Dragon Ball Sj By Christopher Ryan E-mail : SSj4_Trunks_1980@hotmail.com (Note: This fic does by no way completely follow the DBZ story line after the cell games. I’m creating an alternate reality after the cell games happened. So there may be new characters, bring in characters already shown during the new sagas to be shown and some returning character. Also the current characters personalities may vary slightly to show my own view on them and the names will be to reflect FUNimations dubbing of the show. So no Son Gokuu will be seen neither will any of the others. Please no bad email if you don't exactly like how it is.) "Afterlife Redemption" Episode 23: "Nice to meet you Dad! Reunions Continue." The father and son sat for what seemed like hours on end. They laughed and smiled while King Kaio listened them converse. Bardock placed his hand on Goku's shoulder and smiled reassuringly. "I always knew you would become a great warrior, it saddened me some that I wouldnt be able to see you grow up into manhood personally. I guess you did pretty well on your own, I just wish I could have met the man who raised you. He seemed like a very honorable person", he said, nodding. "Yeah, Grandpa Gohan was a wonderful man, and took great care of me the time we spent together. He was also my first sensei and taught me martial arts", Goku remarked fondly as he throught about Gohan. "Well your Grandfather kakarott was an honorable man too, he taught me everything I know. Along with a few secrets of life that Im sure Gohan passed onto you. Seeing as you have a wonderful code of ethics to live by. Most saiyans could have learned a thing or two from you. I guess the apple doesnt fall far from the tree on that aspect, eh son", Bardock laughed. "I told you about my wife Chichi and my son Gohan, but what about my mother and other family. I would love to hear about them too", Goku said longingly as he looked at his father. "Well theres your mother Parzlei, she was a beatiful woman, long flowing black hair the most striking brown eyes you could ever see. I still miss her so, though Im sure she ended up in a better place than most of the saiyan people", Bardock uttered with a sigh, "Then there was her little brother, your uncle, Putaatsu. Now he was a ruthless fighter, giving no quarter in a battle. He slaughtered more people in the name of Frieza than my whole squad combined. It wasnt that he was powerful in any respect, he just loved the thrill of the kill and would take a life no matter the person." Goku sat there listening intently, trying to picture his mothers face in his mind. Though the description only made him think of his wife, Chichi. He was sure that it wasnt luck that he met her, maybe he was destined to meet a woman like his mother. Goku just chuckled lightly to himself. Bardock stopped speaking and looked at his some awkwardly. "What's so funny, was it something I said", Bardock said with an amused expression on his face. "Oh its nothing, your description of mother made me think of Chichi. She would probably fit in well on the planet Vegeta. A very strong willed person, would never back down from anyone. She frightens even me sometimes when she is angry", Goku laughed. "Parzlei and Chichi sound like a perfect pair. Im sure your mother would have gotten along with her very well", Bardock said as he joined in with Goku's laughter. ********************************************* Vegeta lay there and curled up in a ball, tears freely flowing down his cheeks. His father just stood there laughing out loud at his son. The saiyan prince's spirit seemingly torn in shreds. He couldnt believe that it could hurt so much, then suddenly something snapped within his brain, and he got to his feet. The king took a step back in shock, a look of confusion painted on his face. Vegeta turned his head and smiled, eyes red and his face wet from crying. "I finally see why I have yearned for power so badly, and why I hated Kakarott so badly for defeating me all those years ago. It was so obvious, that it stared me in the face but I couldn't face it... until now. I do not care what you have to say father. We saiyans are not a race of cold blooded murders, not anymore, we are a proud race of people who will rise from the ashes of defeat and grasp that golden chalice of richeousness. I have changed so much from the day I first met him, the day I met Kakarott. He seemed to be an inpeneratable wall of confidence, even when he was beaten and bloody, he never gave up. He was not fighting for honor, or pride. He never fought for power, or property. He fought to protect his family, his world, and everyone who could not save themselves. I have finally fully grasped that. With this, you no longer have a hold on me, father. I am... FREE!!!," Vegeta said as he screamed at the top of his lungs, the entire bathed in a brilliant golden light. King Vegeta's visage faded into nothing and Vegeta was left in the room alone. The eerie silence rang in his ears, when the door suddenly creaked open. His cleansing one step closer to completion, and he had a smile on his face. A smile not of wicked confidence but one of pure joy. A joy that filled his heart for the first time in his life. Then he uttered something as he walked through the passageway towards the second challenge, Thank you Kakarott. ********************************************* Goku suddenly felt something, his face froze in a look of astonishment. His father looked at him perplexed, wondering what had caused the sudden change in Goku's expression. He just looked at his son, until a smile crept on his face. "Is something the matter," Bardock asked. "No dad, in fact I just felt something good, something extremely good," Goku replied as he turned and looked at King Kaio. The old Kaio just looked at the door, "You may have passed your first test Vegeta, but you have much peril to go through in the next phase. I sincerely hope you can make it, for your sake and the earths." ********************************************* Vegeta stood in the next room as the doors swung closed with a boom. He looked around, the place looked axactly like where he had been previously, though with a slight color change. There was an odd feeling as if he was being watched by a thousand eyes. He could not see anything or anyone around but the feeling would not leave him. There was a sudden movement in the darkness and Vegeta whirled around just as something else moved on the opposite side of the room. His heart pounded in a quick rhythmic beat as the nervousness shot through his body. He was alone in the room it seemed, but then again he was not. It was angering him to no end, as he threw glances about the room quickly, hoping to catch a glimpse of the person or persons that was in the room with him. "Come out from there," Vegeta screamed, "Show yourself you coward!" "Coward? Are you calling me a coward? Please, it was you who came to my planet and slew us all. You murdered us, without a second thought. We were no match for you, yet you killed us anyways, and you call me a coward," the voice spoke quietly. "You blew our planet up when you realized that you had no use for us, since our resistance was too great for you. Is that not the act of a real coward," another voice rang out. "A mighty saiyan, slaughtering innocent women and children. You killed those who could not defend themselves. It is you who is the real coward," a third voice shot out from darkness. "Ha! You call me a coward, if you had just gone peaceably you would still be alive," Vegeta replied, crossing his arms. "Why did you even have to subjigate us? What was the purpose, why could you not just leave us in peace," the voices continued on. "I was only biding my time, I only did what Freeza ordered until I was strong enough to challenge him," Vegeta spat out. "Yes until you were strong enough to conquer us yourself of your own free will," a voice shot out. "But I have changed, I no longer kill for simple pleasure," Vegeta growled. "Once a murder, always a murderer," a voice said. "No! That is not true, I am not a cold blooded assassin any longer," he yelled into the darkness. "You say that but your actions will say something different." "My actions!? I say I no longer kill for pleasure, are my words not enough?" "No they are not enough, and words will not bring our families back to life, nor our worlds from limbo." "Of course they won't but what am I to do. I can not undo the past!" "You will pay for your tresspasses you murderer!" "I am not a murderer!!" "Killer, thief, murderer, slayer of the innocent, you are all of these, saiyan filth." "I am none of those, I tell you!!" Vegeta screamed out loud, but the words of the faceless, bodyless beings continued to taunt and belittle him. He dropped to his knees and pounded the stone floor with his fist over and over, until his hand was bloody. The voices kept talking, he could not shut them out. He growled in pain, gripping his head hoping to silence them but to no avail. "Why can you not leave me be", Vegeta hollered out in pain, as he transformed into a super saiyan. Slowly but surely Vegeta's mind is yet again tortured, this time by the cries of his concience in the form of all those he killed in his life, and during his service to Freeza. Will he overcome this obsticle or will he be driven insane? Stay Tuned for the next exciting episode of Dragon Ball Sj On the next episode of Dragon Ball Sj. Vegeta is still bombarded by the voices within himself. The regret and anger is coming to the boiling point. Goku and his father are still outside the cleansing area, as Goku senses Vegeta's plight. Will Vegeta finally overcome these demons of his past and go on with his cleansing, or will he finally succumb to the guilt and be consumed by it? Find out in the next pulse pounding episode of Dragon Ball Sj !!! Episode 24: "I am no longer a killer! Vegeta's Plea."