The Slow Burn
Disclaimer: I don't own Dragonball Z or any of its characters
I should mention this is non-canon!
Warning: VIolence & Swearing
Chapter two -
The enemy of my enemy, is still my enemy
The resounding gunshot hammered against Gohan's ear drums. He turned his head around slowly whilst his mind raced. No.
He paused, not understanding when he looked into two equally surprised onyx eyes. The bullet bounced, flinging itself back towards Zak, where it then burned with some internal energy before disappearing. Piccolo blinked at the Chi shield that flickered red in front of his eyes, as it stood between himself and Zak. The mercenary looked to his right, a thick eyebrow raising in curiosity at at Daimao's outstretched hand.
Piccolo felt beads of perspiration cool on his skin as he exhaled the breath he didn't know he was holding. The Chi shield in front of him felt unhealthy and dark as it wavered and dissipated. He looked to his Sire and confusion bubbled away in his senses. I thought the link was only with Kami?
Daimao dropped his hand, face adorning the same emotion he had felt since he arrived, contempt; in its most pure and unrelenting form. A tiny unfamiliar feeling pulsed away in his chest but he ignored it. I'm afraid I can't let you kill any my pawns, mercenary.
Zak started laughing, a deep and throaty chuckle as he spoke.
"Looks like you have a heart after all!...the Hatu is going to eat. You. Right. Up"
He took a step forward with each word but stopped when Krillin exclaimed, with fists balled tight and sweat on his forehead.
"It's not that you idiot! They're linked, if you kill Piccolo, he dies as well!"
Gohan swore internally. Way to go Krillin, make it easy for him why don't you?
Daimao looked at Krillin with no small amount of anger and Gohan figured he'd be furious now that his apparent weakness was exposed. He snarled, fangs bared and raised his hand. A small red chi ball was forming in his palm.
"I will fucking kill you!"
Goku stepped in Daimao's line of sight, holding his hands up in panicked mock surrender.
"Hang on-"
The words died on his lips as he dodged, a green fist brushing his cheekbone as he did. Swinging around, he blocked a second punch but then choked as Daimao's fingers closed around his throat, claws digging grooves into his skin. The sharp smell of Goku's blood made the Namekian growl with pleasure in the back of his throat.
"You can't know how long I've wanted this" his grip tightened "it would be a thrill" he breathed into Goku's face "to end you".
He threw Goku to the ground, a little too easily and white tile cracked as he landed. A part of him was dimly aware that the do gooder's many minions would intervene soon, and they didn't seem to be the amateurish gaggle they once were.
Bulma narrowed her large blue eyes as she looked at the Demon King, jaw clenching. That's the Piccolo I remember. She had thought that he had seemed too calm, a little too collected. Looks like the act is over.
The Supreme Kai intervened then, losing patience.
"Enough! If we're going to have a hope of destroying this thing, we need to start preparing now! Follow me." He bellowed as if his lungs weren't the same size as a child's and stormed into the palace. Daimao crossed his arms then, black fabric taught against muscle as he scowled, trying to reign in his temper. He reminded himself that he had a plan for Goku, and this wasn't it.
The Z senshi began to file into the palace, Krillin nervously half jogging by the ancient Namek. Chi-chi's dark eyes looked at him with pure hatred and as she walked confidently, head held high. Daimao smirked, the woman always did have spunk.
Piccolo waited for Goku, before the both of them started to follow, leaving Daimao and the gang of criminals still standing outside. Piccolo glanced at Goku, seeing his pensive expression and wondered if it mirrored his own. They both stopped, when they realised that their newest additions hadn't moved.
Goku beckoned expectantly, whilst Piccolo crossed his arms just within the palace entrance. Zak was incredulous.
"You are joking"
His distaste was evident in his features and he glanced at his companions. The woman shrugged and her voice was smooth when she responded, brushing pale blue hair from her face.
"Looks like we're going to have to work together" She smiled. Besides, we might need the canon fodder.
Zak rolled his eyes in irritation and nodded for them to enter. Their boots sounded heavy against the quiet of the Lookout. Daimao followed them slowly. Sharing a look with Zak as they walked almost side by side. Piccolo caught it, he didn't know what that look meant, but he didn't like it. Daimao was mulling over this temporary truce, if that's what it was. He would like nothing better than to...but he couldn't, shouldn't. He wasn't interested in ruling a world with no people, or a universe with no worlds. Soon, once the Hatu has done its damage, he would be rid of Goku, and once the Hatu was gone, everything would fall into place. Zak looked at him and smirked, he smiled back, but there was no humour or kindness in it.
A few minutes later, they were all assembled around an old stone oblong table, in a room that at one time may have been a place of strategy, for ancient wars and disputes. Bulma felt at home then and stood at the head of the table, calling everyone's attention in an effort to coordinate the rabble. Eventually, most people sat down, with the exception of Zak, Daimao and Piccolo of course. The bandits were seated together at the end, and Videl sighed as she sat down next to one of them. She wasn't scared, not really, she was too stunned to be. She looked at Gohan who sat opposite, but this wasn't the Gohan she knew. He was tense, irritated and...scared. If he's scared, I should be terrified.
Krillin sat with Eighteen, Goku with Ch-chi and Tien, Chiaotzu, Master Roshi and an anxious Oolong. Mr Popo had kindly taken Trunks, Goten and Marron to another room in the palace to look after them, they didn't need to be involved in such dark things. Dende sat with Yajirobe and Korin opposite Vegeta and the Son family. Gohan wasn't too pleased with Videl sat next to one of the mercenaries but he doubted anyone would make a move in here. The blonde criminal smiled at him, as if knowing what he was thinking, brown eyes glinting in glee. The demi Saiyan took an instant dislike.
Piccolo looked at them as well, noticing the tension in his student's composure, who was sat directly in front of him. They seemed to have an air of detachment and they weren't like their typical enemies. They didn't seem to care much about anything, like all this was nothing more than an elaborate game designed to amuse them. The blonde looked at him then, thick hair held back by goggles, upbeat nature no doubt misleading. The woman, who was sat to his right on a stone bench, crossed long legs and pale grey eyes bore into Piccolo as he glances in her direction. The other one, sat at the end of the table, was motionless with narrow eyes and a strong jaw. He had been silent throughout and Piccolo wondered if he might be one to watch out for. Not that they won't all betray us and then kill us.
He was acutely aware of his Sire, who was stood against the opposite wall, unnervingly close to Goku and Chi-chi. He didn't look at him, not out of fear, but rather out of an inability to deal with the reality of his very existence. There was a time when he thought he was his Sire, so it was a little confronting. Bulma's assertive voice demanded attention as she spoke.
"Right, what's the plan?"
The Supreme Kai answered "when it arrives, it will probably attack the largest populations first, so we'll have to catch it or get its attention as it comes through the atmosphere if we want to avoid a high body count".
Zak laughed, the jovial tone a contrast to the seriousness of the situation.
"And why would we want to avoid that?"
Daimao smirked at that and pulled out another cigarette, a habit he had picked up on Earth a long time ago. Standing there, quietly next to the very people he yearned to destroy was not sitting well with him but he had centuries worth of practice waiting. Just a little longer.
"What would you gain from letting it destroy everyone first, exactly?" Goku asked.
"Oh I don't know...a little peace and quiet I suppose" his female companion laughed at that.
The Kai frowned, but ignored him.
"It does have a humanoid form, so you should be able to engage it in battle. It feeds on good energy, literally, by touch usually. So the rest of you will have to be well clear. I can provide...a type of shield that will keep pure evil at bay, but only for a while".
Piccolo scowled. What shield? Why is he just mentioning this now?
The Supreme Kai seemed to read his thoughts and continued.
"It only works with pure evil, not egomaniacs and power hungry tyrants. It's hard to believe but they still have thoughts and feelings outside of their evil doing". He looked pointedly at Vegeta who scowled in return. The little Kai looked at the mercenaries.
"I need to make it clear. If there is any good in any of you, even in the deepest part of you, it will find it."
The bandits laughed between themselves. Daimao answered then.
"I sincerely doubt that there's anything to find". He smirked and looked towards his offspring, willing ebony eyes to look in his direction. Look at me you little shit.
His disappointment in his son had been incredible, but as the years went on, his urge to murder him on sight had morphed into a different desire. A different kind of vengeance. He inhaled the heady tobacco. It's going to be so sweet.
Zak was countering the deity at every turn.
"And what if it kills his son? Are we able to fight this thing on our own?"
"I don't know, but I wouldn't worry about that". He didn't elaborate.
Goku was confused. "Wait, I don't und-"
"It's not important, we don't have time to dwell on every unlikely scenario. Now, work together, you don't have time to waste. I have other matters to attend to".
With that, he vanished, leaving Goku to wonder what other matters could possibly take precedence over this. Goku turned to address Zak, his tone darkening as it usually did for his enemies.
"Okay, Zak, do you and your team have much fighting experience?"
"No, my victims usually die of fear"
Goku hesitated and he winced when he heard Piccolo growl out.
"If you're not going to take this seriously-"
Goku interrupted then, standing.
"Okay, okay. Now, we know you can fight Daimao. Hope you're not too rusty". He laughed nervously, hand rubbing the back of his head.
Daimao scowled, not looking unlike Piccolo. Goku had felt Daimao's power when he had raised that Chi shield. He had gotten stronger, or was drawing power from somewhere. The older Namekian's tones were deep and icy as he answered.
"It's not going to fight on our level, you moron. Our methods will likely be obsolete. Power is what we need".
Piccolo's patience had finally run out, and he walked forward to the edge of the table, facing is Sire and hissing out his words. The eye contact made his skin prickle.
"I've had enough of this bullshit, can you kill it or not?"
The room went quiet.
"I hope so, it would be quite hard to build an empire out of only dead bodies...wouldn't it?"
Piccolo slammed a fist into the stone table, it cracked under his fist. Gohan tensed, and the more scholarly part of him wondered how ancient the now broken table was.
"Will you shut the fuck up about your damn empire! Can you kill it? Or not?!"
The anger in Piccolo's soul was building, not only because of the Hatu, but because this felt personal. Images of said empire, people burning and cities crumbling, flashed across his mind.
"I don't know".
The answer was so curt and emotionless. Daimao then smiled, it was humourless and something else. Gohan couldn't even determine what as he looked on. The table was humming in hushed conversations as everyone then voiced their concerns.
Daimao inhaled through the cigarette filter. These were very different to the ones he had smoked in space, more pleasant. The Kai's had revived him but hadn't given him much more grace than that, as they brought him crashing back to the living world in the middle of space, on an unknown planet. He had stolen a ship, killed its crew, and headed straight for Earth. He had actually been travelling for 6 months or more and was surprised that the Kai's had cut it so close. He had wondered why, before remembering that he didn't care. He had been deprived of what he considered to be a moderate stay in HFIL, and instead imprisoned in a very different place. Where the inmates were of an evil so pure and relentless that at times Daimao had felt out-eviled. His punishment had been an extended stay. He had been dead for only 30 years or so, but for him it had been centuries.
Time, had been his punishment. Oh, and an unwanted companion. Some kind of demonic creature haunting him in the form of a little girl. A little girl he had mercilessly murdered years ago. When the Kai's had offered him a way out, he had bitten their hand off.
Piccolo exhaled loudly and walked away, cape fluttering as he went. He was outraged that they were having to rely on this group of lowlives to save them. Vegeta watched on in sympathy, the same feelings of being taken for a ride making him itch for violence. It's at times like this that he and the Namek saw eye to eye. Though not literally, of course. He looked at Daimao then, noting the difference in the two Namekians. Goku had said their fighting styles were similar and they were effectively the same person. He was wrong though, Vegeta could plainly see that the older Namek was slightly taller, broader, and his jaw wider. Piccolo's more delicate features were not evident on Daimao and Vegeta laughed at himself internally. Delicate, the Namek is anything but.
There was also the fact that Piccolo didn't make his skin crawl, but Daimao did.
Goku spoke then, voice ever cheerful.
"We better get started then, we don't exactly have time on our side! Dende, I hope you don't mind?"
Dende nodded in approval, though his young features betrayed his concern. Deep concern. This whole situation felt wrong and aside from the obvious reasons why, there was something else, something he couldn't put his finger on. There was a badness in the air.
"Of course Goku, I'll go to the library, maybe there is something I can find about the Hatu"
Daimao pushed off the wall, skin itching to get away from the humans. He felt like they were insects milling away beneath his feet. He was halted by Zak's heavy tanned hand landing on his shoulder.
"Right then, let's see what you've got old man"
He froze at the contact, not enjoying the warmth of the other man's hand thrumming through his fingertips. At this proximity, Zak could see the darkness that seemed to be underneath the Namek's skin, in his blood. The mercenary knew he was making Daimao uncomfortable, they were well acquainted after all. He missed their twisted friendship. The Namek had been so young when they first met.
Piccolo had left the group to stand at the window, which was actually just an elegantly carved circle in the wall. The mercenaries left the room with Daimao, Vegeta and Eighteen. Piccolo figured that it made sense, they would be least likely to be affected emotionally at this point. Gohan walked up to his mentor, his shirt was horribly creased and he attempted to straighten it before raising a hand to his mentor's arm. He let it fall though, sensing it wouldn't be welcome. His voice was quiet.
"We can't trust them can we?"
"Absolutely not"
"But we have to, right?"
Piccolo growled and looked at the younger man.
"I guess so, but don't hedge your bets on those assholes being our saviour kid"
They could hear the sounds of Zak and Vegeta fighting as they went outside. Zak was holding his own, though seemed to be used to a different kind of fight. One with guns. Daimao was stood with crossed arms and a pensive expression. Gohan was taken aback with how much he looked like Piccolo at that very moment.
Daimao looked at him then and to Gohan's dismay, walked over.
"So this is the little monkey spawn the idiot conceived?"
He frowned and felt Piccolo tense next to him. He cursed internally as one of the mercenaries joined them. The woman was tall, he noticed as she stood almost as tall as Daimao. Her even features were unremarkable but Gohan noticed that her eyes were striking. A deep emptiness sat in their grey depths. Painted rouge lips smirked as she addressed the Demon King.
"So this is your son Daimao? He's cute, i'm...surprised"
She looked at Piccolo and smiled, displaying an array of straight white teeth. Gohan could see Daimao adopt a look of poorly disguised displeasure and a hint of something else he couldn't identify. When she spoke again, he recognised the look.
"I look forward to getting to know you better" she stepped forward and put a gloved finger on Piccolo's chest "right before I kill you. I wonder if you're a screamer?"
Daimao's whole frame became wrought with tension and his eyes betrayed his anger. Gohan hesitated. Does he care? He dismissed the thought as quickly as it had come. His father had told him of King Piccolo's reign of destruction and terror, of an innate ability to maim and torture his victims. She also noticed Daimao's changing demeanor.
"If you don't kill him first that is"
Daimao didn't respond but his hatred of this woman was obvious. Gohan narrowed his eyes in suspicion. He looked towards his father, and with a nod to signal to Piccolo that he would be right back, walked over to Goku.
He leaned towards his father and spoke quietly, making sure that Namekian ears couldn't hear him.
"There's something wrong with Daimao"
Goku laughed.
"That's an understatement"
"No, I mean. He hates us, you, Piccolo...but he hasn't attempted to hurt any of us and correct me if i'm wrong but...he's hanging around Piccolo like a-"
"Vulture?"
"Like he won't let Piccolo out of his sight"
Goku moved closer to Gohan, making sure that Daimao still couldn't hear them.
"You think he's hiding something?"
They were interrupted by King Kai and Goku was hopeful that the blue deity had something useful to add. Gohan looked on patiently as King Kai spoke to Goku telepathically.
'Goku! How is it going?'
'Badly King Kai, these mercenaries - i'm not even sure they can fight. And King Piccolo - well. He's being unhelpful so far'
'I see. Well, don't despair. Azaka was chosen for a reason, there are plenty of other evildoers the Kai's could have raised or employed, but they chose him. As for Daimao, I imagine he plans to kill you in the end. Be careful
Goku had figured out that much on his own.
'At least he won't kill Piccolo. But if he wants me dead, why not just try now?'
King Kai faltered then, confused.
'Uh...why wouldn't he kill Piccolo?'
'They're linked remember?'
He winced at King Kai's nasal laughter through the mental link.
'They're not. That no longer exists since Piccolo fused with Kami. How shall I put it...the scales are even'
Confusion was evident on Goku's face.
'What? Then why did he-'
"Save Piccolo? You'd have to ask him!'
The rotund blue man laughed again, severing the connection. Goku was irritated. Guess I know what he's been hiding.
Knowing Daimao as he did, and he did have quite the insight, he did know that paternal love was not the reason he had stopped that bullet. No, it goes much deeper than that. Goku promised himself that he would find out exactly how deep, before Daimao had a chance to implement whatever twisted plan he had in mind.
Until next time! Please R&R :)