Author's Responses:
btstfn: (salutes) I mostly let my readers know their voices are heard... mostly
Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ. I wish I did, but I don't.
Son Gohan the Warrior
Chapter 10: Departure for Namek
"I'm just glad you're going to be all right" said Chi-Chi to Goku, who was in a full unit. "But after you get out of this, you're taking a month off of training."
"Chi-Chi, I need to be ready in case Vegeta comes back," says Goku.
"I'll train with you, dad," said Gohan from his bed. All he had was a few bandages.
"Oh no you won't, mister," said Chi-Chi, rounding on her son. "You've got a lot of studying to do."
"You guys!" shouted Krillin. "I've just remembered! We have a way to bring the others back!"
"Really?" asked Goku, nearly breaking his bed from excitement. "How?"
"Well, Vegeta said that Piccolo was from a planet called Namek. So, maybe if we go to Namek, they'll have a set of Dragon Balls we can use!"
"Yeah!" said Gohan, getting up. "We can bring Piccolo and the others back!"
"Wait a minute, guys," said Bulma. "We don't even know where this planet is, let alone if it still exists."
"I know just the guy we can ask for that," said Goku. "King Kai, can you hear me?"
"So, you're looking for the planet Namek, eh?" said the voice of King Kai in their heads. "Well, it just so happens the planet is still around- and about 100 people still live there!"
"That's great and all, but how exactly are we supposed to get there?" asked Bulma. "It would take over 4,000 years in one of our space ships."
"We could modify a Saiyan Space Pod!" said Krillin.
"I thought Vegeta left in the only one."
"No, it only fits one person, so the big guy must have had his own. But you know the remote I had earlier? That's what Vegeta used to bring his to him!"
"I'm glad I still have it," said Bulma, pulling it out from one of her pockets. "Now, let's just try to call it."
Looking at the TV, they saw the Saiyan Space Pod happened to be shown on TV at that exact moment, locked away very tight. Bulma pressed a button, but instead of coming to them, the pod simply exploded.
"Whoops," said Bulma. "Darn. I must have hit the self-destruct button by mistake!"
"Well, I guess we gotta figure out another way to get to Namek," said Krillin, disappointed.
"I may have a way," said a voice from the window. Looking outside, there was Mr. Popo, sitting on a magic carpet.
"Mr. Popo!" said Krillin. "You have another way for us to get to Namek?"
"I might. I may have found the spaceship Kami used to get here, so long ago."
"How are we supposed to know if it still works?" asked Bulma, a little annoyed.
"That's why I need one of you to come with me," said Mr. Popo.
"I'll go," said Gohan, but at a glare from Chi-Chi, he laid back down.
"The only person who really needs to go is Bulma," said Krillin. "She's the only one who'll be able to tell if it's operational or not."
"Fine," said Bulma, seeing no way out of it. She climbed out and got on the magic carpet. "Let's go, Mr. Popo."
-DBZ: SGTW-
A few hours later, the hospital telephone rang. Krillin picked it up.
"Krillin, it worked! We got the space ship up and running. You won't believe it, but we saw Jupiter!"
"Uh, Bulma?" asked Krillin, a little concerned. "Are you feeling all right?"
"YES I AM FEELING ALL RIGHT YOU LITTLE RUNT! You may not believe me, but the spaceship flew! So get your little rear end ready for Namek."
Krillin set the phone down. Turning to the others, he said, "Well, I guess Bulma and Mr. Popo found the ship. They're getting it ready for use right now."
"Awesome!" said Gohan, excited. "I can't wait to go into space!"
"Who said you're going into space?" asked Chi-Chi, furious. "You are not going out into space! You need to catch up on your studying, young man!"
"Relax, Chi-Chi," said Goku. "He's one our strongest fighters. They'll need him."
"Chi-Chi," said Master Roshi from where he was sitting. "It may be hard to accept, but your son Gohan has gotten caught up in the protection of Earth, just like his father did so many years ago. Your son is one of the strongest people on the planet. He is Goku's son, after all."
"I need to go, mom," said Gohan. "I owe it to Mr. Piccolo."
Chi-Chi finally bowed her head in defeat.
-DBZ: SGTW-
"Wow, I hope I can remember my Namek," said Bulma. They were at Master Roshi's island, waiting to leave.
"You did kind of learn it in a hurry," said Krillin.
"I'll be just fine, Krillin. It's you I'm worried about. You just better be ready."
Just then, an air car pulled up. Chi-Chi and Ox King got out, shortly followed by Gohan. Gohan was dressed in a little suit with a bow tie that made the others drop to the ground when they saw him.
"Hey, Gohan," teased Krillin. "Looking real sharp."
"I wanted him to let me style his hair," said Chi-Chi, a little annoyed, "but he wouldn't let me. I wanted to give him the cutest bowl-cut, too."
Thank Kami, thought Krillin to himself. "Well, let's get your stuff on board."
They loaded up all of Gohan's stuff. "Good-bye, Gohan!" yelled Chi-Chi as the hatch sealed. "Be careful!"
The moment the hatch was sealed, Gohan was taking off his suit. Grabbing an orange gi with purple weighted undershirt, purple weighted wristbands, and pure black boots, he put them on instead. Then, completing his look, he strapped his sword to his back.
"Now that's sharp!" said Krillin.
"Yeah," said Gohan. "According to Piccolo, the symbols are his. The orange represents my dad, and the purple Piccolo."
"Honoring both your teachers. I see."
-DBZ: SGTW-
Meanwhile, at a base a long way away (in space, no less), a Space Pod began it's descent for landing.
"Attention!" boomed the base's speakers. "This is the control tower! Prepare for the arrival of Vegeta immediately!"
Three members of the base's crew were sent out to assist as Vegeta's pod landed on a landing platform.
"There's only one," commented one of the crew members. "Where's Nappa?"
As the pod landed, all three snapped to attention.
"Wait! He's activated the rejuvenator!"
"We gotta get him into the treatment room, stat!"
Soon, Vegeta was submerged in a rejuvenation tank.
-DBZ: SGTW-
"How much further is it to Namek, Bulma?" asked Gohan. They'd been in space for a week and a half, and still weren't there.
"I really don't know, kid," Bulma replied. She was just as anxious to get out of the ship as quickly as possible. She really wanted to get back to Earth.
"If you don't know where Namek is," asked Krillin, "how do you know where to go?"
"The ship knows where to go," said Bulma. "It's been doing the driving the entire time. I've only taken over at critical points, like in that asteroid storm."
"Well, it can't be too much longer," said Gohan.
-DBZ: SGTW-
"It was a good thing you were wearing this armored suit for protection," said the doctor to Vegeta, who was as good as new and suiting back up. "Without it I don't think you would have survived that battle. It's a miracle that you're okay." The doctor turned to Vegeta. "What happened back there on Earth?"
Vegeta ignored that question. "Tell me where Frieza is."
"You're not strong enough to worry about Frieza."
"I'm not getting enough to do his dirty work."
"Now, Vegeta, you must calm down. You haven't finished your recovery yet, and I'd be a fool to release you if you weren't 100."
"Hah. I've never felt better. So get ready for your next patient, because Frieza's going to be checking in."
Vegeta walked out. The doctor ran out after him. "Wait, Vegeta! You forgot your scouter!"
"Keep it, doc. I won't be needing it."
Vegeta treaded the path to his Pod. Soon I will return to Earth, and this time, I will not be defeated. But first, on to the planet Namek.
Looking up, he saw the purple alien Cui blocking his path. "So, Vegeta, I heard you had quite the battle. You couldn't take one measly planet with two sidekicks, and if my reports are correct, you couldn't take down a Saiyan of third-class."
"Out of my face. I don't have time to waste with the likes of you, Cui."
Cui grabbed onto Vegeta's shoulder. "Just a second. Word is Frieza isn't too happy with you and your selfish attitude, Vegeta."
"Well, let Frieza do something about it." Cui's face began to twitch in shock. "Hey, do you mind letting go of me?"
Cui did so. "My dear friend, you are making a terrible mistake. You can never beat the all-powerful Frieza. And there is no one in this universe that can."
"All I want to know is where Frieza went."
Cui smirked. "The planet Namek."
Oh no, thought Vegeta. He must have heard Raditz's message. If he collects the Dragon Balls first, then he will be indestructible. "I'll get you, Frieza!" Vegeta sprinted down the hallway. Passing the doctor, he snatched his scouter. "On second thought, I think I'll need this."
He launched himself into his Pod, and within seconds, he had left for Namek.
-DBZ: SGTW-
"SON GOKU!"
Goku grimaced as he heard his wife's voice. He'd been trying to sneak away to train for the fourteenth time. Of course, by now, she knew he wouldn't stop trying. So she had a guard posted on all possible exits out of the room.
"How many times do I have to tell you- you're not well enough to train!"
Goku, knowing his situation was hopeless, prepared to return to his bed.
"Hey, Goku!" yelled Yajirobe, who had just walked around the corner.
"Hey, Yajirobe," said the Saiyan. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm just visting- why do you think, you idiot? Korin sent me to give you these." Yajirobe handed a brown bag to Goku. "Sensu beans."
"All right! Thanks, Yajirobe!"
Yajirobe simply "Hmph"ed and left. Goku opened the bag and took one of the beans.
"Hey! No unauthorized food!" yelled the doctor, who had heard the commotion and come to investigate.
In an instant, Goku was fully healed. Throwing on his orange fighting gear, he turned to Chi-Chi. "See you later!"
"Goku, where are you going?" asked Chi-Chi, about ready to find the nearest frying pan and slam it on Goku's head.
"I'm going to go see if Bulma's father has finished getting a way for me to go to Namek ready. I have a feeling they're going to be needing my help." Turning to Chi-Chi, he said, "I'm going to go and make sure Gohan's alright."
Chi-Chi couldn't argue with him going to help Gohan, so she just stood there and stared as Goku zipped off to Capsule Corporation.
-DBZ: SGTW-
At the same time, Bulma, Krillin, and Gohan were just making touchdown on Namek.
"Finally!" exclaimed Bulma, looking out the window. "Now, let me just check Namek's Gravitational pull, and also get a reading on the atmosphere here. We've gotta make sure everything's safe and sound." Looking outside, she saw Krillin and Gohan already standing outside. She fell to the ground in shock.
"It looks a lot like the place Piccolo took me to train before the Saiyans arrived," said Gohan, rubbing his sword as he remembered the training Piccolo had put him through to make him strong.
"Well, you should be comfortable here, then," said Krillin.
"HOW DARE YOU STEP OUTSIDE WITHOUT THE PROPER PROTECTION!" screamed Bulma, looming over them.
"Well, you're out here," said Gohan. "What does the Dragon Radar say?"
Bulma pulled it out. "Look! They're right here, guys!"
Gohan looked, then immediately sensed something. "I sense a strong force."
Krillin, making an effort, said, "I sense it too. It's way too high a reading for me."
"It's probably just one of the Namekians," said Bulma, completely unconcerned.
Krillin turned and looked at Bulma. "Yeah, you're probably-" He went completely silent.
Gohan, turning away from where he sensed to force, looked towards what had made Krillin freeze. "It's a Saiyan Space Pod!" he shouted, in shock and fear.
"What's it doing here?" asked Bulma, terrified for her life.
"I don't know!" exclaimed Krillin. "But it's Vegeta! I knew it!" Krillin threw his hat to the ground in anger. "He knows about the Dragon Balls too!"
Turning around, they saw Bulma yelling on a telephone. "Dad, you need to hurry! We need Goku here right away!" She paused. "NO, HE DOESN'T NEED A CAPPUCINO MACHINE! HE JUST NEEDS TO GET HERE NOW!"
Just then, looking up, Gohan and Krillin saw a second Space Pod coming in for a landing.
"Now who is it?" asked Krillin, even more scared.
"No idea," said Gohan. "But we better start getting the Dragon Balls fast."
-DBZ: SGTW-
The team has gotten to Namek, only to find Vegeta was right behind them! And what's more, Frieza is already on planet, with immortality in his sights! Read more in the next chapter of DBZ: Son Gohan the Warrior!
