Hoshito's Odyssey
By:
Arthur E. King
Disclaimer: Okay, before anything else, neither the Dragonball universe, nor any of it's characters, belong to me. Whoever does own it, I thank them, but they aren't me. So if you want to pay someone, pay them.
Author's note: This is the SECOND story of Hoshito the born-again Saiyajinn. You really should read "I Wish" before this, but in the event that you choose not to, there will probably be a few events that make very little sense to you. Hopefully these events will be few and far between, but consider yourself forewarned. Also, seeing as this was created for the Dragonball Z World MUD, some liberties with the story line, and characters have been taken. So if you see your character doing something Out-Of-Character, oh well. Tell me and I might think of changing something. Also, all DBZ World Mud Characters (non-immortals at least) featured in this story have given their approval, so don't come complaining to me that I didn't tell you, I did.
Now onto the actual story.
I don't know how long I had been floating around in space. It could have been days, or it could have been years. Whichever it was, most of the time, I was engaged in exercise. Just because I knew that I'd never be powerful enough to change the past, didn't mean that my new Saiyajinn blood would allow me to neglect the present, or my training.
And so my days were filled with blood and sweat, my nights with uncried tears. I existed for no reason other than to fight, and I guess that would have to be enough.
Still, something in me yearned for more. Something in me wanted to do something with my life. Wanted me to mean something, to someone. But of course, it didn't matter what I meant to them. Good or bad, it's all the same.
It was a very long time until something changed. I didn't even notice it at first, so intent was I on pushing my body beyond it's limits. That is until the incessantly flashing light finally caught my attention. We were approaching a planet, and the computer was wondering if I wanted to land.
The emptiness inside me wouldn't take no for an answer, and to be honest, I was beginning to miss the company of other people. Besides, I needed to restock the ship anyways. So I keyed in the proper sequence, and started the final approach. I turned the gravity machine back down from the thousand times normal gravity that it had been set at, strapped myself into the chair, and settled down, to wait.
A little green boy pointed up into the sky, asking his care-giver in a voice far too low for so small a frame, "What's that?" The older being looked up into the sky, saw the long trailing light, and the ball of fire, and immediately picked up his child and ran to the house.
"Vorack, stay here, and tell Nilsom to contact the Honoured-Elder. Morn will want to know about this."
The child was frightened, but obedient. His care-giver knew best after all. As he watched, the elder Namek flew off to confront this new arrival, whoever it was. Still, being curious, he couldn't help wonder what this all meant. Although you couldn't quite blame him, the child was too young to remember Frieza and his henchmen.
Vorack ran as fast as he could to the village elder, Nilsom, and told him about the bright light in the sky. Nilsom's reaction was a huge surprise to say the least. Someone who knew him less, might have said it was fear, but Vorack knew it was really just concern for his children.
"Thank you my child. I will have to tell Morn about this." The tall, thin Namek, wasn't what most thought of as an elder, having no wrinkles after all. But still, he was one of the most promising elders. Many thought that he would be next in line after Morn. Although hopefully, that wouldn't be for a very long time.
But Vorack wasn't thinking about any of this, he was only smiling up at Nilsom, and wondering just what that bright light in the sky really was. Of course, seeing as the elder knew EVERYTHING, it might be a good idea to ask...
"Umm... sir? Sorry to be rude, but do you know what that light in the sky really was?"
Nilsom was stunned out of his reverie by the question, but managed to hold on to the mental link with the Eldest Namek for just long enough to give him the news. It was several minutes before Vorack had his answer, but Vorack was patient, and used to waiting, so he didn't mind. Instead, he just sat down, and meditated until Nilsom decided to talk.
When Nilsom finally talked, it was neither hurried, nor shocked, but merely understanding. "It was a visitor Vorack. We have a stranger. We don't know what they're like yet, but we hope they're friendly, like you and me."
Vorack had heard stories about the evil Frieza, and the nice strangers who helped the Nameks get rid of him. But those were all they were... Stories. Now there was a real alien on the planet. A shiver of something (excitement? fear?) slid up Vorack's spine. He bowed to Nilsom, and made his way out of the hut.
His heart was racing, and he wanted to know more about this stranger. Curiosity soon overtook his better judgement and his care-givers orders to stay put. So it wasn't long before he went chasing off to investigate the disturbance.
Of course, he knew that if Morn knew about it, it wouldn't be long until the stranger would be there. So instead of trying to find where the stranger would have landed, he just went straight to the Honoured Elder's hut. It was a long walk, but he had time, knowing that his care-giver would stall the stranger, to find out just how nice they were.
"Hey, are you okay?" You know I really should've brought that gravity down a bit sooner, I just don't know my own strength anymore.
A strained grunt was his reply. He seemed to be concentrating extremely hard on something, seeing as his face was a complex combination of pain, fear, and something else. "I'll be alright."
"I'm really sorry. I've just been training so hard lately, I've forgotten just how strong I am." Not a very good apology, nor a good excuse, but it'll do. For now.
The twisted digits slowly re-aligned themselves with an audible "Pop" and the relief on the Namek's face was immediate. He let out the breath he had been keeping hold of slowly, forcing the air between puffed cheeks, and clenched teeth. Then he inhaled, a great gasping wheeze of a breath, and let it out in a more normal way.
I twisted my head down, bringing it close to his, with uncharacteristic concern in my eyes. "You're sure you're okay? Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Your apology is more than enough." As he said this, he straightened his back, and rose once more to his feet. "Although I would ask that you try to restrain yourself for the duration of your stay on our planet. We are not used to having someone of your... abilities here."
I smiled at that, almost able to take pleasure from their incredible welcome. "Thank you. I accept your hospitality, and wish only the best of luck to your people, and your planet." I bowed low, to express my honour and thanks at receiving such a gracious welcome.
I could tell that this Namek wasn't entirely certain of me, but had obviously made some king of great decision. "I would have to see the eldest of our kind to receive a proper welcome to our new home."
I searched my memory to come up with the name. "That would be Morn, correct?" The shock on his face was priceless. "I'm from Earth too." The Namek's face relaxed then, and I laughed, a hearty chuckle that was almost real.
"Oh yeah. By the way, my name is Hoshito. What's yours?" An afterthought, not important, but a pleasantry.
His green eyes narrowed for a half-second, but relaxed, realizing that I meant no disrespect. "Mirak. Second to Nilsom, the eldest of my village, and care-giver to Vorack, though not the parent." The green man's voice was smooth as honey, and just as sweet, and I realized that this Namek could just as easily have been a singer, rather than a warrior. Perhaps I had misjudged him...
The Namek however didn't notice my stare, and turned about with a nod of his head, and single word, "Come." Certain only of their good intentions, I followed him towards the new Honoured Elder of Namek.
"Yes my child. I can do this thing for you. But why do you require it? Why would you have me awaken your sleeping powers?" Morn's voice was soft, and mellow, but with a hidden core of strength that seemed endless.
I couldn't quite understand why I had come here, only that it seemed the right thing to do, that it was something that HAD to be done, regardless of the consequences, and I told him so. "I do not know why I need this, I can only say that I do. I have a yearning for power, the power to protect those I love from harm. I have not had this yet, and I believe perhaps you might be able to help."
I felt compelled to explain myself more fully, Though the expression in his eyes neither wanted nor needed further words, only accepting what I might say, and nothing else. "Once, long ago, I failed to protect the one person who's love meant everything to me, and because of my failure they perished. Since that day, I have done nothing but try my utmost to stop such a thing from happening again. I have yearned for the power to correct the mistakes of the past, so that no one will ever fall for my inability to change the present."
Morn only nodded, understanding more fully than I might ever have guessed and made a small beckoning motion. "Come my child, and I shall see what I may do." With those words I stepped forward, and he placed his hand on my head, and closed his eyes.
So focused was I that I did not even hear the tiny footfalls behind me, did not sense the approach of one so small. Instead, my thoughts turned inwards, to the processes of my body, to the energy I felt within me still, full to bursting with the need to be used.
I could feel the presence of Morn within my thoughts, and although surprised, I gave no barrier, and allowed him to scan the fullness of my pain, and of the happenings of my life, both recent and far gone. Once more I saw Mary, huddled in the snow against the cold, once more I saw the eternal dragon hover before me as I screamed my wishes.
Even as his mind searched through my own, seeing all that I was, I knew I would not, could not be found worthy of whatever gift he might be able to give. My heart was burdened by the sorrow, and I fell to my knees, weeping openly. And yet, at the last, Morn smiled that gentle all-knowing smile, and I felt the energy welling up within me.
It was as if a dam had burst inside, and the tide swept in with a swelling wall of force that no longer would be denied. I could feel that energy pulsing in my veins, And my vision blurred, turning to utter blackness. And in that dark nothing, I once more saw that spark of light that was my soul, and saw it resonate with the soul of this other, and saw it's brilliance magnified a hundred fold, till it was as the sun itself.
Too bright it was, and at the last I closed my eyes, but to no avail, I could see it still. Deep within me, I saw that light replace all the energy in this shattered form that once was me. No, not replace, but join with. My body and soul had now been fused together, into one single entity of ultimate power. I could feel my hair lengthening and straightening even so, and the golden aura that had ever been so near the surface burst forth once more.
Beyond. I had surpassed the Super-Saiyajinn, and gone beyond. It was amazing. Not just the power, but the clarity of thought. It seemed as if the wholeness of the universe could be understood by me, if only I had the time.
It was at that very moment that my eyes fluttered open, to reveal the stark and astonished face of the Honoured Elder of Namek. It was as if he had seen within me some dire ghost and his heart could no longer withstand the strain of carrying such a burden. As one we cried out in a wordless, soundless scream of silence, our hearts anguish more powerful than any transformation might ever have been.
Both of us had fallen into unconsciousness then, and both of us awoke precisely at the same moment, one hour later to resume the conversation. To finish what we had started.
Morn lifted his head from the bed he lay upon, and looked at me, our eyes meeting across the room and the sparks flew in recognition. Almost we passed out again, but held on to consciousness like some precious thing and we managed to stand.
"So. The day of reckoning draws nigh. The time when we shall pay in full, for the errors of our forefathers. I had hoped to never see this day... It appears those hopes were all for naught." What is he saying? What does he mean? And what do I have to do with this? I said nothing though, and let the man continue. "The story I must tell you begins thousands of years ago, far beyond the memory of anyone alive."
Then his eyes took on a far-away look, and glazed over, as if not really seeing the here and now, but re-experiencing that which he related to me. "In time there shall come, one who knows not why. He shall possess a body not born, a form such as a great warrior might have. He shall carry within him a lonely heart, as of a husband bereaved. And he shall have the tortured soul, as of one destined to do great things."
"By these three things shall you know him, and by one thing more. He shall not come to us here, in the place of our beginnings. But elsewhere, a place we have only recently come to call home." Knowing the story of how Frieza destroyed the original planet Namek, I felt a chill crawl up my spine at the words of this now-eldest of the Nameks
"It is this man, and no other, who shall undertake, unwilling at first, the task of Battling the Ultimate Evil, and cleansing our history, for good or ill. Either way, we shall be absolved of our eternal vigilance, and shall be granted either oblivion, or peace." As the echoes of the words made their way, unbidden into my mind, I denied them with the fullest force of my convictions. I almost spoke then, but Morn continued, and I felt it rude to interrupt.
"But first, let me explain. There are many secrets that have been passed on from Eldest to Eldest, in an unbroken line since Porunga, the first Namek, for whom we have named our dragon. Greatest of these is the story of the Ultimate Evil, which Porunga was responsible for creating."
"It was not his intention to create this Ultimate Evil, but rather quite the opposite. However, good intentions are often corrupted, and it was so with his. It was he who created the very first Dragonball. It was very different from the ones you know of, both on Earth and here on Namek. It was pure, and had no star in the centre, and as such was known as 'The No-Star Ball'"
"The No-Star Ball was created from the third eye of the original Eternal Dragon, which all others imperfectly reflect, and was said to be the source... Some say the dragon was the creator of the Universe, such was his power. But none know for certain. All we know is that when Porunga decided to destroy the great beast, it nearly cost us our planet."
"Great storms raged upon the surface, obliterating nearly all life. All the great brethren of Porunga were killed in the storms, not having the power of this greatest of all Nameks. In fact, such was his power, that he defeated the dragon in single combat, and took from his corpse, the great Eye. This eye Crystalized into a tiny ball, perhaps the size of a pebble, no bigger, but within this orange orb, lay all the concentrated power of the Universe."
"In fact, the power was infinite. For there was no limit to the number of wishes a person might make. And even less of a limit as to what kind of wishes one might make. It was truly the Ultimate Power. But it could not be tamed by any mortal, and twisted the mind of Porunga till in a fit of insanity, he destroyed himself utterly."
"Only one person survived at the last. That was Porunga's son, Shenlong. Finally, seeing the destruction that this power caused, he decided to get rid of it completely. But his power was not sufficient, and instead, he threw it with all his might, hoping that it might find a place to rest that could hide it for all eternity."
"Such was Shenlong's might, that the ball left our home world, and pierced the living heart of our Sun. This was the only place Shenlong could conceive of that might be forever safe from all those who might covet the Dragonball's power. But even Shenlong himself was not immune to the lure of ultimate power. That is why he took the tiny inkling of power he had managed to receive from the No-Star Ball, and used it to create what we now know of as the Namekian Dragonballs."
"Inside of each ball, Shenlong placed a number of stars. He chose the star as a symbol, so that we might never forget the geis he had placed upon us, to be ever vigilant against any who might seek to reclaim that power. For a similiar reason, he named our dragon Porunga, and kept that as the password, so that we might never forget how his father erred in judgement."
"However, in his final days, Shenlong spoke a prophesy. The words I had spoke to you before. He knew that one day, Someone would try to reclaim this most Ultimate of Evils, and laid then a geis, upon one who would carry the necessary tools to save us, to save everything."
"That person, is you."
It took a great deal of time, until I was able to wrap my mind around the words, consume them, understand them, and finally, deny them. Who was I to save the Universe, if I could not even save even one woman? So I spoke, the single syllable that was in my heart to speak. "No." It was quite some time before I could bear the heartbreak that would be wrought by that one word, but when I could, my blue eyes turned up to meet his green ones, and I spoke again.
"If I cannot save even one small girl, how am I to save the universe from this Ultimate Evil? If you put your trust in me I will only let you down. I know only that I will fail, and I will not take this burden, get yourself another 'Chosen One' for I bring nothing but death."
My words bore the splash of truth, the tiny ripples of which would be felt for ages to come.
It was only then that I noticed that someone else was in the room, it was a small Namek child, I knew not his name, but as he spoke, I felt my resolve weaken. "Then we are already doomed, and the Universe shall be destroyed, and we shall rest in oblivion. That choice is yours to make, and none can make it for you."
"Wise words my child. Now go to your care-giver, and rest. We have things to discuss." I could see the child's disappointment, but this being the Eldest Namek, he obeyed. "A fine child, but he speaks over-much, and out of turn. Even so, the child speaks true, for without you we shall be lost, and all the worlds lost with us."
"Do not put your faith in me. I will only let you down."
"We have no other to have faith in. Perhaps faith will be enough, at the end."
"Faith is never enough."
"Still. We can do nothing else."
I turned my back to him, walking away from I knew not what. It was all too much, that someone tens of thousands of years ago, had known I would be here... No. To my back I heard Morn, the most Honoured, and perhaps cursed, Elder of Namek utter but a paltry few words at my back. "You can't escape your destiny. No matter how hard you may try."
I ignored him, pushing aside the taller, thinner Namek who stood by the doorway, comforting the small child. Not knowing, not caring, I flew back to my spaceship. Almost I entered, but I demurred for a moment. I still needed food, and water, and other supplies. And perhaps a good nights rest to dull the specters of that afternoon.
I made up my mind then and there to leave in the morning, once I had restocked my ship, and taken my leave of these gracious people. I owed them that much.
Morning's first rays came gloriously over the horizon, a stunning golden hue, nearly the same as my own secret power. Still, the light held no warmth to me, for I would not let it in. To me that bright golden orb rising over the horizon was nothing but a burning ball of mostly hydrogen, and a little helium. Nothing special, just gas.
I scowled at the thought, and entered my ship, setting the co-ordinates and blasting off into space with no real objective, other than to get away from this crazy place. Prophecies, ha! Ultimate Evil, ha! I laugh at the thought... And yet, I did not laugh.
It was nearly an hour before I heard the tiny sneeze. I should have heard it before, but I was busy stuffing my face full of the delicious food. For people who drank only water, and ate nothing at all, the Nameks sure could prepare a feast. Still, hearing the sneeze brought my attention to the present.
"Who's there? Show yourself! I know you're there, Don't make me come after you. Because if I find you, I'll just throw you out the nearest airlock, and no one will be the wiser." I didn't really mean them, but the words scared the tiny Namek child I had seen the other day into revealing his hiding place beneath my bed.
"What have we here? A stowaway?" I lifted one eyebrow at him, and sneered in my most threatening manner. Being still young, he bought it, and cowered again. I laughed at his fear, and decided right then and there that I liked this child. "Come on out, I'm not going to eat you."
The child was still unsure, and still cowered slightly, though he had stopped shivering. "I won't throw you out of the airlock either," I said laughing. With those words the young green child stepped out from his hiding place, straightening his back and showing some spine.
"What's your name son? I'm Hoshito."
"Vorack." Simply put, and simply made, he extended his hand to me in a gesture of greeting. I took his small green hand, in my own large brown one, and a friendship was born, that would change two people, and between them, the Universe itself.
The child was sleeping, the even breathing and light snores proved that. I lay in my bed, unable to join him. Mary... I couldn't help you. I couldn't stop you. How am I supposed to even hope of saving the Universe? No... They must be wrong.
The thoughts kept swirling in my mind, and after a few hours, I rose from my restless tossing. I had intended to have a small bite to eat, but the food was tasteless, grey ash. So instead I moved to train, but then I realized that Vorack would be unable to handle the intense gravity.
I was frustrated, needing to do something, and not caring what. As I stood before the gravity machine, my finger almost touching the button to begin, my eyes locked on the tiny port windows the good Doctor Briefs had installed. Not normally one to bother gazing out windows, I began to turn my attention once more to the machine, but halted.
Curiousity. That was it. Pure, unsatiated curiosity. Now that the idea was there, it would not go away, so I caved, and moved to the tiny hand-sized piece of shaded glass. The stars, though I knew them to be giants, seemed to be but pinpricks of light in the distance. Distance...
Perhaps this was the answer. This was why I had been unable to sleep. Not because of a need to train, but because of a need for peace of mind. Out here, in space, there was so much distance, so much emptiness, perhaps it would be enough...
Not certain of what I was doing, only knowing that it must be done, I went to the airlock. I opened the first door, and stared out the tiny window there too for a time. Then knowing what must be done, though not why, I removed the tiny piece of golden metal encircling my finger. So small a thing, that it might mean nothing. So small a thing that it might be forever lost among the stars.
I placed the band gently upon the floor of the airlock, then stepped back, and closed my eyes. I heaped upon that tiny thing, all the accumulated memories of my life with Mary, placed upon it everything good that we had shared, I gave to it the final touch of endless loss that I might never be forgiven. Then I closed the door.
Not forgiven, but perhaps forgotten. Out here, in this endless expanse of nothing, there might be space yet that could hide this thing from me, that it might be lost forever, so that no one would ever know my secret shame. I pressed the button, the door opened into the full blackness of that space between the stars, the air rushed out to meet oblivion, and took with it that shining memory of the only woman I ever loved.
"Yes! At Last! They have given it to me!" The dark voice screeched through the black veil of night. A tattered grey cloak, dusty with age, and reeking of death surrounded the small, desiccated form, of the corpse-like God. Or at least, it was called such by the natives of this planet, a small brutish people, naturally superstitious. And they would not be far off in this.
"At last I shall have my full, fullest revenge! And all shall taste the bitter fruit of oblivion!" Mad words. The ravings of a delusional mind. And yet... There be power here.
"They thought they could hide it forever. But I knew better. I knew of the prophecy... I knew that the one would come who's arrival would herald the beginning of the end. I knew, and so I waited.... And at long last that wait has come to an end!" Even here in this crypt where nothing yet lived, the very air itself seemed to tremble in fear of those words.
"Finally! The Ultimate Power shall be MINE!" The echoes of the laughter that followed would ring in the ears of every being who could hear, ripple in the eyes of every being who could see, and startle to the core every being possessed of a soul, who had yet to cherish what little of their lives would remain if this being had his wish.