Chapter Thirty-six - Defense of the City
"This way!" Bulma called to the crowd of people, motioning them down the street toward a near-by theater. Chaotzu was floating near the theater doors holding them open with telekinesis and keeping a look out for approaching Zombies. The crowd of civilians, largely alien but with some Sai-jins among them, hurried as they followed the purple haired woman's guidance.
Bulma hadn't been able to just sit back and do nothing during the current crisis. Her husband, son, and friends were heading off the bulk of the threat but there were still thousands upon thousands of Zombies flooding into the city so she'd quickly enlisted the help of those she could find in the palace to see to the safety of those in the city.
This was the fifth group they'd guided through the city streets to some sort of shelter. Saiya City had a normal resident population of around twenty million people. With all the Sennari business and the Galactic Games that number had increased to almost fifty million. Nearly seventy percent of those in the city were not fighters. And of those that were at least half weren't strong enough to combat the Zombies.
That meant there were around seventeen and a half million people in the city that needed protected. She'd been going around with Chaotzu, Roshi, Toma, Tangerie, Mango, Akira, Aiko, Kavar, Yuki, Kazuki, and Dubibub seeing to those people. They were finding the little pockets of them where they hid and guiding them to more securable locations. Mango had been left to guard the first group they'd gathered while Akira had been left to guard the second. Kavar was watching over the third and Aiko stood watch over the fourth.
"Who are we going to leave to guard this group?" Chaotzu asked as the people began to pour in to the theater. There were almost a thousand people in the current group and the theater was only designed to hold four hundred. They'd all fit but it'd be cramped. Still, it was better than leaving them in the streets.
"I'll take this one." Dubibub said. "My worry is the next group and the group after that. We're starting to run out of guards and there's still a lot of people out there."
"I know." Bulma said as her eyes scanned the area for any signs of attackers. "Roshi and I can barely deal with the weaker Zombies... even Chaotzu's out matched by the stronger ones. That means Yuki, Kazuki, Toma, and Tangerie are the only ones left to be guards but we'll need to keep one of them with us for protection too."
"So only three more groups." Tangerie said as she landed behind Bulma. She'd been scouting the area for another defensible location to take refugees to. "I'd feel better if you left Toma stay with you." she said, glancing at Bulma. "I'd rather have a Sai-jin guarding you then someone else and he's stronger than I am."
Bulma frowned a little. She'd been dealing with Toma, Tangerie, and Mango's complaints ever since she started organizing the rescue mission. The three Sai-jins had been adamantly opposed to her going into the city. It had taken a show of force and pulling of rank to get them to stop complaining, though all three had continued to voice their concerns and dislike of the situation at any available chance.
She'd only convinced Mango to remain behind at the first post because she still had everyone else with her to keep her safe. Toma and Tangerie had both since resisted being posted as guards as they were the last two Sai-jins in the group and weren't willing to leave the Queen's protection up to others. She couldn't entirely fault the three of them though, especially not Mango or Tangerie, as they weren't doing it entirely out of duty but because they were all friends.
Still, that didn't stop it from being annoying. "You can deal with any of the Zombies we come across." Bulma said.
"We don't know what else might be out there." Tangerie replied. "It's better to leave you with a stronger guard."
"Then I can stay with her and someone else can take this post." Dubibub said. "I am the strongest of us left in the group."
Before Tangerie was able to voice her opinion on the matter a cascade of screams started from the far end of the group of refugees. Instantly she and Dubibub took off to check on the commotion. A few blasts of energy and explosions told Bulma all she needed to know. A group of Zombies had found them.
Suddenly Tangerie was charging back toward her position carrying Roshi, who'd been left to guard their rear and keep watch for attack. The old master was unconscious. "We have a problem." she said, setting Roshi down. "Something worse than Zombies have found us. Dubibub and I took out a few of them but the three left are giving him a hard time."
"What?" Bulma asked, shocked.
"What do we do?" asked Chaotzu. "Where are Kazuki and Yuki?"
"Still scouting around." the Sai-jin replied. "They'll return once they notice the battle, but that could be a few minutes yet."
"So, we're on our own for now...." Bulma started. But she was cut off as the crowd scattered wildly in fear and panic. Dubibub and just been knocked into the building beside the theater taking out the rear protection the group had had.
The rubble shifted and fell as Dubibub climbed back out of the damaged building into the quickly emptying streets. "Alright, whoever sucker punched me is going down." he said, wiping a trickle of blood off his chin.
"Heh heh heh." a voice laughed from behind the thinning crowd. "Highly unlikely."
The voice sounded familiar and then Tangerie's eyes widened in shock as the crowd separated enough to reveal its source. "Yang!?" she cried. "But... you... you died on Earth!"
Yang smirked. "And now I have been revived by the great power of Quietus, new ruler of everything!" he declared, raising his arms and clenching his hands into fists. "And stronger than I was while alive as well, I might add, also thanks to Quietus."
"You know him?" Bulma asked.
Tangerie nodded. "He worked at the palace once, back before the incident with Nappa. In fact, he left with Zarbon that day. He was one of the ones that went with Zarbon to Earth." As she spoke she reached up and activated her scouter. She'd had it set to handle other data and not alert her to powers but now she adjusted it to read the power of the formerly dead alien before her.
The scouter started beeping wildly as it locked on to the near-by powers. In an instant it had locked on to seven powers and was quickly scanning their levels. One of the seven was Dubibub and she ignored that. Five of them were nearing their location and ranged from around 34,000 to over 100,000. And Yang's power was.... "61,233!?" She cried in shock. That was more than double what he'd been last she heard!
"There you are." came another voice from above and behind Yang. Those on the ground looked up and saw the other five powers Tangerie's scouter had locked onto. The one that had spoken was the strongest of them at 102,419 and was as easily unmistakable.
It wasn't just Tangerie that knew him. Bulma and Chaotzu did as well and it was the Human woman that spoke up first. "Z-Zarbon!" she cried in shock.
Zarbon turned his gaze from Yang to the others. "Interesting find you've made, Yang." he said, tilting his head a little. "Odd little gathering, isn't it?"
Tangerie moved quickly to stand between Bulma and the new arrivals. She knew it was a futile action, there was no way she could block an attack from any of them, especially not Zarbon, but she had to do what she could to protect the woman. "Why are you here?" she demanded, her eyes roaming over the others.
She found she knew all of them, Kui, Kuwa, Vashon, and Dodoria. Zarbon's attack force from the battle on Earth. /Damn it, even if Mango were here this would be a pointless battle./ she thought. /Even without transforming Zarbon's got her outmatched. I guess Yang wasn't kidding about them getting a power boost./
"I think she means to fight us." Vashon said, laughing.
"I find it interesting she's being so defensive of the other woman." Yang said. "You don't get a Sai-jin guarding someone so much weaker than them very often. She has to be someone of importance somewhere."
Tangerie blinked and looked back at Bulma. Both of them were wondering why the two didn't know about Bulma. They may have all died before she even came to Planet Vegeta but surely they'd gained information of events following their deaths since then. She was about to turn back to their attackers when her scouter went off as it found a new power approaching. The numbers climbed quickly finally settling at 124,934. The Sai-jin started to grin as soon as she saw the reading. She recognized the level down to the last digit.
"I think she's lost it." Kui laughed. "Her fear has driven her insane."
Suddenly there was a flash of red above and behind Bulma and then a click as someone landed beside Tangerie. "You have excellent timing, Sango." the Sai-jin said.
"Thought you could use some help." the Tanarian replied, looking toward the other woman. "The others are taking care of the rest of these idiots." She then turned her focus back to the formerly dead aliens. "You should have just left and made the most of your new lives when you had the chance."
Dodoria laughed. "You think you can beat us?"
Sango smirked and then vanished. There was a series of loud cracks as she took out the would be attackers one by one. In less than two seconds only Dodoria and Zarbon were still standing and Sango was standing behind the wide alien, her back to his. "No." she said, startling him. "I know I can."
Dodoria started to turn but Sango's elbow shot back and slammed into his neck snapping it. The alien fell forward and hit the ground with a thud. The Tanarian turned to face her last remaining opponent. "Well, I guess that just leaves you."
Zarbon growled. "You may have beaten them but you can't beat me!" he cried launching in. She slipped around his punch with ease and then slammed her knee into his stomach causing him to double over in pain. Before he had a chance to react her open palm slammed into the back of his head knocking him into the ground.
She was about to finish up with her final blow when a burst of energy caused her to stumble back. When she got her footing again she saw a fist heading for her face. Unable to dodge in time she was hit hard and sent back into a building. /What the hell?/ she wondered as she pulled herself free. Climbing to her feet she saw that Zarbon's appearance had changed considerably. /So, that's it, a transformation./
Sango smiled. "That wont save you."
Zarbon laughed. "You can't handle my full power! You can act tough all you want but I can tell from that little exchange that you're no match for me."
"Funny, I was about to say the exact same thing to you." Sango replied, brushing a little dust off her shoulder. "You want a battle of full power against full power? Alright then, let's go. Itsutsu Kinryoku!" In a burst and flash of silver Sango surged in and slammed an energy incased fist into Zarbon's stomach. Suddenly there was a bright flash of red as she released an energy blast through his stomach. "Looks like you lose."
Planet Vegeta, Saiya City, Orange Drive
"Payback time! Nibai Kinryoku!" Krillin called as he charged toward a group that was about to attack Mango. The Human recognized three of the five attackers. Kamandur, the lackey of Slug's that had batted him around on Earth, and Jeice and Burter, two of the Ginyu Force he'd met on Namek.
"Pinda, Omta, move it!" Jeice called as he barely slipped around the charging warrior.
"The shrimp's gotten better since Namek." Burter said as he watched Krillin turn around and come toward them again. "But not good enough!" The tall blue alien charged in at Krillin and the Human barely avoided a kick to the face. "Get back here!" Burter cried chasing after him.
"Heh heh, that's right, just follow me." Krillin said softly as he glanced back behind him. He clenched his hands into fists and began gathering energy quickly. Once he had enough he pulled to a stop and turned around raising an arm above his head. Quickly the energy gathered together and flattened into a spinning disc. "Destructo Disc!" he called pitching it forward.
As soon as the first was off he fired off another and then another and another. In seconds five discs were arcing through the air, one for each target. Burter saw his coming and swerved to the left but the disc followed and, a second later, sliced through him. The other four didn't even see them coming, they'd turned their attention back to Mango and the building she was guarding.
Krillin landed beside her a second later as she was wiping blood off of her armor. "Thanks shorty." she said.
Planet Vegeta, Saiya City, Lemon Lane
"YUKI!" Kazuki cried as he surged down toward his falling sister. Smoke drifted up from her body as charred fabric broke from her Gi. She'd managed to block the attack her opponent had launched but it had been way too strong for her to defend against. If it hadn't been for her barrier she would have been completely incinerated. Even with it he wasn't entirely sure she had survived.
He was still dozens of feet away and she was almost on the ground when a streak of silver surged through and scooped her up. He pulled to a stop and looked around finally spotting Yamcha laying Yuki down behind him. He descended quickly and landed beside her. "How is she?"
Yamcha shook his head. "She's alive but...." he sighed. "Just barely. We need to get her to a Regen Tank or she wont make it."
"Good." a voice said from above them. Yamcha turned and scowled up at the woman. Erzix. One of the ones who'd attacked Tanaria with Recoome. "Payback for the last time. Those silver haired brats all look the same to me so I don't know if she's one of the ones directly responsible for my death but it doesn't matter. My goal in life is to see every last one of them dead."
"Over my dead body." Yamcha said, standing up.
Erzix smirked. "If you insist." she said, charging down at them.
"Itsutsu Kinryoku!" Yamcha cried as he launched up at her. Erzix's eyes widened at the other's speed and she tried to dodge to the side but Yamcha reached her first and slammed a fist into her face with a loud crack. She was knocked up higher into the air for a few hundred feet and then plummeted to the streets below. She was dead before she hit the ground.
Planet Vegeta, Saiya City, Pea Avenue
"That's Cold, but who's he with?" Raditz asked as he and Nova neared their destination. "I've never seen any of them before."
"Nor have I." Nova replied.
As they neared they began to overhear Cold speaking. "Honestly, where did that woman go?" he said, crossing his arms. "She sees one of those Tanarians and suddenly she takes off. Wyver, you know her...."
"Bad experiences with the Tanarians." the alien answered. "Probably wants revenge."
"I say she's an idiot." said an orange skinned guy with wings. "There's some pretty nasty powers out there, I wouldn't want to run into them alone, that's for sure."
"Quit being such a coward, Doro." said the last member of the group.
"Shut it, Angira." the alien retorted. "The kid that beat Sanil's around here somewhere. I, for one, don't want to meet him without protection. And chasing after Tanarians? That's a death wish if I ever heard of one, you know what that one girl did to Frieza."
"That was a fluke." Cold interrupted.
"No, that was just her and Trunks kicking your ass." Raditz said, smirking, from just a few feet behind the group.
The four spun around quickly in shock. Cold's shock only grew when he spotted Nova beside Raditz. "Another Changeling? Here?" he wondered aloud.
"It's been a long time, Cold." Nova said, crossing her arms. She was trying to put on an act of confidence but there was a growing knot in the pit of her stomach. She knew the power she'd gained from that fruit, power she'd learned was likely permanent, put her over the former Changeling King. But spending nearly two hundred years much weaker than him and living in fear of him and his learning of her ancestry was trying to override her logic.
"Oh, do we know each other?" Cold asked, raising an eyebrow.
"One hundred and seventeen years ago you caught one of the palace slaves trying to sabotage your ship." Nova said. "A friend of mine by the name of Myst."
Cold gave the Changeling before him a once over with his eyes as he thought back to that incident. As his vision settled on her horns recognition dawned on him. "Ah, you were the one that made the outburst." he said nodding. "I must say, I was rather impressed, you never screamed once."
Nova scowled and then smiled softly. "Then I must apologize for doing so now." she said before uncrossing her arms, hunching over, and the letting out a yell as she began to power-up and transform. In a matter of moments she'd finished her transformation and reached her full power.
Cold smirked. "You intend to fight me?" he laughed. "Did that beating I gave you knock a few screws loose?"
"No. I don't intend to fight you." Nova said. "I intend to kill you. Once and for all. And put an end to the suffering your branch of our family has caused."
The other Changeling blinked in confusion. "What do you mean 'our family'?"
Nova smirked, all the worry and fear flowing from her body as knowledge that it was all about to finally be over filled her in its place. "Our family lines are related. To each other and to Frost and Tundra. But I don't feel like explaining it all to you, ask Kuriiza when next you see him in the afterlife. He can explain it."
Cold snorted. "I wont be dying anytime soon. Even if what you say has any truth to it, if you had the power to defeat me you'd have tried long ago."
"I didn't get the power until recently. But, if you think I'm bluffing, then go ahead and try me."
"Very well, this ends now!" Cold called, surging in at her.
"Agreed." Nova responded. "Invalesco!" The multi-colored fire like aura exploded around her in an instant, her power sky rocketed, and then she caught Cold's punch with ease. Spinning around she tossed him up into the air and then thrust an arm up and fired a wave of energy after him that engulfed and incinerated him.
"See?" Doro growled, crossing his arms. "This is why I wanted to stay in Otherworld."
Outer space, Just Outside the Vegeta System
Hydra sat in the command chair watching as the various bridge systems came on-line one by one. She'd just finished speaking with Nova and they were now powering up the computers and switching into active mode. What Nova had said was gnawing at her curiosity. Things sounded bad and she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to know how bad.
Especially if only their elites would be of any help in this fight.
The fifteen elites on the ship ranged in power from one hundred thousand to four hundred thousand. The strongest Changelings left, aside from Queen Nova herself. The next strongest on the ship was sixty four thousand. The bulk of those on the ship were in the twenty to forty thousand range.
A loud whirring filled the room as the monitors came to life and the scouter systems began to scan Planet Vegeta. Almost immediately the warning klaxon's began to sound, a pre-programmed response when large numbers of high powers were detected on a target world. "Turn that off and get me the power readings!" Hydra called.
A moment later the klaxon's shut down and the main screen began to give a report on the powers present on Planet Vegeta. Hydra blinked as she read through it. That was... impossible. There were... over a hundred million powers in the seventy-five thousand to one hundred thousand range. There were a number of powers beyond the hundred thousand mark and, as she watched, two flared up that surpassed the one million mark.
There were also multiple listings of 'exceeds limits' meaning the powers were too high for the system to scan and process. Which meant greater than eight million. "What is going on down there...." Hydra wondered.
"Ma'am, should we launch the Elites?" someone asked.
"I... yes, send them down." Hydra responded. "And get me a lock on the Queen!"
"Right away."
Hydra sat in silence as she watched the numbers on screen filter away and then an indicator appeared marking Nova's location on the distant planet and her power, which was currently growing. It had just surpassed the two million mark and was still growing. When it hit three million Hydra couldn't believe her eyes.
She knew her friend's maximum power. It was only a little beyond two and a half million. And yet, now, it was over five million and still climbing. She knew that the Invalesco could boost Nova's power but that increase was sudden, this was slow and building, like a normal power-up. As the number vanished, replaced by the words 'exceeds limits' she spoke softly, barely over a whisper, repeating her earlier question. "What is going on down there?"