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Inside a shallow burrow, the long-haired Saiyan slept on the cool floor. The warrior's eyes twitched, almost as if he was having a nightmare. A couple of words escaped his lips, but nothing recognizable. The young man tossed around until he slammed his head against the nearby rock. Upon hitting his forehead, Raditz instantly woke up and whimpered as he caressed the temple. Once the pain faded, the teen blinked and looked around to see if Broly was there, but the gentle Saiyan was nowhere to be found. Presuming the wild-haired teen got hungry and went to hunt for food, Raditz leaned against the rocky wall and gazed at his hands.
The young warrior stared at his quivering hands, trying to process and understand the power inside him. While he was far from mastering the ki manipulation and sensing, the Saiyan could feel the new and improved strength within him. It was incredible; he had never felt so alive yet afraid. Sweat slid down his bandaged face while his dark orbs trembled. The long-haired warrior released a frustrated snarl as he slammed his fist against the wall. He shook his head and rose from the ground.
Raditz took hold of the bloodstained bandages and violently tore them apart. "Tch! Enough! I won't be a prisoner of fear, not ever again!" He tossed the rags on the ground but soon regretted it as the recently closed wounds began to ache.
He was about to drop to his knees, but the warrior took hold of himself and prevented it from happening. "No! I'm stronger now! I'm where I wanted to be all those years ago... And I won't stop here!" The warrior declared it with conviction against the looming doubts and voices inside his head.
He stared intently at the bloody bandages on the floor until he felt a powerful force followed by a tremor. The Saiyan gazed at the ceiling and saw the crevices spread over it. He clenched his teeth and hurried out of the cave, holding his aching sides. As he walked toward the light, the warrior raised a hand to protect his eyes from the strong sunlight.
Once he stepped outside and his eyes adjusted, the Saiyan first saw the round pod. A smile of hope surfaced on the young man's bruised and dirty face. He rushed to the object and almost attempted to hug it. The warrior inspected the machine's outside layer for any possible dents, but there were none. His tail swung behind him while he placed a hand on the pod. However, his enthusiasm faded once he finally noticed Broly was also there.
Embarrassed by his behavior, Raditz coughed and backed away from the object. He focused on the wild-haired Saiyan and approached the taller male. He was about to speak when he noticed Broly's tightly shut fists and an invisible force vaporizing anything near the teen. Raditz wondered what he was supposed to say or ask until the gentle Saiyan spoke.
"Father's gone... I can't feel father's energy for weeks."
Upon hearing that, Raditz's eyes widened, realizing what that meant. He couldn't be more pleased that Paragus finally left the world of the living, even though he wanted to be the one to extinguish the old man's life. He wondered what happened to the veteran warrior, but Raditz didn't dwell on it. The Saiyan warrior fought hard to keep a wicked smirk from surfacing only because of Broly.
Despite knowing that Broly was a different and delicate Saiyan, Raditz addressed the matter in his way. "I won't sugarcoat it... Paragus had it coming for the horrible things he did to you and for almost killing me. He developed a sinister plan where he pinned us against each other and then tried to escape and leave you here to rot!" Just thinking about the events made Raditz's blood boil with anger.
Yet, the long-haired warrior composed himself and spoke in a calmer tone. "However, it's a shame that such madness overtook a respectful warrior like your father. Many regarded him as a strong and skilled officer of the Saiyan combat unit." He remembered some of his father's words about the late veteran and tried to at least do something for Broly.
After almost a minute of silence, the gentle Saiyan finally turned around. Broly looked straight into Raditz's eyes and nodded. The wild-haired man felt confused, hurt, sad, and angry, but he was pleased Raditz was at least here and alive. Despite feeling troubling emotions, the Saiyan also felt freedom. He stirred the troubling thoughts away and focused on something else.
"Is that little thing really going to take us to another world? It looks small and fragile."
Upon hearing Broly's question, Raditz snapped out of it and gazed at the object. The warrior grinned as he approached the pod. "The pod may look that way to you, but these little things are pretty durable and fast! Even after decades of exposure to harsh environments, one can still be operational." He leaned against it and gestured to the fellow Saiyan to take a peek inside.
"It's going to be tight, but we'll have to endure it until the nearest planet."
While Broly looked inside and poked the red, soft walls, Raditz crouched and pressed the command buttons on the panel attached to the lowered gate. Meanwhile, the kind Saiyan sat into the only chair and found it surprisingly comfortable even for someone his size. His dark spheres stirred onto the long-haired warrior, and he wondered what the teen was doing. Suddenly, a light flashed and illuminated the insides, startling Broly. The Saiyan looked around with wide-open eyes when he was spooked again by a robotic voice.
"Serial Number #5837921 Activated... All Functions Are Operational."
A big, confident smirk appeared on Raditz's face while Broly bolted out of the pod. "Relax, it's just the pod's computer. It means the thing is working well, and we can leave this planet whenever we want." The warrior sat in now that the seat was free while Broly carefully poked the outside of the pod, almost as if checking if something else would happen.
"Requesting immediate travel to the nearest inhabited planet with intelligent life."
He leaned against the soft chair while he waited for results. His eyes remained locked on the panel until the robotic voice came to life once again. "Search Completed! Planet Shamo... Distance Four Days of Travel!" Raditz triumphantly clapped with his hands and immediately got out.
"Great! We'll only be stuck inside for a few days until we reach the next planet! Once we get there, we'll ditch the pod and find a larger ship to take us to Earth!"
Raditz couldn't contain his happiness at all. He honestly didn't think he would ever leave Vampa. Naturally, he had hopes but didn't try to overthink them. He feared he would end up like Paragus, but luck was on his side. The warrior gazed at Broly, only to notice a glum look in the Saiyan's soft eyes.
"D-Do we need to leave Vampa? Does that mean I'll never see Ba?"
Broly gazed into the distance and thought of the green hound. For ages, he wondered how his friend was doing, and no matter how much he tried to locate Ba, he never succeeded. But that wasn't the only source of the Saiyan's doubt. He only knew of Vampa. This little rock was his home, and he knew nothing about the world outside. He stared at the ground as mixed emotions clashed inside him. A part of him was also excited. He wanted to go and explore the vast space. The stories Raditz told him were fascinating, and he wanted to see other worlds and people. He wanted to go to Earth and meet Raditz's little brother. The clash of emotions irritated the gentle Saiyan, who let out a loud growl.
"It's not like we have much of a choice. Freeza knows we're here, and he'll either send the Ginyu Force or come here in person to destroy the entire planet. It will be better for Ba if you leave; that way, they won't have any reason to blow up Vampa."
Once he heard that, Broly immediately raised his head. He clenched his teeth and closed his hands, not happy to hear that from Raditz. However, the Saiyan knew there was only one correct choice. He nodded weakly and agreed to leave Vampa.
Raditz let out a sigh as he wiped the sweat off his temple. "We'll leave once my wounds are healed, in three days max. In the meantime, you can search for the green beast if you..." The Saiyan couldn't finish the sentence because Broly nodded cheerfully and blasted off across the sky.
The long-haired warrior shook his head and released a little sneer. "I'm getting soft..." He muttered under his breath as he turned his attention back to the pod. "According to Broly, the Freeza's soldier had a fish-like appearance, which could mean Cui got here." The warrior sat inside the pod and rested his head against the chair.
"As we suspected, the pods have tracking devices inside them. It won't be long before Freeza or the Ginyu Force get here. We must be far from here when they land on this rock!"
.
Far away from planet Vampa, a tall man with long, viridian braided hair walked hurriedly through the corridor. Everyone got out of his way out of fear and respect. His cape waved as he took a turn and finally reached the chamber. He adjusted his hair and attire before getting inside. As he stepped inside the spacious room, the man dropped to a knee out of respect for a creature before him.
"Greetings, Lord Freeza. I apologize for barging in so unexpectedly, but there's something of great urgency that we need to discuss."
The addressed creature sat inside a hovering pod while observing the bright stars. "Hm. It must have been urgent when you barged into my private quarters without getting announced. What is it, Zarbon?" Freeza's crimson orbs locked onto his first officer as he turned his attention to him.
Zarbon nodded and rose from the floor so he could approach the tyrant. "First, let me apologize, my lord. A year ago, I went behind your back and sent Cui to planet Vampa to investigate the disappearance of Raditz's pod." He gripped the scouter in his hand as he paused momentarily.
"I had a nagging feeling that the Saiyan might be alive, so I redirected Vegeta and Nappa to take over Cui's mission at the time. And it turns out Cui found two new Saiyans on planet Vampa, sire."
Upon hearing such information, Freeza's tail immediately stopped moving. The emperor's expression remained the same, but vile thoughts brewed inside the evil creature. "Oh, is that so? And what of, what's his name again?" His cold eyes pierced through Zarbon, who swallowed hard.
"Raditz, sir. With no information about him, Cui presumed him to be dead. However, the Saiyans he found appeared to be strong... I have the scouter here to play you the recordings."
Zarbon approached the table between the emperor and himself and placed the device on it. He pressed the small button on the side, and Cui's voice came through. They listened to everything: Paragus's desperate plea to call for help and conversation with Cui, Broly's arrival, and Cui's eventual demise.
The handsome officer picked up the scouter and turned it off. "Sire, Cui was an arrogant warrior but highly experienced in battle and of a 16,000 power level. While I doubt a mere monkey could ever reach a battle power of 65,000, this Saiyan called Broly isn't someone to be ignored." A drop of sweat slid down Zarbon's light green skin at the thought of such a mighty Saiyan.
Meanwhile, Freeza turned away and gazed at the stars. "Hmph, such a puny power level is no threat to me. However, you do raise a valid point, Zarbon. A Saiyan can't go unrestrained and wander the galaxy without my knowledge. They must be controlled or exterminated!" The emperor frowned while his tail firmly slammed against the pod.
Zarbon nodded and agreed. "Indeed, sire. That's why I already have the Ginyu Force on standby. I'll immediately order Captain Ginyu to head for Vampa and exterminate those pesky Saiyans." He put the scouter on his head and was about to open a transmission when Freeza stopped him.
"It won't be necessary. Have the Ginyu Force go to planet Mayonnai as planned and extinguish the rebellion. I have been bored for a while, so let's take a trip to planet Vampa and see what this Saiyan Broly looks like with our own eyes."
Freeza let out a sinister chuckle as he tilted his head to the side and rested it upon his palm. "No matter how strong, a Saiyan will never be better than me! I will make sure of it!" The emperor squeezed the pod's handle with his other hand while red electricity clashed before his eyes.
In the back, Zarbon swallowed hard and stared at the dangerous energy until the scouter exploded. The warrior moaned and held his hurt, stunning face as he turned away. "It shall be done as you wish, my lord." Zarbon walked out of Freeza's private chambers and hurried to the main room to give an order for take off.
.
Days went by on Vampa, and there was no trace of Broly. Naturally, Raditz didn't like it. Panic crept through the cracks, irritating the Saiyan. He knew spending even more than a day on planet Vampa was a suicide. So, after four days of no signs of Broly, the young male blasted into the air and searched for the gentle Saiyan.
"Dammit! I shouldn't have told him to go and look for that green beast! I just had to take pity on him... Tch! I'm too soft, just like mother was!"
A growl emitted from Raditz while he flew above the ground. While searching for Broly, he swallowed hard as the image of the dreadful emperor resurfaced. He clenched his teeth at the thought of facing the wicked tyrant who, alongside Vegeta, made his life a living hell. Sweat blew off his face as he shook his head, trying to regain his composure and not allow fear to consume his mind.
"Not this again... I can't let myself be controlled by fear, not even if it's F-Freeza."
Raditz touched the ground and observed the green beasts in the distance. He tossed the negative thoughts away and focused on finding the fellow Saiyan. He stirred his dark orbs to the right and noticed the destroyed ground. The warrior flew once again and inspected the destruction from above.
He floated in the air for a couple of minutes until he descended to the ground. "It's a different pattern from when the green beasts attack the spiders... The damage indicates that it was a battle." Raditz walked across the shattered soil until something caught his attention.
The warrior moved to the left and squatted. He swiped his finger against the ooze on the ground and smelled it. "Blood, Saiyan blood..." He rose from the ground and walked to the edge of a cliff.
He gazed at the pit and saw drops of red blood leading inside the hole. "Tch! Whatever you did, it better be worth it..." The long-haired Saiyan took flight and ventured into the dark crater.
The warrior flew slowly and carefully through the dark hole. With a slight grunt, the Saiyan kindled his aura so he could see. Now that he had some light, he sped up. He didn't want to be underground for too long because the pebbles kept falling from the ceiling, and the last thing he wanted was to be buried alive.
However, the long-haired teen abruptly halted. "The trail vanished. Great, now what? Two tunnels are in front of me, leading who knows where." He let out an annoyed snarl while his tail lashed behind him.
He had one option. The warrior closed his eyes and relaxed, which caused his glowing aura to wither. He cast away the doubts and fears that bothered him and concentrated on finding Broly's energy signal. Since the warrior had yet to master the technique, it took some time, but after a while, he felt something. A flame surfaced, which caused Raditz to open his eyes.
"Alright, I know where to go!"
Raditz didn't waste time and flew into the tunnel on the right at high speed. He flew through it like a bullet but noticed that the tunnel grew wider. The Saiyan looked around as he flew and could tell that the ground had recently been dug out. He wondered if the beasts did such a thing, but the warrior had to put those thoughts aside as he stumbled upon something that forced him to halt.
Before his eyes lay a giant, green beast with only one ear curled into a ball while a little version nestled close to it. "A parent and a cub... But where's Broly?" Raditz questioned out loud, but his presence unnerved the giant beast.
The beast let out a ferocious roar and immediately pounced at the Saiyan with its sharp fangs. Raditz reacted swiftly and flew out of the way. He closed his hand and swung the fist at the wild beast only to get it blocked by someone.
"Don't! You can't hurt Ba!"
Upon realizing who it was, Radiz immediately pulled the punch and floated back. "Broly? What the hell are you doing here!? Don't you realize four days passed since you left?! We need to l..." He couldn't finish the sentence because the beast tried to attack once again.
While Raditz raised his guard, Broly spread his arms and shouted. "Don't fight, Ba! Raditz's not an enemy! He's with me, you can trust him!" The wild-haired man didn't budge from the spot even after Ba slammed into him.
Broly endured the strike and gently placed a hand on Ba's snout. "I know Ba's scared because of the little one, but no one will hurt him." The Saiyan warmly smiled as he spoke calmly.
Raditz observed what was going on, ready to attack at any moment, but surprisingly, the beast didn't show aggression anymore. Instead, the gigantic hound's features softened, and the creature licked Broly, who laughed. Raditz remained puzzled until he realized this beast was the same one Broly befriended ages ago. He was certain the hound died after being driven away by Paragus, but clearly, he was mistaken.
"So you managed to find your long-lost companion after all. That's touching, but we can't stay on this planet anymore!"
Broly turned around and could see how stressed out the long-haired teen was. He closed his eyes and nodded. "I know. I just needed a day more to help Ba with his cub. Ba cannot hunt for long because of the little one's safety. That's why I hunted the big spiders and put them here." He pointed at the stockpile of spiders upon which the pup feed.
Suddenly, Ba backed away and curled around the hungry pup. The beast yawned loudly, lowered its head against the ground, and closed its weary eyes. Broly stared at the Ba and the cub for a while with a smile on his dirty face. He took as much time as needed because he felt he wouldn't see Ba and the pup for a long time. Slowly and silently, he flew toward the giant beast and petted it for one last time. He turned focus on the little one who chewed on the spider's corpse. The pup detected the stare and released a weak, playful roar.
The gentle Saiyan approached the pup and scratched the back of its head, causing the cub's fluffy tail to wiggle. "Grow strong, little one." After he whispered that, Broly flew back to Raditz, who patiently waited.
Raditz sighed, pleased it was over and they could finally leave. "Let's go, Broly. They'll be safer without us here. And so will we..." The long-haired warrior ignited his aura again and flew ahead while Broly followed.
As they flew through the tunnel, Raditz glanced at Broly. He still found it hard to comprehend how such a talented and powerful Saiyan acted out of character for their race. If Vegeta and Nappa were here, they would ridicule Broly, shun him, and call him a weakling despite the gentle Saiyan's incredible might. The mere thought of that happening incited anger within the warrior. However, Raditz found himself surprised at the anger and its source. He tried to understand why that made him angry but didn't have the capacity. Because he could not figure it out, he let out a frustrated growl and tossed the unnecessary thoughts away. The most important thing at the moment was to get into the pod and leave planet Vampa once and for all.