I owe the inspiration for this chapter to two certain people, and to staying up 'til all odd hours watching Jeepers Creepers (1 and 2) and all the very cool extras. And a big thanks to those of you reviewing. I really do appreciate your input.
Disclaimer: Take a look at the URL some time.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Far overhead, a bright light streaked across the sky. Yamcha blinked as he and Krillin drew ever closer to the colossal battle unfolding somewhere in front of them, most likely at the Son residence itself. That was no star, he thought anxiously. We can't afford any more Saiyan hybrids with the problems we have right now. Another burst of ki flared up before them, and the warrior forced himself back on task. Now was not the time to worry about something like that. They'd cross that bridge when they got there.
"What are they doing up there?" Krillin shouted back to him.
"It feels like they're trying to beat the tar out of each other!" Yamcha replied, not sure if he was sensing what he thought he was sensing. "Does something feel a bit weird to you?"
"Yeah," came the midget's unenthusiastic response. "I was hoping it was just my imagination again. It almost seems like there's something else over there with them, and I don't mean Gohan or Chi-Chi. It feels dangerous."
"Malicious," Yamcha muttered, digging his fingers into the plastic of his water bottle. The resulting crackle was not reassuring. "We'd better hurry up," he exclaimed more loudly. "I want to get there before something bad happens."
"Like this isn't bad enough?" Krillin had enough time to remark, before the bandit closed the gap between them and passed him, taking the lead in a race neither wanted to win. He forced himself to speed up as well, convinced something awful would happen if they weren't there for Goku right now.
Tien jerked awake from his restless slumber and stared up at the stars. Someone had just entered the Earth's atmosphere, and he was certain he knew who it was.
"What's the matter, Tien?" Chiaotzu asked drowsily. "Who is it?"
Despite himself, the ex-assassin chuckled. You've been watching for visitors yourself, haven't you, Chiaotzu? he thought, amused. "Vegeta. The Mighty Pain in the Ass has decided to pay the Earth another visit."
"Why do you think he's here now?" the other telepath yawned.
"Probably thought of something he wanted and decided to go for it, whatever it is. I have a feeling Goku's gonna have his hands full."
Tien sighed when he heard Chiaotzu shift himself, presumably sitting up. "You have no idea," the emperor whispered, his voice soft with some emotion – fear? concern? Was he having a premonition? He could not tell, but he pushed himself up as well.
"What do you feel, Chiaotzu?" he asked quietly.
For a moment the emperor was silent, but when his voice broke the stillness of the night it brought with it a sense of dread. "Something that should not have been released."
What a fine mess this was. Tien glanced over at the other warrior, half expecting him to be quivering with fear. But the emperor was still wrapped in his bedroll like a cocoon, and he made no motion other than breathing. He was staring out over the land at something off in the distance, but what he was looking at Tien did not know. The man followed Chiaotzu's gaze to the horizon, but he found nothing of interest.
Frowning, he tried a different approach. Slowly he sent out his ki in a gradually-widening circle, encompassing much of the hill they were on and part of the surrounding countryside. Nothing.
"You have to go farther than that. I can't explain it, Tien, but try doing that around Goku. You'll see what I found."
The triclops complied, and no sooner than his ki touched that of the people around Goku did he shake his head furiously and begin cursing. "What is that, Chiaotzu?" he asked incredulously. "I don't think I've ever felt anything like it before!"
"Yes, you have," the emperor replied calmly, maintaining his vigil over the horizon. "About three weeks ago, in the company of Uranai Baba. It's the same type of energy that attacked us, belonging to the same person or people."
"Weren't they bound to their own realm?" Tien asked, frowning. "I thought Baba held that creature there." Memories of the beings he had seen while inside Piccolo's mind flooded back to him, and he shuddered. Things with talons and wings and glowing eyes danced crazily in his mind's eye, centered around their horrific leader. The stuff of nightmares, he remembered.
"I think she got the leader, Tien, but his minions wouldn't have been affected."
"Great," Tien replied sourly, berating himself again for not keeping a better eye on his planet. "Then since we're the only ones that know what it is – or have a good idea of what it is – we should get going, right?"
"Right."
Damn! Goku cursed, ducking around a fist that would have sent him reeling. Where are the others when you need them? He risked a glance at his motionless family. Gohan would be fine after a few minutes, but Chi-Chi hadn't moved in a long time. He didn't want to think of what that meant. "Is that all you got?" he taunted, twisting himself around the demon's arm and flinging him away.
Oh, yeah, Piccolo, Gohan said you told him you could beat both me and him in a few days. Care to give it a try?
I think I will. You'll regret it.
Had that conversation taken place only two days ago? Kami, it felt like ages had gone by. But if that was true, this battle had lasted for centuries, the last strike he dodged decades, and the gathering of ki for the next blast years. Time was slowing for Goku, and he wasn't sure if he liked the feeling or not. Judging by the wide grin on the demon-creature's face, he was enjoying himself most thoroughly.
"You are in no position to be making such demands on yourself, Goku," he hissed, dropping into a crouch and then immediately lunging forward. The Saiyan had not expected a headlong rush, and the green-skinned warrior rammed one fist into his gut for his mistake. Goku curled around the other man's fist and gasped before returning the painful blow with one of his own. The demon bellowed and retracted the fist. Overhead a bolt of lightning lanced across the sky, and the rumble that followed drowned out Goku's voice as he began gathering his ki about him in a visible aura.
Shadow scowled, straightening himself and wishing not for the first time that he had sharper claws. He so badly wanted to wipe that smug expression off Goku's face. What a fool this man was, thinking he could defeat the creature born to rid the world of him. But as foolish as this man was, he had been right about one thing. It was dreadfully hard to keep track of two battles at once, one physical and one mental. The brat was unworthy to bear Daimao's own name and was doing a decent job of proving it. With all the raging and screaming that demon was doing, it was a wonder he didn't have a migraine.
At least the young demon's language is up to par, he thought sourly.
He circled swiftly around the Saiyan's back and squinted when the other warrior did not follow his movement as quickly as he should. Something rang false with this. He was hiding something. He must be. "What are you doing?" Shadow muttered angrily, directing his comment at both Goku and Piccolo. He hurled a painful barb through the barrier in his mind and turned his attention back to the Saiyan. "What is wrong with you?" And his question was meant for Goku alone. The demon flipped himself into the air and landed on the other side of the Earth warrior, and again Goku was slow to present his front. Shadow squinted again. That man was concentrating hard on something…
A warning bell went off in the back of his head, and as a golden ki began to crackle around the Saiyan Shadow caught the glimmer of a memory flashing through Piccolo's mind. Snarling he reached for it, and when he saw what it was his eyes widened to the point of being comical. Shadow took in the feral expression on Goku's face and growled. The man must have been getting desperate for him to pull a trick like this, but he might not be able to handle it once Goku was stable.
"No you don't!" the demon bellowed, rushing forward with one hand outstretched. He could not allow Goku to gather enough power to complete the transformation to Super Saiyan. Ma Junior had precious little information on the man in that state, and Shadow hated going blind into a battle. Again Goku was not expecting the rush, and the demon caught him across the face with his talons. The Saiyan screamed and clutched at his face, simultaneously losing control of the ki he had gathered, and it dissipated harmlessly into the night.
Nothing was broken, Goku assumed after touching the ragged gashes, or even torn beyond his natural healing capacity. But that had hurt, and in more ways than one. He must stop thinking of that thing as Piccolo; certainly he did not act like the Namek, and the fighting styles of the two were very different. Another mistake like that and he could lose more than a bit of blood and his pride. He glared up at the demon from between his fingers, blood leaking from the wound between his fingers and over his hands, and he was certain the creature relished this. The very thought of it made him sick, Saiyan blood irregardless.
Goku lowered his hands from his face when he heard the demon's sharp inhalation. "What in Kami's name is going on here?" he heard a familiar voice ask, and his stomach dropped. Krillin, get out of here! he silently begged his friend. He might need the midget's help, but not enough to risk his life! Not now, of all times!
"Piccolo, what are you doing?" a second voice gasped, identified a second later as Yamcha. Go! Goku pleaded. You can't handle this!
Krillin felt his jaw drop open and made no move to close it, and beside him Yamcha did the same. Piccolo's eyes were glowing a bright red, and the fingers of his right hand were smeared with Goku's blood. At least he assumed it was Goku's; it was red, and Goku was bleeding. The Saiyan looked like he'd been on the receiving end of a nasty beating, which also shocked him. "Yamcha," he said hastily, "watch yourself."
"Watch yourself, Krillin," Shadow hissed, smirking at the bewildered expression that fluttered across the midget's face. "You are more vulnerable than he is."
"Krillin, Yamcha, I want both of you to stay back!" Goku commanded, taking a few steps to the side so he stood between his friends and the possessed warrior. "That isn't Piccolo any more. He's someone else, now!"
"What are you talking about, Goku?" Krillin asked, gulping as the demon caught his eye and gave him a twisted grin. "He's not himself, I know, but he can't be someone else!"
Yamcha took in Piccolo's appearance and noted the subtle differences in the Namek's demeanor. Piccolo had never seemed as open as he was now, his facial expressions unguarded and his manner loose. He even stood differently: his weight seemed to be more centered, rather than shifted forward on his feet. Yamcha frowned; Piccolo of all people would have known that he would have better balance and more coordination and control when his feet weren't flat on the ground. Keeping his weight on his toes would let him move faster when he needed it. Maybe Goku wasn't right about Piccolo's identity, so to speak, but whatever the case, something was amiss, and they would have to do something about it.
"I don't think he's lying, Krillin," Yamcha said quietly. "Whatever it was that we felt out here is coming from Piccolo. It's him, somehow."
"Clever boy," Shadow growled. "You are correct in assuming Ma Junior is present, but he is otherwise occupied, you might say."
"I told you to let him go!" Goku roared, his ki spiking in anger. "Stop hiding behind him! Fight me face to face, demon!" Again the Saiyan's eyes began to flicker back and forth between teal and black.
"Son Goku," he replied coolly, "if I fight you face to face, it will not be in this plane, but my own. And that is under the assumption you survive this battle." His eyes flicked to a sudden motion off to the side, as Gohan's hand twitched.
Damn, Shadow thought angrily. The boy is coming to. I should have known that a hybrid would not be so easy to fell. Isn't that right, Ma Junior?
I will scorch your mind if you so much as lay a hand on him again! Piccolo promised. I will find a way to do it!
Doubtful, the demon scoffed. You cannot find your way out of your own mind.
Piccolo said nothing in reply, and Shadow let him be. He had other matters at hand. In one fluid motion he removed both cloak and turban and tossed them to the ground. He would need his full agility soon; he could feel three other kis approaching, one of them high enough to cause him problems if its owner teamed up with Son Goku.
Goku flew forward with a shout, and the demon twisted to the side. The Saiyan managed to flip himself at the last second and swung his fist as hard as he could at the other warrior. Shadow had enough time to open his mouth in denial before the blow struck home, and he felt more than one rib give way under the impact. Snarling, he fell back, Goku following. He hit the ground and skidded for several yards before he was able to put his hands down and flip himself over. Instead of rushing forward as he usually did, he flung himself to the ground and smothered a groan. But the burning in his midsection was nothing compared to what would it would have been if he had attacked, he decided as a ki ball sailed over him.
That's it, Shadow growled to himself. I'm through playing with this man. I have more to do than this. With a snarl the demon rolled to his feet and spat out a mouthful of blood. "I'm glad you finally decided to get serious about this, Son Goku. This little game was becoming boring very fast."
Goku gave him a crooked grin, but his eyes never once leaving the demon's face. "This never was a game," he replied. "But I'm done warming up now. So whenever you're ready." He waved the other warrior on and planted his feet firmly in the ground. He meant business.
Yamcha took a step back and reviewed the situation. Chi-Chi was barely visible in the tree line, and Gohan was actually on the field. Neither were moving, so Yamcha assumed they had been knocked unconscious. He kept his expression neutral, but inside he was boiling. Either Krillin or himself would have to get to the both of them when this creature – he was almost positive now that it wasn't Piccolo – was distracted. Even as he formed his own strategy Yamcha studied the Namek. The warrior hadn't taken his glowing eyes off Goku's face this entire time, and it was unnerving. If he was Goku he would have been trembling.
He told Krillin of his plan.
"Are you nuts?" the smaller man gasped. "That won't work!"
"It has to, Krillin!" he whispered. "Once Goku and Piccolo – I mean, that thing – start fighting again, we've got to get Chi-Chi and Gohan out of here. You can grab Gohan, you're quicker. I'll get Chi-Chi. I don't know what shape either of them are in, so just be careful when you get there."
"And what if he catches me?"
"We have to hope Goku will be quick enough to stop him from doing that. And besides, Tien and Chiaotzu aren't too far off, and someone else is coming in pretty fast. I think it might be Vegeta, as weird as it sounds, but I can't think of anyone else with that kind of ki. Hopefully he's on our side this time. So we won't be in the open for long." Yamcha paused briefly. "We've got to do this, Krillin," he added. "Or that thing might decide to get rid of his clutter."
Krillin's face blanched, but he nodded in agreement. "All right," he said, "let's get this over with as – " A dull boom drowned out the rest of his sentence as the battle was resumed, more fierce and intense than before. Neither human was willing to tear his eyes from the spectacle. The Namek (or demon) was keeping pace with Goku with broken ribs, and the Saiyan was partially blinded, unable to wipe the blood from his eyes without the other warrior taking advantage of his distraction.
When Goku smacked the demon into the trees they knew it was time to move. With a sideways glance Krillin and Yamcha took off at the same time. Krillin had almost made it to Gohan's side when his vision suddenly exploded into color. Something had hit him…he was aware of the wind whistling by his ears, and then he slammed into the ground, sending up a spray of dirt and grass.
"Krillin!" Goku shouted, whipping his head around and following the midget's flight path with his eyes. His eyes watered once the brilliant red-hued light of the ki ball had faded. I should have seen that coming! he thought angrily.
As you should have seen this! replied a smug voice in his mind.
Goku turned his head back in time to catch sight of the demon's blurred outline hurdling through the air at him, and he crossed his arms in front of his face. If he had known how strong Piccolo could be, should have been, he would have prepared himself better. But it was too late now, and all he could hope for was that Piccolo could stop himself from plowing straight through him.
A look of surprise crossed the demon's face as his stolen body pulled short at the last minute. He still slammed into Goku, but the force was only enough to send him flying. "Damn him," Shadow growled softly. The Saiyan was most likely injured, but he would have been dead if Ma Junior had not interfered.
Yamcha gritted his teeth and dashed away from Chi-Chi, making sure the demon noticed him. With Goku and Krillin both down for the count, it was up to him to hold the thing at bay until help arrived. But judging by how much trouble Goku had with him, Yamcha knew he wouldn't last for long in a fight with him. He didn't have the strength or the ki to do it, but he would give it his best shot. "I'm over here!" he yelled, drawing the demon's attention. "They can't harm you when they're down! Leave'em alone!"
The creature in Piccolo's body laughed, and the bandit shuddered despite himself. Kami, what a horrible laugh, he thought. I'd forgotten how evil Piccolo could sound!
"I was planning to leave you until the last, Yamcha," he offered, favoring him with the same smirk Piccolo always used, "but you've insisted on crossing me now. Why is that, human?"
"Because what you're doing is wrong!" Yamcha replied angrily, balling his hands into fists. "You're using Piccolo to get to us! You're not even strong enough to challenge us on your own. You had to steal a body to do it!"
"Not true," came the hissed answer. "I am here for Son Goku. You stand in my way, I kill you. Understood?"
Yamcha narrowed his eyes and shifted his weight forward. If it came down to a fistfight, he would rather initiate it and have the element of surprise. "If you're trying to intimidate me, it isn't working. I won't let you do any more damage here, even if it kills me."
"And it probably will," the demon agreed. "So why don't we just get this over with?"
"Yamcha, stop!" Tien called suddenly from behind him.
"No!" came Goku's muffled voice from the forest.
The demon raised his hand to create another ki ball, when he was hit by a shade as dark as himself, illuminated briefly as a black and white blur. The warrior sent the demon sailing into the trees, and Goku rushed out to confront the newcomer. Shock was an understatement.
"Vegeta? What are you doing here?" The man scratched the side of his head, carefully avoiding the talon gouges.
"Kakarot, you idiot," the Saiyan prince snapped, "I was trying to decide why you were giving the Earthlings a light show with the Namek. I could see it from space."
Yamcha heaved a sigh of relief and stepped back, where he was pulled out of the fray by Tien. Only then did he realize how badly he was shaking, and if it wasn't for the other man's support he would have fallen over. At the triclops' questioning stare he mumbled, "Watch," and their attention turned to the jade-skinned warrior emerging from the tree line.
"Saiyans to the rescue, is it?" the demon growled.
Goku began gathering as much ki as he could, as quickly as possible. "This ends!" he snarled, to Vegeta's surprise. What was the fool intent on doing? he wondered. Surely this was just a spar gone wrong, or the Namek had been knocked around too many times, or something similar to that! Wasn't it?
Vegeta's jaw dropped as Goku burst into Super Saiyan. The idiot is really serious about this! he thought, growling to hide his embarrassment. He thinks the Namek deserves this level of combat! "Kakarot," he snapped, "what do you think you are doing? The Namek is a weakling! Don't waste your ki on him."
The demon began laughing, but Goku's face remained impassive. "It isn't Piccolo, Vegeta," he replied. "And even if it was, I would be just as guarded. It would be best if you stayed out of this."
"You're joking," the other Saiyan growled. "Of course that Namek is Piccolo, idiot. What are you trying to pull?" Vegeta took one look at the green warrior and spat at his feet. "He's no challenge for you, and certainly none for me."
Goku spared the man a glance as he stepped forward. "Trust me on this one, Vegeta," he said gruffly, shifting his eyes back to the demon. "This isn't what it seems!"
The prince scoffed. "Obviously. You're even weaker than I thought, Kakarot, if you've let the Namek give you such a hard time. Super Saiyan or not, this is one fight you should have had no problems with. You're pathetic."
Goku snorted and prepared himself to jump in front of Vegeta if necessary. The other Saiyan had no clue what he was getting himself into, or if he would be able to get himself out again. It's that damned pride of his! he thought angrily, screwing his face into a scowl. He can't see that Piccolo isn't there! "Vegeta, I mean it!" he growled, drawing a raised eyebrow from the other Saiyan. "You can't win this battle! You're not strong enough to fight him!"
Vegeta, equally furious now, replied, "The day I am too weak to grind the Namek into the dust is the day I'll die!"
Piccolo – or what appeared to be Piccolo, at least – twisted his face into a cold mockery of Vegeta's own expression. "Then you won't be disappointed, Vegeta. It's high time you died anyway. You've been obsolete for the last twenty or so years, haven't you? Since Frieza took you from your holding cell and declared you useless before his ship and crew?"
The Saiyan bristled at the comment, and Goku watched in amazement as Vegeta's face ran a gamut of emotions, from anger to bewilderment to alarm. "How did you know that, Namek?" he demanded quickly. "I don't recall telling you anything of the sort."
The green man chuckled darkly. "You don't need to, Saiyan. I know everything about you. How you would cry yourself to sleep for years, until Frieza caught you. You can still see the blood in your eyes at night, can't you, Vegeta?"
"Shut your damned mouth, Namek, before I shut it for you!" Vegeta replied through his teeth, clenching his hands into fists so hard the skin under the gloves began to bruise. "I think I'll just kill you on principle!"
The other warrior threw his arms apart in a gesture of acceptance. "You're welcome to try, prince of a race not worth mentioning."
Goku found himself tempted to wipe the gleeful expression off the demon's face, and he was dead certain the other Saiyan was going to lunge for him at any moment. It would be torture for Vegeta to remain inactive under such taunting. It was hard enough for him to restrain himself, so hard to remember that Piccolo was in there somewhere.
"How dare you!" Vegeta bellowed, tensing his body. He was fast reaching the limit of his patience now, and Goku found himself taking a step back, away from the furious Saiyan prince. He did not fear Vegeta, but even someone at a lower level of power could do some serious damage if pressed far enough. And from the looks of it, the demon was about to press him too far.
But isn't that what he wants to do? Goku asked himself, watching the demon's eyes carefully. Piccolo did that to Morodath, and he blew his concentration so fast he never knew what hit him. Damn! If he gets any angrier, that thing will have his head! "Vegeta, drop it," he hissed, stepping forward again. "Can't you see that he wants you to attack him now? You're not thinking! He wants your mind clouded!"
"Damn it, Kakarot!" the other Saiyan roared. "To Hell with your nonsense! The Namek has gone too far!"
Shadow grinned despite himself, ignoring Piccolo's furious outburst. This is entertaining, he told the Namek. He is most fun to provoke.
Piccolo spat back a stream of obscenities that would have made Daimao proud.
Don't tell me you would not enjoy messing with his mind, young demon? This one has spited you as well. It would be well worth the time it would take to tear his mind apart. He may be a challenge.
This is the last time I warn you. Leave these people alone!
He's a pain in the ass, nothing more, Ma Junior, and you know it. Don't tell me you would not enjoy taking him down, putting him in his place! This one is too proud for his own good. Perhaps he would be more fit to grovel at your feet, broken and submissive. "You are right, Vegeta," the demon continued. "Perhaps I have gone too far. Perhaps your race is worth mentioning after all, seeing as how it was their own foolishness that brought their fiery death down upon their heads. They make a good example. But they went down fighting, at least, a warrior's death."
"Don't listen to him!" Goku exclaimed quickly. Vegeta ignored him, intent on the demon's words.
"But you, you had none of it. You were not fit to join their final battle, oh powerful prince. You sat in the safety of Frieza's ship while your people screamed in pain." Shadow smirked. He was so close… "You are nothing more than a pampered house-pet. You have done nothing to deserve what you have been given." The demon turned his body away from Vegeta and faced Goku, though he still addressed the smaller man. "Leave and let the real warriors fight."
Goku made a grab for Vegeta's shoulder and missed.
"Enough!" Vegeta roared, launching himself fist first at the green man.
Shadow bit back a grin. Finally, this could be settled, and there would be no more Saiyan opposition.
* * * * *
This is, to date, the longest chapter I have written. I apologize for any disappointment, but the Saiyans get their tails handed to them next chapter. *ducks rotten tomatoes* Feel free to let me know if this was too long, and I'll knock it down to size.
~Dreamwraith