Authors Note: This chapter is essentially a retelling of what happened during the Z-senshi's fight with Vegeta and Nappa, with a few changes to set up for my main plot. Also, this chapter contains a lot of shifting perspectives, without any sort of marker, so be warned. For both these things I apologize. The next chapters should have less shifting within a scene, and will depart more from the actual DBZ timeline. Please bear with me on this.
In the quiet dark of the planet most recently conquered for Freeza, the Saiya-jin Prince slept. He breathed deeply, occasionally chuckling slightly, as he obliterated some dreamt enemy. He slept on in the shadow of night, lay unaware as on of the shadows moved.
The cloaked figure slowly crept forward, watching his every step, lest he should awaken his own demise. He stood over the sleeping prince, watching him.
"He looks so full of hatred, even asleep," thought the intruder. He carefully pulled a small vial, filled with a golden-brown liquid, from his cloak.
"Well, this should fix all that," he said, giving a small half-smile, "After all the suffering that's been caused, perhaps now it will finally end." He also removed a small plastic cylinder, with an inset needle on the end. He placed the vial into a small space on one side of the cylinder, where it clicked into place. He crouched down by Vegeta, placing the end of the cylinder with the needle on it against his skin. He pressed a small button on the opposite end of the device. The was a quick, sharp hiss. The stranger tensed for a moment as Vegeta mumbled something and swished his tail in his sleep. The moment passed, and the stranger relaxed, replacing the cylinder in his cloak. The vial was now empty.
"Mission accomplished," he thought as he strode away across the alien landscape, disappearing into the darkness.
"Are the pods ready yet, Nappa?" snapped the Saiya-jin Prince.
"Yes, Vegeta."
"Good," said Vegeta.
"I want to get off this mudball," he thought. He had been in a bad mood since he woke up that morning. He was experiencing a sharp pain in his arm. It was fading fast, but it was still enough to make him cantankerous.
"I suppose I overdid it with the chi blasts. I'll have to use less in the future," he smirked as he thought, "not that it will make the end result any different. The inhabitants of these planets are all so weak."
A few hours later, Vegeta and Nappa were inside their pods, streaking through space, talking via the communicators in their scouters.
"Do we have another assignment, Nappa?"
"Yes. There's a planet near here that Lord Freeza wants subjugated."
"How strong are the natives?"
"Mostly weak, but there are a few that are a few that may resist. They certainly caused trouble for Radditz."
"Hm?"
"He was killed."
"Hmph. Radditz was weak and a fool. If he was killed, he deserved it. Why does Freeza want this world anyway?"
"Natural resources."
"What's this planet called?"
"The natives call it Chikyuu."
"Another worthless assignment," thought Vegeta, "after we take this place, I'm going to begin training in earnest. Soon, I'll be able to take on that bastard, Freeza."
"There's one more thing."
"What?"
"One of the fighters that killed Radditz was a Saiya-jin. Radditz own brother, a third class warrior by the name of Kakarrot. Apparently suffering from amnesia."
"Hm. A third class warrior won't present any trouble for me."
The two pods streaked onwards toward Chikyuu, the mysterious liquid coursing its way through Vegeta's veins. At their destination, the Z Senshi trained day and night, preparing for their arrival in one year. The pods flew onward, streaking towards destiny.
The Saiya-jins had arrived. After a year of intense preparation, the Z-Senshi had felt their chi entering the atmosphere. Goku stared anxiously up into the sky, feeling a slight thrill go up his spine at the prospect of such a challenging battle. Piccolo and Gohan stared up into the sky with him. Goku thought again just how lucky he was to be here to train Gohan. He had very nearly died in the fight with Radditz. It had only been Gohan's sudden burst of strength, which had distracted Radditz long enough for both Piccolo and Goku to attack, that had won the day. With his dying breath, Radditz had told them that two other Saiya-jins, even greater in strength, would be arriving in one year's time.
The race against time had begun. Goku had wanted to train Gohan by himself, but Piccolo had insisted on helping.
"You're too soft to train the boy alone, Goku. He needs a hard taskmaster to bring out his inner strength, and I doubt that you fit the bill." And so Piccolo had joined him and Gohan in the wilderness, for one year of intense training. Kuririn, Yamcha, Tenshinhan, and Chaotsu had gone off to be trained by Kami-sama. Now that training was about to come to culmination.
"Someone's coming!" exclaimed Gohan. Goku looked up. He did feel someone coming, but it wasn't the Saiya-jins, it felt familiar. As the person drew nearer, Goku strained to see who it was. It looked like...
"Kuririn!"
"Hey Goku! Gohan... uh, Piccolo..." he said as he landed.
"I remember you. You were at the turtle guy's house." said Gohan, "Dad told me about you. Small but strong, right?"
"Yeah," Kuririn said, then turned to Goku. "Figures that you'd lead with 'small' though. Just cause you grew a little bit..."
"Enough talk," growled Piccolo, "here they come!" Indeed, they could all feel two immensely strong chis heading in their direction.
"I-I don't suppose there's any hope of that being Tenshinhan and Chaotsu, is there?" said Kuririn shakily.
"Don't be stupid," said Piccolo, "there is no way they could gain such strength." The two Saiya-jins drew closer, and tension continued to mount. Suddenly, the waiting was over. Almost faster than they could see, the two Saiya-jins were in front of them. Goku could not help but feel slightly impressed at their power and appearance. They were dressed in armor similar to that Radditz had worn. One was huge, bald, and muscular, looking like he had come out of the pages of some fitness magazine. The other was short, lean (though still muscular), with tall, spiky hair. It struck him as strange, but Goku sensed that the short one was somehow the stronger of the two. He came to the sudden realization that this would not be an easy fight. He had known this all along, of course, but it seemed to hit him fully only now.
"Well, well Nappa," the short one said, "the insects have prepared a welcoming committee."
"Heh, they've even managed to recruit a Namekian!" noted Nappa, "either that, or this planet has the largest slugs I've ever seen."
"Does... this mean that you're an alien too, Piccolo-san?" asked Gohan, rather wide eyed, as all of them were.
"I suppose so," said Piccolo.
"I always did wonder about the antennae," said Goku, then, in response to the looks from the others, "What?"
Their moment of disbelief was short lived, however, as Yamcha, Tenshinhan, and Chaotsu chose that moment to arrive.
"These insects seem to keep multiplying, Vegeta."
"Let's give them a small test before we fight them, shall we? How many Saab-men are there left?" Nappa removed a small vial from a small pouch. It contained what looked like seeds, and, in a small section at the end, a clear liquid.
"Seven."
"Perfect. One for each," said Vegeta as Nappa knelt down, scraped aside some dirt, and scattered the seeds into the hole he had made. He covered the hole with earth, and poured the liquid over top of it.
"They'll grow well in this soil," he said, standing up.
Vegeta looked around at the small group of Chikyuu-jins that had gathered in a pathetic attempt to stop them. None of these would present any trouble. Except, there was one, tall, with spiky black hair (and somewhat slow witted, it seemed). Vegeta sensed something different about that one. It had to be Radius's brother: Kakarrot.
"What's-" Kuririn began, but was interrupted by Vegeta.
"You'll see soon enough, shorty." Indeed they did. Large green bumps, riddled with veins, began to break through the soil. It quickly became apparent that these bumps were the craniums of large, green heads, which were quickly followed by bodies.
Vegeta could see that the Chikyuu-jins were unable to know what to make of what they were seeing. He decided to enlighten them.
"Which one of you weaklings will fight first? Just for a little entertainment before the real fight, you understand."
"A little entertainment... you think this is some sort of game?" demanded Tenshinhan.
"What else would you call it? You can't seriously hope to oppose us as you are." replied Vegeta, chuckling slightly, then, to the Saiba-men, "And you! You are to go all-out! I want to give these weaklings a challenge."
"Why you-" shouted Kuririn, "I'll fight first!"
"No," said Tenshinhan firmly, "You've already been resurrected once. You can't come back anymore. I'll fight."
"'Already resurrected...' What the hell are they talking about?" wondered Vegeta. His ponderings were interrupted when the Chikyuu-jin who had just spoken stepped forward and squared off against one of the Saiba-men. They stood still for a moment, sizing each other up, and then they sprang into action, connecting in aerial. They're movement too fast for the un-aided eye to follow. Both opponents were going head-to-head, but, Vegeta noticed, the Chikyuu-jin seemed to be having the easier time of the two. Suddenly, the Chikyuu-jin vanished in a burst of speed, and appeared behind the bewildered Saiba-man. He karate-chopped the back of his opponents neck, then struck out with his left leg, knocking the Saiba-man horizontal in the air. He brought his elbow down on the Saiba-man's stomach in a blow that sent the small green fighter plummeting downward to the waiting ground. The impact created a small crater, the Saiba-man lying at the bottom. The Chikyuu-jin landed also, among congratulations from his companions.
However, the celebration was cut short when the Saiba-man staggered to its feet. The Chikyuu-jin prepared to fight once more, but he was cut short when Vegeta sent a chi blast into the Saiba-man with a wave of his fingers, causing it to explode.
"I told you to go all-out," he said to the shocked Saiba-men, "You're companion was already beaten. Learn a lesson from his error."
Another Chikyuu-jin, with wild black hair and a scarred face, stepped forward: "All right then, its my turn."
"Be careful, Yamcha," warned Kakarrot as he stepped forward to fight, "you saw what a beating those things can take without going down." The Saiba-man and the Chikyuu-jin, Yamcha, connected in a flurry of punches and kicks. The Saiba-man stepped back, opened its head cavity, and shot a chi blast at its opponent. The Chikyuu-jins were forced to scatter as the blast went straight through where they were standing. Vegeta noticed that Kakarrot seemed to look around him frantically for a second, but then he saw one of the other Chikyuu-jins, short, and with extremely shaggy black hair, standing on the opposite side of the rut the blast had made. He then seemed to calm down.
Vegeta turned back to the fight, as the Chikyuu-jin took the opportunity the blast had created to appear in front of the Saiba-man. He brought both hands, balled into fists, slamming into each side the Saiba-man's neck. He then jumped up into the air, and sent a ball of chi down on his opponents head. It created a small crater around the Saiba-man, who collapsed. The Chikyuu-jin landed with his back to the crater, dusting off his hands. Vegeta smirked, suspecting what happened next. The Saiba-man, done with playing possum, leapt up and latched its arms around the supposedly victorious fighter. He tried to break free, but was unable.
Goku could hardly believe what had just happened, when it suddenly became worse. The green thing that the Saiya-jins had grown blew up. It self-destructed, taking Yamcha with it. He fell to the ground, all life gone.
The Chikyuu-jins stared in shock at what had just happened. The small, bald one stepped forward, assuming a fighting stance.
"You are gonna pay for that," he growled, placing his hands in front of him, gathering his chi, "every last one of you. Hrrraaaaaaa- Mystic Chi!" A large blast shot out from his outstretched palms, moving in the direction of the Saiba-men, Vegeta and Nappa.
"Does he really think we won't be able to dodge that?" though Vegeta with a smirk, "not that we have to." The Saiba-men scattered as the blast reached them. The bald Chikyuu-jin twisted his hands, and the blast shot up into the air. Vegeta raised an eyebrow. He hadn't thought anyone from this backwater planet could have that sort of control, rudimentary though it was. The Chikyuu-jin brought his hands down swiftly, and the blast split into seven smaller blasts, each of which rocketed down its own individual target. They each hit, four of the five Saiba-men (the fifth leaping out of the way) along with Vegeta and Nappa disappearing into the blinding light of the blast.
"Heh, missed one," smirked the bald Chikyuu-jin, surveying his handiwork. However, the satisfaction he felt was short lived, as the smoke cleared, revealing Vegeta and Nappa standing unharmed.
"Aw, crap..." said the Chikyuu-jin as he saw that his strongest attack had left its two primary targets unscathed. The shock, like his earlier satisfaction, was abruptly ended when the remaining Saiba-man exploded out of the lingering dust, charging at the small Chikyuu-jin with the shaggy hair. Kakarrot was the first to react.
"Gohan!" he yelled, launching a hasty chi blast at the Saiba-man, which promptly vaporized on impact. Kakarrot ran over to the one who had been attacked, checking to see if he was all right.
"Kakarrot seems to have a special interest in that one," thought Vegeta, remembering Kakarrots apparent panic after the Saiba-man's blast, which had been alleviated when he saw that the short one was all right. "I wonder if..."
Vegeta stared at Kakarrot and the boy, going back and forth between the two. His face slowly formed a smirk as he realized the truth.
"Yes... of course, there is a resemblance. Well, well, Kakarrot, I see you haven't totally wasted your time on this planet," the smirk on Vegeta's face widened ever-so-slightly "I may be able to exploit this information later, but perhaps it will not be necessary. We shall see."
"All right," said Nappa, snapping Vegeta out of his reverie, "I'll take all of you out at once! Sorry you won't get any action, Vegeta." Nappa took a deep breath and began focusing his chi. The ground itself shook as the muscular giant gathered his power.
[Here it comes!], said Piccolo telepathically, [the only weakness these Saiya-jins seem to have is their tails. We'll have to exploit that if we want any hopes of winning this!] The others responded in the affirmative.
[Right], continued Piccolo, [Goku, you've got to start focusing your power, in case something goes wrong.]
[Piccolo, I've got to help! You expect me to stand around doing nothing while you all risk your lives?]
[I'd rather see that than see you go into battle unprepared and get us all killed.]
[But-]
[Better do what Piccolo-san says, Dad. If this doesn't work, we'll need you!]
[All right, but the minute things go wrong, I jump into the battle.]
"Okay, who's first?" said Nappa, finishing his power-up.
Kuririn, Chaotsu, Piccolo, and Gohan all launched attacks at the same time.
"Chienzan!"
"Dodon Pa!"
"Light of Death!"
"Masenko!"
"Heh," said Nappa, easily dodging all three attacks, "those almost could have hurt me. Almost."
"Ha!" yelled Tenshinhan, phasing into visibility directly behind Nappa. The attacks had merely been a diversion. His hands shot forward, and had almost reached the tail, when Nappa's hand shot forward and closed around his throat.
"You fools," sneered Nappa, throwing a stunned Tenshinhan to the ground, "didn't you think that we would have suspected that kind of ploy?" He rose into the air, and brought a hand, crackling with chi, over his head.
"I will annihilate you in a single shot!"
[That's it Piccolo, I've got to do something], shouted Goku mentally.
[No!] Piccolo shouted back, [Tenshinhan will be able to dodge! Keep concentrating your power!] Goku responded only with begrudging silence.
Nappa was about to launch his attack, but was interrupted when Chaotsu shot forward into the air, and latched onto Nappa's back.
"What the-!" shouted Nappa, reaching around and trying to grab onto his diminutive attacker, "can't- reach-"
[Chaotsu, what are you doing?], Tenshinhan cried desperately.
[Tenshinhan... goodbye...]
[Chaotsu! No!]
Choatsu released all his chi at once, exploding in a massive fireball. Everyone on the ground stood motionless. The smoke then cleared, revealing Nappa, scorched but unharmed. It was then that Tenshinahn found his voice.
"CHAOTSUUU! Chi-Kung-Pao!" Tenshinhan shoot forth all his energy at Nappa. The Saiya-jin was consumed in blinding light, but once more came out unharmed.
"I failed..." came the whispered words, before Tenshinhan collapsed. His energy had been completely spent by his attack. However, Kuririn took the opportunity to evaporate into super-speed, and appear behind Nappa, grabbing his tail.
"Ha-HA!" he cried. He was cut short by the fist that came slamming into his side.
"You really thought we would leave such vulnerable spots unprotected?" sneered Nappa. A hard kick sent Kuririn into the sky, still clutching his side. He stopped himself midair, sending a jolt of pain through his body that caused him to double up. He opened his eyes and found Nappa hovering in front of him, palm extended.
"Oh, shit-" he was cut short by a massive blast of chi, which completely engulfed his body, incinerating him. Goku finally lost it.
"KURIRIN!" he stepped forward, his chi slowly building into a towering wall of power. "You are going to pay for each and every one of them." There was no hesitation in his voice. There was only determination and a quiet, terrifying rage.
"This," thought Vegeta, "should be interesting."
Next: The Silent Rage of Son Goku