Chapter Thirty-One - Ginyu Force Defeated!

Piccolo looked around him in wonder. The sky was green and the grass was blue, he was on Namek. A sound caught his attention, a low groaning. Turning he saw two forms laying in the grass about a hundred yards away. One of them was clawing his way across the ground. Quickly he approached to see if they needed help and discovered one was a Namek.

The Namek looked over to him. "I've not... seen you... before..."

"I'm from Earth." Piccolo said bending down. "Are you okay?"

Nail tried to laugh but ended up coughing. "Nope. I'm not going to make it this time. And neither are you, you're strong but not strong enough. Not alone..." Piccolo remained silent. Somehow he knew what Nail was suggesting. "You'll need the power, especially once Frieza gets here..."

"Fine, but if you get to annoying I'll evict you. Understood?" Nail just nodded. Piccolo placed his hand on the other's chest as Vegeta watched on curiously. Suddenly Nail was engulfed in a brilliant glow that grew to cover Piccolo too. There was a flash of light and Nail was gone.

Piccolo stood and looked himself over. "This is... amazing!"

"A little... help." Vegeta grunted from where he laid.

Piccolo walked over to him. "I don't have the power to heal..."

"My... ship has... a regen... tank."

Piccolo nodded as he picked Vegeta up and lifted into the air. He could feel a battle in the distance, he'd go there after getting... "Who are you anyway?" he asked glancing at the man slung over his shoulder. "Hmph, passed out."

******

Bardock slammed into the ground hard as Ginyu floated above him laughing. "This is to easy!"

~You have to fight him!~ Goku's mental voice called.

~I can't...~

~I have a plan but you have to beat him, he needs to do that body change thing again!~

Bardock laid in silence for a moment. "I hope you know what you're doing." he said softly. Suddenly a bright red aura engulfed him as he lifted into the air. "Ginyu! This ends!" he cried coldly.

Ginyu laughed. "Please Bardock, this body is strong than yours!"

Bardock grinned. "True, Goku's base is higher than mine now, but you can't use the Kaio Ken and I can!" Bardock clutched his fists as Ginyu looked at him confused. "Oh, that's right, you didn't know that did you? Goku and I know a technique called the Kaio Ken that allows us to raise our powers beyond our normal. That's the power you saw earlier."

"What! No! That can't be!"

Bardock grinned. Ginyu may have Goku's body but not his skills. "It's over Ginyu! Kaio Ken times Five!" The red aura of the Kaio Ken exploded out around Bardock as the Sai-jin surged in at Ginyu. /My power's a lot lower than I thought it was... I lost over half my strength letting him pound me earlier, I'll have to make this quick!/

Bardock slammed his fist into Ginyu's face hard and followed up with a knee to the stomach. Ginyu couldn't even see Bardock move as the other continued to pound on him. Ginyu's mind raced frantically. /I need to do something! This body's as weak as the Sai-jin said, I can't win like this. But what do I do? I'll have to take Bardock's body, and quickly, this one's starting to fade.../

~Alright, stop!~ Goku's voice called. ~Ginyu looks desperate, stop attacking and land near me.~

~Right. I don't know what you're up to but I hope it works.~ Bardock replied telepathically landing a few yards to Goku's right.

Ginyu turned to face the warrior and spread his arms apart. "Change now!" he cried. Bardock took a step back, he'd not exactly expected that. Then, suddenly, a purple form appeared in front of him and he realized Goku had been counting on it. He smiled as a moment later Goku was returned to his own body, then promptly fell to the ground nearly unconscious. Bardock didn't waste any time and fired the strongest KI blast he could muster right through Ginyu before the alien could switch bodies again. He turned and saw Jiece getting ready to fly off and quickly blasted him out of the sky as well. In their weakened states he could have posed a problem if allowed to live.

Panting he walked over to where Goku laid. "How do you feel?"

Goku grimaced. "I've been better... There's still two Senzu's left, we can split them."

"I'd hold off on those." Said a female voice. The two Sai-jins looked to find a young woman with sky blue hair. "You may need those after Frieza gets here."

"Who..."

"My name is Azura, I am the Guardian of this planet. Come, there is a ship near-by with Regen Tanks." she walked over to them and knelt down beside Goku placing a hand on his shoulder. She then looked up at Bardock. "Grab my shoulder." she said. Bardock nodded and placed a hand on her shoulder. A second later they were in front of a space ship. With Azura's help Bardock lifted Goku and carried him inside.

"B... Bulma?" Bardock asked in shock.

The woman looked up from where she sat as the three entered the ship. "Goku, Bardock, you're here!" she cried getting up. "Oh no, you're injured!"

"Which way to the Regen Tanks?" Bardock asked. Bulma led them through a couple hallways and to a small room with six regen tanks. She helped Bardock put Goku in a tank and then got one ready for him. "Where are Krillin and the others?"

"They went to summon the Dragon, I'm not sure after that." As Bardock's tank was just starting to fill his eyes snapped open. "Bulma, there's a huge power coming this way!" He started to pull himself from the tank but Azura pushed him back inside.

"Don't worry about that, it's just Piccolo."

Bardock relaxed at that. /But... how could he have gotten so... strong.../ With that thought his eyes closed and he passed out as the machine began to do its work.

Bulma led Azura back to the ship's entrance where they awaited Piccolo's arrival. A second later the Namek touched down with Vegeta over his shoulder. "Vegeta!" Bulma cried running over to them. "First Bardock and Goku come in all beaten up and now you too, what's going on?"

"Goku's here?" Piccolo asked.

Bulma nodded. "He and Bardock just got here, they're in the Regen Tanks. Really impressive technology..."

Azura stepped between Bulma and Piccolo. "Bulma, take Vegeta inside and get him in a tank." The woman nodded and did as told. Then Azura turned to Piccolo. "So, you're Zildar..."

"Who?" Piccolo asked. "I think you've got me confused with someone else..."

Azura shook her head. "No, you're Zildar. Or rather, were."

Piccolo's eyes widened. /Wait... could she mean.../

"I do. You were Zildar and now you are both Piccolo and Kami. We could have used Zildar's strength but you'll do, once I've brought out your hidden power."

"Hidden power?"

Azura nodded. "Yes. Most living creatures poses more power than they actually have access to. Goku and Bardock can tap into this power via the Kaio Ken technique, the Enhancer rings also allow a person to tap into this power. I can allow a person to access a this power as well. With Gohan I was only able to unlock some of his power, unlocking it all would have torn his body to shreds." She raised her arm and placed her hand on his forehead. "That shouldn't be a problem with you." A moment later Piccolo's power was increased even further than it had been after the fusion. "Now all we can do... is wait."

She watched him as he entered Vegeta's space ship. /One of the last two reaming Super Nameks... or at least half of him. He should give us a bit of an edge in the coming battle. I hope./

*******

On the former battlefield a single form shifted slightly, pain lanced through his body as he moved. He reached into his armor and pulled out a small remote with a built in transmitter. A moment after he pressed the only green button on the controller his space pod touched down beside him. Struggling to stay conscious he pulled himself inside his pod and collapsed into the seat. With some effort he managed press the communication button in the pod and a face flickered onto the monitor. "I...." was all he could moan.

"I'll program your pod from here." she told him. "The others didn't make it?" After a moment of silence he shook his head. "Right." with that her face vanished. A second later he felt the pod lifting into the air.