Authors note: Hey, guys, thanks for the reads, and the reviews. I love getting those alerts. Please feel free to keep them coming, and let me know your thoughts as the story progresses.
Chapter 12
Back at base camp
Turles and Gohan landed on an open part of the planet. There was a cliff to their north, river to their west, and grass spotted with trees to their south and east. A small burn mark indicated where their ship had landed just a short while ago.
"Where is everyone?" Turles asked Gohan, looking around the clearing. "We told them to hide, but they should have left some sign of where they were going!"
"Why would they do that? If they left a sign, anyone could find them." Gohan swept his focus across the horizon. "Feel for them, they wouldn't have gone far. They'll be suppressing their energy, but Bulma should still be easy to pick out."
Gohan slowed his search and pointed at a cliff. "They're that way."
"In the hill?" Turles approached the cliffside, not seeing any obvious openings. After a few moments of close investigation, he noticed a large boulder was sunken into a hole, and didn't quite sit flush. Picking the boulder up and setting it aside he found the opening to Krillin's cave.
"It's Turles and Gohan. Come on out, the coast is clear." he hollered in. "You need to leave, now!"
A minute later, Tien exited, followed by Krillin and Bulma picking up the rear.
"What's going on? Where's Goku?" Bulma asked.
Turles took a deep breath. "Goku went to go check on a Namekian village that may be under attack. Frieza almost certainly knows we're here after I powered up to prove a point to a Namekian leader. We need you to get this Dragon Ball off planet, so Frieza can't get to it."
"Where are we supposed to go?" Bulma asked while fishing through her pockets.
"I don't care where you go, as long as it's far from here, or at least well-hidden." Turles gruffly responded. "The Frieza Force isn't really set up for ship-to-ship combat anymore, and as long as you can evade them I'd imagine you should be safe. I'd say, maybe go back home? Hide on the far side of one of these stars? The galaxy is a big place, find somewhere, and hide."
"We're not leaving without Goku." Tien said as Bulma finally found her capsule case.
"Yeah, he wouldn't leave us." Krillin said, as Bulma summoned the ship into the same spot where it landed.
Turles smirked at the humans. "I told Goku I'd tell you to leave. I didn't promise him you'd listen. If you want to stay, that is your choice, but you'll probably both die, just so you know. A Namekian, Tsuno, told us of an elder Namekian who may be able to help us. Once whoever is leaving leaves, we'll go find him and see what kind of blessing he has for us."
Bulma opened the ship. "This will take a few minutes to get ready to run. Gohan, you're coming with me."
Gohan set his chin. "No, I'm staying here. I'm not leaving without Dad, and I'm not leaving without Piccolo."
Bulma stopped mid step and closed her eyes for a second. 'Chi-Chi is going to kill me.' "Are you sure, Gohan? I don't know how much use you'll be here, I know I wouldn't be of any. I'd just be in the way, and if your dad is fighting Frieza, don't you think you would be too?"
Gohan took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. "Even if I'm not always helpful with what's to come, I know I'll be a net positive. I made up my mind, I'm staying."
"Krillin? Tien? Are you sure you want to stay?"
"I'm not as positive as Gohan is, but I can't leave my best friend." Krillin said.
"Goku wouldn't leave me, I'm not going to leave him. I'm sure as hell not going to leave Gohan." Tien said.
"Alright, once I'm somewhere safe, I'll send an update back home. Tien, can I get your help in the ship for a moment?" Bulma asked.
Turles, Krillin, and Gohan discussed their next actions, how to safely get to Guru's place, and who would do the talking once they got there. In the meantime, Tien followed Bulma into their only means off planet.
Bulma handed Tien a capsule, closing his hand around it. "I put the fruit in this capsule. Hopefully, you don't need it, but in case you do, it's here. I don't know how it will effect humans, so please don't use it unless you need to."
"Thank you, Bulma." Tien said. "It's good to have an emergency plan."
"How's your arm holding up?" Bulma asked.
"So far so good. It's come in handy once already, and I appreciate you making it for me." Tien said.
"Well, keep me in the loop about it, and let me know if you think of any changes that need to happen." Bulma smiled at her work.
Getting back to the exit of the ship, Tien walked down the ramp, and Bulma stood at the top. "Last chance, guys. Once it hits the fan, I'm not coming back until things have calmed down."
Tien, Krillin, and Turles exchanged glances. "We're staying."
'Boys.' Bulma thought to herself. Reaching out of sight she pulled a scouter off of a shelf and threw it to Turles. "Turn it on and contact me when it's safe to come back. I assume you know how to use it?"
"Of course I do." Turles put the device on his ear. "We'll be in touch."
With that, they said their farewells and the door slid closed. Bulma waved until it sealed, before making her lonely way to the controls. A minute later, she was launching into space and moments later Namek, was a dot in the cosmos.
"So, off to Guru's?" Gohan asked.
Moori's village
Goku peaked over a high ridge, looking down on where he and his family stood just a short while ago. Moori was outside again, the children were hiding again, and the villagers were around their elder again. Several warriors stood in a semi-circle in front of Moori and the others, around a squad of nearly identical armed soldiers, a pair of odd aliens, and a horned man in a hovering semi spherical pod.
At an unseen command, the Namekian warriors threw their fists forward, blasting energy towards the primary trio of aliens. Before they made impact though, the shorter, wider, pink alien got in front of the rest and allowed the blasts to harmlessly fizzle out on his armor. A flash later, the Namekians were falling to the ground, their heads crushed between the monsters fists.
"Don't do it, Goku." King Kai spoke into Goku's mind.
"He's killing them. He's going to kill them all." Goku responded.
"If Frieza becomes aware of you, he'll kill you too. Who's going to save the planet, the galaxy, or your friends, if Frieza kills you?"
While Goku and King Kai debated, Frieza, the pale-skinned alien in the pod, pointed at Moori and shot a pair of beams towards him, hitting both his knees. Moori fell to the ground, letting out a scream of pain, unable to catch himself.
"Where is the Dragon Ball?" Frieza's voice was calm, cold, and bored.
"You can't have it. I won't give it to you. No matter what you do to me." Moori managed to speak through clenched teeth.
"Eldest third, except him." Frieza instructed the taller, purple haired, alien beside him. "Make it quick."
"Ready." Zarbon instructed and the squad of soldiers prepared their weapons.
"Aim." The soldiers fanned out their rifles, several pointing at each target.
"Fire." His tone was as bored as Frieza's.
Over twenty blasts went into the crowd of Namekians, and as Frieza instructed a third of them fell to the ground, twitching out their dying breaths.
"Stop, please, I beg you! You don't need to do this!" Moori pleaded from the ground.
"My Dragon Ball?" Frieza extended his hand towards the downed Namekian.
"I can't give it to you. Please stop. You don't need to do this. You don't need the Dragon Ball. You are already so powerful."
"Middle third." Frieza instructed.
"Ready." The guns were prepared once more.
"Aim." Targets were acquired, and each of the remaining Namekians had several weapons pointed at them.
"NO!" Moori shouted.
"Fire." Zarbon spoke softly. A barrage of energy blasts cut through the remaining villagers, who fell atop their elders.
"I'm not a monster." Frieza said with a smile. "I don't want to execute the children. Although, I will if you force me."
"Shall I gather them from their homes?" Zarbon asked.
"Yes, please do so. Be gentle though, these creatures are so fragile. I'd hate to hurt them… unintentionally." Frieza chuckled.
Zarbon blinked into existence in the center of the village. Using his scouter he began searching for the remaining Namekians. "Come out come out wherever you are."
Moori grunted in pain as he pulls himself to his hands and knees, touching his forehead to the ground. "Please, I beg you, don't kill the children. They are innocent, they have so much life left to live."
"I'll make you a deal, and I don't make deals often. If you do not give me the Dragon Ball, they will not die. They will wish they could, but I will not allow it. Or, you can give me the Dragon Ball, and I will promptly leave."
Goku's fingers dug into the dirt. 'If he hurts them, he dies.'
"Found two!" Zarbon slowly flew out of the village, a pair of crying Namekian children reaching for each other in his hands.
"We'll do this one at a time, peace by peace, Namekian." Frieza grinned at the panic in Moori's eyes. "I'll start with their hands, and then their feet. We'll work our way up until they have no functioning nerves in their limbs, probably rip off those flimsy head things while we're at it. Then we'll heal them up, and restart from scratch. I'm of course a busy individual, but don't you worry, we'll have teams dedicated to those, for the rest of their natural lives. How does this sound? Would you like me to do that? If so, all you have to do is refuse me the Dragon Ball, just one more time. So, tell me, where is my Dragon Ball?"
"I'll, I'll give you the ball." Moori said.
"Go fetch, dog." Frieza pulled a glass of wine from his pod and slowly took a sip. As Moori tried to get to his feet, failing, falling, Frieza waved a dismissive hand his way. "Crawl."
Moori began to cry silently as he began dragging his battered body towards the village.
"Please, sir." One of the children called from Zarbon's grasp. "Please let me go get the Dragon Ball for you, sir."
"Someone taught the pup manners." Zarbon laughed. "Shall I release the hound?"
"If it gets me my ball quicker, then yes, I don't care." Frieza took another slow sip of his wine.
Zarbon dropped the Namekian child to the ground, and he yelped as he hit the ground. Hurrying to his feet he began running into the village.
"If that child gets attacked, I'm getting involved." Goku told King Kai.
The child, Dende, entered one of the homes, and moments later came out with a large orange orb. Careful not to stumble over his own feet, he hurried the ball to Frieza, and held it out to him, above his head, for the tyrants inspection.
Frieza leaned forward and the ball raised out of Dende's hands, spinning on its axis in front of Frieza. Frieza pointed at the stars.
"One, two, three. Four, five, six." The ball continued spinning. "Seven, eight?"
"Yes, sir, it's the 8-star Dragon Ball, sir." Dende took a few steps back.
"Dende, run! Get out of here!" Moori shouted from his spot on the ground. Dende responded immediately and began sprinting away.
Zarbon stepped forward. "You can't fool Lord Frieza."
He began walking after Dende, but was stopped by an extended hand from Frieza.
"He's mine." Frieza said. He telepathically moved the Dragon Ball between him and the boy, and with a sharp nod he sent the ball rocketing at Dende.
Dende glanced back, seeing Frieza launch his strike. Distracted, he fumbled and fell. Moori let out a horrified scream.
Suddenly, Goku appeared in a blur of orange, shattering the fake Dragon Ball between his elbow and his knee.
"Who, are you?" Frieza asked. "You're not a Namekian. In fact, you look quite familiar. Hmm."
Frieza put a finger to his chin, smiling.
"Power level under 5, but that can't be right." Zarbon said. "Maybe he can hide his power? Maybe he's the 18,000 we detected earlier?"
"No bother." Frieza said. "Kill him."
Goku sunk into his fighting stance, and let out a powerful yell. His aura ignited, both Dodoria's and Zarbon's scouters exploded and Zarbon winced back. Reaching the peak of his power, knowing that the underlings wouldn't be a factor, Goku pushed himself further. He reached inside, feeling like minutes passed, when in reality not even a second had done so. He felt the energy in him again, the ball of power that he couldn't quite touch. He reached out again, brushed the surface again, and erupted in power again.
As Goku erupted in red, he streaked across the clearing between him and the targets of his fury. While all of these creatures were evil, all deserved punishment and to be brutalized, he stayed focused. He went for Frieza. Powering through the hovering chair he sat in, Goku landed a powerful blow in the tyrant's stomach. Spit mixed with blood flew from Frieza's mouth as Goku followed through with his attack, blowing the remains of the broken vehicle away.
Frieza was caught off guard. His eyes widened in surprise, or fear? He swung wildly with his right arm, trying to hit Goku's cheek, but due to his lack of preparation, and the fist trying to force its way through his stomach, he punched far too slowly.
Goku grabbed Frieza's fist with his free hand, and squeezed. He felt the bones snap in his fingers. He felt the hardened flesh rip apart in his grasp. He smelled the putrid blood shoot between his fingers.
Frieza let out a scream of agony and Goku took advantage of the distraction. He got on top of Frieza, kicking him into the ground. Immediately he was on top of Frieza, delivering punch after punch to his face, stomach, torso, and arms. Whenever Frieza would adjust his guard, Goku would find a new target, and try to grind whatever bones were in it to dust.
"You won't be asked again." Goku stopped his assault, shocked at the carnage he delivered, but not planning to stop yet. Grabbing Frieza's horns, one in each hand, he smashed his forehead into Frieza's face. "Leave Namek."
"Your rampage ends now. I will not allow you to continue hurting these people." Goku punctuated his statement with continued headbutts. When he felt a shower of blood on his face he took a moment to look again. Frieza's nose was broken, or more accurately missing, a paste.
Goku made eye contact with Frieza, glaring through him more than at him. "If I see you again, I will kill you. I do not give second chances." Goku pulled down with all his might, snapping the horns off of Frieza's head. Frieza screamed in pain. "I am Goku. Leave."
Goku looked at the horns in his hand.
"You can have this back. A gift from my son, for what your soldier did to him." Goku lined up his shot, and thrust the horn through Frieza's smoking scouter, and into his left eye. "I'm keeping your other horn. If I see you again, It's going in your other eye before you die."
Goku stood up and prepared to kick Frieza before regaining control. Goku watched as Zarbon and Dodoria slowly pounced at him.
Taking a step back, he grabbed the back of each of their heads. Putting some muscle into it, but not too much, he made sure they hit each other with all their momentum, and they fell to the ground like a couple of sacks of space potatoes. He didn't kick them while they were down, he just used his foot to flip their unconscious bodies on top of Frieza's body. He looked around at the squad of foot soldiers, they didn't move.
"That goes for all of you. If I see any of you again… things will get ugly."
Goku let go of the power, immediately feeling winded. 'I need to work on that more.'
He located Dende, cowering in fear next to Moori.
"It's okay, you're safe now." Goku waved at the Namekians.
Dende got in front of Moori. "Stay back, please, just leave."
Goku's smile fell. 'He's afraid of me?'
"It's okay, Dende. We can trust him. I was wrong to not do so earlier." Moori reached out with his hand, "Please, get the Dragon Ball for him. It will be safe."
"Are you sure, Elder?"
The soldier's didn't know what to do. Their attacker had stopped, and seemingly was letting them go. One of them walked forward, grabbing Zarbon's arm.
"Help me get them back to the ship!" He shouted at his men.
"Yes, do it, now." Moori coughed.
"I'm not leaving you like this, Moori." Goku said. "I don't need your Dragon Ball. We secured a different one. I can't carry it, you, and the boys. We're leaving this village. Tsuno told us where to go, and I'm sorry, but the ball will need to be left behind."
Moori thought for a moment as he heard the pitter-patter of little feet. "It's okay, Goku. You can leave me here. I'm not afraid of death for myself."
The other, slightly smaller, Namekian child approached Moori.
"No one else is dying today. No one needs to, and no one will." Goku said. "We have a way to heal you, and we'll do so."
Wind blew across the scarred land as Dende returned with the ball.
"Can either of you fly?" Goku addressed the children.
"Yes, sir." they spoke in unison.
"Okay, I'm going to need one of you to carry the dragon ball, I'll carry your elder. We're going to Guru's. Do you know where that is?" Goku noted the surprised expression on all of their faces.
Guru's house
Turles, Tien, Gohan, and Krillin landed on a large flat plain. The only things breaking the monotony of the blue grass being a large lake to one side, and a standard Namekian house atop a rocky spire.
As the four looked for an entrance to the home a voice called out from above. "Who are the four of you, and what business do you have here?"
Looking up, the group saw a powerful, and familiar to some, Namekian preparing to land in front of them.
'Piccolo?' Krillin thought.
"We come in peace." Tien told the Namekian.
"Tsuno directed us here. He told us we could receive a blessing from Guru?" Turles stepped forward, intentionally in front of Tien.
"No outsiders may enter this sacred dwelling." Nail approached Turles, chests inches apart. Turles immediately knew that if it came to blows that he had no chance of winning this fight, not without another fruit.
"Tsuno would have known the rules." Gohan spoke up. "Is it possible for us to receive the blessing out here, if we're found worthy?"
"The only one who can do as you request is Grand Elder Guru himself, and he is unable to leave his home, and you are unable to enter it. Elder Tsuno may not have been aware of Grand Elder Guru's current condition, but you will not be able to receive his blessing." Nail said.
From inside the house an unseen person called out. "Nail, please bring our guests to me."
Nails shoulders sank and he shook his head slightly. "This way, please. Watch your step when entering the ring."
Krillin, Turles, and Tien exchanged glances, as Gohan beamed. The four of them followed Nail into a small opening in the rocky spire, finding themselves in a round room. Tien's and Krillin's hearts sped up, the rooms resemblance to Kami's clock room was uncanny. The group stepped into the center circle, and slowly began rising, as if lifted by an invisible elevator.
The invisible platform stopped at the top of a narrow shaft, at the center of a domed room.
'We must be inside the house.' Turles thought to himself, then whistled in shock at the sight of Guru. 'Wow, he's a big boy.'
Guru was a large Namekian. As green as well watered grass, with a similar smell. His roundness was similar to that of the Dragon Balls, and his eyes and wrinkles were as deep set as a creature's of his age should have been.
"Kneel before Guru." Nail spoke, as he took a knee. The others followed his lead, only Gohan not feeling unusual, as he wasn't aware the surface below him was a pit.
"Welcome." Guru slowly, with difficulty, spoke. "What brings you to us, young ones?"
"We are here..." Turles began speaking, but was cut off.
"Please." Guru coughed. "Allow the boy to answer. I wish to hear it from him."
"We are here on Namek to ask to use your Dragon Balls. We are at your home at the instruction of Tsuno."
"I see. Tsuno told you of the blessing I can bestow. Please, approach. I will see if you are worthy by watching your past." Guru extended a hand to the side of his massive chair, which was topped with a large orange Dragon Ball.
Gohan slowly got to his feet, nearly tripping as he stepped back on to solid ground. He took a place beside Guru's thrown. "Like this?":
"Yes, child, that is perfect." Guru set his hand back on his chair, as Gohan had approached the wrong side. Guru coughed again as he set his massive hand on Gohan's head. "Relax, this won't hurt at all, and it will only take a moment."
Guru closed his eyes, and allowed his spirit to mingle with Gohan's, and hear the stories it had to share. "I see. You have a good spirit, and you have yet to unlock your potential. May I aid you with that?"
"Yes?" Gohan spoke quietly.
"Grand Elder." Nail spoke up. "I must protest. If you draw out any of their potential, even this boy, I couldn't guarantee I could protect you from them."
"Thank you for your concern, Nail, however I, and our people, will be much safer with this boy on our side." Guru smiled down at Gohan and closed his eyes. His hand pulsed with a faint white aura and Gohan's aura sprang to life, matching the color. A few moments passed, Gohan flexed his muscles, astounded at how effortlessly his power was multiplied.
"Use your new power wisely, son." Guru said as he remove his hand.
"Wow! I feel incredible!" Gohan jumped into the air, using no effort to do so. "I will, I promise."
"Monk, please approach next." Guru pointed at Krillin, and Gohan returned to the platform.
Guru put his hand on Krillin's head. 'May I view your past?"
"Yes, sir." Krillin said.
Guru closed his eyes again, and let his spirit free once more. "So much pain for such a short life. Well, multiple lives I should say. It's not often I interact with the revived. Please, allow me to aid you as well?"
"Yes, please." Krillin answered.
Guru's hand glowed white once more, and soon Krillin's body was doing the same. As the color faded Guru pulled his hand away, coughing harshly into his elbow. "How do you feel?"
"Thank you, sir! I feel, I feel strong, powerful. I feel like I can help, more than I thought I ever could." Krillin bowed to Guru as he returned to his place beside Gohan and Turles.
Guru looked between Tien and Turles, and his stomach began to ache.
"You, please approach." He nodded to Tien.
Tien stepped beside the thrown, and like the others had his mind read, his entire life on display to the oldest Namekian.
"You've had quite the life, haven't you? Unfortunately, while you do have power to unlock, you must do it yourself. I will not be doing it for you, I will not take responsibility for the actions you take. You have caused too much pain, and have too much potential to continue doing so."
"I know. I have not always been a hero." Tien shed a tear. "I have done some awful things in my life, and I have not even began to make up for them. If I may ask, Grand Elder Guru, is it possible for me to be equal to Krillin someday? Can I ever do more good than the bad I've already done?"
Guru interwove his fingers on his lap and did not respond for nearly a minute. "Yes. It is possible, and it is likely." He continued thinking for another minute. "Boy, Gohan, do you trust Tien? Do you think he is pure of heart? Do you think he has potential to relapse to his prior state?"
Gohan thought for a moment, and Nail answered in his place. "Grand Elder, is it wise to take counsel from a friend of the one in consideration?"
"Nail." Guru said, and the Piccolo look-a-like nodded.
"I think." Gohan said. "I think Tien is on our side. I don't think he would ever, could ever, return to the life he led before joining us."
"Let me see what I can do." Guru chuckled to himself. 'I knew you would answer that way, but it will help your friend to hear it from you himself.' Guru set his giant hand on Tien's head, and once more white energy pulsed around his hand, and bled into Tien's aura.
"Thank you, sir, thank you very much. I will put this power to good use, I promise." Tien bowed to Guru as he returned to the platform.
"Turles, it is your turn, please step forward." Guru said.
"If Tien was close, I know what side of judgment I'll fall on." Turles said. "I see no benefit to be had by having you read my past."
"Just as Tien was aided by his friends, so may you be. We will not know unless we try. If you do not approach, if you do not open yourself to me, then I cannot help you." Guru said.
"I have killed countless people." Turles looked down. "I am a Saiyan warrior. I have ended entire civilizations at the request of a madman."
"If you feel the guilt, the shadow your deeds cast on your life, then there must be a light within you. I make no promises, except to judge you fairly, and by the motivation behind your actions, as well as the actions themselves." Guru said.
"Tien has had half a life to make up for the actions he has done. I have had days, maybe a week." Turles clenched his fists and got to his feet and approached Guru.
Guru put his hand on Turles spiky hair, smoothing it to his scalp under the incredible heft of his paw.
"Hmm." He considered as he pushed his spirit towards Turles'.
"And?' Turles asked.
"Not yet. You're not ready yet. You will be, but in time." Guru coughed once more. "I don't know if I'll be here when you're ready, but I assure you, you will be ready."
"That's what I thought." Turles said. 'A fruit has more potential than you do anyway, old man.'
Turles returned to the platform. "Now what do we do?"
Nail spoke up. "Someone else is coming, a group."
"When the other Saiyan arrives, bring him to me. If what I hear of him is accurate then our lives depend on it." Guru said.
Aboard Frieza's ship.
Zarbon set a mask on Frieza's face, and tightened the strap behind his head. Stepping back the door to the healing chamber closed, and fluid rushed in from the base, rising quickly, but not disturbing the occupant.
"Is he okay, sir?" An indigo-skinned, fish-faced, alien asked Zarbon. "Are you okay for that matter?"
Zarbon studied the controls for the chamber for a moment, before Cui's words sank in. Turning to face him, Zarbon studied the alien.
"You've been a good soldier." He said. "Never imply that I, or Lord Frieza, could be in anything less than peak condition."
Zarbon attempted to punch through Cui's armor, and succeeded, but wasn't able to make it through his body.
Cui was pushed back by the force of the blow, amazed that he was alive. "I'm sorry, sir. Thank you for sparing me, sir. It won't happen again, I promise."
Zarbon took Cui's misunderstanding as an opportunity to save face in front of Frieza.
"Don't let it happen again." Zarbon turned back to the machines readings. 'He's awake.'
"Zarbon." Frieza said from inside the chamber.
"Yes, my lord?" Zarbon knelt in front of the tank.
"Tell Dodoria, that I expect the Ginyu Force here by the time I am out of this tank." As Frieza spoke, bubbles of air climbed out of the mask, and floated up to the top of the chamber.
"Yes, my lord, I will let him know immediately." Zarbon bowed his head.
"Zarbon, before you go." Frieza said calmly. "I expect to have a full set of Dragon Balls before the Ginyu Force arrives. See to it, yourself."
"Yes, sir, I will redouble the efforts immediately."
"Cui? It's your lucky day." Frieza looked over the alien. "Review the footage from our scouters, figure out who he was. I know him, that man, from somewhere. I expect a full report."
"Yes, sir." Cui snapped to attention, or as close as he could given his bruised chest.
Author's note: Edited by StevenBodner on 6/5/2021.
Authors note 2: I got a PM asking if I could write longer chapters, even if it means updating less often. Let me know your thoughts on this in the reviews. I'm not opposed to uploading every other week, but I don't think chapter length would double from this.
Authors note 3: Now that was a scene I was excited to write for quite a while, Frieza getting his butt kicked by a Goku that wasn't holding back, at all. Note, while he did turn red, he didn't activate Kaio-ken...