December 16, Age 762.
High above the emerald oceans of Planet Namek, Frieza's colossal disc-shaped warship hung in the void like a silent moon.
A month and a half had passed since the first report about the Dragon Balls reached him in some forgotten corner of the universe. He had crossed half the galaxy without a single stop.
"Lord Frieza, Planet Namek is now directly beneath us."
"Full planetary scan complete. No valuable minerals detected."
Inside the command bridge, Dodoria and Zarbon flanked their emperor's hover-pod, delivering the briefing with practiced deference.
Frieza reclined in his chair, tail curled lazily around the stem of a wine glass filled with deep crimson liquid. A thin, predatory smile played on his lips.
"Heh heh heh… Such a pretty little world. Shame there's nothing worth stripping from it. It would have made a lovely vacation estate."
He took a delicate sip.
"And the locals? How many of these Namekians are there, and how strong are they?"
Every lesser officer in the room kept their heads bowed, breath shallow. Only Dodoria and Zarbon were permitted to speak.
"Population sparse and scattered, Lord Frieza," Zarbon answered smoothly. "Most are harmless farmers power levels barely registering. A handful of warrior types reach the low thousands. Nothing that should concern you."
"Thousands, you say?" Frieza's eyes glinted. "Not exactly trash, then."
He drained the glass in one slow swallow.
Immortality was so close he could almost taste it.
"One more thing, Lord Frieza," Zarbon continued, voice carefully neutral. "There was an incident on Planet 79. Vegeta killed Quincy Yates and several of Dodoria's and my own personal detachments. If the report is accurate, the prince is already en route. Estimated arrival: two days."
Frieza's smile widened, showingy and amused.
"Oh my~ So the little monkey wants the Dragon Balls too? How adorably predictable."
Quincy Yates's death didn't even warrant a blink. An insect with 18,000 power had been crushed. So what? Frieza had kept the creature around only because his petty rivalry with Vegeta was mildly entertaining like watching two ants fight over a crumb.
Dodoria spat on the floor, spines bristling. "That treacherous brat is as good as dead! Lord Frieza, let me tear him apart myself!"
Zarbon shot him a sidelong glance. "I wouldn't be so eager. According to the surviving scouter data, Vegeta's final recorded output exceeded 22,000. Possibly higher now."
Dodoria's pink face paled. "T-twenty-two thousand…?"
Cold sweat beaded on his brow. His own maximum was exactly 22,000.
If the monkey had truly surpassed that, neither he nor Zarbon could take him alone.
Frieza waved a dismissive hand. "Then stop whining and fight him together. Or do I need to call the Ginyu Force to swat a single Saiyan child?"
His tone made it clear the conversation was over.
Vegeta was a toy amusing when it barked, irrelJohnt when it broke.
"But "
"Enough." Frieza's voice dropped to a silky whisper that froze the room solid. "The Dragon Balls come first. Begin planetary descent. I want to meet these quaint little dragonsmiths personally. Heh heh heh…"
"Yes, Lord Frieza!"
"Yes, Lord Frieza!"
The massive ship tilted downward, engines humming like a predator's growl, and began its slow, inevitable fall toward the green planet below.
Five days.
That was all the time Vegeta had left.