Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Unconditional Bonds (revamped) ❯ Dark Wind ( Chapter 10 )

Author's Note: Sorry about the long wait, however my time was put to good use. The grammar has been fixed in the previous nine chapters thanks to my beta Pixelgoddess. She is being kind enough to take the time to help look over this revision. Many, many, thanks to her.

Chapter Ten: Dark Wind

"You're awful chatty today."

A small grin.

"I'm sorry but I couldn't help but notice."

Piccolo felt a blush creep across his cheeks. Quickly turning away, he looked at the sky, studying the clouds as they drifted overhead. Vegeta also looked up, his mind starting to drift with the motion of the white fluffy mediums. So much had happened to him; his world had been shattered then abruptly put right in a matter of moments. Before he could think further, his thoughts were interrupted.

"Do you really want to know?"

Vegeta looked in the direction of the Namek. He had his back to him, and was still looking at the same clouds as he. The Saiyan returned his gaze to the sky.

"I asked didn't I?"

"Very well, but I don't know the exact story so-"

`Don't worry,' a voice in his head cut in unbidden, `I'll fill you in on the gaps.'

"Oh hell, not you again."

Vegeta looked abruptly at Piccolo.

"What?"

Piccolo shook his head, "Kami," he clarified.

The prince nodded. On a few rare occasions he had witnessed the conversations that took place between Piccolo and Kami, and even Nail. But the conversation was always one sided, as he could only hear Piccolo's responses.

In actuality, it was rather disturbing to watch. Piccolo would mutter to himself then speak back, either in his mind or out loud, not necessarily in any order. It was like watching one of those crazies downtown who would walk around aimlessly muttering and screaming incoherently, apparently speaking to `god'. What was ironic was the fact that Piccolo, in a sense, was speaking to god: Kami, the last protector and overseer of Earth. Vegeta never really got to meet him, and according to Piccolo he was `damned lucky'. He was quite aware of the younger Namek's dislike of his older and more wholesome counterpart.

Dislike, yes, but tolerable, although you would never think so with the look of annoyance etched upon the green man's face.

"Fine, I got it....yeah so?........what of it?.......you're crossing the line.......what.......no......no.....yes, fine! now go away!...Yes! Are you deaf?"

Piccolo suddenly turned around, "Right, now according to the wizened one."

`Watch it, young one.'

Ignoring the statement Piccolo continued, "Long ago, on the Namekian home world, before Guru and even Kitat, there was a great storm. This was the mother of all storms, mind you, and it nearly destroyed the planet itself. Millions died and the few who managed to survive led a bleak existence. At that time, Nameks were not as they are today, they suffered from the weakness of hunger and lacked the healing and regenerating powers they now have."

The Saiyan listened intently, noting that Piccolo still referred to the Namekians as `they' instead of `us'. Apparently after all of these years he still found it difficult to consider himself anything other than an Earthling.

"There was also another difference. There was another sect of Namekians, Female Namekians. Seemingly, the Nameks once produced as you Saiyans and Earthlings do. However, the storm had knocked off a good portion of them. Then the environment violently changed, whether or not this caused the new diseases, I have no clue. But a virus duly named the `Black Wind' attacked the females' immune system. Kami's not too clear on why it affected only the females, he guesses that it had something to do with chemicals in the hormonal system."

Piccolo shrugged, "Anyway, to make a long story short, all of the females eventually died, and soon after the rest started going as well. Yet a group of `mages', I guess is the best term to use for them, somehow summoned the power and harnessed the energy needed to create the Dragonballs. Although at the time it was in pure raw energy. In desperation they used the power not to create the orbs needed to summon the Dragon, for there was no time. Instead they used the energy on themselves, and changed their bodies so they could survive long enough to create the Dragonballs. The need for food vanished, and they gained the ability of regeneration. But most importantly, they were now able to reproduce without the presence of a female. By the time the Dragonballs had been constructed, not too many were still alive who could remember the females well enough to want to wish them back." He paused and shrugged, "Besides, the new form of the Namekians was working well enough so why go back to the way it used to be? So they went on living as they were and now are." Piccolo cocked his head,

"Well that's the story in a nutshell, so does that answer your question?"

Vegeta nodded.