Dragonball Z/Tenchi Muyo
Rebirth of Rage
Disclaimers -
1. All characters of Dragon Ball and Tenchi Muyo belong to the creators.
2. This fanfic belongs to me.
3. E-mail all comments, flames, questions, ect... to nateshannon@hotmail.com
4. This fanfic takes place after Vegeta becomes a Super Saiyan but before the Androids show up. As for Tenchi, unless they create OAV 3, this takes place right after the OAV of Tenchi.
5. This is a action/adventure and humor fanfic, and is rated 14A for language.
6. If you read it, please review it!
Chapter 12 - The confidence, the shock, and the training.
"Hiiiiiiiyah!!!"
Like a green lightning bolt, Piccolo shot across the room. Zyroko saw him coming at him, but by that time it was too late. Piccolo reared back his right hand, and let it fly diagonally at Zyroko.
*Kabam!*
For the first time, Zyroko was hit. Piccolo's side chop landed square between Zyroko's shoulder and neck, and Zyroko fell backwards from the attack.
"Wha..? Ugh...my...neck..."
Zyroko tenderly rubbed his neck. Was that...pain? This was the first time he had ever experienced pain before. Zyroko stood, and stared at the silent Piccolo.
"Well, I am impressed. For the short time I've been alive, this is the first time I have ever felt pain. It's a chilling sensation..."
Piccolo was unmoved. "Interesting. Better get used to it though. My fists will do quite a bit of talking before the fight is over."
Zyroko snarled at Piccolo. If only he had absorbed Tenchi when he had the chance! Now Piccolo would be much harder to beat and destroy. Zyroko didn't want a fight, at least not one with a strong warrior like Piccolo. Hehe, that could wait at least until he becomes Ultimate Zyroko.
"Errrriyahhhhh!!!!"
While Zyroko was briefly lost in thought, Piccolo launched again. With speed faster than even Zyroko showed, Piccolo smashed his fist into Zyroko's face. Zyroko was knocked backwards, but Piccolo zanzokened behind him to halt the fall.
*POW!*
Piccolo's knee sunk into Zyroko's lower back, sending off flashes of ki and shock waves. Zyroko gasped in horror, spitting out a quick gush of blood. Piccolo wasn't giving the evil tyrant any time to recover, and thus picked up Zyroko by his sides.
Holding Zyroko above him, Piccolo let go off him and drop kicked him. Piccolo's brown Namek boot curved in a fast arc, meeting Zyroko's back once again. Zyroko sailed upwards.
Everything was happening so fast. Zyroko could barely blink in-between Piccolo's attacks. Man, he was fast! but it was getting annoying...
"Hey Picc...!"
Zyroko flipped in midair to begin his own assault, but was met with another surprise.
Piccolo had soared after Zyroko had gone up, and thus was right below Zyroko. Seeing Zyroko turn around, Piccolo reared back a ki blast, quickly preparing it into a baseball sized ki ball.
"Here! Catch!"
The ki attack sailed from Piccolo's hands, connecting with Zyroko's turning face. A cloud of smoke exploded around Zyroko's head, and the creation of Clay had its sentence cut off. Zyroko fell to the metal floor, landing with a clunk.
Piccolo's feet touched down nearby, and he watched the twitching Zyroko. As the smoke cleared from around Zyroko's head, Piccolo could tell his quick ki attack had done some damage. Especially when Zyroko stood up.
Zyroko's hair was burned at its ends. So it was even spikier than before, I guess. His entire face was charred, and Zyroko didn't look at all happy about it. His cloths were burned off in small patches, and his upper gi was torn apart.
Zyroko tenderly touched his singed face. "You...how? That was low Piccolo. Just plain low. Look what you've done to my beautiful face!"
Piccolo almost laughed at that one. "Hee, all the talk in the world is not going to spare you any time Zyroko. I know that ki blast only singed some of your outside. :You have quite a bit of power stored up, even without Tenchi. Come on, I don't have all day. It's time to go all out."
Well, he asked for it. "Hehehe, you sure you want that? I'm not sure it would be much fun to beat you up that easily."
At this Piccolo shot out his right hand fired a thin beam from his extended index finger. The slicer beam sailed at Zyroko, and thanks to a quick hop narrowly missed Zyroko's head. Zyroko was silent. A few more inches and that small beam would've gone straight through his head.
"Listen, either you show me your true power or I will kill you even in your weak state. Mark my words."
Zyroko could tell that this Namek was serious. No words could save him now. The time called for action. He squared his feet off to Piccolo, lining up his body with Piccolo's. His bulky arms came down a bit, bracing themselves for the onslaught of power that was about to surge through them. Zyroko stood ready.
"You've had your fun, now DIE!!! HaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaHIYAH!!!!!"
Zyroko's ki sky rocketed. His white aura shot up like a burning cloak, encasing his body in a zipping white flame. The fire around him expanded, widening around and around. Small electric bolts sparked across the aura, making Zyroko look even more powerful. His veins began to bulge, and his baggy pants and upper karate gi stretched out a bit. Within a few seconds, Zyroko's muscles were bulging and bulky, much larger than before. The walls began to shake and crack. The entire Shunga II was rocking all around. Ryoko and Clay both felt it. Zyroko yelled out, screaming as the ki flow rippled through him. The stress was incredible.
One light fixture fell from the ceiling, exploding in a brilliant display of white light as it hit the ground. It showered sparks around Piccolo, who watched as Zyroko reached the pinnacle of his power. Zyroko stood a full foot taller, and his muscles were the size of tree trunks. His black hair had grown a bit as well, adding even more to the frightening giant's size.
"Prepare yourself Zyroko. Go...NOW!!"
With that Zyroko, at his current full power, launched at Piccolo. His fist was extended upward, lining itself with Piccolo. Staring along his erect arm, Zyroko could tell that he was lined up for the hit. At a high speed, Zyroko cut through the air straight at Piccolo. When he was almost upon him, he raised his arm for the strike. No way Piccolo could dodge this...
*WHOOSH!*
A layer of dust and metal pieces were thrown off to the sides as Zyroko's fist flew through the air, hitting nothing. The dust parted, spreading out to the sides. It was if Piccolo had never been there. It felt like punching air... Zyroko stood there, un sure of what just happened.
"Huh...what the...where did Piccolo go?"
Zyroko stood up. He looked around. Somehow that Namek had avoided his punch, even though he was at the full power of his current form. Strange... Most Strange...
*Kapow!!*
Out of nowhere Piccolo's enclosed fist impacted against Zyroko's cheek. The fist came and left like a hawk, leaving a hurt and falling Zyroko. The surprised creation of Clay had no time to blink as his body was sharply thrown through the air. He landed on the floor, shooting up dust. The dust cloud rose up and began to settle around. Zyroko coughed a bit and mumbled through his dazed state.
"Uhhh...there you are..."
Zyroko slowly got up again. His back stiffened and stretched. Dusting himself off, He stared at Piccolo with hate. Somehow he had not only avoided his punch, but sneaked up on him as well for that other attack. Piccolo was hovering above him, staring back undaunted. That damn Namek...
*drip* drip*
Zyroko looked down. A few droplets of red were easy to see on the floor. He saw a red droplet fall down and create another one, and he knew what it was. Despite being red already, it was easy to see how the drips were dripping deep red down it. Zyroko brought his large hand up to his face and wiped across his nose. The damn Namek had given him a bloody nose.
"How...how the fuck did you do that Piccolo? At was at full power too! That is not possible."
Piccolo smiled a bit. "You used a technique that has destroyed the user many times in a fight. I knew what it was when I saw how big your muscles just got. You were fighting me at your best before, but when you powered up you simply traded your speed off for raw strength. You may or may not be stronger than me, but I am so much faster than you that not a single one of your fingers can touch me."
Zyroko spit. "Liar!! I'll kill you ,you asshole!!"
Deja vu, Zyroko fired ahead at Piccolo. His burning white aura extended a trail behind him as he flew. Piccolo got one shake of his head, and easily zanzokened out of Zyroko's path. Zyroko had no time for a quick recover this time. As Piccolo dodged Zyroko, he appeared behind him and grabbed the bulky enemy's sides. His green hands enclosed around Zyroko.
"AHHHHIYAH!!!"
Picking up Zyroko, Piccolo threw Zyroko up into the air, nearly hitting the ceiling. He sailed upwards, unobstructed by any obstacles.
"Ohhhhhh...." was all Zyroko could moan as he soared.
Piccolo appeared above him, and delivered a super fast jab to Zyroko's stomach. His arm extended several inches into the flesh; Piccolo's fist disappearing in the stomach. Zyroko's head snapped forward from the hit, and it spit out blood. Everything happened in slow motion. The blood exiting his mouth, the pain shooting up his nerves, the shock of being beaten up; it all occurred to Zyroko that way. Flipping himself around the blood in mid air, Piccolo showed just how fast he was.
*KerPow!* *Bam!* *Smack!*
Through true Dragonball Z style, Piccolo punched, kicked, and threw Zyroko around all over the place. Zyroko's body snapped back and forth, like a rag doll in a hurricane. You could see Zyroko, but Piccolo was punching and kicking so fast that he appeared invisible. In a matter of seconds Zyroko had been hit several hundred times and had crossed the room probably at the same number. What a sight it was. For the first time, good was looking to win. And it seemed as if Piccolo had just that chance. It was just a matter of taking it.
Zyroko tried to fight back, but every time he made an attempt to hit Piccolo the Namek would dodge every hit ever so deftly. He was just thinking how would get out of this mess when Piccolo kneed him in the chest. His thoughts were interrupted by the shots of pain.
Piccolo raised up his fists. "This is for Yamcha!"
*POW!!!*
Sharply bringing his knee up and his fist downward, Piccolo sandwiched Zyroko. Zyroko's neck was caught in the vice, and immediately pain shot up his spinal cord. Zyroko's eyes got huge, and he almost began to black out from the pain. Of course, this was happening all in a fraction of a second, and right after Piccolo performed that little trick he flipped around, spinning up into the air right above Zyroko. First one leg spun around, and missed Zyroko. The 2nd leg, given more time to gain momentum, sailed through the air and nailed Zyroko. The blow connected and left, leaving a lasting impression in Zyroko's mangled face. The hit nailed like Zyroko almost as fast as the realization of what was happening himself hit him. Despite the swiftness of the kick, Zyroko seemed to be slowly floating backwards...
As Zyroko hung there, face battered, he realized that Piccolo was stronger than he expected. Stronger than him even. Unless he finds Tenchi and absorbs him, Piccolo will prove too strong to absorb himself. Options were running low...
*BAM!* Piccolo dealt a head butt to Zyroko's face, sending the oversized evil one spiraling down. Sailing like a big red, white, and black flash.
"Ummph!!!" Zyroko grunted as he fell.
Zyroko's descent did not last long, and he met the floor with a reverberating crash.
He lay there, barely moving. The metal floor had caved in a bit. The body of Zyroko was deep in it, only twitching a little bit.
Zyroko spasmodically rose, hid hand on his right eye. Some blood drizzled out in between his fingers. His clothing was torn up in several places, and bruises were starting to blister at some patches of skin. Zyroko gritted his teeth. Piccolo was effectively kicking his ass. Damn! Why hadn't his father warned him about Piccolo's power? This was not going good at all...
Piccolo did not follow Zyroko to the ground, but instead stayed instead in the air. Piccolo just stayed there, ever the silent warrior. He wasn't doing anything, just giving a long cold stare to Zyroko. Zyroko was about to inquire what Piccolo was doing, when Piccolo raised the index and middle fingers on his right hand to his forehead.
"Oh shit..."
Zyroko knew what Piccolo was going to do. Damn! With his body bruised and slow as it was, how would he avoid it?
The first sparks on the tips of Piccolo's fingers fluttered and glowed. A small, compact pinpoint of energy appeared on the tips of the two fingers. The energy surged and built up. Electric sparks continuously sparked around Piccolo's two fingers. The air in the room began to pick up, making Zyroko's hair fluttered back as Piccolo's ki rose. The ground shook, much greater than it did when Zyroko himself powered up. The walls began to wave and flutter, reverberating to the shockwaves emitting from Piccolo. As he watched in utter horror, Piccolo finished gathering energy for his attack.
"Makankousappo!!!!!!!"
Piccolo let the screw beam loose, sending a package of death straight at Zyroko. It fired forward like a golden bullet from the tips of Piccolo's two fingers. As it approached, Zyroko's entire body was bathed in yellow light. Zyroko's eyes widened with fear as the beam rode ever so closer at blinding speed. The Makankousappo reached the ground, and turned level to the floor to ride across at Zyroko. Underneath the super strong beam the ground broke up and cracked. Behind the racing beam, a canyon in the floor burst open and followed the path of the beam. But then Zyroko did not have much time to observe this, as it took practically no time for the beam to reach its target.
"Nooo...ahhiyah!!!!"
*BBBBOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!*
The explosion filled the entire room, and Piccolo quickly went up to the ceiling. The raging fire engulfed the room, driving up to where Piccolo was. Quickly positioning himself over a concealed hole, Piccolo charged up a ki shield just as the explosion reached him. Thus the flames did not harm Piccolo, no did they harm the interior of the hole behind him. Inside that hole, lay an unconscious Tenchi Masaki.
**********
Ryoko definitely felt that one. Over the last few minutes, she had felt the floor shaking. But it had only been slight. Now something was definitely stirring up the ground. The walls and ceiling had cracked a bit and trembled violently
She rounded a corner, and looked around. She wasn't really worried about Zyroko. She knew that the shakings must be because Zyroko is fighting one of her friends somewhere. Well, that was good for her but not for them. So she had to find them before it was too late. She couldn't sacrifice Tenchi or Piccolo; they were to important to her to let them go. I mean, Tenchi had just broken up with Ayeka, even though they never really, were, uh, going out. On to the story...
Ryoko had been spending every effort she could to get out of the maze. But it was to no avail. Clay must be somehow manipulating the walls so they change around her. Keeping her isolated. Wherever she turned, the walls would change so quickly she would be trapped in the current section. Clay was keeping her locked away where he wanted her to go, probably so she would be more easy for Zyroko to find. How to trick him?
She began to think, just like Piccolo had. Going through option after option... Sometimes drastic times call for drastic measures.
I need to help the others.
Go to them.
I cannot do that. Clay is changing the walls so I can't escape.
How is Clay seeing you so he can change the walls?
Well...
Ryoko stopped. THAT WAS IT!!! Why hadn't she thought of that sooner? Of course! I guess some people just work faster than Piccolo ^_^
Ryoko slunk to the wall, trying to conceal herself as much as possible. If Clay could not see her, or if she could fake him out...perfect...
Ryoko, back flat against the wall, Ryoko raised her hand out in front of her. With a quick gathering of ki, a small glowing energy ball glowed in her hand. She smirked to herself at the genius of what she would do...
She raised her hand high up, the energy ball above her head.
"Well Clay...HERE YOU GO!!!!!!"
She threw the ball down, a few feet from her feet. With pretty much point blank range, the small ball shot towards the ground.
*Bam!*
The small ball exploded on the ground. Though not a strong blast, a ton of debris and smoke rose up and covered, the hallway, Ryoko and all.
Ryoko thought: let's see how smart this doctor really is...
**********
Clay frowned. Things were not going well at all. Zyroko was losing...badly.
He watched his monitors, displaying the location of every character in the maze. Piccolo and Zyroko were naturally in the same screen, as they were fighting. For some odd reason, Zyroko had beat up Tenchi but had not had the chance to absorb him. Damn that Piccolo. He had hidden Tenchi somewhere where he couldn't find him. The Tenchi monitor wasn't registering Tenchi anywhere within the corridors. How strange...
If only Zyroko had not weakened him so much. Perhaps Clay could track Tenchi's ki signature then....now he had to rely on this pan and scan method. He had to somehow get Zyroko to find Tenchi...
"What was that?"
Something caught Clay's eye. He looked. It was from the Ryoko screen. He could no longer see Ryoko. Instead there was only a large cloud of smoke.
"What happened...?"
Suddenly, the outline of Ryoko shot out at full speed, heading down the corridor. Damn, he thought. He quickly readjusted his monitors to follow the outline of Ryoko, no matter what. She would definitely have to try harder to escape his eye than that!
He amusingly watched Ryoko sprint down the corridors, attempting to avoid her condition of being trapped in the maze. What a foolish woman...
**********
Ryoko ran down the corridor, and even though she making good time blasting down the corridor, she wasn't getting away from Clay at all. Clay's hidden cameras followed her every step of the way.
The smoke was beginning to clear now. At the scene of the smoke, Ryoko's steps echoed off in the distance. And Clay was watching her go. A faint, familiar, outline began to appear in the smoke, back where Ryoko original fired the blast.
"Hehehe...worked PERFECTLY."
The smoked clear, and Ryoko stepped out. She smiled.
"I guess even this time I topped myself. Washu would've been proud! Using the double form, the smoke...perfect."
She turned and began to run the opposite way her second form had run. As long as she kept her ki low, she could escape from Clay's eyes...for now.
She came to a wall. And she pushed her hands against it. Without Clay's control, the movable wall was very easy to push in and out (think what Neo did when he touched that mirror in the Matrix). With ever so much more ease, Ryoko stepped through the wall.
Now it should be much easier to reach Tenchi. After all, the maze had originally been a large open room. But it was not THAT large. Soon...she will come. She moved with rapid speed through the walls.
**********
Piccolo first made sure that the smoke and excess energy from the Makankousappo had cleared before relinquishing his ki shield around himself and Tenchi, whom was still hidden in a well concealed hole in the roof.
Piccolo frowned as the smoke began to clear. First of all, the floor was practically indented. That was expected, as a ki shield had been surrounding the walls. That must be because Clay is watching and controlling the walls so that no ki can penetrate them. At least ki he doesn't want to go through...
But that thought was lost on Piccolo, as he quickly dismissed it as he saw the smoke clear. Excellent.
Zyroko had definitely seen better days. His upper red gi and lower white pants were all torn up. Even his metal boots seemed to have tiny chunks missing. His expression wasn't all too happy. He was displaying that panicky, teeth gritting "this hurts a whole crap load" kind of look. All of his face and exposed skin was singed and burned. His black hair had burnt at the tips. Smoke trails issued from a few wounds in Zyroko. Blood dripped from several wounds. Zyroko's entire body writhed in pain.
Zyroko fell to his knees, panting and wheezing. Grabbing his stomach when he felt throbbing shots there, he immediately brought it away when he felt wetness. His hand has deep red. He was bleeding out profusely. He looked down, and in horror saw that on his stomach and several other patches of his skin had burned off. Exposed muscle gushed forth blood. The muscle was severed in several wounds.
Zyroko vomited blood, and stared coldly at Piccolo. That Namek had done this. With practically no effort he had done this much damage to me...
"You...bastar...*coughs blood again* How could you...do this...to me?"
Piccolo could not help but smile at the pitiful Zyroko. With all the technology in the universe, good would triumph after all. Clay had failed. I guess It just had to be fate that brought the Sons and Briefs to the Masaki shrine, so that he would follow. Now he would stop an evil from destroying the universe.
"Zyroko, what do you think of your situation? I wouldn't want to be in your shoes at this moment. Not that you will have any need for shoes in a moment. Like the rest of your body they will be reduced to nothing but dust."
"You know what?" Zyroko was angry again. "Just shut the fu...!"
*POW!*
Within a flash Piccolo darted forward and elbowed Zyroko in his burnt face. It was clear. Piccolo had outclassed Zyroko in every way. He just could do nothing to stop the attack, and was flung roughly back at the wall. He slumped to the ground, his body y exhausted.
"I can't believe...I am losing..."
Piccolo smiled. "You aren't losing. You've already lost."
"Damn right, Piccolo!" A loud, happy voice cheered out.
Piccolo spun around, instantly recognizing the voice. But even as he turned, he knew that it couldn't be none other than....
Ryoko stood pride and tall. The blue-gray haired woman was floating in the air. She returned Piccolo's smile. They were both glad to see another ally for once.
Piccolo frowned a bit though. "I'm glad to see you, you must have faked out Clay, right? But Zyroko here is not dead yet. He can still..."
Ryoko stared at the hurting Zyroko as she spoke to Piccolo. "Yes, Piccolo. I know. Remember Washu told all of us? He can absorb the likes of us. But if he was worried we'd be too strong for him to absorb, and therefore needed to absorb Tenchi, then him trying to absorb us now seems unlikely."
Zyroko was finally able to rise up to his feet. He wasn't too happy. "You...you sons of a bitc..."
Ryoko cut him off. "First of all, I'm a daughter of a bitch (suppose to be a joke here), not a son of one. Second, I think you and I need to settle some things out about what you did to Tenchi's other two best friends, and I am not talking about myself or Piccolo."
Zyroko was silent. Piccolo was a little surprised. "Wha, how did you know?"
Ryoko smiled. "I evaded Clay so that I was able to easily get through the walls. I used a special double form technique I have, and when I was in the ceiling and safely away from Clay I called the other form back. It just so happened I was moving through the ceiling when I happened upon Tenchi's body hidden away in some concealed hole. Let's just say I noticed that red stain in between his legs."
"I wouldn't worry too much about that. The old geezer I'm connected to, Kami, should be able to fix something up for him so he, uh, can heal those wounds."
Ryoko and Piccolo were talking too low for Zyroko to hear. "Hey!...You two. You think you're going to get away with what you've done? I will kill all of you!"
At this, Ryoko turned to Zyroko. She smiled a bit, and began walking forward. Her pleasant manner was replaced with a rather serious tone of expression. Ryoko was looking to get some.
"You, Zyroko. I know what you did to my beloved Tenchi. For your information I was planning on using those!"
Even in his state, Zyroko could not help but smile. "Hehe...you have to love my handiwork."
Ryoko was a square 15 feet away from Zyroko. She gave him a long, cold stare before she talked.
"Piccolo! You will have nothing to do with Zyroko now. Stay out of it. He will pay for what he's done, I swear."
"But, Ryoko!" Piccolo shouted.
Ryoko spread out her legs and arms, preparing to attack. "But nothing. I alone will take you on, Zyroko. All the hardships you've done to my friends shall end at this moment. Your demise happens here and now, by me."
Zyroko, recalling what Clay's database said about Ryoko's power laughed. "Hehe, even this state I should be stronger than you. I have Yamcha in my body you know. That and my original powers should allow me to destroy someone like you without effort. Are you sure it would be wise to back up your brave words with actions, little girl?"
Ryoko laughed back. "Your damn files on me are wrong Zyroko. Though I still hate the words that were uttered to me by Vegeta, what he did vastly upset the intense emotions that are inside of me as a result of Zero assimilating with me. It was the first time I ever got truly angry after my true feelings for Tenchi came out. By doing that, a dormant gene in my body became active. Even without the gems my Jurain, Saiyan, and Namekian powers and ki soared through the roof. I had no gems on me, except for this one gem on my hand."
Ryoko holds up her right wrist, showing the glittering gem Ayeka had reinserted after saving the lone gem from Clay. "It alone could not provide the energy that had ensued from that moment."
"This one gem is mostly just used for contacting Ryo-Ohki, so that's not the cause of the strange level of power I got. In any case, my anger and power went so high that I was able to do something that surprised all. Not only did I create 10 Lighthawk Wings, I became a Super Saiyan!"
Zyroko was taken aback. "What!?! No way!!!" Zyroko gathers his wits again. What an idiotic bitch...now I've heard everything, thought Zyroko.
"Heheheh...hahhaa...that's a good one. Almost had me worried there. You, a SUPER SAIYAN??! Hahahahahah!!! Ha...I needed a good laugh today. After all, Piccolo had done all those rather annoying tricks earlier. Something to pick up my depressing state..."
Ryoko smirked. "It shall be your last laugh."
Ryoko started to raise her ki. "HiiiiiiiiiiiYAH!!!!!"
It started. Zyroko stood riveted. Could she be....telling the truth?
First a wispy, golden aura exploded and burned around Ryoko, bathing the alcove in a golden light. Frightening shadows danced around the room, cast by the luminescence of Ryoko's aura. As Ryoko strained and allowed her power to build, her veins and muscles tightened. On her forehead, the 10 symbol of the Lighthawk Wings appeared. And one by one, the transparent glowing wings appeared in front of the powering up Ryoko. All 10 hovered in front of her.
Zyroko gasped. "Oh my god....this is impossible! Hey! Stop that!"
He fired a weak ki blast at the powering up Ryoko, but one of the Lighthawk Wings shifted and easily absorbed the blast. Ryoko then thrust her arms out straight and rose into the air. 4 Wings rode through and along her arms and legs, creating armor as they passed each limb. Bright flashes ensued as each wing rode its course. 3 more wings formed Ryoko's chest armor, with one on the abdomen and two on each shoulder. Ryoko reached out with her armored hands and grabbed two wings, turning them into Light Saber handles. Each handle was brought together, and a Darth Maul-like energy lance launched from each end of the handle. Finally, the last wing rode up and through her face. As it passed the eyes, they became turquoise. As it passed the hair, the hair became golden. With the final wing transformed, Ryoko's powering up sequence was complete.
Before the sweating, nervous Zyroko stood a whole different warrior. Ryoko was encased totally in armor, with no part of her skin showing through the thick, hard metal except her head. Both armored hands held on to a single rod, which each end had a energy sword coming out (so it's a Darth Maul double light saber in a sense). Her eyes were now blue instead of amber. Her hair was golden. Her entire body was engulfed in the golden fire that is the aura of all Super Saiyans.
Ryoko was ready. Zyroko, however, was not.
"....How the hell did you do that?"
***********
Gohan was in a better mood. At last, after traveling for many miles he had found his way. It had taken some time, but he was able to locate his home, good ol' Mt. Paozu. He hovered a moment, looking down at his house below. Now he could probably get to and from the Masaki shrine and his house fairly easily.
In his mind, he could see smoke coming from the chimney of the house. He could even hear the chattering of Chi-Chi making supper. He could even see himself training with his dad.
Looking down at his home, Gohan realized how much he misses to be home. The Masaki sure was a nice place to visit, but sometimes you just have to remember your roots.
As Gohan lost himself in thought, he remembered his mission. If he and his family were to ever return to the serenity of their home, he would need those Senzu beans.
Now right on course, Gohan flew off. It would not be long until he reached Karin's tower and would be able to save his father and Vegeta. Not only them, but the rest of the world as well.
**********
Zyroko had nothing to say. Before him was a true Super Saiyan, unmistakable. He could only sweat more and back slowly away from Ryoko. His boots nervously clanged as they backed away.
Ryoko saw Zyroko backing away, and immediately zanzokened out of Zyroko's site. Her after image left for a second, leaving Zyroko briefly perplexed. Zyroko was about to wonder where she went, when a hard metal fist came crashing down on the back of Zyroko's head.
*klang*
Zyroko's head banged into the floor, hard. As his body bounced up a little (from falling), Ryoko jumped on Zyroko's back. Picking up Zyroko by his leg, she rose to the air raised Zyroko up high. She yelled out with fury, her lungs burning from the shrill war cry. Zyroko was swung through the air at lighting fast speeds. Zyroko spun around faster and faster, and when he was a simple blur Ryoko let go. He sailed upwards, and Ryoko saw here moment.
"Ahhhhhhh!!!"
With more freedom of movement, Ryoko launched after Zyroko, firing upwards at him. Zyroko was able to get his wits back a bit, and got off a few, weak punches and kicks at Ryoko. Using superior speed and strength, Ryoko evaded every attack by Zyroko and only made her own punches and kicks count. For every attempt to actually hit Ryoko, Zyroko was being belted twice. Like Piccolo before, Zyroko was being tossed about.
Zyroko, out of desperation, reared back a hard punch only to hit air. Ryoko had deftly dodged to the side, and saw her chance as Zyroko's arm was sluggishly moving through the air. As his arm was extended out, Ryoko delivered a hard knee to the giant's stomach. Zyroko gasped; shots of blood seeping out his teeth.
"Ooooooiyah!!"
With a quick twist of the hips, Ryoko sent an uppercut straight into Zyroko's chin, easily moving away and punching before Zyroko could remotely recover. As she did so, Zyroko's head snapped backward sharply. His jaw clanged shut, and the tip of his tongue was cut off from the teeth. The bloody tip fell to the ground, where a stern faced Piccolo promptly smothered it with his foot.
"I just hope Ryoko knows what she is doing..."
*POW!*
With a quick dodge to the left of one of Zyroko's punches, Ryoko saw a huge opening in Zyroko. Rearing back her right leg, she sent a hard kick to Zyroko's exposed side. The metal-armored foot dug into Zyroko, and the force sent Zyroko heading down, at the bottom. As Ryoko brought out her imbedded foot from Zyroko, she could tell the monster was going down. The entire portion of the boot had sliced into Zyroko's side; pieces of muscles, entrails, and blood covered the tip of the boot. Zyroko plunged down...
*Klang!* *klang* *clunk*
He slammed into the floor, and Zyroko's body bounced around a bit before stopping. He did not move. Obviously he had received quite a shock to his system. Piccolo and Ryoko first thought he was dead, but a twitch in the legs told them otherwise. Zyroko slowly began to open and close his fingers, moaning aloud as he tried to move his battered body.
Ryoko was getting impatient. "Hmmm...you are more resilient than I thought. How about you try this on for size?"
She brought out her two Lighthawk Wing handle, and allowed the double energy sword to come out. Raising it above her head, she flew down to Zyroko with blinding speed.
*klang!*
Ryoko slammed her feet into Zyroko's back, pinning him down. The sword was still raised above her head. Ryoko yelled out with extreme fervor:
"Zyroko....this is for Tenchi!!!"
She swung the sword...
*Sa-wish!!!*
With a straight, clean slash Ryoko sliced her sword down at Zyroko's shoulder. It was so quick and crisp, that Piccolo didn't see anything happening. But then, a thin red line appeared over Zyroko's arm, where Ryoko had slashed. The line was blood, and it quickly seeped out. Now it was gushing out very quickly.
Zyroko gasped. "My arm...I can't feel it!" He was now wide awake.
Ryoko stepped off Zyroko, allowing Zyroko to rise. But as he did so, both Zyroko and Piccolo gasped in horror as Zyroko's arm fell off, leaving a bloody stump. Blood poured out by the pints.
"OH MY FUCKING GOD!!! You bitch! You cut my arm off!!! AHHHHHHH!!!"
Zyroko grabbed at the bloody stump with his other hand, not that it did anything to staunch the blood or pain. Zyroko screamed out, blood gushing out of his mouth as well. Despite only being a little less from a day old, Zyroko had already experienced pain beyond his wildest nightmares.
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!"
He was nearly crying for sake of the pain. Ryoko only shook her head. Tsking him and such.
"I told you that I would have revenge on Tenchi. I told you I would win. Guess you'll listen now, huh? But then, what can you expect from a thing created by a fool like Clay."
Zyroko's entire left side, the side where the arm was cut off, was totally bathed in hot wet blood. And more and more were pouring out. Zyroko would certainly die of blood loss soon.
"I.... ....lost..."
Ryoko smiled. "That you did."
Zyroko, despite being covered in blood and writhing in pain, stood up. His eyes were glazing over, but a fire of evil and desperation still burned in them.
"I lost... ...but how?"
Ryoko was getting a little confused by Zyroko, but answered. "Simple really. You just met warriors like Piccolo and I. You have fought and lost to fighters superior to you. How does it feel to be dying evil one? After you go, you can bet that your father and this friggin' ship will go as well. Clay's legacy of terror to the universe ends now!"
Zyroko's rage was building, "I FRIGGIN' LOST!!!!!!!" Zyroko began to tremble, his aura blazing around him once more. As his rage built, so did his ki. Despite his severely hurt condition.
The ground around the room was starting to shake again, the walls and floor shaking violently.
Piccolo yelled at Ryoko. "Stop!! You're getting him mad!!"
Ryoko scorned Zyroko even more. "Hah! So what? He lost! He's a cripple now!"
Zyroko's eyes were turning white, his veins bulging at the top of the skin. "I AM THE ULTIMATE BEING, ZYROKO!!! I CANNOT, WILL NOT LOSE!!!!!"
Ryoko saw her mistake, even with one arm Zyroko's rage and power was growing. "Hey now...what do you think you are doing?" Ryoko hesitantly took a step forward, before she was forced to step back from the brightness in Zyroko's aura.
"AAAAAHHHHIYAH!!!!!!!!!!"
Zyroko was encased in a white aura, he was at full power once again. His rage was burning around him. He was losing control. He was freaking out. Dormant, primordial instincts programmed in him were bubbling to the surface. Zyroko had been an evil megalomaniac before; now he was an evil out-of-control beast.
With pure unconscious rage fueling him, Zyroko snapped his head back and opened his bloody mouth. His words echoed about the room.
"AB-SORB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
With amazing speed, the energy tentacles Zyroko used to absorb Yamcha shot out of his mouth once again. Piccolo jumped out of the way as one raced by him. This was a switch...Zyroko's power had grown high enough that he unconsciously shot out the absorbing tentacles...
"See what you've done Ryoko?!! He's gotten powerful enough to try to absorb us! Watch out!!"
Piccolo tackled Ryoko, just as a tentacle was about to hit her. The tentacle writhed as it bounced off the wall behind Ryoko.
"Thanks Picc..."
Piccolo immediately got nervous and watched the glowing yellow tentacles emitting from Zyroko's mouth. They danced around the room like vile, golden snakes. One bite and that was that.
"Listen, watch out. One touch by those tentacles and the rest close in on you. You get touched even a tiny bit, you are absorbed. Got it?"
Ryoko nodded, but was then forced to jump out of the way as a tentacle whizzed by. They did not seem organized; Zyroko was just blindly throwing them about in his rage.
"There are four of them. Keep an eye on both Piccolo!"
Zyroko's rage was still rising, and the tentacles were getting faster and faster. They zipped around very fast, and Ryoko wondered if she would be able to dodge them.
Piccolo narrowly dodged two, with one hitting the wall behind him and the other racing after him still. What Piccolo did not know is that while the other tentacle was against the wall, Clay took control of the wall allowed the tentacle to pass right through it. Inside the wall, he was able to use the constantly changing density of the wall to direct the tentacle around in the wall. Clay had a plan... He had to help out Zyroko...
*whoosh!*
Ryoko dodged another tentacle. Man, instead of getting slower and powering down, Zyroko was getting angrier and powering up. How could he do that with only one arm and a beat up body?
"If only his rage wasn't going up so fast! Normally I think he should have tired out by now!"
Piccolo dodged his own tentacle. "True. Hey, I'm only dodging one tentacle here. Watch out, a third one may be coming at you!"
Ryoko looked around quickly. "No, only two are going after me. It doesn't look like Zyroko has any control of these tentacles. It's just that they are so FAST! They are bouncing all over the place. Look for the fourth one, it has to be somewhere!"
Piccolo backed himself up to a wall, so that he could observe the scene. He had a brief moment before the lone tentacle would bounce back at him, so he surveyed the situation. Ryoko was indeed dodging two. And only one was bouncing around near himself. Where was the fourth?
Piccolo quickly looked at Zyroko's mouth, the source of the energy tentacles. Out of the enraged, blinded Zyroko four beams were coming out, but only 3 were bouncing around in the room. "
Let's see...they are all moving fast so it is hard to see which one is which but..."
Okay, Piccolo thought, I see where all three bouncing around are coming from. Where is that fourth beam coming out of Zyroko's mouth going? It appeared like the 4th one was not bouncing around at all, but was rather just lying straight in the air. He followed the fourth beam, to see the tentacle disappear in the wall. It simply ended in the wall...
What the?
In the wall...what is it doing there? Can't Clay just control the wall so...
"Oh god..."
But it was too late then.
The fourth tentacle came out of the wall behind Piccolo, and it shot forward and drove into Piccolo's back. Piccolo could not even utter a word or thought before the other tentacles quickly surrounded him and coiled around his body. It was like clockwork, they wrapped and coiled around his body before the thought could even be registered that the first tentacle had it.
Ryoko yelled out. "Piccolo, NOOOOO!!!!!!" She flew to help him, but by that time he was lost to her.
With no time at all, Piccolo's body was completely covered by the glowing yellow energy tentacles. His body disappeared beneath the vast coils of the energy tentacles, which began to melt into one single force field around him. Just like Yamcha...
The 4 tentacle beams fused into one, so that Piccolo was completely covered with a full energy net, and the net was now connected to Zyroko's mouth with one large beam (the 4 tentacles had fused into one giant beam coming out of Zyroko's mouth, with the end connected to the ensnared Piccolo). Just like he did with Yamcha, Piccolo's outline slowly distorted, collapsing in on itself. Zyroko was sucking Piccolo in, turning him into raw Namekian energy and bringing him in. It seemed to take eons for Piccolo's body to fully collapse on its self; signifying Zyroko had broken him down into digestible Namek genes and energy.
As Zyroko sucked the last of Piccolo in, his body began to change. The bloody stump on his left side began to stop bleeding. All of a sudden, there was a gush of blood shooting out. As Ryoko watched with horror, a new arm had grown back to replace the cut off one.
Oh no...he's getting Piccolo's Namek genes.
With one final push, Zyroko sucked in the last of the energy net that had completely contained Piccolo. As the last of the yellow energy entered, Zyroko began to cough and wheeze. He had absorbed someone that would activate the Namek genes inside himself. He began to sputter and cough. The Namek cells were healing his body. The patches of muscle were covered by new skin, the many wounds closed up. Zyroko lurched forward, feeling something bubbling up from his stomach.
"UUUWIAYH!!!"
Zyroko vomited out some blood, but it was a sign of him getting rid of the rest of the internal bleeding. He had completely healed himself with his newfound powers.
Ryoko knew what was going to happen next.
"Oh shi..."
With a loud, frenzied scream Zyroko yelled out. His outline glowing brighter than ever.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHIYAH!!!!!"
A giant white flash emitted from Zyroko, and Ryoko could not see from the immensely bright flash. She turned away, blinded, covering up her face from the flashing light. The entire room was lit up from the strobe-like flash
A few more seconds past, and the flash dissipated. Ryoko uncovered her face, and turned her head to see Zyroko.
Ryoko looked...
"Oh my god."
Zyroko was standing full and tall now. His cloths were no longer ripped, and his skin was no longer burned or hurt. He still had the metal boots, white baggy pants, and the red top of Yamcha. The new item, one that scared Ryoko very much, was a white cape with weights in the shoulders sitting on top of Yamcha's gi. Zyroko was now wearing Yamcha's gi and Piccolo's cape. He looked more menacing than ever.
Zyroko smiled at Ryoko. "Who's losing now?"
**********
At Kami's lookout, stretching hundreds of miles above the Earth, resided god. Kami's palace was as serene as ever. Mr. Popo's gardens were looking rather beautiful this year, thought Kami. But then, through the hundreds of years he had been with his assistant there never had been a year when they were not beautiful.
The Guardian of Earth was pacing back and forth within the confines of his temple. Recently, he had felt a strange sensation about Piccolo. When it first happened, he became lightheaded and almost detached. It passed, but then a dark premonition came over him. He had suddenly felt...cold. Something had happened to Piccolo. His intuition told him.
"Hmmm...this is most odd indeed. What has happened to Piccolo? I am still alive, so he is alive as well. Yet...he seems as if he were not alive. Most strange..."
He pace some more, pondering the strange feeling...
**********
The Saiyans were resting at last. Vegeta's nightmares had pasted, and Goku was finally beginning to breath normally. Sasami and the rest were exhausted, except for Yosho of course. He always seemed to know how to stay lively and such. Everyone was now busy resting and drinking sake. Noboyuki was attempting to show off to the ladies how much he could chug. The good times seemed like they were returning...but some still had some work to do.
Washu was now in her lab, researching some more on the Super Saiyans. She just had to figure out as much as possible. These creatures were even stronger than she had imagined. She was currently created a table on the equality of the Saiyan proteins found within Saiya genes. Then....she felt it.
At first it came as a chilly feeling over her, but it passed quickly. As if in that one instant she felt fear and hate coming from somewhere....most strange. She started to busy herself with her work again, but the computerized alarms flashed to life.
*BEEP!* *BEEP!* *BEEP!*
An alarm was sounding off in the halls of Washu's lab. Red lights bathed the room on and off like strobes. Shading her eyes from the lights, Washu got up and floating to the main control panel, and proceeded to shut them off.
She got them turned off, and ran a diagnostic test to see what set them off. She began to punch buttons to begin the tests.
"Let's see....not internal error. Must be external. Sensors? Hmm, Short-wave has nothing. Nothing in the immediate vicinity of Earth. Long wave..."
She saw the row of figures come up, indicating what had just happened out in outer space.
"By the gods...what power!"
She pressed the "print" button. She would have to show this to the others in writing to get them to believe it.
**********
Ryoko had felt fear many times in her life. Even fighting characters like Ayeka sometimes would give her twinges of fear of what the Jurai princess could do. But nothing to now... This was uncharted territory.
Ryoko was still SSJ and at full power, her aura burning very strongly. But something about the way Zyroko looked, the wild eyes which stared at her with confidence and hate. She knew that Zyroko would either absorb her or kill her. And Piccolo was already about as strong as her, factor in Yamcha and Zyroko's base power level and you get...
Zyroko spoke, "Someone a hell of a lot stronger than you, Ryoko."
Ryoko was shocked, "What? I was just about to..."
"Say, that, right? Hehehe....I guess you could call this a side effect of absorbing someone like Piccolo. It seems that we can deduce that I have inherited his wisdom and mind-discipline as well as his strength. Reading someone as predictable as yourself sure is a lot easier."
The evil creation began flexing his regrown limb. "Not to mention his other Namek abilities..."
Ryoko knew that Zyroko must be a hell of a lot stronger than her. What to do...
"Zyroko, you know very well that no matter how many people you absorb that in the end you will end in ruin"
Hey, you have to think of something right?
Zyroko was unmoved, at least emotionally. For in the next instance, his body left the ground and shot off. Directly at Ryoko. He extended his right fist out, aligning himself right up with Ryoko. Even with her newfound Super Saiyan reflexes, she could not react quick enough to dodge the charge...
*BAM!!!*
Fist extended, Zyroko's arms slammed into Ryoko's stomach. Despite the hard metal Lighthawk armor, Ryoko felt the entire blow coarse through her body. In that single instant, thought Ryoko, she felt more pain than she had ever experienced in her life. Some of the edges in the armor cracked a bit. As the forced ran its course through her body, she could even feel her internal organs being smashed into the back of her body cavity. It all happened slowly to her...
That moment did not last long in real time, as Ryoko's flailing body was fired off backwards by the extreme momentum of the punch. With a loud thud she banged into the back wall and fell face down on the floor. No more than a split second had happened.
Zyroko hovered in the air, about 20 feet above Ryoko. Seeing another moment for an evil opening, Zyroko bent his right leg and let himself fall, right knee extended. As he fell, air rushing past him, he carefully positioned himself above Ryoko...
*KAPOW!!!*
"EeeeaaHHH!!!!!"
Ryoko screamed out, drops of blood exiting her mouth as Zyroko's knee drew itself deeper and deeper into Ryoko's back. The knee was crushing her armor and spine, and a few more inches he would rip right through her. But it he did not go in further...
Nor did Zyroko did not exit out immediately, but instead added insult to injury for Ryoko. He laughed at the pitiful woman.
"Eh, for Tenchi right? Now, not only does he not have any balls but you won't have a backbone soon! I'm sure you've had better days, right? To experience hurt and pain like this? I kind of feel your pain; just a few minutes ago it was you that cut off my arm. Now you will pay!"
He drove the knee in a bit, and then bounced out, giving Ryoko her slight reprieve. Ryoko was breathing heavily, and her hair returned back to its original gray-blue tint. Her metal armor and weapons she faded away into its 10 Lighthawk wings, which disappeared as well as they floated away. With only two attacks Ryoko was beaten. Zyroko smiled. How ironic how the tables do turn...
"Easier than taking candy...no. I won't say that corny saying. This was FAR too easy to even compare it to candies and babies. Should I absorb you? Naw, the site of becoming Ultimate Zyroko is too close still. I'll save you for last, my pretty."
Zyroko picked Ryoko up by her hair, allowing her to dangled several feet above the ground. Surprisingly, Ryoko was still conscious. Her face, stomach, and back were all bruised and bleeding, but other than that she was still fair off. She looked at Zyroko through bruised and swollen eyes. Zyroko had to admit that Ryoko was made well. Washu sure was a genius of some kind to create something that could withstand him for two hits and not be killed. But of course, Zyroko was made far better... And he wanted to prove it.
Zyroko thought for a moment, and then reared back his left arm as if to punch Ryoko. One more blow should...
"Wait! Zyroko! What do you think you are doing?"
Zyroko knew who the voice was, and therefore did not need to turn to answer the person calling.
"Yes, what is it father?"
Seeing that Piccolo was absorbed, Clay had decided to allow the walls to come down. He was now walking briskly towards them, the walls lowering around him. In the background the generator could be seen still powering the ship. He did not look happy in the least.
Clay approached Zyroko. "You know perfectly well that you should not harm Ryoko that much. Kill her, and you kill your chances of becoming Ultimate."
Zyroko's voice was flat, expressing no emotion. "Father...what need is there for more power? With Piccolo I already have the best possible strength to exist."
Clay could not believe what he was hearing. "You forget yourself. Zyroko! Turn and face me when you talk!"
Zyroko did not do so, so Clay had to walk around so that he was facing Zyroko. Clay was beginning to irritate Zyroko...
"Listen here, and listen well. I created you for the purpose for becoming the ultimate fighting machine. I created you so that I could finally show Washu what a real scientist could do. I created you, for the sole purpose of furthering myself. You have been created a perfect killing machine, but do not let that interfere with your mind. You still must get all the power you can with the available slots left for you to absorb people. You are a thing. An it. If not for me you would not exist."
Zyroko did not express it, but his response was filled with sarcasm. "If you are so great father, why did you have to have Dr. Gero spring you from prison. Some scientist you were..."
Clay was silent for a moment, before he spoke. "I'm not sure how the hell you figured that out Zyroko, but the rest of what I said was true. If not for me, you would be nothingness. DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT BOY!?!"
Zyroko did not answer. Clay was fuming.
An impatient Clay bunched his fist at the stubborn Zyroko. Why all of a sudden was Zyroko being so pensive and quiet. Was this Piccolo's personality?
"Now listen here" Clay started again, "You have not fought a true fighter of your caliber yet. Granted you could probably take over the universe now with your immense power, but don't let it go over your head. Ryoko is not a pure Super Saiyan. She may be nearly as strong as one, but she is far off. If people such as Goku and Vegeta ganged up on you, I would fear greatly for you. You are less than a day old and already you act as if you were my superior!"
For some reason, Zyroko's face was still not changing at all. He still held Ryoko by the hair in his right hand, and his left hand was dangling loose, near Clay. Ryoko looked at Clay, then Zyroko, and could see something. Zyroko had a glint in his eye; that glint that always appeared right before he would cause suffering.
"Zyroko!! What the hell is wrong with you?! Speak to me, you damn test tube monstrosity! Did you not understand what I just told you? About how I created you?! Drop Ryoko now!"
"Yes....father."
Zyroko's face remained unbothered. However, his arms did not. In his right hand, he obeyed to his father and let Ryoko drop to the floor. In the same movement, his left arm shot out like lightning, grabbing Clay by the face and raising him up high. Within the time it took Clay to take in a breath he was roughly raised several feet above the floor. Ryoko hit the floor hard, but she turned up to witness something she would never forget.
"Zyrokhhdmpmp!!" Clay could only mumble through Zyroko's hands.
Zyroko's huge, mighty hands completely covered most of Clay's face. Only Clay's horrified eyes could be seen over the rims of Zyroko's left hand. That same, crooked, evil smile came over Zyroko. He shook Clay a bit, tantalizing him. Clay was turning white with fear.
"I completely understand you old man. Not on all things, but at least two things you say are accurate. Do you wish to know what those are?"
Clay's feet were dangling several feet above the ground. Only sounds of gasping squeals could be deemed audible within the grasp of Zyroko's hand.
Zyroko told Clay. "Well, you are correct in that I was created for the being the ultimate war machine. No doubts about that. You never need to worry that your son will 'disappoint' you in that category. Whatever it takes, I will ascend to becoming Ultimate Zyroko. Whether it involves you...well, that gets into the other thing you are right about."
Zyroko was now turning his body, such that Clay and his extended arm and hand were lined up with the black hole reactor in the room. Clay was totally helpless.
"You are also right, old man, that I was made into a perfect killing machine."
"Zyrhohohko!!!"
Ryoko was beginning to awaken now, and she looked over at Clay and Zyroko. My god...he is going to...
Zyroko said no more to his father. Within the palm of his hand holding Clay and pointing towards the reactor, Zyroko began to gather ki and energy. Within a few moments a powerful condensed ball of energy was formed in Zyroko's palm, and thus the energy ball was inside Clay's gaping mouth as well. With no emotion on his face or mind, Zyroko let the energy ball grow volatile and detonate.
*Berrrooooz!!!!!!*
With gruesome speed and power, Zyroko's ball of energy exploded into a full out beam inside Clay's mouth. Though it would have been too quick to observe by the naked eye, Ryoko saw it all. The beam exited the back of Clay's neck, and Ryoko knew at once he was dead. But it didn't stop there. As the beam grew, it engulfed Clay's entire skull, causing it to explode in shards of bone and brain mass. Blood scattered all over the room, bathing the battle scene in more death and carnage. With no more head, Clay's decapitated body fell to the ground, slumping over. Ryoko tried not to look at the bloody stump, but instead was caught by what the beam did after it left Clay's body.
Still continuing, Zyroko's energy beam zipped through the room and nailed into the other target he was aiming for: the reactor. The beam struck the midsection, sending out showers of sparks and explosions. Within that same split second that had seen Clay's demise, the reactor began to shower with small fires and sparks. The thing was growing unstable...Zyroko's blast had destroyed vital parts...
"DANGER! DANGER! REACTOR HAS BEEN BREACHED! T MINUS 30 SECONDS UNTIL BLACK HOLE COLLAPSES!!! MOVING AWAY FROM POPULATED AREAS NOW! T MINUS 28 SECONDS AND COUNTING!!!"
"Shit!!!"
Ryoko was up at her feet as soon as those words were heard. Despite being hurt still, Ryoko knew at once what Zyroko was planning. He was thinking to bring her, Tenchi, and himself down with the ship! Since it was so close to Earth, the Shunga II's engines ignited and blasted the ship to a far enough distance to do no harm to any nearby planets. Ryoko got up and immediately thought: where's Tenchi?
"T MINUS 24 SECONDS!"
Where? Where? She thought back....to when she had talked to Piccolo...
"T MINUS 20 SECONDS!"
"The ceiling!!"
Ryoko, even with her weak ki, blasted up to the ceiling where Tenchi had been. Only now, they were all in a giant room, not that little alcove. Finding the covered up hole would not be easy... She darted from panel to panel searching.
"T MINUS 18 SECONDS!"
Where damn it!? She brought her head out of one panel, and looked around. She saw it; that panel just had to be where Tenchi was, thought Ryoko. She knew it was the hiding spot of Tenchi because a red stain was seeping through it. Apparently Tenchi's "wounds" had not yet clotted.
"T MINUS 15 SECONDS!"
She shot in the hold, ran her hand around until she felt clothing, and grabbed Tenchi. Quickly picking the unconscious boy up in her arms, Ryoko floated down. She could not help notice that Tenchi was not totally bathed in red from the waste down. Gees, I hope he doesn't die of blood loss thought Ryoko. With a thud she landed on the ground and ran over to the hull. What a shame, to have him die of blood loss from getting his balls crushed, only to then be sucked into a black hole.
"T MINUS 12 SECONDS!"
Using the power of her gem, she had sent a call out to Ryo-Ohki as soon as she had heard the recorded voice call out. That was 18 seconds ago, and Ryo-Ohki had now successfully detached from its hatch and had shot up to Ryoko's location. Even with the Shunga II's thick armor, she could already feel Ryo-Ohki drilling in though it. Man, that cabbit works fast thought Ryoko. Good thing she had caught her wits about herself as soon as she had seen Zyroko powering up a blast aimed at that reactor.
"T MINUS 10 SECONDS!"
"Damn it...hurry up!!"
At last, in a shower of sparks Ryo-Ohki burst though. The drill bit parted, exposing the hatch. The hatch slammed open, and Ryoko was greeted with that familiar "Meow." Ryoko had to step back and cover her self and Tenchi from the shower of sparks that ensued from the drilling. Now with the way clear, she ran for the opening.
"T MINUS 8 SECONDS! NOW CLEAR OF ALL POPULATED AREAS! EVACUATE NOW!"
Ryoko shoved Tenchi through the hatch, and prepared to step through herself. She then remembered the other inhabitant of the ship.
She looked back. Zyroko was standing full and tall, still emotionless and confident. As if he did not care that the ship was crumbling around him.
"Go, Ryoko. Do not think a mere black hole or space can stop me. We will meet again, just not now. Prepare yourself for my coming. It would be no fun to kill people with no strength like you and Tenchi have now."
Ryoko thought about this for a moment, before she was jarred back into reality by the announcer.
"T MINUS 5 SECONDS UNTIL IMPLOSION! REPEAT, IMPLOSION IMMINENT! EVACUATE RIGHT NOW!!!"
Not looking back anymore, Ryoko threw herself into Ryo-Ohki. As soon as the hatch closed, she yelled out:
"Get us out of here now!!!!!!!!!!!"
With no more need for a command, Ryo-Ohki's thruster kicked in and blasted itself away from the Shunga II. Ryo-Ohki blasted itself such that it was moving in the opposite direction as the Shunga was moving, thus placing more ground between them. Ryoko knew it would be close. Already they were a little ways away, would they make it?
Ryoko grabbed Tenchi, bracing him. This was it!
*BBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!*
With a sound wave that could have shattered an entire planet, the Shunga II imploded upon its black hole. A gigantic flash shot out and flared outwards, like a brilliant Super Nova. Ryoko and Tenchi were thrown roughly all about the cabin of Ryo-Ohki, and all three were sent tumbled head over heels through space. Like two rag dolls in a storm.
It was quite sometime before Ryo-Ohki finally managed to correct itself and realign its flight plane, straightening planes right side up once again.. Ryoko slowly and painfully got her body up and into the chair of the cockpit of Ryo-Ohki. Quickly pressing some dials on the crystals, Ryo-Ohki gave her a quick system layout for the vital parts of the ship. Cabin pressure...air...power...heat...
All of the results were read back as in the green. Ryo-Ohki was fine. It was holding steady. Somehow...
They had made it out....most of them. Damn that Zyroko...
Ryoko looked out the viewing screen. The Shunga II was nowhere to be seen. Ryo-Ohki had blasted them away so fast that they had escaped...at least far enough not to be killed instantly. There were no signs of the wreckage of the Shunga II. The majority of the ship was probably sucked in the whole, but she seemed to remember Washu telling her that some ships have anti-imploding materials to halt implosion as soon as they are sucked in. Perhaps some wreckage remained far off...
Ryoko checked the navigation systems. The Shunga II had blasted itself far beyond the solar system to get within a safe detonation zone. If they went full speed Ryoko and Tenchi would make it back to Earth in a few hours.
She hit the controls and went into a space-time warp speed, leaping ahead through the galaxy at a rate of speed higher than light. Only a ship such as Ryo-Ohki could attempt a multiverse jump like that.
Ryo-Ohki and its crew shot home, Earth. How would she be able to explain what happened? Why Piccolo was gone... Why Tenchi was missing his family jewels...
Let's cross that bridge when we reach it, thought Ryoko.
**********
The entire gang were washing up now, cleaning out the mess they had made when caring for Goku and Vegeta earlier. Chi-Chi and Ayeka were chatting, while Mihoshi and Sasami were sweeping the floor. Bulma had gone out to think by herself, and the two men Yosho and Noboyuki were sipping sake.
All in all, the shrine had returned to its peaceful mood once again. That is, until Washu came running top speed from the door of her lab. She slammed the door and yelled out,
"It's over!!!"
Almost everyone simultaneously got up and yelled "What?!"
Washu was still breathing hard, but she managed to blurt out, "My sensors...detected an...implosion. It was...the Shunga II's. Clay's ship...is gone."
At first silence reigned. No one said a word. Then finally, Yosho spoke up.
"So, is Ryo-Ohki returning now?"
Washu had her breath back now. "Strange, but for some reason the Shunga II's implosion had happened millions of miles outside our solar system. The ship must have moved. I was able to detect it, because, you know, it ain't the hardest thing in the world to register a class 3 implosion like that! Hahahah!"
Sweat drops appeared on everyone's head. Washu stuttered a bit.
"Errr...um, hmm. Anyway, Ryo-Ohki must have departed from the Shunga II while it was far out. I can not detect it from such a distance, however the Shunga II itself was easy to find because of the implosion. I would have felt Ryoko and Ryo-Ohki being killed, had they been destroyed along with the Shunga II. Hehe...though I know they are alive. My connection to Ryoko is weakened a bit, but it is still there. At least if my connection is still good...and it is, And if Shunga II was destroyed, that means Clay's must have been defeated and Ryoko escaped. They must be returning with Yamcha!"
Ayeka immediately perked up. "You think so?"
Washu nodded. "I do, but we cannot be sure until they land. At the distance they were at it should not take them too long. I created Ryo-Ohki with a few extras, remember? I am Washu! Greatest genius this universe has ever seen!"
Bulma walked in at that time. "Or just a grown up dressed like an adult with hair way too long!"
Everyone laughed, except for Washu.
"Darn Heretics...not believing in my genius..."
**********
At Kami's lookout again...
Kami was very disturbed. His connection with Piccolo felt as if it were gone, but yet he was still alive. How is this so? Why has Piccolo's ki dropped so low? He had been thinking these over ever since he had originally felt the strange feelings. Kami could only ponder these questions over and over until Mr. Popo interrupted his thinking.
"Excuse me, god. But have you felt that immense disturbance a while ago? It may have been far off but I most certainly felt it."
Kami nodded his wise, old head. "Yes, I too felt it. I believe that it was some kind of ship being destroyed. A massive wave of power has overcome me. Whatever happened to that ship...it must have been powerful!"
Popo was confused. "Ship? Sir, you don't know what ship it was?"
Kami smiled at his old friend. "Keen as ever, Popo. I wondered if you would notice that. Of course I know the ship, but its not the destroyed ship I'm worried about. Its the escape ship that shot out right before the bigger ship was destroyed."
Popo raised an eyebrow. "Another ship? I did not sense that."
Kami responded, "Of course you did not. The ship does not give off a normal signature you would sense from an oncoming spaceship. For this ship is alive, as it is Ryo-Ohki."
"Ahh...I remember that ship well now. But still...I do not sense them. Why is that?"
"That is because Ryo-Ohki shifted most of its mass into another dimension, to give it more speed. It is rapidly approaching Earth. Though I do not know the full extent of what happened aboard the Shunga II, the other ship, I do have a feeling. Mr. Popo...prepare the Room of Spirit and Time. I have a hunch we will be needed its services once again. I seem to sense Ryoko being hurt...and that young boy, Tenchi Masaki, hurt even more. And behind them...and evil even worse. Definitely, prepare the room."
Mr. Popo bowed. "Yes, my god."
As Popo was walking away, Kami began sending out his consciousness to reach Ryo-Ohki and her crew. He had to tell them to come to his palace...
**********
Ryoko was finally able to stub the flow of blood coming from Tenchi's mangled lower half. The entire deck of the Ryo-Ohki was tinted red from the constant dripping. The kid would die of blood loss soon if he did not get help soon, thought Ryoko. Damn, the promising little crusade the three had originally embarked on had turned out disastrous.
Ryoko...
Ryoko looked sharply up. "Who said that?"
Ryoko...can you hear me?
Ryoko stood up, cautiously. "Yes... Who are you? How the heck did you get on my ship?"
Always the strong, direct type eh Ryoko? This is Kami, guardian and god of the Earth. I am not even on your ship!
"God eh? How do I know its you? Kami does ring a bell though...hey, that is the name of the god of Earth! Wow, nice to meet ya god!"
And smart too...Ryoko, I am telepathically talking to you. Similar to your connection to Ryo-Ohki and Washu. Though I can talk to anyone within my range. I had to wait a while for your ship to get within my telepathic range.
"I never knew an enemy that was telepathic. So I guess you must be Kami...what is it god?"
How did your battle go? No need to explain the beginning. I know how the ship left and what its intentions and original crew were. I only sense Tenchi Masaki with you. Where is Piccolo? And Yamcha?
"How did you know why we were leaving?" She then realized the obvious answer as soon she spoke the words.
Because I am god, remember? How did it fare? Why can I not sense a connection with Piccolo?
Even though Kami was not physically there, Ryoko turned her head down in shame. "Zyroko...absorbed him. Tenchi was mangled. And I was beaten. Zyroko killed Clay and destroyed the Shunga II in one blast."
My god...oh wait, I am god. So that is all? Is Tenchi with you on Ryo-Ohki?
"Yes, Kami. What do you want me to do?"
I have great plans for you to help you defeat Zyroko. I can sense his ki...far away. It is small now, but it is approaching Earth at an alarming rate. If you lost to Zyroko, and Vegeta and Goku are still out...you represent the last hope of the Earth.
"What do you want Tenchi and to do? Anyways, Tenchi is out too you know."
What kind of wounds does he have?
Embarrassed a little, Ryoko rubbed the back of her neck. "Well, his upper half is fairly intact. Um, let's just say his abilities to be a future father were crushed in the literally sense by Zyroko..."
Kami thought about this for a moment, till he understood what she was saying.
Come to my lookout. I assume it should not be that hard to find from outer space, hmm? Once here, I will heal Tenchi's most horrible wound with a special extract.
"Thank god...phew."
After that...you will begin.
"Begin what?"
You and Tenchi will begin your year long training within the Room of Spirit and Time. Come to my lookout as soon as possible. I'll explain everything once you are there.
"Alright!"
With that, Ryoko blasted Ryo-Ohki ahead, zooming at the Earth at top speed. In a few minutes Ryo-Ohki would enter the atmosphere. Then...this "training" or whatever will begin.
"Here we go! Yahoo!"
Ryo-Ohki disappeared in the horizon of space.
***********
Within the limited remains of the Shunga II, masses of un-imploded material floating around. With the implosion, almost no pieces have survived. Most of the interior was sucked in, while the exterior was blown away in an explosion fashion. Pieces of the hull floating aimlessly around in space, surrounded by silence.
Several shards of metal and glass floated by. A side panel bearing the words "Shun..." slid past. Within the swirling mound of rumble, resided the dark, dead pit that was once the black hole core of the Shunga II.
The interior had imploded into this solid, black sphere, which had untold amounts of gravity. Instead of destroying the entire galaxy, the black hole had been sealed off as well. Part of the Shunga II's safeguards was to encase the room containing the reactor with a special wall padding material that would neutralize the black hole. The black sphere was now harmless, reduced to a simple mound of black matter with no gravity by the Shunga II's safety measures mentioned above.
A large hand enclosed around the black ball, and slowly wrapped its sinister fingers around the circumference.
"They believe that they have escaped...they believed that they have won. They believe, that Zyroko is dead...well..."
The hand closed completely around the sphere, and with a sharp *crack!* the sphere was crumbled to dust. Zyroko opened his hand and let the dust fly away.
"I can crumble a black hole with ease, such is my power. No matter where they hide...no matter where they run...everyone in this universe shall taste that power..."
Zyroko looked off into space, gauging the direction of Earth. "Hehe...might as well start somewhere."
The evil sentinel blasted off in the path towards Earth, unstopped by the oxygen less space. Zyroko could survive anywhere...
"No matter where they run....or hide..." Zyroko repeated.
"They will soon experience true fear and horror!"
He sped off, a flying menace to the Universe. His very aura causing planets to tremble in his wake.
NEXT TIME ON DRAGONBALL Z AND TENCHI MUYO:
"Hey, this is Goku. Yet again I am out of action, but don't let it bother you! On the next exciting episode, Tenchi gets his 'family jewels' all fixed up thanks to Kami. Not only that, but Ryoko and Tenchi are now training in the Room of Spirit and Time! Will they be able to get enough training time in before Zyroko comes to Earth? Hurry with those Senzu beans, son. Oh my...Zyroko has already landed! Watch out Gohan!"
Chapter 13 - Search for Zyroko
Washu: It's unquestionably a nerve racking episode!
I VASTLY apologize to you, my fans. Chapter 12 not only took a long time to write, but I was detained by other factors. For many weeks I was up creating a Dragonball/Anime website, and it now has become fairly popular. I am once again sorry for the inconvenience, and only hope that you, my fans, were patient enough to wait. Also, my beta reader kind of was so busy for so long, I had to take into myself to proofread the chapter. This is my longest yet, so I hope you are all impressed with how much work went into this. The basic structure has been laid, so future chapters SHOULD take less time. I won't know until I read, them, though. I believe that Chapter 12 is one of my better ones, so PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!!! Thank you, SSJNate out.