Chapter 7
Vegeta was bleeding. His armor had been smashed and torn in several places, the shoulder guard ripped off and the suit he wore underneath shredded with bits of bruised and bloodied skin showing through. From a gash on his forehead blood trickled into his eyes and stained his left cheek where he had tried to wipe it off only to spread it further.
Krillin wasn't sure about internal injuries but Vegeta's labored breathing made him worry. It was a small miracle the Saiyan had managed to get back up on his feet after Recoome had smashed him face-first into the rocky ground.
But the worst thing was that Vegeta had fought more fiercely than ever before, had given his all and landed several truly powerful blows and yet Recoome had shrugged it all off. His armor and clothing were arguably in even worse shape than Vegeta's but all the damage he had taken was superficial.
It reminded Krillin all too much of their attempts to stop Vegeta back on Earth when the Saiyan got up again every time they believed to have won. It gave him little comfort that Vegeta was now on the receiving end of this. After all, he and Gohan had to share the dread of facing an unstoppable monster, too.
In any case, the Saiyan wasn't in any shape to continue. Krillin could see him tremble with the effort not to collapse while Recoome announced he'd deal the killing blow now.
But more than any visible damage it was Vegeta's expression that made Krillin sure that this was the end. He had seen the defiant snarl in the face of certain death before as he had stood over the Saiyan with a sword to Vegeta's throat.
But now things were different. Now they needed him.
"Gohan," he whispered. "Vegeta won't survive another attack. And once he's gone we'll be next. We have to try and save him."
The boy nodded gravely.
Krillin sighed. Their odds were pretty terrible, but this was better than doing nothing. "Get him out of harm's way. I'll try to get the drop on Recoome."
That was when Recoome was done posturing and blabbering about. He started charging up another attack by gathering energy in his mouth and they had run out of time.
Krillin saw Gohan speed towards Vegeta just as he himself catapulted on top of Recoome. He kicked down with all his strength and it was at least enough to get Recoome to shut up. Literally.
The gathered energy burst forth, but since Krillin's kick forced Recoome's jaws shut tightly it tried to find a way out knocking out several teeth.
As Recoome collapsed, Krillin landed lightly and looked around to see if Gohan had been in time. Over where Vegeta had been standing a deep trench had torn the Namekian hills apart ending in a wide gulf that reshaped the entire landscape. Krillin swallowed. If the beam caused this much destruction even though he had cut it short how could Vegeta have survived-
He spotted movement amidst the rubble a good bit left of the trench and sighed with relief.
Vegeta was pushing Gohan off him, spitting dirt and ungrateful scoldings at the boy for risking his life to save another instead of going for the kill on their opponent.
But Krillin had no time to be angry about that reaction. Recoome was stirring again and jumped up with a nimbleness that belied his massive stature. He swirled around towards Krillin, his nose and ears still emitting puffs of smoke, and grinned menacingly showing off his ruined teeth.
"My, my, little one. That hurt a bit. I think I might be a tad angry about that." He turned towards his comrades who had been watching and commenting from the sidelines. "Hey, Burter, Jeice. How about I get to kill the little Earthlings, too? What do you say? Please?"
Krillin took a step back, deeply disturbed about the cheerful sound of Recoome's question, but Burter and Jeice seemed to share his nonchalance towards killing, even if it included a child.
"Okay, fine," Burter called back. "But only if you treat us later to some chocolate parfaits."
Monsters. They were all monsters.
Recoome chuckled and closed in on Krillin, clearly savoring the moment. Then he swirled around again and before Krillin could react a mighty kick connected to his chest. He heard his rips break before he even felt the pain and then he was flying, bouncing and skidding over the rocky ground.
He was mildly surprised he didn't lose consciousness but not very happy. He really could have done without experiencing what it felt like when a majority of your bones were shattered like that.
"Krillin! Krillin!" Gohan dropped to his knees next to him, but he couldn't bear looking at him.
He briefly contemplated telling him to run, but that would only prolong the inevitable. "It's over," he whispered hoarsely, straining to get it all out. "There's no way we can win against a monster like that. He's too strong. Even Goku couldn't ..." He trailed off, thinking about how if only Goku ran away now, if he didn't even try to reach the planet he'd have a chance to survive. Krillin tried to focus on that thought. Goku had spoken to him telepathically before. If he could make that connection now he might be able to warn him.
But the pain made everything hazy. Giving up, he returned his attention to the here and now, and realized Gohan was no longer by his side. No, in spite of the hopelessness of their situation, he was still fighting. Krillin couldn't see him but he felt Gohan's anger, felt his ki flare up as he took on Recoome, got knocked down and kept getting back up.
It hurt him. But gritting his teeth against the shame of not being able to help and the pain of his wrecked body, Krillin pushed himself up on his elbows to be able to watch.
There was no denying of Gohan's talent and courage. The boy fought with a fierceness that made even Vegeta stare at him slack-jawed. And yet Krillin didn't dare hope. He knew that in the end it was all in vain, that Gohan was merely inviting more pain as he refused to succumb to Recoome's overwhelming strength much to the large man's amusement.
And then it was over.
Krillin saw one of Recoome's massive legs connect with Gohan's neck, heard his gasp of pain, saw how he thudded against the rocks and then remained still, blood seeping from his mouth and his head at an odd angle. And he felt Gohan's ki ebb away.
Jeice and Burter were chuckling. "Looks like you broke his neck," Krillin heard one of them say.
Recoome had the gall to let out a cheer and Vegeta, instead of focusing his ire on their opponents, growled at the kid for not living up to his expectations. Between this and Jeice's tracking the dwindling numbers of Gohan's life force with his scouter, Krillin couldn't even say who he hated most.
All he wanted to do was finally be free of it all. Why couldn't he lose consciousness already? Why did he have to witness this?
But then he felt something like a fresh breeze in his mind and he knew before anyone else noticed that Goku had arrived. A moment later the surprised shouts of the Ginyu Force proved him right.
Krillin laid back and closed his eyes, a smile forming on his lips. He couldn't help it. His best friend was here and as hopeless as the situation was Goku's presence brought an unreasonable sense of relief.
Then Gohan's ki was back in full force, maybe even stronger, and Krillin knew Goku had given his son a senzu bean. The Ginyus, on the other hand, sounded really offended by having been denied to witness the death of this child, but so far they merely kept to watching the events unfold.
"I'll be with you in a second, Krillin," Goku called out to him.
"No rush," he mouthed. "I'm not going anywhere." Propping himself on one elbow again he got a look at father and son united at last and his smile widened in spite of the pain.
Then he noticed Vegeta and the way he was staring at Goku. He was still kneeling in the rubble, cradling one arm and blood dripping from his chin. But his eyes were alert and as piercing as always.
Goku chose this moment to give the other Saiyan a long look as well. "What happened to Vegeta?" he asked Gohan as the two of them strolled towards Krillin.
"The one with the pineapple-shaped hair beat him up," Gohan replied gesturing at Recoome. "He was so strong, dad, it was terrible."
Having now reached Krillin Goku held up a hand to stop Gohan from elaborating further. Then he knelt at Krillin's side and offered him a senzu bean as well.
Pain made Krillin's hand shake quite badly as he took it and shoved it in his mouth. He never knew whether to describe a senzu's effect as soothing or invigorating, but the way all his hurt disappeared never failed to amaze him. And yet there was a sadness in his smile as he got back to his feet. "Thank you, Goku. Even though I don't know if I should really be happy about you healing us."
"Huh?"
"It's just so hopeless. These guys are so monstrously strong and now you healed us only to have us go through this hell again. Even you can't stand against them. Vegeta tried and look at how that turned out."
Goku's eyes flickered back to the other Saiyan. "Yeah, I was about to ask about that. Aren't these his allies?"
"They used to be, but he seems to have left them, I think," Krillin replied haltingly, trying to find a good way to sum up what had happened since they arrived on Namek.
Goku furrowed his brow as if focussing on a distant voice. Then Krillin felt him touch his mind telepathically but instead of exchanging words he pulled out mental images of the past days. Their shock at discovering Freeza's forces raiding Namek. Their struggle to find and keep the Dragonballs. Vegeta offering a truce and their battle with the Ginyu Force.
"I think I understand," Goku said. "It was a bit fuzzy, but it looked like Bulma is safe. And Vegeta is just as nasty as ever but he fought at your side and saved you. Is that right?"
Krillin nodded, impressed Goku would adapt their telepathy to access his memories and find out the most important bits much faster than Krillin could explain anything.
Smiling as if that settled everything Goku turned around and fished in the little bag he had brought along for another senzu bean. "The last one," he said with a sigh, then he raised his voice. "Hey, Vegeta! Catch!"
Before Krillin could even say anything, Goku had already hurled the bean. Recoome tried to intercept it, giving Krillin half a heart attack, but then he saw Vegeta deftly catch it and wasn't even sure he preferred this outcome.
Considering how precious these beans were with their ability to save someone from mortal wounds, he'd have safeguarded the last one for the next emergency that was sure to come, instead of handing it to someone who had tried to kill them all before.
Vegeta looked just as surprised and nonplussed as Krillin felt, but after staring at Goku for another moment, he shoved it in his mouth. A second later he was on his feet again, all the visible gashes closed and Krillin could have sworn his shoulders got a bit broader and more muscular.
But Krillin couldn't imagine that this would be enough. The way Recoome had dominated them there was no way that one more fighter on their side was going to make a difference, especially since there were two more opponents on the sidelines waiting for their turn. "What are you doing, Goku? Why are you healing him? Do you want all four of us to fight? Listen, this won't work. That guy is a monster and even if you and Vegeta go against him together there's no way we can win."
Goku just smiled without the least bit of worry. "I didn't heal Vegeta for that. I still want our rematch for the fight on Earth and he needs to survive until then. I can take on these punks on my own."
Krillin's jaw dropped open. He didn't know what had happened to Goku in outer space but it had clearly driven him to madness. Back on Earth when he had fought Vegeta Goku wouldn't have survived without his son and his friends. He even admitted that Vegeta was stronger than him. Now on Namek Vegeta had grown even more powerful and yet Goku thought he could handle an opponent who had beaten him into a pulp. It just made no sense to Krillin.
Yet when he looked at Vegeta again the surprise in the Saiyan's face had turned into a kind of anticipation as if he knew something Krillin didn't.
In any case, there was nothing Krillin could do to stop Goku. For all his doubts, he couldn't deny that Goku had turned the tide more than once. He could only hope he'd make another miracle come true.
