Chapter 3: The New Time Begins
"Katie, please tell me that isn't Frieza."
"I knew it! He's coming here."
"How'd he survive?"
"I'll explain when we get there. Right now, lets go."
So I took off to my room and got on my Sayjin armor, ready to fight. I quickly wrote the time and date in my journal with 'Freiza's back' in bold letters, then met with Gohan outside.
"I just told mom, let's go." Gohan said. We kicked off the ground and headed toward the landing sight. In the rocky, deserted area close to where Vegeta and Goku had fought.
We landed and were met with Yamcha, Tien, Krillen, Piccolo, and Vegeta in his pink 'bad man' shirt, and Bulma, who refused to stay behind.
"So you two felt him as well." Piccolo asked.
"So Katie, how exactly did Frieza survive?" Vegeta asked, staring right at me with his cold, onyx eyes. He assumed I knew, and he assumed right.
"He was barely alive after Namek exploded. His father, King Kold, found him and rebuilt him. He's like the 6million-dollar man and is now stronger than before. And he's here for revenge."
"Damn him." Vegeta sneered. Though I doubt Vegeta knew what the 6million-dollar man was, he still got the point.
"So what do we do?" Krillen asked. Everyone, except Vegeta, turned to me for an answer.
"Goku will be here soon." I said, trying to hide my doubt. They cheered up a little after that. But Freiza's ship was coming fast, and I couldn't feel Goku at all. If Trunks was late or didn't show at all, we were doomed.
Soon the ship landed and Freiza's guard ran out to check the perimeter. They ran around like circus clowns before falling in line. Frieza and King Kold came out of the ship, and they were talking to one of the guards.
"So that's the new and improved Frieza?" Krillen asked. He was shaky, and it was reasonably so. Frieza did kill Krillen, after all.
"Yeah, and that's his father, King Kold. They're here for Goku. I guess all of us as well, what do you think Vegeta?"
"Yes, he'd want to get to us so he could get to Kakorot." Vegeta was pissed to say the least.
"Everyone just keep your Ki low and stay quiet." Piccolo ordered.
So we watched, and I was nervously waiting for Trunks to arrive. But he wasn't here, and Frieza was getting antsy, I could see from here.
Where are you, Trunks? Aren't you coming? And what about Goku? If one doesn't show, then the other should, right?
What if neither of them come!
"Oh boys, I know you're there. Come on out or I'll start blowing this planet into tiny pieces!" Frieza called up to us, laughing.
"Oh shit, no! He's seen us!" I said.
"What should we do?" Gohan asked.
I'm the one meant to do something grand, that's what Guru said anyway. I may die, but I have to protect the others.
"So, what are we going to do?" Tien asked.
"Ask her, she's the future girl." Yamcha said sarcastically. I'd been thinking on a plan anyway.
"Thanks for the support, Yamcha." I replied sarcastically, "I'll go alone. If he knows we're all here he'll kill us all on the spot. I'll buy us some time."
"Katie, you can't!" Krillen argued.
"I have to. If I don't… well, it's my idea. I know what I'm getting myself into. I can take a hit just like any of you boys can."
"You're asking for death." Vegeta said.
"We're waiting!" King Kold said.
"No, I'm giving you a chance to live. Stay still and don't let him know you're up here. I'll be okay."
"Katie-""Bulma, Katie knows Frieza, probably as well as Vegeta does. Maybe better. She can do this." Gohan said.
I got up and flew down to face Frieza. When he saw me, and only me, he laughed.
"So, its Vegeta's girlfriend." Frieza snapped forward and grabbed me by the throat, "So, where is the rest of your troop, monkey?"
"They're not here. They didn't make it off Namek. And I'm not just a monkey, Frieza. I'm Katie, and I'm here to protect earth." I squeaked. Frieza loosened his grip a little.
"You?" he laughed, "You think you'll stop me from blowing up this planet?"
"I'm the only one left, so I'll die trying if I have to."
"So the rest are all dead, are they? Why didn't you use the Dragonballs?"
"The Namekian that created earth's Dragonballs died on Namek, too. Only Goku and I made it off in time."
Maybe I shouldn't have said that last part.
Frieza tossed me aside and laughed.
"Ah yes, I killed him, didn't I? I remember now. So, where is Goku?"
"I don't know, but he'll be here to kick your scaly ass!"
Maybe I shouldn't have said that, either.
"Oh, he will?" Frieza asked, the humor out of his voice. He kicked me in the stomach with one of his clawed feet and watched as I struggled to get up.
"You've gotten stronger, Frieza. And yes, he will." I coughed up some blood then, and fell back down again. Frieza laughed some more as I made it to my feet, holding my side in pain.
"Foolish monkey. You think you can fight me?"
"I can try. And do you know why?" I got up before I finished, "Because I'm not scared of you. I've seen you kill children and beat down people when they can't fight back. You kicked me when I was down just now. Yeah, I can see why you're the feared tyrant of the galaxy. Oh that's right, you're not anymore, are you? You were beaten by a monkey! The great Frieza, beaten by a mon-"
He blasted me, throwing me back at least 100 yards. I only stopped because I hit a cliff-side wall.
I had hit a nerve, and I was going to keep poking that nerve raw so I could buy some time for Goku or Trunks.
I hope whichever one of you whose coming gets here quick, I don't know how long I can keep this up.
I got back up, still holding my side as I marched my way back to Frieza. My hand was covered in my own blood as it oozed out of my side.
"So, you're not dead yet?"
"No, I'm not. You are, and you have been for a long time. I know all about you Frieza. I know how you stole away prince Vegeta before you blew up the planet. I know how you killed King Vegeta, and I know how you killed Bardock. You remember Bardock, don't you? Goku's father? He tried to stop you as you destroyed the planet. You saw his face before Goku nearly killed you last time the two of you fought."
Frieza was looking scared now. Maybe not scared, but uber -nervous.
"How do you know that? What are you!"
"I'm only a monkey, Frieza. But then again, you were defeated by a monkey." I scoffed.
"Stop it! Stop it right now!" Frieza snapped. He was sweating and his eyes were really big.
"Don't crack on me now, Frieza. Your men might make fun of you. But then again, they already do. You're a laughingstock to the entire galaxy."
Frieza snapped his head over to the guards, and they got jumpy.
"It's not true, sire! We're loyal to you!" the lead guardsmen cried, but in Freiza's panicky state he blasted them all, killing the easily.
That makes my job easier!
"Frieza, you have to calm down! You'll blow up the planet!" King Kold called.
But Frieza didn't hear him and fell to his knees, holding his head in panic.
"No, I am the strongest! I'm the strongest fighter in the universe! No one can stop me!"
"What's the matter, Frieza? One monkey short of a barrel?" I said. This was actually kind of fun.
No, I'm being the thing I despise the most. I'm being the bully.
Frieza may have deserved this, but I couldn't stand being the one administering it. I couldn't be a bully, not even to someone like Frieza.
"Frieza, fight me! Come on, prove to us you're not the loser standing before me!"
Great, now I'm asking Frieza to fight me. I may be stronger now than I was a year ago, but can I really fight him?
I'd try, like it or not I'm a Sayjin, and Sayjins fight.
"I'll show you! I'll show you all!" Frieza stood up and began to power up. I did too, while I had the time.
Hurry Goku, I understand now. You're stronger, and that's all that can be done. And where is Trunks?
If my luck was as it had been, then possibly Trunks wouldn't be here to stop Frieza, but he would show up. He had to.
I reached my limit before Frieza did, and if that proves anything its that I'm in over my head.
Frieza came at me first, and we began to exchange kicks and punches left and right. His anger was making his fighting suffer, but it was still enough to keep me at bay. Finally he backed off and I was able to catch my breath.
"Is that all? You have gotten pathetic. Is all that metal holding you down?"
"Stupid monkey scum!" he began coming at me again and I held him off as best I could. Even with my side cut I was able to do well against him.
Is this really me, or is it Freiza's bad fighting?
Well I got an answer. Frieza used his mechanical eye and blasted the side of my head, sending me to the ground. I felt blood trickle down my face as Frieza calmly walked over and started pushing my chest into the ground with his foot. I grabbed him by the ankle but I couldn't budge him at all. It was all I could do to keep from screaming after a few minutes. Ribs were snapping and cracking into pieces.
I felt Ki starting to rise on the cliff, and though I knew Frieza and King Kold couldn't detect Ki on their own, I didn't want the others to try to help. They'd only get hurt.
"Guys, I know you want to help, but don't! Please, I'm doing this for you! Stay back or he'll kill all of us!"
"Scream, monkey! Cry out in pain!"
"That'll be my cue!" I looked over to see Goku standing tall, his hair blowing in the wind, the sun behind him and… wow that's cheesy, but true.
"Finally, what took you?" I laughed/coughed. Freiza's foot on my chest lightened when he saw Goku.
"I got caught in traffic." Goku smiled.
Where's Trunks? What's going on?
"What! It can't be!" Frieza backed off and I got up, shaky, while I had the chance. It wasn't from fighting Frieza, but the cut he gave me was bleeding and I was feeling that. It also could have been from the concussion Freiza's mechanical eye gave me.
"Thanks for the extra time, Katie." Then Goku turned to Frieza, "So you do remember me? Then you'll remember that I said I'm the answer to all who cry out in pain."
"No, not you! You're dead!" Frieza cried.
"Goku, be careful. He's stronger now, and his dad is pretty strong, too."
"You don't have to worry about me, Katie. Get to safety, I'll take it from here. You did good."
"Right." I made my way up the hill with the others as Goku fought Frieza and King Kold. When Goku transformed we were all in awe, even Vegeta. I got a Zinzu bean and watched the fight. Goku killed them both as easily as I had killed Guldo. Once he was done he joined us on the hill.
"Goku, you're back!"
"Hey dad! What took you so long?"
So Goku explained about the Yardratts and showed off his new technique, Instant Transmission.
"Goku, you should have seen Katie fighting Frieza! She was great!" Yamcha said.
"Yeah, she psyched him out good, too." Tien said.
"You guys, all I did was buy some time until Goku showed up." I said scratching my head.
"You did more than that, kid." Vegeta said.
"Was that a compliment, Vegeta?" I asked.
"No, just a fact."
"Yeah, well, we better start heading home. Chi-chi will flip when she sees who we're bringing home." I said, thumbing at Goku.
Where are you, Trunks? You should have been here to stop Frieza.
"Katie, what is it?" Piccolo asked. They all knew the face I made when I know something is about to happen.
"Oh, nothing we need to worry about. I-"
Then something happened, my head felt like it was being ripped open. I fell to my knees holding my head.
"Katie? Katie, what's wrong?" I had no idea who was talking to me, I could barely hear at all.
My head was on fire, being ripped apart by the talons of unseen firebirds. My screams didn't help.
"My head, oh God make it stop!" then nothing.
