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 46: Encounters
"Please, let me live!" General Duke continued to beg after some of the others boarded the Norad Three.
"Only if you shut up!" I shouted back, prompting him to do so.
"What will we do with him?" Gohan asked. Vegeta and Artanis had come over with him via Instant Transmission, and were currently staring down at the whining General.
"I say we rip his heart out, or perhaps blast all of his fingers and toes off! Possibly make a fertilizer out of him for the in-law woman's flowers, it smells like he may be useful at that!" Vegeta suggested. I shook my head, not wanting to kill anyone unless I absolutely had to, besides, this man wasn't completely evil. Neither were his soldiers, and I felt guilty about some of the ones that had died, but that was why I let the others escape.
"I want you to send a distress call back to wherever their capitol world is, and tell them that you and your soldiers are stranded on that planet over there. I will be standing right here until you finish the transmission. Should you tell your forces to track us down by any means, Vegeta here will decide your fate! And he isn't as forgiving as I am!" I warned Duke, who looked like he was ready to shit his pants again. Duke quickly nodded with serious amounts of sweat pouring off of him.
"Priority one distress call, General Duke Alpha Squadron flagship Norad Three. Alien forces have overrun our fleet and we are stranded on an uncharted planet on the outskirts of the sector! Request anyone listening in from Korhal to dispatch a rescue ship immediately to these coordinates, Duke out!" he said under nervous tension.
"Good job general. Gohan, could you and Artanis escort the general to his escape pod?" I asked.
"No problem," Gohan said.
"Oh, and put it in auto-pilot if you can, make it land as far away from his other forces as possible! See if you can program it to self-destruct if any sort of attempt is made to change its course!" I said as they walked to the elevator shaft.
"Pity you've retained a merciful streak. I think he and the Ginyu frog would have become good dance partners," Vegeta noted as the nervous general left the bridge. A number of Protoss and Terran officers had also been teleported over from the other ship, checking things over all over the ship. I recognized one of them to be Raynor's tactical officer Butler.
"It's going to take about a day to get the Hyperion going again. They battered the hull armor and engines pretty bad, but nothing that can't be repaired. The Protoss shield generators were shorted out though, they said that they wouldn't be able to repair them. The sliced part of the hull on this ship can be sealed off and ignored, it shouldn't affect the rest of our journey," Butler explained to me. Vegeta growled slightly as everyone was looking to me like I had taken charge of the whole operation.
"How long do we have to get there now?" I asked.
"About two weeks left in the trip. This ship could probably make it in ten days because the engine is a bit more advanced, but I suggest we repair the other one first and travel together!" Butler said.
I nodded slightly, "Make it as fast as humanly possible. If you need help ask Gohan or Bardock to help, they're pretty good with the brainy stuff. We can't afford to fall behind more than a day or two!" Butler nodded to me and contacted the other ship to confer with Raynor about repairs.
Vegeta took me aside on the bridge for a more private conversation, "You would indeed make a better leader here than Kakarot, but don't supercede me like that again. You are still a child no matter how strong you are!"
I grinned slightly, "They asked me what to do, and I only did the grunt work!"
Vegeta chuckled slightly, "That point aside, explain how you were able to survive in space!"
"Something with my mixed energy generated air to breathe, I really can't explain it. It was just there when I powered up to Super Mystic. It's not a big area of it, but its enough for anyone within a few feet to be able to breathe as well. It's partially how I saved Bardock," I explained.
"At least Kakarot can't do the same yet," Vegeta grumbled as he walked away. I allowed myself to laugh a little, Vegeta's jealously of my power was very obvious, but he didn't seem to mind as long as he kept up with Goku.
-
Another day passed slowly as the twin ships hovered in space. We had maneuvered the Norad Three above the Hyperion, so that a few hatches could be matched up and connected together. I entered a conference room on the Hyperion as Vegeta had summoned me. Seated at a long table were the two high Templars Tassadar and Artanis. Raynor, his officer Butler, and another human officer that I didn't know sat across from them. Vegeta stood by the window behind the Protoss. Zeratul and a few of his Dark Templar brethren were also present, but stood in silence on the far side of the room. I took a seat in front Vegeta as he pointed to it.
"We are detecting a Terran fleet being dispatched from Dominion space, but they shouldn't have detected us just yet. Repairs are close to complete; most of the major damage to the Hyperion has been repaired well enough to travel. The portion of the outer hull that was destroyed can be sealed off for now with force fields. It would take an additional three to five days to completely restore it," Butler reported with what looked to be a data pad.
"I do suggest that we leave the area before the other Terran forces discover our position, however traveling with a broken ship may be hazardous because of the increased possibility of a power failure while traveling in hyperspace," Artanis said with concern.
Raynor shook his head slightly, "It isn't preferred, but these battle cruisers can travel in hyperspace with more damage than this. Believe me I've done it many times! Besides we can't spend any more time here!" I snorted slightly, Raynor was eager to roll the dice.
"As unwise as it is, Captain Raynor is correct. While the ship should be repaired fully to safely proceed, we do not have the time to delay! I estimate that the Zerg may have arrived on Auir by now, and our delay only increases the chance that our people will be wiped out before we can get there! We also can't afford to get the Terran Dominion's attention again now that it has been averted for the time being! I agree that we should take this chance while we have it. To delay our arrival to Auir may make things worse than they already are!" Tassadar suggested.
All eyes turned to me suddenly, "Verto, what do you think?" Artanis asked.
"Why are you asking me?" I countered.
"You did manage to save the ship and the rest of us. Also, you understand Zerg tactics better than anyone of us based on your time with them. We would like your input on what you think we should do," Tassadar said in a kinder tone. Guess that's why I was asked here, because I understand the Zerg to an extent. I thought about it for a moment while twiddling my thumbs slightly.
"The Overmind is not always predictable, but based on what I've heard and learned during my time on Char, he has prepared for this invasion for a very long time. No doubt that your forces and technology will stall him a bit despite having that Broly clone on his side. He knows that it will take awhile to take the planet over, and his best strategy of grinding down your people should allow us the time we need to get there. But I also don't think we should delay any more than we have to. I think we should put most of the crew and supplies on the Norad Three and only enough people to run the Hyperion and travel together. If we have a break down, we can then evacuate to the Norad more quickly and leave the Hyperion behind. That's what I think anyway," I said calmly, watching everyone's eyes. Most of them seemed to agree with this suggestion.
"It's settled then, but who will pilot this ship?" Artanis asked.
"You and most of the crew should take the Norad Three. Myself and Kline here will take a few men and pilot the Hyperion. That way if we break down you can kick up the speed on the Norad and get to Auir sooner. We can handle getting it repaired and meet you there, I've done it before!" Raynor said. Most everyone nodded in agreement, though there was something about this guy Kline that I didn't trust. I hadn't seen his face very much, but something about him was familiar. As the Terrans and Protoss got up to discuss things, I saw him lock eyes with me in a glaring contest. Though I didn't give him much of a stare down, he kept his seemingly angry stare directed at me for some reason. Then he suddenly left the room, saying to Raynor that he was going to check on the engine status.
"Does that human concern you?" Vegeta whispered behind me.
"Not really, but there is something about him that I've seen before, I don't trust him," I replied.
I went back to my new room on the Norad and thought about this a bit as we got underway. As I did my senses picked up on something else much farther ahead of us. It was a power struggle between two largely powerful forces. They were much too faint and far to recognize anything about them, but the collision concerned me to say the least. I had a pretty good idea what might be the cause of it. And as was prone to happen, I was right.
Interlude 46.1 –Auir-
"Make way my children, plow your way to the surface around the remains of the Xel'Naga temple. It is there that our great conquest of the Protoss will begin!" The Overmind ordered his broods. The Super Hive kept in motion directly towards the surface of Auir. A lot of Protoss ships had come to repel them, but not enough as the swarms overwhelmed them. Broly and another brood had been sent to the surface a few hours before the Zerg officially arrived, to clear the way. The small amounts of Protoss around the temple were demolished very quickly, along with the temple. The Overmind had chosen to have the temple obliterated to access the old nexus of energies that surrounded it when he made his landing. The rock hard Super Hive broke apart as it crashed through the atmosphere, colliding with the ground. The Overmind drove its huge tentacles into the ground around it, almost exactly centered with the temple remains, only bigger. Protoss warriors and tribes all over the planet felt the resulting earthquake, and began to mobilize accordingly. The Zerg spread out quickly from the Overmind, far enough to establish their own hive clusters with their different broods, six in all. The forces of Daggoth's brood then advanced on the nearest Protoss cities, intent to destroy them. The other Zerg forces began to work on spawning a large force and an even larger defense for the Overmind.
Broly laughed like a maniac as he obliterated another Protoss strike force with a strong ki wave. They had underestimated him and were foolish enough to keep a tight formation when they flew into the area that he was in. He had been simply on guard while the Overmind was still in the landing stage, listening for more orders to destroy something. His bloodthirsty ways had been enhanced a great deal, but toned enough to where he would listen to his master. Truly a beast on a leash, and more than ready to lash out at his enemies. Before the Protoss showed up, his mind had been in flashback mode, remembering the way his life was shortly before his death. He had a nearly complete memory of what happened, however the mind warping job by the Overmind had restored his older destructive habits. Broly didn't mind either, he felt more alive when he was killing those in his way rather than protecting them. He had been told that the original Broly was killed on Earth, but he couldn't remember exactly how. In the early stages of reawakening, he had asked about this, but was told that the Saiyans abandoned him during a battle with the Zerg. That part of his memory missing began to plague him, not knowing how his life ended ate away at his insides. He didn't care that he was a more powerful clone than the original, his pride of how he died was more important at the time. While hearing that the Saiyans that he might call friends had betrayed him had very much erased the most of this, he still looked back to it when he was not doing anything. He floated high above the ground and meditated slightly, trying to recall everything so far. He was interrupted by the Overmind's telepathic call.
"Broly, my son. You will proceed eastward to the place the Protoss call Scion. Proceed to the temple in the capitol of the province with part of Daggoth's ilk. Annihilate all Protoss you encounter and remain there for further orders!" Broly opened his eyes once again and smiled wickedly as he lifted off.
-
"High Executor, the Overmind and the entire swarm has invaded Auir. The nearest city of Antioch is under siege by Zerg forces! The nearby Province of Scion has reported a Zerg force heading their way as well!" an aid reported to Aldaris in his office.
"Mobilize all Protoss forces to engage the Zerg from wherever they might be around Auir, we will show the Overmind that it will not simply walk onto our planet and claim victory!"
"What about the Zerg controlled humanoid that we have encountered near the temples of old? His power is like nothing we have ever seen before! He obliterated an entire fleet of our forces in a very short amount of time!" the aid said with a nervous gesture.
Aldaris' eyes lit up with joy, "So he has brought the boy to Auir as well? This time I will break his will to fight before I slaughter him and the Zerg alike!" Aldaris laughed loudly, assuming that he knew what Saiyan the aid was talking about.
He kept up his laughter, "Inform the scientists that I will be taking the Saiyan and dealing with the boy myself!" Aldaris said as he began to walk out of the chamber.
"Our reports say it wasn't a child!" the aid said, only to be drowned out by Aldaris' laughter.
"Oh dear," he said, as Aldaris continued to laugh while leaving the area.
-
Broly enjoyed himself while plowing through the Scion province. He let the Zerg draw the Protoss to him, and then allowed them to believe that he was much weaker than he was. Every Protoss warrior was killed with his bare hands, no matter what size or shape. He even destroyed whatever air support they had in the same way by either crushing a smaller scout or an interceptor. He even flew right through a larger troop carrier several times, but they weren't as much fun as the infantry troops were. The Protoss that realized that his power was much more than they could handle had gone into hiding in the main temple, trying to set traps to throw the large Saiyan off. While none of these traps actually worked, it amused Broly while he trudged through their Nexus temple. Not one of the Protoss warriors escaped his grasp, but not many died quickly either. All of them were left suffering where they lay, dying very slowly. Only the probes were killed quickly, because they were machines and nothing else. The Zealots were given more of a quick death without a large amount of suffering, only because Broly respected their courage to fight him. The more cautious and at times fearful Templars didn't receive the same courtesy, and he left them with the knowledge that it may take up to two full days for them to finally die due to their injuries. The Dragoons were mostly machines as it was, their life support systems failed within about five to ten minutes by default after Broly was done mauling them. While the Templars attempted to subdue him with their Psi Storms and elude him with their phantoms, but all it did was earn them a faster death. The Psi Storms phased him just a bit, but it required the Templars to stay still to channel the effect, meaning an easy target for a ki blast.
As the Zerg began to start up a hive cluster nearby, Broly swept the rest of the temple, not blowing it up right away. He preferred to kill off all the Protoss first, just to know that he had got them all. While in the catacombs of the temple, he came across the Protoss equivalent to Earth hieroglyphics. He saw many symbols about the Protoss and eventually the Zerg. He observed what looked to be a prophecy about the Zerg and the Overmind. He saw a large symbol with tentacles representing the Overmind, with a smaller but large looking man standing on top of it with a star like aura. He assumed that this must have meant him. He read on despite not knowing the language, coming to a smaller humanoid picture with a tail, meaning a Saiyan. The Saiyan picture was standing before the Overmind with a sparkling sword in his hand. The following set of symbols were blurred out, like they had been erased or perhaps tampered with on purpose. Broly quit paying attention when he sensed a high power level heading his way. His gaze to the ceiling gave way to a focused look, it was not a recognizable ki signal. Being infused with Zerg genes gave him the ability to sense Psi emissions but not measurable levels of it. He sensed a large aura of Psi around this signal, and an order to find it was soon on its way as he walked back up through the temple in silence.
-
"Great Aldaris, we are approaching the capitol of Scion, but I am not receiving their beacon signal. I am detecting a large number of Zerg nearby, recommend we call for reinforcements!" the pilot of Aldaris' shuttle suggested. Aldaris grinned slightly, sensing a bit of the Zerg, but also the high power level ahead.
"That will not be necessary pilot, you will land near the main nexus as ordered. The Zerg are not going to be a problem, isn't that right Shugesh?" Aldaris asked as he turned his head. Shugesh walked forward, his partially mechanical head shined from the light of Auir's sunlight as the shuttle descended.
"Yes master," he grumbled, staring with a blank look out the window.
"His lack of personality is, intimidating, Great One," the pilot said, shaking a little.
"That it is, however his lack of emotion fits his purpose. His species was born to be killing machines, and it is this bloodlust that will win us the war against the Zerg without sacrificing the lives of our superior race. Let inferior beings fight each other while the more civilized take the reigns. Think of it like the older wars in the Terran sector, when their battles could be won with the push of a button," Aldaris smiled.
"What if he should be killed in the process?" the pilot asked.
"Fear not young Templar. My powers are greater now than any the Overmind has encountered, including these Saiyans. I will deal with them if the situation calls for it!" Aldaris answered. A few more minutes passed by in silence until they saw the new Zerg base being formed on the surface. The shuttle landed and the ramp dropped, allowing Aldaris and the mind controlled Saiyan to exit the ship.
"There are your enemies Shugesh, go dispose of them my faithful servant!" Aldaris pointed at the Zerg. He covered his eyes slightly as Shugesh powered up to his maximum in Super Saiyan two form; and then grinned while his disciple started tearing up the Zerg with thunderous punches and energy blasts. He walked slowly onto the grounds before hovering over the land as Shugesh literally tore apart the Zerg base. In only a few minutes, the multitude of the Zerg forces were dead. This amused Aldaris, all that fighting against the Zerg on Earth had made Shugesh more effective against them. As Shugesh continued to blast the Zerg hive structure apart, Aldaris kept his new sensing skills active. Aldaris frowned slightly now, there was still no sign of his expected enemy. He looked towards the battered but still intact temple. The nexus stood in darkness except for the roof where the sun remained shining down. He spotted several Protoss bodies littering the ground nearby, all composed of dead and slowly dying soldiers.
"Great Aldaris, help us!" he heard a few Templars reach out as they fell into the arms of death. He scowled now, these were still his people and he would eliminate whoever stood against them. That aside, he still didn't help them in the way they wanted. He fired quick Psi beams at a few of his subjects, ending their suffering but still a scowl left on his face.
"Weak pathetic fools! Now where is that little runt?"
In the shadows of the temple, Aldaris spotted a darkened figure moving around slowly. It was the high power level he had sensed, and he relaxed knowing that the target was discovered.
"Shugesh, attack the invader of the temple there! He is your new target!" Aldaris pointed.
"Yes Master!" Shugesh said as he took off to attack the figure. The person inside the temple stopped moving as the golden Saiyan charged him. There was a fierce impact, followed by Shugesh flying backwards swiftly with his nose bleeding. Shugesh recovered and flew back, charging a very potent energy blast. He threw it at the newcomer, exploding on contact and taking out half the front door as well as the stairs of the temple. Aldaris scowled, he had wanted the temple intact, but as long as the enemy was defeated it didn't matter to him.
"What do you think of my new disciple boy? Let's see you fight your way out of this one!" he shouted with an evil laugh. His evil laugh was overshadowed by another from the ashes of the ruined nexus, a much more vile one. Aldaris narrowed his eyes, it was not a young boy that was laughing and he knew it right away.
"Reveal yourself, who are you?" Aldaris requested as Shugesh stood in front of him in a fighter's stance.
"I am merely your executioner, Aldaris!" Broly said as he emerged from the smoke.
Aldaris took a step back in surprise, "I've seen your face before, you're one of the Earth Saiyans! But you died in a vain effort to kill off the Zerg! You cannot be here, your body vanished in a great ball of energy!"
"I am not an 'Earth Saiyan!' I find it, disturbing, that you would refer to my greatness in that manner. I am the only Saiyan that matters in this universe! All other Saiyans are a waste of matter compared to me! I am the Legendary Super Saiyan!" Broly declared with a bit of a bow.
Aldaris grimaced slightly, but kept his composure, "If you're anything like I recall, you're even weaker than the child. I was expecting him today, such a shame that you will have to take his place!" Aldaris fired back.
"He already has a place, buried dead in the dirt! A place you shall soon visit!" Broly said, his aura appearing around him. Aldaris watched and waited as the green ki energy seemed to rip Broly apart, but it in fact expanded his size and his power level. He allowed himself to blink in surprise as Broly's ultimate form, noting that he was easily twice as big now. But what really scared Aldaris was Broly's lack of colored eyes, nothing but white and golden eyebrows remained.
"Shugesh, show this false legend who he's dealing with!" Aldaris ordered. Broly frowned slightly as the mind controlled Super Saiyan rushed at him.
"You would make a mockery of our race by eliminating his free will and hiding behind him, a true mark of a coward!" Broly said as he blocked the Saiyan's punch easily. He grabbed Shugesh by the head and kicked him several times but didn't allow him to be knocked away. He pounded the Saiyan into submission, his hair and eyes turning back to black. He tore off a few of the attachments to his head, then rose into the air and launched the unconscious Shugesh into the distance, sensing him land near the Overmind's area several hundred miles away.
"Now he will serve a greater purpose! Are you ready to face yours Templar?" Broly asked with a nasty grin.
"You'll have to force me," Aldaris said with a deeper scowl, shedding his royal like robes and head dressings. His short Protoss hair stood up on end and brightened into a silver color as a bright blue aura surrounded him. Both warriors' auras clashed with each other as they both powered up to their maximum power level. On one side, the golden Ki power of Broly's destructive legacy. On the other, Aldaris' blue Psionic flow of power hungry ambition. The only question left was who would prevail?
A/N: Place your bets on this fight. This one will certainly be explosive!