Crossroads

Chapter 23

"Have you heard?" several of the women asked Goku as he returned from yet another trip to Fire Mountain.

"What is it?" Goku wondered sweetly, barely one foot in the door as the women bombarded him.

"Listen to the message!"

"It's on your scouter!"

"They're going to have a coronation for Prince Vegeta!"

"He's going to be King!"

"Bulma will be Queen!"

"She's all in a fuss, so don't bring it up to her."

"I would be, too! I'm surprised Prince Vegeta hasn't come to see Prince Trunks, yet!"

"Nonsense, he's busy!"

"The child is four months old! Going on five!"

"I'm sure he's working on it!"

Goku let them prattle on, but he ran off at the news to listen to the message himself. He's been leaving his scouter in his room recently, so it took him a second to find it and hear what it really had to say.

They weren't kidding. The King was planning on holding a huge celebration, he would be stepping down and Prince Vegeta will be crowned King. He wanted everyone invited that he could think of to come, and that included every member of the guard. There would be one party on Planet Vegeta, and then another on Earth. It wouldn't be for another year and a half, though. Why the announcement was made now, Goku couldn't understand, but he sighed deeply to himself as he thought more on it.

He smiled to himself though, as he looked down at his hand and saw the ring that he and Chi Chi had just purchased for him. Of course, he got one for her as well, when he proposed just a few days ago. He decided that he would tell everyone tonight about their engagement when Chi Chi came over, and he figured that it would only give them more to celebrate.

"Your Highness, thank you for meeting me, I know you're a busy man," Dr. Buro bowed to Prince Vegeta before he settled into his chair at the restaurant.

"Of course," was Vegeta's short reply. He's been shorter with everyone than usual, and a little more on edge.

"Ah, how's the training going? Any progress with the Gravity Machine?"

Vegeta smirked, "Yes, Geredi. It's the best invention you've had. Yet."

Geredi chuckled, "Ahh, but it wasn't my invention, now was it?"

Vegeta shifted a little in his chair and commented, "Take a little credit, Doctor, the Earthlings wouldn't have been able to make the adjustments you did."

"Fair enough," Geredi grinned, nodding. As their drinks were being brought to them, Geredi looked at Vegeta a little oddly, and asked, "Did you order already? Am I late?" and the waiter left again.

"Only champagne and a few appetizers, I thought you wouldn't mind," Vegeta replied, tilting his head casually. He was clearly eager to move on, though, as evidenced by his next question, and he asked, "You said you have good news?"

Geredi nodded, "I do, yes! I've been sending pods back and forth with Dr. Gero for some time now, and it seems that we have successfully hit our mark. Just last week, in fact, we sent one of my braver men in one of the revised pods. Hmm, he arrived on Earth just this afternoon."

Vegeta smirked, "A week! That's all! That's much better!"

Geredi raised his glass, which Vegeta followed suit to, seemingly pleased, and the Doctor said, "And now that we know that the journey is safe, we can start mass production. Hmm, well, small batch, mass production."