Number 32
Chapter Three
The Burnt
The smell of charred skin is so strong that Goku didn't want to sit next to Vegeta. The pungent aroma weaves around the cockpit of the ship, something which especially upsets Bulma, but she keeps her eyes forward, focusing on putting distance between them and the space station. And whilst Vegeta is wearing a brave face right now, Goku knows that the guy must be wrecked; his skin is bright pink, with the blistering being particularly bad in the creases between his head and neck.
Goku's sorry; he's so sorry because they had not been fast enough, had not saved him in time. It looks so painful, and smells rancid, and Goku wouldn't wish this on anybody.
The ship slows down into a soft acceleration, and Bulma is the first person to approach Vegeta. She looks like she wants nothing more than to throw her arms around him but clearly knows better.
"Get back on the wheel, woman," Vegeta orders between wheezes. "They could be on us at any moment."
Vegeta's plight goes ignored and he seems to steam even more than he already he is.
Bulma raises a hand. "Goku, the senzu beans."
Ah, yes! The senzu beans!
He grapples along his waistband and feels for the small brown bag. It's light because they've already eaten at least over half now.
Vegeta snatches the bean and swallows it without so much of a hint of chewing. The effect is immediate. His body seems to throb in rejuvenation, bolstering as the pink swelling disappears in a flash. The circles beneath Vegeta's eyes don't leave however, and there's lethargy to the way Vegeta stands up and flexes his muscles.
Bulma reaches for him, but stubborn as ever, Vegeta jerks away, making her worry all the more. "What is it? What's wrong? Do you need another?"
"Don't touch me," he hisses, disgusted. "I'm weak. I- I'll need time to recover until I reach my full strength. They had me under sheenks."
Sheenks?
"A material used to supress one's natural power," Piccolo supplies, arms crossed as he leans against the doorframe. The cape he'd been wearing is now lying in a pile on the table, the ends of it slightly charred from the earlier flames.
Krillin, equally singed, blows a low whistle. "Man, there's been many a time we could have used something like that…"
"But there's none of that, uh, sheenks stuff around here, right? Goku queries, suddenly a little worried. He doesn't want his ki drained. Vegeta looks like he can barely hold his own weight up.
"No, idiot, it was on the ship, in the holding cells."
"Oh. It's… it's not contagious, right?"
"Much like your stupidity, it cannot, thankfully, be transmitted."
"Then why didn't the senzu beans work?"
Vapid, Vegeta sends him a heated sort of look, saying little else.
Piccolo has an answer, at least. "Sheenks has an almost radiation-like effect, Goku. It takes time for the effects to wear off so it's difficult to say how long it'll reside in Vegeta's system after so much exposure. Senzu beans heal injuries, not symptoms. Hopefully, our mighty prince will be back to his humble self soon, but it really depends on how much they used during his incarceration."
"Hold your tongue, Namek."
The namekian's eyes shift focus as his gaze falls upon their guests in the ship. A lip curls and he looks upon them with mounting mistrust. "What I don't understand is why you seemed eager to help us save Vegeta."
The question is aimed at Lya, who responds with very little reaction at all. She's the quiet presence hiding in the shadows of their reunion, a curious lady, one who'd been integral in their retrieval of Vegeta.
Goku understands Piccolo's distrust, however –she makes his gut do uncomfortable flips the longer he looks at her. Her face has this impassive default setting, something with is oddly discomforting, especially with that watery gaze of hers. It's as if she's not looking directly at you, but rather, through you, seeing something that isn't there. The porcelain sheen of her skin; the crop of silver hair, and her bleached tunic all blends together unnervingly, as if she'd been dunked in a vat of white paint and left out to dry. Goku is reminded of those creepy, ageless ceramics.
"I've been transparent on what I want," she replies simply.
Krillin scoffs beside Goku.
"Assistance," Lya clarifies, soft. Her finger rises in indolent gesture of him. "I want your assistance to be precise, Goku Son."
Goku hums and scratches the back of his head. "Yeah, I know that much, but I'm not entirely sure what I can do to help you with your fight-thing."
"You are the saiyan that killed Frieza. You are involved in this war. They are hunting you, both of you, and whatever offspring you may have produced, of course."
At this moment, Vegeta winces and they share a look. There's a point where he expects the other saiyan to comment, to deny her words, to contest her, but he doesn't, making Goku wonder what Vegeta must have heard during his time captured.
Weeks ago, it'd been a thin team of Goku, Bulma, Vegeta, Krillin and Piccolo stumbling across a desolate planet millions of miles west of Earth. King Kai had heard a rumour of some dragon balls being on this mystery planet, and so gave brief instructs on how to get there. Of course, Goku had then relayed these instructions back to Bulma, who didn't hesitate getting to work. She even managed to persuade Vegeta to come along for the ride. Piccolo and Krillin coming had been a given as they'd been completely supportive in Goku's ambition over the last nine or ten years.
When the Earth's dragon balls couldn't grant him his desired wish, Goku soon realized that options don't come quick and often and decided to jump at this opportunity. Maybe these new dragon balls work differently –like Namek's.
The planet had been a dud –a wild goose chase really. There had been no dragon balls there. But there had been a lot of fighters, ones wearing very familiar uniforms, and wanting nothing more than to hurt Goku and his friends. The soldiers, as Vegeta explained, were stronger than Goku remembered. None of them had held a candle to Goku, Vegeta, or even Piccolo, but Krillin had fell victim to many attackers.
It hadn't been Krillin's fault, not really. He'd just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Spiralling and deadly, a wave of energy would have made contact with his friend had Vegeta not managed to push him out of the way in the nick of time. This gave opportunity, however, for one of the soldiers to ambush Vegeta in a sly attack. A hand had jutted the base of Vegeta's neck and he dropped down instantly, making him easy prey to be captured.
Goku hadn't noticed until it was too late.
Then this woman, Lya, had appeared, and said that she knew where they would have taken Vegeta. She'd then told them that she had "people on the inside" (whatever that meant), and that she'd get him out. In exchange, she'd only require Goku's assistance. It took days, but Lya fulfilled her promise.
During those days preparing to save Vegeta, Goku had come to learn more about the Frost Empire. He learned about Frieza and the dark history of his family, and how his brothers still reign over many planets and parts of the universe. And it'd only been yesterday when he learned that Vegeta was to face The Boiler, and what it even was. Lya had explained the intricacies, and Goku had never felt prouder of Bulma than in that moment for not breaking down.
She's holding Vegeta's hand right now with Vegeta not pulling away, finally relenting to giving her some affection. It gives Goku the impression of how horrible The Boiler truly must be.
"They asked me about you, Kakarot," Vegeta eventually says. His hand slips out of Bulma's grasp when everyone turns to look at him, but he doesn't shirk her away when she moves closer. "I don't know much about this wench, but she is right about one thing; they want our blood. More specifically, they want yours. You pissed off the Frost bastards something rotten with killing Frieza-dearest."
"Yeah, ten years ago," Piccolo quips. "Why do they want revenge now?"
The padding of boots approaching reminds Goku and the others that there's yet one more person aboard the ship. Whilst Lya is the brains, this man clearly is the brawn. Just as burnt and smouldering as the rest of them, the warrior is built thickly, impressive under the white and red of his armour, with a commanding presence to match. Even Goku can tell that this guy must be important, not that it matters much to him –he's just thankful that he'd been there to help secure his friend. This is the very man who'd stolen Vegeta from his own execution, the one Lya had called her 'insider', and the one Vegeta now owes his life to.
"You," Vegeta seethes from his chair. Bulma pushes him back down when he attempts to rise.
The man's smile is wide and would be about as shiny as his armour if not for the splotches of blood smeared across his teeth. Actually, now that Goku can see more clearly, there's a nasty cut just above his mouth and below his nose.
"He saved your life, Vegeta," Bulma chides.
"After he served me up to Cooler and Hailer, that is!"
The man's smile slides into something less friendly and he points a gloved finger at Vegeta. "Take responsibility, you brainless monkey. After you turned up on a trap planet, I couldn't come back empty handed. Lord Cooler would have been suspicious and I would have been forced to relinquish my position sooner than you already forced me to!"
Lya places an alabaster hand on the man's chest, easing him back. She addresses the group and calmly presents the new fighter as, indeed, her 'one on the inside'. According to her, this guy has been working undercover in the Frost army for the last five years.
"Ytvl," the man introduces, extending his hand. He flinches just as Goku goes to shake it and swaps it for his other hand. "Sorry, I think I fractured it punching that bastard in the face."
He wonders absently who Ytvl is talking about as he grasps the hand. They shake candidly but Goku struggles to get a read on him, much like Lya. As much as the man seems pleasant, there's a strange aura about him Goku doesn't like.
"I'm quite the fan," Ytvl goes on to praise, indifferent to Goku's discomfort, "Frieza was a fucking asshole."
"Yet you serve his brother."
"Vegeta," Bulma chides once again.
Lya steps forward, her face a sheet of impassive ice. But Goku thinks she might be frustrated with the prince's attitude, and he would be too considering the effort they went through to retrieve him. "He's one of my men, not Cooler's."
Vegeta scoffs. "Well, maybe you should have a long chat with him because he seemed a little too convincing to me."
"If I'd been anything but loyal up until today then you wouldn't even be here," Ytvl defends. "In fact, Vegeta, because you were too stupid to break out of the holding cell during the power outage I'd arranged for you, I had to forfeit my position as Lord Cooler's First Captain."
Vegeta's expression shifts between realisation, embarrassment and then anger.
"That's how much we want your assistance, Goku" Lya interjects. "Ytvl has been ousted just so we could secure Vegeta for you, to earn your trust."
Goku stares between Lya and Ytvl, pausing to think through his options. He doesn't really have time to be caught up in all of this; he has his own mission…
"Well, I think it's a bit more than that," Bulma says, finally adding her two pence. She crosses a knee over the other and leans forward. "It wouldn't look good for Vegeta to be executed on live TV, or whatever you guys have, would it? I imagine seeing a figurehead like Vegeta being murdered would hurt your cause. It would have been a heck of a power trip for the Frost Empire, huh?"
Lya considers her. "You're not wrong. That did… factor in too."
"Sorry to burst your bubble but Vegeta is more than, what did you call him, a figure head?" Ytvl questions lightly. He's nursing his hand now, doing little stretches and twirls with his wrist. Cracking can be heard beneath the glove –it's dislocated, Goku can tell. "He was a soldier, and remembered very much as one."
The defence came from a surprising place.
"But he's different now," Krillin says with purpose. "He's changed."
Goku then remembers that it had been Vegeta who'd saved Krillin not long ago, back on that decoy planet, back when Ytvl had tried to capture them all.
Ytvl's face lights up in amusement but he doesn't say anything, instead continuing to crack his wrist.
Lya speaks. "Goku-"
But Goku cuts her off, raising his hands. "Look, I'm sorry, but I can't help you. I'm thankful you helped save Vegeta but we have our own… task."
"And that was why you were lured to the Frost decoy planet?" Ytvl asks. "You were looking for dragon balls, right? For this task?"
"And what do you know of the dragon balls?" Piccolo questions. His gaze is dark and challenging.
Ytvl snorts, finally finishing with his hand exercises. "I know that Hailer and Lord Cooler started rumours about the decoy planet, hoping to draw outsiders looking for dragon balls. I often had to bring in these explorers, such as yourselves, to be extorted for information or be killed."
"Information like what?"
"Like the lead on any other dragon balls."
"Oh, they're looking for them; the Namekian dragon balls." Goku doesn't catch Krillin's wide-eyed plea to censor himself in time. "New Namek."
Ytvl clicks his fingers, confirming it. "New Namek."
"Goku!" Bulma snaps.
"Oh. I wasn't supposed to say that, right?"
"You think?"
The ex-captain looks like Christmas has come early. "Yes, the Frost Empire has been trying to track it down for some years now. Here I thought the Namekian dragon balls had been a myth."
In an instance, Piccolo rushes forward, looking as though he wants to grab Ytvl and throw him off board. He doesn't, instead opting to jab a finger into the man's armour. "Do they know where it is?"
Ytvl, brave in the face of the angriest namekian he's probably ever seen, snorts, far too amused by all the dramatics. "Of course not, otherwise they'd already be there."
"Now, that's the truth," Vegeta confirms, and so Piccolo calms.
"Goku Son, do… you know where New Namek is?" Lya asks, voice so quiet that he has to strain to hear. "Do you know its location?"
"Er… Not exa-"
"No, he doesn't," Bulma answers for him.
"And neither do we," Krillin adds.
"Not that we'd tell you," Vegeta viciously continues, adding salt.
Piccolo grunts, arms tightening into a knot above his chest.
A beat of silence passes and Lya closes her eyes, a new crease forming between polished brows. Ytvl, in contrast, openly laughs at them.
"What a merry band of interracial friends you all are."
"Be quiet, Ytvl."
Ytvl strains his knuckles again, popping individual fingers, eyes bright with amusement as Lya's grave disposition contrasts his own. His lips remain together, pulled into a crooked smile as his superior talks.
"If we used the dragon balls, it would be much easier to stop Hailer and Cooler," Lya tells them, addressing each person in the room individually. "We could finally put an end to the Frost Empire once and for all. We could end their reign and be done with their tyranny."
"I don't get it. I thought Frieza was the big boss." Goku's brow furrows. "I thought all this planet conquering stuff ended when I killed him."
Vegeta and Ytvl both bark a laugh at the same time, and Goku looks between them both before settling on Lya. Cracking through the blankness of her features, there's a sort of pitying expression.
"Goku, if anything, Frieza's death escalated matters. It sent shockwaves through the Empire and caused so much disarray that it unsettled the fabric of how it operated. Thousands upon thousands of soldiers died as order was re-established with Hailer and Cooler as the newly appointed leaders."
"Good riddance," Vegeta spits.
"Not good riddance," Lya retorts, flat. "As you well know, most men working for the Frost Empire don't do so by choice. Nearly sixty-seven percent of soldiers were forced into work. Yes, like you, Vegeta."
Everyone turns to look at the saiyan. His pallor is looking better, but his expression is foul.
"I'm no victim, woman."
She ignores him and turns back to Goku. "It's getting worse. Hailer and Cooler are only moments away from warring with one another. We're concerned. As much as we would like to see one of them dead, it'll be difficult to battle an empire that doesn't have conflicting interests. A warring enemy is a weaker enemy, after all.
With both of them alive right now, it means they are spreading forces thin between one another, us and any other factions out against them. And whilst we have their attention now, they block each other in their endeavours more than we could ever dream to. With one of them out of the way, then it would mean the entire universe will be at an individual tyrant's mercy once again."
There's silence at her words. Even Vegeta doesn't contribute.
"I can back this up, Lord Cooler has regimes in place for the day Hailer readies an attack," the captain elaborates, "We've been training for such a day for years now, and I have no doubt it's the same for the southerners under Hailer."
"It is a race against time."
"How convenient," Vegeta comments, but it sounds weak.
"Don't act like you didn't know the worst kept secret in the Empire." Ytvel swings his shoulders back, flailing a pony-tail of hair. "Or do we only learn about this low brow gossip in the cheap seats? Was the prince above such whisperings when he served? Did you find the Frost family merry and warm?"
"Shut up, you rotten boot-licking bastard. Don't think I don't know what you are."
"Scathing. I think I'd be more upset if this came from someone who hadn't got their ass handed to them by the Ginyu Force."
"You bas-"
"Enough," Lya intervenes. "Ytvl, we are here to request their assistance, not stir the pot. No matter how frustrated you are about losing your position, you should not tease Vegeta after his ordeal. The Boiler is messy business."
"Ah… Of course..." Silkily, Ytvl bows a head. "You have my most sincere apologies, Vegeta."
"Eat shit."
"And that goes to say, Goku Son, in this time of need, I am shy of begging you. Your addition to our front can change the outcome and bring salvation to millions. With the victor over Frieza by our side, we will encourage investors, backers and people of position to support our aims in bringing down the Empire. You could be the difference, the one who can bring light into a life of darkness for many."
"But I've got something I gotta' do," he replies, "I… I've got my own mission."
"What could be more important than saving the universe?"
Goku's mouth goes dry and he stumbles over his words. "My mission… I have to… It's… ah. I… I was told that I shouldn't say."
"Tell us, what were you going to ask of the dragon balls?" Ytvl questions, "That's why you went to the decoy planet in the first place, right? You were seeking a wish. This has something to do with your mission, I assume."
Goku doesn't answer.
So Bulma does. "We're looking for someone."
Deadpan, Ytvl slumps against a wall. "You're asking the dragon balls to help you… locate a person."
"He went missing years ago, near where the old planet Namek was."
"Then he's probably dead."
"He's not!" Goku insists, "I'd know. We've tried before… with the dragon balls I mean…"
"What? I don't understand. You've already tried a different set of dragon balls?"
"Goddamn it, Goku," Piccolo growls. "Keep your trap shut."
"And it didn't work?" Ytvl continues anyway. He looks towards his boss. "I thought you said they can grant any wish?"
"Hmm… That is strange," she quietly agrees. "Something as simple as locating a person should not be above the dragon's power."
Something flutters about Goku's chest. "Do you know anything about it?"
"I… don't. No, I'm sorry. Like I earlier mentioned, we've been seeking the balls ourselves for quite some time now."
Piccolo clenches at his arms as they lay folded. "Keep seeking, you're not going to get them."
Ytvl quirks a brow, smirking. "What a scary namekian you have."
"I do admit, I am concerned by your words… Something like this being beyond the dragon balls' power?" Lya wonders, chin in her hand. "No… I do not like this at all…"
"Yeah, us too," Goku commiserates. "So that's why we've gotta' keep working on our mission. I'm sorry."
Lya releases a long breath at the stalemate.
"Um, would it make a difference if I told you that we're looking for a saiyan?" Bulma suddenly queries. Blank faces all around stare back –they have no idea where she's going with this, and neither goes Goku. "Look, saiyans have just been outlawed, right? How would they keep track of that? There must be a database or something."
Ytvl speaks first, "And what makes you think that your friend has even been documented?"
"Our running theory is that our friend must have been picked up around where Namek was. And who would be looking around Namek after their beloved leader had last been sighted in that area?"
"You think that one of Frieza's ships found him?" Ytvl snorts. "A saiyan you said? Then he really is dead."
"He's not dead," Goku asserts, "the dragon said so."
Lya's façade breaks. Her brows lift with mild surprise. "Oh?"
"They would not spare a saiyan, Lya," Ytvl insists, "not then, not straight after Frieza's battle with one on Namek. They would have made an example out of them then and there."
"The dragon said he is alive?" Lya asks. When Goku nods, it's enough. "Then he is alive."
The captain clicks his tongue. "Then they didn't know he was a saiyan."
"At the time," Bulma points out. "Maybe they know now. Maybe it's been recorded, maybe someone's sighted him, and the Empire has logged it in their archives or something."
"You think they'll just log it?"
"No," Lya says quietly, and then a bit louder, "she has a point. Any known saiyan has been documented and observed." She looks up and waves a hand at Goku. "Since your fateful battle with Frieza, any person with saiyan blood has been carefully monitored or simply destroyed. I'm surprised it took as long as it did to pass into law. I know it sounds awful but this may be good news for your cause. In the past, there have been warrants to capture saiyans and bring them in, maybe someone has seen something."
"I doubt you'll see anything in any of the Frost Empire archives," Ytvl inputs, "but, you may find a variety of artefacts that can help you with your… mission. I remember retrieving an item that can search for missing treasures. I suppose it could be tweaked."
"What? Really?" Goku's chest blooms at the idea.
"Goku Son," Lya pushes. "If you help us be rid of both Cooler and Hailer, and then the Empire for good, then I swear our group will do everything in its power to find who you're looking for."
"We have researchers, scientists, historians, you name it," adds Ytvl. "If your saiyan friend is alive and well like you think he is, it'll be one of them who'll find him."
It feels as if someone has just winded him. He turns to Krillin first, expecting to see his friend nodding in quick agreement. Instead, reluctance faces back. Piccolo too, looks like he'd rather be any place than here. Bulma looks as unsure as Goku feels, and Vegeta looks straight up disgusted.
"Don't be stupid, Kakarot. It's a wormhole of lies and troubles. It'll only get you killed."
"We could start the search as soon as today," Lya says quickly, eyes darting to and away from Vegeta.
"I uh-"
Vegeta growls. "Even if they try and find the boy, there are no guarantees."
"But at least it's something," Lya pushes. "We'll help you find this saiyan. We won't stop looking until we find something."
Ytvl also adds in, "And let's say we don't find the saiyan, the least you've done is help us be rid of the worst tyrants the universe has ever seen."
Vegeta sniggers at this. "Oh yeah, and who do you both work for?"
"Not the Frost Lords," Lya says icily to the prince. "We are a group opposing the Frost Empire, and our leader just wants liberation like the rest of us."
Vegeta releases a low whistle but doesn't say anything else on the matter.
Goku barely has time to think. Is this really a possibility? Could they really find him? Ytvl made a good point too; really, he'd just be helping by getting rid of this Hailer and Cooler. He'd basically be finishing the job he started with Frieza.
Beating Frieza had been bittersweet because that had also been the day his everything went south, the day he lost the most precious thing to him. Goku thinks of the times he had offered Frieza a second chance, and how that if he'd just done the job and ridded the universe of the tyrant quicker, he'd still be here with him. Sure, Goku likes to believe everyone deserves a second chance, but… but some people just don't want to change. Hailer… Cooler, these brothers are just extensions of everything Frieza stood for.
And letting Frieza continue to live longer… only caused more pain in the end.
How could helping finish the job make things worse? If anything, it'll only increase his chances to complete his mission, to bring him home.
"I'll do it."
Krillin coughs, a little surprised. "Goku, are you sure?"
"Yes, we have a deal," He nods at Lya. "I'll help you, if you help me."
"Of course, Goku Son. This is most excellent news."
"You're definitely gonna' to help me, right?"
"We will help you locate this missing person straight away."
"You idiot," Goku hears Vegeta mutter. It goes ignored.
"I'm glad you're finally seeing sense." Ytvl clasps his hands together, wincing when he remembers that one is injured. "Now, Goku Son, was it? That's rather strange for a saiyan name."
"Goku is fine."
"Alright, Goku, you're going to have to give us more information to work with. I'll get my guys to do some digging."
Goku turns towards Bulma, seeking council. When she nods, he feels lighter for it.
Ytvl leans in. "So, what more can you give us?"
Goku's lips thin and he swallows. "He's my son."
A torrent of wind deflates from Ytvl's chest, one that's followed by an awkward laugh. "Ah, it's all starting to make sense. You're just a dad out to save his kid, huh? How sweet. You know, I wasn't aware saiyans even had hearts."
"A saiyan boy?" Lya quizzes. "No, wait, an adolescence? This may be more complicated than originally believed. Tell me, is the boy full-blooded?"
"Half," Piccolo answers when Goku doesn't understand the question.
Lya hums, and then turns her attention to her subordinate. "Don't disconnect your scouter from the server just yet. Try and access the online folders of Known Saiyans, Captives, POI, Deceased and possibly even the Youth Program. Download what you can."
Ytvl reaches towards the red scouter atop his left eye. "You sure? The longer I keep the scouter active, the longer we're exposed. They can track us through it as you well know, and I have faced enough angry southerners today to fill my quota, thank you."
"If Goku Son wants us to find his son then find him we shall try."
"Fine, but if they do find us before I disable this thing, then kiss me goodbye. They're going to be after my blood, especially Hailer's prized hound. I don't think he's going to be very happy with me after all this. I ruined his big day, after all."
Vegeta cracks a knuckle. "Oh, leave the pretentious shit to me. I'll make him wish I was performing The Boiler on him."
"Oh, the captain," Goku realises. "He's an android, right? I felt zero energy reading from that guy."
"That would explain a lot," Ytvl snorts.
"You were supposed to recruit him," Lya admonishes.
Ytvl bats a hand. "Trust me; getting anything from that guy is akin to getting blood from a stone. Whilst I don't think he likes the Empire about as much as the rest of us, he isn't about to jump into bed with a rebel organization, I'd wager."
"Pity."
"Don't be too sad, Lya, we'll see him again, no doubt. I'll eat my scouter if Lord Cooler and Hailer don't put him on my case. Saving Vegeta was a plan well done, of course, but I do think the repercussions of what happened there today will continue to chase us. The entire thing was a huge embarrassment for them, and they're going to want to right that wrong."
From his seat, still smouldering and stinking, Vegeta scoffs a final time.
"And this, Kakarot, is the typical bullshit you've just gotten us all involved in. I hope you like politics, unabashed greed, boot-lickers and being stabbed in the back."
Ytvl laughs. "And don't forget all the death, for the Empire is full of it."
Goku nods, solemn. "So long as we find Gohan."
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Wow, it's been a while since I updated this one. Apologies! Horse is a greedy boy. I'm working on Chapter 13 and 14 at the same for that, but I felt that I should give this story some attention. We got some Goku and co action this time around, and we've found that Gohan had been right to have misgivings about Ytvl. He's a tricky one. Goku accepting to work them him and Lya has not made Vegeta a happy bunny.
Next time, we return to Gohan and see the results of what happened after the failed execution.
Thanks for the reviews, follows and favs on this. And of course, thanks to Kags for her usual beta-ing. Honestly, I'm useless without her. Everyone go bully her to update her own story. If you like kidnapping fics, check it out! 'Dust in the Wind'.
I hope you're all keeping well. Until next time!