Chapter Four

In the distance, the Z Fighters were strategically planning their attack. They knew they couldn't just waltz right up to Frieza and fight—he was too cunning for that. The best plan of attack was to survey Frieza's soldiers and situation, with the best case scenario being a surprise attack from all sides. But they didn't want to be detected. Keeping under the cover of the mountains and canyons was essential to beating Frieza.

But as soon as they crested a rocky hill, it seemed they were not alone. Another power surged amidst Frieza and King Cold, one that was unfamiliar to all of the Z Fighters, but also one that seemed to oppose the alien monster and his father.

"What is that?" Gohan asked the others. Incredulously, they kept searching for the mysterious ki. None of them knew it, but how could that be? Was it another alien coming to Earth to avenge their own grievances against Frieza? Perhaps it was a friend Goku had made along the way?

A plume of smoke came from the sky. The Z Fighters looked up and watched in disbelief. Thinking it might be Goku, Krillin lunged forward toward the battlefield. Before his feet left the ground, Vegeta grabbed him by the arm.

"What are you doing?!" He barked.

Krillin whipped around to meet Vegeta's gaze when he was flung on the ground by the Saiyan prince. Tien, Yamcha and Gohan quickly closed in on Vegeta while Piccolo looked on.

"What are you doing?!" Krillin retorted. "Whose side are you on?"

"Unfortunately, I am on yours!" Vegeta scowled. "If you go flying in there, Frieza will know where we are. And whoever that power is with Frieza and his father is far superior than theirs. If it's not Kakarot, it's likely someone none of us know. We do not understand whether this is an ally or an enemy, and if it's an enemy, the element of surprise will do us good there as well."

Krillin sunk into the ground. Vegeta was right. As much as he hated to admit it, Vegeta was a skilled tactician, and he did know Frieza better than any of them. He dusted himself off and got back on his feet.

"So what do you think we should do?" He asked the Saiyan.

"Wait," Vegeta responded. "We have to understand exactly what we're dealing with."

A young Bulma stood some distance behind the group of fighters. She had come with them to watch the fight and get a look at Frieza—she never had the chance when she was on Namek. The tension was growing between the men and she was unsure what she could do.

"It just has to be Goku," she said. "I just know it's him! He always manages to come just at the right time and—"

"Shut up!" Vegeta barked. "This isn't Kakarot we're dealing with! And if that power we're feeling is any indication, we most certainly should hope whoever this warrior is that he's on our side. Now, woman, stop being so stupid and quiet down while I think!"

Stunned, she stepped back. She was a lot of things, but she was most certainly not stupid. Not that she expected Vegeta, of all people, to be nice to her. In fact, since he arrived on Earth he had been nothing but a royal pain. But she had secretly hoped that he knew how smart she was and saw her talents. Wasn't it she and her father who built him that spaceship? Wasn't it she who built the dragon radar?

"Hey!" Yamcha interjected. "She's not stupid!"

Bulma beamed at him. Sometimes he could be uncaring and thoughtless, but underneath it all Yamcha was a good man who cared for her deeply. Sticking up for her against Vegeta was a greater compliment than he could possibly know.

"So you think I'm smart?" She smiled at him.

"Well," he paused. "I guess you're as smart as you can be, being a girl and all."

She was sick of all the boys treating her like some sort of second class citizen because she was a girl. Sure, she wasn't strong like them, but she had her own talents that helped them save the world countless times over. Without her, none of them would've come this far. She was a facilitator in many of their adventures, and while she couldn't fight herself it was she who came to their rescue whenever they needed it.

"This is no time for this pointless drivel!" Vegeta hissed. "We need a plan of attack."

He surveyed the power, turning his thoughts over like a stone in his hand. Who was this man? What were they doing here? Why were they challenging Frieza like this? He had to know. He had to be sure it wasn't Kakarot, because if it was, his power had grown so strong his energy was now foreign to him. Coming to Earth was a way for Vegeta to challenge Kakarot, and if this is how strong he was now, Vegeta was in for unwanted surprise.

Gritting his teeth, he took off toward the smoke. He was going to take matters into his own hands. The others took off in hot pursuit, leaving Bulma and Puar waiting behind.

"Wait!" She shouted after them. "Wait for me!"

But the Z Fighters were long gone. Just like that, they had forgotten about her, discarded her like she was insignificant. It wasn't even like they left her because it was unsafe. No, they left her out of thoughtlessness.

They were always treating her like that. They only needed her when they needed her. They never accepted that she might be of use to them right away. They left her behind when it was convenient, and why? Because she was a girl.

"Well I'll show them what this girl can do," she shouted, placing her hands confidently on her hips. She grabbed Puar and took off running behind them.