Rocket Baby – Gine
Written 4/30/14

The normally red sky had darkened for the night allowing her to sneak up to the roof of her dwelling. She had to do her best to avoid glancing skyward during the day. Those actions would do nothing other than reinforce what the other's thought about her: she was weak and unsuited for battle. The only reason she still retained a status was due to her relationship with Bardock, and it was her devotion to him that prevented her from doing anything which could hurt his status.

Thankfully, she could see the stars tonight. Their soft lights helped ease her worries somewhat. Well, at least until the shadow of that ship passed in front of them, like it would eventually do. Freeza's ship had started orbiting the planet over the last couple days, and every time she saw it, she was reminded of her fears.

Bardock had stolen a ship and sent their youngest, Kakarrot, to a distant planet. To see the hardened and respected warrior so unnerved, she did little to argue with him even after he explained Kakarrot shouldn't be in much danger on that planet. He seemed to think Freeza was planning something. Although she didn't initially believe him, the fact that Freeza's ship still hadn't left made her wonder if Bardock was right. Usually if Freeza visited, he was checking in with the King and the visit only lasted a day or so. There was no report that Freeza had even set foot on the planet yet. But that didn't matter much at the moment. Kakarrot was being sent out to an unknown planet all alone.

Saiyans had a history of sending young children to distant planets, but there were always risks involved. The child could be killed by the inhabitants of the alien world or, more likely, by the Galactic Patrol Force. The child might be unsuited for the climate of that world, or there could be an illness which could take his life. There was always the chance that an injury could make the child turn wild and forget his ways.

It was usually the stronger children who were chosen to start missions so early. Even then, it was still very dangerous, and held a high chance of failure which is why it was falling out of favor. Usually, low class children were sent out in a small group during their first mission. Her eldest, Raditz, had done just that. He was currently on a mission with the young Prince. She briefly wondered how that was going before her thoughts went back to Kakarrot.

Would that child arrive safely? Would he be able to stay alive? Would he even remember his family when they came to get him?

Those questions and many more continued to plague her. She held a soft spot for her youngest. It may simply have been because of how much he looked like his father, or perhaps it was something more mysterious. She wanted Kakarrot to survive. If it was possible, she would have gone with him, but it wouldn't have amounted to much. Her presence would have made Kakarrot more vulnerable to detection, and she wouldn't be able to do much to protect him. Try as she might, she wasn't cut out for fighting.

For now, she could only hope her son would remain safe. She had to keep telling herself that this whole thing with Freeza would blow over quickly. No matter how terrifying Freeza was, the prospect of her son be alone and fending for himself scared her more than almost anything else.

For those of you who don't know, Gine is Goku's official mother. Her design was released by Toriyama in early April along with a one-shot called Dragon Ball Minus which gives us a glimpse into life on Planet Vegeta shortly before its destruction. "Rocket babies" are a term Toriyama used to describe the Sayian children sent off to conquer other planets. It's suggested that children weren't sent off as often as we were initially led to believe.

Oh, and unlike what was shown in the anime, Goku was actually about 3 when he was sent to earth.