Fifteen Chapters. I consider this an accomplishment. We should be at Namek next chapter but for now, we've got some travel plans
Extra extra long chapter because I just want to get to Namek
frankieu: lol yeah. While technically Chichi is definitely in the right in thinking that the five-year-old child should not be going into space, it's not exactly productive to the situation
HeartlessNobody13: Thanks ^.^ it won't be until after Namek, but the tail shall make a reappearance. And yeah, it kinda bugs me when people just up the power levels too quickly and for the sake of the story I probably won't stray too far from canon. Until one certain plot point. Hehe
The other shows referenced while being a joke, I do have a reason for them. For the longest time, I thought that if I ever did one of these it'd be for Digimon. I know the story better and the nostalgia factor is unrivaled by all, except ironically DBZ, which I had watched first. That being said, I still generally prefer Digimon as a franchise, and know the seasons better, because while I've watched DBZ a few times my middle school obsession with Digimon was just unhealthy. YYH is the fandom of which the story that inspired this brand of Reincarnation fic for me, as well as my favorite fic to exist ever. Lucky Child by Star Charter. 12/10 would recommend a dozen times over to everyone everywhere. While it certainly helps if you've watched YYH, you don't necessarily have had to. I got into a huge Yugioh kick a few months ago so that's why that's there. Fairy Tail would just be a pretty fun world to live in with its brand of magic. And Naruto probably has the most reincarnation fics I've seen.
thewittywhy: thanks ^.^ though while I don't think SIGohan will ever particularly like Nappa, I don't think she'll really hate him forever either. Hating someone takes a lot of energy and Vegeta's like, right there to well and fill the role.
And yeah, Chichi's probably the reason it'll take as long as it will. That and one other help.
TrumpasaurusRex: Ok so you have three reviews here, so I'll respond to each individually
1) I disagree, Krillin also could not ride the nimbus for relative average preteen boy perviness, and considering he's never shown to ride the nimbus in present-day I assume that has not changed despite being one of the best people in the show. Pure of heart in DBZ doesn't necessarily mean innocence, but it also doesn't mean just anyone can ride it. If it were, they wouldn't make such a big deal out of it, they would have said you couldn't have a bad heart instead of you must be Pure of Heart.
2) Yeah, sounds like you've got a problem with canon there. They actually make fun of that twice in the abridged series
3) Oh no... how dare there be a narrative problem that isn't immediately solved... I've already addressed the use of dragon balls in multiple other review responses which I know you've read considering your second review is off a review response. And do tell me, at what point was the four-year-old with no way away from home supposed to have already done that. And just because you do not like something, does not mean most people do not. In fact, the comment directly before yours states directly the opposite.
Shadowj6480: Thanks ^.^
And honestly, I've got the android thing mostly covered in terms of how I'm gonna explain it away. Also, they make fun of that twice in the Abridged series
"Do you have to?"
As the days drew closer, as did one thing I dreaded. One of the many, probably one of the lesser.
"Of course! Look at how messy it is!"
"I'll take care of it! Promise!"
Chichi cutting my hair.
"I'm just going to get rid of the split ends."
"You don't have to cut off that much to get rid of split ends!"
"Now just, sit still!"
"Wait! No!"
I can acknowledge the advantage of having shorter hair, but I am not getting that bowl cut.
In the end, I managed to save myself from complete hair destruction by promising to keep it tied back and brushed, and so it was now cut down to how it was before the plot started.
So, it just about reached my shoulders when loose, which I'll take.
Whether or not I actually keep it tied and brushed straight, remains to be seen.
At the very least I will in front of Chichi.
Ena would be upset if I came back in a month or so and I didn't have enough hair for her to brush.
And then came the clothes shopping, considering most of my clothes I had long since grown out of, though less than I would have thought. Whatever, the rate at which Sayains grow and how much of that was just animation convenience is unclear at best.
While for the most part, Chichi focused on tiny suits and little outfits for a prime and proper kiddo, I made sure to grab a few more plain T-shirts and shorts, and tiny jeans, reasoning that I had to have a few outfits for casual wear, I can't be dressed up everywhere I go.
Chichi was just glad I wasn't planning on living in my Gi like Goku does.
I made sure not to pack all of them though, knowing that they probably wouldn't survive the trip home.
The tiny outfits though? I didn't mind packing. Sure, I'd think they were cute if it were any other kid wearing them, when it was me? Eh, no. They were itchy and I hated them.
At least the initial canon outfit I found myself in was softer, even if it were hardly the most convenient thing.
Speaking of packing, Chichi bought far too many new suitcases. And while on one hand, I was glad I'd have plenty of stuff for the trip, once again I knew most of it wasn't getting home.
Oh well, I'd need stuff for the month getting there at least.
I had three Gi's. One was the one I wore before, during the whole Sayains thing, which was pretty much trashed. Another I packed, and the last I left behind.
Of course, that wouldn't really matter since by the time we got back, Piccolo could just make me a new one if I needed it.
I packed it after all.
I debated bringing my cloak or not but resolved myself that I'd just never let myself be separated from it, either by wearing it or by keeping it in my backpack, once we got to Namek.
I mean, same as before. If anything happened, I could just ask Piccolo to make me a new one.
I just packed a few spare sketchbooks, none that I actually cared about, and a few pencils and erasers.
Chichi asked why I wasn't bringing my favorite pencil. A blue mechanical one that I always kept filled with extra lead and had a pencil cap eraser on. I pretended it wasn't my favorite anymore, and said that the orange mechanical one was favorite, putting a pencil cap eraser on it to prove my point.
Regardless, considering my otherwise lack of possessions, both by having little agency in what I get, being five, and by not being here for the past year and this everything feeling even more alien to me than it already had, I was done packing.
Chichi, of course, was not. She packed every textbook I owned, of which I would promptly ignore the second I left, and three of just about any hygiene supply imaginable. Some little toys and whatnot she'd think I'd enjoy, coloring books that would not hold my interest long enough to use, and colored pencils to go with them, and just about every medical supply I could think of that would not require a doctor to operate.
Of course, given what was to happen, I couldn't really complain about that one. I grabbed myself a mini first aid kit that had included itself in her collection and shoved it in my backpack.
I sighed. This wasn't really important, who cares what I brought? Most of it would be lost on Namek. Best case is I keep my backpack's worth of stuff.
I was just restless. We'd be leaving tomorrow, and it was already late. I should probably just go to sleep, but I scoured my room again instead triple checking that there wasn't anything else I wanted.
Chichi never told me to go to sleep, I half suspected she was hoping I'd sleep through when we'd have to leave. I'd be more likely not to sleep at all until then but eventually, I forced myself into bed, still restless.
I don't know how long I laid there, drifting in and out of sleep but eventually I woke up to sunlight.
Welp. Guess that's that.
Chichi dressed me up in one of the tiny outfits and I tried not to pick at the collar. I brushed through my hair about twice as long as necessary before taking a breathe and resolving myself to leave.
I, I wanted to go.
I had to go.
For canon, yes, but also because I needed to make sure Piccolo gets back.
But still, I had to take controlled breathes in order for Chichi not to notice my fear. She'd jump at any chance to keep me here and I was not about to supply that to her.
It was then one last visit to Goku at the hospital before heading off to Kame house to leave.
Once we landed, The Ox-King was driving, I straighten out my backpack as Ox started unloading the numerous bags.
"Sorry we're late, but you wouldn't believe how much stuff Chichi packed!" Ox laughed.
I got out of the flying car, which I still marveled at despite being able to fly myself, fixing my backpack on, and carrying my sword. Chichi huffed as it was supposed to be a safe trip, but I reasoned that it was a tool more so than a weapon at this point. It'll take a while until I figure out how to use it in real combat.
"Hi guys," I looked at the two, "I like your hair," I indicated to Bulma's now chin-length hair. I ignored the spacesuit.
"That's quite the outfit! And here I was worried that I didn't have a spacesuit," Krillin laughed, I rolled my eyes.
"Be glad it's not worse."
Chichi cooed over my little schoolboy's uniform before detailing everything she packed for me.
"Now you guys be careful out there, you never know what you'll be up against," I glanced over at Roshi, still not completely sure how to feel about him. On one hand, he undoubtedly cares about his students. On the other, well I'm just glad I haven't been witness to much of his tendencies as of yet.
And suddenly it was time to leave.
Bulma gave the command to open the ship and a hatch opened from its bottom. I had no idea how as it wasn't connected to anything, but it worked.
The three of us climbed onto the platform and The Ox-King loaded on my stuff. Unlike me, Krillin only had a single bag, and I assume Bulma's stuff was already in the ship.
We said bye, Chichi pulled me into another hug, and then the hatch was closing, feeling like an elevator as it went back up.
"Don't get in too much trouble!" Ox called with a much more carefree tone than he would if he were to know what we'd be getting into a fair bit of trouble.
"Bye Gohan! Mommy loves you!"
"Bye!"
"Goodbye…"
And with final farewells from Chichi, Roshi, and the Turtle, the hatch closed.
It felt so final.
I took a breath and grabbed the strap on my backpack.
It'll be fine.
"So where do I put this? You said there was a luggage compartment," I looked back up to Krillin who was asking where to put his bag, then over to Bulma.
"Just throw it in a corner and sit down! I suggest you hold on to something!" Bulma snapped. Ok, I was nervous too, but tempers never helped anyone.
"What's wrong Bulma? Are you mad?"
"I'm pretty sure it's not a good idea to have my sword thrown in a corner." It was sheathed and all, but still, swords are swords.
"No, I'm just ready to leave. We're departing in ten seconds."
"Wait Bulma! We're not strapped in yet!"
Good idea or not, I quickly shoved my sword in between some of my other bags and scrambled into a seat.
"5"
My outfit felt tighter than ever as Bulma counted down.
"4"
Krillin quickly buckled himself in before reaching over to help with my straps.
"3"
You know I'm pretty sure at NASA they had like, 100 counts or whatever.
"2"
"1"
I screwed my eyes shut and couldn't breathe. I could do nothing but hold on to the straps as we shot into space.
Space.
Had I actually registered the implications of that?
I-
And suddenly we slowed, and I could breathe again.
Bulma pressed a button and turned, "it should be smooth sailing from here, and now that we're on autopilot how about cleaning up this mess?" Bulma stood up and began walking to the back.
I looked around and saw one of my bags had broken open, scattering its contents around the room.
"It's your fault for rushing our departure…" I muttered as I unbuckled from my seat.
"Excuse me?"
"Ahha, nothing nothing!" Krillin's grabbed my shoulders and walked us past Bulma with a smile, "we'll just be cleaning up!"
I started picking up the random junk with Krillin's help as Bulma walked into a back room.
"How much do you want to bet she made that outfit just for takeoff?" Krillin whispered and for the first time in a good few days I laughed.
The door opened again, and Bulma was in her much more iconic Namek Saga outfit.
"My turn to change!" I bolted up and shuffled through my bags and waited for Bulma to step to the side.
The room seemed like a weird futuristic bathroom which worked well enough for me.
I stepped back out changed into a simple pair of shorts and a T-shirt.
"Huh, I was half expecting you to default to a Gi like your dad does," Krillin commented, and I shrugged.
"This is easier," I untied my hair. Tied hair was nice when it was hot, but otherwise, it was a hassle, especially when it was this short.
I started unpacking and organizing my things. (And repacking anything I didn't care about)
Krillin knelt down next to me to help, and I resolved myself to more or less a month in this small space. In space.
…
I tallied the days at the front of my sketchbook. Day three, already dreadfully bored. Technically I had more to do now that I had my sketchbooks than I had in the previous year but cooped up in a room and a half wasn't exactly ideal under normal circumstances, much less after a year of roaming around the wilds.
Krillin had gotten out his curiosity of asking about what I was drawing, which were mostly just scratched-out sketches of my old characters. Their designs weren't hard to remember for the most part as they were relatively simple, but conveying them with my now much smaller hands was frustrating.
He was now laying back reading some book and Bulma was taking a nap. Or just sleeping. Time isn't really, easy to track up here and sleeping schedules dissolved even quicker than I would have guessed.
I sighed, standing up. Welp, just because I can't move around much doesn't mean I can't move at all.
I picked up my sword and absentmindedly went through the movements, keeping it sheathed just in case Bulma decided to wake up and get up without paying attention.
keep your stance wide, keep your body lowered
I idly hummed the tune to that one sword fighting song from Steven Universe.
right foot, left foot
Any notice that I was moving to the beat of the song was purely coincidental.
everything you have, everything you are you've got to give
Technically I was aware that the actual techniques that were taught from the song were somewhat useless due to the addition of flying.
on the battlefield where everything is chaos
and you've got nothing but the way you feel, your strategy, and a sword
But it was a nice starting point at least.
you just think about the life you'll have together after the war
I haven't thought very far at all into my long-term goals here. Survive Namek, survive Cell. Figure out the rest later.
and then you do it for her, that's how you know you can win
you do it for her, that-is-to-say, you'll do it for him
But I can't forget, I am Gohan here first and foremost. Anything else can be dealt with later
deep down you know, you weren't meant for fighting
but that doesn't mean you're not prepared to try
what they don't know, is your real advantage
when you live for someone, you're prepared to die
I suppose though that the last line was the exact opposite for me. The only things moving me forward are stubborn will and the absolute fear of death. Even knowing how the afterlife works in this universe, more or less, didn't help much in that regard.
deep down, I know, that I'm just a human
but I know that I can draw my sword and fight
You know I don't think I've properly paused to register the fact that I wasn't actually human, technically. I was half sure, but still.
Did it even matter really? It's not like I'd act any differently if I decided I cared about that or not.
with my short existence, I can make a difference
I can be there for him, I can be his knight
"You do it for her, that-is-to-say, you'll do it for him…"
"Hey what's that song from? I don't think I've heard it."
I started, turning to see Krillin now looking up from his book, smiling.
I flushed. I had kinda forgotten he was there…somehow…
Stealth mode. I'm blaming stealth mode.
"Oh, it's just a song from a show I watched once, a long time ago…"
"Ah, so before all this started then?"
"Yeah…before any of this started…" I sighed setting my sword down and laying in one of the beds that I had draped sheets over for minimum privacy.
This is gonna be a long month.
…
Day 8.
I floated in a void as I dodged another disk from Krillin.
I darted forward for a few quick strikes that he blocked and kicked at him, using the momentum from his next block to flip upwards to blast him.
Krillin dodged and fired a Kamehameha wave at me.
I opened my eyes.
I sighed as I leaned back, staring at the ceiling. Image training was interesting, I wasn't very good at it by myself, but with Krillin it was helpful.
It's not like there was much else to do in here anyway.
"You've got some awesome moves Gohan!" Krillin leaned back on his hands and I layer on my back, "we're gonna have to train like this every day if we want to be ready for Vegeta."
"Mmhmm," I hummed. It wouldn't exactly put us on par with Vegeta, let alone anyone else of note on Namek, but at the very least it'll lessen the gap.
Marginally.
Man, I'm gonna have to fight Frieza, aren't I?
Well after fighting the Ginyus and getting threatened by Vegeta a few times, at least.
Yeah, that's not any better.
"Boys," I was interrupted from my pessimistic musings to look up at Bulma.
I envied her confidence.
Here she was walking around in nothing but a cropped tank top and underwear and I was embarrassed changing as a five-year-old.
"I hate to interrupt your "training" but this place is filthy. Can't you guys find a minute to clean this mess?"
Krillin hummed as he looked down, "sorry Bulma, but we don't eat junk food and read magazines, that's all your mess. We already cleaned up after ourselves."
"I'll cleanup for some chips and soda."
"Deal." Bulma tossed me a bag.
Krillin looked over to me, "that's not really the healthiest…"
"Let the five-year-old eat snacks," I tore open the bag. They were plain potato chips but after years of no snacks, it was excellent.
"Well l when you put it that way…"
"I've got orange soda, grape, sprite…?" Bulma trailed off as she listed what she had in one of her many capsule coolers.
"Pepsi?"
"I've got Dr. Pepper."
"Good enough," she tossed the can to me.
Ah sweet sweet artificial flavors, it has been too long.
Looking over I saw both fruit flavored sodas were Hetap brand. Lol.
Deal made, I gathered up and tossed trash into bags after tossing the bag of chips on my bed to be snacked on periodically.
Krillin got up to help despite his earlier denial.
"You know she probably would have given you some if you had asked," Krillin said as he picked up some cans.
"Yeah but now I can get more just by offering to pick up."
Krillin chuckled as he tied off a bag, "crafty little thing, aren't you?"
"I like snacks."
Bulma sat at the driver seat, or control panel, or whatever you wanted to call it as we finished up.
I didn't really like looking up there since it involves looking into space.
There are some people whose life's dream is going up into space.
I am not one of those people.
It was almost a waste really, that I was here instead of someone who'd appreciate it, but hey, I doubt they'd trade off having to get beaten to death by aliens to do it.
I couldn't wait until we got to Namek.
And then got off Namek.
Really anticipating that part.
"Hey," Bulma called over to us, "I've been meaning to ask about that other Sayain. The one who isn't bedridden. Does anyone actually know what happened to him? Or did he just vanish into thin air?"
"What do you mean?" Krillin asked.
"I thought the Sayain's planet was destroyed a long time ago, at least that's what Goku's brother or whatever said."
I frowned at Raditz's mention, but brushed it off, "Nappa said that he and Vegeta worked for someone named Frieza. He probably went back to wherever that is," I tied off the last bag and snacked on my chips.
"Well, wherever that is, we have no way to find it," Krillin's voice was way more nonchalant than what I'd expected on him by this point, "he could already be on Namek for all we know."
I honestly expected him to be more concerned with that, but I guess since there's nothing to do about it either way, he just wasn't worried about it yet.
Bulma practically growled, "well let's just hope for our sakes it's far, far, away."
I didn't add anything else, I had chips to eat.
"What is that?" Bulma asked. Krillin walked up to the window, but since that would involve looking outside into space I stayed put.
"Something's coming right at us!" Bulma said, her voice alarmed.
Nope, not looking.
"Whatever it is it's moving fast," Bulma was leaning over her control thingy.
"Uh, we should be able to see it by now, shouldn't we?" Krillin asked.
Can't even see anything. No point in contributing to more confusion.
An alarm started blaring in the ship.
I covered my ears.
Something, or many things, hit the ship.
"Do something!" Krillin yelled.
"I know! Fire counterattack!" Bulma pressed a few buttons and the shaking stopped.
Krillin cheered. I reached over for my soda-
It had spilled in the chaos.
I let out a slightly exaggerated defeated, sigh.
"Just hold on guys, we're not in the clear yet," Bulma said as she monitored her controls.
Alright fine, I'll look.
Yep, immediately regretted that decision as I saw a ship flying at a direct collision with us.
Actually, it looked a lot like our ship.
Wait.
No.
That, why did that sound familiar?
Bulma turned to the left in a panic but so did the other ship.
Or rather, our ship's reflection.
No.
No that was filler.
I shouldn't have to deal with filler.
It's not canon.
Canon or not we collided with the reflection and went directly through whatever was causing it.
Annddd there was another siren.
I didn't move until it was thoroughly off.
What even happened in this episode? Episodes? All I remember is that reflection thingy.
Well, I guess as long as I don't change anything it's fine.
"That was weird!" Bulma climbed to her feet with the understatement of, at least the evening. This world has a lot of understatements sometimes.
Oh wait, that phrase doesn't work anymore, does it? This universe then.
"One second we're about to crash into our own ship and now we're…we'll who knows where! It looks like we're on another ship!"
I climbed my way to my feet as Bulma freaked out about wherever we were.
"It'll do us no good just sitting here so let's take a walk and check this place out," Bulma declared, opening the hatch of the ship, not getting dressed or even putting shoes on.
Granted, I didn't bother to put shoes on either as I hurried to follow her, but like, I can fly. I don't intend on touching the ground unless it's completely smooth.
Krillin took the time to put on his baseball cap before following. Idly I registered it had his name spelled Kuririn like his name was originally pronounced.
Neat.
Also, weird.
The hatch closed behind us, and we were left in some kind of metallic room.
"Oh great!" Krillin and I turned to Bulma, "I forgot to put some pants on before we left!"
She…forgot?
Ok then.
"You could just, open the ship again and change?" I suggested.
"I'll deal with it."
"As long as you don't blame us if you catch a cold," Krillin muttered.
"Where, exactly, are we going?" I asked.
"We're looking around, it won't take long," Bulma assured as we began walking, somewhere. Krillin took the lead and I followed close behind, both of us in front of Bulma who was both the most helpless of us, and our only way through space.
I paid enough attention to find my way back, if necessary, but it was mostly unnecessary as it was literally just a single hallway.
And those are guns.
Guns suddenly appeared from all sides of the walls and began to shoot at us, Krillin and I bent the barrels so they couldn't continue to shoot.
Luckily Bulma was far enough behind that she wasn't hit.
One hit my arm but while it stung, it didn't break skin, like, at all.
Neat.
And we were back to the endless hallway.
That is what I would say if the two new walls didn't block our path on either side after less than a minute of walking.
It wouldn't have been a problem except before Krillin could shoot one of them down a liquid poured down from the walls.
I quickly snatched Bulma up by her arms and as if to prove my guess correct, one of my T-shirt sleeves trailed too close to the wall goo and melted away.
That's, just an impractical trap.
How are they, whoever they are, gonna clean this up?
Krillin proceeded to blast away the walls.
"Thanks for carrying me, Gohan, sure is nice of you to carry a lady," Bulma said as if I had any real choice in the matter. I just hummed my response.
Now we're back to the endless hallway.
I fell dutifully to the background. Not adding much of anything to the conversation or doing anything to push the group forward. I simply let Krillin or Bulma lead the way.
The hall started to curve.
"This doesn't make any sense, we still haven't even found a door," Krillin questioned as he began to look around, eventually looking up.
"Found one!" He declared as he floated up to the ceiling to a bright red door.
Ok, that's, weird for multiple reasons.
One of which being that Krillin struggled to open the door.
Whatever he did opened a wall in the hallway though.
We followed the new path only for the floor to drop open beneath us.
Space. That's space.
Panic refused to let me focus my Ki enough to fly so instead I shot a beam of Ki towards the opening to propel myself back upwards.
Krillin managed to grab Bulma by the ankle as we hit the ceiling and fell to the ground.
I laid on my back, far away from the trap door, catching my breath.
I hate it here.
Krillin smelled food and suddenly we were walking again as if everything we've done so far hasn't led to a trap.
To be fair, I was hungry, which I blamed on my Sayain genes.
Honestly, I've got to find a way to deal with that in a way that doesn't involve eating ten times my body weight for every meal.
It wasn't so much a problem now as a child, my appetite was certainly more than a normal kid my age but not overwhelmingly so, but whenever I'm a teen or adult? That'd just be exhausting.
And there was a table set with food. For three people.
"Ok do I even have to point this one out as a trap?"
Cautiously, Bulma walked up to the table and picked up a knife. Only for another knife to shoot out of the fruit bowl at the center of the table and barely miss her face.
"Why-" my question was cut off by the knife's target apparently not being Bulma but a button behind her.
That is a very fickle trap, what if it had hit something or just plain missed.
Regardless the button caused a pillar to fall over, and an opaque black dome fell over Bulma.
It was literally a giant string on a box trap.
Are children setting these up?
Krillin tried to calm Bulma's screams by telling her to hide under the table as he got into position for a Kamehameha, only for her to scream again.
The dome suddenly unfolded itself and some kind of drone flew out lifting a tied-up Bulma into the air.
Bulma's screams were cut off by a pair of guns to her face with a declarative "don't move."
Ok now, this is a problem.
"Leave her alone!" Krillin shouted, only for the guns to be pressed closer to her face.
Is it just me or were the two holding the guns kinda short?
Suddenly boxes or lifts or whatever rose from the ground and people filed out of them with guns and surrounded us.
Oh my god, those are literal children.
"Easy everyone, we're not here to hurt you, we're just passing through," Krillin tried to appease the pale pink-skinned, goggled, children but they didn't budge.
We found ourselves unable to move, both because if we did, they'd shoot Bulma, and also because I wasn't entirely comfortable fighting children.
A door opened and a slightly taller kid with his long dark hair tied back walked forwards with more of a pistol-shaped gun than the rest.
"Hey, listen, I don't know who you think we are, but I think there's been a misunderstanding," I was cut off by his gun shooting a hole in the ground at my feet.
Ok, better than actually trying to shoot me. Granted I doubt it'd kill me, but there's be intent to kill there which is best avoided.
"I don't want to hear your bogus explanations anymore," the teen alien declared. Actually, he kinda reminded me of a jaded Pigero, which doesn't bode well considering he's already clocked us as a threat.
"Hey guys," Krillin was cut off by a little girl suddenly standing in front of him. She then proceeded to kick him in the shin.
"Ow!" Krillin shouted, probably more in surprise than actual pain, if these kids were that strong, they wouldn't be using guns.
But then, one should never understand the power of small children.
"Hey! What was that!" Krillin demanded as the girl had now run behind the teen.
"Don't move," said teen had the gun trained on Krillin, his other arm covering the girl, "or I'll shoot you. I swear!" His voice wavered.
Ah geez.
"Zeshin why don't you just kill them all right now? We know they must be allies with Frieza!" Another teen demanded, this one with his goggles pulled up from his eyes.
The main teen struggled to raise his gun up to Krillin's head but did so regardless.
To be fair, if we were working for Frieza, he really should not be hesitating this long.
"You guys shouldn't have come here. I'm sorry." He was about to pull the trigger when the ground shook and a siren went off.
That's convenient. Also, probably bad.
"What's happening!" The boy demanded as yet another kid ran in.
The new boy exclaimed that they had entered an asteroid belt.
The teen, Zeshin, turned away from us completely and ran off to where I assume the controls are.
The backup teen turned to leave before stopping, "hey! Keep an eye on those guys and if they do anything weird you have my permission to shoot them!" And with that, he ran off as well.
Again, not well organized on all accounts.
Kids were too panicked to keep to their instructions and either ran off to find cover, covered each other for protection, comfort, or both, or just stood around lost and unknowing what else to do.
Bulma shouted for Krillin to free her and with a nod, we flew up to reach her.
We cut through her bindings and made our way back to the hallway.
I stopped; Krillin paused a few steps ahead.
Darn it, these are kids.
Ignoring Bulma's protests, I turned back just in time to see a metal panel fall with a pair of kids underneath. I darted forward and luckily so did Krillin as we caught the thing before it could hit the kids.
"You guys ok?" Krillin asked, and got a shaky nod in response, "good."
Krillin nodded towards a clear spot in the room where it wouldn't hit anyone, and we tossed the panel over.
I sighed, only to immediately turn my head up to an explosion in another room.
Krillin and I ran over to see a room ablaze. I turned to see Zeshin had followed, "hey! What do you have for fire extinguishers?"
I yelled over, and he dragged out a couple of fire hoses.
I could only hope that it wasn't literally just water but something that would help put out the fires more efficiently with this kind of spaceship but gotta work with what's been given, I guess.
You'd think they'd have fire doors to cut off airflow or something. Pretty sure fire in a spaceship is a cataclysmically bad thing.
Krillin held one with me supporting it while Zeshin held the other and a couple of kids behind him.
I heard an explosion and turned to see the little shin kicker in the path of a fireball.
Darn it.
I ran in front of her and fired a wave of Ki in between us and the fireball, blocking its path and consuming it within the Ki.
"Hey, are you ok?" I asked, lowering myself to be eye level with the girl. She nodded and I stood back up straight.
Looking up I saw the fire was gone at least. Even better the sirens were gone, and the ship was no longer thrashing.
"You don't, work for Frieza, do you?"
I turned to see Zeshin looking down at us.
"I'm five."
"Doesn't mean anything to that monster."
"Fair, but no, we don't. However, if we did, gotta say, you did not handle that very well. If you're gonna shoot someone first you make sure you know exactly who they are, then you don't hesitate if you know they're a threat to your life," I never liked the concept of guns, but I like the idea of poor management of one less.
"I've never-" the boy stuttered, and I probably could have worded that better, "look I- thanks for helping despite everything we've done."
"It's fine," I shrugged.
"Hey as long as no one's hurt I'm happy," Krillin said with a smile as he held his hand out for Zeshin to shake.
"Let's just, find your friend," and he walked off, hopefully leading us to the control panel where I assumed we'd find Bulma.
And that we did, standing next to a control panel with guns once again trained on her.
"Stand down," Zeshin ordered, much to the kiddos' confusion.
"Are you out of your mind!? These three are allies with Frieza! We have to treat them as a serious threat and eliminate them!" The backup teen shouted and, fair. He seemed more willing to shoot than Zeshin at least. Course it was a demonstrably bad thing he was currently aiming at the definitely not bulletproof Bulma.
"If they're allies with Frieza explain why they chose to help us," well, probably to also not die. I did not say that out loud.
"They would have killed us like he killed our parents," ah, yep. At this point, that's what I was guessing.
The backup teen flinched and froze in place.
He then walked forward looking at me, assumably because child.
I blinked as he placed a hand on my head, "I think, we can trust them," he then walked past.
Ok then.
"Bun?" Zeshin questioned but got no response from the retreating boy.
"Well, I'm glad you believe us now," Bulma spoke up now that she didn't have guns pointed at her.
"Hey Gohan, you said Nappa had mentioned that Frieza guy, right?" Zeshin's head snapped towards us and I kinda wish he waited to ask until we left.
"Yeah, he didn't say much though."
Zeshin walked past us, "you want to know about Frieza?"
I shifted, technically I already knew just about everything there was to know, but it was probably necessary that Krillin and Bulma hear about him.
And so Zeshin told his story about how his planet was peaceful and successful until Frieza showed up. And just as Frieza does, genocide and destruction lay in his wake. Men, women, and children, all were killed. These kids were all that remained. The only reason they got away was because of their mirrored ship.
Krillin asked where they were heading now, to which Zeshin responded that he'd be heading to a planet his father visited for trading. It'd take them a long while, but hopefully, they make it to their destination.
It wasn't long after that that we were brought back to our ship en route back to Namek.
"Let's go boys. We have a lot of time to make up thanks to this little detour," Bulma lamented as she climbed onto the hatch of the ship.
"It's ok Bulma, it's not like Namek is gonna go anywhere," Krillin seemed in great spirits after all this.
He got to help people, he got to help kids, he's happy.
"Wait a minute, you guys are trying to get to the planet Namek?" We turned back to Zeshin.
"We sure are, you heard of it?"
"I think we passed it around two or three weeks ago," the little girl spoke up.
And so, with new coordinates and a shortcut we were back on the ship.
Now I really didn't want to risk getting there early so when Krillin and Bulma didn't hear when Zeshin tried to shout a warning, I didn't speak up about it.
Back in the ship flying through space once again, Bulma was happily at her controls typing in new coordinates and Krillin was looking down in thought.
"Krillin?"
"Huh?" He looked down at me, "oh I was just wondering who this Frieza guy is. It's like, the third time he's been mentioned."
"Ok, but one of those was from me about another time he was mentioned so I don't think that counts."
"Odds are we won't have to deal with him so it's not like we can do anything about it," Bulma shrugged as she retired back in her bed.
…
Day 12.
You know, nervous energy has quite the way of multiplying itself when you're confined to a single room every hour of every day.
To which I find myself pacing along the sides of the ship.
The fact that filler was something I'd have to deal with was really concerning. It's bad enough that I had holes in my knowledge for the standard canon, but the only filler I remember is if it happened to be particularly funny. Basically, just the driving one.
I guess I could have guessed filler would be a thing considering Pigero's gang but like, I kinda sought them out so I didn't really think-
Wait, did that include movies? I don't even remember most of the movies. I know I watched them all at some point but the only ones I remember are the later ones.
I mean, Battle of the Gods is definitely canon, because obviously, and I guess I've been working under the assumption that the Tarble one is too, but that's different.
I guess I could rule out a few of them that are literally impossible to exist. Lord Slug was probably out, the tree one too. Fake Goku, I mean Turles, is definitely not canon. Android 13? I don't see where that'd fit in, I can probably rule it out and-
"Hey uh, Gohan?" I paused to see Krillin looking at me concerned, "you ok?"
"What? Oh, yeah, 'course I am."
"Ok…you wanna talk?"
"About what?"
"I don't know, anything? You've kinda been through a lot. Between being kidnapped three times in a month, twice in the same day, and immediately having to train to fight isn't exactly normal for a kid."
"No, I'm fine I-" wait, three times? That sounded familiar but I don't really remember the first-
Oh, darn it that was Garlic Jr.
I suppressed a sigh.
Technically, the movie happening doesn't mean the filler will.
"No, I'm fine, it's just being in this room for so long is getting to me I guess."
Krillin chuckled and leaned back, "yeah I hear that. At least we don't have to hear Bulma's complaining when she's asleep." He nodded his head towards her bed.
Despite myself, I smiled.
…
The three of us were trying to sleep when we were woken up by the entire ship shaking.
Or at least Krillin and I woke up, Bulma laid in her bed with a book over her face.
"Bulma! Something's happening to the ship!" Krillin yelled to wake her up, only for her to nonchalantly lift the book and look over, still half asleep.
"Don't worry Krillin. This shortcut takes us through a recently exploded nebula. It's just a storm in space, don't be a wimp."
And she was back asleep.
"I mean really, how can she sleep through all this shaking?" He asked and I could only nod, trying to calm my racing heart despite the still shaking ship.
I hate it here.
I floated up a few feet from the ground so at least I wouldn't have to feel it.
By the time we had gotten out of the storm, the place was a mess and Bulma had called from her bed. Somehow still asleep.
Finally, she woke with a start and shot from her feet.
For a moment I was worried she was gonna demand us to pick up the mess right away, only for her to look out the window and smile.
"Look guys! It's Namek!"
I repressed a sigh as I looked out the window.
Getting to Namek early probably wasn't a great plan so I didn't say anything as we landed on definitely not fake planet Namek. Not that I thought they'd really listen to me either way.
This one I definitely remember. At least the concept of not the details.
At least we wouldn't be in space for a while.
Bulma instructed us to strap in and one dizzying descent later we were landed on top of a cliff on "Namek."
Krillin raised his concerns about if this were really Namek only to get snapped at by Bulma.
Before anything else could arise the ship shifted, and then leaned, and suddenly we were falling off the cliff.
…
I woke up to see Bulma speaking to two "Namekians."
I raised an eyebrow at the silly greeting, but complied anyway.
Silly or not it was calm for now and I was just gonna let that ride out as long as possible.
They fed us at least, which is nice. As long as you weren't aware that Namekians didn't need to eat, which clearly, Bulma and Krillin were not.
I didn't speak up much as the two offered to help find the Dragon Balls, or as they showed us the ship was safe.
If I spoke, I'd want to poke holes in their story and no real point in that.
And with a check of the radar, we were off looking for the first ball, traveling in the main one's far too loud ship that I didn't dare uncover my ears while in.
The other "Namek" had stayed behind.
I well and properly fell into the background this time, staying close enough to not look suspicious, but only speaking up when necessary.
Swimming for one of the "Dragon Balls" was nice though. It's been a while since I could just swim recreationally, which this technically wasn't, but it might as well be.
The water was blue, of course, and not Namek's signature green water.
Through some ruins and then we had two.
The third had us following a moving ball only to find it being eaten by something that looked suspiciously like Godzilla.
Course we were prevented from giving chase when the "Namek" blocked our path.
For a moment it looked like Bulma was suspicious, only for the Godzilla to shout in pain.
One ship ride later we were flying over the acid swamp.
And all of Bulma's suspicions vanished.
I quickly volunteered to wear the protective suit to go diving after the ball.
At least I was already suspicious so if anything happened, I'd be quicker to respond.
One suit and "special rope" later I was clearly instructed that I'd have to put in twenty seconds.
The suit was clunky and awkward, but it worked well enough that I didn't immediately melt.
I grabbed the ball and used my Ki to rise back up rather than rely on the rope.
I handed over the ball and removed the suit along with the…completely intact rope…ok maybe I was wrong to be suspicious of that one, but whatever.
I was so focused on not poking holes in their story that I didn't notice what was wrong until we had collected the sixth and were on our way to the seventh ball.
I froze.
The "Namek" paused.
"Is something wrong?"
Krillin and Bulma looked back, but he waved them to continue down the flowery fields.
"Why?"
"Why what?" He tilted his head.
"Why is this the same?"
"I don't know what you mean." The "Namek" began walking on the path towards Krillin and Bulma, but not at any pace that'd have him catching up anytime soon.
"Yes, you do. Yes you do! You read our minds! You read my mind! You know I know this is fake! So why? Why are you, you-" my steps stuttered between stopping and running to catch up with him.
"For the same reason you've yet to say anything I imagine."
"What?"
"If events play out as your memory entails, Frieza will die. If that means we must both play the villain and remain on this planet, then so be it." He never looked back as he spoke.
"We all have our part to play, and to be completely honest, our part seems quite simple compared to yours."
"Now then, I think it's about time we catch back up to your friends."
I stood helplessly for a moment before running to catch up once again.
"Wait," he looked down at me.
"What were, your names again? I, don't think I got them before." I shuffled at the admission.
"Ah, of course. I am Raiti, the other is Zaacro."
And with that, we were back with the others. I walked even more quietly than before.
The seventh ball was in a neat-looking stone building surrounded by a pretty lake.
At some point, Raiti vanished from behind me.
Krillin and I went to collect the ball, and I was still somehow surprised when I found myself unable to move just over halfway through.
Hearing her scream, we turned to see Bulma being held captive by the two.
I struggled against the invisible binds and was pretty impressed. I don't know what their power levels were, but whatever telekinesis they were using was strong enough to well and hold me in place.
"It's unfortunate, but playtime is over," Raiti said as the two released Bulma.
The two shifted and grew as they changed form.
From green and old to pink and bug-like.
The ground shifted and changed and fell apart around us. All the structures and forests gave way to rocks and desolation.
And suddenly, instead of telekinesis, I was being held up by tentacled squid monsters.
Ok, that is somehow much more disturbing. I once again struggled against the binds.
For some reason, Krillin ran to save me instead of using a disk, and this also got caught in the tentacle trap.
"Don't worry, they're night feeders, so they won't eat you now."
"They'll just hold you there 'til dark, giving us time to escape."
To be honest, through their transformation, I kinda lost track of which one was which.
And so they lamented their position in quote, "the armpit of the universe."
How they supposedly planned to steal our ship and thus played this game to distract us as they fixed our ship for themselves.
They claimed the only reason they left us alive was because they didn't have a taste for violence.
One swiped the Dragon Ball Radar from Bulma and they ran off, assumably in the direction of the ship.
Krillin shouted for Bulma to follow them and then it was just the two of us.
"How are you doing over there Gohan?" Krillin shouted over.
"Oh, you know, just hanging around-" I charged Ki through my arm as I struggled to free it, sending a blast at the beast holding me.
An arm now free, I blasted away the tentacles holding one of Krillin's arms.
"Krillin! Disk!"
"Huh? Oh yeah!" A Destructo Disk was soon flying through the tentacles holding me, and I was now flying of my own volition.
A few blasts to free Krillin and we were flying off towards the ship.
We made it in time to see Bulma forced to open the door.
Bulma noticed us and shouted.
Our presence announced the two looked up at us.
I made eye contact with the one I assumed to be Raiti.
"We all have our part to play"
I hardened my gaze.
With a single attack each, they were flat on their backs.
"That was a lot easier than I expected," Krillin said.
"We weren't joking when we said we didn't have a taste for violence," one coughed.
I held eye contact as the ship closed with us now in it.
The entire situation left me feeling...icky.
"We all have our part to play"
…
Day, Whatever.
"Hey, uh, Gohan?"
"What?"
"You're pacing again."
"I'm aware."
Did you know that Fake Namek is almost four episodes? Because I do. I am still in the middle of my rewatch and somehow, I still forgot how long it was
Also, I've been using Grammarly to check basic grammar/spelling mistakes for the last couple of chapters and oh boy does it not like my use of the words really or actually
Also, I will take no complaints about Do it for Her If the abridged series can get away with a Steven Universe song I definitely can