Chichi wheezes for air as Ginger continues to zip around her. She holds the Power Pole before her defensively. She wishes she still had the Zephyr to keep up with her enemy. Unfortunately, it had been blown up with a ki attack.
Yajirobe fairs no better having lost his sword. Sansho punches him in the nose. The samurai staggers back, unable to adequately defend himself. Without his sword to focus his ki to, his attacks offer no threat to the foe.
Ginger knees Chichi in the stomach while Sansho shoves Yajirobe with a heavy palm. The two victims spiral helplessly through the air. They careen into each other smacking backs together forming a cross with their two bodies. They drop to the floor entangled together.
This is not good, thinks Korin.
He prepares to get involved by scrunching down in a fighter's stance. Nicky walks up beside him.
"Please don't do anything to spoil the spectacle," says the elder Makyan.
The cold chill of death falls over Korin. He feels it against the warm vitality of his own aura. If he moves, he knows he would be killed instantly.
Korin watches as Ginger and Sansho move in to end the lives of his pupils. They are cut off by two ki bolts that nearly strike them. Everyone looks to the source of the ranged attacks. Two bald men and a third in a cap with a little red pompom on it stare them down from just beyond the railing.
"You're going to pay for what you've done to our friends," says Tien.
"Who the hell are these guys?" says Ginger.
Whew, just in time, thinks Korin. Thanks Mr. Popo.
Tien zooms straight into Sansho giving him a double palm strike. Ginger gapes at the speed and force of the assault until Chiaotzu is in his face with a couple of kicks he barely dodges.
Nicky flicks his eyes between his two comrades before letting them settle on Krillin. He grins which unnerves the shorter man.
"I guess that means you and me get to have some fun," he says.
Krillin shakes his head and readies himself for a fight. Nicky pats Korin on the head before charging straight for battle. The monk folds his pose and retreats away from the tower. He begins focusing ki to his hands while flying backward.
With all three of the enemies finally distracted, Korin runs down stairs to grab a couple Senzu Beans out of the jars on the lower level. He hurries back up to his injured pupils and feeds them both a bean. They thank their master and get back on their feet.
Nicky notices the cat's actions as he chases Krillin around the outside of the circular structure, dodging between ki blasts.
"Hmm," he says before returning his full attention to his target.
Krillin's muscles feel tight. He thinks about every movement of his arms when aiming. They jerk about instead of flowing smoothly. He worries about endless possible things the enemy could do to him and how he will respond. He knows taking initiative could force the enemy into his position of uncertainty but cannot stop himself from being defensive.
Every time he fires a blast, it is reactive to where the opponent is going rather than trying to lead the target where he wants. He misses every attack without any kind of plan like cornering the adversary for a guaranteed hit. Each failed shot erodes his confidence. The thought of all his speed and ranged training being for nothing creeps into his mind furthering his insecurities.
Nicky stops midair as Krillin continues to drift back. A puzzled look comes over his face.
"If you want to run away, I won't pursue you," says Nicky.
Krillin starts at the abrupt statement. There is no implied threat or cunning undertone. He is unsure how to respond but holds his rigid guard.
"You're a funny one aren't you," says Nicky. "I mean no disrespect, but I am quite attuned to fear. You reek of it and yet you stay to fight. Why is that? There is nothing wrong with wanting to live."
"I can't let you hurt my friends," says Krillin.
"Even if that means dying," says Nicky. "If you persist, I will kill you."
The greenish blue face grows serious. An almost otherworldly presence emanates from him. His eyes widen and pierce into Krillin's mind.
The short man gulps. His fighting stance shrinks into an almost fetal position. Then the opponent shoos him away with both hands before flying off to the tower. Krillin watches as he goes doubting if he can follow. He wracks his brain as the adversary leaves to attack his friends, yet he feels too inadequate to give chase.
"I can't beat him," he says. "But I can't let him go after my friends. But I don't want to die."
He closes his eyes and clamps his jaw. His ki erupts in an overflowing white aura. He charges almost not bothering to open his eyes. He aims a fist at the middle of Nicky's shoulder blades.
The Makyan rolls in midair, never letting the punch touch him. As he comes around, he sticks out a leg. The base of his shin crushes Krillin's neck just below the chin. The man goes limp and falls freely in the air.
"I told you to listen to your fear," says Nicky, calling after the body. "You have it for a reason. I could practically hear it asking me to take you out of the fight to stop feeling the anxiety. Looks like your body knew something your brain didn't."
He heads for the tower once again, muttering to himself.
"Honestly, I don't understand why humans think acting against their fear is bravery."
He enters Korin's dwelling through one of the four holes in its base. Several giant clay jars await him. Lifting the lid off of one, he finds an uncountable amount of green colored beans. He picks one up and pops it in his mouth.
As soon as it hits his stomach, he feels instantly full and energized.
"Extraordinary," he says. He stretches and flexes his arms. "I've never felt so good in my entire life. These little things are incredible. And dangerous."
Nicky aims his hand at the pot he sampled a bean from. A pale green sphere with a white center shoots into it. The contents explode everywhere and burn up to ashes. He does the same thing to every jar he sees.
Debris and ceramic pieces fly everywhere. Bedding and belongings get torn up and destroyed in the process too. Something orange catches his eye as it rolls along the ground. The last Dragon Ball!
He snatches it up and walks towards the stairs to the main level where the fighting still takes place.
Back on her feet, Chichi sees Chiaotzu being pushed back by her old foe. She rushes in behind him trying to stay in his blind spot.
The childlike martial artist takes a forearm across the side of the head. He drops to the floor. Ginger leaps into the air stretching one leg high to get his foot above his head. He centers his raised heel over Chiaotzu's head to splatter his brains.
As he is about to let loose the tension restraining the attack, he feels the bump of a knuckle against his lower back. The tap is just above the hip of the leg ready to strike.
There is no pain. It quite honestly feels like no more than someone casually glancing off of him in a crowd. And yet, the spot twitches with a little spasm. He jumps as if shocked with static electricity. His leg drops harmlessly to the ground. The built up momentum carries him forward in a series of hops one would make when favoring a leg with a sprained ankle.
He turns to see who dares interfere. Chichi is already on top of him driving in a fist with the index and middle knuckles extended from the other two. His bum hip forces a sluggish reaction from him. She sticks close with a furious assault he cannot retreat from.
Everywhere she strikes feels like the first hit. No pain, just a numbing shock. She renders his body useless, and he collapses to his knees. His mind urges his muscles to move, but they are unresponsive.
"Ginger!" says Nicky shrieking. "Watch out!"
Ginger turns his head on his neck, the only part of him Chichi has not immobilized. Nicky's face is poking up above the top step of some descending stairs. The elder breaks into a run to get to the next floor, but he is not fast enough.
The samurai Sansho fought earlier holds his reclaimed sword in a meditative pose. His eyes flash open, and the steel of his blade shimmers with energy. He charges with the weapon lagging behind him.
Ginger screeches as Yajirobe swings the katana. He passes by the target with the sword now on the other side of his body. As he lands, Ginger's head erupts from his neck in a fountain of blood. The horrified expression remains on his face while it falls to the ground.
Nicky stares in shock.
"Ginger!" he finally says in a shrill tone.
He stumbles towards his dead comrade. He stops, grits his teeth and then sprints to Sansho. His body lunges into a flying kick which forces Tien to disengage from battle. He places a palm on Sansho's shoulder and tilts his head towards the open expanse of sky.
Nicky tears into the air leaving a sonic boom in his wake. Sansho does the same.
"I don't understand my Vizier," says Sansho. "Why did we retreat? We need to avenge Ginger and get the last Dragon Ball."
Nicky rolls his wrist to reveal the jewel he has already obtained.
"We will avenge Ginger," he says. "Mark my words. We will have our revenge."
Sansho feels his comrade's rage grow with every word.
Krillin wakes up in freefall. Before taking flight, he senses for any evil presences around the top of Korin's tower now high above him. Detecting none, he rights himself and flies up to meet his friends. Luckily, he discerns enough life forces to account for all of them.
What are they going to think of me? he thinks.
On his way up, he runs into Tien coming to check on him. Krillin massages his neck and avoids eye contact while assuring his companion he is okay. They continue to the top and catch the end of a conversation.
"And I don't have any more Senzu Beans for you," says Korin. "I always keep a handful away from my stores, but I need all of them for planting a new batch."
"We understand," says Chiaotzu. "We'll be okay now that we have a better idea of what we're up against … Oh it's Tien and Krillin."
"Good," says Korin. "You boys better head out. I have a feeling Kami is going to need your help. I'm afraid Chichi and Yajirobe won't be able to assist since they have no means of flight."
"I'm sorry I let the Flying Zephyr get destroyed," says Chichi.
"No worries," says Korin. "It will reform naturally on its own in time."
"We should have been here sooner," says Tien. "But none of us sensed them soon enough. It was Mr. Popo who told us to come down here."
"You did everything you could," says Korin. "Now follow after them before they get too far ahead. We can't let them make whatever wish they have in mind."
"Right," says Tien and Chiaotzu together. Krillin barely nods.
The three of them take flight after their new rivals with Krillin at the rear.
…
Garlic raises his robed arms to the side; his palms face the ceiling. Pale yellow orbs of energy grow from nothing in each hand. They reach a size bigger than his own body. He throws one, then the other.
They sail towards Kami who experiences trouble dodging them more for their girth than their speed. He jumps to the side to get around the first one. Landing in a crouch, he springs upward to get over the second.
Garlic now lifts both hands over his head. A third giant sphere materializes beginning as just a dot before inflating. The dwarf scoops his fingers to release the third volley at Kami who now hangs in the air.
It splashes over the old man before exploding. Garlic smirks at his success. The brightness of his attacks fades, but a golden light still radiates forth. Kami is encased in a luminous barrier showing no signs of injury. Garlic frowns at the revelation.
"You're a stubborn old thing," says Garlic. "Although you'd have to be in order to still believe humanity can selflessly take care of their own."
Kami gently floats to the floor.
"You misjudge the people of Earth," says Kami. "How I wish you could see the progress they have made these past three hundred years. I'm ashamed to admit that many times I became disheartened myself. But every time I felt like giving up on them, they have shown me they only needed a little more patience. I even found among them a purehearted boy I seriously considered as my successor.
"It's taken hard work and sacrifice, but I'm incredibly proud of the world they have built. It still needs improvement, but I'm excited to see what they achieve next."
"Bah," says Garlic, spitting at his feet. "Your sentimentality is just extinguishing the desires burning inside them. You'll never see what they are truly capable of by holding them back with frivolous notions of morality.
"My father is going to release them from the chains you bind them with when he takes command. The strongest willed of them will truly be able to achieve their potential. Then you will see they are no different from us Makyans and how we operate."
"Such leadership will only repeat the same conditions you experience now," says Kami. "Can't you see that I'm offering you an alternative to escape from your hellish oppression and fear?"
"You misunderstand Kami. Such a system has made me strong," says Garlic. "My will has been hardened and honed. I know exactly what I want and the sacrifices necessary to achieve it. The fear of losing forces me to focus on what is really important and forgo everything else that doesn't matter. Fighting the oppression strengthened me with every battle.
"Few people ever truly know themselves and what they are capable of. They spend their whole lives with just enough to get by that they never challenge the status quo. They are too afraid of losing what little they have and never risk any of it to gain anything more. But three hundred years without my father and watching my enemies do as they please has stripped away such weakness from my being. I have a single purpose, and I've never been happier."
"You've got it backwards," says Kami. "You think giving up everything and channeling all you have into a single goal will make you happy. But if you fail, you will have nothing and no one to fall back on. The society you live in only takes and does not come to your aid when your efforts alone are not enough.
"The people of Earth are steadily working towards a wholesome community where their needs are met, and they don't worry about not having enough. They can spend their excess on others to help them confidently knowing the same kindness will be returned.
"But your people feel unloved and without purpose. Anyone in that situation will do whatever it takes to survive the current pain filled moment. Not because they don't care about others, but because they can't see anything outside their own torment until they are freed from it. And even then, the lasting emotional trauma will make it difficult to reconnect with others. Can't you see that? Won't you let me help you?"
"Help?" says Garlic. "I would never accept help from the one who stole my father from me. You took him and my future kingdom. Now you will watch as yours is taken from you.
A bluish white outline sharpens Garlic's body. He shoots forth like a missile drilling a headbutt into Kami's abdomen.
…
Spice shoulder slams Yamcha into a wall. The bricks cave in around him leaving an indent as big as his body. Spice steps back letting the warrior drop to his hands and knees.
It's no good, thinks Yamcha. I can't keep up with this guy with my ki suppressed, and he's not giving me enough time to draw it out.
"Come on Yamcha," says Puar.
Bulma stands nervously beside the floating cat. Oolong is nowhere to be seen.
"Does it upset you? Being so weak," says Spice. "I hope it does because it pisses me off how you humans take your luxurious lives for granted. You can walk freely in the light while my people must scrounge around in the dark to scrape by on a meager existence."
Yamcha groans.
"But you know what infuriates me the most," says Spice. "It's how you humans conceal your real identities from one another. Right now you want to kill me don't you? It would be easier if I were dead wouldn't it? But instead of acting on the impulse, you worry about whether or not murder would make you a monster just because someone put that idea in your head. Then you go around thinking high and mighty of yourself for upholding some supposedly virtuous standard. All the while, you condemn those that don't live up to it. But really, you've just never been forced to make tough choices. You avoid those situations because you're not willing to test who you actually are."
"Hey man," says Yamcha. "I'm sorry your home life isn't perfect. But I know a thing or two about scraping by. And yeah I've lived at the expense of others when I thought it was just me against the world. But I came to find a place where I belonged and people I can depend on. People can change if they are willing and find people who love and support them. The hardest thing for me was admitting I was wrong and asking for help. Attacking innocent people who aren't responsible for your struggles isn't going to solve anything."
"Innocent, huh?" says Spice. "You humans are the reason we Makyans are in this predicament. You were all so attached to the niceties of your comfy lives that you all came together under a false banner of unity with Kami leading the way. You fought tooth and nail against us. Then you locked away our master and left the rest of us to return to the world we tried to escape.
"Now here we are three hundred years later, and nothing has changed. You all act the same. You pretend to care about everyone on the surface. But when your own happiness is in jeopardy, you will tear down anyone in your way to save it. Here let me prove your moral convictions mean nothing in the face of true adversity."
He holds out his left hand so his thumb and fingers make a C shape. Bulma lifts into the air and races towards him. Her throat slides cleanly into the grasp. Gagging noises immediately sputter from her.
"Let her go!" says Yamcha.
"Make me," says Spice. "If this woman is important, do whatever it takes to save her."
Yamcha races furiously towards the taller man. He throws punch after punch, but the Makyan sways between each one. The woman in his grip swings around not weighing him down at all. He fires a dark pink blast to knock Yamcha away.
"You see," Spice says. "You humans can't help yourselves."
Yamcha grimaces on his hands and knees again. Spice sees a flicker of magenta in his eyes.
"I can feel your rage building," says Spice. "I can taste the ill intent. Just let it go. Give in. It'll feel good I promise. There is a wealth of power to be had when you break free of your feeble mental constraints."
Yamcha strikes again. His attacks are faster this time. Spice must throw in a few blocks with his free arm and legs. Yamcha presses harder. Spice watches his mouth change to a sick grin. The aura around the man grows with an animalistic taint.
Spice clasps his empty palm on Yamcha's left fist. He lets Bulma go to catch the aggressor's other forearm in midair.
"Woah there," says Spice. "I didn't expect quite so much pow—"
A hard knee hammers his gut. Dry heaves and grunts escape his mouth as he buckles over. He tries to stand up straight once, but his stomach cramps and tightens pulling him back down.
Yamcha howls as wind swirls around him. Spice staggers back a few steps.
"Ya-Yamcha?" Bulma says. "What's happening to you?"
He flicks his chin to face her. His tongue runs over the top row of his teeth. The canines seem bigger and sharper than before.
"Looks like he's finally succumbed to the Makyo Star's influence," says Spice having finally found his voice.
He manages to stand straight up, but one eye still clenches shut from the pain.
"What do you mean?" says Puar.
"That planet taking over your sky has an orbit which passes between Earth and its sun," says Spice. "But it's more than just a rock. It's our home, and it has a will of its own. The light it reflects mixes with its aura. Lifeforms bathed in its glow become intoxicated with lust for their desires. All inhibitions holding them back are released, and they become their true selves. It's happening all over your planet, and it's finally happened to him."
"But why now?" says Bulma.
"No one is immune, but stronger willed individuals may need more incentive before giving in to their basic urges. Of course when the eclipse completes, no one will be able to resist it."
Yamcha lunges at Spice. The Maykan moves to intercept him but the target vanishes. A blow to the back of his head sends him face planting into the stone. He pushes up to his knees while grabbing the back of his head. He inhales sharply making an almost whistling noise.
"What's going on here?" Spice says with a hiss. "The increase in strength shouldn't be this much!"
He pounds a fist against the floor.
"And his power is still growing. I don't understand."
"You've awakened more than just his evil spirit," says Bulma.
"What do you mean?" says Spice. "Explain yourself!"
"Yamcha's been suppressing his life force this whole time. Now it's all come to the surface. And if your planet really adds more to it, then you're in big trouble."
Spice looks from her back to the predatory man stalking slowly up to him.
Outside, the Makyo Star continues to slither across the sun, blackening a quarter of it.