Chapter Thirty Five: Storming the Tower

Kakarot's footprints had not yet been blotted out by the falling snow, and the temperature had risen enough that one could go outside without wearing heavy coats. Clad in a yellow sweater, Suno stared mournfully out over the way Kakarot and his friends had gone, wondering if they were okay. Mom came out of the door, concern in her expression.

'Come inside,' Mom said 'you'll catch your death out here.'

'I was just hoping I'd see Kakarot.' said Suno.

Far in the distance, Muscle Tower loomed ominously.

Puar had to admit that Yamcha looked really cool in the black trench coat he had been given, and as he and Launch approached the gate with sunglasses gleaming and black boots crunching in the snow, they took off their hats to reveal their hair. Over the past few weeks, Yamcha's hair had grown out a bit, though Launch's looked much the same.

He looked to where Launch was holding a large black duffle bag over one shoulder.

They paused at the gate. 'So, it looks like Kakarot ditched us, huh?' asked Yamcha.

'Looks like it.' agreed Launch.

'Don't worry Yamcha,' said Puar 'you don't need him.'

Launch paused, and then looked to Yamcha. 'You still got those guns I gaze ya?'

'Yeah,' said Yamcha 'think we'll need em.'

'Nah,' said Launch 'but it could be fun to use them.'

Then she kicked in the door, and they made their way into the building. There was a scanner of the sort used by airport security which Launch put the duffle bag through as they went through the metal detector. As they did so it went off like crazy, and a group of red ribbon army soldiers surrounded them.

'Alright sweetheart, open that trench coats and show us what ya got.'

Launch opened up her trench coat, revealing guns innumerable. So many guns that they could not be counted. Guns of every shape, size, purpose and caliber. It would take a lifetime to count through all the guns she had on her, and the soldiers stepped back.

'Holy moly-'

Launch sent him flying with an open palm, before drawing out two sub machine guns and mowing down the soldiers on either side of her. Only one succeeded in reaching cover, and he raised his pistol fearfully. 'Backup! Send backup!'

The blonde raised a glock and opened fire, and he fell down dead.

'…That was a little brutal, don't you think?' asked Puar in a small tone.

'Rubber bullets,' said Launch 'honest.' One of the guards groaned, and Launch kicked him. 'Ah quit yer whining ya big sissy!'

She picked up the duffle bag as it came through the scanner, and the two of them walked onwards into a room of countless mirrored pillars. An alarm sounded, and the sound of many boots sounded throughout the room as countless soldiers rounded a corner and took cover behind the pillars. Yamcha drew out two pistols respectively, as the enemy pointed their guns at them.

'Freeze!' cried the leader.

There was a tense silence as Yamcha and Launch looked at each other. They they broke apart to either side as the soldier opened fire en masse. Dust and broken glass filled the air as they took shelter in the pillars. Launch rounded his own, and exchanged fire with a number or red ribbon soldiers, until he was out of ammo. She then leaped back to the pillar, which was rapidly being torn to shreds and drew out two sub machine guns.

Yamcha in the meantime ran along a wall and vaulted to stand behind a pillar. As a red ribbon soldier approached, he rounded the corner, kicked away his gun and kicked him unconscious with one foot. A man with a shot gun opened fire, but he leaped behind a pillar just in time.

Launch was waiting for her enemies to run out of ammo. After a few moments their firing stopped, and then she emerged from cover. Opening fire as her trench coat flowed behind him, she down three soldiers before he ran out of ammo, and outflanking the line of red ribbon soldiers. One of them saw as much and opened fire en masse with his assault rife, tearing the pillars around her to bits. A few of the bullets hit Launch, and bounced off, stinging only a little, though they tore up her trench coat.

Even as the man fired on, however, Yamcha appeared behind him, disarmed him and knocked him out with the butt of his own gun, before disappearing just as quickly.

Launch in the meantime had out flanked the red ribbon army battle line. Casting aside her sub machine guns, he drew out and assault rifle and opened fire while diving to the ground. Three more red ribbon army soldiers fell before the fourth got to cover, and returned fire.

However Launch had already reached cover herself, and drawn out two glocks, which she emerged and fired on her enemy with, forcing him to cover. Another emerged to shoot at her, but she gunned him down, before leaping into the air and drop kicking the last remaining soldier into unconsciousness.

She landed and made her way over to the duffle bag, which she picked up. Then Yamcha, Launch and Puar made their way over to the elevator and hit up. After a moment of waiting, the door opened and they made their way through, hit close, and made their way up.

General White looked on in horror from his command room. '…Those brats, the janitorial bill for the pillars is going to cost me thousands!'

The battlements of Muscle Tower were lined with heavy weaponry which could destroy a tank with one shot, or shoot down the fastest aircraft. None of it had been given the chance to actually be used. The wind was howling high above, and it was colder here than it had been below.

Kakarot and Bulma made their way along the walls, looking around warily for any sign of resistance. 'What do you suppose Yamcha and Launch are up to?' asked Bulma.

'Probably fighting White's minions,' reflected Kakarot 'nothing too serious. This place is gigantic, the Chief could be anywhere.'

'I see you intruder.' said a voice. 'Welcome to muscle tower!' Laughter echoed as Kakarot looked up.

'Where is he?' asked Kakarot 'Can you see him?'

'He's talking to us over the intercom silly.' said Bulma 'Hey, listen pal, we're on a time table so let me ask you this? Are you going to come down here, or do we have to climb up this stupid tower to kick your butt?!'

'Whats it to you?!' called back a voice. 'You're the trespassers, what do you want?!'

They reached a door, and here halted. 'We're here to get the chief back!' said Bulma 'And if you think you can stop us you'd better think twice! Kakarot's beaten guys ten times as strong as you without breaking a sweat!'

'The chief? I see, you've been sent here to retrieve him have you?' the voice said. 'Well by all means come and get him. Take the stairs all the way to the top floor. You'll find him there.' Kakarot opened the door and they entered. 'Just be sure to watch your step on the way up! Ahahahahaha!'

'Are we supposed to take this guy seriously?' asked Kakarot.

'Just humor him, Kakarot.' said Bulma as they entered.

Within the tower they found themselves in a blue stone room, littered with boxes. A group of rough and ready men, clad casually were standing before them with knives and fists. Beyond them a green staircase could be seen leading higher up, while on the far wall could be seen an elevator door.

'Look, a kid and his babysitter.' said a tall man with a brown beard. 'Though she's pretty cute, actually.'

'You startled us, boy.' said a blonde man with a knife.

'And we hate to be startled.' laughed a black man with an aphro.

A man with a red mohawk laughed from behind. 'Yeah, your in for it.'

A black bearded man stepped forward. 'General White sir, want me to teach these kids a lesson?'

'Yes,' said White 'education is very important.'

'And times up.' said Kakarot 'Gentlemen, although there is absolute nothing I'd rather be doing than making you eat those words, I literally have a thousand other people I'd rather be fighting. So I'm going to just go on ahead, and leave you in the capable hands of my friend and future mistress of my harem, Bulma.'

'Mistress of what?' said Bulma 'You know your making a lot of assumptions there kid, and for your information I'm way out of your league!'

'Whatever.' said Kakarot, before speeding past the soldiers with ease and running up the stairs.

The soldiers blinked as they realized he had left them behind. Then they laughed. 'Looks like the kid did the smart thing and left his babysitter behind as bait. There is no way he's getting past what comes next though.' said the blonde man. 'still now that we're alone I guess we can have a little fun.'

They began to advance on her. Bulma sighed.

As General White watched events play out, there was a knock at the door. He glanced back. 'Whose there?'

'Murasaki,' said a voice.

'Come in.' said White.

The door opened and a violet blur sped across the room faster than the eye could follow to stand behind White. The blur was revealed to be a tan skinned man with black haired tied into a topknot, and wearing a sword on his back.

'Come for the show?' asked White.

'Yes,' said Murasaki.

As the men advanced on her, Bulma took off her sunglasses off and shook her blue hair as they approached. From the looks of things Kakarot was leaving them to do most of the work. This was so typical for him!

'Lets not kill the babe too quick.' said the blonde one. 'she's got a hot body.'

'Yeah,' said the black bearded 'yeah its important to learn about sharing, babe, so pay attention this is how it works. You see I'm going to fuck you senseless first, then I'll let the other guys have a turn.'

Bulma reflected that a few weeks ago she would have been terrified out of her mind. Unfortunately for them this was not two weeks ago. She stepped aside from his kick, which seemed almost in slow motion, and tossed her sunglasses into the air. They went spinning away, as Bulma kicked the man hard enough to floor him in seconds, knocking out several of his teeth in the process and knocking him senseless. The sunglasses were nearing the height of their ascension.

Bulma charged at the blonde man, who lashed out with his knife, but she ducked and dealt him a vicious elbow to the gut, feeling several bones crack in the process. The sunglasses reached the height of their arc and began to fall down. The black man rushed at her and tried a punch her only for Bulma to roundhouse kick him across the chin, sending him slamming to the ground. The sunglasses were halfway to the floor as the red mohawked man went for a gun. Even as he drew it, Bulma knocked it aside and punched him across the face, sending him flying. Bulma walked forward and caught her sunglasses, before putting them back on her face, and stretching her arms out.

'Man, that was a good warm up.' Then she flashed a victory sign at the camera.

General White and Murasaki stared at the broken and unconscious forms of their best fist fighters, and the teenaged girl doing a victory dance. White blinked incredulously.

'Did you see that?' asked Murasaki. 'The way she took them out? She's no normal girl.'

'I think I'm beginning to understand how she was able to overpower Silver.' reflected White.

'She beat up Colonel Silver?' asked Murasaki incredulously.

'You don't think she can make it up here, do you?' asked White.

'That is absolutely impossible.' said Murasaki. 'No one has ever made it past the third floor with Major Metallatron. And even if he makes it past him, I'll be waiting for him.'

'I guess you're right.' said White, cracking his knuckles. 'I sure would enjoy a crack at the girl myself though.'

'Hi there, I'm taking the village chief.' said Kakarot.

White and Murasaki turned and stared to where the spiky haired child was standing in front of them, dressed in a violet trench coat. 'How… how did you…' stammered White, unable to comprehend what had just happened. 'How could you have gotten past all five levels of Muscle Tower so quickly?'

'Well first I ran into this giant guy,' said Kakarot 'and he looked like he might give me a decent fight. Then I realized that I really should give someone else a chance to fight him, so I just kind of ignored him and ran up the stairs. He was too big, so he couldn't follow me. Then I came into this huge room that was way larger on the inside than the tower is on the outside, and there were all these trees and stuff. But I couldn't find anyone to fight, so I just kept on running. Eventually I saw this huge monster thing, but it was chained up and in a cage and looked like it was sleeping. So I ran by that too.
Then I found a maze, and I couldn't figure out how to escape it. So I just used the kamehameha wave to blow down all the walls. Then I found the stairs and ran up here. I think that only makes four levels though. You must have miscounted, that sometimes happens to me as well.'

White drew out a two barreled pistol and pointed it at him.

'Oh come on! I've taken entire clips to the face and walked it off no sweat.' said Kakarot with a laugh. 'Here, let me pretend to be intimidated. No! Please help! Somebody help! There is an old man pointing a gun at me!'

White shot him in the face and he landed limp with a crash. White sighed, and then pressed a button which opened a trap door sending the childs body crashing far below.

'…Well that happened.' said Murasaki. 'Do you think he might still be alive?'

'Are you kidding?' said White 'This gun fires shots designed to pierce tank armor. I had it custom made as insurance in case one of the robots went rogue. I'm surprised he has a head left, actually. Nobody could have survived that. And even if he did, he is unconscious. Itwill finish him.' He sighed reloaded his gun, and pressed a button. 'General White to clean up crew. We need a new maze erected quickly.'

'Look,' said Murasaki 'someone is coming out of the elevator!'

There was a ding and Bulma whirled to face the elevator doors as they opened before her eyes. In them was Yamcha, Puar, and Launch and with them was a black duffle bag. 'Oh hey guys, whats in the bag?'

'Two hundred pounds of C4.' said Launch, setting it down.

'…Where did you get it?' asked Yamcha.

'I always keep a capsule or two of the stuff.' said Launch, before unzipping the bag, and setting a counter. She then brought it out into the room and pressed a button. 'Alright listen up you big brother wannabe! I've just set in motion a timer for thirty minutes! If we don't get the chief back unharmed in that time, this whole tower goes up!'

'WHAT!' said Yamcha.

'Okay, okay, calm down.' said General White, sounding a little scared. 'You realize that if that thing goes off, it will kill you too.'

'Actually we've already wasted everyone on the lower levels.' said Launch 'I figure we can rescue the chief and be out of here long before it blows.'

'…If that is the case,' said Puar in a small voice, 'haven't you just defeated the entire point of setting a bomb in the first place?'

'Yeah Launch,' said Bulma 'you really should just disarm that thing so we can take our time.'

'Oh,' said Launch, before looking at the minute counter ticking down. 'uh… well… uh… its impossible to disarm.' She smiled awkwardly.

'What?!' said White 'Why would you threaten someone with a bomb, and then make it so that even if they complied with your demands the blast would go off anyway! Thats completely psychotic, women!'

'I didn't want my blue haired wimp of a split personality ruining everything!' said Launch 'If I was threatening a bank or something, and then I sneezed I'd lose all my bargaining power!'

'We're going to die because of you!' accused Puar.

'Guys,' said Yamcha 'twenty seven minutes. We don't have time to discuss this.'

'Wait,' said Puar 'maybe if we take it outside, we can throw it really far away.'

'Erm…' Blonde Launch rubbed the back of her head. 'I kind of made it so that once its started counting down, moving it will blow it early.'

'Okay new plan!' said Bulma 'I'm going to stay behind and try to disarm this thing, you guys go on ahead and try to get the village chief. Go now!'

'Right!' said Yamcha, and they raced up the stairs.

There was a long, horrified silence on the sixth floor of Muscle Tower. After a moment Murasaki looked to General.

'…Maybe we should give them the village chief.' said Murasaki after a moment.

'No you imbecile,' said White 'they are trying to disarm the bomb right now! If we give them the chief, then they will take him and leave! And we'll be blown sky high!'

There was a long pause. 'So,' Murasaki said 'just to confirm, the enemy have set a bomb for the specific purpose of forcing us to release the chief. But because they have no assurance of disarming the bomb, if they do get the chief they will leave at once and let us die.

Which means that our only option is to try to stop them before they reach the top so that Bulma Briefs has time enough to disarm the bomb. Which is in both our interests, as if they run out of time, they die to.'

'Yes,' said White in irritation. 'that is the present situation.'

'What is the point of the bomb?!' cried Murasaki 'As far as I can tell it serves no purpose other than to force us to the very thing we were going to do anyway?!'

'I don't know,' admitted White 'but if that timer runs down to zero, we all lose.' He looked to Murasaki. 'Why are you still here?! Get down to floor three, and stop them!'

Murasaki saluted and rushed down the steps. General White opened the com to the third floor. 'Metallatron, you have company on the way! Show them your special hospitality!'

Launch and Yamcha reached the top of the steps, followed by Puar and walked into a blue stone room of a darker shade.

'Stop, intruder.' said a modulated tone. They looked up to see a massive man wearing a black flak vest, with red hair and brown pants. He was built like a lighthouse, and wore black leather gloves and sunglasses. He stepped before them, towering above them.

'Well, well, well,' said Launch 'looks like we've got a welcoming committee! Yamcha, I'll handle this guy! You go on ahead!'

'I am the guard assigned to this floor.' said Metallatron 'You must get past me to proceed up the stairs.'

'Sound easy enough,' said Launch 'the bigger they are, the harder they fall. Go on Yamcha, I'll catch up after I topple this doofus.'

'Right,' said Yamcha, before racing up the nearby stairs.

Mettalatron looked to him, however a voice spoke: 'Let him go, Metalatron, he'll never make it past Murasaki. Deal with the blonde.'

Metallatron raised one fist. 'You're dead.' Then he brought it down, but Launch disappeared and reappeared moments later. The floor had been cracked and broken by the punch. 'Where'd she go?' He rose up, looking around.

High above, Launch was hanging from a chain on the ceiling, a smirk on her face. 'My turn, ya big lummox!' Dropping down, she landed on Metalatron's shoulder and dealt him a punch to the face which sent him reeling away to land with a crash, while Launch touched down on her feet easily. 'Easy as pie! That chief is as good as freed. Going up!'

And she made her way towards the stairs. As she did so, however, Metalatron's hands twitched, and he arose behind her to grip her in his hands. He squeezed her, causing her to groan. 'Going down.' said Metalatron.

'Get… your… filthy… hands… OFF ME!' roared Launch, before breaking free of his grip, and landing as Metallatron groaned, 'Pretty good, but its my turn now!' Running towards him she initiated a flying kick that slammed into him and sent him reeling backwards. Metallatron hit the wall with enough force to crack it. He landed very still on the ground. 'That got him.'

Launch began to walk away. Yet as she did so, Mettalatron's eyes glowed red behind his shades, and he began to stir. Launch turned around and watched as he stood tall. 'Your back?! What does it take to put you down?!' She leaped away as one massive foot tried to crush her, and then was caught by a punch that sent her flying. Launch bounced off the floor, and hit the wall face first hard enough to crack it. She fell down and lay still.

Metallatron marched forward and brought down one foot to crush her. However Launch rolled to one side just in time. Leaping into the air, she roundhouse kicked the giant across the face, sending him reeling.

Then she landed and clutched her head. 'What is this guy made of? Pure metal?' Metallatron's leg twitched, and he arose once more, looking angry. 'Aw, come on!'

'I'm mad.' said Major Metallatron.

'Gee, never would have guessed that.' said Launch.

The major opened his mouth, and out of it was spat a missile which shot towards her. Launch stepped aside as it overshot her, only to circle round and strike at her with an explosion which shook the tower to its base.

Perhaps some rumor of the battle now being waged reached Suno's mind, because she dropped a tea cup which landed and shattered with a crash. Suno was suddenly seized with a terrible sense of unease. 'I hope nothing bad has happened to Kakarot.'

Elsewhere, in a room lined with bones, Kakarot groaned in his sleep.

The shot had put a huge hole in the wall, and icy cold wind was filling the room. Metallatron looked pleased with himself. 'The end.' he proclaimed. He brought up a finger and flashed a v sign. 'Victory! Victory! Victory! Victory! Victory!'

From where she was hiding behind a pillar, Launch stared. 'Wow, that was close. He must be some kind of robot. Sure explains why he doesn't go down easy. Time to get serious.' She stepped out into the open. 'Hey red head, ya missed me!'

Metallatron turned and charged.

Launch cupped her hands and began to summon her power. 'KaameehaameeHAA!'

A beam of white and blue light surged forward, and Metallatron screamed as it consumed him. When the dust settled, Metallatron's head had been blown clean off. The skin of his left bicep had been burned off to reveal metal. His clothes were in tatters.

Launch laughed. 'Hey don't lose ya head pal, I was just passing through!' Then she stretched out one arm, looking a bit somber. 'Gotta admit though, you were damn hard to put down.' Metallatron's hand moved. 'You've got to be kidding me!'

The hand was launched from Metallatron's arm, and slammed into her, bashing her against the floor. Launch groaned as the arm rolled away. Gradually she pulled herself up as Metallatron advanced and threw a punch. She leaped away.

'How are you still moving?!' she snapped.

'Destroy!' cried Metallatron, swatting at her with one hand. 'Destroy!' He attacked again. 'Destroy! Destroy! Destroy!' He drove her gradually back across the floor, until she was cornered against a wall. She moved aside just in time for his fist to pass through the wall she had been next to.

As Launch back petalled, she felt blood dripping down her cheek, and gritted her teeth. She narrowed her eyes, and took a stance. Rolling under the robots leg, she sprang at his back and put one hand through his back, snarling as she felt the electricity on her. As she landed, Metallatron turned round and punched her into the ground. 'De…stroy…' He threw another punch, which she rolled away from.

'De… stroy…'

With a cry Launch charged at Metallatron, rushing to meet him halfway. Their fists met and for a moment nothing happened. They stood there, in silence. Then his fist exploded, and Launch leaped back. He was now armless, headless, and had a hole where his heart should have been.

He was very still. Satisfied, Launch turned and began to walk towards the steps. Only to be stomped into the ground by Major Metallatron's foot. The robot then kicked her like a football to slam against the far wall hard. Launch landed with a crash, clutching her face.

'I swear…' she said 'if my nose is broken then, then, ah… ah… not now… achoo!' At once she changed into her blue haired persona. 'Oh my, what is this? Where am I?' Suddenly she screamed, backing away as Major Matallatron advanced upon her. 'No, please stay away! I don't know what my blonde self did but-' She backed away into the path of the hole in the wall and felt the chill. 'ah, ah, achoo!'

Blonde Launch returned and charged at Metallatron, tearing through his body with her own and leaving a gaping hole on the others side of his chest, crackling with energy. 'That'll show ya!' she snapped.

'De…stroy…' said the Major as he turned round and advanced once more.

'This is ridiculous!' roared Launch as Metallatron turned round. 'Kaa…mee…haa…mee…'

Metallatron stopped, its voice garbling before stopping entirely. Launch wasn't falling for that again though.

'HAA!'

A beam of light, even larger than the last consumed him, and when it faded there was nothing but ashes remaining. Launch flipped her hair behind her head. 'That'll teach ya when to quit! Now I'd better catch up with Yamcha, and see how he's doing.' She paused. 'How much time do I have on the clock anyway?' She looked at her watch. 'FIVE MINUTES?! Aw nuts, why did I make that thing impossible to turn off! Unless Yamcha has already freed the Chief and is already heading down to meet us-'

Bulma stumbled up the stairs, looking supremely tired. 'Hey guys,' she said 'I wasn't able to disarm the bomb. But I did manage to trick it into thinking that five minutes was actually three hours. That should buy us some… time…' She fell to her knees. 'I'm exhausted! Can we go home now!'

'Not yet,' said Launch 'we've still got three floors to climb.'

'Ugh...' said Bulma, before collapsing onto her back.

Kakarot's friends have triumphed over Major Metallatron, but what about Kakarot himself? And where has Yamcha been during all of this? How has he faired against the sinister Ninja Murasaki?! Find out on the next exciting episode of Kakarot, and the Quest for the Dragonballs!

Authors Note:

Okay, this episode is done! I've had this fight planned from before I ran into General Silver. I basically decided that Launch would fight Metallatron from the moment I decided Muscle Tower would be a team effort. Really the Red Ribbon Army is easy to fit teams into, because there are truckloads of villains to fight, and plenty of space to give other characters a day in the limelight.

As for the whole bomb sub plot, I was making a matrix reference and it got out of hand. As for why Kakarot made it all the way up to the top, bear with me. I've got some plans. I think my favorite part of this chapter is Bulma Vs White's goons, particularly the bit with the sunglasses. I never expected her to turn out to be a blood knight like she has, but there it is.

Did anyone catch the reference towards the end of the chapter? Not the lobby shootout, that was obvious. I mean the one surrounding the bomb?