Planet: ?
The alien world's two suns cast long shadows across the desolate landscape. Three Saiyan warriors stood amidst the ruins of what had once been a thriving civilization, their armor gleaming in the dying light.
"Hmph. These insects weren't even worth the effort," Nappa growled, crushing a piece of alien technology beneath his boot.
Vegeta stood with his arms crossed, scouter blinking as it processed the planet's remaining power levels. Beside him, Cellera mirrored his stance, her shoulder length dark hair swaying in the wind, her eyes carrying the same sharp calculation as her father's.
"Six hours," she noted, her voice carrying the crisp pride of Saiyan royalty. "We could have cleared this planet in five if we'd split the sectors more efficiently."
A small smirk crossed Vegeta's face at his daughter's analysis. 'Always looking to improve our efficiency, aren't you, Cellera?'" But sometimes... " He raised his hand, gathering energy for a final blast, "...it's worth taking one's time."
The energy blast illuminated their faces as it destroyed the planet's last standing city. Cellera watched the destruction with practiced detachment, though her eyes lingered momentarily on a falling structure in the distance.
While she enjoyed fighting as much as the next Saiyan, she didn't take joy in dragging out her opponents' pain and suffering, unlike Nappa and her father, who seemed to savor every moment of their victims' agony. She preferred giving quick deaths to those too weak to defend themselves - a mercy her father called weakness, but one that reminded her of her mother's methods.
"Speaking of efficiency," Nappa interjected, adjusting his scouter, "Raditz should be reporting back about Earth soon. Think he's handled Kakarot?"
'We'll know soon enough,' Vegeta replied. His scouter suddenly beeped, catching all their attention. "What's this? Interesting…Raditz's power level just dropped significantly."
Cellera stepped forward, her own scouter confirming the reading. "Either the scouter's malfunctioning, or..."
Or Kakarot has proven more interesting than anticipated," Vegeta finished, a dangerous gleam in his eyes. Cellera recognized that look - her father only showed such interest when something challenged his expectations.
"I'll tap into the coms on his scouter and have it set for us to hear as well," Cellera said in exasperation, adjusting the settings.
"No, you die alone."a gruff, unfamiliar voice echoes through the scouter.
Cellera's ears perk at those words. Die?! While Raditz wasn't nearly as strong as the three of them, he shouldn't have fallen so easily to his younger brother. But then again, his overconfidence and his mouth gets him into some close calls.
"Goku won't be gone for long. I'm guessing his friends will see to it that he'll be back within the week."the gruff voice continues.
So not just Raditz but this 'Goku' person as well. Surely, they can't mean Kakarot? But who else would even have a chance of putting a scratch on Raditz. Then there was the remark about coming back? Just what is going on here?! Before Cellera could even begin to try and make sense of this unforeseen turn of events, Raditz's pained voice was heard, struggling to respond,
"What? That's impossible! Tell me how!"
"Gladly. On this planet we have something we call the dragonballs. When all seven balls are gathered together, they have the power to grant any wish and that includes bringing the dead back to life. So you see, it's Goku who will have the last laugh."
Cellera's eyes widened at the new revelation. So the Earth has dragon balls as well? She had thought those mystical orbs had only existed on planet Namek. It seems that this planet called "Earth" that Kakarot was sent to is full of surprises.
"No,"Raditz's voice cuts through again, "I'm afraid you're wrong, green man."He takes a struggling breath before continuing. "This device on my face it's..it's also a transmitter. My Saiyan comrades heard every single word. The three of them...they'll come. I know they will."he sputters and coughs before continuing,"And once they arrive, you'll be powerless to stop them. They'll seek out the dragonballs and destroy everything in their path. You and every living thing on this planet will be wiped out. They'll destroy you all."
She continues to watch the power level on Raditz decrease. In all honesty, she's surprised he's still able to run his mouth while he's this close to death.
"When? When will they come? How long will it take them..to get here?" A third voice asks, almost demandingly. He sounds just as pained as Raditz's own voice sounded.
"One year. And the funny thing is,"Raditz gives a chuckle, "They're much stronger than me. Even the youngest one. She's about the same age as your own brat over there, Kakarot."
"Oh good. So he is aware." Nappa chuckled. Vegeta remained focused on the transmission, his expression calculating.
She would normally have joined in mocking Raditz, but seeing Nappa and her father's dismissive attitude toward another fallen Saiyan made her uneasy. She tried to redirect her mind to focus on hearing that there were two more Saiyans. Another piece of their heritage not lost to Frieza's destruction. She couldn't help the corners of her mouth ticking up into a smile and the excitement coursing through her veins at the mention of one of them being her age. Maybe he had helped bring down Raditz? She couldn't wait to get a chance to fight him! She was snapped out of her internal excitement when she heard Raditz speak again.
"So enjoy this little victory of yours today. It means…it means nothing! You're as good as dead. Don't look so upset…We can't all have the last laugh."he gave a last, pained chuckle and soon, there was nothing but silence.
The young female Saiyan looked at the blinking zero" under Raditz's name on her scouter for a few moments before disconnecting the communication line.
"Raditz stinks." Nappa said nonchalantly.
Cellera turned to see the two beginning to munch on one of the planet's native animals around a fire, not caring thatanotherone of their kind had been killed. Although, she can't blame them. Between living under Freiza's tyrannical rule and being tasked to clear planets on a regular basis for him, of course they'd all be desensitized.
"He's a complete disgrace!" Vegeta snapped, aggressively taking another bite of his food. Her father's casual dismissal of their dwindling race troubled her, though she kept her expression neutral. "How could he let himself be beaten by men with such low fighting power?"
"Well, we know for sure that there were two Saiyans. Maybe Kakarot's son helped fight him, it's not impossible." the young Saiyan rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, "I mean, even I can beat Raditz in a spar."
"Yes, but you are my and your mother's offspring. You've had special training. I doubt that Kakarot's son's power holds even a candle to yours, let alone Raditz's" He holds out a piece of charred meat to her which she accepts and sits on a boulder next to him and begins to eat.
"Perhaps it's time we paid a visit to Earth ourselves and teach those Earthlings a lesson." Nappa offers, grinning maniacally.
Cellera's expression remained carefully neutral, but there was a flicker of curiosity in her dark eyes.
A waste of time..." Vegeta cut in, spitting out a piece of gristle. But then a familiar calculating smile crossed his face. "Then again, I am curious about those Dragon Balls the earthlings mentioned." He gets up walking to the edge of the tree line where their Saiyan pods are. "Just think of the possibilities, if we can get our hands on them, then we can wish for anything we want." He turned around,looking straight at his daughter. "Anything at all."
Cellera gave a grin in return and got up from her place on the boulder, taking one last bite of her meal before making her way to Vegeta's side. "I say that alone is worth the trip."
You guys kiddin'? Yeah! Let's go!" Nappa agreed with a laugh, joining Vegeta as he walked to their pods just a couple of yards away, still in their craters they made upon landing.
Cellera cast one final glance at the devastation they'd wrought before catching up to overhear Nappa's question to Vegeta.
"How are we gonna find the Dragon Balls? And once we get the Dragon Balls, what are we going to wish for? To bring Raditz back to life?"
Vegeta scoffed. "No, that would be a wasted wish." He pressed the button to open their pods, the doors in their cylindrical spheres sliding open. The doors in the middle of their cylindrical spheres opening. "Raditz was a weakling and a fool.
Her father's casual dismissal of their fallen comrade reinforced her growing unease about their dwindling race. "Any Saiyan who could be defeated so easily doesn't deserve to live. As for finding the Dragon Balls, we'll just force Kakarot's friends to tell us, then eliminate them along with anyone else who tries to stand in our way."
"Father, what will we wish for then?" Cellera inquired, tilting her head.
"I have something far more grand in mind," Vegeta announced. "Tell me, how does the idea of eternal life sound to you both?" Her father's eyes gleamed with an intensity she hadn't seen since her early training days.
"What? Living forever? That sounds great." Nappa grins, settling into his pod across from Vegeta's and Cellera's sharedo one. "If we can't die that means no one'll ever be able to defeat us…So what the heck would we need Raditz for?"
"Yes, 'what for' indeed," Vegeta chuckled while settling himself into his pod next to his daughter. Cellera studied her father's expression, searching for any hint of doubt about their course.
"That means we can take down Frieza," Cellera said, glancing at her father with eyes full of hope. "We can take back our planet and our race will thrive again!" Wishing Raditz back seems like such a waste of a wish compared to what eternal life could bring them!
"We'll be the greatest fighters in the universe. And we will ascend to our rightful place, among the Saiyan warriors of legend."
Cellera gave a wide grin at the implication of his words. It was the legend her father had told her countless times - the ultimate warrior their race could produce. Where one surpasses their limits, and becomes stronger than any average Saiyan warrior.
Nappa also seemed to catch on to what Vegeta is implying. "Do you mean…"
"That's right. We will become Super Saiyans!'
While she was excited to go to Earth and obtain their wish, defeat Frieza, reclaim their planet, and become the legendary Super Saiyans, Cellera couldn't help but feel...off. She shook her head, focusing back on her father typing in coordinates on their space pod. Soon, another planet would face the might of the Saiyan elite, but not under the orders of Freiza, but under the motivation of their own selfish wants.
Honestly, they could just get the information on how to locate the Dragon Balls from Kakarot's friends, make their wish, and leave. Why destroy another planet if they don't have to, especially since they aren't being ordered to? She shook her head, focusing back on her Father typing in coordinates on their space pod.
She couldn't explain it, but something felt different about this mission—perhaps because they were hunting one of their own, or perhaps because deep in her warrior's heart, Cellera sensed this journey would change everything.
The pods' doors sealed with a hiss, and three streaks of light shot into the alien sky, leaving only ruins to mark their passage.
Planet: Arlia
The barren landscape of Arlia stretched endlessly before them as they emerged from their space pods. Cellera's nose wrinkled at the stench of decay that permeated the air, her tactical mind already assessing the primitive structures in the distance.
"What a dump!" Nappa complained, crushing one of the planet's indigenous insects under his boot with unnecessary force. "This isn't even worth stopping for!"
"A warrior should never waste an opportunity to train," Vegeta replied, his scouter blinking as it assessed the local power levels. "Besides, we have time to kill before reaching Earth."
Cellera activated her own scouter, analyzing the readings with practiced efficiency. "Average power level of 1,000. Hardly worth the effort." She glanced at the struggling insect beneath Nappa's boot. "We could clear this planet in under an hour if we split the sectors properly."
"Always the efficient one," Vegeta commented, a hint of pride in his voice. Then his expression hardened. "But sometimes, girl, there's value in taking one's time. These insects might provide some... entertainment."
Nappa's face split into a savage grin. "Yeah! Been a while since we had some real fun!"
Cellera kept her expression neutral, though her tail tightened slightly around her waist - a tell her mother had often warned her about. She remembered Rhuba's words:"A quick death is its own kind of mercy, little one. We're warriors, not torturers."
"The castle appears to be the power center," she offered instead, pointing to the distant structure. "If we-"
Her analysis was cut short as several of the planet's soldiers approached, their crude weapons raised. Nappa stepped forward eagerly, but Cellera noticed something in their stance.
"They're afraid," she observed quietly. "They know they can't win."
"Then they shouldn't have come to die," Nappa laughed, raising his hand to blast them.
Cellera's eyes narrowed. "Wouldn't it be more efficient to gather intelligence first? Find out if there's anything worth knowing about this rock before we destroy it?"
Vegeta raised an eyebrow at his daughter's suggestion, a calculating look crossing his face. "Interesting thought. Very well - we'll play along with these insects. For now."
As they allowed themselves to be "captured" by the Arlians, Cellera caught her father studying her. She kept her face impassive, but inside, she wondered if he had seen through her attempt to prevent needless slaughter. Sometimes she wasn't sure if her tactical mind made him proud or if her mother's mercy made him suspicious.
Either way, she had bought the Arlians a few more minutes of life. Whether that was tactical wisdom or weakness, she wasn't quite sure anymore.
Arlia's Prison
The Arlian prison reeked of decay and desperation. Cellera stood between her father and Nappa as they were led to their cell, her keen eyes taking in every detail - the structural weaknesses, the guard positions, the other prisoners' conditions. Always analyzing, just as her father had trained her.
"Keep moving, outsiders!" An Arlian guard jabbed his spear threateningly.
Nappa growled, but Vegeta's slight head shake kept him in check. Cellera noticed her father's amused smirk - he was already treating this like a game. She recognized that look. It usually preceded unnecessary bloodshed.
"These chains are a joke," she muttered, quiet enough for only Saiyan ears. "The metal's corroded. One burst of ki would-"
"Patience, daughter," Vegeta interrupted, that dangerous amusement still playing on his face. "Let's see what entertainment these insects provide first."
They were shoved into a cramped cell already occupied by another prisoner - a battle-scarred Arlian who introduced himself as Atla. While Nappa immediately began complaining about the accommodations, Cellera observed their cellmate with interest. Unlike the guards, his bearing spoke of actual combat experience.
"What did you do to end up here?" she asked, keeping her voice neutral despite her curiosity.
"I spoke against King Moai's tyranny," Atla replied. "He takes our people, our women, for his twisted entertainment."
"Touching story," Nappa sneered. "Want me to put you out of your misery now, bug?" He raised his hand, energy gathering.
Cellera's tail tightened around her waist. "We might need information about the arena setup," she said quickly. "Local fighting techniques could be... instructive."
Vegeta shot her a sharp look, but nodded. "True enough. Though I doubt these insects have much to teach Saiyan warriors."
"My wife is in the king's harem," Atla continued, either missing or ignoring the threat in Nappa's stance. "I failed to protect her, but I won't stop fighting until-"
"Spare us your tragic tale," Vegeta cut him off. "We're not here to solve your little rebellion."
Cellera watched Atla's mandibles click in resignation. Something about his willingness to fight despite overwhelming odds reminded her of stories her father used to tell about the Saiyan rebellion against the Tuffles. Before she could pursue that thought, heavy footsteps approached their cell.
"These three for the arena!" a guard announced. "King Moai demands entertainment!"
"Finally!" Nappa cracked his knuckles. "Some action!"
As they were led out, Cellera glanced back at Atla. Her mother's voice echoed in her memory:"Sometimes the strongest warriors are the ones fighting for something beyond themselves."
She shook off the thought. They were here to train and kill time before Earth, nothing more. These insects' problems weren't their concern.
But as they entered the arena tunnel, she couldn't help but notice how the other prisoners fought despite their chains, protecting the weaker ones among them. It was tactically inefficient... but something about their unity nagged at her tactical mind.
"Focus, girl," Vegeta commanded, noticing her distraction. "Show these insects what true Saiyan power looks like."
Cellera straightened, pushing away her doubts. She was a Saiyan warrior, after all. But as she followed her father into the arena, she found herself hoping these fighters might prove strong enough to at least die with honor.
It would be a small mercy, but perhaps the only one she could offer while her father watched.
The arena erupted in jeers as the three Saiyans stepped into the light. Cellera's eyes immediately tracked possible attack vectors, escape routes, structural weaknesses - all the things her father had drilled into her since she could walk. Two years without her mother hadn't dulled those earlier lessons in mercy, but Vegeta's training had honed her tactical mind to a razor's edge.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" The announcer's voice grated against her sensitive hearing. "Today's entertainment - three alien warriors against our champions!"
"This ought to be good," Nappa sneered as two massive Arlian fighters entered the arena. Their armor was more elaborate than the guards', but Cellera's scouter confirmed they were just as weak.
"Brothers and sisters!" one of the champions bellowed. "We'll crush these invaders for your entertainment!"
Cellera's tail twitched in irritation. "Their power levels are barely worth measuring. This isn't even training."
"Then make it quick," Vegeta commanded, stepping back to observe. "Show me you haven't forgotten how to be efficient."
Nappa charged forward with a roar, but Cellera held her position, analyzing. Her mother's voice echoed in her memory:"A warrior's strength isn't measured by how long they can make their opponent suffer."
The first champion rushed her with a flurry of strikes that might have impressed the crowd but left gaping holes in his defense. She could hear Nappa toying with his opponent, dragging out the fight with cruel laughter.
"What's wrong, little one?" her opponent taunted. "Scared to- URK!"
She struck once, precisely, severing his spine at the base of his neck. He was dead before he hit the ground, his face still frozen in mid-taunt.
"Clean kill," Vegeta noted, though she couldn't tell if his tone held approval or disappointment.
Across the arena, Nappa continued to torture his opponent, ripping off limbs while the crowd's cheers turned to horrified screams. Cellera's stomach turned, but she kept her face impassive. Show no weakness. Feel no mercy. That was the Saiyan way.
But her mother had been different...
"Pathetic!" Nappa finally finished his opponent with a blast that took out half the arena wall as well. "That's how you put on a show!"
"If you're quite finished playing," Vegeta drawled, "perhaps King Moai would like to demonstrate his own power? Unless he's as weak as his champions?"
Cellera noticed the king's mandibles clicking nervously in his viewing box. Her scouter confirmed he was no stronger than the others. This whole exercise had been pointless - exactly the kind of wasteful violence her mother had criticized.
Not that she'd speak such thoughts aloud. Two years of watching her father's growing brutality had taught her when to stay silent.
"Father," she said instead, keeping her voice clinical, "their technology level is primitive. There's nothing of value here for Lord Frieza. We're wasting time that could be spent preparing for Earth."
Vegeta's lips curled into a cruel smile. "Perhaps you're right. Time to end this little game."
King Moai's attempt at intimidation might have worked on lesser warriors, but to Cellera it just highlighted his desperation. His "ultimate weapon" - if one could even call it that - was just another waste of time.
"The Beast of Arlia!" Moai announced proudly as the creature emerged. "Your execution will be quite entertaining!"
Cellera's scouter beeped as it assessed the new threat. The reading was higher than the champions, but still pathetically low. She glanced at her father, recognizing the contempt in his expression.
"Nappa," Vegeta commanded. "Deal with this pest."
As Nappa engaged the creature with his usual excessive force, Cellera's attention shifted to the gathering crowd of prisoners being herded into the arena. Among them, she spotted Atla reuniting with who she assumed was his wife. Their display of affection made her tail twitch uncomfortably - such emotional displays were foreign to her Saiyan upbringing, yet something about their relief at finding each other alive stirred a distant memory.
Her mother, returning from a particularly long mission, sweeping her into an embrace while her father watched with that familiar mix of pride and disapproval...
The sound of Nappa's laughter snapped her back to present as he literally tore the beast apart. "Now this is entertainment!"
"Efficient as always, Nappa," Vegeta remarked dryly. His tone made Cellera wonder if he actually found Nappa's methods as tiresome as she did, though he'd never say it openly.
"What should we do with the rest of these insects?" Nappa asked, gesturing to the horrified crowd.
"We're done here," Vegeta declared. "This planet has nothing of value." He raised his hand, gathering energy for a final blast.
Cellera noticed Atla pushing his wife behind him protectively. Two years ago, she might have spoken up, might have suggested leaving these insects to their pointless lives. But she'd learned that such "mercy" only earned her father's disappointment.
Still...
"Father," she said carefully, keeping her voice analytical rather than emotional, "If we destroy this planet now, word of our arrival won't reach Earth. The element of surprise could be tactically advantageous."
Vegeta paused, considering. "An interesting point." He lowered his hand slightly. "Though these insects have seen our power..."
"And who would they tell?" she pressed, maintaining her tactical reasoning. "This planet is isolated, primitive. Any warning they could send wouldn't reach Earth in time to matter."
A slow smirk spread across her father's face. "Clever girl. Always thinking ahead." He dropped his hand completely. "Very well. Let them live with the knowledge of true Saiyan power. It's a crueler fate than quick destruction anyway."
As they walked back to their pods, Nappa grumbled about missing out on more "fun," but Cellera kept her expression neutral. She'd saved lives today through strategy rather than sentiment. Her father had praised her tactical thinking rather than questioning her motives.
It was a small victory, but perhaps that's what her mother had meant about finding different kinds of strength.
"Earth next," Vegeta announced as they reached their pods. "Let's see if Kakarot's son provides more of a challenge than these insects."
Cellera allowed herself a small smile at the mention of another young Saiyan. Maybe on Earth she'd find opponents worth fighting - ones who might actually warrant full Saiyan strength rather than pointless cruelty.
The pods sealed with a hiss, leaving Arlia and its spared population behind. As they shot into space, Cellera wondered if she'd managed to honor both her parents today - her father's tactical pride and her mother's measured mercy.
Though she knew better than to voice such thoughts aloud.