Chapter Twenty-Three: Your Betrayal (Part III)
Is it my turn to die?
My heart is pounding as I say goodbye
So now I dance in the flames
I love you crying and screaming my name
You said that we'd be forever
How could you kill me and lie to my face?
Now that we can't be together
There's just no hope for our final embrace
So here we are, I'm in your head
I'm in your heart!
Your Betrayal-Bullet For My Valentine
DBZ
A dark figure sat motionless in the seat of a tiny spherical spacepod. He was wearing a black cloak and a black hood that hid his face from view. A black and gray beard stretched down to his chest; the lights of his console glinted faintly off his eyes that stared unblinkingly from within the shadows of his hood.
Slow and deliberately he reached a hand out to touch a button on the console of the door.
"Hailing Frieza," he said softly, his voice barely more than a whisper. "This is The Priest answering his summons."
There was silence and then Frieza's cold voice responded, "Priest, it is about time you responded. Where have you been?" he asked angrily.
The Priest chuckled quietly and without humor. "I have been busy. I understand that you require my assistance. What with?"
Frieza was quiet before he responded in even colder tones, "I need you to find and eliminate someone for me. Or rather something: A Saiyan."
The figure cocked his head slightly. "A Saiyan? Surely you can handle a measly Saiyan, Frieza?" he said with no small amount of sarcasm.
"That's 'Lord' Frieza, Priest. We have been over this!" Frieza seethed.
"Yes, we have. And as I've said before, I refer to no one as 'Lord,' Frieza. I stand aloof from the pettiness of such things. You require my assistance, I will offer it. If Ryo requires my assistance, I will offer it. If he were still alive, that is." The Priest chuckled. "You have been busy, I hear. I go where there are credits to be made. Now, tell me about this Saiyan that you want eliminated. Is it the infamous Tettuce that has irked you for so long?"
Frieza growled. "No, I killed Tettuce with my own hands. The Saiyan I want you to eliminate is Tettuce's former mentor, Turpin."
The Priest's hand twitched slightly and he leaned forward ever so slightly. "Turpin?" His voice remained a whisper, but there was a tone that suggested a hint of surprise. "Was he not killed by Ginyu over twenty years ago?" His sarcasm was back with that question.
"Apparently not. Evidently he is much more powerful than he had originally let on."
The Priest chuckled and folded his well-muscled arms across his chest. "Of course he is. Turpin is a Cleric, and they were never known for being weak."
"So you say…Well? Will you do it?"
The Priest was silent as he considered for a moment. Finally he shrugged. "Sure, why not? My price, however, will be higher than normal. Turpin will not be easy to take down."
"…What is the price?" Frieza ventured cautiously.
"50,000,000 Galactic Credits," The Priest responded in amusement.
"50,000,000?!" Frieza exclaimed. "That is outrageous! When you said higher than normal I assumed it would be 1,000,000, but 50,000,000?! I will never pay that!"
"Suit yourself. I do not kill for free, however. But I know you, Frieza," the man said with a hint of a smile in his voice. "You have no one in your employ that can track like I can. No one that will be able to find Cleric Turpin. You will consider this and then several days from now, maybe even tomorrow, you will seek to contact me again and agree to pay the price. But by then the price will have gone up to 100,000,000 Galactic Credits, due to the fact that Turpin's trail will have started to grow cold, thereby increasing the level of difficulty involved in finding and killing him. Do you want him eliminated?"
Frieza was silent, but The Priest could hear the tyrant's teeth grinding together in agitation. Which brought a grin, albeit hidden, to the Priest's face.
"Fine! 50,000,000 Galactic Credits will be transferred into your account. And I swear to you, Priest, if you and I ever cross paths I will kill you as slowly and as painfully as possible."
"If you and I ever cross paths, Frieza, I will be the one doing the killing. I know your power and you do not know mine. But I can assure you that it is far higher than yours."
"If you say so," Frieza responded, a smirk evident in his tone.
The Priest chuckled. "We'll see. Where was Turpin last?"
"Space Station Celestine Prime, which no longer exists. I have just finished destroying it, after finding out that Turpin and three other Saiyans had just left."
"Three other Saiyans, hm? How about them?"
"If you wish. They are not important to me. Turpin is the only one I want eliminated."
"So be it. Turpin will be dealt with, and if the others get in my way, I will destroy them. As always, payment is to be made in advance." He killed the connection before Frieza could respond.
Slowly and as deliberately as before, he lifted his hands to pull his hood from his head. Cold, dark green eyes glinted in the light cast from his console as he stared out of the black tinted window of his pod. A Mohawk of black and gray hair spilled down the back of his head, disappearing into the folds of his cloak. He grinned from behind his black and gray beard, wrinkles around his eyes becoming more defined.
"So, Turpin…you still live after all…The last true Cleric left in the entire universe…I suppose a reunion is long overdue…"
DBZ
Amotto danced backwards, her arms nothing more than blurs as she struggled to block Falmer's rapid blows. The Gylderian advanced on her, his fists flashing forward in lightning-quick attacks keeping the Saiyan woman on the defensive. Amotto could do nothing except dodge and block, and that was getting harder and harder as Falmer's attacks steadily gained in speed and power. Each blow that she blocked jarred her arms painfully. She knew eventually that he would deliver an attack that she wouldn't be able to block.
Falmer's fist suddenly stopped a few inches from her raised arm and she looked at him in surprise. His other fist flashed around and caught Amotto in her jaw, sending her flying backwards. He appeared behind her and delivered a twisting kick to her back, which sent her crashing face first into the ground.
She pushed herself up and launched herself into the air just as Falmer's foot crashed into the spot she'd just been occupying. She thrust her hand down at him and fired a green ball of ki at him, which he slapped away with a feral grin. She grimaced and brought both hands above her head, charging up a more powerful attack.
Falmer lunged up at her and she brought her ki-charged hands down and fired a massive blast of green ki at him; it engulfed him and exploded, cratering the ground beneath him and sending chunks of rock and bits of ship debris flying into the sky.
Amotto desperately sucked in air as sweat poured down her face. The thin oxygen away from the ground made such attacks ten times more draining than normal. Dust and smoke shrouded the area as she descended to the ground. She looked around quickly as she caught her breath, but could see no sign of Falmer anywhere. She wasn't stupid, though; he was still alive.
"Right here," hissed a raspy voice from just over her shoulder.
She spun around to slam her fist into his face, only to have it caught effortlessly. She stared wide-eyed at Falmer's black eyes just inches from her own face.
"Is that it, Saiyan? I can feel much more power than this from you. Where is it? Why not use it? I want a real fight. So show me your true power. End this charade and fight me!"
Amotto narrowed her eyes and blue sparks danced around her body. A slow smile crept across her lips. "My true power? You could tell I was holding back, eh?" Her hair began to shift in an unseen wind as she gathered her ki. Slow-burning blue flames appeared around her body. "I'll show you what I've got, then!" The flames exploded out and raged around her body as her energy sky-rocketed, the force of her power sending Falmer skidding backwards in the sand, and blowing the dust and smoke away.
"I'll show you true Saiyan power, Gylderian! Ready or not: HERE I COME!" she vanished and then reappeared and slammed her fist into the side of his face.
Falmer's eyes were wide and devoid of anything except shock as he reeled from the strike.
Her other fist drove deep into The Beast's stomach before he could recover and the onslaught was on. She dove on him, punching and kicking relentlessly, leaving him no opportunities to strike back or defend.
Amotto was surprised by the strength she now possessed. Sure, Saiyans grew stronger after each near-death experience but this was beyond anything she could have ever expected. It flooded her senses and gave her a feeling of being high. It was raw power that she felt flooding her body and she loved every second of it. She loved the feeling of absolute strength. Especially after Frieza had so easily killed—no, almost killed her. She had survived and now, with this power she now possessed, she would make him pay!
Falmer suddenly caught her flying kick and her eyes went wide as his black eyes opened and leveled on her. "That's more like it. But is that all you've got?" He laughed coldly and shook his head. "I'm disappointed, Saiyan. I expected more."
"Expect this!" she cried as her other hand came forward and she blasted him point blank in the face. The resulting explosion sent her tumbling backwards, but she quickly recovered, putting her feet beneath her and skidding backwards in the sand as she brought her hands up in a defensive posture.
The dust that had been kicked up from the blast was suddenly swept away, revealing Falmer standing in a sizzling crater. He had his arms folded over his bare, burnt-red chest and he was smirking. She narrowed her eyes at him and ground her teeth together. This was absurd! Just how strong was this asshole?!
"What the hell are you?!" she screamed at him in agitation. "You're starting to piss me off!"
"I am power in physical form. I am evil incarnate. I am the living embodiment of fear and death. I am your end, Saiyan. I am…" He chuckled and unfolded his arms, clenching his fists at his sides. "The Beast…"
Amotto quirked an eyebrow and frowned at him. "The Beast? Weird."
Falmer's grin vanished and he frowned, narrowing his eyes. "I would take your situation a bit more serious than that."
"Sure thing. Either way, 'The Beast' is a weird name."
Falmer's upper lip curled back and he snarled. "I am The Beast because I AM a beast! I am a monster that will tear your body to pieces!"
She shrugged and stood up straight. "Whatever you say." She had found a way to get under his skin and she was going to make the best of it that she could. If making fun of him could break his focus and make him make a mistake, then she was going to exploit it any way that she could.
He growled in response and crouched low into a stance. "I say that you are dead!" He lunged towards her.
She was ready, though. She dove to her left, her hands hitting the ground as her body twisted around and she sprang back onto her feet facing him just as he slid to a stop and spun towards her. She lunged forward and drove her fist into the side of his face, snapping his head around violently. Her other fist came forward, but immediately stopped an inch from his face; she opened her hand and blasted him point blank again, the explosion sending him flying backwards and sending her sailing into the air.
She flipped end over end, but quickly regained control and dove back at him as he was skidding along the ground on his back. Her aura burst to life in an explosion of blue and she focused her ki into her legs as she swung them around, and drove her feet into Falmer's stomach; the ground beneath his back exploded and the hit carried him forward, digging a tremendous trench from the forceful hit.
She jumped back as his momentum carried him onwards, digging an even longer trench. She landed on bended knee, breathing heavily as she watched him finally come to a stop at the end of a quarter-mile long crevasse. She allowed herself a slight smirk as she watched him lift a hand to the side of his head as he sat up. She knew that it wasn't much, but she must have caused him some damage. Even if it was just enough to piss him off.
Falmer stood up and leveled his dark gaze on her, murder radiating from his taut frame.
"You'll pay for that, Saiyan!" he spat venomously.
"Probably so," Amotto crowed. "But the look on your face makes it all worth it."
The Beast's left eye twitched and he launched himself at her full speed, the ground splitting open beneath him as he shot forward.
DBZ
Seripa's eyes were closed. She focused her ki outward as Bardock had told her to do. She felt for surges of ki against her own from outside sources. So far she felt three slight surges against hers. One was far weaker than the others and she felt that it might be Bardock's compared to Turpin's and Seluri's. Well, at first anyway. She had opened her eyes to verify the directions at one point and discovered that the weakest was emanating from Turpin. This left her puzzled.
Even now as she was continuing the practice of feeling out power levels-which was surprisingly easier than Bardock let on-she was beginning to feel fainter readings surging against her own ki. She could even feel the powerful reading that they were currently en route to investigate, albeit faintly. She knew why Bardock had such trouble with this skill, though. While he was powerful and could fight his way out of just about any situation, he had a difficult time with focusing his mind. This skill required constant focus and she knew that eventually it would be second nature to feel, or sense, power levels. But for Bardock it was difficult because it required constant focus. He never was very good at academics because he preferred to use his mind for fighting and fighting only. Using it to focus on and seek out opponents based on ki signatures was strenuous for him and pointless according to his thinking.
It amused her. She allowed herself a grin and opened her eyes slightly to find Bardock peering at her with his ever-present stern glare.
"What's so funny?" he asked warily.
Her grin broadened and she shook her head. "I'm just thinking about you and this skill. I understand why you've been having trouble mastering it. It's surprisingly easy, though."
He snorted and folded his arms. "Takes too much thinking."
"Which is why you've been struggling with it," she laughed.
He scowled. "And you find that amusing?"
"Of course I do, but only because I understand you and how your mind works. You and focusing haven't been very good friends."
Bardock snorted again and looked towards the bridge where Seluri and Turpin were talking quietly. "So what can you sense about those two?"
"Well, Seluri is stronger than either one of us, and Turpin…" she trailed off with a frown. "I don't understand it, but he's weaker than us. I'd be surprised if he was as strong as Turles. I don't understand that. Isn't he supposed to be even stronger than Tettuce was?"
"Yeah, he's supposed to be. I don't get it myself." Bardock shrugged and glanced back to her with a strange look. "Seripa…"
She looked up at him, her frown vanishing at the look on his face. She stood up but she still had to crane her neck to look up at him. "What is it, Bardock?"
He sighed and lifted a hand to snatch up a thick lock of hair touching his shoulders. "I need you to cut my hair. It's driving me crazy." He looked down at her as she began to laugh.
"Are you kidding me?" She laughed again and shook her head. "Is it bothering you that much?"
"Yes. Yes it is!" He scowled and folded his arms across his chest. "There's too much of it and it's going to get in my way during a fight. Fighting Frieza it kept getting into my eyes. I was blind at times! Stop laughing!" He groaned when Seripa doubled over holding her stomach. He rolled his eyes and turned away. "Whatever."
She straightened up and caught his arm, trying to stifle her laughter. "Bardock, I'm sorry. I just can't believe that you haven't asked sooner. Though, to be honest, I kind of like this new look."
He glanced over his shoulder and arched an eyebrow. "Well, that's too bad. I want this shit gone. Gods damn it. Seripa, stop laughing!"
But it was too late; she was laughing again. He sighed and shook his head.
"Quiet!"
Seripa's laughter faded as she and Bardock looked to see Seluri staring wide-eyed at Turpin. His single-eyed gaze was frozen at the monitor inlayed in the console before him.
"Who're ye?" Turpin asked of the monitor.
A voice drifted quietly from the speakers, its tone deadly.
"I am called The Priest. Turpin, you are my next target."
"Priest? Th' Priest…Ah've 'eard o' ya. Rumors 're dat ya's w'rk fer th' Lizard."
"Lies. I work for the highest paying customer. Frieza just happens to pay rather well." The voice laughed quietly.
Turpin frowned and scowled. "Ah know's ya, don' I? Yer voice is fa-mi-li-ar. Who 're ya's?"
The black monitor suddenly lit up to reveal the cloaked figure of the Priest, his grinning lips behind his gray and black beard the only feature visible from the shadows of his hood. "Perhaps there was a time when we knew each other, Cleric Turpin. Perhaps there was a time when you, Cleric Seluri, and I all knew each other."
Seluri's mouth fell open and she looked over at Turpin who kept his gaze glued to the monitor. "It cannot be…"
The Priest laughed. "Perhaps there was a time that I was known as Cleric Ka'bijj." His hands lifted and he pulled his hood back, his grin never fading as his gray and black mohawk and dark green eyes became visible. "It was very clever, Turpin, you faking your death. I should have guessed the truth years ago."
Turpin was silent. Bardock and Seripa stood behind him, staring over his shoulders at the monitor.
"But you died!" Seluri suddenly cried. "Tettuce killed you!"
The Priest-Ka'bijj-turned his gaze from Turpin and to Seluri. "The little whelp very nearly did. He did a convincing enough job to fool Turpin, here." His tone softened and his grin vanished. "Seluri, I should have paid heed to your warnings. Tettuce was far too volatile. Neither Turpin nor I could control his bouts of rage. He became a literal monster when he was angry."
"If ya's lived, den why 're ya's jus' now c'ntactin' us? Why no' sooner?" Turpin asked quietly, his single eye glinting dangerously.
Ka'bijj shrugged and folded his arms. "What would have been the point? You kept Tettuce close even after he 'killed' me. You were not to be swayed in your decision. At that point I believed the Clerics to be finished, so I abandoned my title and took to mercenary work. It has been most profitable. Frieza just paid me 50,000,000 Galactic Credits to kill you, after all." He grinned again. "And the stupid lizard paid in advance."
"Hm." Turpin was silent as he regarded his former peer. "Ah s'ppose th' question now…is if'n ya's 're gonna kill me? Ah r'lly 'ave nuthin' t' say t' ya's."
"Not surprising. At least Seluri had the decency to tell us outright that she was renouncing her title. And I just did it without consulting either one of you." Ka'bijj's eyes narrowed as he stared at Turpin. "I have not considered myself a Cleric in decades, Turpin. But I am still Ka'bijj, a true Saiyan of Planet Saintya-"
"'Saintya?'" Bardock and Seripa echoed unnoticed.
"-and as such, I will not attack a member of the Clerics of the Old World. No matter how high the price on your head may be."
"Somehow…Ah don' b'lieve ya's…" said Turpin coldly.
Ka'bijj regarded Turpin silently, his gaze unwavering. Suddenly he grinned. "You never were very trusting, Turpin. Smart on your part. Very smart, because I do intend to kill you. You who ruined our chances at rebuilding the Clerics."
"No!" Seluri glared at the monitor as Ka'bijj looked at her. "Turpin tried harder than any of us! We ALL should have been there to guide Tettuce. But no, I ran and then you, too. Turpin remained devoted to the cause and continued to train and teach Tettuce the ways of the Clerics! And our chances were not ruined! These two here," she said as she absently gestured towards Bardock and Seripa, causing Ka'bijj to acknowledge them for the first time, "are more than worthy of the titles! We are on our way now to the last of the Training Grounds—"
"Seluri!" Turpin cut her off, but it was too late. He groaned as she clamped her mouth shut and glanced at him apologetically.
Ka'bijj laughed. "So you are returning to the Training Grounds, hm? And you two truly believe that these two lower life-forms are worthy of being called Clerics?"
Turpin growled. "Dey fought Thunda Lizard 'nd ac'ually 'urt 'im. Ah t'ink dey're more'n worthy."
"Hm. Perhaps they are. The Galactic Band has been buzzing with unconfirmed rumors of a group of Saiyans that fought Frieza on Jynn-jin 13." He looked Bardock and Seripa over slowly. His eyes lingered on Seripa and they glinted darkly. "You must be Seluri's daughter. You look just like her. But…I see traces of your father, as well. Particularly in the set of your eyes and the way you hold yourself tall, despite your diminutive stature." His eyes flickered briefly to Seluri before he grinned again. "I assume your mother has not told you who your father is, has she?"
Seripa frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Ka'bijj, no! She knows who her father was!" yelled Seluri.
"You lying whore," he said calmly and without taking his eyes from Seripa. "What is worse is that your own father did not even know you existed. But I see his youthful features when I look at you. I see the face he once wore at your age." His dark green eyes shifted slightly so that he was looking at Turpin. "You never knew, did you?"
Turpin blinked and looked at Seluri. He glanced over his shoulder at Seripa and then back to Ka'bijj with a frown. "Wha' 're ya's talkin' 'bout?"
Ka'bijj grinned. "I imagine that Seluri thought I was gone for good. She knew that I lived through Tettuce's attack, did you not Seluri?" He looked back to her, his grin fading. "After that night you thought I really did die, didn't you? You never knew that by the point I was already well established as 'The Priest.' And I never would have guessed that you would have allowed yourself to be tied down with a mate and children. All sons, too. Until Seripa, that is…" He returned his gaze to Seripa and smiled slightly.
"If you're implying that you're my father, you're a little late!" snapped Seripa. She was getting fed-up with these mind games he was trying to play. "I knew all along that the man who neglected raising me was not my father. Seluri told me the truth when I was a little girl. The only thing she never told me was my father's name, only that he was an old friend of hers. So if you are claiming responsibility—"
"It's not Ka'bijj, Seripa…" Seluri said quietly.
Ka'bijj looked at her sharply. "What do you mean?"
Turpin blinked again and looked at Seluri. "D'ya mean…?"
She nodded and looked at Seripa with a sigh. "This is just a day of revelations isn't it?" She tried to laugh, but it came out choked. She sighed again. "Turpin…he is your father."
Turpin spun in his seat to look up at Seripa. "Well, least she gots yer height."
Seripa blinked and stepped back. Turpin? The legendary Turpin was her father? She was the child of not one, but TWO Clerics of the Old World?
"Impossible!"
"No, Ka'bijj. It is not impossible. She was born two years after our night together. Nothing came from our union. Turpin and I…It was just a few months before he faked his death. I knew he was about to go into hiding and where he was going to be, because he came and told me. At the time…Well, I thought it would be the last time that I would see him. He was the last Cleric…and I…well…" she trailed off and looked down.
Ka'bijj glared at her. "You whore!"
Turpin, on the other hand, laughed. "Ah-ha! We's bot' slep' wit' 'er!"
Seluri looked up, her face instantly red. "TURPIN!"
But the short man continued to laugh, while Bardock glanced around at everyone in bewilderment.
Ka'bijj glared around at all of them. "I know where the Training Grounds are…I'll be waiting. Just be ready to die."
And the monitor went blank.
All was silent as Seluri stared at the monitor and Seripa stared at Turpin, who grinned back at her. She blinked in surprise…shock really…Both of her parents were alive and in the same ship as her. She staggered back and turned away from them, her eyes wide and glistening with barely held tears. Emotion welled up and threatened to overtake her. So much had happened and so fast…She had a living sister who could almost pass as her twin; her mate had somehow survived Frieza's killing blast; her mother had escaped before the planet had been destroyed; and now her father turned out to be one of the most illustrious Saiyans to ever live, Turpin.
A hand on her shoulder made her jump and she spun around to see Bardock looking down at her solemnly, his gaze soft as he stared at her. She threw her arms around him and buried her face in his chest, embarrassed at herself for showing such emotion.
They were still standing like that when Turpin announced that they were almost to their destination…
DBZ
Broco and Diamond stood side by side in defensive postures guarding Berik's prone form as Amotto was knocked around by Falmer.
The Beast had given up toying with the woman and had unleashed his full power on her. He was savagely beating the defiant woman left and right, blood flying from her nose and mouth with every strike.
Broco could barely stand to watch it. The only thing that was keeping him from trying to help was the fact that he knew he was too weak to do anything besides get himself killed. His fists clenched tight at his sides and he closed his eye tight. He had already lost Amotto once…and now he was being forced to watch as he lost her again…
His eye opened and he leveled his gaze on Falmer's back as he stood over Amotto.
He couldn't take this anymore. He had to do something!
He looked to Diamond at his side and made up his mind. His blue aura came to life and he sprang forward, gathering red ki into the palms of both hands.
"Broco, no!" Diamond cried behind him, but he was already en route.
He rushed Falmer at top speed…Falmer looked over his shoulder just as Broco thrust both hands forward…
And he was suddenly lying on his back, his twin balls of ki in Falmer's hand as The Beast held Broco pinned to the ground with his bare foot on the Saiyan's chest.
"Pathetic Saiyan…what did you hope to accomplish?" Falmer chuckled as he canceled out the two orbs and knelt down to glare into Broco's single eye.
"There's no hope of beating you," Broco responded quietly, his voice shaking with barely suppressed fear. "But I had to try something."
Falmer grinned and nodded slowly. "Courage. I admire that. Pointless though it may be, I do admire your courage. This is twice you've stood up to The Beast."
Amotto suddenly appeared in the air beside him and drove both of her feet firmly into the side of his head, knocking him away from Broco. She landed unsteadily and stood up shakily, her eyes narrowed as she panted heavily. She winced and looked down at Broco, her hard gaze unwavering.
"That was foolish, Broco!" she snapped down at the prone man. "Stay out of this, and leave him to me!"
Broco blinked in surprise, but she dashed away before he could say anything. He hurried to his feet, cringing in pain as he did. He looked around and spotted Amotto attacking Falmer all-out, her fists and feet blurs of motion as Falmer's head snapped side to side and front to back. He watched in horror as Falmer suddenly caught Amotto's fist and in the same instant punched her in the gut so hard as to send her crashing backwards into what was left of the ship. He closed his eye and turned his head away from the sight. He couldn't bear it. Why was Amotto fighting so hard when it was hopeless…?
A faint pop from somewhere above him caught his attention. He opened his eye and looked into the sky to see a flaming streak descending rapidly towards the ground. His eye went wide as it suddenly veered and shot into the distance. He followed it with his eye as it vanished into the dusty horizon.
"AAARRRRGGGHHH!"
He turned his attention back to the fight to see a thin green beam of energy burning through Falmer's left shoulder. The Beast had his head thrown back and was roaring into the sky as Amotto stood defiantly, blood staining her face and armor, with her arms outstretched and hands clasped together, both index fingers pointed toward him as she fired the small, but obviously powerful beam.
Broco allowed himself a brief grin. But it was brief as Falmer's form flickered and then he was on top of Amotto, backhanding her across the ground. He stared after the bouncing woman for a moment before looking down at his smoldering wound.
Amotto tumbled for a few seconds before skidding to a stop on her side. Her eyes were tightly closed in pain and her chest heaved rapidly and heavily as she struggled for air. She coughed weakly as she tried to sit up and blood splattered to the ground.
She opened her eyes slowly and looked towards Falmer as she wavered in place, one hand on the ground to steady herself.
"Is…that the best…you've got…Beast?" she asked, sarcasm dripping from her last word.
Falmer lifted his dark gaze and glared at her as she climbed back to her feet. He grinned darkly. "Stubborn, aren't we?" he asked, his raspy voice dangerous.
"You're the…stubborn one. You should just…give up. I never will." Amotto straightened up, barely suppressing a wince as she lifted a hand to wipe blood from her lips; she only succeeded in smearing it across her cheek. She clenched both hands tight and took shaky steps forward, advancing determinedly. "I will beat you, Beast. Today is your day of reckoning. This planet will be your grave."
"Doubtful."
"Not to me."
"We'll see about that."
"Yes, we will!" Amotto suddenly lunged forward, thrusting her fist forward with every ounce of strength and ki she could muster. Despite her defiant talk she knew that beating Falmer was hopeless. Her bravado could only carry her so far. So as she advanced rapidly on the Gylderian, his malevolently smiling face drawing ever closer, she allowed her eyes to close for what she imagined would be the last time…
Her fist impacted something solid and she came to an immediate, jarring stop. She remained motionless waiting for the blow that would finish her. But it never came. She opened her eyes and they immediately widened as she took in an impossibly familiar face beyond the hand that was closed around her fist.
"You!" she said breathlessly as golden eyes turned to look at her in amusement. The man had long hair and a thick beard, but she recognized the face of the haughty Zether Zetra. He was wearing white and black, elite armor over black underarmor.
"I should be saying that. Frieza blew you into tiny pieces." His eyes flickered to her arms and he cringed. "Well, maybe not tiny pieces. But you sure weren't whole the last time I saw you. By all rights you should be dead. But Saiyans are tough creatures, so I'm not really all that surprised." He flashed a grin and winked at her as he released her hand.
Amotto blinked up at him her weakness momentarily forgotten. She looked around until she saw Falmer digging himself out of a trench as dust settled around him and then looked back up at Zether with a glare.
"How dare you interfere?! He's MINE to deal with! I CAN handle him!" she seethed at him. Her whole body trembled as she took deep, heavy breaths. She had the power to handle The Beast. She could FEEL it! She just hadn't tapped into it, yet. And now here Zether was, appearing from nowhere, taking her chance away from her. Never mind the fact that she had previously resolved to accept her death; she was angry that Zether had stepped into HER fight.
Zether arched an eyebrow and folded his arms across his armored chest, covering the X'ed out Ginyu Force symbol emblazoned across the upper left chest piece. "Well, aren't you grateful? Listen, I can feel your power and I can tell that you're much more powerful than you used to be. But the fact of the matter is that you aren't powerful enough to fight Falmer. I am, so please just step back and do not get in my way."
Amotto's eyes went wide and she opened her mouth to speak, but Diamond's hand suddenly clamped over her mouth and she was pulled back as Zether turned to face Falmer.
The Beast smirked as he regarded the golden-haired man. "So…an even more powerful opponent. Perhaps I will get to test the full extent of my power after all."
Zether returned the smirk and stepped back into a fighting stance. "Perhaps. One or the other you will get to see MY power, Falmer."
DBZ
(I apologize for the delay of this chapter. I've had a difficult time writing it and I'm honestly not too satisfied with it. But as I have heard often, I am my own worst critic. R/R as always and thanks for reading! Next chapter should be up sooner!)
