Chapter Twelve
Krillin felt a pit of unease settle in his stomach. It had been there for much the day, or night—they were starting to get blurry at this point—but at the moment it seemed more palpable. The room he had been left in was quiet, its walls thick enough that they didn't let any sound through; it was neatly furnished, more like a boardroom than a room in a military encampment, with a long table with a dozen seats and a television set stuck on a wall at the far end. The opposite end Krillin looked towards was made of glass and he could see a plethora of people milling about, most in black uniform and a few carrying large guns.
Even without seeing the soldiers, Krillin could feel them. Burning sparks of life that shone through his mind, each with subtle differences that, if he had the time, he could be able to learn and be able to differentiate from the other. But at the moment there was no time, instead his ability to sense life energy was being used as more meditative means.
Garlic's father is dead, the man thought, his expression deep in a frown and his thumb in his mouth, its nail being slowly nibbled at. But all of this seems to be Garlic working to bring him back. The question was how?
Krillin took a breath, casting his mind on Garlic's moves, trying to match them with his motives. The man had attacked Krillin, ordered his minions to kill him while he himself had stayed in the Lookout; Goku and Chiaotzu had gone in search of him after which Garlic had transported around the world, catching Gohan and Goku's students in his mist and controlling them; then he'd tried the mist on Goku and Chiaotzu, succeeding in getting the latter.
The man frowned in consternation, letting his hand run over his hair before he got back into his thinking pose. Maybe the initial attack had been a sort of distraction, Krillin thought, serving the purpose of calling the most powerful people towards the Lookout where he could get them all in one easy place to infect them with the mist, but then that didn't make any sense, a high number of powerful people would mean he would be defeated quicker. Had the target being Gohan from the beginning then? Was Garlic still holding on to the grudge of having been defeated by a child that he had wanted him alone?
Krillin shook his head, the explanation didn't hold up to scrutiny. If Garlic had wanted to kill Gohan, fight him and regain his honour, then he would have had more than enough time without interruption. There was more to all this. Garlic had gone in and immediately infected Gohan, got him on his side. He'd instantly gone after what he had believed the most powerful person on earth, and assumption that was not wrong by any account. Krillin had felt the potential of the kid and it was a power that scared him.
Why then would Garlic just leave Gohan at the Lookout? If the short man had wanted the young saiyan-human's power then why just abandon him?
Chiaotzu.
The only reason Krillin had been able to get an upper hand had been because of quick thinking on his part, and the fact that though he wasn't taking a direct involvement, Korin had still given him Senzu beans.
Maybe Garlic's after power, Krillin thought. Even he couldn't have Goku then he would take the next best thing in Chiaotzu. He himself had been target too after all with all the mist Garlic had been flooding into the floor of the Lookout.
"He wants power," Krillin muttered to himself. But where did the man's father fit into all this?
Garlic's father was dead. The dead could not be brought back to life except with the dragon balls…and by Baba. Krillin felt like slapping himself that he hadn't thought of the answer hours earlier. Baba was a Witch of the Dead. She could temporarily bring others to life if she wanted to, something she had done for Goku to fight his grandfather, Gohan.
How would Garlic know about her though?
Krillin shook his head. It honestly didn't matter. It was a lead.
He felt a sudden sense of excitement but he balked as he thought on the explanation he was supposed to give. Krillin had told the military all he could, honestly, but even as he'd explained he'd felt that telling them about the Lookout would be a mistake, and, trusting his instincts, he hadn't. He still wasn't entirely sure how his mind worked, the Lookout was a giant building which floated in the sky, Krillin didn't hide it when he went to the Lookout to visit Mr Popo, and yet actually telling them about the Lookout brought him discomfort.
He was surprised that they would need to be told anyway or perhaps they were amusing his attempts at hiding the obvious.
He'd told them all he knew about Garlic, told them that the man was immortal though when he had been asked how this had been achieved Krillin had outright lied and told them he didn't know. The warrior didn't entirely trust them with the dragon balls. He knew that the military was working for the betterment of the earth, but he still couldn't trust them entirely. The power of the dragon balls had no limit and so there was no limit to what they might do with it. The amount of control they might impose on the earth.
It also helped that since Kami was dead and there were no dragon balls they weren't exactly relevant, at least those were the words Krillin told himself. But how would he explain his hunches now? How would he explain the importance that was needed in finding Master Roshi's sister?
Krillin's mind was churning, a solution trying to make itself known when he felt Moniker making her way towards him. He momentarily drew a blank before calming himself, he would have to play this carefully. It was all about trust at the end of the day and as many secrets as Krillin was keeping, it was best if he was the only one knew he was keeping secrets.
A glass door hissed as it slid open. Moniker strut in, her body regal in a way and her eyes still a chilling and unreadable grey. She took a seat on opposite Krillin and pulled out a small device from her pocket. After the press of a button the large window on the other side darkened until it was black and television set flickered on.
"What am I looking at here?" Moniker asked. The television played the image of a flying Krillin, his face set in consternation and an aura of white surrounding him, minutes later Krillin was above the Lookout before he battle began.
Krillin was frowning as he looked between the monitor and Moniker.
"What am I looking at here?" Moniker asked. The television played the image of a flying Krillin, his face set in consternation and an aura of white surrounding him, minutes later Krillin was above the Lookout before he battle began.
Krillin was frowning as he looked between the monitor and Moniker. You're looking at the Lookout, Krillin wanted to say but he felt that bout of unease at the thought. He frowned further before he said, "I'm fighting my friend Chiaotzu who's been affected by the mist."
Moniker nodded. Pressed a button and the image zoomed in. "From your description of Garlic Junior our tracking software hit this guy," she said. The image of the screen was of Garlic in his short form, a malicious grin on him and a bottle in his hand that was spilling out a black smoke.
"That's him," said Krillin, his voice filled with confusion and uncertainty. He found that he didn't exactly know what was going on.
Moniker gave another. "I want you to understand something," she said. "About why we took so long in finding an image of Garlic. We've been watching you," the woman said. "Something you will not be surprised to as I've already informed you as such. But there are times when you disappear. Our satellites have no problems finding you in all honesty, but when we physically look we find it almost impossible."
"Okay?" said Krillin.
Moniker pressed a few buttons and the image on the screen was replaced by a dozen small pictures, all of Krillin and all on the Lookout.
"This are all the times you've disappeared," she said, "and we're told it's the same location." She took a breath, her eyes fixing on Krillin with an intensity to them. "Now. We've had people looking at this and the closest they can come to is an SEP field. A theoretical phenomena that means that, however serious a threat or an event that happens on that building, we will deem it unimportant. A perfect hiding place."
"What does all this have to do with Garlic?" asked Krillin. Simple questions allowed him to ruminate all that had been said, letting his mind try and work out the mystery that surrounded the Lookout.
"He can get past the SEP field," said Moniker. "Which means that right now he could be hiding in that building and we might find it unimportant."
"But you can see him," said Krillin. "All these pictures you were able to take—"
"Spent two months being passed around before anyone could give them a serious look," she said. "And even then the particular person who looked at it was an AI system. I hope you recognise how much of a threat this type of technology can be and how much of a detriment to our search it can cause."
"I see that, but I still don't know what you want me to do about it," said Krillin. "I didn't even know an SEP field was a thing. I'm still not sure what it is."
"But you've been using it," said Moniker. "Do you know why you, Garlic and your friends are not affected by it?"
Krillin shrugged. It can have been a whole host of thing when the Lookout was concerned, that place was old. There was no telling the magic that had been put behind it. Krillin focused on the last. He'd thought of the effect as magic while Moniker had called it technology, could that help? But if it did it would mean that the Lookout could be seen? Did he want that to happen?
"Tell us when you figure it out," said Moniker. "Many amongst us still have a hard time trusting Artificial Intelligence. However it seems events are forcing us to." Krillin noted the minute frown and furrow of the brow. "But that's irrelevant in your case. The last few hours have been spent discussing appropriates for moving forward; we have several projects that we think might narrow down Garlic's hiding places, each working independent of the other. You'll lead your own team. Following and lead you think pertinent. You'll have a degree of autonomy but you should know that you are being monitored." Krillin nodded. "I assume you'll want to work with you the team you've been training?"
"Yeah. Might make it easier," he said.
Moniker nodded. "Follow me."
Krillin was lead through a series of hallways, no one even sparring him a glance as they milled about. Halfway through the walk Krillin found himself frowning because they were taking a convoluted route, going the long way around when they could have certainly cut through to the team he could feel standing not a long way off. He didn't question it though, he couldn't help but think they were testing him, perhaps testing the range to his sense; it was something that could be stretched only by experience after all and if they were gauging his skill from that of his students, it wouldn't be a very good gauge.
Ten minutes they walked before they arrived in the room and his students were already armoured. They wore tight fitting black suites that spread to their necks, thick armour over those that looked much as Vegeta's armour had looked sans the protruding shoulders, their faces were helmet though were there should have been a visor there was nothing, thin tube protruded from the sides of the helmets, running towards the back and connected to a large canister connected to the armour's back.
Then there were the weapons; Krillin could see quite the few from large knives strapped at the hips, holstered guns and even larger guns held at most of his student's sides. Krillin felt his stomach twist as the sight. He'd never much liked weapons but to expect them to be able to call energy quickly and efficiently would more likely end with them being killed on the battle field.
"I'll leave you to it then," said Moniker before she walked off. Krillin was left looking at his students, all of whom were looking at him with an intensity that had been habit at the beginning.
"I'm assuming they gave us a ship," said Krillin and he inferred from Carmichael's large grin that was a yes. "I have a lead I'll explain on the way," he said. "It's about a day's flight away so the sooner we leave the better."
"I'm sure I can shave a few hours out of that," Carmichael said.
888
"This doesn't look like Capsule Corp's work," said Krillin. "The aesthetic is not the same."
Krillin was standing behind Carmichael and Charlotte, the former of whom sat in the driver's seat. Both looked out into the black void of space as the ship ascended further and further up.
"Capsule Corp's been busy with the spaceship," said Sid. He sat a little ways away, next to him Mondo, Mark and Doll; Brea and Do sat opposite them, the pair looking towards a large monitor spread across the side of the ship. "They haven't had time to make military technology."
"Not that they would want to," said Doll. "I have a relative that works for them. He says the reason there hasn't been much evolution in military technology is because the family refuses to make weapons."
"That's a good thing thought, isn't it?" asked Krillin. "Weapons bring nothing but destruction."
"They also resolve problems," said Charlotte. "It's how wars are won."
"Case and point the alien attack," said Doll. "It wouldn't be too bad if the Brief's weren't actively working against weapon evolution."
Krillin frowned. "How are they doing that?" he asked.
"They horde all geniuses," said Doll. "My cousin. Russell. He wasn't even out of school before he was already being headhunted by Capsule Corp. Offered him more perks than he could use, caused a large rift in the family."
"Why the rift?" asked Mark.
"The Mation family has always been in enforcement," Doll answered with a small shrug. "Even Terra, deluded as she was, became a soldier for the Red Ribbon Army."
"The treasonous, Red Ribbon Army," asked Do. "You had family who supported them?"
"Yes," said Doll, an unreadable tone in her voice. A silence hung in the ship, Krillin too confused to say anything. He hadn't paid much attention in the minor wars between the Royals and the Red Ribbon Army, he'd had training to get underway in his need to become more powerful than Goku.
"How long before we arrive?" he asked, wanting to break the silence.
"Fifteen minutes," answered Carmichael. "Tell me again why we're going to the palace of some con-artist?"
"Baba's not a con-artist," said Krillin. "She might actually give us a clear picture of what's going on."
"But she thinks she's a real witch," said Carmichael. "I visited her once and she even had a crystal ball. Told my sister and me that we were androids, that I should watch out a cell doesn't gobble me up. She's crazy."
Charlotte gave an agreeing grunt.
"Anyway magic hasn't been proven to exist," said Do. "Anything out there that's thought to be magic is explainable through sciences."
"Maybe," said Krillin. "But until we're able to explain it. We'll call what Baba can do magic."
"Which is what exactly?" asked Mark. "Will she divine the future for us?"
"I don't think she can actually do that," said Krillin after giving the matter so thought. "But she's been alive long enough that she might know what's happening and it has to do with Garlic's plan, or at least the part he managed to divulge."
"That tells us absolutely nothing," said Mondo.
Krillin said nothing.
"Coming up on the palace," said Charlotte. "We might have to take the long way round though, thunderclouds are—" She was cut short as the night's sky was briefly illuminated by a fiery explosion and the ship jostling harshly left.
Krillin stumbled, helped only by the quick flooding of ki to his legs.
"Shields?" said Carmichael.
"At a hundred percent," Brea responded. "They're still holding."
"Incoming," said Charlotte just before the ship lurched, moving quickly right as a flash of blue light soared into the sky.
Krillin felt a brief flare of power as the attack passed but within seconds it disappeared into an inky darkness. A frown drew itself across his features and he felt the pit of unease becoming thicker. He couldn't sense whoever was out there. It limited what he could do.
The ship lurched as three more blue bursts of light broke through the clouds and illuminated the night, one managed to hit the shield, heralding a large explosion.
"Shields at eighty percent," said Bree.
"Still not seeing whose firing at us," Charlotte added.
"Not sensing anything too," said Krillin, speaking for the first time. He'd been in battle before and yet this time he felt out of his depth. These guys gave orders, had technical terms for their actions while the only thing Krillin could think about was getting out there and blowing things up.
"Switched to infrared," said Do. "But there's interference. The blasts are causing a thunderstorm."
"I can clear that," said Krillin, happy that he found something he could do. "Open the hatch. Whoever it is might be infected by the Black Water Mist. Don't aim to kill."
"Setting weapons to stun," said Do.
There was a hiss and at the far end air rushed in. Krillin flooded himself with ki and dove out, the moment he was in the sky he felt in his element. He could see the blue blasts tearing through the sky and hurtling towards the ship; he quickly forced power towards his hands, bringing them together and letting out a volley of yellow blasts.
They intercepted the blue blasts and the night was illuminated by fire. Krillin tore forward, passing the ship and tearing through the clouds; as he drew closer, started seeing the desert city lights below, so too did the flare in power begin, but so too did the power levels of his students disappear. There was no time to think on the matter as Krillin felt the presence in his mind dart forward.
He dug into his power, getting into a stance and preparing to divert the attack when he saw him; a large man wearing brown armour, large wild hair that fell past his waste and a smirk that looked like Goku's only perverted.
"Raditz?" Krillin had time to mutter, shock in his whisper before the giant fist slammed into his jaw.
The hit was hard and before Krillin could make sense of the situation his was twisting through the sky, passing through the clouds and momentarily meeting the sight of the airship as it dodged him. He fought to right himself, trying to flood ki around him to stop his momentum but it was hard when coupled with the shock of seeing Goku's brother.
He's alive, Krillin thought. He wasn't quite sure why but he was scared. The last time they had fought the man had swatted him like a fly, not even paying him any mind. Goku had died because he couldn't take care of the man and now he was alive, and he was targeting his students.
That thought was enough. Krillin pushed ki all around him and came to an abrupt stop. He turned and darted down, flying with too much vigour for the short distance he was travelling; there were explosions and flashes of light as Krillin came closer, the sound of heavy gun fire reverberating before the sudden crack of electricity.
Krillin got close enough to see the ship as it dodge a blast while another slammed into an invisible barrier, garnering a large explosion; three cracks came from below the airship and three blasts of electricity darted from the ship to Raditz. The larger man dodged as though they weren't much trouble at all.
Krillin got close enough that he could feel Raditz's power, some of which was gathering was moving towards his arms. Gathering power for an attack. Krillin did the same, his power moving quickly to his hands and then being let out, three blasts that moved to intercept the blue blast making their way towards the ship.
Raditz looked Krillin's way and the man grinned, starting towards Krillin before something caught his eye. Krillin soared it too, more than a dozen missiles heading towards Raditz. The saiyan let out a scream and Krillin felt a pulse of power burst from him. The missiles exploded before they could hit but their power was enough to blast him, the ship and, after a moment, Krillin back.
The man quickly caught himself before he could be blasted too far.
He charged forward just as Raditz was coming to, landing a meaty punch to the jaw that sent the man plummeting. Krillin felt a sense of pride as he watched as the man tumbled through the air.
"I take it you won't be angry that we went all out?" Krillin started as he heard the voice, but then he remembered that he too was wearing a helmet and armour, perhaps the reason Raditz's hit hadn't hurt too much.
"No," said Krillin. "This guy definitely isn't good," he said. "Go all out. I'm sure he's doing the same."
"Will do," said Do.
Raditz caught himself and was flying towards them again. Krillin heard a hiss a moment before missiles past by him and towards the saiyan. There was a flare of fire from Raditz and Krillin could see he was going to do the same thing again. He took a breath and imagine a large circle, a ball of force that could keep anything in.
The missiles detonated and Krillin felt a blow to the head. The warrior grit his teeth and fought through the pain. The detonation had erupted into a magnificent display, fire moving to fill up the large circular surface and eating up all the air inside. Before Raditz could realise what was happening he had already been engulfed in flashes, seized by panic and then his energy was snuffed out.
Krillin let go off the telekinetic field, feeling a rush of heat come over him; coupled with his hammering head, Krillin couldn't put up with it. He didn't feel tired but his mind did and thus when the inky darkness started at the edge of his vision he didn't fight it.
AN: I had four chapters and the interlude done yesterday, and I was planning to post it. But then something happened. I don't know what it was but it took away everything I had on my computer and, the idiot that I am, had never done the thing called backing up. It goes without saying that I lost a lot of work, the chapters I was supposed to post too, but I could remember enough of this chapter to get this done in my study break.
I should post more a week from now after I'm done with my exams.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter.