Chapter twenty-two - Final Hope
/No! This isn't good! His attack's stronger than mine! I have... I have to stop him! I can't let him destroy the planet!/ He watched in horror as Zarbon's attack came within only fifty yards of him. /There's no other choice!/ his mind screamed. "I... Can't...."
"Your right! You can't win!" Zarbon called down laughing.
"Noooooo! I wont let you win! Kaaaaioooooooo Keeeeennn! Times Sevennnnnnn!" His red aura exploded large bright ripping up the dirt beneath his feet and sending shockwaves in all directions. His muscles bulged and pain tore through his body. A massive bulge of energy swelled in the Kamehameha wave and pushed up slamming into Zarbon's attack.
"What! No! That's impossible!"
Goku's beam pushed Zarbon's back faster than Zarbon's had pushed his. A second before it hit Zarbon pulled back and slid away ending his attack. The Kamehameha slammed into Zarbon's left side as he tried to move and sent him spinning into the air and off into the distance. The Kamehameha died away and Goku lowered his arms, his muscles shrinking back to normal.
"Man... I'm spent." he gasped trying to get his breath back. "That... that probably wasn't a... very good idea. My body's thrashed... and Zarbon's power is... still high." He stood up as best he could and felt for what Zarbon was doing. He was still going away, that was good. Slowly he spread his legs and raised his arms. "My last chance... the Spirit Bomb. Animals and plants, Mountains, Rivers, and Sun! Please... lend me your strength!"
******
Bardock coughed as he watched the lights fade. He felt Zarbon's power instantly but it took a moment for Goku's severely decreased level to register. "This isn't good." he managed. "Goku's power... is..." He stopped as he heard, just barely, Goku's voice. A painful smile formed on his face.
"What is it Bardock?" Krillin asked.
"That's... that's the Spirit Bomb." he choked. "It draws on the energy of... other beings. King Kai said... it... has unlimited potential for power... no matter... the user. Goku's the only... one to... ever... master it." He swallowed painfully, then turned to the others. As he did he saw something on the ground for a moment. After it fully register he looked back at Vadora and Hotaru. "Raise... raise your arms. Let your energy flow out, as much... as much as you can spare. Give it to Goku."
"What about us?" Krillin asked.
Bardock shook his head. "If this dosen't work... you'll need all of you're power to... finish him off."
"Us!" Gohan exclaimed.
Bardock laughed lightly causing more pain. "Don't worry... this is really going... to hurt him."
Vadora and Hotaru nodded and raised their hands. Rivulets of energy began to lift into the air. They watched in awe as the energy flowed away from them and toward Goku. And then as more lifted off the trees and plants, the animals and the sky, and flowed toward Goku as well.
"Come on." Bardock said as he managed to stand. Vadora and Hotaru helped hold him up. "If this doesn't work..."
******
Zarbon finally managed to pull himself to stop and glared off into the distance. "That wretched Sai-jin! How! How could he possibly stop me!" he shouted in rage. "He has to be weakened now, even more than me. This time, I'll destroy him!" He was just about to start back when he saw a glow in the distance, coming from the ground. "What is this?" he smirked. "Must be charging a new attack. No matter, he's still mine!" with a flash of energy he charged back toward Goku.
"Do you hear me Sai-jin! Now you DIE!!"
******
Goku cringed as Zarbon's voice rang out over the area. /No, just another minute, then it'll be ready. Just a little longer!/ He looked up at the basketball sized sphere of energy over his head and the still flowing streams joining up with it. Suddenly it pulsed and nearly doubled in size. /Hotaru, Vadora! That's it! Just a bit more now.../ He froze as Zarbon landed not more than twenty yards away.
"Nice try Sai-jin, that's a nice looking attack. But I'm afraid you're out of time!" Zarbon pulled back his fist and charged it with energy.
Goku quit charging the attack. /I'm out of time! It's now or never./ He brought his arms down and the Spirit Bomb began to move. It took only a second and it was charging toward Zarbon. The alien pitched his attack but it was absorbed by the Spirit Bomb.
"What! No!" He brought his arms up quickly to block. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" His screams rang out as the Spirit Bomb engulfed him, ripped and tore at his body, before flinging him skyward in a stream of energy.
Goku watched as he went up and felt the energy shield go up around Zarbon to help protect him. "No... he's still to... strong..."
"Daddy!" Gohan cried running out.
Goku looked down at him and the others. "It wasn't enough..." he panted. "He's still alive."
Bardock nodded and held his arm out, palm open, and began to charge a ball of KI. They all watched him in wonder, no one there had seen him do this before. "This will take a moment, I'm kind of weak. But this is our... final hope." he gasped.
"What are you doing?" Hotaru asked.
Bardock didn't have time to answer as Zarbon crashed into the ground a few yards away. Slowly he stood up, holding his side and panting. "Rotten Sai-jin! What's this? Everyone together? How nice, I can kill you all at once this way."
Bardock tried to grin but it came out a grimace. "Sorry... not today." He pitched the now fully charged ball of energy into the air. Everyone watched as it shot upward. Then Bardock clenched his fist. "Moon Ball explode!" As the Moon Ball lit up the sky Bardock looked over to Gohan. "Look at Gohan!"
"Huh? Wh...." the young Sai-jin stopped as the light filled his eyes. His muscles bulged as a snout began to grow out on his face. His clothes slowly began to rip.
"What! How!" Zarbon cried as Gohan grew taller. "There's no moon!" He turned and looked up at the Moon Ball in the sky. "Damn Sai-jin!" He pitched a sudden energy blast at the Moon Ball destroying it. "Ha! That stops tha..." He froze as he saw the now ten foot tall, partially transformed, Gohan glaring down at him. "What!"
Bardock laughed. "Sorry, but... the transformation is self... self-sustained this way."
"No matter, he's not fully transformed so this wont be to hard!" Zarbon charged in at Gohan and slammed a fist into Gohan's chest. Gohan stumbled backward fell on to his butt with a roar. Everyone felt the sudden power spike from the increasingly pissed Gohan as Zarbon continued to pound on him. Suddenly a massive fist backhand Zarbon away a few hundred yards.
"His... power!" Krillin cried in shock. "It's huge!"
Bardock smirked. "Expected as... much."
Gohan opened his massive mouth as Zarbon charged down from the sky at him. The alien's eyes went wide as a glow exploded inside his mouth and surged upward slamming into him and tearing through his body. As soon as Bardock felt Zarbon's power fade out he nodded at Krillin who launched a Destructo Disk at Gohan's tail severing it and reverting him back to normal. Then he collapsed beside Gohan and Goku. The three battered Sai-jins drifted into unconsciousness as all sensation ebbed away.
******
"Oh, Gohan! You're okay!" Chi-Chi cried running into the room. She bent over the bed and grabbed Gohan up into her arms. "Oh Gohan! I was so worried about you! Alone all year with strange people!"
"Mom! I'm okay! Really!" he managed prying himself free of her arms. "But the others..." he said sadly. Then he looked up at her with tears in his eyes. "And Mr. Piccolo's gone too! That means...." he sniffled. "No Dragonballs!"
Bulma looked up with a quick jerk from where she sat against one wall. She'd not heard about that yet. /Yamcha... I didn't even find out... who you.../
"I can't believe it either." Goku said from inside a large metal machine. Bardock lay inside an identical machine to his right. "Without the Dragonballs we can't revive anyone."
Vadora moved from where she leaned against the wall. Her and Hotaru were the only ones who'd not needed medical attention. "Maybe not." she said thoughtfully. "You've said before that Kami created the Dragonballs, correct?"
Goku nodded as best he could. "Yeah, that's right. When he dies the Dragonballs lose their power. And he and Piccolo were linked so when one dies, the does too."
Vadora nodded. "Then it could be possible..."
"What could?" Asked Krillin sitting up quickly in his bed.
"I've heard stories, most of the galaxy has. Many planets and peoples have legends, such as our legend of the Super Sai-jin. Planet Namek has one such legend, about powerful artifacts that can make anything you desire come true. It's logical, since Kami was a Namekian, that planet Namek could have it's own set of Dragonballs."
Everyone's faces lit up. "That's great!" Krillin cheered.
"But where is this Namek?" Bulma asked.
"Don't know for certain. The location should be in our computers, if not then it'd be stored on Planet Vegeta somewhere." Vadora said. "We may even be able to get some more allies from the Sai-jin army."
"You'll have to go without us." Bardock spoke up. "Goku and I will be in these antiques for a few more months. Our injuries are to great for the pods to mend, if we tried to get to a rejuvenation tank..."
Vadora nodded. "I'll handle it."
"Not alone you wont." Hotaru said walking into the room at last. "I'll come as well." Bulma watched the girl's orange eyes as she spoke and at first felt jealous. But it faded and was replaced with sadness. She knew, without a shadow of a doubt now, that she'd lost Yamcha. Even if they found the Dragonballs and revived him.
"Bulma." Goku's voice cut into thoughts at last.
"What?" she asked startled.
"I was asking if you could go along with them. They'll need the Dragon Radar but if anything happens to it you're the only one who can fix it."
Bulma sighed. "I guess you're right. I'll go."
"I'll go to, I owe it to them." Krillin said.
"Me too!" Gohan cried getting out of bed. "I'm going too."
"Oh no you're not!" Chi-Chi cried. "You're already a year behind on your studies as it is mister!"
"But MOM!"
"Don't you but mom me!"
"Oh, come on Chi-Chi." Goku pleaded. "Let him go, it's not natural to be reading books all day."
Chi-Chi glared across at Goku but couldn't keep it up for long. He had his puppy dog face on, the one Gohan had inherited. "Alright, he can go, but only if he studies on the trip."
Vadora laughed. "There won't be a chance of that. Bardock had me destroy Zarbon's ship in orbit. Unless Hotaru brought and actual ship we'll be traveling in our space pods."
"I've got a ship. It's not the biggest but I'll fit us all and we'll have a little room to spar."
"Good." Vadora said turning around. "Then it's settled. Hotaru and I will get ready for launch. Gohan, Krillin, Bulma. We'll meet you at Roshi's island and leave from there tomorrow at noon for Planet Vegeta. Then we'll head for Namek."
***********************************
A/N: Well now, the fight is finally over. *Sighs* That was the longest one I've ever done. Anyway, if you've read War for the Universe (if you haven't, then go read it!) you'll have noticed the website I listed and the fact it's not been updated in ages. I lost my password, and don't have the e-mail to recovery it. (Yes, I know, I'm an idiot.) But I've got a new site now: geocities.com/dbddatabase It's still in the works but yeah, it's up and I'll update when I have time. I've not gotten to this story's power levels or details yet but I will, don't worry.
/No! This isn't good! His attack's stronger than mine! I have... I have to stop him! I can't let him destroy the planet!/ He watched in horror as Zarbon's attack came within only fifty yards of him. /There's no other choice!/ his mind screamed. "I... Can't...."
"Your right! You can't win!" Zarbon called down laughing.
"Noooooo! I wont let you win! Kaaaaioooooooo Keeeeennn! Times Sevennnnnnn!" His red aura exploded large bright ripping up the dirt beneath his feet and sending shockwaves in all directions. His muscles bulged and pain tore through his body. A massive bulge of energy swelled in the Kamehameha wave and pushed up slamming into Zarbon's attack.
"What! No! That's impossible!"
Goku's beam pushed Zarbon's back faster than Zarbon's had pushed his. A second before it hit Zarbon pulled back and slid away ending his attack. The Kamehameha slammed into Zarbon's left side as he tried to move and sent him spinning into the air and off into the distance. The Kamehameha died away and Goku lowered his arms, his muscles shrinking back to normal.
"Man... I'm spent." he gasped trying to get his breath back. "That... that probably wasn't a... very good idea. My body's thrashed... and Zarbon's power is... still high." He stood up as best he could and felt for what Zarbon was doing. He was still going away, that was good. Slowly he spread his legs and raised his arms. "My last chance... the Spirit Bomb. Animals and plants, Mountains, Rivers, and Sun! Please... lend me your strength!"
******
Bardock coughed as he watched the lights fade. He felt Zarbon's power instantly but it took a moment for Goku's severely decreased level to register. "This isn't good." he managed. "Goku's power... is..." He stopped as he heard, just barely, Goku's voice. A painful smile formed on his face.
"What is it Bardock?" Krillin asked.
"That's... that's the Spirit Bomb." he choked. "It draws on the energy of... other beings. King Kai said... it... has unlimited potential for power... no matter... the user. Goku's the only... one to... ever... master it." He swallowed painfully, then turned to the others. As he did he saw something on the ground for a moment. After it fully register he looked back at Vadora and Hotaru. "Raise... raise your arms. Let your energy flow out, as much... as much as you can spare. Give it to Goku."
"What about us?" Krillin asked.
Bardock shook his head. "If this dosen't work... you'll need all of you're power to... finish him off."
"Us!" Gohan exclaimed.
Bardock laughed lightly causing more pain. "Don't worry... this is really going... to hurt him."
Vadora and Hotaru nodded and raised their hands. Rivulets of energy began to lift into the air. They watched in awe as the energy flowed away from them and toward Goku. And then as more lifted off the trees and plants, the animals and the sky, and flowed toward Goku as well.
"Come on." Bardock said as he managed to stand. Vadora and Hotaru helped hold him up. "If this doesn't work..."
******
Zarbon finally managed to pull himself to stop and glared off into the distance. "That wretched Sai-jin! How! How could he possibly stop me!" he shouted in rage. "He has to be weakened now, even more than me. This time, I'll destroy him!" He was just about to start back when he saw a glow in the distance, coming from the ground. "What is this?" he smirked. "Must be charging a new attack. No matter, he's still mine!" with a flash of energy he charged back toward Goku.
"Do you hear me Sai-jin! Now you DIE!!"
******
Goku cringed as Zarbon's voice rang out over the area. /No, just another minute, then it'll be ready. Just a little longer!/ He looked up at the basketball sized sphere of energy over his head and the still flowing streams joining up with it. Suddenly it pulsed and nearly doubled in size. /Hotaru, Vadora! That's it! Just a bit more now.../ He froze as Zarbon landed not more than twenty yards away.
"Nice try Sai-jin, that's a nice looking attack. But I'm afraid you're out of time!" Zarbon pulled back his fist and charged it with energy.
Goku quit charging the attack. /I'm out of time! It's now or never./ He brought his arms down and the Spirit Bomb began to move. It took only a second and it was charging toward Zarbon. The alien pitched his attack but it was absorbed by the Spirit Bomb.
"What! No!" He brought his arms up quickly to block. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" His screams rang out as the Spirit Bomb engulfed him, ripped and tore at his body, before flinging him skyward in a stream of energy.
Goku watched as he went up and felt the energy shield go up around Zarbon to help protect him. "No... he's still to... strong..."
"Daddy!" Gohan cried running out.
Goku looked down at him and the others. "It wasn't enough..." he panted. "He's still alive."
Bardock nodded and held his arm out, palm open, and began to charge a ball of KI. They all watched him in wonder, no one there had seen him do this before. "This will take a moment, I'm kind of weak. But this is our... final hope." he gasped.
"What are you doing?" Hotaru asked.
Bardock didn't have time to answer as Zarbon crashed into the ground a few yards away. Slowly he stood up, holding his side and panting. "Rotten Sai-jin! What's this? Everyone together? How nice, I can kill you all at once this way."
Bardock tried to grin but it came out a grimace. "Sorry... not today." He pitched the now fully charged ball of energy into the air. Everyone watched as it shot upward. Then Bardock clenched his fist. "Moon Ball explode!" As the Moon Ball lit up the sky Bardock looked over to Gohan. "Look at Gohan!"
"Huh? Wh...." the young Sai-jin stopped as the light filled his eyes. His muscles bulged as a snout began to grow out on his face. His clothes slowly began to rip.
"What! How!" Zarbon cried as Gohan grew taller. "There's no moon!" He turned and looked up at the Moon Ball in the sky. "Damn Sai-jin!" He pitched a sudden energy blast at the Moon Ball destroying it. "Ha! That stops tha..." He froze as he saw the now ten foot tall, partially transformed, Gohan glaring down at him. "What!"
Bardock laughed. "Sorry, but... the transformation is self... self-sustained this way."
"No matter, he's not fully transformed so this wont be to hard!" Zarbon charged in at Gohan and slammed a fist into Gohan's chest. Gohan stumbled backward fell on to his butt with a roar. Everyone felt the sudden power spike from the increasingly pissed Gohan as Zarbon continued to pound on him. Suddenly a massive fist backhand Zarbon away a few hundred yards.
"His... power!" Krillin cried in shock. "It's huge!"
Bardock smirked. "Expected as... much."
Gohan opened his massive mouth as Zarbon charged down from the sky at him. The alien's eyes went wide as a glow exploded inside his mouth and surged upward slamming into him and tearing through his body. As soon as Bardock felt Zarbon's power fade out he nodded at Krillin who launched a Destructo Disk at Gohan's tail severing it and reverting him back to normal. Then he collapsed beside Gohan and Goku. The three battered Sai-jins drifted into unconsciousness as all sensation ebbed away.
******
"Oh, Gohan! You're okay!" Chi-Chi cried running into the room. She bent over the bed and grabbed Gohan up into her arms. "Oh Gohan! I was so worried about you! Alone all year with strange people!"
"Mom! I'm okay! Really!" he managed prying himself free of her arms. "But the others..." he said sadly. Then he looked up at her with tears in his eyes. "And Mr. Piccolo's gone too! That means...." he sniffled. "No Dragonballs!"
Bulma looked up with a quick jerk from where she sat against one wall. She'd not heard about that yet. /Yamcha... I didn't even find out... who you.../
"I can't believe it either." Goku said from inside a large metal machine. Bardock lay inside an identical machine to his right. "Without the Dragonballs we can't revive anyone."
Vadora moved from where she leaned against the wall. Her and Hotaru were the only ones who'd not needed medical attention. "Maybe not." she said thoughtfully. "You've said before that Kami created the Dragonballs, correct?"
Goku nodded as best he could. "Yeah, that's right. When he dies the Dragonballs lose their power. And he and Piccolo were linked so when one dies, the does too."
Vadora nodded. "Then it could be possible..."
"What could?" Asked Krillin sitting up quickly in his bed.
"I've heard stories, most of the galaxy has. Many planets and peoples have legends, such as our legend of the Super Sai-jin. Planet Namek has one such legend, about powerful artifacts that can make anything you desire come true. It's logical, since Kami was a Namekian, that planet Namek could have it's own set of Dragonballs."
Everyone's faces lit up. "That's great!" Krillin cheered.
"But where is this Namek?" Bulma asked.
"Don't know for certain. The location should be in our computers, if not then it'd be stored on Planet Vegeta somewhere." Vadora said. "We may even be able to get some more allies from the Sai-jin army."
"You'll have to go without us." Bardock spoke up. "Goku and I will be in these antiques for a few more months. Our injuries are to great for the pods to mend, if we tried to get to a rejuvenation tank..."
Vadora nodded. "I'll handle it."
"Not alone you wont." Hotaru said walking into the room at last. "I'll come as well." Bulma watched the girl's orange eyes as she spoke and at first felt jealous. But it faded and was replaced with sadness. She knew, without a shadow of a doubt now, that she'd lost Yamcha. Even if they found the Dragonballs and revived him.
"Bulma." Goku's voice cut into thoughts at last.
"What?" she asked startled.
"I was asking if you could go along with them. They'll need the Dragon Radar but if anything happens to it you're the only one who can fix it."
Bulma sighed. "I guess you're right. I'll go."
"I'll go to, I owe it to them." Krillin said.
"Me too!" Gohan cried getting out of bed. "I'm going too."
"Oh no you're not!" Chi-Chi cried. "You're already a year behind on your studies as it is mister!"
"But MOM!"
"Don't you but mom me!"
"Oh, come on Chi-Chi." Goku pleaded. "Let him go, it's not natural to be reading books all day."
Chi-Chi glared across at Goku but couldn't keep it up for long. He had his puppy dog face on, the one Gohan had inherited. "Alright, he can go, but only if he studies on the trip."
Vadora laughed. "There won't be a chance of that. Bardock had me destroy Zarbon's ship in orbit. Unless Hotaru brought and actual ship we'll be traveling in our space pods."
"I've got a ship. It's not the biggest but I'll fit us all and we'll have a little room to spar."
"Good." Vadora said turning around. "Then it's settled. Hotaru and I will get ready for launch. Gohan, Krillin, Bulma. We'll meet you at Roshi's island and leave from there tomorrow at noon for Planet Vegeta. Then we'll head for Namek."
***********************************
A/N: Well now, the fight is finally over. *Sighs* That was the longest one I've ever done. Anyway, if you've read War for the Universe (if you haven't, then go read it!) you'll have noticed the website I listed and the fact it's not been updated in ages. I lost my password, and don't have the e-mail to recovery it. (Yes, I know, I'm an idiot.) But I've got a new site now: geocities.com/dbddatabase It's still in the works but yeah, it's up and I'll update when I have time. I've not gotten to this story's power levels or details yet but I will, don't worry.
