Disclaimer
All original content is owned by Akira Toriyama and his affiliates.
Chapter 20:
A dismal and frustrated Cell Junior sat meditating in the shadows of the Crane Dojo. Though Cell Junior Number 3 was somewhat pleased that the Crane Brothers and their students showed better progress than originally anticipated, he was growing impatient at having nothing to destroy or people to terrorize openly.
Only a few other weakling students had suffered a terrible fate at his hands, leaving the total roster down to thirteen, if you included the Crane Masters. Still, Three made sure the weaker students contributed to the goal by absorbing them into his own perfection.
Three had grown another inch or two in the last week and was becoming more and more like his father before him.
Through his meditation he could sense the progress of the Crane students and though their struggles and triumphs gave him some comfort, the restlessness continued to grow.
The sound of feet entering the dark dojo snapped Three out of his meditation and he rose to his feet to meet the owner of those feet.
"Master Three," the voice of the student Ken Siru emanated politely into the darkness.
Though Three detested all humans by now, even the Crane Brothers and his students, Ken was still of the few he had shreds of respect for. "What do you have to report now?" Three called out impatiently.
Ken kept his report short and said, "The Capsule Corporation team working on our gravity chamber is set to finish in the next three or four days. I was just there an hour ago to confirm the update for myself."
"Not as soon as I'd like but better progress than I expected," Three replied tersely.
"Do you wish to speak with the Crane Masters now? They are finishing up their training with the others and want me to take over. I admit I am happy to do so," Ken said with a glimmer of excitement in his eyes.
"I will accompany you out. I'm tired of sitting in these shadows!" Three said as he began walking towards the front entrance to the dojo.
Ken couldn't help but notice the Cell Junior's more mature nature since first meeting Three. "He's still menacing but not completely as childish as he was before."
As they entered outside onto the grounds of the school, the shouts got louder along with several explosions of energy blasts happening in all directions of the duo.
Three stopped mere feet in front of Master Shen who had been standing still with his eyes closed for several minutes. He had been trying to relax after his recent sparring match with Tao. His breathing was far more rapid than normal and beads of sweat poured across his face and down his neck as Shen worked to calm down.
"Is that virus taking its toll again?" Three asked with faint curiosity.
Shen took a few more gasps of air before replying, "Indeed. I pushed myself a bit harder than I should have today but I don't want this weakness to slow me down either."
Three nodded and said with a sneer, "Well that's a relief. I'd hate to have to kill you so soon."
Shen just gave a dark grin back to him as he took a few more moments to calm himself enough to breathe normally. "It seems you are bored again, yes?"
"Yes. Ken just told me that it will be a few more days before that training machine is finished. I need some entertainment before I start killing off more of your students!" Three replied with increasing agitation.
"Maybe I can help with your lust for destruction. We are assassins after all so we can make more use of that," Shen replied thoughtfully.
"Can you wait until the cover of darkness, Master Three? I'll need some ideas from my brother," Shen asked.
A devious smile crept over Three's face as he replied, "Ken and I will take over for him now so you can come up with some targets."
Three started walking over to Tao and called back to Shen with, "And make sure it's not anymore Red Shark Gang members. They bore me too!"
As Vegeta's spaceship entered the planet's atmosphere and plummeted to the surface like a meteor, Grand Elder Moori had sensed the incoming object and rushed out of his house and called to his fellow Namekians with all traces of his normal jolliness gone.
"My brothers! A spaceship is approaching from the stars above! I sense a weak presence on it but be prepared just in case the being inside is hostile!" He shouted to other Namekians in the village who had stopped in their daily activities to hear him speak.
Before anyone could speak in response, the growing sound of an incoming object from above caught their attention and all heads turned to the sky. The spaceship approached at rapidly increasing speeds in a blazing streak of light.
Moments later it slammed into a neighboring plateau a quarter of a mile from the village, exploding the land feature into a huge cloud of burning rocks and grass. Debris rained from the growing plume of smoke and dust for several hundred yards around the impact zone.
Many of the warriors and warrior in training Namekians of the village stood on edge and waited for any signs of trouble. Though peaceful times had again come to the Namekian People, memories of the past still lingered in their minds.
"Grand Elder, what should we do?" a younger Namekian of the village asked as the huge dust cloud finally began to settle.
"We wait a few more moments and then go see what or who has come to our planet," Moori replied calmly.
"Elder, perhaps you should remain here until we know more about the stranger," A second slightly, older Namekian piped up.
"No. I've been feeling for any signs of life and I have sensed no inherent evil coming from that ship. I think I will be alright to go," Moori reasoned to the fearful group. "Look, the dust is settling enough for us to make out writing on the ship. Let's go see what is there."
Without another word, Moori floated into the air and flew at a gradually increasing pace toward the spaceship. The younger of the two Namekians who voiced concern quickly followed suit, along with several other Namekians willing to join the investigation.
A few minutes later Moori touched down a few feet from the wrecked ship and took notice of the writing on the ship. As he did, several other Namekians touched down near him.
"Elder, you shouldn't be so hasty!" the young Namekian said with concern.
"Just because I'm the elder, doesn't mean I can't take care of myself!" Moori said feeling annoyed with the youth. "Besides, there should be no harm found here. This ship is from the planet called Earth and more so the place we lived at while we stayed there!"
The initial tension that had grown deflated somewhat in the group as they stood awaiting Moori's commands. Meanwhile, Moori had floated into the air to get a better look at the spaceship.
"I don't think the passenger intended to land here. I see some damage on one side of the ship and multiple dents all over another area," Moori commented as he spent time floating around Vegeta's ship. He looked in through one of the windows and his eyes fell upon an unconscious body lying on the floor inside.
"Quickly, everyone!" Moori shouted to the group, "Help me find a button to open the door! There's someone inside and he isn't moving!"
The other Namekians rushed to Moori's aid and searched the outer shell for a button or latch to open the spaceship. It took several minutes before the younger Namekian's hands came across a large black button.
He pressed it and the sound of pressure being released could be heard. A large doorway opened in front of him while an entrance ramp simultaneously extended down to the ground near his feet.
Moori floated down next to the young Namekian and said, "Good work, Cargo!" before entering the spaceship followed by Cargo and the other Namekians behind him.
As the now five Namekians walked inside, their eyes fell upon the huge machine in the center of the ship, the broken and charred tiles on the floor, and finally the unconscious man lying near the center of the ship.
Frowns crossed their faces as their eyes fell upon Vegeta's unconscious body.
Cargo's eyes widened at the sight and curiosity gave way to shock and then slowly anger.
"It's that guy who wiped out Elder Tsuno and his village!" Cargo burst out in anger. "What's he doing here?!"
The other Namekians next to Moori looked at him for guidance on the matter.
"Considering his physical state and the damage on his spaceship, I truly doubt he came here on purpose. Regardless of the reason, let's get him back to the village and I will tend to his wounds," Moori replied grimly.
"But Grand Elder, he's evil! What if he slaughters us all the moment he awakens?!" Cargo protested defiantly.
"I told you that I sensed no evil presence in this spaceship and I sense no evil intent from him right now. We will treat him as a guest," Moori replied in a commanding tone.
Moori motioned to the other Namekians to pick Vegeta up and begin carrying him back to their village.
"As you wish Elder," two of them replied and began lifting Vegeta between them, his arms falling limp over their shoulders.
"But he is unconscious! Of course you won't sense anything from him right now! We should rid ourselves of him before he wakes up!" Cargo protested more angrily.
"Cargo!" Moori shouted at the youth and made him cringe in fear. "Elder Tsuno and his village are alive and well now! We have no reason to hold such hatred in our hearts! More to the point, my word as the Grand Elder is final!"
Cargo bowed his head in shame and replied in a low voice, "Forgive me elder. I only voiced my concerns because of what this man did. He even had the gall to hurt Dende."
Moori gave a small smile and said, "I understand your feelings, but I believe this man has put that part of his life behind him. I'm sure Dende has forgiven him as well."
One of the other Namekians spoke up, "We agree with you Elder, but as a precaution I think it wise to have some of the village warriors be around until we know that he is trustworthy."
Moori thought it over for a few moments and sighing said, "Very well. But we will not treat him as a prisoner. They can be on guard but do not have them following him around at every waking moment.
Cargo and the other Namekians nodded in reluctant approval before the two Namekians supporting Vegeta floated into the air and slowly flew him back to the village.
Moori spoke to his three remaining companions, "I will tend to his wounds as best I can, but unlike Dende I have not had much practice in healing others. Please send word to Elder Tsuno as I believe he has the ability to do a better job than I."
The two older Namekians nodded and flew off to Elder Tsuno's village. Cargo stood at Moori's side and stared at the ground clenching and unclenching his fists.
"It will be fine. Come, let's go back to the village Cargo. I may need your help as well," Moori said to his younger companion. "There's work to be done and questions to be answered."
Aching muscles dripped endless pools of sweat from the old man as he collapsed on his knees and planted his palms into the smooth tiles of the Lookout, his shadow seeming to mock his pain in the thinning daylight.
Gasping for breath that wouldn't come easily, the Turtle Hermit fought the urge to collapse and let the sweet release of darkness take him.
"It's been several days since I came here to train," Roshi gasped with frustration. "And I'm still having trouble getting used to the thin air up here. How do those young boys do it?!"
"They've had more training in this environment than you have," Mr. Popo stated reassuringly, "Maybe some breathing exercises will aid the problem, Old Master."
"Old?! Compared to you I'm practically a teenager!" Roshi spat in annoyance.
"I meant it in a respectful way," Mr. Popo said apologetically.
"Oh, well thank you but it still won't help my condition!" Roshi lamented with a sigh as he let the heaviness overtake him and fall back on his rear to rest.
"Considering you're able to do this much with all those weights on your body, speaks leagues!" Mr. Popo commented with a smile.
"Well, maybe several hundred pounds of extra weight is a tall order for me right now," Roshi commented as he crossed his legs and began calming his strained muscles while slowing his breathing down.
"If you clear your mind of those dirty thoughts for a few minutes at a time, you might be able to focus mind over body better," Mr. Popo instructed.
Roshi eyed him closely and replied with, "You are worse than that old turtle nagging at me back home!"
Voices could be heard across the Lookout as Dende and Piccolo emerged from the building.
"Has there been word from Supreme Kai as of late?" Dende asked to Piccolo.
"No not since yesterday. He thinks he found the general location but since Majin Buu has been asleep for years, it's hard to pinpoint an energy signal," Piccolo said with annoyance.
"Are you worried about that wizard getting here before they find the cocoon?" Dende asked. "I haven't been able to sense any large powers coming to Earth yet."
"I am. We don't know what amount of energy Babidi has amassed to resurrect Majin Buu and if he has enough to do it right away, it will be over before the fight even begins. The sooner that cocoon is off the planet, the better!" Piccolo replied with frustration.
Overhearing their conversation from afar Roshi decided to stand up and stretch his body as best he could with his weighted restraints.
"Say, Dende? Have you had any luck in tracking down Krillin or Tien?" Roshi asked.
"I think I found Krillin earlier today but then I lost his energy signal. It's as if he didn't want to be found for some reason," Dende said sadly.
"I see..." Roshi mused. "That lucky dog! If only I had his youth…"
"And Tien is harder to trace since I barely know him," Dende continued with a sigh.
"Well don't be discouraged. You have Gohan and Piccolo and me once I get my energy back!" Roshi proclaimed proudly.
"I suppose so! Oh! I'm sorry I forgot!" Dende replied apologetically. "I can heal you Master Roshi, and then suggest you get some sleep!"
Roshi nodded and began lurching his way slowly toward Dende.
"I'll take you up on that offer!" Roshi replied between grunts.
After several difficult moments of struggling, he gave up and finally collapsed on the tiled floor face first. Everyone sweat dropped at the Turtle Hermit's clumsiness.
"Maybe you should come here instead!" He tried to holler. Fortunately Dende was rushing to his aid the second he fell.
As Gohan helped his mom clean up after dinner, Trunks half crawled, half waddled around the living room. They could hear him babbling happily over the TV with a news station going over the day's highlights.
"Less vocal and happier when he's full, huh Mom?" Gohan asked chuckling at the sight.
"Yes. Honestly, I had less trouble making you happy as a baby!" a somewhat frazzled Chi-Chi replied as she dried dishes. A bunch of broken plates lay on top of the garbage can in a pile.
"How many plates did he actually break before I finished roasting the fish outside?" Gohan asked curiously.
"As many pieces of carrots as he threw at the wall," Chi-Chi replied with a sigh rubbing her growing belly absentmindedly. "I'm happy to take care of Trunks, but I really look forward to Bulma taking him home in just a couple more days."
"Heh, he likes meat as much as Dad and I do," Gohan commented as he put dry dishes in the cupboards.
He took note of how she did that more frequently now. "Probably better I don't say anything now," he thought to himself.
After several more minutes of cleaning up, Chi-Chi's "Mom" ears picked up on the sudden sounds of quiet from the living room, minus the TV as background noise. Slightly alarmed Chi-Chi finished drying the last of the unbroken dishes.
She turned and walked into the living room to search for Trunks. Relief instantly set in as she caught him near the TV lying on his tiny pillow, sucking his right thumb, and holding his blanket in the other hand.
"Well at least he sleeps just like you too!" She commented with a smile at the sight.
Gohan walked in to see what she meant and a sheepish smile crossed his face.
"Can you put him to bed Gohan? He's calmer with you than me," Chi-Chis asked quietly.
"Sure, I think I'll turn in soon, too. Keeping at full power all day is tiring!" Gohan said with a smile as he scooped Trunks into his arms. After releasing his golden aura, Gohan carried the baby into his bedroom.
"Ok, just make sure you brush your teeth! He's excused from fish breath but you're not!" Chi-Chi called after her son jokingly as she followed the boys down the hallway.
Though on a low volume the TV began broadcasting a breaking news logo and the newscaster came on the air.
"This just in folks, it seems that Monet Baugh, the richest man in Gingertown, has been found dead at his home by one of his housekeepers," the newscaster stated.
"It appears he died of internal bleeding from ruptured arteries. This has happened merely a month after he somehow survived the terror from the monster we all know as Cell," he continued. "Initial speculation is due to a heart condition that has been affecting select people of the region in the last couple of years.
His co-anchor chimed in, "Yes, and what's even stranger is that part of his house was in ruins as if an explosion had occurred. We are now going live to the scene for further details."
"How is he doing Grand Elder Moori?" An older voice called from behind Moori.
Moori stood with his hands outstretched over the bed that Vegeta lay upon, small waves of energy billowing out and casting the unconscious Saiyan Prince in a light orange glow.
The room was dark except for whitish green light entering through two small windows, the doorway to the dwelling's living room, and the light reflecting off the giant 4-star ball seated in a little notch on a purple pillow resting above Vegeta's head. Moori had multiple beads of sweat pouring down his face and was breathing heavily.
Cargo sat in a chair off to the side just watching intently. His mind was still hung up between anger at Vegeta and Moori's guidance to forgive and forget.
"He still hasn't woken up and I've been at this for half an hour. I'm glad you came Elder Tsuno," Moori turned his head slightly and replied with a smile.
Tsuno, wearing a purple robe and holding a wooden staff in his left hand, walked in using his wooden staff as a support.
Cargo quickly stood up upon seeing that Tsuno had arrived and gave a quick bow, "Good to see you, Elder Tsuno!"
"Good to see you too, Young Cargo!" Tsuno said with a smile. "You've grown a couple inches since we last spoke!'
Cargo gave a small smile with pride in it before retreating back to his seat and continuing to watch the events play out before him.
Tsuno turned his attention back to the wounded warrior and got a good look at Vegeta.
He stared for a moment blankly before saying with a frown, "So it's true. This man has come to our planet after all. I never thought I'd see him again."
"Are you still angry?" Moori asked with concern.
"I am surprised and a bit unsettled to know he is in our villages once more, but I cannot disagree with your feelings on the matter. I too sense no evil from him, only intense internal conflict," Tsuno commented.
"Then will you help me to bring him back to consciousness? It seems he is not here to cause trouble but I fear that is what sent him to our doorstep," Moori replied with relief.
"I will," Tsuno replied with a smile as he stood next to Moori and examined Vegeta more closely.
"I see that you have healed some minor burns and scratches. You have done well for somebody with limited training in this art," Tsuno replied with a smile. "But I think I can hasten the healing of the more severe wounds if you give me some time."
"I'd appreciate that. Thank you!" Moori said graciously and released his energy flow and the associated dimming orange light surrounding Vegeta.
Tsuno stretched out his arms and bathed Vegeta in a stronger orange light that engulfed both the prince and the bed he lay in.
"I will warn you Grand Elder Moori that while I and a few other older Namekians from my village are willing to forgive the past, some of the younger Namekians are not so quick to change," Tsuno said with some strain.
"I am aware, Tsuno. I had to reprimand Cargo for being so brash earlier and even members of my village are wary of this Saiyan's presence," Moori replied gloomily.
Cargo just stared at the back of his hands on his lap with shame at the mention of his name.
Tsuno nodded in understanding while focusing energy on Vegeta's upper body and said "At least they are acting civilized. My village was not happy to hear of his presence and they were very adamant that I not aid you. I left with a few others who were on my side as the younger males quibbled among themselves."
"At any rate, I may be able to bring him to awaken shortly but I do not know if I can heal him fully at this time," Tsuno added as he continued to concentrate on Vegeta's wounds around his shoulders and chest.
"I must ask, is that out of fear or lack of experience?" Moori questioned calmly but in a tone bordering on disgust.
"Both, Elder Moori. And by fear, I mean for his own good," Tsuno replied reassuringly. "I assure you, I bare him no ill will, but I am not the best healer. It would be easier if both of us worked together but you are tired."
"You fear the others will come to do him harm? If we need more support I will have to ask-" Moori began with concern.
He was interrupted by the sound of angry shouts in the distance followed immediately by cries of agony. Mere moments passed and they could hear and feel large explosions and loud thuds. Both elders turned their heads to look outside Moori's house to see several Namekian warriors marching toward it.
"Yes, Elder Moori I do," Tsuno replied hurriedly. "I will try to rouse him and hope he can at least defend himself should it come to that but if he is to live you should go quell their anger!"
Moori quickly turned to Cargo and said, "Cargo please! I really need you to help as best you can this time! Stay here with Elder Tsuno and do whatever he asks!"
Cargo nodded in response and reluctantly moved to stand next to Tsuno while Moori worked up the energy to walk outside and greet a growing angry mob in his village. Vegeta slowly began stirring on the bed amidst the tension outside.
Author's Note:
No, I have not forgotten about any of this. Part of it was writer's block, part of it was life.