Chapter 033 - Loss

The smoke before them was far too thick to see through fully, though it was just about possible to make out a silhouette somewhere around the middle. The entire island Freeza had last been seen on was now completely engulfed.

Piccolo and the others watched anxiously from a neighbouring island.

"N-No, we should have been suppressing our ki and finding somewhere to hide!" Krillin snarled frustrated.

"It would have made no difference if we had." Piccolo responded above the deafening roar of the wind. "He'd only destroy the entire planet; he has no more use for it."

The ki she felt radiating from the area Freeza had landed on was almost limitless; it was as if he was reaching into a never-ending pool of pure evil energy. One of their strongest fighters was dying, another was healing just a little ways away in Freeza's ship and the third was of no use against Freeza anymore.

"Please Dende, please heal Vegeta," Gohan begged.

"Freeza's more monstrous than ever!" Krillin growled.

Corset looked at the young Namekian trying to sniff her tears back up. This was no time to be crying and she was embarrassed to be doing so but the sheer pressure of Freeza's ki mixed with the pressure to keep her dad alive more than overwhelmed her.

The pressure seemed to work; Dende took off straight for Vegeta. Corset breathed a small sigh of relief before wiping her tears away. At least this way their chances weren't as slim.

The smoke began to clear, Freeza finally emerged.

In the back of her mind Corset felt her father's ki fluctuate back to normal but her attention lay on Freeza. She couldn't take her eyes off him... He looked a lot different from what she'd been expecting! The horns had gone; he looked slender yet strong, he'd shrunk in size yet his ki had never been so high! His eyes were still as cold as ever.

"...That's Freeza's final form?" Krillin asked slightly taken back. "He doesn't look so scary..."

"That's a good example of why you should never judge people by appearances!" Piccolo spat. "His ki hasn't even come close to this level in any of his other forms. I'd rather have faced any of the forms before this... and after all the hell I put you guys through on wishing me back... I don't think I can be of much use anymore..."

"D-Don't say that Mr Piccolo!" Corset gulped. "... None of us are gonna be useful..."

"Hey..." Krillin mumbled perking up, eyes kept on the monster on the island before them.

There was a small flash from Freeza – something exploded behind them!

Like the others, Corset turned to see what had happened, face dropping when she realised it had hit someone.

Dende was on the ground, face down. His ki was gone.

"D-Dende!" Gohan screamed.

"I didn't even see it!" Piccolo stammered. "It looked like there was a flash of light... and then..."

"Dende, no!" Corset shrieked. "Dende!" She ran towards him, suddenly snatched back. She glared around to see Krillin held her.

"It's no use. I know it's hard..." Krillin frowned. "Focus on the fight."

"He saw Dende heal us and took him out!" Piccolo realised.

This was bad. Now being beaten down inches to death really meant death... Their biggest advantage was gone.

Freeza suddenly emerged in front of them!

"I promised I'd show you a fear worse than hell..." he mumbled.

Anger consumed Corset for the loss of Dende. That had been their only hope of survival yet what was worse, he'd done nothing to deserve that! Despite her fears and the other's protests, her anger took hold and she charged forwards at Freeza, throwing her fists out as fast as she could.

Gohan and Krillin joined in – Freeza able to dodge all three's attacks with ease. Even when Piccolo joined it didn't make it any easier to hit him. In a desperate bid the Namekian leapt up into the sky, firing off an attack.

Corset jumped backwards alongside the others as Freeza dodged the oncoming attack. She charged up her own blast, shooting it directly into his path alongside a Kamehameha and several blasts from Gohan.

Freeza vanished. All attacks missed.

"BEHIND YOU!" Vegeta bellowed.

There was another flash-

"MOVE YOU IDIOT!"

By the time she'd turned around to glance at what had just exploded, Gohan had been knocked down to the ground. She whirled back around in confusion; had he just done that attack again?

"I couldn't even see that attack!" Krillin mumbled in awe.

"Gohan nearly..." Corset clenched her fists agitated. Krillin was right; they all had to focus on the fight and stay on guard. One slip-up would certainly mean death.

"T-Thanks for saving me." Gohan got to his feet.

"Don't get the wrong idea; I don't care about you..." Vegeta muttered, "... I just wanted to show off what I can do!"

"You mean... you think you can win this?" Piccolo gasped.

"Something like that." Vegeta nodded, "... Now move, you'll all just get in the way!"

Was he being serious? Corset was in shock; did her father really think he could win? Had that near-death experience really given him all the power he needed? Was it really that much of an increase?

"Such confidence Vegeta, or has fear unhinged you?" Freeza asked coolly.

"Tell me about fear, Freeza!" Vegeta jeered. "I have become what you've always feared – A Super Saiyan!"

For the briefest of moments, Freeza's eyes widened, smile dropping to a pout. For that sheer moment in time he looked surprised. Then as soon as it came, it left, once again replaced by that unhindered, confident stare. "... Well we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. I do appreciate your attempt at humour."

With no further discussion, Vegeta began to power up. The increase in energy did the usual; the ground shook violently, the wind picked up and Corset found herself unable to move from pure fear and awe. Her father's ki was gigantic now – he really was a lot stronger than before!

Vegeta dashed forwards, suddenly shooting off into the sky as Freeza vanished completely. Corset couldn't see Freeza at all and so was really impressed her father could. She could barely make out his movements, enthralled and in awe with how much power he'd gained. That had to have been the reason why each time she and Gohan had taken a beating and then been healed they'd somehow grown a lot stronger.

Freeza's laugh was barely audible but still broke her away from her thoughts. "You still can't keep up with me, can you?"

Her father was up in the sky looking down; Corset followed where she thought he was looking and spotted Freeza.

"... What's going on?" She asked. "Why did my dad stop?"

"I'm not sure; I can't see what's going on." Gohan shrugged.

Freeza's words were barely audible over the light breeze. "...I'm afraid you don't have a prayer with that kind of speed. I think we can agree that the Super Saiyan is only a legend..."

There was all this talk about Super Saiyans – Corset didn't even know what that was meant to be! Her father had called himself one, had suggested perhaps Gohan's dad could be one if he because cold hearted... and now Freeza was suggesting neither of them could possibly be it and that it didn't exist. Just what was it? She didn't understand... More importantly it looked like her father was already in trouble. Had his massive increase in power still not been enough? Just how were they supposed to beat Freeza?

"Guys... It looks like Freeza's too much even for Vegeta." Krillin stuttered.

"I think you're right," Piccolo nodded.

"No way... Dad's gonna lose the fight?" Corset asked nervously.

"He'll lose more than the fight," Piccolo answered grimly. "... There's no one left... No one here stands a chance against Freeza..."

"I AM A SUPER SAIYAN!" Vegeta's bellow startled the others; his ki bolted up as he tossed down an energy wave straight at his opponent, quickly followed by several more in rapid succession.

What happened next was heart-breaking and painful to watch. No matter what her father did, Freeza was untouchable. Nothing worked; nothing her dad did had any success. Freeza anticipated every single blast Vegeta fired off, every move he was about to make. Slowly the Saiyan's ki was being worn down.

In a flash Freeza was in front of her father. Vegeta bolted high up into the sky almost to the point where Corset could barely see him.

"... What's he doing?" She mumbled not expecting an answer...

Purple light shot down towards the planet; Corset panicked over the sheer magnitude of energy it contained.

"ARE YOU TRYING TO DESTROY THE WHOLE PLANET?" Piccolo bellowed.

It was all over! Her dad was about to wipe them all out!

Freeza leapt up and kicked.

The beam deflected back up into the sky, narrowly missing Vegeta as it shot off into space.

No one could believe what had just happened.

"He deflected it... with just a kick!" Piccolo gaped flabbergasted.

"That must have been Vegeta at full power!" Krillin shuddered. "It's all over you guys; Freeza's just too much!"

"Dad... Dad's not gonna... he's not gonna..." She couldn't finish her question. She knew what the answer was.

It was all over. There was nothing any of them could do anymore. Freeza was too much for them to handle. Their only hope hadn't been enough. Now Vegeta was as useless as the rest of them.

There was no one who could even attempt to beat Freeza.

Corset watched remorsefully as her father floated above them. She felt so horribly empathetic towards him; none of them could leave this fight alive anymore... and Freeza's attention was on him. He didn't seem his usual self anymore, even from how far away he was she could tell he'd lost hope just like the rest of them had.

She couldn't rid herself of the heart-wrenching fear she held for the monster – and for her father's life.

Freeza bolted up towards him, striking him in the jaw. In a flash his tail whipped her father out of the sky and sent him shooting under the water with a mighty splash.

Her instincts kicked in. "D-Dad!"

Piccolo had grabbed her before she could even attempt to jump forwards.

"There's nothing any of us can do now kid," He muttered. "We can't help Vegeta now..."

"B-But Piccolo, he's my dad – I don't want him to be killed!" Corset cried fearfully.

"Stay here and stay alive!" Piccolo barked more aggressive than earlier. "You'd only get in the way and be killed by Freeza! Vegeta would still die!"

The truth was hard for her to swallow but what choice did she have? Begrudgingly and frustrated at the situation, Corset turned away and reluctantly watched the one-sided battle.

Vegeta still hadn't appeared from under the surface of the water. Would it have been better to have stayed down and drowned than to have been put through whatever it was Freeza was planning? The thought sent a shiver down her back, the hairs on her neck standing on end as a sickly feeling lodged itself into her stomach.

Freeza landed on a rock barely breaking the surface. With one small gesture the entire ocean around him parted. The tyrant landed before the Saiyan prince who'd been reduced to lying flat on the bottom of the sea. He did not rise, not until Freeza forced him up, holding him by his hair.

A couple of punches to his back forced Vegeta to cry out, landing on his face as Freeza released him, then walking to the side and kicking the prince a couple more times. A final kick sent him flying skywards. Easily catching up with his prey, Freeza dealt another blow, sending her father shooting straight towards them and landing with a thud inches from where they stood.

As the dust drifted away Corset's eyes frantically scanned over him; he was injured and bleeding in places. He didn't look like he'd be getting up soon. She wondered if he was already... No, his ki was still there!

"Y-You have to get up, Dad!" She cried. "Get up!"

Freeza was suddenly in front of them! Corset froze, unable to breathe from the shock of him suddenly being so close. Seemingly indifferent by their presence the tyrant continued to knock the little life left out of her father, turning his back to them and wrapping his tail around Vegeta's neck, raising him up with his back to him and the others.

He began to punch him in the spine, Vegeta chocking and crying out with every bone-shattering punch.

Each hit made her feel almost as if she was the one being hit. Vegeta wasn't even trying to escape and Freeza just didn't care. She didn't want him to do this. She didn't want her dad to be put through this but she couldn't move! The hold on her father's neck was surely stopping him from breathing, each strike Freeza dealt landed in the same place.

Was she just going to stand there and watch? What was wrong with her? Why wouldn't she just attack him? Why did Freeza have to be so unbelievably strong? Why did it have to be this way? Why couldn't she find the courage to do what she wanted, to stop him from hurting her father?

... She knew why.

Corset was petrified. Piccolo was right; none of them would stand a chance against Freeza. Even if she did go in and attack, Freeza would see it coming. It wouldn't make any difference in the end, it wouldn't change anything. She was nowhere near his power; even if she did attack it wouldn't do anything to help her dad. One well-placed slap could easily knock her out or snap her neck. She was well aware of that, she knew where she stood.

So was she just going to stand there like the coward she was?

"You can help him whenever you feel like it..." Freeza's voice made her jump; how long had he been looking directly at her? His icy stare stayed on her for what felt like an eternity. A strange, almost taunting smile appeared on his face, "You're his kid, aren't you?"

"Wh-What?" Krillin gasped a little too loudly.

Corset was equally as surprised; how did he know? Had she spoken too loudly and given it away?

A muffled cry from Vegeta brought her back; Freeza had taken his eyes off her and had once again struck the Saiyan in the spine. "What? You thought I wouldn't notice the resemblance? Just how long were you planning this absurd, futile battle?"

His attention fell back on Corset, "... What, just going to stand there? Don't you want to help your dear old father?"

In one fell swoop Freeza swatted Vegeta away into a nearby rock face. Corset stared terrified as he landed with a thud, rock fragments falling around him.

Freeza's attention was still on her. "...Don't look away now... I promise I'll let you see him soon..."

With that he walked over to Vegeta leaving the petrified girl to wander in her own thoughts.

"... You've lost the will to fight..." Freeza muttered as he stood over the fallen prince. "...How boring. I suppose I'll have to finish you off early!"

He grabbed the Saiyan by his armour and held him up slightly, drawing back his other hand...

There was a bright flash of light from behind.

Someone had arrived.

Surprised and confused, everyone turned to see Goku behind them, he approached them confidently.

"... I get it now. That strong energy that appeared was Piccolo; guess the Dragonballs brought you here." He continued to walk past his comrades. "I'm sorry I'm late but at least I got all better. I'll take it from here."

"... Goku?" Krillin stuttered. "Is that really you? Your ki feels different from before."

Corset wouldn't have believed it was Goku unless she'd seen him, and even now she was still finding it hard to believe.

"So you must be Freeza," Goku muttered. "I didn't think you'd look so young."

"... So there was still some trash lying around," Freeza muttered almost indifferent to Goku's arrival.

Corset focused her attention beyond Freeza and looked at her father. He hadn't moved since he'd landed. Was he still conscious?

"Ka... Kakarrot..."

There it was! Vegeta's head tilted back slightly as he looked up at Goku; Corset couldn't describe how happy and relieved she felt!

"Kakarrot?" Freeza seemed interested. "... That name is Saiyan." His attention turned back to Goku. "You should have stayed in hiding – I've sworn that I will allow no Saiyan to live."

"Oh yeah?" Goku retaliated, though he didn't follow it up with anything more.

Corset wasn't sure what suddenly happened but she saw Goku's leg stretched out and Freeza standing several metres away holding his cheek. A smile appeared on Freeza's face as he fully extended his arm and his index finger.

She knew what was about to happen and jumped out of the way frantically, hearing Krillin shout some kind of warning to Goku.

Several flashes went off; Goku's hand temporarily blurred as he deflected whatever it was Freeza shot out! Even Freeza seemed surprised!

Corset was in awe. First a kick and now he was blocking that strange light?

Vegeta's laugh caught her attention and she looked over to her dad.

"F-Freeza... don't take him lightly..." Vegeta warned, "... He's the one... you've been afraid of..." Slowly he leaned up on his elbows, "... He's a Super Saiyan!"

So now Goku was this Super Saiyan thing? Well he was doing a much better job against Freeza than any of the others were!

"You heard me! The legendary warrior..." Vegeta continued to gloat, "... the most powerful warrior... in the universe! Freeza... you're through... and I'm so glad... I got to live to see this day... see you... beaten by a Saiyan!"

Another flash went off. This time Corset saw the beam.

Vegeta crashed onto his back, coughing up blood. There was a puncture wound in his chest from the beam, right where his heart was.

No one could find the words to speak or the ability to even make a sound. Corset's eyes fixated on him, too horrified to even scream.

"Vegeta wasn't even a threat to you anymore – he couldn't move!" Goku bellowed. "You didn't have to do this!"

Her trembling body somehow managed to find the ability to move again. She walked almost trance-like over towards Goku and her father; none of the other fighters choosing to stop her.

"I told him to shut up about his stupid Super Saiyan legend – I detest people who repeat themselves," Freeza coldly replied.

"Kakarrot... you fool... that's what limits you..."

Goku looked down at Vegeta; Corset feeling more and more teary-eyed hearing just how weak his voice sounded.

"Be merciless... Lose your damned sentiment... and you could truly be... the Super Saiyan..." Vegeta croaked breathless.

"I-I could never be merciless like you," Goku replied, "I don't even know what this Super Saiyan is supposed to be!"

"The... Su..." Vegeta's voice was barely clear to her now; he coughed up more blood before continuing attempting to talk.

"Stop talking Vegeta, you're just killing yourself faster!" Goku warned.

He was dying. His ki wavered and flickered, shrinking in size. Corset'd stopped a good few steps away, unable to bear it anymore and falling to her knees.

"Kakarrot... how do you think... planet Vegeta... the world where you and I were born... was destroyed? It was Freeza... We worked so hard for him... We did everything he asked us to and more... and yet he killed them all... He took me from my father... when I was just a boy... he killed my father, the king... your parents... He killed them all because... he feared that a Super Saiyan... would rise up and overthrow him."

Tears had begun to flow from his eyes making it even more heart-breaking for his daughter to see. She couldn't bear this, not anymore. For the first time her father sounded so woeful, so genuine, so close to being a person with a heart... and all because of what this monster had done. She'd had no idea it had been that way. She'd always thought Saiyans were evil, heartless fighters... yet this made them sound like just as much the victims as the Namekians. This monster had used them for his own uses and then killed them.

"Please... no more..." Goku mumbled, "Save your strength."

A shaky arm reached out towards the taller Saiyan. "Kakarrot... he made me what I am... don't let him do it... to anyone else... Please... Freeza must die... by a... Saiyan's... hand..."

The hand fell. He fell silent.

Corset's shimmering eyes carefully studied her father as he lay lifeless before her. Nothing she could do could change what had already been done. The Dragonballs were gone, Dende was gone; there was nothing left to stop it. Anger, sorrow, remorse and horror engulfed the heart-broken girl as she fell to her knees, unable to hold back the tears anymore. She'd been utterly powerless to stop it and she hated it. Once again she'd let someone down and it had cost them their life.

Her father was gone.