Disclaimer: I don't own Dragonball Z.

Chapter Seven: The Power Within

"Elder, I don't like to sit here knowing that my brothers are being attacked every day. I should be fighting for them; it's a risk to let it play out like this."

"It would be pointless to throw your life away, Nail," the Great Elder wheezed, his eyelids cracking open to look at his young, strong son. "I have a better idea, child. Do not fight these ones. Bring them here, to me, instead."

"But… Elder… that's crazy!"

"They will come anyway, once they've hit the other villages. Go get them now, bring them here. I need to speak with these people."

"Yes, Elder," Nail replied, bowing to the ancient Namek, so old and large that he now lay confined to his throne.

Nail flew out the door of the single house that perched high atop the lone, sacred cliff. He frowned, wondering if his father's deteriorating condition had now spread to his brain. What good could these evil beings possibly do?


Vegeta's scouter beeped, with Nappa's flashing soon after. At the noise, both Saiyans stopped mid flight, causing Bulma to hit her head against Nappa's armour.

"Owww," she groaned, rubbing her head.

"Shhh," Vegeta hissed at her, before turning to the left. "Someone is coming to greet us. And they're strong… we may have a little fun ahead."

Nappa felt Bulma tense in his arms, and grunted. He didn't like the way she made him feel guilty for killing, he supposed this was why they always taught the young ones on Vegetasei to kill first and talk later.

"Please," she whispered, leaning out of Nappa's arms, her hand reaching for Vegeta. "Please don't kill anyone."

"Shut up woman!" he snapped at her, swatting her hand away. "I'll do what I like. Do not interfere again, or I may actually do away with you this time."

Bulma pursed her lips together, sending a silent prayer to anyone that was listening that the person coming would survive this encounter.


"It won't be ready for another month, even with all of my best workers on it," Dr. Briefs told Goku as they walked around the half-constructed shell of the spaceship, his fingers holding the cigarette to his mouth once more. "I can't afford to rush it; you don't want to find yourself stranded in space because the engine's broken."

"But she's on Namek now! He even gave me the coordinates!" Goku complained, almost jumping on the spot. "I want to leave now! She's with scary guys!"

Dr. Briefs' face clouded, and Goku realized he had said the wrong thing. It wasn't fair of him to demand so much from a man whose daughter was missing- as a father himself, he could understand what the older man must be going through. "I'm sorry," he told the scientist, patting him gently on the back, "she's a smart girl, and King Kai said that she's fine, so far. She'll be okay. I'll get her back for you."

"Thank you," the old man said, tears shining from behind his glasses.


When the Namekian stopped just a few meters away from them, floating in mid air, Bulma was struck by how similar he looked to Piccolo. She was sorely tempted to tell the man to run away, but she really didn't want to make Vegeta mad again. She already had dark bruises around her neck and wrists, and she didn't feel like getting more. It was a sad fact, but in the end she chose herself over others… she just wasn't brave enough to go sticking up for every creature, although she did try sometimes.

"You need to come with me," the Namekian said, staring unafraid at the Saiyans, "I will take you to see the Great Elder. He wishes to speak with you."

"Hey!" Nappa yelled, making Bulma flinch, "We don't follow orders from anyone! Who do you think you are, telling us what to do?"

"Silence, Nappa!" Vegeta snapped, before turning towards the newcomer. "And pray tell, who is this 'Great Elder'?"

"He is the father of all Namekians," the man replied, "and the creator of our dragonballs. If you kill him, the dragonballs will disappear, so I suggest you don't."

Vegeta's tail twitched, before he gave an arrogant snort. "Fine. Lead the way, green bean."

The Namekian nodded, before turning and taking off. Bulma hit her head again as Nappa shot after him, and she glared up at the big Saiyan.

"Sorry," he told her with a grin.


Zarbon looked out the window and sighed; space really was boring. He chuckled lightly, remembering the first time he had seen space as a boy, only ten years old, and on his way to meet the great Lord Frieza. He had been so excited then…

His mouth turned down as he remembered the events that followed. He had been a rarity amongst his people, only a few hundred had the fighting power that he possessed. Him and the others had been taken into Frieza's great ship, then distributed to various squadrons around the universe, not realizing that it would be the last time they would see their planet again.

And his sister- his beautiful, sunny, older sister- had been gifted to the Saiyan King as a whore. Just thinking about it made him want to wring the bastard monkey prince's neck right now.

Blue lids closed on the golden eyes, as Zarbon leaned his head against the glass. Just one more week, and he would finally have his chance to wipe out all the monkeys in the universe.


Vegeta stood shocked as he looked up at the ugly, ancient Namek, taking in the huge size, deep wrinkles, and dark age spots. He screwed his nose up in disgust, thanking the gods that Saiyans kept their youth for a very, very long time.

"Ahh, you have come," the fat creature wheezed, before breaking out into coughs. "I am glad," he continued slowly, "that you have agreed to meet with me. My name is Guru, and I am the Great Elder on this planet. All the Namekians you have met so far… they are all my children." He coughed again, and suddenly seemed to have a bottle of water in his hand, although Vegeta was sure it wasn't there before. After a drink, the old Namek continued.

"Please, tell me your names. All of you." Vegeta's frown deepened as the old creature smiled at the woman, who was standing a short way behind Nappa, biting her lip with worry.

"I am Vegeta, the Prince of Saiyans. This is my subordinate, Nappa."

"And you, little one?" asked the old Namek. "Come here, child. I won't hurt you."

Vegeta growled as the woman stepped forward, moving until she stood beside the great Namekian's throne. He tensed- ready to snatch her- when the Namek's huge hand came down on her head, making her squeak, but the old creature merely chuckled, looking back at him.

"I'm not going to hurt her," he said between coughs, "just heal her." And with that the woman began to glow a soft gold, and Vegeta was left shocked as he watched the blue-black blossoms disappear from her neck and wrists.

The next thing that happened was most surprising, as his scouter suddenly beeped, and Bulma's ki- always usually a stable five- shot up to three hundred. The woman herself gasped, her eyes widening as she looked at her own hands as if they belonged to someone else.

"What the hell?" he heard Nappa mutter, echoing his thoughts.

"I brought out your hidden power, Daughter of Earth," the old Namekian said, looking down at the woman.

"How…?" the woman asked, looking back down at her hands. "How do you know where I'm from?"