Expect Death

Vegeta was still sitting and monitoring the power levels of Zarbon and Dodoria. The prince felt a bit of unease. What if the two reported their exchange with him to Frieza?

'Frieza.' He felt he could give anything..anything to finally see him dead. Oh how he hated him. How he loathed that tyrant. It was beyond words.

Yajirobe was meanwhile snoring loudly.

"Huh?" Vegeta was a bit surprised when his scouter could suddenly detect Frieza's power-level drop..before vanishing completely.

He stood up on his feet. Was this it?

His mouth was hung open. Cold sweat made its way down his temple and forehead. He focused his scouter on the fat man called Yajirobe. A reading of fourteen hundred popped up. Yes, his scouter was fine.

It seemed good. It seemed just too good. Too good to be true, in fact. He almost felt like he was having a dream.

He could now detect the powerlevels of Zarbon and Dodoria make their way back to him.

A faint smile appeared on his features which gradually made way for a full-blown grin.

"Yes! It's finally over!" The prince began to laugh loudly. "He's dead. He's finally dead!"

...

Krillin raised an eyebrow as he saw Vegeta's display of emotion. "What's up with him? Has he gone nuts?"

"Or maybe," said Yamcha. "His scheme with those two guys worked...they must have killed that Feeza guy."

"I see," said Krillin. Maybe now Vegeta would be more at ease and allow Yajirobe to go away for a hunt or something.

Gohan was sitting on a rock as he waited for his friends to get back. He had sensed a strong power-level shortly after his friends had went away. It was followed by a spike in Vegeta's power. Apparently, the two of them were fighting one another.

And yes, his suspicions turned out to be true. Vegeta's power level had grown since when he had arrived on Earth. He could sense the power-level of the other fighter vanish shortly after.

Next, he had sensed two more, stronger, power-levels come and go. It was a bit confusing to the half-Saiyan. The boy certainly was amazed at the number of powerful fighters this planet hosted.

All this while, he prayed that his friends would be safe and would get back soon along with Yajirobe.

Soon, he could feel another, familiar, power-level returning. The boy stood up as he saw a figure appear on top of the cliff. "Mr Popo!" he exclaimed, beaming.

The fat man descended to the ground holding the large can of fuel oil with him. "Good job looking after the spaceship, Gohan."

"Actually, I didn't really have to do anything. This planet is quite..silent." 'A far cry from the hustle-bustle life of Planet Earth,' the boy further thought. It was strange for such a fertile and inhabitable area like the one they were on..to be not having a single visible house.

"Yes, I know," said Mr Popo. "It's been the same way for centuries."

Gohan was amazed. "Just how old are you, Mr Popo?"

"Eighty-five. Though I don't look like it. Do I?," stated Mr Popo. "I have just read some of Wami's history books. That's all."

"Wow," mouthed Gohan.

"By the way, Gohan. We are going to get your dad here."

Gohan looked surprised. "What?"

Vegeta was smiling. He could sense Zarbon and Dodoria now. He had learnt to sense power-levels. It was something he picked up during his fight on Earth.

Soon, the pair of henchmen landed in front of him.

Zarbon was looking serious while Dodoria had a nasty grin on his face. 'Well, Dodoria is almost always like that,' thought Vegeta.

Zarbon narrowed his eyes. "Vegeta," he said. "We have completed our end of the deal. How about you complete yours?"

With a smirk, Vegeta took out his chequebook. The prince wrote a pair of cheques and held them out in his hand. "Here. Come and take it."

Zarbon looked at Dodoria who then walked forward to collect the cheques.

The pink alien was chuckling as he walked towards the prince. "Ah..money. Love me some fat money..."

Just when Dodoria was near to Vegeta, the prince ignited the pair of cheques in his hand. They were turned to ashes.

Dodoria was shocked. "WHAT?!"

Zarbon looked surprised as well. "Vegeta!"

The prince chuckled. "You think I will be foolish enough to waste any more money than I already have on you trash?! Unfortunately for you, I still have the Ginyu force to take care of."

Dodoria gnashed his teeth with anger.

Zarbon scowled. "Vegeta. You better stay true to your word. We will make you pay with your life if you don't."

Vegeta smirked. "About that. I don't plan to let you get away alive from this either."

Zarbon gnashed his teeth.

Suddenly, both his and Dodoria's scouters started going haywire.

Vegeta was powering-up. The prince screamed with effort and ecstacy as his aura flared around him. "Now, with Frieza dead, nobody in the universe will be able to stand up to me!" he shouted.

Wind kicked up from his aura.

Both Krillin and Yamcha were finding it hard to stand their ground as Vegeta's power skyrocketed.

Yajirobe, meanwhile, was sent tumbling towards the huge rock/boulder behind which his friends were hiding. He woke up with a start as he collided with it.

Vegeta was watching Yajirobe closely as he powered up. If the fat man tried to get away during this, he would make him pay.

Both Krillin and Yamcha wanted to speak out to their friend..tell him that they were here. But couldn't dare due to Vegeta closely watching in their direction.

Both Zarbon and Dodoria's scouters exploded from overheating.

Finally, Vegeta calmed down, having completed his show of power and energy.

Dodoria looked surprised, scared even, as he began to take steps backwards. "Twenty-four thousand!? No! You were never above even sixteen thousand! How could it be?!"

Vegeta snickered out loud. "While you and Zarbon were sitting on your behinds, growing soft, I was constantly struggling on the battlefield. I have been to the brink of death and back again! I have been on the frontline for so many years, honing my abilities. What would you expect, Dodoria?"

Zarbon had his brows furrowed. "Dodoria," he said. "Calm down. With the both of us together, we can defeat this monkey."

Vegeta laughed out loud. "Hahaha! Somebody has high hopes."

Dodoria looked amazed at Zarbon's statement. "Are you out of your mind, Zarbon? Twenty four thousand! There's no way either of us can compete with that!"

"Stop being such a coward, Dodoria," scolded Zarbon. The teal-skinned alien then charged towards Vegeta, throwing up dust behind him.

Vegeta smirked as he saw Zarbon approach.

With a yell, Zarbon had begun to attack Vegeta with a flurry of punches and kicks.

Vegeta was blocking and dodging the attacks before he himself went on the offensive.

Zarbon barely dodged a punch as it went over his shoulder. However, next, Vegeta's knee had crashed into his abdomen.

Zarbon bent forward in pain before he angrily punched Vegeta on the jaw, sending him back.

DISHOO!

A cloud of smoke hung where Vegeta was a second before.

Dodoria, who was in the air, laughed out loud, satisfied by his beam attack. Next, he began to throw a barrage of ki blasts in that direction.

However, someone clearing his throat behind him caused Dodoria to become wide-eyed.

The pink monster grunted with pain as both of his arms were forcibly pulled back.

Vegeta chuckled as he floated in the air behind him. "You really never did fight like a man." Vegeta then pulled Dodoria's arms even closer behind his back.

Dodoria shrieked with pain.

Vegeta furrowed his brows. He could see Zarbon coming towards him. The prince rotated on his place and threw Dodoria upon the oncoming Zarbon.

Meanwhile, Krillin picked up a pebble and threw it towards Yajirobe. It hit Yajirobe on the head.

The fat man clasped his head with surprise and pain. He turned around angrily. At the far end of the huge boulder, he could see the head and face of Krillin peeping. ...Krillin?

Krillin motioned Yajirobe to come near him.

Yajirobe laughed out loud before happily complying.

However, a blast collided with the ground in front of him, throwing him back.

"Didn't I warn you not to leave without permission?!" shouted Vegeta, who was floating in the air with a hand extended.

Yajirobe looked fear-struck as he gulped.

Meanwhile, Zarbon and Dodoria had recovered and had risen up to Vegeta's level.

Zarbon looked towards his partner. "Dodoria. Let me handle him from this point."

Dodoria was surprised. "Huh?"

Vegeta was standing with his arms crossed on his chest. He chuckled lightly. From what he had seen from the both of them up till this moment...he was confident that this fight won't last long

Zarbon smiled wickedly. "Vegeta. What you have seen of me up to now..your whole life..is nothing but a facade."

Vegeta raised an eyebrow.

"What you have seen was just the beauty...but now you are going to see the beast."

Vegeta's face adorned a serious look for a few seconds before he cackled with laughter. "Hahaha! What are you going to do? Make faces and hope for me to run away?"

Zarbon grinned. "Oh. How I hate to use this form. But sometimes it becomes a necessity."

Dodoria looked surprised as well. He never knew that Zarbon had another form despite having been with him for so many years. Or was he simply bluffing?

Zarbon turned towards Dodoria. "Dodoria. You go down there and deal with that fat friend of Vegeta's."

Dodoria nodded, grinning. Zarbon truly was seeming confident. Whatever the case, it was time for his favorite job...devouring the small fries..hehe.

The pink blob dashed downward towards Yajirobe.

Vegeta growled. "Not on my watch!" The prince too dashed in that direction, hoping to intercept Dodoria mid-way.

However, in a second, Zarbon's muscles bulged, his teeth turned into fangs and his face transformed into a hideous one.

Before Vegeta knew it, Zarbon's boot had collided with his cheek, sending him flying.

Meanwhile, Dodoria opened his mouth, aiming to fire a blast.

However, just as he was about to, someone had grabbed Yajirobe and flown to the side.

Dodoria had to fire the blast anyway since it was too late to hold back. It caused a huge explosion destroying the large boulder placed there into smithereens.

Dodoria turned his head to the side. He could see a short bald man on the ground with his arm around the fat man's shoulders.

Krillin winced with pain. He had barely been able to save Yajirobe from that blast. But the after-effect of the explosion had hurt the both of them.

Dodoria now prepared to charge at Krillin and Yajirobe.

However, suddenly, he felt someone slap him on the back of his head. Dodoria turned around but there was nobody there. It was followed by a slap on his right cheek causing his head to turn to the left. A hit to the chin followed. Next was a slap to the left cheek.

Dodoria growled with frustration. Finally, he managed to look at what was attacking him. It was a small ball of ki.

Dodoria opened his mouth wide and gobbled the ball up. But then, instead of dissipating, the ki ball exploded inside his mouth. The pink monster was furious. It was not that he was hurt much, but that felt and tasted horrible.

Yamcha was sweating as he could see his attack finally come to an end. He was standing far away from the pink monster but not so far that he couldn't see. He extended his hand and prepared to form another spirit ball attack.

It was then that Dodoria spotted him.

Yamcha sweatdropped before blasting away at full speed.

Yajirobe, meanwhile, had fallen unconscious. Krillin tried to shake him awake but it was of no use.

The bald fighter stood up. He could see that Dodoria was about to give Yamcha a chase.

Well, not on his watch. Krillin raised both of his hands and began to charge them with energy.

Meanwhile, an angry Vegeta had regained his footing. The prince was fuming with rage. But before he knew it Zarbon had crashed into him.

Vegeta gasped as Zarbon's knee collided with his lower abdomen.

Zarbon then clasped Vegeta's head and slammed it into the soil.

Next, the teal-skinned jumped upwards and fired a thick beam of energy down towards the ground.

Vegeta fired a ki wave below him so that he was propelled diagonally upwards, barely dodging Zarbon's attack in the process.

However, his voice was caught in his throat as suddenly he was elbowed in his lower back. Before he could recover Zarbon had kneed him in the stomach.

The teal-skinned monster then began to beat Vegeta like a rag-doll, showering him with heavy blows all over the body. "You know what..I used this very form to destroy your father as well! Oh how history repeats itself."

"Akgh!" Vegeta's forehead collided with Zarbon's. Zarbon then began to repeatedly collide Vegeta's forehead with his, causing the prince to bleed profusely.

Meanwhile, Dodoria ignited his aura and flew in the direction of Yamcha. However, just then a thick yellow beam of energy overtook him. Next, it took a U-turn and directly came towards him.

Dodoria smiled. Dodging this would be a piece of cake. However, before reaching him it split into multiple smaller beams which came at him from up, below, left, right and centre. He barely put up a defense as they collided with his form.

A cloud of smoke was thrown up.

This was their chance. Krillin grabbed the unconscious Yajirobe and blasted off in the direction Yamcha had went.

...

Zarbon pulled back his fist and crashed it into Vegeta's jaw. Next, he hit him downwards with a haymaker.

With a loud crash, Vegeta collided with the edge of the island, forming a deep crater. Soon, the crater made connection with the ocean, causing it to become filled with sea-water.

Zarbon floated in the air, carefully looking downwards. He doubted Vegeta was surviving that. The prince not getting to the surface and no apparent movement under-water assured him further... Vegeta was dead.

Meanwhile, the cloud of smoke surrounding Dodoria had cleared. The pink alien was grinning, anticipating the shocked looks he was going to receive for being unhurt. However, there was no one there.

They had gotten away!

"Dodoria!" called out Zarbon who had now transformed back into his normal appearance. "After them!"

Dodoria nodded before blasting away.

...

Krillin and Yamcha were flying side by side. Yamcha was the one now holding on to Yajirobe, Krillin having taken some damage by Dodoria's attack earlier.

Suddenly, they could feel somebody coming behind them.

"Oh man!" exclaimed Yamcha. "We have got to be faster."

Krillin looked behind him. He could see Dodoria coming at them with a grin. 'Why would you have to look?' Krillin scolded himself. 'Just keep going.'

Dodoria than extended his hand forward and fired a beam of energy.

Yamcha shouted. "Watch out!"

Dodoria fired a second beam from his other hand.

Krillin barely dodged. However, the second attack was coming towards Yamcha.

Yamcha gritted his teeth. He tried to dodge but the beam still grazed his shoulder. "Argh!" Yamcha winced with pain as he dropped Yajirobe.

Both Krillin and Yamcha stopped in their tracks as they saw Yajirobe fall towards the sea. However, the fat man was caught by the teal-skinned alien.

"No!" Krillin exclaimed. Before he and Yamcha could react however, Dodoria was upon them. The pink alien had his arms stretched away from his side like an aeroplane and with them, he hit the mid-sections of both Krillin and Yamcha.

Blood was sent flying out of both of their mouths and they were sent crashing into a rock formation on the nearby land.

Dodoria snickered. Hs then raised both his hands into the air, charging them with energy. With a grunt he fired his attack.

.

"Masenko Ha!"

DISHOO!

Dodoria's attack was forced to detonate mid-way due to a yellow beam of energy colliding with it.

The pink blob confusedly looked around.

BAM!

Dodoria was flung to the side due to a kick colliding with his temple.

Gohan growled angrily as he eyed Dodoria.

Zarbon was watching the boy with interest. What was he seeing? ..A tail?

Dodoria too looked taken aback as he rubbed his temple.

Gohan immediately raised his hands to his forehead. "Masenko...HA!" Another beam of ki shot forwards from his hands.

Dodoria grinned before, with a mighty yell, he punched at the beam, deflecting it to the side.

Gohan stood shaking with his arms outstretched. 'Oh no. What am I gonna do now?'

Dodoria then extended his hand towards Gohan. "This is how it's done." A pink beam of energy shot towards the boy.

Gohan's mouth dropped open. However, just in the nick of time, somebody had grabbed his leg and pulled him downwards, out of harm's way.

The boy was pulled all the way down towards the ground. Gohan looked with gratitude towards his saviour. "Thanks, Yamcha!"

Yamcha managed a smile, although blood leaked from multiple cuts across his body. "No problem, kid. But next time...don't be lazy to dodge, okay?"

Gohan nodded seriously.

Zarbon smirked. "This boy.. he's a Saiyan. Aighn't he?"

Dodoria observed Gohan carefully. "I think you are right, Zarbon. Lord Frieza would be so pleased to meet him."

Zarbon chuckled.

Dodoria then began to slowly descend towards where Gohan and Yamcha stood. The boy was standing in his place, firm in determination and shaking with anger while the scar-faced fighter stood panting and didn't look in the condition to fight. Yamcha looked at Gohan. 'Does he have no idea that he doesn't stand a chance in this fight?'

Gohan gritted his teeth. He didn't know what he could do against the pink blob but he would try.

However, slowly flying, Krillin had made his way in front of Dodoria now. The turtle-school fighter was grinning despite his injuries.

Yamcha was puzzled. "What's he doing?" 'Could he be?'

Dodoria was confused. With a scowl he pulled back his fist.

Yamcha immediately put his hands over Gohan's eyes and shut his eyes as well.

'Take this, baby,' Krillin thought. "SOLAR FLARE!"

A striking white light filled the entire area.

Dodoria was affected head on. It took his body a moment to register the pain before he howled in agony, holding his eyes.

Zarbon too was affected. He buried his face in his elbow but still held Yajirobe with his other hand.

Krillin looked towards Gohan and Yamcha. "This is our chance! Come one! Go!"

Soon, all three of Gohan, Krillin and Yamcha had blasted away.

One minute later...

Slowly, the pain subsided enough for Zarbon to open his eyes. He saw around him. Those punks! They had got away.

Dodoria was still finding it hard to keep his eyes open.

Zarbon looked around him. 'Where would they go?' He knew that without knowing the direction they had went in, finding them on this planet would be like trying to find a needle in a hay-stack. If only their scouters had been intact..

Dodoria too had now recovered. He was fuming. With a grunt, he shot a mouth-beam in front of him. It went on for some distance before disappearing from view.

"It's no use, Dodoria," said Zarbon. "Let's head back to the ship. We can find them through the scouter then."

Dodoria was growling. But he knew that what Zarbon said was true.

Zarbon held Yajirobe under his arm. The teal-skinned alien spoke. "I guess we can make fatty talk after getting him healed in the ship. We need to know how and when Vegeta got his hands on so much money."

Dodoria nodded.

Soon both the henchmen had blasted off back in the direction of their spaceship.

Goku and Tien walked towards the edge of Wami's place, preparing to leave when suddenly a helicopter arrived there.

Both of them were puzzled before they sensed the energy of the driver.

Goku grinned. "Master Roshi!"

Soon, Master Roshi had landed and hopped out. However, the old man didn't look jolly at all. "Goku..Tien..are you two headed anywhere?"

Goku nodded. "Yes. We are headed to the planet Namek."

Master Roshi immediately turned blue in the face. "DON'T GO!"

Goku's mouth dropped open.

Wami and Korin looked confused as well.

Tien furrowed his brows. "What's the matter, Master Roshi?"

"I had... a dream last night..and it was so terrible that I can't even tell you.."

Tien gritted his teeth.

The old man continued. "And...it did involve the planet known as Namek."

Goku was truly puzzled. Now what to do?

Korin scoffed. "Oh come on, Roshi. Why so much fuss about just a dream?"

Roshi looked totally serious. "Many of my dreams have come true in the past as well. That's why.. I beg the both of you. Please...don't go.."

Tien was shaking with fury, his teeth gritted. He too had some terrible dreams in the hyperbolic time chamber but he had mostly dismissed them off his mind.

Wami was observing the matter with silence. Finally, he spoke. "Running away from destiny is futile."

Everybody turned to look at the old Namekian.

Wami continued. "If death is written for you at a particular place and time, there is simply no way of escaping it. Taking precautions is a good thing to do but one must not leave what is right because of them. Go to Namek and put your trust in God..."

Goku nodded. He felt the same. "I will, Wami."

Tien looked down. "Yeah."

Master Roshi's brow twitched but he had no answer to what Wami had just said.

Wami continued. "Shall I tell you a story if you please..?"

Everybody remained silent before Goku nodded. "Sure."

Wami cleared his throat. "Ahem. There was once a man who was feeling overly anxious in his home-town Bokara. One day when he was roaming the streets, he came upon a person..seeing whom he was immediately terrified. The person looked totally surprised to see him as well. The man immediately rushed to his home, panicking. He knew in his heart that the person he had seen was the angel of death. So the very day, he went with the fastest available caravan to a far-away city, Somaro. Five days later, he arrived at his destination. However, there, he found the same person waiting for him at the doorstep. The angel of death, collected the man's soul, following which he dropped dead."

All the people were listening silently.

"You know why the angel of death was truly surprised when he saw him the first time?"

Goku shook his head as a 'no'.

"It was because he had been appointed to collect his soul in Somaro in the coming week and so was surprised to see him roaming the streets in Bokara."

"Whoa," said Master Roshi.

"While I am not entirely certain about the authenticity of this incident, the one true thing that we learn from it is: there is no escaping death. Therefore, it is best to spend your life doing righteous deeds and being obedient to God so that atleast you can live in eternal peace and happiness after that."

Master Roshi ran his hand through his beard. "Hmm. That's some deep stuff there. You listening, Goku?"

Goku nodded. "Yes, Master Roshi."

Tien punched his palm. "It's settled then. We are going to Namek. PTO will not even know what hit them!"

Wami smiled. "That's the spirit!"

Korin was still looking apprehensive about the whole matter. However, he did not dare to speak. He didn't want to be preached by any of them. Never had he thought that his demand to have Yajirobe rescued was going to snowball into something this big...they were going to clash with the strongest known empire in the galaxy...!

To be continued...

Author's note: Powerlevels:

Cui: 17,000

Dodoria: 21,000

Zarbon: 23,000

Vegeta (full power): 24,500

Zarbon (transformed): 35,000

Krillin: 5,800

Krillin (Scatter shot): 7,020

Yamcha: 5,600

Yamcha (Spirit Ball): 7,000

Gohan: 6,200

Gohan (enraged): 18,500

Gohan (Masenko): 20,500

Goku: ?

Tien: ?

Frieza: ?

I know powerlevels here are not as neat as some other fics out there but here in this fic I try to let the story flow and only later I try to make the powerlevels fit in, rather than the other way around.

Good habit no. 1: Not to be too much upset in times of hardship

God says:

"Did We not expand for you, [O Messenger], your breast?

And We removed from you your burden

Which had weighed upon your back

And raised high for you your repute.

For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease

Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.

So when you have finished [your duties], then stand up [for worship].

And to your Lord direct [your] longing."

Indeed God Almighty has spoken the truth.