[DBZ] Prodigal

[AndrewJTalon]

The little island was pristine and beautiful, an oasis in the endless blue sea. And it just added to Raditz's increasing anger and disgust with his younger brother. To think that this world would be so untouched! What, had Kakarrot gone native?

Well, given how strong that Namekian had been, perhaps it had been too much for him. Maybe his little brother had perished. The green slug man had been almost as powerful as he was, meaning Raditz had to be cautious around him. Still, he'd learned more. Enough to navigate. Enough to identify two other high power levels.

His scouter beeped, and Raditz frowned. The two levels were changing, growing stronger. From a mere 500 each, to... 1,500?! And a third was growing to nearly a thousand, in the same spot! A fourth was charging up too, just a little behind! He slowed, and began to descend down to the sandy beach of the little island. A small house, made of wood and carbon steel, sat on the island. The translator option in his scouter transcribed the words on the dwelling as "Kame (Turtle) House".

The door to the house opened, and a tall, spiky haired young man in orange clothing stepped out onto the grass. He was the spitting image of their father, and Raditz felt a tiny bit of relief that his brother still lived. A short native, in orange clothing as well but far shorter, balder, and... Noseless, stepped out with his brother. Kakarrot stared in curiosity, sizing his older brother up with a calm expression. As well he should: He was stronger than Raditz, he would be unworried as well. The short human was more wary, looking at Raditz as a potential threat. Raditz found himself smirking a bit: Maybe he was outmatched, but they were cautious. He could work with that.

He took a breath.

"It's been a long time, Kakarrot," he said. "My, how you've-"

Then the third person stepped out of the house, and Raditz's breath caught in his throat. His eyes widened as the small, female form walked out.

She too was dressed in organic fibers from this planet, a greenish-blue dress over a pink long sleeved shirt, held tight against her form by a matching pink sash. Her dark black eyes widened as well, recognition burning in her eyes. Her long, monkey-like tail stood up straight in shock.

"R... Raditz?" She gasped, her hands covering her mouth. Tears pearled at the corners of her eyes-The only eyes that had ever shown him kindness or affection. Raditz took a step back, his heart pounding hard.

"... M... Mother?!" He whispered.

"Who is this, Gine?" The short bald one asked.

"Why does he have a tail?" Kakarrot asked. Gine was shaking.

"H-He's Raditz... M-My eldest son... And your brother, Goku," she said. Kakarrot blinked, and stared at Raditz in amazement.

"Really? Wow...!" Kakarrot breathed.

Raditz opened his mouth, trying to say something. Trying to remember his spiel. He managed to lock onto it, and drag out the Plan.

"I... I am your big brother, Kakarrot. And I've come to-"

Gine's amazed face broke into a wide, happy smile and a joyous laugh, ringing in his ears like bells. She crossed the distance between them in an instance, and wrapped her deceptively strong arms around his waist. She sobbed happily into his chest, her tiny form burying herself in him.

"Raditz! Oh Gods, I thought you were dead! I thought-You're alive! You're alive!"

An ancient looking human wearing a heavy shell of some kind emerged, as did two female humans: One with light blue hair dressed in synthetic fabrics and looking very inquisitive, and a pretty blonde in far briefer clothing and carrying a projectile weapon. The blonde female had a fearsome look on her face... Until she sneezed, and her hair turned a dark purple. After that, she just looked confused.

Finally, a small boy in garish clothing with a tail wandered out, looking confusedly up at him too. That had to be Kakarrot's son.

Much confused murmuring and conversation ensued, as Gine just kept crying and smiling and sobbing over Raditz. Yet all of it faded as he slowly wrapped his arms around his small mother and hugged her back. It was a difficult motion, as he hadn't embraced anyone in... So long. Yet it made her happier.

"My baby boy... You-Look how big you are!" Gine said happily. She beamed up at him. "You're so strong, I can sense it!"

"I uh... Well," Raditz muttered. "I... I mean I'm-"

"I'm so happy-I can't even-!" Gine turned to the gathered humans and Kakarrot, and beamed. "Bulma! Bulma, please call everyone! Goku! Get Chichi here! Master Roshi-We need to throw a party! My eldest son is alive!"

The tension in the group eased a great deal. Bulma, the light blue haired one, beamed back and immediately pulled out a communicator to start making calls. Goku grinned and walked up to Raditz, patting him on the shoulder.

"It's great to meet you! You seem pretty strong-I can't wait to spar with you! And to hear about space! I'm an alien huh? Wow..."

"That explains a lot, huh Krillin?" Bulma muttered to the short bald one. Krillin shook his head in amazement.

"Wow... Aliens... First contact... Well! It could have gone worse. Like Independence Day or something," Krillin said. Raditz blinked at this, and back to his brother.

"Uh... Well, I would actually like to-"

"Eat? Me too! But that's all the time!" Kakarrot laughed. He grinned at the small boy. "Come on Gohan! Come over and say hi to your Uncle Raditz!"

"Come on Gohan!" Gine said, beaming. The little boy still hid behind the light blue haired woman, and wouldn't come. Gine beamed at Raditz. "Sorry, he's a bit shy."

"I uh... That's..." Raditz tried again to say something, but nothing came. He knew he should be disgusted at this hybrid creature, and its weakness, but...

Roshi laughed loudly, the old man nodding to the dark blue haired woman.

"Come on Launch! Let's get the beer and the meat cooking! Woo hoo!"

"Oh my, certainly Master Roshi! Though we should introduce ourselves first, right? That's the polite thing to do," she said. She walked up boldly to Raditz, and bowed as Gine pulled away. Raditz's hands were left stiff in mid air, unsure if they should hold onto his mother or pull back. The purple-blue haired woman smiled and bowed, which did let Raditz see part of her mammaries. That was nice.

"My name is Launch. It's nice to meet you!" She said formally. Gine took up a position at Raditz's side, her arm wrapping around his waist. She beamed up at him, and lightly elbowed him.

"On this planet, we bow to people as part of greetings," she said. "Go ahead Raditz!"

Raditz turned back to Launch, and managed to slowly bow his head. "I... I am Raditz," he said. "It is... Good to meet you?"

He looked at Gine, who beamed in approval. That felt good. Launch smiled back.

"You're just as handsome as Goku! Oh... Oh my, I'm so sorry," the female said, covering her blushing cheeks. "That was forward!"

Gine laughed. "You can be more forward with my son! He looks like he could use it! He's so tense!"

Much laughter. Kind, happy laughter. The kind he had never heard before. Launch turned and ran into the house, and soon the smell of meat sizzling over heat wafted through the air. The bald one went into the house, and came out with small, cold metal containers in his hands. He smiled up at Raditz, and offered one.

"Hey! I'm Krillin, Goku's best friend! Or uh, Kakarrot I guess?" He looked at Gine, who shrugged.

"He needed an Earth name to register for things, so Grandpa Gohan suggested it," she said.

"What can I say, I like it!" Goku said cheerfully. He saw Raditz's concern, and took one of the cans. "Try it!"

Raditz took a can, and studied it. "What... What is it?"

"It's called beer!" Krillin said cheerfully. "It's great! Try it!" He snapped open the can, and began drinking from it. Kakarrot followed suit, while Gine continued to smile up at her eldest son.

"Go on, son."

Raditz sipped the beer, and let the taste wash over his tongue. His eyes widened as he swallowed that gulp... And he began gulping it down eagerly.

"Good, huh?" Kakarrot said with a grin. The woman Launch came out with several sandwiches on a platter, all hot with a yeasty and meaty scent. She beamed as she walked up and offered the platter to the Saiyans. Gine took several, as did Kakarrot, while Krillin pulled one himself. That still left plenty for him. He took one, sniffed it. The smell was heavenly. He looked up at the smile of Launch, and the smiles of his mother and brother. He looked back at the sandwich.

"Don't worry," Launch said. "This is just an appetizer! I have a lot more coming!"

Raditz looked back at the sandwich, his scouter analyzing it. He brought the sandwich to his lips, and bit into it. He held back a groan of pleasure-It was even better than the beer. What had they put into this food?!

The scouter had no answers.

His mother and brother were strong and being kind to him. A hot girl was serving him beer and the most delicious food he'd ever had. He looked up at the sky, just knowing that Vegeta and Nappa were listening in. And who knew who else?

Gine pulled his face down to look in his eyes, her own orbs filled with concern. "Are you all right Raditz?"

"I... I'm just so... Shocked," Raditz said, being honest. "It's all so overwhelming."

Gine beamed. "It's okay," she said. "We've got all the time we need to catch up, and process things. The most important thing is that you're here, with us."

"But I need to tell you," Raditz began, "I need to-"

Gine shook her head, and cupped his cheek. "Tell me what, dear?" She asked.

Raditz stared at her for a long time. He reached up to his scouter, and turned it off.

"It can wait," he said.

- - -

Just a DBZ AU based on a lot of MasakoX's What If? Series.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -

More strange humans arrived. Some tiny midget with pale skin and red cheeks who was always floating around and gave Raditz a strange feeling in his mind. Psychics, urgh. His name was Chiaotzu. Eventually he floated over to have something called 'cake', which was amazing-Both in that he left him alone, and that it was delicious.

His friend was better: A tall, bald man who seemed to eschew shirts, and had a third eye in the middle of his forehead. He was very stoic, and was named Tien Shinhan. Apparently, he was an assassin at some point. At the moment he was having a beer and chatting with another human that had arrived: Yamcha. He was mated to Bulma, and was annoying.

Thankfully the human had gotten the message and moved off from Raditz after greeting him with some platitudes.

At last, he got to meet Kakarrot's wife... Chichi. She was a princess of some sort, and was quite gracious and polite. Though rather fierce, which Raditz approved of.

"Yamcha! Keep your feet off the coffee table!" Chichi ordered. Yamcha pulled his feet off, and coughed.

"Sorry!"

Chichi huffed, and turned back to Raditz. He was sitting on a couch between Kakarrot and his mother. Chichi was on the other side of Kakarrot, little Gohan sitting in her lap and shooting him curious looks when he thought his uncle wasn't looking back. Raditz had to admit, he was shooting a lot of curious looks himself. Chichi raised an eyebrow at this.

"Something wrong with my son, Raditz?" She asked, a hint of warning in her tone. Raditz shook his head.

"No, not at all," he insisted. "It's just... A Saiyan hybrid child! That's incredible. We've never actually met any other species we could er, breed with."

"Oh yeah!" Kakarrot said with a grin. "That part was really fun! And I really like to do it with her when we-"

"Goku!" Gine and Chichi both admonished him. Kakarrot winced, and Raditz couldn't help but smirk a little in simple sibling schadenfreude. Krillin came by and sat down on the couch facing them, leaning back with a grin.

"So, turns out Bulma isn't single," he said. "Though you never know, maybe Yamcha will screw up too many times."

"Krillin," Gine said warningly, "you shouldn't be acting like a vulture you know."

"I'm just saying," Krillin said, holding his hands up. "So, Raditz: How are you finding the Earth so far?"

Raditz found himself drinking more beer, and he shook his head. "It's very nice," he said. "The food is incredible."

He sounded neutral enough, he thought. But his mother, despite the years of being apart, was looking at him in deep concern.

"Raditz... What's wrong?" She asked.

Raditz worked his jaw. He stared intently at his mother. The entirety of what he was doing, what would happen, seemed to come over him like the weight of an Oozaru's foot. "I can't... I... I need my space."

He got up and walked out of the house, past all of the chatting humans. Out into the cold night, underneath the twinkling stars. The music, the noise, it all faded against the rushing of blood through his ears.

He had to fly. He had to get away. He had to run. He could fake his death-yes! He could make it look like he had been bested by the native lifeforms and died! That he had found no trace of his brother, and he was gone! Then Nappa and Vegeta...

"... would still come here because they'll want to fight whatever killed me," Raditz sighed.

Gine cleared her throat behind him, and Raditz spun around. His mother stood there, her tail waving slightly in agitation. Goku was right by her, as was Chichi. All of them looking very concerned. None more than Gine.

"Raditz," Gine said softly. "Just tell me what's going on."

Raditz clenched his fists tightly. Gine continued.

"You still have a Freeza Force Scouter... You're still part of them, aren't you? Even after he destroyed our planet."

Raditz's jaw dropped. He stared in shock at his mother. "You-You knew?!" He gasped. "How-?!"

"Dad warned Mom," Goku said. "We had a message and everything."

Gine rummaged in her dress, and pulled out a holographic disk. She held it out to Raditz, and he shakily took it. He activated it, and looked at the holographic projection of his father. He was injured and ragged, but still determined. Still brave.

"... Freeza's afraid of us... Afraid of our power," Bardock said, "he's going to destroy us. All of us... Get off the planet. Get out of here. And keep Kakarrot safe..."

The hologram ended. Raditz growled, and his grip tightened on the holographic disk. He took a deep breath, and looked into the eyes of his mother, and his brother.

"... He killed father... He destroyed our world... I always suspected, there was enough time to evacuate but..." He took another deep breath. He shut his eyes. "Mother... Brother... I've been under Prince Vegeta and Nappa for all this time. I've been their slave! They've treated me like a joke! I told them I could bring back Kakarrot as another warrior! Just to be another slave! They know you're here..." He took deep breaths, calming himself. "And if they come, you'll be...!"

He couldn't finish it the thought. All of this kindness and generosity, and he didn't deserve a bit of it. Nevermind Saiyans being soft, this was his mother.

Gine smiled gently, as she reached out to take Raditz's hand. "I've faced worse," she said. "And let's be honest... I always expected the Freeza Force to catch up with me sooner or later."

"How long will it take for them to get here?" Kakarrot asked, curious. Raditz sighed.

"If they leave right now...? About one year on this planet."

Kakarrot grinned. "Hee... Then one year to train to get strong enough!"

"Wha... Are you an idiot?!" Raditz demanded. "You can't get strong enough to beat them in one year! It's impossible!"

Chichi smiled gently. "I think that word's lost all meaning the moment I met these two," she said. Gine shared her son's smile, though hers was more focused.

"Raditz... We don't have a lot of choice, do we?" She asked. She held out her hand. "Your scouter please?"

Raditz stared in confusion. "My scouter-?"

"Raditz? The scouter, now," Gine stated firmly, her Mom Look at full power. Raditz slowly complied, pulling the scouter off and handing it over. Gine put it on, and turned it back on. She opened the communications channel, after fumbling with the controls briefly.

"Ooh, I was never good with these things," she muttered. "Ahem. Prince Vegeta, I call a meeting of the clans to discuss meteor issues. Over and out." She then turned off the scouter, as Raditz gaped in disbelief at her.

"Wha-What did you do?!" Raditz cried. "We're going to all die!"

Kakarrot grinned. "Ooh... We're gonna meet them?"

"I essentially called a diplomatic meeting in the old Saiyan way," Gine said. "If Vegeta remembers his old ritualistic training, he will come to a meeting of the clans to discuss issues of importance to the Saiyans." She nodded. "And we will meet and convince him to join us. After all, we're not opposed to defeating Freeza. I think we're quite keen on that."

Raditz's jaw dropped even harder. "Mother!" He gasped. "Have you lost your mind?! We'll have one year! ONE! YEAR!"

Gine smiled. "Then we'd better get started, shouldn't we?"

Kakarrot cheered. "Woohoo! Training! Isn't that awesome, Chichi?"

Kakarrot's wife chuckled. "Yes dear. Quite awesome."

Raditz was shaking his head slowly. His mother took his suddenly numb hand in hers, still beaming.

"Come along dear. Let's get to work. First stop? Kami's Lookout."

"What's... A Kami?" Asked Raditz.

"Basically God," Kakarrot explained.

Well... Now he knew why his mother and little brother had taken to this strange world: They were completely insane.

- - -

 

[AndrewJTalon]

And now, a brief flashback...

- - -

During the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament...

Well... That had been humiliating. Young Chiaotzu had been so sure he could win! Master Shen was so disappointed. He sat glumly in the locker room behind the fighting ring, the cheers of the crowd still ringing outside for Krillin. It seemed like Son Goku and his friends were nothing but trouble.

Someone stopped in front of him. Their thoughts were quiet, but feminine and reassuring. Chiaotzu looked up... And up...

Long legs. Beautiful curves. A large, shapely bust. And a kind, beautiful face underneath spiky black hair. A long tail flicked behind the gorgeous woman, as she smiled gently down at him.

"Huh...?" Chiaotzu managed.

The woman reached down, and pulled Chiaotzu up into a hug. His entire face burned bright red, as the part of his brain not overwhelmed by boobies! was impressed with how strong she was!

"It's all right, child," she said soothingly, in a voice that had to have come from an angel. "You did very well! You are a strong little warrior. Keep up your training and you'll be just fine!" She beamed at him, and let him down-All too soon, in his opinion. Chiaotzu swallowed, and nodded numbly.

As far as Chiaotzu was concerned, she was The Most Beautiful Woman Ever. Period. All others were done. Forever.

"MOM! Hey Mom!"

Chiaotzu looked over at the intruder, his eyes narrowed. Darn it, that Son Goku had to interrupt everything good-Wait, Mom?!

"Hey sweetie!" The Most Beautiful Woman Ever laughed, embracing her son happily. He hugged back, laughing, cuddling with her. Goku looked at Chiaotzu and grinned.

"Oh, hey Chiaotzu! That was a funny match you had with Krillin! But it was also neat! I'd love to fight you sometime!"

"It would be interesting to spar with you, if your master would approve?" The Most Beautiful Woman in the World said. Chiaotsu, still blushing, nodded eagerly.

"Y-Yes! Yes! Absolutely!"

"Good!" The Most Beautiful Woman in the World said, beaming. "I'm Gine, by the way."

The angel had a name! Chiaotzu nodded furiously.

"I-I'm Chiaotzu! ... You knew that." He got up to bow... And ended up flipping himself into the nearby wall. "Ow!"

"Ha! You're funny, Chiaotzu," Goku said with a laugh. One his mother shared. She reached out and helped Chiaotzu back up. His blush only intensified.

"Y-Yeah... Funny," he mumbled.

"Come on Goku, let's get ready for your next match," Gine said warmly. Her son took her hand and they happily walked off. Chiaotzu watched them go, his eyes locked onto Gine's swaying, beautiful... Tail. Yes. Her tail. Because it was unusual. Nothing else.

Tearing pouring from his eyes, Chiaotzu clenched his fists and looked to the heavens.

I'm sorry Master Shen... I can't continue to follow the path of the Solitary Crane! For I...

Have found...

MY WAIFU!

- - -

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Unnumbered Freeza Planet


"Ugh! For such weak, soft beings, these creatures are quite tough and difficult," Vegeta spat, the fried corpse of one of the defenders of this world at his feet. He tossed the leg aside, making a face. "Yech!"

His taller subordinate, the bald and bearded Nappa, just laughed.

"I told you! You always overcook it!" Nappa chuckled, still digging into his own alien. "Ya gotta sear the outside then cook it more slowly!"

"Bah, that can't make it that much better," Vegeta snorted.

"It does when Raditz cooked for us," Nappa said. Vegeta sneered, and raised his voice in mockery.

"'I soaked it in it's own blood for an hour! That brings out the flavor!' I suppose his worthless mother had to teach him something."

Their scouters beeped. A new message had arrived: A compilation of what Raditz's scouter had been recording while the lowly Saiyan was unaware.

"Well, let's see how he fucked up this time," Vegeta sighed. He hit play and the two began to watch.

Vegeta made a face. "Ugh... This planet is so picturesque and wholesome! I want to burn it to ashes on principle!"

"Look Vegeta! A Namekian," Nappa said. "Haha! Strong enough Raditz didn't even try to fight!"

""Oh please Mister Slugman, don't hurt me!'" Vegeta mocked, and both laughed hard. The recording continued. Vegeta raised an eyebrow.

"Huh... Kakarrot is actually stronger than his brother! Not by much but enough. Too bad he looks like a moron. All orange, who would-?"

The appearance of Gine made him pause. Nappa whistled.

"Wow! A real live Saiyan female, Vegeta! And look: Her boobs got bigger!"

"How?!" Vegeta demanded. "I remember her-She wasn't like that at all!"

"You know her, Vegeta?"

Several years ago, in the palace of King Vegeta, Prince Vegeta was watching his father honor Bardock's gang. He made a face: a bunch of low class weaklings.

"Yes, Lord Freeza has said you are effective," King Vegeta said. "Good work."

"Thank you, your majesty," Bardock replied, nodding slightly but not bowing. It was disrespectful-Vegeta seethed! His father deserved more respect!

"So, where is Prince Sandwich-I mean, Vegeta?" Asked an unpleasant and butch looking Saiyan woman. A smaller, slighter female, standing in the back, tried to shush her.

"Selapya! Don't!" She hissed. King Vegeta looked confused.

"Why did you call him Sandwich?"

Selapya grinned defiantly up at the King. "Because he's inbred!"

KIng Vegeta glared. The rest of Bardock's squad... Laughed. The slight Saiyan girl smiled nervously. Bardock just smirked slightly. Prince Vegeta seethed. His father... Did nothing but shrug.

"Well, hope you enjoyed that joke, because it was your-"

"She is vital to our squad, Your Highness," Bardock said quickly. "Her death would make our effectiveness go down."

King Vegeta scowled. "... Fine. Now get out of here."

The low class scum left, the slight Saiyan woman muttering at Selapya as they walked out.

"You shouldn't have done that, Selapya! It was stupid!"

Selapya laughed. "Gine! You came up with the joke!"

In the present, Vegeta growled as he heard Gine's request for a meeting. He stood up.

"Nappa. Prepare the pods. We're going to Earth to kill everyone."

"Even Raditz's hot mom?"

"ESPECIALLY HER!"

- - -

 

[Tryglaw]

Definitely following this one. Please keep it up.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

The journey up to the Lookout was rather short. His mother of course could fly, as could he. Kakarrot and his wife could too, but instead they took a bright yellow cloud. Kakarrot called it the "Flying Nimbus". It kept up with them though, he gave it that. They soon reached a gigantic floating stone platform, glowing white underneath the light of the partial moon and the countless stars above them.

So... It wasn't like Raditz hadn't met beings of high power levels playing at being God over planets before. But this Kami was actually quite strong, and exuded an air of calm serenity rather than unearned arrogance. Like Vegeta.

The ancient Namekian stood on his floating platform calmly, his face grave, as the Saiyans and their family members approached. At his side was a strange, plump black creature, in white and red clothing with bright lips and an unsettling stare. Not that Raditz let his consternation show.

Gine immediately greeted the ancient Namekian, smiling widely. "Hello Kami! Hello Mister Popo!"

Kakarrot followed suit, grinning his silly grin as he waved. "How are you guys doing?"

The Namekian's grave expression shifted into a gentle smile, filled with genuine affection. "I am quite fine, Gine, Goku, Chichi and Raditz I believe?"

"Yes, I am Raditz," the Saiyan warrior replied. He hesitated. "My mission to your world was-"

The old Namekian held up his hand. "I am aware of your compatriots, and their power levels. They are on their way here as we speak."

Raditz gaped. "How did you know that?! Did you read my mind?" Psychics always unsettled Raditz. That little toad Guldo would always use his abilities to torment and humiliate him. The old Namekian's gentle smile didn't waver.

"No. I did a few inquiries with my friends in the Otherworld," Kami said. "The moment you arrived on the world though, I was aware of you. I am thankful you did not try to fight Gine and Goku-It would have been quite destructive."

"Would have been fun," Kakarrot mumbled, looking petulant. Gine sighed, and shook her head. She looked at Kami imploringly.

"So, how long do we have?" She asked. Kami sighed.

"Approximately one year." He looked intently at them. "And your powers, while formidable, are not sufficient to face them now."

"We're aware," Gine said gently. "We're going to ask Bulma for help, of course. And we're going to get everyone together, but we were hoping you might be able to aid us more directly?"

"Yeah! Can you train us like you did back in the old days, Kami?" Kakarrot asked eagerly.

Kami sighed. "There is very little else I can teach you," he admitted. "At this point it, would be insufficient to help you achieve your aims."

"Also, you are aware... I mean, you do know you are a Namekian, right?" Raditz blurted out. Kami smirked slightly, the aged lines on his green face shifting in irony.

"I am aware of what I am, yes," he said to Raditz with a nod. "I'm surprised you know of my race. I was unaware they were well known."

"Mostly as a legend," Raditz admitted. "And a few space pirates. Strong enough to make trouble for certain parts of the PTO."

"Hrm, I see," Kami rumbled. "I would like to talk more about this later. For now though, I must make some inquiries about getting you all better training. I will have something for you by tomorrow, at the latest."

"Yeah, it is getting pretty late," Chichi admitted. She shifted the young Gohan in her arms, who was already looking sleepy. She smiled at Raditz. "We do have a spare room and bed, Raditz! If you'd like to stay?"

Raditz nodded. "Yes."

Gine gave him a hard look, and Raditz blinked. "What?" He asked.

"What do we say?" Gine prompted. Raditz grimaced.

"I don't know-"

"Thank you!" Kakarrot said cheerfully. "That's what you say!"

"Thank you," Raditz managed, flushing a bit in embarrassment. His mother's smile eased things a bit though.

Kami nodded. "Mm. I will contact you all tomorrow, then."

Kakarrot took off, carrying his wife to the edge of the Looktout platform. Below, the Flying Nimbus waited. He turned his head and gave Raditz a big grin.

"See you at home, Raditz! Mom'll show you the way, right?"

"Of course I will," Gine said with a smile. She wrapped an arm around her son's larger bicep, beaming at him. "We have a lot to talk about."

Raditz found a small smile growing on his face. "Yes, we do," he said with a nod.

While the future was uncertain, underneath the glimmer of moonlight with his loving mother, he couldn't help feeling some happiness. For the first time in a long time.

- - -

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -

Normally, Raditz couldn't care less about the rotation of a planet, or the rising of its sun. He had fought on so many worlds with so many kinds of suns, moons, and other primaries it had all begun to blend together. Just another world to decimate for Freeza. Just another chance for Vegeta and Nappa to use him as their punching bag, meatshield, and slave.

If he was lucky, in that order.

Now though? A night of talking with his mother. A night of learning what she and his little brother had experienced here.

Yes, today, the sun rising over the horizon was different. He found in himself... A sense of hope. Even with the looming threat of Vegeta and Nappa coming after him, he felt hope.

And as the light began to shine red and purple through the window of his room-his room!-Raditz felt another equally strong and almost unfamiliar sensation: Anticipation!

Not just for the fight, but also for breakfast-Which he could already smell down below with his keen Saiyan nose. Kakarrot's mate must be up, and so...

He got up and opened the door, now dressed in some larger, lighter clothing his mother had obtained for him: A black linen shirt and orange pants. His armor was lying by the wayside, though he kept his Saiyan boots. He walked to what he was sure was Kakarrot and his mate's room, and dramatically kicked the door open.

"KAKARROT!" He shouted. "THE WORLD HAS TURNED AND NOW WE TRAIN-!"

His face turned red... And he was soon barraged with an assortment of household items and feminine screaming.

"GET OUT! OUT OUT OUUUUUUTTTTT!"

Raditz quickly shut the door and hurried away, down the stairs to the kitchen. His face was red in embarrassment, a fact he tried to hide as he saw his mother sitting at the table.

"A sock on the door on this planet usually means not to barge in, dear," Gine said calmly, sipping some kind of hot beverage from a small ceramic mug. Raditz's flush would not go away as he scowled.

"I-I didn't know that!" Raditz spat. "How-how could he-with his own-I mean-There's training to do!" He protested. Gine chuckled, and continued to sip the beverage. It smelled of herbs and sugar, and the steam from it wafted gently into the air.

"One thing you learn on Earth is to appreciate everything that exists besides fighting," she said. She stood up and held the cup in her hand. "Come along, breakfast time." She headed outside, to a small picnic table. Raditz followed, and began to drool: There was so much food on the table, and it all looked delicious! The smells were enticing in every way his overwhelmed senses could process. He walked up and sat down at the table. Gine piled on the food onto several plates, and set them all down in front of him. She beamed.

"Go ahead! Eat up!" She said. Raditz dug in... And let his Saiyan instincts take over. The food tasted even better than it smelled! The proteins, the carbohydrates, the lipids, the sugars-All seemed created to reward Raditz for every bite. The drinks were just as good-Something fruity, he thought? He sighed happily, leaning back and patting his belly. The sun was a bit higher, as he had lost track of time eating such a smorgasbord. He empty plates were stacked in front of him, yet there was still so much more! And there was his mother, having finished her own breakfast-Nearly as large, but she had eaten it in a far neater manner.

"Wow," Raditz breathed, "all this delicious food... For a cook like you, this world must have been like heaven!"

"Oh, I quite enjoy it," Gine said with a smile. "I'm always discovering new dishes and new methods of cooking!"

Raditz's mind and heart may have still been conflicted, but his stomach was already declaring that Freeza, Vegeta and Nappa could fornicate themselves with one another. This world was never going to fall to them.

"Well," Raditz said, rising from the table, "I'm ready to spar. I'll uh-"

Gine rose from the table and wiped her lips daintily with a napkin. She then set it down and smiled at her eldest.

"I did cook them breakfast so they could sleep in. Wouldn't you like to warm up a bit before Kakarrot is ready?"

Raditz nodded slowly, and smiled. "I would like that," he said.

Gine flew up into the air, and Raditz followed. She led him to some airspace a fair distance away from the Son house, above the mountains. Raditz got into a fighting stance, a smile on his face. His mother was smiling just the same, gentle and kind.

"Now," Gine said, "let's avoid energy attacks for the time being. Just physical arts. Come at me."

Raditz nodded, and lunged. He wasn't even close to his full power, just a few cautious, probing punches!

His mother... Didn't even move, just calmly deflecting the punches with one hand. Her smile turned into a frown.

"Raditz," she said, a hint of reproachment in her voice, "what are you doing?"

"Huh?" Raditz paused. "Well... I mean, this is a warm up..."

Gine sighed. "Raditz, you are a Saiyan. I am a Saiyan. And I may not enjoy bloodshed and violence, but I do appreciate a good fight."

"I... It's just that, I mean, you were always so..." Raditz winced as he remembered every terrible thing Vegeta, Nappa and any other Saiyans had said about his mother. "... Soft."

Gine raised an eyebrow. "On Vegeta-sei? Yes, I was. But, things do change."

"Well," Raditz muttered. He felt so strange. Yes, he was a Saiyan and yes he loved a good fight, but... Years of fighting Vegeta and Nappa just to be humiliated flashed through his mind. His own mother, the only being in the universe who had ever shown him kindness... Wanted a fight? It was incomprehensible!

Gine continued to smile gently. "It's all right dear," she said. "You never have to hold back with me. With anything. So please," she floated backwards, one hand held behind her back as she reached out with her other, "let loose!"

Raditz sucked in a deep breath. He nodded. "All right," he muttered. He charged up to full, his aura flaring brilliantly! He charged for his mother, a fist speeding its way right for her face-!

WHAM!

And... Now he was in a crater. On his back. Staring up, stunned. His mother descended, her tail twitching as she smiled down at him. Her eyes crinkled in gentle mirth.

"See what I mean?" She asked.

"... Yes," he managed.

- - -

Last edited: Yesterday at 9:03 PM

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -

Nappa was usually one to go with Vegeta's ideas. He had raised the boy into a man, after all, and guided his development as he thought his father would have wanted. But as they were flying in their pods, ascending into the heavens, he felt the need to argue his case.

This was of course made far easier by the fact that Vegeta could not blast him without wrecking his own pod.

"Vegeta, the ship computers agree," Nappa argued, "that brat was a perfect hybrid. No defects, no unwanted mutations-We can reproduce with Earth women!"

"What, and pollute the purity of the Saiyan race?" Vegeta sneered.

"There are so few of us left, Vegeta," Nappa reminded his Prince. "The Earthers might just be an offshoot of us Saiyans anyway! A lot of ships went missing over the centuries we fled Salad."

"What? And put up with an entire planet of weaklings? Dilute our granduer with their filth? I'd rather we all die out first!" Vegeta scoffed. Nappa could imagine the Prince even now crossing his arms in a deep, stubborn scowl.

"You could always reproduce with Raditz and Kakarrot's mother," Nappa suggested. "I can take the Earth women!"

Vegeta cursed loudly over the communication link.

"Sully my Royal heritage with that low class scullery maid?! NEVER!" Vegeta spat. "Besides, while they may have cobbled together the equipment to have that filthy, disgusting abomination, there's no way there's a birthing chamber that could handle MY progeny!"

Nappa blinked. "Er... Vegeta, we could just make babies without birthing chambers. You know, with sex."

There was a long pause over the communication channel. Then:

"What the hell is sex?!"

It was going to be a long voyage, Nappa reflected, as their pods leaped into faster than light drive.

- - -

 

[Tryglaw]

Awww, Vegeta doesn't know his way around bed sheets, how...amusing.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -

The sun was now fully over the horizon, and the sky had turned a brilliant blue. It let Raditz see what he was doing far better, but that was the only improvement in his situation.

His mother was very powerful, Raditz had to admit. Even when he was going all out, she was able to dodge or deflect everything he threw at her. His kicks, punches and body blows rarely even got close to her! He was already feeling winded, and yet she barely looked strained. Still smiling in encouragement, which frustrated him even more.

He tried pushing himself further, his aura flaring in fury as he rushed her. He dropped down and flared his power as much as possible, shooting right up to try and strike from below!

Gine again shifted out of the way, just enough to grasp his wrist and open palm thrust his shoulder, sending him spinning away. He recovered, and shot back at her, throwing multiple punches as hard and fast as he could! The miniature sonic booms left from the passage of his fists shook his mother’s short hair, as she deftly dodged around his strikes!

He reared his arms up to bring down a hammer blow, but an open palm strike from Gine to his solar plexus immediately revealed that this was a bad idea. He spun away, the wind knocked out of him. He held his chest, heaving hard to regain his breathing.

“Are you all right, Raditz?” Gine asked, in genuine concern. His pride rallied, as a hundred ‘sparring matches’ with Vegeta and Nappa forced his anger through his veins. The red mist descended, as he held up his hands, and charged his ki.

Before he could process his rage, twin pink beams erupted from his hands! His Double Sunday raced for his mother, and Raditz was shaken out of his anger by shock and fear! It was pure reflex!

His worries, again, were misplaced-Gine formed a bright, blue blade of ki from her hand, and swung it to deflect the first blast-High up into the sky. The other blast was knocked back onto a similar trajectory, arcing towards the heavens. Raditz was left breathing hard, his emotions a jumble, as Gine calmly flew up to him.

“Raditz?” She asked. Raditz shook his head, his sweat pouring off his brow.

“Haa… Haa… I’m fine,” he said. “Just… Memories.” He shook his head, scowling a bit. “I couldn’t even touch you…!”

“Everyone begins differently, Raditz,” Gine said gently. She reached out and rested a hand on his. “And after all, this is the entire point of training. To improve.” She smiled.

Raditz frowned. “And Kakarrot? Is he as strong as you?”

Gine flushed with pride. “Much stronger,” she admitted. Raditz shook his head, and allowed himself an ironic chuckle. Maybe being cautious wasn’t such a bad trait for a Saiyan, after all. “But I’m sure you’ll get there,” she said, “for now? Why don’t we take a brief break?”

Raditz was going to protest: After all, he could see the bright spot of orange rising into the sky from the Son House that was his brother. However, his sore, exhausted body was already protesting far more loudly. So begrudgingly, he nodded. Kakarrot soon flew into range, a bright grin on his face.

“Hey Raditz! Sorry about this morning. Chichi and I were… Ya know,” he shrugged with a grin, “busy.”

“Ah, yeah,” Raditz managed, “I saw.”

He would not blush. He would not.

Kakarrot was already getting into a fighting stance. “So! Want to try fighting with me now?”

His brother’s earnest anticipation was heartening. His mother’s tightened grip on his bicep though was insistent. He shook his head.

“After a bit of rest, Kakarrot,” he said. Gine beamed at her youngest son.

“Why not get Chichi up here to spar, Goku?” She suggested. “You two always enjoy that.”

Goku nodded. “Sounds good!” He turned his head back towards his house, and took a deep breath. “HEY CHICHI!!!”

Goku’s yell was so loud, it seemed to make the air shake. Raditz had to cover his ears, as Gine sighed.

A few moments passed, before Kakarrot’s mate rocketed up from their house with a reddish aura. Gohan was in her arms, holding onto his mother for dear life. Chichi scowled angrily.

“GOKU! DON’T SHOUT THAT LOUD!” Chichi bellowed back, with the same force and volume. Little Gohan was also holding his ears, wincing hard. Chichi took another deep breath and shook her head. “What is it?” She asked. Goku grinned.

“Wanna do some sparring?” He asked eagerly, tapping his fists together. “Raditz has to rest, and Mom can hold Gohan, so… Please?” He pressed his hands together, looking like he was able to go onto his knees. If there was ground underneath him, anyway.

Chichi sighed, but nodded. Gine floated over, and took little Gohan into her arms. Gine floated back, and Raditz joined her as they got clear.

Chichi assumed a fighting stance not dissimilar to Gine’s, and ignited her own Ki Blade-Though this one was a bright, vibrant red. Kakarrot’s grin seemed ready to split his face as he assumed his own fighting stance. In a moment, they blasted for one another, and began throwing punches, kicks, elbow and knee strikes so quickly they soon were rendered a blur! Raditz gaped in astonishment as the two moved so quickly he could barely keep up!

Gohan was watching intently as well, a bright smile on his youthful face.

“Wow,” the little boy said, “that’s so cool… Hey Uncle Raditz! Can you move that fast?” He looked at Raditz in curiosity. Raditz scowled a bit.

“Not yet,” he grumbled. “Can you?”

His nephew shook his head.

“No, not yet,” he said.

Well, at least there was that, Raditz thought to himself as he focused his eyes. His little brother’s brat-er, son, wasn’t outstripping him in power. That would have just been embarrassing.

“Try pushing more ki to your brain,” Gine advised her eldest son. “That might help.”

“Er, sure,” Raditz said. He focused, and he felt… More light headed. Controlling his power so minutely was not something he was used to, so he struggled a bit. That said, all that focus paid off-He was able to see Kakarrot and Chichi as more than blurs.

Kakarrot’s strikes at first seemed wild, little better than wild, aggressive flailing… Yet Raditz soon saw a method in his little brother’s apparent madness. He was herding his mate and boxing her in with his greater reach, forcing her to strike back-But only where he wanted her to. She thus had to either withdraw or be trapped, or carry through with the attack and try to adapt on the fly.

Chichi’s own fighting style was far more graceful-Swinging her legs, arms and entire body in tight, controlled arcs. She thrust with her ki blade, never swung it-Always seeking a vulnerable point and trying to force Kakarrot to go on the defense.

Raditz raised an eyebrow.

“So… You approved of this match?” Raditz asked, not wanting to be impolite. Gine beamed, and helped adjust Gohan in her arms a bit.

“Enthusiastically,” she said.

“I can see why,” Raditz admitted softly.

Chichi changed her tactics abruptly, boosting herself with a ki burst from her feet to push herself into a spinning hammer kick. Kakarrot managed to block the strike with his crossed arms, and let loose a powerful kick right into Chichi’s side. This did connect, and sent his wife tumbling down to the ground below. She landed hard, a boom announcing the formation of a cloud of dust that shot into the air. Raditz winced despite himself, and looked over at his mother and Gohan: Both seemed rather calm.

“CHICHI! YOU OKAY?” Kakarrot shouted down. The dust cleared as a huge geyser of water erupted out of the crater. A coughing, mud covered figure emerged, getting up onto her feet. She wiped the mud from her face, and shot the fiercest, angriest glare she could up at Kakarrot.

It was intense enough even Raditz had to consciously resist the urge to fly away. Far away. His younger brother, however…

“Hahahahahaha! Chichi! You look so funny!” Kakarrot laughed. Chichi growled, audible even up here.

"GOKU!" Chichi bellowed. Kakarrot shrugged as best he could, still holding his stomach as he laughed.

"I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I can't help it! You look so funny! Hahahaha!"

Gine sighed softly. Raditz was looking confused: His mother didn’t seem upset by this fight between Kakarrot and his mate. He opened his mouth, but Gine shook her head.

“Wait for it,” she said. Gohan was just watching with amazement himself.

Below, Chichi snarled.

“OH YEAH?!” She pulled her hands back, forming them into a clamshell. Blue Ki sparked into existence and burned into a sphere between her palms.

"KA... ME... HA... ME…” She thrust her hands skywards, “HAAAAA!"

A beam of bright blue ki erupted from her hands, and Kakarrot’s form was engulfed in the blast. When it passed, Kakarrot was still there… And covered in smoke as his torn, ragged clothing burnt. Raditz could see some small fires on his shoulders.

Chichi herself gaped up in shock. Kakarrot was equally shocked, eyes wide. He descended down to the crater, which was filling up rapidly with hot water. He landed right in front of his wife, who was suddenly looking sheepish.

"Oh God, Goku!” Chichi bawled, near tears, “I'm so sorry, I lost my temper..."

"Chichi,” Kakarrot began, “how long have you known how to do that?"

Chichi tapped her fingers together awkwardly.

"Um... That was my first successful attempt…” She shrugged. “I was working on it for our anniversary in a few weeks, and now I've ruined the surprise-and your gi-"

Kakarrot abruptly embraced his wife, and lifted her up into the air with a happy shout.

“THAT WAS GREAT!”

Chichi’s face burned bright red.

"Oh, well... I mean, it's not as good as yours-" She began, but Kakarrot again interrupted her.

“Are you kidding?! That was way better than my first Kamehameha!" He grinned. Chichi shyly smiled.

"You think it was good?" She asked. Kakarrot nodded hard.

“Oh yeah! You'll get even better with practice! I’m so proud of you!”

"I did this for you, Goku. Just to make you happy,” Chichi admitted emotionally. Kakarrot’s smile became even warmer.

"I'm so lucky to have you in my life Chichi..."

Chichi’s expression changed from adoration, to hunger. The kind Raditz had only seen on ravenous alpha predators.

“Gokuuu,” she cooed… Just before she pounced him into the hot water.

"Now is the time to go do something else. For a while. Now," Gine said firmly, turning and flying away. Gohan was confused.

“What are they doing?” He asked.

“More sparring,” Gine said.

“But-Can’t I watch?” Gohan asked. Gine shook her head.

“No.”

“But why?”

“It’s very private,” she said. She looked over her shoulder. “Raditz! Come along!”

Raditz turned to follow... Blushing heavily. He hadn’t meant to watch but Kakarrot and his mate were so… Shameless!

- - -

They made it back to Kakarrot’s little house. Gohan was soon distracted from his parents’ “sparring” thanks to a local flying reptile of some kind. Soon he was chasing the creature around the yard, laughing happily. Raditz and Gine sat at the picnic table, watching him go. Raditz shook his head.

“Mother,” he admitted, “I still have so many questions. About… How you got here. How you survived…”

Gine smiled at her eldest son. “Well,” she said, “now is as good a time as any… What do you want to know first?”

Raditz shook his head. “How did you even go with Kakarrot to this planet, anyway?”

Gine shrugged, and smiled apologetically. “I was putting Kakarrot into the pod, when I accidentally hit the hatch closure button,” she admitted. “It bumped me into the ship, and the auto-launch sequence activated. By the time I’d gotten up into the seat, we were already out of the atmosphere.” She chuckled softly without any mirth. “It was the kind of mistake I made around mechanical devices all the time. Still do, really.”

Raditz couldn’t help a short bark of laughter. “Hahaha…! That… That is funny,” he admitted. “Still, you could have sent out a distress beacon or a-”

“Or anything else that might have alerted Freeza to our presence?” Gine asked sharply. Raditz winced.

All right, that was a stupid question.

“I’m sorry,” Raditz admitted. “I just… If I’d known you were alive, I’d have come here sooner. I wish I had… I wish you’d contacted me.”

All those years of being Vegeta and Nappa’s slave, while Kakarrot was living a happy life on this planet… It ate at him, far more than he thought it would. He wanted to be angry at his mother, to blame her. Yet even here, he was cautious, letting her explain herself.

“So do I,” Gine said, reaching out to grasp his larger hands in hers. “But please understand Raditz: Bardock told me that Freeza was going to kill all of us. As far as I knew, you were dead too. I couldn’t risk anything that might have led Freeza’s forces to us…” She closed her eyes tightly, tears peeking out at the corners. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

The pain in her voice robbed Raditz’s anger of any more power. He shook his head, and squeezed her hands between his own. He took a deep breath, and nodded slowly.

“I know,” he said. “I know… It’s all right.”

They sat there in silence for a long time, only the sounds of Gohan’s happy laughter and the strange winged lizard’s chirps filling the air. Raditz took another deep breath, and smiled at his mother.

“You two though… You’ve become so strong on this planet,” he said. “How? How did that happen?”

“If I’m honest,” Gine said with a sigh, “for the longest time I actively avoided fighting of any kind. I did learn how to fight from Grandpa Gohan. He was the man who took Goku and I in when we first landed. He adopted us, as it were. He was a martial artist-A warrior who defended the weak.”

Raditz nodded. Gine sucked in another breath, her thoughts wandering back to the past.

“He gave Kakarrot his Earth name, by the way,” she explained. “Anyway, Goku went on lots of adventures, and learned more fighting arts. I was very proud of him, going out into the world and helping people. And how strong he grew. I thought to myself, if any problems arose… Any threats to the Earth, he could handle them.” She trailed off, then resumed with some effort.

“Then came Demon King Piccolo… And suddenly? I couldn’t hide any longer…”

- - -

This kind of grew into its own thing, so the flashback to the King Piccolo Arc will be next time.

 

[Urabrask Revealed]

The King Piccolo arc... I remember King Piccolo overthrew the current king and started destroying whole territories in intervalls.
Was it there that she had to reveal herself and fight against him?

 

[AndrewJTalon]

The King Piccolo arc... I remember King Piccolo overthrew the current king and started destroying whole territories in intervalls.
Was it there that she had to reveal herself and fight against him?

Yes it is.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Back after the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament...

- - -

The last twenty four hours had been like one of her nightmares. Gine had those every so often, even years after arriving on Earth. Sometimes it was coming home, seeing everyone she had grown to love and care about dead, with Freeza and his men just smiling over their corpses. Sometimes it was Bardock, screaming in agony and rage, as he was burned away by a gigantic energy ball while Freeza laughed maniacally.

Now? It was Krillin, dead in the arms of Goku, her son screaming in rage and grief and then flying off in fury. Everyone else's concerned talking all faded away as she held the still, deathly cold body in her arms. Poor Krillin. As much a son as her own, so pale and still...

Then she felt it: Ki sources. Stronger than any she had felt in years. And all of them malevolent, predatory, and evil. She shivered, her tail ramrod straight from the chill.

She could then sense her son's ki: Rising in his fury against one of the sources, so far away. He fought the beast, ending its life... And then another dark ki descended on him. Stronger, far more malevolent. She could feel Goku's ki rage, off balance, reckless... Then fading... Fading...!

"No," she breathed, her eyes widening. "No, no, no...!"

She got up, her own ki flaring in a furious aura. Rage surged through her veins like fire, and her Ki Blade manifested. She willed herself into the air, letting Krillin's body drop. She was going to blast through the roof, find her son-And then Master Roshi's hand was on her ankle.

"Gine, no!" Roshi cried. Gine looked back at Roshi, her eyes practically burning with her rage. Roshi stood his ground, looking right back at her.

"He killed my son-!"

"We don't know that!" Roshi insisted. "Goku's ki is faint, yes... But not gone. Not yet. And even if he is dead, we can bring him back with the Dragonballs! And finally, you running off alone isn't going to help him any way!"

"I can end the monster who did this!" She snarled, and began to lift Roshi into the air. He grunted and shook his head. Grandpa Gohan stepped up, holding up a hand.

"Gine, we have a plan," Gohan said quickly. "A technique that is sure to stop this monster! But we can't use it without you. We can save Goku, Krillin-Everyone, but you running off won't help. Please."

Gine gritted her teeth, still floating towards the roof. Roshi still held on. She shut her eyes tightly... And then slowly descended back to the floor. Roshi let her go. She sucked in a deep breath, and glared at Roshi.

"What do we need to do?" She asked softly.

- - -

Bulma had a back up Dragon Radar, as Goku had taken one of her devices to track down Krillin's killer (who had a Dragonball). With Roshi, Tien, Gohan and the eager Chiaotzu, they had quickly obtained two Dragonballs as bait. The creature that was doing this, a 'King Piccolo', was going to want the Dragonballs to restore his own power and strength to rule the world. His malevolent ki was proof enough of his intentions, and steeled Gine's resolve to follow the plan.

That said... She had insisted on one change.

So they were now waiting for the monster in an abandoned factory complex, rain falling from the darkened sky. The acrid smell of petrichor filled the air, as rain drops plinked against broken glass and discarded pieces of metal. The factory was dark and forboding, partially demolished and gaping like it was filled with rotting wounds. She stood in an alley in between two buildings, out in the open. The rain fell on her, the only clean thing in the entire area.

She took a deep breath.

Elsewhere, nearby, Gohan and Roshi were ready. Tien and Chiaotzu had been left behind, as they should be. This was no place for children.

It was up to her to fight King Piccolo directly, and keep him here. And she was going to do just that.

She raised her head as something triggered her ki senses... That same malevolence and hunger. It was him.

The tall, green, leathery man dressed in garish purples descended from on high, ignoring the rain. His yellow eyes locked onto the form of Gine with contempt and amusement as he came into a hover several meters above her. He laughed, like a creaking, dusty old machine shifting.

"What's this? A lone woman?" King Piccolo asked mockingly. "Who are you?"

Gine sucked in another deep, angry breath. She glared up into his eyes, defiant and unafraid-Just furious. Her ki flared her aura furiously, as she ignited her Ki Saber from her hand. It buzzed loudly as the rain drops were vaporized upon touching it.

"I am Son Gine," she stated. "Mother of Son Kakarrot Goku. The boy you killed."

King Piccolo laughed. "A vengeful parent? Ah... I have met so many of those. They all start to run together after a while." He grinned, baring his sharp teeth. "I have forgotten any specifics about them... As I expect to forget any specifics about you. You really want to fight me, woman?"

Gine's eyes narrowed. She had never felt such fury. Deep inside her, that Saiyan bloodlust had always been so weak, so timid... Not now. Now it was strong.

"Fight you? No... I want to kill you," Gine seethed. She flew up high, closing the distance between them in an instant! She had time to see his eyes widen in shock-Just before she rammed her Ki Blade through his stomach, and her bare fist into his face. He was blasted down, smashing through the roof of one of the near buildings. The force of the impact shattered all of the remaining glass panes and kicked up a massive dust cloud. Gine shot down like a meteor, plunging through the hole in the roof to sent another fist into his stomach. The monster howled in rage, and his purple blood erupted all over her. She didn't even close her eyes, the stinging fluid not slowing her down.

"IMPUDENCE!" King Piccolo roared, and his arms extended out, grabbing Gine's shoulders. The shove threw her back, through a gigantic rusting turbine! She swung her ki blade wildly, forcing the King to let her go lest he lose a hand. His arms reeled back, and two ki blasts erupted from his palms. Gine, though stunned, managed to deflect one as she swung her blade-The other struck her in the stomach, blasting her out of the wreckage of the turbine and into another massive machine! She was embedded in it, and coughed, tasting blood in her mouth.

"Such power," Piccolo snarled. "I see where the brat got his strength..." He pulled his arms back, and Gine pulled herself out of the wreckage, panting hard to catch her breath. King Piccolo grinned again, muttering in... What?

"Are you... Is that Namekian?" She gasped. The chip in her head that let her translate any language, standard for all Saiyans since King Cold conquered them, identified that language as Namekian. And now that she thought about it, the resemblance to those legendary aliens was great. Not that Gine was an expert, but learning that Dragonballs were real had jogged a lot of memories loose.

"Is that what?" King Piccolo asked. He shook his head. "Your paltry distractions will not aid you!" He fired off another ki blast, and Gine dodged this. She flared her aura and shot right for Piccolo, her Ki Blade burning an enraged, brilliant blue! She thrust for his chest again, but the big green demon dodged, unleashing a storm of ki blasts! She flew above the shots, looping and twisting through the air like a starfighter evading anti-air fire!

"GINE!" Roshi shouted. "GINE! THE PLAN!"

Gine gritted her teeth, and threw all of her energy into speed. She flew through the fire, taking two shots but still barreling on! She then flared her aura to bring herself to a stop, and swung around-Both of her powerful legs putting a kick into King Piccolo's side!

The demonic Namekian roared in rage as he was blasted through the wall, and into the next building. Gine flew after him as he began to get back up, and dove from above, aiming her ki blade for his shoulder! She swung hard!

TSEW! THUD!

"AAAAAAHHHHHH!" King Piccolo bellowed in fury, reaching up to grasp the stump where his right arm used to be. Gine jumped in front of him, breathing hard, as her blade burned brilliantly. Roshi and Gohan ran up, and Roshi held his arms up. Ki surged through the air, as a green whirlwind formed around them.

"Mafuba... Mafuba... Mafuba...!" Roshi chanted, and Piccolo was being pulled towards them. Stretched like taffy towards the humble rice cooker. Gine panted hard, trying to catch her breath... King Piccolo screaming, his ki flaring to try and escape... There was a flare of ki, right behind her-!

She jumped up, avoiding the ki blast narrowly. Her eyes widened in horror as it shot right for Roshi.

"ROSHI!" She bellowed. The shot struck home in Roshi's chest, and the aged Turtle Hermit stumbled and gasped in pain. He clutched at his chest, even as Gohan tried to keep the technique going!

King Piccolo's form, that had been heading for the rice cooker... Bounced off, and emerged back in his full form nearby. He grinned savagely at the malformed monstrosity: A fat, bloated monster.

"Drum! Very well done," King Piccolo said. "And now..." He roared in pain, and a new arm burst from his stump, covered in juices but fully healed. Gine snarled as she shot right for King Piccolo, Ki Blade burning furiously.

"Gohan get Roshi out of here!" Gine shouted. "I'LL KILL HIM MYSELF!"

King Piccolo flashed his savage smile, and opened his mouth. Ki erupted from his mouth in a beam, blasting a torrent of death! Gine flew upwards above the blast, and aimed the blade right between the demon's eyes!

Ki... Goku's ki flared up, briefly... She hesitated in her strike, and the monster tilted his head up enough for it to connect!

The blast sent her tumbling away, burning and agonizing! She was slammed into another large, heavy machine, a sharp piece driving into her skin hard enough it pierced! She gasped, and coughed hard, blood oozing out of her mouth. Piccolo and his spawn floated above her, as she panted and struggled against the mess trapping her.

"It is a pity you chose to resist me," Piccolo said with a smirk, "you would have made a good servant." He slammed a foot into her face, and she grit her teeth against the pain. He rammed another fist into her stomach, and she heaved hard. "But now, it is time to end things-"

A flare of brilliant blue ki erupted behind them, and King Piccolo and Drum turned. Gohan stood there, blue ki burning in his palms!

"KAME... HAME... HAAAAAAAAA!" The blast flew for King Piccolo and Drum, but both flew upwards through the tattered roof to evade it. The blast carried on, blowing through all of the supports and dealing the building's superstructure a fatal blow. The entire world around them groaned, screamed, and rattled as smokestacks and walls began to collapse. Gine gritted her teeth against the agony in every part of her body, and braced as the entire factory collapsed on top of her, only one thought on her mind:

Goku... I'm so sorry...

- - -

Granted, the suspense is rather ruined since you know that Gine survives, but still stay tuned for part 2.

 

[Urabrask Revealed]

I do want to know now how King Piccolo would have squared up against Radditz and the later antagonists.
Reads like Gine really let herself lag behind, considering that Goku managed to defeat him as a kid.
Though admittingly it took drinking the Divine Water, and even then it was a close thing.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

I do want to know now how King Piccolo would have squared up against Radditz and the later antagonists.
Reads like Gine really let herself lag behind, considering that Goku managed to defeat him as a kid.
Though admittingly it took drinking the Divine Water, and even then it was a close thing.

Well, she is a pacifistic Saiyan. She learned martial arts from Grandpa Gohan but she didn't really push herself to become stronger in the same way Goku did. And while she has some combat experience, she lacks the bloodlust of most Saiyans.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -

Gine started awake, the pain lessened significantly. She was in a soft bed of linen, and her keen nose smelling hospital grade cleaning products. She took deep breaths, pure oxygen from a tight plastic breathing mask flowing into her lungs. She looked around wildly.

Plain white walls. A metallic floor. Beeping machines. And a startled old man with a mustache, a cigarette, and a cat hanging off his shoulder. He blinked several times, as Gine took deep breaths to calm and center herself.

"Miss Son?" Asked Doctor Briefs. "How are you feeling?"

"I... Where am I?" She demanded. "Where's Gohan?"

"You're at Capsule Corp," he said, reaching out a cautious hand to rest on hers. She took it, stilling her rapidly beating heart. "Bulma brought you here. She was trying to find you and Goku... Chiaotzu managed to dig you and Master Gohan out."

"Chiaotzu?" Gine gasped. She remembered... The little white faced psychic boy. "What... What happened? How long has it been?"

Doctor Briefs looked grave. "I'm sorry. King Piccolo used the Dragonballs to wish himself to go back to his prime. Chiaotzu tried to interfere but..." He winced. "Piccolo killed him. Master Roshi did not survive either. And now King Piccolo has taken over the world. He overthrew the world government. As for how long it's been..." He shook his head.

"Three weeks," he stated like a funeral bell tolling the dead. Gine took deep breaths, again having to focus on calming herself.

"And Goku?" She whispered. Doctor Briefs sighed, shaking his head.

"We... We haven't heard anything," he said. "Now fortunately, King Piccolo is rather behind on technology. We've been able to communicate with many others, seeing how we can resist this but... His sheer power makes things difficult."

Gine slowly nodded. "I... I see," she managed. She rubbed her chest. "All right... All right..."

A nearby screen lit up. Bulma's face appeared on it, and Gine could see and feel her desperation.

"Dad, we've got a problem!" Bulma cried. "Turn on the news!"

Doctor Briefs quickly activated another screen, and the demonic face of King Piccolo leered out to the entire world. His skin was a brighter green, smoother, and was taut with muscle and power. His sharp teeth gleamed as he spoke.

"It seems that Capsule Corporation has been rebelling against the new order. Fomenting rebellion and dissent! And worse than that, they have been harboring a fugitive from my divine justice!" A photograph of her, from one of the previous World Martial Tournaments, flashed across the screen. When she was hugging Goku after he'd lost his match with Jackie Chun-In reality, Master Roshi.

"So... Either you give up not only the Briefs and this rebel," King Piccolo sneered, "or I will destroy all of West City. You have one hour."

The screen switched off. Doctor Briefs looked to his daughter, chewing thoughtfully on his cigarette.

"Bulma," he began. "How soon can we launch the Panchy I?"

Gine stared. "The what?" She asked. Bulma shook her head.

"Dad, even if we launched it, we'd be shot down in the boost phase," she said. "And the forcefield tech... I'm not willing to bet our lives on it just yet."

"I am," Doctor Briefs said. "We can launch enough decoys and drones, we can cloud their sensors. And how many of them will actually fire on us? Their own people?"

"I'm not concerned about them! I'm more concerned with Piccolo and his children!" Bulma shouted. "Yamcha almost died fighting one of them! We have to get out of here, but all our tech isn't going to stop Piccolo when he gets serious!"

As the two geniuses began to argue about how to escape this situation, Gine found her mind going back. Far back into the past, before even Raditz had been born.

She was on a planet, conquering it for Freeza with Bardock and his squad. Their entire squad was heavily injured, as the inhabitants had proven to be a lot tougher and more clever than they thought. Even worse, there wasn't a moon so they couldn't go Oozaru to even the odds. She was the only combat capable one left, with a badly injured Bardock alongside. She would never forget how Bardock had looked at her, his face bloody, his arm broken. Despite the desperate situation, he had been so focused and calm.

"Gine," he said, "I have an idea. It's something I've been working on for a while..."

Gine had frowned deeply, knowing exactly what he was refering to.

"That fake moon technique?" She asked. "You've never been able to do it before... And now you're low on power! How do you know if you can even do it?"

"It's not a matter of whether I can or cannot do it, Gine," Bardock ground out, "it's that I must. But I need time to pull it off."

He had then looked at her intently. She started.

"I... I'm just a scout," she insisted. "I'm not a warrior, I'm just-I can't-!"

"Gine," Bardock had barked out. She had started, and his next words were much more gentle. "Gine... We need time. You're the only one who can get us it..."

Gine took a deep breath. She slid out of the bed, standing a bit unsteadily on her feet. She adjusted her hospital gown, and held her hand in between the arguing Bulma and Doctor Briefs. Both looked up at her. She smiled, a bit grimly.

"Get me some clothes," she said. "I'll draw attention away from you when you launch. I'll lead him away."

Bulma's jaw dropped. "But-But King Piccolo and his kids! They'll kill you!"

"Maybe," Gine said softly, "but before that, I can get you the time you need to escape."

"It's suicide!" Doctor Briefs insisted. Gine shook her head.

"I can find any surviving martial artists and we can continue the resistance," she said, "but you? You can't help us if you're dead. And we need you. To find the Dragonballs and to fix all of this. I can buy you the time you need."

"But-But what if you can't even do that?!" Bulma cried. Gine shook her head, a scarred face smiling in her mind. A smile she soon wore herself.

"It's not a matter of whether I can or cannot," she stated, with more confidence than she'd felt in a while. "It's that I must."

- - -

To be continued...!

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -

Gine had taken one of Pauchy’s pink jogging suits, and made her way slowly up to the rooftop of the Capsule Corporation building. Her ki senses already screamed the presence of one of Piccolo’s children: Flying high over West City towards her. She took a deep breath, ignoring the lingering pain in her ribs as best she could. The sky was clear and sunny, with a gentle breeze washing over her. The local areas were evacuated-Thousands of people clearing out the area and leaving the buildings around them deserted.

It was almost peaceful.

While distracted, she hadn’t lost the use of her other senses, and she immediately grimaced as she felt two other ki sources behind her. Familiar ones.

“You two should be helping Bulma and her family escape,” she stated. She could feel Yamcha wince.

“Wow, so that’s the power of the ‘Mom voice’,” Yamcha said. Grandpa Gohan chuckled.

“You should see it paired with the look-Oh, there it is,” the old man commented, as Gine looked over her shoulder with a glare. Both men were in their usual clothing, still bearing bandages underneath their garments. Both looked and felt like they were barely able to stay on their feet.

“You two: Get to the ship. Now,” Gine ordered. Yamcha shook his head slowly, as Gohan merely smiled.

“A true hero of the desert never turns his back on a friend in need,” Yamcha stated, shining a bright smile at her. Gohan shook his head.

“And I can’t just let one of my students sacrifice herself,” Gohan said. “Not when she has so many more years of life ahead of her.”

Gine gritted her teeth. Why did they have to be so…?

“I’m the one with the best chance of making it out alive,” Gine ground out. “I’m the most combat capable one. Bulma and her family will need you-”

“And you need us,” Yamcha argued, clenching a fist and shaking it. “You can’t do this alone!”

Piccolo’s son was getting closer. She could just see him coming over the horizon. She growled softly, and looked back at Yamcha and Gohan. They didn’t move, standing their ground. She took a deep breath, and ignited her Ki Saber.

“All right,” she said, “but you stay back. And focus more on protecting the Briefs than me.”

Yamcha assumed a fighting stance, as did Grandpa Gohan. Gohan nodded.

“If they need it more,” Gohan said. Gine sighed.

“Stubborn old fool,” she stated. Gohan chuckled.

“Got that from my master,” he said.

“So did I,” Gine replied, a ghost of a smile on her face. She turned, focused her ki, and flew up into the air. The massive form of Piccolo’s unholy offspring soon came into view: Drum, flaring his aura hard as he heaved his bulk towards her. He paused, hovering, as he smirked at Gine.

“Hello, human woman!” He sneered. “I remember you! Tried to kill my father, and failed.”

Gine glared back. “I won’t fail this time,” she promised. She lunged for him, her ki blade burning as she thrust for his chest! Drum flared his ki, narrowly avoiding the strike as he boosted out of the way. He pointed his fingers at her, and his ki flared furiously.

“Dengekiha!” A blast of lightning left his fingers, and connected with Gine. She howled in pain as the amperage ran through her, making her shake and spasm as she tried to stay airborne!

“GAAAHHHHH!” She shrieked, her ki blade flickering out like a fading lightbulb. Drum laughed, his grotesque voice audible even above her own screams.

“You’re much slower,” he sneered, “not fast enough anymore, are you-?”

The right side of his body lit up like a strobe light, and he squawked as steam erupted from all over his skin. He fell back, distracted, as he broke the blast. Gine flipped back, focusing her ki to regain altitude. Drum snarled, and charged up another Ki blast as he targeted the Briefs Compound. Gine could just barely make out some turrets that had emerged-Energy weapons of some kind, obviously.

“Laser blast, huh?” He hissed. “You can’t hurt me with that-!”

The bright blue light of a Kamehameha beam erupted from below, shooting right for him. Drum threw himself to the side and narrowly avoided it, sneering down at a rooftop-Where Gine could see Grandpa Gohan. But she couldn’t see Yamcha.

“You?! Pathetic old man, I’ll-” Drum started, just as an orange form leaped up high behind him. Yamcha had his hands back in a clamshell, blue ki already burning between his palms. Drum turned his head and glared, preparing another ki blast. “Cute trick, but it won’t-!”

Gine charged him from behind, forming her Ki Saber and slamming it into Drum’s back. The beast roared, and Gine flipped herself around to kick him forward, towards Yamcha. The scarred martial artist thrust his hands forward, sweat steaming away from his brow from his exertion.

“HAAAAAAAA!”

The blue beam erupted from Yamcha’s palms, striking Drum dead on in his massive belly. He was sent tumbling away, careening for the ground like an out of control aircraft. Gine grunted, and fired off another ki blast, nudging the massive monster towards the open, deserted street rather than a building!

The son of Piccolo though managed to right himself, screaming right for the Briefs compound. Gine flew down to grab the falling Yamcha, and his frantic arm waving made it easy to grasp him by the wrist. Yamcha smiled up at her in relief.

“Thanks Gine-san-AH?”

Gine spun around as fast as she could, timing things just right…!

“WHA-WHA-WHA-WHAT ARE YOU-?!”

“GET HIM!” Gine shouted, letting Yamcha fly at the flying Drum. Yamcha kept screaming as he flew right for the green target. Still, Yamcha was a quick study, and while being unable to fly, he was able to adjust his course by flaring his ki aura. He closed on Drum, closer, closer…!

Drum was almost to the wall surrounding the Briefs compound, his massive arms outstretched. He needed only a moment to get past it and right into the building, killing hundreds. Gine winced…

Drum then slammed into a green field of energy, the moment he hit the wall around the Capsule Corporation building. He reared back, the forcefield repelling him and leaving him confused.

“Wha-?!”

And then Yamcha slammed into him from behind, ramming him back into the forcefield and smashing his face against it. Drum’s roar of agony was audible even far above, as Gine descended fast. She landed near the heap that was Yamcha atop Drum, the green Namekian mutant smashed into the pavement. She zipped over, and grabbed Yamcha’s shoulder as he was face down against the monster.

“Yamcha? Yamcha!” Gine shouted. Yamcha groaned, and looked up. He gave a thumbs up.

“Hey… Got ‘im,” Yamcha managed, his missing teeth very obvious in his wide grin. Gine grinned back.

“Good work,” she said. She looked back, as Grandpa Gohan ran up. The old man was panting as well, looking out of breath. “Thank you.”

The old martial arts master chuckled. “I do have to avenge my master. It’s tradition,” he said wryly. He looked up at the still faintly glowing forcefield around Capsule Corporation, and whistled. “Such incredible technology.”

“Yeah,” Yamcha panted, “Bulma said it should be able to handle this guy. The laser shot she fired also worked pretty well.”

Gine nodded, hope surging inside her. Maybe they were injured and tired, but even so…

Then King Piccolo’s terrible ki fell upon them all, and she gasped in shock. Grandpa Gohan trembled a bit, as Yamcha gaped in horror.

“Is that…?” He asked. Gine turned back, and saw the tall, green form in purple garb she had seen on the television. He was just floating above them, a cruel smile on his face.

“I really must thank you, Gine was it?” King Piccolo asked cruelly. “And the old man. You revealed to me a fundamental truth: I am not as strong as I once was. New challenges reinvigorate the spirit of the old.” His smile widened, his dagger like teeth dripping with saliva.

“As well as looking into the ancient texts of you human martial artists. For such an inferior species, you can be quite clever,” he hissed. “Inspiration comes in many forms.”

He landed, several meters away. Gine ignited her Ki Blade, and lunged for him! She wasn’t willing to let him get any ideas, spring any traps-!

King Piccolo threw his hands up, and his ki flared all over his body.

“EVIL EXPLOSION!” He roared, and ki erupted from every point of his body, expanding in a dome-shaped blast! Gine was knocked back, slammed against the forcefield as Yamcha and Grandpa Gohan were blown away. Yamcha was slammed into the forcefield with her, while Grandpa Gohan tumbled into the wall of a nearby building, cratering it.

The hellish maelstrom ended, and Gine and Yamcha slammed back into the pavement. Yamcha moaned softly and became still. His ki was still there though, although very weak. Gine’s own condition wasn’t much better, as she felt one of her still healing ribs snap. She forced herself not to curl up, and tried to breath carefully.

“Nnngh… Haa…!”

King Piccolo chuckled, slowly striding forward. Gine groaned as she pushed herself up, her limbs shaking. She managed to look up at the evil Namekian, heading for… His son?

“F-Father,” Drum groaned, reaching up a clawed hand. “You’ve… Saved me…”

Piccolo laughed wickedly… Before kicking Drum up against the forcefield. The mutant Namekian cried out in pain and shock, before he slammed back into the same crater he’d been lying in. He looked up weakly, agony and confusion on his face.

“F-Father… Why…?”

“Like all of your siblings, you have failed me,” Piccolo hissed. “First Tambourine, then Cymbal, and now? You. Unlike them though, you will serve me better in another way.”

He stretched out his arm, and his clawed hand pressed against Drum’s chest. His ki burned bright white, as Drum’s entire body lit up with power. Gine stared in disbelief.

That technique… What is it…?

Drum screamed, a heartwrenching sound that made Gine feel for the beast despite his crimes. Then, in a second, Drum vanished into King Piccolo, slurped into him like a drink through a straw. King Piccolo took deep breaths, and clenched his fists. He grinned, and then roared as he flared his aura at full power. Gine gaped in disbelief.

That power… It’s unreal… He-He absorbed his own son for his power?!

“Ahhh… Yes,” Piccolo chuckled. He looked over at Gine. “You humans rely on your children to continue your line. But I? I am not burdened by such a weakness. My children will ensure I live on… Forever.” He raised his hand up, sparks and electric arcs crackling from his fingers.

“You, however? You end here. Now. MASENKOOO!”

The yellow blast erupted like the sun rising, and Gine grit her teeth. It was as if everything was slowed to a crawl, the energy inching towards her. She could feel its sheer power, the intensity-It was more than she could hope to withstand. Her only, faint hope was that maybe, maybe, her body would take enough of the blast to protect Yamcha.

Giving him… Maybe a few seconds more life? Minutes? She didn’t know. But it was all she could do.

It was all her husband could have done, in the end.

I’ll see you soon, Bardock… And Goku… Kakarrot… Radit-

“KIKOHOOOOOO!”

A massive wave of yellow ki struck the Masenko blast from the side, and sent it careening up into the sky. King Piccolo looked as surprised as she felt-Which was probably why he missed a small orange form kicking him in the side and sending him flying. The Namekian bellowed in shock and rage as he slammed into a nearby building, making it crumble around him and send up a cloud of dust. Gine felt tears erupt from her eyes as her eyes resolved the form of…

“GOKU!”

Goku turned and beamed happily at his mother. “MOM! And-” He gasped. “GRANDPA!”

“I’ve got him,” Tien called. His tall, bald form was already tending to the downed old man. “He’s okay!”

“Okay! Hugs for you first!” Goku called. He closed the distance between them and hugged Gine tightly, crushing the air out of her lungs. It was painful and agonizing… But she hugged him back anyway.

“I-I’m so… Glad to see you alive,” she managed.

“You too!” Goku said cheerfully. “Oh hey! Yamcha’s here too! Hi Yamcha!”

“H-Hey,” Yamcha managed weakly.

“Goku!” Tien shouted. “Remember the beans!”

Goku started, and nodded. “Oh right! I almost forgot!” He rummaged in a bag slung on his belt, and pulled out… A small green bean. Gine blinked at him.

“Goku, what-?”

“It’s a Senzu bean!” Goku said cheerfully. “They heal you real good! Got them from a talking cat in a floating white saucer! Have one, quick!”

Gine slowly blinked. She blinked again. “... Okay,” she managed. She let Goku stick the bean into her mouth, and she chewed it up. She swallowed… And in a split second, her ribs were healed, her fatigue vanished, her bruises disappeared, and her ki surged through her! She was on her feet before she even knew it, still hugging Goku to her body.

Gine stared in amazement at her son, who just beamed up at her.

“Toldja!” He said. “Oh right! Yamcha! Senzu Beam!” He dropped down, and helped Yamcha eat the bean. In a second, he was back up, feeling his chest and stomach up in disbelief.

“Wow! Okay, nice! Magic beans!” Yamcha cheered. “AWESOME!”

“Just don’t swallow them whole, or a beansteak will grow in you!” Goku warned. Grandpa Gohan and Tien walked up, the former now fully healed like the others. Gine smiled, and turned to the collapsed building King Piccolo had landed in.

“He’s going to be back up any minute,” she said, “anyone have a plan?”

“Punch him!” Goku cried.

“... And then?” Yamcha prompted. Goku punched his palm.

“Punch him harder!”

Tien shook his head. He looked at Gine. “I know the Mafuba,” he said. “I can do it-”

“And die?" Grandpa Gohan asked, shaking his head. “If anyone should make that sacrifice, it should be me. I should finish what Roshi started. You can just wish me back with the Dragonballs-”

“Like hell you are, old man,” Tien ground out. “You’re not sacrificing yourself for us! Again!”

“That was to protect you! It’s what the old should do for the young!” Gohan argued.

Yamcha coughed.

“Maybe we could come up with a plan that doesn’t have anyone dying?” He suggested. Goku jumped back up.

“Punch him even harder! Also a lot of times! Like a hundred times!” Goku enthused.

Gine sighed and closed her eyes. Goddamnit, they were this bad about any after tournament meal. Without Master Roshi to assume the lead due to his age, they were divided and directionless.

She then opened her eyes and cleared her throat.

“ENOUGH!” She shouted, and everyone stopped arguing. She shook her head. “I have an idea,” she said, “We’ll all have to work together so no one will die. But we can do it, if you do exactly as I say. Unless anyone has any better ideas?”

She got no argument. She slowly nodded. “Then we’ll go with my plan.”

As much as she had never asked for the job of defending this planet, it was now hers.

Someone had to do it.

- - -

 

[aguy1013]

Ah, sorry you forgot to threadmark

 

[Bear Ribs]

The bit where Raditz genuinely didn't know how to say "thank you" got a chuckle, along with Vegeta not knowing what sex is.

This is a really nice blending of crack and serious writing, not something easy to make or find.