Chapter 56: The Notorious Mercenary

In the top floor of the Red Ribbon Army HQ the elevator doors opened and the silhoeutte of a man stepped forth. It was General Blue, clad only in his pants and wearing a pink bag over one shoulder. Two men saluted as he came by.

'Um… general, welcome back.' said a man.

Blue stopped and glared at him. 'Don't give me your false sentiments.' snapped Blue 'You were all glad to be rid of me. So save it.'

'Excuse me sir, forgive me!' said the man, cowering.

Blue moved on without a word. The man sighed in relief. If the General had chosen he could have killed him, but he seemed to have been placated.

Within the meeting room Red turned around in his seat, a cigar in his mouth. He looked over the pink clad assassin before him. On the back of his shirt were the words "Kill You" so he was nothing if not forward.

'Thanks for meeting me, Mercenary Tao.' said Red. 'We have a situation-'

'One thing before we get started.' said Tao. 'I must tell you my fee is very expensive.'

'Uh huh,' said Red doubtfully. 'I can assure you, if you complete our mission we will pay you handsomely.'

'Then my going rate is ten billion ahead.' said Tao.

There was a stunned silence.

'Ten… billion a piece.' said Black.

'Did I stutter?' asked Tao wryly. 'Though I am having a limited time only sale. For a quality slaying you get a bargain price, all my services are fifty percent off. You heard right, a mere five billion zeni a head.'

'That's… reasonable.' said Red, though it pained him to say it.

'How can we be sure though,' said Black 'that you are who you say you are.'

Tao gave him an amused look that was also more than a little predatory. 'Would you like to try me out?'

'No that won't be necessary!' said Black quickly.

There was a knock on the door. Black looked up. 'Who is it?'

'General Blue,' said a voice on the other end.

'Hmm…' said Red. 'he's back.'

Tao stepped aside as Blue entered the room with a meaningful gait. He saluted carefully with a stoic expression on his face. 'I have returned to duty sir.'

'Did you, or did you not get the dragonball?' asked Red.

'Yes sir.' said Blue 'I would have come earlier however getting back was quite a hassle. I had to steal a car, then a plane. However it was well worth it.' He set down the bag. 'Two dragonballs, alongside a dragon radar far more precise than anything we have. It easily hones in on the dragonballs location. And it's extremely accurate too.'

'Hmm,' said Black 'it's smaller than I expected.'

'All good finds, I'll give you that.' said Red 'You were supposed to bring Briefs here too, but I guess two out of three's a passing grade.' He looked to Tao. 'Now there is another thing. I want you to fight Mercenary Tao here and defeat him.'

Blue looked to him. 'Mercenary Tao…'

'Mmmhmm.' said Tao.

Black looked between them with sweat on his brow. This wasn't good, the way things turned out they might very well lose one of their best soldiers to a whim of the General. 'Might I suggest we make this only a nonlethal sparring contest, sir. After all if Tao is who he says he is we do not want to lose one of our best man.'

'Of course.' said Red 'So what do you think? You in?'

'Yes,' said Blue 'thank you for the opportunity, commander.'

If Tao was who he said he was Blue didn't stand a chance. If he wasn't, then Red didn't have to worry about paying him his jacked up rates. Either way the Red Ribbon Army won.

Thus it was that the two fighters were brought into a sparring chamber to face each other down. Red sat a ways away, with Black standing over him, watching the two. Blue looked very confident, perhaps too confident, while Tao simply looked bored. He held a sort of lazy killing intent which made Black suspect he was who he said he was. Who else could be so confident?

There was also Silver and Hasky watching to one side. They had been in the sparring room and were now watching. Silver looked doubtful. 'Why are we even bothering with this? Blue has been enhanced to the peak of physical perfection. Tao is just a man.'

Hasky looked much more worried. 'No, Blue doesn't have a chance.'

'What makes you so sure?' asked Silver.

'My other self enhanced her physical strength to your level by sheer hard work.' said Hasky 'Tao did the same thing. But he has a lot more experience than I do. Years of it.'

'So you're the world famous assassin,' said Blue 'the one they call Mercenary Tao.'

'Do you want my autograph?' asked Tao.

Blue laughed. 'Well aren't you amusing. I suppose I'll have to put an end to your arrogance.'

'I don't work for free,' said Tao to Red 'this will cost you, even if no one dies. Understand?'

'That's fine.' said Red 'Let's get on with the show!'

'You should have a weapon handy you know,' said Blue 'just in case.'

'He is so dead.' said Hasky.

Tao flipped his ponytail to roll over his other shoulder. 'Hmph. I won't even need my hands and feet.' He stuck out his long. 'I'll just use my tongue to beat you.'

Blue raised his fists and took a stance. 'I wouldn't count on it.'

Silence came between them from a moment as both tensed. Or rather Blue tensed and Tao remained perfectly still, as calm as a mountain in a storm. The audience viewed both carefully. Then Black raised a hand. 'Begin!'

Blue surged forward with a flying kick which was swung at Tao. Tao scarcely seemed to move, yet the strike was a complete miss! A flurry of punches were unleashed, each one more nonchalantly dodged than the last. Kicks were thrown in to no avail as the onslaught continued to no effect. Tao's expression didn't even change.

Then Tao moved and was standing next to Blue. He halted and Blue leaped back in shock. Blue recovered quickly however and smirked. 'Not bad. Now, try this.'

His eyes gleamed and blue energy surged around him. Electricity surrounded Tao and Silver shurgged.

'Well,' said Silver 'that's it. Nothing can resist that power.'

Blue made his way forward confidently smirking. 'Well? How do you like being paralyzed?'

He drew back his hand to strike. Then Tao cracked his neck without expression. Blue's stance fell apart and he backed away fearfully. Tao sighed. 'Excuse me, what was that?'

'Im…impossible…' said Blue.

Even Red was gaping. 'General Blue's finishing move is completely useless! It's astounding!'

Tao smiled as Blue seethed. Then Blue rushed at him in a fury. Tao dodged aside, then leaped back to lick him across the side of his temple. Blue flew head over heels and crashed into the wall, leaving a man sized hole where he had once been.

'I'd say you've been licked.' said Tao.

'He… beat him… with… one strike…' said Red.

'Told you so.' said Hasky.

'I can't believe it.' said Black 'He definitely lives up to his reputation.'

Tao turned to them. 'Now, since playtime is over, why don't you tell me about the real target so I can finally get to work.'

'Come out onto the balcony,' said Black 'and we'll discuss it.'

They made their way out onto the balcony, and Black produced a picture of the target. He offered it to Tao, whose eyes narrowed as he looked at it. 'So… here he is. Yamcha the Desert Bandit.'

'Yes,' said Black 'he is a highly skilled martial artist. He's been a lot of trouble for us and we think he's about to meet up with some of his associates.'

'I'll give you another twenty percent off.' said Tao.

'What?' said Black 'That is enormously generous of you sir.'

'I will annihilate any man, woman, or child so long as the price is right.' said Tao 'However this one defeated one of my students. I have a vendetta to fulfill.'

'Your a good man.' said Black.

'By the way, after you eliminate Yamcha search him.' said Red 'He will have in his possession two special balls. They're called dragonballs and they're very valuable. You are to bring those back to me.'

Black drew out one of the balls. 'They look just like this.'

Tao eyed it carefully. 'That's going to cost you extra.'

'No problem,' said Red 'in fact if anyone gets in your way just do away with them too. We'll pay.'

'Very well,' said Tao 'but any extra killings are twice the price.'

'This place, Korin,' said Tao 'it's about fourteen hundred miles to the northeast, is it not?'

'I'll have the jet prepared for you.' said Black 'Right this way.'

'That's not necessary.' said Tao, turning to look at one of the pillars holding up the balcony roof. 'It'll take too long by airplane.' He approached the pillar, examined it, and patted it. 'Would it be possible to borrow this column from you?'

'Uh… what do you want with that pillar?' asked Red.

Leaping up Tao tapped the pillar with a finger near the top. Landing he tapped the pillar near the bottom with a toe. Then he hauled out the pillar, which had been cut cleanly out from the middle. Turning it roung to hold it like a javelin, Tao aimed.

'Let's see…' said Tao 'fourteen hundred miles. I should be back in about thirty minutes.'

'Huh?' asked Red.

Then Tao hurled the pillar and leaped on after it. With a laugh he landed atop the pillar and rode it off into the distance as though it were a surf board.

'…Amazing,' said Black 'that Tao is simply amazing.'

'Hahahaha!' laughed Red 'After all this waiting, all the dragonballs will soon be mine!'

Things were looking up for the Red Ribbon Army.

This woodland was a nice place. The trees were green, the turf was rich and good. Yamcha had grown up in the desert, and he liked the trees here. There was a certain wild majesty to it all.

Yamcha also liked Bora. The man seemed to have an inherant stern strength to him which reminded the former bandit of Nam. He discussed the purpose of their visit and as he did Bora listened intently and Upa did as well.

'So,' said Bora 'the ball holds special power. Now I understand why the army was so determined to acquire it.'

'We're trying to get the balls so we can keep it out of their hands.' said Yamcha 'The wishes are kind of just a bonus, y'know.'

'Good,' said Bora 'you have few wants. That's fortunate.'

'Daddy,' said Upa 'what do you mean by that?'

'You see son,' said Bora 'too many desires can drive a person mad.'

'Yeah I've met a few people like that.' said Yamcha. 'Actually I used to be one.'

'Hey if you don't mind me asking,' said Puar 'what is that gigantic pole sticking out of the ground? We saw it from miles away.'

'The tower…' said Bora 'It is a sacred symbol of my people. To our tribe it is a very important and honored landmark.'

'How did they build it?' asked Yamcha.

'No one truly knows.' said Bora 'Perhaps it was Kami. We call it the Korin Tower. I learned of the legend from my grandfather when I was Upa's age. It is a story that has been told from many generations. Yet still we wait, after all this time, for the arrival of someone who can pass the test.'

'What kind of test?' asked Yamcha.

'It is said that if any person can climb to the top of this tower unaided he will find the great, noble guardian waiting for him there. The guardian will then give him a cup of cold water to drink. And with that single sip the climbers abilities will increase dramatically.'

'Sounds like something worth trying.' said Yamcha.

'I'll bet you could do it, Yamcha!' said Puar.

'As incredible as it sounds,' said Bora 'my people have always believed it to be true.'

Yamcha looked up at the tower. And up, and up, and suddenly he felt a little intimidated. 'Have you ever tried it?'

'Once when I was young.' said Bora. 'But I couldn't make it all the way to the top. Anyway, no one has ever been successful in the attempt.'

'But I heard that a long time ago one person did make it.' said Upa.

'A compelling story,' said Bora 'but I think it only a myth.'

'Well,' said Yamcha 'it looks like I'll have my work cut out for me if I try it…' He paused. 'Hey, where is the rest of your tribe anyway? I haven't seen anyone.'

'I live here with my son alone because of the tower.' said Bora. 'My family has been guarding it for generations. It is our ancestral duty. It is my job, I am the protector of the land.'

'Right, okay.' said Yamcha 'So has anyone ever just tried to take a plane up there?'

'The tower is too high.' said Bora 'Planes run out of fuel before they reach the top. Would you like to join us for a meal, as a sign of our gratitude?'

'Sure,' said Yamcha 'I'd love to hear more about this place. I grew up in a desert.'

They soon got to work preparing a soup made of fish and various herbs and vegetables gathered and grown by Upa and Bora. Yamcha and Puar eat heartily, and found it truly delicious. As they eat they spoke of where they had come, and traded stories. Bora, as it turned out, had defended the tower from all kinds of miscreants over the years, as well as people trying to defile the natural world that was here.

Yamcha kept quiet about his bandit past for the most part, instead telling the story of how he and Puar met Kakarot. Bora listened and seemed interested in a great many things. He often asked questions about the landscapes, finding them more interesting than the battles.

'Excuse me,' said Puar 'may I have some more soup?'

'Have as much as you want.' laughed Bora.

'Thank you.' said Puar.

After lunch, Bora began to carve what looked to be a figurine with a knife. Meanwhile Upa, despite his young age, began to create a flint spear. When he had finished he rushed up to Bora and showed it to him. Bora laughed and took the weapon in his hands. Examining it, he smiled then passed it back and ruffled Upa's hair. The boy smiled.

Yamcha realized he'd never really had a father figure in his life. Seeing these two brought back memories, and he felt somewhat depressed. He turned his attention to the tower once again. 'So are you sure this water really makes people stronger?'

'That is the story.' said Bora 'The guardian I know exists, but it may be that our stories have forgotten some important part of it. He may not be at all what we believe. That is the way of stories, to shift and change with the shifting of time.'

'Well,' said Yamcha 'I guess I'd better try it while I still have the nerve.' He stood up.

'Do not get your hopes up, my young friend.' said Bora. 'It may only be a legend.'

'I figure I'll give it a shot anyway.' said Yamcha.

'But you're already strong.' said Upa.

'Yeah,' said Yamcha 'but there is somebody I need to surpass. I've got a rivalry with a friend of mine. That's worth it.'

'Perhaps,' said Bora 'but it will not be an easy task.'

'How many people have tried?' asked Yamcha.

'Many have attempted it.' said Bora. 'But they have all failed. The tower is much taller than you imagine. It takes many days to scale it. Those who try often eat their provisions too soon, and fall off from weakness and hunger. Those who attempt by plane fare no better.'

'Because they run out of fuel, right.' said Yamcha.

'They never see the top.' said Bora. 'So you see those who defy the rules or attempt to climb unprepared do not generally get a second chance.'

Suddenly there was a shattering noise and Yamcha looked up to see Puar shaking, her soup bowl broken at her feet. Her eyes were wide with terror and he ran to her. 'What's wrong Puar? What is it?'

'What's that daddy?' asked Upa. 'There is the sky.'

Bora leaped away as a pillar of rock plunged into the ground where he had once been and drove itself into the ground. And on that pillar was the man who Yamcha had dreaded to face all this time, until he'd almost forgotten he was running from him.

'M-M-MERCENARY TAO!' shrieked Puar in terror.

'Pleased to kill you.' said Tao with a smile.

'What are you doing?!' asked Bora 'You nearly hit us!'

'Well that's the idea.' said Tao. 'I'm a hitman.'

'A hitman?' said Bora 'Whoever you are your kind is not welcome in Korin.'

'The name is Tao.' said Tao 'And I won't be staying long. I've simply come to kill Yamcha over there.'

'What?' said Bora.

Suddenly Yamcha realized that Bora was afraid. And he should be. Tao oozed a lazy killing intent. They were so screwed.

'Leave these people out of this!' said Yamcha 'This is between you and me!' And he took a stance.

'The Red Ribbon Army has sent me here to tie up some loose ends.' said Tao 'Seeing as how I was planning to kill you one of these days, I thought I might kill two birds with one pillar.'

'Last I looked you completely missed.' said Yamcha, smirking and controlling his fear. 'What's wrong old man? Eyesight going?'

'Your impertinence is only tolerable by the fact that you will be quite dead in the next few minutes.' said Tao with a smile. 'Now the only question is who is going to get in my way.'

'Daddy help him!' cried Upa 'Please, don't let them hurt Yamcha!'

'Now wait a minute,' said Bora, spurred to action. 'that boy you are threatening saved my sons life! If you have come here looking for a fight you will have to deal with me first!' And he raised his spear.

'No!' said Yamcha 'Listen to me, you have got to get away from here now! Tao is a legendary murderer! You can't beat him!'

'It is my obligation to protect this land from enemies.' said Bora. 'Now son, stay back!'

Upa rushed back with a smile. The kid had no idea what his father was getting into! It seemed to amuse Tao, who smiled broadly.

'What a fool!' he said 'You choose to take the fall!'

'Enough talk!' said Bora, raising his spear and taking a stance.

'Daddy be careful!' said Upa.

Tao looked at him distainfullly. 'I'll bet you fancy yourself a trained fighter. Let's see if you can handle this.'

And then he was standing next to Bora, holding his spear in one hand. He made no move to pull it away, merely kept it in place as Bora tried to pull it from his grip. Tao looked at him. 'What's the matter? Is it stuck? That's too bad.'

Bora groaned as he hauled on the spear to no avail. Tao's expression did not change. 'Let's try something else.' He removed all his fingers save his thumb and pointer. 'Shall we?'

Still the native could not budge it.

'Still stuck?' asked Tao 'That's okay, I'll move it for you!'

He swung the spear up and Bora was launched with a cry into the air. Tao looked up with a smile and raised the spear point upward. 'Here, have your spear!'

And he hurled it.

The spear shot through the air and impaled Bora through the chest. Down he came and landed, cold dead on the ground, the spear sticking out of his chest. Yamcha shuddered. He had died so quickly, so easily. And he had done nothing to stop it. Upa was without a father now.

Upa ran crying and screaming to his father's side. He shook him, but there was no response. 'Daddy! Please don't go daddy!'

'Your next, Yamcha.' said Tao, turning to him.

There was only one word to describe what had just been done. Evil. Bora couldn't have stopped Tao no matter what he'd done. He hadn't been even able to get off an attack. It was simple sadism. A fury welled up in Yamcha's heart, fury at his own helplessness, fury at this monster. And there was only one way too express it.

'You'll pay for that!' roared Yamcha.

He rushed forward towards Tao in a moment which seemed to freeze in time. His enemy loomed before him, smirking and invincible. Beyond lay the body of a good man, cut down for no other reason than sadism. In that moment all the fury of the beast within was unleashed as the howling of winds echoed throughout the valleys.

'WOLF FANG FIST!'

Authors Note:

Okay so the next chapter is up. I'm really enjoying writing about this arc, I've been looking forward to writing it for a long time actually. This is one of the strongest dragonball arcs in my mind, despite being short. Tao is a very good villain.