Gohan, Krillin, Yamcha, and Mr. Popo stood motionless, the air around them thick with tension. They could feel the oppressive energy of Vegeta looming in the distance, like a storm on the horizon.
Krillin's eyes darted toward their spaceship, half-hidden by the alien terrain. "We need to hide the ship," he whispered, his voice barely more than a breath.
The others nodded in silent agreement, their eyes following his gaze to a towering cliff some distance away. Its surface was jagged and riddled with deep crevices, forming a natural labyrinth of stone. It was the perfect place to conceal the ship.
Moving with deliberate care, the four of them each grabbed a section of the spaceship. The metal groaned softly under the strain as they lifted it together, the weight of their mission pressing down just as heavily. Step by cautious step, they carried the ship toward the cliff, their senses on high alert for any sign of danger. The wind whispered through the rocks.
Reaching the largest crevice, they carefully lowered the ship into the shadowy depths. It fit snugly within the rocky maw.
Yamcha wiped the sweat from his brow and glanced at Krillin. "What's the plan?"
Krillin's face hardened with resolve. "We get Yajirobe," he said, his voice steady despite the uncertainty that gnawed at him.
Gohan nodded, though anxiety coiled in his stomach. The memory of his last encounter with Vegeta was still raw, like a fresh wound that hadn't yet healed. Despite all the training and growth he'd undergone, the Saiyan prince's overwhelming power still haunted him. He could sense it now—Vegeta had grown stronger, too.
A hand on his shoulder broke through his thoughts. Gohan looked up to see Yamcha's reassuring face.
"Gohan, you and Mr. Popo stay here and guard the ship," Yamcha said, his tone gentle but firm.
Gohan's eyes widened in surprise, but Yamcha continued before he could protest. "We're not going there to fight. Krillin and I will just wait for the right moment to grab Yajirobe and get out. It's too risky for all of us to go."
Krillin nodded in agreement, his expression serious. "If anything goes wrong, you'll be close enough to sense it."
Gohan swallowed his nerves and nodded. He knew this was the best plan, even if it left him feeling helpless. His ability to completely suppress his power level wasn't reliable yet, and the last thing they needed was to draw Vegeta's attention.
Krillin and Yamcha gave him a final thumbs-up, their smiles small but encouraging. "God willing, we'll be back soon," Yamcha said, before the two of them disappeared into the alien landscape, moving swiftly and silently toward Vegeta's location.
As they vanished from sight, Mr. Popo remained still, his expression unreadable. Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he let out a sharp gasp.
"What is it, Mr. Popo?" Gohan asked, his voice tinged with concern.
Mr. Popo turned to him, his face serious. "I nearly forgot—Khami left a message for Guru. I need to deliver it and secure the fuel for our ship."
Gohan's eyes widened in realization. "You'd better hurry, then. We'll need to be ready to leave as soon as Krillin and Yamcha return."
Mr. Popo nodded, and without another word, he sprang into the air, landing gracefully on top of the cliff. He then sprinted toward the edge, his turban fluttering in the wind, before leaping into the sky. Igniting his aura, he sped off in the direction of Guru's place, a trail of energy marking his path.
Now alone with the spaceship, Gohan took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the horizon. He could only hope that their mission would succeed and that they could escape this hostile planet with Yajirobe in tow. The oppressive stillness of the landscape seemed to close in around him, making every second feel like an eternity.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vegeta and Yajirobe stood on the strange, blue grass of Planet Namek, the alien landscape stretching out before them under a pale green sky. The air was thick with tension, a silent reminder of the dangers lurking nearby. Yajirobe's eyes wandered, trying to take in the unfamiliar surroundings. Suddenly, something caught his eye: a glint of light just over a nearby rock.
"Huh?" Yajirobe muttered, squinting at the shining object.
Vegeta's gaze followed Yajirobe's line of sight. His voice was low, tinged with suspicion. "What is it?"
Yajirobe blinked and shook his head. "Just an illusion. All this time without proper food must be messing with my head."
Vegeta scoffed, his expression hardening. "You'll have to get used to it. I'm the prince of all Saiyans, and even I'm stuck with nutrient powders. What do you expect for yourself?" His tone was dismissive, but there was an edge to it, a bitterness that came from years of enduring the bare minimum to survive. For the last twenty years, Vegeta had subsisted on the cheapest, most basic sustenance, saving his resources for more important matters.
But Yajirobe couldn't shake the feeling that he'd seen something real. His eyes kept darting back to the rock, half-expecting to see that glint again. Could it have been…Krillin? No, that was impossible. How could Krillin be here, of all places? Yet, the more he tried to convince himself it was just a hallucination, the more doubt crept in.
Behind the rock, Krillin and Yamcha crouched low, their bodies tense with fear. Both had their hands clamped tightly over their mouths, trying to stifle their breathing. Sweat beaded on Krillin's forehead, his heart pounding in his chest. 'For God's sake, stop looking over here, Yajirobe!' he pleaded silently, each second feeling like an eternity.
Vegeta's expression grew serious, his mind racing through the possibilities. It was time to make his move. But who should he target first? His scouter had already confirmed it—Frieza was here on Namek, along with Zarbon, Dodoria, and a host of lesser soldiers. Vegeta's blood boiled at the thought. This planet was a battlefield waiting to erupt, and he had no intention of being caught off guard.
Suddenly, the scouter on his ear beeped urgently, the green display flashing with numbers. BEEP! BEEP! Vegeta's eyes narrowed as he read the power level—17,000. A slow, predatory smirk curled across his lips. There was only one person it could be. Oh, this was going to be entertaining.
Yajirobe's stomach twisted with unease as he noticed the shift in Vegeta's demeanor. Was someone coming? He didn't know why, but he hoped it wasn't Krillin. If it was, there was no way the little guy could stand up to Vegeta. The thought sent a cold shiver down his spine.
Krillin and Yamcha exchanged a tense glance as the atmosphere around them grew more oppressive. Yamcha's voice was barely a whisper. "Someone's coming," he said, his tone edged with fear. "And they're strong."
The two of them remained frozen behind the rock, their hearts pounding as they waited.
To be continued...