I wish I owned DBZ, but I don't. I own DVD's and tapes, but it just isn't the same. I also don't own the right to Starcraft or any of the music pieces you see selected, just copies of merchandise, such a shame. The artists that created them are geniuses and we all must bow to them.
Chapter 28: Saiyan Arrival
"Ha, only the Zerg could pick a rat hole like this one as a home planet!" Vegeta said the instant he stepped off the Protoss ship.
"Technically it is not their home planet. We actually do not know where they originate from, but sources say…oh," Krator stopped once the Saiyan prince gave him a dark look.
"Ah, it can't that bad Vegeta. Every planet could be a good home if taken care of," Goku claimed as he came down the ramp. He took back the words the instant he glanced around.
Scratching his head like only Goku could, he sighed. "Well, maybe this one is just a little out of shape." Vegeta just rolled his eyes at his rival and walked forward. Tora, Bardock and Gohan soon followed the duo outside, taking in the view for themselves.
"You said this planetary system had two suns right?" Gohan asked Krator.
"Correct, and judging by the way the planets revolve, there will probably not be any nightfall during our stay here. Our scans show that this planet just had an eclipse and another will not occur for approximately twenty-seven years," the Zealot explained.
"That might make things easier. Zerg are harder to detect at night. This way we should have plenty of advanced warning should any approach from the ground or skies, and this rock looks difficult to burrow through once you're through the ash layer," Bardock said, kicking up some dust with his boot.
"Man, I hope these clouds go away soon. I want to see two suns up at once! I think it's kind of neat!" Goku grinned slightly, getting a massive groan from the group.
"You did Dad, on Namek," Gohan muttered under his breath.
Generally ignoring the good natured Saiyan, Tora turned back to the ship, "Hey I almost forgot, I should go wake Fasha and tell her we landed. Then we can get to work on finding Verto!"
"Tora, hold on!" Vegeta snapped up, staring hard at the skies and towards the current sunset. Tora froze where he stood, waiting for his orders.
"No need for that, the boy is coming this way right now. We will fly out to meet him. There's definitely a chance that he will not come with us willingly, we shouldn't risk any damage to the ship!" Vegeta shouted as he summoned his aura and took off into the sky.
"But what about Fasha?" Gohan asked.
"No worries kid, I seriously doubt we will even need her. Our training has been great, even if Verto somehow joined their side. This fight is gonna be over before it begins. We can't lose!" Tora said as he flew up next to him. Gohan didn't look so sure, but followed suit as the five pack of Saiyans set a collision course with their long lost friend.
Krator just stared at them as they left, "I hope they are right!"
-
"I hope you know that you will be punished for leaving the battle. The Protoss were right in your hands and you left them alive!" Verto heard in his mind as he flew away from the caves.
"Shut it you giant octopus, my real targets just arrived. The Protoss are no threat to you anyway, just let me fight the other Saiyans on my own without your blasted interference! Then once you've gotten what you wanted you can set me free and I'll be on my merry way. If we follow that course of action, we'll both be happy!" he thought back.
"Only if you succeed, will that discussion take place. As long as you retain Zerg cells and our ability to regenerate, you are mine!" the Overmind said, giving Verto a sharp pinch in the tail that nearly dropped him from the sky.
"It had better not make my body weak like it did Borgos. Otherwise I may have some trouble!" Verto scowled.
"No need to remind me of our mistakes. The Zerg genes inserted into your body are different and simply regenerate the outer portions rather than a complete transformation. Reforming your spirit and life matter would have given you more power, but would have made your body frail. That would have been impossible given your mental state anyway, therefore your body should be just as hard and rugged as usual. Just make sure not to take on too many strong energy waves, otherwise even I may not be able to save you from death!"
"Yeah, whatever. Ah...here we are,"Zerg-Verto grinned when he sensed his targets power up a little and come directly towards him. He flew over a large bed of lava pits and over a small range of mountains before landing in a vast, flat plain, waiting on them. He stayed at about half of his full power just so they didn't get lost trying to find him. He only had to wait about five minutes before he spotted five auras in the sky, Vegeta's being the leader.
"So it begins," he said in a low tone as the Saiyans came down and landed about forty feet away.
"Verto! So you are alive and well, we weren't really sure! Hey what happened to your hair and your face? Is that what Zerg implants do?" Goku spoke first despite Vegeta's growl to silence him. Verto put a hand through his now longer hair, realizing that the Zerg genes had probably made it grow out just a little. As for his face, it had turned to a thick but variant yellow mixed with green with three sharp and dark lines going diagonally across from left to right, each line about an inch wide and four inches long.
"Oh just a few changes, nothing really different. Let's just say it has been an awakening, Kakarot!" Verto smirked sharply. Everyone's slight frown turned up a notch or two, while Goku's confused look remained.
"You can still call me Goku you know?"
"Goku is the name of a weak fool that doesn't understand his potential, nor does he truly know how to use the power that he has. Thus does not deserve any other name than the one time weakest Saiyan in history. However, you have a certain knack for posing a great challenge, so I may save you, for last!" Verto said, scowling now. Vegeta had matched his stance with his arms crossed, staring daggers at his former apprentice.
"For such a tiny kid you sure like to talk. Apparently you don't remember that all of us are now stronger than you!" Tora spoke up from behind Vegeta.
"Tora, that's enough, back down. I will handle this!" Vegeta barked.
"Oh yes, the prince himself, I had almost forgotten," Verto's bright smirk returned.
"Do not presume to know me boy. You're hardly the Verto that we know. He's much smarter and much stronger than you are, imposter!" Vegeta began.
"I'm afraid your facts are twisted around my prince, and where he is he can't disagree with me," Verto said as he pointed to his head.
"And where is that?" Vegeta asked as his eyes narrowed.
"Humph, let's just say he will be forced to watch what I am about to do to all of you! You're the one who will regret coming across me! Haaaa!" Verto shouted as he began to power up. The slight breeze that went through everyone's hair didn't alarm anyone in particular.
Verto's eyes flashed from black to blue several times before staying bright blue. His hair stood up from shoulder length and gave way to his Super Mystic silver color. His battle cry did well to further flatten the empty plain, also sending a slight wave of panic through Bardock and Tora. Gohan and Vegeta remained silent and focused while Goku looked a little excited.
Verto stood up and kept his cocky smirk, "Any volunteers?" Vegeta's arms dropped to his sides as he then stepped forward a few steps, getting a little closer to his young trainee.
Vegeta then grinned back, "I've been waiting for a chance to beat some sense into you boy, and now you're really going to get it!"
"You beat sense into this body a long time ago Vegeta. And thanks in part to your vicious training and behavioral methods, I was strengthened into what you see here. Your death is on your own hands!" Verto said confidently before phasing out and bashing Vegeta's head with an elbow. The impact sent the Saiyan prince skidding across the lands and into the distance with dust clouds left in his wake. Verto waited for about five seconds afterwards before holding up his hand and erecting a green energy barrier ahead of him. As if he expected it, several hundred ki blasts then rained in from Vegeta's position, followed by an angry prince at Super Saiyan two. Verto disengaged his shield just as Vegeta came flying in, catching the punch aimed for his chest.
"You can't beat me around anymore prince, the apprentice is now the master!" Verto said in his ear. Vegeta misaimed a kick on purpose and saw Verto phase out right into the path of his next ki attack. The small blast stunned the smaller Saiyan for a moment, allowing Vegeta to swoop in and pummel him with multiple punches and kicks. After a half minute of pounding, Vegeta bashed him into the ground and gave off his own smirk.
"I see you needed a reminder of who the master is around here. It certainly isn't you after that little display!" Vegeta boasted. Verto groaned slightly as he picked himself up, but stood tall as his wounds began to mend themselves, sealing a few cuts on his arms and face instantly.
"What the?" Vegeta asked before swallowing the answer when his brain caught up.
"I'll give the Zerg credit, they know a good ability when they see one," Verto chuckled as he wiped some of the residue off his arms.
"It won't save you brat!" Vegeta declared, charging again. Verto came right at him as well. The first few blows were blocked on each side, and then the flurry began with several shockwaves to go with it. The brawl was on.
-
"Something isn't right Tora," Bardock said as he and the others watched the knockdown drag out fight between Verto and Vegeta.
"I know what you mean, I didn't think the kid was even as strong as we are now and he's going toe to toe with the Prince," Tora said, amazed as the two warriors went flying by.
"This is a much different Verto than we remember, somehow the Zerg have unleashed a darkness in him and it seems to have increased his power dramatically. What I can't figure out is how he is using his Super Mystic powers, something that feels that evil shouldn't be able to use them, or at least that is what the Kais told us," Gohan said, eyes narrowed down as the shockwaves continued.
"I'm not sure Vegeta knows what he's up against, guys. Verto is still going at full strength and Vegeta is starting to fall behind a little. He's got to do something soon. Verto might even be stronger than he is at the third level," Goku said, his face finally replaced with the seriousness that the situation posed.
"He hasn't gone to the third level though, Kakarot. He's still got cards to play, and this fight just got going. I know for a fact that Verto doesn't have that much power in him. No way!" Bardock said to his son, who didn't look so optimistic.
"I'm not sure of that grandpa, when he first regenerated himself he didn't lose any power. Maybe it's not him that regenerated, maybe the Zerg cells on the outside of his skin do it automatically, so it doesn't create a strain. That would make sense," Gohan interjected.
"Either way, Prince Vegeta may need to go for the win rather than trying not to kill him. It might be the only way," Tora said, unsure himself. In the air, Verto was annoying Vegeta by dodging and evading and not attacking, forcing Vegeta to constantly chase him down.
"You're getting slow old man!" Verto teased as he phased out from one of Vegeta's power punches.
"Argh! Fine then, boy, prepare yourself!" Vegeta growled before retreating to a power up stance. Golden bolts of lightning struck around the Saiyan prince as he then powered up to Super Saiyan three.
Zerg-Verto only grinned at this, "Too soon." The Saiyan prince came blazing in and caught Verto off guard with his speed. The stunned child could barely dodge any of the blows before Vegeta kicked him sharply in the gut and turned his body into an S shape with a smack to the back of the head. Another blow to the back and Verto was sent into the dirt at a high speed. Vegeta barely let the dust rise before unleashing another ki blast storm that shredded the newly formed crater into nothing but rubble. He caught his breath while the dust settled, wondering if he had put his former student down or not. The ground shook a bit as the rocks and boulders were suddenly blown off, revealing a very bloody Saiyan beneath, but very much alive.
"Heh, not bad Vegeta! N-Not bad at all!" Verto said, catching his breath and standing up. The Zerg attachments regenerated his skin almost instantly, as there were many cuts and bruises that had appeared. The same was likely done with any internal injuries or broken bones.
"Next time you won't be able to regenerate!" Vegeta declared.
"Bring it on, old man!" Verto challenged just as Vegeta came flying in. This time Verto phased out and grabbed Vegeta by his now much longer hair. He swung him over the shoulder and slammed him into the ground multiple times. After a few dozen slams, Verto swung Vegeta high into the air, before giving quick chase. Vegeta flipped back over and backhanded Verto as he arrived behind him, but catching a kick to the chin an instant later. The two clashed again with vicious blows being landed and none being blocked, a majority of their energy behind each one. Spit and blood flew to the ground and hit the spectators a little bit. It soon ended as they landed hard punches to the face at the same time and dropped out of the sky. With Vegeta's body being a little more durable, he recovered a bit more quickly, but Verto was almost regenerated once he hit the ground.
"Wow, that stuff works fast doesn't it?" Goku muttered though no one answered.
"And it's not taking any of his energy away, I'm sure that was what Vegeta was trying to do and now it's not working. I don't think Verto's energy has gone down at all, he must have really mastered it while he was out here. I can barely regulate mine at that level and he's already that far ahead!" Gohan said in almost admiration.
"I'm not sure about that son. I sense that evil presence in him, but beneath it I swear I sense something else. If I didn't know better I'd say there were two Verto's, and this is the one we don't know so well!" Goku said with his extra serious look. A few shockwaves snapped up everyone's attention again, as Vegeta had just clobbered Verto across the face and chest before giving him the toss. Instantly he pulled his hand up and charged a lot of energy into it.
"Oh no, don't do that Vegeta!" Goku shouted suddenly.
"I regret that it had to come to this boy, but I can tell it's the only way! BIG BANG ATTACK!!" The giant blue ball shot into the sky with unforgiving fury, straight at the stunned Saiyan. Verto's eyes popped open when he felt the immense heat directly below him. He flipped forward and created his energy sword, which was bright green now. He barely turned in time and swung the sword directly at the blast, stopping it just shy of his body. Much like Zeratul struggled before, Verto now struggled with Vegeta's huge attack. On the ground, Vegeta was a little surprised that Verto had stopped his attack in mid air, but pushed more energy into it, causing the young Saiyan to fight against it harder.
"Argh, you won't stop me!" Verto shouted as his arms shook violently. He then turned the sword slightly in his hands and saw it flash before his eyes. The golden ki from Vegeta's blast then slowly swirled and shrank into the sword, before filing up into Verto's arms and reactivating his aura, turning it gold as well.
"What the hell?" was on everyone's mind. Vegeta growled, remembering that the younger saiyan had done that to him before, and prepared to avoid his next attack. Verto's hair then turned into a brighter silver color, almost white, his eyes glowing a very bright blue. The big bang attack completely disappeared into the sword and into Verto's body, powering him way up. He smirked brightly and deactivated his sword, looking at his hands as vicious green lightning flashed around him.
"Oh shit," Vegeta muttered as he saw what happened.
"He absorbed it? How can his body handle that much energy?!" Gohan asked aloud.
"The Zerg cells are constantly regenerating him, that's how. I doubt he will hold all of that for long once he starts using it, but for now it's safe to say he's stronger than all of us if he can do that!" Bardock said. Verto instantly arrived on the ground and hit a thunderous uppercut to Vegeta, who flew up in the air and drifted momentarily. Verto's hands flashed green with mixed energy before he brought them together behind him, creating a larger green ball.
"Here you go prince, one out of your playbook. Slightly modified, of course! Super Galic Gun!!!" Verto shouted, bringing it forward. Vegeta's shocked look turned to determination as he watched his certain death coming straight at him. He drew up as much energy as he could to move. He managed to dodge some of the blast and was blown out of the way as the huge beam went into the sky. It collided with a large piece of debris a little ways from the planet, lighting up the skies and even blew some of the clouds away. Vegeta's aura dropped as he sank to one knee on the ground, his hair shortening and turning black again.
"Damn, Vegeta put everything into that last blast. I'll go next!" Goku declared, stretching his neck slightly.
"Kakarot, let us help you!" Bardock suggested.
Goku smiled and shook his head, "If I can't win, then it's up to Gohan. A group effort is a nice idea, but I don't think it'll work here. Just help Vegeta out, I'll get Verto's attention away from him!" Goku said, putting two fingers to his head. Verto was laughing in the air slightly as he watched Vegeta sulking slightly on the ground, banging his fists a little bit.
"It's my fault, I trained a monster, I drove him to this. I only wanted the best for him, but I had to keep pushing. It's all my damn fault!" Vegeta groaned as he got up, clinching and slipping on his teeth at regular intervals. Goku suddenly appeared in front of him.
"Don't get down in the dumps Vegeta. Yeah, you trained him, but it was him that gave in to this. It's not your fault and I don't ever want to hear that it is. I'll take it from here!" Goku said, giving Vegeta a hand up.
Vegeta grunted as Goku helped him up, "Good luck Kakarot, you're going to need it. I don't know if we can even hurt him now. I didn't try everything, but I'm pretty sure nothing else will work!" Vegeta said, almost limping away.
"Maybe, but I won't know if I don't try," Goku said, powering up. As Goku was going through his Super Saiyan levels, Vegeta limped over to Gohan.
"If Kakarot fails, it's all up to you!"
Gohan nodded, "Yeah, I know!" They then heard Verto laughing loudly in the sky, his voice had grown darker as his power had gone up.
"The great hero marches out to save everyone, your legacy ends today, Kakarot!" Verto boasted.
"You talk like a broken record. You make it sound like you know everything about me. I can tell you are not the real Verto. Nor will you ever equal his true level of strength. Now let's get this over with!" Goku said, powering up to Super Saiyan three.
Power levels:
Super Mystic Zerg-Verto: 550,000,000; after Big bang absorption: 660,000,000
Vegeta (SS2): 460,000,000; SS3: 565,000,000
Next time on DBV: The battle between Goku and Verto gets going as everyone around the planet looks on. The Overmind becomes somewhat concerned with the power of the other Saiyans, and introduces his solution to the problem with a new minion to carry out his plans. Who is this great warrior, and does he have more power than the other Z fighters? Midway through their battle, Zerg-Verto realizes that he must beat everyone soon or face the possible consequences from the Overmind. The battle with Goku ends abruptly and Gohan steps up to face the infested warrior. Next Time.