A loud racket coming from the outside annoyed the injured warrior. The Saiyan opened his eyes and released a low growl. He hoped to get some rest and peace, but that wasn't happening. Slowly and carefully, he got up and slid off the bed. Some of his wounds already healed, but the one inflicted by Piccolo still needed time. He placed a hand over his abdomen and cussed loudly.
The Saiyan clenched his teeth and tightly closed his hands while he stared outside the window. He thought of his former companions. They spent so many years together and went through a lot. He did so much for them, and they always repaid it with ridicule. And now, when he needed them the most, they threw him aside like a used-up toy.
"Damn you, Vegeta! You ungrateful little bastard!"
Raditz snarled and wished he could kill the puny Saiyan. However, he knew it was impossible. No amount of training or planning would cover the vast gap in strength between him and the Elite warrior. His orbs drifted to the bald Earthling, who was training hard. The Saiyan scoffed at that and wondered why even bother.
"Pff! Maybe I should steal those dragon balls and wish for a space pod..."
The Saiyan was thinking about it until someone opened the door. He snapped out of his thoughts and gazed at the old martial arts master. His frown and body language clearly stated he didn't want to be bothered, but the Earthling ignored it.
"How are you doing? I brought you some food and hoped we could talk."
Raditz wanted to object, but the aroma of the freshly cooked food was too much for the Saiyan to handle. He snatched the tray, sat on the bed, and began gobbling down the food. The moment he bit into the soft meat, the warrior halted for a second. Never in his life did he taste anything so delicious. He grabbed the boiled egg and swallowed it with a piece of meat and vegetables. While the man ate like there was no tomorrow, the old master smiled.
"You really are Goku's brother. Do all Saiyans eat like animals, or is it just something in your family? Anyway... I think this is a good time to talk about the Saiyans. We need everything! Even the minuscule detail could be of importance!"
Upon hearing the man's words, Raditz shot a deadly glare while a piece of carrot hung out of his mouth. The warrior ate it and responded with a scoff. He put the tray on the side and spoke to Roshi.
"Listen well, old deluded fool... I will tell you all you want to know, but no amount of preparation or training will be enough to face Vegeta and Nappa. Instead, we should take the dragon balls to wish for a calamity to strike those bastards, and that's it. Why waste it on Kakarot when there's no chance for a low-level warrior to surpass a Super Elite?"
The Saiyan gazed away and stared at the wall. He despised this, but it was the painful truth. It would be better to use the dragon balls than try something impossible. He bit the insides of his mouth and tried to repress the urge to scream out of frustration.
"I don't think Shenron's powerful enough for something like that, and isn't that a coward's way out? You say Goku's an idiot for even trying to improve, but at least he's brave and will fight until dying breath to defeat an opponent. Meanwhile, you, who pride yourself on being a warrior, have already given up."
Raditz couldn't believe what he had just heard. The shock froze him for a second. A mere Earthling hit him right where it hurt the most. His expression twisted into a vicious scowl while his tail lashed behind his wild, long hair. He stood up and lunged at the older male. His fingers were inches from Master Roshi's throat, but the experienced martial artist moved to safety.
"Easy now. You don't want to reopen your wounds again and prolong your treatment. Please calm down, and let's talk. I just wanted to say that you shouldn't give up. Even when the odds are against you, you should at least give everything you have. Goku's always done that even against all probabilities and climbed on top with hard work and determination."
The mad Saiyan halted when he heard that little detail about his younger brother. He didn't want to admit it, but Kakarot wasn't scared to face him. Even after he kneed him and took his child, Kakarot immediately came after him and fought despite the odds. His brother smiled even when facing death. Anger began to seeth within the warrior. He clenched his teeth and retreated to the bed.
"I'll let it pass only this time, old man... Now, where should I begin?"
Raditz took a piece of meat and chewed on it while he thought about what he should disclose first. However, before he could tell anything, a loud noise caught his attention. The Saiyan and the old master looked through the window and saw the familiar vehicle descend on the island. Raditz frowned once he saw the blue-haired woman and a man with long hair and scars exit the plane. The last thing he wanted was to be around more humans, but he had no other option.
"It seems Bulma finally found Yamcha; I wonder how that went. Now, we only need to find Tenshinhan and Chiaotzu. If I am not mistaken, those two should be in the mountains east of here."
While the Turtle Hermit got lost in thoughts, the Saiyan finished the meal and got off the bed. He had enough of being confined to the bed and this little hut. He marched past the old master and walked outside. The fresh, cool breeze from the sea washed over him when he got out. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the moment. Despite being a world filled with weaklings, even he had to admit that the planet was wonderful. He was confident such a clean and habitable world would compel many people to buy it if it was on the market. The Earthlings were lucky that the vicious individuals from space overlooked their little gem. He was sure the planet's position so far away from the center had something to do with it.
The Saiyan's ears twitched, forcing him to look behind his shoulder. His dark orbs locked onto the Earthlings, who seemed to be arguing about something. A devilish grin appeared on his bruised face as he was confident they were talking about him. The long-haired warrior let out a soft chuckle as he stirred his gaze away. Raditz ignored the Earthling's loud voices and wondered how long it would take him to heal. Lying here and doing nothing was out of the question. Since he was stuck on this puny island, the warrior needed to do something; otherwise, his troubled thoughts would drive him insane. Then, Raditz realized he could learn to manipulate energy and sense others without a scouter.
The warrior turned around and directly marched toward the Earthlings, especially the old man. He was willing to let the Turtle Hermit teach him because he needed distraction. At the moment, his head was full of thoughts, and Raditz couldn't deal with the odd sensations in his body. The Saiyan was mere steps away from the group when they noticed him. His massive frame and the intimidating look in his dark eyes caused the Earthlings to raise their guard automatically. Upon seeing that, Raditz simply laughed.
"What's wrong? If I didn't know better, you guys are scared of me. Be at ease, Earthlings. I need to speak with the old man. You can go and pretend your training's going to accomplish something."
Raditz caressed his chin while the offended Krillin snapped at him. The bald martial artist amused him with the reaction while the scarred man held the puny human back. He closed his eyes, ignoring the shouting, and looked at Master Roshi, who tried to calm Krillin.
"Old man! I want you to show me how to sense energy and manipulate my own at will! I won't be confined to that wretched bed any longer! If you disagree, I swear I'll start..."
A noise from above caused Raditz to cease talking and Krillin to calm down. They all looked up and saw a small, silver hovercar descend to the island. Raditz frowned and spat on the ground, unhappy to see more Earthlings. Meanwhile, Krillin and the others went to greet a blonde woman with a red ribbon tied to her hair, a floating child, and a muscular man with tree eyes. The three-eyed man's appearance surprised Raditz, who wondered if the man was a mutant.
Suddenly, Raditz felt uneasy. He shifted his focus onto the blonde woman and, for whatever reason, shivered. The woman's menacing eyes sent chills down his spine. He couldn't believe what was happening to him. The warrior shut his eyes and shook his head. Once he opened his eyes again, he was startled to see the woman in his personal space. Before he could utter a word, the woman slapped him.
"Launch! What the hell are you doing!?"
While the Earthlings rushed toward them, Raditz was frozen. The slap was too weak to hurt him; if anything, he was confident the bones in her hand shattered. However, he tried to process what just transpired. The woman glared at him and didn't back away despite others trying to reason with her. His pupils drifted toward her and locked with her green eyes. Finally, he made a move. The Saiyan stepped forward with a scowl on his face. He wanted to shout and break her to pieces for daring to do something like that but never managed to do so because he had to dodge a punch.
"How could you, you bastard! You got Goku killed because of your stupid, selfish actions! You should've died, not someone as good and kind as Goku! And because of you, our entire world's doomed!"
Naturally, Raditz easily avoided her little fists. However, the blonde woman suddenly pulled out a machine gun. While Raditz wondered from where she drew out the weapon, Launch emptied the entire clip at the Saiyan. The warrior yelped as he dodged the bullets in a silly way. Once the woman was out of ammo, Raditz frowned and got serious. He walked toward her but stopped once something strange occurred. Upon witnessing the woman's appearance change and demeanor because of a sneeze, the man's eyes were wide open.
"Oh, I did it again, didn't I? I apologize if I hurt you, mister! My name's Launch, and you are?"
The Saiyan couldn't form words. He stood there with a gaping mouth as he stared at the dark-haired woman. It took a while for Raditz to snap out of it. He tried to understand what was going on but couldn't. The warrior stood frozen until Bulma took Launch inside the house. His black pupils followed Launch until the three-eyed man halted a few steps before him. Raditz turned his attention to the tall human with a frown. He wanted to lash out at someone, maybe even kill them. The way the Earthlings acted around him was getting out of hand.
"Tsch! You got something to say, three-eyes? I'd be careful if I were you; the foolish woman got me in a horrible mood!"
Raditz's tone was low but dangerous. The look on his face disturbed Yamcha, Krillin, and Master Roshi, who stood behind Tenshinhan. The former student of the Crane School held his ground, but even he had to mask his nervousness. Tenshinhan clenched his teeth and clamped his hands tight before he spoke.
"Ever since I heard what happened to Goku, I've been thinking how I've failed him! I should've sensed something bad was going on, but I was too occupied with myself! If I were there, I would've done anything to prevent Goku from dying, and you be here instead of him!"
Tenshinhan trembled in fury. The martial artist blamed himself for not being there for his friend. His rage sought vengeance for a man who showed him the proper way. However, he knew Son Goku's wishes and decided to respect them. He was also aware of the incoming danger from the far reaches of space and that the Saiyan before him could be of detrimental help. Tenshinhan shut his eyes and released a long sigh. Once he reopened his eyes, he gazed at Raditz.
"Not so long ago, I tried to kill Goku. Many tried and failed, just like myself. I was obsessed with the wrong and followed the teachings of terrible men. It was like that until I fought Goku and learned through battling him that there was more to life than being plagued with killing and doing evil. What you did to someone like Goku is unforgivable, considering he's your brother! But since it was Goku's dying wish to spare you, I'll respect it and put our differences aside for our mutual survival!"
Raditz raised an eyebrow in surprise when he heard that and saw Tenshinhan leave. The Saiyan didn't know why the human had told him all that, but it would appear his brother went through lots of battles. The warrior also noticed that Kakarot's enemies turned allies after fighting him. He scoffed at that as it was so unsaiyan-like. However, his expression turned sour because he remembered Kakarot's dying words. He bit the flesh inside his mouth and emitted a low growl. Those words and his younger brother's last moments haunted him.
While the Saiyan stood on the spot motionless and consumed by thoughts, Tenshinhan walked toward Master Roshi and the rest. The tall martial artist greeted the old master and his other friends correctly this time. He wanted to discuss the battle plans immediately, but Yamcha had other ideas.
"Tenshinhan, do you really think we can trust someone like him? Master Roshi and Krillin tried to clarify what had happened, but I couldn't accept it! He's the reason Goku's gone and why we're in trouble! Our lives and the world are at stake because of him and his kind!"
The scarred martial artist clenched his fists out of anger while he glared at the Saiyan, who sat on the porch and stared at the sea. Yamcha couldn't stop thinking about his deceased friend. Despite having the dragon balls to wish Son Goku back, he could only imagine how horrible dying must have been. And he never wanted anyone close to him to experience something like that, nor himself.
"Yamcha, I understand your feelings, and I have a hard time as well. However, we must respect Goku's wishes and think carefully! A threat we've never experienced before is coming to Earth, and we need anyone's help, even if it comes from someone who caused Goku's demise! I don't like it as much as you, but if it means our chances of survival increase, then I'm ready to side with the devil himself!"
Tenshinhan placed a hand over Yamcha's shoulder as a show of support. The former bandit remained quiet and looked elsewhere, as he didn't know how to respond. While Yamcha tried to deal with the situation and his feelings, Tenshinhan, Krillin, and Master Roshi discussed what to do. Meanwhile, the Saiyan continued to gaze at the cloudless sky and the blue ocean. The breeze from the sea caused his wounds to ache, but it didn't bother the strong warrior. The words and actions of the Earthlings and his younger brother bothered the ruthless and emotionless Saiyan.
"Even after everything, I still didn't want to kill him because I wanted to fight him again."
Kakarot's dying words constantly echoed within the Saiyan's mind. It was the first time someone didn't want him to die or disappear for good. Even after what he did to his younger brother and nephew, Kakarot still wanted him to live. It was laughable and showed how foolish his brother indeed was. And yet, Kakarot's words upset him so much that he didn't know how to deal with it. Something happened to him since he heard that and saw Kakarot die with a smile. He couldn't comprehend the wretched sensation within his chest that tore him apart. The warrior wanted to curse his brother's name and destroy an entire planet, but something told him it wouldn't make him better.
"Damn you, Kakarot! What did you do to me!? I'm supposed to be a perfect Saiyan warrior, incapable of being bothered by trifle things! And yet, your death keeps torturing me!"
Raditz clenched his teeth as his tail stirred around his waist. He then shifted the focus to the blonde woman and the three-eyed man. They held his brother in high regard and cared about him so much that they were willing to fight alongside him and die like true comrades. And it wasn't just them; everyone else was willing to do the same. He didn't know whether it was stupidity or blind faith and loyalty.
"Um, Raditz? Now that we're all here, we should talk about the Saiyans. So, if you feel like it, you can tell us about them."
The long-haired warrior snapped out of his thoughts and glared at the old man and the others. He was really not in a good mood and didn't want to talk about his former companions, but he decided to get it out of the way now instead of later.
"Their names are Vegeta and Nappa, a pair of Super-Elite Saiyans vastly superior to me in strength and brutality. Nappa's a massive man who takes pleasure in toying with those weaker than him and causing destruction. Despite his large size, his speed is formidable."
Raditz's description of the Saiyan Nappa caused the Earthlings to swallow hard and sweat anxiously. The long-haired warrior took a moment as an image of Nappa flashed before him. Thinking of his former comrades caused his tail to uncoil and lash behind him.
"But even Nappa's strength pales in comparison to Vegeta's. That man is the most talented Saiyan ever born! He's powerful, calculating, lethal, but most of all, cunning! He's the strongest Saiyan ever, and our chances of defeating him are zero!"
Sweat slid down Raditz's temple as he diverted focus on Vegeta. He honestly didn't know what the point was. Trying to fight Nappa was one thing, but Vegeta? No matter what kind of training they did, there was no hope of beating Vegeta. Their chances were nonexistent, and it made the Saiyan laugh.
"I'm not going to lie, the way you describe them, they're truly terrifying monsters... But they must pose some weaknesses! Like, the tail! Or what are their personalities? Maybe we can exploit them in that way!"
Raditz stared at Master Roshi, who firmly held onto the wooden staff. He observed the older male until he looked away and remained silent. His mind raced with memories of the many battlefields he had been in with Nappa and Vegeta.
"Grabbing their tails won't work. Those two evolved past that weakness. However, we might have a chance with Nappa regarding temperament. The man's an idiot who allows anger to get the better of him, the longer he's unable to defeat an enemy. His fighting gets sloppy and slower the more he's consumed by rage and frustration."
A sense of relief and hope washed over the gathered Earthlings. After all, they had a fighting chance, no matter how small. However, their hopes crumbled as Raditz shifted focus on Vegeta.
"Don't get your hopes up, you fools! While we might get a shot at Nappa, Vegeta's way out of our league! That arrogant little bastard won't allow to be brought down by something like that! He's too damn prideful to allow that!"
Frustrated, Raditz slammed his foot against the floor, causing the entire island to tremble. The Saiyan ignored the Earthlings, who struggled to remain on their feet and glared at the ocean. He wanted nothing more than to make Vegeta pay for the betrayal after spending his entire life loyal to the man. Memories of running after Vegeta and doing whatever the man wished surfaced. Ever since they first met and had their first mission together, he wanted Vegeta to acknowledge him. He did everything and beyond for the Super-Elite, even taking the blame several times. And yet, he received nothing but scorn and treachery.
"That might be, but when someone's so powerful and arrogant, they often underestimate others' strength and resolve! I might not know what kind of special training Goku's getting in Otherworld, but I'm sure his new strength will be significant on the battlefield!"
Raditz stirred his dark orbs onto the three-eyed Earthling and couldn't but wonder where this blind faint in Kakarot came from. The more he stayed around them, the more he was curious about his brother's life on Earth. He wanted to make fun of them for putting their hopes on Kakarot when the younger Saiyan couldn't even defeat him. However, Raditz decided to let it go and continued.
"There's one more thing... Vegeta and Nappa will most likely deploy the Saibamen, humanoid creatures that grow from a planted seed in the ground. They're nasty creatures with wild behavior and are tough to control. The wealthier the soil is, the more powerful the Saibamen become! Their acid can rip through any material, but what makes them dangerous is their willingness to self-destruct to kill their prey!"
While Tenshinhan and Master Roshi nodded, Krillin and Yamcha wondered what the Saibamen could look like. The Earthlings and the Saiyan spent hours discussing the upcoming danger to the world and how they could stop Vegeta and Nappa.
Night fell, and everyone was asleep inside Roshi's house. While the Earthlings were sleeping, the Saiyan stood alone on the beach. His long hair danced on the weak wind while he stared at the countless brilliant stars and moon. He knew the moon cycle would be complete in two days. His tail swayed playfully as he stared at the giant satellite orbiting the Earth. After a while, he gazed at the waves splashing his feet.
"What the hell am I doing here!? Instead of killing all of them and the Earthlings for turning Kakarot into a kindhearted buffoon, I'm here developing a plan to fight Nappa and Vegeta alongside a species of weaklings!"
Raditz placed a hand over his forehead as an annoying headache surfaced. Every part of his being screamed at him to exterminate the entire species and prepare the planet for sale before Vegeta and Nappa land. He could use the planet's high value to get on Vegeta's good side and avoid getting killed. However, he knew the Super-Elite warrior well enough to understand that wouldn't work. Once Vegeta decided something, the man never backed down.
Faint footsteps caused the Saiyan to turn around immediately. He lifted an eyebrow when he saw the old man walking toward him. The warrior shifted his focus upfront and ignored Master Roshi, who halted beside him and sat on a stone. Raditz wondered what the human was doing here at this late hour when the martial arts master began to talk.
"I know it ain't easy, and you're troubled by everything that's going on, but you should try to sleep. Your wounds will never heal if you move around all the time."
Raditz remained silent but glanced at the older male, who lit a pipe and exhaled the smoke. The warrior stared at the Turtle Hermit, whom he saw for the first time without sunglasses. A tiny part of him pushed him to speak and ask the Earthling questions about Kakarot's life, but the Saiyan prevented himself from doing so and mentally condemned himself for thinking of something so stupid.
"Having your life unexpectedly upside down takes a lot out of a man. It causes one to dismantle himself and put the fragments back together, little by little. When that happens, you might discover a piece of you that will make a new you stronger but with unknown attributes. In such cases, you must decide whether to put the new piece or continue with the one that made your life miserable and full of doubt in yourself... Such things take time, and one shouldn't rush."
Raditz remained perplexed and stood motionless on the shore. While he stared at the Earthling, Master Roshi suddenly yelped and fell from the stone as a bit of ash and fire landed on his lap. While the old man rolled over the sand and cried for help, Raditz thought about the words as he stirred his gaze at the bright stars in the sky.
End of Chapter 02: Devising a Plan with Yesterday's Enemies!
Replies to the Reviews!
Thanks, Jesse Chambers, for the encouraging review.
The Guest who asked if DBZ movies would happen, the answer is YES. Or at least the characters from the movies, who may be changed depending on where I decide to put them in the story.
To the other guest who wrote these 10 questions for the story, here are my short answers:
1. Will Bardock and Gine ever going to appear into the story? Maybe.
2. Will Super Buu (When he appears) have any new absorbian forms? Yes.
3. Will Beerus and Whis be featured in Z? After Buu, as in the series.
4. Will there be Dragon Ball GT references in early Z? No.
5. Will Future Trunks be in the Buu Saga? No.
6. Will we see Zamasu introduced in Z instead? No.
7. Will there be Dragonball Online and Xenoverse references? Maybe.
8. Will we see the Red Ribbon Army return as fully operational organization? Not sure.
9. Will we see the interesting things with the Planet Trade Organization once Frieza/Namek is done with? I have some ideas, but depends if you'll find it interesting.
10. Will we ever see SSJ4 be a thing along side Super Sayian God? YES!