Chapter 5
As far as Krillin was able to tell they had been flying for hours. But now he finally made out the rock formation he knew was crowned with the dome-shaped building the Grand Elder resided in. Unfortunately, it was almost all the way to the horizon.
They'd probably have to stop for another meal and maybe even a longer rest before reaching the place if they continued at their current pace. He was doubtful whether they could afford this much time. Not to mention that they were about to run out of provisions and finding something edible on an alien world was a gamble he'd prefer to avoid.
"Gohan? I think we may have to change our plan. If we risk it and speed up we can get there in a few minutes. I don't think we can spare another day going at this snail pace."
The boy looked at him thoughtfully and nodded. "I just hope we are far enough away from Vegeta so he won't notice."
They weren't.
Just a few minutes passed since they powered up and used their focused ki to propel them toward the rocky spire in the distance and already they picked up something. It felt like a faint scent at first but it was closing on them fast.
"He's coming!" Gohan shouted.
Krillin tried speeding up even more, but it was hopeless. They wouldn't make it to the spire before Vegeta caught up with them. He struggled with what choices he had, then he stopped in mid-air. "Gohan, you go on ahead without me. Go see the Grand Elder and ask him to unlock your potential."
At the first word he said Gohan had halted as well and was staring at him wide-eyed. "But you won't have a chance all alone."
"I know. But maybe I can buy you enough time to get the power boost we need to defeat Vegeta."
Gohan struggled with the thought of leaving him behind but after a second he nodded and flew off in a hurry.
Krillin took a deep breath. He took off his almost empty backpack and dropped it to the ground. Getting rid of it probably wouldn't do him much good but any chance at being more nimble was worth taking.
He looked towards the horizon in the direction they came from but couldn't make out any movements so far. But that was no reason to let down his guard. By now he could feel Vegeta's ki very distinctly and his speed was amazing. How could that monster traverse half the planet in a matter of minutes?
Should he try talking to Saiyan? Or brace for an immediate attack?
He hadn't made up his mind when he caught a flash of something in the distance and just two heartbeats later Vegeta sped past him before stopping a few meters from him and slowly turning around.
He looked much the same as when he had confronted Krillin and Bulma a few days ago with his battle-worn outfit and murder in his eyes. He had even brought the same Dragon Ball with him he had taken from them and held it now tucked under one arm. If anything he had a bit more haggard touch to his face that made Krillin briefly wonder whether he had had any food or sleep in the meantime.
"Yo!" Vegeta greeted him, sounding so nonchalant Krillin felt even more off guard.
"I'm impressed you found us so quickly," he managed, "and from half a world away."
Vegeta smirked and casually flipped him off. "My skills are at a completely different level, Earthling."
Yes. Although they apparently still weren't good enough to find Bulma. But Krillin wasn't foolish enough to say that.
"It was very audacious of you to steal from me," Vegeta continued, anger rising in his voice. "What made you think you could get away with mocking me like that? I want it back. Now!"
"I don't know what you're talking about." Krillin wished his voice didn't tremble so badly.
"Oh, spare me these games. I'll make you talk soon enough." With a menacing grin, Vegeta started floating towards him.
Stay calm, Krillin told himself. Keep breathing, don't show him your fear, think of your training. Yeah, right. As if his training with Muten Roshi included getting beaten into a pulp by an alien on some alien world while not giving away any info about your companions.
But Vegeta had not yet reached punching distance when he froze and looked over his shoulder in the direction of the rock spire in the distance. "What is that?"
Gohan! He must have reached the Grand Elder's residence by now, but Krillin still couldn't pick up any difference in power. Just a bit longer! He had to distract Vegeta for just another moment.
But the Saiyan seemed to have lost interest in Krillin and frowned. "That mountain. I saw Kakarot's son fly there but ... There's something else there."
No! Too early! Krillin flinched. He tried to get himself under control again, but Vegeta had already noticed his reaction. "That's where you hid the Dragon Ball, isn't it?"
"No, we didn't!" Krillin protested, but Vegeta was already on the move. Calling out to him, begging him to step, Krillin followed as best as he could.
The Saiyan kept ignoring him but at least he paused as soon as he had reached the Grand Elder's hall and looked around in surprise. "What is this place?" Krillin heard him whisper.
"Vegeta. Please wait." He caught himself just as he was about to reach for Vegeta's arm. Thankfully, the Saiyan hadn't seen that because his attention was focused on another newcomer.
The Namekian warrior who watched over the Grand Elder had stepped out of the building and was staring at the two of them before settling his gaze solely on Vegeta. "Leave!" he said simply.
The Saiyan chuckled. "Sounds like you can't wait to die."
Krillin licked his lips. The Namekian, Nail, had been introduced to him as their strongest warrior when he came here with Dende and he had learned never to underestimate Namekian warriors. But he also knew Nail would loathe fighting so close to his master given how poor the Grand Elder's health had become. Could he drive Vegeta away while also protecting the Grand Elder?
Before either made a move something happened inside. Gohan's ki skyrocketed all of a sudden and Krillin felt both triumph and worry. His plan had worked but he had also drawn danger to the Grand Elder. And there was no guarantee Gohan's new strength would be enough to stand a chance against Vegeta even if he and Nail joined forces.
The Saiyan's head whipped around as he too felt the increase of power somewhere in the dome-shaped building, then he nodded to himself. "So Kakarot is here, after all, isn't he? Fine. Then we can settle this today." He clenched his fist and called out towards the door. "Come out of there, Kakarot!"
Krillin no longer felt bothered by Vegeta's insistence on using Goku's Saiyan name, but mistaking Gohan for his father was a different matter. He raised an eyebrow but just as he opened his mouth Gohan appeared in the doorway and stepped out to them. His face was grim as he passed by Nail and took his stance in front of Vegeta.
The older Saiyan realized his mistake quickly enough and glared back at the boy. "You? What did you do in there? How could your power rise so much in such a short time?"
Vegeta's reaction was enough to make all of Krillin's fears and doubts vanish into thin air. If the Saiyan was this surprised and flustered it could only mean that they had the upper hand. Together with Nail und Gohan, he could ...
Vegeta started to chuckle, then threw back his head and roared with laughter. "Really? You guys think you can handle me?" He snorted and looked at them all with an amused smile. "I'll admit, your boost in power came as a surprise, but you're now about on the same level as Kakarot when we fought on Earth, kid. And I'm much beyond that."
Krillin felt his heart plummet again. Still, there wasn't much of a choice but to fight Vegeta as best as they could and hope their numbers and a bit of rare luck would help them out.
Suddenly, Dende's head appeared in the doorway, panting and his eyes wide with fear. "The Grand Elder ..." he shouted, "The Elder said another power is approaching the planet!"
Their first reaction was surprise and confusion, especially in Vegeta's case who didn't even know who the Grand Elder was. Krillin recovered first and pumped his fist. "I know! It's gotta be Goku! He's arrived at the planet at last!"
Gohan frowned and, like the others, squinted into the sky as if trying to hear a whisper from outer space. "I don't know. It feels as if there are several people coming."
Vegeta gave a start. "It can't be!" he hissed. "It mustn't!" He stared upwards and his lips were moving as he tried to discern the energy signatures of whoever this was. "There are five of them," he whispered hoarsely. "It's the Ginyu Force. Freeza summoned the Ginyu Force!"
Krillin had never seen Vegeta this shaken. But before he could ask about it the Saiyan cursed loudly, rushed forward, and hoisted Gohan up by his collar. "You have to give me the last Dragon Ball! Now! Before it's too late!"
Gohan glared down at him. "We'll never do that!"
"I promise," Vegeta barked back sounding increasingly desperate. "When the Dragon Balls made me immortal I won't harm you! But if we don't act now it will all be too late!"
Krillin shook his head. "Do you really think we'll fall for that? Giving you all that you want just because you say so?"
Vegeta dropped Gohan unceremoniously and turned towards Krillin. "Listen, you bastards. The Ginyu Force is Freeza's very special task force. They are five warriors who are as strong as me or even stronger. They'll have scouters and they'll hunt down both me and all of you and kill us."
That sounded really bad but only if it was true. So far Vegeta hadn't quite made a name for himself as being especially trustworthy and Krillin wasn't ready to give him the benefit of the doubt so easily. "I don't believe ..."
"Don't you sense them?" Vegeta interrupted him and came a step closer. "We only have this one chance. If we make me immortal I can defeat them."
"He might speak the truth," Nail spoke up. "There really are five evil powers out there."
Reluctantly, Krillin sent out his mental feelers and searched a little harder. Yes, there were five kis out there and none of them had Goku's friendly disposition. In fact, there was something truly sinister to them although he might have said the same about the way Vegeta's ki felt.
But even if he was right this route just felt so wrong to Krillin. There had to be another way. There had to! "Then how about we make Gohan immortal?"
Vegeta was already shaking his head before Krillin had finished speaking. He gestured to the half-Saiyan who only now was getting back on his feet. "He may be relatively strong, but he has almost no battle experience. He's but a child with no tactical training."
Krillin closed his eyes and turned his head away, afraid of bursting into tears with frustration. "But we came so far for our wish!" he stammered. "We can't throw it all away now!" They couldn't use the wish to revive their fallen friends on the one who was responsible for their deaths.
Nail looked at him curiously. "Our dragon can fulfill more than one wish. He grants three wishes."
"Three?" both Krillin and Gohan echoed, but Nail didn't elaborate any further.
Vegeta, on the other hand, looked as if he was about to explode. He grabbed Krillin with his free hand and pulled him close. "Don't just stand there and repeat everything he says. We have no time to lose! We might even be too late now, so get a move on!"
Krillin really didn't appreciate his personal space being violated like this but he could also see how much Vegeta was on the verge of a panic, so he didn't try to shake free. "I need to know this before making a decision," he explained curtly then looked at Nail. "So we really can have three wishes granted?"
The Namekian nodded and it was all Krillin needed. He turned to look straight into Vegeta's eyes. There was malice there but also fear. He knew better than to trust someone like this but all their options sounded terrible either way. Maybe a temporary alliance would be their best chance after all. "Follow me," he said through clenched teeth.
Vegeta immediately let go of him and they launched themselves into the air almost simultaneously. Gohan followed suit and then the race was on again. This time though it was the three of them against a common enemy.
"Go as fast as you can!" Vegeta snarled at him and Krillin half expected him to fly on ahead. But no, Vegeta needed them, needed the last Dragon Ball, and for that, he was apparently ready to compromise.
Still, it didn't seem like a good idea to test his patience.
Krillin glanced at Gohan flying on his other side but thanks to his recent power boost the boy was more than capable of keeping up. He focused all his ki on his speed himself and breathed evenly.
Now they only had to make it in time.
