Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ And We Were Angels ❯ Sage Advice ( Chapter 8 )

And We Were Angel

By: AMCM74

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Chapter 8 - Sage Advice

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Bardock strolled the streets with Vegeta at his side. The larger angel stopped and picked up a piece of fruit from a local merchant. After inspecting it for a moment, he tossed the man a coin. Nodding he moved on.

"I don't know why you do that", Vegeta grumbled, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"Because you have to pay them, or they get really testy about it." Bardock took a large bite and continued to walk.

"Not that." Vegeta grabbed Bardock's arm and pulled the fleshy fruit from his hand. "Eating this! It's not like you have any use for it."

"Vegeta," Bardock scowled and took it back. "Let me explain so that even you can understand. It is not because I have to. It's because I want to, and I can. Sort of like you following me around."

"I do not follow you around." Vegeta stopped in his tracks.

"Yes you do." Bardock smiled. "It's been that way for a long time. Whenever you get a bug up your ass and don't know what to do, I turn around and there you are. You could always go to Goku." Bardock watched the expression on Vegeta's face darken at the truth of his words. "I guess you would rather avoid the lecture."

"Sort of like the one you are giving me now?" Vegeta watched Bardock take another bite. "Fine then, it's my charge. I am having trouble with her."

"So her life is not turning around?" Bardock arched an eyebrow. "What if I arrange it so that her enemies have more trouble than they bargained for?"

"It's not that" Vegeta scowled.

"Well then, what is it?"

"It's sort of an issue... more like that one." Vegeta pointed to the fruit.

"She wants to buy fruit?" Bardock blinked and then added a wicked smirk. "Well, she can if she wants to. It's really not that hard."

"No... she is the fruit." Vegeta ran his hand through his hair and choked with annoyance. "You eat because you want to, and you can." Vegeta averted his eyes and shoved his hands in his pockets. "I find myself in the same position. I want, and as Radditz pointed out, I can, but it's forbidden."

Bardock nodded. "Vegeta, believe me, I understand more than you know."

"What do you mean?"

"What I am about to tell you stays between us." Bardock walked down the street with Vegeta behind him. Once they came to a tiny outdoor cafe, they sat down at a table. Bardock looked up and waved the waiter over. "Two tea please." Looking at Vegeta, Bardock leaned in. "I am sure you know the relationship between Radditz and Goku."

"I understand that they are brothers." Vegeta arched an eyebrow in question.

Bardock looked down at the table. "Yes, they are. What is not as widely known is that I am their father."

"You... you?" Vegeta felt the blood draining from his face.

"It was long ago. I split with the Lord over it. It pained him as well as I, but I was madly in love." Bardock admitted. "After my mortal love was slain, during a desert raid against our camp, I found myself becoming something of a warlord upon the Earth. I had two small children, but it didn't matter to me. I became obsessed with making the villains pay for their deeds. After I slaughtered them, I was still empty and alone inside. I found not solace in even the beloved sons that my woman had gifted me with. I turned from them, and tried to fill the void with my insatiable lust for blood and vengeance against all mankind for being mortal. I hated them for dying in the first place. The only thing that drove me on was burning and killing." The voice was thick with self-loathing. "I am sure Radditz remembers some of it, but Goku without a doubt has no memory. I believe that is why they are so different."

"I never knew. How did you get back to heaven?"

"The cost was great, Vegeta. My sons don't even acknowledge me, mostly be cause their memory of me has been swept clean. I am sure that will be part of my eternal torment, along with the fact that they are set against each other constantly. Radditz is as I was, but in Goku there is all the goodness, purity and grace that I once had, as God's favorite."

"Well, that clearly explains little Mr. Perfection. That doesn't say what happened to the soul of your mortal beloved?" Vegeta looked over at Bardock hating himself for dredging up the old wounds. "What happened to her? Surely your woman still exists some where?"

"I am sure she does, and I dread to think what has become of her. She knew we defied God to be together." Bardock's fists tightened as he looked at Vegeta with impassioned eyes. "If you ever hear anything I say, hear this. Don't let your feelings for this woman destroy her, Vegeta. You must remain separate from her. Do your job as fast as possible and get out."

"Sir, here is your tea." The waiter set them on the table. "Will there be anything else?"

"No, but I have to get going." Bardock pulled out some money and set it on the table. "Drink up and think about what I said, my friend."

"Where are you going any way?"

Bardock smiled wickedly and interlaced his fingers. "To the United Nations Peace Conference. If I want this job to remain as cushy as it is now I have to intervene from time to time."

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Bulma dropped the screwdriver on the table and rubbed her aching eyes. She didn't understand. It should be working. She had checked the connections on the prototype at least four times and nothing seemed to be wrong. It just was not starting up, and that didn't make sense. The least it could do was hum, buzz, or have the common decency to smoke and blow up on her. Anything was better than the stone cold silence.

"So this is your great new invention."

Bulma cringed. She knew that voice. Turning around she saw the same sour face that had plagued her at the share holders meeting. "Yes, I..." Bulma stopped. "How did you get in here?"

"The name is Marley." The woman walked over and stood before Bulma. Casting a look over the Marico energy device, a look of cool boredom took root on her weathered face. "Johanna Marley. You are trying to revive the Marico project? I believe even your father, genius that he is, couldn't make it work."

"That was over three years ago, Mrs. Marley." There are new technologies and materials that have come out since then." Bulma reached out and pulled a towel from the dispenser. Wiping her hands she motioned to the door. "If you would like we can talk about it in my office."

"You can dispense with your charade. Miss Briefs, I know you don't like me very much." The older woman reached out and picked up the prototype up and inspected it. "That is quite alright, I don't care much for you either. I never did like spoiled little rich girls that never had to work or suffer for anything." Setting the Marico device on the table she turned. "You can use your youth and beauty to woe most of the share holders, but that is not going to work on me."

"I would never..." Bulma stepped back to avoid reaching out and slapping the woman for her audacity.

"Save it." The older woman turned. "As I said, I have been through this before. I know how you work." A half smile touched her lips. "On the good side you know where you stand with me, and I can be up front with you. If you succeed with this project, we will all be very pleased with you. It will undoubtedly save Capsule Corporation from financial ruin and secure it's place into the next generation."

"One thing I can't get though." Bulma crossed her arms over her chest and glared. She was done handling this old shrew with kid gloves. "Tell me just why the hell am I putting up with you?"

"Because outside of the Briefs family, my late husband owned the most shares in this company. If I were to sell them to someone else, say Mr. Hikari, you would lose control of this company."

Bulma choked and her eyes widened. "You're not serious."

"You need to do more homework on your own company, although you have done quite the little turn around here with the Marico project. It was very well executed." Mrs. Marley shrugged and turned for the door. "I do have to add that as long as you don't try crossing me again like you did at the share holders meeting, you won't have anything to worry about."

"Is that a threat?" Bulma growled.

"Yes it is, and here is a warning you should take heed of. Your short skirts and bright smile has caught more than just Mr. Hikari's attention. If you're not careful he might be asking you to put out more than you're willing to pay."

Bulma's jaw dropped as the woman left the room. Placing a hand to her chest she leaned against the table. She had thought Mr. Hikari was merely supportive and helpful to her, as he had been to her father. She wasn't sure if she should believe that old windbag, but than again... Bulma closed her eyes and looked to the sky. She could not afford to be wrong.

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Goku sat on the bridge tower overlooking the city as night settled upon it. It was becoming clear that Vegeta was weakening to the mortal girl. He wasn't really shocked. It was the way things were supposed to go. It was just hard to have the inside track on everything and sit back unable to do anything about it.

There were some things that were a mystery, even to Goku, like Radditz' sudden interest in the mortal girl. With all the mortals that were flocking to gain access it just didn't make sense. Why go after the one that Vegeta was personally...

His dark eyes widened and Goku drew a deep breath as realization struck him. "He's figured out how to get to Vegeta!"

"Took you long enough." Radditz said from behind him.

Goku snarled and refused to face the fallen one. "Be gone."

"I will, but first I want to know what you will do to save your fellow angel?" Radditz walked over and placed his hand on Goku's shoulder, his fingers biting into Goku's firm muscle. "What would you sacrifice for the sake of others?"

Goku shook him off and looked back with anger in his eyes. "I will do everything in my power to save anything or anyone I can from the likes of you, Traitor."

"Would you sell yourself in return for him?" Radditz felt Goku shake his hold off him violently as he came to his feet. "Now, dear brother, it was just a question. I am sure that God's favorite errand boy would not mind answering a simple question."

"I know you're trying to trick me Radditz. It won't work." Goku warned. "I have been gifted special ability to combat your kind."

"Even so, think of it, brothers reunited on the battlefield for the fate of the entire universe." Radditz leaned closer. "What do you say?"

"Come back to us." Goku whispered softly. "Then it can be as you want."

"Come now, I have done far to much to just strap myself back down to the code you have to live by, Goku." Radditz snorted and turned away from his brother. "Let me know when you have grown tired of fighting this losing battle. Then, I will welcome you at my side."