An Uneasy Alliance

After a slight attack on the heroes that resulted in nothing but the front door being blown open, Dila had encountered Vegeta, who was massacring a village for their Dragon Ball. They fought after a very brief conversation, but had to stop as an uninvited guest had spotted their fight - Zarbon, one of Frieza's aides. Now with Vegeta, Dila had one additional problem to deal with.

Vegeta: "Tch… I got careless… This freak must've spotted us fighting and came rushing in."

Zarbon: "That is very much the case, Vegeta. Looks like you can think after all. But unfortunately for you…"

Zarbon wastes no time and transforms into his beast form, growing bulkier as he glares at the duo.

Zarbon: "I'll be beating you both down to an inch of your life! Of course, I don't expect Lord Frieza to be very merciful to either of you."

Zarbon lunges at Vegeta and Dila, causing the duo to jump out of the way as the blue alien comes crashing down. Dila looked at Zarbon before gritting her teeth. At present, she wouldn't be able to handle Zarbon on her own if she left Vegeta to handle him. But she'd be doing herself a disservice if she worked with Vegeta. She flipped a mental coin and decided on her next move.

Dila: "Saiyan!"

Vegeta: "What!?"

Dila: "Look. How much do you hate this guy and Frieza?"

Vegeta: "Hate's too soft a word. Why!? Surely you're not thinking of us working together after you just attacked me!"

Dila: "It's either that, or I leave you to fight this guy on your own! Pick your poison now!"

The duo dodge an energy wave from Zarbon, splitting them up. He then goes for Vegeta, getting into a close quarters fight with the Saiyan. Vegeta's leg is then caught by Zarbon's palm before he's pulled up and slammed to the ground. But as Zarbon smirks at his success, he himself is stomped down to the ground by Dila, who then jumps off and tosses a ki ball right at Zarbon's face, blinding the alien.

Dila: "Final offer, Saiyan."

Vegeta stared at the blinded Zarbon as he stood up, crying out in pain and profanity as he did. Though he would rather not, he swallowed his pride and turned to Dila.

Vegeta: "Fine! At least until he's dead!"

Dila: "Deal."

As Zarbon's vision comes back, he is kicked in the gut by two knees from Vegeta and Dila. This sends him skidding back as he coughs up some blood. Vegeta lands a punch to Zarbon's face, but the beastial alien recovers and grabs Vegeta by his leg. Dila comes in to help, but she is smacked aside by Zarbon using Vegeta as a weapon.

Zarbon: "Grrr! To hell with taking you in, Vegeta! I'll kill you and that pest there together then!"

Zarbon then slams Vegeta into a cliff before slamming a fist into the Saiyan's gut, causing Vegeta to cough up blood. Zarbon smirks as Vegeta collapses, turning to Dila, who stands ready. Zarbon quickly lunges at the Tuffle before taking a swing at her. She takes it, to the face, smashing her face in even, but she feels nothing as she slams two balls of ki onto Zarbon's sides, burning him.

Zarbon: "GRAAAH! What the hell!? I smashed your mouth, but…"

Dila said nothing but her mouth did slowly regenerate. In truth, she was quite confused about it herself; pain was something she could feel in her other host bodies prior, so what made this one different. It then dawned on her - this one was dead before she took it over. Meaning the nerves of her body weren't as good as a living body's. Getting her head back in the game, she sees Zarbon charge up a full power energy wave, firing it in her direction. She manages to jump to the side to avoid it; no doubt something like that would instantly kill her.

Zarbon: "I guess I'll have to tear you apart… Until you stop regenerating!"

Zarbon lunges at Dila, landing a knee to her side before an uppercut follows. Dila could feel it; not the pain but her regeneration slowing. The more damage she took, the less she could regenerate. In fact, she was getting quite tired now. She needed to think of something before she actually killed through brute force alone! As Zarbon swings a hard punch, Dila makes a bold move to catch the punch, redirect it away from her, and get behind Zarbon, putting him in as much of a full nelson as her tinier body could muster against Zarbon's bulkier build.

Dila: "Saiyan! Get up! Get him while I have him!"

Vegeta recovers, rubbing blood from his mouth as he stares at Dila keeping Zarbon pinned. He then smiled as he saw an opportunity. He speeds his way to Zarbon and slams his fist through his gut, the alien starting to twitch a bit, pain erupting throughout his body as blood painted Vegeta's glove.

Vegeta: "Hi, Zarbon. Bye, Zarbon."

Dila: "What are you up to, Saiyan?"

Vegeta smiles evilly before unleashing a powerful blast through both Zarbon and Dila, killing the blue alien while seemingly killing Dila. The two bodies fall, in the water, splashes being heard as Vegeta lets out a chuckle.

Vegeta: "That's what you get for getting in my way, you so-called Tuffle. Now… To get back to finding…"

As Vegeta was getting ready to fly off, someone flies out of the water, getting above Vegeta. It was Dila, very much alive, and very angry as she charges up a ki blast.

Vegeta: "Wh-What!? How can you still be alive with a hole in your-"

Dila lets out a roar as she fires her ki blast, burning Vegeta as his armor rips apart, pieces of the undercloth flying off as well. He is left on the ground, burnt, bruised, and bleeding. But still barely alive. Dila lands on the ground, seeing red as she charges up another Destructo Disc, aiming to slice the downed prince in half. But nearby, a frightened Gohan had arrived just in time to see Vegeta blast through both Zarbon and Dila and the latter fire off that blast in retaliation. Gohan thought about what he could do right now, scared as he was. He thought back to what his father had done, sparing Vegeta. Logic began to win over his next move as he sped over to stand between Dila and Vegeta, much to the former's shock.

Dila: "G-Gohan…? What are you…?"

Gohan: "Stop, Dila! Don't do this…"

Dila: "So you've come to save your prince…? Do you want to die like the lap dog that you-"

Gohan: "I'm not saving Vegeta! I'm saving you!"

Dila paused, her eyes widening as her disc of energy vanished.

Gohan: "You… don't have to stoop to their level… Whatever the Saiyans did to you and your planet… I understand. My friends were slaughtered by him and his partner… But my dad… He spared him for a reason… So I want to see him spared too… Even if I don't like him…"

Dila: "...I recall seeing what he and the big bald one did on your planet, Earth… But how can you still believe this… thing deserves any kind of mercy when he himself would never give any?"

Gohan: "Because I believe in second chances… Besides, if Vegeta does try anything, we'll be able to beat him… together."

Gohan smiles at Dila, referring to her in that regard. Dila stared at Gohan's innocence, her bravado faltering as she just let out a yell, collapsing onto her knees on the ground as she started crying.

Dila: "Damn you, boy… A Saiyan child is the one to… To lecture me… To… stop me… I can't…"

Gohan walks up to Dila, holding her to comfort her. Gohan then sees an old Namekian approach, having sensed the battle had ended.

Elder: "Forgive my intrusion. It seems the fighting had ceased so it seemed safe to come out."

Dila: "It… won't be. Frieza's men are likely heading this way at any given moment. It would… be in your best interest to hide…"

Gohan: "Before you do. Mr. Elder, is it alright if we take the Dragon Ball? We promise to give it back after we take care of Frieza."

The elder looked at Gohan, a bit afraid of him after his village was just ransacked by Vegeta; he probes Gohan's mind to check for any malicious thoughts, but finds none. With a satisfied smile, the elder happily presents his Dragon Ball. Gohan was surprised; because of all the action, it only now dawned on him that the orbs were much bigger and heavier than the ones from Earth. Of course came the situation of carrying it and the injured back to base.

Dila: "Don't worry. I'll carry Vegeta. If push comes to shove, we can use him as a meat shield against Frieza…"

Gohan wasn't too impressed by that dark line of thinking, but he led the way back home with Dila following. After the duo left, the villagers began to migrate out of the village in hopes of avoiding the Frieza Force.

Meanwhile, at Frieza's ship, the tyrant stared out of his window as he awaited for more Dragon Balls to be found or for Zarbon to report in. It wouldn't be until much later after sending Zarbon on his way that he would finally get a report from one of his soldiers.

Frieza Soldier: "L-Lord Frieza! I've come bearing terrible news!"

Frieza: "What is it?"

Frieza Soldier: "W-We found Zarbon! He's been slain!"

A moment of awkward silence as the emperor just stands there, casually.

Frieza: "...And?"

Frieza Soldier: "Er… Th-That was all… He's just confirmed dead…"

Frieza: "And why should I care? Did you expect me to cry over his death?"

Frieza Soldier: "N-No, sir!"

The soldier then immediately started stuttering trying to figure out something else to report as to not get a Death Beam to the face for wasting the emperor's time.

Frieza Soldier: "O-Oh! There is more, sir! We discovered Zarbon's body in the water near a Namekian village. The location was destroyed with many of its residents dead, but there was no Dragon Ball!"

Frieza: "What? No Dragon Ball?"

Frieza Soldier: "No, sir!"

Frieza began to glare before dismissing the soldier coldly. Without their scouters, they couldn't detect the remaining Dragon Balls. And with his aides now dead, Frieza was left with little choice. It was time to contact the Ginyu Force. And perhaps order for new scouters.

At the heroes' hideout, Gohan and Dila return with an injured Vegeta. When they return, they find Krillin waiting, having arrived before them.

Krillin: "There you are, Gohan! Did I tell you not t-t-t- VEGETA!?"

Krillin's skin pales as he and Bulma immediately dashed away from the unconscious Saiyan. Dila just drops him on the floor as she looks to the duo of humans, though they note the half regenerated hole in her chest.

Dila: "Krillin. Bulma. I'd like to apologize… I did not mean to attack Gohan the way that I did… I am sorry…"

Dila bows, but a scared Krillin just laughs nervously.

Krillin: "U-Uh… Never mind that… Would you like a… Senzu Bean? F-For your wound… hole…?"

Krillin had to do a double take what he just said. A Senzu Bean was an incredibly useful magical bean, but it couldn't heal wounds as severe as what Dila had. But the Tuffle accepted it anyway and ate it. Within a mere second, the hole closed up as Dila felt re-energized.

Dila: "Ah. Much better. My regeneration was beginning to slow after the fight I had with that beast earlier."

Bulma: "Beast? Wait… You can regenerate?"

Dila: "Yes… There is much I wish to amend from my earlier introduction… To start, the girl you are looking at is not really my true form…"

The trio look at her with questioning looks. Seeing this, Dila nods before her silvery goop form starts to emerge from the body's chest. The eyes white over dead before collapsing as the goop falls to the floor. Gohan and Krillin freak out but Bulma looks at the goop with awe.

Bulma: "Oh my god! You are some kind of living liquid metal!? What kind of technology made you!? Ohhh! I feel like taking you home now for study!"

Dila began to visibly sweat at that before crawling back into her body to resume conversation… and maybe hide from Bulma… Once re-merged with the body, she stood up.

Dila: "Please don't… I was born… or rather reborn in a lab… I don't need to feel that again…"

Bulma: "O-Oh… Sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable… I just… got excited…"

Dila accepts the scientist's apology, though understandably keeps her distance for the time being. She then explains that the body she inhabits did belong to someone who was from the previous planet and village, which Krillin could tell she wasn't lying about. The part about her reviving said body is what caught their attention.

Krillin: "Wait, so you can just revive bodies?"

Dila: "In a sense. I can restore brain activity, which in turn revives some functionality for the body, such as movement and basic needs. But as I found out in my last fight, I cannot feel pain. Even getting shot through the chest did little more than anger me. However, I… greatly dislike not feeling pain…"

Gohan: "Hmm… Because it doesn't feel like you're alive?"

Dila: "Exactly. I have felt pain before in other bodies. Briefly because I regenerated, but feeling pain made me more wary of my surroundings. It enhanced my survival instincts… Without it, I cannot have that same feeling… And that could cost me my life if I act rashly…"

Krillin: "Okay. There's one thing I'm curious about then… How is it that you are so strong if you are using a dead body as a host?"

Dila: "Well… Hmm… How do I put it? …I guess this goes back to my initial design. I was created by one Dr. Myuu, someone who coldly rejected me due to my inability to form a proper body."

At that, Bulma gritted her teeth; someone created a unique biological, artificial life and yet just threw it away so coldly. She understood more clearly why Dila was afraid of her over-excitedness. Dila continued.

Dila: "Because of my ability as a parasite being, I am able to grant a host an increase of power. The multiplier differs, but with this body, I can defeat the common Frieza soldiers with little difficulty and stand toe to toe with the prince here. The beast earlier outclassed me though, leading to me teaming up with the Saiyan."

Krillin: "So can you grant anyone a power boost? Would it be enough to defeat Frieza?"

Dila: "I'm not sure to be honest. Frieza's power level was over a million, far higher than any of us put together. And… unfortunately, I cannot just assimilate just anyone… I learned the hard way that any being that is stronger than my body can take will hurt to possess. As it stands, if I tried to enter your body, Krillin, then your power alone would tear my body apart… There's also the fact that… while the host will still live after I depart from their body - I've tested with smaller animals prior - there's no telling what would happen to beings like you three. You might be in control or I might be. I'd prefer if you were in control since… well…"

Bulma: "It would be morally better than if you controlled someone else's body."

Dila: "Bluntly… Yes…"

Bulma then began to think. How this being worked was strange for sure. It can be assumed that Dila's ability to possess does get stronger through natural means, but the blue haired scientist did want to study this further. However, rather than try to cause any undue discomfort for the Tuffle, Bulma just shrugs.

Bulma: "Alright. I think that's enough. We've done enough interrogating. But there's one thing I need to ask… You are going to be calm around Gohan from now on, right?"

Dila looked at the young half Saiyan before nodding.

Dila: "I won't attack him again… I promise."

Bulma: "Good. Krillin? Didn't you want to say something to Gohan?"

Krillin: "Oh right! Gohan, you've got to come meet with Grand Elder Guru! I don't get it fully, but he awakened my power! He can probably do the same for you too!"

Gohan: "Really!? That's amazing, Krillin!"

After a bit of back and forth, the duo decide to head to Guru's in order to unlock Gohan's potential. Krillin leaves a Senzu Bean for Vegeta, just in case they need his help, but Dila decides to have a chat with the downed prince first… by kicking his side to wake him up.

Vegeta: "Gah! Urgh… You…"

Dila: "Hello, Saiyan. Glad to see you're not dead from your injuries."

Vegeta: "Gh…! What…? Lost the guts… to kill me…?"

Dila: "No. I could end you right here, right now. But Gohan convinced me to spare you. He saved your life. So you owe the Earthlings."

Vegeta: "Earth…lings…?"

Vegeta looks around and sees Bulma sitting comfortably at the table. She wasn't being brave, but she felt confident that Dila could protect her.

Vegeta: "Oh of course… The Dragon Balls… I guess you decided… to try and steal some of this planet's after losing… your own…?"

The Saiyan seemed to be taunting Bulma, but she looked ready to stand and kick Vegeta for that comment. After all, it was thanks to him and Nappa that they lost Piccolo to begin with.

Dila: "Listen up, prince. We're going to make a deal with you. I'm extending our alliance to after we defeat Frieza. If what that big blue guy said is to be believed, you and Frieza are associated with one another, yet you seem to be working as a free agent."

Vegeta: "Q-Quite perceptive… Frieza used us Saiyans as his… minions… Treated us like garbage… And killed our entire race… Though that last bit is… just a hunch… I don't buy a meteor destroying Planet Vegeta one bit…"

Dila slams a foot next to Vegeta's head, almost crushing it when she heard 'Planet Vegeta'.

Dila: "Planet Plant. And so you're just one of a few Saiyans left? How funny. You left two of your own to die just because they weren't good enough. Some ruler you are, letting your own troops die a needless death when you could have helped them, pride be damned."

Vegeta: "I… am still… the Prince of all-"

Dila: "You're a prince to a graveyard."

Dila walks over to the table and grabs the bean. She then shoves the bean down Vegeta's throat before covering his mouth.

Dila: "This will heal you up. But if you betray us, I will kill you, whether Gohan stops me or not. You are aware that even a hole in my chest won't kill me and I can't even feel pain. So etch this into your memory; I won't let you live a second time if you cross me."

Dila glares daggers into Vegeta as he's force fed the bean, the effects healing him as the Tuffle squeezed Vegeta's face. She then slams his head to the floor before moving over to the table. Vegeta sits up as he massages his jaw.

Vegeta: "Tch. Fine… Until Frieza is dead, I'll work with you… Just don't cross me."

As things settle down, Vegeta heads outside to guard the entrance, finding it a better way to while away time than to hang around two girls chatting away. But it isn't long until both he and Dila feel five energy levels closing into the planet. Vegeta starts to sweat bullets, realizing who it was that was arriving.

Five space pods land on the planet in a general vicinity close to each other, each bearing an emblem. Each one opens, five figures of differing height came out before doing some posing while introducing themselves.

Tall Red Haired Humanoid: "Recoome!"

Deep Blue Alien: "Burter!"

White Haired Red Alien: "Jeice!"

Green Four-Eyed Alien: "Guldo!"

Purple Horned Alien: "Ginyu!"

"To…"

"get…"

"her…"

"we…"

"are…"

"THE GINYU FORCE!"

To be continued…