Disclaimer: Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Super, and all its characters are owned by Akira Toriyama, Bird Studio, Toei Animation, and Fuji TV.
Chapter 01:The Start of the Lone Wandering Warrior!
Inside a dark room, a man floated in a strange-looking machine. The man's long, black hair swirled in the green liquid while bubbles soared to the surface. His brows twitched as he let out a painful moan. Horrid cuts and bruises spread all over his muscular body, making his existence a miracle. While he drifted inside the chamber, memories played out in his drowsy mind.
"My name's Son Goku, and Earth's my home!"
Recollections of his encounter with the one calling himself Son Goku and the battle on planet Earth infuriated the man. The betrayal and rejection of one of his hurt, but not as much as the inflicted humiliation after the loss.
"K-Kakarot..."
The man muttered the name, causing lots of bubbles to soar. He clenched his teeth and bit hard onto the oxygen mask as the scenes of the battle rolled onward. His plan to kidnap the hybrid boy and motivate Son Goku backfired on him. Who would have thought that a little hybrid child could be so powerful and that the one calling himself Son Goku was willing to die for some Earthlings? And add the green warrior with pointy ears to the mix, who somehow had a killer move in his arsenal. As usual, he underestimated the threat level and almost died.
Despite suffering a vicious blow to the abdomen by the child, he somehow managed to pull out enough strength to break free from Son Goku's hold and jump to the side. As a result, he earned a hole in the shoulder, but it wasn't as bad as what the Earth's hero received. With a drilled hole right through the chest, the younger warrior was dead. While at the moment he thought Son Goku got what he deserved for rejecting him, the man couldn't help but feel as if the whole thing shouldn't have happened. Those wretched sensations surfaced yet again. The feelings he couldn't get rid of since that day lingered within him and made his life hell.
"Kakarot... B-Brother."
He called for his brother repeatedly, his tone heavy and mixed with emotions. His younger brother's dying face haunted him and made him feel things. Annoyed, his furry tail swayed behind his back, but not for long. Even doing something like moving a tail caused lots of pain.
His thoughts shifted to a vicious duo. The faces of his former companions flashed before him, causing a tremendous amount of anger to arise. They abandoned him, tossing him aside like a speck of dirt. He had done so much for them, and they repaid him by backstabbing him. Despite always covering behind their superior strength, he would get revenge one day.
However, the long-haired man went through so much in this time that he was alone. He worked hard daily and hunted down only those who could pose a proper challenge. However, he got too greedy and overconfident yet again because he stumbled upon an obstacle so great that he felt like an ant in comparison.
Suddenly, the gray metal door slid open. A small reptilian creature with a blue mohawk entered the dim room. The being approached the machine's control panel and observed the progress. In the meantime, a hover vehicle moved into the room. A creature with deep purple skin and white carapaces sat in the levitating object. The creature's long tail hung over the side while he diligently stared at the wounded male floating inside the chamber.
"My lord, it would appear that the Saiyan will live just like you envisioned. I was sure he would succumb to his dreadful injuries after the clash with your elite squadron."
The purple creature continued staring at the Saiyan with cold and calculating red eyes. He knew the Saiyans were a resilient and stubborn warrior race, but even he was surprised by this one's survival. After all, this one got ranked as a low-class warrior, yet he put up a decent fight against his elite soldiers. The warrior inside the healing chamber was vastly different from the time he met him in the past.
"Making sure he recovers is your number one priority, doctor. We stumbled upon a warrior worthy to add to our ranks."
A devilish smirk formed on the man's face as a faint chuckle escaped his mouth. He could already envision his younger brother's look when he attends a meeting with "his" Saiyan alongside. Unlike his little sibling, he didn't fear some Saiyan fairytale and was willing to keep this one alive and benefit from the Saiyan might.
"Notify me once he's out of the tank. Am I clear?"
He shot a deadly glare at the reptilian doctor, who swallowed hard and sweated nervously. A simple nod was enough to satisfy the terrifying galactic overlord of tremendous power. No one stood before him besides his monstrous family. They spread fear, agony, and terror across the universe for generations, and no one could stop them.
Meanwhile, the Saiyan's eyes, despite barely open, locked onto the powerful being. Fear consumed his battered body while he watched the creature leave the room. Of all people to stumble upon, it had to be his former boss's older brother. He deeply regretted traveling into this sector before checking the treaty lines between the two powerful brothers. However, it's not like he had a choice...
-X-
Age 761
The trip to Earth was a success, and the retrieval of Kakarot was supposed to go without a hitch. All he had to do was find his long-lost brother, if alive, and take him to space. Before he reached the blue world, he assured his comrades everything would go nicely and Kakarot would greatly help. Naturally, his superior companions doubted his plan, but after some convincing, he managed to get what he wanted and come to Earth.
He should have known something was amiss when he came eye to eye with a native of the planet. After getting rid of a pitiful weakling, he scanned a small area while trying to find Kakarot and saw that the world was beaming with life. His younger brother failed in his mission, but why? At first, he thought Kakarot had died, but he quickly found out the real reason.
Brain damage. Kakarot suffered a blow to the head as a child and forgot everything. He couldn't believe it, but it made sense. Kakarot showed no characteristics of a true Saiyan warrior. The wild-haired man had a gentle look in his eyes, showed emotions, and cared about the Earthlings. His younger brother even removed the tail and blended perfectly with them! Despite that, he offered his brother a chance to come with him, but Kakarot quickly and firmly rejected him.
The rejection made him livid at the time. He couldn't accept it for various reasons. His temper got the best of him, and he did something drastic, even for a Saiyan. He struck his brother and took Kakarot's son. Before he got off the island, he threatened to murder his nephew if Kakarot didn't exterminate the Earthlings. He wanted them gone, as they were the reason for his brother's behavior.
Yet, despite taking the child hostage, Kakarot showed up with a warrior named Piccolo and fought against him. Even though it was two against one, he was still stronger. He was superior to them and confident in his abilities. For a while, he played around and enjoyed beating up his foolish little brother. He wanted to beat some sense into him and maybe reverse the screws inside Kakarot's head. However, he underestimated his brother's determination and endurance. And what was even more shocking was the child's outburst.
The little, crying boy produced an incredible display of power and took him by surprise. A mighty blow to the abdomen caused his entire body to shut down for a minute. The force from the strike was so great it even made him cough up blood. While he could not move, Kakarot grabbed him from behind and wouldn't let go. He tried to shake off the younger Saiyan but couldn't muster the strength.
"Piccolo! I won't be able to hold him for much longer; go ahead and charge your attack!"
Upon hearing that, his dark orbs stirred toward the one-armed warrior in the distance. Anxiety crept in as Piccolo concentrated all the energy in one spot for the deadly attack. He stood motionless, staring at the bald martial artist as cold sweat slid down his face. A chilling sensation sent shivers down his spine. He could feel death's icy fingertips curl around his neck to drag him to hell.
"K-Kakarot! You can't be serious about this! There's no reason to throw your life away for these vermins! Let go of me, and I swear I will leave this world and never come back!"
Suddenly, he snapped out of the trance and shouted. He clenched his teeth and did everything to throw Kakarot off his back. Each time he moved, the pain surged and caused him to cry, but he didn't give up. Dying was not an option, not like this, at least. He went through so much: lied, deceived, conspired, and made himself look like a fool on many occasions just to survive the day. For years and decades, he endured ridicule and abuse. So, he refused to die here today.
"My name's Son Goku and Earth's my home! I can't trust you after everything you did! Piccolo, do it now!"
He cursed out loud and continued to move around. Suddenly, the scouter came to life. He gazed at the small screen and gasped at Piccolo's power level. He ignored Piccolo's speech directed at his younger brother and let out a desperate holler. Despite Kakarot's weight, he shifted from left to right. Doing that caused him a significant amount of pain, but he bit his lower lip to the point of bleeding and did everything to toss Kakarot away.
"Take this! Special Beam Cannon!"
He lifted his head and gaped at the incoming, swirling beam. The warrior from space closed both fists tightly and elbowed his younger brother. The weakened strikes still hurt the Earth's mightiest martial artist. Upon feeling the hold loosen, the long-haired warrior broke free. He jumped to the side, thus avoiding the energy attack—or so he thought. The beam drilled through his left shoulder and continued to the next target.
"Oh no! Son Goku!"
The pain was tremendous. Blood gushed out of the hole in his shoulder, and it wasn't going to stop unless he sought medical treatment. However, once he heard whimpers from behind, he turned around. His eyes were wide open as he stared at his younger brother with a gaping hole in the chest. Upon witnessing such a sight, something broke within his core. A strange sensation surged in his battered body, and it only grew potent the more he stared at his dying sibling. Unaware, he raised his hand and took a step forward, almost as if he wanted to go and reach his hurt brother.
"K-Kakarot..."
However! The long-haired Saiyan snapped out of it because of an alert from the scouter. He looked to the right and saw Piccolo only two steps away. A fist connected with his cheek, which forced him to take a step back. Before he could take the situation under control, a fierce knee to the gut caused him to lose all the air.
"I won't let you recover, even for a second! You're dying right here, right now, Saiyan!"
Another punch landed, but that only enraged the Saiyan. He took another strike, but only so he could grab onto Piccolo. Pulling the Earth's second-best fighter closer, he delivered a devastating blow to the midriff. The powerful force sent Piccolo's body flying, and the Saiyan already caught up to him. He snagged the martial artist and slammed him against the ground. The ruthless warrior pounded the floor with Piccolo until something unexpected happened. The reincarnation of the Demon King Piccolo extended his arm and struck the wound in the Saiyan's shoulder.
"Ahh! Y-You bastard!"
The warrior from space stumbled backward, which is precisely what Piccolo wanted. He could only stare in awe as Piccolo's arm regrew. The martial artist struck him in the ribcage and broke a couple of bones. Piccolo's next strike took away his footing, and he found himself lying on the ground. He tried to get up, but Piccolo pinned him against the ground.
"It's over, Saiyan. You were my greatest adversary; I will give you that. But unfortunately for you, Son Goku won't stay dead for too long."
While he was glaring at Piccolo, the wording from the green fighter confused him. He wanted to shout and demand an explanation but couldn't. The pain got in the way, and all he could do was try to cope with it. However, Piccolo explained the meaning behind the words for amusement.
"You see, we have something called dragon balls on this planet. They are magical orbs capable of summoning a divine dragon who will grant anything you desire, even wishing a dead person back to life... So, all of your efforts here were in vain, and you will rot in hell while Son Goku gets brought back to life by his friends."
The Saiyan froze as he tried to process the information. Who would have thought such an extraordinary item was on this backwater planet? Upon hearing Piccolo's little chuckle, he glared at him with vicious hate. However, it was at that moment he realized something and frowned.
"Y-You poor fool. By telling me this valuable information, you doomed your world... This little gadget on my face also serves as a communication device, and my comrades, who are superior to me in strength, are bound to come here and get those magical orbs!"
Piccolo's reaction was precisely what he counted on. While his bald adversary was frozen by fright, he mustered the strength and tackled Piccolo. He emerged on top and thrashed the martial artist with heavy fists. The Saiyan cried out as his entire body ached, but he didn't stop until his stamina evaporated.
He fell back and gasped for air while sweat and blood dripped onto the grass beneath him. He could feel his mind slipping into darkness, but he couldn't allow himself to fall unconscious here.
"I-I need medical attention... If my shoulder wound doesn't get patched up, I will bleed to death. Before I do that, I must get rid of the brat..."
The warrior dragged himself across the grassy field. His weary eyes remained locked on the unconscious boy until he heard a faint sound coming from the right. He turned his head to the side and gazed at his younger brother. Seeing his brother still clinging to life astounded him. Instead of doing what he planned, some force propelled him to approach his dying sibling.
"K-Kakarot... This situation could have been avoided if you agreed to accompany me. Instead, you were influenced by these pathetic insects, and you abandoned your Saiyan heritage and pride! You allowed them to poison you with feelings, naivety, and..."
The Saiyan abruptly halted as the pain was too much to bear. He dropped to his knees and coughed heavily. The man cursed while he tried to regain his senses and looked back at his brother, who attempted to speak.
"P-Please, don't do anything to G-Gohan or anyone on this planet, Raditz... I'll die soon, so you got what you wanted. So, please, leave this world and everyone else unharmed!"
The long-haired man could only stare at his brother, who was seconds away from leaving this world. Kakarot's behavior confused, frustrated, and angered him. The longer he stared at his younger sibling, that strange sensation in his chest bothered him more and more.
"Tsk! J-Just who do you think you are!? H-How dare you to demand anything of me when you reject..."
The Saiyan Raditz stopped his rant because he realized Son Goku, Earth's strongest martial artist, had died. He stared at the lifeless body of his brother for a while. The cold wind blew across the field, swaying his long hair while he remained silent. He just stood there motionless until a noise emitted from the scouter.
"I knew allowing you to go to that backwater planet was a mistake. You aren't even capable of killing a brain-damaged low-class, a brat, and a couple of earthlings. As far as I'm concerned, you can bleed out and die on that wretched planet."
His body trembled out of fear as he listened to the raspy voice from the scouter. He swallowed hard and tried to form a sentence. The last thing he wanted was to be on his wrong side. He had to do something and reason with him. However, he couldn't utter a word because the person wouldn't allow it.
"Don't bother with coming up with some pitiful excuse; I've had enough of them! You have been a constant deadweight to us, and I'm stopping that! We're coming to Earth for our reasons, but if I see you there, you will share the same fate as your idiotic brother."
His skin paled as cold sweat rolled down his bruised and bloody face. He stared into the distance with his trembling dark orbs. Memories of decades following after them, enduring their ridicule and doing what they demanded surfaced. His rage boiled with such intensity he had to let it out. The wounded warrior released a tremendous scream as he clutched his black hair.
"Damn you, Vegeta! After everything I did for you and that bald fool Nappa, this is how you..."
Raditz unexpectedly stopped, as his throat couldn't take it anymore. The Saiyan coughed blood, and his eyes glowed with fierce wrath and hatred. He summoned the remaining strength and pulled out a small device underneath his broken armor.
"K-Kakarot's pod should be operational even after so many years... I will get off this planet and get myself fixed."
He typed the coordinates on the device and tossed it away shortly after. The pod was on its way, which meant he could leave this world. He would first go to a planet where they could treat his wounds and then disappear. The Saiyan lifted himself off the ground with barely any force left. He gazed at his brother's body while waiting for the pod to arrive.
"If you indeed come back to life, it will be a waste of time, Kakarot. You won't be able even to scratch Nappa's armor, let alone land a finger on Vegeta. No matter the amount of determination or fight you have in you, you will fail..."
The wind swayed the Saiyan's hair while he stared at Son Goku's lifeless body. Raditz closed his eyes and shifted his head to the opposite side. Slowly and carefully, he walked away from his brother. A round object flew over his head and landed a few steps away. The machine got covered in mold, but luckily for the warrior, it still worked. He sat inside the space pod, and once the moldy gate closed, he blasted off planet Earth and headed to the nearest world where he could tend his wounds and plan his next course of action.
End of Chapter 01