Second Life

Chapter 7

Reflection

The next day Chi-Chi was preparing for Gohan’s parent interview. She had roused them all early in the morning, made a big breakfast and hustled Kakarot upstairs to get ready before he could attempt to escape. Raditz disappeared almost as soon as he finished eating, while Bardock was enjoying Kakarot’s misery. Eventually as Chi-Chi was forcing Kakarot into a suit, under which he insisted to wear his regular clothes, Bardock’s laughter and questions became too much for Chi-Chi’s nerves, so she threw her father-in-law out the window.

As this was going on someone knocked at the door. Gohan, who had the sense to stay out of Chi-Chi’s way, went to get it.

“Krillen!” exclaimed the young demi-saiyan.

“Hey, Gohan. Where’s Goku?,” asked Krillen

“Upstairs. He and mom are going to a parent interview today,” said Gohan gesturing vaguely in the direction of the stairs.

“Aw, really? Me and the others were going out for a picnic in the country. I thought for sure he’d come. Maybe Chi-Chi can reschedule?” said Krillen. He already looked disappointed at the forgone conclusion.

“I doubt it,” said Gohan, confirming Krillen’s fears. Oh, well, they could have fun without Goku, right?

“So, do you want to come Gohan?” asked Krillen. At least one member of the Son family should have some fun. Then again, parent interviews might be Chi-Chi’s idea of fun.

“Sure, let me ask my mom,” said Gohan as he ran off upstairs, leaving Krillen in the living room.

A few seconds later, the door opened and Bardock walked in.

“Goku!” exclaimed Krillen. He didn’t quite catch the confused look on the other’s face. “I thought you were upstairs getting ready for your interview. What’s with the saiyan armor?” asked Krillen.

Bardock looked at the short human in confusion for a few seconds before realizing that he was being mistaken for his younger son.

“I’m not Kakarot,” he said. The human’s face twisted in extreme confusion and his body shifted cautiously into a fighting position.

“Who are you?” demanded the human. As much as Bardock wanted to toy with the human it probably wasn’t wise. He didn’t have a scouter but he was sure this human was quite possibly stronger than he was.

“I’m Bardock, recently revived father of Kakarot or Goku as you call him,” said Bardock. The human’s mouth dropped. It was almost as fun as messing with him would have been.

“Krillen, mom says I can go. Grandpa, do you and Uncle Raditz want to come to the picnic with me,” said Gohan as he came bolting down the stairs. At the sound of Raditz’s name the human fell over onto the floor. Gohan looked concerned.

“Sure, but I can’t find Raditz. He’s off moping again,” said Bardock ignoring the human on the floor. 

“I’ll help you look. We have sense his ki,” said Gohan.

“Without a scouter?” questioned Bardock.

“Yup, I’ll teach you, it’s easy,” said Gohan grinning. They left Krillen on the living room floor and headed out to find Raditz. The found him in a random area of the forest next to a dead t-rex.

He whirled as a roar caught him off guard, his scouter chiming in a late warning. It seemed he had missed one and its anger at seeing its comrades killed had overcome its usual gentle nature. A quick blast through the chest cured his oversight and the beast collapsed at his feet.

“I guess you can be Kakarot,” he told it.

Raditz shook his head, willing away the images. He was a monster, he’d always had been but now next to the shining savior that was his younger brother, it sickened him.

They faced him with rocks, sticks, slingshots, and other implements they must have gotten from their homes. There were maybe 15 of them and they looked determined. They were brave.

“So you think you can defeat me with toys?” he mocked them. They gathered themselves, and their courage then they charged. Raditz let them nearly reach him before letting off a wide blast that killed the lot. He walked out to the eggs and surveyed them coldly. He blasted the egg covering the cave in reddish egg yolk and half-formed aliens.

It was sickening.

He was a monster.

Raditz slammed his head back into the oak he was leaning against, it didn’t help or hurt. He just wanted to forget.

Kakarot was holding him as the Nemekian charged up his beam. If that hit they were both going to die. He didn’t want to die, he was too scared. Hell was supposed to be worse than anything in life, he couldn’t take worse.

No.

The beam of concentrated ki sliced through both brothers’ chests. They were both dying, he’d failed his mission. His own brother had sacrificed his own life to end his, as if he’d already know how worthless his elder brother was.

“Raditz!” yelled Bardock for the umpteen time. He shook his eldest by the shoulders. 

“Huh, father? What are you doing here?” asked Raditz.

“We’ve,” said Bardock gesturing to Gohan beside him, “been trying to get you attention for the last five minutes. Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” lied Raditz.

 “Krillen invited us to a picnic, you want to go?” piped in Gohan. Raditz had to marvel at the boy’s capacity to forgive. Yesterday could be put down to shock, today though the boy showed no hesitance or fear in his uncle’s presence. Not that he had much to fear from Raditz, he was a super saiyan, Raditz was not. Coming back from the dead would have multiplied both Raditz’s and Bardock’s power levels but it was still nowhere near the levels needed to fight someone more powerful than Freeza.

“No thanks, I think I want to stay out here,” said Raditz. Gohan’s face fell, it actually made Raditz want to change his mind but he held strong. Bardock on the other hand…

“Get up, you’re going,” ordered Bardock gruffly

Raditz glared at him, but Bardock cracked his knuckles and Raditz stood. His arms crossed and an unhappy scowl on his face but he stood. Gohan looked as cheerful as if Raditz had changed his mind all on his own.

They went back to the house to collect Krilen he was just getting himself together when he caught sight of Raditz being tugged into the door by Gohan, then he fell out again. Chi-Chi dragged a reluctant Kakarot out the door, as they got into the car he looked on at the others waving with palpable remorse. After seeing the two off they followed Krillen to the picnic site.