Chapter 26: Jagannath
Author:Rocket (a.k.a. Roketto/RyunoOhi); Continuity Wizard: Saucemonkey; Editors: devilman337, Elbadj
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"Heh," Slug smirked into the wind.
One of the minions flying beside him inclined his head in question. "...Sir? What is it?" he asked.
"I'm just in a fine mood," Slug smiled genuinely, "After all, my plan is going swimmingly — Paragus has those Saiyan fools fully occupied, and they were stupid enough to leave nothing but weaklings to defend the castle, so to speak. And soon..." He clenched his youthful hand in a fist before his face, "...I will take care of them, as well. Then, there will be no power in this universe that could possibly oppose me! Bahahahaha!"
"Ah...haha...hahaha..." the minion laughed along nervously, on edge at his master's uncharacteristic good mood. The comm in his ear beeped. "Uh, sir? I just received word that the climate-altering machines are all offline."
"Hmph, that didn't take long," Slug huffed, "Seems these weaklings are at least well-organized. Not that it matters now — Kakuja can get the replacements online and functioning as soon as I dispatch the lot of them. I think I'll start with that other Namekian...he feels strong, and my youthful body is aching for a good workout."
Piccolo froze, a stabbing sense of psychic...pain...slowly dissipating from his mind. 'What was that?' he wondered, bewildered. A sense of unease had given way to inexplicable panic. "Krrrr..." he growled, tossing away the fried remains of the machine he had destroyed, sending it clanging down a ravine. "Dende...something's wrong..." he murmured, unsure of how he knew, but convicted nonetheless. He blasted off full-speed, leaving a fading trail of bright white ki in his wake.
As he shot towards the palace he tracked the presences of the others. All of them seemed to be fine. 'What is it? Has Dende been hit? That might explain...' Suddenly Piccolo caught something in the corner of his eye, but before he had a chance to turn his head something slammed into him, and he rocketed into the ground, kicking up a pall of dust and earth. With a growl of anger at being blindsided he righted himself and shot back up into the air to find…nothing. He looked around but there was only sky, earth, the sea, and West City in the distance. "What the—? Who's out there?!" he shouted, "Show yourself!"
"My, my, my," a low, amused voice spoke, "You really are too dependent on needing to sense your opponent aren't you?"
Piccolo turned around. Behind him was another Namekian, tall, youthful, wearing armor, and with an amused smirk. Piccolo flinched unconsciously, something about this newcomer feeling familiar...almost like the latent memories of his father. Piccolo growled. "Who the hell are you?!" he demanded,"And what have you done with Dende?"
The Namekian cocked his head coyly. "To answer your questions in turn; I am Lord Slug, soon to be master of this world and soon enough, the rest of this universe. As for Dende, I presume you mean that little green boy that I met on your sky palace? Fear not, he lives still...if a bit traumatized. He was very useful to me in restoring my body's youth and strength."
'So Dende is still alive… But...I can't feel him. Hm, maybe this Namekian is hiding his ki with one of those suits. But why?' Troubled, Piccolo nevertheless smirked confidently. "I think I've heard that story before. It didn't end well for the person doing the wishing."
"I assure you, my friend, this story will have a significantly altered climax." Slug reached up and gripped his armor. "You want to sense me? Fine, allow me to show you the terror of Lord Slug!" Slug tore his helmet and armor off, and a moment later let out a yell. A white aura, with purple flecks, flashed around him as his power exploded, the ground shaking and cracking far below.
Piccolo reeled backwards as the ki shot violently through his mind. Slug's aura died away and he grinned at Piccolo. "Impressed? Fearful? Wanting to surrender?" Slug wittered,"It's all right, I'll accept all of those reactions as perfectly valid."
Piccolo stared at him wordlessly for a moment, taking his foe in. 'He really is like my fa— like Demon King Piccolo. A megalomaniac...' Then he smiled. "Keh, is that all you have?" he asked.
Slug's face, previously benign, morphed into an expression of anger. "What did you say?" he growled.
'Ah, there's the irrational anger, he's indignant that I'm standing up to him,' Piccolo thought, his hypothesis confirmed, 'In that case, he won't listen to reason— only intimidation.' He reached up and removed his turban and cape. He briefly gripped the heavy gear, and then released it, letting the cape and turban crash heavily through the earth below. "I'm sorry, I don't believe I've introduced myself to you." He cracked his neck one way and then the other, grinning a fanged smirk. "My name is Piccolo, one-time King and God of this planet," he announced, "And I'm afraid I don't like what you've done with the place, Slug." With a roar Piccolo's white aura flared up around him.
Goku turned his eyes away from where Vegeta had crashed and skid along the ground, and looked back to Broly. The Saiyan had bulked up, now standing taller and enormously broad. He resembled the ascended Super Saiyan transformation...but there was something off about it. His hair and aura were a sickly green rather than golden. And his pupils had faded until they were almost invisible. This was a different transformation. And the ki signature was...enormous but odd. It seemed to flicker in and out of existence. It felt a little like Krillin when he'd had too much to drink only...different. Harsher. Meaner. Unfocused.
"It can't be, it can't be, it can't be..."
Goku looked to his right. Frieza was paralyzed, his body shaking, his eyes wide with fear. "Frieza," Goku called, "What's wrong?"
Frieza seemed not to notice him. His eyes were fixed on Broly and he continued to mumble. "It can't… The legend but that was…it can't be!"
"Kakaroooot!" Broly suddenly loped forward, charging at Goku. The spiky-haired Saiyan raised his hand and hit Frieza with a kiai wave, knocking the Arcosian away. Goku just barely had time to raise his arm to block Broly's incoming punch. He took the blow on his forearm, and such was the force of it Goku could only roll his arm with the blow to stop his wrist from breaking. He took the punch, with reduced momentum, on the chest instead. It knocked his breath out of his lungs and sent him hurtling backwards. 'That strength...Never felt anything like it before...' He crashed into the ground and bounced up through a building. Goku groaned and raised himself off the ground as quick as he could, preparing himself...but Broly was not there. His eyes widened slightly. Broly was still on the ground, roaring with laughter. 'He's strong...but untrained. He didn't know to follow up and press his advantage. Maybe, just maybe...'
Goku's eyes hardened. He stepped out of the building and floated to the ground, glaring across at Broly. "All right Broly," Goku said, "I didn't want to fight you, I hoped we could work this out. I don't know what it is I did to you and, if you can hear me, I'm sorry if it did this to you. But I can't allow you to endanger everyone any further. So if it's a fight you want...then it's a fight you'll get." At that final word Goku spaced his legs and his golden aura ignited around him. He roared as his power flared towards its maximum.
Broly watched him advance, grinning.
Bulma paced nervously in her home's living room. She'd seen the sky darken a few moments ago and knew what that meant. Someone had definitely summoned the dragon. Undoubtedly those people who'd stolen the Dragon Radar from her. But what did they want? 'What would they have wished for?' she worried, 'At least they hadn't wished for the whole planet to be frozen over...'
"Bulma!"
She looked up and saw Yamcha, alongside Tenshinhan and Chiaotzu, outside the window. She dashed over and opened it, letting them inside. "What happened?" she asked, "Did you manage to destroy all the devices?"
"We got ours," Tenshinhan said, "I can sense Piccolo and Krillin on their way back here, so I presume they must have got theirs as well." He looked up and saw Dr. Briefs and Master Roshi sitting on the sofas, Dr. Briefs rubbing his neck and Master Roshi looking worse for wear. "What happened here?"
Bulma sighed and threw up her hands dejectedly. "Some guys in armor came crashing into the place. They beat up Roshi with ease! They...I'm sorry, I had to give them the Dragon Radar. They threatened my dad." She made a "hmph," her eyebrows angry and accusing. "And that Oolong! He said he'd be here to help, but I haven't seen hide nor hair of him since those goons broke in here! He's probably cowering somewhere being utterly useless!"
"Don't worry about it Bulma," Yamcha reassured her, "Doesn't look like anything bad has happened, so whatever they were wishing for, it can't have affected Earth. Besides, it's not like you, your dad, or Oolong could stand up to these guys, you would have just gotten yourselves killed."
Tenshinhan growled. "Why can't we sense them though? People this powerful we should be able to pick up with ease."
"Maybe it's their armor?" Chiaotzu suggested, "Like with Turles' guys?"
"Yeah, that's right!" Bulma said, eyes widening, "I didn't think about it at the time, but those goons who took the radar had full-body armor, and helmets, too."
"It could be... Are they the same people then?" They looked up at the voice as Krillin arrived, dropping through the balcony window. "Hey guys," he said, "So, fill me in. What's happening?"
They quickly informed him of the situation. As they were doing so, Tenshinhan took note of Piccolo's position. 'He was heading towards the Palace but he's stopped… What's he up to?'
"So that's the situation, huh?" Krillin said. He let out a weak sigh. "Why can't it just be a bunch of freezing alien robots that got off track?"
"That would be too simple," Yamcha laughed.
"So what are we doing now?" Chiaotzu asked.
Tenshinhan thought a moment. "I think—" he began. Everyone's head snapped to the east, as the three-eyed man stopped abruptly.
"What is it?" Bulma asked, worried by their suddenly intense expressions.
"A power level has just appeared near Piccolo," Yamcha said, lips tight, "And it's...huge."
"And getting larger!" Chiaotzu shuddered.
"Come on!" Krillin said, floating up, "Let's get up there and—" Before he could finish an explosion rocked the cityscape outside.
"What the hell?!" Yamcha shouted as he whirled to look outside.
"I guess that's one way of finding the people who are behind this," Krillin growled, his boot already on the windowsill, "Come on, let's get over there and help Piccolo!"
"No, Krillin," Tenshinhan said, halting the other bald human, "He should be okay on his own for now, and you know how he likes to get a solo crack at his opponents. Meanwhile..." he scanned the horizon, counting the plumes of fresh smoke, "...we should split up, and neutralize whoever's still camouflaged. The last thing we need is a bunch of guys we can't sense ganging up on us."
"Good idea," Krillin admitted, "Hey Yamcha, you can stay here with Bulma, in case those goons come back, and the rest of us can—"
"No way man," the scar-faced former bandit cut in, "That's an easy out, and you know it. I may not be as strong as you guys, but I promised myself that I'd train, and be useful in a crisis. Besides," he grinned at the blue-haired genius with a wink, "Bulma's a big girl, she can take care of herself, right?"
"Damn right," Bulma said, putting her arms akimbo on her hips, "Without Goku and Vegeta here, we've all gotta pull our weight. I'll go drag Oolong out of whatever closet he's hiding in, and while I'm at it, I think I have some industrial lasers in storage that I can mod into a weaponized form..." She slyly turned to Roshi. "Hey old man, can you still do some heavy lifting, or do you need to sit this one out?"
"The moment I don't jump to help a pretty lady, just put me in the ground, ehehe!" the Turtle Hermit hooted as he sprung up from the couch with almost comical vigor. He turned and put his hands out, making grasping motions in the air. "Say, I know we're in a bind here, but afterwards, how about a little...ehehe...reward?"
"You wish!" Bulma spat indignantly, flipping him off, "Have a little decency, will ya?!"
"Uh...well...if everyone's decided then...we should go..." Tenshinhan quietly interrupted.
"Yeah, Bulma can handle herself, I mean, why did we even have to ask?" Krillin chuckled, climbing back out the window, "See you all later!" Chiaotzu, Yamcha, and Tenshinhan followed him out, the four earthly warriors cutting across the smoky sky in trails of white.
Frieza raised himself off of the ground and clutched the back of his head with a suppressed hiss. Normally a kiai wave like that and crashing through rubble wouldn't have hurt him, but on this occasion he hadn't been prepared, lost too much in his own panic. Fortunately the smack seemed to have knocked him out of it, even if he did have a throbbing pain at the back of his skull.
The ground rumbled and his tail lashed out to steady himself. He looked up and saw a blinding golden light and heard Goku's roar. Moments later the Super Saiyan jetted forward and smacked into the hulking, sickly green figure opposite. The shockwave raced across the ground and spewed up a pall of rocks and dust. Goku launched a furious attack that seemed to drive Broly back, but without causing any obvious damage to the Legendary Super Saiyan.
Frieza tightened his fists. 'This is bad…as much as I hate to admit the difference in power, if Goku is struggling, then there's not going to be much that any of us can do against him.' As if to confirm this belief, Broly landed a punch that sent Goku rocketing backwards and slamming into a building that then collapsed on top of him.
"It's hopeless..." Frieza looked over and was surprised to see Vegeta in the rubble, sitting on his haunches, his arms limp at his side, staring forward with an empty look of despair.
The Arcosian cocked his head at his former soldier's expression. He hadn't seen that look on him since he was a child, and somehow, the nostalgia was not at all comforting. "We need to get out there and help Goku," Frieza said decisively, "The three of us together may be able to do something against him."
Vegeta gave a mirthless laugh. "Against him? Look at him. Kakarot can barely do anything against him; not one of his hits is having any effect." Another round of shockwaves shook the area as Goku and Broly brawled across the city, with each hit Goku landed only stunning Broly and each hit Broly landed knocking Goku off balance. "It's hopeless. This is the legend of the Super Saiyan come to life. Don't you understand, Frieza? Against this there is nothing that we can do...nothing anyone can do."
Frieza's lips drew tight. "Is that all? Is that all your vaunted Saiyan pride amounts to?! Admitting defeat without even trying?!" Frieza snarled, smashing his tail into the ground angrily. Goku crashed to the ground spewing up a huge cloud of dust, drawing the Arcosian's gaze. "I'm not surprised really, I knew that you were all talk and no action! I learned that from your father, a spineless wretch who would never dare defy me until I'd backed him into a corner!" Frieza looked back at Vegeta with a curled lip, then turned away. "I can see the resemblance now," he spat, "You are your father's son." With that parting word Frieza dashed forward, heading into the smoke.
Vegeta stared forward, jaw still slack, processing the words. His eyes narrowed as he closed his mouth with a click, pressing his lips together in a tight grimace.
Piccolo and Lord Slug dueled back and forth across the sky, each blow rippling shockwaves across the ocean below. Piccolo crashed his fist into Slug's face; Slug slammed a kick into Piccolo's side. Each block met with another block, each blow met with another strike. They locked hands and glared at one another, trying to push the other back, to force them down.
"You're...stronger than I expected," Slug snarled, "But don't get too cocky. I know moves that you can only dream of."
"Keh, I could say the same for you," Piccolo growled. He smirked. "And don't try and frighten me with tales of arcane techniques. I have more than a few of my own."
Slug laughed and grinned. Piccolo stared at him, frowning, some memory dimly kicking at the back of his mind. 'I know him from somewhere... But how? Why? Who is..?' His eyes focused on the scar running across Slug's eye, and suddenly the memory, not his own but a part of him, jolted through his mind. Piccolo smirked. "Ah. Now I know who you are," he said.
Slug frowned. "What's that you say?"
"It was Guru who gave you that scar, wasn't it?" Piccolo taunted.
Slug's eyes flashed with rage. "Don't speak that name around me!" he roared, slamming a wild, savage kick into Piccolo's chest.
The Namekian whirled backwards and righted himself, laughing. "Touchy subject I see," Piccolo said.
"How do you know that? I command you to tell me!" Slug demanded.
"Let's just say...I heard the story off of someone who knew Guru," Piccolo replied cryptically, unwilling to reveal that he had fused with not one, but two other Namekians. Better to hide his hand until he was sure of this Namekian's full power.
"That obese slimeball," Slug snarled, tracing the livid scar through his eye, "Of course he wouldn't be able to resist sharing that tale around, he never did have much of a care for others' pride."
Piccolo narrowed his eyes, the part of him that was Nail reacting angrily against that characterization. 'He's not entirely secure. Good, that could be helpful.' From the scar, Piccolo's eyes traveled to something else distinctive about Slug. Before, the helmet had hidden it, but now he could see some sort of tattooed mark on the Super Namek's forehead. 'That's strange...what is that?' he thought, 'Guru's memories don't show that; he must have gotten it after he was banished. Hmmm...' He pointed a white-nailed finger at Slug. "Interesting brand you have on your head. Is it the mark of a traitor, or just an unfortunate cosmetic decision?"
"Rrrr...neither one. I don't like your prying, whelp," Slug spat, suddenly defensive.
"Our bodies can usually heal over almost any injury, including scarification," Piccolo stated, "Something like that, though...it must be dark magic, something you can't take off yourself, I'm guessing."
"Enough of this!" Slug yelled. He threw a punch and his arm stretched out towards Piccolo.
"That's your technique?" Piccolo laughed, "You needn't have bothered building yourself up that way, I can do that too—" Piccolo's eyes widened in shock as Slug's fist suddenly grew in size until it was larger than Piccolo. The giant fist slammed into him and sent him spinning through the air, towards West City. Piccolo arrested his fall and looked back at Slug. The other Namekian laughed.
"Ah, to judge by your expression you haven't seen that one?" Slug mocked, "It would appear your knowledge of true Namekian power is not quite as complete as you thought it was, whelp!"
'That was the growth technique, but only applied on one part of the body...' Piccolo thought as he growled and shot up towards Slug. 'In that case, I have to keep the fight away from the city!'
Slug fired an energy blast, but Piccolo dodged around it and slammed a kick into his opponent. Slug reeled backwards before counterattacking, striking at Piccolo with his fists, Piccolo just managing to turn away each blow. Then Slug caught him in the chest with his leg and stretched his leg to push Piccolo back. He laughed and threw another punch, expanding his fist.
Piccolo grinned. "Makankosappo!" he yelled, firing the piercing, spiraling beam at what was now an easy target. The beam pierced through Slug's expanded fist and all the way along his arm, bursting out the other end. Slug roared with pain and his arm resized immediately. He clutched it tightly, dripping purple blood.
"Unfortunately for you, I have some tricks of my own," Piccolo said. Slug glared at him and he smirked back. "Go on, regenerate your arm. I know about that trick. Too bad for you, the time it would take you to do that will give me ample opportunity to attack."
Slug smiled. "Oh I'm well aware of that...but who ever said that I was going to regenerate my arm?" Piccolo frowned and Slug took his other hand and ran it down his damaged arm. As he did so his hand glowed with light. Piccolo's eyes widened in shock as he saw Slug's arm heal.
"That's... That's just like Dende!" he said, "But how?!"
Slug laughed and waved his arm around, good as new. "You fool! I'm a Super Namekian! The blood of both the Dragon Clan and the Warrior Clan runs in my veins! There is nothing that I cannot do!" With a roar Slug flared his aura and jetted for Piccolo, slamming into him and knocking him back towards the city.
Goku crashed and skidded along on his back. Panting, he heaved himself off of the ground and clutched his chest. Broly stalked towards him, laughing. Blood dribbled from Goku's lip, and he wiped it away with the back of his hand.
"Man, he's relentless," he gasped, "I don't think a single one of my punches has even phased him..." He stretched out his hands in front of him. 'I'll have to give him a big blast. If this doesn't work then...' That wasn't even worth considering. His eyes narrowed in concentration. "Ka..." he intoned, drawing his cupped hands to his side, "Me..." An orb of blue light appeared between his fingers. "Ha... Me..." The orb shone, and whistled and hummed with power. "HA!" Goku yelled, thrusting his hands forward and opening them out. A beam of blue light streaked forward, blazing towards Broly.
The burly Saiyan grinned and drew one hand back. A small green orb lit up in his hand and he hurled it forward. The green ball struck the blue wave and then slammed through it, dissipating the energy around it as it tunneled its way towards Goku.
Goku's eyes widened in shock. "Shit!"
An enormous green explosion rocked the area. In a corner of a nearby building, Gohan threw himself over Videl to protect her from the blast as she shrieked and Mr. Satan was blown back against the inside. "What the hell is going on?!" Videl cried.
"Dad!" Gohan shouted, jumping up and staring outside. The wall of smoke slowly cleared… Goku was nowhere to be seen. 'It can't be..!' the half-Saiyan panicked, searching for his father's familiar energy.
"Oh no!" Videl yelled. "Is he—?!"
"No..." Gohan said, taking deep breaths and calming his racing heart. "No, I can still sense him. He's still..." Gohan looked up. Above the smoke was his father, leaning on Frieza. The Arcosian had dove in at the last moment and snatched him away from the blast. Gohan breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thanks Frieza," Goku said, "Heh, that's a sentence I didn't think I'd be saying..."
"Don't get used to it," Frieza replied coldly, "Now we're even." He let go of Goku and kept his eyes fixed on Broly, who appeared not to have noticed them hovering above. "Seems like he can't sense energy either..."
"I can't touch him," Goku panted, "He's much too strong. I've never seen anything like it."
"Step aside," Frieza commanded, "I'll handle this."
"No way!" Goku exclaimed, "He's much too powerful, he'd—"
"You need to get your energy back. Now move!" Frieza shoved the Saiyan aside and let out a roar as he powered up, his Crane uniform and purple aura flaring around him as his body bulked up. The noise caught Broly's attention, who looked up with a slightly perplexed expression. Frieza whipped up his hand and fired a Death Beam that struck Broly square in the forehead. The Saiyan's head rocked back, but the concentrated attack did no damage. Broly stared up at Frieza and grinned.
Frieza's outstretched hand shook, as a bead of nervous sweat slipped down his temple. "Tch..! Nothing..." he muttered, "Not even a little..."
Broly roared and charged forward. Frieza fired off a stream of Death Beams, but each one of them merely bounced off of Broly like it was nothing. The Saiyan crashed his fist into Frieza's chest, and the Arcosian screamed in pain, coughing up blood from the blow connecting. He hurtled backwards, crashing through buildings before embedding into the ground. He groaned and heaved in rasping breaths. "Incredible..." he gasped, wiping a trickle of blood onto his sleeve, "Goku was…fighting this..."
Suddenly Broly appeared overhead, his manic expression changing to one of cold disregard as he charged down at Frieza. "Weakling..." he growled.
Frieza's red eyes burned with indignation. With lightning quick reactions he whirled aside and stretched out his hand. A ball of energy encased Broly and held him in place, the Saiyan roaring and struggling against it. "What's that about me being a weakling, you brutish ape?" Frieza smirked. He smashed his tail against the Imprisonment Ball, sending it hurtling into the sky. He shot after it, gaining velocity and passing it before whirling around and dropping a hammerfist on top of the ball. It blazed down to the ground and erupted in an enormous explosion. Frieza panted, staring down into the wall of smoke. 'It must have...that must have done something...that must have—' Suddenly Broly's grinning face and sickly green aura appeared out of the smoke. Frieza's eyes had just enough time to widen in shock before a fist slammed into his stomach. He gasped in pain, and then another fist smashed into his face, sending him whirling across the sky. His mind struggled to focus as he fell, tumbling and toppling to the ground. 'So this is...this is the power of the legend...'
Broly laughed, watching the frail creature fall from the sky. He tensed his body up and prepared to follow through, to deliver the final blow—
Suddenly an energy blast crashed into his body. Infuriated, he whirled around and looked down. "Hrrr...another pesky insect..." he rumbled.
Glaring up at him, Vegeta stood resolutely atop the rubble of the palace. "Hey, Broly!" the Prince of Saiyans bellowed, "Didn't I tell you that your fight was with me?!" With a yell, Vegeta's golden aura blazed to life around him and his body bulked up. Then he jetted forward, a sword of golden light striking for Broly's heart.
The boom of explosions echoed between the buildings, rattling windows as Tenshinhan crept around the edge of the devastated area. 'If I can keep my ki down, I'll have the advantage of surprise... There, that's got to be the culprit,' he thought, spying a squat, greenish, ogre-like alien. He watched as the thing blasted another building, laughing as it creaked, swayed, and started to topple. The bald human used the deafening roar of thousands of tons of concrete falling to mask his approach, stealing behind the invader with practiced stealth. He charged a small ball of light at the end of his fingertip, extending his hand to aim it at the creature's chest. "Dodonpa!" the Crane assassin cried as he released the attack. The concentrated blast struck true to its target, knocking the squat being off of the pile of rubble he had been standing on, and eliciting a shrill shriek.
"What the—?! Who dares blast me while my back is turned?!" the creature hissed, "You've wrecked my armor!"
As the creature turned around, Tenshinhan saw that its face, though concealed by an orange-tinted visor in its helmet, was grotesque, with bulging yellow eyes, and thick, blood-red lips that framed a toothy maw. 'That thing looks nasty,' Tenshinhan thought, 'Almost reminds me of Piccolo's spawn, somehow.'
With a growl, the thing tore off its helmet, and revealed its warty, green face. "You must be one of the strong humans Lord Slug told us about," it said, wriggling out of its armor, the entire back plate charred and melted from Tenshinhan's Dodonpa. "Unluckily for you, hehe, I am Lord Slug's most powerful servant — Medamatcha!"
"Most powerful, huh?" Tenshinhan appraised, taking in the creature's unobscured look, "We'll see if your boasts protect you as much as that armor did. At least now, I can sense you properly, though to be honest...I'm not all that impressed." He struck an offensive stance, daring the alien to make the first move.
"Ihihihihihihi!" Medamatcha tittered, "You're not impressed? I haven't had such a tough customer in ages, so this should be fun!" He spread his arms wide, energy glowing in his palms. "Hope you don't mind; I'm already warmed up! Evil Comet!" The grinning minion brought his hands forward, rapidly firing a hail of energy bullets at Tenshinhan.
The Crane School student released a kiai, dissipating and bursting some of the comets, before leaping out of the way and circling around, trying to flank the monster. 'Good. He's not that fast or strong, and he seems to have a swelled head...I just need to get past his defenses, and deliver a decisive bl—' He reeled backwards as Medamatcha suddenly lunged at him, short claws swiping for his face. '...Hm. He's faster than I thought, and those claws are serious weapons,' he reassessed. Taking a different tack, Tenshinhan crouched into a Crane stance and parried the blows, redirecting the razor-sharp claws and stabbing his own hands towards the creature's bulging eyes. Seizing an opening, he plunged his pointed fingers into one goggling eye.
"Yaaow—! Why you tricky little..!" Medamatcha growled, clutching its misshapen face and stumbling back as its undamaged eye rolled crazily in the socket, "I'll have to teach you some manners! Hyaaaa!" Another barrage of energy blasts seared towards Tenshinhan, and he dove out of the way, only for a straggling blast to catch him on the shoulder.
"Agh..!" the human hissed, "Alright, enough playing around, monster. Time to finish you off!" With a burst of speed, he feinted to Medamatcha's right, then kicked off against a vertical slab of concrete to soar above the creature. "Without your armor, you won't be able to defend yourself this time," he growled decisively, "Now...Dodonpa!" As the thin blast struck Medamatcha, the skin of his shoulders and upper back lurched sickeningly, and a mound of charred flesh exploded out, like a popped blister. "What...what the hell?!" Tenshinhan exclaimed, revolted.
"Urrrgh...that hurt...and you made me sacrifice one of my Medas..." the goggle-eyed demon said in a strained voice, "For that, I'm gonna make you pay. I'm going to take my time killing you, human..." His face split into a fanged grin as the writhing flesh on his back continued to wriggle. "Heh...come out and play, my little ones," he crooned, "I've found you the perfect toy to satisfy your need for torture." With a grunt, he flexed his shoulders, and three mounds of flesh popped free, revealing miniature imps with gaping, frog-like mouths.
"Disgusting..." Tenshinhan muttered, "But creating that kind of attack should have depleted his power...I've backed him into a corner." With a smirk, he prepared to punt the first squat being that leapt towards him from its parent's shoulders. To his surprise though, the green devil stuck to his connecting kick, nearly making him fall backwards and lose his balance. "Khh, so you're trying to weigh me down, huh?" he growled, "Sorry, no free rides!" He shot a tiger-claw down at the thing's head, but it only barely connected, as he cried out. A sudden, shooting pain radiated from his leg as the imp sank its needle teeth into his pants, and more concerningly, his ki began to falter. "W-what the hell?!" he stammered, "My energy..!"
"Ihihihihi, serves you right," Medamatcha sing-songed, "My children are very attached to strong foes — they just have a problem with sucking them dry before the fun even begins! Ihihihi! Go, my Medas, attack!" The other two flesh golems sprang at Tenshinhan.
"Looks like Tenshinhan's found his opponent," Krillin said to himself, feeling the familiar flare of his friend's ki, "And I think I've found mine." A tall figure in armor stood straight-backed on the upper roof of a tiered building, cape billowing in the wind. "Well, no use holding back if I'm going to go help the others...Piccolo feels like he might need it soon," he muttered, raising his hand, palm flat. A fine disc of energy buzzed into existence, and the short human chucked it at the alien. At the last moment, the being seemed to take notice of the deadly Kienzan, and dodged out of its way...straight into Krillin's waiting kick, which shattered the faceplate of his armor. "Alright, bullseye!" Krillin whooped triumphantly.
The figure tore off his helmet, enraged by the sneak attack. "You dare! I'll suffer your insolence no longer, insignificant worm!" Immediately, he formed a large blast, firing it off at the monk.
"Whoa, he recovered pretty quick from getting his brain rocked," Krillin observed, "These guys are tough!" He batted the blast out of the way, and returned fire.
Somewhat surprised, the long-haired demon swatted Krillin's ki ball out of the air, glaring at the human as it exploded harmlessly against a broken building. "So you're not a cowardly bug," he spat, "Just a bug, then."
"Hey now, no need to call me names, buddy," Krillin said in a sour tone, "In fact, if you give up right now, you might even get to leave with your life, as long as—"
"Ahahaha! Really? You, a weakling of Earth, deign to offer me mercy?" the demon laughed heartily, brushing some blond hair back behind one of his stubby horns, "I am Angila, Lord Slug's top elite, and I didn't get there by bowing and scraping to every primitive lifeform that asked me nicely to leave." With a shudder, he expanded his ki in a burst, the armor cracking and falling off to reveal a flowing, loose tunic. "By all means, little bug, do try to endeavor to drive me away," Angila chuckled, crossing his arms smugly.
"Okay, but remember, you asked for it," Krillin replied resolutely, his eyebrows drawing down in concentration. "Pride comes before a fall, and you're about to learn that the hard way from underestimating me!" He yelled, powering up, energy rushing around him in a spurt, then receding as he drew his power into his hands, releasing a rapid-fire volley of energy balls.
"Oh, am I?" Angila smirked, appearing behind Krillin in a flash, "I think you're the one in for a fall." He swung a double hammerfist at the back of Krillin's head, slamming him into the ground below. "Pesky little insect, thinking he could challenge me..." the demon chuckled, turning away from the dust cloud of the impact. A sharp pain in his cheek, and he slapped his hand up to it, suppressing a grunt. "What the..? Blood?" he said, confused. His eyes shifted to the right, before he turned around, hands on his hips. "So, the bug bites after all," he smiled, taking in the slightly scuffed appearance of the human, "You're a stubborn one, aren't you?"
"Yeah, you have no idea," Krillin laughed, "I've got a lot of friends who fight 'til the bitter end, so their recklessness rubbed off on me, I guess." He powered up again, a drop of sweat appearing on his brow. 'Man, I only wish I was as indestructible as Goku...that last hit really hurt!' Still, there was no backing down now. "Take this!" he yelled, flinging a ki blast at Angila.
"Haaa!" Tenshinhan fired his Kikoho in earnest at Medamatcha, but his energy was fading, and fast. "D-damnit..!" he growled, frantically trying to pry the fanged creature off of his calf. Another Meda circled around him hungrily, while the third was nowhere in sight. 'This is bad!' he thought, 'This thing alone is draining my energy...I have to get it off and kill them all, fast!'
"Ihihihihi! Having some trouble there?" Medamatcha laughed, "Even with your big blast, if you can't hit me, what's the point? My Medas will drag you down and drink your energy dry!"
'He's right,' Tenshinhan thought, 'I have to get rid of them somehow before I can focus on him.' He racked his brain for a strategy, but the Medas' drain on him was starting to make him woozy. From under a pile of rubble, the third little monster dove at his shoulders, clamping on with shark-sharp teeth. "Aaaaugh—!" he cried, listing backwards, clawing at his back. As he scrabbled at the beast biting into his shoulder, he lost his balance, falling heavily against the remains of a wall. He heard a squeaking noise of pain, and the searing pain in his shoulder abated. 'That's it!' he thought triumphantly, using all his strength to stand again. "I-I...may be weakened...but I'm still tougher than you demons...and I've got weight on my side!" he gasped, driving himself backwards. A disgusting squelch and unpleasant wetness, coupled with a sense of not having the ki siphoned from his back, brought a smirk to his face. "Your monster spawn are tricky, but they're a lot less durable than you are, aren't they?" he asked.
Medamatcha stiffened, a bead of sweat dripping down his bloated face. "...Hah. Maybe so, but I'm tougher, as you've observed." He held up one finger demonstrably. "My Medas tenderize my enemies for me, but I'm no slouch on my own. Take this!" A beam of pinkish energy rushed at Tenshinhan.
'You took the bait, you fool,' Tenshinhan thought with a grin, wearily struggling to line things up. He snapped up the circling Meda in a surprised flailing of limbs and teeth, and hurled it at the beam. They connected with a foul-smelling explosion, raining gore and slime that splattered both opponents.
"Noooo! My Meda!" the demon screeched, "You! You shouldn't even be able to move, you bastard!"
"I didn't have to do much," the human smiled weakly, "You did all the work for me. And now..." He slammed his leg in a hook-kick into a leaning stop sign, nearly decapitating the final Meda with the force of impact. As it let go, he felt a weight lifted, and his energy began to stabilize. He took a deep breath, forcing calm into his body. "...Let's see if you talk so tough when you're forced to fight fair."
The frog-like minion hissed, "I'll show you, filthy human. I was born of Lord Slug himself, so I am the most powerful of his servants!" With a scream, his aura surrounded him in a yellowish haze. "You will not survive to make a fool of me any longer! Full power...Evil Comet!" The demonspawn gathered an enormous orb of energy, firing it in a roaring whirl at the hapless human. He cackled as the energy washed over the human, motionless in shock. "Ihihihihihihihi! Serves you right, human scum! You never had a chance, against the likes of me, Medama— Urk!" He stared down, at the bloody hole blooming in his chest.
"For having such big eyes, you're not very observant," Tenshinhan calmly stated from behind the tottering beast, "I recovered just enough energy to make an afterimage of myself...and you were arrogant enough to drop your guard because you thought you had me cornered. An assassin like me doesn't make such mistakes...and that is why you lost." He waited until Medamatcha's body fell forward, his ki winking out as it spasmed one last time, before he let out a shaking breath. "Haaah...that was a close one. But if what he boasted was accurate, the hardest part is over." He glanced over at a wave of explosions across the city. "I hope Yamcha and Chiaotzu are having better luck with their opponent, and they don't all have underhanded tricks like this one."
"Gnnh!" Krillin groaned as hit the ground hard, Angira's grating laugh practically making his ears ring. 'Why do I always have to fight the weirdos who have better reach than me?' he thought wearily. "Oh...man... Ow..." he muttered as he got up, brushing himself off. "Okay, so he can stretch his arms. Big deal," the former monk reassured himself, "I've always fought bigger, taller, and tougher opponents. He's just got freakish reach compared to them."
"What are you muttering over there, little bug?" Angila called, "Giving yourself a pep talk? Or saying your prayers?" He mockingly rotated his shoulder in his socket as the human steeled himself. "You should just stay down, you know. If you surrender, Lord Slug may yet let you live...at least until the planet freezes over, that is."
"You know, when you put it like that, it's not terribly tempting for me to surrender," Krillin snarked, "Why shouldn't I fight with all I've got, if those are my options? Has anyone ever surrendered to those terms?"
The horned man smiled patronizingly. "Not really, no. But I find it amusing to give them some hope of survival. Perhaps it is — pardon the pun — cold comfort, but some would rather die of the cold than die by my hand, and who am I to deny them?"
Krillin looked at him in silence for a moment, a hard expression on his face. "Suppose I turned it around. If I offer you the choice to leave here with your life or keep fighting me and die, what would you do?"
Angila burst out laughing. "Such a funny bug! You, beating me? Are you crazy! Hahahaha! ...Ah well, I suppose I can play along, just this once. It's simple," he said, lowering his chin to look down his nose at Krillin, "I would fight and die, of course. There is no reason for Slug to keep weaklings around, and I have never once failed in my loyalty to him. You see, in this hypothetical little scenario, I would only survive for as long as it took Lord Slug to kill me." He shrugged gamely. "That won't happen, though."
"Are you so sure?" Krillin asked, "What if Slug were dead?"
Angila gritted his teeth, all levity gone from his face as the blood drained from it. "That won't happen," he hissed, "I've had enough of this farce, little bug. Time to crush you, once and for all." He thrust his arm down, the stretchy limb disappearing beneath the earth.
'This again!' Krillin thought, quickly reacting, jumping off the ground and into the air. "Heh, that technique is easy to evade if you've seen it a few ti—" He was cut off sharply as a clawed hand smacked him sideways through a newly-punched hole in a dilapidated building. "—Well okay, that was unexpected..." he muttered, wiping the streak of blood from his mouth. 'Time to pull out all the stops...I can feel Piccolo struggling, and the others will need my help too.' The monk took a defensive stance back on the ground, keeping his eyes on the demon's hands. 'I haven't shown him this one much...hopefully he won't catch on.' A bright sliver of ki, a Kienzan, formed in the palm of his hand. He created two, threw them, and brought forth two more and launched those in the wake of the first two.
"Such a flimsy show," Angila smirked, "Attacking me head on? You must have completely run out of options!" He ducked under the first two, and sidestepped the last two. A resounding smack accompanied his hand flying up to catch Krillin's sucker punch. "Oh? A distraction? Clever bug, but that won't work on me a second time." With Krillin's fist in his hand, he extended his arm like taffy, flinging the short human into the air. "Now, let's see you get back up after I break every bone in your body!" he shouted, bringing the elastic arm down.
'Now!' Krillin thought, pulling on the invisible chains of ki. The errant Kienzan spun around like trick yo-yos and headed back towards Angila. With his back turned, the demon had no idea of the danger, until he let out a long, sharp, howl of agony. Krillin dropped to the ground, unwinding the twitching arm still wrapped around his fist. "I tried to be like Goku," he said to himself, "Tried to give you a choice, a chance to surrender. But when it comes down to it...mercy isn't a luxury I have, even with all my power. I'm still not strong enough..!" He clenched his fists. "I will ensure that you don't suffer, though," he addressed Angila quietly.
The horned man looked up in a mix of pain and shock, his mouth a confused grimace. He lay in a steadily spreading pool of blood, all four limbs cleanly exscinded. "B-but how? You missed me with that attack! It was just a distraction..!"
Krillin gave a wan smile. "Like you said yourself, I'm a bug compared to you, my friends, and everyone else I've ever fought. However, whether you were mocking me or not, you were right when you said I was clever. I've had to be clever and brave, to survive monsters like you. Until Goku gets here, or someone else comes to finish the battle, I will always fight, no matter what."
"Grrnnnh...your denial in the face of oblivion is admirable," Angila rasped, "But your Goku isn't coming to save you...he may very well be dead himself by now, aha...haha...hahaha..."
Krillin's face flashed angry, as he shot a concentrated ki blast at the downed demons solar plexus, snuffing out his lifeforce in an instant. "Don't say that," he whispered aloud, "Goku...he always comes, even if it's just in the nick of time..." Still, Angila's final words haunted him. 'I knew there was something off about Paragus, and this confirms it. Piccolo was right; this was a tactic devised to split us up and rob us of the Saiyan muscle we've come to depend on, and we walked right into it. Damnit Goku, I hope you guys are doing better than us out there...'
Vegeta slammed into Broly's chest. The Legendary Super Saiyan flinched backwards as the Prince began a furious assault, smashing punch after punch and kick after kick into the him. Surprised by the force of the blows, Broly grinned and crashed a fist into Vegeta's chest, breaking his armor and sending him spinning backwards.
With a roar of pain and rage, Vegeta launched a volley of energy blasts at Broly. Blast after blast after blast piled onto the Legendary Super Saiyan, creating an enormous billowing cloud of smoke. Vegeta paused, panting. In his mind he could feel it, the power. His face tightened in panic. 'No that can't be! He must have—!'
Broly shot out of the smoke and clotheslined Vegeta, knocking the breath from him and sending him shooting into the ground below. "Ahahaha!" he laughed, "Weakling! You can't even touch me!" Against Vegeta, some of his sense seemed to have returned, his movements and speech less fueled by madness...and increasingly more by a clear bloodlust.
The prince gritted his teeth, trying to hide the full-body shaking that gripped him. 'I'd heard the legends,' he reflected, 'I even naively thought myself and Kakarot to have achieved them. But this... This is it, no mistaking it. The Oozaru rage, the limitless power, the lust for blood and battle — this is the true Legendary Super Saiyan.' He curled his bruised hands into fists. "Why..?" he whispered to himself, "Why, after all my efforts, my illustrious bloodline, my sacrifices...why am I destined to always discover that I am lesser?" He clenched his hands tighter, feeling the ripping of his gloves. "Why?" he said, a little louder, "Why Kakarot? Why Frieza? Why you, someone I had no inkling existed?" Blood dripped from his clenched fists. "Why do all of you inferiors stand in my way?!" he screamed, his aura exploding angrily around him. "All of you pretenders to the Saiyan legacy...my legacy...should just diiiieee! he cried, blasting towards Broly at full speed.
Broly grinned luridly. "Struggle more, little prince...it amuses me! Ahahaha!" Faced with the incoming golden bullet that was Vegeta, he lobbed dozens of bright green energy balls carelessly in the Saiyan's direction, laughing as his smaller opponent dodged most of them and continued on, buoyed by the explosions of the impacts behind him. "Give me a worthwhile fight, Vegetaaaa!" he roared, flaring his hazy green aura.
Paragus shielded himself from the waves of smoke and coughed. He was angry, but more than that, he was terrified. The grizzled Saiyan looked up at the sky seeing Broly blazing down to crash into where Vegeta had landed. "Damn it!" Paragus swore, "If they keep this up either the planet will be destroyed or Broly will kill them all. Like this there's no way for me to calm him down or stop him..!" He turned around. "I have to get out of here... As far away as possible!" He fled through the city, heading towards the ship he had parked on the outskirts just in case of such an eventuality...but he was not unobserved.
From a building opposite, Mr. Satan spotted Paragus running away. His fist tightened and his jaw clenched. He looked over at Gohan and Videl, observing the fight outside. Both children, in their own way, were trying to hide their fear. 'The way that boy withstood that big explosion...and shielded Videl...' He made his decision. "You two stay here!" he shouted, running out of the building.
"Dad!" Videl yelled, "Where are you going?!"
"You listen an' you listen good," Mr. Satan yelled towards Gohan, "Keep her safe!" Mr. Satan called. He raced through the rubble and smoke and ruin, clambering over stones and dodging past the rocks kicked up by the battle. He threw himself to the ground and cowered behind a boulder as a golden streak screamed overhead, pursued by a green orb that collided some distance away with an enormous explosion. His heart pounded as he picked himself up and carried on. 'I must be crazy! Must be utterly insane! What are you planning on achieving here Mark? What on Earth do you imagine that you can do?' He gritted his teeth and shook the dust out of his hair, muttering in response to his inner voice, "Don't know what yet, but...somebody's gotta do something, an' all the glowy guys are busy, so that leaves me." He cleared the city and came across Paragus making his way towards an object in the distance. Mr. Satan gulped, sweating. 'Well I guess this is the moment when I find out... This guy's a Saiyan too, but I don't think he can go gold...at least I hope not...' He stood up straight, and thrust his finger at the fleeing alien. "Hey!" he yelled.
Paragus turned his head and sneered upon seeing Mr. Satan. "Ah, the great ambassador," he said, "I'd forgotten about you. How is your peace mission going?"
"Drop the sarcasm bozo!" Mr. Satan replied, "I want to know just what's going on here! Why does your boy have such a grudge against Goku, Vegeta, and Frieza?"
Paragus growled. "It's because of what they did to us. The Saiyans cast us out. Vegeta's father was a coward, who wanted to murder my child because he saw him as being too powerful. Frieza was our enslaver. I wished to destroy both of them. But unfortunately Broly is sick, his mind hurt and damaged by Kakarot. By that infuriating weakling of a child..!"
Mr. Satan furrowed his brows. "Huh? What do you mean?"
Paragus gave a short, mirthless laugh, and a little shrug. "He cried. Constantly. Screaming and wailing, and the noise ruined Broly, made him crazy. Hence his reaction upon seeing him now."
Mr. Satan stared at him, openmouthed. "That's it?" he growled, his expression turning to anger, "You've had, what, thirty years, forty to think of a reason and that's the best you can do? A child was crying too much? That's nothing but a shitty excuse!"
Paragus' eyes flashed with anger. "What did you say?"
Furious, unconcerned for himself, Mr. Satan plowed on. "Your kid's sick; you said it yourself! Maybe that power did something to him, hurt his mind, but to say that another kid crying did all of that? That's stupid! Just nonsense you made up to avoid your own guilt! Broly was hurting, from his power, but did you care? No! From what I've seen, all you cared about was turning him into a weapon to get your own revenge! And when your abuse only made him worse you just locked him up in his own mind and tried to turn him into an obedient little slave!" Mr. Satan spat. He aggressively leveled a finger at the Saiyan. "And now that it's all going south you're just abandoning him and running away. You're worse than all the show-biz parents I've met in my career, and that's saying something, buddy. You disgust me."
"You whelp!" Paragus shouted, raising his power level and bristling, "How dare you speak to me in that way, as if—"
Mr. Satan turned away, waving his hand dismissively. "Yeah yeah, you're right. I'm a wimp compared to you lot. Useless out there. But unlike you, I'm going back to protect my child, 'cause for all my faults, at least I'm not a scumbag like you." He paused. "Oh, and another thing. Since I'm done bein' nice to you, here's some advice. You might want to shave the mustache — a goatee would suit your ugly mug better."
Paragus stared at him, furious and more than little baffled. Mr. Satan turned away, back towards the explosions and thumping crashes of a fight steadily getting out of control. "I can't do anything to help them," Mr. Satan said quietly, "but I'm gonna make sure you're here to witness this, all the way to the bitter end. It's the least you can do for Broly."
"And just how are you going to keep me here?" Paragus mocked, "You said it yourself — you're too weak to compel me to do anything!"
"Sure," Mr. Satan smirked, raising his finger and pointing above them, "but if there's one thing I'm real good at, it's gettin' attention. And I don't think you want Broly's attention right now, do ya?" Paragus balked, and the afro-haired human crossed his arms, satisfied he'd won. "That's right. You just take a seat here, and keep quiet."
The scarred Saiyan begrudgingly slumped onto a flat piece of concrete upended by the tremors. "You're insane," he hissed, "By keeping me here, if Broly spots us, you'll die too, you moron."
"That's a chance I'm more than willing to take," Mr. Satan said, "Besides, I'm willing to gamble that he'd go after you first. I'm gettin' pretty good at running and hiding...hmph. Good thing there's no cameras here to capture the renowned world champion, skulking around, running for my life, sitting it out on the sidelines..." He let out a self-conscious sigh. "Man, I've gotta put together a good cover story for when I get back to Earth."
"Wah—! Hup!" Chiaotzu grunted as he dodged speedily around Dorodabo's meaty fists. "You missed me!" he taunted, flitting back and forth, earning frustrated growls from his opponent. "Yamcha! Any time now!"
"Got it," Yamcha responded, a light blue ki ball shooting forward as he twisted his fingers, directing its path. The Sokidan clocked Dorodabo on the chin, knocking him back, and returned to strike him in the side of the head.
"Owww!" Why you little brat—!" Dorodabo growled irritably, lashing out with his clawed hands, "Rrrr! I've had enough!" He suddenly puffed his chest out as he sucked in a breath, then spewed a massive greenish-orange ki attack out of his mouth. Yamcha's Sokidan dissolved in the onslaught, with the bandit himself caught in the firestorm.
"Aaaugh—! Watch out Chiaotzu, this guy's got some long-range attacks too," he warned his partner. The former bandit rubbed at his charred shoulder, wincing as some blackened skin peeled away. "Oh well...I guess a senzu will fix it later," he muttered, retaking his Wolf Style stance beside the diminutive psychic.
"Well, if we can't get close, let's just pummel him from afar," Chiaotzu suggested confidently, his hands already surrounded with a blue glow. He lifted them, and the bulky demon rose into the air, flailing against the psychic grip.
"H-hey! Put me down, ya little runt!" Dorodabo yelled, kicking his stubby arms and legs out wildly, "I'm gonna rip you limb from limb!"
"Perfect reason to keep you tied up," Yamcha smirked, summoning another Sokidan, "Hey Chiaotzu, can you hold him up there for me?"
"Yup, no problem," the jianshi grinned, "Fire away!" His eyes lit with psychic power as he strengthened his hold. Yamcha tossed the Sokidan into the air, then, with some effort, produced another orb of ki. "...Whoa, you can do two now?" Chiaotzu said admiringly, "You've been training really hard, huh?"
"Well...not as hard as you guys," Yamcha said self-consciously, scratching absently at his neck, "But I figured, hey, I'm a human too, and when it comes to this planet, I want to pull my weight defending it." He turned to glare at the captured Dorodabo. "That's why...I refuse to tolerate guys like this coming here and threatening my world. Goku won't always be here to defend us, after all."
"Ooh, tough words, coming from a weakling," the demon taunted, "You may've caught me off guard, but you'll have no such luck with Lord Slug. We've been watching you, and the two Namekians on this dirtball — neither the healer kid nor the other one will be able to oppose Lord Slug. If you surrender now, he might let you live, but I figure those two are already dead by now...he doesn't like competition."
"Nah, I can still sense Piccolo's energy, and Dende's... Huh... That's weird..." Yamcha trailed off, furrowing his eyebrows. "Whatever," he shrugged to hide his unease, "I'm sure they're both fine. Now, where were we? Oh yeah, I was just getting ready to beat you into next week." He cracked his knuckles and flicked two fingers forward, directing one Sokidan at Dorodabo's face. It hit him in the cheek, jerking his fleshy face to the side, and Yamcha shot the second projectile of ki at his gut, knocking the wind out of him. Dorodabo wheezed in pain. "This...this is for trying to destroy Earth," Yamcha said coldly, slamming the two ki balls into either side of the demon's skull. "This is for underestimating us," he said, one ball rocketing up to break the monster's jaw, and the other slamming into his back. "And this is for calling me weak!" he yelled in conclusion, directing the Sokidan orbs to circle around the now-limp demon, building speed before sandwiching him in between a blinding explosion of blue light. "Haa...haa...haa...take that...monster..." he panted.
"Good job Yamcha, I think you got 'im!" Chiaotzu congratulated, letting the still corpse fall heavily to the ground. Dorodabo's eyes were blank white and rolled back, not a twitch of movement to suggest any spark of life. "He wasn't really that tough, but...I'm worried, about what he said. I can't sense Dende, can you?"
"No," Yamcha replied gravely, "But we've got more immediate problems, I think. There's a bunch of smaller ki signatures heading straight for Capsule Corp. We've gotta go help Bulma hold them off."
"Right," Chiaotzu nodded, "Tenshinhan should be heading to help Piccolo out, so let's hurry and take care of them so we can fight Slug too."
Tenshinhan wove through the broken buildings as he concentrated on Piccolo's ki. It seemed as though he was trying to keep his fight with Slug contained to the downtown area of West City, where the population was scarce and many of the larger buildings were abandoned. It was smart tactic, though it would have been preferable to just fight outside of the city limits. Rounding a corner, Ten halted himself as he witnessed Piccolo crash into the side of a skyscraper, his body lodged tightly in the brick masonry as the other Namekian made his way towards the former Demon King.
"Dodonpa!" Tenshinhan shouted quickly, flinging a slim beam of energy that collided with Slug's abdomen and caused him to stagger for a moment, allowing Piccolo to dislodge himself from the building and rush towards Slug.
"Damn! Medamatcha must be dead then," Slug reasoned as he glared at Tenshinhan, holding his abdomen in pain. He turned just in time to be clobbered by a hammer fist from Piccolo, sending him crashing down into a smaller—and thankfully empty—house.
The fused Namekian shot an intimidating glance at Tenshinhan, obviously annoyed. "Stay out of this, he's mine!" Piccolo scolded, turning his attention back to the smoking crater that Slug had created upon impact. 'If it weren't for Namekians like you, perhaps we could have defeated Frieza when he came looking for the Dragonballs!' Piccolo thought, almost unaware that the part of him that was Nail was seeming to surface more and more as the fight dragged on. If he had never fused with a true Namekian, Piccolo was unsure if he would even feel this vendetta towards Slug, but none of that mattered right now, what mattered was that the Namekians who had died during Slug's reign of terror had to be avenged. Piccolo placed his right palm out towards where Slug had landed and placed his left hand firmly on his wrist. "Destruction Wave!" The Namekian shouted, launching a cackling ball of energy down towards the smoke and debris.
"Piccolo, what the hell are you doing?!" Tenshinhan shouted, watching as the attack crashed into the ground below and caused a huge aftershock, rumbling every building in the area and causing some less structurally sound ones to tumble to the ground below. "Are you trying to destroy the city?!"
Before Piccolo could respond, two enormous arms flung out from the debris and latched onto Piccolo's sides, locking him in place. "Hahaha! I haven't had this much fun in years!" Slug cackled, launching himself forward using his arms as a kind of slingshot. Slug rammed his knee into Piccolo as he retracted his arms, causing Piccolo to reel back and spit blood from his mouth.
Tenshinhan flew upward and towards Slug, but the Super Namekian spotted him from the corner of his eye and whipped his arm at the former assassin, catching him by surprise and knocking him through the air like a ragdoll. "Y-you… You'll pay…" Piccolo gasped, reeling back his now free hand and quickly jabbing his outstretched fingers at Slug's bicep. The evil Namekian screamed in pain as Piccolo's hand tore through Slug's skin, burying itself a few inches deep into his bicep. Slug grabbed Piccolo's wrist and began to forcefully attempt to dislodge it from his body, the two struggling for dominance for a moment before the invading Super Namekian decided to bend his head back and deliver a devastating headbutt to Piccolo. As the former Demon King's head flew back in pain, Slug was able to rip Piccolo's hand out of his bicep and snapped his wrist backwards with a sickening snap, breaking it easily.
"Pathetic, I thought you were stronger than this!" Slug taunted as purple blood oozed from the wound on his chest. He grabbed onto Piccolo's side once more, enlarging only his arms and stretching backwards to prepare for another slingshot attack. "Let's see how many of these you can take!" Slug shouted after he had stretched himself quite a ways, preparing to use the momentum to ram Piccolo once more. Just as he began to move forward, a sharp slicing noise and a sharp pain forced the Namekian's eyes to nearly bulge out of their sockets.
A circular blade of ki sliced right through Slug's outstretched arms, causing both of them to release their grip on Piccolo and fall limp to the ground, shrinking in size as they went. The stumps that used to be Slug's arms retracted, and the evil Namekian looked at them in utter confusion for a moment before searching the area for the culprit.
Piccolo grabbed onto his broken wrist with his free hand and surveyed the wound, realizing that he couldn't set it properly if he wanted to continue the fight. With some exertion, Piccolo twisted his broken wrist to a painful degree and tore it off, quickly regrowing a new hand in its place. 'No doubt Slug is reeling from that attack; we should have enough time to do some serious damage before he regrows his—' Piccolo's eyes shot open as he witnessed two brand new arms shoot out of Slug's stumps, almost as if he didn't even need to expend any energy to do so. "Wh-what the..?" Piccolo murmured in shock. The regeneration process could be quick, but every time Piccolo had done it, it took quite a bit out of him. 'Slug...it's like doing that didn't even faze him! How is that possible? The amount of ki it would take to regenerate that much flesh should at least make him tired...but his power level hasn't dropped at all!'
"Don't look so surprised, son of Katas," Slug grinned, twisting around his new appendages to ensure that they were working appropriately, "I told you that your knowledge of the techniques of our people was limited." Piccolo growled in anger as Slug chuckled. "Oh, and whoever it was who sawed my arms off, I can hear you panting over there!" The evil Namekian shouted, shooting his eyes towards a tall skyscraper that Krillin was perched atop of. The short human's eyes shot open in surprise in the distance.
"You won't have to worry about him for much longer. I'll have killed you long before they get another opportunity to interfere," Piccolo threatened, charging two small ki attacks in his hands. Without any further notice, the Namekian launched a barrage of small ki attacks that Slug was able to dodge almost absent-mindedly, feigning a yawn as more and more small ki blasts flew past him.
"I must have knocked something loose in your head for you to be so overconfident!" Slug laughed, grabbing one of the ki balls that Piccolo had thrown and dissipating it in his hand. Not too far away, Tenshinhan groaned and pushed rubble to the side, freeing himself from the ruins of a house that he had crashed into. From his vantage point he could see Piccolo tossing many ki attacks at Slug, but it seemed that the evil Namekian hadn't noticed that many of them were collecting behind him, and the number was growing immensely.
"Heh, why didn't I think of that?" Tenshinhan admired, lifting himself into the air. As the ki attacks went on, Slug seemed more and more bored, that was until he realized that a few of Piccolo's ki attacks were stopping a few yards ahead of Slug.
"What's this?" Slug wondered aloud as the ki balls continued appearing in front of him. He began to turn around and witnessed hundreds, if not thousands of balls of ki surrounding himself. Suddenly, he wasn't so confident. The volley of ki began to slowly rotate around the genocidal Namekian, who was looking for an opening to escape but found none. "Screw this!" he shouted, releasing a powerful blast of energy from the palms of his hands and making a hole in Piccolo's wall of ki. Before he could attempt to escape, however, Piccolo clenched his fist, causing each and every one of his ki orbs to converge on their target. Slug brought his arms up to defend, but even he was unsure of just how effective that would truly be.
"Yeah!" Krillin shouted from afar as the ki orbs caused a massive explosion in the sky, with Slug at the center of it. His jubilation didn't last long, however, as he could sense that Slug was still very much alive as the smoke began to expand throughout the cityscape.
"This guy is something else…" Tenshinhan muttered as he flew up to the skyscraper that Krillin had perched himself on. "He's strong, way stronger than I thought he would be," Ten admitted to the former monk, clutching his ribs in pain, "Even though it was an almost absent-minded attack, he bruised me pretty badly. I'd say it just about compares to sparring with Frieza, as far as intensity."
"Yeah, this guy's no joke, that's for sure," Krillin agreed, watching closely as the smoke began clearing. Piccolo glared intently at where he sensed Slug's energy signature to be, a hateful scowl appearing on his face as he panted in exhaustion. To no one's surprise, Slug emerged from the barrage of ki in one piece, though he was noticeably bruised and battered, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"It seems I've underestimated the warriors of Earth," Slug finally stated flatly, bringing his head to the side and cracking his neck, "That's not something that I'll do twice!" With a burst of energy, he quickly shot at Piccolo, leaving the Earth-born Namekian little time to defend.
"I don't like the look of that…" Dr. Briefs mumbled as he witnessed about a dozen or so armor-clad minions pop up in the distance. "Well, let's not have a repeat of last time. Come on, maybe we'll be safe inside of the bunker."
Bulma nodded, her fingers tightly gripping Oolong's shirt to prevent him from slipping away, turning to Roshi with a worried frown. "You don't think that you might be able to handle these guys, do you?"
"I sure hope you can, because there's no way I can take them all on," Oolong moaned melodramatically, "Why aren't Yamcha and the others here to protect us, anyway?"
"I told them to go fight, and you and Roshi could back me up," Bulma said, poking his snout forcefully with one finger, "And if you run away and leave us high and dry, you're gonna regret it!"
"Okay, okay!" Oolong yelled, slapping her hand away, "I'll try, but no guarantees, got it?"
"Whatever," Bulma sighed, looking out the window, "Looks like there's a bunch heading this way, get ready."
The Turtle Hermit's gaze remained fixated on the minions that were closing in, his sunglasses hiding what kind of expression he wore on his visage. Bulma had known him long enough to realize that he was about to get serious. "Don't have much time till they get here, might as well start now," Roshi stated cryptically, beginning to unbutton his orange shirt and allowing it to drop to the ground. With a grunt, Roshi's muscles expanded, and after a few more seconds of centering himself, his frail structure morphed into a solid physique.
"Hmm, what's going on?" Dr. Briefs wondered, hand clenched on a doorknob leading to the next room.
"He's not holding back this time," Bulma smirked, having seen Master Roshi in action like this before, "Come on Roshi, you don't have to show off like last time!"
"Hehe, I just can't help myself in front of a lovely lady like yourself!" Roshi chuckled, breathing in deeply and flexing, earning a disgusted look from the short pig. As he exhaled, his body bulked up immensely, looking almost nothing like he had before. "Sorry about this, doctor, but I know you've got the dough for the repairs," the hermit laughed, bringing both arms to his side and charging an attack in the palm of his hands. "Ka… Me… Ha…. Me…" He waited a moment, eyeing the three minions who were flying in the closest proximity. They were close now, but he had to make sure that his attack would land.
"And everyone wonders why my insurance premiums are so astronomical..." Dr. Briefs sighed, knowing what was about to come next.
"Ha!" Roshi shouted, thrusting his arms forward and blasting right through the glass window and through portions of the wall, sending concrete flying through the air as his ki attack flew rapidly towards the unsuspecting minions.
Before they could react, the three armor-clad soldiers collided with the enormous attack, sending the center-most minion through the sky along with the ki blast and the other two careening backwards before falling to the ground below. Roshi moved his arms slightly, causing his Kamehameha to turn upwards and away from the buildings of West City before he released control and strafed backwards, readying himself for the other soldiers. "You better get out of here, no telling if I'll last very long against these guys!" Roshi ordered as the first few minions entered into the hole that Roshi had made with his attack.
"Good idea, I'm not turning down a safe exit!" Oolong snorted, already making for the door. Dr. Briefs flung open the door and made a break for it, but before Oolong and Bulma could follow, one of the minions fired a shot just above the doorway, collapsing a part of the roof and blocking their escape.
"Waaaaah!" Oolong screamed and jumped back from the rubble into Bulma's arms, "M-master Roshi, a little backup?!"
"Focus on me, why doncha?" Roshi taunted, rushing forward and ramming his enlarged fist into the minions abdomen. As the minion reeled, another jumped towards the old Turtle Hermit and threw a fist, but Roshi managed to dodge the blow quite nimbly despite his size and grabbed onto the armor-clad soldier's arm, flinging him out of the window that he came in through and crashing into yet another oncoming soldier. The remaining four soldiers rushed through the gap in the wall, two taking aim at Roshi and firing. "Hmm!" Roshi grunted as he guarded against the blasts with his forearms, the stinging sensation greater than he imagined it would be. One of the soldiers spotted Bulma in the corner of the room and managed to slip past Master Roshi, who was still guarding against the other minions blaster fire.
"What do we have here?" The soldier asked, his mask muffling his voice slightly. The blue-haired woman tossed Oolong away and gulped hard, looking around the room to see if she could find something to fight back with. "Doesn't look like you can defend yourself lady, hehe." He reached forward, but Bulma dashed between his legs and rushed towards a nearby storage lab, flinging the double doors open and rushing inside. "Oolong! Turn into...I dunno, something to jam the door with!"
"You ask a lot, you know that?" the anthropomorphic pig griped, turning into a crowbar with a puff of smoke, "Hey! Watch it with the manhandling!" he yelled indignantly as Bulma shoved him through the door handles.
"Yeh!" Roshi grunted, throwing his arms out and staggering the soldiers with an invisible blast of wind. The aliens recovered more quickly than expected, however, and rushed toward the old man, grabbing his outstretched arms and holding him in place. The third soldier rushed towards the struggling Roshi, pulling his fist back just as Roshi cocked his right leg for a kick. With incredible speed, Master Roshi flung his leg upward and caught the soldier on the chin before his fist could reach its target, sending him crashing up through the ceiling. The fourth alien reeled back as he witnessed Roshi's attack, but soon collected himself and made his way towards the nearby doorway the woman and pig has disappeared through. As he peered in the small vertical windows, he could see the blue-haired woman rummaging through a box of some sort.
"It's got to be here somewhere…" Bulma remarked as she tossed some components to the side.
"Come on, Bulma, that guy's gonna start breaking this down any minute!" Oolong screeched, "I'm not really built for this kind of abuse!" he grunted as the first blow rattled the door. "Oh no...ow!" With a bom, Oolong returned to his original form, flying across the room as the soldier knocked the doors open and flung him away.
"End of the line!" the alien declared, "You're that scientist we were told to monitor...hmm. Let's see if Lord Slug'll have a use for you," the soldier chuckled, sauntering towards the woman.
"Aha!" she shouted, twisting around and pointing some sort of weapon at the alien, "Don't come any closer bud, this is stronger than it looks."
The armor-clad minion tilted his head as he examined the weapon, and then burst out in laughter. "Hahaha, Gyoshu told us all about your primitive weapons — they're no use against our superior armor. Go ahead sweetie, try it, I dare you."
Bulma confidently smirked, "Well, you asked for it." Her thumb flipped a small switch on the side of the device, causing it to whir and and give off a slight glow. Suddenly the soldier didn't feel quite as assured in his safety. The blue-violet laser violently blasted out of the tip of the weapon, piercing right through the alien's armor and flinging him against the wall. As the minion's corpse slumped down to the ground, Bulma quickly released the trigger and dropped the smoking weapon from her hands. "Ahh… Damn, Dad was right when he said the weapon overheated too quickly." The blue-haired genius flinched in pain as she noted the severe burn marks on her hands. "Great...and now I don't have any backup weapons! Oolong, you okay?"
"Just...fine...thanks fr'askin'..." Oolong groaned, slumped upside-down against a wall.
Through the doorway she could see that Master Roshi had knocked away the other two minions and was in the process of tossing another one out of the window. "And stay out!" he shouted, flinging the alien through the hole in the wall. Groans came from all directions as the remaining minions struggled to lift themselves up, though it seemed that Roshi too was completely exhausted. Bulma walked out of the closet with her palms open out in front of her, still quite in pain, though she could barely focus on that when she realized that yet another wave of minions were upon them.
"C-can you deal with any more of these guys?" Bulma asked timidly, though Roshi could only manage a meek shake of his head. He turned slightly and tossed a ki attack from his hand, blasting away the rubble in front of the doorway that her father had escaped from.
"Go on now, I'll do everything I can to keep them away from you," Roshi panted, adjusting his sunglasses as the next wave of aliens approached.
"No, you're too tired, you won't last another minute against these guys!" Bulma reasoned, shaking her head in dismay. "Come with me, we can try to find the bunker. Maybe they won't be able to find us?" Just as she attempted to grab Roshi's arm, she saw one of the minions blown out of the sky with a brilliant blue ki attack.
"Heh, looks like we won't have to run after all!" Roshi grinned, watching as Chiaotzu smashed into yet another armor-clad alien in the distance. "Hey! You couldn't have made it a little sooner?!" the master shouted out towards Yamcha and Chiaotzu, though they were too busy cleaning up the trash to register his words.
"How about some of this!" Yamcha shouted, sending out a small sphere of ki that dashed from one minion to another, knocking each and every one of them out as it passed through the sky. One of the soldiers paused in place, surrounded by a peculiar purple aura that seemed to paralyze him. With a grin, Chiaotzu flicked his finger towards another minion and sent the two crashing into the ground below. Soon enough the two had cleared the sky—as well as Bulma and Roshi's worries.
"Hey you two!" Yamcha greeted as he and Chiaotzu made their way towards the hole in the side of the Capsule Corp. building, "Sorry we couldn't get here sooner, we were… uh…" The scar-faced man looked behind the bulked up Roshi and witnessed several groaning aliens struggling to move.
"Looks like you managed to handle yourself pretty well," Chiaotzu grinned, though he quickly realized that something was wrong with Bulma's hands. "Ah, Bulma, are you alright?"
"Huh? Oh, this?" Bulma realized, opening her arms further to show everyone her singed palms, "Don't worry, I'll be alright. I just used one of our prototype lasers, couldn't quite work out all of the kinks yet."
Yamcha entered in through the hole and landed next to her, examining her hands closely. "This looks serious, you need me to take you to Dende for some healing?" Bulma shook her head.
"I said I'll be fine, there's bound to be more of these guys out there though," The blue-haired genius stated, kicking one of the aliens that was limp on the ground.
"Hmm, I'm not sure…" Chiaotzu replied, closing his eyes to focus, "We could sense these guys, but not the more powerful ones."
"Maybe Slug only equipped the strongest ones with ki-concealing suits?" Yamcha postulated. Bulma nodded in agreement.
"Either way, I can't sense any other ki signatures other than Piccolo, Krillin, Ten and Slug… Wait…" Chiaotzu flinched as he concentrated on the fight at hand, realizing that Piccolo was slowly starting to wear down. "Yamcha, we've gotta help Piccolo!"
"Hold on now, you said that Krillin and Tenshinhan were there too, they'll be able to give him some support," Roshi reasoned, looking around the room, "And besides, one of you needs to stay here in case these bozos decide to send more of their troops."
Yamcha nodded and turned to the small psychic with a determined grin. "I'll handle things here, maybe I can get my shoulder checked out in the meantime." The former bandit winced as he gingerly touched the blackened flesh between the rips in his gi.
"Alright, be careful everyone!" Chiaotzu cautioned, nearly flying away before Master Roshi placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm coming with, this place is plenty safe with Yamcha here," the turtle hermit claimed, "I might not be much use in a fight anymore, but if things go south…" Chiaotzu turned and gave a concerned glare at the old master, but there was a clear resoluteness in his features that made the psychic sure that he wouldn't take no for an answer. Bulma turned to Yamcha, brow raised curiously, but he merely shrugged.
"Alright, let's hurry then," Chiaotzu nodded, enveloping Master Roshi in his psychic aura and lifting him into the sky. The two took off like rockets, leaving Yamcha and Bulma behind to deal with the injured aliens.
Shockwaves shook the downtown area as Piccolo deflected Slug's attacks, windows shattering as the vibrations were sent throughout the city. The battle had gone on longer than Piccolo would have liked, and it didn't seem like Slug was anywhere near tired at this point. 'We've thrown just about everything we can at him, how is he so much stronger than me?' Piccolo thought, barely blocking a right hook from his adversary 'unless he's fused with other Namekians, he shouldn't have this much of an advantage!' Piccolo backed away for a moment, but missed Slug's leg and was met with a devastating kick to the side. The former Demon King was flung back by the force, but was caught by Tenshinhan as he appeared behind him.
"I think it's time you let us help you, Piccolo," Tenshinhan requested. Without so much as a word, Piccolo shrugged himself free of the former assassin's grip and took off towards Slug once more.
"Well, he didn't say no…" Krillin noticed as he came up from behind Tenshinhan, "And I'd say that's about as close as we're gonna get to an invitation, let's go!" The three-eyed human nodded in response, both of them following closely behind Piccolo. Slug intercepted Piccolo's attack rather easily, but as the two humans came rushing in he realized that he had to adopt a new strategy, lest he be taken by surprise by these two new combatants. Ten was the first to strike, landing a solid kick on Slug's back as he was preoccupied blocking a punch from Piccolo. Krillin soon entered with a barrage of punches to the evil Namekian's side, though both of the human's attacks seemed to merely annoy him.
As Piccolo continued his assault, Slug managed to dodge a punch and twist around, grabbing Piccolo's outstretched arm with both of his hands and flung him towards Krillin, slamming into the human and sending them both flying towards the ground. Knowing he couldn't take many hits from Slug, Tenshinhan backed away quickly and threw his arms out in front of himself, creating a triangle with his fingers. "Kikoho!" He shouted, releasing an intense blast of energy that Slug was barely able to defend against. The attack crashed into the Super Namekian's crossed arms, though even with his guard up he was pushed back by the sheer force of the attack the skin on his forearms singed and bloody. "Kikoho!" Tenshinhan shouted again, sending yet another square shaped ki blast towards Slug with much of the same effect. 'It may not be doing much damage, but I can at least stall until Piccolo and Krillin recover,' The three-eyed human reasoned, readying himself for yet another life-draining attack. "Kikoho!"
"Grr...you worm...that really hurts!" Slug growled. He attempted to dodge out of the way of third ki blast, but Ten had managed to keep a lock on the Namekian and blasted him right out of the sky. The Kikoho rammed into Slug's back, burning his clothing and skin and flinging him into a taller building. Slug crashed right through the walls, and soon the infrastructure crumbled on top of him and reduced the building to a pile of rubble. Though he was already exhausted by this point, he still aimed his arms towards the collapsed building that Slug was buried under and prepared himself to fire yet another attack. The rubble began to shift a moment later, but before Ten was able to react, one of Slug's arms shot out from the pile of concrete and latched itself onto Tenshinhan's leg.
"Dodonpa!" Ten shouted, flinging a small ki beam at Slug's arm. It seemed that the Namekian had grown wise to the Earthlings' tricks and moved his arm quickly, flinging Tenshinhan through the air along with it. Slug's elongated appendage whipped Tenshinhan into the ground, leaving him lodged into the pavement with a choked gasp before Slug released his grip and emerged from the ruined building.
Piccolo pushed himself off of Krillin and lifted himself to his feet, rotating his shoulder to make sure it hadn't been dislodged. "This is bad..." Krillin groaned, lifting himself and crouching unsteadily, rubbing his head. "I thought we could do this without Goku for once, but it's looking like we're just not strong enough." Piccolo shot Krillin a deathly glare and an even deadlier scowl, blasting off as quickly as he could to attack Slug once more. "Me and my big mouth… I've never seen him more driven before, not since he fought Frieza. Does he know this Slug guy?" the monk pondered as a few very familiar energy signals neared his position. He turned quickly to see that Chiaotzu was heading his way, along with Master Roshi, enveloped by the psychic's telekinetic powers.
"Krillin!" Chiaotzu shouted, dropping the Turtle Hermit right next to his former student. Krillin looked surprised to see him in his buffed up state, but otherwise made no mention of it. "I'm glad that you're alright — where's Ten?"
"Lodged in the ground over there, I think," Krillin replied with a grimace, pushing himself to his feet. "What are you doing here old timer? This battle isn't looking so good, I'm not sure if you'd be much help here. No offense." Master Roshi looked out towards the cityscape and watched as Piccolo struggled to defend against Slug's attacks, their clashes sending more and more shockwaves through the sky.
"I've long since been surpassed by you younguns, but if you recall I've still got one more technique that just might do the trick here, considering we're fighting an evil Namekian," Roshi explained, not taking his eyes off of the battle for a second. Krillin's brow raised curiously before he realized just what Roshi was talking about.
"Are you crazy? You'll die for sure!" Krillin protested, "It might look bad right now, but maybe we can turn the tide now that you two are here. It's worth a shot, isn't it?" He turned to Chiaotzu for confirmation, though the psychic seemed unsure of how to respond.
"I've been feeling out of this battle ever since we left Capsule Corp., and I can tell that we're on the losing end of this fight," Roshi proclaimed, turning to his student. "Without Goku, Frieza, or Vegeta to save our hides, we've got to protect the planet no matter the cost. I've lived a full life, sonny, and I've laid it down once before if you recall."
"Y-yeah, that's right, we were dead at the same time," Chiaotzu remembered, "Before we met the Namekians we couldn't wish someone back twice, but now if something bad happens we can bring you back again!" Though Chiaotzu spoke the truth, it seemed that something didn't sit well with the Turtle Hermit.
"Yes, I suppose that's true…" Roshi trailed off, adjusting his sunglasses, "But I think I've taken up enough wishes, wouldn't you say?"
Krillin looked toward his master with a perplexed stare. "What are you getting at? You aren't saying you don't want to be wished back again are you?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying, Krillin," Roshi responded, placing a hand on his former student's shoulder. "You can use those wishes to bring back somebody younger, someone who has a whole life ahead of them. When I died before, I couldn't remember anything, but now that King Kai has taught you all a thing or two maybe he'll put in a good word for me. It'll be interesting to become a student once more." Master Roshi sighed and placed his free hand on his forehead in contemplation. "I've never been good with this kind of thing, but if I die out there, I need you to know that you've been like a son to me, Krillin. Goku might be the strongest fighter on this planet, but as far as I'm concerned, my best student is standing right in front of me." The former monk was stunned with silence, unsure of how to react to Roshi's words. "Listen, I want you to take up my mantle as the Turtle Hermit. People will seek you out, so train them like I trained you and Goku, and make sure to take care of Turtle as well. You've got a good heart, and you're a hard worker. Something few people understand, and even fewer can achieve, is that balance. It's what makes a good teacher."
A few seconds passed where Krillin was unable to respond, but after a moment he began to shake his head. "No, I'm not gonna let you do this, you've got to promise me that you'll only try if we have no other option alright?" Krillin requested, shaking Roshi's hand off of his shoulder, "I was wrong to think that we could only do this with Goku around, we've got to prove that it's possible to defend the Earth when he's gone!"
"Don't go out there to get yourself killed, Krillin!" Roshi protested as Krillin began to walk away, though it was clear that he had no intention of staying behind.
"I've got one more thing to try. If that fails, then…" the former monk stopped, shaking his head once again, "It won't, I won't let it." He rose into the sky, leaving Roshi and Chiaotzu behind.
"Looks like he's determined to do it himself," Chiaotzu noticed, flying up into the air and looking for Tenshinhan. He spotted him dug into the ground in the distance and rushed off towards him.
"Chiaotzu, wait!" Roshi called the pale human to a halt, "I've got an idea!"
"Really?" the psychic paused, hovering midair.
"It's crazy, but it just might work," the old man said, rubbing his beard, "But I need you to go get Oolong for me. He's back at Capsule Corp., with Bulma. Okay?"
"Okay," Chiaotzu nodded, "If you say so, but I don't think he's gonna be much help. Ten is over there, would you please see if he's alright?" Roshi nodded, and the red-cheeked fighter darted off in a stream of ki towards Capsule Corporation.
Off in the distance, Piccolo was slowly being ground down by Slug's vicious assault, and it was apparent that he couldn't last much longer. As the Earth-born Namekian fought on he became more and more sloppy with exhaustion, allowing Slug more and more openings to take advantage of. "Seems like you're winding down, such a shame!" Slug taunted, ramming his elbow into Piccolo's side and sending the Namekian back a few feet. "You know, all throughout this battle I've been contemplating something. Should I kill you, try to recruit you, or maybe…" Slug seemed to lose himself in contemplation, a sinister grin appearing on his face, "...how would you like to become a part of something greater?"
Piccolo looked at Slug in disgust, holding his side in pain as the evil Namekian surveyed his opponent. "I'd rather die than fuse with you, monster."
"Hmm, what a pity, we could have accomplished great things together," Slug grinned, "Though maybe I won't need you to consent. I've been itching to try out a new technique I prepared for when I would find the home planet again." Piccolo's eyes widened in disbelief.
"You're lying, there's no way to do that!" Piccolo stated, using Nail's knowledge of Namekian fusion as a base for his denial. He tried to keep his voice level, but a quaver of doubt, uncertainty, still crept in. 'It's not possible, is it?' he wondered, 'Guru didn't...nobody on Namek had that kind of ability. But Slug...he's a different beast, and I'm not sure that he's merely bluffing.'
"Aha, that got your attention I see!" Slug laughed, crossing his arms, "I suppose we'll have to see, won't we? I would have tried on that Namekian child, but I rather relished the look on his face as I crushed his neck beneath my heel."
Piccolo's face turned a pale shade of green, his fears and suspicions now being confirmed. "...What did you say?" he mouthed, his voice a half-growl, half-gasp. The Earth's Dragonballs were no more, and if Goku were to die while somewhere out in space, it would take years to reach New Namek to revive anyone. Images of Dende flashed in Piccolo's mind, every memory causing more and more rage to swell up within the Namekian than ever before. Without a single word, Piccolo unleashed a mighty roar and rushed in to attack Slug once again, landing a devastating blow against the evil Super Namekian that flung him back in the air.
"You've hit your second wind… Let's see if that'll be enough to save you!" Slug laughed, clashing yet again with Piccolo in the sky.
Vegeta groaned and hauled himself out of the rubble. He spat blood and shook his head, fighting against the tendrils of unconsciousness.
"Vegeta!"
He looked up to see Goku dropping out of the air to land beside him. "Kakarot," Vegeta groaned and shook his head, "What do you want?"
Goku helped Vegeta to his feet. "I'd hoped it'd be obvious. We've all tried to fight Broly but none of us are doing anything against him. We need to work together if we're going to take him down."
"Work together?" Vegeta spat. He opened his mouth, but Goku cut him off.
"Vegeta, don't give me that 'I don't need your help' speech. I've been watching the fight and you were beaten, badly. So was I. So was Frieza. You know as well as I do that there's nothing we can do against him individually. Heck, there might be nothing we can do against him together. But we have to try, right?"
Vegeta growled and squinted down the street. Broly was lazily making his way towards them, his sickly green aura flickering around his body. "If we're going to fight him my suggestion would be that we do it now, before he gets bored and moves at a faster pace."
Vegeta looked over his shoulder. Frieza was now standing there as well. His body was battered, his skin turning a deep purple in several places where his green uniform exposed it, but he was otherwise conscious and managing to stand upright. Vegeta smiled. "Heh, looks like he gave us all a battering... Very well, we fight together, but I assure you this will be the last time."
Frieza gave a wry smile. "Because we're all going to get killed?" he asked drily, "Is that your meaning?"
"We're about to find out," Goku said with a half-hearted chuckle, "I'm kinda excited though, to be fightin' with both of you against a guy this strong, you know? Hopefully it's not the last time we do this, I mean—"
"Spare me your ridiculous sense of camaraderie and let's get this farce over with," the Saiyan prince spat. With a roar, he flared up his aura and charged at Broly. The Legendary Super Saiyan grinned and held his ground as Vegeta cannoned into him. The force of the strike knocked Broly backwards slightly, but that was all that was needed. Instantly Goku appeared behind him and smashed a fist across his face, knocking Broly off balance and twisting him into Frieza's foot, which turned him back into the path of Vegeta's fist. The trio launched strike after strike, flurry after flurry; relentless and coordinated. All three of them were soon panting, struggling to keep up the intensity of the fight, hitting Broly again and again, hoping to keep him perpetually off balance and wear him down.
Broly laughed and righted himself. He delivered a kick to Vegeta's stomach, a backhand to Goku's chest and an uppercut to Frieza's chin. The three warriors flew backwards, Vegeta and Goku crashing to the ground. Frieza spun out of his fall and bounced up into the air, firing a series of Death Beams at Broly. Broly grinned and charged up at the Arcosian. From the ground Vegeta whipped up his hand and held the palm flat. "Big Bang Attack!" he yelled, and an enormous blue ball shot forward and exploded against the back of Broly.
Broly turned his head around, angry, before Goku's foot crashed into his face, whipping his head to the side and knocking him off balance. Goku roared and launched a series of punches and kicks before finishing off with a powerful blow from his shin that knocked Broly backwards. Frieza and Vegeta appeared beside him, and all three of them pulled their arms back. Between Goku's clawed fingers a blue ball of energy came to life; a purple ball of energy crackled into being in front of Vegeta's palm; a red sphere emerged from Frieza's hand. Broly growled in annoyance and moved towards them—
"Kamehameha!"
"Galick Gun!"
"Death Wave!"
The three beams, blue, purple, and red, fired forward and smashed into Broly at the same time. An enormous explosion sent them flying backwards, and they shielded their eyes against the light and the smoke. The cloud of smoke poured in all directions, funnelling and dissipating. "Did we hit him?!" Frieza asked. He looked left and right. "You two can sense energy. You must know if he's—" Frieza's eyes widened. Both Goku and Vegeta's faces were tight with anger and fear. "...No!" Frieza shouted. "That's not possible! That attack had to have worked, it had to have done something!" He turned his head back to the smoke in time to see Broly's horrible smile emerge, fast, direct, from the smog. The Arcosian's jaw dropped as he trembled, eyes unblinking, at the sight.
Broly loomed in closer and closer until a golden streak shot forward and crashed into him. Goku locked his hands with Broly and roared, attempting to push the insane Saiyan back. Vegeta swore and launched himself forward, slamming fists into Broly, knocking him off balance.
'This is hopeless!' Frieza thought, 'We're never going to get anywhere with this.' The Arcosian grit his teeth and came to a decision. He raised his hand in the air and spiked out one finger. A black ball of energy with red lightning crackling around it appeared at the tip. "Goku!" Frieza shouted, "Grab everyone and get out of here! I'm going to blow the planet up! Super Saiyan or not, this monster won't be able to survive in space!"
Goku's head snapped up. "What?!" he shouted. "Frieza wait, we need to—!"
He said no more as Broly's fist crashed into his back, sending him flying. Vegeta swore again and raised his arm to block an attack, but Broly had feinted and kicked him instead. He laughed and turned towards Frieza.
"Damn it!" Frieza yelled, raising his arm back to throw. In the time it took for him to make that movement Broly had closed the gap between them and slammed his fist into Frieza's stomach. Spittle and blood flew from the Arcosian's mouth as he teetered backwards and slowly fell, consciousness leaving his body. His eyes flickered. Almost in slow motion he saw Goku fly forward, a golden streak crashing into the sickly green one. From the other side came another golden streak, Vegeta. His head tipped back. Down below he saw the human girl and the Goku's boy, looking up in fear and horror.
'If that monster runs amok...' he thought groggily, 'No... I can't fail like this. I have to go beyond my current level of power...but...' He landed hard, stumbling to gain his footing on the loose rubble of the collapsed castle. Frieza panted roughly, his vision hazy, spinning. 'I must...give everything...for the fight... Give everything...to help them… ' Images flashed through his mind; of Goku, of the way he'd fought when they had first met and clashed, the way he'd kept going, kept pushing. 'Everything... For the chance to redeem myself, against the one being in this universe who has constantly bested me, with no trace of arrogance. And for something else, too,' the Arcosian thought, looking down at the ruined Crane uniform, the large kanji on the front nearly obliterated by a ki blast. 'If I don't push my own limits, I will never see them again... I'll never be able to thank them, for tolerating me, for training me...for being my friends when I had lost all concept of such a thing.' Something moved, stirring deep within him, as he spoke, haltingly at first, but with more intensity and strain in each word. "...For my friends...I will...become...a demon...once moooore!" A wave of red rushed up through his mind. Frieza screamed and his body began to change, a warped aura flaring up around him, incinerating most of the emerald green of his Crane uniform, leaving behind only charred rags. His body rippled, spikes protruding out from his body, morphing, changing. With a final bloodthirsty roar he transformed, a mask snapping over his mouth.
Goku and Vegeta snapped their heads back to stare at the transformed Frieza, now bursting towards them. "Oh great, that's all we need," the prince muttered, "Look out Kakarot!" He and Goku threw themselves to the side as Frieza crashed into Broly, launching a wild and murderous series of attacks. The ferocity of the assault seemed to catch Broly off guard and the Saiyan staggered backwards, waving his arms in the air as if trying to bat flies, unable to catch one of the attacks.
The enormous brute recoiled as Frieza's fist struck the side of his face, and his arm quickly shot out to strike at Frieza's position. Broly hit nothing but air once more, and the Arcosian seemed even more invigorated with the successful blow, howling in triumph. Frieza sped behind the legendary Saiyan and arched his leg back before ramming it into the small of Broly's back, flinging him forward in the air. Just as the demon was about to rush back in to continue his assault, Broly halted his momentum and threw his arms out to his sides, shouting as loudly as he could muster. His legendary aura flared, pushing against Frieza as he attempted to move forward towards Broly, and as the deranged Saiyan's voice died down, so too did the wind from his aura. Frieza rushed back in, but Broly swung around and slammed his clasped fists into the Arcosian's chest, sending him flying across the sky and into a nearby rock face.
"Pesky insect, you trifle with power beyond comprehension!" Broly laughed, creating a large ball of green ki in the palm of his hands, "You're all pathetic!" The Saiyan proclaimed, throwing the ball of ki at the rock face that Frieza had crashed into.
SHHFFT!
"Hya!" Goku grunted, kicking Broly's ball of ki with all of his might. As the attack veered off into the distance, Goku turned to Broly with a smile and a shrug. "You didn't forget about me, didja big guy?"
"Rrrrgh…" Broly seethed, nearly ready to rush at Goku when suddenly they both heard a scream from Frieza's position. The Arcosian blasted from the rock face with enough force to nearly disintegrate the mountain, heading straight for Broly—with Goku right in his path.
"Begone!" Frieza mindlessly shouted, batting Goku out of his way. Broly smirked, tossing several small ki attacks at Frieza as he approached, though the Arcosian was nimble enough to dodge each one that was sent his way. Frieza brought his hands together, quickly charging an attack just before he stopped mere feet away from the brutish Saiyan. The enraged Arcosian thrust his hands outward, firing a powerful—yet wild and unfocused—ki blast right into Broly's face. Smoke shot all around the Saiyan's body, and mere seconds later both Goku and Vegeta could see Frieza shoot out from the smoke with his finger raised to the sky, a small black energy ball coalescing just above the tip.
"Frieza, wait!" Goku shouted, having seen this attack before, "I don't have time to gather everyone, you'll kill all of the Shamoians!"
"Like he would care anyway!" Vegeta scoffed, fists clenched in frustration. "Get us out of here Kakarot, I don't plan on dying on this sorry excuse for a planet!" The Saiyan prince looked at the low-class warrior expectantly, but it seemed he was too focused on Frieza to respond. "Grr, listen here, Kakarot!" Vegeta growled, grabbing Goku by the scruff of his shirt, "I don't care if you grab your son or not, but Frieza's berserk, you're the only way off this rock, and it's pretty damn clear that we haven't even scratched Broly!"
"Heh, I know right? He's unlike anyone I've ever fought before…" Goku admired, "I just wish there wasn't so much at stake. You're right, let's—" Just then, Frieza launched his attack, almost prematurely. However, he didn't aim it at the planet, and instead sent the ball straight into the now-clearing dust surrounding the legendary Super Saiyan.
"Well at least he's kept some sense." Vegeta sighed, releasing Goku from his grip. The small Death Ball passed through the smoke, but nothing seemed to happen. There was no explosion, and neither did it pass through to the other side.
"Hehehe, did you lose this?" Broly chuckled through the smoke, rising above it with the Death Ball firmly in the palm of his gigantic hand. The crackling ball of energy seemed to pulsate in his hand, almost as if he was preventing it from detonating. At this point Frieza seemed to be tiring out, obviously breathing heavily from the strain of creating such a powerful attack—and so quickly as well. Upon seeing Broly emerge unscathed, the Arcosian unleashed a volley of ki attacks at the enormous Saiyan, though it wasn't long before he couldn't muster up the energy for even one more ki attack.
Goku shook his head as smoke enveloped the legendary Super Saiyan once more, though he knew better than to expect a desperate attack like that to yield any results. "It won't be long before Frieza is spent, I'm surprised he's even been able to last this long," Goku commented, noticing that it seemed as if Frieza was having trouble staying in the air.
"I grow bored of this," Broly stated through the smoke. A moment later, Frieza's Death Ball shot out of the smoke, right back in the direction of its owner.
"Frieza, watch out!" Goku screamed, placing his index and middle finger to his forehead.
SHHFFT!
Goku grabbed the exhausted Arcosian and flew out of the way, allowing the Death Ball to fly off into the distance and out into space. Frieza struggled and growled against Goku in vain, unable to get the Saiyan to unhand him as they made their way towards the ground below. "You're out of energy Frieza. If he lands a hit on you, you might die," Goku explained, releasing him from his grip. The demon stumbled forward, breathing heavily as Broly touched down mere yards away from their position. The Earth-raised Saiyan placed himself between Frieza and Broly, taking up a fighting stance.
"I dreamed of tearing you apart, Kakarot," Broly smirked, crossing his arms, "You're the reason that I can only think of death. Destruction. Chaos!" The Saiyan laughed into the sky. "My father may be a pathetic worm, but he gave me the name that allowed me some measure of focus. Whenever I killed, whenever I annihilated a planet, it was your name that rang in my ears!"
Goku seemed confused at Broly's sudden monologue, though his curiosity of the situation was now piqued. "I don't know what your dad told you, Broly, but if it'll make you feel any better then I'll say that I'm sorry for anything I might have done when we were kids," Goku said in earnest, hoping that he could get through to the Saiyan for even one moment.
The legendary Saiyan's brow raised briefly, as if surprised, but his expression soon turned back into a murderous smile. "I want no apology from you, Kakarot, I want your skull to be crushed under my heel!" Broly retorted, rushing in at Goku with blazing speed.
"Kamehame—" The low-class Saiyan placed his arms behind his back and quickly charged an attack in the palm of his hands, "Ha!" he screamed, releasing the energy at the oncoming brute. The attack smashed against him, and Goku poured as much energy as he could into the ki blast, but no sooner had he fired it than Broly had pushed straight through. The giant Saiyan knocked a surprised Goku to the side with a single blow, giving one vile look at the exhausted Arcosian that Goku had been protecting before something large hit his back. Broly turned quickly to see Vegeta in the air with his arms outstretched, seemingly a bit out of breath from charging such an attack.
"Not now, little prince, I have a bug to squash," Broly mocked, turning his attention back to Frieza. The Arcosian backed away in fear, hissing menacingly with his tail stiff and lashing, but a nearby rock caused him to fall backwards onto his behind. As Broly continued his approach, Frieza crawled backwards until the Saiyan was close enough to reach out to grab the Arcosian by the throat. Without warning, Frieza outstretched his arm and fired off as much energy as he could muster, depleting the very last of his reserves and scattering smoke all around. A hand shot through the debris and latched onto Frieza's neck, and Broly lifted him up into the air as the Arcosian squirmed in his grip. "Such a nuisance. No one to save you now!"
SHHFFT!
"Let him go!" Goku yelled as he appeared, energy wreathing his hands as he brought down a hammerfist on Broly's engorged arm, just below the elbow.
The legendary Saiyan grunted as the unfamiliar sensation of pain from the pressure point raced up his arm, and he reflexively loosened his grip. Realizing his mistake, he snarled and prepared to renew his crushing attack, but Frieza vanished from his grip as he tightened it. Eyes bulging with rage that his kill had been denied, Broly seethed with fury. "Kakaroooooot!" Broly screamed, aura flaring with rage as he rapidly surveyed the area.
Quite a ways away and out of eyesight from the legendary Saiyan, Goku laid Frieza down on the ground and gave a worried sigh. "You really gave it your all... I'm sorry it wasn't enough," Goku said, watching as Frieza's hands finally unclenched as he drifted into unconsciousness, his form reverting as well, "If I don't keep this guy distracted he might just destroy the planet out of boredom…"
"Dad!" Gohan shouted, landing near Frieza and his father, "This doesn't look good, Frieza went all out and Broly doesn't even seem like he's lost any energy."
"Yeah, it's like he can't even feel our attacks," Goku nodded, "If things keep going this way, I won't have enough energy to get us all out of here."
"Then…" Gohan paused, almost as if he were afraid to speak, "Then let me help, you'll need it with Frieza out cold." Goku's head snapped towards his son, kneeling down to his level.
"Listen Gohan, I know how it must feel to be on the sidelines like this, but I couldn't bear to have anything happen to you," The Earth-raised Saiyan stated, placing his hand on Gohan's shoulder, "Promise me that no matter what happens, you'll stay out of this fight, alright?" Gohan remained silent for a few moments, prompting Goku to squeeze his shoulder even tighter. "Alright?" he asked again, needing to hear the response.
"I… I promise," Gohan said with a nod, looking dejectedly at the ground.
"Keep Videl and her dad safe alright? Maybe Vegeta can keep Broly distracted long enough for me to gather everyone on that ship we came in," Goku postulated, releasing his grip on Gohan's shoulder and standing upright, "Take Frieza and hide. If anything happens, get on that ship and leave us behind," Goku ordered, blasting off in Broly's direction.
Gohan watched as his father rushed back into the fight, shaking his head with disappointment—not only at himself, but at his father for leaving him behind. He picked up Frieza's unconscious body and slung him over his back, flying back towards where Videl was hiding.
"Gohan!" Videl scrambled up when she saw him coming, "What's going on? What are we..?" She paused as Gohan dropped Frieza's battered and unconscious body onto the ground. The Arcosian groaned and curled up. Videl, wide-eyed, scanned his body, seeing all the bruises, cuts, and blood. "Y-your alien friend... Will he be..? Is he..?"
"He'll be alright," Gohan said, "Trust me, he's been through a lot worse than this."
"Worse?!" Videl squeaked, "I've seen cage matches where the loser came out looking better than him!" She looked at Gohan. He was sitting, staring up at the sky, his body tense and clenched tight, teeth grinding. Videl studied him a moment and felt...sad. "Hey... How do you manage to do this?" she asked, quiet, "How do you manage to put up with this?"
Gohan looked up at her and then back up at the sky where two gold lights flashed and crashed with a green one, the shockwaves rippling out of the sky. He shrugged. "Because I have to. I guess," he said, "Ever since I was a little kid, stuff like this has happened around me. I used to run from it, but now...now I just wish I could stop running and do something."
Videl sat down beside him and put her arm around his shoulder. "They'll win right?" she asked.
Gohan nodded and gave her a tight smile. "Of course. He's my dad. He always wins."
Videl nodded, smiled back and then turned her worried look back upwards. Behind them Frieza twisted and groaned.
Vegeta saw Goku flying at Broly, attacking from the right, so he shot in at the left, firing out a kick. Somehow Broly managed to dodge both of them. "Damn it!" Vegeta screamed in frustration, "How can he still be this fast?! How can he still be this strong?!"
"Vegeta! Calm down, we need to stay focused!" Goku shouted as he moved to intercept Broly, who was firing up from below them.
Vegeta readjusted himself and felt the impact on his body, his bones rattling, his muscles roaring. He was tired. Exhausted, mentally and physically. He'd never experienced a fight like this. Even against Frieza, there had been time to breathe, precious seconds or minutes the tyrant spent gloating giving Vegeta a second wind. But this was altogether different. It was a fight where his best blows, the best blows of everyone, even together, did nothing to the opponent. Where the whole situation was so hopeless, with no hint of a possibility of victory. And yet he had to keep going. He had to keep fighting. Through his own pain and exhaustion. Had to. Because what else could he do? 'Is this what if felt like to fight me, Kakarot?' he wondered as the next series of percussive blows on his arms and body flared through his mind, 'Is this what it felt like to fight Frieza before?' He punched and caught Broly right in the cheek, but he might as well have poked him with his finger for all the good that it did. There was a sudden, powerful pressure in his stomach and he dry heaved, the breath wheezing out of his body. He felt his eyes bulge and his body sag, and then the wind was rushing past his ears and through his hair, and he could just catch sight of the gold vanishing to black. 'Black… Looks like I'm done...' He could see Goku still fighting, still battling. 'There's still such a gap...' His back crashed into the ground, and he bounced up and then back. His eyelids sagged, but he stayed conscious through sheer will, watching the fight above with stubborn determination.
Goku barely had time to notice Vegeta falling. He was struggling to keep up, trying to get a hit in on Broly, whilst snapping his limbs into defensive positions, actions that were easily overrun by the crushing force Broly wielded. His body poured with sweat and pain as he forced himself to concentrate, to keep fighting, faster and harder. 'It's not enough!' he grit his teeth, 'It's never enough! But if I can just hold on, just wait, maybe, maybe...'
Broly laughed. "Now it's just you and me!" he bellowed, "Just you and me! No more distractions! No more annoying little flies!"
"Broly! Please, listen to me! I don't want to fight you! Can we not talk? Try and settle this some other way?"
"No. You die!" Broly roared. He put on a burst of speed and strength, and Goku yelled as his defensive positions were overrun. Blows rained down on his body, bruising, swelling, and cutting him, his body a mass of purple and red. He tried to fight back, tried to keep going…
Broly slammed a palm into Goku's chest and detonated a green ball of energy. Goku flew backwards, crashing through two buildings before slamming into the ground, his body scraping out a large gash in the dirt before he came to a halt with his back against a wall. His head was down and blood seeped through his shirt.
His hair, drooping over his slumped face, was black.
"I'll...make you pay...for your crimes...Slug..!" Piccolo panted between blows, hammering the invader relentlessly. "Why?! Why kill Dende?! He wasn't a fighter, wasn't even a threat to you!"
"Why not?" Slug smugly smirked, parrying another wild blow, "The boy was irritating me, and besides, I know just how annoying a rogue healer can be. I'd say my strategy is rather wise, don't you think?"
"You monster!" Piccolo hissed, snapping a kick towards Slug's face. The taller Namekian caught his leg, and swung Piccolo away effortlessly.
"You see, that impotent rage of yours, the indignance at my doings...that is why you will lose here," Slug chuckled, "I've surpassed all morals and sentiments that chained the other pathetic Namekian fools. They wait to die on a harsh, hostile planet, sequestered in their hermit-like self-imposed solitude." He sneered. "Guru used to say that Namek was not to interact with the outer universe, not if we wanted to remain 'pure,' whatever that drivel meant. I think he just liked being king of his own little fiefdom." As Piccolo roared and struck at him again, Slug blocked the punch, twisting Piccolo's fist in his grip. "You may not like to admit it, but Guru was a sort of benevolent dictator," he said conversationally as Piccolo struggled to free himself, "Why else do you think Namek was so isolated? Why we never expanded, or traded knowledge with other races?" Slug scoffed. "It's because that obese fool wanted Nameks to remain in passive servitude, like the drones he created them as. Peasants who question their lot don't make for happy slaves," he chuckled.
"They were not slaves," Piccolo argued, wresting his hand painfully from Slug's grasp, searching Nail's memories for some better retort, some evidence to throw in the face of this madman. He realized that, whether because of the merging of their consciousness or Nail's own loyalty, he couldn't find any hard evidence to argue. 'It's not like I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Namekian myself,' he thought, 'Doubtless Guru, had I met him under different circumstances, might have seen me as a threat as well. But still...there's no way that Slug is right! He wants genocide and to conquer, and he lusts for power, as did my abominable father. Maybe Guru was right, and worldliness stands to corrupt us more than other species...' He frowned at that thought, at what it meant for him. "Your vendetta with Guru is null and void; the man is dead and gone now. Namek doesn't even know you exist, so why do you want to annihilate them?" he questioned.
"Well...I guess I'm just a tad petty," Slug grinned jokingly, tapping his scar, "After all, I was the only one of my kind to not only challenge Guru's authority, but survive, even if it meant exile. The pitiful drones Guru created, they could have sided with me, but they were too damn loyal to him. They've earned my contempt, and my 'vendetta,' as you put it, passes to them."
"Well, I intend to put a stop to you, here and now, so you can forget your revenge against the innocent Nameks who wanted nothing to do with your madness!" Piccolo snapped, whipping his hand up and firing an energy blast point-blank at his foe. 'Got to hold him off,' Piccolo thought, sensing around for his allies, 'Feels like Krillin is up to something, and if he's doing what I think he is, I have to keep Slug distracted no matter what!'
"Krillin!" Yamcha yelled, flying up to where the monk perched on a dilapidated skyscraper, his hands to the sky. The scar-faced man darted a glance at Piccolo and Slug's battle, making sure that they were unnoticed still. "Listen man, I've got a plan. I know you can't move or take any hits while you're charging that thing, so just leave the defense to us."
"Heh, you just noticed I'm a sitting duck out here?" Krillin joked, "Well, thanks. I don't know what you can do if Slug spots me, but more power to you if you can keep him off my back."
Yamcha winked, with a lopsided grin. "Don't you worry. The cavalry's due to arrive, any time now."
"Cavalry..?" Krillin quirked a brow, "Who? We're it, aren't we?"
"Maybe so, but Slug doesn't know that," Yamcha said cryptically.
Down below, Roshi—along with a badly damaged Tenshinhan—spotted Chiaotzu zooming back towards him, with Oolong in tow. "Good work! Now, Oolong, if you can transform into—"
"Whoa, whoa, hold on, that's why you dragged me out into this war zone?!" the pig shouted, rounding on Chiaotzu, "I am not gonna be bacon bait for a bigger, meaner King Piccolo!"
"Oolong please, it's our only chance," Chiaotzu pleaded, "You're not going to have to fight him, just distract him a little bit. We'll be backing you up."
"Oh sure, and when he flambées me, it'll be all your fault!" Oolong said angrily, "I won't do it."
"Oolong..." Roshi's sunglasses glinted seriously, "If you come through for us...I'll give you unrestricted access to my private collection."
The pig stiffened, his snout twitching. He turned slowly. "You mean it, old man? The whole thing, DVDs and all?" Roshi nodded. "E-even the rare Pafu-pafu Heaven Special Bunny Edition?" Another solemn nod. Oolong's eyes narrowed, as his jaw hung slack with drool. "Oookay, I think I can do a little something..."
"Nnrrrgh..!" Piccolo grunted as Slug crushed his shoulder with a crack under his foot.
"Hahaha, you see? In the end, I will always win," Slug gleefully taunted, "I'm stronger, more skilled...I have my youth and energy back, and now, there is no power in the universe that can stop me!"
"Not so fast!" an unfamiliar voice rang out.
Slug turned, flinching at who stood to challenge him. "...How are you back here?" he growled.
Goku grinned confidently back at his fearful look. "Why, you weren't expecting me back so soon?"
"Grrr..! Paragus..! That incompetent moron has tested my patience for the last time!" Slug raged, "No matter though, I only needed you out of the way to regain my youth. Now, I have no reason to fear you, 'Super Saiyan.' I'll kill you myself. You don't even seem so tough..."
Goku balked slightly. "Hey now, why doncha take it easy, big guy? I-I mean, there's no reason to fight. Um...let's see...uh, leave this planet now, and I'll let you go." He made a shooing motion with his hand. "I mean, if you tried to fight me, you'd end up a green splatter on the pavement, is all I'm sayin'. There's no shame in cutting your losses."
Slug growled, "You dare mock me?" He kicked Piccolo away, and started to step towards the Saiyan.
"Uh...well...no offense meant, Mr. Slug, sir..." the orange-clad warrior wheedled.
Slug raised a brow at this behavior, noting that the Saiyan had seemed to shrink, literally, and appeared to have a distinctly piggish snout. "...What illusion is this? You're not the Earth Saiyan!" he roared.
With a startled squeak, a puff of smoke rose from Oolong as he changed back, sweating buckets. "Oh god, I'm gonna die," he said softly, looking up at the huge Namekian looming over him.
"Stop this farce immediately," a cold, haughty voice called. Again, Slug whirled about in confusion. This time, he visibly paled, as Frieza stalked towards him, pausing only to disdainfully knock Oolong out of his path, sending him careening into the rubble.
'No!' Slug thought, 'This has to be a trick...but then, they wouldn't be stupid enough to try the same thing twice, would they?' Looking at Frieza, he gulped. He not only felt the cold, roiling ki around the tyrant, but those piercing, scarlet eyes were unmistakably the Arcosian's. He met their merciless depths, composing himself. "Lord Frieza...I thought you were on New Vegeta, as an ambassa—"
"Drop the formalities, Slug," Frieza said in a bored tone, "I came back as soon as I caught wind of you running rampant on my planet. My means of returning hardly matters; what matters now is whether you will be foolish enough to challenge me, or do the sensible thing and leave." The former tyrant crossed his arms, staring up at Slug expectantly, tapping his tail on the ground.
"Ah...well...this certainly is an unexpected meeting. I'm sure that you, powerful as you are, can see reason. Why stop at Earth? Join my cause, and I can assist you in restoring your empire to its former glory. As it is, I myself have conquered and laid claim to several PTO planets, and I would be happy to waive control so that—"
"No," Frieza replied firmly, "I no longer wish for such things. At present, all I want is for you to leave my presence. You wouldn't dare challenge me, considering that I have a transformation that would utterly annihilate you." He smirked cruelly. "I assume your sense of self-preservation is great enough to realize your position?" The long, muscular tail flicked impatiently. "You wouldn't dare attack the most powerful being in the universe. Even for you, such an an impulsive act would end...badly."
Piccolo looked on in bemusement despite his injuries, though he knew that this facade wouldn't last long. 'There has to be something else I can do! Once he realizes the truth, Krillin won't have a chance to hit him.' Suddenly an idea came to him, memories of Guru explaining to Nail the weaknesses of Super Namekians and how to exploit them. 'I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner!'
Even as the sweat trickled down his face, something in Frieza's words snapped Slug out of his fearful stupor. "A bold claim, considering I know who really ran the show. You talk big, but it was your father who was the real deal. Kold was certainly one to be feared, but I am not convinced that you can withstand my new power. In fact, I'm not convinced that you are, in fact, who you claim."
Frieza hesitated, though his face remained unreadable. Then, he repeated, "Leave now, or face my wrath. I am only giving you a single chance to remove yourself from my sight, and then I will end you."
"Mercy isn't like you," Slug pointed out, "You wear it well, but you're not Frieza. He would never allow me to escape, if I was even a minor threat to his interests."
"You misunderstand me, Slug," Frieza said, an annoyed tone creeping into his voice as his tail lashed, "You are nothing to me. Why should I concern myself with insects like you, underfoot? I could just as easily obliterate you, but I would prefer not to waste my time and energy. Do not take my apathy for mercy."
Slug remained stone-faced. "I don't believe you." He spread his feet apart, raising his guard. "If you're truly Frieza, then attack me. Show me the power that allows you to so casually brush off a Super Namek. I want to see if you really measure up to me, now that I'm back in my prime."
Frieza seemed to briefly glance at a point beyond Slug, before shrugging. "What a foolish breed you Namekians are. Well, I suppose that you might be able to withstand one of my punches, but it truly is a shame that you are so quick to throw your life away." He gave an evil smirk. "Get ready, Slug." The Arcosian dashed forward, fist cocked back.
Slug braced himself as Frieza ran straight at him, suddenly feeling fear at the thought that he had misjudged this as a bluff. The fearsome tyrant let out a blood-chilling kiai as he closed in, and Slug reflexively flinched at the sound, closing his eyes for a split second. When he opened them, Frieza was on top of him, and then...an explosion of smoke. Something small and furry burst from the cloud, and a high-pitched voice yelled, "Now!"
A shrill noise burst through the air, paralyzing Slug with its intensity. "Urgh! W-what the—?!" Clutching his hands to his skull, he searched for the source of the infernal noise. He spied Piccolo, propped up on his side, with his face strangely incomplete. Then, it hit him. 'His ears! The bastard ripped off his own ears!' The sound was coming from him, bouncing off the buildings' concrete and funneling into Slug's sensitive pinna with vivid, almost nauseating, intensity. "Aaaaaaaargh!" he yelled, trying to block it out. 'I...I can't move!' he thought deliriously, the waves of pain disorienting him entirely.
"Holy shit, it actually worked!" Krillin said, in shock, "Yamcha, you're a genius!"
"No need to remind me, now launch that thing now, before he recovers!" Yamcha hollered, leaving out that he had no idea that Piccolo had an extra component in mind, "Chiaotzu and I grabbed everyone else, so we're clear of the blast."
"Alright, let's end this," Krillin smiled, dropping his hands at long last, the brilliantly glowing sphere descending towards a petrified Slug. "This is for Earth, and all its people! All of our rage, and all of our hope...it's all coming down on you, Slug, and there's nowhere to hide!"
Slug looked up in pain, seeing the enormous ball looming over him. "No...no...noooooo!" he screamed, trying at first to hold it back, but succumbing in an instant as the Genki Dama pressed down unrelentingly, sending up a blinding roar of light and energy as it impacted West City's outskirts.
"Whew...I... I think it's over guys..." Krillin breathed heavily, "Whaddya know, we did it. All by ourselves, no Goku needed."
"Excuse me, but are you forgetting someone's noble sacrifice?" Oolong cut in sarcastically, "I think I played my part pretty well; I had him going!"
"Oh come on Oolong, if it weren't for Puar, you'd be bacon bits," Yamcha laughed.
"Heh, yeah, you owe me one for getting you out of the way," Puar giggled.
"Yeah, well you didn't have to punt me like a football! I bruise easily!" Oolong complained.
"If she hadn't, I think Slug would've picked up on it immediately," Tenshinhan said, leaning against Master Roshi in pain, "It was a very Frieza thing to do, believe me. I was fooled for a few seconds, until I realized the energy was off."
"Yeah, that was amazing, Puar," Chiaotzu said, "How'd you do that, anyway?"
"It's a new trick I learned," the blue cat explained, "I went back to the Shapeshifter School to hone my craft. Oolong, maybe if I write you a letter of recommendation, the teachers will let you back in, too."
"Fat chance," the small pig snorted, "After this, I'm not stickin' my neck out anymore. Not for all the magazines and DVDs in the world." He sat and steamed as the others laughed good-naturedly around him.
"I'm just glad it's all over, and we all made it out alive," Krillin sighed, before glancing over to Piccolo, "C'mon Piccolo, don't look so glum. We did it!"
"Celebrate all you want, but none of this will matter if Goku doesn't make it back," Piccolo stated, "Dende is dead, Slug admitted it not long ago." Flipping his cape over his shoulder, Piccolo took off from the ruined skyscraper. The others watched him disappear in the direction of the Lookout.
"Dende...I should have guessed," Tenshinhan scolded himself, "None of us could feel his energy, we were being too optimistic."
"Man, I think Piccolo's really shook up," Yamcha noted, "I guess we never considered that anyone would ever target Dende before coming after us... I sure hope Goku and the others are doing okay, considering that Slug got them off the planet so he could invade."
"I'm sure that Goku's just fine," Krillin reassured, "After all, with Frieza and Vegeta to back him up, there's nothing in the universe that could threaten those three, right?"
'Have to get up...' He heard the soft boom of feet touching down. 'Have to keep fighting...' Soft thumps, reverberating through the ground. 'Have to...' Exerting all the energy he had, all the strength he could muster, Goku forced himself to look up. Wearily, he raised his head to see Broly, who marched, implacably grinning, towards him. 'Have...' He forced his hand to the ground. Tried to push. But he had no energy. He could only slump back, exhausted. His breath was labored, ragged. Broly came closer and closer, one slow step after another. Then, a shadow crossed in front of him.
Broly cocked his head, an amused smile touching his lips.
"Gohan!" Videl scrambled up over some of the ruins, staring down looking shocked and frightened. A white hand caught her before she could get too far and Frieza dragged her back, keeping her out of Broly's range.
'Gohan?' Goku looked up. He could see, just in the dim outline, his son. Standing in front of him. Gohan's body was tense and rigid. 'Gohan...no...he's too strong...run, please! Run!' he internally pleaded, but it only came out as an enervated groan. He mustered the last of his strength, forcing his blood-choked mouth to form words. "Go...han... Get away...son...r-run..."
"This is your son?" Broly smirked with realization, "I see... Then let me take from you what is most important, Kakarot!" Goku froze in horror, realizing his mistake.
"Enough!" Gohan looked up at Broly, fury blazing across his face, his teeth grinding. His hair swayed as if pushed by some internal energy. "I won't let you hurt him anymore..." Gohan snarled, clenching his fists, "I won't let you hurt any of them anymore!" His hair buffeted, rose up, the color flashed from black to gold and back. Broly squinted, confused. "I won't let you hurt them anymore!" Gohan roared—
Crack…
The sound came as though from far away. One moment Gohan had been standing in front of him. The next his face was suddenly visible, a look of pain and surprise in his vacant eyes. Broly's fist had cut across his cheek and his neck was turned around. Cartilage had snapped, blood squirting out of his neck around pinkish shards of bone. The body slowly, slowly, dropped to the ground. Broly grinned. "A pity, he looked as though he'd be a slight challenge. No matter though, in the end, he was truly insignificant."
His jaw hurt. His eyes hurt. Goku dimly realized that his jaw and eyes hurt because they were locked open, in shock, horror, and pain, silently screaming. He leapt up from the ground and collapsed by Gohan's body, hugging him tight. "Gohan!" he shouted, "Gohan! Please! Gohan don't be— Don't be—!" Gohan's vacant eyes just looked up at him, dull and unresponsive. Goku felt not even a trace of ki, and deep in his heart, he knew that even if he had a senzu in hand, it would not fix this. He pulled his son's body in close to his chest and sobbed, holding the body tight, rocking it, agonized.
Videl clamped her hand over her mouth, her eyes watering. Frieza held onto her tightly, a look of shock crossing his face, his tail twisting under him in discomfort. The air felt stale suddenly, as though Gohan's death had poisoned the atmosphere entirely.
Broly smiled widely, taking in the pain and suffering he had caused. Good. There was only one thing left to do. He stepped forward and raised his arm—
Suddenly a blast of energy struck him in the back of the head. Furious, he whipped his head around and saw Vegeta, standing some way back, his arm raised. "Grrr..! I thought I told you, little prince...not to interfeeeeere!" Blind fury overtook Broly as he charged at the Saiyan prince, smashing him backwards, sending him crashing across the ground.
Vegeta spat blood and raised himself up, only to feel his ribs snap as a kick caught him in the chest. He roared in pain as another blow crashed into his cheek and broke the bone underneath.
Videl slipped out of Frieza's grasp and ran down to Goku, skidding in. She saw Gohan's body and immediately wheeled her head away and retched. Her throat stung and tears flowed down her cheeks as she turned back to look at him again. "Is he..? He can't be... He's only a kid!" she protested, against what she didn't know. Goku said nothing, only hugged Gohan tighter.
"Goku..." Videl looked up to see her father. She ran over and hugged him, burrowing tightly into his brown gi. Mr. Satan looked down at Goku, his expression pained. "Goku... " he said again, "You've got… I know how painful this is but…but we have to get out of here. If we don't, we're all dead." A boom caught his attention and he looked up to see Vegeta getting smashed across the sky. "Uh...that's not good... Vegeta's taking a battering..." He crouched down in front of Goku. "Goku, your son...look, I'm so sorry for what happened. No parent should ever have to go through something like that. But now, we don't have the luxury of grief. We've gotta do something to save our own skins, and fast. Now, is there anything, anything at all, that we can do to get out of here?"
Goku stiffened. Then he looked up. His face was hollow and haggard, but there was a spark of something glistening behind his wet eyes. "No. I'm not running. He has...to pay." His lips tightened and pulled back, revealing his clenched teeth, and his eyes narrowed. He lay Gohan's body down and turned away without a backwards glance, walking towards the booming noises and howls of pain.
"Wait, Goku!" Mr. Satan shouted. "What are you going to—" His breath caught in his throat as Goku's hair turned to gold with a sudden, almost violent whoosh. With every step Goku took, the ground cracked and split menacingly beneath him. Mr. Satan grabbed Videl tighter, shivering despite himself. The air seemed ice-cold, and still as death. "...Come on Videl, we've gotta get back. I've got a bad feeling about this." He let go of her and knelt beside Gohan, gingerly lifting the small body in his arms. The boy's neck lolled to the side, and he winced at the brutality written in Gohan's skin. "I was wrong about Broly. He's nothing but a monster..."
From above, an exhausted Frieza watched, one eye swollen shut. It was everything he could do to just keep watching. 'What is he planning?' he thought, 'He can't honestly be thinking of fighting in his condition. Has he just gone crazy?'
Goku paused and looked up at the sky. "Broly!" he roared, voice crackling across the ruined sham of a city.
Broly turned his head. He grinned at Goku and tossed Vegeta like a forgotten toy, the Saiyan prince's body dropping limply to the ground. Broly flew over and landed in front of Goku, looking down at him. "Yes, Kakarot? Is there something you wanted?" he mocked.
Goku's face twisted, becoming more furious and fearsome. "I gave you a chance..." he said.
Broly grinned. "I don't need chances," he said, "Now I'll kill you! At last I'll kill you!"
"I didn't want to fight..." Goku continued forcefully, vehemently spitting the words out as his quavering voice threatened to crack. Broly blinked. A flash of blue plasma crackled around Goku's body.
"But you made me..." he hissed, his voice going deeper, "And then...you killed my son." A spark of lightning shot out and pierced the ground, a thin plume of smoke rising from the ionized hole. Then more, crackling and growing around Goku's body, as his hair began to lift up.
Frieza's eyes widened. 'Just what is..?' Something flickered, on the edges of his consciousness, a cold flame. "It can't be..." he whispered, "He's already a Super Saiyan..." Still, his instincts screamed at him to run, a primal response to this dread suddenly rolling over him in a wave, just like on Namek.
"I won't forgive you..." Goku growled, "I won't ever forgive you!" More lightning blasted around his body.
Broly took a step back, his wide grin fading into a blank look of confusion.
"I'll kill you!" Goku screamed, and his body erupted into a golden fire. Mr. Satan turned his head away and sheltered Videl as the bright light grew stronger and stronger, as waves of heat and energy blasted rubble across the area, kicking up great clouds of smoke into a whirlwind. At its core was a bright golden aura, growing brighter and brighter until it shone like a miniature sun, and the great, anguished roar accompanying it.
The roar died down and with it the wind. When it cleared Son Goku stood, facing Broly, his face contorted in fury. His hair was pulled straight back over his head, not a strand hanging down, and his aura burned around his body, flaring in great rippling spikes. Arcs of lightning flashed around and off of his body, striking the ground and breaking it.
Broly slightly squinted from the spectacular show of power, but still stared down at Goku. "Your pitiful threat is futile; you can't even hurt me." His smile flickered briefly and then pulled back. "Die!" he roared and lashed out with a giant fist. Goku calmly blocked the blow. Broly's eyes widened in shock, unable to comprehend what had just happened. "What..?!"
"No, Broly. This time...you'll die..." Goku whispered, his eyes slitted in utter hatred.
He punched Broly in the chest, and his fist sank through the Legendary Saiyan's skin and deep into his body. Blood spurted out and Broly looked down, confused, before shrieking in agony. He staggered backwards off of Goku's fist, and clutched at his chest and the blood pouring out and down his body. He looked up, uncomprehending and...frightened. "N-no... I-I am the Legendary, you s-shouldn't be able to—"
Goku coldly pulled his arms back and a ball of blue light appeared between his palms. "Ka me...ha me..."
"Nnrrrrgh! I am the Legendary Super Saiyan! You cannot...you will not beat me!" Broly roared and charged forward, his sickly green aura flaring around him—
"HAAAAA!" Goku pushed his hands forward and opened them, and the bolt of blue energy fired out and slammed into Broly. The enormous Saiyan was knocked off his feet and pushed back into the beam. He roared in pain as the energy ripped into the weak spot Goku created in his chest, incinerating him from the inside out. The relentless pulse of ki exploded, an eruption of energy that sent out a shockwave flattening all of the buildings that were still standing. When the smoke cleared from where he had stood, Broly was no more.
Goku drew his arms back to his side, his aura continuing to flare around him. He looked over to see Vegeta, dragging himself across the ground. "I can't believe..." the Saiyan prince gasped, "that you killed him...how...that power..."
"You!" Goku's eyes locked on Vegeta in fury and the Saiyan prince flinched, "This is your fault! If we hadn't come here, if your damn pride hadn't brought us here! G-gohan... He would still be alive!" Goku raised his hand and a ball of energy ignited on the end of his palm. "You're as much to blame for what happened!"
"Oh shit," Mr. Satan swore under his breath, "Wait here Videl, Daddy's gonna go do something really stupid..." Before Frieza or Videl could protest, he slid down the mountain of rubble that remained of the castle, and took off running towards Goku. "Heeey!" he yelled, waving his hands wildly, "Goku, calm it down, you're about to make a big mistake!" He jogged to a stop, coming between Goku and Vegeta, and suddenly regretted his impulsiveness. The man standing before him was nothing like the goofy, joking guy he'd interacted with on the ship. This being looked like the devil himself, with his face drawn down in a bloody scowl, electric blue eyes piercing murderously into his soul. "S-seriously Goku..." Mr. Satan practically squeaked, his knees shaking, "You're a good guy, you wouldn't beat on someone who's already down, right? I-i've seen a lot of characters in the business, and you'd never strike me as a heel, ha ha...ha..." Goku said nothing, merely glaring at him.
"Oh, get out of the way before you get us both killed, you buffoon," Vegeta coughed from the ground.
"Shut up! I'm trying to save your hide!" Mr. Satan exclaimed, "An' Goku's, too! I know he'd never forgive himself if he let his anger run away with him. Isn't that right?" He pointed a shaking finger at the spiky-haired, golden Saiyan. "Well? Are you gonna stoop just as low as that Broly bastard and kill me to get to Vegeta?"
Goku visibly winced, his scowl melting away, his brow relaxing. "...No. I'm sorry... I-I just..." He put a bruised hand over his face, turning away.
Mr. Satan shifted from foot to foot uncomfortably, taking in the stooped shoulders, and the way the Saiyan's entire body trembled. "...No need to apologize. If...if Videl got hurt..." He bit his lip. "I'm really sorry for what happened. I couldn't stop him. I just looked up, and he was standing between you and Broly. He was a brave kid, and...I think he was really scared you'd die. You can't blame yourself." He couldn't think of anything else to say, gently putting a hand on Goku's shoulder, mindful of his injuries. He flinched as the golden, sparking aura dissipated, leaving him feeling somewhat like he'd touched a live wire.
"Thank you," Goku breathed, his eyes hidden by his black bangs, "for stopping me." He looked down at Vegeta, and sighed.
"It's done then," Paragus sighed from afar, placing his hand over his face, "You deserved better, my son." A cool wind blew past the older Saiyan, fluttering his cape as he turned his gaze back towards his pod. Without the threat of Broly, all that was left to do was to leave these poor fools to be destroyed by the incoming comet. "Won't be long now…" he stated, making his way towards his ship.
"And just where do you think you're going?" A voice came from above, causing Paragus to recoil. Frieza landed in between Paragus and his small ship, a clear look of disgust on his face. "Trying to run away now that your progeny has been taken care of? Typical of you cowardly monkeys, no loyalty, even to your kin."
Paragus clenched his fists and growled, unsure of how much time he had left to escape. "If only he had killed you when he had the chance!" the Saiyan barked, contemplating if it was worth it to try to overpower the now severely weakened annihilator of his race. After a moment's hesitation he realized that he still wouldn't stand a chance. Instead, he flashed a knowing smirk. "I'll let you in on a little secret: this planet is due for destruction any moment now," Paragus explained, "so at least if I die here, you'll all die with me." He smirked when Frieza gave an angry growl at his words. "How fitting that a meteor should destroy you, just as you had claimed had happened to our planet for so many years."
"I'll have to deal with you quickly then," Frieza stated, walking towards a recoiling Paragus.
"W-what? I pose no threat to you!" Paragus pointed out, continuing to back away from the former tyrant. "You...you would be better served trying to find a way off of this doomed planet, wouldn't you agree?!" he pleaded in vain, backing up into a wall of rock.
"True, I could take your ship, but I have a more reliable plan of escape." Frieza glanced over towards Goku, who was still hunched over the body of his son. "You, however, are out of options. Son Goku may be soft, he might even let you live now that that buffoon has talked him out of destroying Vegeta, but I'm not quite as forgiving...and I do not intend to let you scuttle off somewhere like a cockroach now that your plan has fallen to pieces." The Arcosian sauntered forward and placed his open palm on a clearly terrorized Paragus' chest.
In the moments before his annihilation, Paragus closed his eyes and saw Broly in the distance, hair black as the night and with a peculiar smile on his face. Not a smile of vindication or cruelty, but of genuine happiness. It was a curious sight, and not one that Paragus had ever seen before. Somehow, it gave him comfort even through the shot of pain that preceded the darkness.
"Goku, we need to leave!" Frieza shouted as he descended next to the weeping Saiyan, "the planet is due for destruction, or so Paragus said." The Arcosian stood silently for a few moments as Goku shook his head. Vegeta groaned as he rose from his seated position and looked around the area. Irritated, Frieza smacked his tail into the ground with emphasis, hoping to jar the despondent man out of his stupor. "Get up. We can use the Dragonballs to wish him back to life, but only if we escape now. Paragus seemed sure that this planet didn't have much time left, and I am not willing to find out if he was telling the truth or a lie to save himself."
A small earthquake rattled all in the area, knocking Mr. Satan off his feet, though his daughter was able to remain stable, catching him by the arm. Whatever had happened, it seemed to knock Goku out of his state, and the Saiyan rose to his feet. "I… I can't sense Earth from here, I'm not sure if I'm able to teleport us there directly," Goku admitted, index and middle finger firmly pressed against his temple.
"What?!" Frieza shouted, clearly surprised, "What a fine time to learn the limits of your ability!" The Arcosian gave an exacerbated chuckle, but soon remembered the ship that they had arrived on was still most likely intact. "The ship we took from Earth then, we need to use it to get off this planet."
"My thoughts exactly," Vegeta stated, already in the air. He blasted off towards the ship, leaving everyone else in the dust.
"Grr… He'll try to leave us all behind, I'm sure of it!" Frieza postulated, turning back to Goku before realizing that he had picked his son up into his arms. "What are you waiting for? In case you hadn't realized, time is of the essence here!"
Goku gave him a blank look, almost staring through him. "Sorry..." he said dully, "I know, it's just...I need a minute..."
Frieza grabbed him by the collar, jostling Gohan's body in his arms, "We don't have a minute! I don't care if you want to go into a catatonic state, but do it later," he snapped. Goku's face dropped even more, and the Arcosian could practically see his connection to the world around him fading as he retreated into his own head. 'Damnit, what a time for this oaf to have a breakdown..!' he thought, recognizing that hopeless look of despair...ironically one that he might normally celebrate, if not for the circumstances. He sighed heavily, releasing his grip on Goku's gi. "Look," he said quietly, seriously, "One thing I learned early on is that you cannot stop to mourn. It makes you vulnerable, demoralizes you...and allows your enemy to hurt you more while you are in a state of indecision." He clenched his fists. "Do you really want Paragus and Broly to win, even after we've defeated them? Was your son's death for nothing?"
Goku was silent, fat tears running down his pale face. He said nothing. Frieza's eye twitched at the realization that he had made no progress. "Damn you and your emotional attachments!" he hissed, bashing his tail into the ground with clear frustration, "You want us to all die? Huh?! Is that how the great Super Saiyan is to perish?! Mewling and crying like a child?! If I knew this is what it would take to defeat you, I'd have killed the brat myself!" It was a lie, of course. If he had dared to kill Gohan on Namek, Frieza knew he would never have survived the Saiyan's wrath. It was only now, in the aftermath, that he was in this pitiable state. 'Still,' he thought, 'if reasoning with him gets me nowhere, maybe angering him will snap him out of this.'
Mr. Satan and Videl stood huddled together, silently watching this tirade with horror written on their faces. Then, a shuffling sound, as the old Shamoian trudged past them, shadowed by his grandson. "Son Goku," he began quietly, "you have saved us all." The Saiyan made no move to react, staring straight ahead into nothingness. "I'm afraid that it will all be for naught, if you cannot rise above your grief." He gave a reproachful look to Frieza, who reluctantly backed away. "Please," the old alien pleaded, "do not fall victim to despair. You have fought so valiantly against it, not just for your own sake, but for our people as well. We had nearly lost hope of freedom and reprising our dignity, until your son stood up for us." Goku flinched visibly, gritting his teeth. "Shamo told me how bravely he fought to defend everyone, and how selfless he was is evident to all who met him." He lowered his voice gravely. "I know your feelings of loss, Son Goku," he confessed, "My own son was murdered by our oppressors for trying to incite a rebellion. He was brave and selfless too, but in the end, he fell, and left little Shamo without a father. I grieved deeply for him, but I also knew that I could not stop to mourn him, otherwise...my dear Shamo would have suffered even more. You have others, still living, depending on you. Mourn your son. That is right for you to do. But do not ignore and forsake the living to hold a fruitless vigil for the dead."
"Please, Mr. Goku," Shamo said, "If you can save us, please...help us. I think Gohan would be sad if you didn't...he was really nice to me, and to everyone. I don't think he'd want you to be like this."
"...You're right," Goku choked, a ragged, mournful sound. "I'm...I-I'm so sorry...Gohan..." He buried his face in the boy's chest again, rocking him gently. A few more wracked sobs, and he finally stopped with a final sniffle. "I'm gonna do right by you, son. I won't let good people get hurt, not after you sacrificed yourself to save them...and me." He blinked away tears, and finally met Frieza's eyes with a focused gaze. "Okay, Frieza. Let's grab everyone we can, and get back to the ship." He hesitated a moment, looking around until he stopped on Mr. Satan and Videl. "Hey, champ," he smiled sadly, "Can you..?"
"O-of course!" Mr. Satan blurted, quickly putting his arms out to accept the heavy burden from Goku, "Don't you worry, I'll get him back on the ship, so you can concentrate on helpin' everyone else. Come on, Videl, we don't wanna get in the way; I need your help to round up any stragglers we meet on our way to the ship!" With his daughter trailing behind, he made his way towards where the craft was parked.
Goku swayed on his feet, overcome with sudden emotion as Mr. Satan carried the body away, and wiped his eyes. He forced a smile onto his face as he turned to the old Shamoian and Shamo. "Okay," he said, "take me to where your people are. Quickly, we don't know how much time we have." The two Shamoians led Goku and Frieza away, towards the former working pits and prisons.
Vegeta arrived at the ship and flew through the opening and up through the corridors to the top where the command deck was. He winced as he slumped down into the chair in front of computer terminal. It resembled the terminals that had been prevalent in Frieza's ships, although different in some respects. He tapped at the buttons and they came to life, the engines beginning the starting procedure. 'Good, it works much the same way,' he thought. He craned his head and looked out the viewport out front. His eyes widened. In the sky, a large white orb was suspended, growing larger and larger, heading directly for the planet.
Vegeta grit his teeth. 'So Paragus wasn't lying… Damn it…!' He closed his eyes and concentrated. He picked out that buffoon Satan and his daughter, heading towards the ship along with some of small energy signatures. Further back he felt Kakarot and Frieza, along with another mass of smaller energies. 'What are they doing? Haven't they noticed anything?!' His hand hovered over the start button, but he resisted the impulse to press it.
Another rumble shook the area, and he felt Mr. Satan and Videl enter the ship. He got up from the chair and zipped down to them, startling both of them when he seemed to appear in front of them. Around them were the small green aliens he recognized as the natives of the planet. Vegeta groaned when he saw them.
"Don't tell me that idiot is trying to save all these people?!" he barked.
Mr. Satan, clutching Gohan's body tightly, nodded. "Their leader came to us to ask for help. We couldn't refuse him; these are the ones we've picked up along the way. Goku and Frieza are getting all the rest."
Vegeta swore. "I don't believe it! He spends his entire life being a genocidal dictator and now, now, he develops a concern for others! Krr..! As if Kakarot's soft-heartedness wasn't irritating enough on its own..!"
"Hey!" Videl shouted, to Mr. Satan's great concern. "What's your problem? They're in as much trouble as we are! We have to help them. What else are we gonna do, leave them here?"
Vegeta cast her a withering look, as if to say that's exactly what he planned on. Before he could reply, another earthquake violently shook the area. Worse, ground crumbled out from beneath the ship, sending it tilting to one side. Vegeta swore again. "Damn it! If the ship falls over we're done!" He charged towards the door. "I'm going to try and keep the ship upright. You, girl! Get into the flight deck and hit the button to leave when I tell you! You can't miss it, the big red one."
"I'm not leaving without them!" Videl stated stubbornly, "Gohan's dad's out there too, you know."
"You'll leave when I damn well tell you!" Vegeta shot back.
Videl's reply was lost as Vegeta blasted outside and swung around the side of the toppling ship. The ground was crumbling from beneath its supports further and further. Vegeta slammed his arms onto the side of the ship and, with a roar of pain and exertion, flew into the ship slowly, easing it back upright. 'I just have to hope the other side doesn't collapse. There's no way I can hold the whole thing up, not like this.' He slowly moved his way up the ship, being careful to keep the momentum pushing it upright, until he reached the viewscreen. He peered in through the window and, a few moments later, Videl came dashing into the control room. Vegeta glanced up at the sky and saw that the comet was even larger. He looked back down at Videl and the two glared at one another.
"Is this everyone or not?" Frieza asked harshly, trying to keep his growing panic under control. He'd seen the comet's approach, getting larger and larger, the increasing frequency of the earthquakes indicating its arrival. 'How did we not manage to notice that?' he wondered, though he knew the answer full well. 'Between the fiasco with Broly, and the angle of approach...I'm certain that Paragus planned this out, to trap us.' He growled at the final insult from the old monkey. 'Like hell I'm going to let that bumbling ape succeed where a Super Saiyan, my brother, The Council's dogs, and countless others have failed so far!'
The old Shamoian, unflinching at the Arcosian's tone, finished looking over the group, doing his headcount. "Yes, I believe this is everyone," he said, "What others there are may well have been picked up on the way."
Goku closed his eyes for a moment. "Yeah, I can sense some small figures with them." He frowned. "Vegeta's power's been raised, like he's fighting with something. I hope nothing's going wrong."
Frieza laughed derisively. "Well! I'm impressed he hasn't fled yet. Now let's go!"
Goku looked up at the comet. A fire broke out around it as it began to enter and collide with the planet's atmosphere. An audible rumble pierced the air. "There's not enough time," he said, through gritted teeth, "We wouldn't be able to get all these people back to the ship in time."
"What?!" Frieza yelled, his tail now unguardedly lashing in distress.
"Hang on... " Goku raised his middle and index finger to his forehead and concentrated. "I think I've got it… Alright! Everyone hurry, clutch onto one another! You've gotta be touching me in some way!" There was a shuffling as the Shamoians all held one another's scaly, claw-like hands. Frieza, with great reluctance, took the proffered hand of Shamo and then reached out and touched Goku's shoulder. Goku concentrated…
SHHFFT!
"Now, brat! Go!" Vegeta bellowed at Videl through the viewport, releasing the ship and shooting down and through the open door. As he passed it he slapped the mechanism controlling it, the door slowly beginning to close over the entry hatch. He just had to hope that the girl understood the gravity of the situation. There was nothing more than could be done, either they went or they would all die. As he blasted up through the ship he felt the rumble of the engines activating and the ship taking off. He allowed a small smile to cross his face. 'Good, she's not as idiotic as I thought.' He felt a small pang of regret at the idea of being forced to leave Kakarot behind. It wasn't with pleasure that he condemned him to death, not least because he intended to defeat him with his own hands. 'His friends will revive him in any case,' he thought, 'But we have to get back first.'
He bustled into the flight deck where Videl was anxiously pacing, her father trying to comfort her. "Why haven't they arrived?!" she shouted. "I didn't think it would take them this long, that comet, isn't there anything we can—?!"
Vegeta leveraged her aside and settled himself into the seat. "We did what had to be done, it's up to Kakarot now whether he can get out of it or not," he said, tapping at the computer, directing the ship's takeoff trajectory away from the comet. "It wouldn't surprise me if he finds a way out of this. He's escaped tougher scrapes before, especially—"
SHHFFT!
Suddenly the room was absolutely packed with people. Vegeta felt himself being squashed up again the control console and window as a horde of green aliens pressed against him. Videl let out a shriek of surprise and Mr. Satan was buried beneath a group of them. "What the hell—?! Oomph!" Vegeta cursed as someone's bony elbow struck his already-bruised kidney, and looked over his shoulder. In the middle of the mess was Goku, Frieza crumpled and growling next to him under another pile of Shamoians.
'Of course...' Vegeta thought. "Kakarot!" he shouted, "What are you doing bringing all these people in here?! This is the smallest room on the whole goddamn ship!"
A slightly bewildered Goku looked around himself and then, relieved that it had worked, smiled. "Hey, it's not my fault yours was the strongest energy signature," he said, "You should have gone to the main hallway rather than sit in here."
"I wasn't expecting to be acting as your virtual doorman!" Vegeta retorted.
"No, you were expecting to make a clean getaway," Frieza's voice emerged from the floor, his angrily lashing tail clearing a circle around where he sprawled, as the Shamoians climbed over each other to get away from his absentminded wrath.
"I'll have you know I waited for you two incompetents and stopped the damn ship from falling over!" Vegeta bit back, balling his fists, "You act like I would have left you to die, like some coward with no pride at all! Like hell I'd ever let a measly comet finish you two off before I get a crack at you!"
The bickering continued as the ship soared past the comet and out into space, as the disintegrating space rock and ice fragments continued the final descent to the planet, eventually obliterating it. Goku did not notice the fracas in the control room or on the abandoned planet — he'd looked expectantly at Mr. Satan while Frieza and Vegeta were going at each other, eyes imploring. The afro-haired man had pointed him wordlessly back towards the cabin area, and with a grave nod of thanks, Goku took off, leaving the noise and relieved aliens behind, his steps heavy and head bowed with renewed grief by the time he came to Gohan's door.
Krillin, taking a well-earned lounge outside the Kame House, cracked open his eye as he picked up on a familiar energy signature incoming. He sat up and stared up into the sky, not being able to see anything but knowing they were there. 'Goku is coming back...man, took him long enough!' he thought. A grin cracked across his face as he leapt into the air and flew across the ocean. From picking out the direction of descent he could tell they were making their way down into the park, where they'd taken off from. As he got closer to the city Krillin was able to look up and see the ship streaming down from above, making its way towards the park. 'I'll be just behind them,' he thought, as he dropped from the air on the outskirts of the city and made his way towards the park. When he got there a large crowd had already formed in front of the ship, huge banners proclaiming their love of Mr. Satan. Krillin blinked. 'Have they just arrived or have they been here the whole time?' he wondered. He pushed his way through the crowd, using his height, his senses and, where necessary, a swift elbow to maneuver in order to get to the front. As he got there the door to the ship hissed open, and a deafening roar went up from the crowd. Krillin couldn't stop himself from smiling. 'Be real funny if their hero came back completely shaken from his adventure in space,' he thought, having a small chuckle.
The noise from the crowd died down as a horde of small, green aliens made their way down the rampart. Krillin frowned, confused as to what was going on, and peered through the mess until he spotted who he was looking for. A grin crossed his face as he saw Son Goku descend the ramp, something in his arms, with Vegeta, Frieza, and Mr. Satan following behind. Krillin jumped forward. "Hey Goku!" he shouted. "How did it go? Who are all these—?" Suddenly his breath caught in his throat. All three of them were beaten up and worse for wear, ugly bruises and cuts showing through their torn clothes. But that wasn't the worst of it. Lying in Goku's arms, Gohan lay. 'He isn't sleeping, no, he's...' Krillin's eyes bulged. "Goku... What happened? Is that..? How did..?"
Goku looked up. A small, mournful smile crossed his lips, but Krillin had never seen his friend looking so lost before. "Hi Krillin..." he said, "Things went a little...differently than we were expecting…" He knelt down on the ground, leaning Gohan on his knee and brought his fingers to his forehead. "I'm sorry, I don't...I can't talk right now, I have to go."
"Goku... I'm so sorry, is there anything I can—"
SHHFFT!
Goku and his son vanished. Krillin stared at the spot where he'd been for a long moment. Then he rubbed at his eyes and looked up and found himself staring at Vegeta and Frieza, both of whom were keeping back and leaning on the ship.
"Can…do either of you want to explain what happened?" Krillin asked.
"No," Vegeta said, curtly, "Do you have any senzu?"
"No," Krillin replied, equally curt in his disbelief over the situation.
"Ch...figures…" the prince of Saiyans muttered before jetting up into the air.
"Go on, get out of here, nothing to see!" Mr. Satan shouted at the crowd, "I'll let you all know what happened during my first ambassadorial trip into space on my next TV interview!" The current martial arts champion threw up his signature peace signs at the crowd, feigning a cheerful grin as they began to cheer and disperse. Videl clenched tightly to her father's baggy pants, an empty and emotionless expression stuck on her visage. "Don't worry sweetie, you remember what they said right?" Mark patted his daughter on the head and knelt down to her level, "Everything's gonna be just fine, they'll have Gohan back in a jiffy!" he stated confidently, though it was clear that what Videl had seen had affected her more than he would have liked. "Ooooh… Come here, I'm not gonna let anything happen to you, I promise." Mr. Satan embraced his daughter and picked her up, carrying her in his arms away from the ship. Usually, the spirited girl would have squirmed and protested being treated like a baby, but she acquiesced, clutching his gi tightly.
Frieza began to exit the ramp as the crowd dispersed, stopping in front of Krillin as he looked down at the ground, dejected. "Far be it from me to offer you words of solace after what I did to you, but you seemed close to Son Goku's boy, so I'll let you know that he died protecting his father," the Arcosian stated, shaking his head when he realized that he would get no response from the human, "Mourn if you must, but no doubt will Goku be searching for the Dragonballs as soon as possible; the dead won't be gone for much longer." Frieza turned and began to lift into the air, but he was stopped by a voice from behind.
"Wait, it's not that simple," Krillin replied, "Something happened while you guys were away, Dende, he…"
Frieza's brow raised as he gently landed back down on the ground. "...Someone else took advantage of our leave then, and managed to kill the Namekian child?"
"Like you would care if he weren't the keeper of the Dragonballs," a gruff voice sounded near the ship, "Don't even try to feign grief, if I hear you mock him even once I won't hesitate to end you." Piccolo made his way towards the other two with a stern expression as always.
"I'll allow that threat to slide, Namekian, because we have bigger issues to worry about," Frieza claimed, looking towards the sky, "Goku doesn't even know that the Earth's Dragonballs are no longer active, and I have a feeling he won't be in a particularly good mood if he finds that out on his own. Why don't one of you go explain what's happened to him, I'm sure I can catch the details from Tenshinhan and Chiaotzu…" The Arcosian paused briefly, a twinge of worry appearing on his face before dissipating a moment later, "Unless they've died as well?"
"N-no, everyone else is fine," Krillin explained, rubbing the back of his neck, "Well, except Capsule Corp., that place got smashed up pretty good by Slug's henchmen."
"Slug you say? Hmm…" Frieza placed his hand on his chin in thought, "That sounds like a Namekian name, would you happen to—" The Arcosian paused as he turned to where Piccolo had been just a moment ago, though it was apparent that he had silently taken off moments ago. "Hmph, he seemed in a foul mood."
Krillin looked around at the small aliens that seemed to be in sheer awe and wonder at the new world that they had landed on, a few having even climbed some of the trees in the park. It was in stark contrast to the feeling of gloom that permeated his conversation with Frieza, and the sight of the jolly aliens brought a small smile to Krillin's face. "I'm guessing these guys need a new home, am I right?" he asked, turning back to Frieza.
"Hmm? I suppose they do, they were being used as slave labor after their planet had been annihilated," Frieza explained nonchalantly, turning away from Krillin, "I'll let you deal with them; I've much to discuss with Tenshinhan." Despite Krillin's flabbergasted expression, Frieza took off in the direction of Ten and Chiaotzu's home.
The former monk examined the aliens closely, watching as one fell off of a nearby tree and was caught by another who seemed to be spotting him. A few others were tugging on a woman's dress as she fawned over how cute they were. "What the heck am I supposed to do about all of these guys?" Krillin wondered aloud, rushing over to a Shamoian that had walked into the street and caused a minor accident, "Nonono! Stay off of the road, that's for cars!" he shouted, grabbing the alien and placing it over by the majority of the Shamoians. "Oh brother, I better call Bulma…"
SHHFFT!
Goku appeared outside of his and Chi-chi's home, lifting Gohan up as he rose from his kneeling position. Through the window he could see his wife sitting at the dining room table, writing on a piece of paper. He hesitated before heading to the door, thinking about what words he could say to make this better, to alleviate her pain, but he knew that no matter how quickly he gathered the Dragonballs and wished their son back to life, the damage was already done.
Chi-chi turned quickly as soon as she heard the door creak open, and her worried expression melted away when she heard her husband's voice. "Chi-chi, I'm… I'm home," Goku greeted meekly, opening the door more widely and placing Gohan on the ground just outside of their home. Chi-chi rushed to the door and hugged Goku at the doorway with a bright smile on her face, but as she looked around him, she let out a horrified screech.
"G-Gohan!" Chi-chi cried as she released Goku and threw herself next to the body of her son. She could tell that he was no longer alive immediately. "W-what happened, what happened to my baby?" Chi-chi sobbed, placing her head on Gohan's chest.
The Earth-born Saiyan reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder, still attempting to come up with the right words to ease her pain. "He... There was a fight, I was losing and...Gohan tried to save me…" Goku managed to choke out, utterly ashamed of himself. "Don't worry Chi-chi , I'll make this right, I'll gather the Dragonballs and—"
With a shrug, Chi-chi shook Goku's hand off of her shoulder and gave him an angry glare as tears streamed down her face. "You think that the Dragonballs will fix his psyche, Goku? You think that just because he'll be brought back to life that everything will be fixed?" Chi-chi scolded, wiping tears away from her face. She rose from the ground and pounded on Goku's chest, "This never should have happened! He should have been at home with me, studying for his...for h-his…" The black-haired martial artist broke down once more, allowing Goku to place his arms around her as she folded into him. "I'm... I-I'm sorry, it must have been horrible for you… I just can't believe he's...d-de—"
"Don't say it," Goku said as he embraced his wife, giving a sad look at Gohan's body once more before closing his eyes. "It was the hardest thing I ever had to watch...I shouldn't have let it happen," Goku admitted with a shake of his head, his teeth gritted angrily.
"When Gohan is back, I... I want you to train with him," Chi-chi requested, much to Goku's surprise. She pushed herself off of his chest slightly, looking the Saiyan in the eyes, "Not so much that his grades will suffer, but...I don't ever want to have to rely on the Dragonballs to bring my baby back again. If he's strong enough, maybe next time he won't have to die…" She wiped away more tears, backing away from her husband and slumping down against the wall of their home. "Just promise me...promise me he'll be untouchable..."
"I promise," Goku agreed, kneeling down next to his wife, "Gohan's a quick learner, I'll teach him everything I can." He paused briefly, then lifted himself back up once again. "I'm sorry Chi-chi , but I've got to go gather the Dragonballs. Will you be alright? Do you want me to bring Ox King?"
Chi-chi shook her head. "Just do it quickly, I want to give him a long hug once he's back," she stated, her knees wobbling as she brought herself to her feet, holding Gohan's body up. "He's still so light...I didn't think I'd still be able to pick him up... M-my baby..." She broke down, sobbing again.
"It's okay Chi-chi, I've got him..." Goku said softly, taking the heavy burden from her, "Come on in. Mr. Satan said he'd come by later today with a capsule to put him in for now, if...if that's okay with you."
"Yeah," Chi-chi said tearfully, "whatever. That makes sense, I guess." She seemed in shock, suddenly looking as though all the energy had drained out of her completely, her eyes distant.
"Okay, let's get you both inside..." Goku said, shepherding her into the round Capsule house. After setting Gohan on his own bed, and making sure Chi-chi promised him again that she was okay, he prepared to depart. Just as Goku was about to bring his middle and index finger to his forehead, he felt a familiar energy signal heading his way. "Piccolo?" Goku murmured aloud, "He must have something to tell me if he's heading here this quickly." It wasn't long before the Namekian touched down near the Saiyan's home, and Goku quietly went outside to meet him, mindful not to let Chi-chi know the formerly evil alien was there.
The Namekian took a look at the small house, soft sobbing emanating from within, with a twinge of both regret and sadness, clenching his hands in anger. "I hope that you killed whoever was responsible for this," Piccolo said as he grit his teeth, remembering how he had to witness Dende's limp corpse just a few days earlier. Goku merely gave a solemn nod, which seemed to sooth the Namekian's rage. "A lot happened since you left, Goku. I know how much you must want to gather the Dragonballs, but I have some bad news: Dende is dead."
Goku's mouth hung open. "Dende? But…who would kill Dende? There's no reason for that, not unless—"
"He didn't have a reason, he was a monster, plain and simple," Piccolo interrupted, "That doesn't matter right now, I'll explain that all later. The point is, we'll have to go to New Namek to wish Dende back to life as well." Goku looked to the side, seemingly in contemplation. After a few seconds he nodded and placed his fingers to his forehead. "Wait!" Piccolo shouted, halting Goku from using his Shunkan Idou, "You can't just rush off, we have to plan these wishes out," the Namekian explained.
"Oh, yeah, I guess that might be a good idea," Goku gave a short sigh, "I guess I should tell you about the aliens that we brought back with us. They're called Shamoians."
"I saw them back at the park, I'm assuming that they need a new planet?" Piccolo deduced with a groan, having seen this happen once before.
"Yeah, I suppose so. They weren't being treated very well on the planet we went to; they were basically slaves," the Saiyan recounted, hoping that Krillin or Frieza was taking care of them after he had left. "It'd be nice if we could find them someplace to live. Maybe that should be one of our wishes?"
Piccolo gave a gruff nod, "That sounds sensible enough. Once Dende is brought back to life, the Earth's Dragonballs should be active again immediately, so we should have all of the wishes we need."
"I'd also like to bring back all of the Shamoians that were killed by Paragus or any of his henchmen," Goku added, bringing his hand to his chin in thought, "Porunga can't do that though, can he? Only Shenron right?"
The Namekian nodded once again, "Right, we'll have to use that wish after we've brought Dende back to life," Piccolo confirmed, racking his brain for what order the wishes should be made in. "How about we bring Dende back to life first, then we can ask the sacred Dragon if it would be possible to create a new planet for the aliens. After that, we could wish them all back onto that planet."
"What about the ones that have died?" Goku asked quickly, remembering that the planet they had just escaped from was nothing but space dust, "If we wish all of the Shamoians that died back to life, then the ones that died on New Vegeta will just die in space won't they? I don't think they're like Frieza..."
Piccolo began to pace, shaking his head. "So the planet that they came from was destroyed? Argh, great, I'll ask for the details later, but you're right." The former Demon King growled in frustration, trying to come up with a way to make the wishes as tidy as possible. "We'll have to ask the Dragon if we could transport both the living and the dead aliens onto their planet. That'll have to be good enough."
The Saiyan nodded in agreement. "So when that's all said and done, I'll come back to Earth and gather the Dragonballs again."
"Right, that's when the wish can be made to bring back all of the people killed by Slug and his cronies," Piccolo confidently stated, turning to Goku at last, "Looks like we managed it all in four wishes, not sure what we'll do with the last one though. Have any ideas?"
Goku shook his head, "Not off the top of my head. I don't care, as long as Gohan's back and everyone else Broly and Paragus hurt are alive again."
"Well then let's get this over with, the sooner this is all sorted out the better," Piccolo nodded, walking closer to his former archenemy, "I'll be going with you. I have a few things to discuss with the current Elder."
"Sure thing, I'm sure Moori will be glad to see you," Goku added, placing his hand on Piccolo's back and bringing his fingers to his forehead.
SHHFFT!
"Krillin, do you have any idea how much of a media circus this is?!" Bulma asked combatively, trying to direct a gaggle of errant Shamoians towards her large Capsule plane.
"Well, Mr. Satan took care of most of the reporters, but he can't stop them from asking questions about the aliens suddenly showing up in a public park," Krillin apologized, eyes darting towards a woman with a microphone, trailed by a young man hefting a heavy TV camera, "Whoa, whoa! Hey! Uh, no questions!"
"Well excuse us!" the blonde, curly-haired woman said with a hmph, "This is the scoop of the century!"
"Yeah well, these little guys have just been through a bigger crisis than you can imagine, lady," Bulma butted in, "They don't care about you and your scoop, they just want to get somewhere safe so they can start to rebuild. You ought to be ashamed of yourself, capitalizing on them like this!"
"Oh, you're Miss Bulma Briefs, aren't you?" the lady asked, suddenly even more animated, "Do you mean to say that you're planning to provide a safe haven for these refugees? How charitable of you! May I schedule an interview with you? I know you're a busy woman, so any time you—"
"Maybe later," Bulma waved her off, "Have your people call mine after this is all settled, but in the meantime—" She pointed her finger at the woman and her cameraman, "—you'll have a much better chance of getting an exclusive sit-down with me if you can banish every last camera and microphone-wielding human in this park. Get it?" The reporter's blonde curls bounced as she nodded vigorously. She barked orders to her cameraman, and the two rushed off.
"Nice save," Krillin complemented, gesturing for more Shamoians to follow him onto the plane.
"Yeah well, at least being famous is good for something. After a while, you get used to being able to leverage things and people," Bulma explained, scanning the pink-petaled treeline for more Shamoian kids. "Hey, speaking of possible leverage, have you seen Frieza? We got a message from someone named Sauza while Goku and the rest were off Earth. He said he had a message for Frieza, something about it being overdue..." She shrugged. "I don't know, it sounded like it could be important, and apparently it wasn't something I could relay to him myself, because the guy refused to transmit it to anyone but Frieza."
"Weird. Last I saw, he was flying off towards Tenshinhan's place," Krillin replied, "You think this has to do with Arcos again? Somebody else trying to get to him?"
"Nah, I figured that too, so I asked. The guy got real mad at me, and said it was a matter of family, not duty, or something like that," Bulma said, "He kept repeating it was urgent, and got all huffy when I said I didn't have the ansible frequency for the ship Frieza was on. If it's that big a deal, you should probably go relay the message, since you can fly and I can't."
"Well, if you say so," Krillin sighed in relief. 'Good, looks like Bulma's got all these little guys under control here. If it's as urgent as she said, then I have no time to waste...just hope Frieza doesn't shoot the messenger if the message is a little late...' he thought, a sour expression making its way to his face. "Okay, I'm off — bye!"
"Huh?! Wait, you're leaving me with all these munchkins?!" Bulma shrieked into the sky, "Krillin you jerk!" She stamped her foot angrily, the monk already so far away in the distance he couldn't possibly have heard her. "Great...now I've gotta finish corralling all these guys, and get them home...I guess I should call Mom and tell her we're having some more long-term guests..."
SHHFFT!
"Okay, we made it," Goku relayed to Piccolo as he released his grip, "Hey, come to think of it, you've never been to New Namek, have you Piccolo?"
"No," the tall Namekian said curtly, "I chose to stay on Earth as my home. Still, desperate times call for desperate measures." Slug's words still weighed heavily in the back of his mind. He felt more than a little anxious at meeting Guru's successor, with or without Nail's influence. He tried to keep his nervous anticipation under wraps as he followed Goku to the edge of a quaint village.
"Ah, Son Goku," a short, squat Namekian greeted, "Under what circumstances do we owe this visit? I trust you haven't brought any more of your enemies for us to heal this ti—" He stopped, staring at Piccolo. "Nail my boy, how is it that you are here?"
Piccolo flinched. "I'm...not Nail," he said quickly, shifting his eyes away from the Elder's, "Not completely, at least. He is a part of my consciousness, of his own will. I am called Piccolo."
"I see," Moori mused, "A stranger in a strange land, with a name to match. I apologize for the confusion."
"Forget it," Piccolo demurred, "I'm only here as an advisor and intermediary, if necessary. Goku?" He nodded at the Saiyan, urging him to tell the elderly Namek the situation. More than anything else, he wanted to get Moori's attention off of him. 'I don't know why he makes me so uncomfortable...rrgh, Slug must have gotten in my head more than I thought! Calm down Piccolo, calm down. You're not a monster like him.' He resolved to discuss this matter point-blank with the elders, after the business with the Dragonballs was concluded. 'Maybe they can shed some light on this, and tell me that Slug was just a madman after all...' he thought.
"Mister Moori, sir," Goku started, his eyebrows drawn in a tense line, "Something terrible has happened on Earth. Dende...I'm sorry. I wasn't there to defend the Earth, and some bad people came. They killed him, because he was the Guardian. Our Dragonballs are stone right now, and a lot of people are dead...including my son, Gohan. You remember, he came with me last time?"
Moori bowed his head sympathetically. "Young Dende...and Gohan too...truly, I feel your sorrow, Son Goku. You don't even have to ask. Our Dragonballs are at your disposal to right this horrible wrong."
Goku brightened slightly. "Okay, I can get started with the trials right away, just tell me where—"
"No, no need for any of that," Moori shook his head, "You've proved your selflessness and bravery, Son Goku. Every moment your son lies dead is heartbreaking, I know. I would not keep you from him with senseless errands such as tests in this dire time."
"T-thank you..." Goku breathed, a relieved smile of gratitude bloomed on his formerly-ashen face.
"I will send for a villager to travel to the other Dragonballs' locations, and bring them back here, if you like," Moori offered, "But I get the feeling that your method is faster, all the better to hasten your reunion."
"Right," Goku nodded confidently, "Just point me in the direction of the first village, will ya? It's been a while, and I don't remember which way it is." At Moori's gesture, he faced away and lifted two fingers to his forehead.
SHHFFT!
"...Well now, while he is off assembling the sacred Dragonballs, I get the feeling that you would like to talk, Piccolo," Moori said knowingly to the taller alien.
"...Yes, I have some questions I seek answers for," Piccolo responded, not letting his wonder at how the old man knew his desires affect his body language.
"Come," Moori said simply, walking slowly into a nearby whitewashed, rounded house. Piccolo furled his cape around him, following the old man into the darkened door.
"—When we arrived on the planet, we met Paragus' son, Broly," Frieza recounted to both Tenshinhan and Chiaotzu, who both sat at a table while Frieza paced around the room, "He seemed rather meek at first, but he was the true threat the whole time, not that rapacious monkey Paragus."
Tenshinhan nodded, "Sometimes it isn't the obvious ones you need to worry about. I learned that the hard way back when I was still an assassin."
"Well at the time he seemed to be under control, he barely even spoke a single word," Frieza continued, "It seemed that Son Goku's Saiyan name was a tic of some kind for him; whenever he heard it his temper flared. I would tell you the reason, but you'd think it to be too unbelievable," the Arcosian snickered, suddenly noticing a flash of orange as the door swung open.
"Krillin? Is that you?" Chiaotzu questioned as the former monk inched his way into their home.
"Yeah, sorry about barging in like this, where'd my manners go?" Krillin chided himself with a chuckle, "Sorry to interrupt, but as we were rounding up all those weird aliens that you guys brought with you, Bulma told me that someone left you a message back at Capsule Corp."
Frieza raised a brow, but otherwise seemed uninterested. "I'd rather not deal with any politics today, I'm sure that whatever it is can wait."
Krillin shifted from foot to foot nervously. "Uh, well, that's the thing, Bulma said that the guy who sent it kept saying it was urgent, that's why I headed over here as quick as I did," Krillin explained, rubbing the back of his neck nervously as Frieza seemed to only get more annoyed.
"I've just spent the last few days on a cramped ship surrounded by annoying aliens whilst recovering from a battle with an overpowered monkey," Frieza angrily pointed out, his tail whipping the ground in annoyance, "If they've waited this long for me to get this message, then they can wait just a little longer, wouldn't you say?"
Krillin gulped hard, trying his best not to just book it on the spot. "A-ah, well, I guess you're right, no point in taking up more of your time. This Sauza guy is just gonna have to wait a little longer I guess."
"Wait, Sauza?" Frieza asked just as Krillin had turned around to make a getaway. The bald man peeked his head back into the house and nodded his head. Tenshinhan and Chiaotzu both looked at each other, each of them hypothesizing what that could potentially mean.
"Could it be something about Arcos?" Tenshinhan questioned, "Or maybe something about your brother?"
Frieza looked down for a moment, pondering what kind of information Sauza would potentially have for him. "He was Kooler's right hand man...if he says that he has an urgent message then I at least owe it to my brother to see what it is immediately." The Arcosian turned to his friends and gave them a nod, "It's a shame I didn't get to finish my recollection. When I return, we'll have to fill each other in on what happened while we were away from each other." Without another word, Frieza stepped out of the house and flew into the sky, leaving a somewhat baffled Krillin behind.
The short martial artist looked back at Tenshinhan and Chiaotzu with a confused expression. "H-how...why is it that you guys get all the respect from him?!" Krillin asked, slightly annoyed.
Ten and Chiaotzu chuckled, "That's our little secret, I think," the psychic teased, giving Tenshinhan a playful nudge.
SHHFFT!
"Okay, that's all of 'em," Goku said brightly, depositing the last Dragonball outside Moori's village with the others. He scanned the cluster of buildings for the Elder's ki, sensing him in one of the dwellings, along with Piccolo. "I'd better have Piccolo or Moori say the wishes," he reasoned, "I can't summon the dragon myself and do it, heh." He trotted over to the white stone house and went inside, blinking in the sudden darkness. "Hey, Piccolo, Mister Moori! I've got all the Dragonballs, so whenever you're ready, we can make these wishes!"
"Oh, Goku, excellent timing," Moori greeted, standing up. Across from him, Piccolo looked stone-faced and unreadable as usual, but Goku could sense some unease within the tall Namekian. However, he brushed it off in favor of their current task.
"Hey Piccolo, are you gonna make the wish?" Goku asked.
"...No," Piccolo responded, hesitating slightly, "It's Moori's dragon; he is the Guardian, after all. I've already expressed our wishes to him, so he knows what to say."
"Okay! Then let's go," Goku grinned, leading the way out of the round house. A few minutes later, the three were surrounded by the rest of Moori's village, who had come out to watch the spectacle. Some of them looked curiously at Piccolo, but he silently avoided their questioning stares, standing back and away from both the crowd, and the circle of Dragonballs. Goku took no notice of Piccolo's behavior as Moori summoned Porunga, the great dragon bursting forth in a flash of brilliant light, his emerald scales scintillating.
"YOU WHO HAVE SUMMONED ME, SPEAK YOUR DESIRES, AND I SHALL ENDEAVOR TO GRANT THEM," the beast rumbled intimidatingly.
"Great god Porunga," Moori spoke, "It is our wish that the Namekian known as Dende, Guardian of Planet Earth, should be revived if it is within your power."
The dragon rumbled in thought momentarily. "YES, THIS I CAN ACCOMPLISH. IT SHALL BE DONE." His eyes glowed, rutilant with ancient magic, then faded back to their normal glow. "WHAT IS YOUR SECOND DESIRE? SPEAK, AND IT SHALL BE DONE."
"For our second wish, can you restore the planet of the Shamoian people, which was destroyed by evil forces?" Moori implored, careful to word the wish to implicate Broly and Paragus, rather than merely Comet Kamori.
"HMM...YES, I AM ABLE TO GRANT THAT WISH," Porunga stated, eyes glittering again as he hummed in concentration. "THERE. IT IS DONE. NOW SPEAK, TELL ME YOUR FINAL WISH."
"Porunga! For our final wish, we want you to safely transport all living and dead Shamoians to the newly-restored planet. Can you do this?" Moori asked.
"OF COURSE, THAT IS A SIMPLE ENOUGH WISH," the great green dragon said, a bit insulted that his limits were being questioned. With another growl, his eyes glowed scarlet for a final time. "IT IS DONE; ALL SHAMOIANS ARE NOW ON THE PLANET THAT I RESTORED."
"Hey! What the—?! Where do you think you're going?!" Bulma screeched in frustration as, all around her, the Shamoians began to wink out of existence. She stamped her feet on the ground. "Goku! I'll bet he's got something to do with this! I wasted an entire two hours rounding them all up, and he just poofs them away! Aaaargh! I shouldn't have even bothered!"
"Oh Bulma dear, who are you talking to?" Pansy said, her heels clicking down the brick walkway of Capsule Corp. "Oh my, did you take the big plane here all by yourself?"
Bulma looked at her mother, thoroughly exasperated. "It's... Oh, nevermind." She threw her hands up in the air. "I'm done dealing with any and all aliens today, okay?"
"Alright, now that that's done, we've gotta go check in on Dende," Goku said, his hope renewed and his spirits high, "Thank a lot, Mister Moori. We couldn't have done it without you helpin' out with the wishes and all."
"My pleasure, Son Goku," the wrinkled old Namekian nodded, "Do not ever think that you impose upon us; anything we can do to repay you for what you have done for us, we will do gladly. Though I hope, given the circumstances, that your next visit is more joyous."
"Me too," Goku smiled, "Come on Piccolo, let's get back to the Lookout!" He latched onto Piccolo's shoulder with one hand, waving goodbye to the villagers with the other. "See ya later!" he said, putting two fingers to his head and vanishing with the tall Namek.
SHHFFT!
"Goku! Piccolo!" a familiar, youthful voice called, "Thank goodness you're okay!"
"You're one to talk, Dende," Piccolo smirked, "You're the one who had us all worried."
The young Namek shook his head. "No, I'm just fine...well, I am now, at least." His face turned grave. "Goku...I know what happened, on New Vegeta. I'm so sorry." He looked down, anxious. "Gohan's worried about you and Chi-chi. We...I met up with him for a bit, before you wished me back. He's really angry with himself over what happened, but I tried to tell him that it wasn't his fault."
"It wasn't," Goku repeated, "It was my fault. I hope you told him that. I'll tell him myself too, as soon as he's back...I mean, if you're feeling up to it and all...we did just wish you back." He scratched the back of his head.
Dende gave a soft smile. "Hey, on Namek, I went from lying dead on the ground to making the wishes for everyone but you and Frieza to be transported to Earth, all in just a few minutes, and that was under some serious pressure. I want Gohan back as soon as possible — he's my friend."
"Then it's settled," Goku smiled decisively, "Lemme go grab Bulma's Dragon Radar, and as soon as I get all the balls, I'll get everyone else to welcome Gohan back, then come get you from the Lookout. Sound good?"
"Yeah," Dende nodded, "You can just drop me off at Bulma's when you go to get the radar; I'm sure she won't mind me hanging out there for a little while, and it'll be fewer trips for you."
"Heh, yeah, good point, I hadn't thought of that!" Goku laughed sheepishly, "I know you wanna see Gohan when he comes back too, Piccolo, so grab on!" He waited until both Namekians were in contact with him, and used Shunkan Idou, zeroing in on Bulma's ki.
Frieza landed in front of the main building of Capsule Corporation, hastening towards the entrance. As soon as the automatic doors slid open, he found himself face-to-face with Pansy Briefs.
"Oh! Frieza, come in — if you're here to speak with Bulma, I'm afraid you've just missed her," the lady explained, "She stormed off a moment ago saying something about aliens, in fact she just came from the park. Isn't that where your ship landed?"
"Mm, that's right," Frieza replied, "I imagine she is speaking of the Shamoians."
"The who, dear?" Pansy asked, cocking her head.
"Aliens that Son Goku rescued from a planet we were on. It is a long story, but suffice it to say, you may have some new guests here shortly—provided that Son Goku hasn't wished them up a new planet by now," the Arcosian prince smiled wryly, "In the meanwhile though, I was told that you received a pressing message for me?"
"Oh yes, silly me, I forgot all about that!" Pansy chuckled, "Dear! Frieza's here to listen to that encrypted message you saved for him!" she called loudly down a hallway.
In a few moments, Dr. Briefs appeared, shuffling awkwardly with a sheaf of papers and blueprints under one arm, and some sort of robot under the other. "Ah! Frieza! If you'll give me a moment, I'll show you to the terminal—" He set the robot on a coffee table in the foyer, shuffled the papers, and stacked them beside it. "—Right then, Bulma said that you'd be stopping by, so I set up a viewing terminal for you on the third floor. If it's as important as that Sauza fellow said it was, I figured you'd want your privacy," he winked. As he led the alien to the elevator, he popped a cigarette out of a pack in his labcoat pocket, and flicked his lighter to ignite it. "Seems to me," he said between puffs, "that you're privy to a whole host of secrets. If you ever need advice from a business standpoint, well...I'm not entirely sure Pansy and I can help you out on the whole space and aliens angles, but we've kept this company running well over thirty years now, and that's not just by luck."
Frieza raised a bony brow at the old man's knowing smile. "Heh. I'm afraid that running the PTO is no longer in the cards for me, for better or for worse," he declined, "If it ever comes to Earth, though, I imagine you'd be a fine regional manager with your considerable expertise and connections."
Dr. Briefs laughed. "Goodness! I can just imagine the field day all the news networks would have with that one! They nearly laughed me out of town when I first proposed Hoi-poi Capsules, did you know that? I can't imagine how deep they'd dig themselves scoffing at me making business deals with extraterrestrials."
Frieza's tail flicked up with amusement as he chuckled. "Yes, well, Earth seems to be quite oblivious of the greater universe as a whole. It's mind-boggling, really, considering your history with hostiles from other planets." He rubbed his chin in thought. "Of course, I'm sure that with only a small contingency of fighters dealing with outside threats, it wouldn't be so hard to cover it all up."
"Hmph! It's not as though we purposely obscure it," Dr. Briefs replied, "It's more the simple fact that humans might panic if they realized how many people like you exist in the universe, and how vulnerable we are because of it." He let out a long drag on his cigarette, adding, "No offense, of course. We have a saying, you know? Ignorance is bliss. People are more comforted by what they don't know than what they do, sometimes." The elevator made a ding as it opened. "Speaking of which, here we are," he said, "Just go into that booth by the far window and hit play on the monitor. I've already set everything up for you."
"Thank you," Frieza said, suddenly feeling a hint of trepidation. As Dr. Briefs departed back downstairs, the lingering smell of cigarette smoke, and his words, seemed to waft around Frieza. 'Ignorance is bliss, huh? Perhaps I do not have the luxury of remaining unaware of some things...' He sighed deeply, clicking the play button as he sat down in the viewing cubicle.
SHHFFT!
"Hi Bulma!" Goku yelled cheerfully, startling Bulma as she pinwheeled her arms and screamed.
"Goku, you jerk!" his childhood friend berated, "You can't just pop up in someone's face and say 'hi!' like it's nothing! Do you have any idea how much time you guys made me waste today?!"
"Uh...no..?" Goku answered blankly, scratching his cheek, "Why, what happened?"
"Well first, you show up and promptly disappear again, and there are all these little aliens running around, that I had to safely corral, without anyone's help!" Bulma shouted, "And then, just when I'd rounded them all up and gotten them here, they just disappeared, without so much as a 'thank you, Bulma, for helping us!' from the little guys or any of you!" Bulma crossed her arms angrily. "Honestly Goku, sometimes I think you have bricks for brains considering how bad you are at telling me what's going on!"
"Sorry Bulma, I mean it!" Goku placated, hands out, "It was really hectic gettin' off the ship, and I wanted to revive Dende as quick as possible, so we can wish Gohan back too. But we had to wish the Shamoians back to their planet first with Porunga's help."
"Wait, wish Gohan back?" Bulma said, her eyes widening, "Oh my god...does Chi-chi know?"
"Yeah, she's with him at home right now," Goku said, uncharacteristically somber, "After I go get the Dragonballs, I'll get them both...she wants to be here when he comes back."
"Oh...okay..." Bulma replied, still in shock, "I guess there'll be time to fill us all in on this later, huh? In that case, I'll get the radar for you; there's no time to lose. Man, looks like we've both had a rough time of it." She looked sympathetically at Dende. "Good to see you back, kiddo. It's been tense without you around."
"Glad to be back, Miss Bulma," Dende said politely, "If you don't mind, while Goku is gathering the Dragonballs, can you gather Tenshinhan, Chiaotzu, Yamcha, and everyone else here? I have a better understanding of what happened than anybody else, so I can fill everyone in on things."
"Jumping right back into your Guardian duties already? That's very admirable, Dende," Piccolo quietly complimented.
"Well, I just feel like everyone else is doing all they can, so..." the shorter Namekian shrugged, "I'm just doing my part to help out."
"I'm sure I can get ahold of Yamcha and Krillin, and they can contact the others," Bulma said, rummaging through a drawer for the Dragon Radar, "So you're welcome to hang out here until Goku gets back." She handed over the small, round device to Goku. "Here you go. Safe travels!"
"Thanks Bulma!" Goku grinned, "I'll be back in a flash; see ya!" He dashed out of the building's second-story window, igniting his ki and taking off, quickly dwindling to a small orange spot in the sky.
A few hours later Goku returned, arriving with Chi-chi, who still clutched Gohan's body tightly, as if it were made of fragile glass. Capsule Corp. had filled out, with Krillin, Yamcha, Tenshinhan, and Chiaotzu having arrived earlier. Frieza was there as well, as were Mr. Satan and Videl, all waiting on the grass outside the main building. Frieza was standing away from the others, looking at the ground, a faraway look on his face. As soon as Goku returned, Bulma headed for them, Krillin behind.
"Chi-chi," Bulma said, wrapping the other woman in a hug, "I'm so sorry about what happened. What you've gone through...it's horrible..."
"Thank you," Chi-chi said, "It's been difficult, even knowing that he's coming back, that he's going to come back...it hasn't made this any easier." She looked down at Gohan and stroked his hair. "Nothing really prepares you for it."
Bulma squeezed her shoulder. "He'll be back soon," she said, comforting. She looked down at Gohan, seeing his body for the first time. 'He looks so small...' she thought, and was suddenly seized by a painful emotion, imagining what had gone on when they went to Namek. What it must have been like. For him. For Chi-chi. She reflected on that period and was taken by a feeling of shame and regret that she agreed so easily to Gohan coming along. She had been happy, actually, to have another strong defender along for the ride, never imagining what it must have been like for Chi-chi to have to see him off into the unknown. Especially when the bad reports came back. 'I saw too much of his father in him. I think we all did,' she thought ruefully. "I guess, being around super-powered people most of my life, I forgot how young he really was," she said, quietly, "How unusual it is for someone so young to have to shoulder so much responsibility. To see so much."
"Maybe we all did, in our own ways," Chi-chi replied, voice soft.
"If you need anything, any help at all, then let me know. I know Goku could suffer death and run it off as if it was a mild cold but, well, we're not all like Goku. So if you or Gohan need any help..."
"Thank you." Chi-chi smiled at her, eyes moist, and said, "You're a good friend, Bulma."
Bulma smiled. "Well, I try. I can't absolve myself of some responsibility for dragging him into harm's way."
Piccolo and Dende had kept their distance, unable to avoid overhearing the conversation. "Do you want to go over there?" Dende asked.
Piccolo shook his head. "I don't want to see Gohan dead," he replied, "I'll see him when he's alive. Besides..." he paused. "I doubt Chi-chi would want to see me right now. Bulma's not wrong and...in terms of putting Gohan in danger and seeing him for his father, I share in that more than most."
"I find that hard to believe," Dende stated.
Piccolo chuckled. "There's a whole history there. I'll amuse you with it later."
Dende reached out and put his hand on Piccolo's arm. "Whatever the case may be, Gohan thinks very fondly of you. Just as much as you do him."
"Hmph," Piccolo replied, shrugging the statement off. Dende couldn't quite keep the smile off his face.
Krillin knelt down beside Goku as he arranged the Dragonballs. "You managed to get them all?" he asked, mentally kicking himself for asking such an obviously silly question.
To his infinite credit, Goku didn't give it the sarcastic response it merited. "Yeah, no big deal." He paused a beat. "Except for the one that Mercenary Tao was holding onto. That took a little bit of wrangling."
"Tao?" Tenshinhan, walking over, asked. "He's still around?"
"Yup, in his cyborg body," he said, "Wasn't any big problem though. I surpassed him a long, long time ago, so it was more a matter of getting the ball without hurting anyone."
"Uh, excuse me," a small voice said.
Goku looked over to see Videl, standing nervously nearby. He gave her a big reassuring smile. "Hey there, Videl right?" he said. She nodded. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, I... I wanted to see Gohan come back...so my dad brought me, he knows Bulma. Gohan was...he is a good friend..." she paused. "He is coming back right? You really can bring him back?"
Goku put his hand on her shoulder. "Yeah, of course! Won't be more than a minute. If you'll just stand back there with everyone else, we'll get on with things and he'll be back, like nothing happened." Videl smiled and wandered back to her father, who put his arm around her and nodded at Goku in thanks.
"Wait, that's Mr. Satan's kid, isn't it? She and Gohan are friends?" Krillin asked, "How did that happen? And she seems a lot more pleasant than her father..."
"Ah he's not so bad, once you get past his public persona," Goku said, standing up, "It's a long story. I'll have to explain it all to you later, 'cause right now, I'll bet Gohan's waiting for us." He looked down at the Dragonballs and nodded. "Okay, I think we're ready to go!" he announced.
Everyone stepped back. Chi-chi clutched Gohan tighter, Piccolo and Dende now hesitantly standing beside her. Frieza's head snapped up, as if becoming aware of the proceedings for the first time.
Goku shut his eyes for a moment. Gohan's face, first a baby, then a child, then the boy, swam before his mind's eye. He nodded his head and opened his eyes. "Shenron!" he bellowed, "Come forth and grant my wish!"
There was a moment of nothing. Then the Dragonballs glimmered and, a moment later, a great beam of light shot forth into the sky. Videl and Mr. Satan's eyes bugged as the light resolved itself into the shape of a building-sized dragon, serpentine and coiling around itself. The head of the great dragon lowered and it opened its mouth to let out a breath.
"YOU HAVE SUMMONED THE ETERNAL DRAGON," Shenron boomed, "STATE YOUR WISH. I WILL GRANT ANY TWO THAT YOU DESIRE."
Goku did not hesitate, smiling in that determined way he always did when face-to-face with the eternal dragon. "Shenron! Revive all those who were killed by Slug, Broly, and any of their associates!"
The dragon's eyes flashed red. Goku whipped his head over, barely hearing Shenron intone, "YOUR WISH HAS BEEN GRANTED." His eyes locked onto Gohan's body, held tight in Chi-chi's arms. There was a horrible, pregnant moment, as everyone held their breath.
Then Gohan snuffled, and took a shuddering breath. His body curled against his mother. His eyes blinked open. "Mom?" he said, voice breaking a little with disuse.
Chi-chi collapsed. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she crushed Gohan to her, falling to her knees, shuddering and rocking him back and forth. "G-gohan! You're alive!" she wailed, "I thought I'd lost you forever!"
Gohan put his arms around her, trembling. "I-I'm okay, really..." he said, cheeks flushing, "Please don't cry anymore Mom..."
Goku dashed over and dropped to his knees, embracing both of them. "I'm never going to let that happen again!" Goku vehemently swore, "You're never going to die again, Gohan, you hear me? Never!" Gohan only nodded, clutching his mother and father tighter.
Bulma grinned and cried, overjoyed. Krillin, Yamcha, and Chiaotzu wiped at their eyes, smiling. Tenshinhan looked away, pretending that some dust had caught him off guard, the same piece of dust that had evidently attacked Piccolo. Dende walked towards the scene, eager to greet his friend.
Videl, tears streaming down her cheek started forward, but her father put his hand on her shoulder. "No, sweetie," he said, quiet, "Let them have a moment, then we can celebrate with him. That's his family."
Videl nodded and hugged her dad. "Okay," she agreed, "I just...I just can't believe it; they brought him back. It's like a dream or something."
The group of friends shared in the joy, each one coming forward to congratulate Goku and Chi-chi and welcome Gohan back. Gohan, for his part, was buoyed along on their emotions, the slightly bewildered, happy and emotional boy in the middle of it all. He slowly came out of his parents' embrace to hug each friend in turn, an especially long one with Piccolo who wrapped him in his arms. Goku and Chi-chi, holding one another with matching tear-streaked grins, watched the scene jubilantly, though Goku would feel a pang of pain and guilt run through him every time he saw Gohan rub at his neck.
"AHEM...DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER WISH?"
Goku looked up and blinked. In all the emotion he'd completely forgot that Shenron was still there, looking down at them with a slightly irritated expression. "Oh, Shenron, sorry," Goku laughed, "I, uh...kinda forgot you were there."
The dragon's eye twitched. "DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER WISH?" he demanded, "OR CAN I GO BACK TO SLEEP? DO NOT WASTE MY TIME."
Goku looked at his son, being patted on the back by Krillin, and smiled. "No, no, I think that's everything. Thanks Shenron, you've been a huge—"
"Wait." The voice caught Goku's attention. He looked over and was startled to see Frieza hurriedly making his way through the throng. Suddenly aware that everyone's eyes were on him, the Arcosian nervously looked up at the great dragon before him, quickly shouting, "Dragon, revive my brother, Kooler!"
Goku's eyes opened in surprise, as did everyone else's. Shenron's eyes flashed, and a moment later Kooler appeared, eyes wide in shock, with a slightly harrowed look to his face. He blinked a few times, looking around him, unsure what was going on. He caught sight of Goku and recoiled a little.
"YOUR WISH HAS BEEN GRANTED," Shenron boomed, making Kooler nearly leap out of his skin as he wheeled defensively, "NOW, I TAKE MY LEAVE. FAREWELL." Shenron disappeared into the Dragonballs, which shot up into the sky as a collective and then burst apart, scattering across the globe again.
Kooler stared after them, and then turned around. The congregation in front of him stared back at him. "What in..." he began, "What is...where is...what…?" he spluttered.
"Kooler..." Frieza said. Kooler spotted him then. His eyes opened wide. "Kooler, I brought you back... I received your message and...I..." Frieza stumbled over his words.
"You...you're the one who brought me back..?" Kooler asked.
Frieza nodded. He stepped towards Kooler, a ghost of a smile crossing his face.
Kooler decked him.
Frieza crashed onto the ground and made a full somersault before scrambling up again, in shock. Kooler loomed above him, eyes twinkling with murder. "That was for killing me, you insufferable brat!" he spat. He walloped Frieza in the stomach with a kick, curling the younger Arcosian over. "That was for leaving me in hell to rot!" he bellowed. He grabbed Frieza by the tail and hoisted him up, flipping him around so that he was upright again. Frieza peered at him, tightening his fists, already regretting his decision—
Then Kooler wrapped him in a hug, both of them sinking to the ground. "And this is for reviving me," he said. Frieza was now more perplexed than ever. He hesitated, then hugged Kooler back. "Took you long enough to get the message, idiot," Kooler growled.
"You should have sent it earlier then," Frieza griped, "Your second-in-command only managed to reach me yesterday."
"Oh did he?" Kooler said, eyes narrowing, "Next time I see him, I'll discipline him personally for that error. The poor fool was probably too depressed to send my last will and testament to you, the one who killed me."
"I don't blame him," Frieza chuckled. And, for the first time in many, many years, something resembling a genuine smile lit up both brother's eyes.
A soft click drew Krillin's attention from the scene and he saw Bulma lowering her smartphone. His lip twitched. "You know he'll kill you if he finds out about that," he said fearfully.
"I don't care," Bulma whispered with a cheery smile, "This is so becoming my wallpaper." They both laughed, a joyous sound. Goku, Gohan, and Chi-chi were talking and laughing with Videl and Mr. Satan, while Tenshinhan and Chiaotzu had ventured nearer to Frieza to see what the fuss was about. The sky shone a brilliant cerulean blue, cloudless in the wake of the miraculous Dragonballs' dispersing.
[click]
Kooler sat in front of the camera, looking down, his facial expression similarly downcast. "Frieza," he began. Then paused, working his lips, thinking over what to say. "I know we've...I know we've spent many years hating one another and...and well, I don't know how much you remember, but it wasn't always like that..." He stopped, looked away. Looked back. "I guess, well maybe if... No, no...that's not right. What happened happened, and it changed us both for the worse. With all of us. Though Father... Father was always…." He stopped again. Shook his head again. "No, let's not talk about that, let's talk about...well not talk… but there are some things I want to say. I should have said them a long time ago, maybe, but..." He paused. Smiled regretfully. "Well, envy and desire for recognition...it drove me to compete with you, and in the long run...before I knew it, we loathed each other, didn't we?" He sat back and was silent for a long moment. "There was something that happened, a while ago actually, but I've been turning it over in my head. There was a rebellion on one of my planets. No big deal, really, the usual skirmish. Oppressed people, wanting to overthrow the evil lord. That sort of thing. He gave Sauza a bit of fight but no other issues. Anyway, after he refused to join me we got set up for the public execution. You know the drill, crowds of supporters, free food, cheering, adulation, fainting, all that spectacle. As normal, before the execution day, I magnanimously offered a last request. Normally it's the same sort of last gasp from these would-be heroes: protection for family, friends, women, drink. This one asked for something different though: a last meal, with me, alone."
He paused and looked up in thought. "Strange, I can't remember his name now. Doesn't matter maybe. But what he said at the dinner, that stayed with me." He stopped. His thin lips creased into a frown, then he looked forward and smiled. "He called me a coward. Said that my being a tyrant was a choice. That I could respond to adversity differently. Well of course, I tried to argue back, and told him that I had not come into my own power without some trauma, but he looked at me, and he said: 'trauma? You want to talk about trauma? I can show you trauma, I can show you trauma across my planet, across other planets across the entire system that you rule.' This one...he'd done his research, on me, on Father...on us. I don't know how he managed to dig so deep, but he had information not even the people on our planet were privy to. You know what else he said? He said, 'You choose how you want to respond to it, and you respond like this. But ask yourself, in the trauma that you suffered, did you ever reach out for your brother? Did you share in his pain, try to help him? Did he try to help you? Or your father? No, I imagine. Because you couldn't let go of your grudges, of your emotional crutches, of your jealousies, of your pettiness, of that great snarl. How much pain, and loathing, and hatred for how many millions could have been avoided if you'd had the courage to do that?' He said it like that, almost...triumphantly, like he'd caught me in a lie." Kooler sighed. "I killed him the next day, of course. There was no way I'd let him live with that kind of intel on me. Funny thing was, I took no pleasure in it." The dark-skinned Arcosian stopped, took in a breath. "Well, I guess that's a long, roundabout way of saying that I've been doing some thinking. And, what I want to say is that, for my part, I'm sorry. I didn't help you. I should have done more. I was a bad older brother to you, and I should have been better. I should have been there for you, knowing firsthand what happened to you. But I recoiled from the horror of it all, thankful that it wasn't my place to suffer. I should have done more. But I was...I was too obsessed in myself to notice, to do anything, too determined to have what I thought you'd stolen."
Kooler looked forward. "I'm sorry Frieza." He stopped and looked down. As he fidgeted in the chair for a moment, he shook his head. "I... Well, if you're seeing this then that means I'm dead. I don't know who killed me, but if it was Father, then get the bastard back for me. Otherwise...I hope that this might help you think for yourself again, instead of mindlessly hating everyone for failing you. Maybe. Maybe not look on the past with such rage. Maybe we both could have done better, for each other." He grinned in a way that hinted at self-loathing, a little shrug of his shoulders adding a tinge of helplessness to his posture. "Look at me, recording this with instructions to send it posthumously instead of doing it in person. I guess I am a coward."
[click]
The video ended. Frieza narrowed his eyes at the final words of the recording, yet again.
Kooler hopped onto what was Frieza's old bed in Capsule Corporation's guest wing and looked around the room. "Not a bad place," he said, "Better than some of my palace chambers, at any rate. I suppose you didn't have to give up your lifestyle of luxury after your defeat, eh?" He looked over at the computer set up in the corner, with his own face frozen on the screen. "...You're still watching that?" he scoffed with a facetious flick of his tail, "I told you to delete the damn thing."
"Hn, I'm afraid if I don't commit it to memory, I'll doubt that you were ever this sentimental towards me," Frieza said with an upwards flick of his tail, "What brought this on, other than some primitive, faced with his death by your hand? I don't buy that as the whole story."
Kooler shrugged, rolling over to lie on his back on the bed. "Then don't buy it. It is true, though. I wouldn't have crafted such an elaborate lie to try to impose guilt on you — hell, I wasn't really expecting you to bring me back at all. It was more of...a last gamble, on my part."
"Unbelievable," Frieza shook his head, "You pinned your entire hopes on me changing my ways? I always pegged you for a terrible gambler, but this was absurd, even for you."
"Well, it worked," Kooler said airily, with no hint of contempt at the slight, "It wasn't as though I had anything left to lose in Hell."
"What was that like, if I may ask?" Frieza ventured, "Was it as in the stories, were you—?"
"Tortured? Not unless I was foolish enough to get caught," Kooler laughed mirthlessly, "No, the real punishment is feeling weak, being helpless...and knowing that nothing you do can change that." He clenched and unclenched his hand, looking up past it to the ceiling. "I thought for sure that I could go beyond my limits there, without a mortal body to worry about damaging," he said, "But that turned out to be folly. I could train a thousand years, and never get any stronger than the day I died."
"So you're still weak, then?" Frieza teased, "What else is new?"
Kooler rolled over, smirking as he met Frieza's eyes. "I neglected to mention something else I discovered, though, dear brother," he said conspiratorially, "There's a loophole, you see. They somehow fetter your body, so you cannot grow stronger, but your mind is left unchained, all the better to make you suffer." He sat up, wagging a finger in the air. "I couldn't train my body, so I did the next best thing...I mastered my mind." In a sudden flash of power and light, Kooler sat, transformed, on the bedspread. Frieza leapt out of his chair, taking a defensive stance. Kooler hollowly laughed behind his mask. "Aren't you jumpy? I told you...I'm in complete control now." He spread his hands to the sides, his tail relaxed and languid. "There's no madness in my mind. Not a trace remains of the bloodlust that used to drive me in this form."
"You mean to tell me...you're..?" Frieza trailed off, still unconvinced that his brother wouldn't suddenly lunge at him. Kooler nodded. "Amazing..." the younger Arcosian breathed, before his eyes flashed with determination. "...Can you teach me to do the same?"
"Maybe," Kooler sighed, letting his transformation crumble around him, returning to his Fourth Form, "I have no way of knowing if it is unique to Hell, or if you can get the same results while living." He slid his eyes over to meet Frieza's, and gave a cocky smirk. "...Of course, I could always just kill you, and wish you back whenever you gain control over that Fifth Form of yours."
Frieza made a sour face. "Let's try it with me living first. From your description, I doubt I'd enjoy the experience, and since you seem so dead set on repairing past traumas, it might be ill-advised."
"Fair enough," Kooler laughed, "Is it just me, or has your sense of humor gone beyond killing people who make fun of you?" He blocked quickly as Frieza's tail whipped playfully towards his face. "I spoke too soon, I see."
"Gah! Damnit!" Vegeta shouted, slamming his fist into the side of a rock face in frustration, "That power...Kakarot has surpassed me yet again!" The Saiyan prince swung his other fist into the large rock, shattering it into smaller—and yet still quite large—chunks that littered the ground around him. "This must be some kind of sick joke, a farce being orchestrated by some higher being who enjoys seeing me surpassed by my lessers!" Vegeta crushed one of the chunks of rock underneath his boot, grinding it into dust beneath his heel in a fury. 'We were all been pushed to the brink, and yet Goku was the one to surpass his limits to destroy Broly...but why?' The Saiyan flew up into the air and landed atop a large spire of rock, surveying the area around him. 'I wasn't there when Kakarot transformed the first time...what set him off? Did Frieza kill his son as well?' He shook his head, knowing that Frieza wouldn't be alive right now if that were the case. He'd be dead, plain and simple. 'If anyone died, it would have to have been the bald one. So he pushes himself to the limits when he sees someone he cares about die?'
"Pah, how pathetic," Vegeta spat, crossing his arms, "I refuse to believe that the legendary transformation of my people could be attained merely from something as frail as the 'power of friendship,' or some such utter garbage." The unfamiliar words were said with such disgust that Vegeta could barely even believe that he had said it himself. He growled, drifting back into thought. 'When I transformed the first time, I merely had the will to live on my side, nothing more and nothing less. When I surpassed my limits against those pathetic PTO remnants on that base, it was the same desperation. Against Pui-pui, I again drew from my inner well of strength to achieve greater power. I can do this as well. Whatever Kakarot achieved, I can also obtain, and bend to my will, regardless of who is involved.' Vegeta shut his eyes, and for a moment could see a flash of blue hair flowing in the breeze, followed by a pleasant scent of something he had only experienced in one person's presence. "Rrgh, I suppose I should use her gravity machines to train again," the Saiyan grumbled, trying to keep his mind on track, "No doubt Kakarot will be back to training as well now that he's brought back his brat...and now that they're both Super Saiyans, they could easily surpass me further by training together."
A brisk wind whistled past the Saiyan, his eyes clenched shut as he seemed to wince at the thought of falling further behind. No matter how much he tried to deny it, there was one aspect of his life that he had been sorely neglecting, and it seemed to be catching up to him. After a few more minutes of annoyed grunting, Vegeta let out a stifled growl and lifted himself back into the air. 'If I can't conquer Kakarot, then perhaps I can conquer something else,' Vegeta reasoned with a smirk, 'That obstinate woman is always up for a verbal spar, if nothing else.' In a flash, he took off towards West City again, a clear goal in mind.
Mr. Satan cleared his throat and peered behind a silk curtain at the group of reporters that had gathered for the press conference called regarding his first ambassadorial mission into space. He had spoken with Goku via telephone a few days earlier and asked if he would have liked to attend and give his side of the story, but to Mark's relief it seemed that the hugely powerful Saiyan wanted nothing to do with the spotlight. Of course, this left Mr. Satan in the position to take all of the credit and then some, which he would have to do if he wanted to keep up appearances as Earth's greatest hero. He shot a look at his daughter on the other side of the curtain briefly, giving her a loving smile just before making his way onto the stage.
"Mr. Satan!" One reporter prematurely shouted as the martial arts champion took a step out into the open. Soon a cacophony of voices rung out asking him question after question, most of which he couldn't even discern. Even so he gave his signature smile as he made his way to the podium, flashing his peace signs and finally stopping just before the speaker at the microphone.
"Ladies and gentleman, please settle down! All of your questions will be answered shortly!" The announcer stated, attempting to calm down the raving mass of reporters who were all interested in the latest scoop. The crowd seemed frothing, each of them shooting question after question about why King Furry had no idea what this ambassadorial mission was all about and where the strange aliens that had returned with him had gone, and there was no sign of any of it letting up. As the announcer began to speak up once again, Mr. Satan put his hand firmly on his shoulder and shook his head, giving him leave. Mark took the announcer's spot, sweeping the crowd with a stern glare that seemed to get a few to shut their mouths.
"Now I didn't go off into space and fight off a galactic threat for you to all pester me with questions!" Mr. Satan's voice boomed throughout the area, the microphone blasting his voice through several speakers set up around the venue. Whoever hadn't shut their mouths previously quickly joined those who had, all in awe of the one who claimed to be Earth's mightiest hero. "This mission was top secret, not even the highest government officials could give any hint that they knew about this beforehand," Mr. Satan lied, though with all of his bravado the crowd seemed to be buying it, "The ambassador for the Saiyan people—Paragus his name was—brought us to his planet on false pretenses! He offered his hand in peace, but I can smell a rat a mile away!" Mr. Satan grinned at the crowd as he placed his hands heroically on his hips. "I found out that he had enslaved a race of weaker aliens to do his bidding, and it turned out that all he wanted to do was kill me in order to take over Earth without any resistance!"
Videl facepalmed and released a heavy sigh, her embarrassment only exacerbated by cheering crowd who was eating up every word that her father was giving them. Even the announcer behind the curtain with her seemed to be getting excited. 'This is so embarrassing...' she thought, punctuating that with a groan.
"That wasn't even the worst of it though, the nefarious evildoer had set us up on a planet that was due for a collision with a comet!" Mr. Satan continued, the crowd utterly captivated by his story, "And if that weren't enough, Paragus' son went out of control and started attacking...uh...my ambassadorial staff, yeah! Well I couldn't stand for that, so I showed him what-for and sent him and his daddy packing back to wherever they came from!" He gave a big thumbs-up at the crowd, though a few of the people started asking him questions once again.
"What about the comet, Mr. Satan?!" one journalist managed to shout up at the martial arts champion.
"Ah, oh right!" Mark chuckled, scratching the back of his neck, "Well I couldn't let those poor enslaved aliens be killed, so I rounded them all up as quick as I could and escaped just as quickly. Talk about a timely escape too, I could see the planet exploding just outside of the window as we were making our getaway!"
The crowd cheered once again, and as a few more journalists attempted to have their questions heard, what would appear to anyone in the crowd to be an insect lifted itself from the back of Mr. Satan's puffy black hair. It rose up and into the sky, zooming quickly up and over the city, passing by thousands of tracts of land, through a mountainous region, and finally rounding a corner into a dark cave. Metal doors slid shut as the device cleared the mouth of the cave, zooming through a room filled with contraptions and blueprints until it finally landed on the desk of a nefarious doctor. The wrinkled old man watched the footage from the device on a monitor just ahead of him in grim delight, a small smirk appearing on the side of his mouth. "Mm, yes, that could work…" Dr. Gero murmured, scribbling some notes.
"So, uh, how goes it with Frieza's brother?" Krillin asked a few days later, sitting on the deck at Bulma's house.
"Surprisingly, it's not weird at all — he's a lot better behaved than Frieza was when he first showed up," Bulma replied from a chaise longue. She wrinkled her nose. "Much better than Vegeta, at any rate. That jerk barged into my office the other day, asking for access to the Gravity Room, and then turned around and insulted me! I swear, it's like he's trying to push my buttons and get me to snap at him!"
"Well, it is Vegeta, after all," Krillin laughed, "You'd think a prince would have manners, but we've got two demonstrable cases that disprove that."
Bulma sighed, "Yeah, and after I spent my teenage years hunting Dragonballs so I could wish for the perfect boyfriend...seems like all the eligible bachelors with clout are all mean, rude, and crazy." She placed the magazine she was flipping through on her lap. "You know, that sounds really naive and shallow, considering what we usually wish for."
"Well, there have been worse wishes made, I guess," Krillin reassured her, "Didn't Oolong waste the first wish on something ridiculous?"
"Yeah, a pair of panties off a 'hot chick.' Not exactly our finest moment, but we were in a pinch, and it was better than that Pilaf creep getting a wish, so I forgave him on that one," Bulma said, sipping from a glass of iced tea, "In his place, heck, I'd probably wish for a boatload of strawberries in the heat of the moment." The blue-haired genius set the now-empty glass down on the patio table. "I just hope that after all this trouble with Paragus and Slug, we get a break for a while. All this stress is gonna give me premature wrinkles!"
"Heh, if only the rest of us just had wrinkles to worry about," Krillin snarked, "But don't worry — with Goku back, plus Vegeta, Piccolo, Frieza, and now his brother here, I think we're in the clear if any other aliens decide to start trouble. Plus, Goku said that Chi-chi explicitly told him to train Gohan. That's pretty wild, isn't it?"
"Yeah, wild," Bulma agreed, picking up her magazine again, "I can't believe Chi-chi of all people agreed to that. Then again, I can't believe Gohan's so gung-ho about it either, after what happened. Must be that Saiyan blood or something that Vegeta keeps ranting about lately. At least Gohan's not an insufferable musclehead..."
The water dripped from the pipes. The room was devastated, ripped and torn apart, blackened and wrecked. Decomposing corpses in shattered armor lay on the ground or were embedded in the cracked and cratered walls. At the end of the room loomed an enormous computer. Mold grew on the edges of it, and puddles settled around the base. The computer lights flickered and blinked erratically. The cursor blinked on the screen. And then...the cursor moved.
In the empty room devoid of life, it slowly typed out: B-a-s-e- -A-u-t-o-n-o-m-o-u-s- -B-r-i-d-g-e- -Y-g-g-d-r-a-s-i-l.
Base Autonomous Bridge Yggdrasil blinked on the computer screen. Then the screen wavered and stretched, pixels blackened in areas, and there came a small, tinny squawking from the computer, like a child's laugh, as the name changed: Bellipotent Amorphous Bodily Yataghan.
Then the computer went completely dark, the room silent except for the dripping of water from broken pipes.
Hello my loyal SoD readers! Thank you for being oh-so patient with me these past two months; you're the best fans a fic writer could ask for! I'm still plugging away in graduate school, & hopefully I'll have the time to write & release regular updates. Well, we've certainly had a wild ride as of this chapter. SSJ2, Gohan dying, Kooler's back, & a mysterious new force is silently plotting revenge against our Saiyan heroes. I wonder what could be next on the horizon? On to the Q&A!
Q: Another well-done chapter as always, my fellow Frieza fangirl. I was right about Lord Slug! It's interesting how you slightly modified Broly's backstory. I assume Garlic Jr. happened prior to Savior of Demons. Let's hope Frieza never finds out someone managed to gain immortality...otherwise, he'll be pissed. Incidentally, what do you think of the "Future" Trunks Saga? Goku Black and Future Zamasu, in my opinion, are the most successful villains in the franchise's history. Black killed Goku and most of his family. Zamasu became immortal. The two killed all the Supreme Kais in Timeline 5 except Universe 7's (who were all killed or absorbed by Bibidi, Babidi, Buu, or Dabura), which is *very* impressive. Are there any plans for you to include Battle of Gods, Son Goku and His Friends Return, Universe 6 Saga, Potaufeu Saga, "Future" Trunks Saga, or any of GT? I imagine it'd be hard to do Black without Future Trunks, but maybe someone else time travels...?
A: Yup, you predicted Slug correctly! Garlic Jr. might be a thing in this universe, but I haven't really referred to him yet, so he could be a past or a future villain...hmm... I'm not watching DB Super, because I'm convinced it has jumped the shark, so I have no opinion on any of the new characters or plot introduced. GT will never be canon to SoD, though I may make an exception for specific characters (if I do, they'll be quite different from their canon counterparts). Y'know, it's funny you mention time travel in SoD, seeing as how Bulma hasn't gotten around to building a time machine, that readers know of...
Q: Broly incident happened way sooner than expected. Hey if you had to pick English voices for the DBZ cast, who would they be? For clarification, it doesn't have to be solely from FUNimation or other such studios, it could be any native speaker. A cliffhanger and especially when it updates bimonthly, you're just plain Kold or are you Polaris? Maybe you did it because it would make the story Kooler? Well let's just wait while we rot in the Freeza. Let's hope that the prince while shocked and a little overwhelmed, doesn't completely cower like in the film. Why did you make Asparagus more sympathetic? Did you simply not want another Kold clone? And what do you think of Black Goku from DBS?
A: Indeed, who knows if our protagonists will be prepared for Broly's maximum power? Mm, I'm no good at American voices, so I have no opinion on that. I really don't pay much attention to that, so I don't know a lot of voice actors' names. Your Hurricane of Puns is stronger than Yamcha's Rouga Fufu Ken! King Kai has agreed to train you, incidentally. So far, we haven't seen all of Vegeta's reaction to the LSSJ, but you will see the depth of his despair in this next chapter. I didn't consciously make Paragus different from Kold/sympathetic, I just...went with what canon provided. Sure, in the end he would've murdered his son for a pod off the planet, but I wonder if that was only because he felt he had lost all control & feared for his own life. I don't think anything of Goku Black, because I do not watch DBS.
Q: Slug, Slug, Slug. Why did you leave Mr. Popo as a witness? You could have gotten away and had a massive head-start as everyone tried to piece together what had happened. Ah well, I guess we need a plot-hook. Poor Dende got rekt, but I can't blame Slug for being pragmatic in that situation. For seemingly the first time since the Evil Containment Wave, a DB character goes for a strategy besides getting bigger numbers than his opponents; I strongly approve of Slug's stealth strategy. I can also safely say I greatly prefer your version of Paragus to the one who hates Broly and sees his son as an expendable pawn (perhaps a rook at best). Maybe killing Vegeta and Kakarott will bring them some measure of peace, who knows (that would be a really gutsy thing to do from an author's standpoint, killing off the two main Saiyan protagonists for a while). Goku, Vegeta, Freeza, and Gohan don't really stand a ghost of a chance (Halloween pun/YGO-A reference intended) of overpowering Broly (maybe if the world-champ steps in he'll KO Broly with his trusted DYNAMITE KICK). Has Gohan even gone Super Saiyan yet? I don't think he has. Even if he did, not even a mastered Super Saiyan can scratch the true Legendary Saiyan warrior. So we have one possible untrained SS, two sort-of trained bulky-form SS's, and Freeza who's however strong he is, presumably in about the same league as Goku and Vegeta unless he goes 5th form. It seems the only chance they have to survive is either run like rabbits and hope Broly takes too long on the slowest one, find a way to reason with a very unreasonable psycho-killer and settle it diplomatically, or pray that Freeza's 5th form is miraculously strong enough to give Broly pause. Bummer I have to wait 2 months to find out what happens next.
A: Eh, because he couldn't be bothered. Plus, Popo isn't, at least in this universe, anywhere close to being a threat to him (sorry TFS). Hey, with age comes wisdom, & Slug is as wizened as a Namek can get, you'd think. He's lived & learned that stealth is sometimes a better strategy than attacking head-on. Hm, interesting that you like Paragus, as I've already gotten reviews questioning why I made him sympathetic. I wasn't trying to, so much as showing realistically what his motives & thoughts might be. If his son weren't a raving LSSJ lunatic, he might have been more attached to him in canon, instead of trying to abandon him on an exploding planet. Gohan has not gone SSJ yet, so that leaves Goku (training to maintain his stamina in SSJ), Vegeta (USSJ - terrible stamina & mobility, but lots of power), & Frieza (can compete with LSSJ Broly for raving lunatic berserker in his Fifth Form). So yeah, this is looking like a mighty painful curbstomp ahead. We'll see what happens. ~_^
Q: Well, I guess I was right, it was Slug! Didn't see Paragus or Broly coming, though when I saw Krillin singing I knew they would show up soon. In any case, guess we'll see how the good guys get out of two messes. Personally, I'm curious how strong Slug actually is. His minions beat Master Roshi with no effort, but that's hardly an impressive feat I'd say. I recall in the movie he'd maybe be in Frieza's ballpark, but he definitely wasn't anywhere near a Super Saiyan's level. Of course, if he's been eating the Might Fruits that could change a lot. I guess training too, but at his age I doubt it. Speaking of those fruits, did anyone else get reminded of Popeye's spinach? The comparison just came to me while I was writing this.
A: You guessed right! I'm pleasantly surprised that Paragus & Broly caught you off guard; I figured their foreshadowing was just as obvious. Slug has not been gorging on fruit (it would've interacted badly with his meds, like grapefruit), but if he gets his wish, he might not have to have eaten the Fruit of Might - remember, he's a Super Namek, undiluted.
Q: Hehe.. looks like I was right once again that Slug would be showing up and that he was involved with Turles showing up last chapter. Don't think I quite expected Broly and Paragus to show up though, but I like all of the interactions you're giving Paragus with our heroes, especially Mr. Satan. Haha, he's shown he's pretty good at defusing a lot of situations throughout this chapter. A Rest In Peace goes out to Dende, poor kid just couldn't stop Slug, but Piccolo is going to get revenge, I'm sure. There was some discussion of Dr. Gero in this chapter, which does bring up the question of what he could possibly be working on? Completed Androids 13, 14, and 15? Making Cell come to life even faster? Something new you could obviously get away with through the power of creativity and good writing?! Find out next time on S O D!
A: You were indeed correct. Wow, another reader who was surprised by Broly's & Paragus' entrance! Yippee, I can still write twists to shock & confound you guys. Mr. Satan has many qualities, not all of them good, but even in canon, he's got a way with words, so I wanted to really emphasize that part of his character. Poor, poor Dende. Piccolo coming for Slug's head in 3...2... I will neither confirm nor deny that the other movie androids might be a thing in SoD. ¬ ⌣ ¬
Q: Woah, two villains in one chapter! Well played! I can't wait to read more in a couple of months!
A: Two for the price of one is what you get for two months of patient waiting. ~_^
Q: Yeah, I'm with everyone, as many skills as Krillin has, singing, is not one of them. Roshi, you should know better at this point. Honestly, I'm surprised Vegeta hasn't beaten you into a pulp yet. Oh come on Tien, Mr Satan's not that bad, yes, he's a showboat, but, by the standards of a regular every day human, he's really friggin good at what he does, considering he was able to pull several buses ALONE, with a lot of effort, yes, but still, and chop through quite a few bricks with one chop. See? Goku's got the right idea, he's weak compared to you, but you're all absurdly superhuman, except Goku, Vegeta and Frieza who aren't human. Would Gohan count as superhuman since he's half human? Bah, I digress. A bubblegum monster, eh Mr Satan? Well, ignoring Buu, that could be quite scary as you wouldn't be able to beat such a thing by conventional means, punching it wouldn't do a thing, you'd have to obliterate it, something which, without a flamethrower, I don't think you can do, and even then. Ah Paragus, time for this movie, eh? All right. Also, I just realized that when Goku gets serious, his voice can get pretty deep, not quite Piccolo deep, but that guy's voice could rival Vader's voice. Good to know Frieza's still Genre Savvy enough to sense a trap. Goku does make a point, even all together, they're no match for Goku or Frieza, pretty sure some of the humans could take out some of the weaker army members, not sure about Paragus since we never get any indication of his strength. That infernal racket is the official strongest man on Earth. He isn't, of course, but most of the population doesn't know that. Vegeta has a point, between the Namekians, Goku, Vegeta, Nappa, Raditz, Turles and now Paragus and Broly, Frieza's not as good at genocide as he's like to think. Guess Frieza's not going to bother spending any energy getting annoyed at Mr Satan. Careful Frieza, any more sarcasm and you might break my sarcasm detector. While Vegeta's being a dick about it, much as with most things, he has a point, I don't think Baby Trunks exists yet, and he doesn't quite care for Bulma so, he really has no reason to stay on Earth. Frieza has a damn good reason not to trust Paragus, this full blooded Saiyan appears out of nowhere claiming he has found a new Planet Vegeta and offering it to the Prince, suspicious. Ah Piccolo, I swear he knows Instant Transmission sometimes, because he is surprisingly quiet for the tallest member of the cast, seriously, he's probably over 2 meters. Piccolo makes a valid point, sending everyone strong off of Earth, not a great plan. Best to have some people around for the sake of defending it just in case. Yeah, considering the last time he went off planet, Krillin got blown up, he's got every reason to want to stay on Earth. I adore how Chi-Chi is willing to try to be reasonable. And how Vegeta isn't going to meet her glare. Smart move, Prince. Mr Satan's coming along, interesting. The Mayor makes a good point, Mr Satan's got no experience in the Ambassadorial field. Ah yes, a jab at Goku's parenting skills, in this case, merited, except he knows he can protect Gohan and woe betide ANYONE who ever hurts his son. Also, apparently, in Japan, Goku isn't considered such a bad father, only in the West, guess it's a cultural difference thing. Yeah, here's a bit of advice, don't mock Frieza, his Fourth Form may be the least intimidating, but it's his most powerful apart from his 5th form which he can't quite fully control yet. Oh yeah, I always forget that Goku has a certain amount of fame as the winner of one of the Tenkaichi Budokais. So Mr Satan at least has heard of Master Roshi, interesting. It occurs to me, out of all the fics I've read, this is the most Mr Satan and Goku have ever talked. Goku, you're an absolute delight. Oh yeah, he did meet King Furry, and saved his life after killing King Piccolo. I can never unhear LittleKuriboh's Frieza voice, probably because Chris Aryes sounds SO much like him when he does the voice. Videl's now on the ship and bumped into Gohan. She's either going to be utterly useless, or, knowing you, somehow crucial to the plot. I honestly can't tell is Goku knows Gohan is lying and is humoring him or not. So Lord Slug is behind Paragus too huh? So, the old Namekian is smart enough to know that engaging some of the Z-Fighters left on Earth would end poorly. Good for him. Ki-concealing suits, interesting. So that's how he plans on summoning Shenron, the Dragon Radar. You may learn martial arts quick Videl, but you're still a child with no experience with ki. Well, huh, Videl has a point, Gohan kinda is a country bumpkin in the sense that he wasn't really born in the city so much as he was in the countryside. How about that. Ah yes, the incredibly sharp Namekian teeth. Makes me wonder why they even have them if they don't eat. I have a bit of a theory, the reason they can regrow limbs and only have to drink water are wishes granted to them by Porunga, during the disaster, and the third wish was to get them to another inhabitable planet. That's the long and short of it. It's weird having Frieza and Mr Satan be the voices of reason. Ah meditation, Piccolo's default "idle mode" Nail makes a fairly solid case. And Broly appears. Controlled for now, let's see how long that lasts. Yep, Frieza senses a trap. Frieza beginning to question how all these people managed to not only escape him, but brother AND his father, which makes sense. Frieza, is mocking the guy who can kick your ass and wants nothing more than to do so that smart a move? What's a Super Saiyan, quite the question. Vegeta knows he's being played. And he doesn't care. Always interesting to see how others can feel what it's like to be around a Super Saiyan, or in this case, 2. It seems Paragus does actually care about Broly to an extent and does want him to be sane and in control of his actions. Yeah, Marang's right, even if that thing weren't attuned to Broly's brainwaves, Frieza has got psychic power to rival damn near any Psychic Pokemon short of Mewtwo, so he could kill you for it with ease, and even if it DID get on his head, I have no doubt he has mental defenses. So Krillin can now use the Chain Destructo Disk. NICE. First move I ever spammed in Xenoverse once I went Super Saiyan. Better than I thought, good damage, hard to block and the consecutive hits make it hard for the opponent to get back up and DOOODGE. Turtle is always fun to read about due to the fact that he's old, he's snarky and he's just so laid back. Roshi, unless those copters have autopilot and you can just input the destination, which isn't unlikely, I don't think they've be of use to you as I don't think you can FLY one. As usual, those soldiers don't know how to shut up. And Goku did sense that something wasn't quite right. I want to applaud Mr Satan for creatively cheating, yet smack him for cheating anyway. Gonna side with Vegeta here, take what compliments you can get. Yep, Yamcha may not be as strong as some of the others, but given half a chance, he WILL try and save the day. Credit where it's due to Mr Satan, he may be a blowhard, but he has a lot of heart, and if one could gain power from how big one's heart is, he'd probably be a good deal stronger. Mind you so would Goku, but, I digress. Yeah, Paragus? Don't try lying to Vegeta, he's not an idiot. Prideful? Yes. Stubborn? Yes. Egotistical? Oh my Supreme King Gamikai yes, but he's not an idiot. Thank you Goku for trying to defuse the situation, unfortunately, I'm afraid it's not gonna be good. I wonder, if he knew about Broly and what he could do and be, would he try to end him while he's still relatively controlled and in base form? Guy can be pretty ruthless when it comes to defending those he cares about, look how brutally he ended King Piccolo and how brutal the beatdown he gave Frieza was. He's nice, but NOT the kind of person you want to anger. And Broly's lost his mind. Shit. Right, Piccolo, you may want to try to teach Dende to sense the location of the Dragon Balls soon enough, might prove helpful. Slug has an interesting idea. Shit. Don't get cocky, Vegeta, Broly may have the disadvantage in terms of skill, considering that even in Battle of Z where he's hands down THE single strongest fighter, or at least, the one that hits the hardest, he can't really do combos so much as repeated slow heavy punches. He's not skilled at all, but he possesses a lot of raw animal instinct and a lot of uncontrollable power. So he can see that Broly has no control or skill. Good, good, just hope you can kill him before he can-he's gonna transform again, isn't he? Right, so he's broken the crown and is now normal Super Saiyan. I wonder, what IS Shenron? He can obviously feel fear and recognizes who Beerus is, but is he a living being or simply an intelligent magical construct? Dende's dead. Shit. I hope Piccolo puts a Special Beam Cannon through Slug's head for this.
A: Krillin sings about as well as I do. Mr. Satan is a normal human, but he IS extremely strong despite his obliviousness & generally annoying attitude. Gohan isn't super-human or super-Saiyan (ha!), he's a great example of Hybrid Vigor. I can see Mr. Satan trying to use a flamethrower on a Majin, lol. Frieza is wary of strangers, especially Saiyans bearing gifts! He's learned that lesson the hard way, & yes, I think he's a little miffed that he managed to miss two more Saiyan liabilities he could've killed if he'd been thorough. Frieza is no longer allowed to kill things that annoy him (of which there is a long list), so he subverts his rage into a sharp tongue & sardonic wit. Mr. Satan & Frieza are just hilarious to write together. Between their egos & the human's oblivious lack of tact, it's amusing to see how close Frieza comes to strangling him. Goku is one of those guys who doesn't care that he's famous. Call it being down to earth, or having his head in the clouds, but he's a simple ma with no need for glory. Gohan kinda picked that up from him, so he's not interested in making a name for himself either. Contrast that to Mr. Satan & Videl, celebrities through & through. My theory on Namekian fangs is that they're for self-defense/intimidation, but they're a mostly atavistic trait. I like to show how normal people react to these planet-busting demi-gods, because I can't believe they'd just be blase about the ki output & the aura & everything. I figure everything Capsule Corp. makes can be piloted be a civilian...& really, some IRL planes & copters don't require much more than the equivalent of a sky driver's license. Mr. Satan's a horrible cheater, but that's part of his personality, & it usually works out well for him. Vegeta isn't an idiot? Well, this is news. xD Slug's a creatively evil villain, not a conventionally evil one. Why kick puppies when you can throat-crush the White Mage? I feel like the Eternal Dragons are conduits of their creator, which is why they die if the creator is killed. Porunga is a reflection of the collective mind of the Namekians, but Shenron seems a bit more independent or detached from humanity, possibly because Kami didn't do much interacting with his charges.
Q:I completely forgot this story was still alive as I didn't know you updated every two months (I did know that you uploaded on the last day of the month) but after reading this chapter, all the hype I lost for this story was revived and strengthen, I truly loved how you made Paragus actually feel some kind of emotion toward his son the legendary super saiyan that wasn't fear but of guilt and regret for using him as a puppet unlike canon which made me smile brightly as this is how I imagined Broly's and Paragus' relationship to be. and turles being a hired by slug surprised me as most villains in the dbz universe don't really ask for help even if their going to lose to the heroes which is how I think villains should be, planning in the shadows using weaker warriors or mercenaries to their dirty work, keep up the amazing work. P.S.: I think you using emoticons is very cute. I also have a question. when and why did you want to write this fanfiction when you are in graduate school for a communication degree and are in what I presume your early 20s, what made you want to write a story about a anime that was released in the early 90s was it the plot or was it the personalities of the characters or was something different?
A: All aboard the surprise hype revival train! :^D I'd update every month, but, you know, graduate school. Thanks for sticking with me & being patient, though! I tried to make Paragus more than a one-sided villain, & like you, I think it's plausible that he felt some attachment to his son, even as he became more & more of a monster. Turles struck me as the mercenary/opportunist type, so it made sense Slug would use him for reconnaissance. I use emoticons because, as a communications major, I understand that there's often a difficulty in gauging intent online with no facial expressions to read. Plus, it's fun. ≙ᴗ≙ Well, I wasn't in grad school when I started, & I'm actually in my late 20's at this point. Basically, I've been obsessed with DBZ for well over a decade, but I never had the confidence to write my own story. Beyond that, I had the sense to realize that most fanfics are terrible, in large part due to the skill of the (young) writers. So, I waited. I read fanfics, & took note of what I liked, & what I didn't, what made stories engrossing, or cringe-worthy. I wrote academically, & honed my skills. All the while, the idea that would become SoD fermented in the back of my head. Eventually, some very inspirational fellow writers encouraged me to finally take the first step, & I started writing. It's hard to say what draws me to Dragonball. The story is vast & varied, as are the characters. There's a ton of unanswered questions, things that aren't delved into in canon, that I think make it treasure trove of inspiration for fanfiction writers like myself. I love the character designs, the universe it takes place in, everything.
Q: All right, I've finally had time to catch up. And as always, I'm engrossed. Lord Slug was always a fascinating villain to me, so it's great to see him made even more imposing and important to the story. As for Broly... I have many feelings about Broly, and few of them are positive. That said, I love that you've made him into a walking nightmare, even more imposing than in canon. I hope you had a great Halloween!
A: Lord Slug's whole backstory was pretty interesting, so I had to do him justice in SoD. I've never really liked Broly in canon, but as a concept, I feel like I can do more with him to make him interesting. Hope I can pull it off. I had an amusing Halloween; spent it teaching, so I freaked out my students with a realistic bloody bandage on my neck. I said a homeless guy attacked me & bit me, then when they got all concerned, I flashed them a (fanged) smile. I really had them going! xD Then during the class break, I brought crickets to eat, & offered them to my students. Some of them Snapchatted me eating them, lol. A few brave souls tried some, but a lot of people were just screaming & cringing, haha.
Q: You know, I really like how you make use of the movies. Having two main movie villains work together, I don't think I've seen that done before. Though I really hope Piccolo kills Slug for this. But I enjoyed Paragus quite a bit in this, he feels more fleshed out and actually seems to care for Broly, unlike the movie where by the time of his meeting with Goku and Co. Broly seemed to be merely a tool for him. At least in the German version as I recall it. The Champ is with them an is being his usual awesome self. Am I supposed to feel sorry for our villains already? And then we have Gohan and Videl interacting. This might just be what he needs. I mean he's usually only around his fathers friends when his mother leaves him out, getting some friends of his own age can't be wrong, right? That's perhaps the only thing I can appreciate about that High school/Saiyamen arc, him being around people of his own age. Not sure if I ever asked this, but how far are you going to take this? End of Z? GT? Or (please no) Super?
A: Really? I'm sure I'm not the only fic writer to pair up two movie villains for twice the threat, but okay. Oh don't worry, Piccolo's gonna have a heckuva vendetta against Slug for this. I wanted to flesh out Paragus & Broly much more, because they could've been more complex in their canon movie, but they weren't really more than flat villains. Mr. Satan, cooped up in a ship with Frieza, Goku, & Vegeta. Yes, you should definitely feel sorry for Paragus; worst road trip ever. xD I like the idea of Videl meeting Gohan earlier, because in canon it seemed like she buddied up to everyone & adjusted to all the weirdness way too quickly. This gives her a fair chance to be gobsmacked, then accept aliens & monsters & flying as par for the course. Hmm, I'm not sure if I should say how far SoD will go; it could be a bit of a spoiler...but I assure you that Super will not be canon to it, ever.
Q: ... I finally realised why I didn't get an update in this story.. I didn't add it to my Alert list... Silly me ... And so am now catching up on all that I missed. I think the Turles story and the current Lord Slug and Paragus is very interesting. Loved that not only the secondary villains got their fair share of screentime, but the humans also have their part to play, including Chi-Chi, Bulma and Master Roshi. Love the scene where Krillin and his friends use the Genki Dama against the Tree. And loved your Mr Satan too xD the interaction between Goku, Vegeta and Frieza is priceless :D Also liked how you've fleshed out the main villains. Slug going stealth, Paragus' feelings towards Broly, and all the plot behind the scenes. Looking forward to the next chapter :)
A: Heh, that happens! I'm glad you're getting it now, & you have a whole bunch of chapters to read. I like the movie villains a lot, & the human characters as well, so it's no surprise I find ways to make/keep them all relevant. Mr. Satan is one of my least favorite characters, but like Goku, the more I write him, the more tolerable his silliness & idiocy is.
Q: Every chapter I promise to myself to write the review sooner.. But once again here I am... just 2 weeks before the new chapter... First, the end: noooooooo! Everyone but Dende... not him... please... but well... it is already done so... the next step is to go to new Namek, not only to get back Dende, but to stop the new evil... Slug...
Slug is so evil... I can't wait to see the new interaction in new namek.. Slug has some bad blood with namekians..., and I love namekians... the following chapters are going to be super special awesome... I absolutely loved how you made present Mr Satan. you did it believable, useful and perfect for the moment and place. I think that one of the most outstanding and awesome and not so easily points in fanfiction writers is how to present a unlikely situation or character and make it believable... and you are fantastic at this... yes. you are perfect in this. I enjoyed every Mr Satan moment... I loved Frieza's interaction in the parry... listening Krilling... Paragus and his son... a dangerous combination. their relationship is so complicated and sad... Vegeta... I am not sure how he is really handling the fact that Frieza is still alive and hanging out with all of them. yeah, go Gohan, take a breath and a break from your mother... I understand him. it was amazing how the warriors that stood at earth handed the situation. their organization was good... sadly not enough but they had no idea... so that was not the problem. You love scientist, don't you? another chapter, another scientist. now is Marang . I love them too... I wonder if some slug minions will stick to the other ones left in space... I hope so.
and here we have the real and Legendary Super Saiyan. ouuuu yeah, Broly is here! ¡Feliz Navidad! baby!
A: Oh don't worry, everyone's slacking at the end of the year, not just you. ..cries & hides face in shame.. Good to see Dende's death deliver the shock I wanted. Only the good die young, you know? :^J As for Mr. Satan, he's brash, he's oblivious, he's...taking the whole aliens thing rather well, lol. At least now he isn't going to be denouncing ki blasts as tricks quite so loudly. Poor Frieza is reassessing whether the aural torture is a legitimate excuse for murdering Krillin again. xD Good thing Paragus interrupted, or we might have had a repeat of Namek. I do in fact love scientist-type characters, & Marang, though not named in canon, is actually part of Broly's movie - he's not my O.C.! I just love his design too, it's so unexpected. A late Feliz Navidad to you, my friend, & a Happy New Year!
Q: And caught up at last. Only posted one review on the path here because I wanted to read. Love the playful jab at Golden Freeza (It's a horrible design and color mix honestly). Little surprised that Freeza has a fifth form but honestly it works. I love what you're doing with the various movie villains as well. Remind me, has Garlik Jr already made his come back or is his return coming up at some point? I mean the little bugger is annoying as bulls in the anime but it would be interesting to have Freeza encounter what has to be the only villain in Dragon Ball history that ever actually got his wish for immortality... and shortly afterwards summoned the one thing that could possibly defeat him.
A: Awesome! In this story, all of us authors & editors unanimously hate Golden Turd Frieza in design & contrivance, so jokes & merciless ribbing were necessary. Garlic Jr. has not, in fact, shown up yet! I'm trying to find a good place to put him, to be honest, because he's rather unique in being a weak villain, but possessing immortality. I definitely want to incorporate him somewhere along the way.
Q: Responding as I read. Nice to see the " Bunch a tricks" thing get nipped in the bud here. Lord Slug working with Paragus? Neat. I thought just occurred: Would Hercule be familiar with the crane school uniform? He has a history with Tao, but Tao didn't seem to wear the crane uniform at all.
A: Haha, yeah, I found that the single most annoying thing about Mr. Satan in canon. Of course, now that he's seen it, he can't very well deny it as loudly, though to be sure he won't want to panic the normal humans. He'll definitely have more respect for super-human powers beyond his own, though. He does indeed have a history with Tao & Shen, but he may not recognize a student uniform, as opposed to Shen's master's robe, or Tao's pink assassin cheongsam. It's also a possibility that the uniform itself might have changed since Mr. Satan's last run-in with them.
Q: it was 2 painful months to wait for this :( and now i have to wait another 2 ;(
A: I'm so sorry dude, I really am. V_Vo Priorities, though. Gotta keep my grades up, hold down a job, etc. Self-care is also a big part of why this wasn't done on time, & my unofficial New Year's resolution is to be better for myself, so I don't burn myself out & implode like I did this December.
Q: I've been thinking lately, about this whole SoD and 1 i got addiction problem lol i have to read at least parts of a chapter to be satisfied. 2 and this is the biggest praise i can give any fanfiction writer, but i prefer THIS (Story, and interaction wise and almost every other thing.) over CANON DBZ, yep i said it. However i know you can't tell me this for obvious reasons but I really hope Vegeta's sooner or later is going to die, I'm a fan of Vegeta but i always thought that either Frieza or Vegeta only should be a "good" guy, this 2 simply can't really co-exist and i think that's how it should be.
A: Addicted to SoD? That's one I haven't heard before! Well, color me extremely flattered, in that case; I'll try to feed your need for new chapters. I don't know that my story is better than canon, but geez, you're making me blush. (๑‿๑) I can't tell you that Vegeta will or won't die, for good or otherwise, but you're right that their coexistence would have to be tenuous, if at all, barring some major character development.
Q: Well, I'm jumping in here after binge-reading this fic (why the hell did I ever stop reading at one point, about a year ago early on into this story?), and I have to say: Bravo, this is an excellent story, especially in regards to how you have a habit of not wasting characters, by giving them a chance to shine, and not just giving the Power Trio of this story, in this case Goku, Vegeta, and Frieza the spotlight the entire time, as I'm sure happens in a lot of other fics, and what pretty much happened in DBZ anyway. Anyway, thoughts on some of the events: - If I were in Piccolo's position, if I had knowledge of the canon timeline, knowing that 18 got reformed there, I still would've done the exact same thing, she was far too dangerous to be left alive, especially with the inability to track her. - I'm definitely not shedding any tears on Haabu's death... just, screw that narcissistic prick. Of course, it could've been a cleaner one, but what else would you expect from Frieza when he completely loses it? - I'm with Vegeta on killing Turles, he was too strong and unpredictable. - Slug is a Magnificent Bastard, with emphasis on the "Bastard" part, because damn, he's absolutely ruthless, but that plan of his was simply awesome, successfully getting three of their strongest fighters (potentially four, if Gohan gets pushed) off the planet was simply brilliant. I'm glad he got his eternal youth wish, because otherwise the stakes wouldn't be as high. Heh, it just occurred to me that he's kind of an idiot, because he was so focused on New Namek that it didn't occur to him that he could've ALSO wished for immortality right after he got his eternal youth, but alas, that's exactly what happens when you become single-minded in your evil plans. This is not to mention him leaving a witness alive. Hmm... I kind of want to see King Kai again, haven't seen him in a while. - Oh dear, our Power Trio is really up a creek now with Broly, you know they're in a bad place when Vegeta is terrified. I wonder if this will lead to Gohan ascending to a Super Saiyan? That would be nice, because correct me if I'm wrong, but Gohan hasn't had many chances to really shine in this story. Hopefully this ordeal will help get it through Vegeta's thick skull that maybe, just MAYBE it's in his best interest to stick to Earth, because even he, as stubborn as he is, has GOT to be noticing that going off planet has been, for the most part, nothing but a gigantic pain in the ass for him. In any case, this is looking like it'll be another case of Vegeta being taken down a notch. All of that being said, another thing I really like about this story is how Vegeta and Frieza interact with each other, that'll probably never cease to be funny, or at the very least amusing. I can only hope that Vegeta will mellow out more, at least our favorite grumpy Saiyan prince could be a LOT worse, and it seems that he's on the right track, even if he seems to be in denial about it (almost calling Earth "home", anyone?). Speaking of Vegeta, I'll have to disagree with another commenter (sorry if you don't like me referencing other commenters) in that I love having Vegeta in this story, because seriously, having Vegeta around to bounce off of Frieza jabs and vice versa, among other things, that's just... awesome, period. That, and he's part of this story's iconic Power Trio. I'm fully expecting at least one of them to die at least once throughout the course of the story; after all, in the canon timeline, Goku would be dead right now, since this is after when the Cell saga would occur and this is the Dragon Ball Z universe we're talking about. Oh, and I've noticed how it appears that Goten hasn't been conceived as of now either, because correct me if I'm wrong, but we're at a time well past when the Cell saga happened in canon, along with the obvious fact that Trucks hasn't been born, or even conceived, at least, not yet. I'd say that despite the cast being weaker at this point than in canon (Gohan not being a Super Saiyan, at least, not yet), they're in some ways a lot more dangerous, because of the fact that Krillin knows how to use the Genki Dama and an improved Kienzan (he ACTUALLY killed someone with it, I repeat, he actually KILLED someone with it), among other things that you may not have revealed yet, and the group as a whole seems to be more pragmatic overall. I also find myself wondering how the cast from the canon timeline would react to this one. Eh, they'd be shocked, end of story. If I had to name my Top 5 (out of the Z Fighters, or whatever you would like to call them) characters in this story, they would be, in no particular order: Vegeta (hey, he might as well be a member), Frieza, Piccolo, Goku, Tenshinhan. Well, time for me to do what fans of this story have been doing, and wait patiently for the next chapter.
A: Hey, another reader who must have a Bladder Of Steel from binging SoD! Congrats on getting up to date, & thanks for taking the time to leave feedback. One thing I do try to do is rotate character perspectives, because as you said, we don't see enough of that in canon. Frieza's the main character, but sometimes the story takes place away from him, like when Vegeta was in space. Piccolo's the real pragmatist in this universe, because he has to be, to balance out Goku's mercy. Eliminating potential threats whenever he can is just a survival tactic. Same with Vegeta killing Turles...&, well, if Frieza had presence of mind, he would have killed Haabu regardless. Glad you approve of Slug's scheming so far. He may not want immortality, because if he's got youth, why bother until later on down the road? King Kai isn't super-relevant at the moment, but don't worry, he'll get some more screentime soon. Hmm, interesting theory about Gohan ascending. I won't say if you're right, but you are correct that he's behind in this timeline. Vegeta is stubbornly independent, do you really think he'll stick to Earth after encountering Broly? On the other hand, it has been his best shot at improving, & literally all of his rivals live there. I've kept Vegeta in the story for just the reasons you've mentioned, & because he still has character development to achieve. Right now, the timeline is about where the Cell Saga would take place in canon, so no, Goten & Trunks don't exist yet. They're behind schedule, but don't worry, I have my reasons. Good observation on their pragmatism making them dangerous, even though they're weaker. They're used to a lot more crises than the canon characters are, in a sense.
Q: All of my patience for nothing, what a total bummer. Anyway, is Vegeta still going to be your butt monkey in the next chapter? I hope Goku also gets his butt whooped since it'll at least balance the punishment the universe deals to the Saiyans. Perhaps the Genki Dama will be used against Broccoli which although logical, seems too obvious a play for this story.
A: Sorry, that's just the way life went for me this month. I was in a bad place mentally & physically, & the writing didn't get done. I will do better by you, though. Hopefully the next chapter will be well worth the wait, & you'll be so amazed that you'll forgive my tardiness, just this once. ^_^o Vegeta gets himself in trouble because he runs his mouth, & lets his pride lead him into stupid territory. That's canon, & I follow that pretty faithfully...but as in canon, every dog has his day, or in this case, every monkey gets their chance to shine. Neither one of them are gonna do great against Broly initially, & Frieza is just fodder, but we all know how raising the stakes can lead to Saiyans turning the tables.
Q: There's no problem! I know how life can get in the way, so you take all the time you need.
A: Oh good. The other reviews so far have been nothing but disappointment, so I'm grateful for the understanding & encouragement.
Q: Oh well, I'll be patient and wait then. Best of luck in 2017! Happy New Year!
A: Thanks for your patience & understanding. Happy New Year, & best of fortune to us all in 2017!
Q: Chapter 26: Jagannath: Couldn't be bothered to login using my account so (cough) here we are. First off, I'd like to commend your writing style. It has sophistication and poise which I find lacking in other stories I've read in the DBZ fandom. You have a very good sense of grammar and punctuation that still manages to have me read every single word instead of just skimming over it. Secondly, you have a very interesting plot and there is never a dull moment in your story! So kudos on that, it is a very important element in a narrative. Next, your characters stay true to themselves. I think that sentence speaks for itself so I feel I have no need to elaborate. All in all, good job! There aren't enough stories centred on Freeza, what with the character having a niche fan base. -From a fellow Freeza fan girl (would you look at that, alliteration!)
A: Thank you for the compliments! I put effort into my fic, because I know how frustrating it is to try to read a fanfiction, but the prose & grammar is so tedious that it's no longer pleasurable. Hope to see more reviews from my fellow Frieza Fangirl in the future!
Q: Chapter 26: Jagannath: Happy New Year! I only watched the Japanese version of dragon ball (although it was a long time ago) and I thought that Cooler being favored was your head canon but looks like that is was part of the canon in the American version which is something I just found out. It's been a while but I think in the Japanese version King Kold treated his sons equally, Cooler was more powerful than Frieza and was valued more as a warrior while Frieza was more gifted at running the company so was valued as a manager. If anything I remember Cooler saying that Frieza was too soft and that would lead to his downfall. Also unlike Frieza and Kold who would offer employment to anyone powerful or with skills/talent, Cooler would just straight up kill them and stated that by being defeated, Frieza tainted their family name and is an embarrassment to their clan. So I thought that was an interesting contrast. I wonder what would have happened to the Arcosians, including the royal family if King Vegeta won the war? Would he just gone the Tsufuru route or be more like Paragus and enslave and exploit them. But if the Saiyans are victorious and if Ratsura is in good terms with King Vegeta the outcome is probably worst. Well I'll end my rant, good luck with school and thanks for bringing us fans an awesome fic!
A: Happy New Year to you too! Good catch on the characterization! As much as I do try to stay true to the original version, some parts of the U.S. dub are irresistible to me - in many cases, the dub actually added more than the Japanese version, as far as character quirks, etc. Some are bad, but some are good, which is why I use them at my discretion. If King Vegeta had won the war, Arcosians would likely be extinct, or close to it. King Vegeta might not see the conquered Arcosians as a threat, but he wouldn't give them any special protections, either. Best-case scenario has some of them escaping the planet, & becoming planetary nomads/refugees. Ratsura never had any intentions of allying with King Vegeta beyond his own amusement, but if the Saiyans did win, he'd make himself useful for sure. He's not the loyal type. Thanks for wishing me luck with my studies; hopefully this semester will be gentler on me, & I can get some good writing done.
Q: Chapter 26: Jagannath:I have to ask you Rokketo, I do only have one, real problem with Savior of Demons now don't get me wrong, its my favorite story I'm currently reading, and I want to read more! But besides that I just want to recount the only flaw in this story and some questions about the Arcosians. Freeza's backstory is a bit too anime hero like for my tastes, its just that, he was born incredibly weak and frail, his mother died, and he unlocked a great power because of it, that's it the only real flaw in your book, and even then its only a minor nit pick, of only the tiniest problems. Now onto the Arcosians. Now I would imagine that the Arcosians would be incapable of pooping because of their tail, or do they have a stomach as good as a Zebra, or perhaps better? I don't know, just would like you to clear that up for me. Would an Arcosian female find a male human attractive? And would an Arcosian male find a female attractive even with their b*** and butts, actually would an Arcosian find those weird or disgusting? Anyway some other questions, so would the manufacture of Arcosians capable of unnatural transformation, (phew that is a long name lets just call them Frost Demons :D) will the Frost Demons show up later in the plot, and would the ability ever be capable of becoming main stream, as in the general masses would be capable of having it? (Lets break this up now shall we!) Because I would see Ratsura, and the army interested with the idea of an army of transforming Frost Demons (I just call them Frost Demons as it sounds more monstrous, and unnatural) that were many in number and strength, and I would assume that they would allow the masses to use it, with a few contracts of course, to secure their loyalty, they're not idiots of course. Now, is Goku going to have to instant transmission them all off the planet, or is Broly weaker in this Time line? And am I gonna get some epic Fifth form Frieza V Legendary Super Saiyan Broly action! They're both raging brutes so it'll be a fair fight for both of them :) Now on the topic of super, now I know how much you dislike it, but I just really want to see you Incorporate it, and give it a much Daa~aarker twist, I love some fun quality dragon ball entertainment but sometimes I won't to face the realities that Beerus is the god of destruction, and his job sucks, or the fact that the king of everything is a psychopathic man child. Or Hit and his job. I also want to see Frieza puzzle over how Frost looks! And for him to tell him, that's how all of his kind looks, actually you could have some fun with Frost, and state that all of his race, creates suppression forms, to conceal their true form, would be a nice foil to the Arcosians in universe 7, who have augmentation forms! Hee, hee you could just make the Arcosians in universe 6 the stereotypes, and also make them asexual! There's just so much potential:) Now I'm also wondering when Cell's going to rear his head up, honestly I smell final boss all over him, especially considering all the enemies heading earth's way, Gero is going to have a fun time puzzling over Buu (and potentially, I hope Beerus and Whis) and have a good time plotting his revenge over Son Goku, and Frieza. Also I hope he gets explored much more deeply than he was in canon, I also hope that he actually interacts with Cell and 16, because that was such a waste in canon, especially considering they're both his sons, on a technical level of course. I'm excited for where Savior of Demons is going to go! Can't wait for end of February.
A: I'll concede that Frieza's backstory is a cliche, but come on, aren't most anime characters' stories tropes? Not just heroes, but villains, can have this kind of "Chosen One" backstory, & then their morality determines which direction they take it. Also, it's a parallel to Son Goku, showing how similar & different their backgrounds are. ...Why would Arcosians be incapable of pooping because of their tail? O_o They've got an internal system comparable to reptiles & birds, & it all comes out of the holes you'd think it does. As for interspecies attraction, it all comes down to the individual. Obviously there's a lot of enculturated xenophobia in the mix, but as with humans, there are the quirky ones who buck the system & go for the weird & novel. Your last query there's a bit of a spoiler, so I'm gonna ignore that one for now, sorry. ;) As of now, Super's not canon to SoD, so interactions between them & the cast will have to remain mere speculation. All I can say is, oh boy are you gonna love what I do with the Cell Saga storyline.
Reviews for previous chapters:
Q: Chapter 25: Xenapistia: Yes! I was right, it was really Paragus and Slug! Oh, I absolutely love how you tied all these movie villains together. Expanding on their personalities, nonetheless! You took that Piccolo Daimao-ripoff that Slug was and used his untouched potential to turn him into a truly menacing villain, all the while clarifying the usually contrived "Super Namekian" story. If I got it right, while "regular" Namekians don't have a dark side, Super Namekians do possess some evil ... I suppose Katas and his son were able -or willing- to control it much more than Lord Slug. Speaking of Broly, well, there isn't really much depth to add him :D However I like how you rationalized his obsession a bit by noting that he had his ears full of Goku's screaming while the soldiers were attempting to kill him. I'm pretty surprised you gave a bit of personality to poor Marang, who in the movie was only named in the credits! Another thing that came unexpected was Mr. Satan travelling to New Vegeta... and Videl's introduction! I'm happy you're already working on her romance with Gohan (aww, they're so cute!). At the same time, though, I had some kind of bad vibes about her... What with Broly being here ... and Gohan in desperate need of ascending to Super Saiyan ... And a dramatic shock required ... Well, I'll see if I called this other one right in two months time! In the meanwhile, allow me to tell you one more time: excellent job!
A: Amazingly, some readers predicted Slug, but a few were blindsided by Paragus & Broly, so I'm pleased that I managed to tie these two movies together in a new, interesting way that not everyone predicted. Slug is getting to be fun to write, because as you said, there's so much untapped lore surrounding Super Nameks. Broly was considerably harder, but it helps when I think of him as schizophrenic, & his father's doing everything he can to keep the LSSJ beast from surfacing. Marang is cool, because he's a very alien extraterrestrial, so I wanted him to shine just a bit, & show him as a True Neutral character with scientific curiosity in lieu of morality - but not in a malicious way, like Ratsura. I swapped out Master Roshi for Mr. Satan for plot reasons & better mustache jokes, in all honesty, & then Videl snuck into the plot the same way she snuck aboard the ship. She's a cute li'l firecracker, ain't she? It's also a nod to her presence in one of the other Broly movies, heh. Hope she & Broly get along...
Q: Chapter 25: Xenapistia: Not gonna lie, Dende's death was the most unexpected part of this whole chapter. It feels like you're taking Gohan in a direction that will have him man up rather soon, either by way of transforming, or beginning some training resulting in doing so. I feel Gohan transforming in the middle of a fight like Broly's could make for some hilarious interactions with Frieza, by mocking Vegeta's legend. Not only did the REAL Legendary Super Saiyan show up, a half-breed runt also became a regular Super Saiyan. How does that make you feel, Monkey Prince?
A: Yep, Dende's death was meant to be shocking: not foreshadowed in an obvious way, right at the end of the chapter, fade to black. How's the earth going to deal with this loss, & Slug's subsequent assault? Gohan has been relatively sheltered so far, it's true. You're right to worry that he might be in for some big changes in a short amount of time. Not going to confirm or deny if/when he goes SSJ, but I assure you, Vegeta won't be happy if he does.
Q: Chapter 25: Xenapistia: LOL, Master Roshi cracked me up this chapter how he's basically like. "Hey, I'm still useful!" Twenty minutes and one a**-kicking later "Yup, I'm useless." Hey cheer up old fella, at least you're not Yamcha. TROLLOLLOLLOLOLOLO XDDD
A: Now that's not very respectful to your elders. xD
Q: Chapter 14: Inculcation: Alrighty so as fair warning: I've been part of a review trade and have stolen one of the people I've swapped with's way of reviewing so…this gonna get looooong! An excellent opener, as always; sets the scene, puts us right into Frieza's confused and reluctant introspection on what it means to have kindness showed to him. I am, of course, a big fan of Ten & Chao's interactions. You've got Ten being all serious and severe (the line [if something goes wrong and later you just grin and say, 'oh sorry I forgot to mention that,' I am going to kill you] is absolutely perfect!) and then Chiaotzu being gentler and softer and slightly more childish, cautious but also curious. I love it! I liked the intro to training scene also, very much. Having Ten assert (I am alpha here, you are to be trained by me) and then Chiaotzu showing off his psychic powers (love the way that was done btw). I'm kinda sad that Gohan isn't going to be training more with Piccolo. I don't want the reformed Namek to feel like Gohan has chosen his other half over him. It's taken him so much to get to this point already! I hope he understands! And isn't hurt in his strange 'just getting used to having feelings beyond hatred, disgust and rage' way. I really like the training scene between Ten and Frieza also. It's so tense and stressful. Ten and Chao having their own private conversation to ensure that they're safe first and foremost is just…awesome, super awesome. Also I hope Frieza does realise that T&C are good and honest people who would never take advantage of his weakened state! The only little bit that threw me off was that Ten had said clearly that he was an assassin before so I don't know why Frieza was so thrown at the revelation. I guess he's just not a good listener? That being said I love love LOVE the backstory. Oof. It's wonderful! The parallels in their stories and the realisation of it bringing Frieza down, oh god it's so well done! Love the seed of the time machine being planted. And Chiaotzu's backstory! Ah! It's so good! Weaving in that little mention of him as the Emperor of Mifan and being cursed into jianshi. Oh my heartstrings! Though Frieza seeing relying on someone else to support and help you as a weakness? That's so sad! I like to think that he's starting to trust them a bit…and it's good to see that once again the kindness of humanity has overcome his expectation. Question though: if he does get killed by the Z-gang, but no one performs the Scattering, does he still get united in death? Or is his soul trapped in his body to rot? Just a speculation, I'm guessing due to the fact I'm only on 14 of 28 that he doesn't get killed at this stage XD Ahh! First hint of the androids! Very cool and very intriguing :D Can't wait for more! (You're in the rotation now, so expect a review at least once a week XD Yours has the longest chapters after all!)
A: Awesome, I love long reviews, bring it on! Frieza's default setting on Earth tends to awkward & confused, or defensive & caustic, heh. I really liked writing Tenshinhan & Chiaotzu's interactions with Frieza, because they all have such different personalities. I did try to channel a bit of old-school Crane student Ten when he's verbally sparring with Frieza; I like to think that after all this time he's still got his pride & some of his old, arrogant habits. Piccolo's not miffed at Gohan not being around - I headcanon him as very introverted, so while he enjoys Gohan's company, he's perfectly fine in solitude too. However, Gohan is responsible for "softening" him a bit, which is why in SoD, he's still got traces of pragmatic villainy. Frieza isn't the best at listening when others talk, lol. I think he might have figured Tenshinhan was trying to intimidate him when he first said it, but the second time he realized he was serious. Aha, you're one of the few who have actually commented on Bulma's idea about the time machine! Good catch! I like all the non-canon movies for providing backstory for characters, even if they're as nonsensical as Chiaotzu's story, so I just had to incorporate the more sensible bits. I don't think Frieza would want to die on Earth, for reasons you've pointed out regarding his Scattering. If someone's bones aren't taken apart at the joints, then yes, their soul is stuck rotting in the corpse, according to Arcosian beliefs. As a note: Frieza does not know that this is not how the DBZ afterlife actually works, but regardless, the thought of not being taken care of "properly" in death will still bother him even after he has a first-hand experience with dying. It's a matter of cultural tradition & respect.
Q: Chapter 23: Solatium: You know, I can think of a way to save Rin without actually changing anything in the story so far. Quite a few chapters ago, Bulma was discussing creating a means of instant teleportation via science... which sounds like it would accidentally lead her to the discovery of time travel. While time travel can get messy if you mess around with it stupidly, Rin is actually in an interesting position here... You see, Rin's fate is unknown. Once she's dragged off camera, all that history requires is that she is lost to Freeza (for the time being at least). The only person who survived the incident is Freeza himself and he has no memory of events after transforming so there is a lot of wiggle room for what actually happened that day. For example, for all we know a future Freeza and a saiyan that can teleport traveled back in time, waited until Rin was dragged off camera before teleporting in, grabbing her (and most likely blasting the people holding her in the process) then teleporting her out before taking her back to the present in order to be healed up. It doesn't change the past (since all witnesses will be killed by the rampaging past Freeza) and Rin gets to have a life. That's just me through, it is your story.
A: This is a very interesting theory, I'll give you that. She is a great example of Schrodinger's Cat in that we can't observe her after that point in time, which means that she could be whisked away by a time traveler. Or not. It's a mystery...
Q: Chapter 1: Revenants: Q: I know this is out of the blue but, for some reason i can't help but wonder how things would play out if Bardock would appear (yeah, the time travel stuff..) would make things interesting if he'd meet Frieza, of course Goku would instantly take Frieza's side and well.. most likely would kill his father.
A: Well, the Bardock Special is canon to SoD, but the Episode of Bardock movie/manga is not. If they met at all, it would have to be some other way, but you're correct in that Goku would feel more allegiance for an ally than the father he never knew (plus he assumes that all Saiyans are not very nice, based on his past personal experiences).
Q: Chapter 20: Nolition: Great chapter and poor Frieza having nightmare and we have a mystery on our hands here?
A: Yep, mysteries & plot twists abound in SoD. Keep an eye on certain background characters & things that are mentioned - they have a habit of being Chekhov's Guns later on.
Q: Chapter 23: Solatium: Beyond amazing what Frieza went threw very exciting and looking forward to more chapters and hope Frieza gains the new Golden Form in the future?
A: Nope! No Golden Turd Form in this story, thank you. Frieza has other means of gaining awesome power, don't worry.
Q: Chapter 25: Xenapistia: I think Bulma and Frieza should be the main pairing. Or if Rin returns then Frieza and Rin would be the main pairing.
A: Either would be lovely, if I wasn't so terrible at writing romance. So sorry, but I can only write regret & tragedy in relationships, haha. I think I'd need more life experience to write anything differently.
Q: Chapter 6: Qualm: Hello, I'm one of your new fellow readers. It's good someone made a story that included Frieza. I love this story so far and hope you continue it, thank you.
A: You're very welcome. Always good to see new readers! ^_^
