Author's Notes: I've made two edits to the last chapter. One to correct Piccolo and Nail's power levels to 1.8 million, and another to make Gohan facing Nappa to be Piccolo's idea. As such, the end of the chapter has been extended and improved. Piccolo's motivations and reasoning, as well as a small bonding moment with Bulma, are included.
Also, I apologize for waiting so long to resume this story. I got stuck on the Nappa fight and then got on a Ranma and Fate kick.
Chapter 02: Spreading Ripples
December 24, Age 762
King Kai's Planet, Otherworld
King Kai's expression grew tense as he waited. Tien meditated under a tree, taking Piccolo's previous position before he'd been wished back to life, while Yamcha and Chiaotsu simply waited with Gregory and Bubbles. Sunglasses concealed King Kai's glare at the two now-living guests who were overstaying their welcome. "Honestly, I understand Chiaotsu staying here, but must you two stay and watch this? This is going to be embarrassing at best and lethal at worst! Don't you have a home to get back to?" King Kai wasn't exactly looking forward to this, but having mortals around to watch him be disciplined was a mortifying concept. Chiaotsu had at least assisted in making the meal and was still stuck here since he was dead.
Tien didn't even open his eyes as he worked on a reply. "If you send us away, it will look like you're hiding witnesses. That will only look worse for you, King Kai. Besides, how many opportunities might we have to meet the being responsible for governing time itself?"
Yamcha sat at what was essentially a picnic table that was set out with food meant to impress the Supreme Kai of Time and prevent her from feeling the need to cook for herself during this meeting. It was profoundly lucky that Goku wasn't here to scarf down the meal with his Saiyan appetite and make his typical first impression. "Yeah, that's kind of a big deal! She has to be insanely strong too. It's kind of weird that she's not here instantly and all of that. I mean, couldn't she just pop up any time she wanted? It's weird for someone like that to be late, right?"
"Haven't you ever heard of being 'fashionably late'?" Tien's eyes snapped open and looked over, as did everyone else's. The newcomer had made no indication of her arrival. The pink-skinned Kai looked at Yamcha appraisingly with her arms on her hips, not sure if she should be pleased with the praise of her strength and importance or the implication that she was late. "Besides, just because you're here first doesn't make me late. Maybe you're just early. Did you consider that?"
"But how? I couldn't even sense her..." Tien muttered, only for the girl to smile.
"Mortals can't normally sense divine ki. Have you ever sensed King Kai's power?" Everyone present was simply silent at that. On one hand they hadn't sensed King Kai's power, but on the other they just thought his ki was weak and that his main contribution was the techniques that he knew.
King Kai, suspecting this thought process, simply cleared his throat. "Everyone, this is the Supreme Kai of Time. She is immensely powerful, immensely experienced, and most importantly someone you do not want to make angry! If she says 'jump', even my boss has to say 'how high'!" The girl gave a double peace-sign and a grin.
"Hello, everyone! It's nice to meet you! I'm Chronoa, the Supreme Kai of Time! You must have done well to get permission to come here!" Chronoa was polite to them, even though they were quite low on the power level scale as far as the higher levels of the Kai were concerned.
Tien turned and bowed reverently, and Chiaotsu did the same as the former spoke. "Err...thank you very much. It's nice to meet you as well. I don't even have the wherewithal to fully comprehend the opportunity."
The Three-Eyed-Person may have been on his best behavior, but Yamcha was surprised. "Wow. Wasn't expecting a cute kid like this to be so important. Nice to meet you too!"
Chronoa was clearly taken aback by this, and King Kai was quick to respond. "Y-Yamcha! You don't say things like that to a Supreme Kai! You don't say things like that to any Kai! You can be sure any Kai on duty is far older than you, so show respect!"
"Ah, sorry! I meant cute woman, then! I didn't mean any disrespect by it!" Yamcha said, correcting himself quickly and holding his hands out in front of him.
Chronoa blinked, her mind finally rebooting. She crossed her arms in a huff but blushed slightly as she looked at Yamcha critically. "...Fine. It's a misunderstanding, so I'll forgive you this time. Especially since you led it with 'cute'." The ancient being resolved not to elaborate on how much older she was than the scar-faced bandit. That might just invite further comment. She also elected not to comment on Tien's good-natured smile at the exchange.
King Kai cleared his throat again. This was going about as well as he feared. "So, why don't we sit down, enjoy some food, and I can tell you about the problem..." King Kai offered, hoping that this would placate her potential anger a bit. Complying, the group started to enjoy a meal. Chronoa seemed to welcome their company, so King Kai withheld the urge to tell the others to go train instead of hovering around.
"Alright, here's the problem, Supreme Kai. I made a mistake. A fairly large one that I need your help to fix." King Kai said, embarrassed and clearly concerned. Chronoa ate the meal, withholding judgment or anger until she heard more. A glance from her indicated that he should continue. "I assume you recall how Lord Beerus charged the Cold Family with eliminating errant planets while he slept?"
This comment caused a lot of confusion, and Yamcha was about to ask for clarification before King Kai raised his hand to stop him. Chronoa's expression grew serious as she swallowed her bite. "Yes. A misguided decision on Lord Beerus' part in my opinion. I've heard that the Cold Family has become problematic, destroying civilizations that were not marked for it. Many innocents have died, haven't they?"
King Kai nodded. "That's right, and it recently came to a head. The tyrant Frieza of that family recently learned of the existence of the Namekian Dragon Balls."
Chronoa's eyes widened and she put down her fork, considering his words before responding. "That's horrible, but I don't understand how his learning of the Dragon Balls is your mistake, King Kai. If anything, that responsibility falls to a power above your own." Indeed, she was internally wondering what Shin was doing at times like this. This was a universe-level problem for the Supreme Kai of Universe 7, not something the North Kai should deal with on his own!
"No, my mistake was something else. Let's see...where to start..." The blue man crossed his arms in thought for a moment before electing to start at the beginning. "You see, Lady Chronoa, a Namekian managed to arrive on Earth about three hundred years ago. He underwent fission to purge his darker aspects, became the planet's guardian, and made a second set of Dragon Balls for that planet. Rogue members of Frieza's forces recently killed the Namekians whose life force the Earth's Dragon Balls were linked to. The eavesdropping main force then attacked Namek for its Dragon Balls to give Frieza a wish for eternal life. It was a slaughter. It became necessary to use Namek's Dragon Balls to revive the Namekians linked to Earth's Dragon Balls, and then use those restored Dragon Balls to revive everyone that Frieza or his men have killed in the past Earth year to try to resolve the issue. Each set of balls has its own rules to juggle with that made it necessary to do it that way. It was a large and convoluted plan that I bear ultimate responsibility for. One of my students and a friend of the students here, Son Goku, achieved the Super Saiyan form and defeated Frieza..." The 'young' woman's eyes widened slightly at the comment that one of those Frost Demons had been defeated, but allowed King Kai to continue. "...but it was pointed out that many people who were killed in the past year by Frieza and his men no longer have planets to be revived on! They'd reappear in open space by the billions only to die all over again."
Chronoa sat there, digesting the information she'd been told. Indeed, the loss of life and the suffering being discussed were massive. "...What did you need my help with, King Kai?" She asked meekly, hoping that there was something that could be done. She worried that he was over-predicting her ability to intercede.
"Let's see, how to word this...I would ask that you go back in time a year and order the processing of the people who perished at the hands of Frieza and his men through check-in stations of currently intact planets not under the Cold Family's control. Oh, except for the ones from Earth. That'd cause a paradox since I had to train Goku and these guys." King Kai said, making Chronoa's features relax slightly. She let out a relieved sigh and a small smile upon processing this solution.
"Is that all? I was worried that you were about to ask me to change the planets' histories or something. Of course I can do that! I'll just need to do some research on how to best allocate those people first." Chronoa was happy that the solution was something she could actually resolve and simply a bureaucratic one on the Otherworld's end to boot. Simple and efficient. As much as she hated paperwork, it was worth it to fix a problem of this magnitude.
Yamcha fist-pumped into the air. "Alright! Saved by the Kai! I was really worried there. I don't understand the stuff about this Beerus guy, but I got the rest!"
"It's Lord Beerus, Yamcha!" King Kai warned urgently while Chronoa took a sip of tea. "And there's still the matter of what happens to me for my mistake. You might get a real slave driver to replace me, so don't get too happy just yet." King Kai muttered as the pink-skinned woman took a nice, long drink before setting down the tea.
"It's true that a mistake was made, King Kai. But to be honest, the Dragon Balls are an issue that you were never really expected to deal with and the jurisdiction regarding them was never properly defined. With that issue combined with the consequences of Lord Beerus' mismanagement, I'm just relieved that things are salvageable. You should have called for help sooner, but I understand the confusion that led you to act on your own. With that and the fact you have a good plan ready to fix this problem, I see no reason to replace or punish you this time as long as you've learned to be careful what you wish for...and assist me with the paperwork." King Kai gave a sigh of relief as he felt the figurative sword against his neck being pulled away.
"However," Chronoa started, making the being stiffen in concern once more, "there are certain reasons Earth and Namek are of interest to the Universe as a whole and thus require a Supreme Kai's observation. The fact that these things could happen and Lord Shin stayed quiet means that I may have to coordinate with you and monitor these worlds more closely. Your request for me to get involved in this matter gives me the authority to do so."
"But Namek was destroyed. Their people and Dragon Balls had to be moved to Earth." Yamcha added to the conversation, surprising the Supreme Kai of Time notably.
"H-huh? So all of our Time Eggs are in one basket now? That's not good at all!" She nodded to herself, all the more sure of her course of action. "Yes, I'll definitely have to help monitor things. Dragon Ball-equipped worlds can influence far more than that single area of the universe. It's above the North Kai's pay grade." Chronoa said, King Kai both relieved that he'd keep his job and worried that he'd have her watching over his back from now on.
"...You get paid?" Yamcha asked, earning a funny look from King Kai.
"Of course I get paid. How did you think I got my car?" King Kai gestured to his Age 657 Bel Air. Thankfully, he wouldn't be losing it today. "Importing a classic like this from Earth hardened for ten times gravity didn't come cheap, you know!"
Outskirts of East City
"Hey! Watch it or I'll drop you!" the flying Nappa warned, the Saibaman on his back moving around a little too close to his tail for comfort. The growled out warning was enough to make the creature settle down as Nappa arrived at the crater he'd made in East City. While the city wasn't entirely destroyed, the center of town near Bamboo Forest was now a huge crater many kilometers wide. Nappa had personally seen to that. This hadn't changed, but what had changed was the grass in the crater that had grown over the past two months, the new lake in the center of it, and the large number of dazed people looking around themselves trying to figure out what was going on.
"You've got to be kidding me. They're back too?" As the Saibaman jumped off when Nappa descended to the center of the crater, and panicked people fled the flying man and his monster, the bald Saiyan started to think. Raditz' brother was wished back with Dragon Balls, and he'd personally killed the Namekian who was responsible for their care. That meant that only the Namekian Dragon Balls remained as far as he knew. If the Ginyu Force had died meeting resistance from Vegeta somehow...
"Wait...were we all wished back?" The mountain of a man finally realized the possibility, not completely lacking in mental power. Still, it didn't make much sense. Why was one of the Saibamen revived and not the rest? Why was he wished back by Vegeta at all? He was distracted from this line of thinking when an approaching streak of light approached him. Waiting for its arrival, Nappa was surprised when it stopped near him in the air and he realized it was Gohan.
"Heh, it's the brat. Shame about your tail, but at least the armor looks good on you. I don't buy that you've got the power to back it up, kid. What'd you do to get the armor, steal it?" Nappa teased, chuckling.
Gohan was expecting to be more scared, but he was only slightly nervous once he saw the man in person and felt his power. After enduring the others, this was almost nothing! "I'm not working for Frieza. Recoome trashed my clothes pretty bad. This was what I could get after I recovered."
That made Nappa stop in his tracks. 'This kid survived Recoome? If he got a zenkai boost from that...No.' The Saiyan dismissed the thought with a smile. 'This kid's just a half-breed of a low-level. He couldn't hold a candle to an Elite.' Nappa gave a deep laugh. "Well don't feel special because you're wearing it, brat. I'm sure Vegeta only let you live because you were one of the few Saiyans left. Probably why I was wished back too."
Gohan's expression softened and he responded with a tinge of empathy in his voice, to Nappa's surprise. "S-sorry...but we wished back all the people killed by Frieza and his men in the past year. You were one of the victims like everyone else." Nappa's eyes widened as the information entered his mind. He wanted to deny it, to cling to the hope that his years of service meant something even after Vegeta killed him, but it made sense. The only Saibaman to be revived must have been the one Vegeta killed. He was just extra baggage.
The burly Saiyan's fist tightened and his and teeth clenched. Hate flooded his being as he charged up his energy. Death hadn't permitted him to achieve much of a zenkai, but his energy was still deadly to the humans nearby. The enraged man then gave a primal yell and unleashed a Break Cannon from his mouth at Gohan. Unable to dodge the ki blast without the city's remains and its population taking damage, the child braced himself and used his own body to block the whole of the technique. The beam of white fought to break through the boy's guard, the child pumping ki into his defense. When the bright light faded, Nappa's open mouth shifted into a grin as he noted the dust cloud. The smile was short-lived, however.
When the cloud faded, all Nappa had managed to do was destroy the child's Battle Armor. His boots, gloves, and blue jumpsuit were all untouched, shielded more by his ki than any protection the armored components could have provided. Gohan looked to the man with a glare, his pity gone, while Nappa stood and gawked. "W-what? How the...?" Nappa blubbered, stunned. Of course, he hadn't managed to utter much more before he felt a fist slam into his bare torso. Gohan had chosen to keep himself to the same power level his father had beaten Nappa so handily with. The result was that the warrior's eyes bugged as he was knocked into the Northwestern wall of the crater with a loud crash. A long trench was dug across the landscape with his very body once Nappa was clear of the crater and away from the people, adding to the growing complexity of the area's artificial geology.
The Saibaman, watching the scene with confusion, wasn't sure what to do. Both were wearing the right clothing to be allies. Which one should he obey? It was then that Gohan looked to the Saibaman sternly. "...Don't hurt any of these people. It'll be the last thing you do. You hear me?" The glare he received from the child quickly cemented his allegiances. Saibamen obeyed the strongest, after all.
"Keh-KEH." The Saibaman muttered, making no aggressive moves and yielding in obedience. After a moment of appraisal, Gohan nodded and flew off to confront Nappa.
Nappa flared his energy with a loud yell and burst his way out of the crater, the angered man freeing himself just in time to see Gohan's approach. "Tch...okay, so you did get stronger. But don't think I'll lose to some low level's half-breed brat!" Nappa rushed forward, intending to punch Gohan out of the air, but the Elite was just too slow. His fist met air, his cheek met Gohan's foot, and his body met the dirt once more.
King Kai's Planet, Otherworld
"Wow, that sure puts things into perspective." King Kai mused to himself, a bit more tolerant and relaxed of Yamcha now that his fate wasn't so gloomy. He merely had to assist with extensive amounts of paperwork after this deal was over. For now, though, they were enjoying a decent meal.
"What do you mean, King Kai?" Chiaotsu inquired.
"Hmm? I mean the fact that Nappa is getting the tar beaten out of him by Gohan right now." King Kai couldn't help but snicker.
"Wait, that jerk got wished back too? Let me watch, King Kai!" Yamcha exclaimed, quickly approaching and putting his hand on King Kai's shoulder.
"I would like to watch as well if that's alright. It would be cathartic." Tien managed with a bit more reservation.
"Who are Nappa and Gohan?" Chronoa inquired. Chiaotsu floated over and refilled her cup with juice while beginning to answer.
"Nappa is one of the two Saiyans that attacked Earth. Tien and I died fighting him. Gohan is a five-year-old boy whose father, Goku, is the Super Saiyan that defeated Frieza." Chiaotsu explained. Chronoa pondered this information, quickly recalling just how little time five Earth years was. Standing, she went over to King Kai and put a hand on his back. Chiaotsu soon followed suit. Sure enough, the group was treated to a pint-sized fighter beating the tar out of a giant monster of a man.
"It's frightening how quickly even a half-Saiyan can grow. Gohan is still holding back. I would say that he's over twice as strong as Captain Ginyu at his strongest..." King Kai shuddered at the leap. Those zenkai boosts were no joke.
"Man, that's wild...pretty sure Gohan's stronger than all of us now. Err, us mortals, I mean." Yamcha quickly corrected himself, not wanting to get another earful from King Kai. Chronoa wasn't paying attention though. Even though the power levels were minimal compared to those the Kais typically considered threats, she observed silently.
Outskirts of East City
"Are you done?" Gohan asked angrily, staring at the hulking behemoth. Gohan no longer bore any fear of this man. After all, what had transpired thus far couldn't even have been called a fight. Gohan had delivered every blow he attempted and Nappa hadn't even been able to touch him. It was a repeat of Nappa's earlier fight with Goku, except that Gohan had much more speed and control over his power. He was clearly holding back.
The very thought infuriated the bleeding and battered Saiyan invader. "Don't get cocky, brat! You may have gotten stronger, but you'll always be low-level trash!"
Gohan gave a small smile, getting a little more confident. "Low-level? You're not even a warm-up for me anymore. If I'm 'low-level', what does that make you?"
From a distance away, Piccolo watched as Gohan resumed battling Nappa. Indeed, Gohan was getting more confident. However, he was holding back a little too much. Was the kid actually toying with his enemy? His cape flowing and his arms crossed, Piccolo glared at the Saibaman that Gohan had left behind. The kid was still too soft when it came to finishing the job.
"Excuse me, Majunior?" Someone inquired, compelling Piccolo to turn his head. He found himself face-to-face with a man with glasses and slicked-back hair. "I'm Jimmy Firecracker with ZTV. As a member of the group that fought this alien invader last time and the runner up of the last World Martial Arts Tournament, do you have any input as to the revival of the citizens of East City and the current situation out there?" The microphone was then pushed toward his face.
Piccolo was silent. He didn't dare mention the details of the Dragon Balls to the masses. The Namekian also lacked key social skills. It was more for the latter reason that Piccolo stared down the reporter before taking to the air and flying to a new vantage point.
"...It seems that Majunior has no comment. What about you, Sir?" The reporter pointed the microphone to the only entity left in the immediate area.
"Keh-KEH?" The Saibaman responded, summing up the situation as best he was able.
Nappa pondered the situation, gritting his teeth before finally smirking on coming up with a plan of action. "You're really that strong, huh? Let's see you prove it!" The man then focused, charging up an attack that he and Gohan both knew the latter could dodge. White ki wrapped around Nappa's body and the ground cracked, his power level raising to its maximum. A white ball formed in his hand, and an overconfident Gohan prepared to dodge the move...but then Nappa acted on his plan. Nappa got ready to throw his Bomber DX attack at Gohan, but then promptly turned on his heel and threw the attack toward the remainder of East City instead.
"W-what? No!" Gohan's eyes widened as he launched himself into the sky to intercept the attack, attempting to reach it before it killed the city's residents. They couldn't be wished back by the Dragon Balls a second time! He poured on the speed, knowing he might not make it...only for another more powerful ki blast to intercept and detonate the blast prematurely. No innocents were harmed and Gohan looked for their savior.
"M-Mister Piccolo!" Gohan exclaimed in relief on seeing his mentor, though Piccolo's expression was stern and his arms were crossed. He wanted to rebuke Gohan for being overconfident, but a white sphere of ki launched into the sky from Nappa's position and the hulk of a man started to grow even larger. The Oozaru form of the Saiyan race could increase their strength by a factor of ten, and it was Nappa's desperation tactic that bought him enough time to transform.
"Tch...I told you he was more experienced, Gohan. You shouldn't have toyed with him so much." Piccolo conveyed, while Gohan stared at the Oozaru.
"H-he's as strong as Recoome now!" Gohan noted, some of his nervousness returning.
"But not as strong as you, Gohan, even split into thirds like this. He's also sluggish. Take out the ball or his tail and finish this fight. I'll be here to intercept his errant attacks." Piccolo then gave a smirk. "Remember, Oozaru Vegeta was even stronger than this when your father battled him, but we still won because Yajirobe fought wisely and Vegeta got overconfident." Gohan gave a determined nod. He launched himself back toward Nappa to resume the fight. Rather than assist, Piccolo stayed behind to protect the city and to let Gohan win this one alone.
"Hey, brat!" Nappa's distorted and deep voice growled out, red eyes glaring at the fast-approaching child. "A shame you lost your tail. I wonder what you'll do about this!" The creature fired a massive punch, the huge fist closing in on Gohan, but the boy deftly evaded. The child was surprised at how slow the fist was moving.
"Hey, Mister Piccolo was right! You're super slow in this form!" Gohan realized, noting the limitations of the Oozaru body. The increased strength was pointless if Nappa couldn't even touch him. Nappa, however, already knew this. Even as the ape swatted and grabbed for Gohan, he was charging another Break Cannon. The boy saw the charging energy in Nappa's mouth and responded by flying up and delivering a powerful kick to the beast's chin. This snapped Nappa's head back and forced his mouth shut, causing the blast to detonate violently in Nappa's mouth. The airburst forced Gohan back a dozen meters, his arms reflectively going up in a cross guard, but he was unharmed.
"GRAAHHHHH!" Nappa roared, causing Gohan to look past his cross guard to his foe. The blast had burned his mouth, filled his nose with smoke that leaked from his nostrils, temporarily blinded him, and made his ears ring. It was as if he had a flash-bang grenade go off in his mouth. The monster stumbled and fell to one knee, and Gohan knew that this was his chance. Rushing around to the struggling beast's flank, Gohan employed a lone Destructo Disk and threw it at the base of Nappa's tail. Nappa had never even seen the attack that cut off his tail, the disk slicing through the appendage and continuing into the ground for dozens of meters before losing its shape.
"W-what? No! You little brat!" The Saiyan cursed Gohan as the battered shrank back down to his normal form, the only changes being that his tail lay severed on the ground and that a single big tuft of hair remained on his head – a temporary byproduct of the reactivation of his hair follicles in Oozaru form that would fall out soon enough due to his age. Nappa was cut down to size cleanly and efficiently, just as Piccolo had advised. Compared to Frieza's transformations, it was rather...underwhelming.
"Are you willing to surrender yet?" Gohan called out. "You don't have to follow Frieza. Dad defeated him! Vegeta isn't the strongest on the planet, either! You could live peacefully here!" Gohan offered one last time. One final chance for Nappa to surrender.
The weakened Nappa's eyes widened at the comment. Kakarot defeated Frieza? That was ridiculous, though he was tempted to believe it if only because it made his own loss against the man less pathetic. The idea of not having to listen to Frieza or Vegeta anymore also appealed...but peace? Who needed peace? The fact the kid would offer that was proof that he was no Saiyan! In spite of earlier considerations of keeping the planet to repopulate it with human-Saiyan hybrids and restore their race, Nappa was angry enough to refuse. Oh, he wanted to tell this brat to shove it so badly that he clenched his fists.
The problem was that he knew what awaited him in Hell. An eternity of that mess, or a chance to grow stronger like the other Saiyans here and perhaps leave this planet to conquer his own world at some point. Nappa was a brute, but he wasn't a fool. Just as he had done for years under Frieza, the man swallowed his pride. "Tch, fine kid. I'm not interested in going back to Hell. But you better get my tail reattached! No true Saiyan should be without it!" Nappa growled, trying to get a concession from the child.
"This isn't a negotiation," Piccolo spoke as he descended gently to the ground. He then raised his hand and fired a ki blast at the source of artificial moonlight overhead, destroying it just in case. "Honestly, I'd rather Gohan simply blasted you back to Hell, but it's not like either of us couldn't handle you."
"Well, well. If it ain't the green man I killed before. Don't tell me you got a power boost too." Nappa said sarcastically.
Piccolo simply gave a stern nod, ignoring the sarcastic remark. "Fighting through Frieza's transformations and living helped push us all to new heights. I'm tied for the strongest on the planet right now, Vegeta's a distant third, and Gohan here is fourth. You're pretty much at the bottom of the barrel." That statement made Nappa flinch in anger. Reduced from an Elite to this? Saved because of some child's misguided mercy? He kept telling himself that it was a better fate than Vegeta had left for him.
The group would depart, flying toward West City with one Saibaman in tow. Gohan, flying behind Nappa to make sure he didn't try anything and carrying the Saibaman on his back, felt his mind being prodded by Piccolo's telepathy.
'Gohan. You did well for your first time fighting on your own. You got a bit too overconfident though. It seems that you'll need more mental training.' Piccolo sent to the boy, briefly making Gohan smile.
His smile, however, soon faded. 'But I wasn't alone, Mister Piccolo. If I was, those people would be dead and I might be panicking...' The boy thought with regret, knowing full well that he could have cost the people of East City their lives.
'Then act on it. You've learned of your flaws. Resolve them.' Piccolo made it sound so simple...was it? Really? The man gave no more advice for the moment as they flew. It wouldn't do to distract themselves from Nappa and the Saibaman for the whole flight.
King Kai's Planet, Otherworld
"That wasn't quite as one-sided as I thought it'd be. Krillin will be happy his attack was useful though." Tien noted, a bit surprised at Gohan's performance. It wasn't as bad as it could have been, but the boy could certainly improve. He did well enough for a five-year-old.
"Maybe we should give the tyke some pointers when we get back. That is if his mother lets us anywhere near him." Yamcha noted, knowing that Gohan had scarcely been with his family at all over the past year. If he knew Chichi, she was not going to let her son out of her sight. How the kid was able to head off and fight Nappa at all was a mystery.
"Hey, guys!" A familiar voice called out to the group. Looking down from the planet toward the tail end of Snake Way, the assembled warriors and Kais noted the arrival of a certain friend in damaged Battle Armor.
"It's Krillin!" Chiaotsu exclaimed, waving at the man. Krillin waved back...until he felt the increased gravity of the planet on his approach. Surprised, the recently deceased man yelled as he slammed into the planet and left a crater, mumbling before straining and popping himself free of the grassy ground.
"What...the heck is this?" Krillin asked, feeling the strain. King Kai chortled a bit, never tiring of seeing new arrivals from weaker gravity worlds reacting this way.
"Hey, Krillin! Don't mind this. Ten times normal gravity just takes some time to get used to." Yamcha smiled, extending the smaller man a hand. Krillin accepted it and stood, albeit with some effort.
"Thanks...hey, Yamcha! You're alive again! And Tien, too!" Krillin said, excitedly.
"That's right! We just stuck around to watch King Kai meet with his boss! And to get a telepathic view of Gohan beating up a revived Nappa again. The kid used a Destructo Disc to take out his tail." Yamcha happily spoke, grinning at the memory.
"No foolin'? Why is it that everyone else has better luck with that move than I do?" It was true. The most Krillin had managed was to cut Nappa's face and sever Frieza's tail. Still, this was said jovially rather than with any form of frustration.
"Don't cut yourself short, Krillin!" King Kai said, before snickering at his own pun. "You survived for a long time against Frieza and even did lasting damage. You even earned a trip here to train! I have to ask, though. Where's Goku? Didn't he come from the Namekian Check-in Station with you?"
Krillin looked confused. "Huh? No. I waited there to see who lost, but no one else showed up. I was the last one through. After a while, they processed me and sent me on my way. Then they closed the station behind me."
Yamcha was puzzled. "Wait, are you saying...that Goku and Frieza didn't die on Namek?"
Krillin seemed just as confused. "Look, all I know is that I didn't run into them and I even waited for as long as they'd let me to see who won. I can't tell you any more than that."
King Kai extended his antennae and started to search. He wasn't able to find Frieza, but Goku... "...There! I see him! Goku made it to an Attack Pod! Let's see...he's in stasis sleep, so I can't contact him at the moment. At this rate, though, he'll land safely on the planet Yardrat."
"Is that good, or bad?" Tien asked, curious.
"Oh, it's very good! The Yardrats are a peaceful race! If your friend behaves himself, they would surely heal him and help him get back to your home planet in time." Chronoa stated, smiling. The Yardrats were a people with some abilities over spacetime, and thus Chronoa had dealings with them in the past. Positive ones. The Dragon Team gave a collective sigh of relief.
"Oh yeah! Krillin! There's more good news!" Yamcha remembered to state. "The Namekian Dragon Balls can wish you and Chiaotsu back! You'll just have to sit tight for 130 days or so!" Krillin perked up.
"What, really? I can go back? That's great! I thought my ticket was punched for good! Uh, not that it's not good to be here and keep my body, I'll just miss everyone. I hope you understand, King Kai." Krillin awkwardly said to the blue-skinned man whose voice had spoken to him when he held the Spirit Bomb in the fight against the Saiyans. King Kai's smile showed that there were no hard feelings.
"Speaking of going back, I believe it's time for the living to return where they belong. They will be needed to help protect the Earth." Chronoa said, feeling that this had gone on long enough. She and King Kai had been willing to let them linger for a bit, but it was time for Tien and Yamcha to leave.
Yamcha grinned widely, but Tien was more reserved. The latter spoke in concern. "Is it possible...for me to stay with Chiaotsu until he returns to life? Then we could go home together. I would rather not just...leave him like this."
"Tien..." Chiaotsu said, touched by the sentiment.
King Kai was sympathetic, but it wasn't really something he could budge on. "Sorry, Tien, but I can't override her. Besides, it really is time for you to go home." Tien looked to Chronoa, who also understood the man's feelings of friendship and camaraderie, but she had to act in the best interests of the universe.
"Tienshinhan," Chronoa spoke gently, "the Dragon Balls' power is something to be safeguarded and protected. It is possibly above even King Kai's power to deal with should something go wrong. With the Earth having two sets of Dragon Balls, whose existences must be kept secret, we need every reliable person able to protect them to be ready and willing to do so. Doubly so if Frieza is still alive somewhere. Please, for the safety of the universe, return to your home and protect it."
Tien let the words sink in before giving a deep bow of respect to the Kais. "It is...as you say. Krillin, I expect you to take good care of Chiaotsu."
Krillin gave a nod. "You bet, Tien. I won't let him get lonely." This brought a wan smile to Tien's face as he stood once more.
"Good. Chiaotsu?" Tien said, putting a hand on his fellow Crane student's shoulder. "I will see you in a little over four months. Get stronger and try to contact me through King Kai every day. Bribe him with your home-cooked meals if you have to." That brought a smile to Chiaotsu's face and a grumble from King Kai. Chronoa gave King Kai a sideways glance that was meant to look critical, but she couldn't help but give a tiny smirk.
"I'll do my best, Tien! Oh, wait for a second!" Chiaotsu scrambled to the table and started to pack various foodstuffs and drinks into two bundles before he then handed them to Yamcha and Tien. "For your trip! Enjoy yourselves and say 'hi' to the others for me! And Tien...don't lose a few months of your life mourning me, okay? And don't spend time alone! Try to find something to do and enjoy."
Tien's expression was momentarily one of surprise before he gave another small smile. "I'll do my best, Chiaotsu. See you later." With that, the two Earthlings flew off of King Kai's planet and flew along Snake Way below, heading off in the direction from which Krillin had come.
Krillin watched them go, smiling, before his stomach growled. "Oops, sorry. I haven't eaten since before the fight with Frieza started. Is that spread over there open to everybody?"
Forest Clearing - Dragon Team Rally Point
"Hey, that's them! Alright! Hey, Dad! We're down here!" Bulma exclaimed, waving her arms for the propeller-driven cargo plane that had just arrived on the scene. When it landed, the rear cargo door lowered into a ramp, and out ran Chichi.
"Gohan! It's Mommy!" She yelled, rushing into the crowd of aliens. "Where is he?" She asked, not at all unnerved by the Namekian people.
"Over here, Mom!" Gohan called out happily from in front of an open book. Piccolo had taught him how to re-absorb the other Gohan studying with him, avoiding the mother's notice. "Just getting ahead in my schoolwork while I wait!"
Chichi beamed, rushing over to the boy. "Now that's what I like to see! Welcome home, son!" Chichi embraced the boy firmly, glad that he had returned safe and also seemed to have taken his studies seriously while he was gone. Bulma and Piccolo gave each other a knowing glance. As everyone was loaded onto the transport, including Vegeta, no one noticed a certain frog hopping into the landing gear of the plane.
As the cargo plane took off into the sky and flew away, Orlen withdrew from his observation post to the cave that Namole had found. Entering, he noted the rations that were being eaten with a look of disdain. Namole and Captain Ginyu sat on the ground consuming a meal with two frogs nearby eating a bit of food as well. Another ration pack was present, waiting for Orlen's return.
"Orlen reporting, Captain. The mission was successful." Orlen saluted the top officer in King Cold's Army.
"I know, I was there." Captain Ginyu responded, a first aid pack with regenerative fluid placed under his chest armor to tend to his self-inflicted wound from Namek.
"Ah...my apologies, Sir. This all is a strange concept for me to wrap my mind around." Indeed, the idea that a person could split into three as a combat tactic was a strange concept. Captain Ginyu, being the genius that he was, picked up that ability with a little practice after eavesdropping on the Namekian's lesson in the skill. He split into three frogs and promptly used his Change Now ability as one of them to re-enter his original body. Thankfully, it was more a breathing and ki-activated ability than something he truly needed to shout, or the wordless frog would have remained his prison. Captain Ginyu now controlled his original body and two frogs, with the third frog having its original personality once more. One of the frogs under his control was hiding aboard the plane.
What were the long term consequences of potentially imbalancing the Tri-Form technique with different bodies? It was hard to say if anything bad could happen, but they had few options. The frog was needed for reconnaissance.
Captain Ginyu had also puzzled out how to sense power levels based on his experience controlling the blue-haired human woman's body. He did not like what he had learned. Vegeta, two Namekians, and even the Saiyan child. All outclassed him in power by far. For now, all he could do was heal, watch, and wait for opportunities.
Capsule Corporation Headquarters, West City
After four more hours of studying for Gohan, the craft landed and the Namekians were able to disembark. Chichi was satisfied with her son's academic progress, which was a dodged bullet. Bulma addressed the Namekians with a smile, glad to have gotten out of that mess.
"Well, guys. This is going to be your new home for a while! It's not the Taj Mahal, but I think you're gonna like it." The Namekians and Vegeta looked around, not even thinking about what this 'Taj Mahal' was. It didn't help that a grateful Panchy accosted Vegeta, thanking him for helping save her daughter and calling him a hero. He was clearly not used to such things. What surprised him more was when he saw a ship...with Nappa standing near it and listening to Doctor Brief's commentary. Nappa's tail seemed to have a cast of sorts at the base, indicating damage.
"She's a real beauty. Advanced supertronics, the best self-generating laser-powered reactor, and a stereo system that'll bring the house down. It's based on the wreckage from your Attack Pod, but we put our own upgrades into it." The man said to Nappa. The large and burly Saiyan found the ship rather nice and the man had managed to reattach his tail, so he decided not to blow this place up at the first opportunity. This was the only one around that made spaceships, after all. It was his sole ticket out of here if he wanted to leave someday. It helped that his wife mixed a mean Shirley Temple, whatever kind of drink that was. It was booze, he liked it, and that was all Nappa needed to know.
"Nappa, what are you doing here?" Vegeta asked, getting tired of all the surprises that day. Nappa glanced to Vegeta, giving him a bit of a glare.
"So the kid told the truth. Tch. Long story short, they wished for all of the people Frieza and his men killed to come back. You worked for Frieza when you killed me and that one Saibaman, so here we are." Nappa wasn't too pleased to see Vegeta after being killed by the man.
"Hmph. And I suppose the 'kid' is the one you lost your tail to?" Vegeta noted with irritation.
"Not like you did any better, Vegeta. And the 'kid' was stronger than you were back then." Nappa was inwardly pleased that this earned a twitch from Vegeta. "Is it true that Kakarot wrecked Frieza?"
With this, Vegeta scowled. "That's what they're saying. I know he became a Super Saiyan in the fight. I was able to see it with my own eyes. That's the new level I need to reach. Not that you'll get there, Nappa." Vegeta gave a smirk. "Even the five-year-old has far outpaced you." Nappa bore his teeth, but Vegeta could just blast Nappa if he dared talk back. Why the kid kept him alive was a puzzle he didn't really care to give much thought to. With that, Vegeta strolled into the spaceship and started to inspect it. He was pleased enough with what he saw as he inspected the console. "Not bad. Kakarot must have used a ship just like this one."
Vegeta was alone, distracted, and inside of a spaceship. It was an opportunity that couldn't be ignored. Quietly getting into position, the being stalking the Prince of all Saiyans readied its ambush. Wordlessly, a bit of ki flared...tiny given the body emitting it, but just enough for Vegeta to look toward the source. Unfortunately for him, it was too late. The interior of the spaceship flashed white as the frog that was spying on the group exchanged bodies with Vegeta and trapped him within the useless green form. Frog Vegeta stared up at his own body, the man pressing a button to close the doors to the Capsule Corp spaceship.
"It wasn't my intention to act so soon, Vegeta, but you did let your guard down and provide me a chance to escape. I suggest you buckle in, lest your frog body gets crushed. I would rather deliver you to King Cold intact for...questioning." The craft had already been on standby to launch itself to Namek, so it was an easy matter for the Vegeta-clad Ginyu to buckle himself in and press the launch button.
By the time anyone knew what was happening, the spaceship was already lifting off and accelerating far out of their reach in on a column of white-blue light...