Some Time Later…

It could easily be said that at that moment the small clearing in the forest was the most peaceful and beautiful spot in the entire world.

The sun was bright but it wasn't so hot that it made one miserable being under its rays. There was a slight breeze that didn't so much blow up against a person but tickled them playfully. The air was crisp and clean and the colors of the plant life that made up the forest were as brilliant as they had ever been. There were no predators about, no dangers. If one had thrown down a picnic blanket they could have had a lovely day eating and laughing.

But there was no one around. Not a soul. Even the animals had scurried away.

For they had sensed the one being that would end the peace of that moment descending from the sky.

Raditz' pod slammed down into the clearing; he didn't actually NEED to do that, as the pods were designed to land rather smoothly and quietly upon the ground, but Raditz always enjoyed making an entrance and nothing startled the helpless citizens of whatever world he was going to glass as him crashing down like a vengeful fist. It also helped get his blood pumping for a fight, which was another benefit.

He stepped out of his pod and smirked.

Exactly 13 Months Since Raditiz fought Goku and Piccolo

"Ugh… this place still stinks," Raditiz complained as he stepped out of the pod, taking a moment to get his lungs to adjust to the air around him. Any lethargic feelings that he still had even after the crash went away with his first deep breath. "Damn that's good!" he proclaimed as he cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders. "Man, it feels like I took a stimulate!" The clean air of the world might have been offensive to his nose and spoke to his brother's utter failure in doing his duty but after spending over a year on that sulfurous planet the air of Earth was supercharging his lungs. "Feels like I can shatter this entire damn planet with my bare hands!"

"Heh, you think you can manage that?"

Raditz whipped around, eyes wide in shock as he stared at Nappa.

"What… what are you doing here?" he demanded of the bald older warrior, rushing to quickly gain control of himself.

"Vegeta wants to see what your brother is capable of," Nappa responded. "When we found out you were going to be fighting him we decided it was time to see just what he could do."

"Prince Vegeta is coming here?" Raditz asked. 'Damn it, that won't work at all! I need Kakarot to be my surprise weapon against him. If he sees him fighting me he'll be able to study his moves and be better able to defend against them!'

But Nappa laughed at that. "You think Vegeta has time to waste watching you and your brother roll in the dirt? He sent me to watch you and make sure you don't embarrass us all!"

Raditz nodded at that. Normally he would have been insulted by Nappa's comments but in this case he was far too focused on the opportunities his arrival offered. 'I'm stronger than him now… according to the scouter reading I took of myself just month ago I've surpassed Nappa's power level at long last. With him here it would be easy to defeat him and force him to submit. And if he didn't then I could always kill him and blame the Earthlings for it.' Raditz smirked. 'Yes… that might just work!'

"Well?" Nappa demanded, crossing his arms over his chest and leering at Raditz. "Are we actually going to take out this low class trash that is your brother or are we going to sit here wasting time?"

Raditz merely nodded his head. "Very well… I will show you how strong Kakarot has grown and how he will be of use to us."

And with that the two Saiyans took off.

~MC~MC~MC~

"And no matter what you are to remain here, understood?" Chichi said, kneeling down in front of Gohan.

"But mom, I can help!" the little boy proclaimed. He had his shield strapped to his back and the Power Pole grasped in his hand.

"And you are, son!" Goku declared from just behind Chichi; he was stretching his limbs, readying for the fight to come. They had all sensed Raditz's return and the Z Fighters, even though they'd been preparing for that moment and knew it was approaching, were still scrambling to put their final touches on all their plans. "You are making sure that Raditz doesn't get anywhere near the Dragon Balls!"

"That's right," Chichi said sternly. "If Raditz gets them then he could wish for immortality-"

"Even though that's a dumb wish?" Gohan asked, remembering Kayos' comments about how such a wish was useless.

"he doesn't know that though," Chichi reminded him. "And even then he might wish for something else, something that would hurt us. You need to stay here with Isco, Baba, and Yajirobe, to make sure that no one gets to them." The heavy set fighter had decided that it would be best for him to remain behind, seeing as he'd put in little training…

~Earlier~

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THAT THESE SAIGANS WERE COMING!?" Yajirobe cried out, making the rest of the Z Fighters cringe. They were standing outside of the research facility that had been their home for the last 13 months, having been ready to make final preparations for Raditz's arrival only to be interrupted by the squat warrior who had appeared suddenly come driving up to them in what many of them assumed was a stolen car, leaping out screaming.

Krillin waved his hands about. "We thought you wouldn't want to be bothered-"

"ABOUT YOUR MEANINGLESS STUPID THINGS!" the warrior roared right in Kirllin's face, causing the man to go flying back, Tien just managing to catch him. "I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOU FOOLS GOING BOWLING OR DECIDING TO LEARN HOW TO DRIVE CARS!"

"Like I would ever learn how to drive a car," Piccolo muttered under his breath only to start when Yajirobe suddenly popped up in front of him.

"YOU SHUT YOUR GREEN MOUTH!" the large man screamed. Piccolo's eyes widened at that, shocked that the short little dumpy man was being so bold around him. But though he opened his mouth to tell him off he shut it after a moment, lips pressed together in utter silence as Yajirobe whipped around and pointed a finger at the rest of the group. "I DON'T CARE THAT YOU GO HANG OUT AND HAVE PICNICS-"

"Yes you do," Kayos commented, merely raising an eyebrow when Yajirobe turned his rage on him. "Am I wrong?"

"…who the hell are you?" the saumari demanded, not bothering to answer the question.

"Avo Kayos and I really need to get going." Before anyone could say a word Kayos rose into the air, giving a cheeky wave before blasting away.

"COWARD!" Bulma shouted, shaking her fist at the man's retreating form.

"Kayos isn't a coward," Goku pointed out. "He has to go and-"

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE SAIYANS!?" Yajirobe yelled, reminding them all how angry he was.

"Well, we told you now," Goku pointed out with a grin.

"Ooooooooh nooooo," Chichi said softly.

"What?" Goku said, looking about only to realize everyone was moving away from him. "What? What's going on?"

Yajirobe suddenly leapt up and stuck his fingers up Goku's nose, making the Saiyan cry out in pain as he was forced to bend down.

"THAT! ISN'T! GOOD! ENOUGH!" Yajirobe snarled, ignoring Goku's yelps. "I COULD HAVE PREPARED!"

"YOU would have fought with us?" Tien asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Hell no!" Yajirobe declared, turning to Tien (though not releasing Goku who continued to plead to be let go). "But I could have found a place to hide with plenty of pork buns to get me through this mess!"

"…what?" Bulma said, everyone else sweatdropping at the man's comment.

Yajirobe released Goku, who fell to the ground and cupped his nose, whimpering in pain. He turned on his heels and walked back towards the research facility. "You better have a stocked pantry. If I'm going to die because you made some alien angry then I at least want to be full!"

~MC~MC~MC~

Gohan gave his mother a serious nod, making her smile at the look of determination that was in his eyes. "I will, mommy!" He gave her a salute and she stroked his cheek, smiling fondly.

"I know you will," she said. "Now give me a hug…" Gohan hurried into her embrace, Chichi closing her eyes and holding him tight.

"Do you have to go?" Gohan asked.

"Yes, my sweet prince," she said softly. "I need to make sure that your daddy comes back. You know how silly he gets."

"But who will make sure you come back?" Gohan asked and it broke her heart that her sweet son had to worry about such things. He should be focused on having fun and playing games and studying… not that his parents might die trying to save the world.

"I will," Piccolo said, causing Chichi to jump. She hadn't heard him sneak up on her! "I'll make sure she gets back to us, okay kid?"

"Okay!" Gohan said with a determined little nod that made Chichi smile despite the serious situation they found themselves in.

Turning to Piccolo she asked, "What do you think our chances are, anyway?"

"If everything goes as planned?" he said with his normal rumble. "Pretty good, I would say."

"Except things never go to plan, do they?" Chichi asked.

That dark comment though made Piccolo smirk. "That isn't always a bad thing, you know. After all, my plan was to kill your husband originally."

Chichi blinked before shooting a side-eye stare at the Namekian. "Right…"

"Alright everyone!" Roshi called out, getting the Z Warriors' attention. "Its time we get a move on. Now remember, just because we have Dragon Balls waitin' for us back here doesn't mean that we should be takin' needless risks. Especially Yamcha, Krillin, Chiaotzu, and of course yours truly. " Unlike other times when he introduced himself or wanted to draw everyone's attention towards him this time there was no smile on his face and smug sense of superiority. No… there was just a quiet grimness that came from the fact that he knew that if he died that would be it for him. "As such if things get dicy we will be moving back to allow the rest of you to fight on."

"Don't worry, Master Roshi!" Yamcha declared, holding a fist out in front of his face. "With everything I learned from King Kai I am more than ready to take on Raditz and stop that filthy Saiyan once and for all!" He suddenly yelped. "Uh… sorry Goku, no offense."

"Why would I be offended?" Goku asked, tilting his head. "I'm not smelly… I take baths all the time!"

That brought a few chuckles and smiles, which was good for everyone as they needed it. Roshi's reminder, while needed, also was a grim note that for nearly half of them they were now fighting a battle where giving it their all might help save the world… but would mean they couldn't be a part of it.

Roshi looked over at Piccolo.

"That goes for you as well."

The green-skinned warrior huffed at that, folding his arms over his chest. That had been a point of contention amongst the group ever since they'd begun drawing up battle plans. If Piccolo died Kami would die with him. And that would mean the end of the Dragon Balls. Even those that still could be brought back would face death with no hope of returning.

Bulma glanced at Piccolo. "And you are sure you can't…"

"No," Piccolo said sternly. "I haven't… matured… enough to be able to produce an egg. And certainly can't produce one that I link myself to in order to keep Kami alive."

"Too bad we can't just make a wish to delink you," Krillin commented.

Tien shook his head. "We went over that option. If we do that then Kami could die instantly." Piccolo glowered at the reminder that Kami was only able to reach his advanced age he was currently at and still maintain the power needed to keep the Dragon Balls going was thanks to Piccolo. Chichi knew that if it were her she wouldn't like being seen as little more than a battery for someone else.

"Well, I think that's about it," Goku said with a firm nod and a slight smile. "No use wasting any more time… its time to meet up with Raditz and finally put an end to his threat."

"Right!" everyone declared, rising in the air. Goku himself hopped on Nimbus, wanting to conserve every drop of energy he had, while Chichi forced herself to stabilize… she still wasn't' the greatest flyer there was but she was managing considering she'd just learned the skill. Still, she managed to get herself to be on an even keel and with a final wave to Gohan rocketed off with the rest of the Z Fighters, Bulma following just behind in her vehicle.

'I just hope we are all able to say hello to those we're leaving behind,' Chichi thought to herself.

~MC~MC~MC~

"How's the body working for you, Isco?" Roshi asked, looking over the droid. Or rather the metal form the droid was piloting from the safety of the island.

"Quite well," Isco replied. The humanoid form wasn't overly large and bulky, with spindly legs and arms and a small compact chest with no actual neck but rather a single pillar with optics all over it that gave Isco, according to him, full 360 degree line of sight. While the limbs looked fragile Roshi knew they were VERY tough and also designed to quickly move about the battle field. He wasn't going to destroy a foe with a single blast that could wipe a city off the map; no, Isco would defeat you with a thousand quick strikes before you could lay a single punch.

"Hmmm, here's hopin' then that it does the job."

Isco merely glanced at Roshi… or at least Roshi THOUGHT he was glancing at him. It was hard to tell in that body he was piloting. "Would it not have been wise for you and those that could die to remain behind?"

"Heh, maybe," Roshi said with a smirk. "But I ain't the wisest person on the planet, that's for sure. Sides, what's the use of livin' if the planet dies?"

"I suppose that it is true, though it feels incorrect to say…"

Whatever else Isco might have said was cut off by the sound of two approaching forms.

"Here they come…" Tien said softly.

Roshi walked over to Yamcha, smiling at the young man softly before whispering, "You sure you are up for this?" He knew that for some fighters facing the foe that had defeated them left a mark, causing them to be unable to face them again without remembering the damage they had taken. And for Yamcha it wasn't merely a broken bone or a scar he had to deal with… it was the memory of his own death that would haunt him.

But to his credit Yamcha merely smirked. "More than ready, Master Roshi. I have been waiting a year to get some payback on that bastard."

The old man merely nodded before turning back to Raditz. The Saiyan warrior's armor was chipped and cracked, with parts of his shoulder pieces missing and a few cuts in the chest piece. But otherwise he looked ready for a fight which worried Roshi greatly. He glanced over at Bulma who was still standing next to her vehicle and she subtly raised her handheld device, scanning him before grimacing. It wasn't full of terror so at least they had that going for them but Roshi also knew from the way she was looking that it wasn't good news either.

'He's been trainin'… we knew he would be but it looks like it was just as intensive as us.' There had been the hope, if slight, that Goku or Piccolo might be able to become stronger than Raditz and thus quickly win the fight. But from the way Bulma was looking that hope was gone and now they would need to rely upon skill and teamwork in order to take down the threat. 'Goku has taken on stronger foes before,' Roshi thought to himself as Raditz drew closer. 'I want this to be just like those times. But… I'm worried that all the times luck has been on our side has drained it down… and now we'll find ourselves out of luck.'

~MC~MC~MC~

'This is what you trained for,' Krillin thought to himself as he watched Raditz approach. 'That's the bastard that killed your friend… your brother. And he wants to kill everyone else you love.' He clenched his hands into fists… before relaxing. Such things were useless, wasteful moves. He needed to be calm. Collected. To conserve every bit of strength he had. 'Raditz… you are going to pay for everything you've put us through.'

~MC~MC~MC~

Tien glanced at Chiaotzu. "How are you?"

"Nervous," Chiaotzu whispered. "This feels… different, Tien."

"I know," he murmured. "This doesn't feel like anything else we've ever been a part of this. This is a different kind of fight."

"It feels like we're on the edge of something really, really important," Chiaotzu commented. "That this battle is the start of something new."

Tien nodded slightly. "Yeah… I feel the same way. We make it through this and we'll be entering a whole new world."

Chiaotzu smiled at that. "Then let's make sure all of our friends are there to join us."

"Yeah."

~MC~MC~MC~

"You ready to face this guy again?" Piccolo asked, glancing down at Goku.

"Of course I am," Goku said, though not with the usual good humor that Piccolo was used to hearing in his words. "I'm ready to see just how much stronger I've gotten. And show him that the people of Earth aren't weak." He glanced at Piccolo. "Aren't you?"

"Oh, I am," Piccolo said with a sharp smirk. "Just wanted to make sure that the beatdown you'd taken hadn't robbed you of your fighting spirit."

"Not at all," Goku declared, eyes narrowing. "It showed me how lax I had become. I've been thinking about this rematch for the last 13 months."

They didn't get to say anymore as Raditz dropped down before them along with his companion.

"So… you actually showed up," Raditz declared. "And I can tell that you've taken your training seriously. Good. I'll be putting all of that to good use." He scanned the other Z Fighters. "And the rest of you have gotten stronger too. Hmmm… maybe I'll spar you as well after we conquer this planet. You might be of use, after all."

Yamcha dropped into a fighting stance. "If you think we'd ever stand with you then you're mistaken."

"I said that you'd have a use, not that you'd stand with me." Raditz scoffed. "You are strong, human… but you aren't that strong." Raditiz looked around. "Now… where is that mouthy blond human? The one that suggested we wait this long for this fight?"

"Oh, he's around," Goku said with a smirk. "I see you found your friend."

Before Raditz could say a word the bald warrior spoke up. "Mind your tongue you low class wretch. I am Nappa, second to Vegeta, the Prince of All Saiyans!" He took a step forward, sneering at them all. "If you are little more than mindless pathetic lackies to Raditz then to me you are slime that I wipe off my boot!" He jerked his head in Raditz's direction. "I'm just here to make sure this idiot doesn't mess things up."

Raditz glowered at that but only for a second; the rebellious look disappeared and was replaced with his smug superiority. Piccolo had seen it, however, and made a mental note of that. It might come in handy.

"Nappa is right," Raditz declared. "You are all weak compared to us. But… if you are so anxious to test yourselves then I suppose we can help you." And with that he pulled out a vial of liquid. "I've been holding onto this… was thinking of just when the proper time would be to pull this out but I think now is perfect. They are my last 4 but I doubt I'll lose them that quickly." With that he uncorked the vial and spilled four drops onto the ground, watching as the liquid seeped into the soil.

It only took seconds for the ground to begin bucking and rising before green bulbs began to rise up. They looked like wrinkly potatoes in Piccolo's opinion.

But then the ground buckled all the more and from the earth burst creatures…

Piccolo had come to accept that he wasn't what he thought he was. He wasn't a demon. He was an alien from another world. Just like Goku apparently. It was just that Earth held so many different beings that it was easy for people to believe him to just be a different looking kind of Earthling.

The creatures that emerged from the ground next to Raditz? They were aliens. That's all they could ever be. He wondered if even on their home planet they could be considering as something OTHER than alien.

They were hideous things with squat bodies but long arms and legs that ended in pincer-like fingers. While it at first appeared like they were wearing some kind of armor Piccolo could see that in reality they actually just had a bulky middle, as if they were bugs whose soft squishy limbs had burst from their hard shells. Their eyes were a pale red with small black dots for pupils and their mouths were all twisted in leering dark smiles, cruel and full of dark intent.

"Whoa!" Goku suddenly exclaimed. "Where did you guys get Bio-Men?"

"These are… wait, what?" Raditz blinked in confusion. "What did you call them?"

"Bio-Men!" he chirped. "They look a bit different from the last ones we dealt with… are these a different version?"

"These are not Bio-Men," Raditz said in annoyance. "I've never even heard of Bio-Men. These are Saibamen." He flashed an arrogant smirk. "They originally hailed from a planet close to our own home planet of Vegeta. Our ancestors found them and modified them on a genetic level to become what you see now: loyal foot soldiers sent into battle to deal with the pests."

"…that still kind of sounds like the Bio-Men," Roshi commented.

"Like a lot," Chiaotzu added.

"They aren't Bio-Men!" Raditz snarled. "They are Saibamen and they are your doom! Each one of these Saibamen have a power level of 1200!"

"So in other words," Nappa added, "as strong as Raditz here!" He laughed at that, though Piccolo noticed Raditz glower at the reminder of his strength.

'He meant it as a threat… but Raditz took that as an insult. Does that mean the other Saiyans are far more powerful that Raditz?' He frowned, still watching the Saibamen carefully, waiting for them to attack. They looked like they should be savage beasts that leapt at the chance to harm anything that got near them but instead the Saibamen merely remained tense and ready, utterly silent and still as they stared ahead. 'If that's the case then I hope we don't have to face any of them soon. Even with how powerful we've grown we aren't ready for that kind of a battle.'

"So… why are they just standing there then?" Krillin asked, remaining tense.

"The Saibamen are so rare because we carefully breed and program absolute obedience into them," Raditz stated smugly. "They will do nothing until given a command. So then… any volunteers to die?"

With that… Yamcha stepped forward.

"I've been waiting for this for 13 months," he said, narrowing his eyes.

"You've been waiting to die?" Raditz asked.

"Waiting to get my revenge on you. For trying to kill my friend. For killing me."

"I killed you?" Raditz asked, raising an eyebrow.

That caused Yamcha to pause. "You don't remember?"

"Do you have any idea how many people I've killed? You are just another face amongst the corpses." He reached up and rubbed his chin. "But how did you manage to come back to life if I killed you?"

"Oh, we have these things called-"

"Enough squawking!" Nappa snapped. "Just kill him again Raditz!"

Once more Goku's biological brother tensed but otherwise did nothing else to the bald Saiyan that was ordering him about. "Very well," he finally said. "Saibamen, killed that scarred fool. Bring me him in tiny pieces!"

It was instantaneous.

The four Saibamen went from standing motionless to springing into action, clawed hands raised up and mouths twisting into feral grins as they shrieked so loudly that Piccolo had to fight not wincing. They rushed at Yamcha, arms extended-

"WOLF FANG KICK!"

The head of the first Saibaman was ripped clean from its body as Yamcha spun kicked it off, sending the head bouncing away. The body fell to the ground and skidded a few feet, twitching near Tien's feet before going still. Everyone stared at it for a moment but the other Saibamen, with no thought of self preservation after that attack, continued to rush Yamcha. The former bandit though twisted his body before grabbing onto the second Saibaman by the back of its neck, driving his fist down into its spine with a hideous crack. The armored torso began to come apart like an egg shell and Yamcha whipped around, hurling it at the third and sending them both flying away before he leapt into the air and fired off a Ki blast that reduced the third to little more than particles.

"Well," Yamcha said as he landed, "I'm thinking the real reason those things are rare is because they die so easily."

Raditz though mere scoffed. "You managed to defeat three of them… impressive. We Saiyans fight hordes of them for practice though, so don't be too pleased with yourself." He shut his eyes, arms folded over his chest. "Also, you missed one."

Suddenly the fourth Saibaman, the one that had been knocked away, rushed Yamcha, arms spread wide.

"STOP!" Nappa yelled out, the Saibaman instantly stopping.

"What are you doing?" Raditz demanded, glaring at the other Saiyan even as Yamcha twisted around and drove his fist through the Saibaman's stomach, taking him out. "He was about to detonate that pathetic human!"

"And you are so pathetic you need those little green Brussels sprouts to fight your battles for you?" Nappa asked. "I thought you were the great Raditz! Yet you hide behind the Saibamen?"

Raditz… frowned.

"What is wrong with you?"

Nappa smirked… before his hand suddenly lashed out and Raditz let out a scream as his entire body seized up, electricity running through his body and making him shake. After a moment he fell to the ground, huffing and in pain but still alive, though from the way he was twitching it was clear the attack had hurt him greatly.

"That worked rather well, Bulma," Nappa said, tossing the taser he'd just used in her direction. "Just like you said."

"What… what are you doing, Nappa?" Raditz groaned, clawing at the ground. "When Vegeta hears you've betrayed him…"

"Oh… you still think I'm Nappa."

And with that there was a poof of smoke, revealing Kayos where the bald Saiyan had been moments earlier.

"I'm so glad you can't sense energy," he said before quickly flying out of Raditz' grasp. Which was good because the Saiyan made a grab for him, just missing.

"I'll… I'll kill you for that!" Raditz roared as he struggled to get to his feet.

"Hey guys!" Kayos shouted. "This isn't a spectator sport!"

At once Goku, Tien, Chiaotzu, Yamcha, and Krillin leapt forward, moving at Raditz even as the Saiyan got to his feet and let out a scream of rage.

Kayos landed nearly Chichi and Piccolo, shaking his head. "Seriously… if he had been able to sense energy I would have been fucked."

"But that was impressive," Chichi admitted. "I forgot several times you weren't that other Saiyan."

"How did you know what he looked and sounded like?" Piccolo asked, raising a brow.

"Scroll of Knowledge," Kayos stated. He glanced back at Goku, who was now delivering a flurry of kicks and punches at Raditz. Where during their last fight he'd had trouble dealing with his brother, finding nearly all of his strikes blocked, now he was landing a lot of decent hits and able to block just as many that Raditz tried to send his way. "Showed me how to hack into their equipment to figure out what him and his leader, Vegeta, sounded like."

Piccolo frowned at that. 'He's lying. I can tell by the way he's holding himself that isn't what he did. But why hide the real reason? What does he have to gain by not telling us the truth-'

"YOU WILL ALL DYING SCREAMING!" Raditz roared before firing off several large Ki Blasts.

"Okay, discuss later. Fight now!" With that Kayos rose into the air, actually moving towards the Ki Blasts rather than dodging. "White Flag!" he shouted as he began to gather up the Ki Blasts.

"Right," Piccolo said, narrowing his eyes before he burst forward, taking over for Goku after he was hit in the stomach by a blast and sent sideways. Piccolo aimed a shot at Raditz' head, the Saiyan not able to catch it but able to deflect it away. Piccolo though used the momentum he'd built up from that strike to throw another punch with his other hand at the Saiyan's armored middle. It didn't actually hurt the alien but he did feel the armor crack and buckle.

"That was almost clever of your little blond friend!" Raditz said snidely even as he moved to grab Piccolo's wrist, most likely wanting to break it. But Piccolo easily twisted out of the way before he began to attack Raditz once more, the Saiyan raising his forearms to block the strikes from hitting his head. "He managed to trick me good… but I already feel the after effects of that shock going away! And I am FAR stronger than I was when we fought the last time!"

"Oh yeah?" Piccolo asked as he leapt away. "So am I. SPECIAL BEAM CANON!"

Rather than the normal 5 minutes to charge the attack Piccolo was able to fire off that attack the instant he thrust out his hand, Raditz forced to twist out of the way and right into the path of Krillin who delivered a knee to the Saiyan's belly before bringing his hand up and firing a needle-thin Ki blast. But while it might have been small the effect was devastating, sending Raditz flying down into the ground.

"In fact," Piccolo said with a smug smile as he began to float down, "you'll find that all of us have vastly improved."

"It won't be ENOUGH!" Raditz roared as he leapt from the ground. "You think you can defeat me because I gave you a few extra months to train? I was born for this! Bred for this! My entire life spent honing my body into the ultimate weapon of destruction!" He swung at Piccolo who just barely managed to dodge; he could feel Raditz' energy increasing as his rage pushed him further. "I will not be shown up by some pathetic lifeforms that call a disgusting backwater planet home! You will submit or you will be crushed under my foot!" He managed to get a hard hit in on the side of Piccolo's head, making him tumble before Raditz caught him and flung him down into the ground, Piccolo slamming into the earth near where Raditz himself had fallen.

Piccolo looked up in time to see Tien and Goku coming at Raditz, the two working together to try and take the Saiyan warrior down. But Raditz was beginning to behave as he had in their first fight, becoming faster than their blows, able to dodge their hits and force them to over extend themselves. He kicked Tien in the thigh before moving to knee him in the face only for Goku to intercept, the two locking fingers as they grappled in the air, faces nearly touching.

"I love fighting as much as the next person," Goku said as he struggled to overpower his brother. "I love pushing myself to the next level. Testing myself against others to see where I stack up. Learning new ways to fight and harness my energy. And maybe, if I had grown up like you, I'd have come to see the world as you do. But these last 13 months? That was a gift you gave to me. Because it allowed me to see that there was more to life than fighting."

~MC~MC~MC~

Tien and Goku sat on a beach together, panting after a long sparring session, their backs pressed against the same tree as they passed back and forth a large jug of water.

~MC~MC~MC~

Bulma grinned as she plunked down next to Goku, resting her head on his shoulder as the movie began to play.

~MC~MC~MC~

Krillin burst into laughter as Goku was dragged into the ocean by the large fish he'd caught on his line, the Saiyan popping his head back up after a few moments and joining in.

~MC~MC~MC ~

Piccolo and Goku sat on the roof of the research facility, watching as the stars twinkled above them, both wondering if they were seeing the star that their home planets had circled.

~MC~MC~MC~

Yamcha tossed a marshmallow across the room, Goku making a diving leap to catch it in his mouth, his brother crying out and pumping his fists in the air when Goku managed to snag it.

~MC~MC~MC~

Chiaotzu went over the steps of the dance he'd created, Goku struggling to match him but refusing to give up after Krillin had told him he had no chance of mastering it.

~MC~MC~MC~

Goku watched in awe as Master Roshi did a perfect dive into the swimming pool, barely causing any water to splash out do to his perfect technique.

~MC~MC~MC~

Gohan cheered as Goku raced through the clearing, his son sitting happily on his shoulders as Goku raced about making car noises

~MC~MC~MC~

Sitting at the kitchen counter Goku watched with wide eyes as Kayos began to layer on more bacon upon the burgers he was making, Goku salivating at the sight even as the blond man explained what he was doing.

~MC~MC~MC~

Goku sat on the floor of the living room, not even bothering to get up as Isco projected the grainy black and white footage he'd restored of Grandpa Gohan when he'd been younger fighting in a tournament.

~MC~MC~MC~

Chichi rested on top of Goku, fast asleep even as he stroked her hair, a faint smile on his lips.

~MC~MC~MC~

"I trained, yes, but I got to spend time with my friends. My family. I got moments that would have never come about if you hadn't decided to show up." Goku suddenly twisted, managing to get around Raditz and lock his arms around his back and behind his head, fingers lacing together so that the other Saiyan couldn't move. Raditz snarled and struggled but found himself unable to break the hold. "So I want to thank you for that, Raditz. Thank you for giving me these last 13 months."

"I'm glad that your final 13 months on this planet were wasted goofing around with these lesser beings, Kakarot!" Raditz snarled as he fought even harder to free himself. But Goku held on fast, refusing to let go. "Those memories can warm you at night when you remember that this planet has been reduced to glass!" He suddenly jerked his head back and Goku was forced to loosen his grip, lest Raditz smash his nose. But that was enough for the Saiyan warrior to be able to slip free and zip away from him, charging up a Ki Blast. "But while you pissed away your time so frivolously I was preparing for this moment! Now witness the might of a Saiyan Warrior, unencumbered by the weak!" Both of his fists began to shine brightly with Ki Energy. "Double Sunday!"

The energy blasts came out of his fists as two large roiling sphere and Goku at once tensed and moved to dodge. But then Raditz suddenly spun on his heels and fired at Chiaotzu and Tien, the two letting out cries as they were struck by the sudden hits.

"No!" Goku called out only for Raditz to at once be in front of him, striking him hard in the stomach before grabbing his Gi and flinging him down into the ground.

"Do you see, Kakarot?" Raditz asked as he walked towards his brother. "Do you understand now? While you wasted your time relaxing I prepared for our battle and thus have grown far beyond you and your pathetic pets. And now you see what a liability they are. How they will only-"

"Destructo Discs!"

Raditz twisted his head up, remembering a second too late that Goku wasn't the only one in the fight. There, above him, was Krillin, his right hand held up with 5 small little circles, barely bigger than coins, hovering just above his fingers. Raditz smirked at that, raising an eyebrow in contempt and mockery, as Krillin threw out his hand. He didn't even care that Chichi suddenly blasted past him and grabbed Goku, pulling him out of the way. No, the Saiyan warrior just stood there, raising his arm and swiping at the discs to bat them away-

"AAAAAAAAAAA!"

Raditz screamed as Krillin's Destructo Discs tore through his hand, ripping it off at the wrist.

"That… was for Yamcha," Krillin said.

"No," the Scarred face bandit declared, suddenly appearing in front of Raditz and punching him in the jaw, causing the alien warrior to go flying. "THAT was for me!"

Raditz slowly pulled himself up from the ground only to cry out when Tien slammed down on him, driving him back down into the ground before Roshi rushed him, kicking him towards Piccolo, who caught him before giving him a spin and chucking him into the air, opening his mouth and unleashing a mouth laser that caused him to flip about madly before finally right himself…

…right in front of Kayos, whose hands glowed with the Ki he's stolen from Raditz's attacks.

"WHITE KNUCKLE!" he roared before he delivered a Ki-boosted punch right to Raditz's face. The Saiyan screamed as he slammed down into the ground, slowly getting to his feet clutching at his face, blood dribbling from his cheek while his right wrist was pressed to his chest.

"You still don't get it," Goku said, standing with the rest of his friends as they all stared down Raditz. "You think those 13 months made me weak? No… they made me stronger. Because you can't truly be a great fighter if you have nothing to fight for. You go out just wanting to destroy planets? I fight for my friends. My family. And that will always make me stronger than you."

Raditz though trembled in rage.

"You think you can belittle me?" he growled. "Mock me… and what I want?" He threw back his head and roared, his energy bursting from his body. "I WILL SHOW YOU MY STRENGTH!"

And with that he rushed them, the Z Fighters moving to intercept.