Truth of The Past
Goku: "Vegeta..."
Vegeta: "I know... Toushiro... You and Gin stay here. We'll call you when it's safe."
Toushiro: "Uh... Ok..."
Gin: "Sure..."
Toushiro and Gin stood back and waited while the two saiyans cautiously walked ahead. They knew better. Both Goku and Vegeta were tense and reacted to even the slightest sound. Whatever it was, it had to be something fierce if it put the two greatest warriors in history on edge. Before the two Soul Reapers eyes, they disappeared behind a corner. A second later, the sound of a heavy door being opened was heard and then... Silence. A long eerie silence surrounded Gin and Toushiro. But just then, the sound of shattering glass followed by a scream-like hiss echoed throughout the corridors! Before the Soul Reapers could react, they heard Goku and Vegeta shouting!
Vegeta: "We can't fight them here! There's not enough room!"
Goku: "Fall back, Vegeta! We must get into more open space!"
No sooner did the Soul Reapers hear that, they heard the unmistakable sounds of hard running! Time to see if Urahara's new gigais worked! Amazingly, Toushiro was able to get his Zanpakuto without any difficulty and stood ready for whatever was coming! Gin stood ready with a kido spell! Only seconds later, Goku came running back! But where was Vegeta? No sooner did Goku turn around with his back towards the Soul Reapers, Vegeta came into view... And he wasn't alone! The saiyan prince spun around a full 180 degrees and roared at a frightening creature behind him! It was nothing but muscle and veins with huge hands that it used for front feet. Those hands yielded enormously long claws! It had no eyes or a nose and its mouth had sharp teeth. But the one thing that made this disgusting creature identifiable was a long tongue that it would lash out at its victim with! Without warning, the terrifying monster hurled itself at Vegeta with its claws poised to tare into flesh!
Toushiro: "Vegeta!"
Toushiro thought for sure that he was about to watch his best friend get torn apart! But that didn't happen. What did happen was that the saiyan prince rolled onto his back just as the monster was right over him! Without missing a beat, Vegeta shoved his hands against the creatures chest and used his right foot to kick the monster passed him and into the broken bars of a cage, killing it instantly! A few moments of silence past before Goku started whooping with joy.
Goku: "Wahoo! Talk about a close call!"
Vegeta: "Who was it that had it thought!"
Toushiro: "What the hell was that thing!"
Gin: "Better question is, are there any more?"
Goku: "To answer your question, Toushiro... That thing is what we call Lickers because of those long tongues that they use to attack and drag their victims over to them to eat them alive! They love'm fresh!"
Toushiro: "Really? Really, Goku! Did you have to give me such a gross vivid image!"
Gin: "Yeah, seriously! I've seen and heard some nasty things before, but that just takes the cake!"
Suddenly, a whole horde of those creatures came around the corner!
Vegeta: "That answer your question, Gin!"
Gin: "Unfortunately!"
Goku: "Run! We won't last a second in an open space like this!"
And the four of them started to run in the opposite direction! Looking back, Toushiro saw at least 10 to 15 of those things chasing them. They were fast, the two saiyans and two Soul Reapers were barely staying ahead of the horde. When they turned a corner, they saw a steel door at the far end of a narrow corridor. They all ran to the door. When they got to it, it was firmly locked. Goku and Vegeta immediately began ramming the door.
Goku: "Ram it harder Vegeta!"
Vegeta: "What the hell do you think I'm doing!"
This door was seriously reinforced if the two strongest warriors on earth were having trouble getting it open. Toushiro and Gin could only watch as the two saiyans worked on the door. But they quickly turned around as the horde of monsters came around the corner and started running towards them! But just as they did, Goku kicked the door as hard as he could and it flew open! With the Licker horde only feet away, Toushiro did one of the bravest things the two saiyans had ever seen someone do against these creatures!
Gin: "Hitsugaya!"
Toushiro drew his sword and took aim at the horde!
Toushiro: "Reign over the frosted heavens, Hyorinmaru!"
The great ice/water dragon shot out of the young captain's blade and went directly towards the horde of monsters. It crashed into the floor and ice quickly covered the whole corridor, encasing the Licker horde in the process. Even if there were any surviving Lickers, they couldn't get through as the thick ice completely blocked the path. Needless to say, Goku was very impressed by this kids strength.
Goku: *Whistles* "Now that is scary."
Vegeta: "You know what's even scarier, Kakarot. I've yet to see him fight at full strength."
Goku: "Ewww... Pray it's not on you, Vegeta."
Toushiro re-sheathed his sword and looked at the 3 men.
Toushiro: "What?"
Vegeta: "Nothing. Nothing at all."
Goku: "Come on. Let's get out of here."
Goku was the first to walk through the door with Gin, Vegeta and Toushiro behind him. They were now at the shipping docks. A huge ship was siting just in front of them. It was enormous! It looked like it could hold a population of 3 entire cities the size of West City!
Gin: "Now that's a ship."
Toushiro: "Really."
Goku and Vegeta were looking at the ship when they saw something on board.
Vegeta: "There he is!"
Goku: "Hurry! Let's get on while we have the chance!"
The two saiyans hurried to find away on board the gigantic ship with Toushiro and Gin racing to keep up. Evidentially, they must have seen their target. They found a ladder that they could use to climb onto the ship's deck.
Goku: "You first, Vegeta. You're better at detecting ambushes then I am."
Vegeta: (Sarcastically) "How kind of you."
Vegeta started to climb the ladder. Toushiro tried to follow him but Goku held him back.
Goku: "Let Vegeta check to make sure it's safe first."
The young captain looked back at his saiyan friend as he reached the top. Vegeta scanned the whole area before climbing over the ladder and onto the deck. Down below, Goku and the two Soul Reapers waited for a signal to come up. A moment later, a huge infected man carrying a gatling gun was thrown over the side and into the dark sea. With such a heavy weapon on him, he had no chance of getting to the surface. Just after the water went quiet, Vegeta peered over the railing. It was the signal that Goku had been waiting for.
Goku: "Ok. All clear. You first, Toushiro. Gin, you're next."
Goku helped the young captain as he started to climb the ladder. When Toushiro was halfway up, Goku sent Gin up next. By the time Gin was halfway up, Vegeta was helping Toushiro climb over the railing. Toushiro only looked around at the ship's deck as the saiyan prince helped Gin over the side and then finally Goku. Right after Goku was on board, Vegeta warned him of the situation.
Vegeta: "Stay alert, Kakarot. The deck is just crawling with these things."
Goku: "We'll just have to move quietly and carefully then."
They began to stealthily make their way across the ship's deck. Goku was in the lead with Gin behind him. Vegeta took up the rear and he had an issue with Toushiro constantly trying to walk next to or behind the prince when the mighty saiyan wanted the boy to stay in front of him for safety reasons. He kept having to shove the child prodigy with his head. Finally, Toushiro got the message and stayed in front of his second lieutenant. Only minutes after they had boarded the ship, that it began to move. Now they were crossing the ocean to who knows where. Vegeta wasn't kidding when he said that the deck was crawling with the infected men. The four of them were literally hugging the crates and walls as much as they could, using the shadows to avoid being seen. Whenever they came up to a corner, Goku would stop them and slowly peer over the side. Almost 90 percent of the time, there would be an enemy or two standing there. Fortunately, they all would have their backs turned or were just looking off to the side. This presented an opening that the two saiyans took advantage of. Goku would have Vegeta come up next to him and they would quickly plot out an ambush. With complete silence, they both would begin to sneak up on their targets. Toushiro and Gin were told to stay put. The two saiyans didn't want either of them to get involved. If fact if they had had it their way, Goku and Vegeta would have come alone. Both Soul Reapers watched in amazement as these two seasoned warriors snuck up on their targets and silenced them permanently without making a sound. Toushiro was even more amazed at the fact that there were many times when each saiyan knew just what the other was going to do without giving a single word or signal. It was clear of how strong of a team these two made. An hour into their stealthy journey across the deck and they were just about to reach the center. The ship seemed endless. Toushiro was beginning to wonder if they would ever find Zabar. He always seemed to be one step ahead of them no matter what they did! It didn't help in the fact that neither Gin or himself had any clue as to what this Zabar guy looked like. For all they know, he could have seen him and not know it! But then again, they were with Goku and Vegeta and those two were very familiar with Zabar. And if Goku was aggressive about finding Zabar, then he was a guy that there would be no mistaking for someone else! Toushiro began to try and picture this guy in his head from the descriptions that he already knew. But that ended when they walked past the next corner that would have taken them to the ship's main deck, and Vegeta stopped cold in his tracks. The saiyan's halt was so sudden that Toushiro almost walked into him.
Toushiro: "Vegeta, what's wrong? Why'd you stop?"
But he didn't answer. Instead, he stood frozen in place while glaring at something with serious intensity, like a hunting dog pointing at it's master's target. Suddenly, Goku was doing the same thing. Both saiyans stood in place, their eyes locked onto something with a fiery gaze of hatred. Their whole bodies were tense, as if ready to unleash their full fury at any moment! Toushiro and Gin looked at one another and then stepped out to see what had the warriors attentions. What they saw was both terrifying and mysterious at the same time. A tall man with blond hair, wearing all black clothes and wore sunglasses. He stood before them strait and confident. But what was terrifying about him was that his face... Was emotionless. Then, with a cold tone to his voice, he spoke to them.
"Welcome, Goku... Vegeta. I see you've brought some new friends with you... Soul Reapers if I'm not mistaken."
That sent a shiver down Toushiro's spine. He knew what they were?
Goku: "What are you up to Zabar?"
Toushiro suddenly turned to Goku in shock! This was Zabar?
Zabar: "What makes you think I'm up to something? Maybe I just wanted to see my old comrades from S.T.A.R.S."
Vegeta: "Cut the bullshit, Zabar! We know that isn't true!"
Goku: "So what are you really up to, huh! It's over! Wesker is dead!"
Zabar: "And that is exactly why I am here. The great lord Albert Wesker may be gone, but I still live on! He entrusted me with his work and power, to make sure that his destiny of cleansing the world of the weak and inferior was fulfilled! With them gone, I will rise up to lead those worthy by his eyes with the name Albert Wesker worshiped as the god of gods!"
Toushiro: "What did he say?"
Goku: "You monster!"
Zabar: "The only problem was you two. Especially you, Vegeta. You were always sticking your nose where it didn't belong! My lord knew that it was only a matter of time before you stumbled onto his little secret. I offered to kill you myself but my lord said no, fearing that you, Goku, would suddenly become suspicious about Vegeta's death. But there was something else too... My lord was curious... He wanted to see what would result from the two of you."
Goku: "What do you mean?"
Zabar just smiled. That was how Vegeta put everything together.
Vegeta: "Now I get it... You sick, twisted bastard!"
Goku: "Vegeta, what is he saying?"
Vegeta: "Don't you get it, Kakarot?... They had the whole thing planed out! You weren't sent to investigate those murders... Bravo Team was sent as the first test subjects for Wesker's twisted experiments! Your crash was no accident either... It was to remove your only means of escape and to bait Alpha Team. S.T.A.R.S was the best of the best in special units... Perfect test subjects."
Goku looked at Vegeta in horror. Gin and Toushiro just gazed at the saiyan in terror. Suddenly, Zabar started clapping.
Zabar: (Clapping his hands) "Well done, Vegeta. (Ends clapping) I knew you would be the first to figure it out."
Vegeta: "But there is one thing I want to know... Was it the whole S.T.A.R.S team that you wanted to sacrifice? Or... Where they just unfortunate victims that played a part in baiting Kakarot and me?"
Zabar: "I think you know the answer to that, Vegeta."
Vegeta just growled even more. Goku realized what Vegeta had. It was them that they wanted, not the whole S.T.A.R.S team.
Vegeta: "How long have you known?"
Zabar: "Since the two of you became S.T.A.R.S members. My lord was curious to see what the virus' would do to alien DNA."
Toushiro: "What is he talking about, Vegeta?"
Goku: "What he's talking about, Toushiro, is that he and Wesker have known since the beginning that Vegeta and I weren't human!"
Zabar: "Exactly. What a shame my lord couldn't witness your demise."
Goku: "What do you mean!"
Zabar: "You four will be the first to bare witness to the awesome power of the Uroboros."
Off to Zabar's right, a man was staggering around of the main deck. The man then fell to the floor and started coughing. Zabar suddenly started to retreat.
Zabar: "Oh, and thank you for bringing those two Soul Reapers with you. They will be perfect test subjects as well."
The four of them turned their attention back to the man. He suddenly screamed and a mass of black, leech/worm like things shot out of his mouth! In a matter of seconds, the mass had devoured the person and was now moving as a single entity.
Vegeta: "What the hell!"
Zabar: "Farewell, old friends!"
Zabar disappeared, leaving Goku, Vegeta, Toushiro and Gin to face this new monster alone. The leech/worm like things crawled all over as they took the shape of a person and started walking towards them. The four of them began backing up. There was no mistaking it. This was Uroboros.
