Chapter 26: HFIL
Katie-
Kami's Lookout was hard. Harder than in New Destiny. Little Trunks kicked me in the shin, but his tears hurt more. Goten's fear of me hurt too. It took me a while to convince them I was okay again. But in HFIL I met the hardest challenge…
With nothing to do, I sat by the fountain a while. It made me feel better sitting by the fountain because of the scent of the blood. I may not be evil, but the Saiyan in me loves the scent of blood. It's a predator thing, like sharks or wolves, but it's not as bad as that with our sentient side to help control it.
I remembered the blood on earth, and I got up, wanting to get as much distance between it and me as I could. In HFIL, that could be far.
"Well lookie 'ere, it's the monkey girl from Namek!" the Ginyu Force in it entirety had assembled in front of me as I walked. I was so deep in thought I hadn't noticed them.
I laughed, seeing them like this. All five in a row with a ridiculous pose. But I ended my laughter sharply as I grew serious again.
"Great, the Ginyu Fools are here. And my name is Katie." I said sarcastically.
"So, why are you here?" Ginyu asked.
"I killed a lot of people. Just leave me alone, alright? I don't feel like fighting right now." I snapped.
"Like you could take on all of us?" Burter said, causing the rest of the group to laugh.
"Look, is that Frieza?" I pointed behind them, and they all immediately turned to look. When they turned back around I laughed my butt off.
"That was too easy! Thanks for the laugh guys, but go away."
"Now that's rude. What makes you think you can take us all?" Recoome asked. I especially wanted revenge on him.
"I achieved Super Saiyan, and I've surpassed it. I could beat you all without breaking a sweat." They were in shock, but they didn't believe me.
"If you're a Super Saiyan, then how'd you die?" Guldo asked.
"Why should I even bother with you? Fine, to shut you all up, there's a creature on Earth now known as Majin Buu. He killed everyone on the planet."
They still wanted action, even after what I said. Ginyu was first to come at me, so I kicked him away without transforming. As I got up the remaining Ginyu Force members stood and stared at me.
"How did she do that?" Recoome asked.
"I'll say it slow so your puny brains can perceive this. I can go beyond Super Saiyan and I'm in a bad mood. If it's a fight you want, it's a fight you'll get." I powered up just a little and they all went white.
"Good enough for me!" and then they ran off. Not too smart to tick off a female Saiyan. I moved in front of them faster than they could react to and I used one Ki filled punch to send them all on their way.
"That was fun, whose next?" I looked around but no one was there, so I powered down.
I found a creepy old tree and decided it would do as I sat down. I closed my eyes as I leaned back. I kept picturing Vegeta's face.
Well, Vegeta's bound to be around here somewhere… right? But… no, I couldn't face him now. Not yet.
In a few hours Buu will blow up earth, then Goku and Vegeta will fight against him together and the Spirit Bomb will be used. I loved that episode where Vegeta thought out his respect toward Goku, finally admitting that he did respect Goku like no other fighter. But now it's all so real. God, I pray Goku pulls it off.
And it's my fault if they don't…
I'll finally admit, maybe having Goku as earth's champ isn't so bad. So what if I couldn't stop Buu? I'm destined to defeat something much worse. But that was scary, too, what if I couldn't do it? What if being feral caused me to lose?
I opened my eyes to have a look at the clouds that were the barrier between HFIL and Otherworld. To my surprise I saw two pink eyes staring at me. I shot up into a fighting stance, only then realizing who it was.
"Cell, how nice to see you again." I said sarcastically as I relaxed.
"How's that a proper greeting? Didn't you miss me?" Cell asked sarcastically back.
"Sort a, I guess. I really hadn't thought much of it." he fell over anime-style. His leg twitched, making me laugh.
"I was once the most powerful being on the planet, how could you forget me! I was perfect!"
"I had to train for Buu."
"Aw yes, Majin Buu. We've all been watching his progress the past couple hours. I was so surprised to see you give up to him without a fight."
"Whatever, just leave me alone." I turned to walk away, but he wouldn't have it.
"So, why are you here?" he asked as he moved in front of me.
"Why should I tell you? I thought you said you've been watching Buu."
"Only when he burst out of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. Nobody realized such a power was on earth until then. That's where everybody else is now, I left because I felt your unique energy. When I told Frieza he ran away as fast as he could." I laughed, imagining Frieza, who once threatened me with death running the opposite way when he knew I was near. It was a short-lived laugh, though, because I still felt bad over all I had done. Those friends of mine are pretty special people since they forgave me so quickly.
"Just leave me alone to suffer in hell for my sentence."
"Hell? Is that what it's called in your dimension?"
"Yeah, now go before I get really mad." I went to walk away again and Cell blocked my path once more.
"You're not evil, I have always known that. I know I said that once you could be, but I knew it wasn't true. Why did Enma send you here?"
"You really are obsessed with me, aren't you? Fine, I guess I may feel better if I talk about it, anyway." I sat down as I began my story.
"It all started yesterday when the World Martial Arts Tournament was being held. Goku got to come back because… he's Goku."
"Of course." Cell agreed.
"I knew for a fact I'd make to the finals against Gohan if we got to finish the tournament, but that wasn't to be, and I knew that as well. A wizard named Babi-Dee had arrived to collect energy to release his father's creation, Majin Buu. He sent his lackeys to collect energy at the Tournament, and then Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, the Supreme Kai and his servant followed after them. I was left behind but I teleported to the ship to help. Vegeta and Goku both had a chance to fight, and then we waited for Babi-Dee's right-hand man, Dabura, to arrive to fight Gohan. But Babi-Dee wanted to see me fight first, and sent a warrior to challenge me. And I did fight, seeing as a Saiyan always accepts a challenge."
"The one flaw in your species." Cell laughed.
"You're part Saiyan too, remember? Anyway, she was some sort of reptile and as we fought she spit venom into my eyes. I transformed into Super Saiyan 2 and killed her. Of course, that wasn't what I intended to do. I let my power control me, a habit I need to break. But then Gohan got to fight Dabura and the fight was cut short by Babi-Dee. Babi-Dee saw that his plan was going to fail and that he needed a more powerful warrior to help him release Buu. Originally he picked Vegeta, the easiest of us to turn Majin."
"Turn Majin?" Cell asked.
"It makes you a servant to Babi-Dee. Your inner-most evil is let loose at its full extent."
"I see, Vegeta would be the best bet. I should know." Cell retorted.
"Vegeta was the only one of us without a pure heart. At least, that's what I though. But I got Vegeta to focus on what was really important to him and he beat the Majin. But then Babi-Dee turned to me. I don't have a pure heart either. Damn feral instincts… Babi-Dee succeeded and I became Majin. Then I proceeded to earn the name Katherine the Slaughterer. I… I was feral again. I fed on humans… oh god, I let Vegeta die!"
Cell was quiet for a long time as I cried. I figured it was because I was crying that he was quiet. It was an awkward moment for the both of us. I knew I should have stopped crying, but I couldn't.
"I always said you had the potential. I never meant it. How… how did this happen? What did you do?" Cell sounded so sincere. He wasn't just gathering information or data, he really wanted to help me.
"Well," I wiped my face, "First I went and destroyed a town. I… I fed on some people there. I almost killed a kid… I played innocent to the child like some sick freak as I led him into an alley." I spat on freak, "Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan stopped me. I wanted to fight them, but they didn't want to fight me, so I had to force my hand. I went to the tournament and waited for them there. I almost killed android 18… I blew up over half of the stadium. Then I fought Goku and Vegeta, nearly killing the two of them with one blast."
"One blast? Impressive…"
"I wanted to taste their blood. I wanted to kill them. Buu was released and he beat Gohan, nearly killing him and the Supreme Kai. Then when Goku and Vegeta were on the scene to stop Buu. I wanted to fight Goku's Super Saiyan three form, so I had Buu fight Vegeta. And then… Mirai…"
"Damn runt, what did he do?"
"He made me realize what I was doing really wasn't what I wanted to do. He reminded me of my values… my plans for children one day… to see the ocean and the whales… my feral side melted away, but I was still Majin. I guess… I was strong enough to fight the mind control… I just didn't want it to look that way. I wanted to feel pain. I fought Buu… and a blast came at me… Vegeta blocked it, saving me but killing himself in the process. It's all a blur, but I had some sort of an internal struggle and I beat the Majin, blasting off most of my arm." I pointed to the Majin scar, "I had to repent, and my death seemed the only way. But that, of course, didn't kill me. It was when Buu came to the Lookout in his stronger form that I gave in."
"That's when you were judged to be sent here, correct?"
"Yes, but I did make up for it a little by helping Goten and Trunks learn to fuse. Of course… they all… they should have hated me… but even Goten and Trunks were able to forgive me, and I threatened them. I was told that my sentence here would only hold until I was wished back. And in the event I couldn't be wished back I would have a formal hearing."
"You'd get a hearing? You are special, aren't you? No one except King Vegeta and Bardock had trials. King Vegeta was deemed evil and Bardock was deemed good."
"So by that ratio I have a fifty-fifty chance?"
"Probably." Cell snorted.
Why is it so easy to talk to Cell? He is evil, true, and he is obsessed with me. But why do I do it? If I want to talk, I should talk to Supreme Kai, Mirai, Vegeta, or even Goku. But why Cell?
"Katie… why haven't I heard you speak of feral before?"
"It… it scares me. I… I didn't want you to know. Because I like you, Cell. If I had one person who liked me and didn't know about feral… I don't know…"
Maybe it's a connection. Some of my cells were used to create him, and in a way we're both stuck here alone. We both are the only ones of our kind, he a bio-android, and I knowing the future and all that jazz.
My SG went off.
"Where's that crystal ball thing you were watching Buu on?"
"Your Sensory Gift alerted you?" I nodded, "Follow me." Out of all the guys in HFIL, I was glad I was with Cell. Since he is obsessed with me, he cared enough to help me out. Weird, but good.
There was a crowd gathered around the crystal ball, making it hard to see. Though the ball was as big as a movie screen, all sorts of aliens and monsters were blocking the view.
"I guess there is only one way through." I turned to Cell and he nodded, agreeing. Cell acted the gentleman and powered up, frightening most of the people out of the way. I followed Cell up to the front of the crowd as all the others moved for me. I felt some other energies jump up so they could also move to the front. In the end, Frieza, Kooler (Never saw him arrive on earth.), Cell, King Kold, King Vegeta, Nappa (King Vegeta and Nappa, really?), Brolly, and I reached the front. No one dared to question or argue with us.
The seven of us exchanged dirty or questioning looks at one another, feeling out one another. In some unspoken decision I was allowed first pick of standing arrangement. I, of course, picked a good place towards the center, the other six crowded around me, with the three other Saiyans closest to me. Somehow that was comforting.
"So, you're Katie? I've heard a lot about you. Tell me, how is my son doing?" King Vegeta asked.
"He's a good man, a strong warrior, and my sensei. He has a family and I'm his daughter-in-law, if you can believe it. Guess we're related, huh King Vegeta? But just watch the crystal ball, he's up there."
"That's doesn't sound like a Saiyan to me." Nappa spat.
"You wanna say that to him?" I asked, smirking.
"Next time you see Vegeta, tell him I've been watching him fight and I'm proud of him." I nodded and turned to the screen. But it wasn't Goku or Vegeta fighting Buu, it was Vegito. They had fused already.
"Who is that?" Frieza asked. The others turned to me.
"That's Vegito, a fusion of Goku and Vegeta. Those two are in one body and one mind, fighting Buu together."
"Kakorot?" guess who that was.
That was good enough for them.
I'm really proud of you, Vegeta. You put aside your differences with Goku and now you can beat Buu, somehow. I wish I could say I'm sorry…
The battle raged on, Vegito was turned into a jawbreaker and back again, and soon enough Vegito was absorbed by Buu.
"Well, that's that. Way to go, Majin Buu!" Frieza said. He really makes me laugh sometimes. "What's so funny, monkey girl?"
"That you'd think Goku and Vegeta are defeated so easily. They did that on purpose to rescue their family and friends who are trapped inside Buu."
"Really? How ingenious…" Cell said.
"Wait and see." So they did, though some of the rest of the crowd left. That's when Babi-Dee made his presence known.
"Well, if it isn't my dear Katherine. How are you doing, my dear?"
"Buzz off, I'm in no mood to mess with you."
"I only wanted to thank you for releasing Buu for me. That's something that could make you famous here in HFIL."
"And why would I want to be famous in HFIL? If everything goes to plan, in a few hours I'll be on earth again, preparing to fight the evil that I am destined to fight. I'm not your dear… get lost."
"Now that sounds like a true Saiyan." Nappa laughed.
"I'm so glad you approve." I said sarcastically.
"I was hoping I could get you to wish me back once you're alive again, my dear. We could rule the universe." Babi-Dee chuckled. I reached over quickly and lifted him into the air by his neck.
"Babi-Dee, I am no longer your slave, Katherine the Slaughterer. I am Katie Briefs, and you will never be wished back to life as long as I'm around. The Majin symbol has been chiseled into my arm, but it holds no power over me any longer. Is that clear?"
"Yes." he gasped. I dropped him, but instead he laughed, "It's clear that you need convincing!"
Babi-Dee spoke his spell and I fell to my knees, my head splitting in two. He was trying to force his Majin magic into me.
"D'rar magician!"
Damn, I spoke Saya-jin again… he's making me feral on purpose.
"Katie, what's going on?" Cell called.
"Fuck… it hurts!"
"It'll stop if you only give in." Babi-Dee laughed.
"Pain… is sometimes… the only way… you know… you're alive!" I screamed.
I can control my feral side… it's like an extension of SSJ… or a prelude…
Instead of fighting my feral side, I embraced it. I let my body grow and alter in all the right places, and Babi-Dee stopped.
"So… you decided to help me?"
"Fucker…" I growled, "Get the fuck away from me. I have control of my feral side… as long as I'm alive I will never be in your power again. Now GO!"
The force of my roar sent Babi-Dee flying. I stayed low to the ground to make sure I had control.
"Katie?"
"Cell… my second greatest fear was becoming feral. Third was Majin. Now I have beaten the both. Now I am a true, feral-controlling Saiyan warrior."
"You certainly aren't that bratty girl I met on Namek anymore, are you?" Frieza said.
"No, I'm not." I said coldly, growling. He backed away as I stood.
"Bitch." Kooler said. Everyone, including me, turned to face him.
"What was that?" I asked.
"I called you a bitch. Is that the appropriate word on earth for a girl acting as you are?"
"Listen, Kooler, I have every right to act like a bitch, especially when I'm feral, and I certainly don't need to be told that I'm acting like one by you. I know all about you. I saw my world's version of you getting revenge for Frieza. But it wasn't because you cared for your brother, oh no, it was because you were ashamed that a Saiyan beat him. If you're interested, I'll show you what it is like to fight a true Saiyan; a feral Saiyan."
Frieza and Kooler exchanged dirty looks.
"Come at me." So Kooler went to his final stage, a stage past Frieza's, and I went SSJ2. He charged and I blasted him, easily knocking him away. He got back up and we both charged, throwing punches and kicks at one another for an entire five minutes before he backed off to see his damage. He was already exhausted, and checking me for damage. I was crouched down on all fours, not even breathing hard yet. The fight was fueling my feral side.
"So, you had enough yet?" I asked, sounding like a true Saiyan.
"How is this possible?"
"I told you, didn't I? There are levels of power that exceeds Super Saiyan. I'm at the second level, Super Saiyan 2. Goku can reach a level beyond that. And since I have feral control, my power is doubled… just like it was when I beat up Goku. Well, are we going to continue or not?"
He was mad now, and came at me again. The others in our little group watched on as we fought. I decided to hurry and end this so we all could see Goku beat Buu.
"Here's a special attack I came up with as Majin, though I think it'll work for me as a good guy. Super Gatlik Wave!" it was a complete opposite to the attack I used earlier, and it was solid white as opposed to the dark red. It beat Kooler no problem, actually knocking him out of his final form and back into his previous one.
"She beat lord Kooler!" some random guy in the crowd called. The people who left returned and watched as I helped Kooler to his feet.
"Great fight. Too bad I had to end it so quickly, but we need to focus on watching Buu and not fighting over this stupid shit."
"I still say you're a bitch." He said as he smiled. Though I beat him, he seemed to like the idea that there was someone stronger than him. Maybe it'll give him a purpose while he's in HFIL. I had a rival now.
I released my SSJ2 power and my feral power. I sighed, calming myself. I felt better like this than feral, even though I was weaker.
Looking back up at the crystal ball, Buu was starting to mutate.
"What's happening to Buu?" Nappa asked.
"Goku and Vegeta freed everyone trapped in Buu, including the good side of Buu. He's reverting back to his original form."
"I though his original form was fat?" Cell said.
"No, it was much worse."
Buu quickly reverted into his child-like form, but somehow it was different. I don't know if it was just his Ki or what, but something was different about him. Then it hit me; this Kid Buu had hair. His horn was slicked back into his hair, and his hair was white.
"The fear of the universe is a child?" King Kold cried.
"A child defeated me, so it is possible." Cell sneered.
We watched as earth blew up, along with the remaining Z Senshi. Only Goku and Vegeta were left.
Kid Buu started blowing up other planets and Supreme Kai had left to find the Namekian Dragonballs with Old Kai and Dende.
XxX
Now Buu was fighting on the Supreme planet of the Kais, and Goku and Vegeta were doing poorly. I had to help, but how?
"Dammit! Come on, Goku! Go Vegeta! I know you guys can do it!" I was the only one cheering for the good guys, and it was awkward to say the least. But it wasn't like anyone upset with my position would try to stop me.
Their fighting spirit seemed improved somehow, as if they had heard me.
All of a sudden I was back on the Lookout, alive and well.
"They did it. We're alive again!" I looked over to see the rest of our little group whom had died up here on the Lookout, plus Gohan, Piccolo, Goten, and Trunks.
"Katie!"
"Mirai, we're back!" I ran to him and we kissed in celebration.
"We're all alive!" we all cheered, but it wasn't for long.
"People of earth, we are fighting Majin Buu as we speak, so please, raise your hands and lend us your energy so we can beat him!" it was Vegeta, pleading to the people of earth to give energy.
"You heard him! Goku's going to try the Spirit Bomb. If it goes like the story did back home, this'll be it!" I powered up to SSJ2 and gave all I had. The others followed suit, and soon a group of exhausted fighters and family barely stood on tired legs.
"Please, we need more energy! Give us more energy! Everyone raise your hands!" Goku tried, but it wasn't any good.
"We have to help out somehow." Krillen said.
"Let's try to get people to listen to them." Piccolo said.
"It won't work. No one will give because they think it's stupid. Just be patient, we'll have our day. I can't stand this, I have to know what's going on, but I can't teleport now because I used all my Ki."
"Then meditate. You did it before, remember?" Gohan suggested.
"Right! I did it to check on Goku when he fought Frieza."
I sat down and began to meditate, not sure if I could do this. My Ki was low, and I hadn't really attempted to do this in nine years. But I tried, and it seemed to work. I saw Kid Buu and Buu fighting, and our Buu was losing. Goku's Spirit Bomb looked pathetic, but if Hercule came through we'd be fine.
"People of earth, this is your Champ, Hercule!" I cried out because Hercule's booming voice shocked my senses. I couldn't see the fight any longer.
"Right now I'm fighting Majin Buu, but I need your help. Please, give me your energy so I can use it to defend our planet earth!"
"Oh, dad." Videl sighed.
I felt the earth's energy level drop significantly, so I knew they listened. The only problem was that it still wouldn't be enough. Then I felt my power return instantly.
"Come on, give again guys!" I said, charging up to SSJ2 again and giving again.
"People of earth, please give me more power!" Hercule cried again.
I felt the earth's energy increase and decrease once more.
"Now, back to the fight." I went back into meditation and watched as Goku threw the Genkai Dama at Kid Buu. He was destroyed, and the power of the final blast shocked my senses again, throwing me backwards and causing me to black out for a moment. It was long enough for the others to take notice and when I opened my eyes all I saw was a blur of faces.
"Give her room." Mirai said, holding me up.
"Katie? What happened?" Trunks asked.
"I saw Buu destroyed for good. That hurt, the image overloaded my senses. That was as fun as sticking a live wire in my mouth." I said, rubbing my head. The others laughed dryly, but they got the point and cheered because Buu was gone.
"Katie…" Piccolo said it, not really knowing how to ask the question I knew someone would ask.
"I'm okay now. There is no more chance of me going feral. I don't know… but Super Saiyan blocks it. Without Babi-Dee I wouldn't have become Majin today or yesterday. There is no more reason to fear me."
Epilogue:
Katie-
And that was me, feral. Katherine the Slaughterer was much more evil and bloodthirsty than I first wrote. I guess… I guess it scared me too much to write it all out before. But this is what happened.
My feral side was never released again. Vegeta thinks I became a bit like him because of that. He was born without the feral instincts, and I don't have them anymore. That's what Vegeta thinks.
But I know what it is. It's another part of me, buried deep down in an unwanted transformation I can control. And for the most part, I can control the feral part, but only by not becoming feral.
As a kid, sometimes you wonder about vampires. I can tell you from experience that bloodlust is not any way to live. It isn't a side-note to immortality, it's a punishment.
When I was feral I was always hungry. I always wanted blood, and nothing could fill me. Feral Saiyans are really just primitive Saiyans… and it scares me that my people were once like that.
Vegeta wasn't feral because he's royalty. That may sound pig-headed, but it is true. It was bred out of the royal family line.
Goku wasn't feral because of that accident when he was a baby. It knocked a few bolts loose… but if it hadn't, Goku wouldn't be so loveable, would he?
Mirai, Gohan, Goten, and Trunks weren't feral because they were half-human. It's the same with Bora and Pan later. The human genes block it out.
I was really the only normal Saiyan to come to earth besides Raditz. Maybe if I had known about feral I could have asked Raditz about it.
I know why I had so much trouble controlling the feral part of me. There are many reasons. One was I was human for 15 years or so, and it was like a back up in my mind. When it was able to be let loose, it was out in a big way.
Another reason was that I was young. I was just a kid, and I shouldn't have had such bloody thoughts about my fellow man. I shouldn't have seen the guy next door as a possible meal… but because I did it was hard to resist.
Last was my armor of love. I was so tired of caring and carrying that heavy armor that once it was off it was off in a big way.
I always have feral power added to my true power. If I didn't have it I wouldn't be as strong as Goku or Vegeta. Without my feral side, Roxx might have broken me. To tell you the truth, if it wasn't for the bloodlust, being feral would be great. With SSJ and all its forms at my side, my feral anger doesn't get out of control.
Goku doesn't use Kaio-ken anymore because he has stronger forms. It's the same with me and my feral transformation, but I'm also scared of it. Goku only has to worry about hurting himself if he does Kaio-ken. I have to worry about hurting others and liking it.
And the Angel power? It made my feral self melt away completely. I had power without it, so I didn't need it. My Inner Light 'told' me that it was gone. And not to 'call her' a liar, but I still feel it when I fight.
It's a part of me, and it will never go away.