Author Note: Thank you for reading Chapter 1, hope you enjoyed it. Chapter 2 is a little longer, and has a little more action. If you like it or have any constructive critiques please review.
Chapter 2: Revelations
The small white star crafts came into range of planet 247. Flashes and beeping started going off inside Bardock's small craft. The soldier began to wake from his long sleep. The ships quickly moved in closer to the planet, giving him an opportunity for a glimpse. Bardock peered through the window, not sure what to make of what he saw. 247 was nothing like what he expected. From his view point all he could make out was a dark cloud covering the entire planet. He scanned the planet with intense eyes, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. The fog seemed to be thick, leaving no openings to peer down through and get a good view of the surface. He had seen planets before with dense atmospheres and huge storm clouds, but nothing quite like this.
The spaceships started their decent into the darkened stratosphere. Blackness blanketed the pods, making them invisible to each other. The clouds' viscosity slightly started to dissipate, revealing a land scape of huge mountains and scattered forests. The pods made their way amongst the mountains, skimming near the tops of the trees, finally coming to a small clearing at the foot of a decimated city. They crashed into the ground with immense force, causing a massive explosion. The dirt and smoke swelled around the landing site. A few moments passed, allowing some of the grime in the air to settle. The invaders ascended out of the crater, looking around to assess their surroundings.
"Everyone check your scouters," Bardock ordered. "There's something wrong here."
The Saiyans all brought their hands to their scouters, each activating them, all searching for any signs of life. The scouters all began to beep and light up, indicating they had begun their scanning.
"All the sensors in my ship indicated this was the right planet. Even down to the five moons that circle over it," Fasha said.
"The information from the computer said this planet had nice farm land. But the ground—it's so cold and hard," Borgos said waiting for more information from his scouter.
"Something must be causing all this black fog that's in the air. I wonder if it's natural?" Fasha questioned. "If we get into a tight spot with all this mist blocking the sky we won't be able to transform."
"That city looks like it was completely levelled by something or someone. Nothing natural could have caused that type of damage," Tora observed.
"Err … nothing. My scouter is picking up nothing," Fasha said, pressing the little button on her scouter making sure it was actually searching.
Bardock turned off his sensor and quickly looked towards the city. "Stupid scouter. Either all our units are busted, or there really isn't anyone left alive in this entire area. Let's head into that city and just see if we can find anything out."
The warriors all took flight and headed towards the city. The large urban center had several massive sky scrapers stretching into the darkened sky and many smaller buildings sprawled throughout. Tiny houses out lined the edge of the metropolis with zigzagging streets intertwining with the inner-city landscape making pathways to various locations. Even before they made it into the city it was easy to see that it had been blasted to hell. The structures had huge crater-sized holes and black burns scarring them. Once in the city, the fighters could see the dead bodies of the residents. It appeared that most of the teal-skinned aliens had succumbed to what appeared to be high-powered energy blasts. Bardock led them to the center of the city.
"We'll land over there," Bardock ordered, pointing towards an iced over road crossing.
"What's going on here, Bardock?" Tora inquired.
"I'm not sure. We need to find out though. Tora, I want you to take Shugesh and keep going north. The next largest city should be that way according to the planetary summary report. Fasha and Borgos, I want the two of you to head west, and see if there's anything of interest on the coast. I'll go east and see if there's any information that way."
"All right," Fasha acknowledged.
"As you wish," Tora said, complying with the order.
"I want you all to contact me with your reports in two hours. Now let's get started—we have a mission to accomplish."
The armored warriors took to the skies and split off, headed to their different locations.
Fasha and Borgos had been flying almost two hours, with nothing to report. They hadn't come across any signs of the local inhabitants or whatever had been changing the planet. The coast came into view. The two seekers saw a frozen beach which appeared to stretch out into the horizon.
"I'd figure we'd find something by now," said Fasha with frustration in her voice.
"Me too," Borgos agreed. "We should contact Bardock and give him the bad news."
Fasha activated her scouter. "Bardock, this is Fasha. Do you copy?"
"Report," Bardock ordered over the comm.
"We made it to the coast. We've found nothing, Bardock. Should we search around more?" asked the female soldier.
"Yes, for now. I'll contact you with further orders after I hear back from the others."
Bardock stood upon a high ledge, looking over a small valley. He peered over the massive crevice, hoping to find something to aid him in his search for clarity. He saw nothing relevant, just like everywhere else he had investigated. He sighed, turned around, and began to walk away from the cliff's edge. He activated his communication device, hoping to hear good news from his other team.
"Tora, it's been two hours. Do you have anything to report?"
A long pause followed his question.
"Tora, are you there?" Bardock said with uneasiness in his voice.
"Yes, I'm here, Bardock—and I have something to report," Tora informed.
"What have you found?" Bardock asked, staring at the ground.
"We made it to the city and found nothing at first, but once we got to the center we found a unit of twenty or so soldiers manning some sort of communication post. Do you want us to take them out?" Tora whispered. "Their power levels are minimal."
"No, wait for me. We'll take them out once I get there. I'll be there as soon as I can. Just lay low for now."
Bardock ran to the edge of the cliff, jumped off, and soared through the sky, headed towards his comrade's location.
"Borgos, Fasha, head towards Tora's location. They found something."
Bardock's scouter started flickering, reading the various power levels in the city just ahead. He located the two largest ones and started heading towards them, knowing they were his men. He navigated his way through the towering buildings, flying a hundred feet or so above the street. The scouter led him to the top of a roof together with his men.
"Where are they?" Bardock asked.
"Down there," Tora said as he led his leader to the edge of the roof and pointed down to a small building at the corner of a street.
Bardock observed the enemy units moving about, doing a number of various military activities. Their work seemed to be focused on repairing some sort of massive piece of technology. The object had a roundish top and long cylindrical body. Bardock had no idea what it was, but he knew it had to be important. He counted twenty-three soldiers in all. They all appeared to be bipedals, with large white helmets, each with a purple visor covering their eyes. Their size was similar to that of an average Saiyan. White armor shielded their chest, shoulders, and forearms. Under their armor a dark, form-fitting jump suit covered the rest of their body.
"We need answers. We're going to take them out. Just leave one alive so we can interrogate them," Bardock ordered.
"Should we wait for the others?" Shugesh inquired.
"No, we should be fine. I want you guys to just go around the back of their base and make sure none of them escape."
"Got it. Come on, Shugesh," Bardock's second in command said.
Shugesh and Tora flew off from the top of the building and made their way around a few structures. Bardock lost sight of them and waited for their acknowledgement of their readiness to go.
"We're in position. Ready when you are."
"Go!" Bardock screamed.
Bardock clenched his fists and began to raise his power level. He jumped into the air and floated just above the enemy warrior's encampment. He raised his arm and pointed it towards the ground. The battle ready Saiyan sent a light blue energy blast hurling towards the huge device at the center of the base. The impact of the blast generated a huge explosion, drawing the attention of all the white-armored soldiers. Bardock swept down on his prey, trying to take full advantage of the chaos. The scarred warrior charged some energy in his hands and shot it at the bunched-up group of aliens. Bodies flew in every direction. Bardock closed in on the running men, blasting several of them in the back. From his right two enemy troopers ran at him preparing to strike. The first threw a punch at Bardock's face, which Bardock easily blocked and countered with a massive hit to the enemy's head, smashing its helmet into pieces. The second one came with a right hook. Bardock grabbed his wrist and swung him to the ground, finishing him off with a massive foot stomp to the gut.
"Next," Bardock said, turning around looking for another opponent.
Another masked soldier came barreling in. Bardock got the jump on him and unleashed a kick to the head, stunning him, followed by an upper cut to the gut. It punched through his stomach, causing him to topple over on the warrior's arm. Blue blood dripped down from his wound, soaking the Saiyan's hand. A wicked smile grew on Bardock's face. He tossed the lifeless body aside and started to look around for another victim. Explosions ahead of him caught his attention. As the light receded from the detonations he could see Shugesh and Tora ripping apart the aliens. Only a few white-armored men remained alive. He targeted the closet one and ran towards him full speed. He tackled him bring him to the ground and swiftly putting him into a headlock. The alien flailed his limbs desperately, trying to escape the Saiyan's firm hold, but his grip was too much and he passed out. Tora and Shugesh blasted the last few survivors scattered around. Shugesh flew up behind the last fleeing alien and attacked him in the back, stunning him, leaving him open to be grabbed by throat. The fat Saiyan's hand shot towards the alien's neck, finding its target. Once Shugesh had his victim firmly under his control, he looked around for his leader, wanting to show off his prize.
"I got a survivor," Shugesh informed as he threw the creature to the ground a few yards away from Bardock. Shugesh quickly placed his foot on his head, pinning him to the ground.
"Did you get all the stragglers?" Bardock asked Shugesh.
"Yes," Tora said, answering before Shugesh could respond.
Tora slowly descended to the ground, checking his scouter for any other survivors.
"I read nothing else, Bardock," Tora said, landing next to his team.
"Good," Bardock acknowledged, looking at Shugesh's prisoner. "We only need one to interrogate. Get rid of him."
Shugesh plunged his foot into the aliens head, crushing his skull, splattering his brains onto the cold ground, and putting a satisfying grin on his fat face. Borgos and Fasha came flying in from the east and drew the attention of Tora.
"Here comes Borgos and Fasha," Tora said, looking up to the sky.
Borgos and Fasha flew quickly towards their fellow Saiyans, hoping to help with the battle.
"Looks like we're late," Fasha said as she and Borgos landed.
"We have it under control," Bardock said, looking at the last survivor of the bloodbath. "Now we just have to wait for this idiot to wake up."
"Let's see if I can get his attention," Borgos bellowed as he lumbered over to the unconscious body.
"Wait Borgos, I need him awake, not crushed," Bardock said, halting the huge warrior.
Bardock stood over the motionless body and gave it a light kick. "Wake up," he said, and paused. "Tora, get his helmet."
Tora knelt down, tearing off the alien's ivory helmet, revealing a bald, purple-skinned face with large cheeks sagging down to its jaw line.
"Wake up!" Bardock shouted, grabbing the alien's shoulder, busting through his armor, and sinking his fingers into its flesh.
A shriek of pain came screaming out of the alien's mouth. His eyes opened wide, trying to figure out what was going on.
"Stop!" the alien shouted as he tried to get Bardock to relinquish his grip on his shoulder.
"Shut up!" Fasha shouted.
"What are you doing on this planet?" Bardock inquired.
"I'll tell you nothing," the purple-skinned warrior screeched.
"Answer me," Bardock ordered, tightening his grip and causing more blood to ooze out from his wound.
"No!" the bald alien screamed. "You're going to kill me no matter what I do."
"Loyal little shit, aren't you?" Shugush observed.
"Why are you here? What's happening on this planet?" Bardock questioned.
The purple fighter cried out in agony again, trying his best not to give into the pain.
"Talk!" Bardock demanded.
Bardock was answered only with silence. He scowled at the alien with frustration.
"Talk!" Tora shouted, kicking him in the side.
"Stop," Bardock ordered just as Tora was about to kick him again.
This isn't working, Bardock thought to himself.
"I'll tell you what," Bardock said. "I'll make you a onetime deal. If you tell us everything, we'll let you live. We don't care about you, we just want to know what's going on here."
"Fine," The alien said, seeing this as his only opportunity to survive.
"What are you doing here?" Bardock questioned, releasing his grip on the alien.
"My master came here to terra-freeze the planet."
"What do you mean 'terra-freeze?'" Tora probed.
"Our ship sends out terraforming pods that change the atmosphere in order to freeze the planet."
"That's why it's so cold and iced over," Shugesh realized.
"Where's your ship?" Fasha asked.
"It's just north of here in the next city," The wounded alien said, making his way to his feet.
"Who's your boss, big man?" Borgos asked.
"His name is Lord Slug, and he's the strongest warrior I've ever seen."
We'll see about that, Bardock thought, excited to hear about a powerful fighter that might test his limits.
"Who the hell is that?" Borgos asked, looking at his teammates and wondering if any of them know who it was.
"How many men does your leader have?" Tora inquired.
"A couple hundred, I don't know how many for sure." The soldier waited for a response. "I answered your questions. Can I leave now?"
"Go, get out of here," the scarred warrior ordered.
The alien started running away from his captors, relieved that he would live through the ordeal.
A smile developed on Bardock's face as he and his crew watched the alien running away.
"So gullible," Bardock whispered, flinging an energy blast and slaughtering the last minion.
"Lord Slug. I've never heard of him," Tora exclaimed.
"Neither have I, Tora," Bardock responded. "We'll meet him soon enough."
Bardock took to the sky and headed north, followed closely by his men.
"Whoever you are Slug, here we come!" Bardock shouted, ready for the coming challenge.
Ultimate Kaiosama: First off, thank you for my very first review. Yes, Rose did beta my work. I'm very lucky to have an English teacher as a wife. The story is set before Kakarot is born and sent off to earth. Please let me know what you think of chapter 2.