Chapter 5: Rescue Team
The trail was plainly clear. 18 lead the small group of her husband, Vegeta, and Yamcha. It had been twenty minutes since they had left Capsule Corps after Bulma gave 18 the formula for the chemical residue.
"How much longer, android? I'm getting impatient," Vegeta complained.
"Give her a break, Vegeta," Krillin protested, "She's doing the best she can!"
"So, the weak male finally stands up for his mate."
"What?!"
"Come on, guys," Yamcha intervened, "We need to concentrate on rescuing Gohan."
"Fine," Vegeta agreed, "but this had better be wroth it. That kid had better not have been capture by someone too weak."
"There it is!" 18 announced.
The group saw what looked like a field of trees.
"18, are you sure that's it?" Krillin asked.
"Yeah," 18 said using her scanners to see though a hologram, "I'm sure."
Gohan struggled to get free of Drago's grasp, but he was still weak from the gas. At the roof of the ship, Gohan, Drago, and Talusk could see the morning sun. The roof itself was partially covered by a semi-hemisphere of metal. Gohan looked at the portion exposed to the outside and saw two silver objects start to lay down something. Upon closer observation, he made out metallic robots that did not have any legs. They were floating with only a body, two mechanical arms, and a robotic head with one eye each.
"Observe, Gohan," Talusk spoke, "The retractable dome and the Crones, technological locaters, gatherers, and fighters. The best money can buy."
"Yes," Drago added, "the third should be here momentarily with the last Dragon Ball."
"Drago," Talusk ordered, "Get him ready. Usually, Gohan, this is a cargo bay, but today it is your last take of your planet."
"Talusk," Gohan said, "Immortality isn't the answer. It will only torment you for eternity. Drago must have told you about Garlic Jr. He is immortal, but he will never be happy, especially in the Dead Zone. You can hunt all the beings in the universe, but you will still have to face that torment of living forever."
Talusk looked at Gohan. At first, he looked cold-eyed, but then he began to look sympathetic. Gohan could see that he was seriously thinking about his argument. After a minute of silence, Talusk smiled.
"Off with his head."
The armored human went back to work. After Drago removed the retrains from Gohan, he faced him towards a chair-like device with a high back. Another attempt to escape and Gohan found himself carried by Drago to the device. He sat Gohan down and grabbed his hands. Putting them to the back of the chair, Drago locked wrist restraints to Gohan's wrist. Attempting to get up, Gohan felt metallic tentacles from the chair wrap around his chest, legs, and ankles, strapping him to it. Drago forced Gohan's head to lean against the chair's back. He clamped another restraint to Gohan's forehead and attached it to the chair, holding his head in one place.
"There. All comfortable now? Usually this device is in the ship, but I suggested to Lord Talusk that we might use it in the beautiful scenery of our home planet," Drago said referring to himself and Gohan.
"Drago, you don't have to do this," Gohan pleaded, "I'm an earthling just like you."
"So what? Lord Talusk promised me that I could have a wish from the dragon after his. I know it can grant more than one."
Drago then attached something above Gohan's head. Gohan then felt a tingling sensation on his scalp, and it continued to move downward. A ring emitted a blue light around Gohan's head and continued its way down.
"That is the scanner/severer," Drago explained, "It scans your head and sends the data to the central computer, which will determine the process of making it displayable. As soon as it gets to the bottom part of your neck, all I have to do is push a button, and hundreds of tiny lasers on the ring do the rest. Instant decapitation."
The ring came down to the base of Gohan's neck. Drago took his finger and traced the blue light, running his finger along Gohan's neck making a sawing noise.
"Drago, please. Listen to me…"
Drago tore off part of Gohan's gi and stuffed it in Gohan's mouth. He gave a signal to Talusk and readied his hand on a large red button at the side of the chair.
"Now," the hunter said, "all I have to do is wait for the last Dragon Ball to be delivered."
"I don't think so, loser."
Talusk looked back to the outside portion of the roof. A large energy beam hit him, which he blocked. He and Drago saw Vegeta, 18, Krillin, and Yamcha land close to the set Dragon Balls.
Oolong thought the elevator ride was excessively long as the door opened up. He stepped outside only to see Talusk block a huge energy blast. Dodging behind crate, he waited for the noise to settle. Peeking back to the outside, he saw the rescue team land beside six Dragon Balls.
"Good. Those guys will take care of things."
He looked to his left and saw another elevator but also Drago standing surprised next to a restrained and gagged Gohan.
"Oh no. I don't know what that is, but it doesn't look good. Gohan's in trouble, but I can't do anything."
"Drago! Crones! Attack them!"
"Sire," Drago asked, "who will do Gohan in?"
"I will. After I wish for immortality, I will push the button. I must have him witness my rise to glory."
"As you wish."
The two Crones went straight for 18 and Vegeta. Drago super speeded to Yamcha and Krillin. Vegeta transformed into a Super Saiyan and started to fight the Crone. 18 flew upwards, but the other Crone followed. Drago punched the two humans and forced them away from the ship. The Crone fighting Vegeta rammed the Saiyan prince out of the ship's parameter. The fight of 18 and Vegeta with the Crones became an even match. Drago, on the other hand was toying with the two humans.
"Fools. I am as strong as Gero was when he became an android."
"How does he know Dr. Gero?" Krillin asked.
Drago punched him and Yamcha fired an energy blast. Drago withstood the blast unscratched. The armored human fired his own energy blast, which Yamcha dodged.
"What?! How is that? I should have hit you."
"Looks like you aren't really good on aiming."
Drago charged at Yamcha and socked him in the face. Krillin kicked Drago in the back with no effect. Turning around, Drago fired another blast, barely missing Krillin's head but not his hair.
"Oh man! It took me a year to grow that," he said felling the smoking bald spot.
Vegeta dodged another of the Crone punches and landed a kick in its shoulder. The Crone fell back only to get up and fire an electrical blast at Vegeta. Dodging it, Vegeta fired an energy blast at the Crone, but it evaded it.
"What's the matter? Computer crash?"
The Crone pointed its fists at Vegeta and fired them from its arms. They struck Vegeta, who was caught off guard. As he fell, the fists came back to their respected arms. The Crone quickly charged at Vegeta, pounding him to the ground below. Vegeta was pined down by the untraceable punches of the machine. 18 blocked the other Crone for some time before it began to move faster. It managed to hit her in the gut and, as she flinched, surrounded her in an energy field of some sort. It contracted to the point where it outlined her body. Barely able to move, she struggled to get free.
In the next chapter, Krillin turns into a Super Saiyan, there by re-growing his hair. Just kidding. I will have the next one in about another twenty-four hours so hang on. I just hope all of you know something about Dragon Ball for the next chapter. (hint: Pilaf)