QUEST FOR POWER 2:

CHALLENGE KINGDOM

By Konrad

PART 2

The two groups stared each other down for a few moments. On one side, the remnants of the Z Squad were still smarting from being caught in a surprise storm. On the other side stood two Kosajin females, looking curiously at the surprise arrivals. Tenshinhan thought carefully about his words.

"Who the heck are you?" the taller, purplish Kosajin asked. Her tail swished back and forth behind her, indicating her displeasure. Her companion looked on from behind her with a questioning gaze.

Cripes, she looks pissed. Just what we didn't need. "Sorry. We kinda ran into some trouble landing here, we fell through an electrical storm…"

"I should know, I made that storm. You just happened to interrupt a training session." The lead female retorted.

"Oh! I knew it felt like that storm had ki in it!" Gohan exclaimed as he came to a realisation. "So it was you?"

"Yes, that's right, little boy. The name's Raikou and I'm a mistress of the Lightning element." She announced smugly.

"Well, Raikou, er…" Tenshinhan hesitated. He couldn't imagine how this situation could get worse.

"Listen here, you wench!" Upon hearing Vegeta's bellowing, Tenshinhan gulped. "How dare you go about blasting us out of the sky like that?!"

"First off, how could I have known you were there." Raikou spat back. "Second, for all I know, you could be alien intruders that I should take on immediately. Third…" Raikou's eyes narrowed. "You don't EVER insult me."

"Say that again, wench?!" Vegeta's voice barely came through gritted teeth.

"You're invading my home planet, I ask the questions!" Raikou growled.

Crap! C'mon, say something, Tenshinhan! Tenshinhan panicked, his eyes darting between the Saiyan Prince and the Lightning Kosajin. But what???

"Excuse me, ma'am…" Raikou turned her attention to Gohan. "I'm sorry we disrupted you when you were busy but we didn't know what to expect when we came here. We're not here to invade you or anything."

"Raikou-sama, I believe him!" A voice squeaked from the crowd. The second Kosajin female had raised her hand, her face turned away in a fruitless attempt to conceal the taint in her cheeks.

"Is that so, Princess Aurora?" Raikou spoke. She eyed her partner, Aurora, carefully. The younger one nodded her head.

"We didn't think we'd be trespassing." Tenshinhan added in turn finally. "We come as explorers from Jubian space."

Raikou grunted in response, her brow furrowing at the Triclops. Tenshinhan stiffened involuntarily as she eyed him but relaxed when he saw her sigh deeply.

"Well, I don't know anything about weird three-eyed monsters…" Raikou commented. Tenshinhan sweatdropped but the Kosajin ignored it as she was too busy massaging her temple. "Still, I guess I might've been a bit quick to judge."

"Raikou-sama, I know they're strangers but…" Aurora began, shifting her gaze downwards.

"But…?"

"Um, perhaps it'd be polite to welcome them. A-and maybe they can help me, you know." Aurora blurted out quickly. Raikou rolled her eyes.

"Fine! If that's what you want, then have it your way." She sighed wearily. "Very well then, I suppose you could be our guests for a little while…"

Vegeta was about to say something but Tenshinhan swiftly put his hand in front of his mouth, silencing him.

"We're glad for your hospitality. Don't worry, we'll be good guests…right?" All while he spoke, the Triclops' eyes didn't once leave Vegeta's. The two glared at each other almost violently. Unwilling to argue further, Vegeta finally relented after a short moment, turning away in disdain.

"Oh, my ship's badly damaged but I'm the only one here who can't fly!" Yoshuro's chirpy remark came to cut through the poisoned atmosphere.

"You're kidding me?" Raikou commented, shaking her head. "Fine, I'll fly you. We can send for your ship later. The rest of you, follow me."

She wrapped an arm around Yoshuro before slowly lifting into the air. Vegeta let off a frustrated grunt and was the next to fly off. Aurora was about to follow suit when Gohan grabbed her wrist, stopping her. Her face immediately took a deep shade of purple.

"Hey, I just wanted to thank for backing me up a few minutes ago. I really didn't want us to all get into a fight." Gohan said, smiling gently, causing Aurora to grin wildly.

"Oh, um, no problem!" The Kosajin girl replied. "Yeah, I thought the same thing."

"Say, what is it that you need help for?"

"Well I want to reunite my people. I need to become stronger for that though and I need some training help. I'll explain more on our way, if that's ok."

"If you say so."

It was the two teenagers' turn to fly off, together. Tenshinhan watched as the first set of flyers disappeared in the horizon.

"Hey."

The Triclops stiffened at the touch of something warm on his shoulder. He swiftly turned his head and realized he had almost forgotten Android 18. He let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. He suddenly became aware of the small pearls of sweat that had slid on his worried figure.

"You're tense." She noted, not meeting his eyes. Tenshinhan followed her gaze to where the silhouettes of Gohan and Aurora were disappearing in the sky.

"Yeah, I'm good. I guess that was a little intense…" He paused before turning back to the Android. Her gaze seemed colder than before. "What about you? You okay yourself?"

18's eyes narrowed and her hand gripped tighter at the Triclops' muscles. Tenshinhan mentally restrained himself from flinching at the discomfort. Why is she staring at Gohan and that girl like that?

"Yes." She replied dryly. "Yes, I'm fine." She immediately blasted of after all the others. Tenshinhan looked up in puzzlement, questioning his decision to come here. He finally let out a loud sigh.

It could've been worse… Tenshinhan thought.

- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -

Ugh… figures, when I try to be a hero… Djoukien commented to himself. He tried to focus his senses on his surroundings. His body stung all over, the pain dimming slightly from deep gashes. The cold, hard sensation running down his back indicated that he was lying on the ground. The Saiyan grunted loudly, trying to get up.

"Oh, sir! He's waking up!" A gruff voice called out.

Sir?! Before he knew it, a pair of hands helped prop up Djoukien. Seated solidly on the ground, the Saiyan tentatively opened his eyes. In front of him, the worker demon Og grinned broadly. In the horizon, magenta adorned the skyline, meaning they were no longer in the Shadowlands.

"You look like a mess." Og stated chirpily.

"Yeah, thanks." Djoukien mumbled lowly. He suddenly saw two pinkish green blurs dart towards him. Before he knew what happened, the alien kids rushed the Saiyan and tackled. Like lightning, pain swiftly struck his injured sides. "YAAAAHHH!!!"

"Whoa, there! You gotta let go of your 'uncle' Djoukien now, he's in really big pain." Og muttered nervously as he pulled the kids away from the Saiyan. "Hehe, I guess they're happy to see you doing well."

"Um, yeah…owww…" Djoukien moaned.

"Yes. Spunky little ones, don't you think?" A cool voice chided. Djoukien's body tensed, not sure whether his ears were playing tricks on him.

Djoukien slowly turned his head left and he immediately saw that his hearing hadn't lied to him. Ahead of him majestically stood the most powerful of the Cold clan. A tall and toned body awash in a deep red, adorned with ivory armour and matching helm, completed with a muscular reptilian tail that could crush steel with as little as a negligent flick.

Cooler had his arms crossed over his chest. His lips tugged upwards in a smirk, reflecting a pleasure at seeing Djoukien's awe and surprise. The rest of his body language however, with back straight and legs slightly apart, spoke power and nobility. Some would say Cooler had a regal air about him. But to compare him with mere kings would be an insult if he didn't feel it was below him to even care.

"YO, BOSS!!! Yeah, way cool!" Djoukien exclaimed gleefully, jumping in the air and pumping his fist. Cooler sweatdropped, his smirk almost a memory already.

"Er… what?!"

"Cooler Boss, I'm so glad to see you! You're so cool!" Djoukien continued his exhortations, accompanying them with a foot-stomping, fist pumping jig. Visibly amused, the two alien children giggled their approval.

"Kooh-la, Kooh-la!!!" The kids butchered Cooler's name as they started imitating the Saiyan, 'dancing' energetically. Cooler frowned at the spectacle.

"Eh, well I guess they're really glad that you saved us, Sir." Og chuckled nervously. That prompted Djoukien to interrupt his jig.

"Huh? You saved us, Boss?" he asked bewildered.

"Yes…" Cooler sighed.

"You're that red flash I saw saving me?" Djoukien beemed starry-eyed. "Wow, Boss, you totally kick ass!!!" He promptly got back into a jig, hooting and hollering.

"Damnit!" Cooler exploded. He swiftly spun around, his tail sweeping the Saiyan off his feet. Djoukien fell on his butt with a loud thump, causing the children to burst in laughter. "Idiot! And how many times have I told you to stop calling me 'Boss'?! That's annoying!"

"So, um, you know each other?" Og cleared his throat, getting everyone's attention.

"Yep!" Djoukien exclaimed as he got up, wiping dirt from his behind. "I used to work in Cooler's army."

"Yes, and you were as promising as you were annoying." Cooler stated, his stoic face returned. "Well, actually you're still annoying, even dead."

"Oy, Boss, you're mean!"

"By the way, whatever the hell happened to you?" Cooler inquired.

"Huh? Oh, well I died!" Djoukien chirped.

"No shit." Cooler sighed. "I meant 'how'."

"Oh, well I fought this Namek and he killed me…"

"Eh, so you went to New Namek?"

"No, no! We were invading the Jubians and then they got helped by these Earthlings, and one of them happened to be a Namek…"

The Earthlings?! Cooler's eyes widened. Out of all the people, that one…Piccolo. Goku's ilk keep surprising. "…I see."

"Yeah, a strong bunch. My whole team was wiped out." Djoukien commented.

"I imagine you were on orders from Dudan?" Cooler asked.

"Yep. There was something called the Power Stone that he wanted from the Jubians. So we started this war with them… and then the Earth people came."

Hmm, didn't Gero say something about Power Stones? This is interesting… Wait, shit! If they all got involved with the Earthlings… "Djoukien, what about the others?" The Kosajin added hastily, clenching his fists. "Aurora…???"

"Whoa, Boss!" Djoukien exclaimed, putting his hands in the air. "Remember she's not part of any mercenary army, don't worry!"

"Oh…right." Cooler breathed out. "What about Sulfus and Cerion?"

"I don't know." Djoukien shrugged. "They hadn't fought them yet when I got myself killed. I'm sure they would've done so by now."

"Ah, I see… Then again, while I would never wish death on them, they might've been useful to me here." Cooler mused. "But there's you at least, Djoukien."

"Oh? For what?"

"How would you like to be my subordinate once more?"

"Hooo yeah!" The Saiyan beamed again. "Back in service to the most powerful guy in the universe, yeah! What are we going to do? Become superheroes? Rescue fair maidens in castles faraway? Save cats from trees?"

"…Um, no."

"Oh, so what would we be doing?"

"Quite the opposite." Cooler stated nonchalantly. "Or if you prefer, much of the same we always did. After all, that's what we were made to do, right?" Djoukien's face blanched.

"But we'd be back to… you know…" he mumbled, trying to keep Og from catching on.

"You got a problem with that?" Cooler replied haltingly, his voice lowered and his eyes narrowed abruptly. Djoukien gulped and unconsciously took a small step back.

"Hey, I think I better go!" Og stammered, sensing a chill in the conversation. "I need to get these kids back to their place."

"Hn… Of course. This is as far as I can go without problems." Cooler stated without taking his eyes off Djoukien. "You'll have no problem going to where you need to be, right Og?"

"R-right, Sir!" Og replied as he gathered the two children under his arms. The trio gave concerned glances at the Saiyan as he faced the Kosajin. Djoukien gave them a brief reassuring nod before turning back to Cooler. "T-thanks. And please remember, the both of you saved us together!"

Og scrambled away from the deadly mercenaries, taking the kids away with him. Djoukien lowered his eyes and sighed wearily. Shoulders dropping, his earlier gust of enthusiasm was now already like a fading memory. I don't want to go back to what I was before. I want to be different.

"Cooler…Sir!" Djoukien started, lifting his head to meet Cooler's oppressing gaze again. "I-I can't go back… not on those terms. Not for the same things. I don't want to be a mercenary no more!" He finished with more reassurance.

"After what you owe me, this would be how you repay me?" Cooler replied quietly, an icy venom almost dripping from his words. "Because you think you can change? Because you think you can oppose me?" Without a trace of emotion, he pointed a finger at Djoukien.

Trouble again… The Saiyan thought grimly.

- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -

Cerion treaded carefully through her ship. Sporting only a simple night robe that looked somewhat dishevelled at this time, she almost stumbled as she finally reached a window. She sat and leaned against it heavily. The Goddess was spent. Her passion was finally satiated while her legs were about as solid as molasses. She ignored the moistness running down her inner thighs. It's been years since she last had someone 'satisfy' her, even if her partners weren't really in a place to refuse.

As the 'Skylight' sped through the heavens, a planetoid streaked across the window's view. The onyx of its surface was deeper than even the blackness of space. Small waves and linings of grey adorned the planet, showing fluctuations and rugged terrain. Pools and rivers of bright orange completed the spherical portrait. Cerion quietly deduced that this was probably an intensely volcanic planet: the pools of orange were certainly lava from the core with the black colouring was probably a result of lava frozen on the surface. This planetoid was fiery and rugged.

Hmmm, fiery and rugged… Cerion allowed herself a small smile of satisfaction as she thought of her war companion. The two words kept echoing inside her head and she slowly closed her eyes, hoping that might help her concentrate on other things. Instead, she found that she could only think of the Kosajin even harder now. Not that she minded that much. Cerion's small, almost shy smile turned into a more unbridled grin. She licked her lower lip while her right hand brushed lightly on her leg and hip. Images of Sulfus' bulky frame now dominated her thoughts.

Cerion could almost feel his powerful arms circling around her, bringing their bodies tight together as one, protecting her. As if she actually needed protection. Still the thought appealed to her. If he's a master of Fire, is his body warmer than others? Would he use his tail like no other can? What do his lips taste like? Cerion wondered alternatively. Chills ran along her neckline where she imagined he'd give his loving attentions…

Suddenly, a loud yell and a crashing sound woke Cerion from her daydreaming. She stared at a door for several moments, wondering what's going on. Finally a realisation dawned on her. Shit! This can't be possible! I never lost my control on anyone in this kind of situation, ever! She rushed back towards her quarters, cursing her carelessness. Opening the door, she found what she was expecting but dreading. A blue-skin, naked alien male was sitting on her bed. He sweated profusely and his eyes darted throughout the unfamiliar premises. When he became aware of Cerion, he finally turned to her with a panic-stricken face,

"W-What's going on here? Who the hell are you? Where am I?" The questions came in a quick barrage.

"Quiet you!" Cerion snapped. How did I let this happen? Probably that daydreaming severed my mental grip… "Whatever. Come." She sighed wearily. With nothing more than a reflection of casualness in her expression, Cerion roughly grabbed the man by the neck and literally tossed him out of her room. He landed awkwardly in the cleared middle area of the ship.

"H-Hey! What are you doing? What happened?" The man stammered, desperately scurrying away as the Goddess approached him menacingly.

"Oh well, I suppose it wouldn't make a difference for you to know now, would it?" Cerion mused openly. "Simply put, I used you for my… satisfaction." As she rolled out that last word, her lips curved into a disturbing grin.

"Huh?" the stranger questioned, confused. "I don't get it… I don't remember anything."

"Really? We shared a bed together and you don't remember?" Cerion mocked softly.

"Oh! Er…" the man wondered, wary of the curious glint in the woman's eyes. Nonetheless he figured it best to ignore it. "Sorry if I don't remember, I must've been drunk or something. Um, I hope it was good…" The Goddess' amused chuckling interrupted him.

"Of course, it was good enough. Although I did have to, in a way, show you how to please me. After all how can a total stranger know how I like it?" She replied slyly.

"Ah, well I'm sure you enjoyed it." The man grinned, trying to sound suave now that his ego was boosted. Then he realised that still left an important blank in his mind. "Say, um, can you refresh my memory? How did we meet again?"

"Oh, sure." Cerion said, looking suddenly bored as she pretended to inspect her fingers. "I searched your planet for humanoid males for my needs and when I found you, I brainwashed you with my mental powers and I took you here in my spaceship where I basically had my way with you." She stated casually.

The alien's jaws dropped, his eyes almost coming out his sockets. He promptly fell back on his behind, stumbling away from Cerion's devilish grin.

"Y-You… You mean you…" he stammered, his face looking haggard.

"What I don't understand is how you came out of my mental grip." She wondered aloud, ignoring his expression. "Normally, any man I get should stay under my control until I decide otherwise or I simply dispose of them. But it seems I was distracted earlier, which is strange."

"What?! G-Get away from me!!!" the man screamed and recoiled from Cerion's sight.

"Anyhow, at least you go with the knowledge that you were adequate. You can take that with you." The Goddess stated dismissively.

Gathering a small orb of energy in her now palm, she effortlessly flung it at the hapless man. Before he had time to scream, he was immediately disintegrated by the contained blast. The only sign that someone was previously there was a conspicuous burn mark on the floor. Well at least that won't be too hard to clean. I still can't believe I lost control though… Cerion mused nonchalantly to herself. She proceeded to find some items to clean the mess on the deck and in her room when she came across Sulfus' room, or rather the quarters to which she had confined him. His door was slightly ajar and she could hear his distinct heavy breathing as he slept.

"Baka! This is all your fault!" Cerion hissed.

She quietly pushed his door open a bit more and silently stood there, gazing at Sulfus' body, sprawled all over his bed. Forgetting her mild irritation, she let her eyes trail the contours of his face. She followed the smooth, proud forehead, then she mentally drew lines around the curious but embellishing tusks attached to his helm. Cerion nearly gasped when she peered at his lips, which were trembling slightly from the air passing through them. She briefly pictured those lips pressed to her neck, the thought brining a truly bright smile to her face.

"Damn you…" Cerion whispered as she studied the Kosajin's form appreciatively. "I can never have you."

Who says you can't? Something echoed inside her head. Isn't he the one you want the most?

"I can't. He's a mortal, I'm not. I'm not supposed to feel these things." She countered, not bothering to wonder why she was talking to herself.

But you do. Look at him, isn't he incredible?! Go take him already.

"N-No." Cerion whispered with more vigour. "I want him to love me. Then I'll claim him as mine."

Tch! The voice inside her head mocked. You think he can love you?! An immortal he can't be with? One who's weak? Who's taken thousands of lives? There's nothing to love there. And besides he's also a mercenary who couldn't care about love. There's only one thing you can do.

"But I want him to lo…" Cerion choked a sob, an unfamiliar stinging sensation coming to her eyes. "He's the only one I care about enough."

So? Accept that he won't care for you. Then just do what you've always done and you'll get what you want anyways.

"What?"

His mind is weak to yours. Simply do as you've always done with males. Mind control him and then make him forget. He doesn't have to remember and you don't need to hurt him. Easy, no? You've done that countless of times before. How hard can it be this time? Only instead of satisfying yourself with the hundreds of losers you've had before, you get the one you want the most!

Cerion shook visibly as she thought about what kind of betrayal that meant. Yet she also wondered how could Sulfus ever like her anyways. If she wanted him, wasn't this the only way? She swallowed a lump in her throat and stared intently at Sulfus. Three decades and she had never approached the man or vice-versa. She didn't want to leave without knowing what it was like to be with him.

Cerion stealthily stepped into the room and approached Sulfus in his bed. Every step taken made her more nervous and she swore her eardrums would burst from the sound of her heartbeat. When she finally made it next to him, it seemed like days had passed to the Goddess. A stabbing pain hit her chest as if to protest against what she was about to do. She had done this hundreds of times with strangers so why should it be different with this one man, even if she felt more strongly to him than any other? She brushed away the doubt.

Just this once because I can't have you otherwise. Cerion told herself once more, steeling her nerves. Raising her right hand to his face, she took a deep breath. She gazed momentarily at Sulfus' features, entranced by anticipation. Just this once…

Suddenly, her right hand was snatched. Cerion yelped and almost stumbled backwards but was stopped by a powerful tail latching itself around her waist. Abruptly knocked out of her reverie, the Godess looked in horror at Sulfus' cool, awakened face.

"What are you doing?" The Kosajin sternly demanded.