Over Nine Thousand

Goku stood in the centre of the battlefield. His eyes locked on to those of Vegeta.

Vegeta stood calmly, a smirk plastered on his face.

"Gohan," Goku addressed his son without looking at him. "You have grown big and strong. Your mother would be proud.."

Gohan nodded happily. "Mr Piccolo trained me. He was awesome!"

Piccolo, who had now stood up, turned to his former enemy. "What took you so long, Goku?"

"Well, I guess I had my reasons. For one thing I never expected the Saiyans to arrive so soon," replied Goku. The Saiyan from Earth surveyed the area around him. "Where's Chiaotzu?" he asked.

Krillin looked towards his toes, unable to say anything. "G-goku, he-he..."

Meanwhile, Nappa slowly crawled out of the boulder he had crashed into. He was rubbing the place where Goku's attack had landed, growling with anger.

Goku continued to look around. Suddenly, his eyes met with what looked like.. "Is that...? Oh no!"

Tien gritted his teeth. "Yes. Chiaotzu's gone.." He clenched his fists with anger and regret. He had not been strong enough to protect his friend..

Goku was still staring with his mouth agape at what remained of Chiaotzu.

Krillin continued to look down, so did Yamcha.

The short turtle fighter addressed Goku. "It was the big bald Saiyan. Chiaotzu did something which really ticked him off and then in a fit of rage-"

Goku raised a hand. "Say no more, Krillin. Say no more.."

Nappa chuckled. "Aww.. did the little guy happen to be a friend of yours, Kakarot? I am truly sorry."

Goku gnashed his teeth and turned towards Nappa.

Vegeta crossed his arms. 'Let's see what Kakarot can really do..'

Nappa grinned. "The sound of his tiny little head popping out of his body was so satisfying. You really should have heard it, Kakarot. Maybe it would have gotten your Saiyan blood boiling."

Tien growled. "Why you?!" He began to charge energy in his hand.

Both Krillin and Yamcha were quick to appear beside Tien and grab an arm of his each. The three-eyed fighter growled and tried desperately to break free.

Yamcha looked at Tien, exasperated. "Come on! You know you cannot hurt him, not in your current condition. You will just end up putting yourself in danger.."

Krillin agreed. "He's right, you know.."

"What's the use of just standing around?" asked Tien. "I prefer to die than to hear his trash-talk anymore.."

Krillin furrowed his brows, looking angry. "Come on, Tien. Chiaotzu died to save you! You wouldn't want his sacrifice to be in vain."

Tien scowled but did not reply. He knew Krillin was telling the truth.

Nappa chuckled. "Did I hit a nerve, three-eyes? How touching."

Both Krillin and Yamcha were barely able to contain Tien who struggled to break lose while staring furiously at Nappa.

Goku meanwhile clenched his fists and began to power-up. "HAAAAAA!" Rocks broke away from the ground and began to rise as his energy continued to escalate.

Vegeta eyed the rising reading on his scouter, his mouth hung open. "6,500.. 7,000... 7,500.."

Nappa grinned as he watched Goku power-up.

Piccolo jumped and landed beside Gohan, wisely retreating from the neighbourhood of Goku's increasing energy in the process.

Goku's hair rose as wind emanated from his aura.

His son, Gohan, clenched his fists excitedly. "Yes, dad."

Krillin, Yamcha and Tien looked on in amazement at their friend's show of power.

Goku stood tensed, still increasing his energy.

"Ha!" With a yell, the Saiyan from Earth calmed down. The tiny pieces of rocks which floated in the air fell around him.

"Hehehe," chuckled Nappa. "Done powering-up? It's time to put you in your place once and for all, you low-class scum." Nappa then turned to his partner. "Hey, Vegeta! What does the scouter say about his power-level?"

Vegeta growled and took off his scouter. "It's over nine thousaaand!" he exclaimed, destroying the scouter in his fist with anger. He couldn't believe it.

"What?! Nine thousand? There's no way that can be right!" exclaimed a bewildered Nappa.

Goku looked on calmly. "Don't be so sure. I will have you know that I was trained in the way of the Kayoken attack."

Nappa scoffed, dashing towards Goku. "Kayo-whatever. Who cares? I am still gonna rip you apart!" The bald Saiyan threw a punch at Goku, full strength.

However, Goku easily dodged it by disappearing.

"Argh!" Nappa groaned as a kick collided with the back of his neck, causing him to fall down.

Goku stood calmly, watching Nappa struggle to stand up.

"You.." said Nappa, his teeth gnashed with anger. "You.. I am going to tear you to pieces." With a yell, Nappa threw a punch aimed at Goku's gut, however in the last second, Nappa's target disappeared. Nappa frantically looked around. "Where would he go?"

Vegeta growled. "He's to your left.."

Nappa looked to his left and his jaw dropped open in amazement. Goku was calmly standing there, about two hundred metres away from him. "No, it's a trick. You can never be that fast."

Goku smiled. "You sure about that?"

"Of course, I am sure!" Nappa shouted.

Nappa than zapped out of view to reappear in front of Goku. With a growl, he threw a punch at Kakarot's face.

Goku tilted his head to the side, Nappa's punch going right over his shoulder.

"Damn you!" exclaimed Nappa before showering Goku with a barrage of punches and kicks.

But to the bald Saiyan's dismay Goku was effortlessly dodging his blows.

"Rah!" Nappa exclaimed, trying to kick out Goku's legs from under him. However, Goku easily hopped above the attack.

With a yell Nappa threw a punch at Goku's body but it only passed through his after-image.

Suddenly, Nappa's eyes widened before he growled furiously. He could feel someone standing on his head.

"You, low-class dog. How dare you!"

Nappa clapped his hands above his head but by now Goku had disappeared.

"Argh!" Nappa's eyes bulged with pain as he felt Goku's fist implant into his abdomen.

"That was for hurting my friends ..and killing Chiaotzu," said Goku, standing calmly.

Nappa dropped onto his knees, holding onto his gut. His teeth were gnashed in a mixture of pain and anger.

Vegeta looked on, holding his chin in thought. 'It's intriguing. A year ago, he couldn't handle Raditz and now he's making a fool out of Nappa..'

Nappa slowly stood up, trembling with fury. "You! You are nothing to me! I was the general of the whole Saiyan army! You are nothing but a low-class dog! Your only job should be to be on my feet, begging for mercy!" Nappa clenched his fist, destroying the rock he held in it to pieces. "I HATE YOU!"

With that, the bald Saiyan threw a punch at his opponent's chest but to his dismay Goku effortlessly caught it in his palm.

Nappa stared daggers at Goku, his fury not allowing him to form any words.

"Ha!" With a yell, Goku punched Nappa at the base of his shoulder, causing him to spin. The Saiyan from Earth then proceeded to kick Nappa in the chest, sending him crashing into a rock formation.

A few seconds passed by without anything happening. Goku continued to look where Nappa had crashed into.

Krillin and Gohan laughed out loud. This guy was nothing compared to Goku's new power!

Yamcha snickered. "Looks like the 'low-class dog' is proving to be a handful.."

Tien looked on. 'That's the way to go, Goku.'

Piccolo gritted his teeth, he could sense that the Saiyan was still alive. It wasn't over till it was over. He knew that..

THOOOM!

An explosion erupted where Nappa had been sent, causing the rock formation to shatter into pieces.

Nappa screamed with rage.

.

"NAPPA! CALM DOWN! How can you expect to hit him when you can't even see!"

Nappa blinked, coming to. It was Vegeta.

"You are blinded with your rage, Nappa!" Vegeta shouted. "And he wants you to be blinded by it! You are making a fool of yourself."

Nappa looked down, the truth of what Vegeta said dawning on him. He than turned to Goku and snickered. "You are not going to anger me anymore. That's right. I know your strategy. And.. I know just the way to deal with you.."

With that Nappa jumped up and flew to his side.

Goku blinked, not understanding what Nappa was trying to do.

Piccolo fell into his battle stance. "Gohan! He is coming for us! Be on your gaurd!"

Gohan took out his sword and held it firmly.

Goku realized a bit too late just where Nappa was going. "Oh no!"

Nappa approached Gohan and Piccolo with a grin. He was least interested in the Namekian, however. The Saiyan opened his mouth and fired a beam of energy.

Gohan's jaw dropped open as he was immobilized with terror. However, just as the beam came near to him he was pulled out of harm's way.

The boy looked up, it was Piccolo.

Piccolo growled. "Didn't I teach you how to dodge, Gohan?"

Suddenly, Nappa appeared behind the two.

Piccolo's eyes widened. He began to turn.

The Namekian grunted with pain as Nappa hit his neck with a karate chop, causing him to fall down.

Goku was flying towards them with top speed.

With a grin, Nappa grabbed Gohan and held the boy's body tight against his chest with one arm. Gohan struggled with all his strength but he couldn't move a muscle. Nappa was just too strong.

Nappa then charged his hand with energy and put it above Gohan's head.

Goku's eyes widened, he was too late.

Nappa snickered. "Stop right there or I will blast the boy to pieces."

Goku stopped right in his tracks. The Saiyan from Earth descended to land onto the ground.

The energy in Nappa's hand dissipated as he saw Goku stop. The former Saiyan general than walked towards Goku who stood with his teeth gritted.

"Leave my son out of this," said Goku. "It's between you and me." However, his plea fell on deaf ears.

Gohan, meanwhile, struggled with all his might. The boy rotated his wrist and tried to hit Nappa with the blade of the sword he still held.

Nappa grinned as the boy failingly tried to hurt him, the sword pushing against his armor feeling nothing more than a minor itch. With his other hand, Nappa then grabbed the blade and shattered it to pieces.

Goku stood in front of the two, shaking with anger.

Nappa walked towards his opponent. "Now, Kakarot. Remember, you are not allowed to move a muscle."

The bald Saiyan continued to walk until he stood in front of Goku. The two stood in their positions, staring at each other for a few seconds. Goku was thinking about what to do when Nappa pulled back his knee.

Goku's eyes bulged as he felt Nappa's knee hit him below the belt. The orange-clad fighter dropped to his knees, holding onto himself with pain.

"Hehehe," Nappa chuckled as he saw Goku fall in front of him.

Vegeta scoffed. "Oh come on, Nappa. That was cheap, even by your standards."

Nappa looked towards his partner, a satisfied grin planted across his face. "He was really starting to tick me off, Vegeta.."

Vegeta crossed his arms, chuckling. "Alright. Deal with him as you see fit.."

Krillin, Yamcha and Tien shook with fury.

"No, Goku's down," said Tien, worry evident on his face.

Yamcha gritted his teeth. "But what can we do?"

Krillin looked on. They knew they couldn't attack Nappa, not without putting Gohan's life in danger.

Tien growled. "If they defeat Goku, they are going to kill all of us along with Gohan anyway." With that he took off towards Nappa.

"Wait for me," said Yamcha, following his friend.

Nappa snickered, putting his foot on top of Goku's head. "It's time to say good-bye."

To be continued...

Author's note: Looking forward to the reviews, really appreciate all of them.