“He’s a gold plated bastard, that one!” Exclaims Krillian glowering at Vegeta’s receding back.
Gohan asks, “Can we trust him?”
“Yeah! For now!” Says his father with a weak half smile.
“HUH!” responds Krillian in surprise, “TRUST!... Him?”
“Just think,” Says Goku. “Right now we’re no threat to Vegeta, we‘re not his worst problem. His real enemy is Frieza!”
“B-but..” Starts Krillian but then he stops as he realizes what Goku says is true.
Gohan feels his father stagger, “Dad!” Goku is starting to black out, “Come on, Krillian we gotta hurry!”
Seeing his friend‘s plight the little monk agrees, “Okay!” and the both take off lifting the half fainting Goku.
They fly up to the ship entrance where Vegeta is waiting impatiently, “So I see that you‘ve finally made-up your minuscule minds!”
Vegeta glares at them. “Well move it! We have to get Kakarot inside, we don’t know how soon Frieza will be getting back here.”
The Prince leads the way into the ship, the two carrying their burden silently.
They move through the damaged corridors.
Krillian comments “Boy what a mess!”
Vegeta hears and says “I had a bit of a disagreement with the occupants a little while ago.”
The information cows them, Vegeta had done all this damage alone!
He leads them to a certain doorway and stops. Still awed by the damage they almost run into him before they realizes he wasn’t still moving.
“In here!” Orders the Saiyan.
“You go first!” Replies Krillian warily.
Vegeta shrugs and opens the door, “Once we have him hooked up Kakarot will get up to speed in no time!”
Which won’t be too soon for the Prince, he can feel Kakarot drawing strength from him through the power link. The sooner the other Saiyan is well the better, that medicine of Kakarot's had gotten rid of Vegeta's usual hunger pangs for awhile but now that the power link is forcing Vegeta into supporting both of them, the pangs have returned. Along with the bone deep weariness unaided Saiyan healing always causes.
“What it this place?“” Asks Krillian looking around at all the strange devices.
Vegeta walks in and brushes off one of the tables. Boxes and containers go flying every which way. Their contents scattering and clattering to the floor, one falls open at Kakarot's feet. Bursting open and spilling hypodermics out in front of the Earthlings. Kakarot is roused by the sound and his eyes flutter open to the sight of the needles.
Seeing the hypodermics Kakarot suddenly panics. He fears almost nothing else, but hospitals and doctors along with their instruments terrify him.
“IEEE! Let me outta here! Keep them away! NO! NO! NEEDLES! I HATE NEEDLES! LET GO OF ME!” Panic gives him the strength to tap deeper into the power linkage as he struggles trying to escape. “PLEASSEE I’D RATHER BE SICK THAN GET A SHOT!” He moans plaintively almost crying as he cringes in fear.
“Would you shut up already!” Snaps Vegeta, “I’m not going to give you a shot, you big baby! Needles have nothing to do with this!”
Kakarot stops struggling, “No needles?”
Vegeta nods.
“Never mind then.” Kakarot’s sudden strength disperses and he collapses once more.
Gohan flushes in embarrassment and looks down.
The Prince quickly sets up the equipment with their limited time frame he decides not to have them remove Kakarot's clothing he’ll just have to recover with them on. He has them place Kakarot in the regen chamber then he attaches the various monitoring sensors, wherever he can. Then he places the breathing mask over the other Saiyan’s nose and mouth. Finally he closes the hatch and opening the stopcock he starts to fill the regen chamber with the DNA fluid.
As his two compatriots stare into the chamber at Kakarot, Vegeta goes over to the control panel and starts the healing sequence.
“What is this thing, what's it do?” Asks Krillian curiously.
“It’s an Isolation Chamber.” States the Saiyan, “It will restore Kakarot. Accelerate his natural healing processes. The liquid is synthetic Saiyan DNA. It’ll enter his pores, penetrating every cell of his body. He’ll be completely recovered in no time!”
Kakarot starts relaxing as the fluid fills the chamber. “Hey I’ve stopped hurting already!”
“Wow how cool it that!” Says Krillian admiringly.
Vegeta glances at them as they peer into the healing capsule, ‘That’s right way cool boys, but you better appreciate it now because after I’ve disposed of Frieza, I won’t need any of you. And once I become a Super Saiyan I can handle you three at my leisure.’
His thoughts turn to the other Earthling, ‘Then I’ll claim that enticing female of Kakarot’s for my own!’ Smirks Vegeta silently.
He can already feel the drain on his energy slowing as the chamber begins working it’s scientific magic on Kakarot.
He looks down at the other Saiyan, ‘It’s a shame really, we are the last two of our race. But I cannot afford to allow such a low level like you to be part of my destiny, and you possess something I want. With you gone, she’ll have no other alternative but to accept me.’
While making a few more adjustments Vegeta tells them, “the machines in here are older models, but they should do the job nicely. It shouldn’t take Kakarot very long to get back up to speed.”
“Older?” Asks Gohan interestedly, “Why aren’t you using the new ones?”
“It’s a shame but I destroyed the others earlier.” Answers the Saiyan casually. “But don’t worry this one works just as well, it’ll only take it a bit longer.”
“G-Goku’s gonna be okay in there with all that liquid isn’t he, he won’t drown?” Asks Krillian in concern.
Goku gaze up through the window, thinking groggily, ‘I hope not!’
“Of course not, you fool!” Answers Vegeta crossly, “But if he was, it would be a little late in the asking don’t you think!”
Vegeta checks the gauges one more time and adjusts one of them, “Well everything's working fine, that should do it. Now we wait!”
He turns back to the other two studying them for a moment. “You both could use a little more protection. Some armor might help.”
“Whatta ya mean, armor?” Asks Krillian.
Gohan pipes in, “I was gonna ask that too!”
The Prince humphs and strides towards the doorway. “Just stop asking stupid questions and follow me.”
He leads them to the nearby locker room, “Those rags are worthless for any kind of protection. You both need some decent battle suits. They’ll help a little when we finally face Frieza.”
“Battle suits ..?” Asks Krillian “You mean stuff like yours?”
Gohan gets a funny look on his face, “This is gonna feel so WEIRD...”
Vegeta starts searching through the lockers as the two look around at the strange high tech devices.
“Look at all the gadgets, this stuff is real hi-tech way beyond what we’ve got at home!” Says Krillian in awe.
“That’s for sure, Bulma’d freak out.” Answers the young half-Saiyan, “It really amazing!”
‘He calls his dam Bulma,’ Vegeta pauses and glances at the kid, ‘but Kakarot is daddy. Curious.’
Then the Prince snaps at the two, “Don’t just stand around gawking, you could at least clean-up before dressing.."
As they start to take off their filthy clothing, Vegeta tosses them two of the smaller armorcloth undersuits, “And hurry up, we still don’t know when Frieza will get back!” Then he goes back to searching until he locates two sets of gloves and boots.
As they starts dressing Krillian confides in Gohan, “If Vegeta even wants our help, then this Frieza guy must really be something else...”
Gohan nods saying, “Yeah and that kinda scares me.” As the boots Vegeta tossed clank down beside him.
“I suppose we’d better do like your dad said and listen to Vegeta, at least for the moment.” Comments Krillian as he pulls off his tattered shirt. “After all we’re all trying to stop Frieza anyway!”
The little monk glances at the Saiyan who is still rummaging through the various lockers. “But I still don’t trust him any further than I can throw him!”
“I agree.” Whispers the boy as he pulls off his socks.
Vegeta finally finds the locker he‘d been searching for, “Here they are! I knew they were around here somewhere! These battle jackets should fit you fairly well.” He pulls out some smaller cuirasses, “These miniature suits were made for some Littleput warriors sometime ago.” He hands them one at a time to each of them. “They’re a different style than mine, but should do the trick!“
The Prince isn’t about to tell them that his is an older version. They don’t need to know about any extra advantages they have over him.
Krillian turns the cuirass around and around in his hands, “Hey how do you get these on? I don’t see a zipper or anything like that.”
Gohan is trying to puzzle his out as well, “I don’t see how either, there’s no other openings but the waist, armholes and neck.”
“You slip them on over your heads you dolts!” Growls Vegeta, “If that doesn’t work I’ll stuff you in them myself. That armor stretches, I was wearing the same thing on Earth remember. It’s almost infinitely expandable.”
They both recall when Vegeta has changed into the giant ape, while he was wearing the armor, and how it had grown and shrunk with his transformations.
Gohan tugs at the waist band and it expands easily, “Hey! It’s like elastic!” The child laughs delightedly as he plays with it a bit before donning it.
“I hardly feel it at all, it’s so light!” says Krillian wonderingly. “Why do all the bad guys seem to end up with the cool stuff anyway!”
As Krillian finishes dressing he asks the Saiyan, “Hey Vegeta is all this stuff made of the same material?”
“I suppose.” Answers the Saiyan Prince grumpily.
Vegeta is beginning to feel the aftereffects of his battles and Kakarot’s continuing drain on his small energy reserves. He’s going to have do something about it soon or he’s going to have problems.
Krillian taps the toe of his boot on the floor, “It feels like it might be to me!” He leaps up and turns a couple of aerial somersaults, testing the outfit’s flexibility. He chuckles, “Talk about adding a spring into your step. Imagine the advantages we’ll have when we go against Frieza!”
He grins over at the Saiyan and notices that Vegeta is leaning against a nearby locker with a strange look on his face and his eyes closed.
Vegeta’s starting to have one of his dizzy spells again. They’re always brought on when his energy level starts getting dangerously low. It’s a side effect of his constant hunger and of not getting enough to eat when he was younger. He knows he’ll have to try find something to eat soon and then get some rest.
“Hey are you okay? Do you have a problem?” Asks Krillian concern coloring his voice.
“No, no problem.” Answers the Prince quickly straightening up as he forces himself to shake off the dizziness. No need to let them know his weakness.
“You sure? You kinda looked weird for a minute!” Says the smaller man.
“YES! I said there‘s nothing wrong with me!” Snaps Vegeta.
“Alright. Don’t go all ballistic.” Krillian’s attention returns to his new outfit, as he wiggles his shoulders around, settling the cuirass. “Hey Vegeta. Not that I’m complaining or anything, but your uniform seems a lot more maneuverable than ours. I like it’s streamlining more too!”
“But I like these shoulders, and they don’t get in the way at all, see how easy!” Says Gohan as he swings his arms around.
“Well Mister Hot Pants this isn’t a fashion show!” Says the Prince sarcastically. “Mine’s an older style, I couldn’t find any of the newer style uniforms that would fit me.”
“Well I think this one is cool!” Says the boy excitedly.
Vegeta rubs his wrist and the back of his hand across his sweating brow. The room is starting to whirl again, his dizziness is returning.
“Are you sure nothing’s wrong?” Asks Krillian again noticing his distress.
“Why don‘t you mind you own business!” Gripes Vegeta, “Just let me be!”
“Well excccccuse me for living!” Retorts the little man, “Tell me something though, how long before Goku’s can come out of that healing capsule, chamber or whatever?”
“A normal Saiyan constitution usually takes two to three hours but with his strength, it should only be 40, 50 minutes max.” Responds the Prince.
“Right, then about an hour,” Krillian turns to Goku’s son, “Gohan someone’s gotta go the Elder and get the password! Frieza could be there now but we can’t do a thing without the right words to summon the Dragon. We have to have them to call Shenron!”
“I see, we better get going then..!” Starts Gohan.
“No, it’s best if I go alone. You stay here and keep an eye on the Dragonballs, your dad and...., Vegeta.” Glancing meaningfully at the Saiyan.
He smiles encouragingly at the youngster, “See ya soon!”
Vegeta watches the little man’s departure, he head heard enough to know where Krillian was going and didn’t protest his departure. It actually suits him well, the Prince has no need to advertise his weakness the brat won‘t figure it out, but chrome dome was starting to suspect.
Vegeta glances over at Kakarot’s whelp and makes a decision. He figures that since the brat’s half Saiyan, he might be in some need for food too. “Come on kid, lets go find something to eat.”
Gohan hesitates, then follows Vegeta warily. Dad had said to trust the Saiyan, even if Krillian doesn‘t. And Vegeta does seem to need their help. So it’s probably all right, at least until Frieza’s beaten. Besides he is starting to get a little hungry, and eating something while they still can is probably a pretty good idea.
Vegeta leads the way down to the ship’s galley and shows the kid how to program the synthesizer for something to eat. The Saiyan Prince watches the boy gobble down everything, as he eats his own food.
Gohan is definitely part Saiyan, and he shows all the signs of being able to become a strong fighter. Unfortunately he also shows indications of having his father’s ridiculous sentimentalities.
Vegeta can’t understand what happened to Kakarot in the first place. He should have transformed and subdued Earth long ago. Something had to have caused the implanted orders to fail, someone must have interfered somehow.
The Prince is unaware Goku’s history, or of how the old martial artist Son Gohan had found the Saiyan babe almost as soon as he landed. How the old man had cared for and grown to love the often violent child. The Prince doesn’t know of the terrible (but fortunate) accident, when infant had fallen down a cliff, landing on his head. That accident had almost killed the child, but Goku did recover even though the blow had caused a mild brain injury. That injury resulted in the destruction of Kakarot’s the preprogramming, and altered his savage personality into a gentle loving one. He became an obedient sweet natured, helpful child, if just a little naive and goofy.
Vegeta having eaten is starting to feel more like himself, but he still needs some time to recover. He disposes his eating implements and suggests to Gohan. “We better go out and keep watch. Frieza could come back anytime and grab the Dragonballs.”
“Okay.” Agrees the boy with a determined nod, he‘s feeling better to now that there‘s some food in his belly.
They head outside, and find the Dragonballs just as they let them. Gohan and Vegeta move them closer to the ship. Then Vegeta stares up at the sky as he expands his senses seeking any nearby ki traces.
He cannot feel Frieza or anyone else close by. He glances over at Kakarot’s son. It’s hard to believe this childish acting boy is the same warrior who fought so strongly and determinedly, almost killing him on Earth, them turned around and saved him such a short time ago from the Ginyu‘s. Right now he’s behaving just like any other mindless brat.
Gohan had gone over to the water to admire his reflection in the water. He squats down beside the pool to take a closer look. “I hope this outfit does what it’s supposed to do.” He grins, “If Mom or Piccolo saw me now they’d flip out.” He stands up, “Me in a Saiyan uniform, who’d of thought. But I really do like it. It makes me feel kinda invincible. He poses, “SUPER GOHAN!”
Vegeta catches himself almost smiling, as he watches the excited kid. Gohan is acting almost carefree and happy. The stern Prince wishes he could remember a time when he had been like that, but doubts if he ever was that carefree.
If he had been, it was so long ago that he can’t remember. He barely recalls anything of his life earliest life before Frieza took him. The horrors he endured in the beast’s quarters have overshadowed and smothered any memories of previous happiness the Prince may have had. He and Raditz had rarely spoke of that life for fear that Frieza would realize their true relationship. The only thing he recalls clearly is his father, the stern Saiyan King, along with a soft feminine blur of maternal gentleness that was his mother, he can‘t even form the memory her face clearly any longer. The shock of learning how she had died so violently had blocked his recall of her features. All that remains is a strange forlorn ache for something he had lost long ago.
Gohan begins playfully practicing some fighting moves and then does several back flips. Shouting in childish excitement. “Beware evildoers, prepare to be defeated! I am the Universe’s most powerful Saiyan Super Hero!”
Enough of this drivel, Vegeta frowns at himself. Then crossly interrupts the brat’s fooling around.
“And what do you think you’re playing at?” Asks Vegeta.
“Wha!” Gohan freezes, and blushes a little in embarrassment.
“So what’s taking your bald buddy so long.” Growls the Saiyan. “He seems to be taking his sweet time coming back with that invocation!” Gohan replies stiffly, “Krillian’ll come back!”
“HMPH! He‘d better get here soon.” Warns the Prince.
Vegeta turns and walks back to the ship.
Gohan watches Vegeta’s retreating back and grunts back at him. “Bossy jerk!”
The Prince hears it and stops with a growl, then turns and glares back at the boy.
Gohan quickly turns away, cowed.
Vegeta chuckles darkly, “You just keep your eyes on those balls, boy! If we lose them we’re really screwed, if Frieza gets them he’ll make mincemeat out of us.” Then the Prince smiles, “I think it’s about time for a little nap!”
Gohan whirls and stares at him, “You’re gonna go to sleep?” Asks the boy incredulously.
Vegeta chuckles again then says mockingly, “With ’Super Gohan’ all decked out in that uniform, and on guard, I feel completely safe kid.” Then turning Vegeta, heads into the ship, leaving Kakarot’s brat to keep vigil.
The Saiyan Prince heads back down to the medical room, and checks on his patient. Kakarot is drifting in the regen fluid, eyes closed. Not actually sleeping but not really aware either.
“Get better quickly Kakarot, I’ll need your strength shortly. Once we dispose of Frieza,” He chuckles, “I’ll finally be able to finish my business with you!” The Prince walks over to the table, as he reaches for the alarm clock, his vision starts to blur again. His head spins and he half collapses falling to his knees. He rests his head on the table top muttering “I’ve been stupid, stupid!”
Vegeta had almost delayed too long, his energy level is extremely low. Even now he’s still badly hypoglycemic. His dizzy spells have returned in full force. The Prince’s reserves have never been as great as they would have been had he not been subjected to Frieza’s enforced privations as a child. The lack of adequate food in his greatest growth years had stunted Vegeta in more ways than just stature. And meanwhile Kakarot has continued to drain him through their power linkage even as he is healing. So even after eating, Vegeta still needs time to rest and digest his meal, rebuilding his depleted reserves so he can regain his full strength.
He struggles back to his feet, then slowly and carefully he walks over to Kakarot's capsule. He settles onto the platform in front of it. ‘A half an hour of sleep should be more than enough, all the time I need to regain my strength.’
He sets the timer and leans back against the capsule surrendering to his exhaustion, closing his eyes. ‘Then I should be back to my old Super Saiyan self!’ a smile touches his lips as he’s swiftly overtaken by his weariness. The Prince succumbs to slumber, the timer falls from his hand, unnoticed, the alarm is disengaged by the fall. His last wakeful thought is, ‘I can hardly wait for the Dragonballs to grant me immortality.’
As the Prince falls asleep, his strange dreams return. Spiraling forms whirl through his mind, the blue haze takes on the shape of his incredible fantasy female. Then somehow the image sharpens, and she transforms into that tantalizing Earthling, Bulma.
She drifts towards him, her sapphire eyes alight with love. She gazes trustingly into his and smiles at him softly. Opening her arms invitingly to him. He enfolds her in his, a driving need to protect her rises from deep within him. Their lips meet, her sweetness calms his savage heart and she offers herself to him freely.
The dream changes, it takes on a strange sense of reality, the baby that had been in her arms in the earlier vision reappears, he has become a lavender haired child, that toddles happily towards Kakarot’s son, laughing. Vegeta is surrounded by his Earthling enemies, that now greet him with welcoming smiles. A strange sense of abiding peace fills his soul.
Vegeta’s icy heart is starting to thaw.
Goku reacts, even though deep in the healing trance, he smiles sharing Vegeta’s peaceful visions.
The unsevered power link has done more than just continuing to increase the two Saiyans’ powers as they feed and support each other’s energies. Their linked powers have started to resonate together. Their destiny tie is growing stronger. Instinctively their thought waves are starting to match rhythms as their nascent Saiyan telepathic talents are roused by their shared blood bond.
A strange sense of kinship stirs within the Prince’s dreams. Kakarot grins at him sappily and Vegeta feels himself smiling back in a comradely response.
Suddenly, a flash of sensation shatters his idyllic dream into thousands of sparkling shards!
As they sense something evil approaching.
Vegeta’s idyllic vision vanishes and is forgotten, as cold hard reality returns. He jerks suddenly awake!
Falling asleep next to Kakarot’s capsule had been a mistake, it has made them even more susceptible to each other. Already having had imprinted on each other during the Battle Ritual. Now Vegeta’s spirit and psyche has become extremely sensitive to Kakarot‘s. Their bonding has helped increase Vegeta’s sense of perception too.
“He’s coming!” The startled Prince extends his own perception, “With that high of a battle strength,” he knows even before actually confirming it, “it has to be Frieza! Damn, I knew it! He’s nearly here!” Vegeta can almost see the monster in his mind, as it races towards them. He turns and stares at the other Saiyan still deeply entranced within the capsule, “Hurry it up Kakarot. I need you now!”
Vegeta growls his frustration “Damn it, you’re useless to me until you’ve been completely healed!’
The Prince runs from the med bay, “Shit this isn’t good!”
Suddenly he catches sight of the sky through a port. He skids to a stop and stares in disbelief. “What it the hell! Impossible, how could I have slept that long! It’s nighttime already?!”
“Hold it, the horizon's still bright, it can’t be night yet.” Then he remembers, “This is a multi-sun system! It doesn’t ever get dark here, what’s in the hell’s going on?”
“NO!” The Prince grimaces in rage, “That’s it! It has to be those little bastards. I don’t know why I trusted those Earthlings! I know better! Kakarot, hurry!”
His running footfalls echo down the empty passageway.
Reaching the planet surface, fuming. “I don’t believe I was so foolish! Those punks are going to pay dearly for this!” He looks about trying to locate the brat and the Dragonballs. ‘They’re gone, the balls and the brat. Kakarot’s bald buddy must have come back!!!”
“Shit where did they go? The bastards! How did this happen ? I must be growing senile or some...thi..!”
Vegeta suddenly spots the dragon filling the sky. “What in the universe?! Is that the Shenron thing, what a monster!”
He runs to the cliff edge and stares up at the looming dragon. “HOLY COSMOS! Just look at it, it’s enormous! It has to a Dragon, now I get it Dragonballs! That’s one massive lizard!”
Even Vegeta is shaken, he gulps and then steels himself, “I’m not going to let this shake me. I can destroy planets. A single lizard’s not going to stop me when I‘m this close, even if it is a big one!”
The apparition of the gigantic Namekian dragon is incredible, even the Prince is awed by the sight. He can feel the enormous power radiating from it’s entire being. It shakes him to his core almost but not quite, humbling even him. This vision of power rattles the rigid control he exerts over himself, the one thing Vegeta had managed to retain, the only thing that had kept him sane through his tormented enslavement.
He leaps skywards, racing towards the spot the dragon is rising from in furious desperation, “They’re trying to stop me from making my WISH!” Even as he races towards them he can feel the Tyrant’s approach. “And Frieza‘s almost here!!!”
Those idiot Earthlings, even in their wildest imaginings they could not conceive what the results of their stupidity could earn them all. If the Prince is not made immortal before Frieza arrives, all their petty wishes will be wasted. Frieza will destroy them all at his leisure. Then the beast will go on to destroy the Earth too, simply out of thwarted rage.
And for some strange inexplicable reason that bothers the Prince almost as much as their taking the balls. He has already lost one homeworld to Frieza’s rage, and even if Earth isn’t his, it is the homeworld of other Saiyans.
The little twerps are talking about something as he arrives.
Dende cries out in fear when he sees the Saiyan, the others turn to look at what had caused his reaction.
Infuriated Vegeta lands and starts slowly towards them.
“Oh.. Ah.. Hi there.. Vegeta.” Stutters Krillian nervously, taking a step backwards.
“Hi yourself!” Growls the Prince almost white with rage, “You seem a bit surprised to see me, WHAT’S THE MATTER?”
“Nothing’s the mat-ter, not really!” Answers Gohan shakily as he to backs away, “Everything’s fine, just fine.”
“No something is wrong, I can tell!” Says Vegeta in a dangerously calm tone, “Oh wait! I know, I think I’ve figured out what’s wrong.”
“Of course that’s it! I know!” He stalks towards them, glaring, “You called the dragon without me, didn’t you!” He scolds them menacingly, “Shame on you! I was sleeping! You bad boys, how dare you, after all I did for you!”
Gohan and Krillian continue backing away warily. “I spoiled you, gave you nice new suits, saved your lives, coddled you. And this is the thanks I get! This is how you repay me?!” Spits the Prince raising his clenched fist, it starts to glow with energy. “Well kiss you’re traitorous little lives goodbye!”
Gohan gulps, as he faces Vegeta’s fury.
“You realize you’ve doomed us all!! Wasted our only chance to defeat Frieza?!!” Shouts Vegeta, “Our only hope was to make me immortal!! We’re dead, FOOLS!”
“Hey w-wait!!” Cries Gohan, “You only need one wish right. Well since there’s three and we’ve only used two, there’s still one left for you!!”
“GOHAN!!!!” Cries Krillian, “Why in the hell did you tell him about it?”
“Huh!” Vegeta smiles, “Well, you’re a lot smarter than I thought kid, you should be glad he is baldy!”
“Alright, we’re running out of time here.” Vegeta moves towards the little Namek. “Kid get that thing to grant me eternal life!”
Dende fearfully backs away.
“Where do you think you‘re going greenie!” Vegeta pushes past Gohan and Krillian, “Come back here you.”
The Saiyan grabs Dende by the collar and lifts him up. “What’s the hold up? Do you need some encouragement.”
“Hey!” Shouts Krillian in protest, but a backwards glance from Vegeta quickly quells him.
“Hurry it up brat!” Vegeta hoists him higher, lifting him over his head and shakes him.
“NEEHA, EEEY AAAH,” Yells the squirming child, “Let me down!”
“Do it or die!” Demands Vegeta.
“Gohan, we should really stop this.” Says Krillian, “Right?”
“Probably.” Says Gohan. “But dang it, Frieza's almost here and my dad still needs more time.”
Dende bravely continues to refuse the Saiyan’s demand, “I’m s-sorry, I c-can‘t..”
“But i- if we let him have that wish,” Says Krillian “Vegeta’ll end up as bad as Frieza!!”
“B- b-but what other alternative do we have?” Answers Gohan, “My dad’s still hurt... and there’s no one else who can help us!”
“You’re right, I guess.” Says Krillian, “I just wish it wasn’t Vegeta..!”
The Dragon thunders out impatiently, “I AWAIT THE FINAL WISH, STATE IT NOW.”
“Why are stalling?! You heard that lizard make the wish , SAY IT!!” Vegeta grabs Dende with is other hand, “Make me an Immortal NOW!!! What’s wrong, do you want to die?!! Fool, can’t you get it? I’m the only one who can stop Frieza!!”
“ARRGH!! I don’t think I can stand this. Vegeta’s nothing but bad news!! He’s already killed his own partner and our friends!! He might even try to kill us!!” Wails the little monk.
“Krillian...” Cries Gohan as he feels the approach of an evil ki, “We’re outta time, Frieza’s almost here! I can feel him!!!”
“I guess desperate times call for desperate measures. And that crazy Saiyan’s a hell of a lot better that Frieza!! As much as it hate it I guess we gotta trust Vegeta!” Groans Krillian, “SHOOT! Dende-- do what Vegeta says, make that wish! We gotta take the chance!!”
“Huh?” Grunts Dende in shocked surprise.
“What..” Vegeta glances back at the Earthlings, then grins.
“We have to do it, or we’re all gonna be killed. We need to try something and trusting Vegeta is better than dying, right?”
“Uh huh!” Says Dende, “I- I su-suppose so!”
Vegeta chuckles with satisfaction.
“I guess.. I have to...” Answers the Namekian child reluctantly.
“About time!” Vegeta lets the child down, “You’re finally wising up kid!!!”
Dende slowly turns back to the Dragon.
“Don‘t dawdle!” The Saiyan yells, “Do it boy, we don’t have all day here, make the wish already!”
Dende swallows then begins to speak in Namekian “Bebala tonka labedra..” as he starts the invocation.
‘Yes this is it’ exults the Prince, ‘It’s really going to happen. A new Vegeta will soon be born, one with an indestructible power that can only get stronger with each battle. I will become unstoppable.’
Krillian grimaces still agonizing over the unavoidable.
Vegeta continues chuckling to himself, edging closer to total insanity, ‘You will never be able to kill me Frieza!! I’ll keep after you, wear you down! And someday, someday you’ll pay for everything when I finally defeat you!! Then I’ll take your place and rule the Universe as Emperor Vegeta!!!’
Dende is still chanting, but then falters and stutters as before his gaze something strange starts happening the Dragon flickers fading in and out. Suddenly rays start shooting out of it in all directions, flaring wildly around it, the red glow fades from it’s eyes.
“What’s going on?” Shouts the Prince in perplexity.
Dende cries out in overwhelming grief, “AHHH!!”
The Dragon groans then explodes upwards and outwards, it’s otherworldly glow dissipates and the normal light slowly returns.
“Unbelievable!” Gasps the young Saiyan.
As the sky returns to normal the glow fades from the Dragonballs, they revert to mere gray stone globes. Dende sobs softly.
Vegeta and the two Earthlings are completely mystified. Dende’s head hangs immersed in grief.
“Hey what’s the deal?” Shouts Vegeta, “Damn it I don’t feel any different? Did it happen or not?”
Vegeta glares about, “Somebody answer me, am I immortal or not? WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DRAGON? Where‘d the darkness go? Why did the Dragonballs change?”
Dende falls to his knees. “You’re not immortal!” The young Namekian’s entire body is shaking with the force of his sobs.
“Dende, hey Dende?” Asks Krillian “Are you okay?”
Tears are streaming from the little Namek’s eyes, “Guru’s gone..!”
The others gasp.
“The Great Elder has passed through the black gate, at peace at last ...” Dende’s voice cracks with sadness, “The magic of the Dragonballs departed with he who created them...”
Krillian tries to comfort him, “I’m sorry, I know it hurts.”
“He was my parent, but he was more like a grandfather to me,” Says the child sadly, “Guru, I asked him not to die while I was gone.”
“That’s it? It’s over?” Asks Vegeta angrily, “Do you mean when this guy Guru kicks the Dragonballs are useless!”
“Of course,” says Dende, “Since Guru created the Dragonballs they vanished when he died.”
Vegeta is shaking with fury, “WHAT ABOUT MY IMMORTALITY ?!” Screams the thwarted Saiyan, “WHAT ABOUT MY WISH?!!!”
He whirls on the two Earthlings, “So we’re right back where we started aren’t we! I think I was just about to kill you for cheating me! You did this to me... You stole my chance....” Vegeta freezes in mid rant, a look of horror appears on his face as he stares upwards.
“What!” Krillian stares at the motionless Saiyan, then follows the direction of Vegeta’s horrified gaze “Oh.... no..!!”
A pink and white monstrosity looms over them on the cliff.
“FRIEZA!!!” Gasps Vegeta.
“So you’re the troublemakers, and look what you’ve done..” Says Frieza with a menacing smile, “You’ve managed to end my dreams of immortality. Naughty! Naughty! You certainly know better than that Vegeta!”
“And there’s no sign of the Ginyu’s anywhere.” Frieza scans the area, “Did you finally kill them Vegeta. All by yourself or did your little friends help you? How priceless the most Elite fighting force in the Universe eliminated by three midgets and a useless Saiyan!” The grinning marionette glances down at the round stones, “And even the Dragonballs are useless, my desire for eternal life vanished with them. My, my, you are industrious little tykes! I just wish I could have been here to have seen Ginyu’s face!”
The monster’s eyes rake the group below. Then he locks gazes once more with the Saiyan Prince, they exchange stares of unadulterated hatred.
Then Frieza steps from the cliff and floats ominously down, “No one till now has ever dared to play Frieza the fool! I can hardly believe this is happening myself!”
“And although I don’t know how you managed to best the Ginyu Force, my dear Mr. Vegeta but it really doesn’t matter that much. For now, it’s your turn to die.” States the beast, “But not to worry it won’t hurt long just relax, death is my forte!”
“I always knew you would turn on me eventually Vegeta, I just never knew when.” The Monster focuses on the Saiyan Prince. “Now I know you were just waiting for the stakes to get high enough before you played your hand. How unfortunate you’re bid failed!”
“But I complement you, after all it just might of worked. What a pity it didn’t.” Frieza stalks towards them, “I hope you thoroughly enjoyed your little rebellion my precious prince, because now it’s over!”
The monster’s deceptive calm facade shatters, “Damn you...,” He explodes in fury, “YOU MISERABLE MAGGOTS! I’LL RIP YOU APART LIMB FROM LIMB, I’LL TORTURE YOU TILL YOU BEG FOR YOUR DEATHS!”
Vegeta has managed to destroy all of Frieza’s dreams as well as his reserve hosts, and Frieza dares not even spare the Saiyan Prince. Once he disposes of these pests he’ll have to start out all over again seeking hosts for his offspring. The thought maddens the beast.
“And you’ll be first,” He shakes his fist at Vegeta, “I should have done this a long time ago, you’ve ruined everything you Saiyan freak show. How dare you mettle in my affairs, I could have been immortal, I hate you!”
Frieza seems to be totally focused on Vegeta but when the other start to dart aside, he screams, “DON’T EVEN TRY IT!!!”
‘It figures they‘d run, I knew they were cowards.’ Thinks the Prince in disgust.
“YOU hate ME?!” Responds Vegeta. “Like I care!”
“You don’t know what hate is Frieza! I’ve hated you since the day you took me! You perverted monster.” Spits The Prince vehemently. “Your ‘pet’ has finally turned on you! If you think I can still be controlled--- think again!!!”
“I’ll never allow myself to be subjected to your ‘tender mercies’ ever again!”
Vegeta glares back at Frieza, “It’s over I’ve quit! I’m free of you now. All those years of subservience, I could puke!”
“You, Zarbon, Dodoria and all the others, you used me for your own needs. Forced me to do horrible things.” Vegeta growls, “I’ll never forgive you for that, but at least I’ve gotten my revenge on the others, I’ve finally regained my honor and pride.”
“That’s right get it all out.” Says the Tyrant, “Live boldly even if it only lasts a few minutes.” He chuckles evilly.
“At last, I’m finally free of you. You’ll never have me again, you perverted monster!” The Prince straightens standing tall, regally proud and defiant, released from the last of his shame.
“Well now, are you glad that’s off you’re chest? Of all the things to say to me after I’ve everything I’ve done for you.” Says the monster almost conversationally, “It seems you’ve forgotten who I am! WELL LET ME REMIND YOU!!!” Shouts Frieza angrily, as he crosses his arms, preparing to power up.
Vegeta watches angrily, but none the less calm. He’s made his break, severed the last of the bonds that had enslaved him. No matter what happens now, his body and soul is free of the monster!
Krillian, Gohan and Dende stare in amazement at the build-up of pure raw energy around and within Frieza.
“OH.. M-MY..” Gasps the young half-Saiyan.
“OH MAN! I.. could....never ... have ... guessed...We’re talkin’ serious power here!” Cries Krillian in astonishment. “His level is totally outta sight!... W-we haven’t gotta chance in hell against that ..!”
“Of course you don‘t...” Says Frieza with a malicious grin, “no more that three ants against a giant!!!"
Vegeta was startled to realize that the others hadn’t fled after all. In fact they’re standing to either side just behind him, as if to back him up. It perplexes him. He had been just about to kill them, but they still here, willing to support in him in his opposition against Frieza!
Frieza starts laughing manically and the ground starts to shake, and fracture. Cracking and crumbling beneath their feet. His energy builds and builds, even affecting the surrounding environment. The force he’s generating is so great that even the water surrounding the island is swept away from the shore, exposing the seabed beneath.
“Look at me Vegeta, have you forgotten everything?!” Asks the monster, “You’re a fool to dare and challenge me again!!”
Frieza looks at the Saiyan, expecting to see fear, but is angered when the Prince takes a fighting stance.
“He’s bluffing, we do have a chance!” Vegeta smiles in sudden realization, “If the three of us fight him together!”
The others stare at him in surprise.
The Prince suddenly noticed that his strength level is now almost equal that of Frieza’s. Together the three of them could actually beat the monster.
“So have you become unhinged, or are you merely fantasizing?” Asks the tyrant curiously.
“So I’m the only one who has noticed.” Says the Prince slowly, “The Earthling’s power is still rising, and the boy has more powerful than he realizes or can even imagine yet. While I too am slowly changing, I am becoming the one thing you fear the Frieza, the thing you dreaded coming into being, the thing you destroyed my world trying to prevent coming into being. A SUPER SAIYAN!”
"Ha! Ha! Ha! I’m so glad we had this little talk first. A Super Saiyan, how priceless! You can still amuse me, my little Prince.” Then Frieza turns serious once more, “Now you’d better get that impudent smirk off your repulsive face Vegeta!”
“Or do I have to kill you first to remove it!” Screams Frieza, as the earth fractures between them forcing a fault upwards separating them, blocking Vegeta’s view of Frieza.
Vegeta repels and splits it in twain, only to see an energy ball bearing down on him, he phases out dodging the fireball.
Frieza fires again and Vegeta blinks out phasing up to the cliff top.
The beast continues to blast away at the Saiyan but Vegeta manages to evade every blast.
Suddenly Krillian and Gohan enter the fray firing at Frieza from the rear.
‘What!’ Thinks the Prince in surprise, as he watches in amazement as the two blast away at the Prince‘s foe. He had been bluffing with that team-up threat, not believing the two Earthlings would join him in his attack, but they’re actually following through!
Startled Frieza turns and repels sending their blast and them back.
The two separate dodging in opposite directions, as the monster fires at them. ‘Why are they doing this? They’re risking their lives. Why are they still trying to help me?’ Puzzles the Prince.
The two Earthlings meet in a crouch ready to dodge again but then Dende rushes forward to rejoin them.
Frieza sees his chance and fires at the helpless Namekian child.
Vegeta perceives the danger and without pausing to think leaps defensively to their aid.
The Prince appears between them and the blast that Frieza has thrown. It surprises both himself and Frieza when he deflects it with easily with a single blow, sending it into a nearby mountain. It shatters into a million pieces.
‘Why did I do that?’ Puzzles the Prince internally, ‘Am I being contaminated by these emotional idiots?’
The blast is followed by Frieza who swings at the Prince. Vegeta parries catching Frieza's wrist. The monster’s face shows his astonishment as the Saiyan holds him at bay. Frieza tries to hit Vegeta with his other hand and their fingers lock. They’re standing toe to toe, sweat drips from Vegeta and the veins throb on his forehead, the air thrums with the power the two are generating.
Frieza’s scouter starts ticking upwards. He can hardly believe what he’s seeing and then the device explodes on his face.
Their power flings them apart.
Vegeta is panting from his efforts.
“So you weren’t dreaming that much after all.” States the beast.
Gohan says to Krillian, “He’s strong alright, but I think Vegeta’s right too. Our strength has increased and if we all fight together we can win!”
“Yeah it looks like Vegeta’s reached a brand new level!” Answers Krillian but then he thinks, ‘But it bothers me that I don’t understand why Frieza’s still so calm.’
Bulma had been waiting anxiously, wracked with worry for what seemed like hours now. Ever since the two boys had come back for the Dragonball radar. At least she knows Son’s here now, but what happened to Vegeta? She hopes those two Saiyans aren’t going at it again. They’ve already got enough problems with that Frieza guy running around loose.
Goku and Vegeta can settle their differences later, if there is a later.
And those strange earth tremors are worrying her too!
Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to hide out on an island. She’s been keeping a careful eye on the water level ever since those tremors. The last thing she needs is to be swept away by an alien tidal wave!
She’s seriously thinking about abandoning this hiding place anyway and heading out to look for the others.
She’d seen the sky change, so someone’s used the Dragonballs, then it changed back. That was some time ago and no one has come for her yet! It’s worrisome, those boys are all so irresponsible sometimes. They had left her defenseless earlier too, and she had had some trouble then. Fortunately those two goons had been dimwitted enough that she was able to trick them.
It had been a close one though.
All these guys are so scatterbrained! There’s only one thing they do seem to be able to concentrate on, and it’s fighting.
They all seem to have a one track mind!
She remembers how she’s always had to be the one to keep everyone on the main track before. When Son was little it is was food, fighting and then everything else in that order. Bulma grins to herself, and from what ChiChi says he has changed much over the years.
Finally she makes a decision, and pulls out the air bike’s capsule luckily she‘d been able to finally fix it‘s problem.
Opening it reveals her speeder bike.
She hadn’t used it before cause the boys kept carrying her.
Bulma remembers which direction they took off in and figures she’ll just follow them. If the bike runs out of fuel before she finds them she’ll walk from there. She knows that Goku or Gohan can find her if they have too.
“Do it Frieza!” Goads Vegeta, “Transform, you might as well show us what you really are!” The Prince sneers.
“So you know. Who told you, Dodoria or Zarbon?” Asks the tyrant.
“Zarbon. Your favorite fop was less that discrete.” Replies Vegeta.
“Well I’m not at all surprised,” states the monster, “he did tend to be a bit verbose at times.”
“He...” starts Gohan.
“Tra- transforms?!” Stutters Krillian ending the remark.
“Very well, if that’s what you truly want!” Grins Frieza. “But it’s still not to late to change your minds. Once I transform I warn you I may have trouble controlling myself.”
“Are you saying he changes too?!” Squeaks Krillian.
“I don’t think I’m gonna like this.” Adds Gohan nervously.
“Yes, there are numerous beings in the universe that do it.” Says the Saiyan, “To hide their true nature, either as camouflage or to conserve energy. Changing only when the need arises.”
“That may be the case for others, but not for me, Vegeta. I have never done it before, it was unnecessary. I fear losing control because the power is so overwhelming.”
“He‘s just bluffing trying to scare us.” Says Vegeta with assurance, “He won’t be that different...”
“HA!” Laughs Frieza “Are you so certain, Vegeta?”
“I don’t boast, even when I destroyed the entire Saiyan army and homeworld I didn’t need to change.”
“He destroyed an army of Saiyans and their entire planet, alone!” Gasps Krillian.
“I’ve destroyed worlds without the need to transform too.” States Vegeta coldly.
“Then watch closely, for you are truly privileged, few if any beings have seen this transformation.” Says Frieza, “Not even your father and his bodyguards merited this effort.”
“My father!” Vegeta sneers in distaste, “That doesn’t surprise me. Even as a toddler I was stronger than he ever was.”
The beast just smiles in response and then the thrum of power returns and suddenly Frieza’s battle jacket explodes!
“EEP!” Startles out of Gohan.
“It.., just., burst apart!” Cries Krillian.
They all stare at Frieza who smiles serenely as the light glints off the beast’s carapace,.
“OOO! You broke your cuirass.” Says Vegeta sarcastically, “Is that your mighty transformation?”
The only answer is a slow rising thrum of power., then the monster screams.
“Uhoh..” Groans the boy.
“His power’s escalating!” Shouts Krillian over the increasing roar.
Suddenly Frieza's chest balloons, then his arms elongate and expand one at a time to match the new size of his torso. Followed by both legs doing the same together. Finally his head balloons and his horns rise up and curve into sharp taurine scimitars. Frieza’s transformation is complete.
As Frieza’s straightens, Vegeta gapes. The beast has tripled his original size and now looms twice the Prince’s height. “I.., I.., never thought...”
“We’re dead!” Mutters Gohan.
“This is a nightmare!” adds Krillian.
Frieza chuckles cruelly, “Be careful Mr. Vegeta, I won’t be as gentle with you as I have been before..”
Only Vegeta truly knows what the monster is referring to. The Prince suddenly realizes that if Frieza had been in this form when he had nearly beaten the rebellious young Saiyan Prince to death, Vegeta would have never lived to reach adulthood.
The Monster is growling with delight, “I posses so much power in this form that I may be unable to control it properly, if there was anything capable of reading it my level would exceed a million...”
“WHAT!?” Yells Vegeta in protest, “LIAR!!”
“BAH!!!” Frieza raises his open palm and increasing his power blows them all backwards.
Krillian spots the helpless Namek child as he’s flung yells “DENDE!!!!” As he takes off to intercept him.
Frieza's power explodes.
The Saiyan Prince is the first to recover. He glances around.
And spots Gohan, as the rocks patter down. The boy is fine, he in turn is seeking his own companions.
“Where’s Krillian....?!!” Kakarot's son’s head swivels about, “And Dende!!?”
A voice replies from behind, “W-we’re here...“ Krillian appears ruefully, emerging out of the settling dust, “Don’t worry we’re fine!” He smiles clutching Dende, having had caught the small alien just in time.
Gohan cries in concern “You're hurt!!”
“It’s nothing just a scratch.” Krillian reassures him. “I didn't duck in time and got hit by a flying rock ...”
Frieza laughs, “So you vermin are a bit faster than I anticipated. No matter, even Saiyans can be quick if they‘re fleeing!”
He gazes up at the Prince and chuckles, “You’re pathetic Vegeta! You didn’t realize I’d get this strong , did you!?”
“You‘re... a monster...” Growls the Saiyan.
Frieza glances at each of them in speculation, “Let‘s see... hmmmm! Who should I pick first?”
Then with a sudden decision he leaps skywards, “I PICK YOU!!!” He heads straight for Krillian and Dende. The small monk manages to fling the Namekian child just in time. Leaving himself wide open, only to be savagely gored by Frieza's left horn.
Gohan gasps out in grief stricken horror.
The Prince stares in shock, “S-SO FAST!!!”
Kakarot‘s brat screams his companion’s name in protest.
Krillian gasps in surprised pain, pierced clear through, “AH.. UNH..”
“That cueball moron,” Anguishes Vegeta, “He should have dodged himself instead of worrying about that green weakling...!” The mortally injured monk stares down at his killer in horror, quivering in agony.
“Excuse me,” says Frieza with feigned politeness, “But I did try to warn you. It’s very difficult to control my ferocity in this form...”
Krillian moans in pain as Frieza tosses his head and dislodges the impediment that was caught on his horn. The little monk falls helplessly, tumbling haplessly into the water far below. He sinks out of sight like a rock.
“NOO-OO!!!” Yells Gohan streaking after him, but suddenly he jerks to a stop as his path is blocked by a grinning Frieza who has zipped ahead to intercept the youth.
“WHA..!!!” Vegeta is stunned by Frieza’s incredibly swift response, “SUCH SPEED..!!!”
“Trying to rescue your friend, boy?” Asks the apparition confronting Gohan, stopping his attempt to save Krillian, “It’s useless. If he’s not dead already, he will be soon. I’d be worrying about my own ass if I were you!”
The half Saiyan child begins to glow with power, “G.. Get outta....” Gohan is trembling with his increasing rage, “MY WAY!”
Frieza just stares in perplexity, unaware of the inherent warning from the boy’s intensity, even though he does notice how the boy‘s eyes have seemed to lighten. Flashing with greenish glints.
“I SAID MOVE!!!!” Screams Gohan furiously.
But the Prince readily recognizes the signs, “Watch it Frieza, you’re in for quite a surprise.”
When Frieza ignores the child’s demand and continues to remain motionless, Gohan reacts. Delivering a left kick to the beast’s immense head, that knocks it aside, followed by a right uppercut that makes it snap violently backwards.
The Prince watches silently knowing that Gohan’s anger has ignited his heritage from his father. This is the same fury that had gripped the boy when he had came after Vegeta on Earth. The brat has to completely lose control before he can access his full power. The kid is only a half breed, but he is still capable of Saiyan Rage!
It’s amazing, he seems almost powerless in his normal state! His numbers then would not even rate him as mere low level fighter like his father. Raditz had once told the Prince that his younger brother’s birth numbers were an embarrassment. They had been so low that he had barely made it into the ranks of the fighters at all. If this brat had been born on Planet Vegeta he would have ended up consigned to the level of the powerless drone workers, and would have even been forbidden to breed!
Vegeta observes as Gohan continues to battle Frieza. The boy is pummeling the monster’s midsection, ending it with a kick that propels the beast backwards. Then the lad forms an energy ball sending it after the tyrant. The backlash from the resultant explosion nearly sends the Prince tumbling from the sky.
Frieza hits the ground hard face first, the kid continues firing more energy blasts at his fallen foe. The beast lies prostrate and motionless.
Awe grips Vegeta as the boy finally ceases his assault, panting from his exertions.
That a hybrid with his parentage could have this much power is highly unusual. Most crossbreeds are far weaker than their full blood Saiyan parent. Is this brat of Kakarot’s just a chance uniqueness of hybridization, or might all Earthling-Saiyan matings produce such powerful warriors?
Or is something else going on here?
‘I-incredible, that kid’s got so much power. And he doesn’t even realize it! He has to totally lose his head and snap before he can even gain access to release it..!!’ Thinks the Saiyan Prince, ‘Could it actually be happening to him too? Even if he is a half-breed! Is he also progressing into a Super Saiyan...?’
Suddenly a sound from the water below registers on Gohan’s senses, “What!”
As he comes back to himself he remembers his companion “Krillian!!!” He looks down worriedly at the water, searching for any sign of his friend, and sees a glimmer of hope.
Dende is below treading water and supporting the small Earthling’s head above the surface. He shouts up to the other boy, “I got to him in time, he’s still breathing,.” The little Namek reassures his new friend, “I can help, I’ll take care of Krillian, don’t worry about us!”
“Please Krillian.., ” Begs the forlorn youngster, “Please don’t you leave me too...” Gohan has already seen too many of his friends die, even his father. Tears start in his eyes. He doesn't want to lose any more, not even that jerk Vegeta, he dashes them away with the back of his hand.
The Prince looks down at the kid, he’s just floating there staring down at the two in the water. What’s the matter with the him? Can’t he feel it? Frieza’s still alive. If he doesn’t renew his attack soon the monster will recover!
Then Vegeta realizes what’s going on. The brat’s agonizing over the fate of his friend! Such stupid sentimentality! If this weakness, this lack of attention, is caused by mere friendship, Vegeta’s almost glad he’s never been allowed to have any friends. The Prince knows that he has to shake the brat out of this fatal self absorption of his before it’s too late.
The Prince shouts at Gohan, “Pay attention to what you were doing, brat! Now is not the time to be worrying about them! Are you stupid enough to think that attack would hurt Frieza, let alone stop him!?!”
As Gohan gazes over at the motionless monster, Frieza’s tail twitches, then slowly the beast pushes himself up and then stands his tail’s twitch has changed in to an angry lashing. Frieza glares up at Gohan.
“So you’re not an ordinary brat! That actually stung ..,quite a bit!” Accuses the beast with a cruel smile, “But you picked the wrong person to mess with. All that tactic did was make me mad...”
“I’d say..., that maybe.., we’ve bitten off a little more than we can chew..,“ states Vegeta worriedly.
Frieza glares up at the two warriors floating above him. The sound of power fills the air once more, the ground begins to shutter, rocks and pebbles are lifted into the air by the energy vortex as the beast’s ki increases.
“Wh.., where’s he getting it...” Gasps Gohan, “He’s increasing his power level again...!!!”
“Th-then does that could mean...” Gulps Vegeta, “Frieza is able to control his energy levels in this form?!”
“Now prepare to suffer the pain I felt.... a million times over!” Says the beast.
Dende who has reached the shore and is now pulling Krillian from the water, pauses as he realizes that something's happening to Frieza again! His expression reveals the horror of what he feels. from Frieza’s aura. He had known the monster was evil before and had suspected that Vegeta was almost as bad. But now he realizes the truth. That compared to the pure unadulterated overpowering malignancy of the beast, the Saiyan is almost a saint!
Frieza’s power is still increasing as he starts to rise towards Gohan and Vegeta. He stops when he reaches Gohan confronting the youthful demi-Saiyan.
Gohan gasps as he’s nearly overwhelmed by the evil radiating from Frieza!
The Prince manages to shake off his shock and shouts in warning to the boy, “GET AWAY YOU FOOL!” But the warning is too late.
Frieza backhands Gohan sending the child plummeting to the ground, the boy bounces then lays still groaning in pain.
“Don’t give up yet.” Says Frieza, then he warns, “I’m just starting to play, the real fun’s hasn’t started yet.” Something snaps inside of Vegeta. The valiant boy’s attack has awakened a part of the Saiyan Prince’s nobility he had thought lost, his righteous anger explodes. The Prince becomes justice incarnate!
Vegeta yells his rage as he fires his Gallic Gun at Frieza‘s back, the bright burst of the explosion obscures the area.
“It hit him head on!!!!” Crows the Prince, “He was so overconfident that he left himself wide open! I actually beat him!!!”
Vegeta begins to laugh with hysterical relief. But it tapers off as the brightness and dust dissipates revealing Frieza floating motionlessly completely unaffected by the Prince’s attack.
Frieza slowly glances over his shoulder. “Don’t be so impatient my pet, we‘ll play soon.” The beast‘s evil smile is one Vegeta knows all to well, “You’ll have my complete attention very shortly!”
The Prince recognizes the glint of anticipation in Frieza’s eyes, it is like the one he’d seen so many times before when he was still a prisoner in the monster’s bedchamber. Frieza is going to extract every ounce of agony he can from all of them. To him inflicting pain is just a game, a diversion to lessen his continual ennui. The old ingrained terror returns, along with the feeling of childish helplessness.
Frieza descends to the figure of the prone boy, the monster licks his lips. Gohan is just the right age and size to stir the monster’s lustful appetites.
‘It’s over..’ Agonizes the Prince in defeat, ‘We‘ve can’t stop him, we’re finished..’
“Now...” Asks Frieza in false friendliness, “How shall we proceed? Are you going to resist or are you going to fight?” The monster stares down at the boy, his arms crossed.
Gohan grunts as he struggles to his feet then he turns to face the beast taking a defiant fighting stance.
Goaded Gohan leaps to the attack but his right kick misses Frieza‘s chin by a fraction, and his left cross is just as futile, Frieza is merely jerking his head out of the path of the boy’s blows.
Then the monsters’ right hand shoots out and captures the child by his hair.
Gohan shouts in pain.
Frieza relentlessly knees the boy in the stomach, cracking his ribs, the force of the blow tears Gohan from Frieza's grasp and he drops to the ground clutching his side in agony. Frieza grins at the boy’s pain as he opens his hand to let the hairs he still holds fall.
Stepping forward the beast delivers a powerful kick that flings the child forward. Frieza follows chuckling in sadistic glee. But just as he reaches his small victim, and raises his three toed foot to crush the boy, Gohan repels and shoots himself away from the monster.
But the desperate escape attempt is thwarted when Frieza suddenly phases in ahead of Gohan, blocking his path. The beast flicks his thick muscular tail forward between his legs and bats the boy back into the ground.
Gohan impacts with his hands and knees, and manages to struggle to his feet, to face his enormous foe once more. He’s panting desperately trying to suck air into his lungs despite the stabbing pain from his broken ribs. But as he scans the sky for the beast, Frieza’s nowhere to be seen, somehow he’s completely vanished!
Instead a hand grabs the boy from behind, “Looking for me?” Then Frieza brings his elbow down on the boy’s skull fracturing it.
Vegeta watches helplessly, locked in a strange sense of deja-vu, as Frieza pins Gohan to the ground. It’s almost as if he’s watching a recreation of the beating he had when he was only slightly older.
The monster’s foot is grinding the boy’s head into the ground, as he prepares to crush it. “Are you ready boy? It’s time to DIE!”
Vegeta is trembling with thwarted rage. His power is flaring around him fuelled by his hatred and the horrible memories.
The agonized screams of another child echo inside him in chorus with Gohan's, ‘AA...GYAAA.’ Bringing back the memories of every beating he’d endured.
“Is something wrong Vegeta?! Are you actually considering an attempt to save him?!” Frieza gazes up at the Saiyan Prince, “If you are you’d better decide in a hurry, his skull won’t last much longer, I can feel it cracking even now!!”
The Prince is in a quandary. He knows his power isn’t anywhere near enough to face Frieza head on, but something is stirring within his heart. Fighting to get free, making him want to rush to the boy‘s aid. He tries to convince himself otherwise.
“I don’t give a damn about the brat..” And he tries convincing himself with logic “Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t oppose Frieza's sheer POWER...”
Gohan screams are losing strength, weakening as his head is slowly being crushed, “AH.. AH..”
“Too late, Vegeta,” Gloats the monster, “I’m getting bored, so I’m ending this now!”
Suddenly Frieza becomes aware of approaching danger, and leaps up to avoid it, but doesn’t completely succeed, as a whirling energy disk passes beneath him and slices off half of his tail! Frieza gasps in pain and surprise.
Vegeta echo’s the monster astonishment as he sees the source of the attack.
They both stare in befuddlement at a completely restored Krillian, standing angrily at the ready.
“Yo-you should be dead!!!!” Yells the beast in shock, “I skewered him.... he was dying ...!!! He can’t be...”
But in complete negation of the beasts words, Krillian shouts “KI-EN-ZAN!!!! Activating his signature energy destructo disk and sends more flying at the astounded Frieza.
With speed fueled by desperation Frieza manages to dodge every one of them.
Cursing Frieza turns to glare at the diminutive human.
Krillian raises his spread hands to either side of his face and grimaces sticking out his tongue at the monster and blows a raspberry at him. Attempting to goad the beast into chasing him.
The little monk succeeds and flees drawing Frieza away for Gohan.
Leaping after the fleeing human, Frieza quickly overtakes and outpaces him and stops.
Blocking Krillian‘s escape.
Hanging upside down in front of Krillian, Frieza addresses the little man, “I don’t understand how you’ve managed to recover, but it doesn't really matter....” His voice drips with increasing menace. “Because for daring to disfigure me... I shall blast you into your component atoms and disperse them so widely that no one will be unable to find even one in a ton of sand!!!!”
Trapped by his stronger foe, Krillian knows he has to stay out of Frieza's clutches and he has only one hope for escape. Krillian borrows Tien’s trick once more, raising his hands he shouts, “TAIYO-KEN!!!!”
The unexpected flash of intense light works, blinding Frieza and give Krillian the chance he needed to flee.
“Vegeta, hit him now!!!” Shouts Krillian, “He can’t see!!!”
Frieza is moaning in pain rubbing his burning eyes, “UNH.. MY EYES...!!!”
But the Saiyan Prince is preoccupied, he has been watching something else transpiring. As Krillian had drawn Frieza away from Gohan the Namekian brat had rushed forward to the other boy‘s side. Now he was bending over the fallen Gohan and a strange glow as emanating from his hands bathing the injured boy’s body.
Suddenly Kakarot's brat starts sitting up!
“Vegeta, hurry!!!” Screams Krillian as he races back to the Prince and his companions.
Vegeta is staring in surprise at the two boys, “So that’s what happened...!!”
Frieza's vision is slowly clearing he blinks rapidly trying to rid himself of the blurriness.
The Prince whirls on Krillian “Why didn’t you say that green kid had the ability to heal?!”
“WHA..?!” Krillian glances down , “OH.. Good he got Gohan healed!!” He turns back to Vegeta, “Look we didn’t know he could do it before either!” He glares at the furious Prince. “If we had known, don’t you think we‘d have gotten him heal Goku too!!!”
Suddenly Gohan is floating beside them.
Vegeta notices that the kid has recovered with another power increase, just as if he were a full-blooded Saiyan.
Frieza’s vision has finally cleared, just in time to see all three of his irritating foes facing him again. Each one hale and hearty. “How are you doing that!?!”
And the Saiyan Prince's two allies are flanking him again!
Kakarot’s son activates his energy aura.
Feeling the boy’s power the Prince grins, “So it breeds true in humans, the brat’s just like a real Saiyan, his battle strength has increased after surviving all that.” As he reconsidering the factors, “The odds are improving ,we may still have a chance after all..”
“He’s healed too?! It’s just not POSSIBLE...!” Frieza stares in shock, “Somehow that brat’s healthy again too! He was almost dead, I know it...!”
Suddenly Krillian, Gohan and Vegeta, react as they feel the approach of another power source.
“Oh yeah!!” Cries Krillian in wonder.
“What is that!?!” The Prince wonders what this newcomer is, friend or foe?
The three turn away from the imminent threat of Frieza, who stares at their actions in astonishment.
Suddenly another Namekian appears. Materializing in front of the boy.
Gohan cries out in joy then shouts a name gleefully, “PICCOLO!!!!”
The tall Namekian warrior doesn’t bother looking at his young disciple, but says, “Sorry for the delay, Gohan, something came up....”
“YEA!!! We’ve been waiting for you!!!” Shouts the excited youth happily grinning ear to ear.
“That's Frieza huh...” states Piccolo. “He does look a bit formidable...”
The Prince grunts in disgust, “Who shows up but that slug that was squished by Nappa back on Earth.” He turns to look at the two Earthlings, “You had the immeasurable power of the Dragonballs at your command and you wished that hunk of garbage back!”
“So I’m a hunk of garbage. Huh, Vegeta ? Well think about this, after I dispose of Frieza..., I’ll be doing the same to you ”
“After you... dispose of FRIEZA?” Vegeta laughs ironically, “HA HA HA! I didn‘t realize Namekians were such comedians!”
“Piccolo it’s hopeless,” says Krillian, “Frieza's in a league all by himself. You don’t stand a chance, even if you did train with King Kai!”
“So there’s more than one Namekian left alive...” Muses Frieza, frowning , “He’s no ordinary fighter, this one’s a true warrior... But he’s still.. not even a match to me.”
“Well.. time to take care of the space trash...” Says the Namekian warrior, “I’ll take care of this myself. Just stay out of it you three.”
“Stay out of it?!” Questions Gohan.
“Ah? Are you sure about this Piccolo?!” Asks Krillian.
Piccolo’s sensitive hearing can pick-up the high-pitched voice of Dende below, “Th-that’s Piccolo, I thought you were Nail at first....”
“Yes!” Answers Piccolo to both questions at once, knowing the child below will hear him as easily as he had heard him. “It’s my responsibility to punish Frieza. To exact justice for all of my people that he has hurt and killed.”
Suddenly he descends landing a few yards in front of the child, “Dende, take cover or you could get hurt, it isn’t safe out here.”
The youngling runs for cover looking back over his shoulder, thinking, ‘H-he knew who I am, h-how...?”
Frieza follows him down landing nearby on a small plateau in front of Piccolo.
Dende peers around the edge of the outcropping, that he’s taken shelter behind.
“He going to get killed!” Protests Krillian, “He doesn’t know how terrible Frieza is!!!”
“Let him alone..” Says Vegeta “He‘ll realize his mistake soon enough..”
“B-but Piccolo knows how to read his enemies true strength,” says the young Saiyan. “He must think there’s a chance he can win...!”
“Useless vermin..” Says Frieza as he looks down on the Namek.
Piccolo’s energy explodes as he launches his attack on Frieza, with a right cross to the chin, it flings the Tyrant backwards. Piccolo chases after but misses a double fisted blow to the monsters body as Frieza dodges to the right.
As Frieza dodges, he lashes out with a right kick that connects and throws Piccolo backwards to the ground.
The emerald warrior flips over mid-flight and hitting the base of the plateau springs back towards Frieza, head first. His skull and weighted cap impacts Frieza full in the chin, flipping the monster head over heels, but Frieza uses the impetus bring what’s left of his tail into play and hits Piccolo in the chin throwing him back as well.
Giving Frieza a chance to right himself, and fire an energy blast at his green foe. But Piccolo doesn’t even attempt to dodge it, instead he brings his left hand down and backhands the raving energy orb aside and away.
The monster barely has time to register, “He’s rebounded it!” As the blast hits him, it is followed by an eruption from the Namekian's outstretched right hand hitting him full on again.
The smoke clears to show a batters Frieza, arms still raised defensively shielding his face.
The monster curses Piccolo through clenched teeth.
“He’s as strong as Frieza..!” Cries Krillian in amazement.
“No he’s stronger..” Replies the Prince in furious disbelief, “that Namek is even more powerful than Frieza!”
Gohan cheers gleefully, “Piccolo!!! I never knew he was this strong!!!”
Vegeta can barely believe his eyes, Frieza has been fought to a virtual stand still! How are they doing it? First Kakarot and now the Namek! They both died and came back stronger than ever. What is their secret?
‘How could he have gotten so strong ...?’ Thinks the Saiyan Prince in perplexity, ‘He hasn’t had enough time, I killed him only a couple of months ago...’
Ignoring the Prince’s fury, the two Earthlings are ecstatic.
“Hey kiddo!!!” Exults Krillian, “We may make it home after all!!”
“YEAH!!!” Responds the boy happily.
Vegeta stares at the combatants, with growing rage. He needs to be the one to destroy Frieza! He has too!! Not some two bit Namekian slug.
Frieza descends and touches down in front of Piccolo, his power begins to radiate ominously around him, and before Piccolo can react. The beast is next to him, bringing his right elbow to impact left side of his enemy’s face. With out pausing Frieza grabs the Namek’s head with his other hand and flings him face first into the ground. Following that with another right aimed at the back of the Namek’s head. But Piccolo shoots backwards and upwards and Frieza's blows hits the ground. Recovering, Frieza chases after him and outpaces the Namek, and greets Piccolo from above with a double fisted blow to the heads that flings him back down at almost supersonic speed into the distant ground.
Piccolo hits the planet's surface like meteor raising a huge cloud of dust and debris, rock fragments splash into the waters surrounding the small island where he impacted.
Frieza’s cruel laughter drifts downwards preceding his descent.
“Kami..” Exclaims Krillian in horror, “Frieza was.. just toying with him..”
The bestial monster descends to the crater caused by Namek’s impact. Piccolo pulls himself out of the rubble with a groan of protest.
“Please forgive me.” Asks Frieza then chides, “You were far stronger than I expected... I just couldn’t help it. It was just to tempting to use you to illustrate my strength.”
Then he adds brutally, “But now the lesson is ended.”
‘There’s..., no limit to Frieza’s power...’ Thinks Vegeta as he stares in shock, ‘And I thought I could kill that monster..?’
Piccolo rises and spits dust from his mouth, then he begins to shed his weighted cloak. It thunks heavily to the ground, startling Frieza, it’s followed by the headpiece that clangs metallically as it lands.
The Namekian warrior cracks his neck by bending his head side to side as he presses his hands together cracking his wrist joints, loosening them.
Then he grins at Frieza, “So you’re finally ready to get serious, good then I will too!”
“WHAT?!” Frieza is taken aback. “You mean you weren’t..? And I thought all Nameks were scrupulously honest.”
“You’ll soon discover I’m not like other Nameks...” Responds the green warrior.
“Wha?!” Gasps Gohan then shouting in realization, “OH YEAH!!”
“H-he’s been playing around, at a time like this?!” Cries Krillian.
Vegeta glances over at the diminutive Earthling in puzzlement.
‘What’s the twerp talking about. This Namek has only been playing so far? He’s got to be kidding? Nappa had clobbered him on Earth there’s just no way he could be hiding any more strength! Or could he?
“It’s time for you experience the pain that my people felt as you murdered them!!!” Shouts the Namek.
Gohan shouts excitedly, “He’s gonna win!!!”
“Somehow you’ve gotten the wrong impression.” The demonic monster smiles, “However did you get the idea that a threat like that would bother me?!”
“Huh!” Grunts Piccolo.
“It seems you’re unaware of my ability to transform.” Says the beast slyly, “Ask the Saiyan, unless Vegeta’s afraid to speak.”
“Transform..., mation...?” Question the Namekian warrior.
“Are you starting to feel frightened?” Gloats the Tyrant, “If not, you should be because," he pauses for effect.
Frieza has always enjoyed wallowing in the terror he can inspire in far lesser beings. It’s one of his particular pleasures.
“My battle strength increases exponentially every time I change.” He raises two fingers on his right hand, “And I have to tell you that I have two additional forms left. Do you now understand why you should be afraid? Very, very afraid!”
Piccolo stares at the beast in shock, “Are you saying..?!”
“N- no!!” Gasps Krillian, “I- I- I really didn’t hear him say that, did I!!”
The Prince is in shock as well, this is unbelievable, no known galactic race is capable of more than one transformation. But Frieza is claiming multiple transformations! Is he mad or could really it be true? Little is know of the monster’s species, there are only three representatives of the race known to exist. If this is true then Vegeta never really ever had an even a ghost of chance at beating him before, even if he had gained the sought after immortality.
“H-he has t-two more..?” Stutters the youthful half Saiyan.
They all stare at Frieza in shock.
“Watch carefully!!” Calls Frieza, “You are indeed a privileged group. You have the great honor of being the first ones here to ever see this form!!!” Frieza laughs wildly, “My second transformation!!!!"
And with that statement Frieza raises his arms and screams as his power level surges again engulfing him in it’s fiery glow. Triggering his next transformation, he snaps forward and three spurs shoot forth out of his back plates in a triangle, the point lowest. With another grunt, his shoulder plates expand jutting outwards to resemble the shoulder armor Krillian and Gohan are wearing. A final agonized cry his skull begins to elongate and two additional horns emerge as the first two are sheathed with white armor as they move backwards.
“I hope you haven’t grown weary waiting..” The newest version of the Tyrant grins predatorily at his Namekian foe, “Are you ready to start the next round?”
Piccolo only gasps in response.
“You‘re..” Growls Piccolo, “A MONSTER...!”
The others are gaping in shock.
Struck dumb until Krillian blurts, “B-but he didn’t change that much..”
The Prince’s answer is vehement, “Can’t you feel it fool!! His power is almost beyond measuring, no one’s ever been like this before!!”
Vegeta’s almost trembling, “All the damage we and Piccolo did, every one of those injuries...”
Gohan suddenly sees it too, “Th- they’re all gone! H- he’s healed himself...”
“I assume you’ve gotten lighter without those heavy things on. So now you should be much faster.” Says Frieza, “You’re quite assured...”
“Shall we test it,” The grotesque leaps forward to the attack, Piccolo accelerate backwards to avoid the beast‘s charge.
Frieza streaks after the streaking Namekian.
“Damn you!!! You may have strength, but I possess the speed!!!” Cries Piccolo, “You can not catch me !!!”
Piccolo’s progress suddenly jerks to a stop, “It can’t be!!” As he’s confronted by Frieza who’s hovering at ease in front of him.
“I’ve been waiting for you,” says the apparition, “it’s been awhile, I was starting to get worried...” With two fingers he sends an energy blast at the astonished green warrior.
The blast hits Piccolo’s left thigh stunning him, “UH GHHH...!!!!”
Frieza follows it with a second blast that hits the Namekian in the chest, “UNH!!!!”
Piccolo doesn’t have enough time to even react, ‘He’s too fast or me!!!’
Frieza fires yet again, and again keeping up his rapid firing at the hapless Namek, using him like a target.
Piccolo’s battered body jerks helplessly with each impact.
The others watch in horror.
“No one could dodge that kind of speed!!” Mutters Krillian aloud, “It’s incredible...!!!”
Watching the brutal abuse of his mentor Gohan finally loses control, and suddenly shoots towards the screaming, “NO MORE!!!”
“Don’t Gohan!!!” Cries Krillian. “Dammit!!!” But before he can start after the furious boy, he’s stopped by Vegeta grabbing him by the wrist.
“Why are you stopping me?!!” Shouts Krillian angrily glaring at the Saiyan.
“Do you want to die now? You can’t make a difference up there!!” Shouts the prince in response.
Even as he’s been watching the battle Vegeta’s agile mind has been hard at work, measuring the odds. Ever since he witnessed Frieza’s second transformation, he’s been using his new sensing abilities to gauge the monster’s increase of power and has learned that even at the level he’s at now, there’s not chance in hell that he could stand up to the tyrant.
But if his estimates are right, using the previous rates that his power and strength had exponentially increased after his last couple of near death recoveries as a guide. It may be entirely possible that one more such near death incident would make Vegeta strong enough to complete the fabled transformation into Super Saiyan. Then he would be able to finally fight Frieza and destroy him. And he now knows there is a way that it could be done quickly. But first he needs to get this midget to give him a killer blow!
Vegeta grabs Krillian’s cuirass, “But there is something you can do right here! Hit me, strike me with a fatal blow!!! You want revenge! TAKE IT NOW!!!”
Krillian stares in shock at the Saiyan warrior, has Vegeta finally gone completely insane? “WH-WHAT?!”
The Prince glanced down at the Namekian child crouching fearfully behind the rock below, “Just one more time,...If I recover from the verge death just one more time... I may become the Super Saiyan of legend!!!”
As the battle continues to rage above them, Gohan enters the fray furiously attacking Frieza in defense of Piccolo.
Krillian stares at Vegeta, “What in the hell are you talking about?”
They’re suddenly flung apart by the backlash of the attacks.
They stare up at the battle, as Frieza tries to figure out what has just happened.
“How’d he do that? Where did that brat get such power?” Questions the monster, then he realizes “He changed since he came back! That's it! He must be a Saiyan! But where did he come from? I thought I had eliminated all of them but Vegeta, Raditz and Nappa! So who? Not Vegeta or Nappa certainly, but he does resemble Raditz a little.”
Vegeta grabs the bald guy again, “Pay attention! I know that you now realize how Saiyans grow more powerful after they return from the brink of death!!!” He glares at the little human, held fast in his grip. “I need you to practically kill me!!! I can’t do it myself, it doesn’t work that way!!! I need someone else to do it!!!”
Frieza is still trying to puzzle out the enigma of the Saiyan child. ‘Whoever the father was, I can’t allow the brat to continue to live. He proves my instincts were right about the Saiyans. I should have killed every last one of them, even Vegeta, long ago. These two have become far more powerful than I ever believed possible. I still don’t believe that silly myth, but it’s best not to tempt fate.’
Krillian splutters struggling in the Prince’s grasp, “My power’s not that strong, there’s no way...”
“I won’t defend myself, I’ll lower my energy!” The Prince tells him, “We’ve got an advantage let’s use it that green brat can restore me almost instantly!!”
Krillian pulls free, shaking his head, “I can’t even as much as I detest you, I just can’t! Besides Goku should be better soon......”
The Prince growls back in reply, “Kakarot can’t get any stronger!!! He’s only a low ranked fighter!!!!”
Frieza starts to laugh, manically, “It would be simple to pound you all into slime the way I already am, but I’ve decided to give you the singular honor of seeing me wielding my greatest power. More frightening that death, for death is far kinder than this!”
“Not again..?!” cries Krillian turning to look once more at the monster, “H-how could it get any worse?!”
The monsters boast draws everyone’s attention.
“Look while you’re able,” shouts Frieza, “This is my final transformation...look upon MY ULTIMATE FORM!!!”
The concept stuns Krillian.
Frieza begins his final metamorphosis.
“We still have time!!!” Shouts the Prince in desperation, “Do it now you coward!!!”
Krillian screams in frustration as he fires a massive energy blast at the Saiyan, the nearly point blank blast goes straight through Vegeta’s chest. Shocking their allies.
“Th-that’s it...” The falling Prince mutters weakly as Vegeta tumbles helplessly towards the ground. “Soon I’ll fulfill my destiny, I’ll incarnate the legend, I will be the Super Saiyan....”
The Prince manages to weakly direct his descent, towards the spot where the green brat is hiding. He barely manages remain upright when he lands and staggers towards the kid.
“Heal me!” Vegeta demands, “Heal me now!”
The boy back away, shaking his head, “No... I can’t!”
“Wh-what did you s-say?!” Splutters the mortally wounded Prince, as he clutches his bleeding chest, “Why? Are you telling me you can’t heal me...?”
“..N...NO...” Refuses Dende, “I won’t do it!”
“But you healed the others! Why refuse me?!” Demands the dying Prince.
“Be- because you’re a murderer, y-you done nothing but kill...” Says the young Namek defiantly, I will not heal someone like you...”
“You dolt, there’s no way we can win unless you heal me. If you do it I can defeat Frieza!” Vegeta explains as he trembles, racked with pain.
“I WON’T DO IT!! I refuse to!” Dende turn his face from the suffering Prince.
The young healer can feel Vegeta's pain but remains adamant.
“Y-you have to... I’m losing...., too much blood...! I’m..... starting to..... black out...”
But the little Namek takes flight fleeing , “I’m going go help Piccolo..!!!”
“..Wait..!” Vegeta watches in agony as his salvation departs, as he falls he whispers on last word “Idiot...”
The Prince isn’t certain who he means himself or the brat. ‘It figures you go out of your way to offer to help and they reject it!’ Why did he even bother? He should have known better. Life is hell and then you die.
He’s known that hard inescapable fact for years. It was just that suddenly he had actually thought he’d caught a glimpse of something different. Of a life where, pain, fear and anger were not the only constants, that somewhere there might be a chance for different sort of life, but now he knows it was just a hopeless lie. He had deceived himself and made a stupid mistake that have had fatal consequences. He had even thought.., but no... he drifts into unconsciousness with the vision of dancing sapphire eyes.
Suddenly he feels two small hands on his body, a warmth suffuses him. He groans, the pain is unbearable and reaches for his deadly wound.
The bleeding rent in his body has vanished, his ripped open flesh is whole! He opens his eyes to see the recalcitrant green brat bending over him. He sits up, them climbs to his feet.
The little runt backs away and looks at the ground as if he regrets having healed the Prince.
Enraged for having suffered so much agony needlessly, Vegeta kicks the brat growling, “You son of a bitch!!” He glares at the cringing child. “I should kill you for putting me through all that!!”
Suddenly Vegeta's aware of a huge power that is almost shouting for his attention, he half turns and looks in the direction it’s coming from, “FRIEZA!!! He’s finally unleashed all of his power....”
But instead of being cowed the Prince grins, he can feel the surges of his own power as well, and it’s just as strong as he suspected it would become. “It doesn't matter anymore who he is, let him come! I can take anything he throws at me...!” His grin widens in triumph, “Because at last... I too have changed!!!”
Vegeta gazes towards the rapidly dispersing cloud that is obscuring his lifetime foe, the others are staring at the monster too.
As the cloud clears they are all seeking a first glimpse of this new form of Frieza!
“WHA?!” Gasps Krillian.
The looming monstrous form has utterly vanished given way to a smaller delicate almost feminine looking white creature. All of it’s thick heavy armor and offensive spikes have vanished, replaced by what appears to be mere vestigial adornmental gauntlets over the ankles and wrists accented by patches of fuchsia that also mark his chest shoulders and the top of his skull. The long fully restored tail curls as it moves side to side slowly, almost languidly.
“Th-that’s his ultimate form...?!” Questions Krillian in disbelief, “It’s not half as frightening as his others were...”
“A perfect reason not to rely on appearances....” Says Piccolo quietly. “Opposing those other forms was child’s play compared to trying to fight this one...”
Only the Prince sees the movement, Frieza raises his arm and points a finger at all of them. A blinding beam shoots from it’s tip. But it sizzles past the three in front and then flies past Vegeta. There’s a single high pitched scream, everyone turns to look for it’s target it.
The small form of the Namekian child lays motionless, face down in the sand!
“DENDE!!!” Shouts Gohan in protest.
“What ...happened!” Exclaims Piccolo “There was just a flash...”
“Now that the little mollusk is taken care of, no one will be able to be restored to life again.” States the monster.
“H-he just murdered him!!!” Exclaims the demi-Saiyan.
Piccolo curses then says, “H-he must have saw him helping me..!!”
They glance back at Frieza just in time to see him disappear.
“H-HE’S VANISHED AGAIN!!!” Shouts Krillian.
Then Frieza's standing right in front of the three warriors from Earth.
“I told you I’d reveal something worse that death itself....” Says the placid looking creature.
Gohan can take it no longer, the youth’s rage suddenly goes ballistic, and he attacks wildly, triggering his friends as well.
“You,” Shouts Krillian as he leaps to kick forward in support of his young comrade, “bastard!!!!”
Piccolo’s hand is slashing forward as he enters the fray as well.
Frieza stands his ground, merely bending and twisting as he dodge each attack and avoids every blow. None of the flurry of flying fists, feet, knees and elbows connect at all with their elusive target.
The Prince floats up and lands on a nearby outcropping to watch the Earthlings useless attack, gauging his foe’s potential.
Seeing the futility of physical attacks the others switch tactics attempting energy attacks, which fail just as badly.
But before the bolts can even hit him, Frieza is gone!
“H-HE DID IT AGAIN!!!” Cries Krillian in frustration, as Gohan and Piccolo land nearby.
Vegeta sense the monster’s presence and whirls, pointing as he shouts in warning, “HE’ S BEHIND YOU!!!”
“Correct, my pet!” States the monster’s voice from the rear as he fires two bolts at the boy. Vegeta has been revealing entirely to much concern for the brat‘s safety. Jealousy smolders in Frieza's eyes.
Before realizing what he’s doing, or the cause the Prince leaps to the child’s defense.
“Get outta the way, you moron!” With a well placed kick he knocks Gohan out of the paths of the energy lances and still manages avoid them himself by straddling them.
“N-not again,” Moans Krillian, “I didn’t even see that one...”
Piccolo turns and stares at the Saiyan, something feels different about him. And it’s more than just the increase in his power. Vegeta’s actions are almost becoming...altruistic!?!
“Th- thank you..” says the brat.
As the Prince watches his nemesis carefully. ‘Why in the hell did I do that?’ He asks himself, ‘Kakarot’s brat’s hardly worth the bother.’ But something wouldn’t let him stand idly by and watch the child die. Vegeta can’t quite figure out what’s making him so uncharacteristically concerned with these losers.
“I didn’t do it to for you!!!” Spits the Prince, not taking his gaze from Frieza, “I could care less what happens to your carcass...” Vegeta grins “I just wanted to show off what I’m capable of.”
Piccolo stares at Vegeta in stunned disbelief, “Are you... trying to say you can beat that thing...?!”
“That's the general idea...” Answers the Saiyan Prince, “Just stay out of my way, or you might get hurt!”
Krillian and Gohan just gasp at Vegeta’s pronouncement.
“Ahh the confidence of utter insanity ...” Says Frieza gently , “So Vegeta, your fear has finally pushed you over the edge.”
“Let me teach you about fear, Frieza!” Gloats the Prince with complete assurance, “I have become what you dreaded the most... the one that you vainly tried to prevent arising when you destroyed my people! I am the legend arisen.... THE SUPER SAIYAN!”
Frieza stares at the ranting Prince then starts to chuckle. “Your mad humor is refreshing...” but then he stops speaking.
“Super Saiyan?” Asks Piccolo, “What in the hell is he talking about!”
As Vegeta begins to power up, the energies flare wildly around him, surrounding the Prince with a glow of power that even an untrained eye could perceive. As he leaps to the attack he cries, “I am the one after all, Kakarot !!!!!!” The air shudders filled with the deafening thrum of Vegeta’s raw energy.
Frieza dodges the charge faster than the onlookers eyes can see.
But the Prince tracks the monster’s movement. “I saw that!!!”
Vegeta’s hand chops down at Frieza’s head, but the beast dodges and vanishes!
The Prince whirls scanning area.
A distant laugh sounds faintly behind him. Frieza is standing with crosses arms completely at ease on a small island peninsula.
“See, it’s quite impossible. You really can’t keep up with me after all!?” Says the white beast. “Not with that pitiful amount of speed.”
“N-no! After enduring so much, waiting all this time...” The thwarted Prince trembles with rage. “Is this it, is this all I can do?”
“Shall we agree then, the Super Saiyan is nothing but a myth?” says Frieza. “You’re really no better than your father.”
“Why do you keep bringing up my father?” Spits the Prince.
“Because I killed him just as easily as I will kill you.” Says Frieza sibilantly.
“So what, you killed him! I guessed that long ago.” Replies the Prince.
“But it was not when you thought it happened. It was before I destroyed your world.”
“Dead first or dead later, he’s still gone, why should I care? Either way he had already abandoned me anyway!”
“But he didn’t abandon you.” Smiles Frieza evilly. “What you never knew was that your father did come for you! King Vegeta and his Sibling guards actually tried to attack me, in my own throne room no less, in a vain attempt to rescue the both you and your Sibling Raditz.”
The beast laughs, “And you never even knew it, you were locked away while it happened directly above you!”
Frieza had known exactly when the Saiyan Monarch and his private Guard embarked on their foredoomed mission. Knowing they were to arrive soon, Frieza had Vegeta and his two Saiyans imprisoned in cells deep within the bowels of the palace beneath the audience room, for a minor infraction. He relished the idea of having the two boys his helpless prisoners when he slaughtered their father. Knowing exactly why the King and his Siblings were coming and what they would do!
And now in the midst of battle with the murderous monster, Vegeta finally learns of his father’s failed rescue attempt. Of Frieza's final cruelty as he rediscovers the real depths of his father’s love for his two sons.
The despicable Tyrant revels in the Saiyan Prince’s newest mental torment. Fully aware of Vegeta’s growing grief and fury the sadist describes the Saiyan King’s demise in every lurid detail. Of how the frantic Monarch and his own Royal Siblings had arrived in full force demanding the return of Vegeta and Raditz. And how when Frieza coldly refused, King Vegeta backed by all of the two boys half uncles, the Saiyan Monarch had attacked. Frieza had carelessly killed him with a single flick of his finger. Then just as casually finished the job by executing the King’s Sibling Guard with a mere wave of his hand.
After the murders he had silently gloated as he sent the three off on a mission, all unaware of the day’s earlier events. Once they had departed Frieza had order his ship to be prepared and returned to planet Vegeta to finally destroy their world.
The Prince is losing control, the revelations of this final tragedy unravel the fragile strands of the hatred he had nursed, his father’s believed treachery had buttressed his burning rage. It had been the anchor that helped to hold his madness at bay. Everything he had been lead to believe was a lie.
All his life he’d waited for this moment of revenge, for the chance to destroy Frieza to take back what should have been his by birthright and now it’s slipping through his fingers like water.
He’s endured almost unbearable torture, personal humiliation and even sexual assault at the hands of Frieza and his favorites. Allowed himself to be used like a mere slave, an amusement, a toy, by this .. this monster! He refuses to accept his defeat.
Vegeta becomes frantic, “It can’t be!” He denies the reality that brutally faces him, “I won’t believe it..!!”
“I AM THE LEGEND INCARNATE...” Screaming in protest, “I am the SUPER SAIYAN!!!”
The Prince fires a massive energy burst at the monster “DIE NOW FRIEZA!!!!”
The others unaware of the topic of the low pitched conversation are frightened and amazed at the power Vegeta has raised against Frieza.
“He‘s lost it!!!” Cries Krillian.
“VEGETA!!!!!” The Namekian shouts frantically at the Saiyan, “What do you think your doing? You’ll take out the whole planet!!!”
The Prince doesn’t hear him, he doesn’t hear anything, Krillian is right, Vegeta’s finally lost his last tenuous grip on sanity.
Frieza casually kicks the attack away like a simple soccer ball.
The Prince floats overhead, a meaningless sound “ah..ahhh...” escaping his lips as he just stares mindlessly at the object of his failed attack. He had given it everything he’s practically drained of power, only instinct is keeping him in the air.
“Fri-Frieza,” Gasps Piccolo, “just kicked it away..”
“Amazing! Th-that was Vegeta at full power!” Says Krillian in amazement, “Frieza’s just too strong...”
The Prince has lost his spark, his one driving force. The one thing that sustained him for all these horror filled years. Insanity grips him, rendering him truly hopeless and utterly helpless as his anger is replaced by something he had resisted valiantly for all these years. Terror struck to the depths of his soul, despair grips his heart. For the first time that he can ever remember emotion brings tears to his eyes and they fall dampening his cheeks.
A forlorn child’s grief, that has been locked deep within in his heart for decades breaks free of it‘s shattered icy bonds. He will never avenge anyone, not even himself.
“Now my pet, it’s my turn to return your attentions!” Says Frieza, “I’ll try to be merciful...., NOT!”
The mighty Prince drifts heedlessly of his peril, Vegeta has lost it all, even his inborn Saiyan instinct to resist...
Frieza streaks up at his bereft victim. Flipping in mid-air the beast uses a back kick to impacting the Prince from below with bone-shattering force. The unresisting Saiyan is thrown backwards and begins to plummets to the ground, he hits with an earthshaking jolt, groaning but lies motionless.
His Master lands and wrapping his the end of his prehensile tail about the his slave’s neck, lifts Vegeta in a strangle hold. He raises the limp body till it’s feet dangle several inches above the ground.
“I thought I had trained you better, my little Prince.” Says Frieza soft and menacingly. “You‘ve disappointed me, I thought you were smarter than most other Saiyans. You should have remembered you’re lessons. You know who your Master is. You’ve experienced what happens when you make me angry. That was your single warning, now you’ll learn what befalls those who continue to irritate me, permanently!”
Frieza’s fist impacts the Saiyan’s exposed back were the cuirass had been blasted away by Krillian’s deadly bolt. Blood spews from Vegeta’s mouth as he gags. “AUKKK!!”
The beast pauses and glances at the onlookers, “You can try to rescue him if you care to...”
But faced with the ultimate power of Frieza's full fury, the Prince’s reluctant allies are frozen with fear...
Frieza returns to the private lecturing of his captive, “You’ve ruined more of my plans than you could ever know about, monkey.” Emphasizing each statement with another blow. “You’re killing of Zarbon and Dodoria forces me to start all over again. And now I even have to kill you too.” Frieza’s smoldering rage sends jolts of energy through Vegeta with each blow. “From having three reserves I now have none! I’ll have to start searching for hosts all over again!” Then Frieza glances over at the young half-Saiyan boy with an ominous smile, “But perhaps I’ve found at least one new replacement already.”
Frieza continues to cruelly batter away at his dangling victim.
Vegeta’s raging grief has finally been released, vented, his endless fury has completely spent itself, now pain drags him back to reality.
His insides have become nothing but a bloody mass of meat. The Prince feels his imminent death approaching, this time it is the end. Not even a regen chamber could repair this much damage. Frieza is going to kill him anyway, after all these years. But the horrible beating has changed the Saiyan Prince in more ways than one. His insanity has been completely beaten from him. The driving rage, the thing that had transmuted the burning grief inside his heart into controlled insanity has been completely dispersed. All of his madness has finally been dispelled.
Vegeta can see everything clearly for the first time in a long while. He regrets so many things, his callous treatment of Raditz, the fight with Kakarot, but mostly the fact that he will never see that fascinating female again.
He finally recognizes the fact that Frieza had almost succeeded in turning him into the same kind of beast that he had been, furiously hating all these years. Perhaps if things had turned out different, he would have actually had a chance to fulfill that ridiculous dream fantasy of having friends and maybe even a family. That fabulous vision of a paradise, that had kept bedeviling him so much so recently, but now it was far too late for anything like that.
Krillian growls in barely restrained rage, he hates Vegeta with a vengeance but no one deservers to go through what the Saiyan is suffering. But none of them even dares stand up for him. Frieza’s a force beyond any conscious reckoning.
Tiring of Vegeta’s total lack of resistance, Frieza whips his burdened tail about and flings the Saiyan Prince from him. The limp body violently hits a cliff face first and then falls backwards to the ground, practically at the feet of the powerless watchers.
“So you’ve finally lost your delectable defiance, my Prince? How uttering boring you‘ve become!” Frieza strides forward, “Such a pity! Even you’re suffering is no loner amusing, I guess I’ll put you out of my misery...”
Silence descends as the monster steps towards his victim. The others are emanating fear, Frieza laps it up like a drug. The only sound is the soft susurration of the wind across the sand and rocks, accompanied by the sweet sound of the Prince’s soft agonies of breathing.
Piccolo, Gohan and Krillian are riveted in horror unwilling witnesses to Vegeta’s impending death. Frieza leans over and raises his hand as he prepares to strike the final killing blow to the agonized Prince.
The sound of the impact of feet landing behind them breaks the spell, attracting everyone’s attention.
Goku has finally arrived! He glares at the scene then strides purposely forward.
Continued in-PIT Chapter Eight: Transitions