Chapter 7: CHANGE NOW (The Body Swap!)

The Namekian sky stretched overhead, an unnatural green horizon brushing against the endless void of space. The ground beneath Rykon's boots trembled—not from battle yet, but from the raw tension radiating between the warriors gathered in the clearing.

Rykon sat silently on a jagged rock, his arms crossed as he watched the others bicker like children. His sharp gaze flicked between them, masking the storm brewing behind his eyes.

These guys never stop arguing, he thought bitterly, grinding his teeth. We're about to face Frieza himself, and they're fighting over petty nonsense.

Vegeta's voice rang out, sharp and venomous. "You fools think you can beat Frieza? Don't make me laugh."

Kakarot—no, Goku—shot him a determined look, his fist clenched at his side. "We have to, Vegeta. We need the Dragon Balls to bring our friends back. That's what Rykon and I have been training for."

Vegeta scoffed, folding his arms. "Why waste time reviving the dead? They'll just die again when Frieza finds them."

Krillin, his face flushed with frustration, snapped back. "And if you get immortality, what's the difference between you and Frieza?! We'd be stuck with another tyrant."

"Shut your mouth, bald man. My business is none of yours."

A sharp crack split the air.

Rykon's boot slammed against the ground, sending small rocks and dust flying in every direction. His voice thundered like a primal roar.

"ENOUGH!!"

Everyone froze. Even Vegeta's prideful sneer faltered under the weight of Rykon's glare.

"You're acting like spoiled children while a monster is hunting down the Grand Elder!" Rykon's crimson eyes narrowed. "Vegeta, you owe us for what happened on Earth. If you, Nappa, and my brother Raditz hadn't shown up, none of this would've happened. Frieza wouldn't even know about the Dragon Balls!"

Vegeta clicked his tongue and turned away, but didn't argue. He couldn't.

Before another word could be spoken, Rykon's senses sharpened. His pupils contracted. Two powerful energies surged toward them from the sky, cutting through the air like comets.

"Kakarot," Rykon muttered under his breath. "Do you feel that?"

Goku's expression shifted, his carefree grin fading. "Yeah. They're coming fast."

Krillin swallowed hard, his voice cracking. "Gohan, stick close."

The wind picked up. Vegeta's eyes narrowed, sharp and cold. "So… the Captain finally shows himself."

In the distance, two figures appeared as streaks of light—one red, one purple. Their descent sent shockwaves rippling through the Namekian plains as they landed.

Dust kicked up around their boots.

Jeice pointed a trembling finger directly at Rykon. His eyes burned with humiliation and hate. "That's him, Cap'n! That's the one who humiliated us!"

Captain Ginyu, tall and broad-shouldered, tilted his head, lips curling into a cocky smirk. His eyes locked onto Rykon with predatory curiosity.

"So you're the Saiyan causing all this trouble, huh?"

The purple alien clicked a button on his scouter. A mechanical beep echoed. "Nine thousand?" His eyes narrowed. "Hmph. Jeice, you fool. Relying on these devices is your weakness."

Jeice stammered, sweat beading down his forehead. "W-what!?"

"A warrior can feel strength. His true power is far higher… I'd estimate sixty thousand."

Rykon's lips curled into a smirk.

Finally, he thought, someone who actually gets it.

Captain Ginyu's gaze slid toward Goku. "And the other one—the same outfit—he's no doubt hiding his power, too."

This guy knows too much… Rykon clenched his fists, tail twitching behind him. So much for keeping my strength under wraps.

Goku stepped forward, his tone light but eyes serious. "I'll distract them. Rykon, take Gohan and Krillin. Get the radar from Bulma and find the Dragon Balls."

Rykon's heart clenched at the thought of leaving the fight. His Saiyan blood screamed to join the battle. But… he forced himself to nod.

"I'll do it. But don't die, Kakarot."

Goku flashed a grin. "I won't."

Rykon grabbed Gohan and Krillin by the shoulders, blasting off toward Bulma's location. The wind rushed past his ears.

The only reason he sent me… Rykon realized, was because I'm the only one he trusts to keep them safe.

Behind them, the battlefield roared to life.

Later…

They found the Dragon Balls in record time. But when they returned, something felt wrong.

Rykon's sharp eyes caught it first—the subtle stiffness in Goku's expression. The scouter on his face. The forced smile.

That's not him.

Krillin, oblivious, flew up cheerfully. "Hey, Goku! We found the Dragon Balls!"

Jeice hovered beside the fake Goku, sneering. "What the hell's a Dragon Radar?"

The impostor Goku's lips twitched unnaturally. "Did you get to make your wish yet?"

Krillin blinked. "Uh… no? We don't know the password." His brow furrowed. "And why'd you call me 'Kurly'? Is that supposed to be a joke?"

Rykon's gut twisted. His instincts screamed.

"KRILLIN, DON'T GIVE HIM THE RADAR! That's not my brother!" His voice cracked like thunder. "LOOK at him!"

Too late.

A vicious backhand from the fake Goku slammed into Krillin, sending him spiraling through the air, clutching his face.

"You should've just handed it over."

Krillin coughed, staggering back. "What the heck, Goku?!"

Rykon's fists trembled. "Who are you?! What did you do to my brother?"

The imposter laughed, voice shifting—deeper, colder.

"It's me. The amazing Captain Ginyu. I've swapped bodies with Goku! And don't worry… he's probably dead by now."

But a damaged, beaten form stumbled into view.

"Not… exactly."

Everyone turned to see Goku, trapped in Ginyu's bruised and battered body.

"Daddy!" Gohan cried, his voice cracking. Tears welled in his eyes.

Goku smiled weakly, raising a bruised hand. "It's okay, Gohan… Don't cry."

Rykon's blood boiled. "GINYU… YOU BASTARD!!"

Captain Ginyu, now in Goku's body, grinned manically. "With this power, I'll destroy all of you!"

Jeice clicked his scouter, eyes wide. "Captain! Your power's only at 23,000!"

Ginyu's smirk twitched. "WHAT?!"

Goku—his real self—coughed, clutching his side. "You need to train with the body to unlock its full potential."

Rykon stepped forward, eyes blazing.

"That's the difference between you and us, Ginyu. You're a parasite."

The wind picked up violently as Rykon powered up, orange aura roaring around him.

"Let me show you what real loyalty to your body looks like."

His ki surged—80,000. The scouter exploded in Jeice's hand.

In a flash, Rykon appeared before Ginyu, driving his fist deep into his gut. Ginyu gasped, spittle flying from his mouth. An uppercut followed, launching him skyward.

Ginyu retaliated with desperate punches, but Rykon dodged every blow like a phantom. His foot snapped out, spinning kick to the ribs, then a knee to the chest. Ginyu crashed into the ground, gasping for air.

"Primal Combo."

Rykon's fists became blurs, raining strikes from every angle. Ginyu's body convulsed under the relentless assault.

"Your time's up."

Rykon formed a ki blade in his palm, preparing to finish it.

But a crusher ball shot from behind, forcing him to dodge. Jeice tried to save his captain.

"Did you forget about me?"

Before Jeice could strike again, Vegeta appeared, cold fury in his eyes.

"No. But I didn't forget about you."

A blast of energy tore through Jeice's chest, silencing him forever.

Ginyu screamed. "NO! Jeice! How could this happen?!"

Desperate, he gathered his last ounce of energy.

"CHANGE NOW!!!"

A beam shot toward Rykon, but Goku, battered and broken, hurled himself into the path.

The world shifted.

Their bodies returned to normal.

But Ginyu wasn't done.

"I won't miss this time! CHANGE NOW—!!"

Goku, thinking fast, tossed Rykon a tiny object.

"Here! Use this!"

Rykon caught it—a frog.

A grin spread across his face. "Kakarot… you're brilliant."

With a quick flare of ki, Rykon formed a glowing tennis racket. He swatted the frog directly into Ginyu's beam.

The body swap completed.

Ginyu was trapped in the frog's body.

"Ribbit… Ribbit!"

Vegeta, smirking wickedly, approached the frog. "Well, hello there, friend."

"Vegeta, no!" Goku cried. "He can't fight back!"

Vegeta sneered. "Try to stop me, clown."

Before he could strike, Rykon created a ki bubble, trapping the frog inside. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled it across the Namekian horizon.

"Problem solved."

As the dust settled, Rykon knelt beside his brother.

"Let's get you into Frieza's healing pod, Kakarot. You've earned it."

Vegeta crossed his arms, still scowling, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of respect. "There's an old model in Frieza's ship. It should work."

Rykon nodded, helping Goku to his feet.

"Krillin. Gohan. Let's go."

They blasted off together, leaving the battlefield behind—temporarily at peace.

But in the distance, the shadow of Frieza loomed closer.

[To be continued…]