It was a day like any other for Damian Endo, a fifteen-year-old Japanese-American. It was summer vacation, the weather was beautiful in San Francisco, and he was walking home with one of his friends after playing some pickup basketball.
"Yeah, but technically he's canon, since he was mentioned in Dragon Ball Super: Broly." his friend said.
"Yeah, yeah, okay, that's true. Vegeta and Raditz mentioned him, fine, you're right. But honestly nobody really cares about Tarble. I think more people are waiting for Cooler than for him." Raphael replied.
"You're not wrong about that. Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow." his friend said before they shook hands and went their separate ways.
Damian began crossing the street while dribbling his basketball when suddenly a van ran the red light and slammed into him.
He didn't know how long he had been unconscious…
But when he regained his senses… one thought echoed in his mind.
'I'm… alive?'
Everything felt heavy, as if his mind were trapped in fresh cement. His body floated, weightless, and yet strangely weighed down, like he was submerged in a thick liquid.
The only sound was a muffled drumbeat, a dull and rhythmic pulse that was almost soothing.
He forced his eyes open, struggling to do so. A blinding light dazzled him, a pale green glow slowly coming into focus. Gradually, the shapes around him sharpened.
And that was when he realized.
He wasn't anywhere familiar.
He was floating in a thick, transparent fluid, drifting like a fish inside an aquarium.
'What the hell is this…?'
He looked at his hands, small, chubby fingers. He clenched them slowly.
Then he looked around, trying to understand his situation… though he already had a slight idea of what kind of situation this was.
Beyond his hands, farther below, rows of capsules, each one containing babies.
Yes, babies.
Newborns, their eyes closed. Most floated peacefully, while a few squirmed slightly.
'Just like I thought… but how is that even possible?'
He didn't know what to think. Everything felt surreal.
And it was surreal.
He pressed a hand against the glass surrounding him.
Beyond the glass, silhouettes moved between the capsules. People dressed in armor.
As they walked, he caught glimpses of their faces, and the strange devices attached to their eyes.
A familiar device.
'A scouter…There's no doubt about it. I'm in Dragon Ball. Saiyans…'
His heart pounded as he looked at his tiny reflection barely visible in the green glow.
A face stared back at him.
'So this is the new me. I… died when that van hit me, didn't I?'
The realization struck him just as several figures stopped beside his capsule.
They were muscular, with wild black hair, armored suits—and of course, tails wrapped around their waists.
"This is your second son, Tarble, King Vegeta." one of the scientists said.
They began scanning the baby inside the incubator.
"A power level of 182." the scientist announced, barely holding back a laugh along with his two colleagues.
"That's impossible. That can't be my son. What a... nothing like his brother." King Vegeta said with disgust.
'No… I'm Vegeta's brother.' Damian, now Tarble, thought.
'He's so pathetic I can't even send him anywhere worthwhile.' the king thought darkly. "Let's go. He disgusts me."
And they left.
Two years later.
Tarble was still inside the pod.
Unlike some of the other babies, he had never received any visits from his family. Not his father, not his mother, not his brother.
None of them had ever come to see him.
At least… until now.
"So that's your brother? Sorry, Prince Vegeta, but he's pathetic." Raditz said while analyzing Tarble with his scouter.
"Hmph. Why are you apologizing? It's the truth. If I were my father, he wouldn't even be alive anymore. Imagine producing such a disgrace." Vegeta said while staring directly at his brother floating in the capsule.
'You… if I ever get my hands on you…' Tarble thought while glaring at his older brother.
"Anyway, let's go. This was a waste of time." Vegeta ordered before turning around and leaving, with Raditz following him.
More time passed.
And one day, light flooded into the capsule as it cracked open. A thin mist spread into the air.
For a brief second, Tarble suffocated, unable to think clearly.
He felt paralyzed, frozen, not knowing what to do, until he finally took a painful, sharp breath and blinked rapidly, trying to adjust to the brightness of the room.
His body, stiff from being curled up for so long, slowly straightened. His muscles awakened on their own as the thick gelatinous liquid drained from the capsule, sliding down his skin and leaving him strangely cold and vulnerable.
Then he saw him.
His father again.
His new father.
A tall man with wild black hair and a goatee, fierce eyes, wearing armor and a royal cape.
Even though it was only the second time in his life he had seen him, the sight was unsettling.
The moment King Vegeta looked at him, his eyes narrowed. A hint of disgust flashed across his face, though his expression remained mostly cold and unreadable.
"Tarble." he said in a low voice.
Two hands grabbed him under the arms and pulled him out of the capsule.
Tarble tried to stand, but his legs gave out.
"Stand up straight." King Vegeta ordered impatiently.
The soldiers released him, and he struggled to find his balance.
This body was smaller, but strong.
Which made sense. He was now an alien built for combat.
"Can you understand me?" King Vegeta asked.
"Yes." The answer came without hesitation.
"Good. Follow me."
They walked through several corridors until they reached the throne room.
King Vegeta sat down on the throne, and his wife joined him at his side.
It was the first time Tarble had ever seen his mother, but he said nothing, waiting to hear what they wanted.
"Tarble. Born in year 733. You are my second son and the second Prince of the Saiyans. Bearing that title means you must uphold a certain standard. Therefore, you will prove yourself immediately. Choose a planet and conquer it."
The king pointed toward several documents displaying different planets.
'If he can't even accomplish that, I'll send him to die on Vampa like that fool Paragus and his cursed son.' King Vegeta thought.
'It's year 736.' Tarble realized.
'Planet Vegeta will be destroyed next year… where can I escape to among these options?'
He found one.
"Planet Yardrat."
"Very well. Follow your instructor. He will train you until the day of your departure." King Vegeta said dismissively, waving his hand.
Tarble stood up and followed his instructor.
The moment they entered a training room, the man immediately started beating him.
"Finally, something to let off some steam on." the instructor said, throwing another punch straight into Tarble's face.
Tarble tried to fight back, but he couldn't do much.
"Hm. That's enough for today. We'll continue tomorrow." the instructor said.
And so the next two months passed.
Now Tarble stood in front of a space pod. Another Saiyan stood beside him, his own pod next to Tarble's.
"You'll both be departing together for the planet Prince Tarble selected. Don't disappoint us." their instructor said before leaving.
"Hm. Do I have to call you Prince, or is Tarble fine?" the other young Saiyan asked.
"Tarble."
"I see. My name's Turles."