Chapter 4: DNA
She lifted a finger and dropped a boulder on top of Saitama's head. It split in half on impact he rubbed the spot where it shattered. "Huh? That all you got little girl?" Upon hearing his words she grabbed both ends of the building she had tossed him in and pulled both her forearms together sending them smashing into one another. He popped his head out of the rubble.
"How about we make a game out of this mole rat." She spat. A giant object, that resembled a hammer, made of other junk came together in the air. "Let's see if I can get the high score." The hammer clammed against the ground, Saitama ducked into the dirt at every opportunity to avoid getting hit. With every time she missed the speed of the structure sped up. The bald man had to adjust himself so that she wouldn't get any points.
"Enough of this." She pounded against the entirety of the ground smashing everything within sight. The concrete was crushed into a fine powder, Tatsumaki took a breath and wiped herself down. "Easy." She smiled. "Serves you right for trying to get in my way you octopus."
"You should really stop being so shitty brat." Saitama yawned, he was out of the ground. "Now that we're done playing whack-a- me how about you-" Saitama smashed the boulder tossed at him. "You're just determined to not be cool about this aren't you?"
"Die." Tatsumaki flung out her hands and pulled down, she propelled all the debris at the ground trying to hit her ever swiftly moving target. He was easy to keep track of but at the last second he kept dodging, she needed to fix that. "Tatsumaki please stop!" Cerci called out. She turned back for a moment to see her friend reaching out to her. Maybe it was time to stop, she was clearly stronger than this man, in her own mind.
Saitama stopped and looked back up at the woman, he used his hands to form a makeshift cone. "You done having a hissy fit yet kiddo?" A red tick of anger materialized on Tornado's forehead, her head spun around slowly as if it was a cog in need of oil, her eyes glossed over, she was going to kill that man. She floated back towards the ground, she was done trying to balance her defense and offense.
With a quick flash she tossed up the ground making a tiny dome around Saitama, she began to grind her foot against the ground. Seconds later she compressed it and expected to here the all familiar pleasing sound of a cockroach dying but it never filled her ears. The concrete exploded in all directions the man was still ok, she wasn't too surprised. She lifted a single finger, the rubble of the building formed into a giant tornado by her will and sucked everything in it. With a final thrust she slapped her hand against the ground, everything sucked in following with it. "Goodbye egg head." The heroine clenched her tiny fist stopping the flow of her physic energy, all that was left was a giant hole.
Cerci ran towards the edge yelling, "Saitama! Saitama!" A force reached out to grab her before she got too close. The green haired girl filled in the hole. "No, no, Tatsy...why-why-why did you do that? He- he wasn't as strong as you. I know you knew that, but you went all out anyway." She started weeping. "He was an aspiring hero and yet-"
"This is what happens when people get in my way." She said bluntly. "He stood in my way, I killed him, simple. That's the way the world works." She said emphasizing her last sentence. "The strong will devour the weak, the how its always has been and will be." Cerci dropped the the ground, still crying over the loss of her friend, she didn't know what to think. "Hey," Tatsumaki pulled her in close. "That's why I don't want anything like this to happen to you. How many times am I going have to remind you that its ok to stay behind strong people? So, just stop being a stubborn girl and come with me."
Why did this have to happen, why did his life have to be snuffed out so quickly? These questions swooshed all around in Cerci's mind as she struggled to grasp the words flowing from the lips of the person consoling her. Tatsumaki picked her up and they started walking. "We can order pizza when we-" The ground rumbled. "Huh? Is there a monster out here al-"
The recently filled in hole collapsed on itself. A single figure pulled itself out and rolled its shoulders, next it knocked all the dirt and debris that weaseled its way into his head. "Man that was pretty cool, I got to feel like a worm in the earth." Both womens' eyes popped out of their heads, their jaws dropped at the obscene sight. "Man I wonder where that sassy child went off to, oh over there."
The anger came back, the S class hero released the hold she had on her friend before her anger went through the roof. "You're actually still alive?" She scowled. "It was a pretty big error to try and send you into the earth I suppose. This time," She growled. " I guess I'll have to send you to the moon this time so you can't some back."
"Hm." Saitama thought for a moment. "I actually think I could come back from that."
"Let's test that then."
"No please stop!" Cerci blocked the way.
"Cerci what did I say!" She yelled. "I know what's best for you, stop protecting that idiot over there. He isn't worth the energy to spare or protect." Cerci tried to speak. "Keep your mouth shut. I'm going to finish this then we're going to have a talk." Tatsumaki moved her out of the way, her glare focused solely on the bald headed man. "What does she see in you? You can't be all that."
"I won't let you." She grabbed the heroine's arm. With her glare turned back at her Cerci felt the full fury that was in those eyes. Her body felt as if it was going to cease to function with the overwhelming pressure that was being placed on her. Thoughts surged through her mind, each more horrific than the last, she saw her body tossed, skewed, and crumpled, was Tatsumaki really going to kill her?
"Cerci! Cerci!" Her mind tried to pull her back to reality. "Come on, keep it together! I can't." She responded. "I'm going to fall apart, I'm going to die or maybe I'm already dead. I don't know how long I've been holding her arm. I can feel my entire body pulsing at once, its the only thing I can feel anymore. Maybe I'm just dreaming and I'm about to wake up and- No!" She chomped down on her tongue.
The dark thoughts all subsided. The world came back into frame again. She was still being stared down. This was really happening, she had really done it. There wasn't nay turning back anymore. "Tatsy," She whimpered. "I can't let you keep fighting Saitama anymore."
"Why? Are you going to stop me?"
"I know I can't." She said choking up. "I know I can't even hope to stop you if we had to fight each other, you'd destroy me, obliterate me, you'd leave nothing left in my wake most likely, the only thing you would probably have to do is use two of your fingers to rip me apart, but still- but still- even I know," She paused. "No, I don't know, I believe that with some time I can hope I can be strong too."
"This battle wasn't for you. It might have started because Saitama got in your way and pissed you off but I know the real reason as to why you did this. You told me yourself. You say that its ok to cower behind the strong but for once in my life I see an opportunity to get stronger. You know I'm not much, I'm a total weakling but Saitama," She said looking to him. "He was weak once too, we all were. He wasn't born with a special ability or power, he got strong all on his own. He said he would be my mentor, as far as he's concerned I think that's still pending but but I- I'm sorry Tatsy, I just can't go with you. Even after all you've done for me."
"All I've ever been is a burden to people, I just want to finally get stronger so that I can pull my own weight around for once. Other people have always been standing in front of me taking all the blows while I sit behind them to live another day as a weakling. So please let me- let me-" She said choking up again, tears obscuring her vision.
Tatsumaki's rage subsided. She was angry, pissed, livid, but beneath all of that the strongest feeling was her sense of pride and happiness. This little girl she had looked after all these years had finally stood up to her. She wasn't backing down, she was showing backbone, the hero sighed. "Do you really trust that goblin over there?" She nodded. "And your sure that he can help you get stronger?" Another nod. She sighed again, but smile all the same. "Well that's good enough for me."
"Baldy!" She pointed at Saitama. "You better take good care of her or I swear that I won't go so easy on you next time." She patted Cerci on the head before flying up.. "And if you fail, I'll do more than just kill you."
"I don't plan on letting her die."
"Hey wait up!" Cerci snapped a quick picture. "You look beautiful cascading against the moonlight." The women shook her head and flew off, with only a single doubt in her mind, but she hoped that the next time they would see each other that she would be strong. That's the only thing that she could hope for, maybe fortune smile upon her.
Cerci gulped. "I can't believe that I'm actually still alive. I thought Tatsy was going to kill me for sure."
Saitama picked her up by her collar. She turned around after seeing...a little bit more of her fellow apartment member than she had hoped. "What?" He glanced down. "Oh I'm naked still, wait a second." After he was gone she waited a minute then followed him up to his room. Saitama opened the door for her and let her in. "Good thing I recorded this." He turned off his TV and turned to Cerci.
"So," He began. "Where to begin? There's a lot of things to say like how you're really weak, pathetic to be honest." She knew why did they have to keep reminding her. "But...I can't help but say that I'm surprised at you. I never thought you would have the courage to stand up to someone so much stronger than you, your friend even for someone you don't know that well. That was a little heroic." Saitama rested his hand on her head. "You did great, its official now I'll make you my disciple."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Really really?"
"Really. Yes."
"Really really real-"
He covered her mouth. "Don't say it again or I'm punching you."
Ding-dong. The doorbell next to Saitama's room rang. Someone was pounding on the door as if they were a police officer looking for a felon. They both stood up and looked outside the door to see and elderly man with a peculiar haircut tapped his foot outside impatiently. "Open the door! I know you have Genos inside you fiends!"
"Only one fiend, I'm the only person who lives here, and Rover's too cute to be a fiend." The doctor pointed a blaster at the girl. "Whoa, whoa, Mister I promise I haven't hurt your son at all." He dropped the gun and ushered for her to open the door, she politely did so. The doctor rushed past her and picked up Genos. His hand clamped down on the boy, whatever gloves he had on must have made it easier to carry him.
"Girl," He said. "Help me turn Genos back on. " He opened up the young hero's chest cavity. "What I need is in the backpack. Its a blue object, not very powerful so it won't hurt you. Put that in his chest and it'll turn him back on for a little while." She knew how to follow instructions well to some degree, she picked up the tiny blue object that had the words core plastered over it." As instructed she stuck it inside his chest.
The whirring sound of machinery filled the room. Genos's eyes slowly lit back up, he looked around the room again. "I'm still here." He commented. "Wait...Doctor Kuseno!" Genos jumped up in surprise but how did you...the tracker of course." He shook his own head from forgetting. Genos tripped a bit, his legs still weren't functioning perfectly.
"Come on." Kuseno helped him to his feet. "You've had quite the adventure today haven't you?"
"Yes, I haven't brushed that close to death since that day. I don't know how I'm still alive but they must have done something." Genos he nodded towards Cerci and Saitama. "I lose because of my overconfidence but I'm thankful that I'm still alive to fight another day. Thank you both."
"You saved him?" The Doctor asked.
"Well she did most of the work." Saitama said, he pulled her in front of him putting her face to face with the doctor.
"Well thank you." He shook her hand. "Thank you for saving Genos. He'll be sure to come back and thank you properly very soon." With that the two left and disappeared into the moon light. A flash of a camera could be heard before they got too far out of distance. Genos, the lone cyborg, propped up by an old man, this would be a good first picture for his profile page one day.
~The Next Day~
"Alright." The next day began a little like this. "We're going to get you the first day of your next three years." Saitama crossed his arms. "First let's start off easy with the one hundred squats."
Cerci yawned, it was four o' clock in the morning. Rover managed to catch up and curled up near her feet, he went to sleep seconds after. She doubted that even Saitama ever got up this early, or any sane person with a social life either. "But Saitama I'm still-"
"Done."
"Huh?" She wiped her eyes.
"I did the one hundred squats. Your turn."
"What how did you do that so fast?"
"I just did." He shrugged. "Now get to work." He said lording over her. Cerci could feel it in her gut, by the end of today she was going to be dead. A wicked smile creeped over Saitama's face, for some reason he was going to enjoy this far more than he should. Cerci dropped low and completed her squats, though it had taken many minutes for her to do so but the moment she thought she would get a break Saitama said, "Next one hundred push ups!"
Cerci's lip quivered. The words your dead kept replaying in her mind like a broken audio tape. "My body already hurts."
"No it doesn't." He pulled her up, "Not yet at least. Go!" Rover barked out encouragement to his owner doing whatever he could to keep pushing her forwards, after she had finished the next set came. "Sit ups! Now we finish it up with a ten kilometer sprint!" Saitama sped down the street, Cerci took a moment to throw up before she she started printing. Every second that passed a gust of wind followed behind her, the glistening of a bald head was all she saw in her vision. "Come on." He ran pat. "Keep moving. She felt like she was going to cough up a lung.
The training finished. At the end Cerci truly felt like death. Her master had to drag her up the staircase to their individual apartments. She couldn't feel her own body again. "Rest up." He said tossing her onto her bed spread.
"Ow..." She moaned. "I can't believe he did that everyday for three years. If he wasn't there I might have quit halfway through. I don't know if I'll be able to do this for three full years." She stumbled to her feet and walked out to her balcony, Satiama had gone out to water his cactus. "Well I cam't go back on my word know, Tatsumaki left me in his care so I need to make sure that I at least try to work hard." She sighed. "I'm starving time to get some..." Her voice trailed off.
On the ground there were six beings. "Get her." The lion creature commanded. The praying mantis humanoid bounded towards the window. Cerci rushed back in and locked the door. he tumbled into her kitchen and reached for her frying pan. She turned on the stove to the highest setting and waited. She gulped and looked over the counter top the shadowy figure was still there.
With a mighty thrust the windows shattered. "I am Kamakyuri!" The insect screeched. "By the orders of my master I have been ordered to-"
"Ah!" She yelled. She nailed the mantis over the head with her heated pan causing him to flinch. She kept wailing on him again and again then until they were outside on the balcony again. Now on the edge she kicked him off. "I hate bugs." She muttered.
"Hey you stupid bit-" She tossed the pan back down shutting the mutant up.
"Cerci what are you doing?" Saitama leaned over the stone walls. "Are those your friends?"
"I only have friends of the..." She paused and actually thought for a moment. "The moderate human kind."
"Stop talking you two pissants!" The lion roared. "I'm tired of waiting around." He leapt up and slashed at Cerci's home. She fell back into her room, the beast was filling the entire place and was reaching for her. Rover kept barking, she grabbed her dog and rushed into Saitama's house. "Come back here!"
"Why did you run in here?"
"I was scared! Its not like I can fight them!"
"Hm...alright I'll go talk to them."Saitama opened the door to a singular huge eyeball. "Hello, my name's Saitama and guess what day it is?" Before the Beast King could even speak the hero spoke again. Friday, and that means some of my favorite shows are going to come on for their reruns. So if you could politely please quit obstructing my-"
"Out of the way!" He smacked her mentor out of the way and grabbed Cerci. "You're going to make my master very happy."
"Um if this is what I'm thinking then I need to tell you that I'm not ready to be in a committed relationship."
"Neither is he but we'll make it work."
"Hey." A hand reached through the concrete. "You bust open my door, you need to pay for this."
"Haha, who do you think you are to try and order me around." The lion mutant asked. "I am the Beast King, the second, the third," He mumbled. "Strongest fighter in the House of Evolution. Our master Doctor Genus had ordered us to come capture this girl. Anyone who stand in the way will be dealt with swiftly and without mercy."
"Yes!" Kamakyuri, smashed through the glass. "Now give up unless you want to- huh?"
Saitama's fist flew through the air annhilating the mantis. "And you smashed my roof. I hope your master is rich."
"Hm." The king tossed Cerci to the ground. "Wha!" He yelled. "What are you doing Beast King, we need her alive."
"Let go of me you stupid ape!"
"I happen to be very smart." He roared back, a small mist sprayed in her face, Cerci fell quiet moments later. "It'd be a bit of a problem if you struggle."
"Precisely, so you deal with it." The gorilla groaned. He had been delegated a task, the king was in one of his moods and wanted a fight. There was not stopping him now. "I'll be back after I enjoy this quick fight." Armored gorrila was already gone, the underlings remained with Beast King, they were all eager to see a fight. "Haha! Let's see how much you can handle."
~?~
The lamp lit up, her eyes dilated at the sight. She tried moving her limbs however this time it wasn't because of her body's inability, she was strapped down on a table. "See this is why I never get drunk."
"Interesting tidbit." A voice came. The person's hand glided across the table, they brought up the light to their own face. The person was a man glasses wearing man with dark hair. He smiled wide. "Why hello dear how are you doing this evening?" He asked politely. She didn't speak. "Its rude to not respond to somebody when they speak to you."
"F-fine."
"Good, what is your name?"
"I'm Cerci."
"Good, good." He pried open her eyelids and flashed his own pocket flashlight in them, they dilated as expected. "Hearing, fine, sight, fine, all other senses, don't matter too much. So," He clapped his hands. "Seeing as how you told me your name how about I tell you mine now." He coughed twice. "I am Doctor Genus!" He snapped his fingers the panels all around the room snapped open. "I'm a genius scientist, more than likely not known by your generation."
He wandered over towards on of the orange vats. "I've been studying a variety of forms of evolution for some time now. Over the years a few people such as those in the Hero Association have interested me, my newest interest is in your friend, Tatsumaki."
"Sorry she's only into tall guys."
Slap! "I don't believe you understand the gravity of the situation that you are in. I didn't bring you here just to have you run off at the mouth." He adjusted his glasses and drug over a table, all new tools lying on top. "Aside from Tatsumaki we do have another interest, you."
"Wh-why is that?"
"Its very simple aside from being bait for her your genetics have proven to be very interesting." He slipped on his gloves and medical goggles. "You remember your mother and father correct? You were young when they died so I'm not expecting much." She nodded, she didn't dare to say anything. "Good, then you remember that she had quite the interesting power, if I am recollecting correctly then she had laser eyes." He said putting air quotes around the last two words. Another nod.
He put on a mask to shield himself from blood. "Your father had abnormal strength as well, not very remarkable I've already replicated that and if I think correctly your brother has that one. Now that's where you come in." He reached for the scalpel and let it run along the table, sparks bounced around as it grazed against the table. "I have a hypothesis, I believe that you may be carrying your mother's trait or maybe it died off who knows." He shrugged. "Where to start though? Oh how about we play a game to decide."
"A game?"
He nodded. "It very simple, judging by your grades from high school you should be more than adequate at this. Its easy, guess the number I'm thinking in my head, you get it right this process will begin less painfully."
"P-process, what-" He raised his hand again. "Six."
"Ding ding. Looks like you win." He reached for a larger tool. "Instead of your eyes as I had intended, let's see if you're carrying more of your father's genes." The blue haired girl cried out in fear no one willing to help her was listening. She struggled to pull herself up from the table but to no avail, she was captured. He made a small incision and began, her screams only served to drive the mad man more. "But believe me when I say this," He began. "I'll be getting to those eyes soon."