Power Up to the Limit

Frieza's death ball only grazed the surface of the planet, but the explosion left a crater several miles in diameter. The black mushroom cloud from the blast covered the sky as far as the eye could see. Two of Namek's suns were blotted out and with the third sun currently on the far side of the planet, everything became suddenly dark. The only light remaining was a golden hue, rippling through the air as lightning continued to flash. Thunder joined the electricity in shaking the planet, obeying Vegeta's every command.

"Daddy!" shouted Gohan. "I'm so glad to see you!"

Goku relaxed from the fury of his 20x Kaioken, catching his breath. His eyes were anything but friendly as his dark brow warded off Gohan's approach. If he hadn't stopped that blast, the entire planet would be gone right now. Goku was furious. The lives of Gohan, Krillin, Piccolo, and even Vegeta were almost taken instantly, before he even had a chance to fight.

"Hey you, Frieza! Whatever grudge you have against Vegeta, you leave this planet out of it!"

Vegeta was momentarily grateful for Kakarott's intervention, coupled with the thought that they both wanted Frieza dead. However, his pride having ascended to great new levels, he couldn't resist the chance to demean Kakarott. "Nobody asked for your assistance clown! I can handle Frieza quite well all by myself!"

'Typical,' Goku thought. 'I'd do well to remind Vegeta we are on the same side now.' He turned back towards the Super Saiyan. "Sure you won't flip me for it Vegeta? I was really looking forward to fighting this guy."

"Haha. As IF, Kakarott." Vegeta turned his view back upon Frieza, who was visibly shaken by the failure of his trump card. "Just consider yourself lucky that you get to witness our entire race being avenged, and by none other than the prince himself, now a Super Saiyan."

Frieza was racking his brain for ideas. His one chance to defeat Vegeta, destroying the planet and thus eliminating the breathable atmosphere, had failed. He, of course, was a frost demon. His race could survive anywhere, so he would have been fine. After all, surviving the explosion of a planet was something he had done on many occasions. Better still, Vegeta was well aware of Frieza's ability to survive the planet's end and simply drift through space until a ship came for him. In a way it would have been the perfect victory. He would have defeated the Super Saiyan of Legend, using not only his might but also his head. No one would ever dare challenge his supremacy again.

"Well then," Vegeta began, the confident tone in his voice as irritating to Frieza as ever. "If you are quite through with all the interruptions, I think it's about time I finish this." His mind was racing. Frieza was crafty, this he knew. Luck had been on his side, in the form of Kakarott, but he had almost lost due to his own overconfidence. 'How could I have let Frieza outsmart me like that? I'm a Super Saiyan, the most ruthless warrior alive. Worst of all I had to rely on Kakarott to save me from my stupidity.' His rage again started building. "You won't have the chance to pull any more tricks, Frieza! I'm going to finish you off, once and for all!"

Frieza was desperate, yet he had one last hope. Announcing loudly, as if to himself, he laid the bait. "If only I had time to power up to my very maximum. But how! Vegeta has always been a coward, a gutless primate. He wouldn't dare to fight me at full strength." Frieza grinned inside at his craftiness, hoping it would work. He knew Saiyan pride. He knew they would never pass up a challenge. This was it. "Go on, Vegeta, finish me now while you still have the chance. You know your Super Saiyan strength is nothing compared to my true power!"

"Hmmph," grunted Vegeta.

"OH NO!" Piccolo yelled. "He has to finish it now while he has the chance! If he doesn't, Frieza may very well become even stronger than a Super Saiyan!"

"Uh oh." Gohan exclaimed, reaching his hand onto the pants-leg of his Namekian friend. "Maybe we should get out of here, Mr. Piccolo."

"No, Gohan. It isn't up to us, this is Vegeta's choice." Goku had appeared suddenly beside Piccolo. He spoke with a strange assurance. "If it were me, I would want to fight him at his very strongest too. Somehow, it just feels right. After all, it isn't really fair to beat someone when they aren't at their maximum." Goku put his hand on Gohan's shoulder, his ever-inspiring smile reassuring the boy. "Son, I'm proud of how you fought today. You too, Krillin and Piccolo. You guys did an amazing job. Just think about it. You survived this entire time, accomplished our mission with the dragon balls, and then took on the strongest being in the universe. After all we've been through, we aren't going to lose now. Let's just have a little faith in Vegeta."

"I don't know, Goku; I have a LOT of difficulty putting any trust in Vegeta," said Piccolo. "He only joined us because it was his only choice. Who's to say he won't kill all of us next if he manages to beat Frieza?"

"Ah, don't worry guys. I'm sure it'll all turn out fine."

Vegeta had been considering his options. He knew Frieza was baiting him. His rage was hot enough to engulf Frieza in an instant, but he also wanted to fight him at his best. He couldn't decide if it was curiosity, pride, anger, provocation, or some combination of them. Perhaps it was a base Saiyan instinct, amplified by his transformation, but he no longer cared. His decision was made.

"Fine then, Frieza. I will allow you two minutes, in which you may do as you choose. When that time expires, I WILL kill you."

Frieza smirked, as his purple lips couldn't contain his excitement.