Chapter 017 - The Ambush on Namek
It had been thirty-four days since the group had left Earth. Finally their journey was coming to an end...
"Hey guys, we're finally here." Bulma declared, relieved to see the large green planet before them. Apparently the co-ordinates Kaio had given them had been correct.
"Finally, it felt like we we're never going to get here," Krillin smiled with relief, eyes upon the spherical ball below.
Corset rushed over to a window along with Gohan, her eyes taking in the greenness of the planet in front of them. "It looks so pretty," She mumbled lost in her thoughts.
"So this is Planet Namek; Piccolo's home planet?" Gohan asked eagerly.
"The radar definitely says this is Namek," Bulma nodded. "Ok you guys, strap yourselves in because we're about to enter the planet's atmosphere and it's going to be a bumpy ride!"
Corset rushed over to her seat and strapped herself in. If takeoff had been fun, surely landing was also going to be fun? She couldn't wait!
The ship suddenly began to shake violently just as it had done when the group were blasting off. A red glow surrounded the vessel as it descended through the green skies, quickly getting closer and closer to the surface. The pressure made their heads spin as their ears struggled to adjust fast enough to the changing air pressure, stomachs being left up in space as gravity pulled them down.
With a tremendous shudder the ship finally made contact with the ground; stomachs pelting back inside of the crew.
The sight out of the window took her breath away and baffled her. "Wow... Look at the sky and the water!" Corset exclaimed. "It's green!"
"Looks like we've landed safely," Bulma got out of her seat and walked towards a small machine.
Corset knew her mother was talking but she couldn't wait! She had to step outside onto this new world. Eagerly she followed Gohan and Krillin, jumping on the spot in excitement as the ship door opened, lowering to the ground. Anxious and too impatient to wait she jumped off the panel and landed on the blue grass. "I touched the ground first!" She cheered.
"Aww, I wanted to be the first one..." Gohan frowned as he and Krillin stepped off the ship.
The three warriors took in the scenery around them.
"Wow, this place sure looks like the area Piccolo trained me and Corset in," Gohan mumbled.
"I guess he must have trained you there because it felt a bit like home." Krillin suggested.
Corset tightened and glanced down at her shoes as a lump threatened to overwhelm her, the wound of Piccolo's death still raw. She had to remember that was why they were here; it wasn't for sightseeing, it was to bring their dead friends back to life. First they needed to find the Dragonballs.
"What the heck do you think you're doing?" Bulma's voice rattled in their ears, startling the adventurous trio. "YOU COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!"
"...What's wrong with you?" Krillin asked intimidated and a little taken back.
"Think about it you morons! What if you'd come out here and suffocated because there was no oxygen?" Bulma pointed out sternly.
"Well you're out here Bulma," Krillin retorted.
"That's because I checked the atmosphere first!" Bulma huffed folding her arms. "Honestly, you guys are so reckless!"
"Hey Mama, where's the dragonball radar?" Corset asked, "We should look at it to see where the nearest Dragonball is so we can bring everyone back to life!"
Bulma reached into the pocket of her skirt and pulled out the small device, clicking the button on the top. She blinked in surprise, quickly smiling. "Hey, there are three Dragonballs gathered up all together!" She pointed at the screen.
"Three Dragonballs... together?" Krillin repeated raising one eyebrow and not sharing Bulma's optimism. "That's strange..."
"Krillin, I'm sensing some big power levels over in that direction." Gohan pointed.
It hit her almost instantly; she was surprised she didn't sense them before. "... Yeah, I can sense them too, Gohan," Corset nodded.
"I wonder what that could be."
"Don't get too worked up over it; it's probably just the Namekians," Bulma pointed out. "You remember how high Piccolo's power level was? I'm sure all the Namekians are like that – only the difference between Piccolo and the other Namekians is that the other Namekians aren't evil!"
"That's the problem; these feel evil," Krillin replied cautiously, face ridden with seriousness.
"I'm telling you you're all worrying over nothing," Bulma insisted. "Kaio said so himself that the Namekians are a peaceful race; there's no way you can be sensing anyone evil among them."
"... Yeah but..." Corset was confused by what she was hearing and what she was sensing. If these where Namekians they were sensing then why was she getting a horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach?
"M-Maybe you're right Bulma," Krillin smiled, "Maybe it is just us getting worked up over nothing. I almost feel kinda silly, don't you two?" He began to laugh nervously.
Gohan and Corset exchanged unsure glances with one another, neither not sure what to make of it all. Corset couldn't shake off the discomfort in her stomach whenever she focused on the mysterious energy signals, even with Krillin and her mother reassuring them things weren't as sinister as they appeared. Namekians weren't supposed to have evil-feeling life signals, so either Kaio had gotten it wrong or these life energies did not belong to Namekians. Someone else may have been on the planet for unknown reasons.
A high pitched sound came from up above; the small group turned their eyes to the skies, quickly spotting the falling object.
Corset's jaw dropped, "K-Krillin... what's that?"
"... Is that... a..." Bulma's voice was shaky.
It was!
"What the heck is that doing here?" Krillin's voice was shaking with fear and shock.
"That's a Saiyan spaceship!" Corset cried in disbelief.
"NOOOO!" Bulma screamed slapping her hands onto her cheeks. "You've got to be kidding me!"
The small round dot vanished below the horizon.
"This is just great! Why'd he have to be here? It's Vegeta, I knew it!" Krillin sounded furious; Corset's eyes were still fixated on the spot the ship had vanished from so she didn't see his face. Was it really her father? It had to be; the ship she'd seen him looked exactly the same as the one that had just flown by!
"Damn it - that bastard knows about the Dragonballs! I'll bet anything he's here to get his wish!" Krillin snarled.
"Wish?" Bulma repeated. "Oh no! If he gets the Dragonballs before us then we won't be able to make OUR wish! We'll be done for!"
"Damn it!" Krillin spat. "I wish I'd finished him off on Earth! At least that way he'd have been out of the way! Gohan, Corset; both of you suppress your ki so he doesn't pick us up on his weird device!"
"Right," Gohan and Corset chanted together manipulating their energies.
Inside Corset felt a little thrilled that her father was on the planet, even though the rest of her dreaded the looming battle that was to come. Her father was a terrifyingly powerful opponent and could easily take the three of them out. Yet knowing he was here filled her with an odd sense of happiness. What could be happier than being reunited with your aggressive, murderer of a father? 'What's wrong with me?' She asked herself, conflicted by her thoughts.
"... Ok, here's the plan," Krillin's voice was low, "Bulma, you go back to Earth and get Goku. By the time you arrive Goku should hopefully almost be fully recovered. Grab him and get back here as fast as you can. Gohan, Corset and I will just have to wait for you to return and in the mean time we'll try and get at least one Dragonball. Hurry!"
"Right," Bulma sighed getting to her feet. "... I really don't feel comfortable leaving you three – particularly my own daughter – on a planet with Vegeta of all people but... but it looks like there's nothing else I can do. I'll go grab Goku as fast as I can but I think you guys ought to know the whole trip will take a little over two months..."
"T-Two months?" Corset squawked in incredulity.
"It's only two months... Just two months!" Bulma cried hysterically. "Don't worry though; two months is only sixty days; that's just one-thousand-four-hundred-and-forty hours; eighty-six-thousand-four-hundred minutes; five-million-one-hundred-and-eight-four-thousand seconds! All you have to do is make sure you don't die in that space of time!"
"Um... Sure... it's only two months..." Krillin mumbled nervously.
Corset took a deep breath and tried to swallow the nerves threatening to block her throat. There was no way they'd last that long!
Bulma was in the middle of a conversation on the phone talking to those on Earth. Nearby, Corset stood alongside Gohan and Krillin watching the surrounding area. Nothing much had happened for a while and there was no sign of any movement.
Their worst fears had been confirmed; Vegeta was on the planet. Corset could sense his ki, as could the other two beside her. Her stomach was in so many knots it made her feel sick. That wasn't the only problem they faced...
That high-pitched sound had returned again.
Bulma seemed to be quiet; the phone-call apparently over. "... What's wrong?"
"Nothing... Just that." Krillin pointed to the sky.
Judging by the high squeal of shock that had come from her mother's throat, Corset guessed she too had spotted what appeared to be the same ship falling from the sky! Corset had a large bout of déjà vu just watching it, reliving that dreaded moment. Yet this time it didn't make sense; Vegeta was already on the planet!
"ANOTHER ONE?" Bulma squawked.
"Yeah, another one!" Krillin nodded anxiously.
"B-B-But I don't understand," Bulma shivered clinging to the leg of the ship. "I t-thought Vegeta was the only Saiyan still around! What the heck is going on?"
"I don't really understand it either but it doesn't really matter who that was; no doubt they're just another bad guy trying to get the Dragonballs," Krillin frowned disheartened. "... As if it wasn't bad enough that we've gotta compete with Vegeta. Now there are also those other evil guys we can sense! How are we meant to get the Dragonballs from guys like that?"
"... Well, maybe if we're lucky..." Gohan started. "... maybe we can do it!"
"It's a slim chance at best, kid," Krillin didn't seem convinced. "Bulma, you'd better get back to Earth now! Gohan, Corset and I will do our best to survive and come up with a plan while you go and get Goku."
"Y-Yeah, I guess you're right." Bulma hurriedly walked over to her daughter; Corset feeling a little anxious her mother was leaving. She had to go though; she was the only one who knew how to fly the ship, plus Corset, Gohan and Krillin were probably far better suited to surviving in this environment. Still, she was a five-year-old who hated being away from her mother. As if it hadn't been bad enough she'd been kept away from home for nine months, now she'd have to spend another two away from her family?
Bulma's arms tightly wrapped around her daughter.
"Don't you dare die on me - any of you," She ordered, kissing her daughter on the forehead.
Corset relished the feeling and safety of her mother's arms, saddened it was over so soon. She forlornly watched her mother making her way over towards the ship entrance.
"You guys have fun for the next couple of months!"
"Wait a minute," Krillin was quick off the mark.
Corset and Gohan both looked at him, as did Bulma.
"... Maybe we all just ought to go back to Earth!"
"What?" Gohan blinked in shock.
"If we did that then how would we get the Dragonballs here?" Corset asked.
Krillin looked at the young children, "Listen, I understand we do need to get the Dragonballs but look at all the people here looking for them! I'm quite happy to stay here but it's you two I'm worried about. Neither of you have been fighters for long, plus I'd hate to think what would happen if anything happened to either of you; your mothers would kill me, right Bulma?"
Bulma frowned and turned to face them. "So what are you saying, Krillin?"
"I'm saying let's just all go back to Earth for now and come back next year." Krillin suggested. "We'll just let these guys have their wish and then get ours next time."
"If we do that, Vegeta will get his wish and come back to Earth afterwards," Gohan pointed out. "We'd still have to face him."
"Yeah, he's right," Corset agreed. "Didn't he say he was gonna wish for immortality? Doesn't that mean he won't be able to be defeated if he comes back to Earth?"
Krillin frowned in annoyance; damn it these kids were too smart for their own good!
"Think about it. These guys might get their wish and then do the same as what King Piccolo did..." Bulma added. "Shenron might be killed and then the Dragonballs will become useless..."
Krillin folded his arms; he seemed a little anxious for some reason.
Corset's attention was grabbed by something and she spun on his heels, scowl quickly covering her young face. "Krillin, something's coming this way!"
Gohan and Krillin both span on their heels and turned to the direction the approaching energy was coming from. The three watched in anticipation while Bulma ran behind one of the legs of the ship. "Hey guys, who is it? Who can you sense?"
"I'm not sure but make sure you keep well hidden, Bulma," Krillin ordered. "It might be Namekians or it might be trouble..."
Gohan kept his eyes peeled on a small island ahead of them; it felt as if there was something there...
Three tall aliens suddenly emerged from behind a large boulder; Gohan and Corset gasping in unison, Krillin's eyes widening in shock. "Definitely trouble!" He gulped.
"They're wearing Saiyan uniforms," Corset added. "They don't look like Saiyans though..."
The three soldiers seemed to have spotted the gang and turned their attention towards them, flying slowly for them through the air.
Krillin recovered from his state of shock and watched them cautiously, "guys keep your power levels down. We don't wanna start any unnecessary fights that we can't win."
"Right," Gohan nodded obediently.
Suddenly one of the three fighters raised one arm and pointed to the ship.
In a blinding flash of light, a weak energy beam shot out from the device strapped to his arm and bolted straight through the space ship!
Bulma had managed to dodge the beam and fell onto her stomach.
"Mama!" Corset gasped fearfully.
The damage to the ship was heart-wrenching. The front window had completely cracked under the pressure and there was a gaping hole in the top of the ship. There was no way they'd be able to use it now!
"Those jerks!" The Krillin growled angrily. "Gohan, Corset; release your ki!"
The soldiers above seemed to find something rather amusing and burst out into fits of laughter as the three began to power up, although there was no physical hint of this. Numbers began to bleep across their scouters as the machines picked up the increase in energy.
"Let's go!" Krillin roared.
Within a flash the three fighters had teleported, reappearing level with their shocked opponents. Gohan slashed his fist into one of the fighter's cheeks; Corset kicking one of them in the jaw; Krillin leaping over his opponent's head, spun and kicked him in the face. All three soldiers collided into one another as they flew backwards, each falling into the large sea surrounding them. None of them surfaced.
Krillin, Gohan and Corset landed safely back onto their small island and smiled at each other.
"Nice work you two," Krillin praised them.
"WHAT PART OF THIS WHOLE ORDEAL WAS NICE?" Bulma bellowed at the top of her lungs. "In case you haven't noticed, our ship was damaged! Now there's no way we can get home! I can't go back to get Goku; we can't even get off this stinking planet!" She fell to her knees and began to weep.
"Please don't cry, Mama," Corset frowned; she hated seeing her mother cry. The young girl ran over and gently hugged her sobbing mother.
Krillin looked up at the ship and exhaled slowly. "... Looks like we need a new plan... Before we do anything else, we'd better find a place to hide in case more of those guy's friends show up. They weren't Saiyans but they were dressed like them, so there's a chance they're in the same group as Vegeta. We're sitting ducks if we stay out here in the open so let's go find somewhere else."
"Don't worry Bulma; I'm sure the Namekians will help us fix our ship if we ask them nicely," Gohan smiled.
"I wish I shared all of your youthful optimism!" Bulma choked in annoyance.