"This is Norse Religion/Mythology!" Gohan said.
Hel turned so the group could see that she wasn't all black, but half black, half white.
"She is Hel, as she said, her father is Loki, God of mischief, The Trickster, actually a demi-God. Her mother is the frost giant Angurboda." Gohan explained.
Gohan had finally realized the wisdom of his being chosen for this mission. His years as a scholar would prove invaluable to this mission.
"But if his religion is true, then what about all the other religions?" Piccolo asked.
"I once met a scholar of religions who believed that all religions are, or were true. They were made true based on the power of the prayer and faith of it's followers." Gohan said. "Most religions in the world had two things in common. The belief in an ultimate good, and an ultimate evil. This is described as some form of Heaven, and some form of Hell, in a balance of sorts. I would be willing to bet that if we went to Heaven, we would find a similar shaft, or doorway that would lead to a Heaven level 210 that would be named Valhalla."
"Enough Talk Mortals!" Hel yelled. "Your tormentor awaits! You will follow me!"
"We are not here to be tormented. We are on a mission of utmost importance." Piccolo said. "Can't you see we have no halos? We are not dead!"
"Well, life can be cured." Hel smiled evily. "Nidhogg!"
Suddenly, a huge serpent that had been gnawing at a root of what must be an impossibly large tree slithered towards Z-Team-One at an alarming rate, baring venom dripping fangs.
"Goten! Blast that thing!" Piccolo ordered.
"No wait!" Jessica yelled. "If you destroy these creatures you may unravel the levels of both Heaven and Hell that they represent!"
"You shouldn't be able to kill them, at least not through physical force." Gohan said. "In the Norse beliefs, they were immortal in every sense of the word. The best you could do was incapacitate them."
Roger dropped his ki bubble and Goten flew out to meet the great snake's challenge. He went Super Saiyan Four and dropped a knee onto the top of it's head.
"Well, that was certainly anti-climatic." Gohan said as his brother returned to the group.
"The creatures at this level do not seem have that much fighting power." Piccolo said.
Hel had screamed and ran over to her unconscious pet. "What have they done to you my baby!"
"Hel, if that's the best you can do then I suggest that you allow us to go on our way." Piccolo said. "We are capable of power levels beyond the one you just witnessed."
"NO! You will go to the land of the dead!" Hel screamed. "Granga' nir! Septgra' nir! Come crush these mortal fools!!"
Suddenly, from a opening in the far side of cavern they were in, two huge figures, no less than 100 foot tall, came thundering and bellowing towards Piccolo and the others.
"Hahahaha! The Frost Giants will seal your fate for sure!!" Hel ranted.
"Gohan, what are those things?" Piccolo said.
"They are Frost Giants. In Norse Mythology, only the Valkeries, Odin's Sons, Queen Frigga, or Odin himself could defeat them." Gohan explained.
"Here they come!" Jessica said.
"Ok Jessica, how about you and I take out the one on the left. Trunks, take out the one on the right." Piccolo said.
"You got it boss man. " Trunks said. 1.78 seconds later the one on the right was lying unconscious.
"Go get him Jessica." Piccolo said.
Jessica flew up and met the huge monster and noticed that it was wielding a massive club. The Frost Giant swung the club at Jessica meaning to swat her like a fly, but this fly had other ideas. Jessica stuck out an arm and stopped the club in mid-swing, then fired a small ki-blast which tore the club from the creatures hand and flung it across the cavern. The Frost Giant could only blink as a sudden fear gripped it's massive chest. Moments later, it laid unconscious at Hel's feet, having been kicked between the eyes by Jessica.
Hel could only stare in disbelief. Never before had any mortal defeated her warriors! "H-how c-could you do this?" She stammered out.
"I told you, we are on a special mission as a team hand chosen by the Ultimate Kai. You are hindering our progress. Now let us get back to the shaft you took us from or we will be forced to try and blast our way back!" Piccolo threatened.
Hel glared at the green man, but her resolved softened. Never before had she seen mortals exhibit this kind of power. "Why are you so anxious to go down the shaft? Nothing lies that way but death and desolation.
"Why we wish to go is none of your business, but we must go there." Piccolo looked her steadily in the eye.
Suddenly the wall which the Z-Warriors came though opened up and to everyone's horror, thousands of demons poured into the cavern.
"Fuel for the master!!" One of them yelled and hundreds of demons descended on the Frost Giants and was dragging them towards the shaft.
"What are they doing?" Jessica screamed over the din.
"They are going to take the Frost Giants to the conduit generator!" Piccolo said. "We have to stop them!"
Hel's attention was already diverted to the demons, she was firing deep purple/black balls of ki at the demons, but they were only chuckling at her attempts." "What are they? I've never seen such demons before!"
"Ok, Gohan, Trunks, Goten, go to Super Saiyan Five. Remember the effect the transformation had on Tharsasher? Maybe we can shake some of these guys up." Piccolo ordered.
"Okay Piccolo" Gohan said, and they each powered up.
The light from the transformation killed every demon within a ten yard radius, but the effect stopped at soon as it hit the negative energy that the demons brought with them. It did, however, surprise the demons enough to drop the Frost Giants.
Their surprise only lasted a second, then they attacked. While a main force flew straight at the Z-Team, more came forward to pick up the Frost Giants, and the Serpent Nidhogg.
"Roger, Gohan, go and stop them from taking them from here. The rest of us will handle this attack. Go!" Piccolo ordered.
"We're there!" Roger answered, powering up to Mystic Super Saiyan Four, which he achieved training under Ultimate Kai. The transformation killed dozens of incoming demons. Gohan powered up to Mystic Super Saiyan Five, destroying a couple hundred more.
Yet, they kept coming.
By this time, both of the Frost Giants were beginning to regain consciousness and fighting the demons. The Serpent was still out.
The Frost Giants were not having much luck against the demons who had begun to bind their hands and feet with negative energy bands.
"Kaaa.. Mee… Haaaa… Meee.. HAAAAA…" Both Roger and Gohan fired Goku's signature attack, one at each of the Frost Giants with disintegrated the demons without much effort. It also had the effect of dissipating the negative energy bands. The Frost Giants looked at their erstwhile saviors questioningly.
"Stay here and guard these two." Roger said. "I'll go free the snake thing."
Gohan smirked. "Okay, you go free the snake thing."
"Ok Jessica, stay with me." Piccolo commanded as he placed himself and Jessica between Goten and Trunks.
"SPECIAL BEAM CANNON!" Piccolo cried.
"MASENKO!!!" Jessica screamed.
"FINAL FLASH!" Came Trunk's favorite attack.
"KA ME HA ME HA!!!!" Came Goten's cry.
Where several thousand demons once stood and flew, only a few hundred remained.
A few that looked somewhat larger than the rest, and were the leaders looked at each other and called a retreat. The few hundred remaining demons walked, flew, and hobbled back to the shaft.
Everyone looked at each other. Piccolo was proud of his team. They not only followed orders, but they worked as a well-oiled machine. There's something to be said for 130,000 years of training.
Gohan and Roger flew back to where Piccolo and the others had stood their ground and powered down. Everyone else powered down as well.
Hel walked up to Piccolo, and dropped to her knees. "Great Masters! Please forgive me! I had no idea who you were. Thank you for saving my world!"
"Get up off you knees." Piccolo scowled. "We are trying to save all worlds, that is our mission. Those demons wish to change all worlds into worlds like their own. We must continue our mission now."
"Of course! Of course! The shaft is right through there!" Hel was still groveling.
"Okay, you guys should prepare yourselves, those demons could be back." Piccolo said.
"I will ask Odin for his protection, although it burns my heart to do so." Hel said. "It shall be done great one."
"Roger?" Piccolo said.
Everyone gathered in close to Roger as he formed his blue ki bubble and levitated towards the shaft where Hel had indicated. Five minutes later they reached the shaft exactly where they had left it.
"Jessica, so you feel anything?" Piccolo asked.
"No, nothing close. But we are being watched now." Jessica answered.
Piccolo had not needed Jessica for that bit of insight. He had felt it since the fight. They had attracted someone's attention, and he was watching, and waiting.
"That was too easy, wasn't it?" Gohan said.
Roger looked at Gohan. "Yes, I was thinking the same exact thing."
"We are still very far away from the demon realm." Jessica said. "Their powers are weakened here. The closer we get, the stronger they will get. We will have our work cut out for us the next time they attack us. I suspect that they won't make the mistake of attacking us again until they are confident of their powers."
"I agree." Gohan said. "The levels of Hell will also become more powerful. Various religions used pantheons of Gods that shared many of the same strengths, weaknesses, and social structures as the humans that worshiped them. The Norse Mythology/Religion was like that. A warrior race called for warrior Gods. Others, however, have God or Gods that are omnipotent. They will be the hard ones to handle if they want to fight."
"I see. Well, here's hoping we can avoid them. Okay the Roger, let's go." Piccolo ordered.
"Into the breach then." Roger tipped the ball over the edge of the shaft and started the descent again.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"So, you don't want to fight?" Vegeta asked 16.
"No Vegeta, my presence there would be useless." 16 answered. "Since my destruction you and the other Saiyans have surpassed my abilities in the same proportion as a human surpasses an insect. Even your Kirillin can defeat me easily now. I would simply be flying off to my own destruction. It would be a pointless gesture. 18 has trained and become stronger and could hold her own in the upcoming battle. I would only be reduced to scrap metal within seconds. I wouldn't even make a good sparing partner for anyone."
"Ok, what are you going to do while we are gone then? I'm not exactly comfortable with you being with the general public yet." Vegeta said.
"I have asked Yambia if I can go with her. I will not cause any trouble and if you fail to stop Cordell, we will be Earth's last line of defense." 16 said. "Abigail has also decided to come with us."
"So, you will stay behind with the women eh?" Vegeta prodded.
"Vegeta, I am totally mechanical, remember? Appealing to a gender based distinction isn't going to work." 16 said.
"Ok 16, it's your choice, and perhaps we will need you here after all." Vegeta stood up to leave. "Oh, one more thing, what do you feel about Goku?"
"Nothing, why?" 16 said.
"You were programed to destroy him, weren't you?" Vegeta asked.
"Yes, at one time it was my prime directive." 16 answered. "But I found that I was capable of changing my own programming if I wanted. I no longer wish to destroy anyone."
"Good. Can I ask you a personal favor?" Vegeta looked into the android's piercing blue eyes.
"You want a favor of me?" 16 asked uncertain. He wasn't used to this version of Vegeta.
"Yes.. Please?" Vegeta continued.
"Ok, what is it?" 16 asked.
"Protect Abigail and Yambia above all else, ok?" Vegeta said.
"Why?" 16 pondered.
"Because, they're special." Vegeta smiled.
16 pondered Vegeta's words for a minute. Then he thought he understood. "Okay Vegeta. I will do as you say."
"Will you consider it a new prime directive? It's very important 16." Vegeta said.
16 considered this. He then nodded his head down in concentration.. "I is done. Until you order otherwise, my primary directive is to protect Abigail and Yambia."
"Thank you big guy." Vegeta said with a smile. Vegeta's confidence in his decision to reactivate 16 was complete. "I'll see you later 16, I have to go and see how the packing is going."
"Good day Vegeta." 16 said as he went off to find 18.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Goku and Trunks Jr. were training in the Nexus.
"Well kiddo, I've taught you every thing I know about manipulating matter, both yours and the matter around you. What do you think?" Goku smiled..
For some reason, Trunks Jr. had taken an instant liking to the happy-go-lucky Goku. So much so that he took to calling him, :"Unk". Trunks really never had much of an extended family. Vegeta had no brothers and sisters, Bulma was an only child, and he was so much older than Bura's children that they really didn't count. Trunks Jr. has always been in need of family to identify with, even if it was just another full blooded Saiyan other than his Grandfather.
"This great Unk! Does Vegeta know all this?" Trunks Jr. said.
Goku smiled a bit at the Unk nickname he had somehow earned, but he really didn't mind.
"Of course! Do you think your Grandfather would stand for my teaching you something he didn't already know?" Goku smirked.
Trunks Jr. Laughed. "Yeah, I know what you mean. Grandfather has changed a lot in the last few weeks, I'm not sure how I feel about it."
"What do you mean?" Goku asked out of curiosity.
"He's nicer, which is fine. I waited several years to hear him tell me he was proud of me." Trunks Jr. tried to put what he was feeling into words. "Doesn't it seem that he's… lost something though?"
"I'm still not sure what you mean. Lost something?" Goku said.
"Is he going soft I mean?" Trunks Jr. said smiling. "In a way, I really miss the hardcore little tyrant he used to be."
Goku smiled widely. "I know how you feel. Part of me, actually, most of me is glad that Vegeta is easier to get along with, but a small part of me will miss the old Vegeta. He was glorious wasn't he?"
"Yes he was." Trunks Jr. smiled.
"But don't you make the mistake as to think that your Grandfather is soft. He's every bit the warrior he ever was. He will not let us down in a fight." Goku reminded Trunks Jr. "No matter what has happened to him, no matter what he says to the contrary, your Grandfather is still the Prince of all the Saiyans. That will never change with him, or with the rest of the Saiyans."
"Prince of all the Saiyans. He was always so proud of that when I was a kid." Trunks Jr. said.
"He still is. He had just recognized that the title doesn't mean what it used to mean." Goku lamented. "I wish it did for his sake."
"Maybe it will again one day Unk" Trunks Jr. smiled.
Goku wasn't sure what he seen flash across Trunks Jr.'s eyes, but he was sure he was up to no good.
"Well, I think I know for sure it that your grandfather wouldn't have anything nice to say about us talking instead of training, so here I come!" Goku said just before launching a vicious attack.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"I want to be ready by the time Uub and Kirillin come out of The Room of Spirit and Time, which should be within the next three hours. Everyone understand?" Vegeta ordered.
Trucks from every major grocery chain and camping supply chains had been delivering food and supplies non-stop for a day and a half straight into the lower lab hangar. Normally this was unheard of, but when Bulma Briefs (Say, I thought she was dead?) wants something bad enough, arguing will get you no where fast.
"Grr… If one more person looks at me and says they thought I was dead, I'm going to scream!!" Bulma fumed.
"How can you be mad? I mean some of these guys attended your funeral for chrissakes." Vegeta smirked. "I really wished you hadn't started throwing your weight around and using your name and all. As soon as the press hears about this they are going to be all over this place. The authorities will probably want to investigate and have your body exhumed for crying out loud!"
"My body? But I got to keep my body. What will they find when they dig up that coffin?" Bulma demanded to know.
"Well, we were trying to keep everything quiet Bulma, and your body disappeared and all, and we didn't have much time.." Vegeta stammered.
"What will they find Vegeta!!" Bulma's volume shot up a notch.
"Err.. a 90 pound bag of horse manure." Vegeta said looking down.
"What?!?! You buried 90 pounds worth of horseshit in my grave?!?!?!" Bulma shrieked. "Are you insane!!"
"It was the only thing we could find on such short notice that weighed about what you weighed at that time!" Vegeta defended himself, trying to stifle a chuckle the whole time.
"WE?? WHO ELSE WAS THERE!!" Bulma yelled. Every person in the place now stood with their hands over their ears.
"Well Trunks actually came up with the idea. And Gohan, and Goten, and Pan all agreed. I mean we were under some pressure! The press was clamoring for pictures of your body and all! We didn't have much choice woman!" Vegeta ended defiantly.
Bulma glared at Vegeta. Vegeta glared right back at his mate.
Then, as quickly as it had begun, it was over. Their glares softened, then they both burst out laughing hysterically.
"I'd hate to be the poor sap that digs that up!" Bulma said between laughs.
"Yeah, it's bound to be pretty ripe by this time!" Vegeta laughed.
Just then, Goku and Trunks Jr. appeared next to Vegeta.
"Hey! You guys are laughing! That's great!" Goku said. "What's so funny?"
"We'll tell you later Kakkarot." Vegeta said looking into Bulma's eyes. "Do me a favor Kakkarot. Supervise the rest of the packing here, would you? My mate and I want to take a stroll through the garden before the warriors all leave."
"Ok Vegeta, I understand." Goku smiled. "Chi-Chi and I took a stroll the other day, it's beautiful in there this time of year." Goku poked Vegeta with his elbow.
Vegeta had an urge that at Chi-Chi's current physical age, that seemed wrong somehow. But they were a married couple with two children.
"Thanks Kakkarot, I think that fell under the category of TMI." Vegeta joked.
"TMI?" Goku asked.
"Too Much Information." Vegeta said as he escorted his mate out of the hangar.