Dragon Ball Super: Twilight of Gods, by Chronos-X
Saga I: On Mortality and Consequences
Book Two: Quitela
Chapter 9: The Enemy Within
The next day, Kami's Lookout, 7:25 AM…
Aching all over, Riazul Sauza dejectedly opened his eyes. After a couple hours of fretful sleep, the former Lord Quitela felt even more tired than the previous night. Once he lit a nearby table lamp, the Naatsusian spared several uneasy looks around.
"[Did it really happen? Was it all just a dream?]."
Flashing pangs, followed by a cursory peek at his arms and hands quickly settled the matter.
"[So much for that idea…]."
Something else was amiss. Riazul could only grumble at a pair of manacles he saw clasped on each wrist.
"[Spirit Inhibitors…]."
A knock on the door. In came Piccolo Jr.
"[Great… just fucking great]."
Following roughly five seconds of awkward silence, the Namekian spoke.
"How bad does it hurt?"
"What makes you think it hurts?"
"[How can it not hurt?]. Dende and I spent the night pouring over the Lookout Archives. It took some doing, but we found some answers. Those lines all over your body are called Channel Ducts: you're an Energy Grafter, Quitela."
A yawning Sauza laid back down.
"Tell me something I don't know."
"The evil spirit that possessed you, this Zunia… we couldn't find any information about her."
"Can't help you there, green man. I don't know anything, either."
"Did Zunia say or do anything else last night?"
The young rat unleashed a gargantuan yawn.
"What is this, twenty questions?"
"I take it you had trouble sleeping."
"[No shit, Sherlock…]. "Lousy night." (Groans). "Lousy pain… these… these damned things…"
Having spared a spiteful look at his Channel Ducts, the despondent rodent turned away.
"We done? Wouldn't mind catching up on my sleep… or at least try to."
"Fair enough. However, there's some things you ought to know… recent developments." (Brief pause). "God of Destruction (or should I say, ex-God of Destruction) Sidra has joined us, along with Basil and Lavender Mead. You're bound to meet him soon, so it's only fair I warn you: Sidra… he lost his memory. He barely knows who he is. To make matters worse, his appearance has changed drastically. He resembles… some sort of lion crossed with a warthog. We don't know how or why it happened."
"I see…"
"Beerus's brother, Champa, is also here. Ask Vegeta if you want more details." (Brief pause). "As for the Zunia matter…"
"I know how Spirit Inhibitors work. You can skip the lecture."
"Lastly, Dende and Popo are prepping a rite to mitigate the pain you're in." (Brief pause). "Why didn't you tell us?"
"[Apologies, green man. Sorry I didn't feel like discussing the worst moment of my life with my jailer…]. If you know what an Energy Grafter is, then you also know how they're made. That's all I have to say about it."
"It's not just that, Quitela. I've noticed you've been… cagey around us since day one."
"Well, sue me. I'm not feeling particularly chatty."
The Namekian sighed.
"Quitela… I know this is hard for you. I don't blame you for feeling that way… but you're not alone in this. Me, Popo, Dende, Goku, and the others are here to help you. Remember what I told you back in the forest: I'll listen if you want to talk, but I won't force you to."
Riazul nodded.
"[There it is… don't do it, Sauza; don't fall for it… not again]. Thanks."
"I'll leave so you can rest. The rite will take around seven hours to complete. I'll come get you when it's ready."
"Deal."
With that, the Namekian saw himself out. Having lied back down, the fallen Hakaishin switched off the lamp and shut his eyes…
Hours later, 1:30 PM…
The afternoon was going well, all things considered. Having managed to squeeze three more hours of sleep, the former Lord Quitela felt quite refreshed.
"[Maybe this won't be so bad, after all. Piccolo… can I really trust these guys, though? Especially after I… no; don't go there, Sauza. That's all in the past. They don't have to know; nobody does…]."
Three knocks on the door. Riazul couldn't help but scowl.
"[Shit; just when I was starting to feel at ease]. Go away."
No answer. The Naatsusian barely had time to read the would-be intruder's ki before he opened the door.
"[Fuck! Why did it have to be him, of all people!?]. I said go away."
No answer again. The young mouse laid back down, hoping the interloper would get the picture. The newcomer wheeled in some sort of serving trolley, making sure to keep as quiet as possible. An askant look revealed another crucial detail: the intruder had left the door open.
"[Maybe he won't do it… maybe it won't be so ba—don't fucking go there, Riazul! What the fuck does that damn cat want!?]."
Much to Sauza's worry, this quiet fellow sat near the bed after serving two plates of meat and broth.
"[Why isn't he saying anything!? Speak, gods dammit, speak!]. "Are you deaf!? What part of 'go away' didn't you understand!?"
Righting himself, the warrior once known as God of Destruction Quitela turned to face Beerus the Destroyer… or what was left of him.
"The hell do you want, anyway?"
Expression deadpan, the fallen Destroyer God of Universe 7 turned to his counterpart from the Universe of Conspiracy.
"I want lots of things, Quitela; right now, however, I'm serving you lunch. Popo said you barely had any breakfast."
"['Barely'? I haven't eaten a thing in hours!]. Piccolo… he put you up to this, didn't he?"
"Yes and no."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
The Sphygian took a moment to scratch himself.
"He said you weren't feeling well and couldn't train with us. He, 21, Goku, and the rest are going over things with the Tien-Shin Trio, Shu, Lavender, Basil, and Sidra back at the Training Hall. Popo and Dende are busy guarding Earth, so Piccolo asked me to make your lunch today. He fill you in on all that's happened so far?"
Conniving smile upon him, Sauza nodded.
"[So that's how you wanna play it, Fancy Feast? Fine…]. Didn't know you could cook. Didn't you have Whis to take care of that?"
One massive yawn later…
"Popo's been teachin' me; what about you? You miss not having Cognac around?"
"[Cognac…]."
"You might wanna sit up now."
Having realized the cat man was there to stay, Riazul reluctantly complied. Blanket fallen to the mouse's lap, Channel Ducts in full view, the artist formerly known as Beerus failed to repress a shudder. Luckily, the Sphygian regained his composure long enough to hand Sauza a bowl, chopsticks, and a chirirenge. To Sauza's chagrin, the smell wafting around the room began to whet his appetite. Eating by now, the late Beerus the Destroyer stopped himself just shy of speaking, much to Riazul's worry.
"[Why is he making that face? Does it taste that bad? Zen-Oh dammit, say something!]. "Something wrong, Lech-Sa? You've been staring at my Channel Ducts for almost a minute now."
The feline briefly stopped eating.
"Channel Ducts? That's what they're called?"
"[Not much for conversation, are we?]. They expose my body's ki paths, keep them unblocked so energy flows freely and easily into Channel Points."
Before Sauza knew it, he'd thrown aside the blanket, allowing Beerus full view of his hands, feet, forehead, chest, and upper back, wincing all the while. Though the feline tried not to show it, Riazul easily picked up on how much the sight unnerved him.
"[Definitely the squeamish type…]."
"Sauza…"
It took a while before the late Lord Beerus managed to speak.
"There's something I don't quite understand, though: me, Zen-Oh, Grand Priest, the Angels, the other Destroyers, we saw you quite a few times throughout the eons. You didn't have those things then."
"I did. The sons of bitches who did this to me, they used ritual knives forged from Covontilum or Sun Cutter, an ultra-rare metal infused with powerful magic, rumored to be older than the Multiverse itself. It's so rare, even I had trouble getting ahold of it back in the day, and I had connections in all the black markets of Universe 4, mind you." (Brief pause). "Long story short, wounds inflicted by such weapons can't be healed by any means, magical or otherwise... at least not entirely. Goes without saying, it's one of the few wishes Super Shenron can't grant."
Now it was Beerus's turn to yawn.
"Sorry 'bout that, Sauza; 's not that I ain't interested. Didn't get much sleep last night; can't remember the last time I got some halfway decent shuteye."
"[Not much of a liar, either…]. You can't be serious! You literally slept whole centuries away!"
"I used t'be a god back then. Before and after that, though, I've always had a hard time falling and staying asleep. I'm surprised Piccolo and Vegeta haven't regaled you with stories 'bout how I wake up screaming in the middle of the night…"
Silence. The disgraced ex-Hakaishin picked at his food some more before continuing.
"You ain't interested in that, aren't you? Can't say I blame ya; now, you were sayin' something about magic metal you can't get healed from if it cuts you."
"[Least he's paying attention…]. "I asked Cognac to remove the incisions with Angel Magic, but he couldn't. Instead, he cast a concealing spell, made the ducts and points invisible, kept them inactive. The Omni-King, Grand Priest, the Angels, a handful of higher-ranking Kais, magic users with extraordinary skill and centuries worth of experience in the esoteric arts, those're the only beings who could see through the illusion. If I had to guess, when Zen-Oh did whatever it was that made me mortal, he also broke the spell that kept these damn things nice and quiet."
A flash of pain brought the Naatsusian back to here and now. Looking down at his bracelets, Riazul switched to a mixed Durango-Jalisco accent.
"[Damn Zen-Oh!]. ¡Pinche morrito azul, hijo de su regalada madre! A poco lo hizo a propósito na' más que por joder. No más esperen que me recupere: le voy a meter tremenda patada por el culo que pa' Dios se va a acordar de mí toda la eternidad."
"Pardon?"
"Never mind. Wasn't talking about you, anyway."
Silence. A few more awkward bites.
"Didn't know you could speak… uh, what's that name again?"
The late Lord Quitela could only roll his eyes.
"Spanish. The people who raised me (and I use the term very loosely) spoke it."
The feline ate in silence for roughly half a minute.
"[At long last… peace and quiet]."
"Hey, Sauza…"
"[Never mind…]. Yeah?"
"Something else I'm wonderin'… I have it on good authority you used t'be pretty good at energy-based attacks. I'd say you still are, all things considered."
"What're you getting at?"
Having squinted for a bit, the fallen Destroyer hastily turned away.
"Active or not, I find it hard to believe those incisions didn't play a part in it. I mean, my parents were among the strongest, most skilled Hakaishin in recent history. They were pretty good at manipulating ki (hell of a lot better than me, anyway), but they weren't anywhere near your level. Hell, Sazerac himself was no slouch, either."
There it was, that accursed name again. The long forgotten voice who answered to it reverberated within Riazul's mind. The mouse barely managed to smother it before it spoke.
"I don't know anything about that. I also don't recall ever seeing Sazerac with these things. If he had them, he probably used a concealing spell, too." (Frowns). "As for me… maybe you're onto something. [Now please… be quiet]."
Next thing Sauza knew, the cat man's stare was all over him.
"Why are you staring at me like that?"
The artist formerly known as Beerus looked away in shame.
"Sorry, man. It's just… I just can't believe it. I—"
"[That fucking tears it…]. You can't believe what: that people do fucked up things to each other? C'mon, Lech-Sa; you're a lot of things, but naïve isn't one of them."
Riazul nearly slapped himself: that last remark had come out far harsher than intended. Beerus's subsequent glower only confirmed it.
"Don't call me 'Lech-Sa'; call me 'Beerus' or 'Okocim'. Lech-Sa… I hate that damn name, like you hated it when people called you 'heir of Sazerac'." (Chuckles). "One time you Hakai'd one of my father's favorite retainers 'coz he called you that out loud in public. Good thing Whis and Cognac were close by, or Father would've beaten the ever-lovin' cat-shit outta you. Had that happened… well, let's just say getting Hakai'd would've been a mercy. Small one, granted, but a mercy all the same."
Much to his chagrin, the fallen Destroyer of Universe 4 found himself amused.
"(Kekeke!). Yeah, I remember. It happened during our Ascension Ceremony. Glad to know you still find that funny."
In less than a breath, another glower took residence in Okocim's visage.
"I didn't... least not back then. I hated you for what you did, but damn if the bastard didn't have it comin'. Father's manservants knew he loathed my stinking guts: they were always competing with each other to see who could make my life more of a living hell. Only a coupla of 'em treated me with a shred of decency, mostly 'coz they were obligated to do so... that, or Mother or Grandfather happened to be visiting that day. Unlike Father, they didn't put up with that bullshit (pardon my language). Otherwise, fucking sons of bitches did everything they could get away with... short of hitting me, that is. That's the one line Tusker wouldn't let them cross: nobody else could touch his heir/punching bag... not without his permission."
"[O-kay…]. "Is there a point to this story?"
"My bad. It's just… I'd see Sazerac when Mother and Father took me and Lanson to those damn cotillions our predecessors used to host. Didn't matter where he was, what was the occasion: guy would stride into the place, win everybody over without even trying. He pretty much had the Omni-King and Grand Priest eating out of the palm of his hand. Other than Goku, I don't know anybody else who's managed that, 'cept maybe Bonak… uh... XXXV, was it?"
Another day, another eyeroll.
"XXXI; Geene's predecessor. Pretty cool guy, at least compared to the jerks that came before him."
"Yeah, he's ok in my book, too… so anyway, ol' Lyman was nice to me every time I saw him. He'd give me sweets and other stuff. It was such a hassle, keeping them hidden from Lanson, Mother, Father, and their lackeys."
Sauza scowled.
"[There's the carrot… here comes the stick]."
"Point is, back then I didn't understand why everybody hated him so much. He seemed like such a cool, down-to-Earth kinda guy. Know what I mean?"
"[Better than you think…]."
At that moment, an unknown sorrow welled up inside Okocim, much to Sauza's puzzlement.
"Wasn't till centuries later when I found out 'bout all those fucked up things he did to people, even animals. I couldn't believe it. Part of me still doesn't. I… I just don't get it."
"[Where are you going with this?]. What's there to get? It was pretty much the same with your folks. When Tusker and Afsnath were in sight, everybody would gush all over them, praise 'em up to the heavens, ramble on for hours 'bout what great work they were doing with their universes, how they were such a friggin' boon to the Multiverse, 'an inspiration to gods and mortals alike', that kinda crap."
Riazul nearly wiped his eyes: did Beerus just shed a tear?
"Yeah... then me an' Champa shat all over their legacy. Gods, I'm such a—"
"Don't do that."
"Don't do what?"
"Bawl your eyes out in front of me. I'm not interested in sob stories, Beerus: you're gonna have to look elsewhere if you want a shoulder to cry on. 'Sides, that so-called legacy of theirs, it's overrated. Same applies to Sazerac and his time in office."
"I don't quite follow…"
"Don't be dense. You know exactly what I mean."
Silence. The warrior once known as Beerus the Destroyer was but a breath away from weeping. A sighing Riazul steeled himself: it was now or never.
"Beerus... Okocim… your folks were excellent Destroyers. They did wonderful things for Universe 6 and 7; there's no denying that... but that doesn't change the fact they were terrible people. You and Champa know this better than anybody: soon as Afsnath and Tusker left, everybody would start gossiping 'bout how your old man was a self-important douchebag and a horndog, how your mother was a male-hating, power-hungry bitch with ice instead of blood in her veins. They even used t'say she slept with you and Lanson."
"They what?!"
"(Kekeke!). Don't worry, I know it wasn't true. Those people probably knew, too… at least some of them."
Still more silence. Much to Riazul's wonderment, his expression and tone turned glacial.
"They just didn't care. That's what people do, Beerus: they talk. They hate being alone. They're terrified of silence, scared everyone else will see them for the weak, pathetic sacks of shit they really are. They tear their garments, whine and groan about how bad and horrible the world is, 'bout how other people are the worst… but they don't do a damn thing about it. They're addicted to calling everybody else out on their bullcrap, then get all defensive when they do the same to them."
Okocim Lech-Sa could only blink in disbelief.
"Quitela…"
Eyes on the Channel Ducts, Riazul Sauza strove to ground himself.
"[Don't do it, Sauza; don't try to remember him, the way he looked, what his voice sounded like. The sonovabitch is dead, gone forever; he can't hurt anyone anymore… he can't hurt you anymore…]. Anyway, you're probably wondering how I got these things. In case you haven't figured it out by now, I was one of Sazerac's guinea pigs. Me and other children, we spent weeks having our bodies carved, slashed, burned, all under his supervision."
Silence. It all came back to Quitela: youths screaming, moaning in pain, struggling to hold on to life, or eagerly surrendering to death.
"Most of the kids I used to be friends with didn't make it. Gods know what happened to the ones who did. Anyway, Sazerac, he took part in the rituals, did most of the initial investiture."
Silence. Okocim looked on in utter bewilderment.
"Euphemism. The cuts and burns that turned me into what you're seeing: a Ki Bandit, Energy Grafter, Soul Stealer, Might Reaper, Skill Taker, Craft Chaser, etc. There's over a hundred synonyms, but at heart they designate the same damn thing: a parasite, a bottom-feeder, a slave…"
"Sauza… I…"
"What's the matter with you, anyway?"
Something clicked in Quitela's mind.
"Wait... you feel sorry for me, don't you?" (Brief pause). "Well, don't; shit happens. Hell, your life was no bed of roses, either. Otherwise, you'd never have become a God of Destruction. [Please… shut the fuck up already]."
Turning downward, the Sphygian's stare met the bracelets clasped to the Naatsusian's wrists, as well as his own.
"Are those…?"
"Soul Inhibitors. They ward off evil spirits. Sazerac and Kagesa used them all the time."
"Who's Kagesa?"
The young rodent paused for all of a microsecond.
"[Fucking bitch…]. Kagesa XX of the Clan Kuraimono, AKA Agavia XXVII, heiress of Pontalier, of House Rosángel… Sazerac's predecessor. She belonged to the Kuraimono Clan, a powerful family of magic users who claimed to be descended from Rosángel, the founder of the noble house I was adopted into. Remember Dercori, the fish warrior who used those talismans back at the Tournament?"
"You mean the one Roshi eliminated with that magic jar thing? What was it called again?"
"[Sure, hit me below the belt, why don't you?]. Evil Containment Wave… anyway, Dercori's one of her descendants."
"There's something else I don't get. I don't recall meeting Kagesa, but I did see Sazerac plenty of times. Guy wasn't a fish person, or whatever Dercori's race is called. If what you said is true, Dercori is Kagesa's descendant, but Sazerac wasn't, which means he must've been adopted into House Rosángel, like you were."
"You don't say?"
"Excuse me?"
"You forgot his title, didn't you?"
"Uh… wait, wait, don't tell me. It's on the tip of my tongue…"
Another day, another eyeroll.
"God of Destruction Sazerac XVIII, heir of Agavia, of House Rosángel, born Lyman Peychaud. You're right, though: Dercori and Kagesa are Chtapodians. Sazerac is (or rather, was) a Lynkatian."
Quitela's tone grew colder still.
"Damn cat was a smooth-talker, and an even better marksman. He was also unbelievably gifted in magic and martial arts. How else do you think he got into Kagesa's good graces? Those Kuraimono bastards didn't let just any jerk and their sister join their clan. They even threw out their own flesh and blood when they didn't make the cut… that is, when they didn't use 'em for their damn experiments. Yet another thing ol' Lyman excelled at. Fucking asshole... he and his stooges used to take in orphans, bastards, fugitives, down-and-out schmucks nobody else gave a rat's ass about, promised 'em food and a roof over their heads. The lucky ones 'graduated' into spies, assassins, enforcers, servants, etc."
Ancient, long forgotten voices returned with a vengeance.
Get up already, fucking rat! You've got work to do!
Useless, worthless, orphaned piece of shit! Even a gods-damned stableboy can do better than this!
Don't you talk back to me, boy. I pulled you out from the gutter: I can still leave you there to rot, and even that is more than you deserve.
Stop squirming, brat! You will do as you're told!
You, a Destroyer God!? You're just an assassin, and not a particularly good one, mind you. Even the girls have more of a shot than you.
You're nothing more than a fucking rat.
Fucking rat…
Fucking rat…
Fucking rat…
"¡Brazaletes de mierda! ¡¿En qué carajos estaría pensando ese pinche culero hombre verde hijo de su reputísimo padre!?"
Clinking his Soul Inhibitors, Sauza vainly sought his center. Just when it seemed doable, however, the late Lord Beerus unwittingly brought the rat back to Earth.
"Come again?"
"None of your business!"
Riazul had half a mind to give Okocim the tongue-lashing of a lifetime and kick him out. Fortunately, restraint and cooler heads prevailed… for all of five seconds.
"Would you quit looking at me like that!? It's making me nervous!"
"O-Oh, right… sorry 'bout that, Quitela. It's just… your fur seems… well, different."
"What're you, stupid? Of course it's different! These damn things reappeared after—"
"Wasn't talking 'bout those… maybe I'm seein' things, but the color seems kinda off."
"That's because it is. I'm a Naatsusian. My species change fur color as they mature. Arrested development and all that."
"Really? How old were you when you ascended?"
"Don't remember. If I'd been human, I would've been 'round thirteen or fourteen, I guess."
"Sauza… look, I—"
Stare altogether elsewhere, Okocim picked some more at his food.
"[Oh no you don't… you don't get to barge into my room, force me to live through the worst moments of my life all over again, then slink away like a damn coward]. What's wrong? Didn't take you for the shy type, Beerus."
Sweating by now, the fallen deity seemed quite eager to dissolve into a puddle and disappear.
"I—"
Quitela pressed on. At last he had the damn cat right where he wanted him.
"There's something off about you, too. You've changed; dunno if it's for the better, though."
"W-Well, y'see… I'm a Sphygian. Our species don't have much fur. What little we do have, it comes in a series of patterns, starts showin' 'round the time we're preteens. My fur turned purple when I was forc—when I first received Energy of Destruction. I'm mortal now, so… by the way, did Cognac ever tell you all the gory details 'bout my childhood and all that crap (pardon my language)?"
"[O-kay… didn't expect him to go there]. He… he let a bit or two slip every now and then. Can't say I pressed him for details."
"You seriously expect me to believe that?"
"I'm not one to stick my snout where it doesn't belong."
"Don't insult my intelligence. I know who you used to spy for back in the day." (Brief pause). "Speakin' of spies… I also know about those little stunts you pulled back at the Tournament."
"[Of course you do…]. I'd rather you didn't bring that up."
"Yeah... I understand. We all got things we'd rather forget." (Brief pause). "You haven't touched your food."
"I'm not hungry."
"You haven't eaten in hours."
"Yeah, so?"
"You could use some nourishment."
"What are you, my mother?" (Brief pause). "Fine, fine…"
Vainly trying to lose Okocim's expectant gaze, Riazul devoured most of the tonkatsu in less than five seconds. It didn't take Cognac to realize he'd just made a terrible mistake.
"[SALTY! TOO SALTY!]. W-W-W—"
"What is it, Sauza!? What's wrong!?"
"W-W-W-W—"
"A-Are you choking!?"
"N-No! W-W-W-W—"
Guided by Sauza's pointing, the artist formerly known as Beerus grabbed a jarful of cold water at a nearby table. Snatching the thing from the feline's hands, the Naatsusian downed its contents in roughly three seconds. Afterwards, a shamefaced Okocim looked upon the ground.
"The salt… I overdid it, didn't I?"
"[YOU DON'T FUCKING SAY!]. Ya think!?"
The fallen Hakaishin from the Universe of Trust scratched his head in visible bewilderment.
"I don't understand. It was alright when I tried it... then again, I can't taste much of anything, so take what I just said with a pinch of salt… n-no pun intended."
Riazul was not amused. Looking downward at the sullied bedsheets, meat, bone fragments, and noodles strewn about, the rodent eyed the feline like he wanted to rend him limb from limb.
"Gods damn it! I washed those sheets the other day!" (Sighs). "I'll handle this."
"Lech-Sa, wait—"
Beerus stripped the bed in half a heartbeat. Next thing Sauza knew, he was knocked down, seconds away from being grabbed by yet another pair of hands.
"Sauza! Gods, I'm so fucking stupid! Lemme help y—"
Vente, ratita; ya sabes que te queremos.
No te asustes, morrito; verás como no duele.
¡Estate quieto, pinche cabrón! ¡Cállate y haz lo que te mando!
¡¿Pero qué te has creído, mamón!? ¡Eres nuestro! ¡O lo haces o lo haces!
"DON'T TOUCH ME!"
Quitela's fist found Okocim's face. Knocked down on his back, the disgraced ex-Destroyer stared confusion into the rodent. Rather than hurt or angered, the cat man seemed dazed. Not that Riazul cared. Eyes aflood, the Naatsusian mutely begged the Sphygian to end it as quick and painlessly as possible. Sauza brazed himself: the usual weeping and grinding of teeth never followed.
"Quitela…"
The sound of that hated voice brought the mouse back to here and now. Still weeping, the young rat steeled himself.
"I'm sorry… I—"
"Go away…"
"B-But I—"
"Get out... now."
Dirty linen in hand, Okocim Lech-Sa scurried away. Alone at last, the lad once named God of Destruction Quitela wept in earnest…
Sometime later…
"Quitela?"
Groaning out loud, Sauza at first tried to ignore that voice, yet thought better of it. Tired and forlorn, the deposed Destroyer God looked up.
"Piccolo…"
"Are you alright? What are you doing on the floor?"
"I fell. I'm not hurt or anything."
"[His eyes… he's been crying again]. Are you sure you're alright."
"[You never let up, do you, green man?]. Is the ritual ready?"
"Almost... follow me."
Escorted by Son Goku's former nemesis, the Naatsusian passed through the Training Hall. Android 21 sparred with Fennel and Cumin. Rather than acknowledge Quitela, the trio carried on their drills.
"[Still mad I attacked you, I see… cry me a freaking river]."
Nearby, three Saiyans sparred with three other fellows. Much to his chagrin, Sauza recognized the one dressed in an orange gi.
"[Son Goku… the Strongest Warrior in the Multiverse. To think Ganos and the others lost to this overpowered dumbass and his idiot pals…]."
The late Lord Quitela also recognized Lavender Mead, who at that moment was performing a kata with a stranger, or so the rodent thought.
"[That energy signature… that's Sidra!? What the hell happened to him!? I—no. Get a hold of yourself, Sauza. We'll figure it out later]."
The disdain of the pair wasn't lost on Riazul, who for his part pretended not to notice their ireful side-glances. Having reached the center of the Lookout, Piccolo ushered the lad into an ample area, then exchanged words with Dende and Mr. Popo. One hundred and eight newly lit candles dispelled the darkness, yet something wasn't quite right about them.
"[White flames? What the hell's going on here?]."
"Q-Q-Quitel-l-la?"
The Naatsusian turned to the sound of an all too familiar voice.
"Champa?"
Hakaishin uniform gone, Beerus's brother now wore a virtual replica of Vegeta's outfit. Purple fur was beginning to give way to brindled Marengo-clair patterns and khakis, quite the contrast to Okocim's dim gray and dark sienna. Much like his twin, the fallen god of Universe 6 had seen better days.
"Please… c-c-call me L-Lanson. Z-Zen-Oh… h-h-he g-g-g-got you t-too."
"[No shit…]. How long have you been here?"
"C-Coupla days, I g-guess. H-How a-a-about you?"
"[That stammering…]. Coupla weeks; everything's been a blur since the blue thumbtack ejected me from Universe 4."
"I-I know the f-feeling."
Silence.
"So… what're you in for?"
"P-Pardon?"
"You had a ritual performed on you, didn't you? Why else would you be here?"
"P-Pretty m-much. Picc-c-c-colo and c-c-c-c-company d-d-did something to c-c-c-cure my as-as-asthma."
"[This is getting annoying…]. You have asthma?"
Lanson sighed.
"S-S-Since I w-w-was l-litt-t-tle. L-L-Let's leave it-t-t at that."
"[Can't say I disagree…]."
At that moment, a watch-like device clasped to Piccolo's wrist began to flash. The Namekian was just about to excuse himself when a holographic projection showed a battle-scarred Whis.
"Emergency! The Omni-King and Grand Priest barely survived an assassination attempt from shapeshifting assassins!"
Dende sweated uneasily.
"Assassination!?"
So did Mr. Popo.
"Shapeshifters!?"
Beerus's former attendant was in no mood to parley.
"We've been infiltrated by the enemy! Gather everyone so we can uncover the imposters! We're still fighting off the assassins! We'll join you ASAP! Over and out!"
Silence. Brow furrowed, Piccolo's next decision all but made itself. The group literally flew to the Training Hall as Piccolo activated a device clasped to his wrist.
"Raditz, are you there!? There's an—"
"We know! We'll meet you at the Training Hall! Over and out!"
Some four or five minutes later, an explosion rocked the Lookout, followed by another roughly ten seconds in.
"Almost there…"
Piccolo's words have yet to fade when the Namekian spots the culprit: a biped green-skinned canine being riddled with black sores, just about to pounce on Goku! Special Beam Cannon readied, Piccolo is about to call on Quitela, only to realize the Naatsusian is almost done prepping his own attack.
The green man and the mouse exchange a brief side-glance. No words are spoken; no words are needed.
"SPECIAL BEAM CANNON!"
Direct hit! The green freak barely glances at the hole in its chest as it falls on its back. The Namekian has barely come to a stop by the time Goku, Vegeta, Nappa, and Raditz jump back on their feet.
"Is everyone alright!?"
"We'll live. Help the others out."
Riazul surveyed the scene after the group had gotten back up. Piccolo's next words lied stillborn in his mouth when sounds of stomping and bone being crushed filled the area and all eyes turned to Sidra.
"Lavender… where is Lavender!?"
What followed became a blur: the creature jumped back up, virtually unscathed. By the time Quitela blinked, the right arm on that thing had changed into a sickle, the latter swung to the back of an unsuspecting Sidra…
"LOOK OUT!"
Unreal! Beerus pushed his counterpart out of the way, taking the blow instead!
"OKOCIM!"
Anise's screams snaps Riazul and the rest back to attention. Jumping into the fray, the Tien-Shin pupil maims the abomination's arm from the elbow down as Goku punches the attacker into a wall.
Okocim Lech-Sa is lying unconscious in a pool of his own blood. A stunned Quitela can only watch as Anise and Goku rush to the unresponsive feline while the creature jumps back down and has itself a good old laugh.
Sauza takes a closer look: the freak's shining, sunken lavender-pink eyes remind the rodent of fish and a goat of some sort. The thing's skull only bears a few thin layers of flesh, gums bleeding all over half-opened maws, myriads of serrated teeth already seeking newer prey.
"Impressive indeed; it's been too long since I faced such worthy opponents. Shame I was ordered to kill the lot of you: you would—"
"NO!"
Whis and Vados fly in. Still bleeding and battle-scarred, the twin Angels point their staffs at the green eyesore.
"Identify yourself."
Grimacing at Vados, the monster chuckles again.
"Displacer Agent 0304, codename Kaisen. It would seem my compatriots have fallen rather short of what was expected. No matter; my superiors will surely reward me when I—"
Fired upon by Vados and Whis, Kaisen jumps to safety. Vados addresses the group.
"Kaisen secretes powerful venom! Don't let him land a single blow!"
"You have to get Okocim out of here, Whis! You gotta save him!"
"We'll do what we can, Anise. Vados and I should be able to stall the venom."
Raditz palms his own fist.
"Get on with it! We'll handle the sonovabitch!"
With the Z-Fighters hot on the bastard's tail, Whis and Vados secure the comatose Beerus and warp away with him to safety as Popo and Dende also make themselves scarce.
The time for talk is over. Kaisen opens up with another ki explosion. Wise to his strategy by now, Earth's warriors evade and/or deflect the blast. Once he grows two additional pairs of arms, the Displacer Agent turns them into scythes not unlike insect pincers and slashes at throats, stomachs, any viable target. The Z-Fighters disperse, narrowly avoiding puncture wounds, only to realize they've left themselves wide open to counterattack in the form of another energy explosion, as Quitela soon realizes.
"[This jerk's nothing more than a one-trick pony…]."
The rodent's train of thought derails the moment he glances to his left: Cumin has come perilously close to Kaisen's scythes! Without so much as a moment's deliberation, Riazul calls upon Shantsa's Ultrasonic Exchange: the rat's clone takes what could have proved a fatal hit before fading away, much to Jintan's shock.
"[So far so good, Sauza; concentrate: use Caway's ability! You have to!]."
It takes some doing, but Quitela manifests something resembling a heavy pavise, just in time to block several acidic spews from Kaisen's uncanny maws.
"[No time for finesse…]."
Sauza puts all his strength and speed into one final attack. Flying thrice as fast as a meteor, the Naatsusian rams the monster through several walls, coming to a full stop in the middle of the courtyard. Before Kaisen can so much as breathe, Quitela bashes his head with the oversized shield: one hit becomes two, then three, four, five, six, seven, eight…
Riazul Sauza has lost all notion of time. Eons old events play in his mind's eye as if they'd occurred barely a few seconds ago. What little semblance of order there is rapidly gives way to frenzied chaos.
¡Vente, ratita, vas a gozar de lo lindo!
No te hagas el santo, maricón. Sabemos lo que eres.
¡Acércate más, joto roedor! ¡Es pa' lo único que sirves!
Quitela screams, roars once, twice, thrice…
Don't try to weasel away, faggot rat. You'll complete this mission one way or the other.
You, a Destroyer God? Please… you barely qualify as a slut. Don't you forget your place, Sauza. I made you what you are, and I can unmake you just as easily.
"Quitela!"
Piccolo's call goes unheard.
Pinche rata…
Pinche rata…
Pinche rata…
"L-LOOK OUT!"
Champa's scream and the explosion that follows knock Riazul several yards away, bringing him back to the present. The young rat peers behind: a second Kaisen lies on the ground, reduced to a smoking pile of exploded flesh from the waist up. Not quite out of his daze, Sauza looks in front: this other Kaisen also lies in a pool of his own flesh and blood, head bashed into hamburger meat.
In less than a breath, both halves of the Displacer Agent dissolve into muscle tissue and tendons, unifying themselves into a single entity. Kaisen's still standing, with nary a scratch!
The times for games is over. The fiend discharges a sizeable Mouth Energy Blast at Lanson. Running on adrenaline, Sauza shields him with Caway's abilities.
"[He's too strong! It takes everything I got just to maintain the shield!]. DON'T FUCKING STAND THERE, HUNK OF LARD! HELP ME!"
"I C-C-CAN'T! THE EN-EN-ENERGY'S NOT—"
A larger energy blast devours that of Kaisen: Son Goku and the Z-Fighters pour everything they've got into one massive attack! The Agent amps up his onslaught, drawing upon vast ki reserves.
Goku: "HE'S TOO STRONG!"
Vegeta: "PUT EVERYTHING INTO IT!"
It's not enough. The Displacer Agent is sure to win.
Once more, Riazul Sauza's consciousness slips away. Frame enshrouded in that familiar burning silver, the warrior formerly named God of Destruction Quitela fires an energy image of himself much too fast for Kaisen to evade. Once the image goes through him, the creature's attack falters and dies out, leaving him to be ravished by the joint blast of Earth's warriors. The monster has yet to fade from view when his newly formed afterimage flies back to Sauza and collides with him head-on. Piccolo and the rest barely managed to jump away on time.
"QUITELA!"
No response. Piccolo was already sprinting to ground zero when the mouse emerged from the conflagration, uniform in tatters, significantly burned and scarred, but alive.
"Is… is he…"
Roughly five minutes went by. When the smoke cleared, Riazul and company beheld what little remained of Kaisen's body: half of one leg and foot, presumably the right one. The battle was won… for now.
"Don't let your guard down!"
Piccolo's warning came rather late, as the remains immediately grew tendrils of muscle and began to reform themselves. Head halfway done, Kaisen had barely risen when a pellet of pure white ki struck him exactly at the center of the waist, trapping him inside a bubble-like energy barrier.
"What is the meaning of this!? I can't shapeshift or fly!"
Having made the scene, a stern Whis and Vados motioned the sphere to come to them.
"Let me out! I demand you release me right this moment!"
The Guide Angel of Universe 7 glowered.
"You are in no position to demand anything."
"Make sure they're alright, Whis. I'll escort this abomination to the enclosure."
"As you wish, Vados. Be careful."
With that, Champa's former attendant warped away with Kaisen. After that, Whis took most of half an hour to heal the Z-Fighters and make sure the venom wouldn't claim another victim.
"Whis… what happened to Lord Beerus? Is he…"
The Angel sighed.
"I left him in the care of His Eminence's medics, Goku. They managed to stall the venom, but it's still too early to tell. He… he might not survive."
"O-Okocim… n-no… w-why… WHY!?"
Lanson all but tripped over himself, weeping and hollering as Raditz and Nappa tried to calm him down.
"Quitela?"
Riazul did not acknowledge Piccolo. Whole of him in agony, the rodent's last words to the Sphygian bounced within his mind.
Go away…
Get out... now.
No tears came out. No other sound was heard, save for the same old litany.
Pinche rata…
Pinche rata…
Pinche rata…