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 74: The Shattered Necklace
Verto stared wide-eyed at the new form of Lenz as his eyes shifted back to blue, unsure about anything at this point. It wasn't just her physical transformation or her current mental state that had him concerned. I felt the unstable Psi break out of her before, but now I don't feel it at all. Somehow she's converted it into Chi despite the disruption fields around here. And it's dark, almost like Mercurial's was. Don't tell me that's what was inside her all along, another demon?
"Well my pretty little meal, shall we get started?" Kaon asked. Verto stole a quick glance at Doctor Wheelo, taking note of the bad shape that he was in.
"I assume you took his life-force to help rejuvenate yourself so you could turn into that?" Verto asked with disdain.
"More or less. You can find out for sure in just a moment," Kaon replied.
Verto's glare intensified, "So how did a bloodsucking demon get inside of Lenz?"
"You mean me? How could you say such a thing!" Kaon said, feigning innocence.
"Cut the crap! I know that energy too well to believe that it was just the source of her hidden power," Verto countered.
Kaon seemed surprised, "You make it sound as if you've encountered my kind before."
"I have, specifically about a month and a half ago when I accidentally set one loose and had to kill its host. It managed to avoid death when someone else sealed it," Verto explained briefly.
"Is that so? Well don't worry. I'm not quite like what you might have faced, and you won't be able to take care of me so easily. This body belongs to me and always will. Even if you were able to kill me, you wouldn't change anything. As for the girl you knew, she's back where she belongs. It's certainly been a long time coming, I can't even count the years anymore," Kaon said.
Verto's hands briefly sparked with energy, "Let her out and go back to the pit you spawned in!"
Kaon didn't seem threatened in the least, "Make me." Verto's aura flashed on, scattering more debris and sending Kaon's purple hair into a flurry.
Rather than act frightened, she cheered him on, "That's the way, let me see your power, all of it!" Her hands and feet became entrenched with a deep lavender flame and she stepped forward. Verto's eyes glowed bright as he dashed towards her, arm drawn back. He struck her blocking hand, pausing in slight surprise. He glanced up long enough to see her baring a fang-filled grin. Verto jumped sideways just as her kick arrived, nicking his upper right arm. He landed off-balance and held his shoulder with concern as a small batch of charred clothing flaked off. There was no burn on his arm, but it was enough of a statement to cause concern.
Kaon laughed, "Nimble little thing aren't you?"
Verto was still feeling preoccupied with what he was sensing, "How the hell can you convert that unstable Psi energy straight to Chi in this environment? His damned ki disruptors are online!"
Kaon looked genuinely confused for a moment, "If you mean my power, it was simple once I transformed. You sound as if it was supposed to be a complicated process, but really it's not if you know how to do it. Since you asked the question, that means you're knowledgeable enough to not only know about it, but also wield it. Yes, it's coming to me now..." Kaon paused and closed her black eyes, sighing lightly.
Verto scowled, "What?"
Kaon smiled lightly, "Oh I see, I didn't realize it before. She has such strong lust for such a scrawny little thing. Waiting for you to grow up drives her crazy. So tell me, little brother, do you feel the same way?" Verto allowed a gasp to slip as his aura dropped off.
Kaon's eyes opened, "Well, aren't you going to answer? I can see it in your eyes, your compassion has already cut your power in half." Verto was barely aware of it, as his head filled with a wild barrage of emotions.
Kaon stepped closer, "Come now little brother, let's go take a relaxing bath. I'm still waiting to hear those three little words that you haven't been able to say." Verto's heart sunk when it was Lenz's voice he heard, not the shallow one of Kaon. He stood up defiantly, but he was shaking slightly from the overload of feelings.
Damn it, she's trying to use my emotions against me so I can't fight her. I have to block it out.
Kaon dared to step within a few feet and bent down suggestively, "I can smell it in your blood, you want this body." Verto shut his eyes, doing what he could to imagine a villain in front of him. Unfortunately, this backfired badly, and all he could see in his mind was Lenz.
"Train me more little brother, show me that new attack again," Kaon dragged on. Verto's aura came out a smoky silver and blue, switching from one to another regularly and erratically.
I can't let her use this against me! I have to turn this around on her! Verto's palm turned upwards as it lit up with a sparkling blue, making Kaon pause and back step momentarily.
She didn't lose her composure though, "Come on now, you're not going to attack me. You'll hurt that which you love most!"
Verto's blast shifted to white as he opened two saddened eyes, "I don't want to, but I have to."
Kaon snorted, "Foolish, you don't know what you're dealing with."
Verto reared back, "I don't care! Feedback!" Kaon smirked slightly as she effortlessly caught the white ball and stopped it in her own hand. Verto stood in awe as the lavender flames around her quickly crushed his disabling technique like it was nothing.
"Maybe against another opponent, but that technique is far too weak to affect me," Kaon said.
"How?" Verto asked, flabbergasted.
"You simply don't understand what you're up against. Add to that this girl's memories and you're already finished. I'll admit that your little trick had me concerned for a moment there, but your emotional maelstrom appears to have nullified any real threat you might have posed. Now I'll show you something fun," Kaon offered.
Damn it, my feedback technique probably wasn't concentrated enough, that's why it didn't work that time either. I've never seen anyone completely stop it outside of absorption, so I have to assume that the problem is with me. Shit, I can already feel the negative energy coming back, I don't have time to get things under control for it to work yet...oh crap. Verto put his thoughts on hold as Kaon cast out her palm and a thin rope of purple shot out at him from her forearm. He flew backwards, but didn't make it far before it latched onto his leg and pulled down hard. Just as Verto landed, he felt his energy fading. Kaon's apparently organic rope was sparkling all the way back to her, and her aura expanded just slightly. Verto quickly conjured his Psi sword and slashed through the rope around his leg, severing it.
Kaon laughed, "Well that didn't last long, pity." The remaining purple rope then retracted quickly until it was literally sucked back into her blue arm, leaving no trace of its whereabouts.
Verto stood up wearily and held his sword in a defensive position, Some sort of arm tentacle that's concealed beneath the skin. That won't be easy to deal with. He watched her carefully as she stepped forward, full of confidence. Kaon suddenly phased out and Verto raised his left forearm, blocking her intense kick. Verto barely had time to realize that her leg had been shimmering with static energy before the floor suddenly exploded upwards. Verto fell backwards and off balance, stunned from the odd attack. Before he could regain his footing, Kaon's strange arm tentacle shot out and wrapped completely around his body, holding him firm. She chuckled as she stepped in for the kill. Verto winced as he felt his Psi energy literally vanishing from within.
"That was over quicker than I thought it would be. You must really care for the girl. Too bad for you," Kaon claimed. Verto's eyes reddened in anger as his aura enshrouded him, but it wasn't enough to get loose.
Kaon grinned, "Oh, did I press your buttons too hard? Are you mad bro?"
"Let go of me!" Verto snarled.
Kaon didn't even flinch at the vicious response, "You have potential kid, but you're also a bit dangerous. Allow me to relieve you of this hidden energy of yours so that you don't become a problem for me, about half will do. You have too much to absorb all at once, but I wouldn't want you to suddenly think you ever had a chance!" Verto cried out as the bonds tightened and flashed brightly before unraveling. Kaon pulled her arm sideways and flung Verto into Wheelo's computer console, flattening most of it. She waited patiently as Verto crawled out slowly, recovering from his energy loss. He gasped for breath as he emerged, wary of what to do next.
Kaon sighed, "Much better, now I can at least move at full speed. It's been too long since I felt this way. How would you like me to finish you off, I'll let you decide. Take the rest of your energy? Sever your head from your neck? I'm flexible to your choice." Verto glared back intensely and stood up with determined blue eyes before stepped forward.
"Well now, you certainly have spirit. No wonder it felt so good to absorb your power," Kaon complimented. Verto stopped for a very brief moment when he saw Wheelo on the ground next to him.
He kneeled down and rolled the elder man over, "Hey Wheelo, quit playing possum and get up. I need a favor."
Wheelo glared back up at him, "What?"
"You heard me right. If you have another of those enhanced androids, now would be a good time to use it. I need to get close and that won't be very easy without some help. She'll probably tear through them but they'd at least provide a decent distraction so I can capitalize on it," Verto explained.
"Why the hell are you asking me for help?" Wheelo grumbled.
"I can't stand you, you probably can't stand me, but in front of us is a bigger threat that we're both probably a little responsible for, so do the math. Do something useful here or we're both dead. I can distract her long enough for you to act, but then I'll need assistance," Verto declared.
Wheelo groaned as he sat up, "And what do I get in return boy?"
Verto stared back at him with intensity, "If we're lucky, we both get to live. Is that clear enough?"
Wheelo grimaced, "Fine, as much as I despise this idea, I'll help you. But I'm afraid I don't have a biofighter available. I assume you destroyed the Vegeta replica, due to the fact that it hasn't responded here yet."
"Yeah."
"The energy dampening controls are in a different wing, and it's likely that Kochin is busy with your other friends. No matter, the prototype should do," Wheelo said as he finally stood up.
"Prototype?" Verto asked.
Wheelo stumbled towards what remained of his computer console, "I require a few minutes to prepare it, do not interrupt me and it would be preferable to not allow her to kill me. You'll know if and when I've succeeded." Wheelo tapped a large red button and the panel opened up beneath it. Verto only watched for a moment before turning his attention back to Kaon, who seemed amused.
"Oh please, do continue. I was enjoying your last moments," Kaon said gleefully.
"It's your last moments that you should be worried about," Verto warned.
"Ha, are you actually going to try fighting me again, in your current state?" Kaon asked with a laugh.
"You cut my energy in half, big deal. At the same time, you removed some of the instability I have to deal with when I use that Berserker power, so essentially I'm just under my normal level. If you really have Lenz's memories, you'd know that I'm just as capable when I'm running low on energy," Verto explained.
Kaon took it in stride, "Maybe, but you'll need your silvery transformation to even keep up and I don't intend to give you any usable energy for that."
"Then I'll make you."
"Hmph, without your ki, you haven't got a chance. You can try that disabling technique again, but it will fail."
Verto crouched down slightly, "Maybe, but we won't know until we cross that road!" Verto began gathering a blue, spinning ball and Kaon only chuckled.
"Come now runt, how stupid do I look? I know you're going to try your freezing technique. You'll never hit me!" Verto held out his other hand, which also shimmered with energy but remained unfocused. Kaon shrugged and lowered into a stance as her hands and feet became immersed in purple flames again.
"You're welcome to try though, it's certainly a lot more entertaining," Kaon said slyly. Verto fired a quick beam from his left hand and held steady as he anticipated the dodge.
Kaon moved left and Verto aimed that way, "Psi Freeze!" The freezing ball passed right through Kaon's afterimage and crashed into the far wall, covering it in ice.
Kaon grinned as she glanced at the result from dozens of feet away, "Well, I did tell you didn't I?" Just as she finished and turned back, Verto's Psi sword stopped an inch away from her throat. Kaon nervously stiffened from the surprise move.
"Surrender demon," Verto ordered.
Kaon shifted her eyes at him, "You're really serious aren't you? You'd really go through with it?"
"If I have to, yes. Lenz would want that, as you probably know," Verto said with a stern nod.
"I suppose that's true, but I don't think you really have that kind of resolve. Even if you did, it would be meaningless," Kaon declared.
"And why is that?"
"Let me put it this way, catching me off guard with one clever little maneuver is not going to help your situation!" Kaon then grabbed Verto's Psi sword with her bare hand, surprising him. She then pushed it away easily and Verto jumped back, unsure about what just happened.
"How?" Verto asked as the sword vanished.
Kaon grinned again, "This is what I meant by fruitless. You understand the basics of your power enough, but you're far from my experience. You rely on these petty techniques that require almost no energy or concentration. I use techniques that can melt your bones in a matter of seconds, and you're too afraid to use something like that. Especially against this body."
"We can take this topside and I'll be more than happy to fight you like that," Verto offered.
"Tempting offer, perhaps it's the girl's wanton feelings to prove you wrong, but I'll pass." Before Verto could react, Kaon's knee smashed into the side of his face. Verto flew backwards, stunned by the sudden blow. He fell into the same wrecked computer console and lay there for a moment.
Ugh, so much for being just like Mercurial, but then again this one has a much stronger body to work with. Add to that the transformation, and apparently being able to repel my energy attacks bare handed, what next? Verto glanced over at Wheelo, who appeared to be concentrating rather hard. He was bent over with a set of wires attached to his head. Is he transferring his mind? Oh great, that means he's bringing out the giant robot. Why did I even bother asking for help?
"So, how long are you going to lay there, I know you're not done yet runt! You can take better beatings than most, and you've barely been touched so far," Kaon claimed. Verto stared at the ceiling, searching for other life signs nearby.
Looks like they still haven't cleared out yet. Maybe Bulma or Trunks got tied up with something up there, odds are one of them will think to shut these damn ki disruptors off. Kaon walked up, drawing Verto's attention with her toothy smile as she crossed her blue arms.
"You seem distracted, and it's obviously not with my body. Is it someone else around here? Let's see, oh yes! That human that came down here with you, and a few others. Those people are important to you aren't they, thus why you wanted to move the fight above ground. Too bad I prefer close quarters combat," Kaon said.
"Actually I was wondering if you were going to transform into something easier on the eyes. Your current form isn't doing anything for me," Verto sneered back. She quickly moved in and stomped down hard on Verto's stomach, sending spit flying as he rolled up and clutched his gut.
"That was uncalled for," Kaon said in a moment of brief anger. She stepped back, allowing Verto to get up to at least a knee. Kaon then turned and walked over to Wheelo, who wasn't moving.
"First things first, I'm going to kill this worm that you asked to help you. I hate it when there's worthless scum lying around," she said with a vile tone. Kaon grabbed Wheelo up by the neck, but he didn't try to resist and only slumped.
"Well, maybe he's just so out of it now that he's finally croaked, guess he's lucky. But I'm going to make sure anyway." CRACK. Kaon dropped Wheelo once his head had been completely twisted around and turned back to her target.
Verto grimaced, "Wish I could say that bothered me."
"It will when you have to explain your failure in the afterlife," Kaon said.
Verto dug his boot into the broken equipment, "Well, we're not there yet." He suddenly shoved a chunk of rubble at her before phasing out. Kaon knocked it aside and spun, catching the punch aimed for her head.
She laughed, "Try again!" Verto landed and kicked low towards her shins. Kaon jumped up and over, and Verto slowly reached towards her torso. Kaon grinned as she easily blocked and caught Verto's wrist, stopping him inches from her chest.
"Your size prevents you from taking any advantage like this you know," she claimed.
Verto smirked, "Yeah I know. I just wanted to give you something you lost." Kaon's eyes widened when she saw the thin rope dangling from his hand and tried to get away. Verto pushed forward and pressed the pale colored stone into her skin. Bolts of white and purple lightning erupted from it and arced out all over her body as she screamed. Verto backed off in surprise, as he hadn't expected such a strong, visible reaction.
Damn, that thing is even more effective than I thought. Through the thick strands of light, Verto could see her skin color fluctuating, as well as her face and eyes. Over the continuous screaming, he could discern two voices in the air.
"Get out of my body!" Lenz cried out.
"No, it's mine!" Kaon shouted back. She managed to get back to a vertical position while floating in the air. Her arms struggled to even move, but she clearly saw that they were shifting back to the paler Saiyan skin. Lavender flames kicked up around her and started to repel the lightning, and her skin changed back to blue.
Verto watched with concern, Aw shit. With one strong burst, the crystal was forced away from her and she breathed easier. Once it was away, it glowed brightly one last time before it completely shattered into small pieces that resembled sand grains. Only one small shard barely half an inch long remained, landing next to Verto's boot.
Kaon breathed heavily, "Nice try, little boy. But my destiny will not be denied, especially not by an enchanted piece of rubble. Now I'm going to show you why."
Verto sighed uneasily, Great, now what do I do?
A/n: A short chapter for once in awhile, but I didn't want to take away from the first sequence. Next one will be much longer.
Next time on DBV: Trunks and Sonny rescue Bulma from Kochin's lab and force the aging assistant into shutting down the ki disruption devices in order to help Verto. In the process, Wheelo emerges in his huge robotic form and attacks them.
Oh I almost forgot...
Verto (Berserker): 550,000,000
Verto (weakened, normal): 305,000,000
Vegeta-bot: 310,000,000
Kaon: 350,000,000; Demon form: 525,000,000
Doctor Wheelo: 10
WDG: Hmm, I wonder what that half-inch long shard is for?
VB: Maybe give her a splinter?