CHAPTER 26 – The Coming of the Storm
Rocks and stones began to rise and levitate in the air. The ground below their feet violently vibrated. Racoome and Burter looked at each other then went to stand behind Frieza. All eyes were drawn to the towering firewall that began to expand.
Suddenly an exploding force from within pushed outward. The invisible force came in waves, rippling out and knocking over piled rock formations that were scattered throughout the valley. Frieza dropped his quarry and with his arms crossed, adjusted his stance for balance.
Sen collapsed to the ground and gasped for air while she attempted to protect herself. Loose earth and rock flew in all directions. The remaining Ginyu had raised their arms to protect their eyes and leaned into the force that ripped through hair and clothes.
The long reaching blue flames flickered wildly in all directions and then were snuffed out by the last energy wave. The tremors subsided and everyone stared at the huge glowing ball of ki that rose out of the once hidden crater. Smoke momentarily swirled around its circumference and then went by way of the snuffed flames. Blue electric static danced on the energy's surface.
From within the hovering ball of ki there came the sound of laughter, and in the center, stood Vegeta, the Prince of Saiyans. His gloved hands were half raised in front of him and he studied his flexing fingers. When the Ascended Super Saiyan reached the edge of the crater, he stepped onto the ground. Dropping his arms to his side, he sensed those that were about, mentally establishing their locations. His hair remained golden yellow and his eyes brightly green, but the surrounding aura diminished, leaving only a silhouetting glow around his body.
Vegeta's brows furrowed and his jaw tightened with determination. He began walking and felt Cell approach. He stopped, continued to look forward, and menacingly forewarned the creature, "Never touch me again." Then he began to walk again.
Cell let out a laugh as he walked along side and went to rest a hand on Vegeta's shoulder. But before it touched him, Vegeta grabbed Cell's wrist. Then he forcefully guided Cell in front of him. The android prepared to resist but after feeling a tremendous surge in Vegeta's ki and seeing the warning in the Saiyan's eyes, he submit to the manipulation. The Prince pulled the creature down causing him to come down on one knee, bringing Cell closer to his eye level.
Vegeta's first impulse was to tell what he really thought of the green freak and then incinerate him. But instead he just grinned devilishly and crushed the creature's wrist. Cell's eyes bugged out and he chocked in pain. He enjoyed seeing Cell in agony. Adding insult to injury, Vegeta then twisted his grasp slightly and snapped Cell's hand clean off, shoving him to the side as he did so. The Prince walked past the hunched creature, dropping the severed limb.
Vegeta's thoughts turned to the half Saiyan who struggled to stand as he approached. The whole time he had monitored her ki power. Sen was nothing to brag about but he thought she had potential. He had no doubt she could take on Guldo, he was a given, but Jeice was another story. He wanted to know what attack she used to disable one of the strongest Ginyu so fast without not so much as a blip in her ki level. And why could she not accomplish the same with Racoome and Burter? The Prince's thoughts were interrupted by Cell's screaming.
"Where do you think you are going?!" The android stood up cradling his arm. "I'm not finish with you Saiyan! We had a deal! COME BACK HERE!"
Vegeta made a low growl. With hands fisted, he curled up his arms then swung them back with a grunt. An invisible shockwave of ki hit the unsuspecting android, knocking him into the crater behind him.
Flabbergasted, Frieza unknowingly let out a "Huh?" then frowned. He had a difficult time accepting the fact that Vegeta had surpassed him. Maybe power wasn't everything. The Prince had to have a weakness and remembered it was Vegeta's arrogance that always got him into trouble. Frieza noticed that the Prince was focused on the she Saiyan and then he smiled.
Sen was on her feet and breathing normal again. Her posture stiffened. The condescending Vegeta was watching her, disappointment written all over his face. Not wanting to wait for the bastard, Sen gritted her teeth, balled her fists and began to march towards him. She took two steps and was stopped by Frieza. He had wrapped his tail around her waist and pulled her close to him.
"Get your vile appendage off me!" Sen's back was to him. She felt his hot breath on her cheek, and turned her head away.
"Vegeta doesn't seem pleased with you Sen. I would treat you far better. I take care of those who are loyal to me. This one, on the other hand, is quite volatile. He adheres to no such allegiances. Why, he has killed his own kind without batting an eye. I am by far the lesser of two evils. Join me, Sen, and no further harm will come to you."
Sen gritted her teeth and her ki began to flare up. She tried to pull out of his tail's grasp as she pushed down on the limb. "Grrrr, I said get OFF ME!" Frieza's grip tightened and the pressure caused severe pain to her own tail. She cried out in agony and thrashed out wildly.
Vegeta stopped advancing and curiously watched. He crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly. Was she a waste of time? After all, they were dead. What did it matter if she survived? 'HFIL, according to her, she wasn't Saiyan anyway. Just another weak--' He felt her ki intensify.
Sen had stopped moving. He could see her blue tainted aura swirl around her, building power. Then suddenly it seemed as though it was sucked into her mid section. Vegeta still felt the power, but the aura was gone. Sen had concentrated all her power to one area for protection.
Sweat formed on Frieza's face. The monster laid his hands on Sen's shoulders, he leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Why do you continue to resist?" Seductively, he slid his hands down to just above her elbows and continued, "Is it for him?" Not getting an answer, the tyrant's soft touch was replaced with a firm grip. He pulled her in tight and hissed in her ear, "I could split you in half!" then he looked over to Vegeta and quietly added, "Though I doubt Prince Charming will want to share."
Frieza straightened and ordered "Choose!" Sen growled and jerked her head back; head butting the monster. His head went back from the blow but then laughed. "Hahaha, wrong answer!" His tail squeezed harder. He was going to do what he had threatened.
Sen's power was still concentrated in her mid section. None could be spared to loosen Frieza's grip on her arms. She had to distract him somehow. Sen closed her eyes and let out a piercing cry. Then she stomped on his foot and at the same time thrust all of her ki against his tail. The monster gasped with surprise and Sen pushed off the ground, becoming airborne. She was free.
The warrior was about to fly to the smirking Prince when Racoome and Burter grabbed hold, trapping her between them. Sen yelled in frustration as she tried to pull away. Her efforts were fruitless and she went limp when the Ginyu's master hovered in front of her.
"Tsk tsk. What shall I do with this trapped monkey?"
Pleadingly, she looked to Vegeta for help. The Prince's eyebrows raised a moment then they returned to their usual scorn and he closed his eyes. He sighed, dropped his chin slightly, and shook his head. Then Vegeta dropped his arms and began to walk slowly. In the back of his mind, a familiar tune that he was partial to came to life. She's old enough--
Frieza saw the exchange between the two and laughed. Then he turned to face the coming Super Saiyan. But Vegeta didn't leave the ground. He stopped again and looked up at Frieza. "Get lost Frieza, and take your pathetic lackeys with you or you will suffer worst than death itself."
"Just try it Vegeta, and I will eradicate your friend."
Vegeta couldn't help but smile. The baka was playing right into his hands. He rose to their level and devilishly replied, "You think I care for her?" Then he extended his arm in front of him and pointed two fingers at the surprised monster. "Out of the way loser!" Vegeta's yellow aura flared wildly as he powered up. Shocked into silence, Frieza floated to the side leaving Vegeta to face Sen and the Ginyu holding her. "She will fight like a Saiyan or die like one!"
"No! I can't, it's too much!"
"Don't underestimate yourself, onna." Sen dropped her head. Disgusted, the Super Saiyan continued, "Hsst. Where is your honor, YOUR PRIDE?!" and he sent a streaming ki beam straight to Sen's heart. There was no explosion. It plunged into to her but did not exit.
Sen's head jerked up on impact, her eyes went wide, and she sucked in her breath. Then her eyes rolled up in her head. Vegeta increased the power of the beam which caused Sen's back to arch as she screamed in agony. Ending his attack, the Prince lowered his arm, and Sen's body went limp.
Frieza crossed his arms and smirked. "I must say, I'm quite impressed. That was the cleanest execution I've ever witnessed." Vegeta's eyes narrowed as he studied Sen. Maybe it was too much after all. With his trump card gone, Frieza decided maybe it was a good time to leave. "That's it boys, time to take out the trash."
"Wait." Vegeta threatened quietly.
Everyone's attention was drawn to Vegeta then back to Sen. Racoome and Burter were the first to notice Sen's body begin to shudder. Her head lifted slowly. The tie that was holding her hair came undone and her hair began to stand up. Vegeta raised an eyebrow in amazement when he caught sight of her eyes. There were no pupils, only white. Locks of hair lashed around as they turned in repeated waves of blue, yellow, black and white. Then Sen's body began to glow.
Racoome and Burter looked at each other, came to an unspoken agreement and let go of their prisoner. They tried to back away but Sen grabbed both their arms. Frantically, they tried to pry her hands off. Then with opposite fists, they both landed punches in her mid section with no effect. They looked upon her in disbelief.
When Sen had stabilized the power that Vegeta gave her, her pupils returned but they were bright green in . They glared at the donor. Her hair went back to black but continued to lash about. Suddenly, Sen pulled the two Ginyu in front of her, reached up and slammed their heads together. The force was so great they bounced off one another. She let out a battle cry and ki expelled in all directions; sending the two giants sailing.
Vegeta maintained his position. The only thing that moved was his eyes which instinctively narrowed. Frieza moved to avoid being hit by Racoome's jettisoned body but then remained steadfast.
The borrowed ki was raging within Sen. It took everything she had mentally to block the excruciating pain it caused. Every nerve in her body screamed to release it. Sen had to hold on. It was her weapon; her defense. Sweat formed on her brow.
Burter was the first to return to Frieza's side. "What now, Sir?"
Racoome joined them, rubbing his forehead then running his fingers through his mohawk. "Yeah, I'm confused."
Frieza would not allow another Saiyan to upstage him. "Destroy her. Then we will deal with Vegeta."
Hearing Frieza's command, Vegeta and Sen looked over to see Burter and Racoome move to the front of their leader in a ready stance. They charged fist first at Sen. She reached out, meeting their fists with her own. But instead of hitting them, she pushed off the top of theirs, doing a one and a half backwards somersault over their heads. Upside down she aimed her open hands at each one and shot ki blasts into their backs. The energy balls exploded, engulfing the Ginyu in a rolling cloud of fire and smoke. She sensed Frieza powering up behind her and started to right herself in his direction. As she flipped, the tyrant released a lethal blast but Sen sensed it and dodged. The warrior didn't wait for the next one. Sen returned the favor by sending double blasts engulfing Frieza as well. It felt good to release some of the energy that was bottled up within her. When the smoke cleared, three scorched and angry opponents remained.
"Any day now, Sen. Don't forget we have an appointment with destiny." Vegeta chortled. The Super Saiyan powered down, his hair & eyes turning black again. Then he lowered himself to the ground and commenced with tidying his attire starting with the gloves.
Despite the ravaging turmoil going on inside Sen's body, the power was also fueling her ego. Normally, she didn't fool around when she fought but the warrior had developed a taste for blood. Payback's a bitch, and she was just the bitch to do it. Sen smirked and went into a fighting stance. "Alright ladies, are you ready to rumble?!"
Old Enough, Song by Nickelback
She's old enough
She knows enough
She's thrown up
So throw her
Out to me
And I'll treat her like she was mine
Let my belief
You got your way and I'll get mine
And I can't eat
I can't sleep
I want to thank you for coming
And why do we always laugh
While we're in this discussion
Should have known enough
Never grown enough
Alone enough
To know my
Where would be
The path I wanted to try
If it fairs to be
Good for me than I'd rather die
(Repeat Chorus)
Black words always lead to something
Bury her cause her time was cut thin
All the while you just stood and stared
Never cared to help we just got carried away
Lately it seems like my dreams have started to die
It occurred to me on the inside I guess so have I
And I can't eat
I can't sleep
I want to thank you for coming
And why do we always laugh
While we're in the last ones coming
Standing here with my two feet
Enjoy it now cause it won't be
Some way
Some how
The things that keep me alive
Aren't living here anymore