Bulma's ship hummed softly as it soared through the skies, carrying the battered warriors back toward the safety of West City. Inside the cabin, the silence was heavy—broken only by the sound of the engines and the faint groans of the injured.
Bulma stood at the front, gripping the controls tightly. "Don't worry! We're going straight to my family's private hospital. My dad made it just for us… so until Korin can send more senzu beans, you'll rest there!"
The ship finally landed in a vast complex hidden behind Capsule Corporation. A building taller than any mansion stretched before them—modern, gleaming, and entirely private. Robots rushed to help carry the wounded inside.
Vegeta and Nappa, however, stood unimpressed. Their scouters were broken, but their disdain didn't need numbers. Vegeta glanced around and sneered.
"Humph. Earthling woman," he said with a mocking tone, "do you actually consider this healing technology ? At Frieza's headquarters, the rejuvenation tanks can heal a warrior in a single day. Sometimes just a few hours."
Bulma flinched at his voice—still intimidated by the Saiyan Prince—but then his words hit her pride. She crossed her arms, glaring.
"Oh really? Then tell me, Prince, how long does it take before you can fight again in one of those fancy tanks of yours?"
Vegeta smirked. "One day at most. Sometimes less."
Bulma smirked right back. "Hmph! Then you should know that Earth has something better. One senzu bean can heal a person instantly. In seconds. If I had some right now, you wouldn't be lying there smirking—you'd already be back on your feet!"
Vegeta chuckled, closing his eyes as if dismissing her. "Then fetch it quickly, woman. I grow tired of waiting."
Bulma's face turned red with anger. "What does he think he is, ordering me around like this?!" she hissed under her breath.
Vegeta's ears twitched—his Saiyan hearing sharper than any human's. He smirked again without opening his eyes. "I am the Prince of All Saiyans. You should be grateful simply to exist in my presence, woman."
Bulma clenched her fists, grinding her teeth, while Nappa stared in disbelief. The hulking warrior blinked several times, thoughts swirling.
Prince Vegeta… actually talking this much to an Earthling woman? On other planets, he never wasted words on anyone. What's happening here? Has Earth… changed him?
---
Inside a vast recovery room, the fighters were laid across cushioned beds. Goku rested quietly, smiling despite his injuries. Rudra leaned back with his arms folded, as calm as ever. Krillin sat upright, still clearly conflicted.
Piccolo refused the medical equipment. His green skin glistened with faint perspiration as he sat in meditation. Human biology was one thing, but Namekians were entirely different—more plant than flesh. He required only water and his natural regenerative ability.
Bulma paced across the room, trying to organize everything, but her eyes always darted to Vegeta and Nappa. She still couldn't believe they were lying in Capsule Corp's private hospital like honored guests instead of enemies.
Krillin muttered, "Unbelievable… We're really letting them stay here?"
Piccolo said nothing, but his sharp gaze stayed on Rudra. His suspicion had not dimmed.
---
The next morning, heavy footsteps echoed through the halls. Yajirobe entered carrying a small sack. He tossed it onto the table.
"Twelve senzu beans. Don't waste 'em. Took me forever to bring these down."
The room immediately brightened. Goku popped one into his mouth, and within seconds, his wounds vanished. His aura flared faintly, and he stood up, flexing his arms. "Heh! Good as new!"
Rudra, Krillin, Vegeta, and Nappa followed suit, each recovering instantly.
Vegeta's eyes widened briefly, though he quickly masked it with a smirk. "So the Earthling wasn't lying."
Nappa grinned. "Incredible! Prince, these beans could change everything against Frieza."
Rudra rose from his bed. His calm voice cut through the chatter. "Then we hold to our deal. Now that everyone has recovered, it's time we begin gathering the Dragon Balls."
Krillin exchanged a worried look with Piccolo, but neither could object. For now, they were bound by circumstance.
Yet in secret, Piccolo climbed the steps to Kami's Lookout. There, he demanded training in sealing techniques from the Guardian himself. If Rudra or the Saiyans betray us, I'll be ready, he thought grimly.
---
Over the next days, Bulma's Dragon Radar proved invaluable. With Vegeta, Nappa, Goku, and Rudra working together, the Dragon Balls were gathered one by one.
During the search, Vegeta often muttered to himself, his pride clashing with awe. "Earth truly is full of surprises. Who would have thought an Earthling woman could build a device capable of detecting Dragon Balls? For that alone, I might—just this once—grant her credit as Prince of all Saiyans."
Bulma overheard him once and nearly fainted, unsure if she'd just been complimented or insulted.
Finally, with all seven Dragon Balls collected, the group gathered atop Kami's Lookout. The sacred place stunned the Saiyans.
Vegeta's eyes narrowed at the towering palace above the clouds. "So this is Earth's hidden fortress?"
Kami emerged, his staff in hand, observing Vegeta and Nappa with stern eyes. His very presence radiated age and wisdom.
Vegeta smirked. "And who's this slug?"
Kami's lips thinned, but he remained silent.
Mr. Popo stepped forward, bowing slightly. "This is the Guardian of Earth."
Vegeta threw back his head and laughed. "A Namekian guarding a planet? Hah! Truly pathetic."
Kami's silence was deliberate. His time for action would come later.
Rudra stepped forward, ignoring Vegeta's mockery. His eyes fixed on Kami and Popo. "I need the Dragon Ball model—the one you used as the base to create Shenron."
Kami blinked in surprise. "The… model?"
He shook his head. "I have no such thing."
But Mr. Popo nodded. "I do." He disappeared briefly and returned with a carved orb-like structure. The ancient artifact pulsed faintly with an otherworldly glow.
"This is the model. From it, Shenron was designed."
Gasps erupted across the group.
Rudra held it carefully, then turned to Piccolo. "Lend me your power. All of it. Channel it into this model."
Piccolo frowned. "Why? What are you planning?"
Rudra's voice deepened with certainty. "Because Kami and you are one. His power was halved when you were split. That's why Shenron can grant only one wish. But if you add your strength into the model, the Dragon's capacity will expand. Shenron will be able to grant not one, but three wishes."
The Lookout fell silent.
Shock spread across every face—Krillin, Goku, Roshi, Bulma, even Kami himself.
Vegeta's eyes gleamed with ambition. "Three wishes…?!"
Nappa's jaw dropped. "Unbelievable!"
Even Piccolo's stoic expression wavered.
Rudra placed the model back into Popo's hands and looked at Piccolo firmly. "The choice is yours. But this is how we surpass our limits."
And for the first time in days, even the proud Saiyan Prince looked impressed—not with Earth, not with Bulma's technology, but with Rudra.