Heh.  I actually wrote a Dragonball fic that doesn't even mention Trunks
for once... ^_^

Dragonball belongs to Akira Toriyama and other people who aren't me. 
None of this is for profit (unless you count writing experience as
'profit'... ^_^)


Mother�s Little Gift
By Rhionae


"So what do they want?"  I ask Vegeta as he cuts the communication link
with our prospective clients.  Nappa glares at me for speaking 'out of
place', as he would put it.  It really pisses Nappa off that I don't
show 'proper' respect at all times.  I smirk at him as Vegeta deigns to
answer me.

"They want the second planet in the Deitona system," he informs us with
a smile.

Nappa gasps a little, surprising me.  He can be a pain in the arse at
times with his insistence on trying to maintain the formalities that
were customary among the high-bred warriors of Vegetasei;  but he *is*
of that class, and as such is a powerful opponent.  What is it that
concerns him about this planet in particular?

"What's the matter, Nappa?  Starting to feel your age?  You can always
skip this one out if it's too much for you!"  I taunt him, baiting him
to give me the information I require.  I almost laugh as he obliges. 
How predictable.

"Kisama!"  He fumes at me, his whole face - including that bald head of
his - turning as red as a tomato.  Vegeta looks on, amused.  "The
inhabitants of that planet are far stronger than most - almost as strong
as Saiyajin!"

I shrug carelessly.  "So we'll have a bit of a challenge.  It's about
time, too.  Most of the places we've acquired have barely shown any
resistance at all."

Nappa scowls at me, oh so *scary*.  "Say that again when you're down on
your knees begging for help, Radditz - I'll come and kill you myself!"

"Wait until *after* we've taken the planet," Vegeta interjects, "or
*I'll*  kill you *both*!

I shut my mouth at that.  If *Vegeta* thinks that it'll take all of us,
then I might just be in trouble... because both he and Nappa are far
stronger than I am.  This could well be my last battle we're talking
about.  I'm no fool.  With so few of us left, what future is there for
our race?  All we have is the present - and I for one intend to make
that last for as long as possible!  I have no fear of death - after all,
I deal it out every day - but I'm in no hurry to meet my own, either. 
If I do get into trouble on that planet, then I'll die.  It's that
simple.

I don't want to die.

I remember waiting for my parents to come back from their missions, back
when I was a brat, getting beaten up by the other, stronger brats.  My
mother especially.  She'd come back, and no matter what shape either of
us was in she'd make me fight until I passed out cold for the night. 
The next day she would tell me of her battles, of her moves, explaining
exactly why each was made.

'Only the strong survive,' she'd say.  'Only the strong - and the
smart.  Unless you make the most of both your body and your mind, you'll
never be any more than the rest of the low-class brats - and low-class
warriors are expendable, Radditz.  Remember that.'

Mother's one regrettable weakness was her attachment to us, her family. 
It killed her in the end; she received a fatal wound while protecting
father.  She died as she lived, though - a true warrior.  I will always
remember her for that.  It's a better death than father had, sitting on
a planet that just happened to get hit by an asteroid.  What a stupid
way to die.

I don't intend to die a stupid death, but if I can't make it alone... 
There are only the three of us - no, wait!  Thinking of mother prompts
my memory of her last little contribution to life - my little brother,
taken from her womb and placed in a tank before she went off on that
mission�  

Kakarotto�

*Four* of us.  I smile.

"How soon do they want the rock?" I ask.  Vegeta shrugs.

"There are a few other planets I had in mind to cleanse first.  What
difference does it make?"  His eyes are hard and challenging.

"I'd like to go get my little brother,"  I say the words, outwardly
calm.  "He was sent to a planet named Earth just before Vegetasei was
destroyed."  It was the last bit of news I ever heard from my father,
the message was incomplete, having been cut off mid-transmission.  They
had only just sent him off when the planet was destroyed.  

My little brother was very lucky then.  I hope he still is - despite
what Nappa says, luck can decide the fate of a battle.  

"Earth?"  Nappa is scornful as he looks up the data on the planet my
brother was sent to take over.  "What a pathetic power rating its
inhabitants have.  Your brother must have had a truly pitiful rating at
birth to be set such a demeaning task as overcoming those weaklings!"

I shrug, holding back my anger, and turn to our Prince instead.  "We
have a buyer for that planet, don�t we?" 

He nods briefly, then waves one hand in a dismissive manner.  "We do. 
Go ahead and get your brother, if he�s still alive.  If he lives through
the mission he may join us."

Indeed.  Then we�d have a proper Saiyajin team to serve Freeza, just as
before Vegetasei was blown to pieces; and there would be someone else
with us who is weaker than the two high-class warriors.

I bow to Vegeta before entering my capsule, setting Earth as its
destination.  Soon enough I�ll see my brother, and I will judge whether
or not he can be useful to us.  No matter what his power level is, even
if he is as weak as Nappa suggested, he will be one more warrior in our
fight, one more person to take our opponents� attention - and perhaps
even some of their lives.

Perhaps he even inherited mother�s little weakness; that could be very
useful indeed - to *me*.

Isn�t that what family are for?

***********
Rhionae
rhionae@hotmail.com
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Island/3226/