The Dragon Balls Change Hands

The Grand Elder's Gift

Krillin and Dende stand before the Grand Elder and ask to borrow the One-Star Dragon Ball. When Dende mentions Earth's Dragon Balls, the ancient patriarch is intrigued and quickly deduces that the Nameless Namekian must have been their creator. By reading Krillin's mind, the Elder learns that the Nameless Namekian split into two beings long ago. Satisfied that Krillin's intentions are pure, the Grand Elder hands over the One-Star Ball and then reaches out to unlock a well of hidden strength buried deep inside Krillin. Thrilled by the surge of power, Krillin takes the Dragon Ball and rushes off, determined to bring Gohan back to the Elder for the same treatment.

Gohan's Gamble

Back at their cave hideout, Gohan and Bulma check the Dragon Radar and detect two signals: one moving toward them, which is Krillin carrying the newly acquired ball, and another sitting stationary near the village Vegeta destroyed earlier. They assume Vegeta failed to find that ball and moved on. In reality, Vegeta deliberately submerged it to keep it from Frieza. Seeing an opportunity, Gohan grabs the radar and flies off alone to retrieve the unguarded ball.

Vegeta's Escape

Inside Frieza's ship, Vegeta floats unconscious in a medical tank while Zarbon and the soldier Appule discuss how to extract the Dragon Ball's location once he wakes. Zarbon departs to report to Frieza, leaving Appule alone with the prisoner. Vegeta's eyes snap open. Fully healed and stronger than before, he blasts his way out of the tank and kills Appule in a single strike. He then punches a hole through an exterior wall to create a diversion. When Zarbon and Frieza rush to investigate the explosion, they find the room empty. Assuming Vegeta fled through the hole, Frieza sends Zarbon outside to hunt him down. With his captors searching the wrong direction, Vegeta sprints through the corridors to the chamber where Frieza's five Dragon Balls sit completely unguarded.