Hey everyone! Sorry I have been gone so long. Things just get in the way. But I'm here now. Thank you for the favs and follows! So here in the next couple chapters I'm going to be starting to go off-kilter with the story and deviating, just a little bit! But as you know in most cases, when you mess with Time, it tends to mess back. I'm really debating on if I should write out Earth's happenings or if I should bounce around to other places. Let me know what you think! Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter!
As we focus in on planet Yardrat, we find ourselves wondering the fate of our heroes as they recover. Will they have a healthy recovery or will there be difficulties? Find out on this chapter of Dragon Ball: BtG!
Review(s)
AlphaShenron: Thank you for your review! I will say that is the initial thought about Goku. I mean obviously he is wanting to get as strong as possible so he can protect his son better and not lose Gohan again. But I also want you to think about something. Goku as a toddler was incredibly difficult and violent. That bump on the head changed everything. But now with Goku having those memories, does he truly understand them and what they mean? Now Shepard? Divine Ki is something that was never included or considered in Z. But Shepard knows about it, but is in no way strong enough to harness it right now, or is he? What he said in his pain means more than you think my friend. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Age: March 17, 763
Location: Yardrat- Health Center
The beeps were what finally woke him fully, coupled with an angry Prince hovering over him.
"Dude…Personal space."
"I had to see for myself that you would actually wake. The honor of killing you is solely mine and mine alone. Got that scum?" Vegeta took a step back, finally done leering down at his hated fellow Saiyan.
"Scum? Fool? Clown? Look I could just strong-arm you and dunk you in a pool full of gooey worms. Don't let that Super Saiyan power go to your head dude. I may be in this…bed or whatever but I still have the BanHammer." Shepard finally had a chance to look down at himself, curious to see that aside from a drawn-up sheet to protect his privates, he was naked. And Vegeta was in Yardrat clothing, including the lone shoulder armor piece.
"If you're gonna kill me, can you at least get me a damn uniform first? I would rather get my ass kicked with dignity than have you literally kick my bare ass." Shepard demanded. Vegeta scoffed, turning on his heel and walking out mumbling.
Shepard was finally alone, if only for a few moments before Raditz's big form busted through the door. He looked in a bit of a better mood than Vegeta, but something was off. Shepard could feel it in his energy.
"Almost a full day and you finally come to. If you had taken longer I would've smashed your face in until you finally got your ass up." Raditz had Yardrat clothing in his hand, passing it off to Shepard.
"Hurry up and get dressed, it's almost time to eat," Raditz said nothing more, walking out quickly.
"Marc? You got your ears on?"
"For you Shepard? Always!"
"Ok, Jarvis ha ha fucking ha! What the hell is going on with Raditz and Vegeta? And…"
"Yeah, their vibes are off. Something is messing with Raditz badly. Vegeta seems…normal. But even he is… I don't know man. He seemed a bit concerned." Marc replied, making Shepard externally raise his eyebrow.
Shepard cut the connection. Getting to his feet, he took a look at the Yardratian garb. It was iconic and similar to what Goku wore when he returned to Earth in the show.
Speaking of…
It took him a few minutes to get the garb on before he looked in the mirror provided for the room. He could see his black pupils within the black irises. It still weirded him out a bit. So used to looking at brown eyes and short hair he was now looking at black eyes with spiky black hair. It was unlike Goku's, but not nearly as refined as Vegeta's or chaotically long like Raditz's. But that was here nor there, he had food to consume.
Stepping out of the room, he was nearly mind fucked when he saw the little pink alien walk by. He had seen a few animal-like earthlings on Earth before, but this took the cake.
Zzt
Shepard walked into a solid wall of Yardrat muscle, making him take a step back.
"Whoa! Dude that Instant Transmission is strong." Shepard said in shock.
"Hmmm. Your knowledge is vast, Saiyan warrior. Follow me. We will go and eat."
Shepard followed the Yardratian to a set of tables laid out with many varieties of sweet potatoes. He saw Raditz and Vegeta mixed in with other Yardratians inhaling their food.
Shepard sat across from Raditz, watching as he engulfed a full sweet potato. He looked around for a minute, ignoring the plate laid in front of him. Something was just not right here, and it hit him like a wrecking ball.
"Ok…that's it… where the fuck is Goku?" He finally asked, not seeing the other Saiyan he had expected to greet him first when he finally recovered. Raditz threw down a half-eaten sweet potato, scoffing.
"And there it is. You owe me some credits, Vegeta." Raditz said sternly, making the Prince grumble as he ate down another sweet potato salad.
"Oookaay…" Shepard was so confused.
"Look… Kakarot has… Well, he hasn't fully recovered since Gohan's death. He-"
"Stop. Hold up. Gohan's death? Gohan never died!" Raditz nearly choked on the sweet potato he had almost eaten, beating on his chest a few times.
"COUGH…COUGH COUGH… Wh-What did you say? We all saw it happen!" Raditz reached across the table, grabbing Shepard by his armor and pulling him up within 2 inches of his face.
"You better not be lying!" Raditz said to Shepard, making Shepard look in disgust as a couple of pieces of spit-out sweet potato smacked his skin. Shepard reached up, wrapping a hand around Raditz's wrist and trying to pry him off. Raditz threw him back after a few moments and sat back down, face twitching in anger as he waited for an answer.
"I saw it happen too, man. Believe me. I was so angry when it happened. I don't know. Cold and I were fighting. We landed near where the others were. Gohan was alive and well. He didn't have a scratch on him from the looks of it. And he felt pretty strong up close. But I saw them leave Namek. Gohan was alive."
"Perhaps your stupid weapon had something to do with it," Vegeta said, his face scrunched up in thought.
"Now that ya mention it, my weapon felt pretty cold at one point. I thought one of those bastards had tried to grab ahold of it with their tail but…no it had to be something I'm just not understanding quite yet."
"Hmph. Now we're getting somewhere. You mentioned those bastards. What happened with Cold?" Vegeta put both hands on the table, anxious to hear Shepard out, but the Saiyan only stared down at his plate, lost in his hellacious memories of Namek…
Months Prior…
Music Que: Drew McIntyre: Gallantry (Defining Moments Remix!)
"PSYCHO SAIYAN CRUSHEEEEEEEEEER!" Shepard yelled, rapidly spinning in a whirling dervish of silver, blue, and golden energy. He collided with King Cold's electrified pink beam of energy, the collision a massive shockwave of sound that nearly numbed the warriors' ears.
Shepard felt the energy vortex he made start to cut through the beam. Yelling, his energy burst in size as he pushed down hard, feeling the blast give way.
"WHAT?" King Cold's eyes widened as he saw Shepard coming in fast!
Dodging away, he turned just in time to see Shepard plow through the water. A titanic wave of water exploded outward.
Shepard stopped spinning underwater, the BanHammer filtering the water out of his lungs as he flew back out, a massive geyser of lava following, but Shepard had his eyes on King Cold.
The King saw Shepard blast out of the water heading toward him. He held his hands out awaiting the charge. Shepard feinted a kick from one side, bringing his other leg around. King Cold blocked it with his forearm, bringing his other hand down to clobber Shepard, but the Saiyan raised his arm, blocking it as well.
Shepard could barely mind the landscape, but the color of the sky told him of the horrors that had occurred.
Namek was finished. That last massive piece of the once small satellite that hung above the planet had done the poor green planet in. The sky was awash with red as lightning and thunder echoed throughout the planet. The two warriors ignored the lightning that flashed within feet of them as they struggled for dominance.
"Y-you see now…that look on your face says it all, Saiyan. Here we fight on a dying world because you can't get it out of your head that I am your superior! I have bested you at every turn. The only reason I-THUNK
Shepard heard enough, knocking King Cold for a loop with his weapon. He came in for another kick but was blocked. However, Shepard brought the other foot forward, smashing it into King Cold's jaw, sending the Arcosian spinning in the air. King Cold shook his head, gritting his teeth as another geyser of lava reached into the sky, blowing past the Arcosian. King Cold flew back with a sinister smirk, holding his hand out toward the lava.
"You have yet to understand the depth of my power, Saiyan. Your small-mindedness to think of nothing but battle makes me sick! If you could only accept the trivial matter of fact, you would lay your weapon down and die like the rest of the blasted Saiyans!"
Shepard's face went from serious to outright shock moments later as some of the lava started to form into a condensed ball!
"You…You gotta be shitting me! What other tricks do you fucking have? Dammit!" Shepard started to back away in the air as the lava ball that King Cold telekinetically created started to grow in size. Most of the lava geyser had drowned back into the roaring ocean below, which now had smoke rising from it.
"Hahahahahahahahaha! You will suffer most painfully for your overreaching desires! CATCH!" King Cold threw his arm down, making the now 50-foot diameter ball of lava hurdle toward the Super Saiyan!
"YOU FIRST!" Shepard prepared to swing his BanHammer, but King Cold decided to up the ante. With a snap of his fingers, the lava ball split into over a dozen smaller, faster projectiles!
"…Shit." Shepard smashed one away, but the lava came apart as he did, splashing over his body. He screamed as he batted another away, moving to the side so he wouldn't get splashed. The BanHammer soothed his burning skin as he smashed 2 more away, but another came in faster than the other's, making Shepard cross-block sloppily with his weapon. He got splashed again, and even as some came into contact with his eyes and he felt agony, the BanHammer soothed it away almost instantly. His temporary blindness didn't stop him from wildly swinging, catching 2 more. He felt lava splash onto his back, burning the rest of his undershirt almost completely away.
"Oh FUCK THIS!" Shepard bellowed, holding the BanHammer up high and sending a massive dome of silver-colored energy around him, disintegrating the rest of the lava balls of death away.
His fully restored eyes searched for King Cold but didn't catch him in time as the King plowed into him from behind, sending them careening forward across the hell-blazed sky. Shepard lost the BanHammer from the impact, being hurtled forward toward one of the few small spots of land still above water, for however long it would be.
BOOOOM CRAAAASH
They slammed into one of the remaining namekian huts still standing. King Cold quickly picked Shepard up, violently tossing him through the rocks, following up with a heavy punch, but Shepard saw it, phasing away and getting behind King Cold where he drove both knees into the King's spine. King Cold gasped in surprised pain as Shepard pushed up, pushing into the King's back with both feet and launching him into the ground, where a massive explosion of rock was thrown up.
It was seconds later when he heard King Cold phase in from the side, a roundhouse kick following. Shepard blocked it, finding it much easier this time around not breaking his forearm, but he had no time as King Cold pressed the attack. Shepard did all he could to defend the heavy punches and kicks coming his way.
A geyser of lava shot out next to Shepard, making the Super Saiyan dart away as King Cold followed in rage. They smashed into each other several times across the sky as the planet continued to fall around the warriors. Shepard and King Cold both were oblivious to how much time they had, but they each had too much to worry about the planet being destroyed as they continued to battle.
King Cold hurled an energy ball Shepard's way, forcing the Saiyan to bat it away as he went back in. Shepard went for his own assault, throwing heavy punches and forcing King Cold to move his head around them before King Cold threw a knee, which Shepard blocked. Shepard grabbed King Cold by the leg as he started to spin, launching the King away. His golden aura roared around him as he watched the King regain control in the air. Their collision sent shockwaves across the air, already turbulent from its oncoming destruction.
Shepard held his hands in front of him, firing a green energy wave towards the King. King Cold held his hand out to block it, surprised at the strength of the beam but smirking all the same.
"You thought this would be enough to stop me?" He mockingly asked before pushing the beam back a bit, firing his own beam of energy which tore Shepard's into particles, making the Super Saiyan dodge out of sheer panic.
They collided in the sky, an all-out battle that both could sense was reaching a crescendo. Shepard planted a punch into King Cold's stomach, making him gasp for a second before smashing Shepard in the face with his hand, driving the Saiyan back momentarily. He used his telekinesis, pushing Shepard back hard, making him land along the ground. The Saiyan gained control of his body, flipping up with a hand before palming King Cold's incoming massive fist. Struggling with it, he was unprepared for King Cold's tail to lash across his body. A spurt of blood sprayed out of Shepard's chest from the gash. He was lucky his battle instincts made him move back a fraction out of sheer awareness, but it wasn't enough as he fell back in pain, holding his chest. It came back red, making Shepard seethe. He looked up just in time to put his forearms in front of his face as King Cold looked to kick his head off. He was knocked back on his ass regardless as he slid toward the rushing water looking to overtake one of the last few patches of land left on the dying planet.
A few seconds passed, allowing the Saiyan to breathe out. This was easily the hardest thing he had ever gone through. He sat up, watching as King Cold just stared him down from feet away, not attacking. Instead, he gloated.
"I have beaten you, Shepard. I will admit, you were far more impressive than those other Saiyans. Sadly, all you've gained is just a little time for them. I will find out where they went, and when I do, I will find out from them which planet you came from. I can assume it's the same one the others will surely arrive at, yes? They will never make it, just like you will die, once again I might add, on this miserable little planet. Once I find your planet, I will find those close to you."
Shepard used his mounting anger to stand up once again, weakly but surely, he stood tall. Shaking in rage, he thought back to his…hallucination of Tights and Axel's deaths.
"Oh yes, heh heh heh heh heh… when I find them, I will tear them apart! Tell me Saiyan, do you cherish them? Do you have children? Please tell me that you do, so that I may have a future goal of further ending your bloodline!" King Cold's body bulked up a fraction as veins popped up randomly along his body. Purple lightning flowed along his body as he laughed.
"Shepard…"
"…….." Shepard had no words, lost in seeing Tight's head rolling nonstop, detached from her head. He wanted King Cold's blood. He wanted to tear the arrogant King apart for his threats. He wanted…
"SHEPARD? CALL HER!"
Shepard heard Marc's desperate plea, holding out his hand as he clenched his teeth so hard they nearly shattered under the force.
"Y-Y-Youuuu…. You…." The BanHammer flew into his waiting hand, immediately feeling his body start to strengthen as it also sapped some of his overflowing anger and hate away.
"Remember what Charles Xavier once said… You must find the balance between anger…and serenity. He threatened our family! We WON'T let him act on it!"
Shepard felt the Super Saiyan energy raging within him, but also the power of his great weapon. His shaking slowly ebbed away as he took a deep breath. He felt his pains slowly falling to far more manageable levels. The cuts that were riddled along his body sealed up. But for once, he felt no pain from the healing. No… For once he felt….
"Heh heh heh heh heh heh… You're… You're such a damn fool!" Shepard said with veiled rage still pumping in his body.
"I beg your pardon? What did you say to me, boy?" King Cold took a menacing step forward, cracking the already destroyed earth underneath him.
"This whole time we've been fighting. Every time I've hit you with the BanHammer, every time you've thrown a blast. Hell, just being around it. Your energy has slowly been sapped away. YOU'RE MY BITCH NOW COLD!" Shepard yelled as he finally unleashed his remaining shackle.
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
His anger pushed his Super Saiyan transformation further, golden energy exploding out as he started to absorb the extreme pile-up of energy the BanHammer had absorbed. His muscles grew slightly as his power shot up, matching King Cold. His golden aura became a maelstrom of energy that quaked the dying planet. He felt the BanHammer's energy levels starting to taper off, clearly relieving it of so much leftover energy. His golden aura turned silver for a split second as he looked at King Cold, who gasped. He saw something, something far stronger within the Saiyan as Shepard's eyes glowed, gaining a pupil in the center for a moment as they shimmered between teal and…
Shepard blitzed forward, dropping the BanHammer and blasting an elbow into King Cold's stomach. Blood shot out of the King's mouth as he was pushed along the ground. He flipped up, landing back on his feet.
"If that's how you want it, loathsome primate!" King Cold and Shepard flew in low at each other, knees connecting as the ground shattered underneath the pair. Lightning and energy soared around the two as they yelled, pushing for dominance. An explosion of power between the two pushed them apart, but only momentarily as they charged back into each other, fighting as the planet moaned under the strain of power being poured out. King Cold sent his tail forward, making Shepard break away as King Cold held his hand out. Pink energy blasts left his palm as Shepard twirled around a pair of them, grabbing ahold of another and tossing it back to the King. King Cold saw it, dodging into the air as his blast destroyed the rest of one of the last islands. Shepard fired his own blasts at King Cold, making him fly around them. The King flew in towards the Super Saiyan, who was already on a collision course with him.
BOOOOOOOM
"AUGH!"
"AGHHH!" Shepard's left connected solidly with King Cold's jaw, making the Arcosians' eyes bulge in pain as King Cold's right smashed into Shepard's. Shepard felt like he went out for a second but recovered as quickly as he could. King Cold had the same idea as they both smashed their knees together. Their hands came together as King Cold went to blast Shepard's body, the Saiyan gripped one of King Cold's forearms, raising it and making the King misfire. Shepard only had a second to react as King Cold's eyes glowed. Shepard channeled energy through his own eyes, unleashing a pair of yellow beams out of them to counter King Cold's pink ones. Shepard yelled as the energy between the two collided but they held onto each other, continuing to fight for dominance until…
BOOOOOM
The explosion of energy between the canceling eye beams sent both rocketing away in wildly different directions. Shepard was sent several miles away as King Cold was blown upward into the sky. The dying planet continued to crumble as the tidal waves of ocean water clashed with each other, creating roaring hurricanes as the clouds above rained fire.
King Cold shook his head, ringing from the concussive force of energy. He looked around, looking down and noticing a small island off to the west. Flying down, the King landed, looking around as the planet fell apart around him. The sky was blood red, and the King loved it. The planet had minutes left. This fight would be over one way or another!
CRAAAAAAASH
A massive wave collided with the island, which the recovered Super Saiyan flew through.
THUUUUUNK
The heavy metallic sound of the BanHammer connecting with King Cold's chin was music to Shepard's ears, watching as the Arcosian King was launched off of his feet, sent exploding through a small cliffside and continuing.
"Yeah, how was-AHHHH!" Shepard quickly retreated as a geyser of lava busted through the soft malleable ground, sending a towering wave of lava into the sky. Shepard had to ignore it as he flew in the direction of the (hopefully) injured King Cold!
He flew for several minutes before he found his answer in the form of a massive pink dome of energy floating out of the water.
Blood slowly left King Cold's mouth, looking at Shepard with rage. Never had he been hurt so critically in a fight with a mortal. Beerus had gone easy on him, a mere demonstration. Chukadon wasn't a match for him at all!
'How could this bothersome Saiyan cause me so much trouble? A mere simple-minded Primate should be nothing! Yet, he has foiled me at every turn. That hammer of his is a nuisance, but it's more than that. There is something, chaotic about him that I cannot describe. Just what am I missing?'
"What's the matter, asshole? Having a brain freeze in the middle of a war zone?" Shepard asked mockingly. He didn't give time for King Cold to retort, flying in and swinging the BanHammer. It whirled over King Cold's ducking head as he had become very much aware now of what that weapon could do, but Shepard followed relentlessly. Gashes of wind blew across the sky from each missed swing, and the ones King Cold blocked were finally starting to hurt enough that he yelled in pain from one block, grabbing Shepard's arm and smashing his head into Shepard's face, sending a tooth flying. He went to do it again but the BanHammer had already cleared the Saiyan's head as he threw an elbow up, slamming it into the King's jaw and forcing the Arcosian to release him. He flipped his weapon down, releasing it and unleashing a torrent of heavy punches and kicks into the woozy King, finishing with a spinning roundhouse kick that hammered into the King's ribs, sending him flying away in pain. King Cold recovered a distance away. A distance that Shepard cleared in moments, throwing a punch. It collided with King Cold's fist, sending sparks and energy flying from the pair of warriors.
"AHHHHHH!" Their yells echoed as their heads smashed into each other. King Cold reared back in pain, turning and hurling the dizzy Super Saiyan away. Shepard shook his head in the sky as King Cold raced forward, extending his hand. Shepard dodged to the side, watching as King Cold lashed out with his tail, making Shepard move his body to avoid getting impaled.
SNATCH
Shepard had King Cold's tail between his arm and body. The King struggled to break loose, but the Super Saiyan didn't budge.
"Release me. Right now Saiyan!" King Cold's icy glare penetrated Shepard's soul, but the Super Saiyan gritted his teeth and started to pull, forcing King Cold to flex his energy, trying to drive Shepard away.
"YOU…BASTARD! RELEASE ME!" King Cold yelled as he started to chill his tail. Shepard felt it as the ice started to spike in different areas, forcing the Saiyan to improvise. He was going to tear King Cold's tail off, so if he couldn't do that, then…
Shepard released King Cold's tail with one hand, igniting a blue Ki blade.
"DON'T YOU…-SCHTING
"AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRGHHH!" King Cold howled in pain, watching as his frozen tail was cut in half. Shepard flew back with it, hurling it at King Cold, who while still howling in agony, didn't see the spiked tail coming in. It hit him right in the face, making the King step back, his howling having stopped. He turned slowly to look at the man who had done more damage to him than any other.
"YAAAAAAAAAHHH!"
"Shi-" BAAAM
King Cold howled, grabbing Shepard by the face and flying with him at supersonic speed. Shepard punched at King Cold, but he shrugged it off, hardly feeling the punches. The King slammed Shepard into another small island, likely one of the last pieces of land left on the falling planet, cracking the ground and cratering it nearly a hundred feet wide.
"HOW…DARE YOUUUUUUUUU!" King Cold laid into Shepard, not letting the Saiyan defend himself as King Cold sent punch after punch into the Super Saiyan's face. When Shepard finally did get his hands up, King Cold would attack his body, unrelenting in causing the Super Saiyan as much body-breaking pain as possible!
Shepard was getting beaten down, and wearing down, fast. His blocks were getting slower as King Cold slipped a punch by Shepard's guard, sinking his fist into Shepard's stomach. Blood flew out of Shepard's mouth as he gasped in pain before King Cold punched him in the face, slamming the back of his head into the deepening crater.
"YOU CUT OFF MY TAIL, YOU INSOLENT TRASH!" King Cold yelled, punching Shepard in the face again.
"NO ONE CUTS OFF THE KING'S TAIL! NO ONE! ESPECIALLY NOT SOME FILTHY ROTTEN INSIGNIFICANT SAIYAN! I WILL-"
THUUUUNK
Sparks flew from the contact as King Cold, for the first time in this fight, was seeing stars. He was forced away as Shepard desperately called for his BanHammer, wildly swinging once he felt it in his hand. He turned on his stomach, spitting out 3 more teeth and coughing up a pint of blood. The pain he had expected from healing from his weapon didn't come, but his teeth popping back in his mouth certainly hurt. He slowly made it to his feet, walking towards the struggling Arcosian King.
"You ne-never understood."
THUNK
King Cold was lifted from a heavy uppercut swing from the BanHammer, spitting out blood as he was sent hurtling away into another cliffside, bringing it down as he slammed into the side of a small mountain. The land was given away in certain areas as lightning scorched the red sky. Lava exploded out of several forced holes of pressure. The winds were terrible, far beyond the tolerances the planet could handle for long.
Shepard wished he could relish it. Even enjoy it. But what had happened here was beyond terrible. As beautiful as the scenery on the dying planet could be to some, it was far more ominous than he could've ever predicted. The planet's atmosphere had changed. There was a far more acrid taste in the air. He had coughed up a couple of bits of soot along with the blood, but he knew his BanHammer had his back. It always did, and it always would.
The Super Saiyan flew up, damaged, almost broken, but alive, and alight with energy. His golden aura surged as he saw King Cold hacking blood.
"D-Dirty, rotten..." King Cold saw Shepard, making his anger become boiling once again. Eyes shining with energy.
Shepard got the BanHammer up in time, absorbing the beams.
"ITS OVER COLD! I BEAT YOU!" Shepard yelled, pointing at the wide-eyed King Cold, who started shaking his head, rage building up.
"Nooo...Noooooo...NOOOOOOO! NOOOOO YOU WILL LOSE!" King Cold's energy flared, destroying the rock behind him as he blitzed toward Shepard, who got his guard up just in time, losing the BanHammer for the moment.
High in the sky of a dying planet, booms and shouts of rage could be heard from the 2 warriors as they warred their way across the broken planet.
Shepard pushed away a punch from King Cold as well as a kick. Parrying another punch, he grabbed ahold of King Cold's hand looking to throw him but the King grabbed Shepard's hair, trying to slam a knee into Shepard's stomach, but the Saiyan blocked it.
"ENOUUUUGH!" Shepard yelled in King Cold's face, unknowingly allowing a burst of golden energy to leave his mouth. It blew King Cold back, but it had done its damage, blinding the King from the massive shot that Shepard uncorked into King Cold's stomach.
The Arcosian King hacked out blood, flying back in shock as his body was racked with pain. Trying to recover, he shook with rage. Rushing forward, the King unloaded a barrage of kicks and punches, but Shepard had seen them coming, blocking them all before he unleashed a knee into the King's chest, pushing the Arcosian King back toward the ground. King Cold slid back, firing an energy blast from his hand. Shepard deflected it away, attacking the King, finally putting him on the defensive. Shepard landed a kick to King Cold's face, making him turn his head at an awkward angle. King Cold came back with a punch but Shepard ducked underneath it, hitting the King with a massive Kiai, making the King gasp as the wind knocked the air out of his chest. Blown back into a nearby mountainside, King Cold grew shocked when Shepard aimed his hands above him.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Shepard yelled in defiance.
"WHAT THE-"
"SCORCHED EARTH!" Shepard yelled, bringing down the rest of the mountain with his mind but as he did, he focused his energy on the rocks, burning them until they became so hot that they ignited!
"SHEPAAAAAAAAARD!"
There was no explosion except for another geyser of lava exploding outward near where King Cold was buried. The rocks burned white hot, focused with the Super Saiyan's rage. Finally able to calm down for a moment and realize what he had done, Shepard wasn't so dismayed. But the fight wasn't over, and Shepard was ready. However, the planet had decided for him. A massive earthquake had erupted across the planet as more geysers of lava exploded outward.
"No..." Shepard was out of time. He knew it. Massive rocks began to rise out of the now boiling ocean. The sky was awash with lightning arcing across it.
Holding his hand out, the BanHammer came to him. Looking around quickly, he saw no other land around him. Tornadoes had formed along the violent, turbulent waters beneath him.
He couldn't find any way to get off the planet!
"No…SHIT! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Shepard tried everything he could to reinforce himself as the planet in a matter of seconds seemed to finally die. Explosions of titanic proportions surrounded the Super Saiyan…
Shepard was lost in the hellish nightmare, so much so that he didn't see Raditz waving his hand in front of his face.
"Hey, dumbass!"
Shepard shook out of the memory, knocking Raditz's hand out of his face.
"Look… The fight was…terrifying. I'm not sure if Cold survived or not. I didn't even have a chance to…hold on a sec…" Shepard fumbled around in his pockets before realizing they weren't the pockets he had arrived in.
"Yo you didn't destroy my old clothes did you?" He asked Soba, who looked over to a smaller Yardratian.
"Of course not, traveler. But they are beyond repair." The Yardratian answered. Shepard didn't know who it was but a wave of relief washed over him.
"Thank fuck. Alright, I'll deal with them later. But first, I need to go get Goku back." Shepard held his hand, his weapon coming to it as he went to get up but a hand grabbed his shoulder. Raditz knew firsthand what Shepard wanted to do, and was not interested in trying to mess with it so quickly.
"You should eat first. Kakarot has grown stronger since Namek." Raditz said, pulling his hand back across the table. Shepard shook his head, closing his eyes as a soft glow filled his body. It was warm, and he found it quite soothing.
"Look… Goku is coming with, one way or another." Shepard opened his eyes, a colorful glow leaving them back to black as he looked at his rival. He went to turn to head out the door but a certain Prince stopped him short.
"Don't think you'll have any better success at beating Kakarot fool! Besides, do not forget what I said." Vegeta dropped the last sweet potato he was about to eat, interested in seeing how this would play out.
"I can take you right to him, traveler," Soba said, also getting up.
"Yeah, that would probably be for the best. Thanks uhh…"
"I am Soba. An honor to meet you."
Shepard didn't know why exactly but the name sounded familiar. He shook it off as he put his hand on Soba's shoulder, followed by Raditz putting his hand on Shepard's. Vegeta scoffed, grabbing Raditz's arm.
Zzt
"STOOOOOP! LET ME…LET ME OUT!"
He heard the yells. He didn't care. He finally mastered this body, and now he was having an internal battle to destroy the mind. He sat, clothes tattered, a body without wash, gritting his teeth in meditation.
'Blasted buffoon! You have lost! Now quiet!'
Zzt
'We have…guests… heh heh heh heh heh…'
Shepard only needed a fraction of a second before he saw Goku. He could immediately tell that something wasn't right.
"And there he is… Sitting down like usual." Raditz said.
Shepard would have agreed, but his weapon further honed his senses. Looking deeply, he felt…
"No… You gotta be shitting me…" Shepard could sense the sheer malevolence of Goku's aura. Only…
'Goku' stood up, turning slowly. If Shepard was any less of a man, he would have recoiled.
Goku's face did not match what Shepard could remember throughout his life watching the show, fighting him. Training with him. No this looked far more like Goku Black.
"Zamasu can't be this fucking early Marc!" Shepard was losing his mind internally! It couldn't be! Did his older self change the timeline that much?
"No…Not Zamasu. Worse… You know who it is."
"Kakarot…" Shepard slowly let out, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Heh heh heh heh heh… What a surprise, Shepard." Kakarot didn't sound like Goku at all. His voice belied a sinister intent. Smooth to try to draw in someone who would be caught off guard. Kakarot took a step forward, standing 10 feet from the 4 warriors who stood before him. He sneered at Vegeta and Raditz. Raditz narrowed his eyes while Vegeta growled.
"How the fuck did this happen?" Shepard asked, flipping the BanHammer in his hand by the handle.
"And there it is. I knew you would be the ever-curious sort. I suppose I should thank you. Or rather… Your older, self. Heh heh heh heh heh." Kakarot's smile was so unnatural, it turned Shepard's stomach.
"….Shit…The memories." Shepard finally remembered Goku telling him about his older self restoring Goku's memories. Of all the things that could have happened, Old Shepard could not have predicted this could occur. No way in hell!
"Bingo! Hahahahaaaa... I was awakened that very day. Remembering my childhood. That egregious old codger who dared to think he could…raise me. If I had more time, I would have most certainly killed him!" Kakarot clenched his dirty fists, making blood seep through his crusty fingernails.
"To think that naive idiot would imprison me! And then the biggest insult? Watching that pathetic brat die, and 'Goku' thinking he could channel MY power. No, the line is drawn! I finally awoke fully that very day, only to see a sniveling mess of emotions worthy of a sap! He was quite easy to manipulate heh heh heh heh heh heh… HAHAHAHAHAHA…the look on your face tells me everything I need to know. You failed, Shepard heh heh heh heh heh heh heh." Kakarot continued to laugh as the winds swirled around. Raditz was shocked! He didn't mind his brother's change so much, but the fact that he considered Gohan pathetic?
It was enough to make Raditz start to walk aggressively toward Kakarot, who in turn looked at him with another sneer. Shepard held his hand out, stopping Raditz from taking another step.
"Now I know you're deranged. Gohan is Goku's joy! His pride! And if you cared at all about preserving your sanity, you would take the time to find out that Gohan didn't die. He-"
That was Shepard's last word before Kakarot phased in, planting a fist into Shepard's cheek. Blood exploded from Shepard's mouth as he stumbled back, falling past Raditz.
"Insulting my intelligence will only get you dead faster. I watched the boy die! The very catalyst for my full reawakening!" Kakarot sneered at Vegeta, who was ready to fight.
"Mind your manners, Vegeta. I believe when I have fully destroyed Goku, I will be destroying you all and taking the reigns of that… Empire you wanted to create. Heh heh heh heh heh."
"As if! I will put you in your rightful low-class place!" Vegeta's aura started to show through, the wind picking up around him.
"You're fucking hilarious." Vegeta stopped powering up, sharply turning at Shepard's rebuke. The Rogue held his jaw for a few seconds as the blood evaporated from his mouth. His eyes shined for a split second, making Kakarot gasp slightly.
"Gohan not only didn't die, he was fully healed by this." Shepard held up his BanHammer, pointing it at Kakarot.
"Looks like I'll have to heal you too." Shepard started walking toward Kakarot, who quickly phased away further back.
"Keep your filthy weapon and hands away from me! You will do no such thing!" Kakarot pointed his hand at Shepard, unleashing a yellow energy blast. It hit Shepard, throwing up an explosion that made the other 3 warriors guard their faces from the smoke and ash.
"That Saiyan has lost his mind completely," Soba mentioned.
"Exactly why having Shepard here was a good idea after all," Raditz said as he saw the smoke instantly dissipate, followed by an explosion of Shepard's white aura. He walked through the blast like it was a picnic as Kakarot hurled more blasts. The deranged Saiyan saw he was getting nowhere with this, so he jumped in the air charging up a massive gathering of energy.
"FINE THEN! IF YOU WILL NOT DIE BY THOSE, THEN YOU WILL ROT IN HELL FROM THIS! KAAAAAAAAAA!" It wasn't blue energy, but red with black lightening around it. Shepard wasn't fazed as he lifted off the ground, angered by Kakarot's disrespect of the Kamehameha Wave.
"MEEEEEEEE!"
"He'll destroy the planet with that!" Soba shouted in alarm.
"I don't think so." That was all Raditz said as the planet started to quake under the pressure.
"HAAAAAAAA!" the energy doubled in size as the orb of energy in Kakarot's hands grew even more, lightning arcing all over him.
"MEEEEEEE!" Shepard saw his moment, using the BanHammer, he darted away so fast that Kakarot lost track of him.
"Where did he-"
"Too slow jackass!" Shepard said from behind him, already swinging down with the BanHammer.
"NOOO!" Everyone expected a bloody ending with Kakarot's head being turned into mush, but Shepard had different ideas. Killing Kakarot would kill Goku, and would likely send him to hell. It wouldn't solve the problem of Kakarot itself, so he had one option he knew had a chance of working.
TIIIIIIING
A high-pitched gong-like sound exploded from the hammer, washing Kakarot in silver energy as he screamed.
"NOOOOO! AHHHHHHH WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" Kakarot screamed as he tried to pull himself free from the BanHammer, but Shepard was determined. He was going to save Goku, even if it meant he might lose his own sanity in the process. He had to do this, for the Universe! Shepard didn't know what to expect next, but it wasn't the intensely bright white light…
The first thing he heard was rattling. The next, and what made his eyes open in terror, was Goku's pained, echoed scream.
"LET ME OUT-LET ME OUUUUT! DARN YOU KAKAROT!"
Shepard's eyes snapped open, quickly looking around in the voided space. There were chains, everywhere that he could see. But they weren't metal chains, they were chains made of energy.
"AHHHHH! STOP THIS!" Hearing the screaming again, Shepard started to fly in that direction. He barely made it a hundred feet before-
"Oof-" The wind was nearly knocked out of him when something collided with him. He hit the bottom of wherever he was with force. With a bloody hand around his neck, Shepard looked into evil, hollow eyes. Kakarot was squeezing as hard as he could, trying to squeeze Shepard's head off.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" Kakarot yelled in Shepard's face, spit flying.
Shepard grabbed Kakarot's wrist, kicking Kakarot as hard as he could in the knee, it made Kakarot wince in pain as he let go. Shepard reached around his neck, coughing out air. Standing up, he snapped his fingers, making the BanHammer appear in his hand. His neck immediately started feeling better.
Kakarot growled, running at Shepard. The Rogue, however, was done playing games. He held his hand out, blowing Kakarot back with a kiai. His eyes shined as he walked toward the slowly recovering mad Saiyan. Kakarot yelled, charging toward Shepard. Throwing a kick, Kakarot was surprised Shepard dodged it, moving his head. Choking up on the BanHammer, Shepard caught Kakarot in the stomach with it, running him back with momentum.
"RE-RELEASE ME FILTH!" Kakarot screamed before he was smashed into one of the many thick energy chains suspended in this hellish place. The scenery around the pair started to fluctuate as Kakarot growled, trying to pull himself free but Shepard had him firmly held in place, holding his hand out and leaving the BanHammer in place.
"HGUONE!" Shepard said. Kakarot couldn't understand the language, but he noticed Shepard's eyes flash before the BanHammer released Ki chains of its own, suspending Kakarot and trapping every part of his body.
"WHAT IS THIS? HOW DARE YOU RUIN MY PLANS! WHEN I GET OUT OF THIS I'LL HAVE YOUR HEAD! I'LL TEAR IT OFF AND LEAVE NOTHING BEHIND!" Kakarot struggled greatly, but the chains kept getting tighter. Multi-colored chains wrapped around Kakarot's mouth to shut him up even further. Shepard's eyes returned to normal, making him feel loopy as he shook his head to clear the cobwebs.
What the hell happened? He was in control until some kind of…force took him over. It wasn't a forceful presence but like an…addition? He noticed Kakarot's sorry state, the Banhammer pushing Kakarot deep into the chain.
"Well then, suck on this, dipshit. I'll be back." Shepard flipped Kakarot off with the middle finger before bringing his BanHammer back to him and taking off through the massive chain field. Kakarot was still bound to the chain by the chains the BanHammer left behind. His muffled roars of rage went on deaf ears. He tried pulling himself free but it was no use. The chains squeezed tighter around Kakarot, making his yell muffled in pained rage through the chains around his mouth.
He was stuck there…
It felt like it took hours before Shepard finally found Goku. Goku's yells were getting louder and the chains were starting to stain with more blood as he had gotten closer.
Goku was in terrible shape. Suspended in the air by massive golden chains, his body didn't so much as move when Shepard flew up to him.
"Fuck. Kakarot is sadistic." Shepard said in shock.
"AGH. G-Get away from me, you… DECEIVER. Not again. P-Please Kakarot. STOP THIS!"
"Whoa whoa…dude it's me. Come on man snap out of this. How did this happen?" Shepard flew closer to Goku, but the Saiyan snapped his head forward, nearly biting Shepard's nose off.
"YEOW! WATCH IT!" Shepard yelled.
"You asked that dozens of times before! Let me-huh…W-Wait…Sh-Shepard? Is it… Is it really you? Yeah...Yeah, it has to be!" Goku's agony was temporarily forgotten after seeing his friend.
"Dude… how did… How did Kakarot take over?" Shepard asked.
"Since… when Gohan died I felt this… this uncontrollable rage. When we fought Cooler I had someone to focus that rage onto. When I came to in that hospital place, they tried to stick me with a needle so I booked it! But… I should have waited. I was still so weak and...And Kakarot just exploded in my mind one night in the mountains! He just kept attacking my mind with so much anger, and hate. I couldn't focus on anything. I kept getting flashes of fighting Raditz and Vegeta, but it was probably me fighting to gain control. He had already beaten me. I wake up sometimes and… I just hope it's a dream but…"
Shepard felt bad for Goku. He really did. He could've never imagined this would happen to his hero. But he supposed even heroes have their flaws.
"I can tell you for sure that Gohan didn't die on Namek." Shepard ignored Goku's pained look of shock, trembling in barely repressed joy.
"Y-You mean-?"
"His body was damaged, severely. But I think…I know my older self brought him back. I still don't know how he did it, but there was a point when the BanHammer was so cold I couldn't use it. It never felt like that before. I thought it was a reaction to Gohan dying and my rage closing me off, but no I think the BanHammer protected itself from being destroyed to protect Gohan's soul from perishing until his body could be healed fully. Then his soul was returned to his body. I still don't know how he could've done it. But…Gohan never went to Otherworld." Shepard concentrated, holding the BanHammer up close to his face and closing his eyes.
It took several seconds before his eyes opened once again, an eerie shine to them that creeped Goku out. It was so very intense that Goku had to look away.
"RETTAHS!" Shepard said, his voice deep and penetrating. Holding the BanHammer up to the chains, they slowly began to melt away.
"I-I can move again!" Goku started wiggling himself free before the chains shattered completely away, making Goku freely drop to the ground. He landed in a tumble, still weak from his mental ordeal. He weakly looked up as more of the chains melted, others cracking and falling in loud CLINKS.
Shepard slowly came down as the shine left his eyes. Falling to a knee, he made his way up a few moments later, swinging the BanHammer and smashing a few links away as he walked toward Goku.
"Th-Thanks Shep… I owe you one." Goku said.
"Yeah, man. Somehow it doesn't feel right to fight this battle for you. I'm sorry this happened Goku."
"Heh heh heh heh heh… no it's my fault. So he's who I could've turned into if I didn't hit my head, huh?" Goku asked.
"Yup. The repressive feeling of his energy. He had been fighting to be released for a while. He's deranged, malicious. It's still in you. It'll always be. He is you. But he doesn't fight for love. He doesn't care about Chi-Chi or Gohan. He doesn't bother with who's in his way. He's a black pit of hate." Shepard said, feeling himself start to disappear from Goku's mind. He was free now, but it was his fight to fight.
"W-Wait Shepard… thank you. Thank you for what you did for Gohan. Even if it wasn't you who saved him, I know you would have anyway. Knowing he never went to Otherworld… that he's home, safe. I must master this dark side of myself. Otherwise, I'll never be able to protect him. Or Chi Chi and my friends!"
Shepard was shocked! That was surprisingly quite thoughtful of Goku. He smiled as he sent a salute.
"Anytime dude. Before I go..." Shepard held out the BanHammer to Goku's forehead, sending healing waves of energy throughout his body. Goku felt his body getting lighter. Likely from all the bruising and cuts and burns that faded away. Then Shepard turned his BanHammer the other way, eyes shining eerily again.
"ESAELER!"...
A distance away, the multicolored chains shattered into colorful particles, dropping their violent prisoner.
Kakarot fell to the ground, growling in pain as his body had been slowly crushing itself from the chain links.
"GRRR... Finally! I will have my sweet revenge! SHEPAAAAAAAAAAAARD!"
He heard something from behind him, in front of his now shattered energy chains.
"You don't have to worry about him anymore."
Kakarot gasped.
"Nooo...NOOOOOOOOO!" Kakarot turned, throwing a vicious punch, only for Goku to catch it.
"You've caused enough harm. For all the wrong reasons." Goku punched Kakarot in the face, knocking his deranged half back a few steps. Kakarot brought his head down, lip busted as he growled at Goku.
"You... Do you think just because that dolt freed you that you are truly free? You still have to defeat me. And I've been in here a looooooong time Goku heh heh heh heh heh." Kakarot wiped the blood from his lip, looking at Goku, who didn't take his eyes off of him. Instead, he assumed the Turtle Stance.
"If that's what it takes Kakarot, then I will defeat you!"
They both charged in, fists clamoring for the other's face!...
Wow! So Kakarot vs. Goku huh? Shepard did what he had to do and no more. He couldn't find Goku's battle for him. But to give him the knowledge of his son never dying and being healthy and well back on Earth combined with healing his body and reinvigorating his spirit may have given him a chance! Will he win? We will find out next chapter (thumbs up!) Also tell me what you think about Shepard's flashback. Obviously he survived, but how? That will also be explained in an upcoming chapter. Take care folks. Until we meet again!