11:42 AM.
East City.
"... it's true what they say, you know. That you always remember where you are when something huge happens."
"Oh?"
"Yeah... I remember when King Piccolo invaded World City, took the King hostage. I was there... we were all there, at Kame House. We were so scared when he declared anarchy... all hoping Teena would defeat him... er, no offense, Piccolo..."
"None taken, girl..."
"Piccolo, you should learn to be more specific. There's six of us estrogen carriers in the room. That one is Bulma."
"Hmph."
"City's pretty empty... really hope all the people'll be safe when the Saiyans show up."
"T-25 seconds to impact, gang!"
"Thanks, Bulma... okay, guys. It's gonna be crunch time any second now... either we crunch them or they crunch us. But if we play our cards right we may just pull off the 'W.'"
"T-10 and counting!"
"Just remember! Their tails aren't their weakness, they're stronger than Raditz--!"
"We'll remember that, Videl."
"THEY'RE HERE!!"
11:43 AM, and it happened at last. As Teena and her friends... Bulma, Mai (in her Weapon Battlesuit), Ran Fuan, Chi-Chi, Videl, Tein, Chiaotzu, Yamcha, and Krillin, as well as temporary ally Piccolo, watched on at the Capsule Corp building in West City through closed-circuit surveillance cameras in East City, and two spherical spacecraft shot down from the sky, impacting with all the force of meteors, causing huge craters in the street.
"So... they've come at last..." Piccolo muttered.
Teena's eyes narrowed, watching one of them exit the pod, a man standing roughly five feet ten inches, clad in a blue bodysuit and white armor, large spiky hair standing straight up on his head, flanked shortly thereafter by a seven foot tall bald man with a Fu Manchu moustache, clad in black armor. Both with the telltale monkey-like tails around their waists.
"The big one is Nappa..." Videl stated. "The small one is Vegeta. The Saiyan Prince."
"He's kinda cute..." remarked Bulma, to which she received odd stares from her allies at all sides. "What? He IS cute! For a harbinger of death, that is..."
"The big guy's about to do someth--" Ran Fuan's sentence was cut short as Nappa made a simple gesture with his hand. And suddenly the cameras' transmission was disconnected. A second later the ground rumbled underneath, with a bright light, like a second sun, exploding off in the horizon, gusts of wind rushing from it.
"What the hell?!" Tein exclaimed. "What did they do?!!"
"Bulma!" shouted Teena.
"On it!" Bulma quickly sat down at her computer and began typing commands on her keyboard. "Switching to satellite cameras now!" A split second after hitting the "ENTER" key, the orbital satellites focused in on East City's position... or what WAS its position; a smoking crater was all that remained of West City's sister metropolis.
"... oh my God..." Ran Fuan whispered. "... it's gone... just... gone..."
"Bulma, the S.A.F.E. House..." Teena asked, growing concerned.
"Checking..." Bulma switched camera interfaces, and a collective sigh of relief was felt through the room as the S.A.F.E. House cameras picked up East City's populace from within the underground confines. "They're okay... a little shaken up, but alive. Looks like the S.A.F.E. Houses are a success."
"Excellent work, Bulma..." Teena praised with a relieved smile. "You and the people on that project should be commended."
"It was nothing... just doing my part..." Bulma answered, a bit embarrassed by the praise but happy nonetheless.
"Now it's our turn to do our part!" Krillin proclaimed.
"Damn straight," Teena nodded. "Bulma, you'll be Big Brothering the fight scene."
"Gotcha. Launching the camera pods now!" Bulma prepared to type in the keystrokes, until Yamcha stopped her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Bulma, wait!" he said. "... They're moving...!"
"The Saiyans... they're coming! Straight at us!!" warned Piccolo.
"Their scouters!" Videl realized. "They can sense our energy levels with them!"
"Better head them off at the pass, then..." Teena turned about-face and headed out the door. "Let's get it started, gang!!"
Earth's mightiest warriors wasted little time in following Teena, one goal set firmly in their minds.
Survival. For Earth, and themselves.
"Default Judgement Pt. 1"
By
Ken Blackwell
"A shame that city didn't have any people!" Nappa boasted as he and Vegeta flew across the sky. "I wanted the pleasure of swatting the first insects of the conquest!"
"End it there, Nappa..." Vegeta advised. "You'll destroy the resale value of this dustball if you keep messing it up."
"Good point..." Nappa begrudgingly nodded. "Before we sell anything, we're going to find those balls that'll get us a wish granted!"
"Yes, the 'Dragon Balls' The one who killed Raditz will know where they are. Curious, though..." Vegeta smirked. "That city was clearly desolate. Which means..."
"They were expecting us...!" realized Nappa.
"I suspect the cyborg's hand in this. Going on about how she'll protect this world and its people so she's hidden them from us. A clever ploy, I'll give her that much. But as soon as we destroy her and whoever else foolish enough to confront us it shouldn't be a problem to search for the humans and exterminate them."
"Vegeta, my scouter's picking up nine readouts, heading straight for us!"
"Then let's land here, in this desert. We'll wait for them." Vegeta dropped down to the sandy ground below him, Nappa following close behind. "Ten of them are coming, Nappa. Remember, the cyborg's energy level is cloaked. Determining it is next to impossible."
"Making her quite the challenge, eh?" Nappa smirked.
"Quite..." Vegeta grinned. "I've never been this elated over a battle like this in such a long time... it will be VERY satisfying killing this 'Eighteen!'"
---
"Teena!" Bulma's voice sounded in the earpieces of the ten warriors' comm-links. "I know this a huge bad timing thing, but we got a situation over at the World City S.A.F.E. House! As in the hostage kind!"
"What?!" Teena exclaimed. "Oh, for the love of... can you give me a descript of the bad guys?"
"Bad GUY, singular! And that's the weird part... it's KING PICCOLO!!"
All ten froze in the air upon hearing Bulma's revelation. "That's not possible!" Chi-Chi exclaimed. "... is it...?"
"Of course not..." Piccolo scoffed. "I'M King Piccolo! Or rather, was."
"I gotta head there..." Teena sighed deeply. "I got a sinking feeling I know who it REALLY is."
"But Teena, we need you for this fight!!" Tein retorted.
"I KNOW! Look, you guys go on ahead. Try to hold them off as best you can! I'll rejoin you all as quickly as possible!" And with that, Teena rocketed away from the group, heading towards World City.
"This is a waste of time we don't have...!" scowled Piccolo. Why is Eighteen DOING this?!"
"Because it's who she is, Piccolo..." Videl answered. "She's a hero. A protector. Sure, she could ignore the hostages and help fight the Saiyans with us... but then she wouldn't be Teena."
"..." Piccolo growled softly, then turned to fly towards the approaching Saiyans.
"We'll just have to manage without Teena for a while..." Yamcha said.
"I don't like how this feels, but we've no choice..." Chiaotzu replied.
"All right then, true believers..." Ran Fuan said. "Let's follow the green goblin!" The eight charged forward, following Piccolo, and Chi-Chi flew side-by-side Ran Fuan with a smirk.
"How long have you waited to say THAT?!" she asked.
"Oh, couple of weeks..." Ran Fuan answered with a playful wink.
---
"Okay, Bulma... give me the 4-1-1 on the World City's S.A.F.E. House..." Teena said as she flew into the Earth's capitol.
"Well, when we started on it, we decided to have the main entrance located at the King's Palace," Bulma explained. "Only the King and yours truly know the access codes to all the S.A.F.E. Houses. It's 5-4-1-9-5-5... I've already let security know you're on your way!"
"Awesome! Thanks, Bulma!" Upon arriving at World City, Teena noted that it was as deserted as the the other cities... that was initially the plan, to keep innocents from serious danger by creating the S.A.F.E. Houses for shelter. But perhaps in the back of her mind, as Teena entered the King's palace, she know of certain parties who would love to take advantage of the state of emergency something like this would cause.
"Eighteen, ma'am..." Teena was greeted by a pair of security guards posted at the S.A.F.E. House entryway. "It's good that you're here, ma'am... the King and the entire populace of World City are in danger down there!"
"I know..." Teena confirmed, typing in the access code at the keypad next to the huge doors.
"... I thought you killed King Piccolo, though..." the other guard said.
"I did. It's not King Piccolo. It's someone even more worse." Teena watched as the doors slowly slid open. "You two stay here. I'll handle this on my own."
"Y-yes ma'am..." the first guard nodded.
Teena flew down the stairs, towards the freight elevator leading to the S.A.F.E. House, and choosing to not wait for the elevator to rise up to take her, jumped down the shaft, dropping like a stone thousands of miles down, slowing her descent once she reached the ground and touching down gently to her feet. From there she approached the doorway and quickly typed in the same access code. The door slid open, and Teena saw the familiar sight of King Piccolo himself... similar yet somewhat older looking than the Piccolo of today, complete with the "Mazoku" Kanji on his chest. Everyone was still alive, save for two security guards... one had a hole blasted through him while the other's head was sheared cleanly off his neck... two men... two families without husbands, or fathers or brothers...
Teena glared at the Demon King, and looked to the Earth's King, who was with his people, standing bravely in a show of protection, and she recalled why she respected him; he would give his all to see his people safe, no matter what.
Teena then looked back at King Piccolo. "Drop the charade," she demanded coldly.
King Piccolo grinned, and his body lost all its color, morphing to shining chrome and opening to reveal a cute alabaster-hued gothette clad in black leather, her liquid metal hair flowing back behind her. [... i knew i could never fool you...]
"I'm a little busy right now, Nineteen..." Teena said, growing annoyed. "You know... saving the world? What's your damage, huh? Why now?!"
[... why, i'm hurt, 18th... i thought you'd want to play with me...] Nineteen cooed. [... and it's such a fun fun game... something i like to call... let's see, what should i call it... oh, i know... LIFE VS. DEATH.]
"I'm not in the mood to play games, Nineteen..." Teena protested.
[... too bad... i am... and it's oh so simple to play, 18th... see, i'm going to start killing people here... and all you have to do is try to stop me! doesn't that sound like fun...?]
Teena sighed softly. "Nineteen... I really don't have time for this so I'm just going to put an end to this by the time I say KAIO-KEN!!!" And Teena's power exploded once more to a heightened level; before Nineteen could react Teena charged forward and threw a back kick to the side of Nineteen cranium, knocking her forwards to the door, and then tackled her out the door and from the S.A.F.E. House. "YOUR MAJESTY! SHUT THE DOOR! QUICKLY!!"
The King nodded, and swiftly acted, typing in the access code on the keypad to shut the door, saving himself and his people. And Nineteen seethed at Teena, visibly irate.
[... they were MINE to kill...!] she whined.
"You know, I really don't have time for you and your Little Miss Psychokill routine..." Teena said as she walked towards Nineteen. "Especially when I got two aliens on Earth about to turn all of humanity into one oversized Manwich. You can't get into the S.A.F.E. Houses anyway now, so I got no reason to open a can." She walked past Nineteen, concluding her rant. "Go home, Nineteen. I got bigger Bads to bash."
Teena flew up the elevator shaft, leaving Nineteen alone and isolated from her potential victims.
[... no... i'm not through yet...] Nineteen suddenly shot upward, passing Teena, and her chromium hair lashed out, wrapping around Teena's neck, throwing her up into the air, through the palace's ceiling and the roof as Nineteen cackled gleefully. She then stopped, looking down to see the two security guards below her, looking up at Nineteen with shock. [... oooo, toys...]
"Oh, crap--!!" The second guard quickly pulled out his sidearm and began to fire at Nineteen, the first guard just as quick following his partner's actions. Nineteen's hair effortlessly deflected the bullets, ricocheting off the fluid alloy of her tresses. Her hair suddenly lashed out, catching the two guards and wrapping them up, mummy-style within its gleaming strands.
"NINETEEN!! NO!!!" Teena charged down towards Nineteen, who looked up at Teena with a cocked head, And with a wink, the mummy wraps suddenly compressed into small spheres, the sounds of bones crunching sickeningly audible.
[... oops. toys broken...]
"DAMN YOU!!!!" Teena screamed, and punched Nineteen through the wall, then followed her, hitting the bullet-time-like speed she was noted for, throwing punch after kick after punch at Nineteen, who ducked, dodged, and blocked every attack. Nineteen's fingernails suddenly elongated into claws, slashing at Teena seemingly wildly, but with such deadly precision that made Teena really concentrate on avoiding her attacks. But when noticing the look in Nineteen's eyes... actually focused, not wild and crazed as they would be under any given circumstance... she made a shocking realization.
This isn't random... she's PURPOSELY stalling me!
Teena dodged another swipe from Nineteen's claws, and threw a side kick that sent her opposition barrelling away, colliding into a car, taking it with her as she crashed into a building. Not wasting any more time she twisted around to fly away with every intention to re-join her friends, but chrome tendrils abruptly shot out of the rubble, grabbing a hold of Teena's ankles and flinging her viciously against a building wall. Nineteen exploded from the rubble, a sick grin on her face as Teena rose to her feet.
[... figuring things out again... oh, you're so smart, eighteen...] Nineteen cocked her head. [... but i wonder just how smart you are...]
Teena grit her teeth in anger, and was about to charge at Nineteen once again until she caught a glint of light from a single strand of liquid metal hair, and she stopped herself in time, noticing that the whole city was now intertwined in Nineteen's hair.
[... yes, very smart...] Nineteen grinned, kicking a stone into the air into one of her strands, and the rock was neatly sliced in two. [... moving from that spot would result in such a pretty pretty mess...] she giggled sadistically.
"Why're you doing this?!" demanded Teena.
[... father wants to see what the aliens are all about... don't worry, you'll make it in time to save the world... but who's to say how many of your friends must die before them... hm?]
And Nineteen laughed demonically, as all Teena could do was stand impatiently, her heart hurting as she was imprisoned by the psychotic cyborg's deadly tresses.
---
"... bad news, gang!" Bulma reported to the Earth's warriors still on-route towards the Saiyans. "Turns out 'King Piccolo' was really Nineteen! She's keeping Teena from joining you guys in time!"
"Nineteen?!" queried Piccolo. "Someone related to Eighteen?"
"Sort of... kind of like a cousin of sorts," Ran Fuan explained. "None of us have ever seen her but Teena's told us about her... borderline psycho, liquid metal hair... we're talking straight-up Clive Barkerness here!"
"Or Stephen Kingish," added Videl.
"Whatever..." grumbled Piccolo, not understanding the authorial euphemisms thrown about. "It just proves my point. She should never have left for such a fool's errand."
"I'll go rescue Teena..." Chi-Chi volunteered, but paused when Tein shook his head.
"We need all the help we can get over here!" he stated. "Besides, what if you fail and get diced to pieces by that psychopath?! You already died once, remember? We can't bring you back twice!"
"..." Chi-Chi dejectedly sighed, then nodded in reluctant agreement.
"We're getting close..." Krillin dreaded. "Man, I can feel their chi... l-like a demonic aura...!"
"There they are..." Ran Fuan spotted Nappa and Vegeta, and the Earth's chosen landed to the ground, facing the two Saiyans. An unsettling silence crept about the desert... all wildlife had already fled, sensing the impending violence.
"Let's make this clear..." Piccolo was the first to break the silence first. "What exactly do you want here?!"
"Ah, that voice..." Vegeta recognized. "It was you who helped kill Raditz, wasn't it?"
Piccolo smirked. "My reputation proceeds me, I see."
"He's a Namekian..." Nappa noted.
"Looks like it..." agreed Vegeta. "Not so strange that Raditz was beaten, then."
Piccolo blinked. "... Namekian...?"
"... Piccolo... y-you're an alien too...?!" Krillin exclaimed.
"... that explains a whole helluva lot..." muttered Ran Fuan.
"They say these slimy Namek gastropods possess strange powers even beyond their extraordinary fighting abilities, even sorcery..." revealed Vegeta. "You're the one who made those Dragon Balls, weren't you?"
"Just as Teena told us..." Chi-Chi said. "They DO know about the Dragon Balls.
"Why else would we bother with this dump?!" bellowed Nappa. "Hand them over! Bring on all the Namekians you can find, they're just slugs to us!!"
"Heh..." Piccolo smirked. "Thanks to you, I suddenly have a much better insight to my ancestry. Alas for me, however, I did not create the Dragon Balls. My specialty is combat. As you will see." Piccolo dropped into a fighting stance, as did the others, preparing for whatever lay in store.
"Well then... if you won't give us the information we seek, we'll just have to beat it out of you..." Vegeta threatened. "But first, I'd like to see what you can really do..." he turned to look at Nappa. "Weren't there six seeds for saibamen left?"
"... why do I suddenly have this 'we're screwed' feeling?" Ran Fuan whispered.
Mai trembled in her Weapon battlesuit... her first real combat situation since joining the side of good, and she was afraid, though the armor hid it well. She suddenly paused as she heard Teena's voice whisper to her through the built-in comm-link in her helm.
"Mai... what's going on? You all okay still?"
"Teena! Yes, we're okay..." Weapon whispered back. "But the Saiyans... it looks like they're growing... plant-based creatures for us to fight! Teena... I'm scared..."
"We'll get through this... but I need your help getting free here."
"Okay... what can I do?"
"Pull up the most recent city construction records on World City. They should be updated to include the S.A.F.E. House."
"... uhm... isn't this something Bulma can do? It seems more... Bulmaish..."
"It is, but I trust you just as much as her."
Weapon blinked, and her heart soared with joy. She TRUSTS me!! she beamed. "Okay! What is it you're looking for?"
"I need to know how deep down the S.A.F.E. House is from ground level. I know how I can escape from Robogoth but I don't want to end up hurting anyone accidentally in the process!"
"... oh my God..." Weapon hesitated, turning her attentions to the activity before her.
"Mai? What's going on?"
"Tein beat one of those little green men... and the wild haired Saiyan... Vegeta... he destroyed it. With just a gesture...!!"
"... how Muad'Dibish of him. Okay, that's scary power there... Mai?"
---
"... I need those records..." Teena whispered to Weapon through her comm-link. "The sooner I can escape the sooner I can--" She suddenly jerked her head to the side as Nineteen shot a spiked tendril at her head, intentionally missing it and spearing the comm-link from her ear.
[... naughty naughty 18th...] Nineteen said, tsking as she shook her head. [... relying on your friends to help you? you should be thankful they're going to die... then you won't have such weaknesses...]
"... you're getting a happy seeing me in pain, aren't you?" Teena hissed.
Nineteen smirked, cocking her head. [... yes, it IS a turn-on... you wear the visage of 'vulnerable damsel in distress' well...]
Square one... Teena realized, as she stared angrily at Nineteen. I can't escape... I know HOW to escape but I can't endanger the lives below me! Things can't get any worse!!
Teena paused, eyes wide.
... I hope I didn't just jinx myself...
---
"All right... my turn next..." Yamcha stepped up to face the next saibaman. "I'll teach them that playtime's over."
"Ah. A hotshot..." Vegeta muttered, unimpressed.
"Show 'em what the saibamen are made of!!" Nappa shouted at the next saibaman, which merely grunted in reply.
"Don't worry, guys..." Bulma told the others, as Yamcha and the saibaman stalked one another, sizing each other up. "Teena's okay. I can still see her on the cameras, but her comm-link's gone. We can't communicate with her now!"
"Well... at least she's okay, I guess--" Weapon then paused, seeing Yamcha and the saibaman vanish. "Wha--?! Where'd they go?!"
"They're moving at super-speed, idiot!" growled Piccolo. "Feel their chi! Everyone can see them but you!!"
"Oh... uh..." Weapon blinked, cycling through the various commands on her on-board computer. "... I need an instruction manual, I think..."
"Infernal contraptions..." Piccolo and the others then saw a flash of light, as Yamcha's Kamehameha Wave had suddenly struck the saibaman, leaving it in a smoking crater.
"... again..." Nappa muttered, disappointed. "That's two down, now."
Yamcha touched down at the edge of the crater, grinning confidently. "These monsters aren't as fearsome as they look. I'll just clean up the other four by myself."
"Heh, really now..." Vegeta retorted. "Seems it's your turn to underestimate."
"What?!" Yamcha blinked, and suddenly the defeated saibaman leapt out of the crater, latching itself to Yamcha's torso, binding his arms with its own limbs. Before anyone could react, the saibaman exploded, Yamcha caught in the epicenter.
"I-it just... self-destructed..." Piccolo exclaimed, surprised.
"That's more like it..." Vegeta muttered in approval.
"YAMCHA!!" Krillin, as well as Chi-Chi and Ran Fuan, ran to their fallen friend's side. Krillin knelt down to check on him, and blinked twice in shock.
"... he's alive...?!"
Yamcha moaned softly, and slowly rose to a sitting position. "W... what happened?"
"Impossible!" Vegeta protested. "Unless..." Quickly he picked up his scouter and placed it back on, looking to the shaken up Yamcha through it. "... ah, I understand now..."
"Okay, how did you pull an Unbreakable like that?" Ran Fuan asked, then paused, noticing serious looking wounds in his gi. "Yamcha... you're bleeding..."
"... no, it's not my blood... it..." Yamcha felt his gi tremble, a moan of pain coming from it, and he quickly realized what was happening. "Oh, God... what did you do?!" Yamcha's gi suddenly came undone from his chest, collapsing into a broken, bloodied cat-girl on the ground.
"PUAR?!!" Chi-Chi shouted.
"That explains it..." Vegeta nodded. "He was wearing a shapeshifter! And she must have shielded him from the brunt of the saibaman's attack. Noble... if not entirely foolhardy..."
"..." Bulma stared dumbfounded at Puar's lifeless body on the ground, via the spy cameras set up around the area. "... she did it... she really did it... the one thing I could never do..."
"... she gave her life for mine..." Yamcha knelt down, and hugged the dead Puar in his arms. "You idiot... you loyal lovesick idiot, I didn't say you could do that!!"
"Using your women as shields?" Nappa taunted. "Pathetic!!"
"At least we Saiyans ALLOW our women to fight as warriors..." Vegeta added. "Pick up your trash!"
"..." Yamcha stood up, glaring at the Saiyans. "... I've had enough of these two. Krillin?"
"I read ya..." Krillin began to gather up his energy. "This is what we've been trainin' for!" He then threw his hands out in front of him, firing a large energy blast at the Saiyans and the saibamen. At the same time Yamcha charged up his own energies, igniting a single energy sphere from his palm.
"Everyone, SCATTER!!" Ran Fuan shouted, ducking and covering as Chi-Chi dove to safety, and everyone else, even the saibamen, fled from Krillin's attack.
"Tremendous power... but no speed!" Piccolo remarked, as he braced for impact. "It's like a sign saying 'get away!'"
Krillin suddenly redirected the energy blast, narrowly missing Vegeta and Nappa, who both stood their ground. Bringing it up into the sky, Krillin let out a shout, and the blast exploded into six separate projectiles. At the same time Yamcha released his own attack, sending it out to strike the fleeing saibamen, bouncing off each one of them, stunning them enough for Krillin's attack to blast them to pieces. The attacks didn't spare Nappa or Vegeta either, as both Krillin and Yamcha's tandem attack struck them both at the same time. And the surrounding area was obscured by the dust and debris from both the ground and the saibamen's remains.
"That's all of 'em.." Krillin smirked.
"Outstanding..." Piccolo muttered, actually cracking a smile. "That actually impressed even me."
Yamcha smirked in turn, though the half-smile faded as he glanced over to the dead cat-girl lying in a pathetic heap on the ground. "... Puar..."
"She did the right thing, Yamcha..." Tein said softly. "She should be commended for her bravery."
"... I'm taking her back to Capsule Corp..." Yamcha walked to gather Puar up into his arms.
"A good idea..." Piccolo said. "We can't afford any weakness for the great battle to come."
"Heh heh heh..." The fighters froze, hearing the evil chuckle from a familiar raspy voice, and seeing Nappa and Vegeta emerge from the dustcloud, unscathed from the attacks that struck them. "Yes, I hope it will be a great battle... you DID say you wanted playtime to end, didn't you?"
"Now it's time for the real thing!" Nappa boasted.
"... no fair godboying..." Ran Fuan whispered, totally shocked.
"But... we used our full power! Both of us!!" Yamcha exclaimed.
"Yamcha!! Go! Get Puar out of here!!" shouted Krillin.
"I'll kill all nine of them at once... let me do it," requested Nappa.
"As you will," Vegeta allowed.
"I'll be merciful and kill the remaining lovebird first!"
"Crap!" Ran Fuan turned towards Yamcha, still cradling Puar in his arms. "You still here?! GO!!!!"
Yamcha blinked, and quickly turned tail to fly away.
"You ain't going to escape death THAT easy!!" Nappa grinned evilly. "My Break Cannon'll see to that!!" Opening his mouth wide, he fired a huge beam of energy from it, aiming straight and true for Yamcha and Puar's body.
"YAMCHA!!" Ran Fuan flew with all her speed, intercepting the Break Cannon with her own body. "DON'T LOOK BAAAAAAaaaaac--" And the Break Cannon seared the very flesh from Ran Fuan's bones. Yamcha grit his teeth, hearing Ran Fuan die, but honored her request, not looking back as he escaped, ignoring her charred skeleton as it plummeted to the earth below.
"Leave him be, Nappa!" ordered Vegeta. "We'll kill him later! Right now, focus on those who still want to fight us!!"
"Okay..." Nappa grinned deviously. "Who's next, then?!"
Earth's warriors were frozen with terror at Nappa's unimaginable might... Krillin, Videl, Piccolo, Chiaotzu, Tein, Weapon, and Chi-Chi... virtually all still numb from Puar and Ran Fuan's demises, knowing they could be next. Nappa suddenly charged forward with all the force of a rocket-fuelled freight train, heading straight towards Tein. The triclopean warrior instinctively threw up his left forearm to block Nappa's energy-charged fist--
"DROP!!!" screamed Piccolo.
-- but Piccolo's warning came too late. Nappa's punch literally tore through Tein's block, ripping his left forearm off, severing flesh and bone as if it were struck by a meat cleaver. Tein screamed as his arm fell to the ground, staggering back, but with the presence of mind to rocket up to the sky preparing to fire a chi blast with his remaining arm. Nappa was too fast though, meeting Tein halfway and knocking him back down with a harsh forward kick. Tein hit the ground hard, but slowly struggled back up.
"Stubborn bastard..." Nappa muttered. "He just won't die."
"That's... that..." Chi-Chi let out a frustrated scream, and drew back her hands, gathering energy. "Krillin! Help Tein!!"
"Don't!" warned Piccolo. "He's too much!!"
"KAMEHAMEHAA!!!!" Chi-Chi fired the energy blast taught to her by Master Roshi at Nappa, who smirked at the incoming attack.
"Atta girl!!!!" he taunted, and made a swipe towards the ground; the ground literally exploding open, knocking Krillin and Chi-Chi back and dissipating the Kamehameha Wave easily. As the dust settled, a huge gaping hole appeared, so deep the bottom couldn't be seen within.
"... oh God..." Weapon trembled, more visible now as she stepped backward in absolute fear. "... I can't do this..."
"... Ch-Chiaotzu...?!" Krillin stood up, frantically looking around. "W-where is he?!"
"Nappa! Behind you!" Vegeta shouted.
"Huh?" Nappa was suddenly taken by surprise as Chiaotzu slapped onto the big Saiyan's back. "HEY!!"
"CHIAOTZU!!" Tein screamed. "What're you trying to do?! Get out of there!!"
... it's okay, Tein... Chiaotzu spoke to his closest friend telepathically, one of the diminutive psionic's many powers. Goodbye, my friend. Save yourself.
"No... y-you can't..." Tein muttered. "Chiaotzu, DON'T!!!"
And Chiaotzu detonated his own chi, exploding violently.
Everyone was dumbstruck, seeing another ally and friend die at the hands of their enemies. "... so... blew himself up to take out an opponent..." Piccolo remarked. "Another one to win my respect today..."
"... no..." Weapon's scanners picked up a reading from the airborne dust cloud, and she shook her head. "... it wasn't enough..."
The dust settled, and Nappa remained unscathed from Chiaotzu's kamikaze attack. "... that was a waste..." he said spitefully. "You still just don't get it, do you?"
"Dammit... we'll have to try a more potent combined attack," Piccolo said. "Videl, you and the others must aid me."
"Gotcha..." Videl nodded.
"What do you have planned?" asked Chi-Chi.
"In the instant he moves to attack he'll be open," Piccolo explained.
"And we'll use that instant..." Krillin sighed. "Hope it works."
"Yes... as do I." The remaining fighters turned to see Vegeta, who continued to play spectator, arms crossed as he surveyed the fight. "Don't look at me, now. You'll miss your instant."
"So confident..." Piccolo muttered. "I hope to see your face when Eighteen arrives."
"Ah, yes... the cyborg..." Vegeta chuckled. "I do hope she DOES show up. I'm looking forward to seeing her in action."
Suddenly Nappa charged forward, heading towards Tein with a bellowing battle cry.
"LET'S DO IT!!!" screamed Videl, and she, Piccolo, Krillin, and Chi-Chi disappeared, moving at the heightened speed needed. Only Weapon remained on the ground, left to doubt herself and her worth.
"... am I really cut out for this...?" she asked herself.
"Doubt your abilities?" Vegeta asked. "Not much of a fighter, are you? Is that why you need armor? In the vain hopes you'll actually survive this day?"
Weapon glared at Vegeta... but deep down, she knew he was right. She DIDN'T belong in this fight. She had no place in it.
Meanwhile, the instant was taken in earnest, as Piccolo rocked Nappa with all his strength in a hard punch, Krillin quickly following it up with a double axe-handle that sent the Saiyan barrelling down. Videl kept up the juggle attack with an axe kick to the jaw while Chi-Chi struck Nappa in the spine with a thrust kick.
"FINISH HIM!!" Piccolo shouted, firing his Light of Death, Krillin his Kamehameha Wave, Chi-Chi her Blast Cannon, and Videl her Lion Roar. Tein, seeing the plan unfold before him, managed a smirk.
Very well... I'll help avenge Chiaotzu... he decided. Then I'll join you, my friend. We'll never be apart. With his remaining arm he joined the quadruple tandem attack with his own Blast Cannon, turning it into a quintuple tandem force. And they all struck Nappa simultaneously.
"GOT 'IM!!" Krillin grinned. "That HAD to do it!!"
"... no... it didn't..." Weapon whispered meekly.
Nappa survived. Still floating in the air, though his battle jacket was all but destroyed, his tough skin merely scuffed up. "... not bad..." he critiqued. "That actually hurt a little bit."
"..." Tein trembled in weakness, staring up at the seemingly invincible Nappa. Then collapsed to the ground, his energies spent as he breathed his last.
"Tein, no..." Chi-Chi gasped. "... oh God... how are we going to break this to Launch?! BOTH of her?!"
"... th-this... it's a nightmare..." Krillin said with a deep dread. "... Puar, Ran Fuan, Chiaotzu... and now Tein... all of them... one after another... dying... dammit... Teena, where are you?!"
"Hm..." Vegeta cocked his head. "Nappa, halt for a moment."
"Wha... why?!" asked Nappa.
"I want to ask them... this 'Teena...' Eighteen. That's her full name, correct? Is she REALLY your only hope? What good will she be if she had trouble with the likes of Raditz?"
"She's different from before!" answered Krillin. "She's more powerful than ever before!!"
"Take it from someone who knows..." Piccolo added. "Eighteen is a bad one to underestimate."
"Ha! Then where is she?!" taunted Nappa. "Maybe she's afraid!!"
"Hardly! Chi-Chi retorted. "She'll come!"
"And when she does you'll both be sorry!!" added Videl.
"Such faith.. touching," noted Vegeta. "All right then. We'll wait. Three hours. And no longer."
"What?!" Nappa exclaimed. "What the hell'm I supposed to do for three hours?! I've been in suspended animation for too long! My body is hungry for action, to hell with waiting!!!"
"NAPPA!!!!" Vegeta angrily shouted. "DO WHAT I SAY!!!!"
And Nappa froze, actually trembling before Vegeta. "S... sorry..." he mewed. "I... got carried away..."
"... Well... there you go," Vegeta said, turning to the survivors of Earth's forces. "Three extra hours of life. Enjoy them."
"... that's rare..." Videl said as she slumped down on a boulder with a sigh of relief. "Vegeta actually showing some mercy. Teena really must have him impressed enough to do this for us."
"Guys... I... I really don't know if I can do this..." Weapon muttered. "I'm way out of my league... even IN the armor."
"Away with you, then!" Piccolo spat. "We have no use for a coward."
"..." Weapon paused. Then sighed. "... okay. Maybe I am a coward. I guess you'd know. Your father... you probably have his memories so you'd know. But I AM trying here, okay?! I know I can never be as strong as any of you but at least I have enough courage not to run away!! A-and maybe I'll have enough courage built up where I-I can actually fight!!"
"... we'll see..." Piccolo replied, unconvinced. "Everyone else has already won my respect. Even the cat-girl has impressed me with her sacrifice."
"... I'm not here to impress you!" retorted Weapon.
"Then why ARE you here?!"
"... to try to prove my worth..."
"Then try harder." Piccolo glanced at the Saiyans. "... the way the big one cowered... that must mean the little one is even MORE powerful..."
"... it's hopeless..." dreaded Chi-Chi.
"Nothing's ever hopeless... Celipa told me that!" Videl stated, trying to boost morale. "Teena'll show up and Nappa and Vegeta'll know what it's like..."
"Hm?" Vegeta looked to Videl, overhearing her. "... curious..."
"What is it, Vegeta?" Nappa asked.
"... Celipa... that's a Saiyan name..."
"... wasn't she a part of that lost crew of low-levels lead by Kakarot's father?"
"She was. I remember having a small crush on her as a child. But how would that girl know about her? She died even before that human brat was ever born...!"
---
[... i wonder if anyone's died yet...] Nineteen taunted, watching Teena seethe in a mix of anguish and anger. [... oh, you probably know... you can sense energy signatures, can you...?]
"... you spiteful little bitch, when I get outta here I will--"
[--do what? you can't kill me... you have aliens to fight. we'll just put a rain check on our eventual, ultimately final battle...]
"She will..." A new, male voice suddenly announced its presence. "But I won't!"
Nineteen blinked, and turned around just in time to get a face full of a Power Blitz, knocking her back and forcing her concentration into disarray, the strands of hair blanketing World City coming undone, freeing Teena from her predicament. And both Teena and Nineteen looked to see a young man with black hair, features resembling Teena's, wearing blue jeans, a black shirt, a red bandanna around his neck, and a black leather duster, twin sidearms around his waist.
[... the 17th...] Nineteen hissed.
"... Sev...?!" Teena blinked twice. "... YOU rescued me?! Why?!!"
"I don't have to explain myself, even to you, sister..." Seventeen said flatly. "So go! Save this world before those aliens destroy my chances for its utopia!!"
"... right..." Teena smiled softly at her erstwhile twin brother. "... I owe you one..." And Teena rocketed upward, flying at top speed to the battlefield ahead. Nineteen prepared to give chase, but was stopped by Seventeen, who glared at her.
"Too bad," he said with a smirk. "Looks like you failed."
[... i'll let you keep thinking that until you realize you're oh so wrong...] Nineteen giggled evilly as she floated away from Seventeen. [... t.t.f.n....] And she quickly flew away, leaving Seventeen alone in the abandoned city. Relaxing, he turned to the sky where Teena had flown away, his ice blue eyes betraying a small hint of sadness.
"... they killed Ran Fuan..." he whispered. "... show no mercy, Eighteen... NONE."
---
"GUYS!!" Bulma's voice echoed through the survivors' comm-links. "Teena finally got free!! She's on her way!! ETA 2 minutes!!"
"... At last..." Piccolo smiled. "Eighteen's coming! I should have known that fool would make us wait!!"
"Yes! Thank God, yes!" Chi-Chi praised.
"What?!" Nappa blinked. "Vegeta?! Are they telling the truth?!"
"... I don't know... blasted scouter!" Vegeta ripped it from his head, crushing it. "If she IS on her way we can't tell how soon or how strong she is, with her power signature cloaked!! Nappa! Kill those five now!! Their corpses might well shake the cyborg up!!"
"... oh God..." Weapon gasped.
"B-but the Dragon Balls!" Nappa said. "How'll we find--"
"Never mind that! We don't need them!!" Vegeta answered. "I never believed the legend of the Namekian power spheres, but if it is indeed true, that means there must be MORE balls on this fool's home planet! A little rampage through Namek would be a lovely way to wind down after the destruction of Earth, hmm?"
"I'll buy that.." Nappa grinned. "... a good enough excuse to start the killing."
"Piccolo!! Get outta here!!" Videl shouted. "We'll hold them somehow until Teena comes!"
"If you die, then Kami dies, too! The Dragon Balls..." Chi-Chi sighed softly. "We won't be able to bring anyone back if they're gone..."
"I'm not a coward, Videl..." Piccolo stood his ground. "If I have to die, it will be by fighting."
"THAT'S THE SPIRIT!!" Nappa charged head-long at Piccolo, but Videl met him half-way, throwing an Eagle Kick that actually sent the big Saiyan reeling, followed by a spinning double kick in the jaw by Chi-Chi, and ending in a double side thrust kick from both Videl and Krillin, and Nappa went sailing over a surprised Piccolo, striking a mountain that crumbled on impact. After a moment things were silent, until Nappa shot from the rubble, landing to his feet, visibly irate and actually bleeding from the head.
"... NOW... I've had ENOUGH!!!!" he sneered.
Suddenly, a lone figure dropped down from the sky in-between Nappa and the survivors... the familiar cornsilk-tressed girl clad in blue denim that her friends had been waiting for for so long.
"... Teena..." Krillin exclaimed.
"About time..." Piccolo muttered with a smirk.
"..." Vegeta glanced to Teena, looking up and down the newcomer with mild interest. "... so... THIS is the mighty Eighteen we've heard so much about..." he smirked. "I hope you're not going to make some ridiculous speech about 'defeating us.'"
"Not really..." Teena replied. "Figured I'd jump straight into the slobberknockering, actually."
"... slobberknock--" Nappa blinked, then shrugged off the strange grammar as he grinned. "Whatever... you'll NEVER be a match for me!!" He charged straight at Teena, who glanced at the rampaging Saiyan throwing a punch at her... the same punch that maimed Tein.
The same punch Teena CAUGHT.
"W... huh?!" Nappa blinked in surprise.
"That's the biggest word you know, isn't it?" taunted Teena.
"Rrrr..." Nappa yanked his fist away. "I... I'll destroy you!!!"
"Destroy me...?" Teena smirked. "... DESTROY me? What're you now, some lame Saturday morning cartoon villain? You don't back up your talk... Nappa, right?"
"... What...?!! You say I... am just TALK?!!!"
"Dumb AND deaf? That's what I said, Nappy."
"Heh..." Nappa glared at Teena, grinning spitefully. "I'll show you... I can back it ALL up!!!" And Nappa charged at Teena, throwing multiple attack at speeds that Teena was able to dodge at equal speeds. Nappa then threw a straight punch at Teena's face, which she didn't dodge.
"HAH!" Nappa shouted triumphantly... then paused, seeing the fist, twice as big as Teena's head, having absolutely no effect on her.
"... show off..." smirked Piccolo.
Teena acted swiftly and efficiently, throwing a backhand that sent Nappa reeling. A split second later she was behind him delivering a kidney punch. Another split second, an uppercut. Body punch. Right cross. Thrust kick. And everyone, friend and foe alike, watched with a mix of awe and dumbfoundedness.
"W-wow!!" Krillin exclaimed. "Teena's... unbelievable!! She's actually winning!!"
"Go Teena!!" Chi-Chi cheered.
Teena then pushed Nappa away with all her strength, shoving him through another mountain. Immediately Nappa exploded from it, angry and frustrated. "DAMN YOOOOU!!!!" he screamed. "I am an elite warrior of the nobility!! I'll have no wind-up toy like you push me around!!!"
"NAPPA!!" Vegeta shouted. "Get ahold of yourself, fool!! She can't beat you if you keep your head!! Calm down!!!"
"...!" Nappa blinked, looking to Vegeta. Taking some deep breaths he finally settled, looking to Teena with distain. "Y-you're right...! Thanks, Vegeta... I... I wasn't thinking."
"Wasn't. Isn't. Still not," Teena quipped, crossing her arms.
"Ha! You tricked me into a fit of rage once, it won't happen again! Now you'll see what I can really do!"
"Bring it, big man..." Teena told Nappa. "Show me what you got, and I'll show you the ass I'll hand you."
"Heh... she's bluffing..." Nappa sneered.
No, she's not... Vegeta realized. She has utter confidence in herself. And most likely the power to back it up.
Nappa rose his energy levels, charging up for an attack as Teena waited, arms still crossed. Opening his mouth wide, Nappa fired his Break Cannon at her directly.
"... bored now..." Teena took a single step forward and shot towards Nappa, her Barrier igniting a split second before the Break Cannon could connect, dissolving it. Before Nappa could even think of reacting Teena was right in front of him, delivering a swift and hard side shotei to the side of his head. An audible snap was heard, and Nappa went limp, collapsing to the ground.
"..." Vegeta blinked, slowly uncrossing his arms, realizing the sheer impossibility of what had happened. "... she defeated Nappa... effortlessly...!"
Teena glanced over to Vegeta silently. Then finally took in her surroundings... Yamcha was nowhere to be seen... neither was Chiaotzu. She guessed by the petiteness of the smoking skeleton on the ground that it was Ran Fuan, and she also spotted Tein's corpse as well. Swallowing her impending dread, she turned around and walked to her surviving friends. "Everyone okay?"
"Yeah..." Videl nodded, just before jumping over to hug Teena.
"Sorry I'm late... you can thank Nineteen for that..." Teena stated, hugging Videl back. "... I can see Ran Fuan and Tein didn't make it... what about Yamcha and Chiaotzu?"
"Yamcha... he left when Puar was killed..." Krillin explained. "She was his gi... she shielded him from an attack and died from it. Chiaotzu... tried to stop the big guy by blowing himself up, but... he failed. Chiaotzu gave his life for nothin'..."
"... are you going to be okay, Teena...?" asked Chi-Chi, noticing the foreboding sadness etched in her face.
"... yeah... I'll cry later..." she put on a brave smile, looking to her friends. "You guys go. I'll take Vegeta myself."
"I see... the enemy's too powerful..." Piccolo nodded. "If Teena has to worry about us, we'll only be getting in the way."
"Yeah, sorry..." Teena nodded. "Veggie here is pretty strong and--" Teena paused. "... did you just call me 'Teena,' Piccolo?" she asked with a smirk.
"... slip of the tongue," Piccolo replied with a half-cocked grin. "It won't happen again."
And Piccolo's head exploded.
Teena gasped out, wide eyes in shock as Piccolo's life abruptly ended. Weapon screamed in terror. Chi-Chi shielded her face from the debris of the Namekian's skull. Videl... Piccolo's pupil... stood dumbstruck as Piccolo's headless body collapsed.
Teena turned around, seeing Vegeta, two fingers pointed at Piccolo's dead body, an evil smirk on his face.
"If I can't use the Dragon Balls... then neither can you," he said with an evil glee. "I overheard that they and the Namekian were connected. So I took advantage."
Teena glared at Vegeta... the evil Saiyan Prince had secured part of a victory, and as anger rose in her heart, she realized that because of him, her lost friends were gone forever.
"... you..." Teena's clenched fists trembled, her rage at a boiling point, then she charged at the battle ready Vegeta at her highest speed. "YOU BASTARD!!!"
-- TO BE CONTINUED.