On a distant planet, the remnant of a dynasty sat. Cooler sprawled in his chair, slowly swirling the wine in his glass as he stared at the dangerous sandstorm that raged on the outside of his ship. His thoughts were interrupted as one of his subordinates bowed before him.
"No need to bow, Salza," Cooler spoke, his voice quiet but still reverberating with power. The blue skinned man nodded quickly, and stood to address his lord.
"Monsieur, we have finally received reports of your father and brother's whereabouts," Salza said, his voice laden with a thick accent. Cooler nodded slowly.
"And these whereabouts would be?" The arcosian asked. Salza looked at him nervously.
"Well, monsieur, King Cold's ship was reported to be at a planet called Earth. That's where it's been for the last two hundred fifteen rotations of the planet." Salza reported. Cooler hummed in thought.
"Anything else?" Cooler asked. He could tell his soldier was withholding information.
"Well, the supposed Super Saiyan that defeated you brother. It's the planet he resides on," Salza admitted. Cooler smirked at this. The legend of the Super Saiyan, a myth passed down through generations of his family. He was eager to see if the legend was true, and if so, how it held up against his own powers.
"Salza, gather the Armored Squadron, and set course for this Earth." Cooler commanded. Salza nodded and strolled into the sandstorm to find his comrades.
The young Gohan sighed as he watched his father fumble. They'd been training valiantly for the past seven months or so, partially against his mother's wishes. Today was more or less their day off, and so Goku decided to take his son fishing. The man currently wore a pair of khaki shorts and an orange t-shirt, as Chi Chi had protested him wearing his any of his gis, as they all needed maintenance.
"Dad, I thought you said we were going fishing?" Gohan asked, a fishing pole within his grip. Gohan's dragon, Icarus, snoozed quietly by the water. Goku snagged a trout out of the river and looked at his son with a nonplussed expression.
"We are fishin', Gohan," Goku affirmed, holding up the fish that was still wiggling in his hand. Gohan gave him the same look back and shook around the pole in his own hand, "Now what do ya need that for?" Goku asked.
"This is what you're supposed to fish with, dad!" Gohan exclaimed. Goku shook his head in exasperation.
"Why would I use tha' when I can just catch 'em in my hands?" Goku asked. Gohan truly didn't have a response to that inquiry, so he shrugged and tossed the pole away, rolling up the legs of his overalls to join his father in the river. Suddenly, Goku's head shot up and he looked towards the sky. Gohan looked at his father's scrutinizing face in worry.
"Is something the matter, dad?" Gohan asked. The look on Goku's face dropped and he smiled at his son.
"Nah, it's nothing. Just thought I felt somethin' for a moment," Goku explained. He watched as his son snatched at the water, bringing up a fish. The slimy creature wiggled out of Gohan's hand and fell back into the water where it sped away. Goku laughed.
"Yeah, that happens sometimes. Here, there's a little trick to it..."
Cooler strolled about his father's ship, kicking at a lizard that had scurried in after him. The ramp had been left open after all this time, the wind blowing sand and weeds into the interior. There was clearly a sign of a battle outside, the crater of his brother's supernova was evidence enough of that. There was no evidence of his brother or father themselves, however.
He attempted to open the door that led to the security feed of the ship. It denied him access. He huffed, and his hand lit up with a burning orb of energy. Soon enough, the door was blasted down, and he had entered the room. He began to comb through the ship's files. He opened one to the date that Salza had said they had arrived, and witnessed the battle that had taken place.
"Ah, so they have been killed," Cooler confirmed. There was no sympathy in his words. He continued to look through the files until he found one interestingly labeled 'Wanted by Frieza: Namek Opposition'. He had wondered what it was his brother had been doing on that boring planet. Five pictures appeared on the screen. In the center was a photo of an adult saiyan male, under the picture in bold red letters were the words 'The Super Saiyan'. Two of the pictures had a red X stricken through them. The picture of Frieza's pet prince, Vegeta, and a picture of a short earthling male. The other two pictures were one of an angry looking Namekian and a saiyan child.
"Now, hold on a minute..." Cooler said. The X's should suggest that those two had been taken out. As Cooler continued to feed of the video he'd been looking at, however; they appeared to be alive and well. That didn't add up.
"Well, well, I suppose a hunt is in order," He said. He shut down the monitor and left the room. As he approached the communications room he heard a strange sound, almost as if a whimper. He turned his ear to locate the source of the sound. Stalking towards it he found a semi-hidden latch in the floor. He lifted it and carefully stepped down the stairs. He fumbled around for a moment before he found a light switch, and flicked it on. He found himself in what appeared to be some sort of cell block. In the farthest cell, a malnourished figure lay cuffed to a bench.
"Oh, now look at you," Cooler said mockingly, recognizing the cell's resident. The figure attempted to speak, but couldn't find the strength to do so. Cooler shook his head with a malevolent grin. "What has become of you?" He laughed as he walked away from the cell, flicking the lights back off. Back up the stairs he went, slamming the latch back closed as he exited. He eventually reached the communications room and opened up the line with his own ship.
"Salza, are you there?" Cooler asked. A moment later the comms crackled to life.
"Yes, mon Seigneur, we are here. Your orders?" Salza asked.
"Come aboard my father's ship if you would, I have some people I wish to look for."
Krillin, Tenshinhan, and Yamcha strolled down a street in West City, passing by the dazzling lights of the city at dusk.
"We never get the chance to do this, ya know? Just hang out and hit the town once in a while," Krillin commented, taking a bite out of a hot dog. Tenshinhan looked about at the other citizens of the city, glaring if one stole a glance at his extra eye a moment too long.
"I don't really go out into the city much, Krillin. On account of, well, being who I am," Tenshinhan responded. Plenty of people were put off by his appearance in general, but there were also those that remembered his first ever appearance in a world tournament. The viciousness he showed there wasn't easily forgotten. Unless you were Yamcha.
"Yeah, Krillin, and I don't go out on the town on account of the ladies digging me way too much!" Yamcha added. He winked at a blonde woman who passed by them. She sneered and continued to walk.
"Sure, Yamcha..." Krillin deadpanned, mouthing a 'sorry' to the woman. "So how has your all's training been going?" Krillin asked with a full mouth, sticking his hand over his mouth as he accidentally spewed chunks of hot dog. Tenshinhan raised his eyebrow at the display as Yamcha turned his head to avoid laughing directly at his friend.
"Mine and Chiaotzu's training has been rewarding. I've been pushing the kaioken to its limits and Chiaotzu's psychic prowess has increased tenfold," Tenshinhan explained. He looked down and shook his head, expression darkening. "But with how powerful these supposed androids were claimed to be, I fear if it's enough..." He trailed off.
"Yeah, I get ya man, but that doesn't mean we can give up!" Krillin said. He knocked Tenshinhan on the elbow, he couldn't quite reach the shoulder, as a sign of reassurance. Tenshinhan merely rolled his eyes.
"These things I know, Krillin. I can't help but worry, nonetheless." Tenshinhan said. Krillin shrugged and turned to Yamcha.
"And what about you, Yamcha? Have you even been training?" Krillin asked in an accusatory tone. Yamcha scoffed indignantly and touched his chest in mock offense.
"Of course I've been training, man! I know I'm not as strong as you guys, but I'm not just gonna sit around," Yamcha rebutted. He shadow boxed with the air to prove a point. "Just wait till you see how I've improved the Wolf Fang Fist!" He shouted, earning a chuckle from Krillin.
Tenshinhan scanned the area as his friends chatted. With his background in the insidious workings of the Crane School and his higher perceptive abilities, he was used to remaining on guard at all times. This is how he spotted three figures skulking in the shadows of a lower sitting building.
"Krillin, Yamcha," Tenshinhan spoke softly, catching his friends' attention. They halted their conversation and turned to him, "The roof of West City Bank, there's three figures up there watching us. Look, but try not to draw attention to yourselves. Continue talking to make us seem less conspicuous," The triclops instructed. Yamcha and Krillin glanced up, catching view of their stalkers.
"How do you know they're watching us, Tien?" Yamcha asked, stuffing his hands in his jean pockets.
"Trust me, I know," Tenshinhan assured.
"Well, either they're really weak, or they know how to hide their power," Krillin said.
"Think they're planning on robbing the bank or something?" Yamcha asked. Tenshinhan shook his head ruefully.
"No, they have us marked. They want information or they want us dead," Tenshinhan informed. Krillin scowled and Yamcha went white. Before they even had time to discuss a plan, one of the figures stepped into the light. He wore a light green battle suit with one shoulder guard that contrasted against his dark green skin. The bottom of his body was covered naught except for a purple speedo. Atop his head of shaggy black hair was an orange and white helmet connected to a scouter. Krillin's scowl deepened.
"That armor, it's similar to the kind Frieza's men wore," Krillin said. Tenshinhan nodded along, remembering the soldiers their mysterious visitors had fought.
"It's different though, they might be from a special unit. That would explain why they seem to be able to hide their power," Tenshinhan reasoned.
"Man I am so tired of dealing with Frieza and his goons," Krillin spat. As they continued to walk, another figure stepped out of the shadows. It looked like they were trying to talk to the green man. He had turquoise skin and curly blonde hair, and donned the same armor as his compatriot but with a full length purple suit.
"Maybe they're not Frieza's men per se," Tenshinhan speculated.
"What do you mean, Tien?" Yamcha asked.
"Well that big guy was evidently Frieza's father, so what if he had other family in their little empire? Like a cousin, or an uncle, or maybe a-" Tenshinhan stopped. He whipped his head back to look at their stalkers. The third figure was gone, how could he have not noticed!
"Or a brother?" A voice cried from behind them. Tenshinhan ducked, barely dodging a swing from their assailant. Their attacker was a a rust colored reptilian humanoid with pointed ears and yellow eyes. They were much taller than their allies, but wore the same armor with purple spandex shorts.
"Yeah, or maybe a brother," Tenshinhan sighed, entering the stance of the Crane School. Krillin and Yamcha readied themselves to fight as well once the green skinned man on the roof let out a howl of excitement and leapt from the roof.
"Now this is what I wanted, a proper fight!" The man yelled as he crashed into the ground, shaking the nearby buildings and scattering the general populace. His comrade scowled and floated down after him.
"Dore, I told you this was supposed to be a discreet mission. The planet's residents were not to be alerted to our presence," Salza sighed standing next to Dore, "Neiz! Formation!" He called. Neiz flipped over Tenshinhan and landed on the other side of Salza. They all suddenly struck rather extravagant poses.
"Salza!"
"Dore!"
"Neiz!"
"Cooler's Armored Squadron!" They shouted in unison.
"Oh, you can't be serious! It's the Ginyu Force all over again!" Krillin cried. Before his friends had time to question it, Salza spat at Krillin's feet.
"Do not compare us to that third rate mockery of a task force!" Salza seethed.
"So, Cooler, brother of Frieza I assume?" Tenshinhan asked as he rushed forwards, aiming a palm strike for Salza's chin. Salza redirected the attack with a smirk.
"Yes, and now the one true ruler of the galaxy!" Dore yelled fervently. The large green man rushed Yamcha, crashing into him and sending the poor bandit straight into a light post. The light post flew out of the ground and embedded in a brick wall, and Yamcha clattered down to a car.
"So, where exactly is this Cooler?" Yamcha asked as he clambered off of the automobile. He stepped away from a haymaker thrown by Dore and landed a solid punch to the man's torso. Dore grinned, the punch having not fazed him, and locked his fingers together for a hammerblow. Yamcha yelped and scurried between the man's legs as the attack slammed into the hood of the car.
"Monsieur Cooler is taking care of your, ah, saiyan friend," Salza answered lazily. He blocked a chop from Tenshinhan and struck the man directly in the solar plexus with a well placed kick. Tenshinhan gasped for air and jumped back.
"Heh, Goku took down Frieza, I'm sure this Cooler guy won't stand a chance!" Krillin assured, punching Neiz in the pelvis, "Did you guys really have to leave me with the tallest one?" He grumbled. Neiz kicked up in the air, bringing Krillin with them. The monk traveled with the leg and sprang off of it, planting both feet into Neiz's chest and knocking them away.
"Sadly it will not be so easy for your friend. Sir Cooler has a few more tricks than Frieza ever did," Salza explained. Tenshinhan dashed backwards away from the man and pointed his finger.
"Dodondpa Ray!" He yelled, and a thin beam of dazzling golden energy fired at Salza. The brench warrior turned his head to the side and let the beam whistle past. Krillin grappled Neiz's leg and hauled it out from underneath of them, causing them to tumble forwards. Neiz scowled and shot a ki blast at Krillin that struck the monk directly in the face. Dazed, Krillin didn't notice the kick that came flying at his head, and soon enough he was collapsed on the street unconscious. Neiz grabbed Krillin's skull and lifted him into the air.
"Captain, I've acquired the target!" Neiz shouted. Salza nodded, and then motioned for Dore to finish off his quarry. The beppan warrior grinned viciously and grabbed Yamcha by the front of his shirt. He began running with the bandit in hand to gain momentum and suddenly stopped. As he stopped, he flung Yamcha into a building. Yamcha crashed through various objects, walls, and windows before hitting a steel beam and crumpling to the ground.
"A shame we did not get to play with you any longer, au revoire," Salza said in mock disappointment. Giving little time to react, he dashed forward and performed a spinning kick that connected with Tenshinhan's side. The triclops spun through the air for a brief moment before he hit the ground. He dug a large furrow in the earth before he hit a manhole cover. The metal disc span into the air and clattered to the ground. He found himself unable to move as the Armored Squadron took to the air with his friend.
After a few minutes he managed to sit up and climb out of his furrow. He trudged over to the building that Yamcha had been thrown through. He slung the bandit over his shoulder and began to fly to a tall building. He set Yamcha down in the shadows on the roof.
"You don't look critically injured. Wait here, I'm going after Krillin." Tenshinhan explained with ragged breath as he took to the sky.
"So, Gohan, you know a lot about science and stuff," Goku said through chunks of seared fish. The two sat by a campfire in the dying light of the mountains. "All the energy we use when we fight, like my Kamehameha and stuff, where's it all go?" He asked. Gohan looked up thoughtfully.
"Hmmm, well I know that there's a law that states that energy can be neither created nor destroyed. So the energy we use goes somewhere. I think to answer that we would need to figure out, in a scientific manner, how we ourselves are amassing the energy," Gohan explained. He grabbed one of the fish from the stick it was roasting from and tossed it up into the air. Icarus swooped by to snag it and chirped happily. His father nodded along absentmindedly. "We understand it at a base level, it's muscle memory for us to draw forth that energy but we dont really know where it comes from," Gohan continued.
"Maybe ya can figure that out, Gohan. That's what you could study when you get to college or whatsit," Goku suggested. Gohan's eyes lit up in excitement.
"Yeah! I could be the first ever researcher in the study of ki! I could create an entire new field of physics. It would be groundbreaking!" He said. Goku smiled. He was happy that his son had such a passion for something. The saiyan man cocked his head curiously as he saw a wavering shadow through the fire. He looked up and his expression turned to shock. Standing by the edge of the river was a being that looked similar in appearance to Frieza. They were currently scratching behind Icarus's ears, the dragon chirping softly. Goku stood up abruptly and entered a fighting stance.
"Now, now, no need for abrasive actions." Cooler said. He turned away from Icarus and faced Goku with his hands folded behind his back.
"Who are you? You look a lot like-"
"Like Frieza, yes. I'm aware of your trifles with my brother. I am Cooler," Cooler said, cutting Goku off with a dismissive wave of his hand
"So you're his brother, huh? You here for revenge?" Goku asked. Cooler chuckled mirthfully and shook his head.
"For my brother? Heaven's no, he truly was rotten to the core," Cooler said. Goku raised an eyebrow.
"So, you're claiming that you're different?" The saiyan asked hesitantly.
"Why, of course. My brother was arrogant, and too filled with anger and delusions of grandeur for his own good. Let's not get started on my father." Cooler scowled. Goku's eyes narrowed, he didnt know what a grandeur was, but he didn't think Cooler was talking about cheese.
"So you don't rule over planets with an iron fist?" Goku asked. Cooler touched his chest in mock offense.
"Planets I rule over, yes, but not with an iron fist. I liberated them from my father, and I've turned them into a coalition. I act merely as an overseer, a king more than a dictator," Cooler explained. Goku lowered his guard ever so slightly.
"So, why are you here, if not to kill me or my friends?" Goku asked. Gohan was standing a few feet behind him, beckoning for Icarus to come to him. Icarus trotted to his master as Cooler watched with an amused expression.
"I've noticed a, well, let's call it a discrepancy. See my brother had a hit out for all of you and your friends on Namek. His files claimed that he'd taken out two of them already, a short human male and dear prince Vegeta," Cooler explained. Goku could already tell exactly where he was going with this. "Except when I found the video footage of the battle that killed him, they were both alive and well. I know my brother, and I know he doesn't leave stones unturned," He continued.
"What can I say? Maybe Frieza isn't as good at killing people as he thinks he is," Goku retorted. Cooler broke out a sly grin.
"No, if there's anything my brother is good at, it's killing people," Cooler disputed. "So, you see, something is amiss," He said. Cooler looked at Goku with a mournful look in his eyes, "You see Goku, hundreds of my people die every day to situations out of my control. If you have a way to just, bring people back to life, well I have to know. For my people," Cooler pleaded. Goku sighed. He'd always struggled with that aspect of the dragon balls. People did indeed die of unfortunate circumstance all the time. In the past years, they'd tried to keep the dragon balls reserved for sudden attacks by alien entities or other such instances.
"It's not quite that simple..." Goku began. Gohan stepped forwards to interrupt his father.
"What are they dying from?" Gohan asked, surprising Cooler. "If it's disaster or disease, we truly promise you there's nothing we can do. If it's war, if it's any instance of your people killing each other then that's on you and your policies," The child explained. Cooler cocked a brow out of curiosity.
"Now, aren't you a smart one, boy. Frieza didn't have your name on file, you were merely listed as 'Annoyingly Hard to Kill Saiyan Brat'," Cooler chuckled.
"My name is Gohan," Gohan said. Cooler nodded, taking that information in.
"Well, Gohan, I'm afraid I've been somewhat dishonest with you," Cooler admitted with a sigh. "My motivations are far more personal than that. You see in a fit of rage years ago, my wretched father struck my mother down." Cooler said, looking down, "She was the light of mine and my brother's lives. I don't think Frieza was ever the same after her death. She deserves life again! Please, friend Goku, I beg of you," Cooler pleaded. Goku scratched the back of his head and sighed. He felt conflicted. He didn't know the extent of truth in Cooler's words. He was the brother of Frieza, but what could that count for? Piccolo was the son of King Piccolo and Goku himself the brother of an interplanetary conqueror in Raditz. People could change, he'd seen that in Piccolo and Tenshinhan, slightly even in Vegeta of all people. Perhaps Frieza was merely victim of unfortunate upbringing, and perhaps Cooler had broken past that.
"Well..." Goku started. Then he felt a sharp uptick in an unfamiliar energy. Moments later, five more energy signatures spiked, three of then registering as his friends. Moments later, they clashed. Goku scowled at Cooler, "Your men?" He asked. Cooler sighed and shook his head sadly.
"Yes, there must have been some confusion. I sent my Armored Squadron to ask your little friend about the same thing I'm here discussing with you," Cooler explained, "Though I suppose that their uniforms are a bit reminiscent of my brother's men, and Dore can be rather brash," Cooler continued. Goku raised his fists once again. "We would have questioned Vegeta, I'd love to catch up, but he seems to be off planet, and your namekian friend was a bit too elusive for us to locate," Cooler admitted. Krillin's energy dropped, he was unconscious. A minute later Yamcha was the same, and Tenshinhan was defeated in quick succession. Cooler sighed as he felt their battle unravel.
"You're a pretty good liar, Cooler," Goku admitted. "Too bad your men are a bit too, how'd ya put it, brash?" He asked.
"I did tell them to be discreet. I really must do something about that Dore," Cooler sighed. Goku broke forward in a sprint and launched a right hook for Cooler's jaw. The arcosian blocked it and tossed Goku away. "I must say, it's a shame for it to have come to this," Cooler quickly launched a death beam at Goku. The saiyan screamed out as it pierced his shoulder and sent him spiralling into the river. The current had picked up and began to carry his prone form away.
"Dad!" Gohan cried, and began to sprint to catch up to his father. Cooler grabbed the child by the head and lifted him up to look him in the eye.
"I don't think so, Gohan, I think you'll make a rather fine addition to my empire," Cooler said. Gohan's foot shot out and connected with Cooler's jaw. The sudden attack caught him off guard and his head snapped to the side, "Fine, if it has to be that way," Cooler's hand hit the back of Gohan's neck and the boy was out like a light. Icarus roared and swooped down to attack Cooler with fangs bared. Cooler braced his arm in front of him. Icarus fangs snapped down to little effect, and Cooler shook him off. Then Icarus reared his head back, and a short spout of flame erupted from his gullet. Cooler chuckled, "Well that's interesting. Fine, you come too, reptile," And with that, Cooler shot off in the sky, with the purple dragon following behind in quick order.
What's up guys, another chapter here for ya.I decided I really wanted to put Cooler into the role of the silver tongued bastard, as opposed to his brother's power over words attitude. I also decided it would be more interesting for Cooler and his bois to have better control of their energy, thought it'd be fun. Much more action coming next chapter.Please be patient, it will be a couple of chapters still before our main characters take the reins once again.
EDIT: changed Salza's 'sirs' to 'monsieur' to reflect his being space French more.