RISE OF THE SAIYANS

By: Cephius

A DRAGONBALL Z fanfic

Chapter 7

The members of Alpha Team, once again reunited, slowly headed towards one of the medical tents as they were ordered.  Upon arrival, they five were quickly laid onto medical beds and given full scans.  A couple of times throughout the medical scan, the members of Alpha Team tried to tell the doctors that they were okay and tried to get up, only to be pushed back down and told to be quiet.  After a couple of minutes, the medical doctors gave them the okay to leave, telling them that they needed to rest.

"What was your first clue," Forrest said under his breath as they left the tent.

The others just smiled at his annoyance.  They understood how they felt.

"What now," Gallaway asked no one in particular.

To answer them, Tomo was tackled by a young lady.  He winced as he hit the ground, still sore from the energy drain and all the congradulatory slaps.  The others simply stared at them, not knowing what to say.  Tomo did not have to look to see who it was.  He recoginzed the energy signature.

"Need any help, sir," the commander mockingly asked.

"No, I think I've got this under control," he said as he slowly got up, not trying to pry himself out of the hug the young woman was giving him.  "Alpha Team, I'd like you to meet my younger sister, Talia.  Talia, these are the members of Alpha Team."

She looked at each of the team members, staring in awe at those who everyone in the universe had heard of.

"Talia, this is Commander Evenstar, Lieutenant Gallaway, Lieutenant Commander Derdrick, Lieutenant Forrest, Lieutenant Razoraz, and the newest member, Corporal Greeves."

"Nice to meet you," Talia said politely.

Each of the members said hello, in their own little way.  Once the introductions were done, Talia began telling Tomo that they all saw what had happened and that she was so proud of him.  He simply smiled at her and returned the hug, then set her down.

"So everyone saw, huh," Tomo asked

"Yep.  So did mom.  She was so worried when you fired back at that beam."

"Mom," Gallaway asked.

"She's the only one that calls me that anymore," someone said from behind Alpha Team.

The members turned around to see Tomo's mother approach.

"Saw the show, huh," Tomo asked.

"Indeed.  Very impressive.  Can't recall anyone even attempting what you just did."

Tomo smiled in response.

"Someone had to," he said with a smirk.

A cough caught everyone's attention and they turned to look at the commander.

"Oh, sorry.  Mother, these are the members of Alpha Team."

He introduced the members like he had to Talia.  She greeted them each.  Forrest, always the ladies man, was first to speak.

"My apologies for staring, but I thought that you were Tomo's other sister."

She smiled at that, but Tomo just groaned.

"We saiyans age well," was all she said to Forrest.

'Wish I would age that well,' the commander thought to herself.

"Well, we all know where Tomo gets his looks," a voice said from behind Tomo's mother.

She turned around and smiled widely as she saw her old friend.

"Letule, my dear friend.  It's so good to see you," she said as she hugged him.

"It's good to see you too, your majesty," as he returned the hug.

Everyone except Tomo stared at the major, surprised at what he said.

"Now, now.  That title doesn't work anymore, remember."

"I know, but an old dog doesn't catch on to new tricks very easily," Letule replied as he released her.

"Uh, sir, did you just call her 'majesty'," Forrest asked, a bit confused.

"Yes.  This is Queen Cabria, last queen of the saiyan empire."

They all just stared at her, not knowing what to say.  Then Forrest turned towards Tomo.

"Then that means.."

"It means that I am a saiyan prince, yes.  But seeing how things are now, the title doesn't really mean much."

"But you're a . . ."

Tomo just looked at Forrest with a grin.  Everyone just stared at Tomo for a moment, realizing that they had been working side-by-side with a saiyan prince.  Derdrick was first to recover.

"You do not act like one," Derdrick said.

Tomo's mother and the major began to laugh out loud.  Tomo chuckled a couple of times.

"Thank you," was all Tomo said.

"What's so funny," Talia asked.

"You recall how I told you that saiyans were creatures who loved destruction and chaos," Cabria asked Talia.

Talia nodded.

"Well, it is said that a prince of saiyans is a thousand times worse."

Talia just stared at her, dumbfounded.

"It is true," Razoraz said.  "My people had been fighting the saiyans for years.  I have been through quite a few battles against them, but to watch the saiyan prince in action was a sight no living being should ever see."

"But Tomo is the prince," she said, even more confused.

"Razoraz is one hundred and twenty years old.  He has seen quite a few saiyan princes," Tomo explained.

She just stared up at the lizard man.

"He is right.  My race can live to three hundreds years or more.  This prince," he said as he pointed towards Tomo, "is the only saiyan I have ever met that cares for others and is willing to die for others."

"But don't you hate saiyans," Cabria asked.

"When I first agreed to join the Galactic Army, yes.  I hated them.  I had lost a lot of family to the wars.  And when I found out that the one who was going to lead this new team was one, I wanted nothing to do with him.  But, that all changed on the very first battle we had as a team.  It was a fiercesome battle on one of the colony worlds from my empire..."

FLASHBACK

"I DON'T CARE HOW, JUST DO IT," Lieutenant Evenstar yelled into her comm as she ducked behind the earthen mound that was her only protection from the enemy attack.

"ARE YOU CRAZY," Private Forrest yelled back over the receiver, "WE'LL GET KILLED!"

"WE'LL GET KILLED IF WE DON'T GET OUT OF HERE," she told Forrest.

"She wants us to do a hit and run.  Try to pull some of them off from the main group, give them a chance," Forrest told the others that were with him.

The others did not like the sound of what he had planned.

"We'll get slaughtered," a young man said to Forrest.

"I know," he replied, "but what other choice do we have."

The young man just nodded his head, accepting the possibility that they would be killed.

"On my mark," Forrest said as he gathered his gear and loaded his weapon.

Just before he gave the order, a large explosion rocked the nearby area, followed by a gust of wind that ripped the loose dirt from the ground.

"What the," Forrest started to say, but another explosion, just on the other side of the earthen mound they were behind, caused him to duck down even further.

As he peaked over the mound, he could see a figure encased in a white energy aura, standing in the middle of the where the enemy lines was.  Once the dust and smoked cleared, they saw Lieutenant Commander Vegitt standing there, not an enemy soldier around.

"We don't have much time.  The ruling familiy has been captured and are being held hostage.  We are the closest team to them.  Let's get moving and see if we can rescue them before anything bad happens."

"Yes sir," was the commander's reply.

"Razoraz, you know this area fairly well.  What can you tell me about it."

The lizard-man just stared up at the saiyan.  He wanted nothing to do with this.  He wanted his most hated enemy to die, but he was his commanding officer, and fighting on his side, though he still did not believe it.  Fighting back the urges, the lizard-man spoke.

"There are a few more hills to cross over before we reach the ruling family's summer home.  It would be best to get a good look at the situation there before we try anything."

"Agreed corporal.  Take the lead and get everyone situated.  We'll discuss our plans of actions then."

"Yes sir," Razoraz replied as he saluted.

Tomo returned the salute and headed to the rest of the squadron to update them on the situation.  Razoraz took point and lead the squadron to the hill right near the summer home.  As he got situated, he pulled out his telescopic binoculars to see what was going on down there.  His first sight was to see his cousin, the daughter of the ruling family, being drug out of the house and tossed to the ground next to the others of the ruling family.  Though he could not see what the enemy was saying, he knew that it wasn't good because when his cousin spoke, she was struck in the face by what seemed to be the commander of the enemy strike team.  The anger began to build in him.  He wanted to rush down there, attack the enemy, and kill every last one of them.  But his training had taught him that his plan would probably get him killed, along with the ruling family.

"Report," he heard from behind him.

Before Razoraz could mask his anger, Tomo could see the fires of rage in his eyes.

"The ruling family," he reported, his anger barely restrained, "has been brought out to the front yard, their hands tied behind their backs."

"Any way we can get to them quickly without the enemy realizing we are there?"

"Negative sir.  The best thing is to snipe them from here."

"I see.  Tell the others to switch their weapons to sniper mode."

"Yes sir," he hissed as a smirk began to cross his face.

Razoraz passed the order around, the soldiers adding the sniper equipment to their weapons, preparing for the order to fire.  Once everyone was in place, Tome used his sniper scope to look around.  He spotted the ring leader, since he was the only one with a red sash on.  He glanced around at the others, finding five others, along with the royal family.

"Team, we have six hostiles visible.  Everyone take aim, but make sure that if there is a chance you'll hit any of the ruling family, do not take the shot."

He centered his sniper rifle on the leader, flipping the switch to targeting view.  The leader looked down at his waist, than began to look around.

"Everyone shut off your targeting view, now," he ordered.

"Why," Razoraz asked.

"He has a tracer.  He knows someone was targeting him.  Everyone use sniper scope only.  Do not engage the targeting system."

When he looked again, two of the targets had a hold of one of the females, with the leader standing in front of her.

"Galactic soldiers, do not attempt to fire upon us," a voice said over the comm units of the soldiers.  "Any attempt to fire upon us will result in the death of the ruling family.  Surrender yourselves now or they will die, starting with this one."  

Tome looked at the leader through the sniper scope, watching him pull a dagger from his side.

"You have three seconds to comply. . . .One . . ."

Razoraz took aim at the leader, preparing to fire, when the man lifted his hand with the dagger up to make the strike.  He fired, the bullet streaking towards the man with deadly accuracy.  But, at the last second, it struck a force field that surrounded the leader.

"Bad move," was all that was heard and he plunged the dagger downward.

"No," Razoraz yelled as he watched the dagger make its plunge down into the target.  

Then he looked in surprise as he saw his commanding officer appear from nowhere, blocking the female with his body, the dagger slamming into his right shoulder.  The leader of the hostiles stared in surprise, not expecting someone else to take the dagger in place of the female.

"Open fire," was all that was heard on the comm units of the soldiers when they say him stabbed.  

For a split second, nothing happened, then the soldiers began to fire at the hostiles, instantly killing the other five.  The leader, safe in his force field, began to run, but suddenly could not, as a hand grasped his arm.  He turned to look at the man he had stabbed glaring at him, pain and anger in his eyes.

"You're not getting away this time," was all Tomo said as he fired an energy blast at him, launching the leader twenty yards back.

The leader, after the landing slowly got up, shocked to see the man he had stabbed pull the dagger from his shoulder without a wince.  He began to run.  Tomo spoke into his comm unit.

"Razoraz, take him out."

Without hesitation, Razoraz targeted the man with his targeting system on and fired.  The bullet streaked towards the man, who knew it was coming, but thought nothing of it since he still had his force field.  But, in surprise, he felt the shot penetrate his skull, killing him almost instantly.  His body slumped to the ground.

Lt. Evenstar and several other members of team ran down the hill towards Tomo, while Razoraz and the others ran to the ruling family, checking to make sure they were alright.

"Commander," Evenstar said, rather worried.

"Yes Lietenant," Tomo said as he turned and clutched his shoulder.

"Medic, on the double," she yelled into her comm unit as she helped him sit down.

The medic quickly arrived, clearing the blood from Tomo's shoulder and began to bandage the wound.

"You're lucky sir.  Any lower and you would be choking on blood," the medic said.

"I'm very glad he had poor aim," was Tomo's response.

The medic just grinned at his commander as he continued to wrap the wound.

Tomo glanced towars the ruling family, pleased to see that they were not seriously injured.  He was also suprised to see Razoraz fiercly hugging the female he had jumped in front of.

"Family of some sort," Evenstar said, matter-of-factly.

"Seems that way," Tomo said.  "Would have been nice if he had mentioned he was related to the royal family."

"All done for now sir," the medic said as he finished the bandage.

"I'll call for pick-up.  Sir, might I suggest that you rest here," Evenstar said.

"No, I hate sitting," he said as he stood up, pain evident in his eyes

Tomo slowly walked to the ruling family, Lt Evenstar helping him along the way.

"Corporal, report," Tomo said in his most no-nonsense voice.

"Sir, the ruling family is relatively unhurt.  A few scraps, scratches, and bruises, but they are fine. . . . why?"

"Why what, corporal?"

"Why did you do that."

"Because it was my job to protect them.  That was top priority on our mission orders."

"But . . .," Razoraz stammered.

"But I'm a saiyan," Tomo said, realizing what he was trying to get at, "and our species have been at war with one another for years.  Well, one, I don't believe in what my ancestors did.  Two, I am a Galactic Army officer.  I follow my orders.  And three, I do not believe in racial supremecy.  I may be extremely powerful, but I refuse to treat those around me as lesser beings.  Each soldier, each civilian, each officer I treat with respect because to do so otherwise would mean that I am just like my ancestors."

Razoraz just stared at the saiyan, in such shock from the words that were coming from him.

"It was our job to protect the ruling family.  And I did what was needed to do that job.  I don't care if your blue, green, no hair, scaly, or multi-tentacled.  I have too many friends that are from too many races to be a regular, evil, destruction craving saiyan.  Besides, this universe has had its fill of evil saiyans.  It's about time there was a good one around here."

Evenstar and Razoraz just stared at Tomo.  They had worked with him for only six months, yet they now discovered a ne side to this Lt. Commander Tomo Vegitt.  He was like no other saiyan they had ever met or possibly will met.  He was a one of a kind.

****************************************************************************************

"Since then, I've seen him do his job, protecting those who could not, time and time again proving that he was what he said he was, and I felt bad about the way I treated him.  Luckily, he understood and since then have become good friends," Razoraz finished saying to Tomo's mother and sister.

"We all have stories about this man, who, countless times, has proven to be the one man who could make the difference," Gallaway said.

"If it wasn't for him, the four of us wouldn't be here, following in his footsteps, trying to save lives and be examples for those who follow."

A private walked up to the group.

"Excuse me, but because of him, my family is still alive.  If he hadn't stop that attack, the entire town would of been destroyed, and I wouldn't be here.  It's because of him that I joined the army, to help those that needed it, like he did."

Others approached the group, adding their stories of his heroism to the list.  Tomo was a bit taken back by all those that came forward.  So many soldiers told his mother, his sister, and alpha team of what he did and how it affected them.  Tears quickly began to fill his eyes at all the appreciation that all of these soldiers gave him.  He didn't know what to say.

"You see," Dedrick said, "he is more than just a soldier doing his job.  He is a man that has done more good for this universe than anyone ever thought possible.  He is the one everyone looks up to.  He is the shining example.  He is the hope and determination that made alpha team what it is.  It was he who showed us that we could overcome all obstacles in our way."

"And it was Tomo that proved to everyone that encountered him that he was the real thing.  He is a hero to this universe, not just in title, but to all that he has helped or worked with," Major Letule added.

As Tomo looked around, he found that a large crowd had gathered around them, each with a nod and smile as Tomo looked around.  Then, a single clap could be heard somewhere in the crowd, followed by another, then followed by several.  Within seconds, the entire crowd was clapping, cheering.  Tomo couldn't help but let the tear roll down his cheek as he looked back at alpha team.  They too were clapping and cheering, each with tears in their eyes, glad that he was here.

For minutes, the clapping continued, coming from all directions, and he could tell more joined in from around the camp.  He was in shock.  Never had he been shown so much gratitude.  He didn't know what to say.  The knot in his throat wouldn't let him talk.  He turned to his mother and say the tears in her eyes, not of sorrow, but of joy and pride.

Finally, the clapping began to lessen, slowly fading away.  Tomo cleared his throat.

"Thank you, everyone," he said shakily, trying to catch his voice, "this means a lot.  All I can say is that I was proud to help all those who needed it.  I am honored to be an example for all those who have joined."

He paused for a second.

"And, as the cliche goes, 'I was only doing my job'."

Some of the crowd snickered at the old remark.  It was a classic, and Tomo used it as best he could.

"And . .", he tried to fight the urge to cry, "it has been an honor serving with the fine soldiers of the Galactic Army."

With that, the crowd roared their cheers and congraduations in response.  As they roared, soldiers approached him, shaking his hand and thanking him for all that he has done.  Though it took nearly an hour, the crowd finally broke up, Tomo still choked up.

Out of nowhere, his mother hugged him, crying on his soldier.

"I'm so proud of you," she said quietly while she cried.

Another person hugged him.

"I'm proud of you to, big brother," Talia said as she squeezed him.

He couldn't help it.  He broke down and cried, not because he was sad or hurt, but because he felt he made a difference.  And the crowd had proved it.  Alpha team gave the three some room for a while, then, as they broke up, each member of alpha team gave him a hug and thanked him, the commander's hug a bit longer than the others.

"Alright you guys, you're getting mushy on me.  We still have a job to do," Tomo said as he wiped his eyes, smiling all the time.

"Yes sir," was the response from alpha team.

"Captain . . . Tomo," the major said.

"Yes sir?"

"Thanks for all that you have done."

Instead of a good handshake, the major gave him a big hug.  Tomo didn't know what to do, but quickly returned the hug.

"And welcome back, Captain Vegitt."