Vejita tried to remember the name. Burokkori. He’d never heard of it, but it was obviously a Saiyajin name.
"Why are you here?" Goku asked, watching the man carefully as he stepped even closer, no more than ten feet separating them.
"I’m searching." His voice was deep yet smooth, somehow making him seem like even more of a mystery.
Goku waited for him to continue. He could feel Krillin and Yamcha backing off a little. They were frightened. He could sense that his son, Gohan, was frightened too, but he made no effort to stand back, probably fearing to be shamed further.
Burokkori smiled, "I’ve been searching for you. The both of you."
Goku’s brow furrowed further and he could hear Vejita’s voice, "Nani?"
"Yes… I know you. Kakarotto the great and Prince Vejita. Why would you want to live on such a weak planet? Join me in space." Burokkori said, taking a few more steps.
"How do you know us?" Goku asked curiously.
"The mighty Freeza’s defeat is talked of endlessly. ‘A mighty Super Saiyajin left Lord Freeza to become extinct along with Planet Namek.’ And every Saiyajin knows of Prince Vejita." Burokkori explained.
"Hn. I see I’m finally getting the respect I deserve." Vejita mused, letting it go to his head.
"My prince, are you able to transform into a Super Saiyajin as well?"
"Of course. I’m much stronger than this third class baka." Vejita said, bragging, forgetting that he cared about Kakarotto’s feelings.
"Why have you killed so many?" Goku asked, cutting the stranger short.
Burokkori smirked, "Because I can. This planet will perish as well."
"No." Goku said simply but strongly.
"No? And why not?"
"You’re way outta line. This is my home. I will not let you destroy it so easily."
Vejita was impressed with Kakarotto’s courage. It was obvious that Burokkori’s power matched if not surpassed his own. He should have known better though. Kakarotto had always been the type to rely purely on his feelings and the feelings of others.
"Your home? With these weaklings? Join me. I’m on a mission to become the strongest. A new lord will rise and you… Both of you can be my most trusted soldiers."
Goku took a defensive stance, "No."
"You expect your prince to serve you? You’re dumber than I thought." Vejita scoffed, stepping away from Kakarotto slightly, giving him room.
Goku slowly began building power within, keeping a watchful eye on his adversary.
"I see. I guess it was pointless to even land on this damn planet. I thought a fellow Saiyajin would be delighted to have such an opportunity."
"Opportunity? The opportunity to kill? No thanks." Goku said, letting his rage build up.
"Well, it’s obvious you’ve killed quite a few. You’re no different from me." Burokkori could see now that there was no point in even arguing with the fool and backed off a little, taking an offensive stance.
"I kill to defend what is rightfully mine." That was all he needed to reach the breaking point of rage and he’d suddenly transformed into a Super Saiyajin.
"Chiaotzu, listen to me," Tien said, getting his little friend’s attention, "I don’t want you to get involved with this. Got it."
Chiaotzu nodded and turned his attention back to Goku. By now they’d all backed up quite a ways, but they were still able to clearly hear what was being said.
Krillin shook his head, "This is bad."
Charging forward, the two Saiyajin’s powers clashed in a fury of punches and kicks. Goku was completely surprised that Burokkori was basically equal to himself and hadn’t transformed whatsoever. This was going to be tough.
"This is crazy! That guy’s matching everything Goku throws at him and he’s not even a Super Saiyajin!" Krillin exclaimed, stating the obvious.
Piccolo eyed the shorter warrior. It couldn’t be happening. He’d never felt such an awesome power from Goku. He had to win, but deep down the stern Namek knew that Goku wasn’t going to be able to do it without some kind of help.
After several hours of full force fighting, the two warriors dropped down out of the sky, landing not too far from their spectators. Burokkori seemed to be doing fine. He was standing tall with a smirk on his arrogant face. Goku however was panting and somewhat slouched over.
What are you thinking Kakarotto? Vejita was worried. How could this be happening? Vejita continued to tell himself to be patient and wait and see what Kakarotto had up his sleeves. There was always something.
"Dad, let me help you! Maybe if we’re both Super Saiyajin we can beat him!" Gohan called as he started towards his father.
Another pulse of energy swept through Goku, "No! Stay back! I can handle this!"
Gohan stopped in his tracks and watched as the two warriors exploded into the sky again. His father screaming as he powered up to Super Saiyajin Two.
"Shit. He’s so stupid." Gohan mumbled, taking his place among the others.
"Nonsense. He’s a brilliant fighter." Vejita caught himself saying.
Everyone looked at the arrogant prince, "Does he have a plan, Vejita?" Krillin asked curiously.
"Probably not. He’s most likely going on his instincts. If it comes down to it, he’ll destroy himself to destroy the enemy." Vejita answered honestly.
"Why?!" Gohan protested in an outburst of emotion.
"Don’t you know your own father?! He’ll do anything for this damn planet. For you." Vejita said, sounding as if he were scolding Gohan.
Suddenly, there was another agonizing scream and they all looked up to find that Goku had gone Super Saiyajin Three and Burokkori was now a Super Saiyajin. The battle continued fiercely on.
"Do you feel that?" Meijin Roshi said, looking to the others.
"Hai." Trunks answered quickly since he was able to sense ki.
"Feel what?" Bulma asked a little confused, but she knew well enough what they meant.
"Dad." Goten growled through clenched teeth, standing and holding his balled fists before him.
"What is it? What’s happening to Goku?" Chi-Chi exclaimed, surprising herself with how much she really cared.
"He’s using his ki all up. He’s not gonna win." Goten said, teeth still clenched.
Everyone’s mouths fell open, "But… But he can’t lose." Oolong whined.
"I’ve gotta go help ‘em." Goten said, starting for the door, Trunks close behind him.
"No!" Chi-Chi and Bulma yelled simultaneously, grabbing their sons.
A pained scream left everyone in shock as they watched Goku crash into a rather large plateau, shattering it. They all waited, holding their breath. He wasn’t getting up. He must have been knocked out.
"Oh no. Dad." Gohan murmured, worry filling his thoughts.
"Vejita?" Yamcha asked, watching as Vejita tensed up, a deep growl coming from him.
Without warning Vejita let out a painful scream, reaching his limits as he flared up to Super Saiyajin Three. They all watched as he blasted off into the sky, fighting with all of his will.
"I didn’t know Vejita had improved so much." Tien said in disbelief, realizing that Goku and Vejita were finally equal.
"Not too long ago Vejita came to Kami’s temple and trained in the chamber of spirit and time for a day." Piccolo said, feeling it was only right to let them know that Vejita hadn’t experienced a miracle.
"You can’t win." Burokkori said through some effort as he continued to block the prince’s attacks.
Vejita could feel that the enemy was wearing down, slowly using up his ki. It was slow though. Burokkori must have undergone training to build his resistance to blows. Vejita threw several energy waves. He’d noticed that Kakarotto’s energy waves had much more effect than his physical attacks.
"Shit." Vejita hissed, feeling his ki dwindling.
He wasn’t used to his new form and soon he’d be useless.
"Oh no!" Goten exclaimed, squirming in his mother’s arms, "Let go, Mom! Dad just got knocked out!"
"Stop it! You can’t go. You’d only get hurt and your dad wouldn’t want that." Chi-Chi said, watching as her words did the job.
Goten calmed and stood, pouting as he went over to the couch and plopped down beside a worried Trunks.
"My papa’s going to get knocked out soon too." He said quietly, his brows furrowed in frustration.
"Vejita too?" Ox King asked in a concerned tone.
Both Trunks and Goten nodded, sitting quietly as they felt out the battle that was taking place not so far away. Meijin Roshi was surprised that the boy’s skills had grown so much. It was true though. This didn’t look so good. Chi-Chi felt faint and could barely hear her father’s comforting words as she worried over her husband’s life. Bulma was sitting back in a large armchair, leaning her head back and trying to remind herself that she didn’t care what happened to Vejita, but deep down she knew she did. Oolong simply shivered, the fear of dying taking over his senses as he held his knees to his chest with his chubby little arms. Puar had fainted a while back. Yamcha hadn’t even gotten involved yet. Puar was devoted to his master though, and the worry had overcome his tiny cat heart. Number Eighteen wasn’t too worried. She’d told her husband to run away if it got too serious, but she was concerned, and tightened her grip on her young daughter in her lap. Marron was asleep in her mother’s lap, snoring lightly with each breath.
"Gohan, Vejita’s going to be out of this any second. We have to be ready." Piccolo began, looking over at Gohan to make sure he had the teen’s attention.
Gohan nodded.
"Okay, as soon as Vejita falls we rush in. Some surprise might do us some good. I’ll get around behind him and see if I can get a hold of his tail. It may not do anything, but it’s worth the try. Then, while I’m either holding his tail or falling to the ground because it didn’t work, you blast him with all you got. Go your max, Gohan. This is a one time shot." Piccolo explained quickly, knowing deep down that it wasn’t going to work.
Gohan started building the energy within his body, preparing himself for the attack and paying close attention for his cue in the battle before them.
"Be careful." Krillin said, he’d been listening to the plan and had his doubts.
Vejita screamed as the large foot of the enemy landed squarely on his jaw, sending him flying backwards to the ground headfirst. He landed with a loud smash. He could feel the dizziness swirling about in his head, making everything hard to focus on. He turned his head to the right and could see that Kakarotto’s body wasn’t too far away. He was unconscious and soon Vejita was too.
"Now!" Piccolo yelled as he blasted off, leaving his turban and cape behind.
Gohan nodded as he too blasted into the sky, closely behind his mentor. As he flew he transformed into Super Saiyajin and then into Super Saiyajin Two, gritting his teeth as he reached his limits.
Piccolo’s eyes remained locked on the fuzzy brown tail wrapped around the enemy’s waist. He knew well that the Saiyajin were capable of ridding themselves of the weakness, but it was all he could think of. Quickly, flashing behind the large Saiyajin, Piccolo roughly grasped the tail, squeezing it in his hands.
Burokkori snickered. What a lame attempt. Didn’t they know it was pointless?
Gohan charged forward, building as much power as possible into one of his strongest energy waves. He faltered slightly when he saw that Burokkori’s tail was not a weakness whatsoever.
"Baka!" Burokkori spat as he smashed his fist into the Namekian’s skull, sending the green man plummeting towards Earth.
Piccolo crashed into the rocky Earth, feeling several bones break in the process. He was hurt. He was hurt bad. Looking up, Piccolo watched as his first and only disciple fired an attack.
Gohan felt his ki surging, soon it would be out. Finally, he let his arms drop to his sides, breathing heavily. It was done. That was all he had. There would be no more energy waves from him.
"Is that all you got?"
Gohan looked up, it couldn’t be. He wasn’t even injured, though it was obvious that the attack had some effect on his ki. It was slightly smaller. Slightly weaker.
"Now, it’s my turn." Burokkori said, instantly throwing an energy blast that zapped through the air with uncharted speed.
Gohan felt the stabbing pain running over his chest. Then, he was falling and landing, roughly.
"Gohan?"
"I’m sorry, Piccolo-san. I couldn’t do it." Gohan gasped, watching the enemy hovering in the air far above him.
"Brother!" Goten yelled in his childish voice as he threw his face in his hands, crying.
"Goten." Trunks whispered, understanding his friend’s pain.
"What happened?" Bulma asked Meijin Roshi curiously.
"What happened to Gohan?! What happened?" Chi-Chi demanded, worry flooding her heart at the thought of her firstborn dying at the hands of a ruthless killer.
"He’s hurt, but he’s alive." Trunks said quietly.
"We have to do something." Tien said nervously.
"You’re right." Krillin said, knowing that he was breaking his promise to Number Eighteen.
"But… You guys, we can’t win against this guy." Yamcha said honestly.
"We don’t have a choice. It’s either die now or later." Tien said, building up his courage.
"Right." Krillin agreed, also building courage.
Yamcha sighed, knowing that it was the right thing to do, "Okay."
With that the three of them took off into the cool air of the sky. It wasn’t noon yet and the day still held the innocence of morning.
"Tien." Chiaotzu whispered, watching as the three warriors battled the enemy.
