Monkey in the Moon

The Great Ape Unleashed

Gohan's transformation completes before Vegeta can intervene. The young half-Saiyan swells into a towering Great Ape, and Vegeta finds himself staring up at a creature of terrifying power. Krillin watches nervously, recalling that Goku had no rational mind when he transformed in the past. The Great Ape begins thrashing wildly, smashing rock formations and sending debris raining down. Rubble crashes onto Krillin, and for a moment, it seems Gohan has become an indiscriminate force of destruction. But Krillin takes a chance and screams at Gohan to attack the Saiyan.

Instinct and Intelligence

Gohan pauses. He lifts an enormous boulder over his head and hurls it directly at Vegeta, who barely leaps clear. Krillin realizes with relief that Gohan retains some awareness, a benefit of his half-Earthling heritage keeping a fragment of his mind intact. Vegeta knows the artificial moon will persist for at least another hour, and the only way to stop the Great Ape is to remove the tail. As Gohan launches himself skyward, Vegeta forms a Destructo Disc and waits for the right angle. When Gohan descends, Vegeta leaps and launches the disc. It slices cleanly through Gohan's tail.

Falling Giant

Gohan's body immediately begins shrinking as the transformation reverses. But his massive frame is still falling forward, and Vegeta cannot scramble out of the way in time. The bulk of Gohan's reverting body crashes onto the Saiyan prince, slamming him into the ground. When the dust clears, a small, naked, unconscious Gohan lies beside a badly crushed Vegeta. Somehow Vegeta manages to move, reaching into the remnants of his chest armor to pull out a small remote control. He presses its buttons, summoning his space pod. Meanwhile, scientists excavating East City discover the round Saiyan pods. One suddenly rockets into the sky, answering Vegeta's call.