Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball, DragonBall Z, or any of the characters therein. These anime are the exclusive property of the esteemed Akira Toriyama. However, Rolo Yeung, Den-Sum, Hard Copper, and Fein are my property so hands off!
Chapter 12: Locomotion
"Uhgg…"
"He's finally awake!" shouted a youth's voice.
"It's about damned time!" ranted a second voice, this one being one of an older male.
"How long was I out?" asked Yeung, his throat hoarse with swelling.
"Two days," said Toa Pai-Pai, "That's two days that could have been better spent training."
"Come on old-timer! Gimme a break!" shouted Yeung. The noise however made his head pound like someone had a bass guitar playing inside his skull.
"Don't get me wrong boy," said the old mercenary, "I was impressed by your toughness and all, but let's face facts! I could have been using these last two days either promoting the school, or helping Den-sum here get into his routine."
"Other students…?"
"Yes, 4 other students," repeated Toa. "While you were out cold, we had three new students join our dojo."
"Surely you didn't put them through the same crap as me!?" asked Yeung worriedly.
"Not really. Some of the folks took one look at me and ran away pissing themselves. "
"You know old-timer…," began Yeung, "You need to work on your people skills."
A shit-eating grin found its way onto the old mercenary's face. "Hai, but then it wouldn't be fun now would it?"
"You're scaring me…" said Yeung slowly scooting away.
"I try."
"Ok, just who are these three new members?"
"Actually, four," explained the old assassin, "One of my former pupils by the name of Choatzu is being hired on as an assistant teacher. His training was completed years ago. The other three are fresh meat. Treat them gently."
Just then, they heard a knock on the door.
"That's probably one of them now," said Toa, "Den-sum, go answer the door."
"Hai!" Den-Sum opened the door and found himself face-to-face with his own worst nightmare. Den-Sum cowered backwards, looking as if he were ready to die of fright.
At the door was a large chunky boy at least a head taller than he. He had large man-sized forearms and a roundish, jar-shaped head. Despite the size gap, the kid himself looked to be little more than Den-Sum's age. This particular boy had a bad reputation for being a bully at Den-Sum's elementary school.
"Heh! It's the big-wheel bitch!" chided the newcomer. "I didn't know they were hiring towel boys!"
Den-Sum shook with terror. "Uhhh… hi Xin!" greeted Den-Sum half-heartedly. "W-why are y-you here?"
"This is the new karate studio isn't it?"
"Umm…yeah, but it's not open," lied Den-Sum.
"Then why were you even inside?" asked Xin. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were trying to give me the big blow-off." The large boy named Xin began to crack his knuckles in a threatening manner just before jerking Den-Sum off the ground by his gi collar.
"Master!" whined Den-Sum.
Just then, Mercenary Toa stepped out the door. "What's going on!?"
One look at Mercenary Toa was all it took to coax Xin into dropping Den-Sum. Xin stepped back in mortal terror and bowed his head at the old assassin.
"Teacher, I'm here," said the bulky kid.
"It's about damned time!" Toa nagged. "Where are the other two?"
"They said they'd be here," said Xin.
Toa Pai-Pai began to frown and jabbed his index finger in the larger boy's face. "Well they had better! It's summer vacation for crying out loud! There aren't any kids I know of who are in school at this time. I won't tolerate lateness! We discussed my tardiness policy yesterday. Along with missing any payments, if any of you miss any more than three of my sessions, I'll drop your asses like a rock!"
Xin swallowed hard and shuffled into the dojo behind Den-Sum.
Toa brought his hand up to his mouth and hollered into the building. "AND NO HAZING THE OTHER STUDENTS!"
Mercenary Toa was just about to shut the door when two other kids ran up to the front door. The first one was a portly boy who wore speckled glasses. In all, he looked like a stereotypical computer nerd. The second was an average-built boy who looked as if he had just walked out of some religious ceremony.
"Sorry we're late," said the first kid. "My family had some friends over for breakfast and I had to slip away."
Toa accepted this and looked over at the other new initiate. The second kid looked a little uneasy under the cyborg mercenary's stone-cold glare. "And what is you story?"
"I help my grandfather run a Confucian Temple,"explained the boy. "Venerable Gramps won't let me leave until my chores are finished."
"Next time you will finish them faster!" warned Toa. "If you want sympathy from me, look it up in the dictionary between shit and syphilis!" Just then, the fat kid raised his hand.
"Yes, what is it?!" demanded Toa irritably.
"What's syphilis?"
"I'll tell you when you older!" snapped Toa. "Now come on! Before we delegate training sessions, we've got to host member orientation. Follow me into my office."
The two new kids followed Mercenary Toa inside. Inside, they met up with the other new students.
"Hey!" said the fat kid pointing at Xin, "I remember seeing you in my school. You're in my PE class."
"Very astute Sherlock Shithead!" said Xin in a smart-mouthed tone. "If I remember correctly, I stole your lunch money! What was your name again?"
"Uh.., Gen Si Twan, and this here is my friend Kato Noranuga."
The large boy then began to laugh monotonously. "He looks like an even bigger pussy than you! What's with that silly dress he's wearing?! Are you and him bumping bunnies?"
The boy in the ceremonial robe grabbed Xin by the shirt collar and began shaking his fist at him in a threatening manner. "Err.., hey pal! I'm five seconds away from cutting you into one hundred and eighty-five pieces and mailing a piece to each country! Now back the hell off!"
"You little snots break it up!" Mercenary Toa stepped in between the two bickering youths and pried Kato from Xin.
"I'll say it one more time!" warned the former killer. "Hazing and horseplay won't be tolerated in this establishment! If you all want to kill each other, wait until after today's sessions are over.
Xin grinned mischievously at Den-Sum, Gen, and Kato. "Just wait until the end of the day. I'm gonna murder all of you and then we'll see who's on the top of the food chain!"
"Excuse me." Mercenary Toa motioned the boys into his office.
"Please…," said Toa Pai-Pai cordially, "Everyone take a seat."
All four boys made themselves comfortable and listened intently to what their new martial arts instructor had to say. Lying down on a cot in a corner behind the desk was a mutilated Yeung whose whole upper body was covered in bandaging.
"Eiiii!!" screeched Gen. The other boys slowly backed away towards the door.
"Oh, May I introduce another of my new students," Toa gestured his hand towards Yeung. "This is Rolo Yeung and I am pleased to inform you that he will be our schools' representative in the upcoming National Tenkaichi."
"I don't see how some burnt-out, busted up midget can be our representative," said Xin. "He's only a foot taller than me. If he's a new student like the rest of us, then what can he do?"
"Don't count him short Xin!" said Den-Sum. "If you had seen him in action when he fought Teacher here, you'd be singing a different tune!"
Just then, Rolo Yeung began to shift. "I'm awake you know."
Xin was a little taken back by this. "I don't care. You're just a stupid midget all the same!"
"OK," began Toa. "As you all know, basic training sessions will be held six days a week. You will all receive a complimentary fighting gi hosting the Tsurusinnin Dojo insignia. They are covered by your monthly fees. Wear them proudly. Along with them, you will also be provided lockers. Collect your keys at the end of orientation. Also, there will be various fundraisers. Attendance is mandatory for basic members. Due to Yeung's representative status in the upcoming tournament and because Yeung has a lifetime membership with the Tsursinnin Dojo, he will be exempt from attendance."
"Also…," added Toa, "There is an upcoming festival in town called the Magnolia God Festival. It will provide ample opportunity to build our school's profile. Lastly, there is the issue of paying for training equipment. The cost of sparring dummies will not be covered by your monthly payments. Those will be covered by whatever money you earn in future tournaments as well as prize fights."
"You mean we can't keep the winnings for ourselves!" Xin looked as if he were going to cry. "Bummer man!"
"What's good for the gander is good for the goose," said Toa. "That raps up orientation. You will all spend the rest of the day in the sparring room doing floor exercises."
"WHAT!?" cried Gen.
"Let's face it!" said Toa, "You're fat and slow. I'm putting you on a diet starting today!"
"What's a matter fat-ass?" jibbed Xin. Xin chuckled loudly much to the other boys' chagrin.
"I-I can't go on a diet!" squalled Gen. "And what about my asthma?"
"Get a breathalyzer and deal with it," harped Toa.
Just then, a knock on the front door was heard.
"Den-Sum, get the door."
Opening the door, the small boy found himself confronted by two of the strangest people he had ever laid eyes on. The first one was a large bald man who must of stood close to seven feet tall. He wore green baggy pants and a white shirt that, like his, bore the symbol of the Crane Dojo. That however, was not what set him apart as strange. Situated in the center of his forehead was a third eye. The second character wasn't any less peculiar looking. He was ridiculously short, no more than three feet tall, and had white skin. No, not just pale skin! Literally, snow-white.
It took Den-Sum a moment to find the courage to say anything, but before he could even speak, the large three-eyed man began.
"Umm.. excuse me. I'm looking for someone named Rolo Yeung. I have something for him."
"Uhh…, right this way sir!" Den-Sum led the two strangers into the office where a worse-for-wear Yeung lay on a cot with Mercenary Toa standing over him.
"Tien! What brings you back here?" asked Toa. "You weren't due to check on the boys' progress for at least a few months."
"I've come to deliver something that might aid Yeung in his training."
"Not that it will help," said Yeung sarcastically.
The look Tien gave Yeung at that moment seemed to scream 'What the hell?!' all by itself.
"Don't say a word," muttered the teen.
"No, seriously kid!" began Tien, "What I'm about to give you will boost your training significantly."
Tien then reached into his gi and pulled out a paper sack. He then reached inside and brought forth a small, green bean.
"A bean…," Yeung starred at Tien as if the triclops had lost all his marbles.
"You came all the way to my dojo just to joke around?!" asked Toa incredulously.
"Trust me," said Tien tossing the bean to Yeung. "Just eat it."
Yeung slipped the vegetable into his mouth and bit down hard… So hard in fact that he felt as if he were chewing on a lump of charcoal.
"Wow! Talk about hard candy," said Yeung.
"You get used to it," replied Tien. "Now swallow."
Yeung did as he was told and within seconds, he felt a strange uplifting sensation spread from his head to his toes. It was as if a special kind of tingly warmth had found its way into his gut.
"Now remove your bandages!" commanded the triclops.
No sooner had Yeung did this did he discover something miraculous.
"MY FACE!" bellowed the youth, for in the mirror he could see that any and all lacerations to his head and torso from his exhibition match with Mercenay Toa had healed.
Speaking of the old killer, upon seeing this, the old man promptly pissed himself.
"It's Incredible! But How!?" asked Yeung pleadingly.
"The secret's in the beans." answered Tien, "And I'm giving this bag to you. Use them sparingly as you train for the upcoming tournament."
"Holy shit!" blurted Toa, "Well. What are we waiting for?! We got a tournament coming up!"
"Yeah! Let's do this!" Yeung slipped into his training gear and started out the door. However, before he got very far he was stopped by Toa Pai-Pai.
"Hold it kid!" ordered Toa.
"What's wrong old-timer?"
"Before we do anything, we have to establish some kind of dietary program for your training. Come with me."
Yeung followed Mercenary Toa into the dojo locker room as did Tien and Choatzu. Tien couldn't help but reminisce on bygone feelings from a bygone age.
"This takes me back a ways. I see you've still got the same old lockers."
"This is a pretty conservative dojo," muttered Toa, "If it isn't broke, don't buy a new one."
"What's that from? The 1940s?" joked Yeung.
"Hmm, more like the 30's," replied the killer. "Ah, here we are."
The four of them arrived at a locker marked "secret stuff" that was situated at the far end of the room. Toa reached into his provincial gi's pocket and pulled out a rusty old key which he used to open the said locker. With a rusty "screech," the locker door came undone.
Upon opening the locker, Mercenary Toa's face was assaulted by a flock of moths as dusty old cobwebs were pulled loose.
"I haven't had to use this mess in over thirty years," said Toa. The old killer pulled out a syringe and several bottles marked as "biohazard."
"What is it?" asked Tien.
Mercenary Toa smiled wickedly as he uncorked one of the bottles and dipped the syringe into whatever fluid was contained therein.
"This Tien is concentrated human growth hormone."
"You have got to be fucking kidding me!" Yeung snapped. "I am not that short!"
"Look you little pissant!" began Toa, "You're reach isn't enough to allow you to go toe-to-toe in the fight I'm preparing you for! Hard Copper's punch has a six foot span for crying out loud! What's your reach? I'll be surprised if your punch has a two foot range!"
"Besides," continued Toa. "You're at the start of your teen years, and this may be the last chance you'll have to avoid being a dwarf for the rest of your life. You'll never be able to make full use of your training unless you grow a foot or two."
For a moment, it had become so silent that one could hear a pin drop. Yeung however, had become like a volcano ready to erupt.
"Well …, excuse me!" Yeung said crossing his arms, "I was under the impression that I had done pretty damned good considering…"
"Apparently, you've been fighting second-rate slobs since leaving your first school," said Toa, "What's a matter? Ran out of competition!?"
"Whatever, just pop me with the damned needle!" Yeung balled his right hand into a fist and held out his arm. Toa began to examine the arm for a vein before inserting the syringe.
"You will take 300 grams of concentrated human growth hormone three times daily until the tournament begins," Toa explained. "On top of this, you will be receiving a vast array of experimental vitamins that, although technically legal, are still only one committee hearing away from being relegated to the no-no list."
"Whatever happened to all that 'redeem the school' talk?" asked Tien.
"At least we're not breaking the law," Toa replied. "That in itself is redemption."
"Good point."
Toa then turned to Yeung before continuing. "Alright lad! Let's head to the beach!"
"The beach?" Yeung cocked an eyebrow at the former assassin.
"That is where your first training exercise will take place."
An hour later, Yeung and the others arrived at the local lake. The beach encompassed the entire southern half and extended into some local crowded camping grounds just beneath the distant foothills.
"Alright, here we are!" announced Toa, "This is the ideal environment for your first training exercise."
"OK! So what to I do?" Yeung asked.
"You swim."
For a few moments, Yeung, Tien, and Choatzu just stood there staring at the old Crane assassin as if he were wearing a pink ballerina to-to.
"Say what again?"
"Allow me to demonstrate." Mercenary Toa began to strip his provincial fighting sash and shoes until he was wearing only his fighting pants.
To Yeung, Mercenary Toa looked like one of those half man/half machines out of some sci-fi film. Whatever wasn't covered in prosthetics was etched in a mishmash of faint and not-so-faint scarring. For Tien, this was the first time he had ever seen the full extent of the injuries his former sefu had suffered from battle with Son Goku many years past.
"Now pay close attention."
All of a sudden, Toa dived headfirst into one of the beach's many sand dunes. Sand and rocks were thrown up as the old assassin literally glided through the grainy earth.
Yeungs' jaw hit the floor with astonishment at what would in any normal world be considered a violation of the laws of physics. And just as he thought Mercenary Toa couldn't get any more amazing, the old assassin leaped from the sand as a dolphin would leap from the ocean.
The sunlight gleaming on his prosthetic limbs, the former killer swayed ever which way in the air until finally landing right where he started his little demonstration.
"B-b-b-but how!?" stammered Yeung. Before the boy could inquire any further, Toa raised his hand to silence him.
"One answer," explained Toa, "Flood Rush!"
"Flood Rush!?" repeated Tien. "That's a new one."
"Yes it is," said Toa. "I discovered this little technique while in exile following my body's reconstruction. It's something that even my brother never saw in his lifetime."
"Care telling me how it works?" asked Yeung.
"Certainly," answered Toa. "However, before I do, I must tell you that you'll have to discover the secret of this technique on your own, and for two reasons."
"Which are…?"
The old crane killer folded his hands behind his back and turned to stare off into the distance. "One, it's not something that can simply be passed on as if it were the common cold. Second, it will not do for me to just hand you all the answers. How are you going to learn anything if everything is just given to you?"
"OK, so how does it work?" asked Yeung.
"It is a damage modifier," stated Toa, "It relies on a reconfiguring of the histo-compatability process that takes place between the cells in the human skin and muscle fibers. It eliminates drag so that your hands, elbows, and feet can pass through any substance. It eliminates any edge that ki users acquire when they expand their ki inside their bodies as a defensive move. The increase in damage from a rigid strike can be increased by as much as 10% through the application of this principle."
"And you discovered this secret on your own?" asked Tien.
"Yes," said Toa, "By studying marine biology, I discovered a natural adaptation among dolphins that can be turned into a martial arts style. It is the ultimate in soft styles, and my answer to Muten Roshis' turtle style should I ever face it again."
"Aside from strikes, can this Flood Rush be adapted to ki waves?" asked Tien.
"That, Tien, I cannot say. All I can tell you is that the Flood Rush which I have dubbed the 'Toa Variation' is the very antithesis of hard styles. It's my lifes' contribution to the Crane school."
The old killer then turned to Yeung. "Boy, you will train here four hours every day until you discover this secret for yourself. Swim through any and all substances until your body's failsafe finally gives way to the Flood Rush."
"Right!" stated the boy with enthusiasm.
"Yeung."
The boy turned to Tien in anticipation.
"If you can complete your training under Toa by the start of the upcoming tournament, I promise that I will train you personally in my style once the tournament is over."
"Wait a minute!" commanded Yeung, "If Toa Pai-Pai taught you how to fight, then what can you the student, offer me?"
"I have a special style that I was taught years after I left the Crane School," answered Tien. "I did promise to train you myself."
With that, Tien turned to Choatzu. "Choatzu, help Toa supervise the training of his new students as best you can. It will help give him more time to work with Yeung."
"Hai!" The little white eternal child bowed his head to his longtime triclops friend. Tien waved goodbye to everyone before lifting off into the sky.
"Come on Choatzu!" ordered Toa. "Let's leave the runt to toy with what he has learned." Finally, the assassin and the little white dwarf walked off and Yeung was left to train himself with the newfound principle on his mind.
"OoooK…!" said Yeung, "How did the old man do this again?"
Elsewhere, another someone was going through his own rounds….
"That's right Fein!" yelled Yamucha, "You got it! Put some effort into it."
"Hold it man!" shouted Fein. "I gotta tie my shoes!"
For the past two days, Yamucha and Master Roshi had been introducing Fein to the coveted Turtle Style and its' odd training methodology. This included such things as delivering milk, dodging hornets while tied to a tree, swimming in shark-infested lagoons, and doing construction work all while having a hefty turtle shell strapped to his back. As off now, Fein was in the middle of his morning milk deliveries.
Fein skipped like a little school girl as he followed Yamacha and Roshi while they zigzagged through a row of trees.
"Come-on young'n!" snapped Roshi, "There'll be plenty of time to scratch your ass when this first exercise is over! Skip! Skip!"
Fein stumbled as he tripped over a cobble stone, nearly dropping the box of milk in the process.
"T-there h-has got to b-b-be a better way to d-develop endurance t-than this!" mumbled Fein.
"You're the one who wanted to train with me!" said Roshi, "I myself would rather be watching my aerobics shows."
Just the image of the skinny old letch scanning young girls made the young fighter want to lurch. It took his mind off the task at hand just long enough for him to let one bottle slip away from him.
"Whoa-woah! OK!" yelped the lanky teen. Fein tried desperately to catch the bottle only to have it slip through his fingers. Upon hitting the ground, the bottle of milk shattered.
Once Yamucha and Master Roshi realized that their protégée was no longer behind them, the two doubled back.
"Damnit kid!" shouted Yamucha.
"We gotta pay for every single milk bottle you drop," warned Roshi. "That's coming outta your tournament winnings."
"I know! I know!" said Fein defensively. The boy hefted the box of milk bottles into his arms and resumed following his two teachers.
In another part of the world, the Mountain King, Hard Copper, continued his own unorthodox training style….
The Native Indian behemoth settled on some railroad tracks and dug his heels in. He spread his tree trunk-sized legs wide as he lowered into a defensive stance.
On a high bluff about a mile away, a locomotive loaded with bauxite ore revved its' powerful diesel engines. Metal grinded and squealed as the train's brake struggled to secure the massive load. Suddenly, one of the trains' conductors stuck his head out the left driver's side window.
"Alright Copper! We're ready when you are!" hollered the conductor.
"Alright Joe! Let'er rip!" replied Hard Copper.
The train operators fastened themselves in and poured on the steam. At the last moment, the lead conductor released the brake.
Suddenly, the whole locomotive craned and buckled as two thousand pounds of metal, fuel, and ore dipped slowly over the hillside beginning on a downward slide. All of this was locked on a collision course where the Mountain King was currently waiting.
'Alright,' thought the giant, 'This is where we separate the men from the boys…'
The train and all its' cargo gradually picked up speed as it careened down the hillside. Sparks flew from the wheels as the massive machine leveled out.
Inside the engine car, the crewmen deliberated over their next course of action.
"OK, this is it!" said the lead conductor. "Either we pour on the coal now and plow through Hard Copper, or we stop the train and Hard Copper kills us for not doing as we're told."
"Didn't give us a hell of a lot of options did he?"
"No," answered the lead conductor. "However, he'll play soccer with our skulls if we don't hit him with everything we've got!" The conductor buckled himself in and pulled another lever.
The train continued to pick up speed as it rapidly approached the copper-skinned megalith. Finally, the train collided head-on with HC. The sound produced by the collision was akin to a car wreck as the front of the locomotive folded like wet paper against the iron-hard body of the giant warrior.
Still, the locomotive's power did not completely loose out. In front of the train, rail ties and lines gave way as a deep trench was gouged from the hillside as Hard Copper dug his heels in. Ugly scars began to take shape in the front plow as his fingers warped the cast iron plating.
Inside the engine cabin, pandemonium was breaking loose.
"THERE GOES AOTHER ONE!" shouted the assistant conductor as yet another steam line burst. Screws, nuts, and shrapnel flew ever which way as the guts of the engine car came apart at the seams.
"Do not abandon your post man!" ordered his superior. "Hard Copper has done this before! Keep pilling on the diesel and let'er roar!"
"Pile on the diesel!" repeated the panicked crewman. "With what!? My farts! This things nearly through! ABANDON SHIP!" In his excited state, the assistant conductor leaped from the cabin only to run head-on into a tree.
The engine itself tipped onto its' side as it forced Hard Copper down into a ravine. In moments, the engine car burst into flames and forced the giant back further until finally, the freight cars began to roll over what was left of the engine, crushing the trapped conductor.
In all this commotion, Hard Copper's massive form was hurled like a sack of potatoes and slung under the still moving freight cars. The loaded cars continued on their trajectory until at last, they crashed into a distant gulch.
Miraculously, even after all that, Hard Copper managed to lift himself from the dirt. A twisted smile found itself onto the craggy face of the super-sized Native American. In a mad frenzy, the tall tribesman arched backwards and began to scream and laugh wildly into the air like a rabid dog.
"My iron-hard body can never be destroyed!" shouted the giant. "I will once again win the tournament! That boy will meet his end!"
Power Levels:
Average Adult Human: 5
Rolo Yeung: 125
Fein: 85
Hard Copper: 160
Den-Sum: 1.5
Gen Si Kwan: 2
Xin: 3.5
Kato Noranuga: 3.9
Author's Note: I'm getting tired of guessing the power levels of the actual Dragonball characters designed by Akira Toriama. They stopped showing power levels after the Frieza Saga. As such, from here on out I will only be recording the power levels of my original characters.