Chapter 17: Almost Feral

Vegeta led us to his hiding place and no sooner had we landed did the Ginyu force meet us there.

"Look there! It's another Saiyan!" Burter cried, pointing at me.

"Yeah, so?" I growled.

"Vegeta, give us those Dragonballs." Captain Ginyu ordered. I snorted.

"You'll have to kill me first!" Vegeta challenged.

"An easy feat!" Ginyu replied. I growled again.

Gohan, Krillen, and I were each holding two Dragonballs, and then Vegeta had the last one. In a flash my hands were empty.

Dammit, Guldo! I let my guard down!

Soon all but one of Krillen's Dragonballs were lost to the Ginyu's. Once more I growled and acted faster than Vegeta. I grabbed Krillen's Dragonball and held it tight, readying to punch it.

"What are you doing?" Krillen asked.

"I'm gonna smash it! That way no one gets it!" I brought my hand up and went to punch, but I hit air. Once more Guldo had outsmarted me.

"Dammit!" I growled.

"Guldo!" Vegeta hissed.

"You boys stay here and have some fun. I'll take these back to lord Frieza." Ginyu was off and we were left trying to decide whom to fight.

Inevitably, the Ginyu force did a silly pose. Then there was a game of rock-paper-scissors. Guldo was to fight Krillen and Gohan.

The fight began, and as I watched carefully I saw Guldo's fatal flaw in his strategy, in case I had to intervene. He performed his body freeze and Gohan and Krillen were stuck in mid air as Guldo beat them. Finally he readied his sharpened tree trunk to hurl at the boys, and I blasted him first. Vegeta watched with interest as I took it into my hands. The blast freed the boys and Guldo was ready to fight me in their place.

"How dare you interrupt my fight, monkey girl! You will pay for this!" he snarled.

"Really? I'd like to see that." At this time I flared my power quick enough so I broke their Scouters, and startled them temporarily.

"How could she…?" Burter began.

"I know all you're tricks, Guldo."

"You couldn't!" he then gave me the opportunity I was waiting for, so I decided to play around with him first.

He took in some air and disappeared. I knew he was going to freeze time, so I had closed my eyes and concentrated. He reappeared right where I thought he would, so I turned and faced him. He was shocked, but tried again. I again felt his energy signal and faced him as he reappeared once more.

I felt myself grow angry at him, being so stupid and weak. I felt my energy grow at an alarming rate.

No… no, calm down! I can't transform feral! I can't!

Then I took my chance. As he inhaled deeply, I charged him and kneed him in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. As he fell to one knee, I took my chance. I powered up and formed a large Ki blast. I knew I had to do it.

"Goodbye!" I stated as I blasted him, instantly killing him.

The others in the Ginyu force were in dismay at my quick actions. I blew it, they probably now know that I knew the future or something like that. Or they'd think I was stronger than I really was and deal me some serious damage. Vegeta seemed interested, too.

I walked back over to my companions as the remaining members of the Ginyu force played another round of rock-paper-scissors.

"Katie, how did you know of Guldo's abilities? You were raised on earth as a human, and you can't be clairvoyant?" Vegeta asked suspiciously.

"Feral instincts… that was a close one, I almost lost control again. Last time we met I told you that I would tell you my secrets when the time was right. Now isn't that time, but soon I will tell you everything."

Krillen and Gohan took heart my words, and Vegeta remained off the subject. The Ginyu force was finished, and Recoome was up now.

He approached us and stared right at me. Then he turned to Gohan, Vegeta, and last Krillen.

"Three Saiyans and an earthling, huh? No problamo."

"You'll eat those words when I'm finished with you." Vegeta said as he stepped up. They got into their battle immediately, and too soon Vegeta was a rag doll in Recoome's massive hand.

No… Vegeta… grrr… my prince! Dammit!

Krillen charged in and distracted Recoome, who had become bored with Vegeta and tossed him away. As I saw Krillen get knocked away, Gohan charged, and was doing well. Not wanting to take any chances, I checked on Krillen and Vegeta.

Krillen was unconscious, but alive and breathing just a little ragged. Vegeta looked worse by a long shot. I walked over, and blood had trickled onto his black flaming hair. Dirty wounds covered his body, and a tear rolled down my cheek, knowing this wasn't half as bad as what was to come. I quickly wiped off the wetness under my eyes as Vegeta stirred.

Grrrr… Vegeta…

A large shadow came over myself and Vegeta and it belonged to Recoome. He had finished playing with Gohan and Goku's ship was no where in sight.

What good is it to know everything about DBZ if this dimension doesn't follow the show? I have to remain calm… becoming feral will only hurt me this time around.

I was scared stiff as I realized that I was here, and I'm living this moment. Recoome could kill me, and I had to stay alive at least a while longer.

Death doesn't scare me, it's the pain I'll face from these guys when they kill me. If they kill me. They may decide to 'keep' me.

I shuttered from the thought as I noticed Recoome was towering over me, staring at me like a new toy. This was going to be interesting.

"What's the matter? Did I kill you're little boyfriend? At least you'll be with him soon." He said as he cracked his knuckles.

"First, Vegeta is not my boyfriend. We hate each other. And I'll be seeing him now, cause neither of us are dying anytime too soon." Of course, I don't hate Vegeta, but I'm supposed to.

"Brave talk, little girl." He said through broken teeth. Krillen and Gohan's work, I see.

"Why does everyone call me a little girl? I'm sixteen! I could learn to drive if I was home, but no, I had to come here and save everyone!" my anger and basically all my negative emotions were let out. My homesickness, my fear, my dread, and my rage, I let it all out. All but the feral, "You will die here." I said almost calmly.

"Yeah, sure I will." Recoome said back.

I powered up and got to my max power before I knew it. Part of this was my hidden powers Guru had awakened, and part was strength I had been building up since I left for Namek. Recoome couldn't feel my energy, but I could feel his, and we were equal. I charged, emotions aside so I could think clearly. Piccolo knew all too well how emotions could distract you.

I only have to stall until Goku gets here.

No, now I'm doing it! Waiting for Goku to save the day…

The thought that I wasn't as strong as Goku angered me, and then I realized this must be how Vegeta would feel in the future.

I was doing better than I thought I was going to, and then Recoome powered up. I forgot he hadn't powered up any during the fight, so I knew I was going to be in a world of hurt now.

Replaying Vegeta's plight with Recoome, I realized I was as bad off. There was nothing I could do as Recoome remained relentless. My power was fading with each hit, and soon I couldn't do anything to defend myself. Recoome held me with one massive hand around my neck, air squeezed out, and my vision was fading.

"I've had fun with you, but now I'll end this so I can return to lord Frieza."

As Recoome strangled me with his massive right hand, I realized Goku might not get here in time to rescue us.

Nothing else has been exactly like the show…

As long as I give Goku the time he needs to get here and save the others…

My vision was fading in and out as my lungs burned for air. Recoome was slowly and painfully crushing my windpipe without any mercy or guilt shown as he was killing a fellow sentient being.

I had to act quickly or I wouldn't live long enough for Goku to arrive, so I did the only thing I could think of.

No… not feral… my new attack… if this doesn't work… then I'll have to become feral. But it's a last resort.

Recoome slowly started squeezing tighter on my throat, and was too busy enjoying his job, and knew as well as I did that I couldn't physically overpower him at all. As he watched his work, I formed a small, dense Ki ball in my right hand and took aim carefully. It may not have been the noblest place to hit, but it was all I had to work with. I shot the Ki ball as Recoome's crotch and saw his eyes widen and tears form. I fell, gasping for air and coughing up some blood. I inhaled deeply and slowly got to my feet, shaky but alive. The others were too badly hurt and still unconscious. Recoome looked at me as he held himself and gasped in pain.

"Oohh!" Burter and Jeiece were laughing, but made no move to help their fallen comrade. The sympathy pain call was ushered.

"That's my Sneak Attack Ball. Guess you know why I named it that, huh?" I laughed as I recovered from my near-death experience. "Why doesn't your fancy armor have a cup?"

But Recoome was recovering, too. He was up and angrier than I ever saw him on the show. There was no way I could fend him off, my power level was at 30,000 units maximum, and I knew Recoome had all his power, even if I had managed to weaken him just now. Recoome came back toward me to finish the job, and I prayed for Goku's arrival.

"Now you will die, girly." Recoome snarled.

Dammit… I have no other choice… feral transformation…

I looked up and Recoome startled, backing up a step.

"What the… you're… you're eyes! They've changed!" he sputtered.

It's beginning… feral form… release it…

Then it happened, the beacon of hope for the universe arrived. My prayers were answered at last. Goku's ship was landing, and the remaining members of the Ginyu force turned to see just who was coming.

"Who is that?"

"Goku." I smiled, falling to my knees in relief. Recoome looked back at me again, away from Goku's ship. He smirked when he looked at me.

"You're eyes are back to normal. Whatever you were planning on doing won't work." He laughed. I just relaxed a bit. Finally, Goku had showed up in the knick of time. Even though on the show you know he'll be there in time, this reality was off a little, and I had doubted that Goku would make it in time. I didn't have to go feral.

Silently Goku walked out of his ship and walked out toward the others and me. He picked up Gohan and gave him a Zinzu bean, then tossed me one as he healed Krillen.

"Katie, catch. Give it to Vegeta." Goku tossed me another Zinzu and faced Recoome. They were about to start, and I knew it wouldn't take long for Goku to beat Recoome.

I walked over and lifted Vegeta's head into my lap. Still in between consciousness and unconsciousness, I had to force the Zinzu bean into his mouth. He ate it and woke up, staring into my eyes. As soon as he realized what was happening, he got up and moved away from me.

"Your welcome." I said sarcastically.

"I noticed you got your first taste of a kill today, Katie." He said almost proud.

"I didn't enjoy it, I had to save Gohan and Krillen. You weren't going to do anything about it." I said to keep up the story, "You almost caused me to go feral again. If you're smart, as I know you are, don't let that happen."

"You were right though. If they were dead I would have the Dragonballs. Why waste saving them?" Vegeta was serious; he really wasn't going to save them. I turned back to watch the fight.

So was I meant to save them? I can't rely on my knowledge of the show alone, but I have to anticipate and work from that. Is this part of my destiny?

Goku beat Recoome with one punch, as in the show to the letter.

So some things are the same, but not everything… like feral…

Now Jeiece and Burter were getting going. Flitting around Goku like an acrobatic show, just barely missing contact with him. Then they got mad and began shooting at him, but Goku was moving so fast that the attacks missed without it looking like he was moving.

Gohan and Krillen were standing by me watching the fight, with Vegeta a little off to my other side. As the battle progressed I glanced over to Vegeta and noticed his face twist in anger and dismay. I knew he was thinking Goku was a SSJ.

"Vegeta, Goku isn't a Super Saiyan, so just calm down." I said matter-of-fact like.

"But how-" he began.

"Save it. I'll tell you later." I got to keep quiet. I can't tell him until he's a good guy, or he might try to use me somehow.

Finally Goku was getting bored playing with those two and hit Burter in the stomach easily, putting him out of the fight. Jeiece ran off to get Captain Ginyu, so Goku, Krillen Gohan, Vegeta, and I were left.

"I see you've all gotten stronger." Goku replied happily, then Vegeta did it. He blasted Recoome and Burter to make sure they were dead.

"Vegeta! They were helpless!" Goku cried.

"Better safe than sorry, Goku. I hate to admit it, but it's better and safer this way." I said.

"Yes, well, how would a softy like you know?" Vegeta spat.

"I knew enough to lead Dodoria to you and then kill Guldo myself."

"Katie!"

"I didn't enjoy it Goku, and I prayed for forgiveness from my God as soon as it was done."

So we all talked for a few minutes and I charmed Vegeta into staying for a few more minutes so that he'd be there when Captain Ginyu arrived. Then Ginyu and Jeiece arrived, on schedule. Goku told Krillen and Gohan to leave, and tried to get me to go as well.

"No, Goku. I'm staying to help. You might need a feral Saiyan."

"Well, then, are we ready, Vegeta?"

"Yeah." So we took our stances and faced off with Ginyu.

"See ya, losers!" Vegeta called as he flew off.

"Vegeta!" Goku called.

"Save it, Goku. Focus on the battle."

"Yeah, okay." So we got ready to face Ginyu as Jeiece watched from the sideline.

AS22: that was close huh? Katie almost transformed into her feral form. How will this new form help in the future? Or against Frieza? Well R&R to find out!