CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR: WRONG PLANET

Evening was just beginning to set as the saucer ship landed on Planet Capitol. “Well, we’re here.” Zarbon said to nobody in particular. “Do you remember what I taught you, Goku?”

Goku bowed his head and put his right hand on his chest, apparently trying to demonstrate that he did remember everything. “Is that a yes, or a no?”

“Yes!” Goku chirped back at him.

Zarbon shook his head. It was obvious that Goku had learned only what protocol he was capable of learning. He smiled as he led them off the ship.

They were back, and-miracle of miracles-with Gohan in tow. Zarbon spared a side glance at the boy, and offered him a smile. Gohan smiled back. Zarbon realized that this was the first time that he had seen him act like anything other than a tiny mommy’s boy, with the exception of that initial fight. The boy had metamorphosed completely once he had gotten away from Chi-Chi. He even looked a little taller, but maybe that was just the effect of the Saiyan armor. One thing that was easily noticeable was that his hair had grown quite a bit when they washed all of the gel out of it, and was now nearly back to where it was earlier. His Saiyan blood showed. Turning around, Zarbon swept a hand over the city.

“This, my friends, is Capitol.”

Both Goku and Gohan stared around in awe at the sheer technology of the place, While Piccolo stood back, in a completely rigid posture, arms folded, not smiling in the least. He was quite unimpressed. In the armor, he looked even less satisfied.

“What? The air’s not to your liking?”

Piccolo grunted something unintelligible.

Zarbon smiled back at him. “And a good day to you too, sir.”

Piccolo grunted again, and walked away over toward Gohan and his father. Zarbon shook his head, smiling, as the Namek walked away.

“He won’t be any trouble, he’s just a grouch,” came Bardock’s voice from behind Zarbon.

 “I figured as much.”

Zangya came out of the ship and gave Zarbon a weak smile-one of the best that she was ever really able to manage. “We did it. We actually got the boy back here. Do you think that he’s enough to impress Cold?”

Zarbon looked at the Gohan before answering her. “I don’t know. He’s only really shown his power four times, if what Goku and Bardock said can be trusted-and I think it can. I don’t know about it, but it seems that he only gets powerful when he’s angry. Still, the boy does have potential...”

“But potential doesn’t mean much to Cold unless there’s something to show for it.”

Zarbon nodded. “True, true. He won’t accept it as a face unless we have some solid proof that-”

Zarbon didn’t finish his sentence, as he saw Salad driving up in her old air-car.

“How does that woman find these things out?” he said as she pulled in and got out, waving and smiling. Zarbon rushed up to her and gave her a quick kiss before introducing her to everybody else.

“Goku, Gohan, Piccolo, I’d like you to meet Salad. She’s my-”

“Salad!” Goku interrupted. “Zarbon’s been telling us all about you!” he said as he basically knocked her over offering her a hand. Salad took it and gave him one of her typical smiles.

“And what exactly did he say about me?”

Goku gave a confused look. “I forgot...” he trailed off. Salad laughed.

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