A couple of days passed since the departure of Kakarot and his son. Such information was still unknown to the remaining survivors. Still, soon, it would spread like wildfire and be celebrated. However, before that, a yellow vehicle flew across the vast sky. The car moved slowly and steadily as it lowered closer to the ground. Inside the vehicle were two women and a burly man. They looked carefully through the windows, hoping to find the people they were searching for. None of them said a word throughout the entire trip. Ever since their friends didn't come back five days ago, they decided to go out and search for them, despite how dangerous it could be. Luckily, they knew their friends' last location, as it was reported to them by one of their companions.
As they flew over a destroyed city and a forest, the purple-haired woman noticed a crater in the distance. "W-Woah! Guys, look at that hole in the ground; it's huge!" Her loud, surprised voice caused the other two to look forward.
"Indeed, a big hole. What do you think it might've caused such a thing, Miss Bulma?"
Sweat rolled down her smooth and soft skin as the man in a dark blue suit asked the question. She didn't answer as she had a bad feeling. The pilot tried to ignore it as they searched for their friends. Her attention shifted to a blonde woman who got her weapons ready.
"Who cares about a freaking hole in the ground! Just focus on finding Krillin and Yamcha! Those guys must be here somewhere..."
Bulma released a sigh and took a deep breath. "Of course! But we might find a clue or two there. So, let's go and have a look!" She pushed a button on the dashboard and landed about twenty meters from the hole.
Before the hatch fully opened, the blonde-haired woman was already out. "Launch! Be careful! You don't know what might be lurking around here!" Bulma shouted, only to realize she might be giving their location away.
While her friends were walking around, carefully looking for any possible threat, Bulma jumped out of the flying car and inspected the area. A strong wind forced her to close her eyes and tightly hold her hat. Her blue eyes moved left and right, hoping to find something to help them find their friends. She couldn't stop thinking of the scarred martial artist who was her everything. Ever since they left, she was worried for both of them. Naturally, those two were the strongest and worked hard to one day best the rampaging evil. No matter how hard she and the others tried, they depended on them.
Bulma couldn't but clench her teeth as she walked forward. "If only I had more resources, I could've built something to give them a fair advantage!" She was sure she could have created something if she had access to her house and laboratory.
"Miss Bulma! Come here, quickly!"
The addressed woman snapped out of her thoughts upon hearing the man's loud voice. She increased her pace and approached the burly man holding something in his giant hand. Bulma took the fabric from him and realized it belonged to their friends.
"This is the symbol of the Turtle Hermit School! They must be somewhere close!"
Bulma looked further down and saw orange fabric scattered across the grass. She began running and following the trail. Sweat flew off her face as he ran faster. A strange feeling began to swell inside her, a sensation she felt before and detested. She tried to ignore it and pay it no mind. Her pursuit came to a sudden halt. She was out of breath, and her blue orbs quivered. Tears poured down, but she made no sound. Her companions caught up to her and couldn't believe the sight.
"N-No! It can't be! Not Yamcha, too!"
Launch dropped her weapons and turned away. Tears rolled down her face as she bit the flesh inside her mouth. The blonde woman tried her best to restrain herself from crying out loud while Bulma dropped to the ground and placed her hands on Yamcha's cold body.
Bulma didn't want to believe it, but touching him proved it was indeed him. Tears began falling on her beloved's corpse as she leaned across him. Just what would she do now without him? Yamcha was her everything in this cruel world. Even on tough days, he would always make a goof of himself to ease her mind from troublesome thoughts. Her cries echoed over the valley as she shouted the man's name.
"Yamcha! Why did this have to happen to you!?"
While Bulma desperately called out Yamcha's name and shook the man's body, the burly companion closed his eyes and placed his hands together. He offered his farewell to the fallen warrior, who, alongside Krillin, saved him from becoming a scrap of metal in some junkyard. For the first time, he felt an incredible amount of anger. He was always polite and gentle, no matter the situation. But this caused his programming to seek vengeance. However, before looking for the man who did this, he had to help Bulma and Launch. No matter what, he would keep them safe and continue doing Yamcha's and Krillin's duty.f
His short hair moved on the wind as he turned towards them. "Miss Bulma, Launch. We should return and have everyone say their final goodbyes to our friends..." Somehow, he managed to say that without breaking his voice out of sadness and anger.
"Eighter, you're right! But I swear! One day, I'll kill that freaking bastard for what he's done to all of us!"
Launch's angry and sad voice echoed across the place as she fired a few shots into the sky. While the burly man tried to calm her down, Bulma got very quiet and held tightly to the orange textile. The purple-haired scientist placed the little piece of Yamcha's cloth over her heart and finally rose from the ground.
She glared at the blue sky with a new expression and determination in her eyes. "Launch's right... He will pay for everything! No matter how long it takes, I'll make sure to have you repent for everything you've done, Kakarot! I swear it on my life!" As she turned around, the last droplets of tears fell on the ground. Bulma marched back to the vehicle with dangerous determination flowing out of her and fierce eyes.
Far away from planet Earth, the space pods were about to reach their destination. The glowing objects flew by an asteroid field and twirled toward the nearby planet. They landed safely, and the hatches lowered on the floor. A group of soldiers approached the newly arrived pods and saluted.
While his older brother dismissed the grunts, Kakarot inspected the planet's scenery. "Hn. So, this is where you live? It doesn't look anything special. Earth seemed better." The man's gaze shifted to the soldiers, who were startled by his appearance.
"Tsk, idiot! I don't live here. It's just a station at the edge of a galaxy. There are hundreds of them scattered all over the universe. We rarely even spend time on them, mostly to rest for a little bit and receive further instructions."
As he headed toward the building, Raditz gestured for Kakarot and his son to follow. "You'll see, we're either conquering planets or hibernating in space pods during long travels. However, this time, we'll spend some time here. I need to get you two properly fit." His dark orbs fell on the little child, wondering if the boy would survive the first mission.
Raditz's words weren't as thrilling as he hoped them to be. Sure, he couldn't wait to get on a new planet and fight, but he wasn't thrilled to spend most of his time sleeping inside some metal ball. Kakarot let out a displeasing grunt while his son curiously stared at everything surrounding them.
"Humph! Whatever, don't make me wait too long! I want to test myself and fight new opponents!"
The older Saiyan glimpsed at Kakarot and released a chuckle. "Careful, little brother! You'll get what you want, but don't come crawling back to me once beaten to a pulp!" He ignored the low growl coming from his brother and continued.
"Here. Come, you guys need proper attire for the battlefield."
Raditz entered a room and gestured for the two newcomers to join. Once inside, the long-haired warrior approached a compartment and opened it. He picked up and tossed the garments to his brother and nephew, who looked puzzled by the size.
"Don't overthink and put them on. They're made of special material, which will stretch and adjust to your size."
While Kakarot and his child dressed, Raditz grabbed two scooters. "This little devices are called scouters. We're using them as communication devices and for detecting enemies' battle power. They're quite useful when not getting broken by a minor inconvenience." He explained the functions of the devices as he put them on the table.
While Raditz checked if the scouters were working correctly, the other two changed into new garments. The armors were the same type as Raditz's and of the same color pallet. The difference in their clothing was that the little boy's skin suit was longer and blue, and he had white gloves. There was also a slight difference in Raditz's wristbands and Kakarot's, but that didn't bother anyone.
Once fully clothed, Raditz tossed the scouters to them and smirked. "Put them on, and don't break them! Now that you're finally looking like real Saiyans let's go and grab something to eat!" The tall male turned and left the room with his brother and nephew.
They minded their affairs, but the constant glares and whispering annoyed Kakarot. The Saiyan frequently moved his left foot against the floor, trying to ignore them. He was eating the meal and listening to his older brother babbling about the rules and their place within the empire. Sure, it was good to know such stuff, but he was only interested in conquering other worlds to fight strong opponents. Once Raditz explained how the scooters work, he grew annoyed.
"And that's how you calculate power levels. We still rely on older models, but there's some word about new and improved ones getting manufactured. Supposedly, they should be out very soon."
Raditz noticed he got ignored, which angered the warrior. However, he caught a glimpse of what bothered his younger brother. Tsk! Those fools never learn. Even after all these years, they still can't accept that we Saiyans are far superior to them in any shape or form! Hah, poor insects!" Raditz lifted a hand and hid his grin from the others.
"Whatever! If they don't stop, I'll all twist their necks!"
Kakarot's voice was low but very ominous. That amused his older brother, who couldn't help but let out a little chuckle. The young Saiyan shifted his gaze back to Raditz and posed a question.
"So, the plan's to stay here and wait? Who are we waiting and what for? Can't we head out and conquer a planet on our own?"
Raditz lifted an eyebrow and, shortly after, shook his head. "Of course we can't! We don't have such permission, and Vegeta wants to see if you two can do your part without dragging us down." His words angered Kakarot, which he understood.
Kakarot groaned out of annoyance and dropped a fork on the table. "And what of our home? You said a tragedy happened, and it exploded?" Now, that was a topic he wanted to learn more about.
However, Raditz's was the opposite. The warrior tightened the grip around the mug and glared at the little spot on the table. During these past decades, he tried to keep the past buried deep within. He also hid and ignored his emotions, as he didn't want to look like a weakling in front of his other comrades.
He released a sigh and started explaining. "Our home, planet Vegeta, got destroyed by a giant meteor. It was probably just a day or so after you got shipped to planet Earth that it happened. I and the others got spared of certain death because Vegeta refused the order to return to the planet." Raditz leaned back against the chair, remembering when everything turned upside down.
Kakarot stared at Raditz and remained quiet for a moment. Something about that story bothered him. "Wait. You guys were ordered by who to return to planet Vegeta?" His tail swayed behind him as he was intrigued by the whole situation.
"Who else but Freeza! The most powerful and dreadful emperor who has ever lived!"
Kakarot ignored the blatant sarcasm and placed a hand under his chin. "And did he give the same order to others or just you guys?" Sweat slid down his temple as he awaited Raditz's answer.
"Huh? If I remember correctly, he ordered all Saiyans to fly back to planet Vegeta. He had some important announcement to deliver but could never make it since the planet was destroyed."
The younger Saiyan stared at his long-haired brother for almost a minute as a dangerous thought crossed his mind. "Wait a minute! So, you guys never thought that was suspicious? The guy orders every Saiyan to return home, only for the entire race of strong warriors to get wiped out days later!?" Kakarot's tone was getting louder and catching the attention of other soldiers.
Raditz immediately acted and leaned closer to his brother. "Shh! Be quiet! There will be severe consequences if anyone hears what you're implying!" His stern look and serious tone forced Kakarot to calm down.
"Of course, we speculated about such a thing! However, even if there's some truth, there's nothing we can do about it!"
Kakarot stared at Raditz for a mere second before he backed away and sneered. "Such a pathetic response! Who are you so afraid of!? Don't you want to know the truth!? Are you scared of these freaks!?" The wild-haired warrior stood up and pointed at all the soldiers in the room.
"Sit down and shut up! Don't yell such stuff out loud!"
Raditz tried to prevent stuff from escalating any further. "You fool! In case you haven't noticed, other species don't adore us! One wrong word, and we could get executed!" He tried to reason with Kakarot, but it was in vain.
"By who!? These bunch of pathetic weaklings you call warriors!? Don't make me laugh, Raditz!"
A mere second later, they were surrounded by a group of soldiers. While Raditz remained sitting in his chair and glaring at Kakarot, the younger Saiyan looked around and chuckled. The warrior sent the chair flying as he walked away from the table so his son could enjoy his meal.
"What? Is there something bothering you, you guys? Did something I said hurt your feelings, or maybe your insignificant pride? Get lost before I tear you all apart!"
While the soldiers were getting restless, Raditz couldn't believe Kakarot's audacity. He was about to rise and prevent any trouble. Still, the long-haired warrior was too late as a bulky soldier approached Kakarot from behind and walked around him.
"Well, well. This new monkey's quite a comedian! What's the little clown supposed to be, your puny sidekick!? Hihi! You Saiyans are all the same, so arrogant and stupid! No wonder there's no more of you!"
The soldier laughed as he walked past Kakarot and placed a firm grip on the little boy's shoulder. However, that was a big mistake. In an instant, the alien ceased laughing and started to scream as he pulled his arm back. Even Raditz was stunned when he saw several fingers were missing. His eyes fell upon the boy who placed the fingers on the table. Before Raditz could say anything, the boy jumped and attacked the injured soldier. A solid kick to the head sent the soldier flying and crashing into other men.
When the child touched the floor, he dashed after the others with a childish growl. His little rampage brought out a prideful smile on Kakarot's face. The Saiyan crossed his arms and observed his son's performance. He was pleased with it, and the boy relied on skill rather than pure power.
"Incredible! The little brat's far better than I thought! For a moment, I'm sure his power level spiked to 810! For a child, that's very impressive! Vegeta's surely going to be satisfied with this!"
At least one worry was off his mind. Seeing his nephew had no problem beating up people, he was sure the boy would adapt well. However, he knew this little demonstration would cause an uproar, and he would pay the price.
While Raditz got lost in thoughts, Kakarot laughed. "Haha! What a sorry excuse for soldiers! Beaten by a four-year-old, how embarrassing!" The weakest tried to run away from his child, which caused his eyes to tear up.
"Enough with this! We need to attack together!"
Kakarot welcomed their assault with wide open arms and a smirk. Whitish energy accumulated around Kakarot's body as the soldiers closed the distance. The ki clashed around the Saiyan, who began laughing once the soldiers were in range. He spread his arms and unleashed an energy wave. The technique moved faster than their Scouters could detect its power. Kakarot's ability took the assaulting soldiers down for good. However, what he did caused lots of damage to the building. A piece of the ceiling fell, and a wall crumbled. The medical staff and soldiers walking outside had to be careful so the rocks didn't fall on their heads.
Naturally, Kakarot didn't care about such things. The warrior lowered his arms and spat on the floor. His attention, however, remained locked on something. Suddenly, he stepped to the side and avoided a flying rock.
"Oh! Seems like there are some warriors with guts among you!"
Kakarot chuckled as he lifted an arm and blocked a punch. A bird-looking warrior was one, if not the only, who could fight Kakarot right now. Those who survived the attack were in no shape to continue fighting. Kakarot stared into the warrior's eyes with excitement and wonder.
"You Saiyans are all the same! Anything you touch or even grace with your eyes ends in ruins or destroyed! I'm tired of your kind, brat!"
The warrior's deep voice caught Kakarot's attention, along with the scars on its face. "You might work for Lord Freeza and his empire, but I'm sure he wouldn't have anything against losing his favorite toys... Wouldn't you agree, Raditz?" They both gazed at Raditz, who wasn't happy with what was happening.
Raditz's tail furiously swayed behind his back. His anger focused solely on his brother. He knew there would be severe consequences, but what made it even worse was that Kakarot didn't care. Instead, his foolish younger brother was having the time of his life. To add more things to an already overflowing plate, he knew this soldier and the man's reputation on the battlefield. How he didn't notice him before was a wonder to him. However, there was nothing he could do now.
The long-haired Saiyan released a sigh and crossed his arms. "Kakarot, you put us in quite a mess, and I've had enough! I warned you before, but you didn't listen! Now, clean up the mess you made, and if you come crawling back, I'll end your life!" His tone and fierce look were enough evidence of his seriousness.
Upon hearing his brother's words, Kakarot chuckled, which surprised the soldier. "Hn. I would never lower myself to ask you for any help. I don't need anyone's help; I fight my battles alone. Always did and always will!" Kakarot exclaimed with a shout as he threw the punch.
The bird-like creature escaped, but that only fueled Kakarot's excitement—the Saiyan thurst himself at the soldier, who was still in mid-air. Kakarot's punch was fast, but the man's reaction was a bit faster. Instead of hitting the enemy, Kakarot smashed another wall. While the wall crumbled, the wild-haired Saiyan turned around only to receive a kick to the gut. Kakarot's eyes were wide open as he got sent flying through the hole in the wall. He crashed into another building and remained stuck.
While still surrounded by dust, Kakarot placed a hand under his jaw and shook his head. "This bird fellow's good... However, he doesn't know the tricks I do!" The young Saiyan wiped the blood from his chin and returned to continue the fight.
The strong creature raised his guard to block and counter with his mightiest attack. However, much to his shock, the Saiyan somehow passed right through him.
"What!? What happened!?"
The little stunt confused the soldier, which is what Kakarot was going for. With his opponent's guard down, he appeared before his enemy and struck the man's abdomen. While the creature was gasping for air, Kakarot lifted him and delivered an uppercut. The blow caused the bird to soar, but the Saiyan seized him by the legs. He slammed the enemy against the ground and shortly after threw him outside. Kakarot followed and unleashed a precise combination of punches and kicks.
There was no sign of a comeback until the soldier's eyes began to glow. "Enough!" The sudden outburst forced Kakarot to halt and lift his giard.
"I-I will never be a monkey's plaything, never! This little charade ends now!"
The soldier's angry outburst was short-lived as the Saiyan delivered a spectacular punch. "And I won't tolerate being degraded by a bunch of weaklings! I have no use of you any longer; die!" His voice and look in the eyes frightened the bird for the first time.
Seeing how he got pinned against the wall, the soldier began to panic. "No! I refuse! I can't die by a Saiyan hand! It's impossible!" The bird-like creature screamed and fired small energy beams out of his eyes to get rid of the Saiyan.
Kakarot ducked and dodged the attack but let go of his opponent. Looking in the opposite direction, he saw the soldier land and place both palms forward. The Saiyan smirked as the orbs made out of ki merged and were ready to be fired at him. Instead of running, Kakarot stood still and gestured for the soldier to shoot at him.
"Cocky prick! Take my strongest attack, you dirty Saiyan! BLAZING CANNON!"
In the corner of the room, Raditz observed the entire battle. He made no comments and only watched Kakarot's first battle. On a rare occasion, he would check on the boy who didn't seem worried about his father's well-being and instead resumed eating. Raditz shifted his eyes back to the battlefield, only to receive a warning from the scouter.
Raditz's eyes widened at the rising numbers. "Battle power; 938, 959, 1020, 1169... 1200! Kakarot's power level is only 300 units below mine! How's that possible? Could he be able to manipulate his ki at will? How!?" Drops of sweat traveled across Raditz's forehead as he watched his younger brother about to unleash his attack.
Kakarot gathered enough energy at one spot and fired back. "It's over, bird-man! Say hello to your friends in hell!" The eruption of the released energy caused the building to collapse and sent the bodies flying.
The Saiyan's blast collided with the enemy attack and, within seconds, overpowered it. Shocked by it, the bird gasped out of fear for his life. The soldier cried out, but his screams got put to rest as he got devoured by Kakarot's blast and carried off the planet. The wild-haired warrior wore a satisfying grin while he floated in the air.
"Kakarot! Come here this instant! You have no idea what this could do to us, you moron!"
The Saiyan looked below and saw his older brother and son standing in a pile of rocks. Kakarot didn't even have a chance to say something when Raditz began marching to the other building. The young male let out a sigh and did as told. He joined his brother and son, only to hear angry mumbles coming from Raditz.
"Follow us faster, boy!"
His bark earned him a scowl from the boy, which didn't go unnoticed by the much older male. Raditz swiftly turned around before the child could react and caught the kid's tail. As with all Saiyan children, Kakarot's son lost all his strength. Kakarot said nothing and followed his furious older brother, who carried the boy.
The Saiyans confined themselves inside the private room. While the boy was sleeping on the bed, his father sat on the nearby chair. Meanwhile, Raditz walked around the room, mumbling something under his breath. Kakarot wondered what the older male was doing but opted not to. Instead, he smirked, thinking of his first battle in outer space. Despite Raditz's constant lectures, It was a good start to his new journey.
However, Kakarot remembered their conversation, which led to all the trouble. "Hey, Raditz. We had never finished the conversation before. Now that we're alone, tell me what you think happened!" His voice forced the taller male to halt and stand still.
Raditz stared at the wall for a while and didn't move a finger. A few seconds later, the Saiyan lifted his hand and removed the scouter. "Kakarot, we'll have this conversation now and never again!" He put the device inside the compartment and turned around.
"As I told you before, we have our suspicions, but even if they were correct, we're too weak to do something about it! We can't avenge our race and regain the lost pride! We're far too weak and low in numbers to do anything!"
The long-haired warrior was getting agitated as he continued talking. "That damn monster! H-He's dreadful and on a whole different level!" His hands trembled as an image of the emperor flashed before him.
"Besides, before starting the rebellion, someone would find out and sell us out! Freeza's eyes are everywhere; if you cross him, you'd wish for a quick death! So, put this topic to rest, and don't you dare mention it to Vegeta!"
Kakarot frowned, unhappy with that. However, he could understand how serious this was. "Vegeta, who's that? Seems like a dangerous guy by the way you talk." He was surprised to see Raditz, a man stronger than himself, scared of these guys.
The older warrior couldn't but let out a short-lived laughter. "Oh! That he is and very much! Vegeta's our prince and leader of our little group." Raditz paused when he saw the amused glint in Kakarot's eyes.
"He's several levels above us, so don't you dare oppose him, or he'll kill you on the spot. Besides Vegeta, there's that bald idiot Nappa. The old fool is strong but stupid and quickly loses his temper."
He walked to the second chair and sat down. "And that's all left of our mighty race, Kakarot. If you don't want that number to go even lower, you better follow your orders and don't question anything. That's the only way to survive in this universe." Raditz's voice carried a sad tone as the man stared at the red ceiling and thought of things from the past.
Kakarot's eyes locked on Raditz, but he finally shifted them away. He curled his hands into fists and thought about everything his brother said. Kakarot knew how complicated their situation was from the tone and how Raditz talked. However, if there is anything he learned from his life on Earth, then that would be survival. He was in many life-threatening situations while purging the planet. He was often on the verge of death, but he managed to survive any ordeal and bounce back stronger. If he survived that, he would be damnd if some space overlord decided to kill them on a backwater world.
"I must say you surprised me, Kakarot. I had little hope of finding you alive, but you proved me wrong. But! I never imagined you'd have a child and a half-breed to that..."
Kakarot wanted to say something meaningful but was beaten to it by his brother. He looked back at Raditz, who was observing his son. There was a slight evidence of his brother mocking him, but he let it slide this time. Kakarot gazed at his son and smiled.
"I'm curious: what happened to the boy's mother? How come you decided to mate with their species? I could never do it with weaklings; it would dishonor our warrior blood."
Kakarot glared at his brother, but that quickly became a snicker. "Well, this little half-breed is already stronger than the pitiful warriors on this station, so tell me if it was a mistake or dishonor..." Seeing his brother raise an eyebrow and remain silent only made him chuckle.
"One day. One day, he'll be stronger than any of us! Mark my words, Raditz. Maybe he'll even be the one to get our race's lost pride back, who knows."
While Raditz laughed at such a preposterous statement, Kakarot stared at his son's face and continued talking. "You know, I wasn't even aware I had a son. I would visit his mother occasionally, and that's that. Mostly because of her delicious food, and she wasn't a coward like all earthlings. She was strong and feisty for an earthling..." A memory of their encounters and meetings flashed before him. He smiled at that, remembering their first meeting and how everything proceeded with them after that.
"Really? And she didn't mind that you killed her entire tribe?"
The wild-haired saiyan scoffed at that. "Pff, of course not! The damn woman fought and tried to kill me whenever she could! She was so stubborn and wouldn't take no for an answer." He closed his eyes as he imagined their fights.
He was stronger, but she always surprised him with her skills. "I don't know what happened, but one day, I snapped! I couldn't control myself after a fight with her and kissed her. Of course, she punched me in the jaw only to kiss me back after that." Kakarot laughed as he remembered the entire scene on a grassy field under the sunset.
Raditz lowered his head and smirked. "I see, now I understand. From how you talk about her, she seems more like a typical Saiyan woman. Despite being a weak earthling, she had a strong will and fought against you despite knowing her flaws. I can understand why you did it; your instincts guided you." The Saiyan explained his view on that, and Kakarot mostly agreed.
"Then what, you killed her or what? Don't tell me you let her live?"
Kakarot moved his head away and stared at the floor. He clenched his teeth before opening his mouth again. "No, I didn't kill her... Someone else did!" Kakarot closed his eyes and closed his hands tightly.
He was on his own; he just finished destroying another town. It was small, and there were only a few people in it, but still, he had some fun. However, as time passed, so did his motivation. Each day was the same. There was no challenge, no excitement at all. The people he was merciful enough to let live didn't threaten him. He wondered if sparing those martial artists was even a good idea. The last good fight he had was when he fought that green slug. He was bored since he killed that old wrinkled fool who tried to take control of the world.
It annoyed him greatly; he wanted a real fight to the death. An opponent who could push him to the edge, but there was nobody like that. He was cut from his thoughts when he heard his stomach rumble. "I need to find some food... Hmm, perhaps I should visit her. The last time we were together was almost a year ago." Kakarot rose from the ground and stretched his arms and legs.
His fuzzy tail swayed behind his back as he warmed up before leaving. He was just about to leave when he felt something. "There's a strong ki nearby! It's familiar and yet stronger than any I have ever felt! Who could that be!?" The young man wondered as he focused and looked around until the mysterious figure revealed itself to him.
"Haha! Finally, I have found you! Kakarot, today is the day you pay for killing my father!"
Upon hearing that voice, Kakarot turned to the left and saw a tall figure standing on a giant rock. "You! Who are you!? What do you want with me!? Have a death wish or something!?" The Saiyan growled as he fully turned towards the cloaked figure.
As the wind passed, it pushed the white mantle away and revealed the face of the person. "Can't you tell just by looking at me? I'm the reincarnation, the son of the great Demon King Piccolo! I'm here to avenge my father and take over what little is left of this world's population, not thanks to a bastard like you!" Exclaimed Piccolo as he raised a closed fist.
Such revelation shocked the Saiyan. He never imagined something like that was possible, a reincarnation. A drop of sweat slid down his cheek, his expression different. "Another Piccolo, huh? Well, I hope you're stronger than your father! I was itching for a new challenge; maybe you might help me with that." Kakarot's arrogant tone and subtle provocation didn't go unnoticed by Piccolo, who oddly enough snickered at that.
"Believe me when I say I'm far superior to my late father. I learned from his mistakes, and I know how you operate! I even know your little secret."
When he heard that, Kakarot blinked in confusion; he didn't know what this green freak was talking about. "My secret? What are you talking about?! I don't have any secrets that you could use to your advantage. Your pointless bluff won't get you anywhere, Piccolo!" Kakarot grinned as he said that.
Piccolo's sudden and loud laughter echoed through the forest. "Really now!? Do I need to remind you, Kakarot!? Perhaps this thing will jog your memory, hmm?" Piccolo moved the cape away and showed what he hid in his other hand.
"Don't tell me you don't even remember your child? You're truly a ruthless bastard, aren't you?"
Kakarot couldn't believe what he just heard. "What did he just say? M-My child!? N-No, that's not possible!" Kakarot's entire body was shaking.
That just couldn't be true, but that monkey-like tail was all the proof he needed. Several emotions clashed inside the Saiyan as a never-felt sensation arose from within his core, leaving him unable to form even a simple sentence.
"However, I had some little trouble getting this brat. At first, I thought of bringing your woman here, but I changed my mind when I saw her holding and protecting the child with her life."
Piccolo's voice forced the Saiyan to snap out of it and look up. "I demanded her to hand over the brat, but she wouldn't obey and even dared to attack me! Well, I had no choice but to put her down for good!" His eyes were wide, as well as a creepy smirk when he saw the reaction from Kakarot. He longed to see it, the one of terror and despair.
Drops of sweat consumed Kakarot's face and body. His hands began to shake as he gulped down. "Chi-Chi's dead?" Kakarot spoke quietly as the cold wind passed, lifting his black hair and waving it.
He closed his eyes and lowered his head. The Saiyan thought of her for some time while he trembled. Memories of their meetings, fights, and times together flashed before him. The ground under his feet started to quiver, which didn't go unnoticed by Piccolo.
Suddenly, Kakarot lifted his head, greeting Piccolo with a ferocious expression so dark that it horrified even the green man for a second. "You killed my Chi-Chi!? I'll make you pay, Piccolo!" The Saiyan's feral growl echoed across the forest as he moved into a battle stance and charged at the reincarnation of the Demon King Piccolo.
Silence, Kakarot stopped talking. The other Saiyan remained quiet until his brother decided to say something else or continue the story. However, since Kakarot didn't utter a word, Raditz spoke. "Did you avenge her death? She might have been an earthling, but still, she was your mate, and it was your duty to kill her murderer and restore her honor." The long-haired warrior rose and walked away as he waited for an answer.
Kakarot looked up and finally replied. "Yeah, I did... But not then. I managed to defeat Piccolo in our second battle." He closed his left fist tightly, remembering the close battle. It even cost him his tail, but luckily, the fuzzy appendage regrew as time passed.
The taller man nodded and walked towards the metal doors. He pressed the button on the wall, and the doors slid open. "You did well, brother." Raditz's voice was low but enough for Kakarot to hear.
Before he left the room, he said one more thing. "When the boy wakes up, come to the training facilities... I'll be there after I'm done informing Vegeta of our situation and our next course of action." After he said that, Raditz walked out of the room and left his brother and nephew alone.
Once his older brother was gone, Kakarot leaned against the wall and sighed. He felt a little sting, but he shoved that feeling aside and buried it. There was no room for sentimental and foolish memories. That was part of his past, and it would stay locked away. The only thing that mattered now was to get stronger and conquer other planets, something he was more than happy to do. A little grin appeared on his face as he imagined just how strong this prince was. He couldn't hide that he was rather excited to meet him.