The Rage: Prophecy of the Ten
Disclaimer: DBZ is owned by people who are not me who haven't given me any
permission to use their copyrighted material. But that's not gonna stop me
(Bwahahahaha!!!!). Ahem…well, anyway, all other characters were created by myself
and other fans and any similarity with a real person is either purely coincidental or
intentionally malicious, whichever is more convenient. Please don't rip the characters, it
took too long to make them up!
Part 1 – The SuperHuman Saga
Chapter 4
Durnoka was pissed, and rightfully so. It was not often that he, Chief Officer of the
Aranian Directorate of Internal Investigation, was awakened in the middle of the night.
When he was, it only meant bad news. He hated bad news.
He rolled out of bed and slipped on a robe, then headed out of his room and down the
hall to his office. He went to his desk and sat down, pressing his palm against a pad near
the monitor. This simultaneously activated the monitor on the desk and stopped the near
earsplitting noise that blared from an implant in his ear. He idly thought about gouging it
out…The light on a camera mounted on the monitor blinked on, indicating it was
transmitting his image. He made sure to scowl angrily at it.
"This had better be damned important!" he said to the person on screen in a tone that
matched his expression. As he expected, Keehol, his assistant director, flinched.
"Y-yes sir, it's very important." he replied, straightening up. "Sir, I am in transit to a
warehouse…well, what's left of a warehouse. Sir, I'm afraid we lost a lot of sweepers
tonight."
Durnoka silently cursed. The loss of sweepers was very bad. They were, like heavies,
difficult to locate and train, though not nearly as costly as the super humans. The best of
them were high-level psychics, whom were the most useful and costly. The fact that
Keehol did not state a set number indicated that there was a major loss on their hands. He
braced himself for the worst.
"How many?"
"Four full sweeper teams, sir."
"God damn it…" Durnoka whispered. That amounted to 20 low or middle class
sweepers plus four high-level leaders, not to mention the backup suppression personnel
that normally numbered 20 per team. "How did it happen?"
"Apparently they were investigating traces of energy shielding in the warehouse. They
got a few signals that a sizeable energy level was inside, which would explain why 4
teams were sent in the first place. It's reported that a few minutes after they entered they
were caught in a series of explosions that engulfed the warehouse."
"Was it an accident?"
"Doubtful. The explosions appeared to be chained."
"A trap…good God, who could have done this. Who reported this to you?"
"A Heavy squad had contact with the sweepers and were a minute away when the
explosions occurred."
Durnoka's head swam. It was an obvious setup, and now they were less twenty-four
key individuals. He could not, however, think of anyone, even any rogue Heavies, that
would have the audacity or resources to do such a thing. He had to get to the bottom of it.
"Ok, Keehol, handle the scene. I want it picked over with a fine tooth comb; no stones
left unturned, understand?"
"Yes sir."
"Good, I expect your report on my desk in twenty-four hours." With that, he switched
off the monitor and computer. He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. This was
big…very big. How the hell was he going to explain it to the High Council?
----------------
The long walk finally ended when Killian called a halt. They had ended their run long
ago; Killian assured them that anyone near the explosion would be in no condition to
chase after them. After a moment, a corridor opened leading out of the sewer. The group
followed Killian inside and, after a short walk and another hidden door, they all stepped
into a vast, brightly lit chamber.
The chamber was a stark contrast with the dank, dark sewer they had just emerged
from. Its walls were white and smooth and they swept upwards into a dome shaped
ceiling thirty feet overhead. The floor was smooth white tile with gold lines crisscrossing
every two feet. Electric sconces dotted the walls periodically. Here and there, a column
like pedestal would hold various artifacts; a helmet here, an old sword there, and various
odd sets of armor on stone busts. There were four doors that exited the room spaced
evenly along the walls and marked with writing that none of the group could understand.
In the center of the massive room was a large, low circular table with sitting pillows and
small chairs surrounding. It was an impressive sight to them, as most never knew any real
luxury.
"Whoa, some place you got here." Guntou said. "Is this all marble?"
"Yes.This place," he waved his hand around, "is a result of an immature stage I went
through a century and a half ago. It's a waste, really, and no place for a warrior to live
with all this comfort. It makes you soft. I'm glad I didn't stay here long."
"Wha…so how long has this place been abandoned?" Ko'hi asked, incredulously. "It
looks like you just left."
"Hmm…it wasn't too long ago. Only about 125 years." He replied nonchalantly. The
entire group face-faulted. "Anyway, now that we're here, let's get to work."
"Hold on now." Jah-nee said. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm frickin'
tired and hungry. We need a rest."
"After that short walk?" Killian snorted mockingly. "I'd hardly call that tiring,
especially for fighters of your caliber. But since that little stroll apparently took
everything out of you, I'll allow an hour of rest, after which we will get back to
business."
"Wait a damn minute." Jah-nee said angrily. "'Allow'? Who the hell do you think you
are…we're volunteers, not…"
"I know what you are, better than even any of you yourselves." Killian said in a
tightly restrained voice. "And I know damn sure that not one of you is prepared for what
we are about to do. Every minute that we argue, rest, and do anything but prepare makes
you less likely to succeed. By my estimation, we have at most five days, four of which
we will intensively train. This is not fun and games; it is deadly serious. If you can't be
serious about it, you endanger those that are, and I won't allow that. So if you have a
problem with how I run this operation, I suggest you leave empty-handed. Now." He
looked around at the group, meeting any angry looks with a cold stare. "Fine then, the
doors to the right are to the living quarters and bathroom. To the left are the kitchen and
training area. You have one hour, then we meet again at the center table. If anyone needs
me, I will be in the training room." Without waiting for any reply, Killian turned on his
toe and headed to the training room.
"Well, that was pleasant…" Surudoi said sarcastically. "I can't wait to see him upset."
Everyone chuckled nervously.
"Well, let's check this place out." Gwen said to no one in particular. The group broke
up, heading into various parts of the dwelling. Only one, however, headed after Killian
into the training room.
--------
Engar was a little more than astonished. He could vaguely tell that Killian was doing
some kind of kata, not that he could really see it. The black man moved in blurs all over
the huge room. Soon, he had sped up till Engar only felt and heard the movement of air as
it was buffeted about. To say that he was mind-boggled was an understatement.
"Do you want something or are you just trying to get in my way?" A voice said behind
him. Engar almost jumped out of his skin. He whirled around to see Killian there with a
slightly irritated look on his face.
"H-how…I could barely follow you. And without ki usage…I didn't feel anything!"
"Yes, I know. Reliance on ki is dangerous. It makes you think you are stronger than
you actually are. I prefer to isolate ki strengthening from martial arts training."
"Well, I never thought of that. Maybe it could give me an edge…"
Killian flashed a brief smile. "You have the warrior spirit, Engar. You always look to
improve yourself. Despite your training slipping in the last two years, you still have
managed to raise your level, and your spirit remains strong. Fortunately for you, you have
the grav belt your father gave you; and you never seem to turn it off either."
"How did you know about that?!!"
"There are few things on this planet I do not know. Is that not why you came to me?"
Engar nodded solemnly in response. "The loss of your parents was very unfortunate.
Your father was a good man, despite his unfailing naivete."
"You…you knew my father?"
"I did."
"Then why? If you knew so much, if you can see so far…why didn't you help him?"
Engar said accusingly. Killian looked away for a moment. He looked back at Engar, a sad
smile on his face.
"You are truly your father's child. The same innocence, the same righteous
indignation, the same ignorance of the ways of the world. To you it seems I let your
father die, that I might have done something to save him. If it were only that easy. Had I
defended your father, I would only have brought down the wrath of the Saiyans on Earth.
This is something that your father never understood till it was too late. Your father, like
yourself, had little idea of what he was getting into, what odds he was facing. He only
thought of honor and doing what he thought was right, never considering the
repercussions if he failed. When he met your mother, he was a man running from a past
that he hoped would stay behind. But they came anyway, relentless like the hunters they
are. You know who I'm talking about."
"The Saiyans…" Engar said hoarsely, his voice tinged with a mixture of fear, hatred,
anger, and awe.
"Let me tell you about these Saiyans, whom you wish to destroy so badly." Killian
began recounting the history of the Saiyans, including their transformations and the last
of the Saiyan heroes on Earth. "These Saiyans you faced…I know very little of them.
They are descendants of hundreds of Saiyans that were off-world when Planet Vegeta
exploded. At this point, they have rebuilt the Saiyan Empire to its status before Freeza.
But now they are more dangerous than ever. Now, they are Super Saiyans."
Engar absorbed the knowledge for the moment, storing it for analysis later. "If you
knew this much…why did you let my father go to face them."
"I didn't want to let any of them go. I warned Capsule Corporation against the entire
project. But they ignored me due to pressure from the five governments. The five
governments financially backed the project; they hand picked 100 of the strongest
fighters in the world for the job. They were all naïve, like your father. Born hundreds of
years too late, they believed Super Saiyans were a myth, that Majin Buu was a fantasy,
and that Cell was an urban legend. The Saiyans lured them in, lulled them into a false
sense of security…then slaughtered all but five of them. The five attempted to return to
Earth, but they were betrayed. The four others sacrificed themselves to allow your father
to escape, to warn the Earth. It was a miracle that allowed your father to remain
conscious long enough to key in the auto-pilot on his craft before lapsing into a coma
"After he recovered under your mother's care, he was to weary and too afraid to go to
Capsule Corporation, to get involved again. So he lived out his life with your mother and
you. But he always feared that one day they might find him. It is something that you, too,
should fear."
Engar straightened up. "Why is that?"
"Because they allowed you to live. Till you become strong enough to say otherwise,
your life will be forfeit at their discretion."
Engar nodded, a look of determination set on his face. "That is why I wear this
always." He pointed to his belt. "I will become strong enough to avenge my parents!"
"If the fates will it, you will do more than that. Your father taught you well. Given
time and special training, I believe you can do it."
"How much time?"
"As long as it takes." Killian said, smiling. "Don't worry about time. It is the most
predictable and easily defeated of all your enemies." Engar looked puzzled with this
remark, but accepted it without question. "I would invite you to spar, but it is time for our
meeting."
-------------
The group lounged around the table eating from various dishes as Killian and Engar
emerged from the training room. Engar's eyes lit up when he saw the food. He rushed
over to the table, intent on stuffing his face.
"The hour is up. Let us begin." Killian said. He eyed the food. "This food is a
distraction. I need your full attention." With a slight flick of the wrist, the plates and
utensils lifted and floated into the kitchen. Engar looked disappointed, to say the least.
"Hey! I wasn't done!" Golaf exclaimed indignantly. The others mirrored his protests.
"It does not matter. The food can wait, this meeting cannot. Or have you all forgotten
what I said earlier?" A few people opened their mouths to protest, but thought better of it.
Killian continued.
"Now then, I will quickly outline my plan for you. While we are small in number, we
have surprise on our side. They will not expect us, nor will they expect to face people of
your power. We must use this advantage to keep them off balance. First, I have a few
things to show you."
The lighting dimmed in the room. A bright hologram appeared slightly above the
center of the table. "This is a schematic of the Desert Base, including a five mile radius
surrounding . Most of you need not be concerned with more than the area outside the
base. The majority of the surrounding area is little more than sand dunes, though there are
some rock formations here, here, and here. " he pointed to the locations on the schematic.
They will serve as cover for the most part, though I would not rely on them."
"Question." Saucony interjected.
"What?"
"I see other outcroppings surrounding the complex. Why do you only point out the
ones on the Northern side?"
"Simple. A concerted attack on the main gate will draw out more of the enemy. They
will also think the attack is uncoordinated. Since you will be powered up ahead of time, it
will give them time to meet you all far out from the gate. At the same time, I will be
creating a similar distraction on the south side. This will enable the three man team to
enter through the west wall. After that, it's a matter of holding up long enough to break
Kildrun out." Everyone nodded in understanding.
"I want to stress something to you all. This mission will not succeed if you all do not
work as a team. You all, by necessity, are not team players, but that is not going to fly
here. I imagine you will be faced with not only fifty or more Heavies, but also a large
contingent of support personnel. With that much firepower aimed at you, you will not
survive unless you watch each other's backs. To help you all with the teamwork, I am
assigning you partners. You will protect one another and attack together. There will be
four pairs. When you approach the battlefield, split up into your pairs and spread out very
widely. That, way, your attackers will have to spread themselves thinly.
"Now, part two involves the three man team, which will consist of Jah-nee, Gwen, and
Golaf."
"But I want to fight like everyone else!" protested Golaf.
"This is not up for debate. The team needs three people and, to me, the success of the
team is most important. Further, you are younger and less experienced than anyone else;
this will be a less dangerous task for you."
"Hey, I can take care of myself just fine!" Golaf retorted.
"Then prove it on this mission. When you guys escape with Kildrun, you'll have
plenty of fighting to do." Killian replied. Golaf glared angrily at him, but didn't say
anything. "Ok, those are all the instructions for everyone but the infiltration team. I
strongly advise you to go to the training room to practice with your partners before you
head off to sleep. Tomorrow we train, hard. Let's get to it."
As the others got up grumbling, Killian turned to Gwen, Jah-nee, and Golaf. "Your
mission is much more complicated, I'm afraid. Internal security is very tight because of
the frequent escape attempts by trainees. So you guys will need to create some chaos in
there to make operating a little easier."
"How do we do that, if security is high?" Gwen asked.
"The first thing you should do is disable security monitoring. As you can see, the
primary controls are located right in the middle of the complex. But you can tap into the
system through an auxiliary terminal here." He pointed to a small square on the
schematic.
"It's not marked." Jah-nee said ,"How will we know when we've found it?"
"I will guide you all. And, no, we won't use radios. The radiation will trigger alarms. I
have it covered though. At any rate, once security is disabled, you will need to go to the
trainee quarters and free the trainees. If you can, convince them to join you, but above all
else tell them to escape."
"On e question, fearless leader." Golaf said sarcastically. "What if they turn on us?
They're Heavy trainees after all."
"Simple. You kill them." Killian replied, looking hard at Golaf before continuing.
"This should create enough disturbance for you to move with relative freedom. From
there, move to Kildrun's cell. Fortunately it's near the trainee area. Expect stiff
opposition; they have big plans for him and thus will have lots of security. I doubt it'll be
more than an annoyance to you, but I figured you might like to know.
"After you've rescued Killian, you will need to plant remote charges at the locations
marked on this map. Then escape the way you entered and be prepared to fight your way
out. Kildrun, you will find, is more than up to that task."
"Well, it sounds do-able. As long as we don't get any nasty surprises." Jah-nee said.
"What's our time frame?"
"Forty-five minutes. You will be dropped in fifteen minutes ahead of the main battle.
The security system must be deactivated right after the Heavies have left to face us. From
then on you are free to set the schedule of operation. Just make sure to be out in the
allotted time. I also have some equipment for you all to use on the mission. If you'll
follow me…
---------------
"I can honestly say I've never been more tired in my life." Ko'hi sighed. "Killian,
can't we slow down or something?" Everyone echoed her sentiments tiredly.
"No." Killian said flatly. "Fighters of your caliber should be able to handle training
more extreme than this. Extreme training is the only way to make any difference over
short periods. This is merely a warm-up, people"
Everyone groaned.
Ignoring them, Killian continued. "I'd like to introduce you all to a piece of equipment
you'll grow to love. It will make training harder and more effective." They all watched as
ten belts floated across the training room towards them. "These are grav belts. They
create a filed of gravity around the wearer up to 1000 times normal."
"And this helps us how?" Golaf asked.
"Intensity training." Engar said before Killian could reply. "At 10x, things weigh ten
times normal. Just moving is a struggle."
"Exactly. Everyone grab one and strap it on." said Killian. "Engar has one already and
is familiar with its use, so I'll have him help you all with them. By the way, take good
care of these. Capsule Corporation doesn't make these anymore without a special
request."
"Capsule Corporation?" Surudoi asked, surprised. "I thought they didn't exist
anymore."
"Well, if you know the Briefs family like I do, you'd know they never go away."
Killian said plainly. "Now then, when you've all familiarized yourselves with the
devices, repeat all of the exercises in 10x. Engar, you do them in 50x. After that, we'll get
to the real training."
As he walked away, Killian noted with satisfaction the sound of people falling to the
ground in shock. He imagined he would have plenty of time now to meditate and spy on
the enemy before they were finished with the warm-up.
Engar, meanwhile, looked at his teammates on the floor, a sweat bead dangling from
right temple. "Um…is there something wrong?"
Two hours later, the last of the group finished the last of their repetitions. As if by
clockwork, Killian stepped up to them. He eyed the ragged looking bunch with a mix of
annoyance, disdain, and humor. He did not, however, berate them, as they expected. "I
have unexpected and unfortunate news. It means that we will be training more intensively
than I originally planned."
"What happened?" Sebago asked.
"They've moved up the dissection and cloning time on Kildrun. It happens in two
days." Killian replied flatly. "Pair up people. When I'm done with you, the world will
know how truly weak the Heavies are."
-------------
General Sleet read Chief Officer Durnoka's report for the third time. It still left a bad
taste in his mouth. He was not so much worried about the losses as he was of the
implication the attack represented. Someone was definitely attempting to undermine
detection efforts. Anyone who was a secret enemy would be dangerous, especially if they
would and could resort to such extreme measures.
Something about the whole situation did not feel right. Gut instinct told him
something very important was at hand. Sleet paged his secretary.
"Tionne, put me through to the Desert Base; Dr. Orange in Research. Encryption level
five." He waited impatiently as the high level encryption calculated for a few minutes.
Finally, he heard a 'click' signifying the connection was open.
"G-general Sleet!" Orange said nervously. "How can I assist you sir?"
"Something has come up, Dr. Orange. I have a hunch that the terrorists who struck
yesterday are not finished."
"Are you sure sir?"
"Positive. They will no doubt be emboldened by their victory. I will be advising the
High Council to raise an alert at all installations. I doubt they'd be foolhardy enough to
actually attack the Desert Base, but it is best to be prepared."
"A wise decision, sir."
"The reason I'm calling is because I want you to step up schedule working on the
Namek. I want him examined, dissected, and cloned as soon as possible"
"Well, ah, sir, that might take some time."
"I understand. When is the earliest you can start?"
"Well, we need to two days to set up the equipment. I shall personally oversee the
operation."
"Very well. I will be there in two days time to witness the operation."
"Yes sir. We will be ready for your arrival."
"Good. Sleet out."
Sleet leaned back in his chair. It would not take much to convince the council to step
up security after last night's disaster. With the Namek's powers added, they should easily
be able to handle any threat. If all went as planned, Aran would even have an upper hand
in world politics and in their dealings with the Saiyans. It was a situation in which little
could go wrong.
Then why could he not shake a feeling of impending doom?
Disclaimer: DBZ is owned by people who are not me who haven't given me any
permission to use their copyrighted material. But that's not gonna stop me
(Bwahahahaha!!!!). Ahem…well, anyway, all other characters were created by myself
and other fans and any similarity with a real person is either purely coincidental or
intentionally malicious, whichever is more convenient. Please don't rip the characters, it
took too long to make them up!
Part 1 – The SuperHuman Saga
Chapter 4
Durnoka was pissed, and rightfully so. It was not often that he, Chief Officer of the
Aranian Directorate of Internal Investigation, was awakened in the middle of the night.
When he was, it only meant bad news. He hated bad news.
He rolled out of bed and slipped on a robe, then headed out of his room and down the
hall to his office. He went to his desk and sat down, pressing his palm against a pad near
the monitor. This simultaneously activated the monitor on the desk and stopped the near
earsplitting noise that blared from an implant in his ear. He idly thought about gouging it
out…The light on a camera mounted on the monitor blinked on, indicating it was
transmitting his image. He made sure to scowl angrily at it.
"This had better be damned important!" he said to the person on screen in a tone that
matched his expression. As he expected, Keehol, his assistant director, flinched.
"Y-yes sir, it's very important." he replied, straightening up. "Sir, I am in transit to a
warehouse…well, what's left of a warehouse. Sir, I'm afraid we lost a lot of sweepers
tonight."
Durnoka silently cursed. The loss of sweepers was very bad. They were, like heavies,
difficult to locate and train, though not nearly as costly as the super humans. The best of
them were high-level psychics, whom were the most useful and costly. The fact that
Keehol did not state a set number indicated that there was a major loss on their hands. He
braced himself for the worst.
"How many?"
"Four full sweeper teams, sir."
"God damn it…" Durnoka whispered. That amounted to 20 low or middle class
sweepers plus four high-level leaders, not to mention the backup suppression personnel
that normally numbered 20 per team. "How did it happen?"
"Apparently they were investigating traces of energy shielding in the warehouse. They
got a few signals that a sizeable energy level was inside, which would explain why 4
teams were sent in the first place. It's reported that a few minutes after they entered they
were caught in a series of explosions that engulfed the warehouse."
"Was it an accident?"
"Doubtful. The explosions appeared to be chained."
"A trap…good God, who could have done this. Who reported this to you?"
"A Heavy squad had contact with the sweepers and were a minute away when the
explosions occurred."
Durnoka's head swam. It was an obvious setup, and now they were less twenty-four
key individuals. He could not, however, think of anyone, even any rogue Heavies, that
would have the audacity or resources to do such a thing. He had to get to the bottom of it.
"Ok, Keehol, handle the scene. I want it picked over with a fine tooth comb; no stones
left unturned, understand?"
"Yes sir."
"Good, I expect your report on my desk in twenty-four hours." With that, he switched
off the monitor and computer. He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. This was
big…very big. How the hell was he going to explain it to the High Council?
----------------
The long walk finally ended when Killian called a halt. They had ended their run long
ago; Killian assured them that anyone near the explosion would be in no condition to
chase after them. After a moment, a corridor opened leading out of the sewer. The group
followed Killian inside and, after a short walk and another hidden door, they all stepped
into a vast, brightly lit chamber.
The chamber was a stark contrast with the dank, dark sewer they had just emerged
from. Its walls were white and smooth and they swept upwards into a dome shaped
ceiling thirty feet overhead. The floor was smooth white tile with gold lines crisscrossing
every two feet. Electric sconces dotted the walls periodically. Here and there, a column
like pedestal would hold various artifacts; a helmet here, an old sword there, and various
odd sets of armor on stone busts. There were four doors that exited the room spaced
evenly along the walls and marked with writing that none of the group could understand.
In the center of the massive room was a large, low circular table with sitting pillows and
small chairs surrounding. It was an impressive sight to them, as most never knew any real
luxury.
"Whoa, some place you got here." Guntou said. "Is this all marble?"
"Yes.This place," he waved his hand around, "is a result of an immature stage I went
through a century and a half ago. It's a waste, really, and no place for a warrior to live
with all this comfort. It makes you soft. I'm glad I didn't stay here long."
"Wha…so how long has this place been abandoned?" Ko'hi asked, incredulously. "It
looks like you just left."
"Hmm…it wasn't too long ago. Only about 125 years." He replied nonchalantly. The
entire group face-faulted. "Anyway, now that we're here, let's get to work."
"Hold on now." Jah-nee said. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm frickin'
tired and hungry. We need a rest."
"After that short walk?" Killian snorted mockingly. "I'd hardly call that tiring,
especially for fighters of your caliber. But since that little stroll apparently took
everything out of you, I'll allow an hour of rest, after which we will get back to
business."
"Wait a damn minute." Jah-nee said angrily. "'Allow'? Who the hell do you think you
are…we're volunteers, not…"
"I know what you are, better than even any of you yourselves." Killian said in a
tightly restrained voice. "And I know damn sure that not one of you is prepared for what
we are about to do. Every minute that we argue, rest, and do anything but prepare makes
you less likely to succeed. By my estimation, we have at most five days, four of which
we will intensively train. This is not fun and games; it is deadly serious. If you can't be
serious about it, you endanger those that are, and I won't allow that. So if you have a
problem with how I run this operation, I suggest you leave empty-handed. Now." He
looked around at the group, meeting any angry looks with a cold stare. "Fine then, the
doors to the right are to the living quarters and bathroom. To the left are the kitchen and
training area. You have one hour, then we meet again at the center table. If anyone needs
me, I will be in the training room." Without waiting for any reply, Killian turned on his
toe and headed to the training room.
"Well, that was pleasant…" Surudoi said sarcastically. "I can't wait to see him upset."
Everyone chuckled nervously.
"Well, let's check this place out." Gwen said to no one in particular. The group broke
up, heading into various parts of the dwelling. Only one, however, headed after Killian
into the training room.
--------
Engar was a little more than astonished. He could vaguely tell that Killian was doing
some kind of kata, not that he could really see it. The black man moved in blurs all over
the huge room. Soon, he had sped up till Engar only felt and heard the movement of air as
it was buffeted about. To say that he was mind-boggled was an understatement.
"Do you want something or are you just trying to get in my way?" A voice said behind
him. Engar almost jumped out of his skin. He whirled around to see Killian there with a
slightly irritated look on his face.
"H-how…I could barely follow you. And without ki usage…I didn't feel anything!"
"Yes, I know. Reliance on ki is dangerous. It makes you think you are stronger than
you actually are. I prefer to isolate ki strengthening from martial arts training."
"Well, I never thought of that. Maybe it could give me an edge…"
Killian flashed a brief smile. "You have the warrior spirit, Engar. You always look to
improve yourself. Despite your training slipping in the last two years, you still have
managed to raise your level, and your spirit remains strong. Fortunately for you, you have
the grav belt your father gave you; and you never seem to turn it off either."
"How did you know about that?!!"
"There are few things on this planet I do not know. Is that not why you came to me?"
Engar nodded solemnly in response. "The loss of your parents was very unfortunate.
Your father was a good man, despite his unfailing naivete."
"You…you knew my father?"
"I did."
"Then why? If you knew so much, if you can see so far…why didn't you help him?"
Engar said accusingly. Killian looked away for a moment. He looked back at Engar, a sad
smile on his face.
"You are truly your father's child. The same innocence, the same righteous
indignation, the same ignorance of the ways of the world. To you it seems I let your
father die, that I might have done something to save him. If it were only that easy. Had I
defended your father, I would only have brought down the wrath of the Saiyans on Earth.
This is something that your father never understood till it was too late. Your father, like
yourself, had little idea of what he was getting into, what odds he was facing. He only
thought of honor and doing what he thought was right, never considering the
repercussions if he failed. When he met your mother, he was a man running from a past
that he hoped would stay behind. But they came anyway, relentless like the hunters they
are. You know who I'm talking about."
"The Saiyans…" Engar said hoarsely, his voice tinged with a mixture of fear, hatred,
anger, and awe.
"Let me tell you about these Saiyans, whom you wish to destroy so badly." Killian
began recounting the history of the Saiyans, including their transformations and the last
of the Saiyan heroes on Earth. "These Saiyans you faced…I know very little of them.
They are descendants of hundreds of Saiyans that were off-world when Planet Vegeta
exploded. At this point, they have rebuilt the Saiyan Empire to its status before Freeza.
But now they are more dangerous than ever. Now, they are Super Saiyans."
Engar absorbed the knowledge for the moment, storing it for analysis later. "If you
knew this much…why did you let my father go to face them."
"I didn't want to let any of them go. I warned Capsule Corporation against the entire
project. But they ignored me due to pressure from the five governments. The five
governments financially backed the project; they hand picked 100 of the strongest
fighters in the world for the job. They were all naïve, like your father. Born hundreds of
years too late, they believed Super Saiyans were a myth, that Majin Buu was a fantasy,
and that Cell was an urban legend. The Saiyans lured them in, lulled them into a false
sense of security…then slaughtered all but five of them. The five attempted to return to
Earth, but they were betrayed. The four others sacrificed themselves to allow your father
to escape, to warn the Earth. It was a miracle that allowed your father to remain
conscious long enough to key in the auto-pilot on his craft before lapsing into a coma
"After he recovered under your mother's care, he was to weary and too afraid to go to
Capsule Corporation, to get involved again. So he lived out his life with your mother and
you. But he always feared that one day they might find him. It is something that you, too,
should fear."
Engar straightened up. "Why is that?"
"Because they allowed you to live. Till you become strong enough to say otherwise,
your life will be forfeit at their discretion."
Engar nodded, a look of determination set on his face. "That is why I wear this
always." He pointed to his belt. "I will become strong enough to avenge my parents!"
"If the fates will it, you will do more than that. Your father taught you well. Given
time and special training, I believe you can do it."
"How much time?"
"As long as it takes." Killian said, smiling. "Don't worry about time. It is the most
predictable and easily defeated of all your enemies." Engar looked puzzled with this
remark, but accepted it without question. "I would invite you to spar, but it is time for our
meeting."
-------------
The group lounged around the table eating from various dishes as Killian and Engar
emerged from the training room. Engar's eyes lit up when he saw the food. He rushed
over to the table, intent on stuffing his face.
"The hour is up. Let us begin." Killian said. He eyed the food. "This food is a
distraction. I need your full attention." With a slight flick of the wrist, the plates and
utensils lifted and floated into the kitchen. Engar looked disappointed, to say the least.
"Hey! I wasn't done!" Golaf exclaimed indignantly. The others mirrored his protests.
"It does not matter. The food can wait, this meeting cannot. Or have you all forgotten
what I said earlier?" A few people opened their mouths to protest, but thought better of it.
Killian continued.
"Now then, I will quickly outline my plan for you. While we are small in number, we
have surprise on our side. They will not expect us, nor will they expect to face people of
your power. We must use this advantage to keep them off balance. First, I have a few
things to show you."
The lighting dimmed in the room. A bright hologram appeared slightly above the
center of the table. "This is a schematic of the Desert Base, including a five mile radius
surrounding . Most of you need not be concerned with more than the area outside the
base. The majority of the surrounding area is little more than sand dunes, though there are
some rock formations here, here, and here. " he pointed to the locations on the schematic.
They will serve as cover for the most part, though I would not rely on them."
"Question." Saucony interjected.
"What?"
"I see other outcroppings surrounding the complex. Why do you only point out the
ones on the Northern side?"
"Simple. A concerted attack on the main gate will draw out more of the enemy. They
will also think the attack is uncoordinated. Since you will be powered up ahead of time, it
will give them time to meet you all far out from the gate. At the same time, I will be
creating a similar distraction on the south side. This will enable the three man team to
enter through the west wall. After that, it's a matter of holding up long enough to break
Kildrun out." Everyone nodded in understanding.
"I want to stress something to you all. This mission will not succeed if you all do not
work as a team. You all, by necessity, are not team players, but that is not going to fly
here. I imagine you will be faced with not only fifty or more Heavies, but also a large
contingent of support personnel. With that much firepower aimed at you, you will not
survive unless you watch each other's backs. To help you all with the teamwork, I am
assigning you partners. You will protect one another and attack together. There will be
four pairs. When you approach the battlefield, split up into your pairs and spread out very
widely. That, way, your attackers will have to spread themselves thinly.
"Now, part two involves the three man team, which will consist of Jah-nee, Gwen, and
Golaf."
"But I want to fight like everyone else!" protested Golaf.
"This is not up for debate. The team needs three people and, to me, the success of the
team is most important. Further, you are younger and less experienced than anyone else;
this will be a less dangerous task for you."
"Hey, I can take care of myself just fine!" Golaf retorted.
"Then prove it on this mission. When you guys escape with Kildrun, you'll have
plenty of fighting to do." Killian replied. Golaf glared angrily at him, but didn't say
anything. "Ok, those are all the instructions for everyone but the infiltration team. I
strongly advise you to go to the training room to practice with your partners before you
head off to sleep. Tomorrow we train, hard. Let's get to it."
As the others got up grumbling, Killian turned to Gwen, Jah-nee, and Golaf. "Your
mission is much more complicated, I'm afraid. Internal security is very tight because of
the frequent escape attempts by trainees. So you guys will need to create some chaos in
there to make operating a little easier."
"How do we do that, if security is high?" Gwen asked.
"The first thing you should do is disable security monitoring. As you can see, the
primary controls are located right in the middle of the complex. But you can tap into the
system through an auxiliary terminal here." He pointed to a small square on the
schematic.
"It's not marked." Jah-nee said ,"How will we know when we've found it?"
"I will guide you all. And, no, we won't use radios. The radiation will trigger alarms. I
have it covered though. At any rate, once security is disabled, you will need to go to the
trainee quarters and free the trainees. If you can, convince them to join you, but above all
else tell them to escape."
"On e question, fearless leader." Golaf said sarcastically. "What if they turn on us?
They're Heavy trainees after all."
"Simple. You kill them." Killian replied, looking hard at Golaf before continuing.
"This should create enough disturbance for you to move with relative freedom. From
there, move to Kildrun's cell. Fortunately it's near the trainee area. Expect stiff
opposition; they have big plans for him and thus will have lots of security. I doubt it'll be
more than an annoyance to you, but I figured you might like to know.
"After you've rescued Killian, you will need to plant remote charges at the locations
marked on this map. Then escape the way you entered and be prepared to fight your way
out. Kildrun, you will find, is more than up to that task."
"Well, it sounds do-able. As long as we don't get any nasty surprises." Jah-nee said.
"What's our time frame?"
"Forty-five minutes. You will be dropped in fifteen minutes ahead of the main battle.
The security system must be deactivated right after the Heavies have left to face us. From
then on you are free to set the schedule of operation. Just make sure to be out in the
allotted time. I also have some equipment for you all to use on the mission. If you'll
follow me…
---------------
"I can honestly say I've never been more tired in my life." Ko'hi sighed. "Killian,
can't we slow down or something?" Everyone echoed her sentiments tiredly.
"No." Killian said flatly. "Fighters of your caliber should be able to handle training
more extreme than this. Extreme training is the only way to make any difference over
short periods. This is merely a warm-up, people"
Everyone groaned.
Ignoring them, Killian continued. "I'd like to introduce you all to a piece of equipment
you'll grow to love. It will make training harder and more effective." They all watched as
ten belts floated across the training room towards them. "These are grav belts. They
create a filed of gravity around the wearer up to 1000 times normal."
"And this helps us how?" Golaf asked.
"Intensity training." Engar said before Killian could reply. "At 10x, things weigh ten
times normal. Just moving is a struggle."
"Exactly. Everyone grab one and strap it on." said Killian. "Engar has one already and
is familiar with its use, so I'll have him help you all with them. By the way, take good
care of these. Capsule Corporation doesn't make these anymore without a special
request."
"Capsule Corporation?" Surudoi asked, surprised. "I thought they didn't exist
anymore."
"Well, if you know the Briefs family like I do, you'd know they never go away."
Killian said plainly. "Now then, when you've all familiarized yourselves with the
devices, repeat all of the exercises in 10x. Engar, you do them in 50x. After that, we'll get
to the real training."
As he walked away, Killian noted with satisfaction the sound of people falling to the
ground in shock. He imagined he would have plenty of time now to meditate and spy on
the enemy before they were finished with the warm-up.
Engar, meanwhile, looked at his teammates on the floor, a sweat bead dangling from
right temple. "Um…is there something wrong?"
Two hours later, the last of the group finished the last of their repetitions. As if by
clockwork, Killian stepped up to them. He eyed the ragged looking bunch with a mix of
annoyance, disdain, and humor. He did not, however, berate them, as they expected. "I
have unexpected and unfortunate news. It means that we will be training more intensively
than I originally planned."
"What happened?" Sebago asked.
"They've moved up the dissection and cloning time on Kildrun. It happens in two
days." Killian replied flatly. "Pair up people. When I'm done with you, the world will
know how truly weak the Heavies are."
-------------
General Sleet read Chief Officer Durnoka's report for the third time. It still left a bad
taste in his mouth. He was not so much worried about the losses as he was of the
implication the attack represented. Someone was definitely attempting to undermine
detection efforts. Anyone who was a secret enemy would be dangerous, especially if they
would and could resort to such extreme measures.
Something about the whole situation did not feel right. Gut instinct told him
something very important was at hand. Sleet paged his secretary.
"Tionne, put me through to the Desert Base; Dr. Orange in Research. Encryption level
five." He waited impatiently as the high level encryption calculated for a few minutes.
Finally, he heard a 'click' signifying the connection was open.
"G-general Sleet!" Orange said nervously. "How can I assist you sir?"
"Something has come up, Dr. Orange. I have a hunch that the terrorists who struck
yesterday are not finished."
"Are you sure sir?"
"Positive. They will no doubt be emboldened by their victory. I will be advising the
High Council to raise an alert at all installations. I doubt they'd be foolhardy enough to
actually attack the Desert Base, but it is best to be prepared."
"A wise decision, sir."
"The reason I'm calling is because I want you to step up schedule working on the
Namek. I want him examined, dissected, and cloned as soon as possible"
"Well, ah, sir, that might take some time."
"I understand. When is the earliest you can start?"
"Well, we need to two days to set up the equipment. I shall personally oversee the
operation."
"Very well. I will be there in two days time to witness the operation."
"Yes sir. We will be ready for your arrival."
"Good. Sleet out."
Sleet leaned back in his chair. It would not take much to convince the council to step
up security after last night's disaster. With the Namek's powers added, they should easily
be able to handle any threat. If all went as planned, Aran would even have an upper hand
in world politics and in their dealings with the Saiyans. It was a situation in which little
could go wrong.
Then why could he not shake a feeling of impending doom?
