Adult-FanFiction.org : Gundam, Beyblade, DBZ, FMA

Uncertainty and Pride	By : TristaML Category: Dragon Ball Z > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 1864 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ or anything of the sort and I make no money from writing this piece of fanfiction

Chapter List
- 11
- 12
- 13
Chapter 12
Vegeta strode through the halls of his castle, veins bulging and pulse throbbing. He gave out orders over his communication device to round up all of the visitors and line up the guards. He issued for Nappa at once and sent alerts only to the few whom he trusted most.
He carried on in defiant pride. Now that he’s heard the rumors that spread throughout the castle, even the ones most of them think he’s ignorant of (thanks to Bardock, of course), he was not as much concerned with this meeting with these strangers, and even though these people are strangers to Planet Vegeta, they are not the “visitors” he was expecting, and although he didn’t like wasting time, it was probably nothing to be so concerned over, and it would be best to get their meeting finished as soon as possible.
He gave one last thought to Kakarot’s words before entering his Hall and taking a seat on the throne. This would be the first time he’s delegated anything under his authority as King and he did not take this moment lightly. The steps seemed longer and higher than usual and the throne appeared more daunting. Still, he climbed and then he sat and as uncomfortable as he felt in his father’s chair, he kept his back straight and his shoulders taut. He signaled for each of the creatures to enter. The only man that stood near the King was Nappa but there were many guards outside listening for any reason to bust the doors down.
One after the other the strange men entered into the court of Vegeta. Three of them were clearly from a different planet, and two more, from another. The sixth was a reptilian-like thing that seemed wholly different from everyone else. Vegeta studied them all with consideration, and wondered if this was everyone who wished to speak with him and why his entire guard seemed so uneasy. Impatiently he told them to commence, “Tell me of everything you came to discuss, but not all at once.”
The group of three aliens was the first to lay their distresses onto the King and Vegeta listened to their tales for some time in silence and he watched them all carefully. He could see that they were all petrified to stand before him, which made Vegeta believe their claim all the more, and they went on to say things which were no surprise to him. They spoke slowly and he allowed them to ramble on as he wondered if he should help them.
They explained that some races of the universe are still fighting in Frieza’s name, and they wished for the Saiyan army to help dispel their enemies from further threatening and damaging their planets. They told him who they were, and what contributions they would be willing to make to the Saiyans in return for such assistance. The King heard each of them speak in trembling voices about all of their pleas, and then agreed to help them- much to even their shock as they had feared him far more than believed in him- he was their last resort.
King Vegeta’s intentions for helping them were, of course, more for selfish reasons than out of sheer kindness. He wished to put the name of the Saiyan race out there as warriors of a people which no other should mess with. Also, he anticipated going himself for some of the missions, perhaps then he could let out some aggression and feel the rush of a glorious battle once again. He didn’t think the planet would disagree with both sides of the coin, and the exchange was seen as mutually desirous in consideration to the drawbacks of war.
He dismissed them, directing them to speak with his tactical advisor, Anyun, who would see to it that a plan was set in place. Nappa gave orders through communication for Anyun to be brought up to speed on the circumstances.
As they left, knees shaking and hearts fluttering, the other set of peoples stepped forward. These creatures request was similar to the others’ and Vegeta, after hearing them out for some time, waved them away in the same direction as the other’s after being satisfied with what they would be willing to give in exchange for the assistance.
He wondered if the last of these visitors would profess the same interests as the others and demanded the creature begin at once.
The lone man stood before the King and cried, “I have a much different and hopefully simpler request of you, King Vegeta. I am from a planet called Kanassa, and my name is Phoruk. I have come seeking Bardock Son, your Majesty, and I do not know where to find him.”
A look of surprise crossed the King’s face which he could not hide and he asked, “What business do you have with Bardock Son?” knowing that this man was not to be trifled with.
“I believe that he is expecting me, to some degree, he has been rather more than thoughtful towards me. I am in urgent need of speaking with him,” the old thing said.
Vegeta marveled at the creature, and yet still he asked, “What is so important that you must seek him out without being privy to his whereabouts?”
“Did I not just say that I am looked for, if not rather more honestly than with words? A friend may know a friend and desire to speak with them, without having done so in a while, and may therefore need assistance from another who is also his friend. My message is meant for Bardock’s ears, giving it to you would be catering to madness; an unsolvable riddle.”
Nappa began to start but Vegeta held up his hand, halting him. The King stood up, his eyes narrowing at this creature and his voice boomed between the walls, “Any message you have for him you can also bestow unto me, for you see, Bardock is a dear friend of mine, and I am not only aware of his business, but I also take part in his persuasions.”
The reptilian man smiled at him and laughed. He said, “Your Majesty, given that what you said is true, which I believe it is, surely you can understand the quickness with which I find necessary to deliver such tidings and you would not deter me from my quest?”
Vegeta frowned and spoke at length, causing Nappa to hold his breath until he did, finally saying, “No, I will not. I will, however, not allow you to go alone- you will have a trustworthy guide. Nappa, take this man to Bardock’s home at once, and report back with both of you as soon as is possible.”

Nappa moved quickly through the castle with the creature. He was much more nimble than he looked and they left straightaway, not even going through the gate, making a beeline for Bardock’s home. Nappa did not discuss much with the man but he was listening to Nappa’s thoughts and he knew that the General was not so high up on the King’s list of confidants as he might suppose. In any case, the man decided it best to keep this conversation as much between himself and Bardock as possible and that is exactly what he intended to do, burly Saiyan in tow or not.
Nappa was impressed with the creature’s speed but there was not much else to the situation that he was giving thought to at the moment. The whole thing was above his head, so he followed orders, and gave out orders to follow. He told him, unnecessarily, “You will be quick and direct while speaking to Bardock, and then we must get back to his Highness.”
The man didn’t reply. They were already in sight of his house so there was no point.
Bardock was seen walking outside of his front door before the two even landed and Nappa wondered if perhaps the alien truly was a welcome visitor.
Bardock smiled in seeing him and greeted Nappa respectfully. “Welcome to my home,” he said rather mechanically, “Won’t you both come in?” He sent word through thought to Phoruk, ‘I didn’t expect you to actually come. It was just a fleeting hope and a thought I dared not utter.’
               Phoruk answered, “Nay, Bardock, we will not come inside. I stopped by to offer my friendship once more.” In his mind he told him, ‘I have come with some advice to give you nonetheless, in thanks of your doing for my people, and your good graces towards us.’
               Bardock thought, ‘What is it, my friend?’ and said, “Our friendship is and ever will be.”
               “Then heed my words and be wise to your gut, Bardock, this you already know, but stay the course and your sons will live much farther away. Hold onto them now and make them stay,” and in his mind he sent him his visions, which varied much differently from his own, and he said, ‘Do not let Kakarot go back to the castle as is your wont as a father. In doing so you could save yourself from the untimely death you have seen and feared now for some time.”
               The vision he sent to Bardock was this: King Vegeta is killed by Brolly before Kakarot can save him, and in turn, Vegeta’s death drives Kakarot over the edge and into ascension, but not only Kakarot, Bardock ascends as well, and the two of them together, defeat Brolly and rid him of their universe.
               Bardock, taken aback by the things that he saw, said, “Indeed!” but he was skeptical, surprised, and confused, and he found that he had nothing to say.
               ‘I have made my plea. There are other options, do not sacrifice yourself in the vanity of false hopes.’ And aloud Phoruk spoke, “I just thought you needed reminding. That’s all.”
               ‘I see now; you have no faith in our King and you do not believe much in my son,” Bardock said, but inside he was refuting each and every argument that came to mind for and against each scenario. He bowed to him, and only said, “I wish you could stay, at least two of my sons are visiting me later, and if my youngest shows up I’m sure he would be pleased to see you.”
               ‘Don’t forget, these visions can fool you, Bardock.” And he smiled laughingly at him and answered, “You know very well that isn’t possible. I must decline.”
               ‘I do not pretend to know what to do, yet, alas, I thank you, Phoruk. Now, I beg of you, leave the planet while you still can.’ He spoke gently and with a small smile, “I understand. Goodbye.”
               Phoruk nodded, and then began to take great leaps and bounds backwards, far outrunning Nappa, who was totally lost, although he was quick to follow the little guy (little to him, at least). He could not catch up, and by the time he thought all hope was lost that sentiment was confirmed. A ship came out of nowhere and took the man in, before beaming off into space, it could hardly even be said if it had been there at all.
               Nappa was embarrassed and beside himself. Bardock called out for him and asked him to come inside and speak with him for a moment. If Nappa had been a wiser man he would have taken this opportunity to discuss things with Bardock, however, he was brash, and he was also in trouble, and although he would have loved to delay seeing the King, he knew that it would be in his best interests to get back to the castle on the double.
               Bardock smiled a little to himself as he watched him go. Nappa heard enough to quell Vegeta’s thirst for information, but what action it would spur out of the King, if any, Bardock didn’t know.

Around the same time Nappa was arriving at Bardock’s abode with Phoruk, Kakarot was running out of the castle’s front doors and down the pathway, headed towards the gates. He only saw blurry faces as he ran, and paid no attention to who was entering and leaving the King’s house, though several groups of men stopped at stared at him gingerly. He thought only of his brother at the moment. He was just about to jump into the sky and in hopes of catching up with Raditz when he was called and he turned to see Banin waving at him and smiling.
“Kakarot! I thought I heard that you’d come back to us! Are you on your way to Bardock’s?”
“Yes,” Kakarot smiled at him. “I was just leaving. I thought you were heading out with Raditz?”
Banin smiled, still, “It’s going to take me a little longer to finish up here than I would have liked, but I’ll be on my way shortly. Do apologize to Bardock for me. I’d hate to be rude.”
Kakarot waved back and him and replied in haste, “He’ll only be disappointed if you don’t show. See you later!”
“Alright, Kakarot,” he chuckled at his childlike nature and with that Banin hurried off to finish his duties.
Raditz was flying angrily through the sky without Banin as he had initially planned. He’d waited around to see if Banin was going to get an early break in the day, as they had hoped, but he didn’t. He insisted Raditz go ahead. (That way Banin could pep-talk himself up the whole way to his future father-in-law’s house where he was going to meet the one man he believed Raditz had once had a serious crush on and whom he still loved dearly.)
This day wasn’t working out accordingly at all but Raditz remained determined, and he was looking forward to the evening at home with his father and Tora, he doesn’t get to see them enough.
Kakarot, who’d been soaring through the air to meet him, finally came close enough to holler Raditz’s name, taking him by surprise at just how quickly he was coming up from behind.
Raditz began wondering what balls his brother has and how this conversation will go. He asked, “Yes, little brother?”
               Kakarot answered flatly, “I wanted to ask you what’s wrong. Slow down, there’s no need to go so fast.” Once he caught up to him, Kakarot said, “I know you’re upset about something. What is it?”
               “Hm,” Raditz almost sighed. In his eyes there was a focus which had nothing to do with Kakarot, unlike just a few hours before. He thought about pretending that there was nothing going on, but really, he needed to get this off of his chest, so he asked, still irritated with him, “Why did you leave the castle in the first place? I don’t know what’s been happening between you and the King but he’s been extra… severe lately.”
               Kakarot didn’t answer him directly, he only said, “I just flew in last night so I don’t know any of the more recent events. Is there something else going on?”
               Raditz frowned, “Look- this has nothing to do with Banin,” he assured him, “Although it has been a little difficult recently with some of the Saiyan’s remarks, but that’s nothing I can’t handle.” He paused and took a deep breath before continuing, “It’s the King. He hasn’t been himself and his subjects grow restless.” Kakarot didn’t understand and Raditz could see he did not plan to reply. He added gravely, “I have heard the most terrible things, I am now both in the light and in the dark, and I don’t know where the tides of change will bear me, be it above or below ground.”
               Kakarot’s heart clenched as he listened to his brother’s struggles, and he couldn’t be sure of what he was trying to say. Kakarot asked in anticipation, “Raditz…Please, what’s the matter?” and he began to muse on the information Raditz was giving him and wonder what he was keeping from him. Surely he doesn’t know about Brolly, does he?
               Raditz was weary of what to reply to that, so he simply said, expressing more of his own opinion, “Our King has been suffering ever since his father died. We weren’t even told how the late King passed, or why he left in the first place… Only King Vegeta knows what’s really going on and I’m afraid that something terrible is going to happen. All this training, it’s got to be for something…” Raditz hinted that he wished Kakarot to tell him what he knows.
               Kakarot’s face expressed the same emotions but he couldn’t tell his brother anything helpful. He said, “I’m sorry. I hate it and I don’t know what to say. Would that a few kind words could help us, I would surely spare all that I have, but who am I to go to the King and speak with him about how he intends to manage his affairs?” His bluff was executed well, but inside he began to consider doing just that.
               Raditz wondered about that,
and considered what he should do about these many issues for millionth time, or if he should do anything at all. Finally he said, “I have a duty to the King to tell him when I hear of news like this, Kakarot, and I have not yet told him, or you, the whole of it.” Kakarot waited impatiently, but was rewarded with knowledge he had no part of before and he heard his brother speak what he had not imagined to be a problem in the first place. “Anarchy is amongst us,” he said, seeing the surprise on his brother’s face, “And in this case, during these times, even I fear what King Vegeta might do upon learning of it. He may lash out without thinking more on it first. Aside from that, I’m anxious over what the King is waiting for, for it seems to me that there is something else going on, and it’s making me sick, literally ill.” Raditz sighed, “How can we go on in such a way? The King’s authority needs to be exercised, and he’s far too wrapped up in his affliction to spare time for anything or anyone else right now. He has no confidants, and if he does he keeps them hidden well; I certainly don’t know where to find them.”
               Kakarot nodded and queasiness was growing in the pit of his stomach. Not wanting to let on to his brother’s suspicions, he only commented on half of what his brother had told him. “I am in no way part of the King’s inner circle, despite what you or anyone else may think of my relationship with him. I am not Rori, nor do I wish to be such a man, much less to be perceived that way. I can honestly say I have not heard this news before this moment. It is news, indeed.”
               Raditz sighed again and noticed that his brother has grown in intelligence in the last half a year, and he was proud of him, but he didn’t know what good having sense would do any of them if things keep carrying on this way. Still he was happy to be able to get it off of his chest. He knew his brother well enough to know that sharing the information with him wouldn’t backfire.
               His communicator went off and he heard the King’s voice telling him that a man is being accompanied by Nappa to visit with his father. Raditz grew alarmed, and after the message was relayed, he told Kakarot that they must hurry to their father’s house.

Nappa returned to the castle in great haste and told the King the entirety of the conversation between the alien and Bardock, at least, all he could remember, as soon as possible. He trembled and fell on his knees, his head towards the ground as the King began to curse at him.
The King’s rage was slowly building as he thought about the words of Phoruk and desired to understand their meaning. He knew that Bardock and that creature must have communicated through thought. There is an ominous message to be decoded there; a premonition! It has to be! Suddenly he screamed, “Nappa- you let him get away?!” but he shook his head and demanded, “What did Bardock have to say on the matter?”
“M-my Liege! He asked me to stay for a moment but I thought it necessary to deliver you the message of the old Kanassaan!”
“Damn it, Nappa!” The King cried, but after a few moments in consideration he shook off some of his anger and dismissed the General.
Men several halls away could hear the King’s roar and everyone laid low.
King Vegeta stormed through his home and began looking for Kakarot, asking every guard through their communication about his last whereabouts. Finally one man told him that he’d last seen Kakarot leaving towards his father’s home, following after Raditz.
Vegeta grew angry before he became thoughtful and he growled and cursed as he walked through the halls, very alone in spite of all the Saiyans who lived there. None would dare speak to him while he was in such a mood and he knew of no one else to turn to. As he rounded a corner the only thought that came to him besides perhaps heading to Bardock’s house himself, was the intense desire to train in the gravity machine in an attempt to get his head straight. If Bardock thinks the information important enough then he can come to see him, not the other way around. Besides, surely Raditz will have something to report when he returns tomorrow.

“Brolly, enough!” Paragus whispered harshly to his son. They had entered the castle more or less unnoticed, what-with Kakarot of all people leaving just as they were coming in. Paragus held out his hand to his son, and knew that hearing Kakarot’s name must have triggered some of his suppressed anger. He would have to keep Brolly away from him for as long as possible. Hopefully he would forget he heard the name after a while.
Brolly struggled against his father’s will. The contraption he wore on his hand was used to control him, and it kept his strength in check for now, causing him to be obedient. When Brolly was told to follow, he did without much thought.
Eventually, as the duo was cautiously stepping through the halls, a few guards stopped the two men and Paragus spoke to them, not giving him their names, but claiming that they have need to speak with the King at his leisure, but that they are weary and plan to rest for a little while.
The guards were not so suspicious of these characters. They looked like Saiyans, tall and proud, and they were gracious and nonthreatening, especially the larger one, who seemed almost docile. The guards figured that the two had travelled from far away, determining by the differences in their clothes, and that the King most likely knew who they were and would have little to no qualms with obliging them. They sent them on their way, leaving messages for the King of his visitors.
Vegeta had just taken his gear off and stepped into the Gravity Machine, and he did not get the dispatch.

Amazed by Phoruk’s speech Bardock could hardly still his thoughts. Subconsciously he heard a knock at the door and, after trying hard to think of something sweet to take the sour look off of his face for company, he rushed to it, thinking it was Tora. He was surprised when it was Raditz who showed up with Kakarot a little early, but not so unexpectedly.
               “My sons! How are you doing?!” Bardock asked, his spirits in good humor, even after Phoruk’s verses. His mind was always alert and most of the time he found it compulsory within him to be kind, but especially during moments like these. Family members are the closest relationships to unconditional love a person can get, and should be treated with respect and common grace, regardless of poor disposition.
               “Father!” Raditz began with a start, but Bardock was all that is excitement and began immediately whisking them inside.
He led the two of them through the house and told them both to take a seat at the table with a cheerful smile. As he ushered them further in, taking out a chair for them each to sit in at their hesitance, he breezed past them to begin cooking enough for everyone to eat. He was going on and on about how Tora should show up a little later on and how he has been hoping for him to meet Banin.
               Raditz smiled in spite of his troubled mind and replied, “Banin had to come on his own accord, but he will be here later on.”
               “Good!” Bardock smiled, knowingly.
               “Father,” Raditz stood up suddenly. He took off his communication device and said, wearily, “I would hate to think that you are keeping something from us, but I do believe that you just had a most unexpected visitor. Do you not wish to talk about it?”
               Kakarot grew nervous at Raditz’s outright interrogation
, but Raditz seemed rather serious and Bardock turned slightly to his sons but kept on preparing their feast and replied, with an air of indifference, “I would wonder at how you came across such information if not for your ties to the army. Yes, General Nappa was just here with a friend of mine. I wouldn’t say the visit was completely unlooked for, or anything to get riled up over.”
               Raditz didn’t know what to say to that. His father’s easy way of dismissing such a strange event made him less cautious but still interested. “Why did they have to go so suddenly? It’s a little odd that someone would come by just to say hello.”
               “If more people stopped by their friend’s houses just to say hello sometimes than this world would be a better place, don’t you think?” Bardock replied, and it was clear he had no intention of telling him anything about what was discussed.
               Raditz frowned and Kakarot wondered- more than anything else- who stopped by.
               Bardock was hell bent on keeping the visit as much of a secret as possible, but the glare his son was giving him was unsettling, and he wondered what his deal is, so he looked into his mind.
               ‘The King would not have alerted me of such news if he did not wish on a report of it as soon as possible. How can I convince him to tell me what’s going on? Do both of my kin know something that I do not? Could this have something to do with the men the King’s waiting for?’
               Though Bardock was surprised that Raditz knew King Vegeta was expecting someone, upon further assessment he determined that his eldest son is still ignorant to many things, and, as he looked into Kakarot’s thoughts, he saw that his youngest son is now not, and the idea of an uprising at the castle seems to be on the forefront of his mind and his soul is now more restless than ever. He senses the same negativity as his him, just like he did almost twenty-seven years ago.
               Bardock chopped angrily at the onions, though he tried to calm himself down. He was busy in his own dilemma, and although he spoke in certainty to the Kanassan before, now the thought of death has crept into the deepest recesses of his mind, and he knows it won’t be long, and he wonders if his virtue will hold out.
               But what if the man was right and he can live and Kakarot can still save the world? He couldn’t be deceived, could he?
               Raditz had long since given up convincing his father to speak against his will, Bardock was stuck in his own thoughts, and Kakarot seemed interested in the food and refused to allow the melancholy setting his family now held to affect his mood. He got up, confessing that his stomach was growling, and went into the kitchen to look for something to snack on, but he said nothing to his father as he walked by. Bardock was thankful for it. Raditz had far too much on his mind at the moment to consider commenting in any way, and was just about to leave the room when they heard a hard knock at the door.
               Bardock didn’t have to ask his son to answer it; Raditz was already running to see who it was and was overjoyed to find Tora in the doorway. They hugged, and Raditz could not resume in any anger around him, for he loved him too dearly, and saw him too far and few in between.
               “I still think you get taller every time I see you!” Tora joked, but in his eyes there was a fondness that was easily read.
               “You’re only mad that I managed to grow a hair taller than you!” Raditz replied.
               Tora teased, “And if by ‘a hair’ you mean that mane on your head, then yes!”
               They both laughed and Raditz led him into the rest of the house, telling him, “Banin is not here yet, but I’m sure he’s on the way.”
               Tora confessed, “Well, I can’t wait to meet him, I hope you haven’t made any impression of me on him before this evening Raditz, otherwise I’m sure his stomach will be all in knots.”
               “What do you mean?” Raditz asked as they turned the corner into the dining room and kitchen, “I didn’t tell him anything bad if that’s what you’re getting at?” He never considered that his habit of talking people up might make for awkward meetings between friends later in life.
               Bardock laughed at their conversation and greeted Tora with their all too familiar humor. He bypassed his son’s statement once again and said to his friend, “You’re here early too! Well nothing’s ready yet, so have a seat won’t you?”
               Tora scoffed at him playfully, a little confused at the hint of agitation in Bardock’s voice, but he went in for a hug with Kakarot and he squeezed the young man’s shoulders before breezing past him and walking up to Bardock saying, “I came early because I was eager to see everyone, not to put you out. I’m happy to help you in any way I can.”
               “That’s a first!” Bardock laughed.
               Tora only grinned, and said, “Raditz, put on some music, and Kakarot, grab some snacks won’t you,” Tora told them both, “I think your father keeps them in the living room, where you guys usually hang out.”
               Both young men left the room and Tora immediately turned to Bardock and whispered, “How are you?” with as much emotion as he could muster in that brief moment.
               Bardock smirked at him, and on his face there was a look as clear as the first day of spring, but Tora had never seen it before, and he didn’t know what to think and Bardock didn’t answer.
               Raditz came back with music and Kakarot came back with the hidden food he’d been looking for, and as the scene continued each of their moods lifted. Raditz, like his brother, could not remain disappointed for long, and Tora was determined to put a smile on all of their faces, and much more at ease than any of them, since his only job for the evening was to be satisfied with Raditz’s fiancé, a feat he was sure would be easy enough.
               Half an hour later there was another knock on the door and Raditz, again, ran to it. Banin stood, looking his best, and expecting Bardock to answer the door, but he was pleasantly surprised when Raditz did and brought him in for a hungry kiss, before practically dragging him through the house with pride and precedence.
               The first few minutes as Banin turned the corner were all a blur. He was nervous to meet a man that Raditz talked nonstop about, but he feigned more excitement than anything, and Tora seemed just as eager to meet him, and his greet was warm and friendly. Bardock cheered at seeing him and popped open a bottle of champagne and Kakarot clapped and hollered in excitement for a drink with so many friends. He also smiled at Banin while Bardock came over to give the first-class Saiyan a fatherly hug, which Banin knew now was simply his custom to greeting his sons, and he found it endearing. The conversation seemed to go on nonstop between them all for the first few minutes, as Bardock insisted they four remain seated, and said that he could join in on the conversation still while he cooked.
Raditz was eager to begin the night, and he poured them all drinks as Banin was more properly introduced to Tora, who was very impressed by him and told Raditz so playfully. Banin’s temperament matched Tora’s well, as did his wit, and they hit it off very nicely. Raditz couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear as Tora seemed intent on entertaining, and probably planned to spend the whole evening ragging on the Son family to Banin, and asking Banin all sorts of clever and interesting questions, as was his style.
Soon, after drinking for a while, and then eating a good deal of food once Bardock finished cooking, all of the men found themselves more at ease than they had been a few hours before and Banin was glad that he came and easily the most delighted of the group.
Kakarot was there in body, drinking along with the rest of them with a smile on his face, but his mind wandered elsewhere and the light in his eyes was dim.
Darkness came upon him. A lurking shadow cast terror with it’s coming, and seemed determined to persuade his concentration. He couldn’t remain content in getting drunk, so he didn’t, and he couldn’t remain intent on wasting the night away, so he decided he wouldn’t. He was done with questioning all of the things that he had once felt so hindered by. Why should he let aristocratic rules stop him from doing what is right? Why had he even considered not taking a stand in these circumstances? The very idea of the men of the castle rumoring to do away with the King… well, it was more frightening than not and he would not have it! They would understand, or be left in the dark, but they would not replace Vegeta.
He would try to remain hopeful, but he began to believe that there was no time for error and so he quietly snuck away from the others and tried to regain some of his peace, though he knew he would not find comfort in solitude, or solace in sleep. He has to go to the King. He should have never left! What was he thinking and, moreover, how could he leave without disturbing the company of the evening?
Sleep did find him though, if only for a few hours.
Raditz cornered Bardock a little later in the evening, after Tora and Banin had both passed out and he told him, “You know I must come back to the castle with a report on what the man had to say to you, right?”
Bardock only smiled at him son and for some time he wondered what he should tell him, until he finally decided to say, “Nappa came with him, you know, I’m sure that he told him everything that was said during the brief conversation that we shared.”
Raditz frowned and said in return, “Then perhaps you could tell me what type of tidings this visitor brought you, be they good or bad, or important or not.”
Bardock put a hand on his son’s shoulder and replied, “I can promise you that the conversation we had was a pleasant one, and intended for good, but I’m sure the King knows that, otherwise he would not have sent him to my house.” Raditz began to speak again, but Bardock interrupted him before he could and said, “My son, do I not have your love and your respect?”
“You do, father, of course,” Raditz nodded earnestly.
“And you have mine, and so does the King! He will not be so hard on you for not getting me to speak more on the topic, I’m sure, because a father’s business may be different from his son’s, even if the son’s business is that of his father’s. He will understand.”
Raditz couldn’t be sure what that meant, but he rolled his eyes and yawned, even against his will, and he replied, “Fine. If our King is dissatisfied in that response, I will simply request that he sends for you directly, and then you can answer to him!”
“Fair enough,” Bardock smiled. “Come, let’s get back to the others and maybe we can fall asleep just as easily, and you can leave your distresses alone and damn them to yesterday.”
Raditz easily complied, and noticed after a few minutes that his father found sleep rather quickly, and he begrudged himself for not being more sensitive to him and was thankful for the easygoing mirth of his home and promise of a restful night in his house.
Kakarot awoke hours later to alarms going off in his head.
‘Something’s wrong,’ his mind told him, and he would call it a thought if it wasn’t for the certainty within him on the matter.
Bardock awoke with a start, and found that he was sleeping on the couch in the company of the others, who also slept soundly in much the same manner, Tora beside him, and Raditz and Banin on the floor. He had no time to spare for them at the moment, and he stole away almost instantly. He wasn’t even sure of the time; four-thirty a.m., five?
He crept quickly but quietly through his own house, being driven by the intensity of an emotion which could only be described as intuition combined with his gifted foresight, and he knew that the time had come. He was uneasy in his own skin, but he knew that something had to be done. He could not stand by while the enemy arrived and threatened their very lives.
“My son,” Bardock’s voice came through the still of the night, as Kakarot peered out the window in his dimly lit bedroom, searching the skies and his heart for answers. His father said to him, “You, like all of us, feel the ties to your family as well as the ones to your heart. Sometimes in life you must choose which is more important and so you came here to continue to build relationships which you value even though you knew it might be a costly choice.”
“Father,” Kakarot replied in earnest, standing tall in front of the vast window facing the castle, “I do not have the gift of foresight which you possess! I only have a knack for feeling out perilous situations, but I have no guide of what to do other than a vague sense of fear or certainty in the heat of battle. How am I to know how to decide justly?”
Bardock smiled at him, almost amused by his goodness, and he said, trying to keep his son grounded, “You are not so different from everyone else, Kakarot.” Then he sighed, knowing he was always a bit tough on him, and even so, he still said, “But because you acknowledge that you have those intuitions, you are that much closer to making a difference. You just have to believe that you can.” Then he laughed, and said, “I know that must sound silly.”
Kakarot turned to him and answered in frustration, his eyes now stern and calculating, though considerate and weary, “Who am I to make take such a stance?! And what if it is at the cost of the King’s hatred and the unstoppable change of this world?!” He huffed and turned to peer into the view outside, adding, “There is something you did not mention to me, father, something I never even acknowledged to myself. I will become something else to the people if I should succeed and Vegeta does not, and if he does not transform, I will not be able to kill Brolly alone.”
Bardock knew that there were many different courses the universe could take, and that his son was right, those chances are among the possibilities. His head swam and his heart lurched. Although he knows there are other options, he also recognizes that now it is time to decide which fate this universe will have.
Before he even spoke, he knew the words that would come from his mouth. This was his doom, the one Phoruk spoke of, his opportunity to make his son stay...
He took in a sharp breath, and felt the strange feeling of knowing that he could change his destiny, he could make a different speech, but he denied the opportunity as quickly as it came and he said to his son, “The Kakarot that lived on Earth never considered anyone as ‘above’ or ‘beneath’ him, he never regarded the Vegeta that came to him and tried to destroy his planet with any sort of distance in that way, he did not allow Vegeta to harden him, but instead Vegeta was enlightened by Goku, and it is in that mindset that he managed to destroy his foes, because he did not believe them better and he did not believe himself to be worse. He only believed in good will and the exciting promise of a challenge he knew he must overcome. You will fall short of his mark if you do not follow your instincts, and I daresay even you will regret it, our King’s hatred or not.”
Kakarot felt every word as it rang true, true enough to him to make up his mind that instant, and face this battle now head on. He ran to his father and hugged him but he could not speak because it could cause him to cry. Bardock held onto his child, and if it hadn’t been for the circumstances, Kakarot might have thought that he was holding on a little strong. Still Kakarot pulled away and smiled at him, before squeezing his hands and taking off through the house to the back door. He left straight away.
Bardock returned to the others and although it was difficult to bear, he began to grow ever faithful in his decision and believed that their future would be bright, even if his wasn’t.
Now he began to consider what he should be doing, and he was so torn that he found he couldn’t even sit still.
Was that it? His job was just to send his son off to fight that horrible monster and hope that he can find a way to defeat him?
- 11
- 12
- 13
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Uncertainty and Pride