Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball Z or any of its characters. If I did I'd be a whole lot richer.

Chapter 25

Kakarot, Raditz, and Bardock stood in the desert and waited. "Are you sure Vegeta is going to be here today?" Kakarot asked.

"That's what his message said," Raditz said. "Let's just hope he's in a good mood."

"Well if he isn't we'll just have to adjust his attitude," Kakarot said.

"We have your back," Yamcha said landing next to the three Saiyans. With the desert bandit were Tien and Piccolo.

"Did you wish Krillin back?" Kakarot asked.

"We wished him back this morning," Tien said. "He said it may take a few hours to get here from King Kai's planet."

-Dbz-

Vegeta stepped out of his space pod and looked around. He and Nappa had landed in a deserted area far away from any cities. "Locate the highest power level," he told Nappa.

Nappa hit his scouter. "There's two powerlevels of 5000 off in that direction," the brute of a Saiyan said. While he towered over Vegeta the tall bald Saiyan was dwarfed in power by the younger Saiyan with the flame-like hair. Nappa was clad in the black and gold armor of the Saiyan army while Vegeta wore the blue and white armor of the Royal family.

"That must be Kakarot and Raditz," Vegeta said.

"This thing must be broken," Nappa said. "There's no way that runt Raditz could be that strong."

Vegeta laughed enjoying Nappa's discomfort at the thought of the low class warrior being stronger than him. "Well who else would it be," Vegeta said. "Surely, Raditz and Kakarot are the strongest on this pathetic planet."

Nappa hit the scouter again. "There's another at 4400, one at 4200, one at 3600, and one at 3000," he said.

Vegeta laughed. "It appears they've been busy. I know Raditz only had a powerlevel of 1200 when he left. I'm interested to find out how they have gotten so strong." Without further conversation, the two Saiyans lifted into the air and sped off toward the powerlevels.

-Dbz-

"They're here," Raditz said.

"I sense two of them," Kakarot said.

"The stronger one is Vegeta," Raditz said. "The other is Nappa. Let's just hope they don't want to start trouble."

"If they do we'll beat them without too much trouble," Kakarot said. "And out this far we won't be disturbed. Though they are strong and would make good allies against Frieza."

Several minutes later Vegeta and Nappa landed to face the Z-fighters. Vegeta was the first to speak. "I'm impressed," he said. "I didn't think you could put together a force of warriors from this pathetic planet."

"Who are you to call this planet pathetic?" Yamcha shot back.

"I am the Prince of all Saiyans," Vegeta barked back. "And you are a pathetic weakling." He turned to Raditz and Kakarot. "I figured you would keep your men in line," he said.

"They are all volunteers," Kakarot said. "I treat them with respect and they fight for our cause."

Raditz spoke up before the prince could respond to Kakarot's comments. "Now for the reason we called you."

"Yes," Vegeta said. "What is so important that you wanted me to come all this way?"

"Well," Kakarot started. "We want your help in defeating Frieza."

"We dare not challenge Lord Frieza," Nappa said.

"Shut up you twit," Vegeta admonished the taller Saiyan. "Now you wish to challenge the strongest being in the galaxy?"

"Yes," Kakarot said. "We will destroy him for what he did to our race."

"And what did he do to our race?" Vegeta said. While he sought power as much as anyone else he wasn't foolish enough to challenge Frieza.

"He destroyed our people," Kakarot said. The younger Saiyan pulled a recording device from his pocket and showed Vegeta the message.

After seeing the message, Vegeta shook with rage. "I can't believe we've been played for fools for so long. His blood will soak the ground at my feet." Vegeta's rant was cut short when his scouter beeped. The prince pushed the button and looked at the readout. "Six large powerlevels are heading this way," he said. "Friends of yours?" he asked looking toward Raditz and Kakarot.

"Not ours," Raditz said. "We know of one more coming to join us but not six."

"The highest is at 24,000," Nappa said consulting his own scouter. "And they are definitely headed this way."

"Frieza must have had us followed," Vegeta said.

-Dbz-

Zarbon and Dodoria exited their pods and stretched. Dodoria was the first to speak. "Vegeta's definitely here," he said looking at his scouter. "There's several powerlevels around 5000 near where his is."

"This should be child's play," Zarbon said.

"I want to be the first to fight Vegeta," Cui said interrupting the two. "He and I have a score to settle."

"Fine by me," Zarbon said. "I'm just going to watch anyhow."

"I don't even know why he sent you," Dodoria said with a bit of irritation in his voice. "I am more than capable of handling this on my own." Without further conversation the six warriors lifted off heading toward the Saiyan rebellion.

-Dbz-

Minutes later Frieza's forces landed in the desert facing the Saiyans, humans, and Namekian. "Zarbon," Vegeta said addressing the leader of Frieza's men, "what are you doing out here?"

"I'd like to ask you the same question," Zarbon said. "What brings the prince of the Saiyans out to a planet like this?"

"Well it just so happens one of my fellow Saiyans found his long lost brother," Vegeta said. "I figured I'd welcome him to the gang personally."

"You know that Frieza has a standing order to be informed of any new Saiyans that are found," Zarbon said.

"I am their Prince," Vegeta said. "I have the need to know first."

"You're so full of yourself," Cui cut in. "Frieza should have killed you years ago."

"Ok," Zarbon said. "Cui you take the three weaker Saiyans. Appule and Napple can have the three other adult fighters, and Chomper can take the kid."

"What about Vegeta," Cui said. "I want to take Vegeta."

"You will follow orders," Zarbon said in a stern voice. "Dodoria will handle Vegeta. Now go."

The warriors needed no more orders than that. Cui charged at Raditz, Kakarot, and Nappa, prepared to take on all the warriors at once. Appule and Napple charged at Tien, Yamcha, and Piccolo intent on destroying the weaklings. Chomper charged at Bardock upset to have to fight a child. Dodoria stood facing Vegeta and laughed. "Give it up now," he said, "and I'll go easy on you."

Cui shot a fist into Nappa's stomach doubling the brute over with no effort. The fish faced alien laughed. "You Saiyans are pathetic," he said. He shot at Kakarot and sent a fist at the Saiyan's face. To his surprise, the spiky haired Saiyan blocked the blow and shot a fist of his own at Cui's face. The fish faced warrior was ill prepared to block. He hadn't expected the Saiyan to be close to a match for him. Kakarot's fist smashed into Cui's face and sent the fish faced alien flying back. He turned to Raditz. "Help the others out," he said. "I'll handle this one myself."

Chomper rushed at Bardock with a flying kick to the lad's face. Bardock flipped back avoiding the blow and pushed off with his foot and charged back at the reptilian warrior drawing his sword in the process. He swung the sword at his attacker catching the warrior off guard. Chomper barely moved out of the way fast enough to avoid being decapitated by the pintsized warrior. Was it possible that this small child was more powerful than Kakarot had been the last time he faced him. He hit his scouter. 3000, he thought. This kid has a powerlevel of 3000. I better be careful with this one. His thoughts were interrupted by a sword coming inches from his head. His reflexes saved him once more allowing him to dodge the deadly blade just seconds before it would have ended him.

Appule and Napple charged at the remaining warriors. Appule drove a fist into Yamcha's stomach doubling the human warrior over in pain. Tien quickly came to his rescue and came at Appule with a flying kick to the alien's head. Before the blow could land Napple shot an energy blast at the triclops knocking him from the air and sending him flying into a mountain. Napple turned to block a blow from Piccolo and shot a fist at the Namekian warrior.

Vegeta shot at Dodoria and sent a fist at the pink warrior's face. Dodoria shot a hand out and grabbed the prince's arm and twisted it behind his back. "Really Vegeta," he said. "Did you really think you could beat me?"

"I will tear you apart," Vegeta spat at the pink warrior.

Appule grabbed Yamcha by the hair and laughed. "You are quite pathetic," he said. "You're not even worth sending to oblivion." Appule opened his hand and shot a blast into Yamcha's face ending the desert bandit's life in the wink of an eye.

Seconds later Tien picked himself up from the rubble in time to see Appule finish off his friend. "You'll pay for that," he said.

Appule turned and grinned. "I'm sure I will."

Piccolo stretched his arm to twice its normal length catching Napple temporality off guard. The alien warrior barely blocked the blow and shot an energy blast at the Namekian. Piccolo crossed his arms over his chest and absorbed the blow. That hurt, Piccolo thought as the smoke cleared. This isn't good. This guy was even stronger than that Chomper had been. All his training had been for nothing. He still wasn't strong enough to make a difference.

Bardock continued to strike at Chomper with his sword. The reptilian warrior continued to stay seconds ahead of the blows. An instant later Chomper shot a foot out and caught Bardock in the gut doubling the child over and causing him to take a few steps back. Chomper wasted no time and brought his fists down in a double axe handle down on the back of Bardock's head driving the boy down into the ground. He picked the boy up by the back of his shirt and smashed him down into the ground hard. Gathering his energy into his hands he shot a blast into the boy's undefended body. "Now to end this," he said. Chomper picked up the boy's sword and brought it down at the boy.

The blow never landed. Raditz caught the reptilian warrior's wrist and held his hand back. "That's my nephew," he said. "And he's under my protection."

"Raditz," Chomper said trying to drive the weapon down into the longhaired Saiyan's head. "How are you so strong? You were a weakling."

"I am weak no longer," Raditz said. "And you are alive no longer." Raditz flung Chomper up into the air causing the warrior to drop the sword. "Double Sunday," Raditz shouted bringing his arms together and shooting an energy beam at the reptilian warrior. Seconds later Chomper was no more.

"Tribeam HA!" Tien shouted putting as much energy as possible into his signature attack. "Appule was forced back from the force of Tien's attack but he remained undamaged. "HA!" Tien shouted sending another burst of energy at the fish faced warrior. Appule crossed his arms over his chest and braced against the blow. Seconds later Tien collapsed from the effort of performing so many energy attacks so quickly.

Appule stood above a panting triclops. "You're so weak," he said. "Now you'll die." Before he could deliver the killing blow, Nappa grabbed him from behind and got him in a body lock. "Let go you fool," Appule said.

"I don't think so," Nappa said. "I'm going to destroy you."

"You fool," Appule said. "Do you really think you can beat me?"

"I know one technique that will beat you," Nappa said. He gathered all his energy to him and began to raise his power higher and higher.

"You fool, you wouldn't," Appule said. "You'll die."

"You'll make sure of that anyway," Nappa said. "I'm going to take you with me you scum." Nappa continued to pour more and more energy into his body until he seemed to glow with the energy he was putting off. Seconds later a large explosion rocked the landscape. When the smoke cleared both Nappa and Appule were no more.

Napple continued to pummel Piccolo with kicks and punches to the Namekian's body. "You dare defy Frieza," he said laughing. "You will die." He gathered his energy and shot it a Piccolo disintegrating the Namekian with one blast.

-Dbz-

Up on the lookout Kami faded away in front of Mr. Popo's eyes. "Kami no," Popo said.

-Dbz-

Raditz landed behind Napple and brought his fist through the other warrior's back. "Your reign of terror is over," he said bringing his fist off of the now dead henchman's body. "Your friends are avenged brother," he said to himself. "Now I'm going to help you out."

"Not so fast," Zarbon said landing in front of him.

Raditz shot a fist at Frieza's lieutenant but Zarbon shot a hand out and caught the Saiyan's hand. He twisted the arm behind Raditz's back. "Let's just watch the fun," Zarbon said. "I'll stay out of the fights if you do."

-Dbz-

Krillin sighed as he reached Earth's check-in station. "I'm coming guys," he said. "Hold on a little longer.

Power levels

Yamcha:

3600

Tien:

4200

Bardock:

3000

Kakarot:

5,000 (suppressed)

18,000

Raditz:

5,000 (suppressed)

15,500

Krillin:

10,000

Piccolo:

4400

Nappa:

4,000

Vegeta:

18,000

Zarbon

24,000

Dodoria

22,000

Cui

18,000

Appule

6000

Napple

5800

Chomper

3500