Gohan looked up from behind his mother's leg, as he saw an identical woman standing in their home, in their kitchen washing dishes, happily humming to herself, before at last noticing their presence.
"Mom...?" He said softly, feeling puzzled by the scene that was so oddly familiar. She turned, a startled look on her face, and screamed. The china plate she was washing fell to the floor and shattered as the Chi-Chi within the darkness fainted. Kakarot quickly dove to catch her before she could hit her head off the floor, and caught her safely, cradling her head of carefully bound hair. He looked down at the woman passed out in his arms, then back at her identical twin, who had the back of her arm over her paled forehead, and was leaning back slightly, as she too was about to faint. Gohan flew up, and hoisted his real mother up beneath her arms, catching her before she could fall. The boy and Kakarot looked to one another, and couldn't help but laugh. Somehow, the situation, though tense, was humorous, because whether or not it was the Chi-Chi from the supposed 'real' Earth, or the Earth in the darkness, she still looked, and acted the same as far as they could tell.
They brought the women over and laid one of them on the couch, the other propped in a rocking chair. Gohan had the idea to get some cool cloths to rest on their foreheads, and so they did; Kakarot puzzled as to why he couldn't just shoot the women up with adrenaline, but when he thought more about it, they might just pass out again immediately afterwards.
He looked from his favored Chi-Chi, to the other, and was able to discern the difference by their clothes. His Chi-Chi was still wearing the street clothes from Bulma's wardrobe, a pair of faded blue jeans, and a green Gucci shirt with a red Letterman's jacket, while the other wore a blue cheongsam, with red pants. He sat besides the one he was familiar with, and took her hand, stroking it gently.
"Chi-Chi, wake up... Gohan has made you some tea." He said softly, and her long eyelashes fluttered open, her gaze up at him still unfocused for a moment, before widening. "How did-" She began, but he shushed her, helping her to sit up, little Gohan proudly toting a tray of tea and saucers.
"Look, I made chamomile tea! I know that's what you always have to relax. You used to give me this tea when I was upset." He said softly, and set it on the coffee table. Chi-Chi mustered a small smile, nodding as he poured the tea for her. She took it, and sipped, her eyes darting back to the other Chi-Chi, who still rested. It was alarming to see a mirror image of herself, but perhaps she should have expected this, after all, it is the Darkness, and she has already met alternate versions of Gohan and Goku, so why wouldn't there be an alternate version of herself?
Surely, this was all that fat white cat's planning, Korin must have known she would encounter herself, and presumed she would be able to handle it. Still, it was very odd.
"Kakarot. Before she wakes up... let's take the dragon balls.." Chi-Chi whispered, and his brows perked up, surprised by her suggestion, he smirked deviously. Gohan gasped.
"Mom, that's stealing!" He hissed through cupped hands, giving her a reprimanding glare. Chi-Chi waved her hand dismissively.
"It may be our best option... if we just take them and go, and she'll just think she had a crazy dream, and she may not realize they're even gone!" She said wisely, knowing herself.
"Right, I'll see if we can locate them-" Kakarot began to say, taking out the radar, when all of a sudden, a lamp went flying, and smashed over his head.
"Murderer! Thief! You no good, rotten pirate!" Darkness Chi-Chi screamed, smashing the lamp over his head repeatedly as he attempted to protect his scalp, cringing with his hands over his head.
"Aw, fuck! That hurts like hell!" He hissed, curling over as Gohan ran over to attend to his father.
"Hey! Leave my husband alone, you bitch!" Chi-Chi yelled, standing up quickly to block her from further harming him, fuming with her rage.
"Oh? Who are you, some cheap imitation of me? Look how you're dressed! Not to mention, I heard you discussing how you were going to steal my dragon balls!" Darkness Chi-Chi retorted back, her hands on her hips.
"Ohh, you've done it now! I'll beat the grass outta you!" Chi-Chi growled back, clenching her fists, and moving into a fighting stance. She was clearly challenging the other Chi-Chi, who only blinked back with surprise.
"What, are you going to do, fight me? You're nothing but a beast, why don't you just leave my house immediately, I was doing just fine all by myself!" She snapped, clearly this Chi-Chi wasn't a fighter like her alter self.
"I don't want to have to hurt you, but we need those dragon balls! I have to make a very important wish!"
"Wish, for what? There is nothing more that can be done! This planet has been ruined, by that man right there!" She accused, pointing at Kakarot. Chi-Chi turned and looked at him, puzzled.
"What's she mean, it's been 'ruined' by you?" Chi-Chi asked him, and Kakarot shook bloody shards of ceramic out of his hair, standing to face her. He frowned, not answering for a moment, Chi-Chi met his eyes and found his dark obsidian irises reflecting back at her, visibly darkened by what emotion, she couldn't tell.
"Kakarot..?" She pleaded, placing her hands on the smooth leathery skin of his scarred cheeks. He blinked hard, pulling his face away from her hands, Chi-Chi released him regretfully, her hands clutching before her chest, which felt like it was bursting with her anxiety.
"...She's right. I did come here, and I did purge this planet. But, somehow I missed her... everyone else, I..." He said solemnly, not losing her gaze.
"You... mean to say, you...?" Chi-Chi said breathlessly, bringing Gohan close to her, and covering his ears. Gohan pouted and pulled at her hands, wanting to know what he was trying to say.
"He's a dirty murderer, a purger, how can you have a child with that monster?" Darkness Chi-Chi snarled back, and the other turned her cheek to glare at her.
"Kakarot is not a murderer, tell her, you're not like that, are you?" Chi-Chi said, huffing indignantly.
Kakarot lowered his head, looking down at Gohan, then away. "I can't. I don't want to lie to a woman that looks so much like you... my mate. I did what I had to." He said, and turned his back on her, the red armour of his shoulder pads shining in the dim light of the small home like freshly spilt blood. Chi-Chi stiffened, her hazel eyes wide as she heard what he said, but somehow couldn't comprehend that this was real.
"I don't believe you!"
"Chi-Chi... I'm sorry. I've been afraid that this would happen. Perhaps it's best I just leave now." He said grimly, beginning to walk away.
"Dad!" Gohan yelled, breaking away from Chi-Chi. "No, Gohan!" Chi-Chi grabbed him by the arm, holding him back. Kakarot looked back slightly, his features drooping sadly. He reached into his armour, and took out the radar, setting it on the coffee table.
"I should have never pretended I could live here in a fantasy, with a beautiful wife, and such a smart kid. I should go back. I'm sure you'll be much better off without me. I hope you can find what you're looking for, and get back to your Goku..." Kakarot said softly, unable to look at Chi-Chi as tears streamed down her still angry face, while inside her heart was breaking. She pulled Gohan back behind her as he began to protest, wailing.
"Mom! Don't let him go!" He cried, pounding his fists on her leg.
"Have a nice life." She said coldly, and turned away, the other Chi-Chi coming to stand beside her.
Chi-Chi hung her head, holding Gohan back as Kakarot silently walked away, and the door closed with a soft click behind him. Chi-Chi's shoulders began to shake, as she felt tremors of her agony coursing through her, as if with Kakarot's leaving, Goku was dying all over again.
"Don't cry for him...This is for the better. As long as you promise he's not coming back, maybe I'll consider letting you have my dragon balls." The other Chi-Chi said, and she nodded back; feeling only a tiny amount of gratitude in comparison to the hurt she felt.
"Let's get this mess cleaned up. Say, little Gohan is it? Do you like cookies?" Darkness Chi-Chi said, kneeling to look at him, as Gohan rubbed the tears from his eyes.
"I want my daddy... Please, we have to go after daddy!" He sniffled, attempting to stay brave. Chi-Chi shushed him, looking back briefly, and sighing, as the other went about cleaning up the mess.
"It's alright, Gohan. I'll wish your real father back. Just forget about Kakarot, ok?" Chi-Chi said, attempting to sound brave, before taking off to the kitchen, blinking back her own tears, and searching the kitchen for ingredients to make the cookies he was promised.
"...How can you say that? How could he not be real, I saw him...He was there with us. Just like old times." Gohan said softly to himself more than her; blinking as he looked out the open window. Gohan was trying to see where Kakarot had gone, his small nose twitching slightly as he could still catch his father's scent in the air.
"Daddy may have been a bit different, but that was him. I know him." Gohan said, and rested his hands on the window pane.
He was startled when the window slammed shut, the darkness Chi-Chi right behind him.
"Don't be ridiculous. That monster couldn't be a good father. He's pure evil!" She snapped, and pulled him away by his arm, Gohan tugging back.
"You're not my mommy! You're just a figment of my imagination!" He growled, and realized just how powerless this one was, compared to his real mother. He was able to pull away quickly, and jumped wildly for the window, not caring as it broke around him.
"Gohan!" Chi-Chi screamed, and ran from where she had been preparing the cookies to go in the oven. She helped the other her up onto her feet, and the darkness Chi-Chi began to cry, wholly afraid of the wild Saiyan child.
"I have to go get Gohan!" Chi-Chi said, and the other shook her head, pulling her down with her.
"No! Stay with me!" She shuddered, and Chi-Chi hesitated, looking back out the window, and contemplating her next move.
"Oh...um, okay... just for a bit, then... you have to understand, I must go after my son. Don't you have a son?" She said softly, and the other shook her head, no.
"No... I'm all alone! I never had the chance to fall in love, or get married! It's horrible here!" She sobbed, and Chi-Chi rubbed her back, sighing.
"It's alright... there, there..." She whispered, closing her eyes as she comforted the other version of her, her own thoughts not calming.
Kakarot... Goku... Gohan! All gone!
Kannon turned her head, suddenly startled by a loud thud in the distance. She stood from where her and Nappa had been sitting, conversing with the other Saiyans. Launch flew up from where she had been waiting for Raditz, and hung in the air a moment as she looked off into the distance.
"Something large is over there." Candor stated dryly, Zenaya coming to his side to stand beside Nappa, the three Elites protecting Kannon as if she were their ward.
"Sounds like trouble." Zenaya stated, flexing her long claws, and cracking her knuckles in preparation for some punching and scratching.
"General, should I scout it out?" Bdakka said gruffly, coming up from behind, with his mate, Rachanā, both crouched at the ready, with black and green camouflage on their olive toned cheeks, hoisting sharpened spears made from driftwood and obsidian.
"Go on, but be careful." Nappa said curtly, nodding for them to go through the marshy valley between the bluffs, and the small campsite.
"What Onioan can do, General?" He said, and an almost equally heavy thump could be heard, as he thumped a massive halberd into the ground, the weapon was made of solid steel and obsidian, at least a foot and a half across, and at most, 6 foot long. It was no trouble for Onioan, who grinned, happy to have a replica of his old execution blade.
"Stay with Kannon. We'll go out ahead." Nappa said, ignoring Kannon's groan of disappointment.
"I wanna fight too!" She groused, crossing her arms, and spitting onto the ground.
"And you will, once you have your full training like a Saiyan. For now, I trust you'll be fine with Onioan." Nappa said seriously, and Kannon nodded, one hand clutching the tassel of her cannon blaster.
The three spread out, hovering just inches above the ground, as the massive Namekian could be seen approaching.
Launch yelled, making all the hidden Saiyans suddenly tense.
"Raditz!" She cried, a burst of golden energy coming out around her in defense of her mate, her blonde hair curling on the heat like a halo around her as she sped towards the possessed Piccolo like a bullet. She made a battle cry, and began pumping bullets into the massive Namekian, Vulcane laughing upon seeing her hoisting up her automatic weapon.
Raditz attempted to turn his head, but he was still under control by the female Gemini, who detached herself from the Namekian's neck, and hovered in mid air, coming up behind Raditz, and holding the blade over his throat.
"Let me go!" He snarled, his body quivering as he attempted to thrash out of her paralysis.
"I can't do that..." Tianshae said lifelessly, staring past him, and instead at Launch.
Launch cackled as her bullets glowed golden, thrilled by this new power that she had, she mindlessly let bullets fly out the barrel, pelting the Namekian; tiny streams of purple blood leaking out as her ki-charged bullets started to actually pierce him.
"Yeah!" She cheered, waving her gun at Raditz, bragging.
"Launch, get out of here!" Raditz yelled, and she turned her head, frowning back at him. "No way, I'm here to knock him back down to size!"
"So, you are the esteemed Launch... What's that, a tail?" The large Namekian spoke, coming up, and snatching her out of the air by her tail. She screamed hoarsely, wriggling around a moment, before slumping, her aura fading. Her gun drooped from her hands, the clip entirely unloaded.
"Launch!" Raditz cried, his aura blasting out around him bright red, with bolts of white lightning. Tianshae flinched back, her eyes wide as she tensed behind him. The Saiyan growled, remembering his tail behind him, he suddenly wrapped it around her throat cruelly, hoisting her up behind him, and shaking her once roughly. Tianshae coughed, the decorative blade loosening in her hand.
"Pull these sticks out of my back, or I'm choking you to death!" Raditz demanded, his eyes boring into her with a death glare. "Yes, I shall obey..." The Gemini woman gulped, nodding her head quickly, then going to remove them. Vulcane reared Piccolo's head around, sending death beams from his eyes, and honing their searching gaze onto Raditz. He screamed out in agony as he was burned by the light, his tail loosening its grip around Tianshae's throat. She jumped back as she was released, clutching her throat as she panted to regain her breath.
"You will be next if you disobey me again, Tianshae!" Vulcane snarled, stepping forth once, but not before flinching, as he felt pain lancing through his knees. Spears peppered his legs, as Bdakka and Rachanā attacked him, aiming to disable him. "Pesky simians!" He snarled, and leaned back, squatting slightly as he pushed the spears out of his knees with his telekinesis, sending them flat to the ground, cowering as their own spears went flying. Piccolo's body was slowed just slightly, slowly shrinking from the blood loss. He picked Launch up, and sniffed her, then hissed.
"Gemini blood mingled with that of a Saiyan...? Disgusting..." He growled, and released her, allowing her to float in his aura in the chance he lost enough strength and needed a boost of her curious blood.
"Put her down!" Nappa yelled, flying up from the ground, Candor and Zenaya flying to the sides of him. Bdakka and Rachanā stayed on the ground, readying their weapons.
"Oh, what a pleasure to see you, General Nappa! Commander of the Saiyan Army, Frieza's ass-sniffing pet!" Vulcane spat, making Nappa's lip curl back angrily.
Vulcane chuckled upon seeing Nappa; greeting him with open arms as if he were an old friend.
"I'm afraid I can't say I'm so happy to see you, if that is you, Emperor Vulcane, Leader of the Gemini Cult, hiding in that giant, green Namek! Now, let Launch go!" Nappa bellowed up at Vulcane, looking back at Launch floating, unconscious in the Namekian's massive aura.
"Is that girl something special to you?" Vulcane snorted, his hands clenching, a ridged green brow twitching.
"She's my daughter! I'd drop her, if I were you!" Nappa demanded, his fists clenched back in a challenge, his body shaking with frantic sparks of golden energy, with a teal aura.
Vulcane chuckled again, tossing his head back and bearing his white fangs.
"Drop her! I'll drop her, dead!" He laughed, and moved his eyes to hone in on her, releasing her from his aura, and sending her hurtling to the ground. Zenaya flew like a bullet, her scarlet cape a target as she flew to catch Launch, not realizing a paralyzing beam was headed straight for her, as she caught Launch, and they were both struck, falling to the ground in a heap of dust.
There was a loud battle roar, as suddenly, a horde or Saiyans was attacking Vulcane from every angle, Nappa at the head of the attack, with sheer rage in his eyes. Nappa released an unexpected mouth cannon, sending it straight for Vulcane, striking him directly in the chest, and knocking the wind from him. He backed away, grunting as the bright ki blasts, and spears all flew at him, and he made a sudden cry that rocked through the beach side, echoing off the bluffs.
"Sleepers! Awaken!" He shouted, and around him the others froze, wondering what his next command would bring about. Kannon ran up, and began shouting, swinging her cannon blaster at him. "You can't do that! It's over, the Geminis are free from the cult!" She clipped, and went to blast for his glowing third eye to try and stop the command from having effect, but it was already too late, as a bright light suddenly glowed from far off, to the north, and her cannonball was easily swept away with one large palm, falling uselessly to the ground, where it exploded with a puff of dust.
"It's too late, Kannon. I hope your little cannon is up to the challenge! You always were one of the best of my weapons! Besides Grenada, he was my fire in the hole!"
"He's dead, and never coming back! I made sure of that!" She roared with her anger, her green eyes like absinthe fire in a sea of red, as her aura blasted out around her, and she once again reached for the tassel, the entire barrel of the cannon turning molten red. Vulcane smirked, his third eye alighting.
"...My favorite...Grenada was my favorite, what did you do to him...?" He seethed lowly, his eyes darting around suspiciously.
"He was caught in a little 'full-frontal' explosion! Now, let's try it again, motherfucker!" She snapped, and Vulcane grinned, the other Saiyans fanning out as she went to attack again.
"Gladly!" He enthused happily, and turned his eyes back on her, just as Kannon's rage came to a head, and she pulled the trigger, a white hot cannonball coming out, blasting. Vulcane's eyes widened, and he stumbled back, but not in time to avoid her blast. The cannonball hit it's intended target, and he screamed out with his pain, as the third eye was penetrated, and exploded from the inside out with a gush of fluid running down his face, leaving a gaping wound, which had thankfully not reached Piccolo's brain.
"Great job, Pinch!" Nappa said, coming up to her side. Kannon nodded, her rage momentarily subsided.
"I hope it worked." She said, her voice shaking.
"Why? His eye's been blasted right out his head, that's what you wanted, right?" He responded, not understanding why she still wore a distasteful grimace on her face.
"Yeah, but..."
"Kannon!" A high pitched voice suddenly accused, and she whirled around with surprise.
Propel, Reign and their multiple children were standing before them, having just stepped out of a hover plane.
"Propel...? What did... What happened?" She asked, taking in the sight of her cult sister, with bright fuchsia hair, and blazing amber eyes; glazed over with Vulcane's mind controlling effects. She was hefting a massive rocket launcher over her shoulder.
"Objective: Kannon!" She yelled, and pumped the barrel. Kannon quickly jumped back, startled by her old friend's actions, but also, well knowing what she was capable of.
"Watch out! They're all his sleeper cells!" She yelled, and ducked, as the explosive missile arched up into the air, then boomed behind them, as Propel prepared to load it again. Reign looked around himself for his objective; his hazel eyes devoid of any emotion, the center eye alighting green as he found his own objective.
"Objective: Candor. Onioan. Children, assist." He said flatly, and the six children came out around him, the boys and girls all hoisting various weapons.
"Implode. Object: Nappa." Reign stated, pulling back the curly haired little girl, and tossing her towards Nappa.
"No!" Kannon screamed, suddenly, running to Propel, she grabbed the barrel of her RPG. She gripped onto it, and held on for dear life as Propel grew angered, a pink aura pulsing out flashily around her.
"Propel, you can't let this happen! What'll happen to Implode?! She and Nappa will be destroyed!" Kannon shouted, and Nappa heard her, jumping back from the little child that was tossed towards him. Implode landed in the sand, and began crawling towards his boot, as he struggled to decide whether to run towards Kannon, and help her, or risk having the child attack him from the back.
"She is only doing her duty! That's what the name implies, is it not? With each saiyan's death, a new gemini is born!" Vulcane shouted, and laughed hysterically, no longer making any sense.
Nappa tossed Implode back from himself, backing up toward Kannon, as the little girl rolled across the sand, and came to a stop, sitting up.
"Implode! Return to your objective!" Propel shouted angrily. While she was distracted, Kannon turned her weapon into a plastic toy, which only shot foam bullets. Propel went to shoot at Nappa, but he was hit with one of the foam missiles, and smirked at her as she shook her RPG, realizing it was a toy, she tossed it to the ground with a huff.
"Kannon!" She fumed, and blasted herself towards Implode, taking the child in her arms, and crossing them tightly over the child. "What are you doing? Don't do this!" Kannon cried out desperately, Nappa grabbing her, and pulling her up to his chest as he took flight.
"What are the chances their names don't imply exactly what the hell I think they do!?" Nappa sneered, and Kannon glared up at him, shaking her head.
"Zero! How fast can you fly?" She snapped, and Nappa nodded, blasting off into the sky as quickly as possible. Propel prepared herself for take off, pink steam rolling out from around her legs, as her body quivered; lighting up from within with golden fire that illuminated all the way through, and shone out of her eyes, the volitile child in her arms clutched to her chest tightly.
Then, she took off with incredible speed, propelling up into the sky with a piercing whistle, until she could no longer be seen by the naked eye. Vulcane observed this, and smirked; confident that his dutiful Propel would outrun Nappa.
He turned his eyes onto the battle, watching the others. Reign was challenging Onioan and Candor, but the Elite was on the defensive; blocking Reign from attacking Onioan, darting back and forth and catching his katanas in his hands, effortlessly batting them away.
Reign began to become angered with each blocking of his blades, and evoked the hidden power within him; his aura becoming dark emerald green as he slashed his katanas through the air, sending out tendrils of his aura, matching the green python tattoos that wrapped around his back and arms, like the ones that had been on his red gi.
The tendrils began manifesting into the pythons, which shot out, then latched onto Candor and Onioan, and bit viciously into their necks; rendering their movements inert. Reign pulled the pythons back taut, and grinned cruelly, now able to move Candor and Onioan at will. He had the power to influence their bodies to move however he wished, and so he chose to aim them against each other; the tendrils wrapping around Onioan's large halberd, and then tightening, as Reign pulled. The heavy sword swept down violently down towards Candor, who screamed as it crushed into his armour, and shattered his clavicle, making blood burst from his shoulder.
"Candy! I didn't mean to hurt you!" Onioan yelled, and desperately attempted to pull his sword back, but was unable.
"It's alright, Onioan! Stay still!" Candor said through grit teeth, squeezing his eyes shut as blood leaked down his front, glancing back at Zenaya and Launch lying in the sand, unconscious. His features sank, looking hopeless a moment, before bravening his features for the executioner.
"Onioan... keep the sword there, hold it still as hard as you can, no matter how much he pulls on you!" Candor said sternly, then his head slumped forward.
"No! Don't go to sleep! Candy!" Onioan wailed, watching him for a moment, pouting as he glanced back to the female Elite, and understood, gulping.
"Stay still." Onioan whispered, and glanced back at Reign, whose eyes met his, and were so oddly empty; they struck him as dead...? But Reign wasn't dead, Onioan knew dead, he had seen the look when chopping off heads. Onioan could smell something in him, something rotten like the decayed old man, and growled. Veins stood out on his skin, the hulking, massive saiyan bared his sharp canines at him, and snarled, pulling on the tendrils. Reign blinked; something like fear sparking in his eyes, then the haze returned again.
"Death. You reeks of it. What did nasty man do to make you dead in eyes, but from outside, alive?" Onioan said, and Reign jerked the pythons again; making Onioan yelp out with fear as Candor was slightly jostled, not stirring. Onioan resisted the venom numbing his body, and stood stiffly, keeping the blade right where it needed to stay until Launch was awake again.
Meanwhile, Bdakka and Rachanā were defending themselves against the five remaining children; deflecting bullets and projectiles.
"Right, dart!" Bdakka spat, dodging from the sharp dart spinning between him and Rachanā, the woman quickly listening, and leaning away.
"There's too many children! I can't hurt them!" Rachanā cried, batting away the rocks, darts, and spinning blades, holding her greaves out before her as she winced; a throwing star whirring past, and cutting the tendons in her hand.
"Rachanā!" Bdakka defended, turning his back on the children to protect her, and gasping, as the devious little hands grabbed at his cut off tail, and yanked the stocky Saiyan man flat down on his back. They found Rachanā's was only a mere stump, and stabbed her there with a spear. She screamed and fell back, her body seizing and trembling from the attack that shocked her nervous system.
They pinned the two down with their own weapons, and kept watch over them, Bdakka grunting as he was spread out and nailed to the ground, turning his head weakly to Rachanā, and reaching his fingers out to barely touch hers.
"I won't let us die this way... Not today."
She blinked back, speaking to him mentally, Stay and rest. Once our strength is back... We can attack. Please be silent, Bdakka... If we keep quiet and wait, perhaps our prince will return.
Bdakka nodded solemnly, turning his face back to the sky, and growling lowly with each angered breath.
I will wait, but not for his Highness to save us. Once I am free, I will slaughter each Gemini. Every man, woman and child, until I taste blood and see death before my eyes. He thought coldly, and rolled his eyes onto the Gemini to watch and wait for the right moment.
Vulcane turned and saw to it Reign still had a good grip on Onioan, then lowered his fingernail down to dip it in Candor's blood, then pulled it back and licked it, swiping his tongue across his lips, hissing with pleasure.
"..Good work detaining the big moronic one, Reign. Propel is advancing on her enemy. Children, you've done well to immobilize the Saiyans...Now all that's left is to leech their power, then I will reign supreme over this planet, with the power of every last Saiyan, and Namekian!"
Raditz rumbled, agitated as he heard this, knowing he was utterly out of options. He frowned and looked down at the ground,where Launch and Zenaya lay unconscious. There was little else he could do now but hang in the air; unsure of what he could even do. He had one last idea, it was a wild shot, but he made it, closing his eyes.
Vegeta! Come back to the battle site, quickly!
As he whispered this in Vegeta's mind, a new energy was approaching, yet Calliope was hesitant to enter the battlefield at that moment, looking at the injured child on her back, then at the destruction surrounding the large Namekian.
"This is not our way. Why has he become corrupted? Who is he to harm the children of Saiyå?" Calliope said with a deep frown, looking up to the planets, and channeling her energy outwards to make a connection with the mother Namekian; Guardian of Ryokama, Obœ.
Yes...I see... he's possessed one of ours. I am too weak to stop it, there is a Gemini within that Namekian, and he has my power ensnared to fuel his Eclipse... the longer he is standing... the less of it I am capable of withstanding.
What shall I do? Calliope frowned, looking back at Vulcane, who was at last slowly shrinking now that he thought the battle had been won.
Speak to him, and the Namekian in him may listen. Obœ whispered, then her aura began withering away, and Calliope nodded, standing from the bushes where she had been hiding. She stepped out onto the sand, the dark sky full of smoke darkening into purple as she slowly approached him. Vulcane looked at Launch down on the ground, hearing soft steps, he glanced and saw Calliope advance, then turned his head back quickly.
"Brother Namekian. What are you doing?" She said hatefully, capturing his attention. Vulcane stood, and smirked to himself secretly, remembering that his own outward appearance was deceiving.
"What do you mean, Sister? I'm only eliminating these other aliens. Gemini, Saiyans, they're all just savage beasts." He said lowly, using Piccolo's baritone voice, refusing to turn and look at her.
"Oh..? To me it seemed like they were uprising against you, and you called your pawns out in defense of your weakness." She said scathingly, not believing the imitation of the other Namekian. Raditz and Tianshae watched, Raditz's teeth gritting as he hoped something could be awoken with the arrival of this female Namekian.
"All rulers have subjects, would a queen bloody her own hands in battle?" He purred, turning towards her, and licking his lips. Calliope flinched back, not expecting her body to tense up like it did. A cold shiver went through her, disgusted by the foul being attempting to trick her using Piccolo's appearance. She growled back at him, taking a careful step back.
"I don't know you. I cannot recognize this man's features, but I sense he is one of the dragon clan. But I am not so easily swayed. I know you are there, Vulcane." She spat tersely, and was able to bring out a protective barrier around her and the child on her back.
"What is that you've brought me? A snack for the attractive male Namekian?" He teased, and Calliope growled, clutching Gohan tighter.
"This child is... special to this one. His small body was pulling its energy towards him. I was simply following it's whim, and hoping that there was a cure for the little one." She said defensively, and Piccolo's eyes widened. Calliope gulped, seeing her effect on him.
"His neck is broken. I cannot heal him, I do not have that power. But perhaps... you know of a way? Or else, he will continue slowly suffocating." She said softly, glancing up into his eyes, her antennae drooping with her assent.
Vulcane, for a moment, felt trapped in the Namekian, as he slowly responded to the female's voice, his own antennae gently raising, and twitching. Piccolo looked to the child on her back, and hesitated to do anything that could be an irrational action.
"Bring him... to.." Piccolo began to say, then Vulcane punched him quickly in the gut, doubling over the body he was using.
"Silence! Did I say you could speak?!"
"Dorigelop crafca kørīn!" Piccolo spat in Namekian, and Calliope quickly nodded, understanding that he was directing her to Korin, using the subtle movements of his antennae.
"Rabish faha." She responded, thanking him as she bowed, and leapt up, taking flight. Vulcane watched her ascension, and thought about following her, but his attention was quickly caught by something else, as he advanced toward Tinashae.
"There is a matter I must attend to. Do not leave the Saiyans. If any of them make a move, kill them." He spat demandingly, and she nodded obediently.
"Yes, Master. I will always love and obey my Lord Vulcane." She said, pulling his sword up to her chest to present it to him.
"Careful." He hissed, and hesitated, pulling the sheath from his belt, and sliding it over the blade.
"Take care not to cut thyself, 'wife'." He snarled, thrusting it into her hands, then stalking away. Tianshae looked down at the blade, then walked away, going to stay and keep guard over the Saiyans.
"...We've stabilized the chamber, and reinforced the exterior walls, but it has not been tested on a subject, when a steel brick was placed inside at 150gs, it crumpled from the force. So, you see Ms. Brief, it wasn't feasable to test on anything else at 200gs, because there are no sustainable test objects that would survive the g forces-- Wait, where are you going?" The technician with the nametag reading 'Elbert Reed' trailing behind her gasped, watching as Bulma and her body builder looking boyfriend walked right up to the machine.
"You know, I appreciate your efforts, but I just don't think you understand the process. Someone with as limited brain capacity as you couldn't possibly comprehend that there are other potentialities past the limitations of this little campus laboratory, ergo; my test subject." Bulma grinned, and placed both hands around Vegeta's bicep, him smirking as the little man scrambled backwards, bumping into a group of lab lackeys.
Elbert got to his feet, and crossed his arms, humphing derisively.
"Sure, all brawn, and no brain! If he wants to be a lab rat, be my guest! Does he even speak English?" The technician snorted, pushing his glasses up as he gestured towards Vegeta, who narrowed his eyes back at him.
"You know, when your father recommended me, I thought that maybe through working together, you would come to learn that it's not all about the circumference of a man's bicep, and more about the mass of his brain. Maybe I'm not as beefy as this fellow here, but at least if you were engaged to a capable man more like me, you wouldn't have to be embarrased when your friend here tracks dirt on the nice linoleum when he comes home--" Bulma stormed up to the man, and snatched the clipboard out of his hand, coming so close up to him that their noses practically touched.
Vegeta simply smirked, crossing his arms. He knew that he could trust Bulma, and he found it amusing to watch her push around the inferior male.
"Elbert, I wouldn't touch you with a ten foot pole if you were the last man on earth. You think I only like Vegeta because of his muscles, and not his brain? You have a lot to learn still, little man!" She snapped, and took the clipboard. When she snatched it, she gasped, her face going a pale shade of green. Instead of status reports, and important information, what she found was her name written all over the paper, reading "Bulma Elbert Reed" or "Elbert Briefs" as if he would marry her and take her name, and along with that, her fame!
"What the hell have you been doing all this time!? How old are you, 5?!" She steamed, tossing the useless clipboard to the floor. Vegeta sighed, and strolled over to the machine, looking up at the great sphere above him, then the cubic structure above him.
"Really Elbert, I should have you fired!--You know what, someone start cleaning out my desk! I'm done with this place! I'm moving onto bigger, and BETTER things!" Bulma ranted on, but Vegeta only rolled his eyes, as he walked around the ship, and began removing the stability ties. He was feeling anxious to fight and test out his new strength, and having this machine in their own backyard would be a great way to blow off that excess adrenaline.
"Ms. Briefs! You can't leave! We need you here--" The other techies began to beg, as Bulma took the box from her lab desk, and followed behind Vegeta, walking over to a panel on the wall, and beginning to quickly type in the security code. She completed the sequence, then it took her finger print, loading a moment, before beeping in confirmation. She winked at Vegeta, and he smirked, watching with a wry grin as the entire wall of the campus laboratory opened up, the techies all clamoring, and grabbing flying papers as a gust of wind blew in.
"Au Revoir! auf Wiedersehen!" Bulma yelled sarcastically she waved goodbye to them. Vegeta sneered, leaving Elbert staring at him in wonder, as he flipped him off.
"Just so you you know, in case you only speak English, my girlfriend is saying goodbye, and this finger is sign language for fuck you!" He yelled, as a loud blast of wind rushed past, knocking down everything downwind of him.
"The higher-ups will hear of this! Bulma Briefs, your responsibilities here are finished!" Elbert yelled, and Bulma tossed her head back and laughed, Vegeta wrapping one arm around her waist, as he hoisted the gravity chamber up over his head.
"I am the President, dumb nuts! Go back to cleaning beakers, I'm leaving, don't save my seat!" She teased, waving him off as Vegeta jumped over the precipice, then took flight back to Capsule Corporations.
"Was that satisfying for you?" Vegeta smirked, nuzzling his nose against her blue head of hair. Bulma sighed, looking at her gold painted acrylic nails as he flew.
"Not as much as it will be rolling around on the floor of this baby with you," She giggled, turning and giving him a kiss. Vegeta smiled into her lips, and pushed himself faster, excited to see just how much pleasure a little pressure from the chamber would potentially add to their next love-making session, when out of nowhere, he heard Raditz.
"Oh, don't tell me--That bastard isn't dead YET!?" Vegeta growled, tightening his grip on Bulma.
"Yes, yes, I'm coming to your rescue!" He spat back, he was a little disappointed he couldn't play with the Gravity Chamber, but even more enticed by the promise of battle. Bulma looked to him in question, as they passed over her mother's green flower gardens, coming up to the expansive property that was all belonging to the Briefs.
"I'm afraid I'll have to miss our little training session for now, that mop head's gotten himself in a bit of a mess." Vegeta grumbled, glancing around at the grass, and looking for where he should place the chamber. Bulma pointed to the lawn by where they were setting up the entertainment hall, another of the large circular structures on the property.
"Right here, this is where we'll have the science expo." Bulma said, and Vegeta flew down, removing the chamber from his shoulder with a small wince. Bulma rubbed his muscles down and kissed his shoulder, then rested her face there.
"The Geminis?" She questioned, and he nodded.
"Looks like I'll get another chance at revenge after all." Vegeta smirked, cracking his knuckles, visibly growing impatient.
"Alright, but not without your new armour on. I didn't reinforce it with the anti-metal component for nothing. Do I get a front seat...?" She teased, tracing a circle on his chest. Vegeta rumbled, catching her hand tightly, looking at her seriously.
He didn't want to risk her getting harmed in the battle, but... He also didn't want her to be too far away, like before. Bulma noticed him pausing for a moment, and glared up at him.
"Well? Do you want me to just sit here, pining away, surrounded by frilly dresses and flower arrangements... Or, would you rather have me witness you finally giving those Geminis what's coming to them?"
"Do you get off on watching me, little woman?" He chuckled, and she shrugged slightly, turning around, and pulling him by the hand. She smirked secretly to herself, and began walking away.
"In your dreams!" She said, and Vegeta swept her up, no longer wishing to dawdle, he flew off in a hurry towards the main lab.
"Sure. Just don't scare too badly when the blood splashes everywhere, remember, you look good in red." He sneered, and Bulma shook her head at him, then rested against his chest, closing her eyes as she reminisced about the first time he had held her like this, carrying her like a Princess.
A vast expanse of ample ass was on display, as a sexy blonde haired woman leaned over the glass counter, and blew a giant pink bubblegum bubble directly above the pawn shop dealer's head, as he inspected Yamcha's discarded gold tooth with a magnifying eye glass.
"Is she genuine?" Oolong said poutily, blinking his fake lashes at the man. The dealer stood back, collapsing his little magnifying glass and tucking it in his pocket.
"Genuine, sure... But, it's not 24 carat gold.
I could give you an estimate of anywhere from $55, $60, given you throw in those gold hoop earrings, maybe I could up it to $75." The dealer said slyly, as Oolong sighed and unclipped his large earrings. The dealer examined the earrings, and determined that they were only gold plated, so he settled on $65. Oolong snorted, his frizzy blonde hair puffing out of his face as the dealer laid the bills across the counter, feeling highly unsatisfied with the final price.
"Say, perhaps you could slide me a little extra cash, and I'd let you have a peek of my cherry cupcakes..." Oolong whispered, gradually pulling at the top of his strapless dress, sweat beginning to drip down the back of his curvaceous ass, where as he wiggled it, a curly-Q tail suddenly popped out.
"Are you tryin' to bribe me?" The pawn shop dealer accused, backing up a step.
"No... I'm just sayin', uh... I think you're cute!" He snorted, and floppy ears popped out of the top of his head. Oolong scrambled to get what money he could into his purse, as the transformation process back into a pig was taking place.
"Wait.. are you feeling alright, miss..?" The man questioned, looking on curiously as Oolong's body started to twitch, his tanned skin going pink, as he quickly backed up, hiding the curly tail as he waved and winked goodbye.
"Yes, um, just a little stomach upset! Uh, you know what, I think I'll just take this after all! Thanks!" He said hurriedly, and backed out the door, quickly transforming. He hid up against the side of the brick building, panting, then grabbed the purse, and ran back to Yamcha's house.
Yamcha had just finished packing, and they were loading the rest of his belongings into the back of his car, when Oolong ran up, waving the purse.
"Wait! I got your money, Yamcha!" He yelled, nearly falling in the too big high heeled shoes, which he realized he was still wearing, and tossed. The car came to a stop and they let him in, snickering at his appearance.
"Yeah yeah, it was too close of a call for me to change back properly! The important thing is, ah.. About the money..." Oolong hesitated, tapping his fingers together nervously as Yamcha quickly looked back.
"I sorta wasn't able to get as much as I'd hoped... so if you want that tux by Saturday, we're gonna have to make some sacrifices...Master Roshi?" Oolong said hintingly, and the old man tensed.
"What? I don't have anything of value, what are ya' lookin at me fer?"
Yamcha and Oolong looked at eachother knowingly, and Oolong winked back at him.
"...You know, those magazines, Le cheróus P'er Vert is really worth a pretty penny now'adays, I heard a guy brought in a couple of copies and traded them in, and he had more than enough for a whole stack of brand new Slum Dancer's magazines, he got nice new duds, and a ring for his gal..." Oolong said slyly, watching Master Roshi's expression as he crossed his arms in the passenger's seat.
"Wow, I sure wish I had some of those! I'd love to get Miyuki a really good corsage, none of those fake flowers, you know? I just don't have enough money... It hurts just to think about her disappointed face when she goes to smell them, and they're fake... man, she'd probably never want to go out with me again...Oh, well.. what can you do? Right, Master Roshi?" Yamcha said dejectedly, looking towards him with saucer-like eyes.
The old man harrumphed, looking away, then hearing the sad sighs from the surrounding passengers, and Puar and Turtle held hands and sobbed.
"Oh, I'll never see Miss Miyuki again! She would have loved to meet you, Turtle old friend!"
"She sounds wonderful! I'm so lonesome without sweet Launch around! There's no other girl like her that could be so kind as to polish my shell!"
"Or brush my fur, and feed me those special treats from her hand!" Puar added on, wailing to get more sympathy.
"We sure will miss Miyuki... It's going to be just a lonely, smelly old man-cave at Kame house!" Oolong added, shaking his head.
"Launch was great at cleaning, but with that fluffy tail, I bet Miyuki could do even better!" Puar added, the others nodding in agreement. Master Roshi's eyebrows twitched, and he wiped his nose with a handkerchief. Turtle blew his nose exceptionally hard on Yamcha's leather jacket, then pulled back with surprise.
"Oops, sorry Yamcha... guess you don't want to wear that, if only you had a tuxedo, and maybe a nice hat..."
"AWLRIGHT ALREADY!!" Master Roshi bellowed, and slammed Yamcha's foot on the pedal.
"Drive, drive god-dang it! I may be having my nudie mag stash robbed, but I don't wanna go without seeing little Miss Kitty for the rest of my life!" He screamed, and Yamcha's tires squealed, as he peeled out, and all the passengers screamed.
"Woo-Hoo! Looks like I've still got a date!" Yamcha whooped, giving the Corvette some gas, and whooshing off towards Master Roshi's place.
Nappa clutched Kannon tightly to himself, flying as fast as he was able, the wind whipped around them fearsomely as he blew past the city line, taking off over the vast forest. He looked behind himself, and saw that Propel was nowhere to be seen. Nappa lowered, cradling Kannon more comfortably.
"Is she gone?" She questioned, looking up at him with large ruby eyes. Nappa frowned, knowing that Kannon must have been pinched by the tight grip he was holding her with as he stroked her soft blue hair.
"I can't see her at the moment... but I can hear her. She's somewhere close." He said warily, looking back for a second. He eyed a rough patch of brambles down in the forest, and started to go for it, intending to hide Kannon somewhere in the brush.
"Nappa? Where are we going? She'll catch up in any minute!" Kannon said anxiously, looking down at the ground, then back up. He hesitated to speak, his dark eyes not forthcoming. Kannon sighed, resigned to the fact that Nappa stubbornly thought it was his responsibility to always protect her, no matter how many times she proved she was capable. He flew her down to the ground, and made an opening in the brush, then gave her a small push, and she crawled through, grown timid by her transformation, she obliged, then turned herself around in the small space, and peered up at him through the thorny vines.
"Don't move a muscle, promise?" Nappa said, arranging the thorns around her protectively. Kannon nodded, curling herself into a small ball as she nodded to the big man.
"I'll sit tight then, and be as quiet as a mouse!" She whispered, giggling as if they were playing hide and seek.
"I'll be right back." He said, then began to fly up, before being side swiped by something so fast, he didn't have the chance to avoid it.
"Nappa!" Kannon gasped, her hands over her mouth as Nappa jerked violently to the side, a large gash in his hip, his tail moving away from his bloodied side, flicking off the blood oozing from where his armour had been obliterated. He didn't even take a split second to assess his injury, whirling back around towards the direction of his attacker.
"Slow the fuck down! Or I'll shoot you down!" Nappa growled, gritting his teeth as he searched the skies with his eyes, looking frantically back and forth for Propel. There was a small tinkling sound like laughter, then the rumble like a small jet engine, as Propel blasted past. Nappa jumped to the side, avoiding her as she was only a pink streak in the air. He squinted to see her, then lept up, avoiding the tightening circle she was flying around him. Nappa hovered above as Propel still spun, putting two hands together, he blasted down into the circle, and his ki blast ricocheted off her small tornado, pink smoke billowing out as Propel moved slower and struggled to escape the blast, before Nappa shot down once more, hitting the previous one, and sending it blooming outward. Propel widened her circle, and quickly flew off to the side, small flashes of her visible as she phased back and forth towards Nappa, visibly wounded.
Nappa prepared himself to strike, as the Gemini grew nearer by the second, phasing closer. Nappa held his hands out, and released a flurry of small ki blasts, blanketing the entire area as she appeared and dissapeared, attempting to avoid the barrage.
"Face it! You may be fast, but Gemini's aren't made as tough as Saiyans!" Nappa chuckled, forgetting his own mate was a Gemini for a split second.
"Watch how you talk about the cult!" Propel said, her voice wispy as she darted back, and was struck by multiple blasts, curling up into the fetal position, and cradling Implode even tighter. Nappa kept blasting her, watching how a pink aura was wavering around her skin, her body still shaking and glowing golden from within like a jet engine about to take off.
"Propel! It's not worth it! You're under Vulcane's control!" Kannon shouted up from the brambles, gripping them with the soft leather of her fingeless gloves, and pulling.
"Nappa! If you keep blasting, you're only going to make her more volatile!" Kannon cried out, in attempting to escape the brush, a thorn cut her cheek, and that small amount of blood was enough to capture his attention, as he turned his nose quickly to the scent.
"Pinchie! Stay hidden!" He growled, furious that she was interfering, and giving herself away to the enemy. Propel glanced back, unfurling from her position, as the small child in her arms was glowing red, with swirls of hot magmatic orange.
"Can't you see? He's nothing but a dumb monkey. He treats you like you; as a weapon, are worthless to him. A smart man would keep his weapon well-oiled." Propel purred in that listless tone, turning her dull amber eyes tinged with gold sparks back onto him.
"Kannon? She's not a weapon!" Nappa snapped, offended by this odd little woman. He had to admit he was startled to hear this, he had always thought that Gemini females were inherently powerless. They transformed and became fearless, and were capable of making a siren's song that would make a Saiyan's ears bleed, but... Were the cult all different somehow? Why were some named for the weapons they represented, but others weren't? Then, that meant, Launch was...? Nappa looked back at Propel quickly, gears turning in his mind. He was no rocket scientist, but he knew what those words meant.
"Propel... if that is your real name, I'm not sure if you'd even remember me... If you were born at the time your planet was purged, then all the knowledge you have of your people's genocide has been biased. I never wanted to hurt your people..." Nappa spoke softly, watching as Propel fumed silently, the pink smoke still flowing around her, Kannon reaching one arm out of the brush hopelessly as she could barely watch through her sobs.
"My position as an Elite Guard was bastardized after the destruction of my planet. Frieza turned the last remaining Saiyans into his personal lap dogs, and if I didn't kill each Gemini quickly, and scrape the planet clean...My wards- my sons would have been his mincemeat." Nappa said, lowering his shining bald pate laced with veins.
Kannon took a sharp intake of breath as she heard this, blinking the tears hard from her eyes. When Nappa said ward, or referred to Raditz and Vegeta as charges, he meant that they were his adopted sons, merely under his protection, and advisement in their growth. To actually call them his sons, meant as the alpha male of all of them, he considered all those dear to him part of his clan, whether Gemini, or half-breed to be his family.
"Kannon was to be my wife, and he took that from me... I want to kill Frieza just as badly as your Lord Vulcane. I would think perhaps you could understand, seeing as... he took you from your family and made you all weapons." Nappa said with finality, watching as Propel bit down on her bottom lip, her amber eyes wavering with moisture, as the blood quickly became tinged with a golden gleam, and dripped down onto the little girl preparing for her first and final implosion. The blood quickly absorbed, Nappa looking on, puzzled. Kannon's body shook with her anxiety as Propel bit her tongue, and spit, hacking on her own blood as she forced herself to bleed on the child.
"That's enough. Put the girl down, or you'll have to fight me. I tried to speak some sense into you, but I see that had no effect." Nappa sneered, clenching his fingers as electricity crackled around them, watching the slow drip of blood onto the child that seemed to only make her glow more intensely. Kannon whimpered, pulling vines away from herself, as she feared for their safety, her own self preservation became irrelevant, with the scraping of her palms on the thorns, she winced, pulling them to her chest and sobbing. She hated that she was born with this inherent weakness as Nappa had said, and it was true, the base form of the female Gemini had less tenacity than her blonde haired self.
Kannon formed her fingers into a pinching motion, and went to pinch her arm, giving in to her weakness, but something about the way Propel, though brainwashed, was so bravely standing her ground made her slightly hesitate. Blinking up, Kannon wondered how she could be useful. As Vulcane had always said, Kannon did not make herself useful. Not until Nappa's return, did she ever find herself having a drive to do anything out of the ordinary. Propel was his always useful, ever dutiful subject, and as Kannon blinked, she began to understand what she had been underestimating about herself all along. She was a trained weapon. She looked down at her armour, and patted it, searching for a gun, a knife, something, but all she had was her cannon blaster, and as of late, it had proved only reliable sometimes. With Propel's speed, she would easily dodge it.
Kannon sighed out in exasperation, her bloody hands on her face, she fell to her knees, trapped in the brambles and unable to find the untapped power she held within.
If only I were blonde again...I should just pinch myself and get it over with! She thought to herself, then heard an odd, husky chuckle.
Don't be an idiot... My power's exhausted from fightin' earlier... It's your turn now, go get em'! The blonde Kannon said from within, making the bluenette perk up.
She moved her hands away from her face, the streaks of blood quickly turning golden and absorbing into herself. There was a low crackling sound around her that she couldn't place, as Kannon took a deep inhale of breath, and honed in on her opponent. While she was deep in introspection, the battle had gone on without her intervention, Nappa was attacking Propel with well-timed ki blasts, as she dodged and evaded each attack, some bouncing off the molten hot child ready to explode, and sending heat radiating through her small body.
"Propel! Look at me!" Kannon shouted, standing stiffly, her fists to the sides as her curly hair slowly began to rise with an odd puff of green mist, that she glanced at quickly, wondering if she was about to blast off like her cult sister. She gulped, it made her anxious. Would...she explode?
Her ruby eyes grew wide as the green mist began to thicken, and billow out around her, her feet feeling hot in her boots as her temperature began to rise. Kannon felt a feverish heat beading on her brow, as the vines around her began to curl, and heat up with her intense rage.
Propel turned to eye her, thrusting her arms out to push the child towards Nappa, her eyes glowing white from the heat inside her. Her cult sister's face was pale, devoid of expression as she was ready to detonate along with her own child. Nappa saw this, and took his chance, grabbing Implode from Propel's arms in one swift motion, and the angered woman in turn, blasting towards her with the intensity of jet propulsion.
This happened so imperceptibly fast, that Nappa could not possibly avoid it when Kannon made an ear piercing screech so deafening that it made Propel stutter in mid air, as if she had suddenly run out of fuel. Nappa roared out in pain, pulling the white hot child into himself as he cringed, blood exploding out his ears, as Propel battled back with an equally deafening screech, and sent herself flying backwards a few feet.
Kannon panted, her shoulders shaking as she looked around herself, noticing the brush had fallen away with her scream for Propel to stop, that was so high-pitched it was imperceptible to both human, and Saiyan ears. Propel had screamed back at her in defiance, the force of their vocal weapons so powerful it made them clash, and forced her back. She now hovered, panting as Kannon did the same, regaining her energy.
"If you refuse to stand down, I will not hesitate to kill you!" Kannon yelled, holding out one hand, and placing it on her cannon blaster. Propel watched in confusion, as Kannon pulled back, a red handprint left on the metal as Kannon whimpered and looked at her own hands, agonizing over her own detonation.
"She'll kill you, and your child will explode in front of you," Nappa spoke up, his ears still ringing, though he held the child a few feet away from himself in a small anti-gravity barrier. Implode stirred from her metamorphosis, looking up, she crawled on her hands and knees, and saw Kannon on the ground, her temperature beginning to quickly match hers.
"Auntie Kannon..." She wailed, then began to cry, as the walls of the barrier shook with each wail; Propel was struck by the child's utterance, her expression grew pallid as she looked back at Nappa, and saw the Saiyan man was crouched over, bleeding from multiple wounds, his hand nearest to her glowing, ready to kill her with mercy in the case her child exploded and failed to kill her as quickly as it did him. Propel gulped, feeling her brainwashing wavering, Vulcane's influence fading.
"Auntie Kannon, please don't..." The child whimpered, she herself frightened of her own potential detonation. Kannon was no longer able to stop the fuse that ran from the tips of her toes, to her head, as she was entirely aglow now, and ready to face Propel if that meant that Nappa would be saved, and Implode's detonation could be delayed. Kannon felt something inside her suddenly change, the heat lifting suddenly, as her spirit transcended the flesh, a golden haired sprite of her other self suddenly burst from her chest, the other Kannon at rest, as her explosive blasted out, straight towards Propel. Kannon followed herself, taking action immediately, she thrust herself up from the ground, and caught Implode, Nappa following, circling his arms around her as she absorbed the blow of Implode's self destruction.
Kannon cackled as she was freed from the confines of her body, naked and sparkling like a fairy flame, she felt the heat inside her growing hotter as Propel frowned at her, and with a pink explosion outward, propelled herself violently towards her, and the dark sky lit up with a flash of the red as the two clashed heads.
Nappa glanced up, blinded by the explosion, just as the other Kannon had quelled Implode's own detonation, she quickly made the best of her alteration magic, and turned Implode's ultimate attack into something less dangerous. A massive pillow of white steam rose up between them, and the child was rendered rescued, if not incredibly wet from her new attack; which was still effective in it's steam-powered blast, but at her young age it was nowhere near as powerful as the massive explosion that Kannon had caused. Kannon sighed as the golden being appeared, cradling Propel in her arms, slightly burnt, and crying, her hair now black after she'd transformed. The twins met, Kannon transferring into her other self, and Propel joining her and Implode in Nappa's arms.
Nappa looked down at the women and the child, and shook his head.
"You Gemini women sure are some spitfires!" He chuckled, and Kannon pinched him hard on the cheek, twisting.
"Take back whatcha said about me!" She demanded, her ruby eyes alight still with her golden ire, as Nappa squirmed and fought against her twisting hand.
"Alright, alright! You asked for it!" He growled, and reached down, pinching her on the ass. Kannon gasped, popping up and quickly transforming. She growled as she looked down at herself, noticing her perky chest had shrunk. The little girl laughed, and to their surprise, her bright red hair turned a soft shade of pastel pink, and she smiled. Propel held her tightly to her chest, her constant streams of tears making the tips of her long black hair curl upwards into bright fuchsia spikes.
"Thank you... so much for saving me once again. But what about all my other children, and Reign?" Propel said suddenly, her head lifting. Amber brown touched her pupils, and made her blue eyes stunning as she had achieved her final transformation, the two of her spirits now one. Nappa looked around himself, then began to fly easily even with both women cradled in his arms.
"Don't worry, we're headed right for em'." He said, and they left the site of the explosion, heading toward the shimmering shore over the blackened beach where the battle still lingered on.
A mass of red viscera oozed out onto the ground below Vulcane's feet, as he stepped forth, and fell to his knees, burying his hands in it, and cradling the putrid ooze. Green light glowed from within it, as he held it tenderly, and pulled back to look down at it.
"What have they done to you?" He said softly, and began gathering up the red muck in Piccolo's discarded turban. It was full nearly to the brim as he stood, and carried it carefully back to the battle scene. There was a sudden flash of light far off in the distance, and Vulcane growled. His brow had slowly began to start healing where Kannon had pulverized his evil eye, and now that he no longer had it, he wouldn't be able to re-ensnare the girl. Not that Vulcane was privy to the delicate information about Piccolo's ability for regeneration. He was a stranger in an offal body, and he only wished to have his own back once this Eclipse could at last end.
"Come on, I have a treat for you..." Vulcane whispered, and came up upon the two Saiyans pinned to the ground by the Gemini children, and smiled down at them. Bdakka turned his head, and growled, his eyes beginning to glow with an iridescent energy. Vulcane was quick with his action, though, and tossed the red substance onto Rachanā before she could even react. The Saiyan woman screamed as the substance landed on her, burning, and Bdakka suddenly regained his strength, loosening one hand, and throwing himself over his mate.
Vulcane laughed heartily, tossing his head back as the Saiyans struggled to stop the essence from burning Rachanā, Raditz looking on in disgust. The acrid burning scent caused a foul odor to carry on the air, causing Launch to stir. She sat up, blinking, and opened her mouth to speak. She was quickly silenced, as Zenaya clamped her hand over her mouth. The older female Saiyan hissed in her ear for her to be quiet, and Launch nodded, and the two hung onto one another for support, watching their respective males still struggling. Zenaya caught sight of Candor with Onioan's blade in his shoulder, and gasped. Launch looked quickly to Raditz, and he nodded.
Go to him first. I'm in no pain, simply restrained.Launch nodded, and the two women carefully army crawled across the ground, evading both Reign, and Vulcane's vision.
A hoarse scream was made, as Rachanā felt her essence being sucked from her, the strength nearly sucked from Bdakka, as the two Saiyans clung to one another desperately, Vulcane held one hand out, and coaxed the amigulation of the substance from the explosion in the underground cavern, and the fresh Saiyan blood, and pulled it up into a vaguely humanlike shape. Tianshae came to his side obediently, and handed him the blade. The dripping blood creature gasped for its breath, and gripped the blade of the sword, and energy suddenly rushed through it, fleshing the being out, and reviving it. Vulcane smiled with sharp ivory fangs as he pulled the pommel back to help it to stand. He then motioned with one hand to the naked man, and clothed him.
"Welcome back to the world of the living, Grenada. Do you recognize your maker?" He said commandingly, as the revived gemini at last regained his footing, and lifted one hand, looking at it curiously, and humming at the appearance of his pink, scar-tissue free skin.
"Hmhm... I have new skin, demon?" He at last spoke, meeting Piccolo's eyes with a strangely empty gaze.
"Demon? I am no Demon Slug-Jin, nor Namekian. I am your master, Vulcane." He said sternly, glaring down at his subject. Bdakka and Rachanā could only crouch on the ground, breathless, and bleeding from multiple burns as they watched in horror. Grenada turned his head and looked around himself, his dull green eyes retaining only a tiny flame of absinthe from his former life.
"Kannon... mhm...My mate, hm Kannon... she killed me... mm.. I tried to call her from the underworld, but..." He said softly, looking around for her, and not seeing her anywhere. Vulcane turned him violently around by the shoulders, and made him face him, eye-to-eye.
"Listen! You will see your Kannon! But, you are still my weapon! We have but this one chance to take the power of the Eclipse for ourselves, and kill all these Saiyans, then we'll be unstoppable, do you understand? Failure is punishable by death!" Vulcane growled, shaking him violently. Grenada's head swiveled around on his shoulders like a bobble head, so lifelessly he may as well still be dead.
"Death is... hmhm... better than.. enslavement." He uttered, listless, but then, something caught his attention, on the very fringes of his vision. Something familiar sparked a flame of recognition in him, and he made a weak cough of laughter, with only a hint of the demented air it had held before, as he saw his old opponent, and rasped.
"..Vegeta, we... meet again."
Vegeta chuckled back at him, lowering down with Bulma on his hip. She quickly turned and ran towards a small armoured vehicle that had followed them, which she quickly got into. Vegeta looked back to make sure she was safe, smirking, and turned back to stare down at them. Vulcane blinked, noticing the regal air this simian carried with him that was like no other. He cringed back slightly as Vegeta approached, wearing a tight dark blue bodysuit, with luminous white, and gold plated armour cradling his musculature protectively, lacking the unwieldy shoulder pads and leg protection, but instead, a stunning red cape flashed out behind him, and made a crack on the air as he lowered.
"It is fortuitous to remake your acquaintance, seeing as my breastplate is flame retardant, and your pesky weapons will have no effect on my anti-metal component enhanced armour. Care to take a stab?" Vegeta chuckled confidently, strolling closer to the ancient Gemini wearing the shell of a Namekian, and instantly sensing that he was possessed. He turned his face away quickly, disinterested by Vulcane, and instead, glaring at Grenada, and grinning smugly. Raditz watched him from afar, knowing by the confident strut that Vegeta carried himself with, that he had fully commenced the mating ceremony, and had now fully matured into his third ester of life. Raditz took a small intake of breath, slightly in awe of Vegeta's regal presence.
He watched, astounded, as Vegeta turned to the Gemini woman named Tianshae, and soundly slapped her, the sound carrying on the air, as she made a pained cry, and fell to the ground. With that, the kazanshi sticks were powerless, and fell from Raditz's back, useless. He snapped out of his paralyzed state, and shook himself free excitedly, releasing all the tension deep in his bones. The first thing he honed in immediately on, was Launch, and her and Zenaya's advance towards Reign. He caught their attention, and they both stood; Zenaya squinting at him curiously as if she suddenly recognized him, but couldn't place where from.
"Guess what, snake boy, you're reign is now over!" Raditz smirked, and came up behind Reign quickly, the women watching curiously, as he grabbed the blonde man behind the neck before he could react, and pulled him roughly, throwing him meters away into the sand, where he landed harshly. The snake-like tendrils were snapped with his separation, and Candor and Onioan could at last move freely, but still stood stiffly, making no sudden motions for fear blood would spray from the deadly shoulder wound made with Onioan's blade, which was so wide that it resembled a guillotine. Launch and Zenaya ran up and Raditz followed, helping Onioan to pull the blade away carefully, as Launch healed it effectively. Candor fell back onto the ground in relief, and Zenaya attacked him with a hearty hug, holding him tightly around the waist as she cried her apologies.
"Don't cry over me, Zenaya. I'm just fine now." He said softly, and patted her on the back, before be returned her embrace, and for the moment, everything was amended. Raditz and Launch turned back to see Nappa and Kannon approaching in the distance, Propel in his arms as they landed beside Reign, who was still regaining his wits, looking up at Implode's appearance curiously.
"Propel? What happened?" He questioned weakly, as she and their children surrounded him, the children no longer under Vulcane's spell either. With the loss of his eye, it had been broken.
"Isn't everything just mending up nicely," Vulcane hissed, narrowing his eyes on the figures. "Start making your goodbyes, because the way I see it, everything is aligning just perfectly for me." He growled, and shoved Grenada towards Vegeta, who took the challenge with no hesitation.
"I have no complaints," Vegeta said, and made a beckoning motion with his hand, coaxing Grenada forth. He noticed the deadened expression the Gemini had, and felt slightly disappointed; but perhaps he could stoke some fire back into him.
Bulma clutched the steering wheel of her armoured vehicle, fully equipped with weapons ready to blast, reinforced to avoid self-destruction. She took a deep breath, and it took everything she had to not want to slam on the gas, and flatten all these annoying Gemini's, but she had confidence in Vegeta, and if need be, she would step in. But for now, she was happy with the fact that her anxiety was quelled by being a witness, as she turned her head, and smiled at Miyuki, who laughed gently.
"Thanks for coming along, you know, I never would have expected you to show up today, I hope you don't mind being here. I promise we'll get you a nice dress afterwards!" She said cheerfully, and Miyuki sighed shakily, "Gosh, I'm just thankful Yamcha isn't participating, I'd hate to think what could happen..."
She said anxiously, and Bulma patted her on the back, smiling. Mentally, as much as she still held a grudge against him, she was glad too.
"Don't worry! Yamcha never comes to these kinds of things, anyways." She said, biting her cheek slightly.
"No...? He seems to like fighting. Hmm, well I'll take your word for it, Bulma. Maybe once all this is over, your boyfriend and him could have a little training match!" She suggested happily, and Bulma laughed, patting Miyuki's back again. "Uh, sure! Vegeta would love that." She said, shaking her head slightly. Miyuki narrowed her eyes, wondering what Bulma could possibly mean, but decided to change the subject instead.
"Well, good thing you have me here. I've been an E.R nurse for quite some time, and it's quite the stimulating occupation. When you said that you were heading off to a battle, I just couldn't resist!" She chirped happily, her tail bristling. Bulma looked at her oddly, but could only smile. "Yeah. It's exciting... but dangerous, so we can only jump in if absolutely necissary." She said lowly, and Miyuki nodded back, understanding. They watched the ensuing battle for a moment, Bulma's hands clenching on the wheel, as Miyuki's claws extended in reaction.
"...So, these are what the other nurses are calling our super-human monkey men patients. Goodness, and you say you're in love with him?"
"Haha, Definitely. That's my Prince Charming." Bulma sighed, and Miyuki smiled back at her, clasping her hand.
"I am so glad you were able to find a man like him. I'm still wondering... If Yamcha could be that man for me." She said softly, and Bulma looked at her, watching the fire in Miyuki's blue eyes, and wondering if the neko-mimi could potentially be a fierce fighter to match Yamcha's Wolf-Fang-Fist.
"I think you should give him a chance!" Bulma finally relented, and Miyuki grinned back at her, "I think so too."
Yamcha turned in the tall full length mirror, giving himself a doubtful expression, as the man with measuring tape still took measurements of his leg. Something had been bothering him, but he couldn't quite place what it was. A small tingling kept tickling at the back of his head, buzzing away and interrupting his thoughts, so much he could barely concentrate.
He gave himself one last look in the tuxedo, and decided that this one would have to do. He was no longer as concerned about his appearance as before, he looked good enough, and the tuxedo was in his price range.
"Listen, I think this one looks nice. If you could get it packaged right away, I'll pay for it all now in cash." He told the tailor, and he nodded, "Yes sir. I'll just make some minor adjustments to the length of the pantleg, then--"
"No time! I said this is good enough, ok? Please. It'll be fine if it's a bit long." Yamcha said impatiently, and began stripping off his blazer hastily.
"Alright, that can be arranged." The tailor replied, taking the blazer.
Master Roshi looked to him seriously, and Yamcha exchanged a glance back. Something big was happening, and they both had a bad feeling.
A/N: Well, that was unexpected, wasn't it? I have slaved over this chapter day and night trying to get it out quickly for you guys, it was a bit delayed, but I made it!I really hope you're enjoying it so far. If you haven't reviewed yet, please don't hesitate! You could simply comment that you liked it, and I would be so happy! Just a few chapters til the end!Also, I apologize if you looked for my Twitter and didnt find it, the correct address is RoyalBlue_Roses! I just posted a new drawing of Onioan. Please feel free to add me there! RoyalBlueRoses