Heart of Adventurers
By LastationLover5000 and Demod20
Chapter 47 - The Strongest in the Universe
Western Capital, Earth, Capsule Corporation
"He did what?!"
The sun had barely risen over the Western Capital. Birds were still freshly chirping in the sky, and Tights had not yet had her morning coffee. Thus, hearing Raditz shouting this early made it sound several octaves louder than she would normally register the sound. Holding her head, she walked over towards the espresso machine, a thing pale finger hitting a button. The blonde did not reply to Raditz immediately, instead opting to take in the delicious smells of cappuccino filling the kitchen. Her father was a fan of cappuccino, and Bulma, being the technological wiz she was, created a Capsule Corporation brand espresso machine that generated the beverage near-instantly. Picking up the cup, full of the delicious, dark brown liquid, Tights slowly and deliberately inhaled the scent again.
"Tights!" Raditz growled, leaning against the doorframe, his expression irate. "Where did you say Kakarrot went?!"
Tights walked over to Raditz, drinking slowly and deeply from her espresso cup as she did so. "I. Told. You. Gokū and Bulma finally went off on their honeymoon - and since I have connections with Jaco, I managed to arrange a shuttle for them offworld. I don't even know what planet they're on now."
"What the hell is a honeymoon?" inquired a confused Raditz.
"Earthling couples usually go on vacations after getting married," shrugged Tights. "Those two, for reasons I'll never understand, didn't take one after they got married, and just settled right in. I assume..." Tights frowned, trying to figure a way to say it which didn't sound callous, and compromised by taking another swig of coffee, "...that dying on Namek made Bulma decide those simple things really were important."
Raditz blinked. Marriage was already a foreign concept to a Saiyan, as their people rarely settled down with a single partner - Saiyans usually met with partners solely for mating, and those who settled into long term relationships were either members of the royal family, or rare mavericks, like his father and Kakarrot. His eyes, however, fell on the belly of the woman standing before him - six months ago, Tights was lithe and thin. Now whenever she so much as attempted to balance, Tights was dealing with a visibly pregnant stomach.
I'm one of those mavericks now too, aren't I? thought Raditz wryly.
"That bastard," Raditz grumbled regardless. "He's had six months to sit on his laurels - it was finally time to kick up a proper regiment again "
"You say that like he hasn't been squeezing training in where he could," said Tights through another sip. "Bulma really made him lessen up, just a bit, so she, he, and Pan could all spend a bit of time together. But," she laughed slightly, "you and your brother are cut from the same mould. He definitely did sneak off to do some training, and he's considering having her turn his main ship into the basis for some sort of gravity chamber in here. He brought it up to Dad."
At this, Raditz's expression softened slightly. So he had been training. He hadn't just been lazing around while he and the Nameccian were working hard. "And here I thought the Legendary Super Saiyan had gone complacent," said Raditz. "A gravity chamber, eh? That's got a nice ring to it. Fine, I'll let him have this...'honeymoon'."
"Good," said Tights, grinning. "Besides," the blonde woman stood up carefully, placing a free hand on her ever-expanding belly. "If I asked you to take me on one, would you turn me down just so you could lift weights?" She grinned cheekily, watching her boyfriend of several months now get flustered.
"I-I-that's different!" said Raditz quickly. Looking for a distraction, he glanced at the cup in his girlfriend's hand. "Isn't that a cup of poison? Should you even be drinking that, pregnant like you are?"
"200 mgs," grinned Tights. "That's the limit for pregnant woman. Besides, isn't our baby going to be part Saiyan? Are you trying to say your baby wouldn't be strong enough?"
"Hardly," grunted Raditz, mildly impressed by the counterargument. "All the same, keep it to a limit."
"I'm monitoring my intake, don't worry," said Tights, before adding cheekily, "though having my strong man worry about me is a great feeling."
"I always worry'!" snapped Raditz hotly. "You never give me a reason to relax."
Tights giggled, and even Raditz laughed in spite of himself, though his smile quickly gave way to a frown. These mornings really did seem to idle away like this...almost jovially, without a care in the care. The long maned Saiyan placed a finger to his chin. This was the very same thing he'd berated Kakarrot for not a year ago, this quiet, peaceful life. Irksome though his brother was, their mutual camaraderie against Vegeta had turned into, if not a functional brotherly relationship, at the least, a cordial one.
His black eyes glanced towards Tights, who had walked the length of the kitchen to seat herself back at the table.
He, Raditz, had a mate, someone he valued immensely. They were even with child, and Raditz had found himself, during the hours he was not training, or else trying to keep up with Pan's seemingly ceaseless energy, mulling over dozens of names - some he even thought he fancied. Cumber hadn't been any good, but Matsuna, Sarada, and Sabi had all struck chords with him as perfect names for his prospective future child. Then of course, would be the training regimen Raditz would instill in his own firstborn - and of course, trips to various planets their mother would no doubt demand they take.
"Mama, why does everyone say Papa is a weirdo for protecting you on missions?" Raditz, now eight years old, was preparing himself for his first proper mission.
Having survived his first invasion of a planet as a child - the Reppepians hadn't expected such a small child to transform into a rampaging giant ape - he had returned to Planet Vegeta. Immediately, due to personnel shortages, he'd been assigned to his first mission proper - alongside Prince Vegeta, of all people, his retainer Nappa, and a few other Saiyans.
"Your Papa and I are...a bit different from regular Saiyans, I think," said Gine thoughtfully. "Bardock always makes sure his squad mates make it back alive - he doesn't see a point in letting comrades-in-arms die wasteful deaths."
"Uncle says he's a softhearted fool," said Raditz, pulling a fresh new Combat Jacket vest over his head.
"Well, Tullece and Bardock have differing ideas of what a Saiyan should be," replied Gine lightly. "Your father is kind of a hero to the rest of us lower-class warriors. Just don't say it to his face."
"A hero?"
"Yes," Gine smile, kneeling down to look her son in the eyes. "Your father is a bit...rough around the edges..." Her eyes looked past Raditz, and where they were looking, he couldn't tell. "Who else was I going to fall in love with?"
"Mama, you're weird too..." said Raditz gruffly.
"You'll understand after you find a proper team," said Gine. "When you really have something important to you - a mate, comrades-in-arms - I think you'll understand how your father thinks."
Retroactively, his mother was proving to be correct. His frown, if anything, deepened. Why did you have to be right post-mortem...? Sighing heavily, the man ran his hand through his shaggy shock of black hair. He would have time to sort these thoughts out later. Earth was a good place - that much, Raditz knew for certain. He also was sure he enjoyed being in the company of these people, even if it sometimes felt strange to wake up in a bed on an alien world and stare into the sleeping face of this perplexing blonde creature.
Before Raditz's thoughts could get anymore complex, a tugging feeling at his scalp caught his attention. Confused, and more than a little uncomfortable, the Saiyan raised his hand to his head once more, this time coming to rest on something circular, soft, and familiar. Gripping this new foreign entity lightly, Raditz slowly and deliberately brought his monkey-tailed niece into view before his eyes, his hand on her spiked lavender tresses. "Do I look like a pack mule, Pan?"
"Mr. Piccolo sent me to come get you," said Pan, grinning toothily. "You and Auntie were taking too long, so I thought it might be fun to wait—"
"—clinging to my scalp?" finished Raditz, suppressing a grin of his own. "You're a right sneaky little runt, you know?" Letting her down, she floating instantly, not even letting herself fall to the tiled ground. Her tail twitched happily, her arms spread wide as if trying to hug the air, and she spun in a circle. "Tell him I'm on my way; it was a slow start to the morning."
"Aye!" Pan grinned, peeling out of the nearest open window and towards the mountain range just on the outskirts of the Western Capital.
"I make for a slow morning, do I?" chuckled Tights from her seat.
"That's not what I said," replied Raditz quickly. "Anyway, it looks like I'm spoken for. We'll be back after we work some hours in."
Tights waved him off, smiling, and pulled out her notepad. While he wiled away the hours training, she had a manuscript to work on. It was quiet, they understood each other, and she enjoyed it that way.
Milky Way
Simià IV
(10 Hour Flight from Earth)
Bulma breathed a sigh of relief.
It had been a long flight, what with Gokū asking if they were there yet for the first hour alone at nauseum. Even she had a tolerance threshold when it came to her patience and she has that to spare as both mother and wife in their family. Since then Gokū just patiently, opted to slip in and out of sleeping - or at least, she thought it was, but she could see muscles flexing indicating he may be doing the image training he did whenever he wasn't asleep.
She was fine with that, though. It gave her plenty of time to run diagnostics on herself.
Her eyes toggle the HUD up as she pressed a hidden switch on her right temple. Instead of being a simple ki sampling device akin to the Freeza Army Scouters, her ocular implants now just scanned life signs and other features of living organisms. Routed to a pocket database kept in a satchel wrapped around her waist, she planned to collect a database she could use to map other species, technology and other things to either reverse engineer and keep on file for Capsule Corp's growing R&E and space program.
This saves her the agony of seizures from the painful overheating her eye implants gave her, and gives her the basics until she ironed out the kinks with the Earthling equivalent to that tech.
In addition, her HUD also gave her an indication of her own other slew of built-in prototype tech she had surgically implanted into her body. It was not something her parents really approved of but Gokū didn't seem to understand what boundaries of science and nature are crossed when she experimented on herself.
He had said, simply, that her body is what she wants it to be and as long as she stays Bulma, that's all that he cares about.
That's what I love about him, She thought with a smile, leaning back as she stared up at the streaks of hyperspace going by the canopy of the spaceship. Simple yet seriously means what he means.
As she reminisces, a sudden ahem breaches her and Gokū's peace.
"I hate to break my personal zen by reminding you people," Jaco began to say, his nasal drawl more exaggerated than usual as he fixed his usual blank stare at them, "We have arrived."
"What do you mean, you people?" Bulma growled with a glare.
"The fact that you're taking up my paid time off to be your chaperone for a week at a resort world isn't exactly what I want, yet, here I am," He stated dryly as his lips twitched in irritation.
"Aw, c'mon, Jaco!" Gokū said as he stretched out of his seat, his orange-black jacket rustling over his chest just as his black cargo pants stood up with him. "You're having a vacation too! You'll have a room of your own, right?"
"You're both blowing my year's salary on this trip!"
"What do vegetables have to do with this trip?"
Jaco nearly fell out of his pilot seat while Bulma stifled a snort of laughter.
"Just park it already," Bulma said, failing at stopping her cheeky grin.
The Patrolman grumbles under his breath as he complies, steering the ship towards the planet.
The world itself had a lush bluish-green beauty of oceanic seas with algae all around rings of amethyst mountains that sparkled with orbital clouds of steely white. As they descended, those clouds parted to reveal orbiting satellites in reverse pyramids, each one gleaming with strobing lights and attractions of each level.
"Simià IV," Bulma read off a translated brochure Jaco provided for them to read, "Formerly a barbarous world, now a beautiful ocean world with its only inhabitants in the mountains of the planet. Come join us at our orbiting satellites where you can wine and dine from casual laid-back fun seekers to high stakes gambling and thrill seeking. Thanks to our sponsors in the Gleaming Lights Industries for providing you a truly 5 Star treatment."
"Sounds good to me," Gokū said, as if he hadn't heard it before.
"Formerly barbarous makes me think the Freeza Army displaced the original population," Bulma surmised with a frown. "But it doesn't say. Are you sure this place is legit?"
"Very legitimate," Jaco nodded with affirmation as he drove closer to the orbiting pyramid. "Just please be careful on how you greet some of the fancy people here. Influence can reach past this galaxy and I rather not lose my job or worse because you pissed someone off."
"We're here to have fun and relax, Jaco," Bulma reassured him, stuffing the brochure in her pink vest wrapped around her navel exposed black blouse with a pair of sleek purple stockings to a pair of heeled shoes. "Don't worry so much. You have fun too while we're here."
"You're right," Jaco sighed, swallowing a lump of fear as he caught sight of a distant speckling moon over the blue horizon.
I better not tell Gokū that the moon of Simià IV is a notorious zone of criminal activity…then I really will be in trouble…
As he considered those thoughts, the saucer shaped craft of Jaco maneuvered smoothly into the middle docks of the orbiting resort. Lights flickering at a rectangular space, adjacent to dozens of parallel spacecraft - many of them of varying design, sleekness and shine showing the wealth of those currently docked.
Slipping through a bluish field that seemed to shimmer from the top of the middle dock ring, it turned red as soon as they slowed down to rock down onto the reinforced plating.
"Wow," Bulma marveled at the multitude of ships farther into the dock level. Each one far different than those she was familiar with, the archaic design of the Nameccian craft; or those of the Freeza Army.
Or rather, the Tullece Army I suppose, She thought with a moment of solemn realization.
She wondered, most of the Galaxy feared Freeza. With his death, how much has changed since Tullece likely has done all he could to seize power?
These thoughts circled her head as Gokū began talking to Jaco.
"So, uh, are you going in uniform?"
"Of course," Jaco sniffed, turning on his heels as he left his pilot seat and unlatched the canopy latch; climbing up ladder steps to exit the craft. "I'm using my Patrol Credits. If I didn't have my credentials, I wouldn't get a discount to afford being here."
"So you're the reason my sister is a zeni pincher," Bulma noted with a wry smirk as she climbed up after him with Gokū shrugging as he leaped up and down from the saucer craft.
"I'll take that as a compliment," Jaco huffed as he landed beside Gokū with an arm spread graceful pose. "Your family's pampered lifestyle has left you ignorant of how the rest of the galactic economy works. Besides your primitive planet, you basically don't exist outside of your mostly uninhabited solar system."
"Wait," Bulma paused, dropping down into Gokū's arms, looking at Jaco agape. "What do you mean by mostly?"
"Did you think every planet is barren? Geez, I thought you're supposed to be the smarter sister of Tights," Jaco huffed with a cold shoulder turn.
"Welcome to Ferris Prime, valued guests," A voice rang out from their adjacent right. Standing there in a white top with vertical lines of green running down a hybrid of a stewardess uniform and a enviro-suit, a slenderly fit figure waves to them with a smile. Bearing smooth teal skin with orange hair affixed to a bun beneath a rectangular cap of blue with green lines, she batted long lashes with emerald eyes at the three. "My name is Ran, and its serve the hard working elites of the Galactic Patrol at our esteemed resort. Your purchase of the Family Package has been upgraded to the Premier Experience Plan at no expense to you."
"Wait, why?" Jaco asked with a sudden balking. "This is my first time here! What hidden fees did you just slap me with?"
"There's nothing to worry about," Ran reassured him with a gesture. "Your reputation of great heroism and skill has been noted by the owner of this fine resort. He extends his thanks for your bravery and wishes to reward you."
"I…appreciate his generosity, but I have no idea what this is regarding to," He stated sincerely.
"Oh? I thought you heard the news?" Ran said with a tilt of her head.
"What news?" Bulma asked, earning the attendant's gaze and smile.
"Why, the Galactic Patrol has been commended by the New Saiyan Emperor, Lord Tullece," She said with an approving nod. "I guess it was supposed to be confidential, but word spread only a few days ago that he met with Galactic Patrol's leadership to establish a working relationship with their forces. I think you might have been nominated as the one who Lord Tullece spoke of."
Jaco's face heated up past its normal placid blue and purple of the uniform.
The New Galactic Emperor, second only to the King and the Senate, is thanking him for being on Namek? This is absurd, and too good to be true!
As he looked back at Gokū and Bulma, he saw color had drained from the sister of Tights. Just the mention of him made her tense up and bite her lip.
Yet, Gokū, strangely, kept calm. No, that wasn't accurate. It seemed he wasn't even registering the significance of what was just said. Could he have been not paying attention this whole time?
He merely blinked a few times then smiled over at Jaco.
"Good job, Jaco! Looks like you're moving up," Gokū said with a chuckle.
"Gokū…" Bulma said quietly, her eyes fixed on him as she sat down next to him.
"Hey, Miss," He raised a hand up to Ran, "What kind of stuff do you have going on here? My wife and I are on our honeymoon, so I'd like for us to have a good time while we're here."
"Ah yes, a second suite was in the original purchase, wasn't it?" Ran nodded with acknowledgement. "Don't worry. We have all sorts of activities to take up your time. In the floors above us, we have casinos full of stakes worthy of any kind of guest we have here. For more hands on enjoyment, we have deep sea dive escorts, virtual arcades, arena participation and-"
"Arena participation?" Gokū asked.
"Oh yes, it's a new event for those who enjoy a physical showcase of your own mettle or a proxy fighter you want to bet on in the top floor stadium we have," She explained with a gesture up to the ceiling. "You can even watch from the comfort of a booth in the stadium or any screen in the casino. Is this something fitting your fancy?"
"Definitely," Gokū said with a determined glint in his eyes. "I want to see the kind of competition that this place has."
"Then follow me," She waves in a beckoning manner as she leads them away from the docks.
"Sorry if this isn't what you wanted to do, as soon as we got here," Gokū apologized, suddenly feeling conscious of his wife holding onto his arm.
"It's not that," Bulma shook her head, looking over at a visibly nervous Jaco who walked beside them. "Tullece named Jaco out, and had timed this declaration only days before we left. Does he know we're here? Or is he watching our room?"
"Don't worry," Gokū assures her with a smile. "I don't feel his ki here. If he was here, I'd know it."
"Well, as long as you're sure," She sighs with relief.
"Besides," Gokū trails off, finishing as they enter an elevator with the attendant. "Something tells me I'm going to test out how strong I really am here…"
The doors sealed behind and a whoosh of motion propelled them up. Plaster walls rushed by their see-through glass barrier, with neon lights washing over the four as they rose upwards. Slowly decelerating, the group beheld a corridor that held a white pristine appearance with sleek red flooring.
Stepping out, Ran began to explain, "We're currently in the sub-level of the Master Stadium. If you'll follow me, we have an office dedicated to fighters," she gestured, walking to the left with the four trailing behind.
Doors passed them by, unmarked and seemingly unused for some time. The silence became replaced by a nearby door resting at the end of the hall, with light peeking beneath the square barrier.
Voices could be heard and, to Gokū's excitement, boundless life energy within!
Giggling to himself, the Saiyan brimmed with glee as the door opened by the resort attendant.
Once inside, the three are greeted by a large waiting room filled with lockers and cushioned benches. Beings of various species populated the space, either doing exercises, posing or talking to other individuals of well-dressed repute.
Among those that Gokū could sense that stood out were fascinating to him, as they were to observe his wife.
One being is dressed in clothes akin to more nomadic, primitive monks on Earth. Furs of bluish sewn into a spacious black robe, light brown skin painted by white lines that ended with Hollow circles on the palms. Eyes were also a glistening silver, with irises nonexistent yet her ponytail braided of alabaster hue, showed a mischievous smile as she eyes Gokū entering.
Another, a brawny alien with bulging green skin with veins throbbing along the back, shoulders and arms, wore metallic armor over the chest down to the pelvis, bearing a mighty ax over one shoulder with beady yellow eyes that glared at the newcomers. He didn't bear much energy, yet, the Earth-raised Saiyan felt something hidden beneath; a cauldron of fury being suppressed with his ki.
Another appeared to be a short creature, hunched over a gnarled wooden stave with sharp ears and brown fur worn like a mane over a bald flat face. Wrinkles hid his eyes, he took rasping breaths and seemed to struggle going through the room while bumping into every other occupant nearby.
A silvery machine with a slender bodice with hair-like tendrils draped en masse over its back walked about with noisy clanks, its face narrow and conical save for a singular yellow optic larger than any organisms present. It had a number of weapons magnetically latched to the hips or beneath its 'hair', showing it to be one not to be underestimated.
The one that stood out to him was something he didn't expect. A black haired, bright red skinned woman who looked to be in her late teens stood in black leggings with shin high boots and a grey tank top. Bare arms were lightly toned with muscles but her overall figure seemed smooth and not at all built like a seasoned fighter.
Yet, she seemed to ebb with ki, and didn't seem to look at anyone at all.
She must be the strongest one here…Gokū thought with a wide grin.
"Right this way," Ran said, her stride never breaking as her heels clacked noisily on the floor with the three walking behind her.
"...you mean my fighter is not qualified?" A voice is heard as they approached a desk, the one speaking in front of it being a squat, rotund being with a bio-suit wrapped around him. Dropping pieces of white fabric laced rubber came down from a respirator, glowing eyes blinking as metallic covered triage of digits gestured at the teal skinned, red haired tall employee of the resort sitting behind a plasteel desk.
"Exactly as I said," The employee - Rivesh as his name plate indicated - not bothering to look up from a holo-screen his hands manipulated with graceful touches. "There's no reason to put in a machine that has no specs for us to diagnose. If it harbored illegal weapons, such as poisons, we cannot in good conscience process such a competitor as it would lead to an upset in sales and mar our reputation as an entertainment center. Thus," he finished, looking up and leaning forward towards the rotund enviro-suited man. "Not qualified."
"You…why…hrrrrgh!" The suited man rasped, taking noisy inhales of methane between each word of enunciated outrage, emphasized by clawed fingers clenched into balled up, pudgy fists. "Do you know who I am, Herasian?! I'm Bolas Null, a reputable trader of the Fallopian Guild! If you deny my fighter, I'll have your job for this!"
"File all the complaints you wish, Dervish. I won't submit your fighter until we search it for contraband items," He calmly replied, leaning back into his chair. "Now, unless you are complying, I request you step aside. Some guests are waiting to be helped."
Huffing, the squat being turned around and hobbled away on his fat, small legs; fixing a momentary glare at the four before shoving his way back into the thick of the dozens populated crowd in the room.
"Apologies for the wait," Rivesh said, though his tone remains neutral as does the stoic expression on his face as he looked at Gokū, to Bulma and then down at Jaco. "You seem to be new arrivals. If you're here to place bets, we can provide casino-pads for in-house gambling. Aside from that, I can submit a fighter of your choice as a proxy or you can submit yourself as an unsponsored competitor."
"Is there a difference?" Bulma asked, cutting Gokū off before he could say anything.
"Proxies are suggested and part of the norm for Stadium Fights," He explained, eyeing Bulma attentively. "Proxy Fighters earn you more credit, advancing any recognition of brand, ongoing business ventures and more importantly, has the ability to earn more revenue from spectators. If you have capital, you can even solicit for insurance packages if you have none in the event your fighter is permanently damaged. But if you submit a fighter without a representative, there's less likely to earn anything," He shrugged, gesturing to Gokū's widely blinking face, "not that it matters to everyone. But here, at Ferris Prime, you're either spending money or making money. You may put on a good show, but unsponsored competitors don't advance anyone in the galactic stage or trade and politics. It's seen as wasteful."
"I'm not sure what all that means, but I guess I'm not sure it's okay for me to say I'm fighting for just myself," Gokū admitted, furrowing his brow as he replied. "That seems to be rude, or thoughtless, for a place like this."
"Exactly!" Ran piped up, earning a look from the couple as she raised a finger. "Since you're here under an esteemed guest like Jaco, you're welcome to be his Proxy Fighter."
"Wait, what-?"
"That would work," Gokū palmed a fist with an audible clap, turning to the seated attendant. "Sign me up under Jaco!"
"Why are you dragging me into this?!" Jaco hissed with a growing alarm. "Are you thick in the head, or are you just mentally deficient?!"
"Stop whinging, Jaco," Bulma snorted with a wave behind Gokū's back, smiling at him too sweetly. "If we get some money out of this, this will make up for spending on our honeymoon. You might even get to see my husband at his best. Tournaments are his speciality after all."
"But if I lose, I'll likely have to pay for his hospital bills!" Jaco squealed as he put gloved hands over his head. "That will ruin me!"
"Have some faith, Jaco," Gokū affirmed down at the Patrolman with a toothy grin. "I won't let you down. That's a promise!"
"Can I get that in writing?" Jaco snorted with disbelief.
A few button clicks and the attendant stood upright, holding out a cylindrical device with a protruding green glass end. Whirs came from the device, sending rays of green up and down Gokū's body, causing Bulma to 'oooh' and Gokū to blink curiously.
A satisfying musical chime came from the device, and the man looked down at the reading with a neutral expression.
"You're clear of contraband, it seems," He nodded with approval, placed it back on the desk and held out an orange card to Jaco, then a bracelet to Gokū. "Please take this. The card is for your seats as commissioned participation for the Stadium's entertainment. The bracelet is to help our cameras keep proper angling on your movements for the fights, even if you move faster than the eye can see," He explained, watching Gokū latch it over his upper arm, blankly staring at it with confusion.
"So, is that it?" Bulma asked.
Nodding, the Hera Employee looked to his kin politely, "Ranawa, if you can, please escort our esteemed guests to their seats? I'll see to it that our qualified contestant goes to the proper place when he's called."
"Of course," She said with cheer, nodding to Bulma and Jaco, gesturing to them to join her out of the room.
Bulma gave a brief kiss to Gokū's cheek before waving as she left.
"I'll be rooting for you!" She said with a bright smile.
"I guess I will too," Jaco huffed as he eyed him over his shoulder. "Don't make me regret this, Gokū."
"I won't," He gave a thumbs up with a wink. "I'll knock em dead."
As the Stadium was populated with spectators, the massive center arranged itself for the impending battle. Flat metal plates began to materialize grains of sand, softening the floor and giving it a more traditional appearance for that of an arena.
As aerial drones swirled around, showing the feed of the stadium's many seated spectators and occasional shots of the floor, allowing millions of faraway viewers to see the Stadium in its full glory. Tens of thousands of red seats with nice cushions, drink holders and swivel trays to hold food were around, with more Hera Employees depositing concessions for patrons or aiding them to sit in their section of prepaid viewing.
Ran herself finished getting Jaco and Bulma to sit in a six seat area near the third floor balcony, contained within a glass shell that gleamed from overarching stadium lights. Holding a gambling holo-pad in one hand and a bucket of purple looking chewie snacks, Bulma sat down and eagerly began to putting in numbers without even thinking of the possibility of losing.
Jaco on the other hand sat into his seat, the cushions doing little to ease his rigid posture of tension. Gripping the armrests, he looked over at Bulma skeptically, his lips forming a twist of unease.
How can she be so confident in this Gokū? My memory hasn't dulled since we were roped into the Namek debacle. We barely got out of that alive, and her husband to boot, Jaco thought anxiously, seeing Bulma's eyes light up as she submitted his money for the bets she eagerly spent on. Saiyans aren't the only race capable of great destruction and bodily harm. The Galactic Patrol taught me that sometimes, no matter how good you may be, there's always someone out there tougher than you. Yet, that seems to excite Gokū, and I only ask why?
Suddenly, a booming voice filled the stadium, and Jaco nearly jumped out of his seat.
"LAAAAADIES AND GENTLEMEN! THE FIRST MATCH OF THE FERRIS PRIME TOURNAMENT IS ABOUT TO BEGIN! PLEASE MAKE SURE ALL BETS ARE PLACED, BECAUSE IT'S NOW TIME TO SEE YOUR FIRST MATCH OF ACTION!"
"Oh boy, here we go," He grumbled.
Squares opened up on two sides of the colosseum's floor. Sand spilled into openings that rose up, one silhouette rising up on each end of the colosseum's arena. Lights flared on the one to their left, Holo-Screens popping up on the glass before their gaze to show multiple angled shots of the first combatant.
He appeared short, about Bulma's height but with a toned musculature with scars from an open jacketed chest to a long jagged mark on the cheek. Spiked pink hair wafted in the stadium's vented breeze, dark eyes glaring hard ahead, his baggy pants legs leading to a pair of sandals. If it wasn't for his sharp features and pronounced canines, Bulma swore this man is an Earthling.
"IN THIS CORNER WE HAVE DATSU RAGNEEL! HE'S A WARRIOR OF INCREDIBLE STRENGTH, HAILING FROM A TERRESTRIAL WORLD OF PRIMITIVE STANDING IN THE VISHGAR CLUSTER! REPRESENTATIVE OF SHIKI CORP, HE HAS BEEN TO THE SEMI-FINALS TWO TIMES OF OUR LAST TOURNAMENTS! I HOPE YOU ALL BROUGHT YOUR COOLERS, CAUSE IT'S ABOUT TO GET HEATED IN THIS STADIUM!"
The stadium suddenly filled with a majority of standing cheers. Bulma looked around, wondering just how formidable he is, based on crowd reaction alone. Her eyes honed in on his body, her internal specs giving her a list of attributes and apparent physical abilities she could scope out.
Nothing seems super about him. Does he transform or does he have an ability? She wondered, chewing her lip as she wished she had a Scouter to give her a numerical idea of how strong he is.
Even though she knew what it did to her on Namek, the inability to gauge an opponent's strength made her wonder if it was a good idea to remove that feature entirely?
"Interesting, I haven't seen a Slayer up close," Jaco noted.
"Slayer?" Bulma asked Jaco, her eyes turning to look at the bug eyed Patrolman.
"They're a race of humanoids that target Drakons - horrible reptilian creatures capable of terrible disasters and death wherever they go," He explained, looking over at Bulma for emphasis. "They're like Saiyans, designed for the purpose to eliminate their foes and a lust for battle."
"What do you mean, designed?" Bulma asked with furrowed brows.
"It's not unknown in the Galactic Patrol that at some point in the Saiyans' past, they went from harmless beasts to super warriors who can adapt to any environment or disaster that befell them. The Slayers are a biological weapon designed by a brilliant scientist known as Zerek, though he has long since disappeared and his secrets of creating more went with him," He said with a raised finger. "A Slayer is said to be able to push their limits, increasingly growing stronger the longer their passions burn. Emotions are what drives them, and they're terribly hard to calm once they're riled up."
Bulma hummed, looking over at the young man standing in the screens before her. This meant that him reaching the semifinals isn't a fluke, at least to her understanding. If her husband were to fight him, how much of a fight could it be?
Then, the other light spawned on the other silhouette, revealing Son Gokū in his traditional orange gi; something she suspected he snuck underneath his jacket and pants before they departed on this honeymoon.
"ON THIS CORNER WE HAVE FRESH BLOOD STEPPING INTO THE RING! A MAN FROM EARTH WITH INCREDIBLE PASSION AND DESIRE TO NOT DEFEAT JUST HIS FOES, BUT TO SURPASS HIS OWN LIMITS! GIVE IT UP FOR JACO'S VERY OWN PROXY, SOOOOOON GOKŪ!"
The crowd had a far less exuberant reaction. The roar of the crowd became a polite clap, with barely a cheer made to the newcomer. Worse, there are murmurs swept the stands that could be heard even through the mostly covered glass bubble they are seated in.
"Geez, tough crowd," Bulma noted with a scoff. "You'd think they could at least pretend to give him support."
"It's Gokū's first time in this form of competition," Jaco affirmed with a shrug, leaning on his seat and resting his hands on his knees to keep them from buckling. "I just hope he's smart enough to know when an opponent is his equal. Statistically, this guy is every bit the warrior he is, and has more experience in this venue."
"My husband has been in three tournaments already," She boasted, smiling as she set the holo-pad aside and watched the stadium with enhanced eyes; enabling her to see him as if he was in arm's reach. "He'll be fine."
Huffing, Jaco just set his eyes ahead. With his vision, he should be able to see everything regardless of their speed. He just hoped he wouldn't see the mangled body if Gokū got in over his head.
Gokū settled into a toe to toe bounce, swinging his arms side to side as he relaxed his muscles in joyful anticipation.
Datsu rolled his neck side to side, rolling his shoulders and stretching to his feet back and forth.
As the two warriors settled into stances - Gokū in his neutral, knee bent and arm cocked posture, and Datsu in an aggressive forward lean with arms held out wide - the narrator shouted aloud.
"LET THE FIRST MATCH…BEGIN!"
Datsu launched forward, exploding off the ground in a bloom of fire. Streaking across the ring in a streak of flame, the right arm swung around to make contact with Gokū's face.
A ghostly outline phased through the fist, his Afterimage consumed by the got of flames that came from his fist; blasting into the arena wall with a wafting wave of heat sweeping up the side of the stadium. Shimmers of ray shields deflected the change in temperature, keeping the spectators from potential collateral damage, but the wind still gave them a whoosh of contact.
"DATSU LAUNCHES THE FIRST BLOW, BUT FAILS TO MAKE CONTACT! WHERE HAS SON GOKŪ GONE…WAIT, UP THERE!"
Datsu rolled backwards, avoiding a drop kick from the Earth raised Saiyan. Launching a kikoha with a thrust, Datsu deflected it with a swipe of a hand, punching forward again with a stream of fire poised to engulf him.
Thrusting his palm forward, Gokū shielded himself from the molten heat, letting it pass around him harmlessly. Yet, it gave an opening for Datsu dash into his middle, crashing a fist into Gokū's chest with a loud CRACK!
Zooming him across the arena floor.
Giving chase, Datsu rushed forward, punching up and down over his body, lurching him with the force of his strikes while maintaining his forward momentum.
A final punch engulfed Gokū's body in fire, thunderously impacting the wall on the far side of the arena; ushering a jeering roar from the Stadium's audience.
"WHAT A COMBO! DATSU DELIVERS A CALVACADE OF DEVASTATING BLOWS ON GOKŪ! THAT'S GOTTA HURT!"
Jaco winced at the sight. Gokū appeared embedded into the wall, a thick plume of smoke rising up and around him. The vapors disabled seeing much else, but he appeared not moving.
Seeing this, Datsu turned around and raised his fists into the air, smiling up at the aerial cameras and spectators alike. His back to the smoke, he felt confident in his assured victory with his foe unable to move.
"So, is that it?"
A voice cut through his bravado in an instant. Arms dropped, his head turning on a swivel, seeing Gokū emerge from the vertical crater with not a scratch on him. Dusting himself off, Gokū stared nonplussed at Datsu, looking disappointed.
"Bastard!" Datsu snarled, swinging his arm around angrily. "How could you withstand my Drakon flames so easily?!"
"My ki just flared up is all," Gokū admitted with a shrug. "You're kinda strong, but if this is all you got, I'm going to end this before I get too bored."
A vein throbbed into being over Datsu's forehead, following an immense inferno rushing out of his body and blazing across the arena floor.
"HUH?!" The Slayer shouted out with wide eyes of indignation. "You got a death wish or something?! I'll burn your ass for that!"
"Ohhhh, that's much better!" Gokū awes with a smile. "I'm starting to feel that."
Datsu kneeled down, his skin shifting in texture as his energy rose up higher and higher in temperature. Red scales glistening beneath the tongues of golden-red lapping at his previously pinkish skin, eyes becoming crimson slits and fingers became black claws. A furnace of heat bursting from the seams, his right fist coiling into a cocked stance.
Gokū held his upright posture, not even assuming a stance. His hair and clothes rustled back by the intense heat, the sand nearby crackling into shards of superheated glass as he stood amidst the blaze of energy.
"Inferno Drakon Art," Datsu growled quietly.
Then, in an instant, he threw his body forward in a torrential flash of light, shearing the ground up and shaking the entirety of the stadium.
"NOVA BURST!" He roared out, his blazing scales glimmered as a golden red fist swung at Gokū.
Snatch!
Datsu found his movement halted. Even as a blistering twister of flame burst at the seams, a strong hand cloaked in a dark red halo emerged in a fraction of the time he moved.
Eyes wide, he saw a fist cocked back-
KRAK-KOOM!
-and Datsu shrieked back in a bodily spiral, slamming into the far end of the stadium, flickering the ray shields as it deflected him off the wall and back forward over Gokū's shoulder into the wall behind him. Smacking into the stone surface, he fell inert to the floor, scales receding and fire dousing. Eyes were whited out, and a fist shaped bruise is seen wedged into his left side of his face.
Silence fell upon the crowd. None could believe it. This Earthling had managed to beat a prime contestant with no visible effort.
Seconds turned to a minute, and then a massive roar of cheer filled the stadium.
"INCREDIBLE! SON GOKŪ HAS WON THE MATCH, AND IN A SINGLE BLOW! DATSU RAGNEEL'S FIRE OF PASSION HAS BEEN SNUFFED OUT, AND A NEW STAR HAS BEEN BORN!"
In a single blow, Gokū defeated his adversary. Bulma cheered with hopping glee while Jaco's jaws hung open with exasperated disbelief. Their win meant all bets were going to his account, and likely pay off the entire trip here. What kind of competition is this going to be, after such a victory?!
Smiling, he eyed the warrior with reserved regard as he spoke aloud, "Get stronger, Datsu, so that we can have a better match next time."
As Gokū's praises ring out in the stadium, a sweep of change spread across the solar system. From the guests in the pyramid satellite of Ferris Prime to the other floating resorts tuning in to the interstellar tournament.
Including the auspicious moon, Primas. The moon became home to generations of the downtrodden, the fugitive, and the criminal for years. Then, when Simià IV became a hub of interstellar corporations, a new form of underworld industry opened up on the moon.
Anything from smuggling, trafficking and illicit trade became the economic boom for those of Primas. While its native populace are all a consortium of wretched filth, eager to snuff each other out to rise above the decrepit towers of rusting infrastructure of the neon lit metropolis world, others who pass through are there to refill, rearm and wait for a juicy job opportunity.
Much like the one broadcasting live on their cheap holo-projectors within dingy, dimly lit cantinas. This particular pub, resting within the disc shaped lodging of a green and purple pulsing spire that rose only a quarter upwards into the forest of durasteel, with hanging wires and cables resembling overgrown vines suspended between sky bridges and hover-pads that floated like clouds between the spacecraft traffic.
The Bleak Crag currently is brimming with activity. Bets were lost across the board, many of the patrons drinking there were audibly dismayed as others were only paying mild interest. From over the intercom of the projector, all got a good look of the victor over a prime contestant such as Datsu.
Son Gokū.
Yet, that name didn't belong to that face. As a particular pair of hooded figures seated at the bar turned their heads, they murmured to each other.
"Isn't that the One Billion kan Bounty?" The first said, an angular face pale and painted black with white markings, giving his visage an almost tribal shamanist appearance. "The one about some Legendary Super Saiyan?"
"Yeah, but the name is Kakarrot. Supposedly he's a relative of the new Saiyan Emperor who offed Freeza," The other spoke, pupiless green eyes staring at a paper printed poster from above a black cloth mask covering the nostrils down the chin. Gokū's appearance was impeccably drawn; save for the Saiyan armor wore below the neck with the shoulder pads he wore at Namek. "He's truly a fool to participate in a Tournament in Simià IV of all places. We can take our time getting to him."
"But everyone is going to jump on him, like a swarm of Blixits on a Ronto!" The first hissed with a fist raised to strike the counter.
Stopping the hand with a swift snatch of his hand, black fingernails over dull grey skin, an intricate ring wrapped over his thumb with red background and black letters of a faraway language. The hand held a black and white painted fist, as if resembling an exposed skeleton past black translucent ink covered flesh.
"They won't succeed because greed blinds them," He murmured calmly, his eyes staring at his cohort coolly, stoically matching the glare in stride of his partner. "But we are Indrans. We won't fail because none have ever survived at our hands. Not one."
"Tch!" The first pulled away, hissing as he looked over at a distant table. A collection of females stood, armed with blasters, blades, pikes and armored in such a way that their skin or cleavage was left open for display. Yet they radiated a dangerous aura few pirates could boast; especially since their leader, lounging on the plush couch, bore a large pair of weapons leaning by her crimson caped, bone pauldron framed back.
Rana Zolinder, current leader of the Swartz Pirates, raised a holo-pad with Gokū's appearance on its display. Red eyes shined with intrigue, teeth spread in a subdued ruby smile, her crimson blood red hair shuddering as if by an unseen wind.
"That one will be a problem," The second one said, voicing what the first's thoughts were. "We will have to shadow her. When she makes her move, we will be there."
"Fine by me," The first said, smiling ferally with swelling bloodlust. "I'll cut her neck, and the Super Saiyan's!"
Paradisio System
Bridge of The Prominence
Orbiting a desert world, Sohora, a triangular shaped dreadnought loomed. Among the first of a new line of vessels to replace the outdated capital ships, Tullece decided to take it on an inspection to various owned worlds and make a show of force to reveal his new fleet of vessels.
The shape of a long blade with a flaying tail of metal, painted purple at the edge over a stark black durasteel. Layers of the proximity had turbolasers, and entrances to the hangars filled with assault craft and fighters of various kinds.
Near the back on a raised platform of square shape over octagonal layers of infrastructure for the arrow shaped craft, lied the personal quarters of Tullece. There, seated on a throne of dark grey, swathed in a black cloak, is the Emperor of most of the known Galaxy.
Tullece smiled. He beheld a holo-screen of his nephew, easily beating the Inferno Drakon Slayer, Datsu Ragneel. The spectacle was amusing, and gave him joy to see his brother's son has gained even greater strength.
All the sweeter it will be when my Super Saiyan crushes him underfoot, Bardock, He thought with a smile.
His thoughts turned to his own offspring. Aspara had taken the news of her becoming a Super Saiyan with gradual zeal. After she put her all into gaining more strength, all other distractions became muted, and to her efforts she did indeed become stronger over the past year plus.
Under Zard's tutelage, she began to grow accustomed to meditation, utilizing her senses and being more on guard against more versatile foes. He became a diligent taskmaster, pushing her harder than even he had in the past; yet, there was something different about the two of them compared to her reactions to his own instructions.
He couldn't explain it, but there seemed to be actual respect to Zard. Not out of fear but understanding his position as her teacher.
I should ask him how her training goes, but it can wait, He thought, leaning back as he watches the holo-screen. I want to see how my nephew handles the ring, as much as the bounty I placed on his head.
LastationLover5000: This was a fun chapter. It's been a few chapters since we finally got to show any of the main cast - Tullece has been busy, and fittingly so. But now we're back to a semi-regular flow, as you can see. My co-author got the meat of the chapter, but that was fine. Using his vast knowledge of Star Wars - of which he and I are both fans, albeit different parts - he was able to craft a believable section that will form a good foundation for anything going forward. Expect a lot of Star Wars refs, I did the same a few chapters back as well. This is going to be a very fun mini-arc, and I hope you enjoy it! I would, however, like to address one thing before I close out. I addressed it on Twitter but still. To everyone saying Tullece has overstayed his welcome - we appreciate the feedback, but it isn't up to anyone but us to decide how long his "welcome" is. It's quite obvious he is here as a prominent character now. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy where we're going with this! We'll see you soon.
Demod20: This is by far among my favorite to write Chapters. World building is non existent in Dragon Ball. Every once in awhile, a movie line Broly comes along as surprises you, different kinds of vessels, gadgets and even crew dynamics we never get to see. But that is a rarity, as the plot is more about the next hair color change and whatever ridiculous asspull the villain has to keep from dying in a single chapter. Thankfully I got to do a lot in this one chapter, even taking jabs at you know who/what. I like the setup my coauthor made with Raditz throwing a fit about Gokū taking off without letting him know. Pan is still cute as can be, and Tights is settling in as a good wife. See you all in the next chapter! It's going to be a doozy ;)