Part 2, Chapter 6: The Wicked Alliance

...Hmph.

You took an awfully long time to break free.

Don't be like that, Lord Frieza. You've never been tied up before. It's more work than you'd think.

But wait... You almost make it sound like you knew I was coming to meet you.

Yes, well you were constantly hinting at something.

So, do you feel like telling me at last? What your true intentions really are?

Okay... I'll give it to you straight.

What do you say to teaming up with me?

I see... So it's an alliance you want?

In other words, now that Frost is of no use to you, you've turned to me?

You're a harsh one. You weren't around but he was, in the right place and time. That's why I put him in that position.

It wasn't easy. That guy was obsessed with you... He was way too stubborn to be a decent partner.

Now that I have my army back, I see no benefit in partnering with you.

If it's a benefit you want... I've got the Fruit of the Tree of Might.

...!

I'm the only one who knows where the cultivated Fruits of the Tree of Might come from. No soldier's got this info. Heh heh heh.

You are a shrewd one.

So if I form an alliance with you, are you saying you'll provide me with the fruits?

That's right. I'm glad you're quick to catch on.

Although, I don't know the first thing about gardening. This guy's the one making the things.

It isn't gardening! It's the power of science, a mastery of cutting-edge technologies!

Hm... I recall seeing that fellow over there before... But who is this gentleman, shall I ask?

Doctor Gero. A member of our alliance and a scientist from Earth.

Hm. Or perhaps we should call you Android #20 now?

Call me whatever you want.

And to his side is Android #19. Another one of his creations.

I see... An artificial human? I'm shocked to learn that scientists with such knowledge exist on a primitive planet like this.

I want to form a three-person alliance. Me, the Doctor here, and you.

You just make good use of the fruits and hunt the tournament entrants.

Then gather "genes" from the powerful warriors you take down and bring them to me.

If you do, I promise to provide your army with Fruits of the Tree of Might.

(Mm... The genes of the powerful...)

That's the basic idea. What do you say? Sounds pretty good if you ask me.

I see...

If we team up, winning the tournament will be easy work.

And eventually, we'll be able to rule the entire universe, no?

Heh heh. Very well, Turles. Gero. I'll go along with your idea.

That's what I'm talking about! You're the leader of this alliance. Let's make this work, Lord Frieza.

No objections here. Just don't meddle in my research.

By the way, Lord Frieza. What're you planning on doing with that brat Shallot?

He's after that girl I kidnapped.

Personally, I'm not exactly willing to give her back...

Heh heh heh. I understand. After all, I wouldn't want to trouble a "fellow member" of my alliance.

Now that I have my army back, as well as this alliance, I no longer have any need to keep them.

So you're done with him? You're pretty willing to throw your allies away, huh? Scary stuff.

My ally? Oh, don't make me laugh. I've never once considered a Saiyan my ally.

You don't beat around the bush. Heh. That kind of hurts to hear, as a Saiyan.

I can't wait to see how you live up to my expectations, Turles.

That's right. 'Cause if I don't, you're gonna throw me away just as easily, huh? Hah!

All soldiers, listen up! This is an order from Lord Frieza!

The three Saiyans who were working alongside Lord Frieza are secretly plotting to assassinate him!

They are to be eliminated on sight and Lord Frieza will personally reward you if you succeed!

Oh ho ho! I have a feeling that we'll get along quite well.

...

(Yikes! This looks like it might turn into something big. I gotta tell Lord Beerus!)

Gaah... I'm getting real bored of going around all these look-alike spots. Hey, Vegeta. Let's go already!

Not happening. I don't care about Shallot's friend, but I'm not losing any opportunity to observe our enemies.

Damn! All these scents are getting in the way of figuring out where Bulma is!

This is the crap I gotta put up with! You've got a mouth, don't you? Just ask one of the Frieza Force soldiers already!

Oh. Ohh! You're right! Now that you mention it, they're not our enemy anymore.

Really?! Looks like you'd better get some brain training in next time, too! Gah ha ha!

Shut up! It's not like you're that smart, either.

Oh, perfect timing! Hey, guys. There's something I wanted to ask you...

...! Saiyans! There they are, it's them!

Get 'em!!

Whaaa?! What's your deal?!

Did they not get the message that we're on their side?!

Be quiet!

Where did those Saiyans go?! Find them! They've gotta be around here!

Tch. A bunch of them have gathered now!

Time for a strategic retreat. Make sure our enemies don't notice us!

What's going on with these Frieza Force guys?

...Som...Pl...se...up!

Hm?

...Someoooone!! Please, pick up! Pleeease, someone!!

Huh?! That voice... Is that Bulma?!

Bulma! It's me! Where are you right now?!

Shallot? That's you, right?! Yes! Someone picked up! I'm a total genius!

And as annoying as ever, I see.

Vegeta! So you're there, too?

Hmph. It's how things turned out. So, what on earth are you doing now?

Well... That Saiyan kidnapped me, then moved me from boat to boat before eventually tossing me in this weird lab.

And then he told me to help with Doctor Gero's research!

He's a genius! You can even find him in science books! Can you believe it?!

I don't care what books he's in! What's he been doing?

To be honest, I could barely understand any of it. Something about genes and androids, or something...

Anyway, I pretended to help while I made this new communication device. That's how I got in contact with you!

It's only a matter of time before I'm found out. So hurry up and save me!

Don't be ridiculous. How can we when we don't even know where you are?! Give us your location!

O-Oh, right! Umm... I just sent you my location data.

Hey! What're you doing over there? Are you done inputting my research data yet?

Ack! He's back! J-Just hurry up and get over here!

Bulma?! Uh oh, we've gotta go there now!

Look! Saiyans!

Here they are!

Hey, stop talking and start fighting! We're taking care of these guys first!

Alright! Now, time to get to Bulma...

Hey, Shallot! Still hanging in there?

Lord Beerus?!

It just doesn't stop... Now what?

What's the situation?

Lord Beerus... It's terrible!

I thought it might be. I've heard from Goku.

From Goku?! Why would he know about what kind of situation we're in?

Heh, I was taking a little look at how Frieza and the others were doing!

And then... I saw that you might be in a bit of trouble.

...Frieza allied with Turles?!

And one more guy... I suppose that's Doctor Gero the woman was talking about.

That's going to be an annoying alliance to deal with. So that's why the Frieza Force's soldiers have been attacking us!

They're saying we're traitors? Are they serious?!

Well, they're not wrong about that... We WERE hoping that Frieza and Frost would take each other out!

Damn! In other words, we were trying to play Frieza, but he ended up playing us!

Putting talk of your games aside, it sounds to me like Bulma is with a scientist known as Doctor Gero.

Got all of that, Shallot? Save Bulma and get out of there before Frieza begins to seriously mobilize.

Get out of there? You mean I should just leave Frieza alone?!

As I've told you again and again, you can't defeat Frieza as you are now!

You're not throwing your life away on my watch. Focus on saving Bulma for now! Understood?!

Hey, Lord Beerus. Is it okay if I go help save Bulma, too?

No.

Whaat? Why not?

You just ignored my orders! Who was it that said to go to where Frieza is and listen in on him?!

Owww! What's the matter, so long as I don't get caught?

I said to be careful of Frieza's movements ever since he got his army back...

...But I ALSO told you to not do anything that would attract attention, remember?!

Ah, so is it time for another lecture? Well, Shallot. I wish you success in your battles to come.

What battles? I was told to rescue Bulma and flee back here with my tail between my legs! Ugh, I'm NOT happy about this!

Don't be so whiny. It's annoying to admit, but Beerus is right.

We just need to put our heads down and focus on rescuing that woman for now.

Hey, Vegeta. What's the fate of that woman got to do with us? Is this something we oughta be doing?

Yes. My plan was to split off from Shallot at a good moment, but plans have changed.

We'll help him look for a little longer.

Even if we are escaping, that doesn't mean we can't teach them a lesson: we aren't gonna take this lying down...

At the very least, we'll snatch the woman back and make them suffer! I ain't letting go just yet...!

Oh, I get it now! Then I oughta go wild and really stir them all up!

So this is the place Bulma was talking about!

...You have been discovered... Shallot. Vegeta. Nappa.

You again?!

Hmph. What do you want? Here for another beatdown?

I have updated my battle data since my last encounter with you. You can no longer hope to defeat me.

In other words... This is where your path ends.

Wha?! A-All these guys look the same! What's going on?!

If you really want to know... Get them to talk once we take them out!

Sgg...grrk...grrhhhk!!

Wuh?! What's going on with these guys?!

So they're a bunch of mechanical dolls. Of course. Now I see why they all look the same!

What's "mechanical" mean?

Ga ha ha! You're that ignorant?!

S-Shut up! I get it already. It means things that are like these guys!

Well, then. Glad you learned something today!

Arrgh! You really tick me off!!

Stop talking and get fighting! We're wiping them out with a head-on charge!

So, looks like we took care of that. Now's your chance to find that woman, Shallot! Hurry up and get going!

Oh, yeah! You guys look somewhere else, okay? I'm counting on you!

Heh. Well, I can't say no to my disciple! Isn't that right, Vegeta?!

Hmph. I don't care either way. I'm just hunting down my enemies.

Agh. This place is ridiculously big. Where could Bulma be?

Or rather... It kind of feels like I've been going in circles... I'm not lost, am I?

Hey! Watch it! Hands off!

That voice...! It's Bulma!

How dare you try to use a communicator to call for help. You crafty little!

Ow! Hey, I said hands off!

Silence, girl! Give me that device!!

Hey, geezer! What do you think you're doing?!

Tch! So you've finally made it here?

Let go of Bulma!!

Hmph. I'm afraid I can't do that.

You!!

Oh? You'd better not move if you care about this girl's life.

(I could take him out with one attack. But I wouldn't be able to avoid hitting Bulma, too! What should I do?!)

Guwaaah!

Idiot! Don't just sit back and watch!

Vegeta!!

Koff... Koff...! That was awfully rough! You're dealing with a lady over here!

Hmph. I was careful to make sure that didn't hit you. You ought to be thanking me!

Curse yooou!!! You blasted a hole through my laboratory!

Unforgivable! I'll erase you all!

I'd like to see you try! You're gonna regret it!

You okay, Bulma?

Do I look okay to you?! I thought it was over for me! You need to hurry it up!

S-Sorry! You're not hurt or anything, right? Or...hungry? Are you hungry?

Huh?! Umm... I'm not hurt, but... I guess I'm...a little hungry.

R-Really?! What do you want to eat? I'll get anything for you!

...Anything?

Yeah! Bear, deer, anything! I'll hunt whatever you want me to!

You're going to HUNT it?! If you're getting meat, do it at a supermarket!

O-Okay! But I don't have any of that money stuff...

Yeah, you always pay with mine! ...Forget about food. You took a while, but you did come to save me.

So... Thank you, Shallot. Once this is all over, I'll treat you to whatever you want.

That goes for you, too.

Thank you for saving me, Vegeta. You're pretty good, aren't you?

Hmph. Don't get me wrong, woman. All I wanted to do was wipe out those annoying Frieza Force members.

Saving you didn't enter into my mind.

Hmph! Is that so! You're so hard-headed!

Looks like we're done here. Let's hurry up and meet with Nappa, then get out of this place!

Still, taking that old man out was awfully easy. Was he really a member of their alliance?

He was some egghead scientist. It's no surprise that his power level was low.

Anyway, we took out their top researcher. A major blow to the Frieza Force! Let's celebrate!

Not yet, Nappa. There's one thing left to do. Destroy this ship's power source so that they'll never be able to research here again!!

Aye-aye! Time to end this!!

The Frieza Force's strength is sure to drop now that they can't make more Fruits of the Tree of Might! Heh heh heh!

Seems we were a bit too late.

Who's there?!

What underhanded tactics. You've burned the ship and made it unusable.

Heeey! It's the guy who kidnapped me! And he still looks just like Goku!

You again... Turles!!

Oh, don't look at me like that. I'm just here to pick up something a friend left behind.

Hey, you. Go grab it from the lab. I doubt the fire has reached that far yet.

Yessir!

Now then. It's time you were punished for blowing our precious ship to pieces.

I might actually have to try now. Going easy on you all the time isn't good for the soldiers' morale.

Get back, Bulma!

I don't know what you're planning, teaming up with Frieza...

But I'm tired of you messing around with me like this!!

Before I pummel Frieza into the ground... First, I'm gonna send you flying!!

Hmm... Nice attacks. And you're still not tired after all this fighting.

(You're the one who doesn't seem tired! He's like a stamina monster!)

You've gotten stronger, Shallot. Fighting the Frieza Force must have been good training.

Quit talking like you're better than me! I'm not interested in your praise.

Ah. You're back. How'd it go?

The "genes" were successfully recovered!

(...G-Genes?)

Alright. Excellent.

I also have a report, sir.

What is it?

...

Huh...! Thank you for telling me. Now take what you recovered to "the spot" we discussed earlier!

Yessir!

So, I've been told you took out Dr. Gero! Not bad.

That's not all. You're going down here, too!

What a bold statement! But unfortunately, I don't have time for that. Heh, see you later.

Hey! Get back here!

Don't pursue him, Shallot! Are you going to abandon the woman you just rescued?!

Urgh... But...!

We're leaving this place, too! Before getting in another trouble.

Turles said something about recovering genes. Do you know what that means, woman?

N-No, why would I? That doctor wanted me to help him, but he was still so secretive about everything!

Damn Turles! He's not getting away the next time we meet. He's going down for sure!

There they are!! Found you! You dirty Saiyans!

...?!

Excellent. You managed to survive. Now I get to be the one to defeat you!

You again!

You just don't give up, huh? We don't have time for this! Get out of the way and we'll spare you!

Spare us, you say?! How dare a measly Saiyan make light of us!

Don't let that kid get you worked up.

Gah! Sh-Shut up!

You'd better not think that I'm the same warrior you fought before!

The Fruit of the Tree of Might?!

Hey, wait a sec! That thing's gonna ruin your own!

We're well aware.

I don't care what happens to this body of mine. I'm going to defeat you in Lord Frieza's name, no matter what!

You'd seriously throw your life away for that guy's sake?!

Hah! Of course we're going to return to him alive! After using this to beat you!

Tch! Even weaklings are a pain to deal with when they eat the fruit. If these guys eat it...!!

I feel the power building inside of me! Yes, I can do this!!

It's like I've been reborn. Heh heh heh. I shouldn't have waited so long to eat one of these.

It's hopeless for you now. We'll return to Lord Frieza victorious and earn his trust once more!

Wh-What are you doing?! You fools!!

Ugh... So even with the power of the fruit, we're no match for you...?

How are we supposed to face... Lord Frieza...now...?

That wasn't easy. Seems even they had some sense of pride.

But why would they agree to be Frieza's flunkies, then?

What Frieza is doing is unforgivable!

Shallot...

Hey, Bulma.

Hm? Wh-What is it?

You should go back without me.

What? You're not coming with me?

There's still something I need to do here!

Let Lord Beerus know that, too!

Shallot... Don't tell me that you're going to...!

Again and again... He treats his allies like garbage! It ends here!

Frieza is going down right now!!

N-No, you fool! You can't honestly mean that!

C'mon, Shallot! Calm down!

Nappa. Vegeta. I want to thank you for everything you've done for me. But I need to fight Frieza now.

I'm not running away any longer!!

If no one else is going to stop him... Then I will!!

Oh ho ho! Well, aren't you spirited? I do like a motivated opponent.

Now that I think about it, what was it you said earlier?

That you'd "kick my ass" once this was all over?

Hmgh?!

F-Frieza!!

So you've appeared. It's time for that beatdown I promised...

Frieza!!!