Chapter 33

Countdown to Invasion

A long pause begins after Kakarot gives his response; silence fills the air as Kakarot awaits Tien's response. Chichi gives Kakarot a concerned look, but Kakarot pays it no mind. Tien lets out a breath and says with a slightly relaxed expression, breaking the silence, "In that case I'll trust you."

Kakarot's expression relaxes, and everyone begins to breathe again, having been holding it due to the tension in the air. Chiaotzu suddenly asks, "Why did he send you that message?"

Kakarot gives him an uncertain expression before resting his chin atop his right hand and then supporting that hand with his other arm. Kakarot spoke with a puzzled tone as he tried to deduce Raditz's reasoning, "He was probably just givin' me a heads up, though I don't think Vegeta knows."

Krillin asks, "Why do you think that?"

Kakarot took the hand he was propping his head up with and pointed it up in the air as he looked at Krillin and said, "If it were on Vegeta's orders, I doubt he'd of warned me about being punished. I doubt they would send a message at all if they were comin' to make me pay."

Tien then asks, "How should we use this information?"

Kakarot scowled and crossed his arms at the question but left the question to Krillin who asked, "Use it how?"

Tien put his fist to his lips as he cleared his throat before saying, "Just hear me out."

Tien put his hand forward; after opening his fist he did a hand motion facing his palm toward the sky while explaining himself, "With this information it could be possible to bring this Raditz to our side."

Kakarot's eyes widened upon hearing this, everyone else's expression was either filled with doubt or curiosity. Tien immediately explained himself, "Just think about it, if this Vegeta is as dangerous as you say, then we could use all the help we can get. We could use this information to harm the trust of the group and try to convince him to support us or at least Kakarot."

Krillin thought about it and smiled saying, "That could work to at least cause conflict in the group."

Suddenly a voice of opposition arose from a familiar source, "No, that won't work."

Everyone looked toward Kakarot who's expression returned to the serious guise he had earlier, "My brother may have given me a heads up but that doesn't mean he's grown the guts to actually defy Vegeta in the open."

Kakarot shook his head and said, "At best Vegeta'll make 'em fight harder, at worst he will outright kill him."

Kakarot spoke with a dangerous look in his eyes and a threatening tone in his voice, "You won't tell them anything, understand?"

Everyone froze, their breath caught in their throat. Kakarot hadn't exuded this level of menace since they fought him so long ago. Tien broke the silence, "Alright if you feel that way we'll keep a lid on it."

The menace Kakarot exuded was reduced but he still had an overly serious expression on his face. This is when Chichi approached his side and put a reassuring hand on his arm accompanied with a kind yet worried smile. Kakarot's expression melted before her as he relaxed his body and said, "Alright."

Right then Krillin had a question, "Just how dangerous is this "Vegeta"? You make him sound almost as bad as this Freeza guy."

Kakarot looked toward Krillin with a serious look although his words had far less malice in them compared to earlier. "Freeza is worse by far but Vegeta is bad in his own right. Out of the whole squad he was the most sadistic."

Kakarot's eyes sharpen as he recalls his experiences with Vegeta in his past, "Nappa can be horrible too but he's a brute where I would describe Vegeta as a strategist. Nappa can be brutal but at least he's as dumb as an ox. Vegeta's clever, he's much more powerful with the smarts to match."

Kakarot let out a breath and said, "I can see you lot outsmartin' Nappa but Vegeta's a different story. If I were you, I'd save any of your trump cards for him."

Kakarot pointed his index finger at Krillin and said with authority in his voice, "Save that instant kill move yer' workin' on for Vegeta. If we can't overcome his overwhelmin' power, then we'll need something special to fall back on."

Krillin's eyes widened in surprise as everyone looked at him. Chiatozu and Chichi look shocked as Chichi mutters, "Instant kill?"

Tien, however, gave him a hearty pat on the back while congratulating him, "So that's what you've been working on all this time. Nice to have something similar to Piccolo's new move at our disposal."

Krillin nervously scratches the back of his head while sheepishly saying, "I didn't exactly want to say I had it until I've mastered it. I feel like I shouldn't be surprised that you managed to sneak a peek, you're practically a ghost when you finished mastering Ki suppression."

Kakarot's expression fell into mild surprise as he rubbed the back of his neck, "Oh, guess I shoulda thought about that one."

Kakarot then shook his head and said, "Well you should have the time to finish it, they should be here in a year's time. Least that's what Raditz said."

Kakarot then said while crossing his arms, "Well that goes for everyone else too. If yer' workin' on any big moves, try n' keep Vegeta from seeing 'em. I should be able to take care of Nappa and Raditz without needing any big moves anyway so there shouldn't be a need to use them until we fight Vegeta."

Tien then said, "It sounds like you know him well."

Kakarot looked at him with a softer expression as he said, "You can say that he was basically the leader of the squad not to mention the prince of our species back when Planet Vegeta was still around."

Kakarot let out a quick chuckle before saying, "He still totes that title around as if it means anything. It takes more than just having yer' father die to become the official king of the Saiyans but he doesn't seem to care about forcing the issue."

Bulma stuttered a surprised response, "P-p-prince! Y-you mean your species was doing a caste system a-and he was the king's son?"

Kakarot looked her way, gave her a nonchalant expression and nodded while saying, "Yeah, but from what I was already told it was based on battle power."

Chichi repeated the words battle power. In response Kakarot jumped straight into elaborating, "Our system was based on battle power and lineage. We based their standing on the power level they were born with and their parents. Vegeta's line was full of powerful bastards, any "royalty" who wound up being below average were sent elsewhere and often never heard from again."

Bulma grew pale as she nervously swallowed, this is when Krillin grew curious, "Given how powerful you and Raditz are, what was your starting power level?"

Kakarot's expression turns serious as he says, "I was a basic power level of five, Raditz never told me his, but we're generally considered low class."

Everyone's face grew white, Krillin muttered, "N-no way, you two are this powerful and yet you started at that."

Kakarot's expression softened as he said, "Yeah, don't know if I mentioned this before but the average Power Level here is five. I was actually supposed to be sent here but Father pulled some strings and got me paired with my brother instead."

Everyone looked surprised except for Chichi who was the first to be privy to this information. Tien immediately asked, "You said lineage mattered too, was your father high class or something and you and your brother drew the short straw?"

Kakarot shook his head and said, "No, my father was low class and an exception. He built his power from scratch thanks to his missions, eventually he got recognition for rising so high and that gave him enough political power to get me in the "Prince's" squad."

Kakarot then realized something and muttered while looking at the ground, "Guess I'm an exception too."

Kakarot began to feel a strange sense of joy for some indiscernible reason before he shook his head to fight the thought off. Suddenly Bulma nervously says, "Alright, he's the prince and all. Now, I don't want to be the first to suggest this but since he knows about the balls and he's a prince, he probably hasn't told this Freeza about them right?"

Kakarot nods while putting on a neutral expression, Bulma then says, "Well, I don't want to sound naive but is it possible to talk this out? I know they're not happy with you and stuff but if you can agree on a less problematic wish since you both want Freeza gone wouldn't that be better? I mean he's a prince, he has to care about his own people and might want revenge?"

The others gave her conflicted looks before Kakarot gave her a resounding, "Not gonna happen."

Bulma blurted out, "What, why!?"

Kakarot shakes his head and says, "You misunderstand Vegeta's character and what his status means to him."

Everyone gives Kakarot a puzzled look as he explains, "Being the prince doesn't mean he holds a love for his species, his people. Recall what I said about both battle power and lineage mattering to my species. Vegeta isn't just the prince because the king's his father, it's cause he was born the strongest. Nappa wouldn't give me an exact number but his power level at birth made his father proud and given he's the king. That should tell you it was beyond exceptional."

Kakarot's eyes grew sharper as he delved into Vegeta's personality, "He's long since surpassed his father and if I don't count possibly nonexistent legends, I'd argue he's the strongest Saiyan in history. He's got the ego to match, he wasn't the leader because he cared for us, it was because he was the best. We were lucky he was smart and clear headed."

Kakarot then said, "Those below him don't get a choice, and don't mistake him for a softy with a rough exterior. He doesn't care for us any more than we care for him. On the day I was injured on Prune, he tried to kill me because I told him to put a fellow warrior out of his misery. Raditz bailed me out, but I've known how expendable we were to him long before Prune. He hates weaklings and he won't care for what we have to say."

Kakarot looked at Bulma and said, "At most he'd humor what we have to say but he would never budge on changing the wish. Immortality is his answer to Freeza and it would extend his rule of this new empire to eternity."

A long silence followed after Kakarot made his objections known. A sweating Bulma clasped her hands together while slightly shaking, she stuttered, "A-alright, no n-negotiations, got it!"

Bulma gave them a shaky double thumbs up before taking a couple steps backwards to stay out of focus. Kakarot scratched the back of his head nervously. Kakarot meant to make clear the dangers of Vegeta but now he thinks he went a step too far. Krillin is the first to break the ice of this stress filled atmosphere. He rests his chin on his fist, "Alright, in that case we'll rely on our own strength. I kind of prefer it that way."

Krillin smiles and raises his fists at shoulder height and says with subdued joy in his voice, "I prefer defending my world with all I've got over standing around and letting someone else do it for me."

Tien smiles in reaction to hearing this, he balls his hands into fists and says, "I agree, it would feel wrong leaving everything to you."

Kakarot smiled in response, taking pride in the fire he saw in his fellow students' eyes. Krillin looks toward Kami and asks, "What's our next step Master, we can take whatever you can dish out!"

Kami paused for a moment before smiling at his student, admiring the conviction in his students' eyes. He answers him with a high tone, "I'll increase your weights five times and focus on increasing your abilities."

Kami gave Kakarot a dejected look as he said, "I'm sorry Kakarot, we will have to put your personal training on hold."

Kakarot returns his sad look with a smile saying, "That's alright Master, I've gotta focus on myself anyway if there is any hope of us taking Vegeta down."

Chichi is the next to jump in, "Don't leave me out Master Kami! I don't want to be left out of this fight, I don't want to be stuck on the sidelines again."

Chichi has a determined look as she urges them not to leave her out of this fight again. Kami chuckles in response saying, "Not to worry, I haven't accepted you as a student only to hold you back when the world is at stake."

Right then a troubled look appeared on Kakarot's face as his eyes moved from left to right. He then gave the excited Chichi a brief glance before looking at Kami and saying, "I might need to make a dangerous decision in order to ensure we win this fight. I hope everyone will be alright with that."

Kami frowns at the concerning look on Kakarot's face before asking, "What do you have in mind?"

Kakarot looks over at Chichi who now has a nervously inquisitive expression. Kakarot then says, "You might not like what I'm bout ta' suggest but hear me out first."

Chichi's expression grows more nervous until she shakes her head and puts on a brave face before saying, "Don't hold back on my account, say it."

Kakarot looks at the others and finally says, "We'll need Piccolo's help."

Chichi looks visibly uncomfortable, Tien scowls upon hearing the name and Krillin has a troubled expression as he asks, "Are you suggesting this because of Baba's prediction of the future?"

Kakarot nods and says, "Partly yes, but it's also cause we'll need all the help we can get and Piccolo's one of the strongest guys on the planet."

Kakarot then says with a reluctant look, "I understand everyone here has bad history with 'em but I don't think we'll win if we turn away help."

Chiaotzu nervously asks, "Is that even safe? Last time he played everyone, he even sided with you before grabbing your tail."

Kakarot said back, "He only sided with me because it gave him best access to a weakness, he thought I had. Like I told you lot last time, I learned to train my tail from "them"."

Kakarot crossed his arms and said, "He won't side with them with that information. From what I learned about him while he was with me, he's pretty stubborn."

Kakarot then said, "From what I learned after he betrayed me, he's not the type to stand around and let some aliens come in and take what he claims to be his."

All of a sudden Kakarot raises his voice to a yell, "I'm sure you would agree!"

Everyone looks around wondering who he's talking to. This is when a new Ki appears close by. Tien's gaze shoots over to the temple on the Lookout. He blurts out, "Who's there?!"

Right then a familiar individual floats from behind the temple and flies toward the group, eventually landing a few feet in front of Kakarot. Kami, Tien and Chichi blurted out of surprise, "Piccolo!"

Piccolo crosses his arms and scowls at Kakarot while speaking in an annoyed tone, "It figures you would have sniffed me out."

Kakarot smiles at the comment, Piccolo's gaze passed ever everyone around him. Krillin, Chiaotzu and Tien got into defensive stances while Chichi positioned herself a few steps behind Kakarot looking tense. Popo looked worried while Kami gave Piccolo the same scowl Piccolo showed everyone else. Piccolo's gaze stopped on Kami as the two Namekians gave each other a shared glare. Piccolo then turned to Kakarot who was still smiling. Krillin muttered to himself, "I don't like this."

Tien nodded and spoke in an equally low voice, "We have the bastard surrounded and yet he's only paid us a passing glance."

No one made a third comment, it was already clear to them that Piccolo doesn't view them as a threat. Instead, he locks eyes with the only man worth his gaze, Kakarot. Piccolo finally said, "I'll admit your proposition has promise… and your right. I can't have some aliens come and take what's rightfully mine."

Piccolo heaved a sigh before saying, "Tell me your conditions."

Kakarot's smile widened, Kakarot's idea piqued Piccolo's interest. Now for the next part, the negotiations, "From now until we stand over the bodies of the Saiyans you cease all hostilities toward me and my allies. You will also work with us to beat them, and you will train with me to ensure we are prepared for the battle with them."

Piccolo didn't answer immediately, instead he thought on the terms of this alliance. After half a minute of self-deliberation Piccolo began to speak, "Ceasing hostilities and working with you is something I expected. Training with you on the other hand…why?"

Kakarot frowned and said, "As a Saiyan and as a martial artist of earth I have found that training alone can only get me so far. I need someone to help me push my limits."

Kakarot's gaze shifts to his sibling students excluding Chichi before telling Piccolo, "I hesitate to say this in front of my comrades, but I need someone stronger, closer to my level to be my training partner."

Piccolo thinks for another moment before saying while keeping his scowl, "While I'm flattered, how bad is this Vegeta if you feel the need to ask for my help? This deal favors me, I could betray you the second we deal with the Saiyans. Is this Vegeta worth that risk?"

Kakarot frowns and speaks while looking at his allies, "Everyone take a couple steps back and brace yourselves."

Kakarot gave Chichi a hand motion telling her to take a few steps back. Chichi does so without delay and the others do the same. Piccolo places his arms to his side and balls his hands into fists before asking in a threatening voice, "What are you about to do?"

Kakarot locks eyes with Piccolo and simply says, "I'm going to show you a glimpse of the threat we face."

Kakarot's body tenses up, his face twists into an intense scowl as he summons his strength. The air around Kakarot begins to continuously rise, becoming visible. Soon after cracks formed around the floor Kakarot was standing on with miniscule fragments of the floor rising with the air around Kakarot. A low strained growl escaped Kakarot's lips before it rose into a full-blown yell. Right when he yelled out a light blue aura appeared around Kakarot's body.

The erupting Ki rose above him and immediately began wildly stirring the clouds above everyone. The shockwave Kakarot's aura created hit everyone around him. Despite successfully blocking the shockwave Tien and Krillin are pushed back by half an inch. Chichi on the other hand is pushed back by several feet until she grabs onto a nearby pillar. Baba does her best to hold onto her crystal ball while Chiaotzu holds onto the roof of the temple. Everyone else is also struggling with Bulma holding onto a pillar for dear life. Lastly Piccolo blocks the shockwaves with a single hand but is visibly struggling as he closes one of his eyes as veins bulge from his arm.

Kakarot finally lets out a final roar before his aura disappears as does the shockwaves and all the clouds above the lookout. A clear blue sky shines on Kakarot who's hair floats in the wind. Everyone gains their footing back but those who can feel Ki stares at Kakarot with wide eyes. Even Piccolo is shocked by the power he feels emanating from Kakarot, "H-he was holding back that much?" Mutters Piccolo.

Kakarot then said, "If you all don't get at least half as strong as I am now then you shouldn't bother showin' up in a year."

Kakarot then says, "Anything less and you wouldn't even count as a warmup. You would last a single minute."

Kakarot then heaves another sigh and looks at a scowling Piccolo, "Trainin' alone ain't gonna close the distance with Vegeta, but if we, the strongest warriors on this planet work together then we might just make it."

Piccolo mutters to himself, "He was hiding this much power…and this Vegeta is supposedly even worse."

Piccolo bit his lip out of frustration before balling his hands into fists in an attempt to regain his composure. He then takes in a breath before locking eyes with Kakarot and saying, "While the thought of teaming with you makes me want to hurl, letting these Saiyans do as they like is something I cannot tolerate."

Piccolo immediately aims his index finger at Kakarot and in an aggressive voice tells him, "But be warned Saiyan, the second we deal with your former allies, be prepared to join them."

Kakarot cracks a half smile and says, "If either of us are alive that is."

Kami is the first to speak after that grim statement, "I'll admit I didn't expect you to accept this deal."

Piccolo lets out an arrogant chuckle before turning to him with his arms crossed and saying, "Don't think too deep into it old man, this alliance is temporary. The sooner it's finished the better."

Kakarot clapped his hands and said, "Alright with that done, let's get to the exchange of information."

Kakarot adds, "I need to know where you got that new arm, I'm certain I removed it before you left during our first fight."

Krillin chimed in, "We already experienced that particular ability a few times in the past. He lost it before, but he knows how to grow it back… like a lizard."

Piccolo scoffed and said while glancing at Krillin, "Loudmouth, don't compare me to a simple reptile."

Piccolo then looked at Kakarot and said, "I guess there's no point in hiding anything from you with the peanut gallery around. As far as I can tell my kind are able to regenerate limbs and minor injuries. I haven't tested it on more fatal blows, but it isn't perfect. It costs quite a bit of Ki to do so I try not to rely on it too much."

Kakarot puts a hand to his chin as he thinks about this new info. He then says, "If that's the case I won't rely on it in our training."

Kakarot then says, "We'll start by bringing you closer to my level. I need you stronger if you're going to be a worthwhile training partner."

Piccolo grumbles before saying, "I don't like the insinuation that I'm so below you I need a trainer. But I guess I don't have much of a choice now do I?"

Kakarot chuckled and said, "You don't."

Piccolo let out his own chuckle before saying, "I'll make you pay for that insult in a year."

Kakarot then says with a flat face, "We'll start tomorrow morning, I'm gonna bring these guys up to speed at what we're up against."

Piccolo frowns and says, "As much as I'd hate to spend even another minute among you and your "pals". Won't I need this info as well?"

Kakarot said back with a frown, "We'll be spending more than a year together, I'll have more than enough time to tell you later, besides…"

Kakarot then turned his back on Piccolo and said with a scowl and a dark tone, "You've outstayed your welcome."

Piccolo didn't respond, simply giving Kakarot a strange look as if he believed he was misunderstanding something. Piccolo ignored the thought by shaking his head before saying, "Fine then, I'll see you tomorrow. Don't keep me waiting."

Piccolo immediately flew off, returning to wherever he called home. Everyone let out a sigh as the tension left their bodies. The absence of Piccolo lifted a weight off of everyone's shoulders, most of all Chichi. The first thing Kakarot did when Piccolo vacated the Lookout was look at Chichi who was looking considerably better. Kakarot immediately said, "How do ya feel about that? That couldn't of been easy given what he did to your father."

Chichi looked a bit distressed before she shook her head, put on a brave face, looked at Kakarot and said, "I don't like Piccolo, but I won't make the same mistake last time. If it means saving the earth, then I'll tough it out."

Kakarot gave her a smile and said, "Nice to hear."

It's just then that Baba finally asks the question that was floating at the back of her mind, "Alright, why am I here? You had Chichi, drag me here without telling me anything."

Kakarot looked at Baba, clearly surprised and said, "Right! Sorry, things got more complicated than I was expecting. I didn't think Piccolo would try 'n sneak in 'ta eavesdrop."

Kakarot then cleared his throat and said, "I should have said this first, but I need you to tell Yamcha to keep training 'n otherworld, assuming that's possible."

Baba paused before saying, "I could do that, I'd have to talk to King Yemma first to extend his stay with King Kai. The living aren't normally allowed to linger in otherworld unless there's a good reason. I imagine an alien invasion should suffice, especially since he has had plenty of trouble from the large influx of souls resulting from these other invasions."

Kakarot said in response, "Good, whoever this King Kai is, I hope he can make Yamcha that much stronger. Depending on the training Yamcha could wound up being our trump card."

Bulma immediately looked down, hiding a dejected look. She was hoping to see Yamcha soon, but the recent events obviously meant he would be gone for at least another year. Chichi immediately took note of her shift of gaze, she approached her and gave her a reassuring one-armed hug which Bulma didn't bother trying to fight back. Chichi spoke in a low but gentle tone, "We'll talk to him when Baba gives him the news."

Bulma gave Chichi a small smile before nodding. Kakarot then said with gripped fists, "All right let's get down to business. Listen well, this is a lot of info to dump on y'all, I don't want 'ta repeat myself."

Right then Kakarot told his allies everything about his Saiyan allies. He reminded them that Raditz was the only one vulnerable to his tail getting grabbed. He told them about the Squad themselves as well as the potential of facing Saibamen, their abilities, among other things. Soon enough their training would begin in earnest, the countdown to the Saiyan's arrival starts today.

Author's Note: And we're done with the planning phase. I'm glad I finished the "planning for the invasion" part of the arc in two chapters. Now I can focus on the "training" arc, prepare for a few Kakarot/Piccolo scenes and I have a few interesting ideas for Piccolo and Kakarot's training so here's hoping I can execute them properly. Anyway, thank you for reading and if you feel like it, please leave a review of the chapter, letting me know how it went. Thank you again and onto the Power Levels

Power Levels:

Kakarot: 5,500

Chichi: 2,000

Tien: 3,000

Chiaotzu: 2,500

Krillin: 3,200

Piccolo: 4,000