Chapter 2 - The Dart

If you do not clearly see the phrase "To be continued..." at the bottom of this page, then the page hasn't loaded properly or completely.

The text in olive is a 3rd person narative which Sakina knows nothing about. It's kinda like my way of explaining what happens outside of what Sakina sees. I will be using a lot of this in the chapters to come, so don't just forget about it after this chapter!

"Pick your battles big enough to win, small enough to matter." - Source unknown (so I can't remember! Sue me! ...Uh, on second thought, don't.)

Every time I go through the portals, I take the chance that I might run into one of the Black Plague's minions or even the Black Plague himself since energy can't be sensed crossing from either side. To top it all off, the experience itself if not one which I would want to have every day.

First comes a sharp feeling of falling or rising coupled by a blinding flash of light that sends the traveler down something which seems like a long tube. The appears like it is lit up by a constantly shifting mass of blue and green light. Then comes a sense of complete disorientation as the traveler is spun around so fast that normal people become more than nauseated. At this point, any attempt to stop the spinning would result on the perpetrator being thrust into a dimension unknown. I have only witnessed this scene once and it is enough to deter me from attempting it. After spinning for a while, the traveler will usually get used to the sensation and it will seem like he or she is standing still as long as that person doesn't open his or her eyes. Any vocalizations within this point sound flat and meaningless as if there is nothing there to carry the vibration even though the air still exists. Then, a terrible, gut-wrenching feeling jerks all of the person's senses at once as all directions change instantly and the spinning stops suddenly. Finally, the traveler arrives in the new world, spit out of the portal like a piece of old chewing gum. Each time, the person will land on the ground dizzy, disoriented, and utterly helpless. When I go through, it takes me almost a minute to reorient myself, a minute where I am left totally defenseless to whatever is on the other side. Like I said, it's not something I would want to go through every day.

Today was no different than any other. The bright light, spinning, nausea, disorientation, and finally the rough landing all made themselves very real on this day.

When I was spit out of the portal, I felt a sharp smack on my forehead as if I had hit something extremely hard. Everything in my sight was a blur, I had no clue where the ground was, and the throbbing pain on my forehead didn't help one bit. Jeez! It's really hard to get used to that.... I mumbled, though it must have sounded like a foreign language to anyone who heard me. I located the ground, tried to push myself up, but was overcome by dizziness and fell over again with an Anyone who has just come out of the portals (besides the Black Plague for some reason) is always a comical sight to see.

Dianna called. In my disoriented state, I could barely tell what she was saying let alone if it contained laughter, warning, or a scolding thought. Dianna had been the first one through the portal and I was the last, so her minute was probably already almost up.

I managed to squeeze out through my nausea. I'm sure it didn't sound anything like , more like .

I shut my eyes to stop the image from spinning and making me dizzier and groaned. Things were slowly getting better and I could now detect sound clearly. I placed my hands over my face and pressed down to stop the pain on my forehead. I had probably hit a rock again.

Dianna called again. This time, I could detect the worry in her voice.

I growled through my hands.

she half stuttered, half gasped. It was something bad, but I couldn't do anything about it at the moment.

Dianna, I can't do anything right now. I still feel like throwing up. I groaned, the sound muffled by my hands while I massaged my throbbing forehead. I gave up after a few more seconds and lay sprawled out on my back facing what I believed to be the sky. I opened my eyes; the entire thing was blurry and still spinning. I breathed deeply and sighed the air out.

Over to my left I heard the sounds associated with a fight. Oh, shit. I thought. What's going on now?

Sakina! MOVE!! Dianna screamed a second later. I rolled over on my stomach while my whole body shrieked in protest, therefore, I just barely dodged a crushing blow delivered to where my head had been a moment earlier.

I growled as I began to struggle to get to my feet. This is not going to be a good day... halfway through my struggle, I felt a sharp bite in my back. My hand whipped back there in an instant causing me to lose my balance and fall back on my face. My fingers brushed up against something feathery and soft connected to a short shaft. I yanked it out and winced in pain. It was at that time that my ki-sensing ability kicked back in. Behind me, a particularly small Rodent stood, probably not more than a month old. The thing I had pulled from my back was a dart, probably tipped in poison as otherwise it would be pointless of them to shoot me with it. I already was beginning to feel a searing, white-hot pain shoot up my back all around the entrance area. I put the dart in my jacket's front pocket, its only pocket, and sighed. My sense of balance more-or-less returned and I stood up. Until I was completely oriented again, I wouldn't be able to go SSJ. Since my eyes were still floating around, I would have to rely on my ki sense to tell me what was going on. It was a small band of Rodents that had jumped us; I counted 12. Two of them were picking on Max and Sarah and Katrine was fighting and losing to two herself. Dianna was working on blasting 6 of them and was holding her own in doing so. That left me with the runt and the one with the nasty footwork who now stood off to my left side, readying for another attack. These Rodents had obviously not been in any of the groups that had met me before or they would have all tackled me at once to bring me out of commission.

I took a fighting pose, ignoring the creeping back pain. Dammit, I hoped the suspected poison wasn't fast-acting! There was a sudden movement to my left. I brought my arms into a defensive position thereby catching and deflecting a nasty kick from the larger Rodent. My opponent was stunned, and I used this moment of confusion to deliver a blow of my own. Deprived of its defenses, even though the punch half-missed, the little animal took heavy damage. The 2-foot-tall, long-tailed, beady-eyed creature promptly reconsidered me as a tough opponent and struck again. This time, my gut took the blow. At that instant, my sight fully returned. I staggered back a bit, caught my breath, and floated up a way. There, I powered up to SSJ, hoping that no other bands of Rodents were near enough to notice, and stretched my hands toward the Rodents that had been my opponents, palms out.

I was going to use an attack that my father had learned by witnessing Goku as he used it during the Cell Games. I shouted as I began to gather energy into my hands. I continued. the ball of energy flickered and appeared in my palms before beginning to grow at a rapid pace. the Rodents tried to use their electric bolts to reach me where their fists could not, but I was up too high even for that. I concluded as I fired the large ball of energy in the form of a beam toward the Rodents. They were disintegrated from existence as soon as the blast overtook them.

Dianna had already defeated five of her opponents and was working on the last and strongest one full power now. I flew over to Katrine, snatched her two assailants up into the air with one arm, and delivered another blast to them, instantly defeating them. They weren't very strong. Katrine then began to fight the small Rodent which was hurting Sarah and Dianna, who defeated her last opponent, began to walk over to the other Rodent which was apparently the boss of the group; his power level was highly apparent in my senses like a match when the flame is at my fingertips. He was standing on his tail and slapping Sarah around continuously while she cried. As Dianna approached with a furious look on her face, the , as I knew the subspecies to be called, dropped Sarah to face this new and more exciting opponent. Katrine defeated the last remaining , as her opponent's subspecies was known. Dianna stopped about 12 feet from the Rodent and they both sized each other up. A white fireball appeared around Dianna and the Rodent took a scouter reading. After a few seconds, the mechanical device beeped and the Rodent laughed.

Then, he spoke. Apparently, this was a rare feat for the older members of the Black Plague's force of minions, but this skill had become mandatory for the younger soldiers. Your power level is less than one-twentieth of mine! Hahaha! he laughed. Dianna flared, gritting her teeth. Her tail flicked angrily back and forth. I see. You must be of that dying race, the Saiyins. My master has already killed many of you; he made it seem so easy too. I've heard from him that two still exist that we know of. One of them was let go for a future battle. He nodded upward toward where I floated above them. That must be her; I vaguely recognize her from my master's description. The purple locks when she's calm or slightly miffed, the yellow spikes and energy oval when she's angry. That is how it works, am I right? he waited for a while and upon receiving no answer from either of us, continued himself. The poison that my smallest in-training private delivered to her would kill her within a few hours if she was a normal human, but I'll give her maybe three days to live, two to be active, just because she's special. he smirked at the last word. Dianna's fireball flared even more and mine grew slightly. This guy was beginning to get me POed. As I am sure you don't already know, I am Admiral Chu, the highest commander of the Rodent Army. Yes, we stole our ranking system from the Navy of one of the other worlds, but it does come in quite handy. My only master is the Black Plague himself, and he would hate me to pieces if I shredded his chew toy before he got a crack at her. he shook his head slightly to indicate me. My lip curled into a snarl and my power level rose about 100 points. The war was almost over before it began. Unless I could find an antidote for the poison... we would be down not just one, but two fighters as my counterpart would also die. The countdown till crunch time began roughly at noon. He floated up a little bit, shocking both Dianna and I a few points down our power levels. Ah, you see, I have learned how to use electromagnetic energy fields to move around in the air as you do. Quite handy, if I do say so myself. I clenched my fists and snarled even more, therefore unintentionally raising my power level again. He shifted to face me more fully. I see that a Saiyin's anger is the key tool in releasing their power. Quite intriguing, actually. If there weren't so few of you left, I'd want to do a study on your abilities. he took a scouter reading of me. he shrieked when the scouter finally beeped. You are indeed a worthy opponent, only around 100,000 points below my power level! Truly extraordinary! I am in the multiple-millions, as I am sure you can sense. Oh well. I have orders not to kill you, so I'll have to settle with destroying these four in compensation for what you did to my troops-

No you won't!!! I screamed as I flew with most of my speed at the 3-and-a-half-foot-tall monster, catching him off-guard and firing a punch through his armor that sent him reeling into the ground, creating a nice crater. I rested in my new position for a second or two before he got to his feet and continued to talk, spitting to his side.

Hmmm. I must admit, that was a nice punch. It did a bit of damage. Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm.... But if you'll excuse me, he turned to Dianna who was now almost growling in suppressed rage. I have some business to take care of. he flew full speed at Dianna, a speed that I could barely track let-alone see or counter for her, and kicked her face aside while delivering a powerful blast of electricity to her. Dianna fell over, shocked and with her hair smoking. The Rodent landed next to her, laughing. Max broke into a temper-tantrum and rushed to the Rodent to pummel it with plenty of ineffective blows.

You leave my sister alone, you big bully! he yelled, crying.

The Rodent gleefully smiled, flicked him back with one finger, and turned to where he landed. At the same moment he turned, Sarah ran to the Rodent, followed closely by Katrine, in hopes that she could succeed where her brother could not. When they got within two feet of the creature, they stopped suddenly as if they had run into a brick wall. Admiral Chu was using an electromagnetic field to stop them. He moved a finger and the two girls went flying back in Max's direction. Katrine flew farther than Sarah and struck a wedge of concrete. Dianna overcame her shock and rushed at him, but he dodged her and sent another lighting bolt through her system. The Rodent's full attention was on the four people below me, so I flew higher and began to charge up for another energy attack.

I whispered, positioning myself in the same pose I had held the last time I used the attack. the Rodent kicked Dianna's already-hurting stomach and she winced, giving almost no resistance as her energy was almost all drained. he kicked her again and she threw up. he laughed and turned to walk over to where Max and Sarah landed. The ball of energy was absolutely huge before me. I just hoped his scouter didn't alert him to it. I shouted as I released it. The energy ball impacted with a devastating effect. Katrine and the kids were pushed back to the edge of a giant pile of rubble, Dianna tumbled over the edge and to the other side where she was sheltered from the debris that flew out her way, and various rocks and other fragments of rubble flew into the portals. I just hoped that they didn't hit any innocent people on the other side. When the explosion was over, the dust cloud that remained covered everything except for the outside ring where Katrine and her kids now were and the sheltered ditch that contained Dianna. I was panting from the effort put into that Kamehameha and floated down toward Dianna after a few seconds to see how she was doing. Hey girl. I spoke softly as not to hurt her ears. Are you ok?

I'm just fine. she tried to get up, but couldn't and fell again. Ok, so maybe that creep took a few bites out of me. No big deal. I'll be good enough to fly again in about a minute. Just let me rest. Can you check on Mom, Max, and Sarah for me? I need to know if they're alright. she winked at me and gave me a thumbs up. I knew she would be alright.

I kicked off the ground, now partially rested, and flew around the dust cloud to land by the kids. They were standing up and apparently ok. Katrine was walking slowly toward where I now was. Everyone surprisingly suffered only minor injuries. I was still in the SSJ form.

Is Dianna ok? were the first words out of Katrine's mouth a few minutes later when she finally reached us.

Yeah, she's alright. I was just over there. I rubbed my stinging back, noticing for the first time just how much it hurt.

What about that poison? Katrine continued, now worried about me since her daughter was reportedly ok. What are we going to do?

I figure that if your Gohan is still anything like what my father displayed him to be, a great scholar and all in the realm of biology and chemistry, he'll be able to figure out an antidote. I sounded sure of myself, though the truth was I doubted my would work. Well, I'm going to go tell Dianna that you're all ok. I told them after a few more minutes of thoughtful silence. The dust cloud had dissipated quite a bit, so I kicked off and flew straight into it, holding my breath along the way. Inside the dust cloud, the particles still stung my eyes so I shut them too.

Suddenly, while I was still inside the cloud, something snatched my leg and pulled me down. I shrieked and struggled, but to no avail, so I tried to away at top speed. All this did was create a wind what swept the rest of the dust away and revealed my assailant's identity. It was Admiral Chu.

Listen closely and remember well the name of the foe whom you fought for it will be the sound of doom in your ears! he growled with something resembling fire ablaze in his eyes. I am Admiral Chu and no one defies MEEEE! he screamed as he whipped the sharp tip of his tail into my back and delivered a powerful blast of electricity.

I screamed in pain like a wild animal caught by a predator. When the blast was finally over, he let me fall to the ground, now robbed of my SSJ form, my violet hair again streaming down my face. I hit the ground with a dull thud, but didn't feel it as the slice in my back was robbing my other senses of their effectiveness. I thought, I couldn't just mind my own business. I just had to pick on a talking, lightning-throwing rat. I could have just raced everyone away from here, but noooooo- My thoughts were cut short by someone's hand placed on my shoulder. I was still twitching from the left over static.

It was Dianna. She was still weak, but had gotten over here nonetheless. Admiral Chu laughed overhead at her attempt at comforting me. He had the upper hand and we all knew it.

Dammit, this sucks. I plainly stated. We've got to get out of here. Dammit, I dunno if I can still fly...

That's ok. I have a plan. she whispered. I turned my head slightly to see her smiling.

Must be better than anything I could come up with right now. I struggled a bit and managed to get on my hands and knees. Hope it works. I gave her a thumbs-up before running out of energy and crashing back to the ground, breathing heavily.

Dianna flew up angrily to where Admiral Chu floated confidently. You want a piece of me? she challenged him. You want one? Well, come get one. I ain't got all day! she screamed, firing a small energy ball which Admiral Chu dodged with ease.

Is that the best you've got? he mocked her. Well, I'll accept your challenge, though it isn't much of one. he rushed at her and she dodged by pure luck and floated upwards toward the sun...

That was her plan!?!?

Dianna put one hand on each side of her face and shouted, SOLAR FLARE!!! A blinding flash of light was reflected into Admiral Chu's eyes, blinding him temporarily. A moment after the flash, a huge force hit me in the stomach and before I knew what was going on, I was flying with it and away from our foe. Dianna had picked me up along with her family and was now flying as fast as she could in her chosen direction. I relaxed and lost consciousness as the wave of adrenaline caught up with me. Little did I know just how precious that rest would seem in comparison to the things to come...

***
In the home base of the Black Plague...

You stupid fool! a booming voice rang out from the darkness of a large, dark, science-fictiony room. In the middle of the room, Admiral Chu cowered in a spotlight.

B-but master, I- he stammered.

the Black Plague demanded. I gave you strict orders not to touch that girl! She will be MY prey! IS THAT CLEAR!?!

Y-yes sir! Admiral Chu choked in compliance out of his fear for his master.

Good. I am assigning you a new trainee group in a few days. Starting tomorrow, all of the top officers of the Rodents will congregate here for a meeting. There was a short pause, and then the Black Plague addressed Admiral Chu on the subject of how his job was to be carried out. You may do as you like with the other life forms on these worlds, but if that girl, that Sakina survives the poison, she is mine.

***

I don't know how long I was unconscious, but when I awoke, I was in a strange, metal-walled room.

She's awake! someone shouted. The voice struck me as oddly familiar, though I couldn't quite place the flitty, little-girlish attitude it carried with it.

That's good. Katrine responded. I was getting worried.

Max, get me some more cold water and a clean cloth. I bet she has a headache after all that. That was Dianna, and she couldn't have been more right. I felt like I had been hit by a comet. I rolled onto my side and groaned. I was in a bed and covered by a blanket; someone had taken my jacket, shoes, and sword and apparently placed them at the foot of the bed. I opened my eyes slowly and they adjusted to the light. Two men directly ahead of me sat in chairs, one looked around 75 with gray hair that stood in a style only described as the after effect of sticking a fork in a wall outlet, the other one looked only around 50 years old and had slightly graying hair that flopped over to one side. The second man sat in a wheel chair with his arms and legs strapped in and covered. He looked as though paralyzed from the neck down. I sensed Katrine at the head of the bed and Dianna was tending to me, though she herself was in terrible condition. Someone else was rushing around her. She was a young girl around my age for what I could guess about her flitty attitude. Max and Sarah were being go-fors and retrieving the things that Dianna and the other girl asked for.

Dianna placed a cold cloth on my forehead. It felt really good and I smiled lightly, shifting in the covers. She laughed at my almost comical expression.

Hey girl, you're safe in the Nest, our home base. So, how are you doing? That was one awful blow you took. Our isolation chamber is out-of-order, so first aid is all we can offer. Here, it's time to change the bandage on your back... she leaned over and I relaxed for a moment, then shot straight up as if a bullet had hit me before Dianna even touched the bandage underneath my black T-shirt.

OMG! The poison! I yelled, wide-eyed. I was running on energy reserves I didn't even know I had now. Where's Gohan? I'm going to die if I don't get that antidote! How long was I down? I asked rapidly as if I had just drank 15 pots of coffee and eaten a truckload of sugar.

You weren't down for too long. Dianna assured me. Only about 3 hours. Considering your injuries, you should have been out longer. Gohan's over there. she pointed to the 50-year-old man.

I stood up quickly, but a sharp pain in my back brought be back down to the bed. I continued when I had gotten a hold of myself. Gohan, you're a great scholar, right? Well, while I was fighting, some twerp got me with a poisoned dart.

He nodded, beginning to assess the situation. I see. Do continue.

Well, I have the dart in my jacket's front pocket. Admiral Chu said I have 3 days to live, 2 until I can't fight anymore if I don't get an antidote for the poison.

He nodded again. Sarah, bring me that dart from her pocket and be careful not to touch the tip. Sarah did so.

There's one more thing. We have a theory why the Trunks and Bulma of your world died-

the other man interrupted me, Katrine already explained that. he growled. In case you can't figure it out with that thick skull of yours blocking the way, I'm Vegita, and I don't like it that my only living relative will die if you happen to screw up. he scowled at me.

Grandpa! Don't be so mean. She saved Dianna's life! the other girl yelled at the man. I was shocked as I saw her for the first time. It was almost like looking into a mirror. She wore a blue girl power T-shirt and ripped blue jeans. Her purple hair was kept neatly in two pigtails to either side of her head and she wore a huge grin on her face. The only major difference between us (besides the clothing and hair style choices and our obviously different perspectives of life) was the fact that she had a tail and I didn't.

You're my counterpart, I can safely guess. I said matter-of-factly.

Yep! That's me! I'm Ki-ki! she told me in her hyper, little-girl's voice.

I'll guess that's your nickname. You can just call me Sakina. I sighed and relaxed as my remaining energy gave out and let me fall back to my original position on the bed. Dianna changed my bandage at last and Gohan began to study the poison on the dart by levitating it around.

Hmmm... I'll have to run some tests. His wheelchair drove through an automatic door as if directed by his thoughts (which, as I later found out, it was) and into a lab set up with a few almost-empty bottles of various chemicals, a few microscopes of varying power, and various tools. The door shut behind him and began his work with Sarah as his aid.

Vegita scowled some more.

I closed my eyes, but continued to talk. So, you're my grandpa. You're everything my dad told me you were. I smiled lightly.

Mirai Trunks. He was a good kid. Vegita sighed. Not like Chibi, he was a real brat, all the kids of this time are.

Hey! Don't talk about my daddy that way! Ki-ki scolded him.

Vegita rolled his eyes and re-gained his hard-faced scowl. I let out one sigh as a
giggle.

In my world, you're already dead. I told him. Defeated by the androids.

You're father told me that already. He growled at the inconvenience of hearing that again.

I sighed again. I'm going back to sleep. Wake me up if you need me. When I'm rested enough, I'll show you all what I can do before... I thought a bit. I was already considering another confrontation with the Rodents, but especially Admiral Chu. Before I go take care of some business. I rolled back over and was asleep before anyone could ask me as to clarify what I meant.

To be continued... And I know you can't wait! ;)