Chapter 023 - Spared for a Gift
Zarbon looked terrible. His armour was tattered, his hair falling out of its braid and the frustration on his face apparent. Frustration seemed to have gripped him as he glared furiously at his opponent. "Vegeta! You're going to pay!" He snarled venomously.
Vegeta chuckled confidently, "I see the pre-emptive strike was effective after all! You just don't get it do you Zarbon? You were always so sure in your knowledge about Saiyans and yet you've forgotten one crucial thing: your first and last mistake was not killing me when you had the chance. Believe me when I say I won't be making that same mistake."
"You, kill me?" Zarbon snorted. "You fool! You'll never be able to beat me in this form, Vegeta!"
"It looks like you're not going to remember it after all! Saiyans grow stronger every time we fight, especially if we're beaten to near-death!" Vegeta jeered. "Don't you agree it was such a mistake to heal me when I was nearly dead?"
Zarbon gasped in horror and realisation, eyes widening as he reflexively leaned back.
Corset carefully listened to what her father was saying, a little confused and baffled by it all. Saiyans grew stronger if they nearly died? It didn't make any sense to her... did that apply to her and Gohan? Would they get stronger each time they fought?
"He's just like Goku," Krillin mumbled. "No matter how brutal a beating Vegeta takes, he gets stronger every time he fights! It's no wonder his ki is so high!"
"That's not true – no matter how strong you may have become I'll always be more than a match for you in this form!" Zarbon bellowed, rushing forwards furiously towards the shorter fighter.
"The Saiyans are a warrior race!" Vegeta responded equally as vicious. "WE WILL NOT LOSE!"
The two fighters met in a barrage of punches and kicks. Through the fighting and blurs of each move Corset could just about make out the look of desperation on Zarbon's face, albeit she was struggling to swallow the lump in her throat that threatened to choke her. She may have been a young girl but she could see the emotion and fear written in Zarbon's eyes and felt a little sympathetic towards him, even if he was an ugly, revolting looking monster now.
A large crack stopped the rapid movement, Zarbon reflexively reeled forwards with both hands clasped around the Saiyan's head as his jaw gaped open. Drops of blue blood fell to the grass between the two, staining the ground with its colour.
Krillin, Corset and Bulma all looked on in horror as they realised what had happened; Corset felt the lump overcome her and turned on her heels to lean over the rocky wall, threatening to vomit at any moment. She couldn't get the image out of her mind; her father's fist wedged deeply in the monster's stomach. It had sent waves of fear and horror though her little body. She was terrified. To add to her unsettled stomach, the lack of sleep she'd gotten since they'd landed on Namek was beginning to have an effect on her.
"V... Vegeta... I was just... following orders..." Zarbon croaked through the pain. "... S-Spare me..."
"Don't make me laugh!" Vegeta spat. "You expect me to let you live after you worked me like a slave for all those years?"
"V-Vegeta... we can work together... as a team..." Zarbon offered. "We... could take down... Freeza... together..."
There was a burst of bright blue as Vegeta fired off an energy blast inside of Zarbon, the beam shooting through the monster's back.
Bulma shrieked and covered her face with her eyes, Krillin and Corset watching in horror and dread as they watched Zarbon fall through the sky and into the water behind them with a large splash. All three knew he wouldn't resurface.
Vegeta rose from his lower stance and clenched his fists muttering something to himself before turning around to face the three Earthlings. "Now, where were we?"
Nerves hit the young girl; the Saiyan had dealt with the other threat and now surely he would deal with them. She knew herself and Krillin would be wiped out in an instant.
"Somehow you've managed to improve since when we fought on Earth," Vegeta smirked, "but even you must know you don't stand a chance against me! Hand over the Dragonball!"
The young five-year-old was once again pulled into her mother's grasp although this time Corset could feel her mother's arms trembling. That was not reassuring or comforting to her in the least; Corset was tired, she felt sick and wanted to go to sleep but knew she couldn't. She wanted her father to just go away and let them keep the Dragonball. There was no way they could give it up, not after all the trouble they'd gone through to get it. They only had one ball!
"... I know it's pointless to ask..." Krillin started nervously, "... but will you just go if I hand you the Dragonball?"
Both Bulma and Corset perked up in confusion.
Vegeta chuckled, "A promise? Fine, as long as I get the Dragonballs there's little point in wasting my energy and time squashing weaklings!"
Krillin was stunned but unconvinced, "... Do you swear to keep your promise?"
"Don't make me repeat myself; if you really want to live then I suggest handing it over before I change my mind," Vegeta warned.
'No... Don't do it...' Corset pleaded in her head. 'Don't let him have the Dragonball!'
Krillin took a step forwards.
"No!" Corset lunged forward almost out of her mother's grasp, clutching onto Krillin's shirt. "Don't give him the Dragonball! You can't! We need it so we can bring Piccolo and the others-"
"Shut up!" Krillin spat, startling both Corset and Bulma. The shock loosened Corset's grasp and Krillin continued to walk towards the Saiyan, handing over the Dragonball.
"You're very lucky," Vegeta smiled as he looked down at the Dragonball in his hands. "Having all seven Dragonballs has put me in a very good mood. Now I shall be able to make my wish and gain immortality and then... then the universe will belong to me!" With a howl of laughter, Vegeta revved up his ki and bolted off into the distance.
Bulma exhaled deeply and slid down the cliff wall. "... We're alive..."
Corset's fists were trembling as she furiously glared down at the grass before her feet. She wasn't happy. Why had Krillin just handed over the Dragonball so easily? Now there was no way they could wish Piccolo and all those who died back to life because now her father had all seven Dragonballs. Now Corset would never be able to see her mentor again. It was all Krillin's fault! On top of it all she'd tried to stop him and yet he'd yelled in her face! Corset hated being yelled at! She hated not being able to get their wish granted. She hated Krillin.
"Krillin, why did you give him the ball?" Bulma asked. "You're a strong guy, you could have fought him off..."
"I appreciate it Bulma but Vegeta's a lot stronger than I am," Krillin mumbled. "He'd have killed us if I hadn't. It's a miracle we're all alive as it is!"
"He said it was the last ball he needed," Bulma frowned. "It's all over... and after all the trouble you went through to get it."
"I hate you..." Corset muttered venomously.
Bulma glanced at her daughter, "What was that?" She asked.
"I HATE HIM!" Corset bellowed pointing at Krillin. It was too much for her to bear as tears began to stream down her cheeks. "He gave away the Dragonball! Now I can't see Piccolo ever again!" She choked and broke into sobs, Bulma crouching down and hugging her daughter tightly.
Krillin frowned, "I had no choice, Corset. If I hadn't given him the Dragonball then he would have just killed us and taken it anyway. At least with us being alive there's a slim chance we could stop Vegeta making his wish."
"No there's not!" Corset wailed. "Daddy's got all seven balls! We can't beat him!"
"Remember that Gohan's gone after a Dragonball," Krillin pointed out. "My guess is that it wasn't that Vegeta didn't find the ball; he hid it so Freeza and his fighters couldn't get all seven."
Bulma smiled, "Hey, you could be onto something there. Gohan's probably already found the Dragonball and could be on his way back…" She looked down at her daughter, wiping her tears away with a thumb, "See, Gohan may have just gotten us another Dragonball which would mean Vegeta can't make his wish after all!"
Corset's cheeks reddened as she calmed herself down and eventually smiled. They were right; Gohan was probably on his way back with the Dragonball. Perhaps things had turned out for the best after all.
"Now I just hope that Gohan can avoid being spotted by Vegeta..." Krillin mumbled.
The tension was rising at the small cave. Krillin was pacing the ground, Corset sitting nearby on a small rock with her head in her hands. It had been nearly ten minutes since Vegeta'd left.
Bulma emerged from the cave entrance, "I've put away the Capsule House. Any signs of Gohan?"
"Not yet," Krillin shook his head. "Come on Gohan, we really need to get a move on outta here!"
Corset looked over at Krillin, feeling guilty about her outburst earlier. "... Um... Krillin?"
"What is it?" Krillin looked over his shoulder.
"I'm sorry I yelled at you," Corset apologised. "I don't really hate you."
"Don't mention it kid, it's ok," Krillin smiled. "You were upset. Sometimes people get angry and yell at others when they don't mean to. That's part of what being human's about!"
Corset smiled a little. She was relieved Krillin was taking it so well and not holding a grudge against her.
A couple more minutes passed.
Corset blinked and looked up in the sky, "Krillin!"
Krillin smiled as he too sensed him.
Gohan cheered as he descended towards the group, Dragonball held above his head. "Look what I've got!"
"Great job Gohan!" Bulma cheered.
"Let's save the celebrations for later!" Krillin butted in. "We've gotta get outta here and fast!"
"I know, Vegeta found me too," Gohan nodded. "I managed to hide the Dragonball from him!"
"Wow, are we lucky today or what?" Krillin gawked.
"Guys, let's talk about this later!" Bulma ordered.
The trio leapt from island to island – Bulma being carried by her daughter. The tension was high; all were wondering what the Saiyan would do once he found out that Gohan had taken his Dragonball. He'd slaughter them mercilessly if he ever found them! They had to keep their power levels down and had to find a suitable location to hide.
Krillin led the group towards an island; in the middle lay a relatively large boulder with a crack down the middle, narrow and squashy but just about big enough to hide them all in. "That's gonna have to do."
He leapt onto the edge of the island; Gohan and Corset close behind as they came to a stop.
"Ok, this is probably the best we're gonna get," Krillin replied turning around, "I'm not sure we wanna keep jumping around so much."
Corset released her mother from her back and looked at her surroundings; the two sides of the boulder were quite tall! Still it didn't feel very roomy here.
Gohan jumped up and leaned on the top of one of the rocky walls. "He shouldn't be able to spot us from here," he smiled, peering down below.
"You expect me to be able to live in a cramped place like this?" Bulma snapped at Krillin. "The walls are so close together I can't even put the Capsule house up. There's no shower or bath, no bathroom or even space for a bed!"
"I'm sorry Bulma but perfect caves don't just grow on trees." Krillin apologised. "Try to tough it out; we're doing the best we can here."
"Tough it out?" Bulma barked. "I'm being forced to live in a place like this with you guys!"
"Oh, don't worry about that," Krillin smiled smugly, "I'm gonna head back to the Great Elder's place and I'll be taking Gohan and Corset with me."
"What?" Gohan asked upon hearing his name, floating down the side of the cliff wall.
"Why do you wanna take us there?" Corset asked equally as confused.
"I've got a plan. It might work but it might not," Krillin explained. "Hopefully if everything works out, we'll be able to make Gohan and Corset at least as strong as Vegeta!"
"You're gonna leave me all alone here?" Bulma protested.
"It'll only be for a little while," Krillin replied. "I promise it'll be worth it."
Bulma looked briefly at Gohan and then her daughter; both seemed a little unsure. She took a deep sigh and uncrossed her arms, "Fine, take the two of them and make them strong – but if anything happens to my little girl then you'd better prepare for the worst, Krillin!"
"Alright, I'll take care of both of them, don't you worry," Krillin waved his hands in front of his face. "Is it ok if I just grab a couple of things first? You have a separate capsule for the portable fridge, right?"
Bulma dug into her pocket and took out her capsule case, handing one capsule to Krillin. "Take what you need but don't take everything: I have to eat as well!"
"Are we going now?" Corset asked.
"In a minute, I'm just gonna pack some food for us," Krillin nodded. "We're gonna be a while trying to get there I'm afraid. We're gonna need to run as fast as we can since Vegeta would just pick up on us if we flew."
"Good plan," Gohan gulped.
Bulma leant down in front of her daughter, "Now make sure you listen to what Krillin says and try to stay out of trouble."
"I will do, Mama," Corset nodded, giving her mother a hug. "You have to make sure you stay safe."
It didn't take long for Krillin to pack the three of them a couple of day's worth of food.
"See you later, Mama!"
"Take care, Bulma!"
"You guys get back here soon!"
And with that the group split into two.
"So do you really think we can become as strong as Vegeta?" Gohan asked as the trio slowly flew through the sky. Running had been too tedious so instead Krillin had suggested flying at a dismally slow pace.
"Hey, if I managed to have this much of an increase, you two should have far more with your Saiyan blood," Krillin smiled.
"I wish we could fly faster... I feel so tired," Corset yawned.
"I know how you feel but we can't," Krillin replied, "If we released any more ki, Vegeta would pick us up for sure! Just try to stay awake for a little while longer. We'll take a small break in a moment."
The journey continued until what Corset felt like was the end of the day... That one thing had been bugging her for a while now. Why was the sun always up?
"Hey, Krillin?" Gohan called.
"What's wrong Gohan?"
"How much further do we have to go now?"
"We've still got a while yet." Krillin replied.
"... Krillin? What time is it?" Corset asked.
"I'm not sure," Krillin answered.
"It feels like we've been awake forever," Corset yawned, trying to stifle it but failing. "I wanna go to sleep!"
"Come to think of it, we have been awake for a while now," Gohan looked around them. "It's weird how the sun is still out."
"Oh, Dende told me that this planet doesn't have nights," Krillin explained, "There are three suns here on planet Namek, and one is always up at some point so it's like it's always daytime."
"What?" Corset gawked, unable to get her head around the idea. No night time? Did that mean she had no bed time? She couldn't believe it!
"... So how do we know when we need to sleep?" Gohan asked confused.
"Well I guess since we're all starting to get tired, we should probably rest up for a bit." Krillin sighed in defeat.
It was going to be a long trip.