The Scabs

Chapter Three

Goku laid his head down on the soft pillow, many things running through his mind. The last few years of his life had been the best he could have hoped for. And also the worst he ever imagined.

The best was becoming a father. Gohan was a strong and intelligent boy. Always happy.

The worst was watching his wife die. ChiChi had been good to him. Putting up with his training...his friends. Changing her life to accommodate his needs. He loved her. Like he knew he could love no other. It was unfair that she was taken from him. She would still be here if it weren't for the Demons.

Goku shook his head, not wanting to see the pictures in his mind. ChiChi's body. Her beautiful, soft skin..ripped and torn.

He tried to remember how wonderful she looked, her stomach past the point of stretching. Gohan was due to be born any time. All their plans were completed. The room was done, the baby clothes were washed and put away.

Goku had told ChiChi not to be out close to dusk. That is when the Demons came out, so the rumors said. Goku had never seen them at the time. Did not know if they were real, or if some of the townspeople just had vivid imaginations. He thought at first that maybe it was Piccolo. But no mention of a big green man was heard. Just many unexplained deaths, disappearances...many new patients at the local psychiatric ward.

Closing his eyes, Goku could remember hearing ChiChi scream. She was outside in their garden, just a few hundred yards from their very home. Yet, the Demons had found her. There were three of them. Goku remembered seeing their orange eyes, and scaly brown skin. Before he could get to his wife, they had sliced her legs and face with their sharp claws. Another was attempting to cut her stomach open. Goku was easily able to kill them. They were taken aback at his strength and power. Never having a chance. Their blood ran red, just like the blood which covered his wife. She was not dead. But had lost a lot of blood.

Gently picking her up, he carried her inside, placing her on the couch. He called Bulma, his childhood friend, hoping she would know what to do.

Bulma arrived in minutes. ChiChi was screaming again, as the labor pains hit. Gohan would probably have died if Bulma had not been there. She managed to get ChiChi through the pain. But ChiChi had no strength left to fight for her own life. She slipped away, quietly. Never seeing her son's face. Never hearing his cry.

Goku sat up in bed. His face wet. He got up and dressed, he had to go. Maybe he could find Tien and spar. Maybe Krillin was around. Gohan was safe at his grandfather's house, Ox King. So Goku was alone. He suddenly hated being alone.

Walking outside, he had not realized that night had come. The Demons were out. They would be killing innocent people. This had been going on now for over three years. Yet no one knew who they were or where they came from. Some people in town referred to them as the Scabs. Goku could remember the sores that covered their bodies. Almost like burns that were scabbing over. Goku shuddered.

Goku and the others had since managed to kill a good number of them. But more still came. With Piccolo out of the way for a while, he would concentrate on the Scabs.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Piccolo sat resting..meditating. He had to regain his strength, his mental strength. Although his bones had healed and his cuts and abrasions mended, he was still weakened. Goku must be killed as soon as possible. No time to wait. Piccolo smiled slightly at the thoughts of his hand around Goku's heart..squeezing.

After a while, Piccolo drifted off to a soft slumber. But his dreams always came in the form of memories. His father's memories. Damioh had killed many thousands of people. His power was enormous. He would be ruling this pathetic world now if it weren't for Goku. Piccolo's eyes shot open at the thought of Goku. His heart beating fast. Tomorrow. It would happen tomorrow, he decided. Closing his eyes again.

It was not long that Piccolo was awakened by screams. Not close by. Maybe at the end of his wasteland. Curious, he decided to see what was going on. Someone would be a fool to be so close to this area of the woods.

A few hundred yards away, Piccolo saw the Demons. He hovered in the air, watching. He was almost fascinated by them. There looked to be about 5 of them. All around 6 feet tall. Slender, but muscled. Their brownish skin covered in those sores. Piccolo noticed some of the sores were oozing a reddish-green substance.

Piccolo heard the screams again. He moved down to take a closer look.

He was surprised to find two women with the Demons. Their clothing had been stripped from them. One woman was obviously dead. Three of the Demons were devouring her flesh with their sharp, razor like teeth. Her throat was gone, as were her breasts and part of her stomach.

The other two Demons were still having their fun with the other woman. One demon was on top of her, plunging his manhood as deep as it would go. The other Demon was holding her down.

Piccolo watched. Not really feeling any sympathy for the woman as she screamed. Not feeling any emotion at all. Just curious.

One of the Demons spotted Piccolo in the air. As he looked up, the dead woman's blood dripped form his lips. Getting the attention of his companions, he pointed to the sky.

Each Demon stopped their activities, to turn their eyes to the large green man in the sky.

"If you have come to rescue these humans, you are too late." One of them yelled in a voice filled with evil.

Piccolo smirked. "I will rescue NO humans."

"Well then." The Demon yelled, "Care to join us, my friend? This human here is still breathing. She has enough life in her for a little more pleasure."

Piccolo did not even consider his invitation. He did not care to be that close to any human, female or not. He simply shook his head.

"Fine." the Demon said. "We don't mind if you watch."

The Demons went back to their activities. Piccolo watched as the two Demons switched places and continued raping the woman. Soon, her screams stopped. Although she was dead, each Demon continued their violation of the woman. When they were done, they began to consume her flesh as well. Ripping her arms from her body, tearing at the flesh in a frenzied rage.

Piccolo had seen enough. He left. His training was more important than this side show.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Goku had not slept. Unable to locate any of his friends last night, he simply sat outside looking at the stars. He missed Gohan. He knew he was supposed to be back home today. However, he did not think it would be wise considering Piccolo would surely come after him again. He didn't want his son, or anyone else getting caught in the crossfire. Goku decided he should go to the Ox King's house and let them know. His family should stay there for the time being. Goku headed out.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was around 6am. The sun was not quite over the mountains yet. Piccolo had been up for hours, since the Demons had disturbed him. He had moved his training to a nearby clearing which had a large river. He needed a good supply of water for his efforts today. He was in his multi-form. Three Piccolos' were in the air, each one identical. Two of them were attacking a single one. Pounding, kicking, and blasting. Many of the nearby trees had been charred. Some of the earth as well. Piccolo knew that dawn was approaching. He would find Goku at sunrise...and kill him.

Piccolo was angry that his clones were getting in so many hits. He should be able to block them better. He was not focusing. He was not concentrating. In his mind, all that he could envision was Goku.

Damn him. He thought. I can't even train without him interfering. Angered, Piccolo sent a mass of blasts to his clones. However, he was blinded by his own hatred. This caused him to lose focus even more. He felt as one clone blasted a hole through his leg. The other one pounded him in the head. His head began to spin, his eyes unable to function. As he hit the ground, his clones were reabsorbed into his body. Piccolo lay there unconscious.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------