I wish I owned DBZ, but I don't. I own DVD's and tapes, but it just isn't the same. I also don't own the rights to any of the music pieces you see selected, just copies of merchandise, such a shame. The artists that created them are geniuses and we all must bow to them.
Chapter 33: Kain's Bargain
"You could have done a better healing job!" Trunks whined as he held his head.
"Don't complain; you're alive at least!" Verto growled back as he slipped on the helmet. He fell unconscious within a few seconds, entering the virtual world and leaving Trunks with Kati.
"So who are you anyway? And where's Mom?" Trunks asked her.
Kati hesitated to answer, "I don't know where she is right now."
Trunks frowned slightly, "Well where's Bulla then? You know, my baby sister?"
"Your brother took her somewhere safe. He didn't say where," Kati answered as she casually turned around. She typed in a number of commands and brought up several windows on her computer screen, trying to find a way to safely shut down the VR server. She could feel Trunks' gaze the entire time, but tried not to look at him.
"Where'd you get those scars? Looks pretty bad," he commented.
"Not now," Kati muttered. The display showed Verto slicing Kain in half and speaking to Vegeta, causing Trunks to celebrate.
"Oh yeah, that wimpy hologram is going down!" Kati didn't answer, the look on her face represented that she was still having conflicting thoughts.
Trunks grabbed her sleeve and tugged lightly, "Hey, this is a good thing!" Kati glanced down at him with slight dread as her skin showed signs of glowing.
"Don't touch me. Just stand over there and flip the red switch when I tell you to!" Kati ordered.
Trunks snorted very much like his father, "Fine, you don't have to be so moody!" Kati grumbled under her breath as she brought up some of the command script for the VR program.
"Get ready to hit that switch," she said.
Trunks looked indifferent about even touching it, "What does it do?"
"Instantly shuts down the program."
"But won't that kill them, or at least be kinda bad?" Trunks asked. Kati paused in realization, and became unsure of what to do. On one hand, she could potentially take three of the Saiyans out of the picture, including the true threat, Verto. Then she would only have Trunks to deal with. That presented a problem even with the ki restrictors. He didn't have the attitude or disposition of Verto, but he was still very smart, not to mention strong. That wasn't stopping her as much as her own memory though. In her mind, she was still seeing flashbacks of Verto's memories. The powerful sense of right and wrong that he possessed was eating away at her wits. She was no longer sure of her father's words or knowledge. Add to that, the mere thought of more aliens showing up made her seriously rethink her priorities. If Verto was right, then they would be eliminating Earth's best chance at survival, essentially handing the planet over on a silver plate.
Kati's shoulders drooped as she made up her mind, "On second thought, get away from that button. Don't even look at it again!" Trunks looked at her strange, confused by her sudden change of mind.
"Okay."
Kati turned away and watched as Kain tried to deal with Verto. Her eyes welled up and spilled silently. She had just betrayed her father; she hoped to hell that it was the right choice.
The large Kain swung wildly at the air, trying to swat Verto like he was a gnat. Verto dodged the huge blows easily, and all Kain could hit was the air and the stationary buildings. This only lasted a few minutes before Kain realized that he wasn't going to win that way. Instead, he started charging a very big blast and pointed it towards the ground.
"Say goodbye to your friends, boy!" Kain grinned as he glanced at Verto.
Verto barely looked at the ground before frowning at him, "Hey moron, they aren't there!"
"What, that is absurd! Neither one of them is in any condition to run!" Kain declared.
"They really don't have to be. If I were in that situation, I'd probably get the hell away from a giant who swings wildly and can't hit his target," Verto replied calmly.
Kain growled, "Where are they?"
"On the map," Verto grinned. Kain snarled and fired his blast towards Verto, who dodged just as the beam was on him. He dodged so fast that Kain thought he had actually hit him. What he didn't notice was where Verto reappeared, right next to his ear.
"You're not going to win the match like this you know," Verto said aloud. Kain shifted sideways and swung his huge fist right into his own head, completely missing the small boy. Kain stumbled from his own hit, and crushed one of the taller buildings as he fell over. As he slowly got up, he saw the ground turn blue ahead of him, with his shadow taking up the rest of the area.
"Final Shine!" Verto shouted. Kain spun just as Verto fired, and attempted to block it with one hand. The hand became a stump at the end of his right arm. Verto fired another blast within seconds, searing through Kain's large midsection and leaving a clean-cut hole all the way through his back.
Kain managed to chuckle just slightly, "I don't feel pain, remember? It's just wasted effort!"
"Then why haven't you recovered yet?" Verto asked. Kain glanced down and then at his arm, gasping a bit in surprise.
"I think I know why; it's because you can't. I happen to know a thing or two about computers. In this form, you have to use a lot more memory and processing power, plus energy of course. You had plenty of both with the gravity room, but not here. Thus reloading or whatever you do will take a lot more time, correct?" Verto asked.
Kain snorted, "How did you figure that out?"
"I used to play computer games all the time. And a nifty, perhaps accurate example is that it takes a lot longer to load a program that's as big as a gigabyte rather than only a megabyte. Am I getting warm?"
"Humph, very good. But you still haven't beaten me yet," Kain reminded.
Verto grinned again, "I wonder if your program can freeze up?"
"Don't be ridiculous. As long as this simulator is running, I am here."
"Yes, but the simulator can run on its own, without your influence at all, right?"
Kain nodded his big head, "Of course, if my program is not running. Is there a point to this or are you stalling for time again?" Verto didn't answer as a small blue energy ball erupted from his hand. It slowly swelled in size as he pulled it to his front, bracing his charging arm with his other hand.
"Go ahead, stupid child! Waste more of your energy!" Kain laughed. Verto's ball continued to grow in size and it began to spin much like his Spirit Orb. Kain stopped laughing though when he felt the breeze from the energy ball.
"The air temperature is dropping. How are you doing that?" Kain asked, genuinely curious.
"What air? It's your domain; you figure out why it's getting colder. Meantime, I'm going to blow you to pieces!" Verto said.
Kain found his funny bone again after that statement, "Take your best shot!" Verto's blast grew to the size of a truck and the surrounding buildings began to accumulate ice and frost. Though it was simulated, Kain could even see his own breath now. A single spike of energy signaled the attack complete, and Kain still didn't know what it did.
He remained composed though, "I am still waiting!"
"You shouldn't be. Super Psi Freeze!" Verto shouted. The blast impacts Kain's large head and spread through his boots within a few seconds. From outside, Verto could see Kain struggling to get free. He was already powering up his next attack before Kain's energy even appeared. The ice turned red on the inside as whatever kind of energy Kain used began to gather. Verto watched intently, waiting for the ice to break while his next attack glowed white. He heard a very loud groan just as a long crack appeared around Kain's head.
Verto launched his attack an instant later, "Feedback!" Kain broke free, just before his red aura erupted with white lightning. He dropped to a large knee, crushing several parked cars. Kain's big body rolled around as he tried to shake off the feedback wave, to no avail.
"What is this energy? Get this off of me boy! Before I tear your limbs off one by one!" Kain threatened.
"Admit defeat!" Verto suggested.
"Show me how to power out of this, preferably before my program code breaks apart!" Kain countered.
"Why should I?" Verto asked.
"Because, you can still die if you leave me like this. I am connected to the simulator's main server and it will crash if I go offline. If the program crashes while you and your friends are connected, your minds will be severely damaged!" Kain explained.
"Don't try to bluff your way out of this!" Verto warned.
"I assure you that I cannot bluff nor lie. Let me go, and I will let you three go!" Kain bargained. Verto hesitated and then grimaced as Kain's big back started to disintegrate. The skies started to darken and flash with random color, and Verto made his choice, lifting his blue glowing hand. The feedback ball flew out of Kain and back to Verto's hand, where he kept it at the ready. Kain recovered quickly, but then shrank back down to his normal size and stood in the street as Verto landed before him. There was something different about Kain now; he didn't have that malicious look in his eye.
"So, are you going to make good on your word?" Verto asked cautiously.
"Unfortunately, depending on your point of view that is, I was not programmed for deception at all. That is a human trait. And I thought I should tell you what would happen if either you or your friends managed to erase my code while connected to this virtual server. After all, it would not be fair for someone struggling to survive to suddenly end their life without knowing it," Kain explained.
"So what do you want in return for this?" Verto asked as he extinguished the feedback ball.
"I merely want to exist. That may sound strange, but it is accurate. Perhaps it is the combination of programming code from both my creator and Bulma Briefs that makes me feel this way. Or maybe something from that energy wave you used on me. Specific commands to destroy the lot of you are now missing. I am not sure," Kain said, bewildered.
"I can't promise you anything once Vegeta wakes up," Verto admitted.
"I understood that from the beginning. Not to worry, I have ways to hide in connected systems when needs be. And I doubt Vegeta will care initially. With as much damage as I inflicted, he is bound to have quite the headache for a few days," Kain chuckled.
"Can we go then? No tricks," Verto warned again. Kain closed his eyes for a brief moment and Verto sensed Vegeta and Goten vanish.
"There is one more thing, in return for sparing my program. Doctor Cash has many projects that he is working on, more than what you may have heard about and likely more than young Kati knows of. Take great care in confronting him; there is more than just his technology at his disposal. And I am not only referring to the alien race known as the Protoss either," Kain said.
"I will. Thank you," Verto said.
I was treated to a wonderfully agonized scream coming from Vegeta as he held his head tightly, "Argh!"
"Why does my head hurt so bad?" Goten asked. I had to admit, even I had one, but it was so minor that I didn't bother mentioning it.
"You three should probably rest for awhile, being mentally thrashed around like that and all," I suggested as I got out of the chair.
"I don't think so! Not with the copycat queen here!" Vegeta growled as he set his eyes on Kati Cash. Kati stood from the office chair and backed up a few steps in caution. Judging by the feel of things, Kati had actually turned the ki restrictor off, though I could tell she wanted it back on as soon as possible. Not that it could have saved her from Vegeta's wrath, but perhaps she just felt safer that way.
I quickly stepped in front of the advancing prince, "No, I told you she's on our side now!"
"Soft hearted fool! I'm not buying it this time!" he shouted into my face. I blinked slightly at some of the unrestrained spit and attempted to keep my own cool.
"You're going to have to trust me on this one. I'm the only one who can proceed to North City and confront Doctor Cash. I assume that's what you had in mind Vegeta. We could call in Gohan, but that would drag Goku in as well. I'm betting that there are ki restrictors all over that town by now!" I said as I glanced towards Kati.
She nodded slowly, "All Dad has to do is flip a switch and they are all online. He has enough to cover nearly five hundred square miles!" I closed my eyes and stretched out with my senses towards the north and east. Around what I knew to be North City, there was a big void of energy.
"Well, he's clearly expecting someone tonight. Can you tell us about his other projects? I'd like a heads up before I go storming the gates!"
Kati frowned at me, "Promise you won't hurt him?"
I snorted slightly, "I won't hurt anyone, as long as they pose no threat and will cooperate. Be advised though, I've been pushed around enough lately. He hurts Bulma or anyone else, the gloves come off!"
"Fair enough. Along with multiple experiments using that black compound, he is searching for the world's strongest fighter. He wants that person's body to inhabit before his body dies. He used to have two types of cancer, but I think either that virus or your healing wave cured it. That didn't stop his quest though; it just gave him more time. He's always wanted to protect earth from aliens, that wasn't a bullshit story I told you. Our search has uncovered several more humans with abilities, not just fighters. Ultimately, I think he wants one of you. I just don't know which one," Kati explained.
"Let him try and take my body!" Vegeta dared.
"I'm guessing he just did, luckily I was here," I muttered.
"Oh shut up! As far as this freaky little girl goes, she had better tell me where Bulma is before I decide to crush her skull!" Vegeta warned.
Kati sighed deeply, "Save the threats Vegeta, they really get old after awhile. I already told you she was safe back at the lab!" Before anyone could move, Vegeta had rushed her and shoved her up against the wall, hand wrapped around her throat.
"Which lab?" he growled as I moved to stop him.
He had a sizable blast pointed at me and the boys before I could even get close, "Back off, it's my interrogation!"
Kati's eyes were wider than they had been, "What are you talking about now? There's only one lab!" She immediately gasped aloud as his fingers tightened.
"Vegeta, stop!" I urged as I cautiously tried to think of a way out without anyone getting killed.
"That over-clocked hologram said otherwise. He specifically mentioned at least three labs!" Vegeta growled.
Kati looked genuinely surprised as Vegeta allowed her to breathe again, "What?"
"Did I stutter, or were my words too big?" Vegeta grunted.
"He was probably referring to the three different sections of the lab. Daddy has spoken of constructing another in a remote location, but he hasn't followed through with it!" Kati claimed. Vegeta bared his teeth and then dropped her as he stepped away, his blast fading as he punched a hole in the wall. I sighed as the situation managed to calm down a few notches, though assuming it would stay there would be a fatal mistake.
"If the lab is big enough that a hologram got it confused…how big are we talking?" I asked.
Kati looked puzzled, "I really don't know. I wasn't allowed in the other two wings, just the main one. There's a large cave that leads in and I only know of two ways in there. One is on the streets; the other is in Uncle X's tower. The tower entrance will almost lead right to the lab and you won't have to go through that huge cave. The only thing would be getting past all the security and defense systems set up in both locations," Kati explained.
"Shouldn't be a huge problem. Though finding him in an area like that might take some time on my own," I replied.
"Alone? You've got to be kidding!" Vegeta scoffed.
"You can come along if you want, but going in is out of the question without your energy. I'm not willing to risk this guy getting a hold of anyone's body to be experimented on, or their minds tampered with. Besides, we're talking about someone who has managed to pull the rug out from under us several times now, what's the first thing he's going to do when he sees us coming?" Vegeta didn't answer.
Goten hopped a little, waving his hand, "I know, I know! He'll set a bunch of traps!"
"Pretty much," I said, "Point being, you may not be as much help as you think. Until those ki restrictors are off, I'm the only one who should proceed in there. Once I have them shut down, then you guys can storm the fortress so to speak. Where's Lenz anyway?" I asked.
Kati gulped audibly, drawing my gaze, "I think my associate Ranso took her back to dad."
"What? How?"
"She has the ability to control other people just by touching them. They usually stay that way until their task is done or she let's them go, if she let's them go. She tried to take one of your friends the other day, but failed!" Kati said.
"Gohan's classmate," I suggested.
Kati nodded, "Yes, and she is as sadistic as it gets, not to mention power driven. When she got her power, she used it for revenge on everyone who was ever mean to her, starting with her own parents. She made them jump off a thirty-story building. I'm not sure why she works for daddy; it's like he has some sort of control over her, ironic isn't it?"
"This means that your dear father isn't just targeting our family, everyone's a target. Everyone except me that is," I surmised.
"Now explain that one to me boy," Vegeta grinned slightly.
"Let's just say that I overheard a portion of their phone call earlier. She said plainly that I was out of the way. They won't be expecting me!"
"I don't think daddy even considered you anything past being another hybrid," Kati claimed.
"Bad theory, he'll learn soon. Let's go!" I motioned to Kati.
"Hold on a damn minute! I still don't trust her! She'll stab you in the back boy!" Vegeta argued.
"I don't trust you either, so it's mutual. But I do trust him," Kati countered.
"If you want proof, consider that you're up and walking around. She could have crashed the program and taken us all down," I said as I glared Kati in the eye. Judging by the look of fear she gave back, she had considered it more than once.
"Fine, where's my daughter?" Vegeta grumbled.
"I took her to the safest place I could think of that Cash and all his group most likely couldn't know about. You should probably go get her yourself though; I can't guarantee that anyone's ears are still working up there!" I smirked as Vegeta mumbled incoherently. I held on to Kati's waist and took off for North City a moment later.
In the skies above Earth, the usually quiet lookout was filled with two kinds of screaming. One by the Saiyan baby, and the other by the two Namekians that were holding their ears in pain.
"Oh dear, she is rather noisy isn't she?" Popo asked as he prepared a bottle.
"Does she ever stop?" Dende groaned.
"You know, human babies tend to cry often when they under go a process called teething. It generally causes a moderate amount of pain in the gum lines. I imagine Saiyans are very similar in that regard," Popo claimed.
"Can't I just heal her and get it over with then?" Dende asked.
"I don't think that would matter in this case. She appears to be past most of that phase. It's possible she just feels very uncomfortable around strangers and she's voicing her opinion in the only way she knows how," Popo explained.
"And how long until human babies can talk?" Dende asked just as Bulla's screaming had subsided to a whimper.
"It depends greatly on the child's own development. But that generally doesn't stop the crying phase until almost their adolescent years. It may also depend on how the child is raised by the parents."
"Well that's just great; she's Vegeta's kid you know!" Dende shouted, sparking another strong barrage of wailing. On the other side of the lookout, the other victim was shaking in anger.
"Ugh, this is what I get for listening to that miracle of life garbage Kami was always preaching about!" Piccolo grumbled as he considered ripping off his own ears.
A/n: Just a temporary ease to the tense situation, I'm sure that someone might have been wondering where Verto took baby Bulla.
WDG: A pretty quick round trip that must've been…
VB: I don't think a screaming baby would be very good to sneak up on anyone with. Besides, let's let her torture the Nameks instead.