Chapter 4 - Battle Royale?
"Oh really?" Nappa stepped forward and towered over her. "So what would we want with a disrespectful Saiyan brat like you? And a weak one at that!" He circled around her. "Well, you certainly have looks that please…" He looked her up and down, and Sereki's hair stood on end. "I could use you." He chuckled at his own twisted nature.
"Watch it, Nappa." Bardock glared from behind him. She was still his daughter, regardless of how disrespectful she had been, and Nappa sure as heck wasn't going to get his hands on her if he had anything to do with it.
"You terrible man!" Goku reached to grab Sereki's shoulder and pull her back to safety, but she stopped him in his tracks.
'Brother, please trust me and step back. Now.' She hoped he would heed her telepathic message and was relieved when he stepped backwards and next to Piccolo. Nappa was disgusting, that was for sure, but this was not the direction this was going to go, if she had anything to say about it.
"Yeah, treat Reki with respect!" Krillin shouted out from way behind them, feeling safer than usual in spot behind the boulder.Nappa gave him a glare that caused the monk to quiet down, and fast.
"I'm getting impatient. It would be better for youto tell us now before I decide to just kill you and mutilate the rest of this terrible species – your choice." Vegeta smirked at her, but was impressed when she showed no signs of alarm. A smart one, she is. She would be of some use… perhaps.
"That's the problem," Sereki smirked at her next line. "You can't kill me." She crossed her arms and a daring look washed over her figure. You are SO stupid… SO stupid, she mentally chastised herself. Nevertheless, she followed through. "Which is why I'm here – you, my prince, need a challenge. I am rivaled in many parts of the galaxy as a warrior, strategist and diplomat… I have many nicknames, a few which, I'm sure you have heard. I am useful, and to dispense of me would waste tremendous potential. Take me in exchange for this planet and leave Earth in peace."
"Well, well, well! Someone thinks she's high and mighty! Sire, let me show her her place." Nappa took a step forward, but Vegeta held up his hand in deadly silence. Bardock's eyebrows rose at this. What was she planning? Certainly she wasn't that strong… his scouter proved that… or did it?
Everyone was quiet until Vegeta began to slowly chuckle. Nappa began to interrupt, but the prince cut him off. "You know I'm interested… unless you are content withbeing my next sparring partner." He looked at the general evilly. Nappa visibly paled. "I thought so."
He turned back to Sereki. "I hope you have muscle behind those words. It would be a shame to kill such a confident female. Ha. I won't know your skill until I see it. Show me. Spar." He shook his head in disbelief. Why am I doing this? She has to be bluffing… but that would be suicide. She's smarter than that; I can see it in her eyes. He mentally shrugged. He did need a challenge. No one on Vejiitasei would challenge him, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to train with no one to push him. Maybe she could push him harder, maybe then he could reach the level of Super Saiyan. Wait, I don't even know if she's any good. Ha… doubt it. Better not get my hopes up. He readied himself in his fighting stance.
"As you wish…" Sereki breathed deeply to clear her mind. "Your majesty." A grin tugged at the corner of her mouth. Man this is gonna be fun! Her adrenaline began to kick in as the prospect of a good fight came within reach. After all, she was Saiyan, and it was dreadfully hard to kick that habit of fighting… much more the love of fighting. Goku, Piccolo, and Krillin's jaws dropped. Thoroughly surprised, at least Piccolo had enough sense to get the group to a safe distance away. On the other side, Nappa and Bardock curtly nodded to their prince and flew to the opposite cliff.
This was going to be either a bloodbath or a showdown, but either way, it was doing to be good.
The stare down lasted moments as both were impatiently waiting to get this over with. Vegeta made the first move. He rushed her with Saiyan speed and brought his fists to her chin. His hands swatted the vacant air as Sereki appeared behind him and brought her elbow to connect to the back of his head, which Vegeta swiftly countered, locking them in that struggling position for a few seconds. They smirked at each other, and their Saiyan blood boiled at the contact. They broke away, and seconds later, Sereki found herself dodging energy blasts like her life depended on it. Her grace and ease, however, surprised the Saiyan prince – her movements were fluid-like. Only a few planets carried that kind of fighting style. So, she has been around the universe. He snapped back to attention as she blurred in front of him and brought her knee to his gut, connecting with mind-blowing strength. That was the last time he would lose focus in this match, in fact, this one the first matches that actually required his focus in such a long time. He mentally cursed himself for being careless but recovered quickly.
"Ooooh…" Vegeta smirked as he hissed, "So she gets the first strike in!" He chuckled. She isn't showing me all she's got… there's more. "The first strike is all you will get!" She certainly was a good fighter, an interesting one.
"You sure about that?" Sereki grinned at the Saiyan Prince. "Watch you back, sire," she added with sarcasm. Amused glares were sent through the singed air as both fighters prepared to clash again. They ran at each other, coming together in a flurry of hand techniques and kicks. The rose through the air, each wanted to best the other, and each also holding some back. Finally, Vegeta penetrated her defenses and connected a punch to her chin. She reeled through the air, a smile on her face. He was the best fighter she had fought in a long time.
"Told you." Vegeta smirked as he watched his opponent fall towards the ground beneath. But Sereki was quick on her feet and vanished. His breath drew up sharply. Where the heck is she? He scan the surrounding terrain. She was nowhere. "Coward, show yourself, or –" he was cut short as pain shoot through his ribs.
"Told me what?" Sereki smiled as her foot landed with precision on his right side. She gloated for a few seconds; she loved proving some people wrong – especially when it came to her fighting ability. However, her loss of focus cost her, and she had let her ki mask slip. The prince retaliated hard, and they were back at it… totally and completely even.
Bardock stood off at a distance, eagerly watching the two spar. His daughter had disrespected them greatly, and no doubt, she would pay, but she still amazed him. She was incredibly strong… only in his prince had he seen such fighting ability. He shifted his weight and scanned the ki levels again. What he discovered almost sent him, a Saiyan warrior, into a dead faint. "Nappa… check your scouter again."
"Why would I…" he trailed off as the numbers flashed. His voice caught. "No way… no possible way…!" His eyes were as big as saucers. "She's as powerful as the prince!"
Bardock grinned. His daughter, as powerful as their prince. Nappa would never dream to have any of his offspring this powerful… although he craved it like mad. "Figures," he replied coolly. "She does have half of me in her, after all."
"Shut up."
Bardock's grin widened, but as soon as the ki had risen, it dropped again. "So, she is masking it."
"Or she just got lucky."
"Shut up."
The short battle below came to a slow halt, both beginning to sweat… stopping before they became careless and accidentally destroyed the planet. "You are coming with me." Vegeta stated flatly. "You don't have a choice now."
Sereki's glee in her eyes from the fight disappeared. She then remembered the hell she was to go through when she returned to her real home. "Spare the planet, and its people."
The prince eyed her curiously. She has a strong will…I could just take her and then destroy the planet. No… then she would refuse to fight me and that would be an utter waste. He certainly didn't want to lose the potential in her. She could possibly push him to become the strongest in the universe. Also, he wasn't about to leave a challenge. She was good, almost too good, and his pride wasn't about to explore the idea of being equal. He was going to become much stronger than her. He had to… for his honor as Saiyan prince. Keeping her around therefore seemed to be the logical thing to do.
Nappa flew down along with Bardock, and the three other Z warriors touched down as well. "What makes you think this is a fair trade – a planet for a disgraceful female?" Nappa snarled.
Sereki sighed. "I know the way I would be treated upon arrival. It's a sacrifice. If only I could do more to show you what an asset I could be."
Nappa snorted. "As if. You are a disrespectful brat –" Vegeta cut him off.
"That can fight and has proved herself to me in that regard." The prince glared at Nappa. "Once again, do you really want to become my next sparring partner? Come now… certainly you don't want to be in that much pain, although I wouldn't mind it one bit." Vegeta smirked at the general.
Nappa paled again. "Sire… please don't make this decision rashly. I hardly think –"
"I hardly don't care what you think. I suppose you are too dense to observe the fighting styles she possess… there are many… from many parts of the universe. She has traveled distances, and from the tiny fraction I've seen, learned many things. Even if she isn't the 'diplomat' she claims she is, I can see the strategist and certainly the warrior in her." He nodded his head in the direction of the other three warriors. "And I think fighting her would be more fun than destroying this sorry planet." He glanced at Bardock. "Don't you think, soldier?"
"I couldn't agree more, your highness." Bardock replied, grinning at Nappa. This budding family feud was going to be a highlight of his life.
Nappa grimaced. Bardock was not going to get the best of him, and neither were his brats. But he had no choice under penalty of death… "Are you sure –"
"Shut up, Nappa, if you value your life. Woman, follow us to the ship if you value yours." The prince became airborne as he waited for them to comply.
"Reki…" Goku stammered. "Don't… why! You… can't…" He took a step toward her and touched her shoulder.
Great… not another goodbye. She knew this was going to come. "Brother… take care." Boy, that was lame. "This is my way… of protecting you… my friends, the planet." It was true, and it was the only way. If she didn't go, the battleships above would wipe them out and not even think twice.
Goku locked eyes with her for a few seconds that seemed like eternity. Eons of thoughts were passed between the two, and each understood the other completely. So much emotion was shared, and so many feelings were exposed. Goku, unable to dissuade his sister, recognized his defeat, but realized his fortune. "Thank you," he whispered as the Saiyans, with his sister, disappeared from sight.
A/N: Ha.. another chapter. What did you think? That was interesting to write... I really like the lines between Bardock and Nappa... I feel as if I can manipulate a little of their character, but so far, I'm staying right on course, as promised:) Thank you Pearl3 and The General of Darkness for the reviews.
So... after this, it will get REALLY interesting... I can see some humor in sight... and yes, the romance will be coming as soon as the plot and characters develop enough. Slow romances are the best after all!
Review please!