DISCLAIMER: I don't own Dragonball-Z, not really sure who does either. It'd be a shame if people I don't know sued me. J v

THE KILL

By Jacob M. Bosch

CHAPTER 3: Backing It Up

The sun rose slowly over the ocean. Its golden rays pouring over the ocean's murky hued surface, transforming the dark, salty water into a bright shimmering blue.

Six warriors stood on the beach in front of Kame House. The pink two-story abode sat in the center of a small island located in the Southeastern Ocean. Krillin was standing apart from Gokou, Piccolo, Yamucha, Chou-zu, and Tenshinhan. He stared blankly out over the immense body of water. His mind he was replaying the image of the Nameks vaporizing seconds before their world followed them into oblivion.

Only Krillin—sans his boots, Gokou, and Piccolo were wearing their training gi.

Yamucha and Tenshinhan both wore street clothes.

Yamucha had on a white, blue striped baseball jersey with the name of the team he played on sewn across the front of it in blue script, a pair of loose fitting blue jeans, and white sneakers.

Ten was wearing a long green overcoat with no shirt underneath, matching pants with a red sash wrapped about his waist, and black shoes.

Chou-zu's very small form was enshrouded from the neck down with his princely black, green, and red robes. A black beanie-like hat adorned his nearly bald head.

"Are we suppose to believe Namek was blown up because you had a dream?" Piccolo asked, his arms folded in their trademarked position over his chest. The level of incredulity in the Namek's gruff voice wasn't lost on the withdrawn Krillin.

"It's true," Krillin told the Namek, his voice devoid of all emotion. "Kami-sama can confirm it if you want."

"Huh. I wouldn't ask Kami to corroborate which direction the sun rises in," Piccolo grunted.

"Believe me or not about Namek, Piccolo, it won't stop Freezer's father from coming to Earth."

"I know you wouldn't make something like this up Krillin, but how exactly do you know about Namek and this King Kold guy?" Yamucha asked.

Krillin turned around to face his friends.

"Kaiou…" Krillin paused and waited for the guardian's telepathic voice to stop him. The monk continued when the Guardian's voice didn't echo through his mind, "Kaiou-sama told me about Kold back on Namek."

"On Namek… and you're just now telling us about it!" Yamucha exclaimed.

"I didn't understand what he'd shown me until now."

"When will King Kold get here, Krillin?" Gokou asked.

"I don't know. Soon."

"Great. And with our luck, he's probably a hundred times stronger then Freezer was," Yamucha said shaking his head.

"Well, Krillin killed Freezer by himself so maybe we can take down King Kold together." Chou-zu offered.

"I wouldn't be too sure about that," Piccolo said.

Gokou took his eyes off Krillin and looked to the Namek. "What do you mean?"

"We're assuming King Kold is after the dragonballs. What if he just wants revenge? If so, then there's nothing stopping him from just blasting this planet to dust from space. We might not even get a chance to fight against him."

Gokou looked at Krillin, the expression on his face more serious then Krillin had ever seen it before. "I don't think that's going to be a problem, is it Krillin?"

Krillin shook his head and faced the ocean again.

Gokou was convinced Kami might have information the warriors would need to prepare, and Piccolo agreed begrudgingly. So the warriors set off for Kami's Lookout. Krillin almost didn't go with them. The monk wasn't sure he could face Kami's cold, unfeeling eyes again. He didn't want to.

"Hey Krillin," Yamucha flew up beside the smaller warrior as the six-man contingent flew through the sky. "You never did give us the whole story on how you sacked Freezer."

Krillin turned to the other man and noticed how much the ex-bandit had changed during the past year.

Yamucha had cut off most of his black, shaggy hair, leaving him with a short spiky hairstyle. Which did nothing to diminish the scars carved into his fairly handsome face.

"I got lucky, Yamucha. That's all," Krillin said keeping his face neutral and his voice steady. No small feat considering all he wanted to do was scream until his lungs collapsed.

"Yeah, you said that before, the day Tenshinhan and me got wished back. I want details this time."

Grinding his teeth together Krillin bit back the harsh words threatening to come out.

"Later, Yamucha." Krillin managed to say civilly then boosted ahead until he was soaring next to Gokou and Piccolo.

Krillin wasn't angry with Yamucha. How could he be? Yamucha was just proud of him because he was the one who'd defeated Freezer. Krillin was the only person in the universe who regretted that Freezer died by his hand. But Krillin also was the only one who knew the price he was paying for acting out of character.

The Lookout was in ruins when they arrived.

Smoking craters dimpled the ground. Trees that once stood tall in the meticulously sculpted landscape tended by the jinn, Mr. Popo, were either up rooted or splintered in half, or both. The golden dome atop Kami's ivory temple was cracked, and many of the smaller buildings behind the temple had been reduced to burnt out shells.

The warriors surveyed the devastation while still in the air. Each searching for the ki of whomever attacked the Lookout.

"This happened recently. But I don't sense any power levels nearby. Not even Kami's," Gokou said.

"Obviously he's not dead," Piccolo added, sounding somewhat disappointed. "Since I'm not face down somewhere. Captured?"

"I can't see him running," Gokou nodded in agreement. "Let's go in for a closer look. Everybody stay sharp." Gokou ordered the human fighters.

Gokou and Piccolo made for the main temple while Krillin, Yamucha, Ten, and Chou-zu flew toward the few remaining undamaged structures on the Lookout.

None of them reached their destination.

A small cloaked figure, smaller even then Krillin, stepped out of the temple. His face obscured by his cloak's hood.

"Well, isn't this reminiscent," The shrouded figure, a man, said. His surprisingly deep voice dripping with sarcasm.

Both Piccolo and Gokou halted in their tracks, and appeared shaken by the man's words. When the mysterious fellow pulled back the hood of his pink robe, revealing his olive green complexion and impish features, Gokou and Piccolo lowered into fighting stances. Krillin thought the stranger sounded familiar, but the man didn't look like anyone he knew.

"Garlic Jr.! I thought you were still rotting in that hell you created." Piccolo snarled.

Krillin started.

Oh, man, that's why I don't recognize this guy! I never saw Garlic when he was in that form. I only saw him after he transformed!

"Oh, I was. But I got out. See?" Garlic Jr. replied, raising his small arms out to his sides. Sharp teeth showing as he grinned.

"Garlic Jr.? As in I'm immortal and I wanna take over the world, Garlic Jr.?" Yamucha asked.

"I'm afraid so," Krillin confirmed.

"Great," Tenshinhan sighed.

Krillin, Yamucha, Ten and Chou-zu landed behind Piccolo and Gokou. Fully prepared to lend their support when the battle began.

"What have you done to Kami?" Gokou wanted to know.

"Kami needed time off from the daunting task of being god. So I put him up someplace where he can relax," Garlic replied his lips turned up in a smirk. "But don't worry too much about Kami. You should be more concerned for yourselves."

Garlic wasn't smiling anymore.

"I'll worry about not getting your blood all over my clothes, hell spawn!" Piccolo declared.

Garlic laughed, "Hell spawn? Look who's talking."

Gokou and Piccolo let out fierce battle cries and launched themselves at Garlic Jr. Garlic made no attempt to get out of their path. Soon, the reasons behind the immortal's display of fearlessness became apparent, when a pair of towering creatures materialized in front of Gokou and Piccolo.

Both sentries wore armor that reminded Krillin of Saiyan-jin armor. Although the henchmen's armor didn't appear nearly as durable or hi tech as the world brokers' garb.

Another creature appeared behind Gokou and Piccolo.

The new arrival was facing the four human warriors. He was of average height, about as tall as Gokou, and wore the same multi colored armor as the creatures guarding Garlic Jr. A gold cape draped down to the back of his knees. The top of the warrior's head was cover with spiked, snow-white hair. His skin had an olive green tint similar to Garlic Junior's.

The white-haired warrior also shared similar facial features with Garlic Jr.—long, pointed ears, small, delicate pointed nose, sharp teeth. Indicating the two might have belonged to the same species.

"My loyal subjects have arrived," Garlic Jr. announced.

"Big deal," Yamucha said. "In case you haven't noticed we still got you out numbered. Or did you forget how to count in that limbo of yours?"

"Not at all. In fact, I've already taken steps to see that the odds will lean more in my favor. Did you release my gift to the world?"

The crony wearing the cape and armor answered Garlic's query. "Yes, my lord. The Black Water Mist has completely blanketed the planet."

"And…?"

"Being delivered as we speak."

"Excellent. Now take care of these fools." Garlic Jr. commanded his followers with a wave of his hand, then turned and walked back into Kami's temple. A few seconds later the roof of the temple exploded outward as a spiny construct burst through its ceiling. By then the fighting had already begun.

The green skinned lackey powered up quickly and attacked Chou-zu first. His right leg catching the little telepath in the chest, which sent Chou-zu flying back a hundred feet. Almost knocking him off the Lookout.

"Chou-zu!" Tenshinhan watched in horror as his friend sailed through the air, exposing himself to a punch to the jaw that sent him flying as well.

Yamucha launched into a counter attack of kicks and punches, which their white-haired enemy blocked, but not without effort. Krillin was about to jump in to help, but observed that Yamucha was dealing with Garlic's henchman well enough on his own.

Instead, Krillin turned to see how Piccolo and Gokou's were fairing.

Gokou was using the Zanzoken technique to gracefully dodge various blows from one of the henchman. Piccolo, however, wasn't being nearly as elegant as he fought his opponent. The Namek had broken through the henchman's defenses, and was mercilessly pummeling the creature into the ground.

Piccolo eventually grabbed the henchman by the throat, tossed him into the sky and fired off a powerful beam of energy from the palm of his hand. Blasting the creature into nothingness.

Krillin, unneeded so far, maneuvered past the fighting and made his way towards Kami's temple.

Garlic Jr. was inside the spacious house of god sitting on a black throne, and looked on in confusion and fury while his men were being routed.

"Things aren't going the way you expected, are they?" Krillin asked, standing in front of the demon prince.

"I don't understand…how could they have become so strong?" Garlic seemed not to have heard Krillin's question at all.

"The world went on without you Garlic. A lot has changed over the past couple of years. Almost everybody out there is powerful enough to blow up a planet. Where's Kami-sama?"

After a few moments Garlic acknowledged the monk. His eyes burning with hatred. Krillin felt the immortal's ki spike. But the monk had encountered far stronger, and didn't feel particularly threatened. While he was in his first form, Garlic wasn't very intimidating power level wise.

Just then an explosion rocked the Lookout, followed by a scream from one of Garlic's men. A ki signature disappeared. One more henchman left.

"They may have the ability to annihilate worlds, but they can never destroy me!" Garlic shouted his hands gripping the armrests on his throne. Krillin could hear whatever material the throne was made of crack under Garlic's grip.

"It doesn't have to come down to anyone destroying anybody else. Just release Kami-sama and stop whatever it is you're trying to do, and we'll leave you alone. In fact we could use your help when--"

Garlic flew at Krillin before the monk could finish his sentence. Garlic's ki aura was brilliant as he hurled himself at Krillin, swinging punches that Krillin blocked for a few seconds, before he found a way through the demon's attacks. Krillin kicked out with his right leg, the heel of his foot slamming into the immortal's mid section.

Garlic let out a breathy oomph and went crashing back into the elaborate chair he'd created for himself.

"Y-you will die for that," Garlic gasped.

Krillin shook his head. "You don't get it, do you? You're too weak to hurt any of us. And even though we can't kill you, we can still hurt you. Your immortality doesn't mean anything if you don't have the power to back it up."

"I can back it up all right, but not to the likes of you!" Garlic sneered.

By now the fighting was over with outside and the others were behind Krillin watching the exchange between the two men. Garlic growled, beads of sweat moistening his spotted bald head, when he saw that he was the only member of his invasion force left.

"Give us Kami now or I'll tear your fucking head off, Garlic!" Piccolo said, his voice thick with violence.

Garlic smiled, reached into his cloak and pulled out a small, transparent pear shaped jar. The vial contained a miniaturized Kami who was pounding his tiny fists against the glass entrapping him.

"Here he is, Ma Junior. Come and get him if you think you can. But I warn you. I might 'accidentally' smash this bottle and your precious Kami-sama along with it before you take a single step in my direct--"

Before the last word came out of his mouth, the jar containing the Kami of Earth was gone from Garlic's grasp and held securely Gokou's. The Saiyan then broke the top of the vial away with his thumb, and tossed the container onto the ground. After a poof of compressed air and smoke, Kami-sama stood restored among his rescuers.

"You can't be that fast!" Garlic Jr. exclaimed staring from his now empty hand to the freed Kami.

"You think that's quick, Garlic? Watch how fast I rip you apart!" Piccolo announced and leaped at the immortal.

A blur appeared in front of the charging Namek, and a thunderous blow struck him.

Before Garlic stood two small figures. One was dressed in the same armor as the other three henchmen. The other wore a purple gi similar to Piccolo's. He had bushy, jet-black hair, and his formerly innocent face was distorted into one of gleeful malice. Sharp, elongated fangs showed and his eyes, once as dark as his hair, now glowed red.

"Gohan!" Gokou cried out.

In response, Son Gohan snarled at his father.

Gohan clutched the purple material of the Piccolo's gi. The Namek hung limply in the boy's hands, groaning and dazed as tendrils of maroon blood ran down his left cheek. Somehow Piccolo's white and purple turban remained atop his head though his head was tilted at an awkward angle.

Piccolo's neck was obviously broken.

"What was it you were saying about backing it up, little man?" Garlic asked Krillin, laughing maniacally as Gohan began powering up.

Gohan's ki began rising higher then ever before. His small, uncommonly muscular body electrified with raw energy. His ebony locks spiking upwards, and undulated with the flames of his white-hot ki aura.

"What did you do to my son?" Krillin and the other fighters stepped away from the Saiyan-jin as his aura flamed to life. The fury radiating from Gokou was almost as tangible as his ki.

"Only what I've done to every other creature on Earth. The Black Water Mist has turned him into a demon. It is quite amazing really. This boy possesses staggering power and the corrupting Mist has not only made your son my slave, but has magnified his anger and innate strength!" Garlic said appraising his new servant with barely suppressed mirth.

"Undo it." Gokou said his voice so low you could hardly hear him. Krillin backed even further away from his oldest friend. The only time the monk was ever afraid of Gokou was when that soft, dangerous tone colored Gokou's voice. That voice meant the Saiyan was deadly serious.

"Gokou, only the Holy Water below my temple can reverse the evil Garlic Junior's mist has done!" Kami spoke up.

"Are you still alive?" Garlic asked the Kami with an annoyed scowl on his deceptively child-like face, "Kill Piccolo my servant."

Gohan let Piccolo's limp, but apparently vital body, slip to the ground. The possessed boy then held out a glowing hand and aimed it at the Namek's head. The boy's eyes retained none of the love he felt for his former sensei, just a feral, sanguine gleam.

Before anyone could react Gohan disappeared and so had Gokou.

Shock waves of energy soon filled the Temple as father and son exchanged blows. Both were moving too fast for anyone to see. Only the thunderclap of fists and kicks impacting flesh indicated there was a tragic battle going on above their heads.

Krillin stopped following the battle and glared at Garlic who was smirking with satisfaction at what his Mist had wrought. Piccolo stirred, catching the monk's eye, the Namek's body was glowing dimly. Garlic and his remaining henchman hadn't noticed yet. Quickly, Krillin turned to his allies.

"We need to get Piccolo and Kami-sama out of here before Garlic and his goon goes after them."

"Please come with me Kami-sama," Chou-zu grabbed Kami and started to fly the god out of the Temple.

"Wait! I cannot leave the temple! The way to the Holy Water lies within!" Kami declared.

"If you die no one else will be able to find the Holy Water. We'll worry about getting the water after you and Piccolo are out of harms way," Krillin told the god.

Kami let Chou-zu carry him outside.

"I'll take Garlic," Tenshinhan said when the telepath and god were gone.

"I get the other shrimp," Yamucha said then looked sideways at Krillin. "No offense."

"Bite me, loser. I'll get Piccolo out then come back and help."

Yamucha and Ten hurled themselves at their targets, catching Garlic and the red-faced henchman off guard. Krillin rushed over to Piccolo and carefully cradled the green man's head as he picked him up, just in case the Namek's neck was broken. That thin layer of light still surrounded Piccolo, his ki rising and falling at regular intervals. Krillin had felt Piccolo's power do that once before back when the Namek regenerated his arm after the fight with Radditz. Setting Piccolo down in front of Kami-sama and Chou-zu, who was standing guard over the god, Krillin hurried back toward the Temple.

Just as he reached the entrance Tenshinhan collided with him. The bigger man landed on top of Krillin, forcing the air from his lungs. Krillin had cushioned the Triclops' fall, so Tenshinhan was able to leap off the monk and onto his feet completely unhurt.

"Why just me?" Krillin groaned lying flat on his back, trying to pull some oxygen back into his body.

A bright light flashed inside Kami's Temple and Yamucha yelled as he was pushed out on a beam of energy.

"Yamucha! Damn!" Ten cursed watching Yamucha fall off the Lookout.

"What happened?" Krillin asked sensing a power level increase dramatically.

"Garlic transformed."

Garlic stepped out of the Temple. The demon wasn't wearing his fine robes and cape anymore; they no longer fit him. Garlic had grown eight feet, his bare upper body bulging with muscles. Garlic now wore dark, grayish pants three sizes too small for him, held up by an ordinary piece of rope tied around his waist.

His skin was darker now. His smooth, olive green complexion had changed to a deep shadowy green that appeared rougher and more wrinkled. This was the Garlic Jr. Krillin remembered.

Krillin flipped onto his feet and into a stance beside Tenshinhan and at that moment the top of the Temple disintegrated. A huge sphere of energy surrounded Gokou and Gohan as the Saiyans clashed. And to Krillin's dismay, it looked like Gokou was losing.

Tenshinhan noticed how badly it was going for Gokou as well.

"Do you feel how huge that kid's power is?" The Triclops asked without taking his eyes off Garlic.

"Yeah. I'm not surprised though. You should have seen Gohan on Namek, whenever he gets angry his ki goes sky high. But I've never seen him stay mad for very long. Garlic was telling the truth when he said the Mist is keeping Gohan raging."

"Why would I lie?" Garlic asked walking belligerently up to Krillin and Ten. "Let me let you in on another secret. How long do you think the boy can keep up that level of intensity?" Garlic laughed briefly, "Not long. Soon his body will explode. Taking you, his Father, and Kami's Lookout with him."

Krillin knew the demon was right. Gohan was going to die if he wasn't cured. They had to take Garlic now.

Apparently, Tenshinhan was in perfect agreement. The Triclops had launched himself at Garlic in tandem with Krillin. The monk came in low, attacking Garlic's midsection with a series of kicks, going for quick damage. Most of his blows landed because Garlic had his hands full with Tenshinhan.

Then Krillin concentrated power around his right fist and buried a devastating jab into Garlic's belly, doubling the demon prince over. Ten followed up Krillin's attack and brought his knee up into the giant's face.

Garlic's head snapped back, a dark spray of blood flying from his mouth. Ten materialized behind the giant, kicking Garlic in the back of his head, sending him forward. Krillin clasped his hands together in a two-handed fist and swung upward, striking Garlic under the chin.

As Garlic went flying into the air Krillin felt a presence behind him and knew right away that it was Garlic's last remaining henchman. The ki couldn't belong to anyone else. Krillin also knew it was too late to avoid the oncoming attack.

"Gaakk!"

Krillin turned around and saw a healed Piccolo with his hand around the henchman's neck. A second later Krillin heard a distinctive "snap" and Piccolo dropped the red-faced creature to the ground.

"P-Piccolo, are you all right?"

The Namek-jin aimed a searing glare at the monk, "What happened to Gohan?"

Krillin stuttered out what Garlic had told them and was relieved when Piccolo turned that scowl away from him.

"Krillin," Piccolo said after taking off his turban and cape, the dense clothing hitting the ground with thuds.

"Y-yeah, Piccolo?"

"Get Kami back inside the temple, then get back out here. We're going to need you. Timing will be everything."

"S-sure, Piccolo,"

The Namek-jin took to the air flying toward Gokou and Gohan. Krillin went over to Kami-sama and Chou-zu. "Kami-sama I'm going to take you—."

"I know Krillin. But we must wait for my assistant Mr. Popo."

"What? Why?"

"Only he will know what to do if I… if I am incapacitated."

"I'm sorry Kami-sama, but we don't have the time to wait for Mr. Popo!" Krillin exclaimed.

"Do not worry, he'll be here soon."

Son wasn't using his full power and was losing because of it. It was only the Saiyan's longer combat experience that kept him alive against the possessed child. Gokou was determined not to harm his son.

Piccolo, however, held no such inhibitions.

"Gohan… son… please stop, this isn't who you are!" Son pleaded blocking one punch, but caught one in the gut a second later.

Piccolo watched as Gohan pulled off a brutal combination on his father once Son's defenses went down, staggering the Saiyan. Piccolo recognized the moves. He'd taught them to the boy himself. Piccolo allowed himself a glimmering of a smile before vanishing…

He reappeared between Gokou and Gohan, fending off his former student's attacks, which were meant for the boy's father. Piccolo's interference only enraged the boy further. Gohan roared and his fists began swinging too fast for Piccolo to block. One impacted his chest, caving in his ribcage. Piccolo gritted his teeth in pain, uncertain rather or not the bewitched boy had broken any ribs, the pain was so intense.

Piccolo retaliated and backhanded Gohan, causing the boy's head whip to the side. Seeing an opening, Piccolo exploited it. He grabbed Gohan's arm and threw the boy headfirst at the Lookout's floor. Gohan rocketed toward ground only to flip at the last moment and land on his feet.

Piccolo saw the boy cock his head up and grin at him. Staring into the pitiless black holes that had become Gohan's eyes, Piccolo felt Gohan's ki rise even higher. He was stronger then Piccolo now.

The boy brought his hands up above his head and growled out his primary ki attack. "Maaaa… Sennn…"

As the ki charged in Gohan's hands the Namek knew there was no way to block or deflect it.

"Where has Gohan gotten all this power from?"

"Piccolo," Gokou floated weakly over to Piccolo.

"Son, you have to go full out now. Gohan's too strong. He'll kill us all."

"I won't hurt my son, Piccolo! This is not his fault!"

"Kooo!" The energy wave tore through the air at the two warriors. Gokou moved in front of Piccolo the Saiyan's body aflame in a red aura.

"Kaio-Ken times ten!"

The beam struck Gokou straight on, his energized body shielding Piccolo from the blast.

Piccolo flew from behind Gokou and came in at Gohan in an arch hoping to blind-side the boy. Just when Piccolo was moments away from tackling him, Gohan turned his head and removed a hand from his Masenko beam and placed his fore and middle finger to his forehead. Then he fired off a perfect Makankosappo.

Piccolo wasn't able to veer away in time.

Mr. Popo arrived on his flying carpet and carried Kami-sama into the Temple. Krillin made to follow the pair but Kami-sama stopped him. "You cannot come with us. The way is forbidden to mortals."

Krillin tried to protest but the god and his assistant sped away before he could. Thinking a few unspoken curses, Krillin returned his attention to the two battles above the Lookout.

The Sons were locked in a ki battle; Gokou's Kaio-ken against Gohan's power beam. Krillin didn't see Piccolo anywhere. And couldn't sense the Namek's ki signature either.

Garlic Jr. batted Ten to the ground. The three-eyed man's bulky body imprinting a human shaped hole in the tiled floor. Ten wasn't moving, but he was still alive.

Chou-zu flew to him before Krillin, who'd already anticipated Garlic's next attack, could utter a warning. The giant fired a ki beam down at Tenshinhan, swallowing both the Triclops and Chou-zu in its detonation. Garlic floated down in front of Krillin, blocking the monk's view of the resulting dust and debris plume.

"Don't I owe you pain, little man?"

Krillin could feel Garlic's ki raising steadily, invisible waves of dark energy pounded against him, like a huge hand doing compressions on his chest.

"You're getting stronger. H-how?" He asked breathlessly.

Garlic's lips curved up in a self-satisfied smirk. "Look behind you."

"Please… like I'm going… to fall for that!" the monk managed to choke out.

Garlic shrugged and then a fist slammed into Krillin face. Tumbling backward through the air, Krillin marveled at Garlic's speed. He hadn't even seen a flicker of the giant motions.

Its times like these I'm glad I don't have a nose. It'd be broken for sure!

Krillin performed a blind Zanzoken hoping to buy time before Garlic's next assault. But when he reappeared, it was like Garlic had been waiting for him and Krillin couldn't avoid the kick Garlic delivered. Garlic's lower leg bashed into his Krillin's kidney, sending an electric agony through the monk's midsection. Krillin screamed, but the howl was cut off when Garlic grabbed him by the throat and squeezed. Bursting the blood vessels in Krillin's eyes.

Strangulation wasn't Garlic's objective. The demon's ham-like fist started pounding into Krillin's face in rapid secession and it didn't take long for Krillin's face to go numb. For which he was grateful right up until his left eye ruptured with a sickening squelching sound. Krillin screamed, or thought he did, when the sight in his eye went out like a light bulb. He lost track of how many times he was struck after that and was only partially aware when the blows ceased.

"My, look at the mess I made," Garlic said. Krillin vaguely felt a hand brushed back and forth over his chest, and wetness, warm and sticky seep through his gi top. When Garlic let go of him, the monk felt the whoosh of air for a few seconds before he hit the ground, jarring every bone in his body.

Piccolo was miles away before he overcame the force of the Makankosappo. He had barely blocked the beam with both of his hands, and he knew he was only able to because Gohan couldn't put enough energy into it. The callused green skin on his right palm was smoking and sizzling at any rate, charred black.

Piccolo gathered some raw molecules from the air and transmuted them into a long, white strip of gauze-like material. He hastily wrapped the bandage around his injured hand. Not wanting to take the time or energy to heal his hand.

Piccolo examined his dressed hand, quickly flexing it to see how much dexterity was left—there wasn't much—before he shot off toward Kami's Lookout.

Things were not going well for his comrades when he reached the celestial haven. Gokou was on the run from Gohan, who was stalking his father with a hunter's determination. Krillin, Tenshinhan and Chou-zu lie unmoving on the ground. The Triclops and his companion sprawled next to each other, the monk lying twenty meters away from them. Garlic Jr. hovered above Krillin in his transformed state watching the Saiyans.

The Namek could sense two weak, but steady ki's coming from Ten and Chou-zu, but Krillin's was fading fast. Even from a distance, Piccolo could see the blood pumping out of the wound in the monk's face, right where his eye would be. The crimson liquid pooling around his shaven head.

Krillin was close to bleeding out.

Piccolo made a decision.

Son was going to have to survive a little while longer on his own.

Piccolo pushed his ki level down and coasted in under Garlic.

The smell of Krillin's blood assailed Piccolo's nostrils when he knelt down beside the monk's unconscious form. The vibrant red liquid bubbled out thick and slow from the hole where Krillin's eye used to be as it started to clot and congeal in the laceration. Piccolo created another gauze strip from thin air and began bandaging Krillin's head until the entire left side of his face was covered.

The cloth was already saturating with plasma by the time Piccolo finished, but otherwise the gauze had stopped the worst the monk's bleeding.

Piccolo stood up and returned his attention to Garlic, who'd missed the ministrations performed on Krillin. The giant had his back to the Namek, engrossed with the battle between Gohan and Gokou. With his arms out stretched, Piccolo flew at Garlic and slammed into Garlic's exposed back.

Piccolo heard a very satisfying crack as the demon's spine yielded and crumbled under his blow.

"Music to my ears." Piccolo mumbled as Garlic let out an agonized cry.

Maintaining his forward momentum, Piccolo pushed Garlic upward with his fists. When the Lookout was nothing more then a speck below them, Piccolo pulled away from the giant letting him free fall for a moment while he charged up big ki blast.

"Let's see how immortal you are in space…" Piccolo said, then fired into the small of Garlic's back.

Piccolo kept feeding the beam until he was certain the giant was past Earth's upper atmosphere and past the Earth's gravitational field.

It was the last thing he should have done.

The giant star Makyou-sei awaited.

There was no atmosphere in the Dead Zone and it was always ice cold within its limitless confines, so Garlic Jr. was right at home in the vacuum of space. The otherworldly demon smiled at the blue-green and white planet below him, waiting for the Makyou-sei to make its final approach into orbit around the Earth. Piccolo is a fool for throwing me into this most comfortable void, but what could one expect from the spawn of Kami? When the Makyou-sei reaches its apogee, I will reopen the Dead Zone and release a true Hell upon the Earth. And then all that stood in my way will kneel before me… or die!

Gokou lie on the ground, battered bloody. Gohan's was pressing his knee against Gokou's broad chest, giggling insanely as he pummeled the older Saiyan's head into the tile, which cracked under the force of the younger Saiyan's blows. Gokou's will to defend himself had all but vanished.

To Gokou's credit, he did not permit a single cry of pain to escape his lips, just repeated Gohan's name again and again.

Piccolo was never one to hesitate; he'd always been able to make spilt second decisions during even the most heated battles. And he was rarely wrong. Yet, as he beheld Gohan, the Namek didn't know what to do. Gohan bled profusely from a dozen lesions that had spontaneously appeared all over his arms, and probably the rest of his body, after his muscles swelled with an enormous amount of ki. Ki the boy's small frame could not contain naturally.

Piccolo's original intention had been to land a surgical blow to the base of Gohan's skull and knock him out. But the Namek saw now that anything he did to Gohan might inadvertently kill the boy. Gokou's pleas' stopped. The choice was taken away from him.

Piccolo raised his left hand until it was above his right shoulder and chopped down… His hand passed right through Gohan neck. Piccolo was only allowed a moment of confusion before he crumpled to the ground, every molecule in his body on fire as he started to fade from existence.

"Shit Krillin," The young monk heard Yamucha say.

Krillin opened his right eye—for some reason the other one wasn't obeying him. His vision was red and blurry; it looked like Yamucha was floating in a tank of cherry soda. And Kami does my eye itch, Krillin thought.

"Don't do that!" the scarred warrior exclaimed when Krillin reached up to rub his palm over his left eye.

Remembering, Krillin quickly moved his hand away, and instead felt along the left side of his head. The cloth bandage felt rather soft under his fingertips and was too tight around his face. But I guess I shouldn't be complaining.

"Thanks Yamucha,"

"For what?"

"This," Krillin answered pointing at the bandage.

"I didn't put that on ya. I think Piccolo did. Looks like the stuff his cape is made of."

"Oh. Help me up."

Krillin held out a hand and Yamucha pulled the small monk onto his feet. Krillin promptly fell back to the ground, clutching his head in agony. It felt like someone slid an ice pick straight through his eyeball, and twisted it around in his brain for good measure.

"Uh, maybe you should rest there for a while, Krill."

"N-no…" Krillin whispered shivering as the pain slowly subsided. "I can… handle it."

He tried standing again, moaned pitifully, then passed out.

Yamucha picked up the monk and carried him over to Ten and Chou-zu. The pair had come to just as Yamucha was returning to the Lookout. Krillin hung limply in Yamucha's arms breathing shallowly, sweat drenching his skin and soaking through his gi. Yamucha was afraid infection had already gotten into the wound, either that or Krillin was going into some kind of shock.

"Oh no!" Chou-zu exclaimed after Piccolo fell to the ground behind Gohan and started to dim.

Gohan got off of Gokou and stepped to Piccolo. The boy looked down at the vulnerable Namek and a strange, chilling smile spread across his mutilated face. Then he turned to the three remaining warriors and headed towards them. His smile widening into a death's head grin.

"His face, what's wrong with his face?" Chou-zu asked.

The skin on Gohan's face was split open with dozens of deep cuts that were laid open to the bone. And they grew more severe the larger his smile became.

Yamucha carefully put Krillin on the ground behind trio, then they each took uncertain stances.

"What are we supposed to do? Gohan looks like he's about to fall apart, but his ki is still higher then all of ours put together." Tenshinhan observed his deep voice amazingly calm.

"We just have to hold out until Kami-sama brings that Holy Water he was talking about." Yamucha said.

"But something's happened to Kami-sama. You saw Piccolo, he dropped for no reason!"

"He's not dead though,"

"Yet."

"Right, I'm talking to mister pessimist. Come on Ten, think positive!"

Gohan took two big running steps and attacked the trio.

Half his head was made of unfeeling stone. The chill air of the Lookout's high altitude was real against the naked side of his face, but the bandaged side had all the sensation of a very heavy rock. Krillin tried to turn his head to the sound of fighting, but the muscles in his neck weren't up to the task.

His senses told him it was Gohan that Yamucha, Ten, and Chou-zu were fighting. And though the half Saiyan's power was still high and unstable, it appeared to have peaked.

Gohan's ki boiling like a pressure cooker. He's so close. His body can't take much more! Krillin thought frantically.

Tightening the muscles in his abdomen, Krillin sat up. He did it too quickly, and his skull exploded. Bile rushed up his throat.

Krillin's coughed and spat the acrid liquid out of his mouth, the bile spattering the ground between his legs. His esophagus burned, and the sour smell made him feel nauseous all over again. Krillin scrambled backward away from the fetid pool and got shakily onto his feet.

He wobbled but willed himself to stay on his feet this time. He wiped away the sweat trying to get into his one good eye then turned to the battle. Krillin couldn't see anything at first, except the clashing of ki. It was difficult for him to focus his mind enough to follow the fast moving powers darting back and forth over the Lookout. Sometimes Ten, Yamucha, or Chou-zu were slowed by Gohan's blows, but Krillin would lose track of them again when they bravely re-entered to fight.

I'm useless right now. I can barely stand much less fight. Not that fighting Gohan is going to solve any… of course!

Krillin made his way to the very edge of the Lookout. Then he took a deep breath and fell off. He let gravity have its way until he saw Karin's tower, which hung right below Kami's Lookout connected by a thin stone umbilical.

Krillin utilized his Bu Kuu ability as gently as possible when he was half way to his destination, but it still hurt his head. When he was only a few feet away from the stone banister surrounding the turret, Krillin desperately grappled for the hand rest before the pain became too unbearable for him to fly. His head aching, Krillin pulled himself over the railing and landed hard on the floor.

Krillin lie there on his back, his chest rising and falling deeply, and he wanted nothing more then to just fall asleep.

"Krillin," He heard a gentle, deep voice call his name. The monk managed to turn his head and saw a cat with snow-white fur walk towards him using a wooden cane. Behind him was a short, pudgy man with frazzled black hair wearing a red robe-like gi. A katana was sheath at his ample waist.

"Karin-sama, Yajirobi… I need… magic beans. Garlic Jr. is … trying to take over again… possessed Gohan…"

"Oh, gross! He's bleeding all over the floor!" Yajirobi said making a face.

"Yajirobi there are several ripened senzu in the garden, please get them for me?" Karin asked the swordsman. "Krillin my boy, now what is this about Garlic Jr.?"

"He's back somehow… and he's possessed Gohan and everybody on Earth. We're really getting thrashed up there."

"Up there?"

"The Lookout."

"Here you go, Karin," Yajirobi came up and handed the cat a small brown pouch. Karin took the bag, opened it and took out a greenish bean.

Karin put the senzu to the monk's mouth; Krillin parted his lips and ate the bean. Chewing the senzu, Krillin tasted its sweetness on his tongue when it disintegrated in his month. A warm energy poured down his throat as he swallowed the beans' remains.

Krillin instantly felt his strength return and his injuries vanish in an euphoric burst of healing. His left eye reformed underneath the bandage and his head in general felt lighter and clearer. And his uninjured eye saw the world without the violent red haze. His left kidney, which had been bruised and bleeding internally, no longer throbbed in his side. Krillin sat up.

"Thank you, Karin-sama!"

Karin handed the bag of magic beans to Krillin. "Double thanks! You too, Yajirobi!"

"Yeah, yeah, stop grinning like an idiot and go save the world already!" Yajirobi scoffed, waving away Krillin's thanks.

"Yes, and good luck my son," Karin added.

"Right." Krillin tied the bag to his belt then ripped the blood-drenched gauze from around his head. The monk jumped off Karin's tower and sped back to Kami's palace.

"Why did you act like you didn't know about Garlic Jr. and the Mist, Karin?" Yajirobi asked as the pair watched Krillin leave.

"He might be suspicious of me later if he thinks I have a greater awareness of certain events."

Yajirobi looked at his mentor, "What do you mean?"

Karin turned away from the banister and retreated into the back compartments in his turret.

"Krillin will need to trust someone once he learns the truth."

Yajirobi was completely confused. But then Karin had always been rather cryptic. "And what truth is that, Karin?"

"That even gods can be cruel." The cat replied as he disappeared into the depths of his tower.