Six days, Kyande reminded herself as she watched the Earth
disappear into the void of star freckled darkness behind them. Six days
to train Gokuu at consecutively higher gravities until he's as strong as
he's supposed to be, sigh, which would be much easier if I knew
what it is supposed to be.
This sucks. I've already been through two battles in this suit, and now I gotta train Gokuu in it. How in blazes am I even going to train him?! whimper, Ah well, might as well start.
Turning around, Kyande surveyed the area. Gokuu and Gohan were sparring lightly, Bulma was lounging in the pilot's seat. Gokuu and Kyande had experience with higher gravities, but Gohan and Bulma did not. While Gohan's strength and heritage might see him through it, Bulma would be pancake batter in seconds.
" Bulma, Gohan, " Kyande spoke, gaining the attention of all three, " You'd better go down below while we do this. You'll be shielded from the gravity well there. "
" Hah? " Bulma exclaimed, " We'll be floating? "
" No, no, no, you'll be under normal gravity. Gokuu and I will be training under a higher gravity. " Kyande explained.
" But I want to watch! " Gohan protested.
Kyande smiled, " I figured you would, the higher gravity will stop at a one meter and a half radius around the ladder to below. You can stand there and watch.
" Okay! " Gohan ran towards the ladder. Bulma followed.
Once she was certain they were safe, Kyande went over to the controls and entered in 20g. She quickly adapted to the change, but was mildly surprised to hear an answering grunt from Gokuu. Looking back confirmed her fears; he had trouble just standing at 20gs.
" Okay, Gokuu, " she sighed, turning, " start out by walking laps-- "
Kyande broke off as she moved away from the console and was immediately aware of a ripping sound. Kyande cringed and looked back.
Somewhere along the lines the ragged edge of her sleeve had caught on one of the keys and when she'd moved the miniscule stress had been enough to tear the seams at the shoulder.
Kyande teardropped. " Dangit. I knew I should have gone out for more clothes or something. These are all worn out and I never got the time. " Kyande turned to the ladder, where Gohan and Bulma stood watching. " Bulmasan, can I borrow some clothes from you? "
" What? " Bulma turned indignant, " No way! I've seen the condition clothes are in after you guys train! "
Kyande sighed, her irritation at the other woman causing her to miss just how funny it was to see Gokuu practically crab walking his laps under the strain.
" Well what am I supposed to do? Borrow Gohan's clothes? " she pointed
at the little warrior that was half her height at most.
Bulma sniffed.
" I have extra gis, " Gokuu announced. Kyande looked at him. " Chichi packed me some. Which wasn't really necessary because I had a new batch made with Kaiousama's kanji on the back. The one's Chichi packed still have the Kame kanji on the back, so help yourself. " Kyande looked Gokuu over. He wasn't so much taller than her, but bigger. But, it would have to do.
" Okay, " she sighed, " keep up with the laps. Once you can walk straight we'll continue. "
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The doctor was increasingly nervous. He was of a saurian species, but not very strong; which was why his kind were more apt at medical professions. He was a squat guy, shorter than Vejiita, even, with a shock of unruly hair and a white cape hanging to the ground under the armor he wore for protection from unhappy patients.
Had Vejiita been violently... unhappy... though, the doctor doubted he'd still be alive and standing there watching the prince dress. No, the only thing violent so far were the doctor's shiverings.
But, he did have a report to file.
" Vejiitaojisama, " he attempted, " if I may, what happened on Earth? According to records we lost contact right about the time of battle. "
Vejiita paused in his dressing, glaring at the wall as he remembered the battle the doctor spoke of: of the glowing golden figure that had stolen his destiny from him.
Vejiita finished pulling on his boot and reached for his armor. As he pulled it over his head he said, " Katera needs a new space pod. See that she gets it. "
" Uh, " the doctor thought better of pursuing and remarked on another thing as Vejiita headed for the door. " Vejiita, your scouter! "
" I don't need it anymore, " Vejiita snapped.
The doctor sighed, giving in to the fact that he might never get his report finished. Vejiita wasn't saying much, and what he did say was considerably more than Katera.
Sighing again, the doctor picked up the scouter Vejiita had left and considered it for a long moment (didn't need it anymore? Had the prince gone mad?) before going off to see about Katera's space pod.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Vejiita found Katera in the mess hall, sitting by herself and wolfing down what looked to be easily her twelfth bowl of noodles. Vejiita hung back a moment, taking in every detail of her, just as he had many times before when he was sure she wasn't aware of his presence. (Which was a moment that was becomming harder and harder to find) The way her hair hung down her back in great spikes of pure black. The broadness of her shoulders beneath the armor. She too, was without a scouter. So, she'd acquired it too.
Vejiita clamped a hand over her left ear and pressed her head to his from behind. Inhaling deeply he commented quietly, " You look good. "
Katera smiled. " You look better. " She indicated the seat next to her. " Sit. Eat. "
Vejiita drew away and shook his head. " Training first. "
Katera looked slightly put out, but put her bowl down anyway.
Vejiita shook his head. " When you're done, you can meet me. "
" Ojisa-- "
" Shh, " Vejiita cut her off, " you fight better on a full stomach. "
" So do you! "
" Don't argue with me, Katera, " Vejiita warned. He glared as she opened her mouth to do so anyway, and she immediately shut her mouth.
Katera scowled as he went. " Hai, " came her sharp response just as he left the mess hall.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Kyande lounged sideways on the pilot's seat as she watched Gokuu run (yes, run) laps around the ship at fifty gs.
Well, he was getting better. He'd needed a few senzu seeds, but he could hold his own against her at her natural fighting level. She still won in the end, but he was getting there.
They still had four days left.
" Hey, Gokuu, " she called. He stopped and looked at her readily. She resisted the urge to sigh again. He fully expected her to teach him to go Super Saiyajin-- little realizing that she couldn't. She couldn't teach him to get angry, he had to on his own.
It didn't help that the gi she'd borrowed from him was horribly too big. She'd had to use two belts; one to tie down the weighted shirt and another for the orange gi. Not only that, but she'd had to stuff practically the entire bottom of both boots with kleenex before her feet would even consider fitting.
But, she digressed, she'd wear her own shoes on Namekusei (she was saving them) and at least the gi was comfortable.
Suddenly, Kyande realized her mind had wandered and Gokuu was still staring at her expectantly. " Oh! " she said, sitting up, " Enough laps. Why don't you do some push ups? Actually, stand on your hands, do a handstand, balance one of the weights on your feet and do push ups that way, okay? "
" Hai! " Gokuu raced off to comply.
Kyande sat back and stared out the window again. Four more days, then all this work would face the test.
" This is the last time I tell Okaasan my wishes, " Kyande murmured.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
" Wait a minute, " Gohan piped up, interrupting Sarro's recount. " What about Dende? Kuririn and I saved him the first day we were there, but this time we were all late! Is Dende alive? Wouldn't Freezer have gotten all seven of the Dragonballs in that month? I mean, Vejiita's not even there! "
Sarro held up a hand to halt Gohan's coming panic attack. " You're getting ahead of us, Gohan. But you do have good timing on one question. You see, for me observing all this, I too wondered about Dende. "
Sarro's lips curved ruefully, " Little Dende was more resourceful than one might think. As for the Dragonballs, well, you know the eldest Namekuseijin did have his methods. But, I did decide to check in on Dende, losing contact with Vejiita and Katera for a bit. "
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Dende peered around the corner. He wasn't a fighter, but he did know a few tricks. Afterall, it was the job of non-fighters to escape. Something he could do very well.
Poor Cargo, he sniffed. Freezer and his men had his village's Dragonball. He scowled. He'd never wished more to be a fighter than he did right at that moment. But he couldn't do anything. He was too little, wounded, and a mere healer. He could heal his wounds, but then what? The pink warrior would just finish what he'd begun.
No, Dende could do nothing, but sit, and wait, and cry.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
" So, you see, Dende did survive. Must be destiny or something, " Sarro concluded, a touch of sympathy in her voice. " This was the point at which I resumed contact with Katera and Vejiita. " She grinned ruefully again, " Just in time to completely miss something. "
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vejiita's face was taut with anger. His hands were balled into fists, his fingers digging into his palms. Finally he yelled, " I'll get you Freezer! " and took off down the hall.
" Wait! Vejiita! " Kiwi called after him.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
All eyes turned to Vejiita, who shrugged. " Kiwi told me where Freezer was and why. "
" Doesn't take much to set you off, does it? " Bulma commented. She, of course, received the answering dirty look.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Vejiita raced down the halls towards the landing platform. Along the way he came across Katera, the doctor, and a soldier who seemed to be enduring quite a bit of berating from Katera. Vejiita spotted the soldier's scabbard and immediately knew what the lecture was about.
Were he not in such a bad mood, Vejiita would have smiled. It seemed
only Katera truely appreciated the fine art of killing an
opponent with one's bare hands.
Vejiita ran through them, then stopped and ran back.
" Vejiita? " the doctor inquired.
" Ojisama? " Katera asked, her tone the same.
Vejiita grabbed his scouter out of the doctor's hands and took off again with the order, " Come on, Katera! "
Katera followed without a word of parting to either the doctor or the soldier. Picking up her pace, she caught up to Vejiita and said again, " Ojisama? " in question.
" We're leaving, " Vejiita growled.
" Leaving? But I don't have a new space pod yet! " Katera protested.
" That's okay, " Vejiita stated flatly, " We made it here in the same one, we'll make it to Namekusei. "
" Namekusei? " Katera echoed. " Ojisama, the Drago-- "
" Freezer is already there, and after my Dragonballs, " Vejiita cut her off.
" Nani?! " Katera set her jaw and pulled her armor over her head.
Vejiita looked at her. " What are you doing? "
" Cutting down on the bulk, " she answered as she discarded the armor in the middle of the hall, " space pods weren't designed for two passengers, " She gave a wry grin as they reached the landing platform, " regardless of the times we've disproven that. "
Vejiita grinned as well, picked up speed and leaped for the open space pod, turning in the air so that he landed in the seat. Katera climbed in more carefully and sat sideways on his lap.
Pressing her forehead against his, Katera assured him, " Don't worry, Vejiita, we'll get those Dragonballs for you even if I have to die killing Freezer to do it. "
Vejiita laughed out loud as the hatch closed, " Let the games begin! "
---------------------------------------------------------------------
What had once been four days left was now four days past. Within the day they would reach Namekusei, and Kyande was becoming more fretful as time went on. Gokuu now had the ability to kick her butt (so to speak) at her normal fighting level when he was powered up without Kaiou-ken.
But was this right? Was that good? Bad? What?!
She was standing with her back against the wall, because Bulma had commondeered the pilot's seat and ordered the gravity back down. That was another thing. Kyande and Gokuu had reached one hundred gs near the end of the third day. By the end of the fifth, he suggested raising it again, but Kyande had refused.
Gohan, who had trained with them a little at ten and twenty gs (what counted as a cool-down period for Gokuu and Kyande) was now sparring lightly with Gokuu.
Kyande just stood, watched, and nibbled her thumbnail as far down as it would allow. Finally she muttered, " This sucks. "
Gokuu paused and looked at her. " What does? "
" Nothing. " Kyande continued muttering, " I don't know how Mom does it. "
Gokuu looked at her again. " Does what? "
" Nothing. " Kyande gave him a dirty look. " I mean, how does she handle the stress? "
Now Gohan was curious too. The sparring had stopped. Gokuu furrowed his brow. " What stress? "
" Nothing. I've only been doing this for a week, she's done it for years! "
" Done what? "
" Nothing Gokuu! I'm Talking To Myself, Okay!! " Kyande shouted across the room.
Gokuu, Gohan, and Bulma stared at her. Everything was perfectly still a moment before Gokuu slowly acknowledged, " Okay. "
Kyande blew her bangs out of her face. " Sorry, Gokuu. Gohan, Bulma, sorry. I'm just feeling really stressed right now. "
" Why? " Gohan asked, " You're a good fighter. You can beat Vejiita and Katera easily. "
Kyande gave him a pointed look, " and that is where the stess comes from. " On that note, Kyande turned and rested her arms on the ledge of the window.
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As in the original timeline, once in the afterlife, Yamcha, Tenshinhan, Chaou-zu, Piccolo, and this time, Kuririn, were sent along their merry way to Kaiousei to receive the same training as Gokuu, under the legendary Lord of Worlds, Kaiousama.
Unlike Gokuu, their trip down the Path of the Serpant, or Snake Way, went much shorter. Probably due to the fact that none of them fell off into Hell, and, though Yamcha wanted to, they never stopped at the palace of the Snake Princess. Arrival at Kaiousei went well enough, they made it over the demented roller coaster-esque end of the Snake Way and up to the little planetoid.
Also, the tests passed went much the same. Yamcha, Chaou-zu, and Kuririn passed the test to make Kaiousama laugh with ease, and Tenshinhan managed it after a brief struggle.
Piccolo, naturally, refused.
Catching Bubbles and hitting Gregory with the mallet went along the same lines as well, with Kuririn holding his own against his mates and even being the first to hit Gregory.
Piccolo, naturally, sulked.
Throughout the whole thing, though, Kaiousama had been keeping tabs
on his best student, and his new, curious trainer.
While Piccolo meditated under a tree (Kaiousama had been stockpiling
jokes at the expense of the dour Namekuseijin) and the
other four wolfed down their meal, Kaiousama pondered his newest mystery.
" There's something wrong about that Kyande girl, " Kaiousama mumbled as he poured Yamcha a fourth glass of sake.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
" Hold it, hold it, hold it! " Yamcha protested, the slight flush in his face proving he meant to draw attention away from his drinking.
Sarro looked at him mildly.
Yamcha continued, " How come you can tell us what happened when we all were on Kaiousei, but not when Gokuu was on? "
Sarro smiled patiently, " Yamcha, dearest, I've said before I can only pay attention to two things at once. Kyande and something else. At the time when Gokuu was on Kaiousei, I was paying attention to something else. "
" What? " Gohan inquired.
Sarro's polite smile switched not to Gohan, but to Vejiita as she answered, " That's another story.
" Anyway... "
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Yamcha, Kuririn, Tenshinhan, and Chaou-zu looked up at him from their meal. Piccolo looked up from his seat beneath the tree he seemed to have claimed as his own.
" Whadda ya mean? " Kuririn asked.
" Why? " Yamcha piped up, " I thought she was kinda cute. "
----------------------------------------------------------------------
" I'm only telling it as it is, " said Sarro in response to Kyande's groan.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Kuririn snapped his chopsticks at Yamcha emphatically. " You think any girl is cute, " he teased.
Touching back on the topic at hand, Tenshinhan asked, " What do you mean, Kaiousama? "
" Well, " Kaiousama pondered, " She's got an odd ki signature, and frankly, I can't see where she comes from, " Kaiousama's expression darkened, and he seemed to be speaking to himself moreso than to anyone else, " She carries the scent of time travel. One should not tamper with time unless they truely know what they're doing. "
Everyone stared.
Kaiousama suddenly snickered, " Hey, hey, guys! Why did the Saiyajin throw the clock out the window? -- He wanted to see time fly!! "
---------------------------------------------------------------------
" The worst thing about that joke is they laughed, " Sarro commented.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Kyande continued staring out the window as Gokuu and Gohan resumed sparring. She sighed and rested her chin on her crossed arms.
I wonder where you are, Mom, she sighed again, I wonder what you're doing? I wonder where Kuraft is? Have I screwed that up too?! sob, What have I done?!?!?!
" Hey, look guys! " Bulma exclaimed suddenly, " Namekusei! "
Gokuu and Gohan stopped in their tracks.
Kyande raced over to the pilot's seat and looked over Bulma's shoulder. She did the mental calculations and cheered, " Yup! Six days! It's the real Namekusei! "
" Of course it's the real Namekusei, " Bulma chided, " What other Namekusei could it be, silly? "
Kyande giggled nervously, " Good question. "
Kyande suddenly broke off laughing and stared at Bulma. I wonder if Trunks will exist with all the meddling I've done...
Bulma suddenly shifted her gaze to Kyande and demanded irritably, " What are you staring at? "
" Ah-- " Kyande stepped back, " hahahahahahahahaha Nothing! Nothing! I'm... just... going... to go... Powder My Nose! Yeah, that's it, I'm going to go powder my nose. " She backed up to the ladder leading to the basement level of the ship, " Later! "
" What's with her? " Gohan asked.
" Mm, " Bulma said dismissively and turned back to her controls.
" Powder her nose? " was Gokuu's question.
" Goodness knows she needs it, " Bulma commented with a shrug.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Vejiita grit his teeth and nearly ground the scouter into the arm of the seat. He glared out the window with narrowed eyes. He just couldn't get his mind off the injustice of it all. Those were his Dragonballs, HIS! Freezer dared to try and take them from him!
Vejiita wanted revenge, he wanted his immortality. He wanted the universe at his fingertips. It was what he deserved. It was what he would get.
Vejiita looked over at Katera, who was asleep with her head on his shoulder and her arms around his waist. He considered her for a long time. Were it Nappa, he would have dismissed the notion of sharing his immortality, loneliness was something he knew well and didn't mind. If not for Katera, he would truly, perhaps painfully, be alone. What had started out as a little fling, or so he had planned, had become so much more. Vejiita realized, not for the first time, that life without Katera was something he didn't want, nor could he envision it.
So, he would be sharing his immortality.
Vejiita, the crown prince of the Saiyajin, pulled Katera, a mere soldier, closer to him and nestled his face in her hair. Even if he didn't sleep, he would stay like this until they reached Namekusei, or she woke up, whichever came first.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
After examining the planet from orbit a few moments, Bulma cracked her knuckles and stretched her arms. " All right, guys, here we go. Luckily, landing is one of my specialties! "
Kyande, whom had somewhere along the lines come back up, murmured, " Brace yourselves. "
Gokuu and Gohan stared at her. " Wha-- "
They broke off into hollers as the ship careened down towards the surface at an incredible speed. For Gokuu and Gohan, who were unprepared, it meant falling on their rears.
Landing on, or rather, hitting the ground went... as smoothly as expected. Kyande looked down at Gokuu and Gohan and said mildly, " The first time in six days you two don't listen to me, and look where it got you. "
Gokuu and Gohan grinned at her ruefully.
Bulma got up, oblivious to the actual state of her landing skills, and clasped her hands. " Now, just give me a second to make sure it's all safe and we can-- hah? "
The room was empty. Bulma ran to the open door and took in the sight of her three travelling companions. She freaked.
" Wow! This looks just like the place Piccolo took me to to train! " Gohan exclaimed.
" Makes sense, " Kyande acknowledged.
Bulma came up behind them and blew up at them, " What Do You Think You Guys Are Doing?! You Had No Idea If This Environment Was Hostile Or Not! "
" Well, you're out here, Bulma, " Gokuu pointed out.
" Don't get smart with me, mister, " Bulma snapped, " I checked it out first. " She sniffed with contempt and insult.
" Even so, Bulma, you're forgetting. We opened the door, so whether you came out or stayed in, the atmosphere would have gotten you. Besides, if Kamisama and Piccolo could survive on Earth, wouldn't it make sense to assume that the atmosphere here was hospitable? " Kyande pointed out.
Bulma glared at her, and Kyande realized she'd inadvertantly struck a nerve by injuring Bulma's pride in her intelligence. That, and she didn't seem to have forgiven her for the Yamcha mix up.
Kyande felt panic again. Could Bulma have seen through her lie?! Oh, noooooooo!
" Hey, look! " Gohan pointed out.
Everyone turned and looked to the sky, or rather, to the spec of light hurlting to the ground.
" Oh, " Kyande said dismissively, " That's just Vejiita's space pod. Seems he's late too. " Shocked silence. " Waah! " The full impact of her words hit Kyande as everyone stared at her in shock, " It's Vejiita's Space Pod! " She ran inside, " Dangitdangitdangit! I'm going to get my shoes! "
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Five.
Freezer had five of the seven Dragonballs. The Namekuseijin had been a little cranky about his taking them, but not so much that he didn't enjoy the hunt.
He held the number seven ball in his lap within his hover vehicle. Seven, as a premonition that he would soon have them all. His two right-hand men, Zarbon and Dodoria, each held two. After a month of searching fruitlessly, they had not turned up the other two, and in a fit of irritation, Freezer had ordered they go to his ship to rest. Just as they were entering the ship, Zarbon shot a glance to the side, then focused his scouter directly on the horizon.
This did not escape Freezer's notice. " What is it, Zarbon? "
" Well, " Zarbon answered, never taking his eyes from the horizon, " I'm receiving three very high ki readings over there. I don't know where they came from. They just appeared. "
" How high? " Freezer inquired, his interest peaked.
" High enough to challenge even myself or Dodoria. "
" Three, hm? " Dodoria grunted, " Could it be Vejiita and his two escorts? "
" No, it couldn't, " Freezer dispelled the theory, " Nappa's dead, remember? Good riddance too. " He thought a moment, " Perhaps some Namekuseijin who've been hiding their power from us? Send a couple of men to check it out. "
" But sir, " Zarbon protested, " Don't you think we ought to-- "
" Send some men, if these Namekuseijin are as powerful as you say, I'd rather send some soldiers a bit more expendable to test them. " Freezer smiled, " If they fail, you can punish the Namekuseijin all you like. "
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Kyande suddenly yelped and ordered, " Lower your power, you two! "
Gokuu and Gohan blinked at her.
" They have scouters here! I know it! " She quickly lowered her power, " I just know it! " That one elderly Namekuseijin destroyed them but they've had a month to order more. Drat! They'll have seen us by now, and sent someone really horrible to get rid of us!
Gokuu complied, lowering his power as far as it would go. It was still lawfully high, but it would have to do. Still, he questioned her, " How do you know? "
" Um, no Dragon radar! They would need scouters to find the Dragonballs, right? " Kyande laughed nervously again, wondering if she'd ever laugh for any other reason again, " Simple logic! "
" Who's they? " Gohan asked.
Kyande fell over. " Um... " she said meekly, " Freezer. "
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Kaiousama choked. " Freezer! " he exclaimed, so loud that even Kyande
could hear him. " Oh no! "
¤¤
[Oh, yes, Kaiousama. Freezer, Vejiita, and Katera, oh my! {lame joke, I know, too much Kaiousama...} The race for the Namekian Dragonballs begins! Freezer has a headstart, and is in possession of five, while there are still two hanging around out there. Who will be the victor? Will they find Dende, and in turn be led to the Eldest Namekuseijin? How will the battle with Freezer go? So many questions, so little time, but some answers may come about in part seven; Race for the Dragonballs! Three Teams Times Seven Balls Does Not Equal One Wish!]
[Written by Inseiko, 1999]
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