monsters had some patience. Bardock nodded at his son. Kakarot smiled sadistically and shot up into the sky.
"Come on. Climb up on my back," Bardock insisted. Bulma froze for a moment before responding,
"You want me to climb up on your back! Are you crazy?"
"Unless you want to walk, this is your only option. Come on, I won't bite."
Bulma highly doubted that. Still, walking would ruin her complexion. A spring flower like her couldn't be exerting herself that much. Gingerly, Bulma climbed up onto Bardock's back. He grabbed her legs between his arm and chest. Though Bulma was very uncomfortable with this arrangement, she couldn't stop herself from blushing. Bardock was definitely attractive but not boyfriend material. Much too old for Bulma liking. Before she could ponder the thought any longer, Bardock rocketed up into the sky. She screamed as the harsh wind whipped her face and hair. Like a screaming comet, Bardock, Kakarot, and Bulma soared through the sky, speeding off to the first Dragon Ball.
Kami had stopped his constant vigilance since Bardock's offer of peace, though he did still often check on the saiyan. Much of his time was being taken up by training. He had decided to take a more active role as the Guardian of Earth and knew he would need the strength to protect his people. The last nine years tested the old man's body and mind, pushing him to heights that he'd never think he could reach. His power now easily dwarfed his other half. If that monster ever returned, Kami would be there to stop him. No one else would have to die because of his weakness. Though he had progressed, Bardock's power still eclipsed his own. Over the nine years, Bardock had visited occasionally. Questions often came about Earth inventions he and his son had found and Kami would try to answer the best he could. His intimidating aura had faded slightly over time, allowing Kami to voice concerns without the threat of annihilation. The person who had changed the most of the years was the saiyan's son, Kakarot. The bright boy that had came with his father on Bardock's second visit to the Lookout was different. A sheen of cynicism and rage coated the boy's face. Kami felt bad for the boy. The evil that Kami felt within Bardock was not present in his son, instead, a warm core of empathy hid. Maybe in another life, that boy could have been a good man, fighting for the good of Earth. Instead, his father's ambition had shaped the boy. Alone, at the top of the Lookout, Kami watched the boy closely. He held a hope that maybe, just maybe, the boy could still be saved.
Upon reaching their destination, the two saiyans landed outside the house that held their prize. Bulma, still reeling from the wind, fell off of Bardock's back and laid on the floor. Kakarot landed next to her and attempted to help to her up,
"Are you alright, Bulma," Kakarot asked, maintaining his cold veneer. Bulma grabbed hold of the boy's arm, her vision still being very blurred from the horrible trip she had just taken.
"You should have told me it was that terrible."
Bardock didn't even acknowledge the complaining. He was used to it now. The Dragon Ball looked like it must have been hidden within the unassuming house that was in front of them. It was much like the other houses that Bardock had seen in the nearby villages. Outside, a old man tended to a small collection of plants next to the house. Bardock instantly recognised the old man,
"Hey, old man. Your name's Gohan, right?"
Gohan lazily looked over at the group and put down the watering can in his hands.
"That's my name, young man. What are you doing this far in the mountains."
As he was speaking, Bulma finally rose to her feet and locked eyes with Gohan. He gave a polite smile and Bulma was stunned for a moment. She was so used to the cold saiyans that common human decency was now foreign. Bardock noticed the two's silent conversation and motioned to Bulma to talk.
"Well Mr. Gohan, we're looking for these things called Dragon Balls. Have you seen any?"
Gohan had to ponder for a moment. The name Dragon Ball was tucked somewhere deep in his mind. Some sort of weak memory from decades ago.
"What do they look like," he asked. Bulma dug in her bag, pulled out the two Dragon Balls and handed them to Gohan. He studied them for a moment before handing them back to Bulma.
"Wait here for a moment, young lady."
Gohan turned away and walked into his house. Bulma turned to look at Bardock, hoping for him to give some sort of understanding of the strange man's actions. Bardock merely shrugged.
"I only know his name. Never had a conversation with him."
Bulma sighed quietly to herself. Of all the people that could have run into, she found the two most useless men on the whole planet. After a few moments, Gohan came out from his home carrying a Dragon Ball in his hand.
"Is this what you're looking for?"
A massive smile grew on Bulma's face. She ran forward and hugged Gohan,
"Thank you so much, Gohan!"
Gohan was stunned. He didn't expect that much of a reaction from someone who associates themselves with the two invaders. Their presence had not been lost on him. At any moment, Gohan was ready to do battle with the monsters that stood in front of them.
"Don't worry about it, young lady. It was just sitting around collecting dust."
Bulma danced back to Kakarot and began to show it to him. He tried to hide his interest but he was quickly caught up in Bulma's excitement. Gohan and Bardock stood, staring each other down.
"Thanks for that, old man."
"Are you planning on killing that girl, monster? If you are, I'll end you now."
Bardock laughed weakly,
"You're welcome to try. You do remember last time you tried to fight me. And I'm much stronger than then."
Gohan's heart beat faster. There was no way that this monster could have gotten stronger. It's not possible. No one could be that strong.
Bardock didn't move.
No one moved.
"Thanks for the ball, old man, but we better be going now. Have fun."
Kakarot locked eyes with his father. Anger pumped behind his eyes and Bardock took the full force. He stared back with his own fiery rage. Bulma, trying to return the focus to the ball, said,
"Thank you very much, Mr. Gohan."
Gohan laughed and responded,
"Don't you worry about. Just make sure you get all of them."
Bulma nodded and once again bowed in thanks. Bardock motioned to his back and Bulma, more confidently this time, jumped on his back. Somewhere deep in Kakarot's conscious, he felt a little jealous of his father. Love didn't come naturally to a saiyan but Kakarot did, at least, feel a little bit of attraction towards the blue haired girl. Kakarot pushed away the thoughts of sex, deciding to focus on flying and not his heart.
"So where are going now, Bulma.
"A small town. Maybe 5 kilometers away."
Without another word, Bardock charged his blue and white energy in his legs. Bulma readied herself and then Bardock shot off through the sky, followed closely by his son. The next Dragon Ball was only moments away.
Frieza felt a deep longing in his chest. He had returned to his planet of birth, desperately hoping to find the cause of the pit in his chest. The landscape of his homeworld was dark, cold, and desolate. Perfect conditions to create a creature as cold as him. Deep in his own thoughts, Frieza pondered his soul. In the twelve years since the genocide of the saiyans, Frieza had been busy recruiting warriors to refill the ranks of his army. Though he hated the monkeys, they were a powerful workforce. But that wasn't what bothered him so much. It was a unexplainable force, like a the cold winds that raged around him. Deep within his soul, a message of doom played over and over again. In a moment of true understanding, the face of his tormentor was finally revealed.
A filthy saiyan.
Frieza spat on the ground next to him and then straighten up, standing at his full height. He was not scared of any saiyan. If his vision of doom ever came true, there would be no way he would ever lose to a monkey.
Never.
Another chapter is finally done. We're now in full swing of the first arc in Dragon Ball. I'm experimenting to try and keep these first few early arcs interesting so I hope it's sort of working. In other news, we just passed 100 visitors, so that's pretty cool. Thank you everyone for checking out my story. It really means a lot to me.-mAskMaN09
