Ancient History: The Forgotten Past of the Saiyans
Chapter 20: Free for All
POV: VegetaIt has been nearly five earth-years since I came to Saiyara. Most of the Saiyans have been reanimated, and various settlements have been built on the nearby planets of the Dragon System, as well as on Saiyara. A trading outpost has been set up on the memorial planet, with various shops. The outskirts filled with small villages. I sit here on top of a rocky cliff, leaning on an old tree, overlooking a vast valley filled with lush forest, and the market below. It is my favorite place to relax and get away from the business of royal life. I got back what I always wanted: my people. It is strange how I miss the freedoms I had back on Earth. Further in the distance, on the perimeter of the hexagonal villages, crops have been planted, ready for harvest. Food doesn't grow very well on Saiyara, its native vegetation is not edible, except for a few sweet fruit-like tubers that grow underground, budding from the roots of the huge Amaikonteimo trees. It has become a delicacy, eaten once every five earth years, only by royalty and honored guests, as the fruit is quite rare, despite the abundance of trees across the equator of the massive planet. Additionally, the oil in the outer rind has healing properties. Like a liquid version of the senzu beans on earth, but much greater in potency. If given too much, a person can go mad. The eight planets have since been renamed Doragon, followed by a number, starting with the outermost planet, which has the memorial transmitter on it. Saiyara has been reserved for extremely intense training, the gravity so strong, and for Appuru's labs. On the other side of the planet, the Royal Palace has been set up under the protection of Saiyara's energy field. With all the construction, making of allies, and the class separations, it has been difficult to find time to spar with Kakarott. But the mating between our sons has raised his status, and I have seen to it that his status be raised to Elite, but the moron prefers to live in the outer villages with the Third Class, farming.
I have reached the end of the page in my journal and close the book. It is titled 'Royal Chronicles of Vegeta II'. My father has decided to leave it in my possession.
POV: Goku The carrots are almost ready to harvest. Since Vegeta has become so busy, I have decided to busy my hands with physical labor. It helps me keep my strength up. And I feel I am contributing to society in a way that doesn't include violence. I love to spar just as much as the next saiyan, but senseless brawls are pointless to me. Today I broke a fight between two drunken saiyans that were arguing over petty land rights. The thing is, these two had land that bordered mine, and their pigs were getting into my crops, eating my carrots. On a different note, Gohan and Pan have been living with me now for the past year, since Videl died, by incineration, in an explosion from a hydrogen pocket bursting from underground, ignited by a stray energy blast from a nearby spar. The leftover hole has been filled with water and was named Videl Lake, in memory of my eldest son's human wife. Four years ago, Bulma, Bra, Gohan, Videl and Pan were brought to Doragon Six for a visit, since they would not withstand the gravity on Saiyara. My eldest, and his family decided to stay and experience Saiyan culture as it was, before the dreadful Cold Empire took hold. This will be our most abundant harvest to date. And as such, there will be a tournament of various kinds, in the royal arena, on Saiyara, in a week. I plan to be in top form when I arrive. Three years ago, Appuru used some stem cells from the lining of my stomach to regenerate my tail, which has increased my strength. The same procedure was used on my sons and Vegeta and his son, Trunks. Doragon Six is the most like Earth, and has similar planetary cycle lengths. That is why I prefer to live here. It is amazing how fast time goes by. Five year-olds Raditz (Fathered by Goten) and Caley (Fathered by Trunks) are due to visit me any moment now, accompanied by Pan, so I must prepare for their arrival.
I carry my journal 'The Royal Chronicles of Kakarott' back into the house, and set it on my desk. I then grab a cooler of lemonade and set it outside, next to the patio table just as the children land, running at me and yelling "Grandpa!" Goten, Gohan and Trunks behind them.
"Hi Dad." they chuckled after I was glomped by the children.
"Hi. How are you doing? I didn't expect you two to be here too."
"Great. Ready for the tournament next week?"
"You bet!"
"Grandpa we're thirsty." the young ones chimed.
"There is a cooler over there. Help yourselves." Goku said. And they ran to the cooler near the patio table.
"We'll come back and pick up The Twins tonight."
"Ok. See ya."
"Bye Dad."
"Bye Goku."
The four of us waved as they left and then sat down at the table to eat some fruit salad, and catch up on the past week. Once a week they come by for a visit.
Everyone calls Raditz and Caley 'The Twins' even though they are not twins. The were born on the same day within a hour of each other, and they look very similar. I once asked Vegeta about it, while on the earth, but he was reluctant to give me a simple answer. Since I had my brain damage repaired, I have more understanding on how it is done, but I finally had a good talk with my father and he straitened things out.
[BEGIN FLASHBACK] Dad and I sit down in his quarters on Saiyara, in Appuru's compound. Not too far away, the royal palace is under construction. He puts down one of the holospheres on the table before us, and pulls up a diagram of three bodies: The human male on the left, the human female in the middle, and the saiyan body on the right. I recognize two of the images right away, as I had seen them in the books Chichi bought shortly after we were married.
When looking at the saiyan diagram it look a like a vague combination of both male and female structures of the human body, with some exceptions of course, like the tail. The apparent anogenital distance was less then the male human's, but greater then the female human's. The saiyans have wider hips, and what looks like a two uteri. One is smaller, connected directly to the vagina, located between what would pass as human male testes, and the anus. It had two "frogs' eyes" atop it that were the egg sacs, or ovaries, without fallopian tubes.
The other one is larger, toward the front, but connected to the first, through a gourd-like structure. And it has another orifice that opens to a slit, just above the pubic region. My 'father' explains that after new life develops to a certain point and then is transferred to the larger uterus.
"Now do you understand?"
"Yes, father, I do."
"Good."
[END FLASHBACK]
"Grandpa? Grandpa!" Pan shouts to get my attention, as my mind wandered off. The kids help me with the chores around the house. "Hehe. I was just remembering something my dad taught me." A few broken dishes later, the kitchen was all cleaned up.
"Lets spar!" Raditz said excitedly. "Sure." I said.
A few hours later the four of us ate some dinner, Gohan, Trunks, and Goten joining us, just before they had to leave with their children.
POV: Gohan
I still grieve the loss of my wife, Videl. Her picture sits here in my hands and I cry on my bed. It still has her smell. I set it down on the nightstand and open our picture album, full of good memories our life together. She sits there in the hospital bed holding little pan. A few pages later there is a picture of the three of us sitting at a park bench in the sun. It was Pan's favorite place to play.
At the end of the album is the last picture of my wife before the accident. She was helping out with the tile in the kitchen, when Dad's house was being built, here on Doragon six. I feel tired.
POV: Narator
Gohan laid back on his pillow and fell asleep.
The preparations for the tournament are almost complete. Prince Vegeta waits in his chambers, in a disturbed mood. King Vegeta has recently been bringing up the subject of finding a mate, much to Prince Vegeta's annoyance.
In the training room, a few elite saiyans watched in amazement while Goten and Trunks went all out in an intense spar, preparing for the upcoming tournament.
POV: King Vegeta
In my bed chambers I sit at my private breakfast table with my great grandchildren. They are very powerful for their age. I look forward to seeing them spar with the other children in the junior division.
Tomorrow, the tournament begins and everyone will be attending. I look forward to watching my son fight. My years living with Appuru have taught me that power isn't everything. My son had to endure many cruel things under the hand of Frieza. But now we are free of that oppression and those with saiyan blood live a life, free for all.
Chapter 22: The Tournament.
