In the cold and infinite space, a planet was under attack. Flickering lights shone across the crimson gem caused by massive explosions. Many tried to flee, save themselves from the wicked invasion, but it was in vain as an armada of ships occupying the world took anyone down. An enormous spaceship floated just behind the fleet. The gleaming lights reflected against the big, round window on the vessel. Standing just behind the window and observing the situation was the creature feared and hated across the universe. His long, pinkish tail occasionally bent as he watched several fleeing ships explode and fall in flames. A malicious grin could be seen on his face as he lowered the hand. The notorious tyrant seemed quite pleased with the progress. His cold, vicious eyes remained locked on the gem below until a voice caught his attention.
"Sire! We just received a report from our troops! According to Dodoria, it won't take more than three hours to exterminate the remaining population."
The short creature nodded and returned his gaze forward. "Good. This wonderful crimson gem's going to be a perfect present for my dear father. After all, we haven't seen each other in quite a while." His thoughts shifted to the enormous figure that was his father from whom he inherited the empire.
"What's my father's estimated arrival?"
While he waited for an answer, Freeza gently picked up the glass from the nearby table. As he drunk the fine wine, the creature thought of how well his empire was spreading. His reputation alone caused those feeble-minded kings and whatnot to bow down to him. Of course, some foolishly tried to fight back, but they all met the same fate in the end. No mortal could stand in front of him; he was above all of them. He was the strongest and most intelligent being in the universe, and no one could match him.
A chuckle escaped from his throat. He could never tell this to his father out of respect, but he was doing a much better job. In just a couple of decades that he is in charge, the Freeza Force doubled in strength. The sheer number of planets under his rule was ridiculous, and the abundance of wealthy customers seeking to buy worlds was higher than ever.
Everything was going so well, he couldn't complain. However, those Saiyans were a bother. He despised all of them, except Vegeta. The little prince was the only worthy from that batch. He had high hopes for the talented warrior if only that rebellious look in those dark eyes would go away. That's why he sent the Saiyans to that planet, so he could get rid of the unnecessary weight that dragged behind the prince. If the other Saiyans died, then that rebellious look would surely vanish.
"My lord! The estimated arrival of King Cold is twelve hours."
He snapped out of his thoughts and turned around. "Very well. Inform Dodoria I'll be going back to the station for my father's arrival." Freeza put both hands behind the back as he moved toward the doors.
"Also, contact Zarbon and tell him to arrange everything for father."
The emperor slowly approached the metal doors that slid open. He was about to leave the bridge and head to his room for some rest when a noise emitting from a soldier's scouter grabbed his attention. For some reason, he halted and turned around, even though he would usually leave. However, he had a strong feeling something was off. The face of the soldier paled, and the large-headed male began to sweat.
"What's wrong? Did Dodoria run into some trouble?"
His voice caused the pale man to look in his direction instantly. "N-No, sir! I just received an urgent report from Zarbon. It seems only one pod returned from planet Reptilia, the world you sent the Saiyans to take over, my lord!" Upon hearing such information, Freeza's eyes widened.
Freeza's tail immediately stopped moving. The creature lifted a hand and put it under the chin as he turned away. "Did Zarbon say whose pod returned?" Naturally, it couldn't be anyone else but Vegeta. And yet, he had a strange feeling about that.
"U-Unfortunately, no, sire. Before he could see who it was, the medical staff urgently carried the wounded to take care of."
For a moment, he clenched his teeth. The emperor took a deep breath and, shortly after, let it out. "Fine. Tell Zarbon to contact me directly when he finds out who it is. Other than that, I want to be left alone until we return to the station." With that said, the tyrant left the spacious room and couldn't but think if it genuinely was Vegeta or maybe somebody else.
.
The fluorescent glow emitting from the healing chamber was the only source of light within the room. In the dim room, the boy floated inside the tank. His brows twitched upon feeling the bubbles brush against his skin. While his black hair oscillated, the hybrid's battered body slowly recovered from the life-threatening wounds. There were several scars across his arms, chest, and back. Not even a high-tech healing machine could make those battle marks disappear.
Suddenly, loud moans began to come from the boy. He closed both hands tightly and continued to moan. Over time, the moans turned into screams. The young hybrid began to thrash so harshly that cracks spread across the reinforced glass. Naturally, the medical staff quickly came over and assessed the situation.
Without further thinking, the staff decided to get the agitated child out of the chamber. Once the green liquid drained and the hatch opened, they tried to calm the troubled Saiyan. However, the child was out of control. The boy swung his fist and decked the nearest doctor. He let out a growl as he turned to the other side and kicked a poor guard in the head.
Like a wild animal, the hybrid jumped over everyone and landed several steps away. Gohan's long hair covered most of the face except an eye and mouth. The sharp teeth and vicious look in his blank eye sent shivers down everyone's spine. As the drops fell on the floor, the child continued to growl as he slowly approached what remained of the medical staff.
Overtaken by fear, a member of the staff tried to run. That only prompted the boy to act. The young Saiyan leaped into the air, closing the distance in four seconds. He was a mere second from sinking his teeth into the man's flesh when a blast struck the boy in the back of the head.
"Don't just stand there like some fools! Sedate the child before he gets up!"
Upon hearing the familiar voice and realizing this was their chance, the doctors did as ordered. While the doctors were taking care of the Saiyan, the glamorous warrior closed the distance. His earrings swayed with each step he made as he adjusted the pink armbands. Once he approached the table, his golden orbs fell on the sedated child.
"Zarbon, sir! Thanks to you, we managed to sedate the child from wreaking havoc. It would seem that the trauma from the latest mission created quite a toll on his psyche."
The tall commander quietly observed the drugged child. It was hard to believe the little one was the one who managed to come back. His father more than likely shipped the boy off the planet in the last moments. He knew there was something off about that wild-haired Saiyan. Either way, it was amusing. He couldn't but wonder what would Freeza do now. The tyrant's most precious toy was probably dead and what came back was a pitiful little half-breed.
Zarbon lifted a hand and hid the smirk. He cleared his throat before speaking to the doctors. "Humph. How long before he gets to his senses? Lord Freeza's expecting this one to report what happened as fast as possible." His eyes shifted to the doctors, who nervously paled.
"Um, sir... The child's body might have healed, but it couldn't be said the same for his psyche. Treating traumas is very delicate and lo..."
The poor doctor closed the mouth once Zarbon glared at him. "No excuses! I want this brat ready for a reception with Lord Freeza in an hour! Or, one of you can explain to our emperor why the boy's not attending." The commander pointed at all of them as he finished the sentence.
Their reaction was enough. Zarbon moved away from the table and cast a last glance at the boy. "Humph. I wonder if coming back here was a good idea, little monkey... Who knows, maybe you'll take over Vegeta's place." The green warrior released a chuckle as he turned around and walked out of the room.
As the metal doors slid behind his back, Zarbon wondered what exactly occurred on Reptilia. He heard stories about those lizards and their strange powers, but to take down Vegeta? Perhaps the reports about them were outdated, and those creatures produced strong warriors over the ages. Either way, they would figure what happened in just an hour.
Just as he made a step forward, a voice came from the scouter. "Commander Zarbon! You told me to inform you when Lord Freeza's near the station... Well, he's ten minutes from landing, sir!" When he heard that, the tall male shifted to the left and, with a quick pace, headed to the docking area to greet his master.
.
Screams echoed across the vast sky. The loud agonizing voices and devastating explosions caused the boy's ears to twitch. While the full-blooded Saiyans were busy, Gohan observed the massacre from the edge of a cliff. His tail stirred nervously around the waist, and the wild-haired child couldn't stop the shaking. Despite his father's encouraging words, he didn't want to leave; he was afraid. The mere thought of serving that pinkish demon all by himself was terrifying. He could already see that evil face and maniacal laugh, causing his poor stomach to twist.
Sweat slid down his cheeks as the light from the explosions illuminated his young face. The hybrid tensed his teeth and tightened the grip around his left wrist. No matter how much he despised this plan, there was nothing he, or better yet, his father, could do since Vegeta was the strongest warrior. As his uncle suggested, it would be best to accept it and focus on what awaits him.
That was right! He was a warrior, nurtured to be the strongest and surpass his father. It was his time to prove himself to the only person that mattered in his life. He wouldn't let his father's teachings go to waste. No matter how scared he was to stand in front of Freeza, he would never give that creep the satisfaction to see through his shell.
"Brat! Come down here; it's your turn!"
Upon hearing Nappa's loud and annoying voice, Gohan released a sigh and jumped off the cliff. He landed in the clear, and as he moved forward, he tried to avoid the numerous corpses.
As he approached the Saiyans, the breeze picked up the pace. His long, thick hair swayed on the wind, getting into his eyes. While he gently moved the black locks of hair, the noise of something heavy dropping on the ground caught his attention. By stirring his pupils to the right, he was able to see his uncle lean against the space pod. Despite all pods looking the same, he could tell this was his.
"He He! Are you ready, brat? I promise this's going to hurt."
He couldn't but scowl at Nappa, who beamed with eagerness to beat him up. It took every fiber of his body to restrain himself from assaulting the bald male. Before he could even get somewhat ready, a heavy knee struck into his gut. He yelped and tried to breathe, but for a couple of seconds, no air was going into his lungs. While his vision blurred, a fierce punch slammed into his jaw, knocking a tooth out.
"Ah. There's more of this coming, a lot."
Nappa swung the massive fist at the hybrid, but momentarily before striking the child, Kakarot stepped in and caught the warrior's arm. Such action confused the taller Saiyan, but only for a second. The larger male chuckled and closed the distance between the two.
"What's the matter, Kakarot? Can't sit idly on the sideline and watch your precious little son getting pummeled? Aw, are you sad about it?"
Kakarot remained silent, and while Nappa mocked and laughed, he just glared at the older warrior. Eventually, he released the hold and turned around. He ignored Nappa entirely and concentrated solely on his child. The wild-haired Saiyan dropped on a knee and whispered to his only son.
"Be strong; you can do it! All the pain you're experiencing will only make you stronger!"
Much to Nappa's surprise, Kakarot hit his child with a backhand. "I'll take over. You can go and help Vegeta find the spaceship." He didn't even bother to hear the older warrior's response. Kakarot dashed at his son, grabbed him by the face, and flew away.
As expected, Nappa was fuming. "That goddamn third-rate trash! I can't stand him!" Consumed by fury, he smashed his fist against a boulder, shattering it into tiny pieces.
Raditz, on the other hand, remained silent. He ignored Nappa's usual outbursts and glanced to the west, where his younger brother flew off with Gohan. The long-haired warrior closed his eyes and released a sigh. He knew for a Saiyan such as Kakarot; this was a delicate matter; after all, he was different.
Only a kilometer to the west, Kakarot slammed Gohan against the tall mountain. He buried his child into it and finally released the hold. Gradually he backed away while his son attempted to catch some air. For a brief moment, the look in his eyes softened, but it vanished the second Gohan gazed at him.
"F-Father..."
He crossed his arms and, with a stern voice, uttered his son's name. "Gohan, I want you to understand that I'm doing this for your good. It pains me to do this, but I can't stand and watch that fool do this to you. I..." Kakarot halted and bit the flesh inside his mouth.
"I-I do. Father, you don't need to explain yourself. It's necessary; otherwise, Freeza might suspect something and even... kill me."
When he heard his son say that, it caused Kakarot to imagine Gohan lying in a pool of blood beneath Freeza's feet. The Saiyan shook his head, trying to erase that terrible thought. He closed both fists tightly and let out a growl out of frustration. His dark orbs fell on the little child, and he couldn't but feel proud. In this challenging and delicate situation, his son showed great strength and dedication to go through with such an outrageous plan.
For a moment, his emotions betrayed him. He never showed this side of him to anyone but two people. The warrior got closer, pulled his son, and hugged him. They remained like that for a while, neither saying a single word, and there was no need for it.
"Listen, Gohan. Once you get there, you must somehow convince them this mission was a disaster. Please do whatever you deem necessary to gain their trust. Use your most amazing and powerful tool, brain... Don't forget who you are and the potential for greatness inside of you!"
A tear slid down the boy's cheek as he nodded and brushed the face against his father's neck. He held tightly as long as possible to the man he admired and adored so much.
His dream abruptly came to an end when several voices reached his ears. Slowly, he opened his eyes so he could adjust to the bright light. His dark orbs drifted elsewhere, trying to identify the people in the room. He could see two doctors and that green-haired man called Zarbon speaking. If he had to guess, they were talking about what happened earlier. He hoped his little performance did the trick; it must have since they sedated him.
"Sir! The child's awake!"
Almost instantly, Zarbon closed the distance. He could feel the intense glare and the suspicions radiating from those golden eyes. However, he wouldn't let these guys see through his charade. There was too much at stake, and important people depended on him.
"W-What happened? Where am I? Father! Where's my father!?"
The boy rose and, with a frantic tone, called for his father. "P-Please, tell me he's here!" Desperate, he grabbed Zarbon by the hand as his breathing went out of control.
"Shh. It's alright, child, calm yourself. You're safe here, I promise."
Gohan glanced at the doctor and moved his hand away. "Please, tell me my father's here! The l-last time I saw him, h-he was all bloody and pushed me into my pod..." He seized the doctor's robes, almost on the verge of crying as he lowered his little head.
Meanwhile, Zarbon just kept observing the hybrid. He narrowed his eyes and finally spoke. "Boy. Do you remember what you did earlier? Such as attacking our good. hard-working doctors." He placed a hand softly under Gohan's chin and turned the boy's head so he could lock onto those dark orbs.
"A-Attack? No, I don't remember doing such a thing... The last thing I remember was leaving the planet thanks to my father and passing out shortly after."
Zarbon kept staring, searching for something, but there were no hints on the hybrid's face. "Humph, alright. The doctors said you might not remember doing it. However, you're required to report the events of your mission to Lord Freeza at once!" He let go and took a step back.
"I-I will! But please, tell me where's my fa..."
When Freeza's number one commander lifted a hand, Gohan stopped talking. "Enough! You'll get your answers once you explain everything to our lord." Zarbon gracefully turned away and pointed at a guard.
"Fetch the brat proper attire. Be quick; Lord Freeza's been waiting long enough."
Naturally, the guard did as told. While they waited for the guy to return with some armor, Gohan laid down. He couldn't deduce if Zarbon believed him or not. Either way, he would need to put his best act for Freeza to buy it. After all, this wasn't some idiotic earthling he needed to deceive.
Cold sweat rolled down his face while his tail restlessly shifted around the waist. In just a few minutes, he was about to reach Freeza's throne. He could feel that vile, monstrous energy oozing from the room. No matter how many times he sensed it, he couldn't get used to that monstrosity. It was just so ridiculous for someone to be that powerful. Each step he made brought him closer to that heavy darkness. For a second, he even forgot to breathe, but he snapped out of it once they reached the doors.
Once the metal doors slid open, Zarbon was the first to step inside. He hesitated. His entire body was trembling like a leaf on the wind. He felt as if that ki sucked the life out of him and leaving him unable to breathe. However, he harshly bit his lower lip that began to bleed. He took a deep breath, exhaled shortly after, and lifted his head. With hesitation gone, Gohan walked into the emperor's den.
The atmosphere in the throne room was so tense; he could barely stand. Any second now, he could imagine his heart bursting out of his chest. However, he clenched his teeth and dropped on his knee, paying respect to the creature in front of him.
"My, oh my. Little one, I must say I'm surprised to see you stand in front of me. Not saying I'm not pleased, quite contrary. I hoped for a talented hybrid such as yourself to survive."
What a bunch of lies. The boy knew this tyrant was playing games. "Thank you, Lord Freeza! But, if it weren't for my f-father, I wouldn't be here, alive and able to serve you." He lowered his head, even more, trying to hide the scowl that surfaced for a second.
"Oh, yes! Your father, Kakarot, was it? The one from Earth that got humiliated by Vegeta... So tragic!"
He could hear the creature approaching as the short emperor continued to talk. "I hate to do this to you so soon, but can I count on you to tell us what exactly transpired on your mission?" The tip of Freeza's tail caressed Gohan's chin before raising his head.
"Of course, sir! I might have been a bit shaken earlier, but I'm over it now. After all, I'm a Saiyan warrior!"
There was a glint of determination and boldness in Gohan's eyes that didn't go unnoticed by Freeza. "Such fire, perhaps even brighter than Vegeta's." Thought the tyrant as he stared into those dark, still orbs. He could see something else in there but couldn't deduce at the moment.
"We landed on the planet with no problem. As usual, we scouted the area and, on Vegeta's orders, located the targets. Nappa and Raditz took care of the first major city. However, we quickly got surrounded by an army of at least thousands!"
The tone in Gohan's voice changed. It was getting high-pitched as the sweat started to drip from his face. "Nappa and Raditz got separated from us, left by themselves to deal with those reptiles. I tried to stay close to my father and Vegeta, but before we could make a plan, Vegeta charged forward..." He stopped for a moment, building up the drama and trying to tie the events correctly.
"Vegeta left us to deal with those lizards, snakes, turtles on our own! They were strong and using elements-like powers! I managed to defeat some, but I got ambushed as soon as I tried to help others. They were about to torch me to death if it weren't for my father. H-He took a hit and shoved me into a pod with blood all over his face and battered body!"
Freeza silently listened to the whole thing. With both hands behind the back, the ruthless emperor observed the tiny child. His crimson eyes carefully inspected the hybrid's expressions. He glanced at Zarbon, but only for a second. The commander just gave him a nod, on which he stirred his pupils back to the little warrior.
He suddenly began walking around the boy, gaining Gohan's attention. "Truly, a tragedy. However, that doesn't mean your father and the rest are dead. I already dispatched a squadron to planet Reptilia to find our lost Saiyans, if there is any trace left of them." His tail constantly slammed against the floor, but the hybrid didn't flinch once.
"I hope my father's at least alive. There's still a lot I have to learn if I stand a chance to be the strongest warrior in the Freeza Force, my lord!"
Freeza found that rather amusing and couldn't but chuckle. "Oh? Do you want to be my strongest warrior? Then what do you need, that low-class father of yours? No offense." He lifted a hand to hide a smirk. "Anyway, I can see you're honest with me, little boy. I appreciate those honest and willing to serve me diligently." Finally, he stopped right in front of Gohan.
"Zarbon arranged a room for you to rest. I read the doctor's report. You suffered both psychically and mentally from such horrible events. Go, the guard outside will take you to your new room, which I'm sure will be to your liking."
The smile on Freeza's face sent shivers down his spine. "T-Thank you so much, Lord Freeza!" He blurted the words so fast so he could leave this toxic place.
Once the hybrid was out, Zarbon immediately gazed at Freeza, who approached the table. "So, what do you think, my lord? So far, the brat's story checks out with the scouter's recordings. Vegeta's scouter, in particular, recorded a large power level before blowing up. It might be too soon to say this, but I think those monkeys are dead." He walked closer and pressed a play button on a tablet.
Freeza listened to the conversations recorded while he stared at the bright stars. "I'm well aware of it, Zarbon. However, I can't shake this feeling in my gut... What of the pods? Where are they?" He couldn't tell why, but something was off. While he was sure the child told him the truth, doubts were looming through his head, which is why he sent a small squad to the planet.
Zarbon already had it ready. "Their latest signal originated from Reptilia, sire. Those pods did not move from that planet." He transferred the information on a large screen so Freeza could confirm with his own eyes.
The pinkish creature began to levitate so he could sit in his special vehicle. As he sat down, he leaned against the soft material and released a disappointing sigh. He spent so much time educating and bending the arrogant prince to his will, and now it was suddenly over. So anticlimactic. He always thought he would kill Vegeta because of some foolish rebellion, or the Saiyan would eventually fully be on his side, someone he could wholeheartedly trust. Either way, he didn't have time to dwell on it. His father was mere minutes from getting here.
.
A loud, painful noise emitted from the bathroom. Despite the water running, it couldn't hide the noise of the boy puking. The moment he was left alone in the room, he couldn't hold it any longer. All that stress was making him sick. Finally, now that he was all by himself, he felt a bit better. He cleaned himself and washed his mouth and face several times before leaving the bathroom.
With a towel wrapped around his neck, he fell on the bed and slowly took off the white boots. He turned himself on his back and stared at the ceiling. So far, so good, or at least he thought so. He wasn't sure, but it seemed like Freeza, and Zarbon somewhat believed the story. The minute he started wondering about the whole thing, nausea kicked back in.
Gohan released a groan and angrily threw the towel on the floor. He needed to relax and stop worrying. Otherwise, he will attract unwanted attention. So, he closed his eyes and tried to rest but unfortunately, he couldn't do it. Now that his stomach was empty, he was so hungry he could eat a whale. Annoyed, the hybrid grumbled and rose. He put on the boots and irritated walked out of the room.
The moment he stepped outside, the other soldiers immediately glared at him. Of course, he attracted attention because of his tail and thick black hair and eyes. However, he did not care. He knew better than to engage in battle, especially now. The little hybrid ignored the stares and slurs as he headed to the cafeteria to satisfy his hunger.
However, as it usually goes, there was always some trouble lurking in the shadows. As Gohan stepped into the large room, all gazes shifted to him. A frown appeared on his face as a weak growl emitted from the throat. He moved forward and tried his best to maintain composure. The boy piled several plates on the table so he could satisfy his incredible hunger. He just began devouring the food, finally able to smile and feel some happiness when a screeching voice from behind hurt his ears.
"Hey! What's a monkey doing here? I thought you weaklings went extinct because of that stupid meteor!"
Because of that voice, Gohan dropped the fork on the floor. He wanted to ignore the irritating cackling from behind but just couldn't. As he turned around, he saw two guys no older than twenty and a colossal alien covered in so much fur he couldn't even tell where the face was.
"Look, I don't know who you are, and I didn't do anything to you, so how about you leave me alone? I just want to..."
Gohan couldn't finish his sentence when one of them poured some liquor over his head. "The monkey talks! What else can you do, boy!? Please show us some tricks! C'mon!" The whole cafeteria laughed, and after everything he went through, the hybrid couldn't take it anymore.
"You poor fools... I'll make you regret messing with me today."
Suddenly, the scouters in the room started to go off. The laughing stopped, and stunning gasps replaced it. A vein surfaced on Gohan's forehead as he gradually released his energy. He smirked as the cocky expressions disappeared from their faces. The child squeezed his hand hard and immediately went after the tallest one. He rocked the alien covered in fur, shocking the other two.
"What a!? You'll pay for laying your filthy hands on us! Don't you know to who we belong!"
The boy couldn't care less at the moment. He jumped on the table and avoided a punch. Gohan swung his leg, trying to deliver a powerful kick to the head, but surprisingly, his attempt got blocked. It was at that moment when their limbs connected that he felt the red-haired's true strength. There was much more it than the man showed. However, the hybrid couldn't dwell on it because the other one charged at him. The son of Kakarot held his ground and fought back with all he got.