The tank's fluid drained as Vegeta slowly regained consciousness.
"You're fully healed now. You may open your eyes," said Dr. Rooster, the short lizard-like alien.
Vegeta opened his eyes and stepped from the pod. The first thing he noticed was Cellera in the adjacent tank, her small form floating limply in the healing fluid.
"Your injuries were quite extensive. You've been unconscious for nearly a month."
"A month?" Vegeta's voice carried a dangerous edge. His gaze hadn't left his daughter's tank. He knew her injuries from Earth were not near the extent of his - there should be no reason for her to still be healing. "And her?"
"This is her third healing session since your return. Lord Frieza has had her accompanying Zarbon and Dodoria on high-priority missions. Unfortunately, we weren't successful in reconstructing either of your tails."
Vegeta turned to Dr. Rooster, his confusion quickly turning to anger. "What nonsense are you spouting? My tail was the only one severed in battle."
"According to your daughter, she removed hers herself. She refused to state the reasoning."
Vegeta's gaze returned to Cellera, narrowing at the distinct lack of her tail floating behind her. He would make her explain her reasoning, whether she wanted to or not.
"No matter. I don't need it," Vegeta dismissed, flexing his limbs to test their durability after so long in the healing tank. His eyes drifted back to his daughter.
"She should remain in healing for at least another hour-" Dr. Rooster began.
"Wake her. Now."
As Dr. Rooster complied, not wanting to argue with the fully healed Saiyan, Vegeta studied his daughter through the blue-tinted glass. The scar on her leg was fresh - Zarbon's handiwork no doubt. Something had changed in her expression, even unconscious. The same change he'd noticed on Earth after her fight with Kakarot's brat. She'd survived a month of missions with Frieza's elite. He might have felt pride in her survival if not for the implications of who she'd been sent with.
The tank began to drain as Vegeta's mind raced. A month under Frieza's direct command. Missions with Zarbon and Dodoria, most likely an attempt to get rid of Cellera without Vegeta being around to keep an eye on her. He needed to get to Namek to collect the Dragon Balls and make his wish. But first, he needed to get properly clothed and have a little talk with his daughter...
After the doctors fetched them new battle armor, Vegeta and Cellera began to dress. The new armor felt stiff against Vegeta's healed skin as he secured the chest piece. Through his peripheral vision, he watched Cellera pull on her own armor, noting how she compensated for movements that would have involved her tail.
"Explain." The single word carried years of command.
Cellera continued adjusting her armor, her movements precise. "I needed to get them to let us go."
"So you mutilated yourself?" Vegeta's voice held that dangerous calm she'd learned to recognize early. "Made yourself less Saiyan?"
"I made a tactical choice." She used his own teachings, keeping her voice steady. "The Earth warriors had us defeated. This way, we survived."
"Survived?" He turned to face her fully. "You sound like those weak Earthlings. A true Saiyan-"
"A true Saiyan adapts to survive," she cut in, then immediately tensed at her own defiance. "You taught me that."
"I taught you to think like a warrior, not a coward." The words struck harder than any physical blow. "Now Frieza's men will whisper about the Saiyan princess who mutilated herself to her appease enemies."
"They were different from other enemies." Cellera secured her last piece of armor, fighting to maintain composure. "They showed strength through-"
"Mercy?" Vegeta spat the word. "And what did that mercy cost us? Our tails, our pride, defeated by low-class warriors and their half-breed brat. Now Frieza's men will use that to their advantage."
"I did it to protect you." Cellera said quietly.
The words hit Vegeta like a physical blow. For a moment, he saw her again - his daughter placing herself between him and the Earthling's attack, declaring they'd have to kill her too if they wanted to kill him. His jaw clenched against the unwanted memory. The same foolish sentiment that had evidently driven her to remove her tail so she could get them off Earth in one piece.
"Better to die with Saiyan pride than live with such disgrace." His voice held bitter disappointment, though something else flickered beneath it. "I thought I taught you better than that."
Cellera's hands stilled on her armor. She'd never seen her father look at her with such disappointment - not even during their harshest training sessions. For a moment, she was three years old again, desperately trying to earn his approval. Back then, his criticism had been tempered with occasional pride in her progress. Now...
She straightened her shoulders, fighting the urge to defend her choice. How could she make him understand? The Earth fighters had shown her there were different kinds of strength, a real purpose to fight other than pure pride and bloodshed. But there was a small voice in the back of her mind, questioning if it was worth losing your only remaining parent?
Their exchange was interrupted as Dr. Rooster walked back in, holding Vegeta's ruined armor from Earth. Cellera quickly masked her expression, just as her father had taught her. Never show vulnerability, especially not in front of Frieza's men. The irony wasn't lost on her - even as he dismissed her choices, she still fell back on his teachings.
The shattered pieces of his armor told their own story. Whatever had happened in his battle with Kakarot had changed more than just his body. She watched him eye the broken chest piece, noting how his fists clenched at the visible evidence of his defeat. Perhaps that's why her choice to end their battle through mercy cut so deep - it reminded him of his own failure to win through strength.
"Care to tell me what happened, Vegeta? Or is the wound to your ego still too raw to be examined?" Dr. Rooster asked, his tone carrying a hint of mockery as he examined the broken chest piece. "Judging by the stress fractures in your protective armor, you must have received quite a beating, and that's putting it lightly. I hope you're not entertaining ideas of revenge. I might not be here to put you back together next time."
Cellera watched her father's face tighten with frustration as she tugged on her boots. Though she hadn't witnessed much of his battle with Kakarot, its outcome was clearly written in every crack of that armor. Her father yanked on his gloves, causing Dr. Rooster to flinch back.
"Is Frieza here? I need to see him." Vegeta turned his back on both of them.
"He left. I don't know where he is," the doctor replied nervously.
"I hope you're not lying to me. I'm in no mood."
"Perhaps Cui can help you find him." Dr. Rooster suggested. "I saw him heading to the training center earlier. You could catch him there before he leaves, if you hurry."
Vegeta gave a short laugh before heading for the door. "I have no use for that coward. If you see Frieza, tell him I'm looking for him."
Cellera noticed her father had left his scouter behind. As Dr. Rooster moved to retrieve it, she gently took it from his hand, assuring the frantic doctor she would bring it to him.
Following her father's path, she couldn't ignore how he hadn't waited for her as he usually would. His earlier words still stung, but this dismissal cut deeper.
"Father!" she called out, causing him to stop. She held out the scouter. "You left your scouter."
He stared at her for a moment before turning away without a second glance. "I have no use for it."
Cellera stood frozen, the scouter heavy in her hands. In all their years under Frieza, they'd never been without their scouters. It was more than just technology - it was their lifeline, their way of staying connected during missions. His rejection of it felt like another wall being built between them.
"Is it because you've learned how to sense energy like the Earthlings?" she asked, quickening her pace to catch up. If she could just get him to talk about fighting, about tactics - anything to return to familiar ground. "I've been practicing. During missions, I managed to mask my energy a few times."
His continued silence made her press on, words tumbling out faster. "It's difficult to maintain, and sensing others is even harder. But I thought maybe you could..." she trailed off as he didn't even break stride. Before Earth, he would have at least critiqued her technique, pointed out where she's going wrong. Now he acted as if she hadn't spoken at all.
She fell quiet, the distance between them feeling wider than the few steps that separated them. Everything she'd learned on Earth - the energy sensing, the new perspectives on strength - she'd been eager to share with him. To show him there were other ways to grow stronger. Instead, each attempt at connection seemed to push him further away.
As they walked down the hall past Frieza's men, she caught their whispers, their smirks. A month ago, her father would have silenced them with a glare. Now he seemed lost in his own thoughts, leaving her to face their mockery alone. She straightened her spine, adopting the proud stance he'd drilled into her since she could walk. Even if he wouldn't acknowledge her, she wouldn't shame him by showing herself vulnerable to these low-level soldiers.
"Well Vegeta, I heard you and your little mini-me took quite a beating recently." Cui laughed. "You couldn't even take over one measly planet. And if all the rumors are true, which I'm sure they are, you couldn't beat a third-class Saiyan."
"Drop it, Cui." Vegeta warned as he moved past. "I don't have time to waste gossiping with half-wits like you."
Cui grabbed Vegeta's shoulder, stopping him. "Just a minute. The word is that Frieza isn't too happy with you two, nor your attitude, Vegeta."
Cellera felt her body tense at Frieza's name. The past month of missions had only heightened her fear of what would come next.
Vegeta scoffed before giving a small laugh. "Just let Frieza try to do something about it."
Cellera couldn't hide her surprise at her father's open defiance. Even Cui seemed taken aback.
"Now get your hand off me," Vegeta commanded, his tone one Cellera knew well.
Cui removed his hand but pressed on. "Your mouth is big, but I think you're biting off more than you can chew. You don't know what you're up against, Vegeta. Nobody has survived a fight with Frieza."
Cellera felt anxiety gnaw at her, her body still searching for the comfort of wrapping her tail - a habit now impossible to satisfy.
"You just don't seem to get it, do you?" Cui continued when Vegeta only huffed. "Frieza is utterly indestructible."
"Enough!" Vegeta's outburst made Cellera flinch - his temper had never been this short. "Now tell me where Frieza has run off to hide!"
Cui's next words felt like a death sentence: "The planet Namek."
Cellera's thumb instinctively pressed against her lip as her father's teeth clenched. Had Frieza somehow overheard their plans through the scouters? If so, they were both doomed.
"Do the smart thing and just give up, because you will never get those Dragon Balls. Frieza will most certainly find them first. And when he does, he'll destroy the planet Namek," Cui said, his arrogance confirming their worst fears.
Vegeta growled, then shouted, "I can't give up!" He snatched the scouter from Cellera's hands and took off toward the pod launch bay.
Cellera stood frozen as her father left her in the hall with Cui, who called uselessly after Vegeta. She glanced between Cui and the direction her father had gone before racing after him, but she was too late. His pod had already launched, headed for what she could only assume was Namek.
Her fists clenched, a mixture of anger and hurt burning in her chest. Ever since their conversation in the medical ward, he'd been different - distant in a way that went beyond his usual harshness. She'd get to the bottom of it, one way or another.
Her pod's door stood open, inviting escape, but something made her hesitate. "Ever since Earth, you've been different," she whispered to herself. Her hand traced the pod's frame, remembering countless missions where he'd made sure she was safely launched before his own departure. How he'd waited to ensure she was following, even if he'd never admit the protection behind the gesture.
The coordinates to Namek felt heavy in her hands. Following him meant facing not just Frieza, but this new version of her father - one who left her behind without a second thought. One who looked at her like she'd betrayed everything he'd taught her. Maybe she had. The Earth fighters had shown her another way, one that reminded her of her mother and brought hope for something better. But they weren't here now. It was just her, trying to understand how protecting what mattered had created such distance between them.
She caught her reflection in the pod's window - a princess without a tail, a warrior who chose mercy, a daughter her father could barely look at anymore. But beneath her changed exterior beat the same heart that had placed itself between him and death on Earth. She might not be the daughter he wanted anymore, the one he'd trained to slaughter enemies without mercy or hesitation, but she was still his daughter..
She quickly entered the pod, hands shaking as she punched in the coordinates. The trembling could have been from anger at being abandoned, or fear of what awaited them both. Both emotions felt justified - fury at his dismissal warring with terror of what Frieza might do once they arrived on Namek.
As the pod's door sealed with a hiss, she settled into the familiar position, unconsciously she tried to wrap her tail, something she no longer possessed, around her waist. Another reminder of what she'd given up to save him. What she'd probably give up again, even knowing how it would disappoint him.
"I won't lose you too," she murmured, thinking of her mother as the pod launched. The pendant her mother had worn still hung beneath her armor, a reminder of another parent lost. Frieza had already taken one from her. She wouldn't let him take the other, even if it meant facing both his wrath and her father's disappointment.
The pod accelerated into space, following her father's trajectory toward Namek. He might not want her there, might see her presence as unwanted. But she'd learned something on Earth that seemed to have escaped him - sometimes true strength meant standing your ground not because of pride, but because of love.
As the ship's sedation systems engaged, Cellera's last thoughts drifted to Gohan. How his understanding of protecting the people and things that matter, rather than blazing a path of glory and conquest. She wondered what he'd think of her now, chasing after a father who seemed determined to push her away.
The familiar darkness of space travel surrounded her pod, carrying her toward whatever awaited on Namek. Whether her father wanted her there or not, she'd face it beside him. After all, that's what family did - even if they didn't understand each other anymore.
The pod's impact rattled Cellera's teeth as she landed on Namek's surface. Three suns cast overlapping shadows across the alien landscape of blue grass and green water. Her father's empty pod sat nearby, still warm from entry, another reminder of his abandonment.
"Of course you didn't wait," she muttered, climbing from her craft. Even the air felt wrong here - heavy with tension and unfamiliar scents. She closed her eyes, trying to sense his energy the way she'd been practicing. The familiar frustration built as multiple power levels blurred together, impossible to distinguish clearly. She could feel... something. Several larger powers scattered across the planet, but sorting through them gave her a headache. One particular power level made her stomach clench - massive and unmistakably cruel. Frieza.
The sound of approaching soldiers broke her concentration. She ducked behind her pod as two of Frieza's men landed nearby.
"Lord Frieza wants the Saiyan found," the taller one said, adjusting his scouter. "Though I don't know why we're bothering to track him when he'll probably come right to us once he realizes-"
"Quiet!" his companion hissed. "Just keep scanning. His power level can't hide forever."
Cellera watched them take off, heading east. Her father must have learned to suppress his energy like the Earth fighters - it would explain his earlier dismissal of the scouter. Following these soldiers might lead her to him, or at least to information about Frieza's plans.
She kept her distance as they flew, grateful for the time she'd spent practicing energy suppression during those missions with Zarbon. At least one good thing had come from that month of "training." The soldiers' scouters occasionally beeped, but they seemed more focused ahead than behind. Their overconfidence reminded her of Nappa - another advantage she could use if needed.
Suddenly, they changed direction. She followed the two soldiers as they landed, still keeping her distance as they rounded a corner of a cliff. The two either had to be meatheads like Nappa, or her energy suppression has gotten much better.
"Hey, who's that?" the tall, muscular blue-skinned soldier with long gold hair and mustache asked his partner, a small purple alien.
"Whoever they are, they're not from around here."
"Looks like we get to have ourselves some fun. Zarbon said if they're not Nameks, we don't even have to question 'em before we kill 'em." the blue skinned-soldier says with a laugh.
The mention of Zarbon made her jaw clench. If he was here, then Dodoria wouldn't be far behind. Frieza had brought his elite - which meant he knew exactly how valuable these Dragon Balls were.
The only small victory was that the Ginyu Force was elsewhere. She'd overheard enough during meetings with Frieza's elite to know the squad's power levels were beyond anything she'd seen - though their attempts to recruit her still baffled her. Her father had been livid when he learned they'd tried to teach her their poses at age two, claiming she'd make the perfect addition to their force. Even now, years later, they still brought it up whenever their paths crossed, much to her embarrassment and her father's fury.
She pushed those thoughts aside, focusing back on their current situation. She circles back to the other issue of there being other people here besides Namekians. Just who else would be here on Namek? She is drawn out of her thoughts when she hears the sound of blasters and screaming, and then familiar laughs carried along the wind. Thinking there's no way they could be here, Cellera pokes her head around the side of the cliff.
Her eyes widened at the sight of Gohan, Krillin, and a blue-haired woman she didn't recognize. What were they doing here? Then it clicked - the Dragon Balls. Of course they'd come to wish their friends back. The ones she'd helped... She pushed that thought aside, focusing on the immediate threat.
The two boys were sending thumbs up to each other with smiles.
"Well that was easy enough, huh? Krillin asked.
"Don't look so happy!" the blue-haired woman yelled at the two, looking severely angry before her face began to tear up. "How are we supposed to get home now?"
All of a sudden Cellera noticed one more soldier hiding across the way, the three Earthlings completely oblivious. The hidden soldier's power level was pathetic compared to the Earth fighters, but they were distracted by their celebration. Some habits died hard - she found herself assessing the situation just as her father had taught her. The tactical choice would be to let events play out, to avoid revealing herself...
Cellera made up her mind as the soldier attempted a surprise attack. Just before he could get the drop on them, she dashed out of her hiding space and delivered both of her feet into his abdomen, sending him crashing into the water.
"Cellera?" Gohan's surprise lacked the fear from their first meeting on Earth. If anything, he seemed pleased to see her.
She landed beside them, adopting her father's crossed-arm stance more from habit than intention. Krillin's cautious step backward was expected, but Gohan's step forward caught her off guard. These Earth fighters and their strange trust...
"I was right! You were one of the three pods!" His eyes darted around, clearly searching for her father. "But, where's Vegeta?"
The question stung more than she'd expected. "I'm actually trying to figure that out myself," she admitted, hating how small her voice sounded. "He went straight for Namek without me and was gone by the time I landed. Everything happened so fast I didn't even have time to grab my scouter, and I'm still struggling to sense energy properly."
"Whoa, you can sense energy now?" Krillin asked, shocked.
Cellera shifted her weight, uncomfortable with admitting any weakness. "After Earth... I had time to practice during missions." She wouldn't mention those 'missions' were with Zarbon and Dodoria, and more than likely meant to kill her. "It's saved me a few times when my scouter malfunctioned, though maintaining it while fighting is still..." she trailed off, remembering several close calls.
"But you managed to hide from us completely!" Gohan said, that same earnest tone he'd used on Earth. "We didn't sense you at all."
A small surge of pride cut through her frustration. At least she'd mastered that much. "Suppressing energy is easier than sensing it. Though..." she glanced in the direction where her and her father's empty pods were, "apparently I'm not the only one who's learned new tricks." She turned back to Gohan, brow furrowed. "When you mentioned three pods-"
"It's hopeless!" The blue-haired woman's wail cut through their conversation. "Our ship is completely destroyed! We're stranded here forever!"
Cellera's initial annoyance at the interruption faded as she took in the smoking wreckage. The soldiers' blast had torn through what appeared to be the ship's main engine. If she'd moved sooner instead of analyzing the situation... She pressed her thumb to her lip, studying the damage. Her time maintaining pods between missions had taught her enough about spacecraft to recognize this wasn't a simple repair.
The blue-haired woman rounded on her suddenly. "Oh great, another Saiyan! As if Vegeta wasn't bad enough!" She wiped her eyes angrily. "I'm Bulma, by the way, since these two seem to have forgotten their manners. And thanks to those thugs you were watching instead of stopping, we have no way home!"
Cellera blinked, caught off guard. No one except Kakarot had ever spoken to a Saiyan with such directness. Even Frieza's men couched their disrespect in false politeness. Yet this woman showed no fear, only frustrated anger. Cellera found herself studying the wreckage with genuine regret.
"I..." Cellera started, caught off guard by the woman's direct approach. "I should have intervened sooner."
The admission surprised even her. Her father would call it weakness to acknowledge such a thing. But she remembered Gohan's words about strength coming in different forms.
She glanced back to the lake where Frieza's soldiers had disappeared. "We need to move. Those scouters have transmitters - Frieza will know his men were defeated the moment they lost consciousness."
"We?" Krillin questioned, his tone carrying memories of their last encounter.
Cellera paused. She hadn't meant to include herself in their group, but the word had slipped out naturally. Finding her father would be easier alone, yet something made her hesitate to leave. Perhaps it was tactical - safety in numbers against Frieza's forces. Or perhaps...
"Come on Krillin, she did just help us." Gohan's defense surprised her, though it shouldn't have. After their battle on Earth, his willingness to see beyond her Saiyan heritage was becoming a pattern. These Earth fighters and their capacity for trust - it went against everything she'd been taught about survival.
"Well...alright." Krillin conceded, though his stance remained guarded. "But we should hurry. Grab what you can Bulma."
She caught the slight change in his tone - less suspicious than during their fight on Earth. He'd been ready to kill her father then, yet now he was willing to trust her judgment. Perhaps he recognized something in her that she was only beginning to understand herself - that same potential for change she'd discovered during her battle with Gohan.
Bulma knelt in the wreckage, trying futilely to piece together shattered equipment. Each broken piece seemed to bring fresh tears.
"The Namekians might be able to help repair the ship," Gohan offered, his optimism unwavering. "We're not going to be stuck here. I promise."
Cellera couldn't stop her grimace at his words. Both boys caught her reaction.
"What?" they asked in unison.
"Let's get somewhere safe first," she said, eyeing the horizon. "There's... a lot you need to know about what's happening here."
They gathered what supplies they could salvage, Bulma still muttering about Saiyans and ruined equipment. As they began walking along the cliff's edge, keeping close to cover, something finally clicked in Cellera's mind.
"Dad's in the hospital," Gohan said quietly. "The fight with you and Vegeta... he was hurt pretty badly."
"But he'll catch up soon," Krillin added quickly. "Once he's healed, he'll be even stronger than before."
Cellera's steps faltered. They didn't know. "Like after each healing tank session," she murmured, more to herself than them.
"What do you mean?" Gohan asked.
She studied him for a moment, noting how his own power had grown since Earth. "You've gotten stronger too, haven't you? Since our fight?"
Krillin glanced between them. "Now that you mention it, both you kids feel way more powerful than you did on Earth. Even after just a month..."
"It's a Saiyan trait," Cellera explained, falling into the analytical tone she used when studying combat data. "Think of it like learning the foundation of something such as science or math, and expounding upon it by learning new things. Our Saiyan blood does the same with fighting - each battle is ingrained into our bodies. But when we recover from severe injury..." She paused, seeing Gohan's eyes light up with understanding.
"The increase is even larger," he finished, his academic mind grasping the concept.
"Exactly. During my missions this past month..." she trailed off, not wanting to detail her time with Zarbon and Dodoria. "Let's just say I had several trips to the healing tank."
"Is that why you're so much stronger now?" Gohan asked, his curiosity overtaking his usual shyness.
"Wait," Krillin interrupted, realization dawning. "Are you saying Goku's going to come back even more powerful than before because of how badly he was hurt? That would explain a lot…"
"Assuming he survives the recovery," Cellera nodded. "The worse the injury, the greater the potential increase." She glanced at Gohan. "That's why you're stronger too."
"That's amazing!" Bulma chimed in, momentarily forgetting her distress over the ship. "A biological response that converts trauma into power enhancement! I wonder if-"
Suddenly, all three fighters stiffened as a massive power level erupted in the distance.
"That... that has to be Vegeta!" Krillin stammered. "But how did he get so powerful?"
"Cui..." Cellera winced at the strain of sensing the second power level. Her father's old rival had found him, and judging by their clashing energies, neither intended to walk away. "Father's power level is incredible. He must have gotten a huge boost from his injuries on Earth."
Another spike in energy, then nothing. Cui's power level vanished completely.
"So that's what you meant about severe injuries leading to greater power increases," Gohan said quietly.
"He must have been the third pod," Cellera realized, remembering Gohan's earlier comment.
"We need to move," Krillin urged, helping Bulma to her feet. "Come on!"
"Why can't you just carry me?" Bulma complained as they hurried across the landscape. "My legs are killing me!"
"We can't risk flying," Krillin explained. "Using energy like that would make us easy to detect. There's a cave up ahead where we can-"
He froze mid-sentence, face draining of color. Cellera felt it too - a power level so massive it made her father's seem insignificant.
"What?" Bulma asked, noting their horrified expressions. "What is it?"
"Trouble! Everyone get into the cave and hide, right now!" Krillin commanded.
They scrambled into the darkened cave, pressing themselves against the cool rock walls. Cellera's hands shook as she tried to suppress her power level - something that had become almost second nature during her missions, but now seemed impossibly difficult. Fear made her control slip, something she hadn't experienced since she was a child.
Gohan glanced at her with wide eyes. The confident Saiyan warrior who had fought him on Earth, who had just saved them from that soldier, was trembling. Her usual calm composure had cracked completely, revealing raw terror underneath. He'd never imagined seeing her like this.
"Cellera?" he whispered, concern overriding his own fear for a moment.
She pressed her thumb hard against her lip, trying to focus. "You don't understand," her voice came out barely audible, nothing like her usual crisp tones. "I've seen... during the missions... what he does to..." She couldn't finish, her father's lessons about showing no weakness in front of Frieza warring with memories of what she'd witnessed during her month under the tyrant's command.
The terror felt different from anything she'd known - not the controlled fear her father had taught her to channel, or even the desperate protectiveness she'd felt on Earth. This was primal, paralyzing. The kind of fear that made her understand why her father had lived so long under Frieza's boot, why he'd taught her to value survival above pride. The same fear that had made her mother's death just another "accident" no one dared question.
Cellera pressed herself further against the cave wall, hating how her hands wouldn't stop shaking. All her training, all her father's lessons about Saiyan pride, meant nothing in the face of Frieza's overwhelming presence.
Krillin and Gohan shared a look. If someone as strong as Cellera was this terrified...
"Everyone quiet," Krillin breathed. "And keep your power levels as low as possible."
They huddled in tense silence, barely daring to breathe. Even Bulma, picking up on Cellera's uncharacteristic fear, stayed perfectly still. The massive power level moved closer, each moment feeling like an eternity.
Cellera squeezed her eyes shut, fighting against memories of broken planets and shattered warriors. She'd rather face her father's disappointment a thousand times than encounter Frieza directly. At least her father's cruelty had limits.
Soon, an entire group flew past the cave, Frieza leading the charge with Dodoria and Zarbon flanking him, each holding large golden orbs. They remained frozen until long after the group had passed, the silence broken only by their careful breathing.
A chunk of rock clattered to the cave floor as Bulma's grip slipped. She stepped outside, scanning the horizon. "Looks like they're gone. That was close! They didn't even slow down - must be after something else."
She turned to find all three fighters still frozen, trembling. Her casual relief made their terror more stark.
"What is it, you guys? What's the matter?"
Krillin stepped forward on shaky legs, bending over with his hands on his knees as if the mere presence of that power had been physically crushing. "Bulma... better check the Dragon Radar."
"Okay... but why?"
"Those four Dragon Balls we saw gathered together before..." His voice shook. "Look again. See if they're still there."
Bulma checked the device, confirming what they'd seen - Frieza's squad carried the Dragon Balls.
"I was afraid of that. This is bad. Real bad." Krillin straightened, turning to the two children still huddled in the cave. "Gohan! Cellera!"
They remained frozen until he called again. Gohan moved to join him but stopped, noticing Cellera slumped against the wall, head buried in her knees, arms wrapped tight around her legs. The confident warrior who'd fought him on Earth, who'd just saved them moments ago, looked impossibly small.
He approached carefully, extending his hand. She stared at it for a long moment before accepting, letting him help her to her feet.
"So... that guy in front..." Krillin began.
"Was that..." Gohan looked to Cellera.
She nodded, thumb pressed to her lip - not in analysis this time, but in an attempt to stop its trembling. "Yes... Frieza."
"H-He was pure evil," Gohan whispered. "His power level is the highest I've ever sensed."
"Me too. Our situation just got so much worse," Krillin added.
"Why? He can't possibly be stronger than Vegeta, can he?" Bulma asked, looking to Cellera.
A bitter laugh escaped her. "If my father was stronger than that tyrant, we wouldn't have been under his boot for so long." Her voice hardened. "I doubt even Kakarot would stand a chance."
"And those other guys with him..." Krillin added. "We've got to figure out how to get the Dragon Balls from them! How are we gonna do that?!"
"We don't!" Cellera snapped, her fear turning to desperate anger. "You're all asking for a suicide mission!" The beeping of Bulma's device caught her attention. "What is that?"
"This is the Dragon Radar. I created it when I was younger to find the Dragon Balls on Earth."
Cellera blinked, momentarily distracted from her fear. This woman had created such technology herself? At such a young age?
"They're heading directly for another Dragon Ball!" Bulma announced. "It's like they know exactly where it is!"
"Frieza's scouters can detect power levels," Cellera explained, falling back on analysis to keep her voice steady. "He's tracking the Namekians."
"Which way?" Krillin asked reluctantly.
Bulma pointed to where Frieza's group had vanished. "Over there! About ten miles that way!"
"While we were walking I sensed a group of Namekians coming from that direction," Gohan said, realization darkening his features.
"Right, I did too." Krillin confirmed. Cellera couldn't help the twinge of frustration at not being able to sense them herself. Her father had somehow mastered this skill during one battle, while she still struggled after a month of practice.
"I guess we better go find out what's happening." Krillin took off his cap, throwing it to the ground with grim determination.
"I'm going with you!" Gohan insisted, his tone leaving no room for argument as he shed his backpack.
Cellera watched him with a mix of surprise and something else - respect, maybe. This wasn't the same frightened boy she'd fought on Earth. Here he was, willing to follow the very power that had them all trembling moments ago. The irony wasn't lost on her. But if Gohan could face this…
"I should warn you both that if we're caught, we could all die," she said, searching their faces for any hesitation. When she found none, she sighed. "Fine. I'm coming too."
"What about me?!" Bulma's shout echoed off the rocks. "You can't just leave me here all by myself!"
"All right. You can chase the bad guys with us if you really want." Krillin's tone carried a hint of sarcasm.
"Then again, it might be best for one of us to stay and hold down the fort, don't you think?" Bulma matched his tone.
"Good idea, Bulma."
Bulma looked from Krillin to Cellera, her expression softening slightly. "Please don't let them do anything stupid."
Cellera nodded, surprised by the trust in Bulma's voice. They'd only met an hour ago, yet this woman was treating her like an ally rather than someone partially responsible for their being here. The weight of that trust settled uncomfortably on her shoulders.
"Remember guys, keep your power levels pushed down so they don't spot us," Krillin instructed, taking point on their impromptu mission.
She and Gohan nodded before they all took their stance. As they began leaping across the blue valleys, Cellera couldn't help wondering if she was being brave or foolish. But watching Gohan's determined expression beside her, she realized maybe there wasn't much difference between the two.
They moved swiftly but cautiously across the landscape, each leap measured to avoid detection. Cellera found herself studying Gohan's profile, trying to focus on anything but the overwhelming power level ahead of them.
"Your hair's different," she said quietly, needing to break the tense silence. The observation felt safer than discussing what awaited them. "I see you're wearing that outfit that resembles the Namekian's again."
"Yeah, I said the same thing when I first saw him," Krillin chuckled softly. "Quite a change from that fancy uniform his mom originally had him in."
A small smile crossed Gohan's face. "He believed in me when I couldn't believe in myself!" His expression grew distant. "I respect him just as much as I do my dad. That's why we have to get the Dragon Balls - to bring him back."
"Is that why you're not afraid this time around?" she asked before she could stop herself. "Because you're doing this for him?"
"I am afraid," Gohan admitted. "But Piccolo taught me that being brave isn't about not feeling fear. It's about doing what's right despite being afraid." His expression shifted to something more determined, remembering her words from their battle. "You told me to discard my hesitation, to fight seriously when something matters. We have to protect the things important to us, right?"
His words struck something in her. All those times she'd hidden her fear behind tactical analysis, tried to be the perfect warrior her father demanded... yet here was Gohan, openly acknowledging his fear while choosing to act anyway. Like she had on Earth, standing between her father and death. She'd pushed him during their fight to find this strength, and now he was reflecting it back to her. Maybe they understood each other better than
Their conversation died as they neared the village, the weight of what lay ahead settling over them once more. But Cellera felt steadier somehow, her earlier terror tempered by this small moment of understanding.
A rocky ridge appeared ahead of them, and Krillin raised his hand for them to stop. "This is close enough. We should walk from here and keep low to the ground."
They crouched behind the ridge's edge, peering over carefully. Cellera's stomach dropped as she spotted Frieza's group directly in front of them.
"Just our luck, they're right in front of us," Krillin whispered, his voice tight. "Let's go around. That way we can see what's happening without being spotted"
Cellera nodded in agreement, impressed by his strategic thinking. It was the kind of strategy she'd use during stealth missions, though the stakes felt infinitely higher now.
They backtracked quietly, making a wide arc around the village's perimeter. Each step closer to Frieza's energy made Cellera's skin crawl, but she forced herself to focus on their movements, on staying hidden. She couldn't afford to let fear compromise their position - not with both Gohan and Krillin trusting her to help keep them alive.
The village came into view as they reached their new vantage point. Small dome structures dotted the landscape, similar to the buildings they'd passed earlier. But it was the gathering in the center that drew their attention - Namekians being herded together by Frieza's soldiers, Zarbon and Dodoria flanking their master like deadly sentinels.
"Hey, that looks just like the spaceship we came here in," Gohan pointed out as he peeked his head over the ridge, looking at one of the dome structures.
"That's weird. I thought they had a radar, but it looks like they're still searching..." Krillin noted.
"Frieza's scouters can only detect living beings. I believe you are the only ones who have a radar for detecting the Dragon Balls, thanks to Bulma," Cellera informed them, unable to hide a hint of admiration for the Earth woman's technology.
Krillin's shocked gasp made her blood run cold. "Check it out! Take a look at the size of the Dragon Balls those guys have tucked under their arms! They're huge!"
Cellera moved instantly, throwing an arm over each of them and pressing their faces to the ground. Her heart hammered in her chest as she heard that familiar, silky voice.
"What's wrong, Dodoria?" Frieza asked, his raspy tone making her fingers dig unconsciously into Gohan's shoulder. "Does your scouter indicate something?"
"I don't know. For a second, I thought I detected a very weak power level. And then it just disappeared. It's probably just a bird or a small rodent." Dodoria dismissed. "Nothing that should cause us any alarm."
They remained frozen until Dodoria's attention shifted away, then released a collective breath. Cellera could feel them both trembling beneath her arms - or maybe that was her own shaking she felt.
"Let's be a little more cautious, shall we?" she whispered, fixing Krillin with a pointed look. "If we're spotted, we're as good as dead."
They carefully raised their heads again, watching as Frieza's soldiers herded more Namekians from their homes.
"They look just like Piccolo!" Gohan breathed in surprise as an elder emerged with two younger ones.
Cellera squeezed his arm in warning to lower his voice, but her attention was fixed on Frieza's expression. That slight smirk - she'd seen it too many times during her missions with Zarbon and Dodoria. It meant he was about to start enjoying himself.
Watching Dodoria's brutality, Cellera bit the inside of her cheek, the pain keeping anger at bay. Every casual murder, every satisfied laugh reminded her of that day - the way he'd announced her mother's "accident" with that same cruel satisfaction. She'd spent years analyzing his methods, his patterns, storing away every detail. One day, she'd make him answer for everything. Not just for her mother, but for all the families he'd torn apart under Frieza's orders.
Gohan's eyes shifted from the soldiers to Cellera. "Why are they wearing the same uniform as you guys? I thought it was just something Saiyans wore."
"It's Frieza's standard battle armor," Cellera replied, her voice tight. "Issued to all his soldiers." A bitter edge crept into her tone. "Stretchy enough to accommodate even our Great Ape form, yet durable enough to withstand powerful attacks. Though not indestructible." The memory of her father's shattered armor from Earth flickered through her mind, but Frieza's cold voice pulled her back to the present.
"We know there were others here with you earlier. At least five." Frieza's tail flicked lazily behind him. "And since my men and I have much better things to do than hunt down a bunch of Nameks, I wonder if you'd be so kind as to tell us where they are." A red sphere of energy materialized above his finger. "Where are my manners? I didn't say please."
Cellera flinched at the familiar sight of that energy ball. She'd seen too many planets, too many people, end at the whim of that single finger.
The Namekians remained silent, their children clutching the elders' robes. Frieza's giggle at their fear made Cellera's stomach turn - she knew that sound too well.
"You see, we can do this one of two ways." Frieza's tail struck his spacecraft with deliberate slowness. "Either you can tell us what we want to know, or we can force you to tell us. And believe me, you don't want the latter."
The elder spoke in Namekian, only for Frieza to cut him off, demanding they use the common tongue. When the elder finally complied, explaining about the workers in the fields, Cellera recognized the defeated tone in his voice. She'd heard it countless times during purge missions.
"See how well we do when you cooperate?" Frieza dissipated the energy sphere. "Now onto the next question. I understand that you have something here in your possession that I would very much like to have in mine. The Six-Star Dragon Ball!"
All three fighters tensed at the mention of their shared goal.
The elder's denial was weak, transparent. Frieza's responding giggle made Cellera's hands clench.
"Dodoria." The name alone made Cellera's jaw tighten. The pink warrior stepped forward, and she found herself unconsciously leaning closer to Gohan. "Do you remember that first Namek elder we visited? Doesn't our new friend here remind you of him in some way?"
"Yeah, he thought he could play dumb too. Said he had no idea what the Dragon Balls were." Dodoria's laugh carried the same cruel edge she remembered from her mother's death announcement.
"Quite stubborn at first. But then he was willing to talk once we started killing his friends one by one."
The horror in Gohan and Krillin's gasps reminded Cellera that they'd never witnessed Frieza's methods firsthand. She remained still, too familiar with what came next.
"He was a well of information," Frieza continued, detailing the Dragon Balls' history with the same casual tone he used when ordering planet purges.
"You cold-blooded murderer," the elder growled.
Cellera's eyes traced the four Dragon Balls, each one representing a village like this one. When Frieza mentioned the "agreeable" nature of the other elders, she felt a twisted sort of relief - at least some had chosen quick deaths over watching their people suffer.
The Namekians' protests about their brothers' loyalty drew another laugh from Frieza.
"You underestimate our powers of persuasion. Zarbon, why don't you show them?"
Before anyone could react, Zarbon's boot connected with the elder's face, sending him flying backward into the gathered Namekians. Cellera instinctively pressed lower against the ridge - she'd seen too many of Zarbon's "demonstrations" during their missions together.
One of the Namekians in the herd lunged forward, rage overtaking reason.
"No, stop!" the elder shouted, but it was too late.
Zarbon smirked, tossing his Dragon Ball high into the air before launching himself after it. His movements were deliberately showy - the same theatrical display she'd witnessed countless times. He wasn't just fighting; he was performing for Frieza's amusement.
The Namekian warriors sprang into action, their power levels spiking enough to make even Cellera's limited sensing abilities take notice. Several of Frieza's common soldiers fell in quick succession, their scouters shattering before they could even register the threat.
"They're strong!" Gohan whispered, hope creeping into his voice.
Cellera's thumb pressed against her lip. "Don't," she breathed. "This is just part of the show."
As if confirming her words, Zarbon's elegant form appeared above the village. The energy beam that followed was as precise as it was devastating.
She felt Gohan tense beside her, ready to intervene. Her hand shot out, gripping his arm - not roughly, but firmly enough to hold him in place. "We can't," she whispered, hating how much her voice sounded like her father's. "Not against him. Not yet."
The blast illuminated the horror on both boys' faces, but Cellera kept her expression carefully neutral. She couldn't afford to show how much this reminded her of her month under Zarbon's command - how many times she'd been forced to watch his "artistry" up close.
Zarbon landed with practiced grace, casually sweeping a stray hair behind his ear before catching the falling Dragon Ball in the same fluid motion. The Namekian warrior's smoking body hit the ground as the children pressed closer to their elder, trying to hide from what they'd just witnessed.
"Oh man! They killed him!" Krillin's shock was palpable.
Beside her, Gohan's energy began to fluctuate dangerously. His teeth ground together, fists clenched tight enough to draw blood. "No..." he growled.
"Gohan, you gotta keep your power level down. They'll notice," Krillin warned.
"I'm just too angry." The boy's power spiked again - that same raw energy she'd felt during their battle on Earth.
"I know it's hard, but there's nothing we could've done. We can't beat these guys fighting them head on," Krillin tried to reason.
"We'll have to outsmart Frieza if you want to get the Dragon Balls and wish your mentor and friends back," Cellera added, hoping the mention of Piccolo might help center him. But Gohan's rage only seemed to build at the slaughter that was occurring before him.
"Whatever happens down there, we'll just have to wait." Krillin yanked at the blue grass, his own attempt to channel his frustration without raising his power level.
They turned back to watch Frieza's men surround the elder Namekian with predatory grins.
"What do you want with the Dragon Balls anyway?" the elder asked, clearly stalling.
"Oh, just a tiny little wish." Frieza's casual tone made Cellera's skin crawl. "For the one thing I don't already have: The power of eternal life."
"Eternal life? Well that figures," Krillin muttered.
"Isn't that what you and your father wanted to wish for?" Gohan turned to her.
Cellera nodded slowly. "Yes. Although, our wish for it was mainly to be able to beat Frieza. Or at least, mine was..." She thought of her father, somewhere on this planet pursuing the same goal. "I'm positive my father is here looking to get the exact same wish."
"So I guess they really are Vegeta's competition," Gohan said.
"And they're winning," Krillin added grimly.
The elder Namekian's defiance drew Cellera's attention back to the scene. "Do whatever you will with me, but I'm still not going to give you a Dragon Ball."
She found herself admiring his courage, even knowing what it would cost him.
"Even under the threat of pain you refuse to surrender your precious Dragon Ball." Frieza's gaze shifted to the children, his smile widening. "Let's see how noble you are when your children are at stake."
Cellera's breath caught as Frieza raised that dreaded finger again. The elder's resolve crumbled instantly, offering to tell them anything. The children huddled closer behind him.
Suddenly, Dodoria's scouter beeped. Cellera's heart nearly stopped, fearing it had detected Gohan's fluctuating power level. They dropped flat against the ground as Dodoria turned toward their position.
"Lord Frieza, I'm picking up that power level again. It came from just over that ridge. I think someone's been watching us."
Her pulse thundered in her ears as she glanced at her companions' terrified faces pressed to the dirt beside her.
"Now it's coming from over there," Dodoria announced, and Cellera sensed what he'd detected - three significant power levels approaching from ahead of them.
Three Namekian warriors emerged on the horizon, their power levels registering as insignificant on Dodoria's scouter. Cellera watched his confusion with growing interest - they were masking their energy just like the Earth fighters.
"Lord Frieza!" one of the soldiers called out. "Three more Namekians are approaching!"
When the Namekians landed, the soldiers opened fire, their blasters creating a barrage of light that the Namekians easily dodged.
The Namekians burst into action, their true power exploding outward as they tore through Frieza's common soldiers like paper. Bodies flew in every direction as the warriors demonstrated just how outmatched the basic troops were.
Cellera noted their movement patterns - precise, controlled, nothing like the farmers Frieza's men expected.
"Dodoria, what's their power level?" Zarbon asked, his usual grace tinged with uncertainty.
"It's... it was only 1,000 a second ago," Dodoria stammered, his scouter beeping frantically. "But now it's 3,000!"
"Look at them go!" Gohan whispered excitedly.
Krillin grinned. "They know how to suppress their power levels too!"
Cellera watched the systematic destruction of Frieza's men with careful analysis. These Namekians were stronger than she'd anticipated, but her eyes remained fixed on Zarbon and Dodoria's reactions. Their confusion would soon turn to action, and that's when the real danger would begin.
"Don't celebrate yet," she warned quietly, recognizing the growing anger in Dodoria's stance. "This is only going to make things worse."
As if on cue, Dodoria set down his Dragon Balls, cracking his knuckles as Frieza gave a slight nod.
"So do you just want me to kill one as an example?" Dodoria's casual tone made Cellera's stomach turn.
"Kill them all." Frieza's command held no hesitation.
The elder Namekians finger shot up suddenly, destroying Dodoria's scouter in a precise blast. Before anyone could react, he launched into the air, systematically destroying the remaining scouters on the fallen soldiers below.
"The scouters!" Zarbon's usual composure cracked with realization. "I should've known! That's what he's aiming for!"
The elder's triumphant laugh confirmed Zarbon's words.
"That crafty old dog," Krillin whispered, admiration clear in his voice.
"W-Wait a second. Why is he just destroying the scouters?" Gohan asked.
"Without the scouters, Frieza will have no way to find the other Namekian villages, nor the Dragon Balls," Cellera explained, genuine respect coloring her voice. It was brilliant really - facing certain death, the elder had chosen the most tactically sound path. Not wasting energy on futile attacks or begging for mercy, but ensuring his people had a fighting chance. Even if Frieza acquired more scouters, this bought valuable time for the other villages to prepare or hide.
"You gotta admire him. He's risking everything to protect his people!" Krillin's words hit deep, drawing Cellera back to Earth. To Piccolo taking Nappa's blast for Gohan. To the small warrior Chiaotzu sacrificing himself against impossible odds. Even to her own choice to remove her tail - all of them choosing to give everything for something greater than themselves.
She watched the elder hover defiantly above Frieza's forces, wondering if this was what real strength looked like. Not the brutal efficiency her father taught, but the courage to make your death mean something.
"You think you're pretty smart, don't you?" Dodoria's growl cut through her thoughts...
Cellera felt both boys tense beside her as Dodoria's rage built. She'd seen this before - when his targets showed more cunning than expected, his brutality always escalated.
"I'll kill all you Namekians!" he roared at the hovering elder. "Starting with you! Ready to die?!"
As Dodoria launched himself upward, one of the younger Namekians shouted for their elder to flee. The children's terrified faces reflected what Cellera already knew - Dodoria at his most brutal was a sight no child should have to witness.
"Dodoria! Not yet!" Frieza's voice stopped the pink warrior mid-attack. "I want you to eliminate these three young warriors first!"
Dodoria's execution was swift, efficient in its brutality. A hand through one warrior's chest, a devastating elbow to another's gut, and an energy beam from his mouth that left nothing behind. The third warrior's attempted counter-attack did little more than leave a crater - Dodoria emerged without a scratch before crushing him against the cliff face.
"You're kidding!" Krillin's voice shook. "That didn't even phase him? Come on!"
Dodoria's chuckle mixed with Frieza's laughter made Cellera's jaw clench. She'd heard that particular combination too many times during her missions.
"Do you finally understand?" Frieza's voice carried that dangerous edge she recognized - his patience wearing thin. "As I've explained from the start, it is impossible for you to defeat us... NOW, GIVE ME THE DRAGON BALL!"
The elder's slow descent to the ground spoke volumes. Cellera had seen that defeat before - the moment when protecting others meant submitting to the inevitable.
"And since you owe us something in return for destroying our scouters. I think this is more than an equitable trade, don't you agree?"
The elder's glance toward the whimpering children made Cellera's chest tight. "You wretch... you leave me no choice. Just promise me you'll leave us in peace."
She couldn't stop the scowl that formed. Frieza's promises were as empty as space itself. As the elder walked off to retrieve the Dragon Ball, she felt that familiar spike in Gohan's energy. His fear from Earth had transformed into something far more dangerous - pure rage.
"I hate him!" he snarled.
"Calm down, Gohan! We told you, we're just gonna have to wait. Cellera and I don't like it either, but we aren't gonna do any good by getting ourselves killed!"
Cellera watched Gohan struggle to contain himself, his whole body trembling with suppressed fury. She remembered that feeling - watching Dodoria's satisfied smirk as he'd delivered news of her mother's "accident."
The elder emerged with the Dragon Ball, handing it to one of Frieza's men while demanding they honor their agreement. Cellera's heart sank as he argued for peace - she'd witnessed this scene too many times before.
"Fool..." she muttered sympathetically, "Frieza doesn't do agreements."
"Oh, shut up. I promised nothing." Frieza's casual dismissal confirmed her words. "And considering the circumstances, I'd hardly say you're in a position to be issuing threats. Now tell me what I want to know or I'll beat it out of you!"
The elder's defiance earned him Dodoria's elbow to the face, sending him crashing into one of the dome structures. The children rushed to him, their concern making Cellera's hands clench. She thought about the countless number of children left without their parents due to Frieza's rule. Something that she felt ashamed that she had played a part in, being his 'planet brokers'.
"You can torture me all you'd like. I don't know where they are!" The elder's desperate lie might have worked on someone else, but Cellera could see Frieza wasn't fooled.
"One: you're lying. And two: You've already hindered my search by destroying the scouters. I'm giving you one last chance to save yourself."
"And why should I trust the words of a murderer?"
Frieza's laugh sent chills down Cellera's spine - she knew that sound. It meant he was done playing.
"I guess you caught me. I was planning to kill you even if you talked."
The elder struggled to his feet, facing what Cellera knew would be his last moments. "Children, listen to me. Run and get help!"
She scowled as the children fled, knowing exactly how this would end. Frieza's cruelty didn't discriminate by age - she'd been one of the few exceptions, and only because of her father's value as a warrior. The memory of other children on other planets rose unbidden in her mind.
Dodoria's energy beam caught one of the fleeing children, leaving nothing but smoking remains. Krillin and Gohan gasped in horror, but Cellera remained still, her expression locked in that careful neutrality she'd learned during her month under Frieza's command. Only her eyes betrayed her, following the surviving child's anguished cry for his friend.
"No... Cargo!"
The name made it worse somehow. Giving the dead child an identity when Frieza's forces preferred to think of their victims as nameless targets. She pressed her thumb hard against her lip, trying to focus on tactics, on surviving through this, on anything but the memories that were stirring up.
Beside her, Gohan's power continued to spike dangerously. His small frame shook with barely contained fury, and Cellera could feel the energy rolling off him in waves.
"Gohan, please," she whispered, recognizing the same build-up of power she'd witnessed during their fight on Earth. But this was different - deeper, darker. "You have to control it."
"Listen to her, Gohan," Krillin added desperately. "I'm sorry, but if we go down there, we'll end up just like that kid. We can't help anyone if we're dead!"
But Cellera knew they were losing him. She'd seen that look before - when something inside a warrior finally snapped. The moment when rage overwhelmed reason, when all the careful tactical planning in the universe meant nothing against pure, burning fury.
Below them, Dodoria's massive form blurred into motion. His fist connected with the elder's neck, a precise strike that spoke of years of calculated cruelty. Before the elder could even process the pain, Dodoria appeared behind him. The sound of vertebrae snapping echoed across the sudden silence.
The elder's body crumpled, lifeless, as the remaining child's scream pierced the air.
Cellera felt Gohan's power spike once more, and this time, she knew there would be no holding him back. All she could do was prepare for what would come next, and hope they survived the consequences of his rage.
"That's two Namekians down and one more to go." Dodoria's satisfied tone mixed with Frieza's laughter, a sound that had haunted Cellera's nightmares during her month of missions.
The remaining child broke into a run, tears streaming down his face as Dodoria launched after him with practiced efficiency. Cellera had seen this game before - Dodoria enjoyed toying with the ones who ran.
She felt it before she saw it - Gohan's power exploding outward as something finally shattered inside him. His scream of rage made her blood run cold.
"STOP IT!"
Before she or Krillin could grab him, Gohan launched himself from their hiding spot. His kick caught Dodoria completely off guard, sending the massive warrior crashing into the side of another dome structure. Rock and debris rained down as Dodoria disappeared into the impact.
Cellera's tactical mind kicked in even as shock froze her in place. She'd felt Gohan's power spikes during their fight on Earth, but this... this was something else entirely. The raw fury behind that kick had contained more power than she'd thought possible from the usually gentle boy.
Through the settling dust, she could see Frieza's surprised expression - a look she'd never witnessed before. It would have been satisfying if it wasn't so terrifying.
"Take that, jerk!" Gohan's voice carried an edge of pride she'd never heard from him before as he landed beside the Namekian child.
"What? Where did you come from?" Dodoria's rage at being caught off guard was palpable. The pink warrior had always hated surprises - Cellera had learned that during their month together.
As Gohan planted himself between Dodoria and the child, Cellera felt an unexpected twist in her chest. The stance was so familiar -it reminded her of when she'd put herself between her father and Krillin's attack on Earth. But where her protection had come from desperation to save and protect her only remaining parent, Gohan's came from something purer. He was protecting someone he'd never met, simply because it was right.
The logical part of her brain screamed that this was suicide, that they were revealing themselves to Frieza's forces for a stranger. Yet watching Gohan stand his ground, she understood something her father had never taught her - sometimes the strongest choice wasn't the most tactical one.
"Well, here we go!" Krillin launched himself into action, and Cellera found herself moving before she could second-guess the decision. Some choices, she was learning, transcended tactical analysis.
"If you want him, you're gonna have to get through me!" Gohan's challenge carried the same fire she'd seen in his father.
"If you insist-" Dodoria's threat was cut short as Krillin's kick sent him upward, perfectly positioned for Cellera's overhead strike. She put every ounce of suppressed fury from the past month into the blow, driving him into the cliffside with savage satisfaction.
"Good one, you guys!" Gohan's cheer reminded her how young he really was, even in the middle of this chaos.
Krillin swept in, gathering the Namekian child in his arms. "C'mon Gohan! We gotta get outta here! Right now!"
Gohan froze, the adrenaline faded, bringing dawning horror at what they'd just done. Cellera recognized that moment - when survival instinct finally caught up to noble intentions.
"Move, Gohan!" she shouted, already calculating how long they had before Dodoria recovered. She'd seen him take worse hits during their missions together. Their only advantage now was speed and whatever head start they could manage.
They raced across the Namekian landscape, Krillin clutching the child while Cellera and Gohan flanked him. Every instinct she'd developed during her missions screamed at her to suppress her power level further, to find cover, to do anything but fly in the open like this.
"What happened back there?" she found herself asking Gohan, still processing his transformation from the terrified boy she'd met on Earth to whatever force of nature had just challenged Dodoria.
"I... I don't know," Gohan admitted, his voice shaky now that the rage had subsided. "I just couldn't watch anymore. When I saw him kill that kid..."
"You fight the opposite of how father taught me," Cellera observed, keeping her voice low as they flew. "You let your emotions fuel you and give you power." She thought back to their battle on Earth, how his power had spiked whenever his friends were threatened. "Though, I'm still not sure if what we just did was incredibly brave or incredibly foolish," she said as they flew, keeping her voice low.
"Probably both," Krillin responded, adjusting his grip on the Namekian child.
She studied their small group - an Earth warrior, a half-Saiyan, and herself, all risking everything to save one child. A month ago, she would have called it weakness. Now... now she wasn't so sure. There was power in this too, different from the brutal strength her father valued, but no less real. She enjoyed the feeling she had of doing something helpful rather than hurtful, despite the lingering fear of the possible repercussions.
Before she could respond, a familiar energy signature flared behind them - Dodoria had recovered and was in pursuit.
"Move faster!" she urged, knowing all too well what happened to those who earned Dodoria's personal attention. "And keep your power levels as low as you can while flying!"
Their attempted escape proved futile as Dodoria gained on them, his massive form eating up the distance despite their top speed.
"Oh, great! Lumpy's gaining on us! We're in trouble!" Krillin called out, glancing back.
"Give it up! It's no use! You can run but there's nowhere to hide!" Dodoria's voice carried that familiar sadistic pleasure Cellera remembered from their missions. As they weaved through a narrow crevice, his threats continued. "I'm going to get you. And when I do, I'm going to make you pay!"
Ki blasts peppered the air around them. While Cellera and Gohan managed to dodge, Krillin struggled with the added burden of the Namekian child. A blast clipped his arm, causing him to lose his grip. As Krillin dove after the falling child, Dodoria seized his ankle with brutal efficiency.
Cellera's discerning mind raced, assessing both threats in a split second. "Krillin, I'll get him! Just get yourself free!" She accelerated toward the plummeting child, knowing even as she moved that she wouldn't make it in time. But Gohan appeared from below, catching the young Namekian with practiced ease. Her relief was short-lived.
"You guys! Get going! He's closing in and fast!" Krillin's warning preceded another of Dodoria's mouth blasts, which they barely avoided.
Dodoria's laughter behind them brought back memories of other chases, other victims. She'd been on the other side of this pursuit too many times during the past month.
"Gohan, Cellera! Listen!" Krillin's voice carried urgent command. "Whatever happens, just keep going! Don't look back. I think I might have a way to slow this guy down!"
Every instinct screamed at her to stay together, but she forced herself to trust Krillin's judgment. She and Gohan pressed forward until Krillin rejoined them moments later. A glance back revealed Dodoria clutching his face, howling about his eyes.
They seized the opportunity, dropping to ground level and finding cover. Dodoria's frustrated roars and graphic threats echoed across the landscape.
"That was great Krillin! Where'd you learn that?" Gohan's admiration was clear.
"Oh, uh, it's just a little trick I picked up from Tien." Krillin's modest response carried a hint of embarrassment.
"It was a brilliant move," Cellera admitted, her eyes tracking Dodoria's movement above them. They pressed against the canyon wall, every breath measured. As Dodoria's search pattern brought him closer to their position, she pressed her thumb to her lip, analyzing their options.
"If Dodoria somehow finds us and attacks, hide your power levels and use the blast as a smokescreen to hide in plain sight," she whispered. She couldn't help but inwardly laugh at the irony - using her father's teachings to protect instead of destroy…It was a nice change of pace.
Every mission under Frieza had taught her something useful, but not in the way they'd intended. There was a certain satisfaction in turning her month of forced cooperation with Frieza's elite against them. Especially Dodoria - every bit of inside knowledge she could use to frustrate him felt like a small payment toward a debt long overdue. The memory of his smirk while delivering news of her mother's "accident" made her plan feel personal in a way her father might disapprove of, but she couldn't bring herself to care.
Watching Gohan protect the Namekian child only strengthened her resolve. She'd witnessed too many children die at Dodoria's hands during their missions together. Perhaps this was her chance to balance those scales, even if just a little.
Dodoria's shadow fell across their hiding spot. Cellera held her breath, feeling Gohan tense beside her. A cruel laugh echoed above them.
"Found you!"
The energy blast that followed was massive - exactly what she'd expected from someone who always chose overwhelming force over precision. As the attack approached, she caught both Gohan and Krillin's eyes, giving a sharp nod.
They dropped their power levels to nearly nothing just as the blast hit, decimating the islands around them. The explosion sent water and debris flying in all directions - perfect cover for their deception. They stayed submerged, watching Dodoria's silhouette through the churning water.
His laughter carried even underwater - that same satisfied sound she'd heard too many times during their missions together. The sound that usually meant another planet's population had been "processed."
"It doesn't matter who they were, they're dead now!"
She watched with grim satisfaction as he flew away, completely fooled by their strategy. It was fitting, really - using his own arrogance and lack of critical thinking against him. The same traits that had probably made him careless during her mother's "mission accident."
They waited until his energy signature was barely detectable before surfacing, all three gasping for air while the Namekian child clung to Gohan.
"It worked perfectly," she said, a familiar smirk crossing her features - one that mirrored her father's pre-victory confidence. "Just like I thought - too proud to even consider checking for bodies. And they call themselves elite warriors." The scoff in her voice carried that same disdain she'd learned from watching her father deal with incompetent soldiers.
"That was close!" Gohan grinned, turning to Cellera with genuine admiration. "Great plan!"
"Yeah, you really saved our hides!" Krillin added as they flew out of the water.
Cellera's initial impulse was to bask in their praise, but she caught herself - she had a reputation to maintain, after all. Still, she couldn't quite hide the slight upward curve of her lips. These Earth fighters' open gratitude was... different from what she was used to.
"Hey, can you fly?" Gohan asked the Namekian child still clinging to him.
"Yes." The boy demonstrated, though his wobbly hovering showed his inexperience. "Actually, I'm still learning. Oh, and thanks a lot for saving me." He bowed his head gratefully to his rescuers.
"Thank Gohan," Cellera said, nodding toward the boy with a slight smile. "He's the one who started this whole rescue."
"Yeah," Krillin agreed. "He's the one who charged in to get you, we just followed his lead."
"Thanks, but that's not true guys. If it weren't for Krillin and Cellera's quick thinking, that guy would've caught us for sure!" Gohan's earnest denial made Cellera run a hand through her dark hair, unused to such genuine acknowledgment.
"Why don't you stick with us?" Krillin offered the Namekian. "I promise we're nowhere near as bad as those other jerks."
The child's face lit up with hope. "Yeah!"
"Great! Just follow us. It's that way!" Gohan pointed toward their cave hideout, but paused when he noticed Cellera hadn't moved. Her eyes were fixed on Dodoria's distant trajectory, her expression unreadable. "Cellera? What's wrong?"
Something had changed since Earth. She'd seen a different kind of power in Gohan's protection of others, in Krillin's willingness to trust former enemies, even in Bulma's fearless confrontation of warriors who could destroy her. The Saiyan way had always been about becoming stronger through combat, but she was starting to see that maybe there were other ways to grow stronger in tandem with her upbringing.
But first, she had unfinished business with Dodoria.
She remained silent for a long moment, feeling an opportunity she'd waited years for finally within reach. "Gohan, Krillin... I'll meet you at the cave soon."
The boys exchanged worried looks, but Gohan's eyes showed understanding as they met hers. "You're going after him, aren't you?"
"I have something I need to settle," she said, but the words felt insufficient. For years she'd suppressed her rage about her mother's death, channeling it into survival, into becoming the perfect tactical warrior her father demanded. It would have been safer to keep running, to stay with the group and focus on survival.
But watching that Namekian child cry out for his fallen friend had cracked something in her carefully maintained control. How many other children had lost parents to Frieza's cruelty? How many other daughters had been left with only bitter memories and unanswered questions?
The logical choice would be to return to the cave with the others. But sometimes, she was learning, there were things more important than tactical choices.
"I promise I'll come back."
Gohan studied her face for a moment before nodding firmly. "I believe you."
The simple trust in those words hit harder than she expected. On Earth, she'd given her word about leaving peacefully, and now this boy trusted her completely to keep another promise. She wouldn't disappoint that faith.
Cellera took off in Dodoria's direction, her power level carefully suppressed even in pursuit. She had unfinished business with her mother's murderer, and after years of waiting, she finally had her chance.
Back near the water, Krillin watched her disappear into the distance. "Hey Gohan... do you really think she'll come back? Or was that just something she said to keep us from following?"
Gohan thought back to that moment - her smile, different from any expression he'd seen on her face before. The way she'd said "I promise," carrying the same weight as when she'd given her word on Earth. There had been something in her eyes then, just like now - an understanding between them that went beyond words.
"She'll be back," he said with complete certainty, turning to Krillin. "I know she will."
The young Namekian looked between them, confused by their concern for someone who wore the same armor as their attackers. But Gohan just smiled, knowing that sometimes trust came from seeing something in others that they might not even see in themselves.
As they headed back toward the cave where Bulma waited, Gohan sent a silent wish for Cellera's safety. Whatever she needed to settle with Dodoria, he hoped she'd find the peace she was looking for.