The coordinated attack from Krillin and Gohan pierced through Namek's triple sunlight, their enhanced ki signatures blazing with power that would have been unthinkable just days ago. Their movements showed a precision that spoke of how far they'd come since the Saibamen battles on Earth, executing the strategy exactly as Cellera had calculated.
Cellera's eyes narrowed as details she would have missed before Guru's unlocking revealed themselves. Each time Guldo seemed to vanish, she caught subtle disturbances in the ki flow around him, like ripples in still water, the way time itself seemed to hiccup around him. One moment he stood directly in the blasts' path, the next he materialized several meters right - but the transition held clues her newfound power let her perceive.
While they couldn't follow up after the ki blast distraction like she'd hoped to, she couldn't help the flash of pride she felt- so different from her usual mission groupings with Nappa.
"That's a great shot!" Krillin called out, but Cellera had already noticed the pattern - the way Guldo's chest expanded just before each "dodge," how his movements lacked the usual motion blur of high-speed combat.
"Hey, Vegeta! Your girl's got some real choice mates there!" Jeice called from below, genuine admiration mixing with his usual teasing tone.
Catching her father's subtle nod of approval, Cellera recognized more than just acknowledgment of their increased power from Guru. He'd seen it too - the potential of their coordinated attacks. Even Burter and Recoome had paused their poses to watch with interest, though they quickly resumed their stretching when they noticed her attention.
"Remember what I said!" Cellera called out, her trained eye catching how Guldo's four eyes darted frantically between targets. "Keep him off balance - don't let him focus!"
"Right!" Gohan and Krillin responded in unison. They split apart in perfect synchronization, their enhanced speed creating multiple angles of attack. Cellera noted with satisfaction how Guldo's breathing grew increasingly labored with each "instantaneous" dodge.
"Showing off for your father?" Burter called down. "Or maybe for someone else?" His theatrical wink toward Gohan made Cellera's cheeks burn and roll her eyes, but she refused to let their teasing break her concentration.
Each detail built a clearer picture - Guldo's sharp inhale before disappearing, the widening of all four eyes in concentration, the growing fatigue that belied his supposed "instant" movement. Her senses, now sharpened by Guru's gift, caught the subtle disturbances in ki that rippled outward with each "teleport".
"Aw look how well they work together!" Jeice called from the sidelines. "Our little recruit's getting so good at leading!"
Cellera felt that familiar mix of irritation and grudging amusement that only the Ginyu Force seemed capable of provoking. Months ago, such showmanship would have earned nothing but cold disdain. Now, after her time with the Earthlings, she could almost appreciate the absurdity of elite warriors treating combat like a performance piece.
"They grow up so fast," Burter pretended to wipe away tears.
"Shut up and let me concentrate!" Guldo snapped at his teammates, his frustration making his breath come faster - another detail Cellera filed away.
Guldo's chest expanded with a deep breath and Cellera's eyes widened in realization. "Gotcha!" she thought, a smirk playing across her lips. Her theory confirmed itself moments later when Guldo appeared several meters away, flat on his back after barely avoiding another coordinated attack from Gohan and Krillin.
"There he is!" Krillin called out, spotting Guldo struggling to his feet. Without hesitation, he launched an attack, Gohan following suit as the small alien attempted to retreat. Gohan's blast connected, sending Guldo tumbling across the ground.
"I guess four eyes didn't see that one coming!" Krillin said, pride evident in finally landing a hit.
Across the battlefield, Burter and Recoome had started placing bets on whether Guldo could finish the fight within the next minute - a clear sign that even his own team doubted his abilities. Guldo himself was doubled over, clutching his chest and muttering something about needing more Ginyu Force Fitness Club training.
"He can only stop time for as long as he can hold his breath!" Cellera called out as her companions moved to press their advantage. "Keep the pressure on - don't let him recover!"
But even as she shouted the warning, she saw Guldo's chest expand with desperate inhale. Her body was already in motion, but too late - the world seemed to stutter, and suddenly she found herself face-to-face with Krillin and Gohan, all of them converging on empty space where their target had been.
"Where'd he go?" Gohan asked, as they all looked around the field.
"The little coward is hiding," Cellera said, picking up subtle fluctuations in ki. Her eyes narrowed on a distant ridge - there was something different about the energy pattern there, like a disruption in the natural flow. Even her father had taught her to respect an opponent's retreat, but this... this was pure cowardice. "Even Gohan stood his ground against us on Earth despite his fear. This is pathetic for a supposed elite warrior."
Gohan caught Cellera's focused stare, following her line of sight. He picked up the faintest disturbance in ki near a distant ridge. "Behind that ridge!" he yelled, launching a ki blast in sync with Krillin. The attacks collided with their target, sending rocks and debris exploding outward in a massive cloud. Through the settling dust, Krillin's Kamehameha carved a bright blue path through the air, missing Guldo by inches as the small alien desperately rolled clear.
As he began to pick himself up, he yelled "No fair! You can't add in Cellera! That's cheating!"
Cellera rolled her eyes at his accusation. Not only a coward but also a baby. Since when was 'fair' a part of one of Frieza's soldiers' vocabulary?
"C'mon Guldo, you're killing me here!" Recoome called from where he hovered in the sky next to Burter and Jeice.
"I dunno, I'm kind of enjoying watching him get his flabby tail whipped by Cellera." Burter replied.
"Hey, Guldo! Here's the deal: If you can't beat them quickly, then we're replacing you with Cellera!"
"Yeah, and not to mention your spot on the bowling team!" Jeice added.
"But you can't kick me off the force!" Guldo argued worriedly. "I was just warming up! That's all! They're dead! I promise!"
"Yes, warming up." Cellera spat out, eyes narrowed. "That's why you were cowering with your tail between your legs. Then again, I don't expect anything else from the weakest of the Ginyu's." she gave a laugh before continuing. "Why, I bet even these two Earthlings could fill your place quite nicely if they wanted."
Gohan felt a slight chill run down his spine at the familiar look in her eyes. It was the same one she gave him in their battle when he was pulling his punches due to his mother's words about him hitting girls - a stark contrast to the calm, composed warrior he'd come to know since Earth. In moments like these, her father's influence showed through clearly, transforming her usual demeanor into something pure Vegeta, reminding Gohan that for all her changes, she was still very much her father's daughter
"She's got a point, mate!" Jeice said, Recoome and Burter nodding in agreement beside him.
As Guldo became distracted with yelling at his 'teammates', Cellera met eyes with Krillin and Gohan, giving them a nod to attack while his guard was down. Unfortunately, Krillin and Gohan had gone in for a direct attack, something she had specifically warned them in the beginning not to do. Before she could alert them, Guldo had turned around just in time to stop them with his mind-bind technique.
"Not good!" Cellera muttered under her breath, clicking her tongue in frustration. She watched helplessly as Krillin and Gohan struggled against their invisible bonds, suspended helplessly in the air. Her thumb pressed to her lip as she tried to formulate a strategy that would free them without falling into the same trap.
The other Ginyu Force members called down their increasingly impatient encouragement, but Guldo seemed determined to savor his moment of superiority. Each piece of debris he telekinetically hurled at her immobilized companions made Cellera's careful composure crack. She'd warned them about direct attacks, had planned for this exact scenario, yet watching them unable to defend themselves...
Her growing anger began to erode years of practiced control - the very flaw her father had always warned her about. Just like Gohan's bursts of power through rage, she felt her own control slipping. The careful strategies, the measured analysis, all of it dissolved as Guldo continued to torment her teammates.
Her power surged as she launched herself forward, fist drawn back in anger - a move so uncharacteristically reckless that she heard her father's sharp intake of breath behind her. Too late, she realized she'd fallen into the same trap she'd warned the others about. Her fist froze inches from Guldo's face as his mental grip seized her.
"Nuh uh, you stay out of this little miss cheater," Guldo scolded with a triumphant smirk.
Shame burned through her as she caught her father's disapproving look. She'd let emotion cloud her judgment - the cardinal sin in her father's training. Yet somewhere in her mind, she heard Guru's words about balance between thinking and feeling. Perhaps this wasn't entirely wrong, just... poorly timed.
The Ginyu Force's jeering increased, their patience with Guldo's showboating clearly wearing thin.
"Get on with it already!"
"Do I have to come down there and kill 'em for you?"
"It's not too late to kick you off the force and replace you with someone competent!"
"Uh, right!" Guldo stuttered, clearly rattled by his teammates' derision. His eyes darted around before landing on a nearby tree. Cellera's stomach dropped as she watched him telekinetically uproot and sharpen it into a deadly spear.
"No, I have to break free!" Gohan gritted out beside her, his determination evident even through the paralysis. "I can't disappoint Piccolo!"
"Now, let's see! Who dies first?" Guldo made a show of considering his options before his four eyes settled on Cellera with unexpected malice. "This will teach you to steal my spot in the Ginyu Force, you little brat!"
The shock of being his first target registered across everyone's faces - even the other Force members seemed taken aback. Cellera squeezed her eyes shut as the makeshift spear hurtled toward her, but suddenly the mental grip holding her vanished. Her eyes snapped open in time to dodge the projectile, only to see Guldo's severed head lying at her father's feet.
Guldo's head lay in the grass, all four eyes wide with disbelief as they stared at Vegeta's boots. "You... you cheater!" he managed to sputter. "Both you and your daughter... always cheating! This isn't fair!"
"Cheating?" Vegeta's laugh held no humor as he ground his heel into the dirt beside Guldo's head. "There's no such thing as unfair in battle. Something a supposed 'elite warrior' should understand." Without another word, he raised his hand and blasted Guldo's severed head into oblivion.
Released from the mental bind, Cellera dropped to one knee, catching her breath as Krillin and Gohan landed beside her. The shame of letting emotion override her judgement still burned, but beneath it was unmistakable gratitude – both for her father's intervention and for her companions' safety.
"I never thought I'd say this, but... thanks Vegeta," Krillin said, rubbing his neck. "Didn't expect you to help us out like that."
"Yeah, thank you," Gohan added earnestly.
"Don't misunderstand," Vegeta scoffed. "I have my own reasons for killing that freak." He kicked at the scorched ground where Guldo's head had been. "The fate of the Dragon Balls depends on all of you being alive."
Cellera caught the slight emphasis he'd placed on 'all' in his response – her father's way of acknowledging their temporary alliance without directly stating it.
"Thank you, Father," Cellera said quietly, rising to her feet, already cataloging how close that tree-spear had come, how poorly she'd handled the situation, and how many of her father's lessons she'd disregarded
"Hmph." Vegeta's stern gaze fixed on her. "Your emotions got you caught. I taught you better than that." But there was something else in his tone – not quite concerned, but perhaps understanding. After all, hadn't he just acted to protect her?
"I know," she admitted. "But still... thank you."
"Well, this is awkward," Jeice's voice cut through the moment. "Our whole routine's thrown off now!"
"We'll need to completely redesign the choreography," Burter agreed, striking a pose that now looked notably unbalanced without Guldo's part.
"Hey, what about Cellera?" Recoome brightened. "She's about the same size as Guldo – she'd be perfect!"
"That's right!" Jeice snapped his fingers. "Plus she's already got her uniform waiting!"
"For the last time," Cellera gritted out, her earlier gratitude giving way to exasperation, "I am not joining your force!"
Before she could suffer through more recruitment attempts, Recoome's massive form descended from above, cracking his knuckles as he faced Vegeta. "But first things first – time for the main event!"
The playful atmosphere vanished instantly. Whatever temporary amusement the Force had provided, now came the real threat. Cellera's fingers tightened into fists as she watched Recoome approach her father. This wouldn't be like Guldo – Recoome's raw power made him one of the deadliest members of the Force, second only to Captain Ginyu himself.
"This isn't over yet," she murmured, more to herself than her companions. Her eyes narrowed as she began analyzing their remaining opponent, determined not to let emotion cloud her judgment again.
"You're right, but you are not fighting this battle," Vegeta's sharp tone made her head snap up.
"But Father-"
"No." The word carried the full weight of his authority. "Your earlier display of your lack of emotional control nearly got you killed. I won't have that liability in this fight."
Cellera's fists clenched at her sides. While his words stung with truth, she caught the slight tension in his jaw that betrayed his deeper concern. Her father rarely showed such obvious tells - he must be more worried about Recoome than he was letting on.
"I can help," she insisted, stepping forward. "My power's increased significantly since Guru. Together we could-"
"This is not a discussion." Vegeta's eyes flickered briefly to where the tree-spear had nearly impaled her moments ago. "Stay with your... companions. Consider this a lesson in controlling your emotions in battle."
The way he hesitated on 'companions' spoke volumes - acknowledging their alliance while maintaining his pride. Even facing one of Frieza's deadliest warriors, he was teaching her. But beneath the lesson, she recognized the shadow of fear in his expression - the same look he'd worn years ago when Frieza had first shown his interest in molding her abilities to serve his empire.
"Father, please-"
"Enough!" His sharp tone made even Recoome pause in his warm-up stretches. "You will stay back. That's an order."
The command held all the authority of both a commander and a father, but Cellera didn't miss how he'd positioned himself between her and Recoome. She understood his reasoning - she'd be more useful alive to help plan their next move than dead from rushing in recklessly again.
While watching her father face one of Frieza's elite alone, her fingers tightened into fists at her sides. She fell into the familiar comfort of observation - cataloging each of Recoome's movements, his patterns, his tells. It was a habit drilled into her since childhood, one that had kept her alive under Frieza's rule, and now it helped steady her nerves as she watched her father face the giant warrior. She might have to obey his command to stay back, but she could still make herself useful by studying every detail of the coming battle.
The birds scattered from nearby as Vegeta and Recoome faced each other, their impending battle charging the air with tension. Recoome's casual stance, arms folded and wearing a smug smile, contrasted sharply with Vegeta's guarded posture. When Recoome took a step forward, Vegeta's slight step back didn't escape Cellera's notice.
"Your little friends and Cellera can play too. Come at me all at once, I don't care." Recoome's declaration carried none of Guldo's desperation. "Those cheap tricks you used on Guldo aren't gonna work on me."
"Hey there, easy Recoome!" Jeice called out. "Don't go killing them all off yourself. We are supposed get the two runts, remember? Also, we gotta bring Cellera back in one piece."
"Jerks," Krillin muttered.
"I really hate these guys," Gohan added.
"Try being harassed by them for years," Cellera replied, her attempt at dry humor barely masking her concern for the coming battle.
"Now you'll feel the power of RECOOME!" Each word was punctuated with an increasingly elaborate pose until he settled into his final stance - one leg raised like some bizarre flamingo, arms twisted at unnatural angles.
The absurdity of his pose hung in the air for a moment before Vegeta's power exploded outward. Wind and debris whipped across the battlefield, forcing Cellera, Krillin, and Gohan to shield their faces. Through the chaos, her father launched forward, his right hook connecting solidly with Recoome's face.
The punch sent him flying across the field and Vegeta blasted off to the other side where Recoome was headed just to give him a double axe handle into the ground. Continuing the assault, he gained some distance in the air before soaring down and planting both his feet into Recoome's gut. Vegeta wasn't done as he picked up Recoome by the leg, swung him around and threw him into a mountainside before charging a ki blast.
"See you in hell, Recoome!" Vegeta yelled before firing the ki beam.
Cellera quickly grabbed the back of both Krillin and Gohan's gi pulling them to the ground with her and shouted, "Duck!" as her father's blast soared past them and into the mountain Recoome was thrown into. The blast caused an even more powerful back draft than earlier, the three held their arms over their heads and kept low to the ground, even Jeice and Burter had to move out of the way.
As they began to pick themselves off the ground, looking to where Vegeta had fired the blast Krillin spoke in shock. "He…He did it!"
Gohan was struck speechless at the power Vegeta showed.
"Wow. That wasn't even a contest." Krillin continued. "It's scary how strong Vegeta's gotten. He totally blew that guy away.
Cellera however, just frowned as she looked to her father who was breathing heavily and then to where Recoome should be. No matter how strong that attack was, she knew it wasn't enough to take out Recoome. "No." she said, causing both Krillin and Gohan to turn toward her. "He's still alive." she gritted out as she sensed his ki still alive and well.
Her father must sense it too, because his face takes on a slightly panicked expression.
"She's right! Do you feel that, Krillin?" Gohan asked as he trembled, feeling Recoome's ki still in play. "He's still alive!"
"There's no way! He couldn't be!"
As the smoke began to clear, Recoome was revealed to them all in another ridiculous pose, although not without a his armour piece gone, his unitard torn, and a handful scratches leaving some blood in their wake. "Hi!" He greeted them with a chuckle.
"This is crazy!" Gohan shouted, looking toward Cellera. "You mean he took all that and it didn't even phase him?"
"He may not be the brightest but he's got plenty of brawn." Cellera replied as she felt her own body starting to tremble slightly. She glanced over at Burter and Jeice to distract herself, watching the two soldiers wipe the dust off of them, talking about how Recoome is showing off again.
"All right!" Recoome announced as he began to laugh again. "Good warm up! Now it's my turn! Are you ready to play for real Vegeta?"
In the blink of an eye, Recoome was shouting 'Recoome kick' and his knee collided with Vegeta's face sending him flying back towards a small ridge that he was able to right himself upward on before soaring back to Recoome and throwing a flurry of punches which Recoome blocked.
The exchange of blows between Vegeta and Recoome moved almost too fast to follow, ending with her father being thrown into the Namekian sea with explosive force from his 'Recoome Boom'.
As water rained down around them, Cellera's eyes tracked the subtle disturbances in the water's surface. Most would assume her father had been overwhelmed, but she'd seen this maneuver too many times during their training sessions to be fooled - he was positioning himself, not retreating.
"Your dad's really in for it now!" Burter called down.
"Yeah, no one survives Recoome's opening combo of the Recoome Kick and Recoome Boom!" Jeice added with a laugh.
The water exploded upward as Vegeta burst forth, catching Recoome mid-pose with a devastating gut punch. The impact echoed across the battlefield, but Cellera's attention was drawn to Burter and Jeice's reactions - or rather, their lack of them. Their casual postures and unconcerned expressions sent a chill down her spine.
"Father, something's-" Her warning came too late.
Recoome's massive hand clamped around Vegeta's armor, lifting him overhead with disturbing ease. "Hey Vegeta!" The giant's grin widened. "Know what sounds good right now? A vegetable platter!"
Any other time, Cellera might have appreciated the wordplay - her mother had always said humor helped process fear. But watching Recoome slam her father headfirst into the ground with bone-crushing force before plucking him up again killed any trace of amusement.
The ground cratered beneath her father's skull as Recoome drove him deeper into the dirt. Pain flashed across Cellera's features before she could suppress it - a tell her father would have scolded her for if he wasn't currently being used to reshape Namek's landscape.
"Aww, what's wrong Vegeta?" Recoome taunted, plucking him from the ground like a ragdoll. "No more clever strategies?"
Blood trickled from her father's forehead, but his eyes remained sharp, calculating. Cellera recognized that look - the same one he wore when teaching her that sometimes the best defense was an unexpected offense.
"Actually..." Vegeta's hand shot up, energy gathering in his palm. "I've got one!"
The blast caught Recoome point-blank in the face, the explosion forcing him to release his grip. Vegeta landed into one of the small craters they made earlier, but Cellera's relief was short-lived. Her father's breathing was too labored, his movements too stiff as he stood up. Worse, she caught Jeice and Burter exchanging amused glances - as if this was all going exactly as expected.
However, Recoome just stood up like nothing happened. "Now that was low, even for a Saiyan. You are ruthless, Vegeta!" Recoome's grin widened as he wiped a trickle of blood from his nose. "No wonder you were always one of Lord Frieza's favorites!"
Cellera's fists clenched at her sides. Her father's ruthlessness had indeed made him Frieza's favorite - a fact that had only intensified after her mother's death. Where Rhuba had shown mercy, Vegeta had embraced cruelty, as if trying to prove himself worthy of the tyrant's attention.
"Y'know," Recoome continued, cracking his neck, "I never understood how someone like Rhuba ended up with you. Total opposites, you two." He laughed, striking another pose. "Now, time to finish this!"
Recoome's chest expanded as energy gathered in his mouth, the purple glow of his Eraser Gun casting ominous shadows across the battlefield. Cellera's mind raced - her father was clearly exhausted, but Recoome was still treating this like a game. They needed to act now.
"Gohan," she whispered, her eyes never leaving Recoome's gathering energy. "When I give the signal, get my father clear. Krillin and I will create an opening."
The boy nodded, already shifting his stance to prepare for a quick rescue. Cellera caught Krillin's eye, tilting her head slightly toward Recoome's exposed left side. A slight nod from the Earth warrior showed he understood - despite their limited time fighting together, the threat before them had forged a quick alliance.
Before they could move, Recoome prepared to fire his attack.
"Now!"
"Hang on, Vegeta!" Gohan shouted.
While Gohan darted in to pull Vegeta to safety, Cellera and Krillin attacked from opposite sides. Their coordinated assault caught Recoome mid-pose, Krillin's kick connecting solidly with his spine while Cellera's fist collided under his chin, slamming his mouth shut on his own blast.
"What are you doing?" Vegeta demanded once Gohan set him down, blood streaming from his mouth. "Could you be any more stupid? Instead of coming after me, all three of you should've attacked Recoome together! Do you really think he's going to let his guard down like that again?!" His eyes fixed on Cellera. "You of all people should know better. I taught you strategy, not sentiment."
Cellera bit back her response. Her father wasn't wrong about the opportunity for a decisive strike they'd lost, but she couldn't - wouldn't - apologize for protecting the only blood family she had left. Even if he'd scold her for such "unnecessary feelings."
Gohan stared between them, unable to comprehend someone being angry at being saved. The way Vegeta berated his own daughter for trying to help him... it stirred something in Gohan's chest, adding to the growing list of reasons he was beginning to truly dislike the Saiyan man.
Before anyone could say more, Recoome's kick sent Krillin flying and crashing a few meters away.
"Krillin!" Gohan ran to his friend. "Speak to me Krillin! Please!"
"I'm sorry, but I'm pretty sure that kick broke every bone in my body." Krillin said, a loopy smile on his face.
Cellera moved to check on him, her familiar mask cracking as she watched Krillin attempt humor even through his pain. It reminded her of her own attempts to distance herself from emotion during missions, though his came from a place of trying to comfort others rather than suppress feeling. "That was a good hit earlier," she said softly. "Thank you for helping, even knowing the risk."
"They're just too strong…" Krillin managed, his usual optimism fading. "But hey, at least I got in one good shot!"
"You can't give up! Just hang on Krillin!" Gohan pleaded, his ki beginning to spike with anger.
Cellera felt her own rage building - at Recoome's casual brutality, at her father's inability to accept help, at her own powerlessness. But she forced her breathing to steady, remembering how emotion had led to her capture by Guldo. They couldn't afford another mistake like that.
"Gohan," she said, keeping her voice calm despite the fury threatening to break through. "We need to think rationally. If we can hold out until Kakarot arrives..." She glanced at her father, battered but still conscious, then back to Krillin. "We just need to wear him down, create openings where we can. Together."
Defeat radiated off Krillin as he warned them to save themselves, but Cellera knew escape wasn't an option. Not with her father barely able to stand, not with Krillin injured, not with Recoome between them and any hope of survival.
To hell with her father's orders. He could scold her for her sentiment over strategy approach if they survived - when they survived. She'd face those consequences gladly if it meant keeping them all alive until Kakarot arrived.
"Leave this to us now." The words carried an authority Cellera hadn't meant to channel - her father's influence showing through even as she stood against his orders. But there was something else there too, a protective edge.
Recoome's grin widened as Cellera and Gohan took their fighting stances. The training with Piccolo and her father showed in their synchronized movements as they launched their first combination attack - Gohan driving Recoome back while Cellera struck from his blind spot. However, despite their perfect execution, Recoome barely moved.
"Come on, Cellera! I thought you'd give me more of a challenge than that!" Recoome laughed, blocking their attacks with casual ease.
They fell back, regrouping as Cellera's mind raced for another strategy. Beside her, Gohan's determined expression never wavered despite their ineffective assault. "We need to hit harder," he said, his voice steady despite the situation. "Together."
She nodded, recognizing the same thinking she'd seen during their brief training sessions. "On my mark. Remember that combination we were working on?"
A slight smile crossed Gohan's face - the same one he'd worn when they'd finally perfected the move. They'd only had time to practice it a few times, but with their potential being unlocked from Guru….
They moved in almost perfect sync, Gohan's ki blast forcing Recoome to dodge exactly where Cellera had predicted. She appeared behind the giant warrior, her strike perfectly timed with Gohan's follow-up attack. The impact echoed across the battlefield - a direct hit that would have devastated any normal opponent.
Recoome just grinned.
"Not bad! You kids actually made me feel that one!" He cracked his neck, still treating this like some training exercise. "But playtime's over!"
"Watch out!" Cellera warned as she registered Recoome's counterattack a split second before it launched. She knew the blow that was coming would shatter Gohan's spine - she'd seen Recoome use this exact move on countless warriors during his "training demonstrations" under Frieza. The lessons beaten into her screamed to let the attack land - a wounded Gohan would draw Recoome's focus, creating an opening for a decisive counterattack. It was the logical choice, the strategic play that had been drilled into her since she could walk.
But as she watched Recoome's massive form bearing down on the boy who'd shown her that strength can come in different forms, her body moved on its own. As she pushed him clear, she realized her decision wasn't the most optimal one at all. For once, she didn't care. Some things were worth more than perfect strategy.
The impact came like thunder, Recoome's massive fist connecting with her back where Gohan's spine would have been. The force drove her into the ground, sending cracks spiderwebbing through Namek's blue soil beneath her. Stars exploded behind her eyes as pain radiated through her body, but she could feel Gohan's ki signature, whole and unharmed - that was all that mattered.
"Aw come on, Recoome!" Jeice called down as Cellera hit the ground. "That's Cellera you just hit! You're supposed to save her!"
"Not my fault!" Recoome protested with a theatrical shrug. "Was aiming for the other kid! She's the one who got in the way!"
"Well, the healing pod should fix her up," Burter reasoned. "Just try not to do any permanent damage. Remember what Captain Ginyu said."
Through the haze of pain, Cellera tried to push herself up, but her legs wouldn't respond. The numbness spreading from where Recoome's fist had connected told her everything - spinal damage, temporary paralysis if she was lucky. But as she lay there, unable to move, a different kind of fear gripped her - not of death or failure, but of being unable to protect those she'd slowly come to care about.
Something snapped in Vegeta as he watched his daughter lie motionless on the ground. The sight stirred memories he'd thought long buried - the day he'd learned of Rhuba's death, the helpless rage he'd felt at being unable to prevent it. Raw fury surged through him as he launched a ki blast at Recoome's exposed back. "You'll regret that!" he snarled, pouring every ounce of his rage into the attack.
Recoome turned at the last second, the blast scorching his shoulder before he deflected the rest of its force skyward. "Don't worry, Vegeta! I'll deal with you after I finish the runt." His massive form loomed over Gohan once more. "Now, where were we?
"Gohan," Cellera managed through gritted teeth, "Fall back! You can't-"
But Gohan's expression silenced her. Gone was the hesitation she'd seen during their first encounter on Earth. In its place was pure determination - the same look she'd seen when he'd fearlessly faced down Dodoria back at the Namekian village. "I won't run," he said, dropping into his fighting stance once more. "I won't let them hurt anyone else!"
Something shifted in Cellera's chest as she watched Gohan charge forward - a complex mixture of pride and unease that she couldn't quite suppress. The hesitant boy from Earth who'd once pulled his punches against her was gone, replaced by a warrior willing to face down one of Frieza's elite. Yet that very courage made her stomach twist - she'd seen too many brave fighters fall to the Ginyu Force's casual brutality.
But it wasn't enough. Recoome's massive fist caught Gohan in the stomach, sending him crashing into the ground. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he pushed himself back up.
"Just stay down, kid!" Recoome laughed. "You're only making this worse for yourself!"
Cellera's throat tightened as she watched Gohan stand his ground. She'd seen countless warriors face hopeless odds under Frieza's rule, but this was different. Gohan wasn't fighting out of pride or fear - he was fighting to protect others, just as she had tried to protect him moments ago.
He wiped blood from his chin, his small frame trembling with determination rather than fear. "Vegeta's hurt, Krillin's down, Cellera can't even move... I have to hold on until my dad gets here! I have to!" His voice carried the same unwavering resolve she'd seen when he'd first stood up to her on Earth, but now that strength was turned toward protecting others - even her, the one who'd once been his enemy.
The raw conviction in his voice struck something in Cellera. Her father had always said that sentiment led to defeat. But Earth had changed that perspective, and now, watching Gohan face impossible odds not for pride or glory but to protect everyone around him, friend and former foe alike... she understood what her mother might have seen all along. Strength doesn't have to be defined by pure power alone.
"Now! Let Recoome show you your doom!"
"Never!" Gohan's ki flared as he launched himself at Recoome one final time, his power spiking with the same protective fury that had driven Cellera to take Recoome's blow for him. "I'm not gonna let you win!"
"Gohan, don't-!" Cellera's warning came too late.
Recoome's kick caught him in the side of the neck. The crack echoed across the battlefield. The force twisted him as he fell, his head landing at an unnatural angle that left him facing her. Their eyes met for one terrible moment - his usually bright gaze already growing distant - before his body hit the ground with a sickening thud.
Cellera squeezed her eyes shut shame as she felt his ki signature flicker dangerously low. She'd failed - failed to protect her father, failed to help Krillin, and now failed to save the boy who'd shown her where true strength comes from. Not from ruthlessness and cruelty, but from something she suspected her mother had known all along - the courage to protect others even when victory seems impossible.
In the distance, she sensed a familiar ki signature approaching. 'Please', she thought, no longer caring what her father would think of her hope, 'Please hurry, Kakarot. Your son has more than earned the right to survive this'.
"Oi, Recoome!" Jeice called, annoyance laced in his voice. "Finish up your handiwork so we can report back to Lord Frieza and get Cellera in a healing pod!"
"Yeah. We don't want to spend all day watching you have fun! Let's get this over with!" Burter chimed in.
Just as Recoome began to walk over to Gohan, a gleam caught his attention causing him to pause. In a blink of an eye, faster than even Burter, Kakarot stood before them by Gohan, the force of his speed sending Recoome spinning.
"Gohan..." Goku whispered upon seeing his son in such a state.
"Hah. Kakarot. Of course." Vegeta said, clutching his bad arm. "So he finally decided to show up."
"Hold on Krillin, I'll be right there with a senzu bean for ya!" Goku called out to his friend before kneeling by Gohan's side, gently cradling him. "It's okay, son. I'm here now. You're going to be fine, just try to swallow this."
Cellera watched as Kakarot pulled out another of those magical beans from Earth. She remembered their healing properties from the Saiyan battle, but could they really mend something as severe as a broken neck?
"Dad! Is it really you?" Gohan asked, clutching his father's gi.
Cellera's eyes widened as Gohan sat up, completely healed - his neck injury erased as if it had never happened.
"Dad, wait - Cellera needs one too!" He snatched another bean from his father's hand before rushing over to where she lay paralyzed. "Here, eat this! Quick!" he urgently told her. The same protective instinct that had driven her to take Recoome's blow now reflected in his eyes. "You took that hit for me back there, now let me help you."
"What are you giving my daughter?" Vegeta demanded, taking a step forward despite his injuries. For all his talk of sentiment making one weak, concern bled through his harsh tone.
"It's alright, Father," Cellera assured him, accepting the bean from Gohan.
Feeling returned to her legs almost instantly as she swallowed. She stood, testing her restored mobility with cautious movements that quickly grew more confident.
"Come on," Gohan said, already heading toward where Krillin lay. "Dad, Krillin needs one too!"
As they approached their fallen friend, Goku's eyes widened at the sight of Vegeta's battered condition. "What happened to him?"
"Recoome," Cellera explained, her voice tight. "My father's strongest attacks barely fazed him. Even a point-blank blast to the face only managed to bloody his nose."
That reminder of her father's defeat made her glance back at him, noting how he still maintained his pride despite his injuries. Some things, at least, never changed.
While she could feel that Kakarot was a lot stronger than when they last met, Cellera couldn't gauge if it would be enough against the remaining Ginyu Force members, let alone Frieza. Though if his performance on Earth was any indication, he could be masking his true power.
"I've been meaning to ask," Kakarot said, surveying the battlefield and Cellera's Frieza Force uniform. "Why are you two fighting them? Aren't you with them?"
"It's a long story," Cellera replied, Krillin nodding in agreement beside her.
"I got something that will be a lot faster! King Kai taught me this neat trick when I trained with him!"
Cellera's curiosity peaked at the mention of the being she had briefly collaborated with back on Earth, but before she could respond, Kakarot placed a hand on both her and Krillin's heads. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught her father tensing despite his injuries, ready to strike if necessary.
"Just relax. Reading your minds should only take a moment." His face took on an expression of calm concentration. After several seconds, understanding dawned in his eyes. "Oh, so that's it!" he said, removing his hands from their heads. "I saw everything - how Grand Elder Guru gave you three that big power boost, all the way up to these Ginyu guys showing up. I got it all!"
He reached into his bag, retrieving the final senzu bean. "I also saw that Vegeta is still the same as ever, but when it came down to it, he still saved you guys. I guess we owe him one."
"Wow, Goku. You are seriously freaking me out here," Krillin said at his friend's newfound abilities.
"This is the last senzu bean," Kakarot muttered, dropping the now-empty bag aside. He turned toward her father, contemplating for a moment. "Hey Vegeta!" he called before throwing it his way. "That's for you. Eat it!"
Cellera watched as Recoome tried to catch the bean in his mouth, but passed through the gaps of his teeth she had knocked out in her uppercut earlier. As the bean landed safely in her father's hand she gave him a nod, signaling that it's fine to eat.
Her father's eyes widened moments after swallowing, powering up and flexing his muscles to test if they've been truly healed and his stamina restored. "M-My body is…!?" he asked himself in shock.
"What were you thinking?!" Krillen asked, appalled at his friend's actions. "Even if you heal Vegeta and we can all fight as a team, it won't do any good!" .
"That's not what I'm doing. I want to settle the score with him later back on Earth." Goku replied, shocking all three of them.
"Your rematch back on Earth? Are you serious?!" Krillin asked.
"I have to agree, Kakarot. Might I remind you of the promise I made!" Cellera chimed in, but Kakarot turned to her with a smile that made her pause. There was something in his expression that reminded her of her father when he spotted worthy prey - a glimmer of that primal Saiyan hunger for battle.
"Well sure! You said you promised to leave Earth, and you did. I don't recall anything about you two not coming back at all." he grinned.
Cellera studied him carefully, understanding dawning in her mind. While his words spoke of mercy, she recognized that familiar fire in his eyes - the same one that burned in every Saiyan warrior's blood. For all his Earth-learned compassion, Kakarot was still a Saiyan at his core. The prospect of fighting her father again, especially now that they'd both grown so much stronger, clearly excited him in a way that transcended his adopted world's gentler values.
She should have expected this duality. After all, hadn't she herself been struggling with similar conflicts between her Saiyan nature and newfound perspectives? His mercy might be genuine, but so was that warrior's gleam in his eyes. Kakarot had found a way to balance both aspects of himself - showing compassion while still honoring the battle-hunger that ran through their veins.
She only hoped their inevitable rematch wouldn't end in another life-or-death scenario, though knowing both warriors' pride, she wasn't optimistic.
However, she couldn't deny the slight joy she felt at the possibility of visiting the place that began to change her perspective. Perhaps if they somehow made it out of this, she would take Kakarot up on his offer, but for now they needed to focus on the task at hand.
"Dad, wait! Where are you going?!" Gohan asked as Goku began walking toward Recoome.
"Stay here. I'll take care of these Ginyu guys." Kakarot said, turning to meet their eyes. His gaze held an authority that brooked no argument - something Cellera was used to seeing from her father - but Kakarot's also carried complete confidence and assurance rather than threat.
"But Goku, you don't understand what you're up against!" Krillin protested, genuine fear in his voice. "These guys are monsters!"
Cellera studied Kakarot's relaxed stance as he approached Recoome. Something was fundamentally different about him - beyond just increased power. She glanced at Gohan and saw the same recognition in his eyes. Whatever training Kakarot had undergone since Earth had transformed more than just his strength.
She tried to understand what felt different about his ki signature. There was a controlled quality to it now, a sense of power held carefully in check rather than the raw force he'd displayed on Earth. The contrast between his casual demeanor and Krillin's fear made her wonder if they were sensing only a fraction of what he was capable of.
Beside her, Gohan watched his father with complete faith, none of his earlier fear present. Despite Krillin's valid concerns, both she and Gohan could tell - this wasn't the same warrior who had struggled against her father on Earth. The question was whether this new strength would be enough against the Ginyu Force... and eventually, Frieza.
"You're something else," Recoome said, clearly amused by Kakarot's confidence. "Here I am about to kill you and you're smiling like an idiot!"
"Listen you can't beat me," Kakarot replied casually. "I can tell without even fighting you."
Cellera's eyes widened at his tone. She'd never heard such certainty from him before - not even during their battle on Earth. This wasn't mere bravado or Saiyan pride; there was something else behind his words.
"Did... did dad just trash talk?" Gohan whispered, disbelief evident in his voice.
"Yeah, that's not like Goku at all," Krillin agreed, equally stunned. "He usually lets his fighting do the talking."
"Impossible," Vegeta muttered, his fists clenching. "He's nothing but a low-class warrior. I am a Saiyan elite, the Prince of all Saiyans! Yet his power..."
The unspoken implications hung heavy in the air. Cellera had grown up hearing tales of the legendary Super Saiyan - a warrior of unimaginable power that appeared only every thousand years. Her father had always assumed he would be the one to achieve it, given his royal bloodline. The idea that Kakarot might reach it first…
Recoome interrupted her thoughts, dropping into another ridiculous pose. "Now feel the power... of... RECOOME!" he shouted, charging forward with all his might.
But Kakarot just stood there, radiating a calm confidence that unsettled her. Something about his control felt different - even her father's most disciplined moments carried an edge of barely contained rage.
Recoome's punch cut through empty air as Kakarot vanished. Cellera's enhanced senses from Guru allowed her to track his movement - barely. Even her father's sharp intake of breath confirmed he'd seen it too. In an instant, Kakarot had appeared behind Burter and Jeice.
Their scouters beeped frantically, registering his presence only after he'd spoken. "You two work for Frieza too, right?"
"How did he-" Jeice spun around, his usual cocky demeanor cracking slightly.
"Even I couldn't track that speed!" Burter added, genuine shock in his voice. Coming from the self-proclaimed fastest being in the universe, that admission carried weight.
She studied Kakarot's movements with growing unease. The speed hadn't been like Guldo's time-stop or even high-speed combat - it was pure, controlled power unlike anything she'd seen before. Her father's tense posture suggested he'd reached the same conclusion.
"I'll give you one chance," Kakarot continued, his voice carrying that same strange mix of authority and mercy that still caught Cellera off guard. "Leave now, peacefully. If I were you, I'd take that offer."
The gesture wasn't lost on Cellera. Here was a warrior clearly capable of destroying them, yet still offering mercy - not from weakness like she'd been taught from her father, but from a position of absolute strength, a teaching from her mother.
"Why you-" Burter and Jeice launched simultaneous attacks, but Kakarot had already vanished again. Their scouters whirred uselessly, trying to track movement too fast for their technology to follow.
He floated back toward Recoome, leaving the other two Ginyu Force members visibly shaken.
"Now you'll see my ultimate attack!" Recoome declared, striking another elaborate pose. His chest expanded as he began gathering energy, the ground creating cracks beneath the amount of power he was exerting.
In a blur of movement too fast for even the scouters to track, Kakarot's elbow connected with Recoome's exposed midsection. The precise, economical motion contradicted everything Cellera knew about combat – there had been no wasted energy, no flashy display, just pure concentrated force delivered exactly at a precise point.
"Sorry, but you did kind of leave yourself wide open there, you know?" Kakarot said with a good-natured laugh. "Bad move."
"Incredible," she whispered, eyes wide as she tried to comprehend what she'd just witnessed. "He channeled that much power into a single strike..."
Recoome stood frozen for a moment before crumpling face-first to the ground, his torn unitard leaving his rear end pointed skyward in an inglorious final pose. The warrior who had shrugged off her father's strongest attacks, who had nearly killed them all, had been defeated with a single hit.
"I can't believe it," Krillin stammered, staring at Recoome's unconscious form. "The four of us couldn't even scratch him, but Goku just..."
"He's totally different now," Gohan added, his voice filled with awe. "That wasn't even a real fight!"
"No way!" Jeice's shocked voice carried across the battlefield. "He took down Recoome with one hit!"
"Impossible!" Burter added. "No one's ever done that before!"
But Cellera could see the truth of it in Kakarot's stance – this wasn't just about raw power. This was mastery on a level she'd never witnessed before. Her father's earlier words about the legendary Super Saiyan echoed in her mind as she watched Kakarot turn toward the remaining Ginyu Force members.
"What's it going to be you two? Leave here and go back to wherever it is you came from? Or stay, and wind up like your friend here?" he asked the two remaining Ginyu Force warriors.
The pair responded by descending closer, launching into yet another series of elaborate poses. Cellera fought the urge to roll her eyes - after watching Recoome go down in one hit, they were still treating this like some performance.
"I am the Red Magma of the Ginyu Force - Jeice!"
"And I am the Blue Hurricane - Burter!"
They spun and twisted through the air, striking poses that would have looked ridiculous even by their usual standards. Cellera caught Krillin and Gohan exchanging bewildered looks - even after everything they'd seen today, the Ginyu Force's antics could still surprise them.
"So I guess you're not leaving," Kakarot stated flatly, his casual tone a sharp contrast to their theatrical display.
Jeice and Burter landed on either side of him - Jeice in front, Burter behind - clearly hoping to trap him between them. A strategy that might have worked against any other opponent, but after what they'd just witnessed with Recoome...
"Now listen here, mate-" Jeice began, but before he could finish his sentence, Kakarot's fist connected with his face, sending him staggering backward.
"Why-why you!" Jeice howled, clutching his face in pain.
"Hm? Now what were you saying?" Kakarot asked innocently. "Sorry, but you guys do really leave yourselves wide open."
Cellera had to bite back a laugh - something that would have shocked her just months ago. But the sheer simplicity of Kakarot's approach compared to the Ginyu Force's theatrics was almost comical. How many times had she watched them leave obvious openings during their poses, thinking any competent warrior would take advantage? Now here was Kakarot, doing exactly that with an almost childlike directness.
"Oi, don't you laugh at us, little miss princess!" Jeice snapped, still rubbing his face. "This isn't funny!"
"Oh, but it kind of is," she replied, unable to completely suppress her amusement. After years of enduring their poses and recruitment attempts, watching someone finally exploit the obvious openings during their poses.
The casual efficiency of his attacks struck everyone watching - no posing, no declaration of attacks, just pure, controlled power delivered with perfect timing. To Cellera and Gohan especially, this was clearly not the same warrior who had struggled on Earth.
"We're done talking!" Jeice snarled. He and Burter attacked simultaneously - Jeice with a high kick, Burter with an elbow strike - but Kakarot blocked both attacks effortlessly.
In one fluid motion, he drove his knee into Jeice's abdomen, sending the red-skinned warrior reeling backward. Without losing momentum, he swept Burter's legs out from under him with a kick that displayed both power and precision.
Cellera's eyes widened as Kakarot executed a windmill-like spin to right himself, the movement more like a dance than combat. As he crossed his arms and then thrust his palms outward, she felt the raw energy surge - no ki blast, just pure concentrated force that sent both Ginyu Force members flying backward a good couple of meters.
The shockwave kicked up a massive dust cloud, forcing everyone to shield their eyes. When the debris finally settled, Jeice and Burter were hovering midair, their expressions rattled at someone they had dismissed as a mere low-class warrior. Even their scouters seemed unable to process the readings they were getting from Kakarot.
"Maybe they're not as strong as we thought," Gohan said hopefully. "They can't even touch my dad."
"No, that's not it," Krillin replied, tension evident in his voice. "I can feel the power they're putting out. They're just as strong as Recoome was."
"He's right," Cellera confirmed, watching Kakarot's relaxed stance. "Jeice and Burter are nearly as powerful as Recoome, but the difference isn't in their strength..." She trailed off, watching Kakarot's relaxed stance. Even facing two elite warriors simultaneously, he showed no sign of strain or concern.
The display left even her father speechless. This wasn't just combat - this was complete mastery of movement and energy control. Every action served a purpose, without any of the wasteful showmanship the Ginyu Force was known for. The efficiency of it all would have been beautiful if it wasn't so terrifying.
The battle's outcome became clear not too much later as Kakarot hoisted Burter above his head - the self-proclaimed fastest being in the universe rendered helpless. With casual strength, he tossed the blue-skinned warrior aside like a discarded training dummy.
"They're both still alive," Kakarot announced to Jeice, nodding toward Burter and Recoome's unconscious forms. "They'll need a doctor though. If you want to help them, pick them up and leave this planet."
"Don't be absurd!" her father's sharp voice cut through the air. "Finish them off now Kakarot, while you still have the chance!"
Cellera's hands clenched at her sides, suppressing the strange mix of emotions these warriors always stirred in her. Despite their theatrical displays and almost familial treatment of her, she knew better than anyone their absolute loyalty to Frieza. Even now, watching them unconscious and defeated, she could hear her father's voice echoing years of harsh lessons - an enemy left alive was an enemy who would return stronger.
"No." Goku's voice remained firm but calm. "I've already made my point. This fight is over. They're not a threat to anyone like this."
Watching Jeice's shocked expression, Cellera wondered if the Force members could even comprehend this kind of mercy. The idea that someone could have the power to destroy you but choose not to - it went against everything Frieza's empire stood for.
She was proved right when Jeice suddenly blasted away as quick as he could, if she had to guess he was going to bring Ginyu over, and that's a whole separate problem all together. 'Coward.' she thought.
"He's getting away!" Gohan yelled as they all watched Jeice leave.
"Huh? Are you kidding me?" Goku asked incredulously. "He's just gonna run off and leave his friends behind?"
"Hey!" Krillin said, looking at Goku as if he'd never met the man standing before him. "Who are you and what have you done with Goku?"
Before anyone could respond, her father moved with deadly purpose toward Burter's unconscious form. His boot crushed Burter's throat without hesitation.
"No, stop!" Kakarot protested too late.
Vegeta then turned toward Recoome, energy already gathered in his palm. The blast obliterated the unconscious warrior instantly, leaving nothing but a smoking crater.
She fought to keep her expression neutral, her hands clenched at her sides. She found herself studying Gohan's reaction - his horror at the executions somehow validating her own discomfort. Yet she couldn't deny her father's strategic logic. These were warriors who would never abandon Frieza, never show them the same mercy Kakarot had offered.
"What's wrong with you?" Kakarot demanded. "I told you we didn't have to worry about those guys anymore! They were done, they couldn't even defend themselves."
"They got exactly what they deserve. They're scum, believe me." Her father spat to the side before continuing, anger rising in his voice. "Would they have taken mercy on your son and your friend?! If you'd arrived ten minutes later, they'd be gone right now!"
"It's true." Cellera found herself speaking up, causing everyone to look at her in surprise, even her father. "Kakarot, they would've killed everyone had you shown up any later. The only reason they planned to spare me was to join their force, but honestly, I think I'd rather the alternative."
She met Kakarot's eyes and spoke again with complete sincerity in her voice. "I'm grateful for the mercy you showed me and my father on Earth - you reminded me of something I thought was long forgotten. However, I also think it's important to recognize that not everyone will extend that same mercy nor have a change of heart. In that case, I believe eliminating the threat is the right call."
"Your bleeding heart sentimentality makes me want to wretch!" Vegeta snarled, his gaze shifting from Kakarot to his daughter. "And you, Cellera - if today's mistakes haven't changed your mind about this new' path you've chosen, perhaps you should just stay with these Earthlings. At least then you won't be a liability in real combat."
His words struck with practiced precision, finding vulnerabilities no physical blow could reach. The dismissal shouldn't have surprised her - she'd seen her father's growing disapproval of her changing perspectives since Earth. Yet being called a liability by the warrior who'd trained her, shaped her... Cellera maintained her composed expression through years of ingrained discipline, but beneath that mask, old doubts stirred. Had choosing mercy truly made her weak? Or was her father's definition of strength itself flawed?
Vegeta turned back to Kakarot, his voice thick with derision. "What were you thinking letting the last one get away like that?! With your newfound strength, you could have easily dealt with him without breaking a sweat! It seems you weren't fully able to become a Super Saiyan after all."
"A Super Saiyan...?" Goku mumbled before shaking his head. "Look, I don't want to make it sound like I'm bragging, but I think I've gotten just about as strong as a person can get. And even with that you're still saying this Frieza guy is going to beat me so easily?"
"You might be proud of how overwhelmingly powerful you've become, but you'll never beat Frieza with that compassion you like to show so much, even if you were immortal! You have absolutely no idea how completely terrifying and ruthless Frieza is capable of being!"
"Oh come on! You have to be exaggerating just a little bit, right? You saw for yourself how awesome Goku is now!" Krillin tried to argue.
"No, my father is entirely correct. Kakarot, a fight with Frieza means a fight to the death." Cellera said, her usually composed tone carrying a weight that made even her father glance at her. She turned to Krillin and Gohan, but something had changed in her eyes - that sharp tactical gaze growing distant for a moment, as if seeing something beyond the current battlefield. "You've both witnessed the power of Frieza and his ruthlessness for yourself back when we saved Dende at his village, or have you forgotten already?"
Krillin and Gohan's excitement died down at the reminder of the power of said tyrant and the ease at which he commanded his warriors to slaughter innocent villagers and children without remorse.
"At any rate, he's obtained all seven Dragon Balls, which means he probably already acquired eternal life by now. Any thought's of defeating him are sheer fantasy at this point. The best we can hope for is simply not to run into him."
"I don't know. I have a feeling he hasn't had his wish granted yet." Krillin speculated.
"What do you mean?" Cellera asked her companion.
"If the Dragon Balls are anything like the ones on Earth, then the sky will turn black when Shenron appears. The sky has been nothing but bright since we've been here, so he hasn't made his wish yet," Krillin replied.
Cellera glanced at the sky, Krillin was right. Due to the planet's three suns, Namek experiences eternal daylight. "So who or what is this Shenron?"
"He's the eternal dragon that appears whenever the Dragon Balls are summoned. Trust me, you can't miss something like that." Krillin replied.
"That's it! That's why he hasn't made his wish yet!" Kakarot exclaimed, causing everyone to turn to him. "He doesn't know the words to summon the dragon!"
"You mean like a password of sorts?" Cellera questioned.
"Yeah, without it there's no way he'd be able to have his wish granted! He probably just assumed he would have his wish after gathering all seven Dragon Balls!" Goku confirmed.
"We need to try and get the Dragon Balls back!" Gohan asserted. "Before Frieza figures out the password and makes his wish!"
"Vegeta, Cellera, you two know a lot about these guys. Any ideas?" Kakarot asked.
"Hmm?" Her father's smirk carried familiar mockery. "I thought you were going to defeat Frieza."
"I'd like to if I can, but we need to bring back all our friends that you killed back on Earth. Plus King Kai asked me to avoid Frieza at any cost." Goku retorted.
"I wouldn't wish the others back just yet then, Kakarot." Cellera replied, her eyes narrowing as she considered the implications.. "He would just kill them again and Earth may just follow suit if he felt inclined. Our first priority should be getting back the Dragon Balls and hiding them until we deal with Frieza."
"Or instead of wasting the wish on those weaklings, we let me have mine for immortality." Her father interjected, his tone carrying that familiar arrogance that had only grown since their arrival on Namek.
Cellera glared lightly at her father. After everything she has been through the past few days since landing on this planet, to their parting of ways, his berating her of wanting to follow her own path, to this moment, her patience was beginning to wear thin. Just as she was about to make a quip back at her father, something she had never dared before, she felt two familiar ki signatures headed their way. Based on the reactions of the others, they must feel them as well.
"It seems that Jeice, the one you let escape, is bringing Captain Ginyu back with him." Vegeta voiced, looking in the direction that the ki are coming from. He paused for a few moments before a look of confusion came across his face. "Hang on, where did Frieza run off to? He should be at his ship after Ginyu delivers the Dragon Balls to him."
Goku stood silently for a moment before he pointed, "I sense an incredibly strong ki way out in that direction. That's probably where Frieza is."
Cellera immediately realized the direction Kakarot was pointing at was where Guru was located. As she looked toward Krillin and Gohan, she saw that they had also realized where Frieza had gone.
"Uh oh! That's Guru's place!" Gohan said.
"This is not good. Guru's old, he can't defend himself! And if Frieza destroys him, then that means the Dragon Balls are history as well!" Krillin cried out in worry.
"You mean if some old Namek dies, the Dragon Balls will vanish?!" her father asked in surprise.
Cellera's thoughts drifted back to their battle on Earth and she remembered a particular sentence that Gohan had said to Piccolo.
"If we lose you, then the Dragon Balls will disappear and we won't be able to wish any of our friends back to life!"
Of course, it all started to make sense! Namek's Grand Elder was the only survivor of the catastrophe, making him the only one who could've created the Dragon Balls for their people!
"No, not just some old Namek, but the creator of the Dragon Balls on this planet," she corrected him. "Once the creator of the Dragon Balls dies, the Dragon Balls cease to exist as well."
Cellera couldn't resist pointing out her father's miscalculation. "If only we had left Earth after realizing that Namekians could create Dragon Balls, instead of wasting time on pointless slaughter. Then the Earthlings wouldn't be here, thwarting your plans for immortality." She gave her father a smirk that everyone noticed resembled his own.
She couldn't help but savor the surprised look that crossed her father's face. The irony was sharp enough to cut - if he had only followed her mother's methods, the very ones he had dismissed as 'weak' and 'improper for a Saiyan warrior', he would already have his wish.
"Cellera you little-" Her father's face contorted with rage. "I swear, the longer you're around these Earthlings, the more you become like her!" he gritted out between clenched teeth. "Right down to that 'I told you so' tone."
Before Cellera could respond, Krillin interjected. "Hey, your little family banter is cute and all, but can we save it for later?!"
Just then, the two ki signatures closed in, revealing Jeice and Ginyu as they landed before them. Goku and Ginyu locked eyes, each assessing the other in tense silence.
"Meet the boss, matey!" Jeice announced with renewed confidence. "His name is Captain Ginyu and he'd like to have a few words with you concerning our encounter earlier!"
"What do you think, Goku?" Krillin asked. "Do you think you can beat this guy too?"
"I guess there's only one way for us to find out." He replied, before turning to look at Krillin, Gohan and Cellera. "I'll keep this guy busy. I want you three to get the radar from Bulma and start looking for the Dragon Balls left at the spaceship."
"Be careful Kakarot." Cellera warned. "Ginyu isn't just the most powerful of his force - he's their captain for a reason. Even Frieza considers him valuable, and that alone should tell you how dangerous he is." She then glanced at her father who began to walk towards Ginyu and Jeice. "Are you fighting as well then, father?"
Vegeta gave a huff of laughter. "Of course. Now that I've recovered, these two shouldn't be anything I can't handle."
"Oh come now, Cellera!" Jeice called out. "One last chance to join up! With Recoome, Burter and Guldo gone, we've got openings! Think of the poses we could do!"
"For the last time," Cellera gritted out, though there was an odd finality to it now, "I am not joining your force!"
"Alright then, let's hurry out of here!" Krillin said.
Cellera looked between Kakarot and her father, unease growing as she watched her father's stance. The way he held himself, the eager glint in his eyes - she'd seen these tells before, usually right before he sprung some trap. But they didn't have time to figure out what he was planning.
Turning toward Krillin and Gohan, they all gave each other a nod before simultaneously blasting off toward where they'd left Bulma - and Cellera could only hope the woman wouldn't be too angry with them having to leave again.