Two of Freeza's soldiers patrol the perimeter of the ship. It sits far in the distance as they drift above the water from island to island.
"So what are you going to do when your current deployment ends?" says a humanoid in a helmet.
"Oh, probably go home and catch up with some friends and family," says a frog-faced man in the same style of helmet.
They approach a cliff and separate to search either side of it.
"Yeah that sounds good," says the first soldier. "I might do the same for a bit. I really want to spend some time fishing. It's relaxing, you know?"
"Yeah, I hear you. That kind of thing is really good for you. What kind of fish you got on your home planet?"
The frog-faced man waits for a reply but only hears a splash.
"Dude, if you're going to take a dump, at least give me some warning."
No response.
"Hey, are you listening?"
The soldier flies overtop of the ridge to look for his ally.
"I swear if you moon me again, I'm going to shoot a bullet up your ass."
He crests the ridge but sees no signs of his partner.
"Hey! Hey, where are you? This isn't funny."
Hearing nothing, panic sets in.
"Are the rumors true? Is there really a monster out here?"
He swoops down to the water and scans the surface, peering deep into their depths. A dark object approaches from beneath. Hands break the water and grab his ankles. A hard yank pulls him under. Something clutches his back as a hand covers his mouth. He struggles to avoid drowning.
Medamatcha begins to siphon away the soldier's energy. He kicks to draw his victim deeper. The prey's violent thrashes subside as its stamina depletes.
Medamatcha releases the still body and lets it sink as he swims to the surface. He pokes out just his eyes to search around for any others. Seeing no one, he dips below the surface again and swims into a submerged cave inside the island.
He surfaces in a hidden lagoon and crawls from the water. Nail lies on a makeshift bed of seaweed. Rays of sun make their way through the cracks above.
"Hey there Nail, how you doing?" says Medamatcha.
Nail tries to sit up, but the infected wound in his torso chokes him. He falls flat with a grimace.
"I know you want to help, but that injury is going to take time to recover," says Medamatcha. "Even your regenerative ability won't heal it like usual. It may look like a clean wound on the outside, but it did a lot of damage inside."
Medamatcha kneels next to him. He places a hand on either side of the wound, careful not to touch the inflamed skin expanding wide around it. Nail flinches at the touch.
"Sorry. I know everything is tender. But I gathered some more energy. I'm going to transfer you some okay. Hopefully it does more than just keep you alive this time."
Nail nods. Green energy washes out of Medamatcha's hand and into Nail's body.
A voice whispers from Nail's subconscious. It sounds reminiscent of Slug's.
Nail, you must finalize the fusion of our spirits. The strength from it will greatly enhance your regenerative power.
I can't, thinks Nail. This presence of yours is all I have left. I won't let that slip away. I'm strong enough. I just need to heal.
The voice speaks again.
The enemy possesses great power. You cannot defeat it without the full force of the fusion. Please Nail, do this for your people.
Nail ignores the voice. It fades back into his subconscious as he drifts off to sleep.
###
Zarbon's eyes widen as he watches Dodoria's power level diminish. He floats high above the ground and stares off in the direction of the battle. The reading tapers off to zero and fades from the screen of his blue scouter. His face slackens in defeat.
"I can't believe this!" he says. "How can a bunch of ragtag urchins take out Dodoria? What was he doing?"
Vegeta watches him from the ground.
It is hard to believe, he thinks. Kakarot has proven himself a capable Saiyan, but I don't understand how he has risen to Dodoria's level. What's his secret?
I wasn't even able to accomplish that after two decades of a battle. There's only one possible explanation for it. But such a privilege should be bestowed upon a Saiyan elite like myself. Not a commoner like him.
Vegeta spits an angry glob on the grass and stomps it.
Whatever. When I get my wish, I'll become the strongest in the universe. I'll destroy Freeza's empire and replace it with a proper Saiyan one.
Vegeta smirks as he points at one of the remaining soldiers. A beam releases from his finger. It pierces the man's head. He drops dead instantly.
"Vegeta! What's the meaning of this?" says Zarbon.
Vegeta fires at each of the remaining soldiers. Fear fills their faces before they collapse in death throes.
Vegeta meets Zarbon's gaze and lifts from the ground. His grin grows until they are eye level.
"You look like you're going to piss your uniform, Zarbon. Why don't you just hand over the Dragon Radar now and run along to Freeza."
Zarbon closes his ajar mouth. His eyes narrow in anger. They soften as laughter takes hold of him.
"I've been waiting a long time for this moment, Vegeta. I knew you'd double-cross us eventually. That filthy, monkey blood of yours was always going to get the better of you."
"Watch it, Zarbon. A couple of Saiyans just killed Dodoria. And you're up against the Saiyan Prince."
"Prince? More like pet. You're only alive because Lord Freeza finds amusement in your existence. You could never defeat me or Dodoria. Those dirty brethren of yours only won through some dastardly deceit."
Vegeta throws back his head and laughs. It fills the air, making Zarbon scowl. The disrespect from a lower ranked officer of the empire enrages him.
"You really have lost your mind if you think fighting me is funny," says Zarbon.
"You've spent a long time looking down on Saiyans. But I know it's just a cover for the fear that we will inevitably grow stronger than you? Well I've got some bad news. That day is finally here."
"You're talking nonsense. We checked your power, and it's still below mine and Dodoria."
"Really. So you don't remember shivering in your stockings at the sight of my power level of 24,000."
"No! That was just a fluke. I can see your power level right now, and it's only 19,500."
"Let me ask you something. Why were you and Dodoria so taken by surprise when the Earthlings raised their power levels? Was it because you didn't know how high they would go?"
"Of course not. Even if they can raise their power, they could never match us."
"And yet Dodoria is dead. All because his scouter couldn't read their true power until it was too late."
"But it took all of them to do it. You're all by yourself. Even if you could do the same, you'd have to raise your power level way beyond what it is now."
"You're a quick learner but not very bright. You're right that I've learned a new trick. I've been withholding my true strength from your scouter. But deep down you already knew the truth. Arghhh!"
The air around the two of them begins to vibrate as Vegeta summons his hidden energy. With his elbows at his hips and fists clenched, he roars like a storm as the environment around him emulates the ki inside him. It seeps into the air and shakes the two of them.
Horror takes over Zarbon's face as the number on his scouter rises.
"21,000," he says, more mouthing the words than speaking. "Now 22… 23…24,000 and still rising!"
Zarbon struggles to stabilize himself as wind swirls from Vegeta. Lightning lashes out as his aura manifests the storm. Vegeta's arms cross in front of his chest. He holds it for a moment before throwing up his hands. A violent gale rips outward.
When it settles, Zarbon stares dumbstruck at his scouter.
"25,300 … This doesn't make any sense. Where did all this power come from?"
"You see Zarbon, while you've been nice and cozy behind Freeza's protection, I've been fighting battle after battle. But it wasn't until my encounter on Earth that I was finally pushed to my absolute limits.
"It was there that something deep down inside of me finally unlocked. At last I will achieve my true destiny. I will become the legendary Super Saiyan and overthrow Freeza."
Zarbon grits his teeth. A calmness soothes his nerves.
"You really are delusional. You think a tiny bump in strength like that is enough to take on Lord Freeza. Pathetic. If that's all a Super Saiyan can do, Lord Freeza won't even have to waste his time with you. I'll take care of you myself."
Vegeta's eyebrows raise. "I'd like to see you try."
Vegeta rushes Zarbon and grabs for the radar. Zarbon lifts it free of his grasp and retreats with a flurry of kicks. Vegeta tilts his head side to side to avoid them and continues his approach.
Zarbon flusters at his inability to hit his opponent. Vegeta moves at high speed, vanishing. Zarbon can hardly follow the movement and throws a punch at where he thinks Vegeta will stop. To his shock, Vegeta catches his fist and halts it.
Vegeta smiles as he feels Zarbon's hand squirm, unable to free itself. He roars and swings his arm outside.
Zarbon howls as his entire body tosses aside like a rag doll. He flips a few times before he straightens himself out. When he does, Vegeta is already fast approaching. Zarbon disappears from sight as Vegeta reaches him, leaving him swiveling his head.
"You'll have to be faster than that," says Zarbon.
Vegeta turns to see Zarbon firing a pale orange beam from an extended arm. The other hand braces the blasting shoulder.
Vegeta sneers at being caught with no way to escape. He readies his right hand at his left cheek. He screams while swinging his arm across his chest. His hand bashes the head of the blast with the bottom of his fist. For a moment the attack holds firm. The next, it sprays off on a harmless trajectory.
The intense beam spirals until it collides with the ground. A huge explosion launches giant rocks in all directions. Bulma dives under the vehicle for protection as debris rains over her.
Zarbon gasps for air, astounded his attack was so easily dismissed. Vegeta takes advantage of the moment and elbows Zarbon in the cheek. He swipes the radar from his foe's hand.
Zarbon counters with a kick. Vegeta swoops up and twists into a backflip. As he comes around, he smacks Zarbon between the shoulder blades with a forearm.
Zarbon plummets to the earth. He lands in a crouch on all fours. As he stands up, Vegeta stomps his lower back. Zarbon hits the dirt and slides to a stop.
"Hey Earth woman," says Vegeta. Bulma's head pops up from behind the vehicle. He throws her the radar. "Keep this safe while I kill Zarbon."
The radar bounces off Bulma's palm. She juggles it for a moment before grasping it and pulling it to her chest.
"Kill me," says Zarbon, rising with his hunched back. "That's a good one."
He flicks his ponytail over his shoulder as he turns around.
"It's no joke," says Vegeta. "I thought it'd be more fun kicking your ass around the battlefield, but I've already grown bored of it. You're not even worth my while."
"Is that so? Well maybe the story of how Lord Freeza killed your father and destroyed your planet will hold your interest."
Vegeta's eyes narrow.
"Making up lies won't save your skin, Zarbon."
"Oh I don't need lies to beat you. Like I said, Lord Freeza kept you as a pet, so he would never tell you the truth. At least not until he was done playing with you."
Zarbon smiles with wicked intent. "I've waited many years for you to hear this story. I'm glad I get to tell it myself. I wanted to make sure you hear it right before you die."
"Get on with it then, before I drag it out of you like I'm going to do with your intestines."
"Temper Vegeta. Here's how it happened."