Number Thirty-Two
Chapter Nine
The Three Captains
Goku massages his scalp; head bent in contemplation as he rakes his eyes over the cocktail of documents adorning the table, and whilst he doesn't understand a single word of them, it makes him feel like he's doing something when scouring page after page. He'd kept the photographs of the saiyans from the Frost Empire archives along with some odd files and documents Vegeta thought were worth keeping, including a very thin folder of papers from that Youth Program place that Lya fished out.
Bulma shakes her head, throwing down a yellowed paper. "Cilo's trickling tidbits of information. Little by little."
"You think they're holding out?"
"For sure. I bet they're waiting for after Namek."
"Well," he grumbles, "That makes it kinda' complicated."
Bulma makes a similar noise of discontent.
"Wha' makes it complicated?"
Goku and Bulma peer down over the balcony, spying Pyrak. He gives them a wave with a spoon, his bowl of cereal a mountain of colourful stars and hoops.
"Is this about the secrets you're trying to keep from Cilo?" he asks conversationally before taking Bulma's chocolate milk out of the fridge. "Your lot aren't the stealthiest about it."
"It's rude to eavesdrop, y'know."
"Tough luck. There are ears everywhere now, lady."
"Maybe we should lock you up with Thirty-Two."
"Can't be much worse than Ytvl. He don't shut up."
"Hey! Go easy on the honey," Bulma snaps, "That's the last of it!"
Pyrak gives the bottle a last wet squeeze and then throws it overhead, missing the bin entirely even though he's less than two feet away from it. He flips a finger when Bulma throws one of the files down at him, as always enjoying the rise he gets out of her when Vegeta isn't around.
"He's bored," Goku tells her as though she doesn't already know that. Everybody knows. Pyrak has been verbally terrorizing anyone who sits still for longer than five minutes, though he takes an especial glee in harassing Bulma, and occasionally Vegeta when he remembers what Vegeta represents.
"Stop messing with me, you bipolar fuck!" Goku overheard Vegeta shout just last night. There'd been a clatter of pans from the kitchen and by the time Goku'd arrived, Pyrak had been thrown against the wall, eyes alive with humour and mouth upturned and vicious with vitriolic lashing. Even Piccolo has dug those sharp claws of his into Pyrak's throat.
He'd once tried to get under Goku's skin by calling him offensive saiyan slurs (according to Vegeta), but must have found the assignment not very worthwhile when Goku remained unoffended. Similarly, there seems to be an unspoken pact between Pyrak and Ytvl as Ytvl is typically left untargeted, but Goku notices Ytvl curl his lips whenever Pyrak enters the room, and the excuses to leave sound watery even to him.
"I'm tempted to let Thirty-Two out just so Pyrak has a chew toy," Bulma says.
"Or maybe we should just let Pyrak play on his scouter like he wants."
It's the wrong thing to say. Bulma spins. "No," she seethes, "How many times do I need to say this? If he so much as touches his stupid scouter then there's a chance we'll be tracked. It's not that hard to understand."
"You're still playing about with Thirty-Two's scou—"
"It's offline! Are you deaf or stupid? I can't even get it to connect! That jerk repurposed the Frost Empire firewall to prevent hacking."
"You could just ask him."
It's a relief when she doesn't hit him. In fact, she doesn't even look mad even though Goku realizes what he said sounds a bit daft all things considering. She laughs and scrapes her hair back, looking very, very tired.
"Yes, I could, couldn't I? It'll be really, super simple. Maybe I could ask him about Namek while I'm at it. We could share brunch and gab about how much of an asshole Pyrak is."
"I don't think he'd like brunch very much on the account of his not eating," Ytvl says by way of greeting.
He's not wearing his armour and his mousy brown hair lays in short waves over his shoulders, giving him the casual, unassuming look of a civilian. With Pyrak and Thirty-Two onboard Goku almost persuades himself that Ytvl is one of them – Goku's friends – if only by how much Ytvl seems to have orchestrated himself into the 'us' as opposed to the 'them'.
"Fine. Let him starve," Bulma bites out cruelly, "See if I care."
"That kind of defeats the point of saving him," points out Ytvl with a glimmer of amusement, "Just let him wallow for a while longer. He seems the type. Oh, what's this? Youth Program documents."
"There's not much," Goku says, dispersing the papers so all the black and white images are able to stare up at Goku's gormless face. "I think this guy is in charge."
"Oh, yeah. I've met him. Doctor Morsh is the director of the northern branch. He's also one of Lord Cooler's advisors. He's been trying to get funding from Lord Cooler for years but Lord Cooler's always found the program to be a soulless endeavor. Expensive too."
"Imagine paying a chunk of money and ending up with someone like Pyrak," Bulma derides.
"Yeah, well, there's something to be said for the program. In Pyrak's short term as Captain he has managed to pay himself off twice over, though this information's directly from him so take it with a pinch of salt. What I do know is that he does have an especially prosperous record. Pyrak's specialty is upselling."
"Which is…?"
"Planet cleansing," Ytvl says with a cheery smile, "Killing the inhabitants, organizing the cleanup and repurposing the planet to be market ready."
"That's awful," Goku tells him.
"The saiyans were famous for it."
"I know. That doesn't make it less awful."
"Yeah, well…" The smile dips and Ytvl gestures to the papers. "These are the sort of guys who'll do it without question. If your kid ended up there he would have been expected to do it, too."
"Gohan would never."
"Then he'd be dead."
"Not this again. We're going around in circles," Bulma says, and then she sighs, "Don't overthink it, Goku, there's no point wondering about what Gohan did or didn't do until we get more details about their recruitment requirements."
"The Youth Program's?" Ytvl asks, brows raised.
"After Namek," Goku tells him. "We're gonna' try and find out where the Program recruit their fighters from and if they ever found a saiyan."
"There's a black market," Bulma adds. "Gohan could have been sold."
Goku's looked into the black market before but came up with nothing. It'd lead to a dead end and bloodied hands. There'd been so much wrongness to be found. So much horror… Maybe it'll be different now with the aid of his friends.
"Well, that's your best hope," Ytvl says, "Trafficking is hardly the worst of what goes on there." There's a pause of contemplation. "You're on the right track. The Youth Program has a lot of connections with it. Have you spoken to Pyrak about this – your kid?"
Goku hasn't and he doesn't really want to. The less Pyrak knows about Gohan the better. He'd use it to hurt Goku and Goku admittedly has a short fuse about Gohan as it is.
"There's not much point. Gohan's fifteen," Bulma says on his behalf, "He'd still be there now if was in the program. Wouldn't Pyrak be too old to have crossed paths with him? Besides, Pyrak went to the other branch, the southern one. Gohan was lost in the North."
"Transfers happen."
Bulma sends Goku an unhappy look.
"It's just a suggestion for your little cause." Ytvl waves a hand. "I'm pretty sure Thirty-Two was a transfer himself – if my researcher is to be believed – and a couple years below Pyrak in the program, so he could have very well stumbled upon a sad baby saiyan back in the day. You never know."
Goku doesn't hide his distaste.
At that, Ytvl laughs. "But good luck getting him to talk about it."
Bulma leans over. "Or how about you try and get him to talk about it?"
It's that evening that Ytvl and Pyrak walk Thirty-Two to the living area and sit him at the dining table, placing him directly under the watchful eye of the CCTV – which Goku and the others gather around in the surveillance room. Thirty-Two isn't obliging, as suspected, talking very quietly and infrequently as Pyrak dominates the conversation. Ytvl is holding himself well despite the dislike he has for both parties and even demonstrates his talent for the southern tongue. If Thirty-Two is surprised by the revelation he doesn't show it.
Ytvl has visited Thirty-Two a handful of times now and Goku wonders what sort of repertoire (if any) has been built between them. It's hard to tell both through the camera and Thirty-Two's stony exterior what Thirty-Two really thinks of any of this.
"He's been isolated for a while," Ytvl had earlier said when Vegeta kicked up a fuss of being left out of the proceedings, "So, less is best."
"And we don't want to escalate the situation," Piccolo had reminded, "This isn't about you, Vegeta."
"I'll have what you need out of him in an hour," Vegeta had offered darkly.
"Yes. I'm sure the magnificent Prince Vegeta is more persuasive than the Shock Plate."
"And what are you going to do? Offer him a beer and let bygones be bygones?"
Even Goku's surprised that Ytvl took Vegeta literally because that's what happens, much to Vegeta's fury. But it's more than that. Goku recognizes Ytvl's tactical niceties when Thirty-Two's guard refuses to be weathered by even the harshest of storms. This at least seems to disarm Thirty-Two to some degree because he somewhat engages in conversation with Ytvl, even admitting to his attempt at finding Namek, which is more than any of them has managed to get out him.
Surprisingly, Thirty-Two talks long enough to even berate Ytvl and Pyrak for joining Cilo, questioning their supposed freedom when his loyalty to the Empire is challenged. It's a good argument, and Goku spots Vegeta nodding to himself by the time Ytvl feels the need to defend himself.
Thirty-Two is sent back to his room with the option to join them, and then, they're left to wait.
Two days pass and Goku feels impatience creep like dusk across the horizon. The clock is against them, because when they reach Namek everything is going to go downhill fast and they're going to lose the best bartering chip they have. If he wants Pyrak and Ytvl's support it's now that he needs to act, which works out well as he's currently pacing outside of Thirty-Two's door after somehow finding himself manifesting in this general direction. He wants to go in and ask about Gohan. He also wants to ask about Namek but that feels less important in the grand scheme of things.
His hand grazes the handle.
"Naughty!"
Goku jumps, withdrawing as though burnt and managing to somehow trip over his own anxiety.
Pyrak laughs. "Yer funny, you."
"Heh, well… I didn't hear you coming."
"You were in your own world," Pyrak says before proceeding to shock Goku by offering him a hand. Warily, Goku accepts and Pyrak hurls him to his feet, grinning. "Nothin' good behind that door."
"You don't like him too much, huh?"
"Didn't he kill yer friend? I'm surprised you don't hate him like I do."
"Oh. Did he kill your friend, too?"
There's another laugh, and Goku wonders if he said something funny accidently. "Yeah, probably, but that's just how it goes back in the Program. No hard feelings there."
Goku doesn't understand this person.
"The program sure sounds unpleasant," he says when Pyrak's lazer thin eyes focus on him for too long. He itches his arm, suddenly rather warm. "Ytvl says it makes strong soldiers though. You must be pretty tough."
At that, Pyrak's already large chest puffs out. "Yer wanting a scrap? We could but I don't think that woman would be too happy 'bout it. I can't say I 'aven't been curious about your power since I found out yer killed Frieza n' all."
"Uh, I don't think we should fight on the ship."
"Then are yer hittin' on me?" When Goku stares, blank, Pyrak elaborates with rather strange hand gestures, and then further elaborates when the silence draws on. "I'm talkin' about fuckin'."
"Oh! Oh! Oh, no thanks!"
"Then why yer kissin' my ass?" Pyrak leans back, genuinely confused. "If yer don't wanna' fight or fuck then why are you—?"
Goku's face still feels hot. "I, uh, I just want to know about the Youth Program!"
Pyrak stares for a long time, and then he turns his attention to the door that Goku had wanted to push open only moments ago. "I thought yer were trying to break in to rough him up a bit," he says, if a bit dejectedly, "But you just wanna' know about… what? The Program? Why? Is this about the kid yer looking for? Yer son?"
Goku nearly collapses from the shock of it. How the hell does Pyrak know?
"Yer think he went to the Program?"
"I… I, uh, I don't know," Goku finally gets out, "I don't think so but I wanted to know if… well, maybe…"
Pyrak rubs his chin. "Saiyan… I can't remember any been admitted when I were there. The law's always been a bit funny 'bout them since, well, always, but especially since yer gutted Frieza. Let me see what I can dig up for yer, though I need access to my scouter if yer wanting much of anything useful. Heh, don't look at me like that. 'Course I'd like something for my troubles…"
If Pyrak has always known about Gohan then why hasn't he ever said so? He's been such a jerk to everyone else that it's more of a surprise that he hasn't taken the opportunity to twist the knife in Goku's chest. It's something which bothers him even as he unlocks Bulma's safety box in the cockpit in the dead of night, and when he steals the scouter and returns it to Pyrak he can't help but wonder if he got ahead of himself.
"I'm not stupid," Pyrak assures him, securing the device over his left eye. "I turned the trackin' off months ago. Just give me an hour and I'll log into the Program system for yer."
"Pyrak, if you try and do anything funny then I'll—"
"Kill me?" he coos, "Will yer really?"
"Yes."
Goku doesn't waver, fingers unrelenting into the fleshy pockets of Pyrak's arm, watching as Pyrak's amusement passes like an icy chill, and they stand there, in the still of silence, until Pyrak wisely turns away first.
Goku isn't bluffing. Whilst he tries to avoid killing there have been times in his travels where he's had to do just that for one reason or another. Sometimes people can't be reasoned with. He's learned that now.
Upon release, Pyrak gives a mocking bow. "Oh, savior, I would never let you down. An hour is all I ask."
It takes longer than an hour. So, it turns out, it takes longer than the night, and even by the next morning Goku is waiting opposite a breakfast mostly untouched. Pyrak meanders into the kitchen, bringing upon his usual whirlwind of chaos until Bulma is pushed far enough to launch her eggs at his mane of hair. It's admittedly impressive when he catches them between his teeth, sending Bulma into a further spiral that offsets her for the rest of the day.
Pyrak gives him a wink, tapping his head.
The scouter remains hidden, which is good because Goku likes living.
"Did you do it?" Goku whispers furiously before Pyrak can chase after Bulma into the kitchen.
Pyrak's very obvious in his frustration. "No," he hisses. "I'm workin' on it, all right?"
"You better not be lying to me, Pyrak."
"I ain't! Now let go of me. Yer plant is 'ere."
Goku jumps back a space when he realizes that Piccolo is watching, his mouth pulled about as tightly as his brow.
"He wants ter fuck me," Pyrak tells him, giving Goku a firm pat where only one other person has touched before.
"K-Knock it off!
"But I jus' don't swing that way, Goku, as I keep sayin'. Maybe yer should try Vegeta. He's been fucked up enough to enjoy a bit of masochism, I'm sure."
With Pyrak gone, Goku avoids Piccolo eye line and stalks his way along to his room in a bid not to be questioned, and it's with great relief that he's spared just that, though Piccolo surveys him closely as he slinks away.
Goku only pauses when he catches himself outside Thirty-Two's room once more.
The handle is a shining silver.
When he raises his hand to take grip he thinks better of it, already having made a bad decision the night before.
Really, Goku thinks, lounging on his bed, it's one of many bad decisions he's made with the hope of retrieving Gohan. This isn't new. Only now it affects his friends. The years alone have rounded some of Goku's naïve edges, but the impatience of not having his son seems to only have made him riskier.
He wants his boy home.
His one and only baby boy.
With learning that they only a few days left until they reach Namek, Goku grasps Pyrak that evening right out of one of the winding hallways, throwing him against the wall.
"You lied to me," Goku insists.
Pyrak shoves him away quickly. "I didn't! I… I ain't been able to get on yet."
"It's an online system," he stresses, "How hard is that? I don't get it!"
"It's down or somethin' 'cause every time I try and access the page I can't get through. I'm using proxies too before yer can say anythin'. It's weird. The site's never gone down before."
Goku stares at him to try and sense if he's lying or not. Sure, the frustration looks real enough but Goku can't always read people well, which has often left him with disastrous results. There's not much to be done here except accept the loss. He turns on his heel and marches straight to Thirty-Two's room, suddenly very done with it all, and without much thought, rips the door open.
He stares.
The room is empty.
Did Thirty-Two manage to escape through the vent after all?
Panic rinses and he sprints down the hallway until he makes it to living area, grabbing the first person he sees as to spread the word. It just so happens to be Ytvl.
"Thirty-Two's gone!" he tells him, shaking him by the arm and spilling the glass of water it'd once held.
"Yes. Well established. Are you done showering the both of us?"
"E-Eh?"
"Kakarot!" Vegeta snaps from the balcony above, "When you stop making a fool of yourself feel free to get your ass up here."
Goku blinks, and jumps up the ladder.
Colour him surprised when he sees Thirty-Two sat at the table like a civilized person, opposite Bulma, with no regard for Goku whatsoever. He's surrounded by fragile metallic pieces that presumably once made up the scouter in his hand. There's a screwdriver to his right and his eyes are thinned in concentration.
"Oh," is all Goku can say.
"That's not right," Bulma says as Thirty-Two fastens one piece of plastic to another. "No. It wasn't that way before."
Thirty-Two stops, resting his hands on the table when he turns to her. He doesn't say anything.
"Well, it wasn't."
"Then you can fix it," Thirty-Two tells her, lacing his fingers together.
"What happened?" Goku asks, "Why's it broken?"
Bulma burns cherry red very quickly. "I…" There's a cough. "It doesn't matter what happened—"
"That buffoon angered her." Vegeta doesn't look mad. On the contrary, he smirks, looking like the cat that got the canary. "And she took it out on the first thing she grabbed."
"I hate him," Bulma sneers, and it's then Goku realizes she's talking about Pyrak and about the incident from this morning. How long has Thirty-Two been allowed out? Since then? "Don't you look at me like that, Goku, you're the one who's been cooped up—Hey, I didn't say you could slack off. Get on with it!"
Vegeta gives Thirty-Two a slap aback the head.
"Oh, don't feel too sorry for him. He's been dragging his feet with it for the last hour," Bulma says when Goku doesn't hide his shock.
Dark eyes roll up beneath black bangs.
"I offered you the chance to fix your precious scouter and you accepted so don't look at me like that."
Goku breathes out a laugh, taking a seat. Relief sweeps him and for some reason he finds the entire situation entertaining.
"Huh, I'm surprised that you don't know how to fix it, Bulma," he adds, stirring the pot.
"Shut up. It's ridiculous what this guy's done to it," Bulma says as to unburden herself. "Totally against code."
"Oh, yeah?" Goku grins. "Is that right?"
Even Vegeta doesn't bother hiding his amusement, watching with a wry smile as Thirty-Two fishes through a pile of miniscule screws.
Whatever Bulma's done to the poor thing seems to be throwing Thirty-Two for a bit of a loop, and despite what Bulma said about Thirty-Two taking his sweet time Goku doesn't think that's the case. He moves with methodical decisiveness, piecing the scouter together as though it's but a jigsaw with the inescapability of being completed, only stopping when Bulma offers her commentary on something Thirty-Two likely know more about than her.
He's in his furs this time and Goku's reminded of the incident at the tavern and Krillin's ensuing demise. It makes Thirty-Two look more in control than he actually is, broadening him out and marking him far more imposing than before, like how Pyrak must see himself. Thirty-Two, however, has a soft, dangerous energy that Pyrak doesn't. Like a wolf buried in the neck of a deer; its quiet passivity feels borrowed. The kill has been made but now the beast is stilted and those around are awaiting its next move.
Krillin's unseeing eyes roll back and Goku's left to stare at the nakedness of the situation.
He coughs meaningfully. "So… The Youth Program."
Bulma and Vegeta turn to him but Thirty-Two doesn't. His fingers continue their work.
"You did it, right?"
Thirty-Two doesn't reply.
Vegeta's patience is something to be worked on. He snatches Thirty-Two by the back of his neck; ensnaring his hair and forcing him look at Goku without choice. "Remember your manners," he whispers nastily, "Kakarot is talking to you."
Thirty-Two remains impassive.
"That's enough," Goku says, "Let him go."
He looks at Bulma, resolve melting in an instance. "Fine," he spits, unhappy, "Suit yourselves."
With a thrust, Thirty-Two falls against the table, spilling the screws and snapping one of the plastic pieces he'd just managed to reattach. Bulma sends Vegeta a scathing look.
"I hear strong soldiers come from the Youth Program," Goku continues as Thirty-Two recollects his puzzle pieces. "Which makes me surprised considering you weren't all that interested in fighting me back at the tavern."
It's mocking, Goku knows, and he hopes it's enough to tease a reaction.
Thirty-Two rests a hand over the scouter, purposeful. "Why don't you ask your question?" he suggests in that accented drawl, "Instead of dancing around it with your petty words."
"…Well, that sure saves us some time, huh?" Goku leans over the table. "So, you graduated the Youth Program alongside Pyrak. Is that right?"
"No," Thirty-Two says, returning to the scouter, "Pyrak graduated two winters prior."
"So, you're younger," responds Goku, already knowing as much.
"…Obviously."
"How old are you?"
Thirty-Two doesn't like the question. It's hard to get a read on him but the way he freezes is not lost on Goku and it's not lost on Vegeta and Bulma too, who look at Goku like's just grown a second head at this line of questioning.
"Old enough to be instated as a captain," Thirty-Two replies after a time.
Vegeta supplies; "Nineteen, then. Pyrak said this ingrate became a captain last year."
Bulma makes a noise at the same time that Goku's head spins. That's just four years. There's an opportunity for Thirty-Two to prove Goku right and relay never having seen Gohan at that horrible little program of his.
There's a creaking of wood when Ytvl comes to join them.
"He's eighteen," he tells as he mounts the top of the ladder. "Thirty-Two's a prodigy. He learned the Boiler just for you, Vegeta. Don't you feel special?"
Vegeta grits his teeth, the nerve still clearly sensitive.
Ytvl doesn't waste time in sitting to Thirty-Two's left. He elbows him comradely; knocking Thirty-Two's work askew once more and sending screws to the floor and Bulma into a sulk. "I think this guy wants to know if you had any saiyan buddies join you in the program."
Thirty-Two's gaze rises to Goku with momentary whiplash, and then it drops back to the scouter. "Saiyans are not permitted," he says.
"Officially," Ytvl pushes, "There must have been some mix-bloods."
"Not in the Southern program."
"How about the North?" Goku pushes, "You were there for a while, too?"
Thirty-Two retrieves the fallen screws and slaps them on the table. "I am not the record keeper," he says curtly, "I do not know the coming and goings of certain races, no less ones so barbaric. Since Lord Frieza's downfall, saiyans became ill-regarded. The Program does not deal with bad stock."
"Is everyone tested when they're recruited?" Bulma asks, "For genetics."
"Yes."
"And it's made public?"
"Yes."
"On an online system? They must, for the buyers, right?"
"Yes."
"So, what you're saying is that once you fix that scouter you can access the system, right?"
Thirty-Two halts with his project and finally gives Bulma his full dead-eyed attention. "Saiyans are destroyed," he says resolutely, and then turns to Goku and impossibly speaks even slower, "Saiyans young enough to be in the Program do not exist."
They exist, he wants to tell him. Whether or not he was in the Program is a different topic entirely. Goku sighs and runs his hands through his hair, pulling at an emerging knot.
"It's still worth checking out," Bulma says regardless, "We'd regret not trying."
Pyrak is supposedly already trying but Goku daren't voice it.
Goku tries to ask Thirty-Two questions about the possibility of running into Gohan but the guy's not exactly obliging. He offers one word answers and sometimes no answer at all, until Vegeta reminds him of his prisoner status and then he's forced to admit to a lack of information. By the time Thirty-Two has finished with the scouter, Goku's stomach is aching with hunger and the others around seem similarly drained.
When Thirty-Two activates the scouter Bulma is quick to snatch it.
"You've not deactivated the firewall," she complains almost immediately, "I told you to—"
"I fixed the scouter," Thirty-Two says, standing. Ytvl and Goku follow suit by way of precaution. Vegeta, who is already stood, moves to block the ladder. "I have no interest in sharing access."
"You slime—"
Ytvl takes Thirty-Two by the arm. "Now, now, Vegeta. Let's remember that Thirty-Two remains an active servant of the Empire. Giving access is akin to betrayal, which is very important for Thirty-Two not to do because he's certainly a loyal, attending figurehead. Right, Thirty-Two?"
"Funny."
Thirty-Two isn't immediately sentenced back to his room like Goku suspected he might be. Ytvl is a bloodhound and he instead corners Thirty-Two, talking to him in a low, muffled voice that doesn't always speak with the Common tongue. Thirty-Two, who doesn't seem like he wants to talk much at all, tries to withdraw to the corner of the room like a turtle into its shell. A menacing turtle, mind. The way his dark eyes rake across his surroundings is unnerving. Even now, he's looking for his escape route. It's admirable.
It's just them now that Bulma and Vegeta have headed to the communications computer up in the cockpit. Bulma's probably talking with her dad again. On Earth, they've now collected the dragon balls and are now waiting for their go ahead to bring Krillin back. Goku wonders how compliant Moori, their guardian, would be if he found out about this trip to Namek – he's always been pretty protective of it, after all. Would he still allow them to use the dragon balls? Would he be mad at Goku's gamble of taking these captains to his beloved home?
Thirty-Two has a bunch of sheenks stuffed under his skin so Goku bets he'll be all right to deal with in terms of combat. Pyrak makes Goku a bit uncomfortable but is otherwise not much of a threat. Ytvl, though, well, he's an enigma all his own. Just how strong is he?
Watching Ytvl smile at his own monologue, Goku comes to an understanding that power isn't represented by strength alone. Wits, he knows, can be powerful too.
There have been a few too many close calls back from his travels where strength alone hadn't been enough. Scientists, doctors, learned men – these are the people who Goku has found to hold more cards than any typical fighter. These are the leaders. The innovators.
What happens when someone has both – strength and intelligence? Just how powerful can that be?
For some reason, Goku finds himself drawn to Thirty-Two in that moment. Call it intuition.
Goku really is relieved for the sheenks.
As if to sense the attention, Thirty-Two's eyes draw upwards until Goku finds himself looking into cool obsidian.
"—because of the war," Goku overhears Ytvl say to Thirty-Two, "It's only time until—"
"I've already agreed to cooperate," Thirty-Two says, drawing backwards, eyes still on Goku, "I am in no need for a lecture of politics from you. I told you I will think it over."
So that's why they let him out. Goku hadn't expected him to agree, not really. But this is good because he may be able to needle some information out of him over time.
Both Pyrak and Piccolo remain absent from the living area, whilst that's normal for the latter, Pyrak not jumping on the opportunity to be vicious to Thirty-Two is odd. It gives Goku a bit of a stomach ache to think about.
Later, Piccolo confronts Goku and demands the details of the evening. There isn't much to report aside Thirty-Two fixing the scouter and being allowed to sit by himself by the bay window. When he tells Piccolo that Thirty-Two doesn't eat the food left beside him, aside a handful of broccoli, Piccolo isn't impressed.
"And he's said nothing of Namek?"
"He doesn't talk much."
Piccolo scoffs. "And so we're going to pretend that he hasn't got his own intentions? We need to know why he wants the dragon balls, or if not him, why Hailer wants them. That's the only reason for him to look for Namek."
"Ytvl doesn't think it's for Hailer."
"Ytvl doesn't think much of the dragon balls either. He has a small world view."
"He suggested I speak to Pyrak about the Youth Program."
"Why?"
"In case they came across Gohan."
"It sounds like he's trying to keep you busy."
"It's better than doing nothing."
"What we need to keep in mind is why the dragon balls are unable to reach Gohan," Piccolo says, "How would some program be able to do to thwart the Dragon's power? I refuse to believe it. I think the entire thing is a waste of time."
"I don't think he's there either but it's the best lead we have. Don't you wanna' know for sure?"
"No."
"I could ask Thirty-Two again."
"What a terrible idea."
"You just don't want to deal with him," Goku says, and is proven right when Piccolo turns a shoulder to hide his reaction.
"Fine, I don't.
"Don't be a baby."
"You don't understand."
"I don't but you won't explain it—"
Piccolo's face turns ever greener should it be possible. "There's something disgusting about him, like he shouldn't even be here. Rotten. As if he died and— See! This is why I didn't want to talk about it because you're looking at me as though I'm craz—"
"Actually, I think you look scared."
"I'm not scared!"
Goku scratches at the back of his head, staring out into the void of faraway stars and planets.
"Do you think I should try and talk to him again?"
"I don't think he likes you."
He spared him, though. Unlike Krillin.
"If you say so," Goku hums, "I can never guess what's going through that guy's head."
In fact, all three captains have a proficiency at keeping Goku on his toes. Pyrak emerges the next morning with deep, purpling bags beneath his eyes, his pace sluggish as he pours himself some cereal. When Goku tries to talk to him, he makes a rude hand gestures and leaves the kitchen, clipping Ytvl's shoulder as they pass in the doorway.
Ytvl is arguably more tired. He drags the chair out beside Goku and slouches into it.
It's very strange until Ytvl later reveals that he'd been awake all night watching a conference in connection to the war between Hailer and Cooler. The peace talks had been unsuccessful, resulting in the bombings of five factory space stations from one side or another. Goku doesn't really understand it all that well as Ytvl discusses the implications of the attack, but he offers a sympathetic pat on the shoulder when Ytvl mentions having friends involved.
Thirty-Two is allowed out again in the afternoon. He's back in front of the window, now having been rewarded a book to keep himself entertained with. Goku's tempted to bother him with his questions but is beaten to it when Pyrak throws himself on the chair opposite, revitalized. There's no love lost there, as usual. Even as they talk in that southern language, Goku can tell from Thirty-Two's curt responses that he wants nothing more than Pyrak to go back the way he came. Pyrak is enjoying himself, however, and continues to accost Thirty-Two until Ytvl deems it appropriate to separate them.
Thirty-Two's knuckles are white along the spine of the book by time Pyrak is sent away.
Goku spends most of his time in the living area just to keep an eye on the situation, and of course, isn't surprised when Pyrak finds his way back to Thirty-Two shortly thereafter Ytvl disappears for a nap, wondrously eager to demonstrate the worst of his personality.
Although it's hard to ignore, Goku does his best. As usual, his documents are spread out across the table, with Goku fixating on the director of the Northern Youth Program, the doctor Ytvl pointed out knowing. Maybe Goku should try and get in contact with him. From what Vegeta was able to translate, the doctor had an interest in acquiring youths who already held proficient fighting ability, which Gohan had – has – and then moulding them should they survive the trial by—
The sound of something smashing has Goku jump to his feet.
Pyrak has Thirty-Two by his collar, his face beet red with fury.
Whatever he's saying isn't in a language Goku can understand but it sure is loud.
Jumping over plate shards, still burdened with Thirty-Two's untouched breakfast, Goku rushes to pull them apart, resulting in an animalistic tear in Pyrak's throat when Goku's rips him away. Thirty-Two draws back, nonplussed by all accounts if not for the subtle giveaway of tensed fists.
"You ungrateful shit," Pyrak snarls over Goku's shoulder, "Yer gonna' be dead long before the institution yer hate so much!"
Thirty-Two collects his book, retaking his seat. The lack of reply infuriates Pyrak all the more.
"Yer won't be looking down on me when I BURY you!"
"Stop embarrassing yourself," Thirty-Two finally comments, making it all the more worse.
Pyrak thrashes against Goku's arms. "Move it, saiyan! I'll have him—"
"You've gotta' calm down," Goku instructs, firm. "There can't be any fighting on here."
"There won't be a fight," he promises darkly, "I'll just fuckin' tear each—"
Thirty-Two sighs, burying his nose in between the pages.
"I'LL—!"
The punch has Pyrak slide several feet along the tiles and into the coffee table, and the playing cards that'd been sat there splay into the air, fluttering like wild snow amongst the chaos. Goku lowers his fist, knuckles still tingling from the impact.
"Knock it off," Goku orders, "I won't say it again, Pyrak."
Pyrak swivels, giving the coffee table a vengeful kick.
"Don't you have better things to do?" Goku reminds him, "I fulfilled my end of the deal."
"Well, thas' just it, ain't it?" Pyrak spits, crunching splintered wood as he stands, "As I just told that piece of shit behind you, somethin' has happened to the Program. I can't get through! I can't get no documents, no access – nothing! Wanna' hit me again, tough guy? C'mon, let's do this."
"What's happened with the Program?"
"Like hell I'd know!" Pyrak is a bull, and Goku takes him by the horns when he tries to charge, capturing large fists in either hand. "Yer ain't getting shit from them – or from me! Fuck yer kid!"
He hauls himself back, wrenching the door off his hinges and stampeding along the hallway.
From behind, there's the sound of a page being turned.
"Something's worrying them," Bulma informs him, Vegeta and Piccolo as soon as they're alone around the dining table. "I think it's to do with the war."
Piccolo's looking out of the same bay window Thirty-Two had been. "Pyrak and Ytvl have defected. Why should they even care?"
"Ytvl is still working for Cooler," Vegeta asserts, as he has been since the beginning. "Pyrak's just unstable."
That's an understatement. After their altercation earlier today Pyrak had waltzed up to Goku as if they were old friends, asking about his Super Saiyan transformation and what it'd been like to face up against Frieza.
"Thirty-Two is indifferent which is ironic because he's the only one who hasn't deferred," Bulma says.
"Do you think he's not a loyalist, like Ytvl keeps saying?" Piccolo asks. "I found the footage of his conversation with Pyrak and Ytvl telling but it's hard to recognize his goals. You dealt with him during your imprisonment, Vegeta. Do you think he's operating under his own intentions?"
"If he isn't then that's a problem for Kakarot," Vegeta says, "That means Hailer knows about him."
"So, why wouldn't they put out a hit on me, too?" Goku asks, "Wouldn't he wanna' hunt me down for what I did to Frieza?"
"That's a good point." Bulma takes a long sip of her coffee and looks into the depth of space. "You've been travelling alone for some time. You'd think Hailer would have made a move on you by now."
The idea follows Goku into disembarking day. Namek's munificent foliage is a welcome opposition to the dark, dismal space they'd been journeying through. Warm green from sky to land is succulent to the eye and Goku finds himself excitedly pressed against the window, desperate to taste the freshness of non-recycled air. He momentarily forgets about the issues with the captains and the suffocation of being confined in a tin can for so long, and when the doors open, he's the first to emerge and feel the breeze waft through his air.
It's glorious.
Goku grins when Piccolo is unable to hide his own joy. He's wearing a smile his own, staring into the density of trees.
Vegeta is assisting Bulma by the time Pyrak is out, who stretches nearby the doors of ship. He's probably waiting to bully Thirty-Two.
Thirty-Two does indeed venture out. Unlike Pyrak, he's smartly left his robes in the ship. It's much warmer than the South. Ytvl is to his left and gives Pyrak a meaningful look when he tries to approach.
"So, where's the welcomin' reception?" Pyrak asks. "This ain't what I expected."
"Namek is not your common Empire slave planet," Piccolo bites back. "Don't expect a party. The people here have better things to do."
"I know what Namek is. It's full of peasants."
"What did you just say?"
"Guys, I think the main village is this way," Goku says with the aim of deviating the conversation. He jumps into the air, enjoying the weightlessness of it, and tries to sense the energy of the guy in charge. "Let's go."
There's a barking laugh that must be Pyrak. "Who d'ya want carrying you, princess?" he asks Thirty-Two, "Ask me nicely and I won't drop yer on yer head."
Oh, can't Thirty-Two fly under sheenks?
"No," Pyrak says with wild joy when asked, "It's not that. He can't fly. Never been able to, 'ave yer?"
Thirty-Two doesn't look embarrassed, but he does look distracted, staring into the faraway distance way past where Goku had pointed out the village being located. It's then Goku remembers Thirty-Two's research into Namek. Why does he want the dragon balls? Is it for Hailer? Himself?
In the end, it doesn't matter.
The Namekian dragon balls have long since been gone.
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Thanks to Kags for beta-ing! It's nice to finally be able to dedicate myself to just one story now that Horse is done. This story won't be nearly as long so that's a huge relief for me, haha. I've just returned from my travel and I'm back between uni and work so will update when I can. The next chapter is already completed (but is a short one) so do expect another update soon.
I've been getting some lovely feedback so I want to say thanks and I hope you continue to stick around with me until the end!