Chapter Four
Rettan's head began to throb. The Hunters ki's were climbing to enormous proportions!
Shaking her head to rid it of the pain Rettan knew that the Hunters were beginning to transform.
Cursing she jumped into the air and began to fly toward the ships, the Hunters and her Prince.
Only seconds ago it was all going so well! Rettan cursed again. Vegeta had two Hunters down,
and another ki had joined her Prince. An ally most likely, Rettan reasoned, for who on this Earth
would ever want to aid the Hunters? A wave of nausea washed over Rettan, causing her to lose
control of her flight and sending her crashing into the ground. Slowly she forced herself to her
knees, all the while trying to force her head to stay clear. Rettan looked to Trunks and Goten
who were following close behind her. They too were being hit with wave after wave of nausea.
The two boys were trying to force themselves back to their feet, and the last thought that crossed
Rettan's mind before she past out was how well her Prince Vegeta had trained his young son.
* * * *
As the Captain finished transforming into a monster of a great cat he immediately began
drawing in energy. Vegeta growled as he suddenly felt nauseous. He pushed the feeling aside
and forced his attention back to the Hunters. A growl erupted from deep inside the Captain, and
soon Vegeta and Piccolo recognized it as laughter. The Captain's eyes glowed with the energy he
had gathered, and his feline form began to glow a brilliant blue.
"Feeling a little queasy Prince?" The Captain growled, his human voice barely
distinguishable. Vegeta glared at the beast, never taking his eyes off of it. With a flash Vegeta
came at the Captain, fist raised to cause a devastating blow to the feline's unguarded head. At the
same moment the Captain let out an enormous feral scream, letting loose the energy he gathered,
wave after wave.
Struggling to keep his head clear Vegeta could feel immense waves of nausea hit him, one
after another. His head swam and his eyes couldn't distinguish sky from earth. He was, however,
able to keep his aim true and he landed a solid punch to the Captain's head. There was a
sickening crunch as Vegeta's closed fist struck the Captain's skull. Both the Captain and Vegeta
fell as one, both unmoving as they hit the ground.
"Damn it." Piccolo growled under his breath. He was amazed that Vegeta had fallen to
such a simple energy attack. The waves of energy hit Piccolo just as they hit Vegeta, but it didn't
affect the Namek at all. He went into a fighting stance as the remaining Hunters began to circle
him.
One stopped in front of him and growled in an almost indecipherable voice,
"That be Monkey's attack. Knocks 'em out. Grrrr...Nameks different though. Nameks
get to die old fashioned." The beast finished. It seemed its powers of speech were limited in this
form, Piccolo noticed.
"Bring it on." Piccolo growled as sweat beaded on his brow. If this wave affected all the
Saiyans on Earth, his only hope for back up was Krillin, #18, Yamcha and Tien. At that moment
he could feel two strong ki's moving toward them at a steady rate. If only he could stall these
beasts until then.
Piccolo's hopes were dashed as two of the remaining four beasts attacked him, one from
each side. Piccolo jumped into the air and almost cleared the attack, but was caught on the left
thigh with a raking claw. Rising higher into the air Piccolo was followed by the two offending
beasts, both growling and snarling curses at the Namekian. Piccolo could feel blood pouring
down his leg and dropping to the beasts below him. The scent of blood seemed to send the feral
Hunters into a frenzy. Concentrating on the two attacking Hunters, Piccolo didn't notice one of
the remaining Hunters on the ground preparing to strike. The wild cat, one of the females, sprang
into the air with a great roar, only to come crashing to the ground again when she was hit with a
ki blast. The beasts that were so intent on Piccolo were blasted out of the air with a similar blast,
and both plummeted to the ground. Piccolo looked behind him and there stood Krillin and
Yamcha, both with a look of concern on their faces.
"Hey Piccolo, you oka..." Krillin was asking as Piccolo cut him off.
"What took you damn fools so long?" Piccolo growled, trying to ignore the deep
throbbing pain in his left thigh.
"What? No 'Thanks Krillin and Yamcha for saving my life?' " Krillin laughed nervously.
As he saw the look on Piccolo's he coughed and quickly began to explain. "We were preparing
to join the fight as soon as we felt your ki enter the fray. Goku and Gohan were with us, but both
just crashed to the ground! We left them with Master Roshi and came here as quick as we could.
What is going on?" Krillin finished.
"These things are like Saiyans! They transformed into these beasts! Vegeta's down
already, so we here are the only ones still standing." Piccolo said grimly.
He could see the sweat pouring down Krillin's face and swore. With Goku and Gohan
out of the picture this battle was going to be a hard one. Out of the corner of his eye Piccolo
could see the Hunters gathering. The larger ones, the females, hung back as the two males again
began to stalk their prey. Ripping off part of his cloak Piccolo hastily wrapped it around his
wounded leg, hoping to stop the blood flow. Satisfied that it would hold he began to power up,
hoping that a quick energy blast may confuse the beasts, giving the Earth's warriors some time to
come up with a good defense. His plan was short lived however as one of the beasts bounded
toward him with incredible speed. Pinning Piccolo to the ground the beast went for his neck,
trying to snap it in two. Piccolo was able to grab a hold of the beast's jaws and was trying with
all his might to keep the slobbering jowls from closing around his neck.
Yamcha flew into the air as one of the beasts came crashing down upon him. He wrestled
with it, trying to keep it's razor claws and teeth away from his body. He wasn't doing a very
good job at it. In seconds his skin and clothes became tattered and blood soaked. Focusing his
energy Yamcha shot the beast in the gut, catapulting it up and away from him. The beast growled
and flipped in the air, landing on the ground. Digging its sharp claws into the rock the beast
skidded backwards but was able to stop itself. With a snarl it sprang back at Yamcha, who was
unable to even catch his breath as the beast attacked him again. Krillin was basically left alone,
perhaps because it was of his size that he wasn't thought of as enough of a threat. He watched as
one of the larger beasts that was yet to attack begin to circle the unconscious Vegeta. The great
cat's mouth was opening and closing with anticipation, and was drooling uncontrollably.
"Mistake number one," Krillin yelled as he powered up, "NEVER underestimate the little
guy!" Lifting his arm above his head Krillin created a destructo disc and took aim at the beast's
tail. If these guys were like Saiyans, then without a tail they would revert back to normal. A
scream that pierced the heavens emerged from the beast's mouth that was circling Vegeta as the
disc of energy sliced through its tail, cutting it off completely. The scream distracted the great cat
that pinned Piccolo long enough for the Namek to get a good hold and throw it off of him.
For a few seconds nothing happened. The Earth's warriors waited with anticipation for
the great cat to transform back. It never did. The beast turned toward its attacker and white hot
murder burnt in its feline eyes. It began to stalk Krillin, with its stump of a tail waving in the air.
Krillin gulped, trying to clear the enormous lump that just appeared in his throat.
"Heh. Um, I guess you guys really aren't a lot like Saiyans, are you? Heh. No hard
feelings, right?" Krillin stammered as he began to back away from the murderous cat. He was
answered by a growl that seemed to surround him.
"Oh boy." Was all Krillin could say.
* * * *
Forcing her eyes open, Rettan lay curled in a ball, clutching her head. Finally the world
stopped spinning and she was able to at least sit up without blacking out again. Glancing behind
her, she noticed that the two boys were still out cold. Fighting vertigo with every inch, Rettan
managed to crawl over to them. Her mind was still swimming, but she managed to check each of
their pulses, which were healthy and strong. Struggling to her knees Rettan shook her head, an
act she quickly regretted. The landscape before her swirled and tilted, causing her to again fall to
the ground. Breathing hard Rettan forced herself to her feet. Trying to focus on something other
than her nausea, Rettan tried to search for her Prince's ki. With a gasp Rettan found it, but only
barely. Vegeta's ki was low, Rettan conceded, but it was still there. Picking her spear up from
the ground Rettan glanced at the boys again, making sure that they wouldn't follow her. With a
weak smile Rettan shook her head, those boys were in no condition to fight, let alone move.
Satisfied that they wouldn't follow her and get in the way Rettan jumped into the air and again
began to fly as fast as she could. Clenching her teeth, Rettan concentrated on keeping her mind
(and stomach) clear of the nausea. Her Prince needed her.
* * * *
Piccolo could feel an extremely powerful and unrecognizable ki speeding toward them at
an incredible pace. Pushing the two cats that had him pinned off of him, Piccolo swore at he fired
off two special beam cannon attacks, one had missed and the other was only a glancing blow.
That enormous ki was closing in fast. Piccolo had time for only one more curse as he was again
buried in a mass of tearing claws and razor sharp teeth.
Krillin was dodging left, right and center, trying like mad to keep out of the way of the
immense cat. His clothing was tattered, but the marks in his skin were not deep.
"KAMEHAMEHA!" Yamcha yelled as he unleashed one of his most powerful attacks.
The energy attack hit the beast he was fighting dead on, and it was again knocked to the ground.
Yamcha was about to congratulate himself for taking down one of the beasts when the great cat
pulled itself back to its feet and shook its head.
"Shit." Yamcha said under his breath as the beast glared at him and began its stalking
anew. He could feel three ribs on his right side that were no longer connecting to the sternum,
and his breath came in short and shallow gasps. Yamcha could also feel a new, strong ki
approaching.
"Who do you... gasp...think...that is?" Yamcha managed to say. His lungs burned with
every breath he took. Keeping an eye on the giant cat that was stalking him, Yamcha slowly tried
to get to Krillin's side.
"Whoever it is..." Krillin said as he jumped to avoid a slashing paw, "I hope he's on our
side."
"I doubt it. That ki showed up when these ones did. This guy must be the leader."
Piccolo growled as he landed a punch on one of his attacker's heads. His heart began to race at
an even quicker pace as the ki he sensed closed in. What if this power belonged to an
untransformed warrior? Earth would in dire straits if this guy transformed into one of these beasts
and attacked. With a growl Piccolo pushed the beasts off of him once more. That ki was now
right on top of them. Looking to the west Piccolo saw a small outline of a form racing toward the
battle. The warrior the ki belonged to came to a dead stop above the battle, with a sonic boom
announcing the arrival three seconds later.
The battle screeched to a grinding halt as the great cats stopped their attacks and formed a
circle around their Captain, and therefore Vegeta, who lay unconscious beside him. Piccolo,
Yamcha and Krillin gathered together, certain that their end was closing in. Looking up to the
fighter in the sky the Z warriors were stunned. With a look of death on her face, a woman of
immense beauty floated silently in the air. Blue energy crackled all around her, enveloping her
lean, powerful body in light. Her skin was a rich light brown, and her white hair glowed.
Watching the transformed Hunters she whispered snidely,
"Here kitty, kitty, kitty."
"Well, there are worse ways to die." Krillin said as he eyed up Rettan. He was met with a
glare from both Yamcha and Piccolo. Piccolo was amazed. He had never met a female with such
a high ki before.
"Uh, guys... have you noticed that she's totally ignoring us?" Krillin asked. Piccolo
followed the woman's glare, Krillin was right. The woman was intent on the Hunters, with a look
of sheer disgust on her face. However, Piccolo could see something else, concern, perhaps? For
what? He wondered. His thoughts were answered as one of the Hunters made a move toward
Vegeta. Without a sound the woman in the air shot a ki blast at the offending Hunter, knocking it
off its feet.
"Woah." Piccolo could hear Yamcha say.
At that moment one of the Hunters darted away from the defensive circle, running toward
the remains of one of its fallen comrades. Figuring that the Hunter was running for its life Rettan
ignored it. Seeing an opening in the Hunters defense Rettan took it. Landing a solid kick on one
of the female cats Rettan was able to reach her Prince and drag him into the air. In a flash she
was standing beside Piccolo, with Vegeta at her side, one arm around his waist and the other
holding his arm which was slung over her shoulder. She set him on the ground gently and turned
back toward the Hunters. They were growling and spitting out indecipherable curses at her.
Cursing herself, Rettan watched as the Captain himself was regaining consciousness. Hearing a
groan beside her, Rettan turned, seeing Vegeta finally beginning to stir. With a smile she stood
tall, readying her spear, preparing to defend her Prince.
"Namek." Rettan said suddenly. "Take care of the Prince." Keeping her back to him,
Rettan ordered Piccolo. With that she jumped into the air, her spear leading the way to the
closest Hunter. The great cat was either not ready for the attack or it was wounded, for it reacted
way too slowly. Rettan embedded her spear in the Hunters side and was able to rip it out before
the beast even began to attempt a dodge. The two other Hunters were on Rettan in a second,
burying her with their sheer weight. Yamcha started toward the fight but stopped as he saw the
frenzy lessen, with one cat wriggling on the ground, trying to get the sharp spear out of its belly.
The other Hunter, however, managed to pin Rettan on the ground. Even as the giant cat's jaws
closed on her unguarded shoulder Rettan made no sound. As Yamcha considered his options he
felt a breeze pass his shoulder. In a second the snarling mass of fur and teeth that had Rettan
pinned to the ground was flying through the air. Looking up Rettan could see the Namek
standing defensively over her, ready for another attack. Holding her shoulder Rettan climbed to
her feet. She looked at the Hunter who was struggling to remove her spear from its body. With a
cold glare she pointed one finger and the great cat was covered in a red aura. The beast's features
contorted with the pain it felt and it slumped to the ground. Satisfied that the Hunter was dead
Rettan turned to the Namek and glared.
"I told you to take care of the Prince!" Rettan almost growled as she pulled her spear free
out the corpse. Piccolo was taken aback. He just saved her life, but all she could think about was
Vegeta? He didn't understand. Knowing that the Namek was confused Rettan didn't press it any
farther. With a growl she pressed her hand to her torn shoulder, hoping to ease the blood flow.
The Hunter that the Namek had thrown off of her had returned to the Captain's side. So had the
beast that had turned tail and run. In its mouth was some sort of remote control device. The
Captain again began to gather energy into himself and his features began to contort. He began the
transformation back to his original form. With a grin, the Captain looked at Rettan, and stopped
his transformation halfway, somewhere between cat and man. Standing tall the Captain took the
remote control device from his soldier, and his grin became wider. Rettan froze. She knew what
that device controlled and the collar around her neck suddenly felt very heavy. Trying to figure
out her next move in her head Rettan felt a familiar presence rush by her. The Captain reeled
backwards as Trunks hit him three times in the jaw before taking the remote from his grasp.
Landing at Rettan's side Trunks grinned at her. Surprised, she grinned back.
"How did you recover so quickly?" Rettan asked him. All he did was shrug as he handed
her the remote. The answer came to her as she took it from him. He was half human, half Saiyan,
so of course his system could take the shock easier than a full-blooded Saiyan, just as she, a half
Saiyan, half Saeriyan could. Glancing back at Prince Vegeta, Rettan smiled as he struggled to sit
up. The battle was over. Without warning Trunks jumped into the air and attacked the Captain,
who was ready for him this time. In the short time that Trunks had given the remote to Rettan,
the Captain had drawn in enough energy for a small Wave attack, the same attack that fell the
Saiyans before. As Trunks closed in on the Captain, the Captain quickly grabbed the boy by the
throat and stopped his attack dead. With the boy in his grasp the Captain let loose the Wave
attack, situated entirely on Trunks. The boy fell limp almost instantly in the Captain's grip, and
Rettan gasped. The tables had just been turned against her. By the look in his eye, Rettan knew
that the Captain was about to kill the boy. She only had one chance, turning to the Namek she
tossed him the remote control.
"Hold this." She said. Concentrating on gathering all her energy at once, Rettan planted
her spear into the ground and closed her eyes. With a yell that would have split the heavens
Rettan allowed all of her pent up energy to flow through her. It was almost intoxicating, all of the
power that was rushing through her veins. Piccolo shielded his eyes as Rettan was encased in a
blinding white light. Energy shot into the sky, dispersing into the air of the upper atmosphere. As
the light slowly faded Rettan stood strong and proud, giving no sign that her latest injuries were
bothering her in the slightest. Her flowing white hair with its black tips was now extremely
spikey, and was now radiating with an aura of silver, with golden tips. Her emerald green eyes
turned purple, showing off her Saeriyan heritage. Watching the Captain intently, she began a
slow, steady walk toward him. The Captain began shaking uncontrollably and dropped Trunks to
the ground. The two remaining Hunters, a male and a female, jumped at Rettan, trying to block
her steady advance on the Captain. Catching the Buick sized cats midair in a force field Rettan
stopped the attack, and without even taking her eyes off of the Captain, Rettan blew a hole right
through the Hunters with a small ki blast. Letting the beasts fall to the ground, Rettan stepped
over the bodies, which were slowly transforming back into Saeriyan. As soon as Rettan was in
range the Captain attempted a quick slash to her throat with his razor sharp claws. Without
flinching Rettan grabbed the Captain's arm at his wrist, and twisted it toward him. Yelping in
pain the Captain sank to his knees. Attempting to break free the Captain swiped with his other
arm at Rettan's face, but that arm was caught just as easily. Applying more and more pressure,
Rettan could feel the bones in the Captain's arms nearing their breaking point. Leaning in close to
the Captain, Rettan whispered into his ear,
"This is partly for my mother, but mostly, for me."
With that Rettan powered up even more and let the energy that coursed through her body
flow into his. Nearly 10 times the amount of energy that the Captain could ever hope to control,
it filled his body in seconds. The Captain's screams ripped through the air as his body began to
short circuit. Energy shot from his mouth and eyes as the he howled to the sky, praying for an
end to the torment. Rettan remained stone faced throughout the entire ordeal. She had waited
for vengeance for so long but now that she was extracting it, it brought her almost no pleasure.
Almost. When the Captain fell silent Rettan pulled all of the energy back into her, and the shell of
what used to be The Great Saiyan Hunter fell to the ground. Standing over the remains, Rettan
could feel her head begin to swim. She could hear voices as she sank to her knees, but she didn't
know where they were coming from. The last thing she could remember was the Namek standing
over her, wrapping her in what was left of his cloak.
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