The redheaded victor surveys the battlefield, “Well that was a totally boring wathte of time.., why the hell did Frieza even bother calling uth out here anywayth? I suppose I should at least finithh tiding up the latht of the trathh.....”
Suddenly a thunderous roar fills the air, as white contrail descends from the sky. The observers and the combatants who are still able, look up in surprise.
The object approaches growing larger until reaches the ground to land nearby.
They all stare at the strange spherical vessel.
Vegeta had known who it was before the ship even touched down. “So Kakarot, finally gets here.” He comments wryly as he watches as the ship hover as it’s strut compartments open allowing the legs to unfold so the vessel can settle to be supported by them, “But I think he’s just a little too late to save you this this time brat.”
“It’s some kind of ship.” States Butta peering at it.
“Kinda looks like a Saiyan space pod but it’s way too big and lands weird!” adds Jheese.
“What thorta thhip is that?” asks Reacoom in perplexity.
But Krillian senses a very familiar presence, even though the ki is way stronger than it has even been before!
“GOKU...” Gasps the fallen monk, then he shouts, “Hang in there a little longer G-Gohan!! Your dad‘s finally here!!!”
Krillian laughs weakly as his friend flashes past, “HA...HA HA HA... GOKU.”
“Krillian just hold on!” Calls Goku in passing, “I’ve got some senzu beans but Gohan needs it first!”
The little monk chuckles, in relieved hysteria. “That’s okay take your time, buddy!”
Goku kneels over his son , and gently lift his head. “Hey champ, I got somethin’ for you!”
Reacoom yells at the interloper, “Hold it! Who in the hell’re you? Kinda big ta be one of these midgetth ain‘t ya?”
Goku ignores the taunts focused only on helping his injured son, “Can you chew it, son?” Then he realizes, the boy’s neck is broken, “Gohan, daddy’s gonna help you, it’s gonna hurt at first but then you’ll be better, all you have to do is swallow it, okay? Here goes...,” He pushed the bean into his son’s mouth and then forces the boy’s jaw to crush it. He watches carefully until he sees his son’s Adam's apple bob up and down.
Jheese and Butta are speculating about the newcomer, “Hey dude’s quick.., bet he’d give you a run for the money!”
Butta snorts in disbelief. “You won’t think that when you see his battle strength!”
The senzu bean finally takes effect, Gohan groans with the pain of his sudden healing. That’s the single drawback of senzu, all the pain that you’d normally feel over the extended course of your recovery hits you all at once.
The giant is startled to see the dying boy suddenly and miraculously sit-up. “WHA...?“
“Son!” exclaims Goku happily.
“D-DADDY?!” cries the boy. He stands up frantically trying to warn his father. “Watch it dad... H-he’s ..., they’re....”
“Hold it a minute, kiddo.” Says his father with a grin ruffling the boy‘s hair, “I still have to give Krillian a senzu.”
“What goin’ on? That brat was virtually dead...!!” Exclaims Jheese in disgust.
“H., how unexpected...!” Says the astonished Butta.
Vegeta glares at Kakarot as he runs his fingers through his son’s hair with a look of fatherly pride. The Prince grits his teeth in grim remembrance, his father had done the same to him, just before his world had been altered so permanently and drastically, in what seems like eons ago! Why do all these Earthlings make him recall things of the past, that are best left buried and forgotten.
“You’ve accomplished a lot, Gohan. You did a great job, I’m proud of you....”
“B-but I didn’t stop him....” answers his son woefully, “even Vegeta couldn’t!”
Goku glances over at the other Saiyan warrior with interest, he can sense how badly he is injured, “.. SO... Vegeta got hurt fighting them too...?” Goku looks at the other Saiyan without surprise, a look of speculation crosses his face.
“It was that one,..” Says his son pointing at the giant redhead as they move towards Krillian. “He’s so incredibly strong.”
Goku kneels down and gives his childhood partner one of Corrine's mystical beans, “Sorry I had to make you wait for it, pal.”
“Don’t worry about it, I really don’t know if I should be glad you got ‘em or not!” Says the little monk.
“Why?” Asks Goku as the smaller man chews the bean, grimaces then jumps to his feet.
“Wha...., it happened.., AGAIN..!!” Gapes the giant humanoid.
The Prince grimaces, he wishes he could have some of that miraculous stuff Kakarot is handing out so freely. He’s still barely able to stand , but he’ll be damned if he’ll let his weakness overwhelm him in front of the other Saiyan!
Krillian looks up at his best friend, “Can’t you see it? Goku.., how strong they all are...?! It doesn’t matter how good we get or how often we’re healed they’ll just keep beatin’ us back down. Over and over again.... We can’t win, I don’t think even you’re strong enough, Goku! Their strength’s beyond belief... even as strong as he is, Vegeta was still totally outmatched...”
Goku looks back at Vegeta again, “So he really was helping you? I thought he was one of them.”
‘Why does that moron keep looking at me?’ Thinks the Prince crossly, ‘Is that coward considering killing of me now, while I’m practically helpless and he still can?’ Vegeta stiffens, forcing his battered body to straighten. ‘Well even if I don’t have much strength left, I can still make Kakarot work for it!!”
“That’s what I thought too, at first, but....,” Starts Krillian.
“Don’t talk.” Says Goku as he put his hand on Krillian forehead, “Just think about it...”
“Hey? Wha- why are you doing that?” Asks Krillian in puzzlement, “I’m not sick or anything..”
Goku smiles at his old friend reassuringly as he removes his hand. “I just read your mind, I know it all now. Bulma’s safe.., Dende‘s rescue.., How you got so strong. What happened to the Dragonballs... Everything, even the stuff about Frieza and Vegeta...”
Goku’s not a bit surprised to discover that his rival had fought alongside the others. Somehow he can even sense the other Saiyan’s state of emotional ambiguity. Vegeta’s attitudes are starting to alter, he’s beginning to reveal the hidden potential for good that Goku had sensed back on Earth, the other Saiyan is not really as corrupted as he even thinks himself to be.
“Hold it!! How’d you manage that?!” Questions Krillian.
“I just guessed it’d work.” Goku glances down at his son. “So, Vegeta actually rescued you, huh?”
The boy nods silently and they both look over at the other Saiyan.
“But it doesn’t look like Vegeta’s arrogance has altered much.” He grins, “But he did warn you and then helped you guys out ...”
Goku upends the bag he had in his hand. “And we all basically want the same thing , to stop Frieza.”
“Hold on,” Krillian is still puzzled, “Goku, how’d you learn to read minds?!”
Goku doesn’t answer instead he looks down at the contents of his hand, “Only one left ...” He shrugs, “Oh well.”
He turns and yells at his rival, “Hey Vegeta !!” He flings the last senzu at him, “Catch!”
The Prince reflexively catches the flung object, he looks down in mystification at the bean cupped in the palm of his hand.
Why in the hell is Kakarot wasting effort to toss him a stupid seed? He looks at the other Saiyan in perplexity.
Unless? Is this what he gave to the others?!
Kakarot shouts again, urging him to take it!
And he can see by the little cueball’s reaction, that he’s really pissed off about the fact that Kakarot gave Vegeta this little thing! There must be a very good reason for that kind of reaction!
“You gave Vegeta the last senzu???!” Shouts Krillian at Goku in disbelief, “What are you thinking about!”
Baldy’s really having a fit! This has to be the medicine that Kakarot gave them! Vegeta slips the small greenish brown seed into his mouth. Biting down, he chews it, it has a slightly tough texture and an odd fishy flavor floods into his mouth. It’s kind of strong and a bit of a repulsive taste at first but he manages to swallow it down instead of spitting it out , he‘s eaten worst things to survive.
He jerks as his body spasms, suddenly wracked with a massive jolt of agony. But then all of his pain vanishes! He looks down at himself in astonishment. “My injuries are healed!... My body‘s whole again!” He stares in Kakarot’s direction, “How come?”
Even the familiar ache of his constant hunger pangs are gone! Vegeta is now even more puzzled than before.
Now even Kakarot is helping him?!
Even after he killed his friends and tried to kill him, his son and that bald midget? What is it with these incomprehensible Earth people, why are they so soft and sentimental? Kakarot’s actions and motives are completely unfathomable to him, the Prince stares in utter confusion at the only other full blooded Saiyan left.
Krillian is still questioning his old comrade, “You’re either crazy, or hoping he’ll fight with us, but I don’t...“
Goku is staring at the giant that the others had been fighting, “Nope that‘s not it. I just want Vegeta fit so we can finish the fight we started on Earth.”
Goku doesn’t quite understand it. But he too feels impelled to complete the battle with Vegeta. Instinctively, even he senses that the shattered ritual had been incomplete.
“Wha..?!” Krillian stares at Goku, “Whatta ya mean F-FINISH?!”
Goku strides towards the giant, there’s a steely glint in his eye. “I’ll be taking care of these others..... BY MYSELF!”
Krillian shouts after him “You don’t know what your talking about!!”
Gohan cries out , “Wait..., D.., DAD.. don‘t.!!”
Goku disregards their protests and keep walking, he stops a few paces from Reacoom.
“Yer one thtrange..., freak.” Says the giant in disbelief, “You think you can take on us...?!”
“We need to stop him...” Anguishes Krillian, “I know Goku’s always be eager to fight.... but he must of gone insane! It’s impossible!!”
Gohan moans in fear “D.. Daddy...”
“Alright weirdo, all I ask....,” states the giant, “..is that you try to last long enough to make this interethting!?” He shouts at his teammates, “Hey Butta! Tell me the geek’th power level?!!”
The tall blue alien answers, “Geek is right! It’s only 5000!”
Reacoom snorts in disappointed disgust, “Another dud, all mouth and no metal!”
The still perplexed Prince is observing a short distance away. “Something’s... different.... about Kakarot. I know he can sense his opponent’s power level..., but he’s not even the least bit worried....”
It’s really puzzling, but what’s more mystifying is why is Kakarot’s behavior is so much different from the savage norm for low ranking Saiyans. He’s supposed to only be a third rater. Someone who’s power had been so low that he’d been sent away from their home world for his own protection until he could increase it enough to return. He shouldn’t be even able to exert such precise control.
But Kakarot is exhibiting a level of precision that one would expect only from the highest ranks of the elite Nobility. It’s impossible, not even Raditz who had been rated so much stronger than this younger half brother, had shown such finely tuned emotional control and restraint.
“He’s so calm...? Where’s his Saiyan fury ...?” Then it suddenly dawns on the Prince, “I.. it’s impossible!!.... It can’t be!!!”
Vegeta’s eyes widen as he sees the strange intensity shining from Kakarot’s face. The other Saiyan is smiling in anticipation as his racial battle glee starts to stir back into life. The Prince questions his own conclusion, “He couldn’t have actually done it, could he...?”
“HUH?!” Reacoom stares at the being in front of him, “He’s gotta be a pthycho. He’s looking at death and thmiling!”
“You can’t beat me.” The Saiyan from Earth tells Reacoom calmly, “I’m telling you this now to give you a chance to change your mind.”
“Are you kidding!” Responds the giant in stunned disbelief.
Vegeta suddenly realizes that Kakarot is stating only the facts, he can sense the other’s Saiyan’s sudden increase of power. As he starts to feel his own increase in tandem.
Reacoom splutters with barely controlled laughter. He calls out to his companions, “Can you believe thith?!! The dope’th trying to con his way outta thith!”
Vegeta stares at Kakarot, the other Saiyan’s growing energy suffuses the Prince as well. He can feel it flowing into him, through power link that still exists between them!
“That‘s weird...” Krillian begins to realize that there’s a difference in his friend. “Goku doesn’t bluff..”
Gohan is beginning to suspect something too, but he still questions, “Can’t dad see how strong that guy is...?”
Vegeta clenches his fists, Kakarot’s power level is still rising it’s incredible! It‘s surpassing all know Saiyan limits. “No not him...,” the Prince face darkens in anger, “he’s only an amateur fighter...” staring in furious amazement, “He can’t be the one.., Kakarot can’t be attaining that..... ”
Reacoom takes up a fighting stance. “I’m not listhtening to anymore of your joketh, lother.. It’s time to thhut-up, permanently!”
Vegeta grits his teeth in rage, glaring at Kakarot, “The penultimate of Saiyan myth!!! The Legendary that appears only once an eon. I never believed it could actually be true, I thought it was just a fable, a mere story used to frighten and amuse cubs. But if it were remotely possible, I was certain that I would be the only Saiyan capable of reaching the level of strength needed to attain it!”
But right now Vegeta can sense that Kakarot’s ki is even higher than his, though the Prince can feel his increasing as well. Sudden realization hits, if the impossible dream is possible, he could still beat Frieza! With the power bond still linking them together, their energy will eventually balance out and match! If the unthinkable is reality and Kakarot is actually becoming a Super Saiyan then so can Vegeta!!
Reacoom yells, “Are you ready to die, CHUMP?!” The brute thrusts his arms forward, shouting, “GINYU THPECIAL FORCE!” then flourishes them about his head finishing with an ear shattering pronouncement of his name “REACOOM...., HO! HA!”
Goku stares at the ridiculous figure in bemusement.
“YA! MACH ATTACK!!!” Power thrums from the absurd giant, he streaks towards Goku ready to hit the motionless target with a super energy charged punch.
But when he arrives his target is GONE!
“UM?!” The giant looks about himself in perplexity, “HUH?! WHERE...?!”
Even Krillian is mystified, “H-He’s vanished!!!”
Gohan quires “Wh-Where Dad go...I don‘t see him...!!”
Vegeta is the only one who had seen the lightening-like movements of Kakarot’s dodge and his subsequent transition to arrive unnoticed behind Reacoom's two allies. Trembling with his simmering rage and aware of a new possibly for attaining his ultimate revenge the Prince watches with a bitter kind of reluctant hopefulness.
Butta and Jheese are just as confused, “What’s happenin’?” Asks the white maned warrior, “Where’d the heck ...?” Suddenly his Scouter starts ticking like crazy and the both whirl about to face Goku!
“You blathted...!!!!” Butta growls , “H.. how’d you get...?!”
Reacoom whirls hearing his teammates shouts of astonishment “What’s goin‘....?!”
Krillian and Gohan turn to look as well, “He’s over there! How he do that?!”
The Prince realizes that he was the only one able to witness Kakarot's transition. His power is growing to match that of the other Saiyan’s. And he wonders what kind of incredible training Kakarot did in the few months since he had last seen him.
“You’re a couple more of Frieza’s men.” States Goku as he strides between them, “Well if you leave now, I‘ll let you go. I don’t really want to hurt anyone.”
“You!... Hurt us..?!” Responds Jheese sarcastically. “RRRight!!!!
Then Goku leaps into the air and flies back to his first opponent.
“Tho you think you’re a thpeedthter huh...” says Reacoom in greeting then he chuckles, “I got newth for ya, runnin’ doethn’t win fightth!”
But Krillian has noticed something else, “Vegeta knew exactly where Goku was the whole time! How’d he manage to see what we didn’t?!”
The Prince is growling soundlessly with his suppressed rage.
Kakarot is continuing to surpass him at every turn. This is almost intolerable, that a mere low level peon like him should be so much stronger than even his rightful liege! It cannot be true, there’s no a way he can be a real Super Saiyan! Only an elite was supposed to be able to attain it.
But whatever Kakarot is, Vegeta can become it too! And when Vegeta does reach that pinnacle of unimaginable power, he’ll teach that renegade Saiyan a thing or two about his proper place!
But without the Prince’s even realizing it, his heart is already starting to change. Vegeta is still fiercely determined to battle with Kakarot, focused on totally defeating him, but he has all unaware altered his objective, he is no longer set on Kakarot’s complete destruction and death.
Little does the Saiyan Prince realize that the mere fact that he was even able to observe Goku’s movement is the hint that Vegeta is also approaching that same plateau of power, mere steps and heart change from the myth. The Prince is getting ever closer to the coveted goal of becoming a legendary Super Saiyan.
The behemoth regards his unflustered foe, “I’m gonna have to uthe my ultimate technique. I’m warning you no one can ethcape thith by running.” He grins at Goku, “It just blowth everything away in a huge circle, and there’s nothhh-thin left around me afterwardth!”
Goku gazes at him the epitome of calm.
Vegeta waits, almost impatient with breathless expectation, “Now we shall see the reality...”
“Are you four ready? Cauthe you’re all taking a one way trip... to hell!” Gloats the giant, before he starts by shouting his name once more....
Krillian and Gohan recoil groaning with recognition, at the behemoth’s far too familiar tactic.
“ULTRA...” Reacoom continues his shout raising his hands skyward as he focuses his energies, “MEGA...”
But before the giant can complete his chant, Goku flashes forward to attack, hitting the behemoth in the gut with his elbow.
The goliath doubles over the sharp stabbing pain, groaning in surprise.
Goku smiles sheepishly, apologizing, “I couldn’t help it, you were just so wide open!”
The others all stare in shocked amazement.
Reacoom manages to blurt out, “Y- Y- You...., pipthqueak..” As he wobbles clutching his stomach, then he collapses forward into oblivion.
His partners cry out in shocked unison!!
Gohan gapes in surprise, “M-my....Dad got him!!!?”
Goku stands in confident triumph over his gigantic fallen foe.
“I- I- don’t believe it.” Splutters Krillian. “How could he..., he couldn’t ..., even if that monster was off guard. But... he -he did it ... Goku attacked and won the whole thing ...with a single blow!”
Jheese remarks with astonishment. “That shouldn’t have happened! There was nothing in that attack!”
Butta scoffs, “It was a trick it had to be....”
But the Prince is wiser, “GRRR, RRRR damn it...!! That wasn’t a trick or even a fluke. It wasn’t even a special technique...” Vegeta had actually felt Kakarot’s power shoot upwards in the massive burst as he had hit Reacoom with a ki enhanced blow, he glares angrily at his rival. “Kakarot just took him out with a single tremendous hit!”
He clenches his fists in frustration, “He has done it! He’s overcome the normal limitations of Saiyan strength. He’s changed, he’s not the simple warrior I fought before! The legend’s true! But how did he accomplish it in such a short time?”
Goku turns his attention to the giant’s teammates, as Reacoom twitches at his feet. “Now will you go home?!” He shouts sternly, “Or do I have to hit someone else?”
“Do you hear that, what’s he take us for?” Jheese comments, “He's gotta be dreamin’!”
“He thinks he beat Reacoom with his own strength, but it must have been a fluke!” Responds the huge blue lizard, “Some sort of freak accident and Reacoom‘s own idiocy of always leaving his guard down...”
Krillian watches his friend with a growing awareness he tells Gohan, “Your dad’s not bluffing something weird’s happening.”
“That what had ta of happened, the geek's power level never budged...” adds Jheese. “We’ll just have to teach him, ya don’t mess with the Ginyu Special Forces without havin’ problems!”
With a simultaneous shout they go into a matching pose.
“So your going to continue to be stubborn.” Says Goku with in calm resignation.
Vegeta stares at the strange tableau, waiting for the carnage to unfold, “It’s over before it even starts..!!”
Kakarot’s true power level far exceeds either Jheese or Butta’s. The Ginyus are already defeated and they don‘t even know it! The Prince’s power is also continuing to grow, his strength which had already increased from his recovery, is now being augmented and enhanced by the power link with Kakarot as well. The other Saiyan may be stronger, right now but Vegeta’s strength is beginning to catch up to his battle bond brother’s.
The remaining members of the Ginyu force streak towards their doom. They land flanking Kakarot.
“Now you find up what yer really up against. It’s big mistake to underestimate....” Starts a sneering Jheese.
Goku’s unexpected punch cuts short the threat.
Jheese growls, then splutters as he lowers his hand from his bloody nose, “You rotten bastard.... if you've messed up my profile...”
“But you’re just so wide open, practically begging me to hit you.” Says Goku in perplexity, “I couldn’t resist. Didn‘t you want me to?”
Butta reacts in stunned shock.
The red hued incensed Ginyu yells, “You’re dead....” as he leaps up to kick Goku’s head in as his partner aims an elbow at the same target from behind.
Goku easily blocks both blows without even looking then retaliates with a knee to the smaller Ginyu’s groin, following that by dropping to deliver a rear kick to the larger one.
Flipping back to ready the two exclaim in shocked surprise.
Goku swiftly crosses his arms gathering energy, to fire off matched blasts from each hand at his startled foes.
The blasts blow both off their feet throwing them yards distant.
Vegeta trembles in reaction to the swirling energy awash inside of him.
The ebb and flow of power through the bond with his battle brother is incredible, he can feel it surging back and forth back through the linkage. Every time Kakarot gathers and expends energy Vegeta’s boosted and then drawn upon too. Kakarot’s battle with the Ginyus is enhancing Vegeta, just as Vegeta’s battles must have enhanced Kakarot!
The two troop members screech to a stop. They’re so far apart that they’re forced to resort to using the scouters to communicate, “What in the hell was that?” screeches Jheese.
“All it was, was a Kiai..” Mutters Krillian in shock , “A simple little elementary Kiai...”
“B-but they‘re practically helpless, I thought they were suppose to be the best.” Asks Gohan, “Dad’s blowing them away like they’re nothing!”
“They have the same power level as Reacoom did, and he fought Vegeta to a virtual stand still.” says Krillian, “Your dad must be so strong that they just look weak in comparison!”
“But that's impossible, Dad ki is nowhere near theirs!!!” Protest Goku’s son.
The Saiyan Prince is watching Kakarot’s every move, all his senses stretched to their utmost limit. “He’s only powering up when he attacks! And then it’s so quick and high that the scouters can’t compensate fast enough to even register a reading. That’s how he’s conserving his energy and how he can multiply it so much.” Vegeta hunches in frustration, “But where’d he learn how to do that!? It takes an enormous amount of energy just to maintain control that precisely.”
Butta is fuming, “Now I’m getting mad. I’m not going to let this little bug make me look like an idiot.” He reaches up and activates the communication portion of his scouter, “Jheese..., can you read me?”
“Yeah!!”
“Throw your crusher ball!” Instructs the big blue lizard, “He’ll dodge it.”
“Well duh!” Responds his partner.
“When he tries to evade it I’ll get him from behind!” Replies Butta in exasperation. “He’s quick I’ll give him that, but nobody's faster than me!”
“I get it now!” Jheese grins in understanding, “But I can’t believe we have to resort to that tactic to take out this jerk.”
Jheese's shout as he forms his energy sphere draws everyone’s attention towards him, just as expected.
Butta waits ready to make his move the second his opponent flinches.
But the orange clad warrior remains grimly motionless....
“Move..” urges the waiting attacker under his breath.
But the target continues to stand his ground.
“WH- WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” Screams Butta in thwarted amazement. “Why aren’t you trying to get out of the way?!!!” As the energy ball bears down on the immobile warrior.
Goku finally reacts, but not in the anticipated way. He casually backhands the power sphere aside, sending it flying straight towards the prospective ambusher.
Butta screams his protest, as he darts aside out of the raving ball’s path.
Jheese stares in open mouthed astonishment “He deflected it!”
Suddenly the blue giant glares at the suddenly empty spot Goku had occupied, “NO, you can’t have gotten away from me!!!”
During all this time, Bulma has waited. Left alone to rely on her own devices. At that very moment she’s attempting to eat something and failing miserably. She suspects her lack of appetite stems from the fact that somehow she feels like something important is happening somewhere.
“What are they doing anyway...? I bet those two kids completely forgot about me, they’re p robably out goofing off somewhere.” She pauses to consider her situation and glances up at the endlessly illuminated green sky. “This constant sunlight isn’t exactly the best thing for my delicate skin either, I should have brought a stronger sunblock!”
She pushes away her half finished meal, she wasn’t really hungry anyway, just bored, worried and a little angry. Some adventure this is, sitting around waiting endlessly for news, while the boys have all the fun and excitement, she might as well have stayed at home.
What was that Saiyan Vegeta doing with the guys anyway, and why were they all in such a damned hurry? They might have at least told her something!
She kinda hopes that fleeting impression she had gotten from the strangely intriguing warrior was correct. If Vegeta really is their ally now, things may still turn out alright after all. With his strength and Goku’s, when he finally gets here, not to mention Krillian and Gohan‘s, she’s certain they’ll be able to handle that other guy the boys were so worried about. It just bothers her a bit that they all seemed so frantic about something.
She suspects that they still haven’t made the wish because she hasn’t noticed any of the usual signs. The light in sky has remained steadily constant. She just hopes nothing’s gone radically wrong. But she did have, an odd sense impending doom a little while ago but then it went away and she’d felt better.
Goku should be arriving anytime now.
She leans back in her chair closing her eyes, visualizing the short Saiyan. Boy, that Vegeta is sure some piece of work.
He’s certainly handsome enough, if you can see past that fierce scowl of his, it‘s just too bad he’s half crazy. He’s so grim and angry seeming, but she gets the feeling that it’s only because of some kinda hurt that he’s nursing inside. She almost wishes she’d get a chance at trying to make him feel better.
Bulma mentally shakes her head. But really, it’s such stupid idea and probably suicidal to boot. Maybe she going a little crazy too, cooped up here all by herself. Why can’t she stop thinking about Vegeta?
Back at the battlefield, Jheese shouts a desperate warning to his partner, “Butta turn around!!”
And Goku is there, floating unconcernedly arms crossed casually.
“Hey.” Says Goku casually.
“WHAT?!” Blurts the blue skinned giant as he whirls around to face him.
“How...did you..!?” He splutters in disbelief, “I.. it’s not possible... nobody in the universe is faster than me....!”
“I think that‘s changed...” Comments Goku with a slight smile.
“It‘s.. not.. possible... not only did he just toss my Crusher ball aside..,” marvels Jheese, “B-but he surprised Butta!! I don’t believe it, it’s gotta be some sort of stupid dream....”
“What sort of monster ARE you...?” Asks a dumbfounded Butta.
“I’ve been told ...” replies Goku, “...that I’m Saiyan, but I grew up on Earth.”
“Bah!!” Scoffs the giant lizard, “You can’t be, no Saiyan monkey can even come close to matching me!!!”
“I wouldn’t know, I was sent to Earth as a baby.” Responds Goku, “But I did do some pretty radical training.”
“I don’t care what you did! You can’t beat me with just speed. Keep evading me,” threatens Butta, “I’ll still catch you in the end when you get tired and start to falter!”
Butta attempts to grab Goku shouting, “Dodge all you want monkey!! I’ll get my hands on you eventually!”
Goku evades his grasp slipping sideways then continues to easily evade Butta who tries to connect with several rapid right kicks.
“I’ve had enough!!!!” Shouts Jheese as he charges forward to join in the fray, “No one makes fools out of us!!”
One of the several images of Goku, blurts “WHOA!” At the secondary attack.
But even with both of them attacking, simultaneously, neither one can even land a single blow.
After dodging several more of their combined punches and kicks, Goku says, “Do you want me to prove that I’m not just really quick?!”
Easily zipping from out of the center of the fray Goku hits Butta from behind, landing a single kick to the middle of the blue lizard’s back. It sends the massive alien flying off at tremendous speed. Goku streaks after, passing him only to greet Butta with an elbow to the back of the skull. The blow knocks him senseless and he plummets to the ground. But Goku beats him to the impact point and catches the dead weight of his helpless foe. He holding Butta’s twitching body of over his head, one-handedly.
Goku lightly tosses Butta’s body aside, then glares at Jheese. “See, it useless to try and fight me! Take you friends and leave! Before you get yourself killed!!!”
Jheese has been rendered wordless so he can only squeal in shock, Butta was the stronger member of their partnership! The dominant half of their pairing!
The Prince stares at Kakarot in disbelief, “Don’t let them go, you idiot! You have to destroy both of them!!!”
Kakarot looks at his furious fellow Saiyan saying reasonably, “Look at them you can sense that they’re completely beaten, we don’t need to kill anymore, Vegeta.”
Vegeta is barely restraining his fury, Kakarot doesn’t understand anything, these..., beasts deserve their deaths. If only in retaliation for all the pain they’ve caused.
They wouldn’t spare any of them if the situation were reversed!
And if given half a chance to recover, they’ll come back, murderously forewarned and ready. The Ginyu Force is far too dangerous to be allowed to survive. The only safe, the only smart thing to do is to eliminate them all, now!
What has happened to Kakarot’s natural inborn Saiyan blood lust and instinctive knowledge of battle tactics? He has to be brain damaged!
Jheese is trembling in horror, “This..., can’t be.., happening! We are the best.., of the best! Frieza’s five finest..., Cap’n Ginyu’s Elite troop... The five greatest warriors.., in the universe. Stopped by a low-powered clown .., like him... He.., shouldn‘t be.. able....” Staring in shock!
Goku returns the stare implacably. “This has to be... It is a nightmare!” Concludes the crimson warrior, “We cant’ have been stopped, been beaten.” Jheese yells in protest, “I won‘t accept it!!!” So he does the only thing left, he flees for Frieza’s ship and his commander. Krillian shout’s jubilantly, “He’s leaving!!”
Goku glances down at Butta and then over at Reacoom. “He just abandoned his teammates....”
Krillian gazes at his old friend, “Are you.., are you sure you’re still..., Goku?”
But before he can answer Vegeta appears above Butta’s body, descending like an avenging angel of death.
Goku shouts, “VEGETA?...STOP IT!” But it’s too late!
The Prince hits, both knees impacting full force on the blue lizard’s skull, crushing it practically flat.
“Wh-why..?” Yells Goku in anger, “He wasn’t a danger...” Then Goku realizes that Vegeta isn’t listening, isn’t pausing, “WHAT DO YOU THINK---?!”
Vegeta has leapt to his feet and whirled. He fires at the snoring Reacoom, blasting him into his component atoms!
Once finished Vegeta examines his handy work ignoring the shouting Kakarot.
“THERE WAS NO REASON TO DO THAT!!” Anguishes Goku. “They were helpless!!”
The Prince turns to face the other Saiyan, disposing of two more of his old abusers has helped vent some of Vegeta’s rage and helped him regain some of his fragile wavering composure, “Your sentimentality sickens me, as usual. You’re so clueless...” He regards the other Saiyan almost calmly.
Kakarot still hasn’t gotten it. Besides the fact that they were the worst type of perverts, they were seasoned warriors, fighters with only one goal, kill or be killed. Vegeta knows their mentality all to well, having shared it for almost three decades!
Leaving them defeated but still alive would have only invited more trouble later on. They would have just recovered and then come back seeking revenge for the dishonor of their defeat.
This idiot Kakarot is so naive! As it is Jheese’s escape is going to cause problems sooner rather than later. It looks like Vegeta will have to do Kakarot’s thinking for him. He should have kept Nappa alive, even that traitor had more battle smarts than this sentimental sap seems to have. Now instead of a dimwitted traitor, he’s stuck with this backwards numbskull. Vegeta’s not sure which is one is the worse choice.
“Why did you just stand there like lump and let Jheese escape?!” Accuses Vegeta, “A single blast would have ended it!” He spits in contempt, “It’s hard to believe that you’re even a member of my race! With your soft-headedness you could never become a true a Super Saiyan !...”
Kakarot stares at him in stupefaction, “What’s a Super Saiyan...?”
Vegeta ignores the question, “I suppose you’re PROUD of your strength, well forget it! You‘re still no match for FRIEZA!!! No one but an immortal could beat him!!!” Vegeta’s voice rises as his insane anger nearly overwhelms his control, “You’ll never understand the true horror of who you’re opposing !!!”
The three defenders of Earth stare at the raving Saiyan.
“Hold on... are you trying to say that...,” asks Kakarot, “That even though I’m more powerful than I’ve ever been before. This guy Frieza is still way stronger than me?!”
The Prince barely manages to regain his shaky control, “Frieza is so far beyond you, Kakarot that you can’t even imagine it. There’s no way even you can prepare for him.”
The other Saiyan just stares at him.
“Relax Vegeta!” Says a grinning Krillian, “You saw it, Goku flattened those guys like matchsticks! Nobody can beat him!”
Vegeta glances over at the little Earthling, “Well, you’re welcome to try small fry! But go by yourself .., Frieza’s had plenty of time, he’s probably already used those Dragonballs to wish for immortality!”
As he speaks Vegeta is considering their rapidly dwindling options, “I suggest we get out of here and hope Frieza never finds us!” The Prince is going to have to get away, flee this planet and hide somewhere to regroup.
There’s no doubt in his mind that his old Master will come looking for him. If anything Frieza’s persistent and he holds onto a grudge forever. Vegeta suspects that he’s hurt the Tyrant badly this time and that monster will want to wreak his revenge on the Prince‘s body personally.
They’ll have to hurry, Kakarot can go retrieve his female himself, since it obvious that he’s the fastest. Then they can use that ship he arrived in, but they don‘t dare go back to Earth, cause that‘s the first place Frieza'd look....
But the bald Earthling interrupts his train of thought, saying, “No.. I don’t think he’s done it yet...”
“You don’t?!” Goku asks as he looks at his old training partner in surprise.
“How could you know that?!” Snaps Vegeta, suddenly interested in the conversation again..
“If these Namekian balls are anything at all like our Dragonballs, the sky should change, turn dark when the dragon is summoned.” Says Krillian slowly.
“What dragon.....?!” Quires Vegeta.
“That’s right!” Nods Goku remembering the times that Shenron had manifested on Earth.
“But I have seen anything like that happen yet,” says the little monk. “The sky hasn’t changed at all, the Namekian dragon hasn’t be called or arisen to grant the wish.”
“Who or what is a..., Shenron?” Asks the Saiyan Prince again as he starts to get agitated, “Are you saying there’s some sort of creature tied into making these Dragonballs function?!”
“Frieza doesn’t know the invocation!” Goku grins in sudden comprehension, “He probably thinks that once you get the Dragonballs, all you have to do is make a wish. So if we can get them back we should be still able to get what we came after!!”
“Invocation,” the Prince is still perplexed, “And there’s some sort of special words involved...?”
“Then we can wish everybody back...” Exults Goku.
Gohan shouts, “YEAH!!” Filled with the resiliency of youthful jubilation.
“So we just need to get those Dragonballs away from Frieza,” Says Krillian.
Goku turns to the other Saiyan, “Hey, Vegeta ... You got any ideas? You’re familiar with their tactics.”
“I thought you wanted to take on Frieza, yourself!?” Retorts Vegeta.
“I do! But.. well, the truth is, King Kai ordered me not to.” Replies Kakarot who then adds , “But I do need to do something! I have to bring my friends that were killed back to life, they’re depending on me!.”
“Is that what you're planning on wishing for?!” Says Vegeta in shock, “Now I know you’re a complete numbskull! What good is that! Frieza will just come along someday and blow up your entire planet! It’d be far wiser to grant me eternal life.”
“Not a chance!!” Protests Krillian vehemently, “You’ll be just as bad as Frieza!!”
The Prince is suddenly distracted from the argument as he senses something approaching. His head jerks to the side as he focuses on the spiritual disturbance. “There’s two power sources approaching. It figures, Jheese’s returning with reinforcements. He ran off crying to his boss Captain Ginyu, and now they’re both coming!” He grins ironically, “Ginyu’s the strongest one of them all, Kakarot. It’s possible that he may even prove to be too big a handful for you.”
“H-He’s telling the truth Goku!!” Confirms Krillian, “Their boss is way stronger than the others were! He poses a real problem..!!”
As he extends his sensing ability to monitor Ginyu and Jheese, the Prince suddenly realizes something, “Where’d Frieza go!?! He’s not at his ship any more! He was there when Ginyu left with the Dragonballs..”
Goku points off to his left, “There’s a huge power going that way. I wasn’t worried about it cause it’s really far away and getting further from here all the time. Maybe that’s him....”
His son and partner react with horror, as they turn to look in the direction Goku's pointing.
“Krillian isn’t that...” Blurts the boy.
“Great Kame’ NO!” Cries Krillian, “Frieza's heading straight for the Great Elder’s place!” Then his eyes widen, “He musta tried to make his wish and it didn’t get it! So now he’s looking for someone to tell him how to make the Dragonballs work!!!”
“What are you babbling about?” Asks Vegeta, then understanding dawns, “There was another Namek, hidden inside that building!!”
“The Great Elder, is he the one who made these Dragonballs?!” Asks Goku.
Krillian nods, “Shit! THIS IS SO BAD, Goku!!”
“Frieza’s a ruthless killer. Once he finds out how to make his wish, he’ll kill the Elder!” Cries his son, “Not knowing that it’ll make the Dragonballs vanish!!!”
“Van-” The Prince crackles with anger, “Vanish?!”
If that’s true Vegeta’s chance at revenge will die with the elder. There has to be someway to get his wish first! Or the Prince may never be able to kill Frieza!
Goku suddenly glances at the sky, “They’re coming..” Two figures appear in the distance.
With almost incomprehensible speed they arrive and land to confront the group of reluctant allies.
“Thought you’d get away with it huh?!” Sneers Jheese as he glances at his dead companions. “Think again! The Cap’n’s here now an’ he’ll teach ya fools different!!!”
Krillian looks at Goku with concern, “That’s him alright. Do you think you can take him Goku?!”
“I can only try,” answers the tall Saiyan, “He does look tougher than the others though...”
“That’s the guy?” Ginyu asks Jheese, “He reads only 5000....”
“That’s him.” Nods his companion, “It’s really nuts!”
“Stupid! I told you guys again and again, not to rely on just your scouter readings!” The commander of the Ginyu force spits. “He has to be one of those mutants that can control their ki. Raising and lowering it at will!”
Ginyu examines Goku. “I bet he can raise it to at least...60,000...”
“That high?!” Exclaims his crimson companion, “He said he was a Saiyan, just a stinkin’ Saiyan! No ordinary monkey can come close to 60,000 joules!!”
“It’s not entirely improbable,” replies Ginyu. “He could have been a sport mutation born as a gifted fighter, just like Veggie! Remember those old Saiyan space pods were nothing but radiation sieves.”
“Could be this is what I‘ve been looking for.” Then he grins. “A fight were I can really let loose and use full power for the first time!”
“We’ll keep them here,” Goku tells Gohan and Krillian, “You guys go get the radar and try to find the Dragonballs. Most likely they're at Frieza's ship! If we beat these guys we’ll come find you.”
Vegeta is watching the conversing Earthlings, silently scowling. How dare Kakarot! Is he trying to take command of the situation? He really just to much to believe!
“Al-alright!” answers the smaller man he glances at Vegeta with trepidation, then turning to the boy, “Come on Gohan, we need ta hurry. Before Frieza can get to the Great Elder!”
“B-but he maybe dead already...!” Chokes Gohan.
“I hope not!” Responds the little monk.
“Just get going!” Says Kakarot before turning to Vegeta, “I know you’re strength’s been increased too, especially after that last fight. You should be able to take Jheese now.”
Vegeta smirks, “So you finally figured it out! About time!” So the moron is trying to give his Prince orders!
It is a good plan though.
Perhaps Kakarot is smarter than he first seemed. He’s certainly astute when it comes to a ctual fighting tactics, even if he’s lacking in long term overall battle strategies.
Krillian‘s eyes widen, “Is that true?” He stares awestruck at the Prince.
“I said go!! MOVE IT!!” Yells Goku, “And watch it!!”
As they leap skywards, Krillian cries back. “Be careful, Goku.... and good luck.. to both of you!!” He and the youth fly off.
“The midgets, they’re escaping...!!” Protests Jheese.
“They’re minnows, forget them.” Replies his Commander, “We got bigger fish right here.”
Goku turns to confront the remaining members of the Ginyu Force. “Any time guys, let’s get this started!!”
“I hope your prepared,” says Ginyu ,“You’re about to discover what true power really is!”
The four stare at one and other, then with a sharp bark of a laugh Vegeta shoots up, shouting back, “Farewell Kakarot!”
But it’s too bad, the Prince has other plans, and he never once agreed to help Kakarot. The other Saiyan only assumed it, then dared to try and give orders to Vegeta, again! The Prince is the one who gives orders! Besides the real problem will be Frieza, not these two, the only way anyone will ever be able to defeat him is if one of them gains eternal life and Vegeta is determined to be the one who does it. His very existence rides on it. He not only has to but he needs to be the one to destroy Frieza!
“VEGETA!!!!” shouts Goku as he stares in shock at the other Saiyan’s departing back.
Ginyu recognizes as opening when he sees one, “NOW!!!!!” He strikes like lightening.
As the Prince streaks away, laughing, “That was child’s play..” He tells himself, “My guess is that Ginyu and Kakarot are so evenly matched that they’re nearly equal in power, it could easily work out that they kill each other. Making it all the simpler for me!“
If Ginyu kills Kakarot, the brat can’t blame me for it! And that would free the female.
Once Vegeta rids the universe of Frieza he’ll need the brat for his Saiyan genome. Between the two them the Saiyan race can be reborn!
He chuckles insanely, “After I get the formula to activate the Dragonballs, I’ll knock the crap out of them!” His eyes narrow, “Once I’m immortal, I’ll be able to kill of Frieza!!”
Thus completing his vengeance and finally fully restoring him and his lost honor. Until the deaths of Dodoria and Zarbon, Vegeta had been unable to think of himself as a royalty. The empty title had been filled with festering self hatred. But their deaths had started the process of his redemption and Vegeta once more feels as if he’s entitled to think of himself as a real Prince.
Frieza’s death at Vegeta‘s hands will finish the process, once he has accomplished that the Crown Prince of the Saiyan’s will be fully reborn. He will be able and deserving to finally lay claim to his birthright, the title and crown of the Saiyan Monarch. Then and only then, will the he be able to take his proper place in the universe with his pride finally fully restored.
‘Once Frieza is finally gone, I will take over the rule of the universe as is my right. Everything I want will be mine to have.’ He grins lavishly, ‘Including that tantalizing female of Kakarot’s, I will stake claim to her, myself. She may be the mother of his brat but she is only his woman, not his truemate. Otherwise she would never have aroused to me.’
Bored Bulma has fallen asleep. She’s fell asleep thinking about him and those dark riveting eyes of his. And now she’s dreaming about Vegeta and even though they’re alone together, it’s not a frightening dream, in fact it’s the exact opposite.
The arrival of the boys waken her.
“BULMA!!” Gohan is shouting her name excitedly, “B-BULMA!!”
She rouses as she hears her name, mumbling inaudibly “Vege...”
“We need the Dragon radar now!! Shouts Krillian shaking her, frantically, “Where is it?!!”
She blinks at him sleepily, “MMM?”
It had been such an odd dream but very, very nice. They had been together in her apartment at Capsule, and Vegeta had just come into her bedroom with an oddly intense look on his face. Then he had taken her in his strong muscular arms and was just about to kiss her.
Then the boys woke her up! It’s really irritating, that dream had just started to get good!
“Where have you been, what have you guys be up too?! First you zoomed in here,.... with Vegeta in tow no less, took the Dragonball...,” She glares furiously at them, “and then zoomed off again without a single word of explanation!!!”
‘And where’s that Saiyan at anyway?’ She wonders. She’d half-hoped he’d come back with them. She rounds on the two boys is disappointment.
“Who’s bright idea was it to abandon me way out here anyway?!?” She complains bitterly.
“Bulma we don’t have time for this. We gotta have the radar.” Says Krillian apologetically, “If we hurry we still might be able to get our wish....”
“You haven‘t called the Dragon yet?!” She shouts incensed, “I saw all the seven balls together, I figured you would have called Shenron by this time! What have you been doing all this time, goofing off!?!”
“G- g- goofing off?!” Krillian who has always been more of a take action kind of guy has never been very good at words around women and even worse with them whenever Bulma starts yelling. Fortunately for him, Gohan finds the radar device and activates it at that moment.
“Hey Krillian.” Shouts the boy, “I’ve spotted them. Just like we thought, they’re over thatta way!”
“GREAT!” Shouts the diminutive man jubilantly, “Let’s get goin‘!” The two leap into the air.
Bulma raises her fists screaming in frustration. “Will someone please tell me what’s going on?!!”
The youngster pauses, momentarily, glancing back at her. “Gee sorry, but we’re sorta in hurry. Then adds with a grin, “But my Dad finally got here!!”
“Goku’s here!” She cries happily, “D-does he looks okay?! Has he gotten stronger?!”
The child does respond verbally, but he gives her a thumbs up followed by a huge grin. As Krillian calls to him “Come ON!!!”
Leaving her to watch the streaking contrails of their departure once more.
Abandoned again!
She muses as stares after them, “Who’d’ve thought ten years ago, that that little kid, Son Goku, would become so strong, become the ultimate power..? I guess I was too busy fighting with Yamcha, all the time to notice. The passage of time can sure deceive you.” She looks up at the sky, in speculation, “Did I make a mistake....?”
But somehow she knows that she didn’t. If there is a Saiyan somewhere in her future it’s certainly not Goku, a smile flickers across her lips as she remembers that dream and a shock of hair shaped like a black flame that rises over dark intensely brooding eyes. Lips moving to meet hers...
Then her own eyes widen in shock, one hand comes up to cover her mouth in consternation, “Oh Kami’ I was dreaming about... Vegeta!!”
It’s the one thing she hadn’t wanted to end up doing.
She wasn’t really psychic like her mother, but her dreams were predictive in one way.
All her life, whenever she started dreaming about someone she‘d met, it meant that they would eventually became very significant to her.
And those dreams had never misled her.
She’d dreamed about her friendship with Goku, right after they’d encountered one and other. She’d even had dreams about those two pervs Roshi, and Oolong!
Over the years she’d dreamt about all her friends, Yamcha and Puar. Then Krillian, ChiChi, Tien and Chaotze.
Even Piccolo had entered into her sleeping thoughts. And lately she’d done it about little Gohan too.
Once someone’s visage invaded her dreams, they somehow inevitably, became permanent fixtures in her life. And sometimes even the dreams themselves were eerily accurate!
So how will Vegeta become part of her life? If that dream is any indication...! She flushes from the roots of her hair to her toes.
Vegeta is floating high about Frieza's ship, observing it. He extends his senses searching, and confirming what Kakarot had said. “Frieza has left.” He smiles in grim satisfaction. “That will make things so much simpler for me.”
There’s not a single guard left at the ship with power stronger than his. The so-called sentries are nothing more than mere low ranking troopers. And those slackers are even half-asleep!
“I can’t spot the Dragonballs, but if Frieza didn’t take them with him, they’re probably hidden after what happened the last time.” Vegeta chuckles, it had been a such small victory, when he had stolen the balls earlier, but it was a satisfying victory over Frieza none the less.
With several blasts he swiftly disposes of the lackadaisical guards, circling down below the rim of the ship to take out the rest of the snoozing patrol. Then he flies back up to the open upper hatchway and enters. The sounds of his outside attack had caused chaos to erupt within the vessel. The ship’s corridors are seething with troops like a disturbed colony of insects. Various sorts of beings are running about, pell-mell in every conceivable direction. Shouting in consternation. They are nothing but a brainless rabble! A swarm without a leader.
The Prince descends to the landing bay floor, “But he left Ginyu behind to guard something, so they are most likely around somewhere..” He muses ignoring the hubbub.
As he starts down the passageway he’s greeted by the remainder of Frieza's depleted forces. These are mostly normal beings, unpowered, with little or no battle strength. Mere techs that run the ship’s inner workings. They are the lowest ranking members of Frieza's army, with no personal power at all, so when they are forced to fight they have to resort to using supplementary weaponry.
He strides through the midst of them, and they recoil in fearful recognition. “I -it’s Lord Vegeta!" cries one in panic as he comes face to face with the Saiyan Prince. “It‘s not possible! Ginyu said you were dead!”
“Ginyu was wrong!” Vegeta continues to move forward, as the soldiers continue to retreat in terror. He can sense more following, closing in from behind. All are radiating their quaking fear.
The panic is contagious, it spreads like wildfire through the ship. They had feared him as a Saiyan and one of their Commanders even before his revolt. His strength had ranked him as one of Frieza's top warriors. And the way their Master’s so often overlooked Vegeta’s constant defiance, had made him an unknown factor in the chain of command. Sometimes punishing the Saiyan Prince and other times ignoring his tantrums, the fact that Frieza had so often looked the other way when it came to Vegeta is now what causes their utter lack of direction and confusion.
What is Vegeta’s status now?
And to make matters worse, they all know that he’d killed, not only Qui but Dodoria and Zarbon as well. So who knows how strong he has actually gotten!
“Watch it!!!” So no one dares to stand in his way. “It’s Prince Vegeta!”
Suddenly one, more frightened or foolhardy than the rest, tries to jump Vegeta from behind. The Saiyan floors him with a backwards flying fist.
This prompts another to attempt to fire at Vegeta, but he stops the blast of energy with his hand , holding it casually. The man’s eyes widen in horror, as it is sent back at him, expanding to encompass both him and the ones behind him. Destroying the group blocking the Prince‘s way.
His path cleared, Vegeta glances back at the others behind him with a smirk, they recoil. Then he proceeds forward once more, trailed by his fearful escort. He continues searching the ship for the Dragonballs, finally reaching Frieza’s throne room. He glances inside, knowing that they wouldn’t be there after what happened earlier.
His frustration causes his rage to return. “Where in the hell are they?” He growls angrily, “Tell me!” He whirls on the group behind him. “What did they do with the Dragonballs!!! ANSWER ME!” They stare at him in alarm, still indecisive.
“Stop staring and respond!” Orders Vegeta, “What kind of guards are you, do you even know what you’re guarding?”
The troopers clutch their weapons nervously.
“You’re all afraid of me, aren’t you?” Scoffs the Prince.
Fingers tighten on triggers as they raise their useless blasters, defensively.
“But I’m alone, unarmed.” Chides Vegeta as he raises his hand opening it to show them that it is empty. Then he laughs, turning the palm towards them. The troopers finally break running futilely for their lives.
Vegeta fires after them, guiding his blasts with his new abilities. He fills the ship’s corridors with his fiery fury, emptying them of life. “That should care of that.”
The Prince frowns, he had given them a chance, if the idiots hadn’t attacked him, if they hadn’t continued to follow him. He would have left them alone and they could have continued to live. Frieza’s mindless cannon fodder has always been too impulsive and undisciplined. Like some sort of a brainless herd they had to be endlessly ordered.
The tyrant’s indoctrinations have them programmed to attack repeatedly until they win or die, making them almost automatons. What a senseless waste of troops. But if he had permitted them to live they’d just continue to regroup, returning again and again to attack him, until they died or overpowered him.
Once he’s certain that he’s disposed of them all, he looks about. Satisfying himself that no one remains.
He enters Frieza's throne room. “Now to figure out where they hid those Dragonballs.
“Where did the beast hide them? They have to be here somewhere. Frieza wouldn’t have left all these guards otherwise.” The Saiyan Prince speculates, “The most logical place would be inside the ship, but Frieza would know that's just to obvious. So he might conceal them somewhere else but then again... damn it, that monster’s just smart enough that it could be either alternative. I guess I’d better search the ship again! I’ll just have to try and look harder this time.”
As he heads back into the bowels of the ship, he muses, “Those two should be getting here soon with that gadget. Maybe I’ll save myself some trouble let them find for the balls for me.”
Maybe they’ll bring that female along. No, probably not, they’d left her carefully concealed before, they won’t risk her safety this time, either. At least they have enough brains to provide some protection for their females. But why did they do such a reckless thing in the first place? Bringing a functional female along on a mission? Just what were they thinking? They all have to be a bit brainless.
Most Saiyan females had never left their home planet. Only the poor wretches that had been unable to conceive joined the army. A functioning female had been far too valuable to risk. Instead they had remained on the home world in supposed safety as planetary defense forces.
Vegeta frowns, but that policy had resulted in the destruction of his race. There will never again be any completely pure blooded Saiyans born. He and that sentimental idiot Kakarot are the last of their breed. The might of the Saiyan race will become only a memory.
Unless they mate with Earthling females. It simply amazing that they are so genetically compatible, that brat Gohan having a tail was the living proof of that miracle. But the human race is so weak, true they have a few exceptional mutations like those fighters that were destroyed. And Kakarot's whelp has shown that he’s extremely powerful for his age. Perhaps it could be an option, especially if he can secure that enticing female for himself!
“Those two should be here soon,” He glances down at his tattered uniform. “Maybe I should change into something a little better suited to welcoming them with.”
He heads for the refreshers, once there he sheds his battle damaged armor. As he cleans himself off he examines his reflection in the in the mirror, critically. “Just as I thought, I’m completely healed...I feel fully energized...” His eyes grow speculative, “What kind of strange miraculous seed was it, that Kakarot gave me?”
‘I can hardly believe it. My strength came back so quickly,” he marvels as he washes the last of the grime from his face. ‘All I need to do now is concentrate on refining my powers. And once those Dragonballs are mine...” He smiles in anticipation as he finishes drying off.
Finally satisfied he is clean, he dons one of the universal undersuits. They are so flexible that anyone can wear one. They come in several differing styles from a sleeves legless tank suit to a full one piece bodysuit but for personal reasons he much prefers the latter which conceals all of his scars.
Unfortunately a new cuirass isn’t so easy. Battle jackets can expand enormously but they’re inert normally so they are usually tailored to fit their owners. Vegeta rummages around until he locates one that fits him, barely. He frowns and of course, it’s one that’s totally out of style!
As he dons it he senses the Earthlings approach, “Well my visitors have finally have arrived.” He comments to himself, as he pulls on his battle gauntlets. “If I don’t want them to suspect I’m here,” he flexes, his fingers checking the fit, “I better suppress my power like they do..”
“I think I’ll just stay out of sight and observe them for a while. Let the two twerps do all the work for me.” Vegeta lays in wait inside the ship, expecting them to enter. But when they don’t, he peeks out a porthole looking for them. He spots them a little ways off, scrabbling around on the ground, “They’re still outside? What’re they up too...?”
Quickly he exits the ship silently, he lands behind the landing strut closest to them. “What are they doing...?”
“They are here!!” Exults Krillian.
“And it looks like it’s all of them.” Adds Gohan excitedly.
The Prince peers around the support, thinking ,‘No wonder I couldn’t locate them....!’ He pulls back grinning to himself, ‘I’m glad I decided to wait, they’ve saved me from getting dirty all over again.’ He watches in anticipation, “Okay now so whatever it is you do to make that Shenron whatever to appear. Then I can dispense with of you two and make my wish--- for Immortality!!!’
Laughing Krillian lifts the uppermost Dragonball from the hole they have just excavated. “We did we‘ve got all of them!!”
The two pull the rest from the hole. Krillian grins at Gohan. “They’re all here. Well kiddo this is what we came for. Are you ready to call the Dragon!!”
“Yeah!” Grins Gohan. “I can hardly wait to bring everybody back!!” Says the boy eagerly.
Vegeta is getting impatient at the delay, “What in hell is taking them so long? What are you waiting for?!!’
Krillian gazes down a the Dragonballs, “We sure have survived a lot to get these things, haven’t we ...?”
Gohan nods in agreement, “Yeah!”
“Okay then let‘s do it..” The diminutive man clenches his fists, and shouts, “Arise Eternal Dragon! I call for you to come forth, come forth to grant me my wish!!”
Vegeta glares at them in disbelief, ‘That’s it!’ he thinks, ‘Those are the special words?!’
Krillian is standing with raised arms waiting expectantly. He gazes raptly down at the Namekian Dragonballs grinning. The grins starts to fade as seconds pass and nothing happens.
‘I thought something was supposed to happen?’ Wonders Vegeta silently, ‘What is that dragon thing of theirs anyway?!’
“H-he should have appeared by now..” sputters Krillian as he drops his hands dejectedly, “Why didn’t it work..?” He asks in utter confusion, “Why didn’t Shenron come out?!”
But the intelligent Gohan guesses the truth. “Maybe it’s the language, maybe you need to call this dragon with Namekian words!!”
“What are they doing?!’ Vegeta stares at them in angry frustration. Suddenly he senses something, someone’s approaching. “Huh?!”
It feel likes Jheese and someone’s with him but Vegeta can‘t quite get a clear sense of who it is. It’s all a muddle it sort of feels like Captain Ginyu but his ki seems to be all scrambled and the power level is wavering and totally unstable.
Vegeta frowns, if it is Ginyu, that means Kakarot is gone, and Vegeta is freed from the destiny link. But why does he still feel the power flow of the bond? There seems to be some sort of a disruption but it’s still functioning.
“I feel something!” Gohan’s head snaps up he looks about hesitantly, “T-there’s someone’s coming, Krillian!”
“There is?!” Blurts the short adult. “Yeah I feel it now, there’s two of them.” He starts to look worried, “It’s that long haired jerk and.... G-Ginyu??!”
“Does that mean something’s happened to my dad?” Cries Gohan, “Where is he?!”
‘This is beginning to piss me off big time!’ Fumes Vegeta silently as he presses back against the ship’s strut in concealment. ‘It’s getting more and more complicated by the moment!!’
Ginyu must have beaten Kakarot but why didn’t he kill him? He had thought they were evenly matched. What happened, why couldn’t Kakarot take Ginyu?! Now the Prince might have to fight the behemoth himself. While Kakarot drains him!
The two Earthlings abandon the Dragonballs and scurry into hiding behind the rocks suppressing their ki.
All three watch from their hiding places with amazement as Jheese and GOKU appear and land beside the uncovered Dragonballs.
‘Kakarot?! But why does his ki feel like Ginyu‘s?’ The Prince is perplexed, this doesn’t make any sense, maybe he hasn’t got this sensing ki thing down yet after all! But he’d been right up till now.
The two newcomers grunt in surprise and scan the area, looking for the guards.
“Someone’s dug the Dragonballs up..!!” Exclaims Jheese scanning the area for the culprit.
“Something’s weird goin’ on here?” Quires his companion in a strangely harsh voice for Goku “How’s they locate where we buried ‘em?!”
Krillian reassured by his friend's presence, emerges from hiding, “Hey Goku!” He shouts happily, “You had us going there we thought it was Ginyu!!” He glances at Jheese, “What’s up, did he switch sides after you beat his boss?!”
But Gohan has hung back remaining hidden, something just doesn’t feel right about his father.
Goku is glaring down at Krillian, “Are you the one who found these...? How‘d you do it...?”
Krillian strides eagerly towards his old friend, “Stop kidding, you know we used Bulma’s Dragonball radar!”
“They cheated..” Says Jheese in disgust, “They used a device of some sort ...”
Goku asks ominously, “Did you make your wish?”
“No...” Krillian is starting to get puzzled by Goku’s strange behavior, “We couldn’t even get the dragon to appear. I don’t understand it. Unless it’s like Gohan says the invocation has to be spoken in Namekian...”
Vegeta is grinding his teeth, ‘Doesn’t the little twerp realize something’s wrong.’
“Ahh I see,..,” smiles Goku with a strange smile, “Your wish hasn’t...”
“Are you okay..,” Asks Krillian as he begins to suspect, “Goku,” he stares at his friend in perplexity, “you’re really actin’ weird bud and why are you wearing one of those things?” He stares at the scouter clipped to Goku’s head.
Goku steps closer to Krillian, “You’re a real curious one aren’t ya?”
“WHA..?” Krillian takes a step back suddenly feeling threatened.
Gohan shouts a warning from his concealment, “Krillian! That isn’t my father!!!!”
Krillian half turns back to Gohan, “Say what!” Just as Goku blindsides him with his fist, flinging him backwards.
Suddenly the truth dawns on Vegeta and he realizes why his impressions were so garbled. Somehow, in some unknown way Captain Ginyu is now in control of Kakarot’s body!
Krillian recovers, lands on his feet beside Gohan, groaning “...WHAT...?!”
“So there’s more than one...” Says Goku to Jheese, “And no energy signature. He must be able to conceal his battle strength by lowering his energy level down to nothing too....”
Gohan glares at his father and Jheese.
Krillian asks, “Why are you talking that way, why did you hit me, Goku?!”
“I said that’s not my dad!” Repeats the young half Saiyan. “I know it isn’t!”
“N-not your dad..? B- b- but it looks ...” Says his partner.
“But it‘s not.” spits Gohan vehemently “I can feel it!”
Goku smirks at them. “So you noticed, I upgraded for a better model. Traded my old body for this one, it’s far more attractive and got lots more power..” He strikes a pose shouting, “The name is Ginyu, Captain of the Ginyu Special Force!!!”
Gohan recoils as Krillian exclaims in shock, “Captain.., Ginyu?!”
Vegeta glares at them from his hiding place. “Traded...?!’
“An such a perfect way to test it‘s...” Says Ginyu/Goku as he moves forward menacingly “..battle energy of over 180,000!”
As Krillian stutters repeatedly, “NO.. NO.. NO..?!”
Gohan just stands in shock.
Krillian backs away. “S-Stop Goku. It’s not true you’re being controlled somehow...!!”
Ignoring the protest, Ginyu/Goku attacks the two of them with a flying kick, then starts pummeling them, “Fight back! Come on!!!”
The two are just managing to deflect and block the blows.
Vegeta is perplexed, “Whether they’ve traded bodies or he under some sort of mind control, it’s still Kakarot’s power.” He glares in anger at the combatants, “This is really starting to piss me of...”
“I hope you’re both ready?!” Ginyu/Goku is laughing, “I’m going to slowly raise my power little by little!!”
“Wha?” Grunts Jheese, as his scouter reacts, the turns to focus it in the proper direction “Whoa!”
“Hey Cap’n!” He calls, gesturing over his shoulder with his thumb, “We’ve got company comin’, he’s somehow managed to follow us!”
Ginyu/Goku, stops and looks over. “I don’t believe it!”
Captain Ginyu floats above the spaceship, panting heavily, clutching at a bleeding wound in his chest. “I.. I managed to find them...!” He lands heavily and momentarily staggers.
Ginyu/Goku glares down at the other man, “So you made it this far, that’s pretty surprising, I guess I should have injured that body a lot worse than I did!”
The purple alien shouts up at the other combatants. “Listen.., guys.. He’s., taken my body. Ginyu stole it, he’s switched our spirits, that’s not Goku in there, I‘m Goku!!”
“GEEZ...” Gulps Krillian glancing from one to the other. “How, can that be true...?!”
“T-then does that..,” asks Gohan, “...that mean y-you’re my DAD...?!” Staring at Ginyu in horror.
“Yeah and he’s really Ginyu!!! He’s the enemy!! Go at him all out!! You have to stop him!!!” Goku/Ginyu shouts back, “If neither of you hold back you can take him easy!! Beat the shit out of him!!”
“That’s easy for you to say down there, but up here...?” Replies Krillian.
Ginyu/Goku laughs, “Moron! Take me!!” He shouts sarcastically, “You know should know better. You’re body’s battle strength is over 180,000. They can never beat me!!”
“The only thing you’re right about is that it’s my body!” Goku/Ginyu yells back, “So you don’t know how to make it work, and you don’t even understand how to access ki let alone control it!! You couldn’t do a Kao-ken even if you knew how to do one. You don’t even have half my power at your disposal!!”
Ginyu/Goku chuckles, then retorts, “You’re bluffing is useless, just watch this!!” He screams as he powers up then with a laugh shouts at Jheese, “Hey, tell me what my power numbers are?!”
The red alien checks the readout on his scouter, “Ah..” He taps the reader button in disbelief “Geez... it’s only 23,000...”
“That’s can’t be right...?!” Ginyu/Goku can’t believe what he’s hearing, “It’s gotta be higher than that!”
“And getting lower!” Calls back Jheese almost apologetically.
Krillian who had scanned the physical body of Goku, realized that what Jheese had said was true and he attacks Ginyu/Goku as he shouts to the young half Saiyan “You‘re dad‘s right, we can take him!!”
Ginyu/Goku recovers from Krillian’s blow and whirls on Jheese. “Damn it, instead of just standing there, do something!!’
But Goku’s son is still hanging back, glancing in troubled perplexity from one body to the other, “D-dad I.. I can’t he looks like you!!”
Goku/Ginyu looks up at his hesitant son, and shouts encouragement, “It’s okay Gohan!!! Remember that‘s not me in there, you’re fighting the one who stole my body. You have to get him!!!”
The child nods, “A-alright!!”
Then he joins Krillian’s attack, they hit Ginyu/Goku in unison delivering several telling blows ending it with a double flying kick.
Startled Jheese finally reacts to Ginyu/Goku’s frantic order. “Yessir!!!”
But before he can join the fray Jheese feels a tug on his long hair pulling him backwards.
Vegeta had watched the situation develop, trying to puzzle out just exactly what had happened. Then the badly injured Captain Ginyu appeared, apparently with in Kakarot’s soul in that body. And that's when suddenly something impelled him to join the battle.
Kakarot was his prey, to take care of at his leisure and the Prince wants no interference! Ginyu had no right to do whatever it was that he had done to the Prince‘s battle bond brother, somehow there has to be a way to reverse the process. What had been done could be undone! Vegeta wants Kakarot back in his own body so the Prince can properly chastise and defeat him!
But first they have to defeat Ginyu, and Jheese’s interference would only complicate matters. The Prince can see that two brats can handle the Captain as long as he does have any help. So he emerges from his hiding place and literally takes a hand in the matter.
“And just where do you think your going mop top? Why don’t you fight with someone your own size!”
Vegeta whirls the red warrior around to face him.
Besides this is his chance to dispose of another one of his old harassers. The homosexual Jheese and Butta had often cornered the boy by themselves, once Vegeta had been returned to the general barracks, forcing him to join them in a three way combo with the young Prince stuck in the middle as the dual recipient.
While his commander is occupied with those other idiots the Prince can take care of Jheese once and for all!
Goku/Ginyu suddenly senses the other Saiyan, “Vegeta....!!”
The white haired warrior splutter’s in surprise, “Veggie?!!!”
“Try fighting a warrior for a change, Jheese!” Says the Saiyan Prince, firmly, “Instead of taking on children!”
The Prince attacks and the two circle as they exchange a flurry of blows. Vegeta starts to drive Jheese backwards, towards Frieza’s ship.
The white maned warrior asks. “Where’d you come from? How’d you conceal yourself from my scouter‘s sensors?!”
“You might have seen me if you had used your eyes, instead of being so dependent on a mechanical toy!” Replies the Prince sarcastically. “Maybe you’ll learn better before you die!”
The crimson warrior is still unaware of Vegeta’s increase in power, “Shut your trap, there’s no way you could ever be strong enough to kill me!”
“Think so? Why not check it with your little toy and see!” Vegeta smirks at him, “I’ve grown so much more powerful recently.”
As Jheese raises his hand to activate his scouter, he says ,“Well it really doesn’t matter does it?” he taunts the Saiyan, “Because, you’re still a fool to try and challenge me, Veggie!”
“Is that so?” Says Vegeta as he releases his ki.
Then Jheese sees the energy reading coming from Vegeta start to rise unbelievably, “It’s not possible, it must have gotten damaged somehow.” He rips the scouter from his head and crushes it in his hand.
“I don’t think so! You see something happened to me recently, and because of it I’m continuing to grow stronger all the time, I’ve already surpassed all known Saiyan limits.” Vegeta smiles, “I have begun to understand something rather remarkable! I am on my way to becoming what I was always meant to be,” The Prince smirks, “A SUPER SAIYAN!”
“That myth!” Spits Jheese, “In yer dreams, Veggie!”
“I’m not dreaming, Jheese.” Says the Saiyan warrior, “I’m quite awake and even aware that Kakarot’s on his way there too and possibly his son as well, but they’ll never make it. They‘re both far too soft and sentimental. But I am NEITHER!”
And Vegeta suddenly attacks, kicking Jheese across the sky.
Jheese flees and tries to hide darting inside the ship. Vegeta follows and uses his senses to find his foe, striking at him right through the very walls of the ship. Forcing the Ginyu from every hiding place pursuing Jheese ever downwards until they break through the bottom of the vessel. There they begin battling in earnest, but try as he might, Jheese is unable to land a single blow, as Vegeta blocks every swing before it connects.
Realizing Jheese can‘t help him after all Ginyu/Goku shouts “Dammit!” As he bounces off the hull of the ship rebounding from their attack. He recovers and fires an energy ball at the dark haired brat. But the kid blocks it with ease. And shouts at him, “That attack couldn't even hurt a fly!”
“What’s goin’ on here,” screams Ginyu/Goku in frustration, “I should have 180,000 joules of energy...!!!”
“Hey dimwit, it’s like Goku told you--- You don’t understand how to use his body!” Replies Krillian from behind him, “You should probably surrender now, while you still can!”
“Surrender...?” Shrieks Ginyu/Goku. “The Captain of the Ginyu Force never surrenders!” He whirls and throws a punch at Krillian. “SURRENDER THIS!!!!” The furious soul switcher starts raining kicks and blows on the smaller man. “I’ll teach you just exactly who you’re dealing with!”
Vegeta is still pursuing Jheese, they emerge from beneath the ship, and starts zooming across the water’s surface, raising a huge wake. “I thought I couldn’t beat you, Jheese? What’s wrong with this picture?” Asks the Prince sarcastically, “Oh I know, you’re the one running from me!”
Vegeta suddenly pounces on the still retreating Jheese, and the force momentarily submerges them both. The two explode upwards, still exchanging blows. “So Vegetable breath, you still haven’t told me how you managed to hide. I never picked you up on my scouter until you attacked me!”
“That ‘s because you’ve become obsolete. I’ve developed several new talents lately. Too bad you’ll never have the chance to get educated!”
“Stop yappin’ and just fight!” Shouts the maddened Jheese.
“Alright then, but just a warning!” responds Vegeta as he pauses. “Up till now I’ve only been warming up. I’ve only used a faction of my strength, toying with you.”
“Yeah sure, it’ll be a cold day in hell before a wimpy little Saiyan monkey could beat even the weakest of us Ginyu’s.” Answers Jheese, “Now get ready to go nitey night, loser!”
Vegeta allows one of Jheese’s punches to finally connect with his chin, it flings him backwards several feet. The Saiyan Prince starts laughing, as he straightens up to face his foe. “Oh impressive!!! I hate to admit it but you are a just little tougher than I thought. Take one last look before you go, this is what you‘ve been really up against!...”
Vegeta charges Jheese and violently kicks him upwards, stunned Jheese soars helplessly skywards with Vegeta in hot pursuit. As the still groggy white haired warrior begins downwards fall, head first. Vegeta strikes, hitting him with a cuirass shattering chop to the chest that shatters his ribs, puncturing his lungs. The red warrior raggedly gasps for air, gagging on his own gushing blood.
Vegeta extends his hand, palm outwards.
Vegeta is filled with his battle joy.
Jheese is about to be taught a lesson about being weaker. In their greater strength he and his partner had inflicted their sexual choice on a weak unwilling boy, whenever they had gotten a chance.
Vegeta had endured their attentions until he had finally risen high enough to be able to start to avoiding them.
At least those two hadn’t had a taste for inflicting outright torture even though they enjoyed the voyeuristic pleasure of watching it, so they still deserved to die.
Jheese opens one eye, just in time to see the palm of Vegeta‘s hand and scream his dying protest before he is completely obliterated by the Prince’s Final Flash.
The warrior, once victim, chuckles in triumph.
The Saiyan Prince, has exacted his full and final revenge on the last of Captain Ginyu’s gang rape squad! Jheese, Butta, Reacoom, and Gurd, all the perverted abusers of the young Prince are now dead.
Now there is only one of Vegeta’s childhood tormentors left, the worst one of all, Frieza himself. When that monster is vanquished the Saiyan Prince will have regained both his Royal Honor and fully recovered his personal pride. He will have avenged everyone - his parents, his people, his planet and himself. He will feel fully vindicated, and cleansed, his shame will be dissipated. He will finally able to truly reclaim his as birthright, the title of King.
The sudden explosive burst brings all combat to a screeching halt, the fighters look up in awe at the Saiyan warrior floating above them.
“VEGETA!!” Cries Goku/Ginyu in anguish, “Why go to such extremes! Violence like that is pointless.”
Vegeta laughs, “Tell me how to fight some other time Kakarot, when you’re the one winning.” Answers the Prince as he gazes down at him. “Until then don’t try to instruct me! I’ve survived pretty well so far and besides Super Saiyans tend to be a bit blood-thirsty!”
“But y-you didn’t need to kill...!” Protests Goku/Ginyu.
“But I did Kakarot, I did. You don’t know what I need. You’ll never be able to understand it at all!” Vegeta sneers at the other man. “A true Super Saiyan doesn‘t hesitate in slaughtering his enemies, because your stupid sentimentality of you‘ll never truly become one.”
Ginyu glares at the figure floating in the sky. “How’s this happening a Ginyu warrior killed by a stupid Saiyan!” He shakes his head in disbelief, “Jheese beaten and killed by Vegeta!”
He clutches Gohan by the collar, “A Super Saiyan!?!” He sneers, “What a crock, Veggie!”
Vegeta glares over at Ginyu/Goku, “You doubt my word, you body thief! I guess I’ll just have to prove it then won’t I.”
Vegeta clucks and then chides the two smaller fighters, “Haven’t you wimps finished him off yet. Well.., I suppose it’s because he looks like Kakarot!” The Prince adds with a shrug, “I guess I can understand it.” Says the Prince, “But fortunately it doesn’t bother me AT ALL! So I‘ll finish him for you!”
“MOVE IT!!!!” Yells Vegeta as he suddenly streaks towards Ginyu/Goku.
Ginyu/Goku tosses the boy aside preparing to face the furious Prince. He smiles to himself as Vegeta’s fist hits his stomach and it sinks in wrist deep. He half heartedly throws a punch at Vegeta baiting him. Then he lets the Saiyan start beating him to a pulp.
Vegeta follows his first blow with a left upper cut that propels Ginyu/Goku into the sky.
The Saiyan Prince is in hot pursuit behind him and as his opponent’s flight slows he delivers a kick that sends him even higher. Smaller warrior flashes past out racing his target and awaits his arrival above, only to deliver a clasped handed fist into Ginyu/Goku gut that sends him hurtling back down to the ground.
Where Ginyu/Goku lays groaning helplessly.
The Prince shouts exultantly “THE WINNER!!!” His ki blazes up in a glorious flame of victory.
Gohan and Krillian can only gape in awe.
“Did that just happen?” Gasps Krillian in shock.
Ginyu/Goku is glaring up at Vegeta and a smile comes to his lips, as he mutters to himself, “Since I can’t make this body work, I’ll just take yours.”
Horrified, Goku/Ginyu yells at the battle enraged Saiyan, “Enough Vegeta! He can’t even lift a hand. You don’t have to kill!!”
But the Prince is filled with his triumphant battle lust, “You still don’t get it do you, Kakarot. Maybe you’ll finally learn something if you watch a real Saiyan!!!!!”
Ginyu/Goku cries up at the Saiyan Prince from the ground, “D.. DAMN YOU VEGGIE, YOU MONKEY...” Egging him on, he needs Vegeta to get just a little bit closer for this to work.
Vegeta responds and streaks down at him full throttle screaming in fury. An energy blast starting to form in his outstretched hands.
Ginyu/Goku grins up at the descending Saiyan and sighs a small soundless laugh.
But Goku/Ginyu sees the smile and suddenly guesses the soul switcher's devious plot, “OH NO!!!”
Ginyu/Goku stares up in anticipation as Vegeta plummets towards his fate. Then suddenly shouts, “NOW!!!!!”
“Not that!!!” Goku/Ginyu is the only one who grasps the total situation, “He‘s trying to do it again!!
Ginyu/Goku’s mouth opens as Ginyu’s blindingly bright soullight emerges and shoots up towards the unknowing Prince, his next intended victim.
“That’s it! I have to chance it and try to get my body back!!! But I gotta move faster than lightening!” Goku/Ginyu leaps forward shouting, “Watch out, Vegeta!”
‘I just hope I can make it and it works!!!’ Thinks Goku desperately murmuring a prayer , “Please Kame’!”
Goku/Ginyu manages to reach the rising beam of soullight intercepting it just before it hits Vegeta.
The Prince stops suddenly, “What?!!!” He stares at the body that has suddenly come between him and his intended target.
Ginyu/Goku screams in thwarted rage, “N-not you!!!!” As the exchange overtakes them.
The Ginyu body starts to fall, as the Goku body just lies in silence.
The Ginyu body lands with a groan, then splutters, “H-he stopped me!”
The Goku body grins then laughs, hurting “HE! HE!, ouch! HE! I-I.., got.., back .., I’m me..., again ...!”
The three others are staring in puzzlement..
“Wh -what‘s going on?!” Asks Vegeta, “What just happened...? Which is which, is that Kakarot or Ginyu?”
“That light what was it?“ Inquires Gohan worriedly, “It hit my dad, is he okay?”
“I’m not sure? But is was awfully bright, so it should have packed quite a whallop, but nobody looks like they got hurt!” Answers Krillian, “And I don’t know why Goku intercepted it.”
Gohan stares down at his father’s body, then grins and cries out in glad amazement, “Krillian hey, Krillian!” Tears of happiness start up in the boy’s eyes, “My dad’s got his body back... I can feel it!!!”
“He‘s back?!” Exclaims Vegeta as he switches his gaze from one to the other.
The Prince extends his senses, the brat’s right! The ki’s are back to normal, and the power exchange has resumed it’s even flow. But the injured Kakarot is now pulling energy from the Prince. Even if it isn’t a problem, yet, Vegeta will have to remedy that soon if he doesn’t want to be drained before he has to face Frieza. Which means he needs to take care of Ginyu quickly.
“Are you certain?!” Krillian asks the boy.
Vegeta is still determined to destroy the Commander of the Ginyu Special Force, whichever body he’s in, so he turns his attention to the horned purple form below him. “That means Ginyu‘s back in his old body...!”
Goku can hear Ginyu, as he stares up at the floating Saiyan. “ Blast it...! I guess I’ll have to try it again!”
Goku realizes what the purple warrior still intends to try and take Vegeta’s body. He struggles to his feet. Once up he tries to focus, but the figure blurs, doubles and wavers. But he still attempts to fire his Kamehameha at Ginyu to stop him.
The others stare down in amazement.
Vegeta comments, “I gotta see this, Kakarot’s still trying to fight!”
But a weakened Goku sways, wavering on his feet and his beam shoots off wildly, missing it’s intended target, “Darn I’m not in control enough!” Then his eyes roll up and he falls backwards.
Ginyu laughs, “You pathetic Saiyan, you blew your last chance to stop me!” He lowers his hand and looks at the blue blood that stains it. “I gotta do this right. I need to wear this body down so it won’t last long after the switch.”
Goku stares at Ginyu helplessly, “He’s right, I used up the last of my energy and now I’m hurt to badly to even move....!”
Ginyu looks back up at Vegeta and shouts, “Hey monkey butt! I’m gonna take your ass out!”
“I gotta try an focus,” mutters Goku groaning, “If he gets a hold of Vegeta’s body we’re all history. I can’t let it happen!”
Ginyu laughs in triumph, “That body is mine!!!” He glares up at Vegeta who is diving at him once more. Spreading his arms wide in welcome, Ginyu shouts, “Here I am Vegeta come and get me!”
Just as Ginyu gathers his energy for the switch, Vegeta vanishes, he phases back in directly behind Ginyu. The purple alien whirls and tries to hit the Prince. Vegeta dodges the blow and then pummels him unmercifully with his fists, feet, knees and elbows until he sends Ginyu flying across the field with a powerful punch. Streaking ahead Vegeta greets the hurtling form with a clasped handed fist on top of him, propelling him into the sky with a power packed kick. Then zooming ahead of his target again Vegeta meets Ginyu with both feet, before he double fists him back into the ground to shatter a mountain.
The Prince sends multiple blasts from his Gallic Gun into the rocky rubble below and blasts it into tiny bits.
Vegeta lands in front of the smoky pile of debris and is startled when it shifts and Ginyu crawls free. The head of the destroyed Ginyu force is chuckling, “That was pretty good, Veggie you might almost measure up to my standards. That is if you had lived!”
This remark infuriates the Prince and Vegeta’s ki blazes up. He relentlessly attacks Ginyu again.
As Vegeta batters away at Ginyu, Goku attempts to warn him. “Stop it Vegeta. He letting you to half kill him! He’s doing it so he can switch bodies with you!”
But Goku’s voice is too weak and the Prince is so caught up in battle glee that he’s totally heedless of anything but his battle. Ginyu lifts his face from the dirt and grins in anticipation.
As the fight had raged on it had disturbed the local wildlife, a Namekian frog digs itself free from the ground beside the Dragonballs. It starts to depart, seeking a more peaceful area. It leaps towards the prone Goku.
“Vegeta can’t hear me!” Moans Goku worriedly, “But I gotta stop this somehow!”
Ginyu continues to taunt the Prince, egging him on. “Hey Veggie, is that it! I thought you were supposed to be strong?”
“I’m just warming up!” Replies Vegeta as he grabs Ginyu’s horns before violently flinging him skywards.
“INCOMING!” Shouts the Prince almost playfully as he soars towards Ginyu.
The big alien chuckles, finally ready as he prepares to switch bodies once more.
Goku watches helplessly, frantically seeking a way to stop the inevitable. Then the disturbed frog hops past. And inspiration hits, “That’s it that’s the answer!” Goku grabs the little amphibian. He glances at it, “Sorry about this little guy but I have to use you!”
Ginyu is ready, his body is now barely functioning. After the switch Vegeta will be practically helpless and easy to dispose of, he won‘t make the same mistake twice!
Ginyu grins as he activates his soul exchanging power one more time. With a shout the bright Soullight emerges from his mouth soaring swiftly towards the astonished Saiyan Prince.
The injured Goku flings the croaker skywards, aiming it for the rising light between Ginyu and Vegeta, using the final dregs of his strength. “Try this body on for size!”
The frog soars up and intercepts the soullight. The exchange is completed.
Vegeta Krillian and Gohan had raised their hands to shield their eyes from the explosive brightness.
They lower their arms in bewilderment.
“W-WHA..” Gasps Krillian, as Gohan grunts staring in surprise.
“What was that!” Mutters the Prince.
The frog lands stunned, but uninjured.
Ginyu’s body drops to the ground, landing on all fours, then starts to croak as it leapfrogs away from Goku. “Ribbit, ribbit, ribbit....”
The three floating warriors stare down in befuddlement slowly descending.
The Prince watches the croaking from of Ginyu hopping away. Vegeta is totally baffled by the events.
“I...it worked! I don’t believe it!” Remarks Goku in surprise the laughs painfully.
Krillian and Gohan lands beside him.
“Goku how badly hurt are you?” Inquires his old friend with concern.
“Oh daddy are you okay? Please answer me!!” Pleads his worried son.
Goku smiles at Gohan in reassurance, “You really did a number on my body, Vegeta! And I bet you enjoyed it too...?!”
“Of course!” Responds the smaller Saiyan coldly as he lands watching, Kakarot’s companions assist him.
They help him climb painfully to his feet, supporting him under either arm.
Kakarot looks over at him saying, “At least that’s over. But now you owe me a big one Vegeta!”
“It seems so, but now explain something to me. What just happened to Ginyu?” Demands the Prince as he crosses his arms belligerently.
“You still don’t get it do you, Vegeta.” Kakarot laughs weakly as he gestures with one hand, “Take a look over there and say hello to ... Captain Ginyu!”
Vegeta half turns and glances in the direction Kakarot indicated, all he sees is an antennaed frog sitting there watching them fearfully.
“The one that hopped away just now, that’s really the frog.” Kakarot points weakly after Ginyu’s body, “while that frog-like creature,... is really Ginyu.” Kakarot starts to chuckle but it turns into a ragged cough.
The Prince stares at the tiny amphibian “So that’s Ginyu now?!”
The frog stares back at them all and croaks apprehensively.
Vegeta grins maliciously, “I don’t quite understand this, but if that is him, I’m not about to leave it alive!” The Saiyan puts his hands on his hips as strides towards the Ginyu frog, “It looks to me like frog legs are on the menu tonight.”
Ginyu leaps away in croaking in terror.
“Come here you little froggy tidbit.” Vegeta pursues the amphibian with a cruel smile.
Goku has learned something during his short allegiance with Vegeta. He knows now that if he protests about killing Ginyu, it will just spur the other Saiyan‘s determination to do just that. So instead he tries a new tactic. “Get a load of this, looks like Vegeta’s finally found someone his own size to bully!” Then starts to laugh but it ends with a groan instead.
Vegeta had caught the frog and has it pinned under his foot, ready to crush it. But Kakarot’s taunt about size stings him.
“Just let it go, Ginyu can’t do anything to anyone now.” Adds the bigger Saiyan.
“Humph! All right then, but it’s not because you stopped me Kakarot.” Says Vegeta as he lifts his foot. “I’m letting you go Ginyu,” he calls after the fleeing frog. “Only because I don’t want to have to clean frog goop off my new boots. Besides being stuck like that for the rest of your life will be punishment enough!”
Goku is leaning more and more heavily on his son and friend, “Daddy are you okay?” Asks his son worriedly.
“I’m fine.” Answers Goku but then he almost collapses.
“You’re sure there’s not even one more senzu bean left?” Asks his friend as Vegeta returns to join them.
“N-No..” Answers Kakarot weakly.
The Prince chuckles ironically, “You pests would be easy to dispose of right now. It would be like shooting fish in a barrel.”
“Y-you wouldn’t!” Exclaims Gohan.
“Vegeta .... you rotten...” Krillian starts to protest ,“I can’t believe that even you‘d be that low.”
Kakarot shakes his head and smiles, he‘s begun to understand Vegeta even more, the Saiyan warrior has his own brand of honor, but he has to keep up his arrogant appearance none the less. “Don’t worry about it Krillian. He won’t do anything right now. Not if he wants his wish! Vegeta needs us as much as we need him!”
The Prince chuckles again, “You’re correct, Kakarot. You’re learning to know me far too well.” replies Vegeta, “I want those Dragonballs and I might still need your help in fighting Frieza.”
He regards them critically. “In fact he’s probably on his way back here right now. So if we’re going to do something about Kakarot's’ injuries we’d better hurry. Follow me!”
The three warriors from Earth stare at the Saiyan as he walks towards the ship.
“And just where are you gonna take us?” Asks Krillian suspiciously.
“We’re going to the ship to get ready!” Vegeta turns to glare at them.
“Well what are you waiting for, do you want to face Frieza like this?!”
“Can’t you see how bad a shape Goku is in?” says Krillian.
“Well if you’d stop wasting time arguing and just get him inside I’d be able to get Kakarot healed up and back to full strength in no time!”
Vegeta takes off flying up to the ship’s roof entrance.
To be Continued.....
PIT Chapter Seven: Vengeance of the Saiyans-PG13 Violence