A rare, cool breeze blew across the rocky wasteland. The wind swayed the man's hair as he stood near the edge of a cliff, perplexed by the ongoing events. His dark orbs remained locked on the man standing in front of him. There was no mistaking it; the person before him was a Saiyan. Presumably, he is the same age as him. His brain was racing, trying to make sense of it. This man and his father probably disobeyed Freeza's order to return to planet Vegeta and somehow ended up on this little rock. He got frozen by the shock of everything that he didn't even register the teen in front of him poking and admiring the metal armband on his shoulder.
"H-Hungry? W-Wanna eat?"
The long-haired warrior snapped out once he heard the question. He couldn't even answer because his belly produced a loud growl. His cheeks turned red briefly while the brethren turned to the spider's corpse. While the Saiyan named Broly tore the corpse apart and the yellow ooze leaked out, Raditz couldn't help but ask questions.
"How did you and your father end up on this rock? From the looks of it, you've been here for a while.
There was no response; instead, he heard grunts from the Saiyan. "Hey! Answer when I'm..." He halted as Broly stood up and tried to hand him over a piece of meat.
"E-Eat. T-There are only spiders to eat."
Reluctantly, Raditz took the spider's leg. He stared at the yellow ooze leaking out and couldn't believe the smell. It was pretty disgusting, but seeing Broly devour the corpse made him think it tasted good. The warrior ignored the voice in his head and took a bite, only to immediately regret it. It was horrible, and he wanted to puke instantly. But he knew better. He ate much worse stuff for survival, and now it was no different. He swallowed the meat with force and sat on the nearby rock.
"Ugh! It's disgusting! Don't tell me you were eating this crap all this time!?"
He stared at Broly, who finally turned in his direction and ate alongside him. The only response was a simple nod. "Blah! Did you try hunting down those green hounds? Maybe they'd taste better than spiders." Raditz pointed his thumb at the howling creatures attacking the bugs.
For some reason, Broly's expression changed when asked such a question. "Father eats the small and weak ones." The man's voice carried a displeasing tone, which didn't go unnoticed.
Raditz wondered if there was some disagreement between the two, but the long-haired warrior decided to explore that later. He wanted to go and find out if the dog-like animal tasted any better, but his current state wouldn't allow that. Even chewing a piece of meat proved to be quite a task. His body was on the verge of shutting down, but he endured.
"Ugh! The heat on this rock is so annoying! Is it always like this?"
The wounded Saiyan wiped the sweat off his temple as he gazed at the bright sun with hate. "You seem used to it, tho. How long have you been stuck on this planet?" Raditz shifted his gaze to Broly, who stared at the green beasts in the distance.
"A-Always sunny and warm."
Raditz hoped for more information, but it didn't seem like Broly was talkative. The low-class warrior decided to let it go and save questions for the boy's father. While they sat there and ate silently, Raditz observed the taller male. Deep scars covered Saiyan's face and body, indicating that the father taught Broly how to fight. It was a shame he didn't have a scouter so he could measure the young man's battle power. He hoped it was below his so he wouldn't need to listen to any ridicule.
Raditz's dark spheres moved onto the gray necklace tightly tied around Broly's neck. He wondered how it didn't annoy the tanned Saiyan as it seemed he had trouble swallowing the food with that thingy around his throat. Broly abruptly rose and tossed the meat away as he was about to pose a question.
"What's wrong? Are those blood-sucking beetles approaching!?"
The wounded warrior stood up and almost fell back to the ground as the entire world spun. He released a pained grunt and stumbled forward when Broly caught him. The long-haired Saiyan wanted to growl and push the other teen away so he didn't look like a weakling needing help. However, he had no strength to do so. He succumbed to the weakness and pain and used Broly's shoulder as a support.
In the meantime, Broly stared at the teen he held and helped. The scarred Saiyan blinked a couple of times as several thoughts raced through his mind. He knew his father would disapprove of this, but he couldn't leave this wounded man alone. After all, the long-haired teen seemed his age, and it was a fellow Saiyan.
Broly's eyes beamed with conviction. He picked the man in his muscular arms and flew away. "Father will understand and help him..." They moved toward the spot from where he heard his father's loud shout.
.
His long, spiky hair swayed behind him as he ran via the dark corridor. No matter how much he ran, there was no end to this seemingly endless passageway. Sweat blew off his face as he suddenly darted elsewhere. A giant beast revealed itself to him. Its crimson eyes sent shivers down his spine. Terrified, he took a step back, only to feel pain. He saw countless spikes poking out of the ground as he looked down. He yelped as he pulled the wounded foot, but his attention shifted to the beast slowly approaching him.
"N-No! Don't come any closer! Get away from me!"
He shot a blast at the hairy creature, but it bounced off its face. While the giant beast halted to scratch the place where the beam hit, the man took this opportunity to flee. He tried to avoid the spikes, but there were too many. The frightened man fell and somehow managed only to get his hands and legs pierced. He howled with pain as the tears slid down his cheeks.
"Ugh! I hate this... W-Why's this always happening to me!?"
Consumed by emotions, the long-haired man slammed his wounded fist against the spike and broke it into little pieces while breaking his left hand. He released a frustrated scream as the blood streamed down the corridor. However, he stopped yelling once he heard the loud breathing from behind. As he turned around, the beast was right behind him. Much to the man's surprise, the creature spoke.
"Disgrace! You are not worthy! Fall and die in a way not befitting a warrior, as you never were one!"
He released a scream and placed both arms above his head to protect himself. Still, the beast devoured him with ease, thus ending his miserable, pathetic, and cowardly life.
Raditz's eyes were suddenly wide open, and he was awake. The nightmare was so intense and vivid that it seemed realistic. Cold sweat cruised down his body as he thought of the events occurring in the nightmare. Was that some sign? His mother often spoke of dreams having meaning, but he never paid attention to it. He felt restless and wondered if the dream had a hidden message. However, his thoughts came to a halt when he heard footsteps. Looking to the side, he saw Broly and an older male enter the cave.
The older male was Broly's father; no surprises there. Raditz's dark orbs inspected the stern-looking Saiyan from head to toe, and it was clear this man reeked of authority. It was a hazy memory, but he was sure he met the gruff warrior. While he tried to remember, Broly's father spoke.
"You're unfortunate to crash-land clad in wounds on this desolate world. I should welcome you to this hellhole if you can call it a planet. It's nothing but a damned floating rock!"
The man's eyes quivered with madness as he stared at Raditz, who remained quiet. "Ahm, anyway... What's your name, son? How did you even end up here? And what's of planet Vegeta? Is King Vegeta still dreaming of ruling the galaxy with his precious little son?" The tone had such venom and hatred that it made Raditz slightly uncomfortable.
"My name's Raditz, sir. The low-class son of warrior Bardock and Gine."
It irked him so much to speak out his class to them. However, he continued. " Seems you guys have been here so long; you never learned of planet Vegeta's destruction caused by a meteor shower." The shock on the older man's face was the same one Nappa had ages ago.
"P-Planet Vegeta's gone? And what of other Saiyans? What happened to others!?"
Raditz shook his head and replied. "Dead. Only a handful of us who were off-world at the time survived. With no home to return to, we continued to serve Freeza and help increase his empire." He didn't feel remorse toward the others. Still, each time the subject came up, he remembered their faces, which brought emotions to the surface, something he despised.
"All gone, including that bastard King Vegeta responsible for us getting stuck on this worthless planet! Curse you, Vegeta! Now, I'll never have my revenge!"
Raditz lifted an eyebrow in surprise upon hearing that as the older warrior dropped to his knees and punched the ground. Such information got him curious to know the entire story. However, before he could ask, the man's angry voice made him remember.
"I-Impossible! Could it be you're Paragus!?"
The long-haired Saiyan observed the older male, who finally rose and calmed down. Yes, there was no doubt about it. This man was a highly respected warrior whom even his father held in high regard.
"Humph, a name I haven't heard in such a long time... So, you're Bardock's son. That low-class bastard was causing quite a stir in the upper classes. Perhaps you inherited his talent."
Now, this was news to him. He always thought his father was a lousy, low-class warrior who jumped from one mission to another because he didn't want to return home and had a death wish. Still, there may be something else to it. Did his father somehow grow more powerful after each task so much that even the Elites started to take notice?
"Seems your wounds have healed nicely after being out for almost a week. However, be cautious if you want to live, although I don't know what's the point anymore..."
Raditz snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Paragus. The older warrior seemed down ever since he learned King Vegeta was dead. Seeing such a warrior brought down by something so trivial was miserable.
The long-haired Saiyan clenched his teeth and closed both fists tightly. "There must be a way out of here! What of your pods!? What's wrong with them that you guys couldn't leave!?" He would not stay here and suffer like Paragus did all these years.
"Broly crushed his pod when he got here once he glanced at the full moon and became an Oozaru. As for the spaceship in which I got here, the floater got damaged upon landing."
Raditz nodded and immediately got on his feet. "We need to check my space pod. It got heavily damaged, but maybe the floater device still works!" It was a slim hope, but hope nonetheless.
The flames of hope reignited in Paragus's eyes as young Raditz walked past him. Paragus closed his fists tightly and stared at the long-haired warrior's back. A sinister smirk surfaced on the veteran's face as he followed Raditz out of the cave. He and his son could finally leave this miserable rock if this works.
"Indeed, only me and Broly. I have no use for worthless low-class trash!"
After flying for about an hour, the Saiyans reached the place. Raditz and the others landed near the rubble where his space pod got buried. The long-haired warrior moved with determination and hurry. He wanted to spend as little time in this world as possible. Besides, he would probably earn some points if he brought recruits to the Freeza Force. He tossed away the rocks lying in the way and dug up the damaged pod. He tore through the gray surface and inspected the insides.
"Tch! Almost all of it got fried. However, it looks like the floater remained intact!"
Raditz pulled the device out of the pod and wiped away the dust. "Now, all we have to do is place it in the right spot on your ship and hope it fits." He gazed at Paragus, who nodded while Broly poked the device in Raditz's hand.
"Good work, son of Bardock. Your father would've been proud of you."
Upon hearing such a statement, Raditz felt a rush. It was so childish, and he hated it. He masked his true feelings well, as he didn't want to be humiliated. However, a strange feeling was brewing in his gut, but he couldn't figure out what it was.
"Come! Our ship's not that far from here!"
Raditz said nothing and followed Broly and his father. As they were flying, the long-haired Saiyan stared at Broly. He shifted the attention to Paragus and spoke to the veteran.
"Sir, if you don't mind me asking, what grudge do you hold against the late King Vegeta? It seems he's at fault for you and Broly getting stuck here."
There was nothing but the sound of wind until Paragus released a sigh and began to talk. "Indeed, he is the only one to blame for our suffering. Once King Vegeta learned of Broly's potential and power level being higher than his son's, he immediately ordered Broly's exile to planet Vampa." A throbbing vein surfaced on Paragus's temple as he trembled with fury.
"When I learned of my son's fate, I confronted the King but was told to accept it and move on. Naturally, I couldn't let that happen and went after Broly. However, once I reached Vampa, a heavy storm hit the planet, and I crash-landed, damaging the ship's floater."
Upon hearing all that, Raditz almost dropped the device. The teen was shocked upon learning that Broly could be stronger than Vegeta. He immediately gazed at Broly, who was smiling while staring at the green beasts. Raditz had difficulty processing such a discovery as he had to listen over the years that Vegeta was the strongest Saiyan ever born and the one to destroy Freeza.
Suddenly, a chuckle escaped from Raditz. He wished he could tell Vegeta and Nappa this and see their reaction. A thought came across his mind. Maybe he should tell Paragus that King Vegeta's son is still alive. That would cause quite a stir, and if Broly is that talented, the arrogant prince could finally learn his place.
He would tell that little piece of information later. First, they had to fix the ship and get off this planet. They already covered lots of ground, and he could see the ship. The warriors landed several steps away from it, and it was clear to Raditz that it was quite an old model. Paragus hurried inside while instructing Broly to wait outside. As he passed by the taller Saiyan, Raditz caught a glimpse of Broly's face. Broly bore a disagreeable and sad expression. Raditz wondered why but went inside the ship once called by Paragus.
"Here, Raditz! That spot there! The floater is inside!"
Paragus made room for Raditz to walk by. The older Saiyan stood behind Raditz, who crouched and opened the container between the seats. Bardock's son pulled out the old and broken device and tossed it away. He picked up the one from his pod and put it inside the container. A smile appeared on Raditz's face as the floater fitted in perfectly. He glanced at Paragus, who returned an approving nod.
"Let's see if it works..."
Raditz reached the control panel and flipped the switch. The entire ship began to vibrate, and the lights flickered inside the vessel. Cold sweat slid down the Saiyans' faces as they awaited the result. All lights came to life seconds later, and the spaceship hovered above the ground.
The young warrior closed his fist tightly and punched the seat in delight. "Yes! We can leave this stupid rock! I can only assume how delighted you are to be able to leave this place after so many years!" Raditz turned around only to receive a kick in the face.
Raditz was caught entirely off guard. The Saiyan's head slammed against the dashboard and caused more pain. He groaned out of pain as blood slowly leaked out of his nose. With confusion in his trembling eyes, he gazed at Paragus, who wore a treacherous grin.
"So naive and stupid, such is the trait in all low-class scum. Did you really believe I would endanger our resources by taking you with us?"
Another strike to the head. Raditz cried out as Paragus slammed the heavy boot into his abdomen. The poor teen vomited blood as he held onto the seat and tried to get up.
"Let this be a lesson to you, runt. You can never trust another Saiyan! No matter who or what they are!"
Before Raditz could react, Paragus grabbed his long hair and dragged him toward the exit. The veteran warrior threw him out of the ship, and the poor Saiyan landed on a boulder.
"Broly! Stop daydreaming and get over here! We can finally leave this wretched place!"
Paragus went back inside and sat in the pilot seat. Meanwhile, Broly obeyed his father and slowly approached the ship. The warrior halted when he heard Raditz's painful grunts. He stood still and stared at Raditz, who tried to get up. The tall Saiyan felt he should do something, but he didn't want to go against his father. Broly shook his head and moved toward the ship.
"W-Weakling... Y-You are n-nothing but a weakling, doing whatever daddy wants..."
Broly ignored Raditz's words and flew into the ship. "Sorry." The scarred Saiyan uttered the word quietly as the door closed.
As the ship gained altitude, Raditz finally got on his feet. While the blood dripped on the dusty ground, Raditz squeezed his fist so much that it began to bleed. He had enough of everything. All that happened to him until now, tragedy, torture, ridicule, and betrayal, was too much for a teen Saiyan to handle. A burst of emotions broke the chains holding everything buried deep inside.
"You two-faced piece of shit! You're not leaving this place, even if it's the last thing I do!"
A fiery force caused the nearby boulders to crumble to tiny pieces and get vaporized. Violet energy swirled around Raditz's arm as he aimed at the ship. With a mighty scream, he placed his arm forward and shot a ki blast at the vessel.
"Crash down and die!"
The purple ki blast soared high into the sky and moved fast toward the ship. Paragus noticed the light too late and cursed as Raditz's ki attack pierced the spaceship. Paragus screamed angrily, but the explosion threw the veteran Saiyan out of the ship.
The mature Saiyan crashed against the ground and moaned out of pain. He suffered several wounds; noticeably, his left eye was gone, and the leg seemed heavily damaged by the explosion. Paragus moved on his back and opened his right eye, only to see Raditz standing there with a bloodthirsty expression.
"B-B-Broly!"
Raditz jumped on Paragus and began beating the older warrior. "Y-You treacherous coward! We could've left this shithole and easily traveled to the nearest habitable planet, but you screwed us for nothing! It's all your fault!" Paragus tried to defend himself, but Raditz inexplicably found a new power source.
"Because of your greed, we are stuck on this planet forever! You miserable piece of..."
Suddenly, there was a firm grip around Raditz's wrist. The long-haired Saiyan glared at Broly, who wielded a fierce look in his usually soft eyes.
"Humph, Daddy's boy is here to save him... W-Why do you care for him? Because of this moron, we will remain here forever!"
Raditz's began to shake, and tears of despair slid down his bloodied face. Suddenly, the low-class Saiyan felt utterly drained and out of energy. He released a heavy sigh and stood up. His eyes met with Broly's, and the taller Saiyan finally released the hold. Raditz turned around and walked away from Broly, who picked up his unconscious father and wondered where the long-haired Saiyan was going.
After a while, I finally managed to find some free time and write the second chapter! I'm glad to see that people like this what-if so far. If possible, I'll try to update the story sooner rather than later. I have several ideas about where this story could go, especially once the characters are off planet Vampa... which will somehow happen... Until the next update, bye!