Namekuji works to plant saplings alongside other Namekians. He stands up and stretches his stiff back from the hunched position. He wipes sweat from his brow and surveys the few buildings forming a new town at the edge of the fields. More buildings are being constructed alongside them.

The natural blue color of the grass tinges the base of the blades. Their tips still show black dots of corruption. The murky waters of the coastline show patches of their crystal green origins. The sky above remains gray and cloudy, but the menacing blacks, yellows, and reds have subsided.

He utters a series of squelching noises to imitate the Namekian language. His fellow Namekian workers chuckle a little.

"How was my pronunciation?" says Namekuji.

"Boorish, provincial, and you speak it through your nose," says one of them.

"Right, I'll have to work on that," says Namekuji. "So how long does it take to make a set of Dragon Balls? Feels like it's been a couple months since coming home to Namek."

"Don't know for sure," says another worker. "Only Lord Guru does. And he's not too eager to make them. He only intends to use them as a gift of gratitude for your efforts and then never again."

"But why only that?" says Namekuji. "Surely such power would be useful for getting rid of enemies or something."

"That's the kind of thinking that makes them so tempting to overuse. And you saw the results of that firsthand. Besides, the Dragon Balls cannot affect someone with greater life force than their maker unless the target allows them to. So if our champions cannot defeat such a threat, then neither can the Dragon Balls."

"Interesting. I had no idea. They are truly cryptic things. Are there any other strange rules?"

###

Goku and Gohan slide a panel of white stone into place to close up a wall. They weld it tight by firing beams of ki from their fingertips.

Nail and Dende hammer and chisel panels to the proper shape. Dende whacks a finger with a hammer. He yelps and compresses the finger in the fist of his other hand.

"Let me see," says Nail.

Dende hesitates before holding out his fragile hand. Nail caresses his palm and wrist with a gentleness Dende did not know he possessed.

Nail rips a strip from a cloth and wraps it tight around the finger.

"You've worked hard today," says Nail. "Go have some fun with the other children for now."

Dende smiles and runs off. Seeing this, Goku tells Gohan to do the same. The two step into stride as they walk towards the group.

"Nail sure has been nicer to me since we beat the evil force on Namek," says Dende.

"I'm glad," says Gohan. "I know how much you look up to him. I feel the same way about Mister Piccolo. He wasn't very good at showing how much he cared either."

"He's the Namekian from Earth, right? The one you said was the other half of Kami."

"Yeah, when we lost him, Kami passed away too. But if we can bring Mister Piccolo back, then the Dragon Balls will also come back. And then we can revive our other friends who were killed by the Saiyans. Except…"

"Except what?"

"Our Dragon Balls can't bring back anyone who was wished back once already. So we can save Yamcha, but Master Roshi and Chiaotzu may not be able to return."

"Oh, I've never heard of any restriction like that before in our legends. I bet we could bring back all your friends in a single wish."

"Wow, really? That'd be great."

"We'll confirm it with Lord Guru later. Sound good?"

"Sounds good. I'd love for you to be able to meet Mister Piccolo."

"I'd like to meet him too. He sounds cool. But not as cool as Nail."

Dende grins.

"He's way cooler!" says Gohan. "Ten times cooler in fact."

"Well Nail is ten times cooler than that. And he's stronger!"

"When my dad came back to life, he was way stronger, so Mister Piccolo will be too. Even stronger than Nail I bet."

"Okay, we'll find out how right I am when we make the wish."

They laugh and break into a run as if whoever wins the race will win the argument. They rush over to where Medamatcha plays with the rest of the children. Medamatcha's big eyes take a quick count of their heads to make sure he has not lost anyone in his responsibility as their keeper. Satisfied they are safe, he smiles as he begins another game of chase. The children squeal with joy as he jogs after them.

Goku watches Gohan run around with Dende and the other Namekian children. They laugh and yell as they scurry from Medamatcha who follows after them with playful intent. Krillin drops in beside him.

He helps Goku secure another plate across the side of a new building.

"I wonder what's taking so long to make the Dragon Balls," says Krillin. "Did it take Kami this long when you watched him do it?"

"No. It was pretty fast. But the methods may not be exactly the same. I don't think we have anything to worry about."

Despite his reassuring words, a stress induced ache presses against Goku's mind. A strange anxiety nags at him that he cannot figure out the source of. It began only days ago as a minor annoyance, but has since grown into a worrisome presence.

Krillin turns his attention to Bulma who tinkers with her blaster.

"What are you working on there?"

"Oh just making some modifications. Check this out."

Bulma pushes a button on the side panel of the blaster. A puff of smoke and a bang of a firecracker go off as the whole thing turns into a Capsule and lands on the ground. She picks it up and puts it in her Capsule pouch.

"Woah," says Krillin. "That was awesome. You really can do anything."

Bulma nods with a confident smile.

They continue to work beneath the endlessly lit sky. With three nearby stars to act as suns, the planet never goes completely dark. They rely on the Namekians to tell them when to turn in for supper and sleep. When they hear the call, they go to their shelter.

Namekuji catches up with Krillin before he can go into the Capsule building the Dragon Team has been living in.

"Hey Krillin," he says, "do you have a second?"

"Yeah, what's up?"

"It's all this talk of wish granting dragons. In the beginning, I was really curious, but now I'm starting to freak out over actually seeing it. Is there anything I should be aware of when it's summoned so I'm not too surprised?"

"Well, I'm not sure how similar the Namekian dragon is to Shenron from Earth, but I can tell you what happens with that summoning."

Namekuji nods, concern and wonder on his face.

"First, you should know the dragon is huge. It'll take up the whole sky almost as far as you can see. Second, dark storm clouds fill the sky for miles around. Those are probably the scariest parts of it all."

"So Shenron has never eaten anyone or anything like that?"

Krillin laughs. "No nothing like that. He shows up, grants the wish and leaves."

"Just one wish then?"

"Yep."

"Okay. Thank you. That puts my nerves at ease. Have a good supper."

Namekuji leaves with a wave of the hand. Krillin waves back and goes inside.

He helps Bulma prepare a meal from the preserved food frozen in storage.

"Bulma?" says Gohan.

She looks at him while chewing a bite.

"Can we go over your notes on ki again? And can we record some more data?"

"Of course. We've made some great insights during the trip. Your sharp mind and ki use has really pushed what I think it's capable of."

Gohan chows down his food faster as Bulma gets a laptop out. He finishes the meal and pulls a bodysuit from a metal briefcase. The slender black suit made of stretchy material clings to his body as he puts it on over his clothes. Small white spheres hanging on the fabric polka dot the suit. These sensors light up as Gohan's ki swims below them.

"Alright, let's make sure we're synced up," says Bulma. "Hit sensors one through four for me."

Gohan extends his arm. The orbs at the tips of his fingers glow one at a time."

"Good," says Bulma. "Work through exercise one for me."

Various orbs glow as Gohan focuses ki around his body. Bulma watches the corresponding nodes light up on her diagram.

"Perfect," she says. "Come look at this." Gohan shuffles in beside her as they pour over the research. "And check this out."

Bulma shows Gohan some models she made to graph projections of outcomes based on how much ki is input.

"Wow, cool," says Gohan. "This is a great way to hypothesize ki formations before putting them into practice."

"Yep. Now what should we work on this time?"

Their voices mingle as their excitement empowers their speech.

Krillin grins at Goku from their spot across the room.

"Gohan sure turned out to be a smart little kid didn't he."

"Yeah, Chichi pushes him pretty hard on his studies. He seems to enjoy it though."

"Yeah, almost as much as you enjoy training."

"Yeah," says Goku absently. His eyes fixate on Gohan.

Krillin notices the unusual demeanor of Goku's face.

"Is something the matter, Goku?"

Goku shakes his head and looks away from everyone.

"I don't know. I've just had this strange feeling. And it's been getting stronger every day. It's like, some kind of dread just hanging in the air."

"That's spooky. Do you think we're in danger?"

"It doesn't feel like anything around us is dangerous, but for some reason, I just can't calm down."

"Oh man. I'll stay on alert too then. Just in case."

###

The Dragon Team gathers alongside the Namekians around Lord Guru the next morning. He sits at the center of the circle with the Dragon Idol. Seven spheres of white stone as big as his own head lie before him. Their finely smoothed surfaces show expert and delicate sculpting.

"Let it be known that this is the last time the Dragon Balls will ever be used by our people," says Guru. "Today's ceremony is to bestow a gift to those who have helped our people. Henceforth, the Dragon Balls will be taboo and never to be spoken of again."

Guru looks at Bulma and speaks quietly.

"You're sure that device of yours can track the Dragon Balls?"

"Yes. We should know where they are right away."

"Good. I don't want them active any longer than they have to be."

He stares down at the idol and raises his hands over it. His cheeks and forehead squish together in deep concentration. The idol glows with a golden light. It shakes as power resonates within. The seven stone spheres levitate above everyone.

Just when the tiny statue is about to explode, the golden light shoots up like a rocket. The spheres follow by orbiting the luminous column. They disappear into the sky. The shining pillar separates into seven different streaks that curve off over the horizons.

Bulma checks the radar. She clicks the button several times to refresh its search. Goku, Krillin, and Gohan lean in around her for a look. A full minute passes. Nothing appears on the screen and the familiar ping does not sound. Their faces sink with each passing second.

A yellow dot appears. A ping of hope chimes. Then another and another until seven dots decorate the screen. They all jump with joy.

"Alright Lord Guru," says Bulma, putting the radar in her pocket and searching for her Capsule container, "we'll be back with those Dragon Balls before you know it."

A cold spike stabs Goku's mind and runs down his spine. His body freezes as an overwhelming ki bears down on it. The pressure makes the gravity of King Kai's training seem tame.

Someone darts amongst the group. Goku follows the blur of movement with his eyes, but his body refuses to react to it.

Namekuji, slings Bulma over his right shoulder and shoots off into the sky towards the horrendous life force approaching the planet.

Everyone stands in shock. Even Bulma does not scream. The surprise passes, and she starts wailing and pounding on Namekuji's back. Krillin and Gohan take flight with Nail right behind them. Krillin looks back when Goku does not zoom past them all.

"Come on Goku! Bulma's in trouble!"

Goku swallows and lifts from the ground. Medamatcha passes him to join the others. They only make it across a couple islands before a ship appears in the sky like a meteor bound for the earth. The dominating ki smacks them like a wall.

"What is that Krillin?" says Gohan.

"I don't know, but it's massive."

Krillin looks back at Goku. He now understands the strange fear in his eyes and the hesitation that delays him. An army of other life forces intermingle with the terrifying one, but they are hard to discern against its mass.

As the crab-like ship slows for a landing, soldiers pour out of the top. They surround Namekuji as he retreats inside the cloud of bodies they form. Goku and the others come to a stop before the grinning horde of fighters. Their hopes of reviving their friends diminishes the farther away Bulma is taken.

Krillin gulps at the sight of them while remembering how the last encounter went. He looks at Goku for reassurance but finds none. A fear Krillin has never seen before arrests Goku's face.

Namekuji disappears into the ship.

Krillin swallows again and offers words of encouragement to Goku.

"Come on, Goku. Let's beat these guys and save Bulma."

Goku only moves his eyes to look at Krillin. A bead of sweat runs down from his ear to his chin. He knows his friends can sense the giant power within the ship, but the immeasurable, cold depth and malice is lost on them. The only thing keeping him here is the desire to save Bulma from the monster's clutches. But the thought of actually encountering whoever owns the malicious ki makes him want to flee.

Krillin takes the lead with both hands above his shoulders.

"Oh look," says one of the soldiers. "The little guy wants to play. His shiny head will make a nice sports ball."

Several soldier's laugh.

Krillin grits his teeth and loops his arms down. Ki amasses in his clenching abdomen. The hands swing back up over his head. The focused ki rises to their palms. A hazy yellow aura appears around each of them. Amber electricity dances back and forth between them.

A chorus of scouter chirps ring from the army as they blink awake by the rising power level. The laughing quiets as an awe hushes the crowd.

Krillin drops his hands and shouts.

"Kakusandan!"

A gust of air breaks over the army as expanding energy rips from Krillin's hands. The front line scatters as the giant beam plows into their ranks. Krillin throws up his hands as he finishes firing. The beam follows his will and curves upward high above the grunts.

It fixes itself in the sky above as the tail catches up and forms a blinding sphere. They marvel at it, wondering what it will do. Krillin swings his hands down. The sphere breaks apart into eight meteors. The streams find targets to explode upon. A few even catch two enemies. The blasts vaporize their victims instantly.

"Nice one Krillin," says Gohan.

Krillin smiles while gasping for air.

"We can take these guys," he says. "We're way stronger than we were last time."

Namekian warriors finally catch up to them to bolster their numbers. Nail moves up beside Krillin.

"Warriors!" he says, "let's wipe this scum off our planet."

They charge with Krillin, Gohan, and Medamatcha right behind them. Goku hangs back a moment before gliding into battle.

###

Namekuji throws Bulma before the pod Freeza sits in. Zarbon and Dodoria stand beside him. She winces as her body bangs the metal floor. Her eyes rise to ascertain her situation. They catch on Freeza's crimson irises. Her breath stops in her throat.

"What is this pitiful creature you have brought me, Captain Ginyu?"

Bulma's mouth opens and closes but no air passes between her lips. She envies the misty puffs exhaling from Freeza's mouth.

"She holds a radar that can track the Dragon Balls," says Ginyu from within the Namekian body.

"Really? How delightful."

Freeza smiles and closes his eyes for a moment. Bulma gasps for air to fill her pleading lungs. She tilts her face to the floor to avoid further suffocation.

"You'd do well to keep your head bowed while in my presence," says Freeza.

Bulma shifts her eyes along the edges of their lids. She sees a large pink man and a slender teal one. Her sight locks onto the Saiyan who killed Yamcha. Adrenaline hits her bloodstream as anger flourishes. She grits her teeth.

Raditz stares in amazement at the woman from Earth who tried to kill him. He wonders how fate somehow brought them together again.

"Now then," says Freeza, "it seems you have something useful for me. Hand it over."

"No."

Freeza arches his eyes. Vegeta's jaw slacks in surprise from where he leans against a wall. He uncrosses his arms and straightens to watch the scene unfold.

Freeza raises a hand and points a limp finger at Bulma. A psychic grip yanks her head back. It lifts her body like a rope from the floor. Her own weight strains her neck.

Freeza extends his thumb below the pointing finger. Another psychic hand latches to her ankles. Freeza stretches his fingers apart.

The telekinetic anchors on Bulma do the same. Her vertebrae separate and her spinal cord burns. The pain intensifies as she rummages around in her pocket. She pulls the radar free and presents it as something unhinges in her neck.

Ginyu takes it, but the pain increases as Freeza separates his fingers further. The tips of her toes reach the floor as her head lifts higher. Her neck will surely snap if she does not do something.

"If you kill me, who will fix the radar if it breaks?"

Freeza smiles as the bargaining begins.

"I'm sure my scientists are more than capable of handling your primitive equipment. Our sophisticated technology far surpasses your own intellect."

Bulma's back arches. She cries out as lava injects her spine with searing pain. Her shaking hands fumble her Capsule container from another pocket. It rattles between her fingers threatening to fall with every bump. She flips it open and selects one. She presses the cap and drops it to the floor.

Freeza watches with amused curiosity. A small bang disperses a cloud of smoke. On the floor lies an amplified scouter and augmented blaster.

Freeza cocks his head at the sight.

"Hmm."

He releases his psychic hold. Bulma falls to the floor on her side. Her hands go to her neck to check for permanent injuries.

"You made these adjustments to our technology did you?"

"Yes," says Bulma, too afraid to nod her head.

"Fascinating. Perhaps you could be of use to me after all. I'll spare you for now."

Vegeta smirks.

She managed to escape certain death, he thinks. How clever.

A soldier with an elongated head and amphibious skin barges into the room. His purple skin and yellow spots fade back and forth between their normally deep colors and a nervous paler one.

"Lord Freeza!" he says, keeping his eyes on his own feet.

"What is it?"

"Our soldiers are being held off by resistance from the natives."

"Yes, yes, thank you Appule. I expected as much from our last encounter with them. Zarbon, Dodoria, would you please go and quell this little insurrection? I grow weary of waiting. Appule, bring up the screen so that I can see what is happening."

"Yes sir!" the three say in unison.

Appule jogs to a panel and operates the keyboard. An image shimmers into view above the panel.

"Captain Ginyu," says Freeza, "update me on our enemy."

Ginyu summarizes everything he knows. Vegeta and Raditz gaze upon their opponents from the battle on Earth. Bulma makes herself small on the floor as she watches her friends.

"So that's the Saiyan from Earth who defied orders?" says Freeza. "He certainly has a lot to answer for."

"Allow me to deal with him," says Ginyu. "I merely need a change of bodies."

"Do return to your original form, but don't even think about lifting another finger. You've done more than enough. Let Zarbon and Dodoria take it from here."

"Yes sir. Thank you. I appreciate your generosity."

"Vegeta, Raditz."

Both of them start to attention.

"This seems like the perfect time to redeem yourselves."

Vegeta averts his gaze as Freeza floats over to him in the pod. Cold hands grasp his cheeks. He resists the urge to recoil from their unwelcome touch.

"I know you have suffered terrible indignities since the death of your father and the destruction of your planet," says Freeza. "But I still see great potential in you. Now be a good dear and bring me that loathsome troublemaker."

"Yes Lord Freeza."

As Zarbon and Dodoria lead the Saiyans out of the ship, Freeza twirls to face the screen. A satisfied smile slithers over his lips as he watches the battle unfold.

Author's Note 02/18/23: I'm back to bring you the exciting conclusion to this epic story. It's going to be action packed as Goku and his friends battle their way through Freeza's elite soldiers and finally Freeza himself. I'm excited to share my best work yet. Thank you all for your patience. And thank you to everyone who has been reading, favoriting, and following while I've been away. You're awesome!