Huh. I thought it would take longer for me to figure out the winner. Your reviews actually helped me a lot-I didn't think much of it at first, but the reasons given made sense.
Also, I no longer have my laptop and am in the process of figuring out transferring my files. Chapters will definitely be few and far between.
Enjoy!
"And the winner of the tournament is . . . SAIYAMAN!"
The crowd roared. Gohan couldn't believe it, winning the tournament. Mirai, however, had a suspicion that this would happen.
"Good job," he said. Silently, he added, sensei.
The announcer provided Gohan with his prize-
"As Mr. Zeta announced, here is the money, and the trophy." The trophy most definitely had the final Onyx Dragon Ball set in its center. "You are also now the proud owner of this arena and the plot of land where the first alien sightings were made fourteen years ago."
Gohan smiled. "Thank you very much. It's an honor." The Son family, as well as the rest of the Z warriors, cheered. Vegeta rolled his eyes.
"Of course. I should have known."
They all met up at Capsule Corps, where they could prepare. Little could really be done, but better something than nothing, as Bulma insisted. (Of course, this did also give her the excuse to be busy rather than standing around.)
She provided armor for everyone, similar to the hero suits that she'd made for Gohan, Videl, Mirai, and Adia, except nothing hid their faces.
Erasa and Sharpener even got suits as Adia explained the situation further.
"Look . . . Marcus, the cat guy, created a robot army set to kill off the human race. The army is stored away right now, deactivated, but will activate as soon as someone too powerful gets close. I need some people who know what to do but are physically weak enough not to be detected. Can you two do this?" Adia asked. She then explained how to destroy the robots.
"They're nothing when they're deactivated, but you have to be fast, or they'll start up and kill you. And then the rest of the human race. Bulma will provide you with weapons-Bulma?" Erasa and Sharpener were already somewhat star struck-Bulma Briefs, Son Goku, their friends all knowing each other? But the situation was too serious to stay shocked. Both of them nodded.
"Got it. What do we do?"
Bardock and Raditz also stood ready to fight. Both were out of place among humans so far, but they knew a fight well enough.
"There are three of them," Adia began, looking around. Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Mirai, Videl, Krillin, Piccolo, Goten, Bardock, Raditz, Trunks, 18, Erasa, Sharpener. They all looked ready, determined. If only she felt the same . . .
"But Marcus will likely have more advanced robots with him. Erasa, Sharpener, you two are going to destroy the storehouse with the army. I'm not sure where it is but I get the feeling that Zigdiad left it in this file he sent Capsule Corps before the tournament." She tossed a folder to Bulma, who nodded.
"I'll work on it with them right away."
"The things Marcus will have on him will not be easy to beat. So Piccolo, Krillin, 18, Bardock, and Raditz should start with them and destroy them before they do any real damage. Keep in mind that the robots will not tire out, so you have to defeat them as quickly as possible. Lorcan won't join the fight right away, so that leaves Ventas and Marcus."
"Feels weird, finally planning strategy for something," Krillin said casually. Adia raised her eyebrows.
"I know it won't work. Things never work according to plan. But I figure if we go in with some idea of what to do, then we aren't going to be obliterated right off. I've watched them destroy a few planets, and it's fairly the same each time. Vegeta, Trunks, Videl, Mirai- you four go after Marcus. He's the strategist as well as the brute strength. Don't underestimate him, and don't let him get away from you. He's a general and likes to do things from a distance. Goku, Gohan, Goten, and I will get at Ventas. She's tricky, very clever but not as strong as Marcus. I don't know what their plans are, though, so don't count on this strategy. Destroy them, stay alive. That's the ultimate plan. And don't let Lorcan get away-he wants those Dragon Balls, and he cannot get them."
They all made sounds of agreement.
"If any of you are critically injured, get out of there. Don't kill yourself by staying longer than necessary. Bulma?" The blue-haired woman nodded.
"There's a button on your belts that calls for a capsule robot to carry you back to Capsule Corps. I can heal you in one of the regeneration pods and send you back if needed. Also, there are sensu beans in each of your belts as well. I went full out with this," she winked.
"Thanks, Bulma. Okay, Erasa, Sharpener, I'm counting on you," Adia said, reaching out to hold Erasa's hand. "This needs to work, or all our power is for nothing, because of the numbers Marcus has." Erasa nodded. Bulma took them into another room to give them the weapons, tools, and tech they needed.
"You know where to go, Goku," shrugged Adia. He tucked the Potara earrings into the pocket with the sensu beans and nodded. Everyone put a hand on his shoulder and he put two fingers to his forehead.
A familiar place
"This could go on without a fight. I know it could. But that's not what you want, is it?" Marcus asked Lorcan. Two gigantic robots stood next to them.
"No. I want control. I want bloodshed. That's the way I want it," Lorcan nodded, still cloaked.
"You're never going to show me your face, huh?" the cat-man sighed. Lorcan smiled, unseen.
"I'll show you before you go back home. Or who knows? Someone might rip my cloak off in the fight."
Ventas smirked, since she'd seen her master's face before (though this was years ago, when they were children. She assumed, though, that he was still similar to what he had been.
The fighters appeared across from them in the field.
"Brings back memories, eh, Vegeta?" Goku chuckled quietly.
"Shut up." The tension was solid as a brick, it was so thick. How would the fight begin?
"Here, you have the dragon balls, correct?" asked Lorcan, displaying the ones he had.
"Yes." Gohan and Mirai showed the ones that they had.
"Then this should be simple. Marcus?" The cat-man nodded and muttered something. The robots took a few steps forward, paused, and shot twin beams of green light. Everyone dodged, and the blast left a small crater.
"Guys? Ready?" Adia asked.
"You bet," nodded Krillin, and they all charged, just as planned. Lorcan flew back and observed the carnage.
In an abandoned-looking warehouse
"Sharpener, come on," Erasa said, holding the capsule bombs in one hand. Piles of boxes were scattered around, and small office desks were shoved against the walls haphazardly. Other than the two of them, it was dead silent.
"I'm here. This is just crazy, okay? I feel like James Bond only way less cool and a lot more nervous."
"Right. Me too. We've got to do this right though, so keep it out of your mind. Bulma said to look for a door with a keypad next to it that you can't open like normal."
"Like that steel door over there? It's half-covered by a bookshelf." He said after a minute.
"Okay, you'll have to move the shelf. I'll help but it looks big." They got on either side of the shelf and dragged it away from the door.
"There's the keypad." Sharpener took out a small screwdriver and unscrewed the number pad from the wall, just like she'd instructed. Erasa studied the jumble of wires before cutting three of them. It sounded like something hissed open, but the door was still shut.
"It's got a regular key lock, too," Sharpener said. She rolled her eyes and took a bobby pin out of her hair, picking the lock.
"I didn't think that was a real thing," he chuckled. She opened the door.
"That's what people want you to think. It's harder than it looks, but not impossible."
"Right. Now, let's set the capsules." They walked in to find another warehouse room-although, this one was much more menacing. Robots with what seemed like an arsenal of weapons on each arm all stood like a sleeping army. They split the bombs between them.
"The area of the blast for each of these . . . ugh, if Gohan were here this would be easier . . ." Erasa frowned.
"What I don't get is why there is no one here protecting these things." Sharpener shrugged.
"I'm not complaining." They set the bombs.
"Got the detonator? Sure we set enough?"
"Yes . . . no. Hey, see that ladder? What if we got the ceiling to collapse in on it too?"
Erasa grinned and held out her extra capsules.
At the fight
The robots were down, but not without some of the fighters.
Krillin, Piccolo, and 18 were all unable to get up. None of them could call for Bulma's robots for how injured they were. Bardock saw them, though, and ordered Raditz to help him get them out of there. Raditz hated leaving a fight, but he couldn't ignore his father.
They fed them the sensu beans and made sure they were out of the way, then joined in against Marcus.
The cat-man glared, deflecting the many blasts against him and sending them back to their owners, who blocked but still got some damage.
Those fighting Ventas weren't faring any better.
She created multiple blasts and let them follow the fighters around. Then she laughed and dodged every blow.
"Nice try. You can't win." Then she made way towards Goten, suddenly knocking him down.
"Not my brother you-" growled Gohan.
"You think I care?" chuckled Ventas, "He's just in the way. So are the others. Wouldn't mind playing with you for a while though, sweetheart," she purred, suddenly whispering in his ear. He lashed out at her, but she was already gone.
"Hey!"
"This is boring," she pouted. "I know! I'll just-" she created a small ki blast in either hand. Adia's eyes widened.
"Don't let those touch you!" she shouted. It was for nothing, because the two lights suddenly set off on their own, speeding faster than any of the fighters.
Each followed and hit Goku and Vegeta, who howled in sudden rage.
"Makes 'em want to fight what they are fighting for," Ventas said casually. Then the two turned on their families.
"Dad!" Gohan shouted. Goku's eyes were white, completely blank.
"We have to take them out," Adia growled. "New plan. Gohan, Mirai, fight Marcus and Ventas. Keep them busy. The rest of you, follow my lead!" roaring, she blasted her brother into a crater in the ground.
Lorcan stared at it all in wonder and amusement. He was especially intrigued by Gohan. How could a son like that be so loyal? He fought his father but refused to try and kill him, even when the man was clearly going for the kill on the others he cared for. Lorcan knew, of course, that the boy was half-human. That would change a lot.
"Mommy!" a young Lorcan cried out, hugging a form in a hospital-style bed.
"What is it?" whispered a woman's voice. A face like Frieza's first form was lying on the bed, only more feminine.
"Father is acting strange. He wants me to fight with the others." She exhaled an angry breath.
"I expected as much. He wants you to train with them. That's fine. Why did you come here?"
"I was scared."
"You must never show them your fear, Lorcan. Never. Saiyans despise it. You might only be a child but they wouldn't hesitate to kill you."
"But . . . why should I fight them, then, if they'll only kill me?"
"Fight them because they want to kill you. Never let them win."
"Yes, Mommy."
"When you are older, you'll better understand me."
. . .
"Come on, Lorcan, you can do better than that!" laughed the Saiyan man. His name was Raditz. Lorcan's uncle.
"I'm-trying-" the boy growled. He gathered his energy, and sent another blast at the man, who blocked it without trouble.
"Such a weakling. Kakarot, are you sure this is your brat?" Lorcan's father stood to the side in the training room. He just smirked. Something snapped in Lorcan and he blasted Raditz with all his might.
His uncle went flying.
. . .
"Both the Ichor and the Saiyans have the power to transform into stronger forms. I don't know what your other forms would be, Lorcan. You have a tail, but have not turned into a giant ape . . . something I'm glad of. Perhaps your transformations are triggered, like mine-once you hit a certain power level, your energy can skyrocket." Lorcan was reminded of his training, and how normally he was weak, but given some motivation, he had a chance against his uncle and his comrade Nappa.
He was never strong enough to beat his father, his aunt, or the prince, though.
"Transformation?"
"My race can change many times. I have three forms, but these," she indicated her handcuffs, "prevent me from ever reaching them." Lorcan reached for them, but she shook her head.
"It would do no good anyway. The Saiyans are so much stronger."
Gohan slammed into Marcus, which surprised the big cat. Lorcan watched with interest.
"I'm part Saiyan, aren't I? I might be able to transform and get stronger than them," he'd said confidently.
"I'll . . . teach you how to change. But you can't tell them. And you've got to spar with all your might, like your life is on the line. Because it is," she'd said, brushing back his hair.
The desire to fight was easy to kindle in him. The desire to conquer soon blazed as well, for every time he beat Nappa he began to feel a rush.
"We can't beat them like I'd hoped," growled Adia. "It's time to use the technique. Videl! Go to Super! Get ready! You guys-keep 'em busy!" she shouted over to the two younger boys.
In moments there was a new fighter among them, more powerful than any imagined.
"Heh. And here I thought this would be a challenge. I'll finish you in seconds," she cracked her knuckles and launched herself at the two older Saiyans, making quick work of them, knocking them unconscious and stealing the earrings from Goku's pocket.
The Warehouse
Erasa and Sharpener were far from the building.
"I feel like a spy in the movies, like you said," she giggled.
"Right. 3, 2, 1" He pressed the button on the remote. The building went up into a mushroom cloud, collapsing in on itself.
"Hey, what just happened?" they heard a male voice from behind another building.
"Not sure," another replied. Two human armed guards stepped out from around the corner.
"What do we do?" Erasa squealed.
"Knock 'em out?" Sharpener suggested, getting into a fighting stance. After all, he knew how to box and wrestle plenty.
"But I-"
"You went toe to toe with Adia, didn't you? Come on!" The men were tall, and most definitely not strangers to fighting. Erasa's face began to change, becoming fierce.
"Let's do this."
The Battleground
Mirai and Gohan watched in awe as she single-handedly defeated their fathers, the most powerful fighters they knew.
"Now what are we supposed to do?" growled Marcus as the other fighters began to beat him down.
"Lose?" suggested Trunks, chuckling as he landed another hit on the cat man. With the Briefs boys and Goten all at him, Marcus did not concede-but he did, with a final blast from Mirai, lose.
Lorcan had escaped, after the initial shock of the blast and the broken ship. After his time with the Mithrili, he enlisted Marcus, from another emptied world, to destroy the race that had destroyed them.
Marcus just wanted things to be the way they were, and would pay whatever price he had to to get his home and his people back-and he would kill the man that had done this to him.
He accomplished the murder but never saw the redemption it had all been for.
Ventas was grinning widely.
"I will make you proud, master Lorcan," she purred, "and I'll finally see your lovely face again, as you promised. I'll satisfy myself by destroying the copy, first-tearing him apart from the inside out with anguish, then obliterating him."
"Copy?" asked Vidia, cocking her head to the side. Ventas chuckled, amused.
"It's the one who won the match. Even in this world, with a different name and a different mother and a different life, my Lorcan wins." She pointed at Gohan, who gaped at her.
Ventas then blasted Goten and Trunks into the dirt with less effort than expected. Neither got up, both being completely unconscious.
"How dare you!" Gohan roared, blasting her again.
"A little brother..." muttered Lorcan, considering the two little boys, specifically Goten.
Meeting the Mithrili was a chance encounter. He'd contemplated hiding on that planet until he was old enough, powerful enough.
The two, Zigdiad and Ventas, hadn't really been siblings... but he'd hardly wanted one to compete for his complete revenge. He wanted to kill every version of his father and his aunt, every Saiyan that ever existed, so that he would be the strongest. He could take control of everything-be the king of every being that ever lived and ever would. That's where the Dragon Balls came in...
Ventas's face was contorted in rage.
"You are nothing compared to my Lorcan!" she screeched when a hit had landed from Gohan.
"What are you talking about, copies, your Lorcan?" Mirai asked. Adia and Videl had by now separated, unable to sustain their combined form much longer. Both were extremely worn out.
"We are from another timeline, remember? None of you are from the same one as us. Not even 666-you call her Adia. In our world, the Saiyans defeated the Ichor race, and Frieza never blew up the planet. Of course, someone else from Marcus's planet did later, but there were more Saiyans left over there than in your timeline. The only Saiyans left took the last Ichor woman aboard their ship as a prisoner. The warrior that had killed her king took her as his wife." Their eyes widened as they began to understand.
Out of nowhere, Lorcan was suddenly behind Ventas. He turned her around and kissed her full on the lips, hood falling off of his head as he did so. She opened her eyes, surprised and pleased. He pulled away for a millisecond, then blasted her square in the stomach.
She didn't even feel a thing.
Everyone stared in horror at him. For Lorcan was the son of another Goku, twisted by his own past.
He looked so similar to Gohan-the same black hair, face shape, and eyes. However, his skin was white with purple markings, just like Frieza and King Cold. Now that his cloak was pushed back, one could see his muscled arms cross and feel his burning stare. He smiled frighteningly. His armor was like the mercenary armor worn by Saiyan warriors.
"I've done my research, done my training. My best power is one I learned from an organism named Cell." He grinned, his hand beginning to crackle with energy.
"What is that?" asked Videl. He smiled widely.
"Absorbing energy from other life forms. Meaning, every time you hit me with an attack, I grow more powerful. Every time I come in contact with you, you grow weaker. My victory is inevitable."
And so they all attacked, attempting to keep him busy. Goten and Trunks, meanwhile, had woken up, and had come up with a plan while the others were distracted.
On Planet Namek, another time
The young boy that Adia and Mirai had saved was an older man now, and he had not forgotten the strangers. He was a powerful man with no family to speak of. He lived alone.
He wondered . . . whether he could create Dragon Balls so he could meet them. He began work, testing, changing, and making calculations.
He would create none other than the Onyx Dragon Balls... He wished that he could meet with his saviors one more time to thank them. He was sent to a far off place, where he met two that helped him. Rather, he looked on at a distance as they fought a monster from another time and place.
But he would find that his creation of the Dragon balls did nothing but destroy their lives, cause hatred and pain, and make them detest the idea of them being used. He therefore sent them across the universe, sealing the fate of those he tried to aid.
At the Warehouse
Erasa and Sharpener were about to knock out the last guy and head back. But there was another fighter that had only pretended to be out cold, and he was about to jump Sharpener. Erasa noticed suddenly, and elbowed him in the side, locked her eyes with the guy, and socked him in the face.
Meanwhile, Sharpener had the other in a choke hold and had turned around to witness Erasa saving him.
He grinned, shoving the guy to the ground.
"That's my girl. Let's get back to Capsule Corps and hope Gohan and the others get back soon." Erasa looked off to the distance.
"Let's hope they just get back."
So, that's the next one. My laptop decided to die on me and now I have to get a new one. I know I have so many excuses for not updating, but this one's legit. I'll do my best guys, and I'm going to wrap it up soon.
See ya guys!
-Flute Chick