The Prince lands in front of the elder’s home, “What is this place?” He stares at the strange looming building.
Krillian touches down beside the Saiyan, frantically trying to stop him. “Wait Vegeta!!! The Dragonball’s not in there!”
A tall stern looking Namek steps out. “I cannot allow you to enter, this place is holy.”
Vegeta grins, “Are you so eager for your death? Opposing me is suicide.”
A sudden massive surge of energy, catches his attention, “WHAT!!” He whirls to look at the building from which it is emanating, ki light spills from the interior of the building. Vegeta has felt this kind of ki surge happen before and he knows who caused it then, he blurts out the name, “KAKAROT!” He glares over at the shrimp, “So this is where that cowardly fratricide’s been hiding!”
The Namek glares at him then shouts angrily, “Get out of here Saiyan, you're not wanted!!!”
But instead of Kakarot coming out, his whelp emerges instead and the Prince suddenly realizes the power he feels is originating from the child!
“What..?! It’s coming from you, brat?! What happened in there ...?! How did your power suddenly increase so much!” Vegeta stares at the boy, dumbfounded.
A second Namek appears, also a child, it’s shouting something, filled with panic. “Listen!! The Elder says there’s a great power approaching and it’s almost here!!”
“What?!” Gasps the adult Namek in shock and he turns to probe the sky with his antenna enhanced ki and telepathic senses.
“Great Elder..?” Questions the Saiyan, as Krillian too looks skyward, extending his own senses. “I-it’s true!! Something’s really coming...!!”
At first the little monk is ecstatic “It’s has to be Goku!!! Gohan your dad’s finally here!!!”
“The power’s so huge!!” Shouts Gohan but then he pauses, “B.. but Krillian..., I don’t think it’s my dad there’s some-something funny about it.. It feels like there’s more than just one source....!”
Hearing the boy’s words, Vegeta suddenly guesses at the answer. Worriedly he extends his own senses outwards seeking towards the approaching energy source and starts counting each one he encounters, “1..... 2, 3.... 4..... 5, shit it has to be them! Damn that bastard,” spits the Prince in fury, “Frieza’s ordered in the Ginyu force!!!”
The five warriors that comprise the Ginyu are not only the strongest members of Frieza’s armed forces but also the biggest bullies of the elite. And even though only he’s only personally encountered four of them, when they had taken advantage him of while he was still a youngster. Vegeta knows about every single one of them. Zarbon and Gurd had been cut from the same cloth, and all of them excepting Ginyu himself were perverts, but all five were sadistic bastards who reveled in killing and destruction. Using their greater strengths or powers to inflict pain and havoc on any weaker creatures they encountered.
Grabbing Gohan by the shirt the Saiyan Prince shouts, “Give me that Dragonball! NOW!!!” He is trembling in desperation.
Gohan stutters in refusal, “N-no never!!”
Vegeta is frantic, even at his newly enhanced power level, he’s still not a match for even half the Ginyu Force, let alone all five at once. Against the whole group, his steadily increasing strength would still be useless, unless he were immortal! The Prince almost pleads ,“I swear that I’ll leave you in peace if you do!!! But I need it now-- or it’ll be too late for any of us!!!”
Krillian steps towards him “Y-you think we’re gonna fall for that?! I know you think we’re stupid, but come on!!”
“Listen you, idiot! Every member of the Ginyu Force is as ..” Vegeta pauses then realizes that the truth is best his best chance at convincing them and confesses, “No, they could be stronger than me! And there's five of them!! And they’ll have scouters. It’ll be effortless for them to find that female, what’s her name .., Bulma and the Dragonball. They’ll find her and take it, but that’s not all they‘ll do! I know them and their type all to well, once they have it, they’ll take time,” the Prince pauses to glance significantly at the two children, “to play with her before they finally kill her. They love to torment the helpless. Then they’ll come looking for the rest of us and do the same!!!”
“N-no.. it can’t be true...” Protests the smaller man. He realizes what playing means.
Vegeta glares at them, “You can feel their power, I’m telling you there’s only one way to beat them and Frieza!!! Make me immortal,” demands the Saiyan Prince, “then I can defeat them!!!”
The silent Namek suddenly speaks, even though he is of the warrior clan, he still has the gift of telepathy as do all his people. And even though his gift is more limited than most of his brothers, he can sense Vegeta’s sincerity, “The Saiyan is speaking the truth, and I do sense five dark powers ...”
Krillian is shocked to hear Nail actually siding with Vegeta, “Couldn’t we make Gohan immortal instead..?”
The Prince rejects it, vehemently, “Even if he has the power, he has no real experience in battle, he doesn't know enough tactics!!!”
“But if we use up the Dragonballs wish making you immortal, then everything we came here for everything we fought so long and hard for...” Anguishes Krillian.
Nail then surprises them with the revelation, “But our Dragonballs grant more than one wish. If the Saiyan only wants one wish, you can still make yours.”
Gohan is astonished, “More?! Not just a single one?!”
Vegeta is getting more and more worried, the Ginyu’s are getting closer with every passing second, “Will you stop yapping? Hurry up and make a decision!!!! It’ll be your fault if we run out of time!!!!”
“A-all right.. follow us...! But you better keep your promise!!!!” Threatens Krillian, he curses under his breath as the three warriors take off, “Damn it! I really hate risking this, I don’t know if I can trust him, but they always say the enemy of my enemy... I just hope we aren’t making one massive mistake!”
But the Saiyan’s hearing is acute and he catches Krillian’s every muttered word. So they don’t trust him, so what! It doesn’t matter, he is a Royal Prince and will honorably keep his word if he succeeds but even as Vegeta urges more speed, “Move as fast as you can!!!!” The Prince ponders the little chrome dome’s muttered words. What does he mean the enemy of my enemy?
As they race back, Vegeta worriedly monitors the progress of the Ginyu Force’s approach to the planet. But even with their threat hanging over his head, he can’t help anticipating the chance of catching sight of that intriguing female again!
Suddenly he senses that the Force has arrived on the planet!
“They’ve landed already!!!” Barks the Saiyan, demanding, “Aren’t we there yet?!!”
The little bald twerp shouts back , “Yup!” He veers towards a small rocky island just offshore, it mostly looks like it consists of just a big rocky crag that had been thrust up out of the water by ancient tectonic forces. “We’re here!!!”
He lands at the mouth of a ravine that splits the island in two, rushing into the cleft he shouts for their female companion, “Bulma!!! We’re taking the Dragonball!!!” As he grabs it.
“WHAT!!!” Gasps the girl in surprise, jerked out of her reading at their sudden appearance.
Bulma is startled to see the boys in such a rush and even more amazed to notice that Vegeta is now accompanying them!
“HUH...?! WHA...?!” She gapes at them, then stares at the Saiyan in mystification.
Their gaze meets and she somehow knows suddenly that things have been altered. He is no longer an enemy, even though he’s may not quite yet be a friend. And there’s something more, a strange look of worried concern flashes into his dark eyes as he gazes at her for just a moment.
It makes her shiver as goose pimples rise on her arms and she clutches herself. That look is so strange, so compelling. It’s almost seems as if he’s worried about her safety!
The thought of what those brutes in the Ginyu Force or Frieza would do to this exquisite female if they ever found her makes Vegeta even more anxious. A sudden urge to protect and shield her, flares inexplicably inside him. He doesn’t understand why he has it, but it’s there anyway. He gazes at her almost hungrily. It’s as if she’s suddenly become the source of something extremely precious.
If he can he will never allow Frieza or any of his brutes to ever see her let alone touch her!
He snaps his gaze from her as the three of them take off in a thunderous rush.
“Wh- wha- what’s going on here?!” Bulma’s in shock from their swift appearance and even quicker departure, “Tell me why Vegeta was here just now?” She asks the empty air.
‘And why did he look at me so strangely?’ She wonders in perplexity as she plops weak kneed and stunned by the rapid turn of events, back down into her chair.
Vegeta shakes off the strange impulse, he has much more pressing matters to worry about than some weak human female! More than likely the Ginyu’s scouters have already locked onto their power signatures, but if they can move fast enough they still might have a slight chance of beating them.
“Hurry up you little chumps!! Now follow me, it’s this way!” Vegeta leads them towards the place he had hidden the rest of the balls.
He can sense the rapid approach of the Ginyu Force, “They’ve already touched down and are starting to move...!! Blast them!! They’re faster than I remember!”
Vegeta spots the outcropping where he had secreted the balls. “THERE!!!”
They land, “We’ve got them all!!!!” Shouts the Saiyan, but as he takes a step towards the cleft, his path is suddenly blocked. Captain Ginyu touches down landing between Vegeta and the seductively shining cluster of Dragonballs.
As the remaining members of the Ginyu Force land behind their leader, the Saiyan Prince groans in frustration, “UNH!!!”
“YO! Vegeta!” Calls the gigantic horned, purple hued Captain Ginyu with false friendliness.
Gohan exclaims in shock at the strange aliens, “WA.. AA!!”
“They’re s- so fast.. I didn’t even feel them coming...” stutters Krillian.
“We were so close!!” Fumes Vegeta, “Curse them!!!”
Captain Ginyu grins as he sees what Vegeta and that other short guy are holding. “Hey! Monkey boy are those the Dragonballs?” He glances around and his grin gets bigger, “and there are five more over of them over here...” He beams gleefully at his troops, “Well, well, well, this is gonna be a piece of cake. Master Frieza will be so pleased! All we needed are seven Dragonballs, right? Five right here and you’ve got the other two.” Ginyu chuckles, “If my math is right, five and two make seven, so it looks like they’re all accounted for!!”
Vegeta glares at the Force’s leader, “Do you really think I’d just hand them over to you, without a fight Ginyu?!”
The Captain smirks, “No. I figured I'd have to kill you for them first.”
Krillian can sense the immense power emanating from the five beings in front of them, ‘Geesh... I guess Vegeta was telling the truth after all...! I could never be a match for them in a million years!! Where in the hell did they get power like that..?’ Krillian looks at the leader, ‘And that Ginyu guy he’s whole levels higher above the rest....’ He glances at the weakest one, a small olive colored four eyed toad looking creature. ‘While that one is a total shrimp powerwise, what in the hell is he doing here with the rest of them?!’
Meantime the discussion between the Saiyan Prince and Captain Ginyu continues, “Well Veggie? Will you make it easy on yourself, and give up them up? Not that you’re gonna get away even if you do cooperate but it might make it easier on you.”
But the Prince has one last trick up his sleeve. “Humph! Like I’d ever believe that! You may be able to locate living beings with those scouters... but not these, right?”
“Yeah.” Says Ginyu, “That’s right, so what...?”
“So this!!!” Shouts the Prince as he desperately flings the ball he’s holding with all his ki enhanced power and might.
The ball streaks off, but in a blinding flash of speed, Butta catches it and returns to Captain Ginyu’s side arriving almost casually with the ball, not the least bit winded.
“WHAT?!!” Exclaims the startled Saiyan warrior.
Ginyu chuckles in amusement, “Not a bad try, Veggie, guess you were hoping to throw it so far away that we wouldn’t be able to locate it, huh? Well it’s a good thing Butta here is the fleetest in the universe.”
Vegeta grinds his teeth in frustrated anger, “UNNH...!”
Gohan sputters, “H.. he.. sure was fast... I could see anything...”
Vegeta racks his brain for some solution, he has to do something to keep those Dragonballs out of Frieza’s hands.
Ginyu remarks to his troops with a grin, “Just one more to go!”
The Saiyan Prince suddenly whirls on Krillian and shouts, “Destroy it!!!!”
Krillian and Gohan both grasp Vegeta’s logic at the same moment, better to lose their friends forever than endanger the entire universe.
The boy shouts, “DO IT!”
At the same second Krillian raises his fist to smash the Dragonball muttering, “I hate this but it’s the only answer----!!!” His fist descends in a blur, energized by his considerable ki enhanced power.
And MISSES!
The ball has vanished from his hand, “HEY!! HUH?!” And he suddenly realizes it’s in the hands of the smallest member of the Ginyu force.
“WHA..?” Exclaims Gohan in shocked surprise.
“Oh man! Now what do we do?!” Blurts Krillian in desperation.
“Damn Gurd!!” Growls Vegeta, “So it is true! I knew about his other powers, but I thought that this one was just a rumor. But it isn’t, he can do it after all, he’s actually able stop time!”
“N- n- no way...” Says Krillian shaking his head in disbelief, “That’s just impossible...!”
“Looks like we’ve got all seven now,” Gloats Ginyu, then he grins, “now it looks like it’s your turn. We haven’t had any decent recreation in quite some time. I hope you’re up for it, cause I think we’ll have some fun with you and your little friends. We’re gonna play with you reeeeal good.....” He chuckles ominously.
The handsome crimson humanoid with the white shock of hair interjects, “And by play we don’t mean Peek-a-boo Veggie! We’re gonna start out by trying you out as a punching bag.” He giggles fiendishly.
The Captain gets a put upon look on his face, you can almost hear the thought ‘Not again!’ running through his head as he reprimands his brainless subordinate. “You don’t have to spell it out for them Jheese!”
Krillian whispers an aside to the Saiyan, “V- Vegeta... is there any way out of this..?”
The Prince replies, “You already know it’s useless to run with that guy around.” He points his chin at Butta. “You two showed me a little potential before I mauled you on Earth and I know you're both stronger now. Do you think you can live up to it?”
The Ginyu Force is bickering like a bunch of spoiled kids about how they’ll divvy up the three.
When Captain Ginyu says, “I’ll take care of the Monkey Prince. The rest of you can Roshambo to figure out who gets the other two dwarves.”
The tall dusky blue lizard protests, “Whoa Captain, not right!” While Jheese the prettiest member just pouts sulkily beside his bedmate.
The redheaded behemoth complains sulkily, “You took the all the fun ones the last time too!”
“No that isn‘t fair at all!” Whines Gurd, as he squints one pair of eyes dolefully at his commander.
“Okay, okay. I’ll take the Dragonballs to Master Frieza.” Says Ginyu in soothing placation, “The final Roshambo winner can have Vegeta, and the runner-up gets to take care of the pair of little aliens as a set.”
The four subordinates grin their agreement.
“Now aren‘t I the best leader?” The horned commander beams in a fatherly manner at his little troop.
The four shout in unison “Cap’n you’re so awesome!!!” Then they start counting off , “Ro.. Sham.. Bo, ... Ro.. Sham.. , ”
Meantime Gohan asks, “Couldn’t we just sneak off while they're doing that....? ”
“Ro.. Sham.. Bo.., again... again...” Then the big purple alien and the red one lose, “DAMN!” The other two continue their contest “Ro.. Sham.. Bo.., again... again...” Keeping it up until the big hulking carrot topped one wins, “ALL RIGHT!!! I get Vegeta!!!”
Leaving little Gurd to complain disdainfully, “FOOEY...., I got stuck with the midgets...”
“Remember to share nicely boys.” Admonishes Captain Ginyu as he gathers up the Dragonballs. Then their commander flies off trailing laughter, the seven Dragonballs floating in a phalanx about him.
Gohan shout’s “N- no..!” In vain protest. “I can’t just let him get away with them!!!”
The Saiyan Prince snaps at the frantic youngster, “STOP IT, BRAT!!! Don’t waste your energy uselessly!!! What matters now is concentrating on how to defeat the others, you fool!!!”
Gohan grunts in frustration but complies as Vegeta calls to Krillian, “Hey you, ... Get your miniature carcass over here.”
Vegeta knows that normally they wouldn’t have a snowballs chance in hell against the entire Ginyu Force, but now with their leader gone and the rest of those morons so overconfident that they’re going to take them on singly. He and the two Earthlings may have just a faint outside chance in defeating them. Their enemies don’t know that the Earthlings and Vegeta have been controlling and suppressing their ki all along. So they haven’t got a clue to what their true power level is and the surprise of that hidden factor could very well work in their favor.
If these two Earthlings can just manage to defeat Gurd, he’s pretty sure he can take care of Reacoom. Then they could team-up to finish off Jheese and Butta. But he needs to warn them about their opponent’s hidden powers.
“HUH?” Krillian comes approaches him warily.
“What’s up, having a pre-game huddle of the midget league?” Asks Reacoom laughing.
Vegeta ignores the giant’s taunts, as he turns to the shorter man, “Listen, I know this little snot you‘re gonna fight. Don’t let Gurd’s low battle strength or size fool you. He’s got other offensive weapons than just spiritual power or physical strength. He uses mental weapons, he’s a psychic adept with immense telekinetic powers. So don’t let your guard down!” Then he asks, “... By the way is it true, that Kakarot’s really not here..?”
“N-no not yet.. B-but he’s on his way,... he should arrive any time now..” Is Krillian’s slow response.
“Well, he’d better get here sooner, rather than later...” Vegeta returns his gaze to their foes, “As much as I detest him, we could use a little of his help about now...”
Gohan is grief stricken and half mumbling to himself, “Wh -what was the point of us coming all way out here... If we can’t get the Dragonballs..? Th- there’s no point at all, not if we can’t bring Piccolo and the others back to life...”
But when Reacoom takes a step forward calling, “C’m awwn dudes! Let’s get goin‘!” The half Saiyan’s resolve stiffens and he looks at Krillian.
The diminutive human nods and the two move to take their places.
As Vegeta assumes his fighting stance, he’s startled to see out of the corner of his eye that Krillian and Gohan have moved to either side of him, defensively flanking him.
What are they up to? Just what in the hell do they think they’re doing?
The Saiyan Prince is completely dumbfounded by their actions as he realizes what they‘re doing! They’re actually joining forces to support him! He hadn’t expected that at all. He’d assumed that the two Earthlings would fight together, leaving him to fight and defend himself alone, their inexplicable actions puzzle him momentarily, until the reality of their dangerous situation reasserts itself.
While inside the icy shield surrounding his heart, a second flickering ember glimmers into life, sparked awake by this unexpected show of willing comradeship.
Seeing the two joining Vegeta, Reacoom complains, “Aw.... hey, now they’re in gettin’ in my way!” He half turns to beseechingly look back at the smallest member of the Force, “Hey!... Gurd, how about you come and take care of those peewees first!”
The weakest member of the Ginyu Force growls back, in irritation “HUMPH!.. Since when does this uniform make me look like your janitor?” But when the bigger alien just grins in amusement, the little green alien mutters, “Oh! Alright already...”
Vegeta continues his low toned hurried briefing of the others, through gritted teeth. “They think this is gonna be nothing but a game.. the arrogant fools..., they’ve never been serious about anything...” The Prince still nurses painful memories their amused laughter, accompanying his screams of agony as they playfully tortured the young boy under the guise of disciplining him.
Krillian gets a sudden inspiration , “Hey Gohan, remember the image training we did in the ship on the way out here?"
The boy gives him a quick nod, guessing where Krillian's thought are going. “Y-yeah...!”
Meanwhile the overconfident Gurd sighs, bemoaning his task, “This is gonna be over before we can even enjoy it.”
“All right, let get this thing going..” Shouts Krillian, “Release your ki now Gohan!!!!!”
The Earthlings’ power flares up, startling the four members of the Ginyu force when their scouters’ readings start to register the increasing numbers.
Gohan and Krillian soar upwards in tandem splitting apart as they rise, to fire matching energy blasts at Gurd from opposite sides.
Startled by their actions the toad-like little alien sucks in a quick intake of air then holds it, activating his chronotronic suspension power. The power is finite and only affects a limited area surrounding him, about ten square miles, for a very short period of time, as long as he can avoid exhaling. But it’s incredibly draining to use it and complicated by the fact it only lasts as long as he can hold his breath.
Gurd’s four eyes begin to bug out as he refrains from breathing out keeping the flow of time suspended, just long enough so that he can evade of the path of the descending energies.
Releasing his breath he whirls, shouting “BRATS!” angrily at them, before he prepares to fire back.
He’s surprised to discover that they’re not where he expected them to be. As he sucks in another deeper breath he thinks, ‘Where it in the hell did they go they go? Where are they?’
Stopping time again, Gurd quickly scans the sky and finally spots them, suspended way over to his right, ‘Oh!!! There they are!! But how’d they get way over there?’ But Gurd’s second time suspension ends as his held breath puffs out, “D-DAMMIT, I can’t hold it any longer.”
The time flow resumes again.
The twin blasts hit the ground as Gurd gasps breathlessly sucking air into his oxygen starved lungs.
Gohan shouts, “He wasn’t there when it hit, he must of stopped time again!!”
Krillian spots Gurd, and yells, “Hey he’s over here!!!!” The two phase out.
Gurd gasps in astonishment at their speed, “HUH?!!! How‘d they disappear!!!” He shouts “S-STOP!!!” Before he sucks in another intake of air to activate the time suspension once more by holding his breath again.
His two foes reappear within 30 feet on either side, heading straight for him!! ‘H-how‘d they know where I was going to be? They’re too damn close...!!!’
Gurd is panicking, ‘And it’s takin’ too much concentration freezin’ time for me to try and hit them too...!”
He heads towards a near-by rock outcropping, ‘I .., need ta hide,... back b’hind the rocks, hit ‘em while they’re confused!!’ The little toad sprints away, reaching the rock pile he releases time once more and pants heavily as time begins to flow freely once more.
The boy senses Gurd first and shouts. “There he is!!!” He and Krillian change direction and s treak towards him.
In utter shock, Gurd cries out, “H- how in the hell are they doing that?!!!” His ability to control time is tied to his ability to hold his breath and he’s panting far too hard to even attempt to try it again, “I..,-I., CAN’T., STOP.., THE.., TIME...FLOW...!” He desperately resorts to his last ditch defense using another type of psychic talent, freezing his attackers in mid-air.
Krillian grunts straining against the tight unseen bonds that are holding both him and Gohan motionless, he can hardly make a sound let alone move, “UH.. UNH.. GRNNN!”
“M.. my body..!!” Yells Gohan in amazement, “I-it won’t move!!!”
Gurd is straining to hold them, they’re far stronger than he ever expected them to be, “Never..., thought.. I’d.., be using telekinesis ..., on these small timers....! Who in the hell are they, and where did they come from? And how’d they know where I was without scouters...?!”
Even though he’s still panting he’s now in complete control, “I think I’ll teach you two a lesson.” He laughs regaining his hubris, “Now what should I do with the pair of you?”
Gohan growls in response.
The remaining members of the Ginyu force fly closer, joining Reacoom to better watch the show. They land nearby. “WOW.... Who’d of thought ...?” Says Jheese, “That those little squirts could measure over 10,000 joules!”
Reacoom chuckles, “Gurd musta peed his self, just look at that! He never uses his telekinesis to fight! He usually saves that for other things!” The giant licks his lips.
“Beings who can raise their battle power that high with out changing their form in any way are quite rare.” Says Butta in reply, of the bunch he‘s the intellectual of the group.
Reacoom glances up at the Saiyan Prince, chuckling, “Hey, Veggie, you got yourself some cool friends!”
Vegeta ignores the sadistic taunt as he stares at his reluctant allies, “Those fools!! I told them to watch out, I warned them about his psychic powers and they still attacked him head on!!” The Prince knows exactly how helpless they’re feeling. He’d been held in that same grip by Gurd before.
Gurd spots a spot a long slender jagged tree trunk, “HAH!! I got it! Maybe you’ll taste good skewered and roasted ... ” He uses his power to break it off at the base turning it into a massive javelin. “HEE, HEE, HEE!! What’s wrong? You better run or this stick is gonna impale you!!”
Gohan and Krillian continue their struggle to try and break free.
Jheese calls out to Vegeta , “Hey monkey boy, I wonder, da ya think they’d be as much fun as you were when you were that size?”
Gurd is still laughing sadistically, “HEE-HEE-HEE....! I guess you can’t move, you poor, poor things...” Their captor gloats, he‘s overheard Jheese's remark and it give him a deliciously wonderful idea, “Tell you what, I’ll put one of you out of your misery right now and then I’ll do something different with the other one, how‘s that sound?” He turns his gaze to the boy. “I think I’ll take my time and play with you .., nice and slow!”
Krillian remembering Vegeta’s earlier comments about the Ginyu’s suspects what that play could entail and desperately asks the young half Saiyan, “Can you move at all?!!”
“No ...!!! It.., it feels like my nerves have gone numb...!!!” Responds Gohan.
Chuckling viciously Gurd starts to launch the makeshift spear at his bald prisoner, “HA HA HA!!! Here you are!!”
Inside Vegeta, who had been watching passively until then, something snaps. Hearing Gurd’s threat to the boy, brings distasteful memories rushing to the fore, the Prince knows without a doubt, just how Gurd plans to play with the boy having been subjected to the same things himself. Years earlier, Vegeta had been a helpless victim of the little alien’s idea of fun. Enduring Gurd’s ‘play’ was little better than suffering through Zarbon or Dodoria attentions.
Very soon after Vegeta had been sent back to the general troop barracks he became a victim once more, for it seemed that Frieza had extended his ‘permission’ for the use of his plaything as a comfort toy for anyone interested and strong enough to want the boy for that usage. The only rule was that the Saiyan boy was not to be killed!
Gurd, Reacoom, Butta and Jheese had, as the most powerful beings in the cohort, quickly availed themselves of this new form of entertainment. They started joining together, ganging up to force the youthful Prince Vegeta to take part in their ‘nightly games’. The compatibility of their combined powers soon became apparent to everyone.
Gurd would attack first immobilizing the boy with telekinesis and then watch as the others took turns assaulting him according to their tastes. And after his friends were finished Gurd would slake his own desires on the totally exhausted and by then completely defenseless young Prince.
So in a way, Vegeta was actually responsible for the formation of the Ginyu Force.
The sadistic barrack’s rape gang was soon brought to the attention of Captain Ginyu, who instead of breaking them up or even punishing them, molded them into an elite fighting force. But even after the new elite troop had been formed, their leader did nothing to stop or prevent their continued private recreations. Allowing them to pursue their own twisted pleasures without any interference, even though Ginyu himself had different tastes.
As the alien propels his missile, Vegeta suddenly appears behind him and with a single powered hand chop he separates Gurd’s disgusting head from his body. The disconnected head rolls away as his body falls to the ground.
Krillian and Gohan are immediately free.
“I CAN MOVE!!!!!” Shouts Krillian as he dodges aside avoiding the hurtling wooden missile.
Jheese, Butta and Reacoom are dumbfounded by the sudden reversal of events.
Gurd’s head stops rolling, ending up facing towards Vegeta, it looks up at the Saiyan Prince mournfully, “That’s not fair Vegeta..!” It complains bitterly, “This game didn’t include you, it was between me and the little guys!!”
“Gee, Gurd! Too bad, but you know, I never liked your games or ever agreed with your rules!” Vegeta sneers back at the dying alien, “You should know nothing’s fair in on the battlefield!”
Gurd glares up at his smirking slayer, “I n-never thought ... I’d be defeated by a little monkey butt Saiyan like you..!! That really.., pisses... me.. o.ff..”
Vegeta fires a final vengeful blast at the talking head, answering sarcastically, “Poor Gurd!”
Vegeta feels lightened, like another weight has been lifted. Gurd wasn’t one of his major demons like the Frieza, Zarbon or Dodoria but he had been a hated tormentor none the less. All the others that came after the first three, had been mere annoyances. The things that had been done to him after that terrible trio had discarded him were nothing in comparison, but if the first were major demons, then you could say that Gurd and his compatriots were minor ones, imps of torment from the Prince's hellish childhood. More persistent than the rest. Disposing of the little toad who had been the lynch pin of his barracks suffering was very satisfying indeed.
Krillian stares at their erstwhile enemy, “I-I never thought w-we’d be saved by you!”
“Th.. thanks...” Says the youngster shakily.
Vegeta glares at the two Earthlings, “You think I did that to save you two scraps of trash?!”
But the Prince himself isn’t really certain, why he’d risked it! He had just reacted violently to the thought of an innocent boy (because Gohan was an innocent compared to Vegeta at that age) suffering through what he had endured.
And their gratitude causes an odd, but not at all unpleasant sensation inside him. Knowing appreciation from comrades and having someone willing to fight beside you feels much better than trying to face those same enemies all alone.
But the Saiyan Prince is very uncomfortable with this new situation and the sensations it‘s causing to stir within his breast. Vegeta’s never been in this position before and doesn’t quite know what to make of it.
It’s true that he’s had comrades previously, but they had been duty bound. Raditz fought beside him because he was his Sibling, and Nappa did it because the Prince was his commander, while these two Earthlings have no overriding obligations to him at all. And to make it worse it seems they are actually grateful to him! It’s very unnerving indeed!
“Are you trying to make me nauseous?!” The Prince growls, rejecting his momentary lapse, with the reasoning. “It was the perfect opportunity for me to dispose of that pathetic little toady, Gurd!”
Vegeta’s eyes shift back towards the remaining three members of the Ginyu Force. “Don’t waste any time or efforts feeling all saved or anything. I was just trying to warm-up for the main event..”
Jheese is staring flabbergasted at the scorched spot where the smallest member of their group’s head had been. “Yo! Dudes!.... Gurd was totally blown away! By Veggie!”
But Reacoom and Butta are more annoyed by it than disturbed.
“What a big tragedy...,” Shrugs the big lizard with a grimace.
“Shit yeah,” says Reacoom peevedly “Without a him, our Super Special Ginyu Force Pose is gonna look crappy! Now we’re gonna hafta get the Cap’n ta think up a new one for just the four of us!”
“HEY! Bro’!” Crows Jheese in gleeful realization as he glances at his partner and lover Butta, “This gives us another chance to play! Cuz someone still hasta off the dinkies!”
He and Butta quickly start the choosing game again chanting in unison. “RO.. SHAM.. BO!!”
Reacoom is quick to admonish them, “Hey! Just remember, Veggie’s monkey butt is still mine guys!”
The two Earthlings stare in bemusement at the repeat of the earlier ridiculous spectacle.
“Is it just me?” Asks Krillian, “Or are these guys .. kinda...., peculiar?”
Vegeta distains to answer, instead he glowers in anger at the Ginyu Force, “Get ready, the real hell’s about to start...”
Reacoom eyes Vegeta as he eagerly strides forward, “Okay Veggie,... Now its our turn to play!” The giant grins at his pint sized objective. He’s nearly twice the height of the undersized Saiyan Prince.
Vegeta merely grunts in response watching the massive humanoid warily.
The huge warrior glances at the Prince’s apparent allies, “And if you two tykes wanna join in feel free. Ya can use whatever tricks ya want!”
Jheese shouts in protest, “Wait a minute the mini’s are ours, bro! You got the fun one already! Leave somethin’ fer us!!”
“H-HEY.. are they...” Krillian glares at the three remaining aliens, “makin’ fun of us?”
With the yell, Reacoom swings his arms up, “GINYU..” into an overhead clap, “SPECIAL FORCE!” Pirouetting with a shout, “REACOOM!!!” Ending his movements with “HAIYAH!!!!” Comically posed, in a fully horizontal, one footed, grotesque parody of a dancer’s fully extended arabesque, his arms extended along his sides, wrists bent cocking his hands at a ninety degree angle.
The three reluctant comrades stare at the totally ridiculous spectacle.
The Prince vents a shout of anger and starts to powering up, his exploding ki fueled by his long suppressed rage against the Ginyu‘s.
Krillian and Gohan raise their arms defensively at Vegeta’s sudden increase of power.
“WHOOOO...!!” Gasps Krillian in shocked amazement.
Reacoom’s eyes widen as he stares at the numbers on his scouter ticking higher and higher! “WHAAA...!”
“Hey unreal! Veggie’s battle strength’s 20,000... An it’s still growin’!” Cries out Jheese in surprise.
“I- impossible...,” remarks Butta in startlement, “That little Saiyan twerp’s never been that strong!”
Energy thrumming deafeningly, Vegeta yells as he unexpectedly streaks towards the big humanoid, hitting him with a downwards explosive right hook that knocks the Prince’s foe completely off his feet!
Before Reacoom can even hit the ground, let alone recover, Vegeta has leapt over him only to return. Impacting the bigger alien again, this time with a double handed fist slam to the head, that propels Reacoom into the ground. The Saiyan immediately follows through with a tremendous two footed landing on the giant’s chest, the percussive force so strong that it shatters Reacoom's cuirass front and back! The Prince bounces off and wrapping his arms around Reacoom's massive left calf uses an overhead toss to fling him towards a distant cliff face. Without pause Vegeta’s figure flares as he gathers to fire a massive blast after Reacoom‘s hurtling form.
Krillian cries out an almost belated warning to Gohan. “AHHGGG...! LOOK OUT!!”
The pile of rocks that mark Reacoom's impact point explodes outwards.
The Prince yells warningly, as he continues to fire into the growing inferno, “THIS ISN’T... FINISHED.......!!!”
The two Earthlings are prostrate arms flung over their heads as they try vainly to avoid the falling debris as they attempt to shield themselves from the worst of the backlash from Vegeta’s repetitive blasts.
Finally the Saiyan stands panting in exhaustion energy and rage expended. The clouds of dust slowly begin to clear.
The explosions having ceased, Krillian raises his head to peer about at the destruction, while the last stray rocks and pebbles rain down around them.
He remarks in bemused amazement, “He..., he did it...,” Then shouts, “Vegeta’s got him.., and with just a single blast!!!” His voice gains a tinge of respect as he stares at the Saiyan warrior, “Ya gotta hand it to him sometimes ya can’t help but admire the bastard even if he is crazy!”
But then the panting Vegeta suddenly reacts in disbelief, he can sense something stirring inside the still settling cloud of dust!
Gohan suddenly feels it too, his eyes widen in horror, “Th.. there’s.. still a.. KI!.... I.. I don’t... believe it....!” Stutters the horror stricken boy. “I-it.. can’t be! H- h-he’s .., still ALIVE!!!”
“NO!” Krillian gapes, “H-he...can’t be-e... it’s impossible ...”
But the dispersing dust slowly unveils the massive unaffected form of Reacoom.
The brute is once more posed like a hideously comical dancer, left toe extended as if ready to take a step, the leg crossed in front of the supporting right one. His shoulders raised with arms lowered, spread slightly to either side. Wrists cocked once more, with hands flattened, palms face down, parallel with the ground. He greets them with a ghastly grin on his repugnant face!
Vegeta is trembling with rage, Krillian is speechless almost choking with shock. Gohan gasps in disbelief, “H-HE CAN‘T... IT‘S NOT POSSIBLE!” The ridiculous apparition, gloats, “Thanks for the warm-up, monkey! Now I’m ready to rumble! Come on Veggie...LET‘S GET IT ON!!!” Butta is dusting himself off in disgust, “Reacoom’s such a damned show off! I hate it when he gets this way!”
Jheese has a delicate silken kerchief fastidiously covering his nose and mouth foppishly, “The dust always gets into everything!” Whines the crimson warrior as he fluffs his white mane, shaking it free of imagined grit, “And you don’t never know what kind of alien germs he’s gotten all stirred up!”
The orange tufted giant suddenly leaps forward, towards the startled Saiyan Prince shouting “REACOOM!!!! KICK!” In a horrific perversion of a graceful dancer’s movement, his huge knee connects with Vegeta’s chin with a thunderous crack. Sending the Prince’s body flying helplessly backwards.
Krillian and Gohan are stunned by the rapid reversal of events.
Mid-tumble, Vegeta grunts in pain then gritting his teeth, he extends his hands in an effort at recovery. Cushioning his impact, he uses his forward momentum to flip himself over as he hits the ground and leaps back at Reacoom on the offensive once again. Screaming in defiance, the much smaller Saiyan slugs the giant and then begins a rapid fire pummeling.
Reacoom recoils slightly in surprise then begins blocking the Prince’s blows. “SWEET!!” he shouts in delight, “You‘re lots tougher than ya use ta be, Veggie!” Reacoom elbows Vegeta on top of the head, felling the Saiyan.
Vegeta belly flops into the ground but then repels himself upwards causing Reacoom's following blow to miss him. Bouncing off the ground the Prince continues flying backwards into the sky. Reacoom streaking after him.
Spotting the pursuit Vegeta changes directions and Reacoom grinning does the same.
The Prince hurls a blast of energy towards his opponent, but the giant spots and evades it with a shout. Streaking past his fleeing quarry, Reacoom appears behind Vegeta’s back before the Prince can react, with the playful comment “BOO!” With a single tremendous kick the giant sends the Saiyan hurtling downwards towards the shining sea cove below.
Vegeta impacts into the water, raising an enormous plume.
Long seconds pass, the redheaded behemoth stares down at the outwardly spreading ripples, he giggles as the mini-tsunami‘s lap the shoreline and secondary eruptions of bubbles break the surface.
Gohan and Krillian stare at the roiling water with growing concern.
But under the surface Vegeta is taking the opportunity to regroup, suddenly he rockets up out of the water, startling the onlookers and hitting Reacoom square in the gut.
The goliath literally folds in half over the small Saiyan, emphasizing the enormous difference in their sizes, oofing with a violent expellation of air.
Reacting swiftly Reacoom grasps Vegeta around the waist and flips him up over his head, his huge hands almost meet as they encircle the Prince‘s slim waist. He tightens his grip squeezing Vegeta unmercifully attempting to crush the Saiyan’s lower ribs.
Vegeta screams in agony as he feels his bones approaching the breaking point.
Reacoom plunges earthwards at full throttle, the struggling Saiyan warrior held head down before him.
The Prince strikes the ground skull first, the force of the impact buries him up to his waist in the resultant crater, leaving his legs as the only portion of his body still visible.
The giant stands over his victim, then leans forward curiously, “You okay dude!?” He grabs the Vegeta’s right ankle and pulls him from the ground, “Like, ya didn’t die already, didja’?” He holds his smaller opponent upside down, dangling him like a some grotesque life-sized ragdoll. He shakes the limp body, curiously.
The battered Prince suddenly reacts with snake-like swiftness, raising his hands to fire point blank into Reacoom’s ugly face. The recoil flings them apart freeing him from of the other’s grip, he lands heavily on his back.
Reacoom is thrown backwards as well to lie motionless, as Vegeta pants heavily struggling valiantly to his feet through his pain.
Krillian grins feebly, “D., did.. that do it?”
Suddenly the fallen goliath flips back up to his feet, shouting with delight, “Yeahhh!!! That’s the kinda action I’m lookin’ fer!!”
The two Earthlings stare in openmouthed horror, stunned by the giant’s swift recovery.
Vegeta stares in consternation, still breathless with pain and exhaustion. He’s dripping with both sweat and blood. A dislocated shoulder leaving one arm almost useless.
The bigger of the brute’s onlooking allies sneers, “Reacoom’s always so full of himself.” And Jheese nods laughing in amused agreement!
“Hey Veggie is that it? Don’t ya got anything, you know, with a little more punch to it? Or are you ready fer me ta kill ya now?” Asks the gigantic humanoid cheerfully.
The battered Saiyan Prince is barely managing to remain upright, as he sways slightly, he comes to the shocking realization of his own weakness and mortality!
He has only one regret, that his vengeance has not been fully completed and he’s failed to completely restore his Royal Honor. The beast Frieza has won after all! But at least Prince Vegeta will meet his death head on, like a true Vegetisia. His princely honor has been restored with the deaths of Zarbon and Dodoria. He is once again worthy of the title Prince of the Blood! He will not be forced to cower, beg or plead ever again. He will show them that he has completely recovered his Saiyan pride. He will resist till the end. And he wonders in passing if that female will ever think about him.
Reacoom crouches only to rise and comically pose on his left toe like some macabre dancer. “’kay dude then here it comes!!”
The Prince faces his foe, one fist clenches futilely, blood trickling in runnels down his face, he’s even too exhausted to attempt to take a sidestep in evasion. His left shoulder, the one that was dislocated by that last impact, throbs painfully.
Krillian grasps their and the Saiyan’s hopeless situation, “When Vegeta goes we’re next Gohan. We won’t even last long enough to see your dad!”
“Wha..,” and as Gohan suddenly realizes the truth.
“An since it doesn’t matter anymore,” says Krillian, “we might as well get it over with. Vegeta did help us out earlier.”
“R-right!!!” Responds the demi-Saiyan manfully.
“Then let’s get going!!” Cries the little monk. “Vegeta’s barely able to stand, let alone evade anything!”
Unable to escape or even raise his arms in self-defense to block the next attack, the Prince glares in futile anger as the giant shouts his own name as he crosses his over his head arms preparing to unleash his unstoppable killing move.
The Prince prepares himself for the death blow.
The monster’s shout of, “ERASER GUN!!!” precedes the raving energy bolt that hurtles from his open mouth!
Vegeta braces for the impeding impact as the he desperately tries to dodge at the last minute even though he knows his weariness makes him far too slow and it’s all a mere waste of effort. But even though he knows he’s beaten he can’t completely give up.
Unnoticed his two erstwhile foes leap into action.
Nanoseconds before the blazing blast hits, Vegeta feels the two small hands of Kakarot’s son grasp him, snatching him out of deadly path of destruction.
While the other Earthling distracts Reacoom, by attacking him with a tremendous blow to the face.
Reacoom’s blast impacts behind the two Saiyans, raining dust and debris on the two prostrate bodies.
The Prince struggles up and pushes the boy away in confused shock and anger, “Get ..away! I never asked..., for help!”
Gohan stares in surprise at Vegeta’s reaction. He hadn’t expected any thanks but...
Vegeta can’t understand these crazy Earthlings. He’s proved to be their enemy more than once but still, they insist on risking themselves to save him. It makes no sense, he certainly wouldn’t do it if things were reversed but still... Deep inside, another flickering ember ignites adding its warmth to the first ones. The icy shield around Vegeta’s heart is starting to crack.
Krillian rises, “I.., I actually.., got him?!”
Vegeta clutches his dislocated left arm, as he rants at the brat. “You soft hearted little moron, why take the time to rescue me? You should have attacked too. Your stupidity makes me sick!”
What is it with these Earthlings? He wouldn’t have done anything like they have. Victory in battle is the most important objective. If someone is too weak to defend themselves they deserve to die. Rescues are just a waste of energy!
But then the Prince realizes he had done just that same thing himself, minutes earlier when he killed Gurd and rescued them! What’s gotten in to him? Has that battle bonding with Kakarot done something else to him? Contaminated him with the moron’s ridiculous sentimentality in some way?
Krillian gazes at the destruction wrought by Reacoom’s energy blast. “In.. incredible.., his power was able to warp the planet!!..”
Suddenly the fallen giant moves, pushing up from the ground with a groan. “Not a bad attack... ..for a bug! Pretty thneaky though! Made me hit tho ‘ard my mouf thlammed thhut.” He turns to face the little monk revealing his shattered teeth, “Now I’m gonna hafta get my t eef fixeth! That kinda pitheth me off, I hate goin to the dentitht!” There are only four visible teeth remaining and even they don’t‘ seem that secure.
The behemoth turns and shouts to his teammates “Hey guyth! Lemme off the little unth too!!”
Jheese grunts, then grouses, “He‘s such a baby.” The Force’s pretty boy raises his voice to call back the answer, “I suppose if you absolutely have too! But you owe us big time! You’ll have to pay for the drinks afterwards!”
Reacoom turns back to Krillian, laughing, “Well thee you’re barely worth the prithe of a drink, but I don‘t mind muncthkin....”
The smaller man starts to groan, but before the sound can end he’s hit by a savage kick that sends him flying off like a human football. Krillian bounces several times groaning with each impact until he stops, laying ominously silent and still.
The young demi-Saiyan reaches his side in a flash, frantically calling his friend’s name “K-KRILLIAN!!!”
His partner responds faintly, “I’m done for..., Gohan.., felt something break inside that time. He’s too strong! It .., only took one blow.... to take me out. Everything the great elder did for me..., it was totally useless. Hate to admit it.., b-but we’re goners.. Couldn’t stop them if we died tryin’... it’s over. They got the balls, and we couldn’t even get away....,” his voice fades as he slips into unconsciousness.
“Thhit!” Bitches Reacoom, complaining, “I mustha hit him too hard. I didn’t even get a chance to play with him!”
Gohan glares at the monster who had felled his and his father’s friend. His slumbering Saiyan fury starts to stir, “N.... No.... Krillian,” he slowly rises to his feet, “Don’t give up just yet ...!”
The boy attacks recklessly and is flung back by backhand blow from Reacoom, but recovers and lands, facing his foe. He had barely felt the blow and it had only served to increase his anger.
Gohan stiffens straightening to fire an energy blast in response.
Reacoom grins then with a big puff of breath, merely blows it back at the boy.
Exclaiming in surprise Gohan barely manages to dodge aside. Focused on the blast he misses the fact that the giant has moved until he’s hit in the throat from behind.
Vegeta who had finally managed to reset his left shoulder, had been watching the battle in amazement. The kid is actually doing pretty damn well considering. Maybe Kakarot's brat can fight after all.
Gohan, now on the ground on his hands and knees, chokes a bit and coughs up a mouthful of blood. He calls out vainly for his father.
Laughing with perverted delight Reacoom starts firing multiple blasts at the boy. Gohan dodges them but the giant is suddenly behind him striking him with another backhand that flings him across the field.
The lad grunts as he rises, then falls again, Krillian who has regained consciousness calls out weakly, his words are unheard.
“Why don’t you jutht give it up, kid.” Calls Reacoom, “Jutht who in the hell do you think you are anywayth?”
The boy staggers forward, “I.. I’m..., Son Gohan..., the son of Goku.., the Earth’s greatest warrior!. I.., can’t .., I won’t... quit!!!!!”
Reacoom stares at the defiant child in amazement. What is it with this kid? “You’re thtill able to talk trathh? Damn I don’t care where you're from, but I gotta thay you got thome balls!”
Gohan is still speaking, “...You’re not going to defeat me!!!!!”
Reacoom laughs hilariously, “Is that so! Well you can give it a try kid, but let me tell you thomething, it’s jutht too bad you ran into me!!!”
Battered but still determined, Gohan leaps towards his massive foe, but Reacoom easily evades the boy’s attack, leaping over the lad as he answers it with a swift right kick. The blow is audible as it snaps the child’s neck.
Both Krillian and Vegeta watch in horrified fascination as the boy falls to the ground and lies motionless.
The Saiyan Prince is dumbfounded, the boy had fought as valiantly as any full blooded Saiyan warrior. Defending both his friend and.., Vegeta! Why would the brat do such a thing? What could cause such loyalty, is this what a mere friendship can inspire?
On Jheese’s scouter the boy’s power level numbers tick slowly downwards. “Brat’s power’s gone, he’s almost finished.”
Butta remarks casually to his lover, “Busted neck can do it.”
Gohan twitches spasmodically, Krillian groans the boy’s name in anguished grief as he feels Gohan’s ki fading away.
Even Vegeta feels a kind of regret.
The Prince fights the strange sensation that is growing inside him, shaking his head as he protests the events, “Pitiful....it‘s pathetic...I actually thought the brat was finally learning how to fight...”
To be continued.....