Thoughts
"Speech"
Disclaimer: DC and DBZ belong to their respective owners; I own nothing.
Chapter 15: Attack of the Saiyans II: Reckoning
Age 761 (2011), Mount Paozu, Chikyu
Sliding her wrist gauntlets on Diana sighed as she gazed into the mirror before her. It was twelve on the dot when she was awoken by a terrifying nightmare. In truth it felt more like an ominous premonition but she could not be certain. It was said that every Amazon had a mystical tie to Paradise island. An invisible string connected all of them to their ancestral homeland.
If that was indeed true then Themyscira was in great danger. The dream...no vision that she had received sent chills down her spine. Her screams had alerted her husband who had immediately jumped out of his bed on high alert. Fortunately it had just been a nightmare, much to his relief. After reassuring Goku that things were ok the exiled princess had slipped out of bed following his return to sleep.
There was something pulling her, tugging on her to return to her homeland. Her sentence was not yet complete, but she had to make sure things were alright back home. No matter the cost even if it meant added years of exile she would see Themyscira once more. Sadly this was not a trip Goku would be able to take with her. He was her heart, her better half, the first face she saw every morning...but she knew how her sisters were. Goku's accompaniment on this trip would not end well if discovered.
This was something she had to do alone.
Finishing the touches to her outfit the Amazon took one final glance in the mirror before she departed out the door. She left a letter to at least notify her husband about what was going on. Sauntering into her bedroom she smiled at the snoozing form of her lover before exiting the master suite. Stepping into the hallway she took several steps down the corridor before approaching her son's room. Slightly opening it, avoiding any unnecessarily loud steps, the princess crept into the room. Pecking her sleeping child's forehead Diana smiled as she took a moment to soak in this image. Shifting her attention back to the task at hand Zeus daughter began her walk towards the door.
Unbeknownst to the Amazon, this would be the last encounter she would have with her son for years.
Age 761 (2011), Gotham
Gotham city was ablaze.
For the past half hour the fight between Raditz and Batman had spiraled out of control. The Saiyan was a lunatic with no regard for human life. Most of the battle on Batman's part was spent defending potential victims and buildings from his reckless energy beams. The thrasher suit, which Alfred had so wonderfully named, provided the necessary protection Bruce needed. The strength and armor plating allowed the dark knight to withstand the vicious attacks...the only downside to that was the lack of speed.
Cocking his hand back just in the nick of time Batman managed to time his attack well enough to match the pace of his attackers. The reverberation of the colliding strikes sent a shockwave that immediately brought every nearby car alarm to life. Windows shattered as the two fighters distanced themselves once more. The thrasher suit was functioning at maximum capabilities, but there was no telling how truly powerful this otherworldly invader truly was.
"This world is chalk full of surprises. To think that this feeble planet possesses technology such as this." Underneath the suit's helmet Bruce smirked. In the Saiyan's own half-assed way...it was a compliment.
"I'm giving you one final last chance to surrender and turn yourself in." The voice modulator was speaking at it's deepest baritone.
"A Saiyan like myself will never abide by words of a pitiful Earthling." The disgust was evident in Raditz voice as his arms folded across his chest.
Saiyan? That must be the species he belongs to. Maybe Clark's ship will have information on them.
"Have it your way then." When dealing with violent criminals Bruce preferred to use his fists anyways.
Taking charge Batman quickly spun into action. Raising his arm, an assortment of weapons emerged as Bruce began firing. Armor piercing bullets, grenades, and small rockets all rained down on the wild haired Saiyan. Explosion after powerful explosion echoed throughout the demolished street as the suit unloaded everything it had. Something had to give.
But as the dust finally settled the annoyed expression on Raditz dispelled any hope Bruce previously had.
"That's it?" Those words were the last thing Batman heard before he was sent flying. A clap of thunder, even louder than the ones in the sky above, followed as Bruce was sent flailing through several walls of concrete. His reaction was immediate, hastily hopping back to his feet as he shook off the impact. A few slabs of broken cement but otherwise everything was okay.
The heat sensors on his suit flared up informing him of the newly arrived presence of his opponent. Crashing in through the gigantic hole in the ceiling, the Saiyan began indiscriminately firing Ki beams. Instinctively Batman's arms shot up, forming a protective barricade. The beams ricocheted off his armor but the surrounding building was not so lucky. The structural support of the former office building collapsed as the beams detonated.
Eventually stumbling out of the rubble Batman darted around as his sensors attempted to locate his suddenly missing foe. His opponent was toying with him. Queuing in on the tangible shift of vibrations in the air, Bruce turned in time to be met with a punch to the face. The mechanical leviathan staggered backwards, pavement shattering as the dark knight came to a painful stop. Raditz gave him no time to breathe though and quickly struck once more.
The Saiyan's attack was even more powerful than the last. A bone rattling punch to the ribs reverberated throughout his chest plate. An audible groan could be heard as a knee to the abdomen brought the one ton robot to it's knees. Wincing, but shaking it off, Bruce glanced up in time to see an aquamarine Ki blast materialize in front of his face. Acting quickly the billionaire heir activated the flashlight on his chest.
The Saiyan scoffed momentarily at the illuminated bat symbol on the suits chest, before his field of vision was flooded by UV rays. Agonizing screams were heard as Raditz painfully clutched his eyes. Bruce had built that feature with the Man-Bat in mind. Jumping to his feet the caped crusader attacked with renewed vigor. This was the largest opening his opponent had conceded.
With the power to level a building Batman hurled punch after punch on the defenseless Saiyan. The dark knight shifted all of the suit's power into his fists. Tremendous shockwaves resonated throughout the battered area. The strength of the blows would've been enough to level any one of Gotham's normal criminals, but Raditz was unaffected. Finally having had enough, the annoyed extraterrestrial raised his hand managing to palm one of the incoming strikes.
"This is tiresome."
With an almost effortless tug the Saiyan began ripping the mechanical arm off. Inside the suit alarms were blaring as the computer system notified Batman of the damage being taken.
Power Levels at 90% and dropping fast
Struggling with all his might Bruce attempted to break free of the iron-clasp hold but to no avail. Raditz was now at the carbon fiber layer of the thrasher suit. If he wouldn't let go willingly, Bruce would just have to force him. Raising a gigantic foot the jet boosters activated. Searing heat, well over the human limit blazed the Saiyan's skin. Raditz was eventually forced to let go as another foot doubled the sudden heat wave.
With haste Batman blasted off dashing into the skies above. The mechanical sparks were still sputtering from what was left of his robotic arm. A few seconds more and Raditz would've possible ripped his arm from it's socket. Elevating to a safe enough distance the caped crusader paused as he gazed down at the destruction below. The entertainment district was almost completely leveled.
A mile long radius of stores, houses, and shops were annihilated. Firefighters stood just outside the chaos hoping to wither the torrid flames caused by their battle. Bruce had to take the fight out of the city. Only God knew how many millions worth of damage they had caused already. If he could just get Raditz to the bay he would be able to minimize any further damage. But the dark knight would not be given that opportunity as a streaking figure suddenly rammed into him at super sonic speeds.
Pieces of steel were instantly crushed as Raditz impacted him. The computer system warned Bruce that his power levels had just dropped another ten percent. The Saiyan was relentless as ever, vanishing and continuously reappearing in a streaky blur around the caped crusader. His sensors were going ballistic attempting to track his speedy foe but to no avail.
"Pitiful."
That was the only word Bruce was able to decipher before he was attacked from seemingly every angle. Fist, knee, leg, chop, in a brutal routine hammered him from every perceivable location. Critical damage was taken to his armor. For the first time during the entire fight his body, which was supposed to be shielded by an exoskeleton, was taking visceral damage. The Saiyan was moving far too expeditiously for Batman to even hope to keep up with. At this rate he would be finished in a few more seconds.
I have to do something!
Scowling inwardly at being forced to use this protocol, Batman began siphoning the suit's power into his chest. This would at least chop the suit's energy levels in half but Bruce had no other choice at the moment. Pausing as he awaited the next flurry of blows, the dark knight pounced as he felt the strikes dent his armor. With an angry roar Batman expelled a wave of sizzling electricity from his chest.
Raditz was instantly flung back, tumbling out of the sky as a large white haze illuminated the area. Miles below on the ground detective Gordon winced as he shielded his eyes from the abrupt light. He had never seen anything like this in Gotham. Whatever Batman was doing up above he hoped it was working. If the criminal who attacked their city survived, there would be no hope for anyone.
Power levels at 40% and dropping.
Bruce huffed as the computer notified him of the rapid drop. Soon he wouldn't even have enough energy to maintain flight. He needed to get out of the sky and conserve what little power he had available. Spotting an empty lot not too far away Bruce began his descent. He was almost there before he was sent crashing into the cement from an unexpected kick.
"I've had enough of your games!" Raditz screamed as he shoved Bruce further into the ground. His fists doing the job this time.
For the next several minutes Batman's head was treated like a basketball. The Saiyan would slam him even further into the dirt, only to pick him up again and repeat the brutal process. By the sixth go around the helmet encasing the caped crusaders head began to give way. Raditz took immense pleasure as the scraps of metal protecting his opponent began to shred to pieces.
"Not so tough now huh?" The question was more rhetorical than anything.
In truth this entire battle had been a sham. Nothing Bruce had done had effected the Saiyan in the slightest. Raditz had the power to end him and this little charade from the onset of his attack. This harsh truth was supplanted as the otherworldly invader lifted Batman to his feet, raising him to eye level. There wasn't a single scratch on his face. The only damage he had suffered were minor smudges on his armor, and even that was inconsequential.
Grinning wickedly, the Saiyan began tearing off the armor that Bruce had worked so hard to forge. The arms, the legs, and torso, were all violently ripped apart exposing a very shell-shocked Batman to the dreary night. The final piece to go was his helmet which weighed at least one thousand pounds. Harmlessly tossing it to the wayside Raditz hands clamped down on his neck. Oxygen quickly began to evaporate from his lungs as the Saiyan squeezed with glee. But what came next was an absolute surprise.
A tail emerged from the Saiyan's backside, quickly wrapping around the dark knight's neck as Raditz freed his hand. In the midst of battle Bruce had failed to notice such a glaring abnormality. This is somehow related to Goku! He would have to curse himself out later though. Right now he needed some help. Summoning what little strength he had left Bruce managed to slip a hand into his utility belt, pressing a button on a device given to him by a dear friend.
Age 761 (2011), Metropolis
The clanking of a keyboard was heard as Clark Kent hammered away. His deadline was in just a couple hours. Perry would kill him if he was late again, well not literally speaking of course. The Daily Planet had moved to a primarily digital market now. Papers just weren't selling like they used to in the chief's heyday. On top of that new social media platforms like Twitter were making it possible for practically anyone to do a reporter's job.
Sighing as he slumped back into his seat Clark ran his fingers through his hair. The words to this article just couldn't seem to form. It was a story centered around Lex's formal introduction to the world earlier today. As a writer Clark was finding it extremely difficult to be non-biased especially when he knew the truth about the LuthorCorp CEO. Kal-El prided himself on upholding truth, justice, and integrity, but sometimes that put him in direct conflict with his occupation.
Lex had appeared charismatic as usual. His charm, smile, and well mannered looks were enough to beguile most of the viewers. Heck even Lois had commented on how dashing he was, much to Clark's annoyance. Years ago that would've been out of jealously, but those feelings for General Lane's daughter had withered away. Lois was still a close friend of his, but he had long since realized her love, or rather infatuation with Superman, did not extend to Clark Kent. [1]
His irritation had been brought on by the fact that Lex had been able to snake his way into the hearts of many so easily. His interview had only further angered the Kryptonian. His constant jabs at the Earth's heroes didn't go unnoticed. Cat Grant's naivety didn't help either. In their quick battle of words Lex kept her on the ropes and even managed to make her second guess herself.
That silver tongue was what helped Lex climb his way up the corporate ladder, as well as the criminal underworld. If only the world knew of his connection to several international crime rings, the racketeering, and war mongering he responsible for. Not to mention the fact that he had played a role in his father's mysterious death. If Lex's deeds ever came to the light he would be buried underneath a jail with no hope for parole. But as usual the genius level intellect was always one step ahead.
The LuthorCorp CEO knew how to keep his hands clean publicly. There was nothing that Clark or Batman could ever legally tie him to. The only reason Superman knew of his numerous crimes and illicit affairs was because of his superpowers. That's what made writing and OP-Ed piece about him so difficult. Deep down Clark knew what kind of a monster he was but could not publicly prove any of it.
"Maybe a quick break will help? I wonder what's on TV."
Reaching over for the remote Clark flipped the TV open as he walked over to the couch. His apartment wasn't anything spectacular, especially on a journalist salary, but it was his. His skin had barely made contact with the soft leather before a breaking news alert flashed across his screen.
"I'm Summer Gleason live with breaking news from downtown Gotham."
Clark's ears perked up at this. Gotham was hundreds of miles away from Metropolis, there was no reason for him to be receiving a news broadcast from them.
"The causalities from this brutal fight between Batman and the still unknown assailant are still piling up."
"Bruce?" Kal leaned up in his seat as the camera panned to the destruction behind them. Entire city blocks were decimated, streets were ablaze with flames as smoke rose to the skies.
"Things do not look good here folks. We're still waiting on word from the governor on whether or not this is a state of emergency."
"Bruce would never allow his city to reach this level of destruction, something has to be horribly wrong. Where is he?" Gotham had witnessed a number of horrific events over the years, but nothing had ever been of this magnitude. Batman would've died before allowing his city to befall so such a fate.
Dead? No..Bruce can't possibly be dead! The thought was completely inconceivable to Clark.
"No word yet on what's happened with Batman but the caped crusader hasn't been seen for the past five...!"
The screen went blank and was quickly followed by an error message. Something had just interrupted the broadcast. Clark knew how much Bruce hated other heroes venturing into his city, but for the sake of his life he had to do it. He had to make sure the dark knight was still alive and breathing. In a blur of red and blue Clark swapped his t-shirt and slacks for the infamous Kryptonian suit.
He was nearly out the door when the beeper on his desk went off. It was the one he had given Batman in case of a serious emergency. Bruce had never used it before, not even when the Joker had nearly poisoned the entire east coast. Whatever warranted this required the utmost urgency.
Age 761 (2011), Themyscira
"Derinoe what is the meaning of this?" An incensed Hippolyta questioned as the elderly woman barged into throne room.
"Your reign is over Hippolyta." The gray haired woman's eyes were as icy as ever as she pointed towards her liege.
"My reign is over?" The confused queen parroted. "What you say is treason. Bite your tongue old friend." Derinoe's words alone were sanction enough for punishment. "How did you even get in here?"
The throne room was the queen's inner sanctum, a quiet space that allowed her to privately process her thoughts. There were guards posted round the clock in this area of the palace. Her soldiers would've halted Derinoe's charge or notified the queen at the very least.
"Don't worry about that." A wicked smile settled onto Derinoe's face as she thought back to the three bloodied bodies just outside the front door. "Your day of reckoning has come."
"Day of reckoning? Why are you being so cryptic? Speak what you mean!" Something was seriously wrong about this situation.
"Your lies Hippolyta...they've finally come to the light. How long did you keep you could withhold the truth about Diana from us? From the gods?"
"I-I don't know what you mean." The queen stammered as she took a frightened step back. Had Derinoe truly discovered her secret?
"Even now you attempt to deny it Hippolyta, what a shame." The elder Amazon's head hung low as she shook it in disgust. "As our queen you were supposed to be the paragon of truth and justice. But not only have you deceived your subjects...you've deceived the gods themselves!"
"I did it to protect us!"
"So you finally admit it!"
The queen's hands quickly clasped over her mouth realizing what she had just said.
"You hid the truth of Diana's birth from us all. You constantly warned us of the evils of man...but succumbed to one! You are the ultimate hypocrite!"
It was a fact Diana's mother could not deny. She had guided her Amazons with one selective train of thought, but had ignored her own warnings.
"Forgive me Derinoe for the lies and treachery I have spawned but you must understand none of this was intentional." Hippolyta pleaded.
"It wasn't intentional? Leading us to believe your daughter was born free of the stench of man wasn't intentional? Frolicking with Zeus while warning us of the evils of his sons wasn't intentional?" Visceral anger spread through Derinoe's body, her hands trembling as she questioned the audacity of her queen.
"I never intended for things to reach this level Derinoe you must believe me." Hippolyta sighed as she palmed her forehead. "Night after night I used to cry to the gods begging to know the joys of child rearing. More than anything I have always wanted a family."
"And your loyal Amazons were not enough?"
"They were but...even they could not fill the void in my heart. I wanted to experience the same feeling I've witnessed several women on this island enjoy. After my constant prayers and crying out to the gods, the king of them all appeared before me. I had hoped for Athena or even Hera, but had never expected Zeus."
"And let me guess he swept your poor little heart of it's feet?" Derinoe's eyes rolled as her face blanched. The father of Olympians could've doubled as the trickster god.
"Yes...he did. We began having nightly conversations about my prayer request and just life in general. Night after night we would meet in Athena's temple. At first I kept my guard up against him, knowing full well of his enchantment of several women across the centuries. But eventually his charm began to win me over."
"And the same thing happened with Semele, Maia, Mnemosyne..."
"Alcmene and the list goes on and on...I know sister. But in my foolish pride I believed I would not fall victim like them. But one night I was unable to resist devilish temptation- the night of Diana's inception. After that night Zeus fled, our evening meetings became a thing of the distant past. Once he got what he wanted...he simply up and left."
"You should have known. He's the father of the same demigod who tormented you and our kingdom!" The apple didn't fall too far from the tree especially when it came to the gods.
"I know, I know. I berated my self for several days afterwords until I discovered that I was pregnant."
"Days?" The haggard Amazon questioned. It was impossible to know of such information in such a short amount of time.
"When you're carrying the child of a god...all rules go out the window."
"Incredible."
"In a matter of days my stomach expanded in what should have taken nine months. It was almost impossible to keep the secret hidden. I didn't want anyone to know of my shame. On the night of her birth I knew I had to do something. So I devised the story which we all know today."
"You went to a secluded part of Themyscira, on the beach, with clay in hand, and returned hours later with a newborn child in hand. You claimed it was answered prayers from the gods."
"It's something I regret immensely to this day. I should have been honest, I should have been upfront with you all...but I wasn't. I was afraid of the possible push-back from my Amazon sisters. But most of all I was afraid of what Hera might do if she discovered it."
"But your deceit has only endangered us further. Hera's punishment, while brutal would not have been everlasting. But by hiding the truth for so long you've not only enhanced the bulls eye on your back, but the Amazons as a whole."
"I never intended for this to h..."
"Silence! The time for talk has long since ended. Your reckoning is at hand." Snapping her fingers Derinoe beckoned her guest who had been quietly waiting just outside the room.
"No! It can't be! How can this be possible?" Hippolyta screamed in fright as she saw the ensanguined figure step forward.
"Oh...but it is my queen."
Age 761 (2011), Gotham
With a sonic boom Superman arrived in the city. Pressing his limits like never before it had only taken the Kryptonian one minute to arrive in Gotham. He was admittedly tired but would have to persevere on. Bruce, as well as the entire city of Gotham was in dire need. Pausing momentarily as he hovered above the city's normally pristine skyline, Clark couldn't help but gasp at the destruction he surveyed. Entire swaths of city blocks were completely destroyed. What was capable of such power?
Shaking it off Kal-El shifted his focus back to the matter at hand. He had to locate Batman. Blocking all unnecessary distractions Superman attempted to key in on Bruce's heartbeat. In a city of millions this would be quite the task but Clark had made significant strides with his powers over the years. Ambulances, police sirens, fire-hoses, crying. Come on come on...where are you Bruce?
Gritting his teeth in frustration Superman decided to solely focus on the heart of the chaos. That was his best bet at at locating Batman. As he closed his eyes once more Clark's enhanced senses picked up on the sound of several bones snapping. There was a nearby voice laughing maniacally as someone's agonizing screams grew louder. That has to be him. Gotcha.
Wasting no time Superman descended to the proverbial heart of the storm. Detective Gordon was nearly knocked down as a powerful wind of gust blew by him. The blistering flames surrounding the now desolated entertainment district would've scorched anyone besides Superman, but Clark felt nothing as he sped to his friend in need. His eyes blazed red with anger as he finally arrived at Batman's location.
"You got here faster than I could've even hoped for." Bruce smiled weakly as a trickle of blood leaked down his chin.
"Save your energy Batman." Clark urged as he waved his comrade off. With a quick scan of his X-ray vision he could tell that Bruce was in need of extensive medical care.
"No...there's something you need to know first Superman!" Batman exclaimed as he lifted a finger towards the long appendage wrapped around his neck.
A tail?!
Clark had been so concerned about the state of his friend that he had almost forgotten about the assailant at hand. This mysterious criminal had been squeezing Bruce's neck with what appeared to be a furry brown tail. Even when Clark made his presence known this attacker hadn't even bothered to turn around and face him directly.
"Let him go!" If there had been any nearby windows they would've shattered instantly under the weight of Superman's voice.
"I'm getting tired of you miniscule fleas. Maybe you'll provide some adequate entertainment for..." Raditz words trailed off as he finally turned to greet his new opponent. His eyes expanding in shock as they fell upon the gigantic red s emblazoned on Kal-El's shirt. "You're a Kryptonian!"
While this wasn't a surprise to anyone who knew Superman's origin, the tone in which the Saiyan uttered the words implied a deeper knowledge.
"I thought your pitiful race were all dead. We were told that Frieza crushed your entire species like the insignificant ants you are." Raditz head shook in disbelief. "To think Frieza allowed one of you to survive. He probably doesn't even know that one of you escaped. If I capture you and bring you in...he might even reward me."
Frieza? Krypton's destruction? Clark has always maintained that Krypton was destroyed by a cataclysm of sorts. But what is Frieza? Bruce pondered as he battled the incoming fatigue.
Superman's gaze hardened as he glared at the scheming man before him. His spaceship possessed an archive of Krypton history and lore, but it had never been able to tell him what caused his home world's destruction. Up until this point all Clark knew was that something had destroyed his planet almost instantly. The man in front of him appeared to have the information that he had desired for so long. But unfortunately the present circumstances wouldn't allow for much of a discussion. There was a city burning because of him. Superman would properly question him after he was in custody.
"I don't know who you are or where you're from...but on Earth we don't allow this sort of thing."
"You don't know of your history? Our shared history? I thought you Kryptonian fools were so adamant about recording everything."
"Our shared history?" Superman muttered in confusion, largely ignoring Raditz insult.
"Our races were at war for hundreds of years. We are hated enemies even in death."
A chill went down Clark's spine as the words left Raditz lips. This couldn't possibly be true. From what he had learned the Kryptonian's were a largely peaceful race. None of his archives had revealed this information. Why wouldn't this have been included? Especially if this war was long as Raditz claimed it to be.
"You truly don't know?" The Saiyan chuckled as he viewed Clark's perplexed facial expression. "I guess it doesn't matter anyways seeing as ninety nine percent of your people are dead. And you'll be joining them!"
Superman was caught by surprise as Raditz suddenly charged towards him. His speed was incredible arriving in front of the Kryptonian before he could even blink. His fist cocked back hoping to catch the man of steel off guard once more, but was halted as Clark's hand wrapped around his wrist.
"I don't think so."
The Saiyan was sent flying as Clark easily tossed him aside, sending him hurdling down what was left of the street.
"Don't worry Bruce I'm going to get you out of here and get you the medical attention you need." Superman said as he dashed over to his injured comrade.
"Don't worry about me Clark." Batman chastised as the Kryptonian attempted to lift him up. "You can't hesitate for a second with an opponent like him. He's incredibly danger..."
Batman's words died on his lips as Raditz zoomed by, slamming into the unsuspecting man of the steel. It was the Kryptonian's turn to go for a ride as he was send tumbling in the opposite direction, leaving Batman to drop harshly to the ground.
"I'll be back to deal with you later."
With a malicious grin the Saiyan blasted off quickly tracking down Clark's location. The last son of Krypton was already back on his feet, when the Saiyan arrived hurling multiple Ki beams at the man of steel. Superman's hands became a blue blur as they rapidly moved to parry the seemingly endless Ki volley. Normally Clark would have been worried with the potential damage he was causing while deflecting the energy attacks, but fortunately there were no civilians left in this sector of the city.
With a hard smack Kal-EL batted away the last Ki attack, sending it flying into the night sky. Raditz watched mildly impressed before surging forward once more. Not this time. Meeting him stride for stride the two titans met halfway, the resulting shockwave forcing both of them back. Skidding to a halt Superman decided to enact a different tactic this go around. As Raditz leaped into battle once more he was abruptly stopped as a solid wall of ice began to encase him.
"W-w-what is this?!" The perplexed Saiyan shouted incredulously.
"Frost breath." Clark proudly replied as he closed his mouth, shutting off the sudden winter flurry.
Judging from the power he had witnessed just moments earlier Superman knew it wouldn't be able to hold the Saiyan long. Raditz fists were already glowing red with energy to break free. Thinking quickly Superman began to circle his trapped assailant. Blue and red streaks began zipping around the area as Clark gained momentum. While the man of steel's movements were impressive, it was nothing the Saiyan couldn't keep up with. His eyes tracked the Kryptonian every second of the way.
But suddenly Raditz vision began to grow blurry. What he was once able to perceive became a foggy blip. The oxygen was quickly being expelled from his lungs with each passing second. It was at this moment that the Saiyan realized what his foe was intent on doing. Superman was attempting to siphon the air from his lungs and knock him unconscious. It was an ingenious plan and might have worked if Raditz hadn't managed to free his tail.
With perfect timing the Saiyan's furry appendage slammed into Clark managing to trip the Kryptonian. Superman stumbled, monetarily knocked off balance, giving the Saiyan just the time he needed. With an angry shout Raditz broke free of his icy prison. Two Ki beams instantly obliterated the sheet of frozen water. Scowling, Superman was once again forced on defense as Raditz blitzed him.
Clark realized he needed to take the battle as far away as possible from Bruce, and quickly leaped into the sky. Giving chase the Saiyan immediately followed, the pair engaging in aerial game of cat and mouse as the man of steel ascended higher and higher in altitude. An array of ki beams forced the Kryptonian to swerve in every conceivable direction as Raditz indiscriminately attacked. Kal-El still hadn't abandoned his previous plan of attack. If he couldn't forcefully suck the oxygen from Raditz lungs, the planet's atmosphere would naturally do it for him.
At the rate of his acceleration Clark would soon reach the thermosphere. He had never ventured out this far before and was unsure if his body could handle the pressure. But hopefully even if it didn't, his extraterrestrial foe would fall prey to it as well. Almost there! With a final push Superman hovered at the edge of the exosphere, the world beneath him jumbling together like a colorful puzzle. He halted to scan for his opponent but saw nothing.
Did he figure out my plan?
"Even after all these years you foolish Kryptonians never learned how to sense Ki!"
Superman was blindsided as a Raditz materialized behind him, a powerful kick to the back sending him soaring. Clark was given no time to recover as Raditz capitalized on the massive opening, taking ample time to thoroughly punish the Kryptonian. With each shout that was uttered, the pain only intensified for the man of steel. The Saiyan's blows quickened as he observed the anguish that Kal-El was in. A malignant smile crept onto Raditz face as Superman's blood began to splash onto his clothing.
Clark had never felt pain like this before. Was this what it felt like to truly be mortal? Before he could properly dwell on the question a luteolous beam of energy exploded in his face. An ear rattling explosion followed as Superman's now steaming body began to lose altitude. As painful as the heat that was now bombarding his face was, Clark had to brush it off.
Superman's flight finally ended after a few hundred yards. Shaking the cobwebs clogging his mind, he looked up just in time to receive a right hook from Raditz. His neck twisted, pain receptors bursting to life. Sluggishly, Clark attempted to retaliate. His lethargic punch was easily slapped away by Raditz right hand. His follow up roundhouse kick wasn't much better, and was easily evaded by the Saiyan.
Still in kicking motion, the man of steel left his stomach wide open for attack. Raditz happily accepted that invitation and promptly slammed his fist into the Kryptonian's stomach. A blood laden gasp escaped Clark's lips as he reeled back from the blow. His torment further increased as Raditz violently grasped his head and slammed it into his knee.
Superman's skull violently snapped back as it was let go. Blood was now trickling down his nose as he glared as his grinning adversary. Raditz outclassed him in almost every feasible way [2]. Whatever Batman had done during his encounter with the Saiyan had little to no effect in slowing him down. Even if he did somehow manage to stop Raditz what sort of prison would be even able to hold him? But that was a question for much later, right now he had to worry about just surviving this fight.
Flaring his eyes with heat vision Superman pounced, this was sure to be his most brutal fight yet.
Age 761 (2011), Themyscira
With a soft thud Diana landed on the eastern shores of paradise island. For years she had dreamed of this day. Returning home, hopefully to welcome arms, as she was reunited with her sisters. Unfortunately the circumstances that had beckoned for her return were anything but pleasurable. The foreboding skies above certainly didn't help her disposition as she began her long trek into the forest.
The second she arrived Wonder Woman should have been attacked. Queen Hippolyta always assigned a few Amazons to watch over Themyscira's beaches. The atrocities that Hercules had committed still resonated with the Amazons till this day. They would never be caught off guard was once more. With all of that said it was incredibly baffling for Diana to have met no one upon arrival. Maybe things had changed over the years?
Slipping into the shrubbery of the forest Diana couldn't shake the ominous feeling that something just wasn't right. The Amazons at the beach were supposed to be the first line of defense, followed by their sisters who were camouflaged in the woodlands. But once again the daughter of Zeus hadn't been encountered by anyone. At the very least she was expecting a minimal fight of some sort. Hell even a booby trap or two right now would've settled her nerves, but there was nothing.
Wonder Woman had elected to land on the eastern shore because of it's proximity to the capital city. Once she zig-zgged her away across the forest it would be a short walk to the palace. With no Amazons currently present to challenge her, Diana's travel time would be even shorter. But as she traversed through the lines of enormous trees her eye's widened in horror as she saw smoke rising from the distance.
What is going on?!
Her premonition appeared to be true as she raced through the forest finally reaching the outskirts of Paradise city only to stop in horror. No! No! This can't be real! A panicking hand rose to clamp Diana's mouth shut as she glanced over the piles of dead bodies that littered the street before her. This was even worse than she could have imagined. Sisters who she had grown up with, adored, and cared for laid slain after what appeared to be a tremendous battle.
Who is responsible for this?!
Sadness quickly turned into anger as the Amazon's rage began to intensify. As much as she wanted to steamroll ahead and locate who was responsible for such wanton death, Diana knew she had to be sensible. It would be best to remain hidden, at least momentarily, until she could discover just who was behind this. Who was to say she could even stop the monster or monsters who were capable of this? In a worse case scenario she would at least need to be able to discretely leave Themyscira to call for backup.
Creeping onto the ensanguined road Wonder Woman moved with blinding speed as she climbed onto the rooftop of a nearby house. Lying flat on her stomach Diana's eyes shifted round as she scouted the rooftops. Nothing. Who ever attacked hadn't cared enough to secure an aerial view of the island. This led Wonder Woman to believe it hadn't been the work of an invading army. That was one of the first thing's any army would do after securing a location.
Could it have been mystical monsters of some sort then?
Diana's mother often told her of ancient battles that the Amazons had with gorgons, cyclopes, harpies, and other magical creatures. Maybe one of them had returned for revenge? But that was thousands of years ago. Would any creature truly be that spiteful? There had been no footprints or tracks left behind to identify them either. Could it be possible that Hercules has broken free from his...
Diana's train of thought was halted as squadron of Amazons suddenly came marching through the street below. They were dressed in full ceremonial Amazon battle armor. The blood splattered on their cloths indicated that they had been involved in a battle as well. But none of them paused to pick up the remains of their fellow sisters. One of the Amazons even went out of her way to trample on the corpse of a beheaded sister. It was then that an epiphany struck the princess.
No foreigner had invaded the island. The Amazons had fought amongst themselves! But why?
Leaping onto the next roof Diana followed the battalion of warriors. Roof after roof was hurdled as Zeus daughter silently kept pace with the Amazons below, her chase eventually leading her to the entrance of the palace. The destruction Wonder Woman had witnessed at the outskirts of the city had been appalling but this...this was on a completely different level. Scores of dead Amazons lay piled up on another. The stench of death was completely overwhelming. Diana was not naive when it came to war or battle but what had occurred here had been a complete massacre.
She could remain hidden no longer.
"Stand down!" With furious rage Wonder Woman ordered the five guards surrounding the palace to scatter.
The women in question all looked up as the queen's daughter descended from the sky. Sharing a momentary glance with one another they all nodded before suddenly charging towards Wonder Woman.
"Kill the dragon!"
The dragon? What? Diana was perplexed but was forced to toss her thoughts aside as a spear jabbed at her ribs. The weapon splintered into metallic pieces as Wonder Woman blocked it with her bracelets. A quick backhand sending the first Amazon flying. Turning to her right side Diana narrowly evaded a slice from the second Amazon. Just an inch closer and her particles of hair wouldn't be the only thing that fell off.
Her attacker was brought to her knees as an elbow slammed into her gut. The plates of armor shielding the soldier meant nothing, as the distinct sound of bones cracking was heard. Wonder Woman was pulling no punches, and her attackers provided the perfect source to direct her anger towards. With her back still turned her third assailant managed to finally strike her. A heavy ax slamming into Wonder Woman's backside.
Unfortunately for her adversary it did little to derail Diana as she promptly turned around. With a well aimed kick to the neck Wonder Woman knocked her unconscious, watching her motionless body slump to the ground. The final two combatants elected to work together and double team the princess. Wielding a sword and a mace the two Amazons charged with blind fury. Diana scoffed as she easily side stepped her first challenger. A quick kick to the leg sent her stumbling as Wonder Woman stripped her of her weapon.
The second assailant took this moment to strike and bashed Diana's skull with the mace. The force of the blow was tremendous, but only served to annoy Goku's wife as she glared into her opponents eyes. With a mighty tug she pulled her attacker until they were eye to eye. A hard headbutt eventually sending her to land of dreams. The Amazon who had previously been wielding the mace
attempted to attack was once more, but was forced to join her comrade as the mace concussed her.
Dusting her hands off Diana began walking to the entrance of the palace but abruptly stopped as she felt someone lingering over her shoulder. Slowly turning around Wonder Woman was met with her assailants once more. But I just defeated them! Their eyes were blood shot red as they began to encircle the princess. It was now obvious that there was something else at work here.
"That's enough." The voice was barely a whisper but was enough to whip the Amazons into command. All five of them instantly backed away as a cloaked figure approached Diana.
"Derinoe?" Wonder Woman was more surprised than anything. She of course knew who it was, but was taken back at the fact she in charge here.
"And here I was thinking you were still banished." The elder Amazon scoffed in a mocking tone. She had been one of the first to call for Diana's banishment following her failure to retrieve the Dragonballs.
"Sister what is going on here? What has happened to our people?" Diana questioned as she ignored Derinoe's previous words.
"Our people?" The woman in question spat back incredulously. "You're not one of us. In fact you're responsible for all of this."
"I haven't set foot on Themyscira in years since my banishment."
"And you couldn't even adhere to the banishment that Zeus himself gave you. We are supposed to be servants of the gods but you, just like you're mother, rebelled against them."
"Mother!" Diana shouted as she remembered her queen. There was no telling of the kinds of horrors that might have been committed to her.
"Fret not princess." Derinoe sarcastically remarked. "She's still alive...for the time being that is."
"If you've done anything to my mother I swear I will..."
"You'll what? Kill Derinoe? Show us the monster you truly are. A snake can't hide it's true form." A new voice emerged, dragging a chained Amazon with her as she approached Derinoe.
Diana's eyes narrowed as she attempted to decipher who this woman was. She wore the cloth of the royal guards but the princess had never seen her before.
"I can see you're confused. I'll let your mother do the talking instead." With a hard jerk queen Hippolyta was tossed forward, her bruised and battered figure nearly bringing tears to her daughter's eyes.
"Mother what happened to you?" Wonder Woman questioned as she dropped to the floor to embrace her matriarch. It had been so long she had felt the tender touch of the woman who birthed her.
"My sins finally caught up with me." The queen curtly replied as she broke the hug, the shame evident on her face.
"What sins are you speaking of? You're the most virtuous woman on Themyscira."
"Diana I don't know where to begin but there are so many things I've kept hidden from you." Hippolyta sighed as she shook her head.
"Not just you Diana but the entire Amazon nation." Derinoe supplanted. "She even deceived the gods themselves."
"I don't believe you! You're lying and once I get my mother out of these chains you and whoever..."
"Diana!" Queen Hippolyta shouted as she brought her daughter's mini tirade to end. "She's telling the truth."
"W-w-what?!" Wonder Woman staggered back unsure if this was truly happening. Maybe this was all one horrible nightmare. A magical illusion cast by one of her enemies.
"I've lied to you, your sisters, and the gods as well."
"But you're the queen! You're supposed to be our standard for morality and justice. For truth and honesty. How could you do this mother?
"I know Diana...I know." Hippolyta felt even worse than she looked. The thorough thrashing she had received was nothing compared to the shame of her daughter.
"I-I can't believe this." Wonder Woman frowned as she rubbed her suddenly sore temples. "What did you lie about?"
"Your birth. I lied about your birth. You weren't formed from clay like I made you believe. Zeus is your father."
Diana's eyes expanded to the size of saucers as a bolt of thunder crackled in the distance. Everything I know is false.
Age 761 (2011), Mount Paozu, Chikyu
"Diana can you please move your legs." Goku mumbled into his pillow as he rolled over. "Diana?" worry seeped into the Saiyan's voice as he suddenly realized his wife wasn't there.
Jolting up Goku's eyes quickly scanned the room for any trace of his lover. She was no where to be found. Rising out of bed he dashed to the bathroom which he found open and unlocked She wasn't there either. Closing his eyes he scoured the nearby area for any noticeable trace of her Ki. Once again there was nothing. Her Ki was humongous and almost impossible to miss. She was the most powerful person on Earth [3].
Where could she have possibly gone to at this hour? I'm sure she had good reason though.
Shrugging it off Goku put it aside. Diana was the most honest person she knew, the lasso of truth most certainly made sure of that. He was sure that whatever had made her gallop away in the middle of the night was more than urgent. He just hoped she would return safely. She could have at least woke me up to go with her.
Pouting the Saiyan settled back into bed and attempted to go back to sleep. His head had barely made contact with the pillow before his stomach growled. Really? At this hour? Goku's hunger knew no time limits and before the Saiyan knew it he was in the kitchen raiding the fridge. Thankfully his wife made sure to keep the fridge stock full of food. Not only was she an amazing warrior- she was fantastic cook as well.
Tossing a plate of rice into the microwave, Goku slid into a nearby chair as he waited for his food to heat. Might as well see what's on TV. Clicking it open the Saiyan began channel surfing as he looked for something interesting to watch. Maybe the news will tell me why Diana needed to leave. Flipping to his local news station Goku was surprised as he saw a reporter from Gotham appear on his screen.
"Fortunately the death the toll doesn't appear to have gone up since my last broadcast. There's no word yet on whether Batman survived that brutal battle with the still unknown assailant. But on the bright sight Superman has shown up and is battling our villain in the skies above the city."
Goku's eyes shot wide open. That had to be it! Diana, Bruce, and Clark had built a strong rapport over the past few years. The media had even dubbed them as the "Trinity" which several religious groups found blasphemous. From the looks of the things on his TV screen it appeared things were getting desperate in Gotham. Batman never called for back up. If Superman had showed up that most likely meant his life was in danger.
I'm sure that's where she went to.
Jumping from his seat Goku sprinted to his bedroom, totally ignoring the food he had just microwaved. There were more pressing matters at hand. Zipping around the room Goku gathered his clothes as he changed into his iconic orange Gi. He was just about to hop out of his bedroom window when he realized he had completely forgotten about Gohan. Sweat-dropping, the Saiyan slid into the hallway as he began heading to his son's room
Hopefully Bulma wouldn't be too angry with him dropping Gohan off at such a late hour. As he turned to flip off the lights in his bedroom, Goku failed to notice the large envelope which had been left on his dresser.
Age 761 (2011), Yellowstone National Park, USA
"Meddlesome Earthlings." Piccolo scowled as he meditated under a waterfall.
This was supposed to be one of the quietest locations in America, but only seconds ago he had been forced to attack a park ranger. The park ranger had been doing his job, following up on leads that a man had been sneaking into the park late at night. His tips had been true to a certain extent. But as the park ranger quickly found out the late night trespasser was no human. You could imagine his shock when he discovered a less-than-benevolent demon floating around a waterfall.
Not wanting to deal with the assured backlash Piccolo simply knocked him out. A small Ki beam did the trick as the man now laid unconscious not too far from the stream of water. I can see why my father hated them. The Namekian closed his eyes attempting to focus but was interrupted by the static of the man's walkie-talkie.
"Can't I have one moment of peace?!" A large vein throbbed as Piccolo relented. Tonight just didn't seem to be his night.
Looks like I'll have to try elsewhere. Even if I do manage to get some mediation done tonight that fool will still most likely report this incident tomorrow. More unnecessary trouble. I could just kill him but that pathetic human isn't even worth the time. I'm better off just heading elsewhere.
Breaking out of his meditative stance, Piccolo began to ascend to the heavens when a familiar Ki caught his attention. Son Goku on the move at this hour? Ma Junior kept close notice on all the happenings concerning his most hated foe. He never ventured out of the house this late, especially not without his wife. Piccolo had been curious about her late night escapade as well. He never tried to actively follow her Ki signature, but when one was as large as hers it was almost impossible not to.
A large Ki presence had appeared in Gotham not too long ago. Ma Junior had figured that was where the princess had been headed until she had darted off in the opposite direction. As powerful as the Ki emanating from Gotham was, it was nothing Wonder Woman wouldn't have been able to defeat. That meant there was something even more dangerous out there. But Goku appeared to be headed towards Gotham instead.
Whatever, it's not my problem. Seeing as I have nothing better to do I could head towards Gotham as well. That insufferable Kryptonian is there too. If things go well I can kill three birds with one stone.
With a devious smirk Piccolo blasted off into the night sky. This was the opportunity he had been waiting for.
A big thank you to everyone who reviewed chapter 14!
[1]: Clark and Lois will not be paired up in this story. I've never liked that pairing to be honest. Lois Lane loves Superman, not Clark Kent. If they were two different people she wouldn't give Clark the time of day. I'm not going to pair him with Lana either though and obviously not Wonder Woman lol. But I have someone in mind who I don't believe has appeared in anyone's story before.
[2]: As I will undoubtedly get reviews asking about Superman's strength I'll just address it now. As I've stated in previous chapters Clark is no where near his full power yet. He will eventually get there as the story progresses, but for right now he's just not that powerful yet.
[3]: Wonder Woman is currently the most powerful person on Earth. Goku and co still have lots of training to go through and Superman has yet to absorb all the necessary sun rays.
Q/A:
Maris Brood-TheDarkZabrakJedi: Saitama has been shown as needing more than one punch to defeat foes on a few occasions though. For example his fight with Boros. Going solely on feats he's not getting past Saiyan saga Goku though.
Guest: I'm not going to change that scene. I personally see nothing wrong with it. It was written to be read from the reader's perspective.
Lostgamer64: Scooby Doo could fit in the DC Universe. Anthropomorphic animals already somewhat exist within their reality.
eolamin1997: At this current point in the story the Trinity, Goku, and his friends, are the only known heroes. The rest of the Justice League will pop up very soon though.
Rowknan: The status of Majin Buu's stasis has not changed. Kind of a spoiler but...the Majin Buu saga is going to be crazy lol. A Goku x Superman fusion will be taking place.
Johnny Spectre: The Green Lanterns are going to appear very soon. I can't give you any details on ChiChi, but she'll be making an appearance very soon as well.
Guest: What you're talking about sounds interesting, I'll consider it.
ThatGuy brother of OtherGuy: Yep that was a blunder on my part lol
Jackalope89: I'm indifferent towards her character for the most part. She might not be paired up with Goku, but she'll still play a role in this story going forward though.
Berrus-sama: I was actually planning on doing something with the scouters, good thinking on that. I won't say who the GL will be. Chi-Chi will still be involved in this story, I'm not completely disposing of her.
Talonsen: This story isn't based on any particular form of DC media. The gods of Earth are aware of the other pantheons of gods. I was referring to Superman Prime One Million.
Mdhunter111: The characters won't have low power levels though. I previously stated that Superman would gradually gain his power throughout the story. Starting him off at full strength wouldn't allow for much of a plot. He'd defeat everyone by himself (at least up until Cell). Frieza will make an appearance and you'll just have to read and see as far as power levels go.
Kabuto S. Inferno: You always point out the mistakes and corrections I need to make, thanks. Gohan will be incredibly powerful in the future. I'm not sure "Mystic Gohan" will even be necessary in the future though. This version of Gohan enjoys fighting and training. He might unleash his hidden potential on his own. I think I meant to reply to you at the end of the previous chapter but just forgot to...lol.
Aztec 13: Rip Hunter probably won't appear in this story.
KaylisDX: Batman was using the stealth suit in the previous chapter.
Atom king: H'el probably won't appear in this story. Gohan will be a part of the Teen Titans when they eventually form later on.
Skyline 10: Goku won't need a superhero name or a costume. Martian Manhunter will appear. I'm not going to do Darkseid War and Raditz won't be joining the suicide squad. Thanks for the idea though.
Guest: No Cyborg Goku
ImposterParrotGrass: Thanks for the long review, always enjoy when I get one. As you can see this story is not following the typical Saiyan saga. Batman has several suits...that was just one of them lol. Gohan will join the Teen Titans in the future. You'll see how Gohan's powers are put under wraps in the next chapter actually. The Green Lantern/Freiza situation will be addressed in upcoming chapters.
ShadowAssasin578: I've never played Arkham nor do I know the storyline so that's probably not going to happen.
Galeiam: Glad someone picked that up lol
ElDiosHades12: That's actually been going on in the backdrop of this story. You'll see more of it in upcoming story arcs.
JOEL: Frieza has had run ins with the Green Lantern Corps in the past.
bro123: Wonder Woman is the strongest person on Earth at this current point.
JAYDEN123: I probably won't include Universe 6 in this story to be honest. My chapter output is based on how inspired I feel to write. A lack of inspiration means slow updates.
Random Chapter Notes: Since my reviewers are always asking me about what version of DC heroes I'm using, I've decided to detail some of my inspiration.
Wonder Woman: The Wonder Woman in this story has mainly been an Amalgamation of New 52 Earth-2 WW, New 52 WW, and Post-Crisis WW. I know a lot of Wonder Woman fans love the peace and rainbows iterations of her. The George Perez Diana is still lauded by most fans today. But personally I prefer a more aggressive Wonder Woman. I like a Wonder Woman who recognizes and does what's necessary. But there has to be balance as well though. Diana loves battle, but will seek to end things peacefully first though. She's not some violent brute.
I went with the New 52 Origin of her birth because I loved the idea. Wonder Woman is now literally a god. I was never really that big a fan of the clay birth. It never made sense to me how in she was blessed with powers by the gods in Post-Crisis, but then was able to defeat those same gods with their own power. Now her power is of her own doing.
The Amazons. I know I've depicted them harshly in this story. To my readers who aren't familiar with the comics, they're not this mean in all versions. I combined their New 52 and Post-Crisis origins for this story. But their temperament is greatly based on Earth-2. They are warriors who are haunted by their tragic past. They don't like men and are quite frankly not open towards man's world.