Chapter 12: Vegeta's Demise
Freiza's new form and power was too strong to be believed; yet I knew others would be stronger than him. Vegeta was no match, not even in the same league. Hell, not even ten leagues down. I decided that Vegeta deserved to have me watch, since I was the only person who really respected him, and who he respected. But I had to force myself to do so; it was so violent.
Frieza had his tail around Vegeta's neck and was using him like a living punching bag. Blood spewed out of Vegeta's mouth with every punch received, and tears ran down my cheeks for the umpteenth time today.
"Vegeta, come on!" I cried, knowing it was no good. None of us could do a thing and watched in horror as Frieza slowly killed Vegeta. Anger grew within myself and my power rose high. I didn't know how I did it, but I screwed together my courage and charged Frieza with the little energy I had left.
"Still so feisty?" Frieza turned to me, leaving Vegeta hanging from his tail, and I landed in a rage.
"Let him go. You've beat him." I spat.
What am I doing? He'll kill me! I know Vegeta will come back… but it still hurts.
I realized I had come closer to these people than just thinking of them as TV characters. My rage at Frieza for killing Vegeta blinded my common sense.
"And if I do so, and he somehow manages to live to come back after me, he'll be stronger. I am not a fool."
"Are you scared Vegeta will be stronger than you? You know as well as I do that he's as good as dead." I said, fighting more tears.
"Are those tears? Are you actually crying over this fool?" he laughed, pointing a finger to Vegeta.
"So what if I am? Who will cry over you when you die?" I asked him. He grew serious and very angry. I think I struck a nerve.
What have I done?"Fine." He threw Vegeta onto the ground and turned away. "I'll give you ten minutes. That's all."
Within ten minutes Goku will arrive and kick your ass!
I picked up Vegeta and took him over near the others, placing him down gently as I could with my arm so mutilated.
"Vegeta? Can you hear me?"
"Katie… This is what you were… hiding from me, wasn't it?"
"Yes. I can't defeat Frieza, but there is one who can."
"Kakorot."
"Yes. He'll be here soon. Save your energy. You'll need it."
"Katie… you are a ruthless fighter… strong, fast, full of pride… much like myself. If I could have… had a daughter… I hoped she would be like you."
"That means the world to me." I turned and faced Frieza, who was turned away from us and standing like he was waiting for a bus. "I promise you Frieza will pay."
We all stood in silence for a moment as Vegeta labored breathing grew worse. Each minute went by too fast as I tried to feel out Goku's energy, and thank God it was on the move. I said a short but meaningful prayer to myself for Vegeta and stood to welcome Goku. He had finally landed. As soon as he was there and started taking in his surroundings, I turned back to Vegeta. And, in a very unlike-Vegeta way, he stretched out his hand and took my own, seeking comfort. I took his hand willingly and held it close to my face.
Vegeta's scared. He knows for a fact that no one would wish him back to life unless I did so, and since he knows my secret now, he thinks I wouldn't for the universe's sake. I can't tell them about the dragon, but they'll know soon. But I would wish Vegeta back in a heartbeat if I could.
I'd gladly trade places with you, Vegeta, to save you all the pain.
Frieza turned to watch Goku as he walked over to us. He took his time and looked each of us over, and the others stood as I was knelt. His eyes at last fell to Vegeta.
"Katie, what happened?" Goku asked.
"First Frieza killed Dende. He was just a harmless little Namekian boy, and then he proceeded to attack Vegeta. He… he doesn't have much time, Goku." I was holding back my tears. I could save that for later.
"Why?" he asked rhetorically, dumbstruck at Freiza's onslaught.
"He's a monster." I said. Goku turned and knelt by Vegeta.
"Kakorot, I have to tell you something," he grasped my hand harder in pain as he struggled to talk, and tears were flowing freely down the fallen prince's face. "… Frieza is the one that destroyed our people. He killed both our fathers in cold blood… and then blew up our home world. He killed all the Sayjins. You have to stop him; you are the last true Sayjin left. You have to avenge us all-"
Frieza interrupted the statement by sending another blast through Vegeta's chest. The act, though I knew it would happen, made my gasp in shock and fear. Frieza was merciless and dangerous. And here I was, a kid, thinking I could stop him.
"The ten minutes are up." He said calmly, with a hint of a smile hidden behind his scowl. But Vegeta wasn't dead yet.
"Kakorot, you have to kill him… for all… of us…" then Vegeta grew silent. His hand was limp in my own.
"Well, he finally shut up, did he?" Frieza laughed.
"You monster!" I spat. Tears were flowing freely down my cheeks at this point, I didn't care if anyone saw me or not. Frieza grew mad instead of giving another comeback. Goku got up and faced Frieza.
"You should know better. He was no longer a threat to you! You claim to be the strongest in the universe? So you prove it by killing little boys and dying men. I can see why you're so feared." Goku said in a non-Goku way.
Goku and Frieza stared at one another as I left to take care of Vegeta's body. Words were exchanged, but I paid no mind as I found a safe place for Vegeta's body. If this dimension followed the story at this point, then Vegeta would be back and sent to earth.
I found the perfect spot, far from the battlefield but not too far. It was a tiny island with a short plateau. It reminded me of an altar. I didn't bury him, but instead placed him there undisturbed. Thoughts of being buried alive haunted me, but something else did too.
"If I could have… had a daughter… I hoped she would be like you."
Thoughts of my own family back home. My dad, who thought I should have an all work and no play attitude, my mom who was so unappreciated, the half-brother I hardly knew, much older and miles away. Though they were all far away now. I missed home; I missed waiting for my mom to pick me up after school, even if she was late. I missed reading stories like Beowulf or The Odyssey. I missed watching TV like a normal kid, and I even missed my dad's old cowboy movies.
At least they give me chances here… they trust me, but will I be able to keep it that way? Once I have to keep a secret from them that gets them killed? Goku didn't mind about Raditz, but what about Frieza? Or Cell? Or Buu?
I looked at Vegeta's fallen form. He looked so peaceful, and his permanent scowl was less obvious. I moved some blood-clotted hair off his face and just stared at my hero for a while.
"Sleep well, my Dark Prince. Soon you will wake up and think this was all a bad dream…"As I sat there and cried, trying to figure things out, I felt something I had never felt before. It felt like a tingle up my spine and a sense of foreboding. I had to get back to Goku.
I returned back to the battleground and watched Goku and Frieza duke it out. Frieza had already boasted that he could beat Goku without using his hands, and was that a sight to behold.
Frieza and Goku were high in the air, and Frieza's kicks and tail moves were a sight. But what was even funnier was that Goku was having no trouble whatsoever fighting back. But if I can only say one good thing about Frieza, it's that he keeps his word. Even if it's too well. Finally Goku blasted at him and Freiza's only choice was to defend using his hands.
"What happened there, Frieza? I thought you said no hands?" I called. Frieza replied with a grunt and they continued. Luckily he hadn't notice I was gone.
So, though I couldn't see it, it was time for one of my all-time favorite DBZ moments. Goku and Frieza were fighting and there was a large cloud of smoke. Goku sensed Frieza and went to attack, and ticked-off Frieza. Frieza started to blast every which direction, and Goku found out that Frieza couldn't sense him. Goku took this to work as the smoke cleared.
Frieza knocked Goku under the water of the lake nearby and Goku was down there for a while. I knew he was okay, but the others weren't so calm. Goku took two energy balls and sat them down there under the water as he resurfaced. No one else could see them, but I knew they were there. Goku moved one blast and it nearly hit Frieza. The second one did hit Frieza, angering him further.
An hour passed as Goku and Freiza's battle continued. Goku was exhausted, but kept going. But the strain was too much, and finally he was knocked to the ground and wasn't about to get up so quick. Frieza, like a typical bad guy, took the time to gloat.
Goku was motionless for nearly five minutes. I knew from the show that he was seeing Vegeta, Bardock, and King Vegeta, all telling Goku to get up and fight for his people. Maybe he saw me, who knows? Though I wasn't born Sayjin, and therefor not a true Sayjin, I am now. Just as Vegeta had said.
Goku slowly got up with a newfound strength, and seemed more powerful than before. Freiza stared as Goku lifted his arms up, and water spewed into the air all around Goku. Frieza was mocking Goku more, but we knew he was creating a Spirit Bomb. (AKA: Genkai Dama.)
That feeling from before took over again and it was like Spiderman's Spider sense or something.
I already know that the Spirit bomb won't kill Frieza, but... I feel as though I need to add to it somehow… make it stronger.
Frieza finally saw that Goku was making an attack and charged to stop him. Piccolo, Gohan, Krillen and I all flew as fast as we could and attacked Frieza, slowing him down and giving Goku more time to finish.
We didn't last long. Piccolo was sent down first, and then like flies we fell shortly afterwards. Krillen hit the ground next, skidding across the ground and stopping just short of the water's edge. Gohan was kicked hard and sent flying, but Piccolo caught him.
"So monkey, mind telling me how you escaped me?" Frieza asked, grabbing me in a chokehold.
"Actually, I do mind." I said, struggling.
"Katie, get out of there!" Piccolo called.
I looked over to see Goku holding the Spirit Bomb, ready to throw it.
"Attack me and the girl dies too!" Frieza cried, laughing.
I was scared. I wasn't able to help, in fact, I was making things worse.
"Goku, just do it!"
"You can join your prince in the netherworld!" Frieza laughed.
"Katie-"
"Goku, throw it now! Don't worry about me!"
Goku screamed as the launched the attack.
"What! No!" Frieza cried, "You're my shield then, monkey!"
"No, I'm not!" I kicked Frieza in the shin, but he didn't let go. The Spirit Bomb was coming closer.
"That's kind of hurt, but that attack will hurt you much more!" Frieza laughed.
What do I do?I didn't want to die, but if I had to I would.
I did some quick thinking and used my tail to pull Freiza's tail, throwing him off guard. I switched us around so he was in front of me.
"Now you're my shield!" I snapped.
"Let me go!"
I held tight, waiting. It was coming closer, and at the right time I let go and let myself fall to the ground. I got up and ran to the others.
"That's was some bull stunt, kid." Piccolo said.
"It still isn't enough to stop me!" Frieza cried, convinced he could block the attack.
The large energy ball come down upon Frieza, lower and lower, Frieza using all his might to stop it. And then it did stop.
No! This is what that feeling was!I concentrated and did as Piccolo taught me, and I sent all the Ki I could spare to the Spirit Bomb. If Frieza stopped the attack, he could redirect it and blow up the planet.
"Guys! Send all the energy you can to the Spirit Bomb! If Frieza stops it, he'll use it against us." I ordered. The others complied. Goku was already drained, but looked at me as though I were a genius.
I concentrated harder and harder to give remaining Ki to the Spirit Bomb, willing myself to push harder. But as Piccolo had taught me my powers, he also taught me my limits. I knew when I was done, but I still pushed a little harder. I finally collapsed, my vision spinning and my legs were like jelly. The others respected their limits and were a little tired, but no worse for wear.
That's from all the Sayjins, you monster!It had worked; Frieza couldn't hold back the Spirit Bomb any longer.
Have I too drastically changed the events? Will this kill Frieza and not cause Goku to go Super Sayjin? And how will Goku react if Frieza does live and kills Krillen? Will he blame me?