Expect Death
Vegeta was still sitting and monitoring the power levels of Zarbon and Dodoria. The prince felt a bit of unease.
'Frieza.' He felt he could give anything..anything to finally see him dead.
Yajirobe was meanwhile snoring loudly.
"Huh?" Vegeta was a bit surprised when his scouter could suddenly detect Frieza's power-level drop..before vanishing completely.
He stood up on his feet. Was this it?
His mouth was hung open. Cold sweat made its way down his temple and forehead. He focused his scouter on the fat man called Yajirobe. A reading of fourteen hundred popped up. Yes, his scouter was fine.
It seemed good. It seemed just too good. Too good to be true, in fact. He almost felt like he was having a dream.
He could now detect the powerlevels of Zarbon and Dodoria make their way back to him.
A faint smile appeared on his features which gradually made way for a full-blown grin.
"Yes! It's finally over!" The prince began to laugh loudly. "He's dead. He's finally dead!"
...
Krillin raised an eyebrow, watching Vegeta's rare display of emotion. "What's going on with him? Did he finally lose it?"
"Or maybe," Yamcha chimed in, his tone thoughtful, "his plan with those two guys actually worked. Maybe they took down that Frieza guy."
Krillin nodded slowly, piecing it together. "Could be." He glanced at Vegeta again, wondering if this meant the Saiyan might finally let his guard down—and give Yajirobe a moment to himself.
Gohan sat on a rock, waiting patiently for his friends to return. A strong power level had flared up shortly after they left, followed by a sharp spike in Vegeta's energy. It seemed clear to Gohan that they were locked in combat.
His suspicions had been right—Vegeta's power had grown since he first arrived on Earth. Gohan had sensed the other fighter's energy vanish soon after, confirming the outcome. Then, two even stronger power levels had briefly appeared before fading away again, leaving the young half-Saiyan bewildered. This planet was home to a surprising number of powerful warriors.
Amidst his confusion, Gohan's main concern was his friends. He hoped they were safe and would return soon with Yajirobe.
Suddenly, he felt a familiar energy approaching. Gohan stood up, eyes brightening as he spotted a figure at the top of the cliff. "Mr. Popo!" he exclaimed, a smile spreading across his face.
The rotund man floated down, carrying a large can of fuel oil. "Good job keeping an eye on the spaceship, Gohan."
"Actually, I didn't have to do much. This planet's... eerily quiet." Gohan thought back to the bustling life of Earth. It was strange—this fertile, habitable area had no signs of life at all.
Mr. Popo nodded. "It's been like this for centuries."
Gohan's eyes widened in surprise. "Centuries? How old are you, Mr. Popo?"
"Eighty-five," Mr. Popo replied with a chuckle. "Though I don't look it, do I? I've just read a lot of Kami's history books, that's all."
"Wow..." Gohan mouthed, impressed.
Mr. Popo's tone shifted. "By the way, Gohan, we're going to bring your dad here."
Gohan's eyes went wide with amazement. "What?!"
Vegeta stood with a smug smile, his senses now sharp enough to detect Zarbon and Dodoria approaching. Learning to sense power levels was a skill he'd picked up during his battles on Earth, and it was already proving useful.
Soon, the two henchmen landed in front of him.
Zarbon's face was serious, while Dodoria wore his usual nasty grin. Vegeta smirked to himself. *Dodoria always looks like that,* he thought.
"Vegeta," Zarbon began, narrowing his eyes. "We've held up our end of the deal. Now it's time for you to hold up yours."
With a sly grin, Vegeta pulled out his chequebook. He produced two pre-written cheques and held them out. "Here. Come and take them."
Zarbon glanced at Dodoria, who nodded and swaggered forward, his grin widening. "Ah, nothing like fat stacks of cash!" he chuckled.
But just as Dodoria reached for the cheques, Vegeta's hand ignited with ki. In an instant, the cheques turned to ash.
Dodoria's eyes widened in shock. "WHAT?!"
Zarbon's face tightened with surprise. "Vegeta!"
The Saiyan prince laughed coldly. "Did you really think I'd waste any more of my wealth on garbage like you? I've already spent more than you're worth. Besides, I still have the Ginyu Force to deal with."
Dodoria clenched his teeth in rage, while Zarbon's scowl deepened. "Vegeta," Zarbon warned, "you better honor your word. If not, we'll make you pay with your life."
Vegeta's smirk only grew. "Funny. I wasn't planning on letting either of you leave here alive."
Before Zarbon or Dodoria could react, their scouters started going haywire, buzzing and blinking as they tried to measure Vegeta's rising power.
The prince let out a scream of effort and ecstasy as his aura exploded around him, wind whipping up in every direction. "Now that Frieza's dead, no one in the universe will be able to stand against me!" he shouted, his voice full of triumph.
The sheer force of Vegeta's energy made the ground tremble. Krillin and Yamcha, hiding nearby, struggled to stay on their feet as his power skyrocketed.
Meanwhile, Yajirobe, who had been lying low, was knocked off balance by the gusts of wind and went tumbling into a boulder behind which the others were hiding. He jolted awake with a yelp as he crashed into the rock.
Vegeta's eyes flicked toward Yajirobe, watching him closely even as his power surged. If the coward tried to make a run for it, Vegeta would make sure he didn't get far.
Krillin and Yamcha wanted to call out to Yajirobe, to let him know they were nearby, but they dared not speak. Vegeta's gaze was too sharp, too dangerous.
With a loud screech, Zarbon and Dodoria's scouters overheated and exploded.
Finally, Vegeta's aura settled, and he lowered his hands, having completed his dramatic display of power. His smirk remained, full of cruel satisfaction.
Dodoria's eyes widened in disbelief, fear creeping into his voice as he began to back away. "Twenty-four thousand?! No! You were never above sixteen thousand! How is this possible?!"
Vegeta snickered, a cruel smirk playing on his lips. "While you and Zarbon were sitting around, growing soft, I was fighting on the frontlines! Constantly battling, constantly pushing myself to the brink of death and back again. What did you expect?"
Zarbon's expression hardened, his brows furrowing. "Dodoria, calm down," he said evenly. "Together, we can still beat this monkey."
Vegeta threw his head back and laughed. "Hahaha! Someone's got high hopes."
Dodoria looked at Zarbon in shock. "Are you out of your mind? Twenty-four thousand! We can't compete with that!"
"Stop being a coward, Dodoria," Zarbon snapped before launching himself at Vegeta, kicking up a cloud of dust in his wake.
Vegeta's smirk deepened as Zarbon closed in. With a yell, Zarbon unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks. Vegeta easily dodged and blocked the blows before going on the offensive.
Zarbon barely avoided a punch, the force of it skimming over his shoulder, but he wasn't quick enough to evade the knee that slammed into his abdomen. Doubling over in pain, Zarbon managed a retaliatory punch to Vegeta's jaw, sending him flying back.
*DISHOO!*
A beam of energy struck where Vegeta had landed, and a thick cloud of smoke rose from the impact. Dodoria, hovering above, laughed loudly, satisfied with his surprise attack. He unleashed a barrage of ki blasts into the smoke, grinning wildly as the cloud grew larger.
But a sudden throat-clearing behind him made Dodoria freeze, eyes wide in disbelief.
Before he could react, a pair of strong hands clamped onto his arms, pulling them painfully behind his back. Vegeta's voice was low and mocking as he hovered behind Dodoria, restraining him with ease. "You never did fight like a man," he said, twisting Dodoria's arms even further.
Dodoria let out a pained shriek.
Vegeta's sharp eyes caught sight of Zarbon rushing toward him. Without hesitation, the prince spun and hurled Dodoria into his oncoming ally.
Meanwhile, Krillin, hiding nearby, picked up a small pebble and tossed it at Yajirobe, hitting him squarely on the head.
Yajirobe grabbed his head in shock, turning around angrily. His scowl quickly faded when he spotted Krillin peeking from behind the boulder. "Krillin?" he muttered.
Krillin motioned for Yajirobe to join him.
Yajirobe laughed to himself and started toward him, but before he could take a few steps, a blast exploded in front of him, knocking him off his feet.
"Didn't I warn you not to leave without permission?!" Vegeta's voice thundered as he hovered in the air, one hand still outstretched.
Yajirobe, trembling, gulped in fear.
By now, Zarbon and Dodoria had recovered, rising to Vegeta's level in the sky.
Zarbon turned to his partner. "Dodoria, let me handle this from here."
Dodoria blinked, surprised. "Huh?"
Vegeta stood with his arms crossed, a smug grin on his face. From what he had seen so far, he was confident this fight wouldn't last much longer.
Zarbon smiled wickedly. "Vegeta, what you've seen of me so far... was nothing but a facade."
Vegeta raised an eyebrow, curious.
Zarbon chuckled. "What you've witnessed was the beauty... but now, you're going to see the beast."
For a brief moment, Vegeta's expression grew serious, but he quickly burst into laughter. "Hahaha! What, are you going to make faces at me and hope I run away? I knew you weren't the brightest, Zarbon, but this is a new low! Bwahaha!"
Zarbon grinned darkly. "Oh, I hate using this form, but sometimes it's necessary."
Dodoria looked stunned. He had been by Zarbon's side for years and had no idea what he was talking about. Was Zarbon bluffing? He hoped not.
Zarbon glanced at Dodoria. "Go deal with that fat friend of Vegeta's."
Dodoria nodded, grinning widely. Zarbon's confidence had returned, and whatever was coming next, Dodoria was eager to get back to his favorite pastime—crushing the weak.
Dodoria shot downward toward Yajirobe like a meteor, his aura blazing around him.
"Not on my watch!" Vegeta snarled, launching himself toward the pink blob, aiming to intercept.
But in a split second, Zarbon's muscles swelled, fangs protruded, and his face twisted into a monstrous form. Before Vegeta could react, Zarbon's boot slammed into his cheek, sending him careening through the air.
Meanwhile, Dodoria opened his maw, preparing to fire a blast at Yajirobe.
Just before the attack launched, Krillin swooped in, grabbing Yajirobe and darting to the side. The blast hit the ground with a deafening explosion, obliterating the large boulder behind them into rubble.
Dodoria growled, turning toward the short bald man who had just saved his prey. Krillin grimaced, his body already battered with cuts and bruises from the blast's shockwave.
Dodoria's grin widened. 'More of Vegeta's friends, huh?' His aura flared as he prepared to charge.
But just as he moved, a sharp slap landed on the back of his head. Dodoria whirled around, seeing nothing. A second slap smacked his right cheek, turning his head to the left, followed by a hit to the chin, and then another to the left cheek.
Dodoria roared in frustration, his eyes darting for the source of the attack. His gaze finally locked onto a small, glowing ki ball darting around him. Snarling, he opened his mouth wide and swallowed it whole. But instead of vanishing, the ball exploded inside his mouth. Dodoria gagged and coughed, spitting in disgust.
Yamcha, standing far off, wiped the sweat from his brow, relieved his attack had worked. But his relief was short-lived. Dodoria spotted him, his eyes narrowing. Yamcha's heart raced as he blasted off at full speed, dodging the furious pink alien.
Krillin, meanwhile, desperately tried to rouse the unconscious Yajirobe, shaking him to no avail. With a deep breath, he stood up, raising his hands and charging his energy as Dodoria turned his focus back toward Yamcha.
Elsewhere, Vegeta had managed to regain his footing, but rage clouded his vision. Before he could act, Zarbon slammed into him again, this time driving a knee deep into his gut. Vegeta's breath left him in a sharp gasp. Zarbon grabbed his head and drove it into the ground, dragging the prince's face through the rocky soil. The force plowed a deep trench as Zarbon sprinted across the battlefield.
Then, with a swift leap, Zarbon launched himself into the air and fired a thick beam of energy straight down. Vegeta, bloodied but quick-thinking, blasted a ki wave beneath him, propelling himself diagonally upward, narrowly dodging the attack. But just as he escaped, Zarbon appeared behind him, driving an elbow into his lower back. Vegeta's scream caught in his throat as another knee crashed into his stomach.
Zarbon grinned savagely as he pummeled Vegeta like a rag doll, delivering crushing blows with each strike. "I used this form to destroy your father, Vegeta! History really does repeat itself, doesn't it?"
"Akgh!" Vegeta managed to grunt, his forehead slamming against Zarbon's. But Zarbon wasn't done. He repeatedly bashed their foreheads together, causing Vegeta to bleed and scream in agony.
At the same time, Dodoria reignited his aura and shot after Yamcha. But before he could reach him, a bright yellow beam of energy overtook him, circling around and coming straight at him. Dodoria smirked at its slow speed, but his arrogance vanished when the beam split into multiple smaller streams, attacking from all directions—above, below, and every side.
Dodoria barely had time to throw up a defense as the beams bombarded him, enveloping him in a thick cloud of smoke.
"Now's our chance!" Krillin shouted. Without wasting a second, he grabbed Yajirobe and shot off toward Yamcha's direction.
...
Back in the air, Zarbon pulled back his fist and hammered it into Vegeta's jaw, following it up with a brutal haymaker that sent the prince crashing toward the ground.
*KADAAM!*
Vegeta slammed into the edge of the island with a thunderous crash, creating a massive crater. As the dust settled, seawater rushed in, filling the crater as the tides crept in, leaving Vegeta bloodied and broken at the bottom.
Zarbon hovered in the air, eyes fixed on the ocean below. Vegeta hadn't resurfaced, and the still waters convinced him further—Vegeta was dead. A smirk tugged at his lips as he shifted back into his normal form, confident that the threat had been eliminated.
Meanwhile, the smoke around Dodoria had dissipated, revealing the pink brute unharmed and grinning in anticipation. But when he glanced around for a shocked audience, he found no one. His grin vanished.
"They got away!" Dodoria growled.
"Dodoria!" Zarbon called from above. "After them!"
Dodoria grunted in response and shot off in pursuit.
...
Krillin and Yamcha sped through the air, flying side by side. Yajirobe, still unconscious, was slung over Yamcha's shoulder, as Krillin had taken the brunt of Dodoria's earlier assault. Their senses flared—someone was closing in fast.
"Oh, man!" Yamcha cursed. "We've gotta pick up the pace!"
Krillin looked back and saw Dodoria barreling toward them with a sadistic grin. "Why did I even look?" Krillin groaned to himself. "Just keep moving."
A beam of energy suddenly zipped toward them.
"Watch out!" Yamcha shouted.
Krillin barely dodged the first blast, but the second was aimed directly at Yamcha. He tried to evade, but the beam grazed his shoulder. "Argh!" Yamcha cried, losing his grip on Yajirobe, who plummeted toward the sea below.
Both fighters stopped in horror as they watched Yajirobe fall—only to be snatched out of the air by Zarbon.
"No!" Krillin shouted, realizing what had happened. Before Krillin and Yamcha could react, Dodoria closed the gap. His massive arms swung out like wings, smashing into both of their midsections. Blood spewed from their mouths as they crashed into a rocky outcrop.
Dodoria snickered, raising his hands above his head as he charged a powerful attack. His palms crackled with energy. "Time to end this!" he roared, firing a massive beam straight at the helpless pair.
Krillin screamed in terror, "NOOO!"
Yamcha braced himself, eyes clenched shut, waiting for the end.
But instead of a deadly impact, a powerful voice echoed through the air. "MASENKO... HA!"
DISHOO!
A yellow beam crashed into Dodoria's attack, detonating it mid-air. Smoke and debris exploded in every direction.
"What?!" Dodoria spun, startled.
BAM!
A powerful kick landed squarely on Dodoria's temple, sending him tumbling through the air. "What the—?!"
Hovering in the sky was a young boy, fists clenched, body trembling with anger. Gohan glared at the pink brute, his tail flicking behind him, as Dodoria slowly regained his balance, rubbing his head in disbelief.
Zarbon, watching from afar, raised an eyebrow in interest. 'A tail?'
Dodoria growled, eyes narrowing at the boy. Gohan wasted no time, raising his hands to his forehead. "Masenko... HA!" Another beam of energy surged toward Dodoria.
Dodoria smirked. With a roar, he punched the beam aside, deflecting it effortlessly. Gohan's eyes widened in horror. He had put everything into that attack.
Dodoria sneered, extending his hand toward Gohan. "Let me show you how it's done. HA!" A pink beam shot from his palm, heading straight for the boy.
Gohan's heart dropped, frozen in place. But just before the beam hit, a hand grabbed his leg, yanking him downward out of harm's way. He was pulled all the way to the ground.
"Thanks, Yamcha!" Gohan gasped, looking at his savior.
Yamcha forced a weak smile, blood dripping from the numerous wounds covering his body. "No problem, kid," he rasped. "But next time… don't be lazy with the dodging, alright?"
Gohan nodded, his heart still pounding.
Zarbon smirked, his eyes narrowing as he observed Gohan. "This boy… he's a Saiyan, isn't he?"
Dodoria squinted, studying the young warrior. "I think you're right, Zarbon. Lord Frieza would be pleased to meet him."
Zarbon let out a low chuckle, a sinister gleam in his eyes.
Dodoria began his descent toward Gohan and Yamcha, the former standing firm, trembling with anger, while Yamcha, panting and bruised, looked barely able to stand, let alone fight. Yamcha glanced at Gohan, confused. 'Why's he just standing there?' "Run, Gohan!" he shouted.
Gohan clenched his fists, teeth gritted. He couldn't run—not against these monsters. They were too fast. He had seen that much.
Dodoria approached slowly, his frown deepening with every step. But suddenly, his eyes widened as someone appeared right in front of him.
With a flash of energy, Krillin landed between Dodoria and the others, a cocky grin plastered across his face despite his injuries.
Yamcha blinked in disbelief. 'What's he doing?' he wondered. 'Could it be?'
Dodoria's confusion grew. 'How's this bald guy still alive?' Scowling, he pulled back his fist, ready to strike.
As Krillin raised his fingers to his face Yamcha swiftly covered Gohan's eyes and shut his own.
Krillin's smirk widened. "Take this, baby!" he shouted. "SOLAR FLARE!"
A blinding white light exploded from Krillin's hands, flooding the entire area.
Dodoria screamed in agony, clutching his face as the light seared into his eyes. "What the—?!" Zarbon growled, burying his face in his elbow, still holding Yajirobe under his arm.
Krillin spun toward Gohan and Yamcha. "Now's our chance! Go!"
Without hesitation, the three of them blasted off at full speed, vanishing into the distance.
...
A minute later, Zarbon's vision cleared, the pain finally subsiding. He scanned the area, rage bubbling within him. 'Those punks… they got away.'
Dodoria, still wincing, struggled to open his eyes. Fury boiled in his veins. With a roar, he unleashed a mouth-beam, firing it aimlessly into the distance before it disappeared over the horizon.
"It's no use, Dodoria," Zarbon said coldly. "Let's head back to the ship. We'll track them down with the scouters."
Dodoria growled but knew Zarbon was right. There was no point chasing them blind.
Zarbon glanced down at Yajirobe, still unconscious under his arm. "We'll make this fatty talk once we get him healed on the ship. We need to find out how Vegeta got his hands on Syanide."
Dodoria nodded, his face still twisted with frustration.
With that, the two blasted off, heading back toward their spaceship, leaving the battlefield behind.
Goku and Tien approached the edge of Kami's Lookout, ready to take off when the sound of whirring blades caught their attention. A helicopter descended, the unexpected visitor making both fighters pause. They exchanged puzzled glances, their eyes narrowing as they sensed a familiar energy.
Goku grinned. "Master Roshi!"
The helicopter touched down, and soon the old turtle hermit stepped out. But something was wrong. His usual carefree demeanor was gone, replaced by an expression of deep worry. "Goku… Tien… are you two headed somewhere?"
Goku nodded, still smiling. "Yeah, we're off to Namek."
Master Roshi's face turned pale as if all the blood had drained from it. "DON'T GO!"
Goku's grin vanished, his mouth falling open in shock. Even Kami and Korin, who had been watching from a distance, now looked concerned.
Tien frowned, his brow furrowing. "What's wrong, Master Roshi?"
The old man's body trembled. "I had… a dream last night. A terrible dream…"
Tien clenched his fists. He'd had his own nightmares in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, but they seemed insignificant compared to the fear in Roshi's voice now.
Roshi swallowed hard, his voice barely above a whisper. "In my dream, I saw Namek. There was a monstrous, horned creature… and it was… tearing you both apart. Limb by limb…"
Goku's eyes widened, his heart racing. "What?!"
Korin scoffed, trying to dismiss the tension in the air. "Come on, Roshi. You're freaking everyone out over a dream."
But Roshi didn't budge, his face set in stone. "I'm serious, Korin. I've had dreams come true before. This wasn't just a nightmare. Please, Goku… Tien… I'm begging you. Don't go."
Tien's whole body shook, haunted by his own visions. His mind raced, torn between fear and duty. But before he could speak, Kami's voice cut through the tense silence.
"Running from destiny is futile."
All eyes turned to the old Namekian, standing tall and calm, his wisdom radiating through the stillness.
"If death is meant for you at a certain time and place," Kami continued, "no amount of running will change it. It is wise to be cautious, but you cannot abandon what is right out of fear. Go to Namek. Put your faith in what you believe, and in the higher power that guides us all."
Goku, his face still troubled but now resolute, nodded slowly. "You're right, Kami. I can't turn back now."
Tien looked down, his fists tightening as determination filled his voice. "Yeah. We have to do this."
Master Roshi's hand twitched as if he wanted to protest, but he knew Kami's words rang true. There was no arguing with fate.
Kami stepped forward, his voice softening. "Let me tell you a story, if you'll allow me."
The group fell silent. Goku nodded, urging him on.
"There was once a man from the town of Bokara," Kami began, his voice steady, ancient. "One day, while wandering the streets, this man saw a figure that filled him with terror—the Angel of Death. Surprised and panicked, the man fled to his home, certain his end was near. That very day, he left his town and boarded the fastest caravan to a distant city called Somaro, hoping to outrun his fate."
Kami paused, letting the weight of his words settle in.
"Five days later, he arrived in Somaro, relieved that he had escaped death. But there, waiting at his doorstep, was the very same Angel. Without a word, the Angel of Death claimed the man's soul, and he died on the spot."
The story hung in the air, its eerie conclusion sending a shiver through everyone.
"You see," Kami continued, "the Angel was surprised when he first saw the man in Bokara. Why? Because the Angel had been sent to collect his soul in Somaro. The man's very attempt to escape his fate led him right into its arms."
Goku's eyes were wide, the gravity of the tale sinking in. "Whoa…"
Kami's voice softened, carrying a gentle wisdom. "The lesson is clear. There is no escaping destiny. Instead, spend your life doing what's right, so when the time comes, you can leave this world in peace, knowing you've done your best."
Master Roshi ran a hand through his beard, his voice quieter now. "That's… deep."
Goku, his resolve hardening, turned to face the horizon. "Yeah, Master Roshi. It is."
Tien, filled with renewed fire, slammed his fist into his palm. "It's settled. We're going to Namek. The PTO won't know what hit 'em!"
Kami smiled approvingly. "That's the spirit."
Korin, still standing to the side, looked uneasy. He hadn't imagined things would escalate like this. What had started as a simple request to save Yajirobe was now leading them into a clash with the most powerful empire in the galaxy. He swallowed his doubts, unwilling to voice them. The die had been cast, and there was no turning back.
To be continued...
Author's note: Powerlevels:
Cui: 17,000
Dodoria: 21,000
Zarbon: 23,000
Vegeta (full power): 24,500
Zarbon (transformed): 35,000
Krillin: 5,800
Krillin (Scatter shot): 7,100
Yamcha: 5,600
Yamcha (Spirit Ball): 6,500
Gohan: 5,550
Gohan (enraged): 18,500
Gohan (Masenko): 20,500
Goku: ?
Tien: ?
Frieza: ?
Can Krillin, Yamcha, and Gohan hang on long enough for Goku to get there? Find out, next time, on DBZ:ONE!
