As we landed on Namek, the weight of Frieza's ki hit us like a tidal wave. It was overwhelming—and the worst part was knowing this wasn't even his full power. I glanced at Goku, wondering quietly to myself: Is this really the kind of monster we're going to face?
Before I could voice that thought, I suddenly sensed it—Gohan, Krillin, and Vegeta were in the middle of a fight. The Ginyu Force. I had almost forgotten about them. I was about to say something to Goku when, out of nowhere, a frog jumped in front of me.
Without hesitation, I bent down, picked it up, and slipped it into my pocket. Goku gave me a confused look.
"A frog?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
I just smiled and said nothing—letting him know, without words, that I knew something he didn't.
By the time we arrived at the battlefield, it was already a mess. Recoome and Guldo were dead. Gohan and Krillin were locked in combat with Burter and Jeice, and Vegeta stood off to the side—visibly stunned. I could see the disbelief in his eyes as he watched Gohan fight, as if trying to understand how a mere half-Saiyan child could be stronger than him.
Truthfully, it was mostly Gohan. The brief training I gave him—and perhaps a certain Namekian's help unlocking his potential—had pushed him to a level that caught everyone off guard.
I looked over at Goku. "Are you going to jump in?"
He shook his head. "They've got this. Gohan needs the experience—and look at them. They're so focused, they didn't even notice we arrived."
Right on cue, Gohan landed a clean Masenko on Jeice, vaporizing him in one blast. Burter, seeing this, panicked. Without a word, he turned tail and flew off at top speed.
We both knew where he was going—and who he was bringing back with him.
Captain Ginyu.
I was already preparing myself. There was no way I was going to let Captain Ginyu pull off that ridiculous body-switching move—not with Goku. I reached into my pocket, gently touching the small bulge where the frog now rested.
Sorry, little one, I thought. But this is how it has to be. I wish there were another way.
Back in my old life, I wouldn't have cared. I wouldn't have thought twice about collateral damage, about the cost of victory, or who had to pay the price for my choices. But now? After everything I've been through, after the life I lived in that other world, the family I raised, the people I saved… I can't look at things the same way.
This wasn't just about survival anymore. This was about making things right.
Ginyu would arrive soon. I could feel it. And when he did, there wouldn't be time to hesitate. One wrong move, one second of doubt—and Goku would be gone, replaced by a maniac in a body too strong for anyone else to stop.
I looked at Goku, who stood with his arms crossed, calm but alert, his eyes scanning the horizon. He had no idea what was coming. And I couldn't tell him—not yet. The future was still too uncertain, and I still didn't know how much I could change.
But I was going to try.
This time, I wouldn't just be a bystander in someone else's story. This time, I would be the one who made the difference.
Captain Ginyu was coming.
And I was ready.