"Why does she keep doing this?" Veltro groaned mostly to himself but he wouldn't mind Dronare's advice either.

"For someone who thinks she's bad-" Dronare began but Veltro cut him off

"She's not bad." Veltro said with certainty, he knew what bad looked like, even if Veroca didn't think he did.

"I was just going to say, she spends a lot of time trying to save people at her own expense." Dronare gave Veltro a look, Veltro looked away from Dronare to the sky toward V.

"Yeah." Veltro didn't know what else to say, Dronare already knew how he felt, words weren't really necessary between them like Gohan and V Veltro thought sadly she's not gonna stay here, not now that she has him Veltro cast a quick glance at Gohan only to find his innocent but determined eyes staring back at him.

"You really think we should be charging head first into something like this?" Krillin asked Gohan.

"We have to help V." Gohan said simply still watching Veltro I'm a fighter too Gohan thought, that's what V liked about Veltro, right? I'm part Saiyan

"Maybe you should just let V do what she wants, huh?" Krillin tried to sway Gohan but even before he began he could see that Gohan wasn't going to change his mind for anything, still, he had to try. "I mean, maybe she's got a good reason for going off alone?"

"No, she's going to get herself killed because she's so afraid of getting someone else hurt." Gohan looked at Krillin "why don't you like her?"

"She keeps putting you in danger." Krillin admitted "you're my best friend's son, I'm practically your uncle."

"Then you're V's uncle too." Gohan reasoned "Dad was the one to say she could be his daughter, Dad brought her into our family and you know what, Krillin, she was meant to come to Earth, and dad and I were meant to find her."

"You can't really believe that whole bonding thing, can you?" Krillin rolled his eyes.

"we believe in magic orbs with a dragon that comes out and grants us a wish." Gohan pointed out "in Kais that train people like my dad to wish them back to life and save the earth." Gohan reasoned again "an alien guardian of the Earth and we just traveled six months across the galaxy to get to a planet to find more magic orbs with another magic dragon."

"Well… that's…" Krillin stumbled over his words "that's not… the same."

"Why not?" Gohan demanded. Dronare smiled, how could an Earthling understand?

"Gohan." Dronare called "there's no way for him to understand, unless they feel the bond, there is no way for them to possibly understand."

"Please don't give him anymore ideas on this whole bonding thing." Krillin sighed, the whole thing was ridiculous, right? About as ridiculous as magic orbs and wish granting dragons? Krillin thought he was open minded but maybe he had just known about the dragon balls so long now, they weren't legend to him, they were just fact. They were as real as the sun. Aliens were just people, evil demon alien kings sometimes tried to take over the world and his alien best friend had to be the one to save it man, maybe I'm not open-minded after all Krillin thought maybe I'm just too used to some things.

"There." Gohan landed leading everyone to the ground, Veltro only followed with prodding from Dronare.

"where?" Dronare tried to sense V out but she was masking her energy. Gohan followed the ever so slight tug. "this way." Gohan inched forward, he got a sense of stealth. He could sense the big power levels, they felt dark and mucky but he didn't see them yet.

I have to do something

Gohan caught the thought as if he were walking in on a conversation.

V, where are you Gohan had never intentionally tried to talk to V like this before but if Dronare could do it with Veltro, maybe he could do it with V.

Go away V snapped at him, Gohan actually staggered back into Dronare.

"she has every strong mental abilities." Dronare chuckled "she yells even when she doesn't mean to." Dronare paused and glanced at Veltro, he could feel the evil energies from these people. Go home, Veltro

What, why? Veltro's face screamed shock but neither Gohan nor Krillin knew what from.

Go home, now, don't argue with me Dronare gave Veltro a look.

no, she needs help Veltro thought.

You're not strong enough, you're not ready Dronare grit his teeth you ignore me about far too many things Dronare grabbed Veltro's arm this will not be one of them

Veltro set his jaw and narrowed his eyes at Dronare I won't leave her Veltro pulled his arm away and pushed ahead of the others, he felt V's energy now.

"Veltro, wait." Gohan tried to stop him but Veltro already had his mind set.

"you wait." Veltro snapped you and Veroca aren't bonded Veltro thought angrily she was my friend first.

"Veroca, I'm here!" Veltro leapt out from behind the boulder. V whirled around, horror etched on her face as the aliens she was watching turned and saw him.

"No!" V screamed, she didn't have to look to know what was happening behind her. V knew him.

The purple and white animal lifted his finger toward Veltro.

"how cute, we've got a hero." The alien smiled as the energy beam formed on his finger. V rocketed herself into the air and tackled Veltro. The beam nicked her arm and sent them into spiral toward the ground.

"Veltro!" Dronare rushed toward the two kids stuck in the hole.

"Why would you do that?" V demanded of Veltro "they didn'y know I was there, I had the perfect element of surprise."

"I didn't want you to be alone." Veltro said in a small voice, he was used to her nonsencscial anger, the anger she just seemed to carry around and aim at anyone that got within range, but V had never been angry at him before.

"Are you okay?" Dronare pulled Veltro out of the crater and looked him over.

"V, are you okay?" Gohan noticed the little wafts of smoke coming from V;s side.

"I'm fine." V side but Gohan ignored her and turned her around "you got hit." Gohan winced at the hole in V's side. "oh man, I wish dad were here." Gohan wasn't squeamish, how could he be? He'd seen too muc already but he'd be lying if seeing V hurt didn't bother him more than any death he' ever seen, maybe even more than Piccolo, maybe even more than his dad maybe we really are bonded Gohan thought.

"No time for this." V pushed his hands away "I have to go down there, fix this, you guys go, get a head start at least.

"I'm not leaving you." Gohan and Veltro said at the same time.

"I know Veroca is your friend, Veltro." Sorrow filled Dronare's eyes "but you were my son before she was your friend." Dronare gave Veltro a powerful, efficient chop to the neck and Veltro fell into Dronare's arms.

"Veroca, I offer my help still, but I have to get him out of here, he's not ready for this.

"He's more ready than you think." V assured him "but now's not the time to prove it." V nudged Gohan toward him.

"please Gohan, you need to make sure nothing happens to them." V looked Gohan in the eye, there wasn't anything V needed Gohan to do with them, not really but she couldn't let him know about Gohan, saiyan blood was just too precious.

"Did I see a familiar monkey tailed little girl up there?" The purple and white alien called out, it would have been a teasing tone for anyone else but in his voice it was as menacing as ever.

"Please, Gohan, if you're here he can hurt me, if you're not then he has nothing." V pleaded. Gohan felt V's desperation, she wanted him anywhere but there with her.

"Okay." Gohan gave in, V was tough, she could handle pain, but it wouldn't take genius to figure out Gohan's pain tolerance wasn't quite so padded and V's ability to watch was even less.

"keep him safe." V ordered. Gohan nodded but after a second he realized, she wasn't talking to him.

Dronare gathered Veltro up in his arms and nodded toward Gohan "lets go."

"I'm staying here with you." Krillin said eyeing V suspiciously. "that guys power level is insane." Krillin hissed at her "and you expect me to believe you're going to figure this out all by yourself, no, something is up." V wanted to be angry with him, furious that he kept doubting her, but then again, she kept doubting herself. Why should he trust her?

"I promised dad I'd bring both of you home safely." V grit her teeth why can't he just let me save him "you don't have to like me." V said "but I promised and you're going to get yourself killed if you try to take any of them on." V pointed toward the group of aliens.

"and you can?" Krillin challenged. V sighed and stepped back in full view of the aliens.

"Veroca, Vegeta's pet." The purple and white alien practically purred "how good to see you again."

"It's good to be back, Frieza." V said while looking Krillin in the eye.

"

"Veroca, Vegeta's pet." The purple and white alien practically purred "how good to see you again."

"It's good to be back, Frieza." V said while looking Krillin in the eye.

"you-you know them?" Krillin stuttered. "you know him?" Krillin demanded.

"Go now." V ordered flying down to the aliens.

"Oh, look at that." Frieaza chuckled "thise idiots finally taught you to fly." Frieaza laughed appraising V "you look much bigger now too, did they teach you to fight as well?"

"No." V said "I taught myself and I killed Raditz and Nappa right after." V said putting as much malice as she could into her words, she needed him to believe them.

"Oh my, what a vengeful little monkey you are." Frieza inched toward her, looking her up and down could she really have gotten that much stronger? Frieza wondered.

"Dodoria." Frieza snapped his tail against the ground "test her." Dodoria moved in, V swallowed hard, she should have expected as much, why would he believe she had gotten so strong, he couldn't understand why she had to, he couldn't understand her reasons for doing so.

"Well, aren't you just all grown up?" Dodoria laughed and launched himself at her. V felt the energy in the air, the vibrations of his energy rippled through the air and V's body reacted before she told it to. Dodoria looked at V, almost impressed and laughed "well, she's not kidding." Dodoria laughed "Nappa sure isn't that fast."

"well well." A smile crawled across Frieza's lips "I always said you could be put to more use than a mere punching bag. All the strength and ability of a saiyan and any other strength and ability I want to give you." Frieza smirked "he was afraid you'd surpass him, that's why he didn't want to train you."

V swallowed hard and tried to keep from trembling, Frieza's energy was overwhelming, it felt like a brick wall pressing against her from both sides. "really?" V asked genuinely curious of Frieza's thoughts of her. Frieza hovered over to V in his throne and patted her head "I know talent when I see it, child, and your potential is unmatched." Frieza smiled strangely, V's stomach churned at the thought of being trapped under another being.

"Why don't you join us, V, we were just interrogating a these villagers." Frieaza moved to the side to showcase his handy work. V's heart dropped into her stomach at the sight of people she knew on the ground, dead. V's hands clenched into fists and she grit her teeth control yourself V ordered herself. Just for a little bit longer. V scanned over the bodies please don't have gotten Nail V thought please not Guru V looked at each face because she someone needed to know they were dead. V had wondered often, if she were to get killed, who would miss her? It would be like she never existed, like nothing she endured mattered, as if not even in the slightest bit, she mattered. Was she a mistake by the universe, did the universe even think she was important.

"not even a wince." Frieza mistook her acknowledgment of the bodies as the same cold blooded thirst he had often seen from Vegeta. "I think you'll make an excellent soldier, with a little more training." Frieza turned around "now, come, we still need to get what we came for." Dodoria, Zarbon and V followed after Frieza to an older Namekian with two younger ones holding onto his ankles. All three Namekians were surrounded by Frieza's men.

"Please, just let the boys go." The older Namekian pleaded looking worn.

"interesting request considering you have yet to fulfill mine." Frieza snapped his tail against the ground. V didn't recognize the older Namekian, at least not by name, but one of the children clinging to his leg, V recognized immediately.

"Dende." V gasped just above a whisper.

"It's rude to interrupt me while I'm trying to talk to this nice gentleman." Frieza slid his eyes toward V. V gulped and bowed her head "I'm sorry." She said, Dende's eyes found V's. simultaneously they linked their thoughts.

What are you doing with them? Dende asked giving her the benefit of the doubt.

Trying to save Veltro and Dronare. V summed up as quickly as possible and you guys now too V searched for something anything that would get them out of this but there was nothing, there was never anything you could do against Frieza. The only weapon one had against Frieaza was his lack of knowledge of your existence.

Dronare and Veltro are okay! Dende exclaimed in her head. V resisted the urge to hold her head

Yes, but Veltro almost got himself killed before, so I sent him and Dronare away, to find a safer place.

I'm glad you did, Dronare needs to be alive, he's hidden the dragon ball from his village, he's been trying to get to each of the villages to recover the dragon balls before these men can get them.

So he knows where all of the villages are and where they keep the dragon ball? V asked

Yes, next to Guru, Dronare knows the most about the dragon balls. Dende tried to look innocent as he spoke to V, whatever she was planning, he didn't want to be the reason it failed.

"you're awfully quiet there." Frieza's eyes slid toward Dende as if Frieza had heard his thoughts. Dende swallowed hard.

"he's the weakest." V interjected "he's trying not to be noticed." V used Vegeta's bored face and crossed her arms, her tail swished back and forth and she turned to Frieza.

"They won't talk." V said without batting an eye at her lie. Dende actually had gotten a lot stronger since she'd last seen him but there was a different kind of energy coming from him.

"Oh, Veroca." Frieza chortled "is that what Vegeta taught you?" Frieza turned sharp eyes on the Nameks "everyone has a breaking point." Frieza lifted his finger and aimed at the Nameks.

"don't!" V exclaimed before she could stop herself. Frieza slid his eyes toward V "are you sure you have the stomach for this, Veroca?" it wasn't a question, it was a challenge, V set her jaw "yes." V lied, she didn't have the stomach for this, she never did. Not even when she thought it was the way she was supposed to be.

"But I know their race, the dragon balls are their most sacred objects, they'll all die before they let someone else have it." V slid a bored look toward Dende and the others.

"Interesting theory." Frieza mused "I supposed it wouldn't do any good to kill you all if I don't get my information." V sighed internally

"however, this kind of disregard for my authority." Frieza tsked "I'm afraid that alone is a call for death." Frieza's eye glinted and he pointed his finger outward, V barely had the chance to blink before the purple beam shot out from Frieza's finger and hit the small Namekian boy.

"No…" V breathed, just under a whisper. Dende and the older Namek gasped in horror.

"you…you monster." The older Namekian stammered "he was just a boy."

"I guess you'll have to ask your dragon to bring him back to life now." Frieza smirked "why don't we help each other out now."

"I'll never give the dragon balls to you." The older Namek glared at Frieza "no one here will give you what you want." He fell to his knees "just do what you're going to do to me." The older Namek looked at the ground. V felt the telepathic connection when he began speaking to Dende run when I tell you

"so sorry to hear that." Frieza sighed "but an example must be made." He raised his finger again. Dende loosened his grip on the older Namek and the older Namek gathered his energy. V tried to figure out a way to help, but what could she do?

"Don't worry, you're friends will follow you shortly." Frieza snickered "one by one." The older Namek leapt from the ground "run, Dende!" he shouted shooting out finger beams. The beams hit the scouter on Frieza, Dodoria and Zarbon's faces. Dende ran, V wanted to scream at how slow he was going, doesn't he understand who he's running from.

Frieza frowned, his finger twitched and V knew what he was doing. Frieza was ruthless in every sense of the word, there was simply no good in him to redeem. Frieza ahted when someone took him by surprise and when someone did they cost was their life. V watched Dende desperately try to out run his fate, in this case, frieza would take the life the older Namek was triyng to protect.

"fool." He spat annoyed, Frieza can't sense energy! V suddenly realized. V gathered her energy, almost scooping energy out of the air as she lunged forward. Dende glanced over his shoulder in time to see Frieza's death beam.

"I got him!" V yelled stepping right in front of Frieza's hand.

"you idiot!" Even Frieza was taken aback by V's seemingly idiotic move.

"Hurry, Krillin!" V heard Gohan's voice

I told you to get out of here V threw the thought at him with all the anger she felt, it was that easy, just don't put yourself in harms way. The beam pierced V's shoulder.

V! Gohan screamed at her, worried that he had made the wrong move.

I'm fine V sent the thought to him. she grabbed her shoulder and fell to her knees.

"I'm sorry!" she blurted like she had done so often with Vegeta and Nappa and Raditz. Frieza sighed, mildly annoyed.

"then fix it." He growled snapping his tail against the ground like a whip.

"Yes, sir." V leapt from the ground, her shoulder aching, her blood slipping out. She felt a little woozy but she'd be fine. V blasted off toward Gohan as he flew away, she only used a quarter of her speed, she wanted to keep a fair distance behind them.

Dodge on your right V told Gohan. Gohan pulled Krillin to the left just as V threw a blast, it exploded beside Gohan, Krillin and Dende but they were unscathed.

"What's she doing?" Krillin snapped, he just knew she wasn't good guy material.

"Not now, Krillin." Gohan snapped "just fly."

Fly down. V ordered throwing another blast. Gohan grabbed Krillin and pulled him down.

"Gohan, tell me you see now." Krillin snapped at him

Tell Krillin to do the solar flare at me V ordered

"Krillin, solar flare." Gohan ordered following V's directions without hesitation.

"What?" Krillin asked.

"Now, Krillin!" Gohan grabbed Dende from Krillin and flew ahead. Krillin turned and brought his fingers to his head, he met V's eyes

I knew you were bad Krillin threw the thought at her. V ignored him and stared right into Krillin's eyes

Why isn't she going faster? Krillin pushed the thought away "Solar flare!" he yelled. Light filled the air. V clenched her teeth together and threw her hands up to cover her eyes.

I could finish her right now Krillin thought Gohan would get over it, he couldn't possible still think she was good

V hovered in the air trying to recover her sight, Krillin gathered the energy in his hand just one destructo disc and I don't have to wait for her to double cross us. The disc formed in Krillin palm.

I could end this right now Krillin gathered more energy, the disc expanded and he locked his eyes on V.