After spending more than thirty-one days cooped up in a pod, the Saiyans approached their target. The space pods engulfed in flames breached the world's atmosphere and, within a minute, crashed into the ground. Each one of the pod's doors began to open; however, the ruthless passengers quickly noticed something was wrong. Almost greenish water started to leak into their pods, so they needed to save themselves and their pods from being gone for good. They picked up their space pods and levitated in the air. Once above ground, they could ascertain the landscape of the world.
"Humph, we're surrounded by a massive swamp... disgusting!"
While Korn made a displeasing face, the prince and his caretaker inspected the area further. "Stop complaining! There's some solid ground by the looks of it... We'll put the pods there and then think of a strategy." The warriors noted and followed Nappa and Vegeta, who were ahead of them.
As they landed on solid ground, the Saiyans lowered their pods to the floor and got closer to each other. Naturally, the arrogant prince detached himself from them and stood several steps away, annoying Okra and Korn. Raditz wanted to join the prince, who was, after all, the only person of his age, but the long-haired warrior knew better. The skinny child snapped out of it and shifted his attention to Nappa, explaining the plan.
"We're going to form two groups... Okra, Korn, and Raditz will cover the east and south. Meanwhile, Vegeta and I are going to cover west and north."
Upon hearing that the boy was going with them, Okra snickered. "Do we have to babysit the worm? Wouldn't it be better to let him guard the pods here?" The warrior didn't even hide his arrogant smirk as Raditz glared at him.
"Do as told! He might be a third-class, but Raditz got put in the prince's group for a reason... The brat might prove to be useful."
The young Saiyan was shocked to hear such a thing from Nappa. Everyone knew how harsh and brutal the veteran was, so hearing such praise from the giant was unheard of. Naturally, that got in Raditz's head, and the long-haired warrior didn't hide it from the others. He crossed his arms and smirked at the two warriors, who shook their heads and turned to the other side.
Hearing such nonsense annoyed the little prince, who hated wasting time. "Done, maybe? I want to conquer this pathetic world and leave for the next one as soon as possible!" Vegeta was already in the air while Nappa trailed behind him, urging the flame-haired boy to slow down.
Okra and Korn snarled at the prince's behavior. "Tch! Spoiled brat! He thinks he's all high and mighty... As if his title means something now that planet Vegeta's gone." Korn squeezed his fist hard as he glared at the flying Vegeta.
"I know. The runt has some guts ordering us around like that when we all heard what he thinks of us and what happened to our race and planet... That idiot needs a good beating to bring him down to reality."
While the warriors were belittling their prince, Raditz remained quiet. He wanted to shout at them and stop them from saying such stuff; however, he agreed with them to some degree. His tail stirred around the waist as he pondered if he was a traitor for doubting the little prince. The boy was forcefully cut from his thoughts when Okra hit him behind the head.
"Stop daydreaming, runt! We have a job to do! Don't you dare slow us down, or we'll leave you in this filthy swamp!"
The skinny warrior grunted and mumbled a few cursing words as he followed the older men. As he flew behind them, holding the back of his head, he thought of beating and killing the two for pushing him around ever since he joined their group. They were after him from the very second he enlisted in Vegeta's elite squad. He knew his family status and birth rank would get him ridiculed and mocked, but he got put with such elite warriors for a reason! The people must have known there was talent and potential within him! Surely!
As they continued to fly above the swamp, Korn started to lose it. "Nothing... We're flying for almost six hours, and there's nothing but swamp! What were they thinking!? There's nothing here or any value to having this planet! Who's going to buy this disgusting rock and live on it?!" Annoyed, the warrior formed a ki blast and fired it at the trees emerging from the swamp.
"Calm yourself! We're almost done with this sector... We could have the brat do the job while we head back and relax. What do you say about that?"
While the flames spread across the trees, the Saiyans halted and levitated in the air. Korn thought about it for a minute. "We could do that... As if they're going to know unless the low-life tells them." Both of them turned towards Raditz, who just glared back.
"If he wants to remain in this realm, he'll keep his mouth shut... Isn't that right, trash?"
The long-haired boy clenched his teeth hard as he tried to remain calm. He tried his best to mask his true intent; however, his tail violently moving behind him told another story.
Trying his best, Raditz lifted his head and smirked. "Hmph! I can do it without you guys... I grew tired of listening to your complaining." He slowly passed between them, not even wanting to look them in the eyes, when a hand touched his right shoulder.
"Good boy! Do as told, and maybe you'll prove useful, as Nappa said."
While Korn and Okra laughed, Raditz violently moved and broke free from Okra's grasp. "Whatever..." The boy bit the flesh inside his mouth to prevent himself from saying something he would regret later. However, just as he made a little distance between himself and others, his scouter suddenly came to life.
Okra's and Korn's devices also made a noise, but a second too late. Out of nowhere, something burst out of the swamp and propelled itself at the Saiyans. Raditz barely turned around when he saw a flash of green and brown strike Okra in the gut. As the warrior got blown away, Korn tried to react, but the being from the swamp let out a mighty screech rendering all around him unable to move.
"Ahh! My ears!"
Korn screamed as he held his ears and tried to bear the pain. At that moment, the creature got close to him and whacked him with a club. Blood flew out of the man's mouth as he started to fall toward the swamp. The greenish being shifted its attention to Raditz, who looked very nervous. Cold sweat ran down his scared face as the thin, strong-looking thing approached him. Frightened by those beastly eyes, Raditz raised a hand and fired a ki blast at the thing. The first attempt failed as the creature smacked the little shot away with the club. Consumed by fear, the long-haired warrior closed his eyes and screamed as he unleashed a barrage of blasts at the incoming being.
Raditz's pointless struggle ended abruptly when the creature casually flew through all the blasts and kneed him in the gut. "Gahh!" The boy puked and moaned while he held his abdomen. Meanwhile, the monster raised both arms, celebrating in front of the hurting warrior who cried out in pain. Getting back some strength, Raditz growled and tried to surprise the creature with a swift kick. However, he missed the target, who jumped right above him. Raditz didn't even have time to look up when the creature struck him with the club in the head and sent him crashing into the tree that hadn't yet caught fire.
While the boy's battered body hung from a tree, the creature howled as it blasted at the child with the intent to end it all. The thing was getting close when suddenly a kick dug deep into his cheek. A groan escaped the being's mouth, and shortly after, it became a painful scream when a punch struck its abdomen.
"You ugly bastard! Did you think we got done in by you!? I'll tear you apart!"
Okra quickly seized the creature's thin arms and pulled him closer to deliver an elbow to the face. While the being was disoriented, the warrior spun around and released the hold once he gained enough momentum. The creature struggled to stop but was useless as Korn materialized in front and released a ki blast with all his power. As the orange energy wave carried the beast toward the swamp, Okra joined in and fired a shot of his own for good measure. Once the blasts collided, it caused an intense explosion.
The shockwave forced the warrior to brace themselves for almost a minute. As it died out, Korn lowered his arms and laughed. "Ha! That's what you get, you ugly bastard! Nobody can compare to the might of a true Saiyan warrior!" The loud man flexed his muscles while his comrade chuckled.
While the two obnoxious Saiyans praised themselves, Raditz slowly began to wake up. "Ugh... my head!" The poor child groaned as the sharp pain overcame him for a split second. Acting tough, he pulled himself up and hovered right above the tree. The laughter and loud voice caught his attention.
"Bah! Morons... wish that creep beat them up!"
The child's angry mumble went unnoticed. Steadily, Raditz moved toward the two warriors to regroup; however, the long-haired boy halted. "What was that!?" Something was out there, he was sure. His tail nervously stirred behind his young back as his dark orbs moved and tried to locate something. There was some noise, and it was coming from below him. The bruised warrior looked at the swamp beneath him and stared at it until a dreadful feeling washed over him.
Realizing what was coming, Raditz turned around and shouted with all his might. "Watch out! There's more of them!" His childish voice echoed across the sky and caught Okra's and Korn's attention just in time when a horde of creatures emerged from the swamp.
The Saiyans stared at the horde and listened to their howls while nervously sweating. "There's no end to those creeps... What are we going to do?" Raditz was hoping one of the older male warriors would provide an answer. Still, all he got was a desperate and pathetic look from Korn.
As the howling horde approached, the Saiyans stood there, unable to move a muscle. They got frozen by the number of monsters coming their way. However, the instinct for battle and survival kicked in.
"Screw it! If I'm going to fall, then I'm going down like a true Saiyan warrior! Haa!"
Okra closed both fists tightly and, with a ferocious growl, charged forward. "Come with me! We'll blast through them, take down as much as possible and find Nappa and the bratty prince!" A purplish aura erupted from the warrior as he fired a barrage of ki blasts.
Reluctantly, Korn followed his childhood friend. "This better work, Okra! I'll beat you to a pulp if these bastards kill us! Aghh!" A crimson aura surrounded the Saiyan as he joined the warrior in blasting the incoming enemies.
Raditz was the only one left behind. His skinny arms trembled while he stared at the sight in front of him. He froze; the fear got to him and rendered him unable to move. "I'm done for! I'll die on this rock, achieving nothing! Sorry..." The child stared at an ancient-looking beast in front of him until the thing got struck by a blast from behind.
"Move, brat!"
Finally, the gears started to move. Raditz bent and flew underneath the withering creature, managing to remain alive. He avoided the enemies primarily thanks to his size and skill. The long-haired warrior was closing the distance between himself and his comrades. They were within reach when a firm grip grasped his long, black hair. The boy yelled out of pain, causing Okra and Korn to look back.
"Tch! I knew that stupid brat was going to be a distraction!"
Okra released several blasts in Raditz's direction, aiming at the swamp creatures, but they were prepared for it. "Leave him! He's done for, and you know it! We'll save ourselves and tell Nappa and Vegeta the idiot killed himself in battle!" The Saiyan nodded and agreed. He tried, but there was nothing they could do.
Meanwhile, Raditz just watched the two abandon him. He hung there for a few seconds while the creatures howled and sniffed him. Instead of fearing and dreading the incoming death, the boy's blood boiled with rage. He clenched his teeth, closed both fists tightly, and snarled so loud it shocked the monsters for a moment.
"Y-You cowards! You preach you're going down like a proper Saiyan warrior, but all you're doing is running away! You guys are not real warriors!"
Tears ran down his bruised cheeks while his tail violently moved around. "Let me go, you creep! I-I don't want to die here!" Raditz thrashed around, hoping to break free, but nothing. Instead, he received a punch in the face. Blood began leaking out of his broken nose, but that didn't stop him. Acting fast, he bit the monster's hand.
While the creature yelped, Raditz's teeth dug deep, and he didn't let go. The wounded animal pulled him from the grasp of its brethren and shook the child. Once he realized nobody was holding him, the young Saiyan let go and fired a barrage of blasts at such a short distance. The explosions propelled Raditz high in the sky, but that was precisely what the skinny warrior counted on. Despite suffering greatly from doing such a dangerous maneuver, he was free at least. He summoned all the remaining energy and blasted away.
Naturally, the creatures suffered no injuries and were in pursuit. All of them went after the child, who was steadily slowing down. "Tch! I-I can't go on like this... I-It's all over!" Raditz closed his eyes, and the teardrops got lost in the wind. He could feel the monsters all over him. However, a sizzling noise forced him to open his eyes again.
A ki blast flew slightly above him and killed a monster. Raditz glanced forward and saw several shots coming his way. Each one of those attacks took down the enemies. Once he was out of the smoke, Raditz's eyes were wide open upon seeing Nappa and Vegeta floating in the air along with Okra and Korn.
A sense of relief washed over him as he regrouped with the Saiyan. "Hmph, still alive, brat... That's quite a miracle." Raditz ignored Korn's comment and gazed at Nappa, who was doing all the work.
"Haha! This is fun! These bastards are going down like flies!"
The giant concentrated a large amount of energy and unleashed it around an area by lifting two fingers. "There! Nice and clean!" Nappa's proud laugh echoed across the sky as he watched the ashes of the monsters disappear.
While holding his wounded arm, Raditz approached the veteran to express gratitude but instead received a firm punch in the gut from the prince. "Useless! You, people, are a disgrace to our mighty race! The three of you weren't able to accomplish anything! Nappa and I did all the work, so tell me, why do I have to keep you alive!?" Consumed by anger, the prince punched him repeatedly in the abdomen, only to end it with an uppercut.
"Easy, Vegeta... I know how you feel, but this was a Rank A mission. Even a couple of middle-class Saiyans will have time with, let alone a third-class brat."
The prince didn't even bother to look at Nappa; he continued to glare at the three Saiyans in front. "I want to kill them, Nappa. They're only dragging me down!" Vegeta lifted a hand and concentrated enough energy to obliterate the three.
"W-Wait, prince Vegeta you cant! I mean, it's only us! We're all that's left of our prideful race!"
"Exactly! Please, let us correct today's mistakes and prove ourselves to you! Give us a chance, prince Vegeta!"
Okra held the unconscious Raditz while he and Korn begged the prince for mercy. Vegeta was thinking about it when Nappa's firm hand landed on the prince's tiny shoulder. "Vegeta, sometimes a ruler needs to know how to forgive and utilize even the weaklings... Give them a shot; I'll gladly end their miserable lives if they don't pass!" Nappa shot a severe glare at the warriors, who bowed their heads.
"Fine, but only this time, Nappa... You fools take the insect to the pod and wait there. Your services are not needed. Once over, we're leaving for the next planet to conquer."
Korn and Okra nodded and waited to leave until Nappa and Vegeta flew away. The warriors didn't utter a single word as they turned around and headed toward their space pods. Their morale was down and for a good reason. Vegeta and Nappa saw their pitiful display from afar, and it was luck the little prince decided to give them another chance. All they could do was recover while they waited for those two to return and prepare for the next mission.
