The Last Warrior

Chapter 7: Secrets Revealed

By: Daniel Graffio (Neoguy23)

April 11, 2005

The silence in the room was almost overwhelming. Both men, the young warrior and the heartless dictator stared at each other. They're faces blank (except for the small smile on Kane's face) but their eyes blazing. Both of them had been waiting for this for a long time, almost an eternity. The silence was broken only by the entrance of Eve and the rest of the band.

"Slade!" She yelled, "What were you thinking! You could have waite..."

Her voice trailed off into silence as she looked at Slade's eyes. She had never seen a look like that one anyone's face in her life, and never wanted too. She followed his gaze and saw what had caused this change in her newest friend. Her eyes widened at the sight of him. Kane, the man who had caused so much suffering to this world, the man who had taken her peaceful life away from her, and from all her friends. He was a tall man, taller than Slade by at least a head. His features were that of a human, though his almost stark-white skin and bluish-gray hair showed to all, this man was not of Earth. He wore a dark black cloak, which fell down his broad shoulders. A small opening in folds showed he was wearing armor similar to Slade's. His eye's, an almost dead gray color, blazed like Slade's were. He turned them on Eve and the others, his small smirk widening into an evil grin, then he rested his eyes back on Slade.

"I see you brought more friends, little warrior." He said. His voice was smooth but full of venom. The voice of a devil. Slade turned his head to the side slightly; he hadn't even noticed that they were there until now, though his face didn't show his surprise. He looked back at Kane, his teeth gritted in malice.

"Haven't you had enough of losing the ones you care about?" Kane laughed, a high and wicked laugh that shook all the people who were gathered there. Slade dropped into a fighting stance, when he spoke, it was with an anger and hatred none of his friends ever thought possible in him.

"I'm gonna finish this today Kane. Today I'll take that wretched life of yours" then he screamed, "TODAY I'LL HAVE MY REVENGE!" Kane laughed again. His black gloved hand protruding from his cloak.

"Yes, I know you have waited long for this moment. How long has it been boy? Five years? Six maybe?" Kane said as he slowly descended the stairs, stopping at a step built larger for those of higher rank who Kane considered worthy to be closer to him when addressed.

"It's been eight years." Slade said, his voice deadly calm, which to Eve was even scarier than when he had been yelling.

"Heh heh, yes, of course. Eight long years. I'm surprised you've been able to elude me this long, but I must admit to not trying very hard to find you." He laughed again, and it was all Slade could do to keep from attacking him right then, but he held his ground, waiting for the opportunity to strike. Kane continued his ranting,

"I wanted to know how far you'd go, how much you'd improve to get your vengeance. I wanted this to be a fight of note. I wanted the day I destroyed the last Saiyan to be a day I would remember with relish."

Slade's anger momentarily gave way to confusion.

"Saiyan?" he said, puzzled as anyone else. Kane looked puzzled too for a minute, then his smile grew even wider and more wicked than ever.

"You don't know about the Saiyans? You don't know the truth about what you, or at least part of you is? Oh this is too much." He laughed again, Zenyu joining in this time. Slade was losing what little control he had over his urge to kill, but was able to spit out,

"Tell me damn you!"

Kane went back to his smirk again, and nodded.

"Very well then boy. You are a descendent of a race of people called Saiyans, They were not of this world, they came from space like I did." He paused, as though enjoying this revelation like it was a meal, "They were a warrior race the Saiyans. Their main pleasure in life was to fight. There were mostly just brutes, savage and ruthless. A race of barbaric monsters." He put final emphasis on the last word, noticing Slade flinch ever so slightly at the sound of it.

"And why should I believe you?" Slade shade, shaking with contempt.

Kane laughed again,

"Come now boy, don't lie to yourself. Don't you feel something every time you fight? A sense of fulfillment perhaps? Maybe even joy?"

Eve and all her group remembered then how Slade had looked fighting the sparring bot Zenith. The smile on his face, he had been enjoying himself. Slade remembered it as well, remembered the feeling every time he had fought. At the time, he felt it was just satisfaction at destroying Kane's hold over the world. If it was just that, he could have doubted Kane's words, but he then remembered what his father had said shortly before Kane had ended his life.

"You may kill us, but you will fail in your goal, just as Freeza did. The Saiyans will live on. We won't be destroyed as easily has you think!"

Now he knew, he was a descendent of the Saiyans, but did that mean he was what Kane said he was? Slade decided he didn't need to know that, but one name stuck out for him, and he said it out loud without thinking.

"Freeza."

Kane raised an eyebrow, though his demeanor didn't change in the slightest.

"Yes, Lord Freeza destroyed the Saiyan race, though a handful of them survived."

"And ultimately he was killed by the very race he had feared would do so." Slade spat. For the first time since they had come hear. The gathered rebels saw Kane's shield of confidence fall for a moment, a sneer grew on his face, and his eyes burned with hate again.

"How do you know that, boy?" Kane demanded. His question was in vain however, Slade had said it without even knowing why. He knew it was true however, and Kane's reaction wasn't even a factor, something just told him that it was true. Freeza had been killed by the very race he feared would surpass him in power one day. Slade smiled a bit at this, and it only served to further anger Kane. The overlord of the Earth descended the steps further, until only a few yards separated him and the last living Saiyan.

"Maybe Lord Freeza was killed by a Saiyan, but it doesn't mean you'll avoid you're fate now boy!" he dropped into a fighting stance, and it was all the motivation Slade needed to leap straight at him and attack. He flew at Kane with his fist raised, ready to punch him right in his no longer smiling mouth. Kane dodged easily and leapt into the air, looking down at Slade as though daring him to come up, which Slade did. Zenyu watched as his master and Slade fought, seemingly equal in both speed and power. Slade then landed a hard right into Kane's stomach. Kane doubled over, but recovered quick and hit an uppercut to Slade's chin. As Slade flew with the punch, Kane spun around and kicked his young enemy in the gut, sending him straight into the wall. Slade smashed right through it, leaving a hole behind. Kane gave him no time to recover, firing a purple blast into the hole; the explosion shook the whole palace. Eve screamed, but then saw Slade fly out from the smoke. He hovered in the air across from Kane, glaring at him.

"I didn't think it'd be so easy to get rid of you." Kane said, smirking once again.

"I'm funny that way." Slade said defiantly.

"We'll see." Kane retorted as he leapt back into battle. Slade held up his hands to defend, but Kane was able to speed behind him and plant his elbow hard into Slade's back. Kane then whipped around and began to pummel Slade relentlessly. The young fighter had no escape. Slade then got a knee to the stomach, and was then knocked back into the hard ground. He landed with such impact it made a crater. Kane landed right beside him.

"Stop!" yelled Eve, "Please stop, he's not what you think he is!"

Kane laughed at her,

"Oh no? Then explain this little girl." He reached down to Slade's back, grabbed something a little lower, and pulled it up. It was long and furry, colored a very dark brown. At first they thought it was a furry belt, but then realized it was a tail. Slade had a tail!

"The signature mark of a Saiyan." Kane said, "They all have these tails, and with most it's their weakness, though I'm willing to guess this boy has learned to get over that." He picked Slade up by the back of his coat, spun him around and held him by the cuff of his shirt. He spoke right into Slade's upturned face.

"So boy, are you ready to meet up with your family?" He laughed again. Slade didn't answer him, but coughed some blood onto his face. Kane was infuriated by this.

"You miserable little..." he said raising his fist for the final blow. But before he could, Slade's mouth opened wide and a blast of energy was shot from it. It hit Kane dead on in the face. The dictator was blown back onto the ground. Eve and Aiden immediately ran to Slade and lifted him up.

"Glenn, make us an exit." yelled Eve, then she spoke into her communicator.

"Page, we're leaving meet us at the hole." She clicked the comm. off and helped lift Slade onto Aiden's shoulder. Glenn blew a hole into the citadel wall with a grenade. Page appeared almost as if on queue with the ship. Everyone piled in; Aiden gently put Slade on the floor of the ship.

"Back to base, and step on it." Eve ordered.

"Roger." Page said. The ship gained altitude and rocketed off. Zenyu, who had been busy making sure his master was alright, rose and prepared to chase after them.

"Stop Zenyu," Kane said, "Let them go."

"But...Sire." Zenyu began, but one look from Kane told him to keep his silence. Kane then clapped him on the shoulder, smiling his wicked smile.

"Just wait and see my faithful soldier, I have a plan. We will destroy the Saiyan's mind first. We'll make it so he can't go anywhere without wondering who he is, or what he is. And when he's at his weakest..."

"We crush him." Zenyu said, starting to smile as well. Kane clapped him on the shoulder again, and they both began to laugh. Their laughter reached the ears of the unconscious Slade. He grimaced in his sleep, Eve looking over him as they flew away.