Hello everyone! I hope you all are doing well. I've been writing a lot lately so just a heads up, some serious action coming in the next few chapters for you guys. I want to make a note and say that since April of 2021, you guys and gals have been supportive as I close in on my 2nd anniversary of putting this story out. I find myself asking the question of if I want to maybe rewrite or even streamline this story so it's in a more digestible form. The problem is, however, that I don't know how many chapters this thing is going to be lol. Peeps I haven't had any reviews lately. I don't know how you guys are taking the story so far if you don't clue me in. Enjoy guys!
Frieza has transformed into his Final Form! Will Shepard be able to hold out long enough to fulfill his plan? And what is his plan? And what is happening with Raditz? Read and find out on this next chapter of Dragon Ball: BtG!
Age: December 14, 762
Location: Namek
Raditz opened his eyes, hoping he desperately made it. Goku held his hands up as Raditz jumped in front of him. He was about to shout out but then began to feel something familiar.
"I...I'm me again!" Raditz let himself smile, genuinely smiling before he collapsed. The agony rolled through his body in waves.
"N-Noooo! Dammit! My b-body! I had him. Grrrr...YOU!" Captain Ginyu yelled at Raditz's collapsed form before his focus shifted to Goku, who took his Golden Staff back off his back. "Well if I... If I can't have him, then I'll just take you, monkey boy!" The Captain held his arms out, prepared to make his move. But someone else was watching. Very closely...
Vegeta had become entranced in the fight, still trying to gauge the other Saiyan's power to his own. Seeing Captain Ginyu somehow switch bodies with Raditz changed the entire game plan. He was sure the giant idiot could beat the purple bastard!
'H-How could he lose like that? I had heard rumors that the Captain had used different bodies in the past but I never understood how!'
The Prince had watched as Goku had beaten the newly stolen body of Raditz, soundly.
'That blasted Kakarot! Is he holding back as well? Damn it all! Even through all of my battles...even with all that I have gained, I am still too far behind? I will catch up... I must!'
Vegeta had paid careful attention to the Captain's mannerisms. He knew what was about to happen. So he made his move...
"CHANGE NO-!"
The Captain's final moments would be one of absolute agony. His teeth shattered outward, as did a lot of blood, as a Ki blade impaled him from the back of his neck through his mouth in the front.
"Yes, Ginyu. Know it is I, the great Saiyan Warrior Prince, Vegeta, who has taken your life hm hm hm hm hm hm as well as the lives of your other comrades. May you burn in every kind of hell." Vegeta was so fast that the Captain did not have a chance to react as Vegeta pulled the purple Ki blade out of his mouth, turning so fast that the blade itself became a whirlwind. The Prince sliced through the Captain's neck.
Goku watched in horror as Captain Ginyu gargled. The life left the horned alien's eyes as his head slowly slid off of his neck, both his body and head falling simultaneously into the ocean.
"Hm hm hm hm hm hm hm... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! YES! I'VE DESTROYED THE GINYU FORCE! At long last." Vegeta dissipated his Ki blade, watching as Goku shook his head.
"That was wrong. In every way Vegeta! How could you do that?" Goku asked, his anger beginning to simmer on the surface.
"How could I? HOW COULD I? You are an imbecile! You see what he did to your brother! Do you think you were going to just get away from that? And I did it because he deserved to die. By a royal's hand!" Vegeta clenched his fist in anger, pissed that a low class would question his actions.
"He couldn't defend himself any longer. I saw what he did to Raditz, and I had a way out!" Goku argued back.
"W-w-will you two...knock it..off?" The barely conscious Raditz eeked out, barely able to breathe.
They both looked down at the injured Saiyan. Goku flew down next to him, kneeling and putting his hand on his brother's shoulder.
"Darn it. I'm all out of senzu beans." Goku said as he fumbled through his pockets.
"Those blasted legumes you have been ingesting?" Vegeta said as he landed opposite Goku.
"Heh heh heh heh heh yeah. They do make a difference though." Goku said.
"Hmph. That old slug up on the cliff can heal him." Vegeta hated to admit it, but he needed Raditz to be healthy. If he died fighting Frieza, all the better a properly healthy meat shield instead of a broken, injured one!
"You hear that bro? Let's go get you fixed up. Thanks, Vegeta!" Goku smiled at the Prince before he flew up, making the Prince nearly throw up from misery.
A few moments later, they had made it back to the cliff, where a somber Sopran, Orn, Dende, and Cargo, as well as the last surviving namekians, were all saying a silent namekian prayer. No one disturbed them. Yamcha, Krillin, and Bulma had all watched silently.
Another minute later, Sopran stood up completely, noticing the injured, now unconscious Saiyan in Goku's arms.
"Set him down gently." Goku did as he was asked, as Sopran laid his hands slowly over Raditz's broken, now unconscious body.
"Oh, my word... I can sense a great deal of inner turmoil within you, child. Whatever that monstrosity has done, it will not be very easy to fix." Sopran looked at Goku. "This will not be very easy to handle."
"Dende, Cargo. Please assist me. This will be good practice for you both. Perhaps there is something that can be done in the meantime." Sopran suggested to the others as he and the children got to work, their hands glowing.
At that moment, all the Ki-sensitive people looked up, as Piccolo dropped down, dragon ball in hand and breathing heavily.
"We are in deep shit." was all he said.
"Mister Piccolo!" Gohan nearly yelled out. He flew over and landed next to his mentor, noticing the sweat coming off of his brow.
"I'm alright kid. That Frieza... His power. It's unlike... It's unlike anything I've ever felt before."
"Of course it is! Which is why we need to better prepare ourselves. Hm hm hm hm it's perfect! Orn, Nappa! We will deal with the occupants of that ship we bombed earlier. With Frieza busy, we can raid the damn thing! Oh, it's perfect!" Vegeta grinned as his plan started to take shape.
"Raid a spaceship? I HAVE TO GO!" Bulma shouted out, running to Vegeta and grabbing him by his armor and shaking him.
"PLEASE! LET ME GO! LEMME GO LEMME GO LEMME GO LEM-!"
"GET...OFF OF ME! Uhh...uhh... Vile woman!" The Prince pushed her away, making her fall back into Yamcha.
"Hey, you didn't have to push her asshole!" Yamcha said as he put Bulma behind him.
"EXCUSE ME!" Bulma shouted, walking out from behind Yamcha and squaring up to Vegeta.
"You are either gonna take me to that ship, or I will find my way there and kick you in the fucking balls when I do!"
"Y-you think you can actually hurt me? ME? You have the most pathetic power level out of everyone here! You are no more a fly that constantly is buzzing around and annoying me!" Vegeta nearly yelled back.
"I don't need to be strong to hurt you, PRICK!"
"SHUT YOUR MOUTH, BITCH!"
"FUCK YOU, DICK!"
"WHORE!"
"ASSHOLE!"
"BLUE-HEADED WINDBAG!"
"POINTY HAIRED SCUMBAG!"
Even Yamcha was hesitant to try to separate the two as they were now within inches of each other, breathing heavily in each other's faces.
"That's enough! We can fight about this later!" Goku finally stepped in, tired of having heard the vile words being thrown between the pair. His wife would certainly kill him if he ever used words like that!
"Hmph. Fine. Do you want to go to the ship woman? Be my guest. But if you so much as-"
Everyone who could feel energy had been paying idle attention to the growing battle that was happening hundreds of miles away. But something changed. And it sent a chill down all of their spines.
"W-what's going on guys?" Bulma asked, oblivious to what was going on. Even Vegeta himself began to shake almost uncontrollably.
"I-is-is that?"
"Shepards in trouble. We need to jumpstart that plan, Saiyan." Piccolo said, leaving no room for argument. But Goku couldn't hold back his thoughts.
"Do we have to kill them?"
The Prince rolled his eyes but Nappa answered before he could.
"What's it matter if we kill em or not? They're just Frieza's little henchmen. Nobodies!"
"Everyone is important to somebody." Goku tried to reason.
"No offense Goku but I kind of agree with Vegeta," Yamcha said, stunning him.
"Y-Yamcha? You can't be serious!"
"It's just like the Red Ribbon Army. Remember them?"
"Of course, but this is-"
"Will you quit your whining? Frieza is over there powering up massively and all you can do is argue? We need to move, NOW! Boy, you stay back with your father. The Saiyans, Orn, and I will handle this. Once we do, Krillin, Gohan, Yamcha, and Bulma will enter the ship as well. We do this as fast as we can. Tien will sense what we're up to and find us when he can." Piccolo said.
"I-if he can get away from... From that." Krillin said, gulping in fear for his friend.
"He will because he has to. He knows what's at stake." Piccolo replied. "Will that be a problem, Saiyans?"
"Hey, I plan on getting in the action! Been looking forward to smashing some of Frieza's little toys heh heh heh!" Nappa replied enthusiastically.
"Hmph. Fine. We'll do this your way, for now." Was all the Prince said.
"Good! I need a ride, and you'reeeeee it!" Bulma said, jumping on Vegeta's back. He was very tempted to throw the woman over his shoulder. But he caught a strong whiff of her fragrance and was momentarily left off-kilter trying to find his balance.
After a few moments, he gave up, snarling as he looked back at the beaming woman, who somehow remained undeterred from her impending doom.
Yamcha was momentarily jealous, but let it go. He had long given up the woman for a (hopefully) fruitful friendship that wouldn't turn bitter. His discipline and excessive training in mental control helped him bite back a retort as he blew it off and took off in the air after Piccolo, Goku, and Gohan. They were off to prepare!...
Shepard held his hand out, where the BanHammer flew to him near instantly. Giving it a few experimental swings, he held back his bile as the torrent of power reached the heavens. The tyrant's sheer power nearly blew back the Saiyan, but he slammed his weapon into the ground and held strong.
"YAAAHAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" cracks continued to splinter down what was once Frieza's 3rd form. Slowly but steadily, Shepard could feel the being beneath the shell finally emerge as one final scream pulsed out, sending a massive dome of pure, destructive energy across the barren landscape.
"Shit!" Shepard held his weapon up as it parted a wave down the middle of the violent dome. There was smoke, and ash everywhere. Rocks had been splintered and obliterated to raw atomized particles from the sheer magnitude of power that was now rolling off of the being in the cloud.
"Tien's close, dude! We need to keep Frieza's attention as much as possible!"
Hearing Marc's words, Shepard reached out, sensing the Triclops not far away...
Tien had made it, despite nearly faltering in pure fear of the being whose power could be felt planetwide. Thankful that Shepard had made Frieza so distracted that they had traveled quite far from where he now stood with the dragon balls.
"Alright! I've almost got you back, Chiaotzu!" Tien smiled as he held up one of the balls. Putting the dragon radar in his pocket, Tien quickly grabbed the other ball. Hovering in the air now, he looked back at the massive plume of smoke that reached the skies.
"Good luck, my friend. Give it all you've got!" Tien started to fly away but barely made it 50 feet when a small being phased in front of him.
"Going somewhere are we?"...
Shepard didn't initially catch Frieza's energy moving faster than his senses could follow before he held his BanHammer out, somehow moving so fast that he appeared between Frieza and Tien, smacking Frieza's intended Death Beam away from Tien, saving his life. He moved the BanHammer instantly in front of him, charging forward and surprising the now fully transformed Frieza in the stomach, forcing him towards the ground in shocked pain.
"GO TIEN! GOOOO!" Shepard desperately yelled. The Triclops didn't hesitate, instantly turning up his energy and even giving it a Kaioken boost. He blasted away.
On the ground, Frieza put his hands on the cold metal of the weapon, slowly attempting to push it back.
"I w-will make you suffer the most painful death possible!" With a final push, Frieza blasted Shepard away, sending the Saiyan skidding backward on his feet, mostly unharmed.
The tyrant slowly made his way to his feet, brushing his body off.
"So, you aren't so dumb after all to pick up that blasted hammer of yours?" Frieza taunted.
Shepard chuckled at that. He knew Frieza was trying to goad him once again. Giving a quick look at his beautiful weapon, he urged it mentally to gather whatever lost energy that may gather from the upcoming fight.
"Ya know Frieza, I'm a lot of things. Dumb may even be one of them. But I'd rather be brainless, than HEARTLESS!" He phased over quickly, slamming his weapon down and missing, before Frieza's fully regrown tail wrapped around the weapon. Shepard tried pulling away, but Frieza wouldn't budge. He smiled at Shepard with sinister glee.
"Let's see how good you really are without your precious weapon, monkey!" Frieza went to wrench it away, but Shepard didn't let go either. He began to smile at Frieza as well, which put off the Tyrant.
"Let's!" Shepard let the BanHammer fall. Frieza tried to throw it away with his tail but wasn't fast enough when all of a sudden, it arced incredible electricity which forced Frieza to let go. Looking at his burnt tail, Frieza looked up, palming the incoming punch and pulling Shepard into a gut-busting knee to his body, sending blood shooting out of the Saiyan's mouth as Frieza pointed a finger into Shepard's chin.
"This is how easily your life is to take, simple Neanderthal!" Frieza stated, before jabbing his hand inwards at Shepard's throat, crushing the Saiyan's larynx. Shepard fell back, holding his throat with one hand as he called the BanHammer to the other. Instantly, his throat bones straightened out. A sickening internal crack was heard within. It nearly made Shepard shout in pain, but now he was furious! He growled, instantly plowing his way toward Frieza, who calmly dodged while flying backward. At one point, Shepard could even see Frieza's eyes closed, as if bored. He started to boil over in anger again, but a thought stopped him cold.
'He... he knows all about a Saiyan's tendencies to get angry and fall into blood lust! What am I doing?'
Shepard slowly flew backward, making the tyrant look on in confusion. Taking slow, deep breaths, he gathered himself. He analyzed Frieza's power level, and he could surely tell his foolhardy mistake.
"Kaioken TIMES 5!" Shepard roared out, charging Frieza and implanting his fist in the tyrant's jaw. Making Frieza skid back, Shepard didn't let up, he feinted with his weapon, coming across with another heavy punch that caught Frieza in the chin, making him flip backward as he landed on his feet.
"NO MORE OF THAT MONKEY!" Frieza was so fast, almost too fast. Lashing out with his tail, Frieza looked to bash Shepard away, but he narrowly dodged. Dodging more tail strikes narrowly, Shepard desperately looked for an opening, which gave Frieza enough time to smack the BanHammer out of Shepard's hand before he palmed the Rogue in the chin, making Shepard stumble back.
"I wonder monkey. As I slowly kill you, what will your last thoughts be hmm?" Frieza slowly walked Shepard down, slamming his tail into the ground.
Shepard held his hand back out and the BanHammer instantly flew back into his hand, stunning Frieza.
"My last thoughts are for those closest to me, asswipe."
Frieza looked on stunned at the defiant Saiyan before he started to chuckle.
"Hoh hoh oooh oh... This is going to be most enjoyable! I lavish at the thought of tearing you apart, monkey!"
Frieza blasted towards Shepard, who held up his weapon as a loud CLANK echoed, followed by a pained shout as Shepard was thrown wildly away with a slap from Frieza's tail. The tyrant charged forward, making his tail spike in ice as he turned, quickly hurling Ice Spikes at the Rogue. One shattered on the BanHammer, and 2 more whizzed by with inches to spare, but the last one cut threw Shepard's leg.
"AGHH!" A short shout, followed by falling to a knee a moment later, and Shepard was doing everything he could to stay warm. The Ice Spike continued to stay in his leg even as he powered up, trying to melt it.
"Ahh ahh ahh, monkey, that won't work hm hm hm hm. In my final, most prevalent form, I can turn those Ice Spikes to subzero temperatures. I can even do this!" Frieza held his hand out, sending massive pain through Shepard's upper leg as it started to go numb.
"Watch as you slowly succumb to my Ice Tomb hm hm hm hm. A simple technique. As you feel your insides continue to grow colder, you'll also notice it continues to destroy your organs from the inside! Be honored by the fact that you made me have to transform into my most powerful form. Too bad it was quite boring, considering I am only using 3 percent of my full power."
Shepard knew this. He could sense it! The ice was slowly growing in and out of his body. His lower half was nearly covered now.
"F-F-Frie-FRIEZAAAAAAAAAA!" Shepard screamed, more in rage than pain, as the ice began to crack all around him. He slammed the BanHammer down, shattering the rest of the ice, except the lone spike still in his leg. He went to grab it but immediately waved his hand away as it was too cold to touch.
"Impressive monkey. Really..." Frieza phased in, kicking Shepard hard in the chest as he was working the Ice Spike out of his leg. Shepard hit the side of a rock formation hard as the Ice Spike jarred even more in his leg. Frieza slowly walked towards the downed Saiyan, who despite his chest nearly caving in from the force of the kick, held out his hand for the BanHammer that flew away. It came back, quickly heating up in his hand until the weapon turned a cherry red. His hand amazingly didn't burn as he set it on the Ice Spike. He felt the pain immediately lessen as the Spike melted far faster than his rage could muster. But Frieza didn't allow him any time. A Death Beam flew fast toward Shepard.
"AEEOOOOWW!" The beam went through his shoulder, followed by several more, each piercing areas of his body.
Zzt
BAM
Frieza phased in quickly next to Shepard, hitting him in the side of the head with an elbow, making the Rogue tumble head over heel away from the cratered formation. He slid along the ground, heavily exhausted. But before he could rise back to his feet, it was done for him as Frieza phased in next to Shepard, wrapping his tail around the Saiyan's neck, the tyrant squeezed hard. It took everything Shepard had not to struggle fruitlessly, instead trying to calm his mind.
"Now now monkey, I promise the end of your life is going to hurt immensely, but not until I say it's over hm?" Frieza turned Shepard around, and before Shepard could even think, his world nearly ended as Frieza punched him so hard in his spine, his breath left his body. Another punch and Shepard heard something snap. But he wouldn't scream, not for Frieza.
"Does it hurt, monkey?"
WHAM
WHAM
WHAAAAAM
Shepard's back was in agony, but he still didn't scream.
"E-eat shit!"
WHAAAM
"Ugh!"
WHAM
"Ooo that marvelous resistance of yours will leave quite soon. Allow me to shred it as I torture you!"
WHAAM
He held his hand out, watching as the BanHammer came flying in, but Frieza punched him hard in the back of the head, sending the weapon flying past both of them.
"Oooh? So it is magical and can only be summoned by concentration? Wonderful!" Frieza continued to break Shepard painfully as he kept punching Shepard in the back. And the Rogue was in agonized pain, and rage was beginning to build within him. He didn't feel Frieza's next punch as he powered himself up.
"W-What?" Frieza cried out as Shepard's feet touched the ground. He punched Shepard in the back again but noticed that the Rogue didn't so much as grunt from any acknowledgment of pain.
"Ahh..aAAAHHHHHHHHH!" Shepard summoned his strength, pulling Frieza's tail away from his neck as he pulled it towards him, forcing the tyrant off his feet towards him, where he threw his head back, smashing Frieza in the back of his own head. Frieza let out a short shout of pain as his head dazed. Shepard didn't let go of the tail as he pulled himself forward and slammed a knee into Frieza's back, knocking the tyrant to the ground, where he then lifted Frieza and started twirling in a fast circle. So fast that a whirlwind built up. Frieza felt like he was going to vomit before he was sent rocketing away, blowing through the nearby rock formation as if it were mere paper.
It gave Shepard time as he called his BanHammer back to himself. It slid into his hand easily enough as the magical weapon began to send soothing balms of healing energy over him. The holes in his body closed up painfully, but they did close. He felt a tingling sensation inside as the BanHammer healed whatever internal injuries he may have had. He received a minor Zenkai from the healing, but not enough to turn the tide. Opening his eyes, Shepard looked on as a massive dome of pink-colored energy blew an island into nothingness, a screaming tyrant raging toward him.
"HOW DARE YOU, SAIYAN!" Frieza yelled as he threw a heavy punch towards Shepard, who parried it, driving an elbow into Frieza's gut, making Frieza gasp momentarily before countering with a kick to Shepard's stomach, driving him backward. Shepard instantly came back on the attack, Frieza easily defending the attacks as Shepard didn't let up. Swinging the BanHammer, Frieza blocked it but found his forearm in pain as he did. Turning and throwing a roundhouse kick into Frieza's chest, it pushed the Tyrant back a few steps before Shepard held his weapon out, firing an incredibly quick white beam of energy. Frieza saw it and held his hand out as it collided with it. Pushing the Arcosian back, he was distracted as Shepard phased in next to him, swinging the BanHammer with both hands and nearly tearing Frieza's head off with sheer force. It connected with Frieza's jaw, sending blood and a couple of teeth away as he was blown back.
Frieza slammed into the ground several miles away, hitting the ground over and over for nearly a thousand yards as his brain had been utterly scrambled. Finally stopping, Frieza groaned as he held his face in pain. The Tyrant had never felt this. Except for his father, and Lord Beerus himself!
This pain!
His jaw hurt badly as he slowly made his way to his feet, his rage beginning to come over him.
"T-that actually hu-hurt! Wh-what is that blasted weapon made of? How could he... How could such a lowly life form manage to hurt me? Very well then, I suppose 5 percent will do!"
Frieza pondered this as he slowly made his way toward the Saiyan, who had set the BanHammer down.
Shepard began to go through his motions.
"You've trained it up since the last time. It won't finish him, but it'll certainly make him feel it! POUR IT THE FUCK ON SHEP!"
Marc yelled in his mind, urging him to keep fighting. His hands moved to the left as his aura became a deep crimson.
A red ball of energy began to spark in his hands as Frieza walked forward, curiously and ignorantly watching.
"Hoh ooh hoh! Like that will be enough to stop me!" Frieza chuckled.
The ground began to kick up as wind blew everywhere. The red energy sparked violently in his hands, but Shepard's training in the Capsule Pod had done wonders! It almost didn't even register in his hands anymore. Having gotten used to firing energy blasts and defending them so much, the Rogue's hands had calloused up more than enough to handle it now!
"TIMES TEEEEEEEEN!" Shepard threw his hands forward as the red energy wave shredded and disintegrated the ground beneath it, hurtling towards the Tyrant ready to claim his soul. Not being able to sense power, Frieza was taken back as the blast hit him fully, barely able to throw his hands in front of the beam as it pushed him back.
"N-n-NOOO! I WON'T LET THIS HAPPEN!" Frieza was driven back further, barely able to stand it as his feet picked up more and more rock.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Shepard screamed out as the red death cannon grew twice in size, lifting Frieza completely off of his feet as he was implanted in the blast. It flew across the ocean, steaming water as the excessive heat was greater than plasma.
Frieza grimaced and growled as he tried to find a way out of this mess, but the blast pushed him away even harder!...
Tien had been flying as fast as he could, nonstop! He was heading toward the group when he felt them take off in a completely different direction.
"Damn it guys. I hope you brought the dragon balls with you wherever you're all going!"
Even from here, he could feel an intense wave of heat to his side, looking over as he saw a massive nuclear-like explosion that towered into the sky. The blowback from the explosion reached him nearly 30 seconds later, blowing him hundreds of feet off to the side as he had to use all of his strength to hold onto the massive dragon balls and maintain his flight in the air.
"A-AGHHH! SH-SHEPARD!" Awed at the titanic amount of power his friend/student held made him even more motivated to reach his other friends as he blasted back off towards where he felt them travel to. Time was of the most essence...!
Vegeta, with Bulma in a near-death hold in the air, along with Nappa, Piccolo, and Orn had all traveled back to the ship. It lay where they last left it, some of the legs had been blown off so the ship tilted oddly.
"I-I can't wait to see what it looks like inside." The bluenette said, looking in awe.
"It's Frieza's personal cruiser ship. One of them anyway. You better stay back when we go in woman. Don't need your pretty little head getting blown off by a random energy blast hm hm hm hm."
"It's Bulma. And I've seen enough of those energy blasts to know that one can kill me."
"Hmph, whatever." The Prince said as he flew down.
The 4 warriors landed a couple of hundred feet away from the ship. Bulma couldn't believe the size of the ship, but Vegeta crossed his arms and growled, signaling her time was up as he began to slightly shake.
"Be careful in there Vegeta. You better not blow that ship up inside! I want to get a good luck at that technology!" She said as she released him, giving him a peck on the cheek, which made the Prince's eyes widen as he jumped back, furiously rubbing his face.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT? You dare to attack me?" Vegeta growled.
"Are you dense Vegeta? You remember some of those alien girls who used to do that to you back in the day heh heh heh-"
"QUIET NAPPA!"
"Save your love life for another day, Saiyan. We have work to do." Piccolo interrupted, tired of the drama.
"Hmph, right." Vegeta went to turn and yell at Bulma but was surprised she was already hiding behind one of the rocks nearly a hundred feet away.
"H-how did she? She moved so fast! What kind of witch is she?" Vegeta had to put his curiosity aside as he looked upon the ship.
"They likely still have all of their sensors. So they know we're here. As long as that idiot Kakarot stays out of our way, we can do this fast and precisely. We take everyone out. No one in there has a power level above 10,000. Not one."
"You think they could've sent a message to Cold, Vegeta?" Nappa asked.
"Cold?" Orn asked.
"Frieza's father. And likely they have. Our best bet is that he is too far away to assist Frieza right now. Our worst is that he arrives before we can do what we need to do. All hell will break loose if he does."
"Let's focus on the here and now. We go in, take out everyone who stands in our way, and regroup inside the ship." Piccolo said.
"I don't really like ya, Namekian. But that sounds as solid of a plan to me as any." Nappa said, smirking. Piccolo smirked in return as the 4 warriors made their way towards the ship, but not before a 5th member joined them.
"I want in guys," Yamcha said. Everyone continued walking. They could feel the fight hundreds of miles away taking on a different tone. They needed to hurry!
"You humans are soft and squishy. But I guess another guy will help heh heh heh." Nappa said.
"Very well, so long as we take everyone out. Another person should make that easier."
Yamcha caught the veiled threat in the Prince's words, but he wasn't fazed.
"I convinced the others to stay back. Goku will keep an eye on things until we're done in there." Yamcha offered.
"I see. So be it then." Vegeta said as the first officer approached them...
Private Orange was busy rearranging the armor in the storage room. Since Lord Frieza and Bonyu had both left the ship, he took it upon himself to keep busy if either one had come back.
"ORANGE GET YOUR ASS OUT HERE!"
His partner, Corporal Banana yelled out before Orange heard a loud punch echo through the hallway, followed by more yells. Orange backed away in terror, trying to hide behind the armors...
"This is laughable!" Vegeta was bored, palming another soldier in the chin as he also fired a finger beam at another, piercing that one's head. Gore sprayed out as Orn kicked that one in the head so hard, his head exploded as he charged past, grabbing another by the face and slamming him down.
"For Namek, interloper!" He called out as he held his hand on the screaming soldier's face, firing a blast that silenced him and left his head a bloody mess.
Piccolo slammed an elbow into one's neck, making it twist at an awkward angle as Yamcha hurled a Spirit Ball around him, taking out another 3 soldiers.
Nappa was a tank. Running through 8 soldiers, whose puny Ki blasts fired from their hand cannon's did absolutely nothing. He grabbed one and choke slammed him so hard into the ground that it cracked under the soldier. Stepping on that soldier, Nappa killed him instantly before he sensed one behind him trying to sneak attack him. Turning and throwing out his hand, he grabbed the much smaller soldier's hand, watching as the hand cannon started to crack under the Saiyan's physical strength.
"What'll it be Tiny?" Nappa asked, smiling big at the terrified soldier. 2 seconds later, Nappa completely closed his fist, breaking the soldier's hand and picking him up before he tossed him into the sky. Charging a decent amount of energy into his hand, Nappa aimed upward.
"SAIYANARA, PUNK!" Firing the yellow orb of energy, it engulfed the soldier, turning him into ash.
"HAAAAAAAAA!" A blue wave fired by Yamcha, blowing another 2 soldiers off their feet and blowing them away.
"Heh. Not bad, Scarface, but don't think you'll be taking my kill count!"
"Wouldn't dream of it, big man!" Yamcha replied as he jumped over Nappa's shoulder to kick another soldier, turning and elbowing another as he ducked Nappa's massive hand that clenched another soldier and threw him to the ground. He punted that soldier in the gut, making him collide with another 2 soldiers.
Piccolo and Vegeta made it to the ship first as a half dozen soldiers all lined up in front of them.
"HALT! IN THE NAME OF-"
Vegeta held his finger out like a gun, firing a single purple beam that blew threw the talking soldier's head, sending a spray of blood that hit the wall.
"Bang."
He fired another, hitting a soldier in the chest and making him keel over.
"Bang."
"Bang."
"Bang Bang Bang BANG!"
One of the finger blasts had missed, and in Vegeta's lost blood lust, he didn't see the soldier raise his arm cannon.
An arm extended past Vegeta and slammed the soldier through the wall, caving it in and killing him instantly.
"Huh? What was that, slug?"
"You missed one, Saiyan," Piccolo said.
"Man Vegeta. Was that necessary?" Yamcha asked.
"We leave no one alive. Any one of these blasted soldiers could alert Frieza." Vegeta said as he made his way toward Frieza's main bridge. Another soldier came from around the corner, swinging a wild punch at the Prince, who smiled as he moved his head backward. He grabbed the soldier, turning and slamming him into the wall.
"Are any other soldiers coming to the planet?" Vegeta asked menacingly.
"I-I-I-...don't-"SNAP
Vegeta dropped the dead soldier, clearly not in the mood to listen to him mumble in terror.
He looked at one of the monitors, hitting a couple of buttons as he tried to gauge the situation.
"Hmm... Good! No one has put out an alert yet. Let us go secure the armor room. Nappa?"
"Right here Vegeta," Nappa said as he let Vegeta walk by, falling in line with him. Yamcha started walking next to them, eager to find out what the plan is.
"So uhh guys what are we doing here? We got the ship. Shouldn't we get the others?"
Vegeta ignored Yamcha, feeling out with his senses. There were no more soldiers left that he could tell. But he could still sense something...
Opening the door to the armor and medical room, he walked through. Looking around at the various suits that were in an orderly fashion. The others followed inside as they took in the large room. In the middle stood 2 healing chambers, along with the electronics necessary to run them. Vegeta was relieved to see that the computers were operational.
"They look like those Healing Pods at Capsule Corp," Piccolo stated.
"What?!?" Vegeta snapped his head over towards the namekian in shock. "You have to be kidding me! There's no way your backwater planet has access to this technology!"
"Hmph. That blue-headed witch that's been hounding you would say different."
Vegeta turned back, shaking his head as he still tried to process what he heard.
"Something is still alive here," Orn said.
"You're right. I'm sensing it too. Almost as if..."
Vegeta turned his head slowly toward where the extra sets of armor were stored. Now that he thought about it, they should have been all over the place. He reached his hand forward, grabbing ahold of someone behind one of the sets of armors, pulling him out, and slamming him back first against the wall.
"Ahh, another pathetic soldier! I should've known."
"Squash 'em Vegeta!" Nappa called out smugly. Before Vegeta could throw his other fist forward, the soldier began holding his hands out, pleading for his life.
"Pl-pl-please don't kill me! I can be useful! Please! I'll-I'll do whatever you want!"
"Hmph. You're not even as strong as the other soldiers! Why would I bother sparing you?" Vegeta asked. The smile on his face made the planet trader nervous.
"I-I-i know who you are, Prince Vegeta. I've heard stories. I-I have extensive knowledge on many things that could aid you."
"I highly doubt that, scum."
"Now hold on Vegeta. Put him down." Yamcha called out.
"What? You don't give the orders around here, earthling." Vegeta said as he turned to look at the soldier once again. "Now then. Where were we? Oh yes. The part about why I should bother letting you live hm hm hm." Vegeta began to charge a purple blast in his hand, readying to plant the soldier into the wall and beyond.
"I-I KNOW ABOUT SARADA!" In an instant, a faraway look overcame the Prince before it cleared up. The anger on his face turned into snarling vitriol as he slammed the alien soldier back into the wall.
"You..don't get to mention that name! EVER!"
"S-s-SHE'S ALIVE!" that made the Prince's eyes widen considerably.
"Impossible! The reports said she died in-"
"Shut it, Nappa! Be silent!" Vegeta interrupted.
"Then where the hell is she?" Vegeta asked the alien.
"Sarada?" an elbow to his side caught the Desert Bandit off guard.
"His younger sister, nimrod," Nappa said.
"L-Lord Cooler retrieved her. She's been under her servitude ever since."
"Cooler? That bastard!" Vegeta spat out in disgust.
"Cooler? Is that his brother or something?" Piccolo asked.
"Yes and is just as much of a piece of garbage as him."
"Maybe this guy could help us," Yamcha suggested.
"I-i-i can! Pl-pl-pl-please don't kill me! I-i-i hate Frieza for what he's done!" the soldier pleaded. Tears began to leak from his eyes as he thought of his lost people and his situation. It seemed hopeless.
"Oh, I wonder. What has he taken from you that is so precious?" Vegeta sarcastically asked. The soldier broke down as he wept uncontrollably.
Yamcha had seen enough. Grabbing ahold of Vegeta's arm, he tried to force it off of the soldier. After a few moments, the Prince relented, letting the soldier drop to the ground where he continued to cry.
"Pathetic worm," Nappa said. Those words stirred something in the alien, as he looked up angrily. Getting up and nearly charging at the bigger Saiyan. Yamcha held him back as Nappa snickered at him.
"WHAT DO YOU KNOW? YOU DIDN'T WATCH YOUR PLANET BE DESTROYED! YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO BE FORCED INTO SERVITUDE! TRICKED TO BELIEVE THAT YOUR PLANET WOULD BE A GREAT BOON TO THE UNIVERSE!" the soldier yelled out.
"C-calm down man. Look what's your name?" Yamcha used his strength to keep the soldier from going after Nappa any further.
"Orange. My name is Orange."
"So your planet was destroyed by Frieza as well?" Vegeta demanded to know.
"No, by Cooler. 8 years ago. It-it was the dead of nightfall. The warriors on our planet never stood a chance. His Armored Squadron made such quick work of them. We were already in servitude. I and 6 others, as Cooler deemed our planet unworthy of existence. He asked each of us what our planet had to offer. And I watched him kill each of the 6, their answers not satisfying in any way. The only reason I lived was that I offered my services in exchange for my life. It was all I had to offer before that slimy bastard fired a beam onto my planet. I watched it crumble until it exploded. I am the last living member of my race." The last admission stunned everyone present.
"Th-the last?"
"Surely there have to be others of your kind?" Piccolo asked, unable to comprehend the extreme measures.
"No. I know for a fact that I am endangered. And when I die, the last of the Sudunans will be gone, for good."
Vegeta realized, by not knowing there were still Saiyans in the galaxy, would likely feel a similar despair.
"Fine. We will spare you. For now. But listen here, Sudanan. If you so much as turn on us, I will give you the most painful death my mind can come up with, and believe me. If you saw what I did to Zarbon, you'll know that my mind can be very, very creative. Do you understand?" Vegeta said. Orange quickly nodded his head, a wave of relief washing over him.
"I'll do whatever is asked of me. I... I want to see Frieza and Cooler both pay for their crimes."
"Did you take part in any of it?" Yamcha asked.
"Any of what? The mass genocides? No. I was deemed too weak to participate. My strengths lie in fixing things and technology. I wasn't a warrior on my home planet. I was a scientist. The only reason I've survived so long is that I haven't failed to fix anything yet." Orange replied, looking down in shame before Yamcha placed a hand on his shoulder, causing Orange to look back up at him.
"Then you're good in my book, but if you're truly on our side, then when my friend comes in here to get a look at this stuff, you'll help her, right?"
"Y-yes of course! If... if she can make this technology help people in need instead of greed, then I will assist her in any way I can."
"See? We didn't have to kill everyone. And now we have another ally." Yamcha said smugly to the Saiyans.
"We will see just how... helpful he really is later," Vegeta said, and was about to continue when the ship started to shake.
Before long, it was shaking so badly that Vegeta nearly toppled into Nappa, who nearly faceplanted as Piccolo held onto one of the rails. Yamcha fell on the floor into the wall as the shaking went on for several more seconds before it ceased.
"Th-that... damned clown! H-how could he generate so much power?"
"Guys? You in here?" A voice called out. A head peaked around the corner followed before a ki blast was fired at him. He disappeared back around the corner before it exploded weakly against the wall next to the door.
"Vegeta! That wasn't very nice!" Goku said, fully coming around the corner before Bulma blew by him, smashing him into the wall and running past him.
"Wow, so these armors are some kind of heavy composite material that's stretched thinly over heavy weaving?" Bulma asked as she picked up the armor, hoisting it up and looking.
"What do you care, woman? It's not like it'll do you any good." Vegeta smugly answered.
"Well, jackass I just so happen to have a ship that I'm gonna grab some of these things and put them in."
"Uhh, madam that is probably not a wise... decision?" Orange finished weakly as a half dozen pairs of eyes zeroed in on him.
"I-I'll just be quiet and assume I saw nothing."
"A wise decision, weakling. In fact, why don't you help your fellow weakling scientist or whatever the hell she is with whatever the hell she's doing." Vegeta ordered.
"But those?" He pointed at the near dozen battle-suited armors, some complete with shoulder guards and thigh protectors. "Stay with us. Now leave! The real warriors must plan!" Vegeta demanded as Krillin and Gohan both entered.
"Holy... you guys sure did a number huh?" Krillin said timidly.
"Either get in here and get suited up or get the fuck out. In case you didn't feel that massive earthquake, it is a sign that it's time to fight soon!" The Prince said. Both the monk and the little boy stood ramrod straight.
"You didn't need to be rude like that, Vegeta," Goku said, having recovered from his face plant with the wall.
"Hmph. If we are to enter the fight of our lives, then we may as well get prepared as much as possible. Now listen up..."
The explosion was deafening. It nearly knocked Shepard off of his feet. He stood back up, grabbing ahold of the BanHammer. The explosion had to be several miles high, given the distance that it traveled. He felt his energy slowly return to normal as he wrapped himself in a crimson aura. The BanHammer was doing a great job of easing the strain he had taken on from using the Times 10, but he knew it wouldn't last forever.
"Fuck that. I'm not moving yet." He said to himself as he looked on. His will to stay standing lasted a few seconds more before he took a knee. Putting the BanHammer head down first, he took a rest as the smoke cloud was still present as if looming over him.
He got about 30 seconds before he sensed Frieza finally make his move. Standing quickly, Shepard took a deep breath before he reignited the Kaioken.
"SAIYAAAAAAAAAAAN!" Frieza yelled, spit raging from his bloody mouth as he slammed hard into Shepard's body first. Kicking at the Saiyan, Frieza drove Shepard backward before he charged forward again. Shepard had to forego the BanHammer for the moment, desperately catching Frieza's punch as the tyrant lashed out with his tail. Shepard dodged sideways, using an afterimage as Frieza tried to kick through his body. Shepard returned a kick which was blocked. Turning and throwing a roundhouse, Shepard hit nothing but air as Frieza dodged backward.
"Not so confident now, are we monkey?" Frieza asked. "I suppose I shall let you in on a little secret, hmmm? I'm not even tired. I can do this for hours. And yet, I can tell your winds are already at sail." Frieza went to continue his monologue, closing his eyes as he snickered.
"So how-"
STOMP
"AGHHH-" Shepard smashed his foot as hard as he could into the ground where Frieza's tail was, making the tyrant scream in agonized pain as Shepard put him in a front face lock.
"TASTE THE EARTH BITCH!" Shepard jumped a few feet in the air with his legs back before he quickly torqued them forward, igniting his feet with blue ki, he slammed himself back first into the ground, driving Frieza's head into the ground with him. The area around them cracked for dozens of feet as Shepard could feel Frieza struggle. He hopped back to his feet, soccer-kicking the tyrant as hard as he could in the side. Frieza didn't budge as his body was forced to take the damage with his head still stuck. Shepard kicked him again in the side but before he could do it again, Frieza's tail bludgeoned Shepard, knocking him woozy off to the side.
Frieza put both hands on the ground before his aura blew the area away. Shepard stood as the irate Frieza leveled a red-eyed glare his way, face scuffed up and dirty.
"That's it... I've had it with you Monkey. Playtime is over! You wanted me to take you seriously? Hm hm hm hm hm is that what you want? THEN YOU'LL GET IT!" Shepard could feel Frieza's ki rise further. Cracking his neck, he chuckled to himself. Taking a step back, he assumed his stance, calling the BanHammer to his hand...
"Come on come on come on dammit hurry up Tien!" Piccolo was getting impatient. The one benefit he and the other Z Fighters had been noticing lately is that they were having a hard time controlling their energy. They all felt themselves just overflowing with more and more power! But compared to the face of the terror he was sensing far away, it didn't matter.
Bulma and Orange had been moving things from Frieza's ship. They were making excellent pace. Orange had even helped the bluenette catalog everything. She had gathered nearly 2 dozen full armors of various shapes and sizes, both the healing pods in the medical room, and even managed to download a couple of the star charts. In doing that, she had also gotten a hold of the manifestos and projects that the Planet Trade had been tinkering with.
"Alright, Orange. This is going to be great for the Earth. If I can somehow replicate this material, our militaries won't be so defenseless. With the formula I have on Earth, having 2 extra Healing Pods will be a great boon."
"I'm glad to have helped, Ma'am."
"Grrr don't Ma'am me! I'm not that old!" Bulma's head grew to a comical size as she yelled down at the diminutive orange alien. He nearly fell back as she stepped back, smugly smirking.
"Thanks for the technology Frieza. Ha hahaha! It won't go to waste." the Capsule Corp heiress said to herself.
The 5 dragon balls they had recovered lay between the ships as they continued to shuffle stuff between them.
Bulma was bringing over one of the boxes full of Scouters when the wind suddenly picked up.
"Ahhh what gives?" she asked as she nearly fell.
"T-t-this planet feels like it-it's being destroyed!" Orange said. Seconds later, a figure landed on the ground 10 feet away from them, dropping the 2 massive orbs he held in his hands.
Tien fell to his knees. Sweat poured off of him as he continued to try to catch his breath.
"TIEN!" Bulma yelled, dropping her box and running to him. She helped him get to his feet, where he stood dizzily for a few moments before his senses reorientated.
"What happened?" Piccolo asked as Krillin and Gohan both grabbed a dragon ball and placed it with the others.
"Fr-Frieza, he's... He's a monster. He was about to kill me. I don't know how he saw me. I was sure I was free and clear, b-but he saw me. He was ready to kill me, but Shepard got in the way. Ughh." Tien said before he held his side in pain. "I flew as fast as I could. We need to get the dragon balls going. Shepard doesn't have long. I could tell he was desperate."
"I better go and help him," Goku said, off to the side. His face had grown serious the last few minutes. He had been sensing the fight like everyone else. He could sense Shepard's desperation.
"Not you too Goku!"
"Heh heh heh... Sorry, Krillin. I know I can't beat him as I am, but I need to try. You guys better get those dragon balls going. Darn, I wish Raditz was here..."
The mentioned Saiyan was lost in a foggy dream. He had already fought off his demons more than a few dozen times over. Kicking and punching his way through hordes of ghoulish monsters. As he continued, he started to see familiar faces. Faces that didn't change their facial expressions at all. As if stuck on their last horrific emotion. Faces, that he vaguely remembered seeing as he had killed them in the past. They were numerous, coming at him in waves. The atmosphere felt so heavy and smelled like the death of a million lost souls, all waiting with gaping mouths with rancid breaths ready to tear into him. One charged him, tackling him down and readying to tear into him. This one had been but a scholarly fellow from a planet long lost in name. A purple-skinned, yellow-eyed man, whom he had gutted with his fist and watched die in agony years prior.
Raditz pulled his hand up, wrapping it around the neck of the monster, before a horde of other deformed aliens/monsters piled on him. He could feel bites on his arms, and his legs. One was even trying to bite his face off, but he struggled so fiercely, thrashing and trying to use his energy, but he couldn't! It was as if his body didn't know how, or couldn't remember how to. He could feel the energy flow through him, but it wouldn't. Come. OUT!
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Raditz screamed as he summoned the strength to slam the alien in his hand to one side, driving some of the monsters away. He miraculously pulled himself to his feet, ripping himself away from the hungry beasts. The alien monster in his hand tried to claw at him, but Raditz turned the monster around, putting it in a chokehold.
"W-wh-what do ya want from me? IF I COULD TAKE IT ALL BACK I WOULD DAMMIT! I HAD TO SURVIVE TOO! I...I had to survive too!" His words were but a muted whimper to the masses of heavy-breathing, roaring, deformed beasts. The Saiyan felt like he had no choice. Whatever this was, he would try to survive until the end, if he could. But without his power, he knew it would be a matter of time before they got to him!
"I won't make it easy for you bastards! YOU WANT MY BLOOD? THEN COME AND DIE FOR IT!" Raditz yelled as he took both hands and twisted the monster's head around, a loud audible CRACK sounding out over the ghoulish fiends, holding his hands out as he yelled at the incoming horde...
His body had gone through such an extreme change, it was like his body just couldn't recover.
From an outside perspective, Raditz's body was hot all over. His energy was in a very chaotic state. Sopran, Dende, and Cargo's hands were all lit with light, but the struggle was a near-impossible one.
"S-Stop children! Whatever is going on with Raditz, I am afraid it is beyond physically healing him."
"Bring the Saiyan inside, my child."
"Huh? Are you sure, Father?"
"It will be fine. All is well. Please, you must hurry." Guru stated mentally in the elder namekian's mind.
"Dende, Cargo. Do you remember how to use your telekinetic powers?"
"Of course Sopran."
"We would never forget!" Cargo said.
"Good, very good. Wrap your energy around the Saiyan and let's move him inside our Elder's hut. Quickly children. Time is not on our side!" Both children held both hands out, wrapping Raditz in a blue field of energy, strengthened with Sopran's support. The suffering Saiyan thrashed as his body lifted in the air, trying to fight the energy. But with 3 namekians holding him with as much as their bodies could handle, they moved him inside.
"Well done, children. COUGH COUGH- set him down in front of me, please. I believe I can aid him."
The three namekians did as they were asked, setting the still-thrashing Saiyan on the ground.
Guru held his massive hand out, only a couple of feet in front of the Saiyan. Slowly, Raditz's thrashing lessened, until his body lay still, breathing heavily.
"COUGH...this is indeed a heavy turmoil. His body COUGH COUGH COUGH- is fighting with itself. The weight of his actions... COUGH- draw such tremendous pain. I will have to do something... COUGH-COUGH COUGH- I have not done it in a very long time. Watch me, you three -COUGH."
The 3 namekians each felt their Father's energy become translucent before it began to seep into Raditz, whose body involuntarily jerked at the intrusion...
"YAAAHHHH!" Raditz yelled as he threw another fiend away, elbowing one from behind. His body looked as if it had been through a meat grinder. He had slash and claw marks all over his body. He was down to his black pants, which had more rips in them than could be properly fixed. He jumped over another, turning in a helix and kicking the monster in the back of the neck, sending it sliding face first along the ground. He barely turned around before 2 more monsters, both giant insect-like deformities, bull rushed the Saiyan. One of the monster's thick, brown pincers squeezed around Raditz's hand, making him scream in agony. The other he kicked back with one leg as he pulled at the massive appendage.
"AGHH! AHHHH GET THE FUCK OFF!" Raditz screamed as he felt his hand bones creaking to the point of snapping. Another monster, this one a giant, a green-haired monstrosity with 2 arms and 4 legs, slashed at Raditz, who could barely move backward without losing his fingers.
He balled his lone available hand into a fist, willing for some kind of energy to pour out.
"Come on Dammit! I won't die like this! AHHHHHHH GET OOOOOOFF!" Raditz punched the hulking monster in its chest, making it stumble back a couple of steps.
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWRR!"
It was a scream that could rival a Great Ape. It sent chills down the long-haired Saiyan's spine.
Enough that he finally was able to pull free from the insectoid deformity. Unfortunately, he felt the sheer pain erupt moments later as he looked down at his hand. His thumb was all but destroyed. His index and middle finger were all gone, and a bloody pair of jagged nubs greeted him.
The monster charged him, slamming both hands down where the long-haired Saiyan was just standing. The growling beast quickly swiped at Raditz, a light gash coming across Raditz's chest as he tried to dodge again. The monster missed another ground smash before backhanding Raditz away, where he slid along the ground.
Raditz was losing stamina, and losing it fast! The monster was far quicker than he could've anticipated, jumping from where it was and looking to smash the Saiyan through the ground. Raditz barely moved out of the way but as he turned to get back up, the monster swiped Raditz off of his feet, sending him into the air. Pained, broken, and running on pure adrenaline, Raditz looked on as he was in the air, seeing the continued hordes of monstrous deformities, toppling and tumbling over previously slain beasts trying to get to him. It was a sight that would stay with him for the rest of his days, especially in his nightmares. It looked like a hellscape, marred with black mountains and sand. He could see an ocean of lava in the distance. But he had no time to admire any longer as he fell.
The first monster to greet him was the insectoid monster, who held its pincer out, ready to squeeze the life out of him. He caught himself on the pincer, holding the sharp-edged appendage back with as much strength as he could. Balancing himself in the air, he managed to flip over the monster, kicking it in the back and sending it into a horde of other monsters, which pulled the insectoid apart quickly. Its roars died out as it fell beneath the incoming horde.
Raditz was at his end. His body had never given so much! His body began to shut down as the horde surrounded him, readying for the inevitable snack that awaited.
"I-if this is how I go out, then I am sorry, Kakarot. You as well Shepard. I'll give it everything I have, whatever I have left."
The horde charged in, but before they got within a foot of the Saiyan, an incredible luminescent brightness covered the area. It made Raditz close his eyes and guard himself, believing this light to be another trick.
"Raditz? You can open your eyes." A deep, rumbling voice called out.
The Saiyan slowly opened them, lowering his arms as the light began to subside. The monsters in the area were gone, as evidenced by the piles of ashy remains that littered the battlefield. 5 feet in front of him, a being stood. He was taller than the Saiyan and stood with calm confidence.
"W-who are you? Are you that namekian I fought on Earth?" Raditz asked, trembling. It was then the being turned to face him fully.
The being stood over 9 feet tall and was incredibly broad. He wore odd robes, white with some kind of red scarf of sorts around his neck.
"I am Elder Guru. You are seeing me from a time when I was once young like you. One would even say that I am still young at heart." Guru bellowed, before walking up to the shaken Raditz, who took a defensive stance, albeit weakly on his feet. Guru stopped short of him, looking through the Saiyan. He reached out, without fear, touching Raditz's shoulder and giving a gentle squeeze. The Saiyan instinctively wanted to push the hand off of him and attack the figure, but something. Something deep inside wouldn't allow him to.
"What you see, is merely a simulation of your greatest sorrows, and guilt. All of this is simply in your mind." Guru warmly stated.
"M-my mind?" Raditz was confused. "I-i don't understand. I feel like I... Like I have been in here for years." the Saiyan said, looking down at his broken body.
"Your spirit is out of alignment. What that monster did to you was not just a violation of your body, but a violation of your very soul. You still have strength and power, but your mind has temporarily blocked itself from using your energy."
Raditz looked at his hands, blinking out blood that got in his eye as it blurred his vision. "M-my energy..."
"You have to forgive yourself, Raditz," Guru stated, letting go of Raditz's shoulder and looking out along with the Saiyan, watching as the ghoulish monsters began to make their way again, the massive area surrounding the two began to fill with the horde once again.
"H-how? You don't know what this feels like! I've killed billions! BILLIONS! I... I don't think I can. It's... It's too much." Raditz looked up at Guru, lost as the heavy breathing of the monsters began to surround the pair.
"Start with one. The weight of your oppressive guilt is tremendous. Once you learn to forgive yourself, your mind will start to work towards properly synchronizing with your body once again, and you will heal and wake up in the real world. But it starts with one, child." Guru smiled at the young Saiyan, looking at him like he would one of his children.
"You still have much to fight for. Your brother, your mother. And her."
"W-What?" Raditz looked up, stunned.
"I've seen her, Raditz. You desire a future with her, but you won't succeed if you can't work past your guilt now!"
The Saiyan looked down, at his blood-soaked hands, the blood of so many colors it looked like a rainbow of iron and other such materials that were composed of various aliens.
"Forgive my-myself?" Guru fired another pure, white blast of energy, watching it pierce through another wave of monsters, turning them to ash.
"C-can I? Is... Is it really that easy?"
"No. It never is. But you learn to grow from this experience. Build yourself up from it. One soul at a time." Guru stated as he fired another wave. Raditz continued to look down at his hands for a few more moments.
'One soul at a time? Can I just... Let go?'
Blood soaked, broken. But still, on his feet, he looked back at a time, when innocence was at the forefront of his being. So long ago, his mother cooking some meat she had caught the night before, his father at work, his brother in the incubation pod sleeping. Before the blood, before the broken times. His mind flashed, as he looked at his hands as they began to coat in the blood. Blood of all colors.
"So... So many people..." His mind paused, the planet he was on was lost to time. A blue sky not unlike Earth. He had found a village. Nappa had headed to the East, Prince Vegeta to the South. His small hands fidgeted as he slowly flew in. His first mission with Prince Vegeta! The people were of a weak race. Power levels no greater than 100, from what the reports had said.
The adult watched as his child self landed, walking the short distance to the village. He could sense his nervousness, his weariness.
"It's not worth it kid." Raditz went to say, but it fell on deaf ears as he continued to watch. He looked ahead, seeing the grey-colored alien children playing in the sandy village street.
'M-my first..." the adult's eyes widened, realizing that his younger self also saw them.
"N-No! You can't!" Raditz was glued to his very position, unable to stop as he watched his younger self, flying in with no remorse and hurling a blast at the children.
"NOOO! DAMMIT!" He forced himself to watch as his younger self threw another blast at one of the huts. He could hear the screams in his mind, beginning to overtake him as his mind chaotically warped away.
"Raditz! You must come to your senses! The weight of your guilt is beginning to overwhelm you!" Guru said. Raditz snapped back to attention, back in the hellscape as he saw small, grey-skinned deformities. He nearly shattered as he realized they were the same children that he first killed.
"Only you can give yourself Peace, Raditz. I can hold them off, but you must push through!" Guru said firmly.
Raditz looked on for another few moments, realizing the namekian was right. He had to forgive himself first. He slowly walked towards the 5 deformities, their mouths opened in blood-stained terror, not moving.
"If I am to truly forgive myself, I have... I have to start from square one. And that means... I need to...I need to let go." The monsters were gnashing and gnawing at each other to get to the Saiyan.
"I'm sorry," Raditz said sadly to himself before a fire began to ignite under his feet.
"I will never commit another genocide. From now on... I will fight for myself... Never again will I fall so low..." he felt the claws of the monster scraping at him, but he didn't realize that they were slowly being forced back, slowly by an invisible barrier.
"My brother lived such a great life without me. My mother and father both saw to that. Now it is time that I live..."
Grand Elder Guru looked on as the Saiyan walked through the horde, the barrier the Saiyan unconsciously put up being battered, but not broken. Seeing this, Guru smiled, realizing his job was done. Firing one more white beam of pure energy, he disappeared, content that Raditz finally understood.
Raditz didn't notice he was alone again, wading through the masses. He continued trudging through it, the barrier knocking back countless monsters. Throughout his memory, he could never recall a time when he truly fought for himself. For his desires, for his wants! That time had changed.
"I will forgive myself, by letting go.." Raditz put his head down, a small smile formed on his face, sad with the memories of his lost innocence, angry at his need to fight for survival for so long. The monsters continued to pound on the barrier. He heard it but paid it no mind.
Opening his eyes wide, he screamed to the sky. His power soared out from underneath him, burning away many of the hordes. The cascading explosion rolled out excessively throughout this hell-enriched land.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Wow! Raditz sure went through a heavy ordeal didn't he? Now before you condemn me and say, "Oh but it didn't happen to Goku so what is this?" Well this is my interpretation of trying to build 'character' for Raditz. And the fact is this: Goku is pure. So the discord wouldn't be nearly as apparent. This was a shifting of the entirety of the soul itself. And Raditz's very soul is murky. Goku wouldn't have this issue so much. And as for Shepard? Well he is still a mystery wrapped inside a burrito. Raditz feels remorse but doesn't know how to properly express it because he's never been in a position to do so. But now that he is free from the Planet Trade, his character can start to grow. Now. Power Levels!
Power Levels
Shepard:. 600,000
W/BanHammer: 650,000
Minor Zenkai: 650,000 (700,000 W/BanHammer)
Kaioken Times 5: 3,250,000
W/BanHammer: 4,000,000
Times 10: 7,000,000
Frieza:. 2,000,000
3 Percent: 3,600,000
5 Percent: 6,000,000
7 Percent: 8,400,000
Vegeta: 400,000
Nappa: 120,000
Yamcha: 75,000 (And Growing)
Piccolo: 115,000 (And Growing)
Orn: 35,000
Average Frieza Soldier: 500-3,500
Orange: 100
Bulma: 5
Raditz: ? (Massive Zenkai Coming)
Remember that Guru's gift continues to give... Until next time!