Ch. 3
Can't hold on much longer-but I will never let go
I know it's a one way track-don't know how long this'll last
I'm not gonna think this way-nor will I count on others.
Close my eyes and feel it burn-now I see what I've gotta do.
Open your heart, it's gonna be alright.
-Open your heart, yes, from Sonic Adventure.
Krista gasped as the energy blast rushed by her as she barely dodged out of the way. She turned and, pulling all of her energy into ball form in her hands, aimed a blast at Vegeta who had, unfortunately, long gotten out of the way. She heard him laugh above her.
"You've got to do better than that if you want to beat me, let alone Frieza!!"
She looked up in time to see a shower of energy raining down on her. Launching herself up into the air, she weaved in and out of the energy, coming up behind Vegeta. She brought her hands together and knocked him on the back of his head, sending him into the mountainside. He barreled in headfirst, drilling a very neat hole into the cliff side. She then hid behind the mountain, waiting for him to emerge. In a few seconds, Vegeta had indeed emerged and rose high, looking for her. He tried to sense her, but before he could she had launched a volley of blasts in his direction. He dodged them easily and came after her. The two of them skimmed along the ground as Vegeta tried to catch up to his apprentice. He finally called a halt and sat down to rest. Krista walked back over to join him and sat on a nearby rock. Vegeta wiped his brow and looked at her with some admiration and respect.
"You're getting better kid. Much better. But better isn't good enough to beat Frieza."
Krista nodded. "I know. But we've still got a few months. I can get better in that time." Vegeta glanced at her.
"You'd be surprised how little time a few months is. And remember, I was once part of Frieza's force. If I know him, he's brushing up his troops in anticipation for us, if he isn't already bringing along the Ginyu force."
Krista stood. "Then what are we just sitting around here for? We've got training to do!"
It'd been so long since he'd had a truly good fight.
Oh sure, the Ginyu were good for training-if one could tolerate their insufferable sense of "style".
But a real, no-holds-barred fight? He sighed dejectedly. He hadn't seen one of those in far too long.
One of the many reasons why he had so readily volunteered for this mission to Earth.
As Zarbon looked into the mirror over his sink in his quarters, he wondered again just how he had ended up here.
He wondered how he, the son of a nobleman, had ended up being spared by Frieza when his planet had been taken at a young age. How he had fought his way through the ranks to become number two in the organization. How he had even gotten to this point at all.
His betrothed had been killed when his planet was taken, the rest of his species scattered amongst the galaxy.
It wasn't that his life was in shambles, Gods no. He was just…he couldn't even describe the feeling. He sighed again and looked at his reflection. It was probably nothing a good fight couldn't fix.
Not that he'd had a good fight in awhile…
Piccolo watched as Vegeta and his protégé battled each other. Even he, with his exacting standards had to be impressed. Krista had come a long way in the seven or so months since they'd first sensed her power. Piccolo didn't know whether to attribute this dramatic increase in skill and power to the teacher or the student. It was quite obvious Vegeta had worked hard with her; she'd developed some of his style. But it was equally obvious that Krista had a very good talent for fighting and bettering herself. There was a definite fem flare in her fighting.
Indeed Krista had become more than a match for Vegeta. She was beating him out at every turn. For every blast he aimed at her, she had already begun to answer back with three. There was no doubt about it.
"She's good," he said simply to Seiji, who was standing next to him. Seiji nodded, his face expressionless. Piccolo watched for a few moments them cracked a small smile.
"She's very good."
Seiji grinned too. "Touma's going to be glad. We had no idea she was so capable…She's as good as any one of the Earth's Special Forces."
Piccolo nodded. "We know. We're going to ask her to join us as soon as this mess with Frieza's over."
Seiji glanced up at the Namek in surprise. "You're serious." It was a statement rather than a question. Piccolo nodded again.
"If she'll accept."
Seiji grinned even wider. "I don't think that'll be a problem." He then turned serious.
"When are we expecting Frieza?"
"Within the next 24 hours."
Seiji grunted. "Anytime now, you mean." Piccolo nodded.
"Now is the time when we get to see just what everyone is made of."
"Now entering Earth's atmosphere."
Frieza grinned wickedly. "Excellent. Take us in."
"Aye, sir."
She sensed it so sharply that she actually stopped in mid-jump, causing her mentor who was chasing her to charge into her.
"What is it?" he asked. Then his eyes widened and his lips settled into a fine line.
"They're here."
It was a lineup of the worlds finest fighters. Apart from the Troopers, Senshi and Earth's Special Forces, there was Superman, the X-men, Iron Man, War Machine, The Inner Circle, as well as Sakura and Lee (Madison taping from behind a tree), a few strong Pocket-Monsters Trainers, A-ko and B-ko in her mecha suit and…well, I'm sure you get the picture. They waited in silence as the bright speck in the sky drew closer. Cero turned to Ryo.
"You think we're all ready for them?"
Ryo grinned wryly. "We're as ready as we're ever going to be."
The bright speck became distinguishable as it sailed in closer and closer until they could see it for it's immense size. The ship touched down on extended claws, and the door slid open.
Vegeta bristled as the first one out was Kui. The fish-faced alien smiled cruelly.
"Long time no see…ape."
Vegeta let out a low, threatening growl.
Dodoria was the next one off of the ship, his massive bulk making even the Blob give a small gulp. Krista stood steely-faced as alien after cruel alien stepped off of the ship. Some had blasters on their arms. Others, she rightly guessed, needn't have bothered. Then, she drew in a gasp, as did every female defender of Earth as Zarbon stepped off of the ship. He glanced around at the suddenly flushed faces and grinned. Nothing like a few good looks to throw off the ladies, he thought amusedly.
Finally came Frieza, floating along in his vehicle.
He glanced around first at his own soldiers, then at the Earth's Defenders.
"Well," he drawled, smirking. "This is quite a welcome. Look, boys, they've even brought entertainment!" he said, his gaze wandering over the Sailor Senshi and B-ko. B-ko grit her teeth behind her mask but said nothing. Frieza turned to Vegeta, still smirking but with a glint of pure hatred in his eyes.
"So nice to see you again Vegeta. Earth treating you well?"
"Better than you ever did," Vegeta replied shortly. Frieza laughed.
"Indeed. We'll test that theory in a minute. Kui."
Kui stepped forward. "Yes, Master?"
"Tell them my demands."
Kui nodded then turned to the assembled group of defenders.
"Master Frieza's commands are quite simple. He wants the Dragon Balls. Give them to him, and you'll all live. Refuse, and, well, there won't be an Earth left once My master gets a hold of it."
The soldiers behind him grinned. Supersailormoon stepped forward.
"I think I speak for all of us assembled here when I say fuck off!"
Several of the defenders had to laugh, including Krista. Lee and Sakura, however, were looking scandalized.
Frieza raised an eyebrow. "I see. Well in that case, I see no reason why we can't get started right here and now. But I'm up for a little sport. How about we pit one of your weaker opponents against one of my weaker soldiers? Kui!"
Kui, looking very sullen indeed, stepped forward. Jean immediately glanced towards Krista, but she could feel that she was much too strong. So she instead turned to Sakura.
"You feel up to this?"
Sakura grinned. "Ready as I'll every be."
"Yeah, that's the spirit!" Cero yelled.
Kui laughed as Sakura stepped forward. "You're pitting a child against me? Don't think I'll hesitate to kill her."
"Just fight!" she yelled, brandishing her Clow rod. She took out two cards and threw them into the air.
"Fight and Power, Release and Dispel!" She brought her rod down on the two cards. "Fight and Power!!"
In a whirling rush of pink and blue, two forms emerged, both female. One was cute and little. The other, tough looking and very mean. Kui laughed again.
"And what can these two things do?"
"I'll show you!" Sakura held up her wand, and aimed a heavy blow at Kui's head. Kui stood there, prepared to take a little tap to the skull.
KA-POW! Kui was thrown backwards over the heads of his fellow soldiers into a nearby mountain. Blood was oozing from where he'd been hit. Sakura took out another card.
"Fly card! Release and dispel! Fly card!" her staff bore wings and she flew over to where he had landed. She took out one last card.
"Lightning card! Release and dispel! Lightning!"
Her rod cackling with electricity, she stood before Kui stone-faced.
"You're going down," she whispered, and brought the rod hard upon Kui's head. Kui yelled out as he was electrocuted, and slumped all the way down to the ground, unconscious. Sakura took out her Fly card and flew back over to her fellow defenders. Frieza looked a little impressed.
"Not bad. Not bad at all, even for a child. I see you've been training hard."
"Not bad for the 'weakest' fighter, eh?" Cero yelled out. Frieza frowned, and suddenly in a rush of wind, Cero was down.
"Cero!!" Sakura and Lee called out together, running over towards him. Sakura picked up his tiny body and gasped.
"Cero's….dead."
"What??" Madison stepped out from behind the tree. Frieza smiled cruelly and before Vegeta could utter a word of warning, Frieza sent out three precision energy blasts and three human bodies slumped to the ground, dead. Goku turned to Frieza.
"Monster! Killing three children with their backs turned!"
Frieza grinned. "They knew what they were getting into. The Dragon Balls?"
Rajura's lips settled into a very fine line. As infuriated as he was with Frieza, he knew it would do no good to go charging at him or he'd end up like the young Cardcaptors. He, instead, turned to the mutants.
"I believe it's your turn?"
Wolverine grinned and bared his bone claws. "Bring it on."
Frieza nodded and several of the soldiers with blasters on their arms stepped forward. One of them took aim at Shadowcat and fired, and was immensely surprised when the beam passed harmlessly through her. She grinned.
"Fooled ya!" and aimed a very good scissors kick at him, sending him crashing to the ground. Cyclops was blasting away, first destroying the soldier's blasters then going after them bodily, while Wolverine went on a no-holds-barred attacking spree. Nightcrawler began popping in and out of various soldiers, drawing their fire until he had them being shot down by themselves. Frieza frowned and again intervened, sending out an energy blast. Jean, catching wind of it a second earlier, threw up a force field around as many of teammates as she could, shielding most of the mutants from the blast. However, the White Queen, Husk, Iceman and Spyke weren't so lucky. Rogue screamed as her friends' lifeless bodies slumped to the ground. Frieza tsked.
"Should have been more careful."
Rogue, half blinded by tears, had taken off both of her gloves. "You want us??" she screamed, lunging at him. "Come and get me!"
Dodoria jumped in front of her and grabbed her wrist. He yelled out in pain as his memories and abilities were sucked from him into her. He wrenched away and fell to his knees, panting. Rogue's eyes glowed with Dodoria's power as she aimed a blast at him to finish him off. He launched himself into the air and she followed him, heedless of her teammates' calls. The two of them then proceeded to battle it out, Rogue and Dodoria matching each other blow for blow.
Frieza frowned. "Dodoria, come down here at once!"
Both Rogue and Dodoria froze, and they both descended. Rogue, after a moment's hesitation, turned and walked back to her teammates. Vegeta glanced at the young teen southern belle. That was quite a mutant ability she had there. Quite useful, which was why Vegeta was sure he'd be defending her from Frieza before this was all over. Frieza was no longer smiling.
"It's time to really start this fight. Men!"
Zarbon, Dodoria, and a few others stepped forward. Goku stepped forward-or tried to but was held back.
"Goku," Krillin said softly. "You're the strongest we have. Don't fight yet, save yourself for Frieza. Piccolo, Vegeta and I will go."
"No," Krista said. "I'll go instead of you, Krillin. At least I can be wished back."
Krillin thought about it, nodded and stepped back. Zarbon grinned.
"A little girl? You insult us."
Krista snarled. "Shut up and fight, bastard."
Zarbon grinned wider. "And she's got spirit! Ready men!"
Frieza smiled. "Attack!"
Krista was in no way surprised when Zarbon headed right for her. After their little banter, she was sure he was going to see if she had the gall to actually be as strong as she thought she was. As they began to fight each other, Krista realized with a start that she still had much more training to do. Fighting Zarbon was much different than fighting Vegeta- at least she'd gotten to know how Vegeta moved, his habits. Zarbon had a completely different style. But that didn't mean that she wasn't a match for him. She saw his face begin to contort with concentration as he found his opponent much tougher than he'd originally given her credit for. The two of them rebounded off of each other, panting ever so slightly. Zarbon grinned.
"You're good. Better than I thought you'd be. Are you this good in other areas too?"
Krista flushed and aimed a series of attacks at him which were easily avoided. Zarbon laughed.
"Strike a nerve, did I? I'll ask Master Frieza to take you captive. Then we'll see how 'good' you are."
"Go to hell, mother fucker!" Krista yelled, coming at him head on. The two began to battle it out once again.
He watched especially the battle between the girl and Zarbon with acute interest. She was very good. SO good, in fact, that she need not be killed. He smirked as he heard the exchange between them. She'd be very useful. In fact, he liked Zarbon's idea, and a proposal formed in his mind. He'd call another halt in a few minutes, and tell her what he had in mind. He'd make it an offer she wouldn't be able to refuse.
Vegeta heard Krista's words, and grinned even though he himself was busy. She'd certainly developed a backbone since he'd taken her on as his protégé. Now, however, he had to concentrate on beating the living you-know-what out of his opponent. Everyone in the air froze, however, as Frieza once again called a halt. Everyone descended, growing tired of Frieza's games. He turned to Krista.
"You. I have a proposition for you."
Krista sneered. "What?"
"If you come with us, I'll leave right now. No dragon balls, no more casualties. Just you. And I'll leave Earth alone for as long as I live. What do you say?"
Krista was stunned. He was putting the fate of the Earth in her hands, and he knew it. If she gave in, she'd be giving herself to this…this…well, she didn't want to think about it. If she refused, he'd continue to destroy the Earth. She looked about for some help, but obviously no one had prepared for this: on every face was an expression just as stunned and confused as her. She peered at Frieza.
"How do I know you will hold true to your promise?"
Frieza grinned. "I swear it by my very blood."
She heard Vegeta gasp. "He's serious…" he muttered. Great. She sighed. What real choice did she have? Go with Frieza or stay and watch everyone…her friends, her family…die one by one. And then still be taken captive anyway. She hung her head, in defeat, then looked back at her brother, tears in her eyes. He blinked. She wouldn't….
"Deal."
"NO!" Touma screamed, lunging for her, but the rest of the Troopers held him back.
"It's for the best, Touma!"
"She's doing it for you!"
Touma, tears in his eyes, fought against his teammates for all he was worth, prompting the Sailorsenshi to hold him back as well. Frieza grinned and nodded to Zarbon, who took Krista by the arm and marched her into the ship without so much as a backwards glance. Frieza laughed at Touma, who was still struggling against his friends.
"Looks as if she's chosen. Best be off now, wouldn't want her to think I'd gone back on my word."
He nodded to the others, who all marched into the ship. Frieza entered and the doors closed. The still stunned defenders looked on helplessly as one of their own vanished into space.