TITLE: Price of Redemption
AUTHOR: Echo the Nymph
DISCLAIMER: The show is not mine. How many times do I have to say that to satisfy those lawyers?
Chapter 6
Adria stole a quick glance at the men. She blocked a punch Chichi sent to her but fell to the ground from the force of an unexpected kick. "Lucky shot." She growled, shooting back into the sky.
They froze, noticing the rapid approach of a mysterious ki. Whoever the person was, was not looking for them. The group dropped to the ground, a ground pitted with craters and charred to blackness, out of the clear sky to avoid getting hit. A streak of white radiance passed overhead then all was silent. What could've startled that warrior into flight?
The warriors exchanged glances, unsure of what was happening. Few things could startle a warrior enough for a flight response.
From the forest of to one side of the group, Piccolo emerged. "Goku." He called. They turned as he approached them.
"What is it?" Goku inquired, not liking the tense feeling he was getting from his friend's aura.
Piccolo grumbled before replying. "Our time window may have been cut down. Dende has been in contact with Muri. Muri knew the speed and location of the ship approaching us, and the news isn't good. If nothing delays them they will be here before the week is out."
Chichi growled, startling the other warriors. Her hands were in tight fists by her sides, and were shaking. She was acting like the saiya-jins of old, who defended their homeworld from invasion. Those old ways of life had died when the Ice-jins came. Yet here on Chikyuu, that part of their culture had come back to life.
Goku noticed her ki steadily rising, which wasn't good. He placed his hand on her shoulder in a calming gesture. "Easy, Chichi. I don't like this either, but whe should try to stay calm."
She took a deep breath, visibly relaxing. That had been too close for comfort. She wasn't quite ready to control her instincts she would feel in the heat of battle.
Bardock felt relieved; his son knew how to handle his mate and calm her down. His gaze shifted to Adria. The ten years he'd spent in Hell were still fresh on his mind. Those years were tough. I will do all in my power to make sure we aren't separated again. He shook his head a little. How did I become so fond of my family in such a short amount of time?
An ache started pounding away in his head, causing him to lower it into his hands. Quite suddenly, the pain became sharp, blocking out all other thoughts and sounds. The bright light of the sun went unseen, the gentle whispers of the trees and songs of the birds unheard, and the breeze unfelt upon his boiling hot skin. What... What's happening?
He fell to his knees on what remained of the cool green grasses, still holding his head. The pain was so intense that he began to black out. Darkness swam through his vision as he fought it off. His attempts were unsuccessful as he pitched forward, no longer conscious. Adria managed to catch him before he completely collapsed. "Bardock!" She cried, holding his unconscious form close to her.
~v
What? Where am I? Bardock looked about the room in surprise. Its layout was vaguely familiar, like that of a new model of an ice-jin ship. He could feel that it wasn't of that species. A snarl of anger caused him to whirl about.
Their leader looked so...evil. He glared, his dank brown eyes frightening the doctors in the room. The unseen warrior stared at him, trying to figure out who he was. His hair was such a deep gold that it was almost bronze, his light olive skin was smooth with youth and health. The alien's hair was drawn back in a braid, showing his elven ears. He was tall and strong; not one to be messed with. Clearly, not an elf. Oro-jin! Bardock realized with a start. But why is he coming? From the histories I saw, Chikyuu was never theirs.
His muscles grew tense as he realized he was gazing upon his enemy. This villain was much worse than Frieza, who had acted out of a greed that was his family's. This one acted out of a greed and rage engrained in him from the time he was born. He felt slighted because his ancestors were driven from the world he wanted as his own.
There was a sound of fluttering wings behind him. Again, he turned around. The sight that greeted him this time was quite the surprise. A young girl stood before him, her onyx eyes wide with innocence. White, eagle-type wings graced her back and blue-black hair fell to her waist. Her complexion was pale, like she hadn't gotten enough sun.
"I called you here, Bardock of Vejitasei. I am called Hope. Like my father, I have psychic powers. Fox is the oro-jin leading the assault. He wants to use my abilities to retake Chikyuu." Her tone was soft and sad. She was but a child thrust into an adult's role.
"Where are you from, Hope, and why does he want Chikyuu?" Bardock inquired, kneeling down so that he was on eye level with her.
"My homeworld is called Atlantika. All of the people there bear wings." She met his gaze once more. "Fox wants Chikyuu because there was once a colony upon it. For there they felt a connection to a magic that had been long denied them. And when some started to use those abilities to turn creatures of myth into monsters and also robbed the ningen of much they held dear. The ancestors of the Z senshi and their mythical allies drove them away. Now they return with allied or enslaved races." Her voice became very soft. "I know I will not live through the battle. My life is to forfeit to help save you world."
Bardock lifted her chin gently with his fingers so he could make eye contact. "Hope I can tell that your soul is kind and good. Perhaps the gods of my people and yours could find a way to return you to life. Don't be afraid; Cora and Gemma will see you as you really are."
Gently, she traced the scar on his cheek before pulling back. "Go." Hope whispered, causing the scene to blur around him. The last thing he saw clearly was the body of Hope floating in a clear blue liquid.
v~
AUTHOR: Echo the Nymph
DISCLAIMER: The show is not mine. How many times do I have to say that to satisfy those lawyers?
Chapter 6
Adria stole a quick glance at the men. She blocked a punch Chichi sent to her but fell to the ground from the force of an unexpected kick. "Lucky shot." She growled, shooting back into the sky.
They froze, noticing the rapid approach of a mysterious ki. Whoever the person was, was not looking for them. The group dropped to the ground, a ground pitted with craters and charred to blackness, out of the clear sky to avoid getting hit. A streak of white radiance passed overhead then all was silent. What could've startled that warrior into flight?
The warriors exchanged glances, unsure of what was happening. Few things could startle a warrior enough for a flight response.
From the forest of to one side of the group, Piccolo emerged. "Goku." He called. They turned as he approached them.
"What is it?" Goku inquired, not liking the tense feeling he was getting from his friend's aura.
Piccolo grumbled before replying. "Our time window may have been cut down. Dende has been in contact with Muri. Muri knew the speed and location of the ship approaching us, and the news isn't good. If nothing delays them they will be here before the week is out."
Chichi growled, startling the other warriors. Her hands were in tight fists by her sides, and were shaking. She was acting like the saiya-jins of old, who defended their homeworld from invasion. Those old ways of life had died when the Ice-jins came. Yet here on Chikyuu, that part of their culture had come back to life.
Goku noticed her ki steadily rising, which wasn't good. He placed his hand on her shoulder in a calming gesture. "Easy, Chichi. I don't like this either, but whe should try to stay calm."
She took a deep breath, visibly relaxing. That had been too close for comfort. She wasn't quite ready to control her instincts she would feel in the heat of battle.
Bardock felt relieved; his son knew how to handle his mate and calm her down. His gaze shifted to Adria. The ten years he'd spent in Hell were still fresh on his mind. Those years were tough. I will do all in my power to make sure we aren't separated again. He shook his head a little. How did I become so fond of my family in such a short amount of time?
An ache started pounding away in his head, causing him to lower it into his hands. Quite suddenly, the pain became sharp, blocking out all other thoughts and sounds. The bright light of the sun went unseen, the gentle whispers of the trees and songs of the birds unheard, and the breeze unfelt upon his boiling hot skin. What... What's happening?
He fell to his knees on what remained of the cool green grasses, still holding his head. The pain was so intense that he began to black out. Darkness swam through his vision as he fought it off. His attempts were unsuccessful as he pitched forward, no longer conscious. Adria managed to catch him before he completely collapsed. "Bardock!" She cried, holding his unconscious form close to her.
~v
What? Where am I? Bardock looked about the room in surprise. Its layout was vaguely familiar, like that of a new model of an ice-jin ship. He could feel that it wasn't of that species. A snarl of anger caused him to whirl about.
Their leader looked so...evil. He glared, his dank brown eyes frightening the doctors in the room. The unseen warrior stared at him, trying to figure out who he was. His hair was such a deep gold that it was almost bronze, his light olive skin was smooth with youth and health. The alien's hair was drawn back in a braid, showing his elven ears. He was tall and strong; not one to be messed with. Clearly, not an elf. Oro-jin! Bardock realized with a start. But why is he coming? From the histories I saw, Chikyuu was never theirs.
His muscles grew tense as he realized he was gazing upon his enemy. This villain was much worse than Frieza, who had acted out of a greed that was his family's. This one acted out of a greed and rage engrained in him from the time he was born. He felt slighted because his ancestors were driven from the world he wanted as his own.
There was a sound of fluttering wings behind him. Again, he turned around. The sight that greeted him this time was quite the surprise. A young girl stood before him, her onyx eyes wide with innocence. White, eagle-type wings graced her back and blue-black hair fell to her waist. Her complexion was pale, like she hadn't gotten enough sun.
"I called you here, Bardock of Vejitasei. I am called Hope. Like my father, I have psychic powers. Fox is the oro-jin leading the assault. He wants to use my abilities to retake Chikyuu." Her tone was soft and sad. She was but a child thrust into an adult's role.
"Where are you from, Hope, and why does he want Chikyuu?" Bardock inquired, kneeling down so that he was on eye level with her.
"My homeworld is called Atlantika. All of the people there bear wings." She met his gaze once more. "Fox wants Chikyuu because there was once a colony upon it. For there they felt a connection to a magic that had been long denied them. And when some started to use those abilities to turn creatures of myth into monsters and also robbed the ningen of much they held dear. The ancestors of the Z senshi and their mythical allies drove them away. Now they return with allied or enslaved races." Her voice became very soft. "I know I will not live through the battle. My life is to forfeit to help save you world."
Bardock lifted her chin gently with his fingers so he could make eye contact. "Hope I can tell that your soul is kind and good. Perhaps the gods of my people and yours could find a way to return you to life. Don't be afraid; Cora and Gemma will see you as you really are."
Gently, she traced the scar on his cheek before pulling back. "Go." Hope whispered, causing the scene to blur around him. The last thing he saw clearly was the body of Hope floating in a clear blue liquid.
v~