Captain Ginyu kneels before Freeza. His horned body and regal purple skin give the air of excellence.
"As you were," says Freeza. "I do hate to disturb you after all you've done for me already on this matter. But could you please clean up the mess left by Zarbon and Dodoria."
"It's no trouble at all. I live to serve. As I understand it, we simply need to recover the last Dragon Ball and a Namekian or two."
"That's correct. Our last report was that Vegeta had found the final Dragon Ball. His power level has been on the move since. Now do be quick about it. I wish to leave immediately. I might even blow this planet up after all the trouble it's been."
"Of course my lord. I'll be on my way."
A henchman holds out a scouter with a green lens as he passes by.
"I appreciate the offer, but I have no need for such things."
The henchman gives a confused look to his partner. A shake of the head is all he gets back.
Ginyu strides confidently to the center chamber of the ship. A blustering wind expands from his body. He takes flight out of the circular opening. He closes his eyes as a breeze washes over his face.
"Ah, there's a few. Let's start with them."
He banks in the direction of the target. He travels far until the ship is long behind him. As he does, he lifts the ridge above one of his eyes. "Well, well. Look who's still alive."
He stops and hovers with arms crossed. He smiles as he waits for an approaching figure on the horizon.
Nail bursts onto the scene with a whirlwind of aura. He grimaces at Ginyu.
"You may have changed forms," says Nail, "but I'd recognize that traitorous spirit anywhere."
"I see your awareness matches your strength," says Ginyu. "An impressive quality. I don't see that often. Ah, and Medamatcha is with you. Good to see you too."
Medamatcha arrives but hangs back.
"Are you really Namekuji?" he says.
"Oh it's him alright," says Nail. "But he doesn't deserve to be called by a Namekian name."
"Quite right. Please call me Ginyu."
Medamatcha slides forward. His eyes grow red and puffy.
"My friends and people trusted you to look out for them. Did you just let them die?"
"I am truly sorry about the loss of your people. An unfortunate casualty to be sure. But my mission was to secure the Dragon Idol above all else."
Medamatcha pinches his eyes shut while clenching his fists. Images of Zeeun, Angira, and Dorodabo pass before him along with a crowd of everyone else behind them. He opens his eyes. They fade away to blurry tears.
"You'll pay," he says.
"I'm sorry to hear that," says Ginyu. "You see, we're actually down two prominent personnel plus a couple traitors. If either of you are interested, Lord Freeza could use capable fighters like yourselves. The benefits are quite substantial."
"The only benefit I need is ripping you limb from limb," says Nail.
"I suspected as much. Very well. Let's be quick about this. I prefer to be as punctual as possible."
An unusual sensation from Nail strikes Ginyu.
Strange, he thinks. His spirit seems to be of two fronts. I don't usually see this kind of activity outside my own people. Interesting.
Nail cracks his knuckles. A voice echoes from below.
Nail, you cannot win without finalizing the fusion.
He's strong, thinks Nail, but I'm stronger.
No! He's not like the others. There's more to his power than it seems.
Nail forces the voice back down, refusing to listen to it.
His ki expands, and he darts with beguiling grace. He watches Ginyu's eyes try to keep up with him. His speed increases as he flanks his opponent. With a mighty swing, Nail drives in a heavy kick.
Ginyu moves an arm to cover his side. The shin buckles his defense as he feels the bite deep in his bones. From there he retreats as Nail lashes with a cascade of punches.
Medamatcha watches the overwhelming display. He waits for a moment to intervene between the powerful combatants.
Nail rips a punch across his enemy's face. Ginyu smiles as blood rolls down from the corner of his mouth.
"You impress me," Ginyu says. "You certainly weren't this strong before the battle with Slug. But that's okay. Now that I'm back to the old me, I can alter my power too."
He closes his fists before him and concentrates. A muted roar rumbles from his chest and throat.
Nail feels a terrible power surge from within Ginyu.
###
"Lord Freeza, sir!"
A soldier bursts through a door. Freeza lies on a padded table looking through a hole framing his face. A masseuse works his back with delicate hands.
"This better be important," says Freeza. "I hate to be distributed during my massages."
"It is my lord. It's Captain Ginyu, his power level is drastically going up. And so is one of his opponents. You said to report such matters after the loss of Zarbon and Dodoria."
"Oh, so he's found someone to get serious about. That is surprising but nothing to worry about."
"Are you sure we shouldn't send a small backup party? The opponent's power was rising past 60,000. I know Ginyu is strong, but we've never encountered anyone with a number like that. What if Vegeta and the Earthlings are on his side?"
"Ginyu can reach a six figure power level. There's no need to worry."
"Six…six figures. Unbelievable. I've never heard of such a thing."
"Yes, yes, it's very impressive. Now run along before I vaporize you."
Freeza adjusts himself with a happy little squirm as the minion flees from the room.
###
Ginyu's grin grows alongside his power. His aura rushes with violent, purple winds.
"It's a rare fighter who forces me to unleash my full power," he says. "Now prepare yourself. Because I'm about to start."
A cool bead of sweat runs down the back of Nail's neck. The voice of Slug pleads for a space in his thoughts, but his mind yells at it to silence.
Ginyu's aura disperses as a calm comes over his face. Nail twitches in anticipation. Ginyu vanishes. Gut rending pain smashes Nail's stomach.
Ginyu roars as he pushes his foe backward with his knuckles. He backflips over Nail to drop a punishing heel into his adversary's back. As Nail falls away, Ginyu summons ki spheres from his palms. He lets loose a volley.
Each one finds its mark. They explode on impact and propel Nail faster towards the ground.
Ginyu stops and twists his hips. His whole body spins while he reaches out an arm. His hand clamps around Medamatcha's throat.
"Oh, I didn't forget about you," he says as Medamatcha chokes. "Or your little minions."
His free hand shoots four quick bolts. They each destroy a tiny clone. With the job done, Ginyu punches the helpless Medamatcha over and over. As the throbbing welts pile up, Ginyu drops Medamatcha.
Medamatcha crashes beside Nail. Ginyu calls down to them.
"I do apologize for being so rough. I'm on a bit of a schedule. But I'll make the end quite painless."
Ginyu holds out his hand and forms a massive orb of energy.
Nail, lying on his belly, peeks open one eye as a harrowing illumination grows. The burns on his back feel raw and open, his vest destroyed in the attack.
The voice returns to him.
Nail, you have the strength within, but you must finish the fusion.
But you'll be gone forever. I'll lose my chance to save you. I've waited all these centuries, I can't lose you now.
It's okay, Nail. The time has come. I know it's not the way you wanted, but I've been able to walk through your memories and watch you grow. I'm so proud of you, and so happy I got to experience the good times you had with our people after the corruption of Namek. My soul is finally at peace. You gave me that. But now you must do what is right for Namek. Stop isolating my spirit and allow us to unify.
Nail chokes in a sob. I'll miss you Slug. You're my hero.
A deep sensation of sadness and joy reaches him from the other side of his consciousness.
Nail opens his spirit for Slug's to enter. Joy and remorse clash as their feelings and thoughts collide. The final fusion of their being is unstable at first. As they wrestle for identity, they find balance and become calm.
Ginyu fires his attack. An orb as big as his own body shoots forth, compressing under its own acceleration. He smiles as it reaches the ground instantly. But it does not explode as expected. He frowns.
Nail screams as he holds back the blast. It burns his hands, and his feet form furrows in the dirt as the sphere shoves him back. Golden and white flames billow from his body as his champion's aura ignites.
He funnels his energy through the conduits of his arms. A brilliant beam blasts from his palms to send the purple sphere sailing at his opponent.
Ginyu swoops aside as the massive energy pulses past him. He watches it a moment before giving his full attention to Nail.
His conflicting spirits seem to have become one, thinks Ginyu. Fascinating. It's a rare person who can alter such an integral part of their being.
He descends as Nail rises. They square off for another bout. Ginyu strikes first. Nail diffuses his attempts with simple blocks. Ginyu grimaces.
"How is it that you found such harmony between your two selves?" says Ginyu. "Such a feat of spiritual manipulation is beyond the comprehension of most people."
Nail raises his arms. His fists tighten. He is not interested in talking.
Nail's aura swells as he takes the offensive. Ginyu recoils to defend himself. Nail feels the reverberation of his blows sink into Ginyu's body as they glance off his blocks. Though they miss direct hits, their accuracy and speed leave his foe no time for respite.
Medamatcha stares in awe of the fiery display. His eyes struggle to keep up with their movements. Sparks of gold and flashes of white are almost all he sees. His confidence grows as Ginyu's stance breaks under the pressure.
Nail rips an uppercut between Ginyu's guarding arms. It lands with a thundering crack upon the jaw. Saliva and blood spurt into the air as Ginyu drifts back.
Ginyu stabilizes his head. Nail's stoic expression comes into view. Frustration mounts from being outclassed.
This can't be. No one besides Lord Freeza should be stronger than me.
He grapples with another bout of blows from Nail. A decisive knee to his stomach leaves him doubled over and retreating. He coughs and hacks as his mind races for a solution.
Even if I manage to overcome his strength with skill and cunning, it'll cost too much. Even Medamatcha would be able to finish me then.
Nail knocks his thoughts away with a spinning kick to the head. Ginyu spirals in a cartwheel. He fights for control, but Nail stomps his abdomen with one foot after the other. The attack sends him smashing into an island.
After the first wave of pain passes, his mind gets back to work.
If I can't defeat him with this body, then I'll just have to take his. But I must deplete mine first.
He works himself to a kneeling position. He wipes blood from his chin with his forearm and looks up at an approaching Nail. He loads his arms with huge amounts of ki. He fires shot after shot.
Nail dodges around with barely any effort.
Why is he putting so much stamina in these attacks? he thinks. Is he really that desperate?
Ginyu huffs for air. Despite the need for it, he shouts his breath away.
"Come on Nail. I thought you wanted revenge. Show me what you're made of. Or is that the best your people have to offer me!"
Nail frowns and releases a burst of ki. His aura inflates. Thoughts of all the lost lives fuel the ethereal fires. In a calm rage, he approaches with fluid, high speed movements.
He jams a heavy fist into Ginyu's soft side. He feels it sink deep. He chops his adversary across the face with the ridge of his other hand. Its sharpness splits the cheekbone beneath.
His assault continues in a controlled flow. Each hit brings the satisfaction of removing bits of his anger and grief. Every injury to the man who destroyed his dream brings relief.
Ginyu crumbles beneath the rain of attacks. As his insides soften and the pain crescendos, his life force fades. He drops to his knees. Nail stands above him.
"For your crimes against all peoples of Namek," says Nail, "I rid you from our home."
He raises a hand with sharp nails pointed downward.
Ginyu looks up and smiles.
"Bodi Chenji!"
A jaundice aura lifts from Ginyu's body. It pulses with a thick, foggy miasma. He opens his mouth and fires a spectral beam. It connects with the surprised face of Nail.
Crippling nausea takes hold of Nail. Coldness paralyzes him as a harsh wind blows. Ginyu's body seems to zoom at him. A strange light passes by him. He follows it with his eyes. A terrible realization fills him with dread.
He sees the eerie light enter his body as his own consciousness falls away from it. Understanding that his spirit is moving away from the warm shell it inhabited leaves him hopeless and afraid of what he thinks is about to happen.
He crashes into Ginyu's body, a sudden stop followed by agony. Many wounds cry to him for help at once.
Nail looks down at himself. His fear comes to fruition as the purple skin and armor of Ginyu trap his psyche. He gawks at the unfamiliar hands. They respond to his thoughts and yet feel disassociated and detached. He looks at his real body for help, but it only grins and flexes every joint.
"Now this is a body," says Ginyu. He laughs. "I've never felt so much unlocked potential. I might even have to keep this one."
He sneers at his old body. He backhands it across the face. Nail grinds in the dirt. He twitches, but cannot rise.
"But for the time being," says Ginyu, "I'll keep you around. Now let's see if I can fool all your friends again."
He lifts from the ground. He twirls until he finds Medamatcha. His attention focuses directly on him.
"You, however, I have no use for," says Ginyu. "I can't let anyone who knows my secret live."
Medamatcha tenses. He swallows and summons the last of his courage.
"Before you kill me," he says, "I need to know something. Did you use this technique to kill Angira and Dorodabo?"
"I did. And again, it was a shame. I would have loved to recruit you all into the empire, but alas, our agendas simply did not align."
Medamatcha's back squirms as a single boil grows from it. A tiny clone takes shape within. He frowns at the news and speaks.
"I thought so. No one else was strong enough to do it." A white aura breaks around him. "Angira. Dorodabo. I will avenge you!"
He flies straight at the imposter Nail. Ginyu smiles and raises a hand. Yellow energy gathers.
Medamatcha screams with rage.
Ginyu fires. A beam expands before him.
The boil on Medamatcha's back pops. The clone leaps free of his back. Medamatcha crashes against the beam. He fights with all his strength, but the overexerting task drains him instantly. He disappears into the blinding light.
Ginyu surveys the empty sky. Satisfied with his work, he leaves the battlefield.
From the crevice of a boulder, the small clone watches him go.