Dragon Ball Z: The Catalyst
Act II:
Chapter 33: Future in Flux
The clash upon the surface of Planet Namek wasn't just watched by onlookers such as Piccolo, Raditz, Gohan, Krillin, and Bulma. Behind the scenes, in the background of reality, there was other onlookers. King Kai, Tien, Yamcha, Chiaotzu all watched from the world of the North Kai. Nervousness was the Kai as he watched over every second that Goku engaged Frieza.
But it wasn't just the Kai who watched the events unfolding. Below, deep blow the planet, inside the depths of Hell, the only one there with the power to observe the battle did so. A father who had waited 25 years for his son to avenge him, and avenge their people. He'd seen his other sons fight and fail. His grandson fought and failed as well. Just as his visions had shown him all those years ago, now Kakarot squared off against the demon who had destroyed everything they had.
Bardock's visions hadn't given him the entire battle in great detail, his greatest surprise came at his eldest son Raditz. The son who'd failed him so completely when he was sent to Siren. The son who nearly gave his life to protect his grandson, and then fought Frieza with a determined effort. He was much stronger than he'd ever imagined him to be. The next surprise came watching his unwanted son, Turles. Fighting a battle he'd been warned he could never win, to be crushed under the foot of the monster. But it was a different feeling that followed these two.
They'd failed to defeat Frieza, and both were now utterly useless in the battle against him. Frieza was just too powerful. It was exactly as he expected it to be. The only one who would be able to stop Frieza would be Kakarot. It wans't just his strength either, it was his determination, his will, his uncompromising resolve to win. He'd watched as much of his son's life as he could have.
Bardock had watched him defeat the Namekian King Piccolo, and his son Piccolo. He had seen the boy fight Raditz, sacrificing himself for his friends and family to stop his elder brother. That event had changed from when he'd originally seen it. He'd never seen the changed outcome, but it had to have changed, as Raditz was alive. Was that when events started to change? But what was causing the changes? He'd never been able to influence in the future while he was alive.
Maybe I was just too weak to change the future.
The thought was unsettling if it was true. Before he'd always thought his foreknowledge of the future could never change it. But something was changing the future, but how?
"This doesn't make any sense," Bardock muttered to himself, his eyes trying to follow the flow of the world around him, trying to see what he could not see with his eyes. His vision was elsewhere, struggling to maintain itself as it gazed at the confrontation on a world far from where he'd died. Suddenly, something familiar was there for him to latch onto.
Surprised eyes widened, realizing as he anchored his consciousness, that he'd been surprised yet again.
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All Raditz could was watch as the Apocalypse seemed to unfold in front of him. Next to him stood the ever nervous looking Namekian, his nephew, and the bald human. The battle they were left to observe was between fighters none of them could even follow. In blurs of motion, Kakarot could be seen fighting the monster.
When the first major blast went off, it created a mushroom cloud so large in the distance that it seemed to almost stretch into space. The ground around them trembled before a wave of pressure and force washed over them, even at such a far distance. It was incredible that such powers could exist. Looking towards Piccolo, he knew that the Namek knew Kakarot pattern now as well as he did.
"They are toying with one another, aren't they?" the long haired Saiyan questioned.
It seemed unbelievable, almost like a crime against nature. How could these two just be warming up? Raditz, in what little could had seen, could tell this wasn't serious yet. They were testing one another and their mutual limits. Despite the next explosion in the distance being another planet quaking blast, the true strength of their powers was not yet on display.
"Yea, its hard to imagine isn't it?"
The Namek confirmed his fears with those very words. He respected the Namek, not just for his strength, but for his intelligence and determination. Their fight at the Capsule Corporation had been a truly desperate struggle. Despite being the stronger of the two, the Namek found a way to win. It spoke volumes of the Namek's fighting abilities... and his own. If he survived this, one of his main priorities would be to increase in skill as well as strength.
Suddenly another explosion burst into the air in the distance, before things seemed to calm. Narrowing his eyes, Raditz tried to feel out and focus on what was happening.
Come on Kakarot.
It was then he noticed where he'd felt Kakarot... Lava?
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Frieza had just tried to drown his son in a sea of magma. Just as things had been in the regular time line. The Namekian stepped in, trying to make sure Kakarot was alright.
So far, everything was as Bardock had envisioned it in the flashes of history he saw. But something was wrong, he could feel it, something was somehow different. But so far everything was exactly as it was supposed to be.
What was he missing!?
It was then, the vision came over him. With a struggled gasp, Bardock closed his eyes, being overwhelmed by visions.
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Wind blew past the Namekina island, around them was a torrent of destroyed land, and craters filling with water. Goku having just finished his sparring with Frieza, was preparing for things to start to get serious. So far they'd been relatively evenly matched, but with two very different styles. Frieza relied so far, on large attacks which demonstrated his immense power, while his attacks and actions had been smaller, centred on speed and creativity instead.
But right now, they stood face to face, looking at one another across a field of blue grass. It was calm and quiet, too quiet. The warrior across from Goku was standing in a fixed position, his eyes glued ahead. To Son Goku, the silence was broken not by words, but by Frieza shifting his stance to a relaxed, calmed position. White arms moved up and crossed, Frieza's body shifting to the side, his mouth turning into a small smile.
"This is always the most tragic part of any of my fights. But I must admit to you now this entire fight has been fabricated. I have been holding back the lion's share of my power for the sake of amusement. This fight will end abruptly as soon as I even begin to reveal myself. However, I felt it only fair to offer you an opportunity to save yourself and your little friends over there," Freiza offered calmly. "Join me, the universe will be at your fingertips. People will live or die at your whim. The pleasures of the universe will be open to you, I will make you second only to me in rank and authority."
It wasn't hard for Goku to reject such an offer.
"Sorry, can't do it. I've got this nasty habit of following my heart," Goku admitted.
It didn't appear that Frieza was surprised by his rejection.
"With me you'll live like a god. But you'll choose to suffer and die, won't you? It's a pity really, but hardly unexpected. Your type always reject my offer. I have killed thousands like you, and after you, I will destroy yet thousands more," Frieza just sighed, closing his eyes calmly.
A smile stretched across Goku's lips in that moment. If he was trying to bargain his way out of this, it meant he had a chance.
"I have everything that a man could want, besides, King Kai's planet was kinda boring, so I don't expect that living like a God is all that fun. All that gardening and waxing his car, shoot, I think I'd rather die after a few more weeks of that anyway," Goku admitted, enjoying the look on Frieza's face when he spoke. "But trust me Frieza, you won't kill anyone anymore after this is all over."
The low chuckle that escaped Frieza's lips, bringing his hand up to half cover it, clearly told Goku that the tyrant was amused. They'd be getting to it soon, he could tell. This was going to take everything he had, so he had to try and keep it together. He had to win this.
"This is my favourite part, so you'll forgive me if I seem a little enthusiastic. I have not been fighting you with my true power as of yet, Saiyan. The power I have hidden away makes worlds tremble, even members of my own kind fear the great strength which I can bring forward. As soon as I display it, you will be blown away like dust in the wind," the tyrant said simply.
Of course he'd been holding back significantly. They'd been testing one another this whole time.
"Well, I've got some reserves myself," Goku announced confidently.
It was true of course. So far he'd only been running around a 10th of his strength.
"I know, five," Frieza opened his palm up, showing five fingers as he smiled back deliciously at Goku. "Five times what you've displayed, ten at the very most. However I have used only one percent of my power."
The guess Frieza had made about his power was disturbing, given that he'd spoken with such confidence. The worst part was he was right. But that wasn't the worst. One percent of his power, how could he only be using one percent?
"No way, that's a bluff."
Sweat was forming on Goku's brow as he looked at Frieza and his boast.
When Frieza closed his eyes and smiled knowingly, Goku felt for a brief moment some of the power hidden behind Frieza's mask of energy. There was a well of power, a well that was very deep, he just didn't realize or know how deep.
"A bluff you say? Well, allow me to play my hand then," Frieza said, his body changing positions as he drew in his power, revealing it slowly. "You should feel honoured, I've never had to use this much power to defeat an alien such as yourself."
"Fifty Percent of my maximum, that is all that I require for this."
Immediately, Goku changed poses and prepared himself. Whatever was coming, he'd need to be alert and ready.
Lightning struck Frieza from above.
"You Saiyans really are something else. Vegeta, King Vegeta, your brother back there, Bardock, all of you are so proud and arrogant you can't seem to realize when you have a good deal. Instead there is always the drive to surpass me, to usurp my position and destiny as ruler of this universe."
Disappearing and appearing behind Frieza, Goku edged forward, ready to attack.
I need to push an advantage before-
Energy appeared in Frieza's left hand, glowing ominously.
"You're all just like moths, rushing into a flame to die. But what can I do? You leave me no choice."
Goku relaxed his stance for a moment, trying to feel out Frieza's real power, only as the energy in Frieza's hand disappeared.
As soon as Frieza turned around again, Goku immediately tensed, his stance shifting back defensively. It was a feeling he'd never experienced before, he was almost jumpy at the idea that this monster could be as powerful as he claimed.
"I am now at fifty percent of my power. Your limitations will be apparent very shortly. But don't worry my friend, you've impressed me enough that I promise to make your death as painless as possible. Even less painful that I made that fool Vegeta's."
Finally the energy made itself known as Frieza stood there stoically, not making a move. Goku felt the energy inside Frieza's body. There was no longer any doubt to Frieza's words. His eyes opened in shock as he tried to understand the scope of what he was feeling.
He wasn't bluffing. My god, what power?
When Frieza disappeared the blow landed seemingly instantly afterwards. Frieza's elbow slammed into his nose, causing him to stumble back helplessly. Blood had trickled down his nose as well.
This was extremely bad.
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As the minutes drew past, the battle had clearly turned, they all felt it.
Explosions of force thundered through the skies as Frieza toyed with Kakarot.
It was impossible to believe that Kakarot, the one whose power seemed to dwarf anything any of them could bring to bare, was now being utterly crushed at the hands of Frieza. How? How could Frieza's power dwarf Kakarot's by so much? They could all feel it, and the outcome of the fight was now clear.
When Frieza cut an energy wave across the surface of the planet, Kakarot seemed to almost become idle.
For the first time since he'd met Kakarot, Raditz saw his brother lose the will to fight. Upon realizing this, the bigger Saiyan felt himself swallow hard, trying to keep it together. He was sweating just as Kakarot had minutes earlier, knowing full well that this was going to be it. Kakarot would die down there, and shortly after so would they. This was over, even Kakarot knew it.
Looking towards the others, Raditz could clearly see the same fear he was experiencing, the same frustration and nervousness, in all of them. Krillin, Gohan, even Piccolo, were all looking on with the same looks.
We were fools to challenge Frieza.
There would be no more Saiyans, their race was to die on this world. Their species to never be avenged. Despite the shortcomings of his people, despite his own shortcomings, it was a tragic note to leave.
Lost in his own thoughts, he'd barely noticed the fight happening in the distance anymore, until a huge surge of water exploded into the sky.
Kakarot's power had just expanded dramatically. Everyone felt it. Raditz's eyes widened in shock, feeling himself trembling even.
No way.
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Water had filled his lungs seemingly as he blacked out a minute earlier.
In his vision he'd seen them all die, Gohan, Chi-Chi, Krillin, Master Roshi, and everyone else. Frieza had slaughtered them all and destroyed the Earth. That was the consequence for failing to stop him. Everyone he knew, everyone he held dear would die.
This couldn't happen. Billions, trillions had died at the whim of Frieza. He'd caused more suffering and death than anyone in history, he revelled in his power and used it to crush the lives of others, even his own subjects. If he failed, perhaps no one would come forward to stop him.
I have to stop him.
Finally Goku unleashed everything he had. Drawing deeply from the well of energy he'd expanded his entire life, he felt everything coming rushing to the forefront. Water blasted away in all directions around him, the water being forced from his lungs as his energy shoved it out. Taking in a deep breath for the first time in minutes, Goku felt himself trembling furiously.
Frieza, the murderer who he needed to stop, hovered back in shock, utterly bewildered by what was happening in front of him.
Roaring out towards the world, his body flexing furiously, Goku braced himself for battle once more.
"The future of my family, the future of my friends, the future of the entire universe. It depends on me!"
Red energy exploded around Goku as he began to power the Kaioken attack. As every second drew past, he put more and more power into his aura, putting more and more stress on his body. Every second of this caused his muscles to ache and burn as they tried to contend with the Kaioken.
"I don't care if you're a million times stronger than me! I'm not going to let them down! Frieza, this time you're going down!"
It was a strange reflection in many ways of the last words his father Bardock had shouted towards Frieza.
Screaming as Goku enhanced his power once again, the red aura expanding finally to be a massive glowing red shield of energy around his body, Goku lashed out. Disappearing with pure speed, his fist slammed into the stunned Frieza's face, blood splattering from the tyrant's cheek. Giving chase Goku struck out towards Frieza as his body shot through the air from the impact of the first attack. When Goku struck out, Frieza quickly retook control of his own flight, flying into the air, trying to regroup.
With all his strength, Goku drew in energy around his hands and quickly turned to face Frieza, who was now desperately trying to take control of the situation once again.
"Kamehameha!"
As soon as the word left his lips, a ray of burning blue energy shot towards Frieza, who only had time to manage a defence at the last second. When the wave hit however, it still became a struggle between the two powers.
With every second that past, Goku pushed more and more of himself into the wave, knowing this was his chance.
Everything, I've got to give everything into this.
Finally, the wave exploded in the air. It was like an eye opening in the sky, islands crumbled into nothing, the air itself seemed to almost cook around it.
Floating in the air, trying to catch his breath, Goku looked into the sky and saw Frieza. He looked worn... but otherwise fine.
No.
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It'd been an incredible thing to watch, to have seen all that power and strength.
But now it was over, it had fled as easily as it had come. It was everything Goku had.
Piccolo's eyes remained locked ahead, watching as Frieza's counterattack began. To say it wasn't pretty was a dramatic understatement. Goku was being savaged, every strike that happened made the next one only more cruel. It was now becoming increasingly likely that Goku wouldn't be able to fight back, or respond at all soon. It would be time to step in soon. It would be a futile effort, he knew. But it was either die with Goku, or die on his own afterwards.
I can send Gohan and Krillin for the ship, they can probably make it if Raditz and I are distracting Frieza.
Gohan and Krillin were small fries, Frieza wouldn't notice until it was too late that they were gone. Why have them die here along with the rest of them? The only thing he needed to do was ask Raditz to join in. This would be it.
"Raditz," Piccolo said, turning his head seriously. "We've got to step in."
The long haired Saiyan turned his head towards the green warrior, blinking once as if in surprise, seemingly contemplating what the Namekian was saying. His fist closed tightly, before turning towards Gohan and the human.
Piccolo's voice had said it all, and the Namek knew it. He was asking Raditz to embark on a suicide mission with him. He and Raditz were the only two who may be able to help Goku. Gohan and Krillin also deserved a shot at survival more than they did.
Quietly after a few more seconds thought, Raditz responded with a nod. Smirking towards him, Raditz chuckled.
"It seems fitting I'd get killed fighting along side you, Namek."
Immediately there was a distressed noise however. Piccolo knew all too well who it was. Gohan was standing behind them with pleading eyes. It would fall to the boy, when he became a man, to avenge them. Frieza would fall by Gohan's hands, Piccolo was sure of it. Raditz, Piccolo was willing to bet, knew it as well.
"Don't worry about it kid," Raditz said, smiling to Gohan. "You get back to the ship along with the bald guy, and we'll try our best to save your own man."
Clever as ever, Gohan saw right through it.
"Y-you're just going to buy us time!" tears brimmed in the young boy's eyes. "Don't throw your lives away for us, please!"
"Gohan-" Krillin tried to cut in, only to be forced back by a wave of energy.
Kneeling down in front of him, Piccolo frowned for a moment, before smiling. This was it, they'd only been reunited for a short time, but it'd be enough, Gohan would live. It wasn't just what he wanted, it was what everyone wanted. Goku would want it this way just as much as Chi-Chi, or even his Uncle Raditz he was sure. This was a place for men, not children. Gohan had done more than enough in this fight, but it was time to go.
"Hey kid," Piccolo started, then realizing he called Gohan kid, like he used to. "Gohan, if we don't go down there, everyone will get killed. Like this you've got a chance to get out of here. One day Gohan, you'll be strong enough to stop Frieza. I promise you that kid, but it's just not today."
Looking up towards Krillin, Piccolo nodded once before standing up, casting his eyes down towards Gohan.
"Raditz, are you ready?"
"No, but that doesn't matter," the Saiyan responded. "Let's go."
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The Saiyan stood there, his hands above his head like some buffoon. It took only seconds for Frieza to realize what he was doing, especially after the Namek's little trick. He was gathering energy for a giant attack, and expected him to not simply wipe him away? Hardly, this would be an easy endeavour. The Saiyan was finished, his body was damaged badly, he was out of almost all of his energy, and now he desperately clung to some super attack to stop him? An attack that would take an unbearable amount of time to launch, just as the Namek's before.
"Oh, so you think gathering energy for some new attack will stop me?" Frieza asked not even noticing the Spirit Bomb being gathered, but now understanding the behaviour. "Do you really think me as stupid and ignorant as you, monkey?"
With a half smile, the monkey nodded in response, despite having his plan caught onto already.
An angry gaze locked onto him from Lord Frieza. How dare this pitiful ape, this weakling, say he was as foolish or stupid as a Saiyan? This Goku's entire plan was now available to him, he had no reason to fear it because the monkey would be dead in short order. Some people just didn't understand when they were beaten.
But perhaps he'll understand now.
Disappearing with blinding speed, Frieza reappeared with his knee in Goku's stomach, forcing the concentrating Saiyan to one knee.
Placing his right index finger between Goku's eyes, Frieza smiled as the Saiyan began to tremble in fear.
"You've ceased entertaining me, Saiyan," Frieza said in a low deadly tone. "You can die now."
Just as the pinkish energy illuminated his face, the grin on Frieza's face deepened. Something felt wrong however... A green energy washed over the side of his face a moment later.
It was terrible, feeling the blow approaching, but being so unprepared that there was no way to dodge. Like an iron bar being struck across his face, Frieza felt the kick land on his cheek. His entire body felt weightless and helpless within a second, the blow launching him through the air and violently throwing him. It was a strange, feeling helpless in those seconds before his body plunged into the water miles away. It shot straight through the liquid as if ti were air for more than a few moments.
Falling hundreds of meters into the ocean, Frieza felt himself finally regain control.
...The Namekian...
That Namekian had intervened again. Again he was denied his enjoyment by that slug. No, he was through playing games all together. They would all die here and die violently.
I am Lord Frieza! I am the ruler of the universe! How dare these insects oppose me!?
Surging his power around him and launching himself from the water, a great spire of the cold liquid formed around him, before helplessly falling to Namek once again.
"So the pitiful Namek who nearly got away wishes to die! I'll make you suffer as none of your miserable kind suffered you wretched Namek!"
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The Vision:
It was a terrible sight, all of that work, all of that time, it was all worth nothing now. Frieza crushed Raditz's shoulder, the large Saiyan screaming in pain, before a knee to the gut silenced him, causing him to drop to the ground.
To Raditz's left the Namek lay with a hole blown through his abdomen, barely clinging to life.
Still standing there with his arms in the air, Goku breathed in ragged breaths as he looked ahead at the monster who'd just defeated his brother and friend. The Spirit Bomb wasn't complete, and there was no way to buy more time. Looking into Frieza's eyes, Goku tried to find a way to buy more time, tried to think of anything.
Please, just a few seconds-
The thought never completed as a beam carved through Goku's skull, burning through the top half os his head, before causing the entire upper body of the Saiyan to explode.
Chuckling to himself, Frieza pointed his hand out next, blasting Raditz away in an arrogant assault.
It was then, and only then, that a pair of boots landed across from him, his eyes serious.
"Frieza," Turles remarked, before his lip curled into a smile.
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His vision warping to almost an hour later, Bardock saw Frieza dead, his body broken and brutalized, laying at the feet of...
... of a Super Saiyan...
Turles stood there with a smirk written across his face. Before him stood a series of atrocities. First the Earth, the remaining warriors who were allied with Kakarot. The only ones who would survive his wrath were Vegeta, Raditz, and Gohan. The universe would tremble not at the name Frieza, but at the name of Turles. He would take everything Kakarot once had in his life, and twist it into an abomination of what it once was, a grim reflection.
Behind Turles, two figures loomed in the background, devilish smiles written across their features, as shadowed as they were. He could only make one out with long dark hair, otherwise the figure remained in the shadows.
Bardock then realized.
This was his son. This was the future his son would bring about. A future different from the one where Kakarot stopped Frieza. But it was a bleak world, lead by a man who should be a corpse.
Turles was already supposed to be dead. It was Kakarot who should have lived.
If the future could be changed, then perhaps it could be changed back.
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Inside the empty void, Turles felt himself drift quietly through nothingness. Was this what it was to be dead? He felt helpless, his head almost feeling as if it was drifting somehow. If he was dead, why did he still feel pain? His body still ached, though the wounds in his ribs, and his broken bones seemed to have somehow disappeared.
Still, this wasn't what he expected death to be like.
"It's because you aren't dead."
Turning his head slowly, Turles saw Bardock standing in the darkness. The ever annoying image of a dead man. The look on his face was serious, but he'd expect that from any saiyan.
"You need to get up Turles," Bardock ordered.
Get up? I'm standing as it is.
Turles rolled his eyes before crossing his arms. Right now he needed to figure a way out of here, not listen to some crazy, dead old man. They didn't like one another, that was obvious from their first encounter. If he heard this damned bastard refer to him as less than Kakarot one more time, he'd join Frieza and kill Kakarot himself.
"You have surpassed Kakarot."
That immediately caught the pirate's attention. Why was Bardock saying this? It was an immediate turn around from his prior position. According to Bardock, he would never surpass Kakarot, because Kakarot was so selfless and courageous. But right now Bardock was saying he'd surpassed him?
"You will be the one who defeats Frieza. You just have to get up. You have to get up now."
A moment of surprise was written across Turles's face, beginning to feel a world behind the black veil around him. Energy, he could sense the energy. Kakarot's power was immense... but dwindling, there was the Namek, Raditz, the kid and the bald human. They were all there and...
The entire world froze for him when he touched the power he felt from Frieza. His eyes widened with fear even at the realization of what was waiting for him out there. It was terrifying. He'd surpassed Kakarot? Well even if he had, he was not match for that thing out there. How could he be the one to avenge the Saiyans against a monster like that? No one could stop that.
"You stop it," Bardock said bluntly. "If you get up Turles. You will be strong enough to kill Frieza. Things have changed, you are the only one who will be able to stop Frieza."
Looking at his father for a moment, Turles smirked, being able to tell how difficult the words must have been for the old man. Stepping through the darkness towards him, the pirate gave an arrogant look. So his power when he awakened would be enough? It must have been agony for the old fool to have admitted it.
"So, Kakarot the Chosen One couldn't get the job done? I can't say I'm surprised. I told you before old man, that I was the most powerful. I am the most important. So if I'm destined to defeat Frieza, why should I wake now? I can get up any time I want and kill that disgusting alien. After all, if I can challenge Frieza, I must be a Super Saiyan."
The look of revulsion on Bardock's face said it all as he looked at Turles and his arrogance.
"Because if you don't go right now. Frieza will kill you as well. He will destroy this planet, and whether you kill him or not, you'll die on it," Bardock finally responded, his mouth curving into a smile. "And I'm willing to bet you'd rather be alive, than down here in Hell with me, am I right boy?"
With a half chuckle, sure of his own power, Turles turned away.
"I suppose I could go out there and embrace my destiny. I like the ring of Lord Turles, Killer of Frieza, Ruler of the Universe," he pronounced simply enough. "Just tell me what I need to do."
"Get up."
"I'm already up you fool," Turles scowled angrily. "I can't be anymore up than I am."
"Can't you? You're running out of time. Wake up! Stop being here, and get back out there!"
It was then that Turles realized what Bardock meant. How did he just wake up? How did you just do that? Grabbing his shoulder roughly, his father looked in his eyes, digging his fingers into his shoulder.
"Get up, now."
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Despite their best efforts, the Saiyan and Namek hadn't proved to be viable obstacles to his power. Frieza smiled to himself as Piccolo collapsed in front of him for the fourth time. This time, Piccolo had a hole blown in his lower abdomen. Turning his head, he motioned his hand towards the third class idiot who now stood there looking tense.
"Well now, I'm curious monkey, what do you think I should do to you first? I think the last time we had this kind of encounter, you'd tried that flaming attack on me. I think perhaps I should make a nice pool of lava for you to swim in. Yes that's it. I've always been one for poetic justice."
The other fool, Goku, was standing off to the side with his hands in the air looking half terrified and half angry.
Stepping back briefly, Raditz swallowed hard.
All too easy. I'll finish these two in moments, and then I'll kill that idiot with his arms stretched into the air. Then I'll-
The two short fighters were gone.
Narrowing his eyes critically, Frieza smiled. So that was why they'd intervened.
"Don't think I didn't notice what you and the Namek did, Saiyan, I'll track down the mighty midgets when I've finished with you. Maybe I'll draw a bath for them as well," Frieza said with a cruel grin, noticing Raditz brace himself to fight as he spoke.
Defiance is so much more entertaining than fear. Fear however, is a wonderful way to end such delightful encounters.
Without another second, Frieza zipped in front of Raditz, burying his fist int he Saiyan's gut, causing the huge monkey to look pained and distraught. He wheezed briefly, stumbling back holding his stomach. Within a second Frieza grabbed him by the shoulder, breaking his arm at the joint.
Screaming out in agony, the monkey tried to pull away, leaving Frieza to chop him down violently.
Turning his face to Goku, Frieza smiled.
Time to die monkey.
The Saiyan just laboured as he raised his hand to finish off his prey.
In a blur of motion however, a half naked Saiyan appeared in front of him. Frieza felt his eyes bulge in surprise, shock running through his system.
Another one? No, impossible, there is no way he could have survived!
Standing there was the third class, the brother of this Saiyan, the other son of Bardock. His armour was completely ruined, shattered and destroyed, but it was him. On his face, Frieza could see an entertained smile appear.
"Surprised to see me, Frieza?"
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A/N: So, after the next chapter we'll be alternating. Next week is the last chapter I'll be posting before I post a chapter once every two weeks. :)
So, next week, I'll be updating The Catalyst. The week after, I'll be updating The Long Road, and so on and so forth.
The next update will be up in a week. And from then onward you guys are going to get to see the epic confrontation between two would-be galactic rulers. The revitalized Turles, squaring off against a being who crushed him so easily only an hour earlier. Both fighters are going to be more than surprised with what is to come.
The next chapter for The Catalyst is titled... Lesser of Two Evils
Reviewers:
Fightingchampion: I hope the battle met your expectations so far. Chapter 34 is one of my favourite I've written for this story :)
DaOneinDaCorner: As you can see, things have made a bit of an alter in fate. Post Frieza, things begin to diverge more and more. Just wait to see the mess I've got planned for post Namek. It's awesome.
Super Mystic Gohan: Who needs Raditz and Piccolo? Keep your eyes peeled for Chapter 34 :)
Peter1398: I decided on the Funi dub because I liked it the most to be honest, I felt it fit better. Men on their deathbeds often look for justifications for the ills they've committed in their lives. It felt fitting for Vegeta to do that.
Also, I decided to have that brought up in both stories because I really enjoy taking the piss out of that line of logic XD
Guest: But it can end :(
Demod20: I hope you enjoyed this Chapter as well. I wrote the scene between Vegeta and Raditz largely because I felt it needed to address in a lot of ways how Raditz would always remember Vegeta. Vegeta was a rotten little shit, even before Frieza in a lot of ways.
Jason9000: Great Ape Vegeta never exactly blurred with speed XD
Ness Frost: A lot of Raditz's disdain for his own people does originate from his disdain of Vegeta, yes, this is true. You'll find that Raditz's disdain for Vegeta is both his greatest strength, and his greatest weakness.
Delias Starlight: Thank you for reviewing. Getting reviews thanking me for writing it makes it feel more worth it :)
Gogglegirl: I like to think it's cool too. But I may be biased XD
AlphaShenron: Piccolo's role post Namek grows substantially.
Dark Impaler: Frieza gets to meet Turles 2.0 as well XD
coldblue: Piccolo won't be going to HFIL to fuse with King Piccolo. You know I can't answer questions about power levels, but what I can say is that they don't matter. Characters, regardless of species, will be as powerful as the plot needs them to be. I'm taking a very Toriyama approach to it during this story. :)