Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Pendulum Control ❯ Pendulum Reset ( Chapter 2 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Pendulum Reset

It was around 7 AM when Goku landed feather softly on the primped lawn of the Briefs. It wasn't Capsule Corp.-- Bulma had invested money in a new home of their own, mostly at Vegeta's request.
The reclusive Saiyan never enjoyed living in such crowded conditions. It didn't help that his in-laws often fussed over how he was straining his no-longer-youthful body during his often extreme training sessions. So it was Vegeta who mostly lived in the new, spacious home on the other side of the city while Bulma made weekly commutes between the two, often needed at Capsule Corp. to assist her father in his latest projects.

Goku entered the large dome of a house unannounced and went straight to the kitchen where he was greeted with the sight of the unsociable Saiyan sitting alone at his sizable table, hunched over a dish of questionable looking eggs.

When Vegeta saw Goku at the kitchen door, he sized him up curiously before going back to his breakfast.

“Ah, you've returned,” he said, “you rushed off yesterday before we'd finished sparring. I suppose you're here to continue the session. Well I'm busy at the moment, you'll have to come back later.”

Goku advanced further into the kitchen until he was in full view and stopped.

“I'm not here to spar,” he said.

It was true. Though Vegeta wouldn't know it now, Goku was still charged from their last spar. He had woken up that morning feeling vitalized and renewed. He was sure of things that had never before even crossed his mind.


Goku had hopped out of bed an hour before and for the first time, food was not his waking thought. He was immediately searching for something, something that made him briefly pause when passing the closed door of Goten's room. Though what he sensed on the other side was promising, the thing he sought was not in there.

He paused again in the kitchen when his senses pinpointed the next closest thing. However, he skimmed over that as well when he realized that the power was no more if not less promising than that of the dozing Goten upstairs.

He was on his way out the door when a clattering of pans and a gasp reverberated behind him.

“Goku,” Chichi said, alarmed that she hadn't noticed him go by or that he hadn't stopped to greet her.

Goku failed again to acknowledge his wife and went right on out the door, letting the screen clamor behind him.

Chichi followed after him, pan of bacon in hand.

“Goku, where are you going?” She called.

Goku stopped in mid-takeoff and turned to his wife, whom he was noticing for the first time this morning. He almost looked offended by the intrusion.

“I don't go by that name anymore.” was all he said.

Chichi watched, dumbfounded, as her husband shot off into the sky, having left no clue as to where he was going or what had been the cause of his suddenly odd behavior.

Goku's senses reached further as he hawked over the terrain, some miles above the main city. He was heading west and behind him were the prominent energy signals of his two Saiyan sons, his youngest slightly more radiant. Ahead of him was a similar energy, however vaguely stronger than young Goten's, coming from the heart of the metropolis. Before he could consider closing in, his senses touched onto something that made him jerk to a halt in mid-air. To his left, coming from the outskirts of the city, was an astonishing power, far greater than any of the small fish he'd sensed earlier. This was indeed a power that rivaled his own.


Goku stood now , ready and waiting, as the captivating power sat only yards away, groggy and somewhat grouchy. Every breath from the haughty Saiyan's lunges served a direct assault to Goku's goals.

“Well, what do you want, Ka–Goku?” the last word was said with an unusual softness and Vegeta was unable to meet the eyes of his guest, instead occupying himself with his dish of sloppily prepared breakfast.

A glint flickered past the eyes of the standing Saiyan.

“What did you call me?” He asked.

Vegeta looked up, annoyed.

“Oh, don't start.” he said, “You won. We know you won. Are you here to gloat then? Well alright, I suppose you've earned it. Goku. Goku, Goku, Goku.” He said it clearly now with all the enunciation he could fit. He would allow Goku his bragging rights whatever it cost him, as he was sure Goku would allow him his own had their last fight's outcome been reversed.

Vegeta gave Kakkarot a humoring smile.

“Satisfied?” He said, then went back to forking his runny eggs.

“Call me Kakkarot.”

Vegeta went blank for a split second before the cheeky grin returned to his lips.

“You went through all that trouble yesterday so I could call you Goku and now you want me to call you Kakkarot again? That's very funny, I see irony is not beyond you. Now get out. I'm eating breakfast and I'm not much in the mood for sparring actually.”

“I'm not here to spar.”

“So you said. Then what exactly is it you want, Goku? If you've come to raid our fridge, you're out of luck. Bulma's been at her father's for the past week and we have nothing. I just barely managed to find some ingredients for this omelette and I'm not even sure if I've done it right. It doesn't look like an omelette-- certainly doesn't taste like an omelette. Where the hell is that woman when you need her?”

“You said she was as her father's.” Goku cut in smoothly.

Vegeta's eyes wandered back to the tall man still standing inexplicably in the middle of his kitchen.

“Are you still here?”

Goku paid no mind to the obvious snideness.

“I need to see you outside.”

“Can't you see I'm eating, Goku? Or has your ridiculous hair finally grown to impair your vision?”

“I said not to call me that anymore.” Goku's eye's became shaded in the slanted morning light.

Vegeta did not fail to notice the severity of his tone.

“But you won the bet,” he said, now having a bit of fun, “it would be dishonorable of me to go back on it.”

“Forget the bet,” Goku said at once, “Forget everything that's happened up to this point. Now come outside with me.”

“What has gotten into you, Goku? If you think I'm just going to drop everything because you're ready to go, you're more self involved than you let your friends think!”

“My name is Kakkarot, and I won't tell you again. The reason I want us to go outside if for Bulma's sake. I wouldn't want any of her high-end furniture to suffer any damage on behalf of her stubborn husband.”

Vegeta stared perplexed.

Though thus far Kakkarot had maintained a calm and causal demeanor-- not so much as rasing his voice-- it was clear to Vegeta that something was boiling beneath the surface and it hinted that every minute Vegeta did not comply was a minute closer to someone having to suffer the consequences.

Vegeta would later tell himself that it was not fear that drug him away from his makeshift breakfast and made him follow Kakkarot out onto the patio, but rather an overwhelming curiosity as to what had gotten the clown so serious all of a sudden.

“You haven't got me fooled, Kakkarot,” he said, once the screen door was shut behind them, “You've gotten me outside. Good work. Now, I suppose you'll want to spar.”

The strangely behaving Kakkarot had his back facing Vegeta and was making no move to attack.

“I've had a change of heart, Vegeta” he finally said, without turning to face the shorter man.

“Is that what you've brought me out here to tell me?”

Goku turned to look at Vegeta.

Vegeta, with his hands on his hips, waited impatiently for an explanation.

“I've brought you out here to fight you.” Kakkarot said.

“Well, figures.” Vegeta crossed his arms and blew at some dust.

“No. I've brought you out here to fight you.” he said again, but with effective emphasis.

Fight as opposed to spar, Vegeta reflected. However, before he had a chance to consider it further, a sizable energy blast was thrown his way. He quickly deflected it with an instinctive swat.

“You said you didn't want to damage the house!” He shouted at the now ascending Kakkarot.

“I can't wait forever,” was his response.

Vegeta glared up at the reckless Saiyan hovering higher and higher. He didn't know what was going on, but he had enough sense to move away from the expansive house bought from his wife's earnings before it was threatened any further.

“I don't know what's gotten into you Kakkarot, but if you like I can have the woman prescribe you something for it.” This was said as a jab but Vegeta was beginning to feel earnest concern for the unusually stern Saiyan.

“I'm not playing games,” he said quietly, and though he was gaining height, the sound carried clearly down to Vegeta who was still planted firmly on the patio (however, now distancing himself from the house).

“I'd start taking this seriously, Vegeta,” Kakkarot continued, “Or you won't be able to deflect the next one so easily.”

Vegeta snarled as Kakkarot's hand sparked with the beginnings of a new ball of energy.

The hovering Saiyan stared down at the grounded Vegeta, daring him to stay put.

With a growl, Vegeta lifted off the tiled patio and ascended to meet his foe.

Kakkarot waited for Vegeta to match his height before killing the radiant ball in his hand.

“So, where to then?” he asked.

Vegeta tweaked a brow.

“Hm?”

“I picked the last place. It's your turn.”

Vegeta had to consider this for a moment before catching on. A spiteful glare furrowed his face.

“You said we're fighting now, remember? Not sparring.” he said.

“We were never sparring,” Kakkarot answered immediately.

Vegeta knew he was referring to their weekly sessions and was startled by the response. Was this what Kakkarot truly believed? The former prince supposed it wasn't too far fetched. They had always been extreme in their training sessions, often taking each other to the brink of their powers. If anyone were watching during their spars, it would appear that the two brazen men were out specifically to hurt one another, as though they were settling a deep-seated grudge. On occasion, Vegeta had thrown some of his own potentially fatal blows. It was only by chance that Kakkarot happened to be on guard and able to evade them. It was not unreasonable, Vegeta concluded, to say that every time they fought they were fighting for real and with real stakes.

“Alright, Kakkarot!” he spat, “We'll fight. But you follow me.”

“Where are we going?”

Vegeta turned seriously.

“The canyons.” he said, “are you coming?”

At this, Kakkarot grinned and followed. Vegeta had always favored the vastness and privacy of the canyons. Kakkarot hadn't needed to ask where he'd chosen-- and he certainly didn't need to follow, as they'd been there many times.


The canyons erupted with flashes of clashing energies. The two brazen Saiyans bounced from surface to surface and sometimes keeping to the air.

Kakkarot had wasted no time upon reaching the canyons to engage his foe. Without so much as a taunting jeer to kick them off, the resolute Saiyan charged Vegeta into battle.

It had seemed to Vegeta that his long time rival had a prior grudge to settle. However, he wasn't complaining. He would pick a senseless fight over meaningful chatter any day of the week. Still, he couldn't deny the pull in the back of his mind that wondered what had fired up the naturally passive Saiyan.

For a short time, after landing a dropkick that sent Kakkarot sailing to the Earth, Vegeta had felt he was dominating. However, there was no dust cloud to signal his rival's crash landing, and before he could process another thought, an energy materialized at his back.

Vegeta's head was jerked back by the hair and he felt a static warmth growing in the arch of his back. He knew that this was Kakkarot's idea of a finishing move but Vegeta wasn't done yet. The resilient Saiyan flipped out of the way of the radiant blast that would have seared a hole through is middle and, with his hair twisting in Kakkarot's grasp, heaved a sidelong kick to the stunned Saiyan's head that sent him soaring through a nearby cloud.

Vegeta, panting, called out, “Alright, Kakkarot, you've had your fun! That's enough clowning for one day!”

The cloud remained still.

“If you continue to hide from me like a coward, Kakkarot, I'll have to blast you out!”

Vegeta briefly waited for a response before raising his hand to do what he said he would.

However, the cloud responded first.

Vegeta was just barely able to dodge the massive blast that spread a hole in the puffy cloud and went roaring off into the endless sky. The time it took Vegeta to recover from the near-fatal blast was enough time for Kakkarot to initiate an action.

The crafty warrior Saiyan came spinning out of the cloud like a flaming hurricane headed straight into the distracted Vegeta.

Vegeta got caught with a lightning-quick kick that sent him straight into a canyon wall. Then, as though the force from the kick had jerked the life from this body, he fell limply from the wall and landed in a crumpled heap at the canyon's base.

Kakkarot certainly had the element of surprise going for him, Vegeta recounted.

Before he could begin to gain his feet, Kakkarot was over him. The wild-haired Saiyan landed at an alarming speed, ramming both fists half a foot into the ground on either side of Vegeta's head.

The stunned Saiyan could only look up aghast as his captor stared stoically down at him, a picture of perfect composure. However, though Kakkarot appeared placid on the surface, there was something brewing beneath.

There was a foreign look in his eyes, a dark and terrible look, a look Vegeta should have noticed when the man first came striding into his kitchen that morning.

“You're...You're not Kakkarot...” he chocked out.

Kakkarot smiled with a delinquent malice.

“But Vegeta,” he doted, “that's exactly who I am. And you've known it all along.”

He eased off of the bested Saiyan until he stood over him.

“I came here to kill you but now I see that I can use you,” Kakkarot said and looked up to the clear sunny sky, “I want to conquer this planet, Vegeta, like I was shipped here to do when I was kid. I won't kill you because I think you're just the one to help me. Not that I need the help but if I remember correctly, this is a specialty of yours.”

Vegeta could find no words to respond. His strength, it seemed, had gone as well and all he could do was lie on the rocky ground and listen to the strange and unexpected offer.

“Come along with me, Vegeta,” Kakkarot said, turning to look straight into the eyes of his defeated quarry.

When Vegeta didn't respond, Kakkarot raised his hand.

“Come with me, or I'll finish what I started,” he said lowly, a ball growing in his hand aiming at Vegeta's prone and crippled form.


It wasn't a difficult decision, Vegeta recounted later, as he followed at a safe distance behind his conqueror. All he had to do was go along with Kakkarot on whatever escapades he'd had planned. It wasn't his ideal way of spending the day but whatever had gotten into Kakkarot was making him very stubborn and unable to accept no for an answer. Besides, he had won the fight fair and square and was entitled to a winning request.

But still, Vegeta thought, Kakkarot wasn't behaving like himself. Never had the naturally peaceful man threatened a downed and defenceless opponent so convincingly. It was almost unnecessary; Vegeta might have come along anyway out of mild curiosity and mostly to satisfy his doubts that the clown had any serious intentions to concur the planet.

“Alright,” Kakkarot called back, “we're coming up to a city now. This should be a good place to start.”

The seriousness of Kakkarot's tone as he said this made Vegeta bletch, and he found he'd lost all hold on compliance. The inflamed Saiyan came to jerking stop in mid-flight.

Kakkarot, immediately sensing the loss of his company, stopped as well and turned to see the look of strained annoyance on his companion's face.

“Alright,” Vegeta spat, “I'm through playing along with your little escapade. Is this some sort of mid-life crisis, Kakkarot? Do you feel your life has lost its luster? You want to go out and conquer a planet to rekindle your interest? Well, I'm not interested! Maybe you haven't noticed but I've settled down! I've accepted my life here on Earth and have long stopped fighting it. I've married and Earth woman!” This was said with the most emphasis, “She has bore my children! Now you say you want to conquer a planet? Well you're too late! Tell me that twelve years ago and I might take you up on it!”

Goku turned to him fully.

“I'm not playing games,” he said, for what felt like the third time that day, “I don't need you with me on this. If you like, we can pick up where we left off twelve years ago and I'll finish you like I should have done then.”

Vegeta stared stunned as Goku fell into an aggressive stance. A small part of him wasn't sure he was serious but it was enough to keep him from bracing himself when Goku suddenly charged him, ramming him head-on and sending him souring down into the grove of trees below.

Vegeta lay gasping in a dusty clearing with a sharp ache in his abdomen. He wasn't prepared for that, to say the least. He was completely dumbfounded now and uncertain of how to react. Should he rise to his attacker and scold him for such a brutish move, or stay hidden where the reckless man couldn't do more damage?

Then all at once, he didn't have to make the choice, as Kakkarot came gliding into view. He descended leisurely down to the clearing wearing the expression of a mother doting a disobedient child.

Vegeta rose to his feet at once, uncomfortable in such a vulnerable position while this unpredictable new Kakkarot was advancing.

Within the second his feet tapped the leafy forest floor, Kakkarot was off again. He dove for Vegeta, only this time the agitated Saiyan was prepared. He dashed out of the way and when Kakkarot high-kicked the empty space Vegeta was readily positioned for his own kick to the other's liver. However, Kakkarot was prepared for retaliation and was gone before any damage was dealt. Vegeta, sensing the new location, turned swiftly on the spot and punched Kakkarot dead in the jaw.

Kakkarot did not need to prepare for any further assault, he knew. By the time he'd cranked his neck back, Vegeta had sped off, vanished from sight.

“That's good, Vegeta,” he said, smiling, to the apparently vacant grove, “This isn't a sparing session. I want you to take this seriously. I'll kill you if I get the opportunity and I want you to have the same disregard.”

Vegeta, suppressing his ki behind one of the larger trees nearby, was appalled by this announcement.

Kakkarot went still and pensive as he waited for his prey to reveal himself in his next move.

Vegeta had no intention of gambling an open attack-- though it was almost tempting as Kakkarot stood planted in open view and apparently off guard. However, Vegeta would not insult Kakkarot by underestimating him so severely. He knew that at the slightest move, the crafty Saiyan would pin-point his energy and be on him in an instant.

What Vegeta had realized too late was that he had already underestimated Kakkarot by believing that any amount of energy suppression could keep him undetectable to his predator.

His mistake was instantly corrected as the man he feared suddenly appeared before him in his concealed place of hiding.

Vegeta inadvertently coiled against the large, gnarly tree.

Kakkarot struck him down with a seemingly effortless swat and the stunned Saiyan landed on his elbows at the sully base of the tree.

“It would cost me very little effort to do this,” Kakkarot said, plainly, “but it's not necessary. I don't want to kill you, Vegeta. I think you could work with me. But if you're going to fight me on this, you leave me no other choice.”

Then, raising his hand in a familiar fashion, Kakkarot aimed an electric ball of light directly at Vegeta's head.

All the air deflated from the caught Saiyan's lunges.

It would be the third time this morning that Vegeta had been threatened: First, his home was threatened if he didn't follow Kakkarot outside, then later his life was threatened if he didn't agree to come along on this bizarre tirade, and now again Kakkarot stood over him again threatening to incinerate him from existence if he didn't join him.

“Why, Kakkarot?” Vegeta gasped more than spoke.

Kakkarot didn't have to think.

“Is it not a Saiyan's nature to destroy all those who pose a threat to him?” He said with a smarmy grin.

Vegeta growled.

“You're afraid of me, Kakkarot?”

The comment was meant to be biting but Kakkarot was impervious in his composure.

He smiled and said, “If you're not with me, you're against me.”

“I'm not against you, Kakkarot! I just don't want to destroy the planet!”

The simmering ball aimed at Vegeta's face suddenly died and Kakkarot kneeled to be level with his prey.

“I don't want to destroying the planet,” he said and looked as though he sincerely wanted Vegeta to understand, “I want to conquer it... like our Saiyan brothers would.” he paused and seemed to wait for Vegeta to react.

Vegeta was too stunned to speak.

Kakkarot continued, “I can rule Earth, Vegeta-- We can rule Earth! The last two Saiyans and the most powerful beings in the universe-- we'd be the living legacy of our race! No one could match us!”

Vegeta had bore witness to Kakkarot's persuasion technique many times-- he'd even been on the receiving end on more than one occasion. When it became clear to Kakkarot that he could not force his opponent to back down using physical strength, he resorted to verbally coaxing his adversary into seeing reason.

The look in his eyes was as tentative as it had always been when he was talking down an opponent, however the plea could not have sounded more strange coming from his lips.

“Join me.” Kakkarot said at last then stood up.

Vegeta thought it was the last time the offer would be presented so nicely. Then he snorted at himself, realizing that Kakkarot had no intention of offering again.

The trumped prince looked up into the eyes of his rival, his face hard and defiant but behind his eyes was a crumbling resilience.

“You want me,” Vegeta said slowly, “to conquer the world with you?”

“Yes.” Kakkarot answered, pleased, “We could be like Royalty-- the rulers of Earth! You could be prince again.”

Vegeta turned away, something in him suddenly boiling. He became suddenly aware of his unseemly position in the mucky forest soil. He stood up and began dusting himself off. Once he'd brushed the last of the rubble from his shoulders he turned to Kakkarot, meeting what he could manage of his rival's height, and, with all the dignity of a prince, said, “alright, Kakkarot. I'll go along on this little charade.”

Kakkarot smiled.

“Not as though I have anything else to do.” Vegeta huffed and crossed his arms.

“This'll be fun, Vegeta,” Kakkarot assured with a cool confidence, “It'll be just like the old days.”

Vegeta turned, giving his response with an indifferent cheek.

Kakkarot had been ship wrecked on Earth for the duration of the “old days” and Vegeta was certain the softened warrior knew nothing about the pillaging and roving of populated planets. It was a farce, Vegeta thought, that this sheltered Saiyan pretended to know anything about taking a planet.

However, everything he'd learned to expect of Kakkarot from the time they'd spent together in the past could not be applied to this strange new being standing before him now. More than once that day, Vegeta had been shocked and caught unaware by the unpredictable behavior of the brash man and as a result, he was now reluctant to make any further assumptions about what Kakkarot might or might not be capable of.

“For your sake,” Vegeta said coolly, “you'd better be serious. If I find out this is all some joke and you've been wasting my time dragging me around all day, don't expect me to laugh it off. I'll kill you, Kakkarot.”

whatever response Vegeta had expected from the usually placid Saiyan, it wasn't this.

Kakkarot had rounded on him in a flash, backing the smaller Saiyan into the tree.

“You don't threaten me, Vegeta,” He said in a cold, quiet voice, “as of today, any threatening will be done by me. You speak to me with anything but respect and I won't hesitate to pick up where we left off here today. I don't need you, Vegeta. And if I decide your attitude is interfering with my authority, I'll dispose of you. Because, like I said, I can't afford to let someone with your power waste away on the fence. You're either with me or you're dead.”

Kakkarot made sure his words sunk in and stared Vegeta down for an extra moment before backing off to allow the ruffled Saiyan to catch his breath.

Vegeta awkwardly pushed himself off the tree and straitened himself, brushing his hair back and tugging at his shirt.

“Well, your timing's awful.” he mumbled.

Kakkarot smiled.

The two took to the skies again, Kakkarot leading the way with Vegeta following silently behind. It was as though no outburst had taken place and Kakkarot's mind was securely back on track.

They were once again closing in on a city that Kakkarot had deemed suitable

When they came to a stop some miles above the busy city, Vegeta found himself confused again as to what it was exactly they were planning to do. He didn't ask and wouldn't need to. He was about to find out.

“Time to carry out my mission.” came the low, collected voice of his leader.

Vegeta hadn't caught was was said but understood at once as he watched Kakkarot raise an open hand to the city below.

“Kakkarot!” he spat, “Our planet is destroyed-- you answer to no one now! If you destroy this planet, it will be for no one but yourself!”

“That's not true,” Kakkarot said, a grin spreading on his lips and a spark beginning in his palm, “Its prince is still alive and kicking. You say the word and I'll put a crater in place of this city.”

Vegeta didn't believe for a second that Kakkarot would play the role of his subordinate, and he certainly didn't believe that anything he could say at that point would stop Kakkarot from smudging the large city off the face of the Earth. He knew, however, that he had to try.

“Kakkarot, you can't do this. It's completely pointless!”

“Listen to you, Vegeta!” Kakkarot laughed almost good-heartedly, “years ago, it would've been me who'd have to talk you down to keep you from blasting away a population. It seems our roles have been reversed.”

This irony was not lost on Vegeta. It seemed to be the theme of their day.

“Listen Kakkarot!” he urged, “What can you have to gain from this? These people mean nothing! They pose no threat to you at all! They're like helpless little insects!”

At this, the spark in Kakkarot's deadly hand utterly went out and his face became vacant.

“You're right, Vegeta...” He spoke quietly, catching the former prince off guard, “This is pointless...I could destroy every city on Earth and it would be the same every time.” his hand fell to his side, “Even if they fought back, they wouldn't stand a chance. It would be like taking candy from a baby. If I want a challenge, I won't find it here on Earth. I'll need to search elsewhere.”

Kakkarot turned and fixed Vegeta with a meaningful stare.

Vegeta suddenly looked aged.

“You're not serious...”

Kakkarot only smirked. Everything he had done today was with fatal seriousness, Vegeta was kidding himself if he thought he would start making jokes now.

“Are you coming with me?” He said at last, with little conviction needed-- it was mostly a rhetorical question after all.

Vegeta crossed his arms and glared.

“Do I have a choice?” he growled.

Kakkarot smiled, satisfied.

“Very good.” he said, “We'll leave immediately,” and started off in the direction of Capsule Corp.

“Wait!” Vegeta halted him, “I have children, Kakkarot, a wife. You may have easily severed ties with your family...” he paused then his voice went unnaturally soft, “but I'm still very attached to mine.”

He waited for a response from the strange, new Kakkarot-- a disparaging comment, a mocking smile. When it didn't come, Vegeta continued.

“Let me say good-bye to them. At the very least, let me give them a sensible reason for what we're doing! They'll think we've both lost our minds if we just show up demanding a ship without an explanation!”

Kakkarot appeared to seriously consider this and for a moment almost looked as though he was reconsidering the whole thing.

“All right,” he said at once, “We'll go to Capsule Corp. and and I'll let you handle them. We'll gather up what we need and then,” he said with punctual finality, “we ship off.”

Vegeta saw no room to argue and nodded.




It was closing in on noon when Vegeta descended to the lawn of Capsule Corpl., landing briskly in a bed of daffodils. His mother-in-law was a devoted housewife who delighted in tending to the countless pets and flowers all over the property. Vegeta had no patience for her daffodils at the moment and stomped through them on his way to the door.

“Vegeta!” Bulma called, rushing out to him at once, “Have you seen Goku? Chichi's been calling-- She says he was behaving strangely this morning before he-”

At that moment, Kakkarot landed directly behind Vegeta.

“Hello, Bulma,” he said simply, “Vegeta says you have some pills for me.”

Vegeta could feel himself breaking a sweat. It was taking all of his control to maintain composure.

“Kakkarot and I are going for a trip. We need your father's space ship.” He explained sternly, not allowing any space for the questions that were sure to arise from Kakkarot's sudden appearance.

Bulma quickly lead them inside, nearly bursting at the seams with alarmed questions and speculations that had been building up during their absences.

To Vegeta's surprise, Kakkarot spoke freely to Bulma, not hinting to anything slightly out of the ordinary. It almost seemed as though nothing had changed and he was the same old Kakkarot-- or Goku-- that had left him yesterday after their spar. It was making Vegeta feel like it was him with the problem as he nervously scurried them along to his father-in-law's laboratory trying his best to squelch his wife's questions.

They met up with father Briefs and recited their request. Kakkarot maintained that it was just a casual vacationing trip for some R&R in space, once again hinting to nothing amiss.

Both Bulma and her father were visibly bewildered by the Saiyan's sudden whim, but trusted him when he insisted nothing was wrong.

Vegeta followed along in restrained silence as Dr. Briefs lead them to the grand room with his latest space ship. It was the only one he had on hand and since the Saiyan's insisted they wanted to leave immediately, he offered it for their convenience.

The space ship was the size of a vacationing yacht and looked more like a royalty ship than a battle ship.

“It's a luxury ship,” Mr. Briefs explained, as they were lifted up into the main flight deck.

The flight deck was very roomy with magnificent high ceilings. At the head of the room was the control panel and behind the cozy pilot chairs was a large round couch with a coffee table in the center.

“This is the lounge slash flight deck,” he guided them along the rounded room, “What's special about this room is the artificial sky.”

“Artificial sky?” Kakkarot asked intently.

“Yes, if you look at the ceiling you can see it's a screen. It's programed to follow Earth-time and you can turn it on and see the blue sky and clouds of Earth during the day hours, or at night time there's the moon and stars.”

“Wow,” Kakkarot said, looking truly impressed.

“Yes,” Mr. Briefs agreed giddily, “I recommend you turn it on in the evening, the sunsets are particularly stunning!”

Vegeta looked annoyed and as though these gadgets were a waste of time and technology.

“So is there a training room?” Kakkarot asked.

“I'm afraid not.” Mr. Briefs answered, frowning, “I build this ship to be used by my wife and I. There was just no need for a training room. However, there is a pool and a tennis court.”

Kakkarot's eyes perked up.

“You'll find this ship is bountiful with anything you could want. Sadly, however, it's not very practical. If we were ever attacked during our vacationing, we'd be completely defenceless. The ship has no surface shield and it's not equipped with any guns. So, if you come across any hostile aliens you'll most likely be obliterated.”

“I'm sure we'll be fine.” Kakkarot said, nodding his thanks to the generous professor.

After the short tour, Vegeta went to bid his good-byes to his family while Kakkarot remained on the ship, familiarizing himself with the controls.

Vegeta's good-bye hugs were lingering in a way that perplexed his wife and son. Vegeta couldn't explain to them why he was so somber so he said very little. He almost felt that he was saving them by leaving the planet with the reckless Kakkarot. He didn't know what the man was capable of but he recognized the look in his eyes every time Kakkarot had shot him a stoney glare that day. He knew the look because he had mastered the look once upon a time. Back when he was the feral and dangerous Prince of Saiyans working under “Lord Freeza,” his face was home to that look. Somehow, in the years he'd spent on Earth and distanced from his dark past, that wild look slowly departed. Now it seemed that it had adopted a new home. Kakkarot, for whatever reason, had become enraged and within him a new fury had awoken.

Vegeta released his wife and small son, imparting onto them a last look of sincere affection. It was returned-- however somewhat curiously. Only Vegeta knew what the sadness in his eyes meant. He knew this might be the last time he would see his loved ones. It hurt him that he couldn't say more to them. It wasn't that Kakkarot had forbade him to speak about their mission, but Vegeta knew that it would only make things more complicated for himself. So, he left them without a reassuring word.

The ceiling of the massive garage slid open. Vegeta rose into the flight deck to see his hijacker standing over the wide board of intricate controls. Kakkarot pressed a few buttons that the Dr. had shown him earlier and the whole ship vibrated to life.

Vegeta stayed his distance from the tall Saiyan, glaring at his back with loathing.

They slowly began to hover out of the building, Kakkarot directing them with a steady, focused hand.
He'd operated a Capsule Corp. space shuttle before but nothing like this. Mr. Briefs has greatly updated since his last model.

They rose higher and higher above the city and the two Saiyans looked out from the eye of the ship onto the shrinking terrain below.

“Well,” Kakkarot said, “It's just you and me, Vegeta.”

Indeed, Vegeta thought but said nothing.

“The last two pure-blooded Saiyans out to revive the legacy of our race.”

Vegeta felt a chunk of himself was being slowing torn out of him as they distanced themselves further from the Earth. All this time loathing the wretched, dull planet, now he found himself actually missing it. He felt a aching sorrow growing in his pit that he couldn't suppress. He was grateful that the distracted idiot was not facing him to see it.

From the very beginning, the day had not gone the way Vegeta had planned it. And now, after an interesting twist of events, he was on a ship with a deranged Kakkarot sailing off to who-knows-where. If Kakkarot was as changed as he seemed, Vegeta could at least be pleased that he was getting him away from Earth and his loved ones that might otherwise be endangered. However, he was worried that the motives of this strange new Kakkarot might keep him from ever seeing the Earth again and ultimately lead to his death.

Kakkarot hummed at the controls.

Vegeta felt a collapse in his heart.