In Darkest Knight

On the other side of the world--while Goku and his family slept after an afternoon of play-sparring (much to ChiChi\'s dismay), eating, and talking--a dark force pried himself up out of the bunker that had held it. He was garbed in a hooded army-drab suit; a number of adamantine cables were wrapped around him, pinning one arm to his side. The eyes that peered through the lenses in his hood were tiny, fever-bright, and bloodshot with confounded rage. Sensitives in a ten mile radius were awakened from a sound sleep by nightmares they forgot immediately upon awakening, even as they scrambled for their dream-journals, but left them deeply troubled.

The hulking figure stomped through the darkness, carelessly crushing plants and small animals not fast enough to get out of his way. He smashed rocks and trees in his path, and even broke apart an old shack (which was thankfully empty) like it was nothing.

His movements were without purpose or destination, save for one thing: destruction.

***

The Saiyans awoke early in the morning. Goku showed his father, brothers, and the exiled prince where he liked to fish, and they all had a good breakfast before beginning their daily training. Radditz once again found himself at his nephew\'s mercy, as the little boy discovered that his uncle\'s ankles were very good targets for his tiny fists and feet. In general, however, they all had a good time.

Bardock came to an abrupt stop, Goku freezing in the middle of an attack (even though his muscles spasmed in protest) and watching his father take on an expression that was both focussed and distracted. \"... yes, Masters, I shall go straight away,\" he concluded aloud with a smirk, his green-hazed eyes focussing once again. \"Well, this is good news.\"

\"Yeah?\" Brolli asked from nearby with a growling, bottlebrush-tailed Vegeta in a headlock, pointedly ignoring the variety of scathing cursewords and insults emerging from the small Saiyan\'s mouth while he fought to get loose.

\"The Guardians have decided that they are finally fed up with Vegeta Ou\'s actions. I have been given permission to return to Vegetasei and confront him.\"

\"About fucking time!\" Vegeta snapped sharply, having stopped squirming long enough to hear what Bardock had said. \"Now let me go, you oversized lemur!\" He bellowed at his captor, drawing laughter as the powerful Saiyan finally released him.

Unfortunately, Vegeta, the Guardians have instructed that you are to remain *here* for your own safety; while you have gotten stronger, you aren\'t ready to face your father.\"

\"Hnf, fine by me,\" the exile grunted, crossing his arms and setting his jaw; Brolli could sense he was hurt and disappointed, but wise enough to not push the issue.

\"How about " Go" Goku spoke up.

\"Hm? Do you think your planet--and your wife, in particular--can spare you?\"

\"Hum, I think so. I have enough tournament winnings put aside for household use that she\'ll be fine for a few weeks, especially since she won\'t be feeding a pack of Saiyan warriors.\" His lip quirked in a self-effacing smirk.

Bardock chuckled quietly. \"It\'s settled, then. Let us return to your hom so that we can prepare for the trip.\"

\"Hai!\"

***

Men and women screamed and scattered before the mountainous figure who flung cars left and right with impunity, regardless if they were empty or occupied. Policemen had long since given up trying to stop him; their guns weren\'t even damaging his *suit*, and they figured out in a hurry that getting his attention was an invitation for disaster.

At one point, he paused in his rampage and turned to stare at a TV display in a store window; the screens showed a figure in red, blue, and yellow that was familiar to everyone. A low growl emerged from the suited monster\'s throat as the man was shown hefting a tanker truck over his head and carefully shaking the driver from the cab while the reporter--an auburn-haired beauty named Lois who was second only to her partner (and occasional rival), Clark, in the number of personal interviews with the renowned Man of Steel--cheerfully offered Metropolis\' thanks for apprehending the truck-jacker.

\"... Metropolis...\" firsfirst word the creature had spoken since his emergence from the bunker, voiced with a deadly glee.

He had found a worthy enemy at last.

***

\"Aww, Dad, but I wanna go!\" Gohan cried, tail lashing and bushed with his displeasure.

I\'m sorry, son, but you\'re too little to go into space quite yet.\" He picked his son up and held him close, letting out a calming rumble. \"I promise, Gohan, I\'ll take you out of the atmosphere soon, but you have to learn to control your ki first. I don\'t think your mother would be happy if her little baby came home suffering from vacuum burn.\" He smiled into the pouting face. \"Besides, I need someone to stay here and take care of the house and help your mother and Vegeta.\"

The pout abated slightly in the face of responsibility. \"Okay, Daddy.\" The acquiescence was reluctant, but Gohan was a good kid; he wouldn\'t try to follow his father after he had given his word to stay home.

Goku hugged the chibi warmly, purring louder. \"I\'ll be home as soon as this is taken care of.\"

Gohan smiled, relaxing. \"M\'kay, Daddy.\"

\"Aishiteru, chibi,\" he murmured into the boy\'s cap, with the four-star Dragonball for its pompom, his arms tightening briefly before he bent to set his son down on the floor. He looked up, and blinked at ChiChi, who was scowling a bit at him. \"Hai, ChiChi?\"

\"I\'d rather if you didn\'t go, Goku,\" she said, pouting just a little.

\"I know, but this could be my only chance to see the world that I\'m from.\" He smiled. \"I\'ll see if I can bring you back something nice as a souvenir.\"

The promise of a present from an exotic world made her eyes brighten, and she kissed him on the cheek as she pressed a capsule containing food for the trip into his hand. \"Be safe,\" she said firmly.

\"Of course.\" He smiled, then headed out to join his father and brothers.

***