The tableau of carnage has been frozen by Goku’s almost magical arrival!
A faint surge of strength, flows into Vegeta through the battle bond, Kakarot has finally appeared. Even as he lays dying the Prince’s tactical genius come into play. Maybe just maybe, Vegeta ‘s death can still serve a higher purpose after all, and he will not die so uselessly.
With Kakarot here the Saiyan Prince's power and strength will now flow more readily into him as Vegeta dies. With his strength added to that of Kakarot’s, his detested battle bond brother could still accomplish the Prince’s goal of destroying Frieza!
Vegeta knows that his death will propel Kakarot's power level and strength even higher. The battle bond will assure that, and Frieza will die too, if only he can trigger Kakarot's Saiyan Rage! The Prince knows that the sentimental fool will react if he can cause Frieza to attack him now that he’s completely helpless, the problem is will it be enough?
Frieza stares, straightening in amazement. “What’s this ?”
The stern figure strides forward, each steps sizzling with energy.
He passes the Namekian warrior, pausing to smile at him, “I get it now it was you Piccolo, your power’s gotten huge. So they wished you back with the Dragonballs.“
He keeps walking, and passes his son and partner, “Sorry it took so long, but I’m ready for him now, so you both can relax.”
“G-Goku....,” asks amazed Krillian. “is.., is that really you? You’ve changed..., your power... feels strange!”
“Daddy...!” queries Gohan.
“So you’re Frieza!” Kakarot stops next to Vegeta’s prone body, confronting the monster. “I thought you’d be bigger, less defenseless looking.”
“Looks can be deceiving!” Says the beast in a melodious voice filled with menace.
“I know, I can sense your power.” The tall warrior glances down at him with a worried look. “Leave Vegeta alone, he’s promised to fight me. Don’t interfere in our battle.”
Frieza take a step back, “No one orders Frieza, I do what I want. And I’ll dispose of trash like you and him as I please.”
But Frieza is puzzled, ‘Who is this new warrior, he looks so familiar.’ The beast gazes at him thoughtfully then glances down at his old favorite as Vegeta twitches and groans. Then struggles to turn his head to gaze more readily at the newcomer. “S -so you.. finally... came K-Kakarot!”
Frieza follows the Prince’s gaze, “That name?! Kakarot! It’s has to be Saiyan!!” He glances at the boy, the resemblance is unmistakable, ‘So it wasn’t Raditz after all. He’s the brat’s sire!’
The Prince stares up at Kakarot, the energy that he emanates is staggering. The other Saiyan is growing in power with each passing second. ‘He’s overcome the natural limits, he becoming more than mere Saiyan.’ Then Vegeta realizes what is happening, as his body fails the linkage between them is striving to conserve the power, siphoning as much of the Prince’s remaining energies and strengths into his battle brother as it can before it dissipates! Kakarot’s energy is being tremendously augmented and enhanced by the Vegeta’s even now! Soon he will possess all the power of the two strongest Saiyans in the Universe in one body. When that happens his power will not just be doubled, it will be squared! Has that been the elusive factor all along? Not just the mere increase of power, but the actual multiplication of it!
“Oh!” The monster stares at the Saiyan male standing so defiantly in front of him and experiences an odd sense of Deja vu. Understanding dawns, ‘He looks exactly like that Saiyan rebel that tried to stop me when I destroyed their planet!’
Neither of the combatants know that the Saiyan Frieza recalls so vividly was Bardock, Goku’s father!
“That’s what everyone keeps telling me. But I’m an Earthling now!” answers Kakarot.
“I don’t care where you claim to come from, but you should have stayed there. I’ve sworn to exterminate every last Saiyan in existence!”
“Is that so?”
Frieza strikes without warning, his tail whips around snakelike lashing out at Kakarot!
The Saiyan is not caught unaware and drops to avoid the appendage, catching himself with his right hand and in a single motion strikes back, with his left foot hitting Frieza in the face and flinging the monster backwards.
Stunned Frieza flips back and lands, he raises his hand to his face. No one has even succeeded in striking him like that before except his father. This might be fun. “I’ve had enough of this nonsense!”
The beast raises his hand and points his finger at the newcomer as he rises to his feet.
Gohan and Krillian shout a warning and dive for cover.
Kakarot stands motionless.
Frieza starts firing, Kakarot's hand zips up and open palmed with blinding speed he deflects every shot!
They fly off in every direction, but always carefully deflected away from his friends and the Prince. The planet shakes with their impacts but Kakarot‘s face remains just as stern and unfazed as before.
Vegeta has finally realized the truth, and his egocentric misunderstanding. Strength is not the only thing that matters, power enhancement is vital as well.
He gazes up at the miracle occurring in front of his eyes. The legend is being fulfilled once more.
“He ..just knocked them away, with a single hand!” Stutters Frieza in shock.
The fallen Saiyan can’t help but laugh, “Don’t underestimated Kakarot.” He struggles raising up on his elbows. “He’s the one you’ve feared from the very beginning.”
“Shut up Saiyan scum!” Spits Frieza.
“It‘s him not me. He’s the true Super Saiyan!” Continues the Prince ruefully.
Shock freezes the beast’s face.
Then Vegeta adds gleefully, “He is the legend come to life, the most powerful warrior in the Universe. Heh, heh, heh! You’ve finally met your doom Frieza! I‘m only glad I lived long enough to witness this moment!”
“I told you to stop spouting that ridiculous myth!” Shouts Frieza angrily as he fires a lance of energy through the Prince’s heart. “You’re so pitiful I don’t know what I ever saw in you!”
Vegeta’s eyes widen in shocked agony, he falls back the deadly wound steaming!
“V-Vegeta!!” Cries Kakarot.
“Frieza you didn’t need to do that!” Shouts Goku horrified, “He couldn’t even defend himself!”
“Don’t tell me what to do you filthy Saiyan!” Snaps Frieza. “K- Kak- arot.. you have to .. (cough) stop him.” Chokes Vegeta spitting out blood as he speaks.
The other Saiyan looks down at him with concern, “Don’t talk, save your strength.”
“There’s... nothing left .. to save..” says Vegeta as he feels his strength ebbing, the agony in his chest is almost unbearable as what’s left of his shattered heart tries vainly to beat.
Vegeta looks up at his battle bonded brother, “He’s a monster.. he made me what I am.. Like him! Don’t.. don’t let him.. ever do it... to anyone else!”
The Prince knows this is his end, but even though he has failed another Saiyan can still succeed!
Still complete the vengeance he has long sought for their fallen race. If Vegeta gives over the last of his strength and power to Kakarot, willingly, then the last remaining Saiyan will have what is needed to truly become the legend.
Vegeta coughs again and he feels wetness on his face, tears of grief fall from his eyes once more.
“It was him... He killed our parents.. destroyed our planet.. He’ll destroy this one and then the Earth if you let him.”
Vegeta extends his hand and with one last effort sends the remnants of his power to Kakarot through their bond.
Blackness engulfs the Prince.
Bulma had stopped to rest, now she’s terrified, she can barely stand, the ground is shaking so much, the whole place is collapsing around her. What in the hell is going on? The planet itself is shuddering beneath her feet.
Then earthquake subsides, quiet descends, but not peace, somehow she knows it’s not over.
Not yet!
Something awful is still happening. Somewhere she knows someone is dying horribly, an agony of dread shoots through her heart. A sudden awareness that the doom she feels descending , involves not her friends and companions, but rather the enigmatic Saiyan Vegeta!
Her heart suddenly freezes in her chest, she can’t even breath! Something terrible has just occurred! And she knows it with out knowing how, HE‘S DEAD!
She closes her eyes and screams as tears flow freely. Her life is over before it’s even begun! A connection snaps inside her heart and she faints from the soul shaking loss!
Vegeta knows he’s dead, he knew his fate as soon as Frieza had blasted him through the heart, even before that the damage was too severe even for Saiyan rapid healing to repair. The Prince had felt his life slipping away as he used the last of his remaining strength to plead with Kakarot. He can remember feeling his ki power leave his body as it shifted through their link to the other Saiyan when he finally expired. The power link and destiny bond that tied them together had finally dissipated when the last of his energy flowed into his battle bonded brother.
As his body released the final shreds of his soul he had felt something else snap as well, bringing into his mind one last time a vision of the aqua haired female Earthling, Bulma. His last living thought was of her and those bottomless sapphire eyes of hers that had asked his the eternal question with a billion different responses but only one glorious answer. The question, he now would never be able give her any response to. He wondered if she would ever think about him.
Vegeta has failed, and Frieza had destroyed him. But Kakarot is now augmented by the Prince’s enormous power and strength. As he died, Vegeta had seen how close Kakarot truly was to breaking through to Super Saiyan. His tormented soul feels a kind of satisfaction and a sense of peace, knowing that even though he has failed, Frieza is now doomed. Kakarot will defeat him and it is because he now has both his own and Vegeta’s tremendous power and strength to draw upon.
So even though the Saiyan Prince, himself has not beaten the perverted beast he will still indirectly have a hand in cleansing the universe! And that knowing heals the last injuries to Vegeta’s battered pride, restoring him to what he was meant to be, a proud heroic Saiyan Prince. It gives him back his soul and restores the last of his pride. The monster will be destroyed by the detested hand of a Saiyan! That alone will be torment enough for Frieza as he spends eternity in hell.
But all that is behind Vegeta and this is now. His death has freed him from the last remnants of his tormented madness. Otherworld is not the way he had thought it would be. With all the atrocities he has committed, the Prince had known that he should have been sent straight to hell. Those countless, horrendous and terrible evils he had done at Frieza’s behest were unforgivable. Putting him far beyond any hope of any kind of redemption.
But instead of hell, his awareness seems to be floating in some kind of glowing limbo. He can hear voices, but cannot make out their words. Only somehow sensing that they are arguing about him and his fate in this dimension. Strangely it seems that one is actually pleading for him. Slowly the voices become clearer.
“...geta was trying to stop Frieza!” Exclaims a high voice insistently. “He even gave Goku his power when he died!”
“But it was only for his own selfish purposes.” Says a second deeper one.
“I agree it was selfish, but he could have resisted, he could have fought it instead of giving it over freely, Lord Enma. But he didn’t. He even used the last moments of his life to encourage Goku to rid the universe of the threat of Frieza. I know there has to be good in him somewhere deep within.” Explains the first plaintively.
“Why do you think such a ridiculous thing, King Kai?” Asks the Enma voice curiously.
“Goku’s Genki-Dama didn’t kill Vegeta even though it hit him head on, if he was truly nothing but evil incarnate he should have been utterly destroyed by it. Doesn’t his survival then, prove that the Saiyan Prince cannot be completely bad!” says the voice referred to as King Kai.
“Perhaps, I noticed that discrepancy as well...,” Lord Enma pauses thoughtfully, “I’ll have to think about this a awhile.”
“Please do, I feel there’s far more to Prince Vegeta than meets the eye.”
“Well I certainly cannot let him into heaven.” Protests the Enma.
“I realize that, all I’m asking is that you delay making a final judgment on him until we can discuss it more thoroughly.” Responds Kai.
“Well, what do you suggest I do with him until then?” Asks Enma.
“Why not leave him as he is.” says the Kai.
“I suppose I could do that, but it’s extremely unusual to leave unassigned souls floating around in limbo.”
“This is a very unusual case!”
“All right, but once this other matter is resolved we will need to settle his fate!”
“Agreed!” The first voice pauses, “Thank you.”
“I just hope this isn’t a big mistake.”
The conversation ends and Vegeta drifts a while in the glowing silence, he cannot feel the ebb and flow of time, he just knows that it is passing. While he’s not exactly peaceful, he’s not really tormented anymore either. He’s in some sort of strangely neutral state, sort of longing for something but not knowing exactly what.
Then the first voice speaks, breaking the endless silence as it calls his name. “Vegeta, Vegeta?”
The Prince, drawn out of the only kind of soul peace he can remember, growls back, irritation apparent in his thoughts, “Who are you, what do you want?”
“I am King Kai.” Says the voice, “Lord of the Worlds and it’s not what I want that matters here, it’s what you want! No one around here but me thinks you deserve a second chance."
“A second chance?” Asks the Prince, in puzzlement.
“Yes! I shouldn’t really be doing this at all, but the circumstances in this situation are extremely unusual. The other Kai’s are already griping that I’ve gone soft on Saiyans because of Goku and am taking too many liberties. But Lord Enma himself has allowed me this little indulgence. With things happening the way they are, you are going to have a second chance. I’ve even convinced the higher powers that if you prove me right, not only will you redeem yourself but you will vindicate your entire race and get it a second chance as well.”
“What do you mean?” Says Vegeta.
“You have to show that Saiyans are not really inherently evil. That Goku and Gohan are not mere flukes. You will have the chance to prove that everything you and your people were and did was forced upon you by Frieza. If you can prove that you can overcome you’re past and are not really evil then the Saiyan race will not end with you three.”
The Prince cannot see anything but senses King Kai shaking his head ruefully.
“My talking to you is most likely useless, since you probably won't recall any of our conversation at all, but I needed to try. I cannot speak to you once you return. So please, if you can, try to retain this one thought when you revive. Forget your ambition, and follow your heart."
“My ambition?” Questions the Prince.
“Yes, the one thing you clung to. Your false ambition take over the universe from Frieza. You told Goku that Frieza made you what you were. Well now you’re going to get the chance to prove that. A chance to change and show what you might have become if you hadn’t been enslaved to that monster.”
“Frieza is more than just a monster, he’s evil incarnate!” Replies the Prince, his rage beginning to grow once more.
“That‘s right Vegeta think about Frieza’s evil. Remember all he ever did was lie to you! Everything you were ever told or taught when you were in his power was twisted and warped by his evil. Don’t let that evil continue to control your destiny by saddling you with Frieza’s lack of morality or self-serving goals.” Says King Kai. “Stop deceiving yourself, my boy! Think about what you really want. If you can follow your heart, it will lead you more truly to what you really desire than any false self delusional aspirations Frieza instilled within you. If you can accomplish that, you will find the truth of what you really crave.” The voice begins to recede, as if a distance was growing between him and it. “Try to remember what I told you, Vegeta. Forget your ambition, just follow your heart.”
Suddenly Vegeta is smothering, dirt is weighting him down, covering him completely. It’s suffocating him, he struggles, fights against it, pushing at it with all his might. His hand breaks free from the grip of the soil, and is met by open air! The Prince desperately claws his face free of sand and soil and takes a ragged breath. Once he can breath easily again, he finishes digging himself out of his shallow grave. He sits up and looks around, ’This looks like the spot where I was killed , “Why...?” He stares down at his hands in wonder. “How did I get back here?... Have I come back to life?”
He gazes about himself in amazement, this does look like Namek. What’s happened? He distinctly remembers dying and then voices arguing but the memory fades even as he recalls it. Only a single thought remains, ‘Follow? his...heart?!’ And then even that memory mists away like a fragment of a dream as the unbelievable reality assaults his senses.
He looks around, breathes deeply and realizes, “I AM ALIVE!”
The Prince gets up and starts walking. It looks like Namek, but then again it doesn’t. What’s happening to the planet? Something weird is definitely going on here. It could be Frieza's work, but then again it also looks a lot like what he thought hell would resemble!
And he can’t feel the power linkage or sense the battle bond. He had become very aware of them before and now they're definitely gone.
Is he dead after all?
‘Am I alive or am I dreaming it? Can you even dream if you’re dead?” He touches his chest, ‘I’m definitely whole again. What’s going on?’
He stops and holds out his hand , ‘I wonder if my powers still work?’ He attempts firing at a nearby mound. An energy bolt shoots from his hand disintegrating it.
He grins, “That seems real enough.” He tries one more test, punching himself hard in the stomach.
“OOFFF!” He falls to his knees and then doubles over in pain. Then he starts laughing, “It is true, it’s real, I’m alive!!!”
He stands up, “‘Hold it does that mean...?” Vegeta’s not certain how long he’d been dead.
The Prince turns to one side then the other scanning the entire area with hi
s eyes and senses, “If they‘re still fighting I should be able to locate them. Where are they?” Vegeta suddenly feels their ki’s and he looks up finally spotting the ongoing aerial battle.
The Prince is astonished by the amount of power they’re expending!
So Kakarot and Frieza they are still at it! He hasn’t missed all the fun!
And they’re moving so fast, he can barely keep up with their actions let alone actually glimpse them!
Kakarot seems to be holding his own, but Vegeta can sense that the dolt is still holding back!
Sentimental fool! He must still think he can convince Frieza to give up!
Vegeta takes off after them, if he can catch up to them maybe he can ambush Frieza while the other Saiyan is keeping him occupied.
“We can still win this thing!”
The two combatants have stopped and are sparring again, now he’ll be able to catch up to them!
Then a glow catches his eye distracting his attention from the fighters, he spots the distant apparition, “Wait is that? Yes!! It is the dragon!!” Somehow it too has come back!
What luck! He might still be able to get his wish. Then they’ll be assured of victory, with Kakarot as a Super Saiyan and Vegeta immortal they’ll be unstoppable!
Eagerly he alters his flight path and races towards it. Only to stumble upon the strange spectacle taking place at it’s base.
Even at the speed he’d traveled they had beat him to the dragon.
Floating, a furious Frieza is confronting a strangely changed, golden haired, green-eyed Kakarot, who glows with continual pulsing energies. The Namekian brat’s alive again too and he’s on the ground, chanting something, as the three are grouped in a loose semi-circle in front of the glowing Dragon.
The Prince shouts his enemy’s name, “FFRIEZAAAA!!!”
Kakarot turns and looks over his shoulder at him as he arrives. Seeing who it is his concerned look turns into a grin.
Kakarot greets him, “Hey Vegeta, great to see you’re back! I’m glad I didn’t bury you too deeply.”
“You’ve done it, you dog!” Exults the Saiyan Prince. “I can hardly believe my eyes! You’ve transformed and become the Legend, Kakarot !” Crows Vegeta as he arrives at the place he belongs, beside his battle brother.
Then he glares in hatred over at Frieza, “You’re finally beaten beast! And I‘m back to bear witness to your defeat!”
“You’re supposed to be dead! I know I killed you!” Screams the monster.
“Dead? How dead does this feel!” Retorts the Prince as he fires a blast at the monster.
Then suddenly the open plain and shoreline are gone! Frieza and Kakarot are nowhere to be seen! He’s surrounded by strange thick stemmed vegetation. The plants have a different but very familiar hue of green. The sky is a soft blue instead of black or even green, but inexplicably, he can still hear the distant chatter of Namekian voices! But this obviously isn’t Namek, the gravity’s all wrong! Where is he? It.., it almost feels like he’s back on Earth!
“I almost blasted Frieza! Then all of a sudden poof I’m here!” Vexed Vegeta begins searching for some further indication of where he is now, “That kid must have asked the Dragon for this!”
Suddenly he hears another familiar high pitched child's voice, it’s Kakarot’s brat! He’s answered by a second softened more melodious one. It’s that female‘s! Are they both here too? Using all his training in military stealth the Prince creeps up on the gathered group.
They’re all here! Most of them are totally oblivious to their vulnerabilities and preoccupied by their new surroundings. There’s that Dende brat leaning over that Namekian Piccolo, the kid is healing the warrior even as the Prince watches. Only Kakarot, the bald midget and Frieza are missing.
Vegeta settles at the edge of the clearing settling down on nearby rock, that's only partially obscured by some bushes.
Bulma’s agile mind is trying to pull all the pieces together.
And while it’s a bit daunting, to be surrounded by over a hundred Piccolos of differing sizes and shapes, they seem to be harmless enough.
And certainly nothing they could do to her would be as bad as being a stuck as a stupid looking frog! She’s glad that’s over, if it hadn’t been for Gohan’s quick perceptions her body might still be possessed by that damned Ginyu!
The kid’s certainly a smart one, almost as brilliant as she is!
Then Gohan and Piccolo call her to come meet the Namekian Elder Guru, it turns out that he has all the information on how they got here.
Remaining unnoticed and silent Vegeta overhears everything. So it is Earth! And they had used the last wish to bring them all here!
And Kakarot is still on Namek! That’s very interesting.
Wait a minute, wasn’t that last wish supposed to be his?
He’s been cheated again!
The Prince continues his reconnaissance, after what happened back on Namek he’d better not startle them with his presence just yet. He knows mob mentality all too well and those slugs are still jumpy.
One on one, none of them are a match for him, but if they all ganged up on him at once it could be troublesome.
Bulma looks speculatively around at her companions, so bringing Piccolo back was what apparently set the events into motion. Once he’d been revived, Kami had returned to this plane, restoring Earth’s Dragonballs. Then evidently a wish was made them to restore everyone Frieza and his goons had killed, excepting the unlucky Krillian.
Once the Namekians had been wished back, including their aged Elder, those Dragonballs returned too. Then Dende had used that last remaining wish to bring everyone on Namek to Earth before it could explode. Leaving only Goku and Frieza on the doomed planet.
And Goku stayed behind to assure everyone’s safety by making sure Frieza didn’t escape, how like him, the big lug.
Goku..., she looks at the sky and then her friend’s son. Super Saiyan or whatever, he better come back, he’s just gotta.
Saiyan? That reminds her of something, or rather someone...
She glances around, they’ve seemed to account for almost everyone that had been on Namek. Except...? Where is he!?
As if her thoughts of him were his cue, he suddenly speaks, drawing everyone’s attention to himself.
Even before she’d spotted him she’d known he was brought back too. Somehow she’d just known that crazy Saiyan was going to be around here somewhere!
The emptiness she had felt when she knew he’d been killed had been refilled, even before they had come back to Earth. Why does his presence affect her so strongly, it’s really troubling.
“YOU!” Growls Gohan. He looks as it he’s about to charge the Saiyan.
Bulma’s who not about to let anyone know how relieved she is to see Vegeta here too, jumps behind Gohan grabbing his shoulders restraining the boy and yells at the Saiyan, “You jerk, why’d the dragon bring you here along! You’d think he’d have at least left the garbage behind!”
Vegeta glances at her, his eyes rake her curvaceous form, smirking, “That’s not very hospitable!” She’s still luscious looking. With Kakarot gone, he may still get a chance at her.
The Saiyan stands up startling her and Bulma steps back but something catches the back of her heel and trips her. She sits down hard, landing on something squishy, but uncomfortable feeling none the less. Getting up, she looks behind her and sees that the wish had even brought that rotten Ginyu along!
She reacts with disgust and kicks the antennaed frog as hard as she can. “OOOHH!! How disgusting! I can’t stand that rotten thing. This has to a bad dream!”
She turns around to see Vegeta stalking towards them.
She squeals and latches onto Gohan again, trying to pull the boy back.
It’s bad enough Vegeta’s mere presence affects her, the way he’s looking at her right now is making her feel all quivery inside! She doesn’t need him getting any closer!
Vegeta is watching her, knows exactly what she’s really doing, she’s protectively restraining her and Kakarot’s whelp. How typically female!
The Prince strides imperially forward. “It’s not a dream! Do you really think Kakarot would leave a fight like that one half-finished? How silly of you all! Kakarot’s a Saiyan and now his battle lust has increased even more now that he’s become a Super Saiyan! That’s the real reason he remained on Namek. He can’t help himself, his blood is afire with his battle hunger! Frieza and him are locked in a battle frenzy, that neither of them will break until the planet explodes beneath them!”
The Prince starts laughing ironically.
“Why are you laughing!” Shouts the grief-stricken lad at him.
Vegeta keeps chuckling as he speaks, “Why? Because my strength is increasing again, because I’ve returned from death, and because once Kakarot and Frieza are gone, it will leave me,” he points at his chest with his thumb, “totally unopposed as the strongest in the warrior in the Universe!”
He guffaws again, “I admit it, it was a bit serendipitous but why should I waste such a golden opportunity!”
At first Piccolo, is just as belligerent as Gohan, “You rotten....” But then his inborn telepathy, picks up something odd. Vegeta is different! He’s not as crazed as he had been before. It seems as if death has altered him somehow. Even his threats are not really threats. The Saiyan’s outer actions and words do not really match his inner emotions!
“WILL YOU JUST SHUT UP!!” Screams Gohan.
“Well boy, the two of us will soon be the only Saiyans left.” Says the Prince, “Why don’t we have a little sparring match, brat. I’d really like to test my new power level!”
Vegeta also needs to evaluate the boy’s too. Gohan is most remarkable find. A Saiyan half breed with the ability to actually transform to Oozura!
Saiyans have often mated with other races but rarely have such unions produced a powered offspring. Usually such half-breeds are powerless and tailless, only suitable for use as techs or servants. But to actually come across one that has bred true, right down to the tail is almost miraculous!
But if mating with Earthling females can produce such results consistently! With his genes and the boy’s there’s a possibility that they could actually revive the Saiyan race!
But the brat is so caught up in his emotions right now that he needs a distraction. He’ll have to learn that lack of emotional control is a real weakness that can be exploited by an enemy with deadly results. And there’s only one sure way to teach him that!
Then Piccolo suddenly realizes that in his own way, Vegeta is actually trying to offer Gohan what he considers proper Saiyan solace and a distraction from his grief!
“Stop it!” Cries Gohan. “I don’t want to listen to you!”
“You’re going to fight while Goku’s risking his life to stop Frieza?!” Asks Bulma in shock.
“Kakarot made his own decision.” Shrugs the Prince. “He didn’t consult me.” Vegeta looks over at the half-Saiyan boy, “From now on kid, you’ll be taking orders from me!”
Vegeta can tell that Gohan still needs a lot more training if he’s to turn out to be any decent kind of Saiyan warrior. The Prince going to have his work cut out for him, especially since the brat seems to be infected with his father’s soft sentimental set of values. But someone with his incredible strength needs to be properly trained for battle.
Vegeta just can’t understand it, it’s obvious Gohan’s training has been incredibly deficient. Some of it is quite adequate but other parts are totally missing. He lacks at energy control and he doesn’t even seem to understand tactics at all! It’s as if the kid had no early training at all, then was allowed to run wild without any kind of supervision before anyone bothered to teach him any kind of battle disciplines.
What was Kakarot thinking!
Even the Saiyan low-levels had basic disciplinary battle imprinting before they were sent off planet!
Then the Prince recalls something he‘d almost forgotten. “The Earth has Dragonballs! If I find them I can still have my immortality!”
“Forget your ambition.” Says Piccolo, “They‘ve already been used so they‘ve reverted to stone! You’re only here because they were used to revive everyone Frieza and his soldiers killed.”
The Prince grimaces, ‘Damn it!’ Angry disappointment glows in his eyes. Then something the Namek just said catches his attention and distracts him from his fury.
‘Forget your ambition ... it seems like someone else had said that to him very recently, but he can’t recall who, and there was something that went along with it...’ The Prince walks away his anger fading to be replaced by the preoccupation of trying to recall, ‘What was it?’ Somehow he knows he has to remember, it was very important!
Vegeta retreats back to the tree line, and leans against a tree trunk. He’s starting to feel his strength increasing but he’s still suffering from low energy reserves and the increase is draining him. He really needs to rest and find something to eat soon. His dizziness is returning. He leans back against it and closes his eyes.
As he waits for his head to stop spinning, he struggles to remember the complete phrase. ‘Forget your ambition and follow... something, follow what?’ Somehow he knows it’s vital that he recall it. As he tries to remember, he opens his eyes and watches Kakarot's family and friends curiously.
How strange it is to see so many non-Saiyans worried so much about the safety of a Saiyan, most races feared his people.
What is it about Kakarot that inspires such concern and loyalty in the hearts of others?
‘Hearts..., HEART! That was it! Follow his heart!’ Vegeta’s dumbstruck, ‘Why would I think something as ridiculous as that, was so important?’
As the Saiyan had walked away from Piccolo, lost in thought Bulma couldn’t help following him with her eyes appreciatively. His lithe athletic form moving with a cat-like grace.
Piccolo starts as he faintly feels Bulma’s flare of reluctant attraction. He looks towards her in speculation and then follows her gaze.....to the Saiyan!
The Saiyan Prince feels Bulma’s gaze and glances towards her, seeing her look away quickly as he looks at her. If he were to follow his heart which was silly, he’d go take her as his concubine and the hell with Kakarot and their brat!
Her face and form has been bedeviling him since he first laid eyes on her. Of course with his handicap he’d probably only be able to possess her once, before she rejected him but it would be worth it. He closes his eyes again, what’s the point, she belongs to Kakarot now, she even birthed his brat! Even if they aren’t truemates, his pride and honor prevents him from taking another Saiyan’s woman, at least while he’s still alive and still mated to her! What is suitable for others is not so for a Prince of the Blood.
Piccolo also sees Vegeta’s quick glance at the girl and catches the hungry look flash in the Saiyan’s eyes, before he glances away. The Namekian’s eyes narrow as he suddenly senses the same reaction in Vegeta that Bulma had just had!
‘Oh Ho! So that’s what’s going on. They’re attracted to each other!’ Thinks the green warrior.
Piccolo also notices that none of the other Nameks are aware of the two mammals interactions. But that’s probably because they’re not very familiar with the dynamics of other races sexuality.
‘I’d better keep this development in mind. Maybe it can be turned to some sort of an advantage!’ Concludes the Namekian shrewdly, then he turns his attentions back to his friends.
Gohan is asking Guru, “Great Elder, can you tell me how my dad‘s doing on Namek?”
Bulma turns to the old Namek, saying eagerly, “Hey yeah, tell us! Goku’s still winning isn’t he?”
“I don’t know,” The old Namek lowers his head, “My powers are fading, I’m sorry, I can no longer sense what’s going on, on Namek.”
“Golly.” says Bulma her voice filled with worry and regret.
“I wouldn’t worry too much.” Says Piccolo, “Goku will be fine.”
“How can you be so sure?” asks the concerned boy.
“I just know.” States the Namek.
Gohan looks skywards, imploring, “Daddy?!” All his emotions condensed into that one word.
“Oh Goku, be careful you big lug and come back to us.” Says Bulma, then she glances over at the silent Saiyan warrior again. “We need you here.”
She just can’t seem to keep her eyes away from him for very long. ‘Why does he have to be so attractive? Vegeta’s like some alien Adonis just leaning against the tree, eyes closed, lost in thought.’
She wonders what he’s thinking?
A errant breeze stirs his hair lightly, even with that ever present frown, his good looks are arresting.
She tries to analyze the attraction, ‘Vegeta’s not tall like Goku or Yamcha, but he’s well built. As he is now standing so motionless there, he could easily be mistaken for a fine Greek carving with smooth elegant lines.’ Just looking at him stirs her. She hasn’t felt like this since Yamcha, or truthfully even with him.
Dapples of light fall thru the rustling leaves dancing across his manly form. Bulma almost wishes that her fingers were those dapples, caressing his muscles.
Bulma shakes her head, she has got to get over this, that Saiyan is definitely certifiable! And very, very dangerous.
Tearing her eyes from him, she notices the bushes and suddenly remembers that silly old trick her nanny taught her. Even if it is just superstition, they all need something to distract them, and maybe if it works, it can help buoy up their hopes.
Vegeta keeps trying to recall why he feels like that silly phrase was so vitally important. He glances up to see the female approaching.
It piques his interest, he can sense that she’s still attracted to him, but she stops before reaching him, to pick some leaves from one of the low growing plants. Then she retreats, going back to the others and starts messing around with them on the ground.
Vegeta eyes follow her, gazing over his shoulder to watch her movements. What is she up to?
Why does he find even her most minor actions so intriguing? He half recalls those unrealistic visions. Could this actually be.., desire.., for her?
He’s never really been attracted to any particular person before. When he has had sexual urges they were mostly inspired by the presence of attractive females in general. Vegeta’s never been drawn to any specific one or type before. Usually when the urge had hit him, any reasonably presentable female would do to give him relief. But this time all he wants is her!
This is ridiculous, why would he, a Prince, desire or even want a low level’s mate! He needs to get away from her forget and try to concentrate on his next moves. He walks away from the little group, moving out to the middle of the glade and sits down looking up at the soft cloud hung sky.
He needs to make a plan. Find a place to start his campaign, he goes over the list of his enemies, Qui, Dodoria, Zarbon, they’re all dead. And so is most of the Ginyu force, he smiles except for Ginyu himself, who’s no threat now that he’s permanently stuck as a frog! And there’s no one left in Frieza’s forces that can equal his strength.
What about Frieza’s family? King Cold and Cooler? In all the years he was in Frieza’s power he’d never seen either one of them. And he had gotten the distinct impression that there was little love lost between the three. They may not care or even be relieved that the Frieza has been eliminated.
He smirks and even if they do, Kakarot’s the one who did it! So they shouldn’t come after the Prince.
Who else? Piccolo and the kid. Nah he can handle them no problem!
That leaves only Frieza and Kakarot, and as soon as Namek explodes he’ll be rid of them too!
The little Namek, Dende, comes over to watch Bulma. “What are you doing?” He asks curiously.
She smiles up at him, he’s so sweet and adorable.
“I’m going to try to find out about Goku, this is old Earth magic.” She says as she draws a circle and arranges three leaves inside it. “If all three leaves burn up it assures that the traveler will be returning safely! It‘s always works.”
Dende leans down and surprises her when he conjures a small flame in his cupped hands. He leans down and set’s it on the leaves, they catch quickly.
A soft sigh of delight sounds around them.
She glances up to discover that some of the other Nameks have gathered about them to watch, smiling at the distraction. ‘Good it’s working!’ She thinks with satisfaction.
The leaves begin to burn merrily, but a sudden breeze gusts up, spiraling them about and then carrying one off as it snuffs the other two out.
Bulma and her audience groan in disappointment.
“That stupid!” Protests Gohan. “I know Dad will be back.”
Piccolo smiles at the boy‘s optimistic assertion.
Bulma stands up, “You’re absolutely right, Gohan!”
“My Dad’ll beat Frieza, end his reign of terror,” States Gohan, “and then come home!”
They all stare at the determined boy. Gohan stares skywards and then shouts, “DADDY ... HURRY!”
Vegeta’s hearing is acute enough to be fully aware, even at this distance, of all their words. He’s just about had enough this, it’s starting to get maudlin around here. He needs to stir things up.
Besides the boy needs something to take his mind off what’s happening on Namek.
A good fight is just the thing, and it just might take Vegeta’s mind off that blasted female too.
Then the sudden full impact of realization of his conclusions hits him, Frieza’s no longer a threat! The Prince starts laughing hysterically.
He glances back at the group. Then he grabs a handful of grass ripping it from the ground and tossing it into the air in jubilation. “Just one explosion and it will be all over! All my enemies will be gone, leaving me as the mightiest fighter in the Universe!”
Startled the others turn to stare at him, convinced that he’s finally gone over the edge.
Vegeta stands up, “After all those long years of being at Frieza’s beck and call. Enduring all the pain and humiliation, swallowing my pride obediently, I’m finally really free of that monster.”
He stares at the ground remembering the atrocities, both those he endured and those he was forced to commit, “That perverted beast ordered us to destroy entire worlds, eliminate whole races at his mere whim just to expand his own empire. And after we had done everything that was ordered of us, accomplished things no one else could do, as thanks Frieza turned on the Saiyans, he tried to destroy all of us!”
The Prince’s face turns grim, “The beast and his two toadies goaded us, taunted us, even laughed at us in distain! And I couldn‘t do anything to oppose him. He did it trying to make the others attack him so he could have an excuse to eliminate them. Forcing me to stop them and apologize.”
“And the monster was always too powerful for me to do anything else, but I knew if I could survive, keep them under control and we lasted long enough, I would eventually surpass Frieza's power. My Saiyan heritage, guaranteed it, someday I would be able to beat him.” Vegeta clenches his fists, “Watching Frieza did teach me one thing, strength is the only truth, and the one who is strongest wields the paramount power. Once I became the strongest I would be able to defeat Frieza, take his place, restore my people to greatness and rule as I was always meant to.”
“And now that time has finally come. There is no one left who can stop me!” The Prince gazes skywards in satisfaction.
Gohan dashes towards him, “You’re wrong, I know my Father will return! And he’ll stop you!”
Vegeta just grins down at the boy, then he walks away, to drop down and sprawl, spread-eagled, on the grassy ground to stare at the sky, “Kid, you’ve got some crazy imagination.”
“No it’s not crazy. Dad‘ll win and then he’ll be back and show you!”
Vegeta just continues laughing, soon everything he’s ever wanted will be his for the taking. With Frieza eliminated the Prince can just move in and take over, and with Kakarot taken care of too. Vegeta can do whatever he chooses with this miserable little planet.
He closes his eyes, it’s not at all like planet Vegeta. But it’s not too bad, and there’s something enticing about it, a sensual softness, a luxuriousness. The air has a sweet balminess to it, not at all like the dry and desiccated like the worlds Frieza preferred and always chose for his bases. And it‘s certainly pretty enough, opening his eyes to look at the blue sky. He glances towards the female again, with lots of other interesting additional attractions. He smirks. This just might turn out to be a pretty good place to use as central base.
The Prince closes his eyes, relaxing in the warm sunlight. The universe is his, all he has to do is reach out and take it.
‘Soon all my ambitions will be fulfilled.’ But then that niggling thought returned, someone had told him to forget his ambition. Why is that still bugging him? Troubled the Prince stands up begins pacing, trying to remember again.
Forget your ambitions and follow his heart? There was more, something about.... misguided goals!?
Misguided? Why did he just think that?
What is it that Vegeta really wants?
He had wanted his freedom and power! But not the kind that Frieza had! The Prince craved increase of his own personal strength and power. He wanted a place to call his own in the Universe. But what kind of power? What place? Does he really want to take over Frieza’s monstrous oppressively evil empire, or something different?
He hadn’t really wanted more than a Saiyan kingdom, a place for his people. But that’s a lost dream now. It had died along with Raditz and ... even that traitor Nappa.
So what is left for him? What does Vegeta really want for himself?
He sits down at the base of once of the larger plants, leaning back against it’s sturdy stem, pensive.
Is his dream of the restoration of the Saiyan race really over, or is there still a possibility for his race to be revived. He glances speculatively at Gohan, Frieza's murderers had overlooked Kakarot, could they have missed others too.
Frieza was monstrous there is no denying that, and he enslaved more than just the Saiyans! Though it was true that he ruled the universe, he was despised, feared and hated by everyone. Frieza had been forced to maintain his rule with an iron hand. That was why he had hired the Saiyans in the first place. It was why Frieza had been constantly moving his main base and had always kept such an enormous standing army. He had to be constantly on guard against revolt and assassinations. He trusted no one!
Frieza was a tyrannical beast of pure evil! Vegeta knows that from first hand experience!
Does the Prince really want to step into the beast’s place, to become just another despicable tyrant like Frieza? A monster without morality! Someone who enslaves others just for the pleasure of it?
No! Vegeta cherishes his own newly won freedom too much.
He couldn’t stomach doing to others what Frieza had done to him and forced him to do. Just the thought of it sickens him.
Then it dawns on the Prince, he knows what he really wants! It is to become a Super Saiyan! To attain that mythical pinnacle of power, now that he knows it’s not a just legend.
But how? He’s certain that Kakarot only did it because of the enormous power increase he got from Vegeta when the Prince had died, and passed his power and strength to his battle bond brother!
If the Prince can just find some way to multiply his strength the way Kakarot did during their first fight, he might be able to reach that level by himself. Their strengths were nearly equal otherwise. But he needs to learn that technique and then find out just what kind of training Kakarot did before he got to Namek!
‘That means I need Kakarot to survive this battle and come back after all!’ Vegeta grimaces in frustration.
Vegeta looks over at the gathered group, hearing the old Namek sigh, “Such a lovely world filled with beauty. Everything is so peaceful here, it’s a good place to die.”
“No, please don’t go!” Cries the two smallest Nameks clutching at their beloved parent.
“Don’t be frightened my little ones.” Says Guru soothingly. “This is the way of life.” He looks u p at the leader of Dende’s village, “Muri call everyone together.”
A few moments later one of the other Nameks comes running up, “Elder we cannot locate anyone from Caracol’s village!”
The they all look around in confusion.
Vegeta speaks up, “That probably the village I was forced to destroy. You said the Dragon only brought back those killed by Frieza and his men, too bad I was no longer one of them.”
“Why did you kill them?” Asks one of the Nameks belligerently.
Vegeta shrugs, “The old idiot refused to give me their Dragonball. I tried to convince them otherwise but they all remained stubborn to the very end.”
The Nameks back away from the Prince, muttering ominously.
But before anyone can make another move, there’s a heavy thump, that’s followed by another and then another and another, repeating until seven huge stony balls have all crash landed nearby.
“Good they’ve followed us.” Says Guru, “My time is almost gone, Muri come here.”
“Yes Elder.” He approaches Guru deferentially.
“As the Eldest you will now lead our people. Guide them with love and wisdom.” Guru coughs. “But surely great one you could ...” starts Muri.
“No my children my time has come.” Guru smiles beatifically at all his offspring, “This is but another step.”
He places his hand on Muri’s head, “I give over the care of our people and the Dragonballs to you.” A glow transfers from Guru’s hand to Muri, “Soon the stars will glow once more within the Dragonballs. Use them well! My last instruction is that you locate a place of peace and tranquility for our people.” As the Elder begins to fade, he looks over to the Earthlings, “Thank you my friends.....”
Sobs and cries of protest arise from the Namekians as the elder vanishes.
Gohan watches sadly, “You helped me so much!”
“Go in peace Elder, you’ve earned your rest!” Says Piccolo softly.
Dende gazes at Piccolo in astonishment, “I knew I recognized you! Nail... you merged with Nail didn’t you!”
Piccolo glances down at the youngling and smiles in confirmation.
Muri addresses his people, “We must work together to realize Guru’s dream for us.”
Bulma wipes the ears from her eyes. “They'll be okay. I just wish Krillian had lived to see this.”
“Yeah after all we when though he would have been glad to see them safe.” Says Gohan.
“So why not wish him back?” Asks Dende, “Porunga can restore people over and over again, as long as it wasn’t a natural death.”
“Is that true? Really!” Gohan turns and grabs Dende by the shoulders grinning. “That means we can wish both Krillian and Chaotze back. I can’t believe it, this is fantastic.”
Bulma laughs in delight.
Gohan looks up at the sky, “Now you have to come back, daddy so you can be here when we revive them.”
Suddenly Bulma hears a voice in her head. She must be dreaming, but it sounds like.... “YAMCHA!”
She looks around, “I hear you but I don’t see you.”
Vegeta sits up and looks over at the female, ‘What’s she babbling about, now. Wasn’t Yamcha one of those weaklings killed by the Saibamen?’
The others all look at her curiously. Bulma looks worried, “This can’t be happening.”
Gohan approaches, “You hear Yamcha? I know what’s happening, it’s King Kai! It‘s telepathy!”
“Yeah he said that.” Says the puzzled girl to the child. “I guess I’m not dreaming then.”
She looks up at the sky, “Hey Yamcha what happening?”
She pauses obviously listening to him.
Then she relays, “Hey everybody fight‘s over and Goku won! That’s great.”
Almost everyone starts cheering and celebrating. Dende and Gohan start dancing around.
The Prince can hardly believe his ears, ‘Kakarot actually beat him, amazing!’
Another longer pause, then she says, “After he beat Frieza, Goku got stuck on Namek. He was still there when it exploded, bummer.”
There’s another pause and then she starts laughing. “Don’t get your gi in a twist, it’s alright Yamcha, I know what I’m doing remember I‘m the brains of this outfit. I got some fantastic inside info, the Namekian Dragonballs can bring people back more than just once, so we can wish everybody back.”
She’s silent awhile again then her expression changes. “Oh No!”
“What’s wrong Bulma?” asks Gohan.
“King Kai says it won’t work. Sure the Namekian Dragonballs can bring Goku and Krillian back, but it’ll be where they last were and Namek’s not there anymore.” She collapses to her knees, “They just die all over again in empty space.”
“No! Daddy’s gone.” Half sobs Gohan.
Piccolo murmurs solace.
The Prince has been watching Kakarot’s son carefully. The boy’s emotions are all in a turmoil, this could get dangerous quickly. The brat needs distraction, now! Strong emotions are the trigger for his Saiyan fury, if he doesn’t vent soon he might go berserker on them. Vegeta needs to do something.
Vegeta laughs, and then jumps up, leaping into the air, he somersaults into the midst of the crowd to confront Gohan, “I guess I was right after all. And now I‘m the strongest one around so get used to it.”
“What a guy,” he strides towards the boy, “your dad certainly did his job, he was even good enough to dispose of Frieza for me.”
“Bastard, you’re nothing like my father.” Says Gohan, clenching his fists. “He saved your life more than once.”
“Yeah,” says Vegeta, “He certainly was a sentimental sap wasn’t he. Big mistake. Now what should I do with his whelp? Get rid of you before you try to do it to me?”
“Don’t be afraid brat, you have Saiyan genes and that makes you very important. After all there’s only two of us left, we’re the last remnants of our race,” the Prince pokes the boy’s forehead, “I need you. Maybe if you behave, once I take over, I’ll let you be my personal servant.”
“Just try taking over!” The brat knocks aside his hand and glares at Vegeta, “Dad will come back you just wait!”
“Face it your father’s gone!” Laughs the Prince as he tries to provoke the boy into attacking. “Try? I don’t need to try at all!” Boasts the Saiyan.
“If you do we’ll stop you !” Threatens Gohan stepping forward.
“You! Stop me!” laughs Vegeta, “Just try it!”
Finally goaded the boy launches at the Prince, and Vegeta sidesteps avoiding him.
Missing his target the kid falls and rolls several times.
Vegeta smiles, ‘Good, if I can get him to fight me he won’t completely lose it.’
Then Kakarot's mate reacts as the Prince had half-expected her to, “You leave him alone!” He glances over at her. But then the Namekian stops her with an outthrust arm.
Piccolo doesn’t quite understand what the Saiyan’s up to, but Vegeta’s isn‘t really as belligerent he appears. He’s actually trying to help Gohan get through this.
“Are you trying to challenge me!?” Says the Prince to Gohan. “Bad idea kid, but go ahead and try it if you want.”
“My dad will come home!” Cries the defiant child angrily. “And then he’ll show you!”
The two exchange a flurry of blows.
The Prince smiles, as he easily deflects all of the kid’s blows ‘Excellent! The brat’s venting his anger and his rage will soon subside.’
All he has to do is keep him fighting furiously for a few more minutes and the danger of the brat turning berserker will be over. Then they can take time to try and figure out how to bring Kakarot back. And Vegeta has an idea about that too!’
Distracted by his thoughts Vegeta misses a blow and Gohan’s right fist connects. The boy quickly follows that up with a right kick to the Prince’s gut. And finishes with a head butt to the chin knocking the him to the ground.
The boy’s successful attack begins to anger the Saiyan and Vegeta starts getting serious.
“That’s it kid!” Growls the Prince as he rises, wiping the blood from his mouth, “Trying to take on the Prince of all Saiyans is a big mistake. It could be your last.”
Vegeta’s power explodes and he shoots up into the air to float overhead.
Gohan does the same and airborne they face off.
“I guess I’ll need to teach you a lesson boy!” Sneers the Saiyan Prince.
Gohan’s energy surges and he charges in to attack but Vegeta’s energy flares as well, deflecting the boy entirely.
Then Vegeta knees Gohan in the stomach and then hits him with his left elbow propelling the boy into the ground.
Kakarot’s brat hits hard creating an impact crater with his body.
Bulma screams the boy’s name.
Vegeta descends to the ground, “What a shame, such wasted talent.”
The angered Prince raises his hand and starts to form an energy ball.
Piccolo appears behind the Saiyan, “Don’t do it, Vegeta!” Cautions the Namekian warrior. He had watched the combat silently. Seeing and sensing the fact that even though it appeared to be serious to the other onlookers. The reality was that Vegeta was only lightly sparring with the boy, as if testing his mettle. But the Saiyan’s temper had begun to flare with the fight and he’s ready to kill.
“Stop it Vegeta! That's enough!” says the Namekian warrior repeating his warning.
The Prince breaks off the battle, “Whatever!” Glancing over his shoulder at Piccolo. Somehow knowing why the Namekian had stopped him.
Turning back to the boy, Vegeta admonishes, “Watch it brat, or next time I won’t be so lenient.”
The beaten Gohan mumbles, “Come home dad we need you.”
Vegeta clears the dust of battle from his throat and then spits before saying. “You need to learn how to face reality, kid.”
With a final glance at the female he takes off. Only to land just out of sight behind a nearby grove of trees.
Bulma looks after him, then gazing higher she mutters softly, “Goku.” She sobbingly shouts it again.
Vegeta walks back to the gathering, struggling to bring his rage under control, he’d almost lost it and killed the kid.
If it hadn’t been for Piccolo.
The Prince is going to have to learn to control all these strange new feelings he‘s starting to experience. Up till now the only emotions he had to deal with was battle glee, and fury. Now he’s starting to experience a host of others. Dying must have altered him more than he thought it had, for some reason he‘s gotten more emotionally volatile. Or else these Earthlings have contaminated him somehow. And now that Frieza's gone his anger is unfocused, and more short fused than before. He needs time to adapt.
Bulma is in an emotional turmoil.
That crazy Vegeta had beaten Gohan pretty thoroughly. The kid’s still on the ground crying soundlessly, tears coursing down his cheeks.
Dende is comforting him.
She doesn’t understand why Piccolo stopped her and didn’t intervene in the fight earlier. She had thought the Namekian was fond of Gohan.
And to make matters worse, she’s still attracted to Vegeta even after what she saw what he just did to Gohan! It’s really confusing her.
She knows in her heart there has to be some way to bring Krillian and Goku back, but she can’t seem to force any coherent train of thought.
Poor Gohan!
Why can’t she think straight!
Finally Gohan regains his composure enough to ask her, “There has to be some way to bring them back.”
“I don’t know, from the way King Kai explained it would take a miracle.”
Maybe if she goes over it again out loud she can order her thoughts enough to discover an answer.
“The Dragonballs can bring them back sure, but only where they died. It will work okay with Chaotze ‘cause he died here on Earth, but Goku and Krillian are another matter entirely. It’s like a bird with a nest, the dragon is the bird, your dad and Krillian are the eggs and Planet Namek the nest. No Namek, no nest. With the planet gone, they’d just reappear in out in the middle of empty space and then die.” Says Bulma. “I’m sorry, I can’t think of anyway past the problem.”
“If you’d stop running your mouth and start running your mind you might have figured it out.” Suddenly they hear the Saiyan’s voice, “Dimwit, if you really want Kakarot and the little chrome dome back, all you have to do is wish them to Earth’s check in point in the next dimension first.”
Everyone turns to look at him. He’s leaning against his tree again arms crossed.
‘He’s come back!’ Her heart leaps.
Vegeta continues, “Then you when you resurrect them they’ll materialize here.”
Bulma grins, and he’s actually helping them! And Vegeta’s right, that is the solution!
She looks admiringly at the Saiyan, “That’s a fantastic idea Vegeta. You know, you’re pretty smart.”
He looks down and flushes slightly.
Vegeta scowls as he sees white boots.
Gohan goes over to him and smiles, “Thanks for your help, Vegeta!” The boy offers his hand.
“I don’t need your thanks brat!” He says, slapping away the boy’s outstretched hand. “Just stay out of my way!”
‘I’m not helping Kakarot, I’m helping myself. What I really want is Kakarot’s secret.’ Thinks the Saiyan Prince shrewdly.
Bulma looks back at the Saiyan speculatively. ‘Maybe my feelings are right about him. He didn’t have to tell us the solution to our problem. And he seems different too.’
Then Muri calls to her and approaches, “Miss Bulma, can you help us find a place to stay until our Dragonballs have time to regenerate, we‘ll be using them to find a suitable planet to relocate to but it may take some time.”
“Gee!? Hmmm!” She thinks for a minute then grins, “Sure why not! You can all come and stay at our place.”
“No we couldn’t impose...” starts Muri.
“Nonsense, there’s plenty of room at Capsule.” She says, “Besides you don’t have any money, and green aliens are kinda unusual around here.”
Muri realizes the truth of what she‘s saying, “Oh! You‘re right I hadn‘t considered that.”
“We really need to protect your Dragonballs anyway, and since we’d like to borrow a couple of wishes if we can, it‘s the least we can do for you. ” She glances over at Piccolo with a mischievous grin. “And you kinda resemble someone who doesn’t have a very good rep around here. So you’d all be much safer on Capsule grounds.”
Bulma turns to look at the Saiyan, “Hey, hot stuff! How about you coming along too? You’ll need someplace to stay. That is unless you plan on sleeping out here in the woods.”
Vegeta looks at her startled, “Huh! Hot stuff?”
She smiles at him in encouragement “Why not drop the tough guy act and chill, Vegeta. Take a break from being such a badass and see what life on Earth is like. Who knows? You might take to it! You are kinda cute ya know.”
“Kinda cute!?!” The Prince is taken aback, “Brainless woman!”
Then she gets another idea, something that might just tempt him, “Say! I bet you eat as just much as Son does. Well we’ve got plenty of great food at Capsule Vegeta, my mom‘s a fantastic cook and I‘m not too bad either, even if I do say so myself.”
Vegeta‘s interest is piqued, ‘Unlimited food!’ That was a very intriguing thought. The Prince’s hunger pangs have returned, and were even sharper than usual, dying certainly seemed to work up an appetite. But he’s still not certain, for some reason being near that female is extremely unsettling. And since Kakarot will be returning he’ll have to delay implementing his plans for her. He won’t poach another Saiyan’s woman, even if that Saiyan is Kakarot!
Bulma dimples at him, flirting a just little. She’s almost sure he’s interested in her, “But you’ll have to behave yourself, no hanky panky allowed!”
‘Hanky panky? As if....,’ but he blushes a little and retreats to the opposite side of the tree trunk. So she is attracted to him! And it almost seems as if Kakarot's woman actually trying to come on to him!?
But then he begins to notice something else, her flirtatious attitude and actions are starting to cause Vegeta, to have a completely unexpected, and rather disturbing, spontaneous physical reaction.
One that’s making his uniform rather uncomfortably tight in the lower torso. This has never happened to him before.
Vegeta retreats a little further into the woods. That female is completely distracting and entirely too bewitching for his comfort!
The Prince usually doesn’t react physically this quickly and easily. His traumatic past had always made it difficult for him to react sexually. Even when his urges are compelling him to seek relief. It usually takes a good deal of effort and time for him to reach this stage of arousal.
He might be able to deal with this embarrassing problem a little easier if he puts some distance between himself and that overly attractive female of Kakarot‘s.
How is it that she can affect him this way so easily? It’s very puzzling!