Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction / Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Saiyan Foster Father ❯ Rising Star ( Chapter 20 )

Chapter 13

Atomique lay in the bed, curled up under the silk covers as she did every night. How ironic she thought. I'm living as close to what seemed a normal life with a man she wasn't even married to. Living more like a wife than she ever had with Star Child.

Turning over she faced the wall, with her back to the door. Very slowly it creaked open, pushed by Radditzu's hand. She mumbled, half expecting in her sleep that it would be son Goku walking in wearing flannel pajama bottoms. Part of their silent understanding meant sharing the bed in a purely platonic manner, since both adults missed having a warm body to curl up to. In addition, due to her increasing nightmares Goku's presence was the only thing that prevented their recurrence.

Yet Radditzu had heard her soft whimpers and come to investigate her as she slept. Curled under the sheets she seemed so small and vulnerable. A selfish thought rushed through his mind and he wondered if she might enjoy the feel of his body. From his limited contact he smelled Son Goku on her person. While he had assumed they'd slept together, he was relieved to see no bite mark on her neck.

Smiling he wandered over and pulled back the covers silently as possible. He wore the AE suit from under his armor, with a pair of shorts that Goku had passed to him. While he was just as likely to sleep in his armor, it wouldn’t do for what he had in mind, possibly, if she woke and found herself in his arms.

Instinctively she turned over, curling close to the male body sliding beside hers. Radditzu smelled her sweet uncomplicated scent and swallowed hard. His body tingled, longing for the touch of a female. Her dark hair was straighter and softer to the touch of his extended fingers that brushed it back. Yet she had the coloring of a Saiyan female, pleasing to the eye. Her body was large busted and wide hipped, adequate for the bearing of children. Although some Saiyans were born in labs, his father and mother had given birth to him and Kakkarot naturally. Ten males to one female was the ratio, so it had been close to impossible to find him a mate before he was pressed into service with Freiza.

In actuality, Radditz was close to Bejita's age. His memories of his world were much clearer, however because Bejita had spent most of his time in the palace and on Frieza's ship. When the planet had been destroyed he'd been away on a purging mission with Nappa. Only a child himself, he had done his job adequately for a third class.

A whimper snapped him out of his reminiscence. She shifted, her eyes flickering beneath her dark lashed lids. Extending his arms, Radditzu wrapped her closely in them, and turned her so her head rested against his bare chest, crisscrossed with scars. Sighing, she lay her cheek to his, and reached out to stroke her fingers in his hair. He pressed his nose into her hair, feeling the soft locks with a sigh of delight. Her body felt good against his, and he wrapped his tail lightly around her waist possessively to keep her from rolling away in her sleep.

Lately the limited contact she shared with Dragon Womyn consisted of predominately verbal arrows and sarcastic jabs. Instead of telling Son Goku why she had stopped visiting, she chalked it up to spending more time with her sons. Already she had become Goten's personal tutor because he was already behind in his home schooling. He flourished well under her instruction, while teaching her to read and write Mandarin Chinese in exchange.

Across the property, in the master bedroom, Son Goku was tossing and turning. His mind sensed the activity of his charge only a few hundred meters away. Something caused her ki to flare, but he knew it would be foolish to leave the safety of his bed with a house filled with people. Though his instincts told him to leave his home and climb into her bed, his mind and heart told him to stop. She wasn't his to own. He was still mated to Chichi, bound in a bond that stretched back to childhood.

Frowning Son Goku sensed her scarlet chikara surging. He could sense another's presence near her, and blinked in surprise when he realized it was Radditz. A wave of anger flashed over him, then he checked himself. Perhaps the two of them fancied one another. So far all Radditz was doing from the sense of his ki was laying still. There was no sound of anything other than two sleeping bodies across the compound.

Back in the small hut, Radditzu wrapped his arms around her in a hold to stop her from destroying the bed. Anger increased her power levels to those of a mid powered Saiyan. He growled under his breath, and heard her frantic cries close to his ear.

"Damn you… how can you DO this to me!" she screamed.

"Woman, wake up," he urged gruffly. She sobbed and clutched convulsively, grabbing onto Radditz for dear life. He smirked for a moment that she sought physical comfort from him, then he shivered. Some presence not of this world or realm alerted his Saiyan instincts far sharper than any human. Because Saiyans were telepathic to some extent, they could think commands to one another to elude an enemy. Perhaps that was why his father had visions of the future… or was open to gaining such a power from a head injury.

Anger filled him. He wanted to know what was making her cry and scream. His warrior's pride forced him to take the step of reaching his hand forward and cupping her cheek and chin. Growling he focused his energies and pushed gently towards her mind. All his energies drifted towards her as he meditated hard.

"Woman, don't resist me. I want to help," Radditzu spoke.

His brother was thinking the same things that moment. Frustrated, Son Goku realized her dreams were worse than ever before. Knowing he might regret this step, he touched focused his power in the way that King Kai had taught him. If Star Child could enter dreams, perhaps he could as well. Slowly over the past few months she'd been acclimating herself to his own considerable ki, allowing him to approach her in more trusting ways.
***
"Let me in… I can help," Son Goku transmitted into her mind. He felt a wall rise up, blocking him. Mentally images flickered in his mind, and the Saiyan prepared himself for mental battle. He and Bejita had done this from time to time, fighting in the realm of the mind.

The image of Radditzu drifted nearby. Blinking in shock, son Goku demanded, "What are you doing here?"

"I might ask you the same thing, brother," he telepathed back. "Does this happen every night? I sense an enemy attacking her mind!"

"You can enter thoughts?"

"Saiyans are telepathic, Brother. We are masters of ki in all forms. Surely you know that…"

"I'm not like you in that regard. But since you're here… maybe we can work together… she's been having these nightmares ever since she first started staying here…"

"We must find this enemy and cast him out," said Radditzu. "Have you entered her mind before?"

"Not often…"

"Then I'll shield myself from her perceptions. You go on ahead and I shall follow," said Radditzu. "If the enemy shows himself I'll attack but not before…"

"You know what you're doing?"

"Yes. We Saiyans are trained in the art of psychic battle from a young age. To fight with the mind is the start of training our young…"

"All right, let's do this" said Son Goku. Energies shifted as Radditz drifted towards him.

"Let me merge with you. You aren't used to this. We’re brothers, perhaps together the enemy might be fooled…"

"It's like fusion then," Goku said.

"What?"

"Fusion. Two becoming one… I'm ready when you are…"

"Right," Radditz nodded. Both astral images merged into one, and then Radditz vanished from Goku's immediate thoughts. He appeared alone, but knew his brother was there with him, giving him guidance about what he was to face.
***

"Leave me alone… damn you!" came her voice.

Fortunately he realized she was not speaking to him. Son Goku opened his eyes, drifting before the vast walled fortress of what appeared to be the college Son Gohan had applied to in Beijing. A black cloud surged and permeated. Son Goku frowned, recognizing a ki as evil as Freezer's or Majin Buu's ever was. The ki was reaching out from some other dimension, seeping into a tiny crack at the base of her wall. He cursed when he saw someone smashing into it with a double bladed axe. Radditzu's mind directed him to observe first, but Son Goku refused to listen.

"Oi, what are you doing!" Son Goku shouted, his alto voice echoing in the star spangled void of her mind. He flew towards the figure, and widened his eyes when he saw who it was. Dragon Womyn clothed in Saiyan armor was cackling as she smashed down the wall with increasing strokes.

"You fool, wait a moment…" said Radditzu.

"But she's in danger…"

Son Goku raised his hands to blast then stopped himself. This wasn't his business, was it? But he had to do something… Perhaps he could take her out with a Kiko-Ha blast. He threw his hands forwards, showering her with a rapid series of blasts that landed on her armor.

"Fine, let's do this then. But don't ignore me… work with me, Brother," said Radditzu. Goku nodded and opened his thoughts to let them flow together as one.

"Who dares!" she barked, turning to face him. "You're not supposed to be here! Leave!"

"You aren't either!" Son Goku answered. "I'm gonna stop you… you're not WELCOME here! Leave now and I won't hurt ya…"

"Get lost, you clown," she laughed with a smirk identical to Prince Bejita. She smashed through the wall, and climbed inside. Son Goku threw himself after her, and suddenly slammed into a violet radiance. He pushed hard, banging his fists on it as he saw what was inside.

She faced off, blinking up from her lab bench littered with transmutation circles. Inside, Star Child stood with crossed arms, looking at her as she walked over to him. "My love… why won't you speak to me…" she asked.

"I cannot return. You know as well as I do…" he said sadly. His arms spanned wide, power crackling around him as his ki flared to almost the level of what it would be if he were Saiyan. A massive burst of energy whirled around, knocking her back so he could increase in size and stature, becoming the Star Child.

"What do you mean?" asked the woman.

"I'm needed on Other World. Astron Tellar needs me to take over as the Star Bearer. It's time for me to move on…"

"Paul… you always said you'd be there… love me," she said. "Why now do you turn from me?"

"I will always love you… but I have loved many. There are others that need me. I have given you into the protection of one who needs you more than I do…"

"How can you say such things!" she asked, flaring her own power.

"I am the Avatar… the Star Bearer. I cannot give my heart to any one woman… anymore. I am both Paul and he who are needed. I'm so sorry… I cannot stop it… I know it's not fair…"

"Hey!" Son Goku and Radditz together wanted to yell. "She's your wife! You made a promise!"

"Keep back, Saiyan," said Dragon Womyn, aiming a blast that hit Son Goku's crossed wrists. She strode up, erecting a barrier to stop his interference.

Papers and books swirled around her. Star Child sadly looked at her, his star spangled outfit morphing into long purple robes. "See the power I must bear… Domino and the others need me… I can't stop from the change…"

"What change?" she asked. "You said Ace scattered us across space time to protect us… from Blackwell! When will we return?"

"There is no return," he said sadly. "Blackwell's evil has tainted your world far more than we can. Only the power of the Chosen one… Kiara can cleanse his curse. And only by going within can we purge it of its blackness. I don’t' want you or the Twins to be caught up in it. Only the Four can enter inside… and become what we are destined to be…"

"What are you saying… that you are all going to stay dead? Locked in Astron Tellar? Does this mean…"

"What was will now become… and what will be will be what was before," said Star Child.

"You idiot, he has his duty," said Dragon Woman as she strode forwards and pushed Atomique back. "You have your place. Care for your whelps…"

"What do you have against me?" she demanded, raising her hands to snare Dragon Womyn in a length of plastic wrap. "Answer me!"

"You deserve no explanation, you second class wench. You are not fit to be his consort. He only has the one he's chosen…"

"I am your wife!" she called.

"No formal ceremony was made," said Dragon Womyn quickly. "You were a means to make sure his line would continue. Now that you have served your purpose, he has moved on…"

"Stand aside and let me talk to him!" Atomique yelled.

"I can't stop it…" Star Child said quickly. "You two must not fight over me! I cannot return to the world of the living! Elliot will remain…"

"What is going to happen… you can't come back… I know… but why won't you let me feel your love when I sleep!" she demanded.

"All my energies must be for the task ahead. You are their mother, and you know the sacrifices that I must make. You'll be safe in the world that you now inhabit. Strengthen your powers and raise them, so that in due time they will take the place as the Star Bearer. Elliot has taken my title upon himself… he is Next… all my knowledge I bequeathed to him as Star Child… as I ascent…" he said, spanning his arms wide. The waves of coruscating power surged, knocking her and Dragon Womyn back.

"You are magnificent my love," Dragon Womyn whispered. As Atomique rose to push the energies back, Dragon Womyn hurled a blast of fire, cutting her down.

"Why… why!"

"I remember, though you made me forget, Paul… I love you and always will. Why did you not entrust the children to me?" Dragon Womyn demanded. "I'm worthy! You loved me the most…"

"I love many women who I've called wife… it's not for you to say," Star Bearer said dispassionately. "And you already have your own mate and son…"

"Who have been taken from me! Elliot is not man enough to love me, the Dragon Womyn. She is not a worthy mother to bear your sons! She is weak!"

"Shut up!" Atomique yelled at her, surging her own powers.

"This one has no honor," said Radditz to his brother's thoughts. He nodded grimly in assent.

"You know I love you, Jeannie… but our love was forbidden…."

"You bonded with me," Dragon Womyn said quickly, pulling down her collar to show a red welt. "You gave me the blood bond, but you gave HER the children! Why?"

"You love Elliot that way!" she yelled.

"He has abandoned me… he is not man enough to love me… not like his father," Dragon Womyn said with a crazed look.

"I am sorry my love… but I cannot be with you as you wish… both of you…" said Paul. "I should have given the bond to you… my wife… but now all ties to this life are severed and undone…"

"Then our marriage was a lie?"

"There was no formal ceremony. That priest brother of yours may have thought so… but his soul bond is with me… not you… because you are not worthy," Dragon Womyn said.

"Talk to ME, not her!" Atomique demanded. "Damn you!"
***
From behind the wall, Son Goku twisted his mouth in distaste. He cursed, "I've seen enough of this!"

"I agree brother. Let's show these cowards what we Saiya-jins do to traitors…" Radditz agreed.
He hurled several rapid fire Kiko-Ha blasts to shatter the barrier, and then entered with long legged strides. Beyond him in the center of the high walled chamber, now with crumbling walls, Star Bearer raised his robed sleeves to hurl the energies forwards. Power crackled and surged till he morphed and grew in size and strength to his second form, the Star Bearer.

"You are not supposed to be here," Dragon Womyn snarled, turning to face him. Using the temporary distraction, Atomique flew forwards towards the rising aura of purple flaring around the tall robed figure.

"Don't close yourself off from me!" Atomique yelled.

"I must leave you now," he said, lifting his hands. "Remember I love you both… but I cannot be with either of you where I go…"

"I can't feel you in my thoughts… how can you?" she demanded, pressing her hands to the surface of his energy barrier. She shoved against it with crackling scarlet ki, dissolving it like acid on metal.

"Because there is another more suited for your ilk, my once and former love…" he said, wiping away a tear. "Another who needs you far more than I do…"

From behind them, Son Goku/Radditz zipped out and dematerialized behind Dragon Womyn. He called out, "Wait a minute, what the heck's goin' on here! You made a promise to her... how can you renig on that?"

Whirling about, Dragon Womyn raised her hands. She snarled, "Get out of here, Saiyan. You have no business here!"

"You stay out of this, female!" he said, deflecting her blasts with ease. He materialized before Atomique, striding up to face the Star Bearer.

"I cannot be stopped even by those I love most!" exclaimed the Star bearer. His star covered eye glinted, then generated a series of energy beams. Hitting Atomique and Dragon Womyn both, he pushed them away from his glowing aura of purple.

"Hey, I'm talking to you!" Son Goku yelled at the top of his alto pitched voice. Underneath echoed the lower voice of his brother, bolstering his strength and filling in the psychic chinks in his armor. He expanded his aura to include the purple waves slamming and sweeping both women away in opposite directions, laying still.

"Why are you here, Saiyan?" asked Star Bearer, spanning wide his arms. His dark hair frizzed out in a cloud of midnight black, while he grew to a height of nearly eight feet, towering over them all. Around his body flowed a purple robe studded with shimmering stars, waving violently in the upsurge of chikara.

"That's what I want to ask you! She's been having nightmares, wondering where you were… what's going on… why's SHE here?" Son Goku demanded, pointing to Dragon Womyn groaning in pain to his immediate left. He stood between the wave of amethyst fire that Star Bearer hurled at him with a flick of his robed sleeve, and Atomique huddled on the floor. Crossing his wrists he deflected the attack.

Star Child blinked in surprise then said in the voice of many, "You of all people shouldn't question the motives of a father for his children. You yourself had other duties in other worlds. It is not for you to judge me… Son Goku… and it is not for you to judge me, Radditzu, son of Bardock…"

"You know I'm here as well do you?" asked Goku in Radditzu's voice. "Why do you do this to your mate?"

"Are you in agreement with him then, Goku?"

"Maybe not… but it ain't fair what you're doing to them both!" Son Goku yelled.

"We will fight for the female if you will not!" Radditzu chorused inside him. Energies blazed as he extended his hands, and crackled with gold ki. Inclining his head forwards his hair swirled upwards as it flickered gold and his eyes grew blazing emerald. Flames of pure fire swirled around him, and the tiles of the floor crackled with the upswing of his Super Saiyan transformation. Gold chikara matched the Amethyst coalescing around the Elder just before him. Transmutation circles gleamed with a gesture from his star covered countenance. Pure passion sizzled out from his eye beam, slamming directly into the Saiyan. With a flick of his wrist, Son Goku deflected the beam with contemptuous ease. Under his tower of spiked gold he twisted his brows in a frown.

"Great Super Saiyan you are…the legendary," Radditzu whispered.

"Something isn't it?" Son Goku grinned.

"All this power… I had thought that Prince Bejita…"

"Well it only gets more intense from here… still with me, Brother?"

"Always, because the female must be protected from this witless fool she calls mate… he is not fit for her," said Radditzu in disgust.

Star Bearer's eyes were pure molten purple with no apparent pupils. Sadly he regarded the being that dared face off against him. Lowering his energy field he said, "I have no wish to fight you, Son Goku, Savior of Chikyuu. Your brother is another matter. Strange that you together have the requisite raw power to guide my sons. Only your unique world's power can protect them from the destroyers till they are old enough to become Champions and fight to join the order of the rose. She needs to learn to fight if she's to survive. You alone can teach her what she needs to know. You gave your word…"

Voice dropping an octave with Radditzu's, Son Goku growled, "Didn't you give yours, that you'd love her forever? As her mate?"

"That bond was made with the human Paul, not with the Star Bearer. He has become one with the Avatar… because his physical body is no more. Now his eldest son has taken up that mantle. All claims to such a bond are null and void…"

"So you're sayin' she's not your wife anymore?" Son Goku asked, eyes flaring a more intense green.

"Is she so worthless to you, that you only use her as a brood bitch? She is far more worthy then that!" came Radditzu's thoughts in a torrent of anger.

"Son Goku, this is your time to redress your former absence with your children. By being what I cannot be. Protect her in this world as I protect us all in the next…" he said.

"Then it's over… you're just gonna leave her… and go?" Son Goku nodded with something akin to anger and frustrated understanding.

"I must, Son Goku. Both of us have our requisite duties. Her world is clouded with evil. Things are already in motion to transform it to the Other World of Astron Tellar… so that it shall eternally be a haven against Blackwell's evil. Only by combining our powers as Demon, Star Bearer, Celestial, and Beast King can we stop Blackwell's advance from marring any other mirror earth's…"

"Then you have to do what you have to do, just like me," Son Goku agreed.

"This is utter nonsense! I can't believe you're going to let him just throw her away!" Radditzu ranted. An audible pop came as their spirits separated, leaving the armored Saiyan in the aura of his power. Strangely his hair and eyes were golden and emerald as well.

"You have sent many souls to their death, and yet you have the spark for goodness, Radditzu. Perhaps in you this female might find one willing to protect her and my sons…" said Star Bearer quietly.

"If you are not man enough, than I shall!" Radditzu shouted at him. "You are a coward!"

"That is your opinion, Saiyan. Goodbye sons of Bardock. Fare well to my former loves who I shall always treasure…"
***