Madness

Chapter Five

Vegeta seemed to sense that something was happening. He was hyper and a bit more aggressive than normal, resulting in a short tussle and three time-outs. Around noon, Goku picked him up bridal style, and although Vegeta protested and yelped at first, he soon relaxed and stared at Goku curiously.

"There ya go; settle down," Goku soothed. "We're gonna head down, ok? Behave or I'll bring you right back up."

Vegeta looked away and settled closer against him. Goku flew up, slightly startling Vegeta, and began the trip down. Vegeta began to claw at his ears.

The minute they landed, Vegeta squirmed out of Goku's grasp, but when he touched the grass, he gasped loudly and was perched neatly on Goku's shoulders. Goku laughed. "What, Vegeta? It's only been a few days since you were down here. Come on..." He tried to get him down, finally succeeding. "There ya go. Have fun."

Vegeta was motionless, breathing heavily. After a minute or two he relaxed and began to glance around. Goku watched carefully. Vegeta looked at him, as if wondering what he was supposed to do. Then his head shot up and he moved behind Goku, growling.

Someone slowly moved out of the trees. Goku could sense nothing. "Crap... Vegeta, no!"

Vegeta had stood up and joined the person. Goku didn't dare approach. "Vegeta," he hissed. "Get back here." He was ignored. They were directly in front of each other, nose to nose.

Goku heard something, but at the same time an eerie silence. A faint murmur was in the air, but he only truly heard a breeze. The Saiyan and the human just stared at each other, shivering slightly. Goku watched, fascinated. They were communicating. It was only a few moments, however, before the human stepped away, seeming to bow slightly in fear. Vegeta shifted forward with a strange growl.

The human dropped dead.

~Timeskip~

That evening, Goku quietly relayed the incident to the others, every detail. Now everyone gazed cautiously at Vegeta who watched them. "What is going on?" Piccolo whispered. "How is he able to do that? What if it's not just the infected; what if he can kill us too?"

"He hasn't yet," said Dende hopefully. "I don't know the extent of his current abilities; honestly, I'm too afraid to look, even if only for a moment. I have no idea what I'd see-"

Vegeta muttered under his breath.

Everyone looked at him sharply. Vegeta noticed and cringed back, looking intimidated. They looked at each other in shock. What he'd said wasn't very audible, or even coherent, but it was still highly significant. He wasn't supposed to make a sound. At all.

"Vegeta?" Goku began to move forward slowly.

Vegeta snorted and left.

"No, no, no! Come back!" Goku went after him. Halfway down the hall, Vegeta came to a halt. He glared over his shoulder at Goku. The other Saiyan stopped as well. "Vegeta. Talk to me. We all heard you. Baby, I know you're still in there. Please, say something. Anything."

Vegeta snarled. "Kakarrot." His voice was crystal clear, but not his own. It was higher, with no trace of the roughness it had before.

Goku didn't care. "Kami... Vegeta. Come on, more. You can do it." He stepped forward.

Vegeta skittered back. "No." Again that clear, high voice. "No. Tchh...m." He glared at Goku warningly. Goku still came. He did so slowly, but Vegeta's agitation grew. He barked angrily, stepping forward himself. Goku suddenly felt a powerful weakness all through him, enough to make him go to his knees. "No," Vegeta growled.