Take a breath and take it like it's your last

The fake moon above the defenders of Earth dimed as night grew closer to the mountains. The devastation to the forest was quite apparent. There had been avalanches, missing mountains and general destruction. Suno went over to look at Kunlun to make sure he was alright.

Kunlun head was battered and bloody from the beating by Kakarrot but he was breathing and at least one of his eyes were open. Suno came up to the flat on his back Kunlun. Suno, nervously "Are you alright?" Kunlun "I guess."

Suno looks over to Krillin who managed to get back up since his thrashing. He was broken and bloodied but had a smile on his face. Krillin "Looks like we won." Suno, half-smile back "Yeah I guess we did."

Krillin "Sucks that he got away though." He seems to be struggling to hold on the rock that he was using to hold himself up. Suno, worried "You alright?" Krillin, laughing "Well I kind of feel like I have been repeatedly run over by a truck but I don't have much to complain about."

Suno nods to him and goes to look over Chi-Chi. Chi-Chi durable King Kai gi has held up a lot better than anyone else's clothes but it is still is very weak. Chi-Chi's arm bones have been crushed. Chi-Chi right eye is closed and purple. Suno knew her friend and could instantly tell that she while batter was find. Chi-Chi looked worst after Piccolo after all.

Chi-Chi "He will be back." Suno "I figured. We may have beaten him but he doesn't seem like the type to except a defeat like this." Chi-Chi "He may have not acted like it but he was a good fighter."

Suno "It will take everything we have to stop him next time." Chi-Chi "No question but we beat him once and we can do it again."

Suno nodded in agreement. Overhead could be heard the screeching up them. It was Bulma and her jet. The jet circled once then landed not far from where Chi-Chi laid and where Suno stood above her.

The ramp from the yellow plane came down Bulma, Roshi, Oolong, Puar, Eighter, Korin, and Yajirobe came streaming out on to the mountain. Bulma immediately ran over to Kunlun to pick the young boy up. Bulma eyes were puffy and red she had been cry for quite some time now.

Eighter rush to Suno and hugged her. Eighter, crying "Suno I so glad that you alive! I thought you might have died to that psychopath!" Eighter started to look her over. Suno, laughing "Sorry I scared you Uncle Eighter but I'm alright really!"

Master Roshi and Korin stood over the very injured Chi-Chi on the ground. Chi-Chi looked over to the two. Chi-Chi, weakly "Hi Master Roshi and Master Korin nice day huh…" Chi-Chi's eyes closed and she fell unconscious. All but Korin and Roshi look in fear at the sight.

Master Roshi, assuredly to the group "It's alright. She just passed out." Master Korin "She did very well." Master Roshi "No question. After a day of such horror I have never been prouder." Master Roshi looked over to Krillin. Master Roshi "That goes for you too Krillin."

Krillin "Thanks Master." Bulma with Kunlun in her hands came over to back to the others with Puar floating over to Bulma and Kunlun to look at him. Puar "O my. What a little soldier."

The group gathered up the survivors Yajirobe and Master Roshi placed Chi-Chi on a stretcher and then onto the plane. As everyone piled back into the plane as the sun went down and the plane took off. Chi-Chi woke up again as the plane took off.

Chi-Chi, sadly "I wasn't here in time." Master Roshi "Don't say that kiddo you're not a god you can't be everywhere at once." Chi-Chi "Still I should have been here."

Master Korin "You were dead." Chi-Chi "I'm sorry all of you."

Bulma, angry "Shut up you have nothing to be sorry about!" Chi-Chi "Bulma…" Bulma "Shut up! You just saved all of our lives and I know Yamcha is dead and nothing is going to bring him back."

Chi-Chi "That may not be true." Bulma, in surprise "What!"

Krillin, with a smile "Yeah she's right." Chi-Chi "It's something that Kakarrot was taking about." Krillin "Right he called Piccolo a Namekian. Piccolo he said was an alien."

Chi-Chi "Right and he said that the Planet Namek was rumored to have its own dragon balls." Bulma "Really?!"

King Kai "Mind if I butt in." All but Chi-Chi looked around trying to see were the voice is coming from. King Kai "Sorry folks not present with you right now. I'm just telepathically communicating with you." Krillin "Neat."

King Kai "Yes neat. Look been listen in on your conversation and I have some info for you. Namek is a place and the coordinates are 9045XY. There is a population on the planet. But I don't know if they have dragon balls." Yajirobe, scared "You got to be kidding me a whole planet worth of Piccolos that sounds like suicide!"

King Kai "No. No. No you have it all wrong. The Namekian are like your Earth's Guardian Kami peaceful and inoffensive. Their planet was damaged by change in one of their native suns that spelled ecological disaster for their world. It was a few hundred years ago and it's probably the reason why Kami was on your world in the first place."

Bulma, with stars in her eyes "Well it sounds like it needs a look. My father and I have been working on a ship based on what we were able to find out from Raditz's ship. We will be able making it there in no time at all. Once of course you guys need to recover first."

Chi-Chi "Korin do you have any more Senzu beans?" Master Korin "Sorry going to need a week or two to get you some more." Chi-Chi "O."

Bulma "Its okay I'm going to need a sometime to finish the ship and get some things ready." Kunlun "Then we can wish back my parents and Mr. Piccolo." Bulma "That's right kiddo where going to Namek!"

In a gray metal room with a steel table is a chained up Princess on a there was a solid metal sheet behind her on wheels a muzzle over her mouth made to prevent her to bite anyone. Her head had been securely strapped to the sheet along with the rest of her body. She was in an orange jump suit and was covered in bandages. Someone had tried to put her nose back into place.

The Princess could move her body by it had very little to do with the chains and straps. She remembered the disc she was paralyzed. The shame of her capture and imprisonment was enough to make her break down.

She kept silent because she saw that there was a one way window behind and a hazmat suit figure sitting on a metal chair on the other side of the table looking at her. She could not see the figures face but instinct told her she was very much under watch. Like a caged predator she stared at the hazamat suited figure.

Colonel Stryker "So you're awake." Princess Escarole "Where am I?" Colonel Stryker "You wouldn't know it even if I told you."

Princess Escarole, smugly "Suppose your right it's not like it even matters." Colonel Stryker "Your paralyzed the doctors tell me." Princess Escarole, flippantly "What makes you say that?"

Colonel Stryker "The fact that you a sliced spine and haven't just killed me yet." Princess Escarole "I could just be playing dead." Colonel Stryker "You don't seem to be a good actor."

Princess Escarole "Well you would know. You're trying to act so calm right now with your hands on the table trying to look relaxed. But the chains and fear I smell on you says how scared you are of me even immobile."

Colonel Stryker "So you can smell fear?" Princess Escarole "So this is about information gathering." Colonel Stryker "For a Princess you don't seem to act like royal more like a serial killer."

Princess Escarole "You know why I didn't kill the reporters around during the fight?" No response from Stryker. Princess Escarole, in a smile "It was because I wanted your entire planet to see their death before them and be able to do nothing more than just watch." No response from Stryker. Princess Escarole "Nothing from you. Your no fun not even rage. Man you are cold even by my standards."

Colonel Stryker "So you want me to kill you?" Princess Escarole "So there is a spark in you after all?" Colonel Stryker "I don't think you get. What kind of position you're in."

Princess Escarole "I am usually in position of murder worlds and cities like I did to your city." Colonel Stryker "A bunch of different generals and scientists just wanted to cut you open and look around. But I and a few others wanted a chance to at least talk to you." Princess Escarole "A mistake I can assure you."

Colonel Stryker "You see your life is as important as long as we still think we get something out of you. As long as we think you still are holding on to something you stay alive." Princess Escarole "That all well and good unless I want to live and you just told me how to keep myself alive."

Colonel Stryker "You seem to be a kind of person that values honor more than life. Was I wrong?" Princess Escarole, chuckles "So it would be more honorable to sell out my kin to help myself." Colonel Stryker "So will see how long you can last. You know you won't be able to use the bathroom on your own. You're going to be completely at our mercy."

Princess Escarole, smiling "Is that so? We shall see." Colonel Stryker "Being vague won't help you." Princess Escarole "Sorry I just can help myself considering how little you know."

Colonel Stryker "Explain it to me." Princess Escarole "Nan. I'm having way too much fun watching you trying to be intimating. I kill worlds for fun and you think you can intimated me." Colonel Stryker "I could kill you with a pillow right now. I think you fallen from that world killer status."

Princess Escarole "Says the person that are so scared of me that he had me in placed in chains with a muzzle. Afraid I might bite you?" Colonel Stryker "Says the person that I could just not feed." Princess Escarole "Charming you still think you're in control."

The Colonel takes his hand off the table and reach into his pocket on the suit and take out a remote control and place it out on the table it merely has one button on it. Then places his back together and looks to her again. Princess Escarole "Oow now we will see what the Terran's consider torture. This should be good for a laugh."

Colonel Stryker "Yeah it would be a mistake to try and torture you after all you are paralyzed and you can't feel anything that isn't your head. But indulge me for a second will you. Before we allowed you to wake up. We did every test you can think of. We only had a dead body to look at last time. What we found is that when it comes to a great deal of specifies you and us are nearly the same. Now in some big details like tail, immune system, hair and heart size is where there seems to be some differences between us. Like for instance your brain seems to be smaller than the average human." Princess Escarole, faking offence "O trying to insult me?"

Colonel Stryker "Not at all brain size has nothing to do with intelligence. My ancestors had far larger brains than mine and they lived in caves. Mine is far more less a prototype but a more refined tool made to be less bulky and more energy efficient. They did a lot less with a lot more then I can do. Based on your ship I would try and make the same argument with yourself but all I can tell you do is just murder innocent people for some fun and a laugh. Not a lot of brain power can go into that. But getting back to my point you are so similar that we found out that our drugs can affect you and in very similar ways that they affect us. Now we went through a list of 'truth' drugs from like Sodium Pentothal to LSD. Now as fun as it would be to give you acid and see freak out. It would be very unlikely that we would be able to get anything out of you. So theirs Sodium Pentothal but some of that is placebo effect thanks to Hollywood so we decided on a more low tech solution." The Colonel presses the button and the lights go out.

Princess Escarole in disappointment "All that build up and you think I'm afraid of the dark. Man you people continue to disappoint. They should have called this world 'Let Down' the planet." The Colonel gets up from the table and a door opens up to the room and he moves toward it. Princess Escarole "That's it?"

Colonel Stryker "We will see how long you can last by yourself?" The Colonel leaves the room and the door slams shut leaving the Princess alone in a pitch black room no sound and no way to move. The Colonel goes into the observation area were others in hazamat suits are waiting with a camera.

Colonel Stryker "We feed her with a tube every six hours and we allow her to relieve herself. Gas her each time continue the isolation. We wait until she breaks down then I talk to her again and only I can talk to her. If she keeps up we do it again until she really breaks. If you need me I'm going to get dinner."

The group unison "Right." The Colonel leaves and the others stare into darkness.

On Planet Vegeta the Intelligence Bureau receives the communication from the Earth and quickly delivers the information into Supreme General Nappa's hands. The General's scouter beeps receiving the two different recordings. The General in his quarters listens to the recordings as soon as the details of the dragon balls he comes to a cold sweat.

Nappa "Magical balls that grant wishes sounds almost too good to be true." Nappa quickly calls up Prince Vegeta who was at this moment pushing himself to try a force the power super saiyan out of himself to only collapse with nothing accomplished.

Prince Vegeta punches the ground in anger. Vegeta "It's not enough! It's still not enough! What am I missing?" The scouter beeps and the Prince grabs hold of his scouter ready to destroy it in rage but then takes a deep breath and places the scouter back on his face and answers.

Prince Vegeta "Yes?" Nappa "My Lord I have some urgent news for you!" What follows is the Prince hearing the recording of the fight on Earth and of the dragon balls. The Prince is nearly left breathless by the information.

Vegeta thinks "Immortality. With them I could wish for Immortality then I could defeat the Witch and prove I am the strongest of the Saiyans. Yes this is my moment!" Prince Vegeta "Nappa we are leaving to the Planet Namek." Nappa "Lord?" Prince Vegeta "We have some dragon balls to find."

Deep in space the fleet of Emperor Cooler is loitering waiting for Lord Commander Salza orders. Watching the ships is the Lord Commander standing on his bridge making sure that the formation that he ordered is kept.

The Lord Commander RIT armor having a purple cape, purple spandex and yellow armor turns upon hearing murmuring from a communication console. The murmuring is Admiral Sorbet arguing with Captain Cui over some transmission with General Ginyu. The Lord Commander walks over to the scene.

The Lord Commander walks passed his officers in a trench like work station the officers looking on curiously and with a bit of fear in their eyes. The Lord Commander reaches the two in the back of the Bridge.

Lord Commander Salza "You found something?" Captain Cui, with great relish "Yes my Lord!"

The recording of the events of Earth are played for the Lord Commander who shows no sign of react to the recording. The Captain is deflated by the seeming uncaring of the Lord Commander and Sorbet is delighted.

Admiral Sorbet "See Cui it as I told you this is…" The Admiral is interrupted by the Lord Commander Salza "Interesting." Admiral Sorbet "My Lord there are just too many variables it could be a trap…"

Lord Commander Salza, authoritatively "No the dragon balls are real and I'm sure the Saiyans on their way to the System. Set you course for the Namek System. General Ginyu prepare your men."

General Ginyu nods and Lord Commander storms off from the bridge. Admiral Sorbet gives a dirty look to Captain Cui who pretends not to smile. Lord Commander goes to an empty room and kneels down on to a small circle that lite up as he does so. Before him appeared a hologram of Emperor Cooler's face.

Lord Commander Salza "I have done your biding my master and I have uncovered a revelation that will change the balance of power in the Universe." Cooler "Is that so?" Lord Commander Salza "Indeed the power to destroy the upstart super saiyan and her race has been found. There are in fact wish granting orbs on the Planet Namek capable of granting you any wish that you desire. I am heading to the Planet as we speak to secure them for you. Soon your father will return to life and the Super Saiyan will be no more."

Cooler "That would be a waste of a wish." Lord Commander Salza "Master?" Cooler "Father was a fool to take her on not at full strength his time has passed it is my time. We will use the orbs to grant myself immortality and I not my father will put an end to the Saiyan race. All of my plans have final come into place. I will join you shortly."

Lord Commander Salza "What of the Earth?" Cooler "Without the orbs the Earth is just the worthless backwater it has always been. If we find evidence of the orbs back on Earth we will just destroy the Planet. Find those orbs. Use any methods available to you but I want them found. No mistakes." Lord Commander Salza "Yes my master. You will have the orbs on my life if need be."

Entering the atmosphere of Planet Arlia is the pod of Kakarrot streaming in to the rush colored atmosphere of the planet. The dust ball of the world had become a client of Saiyan Empire many years ago.

The pod landed on the space station on the surface of the planet and some of the Arlia guards stood in attention to then look in to see that Kakarrot is bloodied and beaten the bugs quickly grab a hold of Kakarrot and dragged him to a healing chamber.

Kakarrot was placed into the chamber and spent quite some time healing but finely woke and exited the chamber. Waiting for Kakarrot was a well-dressed Arlia who immediately tried to good into an elegant formal welcome to the saiyan. But Kakarrot before he could even begin put his hand up. Kakarrot "I don't care. I'm leaving."

Kakarrot goes and grabs a new undamaged armor and suites up. Kakarrot thinking "No doubt the Prince and who know was else is on their way to Namek. It would be real stupid to go." (Pause). "Heh who said I'm smart anyways. If Vegeta wants his wish he's going to have to go through me. Maybe if I hold it together I will get my wish. It seems like the humans were pretty tech savvy maybe they will show up. Nah as fun as it would be to show her up with my boost they have no idea where Namek is or how to get there. Still though I'll see her soon enough."

Kakarrot pushes his way out of the medical station and heads to his pod without a scouter punches some buttons at which he was on his way.

On earth weeks have passed since the fight with the Saiyans. Chi-Chi has been bed ridden along with Kunlun and Krillin none of whom have taken their doctors advice seriously forcing Roshi to watch them like a hawk.

Forcing the group to watch TV. The news is obsessed with the events of East city of the alien invasion and the damage done to the planet. Stock markets have collapsed and fear is really having its day. Riots have broken out and people are acting like when King Piccolo gave his doomsday announcement.

Chi-Chi thinking "I'm sorry. I will wish you all back I promise." Looking very sullen and frustrated while watch the TV. Master Roshi turns off the TV.

Master Roshi "Still blaming yourself?" Chi-Chi "Maybe a little." Master Roshi "Were going to get them all back."

Master Korin "Maybe sooner than you think." In the white cat's hands are a bag and a staff. The group is happy and surprise to see him knowing what it meant. Master Korin "So I got some presents for you."

Korin flicked a senzu bean to Chi-Chi, Kunlun, Krillin and Suno. In an instant they were all fully restored. Chi-Chi jumped up from her bed was about to bust out of her cast when she remember that there was nothing under it. She looked over to Master Roshi who was staring starry eyed believing she was about to bust out of cast. Chi-Chi smacked him on the head.

Master Roshi, pained "What did I do?" Chi-Chi "It was want you were going to do."

Into this scene busting into the hospital room is an exhausted Bulma who had been running. Bulma, panting "Good news everyone!" Bulma looked to then see that Chi-Chi was all healed and saw Korin.

Bulma, happy "O good everyone is all fixed up. Just in time too. I finished the very first Capsule Corp spaceship. Capable of supporting all of us as we go to Namek." Krillin, humorously "All of us?" Bulma, angry "Yes! All of us. I'm going with you guys and that's final. I'm the only one who knows how to fly the ship and fix the radar if anything happens."

Krillin taken aback by her fury. Krillin "Okay! Okay!" Bulma "Good now if any loud mouth jerks are done moving their big mouths we can go to my place and I can give you guys the tour."

Chi-Chi grabbed a gi and rush into the bathroom of the hospital quickly emerging with only a few bandages left on her person fully clothed. She rushed to the window and yelled out. Chi-Chi "Flying Nimbus!" The Flying Nimbus showed up and Chi-Chi jumped on. Stammering a Bulma "Aw Chi-Chi are you forgetting something?"

Chi-Chi "O right the Nimbus doesn't seem to like you or Krillin. Krillin I guess you will have to fly Bulma over to Capsule Corp." Krillin "Yeah but what about Kunlun…."

While they were speaking Kunlun had walk over and jump on to the Nimbus. Everyone but Chi-Chi and Kunlun closed their eyes and cringed. But nothing happened Kunlun was standing on the cloud.

Krillin, in surprise "O I guess you take more after the blue hair one then the blonde one." Suno rush up and jump up on to the Nimbus. Chi-Chi "See at Capsule Corp."

Korin threw to Chi-Chi the bag of Senzu beans. The Nimbus took off. Bulma looked at Krillin.

Bulma, annoyed "So I'm stuck with you again." Krillin "Hey keep talking like that and you're going to be walking home." Bulma "Make me do that and you're going to find yourself airlocked 'Alien' style."

Krillin "With my luck I'm going to end up like John Hurt." Bulma "Hey at least you have a real way to influence events lately I feel like baggage. Case in point." Krillin had grabbed hold of her and started carrying her. They flew out the window leaving Master Roshi and Master Korin alone.

Master Roshi "What a bunch of complainers. I used to be the strongest on Earth and not be left behind in just about every adventure." Master Korin "I'm just the bean grower." Master Roshi "I suppose everything is relative."

The group arrived at Capsule Corp in the back yard where the massive spaceship stood. Chi-Chi, Kunlun and Suno rushed in and looked around the globe shaped ship. Krillin and Bulma soon arrived to see her ship being examined by her now childlike friends.

Chi-Chi was looks at the button trying to see what they do. Suno was looking at the pantry and Kunlun was trying to find the bathroom. Bulma "Now I'm sure you all have questions."

The group was far too busy looking around to acknowledge her. Bulma put two of her fingers in her mouth and whistled making a screeching sound that got everyone attention. Bulma, demandingly "Everyone out here now!" Everyone rushed out and stood in attention.

Bulma, happy "Good much better. This is a three floored spaceship with enough food and supplies to get us to Namek and back. There is a gravity room on the top that you guys can train in on our way and won't crush me in the process. It has plenty of movies and music to entertain us in the week that it will take us to get there. In the meantime there is going to be a need for leadership."

Krillin "What?" Bulma took out of one of her pocket a hat with a Captain insignia on it and place on her head. Bulma, with a devilish smile on her face "From now on in its Captain Bulma your lord and master." They all gulped.

On King Kai Planet King Kai was sleeping on his chair which was on only two of legs and the back of the chair resting on the wall of his house. When his sleep is interrupted by five loud crashes. King Kai wakes up and attempts to jump up but instead the chair slides down the wall smashing his head against the wall.

King Kai getting up off the ground rubbing his head goes over to look at the disturbance. King Kai "So much for my lawn but at least you didn't hit my car." King Kai looks to see that it was the now dead Z-fighters. King Kai "So I guess I got some new pupils." (Sighs). "Great five to feed and clothe. This should be something. Why do I bother."

In the grey room the lights went on with a hazamated suited Colonel entering the room to see a smiling Princess Escarole looking off into the distance. Colonel Stryker "So you wanted to speak?" The door closed behind him. She failed to look at him.

Princess Escarole "What is your name?" Colonel Stryker "So you just want to waste more of my time?" Princess Escarole "What is your name?"

Colonel Stryker, grudgingly "Colonel William Stryker." Princess Escarole "Who long do you think you have William until I escape?" Colonel Stryker "This again?"

Her finger twitched in front of him. The Colonel looked on in fear and she looked at him. Princess Escarole, smiling "Shows what you know."

Later in a med bay. Colonel Stryker is looking at X-ray of the Princess's spine. Looked to the doctor. Colonel Stryker "How?"

Doctor "Her cells are far more responsive then our own they act far more like stem cells. Her spine is going to heal and she will gain mobility back." Colonel Stryker "You said she was like us." Doctor "Yes! Like 'us' not 'us'. It's not something that we picked up on in are first examinations."

Colonel Stryker, sighed "What are our options?" Doctor "We could re-sever her spine but I wouldn't advise that because it will just grow back faster. It will take some time for her to gain back her body. In the mean time we have started to figure out her power and a way to disrupted. Thanks to Dr. Gero with his energy absorbing devices." Colonel Stryker "Yes but that means I will have to allow him the audience he desires."

Later the door to the grey room opened to a white hair man with a white mustache. Dr. Gero "Good evening Fraulein. We have so much to talk about."

On the spaceship on its way to Namek. In the kitchen on the ship the USS Bulma. On the round table sits all of the crew minus Captain Bulma.

Krillin "Okay I think we're all in agreement that Bulma has gone mad with power and we need an intervention for her." Suno "She drafted me as the cook. She demands three courses and their short orders." Chi-Chi "I think she wants me to build her a moment when we get to Namek when we get there."

Kunlun "I saw her repetitively saying into a mirror "I am Napoleon" in French with an Admiral hat on. It was kind of insane." Krillin "So were all agreed."

They all nodded in agreement and stormed out of the room and headed up stairs. In the Captain chair was Captain Bulma staring out into the emptiness of space. She turned her chair to face her friends that came before her.

Captain Bulma "Aw the gang is all here. I have good news for you all. I feel that my title no longer fits my position…" Krillin "Enough Bulma just stop please! I don't care that you decide that you are Empress or something. We are here to stop this." Captain Bulma "So its mutiny then!"

Chi-Chi "Bulma this has really gone too far. It stopped being fun like a week ago. Now this is just annoying." Captain Bulma "Treason! Mutiny! I never thought I would ever see this day."

Suno "Considering were doing this just a week in. You got to concede that you're not really Captain Material." Captain Bulma "Silence traitor!"

Krillin "Just get out of the chair. Please. You can either resign or be forced out." Captain Bulma "I don't recognize your group's authority." Chi-Chi "Yeah well. We don't recognize your self-appointed title."

Captain Bulma "Very well I know when I'm not wanted just know you will never see a better leader then me."(With a smile on her face). "And O by the way were almost to Namek so you might want to let the Captain land the ship."

Krillin "Fine you win you get to be Captain until we get to the planet." Captain Bulma "I knew you would see it my way. Now I have no idea how thick the Namekian atmosphere is so better get into crash positions." They group gulped and ran to chairs and strapped themselves in as they made their approach to Namek.

More reviews please