Gone
Piccolo, Krillin, and Gohan soared through the air, their arms extended forward. The trio could sense a humongous power level ahead, but what worried them even more was that Goku's power level felt almost non-existent.
They halted in mid-air as the back of a huge armored ape came into view, its massive form casting a shadow over the battlefield.
Gohan's eyes widened in bewilderment. "What is that?"
Piccolo's expression was tense, his usual calm demeanor strained. "It's the Saiyan. He has transformed."
'Transformed?' Gohan wondered, a surge of fear mingling with his confusion. He thought better than to ask more questions, knowing this was no time for explanations.
Krillin gritted his teeth, a cold sweat forming on his brow. He recalled the devastation Goku had caused in this form during his childhood. "I think we should work from the ground."
Piccolo nodded, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on him.
As they descended, the sound of Goku's screams of agony echoed through the area, piercing their hearts. The ground beneath them was scorched and littered with debris, the air thick with the smell of smoke and burning earth.
"What do you think you guys are doing?" a voice called out, breaking the tense silence.
Krillin growled in frustration, turning to face the newcomer. "Yajirobe! What are you doing here?"
"Don't go near that thing," Yajirobe warned, his usually carefree attitude replaced by genuine concern. "The Saiyan is unstoppable now that he's transformed. There's nothing you guys can do."
Gohan shot an angry look at Yajirobe, his young face contorted with defiance.
Piccolo placed a reassuring hand on Gohan's shoulder, his gaze stern and unwavering. "Don't listen to him, Gohan. I have a plan."
Gohan blinked in surprise. "Huh?"
Piccolo's eyes were intense, his voice firm. "Listen, Gohan. You need to distract the Saiyan somehow. He's interested in your power. He won't kill you immediately. In the meantime, Krillin and I will charge our attacks."
Gohan nodded, determination replacing his earlier confusion. "Right."
Piccolo turned to Krillin, his tone resolute. "Krillin, you need to charge that ki disc of yours again. Try to cut the Saiyan with it, or at least his tail. That will force him to revert to normal."
Krillin smirked, a flicker of confidence returning. "Got it. It's called the Destructo Disk, by the way. But what about you, Piccolo?"
Piccolo glanced towards the sky, his voice filled with resolve. "I'm going to try to destroy that ball of energy up there. That must be what triggered his transformation in the absence of the moon."
The three exchanged resolute nods, a silent promise to each other before sprinting off in different directions.
Yajirobe stood with his arms crossed, shaking his head in exasperation. "Yeah, yeah, just go get yourselves killed. But don't say I didn't warn ya."
As Gohan raced forward, his heart pounded with a mixture of fear and hope. 'I have to do this. For Dad. For everyone.' The young warrior steeled himself, ready to face the monstrous Saiyan head-on. The heat of the battle and the acrid scent of smoke filled his senses, sharpening his resolve as he approached the towering beast.
...
Vegeta chuckled out loud as he heard Goku's screams growing weaker and weaker. "You are no fun, Kakarot. I guess I might as well put you out of your misery." He placed one massive hand on top of Goku's head, preparing to snap his neck.
"STOP RIGHT THERE!"
Vegeta's eyes widened in surprise. He glanced down to see Kakarot's brat standing defiantly on top of a rock pillar.
"STOP RIGHT THERE, YOU BIG BULLY!" Gohan shouted again, his voice echoing through the desolate landscape.
Vegeta smirked. "Oh, I am sorry. Please don't hurt little me. Hahaha!"
Gohan gnashed his teeth together, eyes burning with determination. 'Come on. Hurry, you guys.'
Vegeta lowered his fist, still holding Goku. "Look, Kakarot. Your son has come to watch you die."
...
Piccolo stood with a couple of fingers raised to his forehead. From his vantage point, he had a clear view of the ball of energy while the giant Saiyan was hidden behind a rock formation.
He grunted with effort as his fingertips sparkled with energy, focusing all his power into his attack. "This has to work," he muttered, feeling the strain as he gathered more and more energy. The air around him crackled with power.
...
Krillin stood atop a rock pillar, the Saiyan's massive back facing him. He raised one hand into the air, feeling the familiar surge of ki. The spinning disc of energy began to form above his palm, glowing brighter with each passing second.
'This is it,' he thought, his heart pounding. 'Destructo Disk!' He watched the disc grow larger and more defined, pouring every ounce of his energy into the attack. 'Come on. Hit him.' The pressure mounted as he aimed carefully, knowing he had only one shot.
...
Gohan growled. "Put. My. Father. Down!"
Vegeta laughed heartily. "I will, boy, but not in one piece, I'm afraid."
...
Krillin's Destructo Disk was now a brilliant, whirling circle of energy above his palm. 'This is my chance,' he thought, his focus razor-sharp. With a yell, he hurled the disc towards the giant ape, his breath catching as it sped towards its target.
...
Suddenly, Vegeta leapt upwards into the air.
Krillin's jaw dropped as his attack missed its mark. Gohan barely dodged the Destructo Disk as it whizzed past him, narrowly avoiding disaster.
THOOM!
With a thunderous crash, Vegeta landed back on his feet. The giant ape turned his head, glaring menacingly. "Did you take me for a fool?"
Krillin trembled, his mind racing. What went wrong?
Gohan looked equally stunned. 'H-how did he know?'
Vegeta sneered. "I knew Kakarot's brat wouldn't come back alone. I saw through your plan the whole time."
Gohan trembled, desperation setting in. What should they do now?
...
Piccolo's attack finished charging, his muscles straining from the effort. He knew this was his last chance. "Let's see you deal with this, you big ape," he said, his voice tinged with exhaustion. With a final yell, he unleashed the spiraling beam towards the ball of energy in the sky.
Vegeta's eyes widened in alarm.
SMACK!
Piccolo groaned as he was struck by the giant ape's tail, sent hurtling into a rock formation which collapsed around him. The impact was brutal, knocking him unconscious as the rocks buried him.
But it was too late. Piccolo's attack had already hit the ki ball, destroying it in a massive explosion.
Vegeta's mouth dropped open, his grip on Goku loosening. The spiky-haired Saiyan fell to the ground like a lifeless log.
Gohan and Krillin looked on in a mixture of relief and amazement as Vegeta slowly regressed to his normal size.
Vegeta was panting heavily, his body visibly strained. One eye was shut from an earlier attack by Goku. He looked exhausted, his once imposing presence now diminished. 'I can't believe I let them destroy the ball of blutz waves. I should have known,' he thought. The giant ape form took a huge toll on a Saiyan's body. Most would drop unconscious after reverting to normal, but Vegeta, as an elite, had trained himself to withstand it. However, the artificial source of blutz waves had drained him significantly, and he doubted he had enough energy left to create another.
Krillin was drenched in sweat. 'Oh great. He's down to size. But so what? He's still stronger than all of us.'
Gohan immediately rushed to his father's side, his hands trembling. He shook the battered Saiyan. "Dad... say something..."
Goku's eyes fluttered open, and he managed a weak chuckle. "Don't worry, Gohan. I haven't hit the bucket yet. Though it feels like I've broken every bone in my body... hehe."
Gohan's grin widened as tears of relief welled up in his eyes. His dad was alive!
"ARGH!"
Blood sprayed from Goku's mouth as Vegeta landed a double kick to his gut.
The prince then delivered a brutal kick to Gohan's jaw, sending him tumbling.
Gohan struggled to get on his hands and knees, his vision blurring. 'No...'
Vegeta now stood beside Goku's prone body and began to kick him mercilessly. Each thud of Vegeta's boot against Goku's ribs resonated like a drumbeat of agony. "Sorry. To. Spoil. Father. Son. Moment."
Goku coughed blood, each kick from Vegeta further tearing through his battered body.
Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
Krillin had had enough. With a yell, he dashed towards Vegeta, his fists clenched with fury.
BAM!
Vegeta casually kicked the oncoming human away, sending Krillin crashing into the ground.
Krillin lay there, gasping for breath, blood trickling from his mouth. That was his bravest move... he wondered how Goku could be saved now.
Vegeta resumed his sadistic torture of Goku, kicking him with a cruel grin. The sound of Goku's ribs cracking echoed through the battlefield.
"Stop it," Gohan said, standing up, his voice shaking with rage. His plea was soft, almost a whisper.
Vegeta ignored him, continuing his relentless assault on Goku.
"I SAID STOP IT!"
Gohan's shout pierced the air, filled with raw emotion and desperation.
Vegeta blinked and looked at the boy, momentarily pausing his attack.
Gohan fell into his stance, his tail now regrown and lashing behind him. "I will fight you."
Vegeta pulled back his leg and kicked Kakarot's body to the side with a smirk. He turned to face Gohan. "Looks like somebody has got a second wind."
Gohan's aura blazed around him, the ground cracking beneath his feet from the sheer force of his power. "I AM GONNA KILL YOU!"
With a scream of rage, he shot towards Vegeta with incredible speed, the air rippling around him.
Vegeta barely had a second to react as Gohan's kick collided with his gut, sending spit flying from the prince's mouth. The impact was so intense that Vegeta's vision momentarily blackened.
Gohan followed up with a powerful punch to Vegeta's cheek, pushing him back. The force of the blow echoed like a thunderclap, and Vegeta staggered.
The half-Saiyan put his hands in front of his forehead. "MASENKO-HA!"
Vegeta's eyes widened as a thick yellow beam of energy approached him. He jumped upwards, barely dodging it. The beam seared the air where he had stood, leaving a trail of scorched earth.
Gohan wasn't about to give up. "One more!" he yelled, firing another Masenko attack. Vegeta dodged it again, but only just, the heat of the beam singing his armor.
Gohan narrowed his eyes, sensing Vegeta behind him. The boy tilted his neck just as Vegeta's punch whizzed past his shoulder, rustling his hair.
DISHOO!
Gohan was thrown forward as Vegeta's blast hit his back at point-blank range. The searing pain was immediate, a fiery agony that threatened to overwhelm him.
The boy winced, slowly getting up. His back bore a massive burn wound where Vegeta's blast had struck, the flesh raw and smoking.
He gnashed his teeth together, eyes blazing with defiance. "I am not done yet."
Vegeta looked on in a mixture of surprise and anger. 'How did the boy survive that?'
Gohan grunted, his body screaming in pain, but he charged Vegeta once more, his determination unyielding.
The Saiyan prince easily blocked Gohan's punch. He could tell the brat had weakened now, his movements sluggish .
Gohan's eyes bulged as Vegeta's knee slammed into his stomach, driving the air from his lungs. Blood sprayed from the boy's mouth, and Vegeta then slapped Gohan away, sending him tumbling across the ground.
Vegeta walked towards Gohan, who lay flat on his back, panting with exertion. The prince stood over the half-Saiyan and began to charge his hand with energy. The ground around him crackled with electricity, the air growing heavy with impending doom. This was the last of his ki. He didn't even know if he would have enough energy to finish off the rest of them after this. But no matter... the boy had to go first.
Vegeta raised his hand, preparing to strike. The energy in his palm glowed menacingly, casting eerie shadows over Gohan's bruised and bloodied face.
"HEII!"
Vegeta's mouth dropped open in horror as the fat figure of Yajirobe became visible over his shoulder.
"AKH!"
The Saiyan grunted in pain as Yajirobe's sword struck his back armor, slicing through it and leaving a deep wound. Vegeta dropped onto his face with a thunderous crash.
Yajirobe blinked, hardly believing his eyes. Had he finally done it? He clenched his fist in triumph, a manic grin spreading across his face.
Krillin, lying injured on the ground, blinked in disbelief. "Would you believe it..."
Yajirobe erupted into hysterical laughter. "HAHAHA! That's what you get for destroying Yajirobe's senzu beans! Hahaha! You never thought you'd have to pay the price for your Ragon hunting, did you? If only you had come to me and asked nicely, I could've given you loads! I can smell that stuff from a mile away, just like I can smell food! Oh yeah!"
Krillin sweatdropped at the absolute nonsense his friend was spewing. He could still sense Vegeta's energy. Yajirobe was in for an unpleasant surprise.
Yajirobe's laughter was abruptly cut off.
"What was that, tummy?" Yajirobe's voice trailed off as a furious Vegeta now stood before him, seething with rage.
The fat man closed his eyes in terror and started to wildly swing his sword, but all of his strikes missed by a margin.
BAM!
Vegeta's kick collided with Yajirobe's forehead, sending him sprawling and causing him to drop his sword.
Vegeta staggered forward, his vision swimming. He approached Yajirobe and began to lazily punch his stomach, each blow venting his frustration. The sounds of his fists landing were sickening, and Yajirobe's groans of pain echoed around them.
Krillin lay on the ground, watching in horror. His mind raced. 'I have to do something, but what? How can I stop him?' The sight of Yajirobe being pummeled stirred desperation within him. Slowly, painfully, he pushed himself to his feet. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest, but he couldn't stand by any longer.
Krillin's eyes locked onto Yajirobe's sword, lying a few feet away. He took a deep breath, steeling himself. This was their last chance. He forced himself forward, each step agonizingly slow,.. ... and picked up the sword.
Vegeta noticed Krillin from the corner of his eye. He grunted and pulled Yajirobe up, holding him as a shield. The prince placed an extended finger on Yajirobe's temple. "Get any closer, and I'll shoot tummy's brains out."
Krillin looked exasperated. What should he do?
Yajirobe looked terrified. "What are you doing, Krillin?! Drop my sword! Can't you see?! He's going to kill me!"
Krillin growled and reluctantly put the weapon down. His heart pounded in his chest, frustration boiling within him.
Vegeta smirked as he pulled a remote from his pocket and pressed a couple of buttons.
Krillin was trembling with frustration. He was so close! Krillin eyed the remote in Vegeta's hand. Just what was he up to now?
Vegeta's mind boiled with frustration. He hated being forced to resort to this.
Krillin's mind raced, weighing his options when suddenly, a distant whizzing sound reached his ears. His eyes darted skyward as two tiny points appeared, rapidly growing larger. The objects revealed themselves to be space pods, their engines roaring louder as they descended, filling him with a sense of dread.
With a hiss, the pods landed beside Vegeta. The Saiyan prince yanked open one and tossed Yajirobe inside without a second thought. The door sealed shut.
"This fat man might be useful," Vegeta mused, his expression cold.
Krillin was taken aback. He couldn't let this happen. He couldn't let Vegeta leave with Yajirobe, not after everything they had been through. His kidnapping would spell even more trouble. What would Vegeta do to him? Would he torture him for information? Use him as bait?
Yajirobe pounded his fists against the glass, tears streaming down his face. Vegeta chuckled. Thank God his and Nappa's space pods weren't cheap models like Raditz's.
Krillin picked up the sword once again. With a desperate yell, he hurled it towards Vegeta.
CLANG!
But Vegeta was already inside his pod. The sword clattered harmlessly against the white metallic cover.
Vegeta eyed the planet one last time. He could see the devastation left in his wake, the bodies of the warriors who had fought so bravely. He sneered, feeling a mix of exhaustion and anger. They had pushed him to his limits, but in the end, they had failed.
Krillin watched helplessly as Vegeta's pod door closed. He felt a surge of hopelessness and anger. They were so close to defeating him. The thought of Vegeta returning stronger, with more allies, sent a chill down his spine.
Vegeta's eyes scanned the battlefield one last time, his mind swirling with thoughts of revenge. He would come back. He would make them pay for this humiliation.
Both pods blasted off with a deafening roar, disappearing into the sky.
A breeze stirred the air, rustling Krillin's tattered clothes. In the end, he was the last man standing. The battlefield lay in ruins, a testament to the fierce struggle that had taken place. He stared at the sky, feeling a mix of relief and despair. They had survived, but at what cost? And now, Yajirobe was gone too.
----------------------------------------
Vegeta closed his eyes, struggling to reconcile with the depth of his humiliation. The defeat he had suffered on Earth was more profound than he had ever anticipated. It wasn't just the physical pain—it was the crushing blow to his pride and the mockery of his plan.
As he navigated through space, his mind churned with possibilities. He was en route to Frieza Planet 327, where he could use the healing chambers to recover. But the thought of Frieza's reaction to his unauthorized excursion gnawed at him. He had disobeyed Frieza's orders to exterminate the inhabitants of Planet Rabbage, a decision that would not be well-received.
A spark of inspiration struck him. He recalled the planet he and Nappa had briefly visited on their way to Earth. It was a resource-rich world. If he could sell it, he might just secure a substantial sum—enough to hire mercenaries and stage the coup he had long dreamed of. He had been saving money for years, meticulously planning for this very moment. The idea brought a faint smile to his lips.
However, reality tempered his optimism. He knew the planet might not fetch a fortune on its own. If it had been that valuable, he would have acted sooner. Earth had been his beacon of hope, but now he had to make do with whatever he could salvage. The bleakness of his situation was undeniable. He was well aware that Frieza was unforgiving to those who defied him. Failure often meant a death sentence.
Yet, amidst his despair, Vegeta found a small solace. He had acquired a new punching bag in Yajirobe, a convenient distraction from his mounting frustrations. The absurdity of the fat man's so-called Ragon-smelling powers only added to his grim amusement.
...
Yajirobe stared out at the endless void of space from the small window of his pod. This was his first journey beyond Earth, and the sight of the dark expanse filled him with a mixture of awe and unease. He had no idea what awaited him, only a hope that the space food would be tolerable.
----------------------------------------
Krillin, meanwhile, retrieved his phone and dialed Master Roshi. His voice was strained with urgency. "Get here quick, Master Roshi. We need urgent treatment."
"I'm on my way, Krillin!" Master Roshi's voice crackled through the line.
To be continued...
----------------------------------------
Author's note:
The next parts of the story are going to diverge from the original DBZ significantly.
Here's the power-levels:
Raditz Strikes:
Goku: 450
Gohan: 5
Piccolo: 430
Raditz: 1,100
Tien: 250
Krillin: 206
Yamcha: 177
Chiaotzu: 150
Master Roshi: 139
Chichi: 100
Goku (Kamehameha): 880
Tien (Dodon ray): 350
Gohan (enraged): 1,300
Piccolo (Special beam cannon): 1,400
Khami: 185
Mr Popo: ?
Korin: 100
Nappa and Vegeta saga:
Gohan (suppressed): 925
Gohan (full power): 1,100
Piccolo (suppressed): 1,350
Piccolo (all-out): 2,800
Saibamen: ranging from 900 to 1,000
Saibaman (self-destruct): 4,000
Gohan (post 1st Senzu bean): 1,250
Tien (suppressed): 1,005
Tien (full power): 2,000
Krillin (suppressed): 982
Krillin (full power): 1,820
Yamcha (suppressed): 954
Yamcha (full power): 1,785
Chiaotzu (suppressed): 700
Chiaotzu (full power): 940
Nappa (before power-up): 3,500
Nappa (after power-up): 6,000
Gohan (enraged kick at Nappa): 7,500
Yamcha (Spirit ball): 2,500
Tien (Tri-beam): 8,500
Tien (post Tri-beam and Nappa's beating): 740
Chiaotzu (Dodon ray): 1,340
Tien (enraged at Chiaotzu's death): 2,050
Piccolo (blast at Nappa's back): 4,000
Nappa (worn out): 5,300
Nappa (one-handed blast at Tien and Yamcha): 4,050
Goku: 9,001
Krillin (Destructo disk): -
Gohan (post 2nd Senzu): 1,890
Vegeta (suppressed): 11,500
Goku (Kaioken): 12,500
Goku (Kaioken x2): 16,000
Vegeta (full power): 18000
Goku (Kaioken x3): 21,250
Vegeta (Galick gun): 22,500
Goku (Kaioken x3 Kamehameha): 22,000
Goku (Kaioken x4 Kamehameha): 24,400
Vegeta (Oozaru/Giant ape): 140,000
Piccolo (Special beam cannon at ki ball): 7,500
Vegeta (worn out and post Oozaru): 7,500
Gohan (enraged at Vegeta): 8,200
Yajirobe: 1,500
Vegeta (post Gohan and Yajirobe's blows and energy rapidly decreasing due to post-Oozaru exhaustion): 1,600 and decreasing
Krillin (injured): 1,400
And with this, everyone, the Saiyan saga wraps up. Review your favorite moment. What was it?
Finally with our heroes combined efforts the menacing threat of the Saiyans is overcome. However, it was not without losses. Chiaotzu, the determined small fighter, sacrificed his life to save Tien's, and Yajirobe, the comical rotund swordsman, has been kidnapped by Vegeta! Do our heroes have any chance to save him and what terrors await the unlikely duo of him and Vegeta, deep in outer space? Find out, on Dragon Ball Z: One!