These Dreams
Part Fourteen
Void floated through my line of sight, her form as vague and insubstantial as a reflection on water. She couldn't touch me and I was unable to touch her. Such was the lightness of my visionary slumber - no matter how sick I get, I can't sleep during the day. I get very close, but never all the way and I can wake up at will. When I wasn't "half-sleeping", I was aware of people peeking in and leaving.
Somebody cracked the vertical blinds on the opposite wall. They're black though, so not much light came inside. I was glad for that.
Piccolo sat right by the bed, propped comfortably against the wall. He looked so content, yet severe, his chin almost completely buried in his abundant collar. I sleepily studied how slivers of sunlight created tiger-stripe patterns over his large form. One fell across his frowning brow-ridges and shadowed his closed eyes even more, almost like he wore natural sunglasses. His lips were drawn into a tight little line. I watched his chest heave and make his crossed arms move. How the various folds of his white cape and gi brushed his ridged green skin. His half-hidden brown shoes. Aside from breathing, he sat perfectly still. Sweat beads made him appear dew-covered and shiny.
I had to smile while I watched him. Piccolo...you'd make an excellent gargoyle. Maybe I should show you my tapes of the program back home...man, even Disney would've edited DBZ better than FUNi... I giggled in silence at my thoughts. Somehow I just can't imagine Piccolo "drawn" Gargoyles-style. Besides, you're a million times cuter than Goliath...
Who is this 'Goliath'? An intense black eye slid open and turned towards me. A dark gem in the bit of sunlight. He quirked his mouth into a small smirk. Well?
Oops, I forgot AGAIN that he can hear my thoughts. "Just a character on another show I used to watch, but he's taken. I don't lust after people that're already taken by somebody else."
"Oh I see." Piccolo inhaled and sat up straight until the back of his head touched the wall, his whole body tense. His face showed strain. Something cracked four times...I think it was his back. The tense expression melted to stoicness. The Namek rolled his head and shoulders a little, popping them too. Then he relaxed into his original pose again and exhaled a little white cloud through his mouth. That's the closest I'll ever get to seeing Piccolo actually stretch for comfort.
My smile faded. Something I'd been thinking about a lot while I rested surfaced. "Piccolo, what if the same chaos we see here is going on in my world too? People I know...my parents even...mentioned seeing Void in their dreams at least once."
He uncrossed his arms and rested his hands in his lap. I noticed he was wearing the gold ring I gave him after the very first fight with Void. He toyed with it a little, twisting it back and forth. I think Piccolo has such gorgeous hands. So slender with those long, tapered fingers and sharp nails. Those hands, they're capable of such incredible violence and amazing gentleness.
"It's highly possible...what we see here may be equally reflected in your Reality. Everyone dreams, and where there are dreams to destroy, Void will be there. She doesn't care about race, gender or age. But..." A smirk snuck past his otherwise serious expression, "The Believers are still out there. Their existence slows her progress immensely."
"Yeah, they're tough." I closed my eyes and sighed. "I feel one with us now."
Piccolo lifted his head, looked around and closed his eyes. He started to smile, aware of your presence too.
"Hello, Believer. I know you're here."
He's talking to you.
Yes, you.
"Stay with us through this, you're just as important to the fight as we are. Don't give up, you have more power within you than you realize. Stay close to your dream catcher if you have one. Don't let Void conquer you. You're the key to whether we win or lose this fight. I Believe in you."
"They'll listen...even be thrilled you talked to them." I smiled and closed my eyes. "They're strong..."
Piccolo faced me fully and tilted his head, worried. Then he saw I was just returning to my half-sleeping state. He relaxed again. Aww, how sweet! "Quit talking so much, it's wasting your strength."
"Mm." I sighed through my teeth and turned over onto my right side. Reaching out, I cupped his cheek in my palm. "You're the most gorgeous man I've ever seen, Piccolo."
Piccolo's long fingers encircled my wrist. He stared back at me with parted lips, his face lined in seriousness. The same expression he wore just before he cried out all his pain. His eyes were moist, but he didn't shed any tears this time. "Am I really what you say I am?"
"That and then some." My fingers found that special spot behind his ear again. Sometimes I swear it arouses him on some level neither of us can explain. It made me wonder if his body was capable of feeling that kind of pleasure. I doubt it though, in Anime form his body has no physical need to mate. "I wish we could...you know...right now, only you'd touch me the same way I touch you."
The blush present on Piccolo's cheeks spread across his nose and ears. He looked so cute. "Well uh..." he faked a cough against his fist. "Let's not worry about mating right now - "
"Animals mate. People make love."
" - Errr... make love. Right." Now his whole face was PURPLE. "Anyway, let's not worry about that right now. Get better first and then..." he cleared his throat and licked his lips, "...I'll think about letting you have your way with me. But don't let it control your every thought. Void is our first priority after you're healthy again."
"I can't leave you two alone for a tick, can I? Talkin' about havin' a naughty, are we? Heheh..." Freeza peeked around the corner with an evil grin stretching his ebony lips. He stepped into the room, put a hand behind his head and made a very suggestive movement with his hips. "Just do it like this, mate. She'll moan like crazy, I promise!" Then he twirled an invisible hula hoop and puckered his lips, briefly revealing those fine lines I saw earlier. "Or you can go this way for some variety. Heh, heh! Either way works!"
Piccolo and I both sweatdropped. I started snickering, but I think Piccolo wanted to crawl under the bed and hide. Freeza getting all hoochie-goochie...now that's funny!
I turned over onto my back for a better view of Freeza's hilarious antics. "What? You're an expert or something?"
"You bet! 'ey, I didn't know you Nameks could crack a fat!"
I blanched. "Freeza! Oh my God!"
"Rrmm..." Piccolo palmed his face and shook his head. His ears were so purple they matched his turban.
Freeza grinned innocently, "Oops, did I say somethin' embarrassin'? I'm soooooo s'rry."
I looked at Freeza. Freeza looked at me. We both laughed pretty hard. Poor Piccolo, he just didn't get it. Any talk or jokes relating to sex go right over his head. I mean, he wouldn't recognize an innuendo if it bit his ass, threw him on the ground and jumped on his head!
The silly fun came to an end when a fresh wave of dizziness washed over me. I stopped laughing and rested my head on the pillow. Dammit, I hate being sick - it ruins everything!
Oh well, at least I got a
good laugh from the situation.
"That's it, take it nice and easy." Piccolo calmly held onto my arm and aided me towards the kitchen table. My fever was gone and my stomach started asking for food again. I didn't feel fully well yet, but I didn't feel like I wanted to curl up and die either. Vegeta told me it would probably take twelve hours for my immune system to beat the bug. That means I had five more to go.
I planted my butt on the wooden chair and let my breath out. Hard to believe a stupid fever took so much out of me. Moments later I found myself drooling over a bowl of chicken-noodle soup. I don't care how sick I still was, that soup smelled delicious! It took every ounce of self-control to eat it slowly. I was so hungry! The warm broth soothed my dry throat. I got lost in how bits of chicken and noodles squished against my teeth and tongue.
"Crackers?"
Freeza grabbed some off the table. Courtesy of Mrs. Briefs. "'ere you go, 'luv. Catch."
I closed my fingers too soon. The crackers bounced off and landed in my lap. Damn, how do they catch the Senzu beans one-handed like that? I picked the package up, tore the wrapper open and crushed the crackers into crumbs that I dumped into the broth. Stirred to get them all mushy. Yum, yum.
I felt a lot stronger when I finished. Almost like I ate a Senzu bean. I guess my body was instantly absorbing the nutrients it lost through all the puking, pooping and sweating.
Then Mrs. Briefs came out with everyone else's dinner(excluding Piccolo, of course). Chicken. Steak. Ramen noodles. Rice. Beans. Salads. Pasta. Mashed potatoes. Sushi. Sliced fruit.
No fair!
"Looks like good grub to me," exclaimed Freeza, his eyes gleaming. He picked up his chopsticks and clicked them eagerly together. "I'm 'ungry enough to eat the 'orse and chase the jockey."
"Suit yourself," Piccolo added in from his spot by the wall.
Then Vegeta took his place at the table. He rudely grabbed the bowl of rice Freeza was reaching for. "Hold on, Freeza. I'm not eating anything contaminated by your filthy hands. You're in my house, so I take the liberties here." Wearing a satisfied smirk, he started spooning rice into the little bowl by his plate.
"You're such a figjam!" the Icejin sneered. He picked up the bowl Vegeta nearly emptied and scooped what little remained into his rice-bowl, barely filling it to the rim. "Your block's so thick you won't 'cept the obvious truth. I pity you sometimes. You can't change what 'appened by actin' like a dag."
"Spare me." Vegeta snarled.
Freeza didn't answer, he knew perfectly well he wouldn't change Vegeta's mind. He waited while the Saiyajin hogged the contents of every bowl and tray, and took the remains for himself. Then he started to eat silently. I could tell his feelings were hurt by his lack of a witty response.
"Grow up, Vegeta," I began. "What Freeza said is true, you can't change the past. So why dwell on it? It wasn't even Freeza that hurt you all those years ago."
I received an icy glare from Vegeta. He snarled with his mouth still full, "He looks like the source of my past anguish. That's reason enough to want him licking the filth off my boots."
"You're pathetic."
He spat out a mouthful of crumbs. "WHAT?!"
"'luv, don't." Freeza leaned over and touched my arm, "s'okay." His statement was reinforced by a warning growl from Piccolo.
I shook him off and ignored Piccolo's wordless rumble. "No, I'm tired of listening to him insult you." Then I turned back to Vegeta, "You're a sad case, you know. Always putting other people down to make yourself bigger. You're just like all the bullies I had through school! You're nobody's king, you know. You're just one of few survivors of a dead world populated by a cruel race! Void did all those things to you, she just used Freeza to do it. I mean...if you were a real man, you'd look past Freeza's appearance, see who he really is and take your anger out on the real culprit. But nooooo, instead you have to act like a spoiled brat! You suck!"
Vegeta sat there and stared at me when I finished my little speech. At first I thought I'd really hurt his feelings - which was my intention. He stared at the table, put his chopsticks down and closed his eyes. Suddenly he threw his head back, guffawing madly. He was laughing at me.
"AHAHAHAHAHA!!! Oh, that was rich! AHAHAHAHAHA!!!" He clutched his stomach, flecks of rice and meat stuck to his lips, "If you weren't just a lowly female with a weak power, I MIGHT have been truly insulted! Brave words, twig-girl. They fall on deaf ears."
WEAK?!
A hot knot swelled in the pit of my stomach. It made my heart pound and my muscles tighten. My hands balled into fists. The blood roared through my ears. I'll show you weak, you arrogant piece of shit!
My short temper and Saiyajin blood don't mix. Not one bit. Especially since I still throw tantrums!
"Grr....you...RAAAAAUGHHH!!" I smashed my fist into the table. It broke in half, spilling plates, food and silverware onto the floor amidst broken wood. My hair and tail bristled. Power snapped into being around me. Everything on the floor found new residence on the walls, ceiling and anything in between.
Vegeta didn't even move. "You don't scare me, girl. I can break you in half any time I want!"
"WILL YOU GROW THE HELL UP, ASSHOLE!? YOU'RE NOT THE STRONGEST FIGHTER IN THE UNIVERSE!! GOKU WILL ALWAYS SURPASS YOU, SO STOP ACTING LIKE YOU'RE OUR LEADER, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT!!" Then I flew straight into him, screaming the whole way. I felt sick satisfaction when I buried my knee solidly in his crotch.
Vegeta made a gagging noise. For a second I actually thought he'd puke his balls up. He doubled forward against me, his eyes bulging and bloodshot. I smashed my fist into his exposed jaw. His head snapped backwards.
"HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT, PUNK! HUH?! STILL THINK I'M WEAK?!" I just kept pounding him. Over and over. Vegeta covered his face with his arms, he was in too much agony to really defend himself much more than that. A blow to the crotch will disable any man no matter how strong he is.
I enjoyed Vegeta's pain in the same sadistic way I enjoyed watching Piccolo writhe in the Time Chamber. The Saiyajin in me took over. I wanted to see him suffer!
Raising my arm, I called more ki forth. It oozed from my navel, up my arm and congealed into a white-hot sphere above my palm. Vegeta was on the ground below me, holding his crotch with both hands. I smiled cruelly at him, "You look pathetic. Some prince you are...you don't even deserve the title."
Suddenly a huge force grabbed me around the waist. I was yanked off Vegeta and dragged, kicking and screaming, away from his prone form. Poor Freeza didn't know what to do. He just sat there in his chair, covered in food and staring at me like I was a monster about to eat him alive. Then he glanced over at Vegeta, but didn't move.
I struggled in vain against the strong green arms. "NO! I'm going to beat his face in for what he said!"
"STOP IT!" Piccolo shouted angrily in my ear. He whipped me around, grabbing my face between hands capable of effortlessly crushing my skull. That was enough to make me stop squirming. I found myself staring at a snarling emerald face. Liquid black eyes burned into mine, "Stop it this instant! We can't afford to fight amongst ourselves right now!"
"I'm tired of his shitty mouth!"
He shook me. "And I'm tired of yours! You're both out of line. I want you back in bed, you're still not well enough to be running around. Freeza and I will keep Vegeta away from you. What you did wasn't smart, you know. He doesn't like to be caught by surprise and beaten, especially by a female like you."
I sneered, showing my teeth. My tail twitched on its own accord behind me. "Good, someone has to put him in his place! If his stupid ego gets any bigger, the planet is gonna tilt off its axis."
Piccolo gave me another hard shake and bared his teeth right back at me. His were much more menacing, "This is NOT the time, Cyndi!" Ugh, his breath stunk for some reason. Probably because his mouth was dry from water rationing.
I made a face. My breathing gradually calmed down. The energy prickling under my skin disappeared back into my being. I relaxed and sagged a little as the tight anger-knot in my stomach came loose. I always feel tired after a fit of rage. "You're right...I guess I went a little crazy. Sorry I ruined everything." I felt bad, especially for Vegeta and Freeza. I wrecked the dinner table and their food! "I think I'll go to bed now...tell Vegeta I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it. They'll order a pizza or something, I'm sure." Piccolo's hands loosened their grip around my face. He smoothed my wild hair down a bit, his expression unreadable. "All things considered though...that was quite a display back there, and this is while you're sick."
"I know. I can't believe that was me...I just go crazy and lose all sense of reason." I gazed into the kitchen again. Freeza, Mrs. Briefs and a cleaning robot were picking up the mess I made. Vegeta was nowhere to be found. My guess is he's sulking somewhere like he always does when he loses a battle.
A smirk tilted Piccolo's mouth upwards. Him and his sexy little half-smile. "Go on and get some rest. Take a dream catcher into the room with you...just in case. I'll join you in a little while."
"Okay." I stood on my tip-toes
to give him a quick peck on the lips. Piccolo actually lowered his head
and puckered up for me. Like he was expecting...and wanting me to kiss
him. He appeared smugly satisfied with the pink spreading over my face.
I picked up one of the boxes Freeza carried back from the mall and staggered
into the bedroom, lost in a happy daze.
Tired as I was, you'd think I would fall immediately to sleep, right?
WRONG!
I couldn't get comfortable. My mind kept spinning in circles. I spent more time squirming into cooler parts of the sheets than I did resting. Don't you just hate it when that happens?
Finally, I sat up and looked around the dim room. Freeza and Piccolo were both sound asleep on mattresses set up on the floor. Piccolo managed to sleep in his cape and turban...just how comfortable is that get-up anyway?
Freeza had a slight snoring problem. Thank goodness he only did it when his mouth was open. At least his snoring wasn't very loud - it sounded like kittens purring.
I crawled off the bed, picked my way over the sleeping bodies and wandered into the hall. Emptying my bladder sounded good. I tip-toed towards the bathroom situated around the bend.
Two minutes later found me sitting on the kitchen floor in front of an open fridge, eating some cold pizza I discovered on the bottom shelf. Definitely leftovers from the meal everybody ate after the ruined dinner was cleaned up. Cold pizza rules, it makes the perfect breakfast and midnight snack!
Movement behind me. I should've paid attention to it, but didn't. I shoved the pizza box back where I found it, closed the fridge and turned around.
Vegeta stood right there, inches from me. He still had some bruises from earlier. Mostly around his mouth and left eye. He was staring at me with undisguised anger burning in his eyes. Such a man of pride, he was, and he didn't take kindly to having his ego bruised by someone like me.
Before I could scoot aside, Vegeta locked a hand around my throat. His fingers encircled more than half of my neck. He squeezed so tightly his nails dug in and the blood vessels in my eyes throbbed. I stared at two cold, dark irises that boiled with inner rage. Any smugness I felt earlier made itself scarce behind the swelling fear pumping through my stomach.
Vegeta pinned me hard against the chilly refrigerator door and leaned close. So close his lips were by my ear. "If you EVER humiliate me like that again...." He forced me to look into his narrowed eyes, letting me know the reality of his threat. Every word he spoke dripped like acid into my soul, "...I will kill you where you stand. Understood, female?"
"Y-yes." I croaked, unable to speak properly with my breath cut off. What else could I say? I just wanted him to go away!
The hand clamped on my windpipe let go. I sank to my knees on the freezing tile floor, clutching my throat and gasping for air. Vegeta pulled a drumstick from a drawer in the fridge and disappeared down the hall. Leaving me alone again to re-think my own strength, and how stupid I was to attack him like that. I'd forgotten - Vegeta is an expert fighter...knowledgable in endless ways to torture and kill people. He'd destroy me with a flick of his eyelids if he wanted to. What the hell possessed me to believe I had a chance against him?
Ouch, my pride felt that one.
I staggered back into the room where Freeza and Piccolo slept. Piccolo was on his back with his hands draped off the mattress. Freeza lay sprawled out on his stomach with the tangled sheets falling off his small body. I chuckled to myself - he'd stripped to his birthday suit, saying he liked to sleep naked("In the nuddy," as he put it). If there was more light in the room, I would've lifted the sheet off his legs and peeked at him.
Geez. I'm such a perv, huh?
I padded to Piccolo's mattress and sat down. Gently lifted his right hand and stroked it like a kitten. Like his face, his hand felt like leather stretched tightly across bone and tendon. My fingertips followed a thick vein from his knuckles to the fleshy rings around his wrist. I brought the hand to my lips and kissed it softly, then rested my cheek against the warm palm. Piccolo murmured softly under his breath, but didn't wake up. I wish could've seen his peaceful face. In the darkness I only made out his outline and the white of his cape.
Ten ton weights fell across my eyelids. The sleepiness hit me like a megaton of bricks. I smiled at myself and let my head rest on Piccolo's broad chest. His slow heartbeat greeted me, a gentle cadence between quiet breaths. So warm and alive.
Oh Piccolo...your heart is so wonderful. I'm glad you're letting me see the treasures hidden inside, even though it's just a little glimpse at a time. I feel complete when I'm with you. We must be soulmates...why else would I be so drawn to you all the time? I see so much of myself in you, it's scary. You're the only person that understands how I think and experience things. I'm strong when you're near me. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you...
I was still thinking out
loud when I fell asleep.
Void appeared in the shadows behind me. Her metallic, cigarette-smoke scent bombarded my nose. We stood back to back, surrounded by a thin, ever-shifting silver mist. Bright light came from an unseen source above like spotlights shrouded in steam. Everything looked distorted - especially shadows. I cringed inwardly. The air brewed with energy, a thunderstorm of heated tension that threatened explosive breakage at the slightest provocation.
Very eerie indeed.
"I know your secret, Void." I said boldly, trying to sound braver than I felt. "It won't be long before you get your ass handed to you."
She laughed, a sound so harsh it could scrape the pavement off a sidewalk. "You're a fool if you think you can beat me. I'm stronger every time you meet me."
One of many things Piccolo taught me was an awareness of my environment and the people in it. To feel subtle changes in the air currents for clues to my opponent's movements. Quite useful if I can't actually see my foe. And Void isn't hard to feel - she's huge. I knew exactly where her tail, arms and legs were positioned.
Movement from above! Tail!
I dove to the left and did a shoulder-roll. No thinking involved. I came up in a battle stance, eyes on the living shadow. "Damn you! What game are you playing with me?"
"I don't think it has a name yet. Maybe I should call it...Dueling with Oblivion." Void fixed her silver eyes squarely on my face. Her piercing gaze twisted something inside me. I wanted to look away and avoid the searing coldness in her stare, but I didn't. To do so would let her know she's intimidating me.
"Booooooooring."
Void's lips...if you can call them lips...twisted into a smirk that made one eye squint. She placed a long-fingered hand on her hip and shifted her weight to one leg. Dark patterns danced over her ever-changing armored flesh like reflected sunlight on moving water. Her metallic stinger twinkled dangerously. "You're so funny I forgot to laugh."
My muscles tensed when her tail moved again. Dammit...where are Piccolo and Freeza?! I know they were both asleep when I last saw them!
"Oh I haven't paid those two a visit yet," she answered as if I'd actually spoken. "I find you more fun to pick on, since you always have something hilarious to say when I annoy you." The black creature started to walk aimlessly to the right, three-toed feet making slapping sounds on the ground. Almost a strut. I watched her every move. She was up to something.
And I was right.
Void blurred from view, but she wasn't after me. I heard shouts in the shadows. Skin hitting skin. The thud of a body falling. Void reappeared, still wearing that smug smile.
"Someone has been spying on us..." She held Freeza up by the horns, her eyes cruel. The Icejin wore an expression of wide-eyed horror. This was the creature that murdered him so gruesomely a few years back. And they say your nightmares can't hurt you...
Freeza grimaced. He still had enough wits about him to speak. "Get outta 'ere while you still can! Save yourself!"
I snapped reflexively into my fighting stance. "No, I'm not leaving you!"
"You think you can save him?" Void cackled madly, frigid eyes flashing with glee while Freeza struggled helplessly. I watched her tail arch over her shoulder. She flicked the stinger against the side of Freeza's frail neck. Freeza twisted in pain. Scarlet blood exploded from the wound like a geyser. He twitched and fought, trying to break free. One jerk of his arm saved him from having acid injected into his body...but he was bleeding to death!
"Freeza! NOOOO!!!!"
I jackknifed into a sitting position. Piccolo wasn't in bed anymore - I sensed him out in the living room. At least I knew Void didn't get to him without my knowledge.
Thick liquid squirted onto my face. I licked my cheek and discovered a metallic taste like...blood! Turning on a light only made the horror more real.
Crimson fluid gushed from Freeza's neck like water from a Super Soaker nozzle. It sprayed across the room in torrents each time his heart beat. I could actually hear it spurting out, such was the force he bled. He still struggled against his invisible foe. Everything around him was splattered with patches of red. My hair and clothes were sticky with it.
"Freeza! WAKE UP!!" Racing to his side, I pressed my hand hard against the gushing wound and screamed for Piccolo. "PICCOLO!!"
Piccolo raced into the room, gasped in horror and skidded down to my side. Freeza continued his squirming, his eyes tightly closed and his face growing more pale than normal. The blood kept pumping out against my hand and squirting between my fingers, exiting his body with the force of a firehose.
"Shit!" Piccolo cursed. He yanked my hand away and examined the small wound. I heard him swear again when red fluid splashed his face and stained his white cape. "Okay, I found the artery. It isn't severed completely like I feared. But I can't reach it. Your fingers are smaller than mine. Reach in and clamp it between your fingers. Hold it tight. I'll get a medical aid in here."
I peeked over Piccolo's shoulder. He was holding the wound open for me. Ewwww, it looked like a little purple mouth! "Uhhh.."
Freeza's eyes fluttered. He was awake. "D-do it..."
I had to clam up. Freeza's life was in my hands! "Okay!" I thrust my fingers into the tiny opening, found the slimy bleeder and trapped it between thumb and forefinger. It felt like a live worm! I squeezed with all my might. The pressure seemed intent on forcing my fingers apart. Some still leaked out, but at least it wasn't squirting. "Hang on, Freeza. Stay awake! You have to stay alive for your wife and little girl!"
"No worries, 'luv," he smiled wryly, his lips and half his face painted a brilliant scarlet-red, "I'm not gonna - " his eyes started to roll back.
I pinched his arm with my free hand. "Stay awake, Freeza!"
Freeza blinked and came back around. "Ungh..."
This wasn't good. He lost so much blood already. Shock was setting in. I snatched the pillow Freeza flung aside in his sleep and used it to elevate his legs and tail. Then I pulled the blood-soaked sheets more fully over his prone form. His skin blanched more as the seconds ticked by. Even with the bleeding controlled, he was still weakening. Less blood meant less red cells. Less red cells meant less oxygen. His brain was suffocating.
"Don't you go to sleep!" I pinched the side of his face with my nails. "Are you still with me?"
Freeza's voice came out weak, "I'm still 'ere, 'luv. Just restin'."
"Well, stop resting or you won't wake up again." New anger formed inside me. Void was going to pay for this! I growled in the back of my throat and made a silent promise to rip her throat out at the next opportunity. Nobody hurts my friends and gets away with it!
Stop it! You can't be thinking about revenge at a time like this!
Pallor continued its sweep over Freeza's effeminate features. He kept breathing in quick, shallow breaths. His skin was cold. Shock had set in despite my efforts to stop it.
But I got an idea. Probably stupid, but worth trying. It might buy time!
"Freeza, I want you to take deep breaths. Get a lot of oxygen into your blood."
He did what I said. His chest rose and fell more effectively. Some of his color returned, but not enough. This method wouldn't help for long. Freeza's blood pressure was dropping - I knew this because the artery clamped between my fingers throbbed with less force than earlier. I felt so helpless!
Piccolo...I'm losing him. Please hurry!