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 39: Sighting
Vegeta and Gohan reentered the command center to see Artanis barking all kinds of orders out.
"Send out a warning on all channels directed towards Auir, specifically ask for High Executor Aldaris to respond!" he ordered, getting immediate respond.
"Aldaris, what do you want to talk to that creep for?" Gohan asked in a low tone.
Artanis glanced back at him, "I won't bother asking him for help, I know it probably isn't coming. However he and the rest of our people should know what's going to happen now! We've tracked the direction of the Zerg swarm, they are headed towards our home planet of Auir!"
"Where your entire race is located, isn't that right? Approximately how many Protoss live on your world?" Vegeta asked. Artanis looked puzzled for just a second before asking another Templar at what appeared to be a science station for archives.
"As of two months ago, about eight million total Protoss citizens on Auir and its colonies. Five million on the planet itself Praetor!" the officer stated as he read.
"Do you know about how many Zerg signals were picked up before we lost them?" Vegeta asked the officer directly this time.
"We tracked about one and a half million different Zerg signals, various sizes and shapes, including the Overmind," the officer said, punching up another log.
"Your people have superior numbers with stronger weaponry, they should put up a decent fight," Vegeta said, stepping away from the computer display.
Artanis gave him a hard stare, "What exactly do you mean by that? It wouldn't take eight hundred thousand Protoss soldiers backing our strongest fleets to take care of that amount of Zerg! A Zerg attack on Auir is fruitless!"
"Is it now? That sounds like something Aldaris would say," Vegeta said as a loud beeping sounded.
"We're receiving transmission from High Executor Aldaris on a subspace channel, patching it into viewer now!"
"Speak of the devil," Vegeta snorted slightly, standing off to the side, motioning for Gohan to do the same. He really didn't care if Aldaris noticed him and Gohan or not, but there was a possibility that Aldaris didn't know they were there yet, which could be used to their advantage should they cross him later.
Aldaris' head appeared on the screen, "Ah, Praetor Artanis, to what do I owe this communiqué?" Gohan glared at him hard, taking in his newer features. His previously green head dressing was replaced by what the Protoss must have considered a golden crown. His whole left arm was now shiny golden color, as well as most of his left side and chest area, Verto had done quite a number on him. Gohan couldn't see the rest because he was sitting at some sort of desk.
"High Executor, as you know we are stranded on Char. The Zerg Swarm has left Char en masse, they are headed straight towards Auir! We estimate three standard weeks until their arrival, perhaps less than that! We suggest that you mobilize the entire Protoss fleet to repel them!" Artanis said like he memorized it.
Aldaris chuckled slightly, "Yes Praetor, I received that information a short time ago from deep space sensors. However there is no cause for alarm. Their numbers are impressive, but we have a much larger force. We have much more advanced technology and stronger weapons. We also have a secret weapon in case the Zerg become a problem, its something we picked up when we were chasing them throughout the cosmos!" Aldaris said with a fat grin on his face.
"Secret weapons?" Artanis asked, glancing towards Gohan and Vegeta, who didn't answer but bore a scowl or two. He saw the far door open to reveal Goku and Bardock, beaten and battered from a training session. Gohan kept his finger to his lips when they asked who was speaking quietly.
"Why yes, my old friend. One is a captured warrior from another planet. He's a bit of a bloodthirsty animal if you ask me, but his people have great power and have proven very effective against the Zerg. We have contained his primal brain with a mind control unit. I would have liked him to cooperate without that, but his people are very aggressive, and we were forced to kill him on our way back. Luckily my scientists revived him, so he's simply a Protoss weapon to use as we see fit. Unfortunately we couldn't capture others like him, the Zerg interfered and took them instead. After this invasion is dealt with, we will see about getting a rescue ship out to you. Until then you should eradicate any Zerg on Char, and keep a lookout for these great warriors of destruction. Who knows how many of these Saiyans the Overmind was able to capture!" Aldaris warned. Gohan's glare grew darker as he was just itching to tear the screen apart the more Aldaris spoke.
"But High Executor, we believe that we have the force capable of knocking out the Overmind here on Char! We've encountered the Dark Templar!" Artanis argued. To Gohan, he definitely trying to snag a rescue ship earlier while keeping the Saiyans out of the discussion despite the fact that Aldaris had already brought them up.
"Under standing Protoss law, consorting with the fallen ones is heresy Artanis! However this can be forgiven. The Dark Templar's overrated abilities may have the power to take care of the Overmind, however I now possess greater powers than even they can fathom. The Overmind will not be a problem once all of its little swarms are taken care of by our combined might! Assuming the fallen one's haven't influenced your mind with their taint, you have new standing orders Praetor! You are to execute the Dark Templar and any types of Terrans you encounter on Char. Doing this will bring forgiveness and great rewards. I will speak to you after our victory! En Taro Adun!" Aldaris said with a sharp look. He demonstrated some of his power for the Praetor when he mentioned it, making and extinguishing a small energy ball. Artanis looked like his heart had been ripped out. Gohan took this moment to step in front of the screen, lighting up Aldaris' features.
"If you're so high and mighty, why don't you come do it yourself!" Gohan challenged right there. The shocked expression on Aldaris' face subsided, but a nervous tone stood in his voice pattern.
"You, so you have met up with them Artanis. I didn't think you were as foolish as Tassadar!" Aldaris grinned again.
"Your fight isn't with him, it's with me! I will make you pay for killing Videl!" Gohan said surprisingly calm, pointing at Aldaris.
"You are just as foolish, your powers are not a threat to me anymore boy! Artanis, this is your last chance to execute the greatest threat to the Protoss race, do it now!" Aldaris shouted now. Artanis didn't move, and a door opened once again. This time it was Tassadar coming in to observe the conversation.
"I'm sorry Aldaris, I cannot do that. They are the key to our salvation and the destruction of the Zerg once and for all. Why can't you see this?" Artanis asked, almost desperate.
"The question is why can't you see this, those bloodthirsty animals are agents for the Overmind. Working with them will surely damn your soul for all time. You will never be welcome on Auir again if you join the likes of them!" Aldaris warned. Artanis didn't answer right away, but made his decision quickly.
"I love Auir with all my heart, and I must make my own decision as to how it stays safe. I stand by them to the end Aldaris, I do not regret my decision!"
"Very well, former Praetor, you have made your choice and now you will have to live with it! Do not expect a warm welcome!" Aldaris shouted at the video feed, killing the connection with the push of a button.
"I am going to tear him to shreds," Bardock threatened aloud to the screen once the transmission had ended.
"Sorry grandpa, you won't get the chance," Gohan said in a low tone.
"So he still has Shugesh, or perhaps this is another clone?" Vegeta asked, glancing towards Tassadar.
"More than likely he did indeed kill him and then reanimate his body. We have the technology for creation of mind control devices but they had been outlawed for a long time. Obviously Aldaris doesn't care about that," Tassadar said in slight disgust.
"Well, since a lot of innocent people are going to be killed there, we need to figure out a way to get off this rock and get to your planet!" Gohan suggested. Artanis looked like he was told that the sky was falling, all hope had faded from his body.
"Aldaris has more than likely kept all ships from departing now, especially with the Zerg coming. The chances of getting a friendly ship here are remote at best!" Tassadar stated as a fact.
"Then how are we going to get out of here, unless… Kakarot, can you sense where the Zerg are going?" Vegeta asked.
Goku shook his head, "We can barely sense the Zerg on this planet, never mind through outer space. I would need a close enough ki signal to track and by the sound of it, this planet Auir is a good ways away. I won't be able to get us there with Instant Transmission without a clear-cut signal. I thought about trying to contact King Kai, but we're in a different dimension. I haven't been able to contact him since we left our own. Sorry," Goku said.
"What about you, boy?" Vegeta asked Gohan.
"Same thing Vegeta. I can sense a lot around here, but once it's too far or too faint I can't feel it. I can't even feel the Zerg now and they just left! I could sense the Overmind or Broly if they were close enough, but teleporting there wouldn't do much good!" Gohan explained with an apologetic look. Vegeta shook it off, out of ideas for the time being.
"Can't you guys build a ship or something?" Bardock dared to ask.
"We have the designs for one, but we do not have the raw materials for a suitable one. Most Protoss ships are made on Auir and warped in to wherever they are needed. However with the lockdown Aldaris will put in place, establishing a warp rift would be impossible just like it was on Earth. He won't allow a warp link to be established from Auir, and he will probably spread propaganda against us now. This is not looking good," Tassadar explained.
"And our ships were destroyed by the boy during a Zerg attack, so we're all stuck here for the time being," Zeratul said from thin air, appearing in the middle of the room next to Tassadar. Another loud beeping sounded from the communication station.
"What is it, another threat or order from Aldaris?" Artanis grunted slightly.
"No Praetor, it's from Captain Raynor!" the Templar said in surprise.
"Captain who?" all Saiyans asked at once.
"Put it through, Captain Raynor is a Terran soldier stranded here as well. We left him with others of his kind, but we were to believe they didn't have any sort of communication array," Artanis briefly explained. Raynor's mostly baldhead appeared on the video feed, which showed him asking several technicians if it was working.
"Is this damn thing on? Oh, hey! Artanis, buddy, you guys get the good news yet?" Raynor asked.
"Good news?" Artanis asked, standing now.
"Yeah, we detected the Overmind and most of the Zerg leave the planet, that is good news!" Raynor said with a slight smile.
"Be that as it may, we are stranded here as well as you are. Without a workable ship and our own people abandoning us, we are to fend by ourselves for the current time," Artanis drooped his head a bit.
"Hey now, don't get down in the dumps! I told you I would pay you guys back for helping me before. Well...I got all these cowboys to fix up my ship, the Hyperion. It'll be ready to go in a few days!" Raynor boasted proudly.
"You are serious? Your ship was on the brink of falling apart when we found you, it is repaired already?" Artanis asked in shock.
"Hey, give us humans a little credit, we can do a lot when we're determined! Besides, most of these boys can't go home thanks to our Dominion friend Duke, better than staying around this dirtball!" Raynor said slyly. Another loud beeping sounded, but it was coming from the transmission feed. Raynor put a finger up to his ear, where a small headset was attached.
"Just a second Artanis, my scouting team is checking in, Raynor here! You found what? What the hell is a small kid doing out in the middle of nowhere, was he part of your group? He's alive? Well of course trooper, revive him if you can, I need to know how he got there and which Dominion group left him behind. He has a what? A tail?" Raynor asked in surprise. Vegeta and the others perked up to this right away, smiling slightly to one another.
"He survived, how?" Bardock asked.
"It doesn't matter, if the boy is alive it is a most fortunate thing," Vegeta said with pride.
"Yeah, but what if he's still being manipulated?" Gohan asked, not quite as pleased as the others.
"What do you mean Gohan?" Goku asked.
"Well, Kerrigan said there were a lot of aggressive hormones that were released into his blood to make him a little crazier, what if those are still there. Reviving him with some sort of stimulant might be bad!" Gohan said with a knowing frown.
"He has Zerg-like tissue cells on the tail? Oh, I know who that is. Use a much stronger dosage, that kid is tough as nails!" Raynor suggested into his headset.
"No, don't revive him! Keep him under!" Gohan stepped out and shouted at the screen, getting a strange look from Raynor.
"Who are you, you look like that kid but older. You his brother or something? What trooper? He's up, good. What, what's wrong? Ah, oh!" Raynor suddenly winced like his ear had been a few inches from a gun when it goes off.
He put his finger back up to it in surprise, "Trooper? Trooper!" Raynor called into it, not getting an answer.
"Captain, can you transmit the co-ordinates of where your scout team was?" Gohan asked directly.
"Yeah, just a sec and I'll get the location. It was around where a Zerg brood had gone crazy and virtually killed itself off. I sent a team to check it out and take care of any remaining Zerg! I'm about to dispatch another to find out what happened!" Raynor said, a little more serious now.
"No, don't send out any more teams, they'll only get killed. We'll handle this!" Gohan ordered, leaving the command room right away. The other Saiyans followed quickly.
"You want to tell me what's going on Artanis? Who exactly are they?" Raynor asked as the door closed.
"Long story, but I will fill you in as best I can!" Artanis said, sitting back down.
-
"Damned humans just had to run across him first, at least he's alive," Vegeta remarked as the four Saiyans were flying over the ash filled lands.
"Better that he's alive and still here rather than with the Overmind though right?" Goku asked.
"Infernal creature, that damned thing is going to learn not to mess with a Saiyan eventually!" Vegeta growled. They crossed over into former Zerg territory without any trouble. They spotted a few Zerg here and there, but no organization with them. Some Zerg ran around alone, some in packs. Most of them were fighting with each other, even eating their own kind. Gohan eventually spotted a few human bodies laid out on the ground, no sign of any movement though. They landed and found the dead humans and what they had used to wake Verto. All of the humans bore Marine armored suits except for one, who had a medical bag next to his lifeless body. The marine's suits had been pierced pretty harshly by a large enough weapon, or in this case, a punch or ki blast.
"This looks bad, there's a pretty large and empty container in here. Looks like the stuff they use to revive large animals and dinosaurs back on Earth. I'll bet they used almost all of this to wake him up!" Gohan said, looking through a discarded medical bag.
"He's a little motor now, but I can't sense his energy though," Bardock said, looking around.
"That tells us that either he's keeping it down on purpose, it's extremely low, or that he still isn't thinking straight, if at all. I highly doubt that he's recovered enough physically and mentally to be suppressing it, so Gohan must be correct. We're going to have to wait until he calms down or until we can find him and beat that hyper body of his up. He shouldn't be able to put up much of a fight right now," Vegeta commented, looking around himself.
A sudden aroma hit Gohan's nostrils, gaining his attention, "Hey, you smell that?"
"Smell what?" Bardock asked.
Goku picked it up quickly, "Ugh, what is that?" he said, holding his nose.
"Smells disgusting," Vegeta said, clinching his teeth slightly.
"Smells like freshly dead Zerg. But that smell doesn't appear unless we fry them with really low power energy attacks. Not even to disintegrate I mean, just enough to take off a limb or something! It doesn't take but an minute or two for a Zerg body to emit that unless it was vaporized!" Bardock noted, seeing Gohan's face change a bit.
"I still can't sense anything, but maybe if we follow that smell we can find Verto!" Gohan suggested.
"You might as well search for an end to Kakarot's stomach! There are Zerg killing each other all over the place, that smell could be coming from anywhere!" Vegeta barked at him.
"Yes, but Verto was here, and we are pretty close to that Hive cluster we found him at yesterday! And surely we would at least partially sense him if he were to be flying around right? So he must be moving on land," Gohan pointed out with a single finger in the air.
"True, but if he is as charged up as we think he might be, who knows how fast he is moving now even without using energy. I think it may be best to go back to the Protoss base and monitor what happens to the Zerg. If he's killing them in any sort of pattern, we can pick it up! Right now we can't sense the Zerg all too well with them scattered about as it is. Plus if we give him some time, all that crap in his system may wear off. Remember guys, he just killed his mate, he isn't going to be thinking straight for a while," Bardock suggested.
"I agree, going on scent isn't going to get us anywhere but lost on this world, let's get going!" Vegeta ordered, taking to the air along with Bardock. Gohan looked saddened by this, Goku threw an arm around his shoulder.
"Don't worry son, we'll find him!"
"I hope so Dad!" he said as they followed.
A/N: "en masse" sounds just like it reads, In Mass. Another way of saying "all together" for you non-literate types out there (its okay, we've all been there).