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; Dodoria 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.
Both of them dropped to the ground, their clothes soaked in blood.
Krillin groaned, one eye shut from pain. "Man, didn't think..it would end like this.. "
Nearby, Yamcha coughed, blood splattering from his mouth. His body burned with agony, being utterly wrecked by the vicious blow.
Dodoria snickered as he watched the helpless duo. He raised his hands above his head, charging a powerful attack. His palms crackled with energy. "Time to end this!" he roared, firing a massive beam straight at the downed 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-way. 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.
Dodoria slowly regained his balance, rubbing his head in disbelief.
Zarbon, watching from afar, raised an eyebrow in interest. 'A tail?'
Dodoria growled, eyes flashing dangerously at the boy. He would make the runt pay for this!
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.
"What?!" 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 kid.
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.
Yamcha, meanwhile, 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, he raised his eyebrows as someone appeared right in front of him.
With a flash of energy, Krillin had 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.
"ARGH!" 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 the Syanide."
Dodoria nodded, his face still twisted with frustration.
With that, the two blasted off, heading back toward their spaceship.
................
Goku and Tien approached the edge of Khami'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 brows furrowing as they sensed a familiar energy.
Goku grinned as he recognized. "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!" he shouted, almost angrily.
Goku's grin vanished, his mouth falling open in shock. Even Khami 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.
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, Khami'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," Khami 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, Khami. 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 Khami's words rang true. There was no arguing with fate.
Khami 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," Khami 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."
Khami 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," Khami 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…"
Khami'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!"
Khami 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.
...........
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
Tien: ?
Goku: ?
Frieza: ?
To be continued...