Da..Daddy?" Gohan kneeled Oceanside, hand held outward expectantly – hoping that Goku would suddenly surge up from the deep and grab his hand.
Tears streamed down the young boy's face as he trembled. He couldn't believe what had just happened. Goku, his father, was defeated. H-he was killed! And it was all because of Cooler and Frieza. They did this! They took his father away from him!
"Piccolo, you can't be serious?!" questioned Krillin, eyes wide as he stared up to the Namekian by his side. "If..if Goku couldn't stop them, what chance do we have?"
Gohan's heart stung that much more as he absentmindedly listened. His outstretched hand slammed onto the ground, his fingers digging into the soil as he watched his still-flowing tears water the grass. His anger was sending shivers up his mind and clouding his vision more than the tears.
"What other options do we have, Krillin?" spat Piccolo in a biting tone as he glared down to the monk. "We certainly can't expect to run from them; we'll be dead before we could even find a spaceship. We can either die fighting or die running. Frankly, I'd rather die fighting!"
Gohan saw the ground crack beneath his frame, but he didn't care. Gohan could feel his rage practically boil the blood in his veins, but he didn't care. Gohan could feel his control slipping, but he didn't care! He didn't care about any of it! His father was gone! Gone! GONE!
"I hope you have some type of plan…" started Krillin before a furious wind struck against his frame and silenced him.
"Aaahhhh!" roared Gohan, on his knees with his head tossed back. Energy rose off the boy like heat off of fire as his energy level skyrocketed. Energy waves spewed from Gohan's body in pulsing spurts, scraping and clawing at the ground as his energy soared. "You…hurt…my…FATHER!"
Gohan exploded off of the ground, his white aura blaring as he shot into the sky like a freshly released rocket. Frieza's eyes widened with shock, his thoughts blown away from the unexpected event. He was left wide open as Gohan struck his jaw with an amazing amount of force that knocked the tyrant senseless.
"That's my plan!" declared Piccolo before shooting off into the air, aiming to aid his trainee.
Krillin begrudgingly followed after, nervousness trying to hold him to the ground.
Cooler was shocked, completely taken aback by the current turn of events.
But that didn't necessarily mean that he wasn't inwardly enjoying the sight. In fact, watching Frieza get pummeled by something that was actually half his size was probably the most entertaining scene Cooler had gotten in a long time.
Well, it was entertaining until it was blocked by a certain green annoyance.
Sneering with irritation, Cooler was ready to make a snide comment to Piccolo. He was cut off, though, at the sight of the Namek opening his mouth. Caught completely off guard, Cooler could only watch as an orange wave of energy shot from Piccolo's mouth and slammed directly into his face.
"Ahh! You green filth!" shrieked Cooler, grasping his face in pain. That point blank blast was intended to hurt his eyes, and it sure as heck did its job. Rubbing at his sore eyes, Cooler sneered angrily. "I'll kill you for this!"
"Krillin! Now!" hollered Piccolo, looking in the distance for the bald monk.
Krillin's body spun through, rotating at an incredible speed as he neared Cooler and Piccolo. "Right!" yelled Krillin as he continued to spin.
Spinning faster and faster – gaining momentum – Krillin slammed his boots into the side of Cooler's head. The minor and surely unexpected blow sent Cooler piercing out of the air, heading directly for the ground below. Piccolo rapidly appeared at Cooler's side and slammed another boot to the tyrant's head, speeding Cooler's free-fall to the ground.
The eldest tyrant speared through a rock formation below smashing into the island, the very ground ripping and tearing around as he struck.
"Krillin, you know what to do!" demanded Piccolo before flying off.
Left to tend to the current situation, Krillin trembled slightly, nervousness taking a firm grip onto his body. However, Krillin swallowed roughly and managed a brave face. "This is for Goku!" he declared before getting to work, thrusting energy blast after energy blast down to the ground.
Frieza was getting hammered into his stomach, chest, face, arm, neck – all over!
Gohan growled with ferocity like no other as he delivered punch after punch. Each strike wasn't just meant to inflict damage. Gohan wanted to mutilate Frieza's body. He wanted each of one his punches to go right through the monster, to leave Frieza a broken mess when he was done. And then Cooler would be next!
Well, that was the plan until Frieza suddenly took a hold of both of Gohan's fists.
Sneering through clenched teeth and looking just as maniacal as he was, Frieza leered hatefully into Gohan's eyes. He tightened his grip on Gohan as he managed to say, "You impudent, filthy, snot-sucking, low-life, waste of flesh, BOY! I'll rip those pitiful arms right off of your body!"
Before Frieza could continue his tirade or even make good on his promise, Gohan slammed two boots into the Arcosian's abdomen, effectively silencing any further threat. With his feet buried into Frieza's body, Gohan yanked his arms away and brought them to his face. Making sure to catch Frieza's gaze, Gohan yelled, "Solar Flare!"
An impossibly bright light shot from Gohan's body and slammed directly into Frieza's retinas.
The tyrant coiled back, holding his face and yelling all sorts of obscenities to the sky. Completely distracted by his burning eyes, Frieza was left wide open to a powerful axe handle to the top of his cranium. Frieza was knocked clean out of the sky and slammed against the ground below.
Fanged-teeth barred from the intensity of the current situation, Piccolo turned to Gohan and said, "I've got him down; hold him there! If all goes well, we can at least finish one of them. Do it! Do it now, Gohan!"
Gohan didn't need another word from his teacher. Turning abruptly to the downed tyrant, Gohan's white aura flared around his body, charging up for his attack. "Frieza!" growled Gohan, teeth clenched out of concentration. "Takeeeee…THIS!" Gohan began thrusting blast after blast upon the ground, striking Frieza all over. The stray blasts even slammed into random areas around the island. The very floating rock was turned to a blast zone, energy orbs crashing all over and exploding with power. And Gohan poured out more and more and more, not stopping or giving in for fatigue or anything else.
Floating behind Gohan, fanged-teeth still showing, Piccolo held his index and middle finger against his forehead. Sparks of electricity were beginning to form as he concentrated harder and harder. This would be their best chance of taking the brothers of destruction out. If this impromptu plan failed, they'd all be as good as dead.
Cooler was beyond irritated. He sat there, imbedded under the rocky surface of Namek. All that he could think about was how much joy he was going to take in ridding himself of these pests. After experiencing them firsthand, Cooler could see why Frieza was having so much difficulty with them.
Nevertheless, they'd all be exterminated soon enough.
A smirk appeared on his face as he allowed his energy to flare around his body. Surging all of his energy outward, Cooler exploded from within his tomb and sped directly into the sky at whoever was dumb enough to be waiting on him. However, Cooler was halted in his tracks as he took notice of an energy disc directly in front of him.
A wider smirk appeared on the tyrant's face as he looked around the floating ki disc to its wielder.
Raising an eyebrow, Cooler folded his arms and said, "Does this belong to you?" Watching the bald Earthling visibly tense brought more joy than Cooler would've expected. "Didn't anyone ever tell you not to play with sharp things? I guess I'll just have to be the one to punish you."
Cooler readied himself to fly off to punish Krillin until the ki disc before him suddenly shot forward. Easily enough, Cooler leaned back though, allowing the disc to pass right over him. However, as Cooler leaned back to evade that ki disc, he was alarmed to see that there were dozens more behind him. Floating back upright, Cooler looked around himself, shock turning to anger as he realized that he was positively surrounded by the ki discs. There had to be dozens of them surrounding his body.
Cooler immediately shot a very annoyed glare to Krillin, it intensified once he saw the proud smile on the weaklings face.
"Yeah, Piccolo said you'd probably look something like that once you realized what was going on," stated Krillin, pride and overconfidence evident in his voice. His arms were held out as he concentrated to maintain absolute control of the many ki discs he'd created. "Do you like? The design was Piccolo's idea."
"I will rip you in half!" proclaimed Cooler, jaw clenched as he looked up to Krillin.
"I think I'll settle with cutting you in half!" replied Krillin, slinging his hands around in various movements.
His ki discs responded to Krillin's movements, each one moving at its own requested moment and converging upon Cooler.
The tyrant's head whipped to left, to the right, above his head, below his body, and all around as he watched the many discs head towards him. Acting on fighting instincts, skill, and eyesight, Cooler was forced to dodge, duck, side-step, and evade each and every ki disc brought his way. He moved at such a rate of speed that he was even beginning to tire himself after a few moments of this intense session of dodging.
No matter how weak that bald Earthling was, one wrong move on Cooler's part could end his life permanently.
Frieza was pissed. He was angry. And he really wanted to kill something!
With eyesight back to normal, he could ever-so-clearly see the storm of blasts raining down upon him. But that idiot boy had better bring more to the table if he wanted to hurt Frieza. In fact, all of those blasts were doing nothing more than pissing the tyrant off more and more as they struck his body.
Frieza had let the boy have his fun. It was time to have his!
Allowing his energy to surge around his body, Frieza pressed a shield over himself. The shield effectively blocked the blasts until Frieza expanded it, splaying it in all directions in an explosive manner. Ignoring the explosions around his body, Frieza shot into the air, speeding past the rising wall of fire and smoke.
Appearing back in the sky, Frieza's first sight was the boy. The child floated there, looking weak and helpless. Apparently, his little fit of anger had worn off. That was just too bad for him.
"Don't look so glum, boy! The real fun is about to begin!" declared Frieza as he sped through the air, a maniacal glimmer in his eyes.
Wait? What's that purple glow around his body?
Suddenly, Gohan sped out of the way, leaving a perfect view of the Namek. And h-he had electricity radiating off of his body!
"What is this?" questioned Frieza, abruptly halting in the sky as he gazed up at Piccolo.
"SPECIAL BEAM CANNON!"
Frieza's red eyes sprouted wide as they took in the coiling beam of purple and golden energy heading directly for him. Shocked into paralysis, the only thing Frieza could do in that moment was press a shield of purple ki around his body. However, as Piccolo's ultimate blast crashed against his shield, Frieza found out exactly how powerful this Namek bastard could be.
"Im…possible!" muttered Frieza against the swirling beam that was trying to eradicate him. "I'll kill you! I'll kill all of you!"
The swirling column of energy pressed further, slowly pushing Frieza back to ground. It was a fierce battle of wills; Piccolo's obviously proving to be the greater. All that could be heard over the hum of clashing energy was Frieza's grumbles of anger, his teeth grinding together as he tried to defend against Piccolo's attack.
Who did this bald, Earthling fool think he is? How dare he try to pull one over on the almighty Cooler?!
Cooler could only think of one thing, and that was making Krillin suffer greatly for his crimes. First things first, though. And that was to get out of the current predicament.
Continuing to dodge the swarm of energy discs, Cooler pulled all of his energy to the center of his body. With one mighty roar, Cooler expanded the energy from within, igniting it in a massive explosive wave of energy that destroyed all of Krillin's energy discs.
Cooler could finally breathe a sigh of relief. That little attack had managed to land a few cuts in the eldest tyrant's skin, but it was going to be nothing compared to what he did to the bald fool floating above him. The thought even made Cooler smile, a wicked and evil smile that could chill anyone to their core.
Cooler slowly lifted his head, his red eyes practically looking into Krillin's soul. And judging by what Cooler could see, he knew that Krillin was truly frightened to his core. Perfect!
First, I'll kill the monkey brat! Frieza's eyes bulged, anger building to new heights within his body. Next, I'll slaughter that bipedal slug, making sure that he feels a brand new level of pain! The protective barrier around his body began to expand. It pushed against Piccolo's Special Beam Cannon, pressing the swirling column of energy back. And lastly, I'll destroy this damned rock and blow up every single planet on my way to EARTH! Frieza's barrier sprouted a wave of purple energy that clashed against Piccolo's beam.
Seeming effortless, Frieza's wave of energy sent Piccolo's beam all the way back up at its creator. "And I'll kill you all!" shouted Frieza as his massive wave of energy shot up towards Piccolo.
The Namekian warrior was frozen, his entire face beginning to glow from the rays of energy coming his way. Terror had left every muscle in his body rigid. All Piccolo could think of was how bad this was going to end. Frieza was free, even if Cooler had been done away with by Krillin, Frieza was still alive and kicking. And from the looks of things, the tyrant was more than a little pissed.
It's all over, was Piccolo's final thought as the blast was ready to engulf his body.
"Piccolo! MOVE!" shouted Gohan, appearing out of practically nowhere. In an instant, Gohan sped by pushing his mentor and friend away from certain doom. Gohan held firm to Piccolo's shirt as he looked back, watching the massive purple wave of energy careen into the sky. He thanked the heavens that he, nor Piccolo, had been caught in the midst of that devastating attack. He looked back up to Piccolo, seeing the glossed over eyes of his mentor didn't do too well to calm his nerves. "Piccolo!" announced Gohan, shaking the Namek slightly.
Piccolo's eyes blinked a moment before looking down to Gohan as if he didn't even realize that he'd been saved. "Gohan," breathed Piccolo, a hint of shock in his voice. He then smiled and added, "Thank you."
The momentary peace between the two heroes was cut short by the sudden sense of horrid energy.
"I really hate to interrupt such a touching moment…" started Frieza, floating up into view in front of Piccolo and Gohan. The tyrant held a very volatile grimace as he eyed them over. "…but your time for happiness has come to an end!"
There was a sudden loud smack. Gohan and Piccolo turned just in time to see Krillin speeding towards them. The former monk slammed into Piccolo unceremoniously. Krillin lied there unconscious in Piccolo's arms before the call of Gohan brought the monk back.
"Woops! I might've gotten a little carried away there," stated Cooler, floating into view across from the others. "I'm supposed to be making you suffer Krillin; it's far too early to be letting you slip into unconsciousness."
"Don't tell me they tried some little stunt with you as well, Cooler," Frieza said from behind the heroes. "Isn't it insulting when weaklings think they can actually harm you?"
"Tell me about, Frieza," answered Cooler, his red eyes lazily looking up to his brother. Through all of the annoyance of the weaklings, Cooler had nearly forgotten his true mission. He had to make this extermination quick. "We should really do away with them, don't you think?"
"You must've been reading my mind," responded Frieza as he casually lifted his index finger. "And I see one mop-headed brat that should feel death's grip first!"
With that, Frieza released his Death Beam. It was Gohan's turn to freeze up, his eyes could only follow as the pink beam of death headed his way. Time even seemed to slow down as the beam drew closer and closer. Then, there was a push at his side.
Gohan's head turned, seeing Piccolo knock him aside. But, unlike earlier, there was no time for Piccolo to follow. There was no time for Piccolo to dodge, the beam was too close. And Gohan watched as Frieza's Death Beam struck Piccolo's chest and more than likely pierced his heart.
"PICCOLOOOOOO!" shouted Gohan as the beam shot through his mentor's body, and the Namek's body began to drop from the air. "NOOOOO!" Piccolo's body drifted further and further out of the air, until – just as his father – the seas of Namek claimed another hero.
Frieza grunted, a touch of disgust on his face. "Darn him, these Namekians are even a pest as they're dying." He then turned to Gohan and said, "Well since that fool had to go ahead and steal your punishment, I suppose it's only fair that you take his." Frieza watched the look of anger descend upon Gohan's face, it made him laugh. "He was supposed to die slow and painfully, while you were supposed to have the quick and easy one. Some friend, huh?! AHAHAHAHA!"
Gohan began to tremble again, his anger beginning to boil. His mind was beginning to drift, to go back into the blank state of pure rage. Frieza's uncaring attitude and laugh was only driving Gohan further.
Krillin floated over to the young hero. "Gohan, you have to go. You have to leave now!"
Gohan's anger dissolved almost as instantly as it had come on. Looking to Krillin questioningly, Gohan said, "What? Krillin are you crazy? They'll kill you."
"I know that," responded Krillin, his head hanging low with the realization. "But…but I can do what I can to hold them off while you run, Gohan! You run, run far away! They can't sense energy so all you have to do is hide. The spaceship isn't far away. You have to live Gohan, you just have to!" Krillin looked back up to his best friend's son, sadness weighing a ton on his shoulders. Tears even began to spill from his eyes as he said, "I couldn't live with myself if I let you stay here to die by my side. I have to at least give you a chance to escape."
"But Krillin…" whined Gohan, his own eyes beginning to brim with tears.
"No buts, Gohan! GO! Go NOW!" shouted Krillin, halting any arguments from the boy.
"Go?" hissed Cooler, suddenly appearing by the sides of Gohan and Krillin. His arms folded condescendingly as he looked to them and said, "And where exactly do you expect to go to?"
Krillin leapt in front of Gohan, arms spread out protectively as he glared to the tyrant before him. "Just go, Gohan!" shouted Krillin one final time.
Tears were now falling from Gohan's eyes as he obeyed the command of Krillin. Gohan's white aura sparked to life as he quickly sped away, gaining miles of distance in a matter of seconds.
After watching Gohan flee, Krillin turned back to gaze upon Cooler, his body beginning to tremble with fear at the expectation of death.
"Where does he think he's going?" asked Frieza, floating over from behind Cooler.
"I don't know, but would you mind?" responded Cooler, ignoring Krillin's presence for the moment.
Not offering a reply, Frieza sped off, moving in a blur of speed around Krillin and towards Gohan.
The half-Saiyan hero had gotten far, real far, but he was suddenly halted by the instantaneous appearance of Frieza. The tyrant had his arms folded and an evil smirk on his face as he looked at Gohan's petrified face.
Noticing where Frieza had gone, Krillin turned around. Seeing Frieza now blocking Gohan's path, fear spread through Krillin's body like wildfire. "No!" he shouted. "No! Get away from him!" Krillin quickly formed a Destructo Disk in his hand, flinging it across the air and aiming for Frieza. Cooler could only watch, a hint of happiness on his face.
Gohan tried to fly over, but Frieza moved up. Gohan tried to fly out on either side, but Frieza moved to block those paths as well. Gohan tried to fly under, but again Frieza moved in his way.
"You can't escape me, boy. Just give up and accept your death," stated Frieza in a bored tone.
Gohan's eyes shifted back, his senses telling of an incoming energy attack. And his senses were telling him that it belonged to Krillin. Knowing full well that Frieza couldn't see the disk because of his body, Gohan remained where he floated for a moment longer before dodging to the side and allowing the Destructo Disk to pass.
Frieza's eyes expanded wide at the sudden appearance of the sharp energy. Acting on pure instincts, Frieza moved upward, trying to leap over the attack. However, his tail was caught in the crosshairs and severed from his body.
"Raghhhhh!" roared Frieza, holding his severed tail and staring at it with angered eyes. "You fool! You idiotic fool! You cut off my tail, AGAIN!" Frieza's purple aura sprouted around his body as he blasted off towards Krillin. "I will rip your head off!"
"He's mine, FRIEZA!" shouted Cooler, halting Frieza's rampage. Cooler could see Krillin stiffen up at his comment. Casually, Cooler slung his long tail around Krillin's neck, wrapping tightly at the monk's throat. "The bald one is mine to finish. Take care of the kid before I do that as well."
Frieza was frozen for a moment before calmness spread through his body. He looked back, seeing that Gohan had begun flying off again. Moving with hyper-speed again, Frieza caught up to Gohan in no time. He locked the boy in a full nelson and turned to him to watch the demise of Krillin.
Cooler could feel Krillin grasping at his tail, trying to alleviate the pressure. But just as with a snake's hold, Krillin's struggling only tightened the grip. Just when it seemed that Krillin's head was ready to pop off of his body, Cooler released the Earthling warrior. With one solid punch, Cooler knocked Krillin high into the sky. The eldest tyrant lifted his index finger, aiming it carefully at Krillin's body. Then, with ease, Cooler released his Death Beam, the attack hitting Krillin directly in his chest.
Cooler wasn't done yet, though. He opened his hand flashily, spreading all five digits and signaling for the next phase of his attack: the Chaotic End. As Krillin's body descended from the sky, his left shoulder area exploded with a rocking detonation. Krillin's body began to spin, before his right leg suddenly exploded, halting the spin. Next, Krillin's back detonated with a gruesome explosion, arching his back and forcing blood out of his mouth as his body continued to descend. Finally, Cooler closed his hand into a tight fist and Krillin's bloodied and broken body exploded into nothing. Krillin was completely gone.
"And that's how you end a weakling!" proclaimed Cooler, his head thrusting back in a uproar of laughter.
Gohan could feel Frieza's own body convulsing with laughter, but he blocked it out. He could only think of one thing: Everyone was gone. He was all that was left. There was no one left to stand against Cooler or Frieza. They'd won and his friends had lost. The entire universe had lost.
NO.
"Ahhhhhhh!" screamed Gohan, his white aura surging around his body. With one mighty display of energy, Frieza was blown far away.
Cooler stopped laughing. He looked over to the boy, his eyes sprouting with shock. He could feel something, an energy signal. But it was far too high to the boy's, right? The energy just kept rising and rising.
Gohan crouched down, pulling his legs and arms close to his body as he energy soared. The white aura around him blared like a raging inferno.
Cooler looked up. The sky was turning dark, thunder clouds moving in and overcasting the area. He looked back to the boy, feeling that energy rise further. It was like it was consuming the whole planet. That energy was all that Cooler could feel around them. This was like nothing that he'd ever witnessed.
Gohan's legs and arms expanded, his battle cry resounding across the area like rolling thunder. There was even a clash of lightning in the distance. The rocks quaked and the very islands seemed to fear this new power.
Cooler was growing concerned now. This…this power was overwhelmingly strong.
This isn't right! This brat can't be this strong!
Then, there was a sudden flash from beneath the seas of Namek. Golden arcs of light shot from within the depths, drawing all attentions to the roaring waters.
Wait a second! That energy! It isn't coming from the boy, it's coming from down there! But…but who could…NO…That's impossible! He should be dead!
Gohan stopped powering up. Frieza looked down. Cooler nearly trembled from the thought. All eyes were drawn to the sea as a golden figure slowly emerged from the surface. In his arms, he carried the lifeless body of Piccolo. His hair was brilliantly golden and spikey. His eyes were a blazing emerald. And he wore a torn and ripped orange gi.
"It can't be…" hissed Frieza.
"There's no way that's…" muttered Cooler.
"Daddy!" shouted Gohan, eyes sparkling with happiness. His mind then remembered what Vegeta had said, what he'd bragged about and then said that Goku was. Gohan's eyes sprouted at the realization. There was only one way to explain this tremendous change. "Dad, you're a Super Saiyan!"