Episode 48

Meteor Storm Head-On!

Zeshin bit his lip, but tried to keep a calm state. "Eric, what are some of the updates here? Quick!" he hurried up the young boy named Eric who was in charge of controlling the ship's functions.

Eric read the data on the screen. "According to this here, there's no way for us to retreat from this meteor storm. They meteors may be small in size, but they still pose a serious threat since they come as thousands of them!"

Bun was angry to hear this. "Darn it! What are we supposed to do now?" soon, a plan came to his head. "Eric, activate the ship's shield. It's the only way to keep our ship protected for the time being until we can find a way to get out from this mess."

"Okay," Eric quickly inputted the buttons to activate the barrier. Once he did, their spaceship was instantly surrounded with a visible force field.

Another warning message was sent, informing them they were about to enter the meteor storm in thirty seconds.

"Brace yourselves!" Zeshin shouted.

In an abrupt and dangerous disturbance, their ship suddenly shook violently, the meteors tearing the ship's force field at a rate no one had anticipated. This clashing of these asteroids went on for almost a minute and already, the barrier was losing its effect very quickly.

"Red code alert! Red code alert! Ship's barrier percentage durability: deducting from 70%."

"This is not good!" Zeshin exclaimed. He ordered Eric to activate the rest of the shield's emergency energy to add to the barrier's resilience. They needed it to survive and so, Eric did what he told him to do.

"How much time left before the meteor storm goes away?" Bun asked worriedly.

"Only about two minutes left, but I don't think our ship can hold on for long. There's too many of them!" replied Eric frantically.

Cries for help were suddenly heard from the other, helpless children behind them. The Z-fighters turned around to see the endangered kids huddling together in panic and terror. They looked up to see some of the layers of the ceilings falling off, the crates and mechanical boxes in the room toppling over, and their walls gradually being destroyed, about to crush them all.

"Come on!" Bardock hurried to rescue the helpless kids. The rest followed him.

A group of children including Emi were about to get crushed from one of the falling shattering layers from the ceiling. The children closed their eyes in fright, expecting the worse; however, someone saved them just just in time. They all looked up to see Gohan and Krillin had stopped the massive layer from crushing their bodies. They were very glad to see them.

"Gohan! Krillin!" cried Emi.

Krillin struggled with all of his might, but he tried as hard as he can. "Rrrgh! Are you guys all right?"

"Hold on!" Gohan told them.

Together, Krillin and Gohan threw the metal sheet away from the children. But then again, more cries of help were coming from every corner and they immediately responded to those helpless children.

Bardock flew in air and blasted some of the falling layers with quick energy blasts, destroying them into small, harmless pieces while Krillin and Gohan were stopping the collapsing mechanical crates and boxes from hurting the kids who were trying to escape from them.

The spaceship continued to experience a terrible turbulence, the meteors passing by rapidly still and decreasing the ship's barrier. Their shield was slowly losing power.

Bulma and Raditz looked at Eric as the young boy frantically managed every function of their ship, examining every data and update while Zeshin and Bun were helping him out.

Not too long, Bulma thought of an idea and she quickly asked, "Guys, listen! Do you happen to have weapons equipped for your spaceship?"

Bun turned around. "Yes, but why do you ask?"

"We should use it to get rid some of those meteors," explained Bulma. "At this rate, your ship will not last for long. You only have approximately a minute and thirty seconds left before the meteor storm ends."

"But our weapons are not that much," opposed Zeshin, doubting they can even destroy that many asteroids.

"Then I guess we'll just have to try," urged Raditz. He looked at Bulma, agreeing with her idea.

Zeshin finally gave in, knowing they had to do everything that they can in order to survive. He quickly led Bulma and Raditz to another room where their weapons can be used. The two sat beside each other, putting on their communicators with a tiny microphone attached to it.

Bulma showed some of her competitive spirit and so, she asked Raditz, "Let's see which one of us can destroy the most meteors, shall we? Are you ready?"

Raditz neither said anything nor looked at her, but he grinned, implying to her that he had always been ready.

The two made a few adjustments while quickly figuring out how to aim properly. Once they were prepared, they used their controllers to fire and thus, their little competition began.

"Take this!" yelled Bulma, pressing one of the buttons and firing three consecutive laser blasts at the approaching asteroids, creating a dazzling-like effect at the end. She really thought that she was winning, thinking that her intelligence and her knowledge with technology was making Raditz look like only a novice; however, after a few minutes, when she checked to see Raditz's progress, she was surprised that he was already catching up with her rather quickly.

"Hmph!" Bulma felt quite envious. Surely, with her intelligence, those points should have been given to her instead. She growled with frustration and fired consecutive energy blasts, blasting off more of the asteroids.

Raditz noticed how she was getting to be a whole lot of aggressive now. He grinned even more.

"Attention! Approximately forty-five seconds left until conclusion of meteor storm."

The Z-warriors were relieved, but knew it was not the time to celebrate yet. Krillin and Gohan continued to save the children from any falling debris while Bardock proceeded to destroy these fragments into harmless pieces. Raditz and Bulma continued to eradicate as many meteors as they can, razing the adherents of the meteors' brigade.

The meteor storm was going to end in thirty seconds, but suddenly, another warning was sent, which terrified them.

"Red code alert! Red code alert! Giant meteor incoming. Size: 300 km wide, 10 km long."

Everyone gasped in fright while some of the children had begun to cry. It was the mother of all meteors and the ship's barrier will never overcome its overwhelming, cosmic power.

Bulma and Raditz immediately looked out of the window and saw the giant meteor coming at them. It was the sovereign of the meteor storm, and if no action was taken at this time, a massive destruction will occur.

Bulma bit her lip and looked at her controls. She realized there was a button that was only used for emergencies. Raditz also saw the same switch on his station.

Bulma and Raditz knew at this moment, they had to stop competing and work together on this.

"All right, Raditz," Bulma said, adjusting her functions and making some changes, her fingers moving rapidly on the buttons with no time to spare. "We have to make this quick. ED, set all strengths of weapons to the maximum possible."

Raditz was also adjusting his controls and making quick, thorough adjustments and calculations.

The two then moved the lever upwards at its highest bar, lighting up all five squares. They grabbed their controls as tightly as they can and they yelled, launching a powerful beam attack to the giant meteor, its spectacular rays trying to throw it back and make it detonate. It emitted bright lights, destroying the meteor little by little, tearing it off piece by piece.

"Come on!" growled Raditz with aggravation. He did not realize that the pressure he was applying on the controls was too much that he could break it.

Bulma had to flip a few switches and make more adjustments. She pushed another lever. "All right, let's see if this works now."

The combined beam became stronger and heavier, but it was still not enough to destroy the oversized comet.

Bardock noticed Bulma and his son trying to stop the meteor. Now, he felt he had to do something. Bardock began to look for some kind of door, an exit door, in which he can go outside of space. He turned around and found an emergency exit. With haste, he sprinted to it lightning-speed, opening the door and closing it behind him.

He found himself running through a dimmed hallway with inflated walls and floor. Once he came to the end, he saw another door with a handle and outside will lead him into the open area of the endless universe filled with cosmic stars and bodies. Without any second thoughts of hesitance, he opened the door with strong air suddenly trying to reel him in as if a black hole was right there, but this pull had little effect on the Saiyan warrior. He flew towards outside and landed on top of the roof of the mirror ship. Right before his eyes, the giant meteor was approaching closer and closer.

Bardock took a deep inhale and exhale. He bent his elbows and to the side while powering up, the tone of his muscles becoming more visible. His eyes shone as he started to lift his left hand, his palm slowly forming sapphire-colored radiance as if a star was being born from the center of his hand. Every second it shone more vividly, emitting spiraling rays.

He then shouted with all his might to release his energy out. "HYAAH!" he launched an intense, blue-colored beam of light, which split into several homing energy blasts like a shooting star, while glittering like star particles. Bardock's skill instantly hit the colossal meteor.

Now with Bardock's help, the meteor was finally getting pushed back. To put an end to this meteor storm at once, Bardock powered up again and his Super Attack emitted more of these vivid, bursting waves. "HYAAH!" he yelled once again.

"10 seconds left before meteor storm ends. Ship's barrier percentage durability: deducting from 15% rapidly."

The ship's force field was visibly losing power as more and more meteors struck it ruthlessly. Only ten seconds remained though and so Zeshin, Bun, and their companions must hold on for these last ten more seconds; however, what concerned them the most was the mother of all meteors and wondered if Bardock and the others can prevent it from colliding with them.

Bulma and Raditz continued to fire the gigantic meteor without stopping while Bardock followed through with his vigorous attack. Not too long, because of their teamwork, the giant meteor was finally being pushed back many distances away from them. They were able to drive it towards an isolated star, almost as large as the sun.

Bulma saw this and knew it was the time to make the grand finale. She turned to Eric, Zeshin, and Bun and told them to pilot their ship as far away as possible from the collision between the giant meteor and star before it explodes right in front of them.

The three immediately changed their ship's speed and adjusted it to the highest ever. "Lock and load! Go!" Eric, Zeshin, and Bun cried in unison. At the blink of an eye, their mirror ship took lightning-speed and flashed away from the meteor and sun as if they were traveling back in time, allowing them to escape. At that pinnacle moment, the two cosmic materials smashed together and woke a giant explosion of dazzling, newborn stars, floating debris, and interstellar gas. Luckily, they were already miles away and the children instead enjoyed a spectacular sight afar.

"Zero seconds remaining. Conclusion of meteor storm. Ship's barrier percentage durability: 2%. Mission accomplished."

"Yay!" everyone jumped for joy.

"All right, we did it!" Gohan exclaimed happily.

Krillin was with a group of kids. "All right, guys, everything's safe now."

Eric, Zeshin, and Bun had a relieved sigh and they were very thankful that everyone was safe from harm.

Bulma and Raditz were relieved as well. They leaned back on their chairs, calming themselves down.

"Wow, our scores are tied," Bulma pointed out.

"Yeah, I know," said Raditz.

"Who would've ever guessed Saiyans also knew how to fight not just with their fists only?" Bulma asked.

Raditz fixed his wrist guards. "To us, fighting is almost like the solution to all of our problems, but we're also taught a lot of things."

Bardock was still at the rooftop of the ship, watching the cosmetic explosion from a far distance. He smiled.

Soon, Zeshin and his crew escorted to the Z-fighters back to their own ship. When they arrived, however, their own spacecraft had endured a few scratches and dents from the impact of the meteor storm earlier ago. Zeshin and his crew though offered to fix it in less than an hour and they will be all good to go to Namek.

A few of Zeshin's teammates who were highly specialized in fixing technology and machines went ahead to fix the Z-fighters' ship. While doing so, everyone talked for a moment while some were cleaning up all the debris and fragments.

Bardock and Raditz were helping clean the mess. Krillin and Gohan were hanging out with the other kids and teenagers including Emi. Bulma was talking to Zeshin and Bun.

"So you guys are all heading to Namek, right?" asked Zeshin.

Bulma nodded her head. "Mmm-hmm. Might take us weeks to get there though."

"Hey, no worries," Bun said to her. "We actually know a shortcut to Namek!"

Bulma was surprised. "What? You guys have been there before?"

"No, but we remember passing it weeks ago," Bun said.

"Just head to the route of K5162 and you'll find a ten day shortcut to Namek!" Zeshin exclaimed.

Bulma was glad to have received this information. "Are you serious?! Oh my gosh, you guys are the best! I'm so glad we crossed paths."

Bun and Zeshin chuckled to themselves.

"Hey, you guys!" Bulma called her friends and informed them about this amazing shortcut. After knowing that this detour will get them to Namek in just ten days, they were excited than ever to revive their friends much faster than they expected. This also meant they can head back to Earth as early as possible.

Once Zeshin and his were done repairing the Z-warriors' ship, Bulma and her friends were ready to resume their adventure.

"Thanks for telling us about the shortcut," Krillin was grateful.

Zeshin shook his head with a smile. "Nah, you don't have to thank us. We should be thanking you for helping us get through that nasty meteor storm."

"So it's only right to at least help you in your journey," Bun mentioned.

Bardock understood. "Thank yourselves for remaining strong even at times like these. Be careful next time, all right?"

"Sure, we'll do," Bun said.

"I hope we can meet again," Bulma smiled.

"I hope so, too. Maybe next time, you'll see us in our new home planet," Bun thought.

"And you're more than welcome to visit us anytime!" Zeshin waved.

"Thanks for everything, guys!" Gohan waved back as well as the rest.

They went inside their ship and Bardock was the last one to leave. Zeshin's eyes then suddenly widened to have remembered something very important. "Wait! I forgot to tell you something!"

They did not hear him except for Bardock. He turned around and asked what it was.

"This shortcut though, you have to watch out for one thing," Zeshin informed him. "There's a planet there that looks like Namek, but it's only meant to deceive you. Be careful about that, all right?"

Bardock thanked him for giving this heads-up. "Sure, I'll keep an eye on it."

"And Bardock," Zeshin then had a confident smile, "wherever Frieza is, promise us that you'll finally end that tyrant's reign of terror."

Bardock did not say anything this time, but he took in his message and gave a determined look, knowing that Frieza's sovereignty will soon be a no more.

Bardock entered the ship and closed the door behind him. Soon, it began to move and accelerate and it flashed right before their eyes, leaving black streaks on the floor. It disappeared afterwards, exiting Zeshin and his companions' mirror ship and entered the cosmos and stars once again.

Zeshin could wish them all the best now.

"That was an interesting visit, huh, Zeshin?" Bun asked.

Zeshin turned around.

"And to think they're just as determined as us to get things right and to the way they should be…," Bun was very much inspired by them and the rest of his companions were, too.

"Heh, heh…," Bun then took off this white bandage on his cheek and smiled. He turned around to his friends. "Well, we should get going ourselves. Zeshin, you said your father has a nice planet for all of us to stay in. So what are you waiting for?"

"Sounds good!" agreed Zeshin.

"And if we ever have to face that tyrant, Frieza, let's all work together to eliminate him," added Bun.

Zeshin nodded and cried out loud to his companions so that everyone can hear. "Right. You guys ready?!"

"YEAH!" the rest cheered happily.

In the depths of the space, Bulma had inputted the coordinates that Zeshin told them.

"All right, let's head to Planet Namek to the direction of K5162. I'm glad they mentioned that shortcut," said Bulma with a smile.

But Krillin was seen standing in one place, thinking for a while. "Hey, did you guys remember what that kid whispered to Bardock?"

"Oh yeah," Gohan remembered. "I think he said something about…'Frieza', was it?"

"I don't know who that is, or what it even is," Krillin shrugged his shoulders. "But Bardock seemed disturbed by it, like it's some sort of bad luck."

"I don't think it's all that serious!" Bulma thought Krillin was taking what he saw a little too seriously.

"But do you think it's another new opponent?" the monk warrior anxiously asked.

"Just relax, Krillin!" Bulma calmly assured, confident that there were no forewarnings waiting for them in the future. She got up from her front seat and decided to take a quick nap. "I'll call you guys whenever I wake up," she yawned and fell asleep in her room.

The half-Saiyan then asked Krillin, "Well, maybe we should go back to training, you think?"

"Yeah, sounds like a good idea," Krillin agreed. "Why not we try out the gravity room while we're at it?" he proposed.

"Sure!" agreed Gohan.

Inside the training room, Raditz and Bardock were about to resume training. While Raditz was adjusting the gravity in the room, he happened to glance at his father who was now standing by the window, gazing at the stars out in the universe.

Raditz did not know, but he had a very strong feeling that their trip to Namek will not be as simple as they had all expected or at least, hoped it to be. Was he only over-thinking or maybe his instincts were trying to signify to him a great importance?

He looked at his father again who was walking away from the window and now standing at the center of the training room.

Without any words being spoken, both father and son were convinced that they will have to expect the unexpected and may encounter new challenges during their time in Namek.

Therefore,, in preparation for the future trials ahead, Bardock told his son, "Let's keep training. If we only have ten days to Namek, then we'll have to make the most of it."

Raditz was in the same frame of mind as him.

Bardock and Raditz resumed their training, further enhancing their skills to ensure they can come face-to-face against new enemies along the way. Meanwhile, Krillin and Gohan were wondering who this "Frieza" was and presumed this person may have some sort of connection towards Bardock. Does the Z-fighters have what it takes to surpass their future opponents?