Dragonball Z: The Catalyst

Act II:

Chapter 34: Lesser of Two Evils

"Still alive are we?"

Frieza posed the question to the monkey, having made his reappearance on the scene. How this ape had survived his attack was irrelevant to the Arcosian, all that was important was that he was facing down yet another one of these weaklings. Undoubtedly, he thought himself to be a Super Saiyan, just as Vegeta had after his own miraculous recovery. The simple truth of the matter was this Saiyan was just another insect to be crushed.

I must have failed to eliminate that child in time to prevent this monkey from being largely restored. Oh well it's of little consequence, he'll be through in less time than Vegeta.

"Still alive," Turles confirmed in response.

The monkey was appraising him, looking for where to start there battle. It was something Frieza had very little patience for.

"Well, we'll just have to see for how long, now won't we?" Frieza asked, confidently placing his hands on his hips, turning his head away, uncaring that his opponent must have increased in strength.

Any 'boost' this Saiyan received will be a mere fraction of my power.

There was little doubt of victory in Frieza's mind. The fools in front of him were through. One monkey was desperately trying to finish an attack that would take him at least five more minutes to complete, and the other was going to meet his end within one of those minutes. Still, it was best not to drag this out.

But something became uncomfortable for the tyrant as he looked back up, seeing the third class Saiyan still standing there, looking completely unfazed by his words, by his intimidation. There was no change in his posture, it didn't even look defensive. Clearly, this Saiyan thought he was going to be different than the rest.

"Well, I think it's time we completed this little skirmish, don't you my friend?"

Bracing himself finally, the monkey looked... thrilled, excited even.

"I think it's time that I taught you to respect your betters," Frieza finally sneered, planning his assault.

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Breathing in as he stood to the side, arms in the air, Goku was shocked when Turles arrived. Having felt his power disappear entirely before. There was something different about him, even from when they'd met in the pods earlier. His head stood taller, there was a confidence there that hadn't been there before. It wasn't bravado and pride pretending to be a wall of confidence, but real certainty. Turles felt he could defeat Frieza.

Vegeta felt the same probably before his battle though. I did too even.

The back and forth between Frieza and his brother had been short and pointed. Frieza used his usual method of intimidation, but it didn't seem to effect Turles in the slightest.

When the two looked prepared to square off, the world began to shake. Within seconds Goku felt himself beginning to sense Turles bringing his power to the surface.To Goku, it was like watching a dam break. Whatever had happened to Turles, his power had increased dramatically.

A purple aura surrounded Turles as he continued to grin towards Frieza, the light in the sky from the Namekian stars seemed to almost grow dim, the world beginning to darken around them. Rippling bolts of purple electricity jumped off the ground, ripping along the ground, tearing up soil. The arcs of energy cut through the water as well. It was then that Goku felt it.

He's stronger than me.

Goku felt his heart miss a beat as he realized this. The ground around Turles finally began to erode away, the island they all stood on beginning to crack and break. The waters around it began to be forced away as his brother pulled his power to the surface. It kept rising.

Finally, there was a dark laugh that broke through the swirling energy.

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Where as a suspicion that something was different this time had been there before, watching this Saiyan 'power up' began to make Frieza realize that something was definitely off. The other stupid monkey with his hands in the air, looked surprised. So far, he'd come to determine they could read energy levels and-

An arc of the purple energy shot past him, rippling across the ground, breaking free a moment later the energy bled into the air. Turning his head, Frieza heard this idiot... laugh.

Scowling, Frieza prepared himself to attack, only to see Turles disappear in a blur of speed. His eyes were able to follow, but it was an incredible burst. When he brought his forearm up to block the punch which swept in, Frieza felt pain in the block, his eyes widening in surprise.

What?!

His shock getting the better of him, Frieza allowed his guard to drop for the briefest of seconds. In that second, the hovering Turles took advantage. With speed and strength behind him, Turles drove his knee into Frieza's face, smashing his nose. Purple blood ejected from the tyrant's nostrils, before a brutal backhanded fist followed up, slamming into Frieza's cheek. Helplessly Frieza felt himself go flying back, his body trailing above the water, parting the sea beneath him before colliding with a small island.

Fury fed through his veins.

"SAIYAN!"

Around him, the island exploded as he broke free from the rock which comprised its very core.

That's it! I've had enough of this! I am Lord Frieza! I will not be mocked by these upstart Saiyans any longer!

Energy burst around Frieza's body as his eyes cracked with veins, looking ahead to Turles hovering above the ground on the island in the distance. With reckless, fury driven abandon, Frieza exploded with speed, shooting straight towards the object of his discontent.

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It was unbelievable, it was like waking up for the first time in years. The power he felt was something he could barely understand. Every fibre of his being felt honed, in line with one another. It was a feeling of oneness of with himself almost. It was like the first time he'd tasted from the Tree of Might. Before his power had made him believe he was one of the most powerful in the universe. Now he knew he was one of the most powerful in the universe.

The moment he'd backhanded Frieza, sending the purple and white alien flying through the air, he knew he'd achieved something even Kakarot had not. It was true, Bardock's vision had to be correct. It was he, Turles, who would defeat Frieza.

A blur of motion trailed across the water however as Frieza closed the distance between them once again. Seeing the tracing motion, still noting Frieza was much faster than he was, the twin of Kakarot raised his arm just in time to block. Muscles and bone protested at the violet impact. The world around them seemed to almost become weightless for a brief second, before an invisible wave of force centred on the two of them sent a wave out, shattering the ground beneath them. Locked in place for the briefest of seconds, Frieza's eyes glaring hatefully into his own.

"Why can't any of you learn to stay dead?" Frieza seethed.

"You'll have to lead by example," Turles responded with a grin.

In a blur of motion, the two fighters began their exchange, disappearing into the air. Immediately Turles noticed he was on the defensive, despite his power he was still far behind Frieza. It took more from him to block and dodge that it did for Frieza to attack him. Moving past a well placed fist, which was immediately followed by a kick, Turles tried to think of an opening he could find. He'd have to make an opening.

A knee slammed into his gut, shoving itself between his abdominal muscles. He winced with pain as Frieza grinned at him. Turles lurched forward, his hands trembling... but carefully moving towards the leg currently planted in his stomach.

"Do you see the difference between us now?" Frieza questioned. "Do you see that you are my inferior in every way?"

Giving a trembling, broken smile in response, Turles grabbed Frieza's foot twisting violently as soon as he did. Bone protested and disjointed. Crying out in agony, Frieza snarled like a caged dog being prodded with a stick. All the pretence of his civilized manners evaporated and were replaced by the vicious monster that lay underneath the surface.

"I'll rip your hands off for that!" the despot snapped angrily.

Not bothering to listen, Turles grinned now, ignoring the pain in his gut. It was well worth the trade, especially since his hands were still locked around Frieza's foot. A purple aura washing over him, powering himself up, Turles launched himself towards Namek. There was a howl of furious protest from Frieza before Turles slammed his enemy face first into the ground. Frieza's entire body tensed as his frame broke through the upper soil, and the force of the blown shattered rock around him.

Knowing he was still in the advantage, Turles twisted the foot again, trying to break or dislocate it all together. Finally Frieza's tail lashed out, stabbing at him. Dropping the foot and grabbing his tail, Turles yanked Frieza out of the ground. His right arm released the tail and immediate punched Frieza in the back where his kidney's should be. Immediately Frieza fell to his knees. Gripping the tail more tightly, trying to hold it in place, Turles then proceeded to ram his fist into Frieza's back again. This time getting the desired response, a cry of pain and a cough of blood.

How does it feel to be killed, Frieza?

"Enough!"

The heaving Arcosian's energy flared, pulling his tail free before slamming his elbow into Turles's stomach. Trembling, Turles felt his hand let go of Frieza's tail, which immediately looped around his arm, dragging him into Frieza for a vicious uppercut to land on his jaw. It was a violent cracking nose as the Saiyan's body snapped away violently, breaking through a small plateau dozens of meter's away. When his body broke through the other side, Frieza appeared above him, slapping him across the ribs with his tail, sending him back down to the ground with a violent thud.

Landing gracefully only a few metres from him, Frieza hobbled forward, trying to avoid putting pressure on his injured foot.

"I am Lord Frieza, who are you to dare harm me?" he breathed angrily.

Pulling himself up to his feet, Turles just smiled.

"I am Turles," the Saiyan announced. "I am the one who is going to kill you, Frieza."

Opening his palm, Turles let purple energy swirl violently into it, unleashing a blast directly at Frieza. The energy blasted over the open ground between them, sending stray dirt sweeping away in the wake of it's path.

Reaching his hand out in contrast, Frieza placed himself in the way of the blast, letting it strike his palm. The energy congealed in his palm before exploding upwards and outwards away from Frieza himself.

Grinding his teeth as the smoke cleared, Turles saw Frieza standing there, his palm out and his eyes fixed with deadly intent on him. Neither of them were happy with the outcome of the fight so far, but it was clear Frieza was the more powerful of the two of them. But not nearly so much that he could simply dominate on a whim. This was a fight. Turles knew if he played his own hand well, he could win this.

Could? I will win this.

With a smile replacing his scowl, Turles allowed himself to gather more energy into his palm. It was time for another plan.

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Another wave of purple energy was sent towards Frieza. Really, this was child's play, the blasts were powerful but hardly unable to be deflected. Reaching his hand out again, Lord Frieza blocked the incoming shot, feeling the energy wave condense against his palm before exploding outwards again.

Don't these monkey's learn? Energy waves are useless against me when they are so weak. They always get desperate and do the same thing. Primitive brutes.

Before the smoke had even finished clearly, a strong right arm broke through the cloud filled air, slamming into his head. Frieza's head reared back in pain, his face sneering furiously. Balling his own hand into a fist, he quickly recovered, before lunging back towards the Saiyan, slamming the closed fist into Turles's jaw.

When the Saiyan staggered back regaining his balance, Frieza launched his next wave of attacks. A quick stabbing jab shot past the Saiyan's head, before the two locked together in a blur of motions.

He's more powerful than his look alike brother. How can this be? He was nothing to me before? Even now as I feel him tiring out, he's still holding back my attacks. He must have had a power level of 30% of my maximum. Astounding a monkey could make such an achievement.

His thoughts were cut short by an angry snarl from Turles in the midst of their exchange. The purple aura around Turles bursting to life once again. A pulse-wave hit Frieza, freezing him in place in mid attack before a mighty blow slammed into his face, sending him skyward. Flying up helplessly for what seemed like an eternity. Frieza finally halted his ascent. Red eyes flared down to where his attacker had gone, seeing no sign of him.

"Damned Saiyan! Where-"

In a blur of motion, he could almost feel Turles appear behind him, driving his elbow into his back. The force of the blow sent him descending on the same path he'd just risen from. Looking back up to Turles as his eyes turned angrily down towards him, he noticed the Saiyan throw his right arm out towards him aggressive.

"Catastrophe Gun!"

Suddenly dozens of energy blasts shot out, each one curving and twisting through the air towards him. Raising his arms to block, Frieza felt one impact his forearms, driving him down further towards the ground, before he slammed into the surface of Namek before. Opening his eyes and looking up, he saw the other blasts now all twisting down towards him.

I'm going to burn his flesh off this this. I'll rip him apart piece by piece. I'll-

The thoughts continued as the bombardment of energy waves slammed into him from above, blasting into the island as a huge purple dome began to appear around him, scorching him with energy.

Finally however, he felt the energy surging around him, drawing itself in towards the core where he was. This place was preparing to explode. Raising his defence, Frieza awaiting the inevitable blast.

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Slowly rising, Piccolo's mid section barely restored by most of his energy, he could barely stand. In terms of energy, he just didn't have anything left to give. But in the distance even he could see the huge purple energy dome that had formed, in the air above it a battered Turles hovered.

No way, he's more powerful than Goku.

Still, despite the apparent strength of his position, Frieza even now out-powered him dramatically. All Frieza had allowed himself to do was be put onto the back-foot with sloppy tactics. It was only a matter of time before he recovered and finished Turles off. Turning his own head upwards, Piccolo saw the huge blue energy ball which had formed.

So that's the Spirit Bomb, my god.

Before he could ask Goku, before he could make another remark, the huge purple half sphere in the distance detonated. Hurricane winds blasted past them in moments as the entire sky to his west became nothing but a bright wave of purple. Raising his right arm to shield his eyes from the light and now scattered wave of rock and dust.

It was impressive, but it wasn't enough. There was no way an attack like that, though incredibly powerful, was going to finish Frieza. Without realizing it, Turles however was contributing to the defeat of Frieza.

If he can hold on for a few more minutes, Goku will finish the Spirit Bomb.

Watching with a nervous glance as the blast faded into nothingness, Piccolo tried to assess what was happening.

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Floating above the massive crater below, Turles knew his attack hadn't finished off the tyrant. Below, Frieza now stared up at him from the centre of the where the explosion had originated from. A golden field slowly lowered around Frieza's body, clearly the defence shield he'd used to protect himself from significant harm.

"Fool, with the power I possess, you don't stand a chance against me. Give up now and I may show the mercy of a quick death," Turles offered with an arrogant smile, knowing it'd further incite the beast below.

It had it's desired results, Frieza looked like he was going to have a vein burst on his forehead.

That's it, get mad, be reckless. Walk into what I want you to.

The only way to keep Frieza off balance was to keep him from thinking straight. And that meant keeping him angry. However this meant one wrong move on his part would make his end exceptionally violent.

The ground around Frieza was starting to rumble, stray pieces of rock scattering away from him. A moment later Frieza smiled up at him.

"You've been trying to keep me angry, Saiyan," Frieza said simply. "Using tactics designed to irritate or offset me. Well it's time you began to understand why I am going to be the ruler of the universe, and why you wretched monkeys have gone extinct. Unlike you, I can control myself."

Yea, you've done that real well so far.

Before Turles could even think further, Frieza appeared in front of him, spinning about and slapping him upside the head with his tail, moving almost too quickly for Turles to follow. Before he could respond further, a brutal elbow slammed into his gut, immediately after Frieza locked his own feet together and kicked Turles in the chest as well. Falling back at high speeds helplessly, Turles tried his best to think through the pain.

When Frieza disappeared again, he knew that meant either an attack from above, below, or from behind. Flipping his body in mid flight, feeling Frieza's energy, Turles locked his arms together, feeling a huge blow coming down into his arms. The two floated in the air, Frieza's hand locked into his forearms. Scowling above him, Frieza seemed to almost snarl.

"I thought you said you weren't going to get angry?" Turles asked with a smile.

Opening the palm now pressed against his forearms, Frieza unleashed his power, smiling sadistically before he did. Turles saw the red-pink energy come to life, illuminating him.

Well, this could have gone better.

Pain exploded around his body as he felt the wave burst into him. Everything went red. His forearms burned as he felt the wave carrying him down into the waters below. As soon as he hit the cool liquid his body's aches and pains protested more loudly than from Frieza's wave. It was almost unbearable. Finally managing to stop himself, Turles focused his energy and tore the red-pink bolt apart. Looking up from the depths of the water, his eyes narrowed upward. Then there was a bright light. Many, many brighter lights above.

Shit.

Energy waves plunged into the water all around him in successive waves.

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Wave upon wave of energy streamed into the water in the distance, explosions erupting from the water. Turles's energy could be felt spiking and dropping with each blast.

Turning his head upward, his arm still holding his ruined shoulder, Raditz looked at the Spirit Bomb.

"Kakarot, when will that thing be ready?" he sounded more demanding than questioning.

"It takes time Raditz, I'm putting everything I have into this. It's not ready yet," Kakarot quickly responded, looking frustrated.

Turning his head back towards the battle in the distance, Raditz watched Frieza continuing to fire wave after wave into the water. They all knew the power difference there. Frieza was even as he was, almost a third stronger than Turles. It'd been incredible to watch someone be able to make Frieza put in this kind of effort, but the spectacle was ending now. The amount of energy Frieza was releasing was immense, the blasts in the water were only growing in size and violence.

"Kakarot,"

"It's still not ready yet Raditz," Kakarot seethed. "It'll be finished when it's finished."

It was hard to determine exactly what was going on. Turles's energy was shifting so rapidly, it meant he was either taking heavy damage, or just defending himself, or both.

Shockingly, water began to drain downward in the very ocean itself, the surface of the planet crumbling in from the battering abuse Frieza had given it. Steam began to billow from the huge area as water contacted magma on a massive scale, the ocean itself beginning to boil.

I can still feel Turles's energy, where did he-

Eyes widening, Raditz looked into the sky to see where it'd gone, and felt Turles's energy spike dramatically. He could feel all three sets of their eyes staring at his brother.

No way.

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Finally, the monkey was dead.

There was much more pressing concerns for him now. Turning his head and spying the huge blue orb waiting in the sky, Frieza knew that the other monkey had nearly completed his attack. So, these foul apes were going to try and throw that at him? Trying to throw that at the almighty Lord Frieza? No, that wasn't acceptable in Frieza's worst, especially basking in his latest accomplishment of finally finishing off that wretched Turles.

Smiling down at his three opponents, Frieza slowly began to move his body through the air.

"Well now! It looks like I have three more insects to crush. Oh, that last one was a big one wasn't he?" Frieza called down to them, pointing his hand up and pushing his index and middle fingers together.

The first one should be the strongest. I'm not risking facing that energy attack.

"Sadly, this is where you must depart, Saiyan. When you get the Hell, tell the other monkeys you find down there about how I was kind enough to kill you in just one shot," Frieza chuckled.

It was then however, that Frieza heard something. Heavy breathing, a relatively short distance away... behind him. Turning his head slowly, Frieza looked back to see a badly injured, but still alive monkey. A monkey who should have died inside that damned hole he just tore in the planet! Again! Again this ape wouldn't stay dead!

Frieza felt his teeth grinding together as his red eyes locked onto the Saiyan with deadly intent.

This time I'll make sure he's dead. I'll watch him die with my own two eyes!

But it was then Frieza realized why he was breathing heavily. A purple aura burst around his body a second later, shock-wave's of energy cascading off of him as he fixed his hands to his side. Blinking, Frieza realized only too late what was happening.

"Cataclysm Cannon!"

There was a bright flash of light in front of him, nearly blinding him.

This trick again? Pathetic.

Shoving both his hands up and trying to use his own force to reverse the beam, Frieza felt ice run through his veins when he realized the blast was now heading straight towards him. It impacted his hands a second later, shoving him back violently. The world was illuminated by purple light. Frieza felt his hands burning from touching the energy. A second later, his tail moved up, along with his knees to try and gain control over the blast.

Barely, he edged the wave off himself for a moment, desperately trying to keep it at bay.

I can't... I can't hold it! Impossible!

The wave came crashing back into him, nearly overwhelming his defences. How could a monkey summon this much power? How? It didn't make any sense? Feeling his body beginning to be forced back further, the horrible thrumming energy in front of him only seemed to grow in power over the next few moments, the energy-wave expanding massively within seconds. Surging arcs of energy scorched across his body.

"No! I am Lord Frieza!" escaped his lungs.

Desperately, Frieza tried to summon more of his power, just as he felt the energy wave reaching critical mass.

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It was like watching a star be born in the middle of the Namekian sky. Purple light expanded rapidly, before the thundering boom of the blast echoed out across the landscape. The blast caved more of Namek's surface in beneath it, a huge cloud of smoke exploded out in a mushroom cloud, tainted by purple energy.

Even breathing felt difficult right now. Fresh cuts started to bleed, burns from the Hell he'd experienced under the water started to complain, stinging with the salt water all over the wounds. It was hard for Turles to even stay in the air as he looked to the centre of the cloud.

His energy is still there... which means...

The thoughts were wrapped in a state of confusion. That blast was supposed to be powerful enough to kill Frieza, there was no way around it. But he was still there, somewhere in the midst of that mushroom cloud.

He's alive.

The core of the cloud exploded outwards, blasting the smoke in all directions as Frieza floated there. The tyrant looked more than just furious, he looked hurt. Burns covered his forearms, his body looked absolutely ravaged, and his expression reflected not only his anger, but his pain. There was no question he was alive, but for the first time in his fourth stage, he'd received real pain, real damage.

But it still wasn't enough.

It was now that Turles realized he couldn't win. There was nothing left to draw off of. But he had to win! Bardock had told him he was the one to defeat Frieza, his power would supersede that of Frieza's and he'd avenge the Saiyans!

"Monkey," Frieza breathed. "I now understand that there is only one way to deal with you're kind. No matter how much I seem to bludgeon you fools, blast you, or rend you, you seem to live. Even Vegeta took far too long to kill. I've found a solution for you monkeys, I'll share it with you first, and then I'll be more than happy to share it with the others!"

The last words exited Frieza's mouth in pure fury. He was livid, his face had twisted into a maddened rage. Disappearing and appearing below Turles, an orange orb formed at the end of his fingers, Frieza wasted no time hurling the small globe at Turles.

"Enjoy it, you miserable Saiyan! It will give you an insight into where you are going!"

The orb shot towards him, as it travelled it seemed to gain in size and power. The loud, almost electrical hum coming off of it becoming increasingly loud. As it gained in size, and soon speed, Turles no longer saw an orb coming towards him, he saw a wall. It was like having a star thrown at him.

Bardock floated in orbit around Planet Vegeta, Frieza floating opposite, raising his finger with a single small orb at the end of it.

When the fiery attack hit him, he placed his hands into it as best he could, before he just seemed to almost sink into it. Every fibre of his being burned... it burned just like the Spirit Bomb had burned. Every nerve ending screamed in agony as he felt the terrible energy carrying him upward, carrying him into the sky. His eyes hollowed with pain as he felt himself scorch.

"... Kakarot will defeat Frieza..."

The words rung in his mind as his heart raced desperately, feeling himself beginning to literally burn away. Flesh seared from his body now as he felt the orb beginning to thrum even louder... becoming unsustainable.

"... You will not defeat Frieza..."

The original prediction was true. But why? Why was this happening? He wasn't just robbed of his life in this moment. He was robbed of his destiny.

"KAKAROT!"

His last, furious cry escaped him, feeling his body finally succumbing. Even as he opened his lips to scream out finally, he felt his lungs cooking, before finally the world became hotter yet, and then pressure overwhelmed him as the blast condensed briefly, before exploding.

It was like a Super Nova.

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The blast was immense, as Frieza knew it would be. An attack meant to kill planet's would never be small. Still, this was one assault he knew the Saiyan would not just 'come back' from. Finally, he'd finished off that cursed monkey.

Now it was time for the rest of them.

Landing on the island, looking at the three of them, he could see the long haired Saiyan, Raditz, looked distressed.

"Don't worry my friend, I have one of those saved up for you as well," Frieza said, almost licking his lips as he spoke.

All the pain of that previous engagement had been almost worth it. Now it was just a few more steps to victory. His foot still hurt from when that brute had tried to break it, but he ignored the pain as he walked forward.

"Goku, throw the damn thing!" the Namek shouted.

"It's not done yet!"

Oh, his attack wasn't finished yet? Good, because they were finished. Moving his arm up, Frieza began to chuckle.

"As entertaining as you've all been, I'm afraid its now time to die," Frieza said in a low, deadly voice. "I would like to thank you all for providing me so much enjoyment, but I'm afraid I have dinner plans and I cannot be late."

"That's it!" suddenly the third class shouted.

What's it? My dinner plans? Is this monkey really that stupid?

"Goku" threw his arms down, and the very weight of the world seemed to shift around them. Frieza blinked, looking up as the huge orb raced towards him. Suddenly the world became a very small place for Lord Frieza, his eyes shrinking as they focused on the wall of blue energy coming towards him.

That thing is real isn't it?

Before the orb even hit him, the world around him shattered, the force of the energy forcing the ground itself to compress, moving away. The force was so great he could barely move. Reaching his hands up, he pressed against the attack as it bore down on him.

"Bail!" the long haired monkey shouted.

It wasn't something Frieza was even listening to as he pushed back against the attack, struggling for all he was worth. Below him the ground continued to condense inwards, trying its best to avoid the Spirit Bomb. Waters parted around them, more than willing to give the Spirit Bomb a wide margin.

How can this be happening? Where did these Saiyans come from? How could have I allowed this?! I could die. No, nononono I cannot die, I am the most powerful being in the universe! No!

Struggling further, Frieza felt himself utterly powerless in the face of this attack. Finally the ground could retreat no further, and he could halt the attack as much as a normal man could halt the sun from setting at the end of the day. Lord Frieza, the most powerful being in the universe, was helpless.

"RAHHHHH!"

A scream of uncontrolled rage, coupled with fear, echoed out as Frieza felt his body touch the ground, and then there was only light.

The Spirit Bomb detonated.

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A/N: Clever old Bardock. After this chapter I'll have 400 reviews to boot.

Thank you everyone!

I'm posting this on Friday because my hours have changed unexpectedly, not a bad thing, and because I may be too busy on Saturday evening to post it for Sunday.

Reviewers:

fightingchampion: I hope this chapter didn't disappoint XD

DaOneinDaCorner: Turles wasn't severely injured by Frieza's attack, Dende just hadn't healed him enough to wake him up when it happened. He was buried by rubble, and his energy signal hadn't reawakened with him yet.

Anonymous: Turles's power was also further increased because of being mortally wounded while he was a Great Ape, and how he was healed by Dende.

Super Mystic Gohan: Those two shadows aren't Raditz or anyone seen yet. That was their first hinting of an appearance...

coldblue: I'm more making a manageable schedule to get ahead again. Right now I've almost burned up my reserves for chapters. I'm writing a lot of different projects, and I'm having a lot of fun doing it. However, I do want to make sure I don't ever miss a deadline. I really like the idea that my readers know when they are roughly going to get a chapter. Once a week, once every two weeks, ect. Eventually The Catalyst and The Long Road will go back to being weekly releases, but for the time being, in order to get ahead, I'm doing it this way :)

NO: I did end it there, the same as I ended it here! XD

Peter1398: Wasn't intentionally planned that way. I actually shortened things in TLR, originally Gohan had another smaller story arc before Turles showed up. I changed plans as it felt unnecessary to the story, and I think it works better now. :)

Chrisfragger: Turles was, in story terms, going to be the first Super Saiyan. Bardock robbed that from him in order to let Goku take his original role in history.

Dark Impaler: Well, Turles did distract Frieza, unwittingly, allowing Goku to finish the bomb. He definitely did that :(

Demod20: You hit the nail on the head.

Tomorrow4eva: I loved writing this chapter.

Ness Frost: I suspect you'll want to celebrate after this chapter. XD

Jason9000: Or perhaps he'll get hit by a Super Nova attack. Lol

The Ghost Who Walks: Bardock as I interpreter him, is treated very close to how I personally saw him in Bardock: Father of Goku.