Chapter 052 - Piccolo's Plan
"...Rset... Corset! Come on kid, wake up!"
That was Krillin's voice; he was close-by. Corset realised she could feel someone shaking her quite roughly by the shoulders; whoever it was shaking her was annoying her with their harsh treatment. Agitated she opened her eyes about to speak when she realised it was Krillin; he looked rather worried.
"Phew... Glad to see you're awake," He sighed closing his eyes and letting go of her. "I was worried not even the senzu bean would help!"
"The senzu..." So that explained the bad taste in her mouth; she hated the taste of senzu beans! Corset was about to ask when she suddenly remembered what had happened before she'd woken, hurriedly trying to rise to her feet but falling under her own weight.
"Hey, easy there," Krillin held her down gently, "You took quite a blow to the head. Looks like your balance still isn't back."
"W-Where's everyone else, Krillin? Where are the androids? What happened after I got knocked out? Is everyone else ok?" Corset fired off a frenzied mouthful of questions.
"Calm down, kiddo!" Krillin smiled, "the others are fine..." He glanced over his shoulder briefly, "Looks like your dad flew off though. As for the androids, they took off for Goku's..."
"Oh," Corset frowned disappointed. So they hadn't been able to stop the androids after all.
"Glad to see you're alright," Trunks stepped forwards. "Looks like everyone made it out the fight alive."
"You're ok as well aren't you, Trunks?" Corset asked flinching a little as a dizzy spell hit her. She rested one hand tenderly on her scalp and opened one eye. "... Wow... I must have hit my head hard."
"Well you were pile-driven head-first into a rock wall! It's no surprise really," Krillin explained.
Corset looked around spotting Tenshinhan and Piccolo were nearby; they both seemed ok. "... So did anyone beat the androids?"
Both Trunks and Krillin frowned, neither of them answered her. Corset looked down at her lap and felt her heart sink. None of them had stood a chance against these androids, just as Trunks had said. Her dad had his insides kicked out and he was supposed to be their strongest fighter right now, even stronger than Goku. Plus Piccolo was an amazing fighter and yet he'd been floored with minimal effort by Seventeen! What chance did they have against these unstoppable monsters?
"Come on, let's get you up on your feet," Krillin put Corset's arm over his shoulder and lifted her up, "We'll head over to the others. Hopefully Tenshinhan and Piccolo are coming up with a plan."
Corset allowed herself to be walked across the cracked and broken ground, lost in her own thoughts until Tenshinhan's voice was loud enough to break through them.
"We've got to face facts," the three-eyed fighter was speaking, "Goku's powerful but he's not so different from Trunks or Vegeta. At this rate we can't win, even with Goku."
A small moment of silence gripped the group as they all absorbed this painful fact. It wasn't easy to admit and it had taken a lot of strength for Tenshinhan to speak out; none of the others had wanted to say it.
"... These androids were a little different from the ones I know," Trunks spoke up. "The ones from my time weren't that terrifyingly strong; I could even put up a decent fight against them."
"It's hopeless..." Tenshinhan mumbled quietly. "What are we going to do now?"
Corset looked down at the ground and tried to think, finding her brain felt too frazzled and empty to come up with any good suggestions.
"... You guys head to Goku's house and move him somewhere else," Piccolo instructed. "We can think about our options once he gets better."
"Right," Krillin nodded. "... What are you going to do?"
Corset looked up at her mentor, noticing he seemed to be contemplating something he didn't quite like judging by the scowl on his face.
"Who knows...?" He muttered.
"Do you have a plan Piccolo?" Corset asked. "You always have that look on your face when you've thought of something."
Piccolo stayed quiet.
"... Come on, you can tell us," Krillin smiled, "We're your friends."
"Shut up!" Piccolo bellowed, his body language drastically changing from calm to aggressive. "Don't push your luck! When do you think I became your friend?"
Corset was completely taken aback by her mentor's sudden change in attitude! "... But-" She started, cut off by the Namekian.
"I'm a demon; the offspring of the great demon king Piccolo! I'm merely using you to take over the world! Now if you follow me, I'll kill you!" With that he took off into the distance, leaving the baffled group behind.
"... I forgot he used to be the great demon king." Tenshinhan muttered after a while. "So he's still been planning world domination all this time?"
Corset raised an eyebrow puzzled, "... I don't know..." she mumbled confused, "Piccolo looked like something was troubling him..."
"Don't worry about him," Krillin smiled. "I think the take over the world thing was just a mask. He's just like Goku and Vegeta; he wants to be stronger than everyone else! My guess is that he's got a plan and has gone off to figure out his trump card..."
"You think so, Krillin?" Corset asked. "I didn't think he was that angry at us but something's bothering him... Piccolo doesn't usually look that frustrated."
"So what's his trump card?" Tenshinhan asked.
"He flew off towards something," Krillin pointed, "any of you guys got any idea what's over in that direction?"
"... I dunno," Corset shrugged her shoulders. She tried to work out what direction Krillin was pointing in via the sun's position in the sky; so he was heading west... What was over there?
"It's Kami's place," Krillin answered after no one made a suggestion. "The Great Elder of Namek once told me that Piccolo and Kami used to be one person and if they hadn't split into two people, they – or he – wouldn't have lost to the Saiyans! I think Piccolo's gone to try and merge back with Kami to a single entity."
"... Oh yeah..." Corset mumbled more to herself, though she wasn't sure if she was faintly remembering hearing about it or making it up! She found she was able to stand on her own feet now and pulled herself free from Krillin. "I'm ok now, I can stand."
"Good to hear," Krillin smiled. "Anyway, Kami and Piccolo are gonna become a single Namekian warrior again. Piccolo's drastically improved over the years so this fighter will be unbelievably strong! If Goku's a Super Saiyan then Piccolo will be a Super Namekian!"
"Wait... if they do that then there'll be no Kami and the Dragonballs will disappear," Tenshinhan realised.
"If that happens, we can't wish anyone back to life," Corset gulped terrified. Although none of the other fighters around her were aware of it she'd already died and been brought to life with the Dragonballs here. If she died again she wouldn't be able to be brought back! That thought didn't sit too well in her stomach and part of her screamed for her to stop Piccolo from joining with Kami!
"At this moment in time it doesn't really matter," Krillin replied. "If either Kami or Piccolo is killed, the Dragonballs will vanish anyway. If Piccolo's really giving up his identity then he really must feel cornered; that's how scary these enemies are! He used to hate everything about Kami..."
"What do you think my D- I mean Vegeta's going to do?" Trunks asked changing the subject.
"... Why'd you call him by his name, Trunks?" Corset raised a confused eyebrow.
"It's ok, we all know you're Bulma and Vegeta's son from the future," Krillin explained.
Trunks seemed a little taken back, "... Sorry I didn't tell you..." He apologised.
"It's ok," Tenshinhan spoke with a soft smile. "There's no need to apologise."
"... Come to think of it, you said Dad flew off, right Krillin?" Corset asked clarifying. She hadn't seen her dad since she'd woken back up. "Why did he fly off anyway?"
"Who knows what's going through his head, although Piccolo reckons he's in a bad mood because of his defeat," Krillin replied.
"I hope he's alright," Corset frowned.
"Don't worry, either of you," Tenshinhan replied. "Vegeta's not the type to run away just because he lost once. He's pride personified! I'm sure he'll come up with some devastating new attack and challenge the androids again."
Corset smiled at the warrior and nodded. He was right; her dad wasn't a quitter. He'd always come bouncing back after a defeat, grown far stronger and learnt some sort of new technique.
"We'd better get to Goku's place before the androids reach him," Krillin muttered. "Whatever happens we need to move him to a safer place; at least that way he should survive a little longer."
The group headed south-south-east towards Mount Paozu and Goku's home, all the while Corset trying to hone in on the others' ki. Indeed Piccolo was far, far off to the west and her father was far away to the south-west. Goku's ki – although weak and wildly fluctuating – was ahead of them. Being able to still sense his ki was such a comfort for Corset right now; Goku always managed to make the difference and it was looking increasingly likely they would all need to depend on him once more.
As she'd expected, she'd been powerless against these androids. Admitting that to herself frustrated her; she didn't like it at all. Her dad was somewhere by himself probably trying to think of a way to become stronger and beat these androids; Piccolo was trying to become stronger... So why wasn't she trying as well? She couldn't leave it up to the others to save her and she didn't want to! 'There must be a way I can become stronger too...'
"Hey Trunks, how long until you think Goku gets better?" Krillin asked.
"Knowing Goku, I'd say he'll be fine again in ten days," Trunks replied.
"Ten days... We should be able to stay out of sight for that long." Krillin murmured. "Of course, we don't even know if Goku can beat these things. I guess we're quite lucky these androids don't seem to have power sensors."
"Yeah..." Trunks nodded.
There were a couple of minutes of silence, each warrior left to their own thoughts.
"... Trunks, can I ask you something?" Corset asked finally breaking the silence, save the wind whistling past their ears.
"Sure," the lavender haired boy nodded.
"You said that only Gohan and I survived the battle against the androids in your time..." Corset spoke, "...and that eventually the androids killed both me and Gohan, right?"
"Yeah," Trunks nodded grimly.
Corset pondered this for a moment before choosing to continue. "... Just how much stronger was I when I died compared to now?"
"... Honestly, I can't say I remember how strong you were," Trunks replied, "It's hard for me to say since you died so long ago. Sorry I can't be of more help."
"Don't worry about it..." Corset frowned. So she had no idea how much stronger she needed to become. Then again Trunks had said the androids in this time were stronger than the ones in his time; what did it matter how strong she was compared to them in his time? It still wouldn't have been enough!
"... From what I remember, you and Gohan put up a decent fight together when you worked as a team," Trunks added. "I think the androids knew that so they too fought as a team."
"Hey, I'm gonna head back to Chaozu," Tenshinhan decided, "I know he'll be worried about me. I'll be back before the fight starts again... Although I doubt I'll be much use."
"OK, we'll take Goku to Master Roshi's place," Krillin replied. "We can probably buy more time there."
"Tell Goku not to do anything until he gets better," Tenshinhan smiled.
"See you soon Tenshinhan, tell Chaozu I said hi!" Corset waved as the fighter parted company with them heading to wherever he'd left Chaozu.
Then there were three.
The trio continued to fly towards Goku's home.
"... You know, I wish I could believe Goku was capable of doing anything!" Krillin sighed sounding disheartened.
"Of course he can; he's Goku!" Corset smiled. "He always seems to be able to do something when we're in situations like this."
"... Why did history change so much?" Trunks asked. "The androids weren't so powerful in the time I live in and there were just two of them..."
"Don't ask me, I only know the reality I'm stuck in!" Krillin shrugged his shoulders.
"... I know this is a little off-topic but..." Corset butted in, "... Do I call you my big brother or little brother?"
Both Trunks and Krillin looked taken back.
"... What are you talking about at a time like this?" Krillin chuckled. "You're worrying over something like that?"
"Well I'd like to work it out but I'm stuck!" Corset pouted. "Trunks is supposed to be my little brother since he's born after me, but right now this Trunks is older than me, so it just seems weird to call him my little brother!"
"Um..." Trunks began to blush lightly and pondered the thought for a moment. "... Just call me big brother then..."
"Ok then, I always wanted an older sibling!" Corset smiled, "That makes me your little sister! Weird, huh?"
"...Yeah..." Trunks nodded shyly.
It took a further hour before the trio finally came to Goku's home, landing outside the small house tucked away in the mountains of East District four-three-seven. It hadn't been that long since Corset's last trip here; she'd spent the last three years travelling to this small house to start her training. It almost felt like a second home to her and Chichi had been very receptive of her visiting.
"Hey, I've got a question..." Krillin mumbled as they approached the door. "These androids, they're definitely bad guys, right?"
"What?" Trunks seemed surprised. "They'll devastate the world, or at least they did in my time... Why?"
"N-Nothing, I was just hoping they weren't!" Krillin answered jittery.
"Why?" Corset asked. "So we don't have to fight them?"
"There's no point in hoping for the absurd," Trunks replied.
"I know, I know!" Krillin agreed. "It just crossed my mind, that's all..."
"... It would be nice though..." Corset mumbled more to herself than the boys.
Krillin knocked on the door a couple of times. He was given no prior warning or time to avoid it as the door struck him clean in the head with a large crash! Chichi suddenly appeared hanging off the door handle screaming, "Is that you, Gohan?"
Her disappointment quickly became apparent as she realised it wasn't her son. Corset frowned a little; so Gohan hadn't gotten back from Capsule Corp yet? Part of her had wished she'd gone with him or she'd been the one to take her mother home...
"Hi Chichi..." Krillin greeted through gritted teeth, tending to his sore head.
"It's you Krillin," Chichi looked at the visitors. "Oh, Corset's here too?"
"This is Goku's wife," Krillin mumbled to Trunks, who politely bowed.
"Nice to meet you."
"This is the boy from the future who came to warn us about Goku's heart virus," Corset introduced her brother. "He's actually my little brother, Trunks!"
"W-What?" Chichi blinked flabbergasted, "You have a brother?"
Yamcha appeared through the doorway and rushed over demanding to know what had happened. Krillin quickly filled him in on what had happened with the androids. The news quickly turned to the trio coming to this exact location in their search for Goku. Quickly preparations were made to move the ill-stricken fighter to Master Roshi's house. While Krillin and Yamcha moved Goku from his house to the airship Yamcha owned, Corset assisted Chichi in packing essentials and some clothes.
Her thoughts trailed as she gathered whatever Chichi asked her to get, wondering how her dad and Piccolo were doing. She'd decided to track Gohan's ki as she worked, almost watching as his bright energy drew closer and closer to them. She hoped they had enough time to flee before the androids came otherwise they were in deep trouble! She felt sympathetic to Chichi, Goku and Gohan; hearing a terrifyingly powerful enemy heading to their own house sounded horrifying, she wondered if they would ransack the place when they arrived in their search.
Finally everything was packed. Corset helped the others load up Yamcha's plane and quickly took her place on the floor, sitting cross-legged near to Goku who'd been laid to rest in the centre of the floor on his bedding. Now all they had to do was wait.
"Gohan should be here soon," Krillin muttered through tense and gritted teeth. "Come on kid..."
After a couple of minutes, Corset abruptly stood and rushed out the hatch; she could sense Gohan had finally arrived. "Gohan!" She cried rushing out the door running towards him as he landed. "How'd it go? Did Mama get home safely?"
Gohan seemed surprised to see her – not to mention see what was going on outside his house! "Y-Yeah, she's home now... What's going on?" He asked. "Why's everyone here? Did something happen?"
"We'll tell you on the plane," Krillin answered. "Right now we need to get out of here."