AN- Sorry about this update time. My life is kicking me in the face right now, and inspiration is fleeting and random. My humblest apologizes.
Piccolo growled at his opponent. Trying to use one of the humans as a sparring partner was a ridiculous waste of time. The human leaves himself open every time he moves! He swung his foot in a quick arc, catching Tien in the side. "What sort of defense is that? Anyone could break through that guard! You better make this session worth my time, human!"
Tien grimaced as he staggered backwards, holding his side. The demon was moving far too quickly for him, and they both knew it. He had to come up with something quick, or Piccolo would end this match swiftly. Tien gulped. It's not the ending part I don't mind... it's the fact that I don't know if Piccolo would kill me or not. I still don't trust that demon...
Piccolo grinned. "I see the fear in your eyes, human. Very observant of you. You are correct. You will be lucky to leave here alive."
Tien's eyes flashed open in shock. Piccolo took the opportunity to dash forward, slamming his elbow into Tien's chest, knocking the triclops backwards. Piccolo flashed a toothy smile as he prepared himself for the knockout blow. And if I do more than stun him... who's to blame? Perhaps he should have trained harder, eh?
Piccolo charged his ki into his fist, and threw it at his enemy at a blinding speed. Before it reached his mark, a loud voice rang out, bringing Piccolo's attack to a halt. "Green man! Quit picking on the humans! Or do I have to step in and make you look foolish?"
Piccolo lowered his fist, grumbling as he knocked Tien back with a gust of air. Tien stumbled toward the exit of the training room, ashamed at himself for not being able to defend himself. My training will be redoubled, of this there is no doubt, he thought to himself as he walked out of the room.
Piccolo turned to Raditz. "There was no need to interrupt. I was just having a bit of fun."
Raditz smirked. "And would you have known when you had went too far?"
Piccolo's face turned sour. "Do not underestimate me. If I recall correctly, I had the chance to kill you during our scuffle. So do not act as if you are invincible."
Raditz's face did not move from it's smile. "You had the chance, indeed. But if I recall, you choked on the delivery of that ray. You had a clean shot. What happened? Break in concentration? Or perhaps I struck a nerve with my little speech?"
Piccolo looked at the ground, fighting the instinct to swing at the taller man. It would do me no good. Even if I somehow managed to beat him, there's still the matter of Goku and his friends. It is undignified, but I will bear it for the time being. I will have to wait until a time where my options are a little less... limited. He pulled his head up, setting his best look of utter hatred upon Raditz. "What do you want from me?"
Raditz shook his head. "Well, a change of attitude would be nice."
Piccolo spit on the ground at Raditz's feet. "How was that?"
"Well, I was hoping for something a bit more positive, but whatever makes you comfortable."
"I will ask you again. What do you want from me?"
Raditz sat down and grinned. "You remember my assessment of you when we first met?"
Piccolo nodded wordlessly.
"Well, how was it? Was I on target?"
Piccolo growled. "You already know the answer to that."
Raditz nodded. "Yes, but I want to hear you say it."
"Why?"
"You will be a valuable ally in the coming battles. But I need to know that you will be with us. In order to ascertain that, I wish to delve into your psyche."
Air shot out of Piccolo's nostrils as he snorted. "Well, I wish you the best of luck, but I do not think you are going to get anywhere."
"Why do you shut yourself off from everyone?"
A snarl emerged from Piccolo's throat. "Well, I suppose after having solitude forced on me from birth, it sort of came naturally to me."
Raditz raised an eyebrow. "Forced upon you?"
Piccolo looked at the ground. "I do not want to talk about it."
"Well, we can sit here all night if you want."
Several hours went by. Piccolo had gone into a meditative stance, and had quietly spent his time in mental training. Raditz was running out of patience, and was about to break his promise. Right before he could, Piccolo's voice broke the silence.
"My father."
Raditz turned to Piccolo. "Your father?"
"Yes. He was a demon of great power, and of great evil."
Sounds like Frieza, Raditz thought.
"My father was killed by Goku."
A ray of hope lit up in Raditz's head. "Kakarot killed the demon?" If he killed the demon, perhaps he is capable of destroying Frieza as well...
Piccolo nodded. "The last act of my father was to give birth to me, and to charge me with his mission. The eradication of human kind, and the death of Son Goku. Since my birth, I was shunned by all of humanity because of my green skin. I wandered the earth alone, slowly locking myself away. No one would listen to me, and therefore, I would not allow anyone the satisfaction of ignoring me. I would not give them anything to ignore."
Raditz mulled quietly to himself. Being born into a world that hates you... being forced to do evil for a madman... sounds like the life of a Sayian... but instead of a demon father... we have Frieza.
"At first I didn't want to listen to my father's voice in my head. How could I trust someone would left me alone at the moment of my conception? To pass the time, I began watching the humans from afar." Piccolo continued. "I found that they were just as guilty as evil as my father was. They simply committed their sins on a smaller scale. I stopped questioning my father's mandate and decided that I would eradicate the hypocritical humans. I would fulfill my destiny as a demon."
"You aren't a demon." Raditz cut into Piccolo's monologue, stopping him dead in his tracks.
"What?"
"You aren't a demon."
"Well then, how do you explain the green skin?"
Raditz shook his head. "You are a child of the planet Namek."
Piccolo gave a estranged look. "Namek?" The name sounded foreign, but at the same time, it was just as familiar as his name.
"It is a planet in the West quadrant of the universe. The Nameks are a peaceful race which own sacred baubles known as dragonballs."
Piccolo's eyes widened in shock. The dragonballs! Then it must be true! Kami and I are Nameks?
Raditz smiled. "I see you realize it is true."
Piccolo held his head in his hands. "Why were we on Earth?"
Raditz shook his head. "There is no way too be sure, but a long time ago, a great disaster befell the Nameks. Several Namekians fled the planet, and only one who stayed on the planet survived. He became known as the Great Elder, Guru, who reflowered the Namekian race. He gave birth to 108 Nameks, and they have lived peacefully since. Perhaps you were born from one who escaped the catastrophe?"
Piccolo nodded. "There is no other explanation, so perhaps you are correct."
Raditz stood up and turned away. "I have given you much to consider, so I will leave you. We will arrive on Frieza planet #79 in a few days."
Piccolo grunted in acknowledgment as he pulled himself back into his meditation. Raditz walked out of the room, desperate to find something to eat.
Tien pulled himself out of a shadow in the hallway. So, that is Piccolo's story... I'm sure Kami would be interested in this information... I need to contact Chaozu...
