Freeza's Ship, Namek
December 21, A762

The whole vessel shook.

"Damage report!" Lemo ordered.

"There's been a boarding breech on Deck 7! We have intruders! They're too much! They're Sai-AUGH!"

"Commander, we can't hold them! We're gonna get slaughtered! What are your instructions?" a second voice called out. Lemo flipped through the security feeds. Appul was getting his head roasted off by a familiar face. Lemo wasn't sure if he should be thrilled or terrified.

He looked down at the Dragon Balls secured on the bridge with him. If he didn't cooperate, Gine would probably kill him. At worst, she'd take the Dragon Balls and leave him alive, and Freeza would certainly kill him. If he handed them over, Freeza would also probably kill him.

Lemo did the math. He brought up the security commands for the Demsu holding pens, and released them, sending the 'General Slaughter' order to the beasts when he did. He set the ship to self-destruct, stuffed the Dragon Balls into a bag he'd prepared for exactly this kind of situation. The four Dragon Balls, together, were almost as big as he was, but he was determined to reach the Demsu pens before Gine and her companions reached him. While Freeza's soldiers were free game, the Demsu would not touch the man who had trained and raised them, shown them kindness where their handlers were only cruel.

"You good for another run, Fleur?" Lemo asked the biggest Demsu on the ship. The yellow and purple-spotted Demsu looked at him with a tired look. She glanced down to the purple egg she was curled up next to.

"Don't worry, we'll take it with us," he said, tossing a saddle over her. She obediently stood, letting Lemo clip it on snugly. Lemo stuffed the egg carefully into a case, and put it into the saddle bags. He just strapped the Dragon Balls to Fleur's tail; he assumed they'd be fine. Lemo climbed up his old friend, held the reins, and mashed a button to open the rear door.

"Commander Lemo! The Demsu have escaped!" a soldier called out after him. A trio of the beasts leaped upon him, tore him to pieces, and followed Fleur and Lemo off the ship. As if sensing the ship's destruction, Lemo watched as dozens of Demsu hopped off the vessel, some still holding hapless soldiers in their mouths. He watched as three figures flew out of the vessel, which exploded immediately after.

Lemo spurred Fleur on faster, and they rode for quite some time. Lemo pulled off his scouter, not wanting to know the actual time. He just enjoyed the cool, moist air of Namek, and the sun warming his skin. He relaxed as Fleur rode on; Namek reminded him of the last strips of land of his homeworld that weren't covered in cities. He'd spent his entire savings to visit one, once. It had been the reason he'd joined the Freeza Force, to find new worlds that were just like that, even if for a while. Nudal now had cities on it, but it was still mostly fresh.

If he survived Namek, he was going to retire there, he decided. He'd start a ranch, and reintroduce the Demsu.

"Let's pull in here," Lemo instructed, and Fleur found a nice thicket of trees to nestle under. While Lemo did pull his legs out of the saddle, he just turned and remained on her back, pulling out a couple ration bars. He unwrapped one, and dropped it straight into Fleur's mouth. He opened and bit into the second, enjoying the sunset of Namek's second sun, and the rise of its third. He glared at the other three Demsu that had followed him.

"No! Go hunt your own food, this is all I have!" Lemo said. Despite his order, he pulled three bits off his ration bar, and threw them at the beasts. Satisfied, the Demsu took off to find their own food and lodgings.

"Lemo?" he heard Gine call out. Lemo stuffed the rest of the ration bar into his mouth, and downed it with his canteen.

"Hey, Gine. Haven't seen you in a long time," Lemo said, "Want some water?"

"No, I'm good," Gine said, "I didn't expect to see you here, Chief."

"Commander, actually, as of this morning. Afternoon? I can't tell," Lemo shook his head, "It's all crap, Gine. I'm sick of it."

"Well, it looks like you've got a friend," Gine chuckled.

"How's the brat?" Lemo asked.

"Brussa is a ball of energy. Fights like a monster. Eats like one, too," Gine said.

"I figured."

"Oh, this is my grandson, Gohan!" Gine beckoned over to the boy. A young Saiyan boy with long, black hair walked around the corner, "Gohan, this is Lemo. He's an old friend of mine. He's the reason Brussa and I survived childbirth!"

"Hello, Mister Lemo," Gohan bowed. Lemo nodded to him.

"It's good to meet you, Gohan. And who's your other friend there?" Lemo gestured to the Namekian.

"My name is Elder Moori, of Namek. And you have our Dragon Balls," Moori gestured.

"So I do, and lucky for you, it's first-come, first-serve, too," Lemo slid down Fleur's back and took another drink of water, "By the way, this is Fleur. She's an old friend from Nudal. We've been together for over twelve years now. Raised her from a pup."

"Hi, Fleur!" Gohan approached. She slow-blinked at Gohan, and he started to pet her belly. Lemo almost reached out to stop him, but saw Fleur's passive reaction, and stopped.

"Well I'll be. Normally she eats anyone that approaches who isn't me. Your grandson's something special, Gine," Lemo said, rolling the Dragon Balls out of their bag.

"I'll say. I reunited with his father, Kakarot, about a month ago. It was...Well, we'll say awkward, at first, but...Lemo, you'd love Earth. It's so beautiful and lucious. I love it there," Gine sighed.

"Yeah? I'll have to visit, then. You don't mind pets, do you?" Lemo chuckled, gesturing to Fleur as he rolled the balls over to Moori.

"Not at all!" Gine laughed. Their ship landed behind Moori, and the ramp lowered. Chi Chi tossed the three Dragon Balls to Moori, who caught each and carefully placed them next to the ones Lemo had given them. Lemo took another drink.

"Do you mind if I stick around and watch? I've been wondering what all this fuss was about," Lemo said. Moori scoffed.

"The destruction of my world is 'fuss' to you?"

Lemo shook his head, "Sorry, I don't mean to be insensitive. I've, uh...Well, let's just say being part of this kind of destruction has...Left a toll on me. I want nothing more than to see Namek restored."

Moori gave a grunt, and raised his hands, and shouted, "Takkaraput pop Porunga pupiritt paro!"

The sky turned black, and the Dragon Balls began to glow. With an explosion of light, the giant, snakelike dragon that was Porunga appeared in the sky.

"Oh, wow! I can't believe it! It's so massive!" Gine gasped, "I never...I never thought…"

Moori continued in Namekian, "Porunga! For our first wish! Bring back the Namekian, known to Earthlings as Piccolo!"

"Your wish is simple; I have granted it!" Porunga declared. Thought its spoken words were in Namekian, all who could hear it understood the phrase in their heads in their chosen tongue.

"For our second wish! The Namekian Piccolo wishes to be brought to Namek, so as to fight the tyrant Freeza!"

"This, too, is simple, and has been granted."

Moori hesitated; a lot could change with the third wish. He thought of Vegeta's request, and of all the Saiyans who had arrived. Bringing Piccolo to Namek was foolish, but he could act fast, and recover the Earth's Dragon Balls before anything happened. He glanced to Gine. While he sensed she had a true heart filled with good, he knew there was still darkness within her. There had been darkness within Vegeta, and within two of the Saiyans who had rescued him from the Ginyu Force. And the Ginyu Force had their own Saiyan.

He thought of the story of the Super Saiyan, and how fearful Guru was of an evil being with that kind of power.

Moori decided.

"Porunga! With our third wish, bring all people, either living or slain at the hands of Freeza and his minions, to the planet Earth, except those who worked for Freeza, or wish to remain here and fight!" Moori declared.

"A strange wish. But, for the Namekian people, I will do this."

Lemo heard a voice in his head: Do you want to remain on Namek, and fight?

"Hell no! Get me off of this planet!" Lemo said aloud. Suddenly, he was no longer beneath the blue trees by the river on Namek with Gine. Instead, the sky was blue, the grass was green, and he was standing in the middle of a street.

"HEY! Watch it freakshow!" a vehicle beeped at him. Fleur nudged him off the street, and he stepped away from the street with Fleur.

"Wow...Is this Earth? So much green, but it looks like a city!" Lemo looked around.

"Oh wow! We're back on Earth!" a female voice called out, "Dende, Cargo, you're gonna like it! Oh, this is West City, too! Come on, let's find the others!"

"Wait, hold up! I just came from Namek, too!" Lemo called out to the human woman who was standing with a pair of Namekians.

"Moori? Where are we? What is this place?" a Namekian asked.

"Tsuno! You're alive! Vegeta told the truth!" Moori embraced his brother.

"Yes, we are! Where is Vegeta?" Tsuno asked.

"I assume he's back on Namek, still fighting," Moori said. Their conversation was interrupted by a shriek.

"Are-are those dead bodies?" Bulma gasped. Sure enough, they were next to a field, with dozens of living Namekians standing next to dozens more corpses.

"That is what I wished for," Moori said, "For all our dead to be brought to Earth. Now, when your Dragon Balls finish their cycle, we can bring them back."

"Wait, what about your Dragon Balls?" Bulma asked. Moori looked across the field to the Grand Elder, who was in the midst of a coughing fit.

"I'm afraid they may no longer be a factor," Moori said, approaching Guru, "Grand Elder, is there anything I can do for you?"

"No, my son. You have done-" Guru started to cough, but caught his breath, "...Done more than your fair share. You have saved us. Thank you."

"Wait, are you Namek's Guardian?" Bulma asked, "You can't die! Our friends still need your Dragon Balls!"

"It is all right. Already, Namek is indebted to the Earth for its valor. When I pass, so will the title of the Grand Elder, along with the power of the Dragon Balls. Fear not, your friends will return," Guru assured her. Bulma relaxed.

"Thank you, Guru. Please, allow me to bring you all to my compound. You'll be a lot more comfortable there, and we can store your dead until they can be restored," Bulma said.

"Bulma, may I borrow your Dragon Ball radar?" Moori asked, "I would like to recover the Earth's Dragon Balls and make another wish."

"Hmm? Yeah, here you go,," Bulma said, handing it over. With the Dragon Ball radar in hand, Moori flew off to track down the now-active Dragon Balls.

"Moori would make an excellent Grand Elder," Tsuno said, "I would not be offended if you were to choose him over me, Guru."

"You're right, he would. But his destiny lays elsewhere, I feel. You have trained for a long time to be my successor, Tsuno, and Moori's journey has only just begun," Guru said.

"Do you think Moori will wish for the Super Saiyan to destroy Freeza?" Tsuno asked. Guru smiled.

"I believe the Super Saiyan is almost ready to appear all on their own."

XXX

Dragon Warrior Camp, Namek
December 21, A762

"Any last words, Ginyu?" Raditz asked, holding his hand up to Ginyu's head.

"Yeah," Ginyu wheezed. He looked up to Raditz and, with a grin, said, "CHANGE NOW!"

With a flash of yellow light, the expressions on Ginyu and Raditz reversed.

"Hah! HAHAHA! You fools! Now I have your power, and you won't dare kill the body of your precious brother!" Ginyu, now in Raditz's body, gave out a laugh.

"What are you talking about, Raditz?" Brussa asked. Ginyu swung a punch at Brussa, catching her off guard. He followed up with a swimming kick, launching her into the cave, which collapsed around her.

"Goku...That isn't Raditz anymore! Ginyu switched bodies!" Tien called out. Goku charged at Ginyu, and started to lay into Ginyu in his brother's body.

"What? You two have the same Power Level! How are you faster than me?" Ginyu demanded.

"Raditz and I have trained together for months! We know each other's abilities as well as our own! You couldn't possibly hope to match me in his body!" Goku said.

"Damn you, Saiyan!" Ginyu growled, charging Ki and going for an attack on Goku.

"Keep him busy, Goku! I think I can fix this!" Tien called out. Brussa exploded out of the cave, and joined her brother in keeping Ginyu busy, and forcing GInyu to drop the Ki blast he'd been charging.

"Nobody takes my brothers from me!" Brussa snarled, slamming her fist into Ginyu's face and again, stunning him.

"Ugh...You Saiyans just don't know when to die!" Ginyu growled, smashing down on Goku with hands full of Ki. The blow caused Brussa to lose focus, concerned about her brother, and Ginyu kicked her into the water. With the two Saiyans punted away, Ginyu turned to Tien, who was meditating in place.

"Now, what was it you said about 'fixing' this?" Ginyu chuckled. Tien did not react.

"Get away from my children!" a new voice called out. Ginyu took a defensive stance as a ship flew over and a figure dropped from it. Despite having his arms up, Gine managed to plant her fist firmly on Ginyu's face. Striking the ground did not deter Gine from following through and continuing to pummel Ginyu into the ground.

"Gine! You're going to kill him!" Tien called out; it was enough for Gine to pull herself off Ginyu, not wanting to compromise her son's health.

"Is it ready?" Goku called out.

"Yes! Hold him still!" Tien said. Goku hopped into the crater made by Gine and Ginyu, and dragged Ginyu out. Raditz complied by twitching and groaning in place. The Saiyans watched as a ghostly, glowing apparition of Tien expanded around his body. The ghost-Tien reached out, growing larger as he did, and stuffed his hands into the heads of Raditz and Ginyu. In one hand, a similar apparition of Raditz was pulled out of Ginyu's body, and an alien that didn't look like any creature any of them had seen was pulled out of Raditz's body. Tien stuffed the ghostly Raditz into his original body, and then Ginyu…

Into a nearby frog. With his other hand, Tien peeled out the apparition of the frog from its body, and stuffed it into Ginyu's body.

The giant ghost-Tien disappeared, and the three-eyed warrior fell forward, catching himself from the fall, and panted.

"Ka...Karot?" Raditz wheezed.

"Yeah, Raditz?"

"Ow."

"Hah, don't worry, we've still got some Senzu Beans," Goku fed one to Raditz, who chewed and swallowed. Reinvigorated, Raditz stood on his own power, stretching his muscles.

"There we go! Better than ever!"

"I could use one, too, Kakarot," Brussa said, holding out her hand. Goku gave his sister one, then ate one himself, before flicking another to Tien.

"How about you, Mom?" he asked. Gine shook her head.

"No, I'm good, I didn't use up all that energy. If anything, I'm a bit antsy. Tienshinhan, that was some stunt you pulled off," Gine said.

"Yeah, but I think that's about the only time I could do something like that," Tien said, "With all of these goons down, I think all that's left is Shive and Freeza. Krillin's on his way back to us," Tien said.

"I can handle Shive," Gine said, "If we have enough Senzu beans, I'll get Vegeta back up, too, and we can take on Freeza. Together."

Goku handed her three Senzu beans, "Just in case, okay, mom?"

"Yeah, of course. And Goku?" Gine said.

"Yeah?"

"Kick his ass." Gine said with a grin, and took off.

"You got it, mom," Goku said.

"Wait, did mom just call you 'Goku'? Do I have to start calling you 'Goku'? I prefer Kakarot, it's a way better name," Brussa said.