Preparations

Piccolo was roaming inside his spaceship as it sped in space. Two weeks had already passed by since the start of his journey.

Killing Goku while he was helplessly lying in his bed, unable to move a finger, was no fun..he had told himself. He would defeat him in a proper one-on-one fight!

The Namekian came across a door and opened it.

He smirked. There were plenty of weights and dumbbells lying there. "I can't believe Goku used these toys to get stronger...ridiculous."

The namekian closed the door. Almost ten weeks still remained till he got to his destination.

And he was finding it difficult to pass his time. Of course he couldn't use his multiform technique to spar with a clone of himself here. The spaceship would get positively wrecked.

Chichi was worried when she woke up to find that Gohan was missing.

She had asked Goku but he didn't have a clue either.

Goku looked thoughtful. "Maybe Master Roshi would know. Gohan did say he really wanted to have a look at the spaceship before it went."

Master Roshi took out his phone which was ringing at the moment. 'I wonder who it could be?'

.

"Gohan? No. I don't think I have seen him around here. Is something wrong?"

The phone was abruptly cut following his answer. Maybe there was something wrong...

Vegeta was floating unconscious inside the liquid of the healing chamber. An oxygen mask was attached to his face while several leads were attached to his head and chest.

Dr Broc was monitoring the Saiyan's vitals on the screen of a monitor. "What is this? His heart rate is increasing."

The doc pressed some buttons on the keyboard. The EEG showed some abnormal electrical activity. 'Maybe he is having a nightmare..I wonder what it could be? Something to scare even him must have to be intense..'

Vegeta's brow twitched.

...

He threw a punch at full strength but it was caught. He threw a punch with his free hand but it was caught as well.

His eyes bulged and he doubled over in pain as a fist implanted into his gut. His insides fell excruciating pain. He coughed.

The ground in front of him was stained with drops of blood. It was his blood.

That low-class! He had done this to him!

...

'Ka..ka..rot..'

"Gohan! What are you doing here?"

Gohan blinked, not really sure what to answer. "Could you unbuckle my seatbelt please, Krillin? It tied me automatically to the sofa when the spaceship started."

"Sure," replied Krillin, pressing a button.

Gohan let out a sigh of relief as he was set free. He sat upright. "I just came to check out the ship last night and fell asleep. Never thought I would sleep for so long."

Krillin raised a brow. "Actually we had a change of schedule, thanks to Master Roshi."

Yamcha grinned. "So looks like your wish came true. You really are now travelling in space, Gohan!"

Gohan didn't look so happy. "But mom...she would be worried about me, as well as dad."

Yamcha kept smiling. "Don't worry, we can arrange about that." He turned to the driver seat. "Mr Popo!"

The turbaned man lowered his newspaper and turned his head to face them. His eyes fell on Gohan. "So... little boy's decided to join the adventure as well."

Krillin grinned nervously. "It is not that. Actually, it was an accident...Could you direct the spaceship back to Earth so we can drop-off Gohan to his parents?"

Mr Popo shook his head. "I am afraid not. Take-off and landing are the things which consume the major chunk of the fuel. And, by the way, the fuel of this spaceship is not available on Earth but rather the planet towards which we are headed to. So the boy may just have to come along."

Yamcha frowned. "Oh come on."

Mr Popo did not reply.

The scar-faced fighter sighed. "Atleast you could arrange a video call with Wami so that we can inform him of the matter. He will than inform his parents about it."

Mr Popo smiled. "That I can do."

Chichi read the message sent to her by Wami. "Gohan.. is.. in space?"

Goku chuckled. "Atleast we now know where he is. I am sure Mr Popo, Krillin, and Yamcha would look after him," he said assuringly.

Chichi nodded. It really was a relief to find out where Gohan was. She just hoped he would be alright.

The trip to Namek was on.

The originally four month journey would take them a year as Mr Popo had told them. Actually they had to move at submaximal speeds to optimize the limited fuel they had got. Their ship consumed fuel most efficiently when it moved at a third of its maximum speed...

What worried them was that finding the Saiyan and Yajirobe there at that time seemed to be very less probable. Sadly, they didn't have any other choice.

Currently...Gohan, Krillin, and Yamcha sat on the floor of the spaceship, playing carrom.

Yamcha was now taking aim. Soon he flicked to land a white goat in one of the four pockets. "Hah! You saw that rebound strike!"

Krillin smirked. "Just wait till I get my turn."

And sure enough, he did get his turn, only to land the striker in one of the pockets.

Gohan laughed heartily.

Krillin looked agitated but Gohan's laugh lighted him up as well. It felt so good to have a kid with them.. and a kid like Gohan... it reminded him of old days.. when he and Goku used to be kids..

Also, Yamcha was here too. Krillin felt too much nostalgic..

"You know," he said. "It's just like old days. Gohan reminds me so much of Goku when he was a kid.."

Yamcha smiled. He put a hand on Gohan's head and affectionately rustled the boy's hair. "He sure does."

Gohan grinned. "Hehe."

Mr Popo was currently reading a book. He sure liked to read a lot when he wasn't busy gardening.

Yajirobe sat on the chair of his room. Soon a small tiffin was thrown in from the window.

The fat man immediately pounced on it. He opened it to find some space vegetables..again.

"Can't you guys get some chicken around here?!" he yelled but to no avail. Yajirobe reluctantly started to eat. This was all he had got, after all.

'I wonder if Krillin and the others would be worried about me..'

2 weeks later...

Dr Broc stood monitoring the screen near to Vegeta's healing chamber.

BEEP! BEEP!

"He's healed!"

The doc was quick to press some buttons. Immediately the fluid of the healing chamber began to drain. Soon the door opened.

Vegeta opened his eyes. He removed the mask and leads from himself and walked out.

The prince clenched his fist in front of him. He could feel renewed energy coursing through his veins.

Yajirobe was snoring on his bed with the lights turned off. Suddenly, the door of his room opened.

The fat man turned in his sleep, using his pillow to shield his eyes from the incoming light.

"Hey, tummy! It's time to go!"

Yajirobe came to. It took him a few moments to recognize the voice but when he did, he almost urinated.

Still, he pretended that he hadn't heard anything.

The next thing he heard was the sound of a ki blast.

Yajirobe let out a terrified yell as he jumped up. His bed had been blasted to ashes.

Vegeta chuckled. "Look who's awake. Come with me. It's time we put your skills to the test."

Yajirobe blinked. "What skills? I don't have any skills."

Vegeta growled. "Don't act so ignorant! You know exactly what skills I am talking about!"

"You mean..Ragon-smelling skills? Haha! That was a joke, you idiot!"

Vegeta raised his hand in front of him and formed a tiny ball of energy in it. "In that case, I suppose I don't need you.."

Yajirobe raised his hands defensively. "Wait!Wait! Of course I can smell Ragon! I was just trying to trick you into believing otherwise!"

Vegeta smirked as the ball of energy in his palm dissipated. "That's better.. actually you just reminded me of something Nappa used to say."

"What?"

"That tricks are for kids."

...

Vegeta and Yajirobe were currently walking down the corridoor of the huge building.

"Hey, Saiyan," the fat man said.

"What is it?"

"Nice armor."

"Humph."

"Can I get one too?"

"No."

Yajirobe crossed his arms, mumbling something to himself.

"I heard that."

Yajirobe freaked out.

Vegeta chuckled in his mind. Beating this guy up was going to be so much fun.

Soon, they had emerged out of the building. In front of them were the two spacepods in which they had arrived. Brob and Crab also stood there, making some last-minute checks.

"Are they ready?" Vegeta asked.

"Yes, they are, Prince Vegeta," replied Crab. "By the way, prince, where's Nappa?"

"He's dead."

Both Crab and Brob were shocked for words. Still, they knew better than to ask questions.

Vegeta calmly walked towards his spacepod. He turned behind him to see that Yajirobe had stopped in his tracks.

"Where are we headed to?" the fat man asked.

Vegeta growled. "Get inside your pod or I will literally kick you in!"

"Easy," said Yajirobe, sweating, as he obeyed.

The two got inside their pods and closed the ships' doors. With a humming sound the space pods blasted off and disappeared into the blackness of the sky.

Both Crab and Brob looked on.

Crab held his chin in thought. "I wonder...if he died from an idiosyncratic reaction due to the hair-growing cream."

Brob face-palmed.

Vegeta pressed a button on his remote. Following it, his and Yajirobe's pods filled with a sedative gas.

The prince wasn't really sure about the 'Ragon-smelling skills' of Yajirobe. Still, after what he had seen on his visit to Earth..healing beans, the vast jump in powerlevels in one year..and what not..he didn't put it past Yajirobe to actually have Ragon-smelling powers.

Whatever the case, he would find out soon. They were currently headed to the planet he and Nappa had visited on their way to Earth. It would take them eight months to get there.

Soon, the sedative gas began to take its effect and the prince drifted off to a deep sleep.

2 months later...

King Gai's planet

The blue master was reading a newspaper as always (don't ask me how he gets one) when a familiar spaceship landed in front of him.

King Gai jumped to his feet with a wide grin. This was Goku's ship!

Bubbles, the monkey, was hopping with joy as well.

However, much to their surprise a certain green-skinned fighter stepped out.

King Gai's jaw dropped. Was this Piccolo? But how could he be still so young after all those years? Or was it another Namekian?

Piccolo grinned as he saw the blue master. "So you are King Gai.."

King Gai looked serious. "So, you know me. What brings you here, stranger?"

Piccolo clenched his fist in front of him. "I have come here to train. I want you to train me to become stronger than Goku who you trained as well."

Gregory, the cricket, had arrived as well. "King Gai doesn't train for free, you know."

Piccolo ignored him.

King Gai looked on solemnly. "Actually, if you don't have anything to pay me, I may still train you..but on one condition."

Gregory looked worried. "You can't be serious, King Gai!"

Piccolo narrowed his eyes. "What is that condition?"

King Gai smirked as his sunglasses sparkled. "You have to make me laugh."

Piccolo was shocked. "What?"

Bubbles, the monkey, was jumping in his place. "Haa-haa-oo-oo-ee-ee!"

Mount Paozu

Goku and Tien stood in front of each other. Both of the fighters had completely healed and had decided to keep up with their training, in case the Saiyan Vegeta ever decided to return.

Tien was thankful to Goku for allowing him to stay in his house. As much as he would have despised the idea some years ago, training with Goku was a much better option than training all by himself. Oh how he missed Chiaotzu...

With a yell, both the fighters dashed towards each other and began to rapidly trade blows.

Tien was finding it hard to get through Goku's defenses even though the Saiyan was clearly holding back.

Goku was rapidly dodging and blocking. He was impressed by how much Tien had improved since the last time he fought him.

Finally, Goku ended their minor scuffle by elbowing Tien on the chest, sending him back.

Tien was panting. The three-eyed fighter bent forward and concentrated. Soon a pair of extra-arms sprouted from his back. He smirked as he looked at his opponent. "It's time for round two."

Goku smirked. "Sure."

Ox King was watching at the battle from the window. "Wow. Look at the both of them go." The sound of their attacks colliding could be heard all the way here.

Chichi was currently preparing lunch. "Good old Goku. Always itching to have a fight."

Chichi had been really upset when Wami messaged her that it may take almost 16 months for Gohan to get back. Still, she had no way out of this except for having patience. Because verily, God is with the patient whether they be men or women.

Meanwhile, Ox king chuckled as he watched Goku and Tien trade blows. The next generation had got so ahead of them. It was amazing and slightly sad for him at the same time.

"Here, daughter," he said. "Bring me some of those vegetables so I can cut them for you."

"Thanks dad."

Piccolo stood, leaning against a tree, wondering how on Earth or how on this planet was he going to make the blue master laugh.

King Gai was standing with his hands behind his back. "I am waiting.."

Piccolo suddenly remembered something.. A video game he had seen some kids on Earth play during his childhood... And being the evil son of King Piccolo he was, he had destroyed the screen with eye lasers, causing the kids to run away in terror.

Piccolo turned towards King Gai. This will work maybe. "Do you know of something called Mario?"

King Gai nodded. "Yup. I have played it."

Piccolo grinned inwardly. How King Gai managed to access that game on this faraway planet, he had no idea.

"Don't I look like a Yoshi?"

King Gai adjusted his glasses. "Hmm."

After observing Piccolo for a few seconds he burst out laughing.

Piccolo didn't know whether to be happy or furious..but atleast he got the job done. "Now that I have fulfilled your condition, its time you begin to train me!" he said.

King Gai slowly controlled himself before nodding with a smile. "Bubbles!"

The monkey immediately rushed to his master's call.

"First we will see if you can catch bubbles," King Gai told Piccolo. "Run away, Bubbles!"

The monkey sped away.

However, Piccolo was still standing. His teeth were gritted together. "I don't have time for this..monkey business."

King Gai again burst out laughing at the statement, much to Piccolo's anger.

Gohan, Krillin and Yamcha were darting across the spaceship. The three had their energies suppressed to prevent any damage.

Their blurs would often collide and then separate.

Mr Popo was sitting on a chair as he watched. "Amateurs.."

Finally, Krillin was sent down. He was rubbing his cheek. "Wow, Gohan."

Yamcha was sent down too. He was rubbing his side.

Gohan landed in front of them, panting.

Yamcha smirked. "That was amazing, Gohan. If you keep that up, you maybe able to catch up to me someday."

Krillin scoffed. Catch up? Gohan could give them a run for their money already. Krillin couldn't help but feel a little bit jealous. These were Gohan's Saiyan genes that were working. It was really amazing that the strength he, Yamcha, Tien and even Goku took years to achieve Gohan had achieved as a six year old.

Krillin couldn't imagine how much of a monster Gohan would become when he became a full-grown adult. The boy's potential appeared to be record-breaking.

Gohan grinned at Yamcha's compliment. "Thanks!"

It was than that Mr Popo walked towards them. "Do you really think training like this, with your energies suppressed, could help you get stronger? Sure, it could help in keeping your senses and skills sharpened but if you really want to increase your fighting power...than come with me."

The three looked at Mr Popo with blank faces. What was Mr Popo going to do?

Vegeta had his eyes closed as his spaceship sped in space. Suddenly, his brows furrowed. He was having a dream...again.

To be continued...