Obligatory copyright disclaimer: Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball Z and relative characters are intellectual property of their respective owners. I'm using them without permission, but this is only a no-profit Fan fiction.
Author's notes: Thanks for the reviews! You made my day! :)
AnonymousZGirl: Nappa is strong but Rei is a Senshi. Will her powers awake in time for the duel? As for now, Usagi, Makoto and Minako had awakened their powers, so there is still hope!
Crystal: Thanks!
Xipholynx: As you can see, it's Minako's turn. Next will be… no spoilers XD
Sunshinekc: Thanks! Wish granted!
Jewlbunny: Thanks! I have the full Fic planned out up to the last chapter, so I will finish it for sure!
Whiteling: Bardock will be very surprised. Makoto is not your typical Saiyan lady! I think King Vegeta would use anything in battle, even magic if proven real.
Energywitch: Thanks! Frieza will star in the second half of the Fic. When the real slaughter will start… he he he (evil laugh).
After the chapters dedicated to each senshi, I thought to add some of my notes for the Fic in a special add-on to each chapter called "Ami's notebook". Tell me in the reviews if you are interested in reading them. ;)
Chapter 11, Minako
Minako ran out the mess hall, following the angered Rei. Once outside she cursed under her breath. "Crap! This place is crowded like a shopping mall on Sunday!"
Looking everywhere she found three different hallways, and Rei was not in any of them! "Where did she go in such a short time?"
Puzzled by her disappearance Minako chose a random direction. "Maybe this way?"
Walking quickly she searched for her friend in the long hallway. She crossed many side passages and exotic elevators until finally she reached a huge chamber. The writing over the entrance read as; "Training hall #3 – Advanced level"
"Oh, this sounds interesting! Let's go!" Her friend totally forgot she entered the building, snooping around curiously.
On the inside the structure was divided in large platforms and strange transparent spheres suspended on the walls of the building. Each sphere had in it some sort of different habitat. Deserts, ice fields, plain ground and so on. The only visible entrance of the spheres was on the top, where they had a circular opening. Now, how to reach one of the openings? No stairs lift or elevators were visible, so one had to… fly?
"They all know how to fly! I must learn too!" She decided putting on a resolute face. Then she remembered Rei. "Ops! First thing, I must reach her."
She punched in Rei's code on the scouter. Nothing happened.
"This thing is broken!" She fidgeted with her scouter for a while, but it was unable to reach anyone. The power level detector was working fine however.
"Humph, I'll have to give it to Ami. Maybe she will be able to repair it."
"Or, maybe you should bring it to Malaka. He will give you another one." A voice told her from behind.
Startled, Minako jumped away. Turning around she saw two warriors, on man and one woman. She vaguely remembered them. The man was tall, muscular and handsome, the woman small, wiry and good looking.
"Do I know you?" She asked, still not remembering them.
The man smiled. "I'm Toma and she's Seripa. We are Bardock's squad mates. Remember the judges for the cooking match in the mess hall? Two months ago?"
Finally Minako recalled their looks. "Oh yes! You judged Makoto winner! Now I remember! Thanks again for that!" She smiled warmly at them, thinking how much Makoto was happy in that occasion.
The woman grinned at her. "No need to be grateful to us. Your friend deserved victory. Now, we were going to train and we happened to hear you speaking to yourself about your broken scouter. These damn things break easily; you should go to the armory and change it with a new one."
Minako could not remember how to reach the armory even at the cost of her life. Embarrassed she told them. "Sorry, my memory is not the best! I'm good at sports however!" She added still smiling.
"Sports? What are sports?" Asked Toma, looking at her.
Minako was surprised. "You don't have sports? Really? But you train constantly! I mean running, athletics, and competitive games?"
Seripa scratched her head perplexed. "Uh, this is basic training. Once your muscles are warmed up you either spar or practice alone. And sparring is a kind of competition. Is this what you meant?"
"Eeeh? Nothing? Really? Guys, how do you enjoy yourself?" The once-human girl asked disbelieving.
"Enjoy? Fighting obviously!" Replied Toma, then he patted Seripa on her butt! "Else… you know... that!" He smirked at her.
The woman replied by elbowing him in the guts, blushing red. "You big oaf! Say it again and I'll kill you!" But she was smiling openly.
Immediately Minako's love radar switched on. "You two are a couple! Are you not?" She asked them with little hearts in her eyes.
The two warriors smiled at one another, twisting their tails together. "Y-Yes. Since the last mission." Replied Toma timidly.
"Hey! Be more proud! It's not something to be ashamed of, you asshole!" Seripa scolded him.
Minako liked what she saw. Maybe there was still hope for these people. "Hey! You never played a game, did you? Do you want to try one? It's fun!"
The two warriors looked at her, then at themselves. Toma replied for the couple. "Why not? Tell us more."
Minako literally jumped at the occasion, and explained them the rules for Volleyball. After a while they started to raise objections.
"Umm, we don't have balls like you describe. And nets? Never heard of those. Anyway, why should I have to jump to stop the ball or to attack. I can fly!" Toma told her questioningly.
"Doh! You have a good point. Why not flying? Wait, I cannot fly, that's why not! It won't be fair!"
Seripa laughed at her. "You dummy, if you can't fly, we can teach you! It's really easy."
"Really? This would be great! Please, pretty please, pretty please with sugar on top!" Minako chirped happily.
"Uh, sugar? You speak oddly sometime, Minako. By the way, I've never heard a name like that, what did it means?" Asked her Toma.
This time was Minako's turn to be embarrassed. "It means… 'Beautiful child'… nothing important."
Seripa smiled at her. "It fits you. Now let's go to train. We will think about this 'barrageball' after you learn to fly."
Minako sweat dropped while following them. "It is 'volleyball', and has nothing to do with volleys!"
They walked up to an unused round platform. Once there Toma waved at Seripa. "I'll be practicing power attacks while you teach her to fly. Call me once you are finished."
The woman nodded at him, then crossed her arms over her chest. "OK Minako. Flying is easy. You have just to emit power from all of your body, instead of concentrating it on the hands. Unlike power attacks, the key is constant emission, not instant power."
The girl looked at her wide eyed. "Uh, wait" What do you mean by 'emit power'? I can't do that!"
Seripa sweat dropped. "What? You can't do that? But it is really easy! Even little children can do it! Look!" She raised her right hand in front of her, fingers clenched like squeezing on something invisible. A soft crackling sound warned Minako that something was to happen. A small light shone between her fingers, growing larger.
When the ball of light was large as an apple Seripa threw it against a large metal target on the wall. The ball detonated with a loud bang, leaving the target half destroyed! "Here's how it is done! Simple, isn't it?" She smirked at her.
Minako was amazed. "That was awesome! Let me try!" She raised her hands in front of her, while concentrating mightily all of herself in her hands. Nothing happened.
"Never give up!" She said straining with the effort. Yet still nothing happened at all!
"Uooooooh!" Minako yelled, red faced and trembling. Finally a small light shining gold appeared in her hands. Throwing it like a baseball player Minako aimed for the target.
The minuscule ball struck the target and detonated with a puny blast, barely scratching it.
"No way!" Minako pouted at the meager outcome of her efforts. "I'll show you, evil target!" She pointed her right index finger at it.
Seripa was about to start laughing when her scouter started beeping. "What the…?" Minako power level was well over three thousands and rising quickly!
"Take this!" The still indignant girl yelled while quick ray of light shot out of her extended finger, zapping the target and blasting it to pieces!
"Wow! That was a very good attack; quick and powerful! You almost had me with that act you put up earlier… You puffed and strained so much, very funny!" Seripa grinned, patting her on the back. "Now remember the feeling that attack gave you and cloak yourself with it. Feel it all about your body!"
Minako, still surprised by her own success tried nonetheless to follow Seripa's instructions. She envisioned a mantle of light all over her body. She replayed her attack in her mind, trying to feel it with all of her skin. She closed her eyes concentrating.
"It's not working Seripa!" She told her after a while.
"Really? Open your eyes, Minako!" She replied from below.
Minako opened her eyes, surprised. "Uh? Where are you?" She was suspended in mid-air, about ten feet above the floor! "I'm… flying! Yeah!"
Seripa waved at her. "Now to move, simply raise your power in the direction opposite to where you want to go! Remember to keep concentrating, or you will fall!"
After some tries, Minako got the hang of it. Ten minutes later she was happily skyrocketing in the training hall! "Uoooooooh! It's awesome! It's not a bird! It's not a plane! It's… Super-Mina! Yeah!"
Joining Seripa, Toma smiled at the girl flying about. "Look at her, she's a natural."
The woman grinned at him. "You should have looked at her power level. When she used that attack she was at four thousands!"
The man was stunned. "How it is possible? The scouter's readings show her power level at less than two thousands!"
Seripa shook her head. "I don't know. But training with her could be a good idea. I want to learn that technique. And I like her. What do you think?"
Toma, embracing her, kissed softly her lips. "Yes, I like her too. Let's ask her." He waved towards the flying girl.
Minako, still ecstatic by the experience hovered over them. "Flying is amazing. I will never walk again!"
"Oh? Even when going to the restroom of while eating? And sleeping?" Told her Seripa smiling. She was such a baby!
"Humph! What a damper! OK, I'll land!" Pretending to pout she finally touched ground.
In the meantime, in a nearby platform two warriors were sparring quite fiercely. One of them charged a power ball attack and threw it at the other. Dodging the power ball, the second warrior immediately knew it would hit the group of warriors near them! "Hey, look out!" He shouted at them.
Startled, Toma and Seripa looked at the incoming power ball. They moved trying to protect each other, instead managing to bump and lose balance!
Without thinking, Minako acted out of instinct. She jumped with her hand extended, catching the power ball with her trademark flying somersault reception!
Instinctively enshrouding her hands in the same energy she used to fly, the ball bounced off hitting another training target and obliterating it.
"Gotcha!" She yelled rolling on the floor and standing up in one fluid move. She turned toward Toma and Seripa beaming.
Toma looked at her disbelieving. "How did you do that?"
Minako smiled scratching her head. "Uh, it's a Volleyball move. I figured the power ball would not explode for a glancing hit, so I deflected it. I… uh… thought about using that power emission thing Seripa told me about flying to shield my hand. That's all."
Toma was impressed. "It's a good idea actually. Deflecting power attacks is possible but you usually sustain a certain amount of damage. You must be very skilled."
Still scratching her head, missing her old red bow, Minako thanked him. "I'm still good at it and… I've got an idea!"
"About what?" Asked her Seripa, admiring the young woman's lively attitude.
"About Volleyball! We can use power balls! They bounce well and can be thrown, like normal balls! Now I only need something for the net…"
"We can use a force field." Said Seripa thinking about it. "In this training hall, you can set them up to spice up some training fields or to screen observers from random damage."
"Wow! That's perfect! Now we must tweak the rules to allow flying…" Minako replied excitedly.
"Rules for what?" Asked the warrior who threw the power ball earlier. He was curious about the girl that deflected his attack so easily, so he overheard part of the conversation.
"Some new 'game' she was about to show us." Replied Toma.
"Sound interesting." Said the second warrior, the one who avoided the power ball. Dodging an attack was difficult. Learning to deflect one without damage could be useful.
~o~~~o~~~o~~~o~ Two hours later ~o~~~o~~~o~~~o~
Captain Maizen was walking calmly toward the Royal palace. He was invited to a formal dinner with the King and all the Generals of the Saiyan Army.
Being a relatively young organization, the army had only six ranks. Warriors and Elite Warriors were the grunts, the basic soldiers. Sergeant was not a real rank, rather a temporary appointment for a distinguished soldier. Lieutenants were usually called Squad Leaders and commanded from four to nine warriors. Captains had command over ten to twenty squads, collectively called a Company.
Generals had control over ten to twenty Companies, called a Wing. The King commanded all the Wings in the army.
Never a prolific race, the Saiyans were always fighting, and their number was low, no more than ten thousands individuals. All of them were warrior tough, so the Army could boast six full Wings and hence, six generals.
One of them, general Akashatsu, was killed in an ill-fated and badly staged assault on one of the moons of planet Meat. The Army lost more than a hundred warriors in what the King called "an idiotic mess".
Maizen and Nappa, both captains, were on the list for promotion as generals, and now there was a vacancy.
"Must not let that moronic guy become general… Must not let that moronic guy become general… Must not let that moronic guy become general!" This thought had become a mantra for captain Maizen. Repeating it in his mind to achieve total concentration, he planned to illustrate his own attack plan at the dinner.
Being in charge of the low class warrior training, he scheduled his walk to the castle through all the training halls he had to oversee. Until now, there was not a single problem. All was going well. His staff sergeant Nizuki had taken care of most of the petty complications that usually showed up at the last minute.
He was thinking of promoting her to Squad Leader the moment her power level exceeded four thousands. That new girl he recruited today volunteered to manage all the office work, so there was no need to keep Nizuki tied to a job she obviously hated. Unless she had other reasons for staying in his staff…
His train of thought was cut off short by a huge cheer coming from Training Room #3. Warriors usually trained in silence, except for power attack detonations and the random yell of pain. This time however there was a ruckus going on.
Fearing a brawl had broken out in the hall he quickly entered the building ready for action. He was confused finding nothing bad going on! Instead, a huge crowd was cheering for two squads of warriors in flight over a training platform, bouncing a power ball between them over a randomly moving force screen dividing the field in two!
After a particularly fierce exchange, a young woman hit the ball shouting; "Spike!" Sending it near the edge of the opposing side's field. The ball slipped out the hands of the receiving warrior hitting the floor and exploding with a loud bang! One other warrior standing out of the field shouted. "Rally! Set! Match! The winner is… Mina's Squad!"
A huge cheer shook the building, while the winning squad took hold of the young woman, tossing her into the air shouting merrily.
Wading through the excited crowd, Maizen finally made his way to the field. "What's happening here?" He asked with a commanding voice to no one in particular.
Many warriors heard his question, swamping him with confused explanations about some "Powerball", "game", "serve", "spikes" and other vague topics. They were having a good time, it was clear.
Perplexed, the captain reached the winning squad, identifying two warriors. "Toma! Seripa! What are you doing?"
Smiling, the two warriors lowered on the floor the young woman they were happily bouncing up and down. "We were playing a game, sir!" "A new type of training, sir!" They replied at the same time.
"Are you really sure of knowing what you were doing?" He asked ironically.
"I beg your pardon, sir!" Told him the girls. He identified her as one of the Galangal tribe survivors who attacked planet Babke.
"Are you… Minako?" He asked; his memory trained to remember the name of any warrior he met even once.
"Yes sir! We were training aerial squad tactics and power ball attack and defense with a game! To enhance competition, sir! It's called Powerball, sir!" Minako devised the new name and rules to adapt the original Volleyball ones to the Saiyan's needs and abilities. And the result was a blast! The warriors learned fast and were tough players. They had a lot of fun.
The captain was skeptical. "Tell me more." He asked simply.
Minako gulped. The fate of sport gaming in the world was hanging on her words! A reassuring nod by Seripa gave her the courage to face the intimidating officer. The fact he had the same face and voice of Usagi's boyfriend was even more reassuring. She started to explain the rules of the game and the benefits of pursuing it.
She described the technique of bouncing back power attacks without damage, of cooperation between squad members in confusing situations, in flight! The randomly changing force field was there to simulate ever changing landscape situations.
Having finished her explanation Minako checked her nose, fearing it to grow ten meters long after all the fabrications she told Maizen. She actually only wanted Saiyans to have fun in situations not including death and mayhem.
Looking at his face with huge sparkling eyes, she unknowingly jumped a little in nervous anticipation. "Uh! I would like to know what he is thinking now!" She thought.
Sighing softly, Maizen grinned to the crowd. "This seems to me a good way to train. You have my permission to stage other 'games' like this one." Another huge cheer rocked the building.
Looking in the young woman eyes Maizen continued. "But I'll hold you responsible for any incidents that may happen during these new training exercises. Tomorrow morning you'll have to report to my office for the necessary authorizations. Dismissed!" He walked away, chuckling at the thought of her surprised face.
Minako bowed to the officer, grateful for his approval. After he left the building, many warriors approached her, asking for some explanations about the rules. Minako replied to the best of her abilities, still unsure of the rule changes she made on the fly.
After a while, three new games had been started. The natural competitive streak of the Saiyans, coupled with team pride and the sheer fun of it prompted them to play very aggressively.
"I'm so glad you all like it. It was my favorite sport!" She told Toma and Seripa. Glad for their help in setting up the first game.
"It was fun. I'll tell Bardock about it." Replied Toma, smiling.
"It's almost evening. We have to go to Bardock's quarters." Told them Seripa. "If you want, tomorrow we could train together." She asked Minako.
The young woman could not be happier. But the thought of her friends doused her eagerness. "It would be great. However I must talk to my friends first. Where will I find you if I'm free?"
"We will be here. It is our favorite training hall. Just search for us in the morning, after breakfast." Replied Seripa.
"If possible, I will!" Chirped Minako. "Bye!" She waved at them, while they soared out of the building.
"They were very nice to me." Thinking about the two warriors, she could not shrug off the image of them killing thousands of defenseless people. "Maybe they will change minds, competing in games rather than killing in wars. Who knows…?"
A strong hit in the back pushed her off balance and on the floor. "Ouch!" she yelped hitting the ground hard.
Rolling on her side she dodged a stomp that would have probably crushed her neck! A big warrior with a frothing mouth was attacking her, one of the losing squad members from the earlier game!
"Arrrhhh! I… Killh youh!" He growled angrily, his eyes bloodshot! He tried to stomp her again, but she tumbled back, standing up in an instant.
"Rentiro! Stop that!" A woman's shout distracted the mad warrior from attacking again. Minako took flight to evade an eventual new attack.
The woman ran near the mad warrior trying to calm him down. "Why are you attacking her? We lost the game, but it was a fair battle!"
The man eyed her for a moment, and then he backhanded her with a mighty swipe of his arm! Taken by surprise the woman crashed on the floor, stunned. The man looked for Minako and, after finding her, charged a huge power attack!
"B-bounceh thish, grrraaarrrhhh!" He yelled throwing the big energy ball at her.
Knowing it was impossible to deflect such a huge attack, she thought of dodging. But it was too fast, there was no time! This left her only one option!
Summoning all of her strength she focused her power in two bright crescent moons, having them collide above her head. She quickly raised her right index finger up to touch them. The energy entered it, concentrating in a single point. She lowered her arm to aim at the incoming power ball. As her left arm came to rest on her right elbow, she shouted with all her might! "Crescent… Beam!"
All the light in the training hall seemed to focus in a searing golden beam of light, firing from her index finger down to the power ball! The two attacks struggled for a moment, and then the beam pierced through the ball, making it explode with a mighty blast!
The beam continued its run hitting the furious warrior full in the chest, blowing up his armor and pushing him back and down on the ground! At the same time, some of the oldest scouters in the hall exploded, Minako's rapid rise in power having exceeded their circuit tolerance.
Many warriors were astounded by the attack! "Look at the girl's power level! It changed from two thousand to over nine thousands in an instant!" Yelled one. "What? Over nine thousands? It's impossible!" Replied another one.
The stunned woman, having recovered, rushed to her mate. "He's not dead! Rentiro! Answer me! Rentiro!"
A fish-looking technician assigned to first aid duty ran to them and used a medpac on the unconscious warrior. "His wound is not so dangerous. The energy of the attack was mostly deflected by the power ball blast." He told to the woman.
Minako landed near them. "I'm sorry for hitting him, but why did he attack me?" She asked the woman.
She replied while looking at her man. "He was strange all morning. Very irritable. Losing the game made him snap!" She replied.
"There's something strange." Interrupted the technician. "His life signs are dropping! This has nothing to do with the wound! I don't understand!" He worked feverishly to help the wounded warrior, but after a minute of struggle he died!
"No! Why! You can't die just for a little wound! You asshole! Get up! Don't leave me!" The woman cried, hugging the body of her dead mate!
Minako was horrified! "I… I k-killed him!" She stammered falling down shocked.
"No." Replied dryly the tech still trying to figure out the situation. "He died of a massive neural breakdown. Your attack made little difference. He would have died all the same in a few minutes. His brain is almost fried! I can't believe it… I've never seen something similar." He shook his head.
"Then, why?" Minako asked still not understanding.
"Don't know. Probably some sort of poisoning. I must take him to the medical center for analysis." He added, standing up. He waved at two random warriors. "Pick him up and follow me. We have to give his body to Planthorr for an autopsy."
The crying woman shouted at them. "No! I will bring him there! No one will touch him but me!" She pulled the body of her mate on her shoulders, her lithe frame now displaying the real strength of a Saiyan woman.
Minako tried to follow them, but the woman growled at her. "Don't. I know it is not your fault, but leave me be!"
Stopping in her track, all her happiness for the game drowned by a senseless death, Minako slumped against a wall, tears running down her cheeks. "Again death. This must be hell…"
Walking away she wandered the halls of the fortress for what seemed hours. By chance she found herself in the armory. Remembering her broken scouter and wanting to hear about her friends, she called for the technician.
"Malaka? Are you here?" After a while the reptilian alien showed up from the shadows, startling her.
"What do you want?" He asked her.
"M-my scouter is broken, you see, I cannot call anyone and…"
He snatched the scouter from her hands, inspecting it. "It is not broken. You have activated the call block." He said dryly. "This is the button to hit to activate/deactivate the function." He gave her back the device.
Feeling immensely stupid, Minako retrieved the item, wearing it. "Hem, sorry… I'm not great with these things…"
"No blathering. I have a job to do." The tech hissed to her.
Momentarily forgetting her sadness, Minako walked away annoyed at the alien's lack of manners. "Freaking lizard!" She mumbled while calling Usagi.
"Usagi? I'm Minako!" She said calling her.
"Minako! I was so worried! Thank god! Are you safe?" Her friend replied.
"Sorry for not calling you but I had a minor problem with the scouter and…"Minako tried to tell her. She was cut short however.
"Wait! I have something important to tell you! Rei is in trouble! She has challenged that Nappa guy to a duel to the death! He will kill her!" Usagi's voice echoed from the scouter.
"Whaaaat?" Minako face palmed. What a day!