Chapter 2

Introductions

"Raditz."

"Huh? What?"

"Raditz."

"Who is that? Where am I? Tell me now!"

"You really don't recognize your own father? What a disappointment."

"W-what? Father? Bardock!"

"Well at least you remember my name."

"Where am I? Why can't I see? Why can't I move?"

"Stop panicking. There is nothing you can do. Your time has passed."

"Y-You mean-"

"Yes, your dead."

"What? But how? Kakarot couldn't have killed me, he's pathetic!"

"None the less."

"..."

"..."

"What happens now?"

"Now? Now you lose your body, and go to hell. You will never fight again, never walk or eat."

"What? Then what will I do?"

"Contemplate your failures."

"For how long? Damn it, how long?"

"Forever."

ZZZZZZZZRRRRRRRRR

"So...you're sure this is safe? I mean-"

"Yes Krillin, how many times do I have to tell you? He isn't going to just randomly wake up and attack us."

Krillin nodded, eyes fixed to the massive cylindrical tank in the center of Bulma's lab. Inside, floating in a strange, clear blue concoction, was the saiyan warrior, Raditz. They had taken his armor, leaving him in his black under suit with a breathing mask strapped to his face.

Bulma sat at a workbench not far away, bent over the table of tools and metal as she tinkered. All around her were medical monitors displaying read outs and reports on Raditz's condition.

"I can't believe you performed surgery on this animal, you know he probably killed Goku right?"

"Shut up Krillin, we don't know that!"

Krillin turned towards her, his features somber. All this time had been hard on all of them, ChiChi and Bulma most of all.

"It's been three days Bulma...if Goku was still OK, he'd let us know."

Bulma did not respond, hating Krillin for voicing her own thoughts so clearly. The silence dragged on for several minutes until Krillin spoke again.

"So why not just use a Senzu bean if we wanted to heal him? No offense Bulma but I didn't know you were a surgeon."

Bulma looked up from her workbench grinning, causing Krillin to turn back towards the tank with a slight blush.

"To be honest, I wasn't sure I could do it, I've never performed surgery on anyone before. Well, no one who was alive at least. It took nearly 16 hours of actual surgery, but I managed to stabilize that oaf. I even managed to get all the bone shards out of his brain."

She leaned back to stretch in her chair.

"Just another instance of me being amazing. With any luck, he will be able to answer all of our questions."

Krillin scratched the back of his head. Even unconscious, Raditz still gave Krillin the creeps. Could this thing really be Goku's brother?

"Well, that is amazing, but it still seems like a lot of work to waste on a jerk like him."

Bulma shrugged, getting back to her task on the workbench.

"Well, without Goku or Piccolo around, it just seemed like a bad idea to bring him back up to full strength. Making him heal the old fashioned way ought to slow him down enough to make sure we can handle him."

Krillin raised his eyebrows as he looked at the tank.

"This is old fashioned?"

He flicked the glass surrounding Raditz, and to his horror, the warrior within twitched in response.

"Uhh, Bulma?"

"Yes?"

"Are you absolutely sure this-"

"Damn it Krillin, I already told you! He's not just going to-"

All at once, Bulma's medical instruments went wild with whirring and beeping. One of Raditz's eyes flashed open, and in a burst of energy, the tank cracked and exploded, scattering glass and blue liquid across the tiled floor. Krillin jumped back, falling into a crouch, arms up, face aghast. Bulma just screamed as she was thrown off her balance.

Raditz stood amidst the broken instrumentation and various components of the healing tank, looking about with his one good eye before he reached up with a twitching hand, pulling the breathing mask and tube off his face and out of his throat in a single, painful motion. Raditz gagged and coughed, stumbling as he did, hunching over, his legs trembling slightly beneath him as he heaved out heavy breaths and torrents of bile.

"I w-won't st-stay in hell." He growled, wiping his mouth as he finished.

A concussive blast of air surged out from him, enough to blow back Bulma's hair, as he took a single, hesitant step towards Krillin. The bald warrior in question seemed about to succumb to his fear, edging back on his toes, his own raised hands trembling.

Bulma watched in the midst of her own terror, unsure of what she could or should do. She knew she could stop him, if only she could get to her sub lab.

But that obviously wasn't in the cards! She chewed her lip, a nervous whine escaping her. Then, an idea.

Bulma reached down, using her screwdriver to finish closing the side of the refurbished scouter she had just finished. With desperate haste she raised the green lens to her eye, attaching the grip to her ear and pressing the wide button on the side.

A reticle appeared in her view, quickly drawing her attention to Krillin. It beeped and clicked before creating a corresponding number.

~226? What is that? Is this what Raditz meant when he mentioned power levels?~

She turned to look at Raditz, her fear mixing with a sudden thrill as it gave her the readout. It took longer to assess Raditz, but a few seconds later provided her with a set of numbers.

~Woah, what is this? His power level is jumping all over the place! 120, 700, 409, 223, 73, 148…~

Bulma gathered her courage and made a decision.

"Krillin, this gadget lets me tell how strong you and he are."

She called over to him. He swallowed hard and turned slightly towards her, glancing with one eye.

"Oh yeah? Should I even bother asking what it says? I don't really need bad news right now Bulma!"

She flashed her best grin.

"He's weaker than you are right now."

"W-What, really?"

"Yup, kick his ass Krillin!"

Krillin turned to fully face Raditz again, the huge saiyan appearing to be barely cognizant of their exchange. The shorter fighter grinned to himself.

"Heck yeah!"

Gathering his energy into an explosive forward burst, he launched himself towards Raditz, reeling back a fist in the process. Raditz did not need to be very aware to react.

Years of saiyan warfare and service under Frieza had drilled combat deep into Raditz's muscle memory. Without thinking the saiyan threw himself to the side, falling to his right and avoiding Krillin's punch. He then kicked out, his massive leg striking Krillin in the ribs, sending him careening into the wall.

The action lasted only seconds. For a moment nothing more happened, Krillin hung suspended, half his body buried in the wall. Then he groaned, rubbing his head and side as he pulled himself out of the fresh dents in the metal wall.

"Bulma, I think your thing is broken."

"No it's not!"

"Then why am I the one prying myself out of your house?"

Krillin stomped, dropping into another crouch, arms raised again as he eyed Raditz. The Saiyan tried to rise, but found that his right arm and leg were numb and hard to control.

"W-What have you done to me? M-My arm...my leg." He groaned, pushing off the floor with his trembling right arm before losing control and collapsing again.

"His power is fluctuating, and he probably has Brain damage on the left side of his head. Just be careful Krillin and you can take him."

Krillin nodded.

"Right!"

"What have you done to me? Answer now or prepare to die!"

Bulma stood up, hands on her hips.

"We saved your life you ungrateful oaf! Your brain damaged after whatever it was that caved in that thick skull of your!"

Raditz blinked his one good eye, a flood of memories entering into his already befuddled mind. Victory in his grasp, his brother dying beneath his very heel. And then, a sudden alarm from his scouter. A new enemy, an enormous power level.

"The k-kid…" he groaned.

With great care he slowly rose to his feet, right arm and leg still refusing to fall perfectly in line. Krillin chose this moment to rush him again.

"Take some of this, ahhh!"

Krillin spun through the air like a top, his leg whipping out and striking from the left. Raditz blocked, feeling the impact reverberate through his bare arm. Bulma ducked, the shockwave from the impact scattering glass, goo, and metal in all directions.

Despite the force of the blow, Raditz barely budged. Krillin grit his teeth, reversing the motion as quickly as he could manage, kicking again with the opposite leg. The blow was much slower, so Raditz found himself the subject of a painful surprise when his right arm refused to raise fast enough to intercept the attack.

Raditz was struck on the side of his face by kick carrying the force of a fully loaded bus, the impact of the strike sending the Saiyan warrior careening into the wall opposite the one Krillin had just pulled himself from.

"Now listen up Bozo!" Krillin said as Raditz pulled himself from the steel.

"We got some questions, and you better have some answers! What happened to Goku and Gohan?"

Raditz raised a trembling arm to wipe away the blood dribbling from his lips and then spat. But instead of answering, he thrust his right hand forward, palm open towards Krillin.

"I d-don't answer to weaklings!"

His palm began to shine as energy gathered there for a split second, and then a torrent of power exploded out in an ethereal blast of purple and blue. Krillin, sensing the danger such an attack posed to Bulma, jumped between her and the blast, his ki shields glowing like a white penumbra of power.

The following explosion rocked the building, and as the dust cleared, Krillin was revealed to still be standing. Burnt, bleeding, but successful, the diminutive man stood with his arms crossed in an X shape in front of him, Bulma and everything else behind him seemingly untouched by the explosion.

Raditz clenched his teeth, looking at his still quivering right hand like a man moments from chucking a broken TV Remote. Krillin lowered his arms and grinned.

"Huh, not so weak after all am I?"

Raditz eye bulged and became bloodshot as he raised his left arm above his head, light shining from it as he created a buzzing ball of energy.

"Don't get cocky, your still weak! Now, keep your eyes on-"

"What about me?" A muffled voice cut in.

Raditz twitched, but before he could locate the speaker, a brawny arm pushed through the steel wall behind the Saiyan, gripping Raditz's raised wrist painfully. With a powerful heave, the hidden warrior pulled Raditz backwards through the metal wall, causing the Saiyan to lose his concentration shortly before he was thrown through a nearby window and out of Bulma's house.

Finding his ki hard to control, Raditz floundered in the air as he tried to catch himself, finding success five feet from the ground. But no sooner had he caught himself before he was struck by a searing burst of power which lashed him from behind. Raditz fell to earth, his body and torn under suit smoking from the attack.

Struggling just to push himself up, he spat blood and bile onto the grass beneath him. His head swam and weakness flooded his limbs and body, allowing him to rise to his knee and no further.

A large, bald, three eyed man was floating out through the broken window Raditz had been thrown through, a bizarre, pale doll floating out behind him. Opposite them, walking across the perfect lawn of the Brief's compound was another human, this one baring a prominent scar on his face and wearing an orange gi.

While the three eyed man and his floating doll approached from one side, the scarred man approached from the other, the first two silent and stoic, the second bearing a cocky grin as he cracked his knuckles. Shortly afterward, Krillin exited through a nearby door.

"Tien! Chiaotzu! And Yamcha! Boy am I glad to see you guys!"

"Don't sweat it Krillin! Soon as I heard Bulma needed my help, I headed right over." Yamcha said.

"Right, and you Tien? We haven't seen hide nor hair of you and Chiaotzu for over a year! How did you know to show up?"

Tien slowly lowered himself to the ground, arms crossed at his chest as he glared at Raditz with all three eyes.

"Got a communication from Kami. He told me it was vitally important that I be here, so here I am."

Chiaotzu nodded, but like Tien, did not remove his eyes from Raditz.

"So Krillin," Yamcha called as he dropped into a fighting stance which was nearly identical to Krillin's.

"Is Bulma ready to apologize for freaking out on me or what?"

Krillin released a feeble laugh as he rubbed his neck.

"Yeah I wouldn't bring that up if I were you."

"Not to interrupt, but do you mind telling me who this guy is, Krillin?" Tien said.

"Oh right! That's Raditz! Goku and Piccolo went to fight him a few days ago and when we caught up with them, all we found was a whole lot of blood and this jerk. We think he might have...have killed Goku!"

"What?!"

Yamcha grit his teeth, anger flashing red hot inside him. His stance shifted, feet shuffling, hands bending into claws.

"I'll gut him!"

"Relax Yamcha, he only said they think he killed Goku."

Tien uncrossed his arms, raising them as he got within ten feet of Raditz.

"So did you? Kill Goku I mean?"

Despite the warrior's composure, Raditz could feel his murderous intention carried by the force of his three eyed glare, a glare reflected in the eyes of both Chiotzu and Yamcha. Raditz felt a thrill run through him while simultaneously cringing beneath the weight of his fear. He did not have his scouter, so he could not know how powerful the warriors around him were.

And even if they were weaker, he was greatly reduced. Even after being given all that time talking, he had barely gathered enough strength to rise from his knee and into a shaky stance.

"I'm not t-telling you a-anything you freak. Soon as I c-catch my breath, I'll mop the floor with all th-three of you!"

Tien chuckled.

"Well Krillin, it looks like you already did this guy in for us. He can barely stand."

"Wasn't just me. We found him messed up at the battlefield. He would have died if Bulma hadn't saved him. She said something about him having, um, brain damage."

"So what's the idea behind that waste of effort? Should have just let him die." Yamcha spat.

Tien nodded.

"I'm tempted to agree with Yamcha."

"Well, you see… we couldn't find anyone! Not Goku, his son, or even Piccolo! This guy is the only one who knows what might have happened out there."

"Well…" Chiaotzu said.

"He doesn't look like he wants to cooperate."

Raditz spat blood and flexed both arms as he began to gather energy. As much as he could reach for and everything he could take. He roared, bellowing as loudly as he could as a pink field of nearly transparent flames coated his body.

Tien's eyes widened as Raditz increased his power, Chiaotzu mimicking his friend as Krillin paled and Yamcha grit his teeth. With one final cry, Raditz plateaued and the flames burst apart. He stood a little straighter than before as he grinned at them.

"C-come on pipsqueaks, let's s-see how well you d-die."

Bulma emerged then, her scouter still affixed to her face, hands clutching a large button pad. She ran to stand beside Krillin, gawking as her scouter began to spit out number.

~Tien is at about 250, Chiaotzu and Krillin are currently around 210, and Raditz is at...nearly 400!~

Clearly Tien and the others could sense that sudden spike, but no one backed down. The tension in the air became oppressive as the fighters stood in silence, each one waiting for the moment to charge.

A small bead of sweat rolled down the side of Tien's head, Yamcha's foot inched closer in the grass, and Raditz tightened his left hand into a fist. The breeze blew gently, teasing the palm trees around them, making the fronds whisper in the wind.

"Um, guys I have-"

As soon as Bulma spoke, the five fighters vanished in a series of concussive air bursts. Each punch and kick was a shockwave, each blast, a flash of mysterious light. Bulma's jaw dropped, she had had no idea that they had all surpassed conventional human speed to such a degree!

"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, I haven't watched them fight for years!" She said to herself as she adjusted her scouter.

With a mechanical beep, the scouter began tracking mode, and while the information now zooming across her eye piece was nearly overwhelming, Bulma was able to use it to follow the fight. And what a fight it was!

Raditz hung in the air, assaulted on all sides by the four other fighters. Fists and feet whipped in and out from all directions, each blow being diverted away by the back Raditz's hands or being absorbed into his ki shield. The large Saiyan grunted and gasped throughout, sweat beading his brow as his single open eye darted about manically.

"Got you!"

Tien's roar was followed by a hard upward kick which drove the heel of the three eyed man's foot into the chin of the Saiyan. This time the blow was too heavy for the ki shielding to completely absorb and Raditz felt his world rock as he was sent flying into the sky headfirst.

Krillin and Yamcha reeled their hands back, blue energy shimmering between their palms. Chaiotzu pointed his finger toward Raditz, a golden glow emanating from the tip, and Tien formed his hands into a triangle, aiming it up as he focused on the Saiyan warrior.

"Kamehameha!"

"Kamehameha!"

"Dodon Ray!"

"Tri Beam!"

Two pillars of radiant blue power, one slim beam of shining golden light, and a vast wave of ruinous energy flew up to intercept Raditz. To his credit as a Saiyan warrior, he instinctively recovered, righting himself just in time to see the attacks rushing towards him.

Putting out his left hand, he screamed.

"Saturday Crush!"

A massive beam of ethereal pink energy exploded from his hand, intercepting the attacks. Despite the power of the others, Raditz managed to halt their attacks, their energy struggling with his.

"Pathetic! You r-really thought you could d-defeat a true Saiyan warri-"

"Tri Beam!"

As Tien's second wave of energy collided with the combating beams, the effect was immediate. Raditz beam splintered like a rod of glass and the other attacks proceeded to race up towards him.

Raditz desperately spun away, and for a moment, a short burst of his former speed returned to him, just enough to avoid most of the attacks. Clipped by the combined blasts, Raditz felt pain flash in his left arm and shoulder.

As he fell to earth for the second time, the other fighters followed, landing in a sparse group in front of the massive capsule corp mansion. Raditz managed to land on his feet, grunting as he reached over to touch his scorched left arm.

"Ready to cooperate now? Or should we get your other arm?" Chiaotzu asked, extending his finger again.

Tien dropped his arms after a moment standing straight.

"You don't have the strength to keep going against us." He stated simply.

Yamcha shuffled his feet, falling into his favored stance, hands bent into claws.

"But please don't let that stop you. Go ahead, make my day."

Raditz grit his teeth, spitting red again before wiping his mouth and extending his right hand.

"Alright kiddies, no m-more playing around."

Purple streams and sparks of energy raced up and down the extended, trembling limb. The others responded by preparing their own attacks, gathering even more energy this time.

"Time to put you c-cocky brats back i-in school…"

"Kahmehameha!"

"Kahmehameha!"

"Dodon Ray!"

"Tri Beam!"

"Vacation delete."

As before, a wave of ruinous power accompanied by two beams of swirling blue light, and one thin ray of yellow energy shot out towards Raditz. In response, Raditz's twitching right arm seemed to explode in a massive discharge of power. A raging bolt of purple energy rushed towards the oncoming attacks, scorching the air in a ear pounding thrum.

But just before the attacks could collide, something rushed between them, noticeable only because of the vast difference in its power level. Bulma gawked.

~Over 1,000?! Who on earth is that strong?~

In an instant the beams and blasts were deflected harmlessly skyward, scattered like leaves in the wind.

"W-what?!" Raditz cried out, watching as his strongest blast was sent sailing away.

He turned to look at the perpetrator of the impressive deflection, shocked into silence as he beheld the visage of a being he had never before encountered.

Short, plump, with the darkest skin Raditz had ever seen and large staring eyes, the being sat unperturbed atop a magical flying carpet. Even then it floated several feet off the ground as the chubby creature wrung his hands, almost as though he had just finished washing some dirty dishes.

It wore a neat, tightly wrapped turban adorned with a brilliant blue jewel. Instead of a shirt he had a fine vest that seemed just a bit too small, and below that he wore a pair of loose, Arabian trousers. With an air of practiced dignity, he stood and stepped off his carpet, hands tucked behind his back. He returned the shocked expressions of the assembled fighters, plus Bulma, with a blank stare.

"You are all here, good. Kami was sure that it would take longer to get you all in one place."

Krillin seemed to snap out of the collective stupor at the mention of Kami.

"Wait, you know Kami?"

The being nodded.

"Of course, my name is Mr. Popo. I serve as steward of the look out and servant of Kami. I am here at his behest."

The earth fighters relaxed after hearing this, though Tien added something a moment later.

"Well, Mr. Popo, as much of an honor it is to meet you, you seem to have come at a bad time. Give us a few minutes to clean up this mess, then we can talk."

Raditz grit his teeth and glared at Tien, but ventured no words.

"No." Replied Mr. Popo.

"His presence is also requested by Kami. What I have to say involves all of you."

Mr. Popo then turned to look at Raditz.

"Especially you."

"Me? What d-does this K-Kami have to say to me? I've never even met h-him!"

In response Mr. Popo addressed them all.

"Kami has watched events unfolding around the arrival of the Saiyan Raditz. He watched the fight between Piccolo, Goku, and him. He saw how that ended, and, more importantly, what will come of it."

"What do you mean?" Asked Yamcha.

"With the help of Baba the witch, Kami has been divining the effects of this fight. The Saiyan has not yet told you, but he is not the only one of his race. There are two others. And those two are now coming here."

Raditz suddenly burst out into laughter, raising his head as he did.

"That's R-Right! Nappa and Prince Vegeta! Two S-Saiyan elites, the very last in all the galaxy! If you thought I was tough, then you have n-no chance of defeating them."

To everyone's surprise, Mr. Popo nodded.

"Indeed, even myself and Kami would not be able to defend the earth from them. Which is why I have come. The Saiyans will arrive in one year's time. In that time it is the wish of Kami that all of you be trained and prepared for their arrival. If you cannot defeat them once they arrive, then the earth shall be doomed."

Raditz laughed again, prompting Mr. Popo to look in his direction.

"You as well, Raditz the Saiyan."

"What? Why w-would I ever help y-you? When Vegeta a-and Nappa arrive, the th-three of us will tear all of you to p-pieces and then sell this pathetic dirt ball t-to Frieza!"

Mr. Popo shook his head.

"I'm afraid not."

Instead of elaborating, Mr. Popo placed both of his index fingers under the bright blue gem which ornamented the front of his Turban as though he were pointing to the center of his forehead. A glow began to shine from the center of the jewel before it began projecting a hologram like image into the space in front of Mr. Popo.

The display depicted two warriors, both wearing similar armor to what Raditz had worn, and both bearing the iconic Saiyan tail. One was an enormous, bald man with a thin mustache over broad features, while the other was a smaller man with spiky hair. Raditz immediately recognized them as Nappa and Prince Vegeta.

They were sitting around a campfire eating something stringy and crunchy, attention focused inside the single ear pieces of their scouters. For a short time there was relative silence as they ate, before Vegeta sighed and Nappa groaned.

"You think he's dead?"

"Well Nappa, if he wasn't before, then he is now. I hardly think the natives that just found him will act kindly towards him considering what he tried to do."

A pause as they chewed.

"So what now Vegeta."

The Saiyan prince swallowed a mouthful and whiped his mouth with one gloved hand.

"Isn't obvious Nappa? As pathetic as Raditz was, he is still a Saiyan. We will go to earth, Avenge his defeat, and finish up his useless brother's job while we are at it."

Nappa sat up straighter, a smile broadening across his face.

"Haha yeah! That's what I like to hear! Though from the sounds of it, the game does not sound too sporting."

To that Vegeta only shrugged.

"Hmm, hey what if they do keep him alive though? They might even try to use him like a hostage."

Vegeta's face scrunched and he spat to the side.

"Nappa, we are going to avenge Raditz's death. If we get there and that disgraceful filth is still alive in any form, we will finish what Kakarot attempted and then proceed to kill all those who bore witness to his disgrace. Then we can have some fun, and sell the planet to Frieza."

"Excellent plan Vegeta! Oh, now I almost want him to be alive when we get there! You know how much I like using Saibamen."

Vegeta chuckled.

"Well if he is still alive when we get there, I'll be sure to let you handle him however you like Nappa."

"Yay!"

The image then began to fade, Mr. Popo lowering his hands a moment later.

"So Saiyan, what do you say now?"

But Raditz was not prepared to respond. He could feel the blood withdrawing from his fingers and toes, leaving them frigid as ice. His heart pounded, pushing sweat out of every pour, soaking his body. He felt his limbs losing strength and narrowly maintained his balance as he staggered back.

"L-Liar…"

"I'm afraid not."

"Wait a second Mr. Popo!" Krillin suddenly said.

"As much as I get how dangerous those new Saiyans must be, and how important it is to have fighters to stop them, I just don't feel right training next to a guy who might have killed Goku, much less fighting beside him!"

Tien and Yamcha nodded.

"Yes, let us first find out what happened to Goku and his son before we agree to work with this guy." Tien said.

Mr. Popo nodded, but his face became far more grave.

"I'm afraid that Piccolo killed Goku when his guard was down and kidnapped Gohan."

All of the earthlings gasped at that.

"Th-that rotten green jerk! First he got me, and now Goku!" Krillin said, tears rimming his eyes.

"Now Krillin, get ahold of yourself."

"He was my best friend, Yamcha! How can you expect me to be calm?"

Yamcha nodded, his own face grim, yet set with determination.

"Because we need to rescue his son from Piccolo, and find the Dragon Balls so we can wish him back to life."

Krillin wiped his eyes before nodding and clenching his fists.

"Yeah, that has to come first."

"No it doesn't." Said Mr. Popo.

"What?! How can you say that Mr. Popo? We need to save Gohan-"

"Kami is well aware. He has directly contacted Piccolo and informed him of the mutual threat. Piccolo has agreed not to interfere with your training and gathering of the Dragon Balls as long as you do not interfere with his and Gohan's training."

"What?!"

"No way!"

Krillin and Yamcha both stepped forward, teeth clenched and fists trembling.

"He murdered Goku! And he's pure evil! Heck, he killed me!"

"Yeah, sorry Mr. Popo. But I don't see how you can expect me and Krillin to stay out when that monster has his claws on Gohan."

Mr. Popo put his hands up.

"Please, Kami asks that you have faith in his decisions and plans. Besides, this arrangement will only be for one year."

"But what if he doesn't last a whole year? I'm not even sure I could!"

"He will survive, of that Kami has no doubt."

"How can you be sure?!"

Mr. Popo then turned and pointed at Raditz.

"Warrior, when Goku attacked you, did he hold anything back?"

Raditz blinked as though shocked that he was being addressed, then shook his head.

"He attacked me w-with all his cunning and p-power. When h-he fired his own K-Kameha-thing, it absolutely dw-dwarfed the beams shot by these w-weaklings."

"And did Piccolo hold back?"

"Hahaha, th-that walking slug d-damn well near killed himself j-just trying to gather energy for his a-attacks! He didn't h-hold back anything."

"And how badly did they hurt you?"

"Ha!"

Raditz pounded his chest once with his left arm.

"They c-couldn't even scratch m-me. The green one b-burnt my shoulder after s-storing his energy for f-five minutes s-straight, but that was the best they c-could manage!"

"Then what happened to your head?"

At this Raditz's pride, so apparent just before, drained out of him like piss. He grit his teeth.

"The b-boy…"

Mr. Popo nodded and turned to face Krillin and the others.

As the message sunk in everyone fell into a general state of shock. Tien managed to recover first, his having had the most subdued response.

"Krillin...how old was Goku's kid?" He asked.

Krillin simply stared at Mr. Popo, mouth agape, eyes bulging.

"He is four years old." Bulma said after a moment.

This time Tien's composure broke entirely as he nearly stumbled from the shock of it.

"What?!"

"What?!" Both he and Yamcha yelled simultaneously.

Raditz nodded.

"I don't kn-know how that half breed could h-have attained such a high power level b-but...at over 1,300...he c-could be a Saiyan E-Elite or...or even something m-more."

Tien noticed Bulma's scouter then and pointed at it.

"Hey Bulma, does that thing read 'power levels'?"

She nodded.

"Yeah, why?"

"What is mine?"

"Right now? Um...230ish."

"What? No way!"

"Hey relax Tien, your power level got as high as 260 when you were fighting."

Tien slapped his hand onto forehead and closed third eye.

"So I have a power level of 260, while Goku's four year old son has one at over 1,300...Fuck power levels."

"Tien!"

"Look, I'm just saying-"

He was cut off by a brisk cough from Mr. Popo.

"I trust that with that, all concerns of Gohan's safety may be laid temporarily to rest?"

Krillin, who had finally recovered from his stupor, nodded, though he didn't look happy about it.

"Fine, I promise to trust the plan. But I can't speak for Goku when he comes back. The first thing he'll do is go get his son."

Mr. Popo nodded.

"Yes, that is why you are not going to bring him back until just before the Saiyans arrive."

"But wait, don't we need Goku to train with us?" Asked Yamcha.

"Not at all. Kami and I will handle your training. As for Goku, that is the actual reason that he can not come back until the very end."

"Wait, what do you mean?" Chaiotzu asked.

"There is a master of Martial arts in the Otherworld known as King Kai. Goku has been granted rare permission to seek him out and train under him. The longer we wait…"

"...the more time Goku will have to become Stronger with King Kai!" Krillin said.

"Exactly." Mr. Popo concluded.

"Yeah! When can we start our training?" Asked Yamcha.

"Immediately, all who are interested need only follow me to begin!"

Krillin and Yamcha looked at each other excitedly. They could remember the last world martial arts tournament, and how much stronger Goku had become after training with Mr. Popo. Just the thought of being offered the same opportunity made them both smile with sudden giddiness.

"Not to dampen the mood or anything," said Tien, eyes focused on Raditz.

"I don't think it would be wise to leave Bulma to clean up this Saiyan sized mess."

Everyone nodded, Krillin and Yamcha falling back into their respective stances. Raditz grinned despite himself, standing straight as he prepared to re-engage.

"Don't be so sure!" Bulma said as she walked forward, holding up the button pad and button.

"Watch this!"

She pressed it. Silence.

For a moment nothing seemed to happen, but just as Tien was going to question Bulma's intentions, it began to take effect.

"H-hey! What the hell is h-happening to me?" The Saiyan yelled, though visibly nothing about him changed.

Still, Raditz looked down at his arms, both of which were trembling. He clenched his fists and suddenly a burst of transparent purple flames suddenly erupted from his body, covering him entirely like a candle wick.

"What are you doing to him Bulma?" Tien asked, watching with wide eyes as Raditz's power level began to skyrocket.

She crossed her arms and smirked.

"Just watch."

Raditz looked at his body, eyes wide and darting, arms reaching around as though trying to pat out the flames.

"What i-is this? My p-power, I-I can't control it!"

The flame grew even larger, creating a gust of wind which pushed everyone back, a blaze forming around the warrior which was several times larger than Raditz himself. But despite the others feeling his power rising, the Saiyan did not seem to be gaining strength. He collapsed onto one knee before 20 seconds had passed, breathing hard and drooling uncontrollably.

"D-Damn it! Stop th-this or I-I'll…" Raditz trailed off, the world swimming around him.

Just a few seconds shy of 30, Bulma pressed the button again. Instantly the flames vanished, leaving Raditz gasping on the floor.

"Woah, what was that?" Krillin asked, staring at Raditz's depleted form.

"Well, while I was rooting around in his brain, I discovered a certain section of his temporal lobe which, when stimulated, caused him to expel large amounts of thermal energy. So I figured I would make a device to stimulate that region on command so I could-"

"Bulma, no offense but could you put that in layman's terms?" Yamcha asked, hand scratching his head as he blushed.

She sighed.

"There is a part of your brain that makes you release energy when you get poked there. I put a remote poker inside his brain so I can drain his energy whenever I want."

"I'll...g-get...th-that remote..and k-kill...you." Raditz said through ragged gasps.

"Fat chance! I'm the only one who can turn it off or on, and if I die, the device in your head will know and blow up!"

She turned her head up dramatically.

"Face it, I basically own you as long as you have that device in your brain."

"Y-your bl-bluffing!"

The others looked at Bulma as she laughed her response.

"I've been putting you back together for almost 72 hours! And you are our enemy. Do you really think I would go through the trouble of doing that without a fail safe?"

Raditz did not respond, instead wiping his mouth and glaring. He did not even attempt to rise, keenly aware of his own present weakness.

"So that settles it! You guys can go and train with Kami and I'll take care of this."

"Um, Bulma, are you sure you don't want us to take him? After all, he is dangerous, and he moves so fast, he might seriously kill you, or just fly off."

"Don't worry Krillin. Here…"

Bulma adjusted some settings on the scouter, and then on the pad.

"There, I have set a few parameters. Now, I've locked his power level to 100. Even if he kills me and survives an explosion in his brain, he will be stuck at 100."

"Wh-What?!"

"And not just that! I have also set that bomb to go off if you get farther than 200 meters from me. So if you know what's good for you you'll play nice and stay close, or pop goes your head and "power level"."

"D-Damn you!"

Krillin still looked unsure.

"I don't know Bulma...this guy is crazy, he might-"

"No." Tien said, startling the short man.

"Uh, what?"

"He won't try anything. I've taken his measure."

Yamcha scoffed.

"Yeah and?"

"And he won't try anything. That man fights for his life. He won't fight to end it. Bulma isn't bluffing, if he tries to kill her or escape, he'll die. If he tries to fight us, he'll die."

With that Tien turned to Mr. Popo.

"Lead on, I'll follow you to the tower."

A few minutes later, Krillin, Tien, Yamcha, and Chaiotzu were all flying through the air, following Mr. Popo. Their ki shields blazed white as they kept the wind out of their eyes, each flying at tremendous speed.

"Are you sure that was smart?" Krillin asked.

"Yeah Tien, seriously! If that brute hurts Bulma I'll-" Yamcha started to add before Chaiotzu chuckled.

"What's so funny huh?"

Chaiotzu only chuckled more before adding,

"I don't think you should try anything with Tien. Unless you miss that broken leg."

"Why you-"

"Enough!" Tien yelled.

"Chaiotzu, we need to become a team if we are ever going to defeat these Saiyans. We can't do that if we dredge up our pasts."

Chaiotzu nodded.

"Your right. Sorry Tien."

Tien nodded.

"As for Bulma, don't worry. Not only do I think he won't harm her, I think he might even join us at the end."

"What makes you think that?" Krillin asked .

"He is not a coward, but he is as close as a warrior can get and still be a legitimate warrior. His purpose for fighting is to remain alive. he won't compromise that.

"And if Mr. Popo is telling the truth, and the other Saiyans plan on killing everyone, including him, then it's only a matter of time before he decides to fight them. It might be just before the battle, or even during the fight itself. But he will."

Yamcha looked away but said nothing more. He needed to focus for the task ahead. He needed to train.