Not Worth It
"Arghhh..." Geta groaned, landing stiffly. His legs really felt the impact.
Whereas in the distance, the crunching of trees were accompanied by Beta's screeched obscenities, from his far harsher landing.
It's too bad the accomplishment was meaningless. Beta's tribulations belayed the true directing this fight was heading in. The whole fight so far was very misleading.
Every encounter, every situation, every confrontation, Geta was the victor and Beta was sent sailing. Unfortunately, it didn't mean anything. Geta was getting tired, and aching from attacks he had managed to block perfectly. Whereas Beta was taking every hit and then some, and feeling absolutely none of it. Possibly never has there been a fight whose direction was more counter to the actual events that encompassed it.
The simple fact of it was Beta was invulnerable to everything Geta was giving him, he merely lacked the skill or ability to do anything about it. Not surprising considering his son's history. This was most likely the first day the man had ever even flown. Even if he was an incomparable genius, which was giving him a lot of credit, it was not in the realm of possibility to become exceptional at this kind of thing in a mere day. Which was the only reason Geta appeared to be standing his own. Boxer had been weaker, and thus slower, enough so that Beta and his no doubt substantial power had managed to get the upper hand, despite his fighting incompetence.
But all it would take was one lucky hit, one failed counter, and Geta knew beyond a doubt Beta would rip him asunder. His rage was so great, bolstered by his frustration which grew with every successful counter, that even if it was in him, he would not consider mercy if he got his chance. In fact, Geta was starting to anticipate him exploding the entire area in a fit of rage... hopefully, just the entire area.
"Die you son of a bitch!"
Beta suddenly fired back towards him, right through the hillside, firing through the dirt, rocks, and trees like a madman, not even bothering to take the slight detour needed to avoid all that obstacle.
Amateurish, was what it was.
Geta faked a counter assault, only to merely feint to the man's back and drop an energy blast into him he had most obviously been charging the entire time. It hit pretty good, in fact, had the two had been equals, it would have been lethal. But, unfortunately, making such a fatal error amounted to, optimistically, a light bruise in this case.
It was ridiculous, he was going to eventually get killed by this completely inept maniac if help didn't come soon, as even now he was becoming completely exhausted.
And speak of the devil, Geta had only a few seconds to catch his breath before Beta recovered and rushed at him again.
Geta jumped in horror, it was too fast! There wasn't time to prepare a counter!
… But, to his shock and relief, his former son halted mere feet away from him instead, opting out of the opening he had so nearly clinched.
Geta blinked, yet another fatal error.
Bristling with anger, Beta stared him down, then his eyes fell to his feet. He seemed to hesitate for a second.
"Why don't you quit playing with me old man, and take this seriously!" he roared.
Geta was speechless, Beta had no concept of what was happening in this fight! He thought he was being played by a greater fighter, when in fact he was merely a bull charging a matador.
… Perhaps he could use this to his advantage? Beta was rushing this fight so much, and Geta could sense neither Piccolo nor Buu yet, which meant neither were even aware this was happening yet. Merely surviving til help came was not an option. He had to distract him some how.
"I don't want to have to hurt you son, just give up now." Geta answered.
It was a bluff. And a lie.
"Still pitying me huh?" Beta seethed, creating a well sized energy orb off to his left.
"What are you doing!" Geta growled, was this the area explosion he had been anticipating?
"Helping you old man." Beta answered, throwing the him off guard, "This blast is headed for the family home. It's where Boxer's runt, the scum himself, and his wife are right now."
"Why? I'm your opponent!" Geta tried to reason.
"So you can realize your priorities." Beta glared at him.
"By losing my family? !"
"Exactly old man, so quit pretending I'm your family!" Beta growled, looking away, "You've abandoned me in every way that matters, so why not quit being such a worm and own up to it!"
Geta stammered... he had sort of hit the nail on the head, and truthfully, it made him feel shame, but... what the hell?
Using his free hand, Beta then motioned to his chest.
"Kill me, or loose everyone else." he stated solemnly.
Geta's jaw dropped at that. That's what he wanted... to die?
"I'm gonna make this blast so big, even you won't be able to stop it, no matter how much you're holding back, so you better make your choice now!" Beta yelled, as the orb jumped a couple more sizes.
"Don't do this Beta!" Geta roared, finally maybe seeing his son in that psychotic mess, "We can still make things right!"
"There is no right after cold blooded murder, so step up! Or continue to watch your family suffer, god knows you've never had trouble before!" Beta yelled.
"I don't want to kill you, son!" Geta cried, serious this time.
"There is no other way!" Beta seethed, his face crinkled in anguish as he turned back to face his father, "Do what needs to be done for once in your damn life!"
Geta could feel a lump forming in his throat. Why did it have to be like this? He could see how vast a mistake his parenting technique had been, of course he knew, but at the same time there was nothing he could do to change it. His son, his flesh and blood, had turned out to be a monster, out of neglect and incompetence. And the only thing left to do was to put him down like a rabid dog? It was like a sick joke had become his life.
And he refused to believe it.
"I won't do it son!" Geta yelled.
"Stop procrastinating and take some freaking responsibility!" Beta screamed.
"I am!" Geta roared back, "I'm not going to throw you away, you've done nothing that can't be reversed son! There' no need to die!"
"YES... There is! You idiot!"
"No, I refuse to believe it." Geta swallowed, "Discharge the blast, and I swear I'll stand with you through everything that comes after... just please trust me, just one more time!"
"There is no going back you crazy old man!" Beta seethed, then shook his head, "... You know what? I'm going to count to ten."
"Son just listen-"
"I'm going to count to ten!" Beta reiterated, "And if you haven't ended this, I promise you, I will!"
"I don't believe you!" Geta roared, "There's still good in you, you can change!"
"10, 9, 8..." Beta started, staring towards his target.
"Look at me Beta! Just look at me!"
Beta's eyes moved slowly back to his father.
"7, 6, 5..." he continued.
"You don't want this." Geta pleaded.
Beta's arm angled downward then, aiming the orb's trajectory into the earth.
"4, 3, 2..."
His eyes were stone cold.
Geta stared in horror. All of sudden, he knew his son was serious... he wanted it to end so badly, he was going to do it himself! He quickly gathered his energy and bit back his pain... he wasn't positive he had an attack that could kill his son now, but he had a best bet; a rushing strike with all his might delivered directly to the neck. Beta's power would have to be quite great indeed to survive a hit like that unguarded, but either way it was his all he had.
And, he had no time to second guess it or reconsider, one more second and nothing would matter anymore.
He rushed forward. This was his ultimate punishment for abandoning his sons he realized. For allowing his spite for his own father to mar their lives. He realized how much he owed to Vegeta then, he really had been a good father, if only just barely. At the very least, he hadn't allowed anything this despicable to happen, and that made him god by comparison. Geta grit his teeth against his self loathing as he made the final leap, readying to shoot his arm forward... and cut down his own blood.
Beta stooped down and brought up something from the ground and held it between them, in lightning quick order.
As Geta stalled in surprise, he realized what it was; Timber's beaten body.
… That's why Beta had stopped his assault so suddenly.. right in this spot...
"Dumb ass." Beta said, as he drove the energy orb into his father, who was helpless to dodge it, the shock of the trap catching him completely by surprise.
As the waves of energy poured over him, Geta was awash in self loathing. This, this was his real punishment. Losing everything, no second chances, no redemption. Just cold hard death, with no respite, and no dignity. With something like pride, he spent his final moments in awe of his son's tactics. He hadn't overestimated his father at all, instead he recognized his own weakness and then played his opponent like a fiddle. It was actually kind of remarkable, he had planned for everything, he had even compensated when said opponent got sentimental. It was really rather brilliant. Strangely though, he found that was little condolence, as he was torn to tiny pieces.
In an instant of exploding fury, he was gone from this Earth, completely.
Geta, once world Martial Arts champion, last surviving son of the prince of saiyans, father of Boxer, and of his own killer, was no more.
After a moment, demented cackling broke out, breaking the silence.
"That's what you get!" Beta shrieked, "That's what you get for trying to push me around you ancient trash!"
Beta steamed, that exchange had sickened him to his core, not because he was guilt ridden, of course not. It was because he had had to entertain that freak's machinations of fatherhood for even a moment.
Who was he? He was absolutely nothing to Beta, a person he had never even had a conversation with before today imagined their relationship to be so close that he wanted him to be the one to kill him? It made Beta sick to his stomach to have entertained such disgusting fantasies for even a moment.
The only way he thought of that man was as a weird acquaintance who had just stuck his head into a place he had no business putting it. Nothing more.
"Good freaking riddance!" Beta growled, composing himself.
"You're gonna pay now shit head." Timber seethed, weakly, interrupting his uncle's internal ramblings.
Beta turned to him then, having forgotten he was even still clutching the immobile mass. It was fair to say he had not even a hint of compassion for either of Boxer's kids.
Ending one of them would be very literally a pleasure.
"Shut up you little nothing." Beta growled, bringing a glowing finger to the young man's head.
And then that very hand moved, right on it's own. Beta stared in shock at it, as it flew up into the air, stayed their for a second, before settling into the surrounding brush.
He reacted spastic-ally, first flinging Timber like a fastball, and then swinging around on his heal.
Timber was immediately caught and carefully placed on the ground by an elongating arm. He also had the gall to chuckle, albeit weakly, through the whole process.
"Don't be too quick, Piccolo," Timber grinned, "I want you to make him really feel it!"
"If I was going to be quick, this would already be over." the daunting Namekian grunted in response.
"HOW DID YOU DO THAT! ?" Beta screeched like a banshee, as he held his stump and backed away defensively.
"Come here and I'll show you." Piccolo answered, taking a step forward.
"GO AWAY!" Beta screamed, firing a blast and blasting away. Standard retreat tactic, only with an added touch of shamelessness, that the blast was aimed at helpless Timber.
But Piccolo easily swatted it away from the kid with one elongated arm, while grasping the fleeing shooter with the other.
"NO!" Beta screamed as he was reeled in, his eyes glazed with insanity and fear.
He wasn't ready to give up. So he let loose an hysterical lights show of energy instead.
Being released, he blasted frantically off into the air, in the opposite direction of his assaulter. Only to smash into something big, flabby, and pink.
"You no going anywhere!" Buu cried, belly smashing him backwards.
As Beta recovered, he shot his attention frantically back and forth between his enemies. Buu, who grinned at him menacingly, and Piccolo, who was setting Timber down safely on the edge of that newly formed crater. Before quickly joining his peer in the sky, on the other side of Beta.
They were surrounding him.
Beta was hyperventilating, shifting himself between the two rapidly. He looked ready to pop.
"You can't do this!" Beta screamed.
"Buu stay out of this, and I mean it this time!" Piccolo growled.
"You can't! It's not possible!" Beta warned.
"Buu know, man weak!" Buu grinned.
"You have NO IDEA what you're talking about!" Beta suddenly seethed as his energy crackled, "I'm the most powerful being in the UNIVERSE!"
"So weak!" Buu teased, then blew a raspberry.
"That's a lie!" Beta scowled, "Juno said-"
"Juno said what?" Piccolo asked, suddenly in close proximity and holding the android by the collar.
Beta smashed both his fist, and disfigured arm into Piccolo with all his might at that... but then, as he saw it had no effect, he started screaming and thrashing.
"What did he say?" Piccolo repeated, using his other hand to grab and hold the man very securely by his chin.
Beta then started crying and whimpering.
"Juno, I mean." Piccolo repeated pressing a claw deep into his cheek.
"AHH! He-he said-" Beta cleared his throat, "... He said no one... would be able to hurt... me again!"
At that he began to sob. Piccolo rolled his eyes.
"You're a sick piece of filth." he sighed, looking to Buu, who was popping spit bubbles. Suddenly, he felt nostalgic for Vegeta's presence, for perhaps the first time in his life. He was someone who could handle someone this pathetic.
"He.. he said I would be able to kill all of you..." Beta continued to sob.
"What was that! ?" Piccolo asked, turning back his attention.
"He said I was stronger than 17-"
Piccolo whipped him across the face, and then throttled him like paint can.
"He told you to kill? Is that what you're saying? Did he put you up to this?"
"...Ye-" Beta paused, his eyes brightening, "He PROGRAMMED me-"
Piccolo whipped him across the face several more times."He also program you to cry like a baby! Huh you wretch?"
"Ye- YES!" Beta begged.
"Well then, since you have no freewill, there's no harm in wasting you." Piccolo said, flinging him into the air, "Just like smashing a toaster, right?"
His hand rapidly charged up an orange aura.
"WAIT WAIT!" Beta screeched hysterically, "I'll tell you anything you want to know!"
"Then start talking." Piccolo growled, folding his arms and hovering over him menacingly.
"Eh..."
"HOW DID THIS START MAGGOT!" Piccolo roared.
"Ahh!" Beta shielded his head, "He-he came to Boxer a couple years ago asking for investments... after he acquired Capsule Corp!"
"And?"
"Boxer wouldn't have it!" Beta cried, "Juno senior was one of his friends, he hated Juno for ruining his own dad. Thought he was sick in the head!"
"Sounds like he's smarter than he looks!"
"Yeah... well Juno tried promising things when he refused like... he said he could make Boxer much more powerful!"
"And how did that become you being the one getting the power?" Piccolo asked tiredly.
"I... he came to me when Boxer shooed him off! He just berated me day and night trying to get me to invest behind Boxer's back!"
"Yeah, I'm sure of that. No way it was the other way around, right?"
"NO!... I... I was content... I had given up on this stupid life!" Beta sobbed, "He's the one who put all the crazy ideas in me... he said I could be better than Boxer!"
"Just shut up and get to the point already."
"You don't get it!" Beta cried, "He made me want to live again! He made me think I could make it all right! He's the bad guy!"
And at that, the man broke into full tears again, and the Namekian again stomached waves or nausea.
"Listen Beta, I need you to put all your crap aside, and think about this very carefully," Piccolo stared him down coldly, "Did he know what you were planning to do?"
"He told me I could squash Boxer beneath my toes-"
Piccolo's fist slammed into Beta's gut. The latter man was left quite frozen in pain.
"One more time, did he know you'd start killing everybody? That you were going to kill at all?"
Beta stayed silent for a moment, his mind drifting...
Of course Juno hadn't known. Why would he even mention it to the man? Make him rethink giving him the upgrades? But he knew, if he didn't say something that put the heat off him... Piccolo was going to... kill him! Kill him! What had this crap even been for! ? His entire life had been miserable, so miserable! He had once relished the idea of the afterlife, a chance for a new, good for once, life! Somewhere far away from these scum. Now that was all gone, they'd put him in the dark place... For god knows how long! For what? One, couple hour long rampage, that didn't even amount to anything worthwhile? Absolutely nothing had changed, he was still the same sniveling wimp he'd always been and now he was going to hell too! And that bastard Boxer! After all this, he would be just fine! It just couldn't end like that! He just had to think of something, anything that would make Piccolo distracted... and put the blame on Juno... and to be frank, Juno had to have at least suspected something... he was always so cryptic and weird, he had to have known something, and he obviously set him up by telling him he was the strongest! When in fact he was not even close! But... then... how had he killed 17...!
"He knew!"
"Trust me Beta, you won't be able to handle another lie-"
"I'm not lying!" Beta exclaimed, "He said I was stronger than 17, I asked him... and then I went into his lab, and he woke him up, and I killed him!"
"I doubt that. You probably just blasted him in his sleep."
"I'm telling you that's what happened! Juno must have set me up! He tricked me into thinking I was the strongest so I'd have the confidence to go through with all this!"
Piccolo frowned. He sounded like he believed it at least, but that didn't make it the least bit true. Even if Juno had set him up against 17, how was that a crime? Juno just left the job to this idiot, instead of the people he was so prejudiced against. The people born with power. It was perfectly believable without being incriminating. Sure it was stupid to give this nut power, but it was also explainable, and it was not the same as being responsible for this freak's crimes. But then again, could the boy really be so dense as to be blind to the obvious lunacy of this wretch?
"What do you think Buu?" Piccolo asked tiredly.
Buu looked up from his sucker, caught off guard.
"What you ask?"
"Never mind." Piccolo shrugged, "I guess this will be goodbye then, handy."
"Come on Piccolo!" Beta pleaded, "I told you everything I know!"
"Doesn't bring all those people back to life."
"Wait, WAIT! You can't be serious, don't we all get one major screw up to write off? I know both of you killed a heck of a lot more people than I ever did back in the day! What makes me different?"
Piccolo hesitated a second at that.
"I haven't done anything that can't be taken back, and I have learned my lesson! Trust me!" Beta outstretched his stump arm, "I've lost my hand! And you both know I'm no threat to you!"
"So weak!" Buu confirmed.
"I am done with this genocide murder crap, I didn't even enjoy it! I was just getting 50 years of pent up aggression off my chest!" Beta stammered, "I'll live a quiet, peaceful life, I SWEAR! Just give me one chance!"
Piccolo shook his head, and Beta, again, began to openly weep.
"Come on please, I'm begging you!" Beta blubbered, "Just give me another chance, just like you guys, one more chance is all I ask!"
Piccolo groaned, and slowly shook his head, "Just... just get out of here."
"Th-thank you! So much!" Beta bowed, and hurriedly blasted off.
Piccolo sighed, looked at Buu, who smiled at him. Piccolo smiled back. And then lifted his hand.
A good sized explosion shook the horizon. Probably over kill, but Piccolo was being thorough. He had to be careful in case the android had any special defenses. It didn't seem like it though.
"WHAT YOU DO THAT FOR! ?" Buu exclaimed, "HE RIGHT! WE GIVEN SECOND CHANCE TOO!"
"You want to know what was different for us?" Piccolo asked, "Goku was saving the day back then."
"That no make sense!"
"Sure it does." he growled.
Another immortal android with iffy loyalties that would outlive them all? Who could act in complete secrecy under everyone's noses with their invisible energy signatures? Yeah, cause that's worked out well so far right?
"Not... right..." Buu growled.
"Just come on." Piccolo sighed, flying off.
The Majin followed loyally, even if his conscious was torn.
Piccolo wasn't immune to hypocrisy, of course he realized Goku had shown him a courtesy he had denied today. But it was not an act he needed to repay by copying his former rival's ideals. Taking over the role of keeping this planet safe was. And since he was doing it, he would follow his instincts. Not leave it to blind chance, as his predecessor had.
That was just the way it was going to be now.
And what his instincts were telling him now, was to make sure Juno never made another 'Beta', ever again.
He hurried off, straight back to Capsule Corp.