Gokus Second Son

The Lookout lingered in my head—Yamcha's swagger, Tien's barbs—as Goku dragged Gohan and me back to Earth. Days blurred into rhythm: Goku splitting logs, Gohan buried in books, me honing my edge in the wild. I kept my fists ready, my mind a steel trap. Raditz is near. I feel it. Five years old, and I'm counting down to the break.

It slammed down on a quiet afternoon. I was mid-spar with Goku, sweat stinging my eyes, when the sky growled. A streak of light tore through the clouds, crashing into the earth with a boom that shook my bones. Dust churned, and I froze, gut twisting. He's here.

Goku squinted, wiping his brow. "What the heck was that? A meteor?"

I flexed my hands, hair spiking wilder in the wind. Not a meteor. Him. "Something big," I said, voice taut.

He grinned, bright as ever. "Let's check it out! C'mon, Gotex, Gohan—adventure time!"

We reached the crater, a raw scar in the dirt. Gohan stood by Goku's side, eyes wide but steady, while I hung back, scanning the haze. A figure emerged—tall, armored, hair spilling past his waist like a dark flood. Raditz. My uncle, by blood if not bond. His scouter beeped, locking onto us.

Goku tilted his head. "Who're you?"

Raditz smirked, voice cold. "So, this is where you've been hiding, Kakarot. I am Raditz, your brother."

I stayed silent, watching. Same smug prick from the show. Right on time.

Goku blinked, scratching his head. "Brother? Uh, I think you got the wrong guy. Name's Goku."

Raditz's eyes narrowed. "Don't play dumb. You're a Saiyan, Kakarot. Sent here as a child to conquer this miserable rock. Look at you—gone soft, surrounded by weaklings." His scouter beeped again, numbers flashing. "Power level… 50? Pathetic. Even for you."

I swallowed a smirk. Fifty? He's hiding it. Seven thousand, minimum. I'd felt it in our spars—Goku's real strength, a sleeping titan. Raditz was blind.

Goku frowned, stepping forward. "I don't know what you're talkin' about. I'm from Earth. Grandpa Gohan raised me."

Raditz laughed, sharp and bitter. "Earth? You're a Saiyan warrior, Kakarot—born to destroy, not play farmer." His gaze flicked to Goku's back, and his smirk dropped, replaced by a scowl. "Wait… where's your tail? You've got a scar—did you… you cut it off?!" His voice spiked, appalled. "You're half a man, Kakarot! A disgrace to our blood!"

Goku scratched his head, unfazed. "Oh, that? Yeah, it's gone. Kept gettin' in the way."

Gohan's fists clenched, his small frame trembling—not with fear, but fire. I edged closer, mind spinning. He's not weak. Not this time.

Goku's jaw tightened. "I don't care where I came from. This is my home. You're not welcome here."

Raditz crossed his arms, sneer returning. "Oh, I'm not asking permission. I'm here to drag you back—tail or no tail. The Saiyans need fighters, not gutless fools."

Goku glanced at us, then back at Raditz. "I ain't goin' anywhere. I got a family now."

Raditz's scouter beeped again, flicking to Gohan. "Hmm… power level 1. Useless." Then to me. "And you… 80? A little better, but still garbage." He spat. "What a waste of Saiyan stock."

I kept my face blank, blood simmering. Eighty? Twenty thousand, you arrogant fool. I'd forged that power in silence, breaking every limit. But I stayed still. Wait for it.

Raditz stepped closer, voice dropping. "Last chance, Kakarot. Join me, or I'll burn this mudball to cinders. Starting with these brats."

Goku tensed, stepping in front of Gohan. "You leave my boys outta this!"

Raditz lunged, reaching for Gohan—but my twin snapped. A roar ripped from Gohan's throat, fierce and raw, and his power surged. The scouter screeched, spiking to 1,000. His fist rocketed forward, a shockwave cracking the air as it smashed into Raditz's chest. The Saiyan staggered, armor dented, eyes bulging.

"What the—?!" Raditz snarled, clutching his ribs. "A thousand?! From that runt?!"

Goku blinked, then laughed, clapping Gohan's shoulder. "That's my boy! You okay, Gohan?"

Gohan nodded, panting, his glare burning into Raditz. "I don't like you."

I stepped up, voice low. "He's stronger than you think." Stronger than you, Raditz. Fifteen hundred's nothing.

Raditz straightened, spitting blood into the dirt. "Tch. A fluke. You're still trash, Kakarot—and this brat's about to learn his place." His grin twisted, savage, and he charged.

Gohan swung again, fist blazing with defiance, but Raditz was ready. He sidestepped, snatching Gohan's arm and wrenching it back with a wet snap. Gohan cried out, and Raditz's knee crashed into his stomach, folding him in half. My twin hit the ground hard, gasping, but Raditz didn't stop. His boot slammed down, cracking ribs with a sickening crunch, pinning Gohan to the dirt. A fist smashed into Gohan's face—blood sprayed, his nose buckling—and another blow snapped his head back, a brutal rhythm of thuds and whimpers. Raditz grabbed Gohan's hair, yanking him up, and hurled a backhand that sent him spinning, crashing into the crater's edge with a dull thud, dust exploding around him.

"Gohan!" Goku roared, charging forward.

Raditz smirked, kicking Gohan's crumpled form aside. "Weak. I'll finish him, Kakarot—watch your half-man shame!"

I stood there, fists clenched, hair whipping in the wind. Fifteen hundred's tearing him apart. Goku's at seven thousand—he could end this. Move, Dad.

Goku reached Raditz in a heartbeat, fury in his eyes. He ducked a wild punch and drove his fist into Raditz's gut—crack!—doubling him over, spit flying. Raditz swung back, but Goku caught his arm, twisting it behind him, and slammed an elbow into his jaw, shattering teeth with a wet crunch. A knee blasted into Raditz's chest, caving armor, and Goku spun, planting a heel into his skull—thwack!—sending him hurtling through the air. Raditz smashed through a tree, wood splintering like glass, and skidded across the dirt, rolling to a stop in a heap, armor cracked and smoking.

Gohan coughed, pushing himself up, blood streaking his face but defiance in his eyes. "I… I can still fight…"

Raditz staggered to his feet, wiping blood from his mouth, scouter flickering. "You… you tailless freak, you're stronger than—!" He flared his energy, ragged and desperate, and turned to bolt skyward.

I moved. In a flash, I was in front of him, cutting off his escape. My fist lashed out, slamming into his chest—boom!—driving him back to the dirt. He hit hard, coughing blood, eyes wide as I loomed over him. Not this time.

"You're not going anywhere," I said, voice cold. Twenty thousand says you stay.

Raditz clutched his ribs, scouter sparking, his sneer gone. "How… how are you Earthlings this strong?! Fifty… eighty… a thousand… it's impossible!" He glanced at Goku, then Gohan, then me, panic creeping in. "If I go back like this, Vegeta'll kill me. He'll rip me apart for failing!"

Goku stepped forward, fists still clenched. "You ain't takin' my family. What's it gonna be?"

Raditz dropped to his knees, armor clanking, voice breaking. "Spare me, Kakarot! I… I beg you! I'll do no evil—I swear it! Don't send me back to him!" He bowed his head, trembling. "You're stronger… all of you. Let me live!"

Goku blinked, scratching his head, then grinned. "Well, if you're serious, I guess we can figure somethin' out. Right, boys?"

Gohan wiped blood from his lip, glaring but nodding. "If he stops being mean."

I crossed my arms, staring Raditz down. Fifteen hundred, begging. Vegeta's the real threat now. "He stays," I said, low. "But he fights with us."

Raditz looked up, relief mixing with shame. "I… I will. No evil. I swear."

Goku clapped his hands, brightening. "Guess we got a new sparrin' partner! Let's get you cleaned up!"