Maintaining: Sidelined

Chapter 31 - Sidelined

"It will have to wait a few days," Piccolo said.

"Wait? Why?" Goku asked, bewildered.

"Because there is a ship approaching Earth."

"What?" Goku said, shocked. "I haven't sensed anything."

"You have been kind of distracted lately," the Namek said, getting to his feet.

Goku followed, concentrating in the direction Piccolo indicated. "Doesn't feel like much," he finally said. "We shouldn't have any problem if they decide to attack."

"I'm not too worried. But I intend to be ready," Piccolo said

Goku nodded. "I'll let Vegeta know."

"No you won't," Piccolo ordered. "He is going to stay out of this one - which means you are too."

"But..." Goku liked to fight - lived for it. How could he sit this battle out?

"You said it yourself. Vegeta isn't stable - we can't risk it. I want you to stay with him."

"But what if...?" Goku protested.

"I'm going to take the kids with me now for training. That will explain any changes in ki. In the event things are worse than I expect, I'll have them fuse."

Goku stared at him, not sure how to react. "I can't lie to him."

"Look Son, what is more important? I possible fight with some guys we can barely sense? Or keeping Vegeta safe?"

"Vegeta," he answered without hesitation.

Piccolo smirked. That answer was a given. "Now don't start growling again," he warned.

"Huh?"

"Dende says they are a day or two out. He doesn't sound very concerned - and I let Kami take a look too."

"But you can't see into the ship..." Goku slowly said.

"No. There are a couple of high ki levels, but nothing we can't handle - without you two."

"Piccolo, how am I going to keep Vegeta away?" Goku was positive Vegeta would sense the ship - now that he knew it was there it was standing out like a beacon.

"Well, maybe you could arrange to blow up some more bathrooms," he said with a grin.

Goku smirked at him. "Jealous."

"Of demolition sex? I don't think so." He turned to leave. "Gohan said he'd help - he's going to round up Goten and Trunks. I'll get ahold of the others."

Goku was torn. He wanted to talk to Piccolo more - he still didn't know what Dende had done. And maybe he had some ideas that could help. But he didn't want to leave Vegeta alone for long. He concentrated - he couldn't hear Vegeta or the voice right now. Vegeta's ki was muted, but he could still feel it beneath the strange white ki he associated with the voice. This wasn't the first time he had felt it like this - it had happened about a half dozen times that he had noticed - before they had even gotten together. Still, it was reasonably steady, no major spikes or dips. He seemed to be doing some light training.

"Piccolo, wait. Tell me what happened with Dende."

Piccolo stopped, his back to him, and shook his head. "No, Son. You don't need to know. Vegeta didn't want you to find out."

Goku glared at his back, tail flicking. "I DO need to know. And you ARE going to tell me."

Piccolo resigned himself and turned around. There was no sense arguing with an angry Saiyan, and Goku's mood swings were making him difficult to deal with. He wondered for a moment - if Goku was acting more like Vegeta, did this mean the arrogant prince was acting more like the so-called 'gentle' warrior?

"Fine. But keep in mind that he is a friend of Gohan's - and if you do anything, you are going to have to explain to your son. I even wanted to murder him myself at first, but now I am inclined to agree with Vegeta. If you are still going to kill him, wait until after we are done with the people on the ship. Just in case we are wrong about their strength."

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"Why did you treat Vegeta like that?" Piccolo snarled.

"Because he is evil!" Dende shouted, trying to shove Piccolo away.

"What? What in the fuck are you talking about kid?"

"He killed all those people at the stadium."

"HE WAS POSSESSED, YOU ASSHOLE!"

Dende shook his head in denial. "You don't know everything. He is evil," he repeated stubbornly.

"I know enough. He's helped protect this planet since he arrived."

"No he hasn't!"

Piccolo glared. "He has become a better person. And don't forget, you little twit, I used to be evil."

"But he br-"

Piccolo interrupted him, growling as he stalked up to the young Namek, forcing him to retreat. "As far as I am concerned, you are the only evil one here. Vegeta has tried to change - but you, you little bastard, deliberately let him suffer for days."

"Vegeta doesn't des-" Dende began.

"What are you going to do when Goku finds out? And he will. Have you thought of that?"

"But he... Vegeta... the dragonballs..." Dende said, protesting.

"Fuck the dragonballs! It is your duty to protect the planet - not judge. Even the dragon didn't think Vegeta is evil - or did you forget that too?"

"But the Kais..." Dende said in a very small voice.

"Fuck the Kais! They are idiots!"

"They said..."

"These are the same Kais that didn't tell us about Bobidi. The same ones that let Gohan be attacked by Bobidi's flunkies. The same ones that hid all the details about Buu from us to protect their own inflated egos. The same ones who let the ENTIRE FUCKING PLANET GET BLOWN UP!"

"But they said he..."

"Brat, I don't care what they said. I want you to get your ass in there and heal Vegeta!"

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Goku was silent when Piccolo finished his story. He couldn't believe the Kais were involved - Dende must have misunderstood. "Could Vegeta be right?" he finally asked his friend. "Is it possible? Are they really against him - against the Saiyans?" Goku's tail drooped as he considered the possibility.

"Goku, I'm sorry. If I had known..."

"It wasn't your fault, Piccolo." His expression turned dark and threatening. "But you can tell Dende for me - the only reason he is alive right now is because 'evil' Vegeta wants him to live - and learn from his mistake. If he wants me to consider forgiving him, he better figure out a way to help Vegeta."

Piccolo grimaced. "I'll tell the brat. In the meantime, go stay with him. Keep him out of this fight. And don't worry Goku - we'll help Vegeta."

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The sun was setting as Goku flew home. This had been an exhausting day - and he had a lot to think about. He hated the thought of needing to keep secrets from Vegeta, and knew he couldn't do it. He had worked hard to get Vegeta's trust and he was not going to just throw it away. He had hoped telling Piccolo would help. He wished his friend had been able to come up with a solution.

Piccolo had voiced a fear that had been gnawing at him. The prince's ki was recovering - he could be a threat to the planet, and the voice made him unstable. What if Vegeta became violent - dangerous? What would he do? How would he stop Vegeta? He couldn't hurt him.

Goku had never felt so...abandoned...before. He was determined to stay with Vegeta - he knew they belonged together. He would stand at his side against all enemies - he just never considered the Kais to be on that list. He had always thought they were good - honorable. King Kai had always helped him. He thought of him as a friend. But how could he - and the other Kais - be so unforgiving? If Vegeta was right, even Lord Enma was against them... and it was them, because he now considered himself on Vegeta's side.

As he landed at home he checked the location of Vegeta's ki - the Gravity Room. The strange ki that masked Vegeta's had dropped before he left Piccolo - it was still there, but buried beneath Vegeta's. He walked faster, breaking into a run, as he realized he couldn't sense any emotions coming from Vegeta - he could barely feel him at all. The prince blocked off his side of the bond sometimes, but even so he could feel something in his head he defined as 'Vegeta' - but now it was faint and wavering.

He got to the door and fumbled with the code for a moment before remembering Bulma had made changes and he could use his ki to unlock the Gravity Room. He impatiently waited for the doors to open before he finally burst into the chamber.

"Oh GodS! VEGETA!" Goku shouted, panicked.

TBC