Episode 62

Next Plan

Author's Note: Hello, readers! So, my laptop was experiencing some technical issues and that's why I wasn't able to update much earlier, but now the issue has been resolved, I can start writing again. Hope you enjoy this chapter. Thanks!

Beep, beep!

Ginyu's scouter suddenly turned on and he picked it up. "Well?" he asked.

"Captain!" Recoome was talking to their leader this time. "We're heading back to Lord Frieza's ship now. And we also took care of Vegeta."

Ginyu smirked. "How is he?"

"Really beaten up and knocked out," responded Recoome. He started to laugh. "The Saiyan Prince has humiliated himself this time."

"Good work," Ginyu said. "Now you two better get back here as quick as you can."

Their conversation ended.

Frieza looked at Ginyu. "Your comrades?"

"Yes, Lord Frieza," Ginyu said. "They just took care of Vegeta and they said he's badly wounded, wounded enough that he'll be too weak to even try to escape from us especially when we start interrogating him."

Frieza felt satisfied. "Unlike my right-hand men, the Ginyu Force is proving themselves to be a competent, elite force of mine."

Speaking of right-hand men, Ginyu, Jeice, and Guldo wondered where Zarbon and Dodoria were.

Frieza scoffed. "We've lost communication. I can assume that those two had failed me. Whatever. I will not waste time on someone who's not fit to serve me after all."

Back in the cave where Bulma, her friends, and the rescued Namekian took refuge for a while, they went ahead to eat lunch while anxiously waiting for Bardock's return.

Gohan was trying to eat, but he could not. He felt he lost his appetite.

Krillin noticed this and tried to reassure him, "Don't worry too much about your grandfather, Gohan. He'll come back in no time. Remember, he's just like your father; both strong and skillful in battle!"

The half-Saiyan struggled to smile. "Thanks, Krillin."

Bulma handed the young boy some apple juice. "It would help if you eat a little bit, Gohan. It's useless to go on an adventure with an empty stomach."

He seemed to have agreed with her. "I guess," finally, Gohan began to take some of his lunch. It was at that moment he realized he was really hungry. Soon, he gobbled down his food, now enjoying Bulma's sweet cooking.

Bulma then grabbed some dessert from the fridge. With her sliced cake on a plate, she sat down with her friends and continued to eat.

Raditz was taking quick bites of his food while maintaining proper table manners. Soon, he noticed Elder Moori as well as Dende and Cargo simply drinking their water, but they did not bother to touch their food. Elder Moori tried a bit of his dish though, out of respect, but to him, it was too foreign.

Krillin noticed the Namekians' display of taciturn demeanors."I know it's very hard, but you need to eat to get your strengths back."

Bulma immediately took this as an insult to her cooking. She threw her piece of cake at Krillin's face. "WHAT?! You're saying that my food isn't very good? Can't you at least show your appreciation for once?!"

Krillin flapped his arms and tried to explain himself. "Wait, Bulma! I wasn't talking about the food!"

Bulma angrily stomped her foot on the floor. "Ooh, I feel like killing you guys!"

He tried to calm her down. "Gosh, Bulma. It's not a heck of a deal."

Gohan began to laugh happily since he found this to be amusing.

"It's not that funny, Gohan, when you're in my situation!" Krillin scolded him.

Gohan soon seized his cheerful mirth. He then noticed the Namekians who continued to keep themselves quiet the whole time. Cargo and Dende suddenly looked at Bulma.

Bulma sympathized with the Nameks especially the children. "I'm sure they're really devastated about what happened. I'm really sorry about what happened to you guys."

The children kept quiet.

"But it seems you have something to say to me though," Bulma believed.

Dende looked at her again. "Nothing. It's just that we've never seen an Earthling before…"

"But you look really pretty," Cargo complimented.

Bulma was very flattered, she placed a hand on her cheek. "Aww, thank you! You guys are so cute!"

Krillin then tried to convince the Namekians one more time. "You guys should try out the food. It would really help to keep your strengths up."

Elder Moori looked up this time and smiled. "I'm sorry, but Namekians only need water in our diet to survive."

The Z-warriors were surprised.

"Really?" asked Krillin who was mind-blown by this fact.

"But you just ate bits of your dish," Bulma mentioned. "I'm sure the flavor is good, huh?"

"Well, it's…different," was all Moori could compliment on her cooking.

But a thought came to Krillin. "Wait a second, but I thought you did eat food. I mean, I noticed fields of vegetables growing at your village."

Dende explained what those "vegetables" were. "The fields you saw were 'Ajissa plants.'"

Krillin had never heard of this type of plant before nor did anyone.

"Uh…Ajino-what now?" asked Krillin.

"Well," Dende began to explain, "the wisest and most knowledgeable Namekian told us how our planet was once a beautiful place than it is today."

Bulma nodded. "Yes, we've heard about that."

Elder Moori quickly remembered what the Grand Elder told them. "I have lived through those days. I remember," a smile appeared on his wrinkled face as nostalgia overcame him. "Our home used to be filled with abundant forests. Flowers bloomed everywhere. Oceans were as clear as day and freshwater streams were clean enough to be drunk from. One could breathe in the morning air and feel at utmost serenity. And these plants we told you, the Ajissa ones, sprouted everywhere and this gave beauty and life to our planet."

Suddenly, he put his head down as sadness quickly filled his heart. "But one day, something changed in our atmosphere unexpectedly, we never foresaw it. Massive storms, droughts, heavy winds, all these terrible conditions ruptured the stability of our planet and since then, all trees and lands fell apart. Many of our people did not survive. Everything was dull and could barely support any plant life. Our animals, fishes, and birds were close to the brink of extinction."

Everyone looked at the Namekians, feeling sorry for what happened to them.

Cargo then sadly said, "Even though Dende and I were not born at that time when it happened, it hurts us and the rest of our friends to know that this is not what our planet's supposed to be like. It's hard to have fun and play outside when the air becomes too polluted, it can make us really sick."

"But the elders remembered how Ajissa plants brought beauty to our whole world," Dende now said, "so they started to plant more of them and hoped someday, our home will be beautiful again. Our environment can adapt again with the changes and improve."

Elder Moori then brought up, "Just recently, a group of space travelers who belong to a volunteer organization, that help planets in dire conditions, visited this planet five years ago. They tried to help us restore our planet by giving us these genetically modified Ajissa plants."

"Any luck with them?" asked Bulma.

"Some grew, some didn't. I suspect that the climate change has affected our soil, too," Elder Moori sighed. "It's taking too long for them grow."

Raditz became curious about these space travelers and asked the elder if they were connected with their people somehow. Surely, they wouldn't visit a planet randomly and start helping them out.

"They were very generous people," Elder Moori said. "We've never heard of their organization, but they gave all the supplies they could offer to help us out. But since they left, we've never heard from them ever again. It's strange…"

Indeed, this was very strange; almost suspicious in a way, Raditz was convinced this was the case. He was quite surprised that the Namekians had trusted these space travelers too easily, but during that time, they were suffering and were in desperate need for help.

"I'm so sorry," Bulma expressed. "If only there's something we could do…"

Raditz suddenly stated, "We have to rid of the evil forces first that are terrorizing this planet."

They rest grew anxious.

"What?" Bulma asked, "but it's not gonna be that easy, Raditz. Besides, didn't you guys just tell me not too long ago about this Frieza and his father, and they nearly got you and Krillin? They sound dangerously strong."

Krillin put his head down and gave some thought to this. "Bulma's right. Even if we wipe out all of the insignificant enemies, we're still left with Frieza, his dad, and also Vegeta. I mean, are we actually that ready to face them? No way!"

"Maybe we should do is to just take one DragonBall at a time without them spotting us," Bulma tried to suggest. "It should keep them busy and stop harming the rest of your people," she then looked at Moori and the Namekian children.

Gohan shook his head. "No! That's not enough. They will not stop looking for the DragonBalls. They'll kill every Namek in this planet until they find all seven of them. That means…maybe even us, too."

"Oh no…," Cargo and Dende almost cried.

Elder Moori kept quiet with a saddened look.

"Face it," Krillin told them the painful truth. "We're outclassed! If we can't get stronger anytime soon, our enemies will still have all the DragonBalls before we know it! I hate to say this, but at this rate, this planet…will soon give in to evil fate."

Cargo refused to believe this. "Don't say that! I don't want our friends to die!"

"Me, too!" Dende joined in. "I think you guys are only hope," he stared at the Z-fighters, remembering the amount of fighting potential they carried. "We can't leave our home like this. You need to help us somehow. We need to do something!"

Elder Moori tried to calm down the children, yet he also concurred with what they said.

Raditz was listening to their every word. There was far too much risk to take, but they must remind themselves that their friends in the afterlife and all the Namekians were counting on them to set things right. If they gave in now to the darkness, they will only let their enemies win. There might be no more chance for them in the future.

"Guys…stop, listen!" Raditz had to raise his voice to seize their worries, doubts, and just the talking all at once. Everyone became silent and wondered what was in his mind.

He had a serious expression. "We can't turn back; not at this time. One way or another, we must face those tyrants and defeat them somehow."

"But how?" asked Gohan quietly. "I don't even know if we're strong enough to beat them…"

In Frieza's ship, a guard came to Frieza and announced that Burter and Recoome had arrived along with the injured Vegeta.

Frieza turned around and smirked. "Good. I'll meet them at front. The three of you, stay here," he told Ginyu, Jeice, and Guldo.

Frieza then met up with Recoome and Burter outside of his ship.

Once they arrived, they saluted to him. "Lord Frieza!"

"Lord Frieza, see this," Burter said. "We have Vegeta in our hands. He's completely knocked out. He won't bother us for a long time now."

Frieza's vision immediately shifted over to the prince. A Saiyan of royal bloodline who used to heed to his every command had decided to turn against him. Of course, he had since predicted this would happen eventually. He just did not expect it to be at this time, but with all the ominous, tenfold power he carried with him, Vegeta would stand no chance still even if he decides to go against him again.

Frieza started to walk down the stairs. "Hmm…I still need him alive to question him. Get him to the isolation tanks."

"Sir!" Burter and Recoome obeyed.

With Frieza, they went their way to the recovery room. With help from some of Frieza's minions, Vegeta was placed inside a tank with an oxygen mask on his mouth. Vegeta floated in water, his mind completely blank, in a deep sleep.

"Lord Frieza, you're very much right in saying that Vegeta has changed a lot these past years," Burter told him. "Of course, he's still no match for Recoome and me."

"And for the rest of our awesome, superior force," added Recoome.

As the cruel tyrant kept his eyes on Vegeta, his grin soon vanished. Vegeta may pose a problem to him, but there was even a greater problem than this. He may have to change plans in the meantime until he was certain he had wiped out every single obstacle that was out there.

Frieza made his way back to the main interior of the ship. "Come, I have something to discuss with two and to the rest of your crew."

Once all members of the Ginyu Force were in the room along with King Cold, Frieza stood in front of his elite force with a long and grave stare. The Ginyu Force kept still, but was quite nervous. Their master had never been this quiet before and this angry in his life. They could read his emotions quite clearly.

King Cold was the only one in the room walking around, his mind simply thinking of other things.

After Frieza kept the Ginyu Force in long suspense, he finally spoke. "Men, listen up. As you might know, Vegeta and Raditz are on this planet, but they're the least of my worries for now."

Captain Ginyu and his team members seemed surprised. Ginyu then asked, "Is that so, Lord Frieza? What makes you say this, Sire?"

Frieza looked at Guldo for a moment. "One of your comrades found someone in this planet…who should've been destroyed a long time ago."

The Ginyu Force became curious as to who this was, even King Cold who stopped walking to hear more of the details.

Frieza turned his back, focusing his red eyes on the glistening Namekian DragonBalls. "The Saiyans' home planet, as you know, was obliterated two decades ago. And there was this one, wretched pest who was bold enough to try to overthrow me."

Ginyu seemed to know who he was talking about. "Lord Frieza, I think I remember now. You told me about this. He's one of those low-class Saiyans…'Bardock', was it?"

The rest of the Ginyu Force had no idea who this Bardock was though. Apparently, Ginyu was the only one who knew about it.

King Cold seemed to know also. "Bardock…hmm, he was the one who tried to stop you from destroying Planet Vegeta, right?"

"That's right," Frieza said. "I thought I wiped him out along with the rest of the monkey trash. Insignificant he was, but the man you saw, Guldo, the one with the scar and red bandanna, that's Bardock himself."

They became surprised and almost shocked.

"That's impossible!" Guldo exclaimed.

"No Saiyan could ever survive your attacks, Lord Frieza!" Jeice exclaimed.

Suddenly, Frieza became dead silent once again, and they all became nervous if they said something wrong. The galactic overlord kept his temper in check, but one could say it could explode at any moment if it were to be triggered any further.

Frieza turned around and faced them. He had a new course of action in mind and for now, he believed this was the right decision to make. "There'll be a change in plans. I realize that if I let these worthless Saiyans live, they'll just get in my way. I could never have eternal life if someone constantly tries to stop me from fulfilling it. So for now, I want you all of you to concentrate on your new mission and kill every, single living creature out including Bardock. This time, make sure he's dead."

The Ginyu Force began to mutter amongst each other while Ginyu had to say to him, "But Lord Frieza, what about the rest Namekians? The village elders? And the last two DragonBalls? Shouldn't we-?"

"Worry about the last two later," Frieza interrupted firmly. "With five in my possession still, I will always have the advantage. Besides, I believe I've captured enough Namekians to make them still do my biddings once I take over their planet for good. And I believe five elders are enough to summon the dragon for me. I don't need all of them."

The Ginyu Force, though were slightly unsure about Frieza's new decision, must obey him no matter what. They could only stand firm and salute to him. "Yes, Sir!" they replied.

King Cold had a quiet expression on his face. The truth was he did not seem to approve his son's change of plans. In fact, he may even think it was reckless. His mind began to think of other things.

"And what will you do to Vegeta, Lord Frieza?" asked Ginyu. "He won't be waking up 'till few days later."

Frieza finally grinned. "Hmph. I'll need to question him first. Get him to spit out all the valuable information I need. When I'm done with him, whether he cooperates or not, he'll get a Death Beam straight to his heart before he knows it."

The Ginyu Force began to snicker and loved their master's way of dealing problems and getting rid of his enemies. This formidable tyrant was the very definition of pure evil.

King Cold continued to stand in silence. He was not celebrating with them or anything rather he was really thinking of other things.

While Frieza and his men had certainly thought that Vegeta will take days before he wakes up after recovering enough from his injuries, they may have overlooked one important aspect about the Saiyans especially from the Saiyan Prince who had the unbreakable willpower and hidden strength to overcome even the direst situations.

In the isolation tank room, two of Frieza's minions named Appule and Orlen were managing Vegeta's vital signs to make sure he will recover, just enough to simply keep his eyes open and answer to Frieza's series of questions before he is immediately executed.

Appule laughed. "Hah! Look at this useless garbage. The Prince of all Saiyans, being so high and mighty, meets his downfall at the end."

"He won't be so high and mighty once he sees Lord Frieza standing right in front of his face," Orlen laughed along with him.

While they busied themselves humiliating the prince, they did not notice that Vegeta's hands suddenly twitched. His mind may be coming to a state of consciousness already.