Chapter 30: Psychomachy
Author:Rocket (a.k.a. Roketto/RyunoOhi); Continuity Wizard: Saucemonkey; Editors: devilman337, Elbadj
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Goku's scream echoed into the night, as his ki banished the darkness of the smoldering clearing that once held his home. 'This guy's got no ki I can feel, but judgin' from the way he just knocked out Vegeta, I can't afford to waste time testing his limits,' the spiky-haired Saiyan thought, gritting his teeth as he scraped the ceiling of his first transformation, 'On the other hand...if I can't control my new form and run out of energy, then this'll all be for nothing!' he decided, leveling off his power. "Alright android, you want to fight me? I'm ready! Haaaaa—!" He fired off a screaming ball of white-hot ki, then put two fingers to his head.
"Ooh, you're fast on the draw for sure," Android 13 complimented, batting the ball of energy out of the way, "But that kind of power means nothing to me, now that I'm— Ooof—!" he stumbled as a backfist to his cheek sent him reeling. "...Not bad, partner," he chuckled, "maybe you'll be a challenge yet." He spread his feet apart, and threw his head back as he powered up more.
"Damn...he's not even close to his full power, from the looks of it..." Piccolo growled, feeling the intangible power's secondary effects as a monstrous gust of wind nearly knocked the group over again.
"Here Piccolo, you look like you need one of these," Krillin said, passing a Senzu to the Namekian, "I guess Vegeta's gonna want one, and...let's see, who else?" He looked from Sauza, to Frieza, to Kooler, to Yamcha, to Gohan, mentally tallying the visible injuries.
"Hold on," Piccolo said, "how many of these are left? We need to ration them wisely, in case this new android is more of a threat than what Goku can deal with." He narrowed his eyes at Kooler's battered body, then at Gohan's extensive injuries.
"Yeah, I figured you'd say that," Krillin sighed, "I count three left. How do you want to split them?"
Piccolo ruminated for a moment, then held his hand out for Krillin to hand him the bag. "I think we all know that besides Vegeta, Gohan here is the strongest, and if he can go Super Saiyan again, he could turn the tide. So he gets one." Gohan nodded resolutely, accepting the small bean from his mentor and crunching down on it hastily. "You, Yamcha, Sauza, and Frieza should be able to provide support in your current condition. Any objections?"
Sauza held up his hands. "None here; I'm fresh to this battle, and hardly the priority, as are you Earthlings — no offense."
"Good," Piccolo stated, turning to Kooler, "Do you think you can handle that android at his current level in your Fifth Form?"
"If necessary," Kooler said noncommittally, "but this is Frieza's fight more than mine, may I remind you."
"I'm fine," Frieza said quickly, "If it comes down to it, you've got better control over your transformation. I don't care about that android brute anyway — all I'm focused on is recovering Tenshinhan, alive." His gaze flicked over to Tao and Android 22.
"So it's settled, then," Piccolo said, tossing a Senzu over to Kooler. He spent a moment twirling the last Senzu around in his fingers before chucking it back to Krillin. "Give this one to Vegeta. Much as he's a loose cannon I have a feeling we're going to need all the help we can get." Just as he spoke those words a shockwave rocked through the area, shaking their bones. Piccolo growled and glanced over as Goku and Super 13 clashed. "...This is going to be a real close-run thing," Piccolo muttered. He turned his attention back to the group. "Okay, come closer everyone, we're going to need to have a plan..."
"I don't like this," Tenshinhan said, "Gero never said anything about this, so what else could he be keeping from us? From me?"
"Calm down," Tao placated, "Gero has his reasons." Tao had to get that last line out through his grinding teeth. "He didn't let me in on this plan either. But the time for confronting him is later, after Goku and his allies are dead." Immediately Tao winced, realizing what he'd said.
Android 22 narrowed his eyes at him, gritting his teeth, suddenly glaring at his former trainer. "I thought we agreed to bring in Son Goku alive?"
"Yes, of course," Tao quickly said, "Forgive me Tenshinhan, as you can see it's been a trying evening so far and I'm...disconcerted by what's going on."
Ten turned his head away. "Something's wrong with this whole thing, and I don't think it's in my best interests to just trust you and Gero blindly. Whatever is happening here I am bringing Son Goku in alive." He turned back to Tao, his three eyes boring into the man. "And if you try to impede me, I have no qualms with killing you," he stated, "I know I'm more powerful — Dr. Gero made that clear to me. So don't try to stop me."
"But Tenshinhan," Tao countered in a voice bordering on annoyance, "You've forgotten to take into account two factors: one, that Super 13 could very well have surpassed your strength, and two, that Son Goku's friends would simply let you take him alive." He gauged Tenshinhan's reaction, while simultaneously calling out to Dr. Gero in his mind. ((Your brilliant plan is going south,)) he broadcasted, ((Tenshinhan is getting suspicious, and he knows I can no longer command him by force.))
((Rest assured, everything is going according to plan,)) Dr. Gero answered, ((Don't worry yourself over Tenshinhan; I had planned for this possibility. Just go along with his plan for now, and I promise you, it will all work out.))
((Grr...I don't appreciate being kept out of the loop,)) Tao spat, ((but if you insist, I suppose my hands are tied. Mark my words though, you and I are going to have a long discussion about this when this fiasco is over.)) He put on a placating smile, and put his hand on Android 22's shoulder. "Don't worry Tenshinhan. 13 agreed to our plan and he hasn't lost his senses, despite how it looks. I'm sure that he'll keep Goku alive for you to interrogate and satisfy yourself that I've been telling you the truth. And I'm willing to help you by holding all of his little friends off while you take him. I can't guarantee Gero will be pleased, but as it stands I agree that his actions have made him less trustworthy in my eyes, too." He thought he heard a chuckle in the back of his mind, but forced his face to remain neutral. "Well? Is that amenable to you, Tenshinhan?"
"...Yes," Android 22 said quietly, "thank you, master. I apologize for my rude behavior before, and for not trusting you."
"Now why don't we settle this quickly?" Tao said, turning back to the fight, "If we help 13, that should be Goku taken care of quickly and then you can get out of here whilst 13 and I take care of his friends."
"Funny, I was thinking the same thing for us," a gruff voice behind him said.
Tao whipped his head up at the voice and scowled. Frieza and Piccolo stared down at them. "You again?!" Tao snarled, "I don't have any time for this playing around!"
"Good, then we can get started." Piccolo shot forward and slashed at Tao, who leapt back and fired a ki blast at the Namekian.
Ten stared up at Frieza and he felt the same mixture of confusing emotions that he had before. 'Just who is this person?' he grumbled, 'And why is he so damn persistent?'
"Ho! Now we're talkin', haha!" Super 13 crowed, barely dodging a straight punch from Goku, who had materialized out of thin air in front of him. The blue android flipped back a few paces to gain distance, sending out a few smaller blasts to stagger the Saiyan.
"You don't get to play games, 13!" Goku warned, zipping around the small blasts with ease and driving a hook-punch into 13's temple. Goku growled with effort, pushing more ki into the strike even as he geared up for a counterattack to 13's incoming knee-strike. "You androids are just extensions of Gero's hatred!" he shouted, spinning away from a wild punch, "An' I can never forgive him for hurting my friends and family!" He chambered for a quick Kamehameha, blasting Super 13 away with the blue beam. He stood and panted for a few moments, trying to preserve the stamina he knew 13 had in spades.
"Heh, you talk like you've got the monopoly on righteous anger, but that's where you're mistaken, my friend," Super 13 chuckled, shaking the dirt out of his bright orange hair, "Gero's got plenty to hate you for, according to my files, so as far as I'm concerned, anything he's gotta do is fair by the rules of vengeance! Raaaaaargh!" The giant android charged, his palms lighting up with a wild, crackling energy.
"Righteous anger?" Goku growled, "He was working for the Red Ribbon Army, an' they all had no problem hurtin' my friends to get the Dragonballs! What right does he have to any claim of righteousness?!"
Super 13 grinned and let loose with the blast of energy. Goku leapt out of the way just in time as the energy detonated against the ground, spewing an enormous cloud of dust into the air. The Saiyan kept low in the cloud, trying to buy some time, but 13 appeared behind him a moment later, poised to strike—
Suddenly Gohan, Super Saiyan aura shimmering around him, flew out of the dust and smashed his foot into 13's cheek. Caught off guard the android stumbled a little, right into Kooler's follow-up attack that caught him in the chin, stretching his neck. Sauza, energy blade ignited, shot forwards and slashed at him, aiming to sever his head—
13's arm shot out and snapped into Sauza's forearm with a knifehand, knocking the blade aside. Like lightning the blue android thrust his other fist into the blue alien's chest. Sauza spit blood and seemed to hang in the air for a second, before a sonic boom erupted out of his body, smashed through the forest, and detonated into an enormous crater.
"Sau—!" Kooler began before being immediately interrupted by 13's leg striking into his stomach, rocketing the Arcosian into an arc that crashed him into the ground.
Super 13 swiped at Gohan, but the young Super Saiyan was able to leap backwards just in time. He raised his palms above his head, crossing them over, and a yellow light appeared. "Masenko...ha!" he roared and thrust his hands forward, the beam of yellow light streaking out and smashing into 13. Gohan didn't wait around to see the result of his attack, a smart move as the android juggernaut had barely even flinched.
The grinning, orange-headed monstrosity stood and glanced around. Goku and Gohan had disappeared. The others weren't there either, only Piccolo and Frieza who were battling with Tenshinhan and Tao. Super 13 smiled. "So we have a clever little plan do we?" he chuckled, "Good, I always like it when a hunt is interesting." Leaving Ten and Tao to fend for themselves, he made his way towards the forest, feet thundering on the ground. "No time for games eh Goku? Well, looks like you and me are going to be playing a game of hide and seek."
Vegeta gasped and bolted up. "Gah! What the—what's going—?" he spluttered.
"Calm down, it's just me," Krillin said flatly, holding up his hands defensively.
Vegeta scowled at the diminutive warrior and clambered to his feet. "What happened?" he asked.
"You got your ass kicked," Krillin replied, flinching as a hate-filled glare got directed at him. He suppressed his body's twitching and said, "Hey, you've got better firsthand knowledge than me of how powerful that android is now. We're trying to keep him occupied while Goku gets his strength up and hopefully catch it off guard. If we all work together we might have a chance of beating that thing without having to risk—"
Vegeta spat. "This sounds like one of the Namekian's irritating ploys. I have no interest in such things! I'm going to take the head of that android!" His golden aura flared around him and he shot up into the sky.
Krillin sighed. "Well, I tried Piccolo," he muttered, "You have to give me some credit for that…"
Goku rested behind a tree, trying to get his breathing under control, while glancing around either side of the tree. 'Damn, it's hard to keep track of him...I've gotten way too reliant on sensing energy. I'm going to need to try and do something about that...' He shut his eyes and tried to just let the sounds of the forest sweep over him. It was quiet; the animals had long since fled the area when the fighting started. But beneath it all there was… A soft thumping sound. Footsteps. Something large was getting closer. His body tensed. 'Damn! I'm not ready for round two yet...I need a bit more time..!' Goku opened his eyes and stole a glance behind the tree. He could just make out the dim, shadowed form of Super Android 13, stalking closer and closer. 'He could fly,' Goku thought. 'But he isn't. He wants me to know that he's coming. Wants me to make a wrong move in haste I reckon.' Goku took a deep breath. He was going to need to keep his calm.
"I know you're out there," 13 called. He thumped another foot down, scanning the trees for any flicker of movement. His internal scanners showed not an ounce of the Saiyan's ki; he was suppressing it completely. "I'm really disappointed in you Goku, I thought we were having a good time. But now you've turned tail and run, hidin' like a scared rabbit." He smiled and scanned the area. "I know you can't have got too far. Nor could your kid."
Goku tensed despite himself. 'Stay calm...he's just tryin' to get me to react,' he told himself.
"Well if I can't find you I guess I'd have to go after him. After all, he didn't grow up living in the woods, surviving on his own. Not like you did. I reckon he wouldn't be able to hide himself or his tracks as well as you can. He'd be easier to find I think." Slowly, theatrically, 13 turned his body around and began to move in a different direction.
Goku ground his teeth, his body tensed up, he readied himself—
When suddenly, like a screaming gold bullet, Vegeta flew through the trees and pile-drived into 13, sending the surprised android crashing across the ground.
"Hey gearhead!" the prince growled, "You and I have some unfinished business!"
Snarling in anger and frustration, Android 13 rose to his feet. "Thought I put you down, but I guess you're tougher'n a badger with a face full of buckshot..." 13 groused, annoyed by the interference.
Quietly Goku slipped away, deeper into the forest. 'Unintentional though it was...thanks Vegeta. I owe you one.'
"I was under the impression I gave you a sufficient beating last time, prince," Android 13 rumbled, "Looks like I was mistaken and you're in need of a further reminder of where you stand."
"Ha!" Vegeta spat, "You got the drop on me before because I couldn't get a measure of your power, but I have an idea of it now." He tightened his fist. "You might well be stronger than me, perhaps a lot stronger than me. But you're just a punk." Android 13 narrowed his eyes, his blue face creasing in anger. "You didn't earn that power, it was given to you by an upgrade and some spare parts. You didn't work for it, master it, refine it. Whereas I am a true Saiyan warrior," Vegeta emphasized, pointing his thumb at himself, "Everything that I am, I have spilt blood for — tirelessly, relentlessly, obsessively. And against that, your handout is nothing!" With a roar, Vegeta's golden aura flared to life and he rocketed forward. At the last minute he swerved and delivered a kick to the back of Super 13's knee, pitching the surprised android forward. He followed up by delivering a fierce clap to 13's ears. Android 13 shouted and lashed out with a wild fist that Vegeta just managed to duck around before delivering a fierce kick to the android's face, sending him spinning to the ground. The prince bounced back and fired a huge energy blast at the downed android, a violent whirl of smoke and fire kicking up in the aftermath. He dropped down in a ready stance, keeping his eyes and ears vigilant.
A shadow moved in the dust as Super 13 got to his feet. The smoke cleared and 13 took a step towards Vegeta. Then he stumbled a little to the side and looked down at his body in confusion. "Nngh..?" he grunted wordlessly, listing to the side.
"Keh," Vegeta smirked, "That'll be the discombobulation from having your ears smacked," he crowed, "Now that I've knocked a few of your wires loose, the advantage is mine!"
Super 13 chuckled, straightening up. Vegeta's eyes narrowed. "I wouldn't be too sure..." the android said. His eyes seemed to whir for a split second, blinking as a light behind them glowed in a rhythm. Then, the android stood up, flexed his body, and moved forward as though nothing was wrong. He cracked his neck to the side and grinned. "Ah, much better."
Vegeta's eyes widened. "How did..?"
"You're right, Vegeta. I didn't get all of this power through training or hard work. But nor is power all that I got or I have. You see, the big advantage to being all-machine is having computer components as part of your brain." Super 13 tapped his temple. "And while I don't understand all of the doctor's technobabble, I do readily understand the concept of 'tap a few keys and the hangover goes away'. Mighty handy, I must say." Super 13 shot forward and pulled his arm back.
Vegeta had just enough time to scowl, muttering, "Shit!"
Tenshinhan lashed out at Frieza, who just managed to edge away from his attack. The combatants ignored the massive explosion that rocked the sky and shook the trees on the edge of the forest. Frieza fought back, but his attacks followed the same pattern as before. There was still a holding back in them, Ten could still tell that he wasn't putting everything into his attacks. He growled. It continued to frustrate him. But more than that, there was a growing sense that this situation was familiar. The situation of his opponent, this specific opponent, not putting everything into a particular attack. 'Why? Why would that be familiar?' he angrily wondered. So caught up in this thought was he that Ten's concentration slipped, allowing an attack to slip through and catch him on the chest, knocking him backwards. Frieza immediately backed off and held his ground, his tail flicking anxiously. Ten narrowed his eyes at him. 'This doesn't make any sense. No sense at all. If he was trying to disconcert me and catch me off guard, he just gained the perfect opening to actually take advantage of...and did nothing with it!' Android 22 stared at Frieza, narrowing his eyes at him. Vaguely, very vaguely, he saw something: the hazy outlines of horns sitting over the stranger's head. 'What?' he thought, 'Was that a...memory?' Tenshinhan snapped his head away and shook it. That wasn't his imagination. That was something, something from his own mind. Why else would it be there? A gripping, terrible certainty began to claw at the inside of him. He knew this person. He had definitely met them before. But, more than that, he knew them in a different form.
Frieza looked at Tenshinhan, seeing the introspective look on his face, almost like his old self. Slowly he dropped his guard, letting his arms relax by his side and his tail drop behind him. "Tenshinhan," he called, quietly. Ten looked up at him and Frieza extended a hand. "You remember me, don't you? Do you want to talk?"
Ten stared at him. He opened his mouth. Closed it. Then opened it again—
A yellow beam of energy lanced between the two of them, snapping the tenuous truce. Tao's attempt to strike Piccolo had missed, and the two were engaged in battle again. Android 22 shook his head and growled, adopting a combat stance. 'Whatever this is it can wait until later,' he thought, 'My master and the others are counting on me!'
Frieza cursed and dropped into a defensive stance, furious at the missed opportunity.
But of course, Tao's energy attack hadn't missed by accident…. 'This is getting too close,' Tao snarled, as he dodged out of the way of Piccolo's clawed hand. 'Far, far too close!'
Piccolo narrowed his eyes. It hadn't escaped his notice what Frieza and Tenshinhan were talking about, or Frieza coming close to a breakthrough. Nor had it escaped his notice that Tao had intervened. He smirked. "What's the matter, Tao?" he said, "Getting worried that Tenshinhan might not be your ally for long?"
"Shut up!" Tao snarled, "Neither of you will be around long enough to worry about it! Dodonpa!" A thin beam lanced from his finger, opening a thin purple line on Piccolo's cheek.
"I see. Well then, we'll see if you can back up that threat," Piccolo smirked, smugly noting how rattled the assassin was. "Come on," he goaded Tao.
Vegeta spun through several trees before finally crashing to a stop. He spat blood and groaned as he raised himself up from the ground. This...was not going according to plan. Despite his best efforts the gap in raw strength was just too large. More than that, of course, Super 13 didn't run out of energy. He could keep fighting at the same pace for as long as he wanted. Vegeta punched the ground and swore. 'Curse that mechanical monstrosity!'
"Ah, prince, starting to feel a little down are we?" Super 13 marched after him, chuckling. "I told you, the gap between us is just too large. And there's nothing you can do about it."
"Nothing huh?" Vegeta sneered, "Well, we'll see." He stood up and turned to face Super 13. The Saiyan prince slapped his hands together in front of him, the palms almost touching, the fingers clawed. A yellow flash of lightning shot out as an orb of sun-like energy appeared between his palms. Vegeta strained, keeping his focus on the energy building in his hands, pumping more and more power into it.
Super 13 paused and smirked. "Oh? A light show, heh. I happen to like fireworks, so I'll let you show off. Well then, give it your best shot."
Vegeta let out a low growl as more and more energy accumulated. Uncontrolled lightning flashed out and struck the trees, setting them on fire, and tore into the ground. The orb grew smaller and smaller, condensing the power down. Vegeta winced as his hands began to burn. 'That's enough,' he thought, as a thrill ran down his arms, making his heart skip a beat. "Final Flash!" he roared. An enormous beam of yellow energy lanced forward, racing for Android 13, whose eyes widened in shock.
In panic Gero slammed his hand on the console. "13! Dodge!" he screamed.
The beam ripped through the forest, tearing a huge tunnel in the ground, before it blasted past the horizon, through the curve of the Earth, and rocketed out into space.
Son Goku looked up from the ground. He'd sensed the energy build up and ducked down. A few meters away the ground was torn to shreds, smoke rising from it, small fires rippling around the outside. "What the hell is Vegeta playing at using that kind of power in an area like this?!" he hissed, turning his head in the direction of the prince's energy signature. "Damn it, I can't risk this escalating further, not with my family still out there!" Cursing, Goku got to his feet and ran towards the action. He was going to have to reenter the fray sooner than he would have liked…
Frieza, Tenshinhan, Piccolo, and Tao all stared at where the beam had risen from and gone.
"What...what was that?!" Tenshinhan exclaimed, "Such energy..!"
"Vegeta..." Piccolo muttered, "What's he trying to do, blow up the whole planet?"
Tao took an involuntary step back. 'Where do these people keep finding these depths of power?! If that was directed at Android 13 even he might not have survived it!'
As if confirming his fears, Tao winced as Gero's voice suddenly squawked through his mind. ((Tao! What the hell are you standing there for, you fool! Get over there and help 13 out!)).
Tao let out a small sigh of relief. That, at least, meant that 13 was still alive. Though what condition he was in…
"Ten!" Tao shouted, "Android 13 needs our help, let's go!"
"Oh no you don't!" Frieza said, leaping forward.
Ten shifted his hands to the sides of his head, the fingers fanned out. "Taiyoken!" he shouted. A blaze of white light beamed from him and smashed into Frieza's and Piccolo's eyes, blinding them. The Arcosian immediately slapped his hands over his eyes and let out a yell of agony as Piccolo did the same.
Tao raised his hands, pointing an index finger each at Piccolo and Frieza. "Dodonpa!" he yelled. The beams of yellow energy shot forward.
'Damn it!' Piccolo cursed and dove towards where he could sense Frieza's energy. The beam detonated against them.
"Let's go 22!" Tao shouted, and he and Tenshinhan took off towards the forest without waiting to see the effect of the attack.
Panting, Vegeta slowly lowered his arms. He took a few deep breaths and then flicked his gaze up. He snarled. "Damn..."
Super 13 hovered up in the sky. He was frazzled and shocked, but otherwise unharmed. He stared down at the devastation beneath him. "That… That would have killed me..." he gasped. His glowing eyes narrowed dangerously. "You little runt!" he snarled, "You were hiding all of that power?!" He dropped down and landed in front of Vegeta.
'I wouldn't say hiding…but that was just about all I had...' Tiredly Vegeta raised his arms into a defensive stance. 'This is going to hurt...'
13 roared and charged forward—
"Sokidan!"
A white ball of energy slapped into his cheek. Super 13 flinched, as if a fly had just smacked into his face, and paused. In sync, 13 and Vegeta turned their gaze to look at Yamcha, standing in the trees, his arm pointing out, looking embarrassed.
"Ah well, ha, ha," the scar-faced human said, with a shaky grin, rubbing the back of his head. "It was, ah ha, worth a shot..." He pivoted and started to walk away whilst nonchalantly whistling.
Enraged, 13 raised a hand to fire an energy beam as the human broke into a run. Out of nowhere, Goku slammed into his back, sending him pinwheeling forward. Vegeta leapt out of the way and flipped through the air, landing beside Goku.
Super 13 pulled himself to his feet, furious. "You insects are really starting to annoy me!" he spat, glowering at the two Saiyans.
"Well you wanted me, so here I am," Goku stated. His aura flared up around him.
Frieza slowly squinted out of badly watering eyes. His vision was slowly returning. Instead of a big white spot he could now make out some distinct, darker shapes. He continued to blink as his eyesight readjusted until he saw Piccolo, lying in front him. 'What..?' he puzzled, rubbing his eyes. The side of the Namekian's body has been blown completely off. Piccolo groaned and started to pull himself to his feet.
"Piccolo?" Frieza said incredulously, "You...you jumped in to take the blast for me? You lost your arm for me?"
Piccolo grunted and a new arm shot out of the socket. He flicked it, removing the slime that came with a regeneration.
"...Oh. I forgot that you Nameks could do that... " Frieza muttered.
"Nhn? What did you say?" Piccolo grunted, looking over.
Frieza coughed. "Never mind."
Piccolo examined his new arm and then turned his head towards the forest. 'Regenerating took a fair bit out of me… I might not be able to keep up. From what I can sense Goku's reentered the battle and Vegeta's weakened considerably. Easy bet to think that Tao and Tenshinhan are heading in the direction of the fight as well.' Another energy signature flashed through Piccolo's mind and he let out a low groan. 'Now Gohan's heading in there as well!'
"Frieza," Piccolo said, "how easily do you think you could use your Fifth Form?"
"I'm not one hundred percent certain I can control it, certainly not if I begin to tire," Frieza mused, touching his finger to his chin,"but I think I'd be able to handle it for most of the battle. Why?"
"I think you're going to have to use it; this is starting to drag on just too long," Piccolo said, "Goku's reluctant to use his full power for fear of the damage it could cause, but I'm worried that if he gets taken down by 13 then we're not going to have anyone left who can fight that monster. From what I can sense Vegeta's used up a ton of his energy on that attack and that sort of strike won't work again."
"That's true but..." Frieza turned his eyes down. He clenched his metal fist. "But if I use my full power then Tenshinhan might be at risk if he moves to defend the other android."
"We're just going to have to go with the rule that we can revive him later if we need to," Piccolo stated as he crossed his arms, "I'm sorry, but that's the way it has to be. We don't have time for the softly, softly approach anymore, and frankly I'm surprised you've gone along with it this long, given your normal methods."
Reluctantly Frieza nodded, a slight scowl on his face. "You're an odd Namekian," he said, levitating into the air, "With decision-making like this you would have made a good section commander of the PTO."
Piccolo had to chuckle. "Well, there's more to me than meets the eye. Maybe I'll give you the lowdown on my father at some point. Now come on, follow me." He pivoted in the air and flashed towards the forest, Frieza following.
"Still not using your full power Kakarot?" Vegeta growled as Goku leveled out his transformation.
Goku shook his head. "Not while Chi-chi and Goten are in the forest. I can't risk them."
Vegeta ground his teeth so hard they ached, a vein popping up above his eye. "Well if you aren't going to use your blasted transformations next time give them to someone who will!" the prince ground out irritably.
Goku chuckled. "I don't think it works that way." He dropped into a ready stance. "So, are you willing to provide backup?"
"Keh, as much as I'd like to fight on even terms with a commoner like you, I don't think I'd be able to do much more than that." Vegeta scowled and readied himself. "I can't believe I've been reduced to this..."
Goku stared at 13, who still hadn't made a move to retaliate. "Okay, on my signal—"
"I have had enough waiting!" 13 roared suddenly. His aura flared around him and the ground cracked beneath his feet as he prepared to charge. A yellow beam of energy slammed into his back. "Rrgh—! Who the–?!" He whipped his head around to see Super Saiyan Gohan diving down at him.
Goku and Vegeta jetted forward, taking advantage of the distraction. They split into two different directions and then came around to pincer 13 between them. The android blocked the attacks and kept on blocking them as a furious series of blows flashed in. Some of Goku's strikes made it through, hitting the android on the chest, while Vegeta's only provided a distraction.
Gohan suddenly joined the fray, shooting towards the android to strike at his head. Before he could connect, Tenshinhan slammed into him, kicking the young warrior and sending him spinning into the sky.
Goku whipped his head away. "Gohan!" he shouted.
Super 13 immediately took advantage of the distraction, sinking his fist into Goku's gut. Goku wheezed and failed to block the kick that was delivered to his side, which sent him crashing into the ground.
"Damn it!" Vegeta swore as 13's fist thundered into his face, snapping his nose and shooting him bodily through a tree. He tumbled end over end before finally managing to pull himself to a stop. Blood was leaking profusely from his nose. He cupped his hand around it and tweaked it back into position, wincing as he did so.
Android 13, not giving Vegeta or Gohan a second's glance, turned his attention back towards Goku. He charged forward, barreling towards the Saiyan, and Goku raised himself up, quickly throwing up his hands into a defensive block.
"Makankousappo!"
A spiraling streak of energy lanced towards Super 13's head. The android spun around and raised his hand, catching the beam in his palm. The beam spat and crackled, but did no damage and ultimately fizzled out. Up above, Piccolo pulled his hand away in surprise. "Damn it," he growled. "I thought that would at least do something!"
Tao shot up towards Piccolo, Tenshinhan moving in to attack as well, when Frieza shot between them and ignited his purple aura, knocking both of them back. "That's enough playing around," Frieza hissed, "This time I'll handle both of you!" With a scream that was part rage and part pain, an enormous burst of energy roared out from his body, which began to change, growing bulkier and spikier.
Tao leapt back and glared up at Frieza. "Just how many transformations do these people have?!" he bellowed in frustration.
Ignoring Tao's outburst, Tenshinhan looked up at Frieza, his eyes wide, as he witnessed the change. He narrowed his eyes. Looking at this new form, there were none of his earlier problems, no sense that he had seen this before, no tingling in his mind that this was something familiar. And in some ways, he found that even more disturbing. Transformation completed, Frieza shot towards them, and Ten barely shifted out of the way of his punch. He raised an eyebrow as he flowed from one side to the other, only just managing to stay out of the way of the fearsome blows. 'His speed has improved of course, but more than that... He's lost his earlier hesitation. Looks like he means to fight me for real this time.' Despite himself, and a nagging feeling that this situation was also vaguely familiar, Tenshinhan found himself enjoying the confrontation. 'Finally, a real battle,' he smirked.
'To hell! This has all gone absolutely to hell!' the older assassin seethed. With a snarl, Tao leapt forward to help Ten against this new beast, priming a Dodonpa in each hand.
Meanwhile, 13 had shot up towards Piccolo. The Namekian threw up both arms to block, but he may as well have left them at his sides, as 13's devastating punch ripped through his guard and slammed into his chest, breaking several of his ribs. Piccolo let out a howl of pain as he shot backwards, unable to do anything as 13 charged forward, readying his follow-up.
"Masenko...ha!" The yellow beam of energy slammed into 13's back, temporarily disrupting his motion, and Gohan followed up by slamming his foot into the side of the blue giant's head. Super 13 spun around and launched a fist at the young Super Saiyan, and Gohan was just barely able to twist out of the way of it in time. Momentum carrying him past the boy, 13 didn't have any more time to attack as Goku was on him in a flash, landing a series of strong blows to 13's body, knocking the android back in the sky. A moment later Vegeta rejoined the fray, and the three Super Saiyans were like fireflies, a whirling dance of golden light flickering and shimmering around the massive blue bulk of 13. The android roared with rage, slapping and swatting at them, but he was constantly being knocked off his stride and unable to land a definitive hit.
Frieza delivered a powerful roundhouse kick to Tao's body, sending the mercenary crashing into the trees, and then swiped his tail at Tenshinhan, catching the other android in the side and spinning him. Ten responded by flashing out a kick that caught Frieza on the side of the head. The Arcosian rolled with the blow and used the momentum to hurl his next punch, which Ten just managed to flick his head out of the way of. The two exchanged a furious frenzy of punches, kicks, blocks, and counters, neither one seemingly having a large advantage.
Tao glared up from the broken tree he lay sprawled in, and raised his finger. "Dodonpa!" he shouted. The beam lanced forward and smashed into Frieza's back, the Arcosian letting out a howl of pain as he shuddered forward. Ten immediately took advantage, sinking his fist into Frieza's stomach, before smashing a blow into the bone mask that covered his face. The bones broke and blood spilled out. "Yes, now the tide is turning..." Tao coughed, running the back of his hand across a bloodied gash in his forehead.
The mask retracted and Frieza coughed up bile, glaring up at Ten and then turning his gaze to Tao. "Rrrrrgh..." The wet growl caught Tao's attention, paralyzing him with primal fear as the alien turned to him fully, his face splattered with blood in a mirror of Tao's own condition. Frieza flicked his finger up and fired a Death Beam. Tao swore and only just managed to dive out of the way, the beam searing through the foliage and piercing the ground. Then Frieza shot towards Tenshinhan and his fist flew into his body, sending the android rocketing backwards. Frieza immediately pursued with an animalistic howl.
With a roar of rage and frustration, 13 blew the three Super Saiyans backwards. He raised two hands and charged a burning red ball of energy. He aimed it at Vegeta and fired. The prince shot out of the way, the ball flying past him. "Ha! Idiot!" Vegeta called, "Did you think I'd be stupid enough to stand still for that measly attack?!"
Super 13 smirked. "No, just stupid enough to not keep watching my S.S. Deadly Bomber attack — and that'll cost ya."
"Wha—?" Vegeta whipped his head around in time to see the ball of energy flying at him. It had changed its course! The energy ball slammed into his back. The explosion slammed Vegeta into the ground, and, lying in the crater, he lost his Super Saiyan aura.
"Vegeta!" Goku shouted. But the advantage was now 13's. The android shot forward and smashed his fist into Gohan, the young Saiyan shooting across the sky before plunging back down and burrowing into the ground. Goku turned his head to follow his son's trajectory and then forced it back towards 13, who was now on him. Goku managed to deflect one punch before 13 caught him around the neck. 'Nothing for it!' Goku thought, 'I'm going to have to risk it!' He started to gather energy, preparing to go Super Saiyan 2.
Android 13, spotting an opening and sensing Goku's desperation, grinned, pulled back his fist, and then launched it, striking Goku solidly in the groin. "Oh no you don't," he drawled conversationally, "I know a secret last-ditch weapon when I see one, and I'm not about to give up my comfortable advantage."
Goku's eyes bulged and his mouth opened in a silent yell, though all that emerged was a strangled squeak. Chuckling, 13 let go of his throat, and the Saiyan dropped backwards, losing his Super Saiyan form and crumpling to the floor. He clutched at his body and vomited violently, curled over on the ground. Breaking into laughter, 13 slowly dropped down to the ground, standing over Goku.
"Well, it seems being an alien and a Super Saiyan don't change much. You still have the same big weakness," 13 smiled, "And now, time to put an end to this I think." 13 leaned back, about to deliver the finishing blow. Suddenly, a blur of movement came between 13 and his target, and his fist was blocked. His glowing eyes widened in surprise. "You?!" he spat.
Tenshinhan, standing in front of Goku, palm raised and holding 13's fist, glared back and said, "I won't allow this."
"What are you doing?" 13 snarled. He tried to pull back his hand, but Tenshinhan's fingers closed around it and held it tight.
Frieza, blood still dripping from his shattered mask, loomed quietly some distance behind his former pursuit, his tail intermittently flicking and twitching as he watched this play out.
"Tenshinhan!" Tao shouted, "What are you doing? He's not your opponent, you're supposed to be—"
Android 22's eyes flickered to Tao and the fury in them cut him off. "I don't know what's going on," Tenshinhan simmered, "I don't know who is right here and who is wrong. And I don't know what these images in my head are supposed to mean, whether they're real or not. But what I do know..." He turned his gaze back to 13. "...is that I would never work with people who would attack someone in such a dishonorable manner."
Tao grit his teeth. 'Damn his accursed honor! I knew that Gero's methods would eventually rub him the wrong way and reawaken his memories of mutiny against my brother..!'
Super 13 sneered. "Oh? Is taking such a pragmatic approach beneath you?"
"Yes. As it is beneath any true warrior." Ten shoved 13's hand out, throwing his guard open, and then struck with his other hand, a beam of energy smashing into 13 point-blank and sending the android rocketing backwards. Ten spared Goku, now struggling to stay conscious, a brief glance before charging towards 13, the android leaping back to his feet and engaging him in battle.
"Tenshinhan!" Frieza shouted in a distorted — but still lucid — voice, flying over Tao towards the battle.
'Damn that Gero! What was he thinking having 13 pull a stunt like that?!' Slowly Tao, wounded and tired, slipped back into the trees. 'No point in hanging around here; there's nothing I can contribute. When I get back, Gero and I are going to have a very frank conversation...'
The punch, the furious weight of it, spun Ten around. He stretched out a hand and used it to leverage himself on the ground, spinning back around and slashing a kick at 13. The android blocked the strike and followed up with another punch that Ten managed to palm aside. He counterattacked with a flurry of punches, but they were all blocked and turned aside, and Ten was unable to stop 13's fist from sinking into his abdomen. He bent over, clutching his stomach, as 13 raised another fist to strike him on the head.
Frieza made it just in time, roughly shoulder charging 13 to smash him aside. The burly android flipped backwards and then shot forward again, unrelenting. Frieza slashed with his tail, but 13 ducked under it and uppercutted the Arcosian. Grimacing, Frieza flipped around and bicycle kicked the android. His faishin popped out from his metal palm, and he struck at 13's neck. The android twisted aside and grabbed Frieza's wrist, wrenching it sharply so the sword dropped from his hand. Frieza yelled and slammed his fist into 13's temple, knocking the bulky android off balance. The Arcosian kicked him and used that as leverage to push himself off and back, freeing his hand.
While this was going on Tenshinhan shot up into the air and fixed his hands into a diamond shape, placing 13 in the center. 'I don't care how strong he is, this is going to hurt him!' he thought with fury. "Shin Kiko—"
"Oh no you don't!" Super 13 yelled, his hand snapping up and firing an energy blast at the bald warrior. Tenshinhan wasn't able to dodge, and the beam slammed into him with full force, knocking him backwards and spinning him down to the ground. Blood poured out of a wound on his forehead, and a burn mark stung his cheek.
"Tenshinhan!" Frieza shouted. He let out a roar and fired a series of Death Beams at 13, that the android effortlessly swept aside, before returning fire with his own beams. Frieza managed to dodge almost all of them, but the last one struck him on the back and sent him plunging into the ground.
Grinning sadistically, 13 raised his hands and charged another red ball of energy, aiming it at Tenshinhan.
"Hey, Big Blue!"
Super 13 glanced over his shoulder. Yamcha stood in the clearing and was pointing up at him, the former bandit just about managing to keep his hand from shaking. "You and I have some unfinished business!" he continued.
"That we do, pest," 13 replied with a grin and turned one palm towards Yamcha, preparing to annihilate him and get back to business. He paused and frowned. There was something, some faint noise, if he concentrated hard, he could just hear a soft…buzzing… 'Wait...' In his data files, there was something important— Realizing the danger, 13 ducked his head down and the Kienzan sliced through his hair, giving him a crooked flattop. He whipped his head around and glared at Krillin, the diminutive human glaring back up defiantly.
"Taaaake this! Haaa!" Krillin yelled and fired out a barrage of Kienzan. 13 ducked, dove, and twisted out of the way of all of them. Angered he raised his palm to fire at Krillin...and suddenly noticed that he was surrounded by buzzing energy saws. The disks hung in an orb around the android, hanging perfectly still. Krillin panted, keeping his hands held out.
"What...what is this?" 13 said, looking from one direction to another.
"Huh. I don't know," Krillin said, sounding thoughtfully perplexed. As he spoke, Kooler emerged from the trees behind him. The Arcosian raised his hand and the Kienzan shuddered and then began to move, whirling around 13, faster and faster, the android whipping his head around growing increasingly panicked as the Kienzan blurred into a tornado of light and razor edges. "Kept trying to think of a cool name," Krillin continued, keeping the energy steady while Kooler moved the blades with his telekinesis, "but I guess I'll just settle for 'the blender'."
"I will stand for being associated with this combo attack, but not that ridiculously amateur name," Kooler muttered. He brought his hands together and the tornado shrunk, closing tighter and tighter on 13.
"Yeah! You got him!" Yamcha yelled, punching the air. The others, except Goku who was still struggling, looked on in surprise.
Suddenly Kooler's eyes bulged. He grit his teeth and began to strain. His hands trembled and he fought to close them tighter.
"Kooler!" Krillin called, "What's wrong?"
"I don't...how is he..?!" Kooler strained.
Beneath the furious buzzing sound they could hear something else—a low roar— The tornado broke, the Kienzan flying out as 13's expanding aura blasted apart the attack. Krillin and Kooler dove to the ground to avoid two disks that shot towards them. Frieza leapt over one and rushed to grab Goku's prone body, only to find Tenshinhan pulling the Saiyan out of the way instead. He acknowledged Frieza with a grim nod, setting Goku down. A stunned Yamcha froze as a disk whirred towards him before being blasted backwards and through a tree as Vegeta sent out a kiai wave to save him. "T-thanks..." he gasped in pain, upside-down in a tangle of broken tree limbs.
"Enough!" 13 bellowed. He raised his hand and fired an angry energy blast at Android 22.
Without knowing why, Tenshinhan shoved Frieza out of the way and took the full brunt of the attack, which smashed him backwards. He let out a yell of pain as his body was badly burnt.
Goku, slowly raising himself up in a pained hunch, grit his teeth. "N-no..!" he rasped, "Tenshinhan..."
"Everyone dies now!" 13 roared, charging up an enormous blast of energy, "First the traitor!" He sent another energy blast at Ten, that he just managed to dodge, "And then everyone else!"
Gohan pulled himself to his feet and powered up his Super Saiyan form, drawing his hands back. 'Dad's still down, and nobody else can fight! I've got to do something— something to stop him!'
A shockwave of light like a nuclear explosion ripped through the area. All eyes turned to the source: Son Goku, a golden tornado roaring around him, lightning flashing out and striking the ground, a scream of hatred rippling from him. Even 13 was incapable of moving or responding in response to the awesome sight. Goku slowly rose into the air, higher and higher, until he was far above anyone else, a mere silhouette of gold against the smoke-shrouded moon. "This is over!" Goku roared, "You've hurt my friend, damaged our friendship, and taken his life, the life he chose, from him!" He raised his hands up towards the sky. "You have no honor and never will!" Small slivers of silvery-blue energy rose up from the ground and began to sparkle towards Goku.
"The Genki Dama!" Gohan yelled, as much in surprise as to let everyone else know. He raised up his own hand and felt the energy draining from him and heading towards Goku. Krillin put his hand up and nudged Kooler who, baffled, did the same and then blinked in surprise as he felt his energy draining. Yamcha groaned and raised his hand as much as he could. Vegeta scowled and did the same.
"Well, it'll be nice to be on the opposite side of it for once," Frieza muttered, placing his own hand up towards the sky.
The energy streamed upwards and then swirled to form a ball of energy, blinding light emanating from it. Super 13 looked around him, not able to understand what was going on. 'Hmph, I'm not going to wait to find out what he's up to,' he decided. He flipped up his palm, ready to fire an energy beam at Goku.
Suddenly, a blue beam of energy smashed into the back of his head and sent him stumbling forward. He whipped his head around to glare at Gohan. "You little runt!" he screamed, "I'm going to—" His eyes bulged as he saw the ground turn red, framing his own dark shadow like a pool of blood. "No! Wait..! Rrrrrgh!" He whipped his head back around towards the real threat. The rapidly-ballooning Genki Dama had turned from blue to a malicious scarlet. A vicious incarnadine, with purple sparks flickering and crackling around it. With a scream of rage Goku hurled it forward and it streamed towards 13. The android yelled in terror and pushed out his hands reflexively. He caught the ball but immediately began to buckle under its weight. His scream turned to one of pain as the ball began to eat at him, his fingers burning and then melting, and the red ball of anger pushing on, eating up to his elbows, absorbing him into it. Then his scream was lost as he was pulled fully inside, the ball ripping away at his skin, his cybernetics, and his entire being until eventually he was immolated to nothingness.
Goku panted, the Genki Dama hanging in the air. 'Finally...my family's...safe...' he thought, his mind blurring with enervation. His vision swam. He lost his Super Saiyan state and then slowly dropped out of the sky and towards the ground. Gohan ran over and caught his father, who had passed out, the strain of the attack being too much for him. "You did it Dad! You did it!" Gohan yelled in delight. Then he noticed that the streaming red light that painted the ground hadn't faded. He glanced up and saw the Genki Dama was still hanging in the air, the purple energy still crackling wrathfully. And it slowly began to descend to the ground.
"Something's wrong..." Krillin said in alarm, "It's not normally like this."
"What do you mean?" Kooler asked, still puzzled by the whole thing.
"The Genki Dama, normally when it strikes its target it should destroy them and then dissipate. But Goku was angry when he made it, so maybe it's less of a Genki Dama...and more of an Ikari Dama?"
"I'm not sure but...what it conjures up to me is a..." Kooler paused and then his eyes widened in recognition. Frieza seemed to arrive at the same conclusion as he let out small gasp. "...Death Ball," he and Frieza said at the same time. Everyone looked at the falling red ball of energy with a new understanding and horror.
"Are you saying that that thing could destroy the planet?!" Krillin shouted.
"I don't know," Kooler replied, trying to gauge it, "But it could definitely take out this area!" Suddenly a streak of golden light shot towards the ball and halted its progress slightly. Vegeta let out a yell of pain as he tried to halt its momentum and turn it. His gloves burst into flames where they contacted the energy, and smoke rose from his fingers as his skin began to burn and boil. Then the pressure eased slightly as Frieza joined him, similarly hissing under the pain and the strain, favoring his mechanical hand. The oppressive force eased some more as Kooler joined them in trying to push it back. "I really wish you people would stop dragging me into this!" he shouted. The three of them pushed as hard as they could, but although they could slow it, possibly even halt it, they couldn't push it back. And the pain was increasing all the time, sapping at their energy and ability to keep blocking its slow progress.
Tenshinhan dragged himself up, staring up at the effort they were making. He looked around the field, at everyone else, looking up in hope and anxiety. 'These people...they fight so hard for each other. They care so much for each other. Goku was enraged at what 13 was doing to me. This Frieza person has been doing nothing but trying to talk to me and convince me to stand down since this started. They all have. All of them are giving so much for each other, to help each other, to save each other...' He looked up at the Ikari Dama that had begun descending again, despite their best efforts. His eyes narrowed. 'Now that does ring a bell...'
Vegeta screamed and snapped one hand away, the palm covered in blood, the skin completely seared away, before slamming it back against the Ikari Dama, trying to keep the pressure up on it. Kooler took both hands back and focused on it with his mind, trying to use his telekinesis. Frieza screwed his eyes shut and clamped his teeth together, trying to fight through the pain. "I-ironic," he hissed through clenched teeth, "to think that Goku managed to...copy our family's technique...and by accident, at that! Hah!" He imagined that the monkey would be less than pleased by that accomplishment when he came to. If he ever came to, considering that if they failed, this planet might well be annihilated, with he and Kooler the only survivors. Again, ironic. 'It looks like...this is it...' he thought with anger. Despite this, he didn't allow his resolve to fade. 'I have to keep trying, have to keep going, just a little more...' It was different, this time. A small part of himself was saying that, even as he faced the inevitable, he was still going, was still not giving in, still pushing just as hard. Back then on Namek, when it had just been himself he was pressing for, at the end he'd let go just a little… 'Damned if these idiots haven't gotten into my head!' He almost laughed. 'What a stupid thing to be thinking, now of all times!'
And then, just when he thought that they couldn't hold out any longer, the pressure eased and the Ikari Dama began to turn. Frieza glanced to the side and Tenshinhan was there, straining and fighting with them. "Tenshinhan..." he breathed. Then, he allowed himself a small smile, let out a yell, and pushed harder. So did the others. Slowly the Ikari Dama was pushed back, further and further until, with one final effort, they managed to reverse its momentum and launch it into the sky. The red ball swept up, higher and higher, until it was beyond atmosphere. It detonated, a silent red streak brightening up the night sky before it faded into nothing.
The four of them hung in the sky momentarily, panting. Then Vegeta dropped to the ground and stuffed his ruined hands under his arms. "S-someone...get me a goddamn Senzu, now!" he shouted, and then turned the air blue with a florid stream of curses in at least three different alien languages.
The others dropped down and collapsed, Kooler dropping onto his side and clutching his head, massaging his temples vigorously. "I hate...all of you..." he deadpanned, "If I hadn't just saved this accursed planet, I'd blow it up just to rid myself of further headaches."
Frieza dropped out of his Fifth Form and bent over, heaving in deep, rattling breaths and hissing at his bloodied real hand and mangled cybernetic one. "Weakling," he shot at his brother, "This is the second time I've done this, and I'm not whining about it."
Tenshinhan bent over, clutching his knees, and took in deep breaths. What he'd done felt...good… But he had no time for resting. Now he needed answers. 'Gero...' he snarled mentally, 'I know you can hear me. Now answer.'
((Hmm...well done Tenshinhan. You've successfully ruined whatever hopes you had of taking revenge on Son Goku,)) the doctor's sardonic voice came through.
'I don't want revenge, I want answers. And I'm coming to get them from you.' the android stated coldly.
((Are you now?)) There was a note of amusement in Gero's voice.
'Your Android 13 is dead, and so are the others. I don't know what happened with Tao but I imagine he's not very happy with you either. Regardless of who comes to confront you first, I guarantee that you're going to pay for...whatever you've done to me.'
((Yes 13 may be dead, but do you really think that leaves me helpless? That my plans still can't come to fruition?)) Gero mocked.
Tenshinhan frowned. 'What are you talking about?'
Doctor Gero laughed. ((Oh my dear Tenshinhan. Don't you know by now there's always a back-up plan?))
There was a soft clicking noise and the connection cut. Ten frowned further. What did Gero mean by that? What could he possibly have up his sleeve? He put his hand to his chest and winced. A deep burning pain had begun to rise there, like heartburn only stronger and rising higher— His eyes widened in realisation.
"Tenshinhan," Frieza said, walking over, "Now that this is over, maybe now we can—"
"No, get back!" Ten cried as he raised his hand and sent out a kiai wave, knocking Frieza backwards. He then shot up into the sky, as the others ran over.
"Ten!" Frieza shouted, "Wha—?!"
WHOOOM!
In a brilliant flash of light Android 22 exploded, the detonation rippling across the night sky and shaking the tops of the trees.
"Tenshinhan!" Frieza yelled, leaping up from the ground despite his exhaustion and injuries. The smoke filtered away on the wind, revealing nothing. The short Arcosian had a sudden sense of déjà vu that put a pit in his stomach. The image of a bruised, battered Goku standing below him, begging him...to stop... Frieza squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the physical memory of when he had killed Krillin. The sudden displacement of air on his raw skin, the immediate smell of burnt flesh, the scream cut short by the almost insignificant pop of a small, internal detonation of ki. Like Krillin, Tenshinhan had been atomized by the explosion with not a trace of him left. The Arcosian glared at the emptiness filled only by sooty motes of dust, his teeth grinding together before he let out a scream and shot up into the sky, lancing across the horizon.
"Frieza, wait!" Kooler shouted, starting after him.
"No!" Kooler halted and looked over. Piccolo had emerged from the trees, weakened but holding together, "Let him go. He needs to do this."
Kooler lashed his tail in agitation. "But he could be in danger! He's reckless in this state, and—"
"Frieza can handle Gero," Piccolo slumped slightly against a tree with a pained grunt, "and it's not like the rest of us would be in any real condition to help out. He's reckless, but he's also enraged, and I think we both know he can be nearly invulnerable like this."
Kooler opened his mouth to reply before pausing and cursing, smashing his tail into the ground. He sunk back down to the ground, pulling his knees up to his chest and curling his tail loosely around himself as he inspected the damage to his body.
"Now let's get everyone to the Lookout," Piccolo said, "Dende can heal us and we can work out what we're going to do next."
"Okay," Gohan said. He stepped away from Goku, letting Yamcha and Krillin move over to support the Saiyan under his arms. "But first I need to get Mom, Goten, and Videl."
"Yes, and if someone could help me find Sauza it would be appreciated," Kooler added, sighing and resting his head on his knees in an undignified slump.
Tao dropped to the ground as the angry purple streak screamed— literally —across the sky over his position and into the distance. He raised himself up from a defensive crouch and cursed. 'That was that Frieza, heading towards Gero if I didn't know any better,' he thought, 'So they must have defeated 13.' He'd noticed the enormous red explosion that had taken place, and a similar but smaller one a short time afterwards. The assassin guessed that Goku had triumphed once again, but had held the hope that it hadn't been the case. He paused. This changed things. He wouldn't be able to make it to Gero before Frieza, even if he wasn't having to sneak around to avoid detection by any of Goku's allies. Plus, it was certain that Frieza would destroy Gero, assuming the doctor didn't manage to make it into hiding first. Either way he wasn't likely to be able to have his frank discussion. Tao scowled. Cursing, he turned to the west and began to walk that way. 'I'll just have to disappear into the shadows, go back to my assassin work,' he thought, 'Later I'll see if I can find out what happened to Gero, dead or alive. And if I manage to survive that long—' Tao's body suddenly seized and he collapsed to the ground. "What the—?!" he shouted, before a feeling like a hand clamping around his jaw prevented him from speaking further. He struggled but found that he couldn't move, his whole body paralyzed. "Mmph! Rrrr..!" he growled as two small feet entered his vision. Tao turned his eyes up and found himself looking up at Chiaotzu.
The diminutive human had one hand raised and was looking down on him coldly. "Don't make a sound," he ordered, and Tao felt the invisible grip around his jaw slacken, "I don't want anyone else interfering."
"So it's you, Chiaotzu," Tao breathed, feeling an icy fear sneak along his spine at the jianshi's unusually cold demeanor. Even as an assassin, Chiaotzu had an irrepressible childishness to him, but that was absent now. "What are you... What is..?"
"I don't have much to say to you," Chiaotzu said, "You made my life a misery. And, worse than that, you hurt my best friend. Made him into a monster and then turned him back into that again. After he'd finally broken free, after he'd finally been able to make his own choices..." Chiaotzu raised his other hand and poked out his index finger. A sparkling orb of yellow appeared at the tip.
"No, wait Chiaotzu, you don't understand—" Tao babbled, "You have to listen to me, I didn't mean, I didn't want—"
"Mercy is not the Crane way, Master Tao Pai Pai. You taught me that," Chiaotzu said in a deadly serious tone.
"No! Wait! Stop!" Tao screamed, desperately trying to wrench himself free—
"Death Dodonpa," Chiaotzu pronounced deliberately, pointing his finger at Tao's forehead. The yellow beam pierced through Tao's reinforced skull effortlessly. Tao's dead eyes held Chiaotzu's equally dead gaze for a tense moment before the cyborg collapsed to the ground, blood dribbling from a neat wound between his brows. Chiaotzu lowered both hands. He stared at the body for a long moment, and then turned and made his way towards the energy signatures of his friends.
"Doctor Gero, we have an approaching target," Android 21 reported, interrupting her packing.
Gero looked over at the computer. The feed from his hidden cameras came alive. They didn't capture much, except a streak of purple. He tapped at the readouts, pausing the frame and then zooming in. Inside the purple streak was Frieza, clearly furious.
"Hmm..." the doctor hummed, a small smile touching his lips under his bushy mustache.
"Shall I deploy the defenses?" Android 21 asked, "They won't do anything, but they might slow him down long enough."
"No, there is no need." He tapped at the computer again. It chirruped in confirmation, then went black. "Continue with your work and, once you've packed the most valuable item, head straight to the rendezvous point. I will meet you there."
"What are you going to do?" 21 inquired, stuffing a thick file folder into a briefcase.
"I'm going to meet with him," Gero replied matter-of-factly.
"Ah. Assuming there's something left of you, would you like to be cremated or buried, Doctor?" the redheaded android teased.
Gero sighed. "You already have my contingency plans on file, so why are you asking?"
"It's more fun to see you annoyed," the android laughed, flipping her long hair over her shoulder.
Gero gave her a side glance and smacked a button on the console. In the distance he could hear the door to the his underground lab opening. He turned and made his way down the corridor towards the entrance. "Just make sure you get everything secured and out of here," he commanded.
"Of course Doctor," Android 21 replied, doing a cheeky curtsey to Gero's back.
Frieza hovered over the ruins of the lab. He was tempted to just fire a blast and blow up the whole area, but he couldn't be sure where Gero was or if he would actually hit him by doing that. As he debated his options he spotted it: an opening in the ground. He blinked at it as he descended and studied it. 'Could be a trap,' he thought, 'Then again, there isn't really anything he could do to me...' He dropped through the hole and landed in a dank corridor. It was badly lit but ran straight, so Frieza walked along it, keeping his eyes and ears open, ready to act at a moment's notice. He tried to ignore the nagging pain of his wounds, willing his adrenaline to carry him just a little longer. The corridor ended in an open room, with various parts and capsules stacked around. And, standing motionless in the center of the room, was Doctor Gero himself.
The doctor smiled at Frieza as he entered. "Frieza, is it not?" he said courteously, "I must say of all the creatures that Son Goku has picked up on his journeys, you are the one I have most been looking forward to meeting. What good fortune that you came to me, and to talk privately at that."
"Spare me the flattery," Frieza replied, raising his hand, a Death Beam charging at the end of his finger. "I came to kill you, not to talk."
Gero hummed and inclined his head. "That seems obvious."
Frieza ground his teeth at the flippancy of this human. "For what you did to Tenshinhan, I will put an end to you."
Gero laughed. The response was not what Frieza was expecting. He frowned and cocked his head. "And what, might I ask, amuses you so?" he snarled.
"What I did to Tenshinhan?" Gero repeated, "You say it as if it was horrible. What after all did I do to Tenshinhan? I made him strong!" He almost shouted the last word. "It surely didn't escape your notice. Tenshinhan was one of the feeblest members of your group before me. I made him stronger than training ever could. Better than a lifetime of mastered techniques could. With a few slices of my scalpel and genius — I made him able to fight Son Goku to a draw. Without the intervention of his friends, Tenshinhan would have killed him, even at his most powerful."
Frieza frowned. "And what does that mean to me? If you're trying to justify your actions, you should know that I don't care for your excuses. I came here to kill you, so if you aren't going to even beg properly, then just be silent."
Gero chuckled. "Oh, don't play coy with me. As if you don't know. As if you haven't thought it?" He stepped to the side, Frieza's finger following him. "If I could do that with Tenshinhan, imagine what I could do with someone stronger. Someone whose body could take more. Someone like you."
Frieza's hand wavered and his mouth opened slightly. 'It's true that I want...that I wanted to become strong enough to defeat Goku, but...' He assessed himself. Was that still his ultimate goal, here on Earth? Once his only wish had been immortality. Then revenge. Then closure in battle. Now, it was all too muddled to tell. He hadn't thought of his long-term goals in some time.
"Imagine the possibilities. With you I could make the ultimate fighter. Invincible. Someone who could not be beaten. The most powerful in the universe! More than enough for you to be able to defeat Son Goku. Rid you of your phantom pain, not to mention restore some of that pride you lost. I have eyes everywhere, and I witnessed the events of your arrival on this planet. I saw how deeply you loathed Son Goku then, for knocking you off your lofty perch at the pinnacle of your empire, leaving you a pathetic, crippled shell. I know that arm of yours still pains you." Gero reached out with his hand. "All that you once had could be yours again, plus peace of mind in an immortal body. Isn't that what you wanted? You just need to say the word. Together, we could achieve more than either of us could dream of obtaining alone."
Frieza stared at Gero. His hand slowly dropped down, his finger pointing towards the floor. His left shoulder throbbed insistently. A beat passed...then a steely determination crept into Frieza's face and he raised his hand back up. "No!" he declared, "I would never accept help from you!"
The corner of Gero's lip flicked up. "Then why hesitate?"
The comment struck Frieza. His mind went blank as he stood, frozen.
Then smoke burst into the room, obscuring Gero. Frieza was thrown off for a second, and then he screamed with rage and hatred, firing his beam at where Gero had been. It cut through the smoke and struck the wall at the back, hitting nothing else. He fired a series of beams all around the room, striking implements, capsules, and computers, fires springing up through the whole room. Surrounded by a blaze, he knew that he hadn't hit Gero. The doctor was long gone, his revenge eluding him. 'Again,' he thought angrily, 'Again, I am not allowed to grasp victory against those who would torment me!' With this infuriating thought, Frieza shot upwards and burst through the ground, into the open air. With a final roar of rage he threw an energy blast into the ground, and the mountainside detonated, an almost volcanic explosion of fire, earth, and ash bursting into the dawning light.
Frieza stared down at the ruin. And then he looked at his right hand. He clenched it tight, feeling pain sear through his body as his nails dug into the bloodied palm. The phantom left arm added its misery to the mix, with the wrist seemingly jammed uncomfortably against his metal prosthetic. He let out a howl of frustration, pain, and anger that spooked the animals and rocked the trees.
Hello my loyal SoD readers! I hope that this chapter is everything you anticipated. Not much to say in this Author's Note, other than a big thank you to everyone who has taken the time to participate in my thesis research. If you'd still like to help out, the questionnaire is still open at the link in the SoD Special Forum. On a different note, the SoD team is currently seeking an editor, so if you have good writing skills & can help brainstorm with & motivate me, I'd like to hear from you! On to the Q&A!
Q: Great chapter, but kinda felt short :( I think it's because of the MUTHAFUCKING CLIFFHANGER ERGGH... Well, I'll get use to it I also love to see that you didn't have to delay for another 2 months the chapter.
A: Happy New year to you, too! If it seems short, I confess it's because I (evilly) decided to end it on that scene because of the dramatic tension it provided. In the next chapter, it'll hopefully be just as action-packed, but longer. See you in February!
Q: Well that was an intense chapter, I thought Vegeta was making progress given that he was relatively more sociable to the Z Fighters initially, and took down 13 & 15 without much trouble or being too clouded by his ego but alas, he could only handle so much around... Hulky Blue-Skinned Orange Vegeta? And is it just me or have fight scenes in literature been getting vaguer in their detail? Ohh yeah, and I was disappointed that Hulky Blue-Skinned Orange Vegeta didn't crotch shot Vegeta, that would've been perfect! Aside from the gripes. I still enjoyed the chapter and can't wait for the next! Ohh other questions to add. So how strong is Tenshinhan? Definitely stronger than his pre-Robot self but I have some trouble gauging how much. What was with that brief power boost with 13 during his fight? How exactly did that "Liquor" work with 15? And like Goku, I wonder how Tenshinhan was able to handle that much energy from a SSJ2? I know that he could absorb energy, but that Kamehameha must've had a lot. Did Gero improve the absorption system in some way after the incident where Frieza pierced 19 with his Death Beam? Now that I think about Vegeta defeating 13 & 15 without too much trouble, has he been improving his SSJ form after Pui-Pui and Broly? Is he reaching FPSSJ? Because I don't remember seeing a detail referencing him bulking up or maybe I missed it. That's it so far, hope you're enjoying the new year Woe of Man.
A: Vegeta's problem has, & will always, be his ego. He's only ever the cooler head when faced with someone more pompous than he is...in this case, Android 15. If the fight scenes were vague this chapter, it's my fault because my editors were on vacation, so I wrote the last leg of this chapter on my own steam. Android 13 still has plenty of screentime to deliver the infamous crotch shot, don't worry. ಠ‿↼ How strong is Tenshinhan? Well, he's stronger than Gero's previous models of android, but a lot of that is due to his improved energy absorption - & you're correct, he learned from his mistakes with 19; Android 22 can absorb Death Beams with no trouble. It would be a problem if Gero couldn't control him, after all. When 13 powered up, that was just an effect of absorbing the cores & data chip from 14 & 15. Interestingly, 15 was created with an interesting niche, according to Sauce's analysis of the movie: "During his creation, Gero realized that if he could alter 15's inner workings, that he would be able to make it so that if 15 was constantly consuming fuel, that he would be able to exert a high amount of speed and energy. Gero created a flask of sorts for 15 to be able to consume a special fuel from that would charge him if used in small doses. If too much fuel was consumed, then 15's body would likely explode or malfunction. Under the effects of the supercharged fuel, 15 is able to rapidly fire energy and create energy barriers to block everything but the most exceptionally powerful attacks, and in most cases he is able to out-speed even Android 13." Vegeta's a training fanatic, so of course he's been improving his SSJ state. Broly was a wake-up call, & he didn't ignore it. Heh, Happy New Year to you too!
Q: I woke up this morning feeling like I wanted to kill myself (then again, when do I not) so thanks for uploading; it's a great New Year surprise! I love chaotic melee fights as well and this chapter was done really well. Of course Vegeta has let his princely pride get the better of him again... *tsk* typical Vegeta, though you gotta love him for what he is. Also, just thought I'd point out an error(?): I think you accidentally referred to Tien as Android 23 at one point (he's Android 22, right?) I have so much I want to say but I can't put it in words. And about that thesis you're writing, I wouldn't mind being a part of it as I do read, write, and review fanfiction. I'm not sure what it entails but I'm up for it if it's not too overcomplicated. P.S. I only want to kill myself so I can be reincarnated into the world of Naruto. I'm sure at least one other person has felt like that before. ... Right...?
A: ʘ︵ʘ! Noooo, please don't kill yourself! I'm not a very cheerful person but if you ever need someone to talk to, I'll be happy to do so. My Tumblr username's the same as on here, so send me a private message if you're ever feeling down. Besides, if you die, you'll never know how SoD ends! That's gotta be worth something, right? Also, thanks for volunteering to help me with my thesis data! As soon as I get a masterpost in the SoD Special Forum, you'll have a better idea of what to do, so keep checking that for details (See? Something else to look forward to if you're not dead!). Real talk though: if you're suicidal, I'd rather you contacted me than just keeping that misery to yourself. That goes for everyone reading this, okay? I love all my readers & I want you to be happy. If I can't do that through my writing, tell me how I can help, & I'll do my best. ᴖ⥿ᴖ~
Q: Woo! Nothing like a new SoD chapter to help send off 2017!
A: Yeeeeeaaaaaah! Whooooo! 自ლ（｡）*drunken cheering*
Q: Awesome chapter, as always! Interestingly, there's been a bunch of other DBZ-related stuff out in the last few weeks that keeps reminding me of this story - namely, TeamFourStar's Christmas special that features some back-and-forth between Frieza and Kooler, and DB Super's recent episodes featuring interactions between Goku and Frieza. (I mean, I know you have some understandable issues with Super's presentation of Frieza, but I think you'd probably get a kick out of watching his semi-friendly interactions with Goku if you haven't seen that stuff yet, as I kept being reminded of this story the whole time I was watching those scenes). Interesting strategy by Gero, making Tien evil by altering his memories to basically restore his original Dragon Ball-era personality. I can't help wondering if the others will be able to snap him out of it, considering his hesitance to harm any innocents in this chapter. I'm also curious: how strong are these five androids (Tien/22, Tao, 13, 14, and 15) compared to Gero's previous androids? Considering that the Saiyans and Arcosians are having trouble with them, I'm assuming they're all way stronger than 19 and 20, probably at least as strong as 17 and 18. Super 13 would likely be a lot stronger, of course; maybe somewhere around canon Semiperfect Cell or Super Vegeta level? I also loved the inclusion of Android 21! While she doesn't seem to be a fighter like the other androids, I'm intrigued by that hint that she, like 16, is based on a member of Gero's family: his wife, perhaps? Or maybe Gero had more than one child? Another point where I'm curious: although I know you're not using numerical power levels for this story, how would you say these characters stack up compared to their canon counterparts? I mean, Frieza, Kooler, Piccolo, and the humans are pretty much all notably stronger than their canon versions at this point, but I'm pretty sure the Saiyans are all weaker than their canon counterparts. Gohan just recently unlocked Super Saiyan, so he's probably not much stronger than Goku was on Namek; Vegeta has the bulked-up Ascended form, but hasn't trained in the Time Chamber yet, so he wouldn't be as strong as canon Super Vegeta; and Goku's tapped into the mastered FPSSj form and unlocked Super Saiyan 2, but he hasn't fully mastered Super Saiyan yet, so he probably wouldn't be as strong as he was at the Cell Games in canon (although SSj2 might put him up there?). Just curious regarding your thoughts on that, as this means they'll need some pretty major powerups if they're gonna stand a chance by the time Buu comes around... Oh, one more question that's kinda been bugging me: where would you say we are in the DBZ timeline, at this point? I know we're definitely past the point where the Cell Games took place in canon, but how far past it? Quite a bit of stuff has happened since 17 and 18 were defeated; we had Haabu, Turles, Broly and Slug, and now this new batch of androids, so I think it's been quite a while since then. I'm assuming it's been at least a couple of years in-story, but I just wanted to double-check. Thoroughly enjoyed this chapter, and I can hardly wait for the next one! A belated Happy Frieza Day to you, and a happy New Year! :)
A: I've heard from several people that they're not sure if I'm ripping off TFS/DBS or the other way around, but I assure you, SoD came first! Though maybe the bigwigs are paying more attention to fandom than they admit...I can dream, right? ಥ◡ಥ Sauce was a big mastermind behind these chapters' concepts & plots, & we jointly decided that an android Tenshinhan would be an interesting foe for a change of pace. All the androids as presented here are stronger than 17 & 18, yes. I love that people love 21's little cameos, & I can't wait to learn more about her so I can give her a bigger role. You're on the right track about the Saiyans all being weaker than in canon. In fact, having Arcosians around has decreased their need to train for their life, as well as not having the same villains to face down in this timeline. Oh, & you're right to be worried about Buu... As for where we'd be timeline-wise, if you laid SoD's timeline over canon, we'd be just past the Cell Saga. Haabu, Turles, & Broly all came right on the heels of each other, so it was a very harrowing time for our heroes.
Q: I see the "good Doctor" has messed with Tien's memories. Can't say I'm surprised. I do find it oddly amusing that he thought he lost the 22nd WMT and became Android 22. Well, Cyborg rather, but that's a nice little bit of worldbuilding, yes he's more cyborg than android, but it's easier to just go by Android 20 than Cyborg 3 or whatever. Cerulean? I always thought Super Saiyan eyes were closer to teal or Turquoise. They're more greenish blue than pure blue, that's more SSBlue eyes. The bit about Goten. Perfect. Is Goku somewhat battle obsessed? Yes. But he does care about those close to him. ESPECIALLY his family. Perhaps not the in the same way a human can due to different brain chemistry, but he does care about them and would rather innocents DIDN'T get needlessly hurt. When Goku says he's not forgiving you, you KNOW you have fucked up. The guy is almost stupidly merciful at times, so when he's out of mercy, for your sake, you'd best hope you can kill him before he kills you. Might be a dishonorable strike, but even Goku and Gohan know there's a time and place for honor and this is NOT it. Not by ANY stretch of the imagination. And that's the beauty of the Z Fighters. You mess with one of them, you mess with ALL of them. To an extent. Yeah, that's the main drawback of Super Saiyan. The lack of emotional control at first means your ki control, which by definition requires discipline, is lackluster. HAH! Impressive light show he says. OK, it is, but, considering that SS2 was able to utterly wreck Cell's shit, in his PERFECT form, yeah, you're in trouble. Oh, so Tien's a Gero type Android. Considering his struggles with 16 through 18, I can't blame him for doing that. "Note to self, power up first, then charge." Something about that line is immensely amusing to me. Why DOES 15 drink? I could never figure that out. Ever so slightly unfair he says... See, he's joking, but I kinda want to see Yamcha effectively use a baseball bat as a weapon enhanced with ki. ... So 15's hip flask IS just alcohol? Huh. Unexpected. This talk of dancing has me imagining Piccolo and Cooler waltzing in tuxes. It's a wonderful mental image. Disarmed, REALLY Tao? To be fair to 15, he does have a pretty entertainingly silly outfit. Ah yes, Salza, the ORIGINAL ki sword blade man. I love Cooler's bone mask. It's silly, but it's effective and practical. Makes it harder to knock teeth loose and to damage his jaw. And you can't see him smirk or scowl. Doubly useful. Sauza enjoys what he does. And I enjoy him as a character, he's competent, he's got enough of a personality that he's not just "generic badass number 35", and he's got a rare trick up his sleeve and is very adept at figuring things out mid fight. The Android may be deadly in a group, but they're far less dangerous separated. Especially when Vegeta stops fucking around. And it just hit me that this is the Savior of Demons version of the Super Android 13 movie. Also, you called Tien Android 23. Oh good, Goku's learned to go all out from the start. This should be fun.
A: I love worldbuilding, especially when I can do it seamlessly, through exposition. Ehhh, I usually use turquoise or teal to refer to SSJ eyes, but it's hard to find other synonyms to switch it up with. Goku LOVES Goten, absolutely adores him. You'd better believe he'd go Papa Wolf when his family's concerned, especially that kid. Android 22's way of thinking has been warped by Tao & Gero both, so even a legitimate strike will look dishonorable to him. I like to think that Kooler has evolved into the type of character who will make sarcastic quips mid-battle, due to his dark sense of humor. Coping mechanism, maybe? Why does 15 drink? I'm glad you asked, because I just answered that in another answer (see above)! Kooler in a tuxedo is my weakness. If you look in my DeviantArt Favorites, there's a lovely piece by varjotin that depicts just that, or at least the Arcosian version of formal-wear. ‿ Tao makes terrible jokes, I make terrible jokes, what can I say? I like figuring out Sauza's personality as an extension of his canon appearance. He's not nearly as arrogant, & he's slightly more laid-back, but still whip-smart & with a tongue to match. Definitely a favorite of mine to write.
Q: All aboard the SoD train indeed :D Gotta love all the action in this chapter. I feel sorry for Tien but I also believe him being an android is the perfect 'power boost'. He'll never get tired now, ha ha! It'll be super badass~
A: ALL ABOARD THE HYPE TRAIN. ôヮô I've said it before, but I love writing big, chaotic melee fight scenes. Ten may not tire now, but there are probably some downsides to being an android that he isn't aware of yet...
Q: Wow what a chapter, it's not usual for this fic to have non-stop action for the entire release, AND making clear that the fight is just starting, so the adrenaline levels right now are off the roof. One thing SoD does when showcasing battles that I don't recall any other DBZ story managing to do is to blur everyone's power levels enough for the outcome of the fight to not be a "number check" but not so much that one gets the feeling all the characters are being forced to stand on the same ground without proper explanation, Super style. This detail makes such a messy conflict with so many participants particularly exciting because you know everyone present can make a big contribution under the right circumstances (like Sauza being the first one to actually destroy an Android). Now that I think about it this chapter was a bit light on Frieza, him not really having a big fight and instead focusing on trying to break Ten's mind control. By the way, I didn't expect Gero to alter Ten's memories like this instead of just forcing him to obey because reasons. I wonder if the stolen memories are gone forever, and if so, if in the near future Frieza will have to play a role reversal and now be the one that invites a stranger with trust issues into his home to show him appreciation. That would be something for both characters now wouldn't it. Finally, I'd love to help with your study on fanfiction, and could give you information about the Spanish speaking community too if you find it relevant (even though it's full of fujoshis).
A: I love chapters where I can do big knock-down, drag-out fights. I love world-building, but I also have a passion for action. Funny you should say that "blurring" the power levels is a strength - it actually stems from my reticence to do anything with math, haha! （｡.◠ლ) I know the chapter is light on Frieza, but sometimes I've gotta give the other characters the limelight, ya know? Gero is a smart man, & he realized his error in forcing compliance with the twins, so with Tenshinhan, he's taking a different tack. Hm, good prediction on that role reversal. Finally, thank you for your help with my thesis! I really appreciate the multicultural insights you'll provide, fujoshi aside, heh. Please visit the SoD Special Forum for more instructions; once I get a minimum of ten participants, I'll send you a questionnaire to start with, then follow up with interviews.
Q: Oooh, I love how you simultaneously powered up on my favorite characters, seamlessly segued into another movie adaptation, and showed off Frieza's character development in a huge way! Chapters like these are why I read this fanfic! I really, really can't wait for the next part.
A: I love the unloved characters of the fandom, & I also love DBZ movies, in concept if not execution. ❤ I hadn't seen the Android 13 movie in a while, but re-watching it for research purposes was super-fun. You see many things when you watch something again...like the fact that Android 14 has bright orange underwear (I paused the video at just the right moment to get an upshot of his...kilt. xD)
Q: since Tien never runs out of stamina can he just kikohall day? remember the kikoha takes life force not ki
A: Good observation! Becoming an android doesn't negate the ill effects of the Kikoho, but it certainly gives Tenshinhan more stamina, & thus more "firepower."
Q: I've procrastinated writing this review... just a bit. Moving on: - Yep, Gero is a Manipulative Bastard of a psychopath. Quite a clever plan, erasing Tenshinhan's memories like that. (though as is expected with Gero, it's not quite perfect) - Goku got caught off-guard by a surprise Kikoho to the face huh? Can't say I blame him for that one. - Regarding Frieza vs Tenshinhan, "Battles are won in the mind as much as they are in the body.", and emotional attachments would certainly do that. - Nice of Sauza to save Piccolo from dying like that to Tao (Retractable sword? Cool ability to have), and offing 14. That Energy Blade of his is definitely an awesome technique to have (Kooler would agree with this, hence why he uses it). - It wouldn't surprise me if Gohan has a bit of an inferiority complex in this AU. Couldn't really do much against 17 or 18, got murdered by Broly, that kind of a thing. Good thing for him that he got a few shining moments here. - Heh, let's be honest, Vegeta definitely had that beatdown from 13 coming, seeing as how he was getting too cocky for his own good after defeating two androids... and before that, really. (Saiyans and stubborn Arcosians have one thing in common: sometimes you need to give them a beatdown or ten so they can learn) - I think I know why Gero didn't tell Tao or Tenshinhan about the whole "Super Android 13" thing: it would certainly be an excellent way to keep things simple, regarding his future Cell plans, no? Makes subduing them in the future that much simpler. - Yeah, don't hit Goku's Berserk Button like that, because him being dead serious? That will NEVER end well for you. Just ask King Piccolo, Frieza, or Broly how well that worked out for them (well, only one of them is really accessible at this point). 13 is going to have a bit of a hard time here with Goku...
A: Hey, I know that procrastination feeling, so I forgive you, lol. Gero could rival Kold as far as the Manipulative Bastard award, & unlike Kold, he doesn't care at all about the people he puppets. Frieza is definitely fighting a mental battle alongside the physical one, which gives Tenshinhan the advantage. Sauza's a nice guy, & he sees the utility of keeping a fellow strategist alive. Plus given their canon interactions I think it's funny to have them backing each other up in a fight. Gohan definitely feels inadequate next to everyone else at this point, & that uncertainty is a big factor in holding him back & stymieing his progress. Vegeta always has a beatdown coming, no exceptions. xD Gero didn't tell 22 or Tao because he gets off on being a Chessmaster & keeping everyone in the dark.
Anonymous Reviews for Ch. 29: Grassation:
Q: First off, happy New Year. Second, this fic just became even more appreciated by me, as Frieza's made his return in DBS way back when, and as of episode 121, he finally got to do something in the tournament! I still would love to see him go golden in this, but I don't think it'll happen at this rate.
A: 新年おめでとう！ ۜ\（✿◠ᗜ◠）/ۜ ..waves sparklers.. No Golden Turd Frieza in SoD, but I hope you're still enjoying the story regardless.
Q: Nyzer wrote a SUPER-LONG review, so if you want to see it in full, please go to the SoD Special Forum.
A: First off...good gracious, I don't think I've ever seen a review this long! I usually post them in my Chapter Q&A, but for yours, I'm gonna make an exception (that's a compliment!). That you think my team & I have a compelling story means the world to me, & I'm beyond impressed that you seem to have reread it at least as many times as I have! Slug is kind of a forgettable villain in the scheme of things, but I wanted to give him a greater purpose, such that Babidi's appearance later on doesn't come out of nowhere, as it did in canon. The Butterfly Effect is very much in effect in this universe, & while it's made the non-Saiyans stronger, it has also delayed the growth of Goku, Vegeta, & Gohan, along with pushing back Trunks & Goten's existence. I'm trying to find plausible ways to work in all the movie villains, & the Big Gete Star is definitely an avenue I want to explore. Yamcha's Sokidan packs a punch, but in general his moves are outclassed by just about everyone at this point. He's always canonically had less motivation to train, so I figured that would be logical here, too. I wrestled with a good trigger backstory for Broly, & I'm glad what we finally came up with passes the sniff test! Videl & Mr. Satan are tons of fun to write, & I do agree that insinuating themselves with Goku & co. earlier on will make them stronger overall. Goku as a Papa Wolf was a scene that Saucemonkey & I crystallized early on, & it was vivid from the start. Gohan's feelings of uselessness are going to be significantly more angst-inducing than in canon, since he hasn't had a big solo victory just yet. I love writing the evolving nature of Frieza & Kooler's relationship. Now that they're rivals, not bitter enemies, we can see different sides of them. Good question about Frieza's arm! Unfortunately, right now it's the latter. Bulma just modified the pins that go into his bones so that when he transforms, the shift doesn't break everything & render it useless. Tao as Gero's early experiment made too much sense for me to ignore - I'm convinced that's the only way he was able to come back after that bomb blew up in his face. I have no excuses for the roughness of the scene between Frieza & Yamcha. There was, perhaps, an opportunity to rewrite it so that they were alone during that exchange, but I ran out of time & forgot to write that bit. I intended it to be a scene just between them, with everyone else out of earshot. Ten is an absorption-type android, like Gero & 19, but his systems are upgraded to deal with greater amounts of power that would incapacitate or overload older models. This allows him to use the Kikoho repeatedly, though not indefinitely, via stored/stolen power. All he did with Goku's Kamehameha was pump it into his own attack & shoot it back. Tao is a unique kind of android that we'll call an Assassin Type. His mods are different from both Ten, 19, & Gero; & 17 & 18. Super 13 is more like 17 & 18 with his combination/transformation capabilities. He's got a lot of power, but other than being slightly stronger in this universe, he's the same as in canon.
Reviews for Previous Chapters:
Q: Chapter 9: Obsequy: I'm sure that someone pointed this out, but I'll say it anyway. Bulma would never have sex with Frieza. Yes, she did show interest in aliens but they looked human. Frieza looks nothing human, he's a lizard with legs and no p***. Bulma was liquored up sure but I doubt he would sleep with her. Remember Zarbon and Vegeta look human but Frieza? Doubt anyone human but the curious would go for him. Other than that good fic, hard for me to read with the wording for me but that's just how I read. I hope Vegeta at least beats Frieza once. Just once. And hope Frieza starts to become a z-fighter.
A: Ah yes, your lack of biological knowledge echoes what many others have said — contrary to outward appearances, Arcosians do possess ahem, equipment, like most terrestrial animals. Mammals are actually the odd ones out in the scheme of things with our perpetual exposure. Moving on, Bulma is a canon xenophiliac, as you've noted. Would she go for Frieza? Probably not. Keep in mind though that inebriation & emotional distress played a role, for both of them. As for Vegeta beating Frieza...Goku's been keeping them away from each other so far, but there may come a time when he isn't there to break up a fight. Hope you'll keep reading & reviewing!
Q: Chapter 12: Infrangible: Your Kooler vs Frieza fight was awesome, and it wasn't just a fight, it felt like a true quarrel between brothers. Then there were the differences between Kooler and Frieza you showed. At first I thought you were making Kooler OOC but then when I got to this chapter of him losing it and willing to kill his own men for victory showed that all this wasn't OOC after all, Kooler is like Frieza he just tries to rule a different way for genuine loyalty instead of relying on fear. Can't wait for what's next.
A: This has been, to date, one of my favorite fights to write, because of history between Frieza & Kooler, plus their wildly differing personalities. In canon Kooler is very much how I portrayed him, & it was important for me to stay true to that, so I'm glad you took note of it! Kooler is more carrot, Frieza is more stick, but when the chips are down, they're both a danger to their subordinates.