Monkey Moon part 2b

        Vegeta pointed at Raditz. "It's time for you to reconcile with your brother. We'll get
        nowhere unless trust is established."

        "Glady, ouji. He's all I have left...and I'll not see him stagger around in such a
        ridiculous state!"

        "Hn, I doubt he sees it that way. In any case, the full extent of his power isn't
        known."

        "What?" Nappa couldn't believe his ears. "He has a hidden ability?"

        Vegeta sipped his wine. "Raditz may sense emotions, but I have a nose for ki...and I
        tell you both Kakarot contains power none of us has seen."

        "But you're an ascended saiyan!"

        "True, but Kakarot always had a maddening tendency to surpass me. If it's true, I
        would see it."

        Raditz frowned. "I should have such power. It makes no sense, my brother graded
        low as a baby."

        "Hn...everyone is not equal in ability, Raditz. I've learned that the hard way. Besides,
        Kakarot may be a 'late bloomer'. Mistakes have been made in evaluations before."

        "This will strengthen our clan, then" Nappa surmised. "The challenge will only increase
        our power as we rise to meet it."

        "My thinking exactly" Vegeta replied. "I fear no obstacle. If Kakarot has indeed
        become what I suspect, then I will raise my level to greet it. Should I, the Prince of all
        Saiyans, quake at some new power level? Bah!"

        "Hah! Once we get the dragonballs the universe will do the quaking, eh, Vegeta?"
        Nappa raised his beer mug. "To immortality!"

        Raditz and Vegeta raised their own glasses. "Immortality!!"

        ****

        The tall saiyan dressed simply for the task, a white t shirt and jeans with black boots
        and belt. Vegeta briefed him quickly at the cave entrance.

        "Now remember...be straight with him. There's no other way at this point."

        Raditz nodded. "Hai, I understand. But why can't I wear my armor?"

        "You musn't appear threatening in any way. Appeal to his family first, that will gain
        you some points."

        "Start with the brat" Nappa suggested.

        Raditz gave a soft snarl. "That 'brat' is my nephew."

        Nappa grinned coolly. "No offense, boy...you youngsters are so high strung."

        ****

        Chi Chi had a strange foreboding all afternoon. Goku decided his family was in no
        immediate danger so they returned home. Not trusting everything to chance, Chi Chi
        purchased a high powered rifle.

        Not sure what good it will do me against those freaks, but at least I won't feel so
        helpless.

        She scrubbed the kitchen countertop furiously, annoyed at her wayward husband.
        Goku had gone off in the woods to 'think', or so he said.

        Dammit, why now? He needs to be here...if something happens...

        A rapping knock at the front door disrupted her thoughts. Chi Chi nearly leaped from
        her skin. The pounding grew louder.

        "Mom?" Gohan entered the kitchen. "Do you want me to get it?"

        "No wait" Chi Chi raced to the pantry shelf and grabbed the rifle. Gohan stared at her
        in disbelief.

        "What are you going to do with that?"

        "It could be the saiyans, Gohan!" Chi Chi cocked the trigger.

        The boy tugged at her arm. "No it isn't mom...the ki is all different."

        Chi Chi blinked. "Who, then?" she stalked through the living room and opened the
        door. Piccolo stared at the weapon in her hands.

        "What do you think you're doing?!" the namek grunted in surprise.

        Gohan bounded into the living room. "Piccolo!!"

        The namek smiled at the boy. "So, are you holding the fort here?"

        Gohan puffed out his chest. "Yeah, but mom thought she needed that rifle. I tried to
        tell her it wasn't one of the saiyans."

        Chi Chi set the rifle aside. "Sorry, Piccolo. Please come in."

        "Hmf" the namek grumped, gliding past her. "Where's Goku?"

        Chi Chi sighed, leaning against the door. "Out thinking. I have no idea where he went."

        "You mean he left you alone?!"

        "Hey, what do I look like?" Gohan was offended. Piccolo rubbed the boy's hair in
        apology.

        "Sorry, kid...I know you can handle pretty much everything, but your dad needs to be
        here."

        "Agreed" Chi Chi was annoyed. She paused, frowning. "What's your story?"

        Piccolo looked around. "I wanted to speak with Goku about some concerns I have."

        "About the saiyans?"

        "Yeah. I don't want to alarm you, but I believe Vegeta has plans for Goku."

        Chi Chi dropped on the couch. "Plans? What's that supposed to mean?"

        Piccolo sighed. "I wish I knew. I thought perhaps Goku might have some idea."

        "They'd better leave my dad alone!" Gohan balled his fists. Piccolo grinned at him.

        "Easy, kid. I don't have any proof, just some things I overheard."

        "But what could they possibly want with him?" Chi Chi was completely confused.
        "They have nothing in common!"

        Piccolo was somber. "Chi Chi, Goku's a saiyan, too."

        "So? That never mattered before!"

        "It does matter. They're his own kind."

        "Again, so what? He battled Vegeta to save earth-"

        "Only because he let him live in the first place."

        "What?!"

        Gohan winced at his mother. "I remember, mom...it was when Vegeta first came to
        earth and attacked us. Krillen was going to finish him, but dad told him not to."

        Dark eyes blinked in astonishment. "But...why?! It makes no sense! Why would he
        spare an enemy that nearly killed his son and crushed his body!!"

        Piccolo shook his head quickly. "Because Vegeta is saiyan."

        Chi Chi threw her arms up in exasperation. "So WHAT. That doesn't explain anything-"

        "I don't pretend to understand their mindset, but I know that Goku has the instincts
        of his people. His motivations are merely different."

        "Piccolo...I'm his wife. Gohan's his son. We have a home and life here together."

        "Yeah, Piccolo...dad's been on earth his whole life. Those saiyans don't mean anything
        to him!"

        The namek stared out the window. "Maybe."

        ****

        Goku sat by a quiet stream, his thoughts troubled. Despite outward appearances, the
        continued presence of the other saiyans grated on his nerves.

        What could they possibly want? They've shown no aggression, but they haven't
        revealed their true intent, either.

        He skipped pebbles along the clear water. This is crazy. Maybe I should go back to
        their keep and see if they're hiding something. Sitting here certainly isn't getting me
        anywhere.

        In silence he took to the skies.

        ****

        Nappa watched news reports on their rigged satellite center. "Hn, these ningens lead
        a chaotic life" he grunted.

        Vegeta chomped on some barbequed chicken. "Hai, they rely heavily on
        technology...ningens ignore their instincts until the criminal society causes problems."

        "I noticed...they gloss instincts like some separate aspect to hide and fear."

        "Or be embarrassed about. Humans are a bizarre species."

        A pause as Nappa's tail twitched. "I can barely wait for jungle run, Vegeta."

        The ouji threw a sidelong glance, nose flaring. Their scents were changing, and he felt
        the burn as well.

        Soft growl. "Soon enough, Nappa...hopefully Raditz will make some progress with
        Kakarot and his family. This is a separate hunt, an appetizer for the main course."

        Nappa purred to himself. "Indeed."

        ****

        Raditz approached the Son house two hours later. Silently he landed in the backyard
        near the woodpile.

        Hn. I scent Kakarot's traces, but he isn't here. There's another ki of some power I
        recognize-

        "What the hell are you doing here?!" a gutteral voice challenged.

        The burly saiyan turned his head slowly, smiling. "Ah...so you're the one I sensed."

        "You got it, monkey man...now explain why you're lurking in Goku's back yard!"

        Raditz folded his arms, frowning briefly. "My buisness doesn't concern you, namek. I
        might ask the same thing."

        Piccolo stalked towards him. "If you're here to start trouble-"

        The saiyan held up a hand. "Spare me. I've no interest in you or your petty displays."

        "Well, I'm curious!" another voice rang out. The men turned. Chi Chi cautiously
        approached them, her face drawn with tension.

        Raditz nodded briefly. "I'm here to see you, actually."

        That halted her. "Me? What the hell for?!"

        Piccolo moved to her side. "Where's Gohan?"

        "I told him to stay inside."

        "He's strongwilled, woman. No doubt the boy will disobey you at some point and
        come out" Raditz replied.

        "The name's Chi Chi, saiyan. I've got nothing to say to you, anyway. Get out of my
        yard!"

        Raditz approached her. "I can't leave until I make amends. It's why I came here
        originally, to see Kakarot."

        Chi Chi blinked. "Kakarot? You mean Goku? He isn't here."

        "I know. His ki was absent when I arrived."

        "Is this some kind of trick, Raditz?!" Piccolo demanded.

        "No. I regret what happened in the past, namek. My mission was to scout earth and
        find my brother, not harm him."

        "You were responsible for his death, and kidnapped my son!!" Chi Chi yelled. "How
        dare you come here-"

        Dark eyes flashed with pain. "True, Chi Chi...I hoped he would join me. Our meeting
        was a disaster, despite my intentions."

        "The results proved otherwise" her voice held an edge.

        "There's no forgiving what I did, but hear me out...I need to reconcile with my
        brother. He's the only family I have left."

        "You're making me cry" Piccolo was sarcastic. "Don't listen to him, Chi Chi!"

        Chi Chi frowned. "I don't know that I believe you, but I know family is important."

        "To a saiyan, everything. Using Gohan was a way of gaining Kakarot's attention."

        "What kind of twisted logic is that?!"

        Raditz glanced at Piccolo. "Can we talk inside, Chi Chi? Please?"

        "Not alone" Piccolo snapped.

        She thought a minute. "Out of respect to Goku I'll listen...but I'm not promising
        anything else!"

        He smiled. "That's all I ask."

        ****

        Goku landed about ten miles from the saiyan keep. He strolled quietly in the deep
        jungle, taking in the sights and sounds.

        I rarely explore country like this, but it almost seems familiar somehow.

        Wildlife peeped, screeched, and roared in the background. Goku smiled and glanced
        up through broken light and shadow. A keening growl rumbled in his chest, unbidden.
        He immediately squelched it.

        Why the hell did I do that?

        The air was thick with oppressive heat and humidity. Goku sniffed, smelling water
        nearby. An idea struck him.

        Think I'll take a quick swim. With Vegeta still at the keep there's no real hurry.

        Stripping quickly he raced through the foilage towards the sound of a nearby
        waterfall.

        ****

        Vegeta and Nappa were playing a game of cards in their hideaway.

        "Hn, it seems odd almost to have 'down time', ne?" Vegeta grinned, looking at his
        hand.

        Nappa nodded, sipping his drink. "Only for a bit, ouji" dark eyes gleamed in
        anticipation.

        Vegeta understood the feeling, a general edginess and tingle of skin. "The calendar
        shows a full moon two consecutive days this week."

        Nappa's tail snapped the air as he growled. "Hn! Vegeta, do you sense?"

        Sharp features stared in concentration. A slow grin spread over the ouji's face. "It
        seems we have company lurking about. Unless I'm mistaken, it feels like Kakarot."

        Nappa glanced at the cave entrance. "He's at one location and hasn't moved for
        some time...what's that about?"

        A small frown. "Curious" he smiled at his comrade. "I think you should investigate."

        The bald warrior gave a sly grin. "And what would my prince suggest?"

        Vegeta pulled an ace from the deck. "An initiation."

        ****