The journey back to Bulma's cave felt heavier than their previous flights across Namek's landscape. While Krillin and Gohan discussed strategy, Cellera remained uncharacteristically quiet, her usual observations absent. Her father's words about being a liability echoed in her mind, along with her own agreement about eliminating the Ginyu Force. One step forward, two steps back. Perhaps she hadn't changed as much as she'd thought.
She watched Krillin gesture animatedly as he explained something to Gohan, the easy friendship between them evident in their shared laughter. Once, she would have dismissed such bonds as weakness. Now, their trust in her - their willingness to fight alongside her despite everything - made her chest tighten with an unfamiliar warmth
They hadn't voiced anything at the time, but their shocked expressions at her approval of her father's handling of the Ginyu force flashed through her if they still saw her as that girl who came to Earth? The one that stood by and watched as their friends were taken out one by one. The one who-
"Hey, you okay?" Gohan asked, dropping back to fly beside her, snapping her out of her thoughts. "You've been really quiet."
Cellera glanced off to the side awkwardly. "I just..." She hesitated, unused to voicing such doubts. "When I agreed with my father about the Ginyu Force, it felt like any progress I'd made thus far had been erased." She bit her lip before deciding to voice the root of her uneasiness. "I... don't want either of you to think that I'm…" she trailed off, finding herself at a loss for words.
The silence stretched between them until Krillin broke it with an incredulous laugh. "Are you kidding?" He spun mid-flight to face her, nearly colliding with a startled Gohan in his enthusiasm. "You've been nothing but helpful since we met up! Heck, without your plan to bounce back the spirit bomb, we may not even be here right now!"
Cellera's eyes widened, her carefully maintained composure cracking. "You-You know about that?"
"Yeah! We heard about it from King Kai!" Gohan's face lit up with that pure, genuine smile she was still getting used to having directed at her. "Even before that, you could've killed me in our fight if you wanted, but you didn't!"
Her hand unconsciously moved to her stomach where her father's punch had landed - punishment for that very mercy. The movement didn't escape Gohan's notice, his expression softening with understanding.
"I also remember something you said to me back on Earth." Krillin's usual lighthearted tone grew serious as he recalled their confrontation over Vegeta's fate.
"How many more people have to die?!"
"If I could have it my way, none!"
"I'd say with all of that, you're fine in our book!" He scratched the back of his head with a grin. "Besides, I never thought I'd see anyone sass Vegeta like that - especially about being wrong!"
"He's right," Gohan added earnestly. "My dad wants to give everyone a chance, like he did with Piccolo! And now look - Piccolo gave his life protecting me. People really can change."
"Oh yeah, don't get me started on that." Krillin rolled his eyes, though his fond smile betrayed his true feelings. He shook his head before meeting Cellera's gaze again. "Sometimes understanding why something needs to be done, even if it's hard, is part of growing and it doesn't erase the good things you've done. So don't worry too much about it."
The sincerity in their voices caught her off guard. She'd spent years learning to read threats and calculate tactics, but this simple acceptance of her struggles felt entirely new. Her vision blurred slightly as she fought to keep her voice steady. "I... thank you," she finally managed. "Both of you."
"Any time," Krillin said with a warm smile. "Y'know, I was actually pretty surprised when your father offered to help Goku with Ginyu."
Her thumb pressed to her lip as her tone grew more cutting. "I was as well. Father suddenly eager to play hero alongside the 'low-class warrior' he despises? Something's wrong."
"You think he's up to something?" Gohan asked, his expression growing concerned.
"Father's been different since Earth. More reckless. More desperate." Her eyes narrowed. "He berates me for showing mercy, for forming alliances, yet here he is making the same supposedly emotional choices. With Frieza having the Dragon Balls..." Her voice trailed off as that gnawing feeling of unease grew stronger.
"Should we go back?" Krillin asked, already slowing his flight.
"No," Cellera shook her head firmly. "We need to reach Bulma and find those Dragon Balls before Frieza returns. Whatever my father's planning..." She pressed her thumb to her lip. "We just have to hope Kakarot can handle it."
"Y'know, speaking of your father - he mentioned being the 'Prince of all Saiyans' back there." Krillin said, trying to lighten the mood.
"Yeah, I remember he called himself that back on Earth too." Gohan added.
Cellera gave a dry laugh. "Ah yes, our illustrious royal titles." Her tone dripped with irony. "Though they don't mean much when there's no planet left to rule. Just another thing Frieza took from us."
"So if your planet hadn't been destroyed..." Gohan began, his natural curiosity showing.
"We'd be running an entire warrior race instead of working as Frieza's glorified planet brokers?" She raised an eyebrow. "The universe has a strange sense of humor."
Just before Krillin or Gohan could question her further, they'd arrived at the small ravine where they'd left Bulma. As they approached the cave entrance, they found Bulma napping, her back against the rocky wall and a book in her lap.
"BULMA!" Gohan and Krillin shouted in unison, making Cellera wince at their volume - another Earth custom she was still adjusting to. Bulma floundered awake, nearly dropping her book before registering who had called her. "We need the Dragon Radar!"
Bulma adjusted her red headband, her narrowed eyes and rigid posture telling Cellera all she needed to know about the lecture to come. The young Saiyan found herself unconsciously straightening her stance - a habit from years of her father's similar expressions.
"What have you guys been doing?!" Bulma demanded, throwing her hands up. "First you show up with Vegeta -" She jabbed a finger in their direction, "Then you grab the Dragon Ball and take off to who knows where! Do you guys think you can just keep abandoning me here?!"
"W-We need the Dragon Radar. We might still be able to get our wish if-" Krillin tried to interject but was cut off again by Bulma.
"What? You meant you still haven't gotten our wish yet?! I saw all seven together on the radar and thought you already called Shenron! What are you fools waiting for?" Bulma finished, breathing heavily as lecturing the three warriors had taken all her breath away.
"Fooling around?" Krillin deadpanned.
It was then that Bulma noticed their battle-worn appearances. Krillin and Gohan's tattered gi's bore testament to their fights, while Cellera's Saiyan armor - once pristine like her father's - now showed cracks and scorch marks. Her dark hair, usually kept as immaculate as her royal heritage demanded, had come loose from its careful styling, and dirt and scrapes marked all their faces and limbs. They looked less like warriors and more like survivors.
"What happened this time?" she asked instead, concern now replacing her earlier fury.
"Krillin, Cellera! I found the radar and the Dragon Balls are over that way!" Gohan said as he pointed in the direction of Frieza's ship.
"All right! Let's go!" Krillin said, already preparing to take off.
"Wait just a moment!" The authority in Cellera's voice echoed off the ravine walls, halting both boys mid-step. Something of her heritage must have shown through - the same commanding presence she'd inherited from her father, though hopefully wielded with more of her mother's wisdom. "We need to inform Bulma of what's happening first."
Her tone left no room for argument, though she noticed Krillin and Gohan exchange surprised glances before nodding. The instinct to command came naturally, but her next thought was pure evolution: she couldn't leave Bulma in the dark again. Something about the woman's fierce protectiveness of her friends reminded Cellera of stories she'd heard about female Saiyans - of her mother.
"Man, if I didn't believe she was a princess before, I sure do now," Krillin whispered to Gohan as they watched Cellera explain the situation to Bulma with surprising patience.
"Yeah," Gohan nodded, remembering similar tones from his own mother when she meant business.
Even disheveled from battle, Cellera's posture unconsciously mirrored her father's - that same straight-backed pride, that lift of the chin that spoke of authority without trying. But where Vegeta's presence demanded submission, hers now invited alliance, a subtle difference that would have pleased her mother.
"Okay, now let's hurry before Frieza gets back!" Cellera said, her voice returning to its normal register as she turned to find both boys still staring. "What?"
"Nothing!" Krillin said quickly, though his grin suggested otherwise. "Let's go!"
The three warriors took to the sky once more, their urgency lending speed to their flight. Cellera found herself falling into the familiar point position she often took during missions, though this time her companions followed by choice rather than fear.
"How far to the ship?" she asked, scanning the horizon.
"Should be just ahead," Krillin replied. "Look - there!"
Frieza's massive spacecraft came into view, its polished surface reflecting Namek's triple suns. Cellera's hand moved to her chin, thumb pressing against her lip as she processed the scene before them.
"Something's wrong," she said as they landed. "There should be guards posted. Frieza never leaves his ship unprotected."
They crept closer, and her unease deepened at the eerie silence. No patrol patterns, no scouter signals, nothing. Just the wind whistling across Namek's plains. The implications made her stomach turn, but she kept her expression neutral. Now wasn't the time to voice her growing suspicions about her father's sudden eagerness to "help" Kakarot.
"Maybe they're all inside?" Krillin suggested hopefully.
"No..." Her eyes narrowed as she spotted dark stains on the ground that looked suspiciously like blood. "Someone's been here. Recently."
Gohan studied the Dragon Radar intently, his brow furrowing. "That's weird... According to this, the Dragon Balls aren't inside the ship at all." He took a few steps forward, following the radar's signal. "They're... this way."
Following Gohan's lead, they came upon a patch of disturbed earth that stood out against the pristine Namekian soil. Recent tool marks scarred the ground, and the dirt appeared freshly turned.
"Looks like they're right here," Gohan said, looking to the turned ground and back to the blinking Dragon Radar.
"The only question is, how deep are they buried?" Cellera wondered aloud.
"Well, the only way to find out is to start digging!" Krillin replied as he crouched to the ground, giving her and Gohan a smile. The two returned his smile as they got down on their hands and knees and began to dig up the ground in search of the Dragon Balls.
"Well," Krillin sighed, looking at their muddied hands after several minutes of digging, "at least Frieza didn't take them far."
The seven Dragon Balls gleamed in the Namekian sunlight, their massive size making them look more like golden boulders than mystical artifacts. As they surveyed their work, Cellera noticed a smudge of dirt across Gohan's nose.
"Uh, Gohan," she said, her lips twitching with amusement. "You've got a little something..." She gestured to her nose.
"Huh?" Gohan tried to wipe it off, only managing to spread the dirt further across his face.
The sight broke Cellera's usual composure, a genuine laugh escaping her. Krillin joined in, and soon all three were caught up in the moment, their earlier tension temporarily forgotten.
"Well, you're one to talk," Gohan grinned, pointing at her cheek where she must have accidentally touched while digging. "You've got dirt right there!"
"And Krillin looks like he took a mud bath," Cellera added, surprising herself with how natural it felt to join in their banter.
Gohan watched as Cellera's shoulders shook with laughter, a far cry from the rigid warrior who'd faced him on Earth. Even her usual stiff posture had softened, replaced by something more genuine. It was nice, he thought, seeing her actually act like someone their age for once.
They all attempted to clean their faces, though Cellera kept missing the spot on her cheek despite Krillin's helpful pointing.
"Here," Gohan said, pulling off one of his red wristbands. "Let me help." He stepped closer, gently wiping the dirt from her cheek just as he'd done with his own face moments ago.
Cellera blinked in surprise at the gesture, but didn't pull away. For someone raised in combat, such casual kindness still felt new.
"Well, they're all here." Krillin said, looking down at the Dragon Balls they gathered. "You two ready to summon the Dragon? 'Cause we've got some wishing to do."
"Yeah!" Gohan said, excited to revive his old mentor back to the land of the living.
Cellera however was quiet. She found herself scanning their surroundings again, that nagging feeling of being watched growing stronger. Despite their enhanced abilities from Guru, she couldn't sense any nearby power levels - which only made her more uneasy. Her father had always taught her that when something felt wrong, it usually was.
"You two go ahead and summon the dragon," She said, keeping her voice steady despite her growing concern. "I'll keep watch."
"Are you sure?" Gohan asked, his hand unconsciously moving to touch where his wristband had cleaned her cheek. "We could wait-"
"No," She cut him off, her thumb pressing against her lip as she analyzed their surroundings, her eyes lingering on one of the legs of Frieza's ship. "Something doesn't feel right. The sooner we make our wishes, the better."
"She's right," Krillin nodded, already moving toward the massive Dragon Balls. "Let's do this before Frieza or Vegeta show up."
Gohan joined him near the golden orbs while Cellera maintained her vigilant watch of their surroundings. After a deep breath, Krillin raised his arms.
"Eternal Dragon! By your name, I summon you!" Nothing happened. "Come forth, Shenron!"
The golden spheres remained dormant in the Namekian sunlight, no darkened skies or mystical dragon emerging - just silence.
"I...suppose that's not supposed to happen," Cellera turned to look at the two disheartened warriors.
"Why didn't Shenron come whooshing out? We have all seven Dragon Balls!" Krillin said as he stared at the Dragon Balls as if willing them to work.
Maybe the words are a little different here?" Gohan suggested.
Understanding dawned as Cellera processed Gohan's suggestion. "Gohan may be correct," she mused, thumb pressing to her lip. "From what I've gathered from you, the Dragon Balls here are not like the ones you have on Earth from size to wishes. It's likely the password here is completely different and in their own language."
"Even their shine is different from Earth's," Gohan noted, studying the golden orbs. His observation was cut short as his head suddenly snapped up, eyes widening. "Wait - I sense two power levels heading this way!"
Cellera immediately began calculating possibilities. "Either it's Kakarot and my father, or..." She trailed off, pieces starting to click into place - the missing guards at the ship, her father's unusual eagerness to stay behind. That cold feeling of dread grew stronger.
"We need to hide. Now."
They quickly concealed themselves behind one of Namek's larger rock formations, suppressing their power levels as two figures appeared on the horizon. Cellera's eyes narrowed as she made out the distinctive red skin of Jeice - but the warrior flying beside him wasn't Captain Ginyu. Her father was nowhere in sight.
"Is that...my dad?" Gohan whispered in disbelief. "Why is he with Jeice?"
Something cold settled in Cellera's stomach as she watched them land near the Dragon Balls. Everything about Kakarot's movements felt wrong - too rigid, too calculated. None of the casual confidence she'd observed in their previous encounters. Her eyes caught the glint of a scouter attached to his face - something Kakarot had never needed nor worn before. Whatever her father had stayed behind to "help" with, she had a sinking feeling they were about to find out.
"The Dragon Balls have been dug up!" Jeice exclaimed, his eyes fixed on the pile of golden orbs that no longer remained underground.
"Now how did that happen?" 'Goku' mused, though the calculating tone sounded alien in that usually cheerful voice. "Someone's been quite busy here."
Cellera's eyes widened as 'Kakarot' spoke. That voice was not Kakarot's, it was Ginyu's! She cursed inwardly - if she'd known Ginyu possessed such an ability, she could have warned them.
She looked over to Gohan, whose face held one of suspicion as he stared at what looked like his father. Their eyes met in silent understanding - they both knew this was not his father. However, Krillin didn't seem to notice like they did.
"Goku!" Krillin called out, already stepping from their hiding place. "You really gave us a scare, I thought you were gonna be that Ginyu guy for sure!" He gave a friendly wave before turning to Jeice. "I didn't realize you beat him and got his partner to join our side!"
"He doesn't even realize that's not Kakarot." Cellera clicked her tongue in frustration. "We have to warn him!"
"Krillin!" Gohan's voice carried desperation. "That's not my dad!"
The warning came too late. The figure wearing his friend's face smiled - a cold, calculated expression that looked wrong on Goku's features - before striking Krillin across the face. The force sent him stumbling backward several steps toward where Cellera and Gohan remained hidden.
"So there's another one of them. There wasn't a reading on my scouter, apparently they can push their power level down to zero," The voice coming from Goku's mouth carried none of his usual warmth - instead holding the calculated precision of the head honcho of the Ginyu Force.
"What did you do that for, Goku?!" Krillin asked in anger and confusion, holding the side of his face.
"Krillin, that is not Kakarot!" Cellera's mind rapidly processed the evidence - the scouter, the rigid posture, the cruel efficiency of the strike. "It's Ginyu in Kakarot's body! He must possess some kind of body-switching technique."
"Brilliant analysis as always Cellera! You're really a chip off the old block!" Ginyu praised her before he gave his signature pose, Jeice following with his own behind him. "That's right! I am the leader of the Ginyu Force-Captain Ginyu!"
"What have you done with Kakarot and my father?" Cellera demanded.
"No need to glare, dear Cellera," Ginyu said, his borrowed face twisting into a smirk. "I was sure not to leave the warrior without a body of his own. As for your father, he made himself scarce before the real battle began."
The confirmation settled like ice in her stomach. She'd sensed something wrong in her father's eagerness to stay behind, but retrieving the Dragon Balls had taken priority over analyzing his motives. Now, with the unguarded ship and that persistent feeling of being watched, everything aligned with painful clarity. Her father had orchestrated this from the moment he'd volunteered to "help" Kakarot.
Her gaze drifted back to the leg of Frieza's ship she had looked at earlier. Contrary to her father's belief of her, she hadn't discarded everything he taught her or what made her Saiyan. Something she was determined to show to him.
"Now then," Ginyu said, smirking as he dropped into a fighting stance. "Why don't I give this new body a test drive?"
Cellera glanced between her companions and the ship where her father likely waited. "It seems my father has caused another situation that could have been avoided." Annoyance laced her tone as she narrowed her eyes. "Will you two be alright by yourselves for a moment?"
"Yeah, we can handle him until you get back," Krillin said, though uncertainty threaded through his voice.
"Don't worry about us, Cellera." Gohan's confidence surprised her - so different from the hesitant boy she'd met on Earth. "We'll hold him off while you deal with Vegeta."
The corners of her lips turned up slightly at Gohan's understanding. "I'll be back as quickly as I can to assist." Her mind turned to their immediate advantage. "He's likely not yet accustomed to Kakarot's body - use that weakness if you can."
Krillin and Gohan nodded, determination replacing their earlier shock. As Ginyu charged forward, the three warriors separated - her companions engaging the body-switched captain while Cellera moved with calculated precision toward the ship.
Cellera landed silently near Frieza's ship, her eyes fixed on the massive landing strut where she'd sensed her father's energy. As she rounded the metallic column, she found him leaning against it with crossed arms, wearing that familiar smirk that told her he'd been waiting. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she noted his fresh appearance - his battle gear changed to one of the newer models that forwent the shoulder guards, no signs of his earlier fight visible. Further proof he'd made it to the ship long before them.
"I wondered how long it would take you to figure it out," Vegeta said, not bothering to change his relaxed posture. "Your observational skills seem to have dulled since Earth. The Cellera I trained would have seen through this plan immediately."
"The Cellera you trained would have questioned why the Prince of all Saiyans suddenly offered to help a 'low-class warrior,'" She countered, her voice carrying that precise edge she'd inherited from him. "But retrieving the Dragon Balls took priority over analyzing your suspicious behavior."
His smirk widened. "And how did that work out? Your precious new allies are probably being torn apart by Ginyu in Kakarot's body as we speak."
"A situation that wouldn't exist if you hadn't abandoned him to Ginyu." Her voice held a sharpness that made Vegeta pause. "Once again, your methods have led to self-sabotage. If you'd stayed and helped instead of sneaking away like a coward-"
"Watch your tone," Vegeta snapped, though something flickered in his expression as he studied her. "I thought I'd have at least another couple of years before you developed that insufferable strong will and attitude all Saiyan women seem to possess." His eyes narrowed. "You're even starting to sound like her when she'd call out my errors."
The comparison to her mother caught Cellera off guard. She had few memories of Rhuba, most just impressions and stories, or small snippets of conversations with her, but her father's reaction suggested she'd hit a nerve.
Their argument halted as a new power signature approached - massive but unstable, as if its wielder couldn't properly control it. Both father and daughter turned to see Ginyu's purple form in the sky, its movements lacking the captain's usual precision and control. Each unsteady motion confirmed Cellera's suspicion that Kakarot was struggling with his borrowed body.. The severe wound in Ginyu's chest caught their attention - a calculated move, Cellera realized. Ginyu must have inflicted it before the switch to handicap Kakarot.
"Hey Captain!" Jeice thumbed behind him, alerting his superior. "It looks like that punk has followed us here."
"I...I've found you." Goku, now in Ginyu's body said, struggling to talk with the wound in his chest. He looked up towards Krillin, Gohan, and Ginyu who now possessed his body. "Don't hesitate to beat him up! He's no match for you, give it everything you got!"
"Haha! No match for them, you say?" Ginyu scoffed. "This used to be your body. We're talking a 180,000 power level here! There's no chance of them beating me!"
"I guess there's only one way to find out, isn't there?" Goku goaded, despite his injury. "Unless the mind and body are in perfect harmony, you're not going to put out much power."
Ginyu's attempt to demonstrate his new power only proved Goku right - Jeice's scouter reading a mere 23,000 instead of the boasted 180,000.
"It's true!" Krillin exclaimed as he appeared back next to Gohan. "We just might be able to beat him like this!"
"What are you waiting for, Jeice!" Ginyu asked his subordinate in disbelief. "Get in there and help me fight!"
"Y-Yes sir!" Jeice stuttered out.
Cellera and her father exchanged glances, years of training allowing them to read each other's intent without words. Their earlier argument forgotten - for now - as they blasted off from behind the strut, cutting off Jeice's advance.
"Not so fast," Vegeta said from behind him. "You'll have to get through us first."
Father and daughter moved in perfect synchronization - Vegeta's direct assault forcing Jeice to dodge straight into Cellera's precisely timed strike. The red-skinned warrior barely managed to deflect her attack, only to find Vegeta already positioned for a follow-up.
Their coordination was flawless, years of practice evident in how they anticipated each other's movements. Whatever philosophical differences had grown between them, in battle they still spoke the same language of combat their blood demanded.
Jeice backed away, activating his scouter in frustration. "This is impossible! Your power levels weren't anywhere near this high against Recoome!"
"You rely too much on those devices," Cellera said, falling naturally into another attack stance that mirrored her father's. "Surely by now you've realized we can suppress our true power."
"She's right," Vegeta smirked. "Why don't you check that scouter again? Now that we're not holding back."
"You're bluffing!" Jeice scoffed, though his confidence wavered as his scouter began to beep frantically. His red face paled as the numbers climbed far beyond what they'd shown during their earlier encounters. "But... but how?!"
"What's wrong, Jeice?" Vegeta taunted as another combined attack sent their opponent reeling. "No poses to show us?"
Jeice's attempts to create distance proved futile as father and daughter maintained their relentless assault. His growing panic was evident in each increasingly desperate counter-attack.
"This can't be happening!" Jeice's voice cracked as he barely avoided another synchronized strike. "Captain Ginyu!"
"Your captain's a bit preoccupied," Vegeta said, his tone carrying that familiar edge that made Cellera instinctively shift her position. She recognized the signs - her father was done playing with his prey. "And you're finished."
The final blast was devastating in its efficiency, leaving nothing of the Ginyu Force's red magma behind.
"Well," Vegeta observed, a hint of pride breaking through his usual disdain, "it seems your time with the Earthlings hasn't completely erased my training."
"Just because I've changed my way of thinking doesn't mean I've discarded everything you taught me," Cellera replied, her chin lifting slightly. "Nor my pride as a Saiyan warrior." Her thumb pressed to her lip as she added with a touch of irony, "I've merely learned there's more than one way to be strong."
"You didn't need to take it that far," Goku called out, interrupting whatever response her father might have made.
"Super Saiyans tend to be a bit violent," Vegeta replied with a smirk.
Cellera couldn't help but raise a skeptical eyebrow at that. There hadn't been a Super Saiyan in over a thousand years - they had no way of knowing if that was true. Her father's growing obsession with the legend was starting to border on the absurd.
"Besides," Vegeta continued, his tone dripping with disdain as he turned to face Goku, "A sentimental fool like you could never achieve such power. Only I am truly worthy of becoming the legendary Super Saiyan."
Seeming to finally notice the state of the other warriors' battle, Vegeta gave a scoff. "You fools haven't finished off Ginyu yet? You're holding back because he looks like Kakarot, aren't you?"
Cellera studied Krillin and Gohan - the two boys more battle-worn than when she'd left them moments ago. She couldn't blame them too much considering the circumstances. Plus they needed to somehow get Kakarot back into his own body; it would be fruitless if they beat it to uselessness. Her father, however, didn't see it that way.
"Fine, I'll take care of him then!" Vegeta shouted before rushing toward Ginyu, delivering a solid punch to his gut, followed by a punch to the face sending him flying. Following the path he sent Ginyu flying to, he proceeded to kick him into the air before appearing above him and pummeling him into the ground.
Gohan and Krillin stood shell-shocked at how easily he went down, while Cellera watched with narrowed eyes. Each uncoordinated movement, every failed defense - it all confirmed her earlier suspicions. Ginyu might possess Kakarot's raw power, but he lacked the years of refined technique behind it. A light went off in her head as she pieced it together: Kakarot's strength wasn't just about power levels. His abilities had been honed through years of dedicated training, each movement perfected through practice rather than just relying on brute force.
"That's enough! Don't kill him, Vegeta!" Goku yelled, causing everyone to turn their eyes from Ginyu's defeat on the ground to Vegeta above, who was preparing his final assault.
Cellera stared at her father, baffled that he was really about to take out Kakarot, someone who could help them fight against Frieza. Once again, another example of her father self-sabotaging himself and by extension, her and the others.
"Here we go!" Vegeta shouted, descending toward the body on the ground. "NOW DIE!"
Her attention snapped back to Ginyu as she noticed the calculated gleam in his eyes. Her stomach dropped as she realized what he was planning. Ginyu wasn't finished with just possessing Kakarot's body. No, he had his sights set on an even more powerful vessel - her father.
"CHANGE!" Ginyu shouted.
Before Cellera could shout a warning, Goku intercepted, throwing himself between Ginyu and Vegeta. In a flash of light, Goku was restored to his own body, leaving Ginyu back in his original form.
Laughter erupted from the pummeled body on the ground, one that was unmistakably Goku's.
"Heh! Looks like I made it back-ouch!" Goku chuckled, relief evident despite his injuries.
"I can sense it!" Gohan cheered. "My dad is back in his old body again!"
"What did you say?" Vegeta demanded, eyes darting between Ginyu and Goku as he tried to determine which one to attack.
Cellera watched as Ginyu began taunting her father, each word precisely calculated to provoke him. Her jaw clenched - she knew this strategy too well. Ginyu hadn't given up on claiming her father's superior power level; he was just changing tactics.
And predictably, her father was falling for it. Each exchange of blows only served to draw him closer to where Ginyu wanted him. She could see it in the captain's eyes - that same calculating gleam from before, waiting for the perfect moment to attempt another body change.
Her attention darted to movement near Kakarot - a small frog hopping across the battlefield. She clicked through possibilities: if Ginyu's body-change worked by intercepting whatever was in its path...
"CHANGE!" Ginyu shouted once again.
She didn't hesitate. As Ginyu began his body switch technique, she dove down, snatched up the frog, and threw it directly into the beam's trajectory. The flash of light was blinding.
When the light faded, everyone stared in stunned silence as Ginyu's massive purple form began hopping away on all fours like a common frog. The frog itself sat where the captain had been moments before, its bulging eyes somehow managing to convey absolute horror at its new reality. Seeing that her quick thinking had worked, Cellera's shoulders finally relaxed.
Gohan and Krillin quickly descended from the sky and came to Goku's aid, each of them taking one of his arms to help support him.
"Hey, Goku! Are you alright?!" Krillin asked.
"Just hang on, dad!" Gohan tried to assure.
"Y-you sure roughed my body up, eh Vegeta?" Goku questioned as they made their way over to him.
Vegeta stood with his arms crossed as he observed the group's battered state. "Nevermind you, tell me what happened to Ginyu." he demanded.
"Well," Goku managed through a pained chuckle, "That thing hopping away is a frog, and that frog over there is Captain Ginyu." He winced as he nodded toward the trembling amphibian behind Vegeta. "Cellera threw it into Ginyu's trajectory - just in time to stop him from switching bodies with you too."
"What?!" Vegeta spun around, his eyes narrowing as they landed on the trembling amphibian. Each step toward the creature carried lethal intent as his signature smirk spread across his features.
"Leave him be, Vegeta!" Goku protested.
"Father, I agree. Ginyu will be unable to do anything to us in that form." Cellera agreed, exasperation clear in her voice.
"Hmph. Fine, I'll let you go, but only because the life ahead of you will be enough punishment." Vegeta relented.
They watched as the frog-turned-Ginyu fled, its desperate hops carrying it away from its former subordinate's fate. Though she'd never admit it aloud, Cellera found a certain poetic justice in the proud captain's new reality.
Redirecting her attention to Kakarot, she began to survey the extent of his injuries. She quickly assessed their options: no senzu beans remained, the last having been given to her father earlier. That left only one possibility - the healing tanks in Frieza's ship. If they could get him there before Frieza returned...However, her assessment was cut short when she heard her father laugh.
"Well, it seems there's nothing stopping me from wiping you all out is there? It's like shooting fish in a barrel."
Cellera's eyes narrowed, her posture mirroring her father's arrogant stance as she stepped between him and the others. "It seems you forget that you owe me, Father." Her smirk held that same prideful edge she'd inherited from him. "For someone who lectures me about emotional decisions, you fell rather easily into Ginyu's obvious trap."
"Hmph. We're even after I saved you from Guldo," Vegeta countered.
"Oh?" Cellera's eyebrow raised, her tone carrying that familiar Saiyan smugness. "I seem to recall saving you once before on Earth. By my count, that makes the score two to one in my favor." Her father's own pride shone through as she added, "Unless your analytical skills have dulled since then?"
"Why you little-" Vegeta's fists clenched at having his own words turned against him.
"It's alright, he won't do anything," Goku interjected, his voice carrying surprising confidence despite his injuries. "You need us for the Dragon Balls and Frieza, don't you?"
Vegeta took a step back and looked at both Cellera and Kakarot before a smirk crossed his face. "Heh. How astute of the both of you." He gave one last glance at Cellera before turning around, his stiff posture betraying his annoyance at being outmaneuvered by his daughter. "Follow me, we need to treat Kakarot's injuries and get him back to full strength."
Cellera smirked, recognizing that particular stride - the same one her father used when she'd bested him in tactical exercises. She motioned for Krillin and Gohan to follow her.
As they all walked the halls of the ship, Cellera noted the amount of damage and dead bodies of the guards that littered the way. She cringed at her father's handiwork, knowing that not all the guards were under Frieza by choice. Some of these men had families they were protecting by serving, just as her father and mother served to protect her. As they arrived at the medical ward doors, her father punched in the security code, causing the metal doors to open.
Cellera looked at the healing tanks, confusion came across her features as she looked at her father who was busy at the computer near the tanks. "Why aren't we using the newer healing tank models?" She asked.
"Oh I kind of broke them." He replied nonchalantly.
"You what?!" She cried out, taking a step forward and her foot had kicked a syringe lying on the ground near Gohan and Krillin who were still holding Kakarot. All of a sudden Kakarot began to thrash violently in Gohan's and Krillin's grasp.
"A needle!" Goku cried in terror.
Cellera couldn't believe what she was seeing. Kakarot, the man that didn't seem to show any fear in the face of death battles, was scared of a needle? She watched as he began to break Gohan's and Krillin's hold, slowly making his way to the door as they clutched onto his gi in an attempt to stop him from leaving.
"No! I hate needles! Get me outta here! I'd rather be sick than get a needle!"
"Would you shut up already?!" Vegeta turned to look at the panicking Saiyan angrily. "I'm not even giving you a needle!"
"It's true, Kakarot! I promise!" Cellera said with her hands held out, attempting to calm him down. The sight of such a powerful warrior reduced to panic over something so small was almost comical.
"Oh...Nevermind then." He replied plainly, as if nothing had happened.
Krillin gave a small grunt of displeasure at his friend's antics as Gohan looked away embarrassed. Cellera found herself fighting back a smile - she'd never seen anyone react to medical treatment the way Kakarot did. A small huff of amusement escaped through her nose before she could stop it. Upon catching Gohan's mortified glance in her direction, she quickly cleared her throat, though her lips still twitched with suppressed laughter.
Suddenly, the tank her father had been working on getting ready beeped, signaling that it was operational for use. "Alright, it's ready to go. Let's get Kakarot in there, quickly!" She said as she hit the button to open the hatch of the tank, the familiar hiss of hydraulics filling the medical bay.
Once they had gotten Goku into the healing tank and attached the breathing apparatus over his nose and mouth, the hatch closed with a pressurized seal. Vegeta hit a few buttons on the computer next to it, the ancient display flickering to life with vital sign readings. Gohan and Krillin watched in fascination as the blue-green healing fluid began to fill the tank, bubbles rising around their friend as the liquid level rose.
"This is an older model but it should get the job done," She stated as they all stared at Kakarot through the glass. Despite his injuries, he seemed to relax as the healing properties of the liquid began to take effect, his expression peaceful as he floated suspended in the tank.
"He's not gonna drown, is he?" Krillin turned to ask her, anxiety evident in his voice as he watched the fluid reach Goku's chest.
"No," Cellera shook her head, instinctively falling into the teaching tone she'd developed while explaining concepts to them. "So long as that breathing apparatus is attached he'll be fine. And as far as I'm aware, no one has ever drowned in these before."
"Now then," Her father said as he turned away from the computer. "We should get you two some battle wear. It'll at least provide you with a little bit of protection." He then looked at Cellera, whose battle armor bore the marks of their recent battles, cracks spider-webbing across the surface. "You need to get a new one as well."
The three warriors followed Vegeta out of the medical ward and into the hall where the armory was located. Cellera left Gohan and Krillin with her father as she made her way to the other side of the armory that had the armor dedicated for more feminine builds. Her fingers trailed over the different designs until she stopped, something about one particular set catching her eye.
The battle top resembled the one her father was already wearing, but with a more feminine design, and with it was a matching white battle skirt with the typical golden accents. Cellera couldn't quite put her finger on it, but something about it felt nostalgic, almost comforting - like a half-remembered dream from childhood.
When she took a look at herself with the new battle armor on, she felt a confident smile spread across her face. The black compression suit under the armor felt right in a way the royal blue never had, as if this too was part of her evolution since Earth.
She finished putting on her new pair of gloves and shoes and started to make her way back to where her father and the others were located. As Cellera turned the corner, she saw Gohan and Krillin fully decked out in their own Saiyan battle armor as well. She had to admit, seeing Krillin in the design he wore reminded her of Nappa, just a shorter and less muscled bound version.
She then looked at Gohan, and something in her chest tightened. In the armor that resembled her father's old style, he looked every inch a Saiyan warrior - if you ignored the peculiar haircut. For a moment, she could almost imagine what things might have been like if their race hadn't been destroyed, if young warriors like them had grown up together on Planet Vegeta.
"I assume you must've told them about the properties of the material," Her father said as she joined them. "They didn't ask many irritating questions like I thought they would."
Cellera gave her father a nod in confirmation. As Krillin and Gohan spoke amongst themselves, she couldn't help but notice her father's lingering gaze on her, or more specifically her armour. "Is something wrong with this armour, father?" She asked.
"No," He stated before looking away from her and back to Krillin and Gohan, who were still chatting amongst themselves. His voice carried an unfamiliar softness that made her pause. "It's the same one your mother always wore."
The revelation struck something deep within her - that instinctive pull she'd felt toward this particular design suddenly made sense. No wonder it had felt like a half-remembered dream. Her fingers traced the edge of the armor unconsciously, wondering how many times her mother had done the same. It seemed even without memories to guide her, some part of her had recognized her mother's choice.
Her father's quick glance back at her held volumes of unspoken meaning before his usual stern expression returned. For once, Cellera didn't mind the silence that followed.
The silence was broken by Krillin clearing his throat. "So, uh, how long until Goku recovers?"
"Given his height and weight," Cellera said, her thumb pressing to her lip as she calculated, "I'd estimate about two hours in the older model."
"Right." Krillin's expression turned serious. "Look, I'm going to head to Guru's to get the password for summoning Shenron. Frieza might already be there, but we need that password or the Dragon Balls are useless."
"I'll go with you!" Gohan stepped forward, but Krillin shook his head.
"No, you should stay here with Cellera and Vegeta. If Frieza shows up while I'm gone..." Krillin glanced at the two Saiyans. "Well, you'll have better protection here."
"But Krillin-"
"He's right," Cellera interjected. "We need to be ready when Kakarot recovers. And if Frieza returns..." She left the implications unspoken.
"Then it's settled," Vegeta said, crossing his arms. "The boy stays here."
Krillin nodded, though his eyes lingered on Gohan with concern. "I'll be back as fast as I can." He turned toward the exit, then paused. "Just... keep him safe, okay?"
"You have my word," Cellera said, recognizing the weight of trust being placed in her. "Now hurry."
They watched as Krillin took off through the ship's corridors. Gohan's shoulders slumped slightly, clearly unhappy about being left behind.
"I'm going to step outside for a bit," Gohan said quietly, heading toward the exit.
Cellera watched him leave before turning to her father. Even his rigid posture couldn't hide the exhaustion from their earlier battles. "You should rest," She said. "The universe won't fall apart if you take a break for five minutes." The words felt strange in her mouth - Bulma's influence showing through.
"I don't need-" Vegeta began.
"If you're not at full strength when Frieza returns, you'll be useless in battle," She cut him off, using his own logic against him.
Her father's jaw clenched, but she knew she'd won when he turned away with a scoff. "I'm going to check on the Dragon Balls first."
As she watched him leave, Cellera allowed herself a small smile. Two victories over her father in one day - she was getting better at this.
After Cellera finished making sure Kakarot's vitals remained steady, she followed her father outside, only for them both to find Gohan throwing punches and kicks at an imaginary opponent, his new Saiyan armor gleaming in Namek's triple suns.
"Take this!" Gohan exclaimed, launching into another series of strikes. "Get ready to meet the universe's most powerful Saiyan good guy!"
Cellera pressed her fist to her mouth, trying to hide her smile at his enthusiasm. There was something both amusing and endearing about watching him test out his armor with such pure joy - so different from how she'd first learned to wear her own. Seeing him now, she could hardly believe this was the same boy who'd never fought a day in his life until he met them. Something about the armor seemed to bring out a different side of him.
Her father merely rolled his eyes at both of them, though she caught the slight twitch of his lips that suggested he found their antics more tiresome than truly offensive.
"What do you think you're doing?" Vegeta's voice cut through Gohan's practice.
Gohan spun around, his face flushing red when he saw them both standing there - especially when he noticed Cellera deliberately avoiding his eyes, her fist still pressed to her mouth to suppress her amusement.
"What's taking your bald-headed buddy so long to get that password?" Vegeta demanded.
"His name is Krillin, father," Cellera corrected, finally composing herself.
"He'll show!" Gohan replied confidently, his back turned to them as he gazed across the Namekian lake.
As Vegeta turned to leave, Gohan shot a glare at his back - one that quickly dissolved into panic when Vegeta paused and looked over his shoulder. The Saiyan prince gave a low chuckle.
"Keep your eyes on those Dragon Balls," He commanded, looking between both Gohan and Cellera. "I'm going to take a nap."
"A nap?" Gohan asked incredulously.
"Well, with you wearing that new armor, I feel really safe," Vegeta mocked, his laughter echoing as he walked away.
Once Vegeta was out of earshot, Gohan's shoulders slumped. "Gosh, this is so embarrassing."
"Oh? Is the universe's most powerful Saiyan good guy having second thoughts?" Cellera teased, though her tone held none of the antagonism from their first meeting. "You've certainly grown since Earth. Back then you could barely maintain eye contact, and now here you are, throwing punches in Saiyan armor."
"Well, a lot's happened since then," Gohan replied, his earlier embarrassment fading as he met her gaze. "Fighting you taught me something important - about having things worth protecting." He touched the armor thoughtfully. "I guess now I understand what you meant that day about being lucky to have something to fight for."
Cellera's usual stoic expression softened slightly. "I remember. You saw right through my act, even then. 'You're not evil or cruel,'" She quoted his words back to him, "'No matter how much you want others to believe it.'" Her lips quirked. "Though I'm still amazed - a future scholar who fights like a true Saiyan warrior."
"Mom still wants me to focus on my studies," Gohan admitted with a small laugh. "But maybe I can be both?"
Cellera found herself smiling at his enthusiasm. She moved toward the large Dragon Balls, settling onto one as a seat. "Who's to say you can't be both a scholar and a protector?" She asked, surprising herself with how natural this casual conversation felt.
"My mom." Gohan's deadpan response caught them both off guard, and their shared laughter echoed across the Namekian landscape. He couldn't help but notice how different Cellera seemed in these moments - her usual stoic mask giving way to something more genuine, her laughter holding none of the careful control she usually maintained.
"So your mother doesn't want you to fight like Kakarot?" Cellera asked once their laughter subsided, her head tilting in curiosity. A few stray hairs fell across her face, and she found herself less concerned about maintaining the perfect composure her heritage demanded. "I thought Bulma mentioned that she and Kakarot got married at a martial art tournament?"
"Yeah, they did," Gohan nodded in confirmation. "Mom's probably even the strongest woman on Earth - she used to be a fighter herself." A fond smile crossed his face. "But she always says there's more to life than just fighting. That's why she pushes me so hard with my studies - she doesn't want me following Dad into one dangerous battle after another."
"The strongest woman on Earth is a warrior who chose her own path," Cellera mused, her thumb pressing against her lip thoughtfully. Cellera found it ironic that Gohan''s mother had chosen a path away from fighting, hoping to protect her son from the dangers of it, yet here he was, willingly putting himself in danger to protect those he cared about.
"Yeah, though Dad and I still run when she gets angry," Gohan laughed. "You should see how fast he moves when she brings out her frying pan!"
"You know," Cellera said with a small smile, "I think our mothers would have gotten along well. Both understood there was more to being strong than just fighting." She shook her head with fond exasperation. "Though I imagine they both had their hands full dealing with stubborn Saiyan men who didn't always understand their methods."
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, watching the three suns cast their light across Namek's surface. The peaceful moment felt strange after all the battles, yet somehow right.
"Hey, Cellera?" Gohan broke the silence. "Earlier, when we were heading to Guru's, you mentioned someone named Beerus." He glanced at her curiously. "Who's that?"
"Beerus?" Cellera's expression shifted to something almost amused. "Someone I hope we never meet. You think Frieza is terrifying? Even he bows before Lord Beerus - the God of Destruction."
"God of... Destruction?" Gohan's eyes widened.
"Father told me stories about his visits to Planet Vegeta. He had King Vegeta - my grandfather - on his knees just for serving him the wrong type of food." She shook her head, a wry smile touching her lips. "Father made me memorize the proper way to address him, just in case. 'If we ever encounter Lord Beerus,'" She mimicked Vegeta's stern tone, "'you will do exactly as he says without question. No arguments, no pride, complete servitude.'"
"Wow, your dad actually said to put aside pride?" Gohan asked, surprised.
"The only time I've ever heard him suggest it," Cellera confirmed. "Apparently Beerus once destroyed half a planet because their desserts weren't sweet enough."
Gohan gulped. "He... he really destroyed a planet over something like that?"
"I wouldn't worry much about it," Cellera waved her hand dismissively. "Last I heard, he's still in a long period of rest. We have more immediate concerns."
Gohan's gaze drifted toward the horizon. "Yeah... I hope Krillin's okay out there."
"He'll be alright," Cellera said confidently, noting the familiarity of the conversation. "Krillin worried for you like this when you went to get the Dragon Ball from that village." She turned to Gohan with a rare, soft smile. "And I have full faith he'll return in one piece, just as I did with you."
"You know, you smile a lot more now," Gohan observed innocently. "Like a real smile, not the kind you have when planning attacks."
Cellera's cheeks flushed slightly, her usual composed demeanor slipping as she quickly looked away. "I don't know what you're talking about," She muttered, though her lips still curved upward despite her attempt to maintain her warrior's dignity. "I'm simply... acknowledging the advantages of our alliance."
"Sure," Gohan grinned, enjoying this rare moment of seeing the usually calm Saiyan princess flustered. "Just like how you weren't having fun and laughing with me and Krillin earlier."
Cellera was quiet for a moment, her thumb pressing against her lip in her characteristic thinking pose. Finally, she let out a small sigh, a playful smile tugging at her lips despite her best efforts to suppress it. "I suppose... being around you Earth fighters hasn't been entirely unpleasant," She admitted reluctantly, though they both knew what she really meant.
"Hey, while we wait for Krillin, want to try some image training?" Gohan asked, brightening at his idea. "It's something Krillin taught me before we came to Namek. We could practice some of those combo moves we were working on earlier."
"Image training?" Cellera's head tilted slightly in question. "I don't believe I ever heard of this particular training method."
"It's something Krillin taught me before we came to Namek!" Gohan began to explain excitedly. "It lets you train in your mind and with others! It really comes in handy when you're somewhere you can't really train at, like our spaceship!"
Cellera found herself fighting back another smile as she watched Gohan's enthusiasm. Just moments ago he'd been teasing her about her own changed demeanor, yet here he was, practically bouncing with excitement about teaching her something new. It was hard to believe this was the same boy who'd once cowered before her on Earth.
"First, we have to match our energy levels," Gohan explained, settling into a more comfortable position. "And then we both need to focus on creating a clear mental image of each other - that's probably the most important part."
"Why's that?" Cellera asked, her thumb unconsciously moving to her lip as she processed this new information.
"Well..." Gohan scratched the back of his head with a sheepish grin. "The first time I tried it with Krillin, I accidentally pictured Nappa instead. Their bald heads kind of look alike, you know?"
Cellera's startled laugh echoed across the Namekian landscape. "You didn't," she managed between chuckles, trying to imagine Krillin's reaction to being compared to the brutish Saiyan.
"I did! Krillin was so mad - he said just because they're both bald doesn't mean they look anything alike!" Gohan's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Though now that he's wearing that armor..."
"Don't let him hear you say that," Cellera said, her usual composed demeanor cracking as she pictured Krillin reaction to their comparison. "I would hope that you beat Nappa in this 'image training'," She continued with a smirk. "Though given how you've grown since Earth, I imagine you had no trouble with him."
"Yeah, it was super easy," Gohan grinned. "I'm much stronger now - if I ever saw Nappa again, I could probably take him on by myself."
"Well, if you're going to call yourself the universe's most powerful Saiyan good guy, you better be," Cellera teased, making Gohan flush red again at the reminder of his earlier enthusiasm. "Now, show me how this training of yours works, scholar."
From his position near the ship's entrance, Vegeta watched his daughter and Kakarot's son. Their laughter carried across the Namekian landscape - a sound he hadn't heard from Cellera since before Rhuba's death. The way she unconsciously mirrored her mother's stance as Gohan explained this "image training" technique...
He turned away, his usual scowl not quite masking the conflict in his expression. The girl who'd once hung on his every lesson now sat learning Earth techniques, wearing her mother's armor style, showing the same gentle strength that had drawn him to Rhuba despite himself.
"Hmph," he muttered, heading inside for his promised rest. "Just like her mother..."
Whether he meant it as criticism or praise, even he wasn't quite sure anymore.