CHAPTER 21 – There is Always Hope
There was no need to try to sense the pathetic creature. Mez left a dust trail meters long, and Vegeta had caught up. With his arms crossed and a smirk on his face, the Prince lowered himself in front while keeping pace, facing the running ogre. Startled, Mez jerked to a stop and bent over, finding support by holding his knees. He took in large amounts of air as he struggled to speak. "Hey...not fair."
Vegeta set down and took a step closer to Mez. "Nothing is fair in this place, is it?"
Mez ventured to look-up, smiled and nodded knowingly at the Prince. "You learn fast." Finally, the ogre stood up, putting his hands on his hips. "Still want to look into the great globe? You won't like what you see."
"How would you know?"
"Because that's the way the thing works for our guests."
"I'm not one of your pitiful losers, Ogre. I am not supposed to be here."
"Vegeta, is it? Well, I believe you. You're not like the others and I'm sure you weren't sentenced by King Yama. Fell off Snake Way did ya?"
"Something like that."
"Poor soul."
"Save your sympathies, I do not plan on staying. Now, show me this globe."
Mez walked past Vegeta. "Ok, but don't say I didn't warn you."
Vegeta glanced over his shoulder and spoke through gritted teeth. "You are walking?!"
"No point in running, you'll just cheat." Vegeta was ready to apply force but Mez heard the Prince growl and hastily added. "It's right over the next bend. You can't miss it."
Taking to the air, Vegeta was able to spot the great globe. It was as big as a house, nesting on spiked rocks in the middle of a blood red pool. As he landed on the shore nearest to the globe, he noticed its reflecting qualities which made it somewhat camouflaged. The Prince spied his own reflection and he grunted. Reminded of the halo over his head and the setting around him did little to improve his mood.
Not sure how to start the thing, Vegeta walked to the edge of the pool, and voiced his desire. "I want to see Earth." He focused on his image, raising an eyebrow as it began to distort and twist. It looked as though everything was being pulled to the center and engulfed by blackness...no it was the Universe. The globe raced him through the north galaxy. Stars and planets sped by; some so close they filled his vision. Then he recognized the blue planet coming up fast. He took a deep breath and murmured, "Home." But the sight was too quickly lost as the globe plunged through Earth's atmosphere.
Breaking out of the clouds, he saw were he had lived for the last decade; West City then onto Capsule Corporation. He grunted and smiled. The place was still intact. Obviously, despite what Mez had warned, he saw what he wanted to see. But then he noticed something was not right. There was no movement...no life. As the vision closed in, there was no one to be found. The place was deserted. A breeze traveled through the dwellings, causing flags and signs to flap and doors to swing on their hinges. No birds, no animals and no people...only the sound of the wind rustling papers along the street. Closing his eyes, he whispered. "Bulma."
Startled, Vegeta opened his eyes again when he heard Bulma's voice. There she was at the Guardian's Lookout with her friends. She was yelling at what he knew was the transformed Majin Buu. "You big bully! What have you done with Goten and Trunks?!"
Buu was standing in the middle of the Lookout. "Hahaha. No more talk. I've had too much of that. No! Let's just eat. How about chocolate?" Terrified, Bulma jumped back, cringing. "What kind should it be this time? Milk chocolate...filled with cherries? No, how about dark--very dark."
Vegeta, watched unblinking. He eyes narrowed, he gritted his teeth and hissed, "Run you fools."
"Hahaha. What person should I eat first?"
All of Bulma's friends gasped and took a step backwards. Vegeta could hear Krillin's brat, crying to her parents, asking them to make him go away. He saw Krillin ready himself to fight and the Prince breathed, "Don't." The Earthling charged at the monster as his wife, Eighteen, led the others inside. He went behind Buu, turned, and sprang to punch his target. The creature seemed to liquidfy, avoiding Krillin's attack. As Krillin flew past, Buu shot him with a beam. Instantly, Krillin became a chocolate bar and dropped to the ground. The monster picked it up with the same appendage that shot the beam, extending from the top of his head. Buu popped the bar into his mouth and chewed up Krillin with much satisfaction.
The globe followed the others inside, keeping Bulma within its scope. A blast came through the wall and hit Eighteen and her little girl, turning them into chocolate. Vegeta could hear Buu yelling, "Yes, everyone feed me now!" Beams from the creature went everywhere. Screams came but he only registered one...that of his onna. Bulma disappeared before his eyes with only a bar of chocolate left where she had stood.
Vegeta's head dropped and his body shook with rage; his nails digging into his palms of his hands. He couldn't bear to watch the freak devour his mate. Then he thought of his son and asked. "What of my son, Trunks?" Hearing different screaming, he locked his jaw and looked up. It was the Time Chamber. The place was in shambles. The entrance to the chamber was now rubble. Piccolo and another were crouching, screaming at the top of their lungs. "What about Trunks?!" he demanded again. The globe focused in on the ki flaring Super Saiyan child. Then the two stopped screaming and Vegeta was able to get a better look at the child's face.
Both were exhausted, sweating and heaving for air. Piccolo finally caught his breath. "Nothing, and we been at this for hours. You've had time to separate and fuse again and still we have nothing. I'm afraid, Gotenks, this might be one fight we can't win."
Suddenly, Vegeta was staring at himself as the globe returned to reflecting its surroundings. "Gotenks? Trunks and Goten had mastered fusion? Are they trapped in the Time Chamber? I want to see more!" The globe did not respond. "I'm not finished, Damn it!" Angry and frustrated, he willed a nearby rock into his hand and threw it at the globe. The projectile's course was altered by some unforeseen force, flying over it and burrowing into the cliff behind it.
A feeling of helplessness came over Vegeta. He staggered back until he bumped into a large rock and sat down on it. His head dropped into his hands, as the horrifying images played over in his mind. The pain in his chest had returned accompanied with an ache in the pit of his stomach. He will never forget the look on his onna's face and how powerless he was to prevent her death. His initial feeling of pride for his son's accomplishment was dimmed, knowing that the boy's life will be wasted in the void of time. Now, with no one to stop the evil Majin Buu there was no hope for his surrogate home, Earth. The silence around him became suffocating. He rubbed his face and growled. "Grrrr...Useless emotions." The choice was now upon him...what will he do? Suddenly, his fate became clear.
The Prince with clenched fists at his side, stood tall, and spat on the ground. "Feh! I am the Prince of the strongest race to ever grace the Universe. I refuse to believe that my destiny ends here!" Looking up to the heavens, he raised one of his fists and soared upwards. "Gods, hear me, and mark my words! Majin Buu will die by the hand of a Saiyan and no other!" His words echoed off the cliffs, accompanied by another sound.
Clap, clap, clap. "Most inspiring!"
Vegeta glared down at the android Cell who was below him floating on the other side of the globe. Descending, the Prince stopped when he was eye level with Cell and hovered a few meters away. "However, I must once again, question your intentions, Prince Vegeta. If Buu's death were to be by your hand which I must admit I believe to be an unlikely scenario...then that would mean another Saiyan is to remain; a Saiyan un-doubtfully stronger than you. Do you see where I'm going with this?"
"Ha! I will kill Majin Buu, no matter what it takes."
"I was afraid that you would say that. You see, I can't let you jeopardize our plan. The strategy is for the creature to destroy all those that stand in our way. You my fine Prince are our insurance policy against what is left. Defeat our remaining enemies and all of the Afterworld will be ours for the taking."
"Out of my way!"
"Where can you go? You cannot escape unless..." Cell eyed the Prince and his eyes widened. "You know of a way!"
Not wanting to waste more time, Vegeta's aura flared and he went Super Saiyan. "Move or I will go through you."
Cell didn't seem fazed by the transformation. "Looks like I will have to keep you busy."
"Huh? You...fight me? Hahaha...are you contemplating suicide?"
Cell's eyes narrowed and answered seriously, "As I have mentioned, my options are limited."
Attentively, they stared at one another. Vegeta studied Cell, sensing out his opponent's strength. Either the android was hiding something or he was truly insane. Then it came to him.
"Alright, Android, I will play your game, but by my rules. I will fight you. But it does not end until one of us is within an inch of their existence. Beat me and I will wait... (smirking) I beat you and, let's just say, your existence will be at my mercy. And to make it interesting..." Vegeta powered down, his hair and eyes turning back to black, "I will remain as I am."
A surprised look flashed across Cell's face then he closed his eyes and smiled. "Hmm, a tempting proposition, indeed. However-"
"Feh. I didn't think you would have the guts to accept. I am not surprised. Go back and join the rest of the losers. Now get out of my face, freak, before I wipe my feet on your lifeless carcass!"
Cell glared at Vegeta and hissed, "I will make you eat your words, Saiyan."
Vegeta sighed and looked away. "Yes, one could only hope... (looking back at Cell) even in HFIL."
"I know of the perfect setting for your much needed humbling lesson."
"Is that so?" Vegeta smirked at the android. He knew of a place that better suited him. "So do I." Without waiting for Cell to respond, the Prince shot away. It didn't matter if Cell followed or not. The Elite Prince of Saiyans was confident that all would end in his favor. He would make sure of it.
Mez had gone unnoticed. He stepped out from one of the surrounding rock pillar's shadow. The ogre had heard the whole thing and became very nervous. "This can't be good. I got to get help." He took in a deep breath and exhaling, "Shoo, I have got to workout more. I'm just not limber as I used to be. I'm going be hurting by next break. Come on legs lets go." He turned and sprinted off, heading back to the Entrance Hall.
There was no need to try to sense the pathetic creature. Mez left a dust trail meters long, and Vegeta had caught up. With his arms crossed and a smirk on his face, the Prince lowered himself in front while keeping pace, facing the running ogre. Startled, Mez jerked to a stop and bent over, finding support by holding his knees. He took in large amounts of air as he struggled to speak. "Hey...not fair."
Vegeta set down and took a step closer to Mez. "Nothing is fair in this place, is it?"
Mez ventured to look-up, smiled and nodded knowingly at the Prince. "You learn fast." Finally, the ogre stood up, putting his hands on his hips. "Still want to look into the great globe? You won't like what you see."
"How would you know?"
"Because that's the way the thing works for our guests."
"I'm not one of your pitiful losers, Ogre. I am not supposed to be here."
"Vegeta, is it? Well, I believe you. You're not like the others and I'm sure you weren't sentenced by King Yama. Fell off Snake Way did ya?"
"Something like that."
"Poor soul."
"Save your sympathies, I do not plan on staying. Now, show me this globe."
Mez walked past Vegeta. "Ok, but don't say I didn't warn you."
Vegeta glanced over his shoulder and spoke through gritted teeth. "You are walking?!"
"No point in running, you'll just cheat." Vegeta was ready to apply force but Mez heard the Prince growl and hastily added. "It's right over the next bend. You can't miss it."
Taking to the air, Vegeta was able to spot the great globe. It was as big as a house, nesting on spiked rocks in the middle of a blood red pool. As he landed on the shore nearest to the globe, he noticed its reflecting qualities which made it somewhat camouflaged. The Prince spied his own reflection and he grunted. Reminded of the halo over his head and the setting around him did little to improve his mood.
Not sure how to start the thing, Vegeta walked to the edge of the pool, and voiced his desire. "I want to see Earth." He focused on his image, raising an eyebrow as it began to distort and twist. It looked as though everything was being pulled to the center and engulfed by blackness...no it was the Universe. The globe raced him through the north galaxy. Stars and planets sped by; some so close they filled his vision. Then he recognized the blue planet coming up fast. He took a deep breath and murmured, "Home." But the sight was too quickly lost as the globe plunged through Earth's atmosphere.
Breaking out of the clouds, he saw were he had lived for the last decade; West City then onto Capsule Corporation. He grunted and smiled. The place was still intact. Obviously, despite what Mez had warned, he saw what he wanted to see. But then he noticed something was not right. There was no movement...no life. As the vision closed in, there was no one to be found. The place was deserted. A breeze traveled through the dwellings, causing flags and signs to flap and doors to swing on their hinges. No birds, no animals and no people...only the sound of the wind rustling papers along the street. Closing his eyes, he whispered. "Bulma."
Startled, Vegeta opened his eyes again when he heard Bulma's voice. There she was at the Guardian's Lookout with her friends. She was yelling at what he knew was the transformed Majin Buu. "You big bully! What have you done with Goten and Trunks?!"
Buu was standing in the middle of the Lookout. "Hahaha. No more talk. I've had too much of that. No! Let's just eat. How about chocolate?" Terrified, Bulma jumped back, cringing. "What kind should it be this time? Milk chocolate...filled with cherries? No, how about dark--very dark."
Vegeta, watched unblinking. He eyes narrowed, he gritted his teeth and hissed, "Run you fools."
"Hahaha. What person should I eat first?"
All of Bulma's friends gasped and took a step backwards. Vegeta could hear Krillin's brat, crying to her parents, asking them to make him go away. He saw Krillin ready himself to fight and the Prince breathed, "Don't." The Earthling charged at the monster as his wife, Eighteen, led the others inside. He went behind Buu, turned, and sprang to punch his target. The creature seemed to liquidfy, avoiding Krillin's attack. As Krillin flew past, Buu shot him with a beam. Instantly, Krillin became a chocolate bar and dropped to the ground. The monster picked it up with the same appendage that shot the beam, extending from the top of his head. Buu popped the bar into his mouth and chewed up Krillin with much satisfaction.
The globe followed the others inside, keeping Bulma within its scope. A blast came through the wall and hit Eighteen and her little girl, turning them into chocolate. Vegeta could hear Buu yelling, "Yes, everyone feed me now!" Beams from the creature went everywhere. Screams came but he only registered one...that of his onna. Bulma disappeared before his eyes with only a bar of chocolate left where she had stood.
Vegeta's head dropped and his body shook with rage; his nails digging into his palms of his hands. He couldn't bear to watch the freak devour his mate. Then he thought of his son and asked. "What of my son, Trunks?" Hearing different screaming, he locked his jaw and looked up. It was the Time Chamber. The place was in shambles. The entrance to the chamber was now rubble. Piccolo and another were crouching, screaming at the top of their lungs. "What about Trunks?!" he demanded again. The globe focused in on the ki flaring Super Saiyan child. Then the two stopped screaming and Vegeta was able to get a better look at the child's face.
Both were exhausted, sweating and heaving for air. Piccolo finally caught his breath. "Nothing, and we been at this for hours. You've had time to separate and fuse again and still we have nothing. I'm afraid, Gotenks, this might be one fight we can't win."
Suddenly, Vegeta was staring at himself as the globe returned to reflecting its surroundings. "Gotenks? Trunks and Goten had mastered fusion? Are they trapped in the Time Chamber? I want to see more!" The globe did not respond. "I'm not finished, Damn it!" Angry and frustrated, he willed a nearby rock into his hand and threw it at the globe. The projectile's course was altered by some unforeseen force, flying over it and burrowing into the cliff behind it.
A feeling of helplessness came over Vegeta. He staggered back until he bumped into a large rock and sat down on it. His head dropped into his hands, as the horrifying images played over in his mind. The pain in his chest had returned accompanied with an ache in the pit of his stomach. He will never forget the look on his onna's face and how powerless he was to prevent her death. His initial feeling of pride for his son's accomplishment was dimmed, knowing that the boy's life will be wasted in the void of time. Now, with no one to stop the evil Majin Buu there was no hope for his surrogate home, Earth. The silence around him became suffocating. He rubbed his face and growled. "Grrrr...Useless emotions." The choice was now upon him...what will he do? Suddenly, his fate became clear.
The Prince with clenched fists at his side, stood tall, and spat on the ground. "Feh! I am the Prince of the strongest race to ever grace the Universe. I refuse to believe that my destiny ends here!" Looking up to the heavens, he raised one of his fists and soared upwards. "Gods, hear me, and mark my words! Majin Buu will die by the hand of a Saiyan and no other!" His words echoed off the cliffs, accompanied by another sound.
Clap, clap, clap. "Most inspiring!"
Vegeta glared down at the android Cell who was below him floating on the other side of the globe. Descending, the Prince stopped when he was eye level with Cell and hovered a few meters away. "However, I must once again, question your intentions, Prince Vegeta. If Buu's death were to be by your hand which I must admit I believe to be an unlikely scenario...then that would mean another Saiyan is to remain; a Saiyan un-doubtfully stronger than you. Do you see where I'm going with this?"
"Ha! I will kill Majin Buu, no matter what it takes."
"I was afraid that you would say that. You see, I can't let you jeopardize our plan. The strategy is for the creature to destroy all those that stand in our way. You my fine Prince are our insurance policy against what is left. Defeat our remaining enemies and all of the Afterworld will be ours for the taking."
"Out of my way!"
"Where can you go? You cannot escape unless..." Cell eyed the Prince and his eyes widened. "You know of a way!"
Not wanting to waste more time, Vegeta's aura flared and he went Super Saiyan. "Move or I will go through you."
Cell didn't seem fazed by the transformation. "Looks like I will have to keep you busy."
"Huh? You...fight me? Hahaha...are you contemplating suicide?"
Cell's eyes narrowed and answered seriously, "As I have mentioned, my options are limited."
Attentively, they stared at one another. Vegeta studied Cell, sensing out his opponent's strength. Either the android was hiding something or he was truly insane. Then it came to him.
"Alright, Android, I will play your game, but by my rules. I will fight you. But it does not end until one of us is within an inch of their existence. Beat me and I will wait... (smirking) I beat you and, let's just say, your existence will be at my mercy. And to make it interesting..." Vegeta powered down, his hair and eyes turning back to black, "I will remain as I am."
A surprised look flashed across Cell's face then he closed his eyes and smiled. "Hmm, a tempting proposition, indeed. However-"
"Feh. I didn't think you would have the guts to accept. I am not surprised. Go back and join the rest of the losers. Now get out of my face, freak, before I wipe my feet on your lifeless carcass!"
Cell glared at Vegeta and hissed, "I will make you eat your words, Saiyan."
Vegeta sighed and looked away. "Yes, one could only hope... (looking back at Cell) even in HFIL."
"I know of the perfect setting for your much needed humbling lesson."
"Is that so?" Vegeta smirked at the android. He knew of a place that better suited him. "So do I." Without waiting for Cell to respond, the Prince shot away. It didn't matter if Cell followed or not. The Elite Prince of Saiyans was confident that all would end in his favor. He would make sure of it.
Mez had gone unnoticed. He stepped out from one of the surrounding rock pillar's shadow. The ogre had heard the whole thing and became very nervous. "This can't be good. I got to get help." He took in a deep breath and exhaling, "Shoo, I have got to workout more. I'm just not limber as I used to be. I'm going be hurting by next break. Come on legs lets go." He turned and sprinted off, heading back to the Entrance Hall.