Namekians Arrive
Over a year has passed since the Battle against Cell; Mai lands her flying car up to the Son residence, and knocks. Later inside, Chi Chi is making pouring tea for her guest, as Mai offers an invitation for the woman of the house and her younger son, Goten, to attend her daughter's upcoming third birthday party.
MAI: "Nappa has been saying that Pak should be around her own people as more often."
CHI CHI: "So is Vegeta coming too?"
MAI: (beat) "That she should be around most of her own people more often."
CHI CHI: "I should mention, Goten can be a bit of a handful; not even a year and a half old yet, he's already become so active..."
MAI: "Doesn't Gohan play with him?"
CHI CHI: "Every now and again, but Gohan's just been so focused on studying these past few months; we've been trying to lead a normal life ever since... well, you know." (Mai nods solemnly) "And whenever he does get a free moment, my boy usually uses to visit his friend on the Lookout..."
Meanwhile, Gohan and Piccolo are walking along the rim of the Lookout, talking to each other.
GOHAN: "So, I don't see 18 around anywhere."
PICCOLO: "Yes, she's been going out a lot lately, being a lot more socialable with people down on the surface. Actually, you could say she's been in a really good mood these past few weeks."
GOHAN: "Well that's good to hear; any idea what she's happy about?"
PICCOLO: (smiles playfully) "Well, were I to guess... I'd say it's something to do with her pregnancy."
GOHAN: "What; 18 is pregnant? That's great news! Who's the father?"
PICCOLO: "I never asked. But she has been spending a lot of time at the base of the tower these past few months; she tells me she's gotten to know some 'Upa' kid really well."
Piccolo asks Gohan if he's considered resuming his training; Gohan nervously responds that he has trouble finding the time anymore, adding "Besides, what's out there that can be worse than Cell?"
Over at the Briefs' residence, Vegeta is watching martial arts television with his two year old son's sleeping head resting in his lap. Bulma kisses her husband on the head, and walks out; she crosses to the other side of the house, and into the kitchen to make something... but is surprised by a dog dressed as a ninja.
BULMA: (surprised) "What? How did you in here?"
SHU: "Well I am a ninja."
BULMA: "That's not the point! You can't just break into people's houses like this, whenever..."
SHU: "But we couldn't get an appointment, and I really needed to talk to you..."
BULMA: "Alright then, why are you here?"
SHU: "Well, it's Mai and Nappa; they were really hoping you and Trunks would be coming next week to their daughter's party, and..."
BULMA: (hits Shu on the head) "You have got to be kidding me! You broke into my house to ask me to a girl's birthday party?"
SHU: "Ow, my head..."
BULMA: (sighs) "Well I suppose while you're here, do you want something to eat?"
As Bulma and Shu sit down eating sandwiches, they talk of what's been going on; Shu talks about how much Nappa wants Pak and Trunks to spend more time together, Bulma reminds him that he and Vegeta still don't get along that well.
SHU: "Well, they were fellow soldiers once..."
BULMA: "Until my husband killed him."
SHU: "Well they trained together in the time chamber since then; maybe they could spar?"
BULMA: "Vegeta... has lost most interest in fighting lately."
SHU: "What, really?"
BULMA: "Ever since Goku died, it just didn't have the same appeal to him; he hasn't even really trained in the past few months."
SHU: "That... must be weird."
BULMA: "Well, it's been kind of nice honestly, just having him around the house; it's almost been normal around here. He's still been an excellent father. Only..."
She doesn't finish the thought; feeling awkward, Shu asks Bulma what she's been up to. The convesation turns to calls Bulma has been getting from one would be client in particular.
BULMA: "You've probably heard about these people causing a ruckus, saying the Earth needs more androids like 17 and 18. Some of them are now even going so far as to praise Gero's 'foresight' in creating them, like kidnapping orphans and experimenting on them had some nobility to it..."
SHU: "Some of those guys give me the heebie jeebies; they remind me a lot of the old Red Ribbon Army. I even heard some of them are trying to bring back the name."
BULMA: "Well, some are less crazy than that... if just slightly. Hercule Satan, for one; as I'm sure you've heard, he and some like minded big wigs have gotten their hands on the plans Dr Gero used to make 17 and 18. Now he's been bothering every major scientist on the planet, including me and my father, to try and copy these designs. And get this: every time, he offers himself up as a 'prototype', an example for future android soldiers."
SHU: "Hm, I get the sense that his heart's in the right place, but... Just thinking about asking people to do that to themselves... it's unsettling."
VEGETA: "The universe is unsettling."
SHU: (shocked) "Ve-Ve-Vegeta!"
The prince of all saiyans enters the kitchen, and opens the fridge.
VEGETA: "The universe is a dangerous place, dog. Satan may be a fool, but he's right about this planet needing to become stronger."
BULMA: (sigh) "And here we go..."
"VEGETA: "If something like this were offered on Planet Vegeta, every child would line up to volunteer, without a second -" (stands up straight, reacts to something unseen)
BULMA: "What is it?"
VEGETA: "Something just appeared on Earth; they feel like... No, they couldn't be..."
The Z Warriors fly toward energy, and sure enough, the population of New Namek is gathered once again in a small wooded clearining. Gohan notices that many of them are weeping, and then sees why; in the center of their crowd lays the dead body of Moori, the elder, a bloody wound in his chest.
From Dende, Earth's heroes learn of how they came to be there - the army of Frieza's father, King Cold, discovered their planet, and came looking to use their dragon balls to bring back the tyrant who had previously come so close to wiping out their race. These invaders were smarter than the last ones, though almost as brutal in terrorizing the Namekians to do their bidding. When the balls were gathered, they needed Elder Moori to instruct Parunga of the invaders' wish, and that's when their leader took the opportunity to have the dragon teleport his people off planet to the only hospitable place he could think of... a decision for which he paid with his life.
Dende is distaught when he finishes his tale, because he realizes that Cold now most certainly knows where his people are, and is most certainly on his way. Piccolo asks how far away they were, but the Namekians can only say which star system they were in; fortunately, Gohan knows how far that is, and Vegeta states that this means "they'll be here in about a year".
Cargo (Dende's brother) pipes in, expressing confusion as to how the Earthlings can be so calm about this, saying that Cold is "far more powerful" than his son was, "and he's not the only one"; Vegeta dismisses this concern, saying that he, and other fellow Z Warriors, have become far stronger than they were on Namek. Looking to comfort his old friend, Gohan offers to illustrate, and goes Super Saiyan; he struggles for a little bit ("this is harder than I remember"), but then manages to go Super Saiyan 2. Gohan smiles; "See, nothing to worry about." But that smile, and his Super Saiyan form, collapses the moment Dende looks back into his eyes with terror, and tells him that Cold was "several times stronger than that".
One of the Namekians states that they could make a new set of dragon balls on this planet in about ten months, and they could move on to another planet before Cold and his army ever show up. But Dende points out that when the army arrives, "if there's anyone on the planet at all, there are going to be casualties. We can't leave this planet to suffer them like that, with no way to bring them back, after putting them in that kind of danger." The noted Namekian nods his head in agreement and shame; Dende continues, "We'll have to make our stand on this planet. All of us, together."