It took her a little over a month, but Teena had finally arrived at the white pagoda she had spotted off at the distance. Needless to say, Teena was overeager for something, anything, to happen on her long and lonely trek along Snake Way. And to her, the pagoda was a beacon of light, something that would rip the shroud of boredom placed upon Teena's brow to shreds.
"Hello?!" she called out. "Anyone in there? Anyone?" Teena went to one of the windows and tried to peer into it, but the interior was too dark, obscuring her vision of anything remotely interesting inside. Undaunted, she rapped on the window, hoping to draw anyone's attention inside. "C'mon, ANYONE!!" She waited for a moment, then sighed as she turned away, walking to her discarded duffle bag and picking it up.
"... deserted..." Teena muttered, utter disappointment in her tone. "Knew it was too good to be true..."
Teena then paused, hearing a faint hissing sound behind her, and a shiver felt its way up her spine. Tentatively, she turned around, looking up, and stood face-to-face with a jade-scaled snake that seemed to had replaced the pagoda entirely. As paralyzing fear overtook the normally courageous cyborg heroine, she dropped the duffle bag, trembling visibly, and she whimpered a single word involuntarily, tears welling up in her eyes.
"... m-mommy..."
Teena didn't have time to scream as the snake lunged down, swallowing her whole...
"All Within My Hands"
By
Ken Blackwell
"Kill first, ask questions never, Celipa..." Bardock said as he began to power up. "It's time to defend our world!!"
"... we are so pureé-ed..." Ran Fuan dreaded, as she and her friends got into defensive positions. Bardock grinned darkly, then looked down at Chi-Chi, who was just now beginning to get up. Ran Fuan gasped, noticing too late the danger her friend was in. "Oh God, Chi-Chi--"
Bardock acted quickly, firing a blast of energy that struck Chi-Chi in the head, vaporizing it. Her decapitated body stiffened, then collapsed, letting out a slight twitch before going limp.
"CHI-CHI!!" Videl screamed.
"Now, while they're in shock!" Bardock shouted. "NO MERCY!!"
And like a pack of wolves, Bardock and his crew descended upon the remaining six warriors from Earth. The end result was nothing less than a slaughter. Yamcha recoiled back a bloody stump of a shoulder from a knife-edged chop from Celipa, while Tein stood his ground as best as he could against the tall Saiyan named Toma. Ran Fuan lunged herself at Bardock, punching him as hard as she could in the jaw. But the Saiyan warrior easily shrugged it off, grabbing Ran Fuan by the neck.
'You're very pretty..." Bardock said to her. "Too bad for you... I already have a lifemate."
Bardock then pushed Ran Fuan back and slashed a hand across in front of her. She let out a gasp, feeling her body from her left shoulder to her right side go numb. Instinctively she hugged herself, but gravity proved to be the victor as her upper half fell to the ground, her lower body following shortly after.
"N-noo..." Ran Fuan let out, a final breath from her bisected lungs.
Toma got the upper hand in his fight with Tein, spinning around behind him and shoving an elbow to the triclopean warrior's back, snapping his spine. Tein cried out, and went limp, but Toma caught him, looking straight into his face.
"Despite your power level, you fought well..." Toma said. "I'll grant you a warrior's death."
"Just finish it..." Tein gasped, coughing up blood.
"As you wish..." And Toma promptly broke Tein's neck.
Videl looked around, shuddering as she watched her friends drop like flies at the hands of the brutal Saiyans. She knew her friends weren't really dead, but it didn't cushion the blow of watching their spirit selves die.
"There you are!!" The obese Saiyan, Panboukin, bellowed as he came plummeting down at Videl, who quickly avoided him as he nearly pulped her on the spot. She then dashed forward, the sheer determination in her youthful face giving Panboukin pause as she jumped at him, close enough to throw her short-ranged chi blast directly into the big Saiyan's face. As he staggered back, temporarily blinded, Videl landed to her feet and promptly ran from Panboukin, knowing she didn't stand a chance against him. But she was jerked back like a dog on a chain, her long braided hair seized by Panboukin, who pulled her to him, a twisted grin on his face. "Little runt! You're dead!"
Panboukin enclosed his hand around Videl's head and he began to squeeze. He felt her tears on his palm, and merely grinned evilly, about to squeeze harder and crush her skull like a grape.
Oh, God... please don't let it hurt... please... Videl cried harder as she braced herself for the fatal instant her head would explode. Instead, she felt Panboukin get struck hard from behind, forcing her release. She dropped to the ground, and she made haste to fly away. But once again she was caught from behind... only this time, it was a more gentle seizure, more like a hug, and a gentle voice spoke to her.
"Are you all right, little one?"
"Ow... dammit, Celipa!!" Panboukin shouted. "What the hell's your problem?!"
Videl blinked, and turned her head, seeing that the one who rescued her was indeed the female Saiyan. ... A Saiyan saved my life? she wondered. But... they're... aren't they... aren't Saiyans evil?!
"What the hell's YOURS?!" Celipa retorted, landing to her feet with Videl still in her protective embrace. "She's a child! You know I draw the line when it comes to children... if I don't kill children then this CREW doesn't either!!"
"This is ridiculous!" Panboukin turned towards Bardock. "Talk some sense into your sister!!"
"Sorry, Panboukin..." Bardock shrugged. "You know how stubborn Celipa is. Chalk it up to Taanipu's influence, and you know where SHE gets it from."
"... Aise..." Panboukin sighed, and glanced to Celipa. "... sorry..."
"Apology accepted..." Celipa nodded. "... wait, where's those other two?" she looked around for Krillin and Chiaotzu. "Where's those other children?!"
"They weren't kids..." the giant Saiyan, Totepo, muttered as he walked back to the group. "Their power levels're weak, but they weren't kids' levels, no way..."
"... you killed them..." Celipa realized, then glanced down at Totepo's blood-spattered boots. "..."
Videl felt herself getting hugged closer, tighter, feeling Celipa tremble with emotion; she couldn't tell if it were from anger or anguish.
"I told you! They weren't kids! I--" Videl was suddenly released as Celipa charged at Totepo, slugging him hard in the jaw, the force of her punch hard enough to send the big man crashing down to his knees.
Wow, she's strong... like Teena! Videl realized. And she's passionate about kids too... like Teena... Videl paused as Celipa walked towards her, kneeling down to face her with a sad gaze.
"Do you have a name, little one?" she asked.
"... Videl..." she answered.
"I'm Celipa... and I promise you. I'll protect you." The female Saiyan smiled, and Videl could tell, from the look in her eyes, that it was a genuine smile, and that she was safe. "I'm sorry we had to kill your friends--"
"Wh--?!" Toma blinked, as he and the others watched their fallen opponents vanish into thin air. "What happened?! Where'd they go?!"
"... they're not dead, really..." Videl explained. "We're from the future... and... well, we were visiting the past in spirit bodies..."
"Huh..." Bardock shrugged. "That's a new one on me, kid. Guess you owe Totepo an apology, Celipa."
"The hell I do..." Celipa retorted. "Look, let's get back home, okay?"
"And you're taking the girl with you?" Toma said. "She may look a lot like us, but she doesn't got a tail. She'd stand out too easily."
"Well, it's not like tail-less humanoids are uncommon. On planet Vegeta they are..." Bardock looked to Celipa. "Better take the kid to Lady Aise. She'll know what to do."
Celipa nodded. "Okay."
"Aise?" Videl cocked her head. "Is she a Saiyan too?"
"Hardly... she's, well... you'll see when you'll meet her, Videl..." Celipa smiled at the child. "Don't worry. Everything will be okay."
"Well... all right..." Videl sighed softly. I guess I got no choice but to go along with them, she added in thought. But at least Celipa's here. For some reason... I feel as if I can trust her.
---
... m-mommy... daddy...
... too dangerous... get out of here...
... mommy... no... what are you doing to mommy..."STOP IT!!!" Teena sat up in a fright. She blinked, looking around quickly to find herself in a lavish room decorated in the style of the Orient, herself sitting upon a futon. She turned to the sound of a door sliding open, seeing a blue skinned girl in a Chinese dress, her face a cute sort, her hair short and black.
"Ah, you're awake..." she said. "It sounded as if you were having a nightmare... I wished to check to see if you were all right."
"I'll live..." Teena said with a soft smile that reassured the girl. "Uhm, where am I?"
"Ah, you're in the palace of Jadoshin, Princess of Snake Way!" the girl proudly proclaimed. "We found you unconscious at our doorstep so we brought you in." She sighed softly. "Poor girl... traveling Snake Way, reaching the half-way mark... you must have been tired."
"I don't tire. And--" Teena stopped herself. "Whoa. Be kind, rewind."
"Ah... what?" the girl asked, confused by Teena's vocabulary.
"Did you say I hit the half-way mark of this thing?!"
"I did..." the girl nodded.
"YES!" Teena cheered. "That means I got... at least perhaps two more months before I hit King Kai's place. Crap." Teena's cheer swiftly turned to dread as she sighed dejectedly. "Two more months of traveling the fine line between boredom and insanity. God, what a whack..."
"Well... uhm, perhaps you can rest here before you leave?" the girl suggested. "This palace also serves as a waystation between travels, you know."
"Well... I may just take that offer up," Teena replied. "I've spent a good month and a half on this road. I got over two more months to go."
The girl nodded. "Yes, yes! Surely you must be hungry and thirsty during all that time!"
"Not really..." Teena said as she shrugged. "I don't need to eat or drink. But I'll stick around for the taste of it."
"That's quite all right, as long as you'll be staying! I'll alert the Princess!" The girl walked to a small gong sitting upon a dresser, and struck it with a small hammer. "Our latest guest has decided to stay!"
"... geez..." Teena cocked her head with a smirk. "Y'know, I'm really not that big a deal."
"Well, you ARE our first guest since so many years ago... at least forty, in fact..." the girl explained.
"... ah, well..." Teena cocked her head the other way. "One word. Advertise."
"'Advertise...'" a soft voice repeated from behind Teena, then chuckled. "Well, you're certainly our more humorous guest in quite some time."
"Ah, Princess!" the girl smiled brightly, bowing out of respect. Teena turned around, facing a beautiful woman with skin equally as blue as the girl's, her hair long and red, tied in a braid that reached down to her knees, and clad in a lavish green dress with gold trims, along with high-heeled sandals.
"Welcome, traveler..." the woman greeted. "I am Jadoshin, Princess of this palace, and of Snake Way."
"... a pleasure to meet you..." Teena stepped back and bowed respectfully to Jadoshin. "I am called Eighteen."
"Really, now..." Jadoshin muttered. "Quite a peculiar name, forgive me for saying so... having a number for a name."
"Let's just say my 'father' was pretty peculiar... it's easier to call me Teena. All my friends do."
"Yes, much easier..." Jadoshin smiled. "Does this mean you consider me a friend, then?"
"You saved me from going all wacky from boredom," Teena replied. "Right now, that makes you my savior."
Jadoshin laughed, as she led Teena from the room, down a hallway. "I suppose I am, at that."
---
Celipa had brought Videl to a huge saucer-like mothership orbiting the planet Vegeta... one of three orbiting it, as a matter of fact. Upon entering the ship Videl became witness to a menagerie of various alien beings, all female (at least Videl believed the majority were female; some races she couldn't tell at all), doing various tasks around the ship or just conversing with each other. Videl tried not to visibly stare at some of the more unusual lifeforms occupying the mothership, as Celipa led her towards a large door in what seemed like the center of the ship, marked with a symbol that resembled some kind of an "A"-like marking, with four tentacle or dredlock-like protrusions below it.
"Celipa!" a voice called out from behind. Celipa turned, and smile as she and Videl saw a beautiful Saiyan woman approach, clad in white body armor and a grey leotard, her hair long and spiky-like and in a ponytail.
"Taanipu..." Celipa greeted, and the two hugged each other, a sign of a lifelong friendship. "How are you today?"
"Fine, I guess..." Taanipu answered. "Although I am a bit concerned..."
"Let me guess. Raditz?"
Taanipu nodded. "He went out with Prince Vegeta and Nappa last night. No doubt to follow Frieza's will."
"... damn..." Celipa sighed, shaking her head. "Taanipu, I hate to say this because I love you and all. But it looks as if Frieza's got a hold of him. Sorry..."
"I know..." Taanipu whispered, lowering her head. "Either Frieza's threatened him into doing his bidding..."
"Or he's a bad seed to begin with."
"... Should Bardock and I try for another child, then?"
Celipa shrugged. "I wouldn't mind another nephew or niece to play with. Anyhow..." Celipa changed the subject. "Is Lady Aise busy? I have to talk to her about this little one..." she gestured towards Videl, who was waiting patiently to be the subject of attention.
"Ah..." Taanipu smiled down at Videl. "Hello there. I'm Taanipu. And you are...?"
"Videl..." she replied.
"A pleasure, Videl..." she looked back up at Celipa. "I'm afraid Lady Aise is occupied at the moment with her brothers--"
The doors suddenly slid open, and Celipa, Taanipu, and Videl turned to see two alien beings exit the room, and immediately Videl gasped, feeling the two tremendously powerful, terribly evil energy levels approach, and she hid behind Celipa, peeking around her. She saw the two beings... both male, almost reptilian in appearance. The first one was in a floating chair-like apparatus, his head adorned with twin horns. The second was on his hand-like feet, purple hued with white endoskeletal armor. The horned alien glanced at Videl, who cringed away, shivering, overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of his evil aura. He merely smirked, and floated away with the second alien, turning a corner and leaving Videl's field of vision, though she still felt their energy levels.
"... w-who... who w-were they...?" Videl shuddered.
"Lady Aise's brothers..." Celipa answered. "The hornless one's Cooler. The one with horns is Frieza."
"... I... I'm... I've never been so scared..." Videl did her best to shake off the feeling of terror that overtook her, taking deep breaths.
"Both Frieza and Cooler are extremely powerful," Taanipu said. "Fortunately, so is Lady Aise, and she's much more benevolent than her brothers..."
"Talking about me behind my back, Taanipu?"
Taanipu blinked, and the three turned to see an exotic alien beauty... somewhat the same as her brothers but terrifyingly so, as she seemed more human than reptilian, her feet actually looking like feet for example, and long dredlock-like quills that stretched down the back of her skull. She appeared to be nude despite showing no explicit sexual features, and shiny blue chitin-like plates adorned her shoulders, head, chest, arms, and legs.
"Lady Aise..." Taanipu said, as she and Celipa bowed before her. Videl stared up at her, more in awe than frightened, like her brothers. "... if I may ask, why were your brothers here?"
Aise sighed softly. "The usual... trying to get me into joining the family once again, for world conquest. This time they threatened to destroy one of my planets if I refused."
"... which one will they..."
"They didn't say," Aise answered Celipa before she could complete her question. "I've already advised Estro, Gen, and Surees to contact all my worlds and have the Elites there be on full alert. Of course, if Cooler or Frieza happen to be there... it may be a wasted action. But enough of that..." Aise put on a smile that did its best to hide her growing concern. "What seems to be the problem with the two of you? And..." she glanced down at Videl. "... who's the little one?"
"Oh, uh..." Celipa put the thoughts of Cooler and Frieza threatening Aise behind her as she placed a hand on Videl's shoulder. "... this is Videl, Lady Aise. She says she's from the future."
"From Earth..." Videl added.
"Earth...! Ahh, yes... please, to me." Aise smiled, entering her room, with Videl, Celipa, and Taanipu following. "I visited Earth once, a long time ago when I myself was but a fledgeling. Undercover, of course... I don't believe Earth is quite ready for otherworldly visitors. But the future, you say..." Aise slipped into a floating chair-like contraption much like the one Frieza was in.
"She showed up on planet Vegeta, Lady Aise..." Celipa explained. "We... as in, Bardock and the rest of us, uhm, 'found' her."
"There must have been a reason to appear on planet Vegeta..." Aise surmised. "Or, was it a random occurrence, Videl?"
"Well..." Videl sighed softly. "Around two months ago, my time, a Saiyan showed up on Earth and he was gonna kill everyone. He was beaten but in a year from now two more Saiyans're gonna come to Earth to finish it...!"
"That... sounds a bit farfetched to me..." Taanipu theorized.
"Maybe... then again, maybe not," Aise replied. "Do you know the names of the Saiyans who will be coming to Earth, Videl?" she asked this, her ruby red eyes peering into Videl's blues, searching for the truth within.
"I... I think their names're Nappa and Vegeta..." answered Videl.
"Hmm..." Aise nodded, then looked up at Celipa and Taanipu. "She speaks truthfully. In Videl's future our erstwhile Saiyan prince and his aide may very well spell certain doom for the Earth and its inhabitants."
"But we're all preparing!" Videl added. "There's nine of us including me and we're all really strong! We're training, getting stronger! And--"
"Videl..." Celipa interrupted. "We Saiyans are born warriors. We self-teach ourselves how to fight. On top of all that, both Nappa and Vegeta... they're much stronger than Bardock or myself or the others. Vegeta, hell... he's a prodigy! He's still a child in this time and he's already surpassed his own father! The king himself, if I may add!"
"... so you're saying it's hopeless..." Videl muttered as she stared up at Celipa. "... that we can't beat them no matter what. That me... my friends... everyone on Earth're gonna die..."
"..." Celipa sighed, then dropped down to hug Videl. "Nothing's ever hopeless..." she told her. "... I'll help."
"Huh?" Videl blinked.
"Celipa, what're you--?" Taanipu questioned.
"I'll train extra hard..." Celipa explained. "Enough to hopefully surpass Vegeta himself. I'll train Videl, too. When the time comes I'll head to Earth and help their fighters defeat him and Nappa."
"You'll go against your own royalty?" Aise questioned, cocking her head, to which Celipa shrugged.
"What can I say?" she answered. "I'd do anything for children."
Videl smiled. "Th-thanks, Celipa."
"When will Vegeta and Nappa arrive, in our timeframe?" Taanipu asked.
"Let's see... Kami said we were coming here twenty-two years in the past and they're coming in a year..." Videl calculated.
"Twenty-three years..." Aise easily deduced. "A lot can happen between now and then, Celipa."
"I'll be there, no matter what..." Celipa looked to Videl. "Anyhow... we have to find Videl here an undersuit and a battle jacket her size. Maybe fashion a synthetic tail so she can pass herself off as a Saiyan child. Who knows how long she's going to be here with us."
Videl looked back up at Celipa with a grin, as the Saiyan discussed how to help her. I'm gonna train with a Saiyan.. and she's gonna help us fight to save the Earth!! If only the others could see me now...!
---
"And how is our new guest doing right now?" Jadoshin asked one of her aides, as the Snake Way's princess sat upon her throne, her other two aides attending her.
"She's resting in the hot springs as we speak," the aide answered. "She's blissfully unaware of our preparations."
"Good, good..." she paused, feeling not only her stomach rumble, but the stomachs of her aides rumble in precise unison, and she sighed softly. "It's been far too long since we've had a decent feast... eternal or not, a princess cannot live on ramen alone...!"
"She'll make a grand feast, your majesty..." her second aide answered. "Her body is perfectly proportioned in every way. I should know, I spied on her while she was undressing..." she giggled softly. "Cooked properly, I'm positive every part of her will be delicious!"
Jadoshin nodded solemnly. "I hate to do this without checking to make sure she isn't some champion or hero, but the needs of the body must be met. Let's just make sure this doesn't turn into another Goku incident. We make extra EXTRA EXTRA sure she's down for the count before we cook her, okay?"
The aides all nodded. "Yes, your majesty!" they replied together.
"50 times the sleepy root extract in the food, then?" one aide suggested.
"... better make it a hundred..." advised Jadoshin. "Just in case."
"But that... wouldn't that be enough to kill her?"
Jadoshin raised an eyebrow at the aide. "We're going to eat her."
"Oh... right..." the aide laughed softly, embarrassed and sweatdropping. "It wouldn't matter... right... my apologies, your majesty..."
"All right then... let's--" Jadoshin paused in her sentence, seeing Teena come into view; she had just gotten out of the springs, her hair devoid of its partial braid, a bath towel wrapped around her chest, and judging by the angry look on her face, Jadoshin could tell she overheard everything that was spoken just now. Nevertheless she tried to cover it all up. "Uh... hi, Teena! We were, uh... just talking about the grand turkey dinner we were going to prepare in the honor of--"
"Ohh... turkey dinner, I see..." Teena nodded. "So you were spying on said turkey while she was undressing before going into the hot springs! Well, I must've needed Lenscrafters to see the turkey relaxing in the same springs as I was. Or MAYBE you think I'll actually BUY that lame-ass excuse!" Teena's eyes narrowed at Jadoshin. "Come on... I may be a natural blonde but I'm not stupid."
"... Teena..." Jadoshin sighed. "I really wanted to avoid a confrontation here. You seem like a good person and all but... you must understand my situation here! I'm famished! I've gone for so long without decent food... you don't know how it is, to starve while being practically immortal..."
"Not my problem..." Teena retorted. "I don't particularly enjoy the idea of being Soylant Greened, Jadoshin. So you know what? I got a suggestion. GO VEGETARIAN!" Teena turned around to leave. "Overstayed my welcome anyhow. I got a schedule to keep."
"So do we, Teena..." Jadoshin said sadly. "Girls?"
Jadoshin's aides suddenly sprung forward, their features shifting into the demonic as they took Teena by surprise, tackling her to the floor. Before Teena could react in any fashion she heard the two aides' jaws give off a soft cracking sound, dislocating like a snake's jaw and engulfing her shoulders almost entirely, sinking sharp fangs into her shoulder blades and her upper chest. Teena struggled in the aides' painful grasp, but then began to grow weaker, her body going numb as she felt venom coursing through her.
"You should know," Jadoshin explained, as she stood up from her throne, approaching the paralyzed Teena. "Our sleepy root extract doesn't come from any plant. But from the roots of our fangs. It's the most powerful venom in the afterlife. And in its purest form, I'm afraid it's quite lethal."
N-no... Teena felt herself go limp, and as she watched the third aide remove the towel from her twitching body. She also felt her breathing getting shallower and shallower; not that breathing was an important factor for living for her, but nevertheless she was beginning to panic. C'mon... bionanos, kick in... please... God, please...
"I'm honestly sorry about this, Teena..." Jadoshin said, as her aides extracted their fangs from their victim's body, and their princess pulled her into a sitting position. "I wish there was another way. But... simply put, you showed up at the wrong place, the wrong time... but look on the bright side..." she glanced up at the lack-of-a-halo over Teena's head. "... at least you won't be going to the afterlife after you die... since you're already here."
Jadoshin closed her eyes, and opened them to reveal snake-like ones with vertically slitted pupils, then dislocated her jaw, her neck stretching out, elongating outward as she gathered Teena's head into her mouth. And Teena screamed mentally, her very soul beyond the rational scope of panicking. With her remaining vestiges of strength, she pushed away from Jadoshin, surprising her and her aides with the sudden, albeit weak, act of movement.
"... Hold her..." Jadoshin commanded with a sigh.
The aides swiftly complied, grabbing Teena's arms, positioning her back to the sitting position, as her head lulled upward, her eyes gazing dazedly at the looming snake-like visage of Jadoshin. A soft whimper escaped her lips, her eyes brimming over with tears, falling past her face.
... what are you doing to mommy...
Jadoshin once more lunged down to engulf Teena's head--
... stop hurting mommy...
--and Teena screamed, her Barrier flaring from her nude body, knocking Jadoshin and her aides from her. Shakily, she slowly got up, her legs still wobbly, her bionanos finally combating the effects of the venom.
"... How the... the venom's losing its effect?!" one aide exclaimed in shock. "... Bite her again!!"
The two aides that bit Teena the first time moved in for the kill once again, but she instinctively reacted, throwing an energy blast that struck one aide in the face, knocking her unconscious and throwing a body punch into the other aide's solarplexus. As both aides collapsed to the floor out cold, Teena staggered around to face Jadoshin, anger and tears in her ice blue eyes. "... how... dare you..."
"Now wait just a second!" Jadoshin pleaded, backing off as her remaining aide stepped forward to protect her, brandishing an oversized scimitar. "L-look... I'm sorry, okay? Hunger... m-makes you do bad things! I'm starving, Teena!!"
"How dare you... force me into living my worst fear..." Teena spat, ignoring Jadoshin's pleas. "Damned if I actually remember WHY it affects me like this but I'll be equally damned if I forgive you for putting me through this hell!!" Teena raised her hand towards Jadoshin and her aide, energy building up within her palm.
"... she's nothing like Goku..." the aide whispered, the scimitar shaking in her hands. "Princess, she's going to kill us!"
"..." Jadoshin closed her eyes, reverting back into her human form. "... you may leave..."
"What?!" Teena exclaimed, the energy still building up in her hand.
"I know what we tried to do was wrong, Teena..." Jadoshin said. "We're truthfully not bad people but sometimes our base instincts overrides our common sense. I know you won't forgive us but please don't kill us. We'll let you leave in peace and on towards King Kai's, just please let us live."
"And what about the next one who shows up on your doorstep?" Teena retorts. "What's to stop you from making them into Kibbles 'N Bits?"
"... if they're truly evil, then they won't leave..." Jadoshin vowed. "I promise you, Teena... only evil people will be devoured... I'll let the good ones live in peace."
"..." Teena paused for a good long moment. Then drew the energy back into herself, lowering her hand. "I'm getting dressed and I'm leaving... and don't ever call me 'Teena' ever again. Only my friends get that privilege." And with that, Teena turned around, leaving the room.
Jadoshin's aide sighed deeply, dropping the scimitar with an audible clang as she slipped to her knees. "... that was too close..."
"... I think it will be best if she doesn't know she was already swallowed by me..." advised Jadoshin. "Just let her go..."
"A wise decision, your majesty..." agreed the aide. "... very wise..."
---
A year had passed for Videl.
Under Celipa's tutelage the now 12-year old had learned much from the Saiyan woman. Videl also learned much about the Saiyan race... the violent warriors who annihilated the Tuffles and took over their world, and through Aise, learned much about their benefactor, Frieza. She had made valuable friends with Aise, as well as Taanipu, and even Bardock and his crew. Though Videl steadfastly disapproved of Bardock's crew aiding Frieza in the genocide of whole species on various planets she at least saw that Celipa was trying to make some good out of the horrific situation by sparing the children, sending them to a planet set aside by Aise where they could live peacefully.
"It's not much... but if I can at least make sure they have a good future I can sleep better at night."
Videl remembered Celipa's words, as she was hard at work training, perfecting her ki blasts; with Celipa's help she had finally mastered the long-ranged technique. Even more, she had learned to control the attack; she fired a ki blast from her palms, keeping an energy trail connected between it and her hands. Concentrating she jerked her hands back, willing the ki blast to encircle her, then darted it out behind her, striking its intended target.
Videl smiled approvingly, and she remembered more of Celipa's words, telling her before she departed for her next mission.
"This will be my last mission for Frieza..." Celipa said, as she slipped her battle jacket on.
"... R-really?!" Videl exclaimed with a happy smile.
"Yeah..." Celipa smiled back, hugging Videl. "I knew you'd like that news. I'm gonna convince Toma to come with me, and we're going to Aise XXI."
"... where you've been sending those children..."
Celipa confirmed with a nod. "Just one more mission, on planet Meet. Then I'll come back for you and we'll leave Frieza's influence forever."
Celipa told Videl she'd be back within two hours.
It's been four hours already. And Videl suddenly had an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach, as if she felt something horrible had happened.
"Celipa's dead."
Videl blinked, turning to face Taanipu, her newborn baby, Kakarot, in her arms. "... w-what...?"
"I just heard..." Taanipu said, her eyes closing. "... Celipa, Toma, Totepo, Panboukin... even Bardock, they're all dead..."
"NO!" Videl shouted, tears welling up in her eyes. "That can't be!! She-- she... this was gonna be her last mission! Taanipu!! She was gonna help us defend Earth!! She can't be dead!!"
"I'm sorry, Videl... believe me..." Taanipu's fears also fell, as she glanced down at her sleeping son. "I've known Celipa since we were children. This is hard on me, too... even more harder... I have to give Kakarot up."
"Why?!" Videl exclaimed.
"... his power level is too low... so we're sending him away, so he can wipe out a planet's population after he transforms..." Taanipu glanced at Videl, who was trembling with emotion, tears flowing like rivulets. "... no. No. I won't stand for it."
"... h-huh...?"
"It's all Frieza... his word, his law, his decree... it's because of him Bardock and Celipa are dead..." Taanipu smiled sadly. "Videl, thank you..."
"For... for what?"
"For being here..." Taanipu knelt down, hugging Videl with a free arm. "Celipa taught you well, but I think you taught her, too. Your innocence helped her on the right path... and it helped me make this decision, too. I'm not going to subject Kakarot to Frieza's will... I won't lose him like I lost Raditz. I'm going to raise Kakarot as a part of Lady Aise's contingent."
"Then go now... there isn't much time."
Taanipu and Videl blinked, turning around to see a bloodied Bardock, his battle jacket cracked and his undersuit in tatters. "... you're in danger... everyone on planet Vegeta... in danger..."
"What?!" Taanipu rushed towards her lifemate, visible concern on her face. "Bardock, it's good that you survived but you're still badly hurt! We have to get you to a regen chamber--"
"There's no time, Taanipu... listen... my crew were ambushed by Dodoria and his elites.. when I got to planet Meet it was too late..."
"..." Videl remembered the huge pink spiky alien monster to whom Bardock spoke of... she had seen Dodoria, one of Frieza's right-hand men, twice in her year on planet Vegeta. She never did like him before, but now her hatred of Dodoria was building even more rapidly. "... he killed Celipa... I-I'll..."
"I SAID there's no time!" snapped Bardock. "Frieza's coming!! He's going to destroy planet Vegeta and kill every Saiyan here!!"
Taanipu gasped as Videl's eyes went wide. "... no..." Taanipu whispered.
"Taanipu, take Kakarot and get on Aise's ship. I'll try to stall Frieza as best I can."
"No, Bardock..." Taanipu shook her head. "You can't take Frieza on by yourself!"
"I know..." Bardock approached Taanipu, leaning down to kiss her passionately. And Taanipu kissed back, her tears falling anew. He then looked down at the sleeping Kakarot. "Raise him well, Taanipu. Make him a great Saiyan warrior."
"I'll do my best..." Taanipu vowed. "... I love you, Bardock."
Bardock nodded softly. "I love you too, Taanipu. Now go."
Taanipu nodded, and took to the air with Kakarot clutched to her bosom. Videl jumped up, intending to follow her--
"Videl, wait."
--but she stopped, turning around to face Bardock as she landed. "What?"
"I know how to get you home. Back to your time," revealed Bardock. "But you must trust me, Videl. What I'm going to say is very farfetched, but it's true."
"I'm listening..." Videl waited.
"When we were on planet Kanassa something happened to me..." explained Bardock. "... I can see the future, Videl... don't ask me how, but I can. I saw Frieza destroying planet Vegeta... and I saw you. And your friends. Teena, Chi-Chi, Ran Fuan, and the others... they're worried about you... that you'll never wake up. But I overheard what was said... how to bring you back to your true time."
"... H-how?"
"You must die in THIS time."
"..." Videl blinked twice, and took a step back from Bardock. "... w... w-what...?!!"
"Think about it. It makes sense!" Bardock rationalized. "A year ago we killed your friends, Videl. Remember? Their bodies disappeared... their spirits returned to your present, in their true bodies. Videl... you must die in order to truly live... but I'd rather not have your life here end in the destruction of my world." Bardock's eyes narrowed. "Let me be merciful, Videl. I promise it'll be quick."
"..." Videl lowered her head, trembling in fear but staying her ground as Bardock approached her. She knew Bardock had to be right about it all, but the fear of certain death, especially for a twelve year old like Videl, was still beginning to creep through her soul. "... B... Bardock...?" she whispered, shutting her eyes tight. "... tell Celipa... thanks. For everything..."
"... I will..." Bardock answered. And Bardock acted swiftly, thrusting his arms out, catching Videl's head between them, twisting her neck instantly. Videl gasped, feeling her neck snap... a sudden pain that ended just as quick as her body went limp. Bardock caught her falling body, gently lowering her lifeless form to the ground, and watched as it faded from existence, disappearing completely and leaving behind the undersuit and battle jacket that she wore.
"... all right..." Bardock glanced up at the sky, sensing the impending danger loom everso nearer. And Bardock remembered the impending future... planet Vegeta shattering under his feet, his body vaporizing with his home world.
"I... I will..." Bardock clenched his fists, rising determination within him as he glared upward. "... change that future!"
Bardock dropped down into a three-point stance, and immediately rocketed off into the sky, flying headlong into a destiny he knew was coming. But like the Saiyan he was he would welcome the challenge of fighting it, to the very last.
---
Videl's eyes opened wide, sitting up a split second afterwards with a startled gasp.
"Videl... VIDEL!!" she was suddenly hugged tightly by a familiar violet-tressed woman she hadn't seen in a year. "YOU DID IT! YOU WOKE UP!!!"
"... hey..." Videl giggled softly, hugging Ran Fuan back. "... guess I missed it, huh?"
"Missed what, kiddo?" Ran Fuan asked.
"The big fight... we're all here still so I guess we won, right?"
"Oh, you mean you..." Ran Fuan chuckled lightly, shaking her head. "You were only out for a month, give or take a couple weeks. Saiyans haven't come yet. We're still training, waiting for Teena to show."
"... oh..." Videl blinked, turning her head away.
"How long were you there, Videl?"
"A year."
"Icky. A year with the Saiyans? That's like the ninth level of suck, right?"
"Not really... go get the others. I'll tell you all what happened, and what I found out."
"Okay..." Ran Fuan stood up, then reached over to ruffle Videl's hair. "Good to have you back, kid."
"It's good to be back..." Videl replied with a smile. But as Ran Fuan left the room, Videl's smile faded as she sighed, drawing her knees to her chest and lowering her head, eyes closing as tears fell once more, slipping into a state of mourning for her mentor and friend... someone who had died a long time ago, but whose death was still fresh in Videl's soul.
... Celipa...
-- TO BE CONTINUED.