Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ A Scrap of Hope ❯ The ritual begins ( Chapter 7 )

THE DAY OF THE RITUAL

Vegeta looked at the items spread across the bed, ready for Kakarot. Kakarot, the unknown, who had consented to be his champion. Kakarot, the laughingstock of the training grounds. Tremors shook his body. He was sure of his choice, but couldn’t help the doubts that assailed him. Nappa was, though not the stronger, far more experienced than his chosen. He reached for the wine, sloppily pouring himself another drink. He had already finished off one pitcher, and the second was nearly empty. I do not want to do this! I… do not want him hurt. I… think I need to be sick….

Goku walked towards the royal suite slowly, trembling inside. His training had just finished. Today’s the day. Today I’ll most probably die. Opening the door, he stepped inside and bowed, facing the prince. “Your majesty, as requested, I am here to fight for you.”

Vegeta quelled his trembling. I’ll be shaking enough when my father... he couldn’t finish the thought. “The uniform... is for you,” he whispered hoarsely. He had made it for Kakarot in the relative privacy of these rooms, working on it first while the boy slept, and then when he had begun training. He’d had a hard time of it, but he hadn’t been able to risk ordering the uniform made. He hadn’t wanted to risk the boy’s life. And isn’t that exactly what I’m doing? If he is not as strong as I believe… he’ll be killed. Oh, Kakarot! I should not have done this to you! I should have let you go… my poor Scrap… I’m so sorry.

Goku looked from the unusually pale face of his prince to the fabric laid out on the bed. The uniform was gorgeous, completely done in blood red and gold, having black boots with golden tips and golden clasps, and a blood red cloak to go with it. He turned to Vegeta again. “Thank you, Your Highness.” Without much ado, he slipped out of his old clothes and started dressing in the new.

Vegeta watched absently as Kakarot changed, his mind almost entirely caught up with what was going to happen next. He spared a half second to admire the other’s body, and longer to admire the way the uniform fitted. He’d done a good job. “I... I’m sorry.”

Kakarot closed the last claps and looked up at his prince, his eyes showing a wholly new gleam. “What for, Your Highness?” For some reason, the term master didn’t seem right anymore, seemed to have been discarded with the old clothes.

“I’m sorry. I took you from your cage, promised you freedom... and I haven’t truly given you that. You... you don’t have to fight. My father doesn’t know yet that I have a champion. Everyone I asked refused. He knew that. When you accepted, I never asked for a champion’s uniform to be made. That… I made that. No one knows you are my champion. You could go. I will... I will face... my future.” His hands fisted, his gaze locked firmly on the floor at his feet. “I’ve been horrible to you, teasing and taunting, demanding but never giving... I ... I’m sorry. It’s just... I... I’m supposed to be virgin on this night, and my whole life, everyone has made so sure to keep me that way…”

Kakarot looked at Vegeta, then stepped over to him, boldly taking his hands. “Mast... my prince, you saved me. You saved me from that cage and you treated me better than anyone ever has. And you deemed me worthy to do this and so I will. I will give my best. For you. Whatever you ask of me, I will do.”

Vegeta looked down at their linked hands. There is something I must tell the boy... what was it? He loosed one hand, wiping uneasily at the sweat suddenly on his forehead. Why am I so hot? “The drugs... Scrap! They’ve already given me…” He looked to the pitcher of wine, nearly empty. He forced himself to think. “You must... remain... no. Come? Remain! Remain until the call for the champion. Your…” He swayed. “Your uniform... the champion. Wait in the... hallway?”

Kakarot’s eyes widened and he looked confusedly down at his sovereign, catching the man as he swayed and threatened to fall. Suddenly he remembered: ‘They are going to drug me…’ and the words his prince said before he became so swiftly confused make sense. “Oh, no! Prince Vegeta... what is it I have to do? Vegeta... you need to concentrate!”

He recognized the effects of the drugs easily, as often as they had been used on him. A look of determination crossed his face. He wouldn’t allow what happened to him, what nearly broke him, to happen to the strong, proud prince. He wouldn’t! Shaking Vegeta gently, he led him over to the bathroom, cupping his fingers and collecting water to splash Vegeta’s face.

Vegeta moaned, then spluttered as he was splashed. “Kaka… little Scrap…” He reached up to trace the other’s face. “You… still here?”

Kakarot captured that hand, holding both it and the man tight, his tail wrapping unconsciously around Vegeta’s waist. “Yes, I’m still here. I won’t allow them to do that to you.”

“No choice... you have... find... Bardock. In charge. Tell champion... knows what do... spinning? Why’m I can’t charge?”

Vegeta didn’t make a whole lot of sense - but Goku realized it seemed essential that he find someone named Bardock. That name… it sounds familiar! Guiding the prince over to the other room again, he laid him down on the bed. “I don’t want to leave you like this, but if you say I must go, I will obey, my prince.” He looked down at the breathtaking royal who had trusted him with such an important task - and before he knew what had overcome him he had already dipped down, shyly capturing Vegeta’s lips in a parting kiss.

Vegeta was not so drugged as to not notice the kiss… but neither was he so drugged that he would risk Nappa winning. Time… later… kisses. Must send… away. “Kakarot... Bardock... find your father... Go.”

“My… my father...?” He let go, standing up, shaking his head to clear it. With a last gaze at the drugged prince he left the room to search for the mysterious Bardock. Why, Father? Tell me why!

Bardock leaned against the wall outside of the arena, muttering about how unfair it was that he wasn’t able to try for that luscious piece of ass. He smiled sourly to himself, knowing he didn’t mean a word of it, but also knowing that to sound how he felt would be a death sentence. The prince had asked him to be his champion, after all. But Bardock had known full well that he wasn’t a match for the King’s favorite, and had refused. Vegeta had looked so disappointed, for an instant. He’d looked… broken. Almost, he’d started to say he would, but the Prince had whirled away and was gone before he managed to open his mouth again. Bardock hadn’t heard that he’d asked anyone else.

Kakarot ran through the corridors, having absolutely no idea where to search for the mysterious Bardock first. Rounding a corner, he ran into another person and was flung back onto his ass. Rubbing his back he looked up - and froze. “What the... you look just like me!”

Bardock pried himself out of the wall the reckless brat had stuck him in. “Who the fuck are you?”

Kakarot growled and stood up. “I don’t have time for chat. I need to find that stupid Bardock.” He started to stride past the other.

Bardock knocked Kakarot back on his ass, irritated by the cub’s stupidity and rudeness. “And just why are you looking for me, runt?”

“Owwww…” Kakarot rubbed his head this time, then his eyes widened and he looked back up at the other. “You… you’re Bardock?”

Bardock suddenly noticed the uniform the runt wore. “You’re the Prince’s CHAMPION? Has he gone completely out of his mind? Gods, now I wish I had volunteered!”

Said champion scratched his head. “Umm, I guess so. He mentioned I needed to find you to tell me what I need to do.” His eyes narrowed. “When I had to leave him he was already drugged, but he said something odd. He said you’re my father.”

Bardock did an excellent imitation of landed fish. “Huh?”

Goku looked rather sheepish. “He said I’d need to go and find my father. Umm. Are you my father?” In spite of the rocky beginning, and his memory of his former master’s words, Goku couldn’t help looking up hopefully into a nearly identical face.

Bardock pulled himself together. “You’re his Champion, that’s all that matters” He gave his son(?!) another raking look. “I need your name, boy.”

“Go... Uh... I mean... Vegeta says my name’s Kakarot.”

Bardock’s eyes boggled. “But! You’re dead!” It took him a moment to recover and recall himself to duty. “He sent you to me? Why?”

Goku blinked at him in confusion. “He said you’d tell me what I need to do as his champion. I still don’t understand why he chose me of all people.”

Bardock quelled the sudden urge to kill his son. “It’s very simple. See that alcove over there?” He pointed. “There’s a chair in it. You sit there until the king calls for the Prince’s Champion to fight.” He frowned. “I didn’t know the little brat had one. Does his father?”

“I... I guess not.” Goku felt very uneasy with all of this. Only two months ago I was a slave for heaven’s sake! How can I stand up to all of these people - and the king for that matter? And my father... He looked at the man from under his bangs, voice quiet. “Father... Why… why did you abandon me?”

Bardock blinked. “ABANDON you? How could I abandon someone who died?” He paused, drew a deep breath. “We were told you died. That the blasts killed you.”

Goku looked down to the floor. “You never searched for me? All of these years? I... I always hoped that someone would come and find me…” His voice trailed away, as he realized how foolish that spark of hope had been.

“Dammit boy, you were dead. Supposed to be dead. There wasn’t any trace of your ki left; the scouters didn’t pick up a damned thing. All we found were scraps of the blanket you’d been wrapped in.” Bardock’s next words came through gritted teeth. “And those were... drenched in blood. Your blood.”

Still not facing his father, Goku replied slowly, “I can’t remember that. Master,” he winced, “he… he once told me my family had sold me to them. He said my father had abandoned me.”

Bardock’s eyes widened in absolute horror. “Sold.... You were... sold? A slave? My son?” His voice dropped lower and lower as he spoke. “Oh gods…”

Goku winced at the horror in his father’s voice. “Yes, I was a slave. For all my life. Until Vegeta... got me out of the cage.”

Bardock whispered, “When?”

Goku looked up, expecting to see only disgust in his father’s face. “Two months ago.”

Bardock slowly stepped forward, silently pulling his son into a slightly awkward hug. “So long.... my son, my son…” He pulled back, a look of pained pride on his face. “And now, you Champion the prince.”

Goku gasped in slight surprise, before sinking into the embrace again, hot tears threatening to spill down his cheeks. “Father…” He tried hard to get himself back under control. “Yes. I don’t know why Vegeta chose me. But, he seems to think I can do this. He trusts me. Father, you need to help me.”

Bardock contemplated him a moment longer, then pushed the boy back. “All you need to do is wait and watch, my son.” His tone was proud now, his eyes glimmering. “Watch Nappa... he is favored by the king - and everyone knows it. Watch how he fights. You... you will not fight until the Champion is called for. Keep your emotions tightly controlled. Watch only. Do not try to go to the Prince, no matter what. Find that bastard’s weakness, so that the Prince will not need to submit to him.”

A look of determination veiled Goku’s face. “Yes, Father, I will. I vowed to Vegeta I’d either free him of Nappa or I’d die trying - and I fully intend on staying true to that vow.”

Bardock found himself ashamed, this boy of his, a mere cub, and a runty one at that, had made a vow he himself was too afraid to make. His pride in the boy surged. This was a son to be proud of! “Come, you need to be there before the king arrives, since he doesn’t know about you.” He led Kakarot to the alcove. “Vegeta no Ou will sit there, and his son will be displayed there,” he explained, pointing to the appropriate places.

Goku tried to remember everything his father showed him, his nervousness growing. “Will you stay here, Father?”

“I can’t. I…” He frowned, looked away, obviously irritated and unhappy. “I have to.... prepare the prince.”

“That is your chore?” Goku’s eyes narrowed. “You’re not going to hurt him, are you?”

“No, I am not going to hurt him. I think this whole thing is…” He stopped, drew a deep breath. “I just have to get him ready and bring him here. You’re the one with the hard job. You have to beat Nappa.” Without another word, Bardock turned and stormed away, tail lashing.

“Father!” One hand outstretched, Goku looked after his father - then the hand slowly sank. His tail hung rather limply as he turned and walked into the alcove. After a time, he sat down in the chair, thankful that he was hidden from the eyes of the many thousand Saiyans who had begun to fill the arena. Then a horn sounded to announce the entry of the King.

Another horn sounded. Bardock came in with Vegeta, naked except for ki binders disguised as jewelry around his wrists and ankles, barely able to stand because of the drugs. He carefully arranged the young Prince, his face set, trying very, very hard not to display his true emotions for the deplorable event about to take place. An event that hadn’t occurred in generations. Dark eyes flashed a warning at his son as he managed to signal for silence.

Goku grabbed the chair and nearly broke it when he saw Vegeta. “What the fuck...!” Just in time, he caught his father’s warning and settled angrily into the chair instead.

Vegeta saw the blurred form of his father’s favorite and shuddered, to be suddenly soothed with a light touch, a sympathetic voice saying, “Not long, my Prince. My son is waiting. Nappa will wear himself out. My son… is braver than I was.”

Again, horns sounded, this time signifying the start of the ritual. Dozens of combatants entered the arena, drawing lots to see who fought whom. Bardock remained near Vegeta, as was his duty. He watched in dismay as some of the finer Elites became so much road kill... as one after another fell to Nappa’s blunt fists.

Vegeta could hear the roar of the crowd, felt Nappa’s touches when he won, coming up to stake another claim on ‘his’ prize. Only through sheer force of his muddled will did he manage to not scream in rage and denial, manage to hold his body still in spite of the fondling, manage to keep from being ill. The dizzying drugs slowly wore off, but that only left him more aware of what he couldn’t control.

Goku watched with narrowed eyes, feeling nothing but hate and disgust for this whole thing. How his own people could be so barbaric as to do that! No, not my people… his own father. And to think I thought mine had abandoned me… this is much worse. He concentrated on Nappa, watching his fighting style like he used to do every time before his fights in the cage. Analyzing.

Bardock groaned as another fighter was pulped by the ugly Saiyan’s massive paws, hearing the tiny whimper from the bound prince. Nappa was all charge, smash, charge smash... why was it working?

His son watched, silently pondering the same question. He studied Nappa’s slanted eyes, how they moved quickly up and down his opponents’ forms, and he understood that this man had a lot of experience. He knew the places where his blunt hits would do the most harm. With a combination of brutal strength and speed he literally ran his opponents into the ground before they even formed a defense. Against this man, only awareness from the first moment on would help while he learned his fighting style first hand – because right now, not much of a fight was going on. Vegeta had been right. His father had only chosen those opponents that were easy prey to Nappa’s fighting technique. Kakarot clenched his fists, willing himself not to go out and vaporize that big ugly bald monster. The last opponent fell.

Vegeta moaned, trying to avoid the touch as Nappa came to claim him... the last fighter had fallen. Where is my champion? Why hasn't the champion been called for? His lips tried to shape words he could not say.

Bardock reeled in horror as Nappa began to untie the prince. “The Champion! You must fight the Prince’s Champion!” He was appalled when the big man only laughed.

Vegeta no Ou also laughed, not knowing his plans to keep his son from having a champion had failed. “Oh, right. Let the Champion come forth.”

Kakarot’s eyes widened as Nappa stepped up the prince. When does my cue come? When do I need to go out?! He jumped up, clenching the rim of the alcove, his voice firm as he shouted, “I have been chosen as the prince’s champion! Fight me, you coward!” in response to the King’s laughing command. Vegeta went completely limp with relief as Nappa snarled and stepped away from him, walking up to the youth properly clad in blood red and gold.

Vegeta no Ou snarled, “Who let you in here? Who are you?”

“It’s about damn time,” Bardock whispered,

“That is none of your concern!” Kakarot cried, answering the king. He jumped over the rim and hovered in the air above the arena. “The law is clear! I am the chosen champion!”

Bardock was UNBELIEVABLY proud of his son, and shot a glance at the prince to see how he was faring. To his dismay, Vegeta was unconscious, too much stress and too many drugs, not to mention the ki binders, had sapped the remains of his strength.

Bardock watched as Nappa flew at his son, preparing to smash him. Kakarot, though, flew slowly down to the ground, landing in a cocky stance in front of Nappa. “Well? Brave enough to rape someone who can’t defend himself, but afraid of me?” He dodged the first attack with ease, used to fighters who only relied on brute strength.

Nappa isn’t changing his strategy. What am I thinking... he hasn’t got one. Look at the way he keeps just charging in, trying to lay a hand on my boy. Bardock grinned with pride, watching his boy fight. Kakarot’s eyes were narrowed, watching every movement. He just dodged Nappa’s first attacks, not attacking himself. Bardock was becoming increasingly disgusted with Nappa. Even that fool should be able to tell by now... oh, finally. Nappa switched to energy attacks.

Kakarot yelped, as his tail-fur was singed by Nappa’s first blast, then resolved to dodging the blasts, flitting through the air and annoying Nappa enormously. He was at a disadvantage now, with his still imperfect control of ki. Even his flight became slightly clumsy. Bardock realized finally that his son wasn’t doing anything but dodging, and started scowling.

However, Kakarot finally had evaluated enough information. He phased out, using a move he’d memorized a thousand times while doing his katas, then appeared right in front of Nappa, smashing his fist into the ugly bald man’s guts. But Nappa had anticipated the move. A blast welcomed Kakarot, hurling him backwards. He spun in the air, shaking his head to clear it, then threw himself to the side, narrowly avoiding Nappa’s next blast.