Chapter Three: Not all is well
-Part 1. "Arrival".-
"Damn... what happened here?" Yamcha was the first to voice the question on everyone's mind as they departed Cale's ship, gazing out across the once tranquil landscape of New Namek. The area around their landing zone was a total wreck, barely resembling the peaceful and sleepy village it had once been. Blast craters peppered the fields, the houses were trashed and broken, and over a dozen lifeless bodies littered the area.
Vegeta's dark eyes surveyed the scene with cold indifference; He could care less about a few weakling Nameks. What he cared about was the Dragonballs, and finding them before whoever else was here did. "An attack, no doubt." Vegeta replied icily, folding his arms across his chest and putting his senses out. He could detect nothing anywhere near by. New Namek was a planet-sized ghost town, for all evidence shown.
Cale stepped out slowly, sliding Edge's strap around his torso as he cast his eyes, a growing anger and sadness joining his confusion. He walked to a crater, the tattered remains of a shirt covering what remained of a Namekian child.
"Who would do this?" he asked, looking back towards the others. "Y'all told me that Frieza was the only other 'one who knew about the Namekian Dragon Balls." Cale may not have been there himself, or even out of his cryo sleep yet, but he'd been told all of the stories of the Z Fighters prior to his arrival. "You don't think Frieza is here... Do you?"
Vegeta gazed off into the distance, eyes narrowing, and he moved off to the edge of the biggest crater of the lot, kneeling and scooping up a handful of dust. "I don't think this was Frieza." He muttered, opening his palm and allowing the dust to trickle off into the breeze. "Trust me when I say Frieza prefers the grander approach. There would be nothing left of this village if Frieza were the culprit."
"Then... Who else could have done this?" Krillin queried, glancing from Yamcha to Cale. "I mean, Cale's right. No one apart from Frieza even knows about Namek's Dragonballs."
Cale stood from where he was crouched, turning quickly as he sensed something above them and closing in fast. His eyes narrowed, his hand moving to grip Edge's hilt. "D... Do you feel that? It doesn't feel like anything that shouls belong here." He watched on as a red speck appeared in the distance, a light cape billowing behind the red demon, the other Z Fighters following his eye line to the skies.
Vegeta rose swiftly, his sneering face now wearing a troubled look. He knew that power level, all right. So did Krillin. "Brace yourselves... This might get ugly..."
Dabura's face was a grinning mask, his fanged, twisted smile etched in place. And, clinging to his back, chuckling wildly, was the cockroach-like wizard, Babidi.
"Ah g-guys... We ah... We should probably get outta here..." Krillin said nervously, his hands twitching. Yamcha seemed to be thinking along the same lines, as he slowly and steadily began moving towards the ship.
"Stay where you are, all of you." Vegeta barked bluntly, partially glancing over his shoulder. A moment later, he vanished, reappearing slightly in front of Cale and the others, his back to them, eyes on the Demon and the Wizard.
The duo touched down, Babidi leaping from Dabura's back, and he let out a wicked cackle. "Look at this, Dabura!" he laughed. "It's those pesky Earth fleas who tried to stop us resurrecting Majin Buu!"
"I don't recognise the fourth, Master." Dabura added in his horribly baritone voice. "He is a pureblooded Saiyan, without a doubt."
"I wouldn't be worried about the whelp if I were you, Dabura." Vegeta cut in, his trademark smirk back in place. "If I remember correctly, you couldn't even defeat Kakarot's son all those years ago. And rest assured, I'm far, far stronger than he has ever been."
"Ooooh, are you sure, Vegeta?" Babidi crooned, his crystal ball slipping out from his sleeve into his open palm. "I can read your mind, Saiyan, and your power level."
"Agreed." Dabura concurred. "Vegeta's powerlevel is unstable at best. He's not much of a threat to us anymore. Neither is the other Saiyan."
At this, Vegeta's hands balled into fists, his smirk making way for an aggravated sneer. "Care to prove that, Dabura?" The Demon King merely grinned, a light chuckle passing between his lips. Cale's mind was reeling, doing his best to piece it all together. This was Babidi and Dabura? But they should have been dead, in hell. Had they fought their way out with Cell and Frieza, and how many others had?
Cale glanced at Vegeta, Dabura's words echoing his own thoughts. Vegeta was unstable, bringing him had been a huge risk. He stepped out from behind Vegeta, his hand falling from Edge to appear less hostile as he addressed the two. "Last I heard you two should be in hell," he called. "Mind explaining what makes you think you shouldn't be?"
Babidi let out another wicked cackle. "But that would be telling!" he laughed sycophantically. "I don't see why you want to know anyway... You'll be dead before you can tell anyone! Dabura, kill them all!"
The Demon, however, stood his ground. "Perhaps, Master, it would be a better idea to let Pui Pui and Yakon stretch their legs. They've been eager to fight since we escaped, and these puny creatures should provide them with the entertainment they so surely crave."
Babidi's face remained as an excited, gleeful smile, but you could almost hear the cogs working in his brain as he pondered Dabura's suggestion, frozen in place with his finger outstretched, pointing at the group of Z Fighters. "... Yes! Yes yes yes! Ah Dabura, such a BRILLIANT idea!" he laughed, rubbing his hands together as the crystal ball floated beside him in mid-air. "Pui Pui... Yakon... Come on out and play! PAPARAPAPA!"
-Part 2. "Prepare for War."-
With a flash of light, the two powerful minions appeared between the two factions; The bulbous, green Yakon and the more streamline Pui Pui. It was clear to Vegeta that these two (and, especially Dabura) had powered up greatly since the last time they'd encountered them. They were still not much of a threat, but Dabura...
Resigning themselves to the fight, Krillin and Yamcha adopted their stances, their white auras springing into life around them.
Cale's foot slid forwards as he drew Edge, the metal wringing as it left its sheathe. The smaller one didn't feel like anything Cale couldn't handle on his own, but the pair might cause a problem. Even if Vegeta was unstable, he still had enough power to handle them.
He was quickly shifting between relief and anxiety over having allowed Vegeta along with them. He could easily be more of a liability at this point, but with the Demon King here Cale and the humans were outmatched. He only hoped Vegeta would find it in his best interests to stay and help; Cale would be unable to even try any attempts to reign in the haughty prince now that Babidi was on Namek.
He looked up towards Yakon and Pui Pui, trying to remember who they were from the stories. The purple Pui Pui wouldn't be much of a threat, but Yakon... He was the one that could eat light and grow more powerful. Going Super Saiyan would only give him more energy to feed from. "They've beaten you once, Babidi," he pointed out, his aura appearing. "It's nothing we can't all do again."
Pui Pui snickered, chuckling behind his hand. "Ah, the little Saiyan thinks he can handle us. Adorable." Meanwhile, Yakon guffawed and drooled, acidic saliva dripping from his fangs.
"You're outmatched, boy!" Babidi shrieked, pulling the circular power meter from the depths of the crystal ball and pointing it at Cale. "600 killis! Is that all! Bahahaha!"
"We've got your back, Cale." Krillin said firmly with a nod, his aura flaring.
Babidi, Pui Pui, and Yakon were all underestimating him solely because he was allowing them to. They won't be expecting the kind of power he can put out with a single attack, but who to surprise? He only gets one shot at a surprise, after all. His eyes slid between Yakon and Pui Pui, analyzing. Pui Pui he could likely finish with one well placed attack, but Yakon was more dangerous. He needed to try and take that beast out first.
"Wait," he said to Krillin and Yamcha. "There's no need to waste your energy, you two need to save it just in case. I can handle this." Cale's aura sprang into life around him, the silver blaze exploding for a moment before he vanished from view. A second later he reappeared above Yakon, swinging downwards with a mighty cleave.
Yakon was quicker than he looked. In a split second, his arm-scythes had extended with a loud ringing "snikt", and he crossed them above his head, sparks flying from the impact of blade against claw. Pui Pui acted instantly, swivelling on the spot and raising an palm, bracing his forearm with the opposite hand, firing a fast orb of glowing crimson ki towards the airborn Saiyan. Keeping the blade down, holding back any form of attack from Yakon's claws, Cale pivoted in mid-air, his right leg lashing out in a spinning kick, and redirected the orb towards the ever smirking Dabura.
"DABURA LOOK OUT!" Babidi shrieked, leaping out of harm's way as the orb impacted with the Demon, exploding in a bright display of light and smoke. When the smoke had cleared, Dabura was completely unharmed. Although, he wasn't smiling anymore.
The three fighters vanished from view, battling across the green skies. "Whoa! Cale is really movin'!" Krillin shouted gleefully, pumping a fist into the air, his eyes darting left and right, following the combatants. Yamcha watched on, arms folded, not at all wanting to admit he was impressed. Babidi shouted encouragement to Yakon and Pui Pui, who were using clever team tactics; Pui Pui kept on the outskirts, using his pinpoint blasts to try and hem Cale in while Yakon moved in, attacking with incredible speed and strength, utilising his scythes to combat Cale's Yardratian blade. The young Saiyan, though, was countering with fluid movements, checking slashes and stabs from the monster, trying to find an opening. Dabura watched on intently, but Vegeta had eyes only for the Demon King.
With his already broken concentration and frayed nerves, the shot at Vegeta's pride was like a mortal wound. Seething angrily, he clenched his hands into fists, his lip twitching in silent curses. He hated to admit this, even silently, but an encounter with the devil could quite probably be too much for him to handle. His mind was all over the place, and to reach his full power required 100% clarity of mind. The Demon King was far, far stronger than he was in his past life, that was for sure. And Vegeta was off his game.
A sudden change in the battle; Cale and Yakon appeared on the ground, Yakon pinning Cale's arms to his side in a crushing bear hug. The Saiyan struggled, but Pui Pui appeared a few moments later, sprinting towards them and laughing wickedly.
"That's it Pui Pui! Bop him on the head! Bop him on the head!" Babidi shrieked, wildly beating himself over the head in his excitement. "Hit him! Give him the ol' one-two!"
Cale could sense the trouble coming, and struggled against Yakon's grip, but the monster proved too strong, even for him. He didn't want to have to ascend; He'd mastered the form on his training voyage into space, but after recent events... He still saw it as a power he couldn't control, that changed him into something he didn't like. But, he couldn't see any other option.
Gritting his teeth, his aura sparked as his eyes snapped to blazing teal, his short hair spiking up and flashing golden. With a scream, he broke free of Yakon's grip, ascending to Super Saiyan, and the blast of power sent the monster reeling. Pui Pui was too close to pull out of the attack now, but was knocked aside effortlessly from a leaping axe kick from Cale, and the Saiyan scooped up his dropped sword, spinning it in his palm to better his grip and waited for Babidi's goons to come towards him again.
"You're more skilled than I gave you credit for, boy." Cale's eyes snapped directly towards the source of the voice. It was Dabura. The Demon King had taken a few steps forward, and a dark malice lingered in his eyes. "Master Babidi, this one is far too strong for Pui Pui and Yakon to dispose of. Perhaps I should take a more personal interest in the Saiyan's eradication?"
Babidi gave a cackle, rubbing his hands together. "I think you may be right, Dabura. He shouldn't prove much of a problem to you, though! The brat is indeed strong, but nothing compared to the King of the Demons!"
"I have a name, you know." Cale turned fully to face the pair, his grip on his blade tightening. "My name is Cale. And if you think that I'm just going to roll over and die... Think again."
"Well, Cale..." Dabura began, icily. "I'd be very disappointed if you didn't put up some form of fight. There's no entertainment in it for me if you simply gave up."
Meanwhile, Vegeta's temper was boiling over. Teeth clenched, a vein ticking in his temple, hands clenched into fists and trembling, the Saiyan Prince saw Dabura's total dismissal as a major shot to his pride. The Demon wished to fight Cale, but acted as though Vegeta wasn't even a threat.
"Oh believe me... You'll get your entertainment." Cale took his stance, clutching Edge, his aura sparking. "And then some."
"Very well. Let's see how you fare against the King of the Demons." Dabura replied with a sadistic smile.
Out of nowhere, a violet blur zipped across the battlefield, and Dabura was sent crashing to the ground. Babidi let out a frightened squeak, leaping backwards, his feet tangling in his cape and he banged heavily into a rock, seeing stars. Vegeta's face, however, was a mask of rage. His elbow still outstretched, marking where he had stopped to strike the demon, his eyes glaring. "I will not be ignored like this!" he growled, his feet digging into the ground as he took his stance. "I am Vegeta, the mightiest warrior the universe has ever known."
Dabura rose to his feet, dust and dirt falling from his shoulders, a thin trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. But the Demon continued to grin wickedly, wiping the blood away with the back of his hand. "Are you so eager to die, Vegeta?" he asked. "Not content to simply wait your turn like a good little Saiyan? Very well." He flicked his eyebrows mockingly, adopting his stance. "As you wish. Master Babidi, I can handle Vegeta alone. Pui Pui and Yakon could better serve elsewhere, I believe."
"I agree. Pui Pui, Yakon! I have some work for you boys!" The wizard waved his hands again. "PAPARAPAPA!" His two henchmen were whisked away immediately in a flash of light, and the stage was set for Vegeta's showdown with the King of Demons.
"Well... What are you waiting for, Prince?" Dabura's grin widened. "An invitation?"
Vegeta let loose an animalistic snarl, his aura flashing and shifting to the deep gold of Super Saiyan, but he didn't stop there. Dabura, he knew from experience, was an exceptional fighter. One that was both powerful and cunning. The Demon King would have made the likes of Frieza tremble in their boots. He couldn't afford to play with his food this time. Vegeta needed to devour him quickly. The ground trembled below him, a high wind kicking up in all directions, fissures and tremors cracking the earth. The clouds in the green skies swirled, and Vegeta screamed to the heavens, exploding with energy into his second transformation.
"Man oh man! I'm glad he's on our side!" Yamcha shouted over the howling winds, doing his best to stand his ground.
"His power is immense!" Krillin agreed, his arms crossed in front of him as chips of stone crashed into the pair of humans.
Cale, his golden aura crackling about him, watched on with a troubled face. "Something isn't right..." he muttered, his voice whipped away by the roar of Vegeta's surging power. "He was far, far stronger than this when he fought Cell and Frieza. Even more so against the Dragon." His thoughts slipped back to their journey here, and Vegeta's fury when Cale questioned his troubles. The youth couldn't quite put his finger on it, but something was amiss with the Prince.
Something was horribly wrong.