Galactic Patrol HQ
"Gohan, I'm curious how did you break free from that illusion?" Merus asked.
"Ahem… honestly, nothing special. Probably because Porunga, the Namekian dragon, strengthened my soul. And besides, like I said, I'm not fully developed yet. All spirit, no… equipment." Gohan rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"The dragon…? Hm, so you've already traveled among the stars. Namek, was it? Let me see…"
Merus closed his eyes. His divine perception pierced through countless galaxies, arriving at Planet Namek.
"…What? Frieza?" Merus' brows shot up.
"What?? He's already there?" Gohan was just as shocked.
Wasn't there supposed to be another month?
"Heh. So that's it," Merus withdrew his sight.
Beerus' Planet
"Oh? Merus is probing with divine sight?" Whis blinked, intrigued. He lifted his staff and projected an image of Namek.
The display revealed Frieza's fleet already stationed in orbit. And below Son Goku, Krillin, Raditz, and Nappa were all present.
"Saiyans? Earthlings? On Namek? And Merus watching them closely? This is getting interesting…" Whis mused.
Back at Patrol HQ
"What's going on, Merus?" Gohan pressed.
"Frieza pushed his ships past their limits. Two high-class vessels were destroyed from the strain, but he reached Namek far sooner."
"Hah! Sounds exactly like him." Gohan chuckled.
"So you know him that well?"
"Just a little."
"Then what now?"
"Merus, I'll need to take leave. My dad's still on Namek. I can't sit still."
"Interesting… then take me along. I'd like to see for myself." Merus' eyes gleamed he'd grown restless too.
"Uh… fine!" Gohan grabbed him, and with an instant transmission, they vanished.
Beerus' Planet
"Oh? He went himself?" Whis smiled faintly.
Clink. Crash. Bang!
A small golden fishbowl tumbled into view.
"Whis! I've foreseen something incredible!" The Oracle Fish flapped wildly.
"Oh? Your prophecies are… usually wrong," Whis arched a brow.
"No, no this time it's different!" the fish insisted.
"Then tell me."
"I saw Lord Beerus… battling a terrifying warrior. And they were evenly matched!!"
"Is that so? Then perhaps it's time to wake Lord Beerus. He's slept long enough." Whis rose, walking toward the God of Destruction's temple.
Planet Namek
"You're not going to intervene?" Merus asked as he and Gohan observed unseen.
"No. This is Dad's stage. I won't intrude."
"But your father hasn't surpassed the Super Saiyan threshold. Against Frieza, he'll lose." Merus tilted his head toward Goku at the Grand Elder's village.
"…Maybe a miracle will happen," Gohan answered calmly.
At the Grand Elder's residence, the old Namekian's voice boomed:
"They've come! Nail, gather the people. Abandon the village no pointless sacrifices."
"Yes, Elder!"
Streams of Namekians flew toward the Elder's home.
Son Goku, Piccolo, Krillin, Raditz, and Nappa also assembled there.
In Orbit
"Lord Frieza, we've arrived at Namek."
"Excellent. At last! Dodoria, Zarbon go. Collect those magical spheres. Leave a few survivors, just in case there's some incantation needed to use them." Frieza swirled his wine glass.
"Yes, Lord Frieza." The two bowed, boarding smaller landing craft.
"You there order the fleet to land. And notify the Ginyu Force to come immediately."
"Y-Yes, Lord Frieza!" the soldier stammered.
"Immortality… it shall be mine." Frieza's eyes glittered with hunger.
At this stage, his only wish was eternal life. (Only later, in Dragon Ball Super, would it shrink down to something as petty as gaining five extra centimeters in height.)
The massive fleet began descending toward Namek.
Dodoria and Zarbon's ship touched down first.
Hiss... clank. The hatch opened. Dodoria immediately pressed his scouter.
"Beep… 3,000… 5,000…"
"Zarbon, looks like they've gathered together already. Saves us the trouble, eh? Heh-heh-heh…"
"Dodoria, don't get carried away. Remember our mission." Zarbon's tone was icy.
"Yeah, yeah… let's go!" Dodoria shot into the sky toward the Grand Elder's village, Zarbon following behind.
"They're here," Krillin muttered, eyes narrowing.
"Two pieces of trash," Piccolo sneered.
"Elder?" Moori, the deputy elder, looked uneasy.
"Moori be calm." The Grand Elder remained unshaken.
"He's right. Their battle power is only twenty-two, twenty-three thousand. Nail could handle them," Raditz said evenly.
Moori exhaled. The Namekians waited.
Ten minutes later.
"Ugh, so far to fly!" Dodoria grumbled, landing heavily.
"Frieza's patience won't last. Let's finish this quickly," Zarbon said curtly.
They descended, spotting the gathered Namekians.
"…Raditz? Nappa?! What are you two doing here?" Zarbon's eyes widened.
"Zarbon. Dodoria. If you value your lives don't move," Raditz said coldly.
"Pfah! Low-class monkeys daring to speak to me that way?" Dodoria spat.
Neither Raditz nor Nappa's power registered they had suppressed their ki completely. The scouters only displayed: 1,000… 3,000.
"Kakarot. Elder. Leave these two to me." Raditz' voice trembled with suppressed rage.
"Goku, what do you think?" the Elder asked.
"Big brother… do it." Goku's eyes hardened. The word "monkey" always cut deep, reminding him of his grandfather's death.
"I will. Kakarot."
Raditz floated upward, facing Dodoria and Zarbon.
"You two… you were there when Planet Vegeta was destroyed, weren't you?"
"Heh-heh-heh… that's right. Your father, Bardock, dared challenge me. I personally crushed him. And then Lord Frieza erased your world. I see the monkeys have learned the truth. Where's Vegeta? Didn't he call himself the Saiyan prince? Why isn't he here?" Dodoria laughed cruelly.
That laugh snapped Raditz' restraint.
"Laugh at your mother in hell!! I've always hated that laugh....DIE!!"
Raditz exploded forward, his fist slamming into Dodoria with such force that the pink brute burst apart blood and chunks raining down.
"Dodoria! Damn you!" Zarbon recoiled in shock. "The scouter… it's not picking up his power?! Is it broken?!"
Raditz' aura flared, blasting Zarbon back.
"Look closely, Zarbon. With your scouter. Witness the rebirth of the Saiyans!"
The device screamed as Raditz unleashed his true strength.
Beep-beep 100,000… 200,000… 300,000BANG! The scouter exploded.
"N-No… impossible… that was the newest model!" Zarbon's face turned pale. He bolted upward, trying to flee.
"Running?!" Raditz shot past him, cutting off his escape.
"Out of my way!!" Zarbon roared, transforming. His body swelled with muscle, his face contorting into a monstrous visage, pustules swelling across his skin.
With no hesitation, he thrust out his hand. A massive red energy wave blasted toward Raditz.
"Pathetic. This is for my father. Die!!"
Raditz caught the wave one-handed. His palm glowed, swallowing Zarbon's attack before hurling it back. The beam consumed Zarbon, leaving nothing but ash.
"…Father. Did you see that?" Raditz whispered, gazing at the sky.
"L-Lord Frieza! Dodoria and Zarbon's power levels vanished. No life signs detected!"
"Oh? So Namek won't be so simple after all." Frieza swirled his wine glass, unconcerned.
The fleet touched down across the planet.
"The Ginyu Force isn't here yet?" Frieza asked.
"They're en route from Yardrat, sire. One more hour."
"Hmph. Troublesome. Am I to do everything myself?" Frieza's face darkened.
The soldier below trembled, cold sweat dripping down.
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