Hey everyone! My thoughts go out to the people affected by Hurricane Helene. It is pretty bad in the southern U.S. right now so before you read this, just say a quiet prayer.
The Big Gete Star has made it's move! Attacking the Saiyans on Yardrat, it makes it's way to Earth! Will the Z-Fighters be ready? Find out on this chapter of Dragon Ball: BtG!
Reviews:
kirosyamcha: Quite a lot to unpack here. So for starters, when I wrote the 'Prologue' It was back around 2019-2020 when I started writing. It was meant to be a couple of chapters but instead turned into a mini saga of sorts. So the timeline goes like this:
Old Man Shepard- Travels back from the early 800s from a future where Bulma has perfected the formula for Time travel, making the plan possible, less Old Man Shepard winds up in a much different timeline. This is also where the Grand Zenos are going to destroy most of the known multiverse. He goes back to Age 737 first to save the children of the Saiyan race, changing the fates of Bardock and King Vegeta, saving a group of Saiyans that would become Elders to the next generation of Saiyan warriors. Encountered by a version of Xeno Trunks and his Time Patrollers as he moves on to Age 760, where he is to meet with his younger self.
The 2nd chapter was told from the past, where we have OUR Shepard coming into the fold. By chapter 10, both characters' origin stories collide. Next, they are…sort of…merged into one person. The problem lies in the Saiyan genes lol it's all about balance. Remember that word. Yes, he could kill Raditz, and would, had Marc not been so heavily influenced by his childhood, growing up, seeing the many 'What if Raditz was good?' stories and watching Youtube and wanting to see if it held up at all. And plus, with Shepard's Saiyan genes, he wanted a true fight. In some way, to try to restore Raditz's honor, making him more viable for a possible friendship/rivalry.
And let's get one more thing straight. If you are going to be upset because of my 'created' reasons for struggle, than you maybe should take a look at say…Goku giving a senzu bean to Cell, and Moro. Gohan could've destroyed Cell easier, and Moro? Same deal. And Vegeta, for however many times he has screwed something up (creation of Perfect Cell ring any bells?) I don't hear much in the way of complaints about Akira Toriyama giving the story some struggle.
This is NOT canon Vegeta. The Saibamonster was NOT stronger than Vegeta. I believe I had the monster pegged at 18,000, so THIS version of Vegeta would've been fine here. And once again, YES Shepard could've maintained a Kaioken Times 4 and blitzed and destroyed Vegeta, but the same rule applies here as also with Raditz. Killing Vegeta in such a way would leave his honor torn and frayed, and leave him bitter, and hateful. This is not the Vegeta that Shepard wants to deal with. A delicate balance. That word sure is important lol ;). Anyway, I hope I lifted some fog up from any confusion you might've had. You're right in pointing out the mess of the prologue, and to be fair, I could slim it down now into maybe 2-3 chapters instead of almost 10! Thank you for your reviews, I hope you haven't given up on me!
Age: June 15, 764
Location: Capsule Corp
"Yes! Tights just got here. I gotta go, Daddy. No, Dad, I have to go! I'm not leaving the boys to fight...whatever this thing is! Take care of Axel!" Orange was stuck hearing Bulma in a shouting match with her father, who was begging her not to go out that way.
"I got to go Dad I'll be fine! No, I'm not just taking a gun! I have other gadgets! Bye, Dad!" Bulma hung up the phone with a huff. Even though her father was only in the lab across from hers, sometimes they seemed to be miles apart.
"Dad still trying to put a leash on you Sis?" Tights said with a smirk. Bulma turned and got a good look at her. Tights had gained a few pounds since her birth, and despite her desire to lose the excess baby weight, she couldn't be helped too until Shepard got back home.
"You know Daddy… just can't help how beautiful I am and wants me to be all safe but that's not how I do things!" Tights scoffed as Orange just shook his head, going back to typing up some simulations.
"Here's a bag of Senzu Beans. I just grabbed a good handful. Should be enough for a couple each. You think... Think maybe I should call in Jaco?"
Bulma hadn't heard the name in a good while. She shook her head after a few moments. "No. I trust the guys. And if the Saiyans can make it back, then just maybe-"
"Ah hem. Hello...Bulma are you there?" Bulma, Orange, and Tights jumped before they looked up at the ceiling.
"T-Tien? Is it really-"
"No time Bulma. Do you have the Dragon Balls?"
"...What kind of stupid question is that? Of course, I do!"
"No surprise there. Listen Bulma, I need you to wish me back to life. King Kai has seen what is coming to Earth, and it is time I come home to defend it."
Bulma scrambled, running over to her table and hitting the button to open up a panel where the small, orange wish orbs lay.
"There's something else... It's King Cold."
"WHAT!" Orange shouted in alarm, beginning to tremble.
"H-He's the one Shepard fought." Tights didn't ask. She just…knew. She was glad Axel was with her Mother.
"Yes. Shepard and the others thought he killed him, but they were wrong. King Kai has seen this monstrosity in the Cosmos over his lifetime, but it never had this kind of direction. He believes that Cold's consciousness might be directing it because he has already gone after the Saiyans on Yardrat."
Tights froze. A cold, icy feeling crawled up her spine. If King Cold had repurposed whatever this...thing to come here for some kind of revenge, how much did he truly know? Did he know about her? About their son?
"Tights?"
She had gotten better at tempering her moods since her near-fatal 'heart attack' a year and a half ago, but she couldn't help but feel like something was about to happen. Something serious.
"TIGHTS?" Bulma shouted in concern, roughly grabbing her older sister's forearm and shaking her.
"C-C-Cold fought Shepard and killed him at least once Bulma. I'm sure of it. If he went after them on Yardrat, how come I don't feel any distress from him?"
"We can answer that later! Right now I'm getting the Dragon Balls together. Do you need anything else, Tien?"
"No, thank you, Bulma. I can't wait to see Chiaotzu again."
"Heh heh heh heh well uhh, you know uhh, Chiaotzu has kind of been my sort of…testing dummy for a while?" Bulma said timidly, hoping Tien wouldn't get angry.
"…I'm aware. And though I don't necessarily approve of it, you do have his safety in mind. And you've been paying him well and taking care of him. So I owe you. Please do hurry. I can be back in minutes on Earth. I've become much stronger since Namek."
"Here Sis." Bulma held out a pistol-looking weapon to Tights, who took it gratefully. She wasn't going to stand by and let her planet be destroyed this time!
Tights walked fast after her sister, checking the gun over. It looked normal enough, but she could see some kind of cartridge with blue fluid on the side of it. She cocked it back and it hummed silently.
"If the prototype does well enough, Daddy may be willing to sign a limited partnership with the military in producing more," Bulma explained as she made her way outside, dropping the Dragon Balls to the ground below.
"Any testing so far?" Tights asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Today's the daaaaaay!" Bulma's enthusiasm made Tights nervous, but she looked over the gun one more time.
"Eternal Dragon. By your name, I summon you forth, Shenron!"
The sky grew dark as the golden light flashed sky-high, coalescing into the form of the familiar dragon.
"Never gets old," Bulma said as she smiled upward...
The dragon balls had been strengthened since they had been destroyed. So Bulma was gleeful when she found they had 2 wishes. And the limitations that were there before had been eliminated, mostly. Shenron still couldn't bring someone back from natural death, but now he could bring somebody back multiple times with no time limit existing after their date of death. Tien would have had to seek out the namekian dragon balls if that were the case. Bulma sent Chiaotzu up to the Lookout shortly after, knowing he would be excited to reunite with his lifelong friend again. She was very happy with herself for choosing not to use the 2nd wish, instead allowing the dragon balls to be revived after 4 months.
BEEP
BEEP
BEEP
BEEP
The winds began to pick up as Bulma looked in the sky. What she saw made her gasp.
It looked like a small moon, but as it kept growing bigger, the size of the 'planet' was starting to cause massive winds to pick up. All Bulma and Tights could do was gulp at the scope of the attack coming…
BOOM
Raditz was exhausted. Meta Turles continued to regenerate as Radtiz had blown off both arms, blown off his head, and beaten him into a silver paste that reformed within seconds.
"MY TURN HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Meta Turles sensed the exhaustion in the long-haired Saiyan, bursting forward with a forearm to Raditz's face. Raditz stumbled back more in a daze than in pain. It was obvious he had the strength advantage, but he was getting nowhere with this regeneration…
Meta Turles flashed forward, making Raditz move his head to the side from a punch that whizzed by, followed by blocking a kick from his left. Meta Turles kept swinging, forcing Raditz to move his hands faster to block.
"What's the matter, boy?" Meta Turles clocked Raditz with an elbow to the jaw, sending him back as he laughed. Putting his hands together, he produced a pulsing orange ring of Ki.
"You won't submit yourself to the Big Gete Star, then you'll die with this planet before it's consumed to bits! KILL DRIVER!"
Raditz had not heard those words together in a very long time. And even then he was still amazed at how his father managed to counter the technique. He was a small child then, but perhaps he could…
Raditz shook his head and snarled, digging deep into his reserves. Golden energy burst out around him as he flew in towards the orange-ringed blast.
"Are you insane?" Meta Turles could only watch stunned as Raditz flew through his ring, somehow forcing his way through. Raditz ignited his fist in golden energy, focusing all his energy into it and slamming his fist into Meta Turles' stomach. It burst through to the other side. The metallic Saiyan stumbled back for several moments before he started to snicker.
"I told you already, idiot! The Big Gete Star won't let me just die hahahahahahahaha!"
"Maybe not! But let's see how you do when you're blown to pieces!" Raditz yelled out, remembering the feeling of Shepard's energy coursing through his body as he had died. He started yelling, forcing more energy into his fist.
"Fuck you and BE GONE!" Raditz shouted out one last time, causing an explosion of energy to rip the screaming metallic Saiyan apart into many pieces. Silver tendrils could be seen slowly working around the broken metal.
"Dude, did you just use the attack I used on you?" Shepard landed beside the heaving Saiyan, who only looked at him and shrugged.
"Whatever it was, surely it did the trick," Vegeta said as he landed nearby.
"What happened to him? You said he was our Uncle?" Goku asked as he saw the silver tendrils begin to bubble.
"This…Big Gete…Star…transformed him into this…" Raditz was still puzzled as he looked on. The silver tendrils began to form, leaving the Saiyans disgusted, but quickly alarmed as dozens of Meta Turles began to showcase themselves. They were smaller than their original counterpart but it didn't make them any less menacing.
"We told you this would happen!" Before the Saiyans could react, the dozens of Meta Turles all held their hands out, firing many small, blue blasts of energy. The explosions started to shake the planet as the Meta Turles' stopped. The smoke that was building up in the area was blown away by the swing of the BanHammer as a translucent shield was seen over the Saiyans.
"Alright fuck this! I'm willing to bet that ship he came in on might hold some clues." Shepard said.
"Aww too much heh heh heh heh heh heh heh then let's play a new game!" The mini Meta Turles' next held out their hands, purple balls of electrified energy forming into each.
"CALAMITY BLASTER!" Multiple blasts of energy were fired down upon the Saiyans, but Shepard had had enough, waving his BanHammer and holding it up.
The blasts began to change course, instead violently whipping around the BanHammer as it began to absorb all the energy. Hundreds of blasts dissolved into the hammer as Shepard felt his weapon grow hot. Eventually, they were all absorbed, leaving all the miniature metallic Turles gawking.
A blast from above blew up 2 of the clones, smoke leaving Soba's hand. He had seen enough. Using his newly learned Instantaneous Movement, he was down by the Saiyan's side in less than a blink.
"I've been observing. I know you wanted to fight this one alone, Raditz. But this abomination is becoming a planetary concern."
Raditz himself wasn't arguing, moments later feeling a tap on his shoulder. The next moment, an arcing bolt of shock ran through his body before soothing balms of healing energy coursed through him. He would normally refuse the BanHammer Special as Shepard had taken to calling it, but he was utterly exhausted with few reserves.
"I'm gonna make my way to that ship of his. Can you guys hold him off long enough?" Shepard said, his white gold hair waving in the wind.
"Insignificant scum!" The Meta Turles' minis all said in echo before charging forward.
"HAAAAAAH!" Goku and Vegeta's dual roar made it almost sound like Gogeta for a nostalgic moment. But Shepard could ponder that no more as Raditz also yelled out, his energy rising back to proper fighting levels. Soba was right with them as they charged forward toward the now dozens of Turles' clones. Shepard almost got grabbed by 3 of them but Goku lashed out with a kick in front of him, going by with a shout. He bashed one aside with the BanHammer, splattering the clone, but he also noticed something else. The clone was struggling to come back together again. 'Hmm? Is Banny canceling out their science?'
"Keep using the BanHammer Shep! It's causing some kind of… back loop to their programming!"
"YEAH!" Shepard flipped the BanHammer in his hand, swinging full force toward another Turles' clone. It could only shriek as the BanHammer bludgeoned through like it was never there, sending it splattering into metallic…jelly.
Goku and Raditz were back-to-back as over a dozen mini Meta Turles' jumped them. One got above the pair, slamming both hands down, but Goku cross-blocked it, pulling it down and punching it away. 2 went to smash Raditz from both sides but he blocked them both, pulling them both by the fronts and smashing their heads together before kicking one away and blasting the other. 4 more started attacking from all directions, trying to pull the brothers apart, so Goku finally pulled off his weapon. The Golden Staff whipped around in a golden arc, smashing 2 away with ease as he whipped it around catching another 2.
Vegeta had his own problems as he and Soba were ganged up on by another 15 mini clones of the metallic Saiyan.
"BIG BANG ATTACK!" Vegeta yelled out, firing his dense ball of blue energy at a group of 5, blowing them to pieces. He turned, catching another with his foot and pushing it back into the ground hard before turning the other way and catching the fist of another, throwing it past him hard into the ground, blowing it to pieces with an energy blast.
Shepard was rushed by a dozen frantic Meta Turles' clones, happy to exchange now that they were weaker than their original, bigger counterpart. He whirled around with the BanHammer, catching 2 that weren't so lucky and destroying their form.
BOOM
A blast hit Shepard in the back, making him drop the BanHammer in surprise and grunt before he turned over, corkscrewing as he landed. 4 of the clones were waiting for him and they started lashing out with ferocious combinations.
"Damn you know for being little bastards ya got some power!" Shepard said before catching one with a roundhouse kick, turning and elbowing another in the chest area and blowing it back. He uppercutted the next one to his eye level before catching it with a vicious left hook. Picking the BanHammer up, he jumped over, slamming his weapon down on a shrieking clone and splattering it.
"Why are they so…gooey? I thought the Big Gete Star was a techno-organic thing. This looks... T-1000-like!"
"Cold is different than Cooler, Shep. Maybe he had them go in a different creative direction."
Shepard heard Marc, but was busy palming a clone in the face and slamming it down before another jumped on his back. Another latched onto him as both gleefully laughed.
"Try this on for size! King Cold is going to love you heh heh heh heh heh!" One of the clones squealed.
"Grrr..fuckin...GET OFF ME!" Shepard yelled out as he grabbed the one that latched onto his leg, ripping it off and uppercut swinging with the BanHammer, sending it splattering away. The other had its hands coated in purple energy, sending waves of pain through Shepard's body. They were quickly nullified by the BanHammer as he turned around and made eye contact with the clone. The clone looked sheepish as Shepard flew back, splattering the clone as he slammed himself into the ground back first. Getting up, he had enough time to watch as a few of the clones started to reform.
"Damn, this is getting nuts!" He blitzed away, heading towards where the ship was. He and Soba had devised this strategy in case something malicious were to come to Yardrat. Compared to where they were when Meta Turles arrived, he should just about make it...
"There it is! Hell yeah! I-Sonuva-"
4 of the clones had flown above him while he was searching for the exact spot of the Gete cruiser, flying into him and freefalling into the ground. Shepard landed with a crash, but was back on his feet in a roll, moving his hands as 2 more clones had caught up to them. He caught both of their punches and pulled one off its feet, head-butting it back as he tossed the other away. The other 4 recovered and were on him fast, but he flew back, catching their punches and kicks on his forearms and knees. They continued trying to push him back forcefully but he stayed firm, swinging his hand with the BanHammer, catching one of the clones and turning it into metallic jelly. One swung for his face with a backhand swipe but he moved his body and head back, finally having a bit of breathing room, he swung up with an uppercut, catching one of the clones in the chin with his elbow, knocking it away in a splatter. He jumped a short distance, purposefully toward the gleaming Gete cruiser.
He decided to try one of the new moves he had been keeping up his sleeve. Slamming his BanHammer down so both of his hands were free, Shepard grit his teeth as he bounced a few steps back, avoiding another swipe from a clone in the process. He brought both of his hands together as blue energy began to charge between them. He kneed another clone in the jaw as it rushed him.
He then pulled his hands apart, quickly slamming them back together with his hands covered in blue energy.
"COSMIC SHOWER!" He yelled as he threw his hands out, allowing a mass of concentrated blue energy balls to fly from them. A torrent of blue blasts fell upon the clones, and dozens of concentrated explosions sent smoke and metallic jelly everywhere.
He didn't know how long he had, so he dropped to the ground quickly, running over to the ship. He looked around for several moments, finding a small button next to where he remembered seeing the hatch open. Pressing it, he waited several seconds, looking back, he saw the clones were still trying to come back together. A short distance away, he saw why they were struggling. The BanHammer glowed blue, clearly overwriting the Gete program and keeping the clones from solidifying.
"See what happens when you mess with her training T-1000s? Fuck around and find out!" Shepard cackled, flipping off the struggling metallic jelly as he made his way inside the now-open ship. He only took a couple of steps in before he gasped.
"R-R-Raditz? You got your ears on under that heavy hair?" He mentally called Raditz instead of Goku. He would understand what he was seeing more.
"Not in the mood for jokes! Kinda busy!"
"That doesn't matter. Teleport to me. You need to see this."
Less than 10 seconds later, a Zzt was heard as a flustered, golden long-haired Super Saiyan snarled at Shepard.
"What's the big idea, Shepard? We need to get out-" Raditz didn't notice his surroundings as Shepard grabbed him by the shoulder and turned him around.
"What is so-" Raditz went silent, his eyes losing all their battle sense. Walking slowly toward the vertical platform inside the small vessel, he weakly walked over to one of the arms that was in place, touching the pale, but familiar skin. He ran his hand over the damaged, purple armor pieces as he struggled to take his eyes off of the horrifying spectacle.
Pieces of Turles were hung up with what looked like many wirings and tubings keeping him suspended along the board. But what made Raditz even more sick, was that this wasn't all of his Uncle. An arm was missing, as well as his legs, and there was the worst part: only half of Turles' face was present. Shepard watched as Raditz nearly fell over, having to prop himself up as he ran a hand over the half of Turles' face that was there.
"….Ahh…What is…" Raditz almost fell to the ground in shock as Turles' eye opened, looking all over the place in confusion.
"Y-you sonuva bitch! Why didn't you?.. Damn you!" Raditz was enraged, getting up and grabbing Shepard by his armor, he hoisted the Rogue, slamming him into the side of the vessel!
"YOU SHOULD'VE KILLED COLD! HOW COULD YOU LET THIS..." Shepard was unprepared but was quick in grabbing his rival's wrist and pulling one down.
"IF DOZENS OF HITS FROM THIS MOTHERFUCKER WON'T KILL HIM, WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT FROM ME?" He held the BanHammer up for emphasis.
"Will...You two...Knock it...Off?" Shepard and Raditz both turned, looking as Turles got their attention.
"U-Uncle?"
"Runt? Is it…You after all? Heh eh heh heh... My brother...would be proud... and what of his youngest...Kakarot?"
"He...He lives as well. He is fighting those clones you created." Raditz said.
"I didn't...No...Cold has created...them...The Big Gete Star took him. Then...He found...Me...My...My Team...None survived...I was alone...Fighting...Watched them...Urrggh...Cold is...So...So strong...Even...Even as we speak...He aims for your destruction..." The disembodied Turles' lone eye zeroed in on Shepard.
"That compartment to your...Right...Open it..." Shepard turned a bit, looking to his right to see a smooth metal surface. He touched it, accidentally pressing in as the compartment slid open.
"Fruit? Seriously Turles? What good is-"
"Shut up Rad." Shepard's eyes zoned in on the Fruit Of Might. There were 5 of them.
"Yes! I...Still had a bit of...Infuence over the system...That fruit is from..."
"The Tree Of Might!" Shepard couldn't believe it!
"You...know of it..." Turles wasn't asking. Raditz looked between the disassembled Turles and Shepard, confused.
"I've never heard of this...Tree Of Might." He said.
"You… wouldn't…I discovered it by…happenstance…My team…We were using the Fruit…to grow strong enough to destroy Frieza…"
"Frieza was destroyed," Shepard said.
"Cooler too."
"Then…Cold is…the only one…left…You must go…Even now…He's so…So strong…His control…Warped my thoughts…Ripped my…Saiyan Pride…Away…" Both Super Saiyans could tell that it was a hellacious effort for Turles to have any kind of control.
"We better go," Shepard said, handing the Fruits to Raditz.
"Yes…If my calculations are…correct…Then Cold is already approaching…Earth."
Shepard's blood chilled to an arctic frost.
"H-How is he...How can he be that...fast?" Shepard could barely speak. If King Cold found out about Tights, about Axel...
There was no telling that the vision that made him transcend the threshold could become a horrific reality!
"Cold...Took over the Big Gete Star...They had all manners of...technology...one of which...housed a Wormhole Detector...Grrrah! Quick! Take the Fruits...Aghhhh! Get...Get back to Earth...He used a...Wormhole...Close to your Solar System...And Shepard?"
Shepard was running things a mile a minute in his head! But took one more look at the separated version of a Saiyan who he had only read about, and watched in the Tree Of Might movie as a small child. He never could have imagined meeting Turles like this...
"Finish...The job...You must...Destroy...The Big Gete Star...Allow my nephew...And I...One minute..." Shepard gave Raditz's shoulder a squeeze, acknowledgment of apology on his face, walking back out into the open. He didn't remember fog being so thick on this planet...
He looked at his weapon, still glowing blue as it held the surrounding metallic jelly that still couldn't morph back into shape with ease.
He snickered as he walked by some struggling metallic ooze.
"God you would feast in the Terminatorverse Banny! I'll make sure to find you some bad heads to smash soon!" He laughed as he touched his weapon.
"Banny, reset!" Shepard said, his eyes glowing blue along with his weapon as the BanHammer pulsed a deeper blue aura, sending it worldwide...
"GALICK GUN!"
"KAMEHAMEHA!" Both Super Saiyans were side to side, firing their respective blasts at a bunch of clones that had gathered together.
"This is madness, Kakarot!"
"No kidding Vegeta. It's never-ending! They just keep coming back together!"
"Except for the ones Shepard destroyed with his hammer," Vegeta noted that there were a few of the clones that were still stuck in a constant state of metamorphosis, trying to make it back into proper clone form but falling apart whenever a shape started to come together.
They also both realized that they worked in great tandem, both pulling each other out of the fire. The clones seemed to keep multiplying and with Raditz having gone to wherever Shepard had left to, they were using each other more than they thought they would.
"Watch out Kakarot!" Vegeta charged past Goku, smashing a clone away with a heavy kick as Goku blasted several more coming in from Vegeta's side. They dropped to the ground as dozens of clones surrounded them. Some had faces of feral interest, others looked serious, but they were all closing in...
A blue aura of energy rushed out from an unknown source as both Goku and Vegeta felt vibrations beneath their feet. They watched stunningly as some of the clones started to melt down into metallic jelly. Some exploded as well, but they all soon joined the earlier semi-destroyed clones, all left in a state of flux.
"Whoa! What...happened?"
"It doesn't matter Kakarot, start blasting!" Vegeta said hurriedly.
WOOSH
"The others are falling apart outside the city. No one was hurt." Soba had seen better days but had teleported back to the main city as the invasion was getting out of control. Thankful that they had concentrated their attacks on him, he was able to drive them away from the city quickly but was getting tired.
They started to destroy the metallic jelly, having a much easier time now that the clones had broken down.
It didn't take long, but before they finished, the rest of them started to break apart even further...
BOOM
Shepard ignored the explosion of the ship behind him, concentrating with the BanHammer, he fired a planet-wide beam of translucent blue energy, in sync with the energy already keeping the clones down.
"The rest should be falling. But we have to get moving." Raditz said, walking up next to Shepard. He looked crestfallen, but there was determination underneath that mask. Shepard looked back at the now smoldering ship. Whatever was left of Turles would be with the rest of the Big Gete Star.
"I'm sorry about Turles man."
Zzt
"Good going with that attack Shep! They can't come back together anymore." Goku said, failing to see his brother's face.
"That surely was not the last of them," Vegeta said, crossing his arms in a huff.
WOOSH
"I understand that it is time for you four to leave?"
"Cold has already made his way toward Earth, Soba. Let me see...Yup glad I carried them with me. I got everything. What about you guys? We may be using Instant Transmission to get right into battle so stay in Super Saiyan."
"Yeah, I think I'm ready now. I'm glad we waited. This Super Saiyan transformation is still a bit rough. I'm so excited to get back and see Chi-Chi and...and Gohan. And the food! Oh boy, let's go!" Goku was giddy. Raditz, Shepard, and Vegeta all had a better understanding of the stakes. Goku closed his eyes, feeling out for anyone on Earth.
"...darn it...wait...is that...Wow, Piccolo has gotten strong. Alright guys grab on I think I got em!'"
"Hey Soba, thank you for everything man. Could you uhh...shit, here please send our Saiyan pods to Earth. I think the coordinates for our planet are already in the system."
"Of course, and Shepard?"
"Hmm?"
"Tell your...other half that I appreciate his knowledge in teaching me Instantaneous Movement."
"Of course man. If you ever need us..." Shepard left the rest unsaid. Soba had done them a huge service. Turning back toward his rivals, he swiped away at the thick fog that permeated the air, grabbing ahold of Raditz's shoulder.
One moment, he was sure they were about to take off. His only warning was the warming of the BanHammer. He didn't even hear Marc shout in his mind, nor did he sense the attack!...
He gave a quick cursory greeting to King Yemma, walking toward the entrance as Kami teleported in.
"Tien! Your training has done you wonders! Quick we must hurry. Chiaotzu is waiting."
"Thank you, Kami."
It was instant, but Tien could feel the familiar air of planet Earth.
"TIEN!"
"CHIAOTZU!" Chiaotzu jumped into Tien's arms. Tien's eyes threatened to tear up at the sight of his friend.
"You haven't much time." Kami reminded them both as they walked out into the open area of the Lookout. It was darkening in the area, and Tien could see why as he looked up.
The Big Gete Star was slowly making its approach.
"It's like it is...toying with us," Tien said.
"We better go Chiaotzu, and meet up with the others."
"See you, Kami." Chiaotzu waved as they jumped off the Lookout. The elder Namekian was worried, but he had sensed a glimmer of Hope arrive earlier in the day. He had to put his trust in it...
The Z-Warriors rushed out to some open land space. If they were going to be fighting the planetary monstrosity that was now blocking out the sun and only getting bigger, they wanted as little life around them as possible.
Krillin and Master Roshi both joined Gohan, Piccolo, and Chi-Chi while in flight.
Upon landing, Yamcha and Sarada both landed only moments later.
"My senses are going haywire guys! What the hell is that? Some kind of...planet?" Yamcha was terrified!
"It's what I've been sensing the last couple of days. I think Cold is behind this." Piccolo guessed. His senses have been going mad as well.
"Wh-What do we do? It's...It's massive! We can't stop that!"
"We can and we will my boy! Because we have to. The Saiyans aren't here yet, but..." Master Roshi looked off in the distance, followed by the others. "At least we have some help." He smiled as two more warriors dropped down.
"TIEN!" Krillin and Yamcha both yelled out.
"Hey, guys. Wish we could be meeting under better circumstances, but it looks like a fight is what brings us together once again." Tien was wearing a similar garb from when he died, but the color scheme had been changed, now wearing blue with a white cape. He also felt different.
"Whoa Tien. What kinda training you go through buddy?" Yamcha was shocked!
"I can explain later." A loud metallic roar echoed from above, causing everyone to look up as the planet seemed to grow larger.
"Listen, everyone, we may not get a chance to speak for a while. So here's what we need to do. The fighters who feel confident with their stamina, keep the majority of the fight as close to us as possible. If you don't or haven't been training as much, then stay on the outside and contain them. We need to keep them focused on us as much as possible. The loss of life could be beyond anything we are ready to deal with. Are we clear?"
"RIGHT!" Krillin, Gohan, Chiaotzu, and Chi-Chi flew away, each powering up as much as possible. Gohan still had reservations about his new Super Saiyan form. 'Best to save that for later, if I can.' He thought to himself.
Only moments later did the sky suddenly begin to rain. But it wasn't water that fell.
"Kami..." Yamcha said to himself, looking over to Sarada, who looked back with a devious smirk.
"Well, Earthling. It looks like I don't get to destroy you, after all." She said, her violet eyes gleaming.
"Y-You're joking at a time like this? Seriously? The end of the planet is here and you're... gah never mind. Saiyans..." Yamcha shrugged at the woman, still wondering how she had grown on him lately.
"Master...It was really...Truly an honor."
"Don't talk like that son! We haven't lost yet. Now everyone, let's show them our power!"
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
Tien's aura changed from white to green as his third eye glowed gold, his veins protruding with effort. Master Roshi had worked on the Max Kaioken, having refined the form since the brutal battle with Mister X. His aura was lighter in red than Yamcha's Kaioken, but the power coming off of him was nothing to scoff at. His body bulked up only slightly compared to before, dropping much of the added weight so he would be faster.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
Hundreds of Earth-shaking BOOMS echoed around everybody as the sky continued to rain metal.
"They're not sticking to the plan! Gohan, Chi-Chi!" Piccolo watched as many of the Cyclopian Guards that landed were rushing toward the boy.
"Gohan get ready!" Chi-Chi prepared herself, but the boy was frightened.
"GOHAN!" Chi-Chi yelled, snapping the boy out of his fear. Determination crossed his face as he pulled out his sword, slashing at a guard that had already made it over him ready to grab.
BAM
"AGH!" Chi-Chi yelled out, her hand broken, but the guard's eyepiece had shattered as it fell back, but it didn't stop the others that had rushed in.
"GOHAN!" Chi-Chi was knocked to the side as the guards surrounded the boy, closing out everyone's vision of him.
"NO!" Chi-Chi yelled before a yellow blast flew by her, blowing a hole in the numbers.
"Here Chi-Chi! These things are tough! Use your full power!" Krillin didn't wait, handing a Senzu bean to Chi-Chi, who took it quickly before firing more blasts at the mass.
"HAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Gohan yelled, rage bubbling inside of him as his power blew the Cyclopian Guards away. He had some scrapes but was able to use his power to defend his body. But he had no more time as even more piled on after him.
"EXPLOSIVE DEMON WAVE!" Piccolo fired at the group, blowing a chunk of them apart.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
"HAA!" Piccolo reared his fist back, slamming it into one of the approaching guards. He went through effortlessly, turning as 3 of them approached Master Roshi. One of them went to stab the master, but practiced years of martial arts had made him dodge the attempt with ease, turning his arm around to block the other's stabbing attempt. His power allowed him to smash through the blade, taking both of the guards and smashing them together. The last one went to grab him from behind, but he slid his way around the metallic titan, smashing through the back of it with an elbow.
Yamcha and Sarada were surrounded by a half dozen of them, but the Princess was ready, her hand held out.
"ROYAL SHINE!" She yelled out, the purple blast charging into the majority of them, blowing up.
Yamcha kneed one in the face, tossing that one back into another. With both hands out, he summoned a pair of Spirit Balls, hurling them at the pair. It went through their metal bodies and kept going. Yamcha, with a flick of his finger, guided one that had gotten away from him, sending the Spirit Ball through it, making it fall behind Sarada.
"Keep up Princess. I got four so far!" Sarada yelled in frustration, rushing a pair of guards. She focused her energy in her fists, punching the knee joint out from one before making a purple Ki blade with her right hand, slicing the head off of it, and turning and slashing at the other who was already swinging at her with its blade. It cut through as Sarada turned into a vicious roundhouse kick, forcing the metal in the middle of the other guard to dent inward as it was blown back.
"I now have five, Scarface. Try and keep up!" She yelled back in glee, finding herself getting lost in the battle.
"Women...Saiyans...Alright fine then!" Yamcha was about to charge up more Spirit Balls but a shout not too far away got his attention.
"G-Get off of me!" Chi-Chi snarled as a pair of guards grabbed her before she could make her way to her son, who along with Piccolo now had a sea of metal piling up around them.
"DESTRUCTO DISC BARRAGE!" Krillin yelled out, firing a huge disc of energy that exploded into 2 dozen discs, slicing through some of the guards, but it was still not enough. Their plan had gone to hell almost immediately.
"HA!"
"HAH!"
"FOCUS GOHAN!" Piccolo said as 3 more rushed toward him, trying to separate him from the boy. They were getting more successful as he was starting to have a hard time seeing Gohan, who had his sword alight with yellow energy, slashing as fast as he could. He had a gash over his eye that was starting to bleed, but he had still not gone Super Saiyan. His fear was still holding him back as another slashed his back, causing the boy to lose his sword.
"N-NO!" Piccolo yelled. He would not get there in time!
SCHTICK
SLING
A figure wearing black pants, a black shirt with a blue half coat, and sporting long, lavender-colored hair flew down in the middle of the chaos, his sword catching the blade that was inches from the back of Gohan's shoulder!
"You won't get your way today, metallic junk!" He lifted his sword, forcing the blade away and punching through the lens of the guard with hardly any effort.
BOOM
Another figure flew down as well, using his body in combination with his energy to create an explosion of energy that blew away many of the other guards, leaving the lavender-haired figure to help the boy to his feet.
"W-Who-"
"No time! The others will be here soon. We have to hold out! We can talk after." His long hair blew in the wind as the other figure looked at Gohan for a couple of seconds, his face betraying a wave of emotions. The Cyclopian Guards that hadn't fallen yet had made a slight retreat. There were still waves falling toward the planet but at a much slower rate.
"Who the hell are you?" Piccolo said, not knowing if another fight was about to happen. The one with the lavender hair held his hand up.
"I'm on your side. Goku, Raditz, and Vegeta will arrive soon. My partner and I are here to help."
The rest of the warriors had made their way over. Chiaotzu was relatively unscathed, not seen as much of a threat. It allowed him to drop all kinds of surprises on some of the guards.
"Is it just me or do they feel pretty darn strong?" Krillin suggested. He was relieved to have any help they could get!
"Hello everyone! I wish we were meeting under better circumstances, but now isn't the time to explain!" The lavender-haired stranger said to the group as they witnessed a line of Cyclopian Guards approach again.
"Every bit as nuts as we were told." The taller stranger said silently to himself.
"What are they doing?" Piccolo was in pure fight or flight as the guards raised their hands. Some of them produced cannons, others produced Gatling gun-like armaments.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
Bombs from above indicated a new arrival as a ship flew in, dropping multiple Ki-like bombs from the bottom of the small vessel. Concentrated explosions blew apart many of the guards before they could fire and the few that were still left were missing wildly. The ship landed as a pair of familiar women came running out.
"BULMA!"
"TIGHTS!"
"You both shouldn't be here!" Master Roshi exclaimed.
"Oh please like we would miss this for the world. Considering...it looks like it might just be it huh?"
The lavender-haired man looked at both women, a tinge of sadness running across his face but he quickly masked it.
"Orange keep up air support. If these things get past us, use the RoughShot!"
"Gotcha! Be careful down there!" The ship quickly took flight, getting back above the smoke.
"RoughShot?"
"We don't want to use that." Tights said, her hands fidgeting around her gun.
"Think of it like a…nuke of sorts heh heh heh heh…" Bulma was hesitant to say more. It was still a rough shot of an idea, hence the name.
"Oh…Oh, that's just great. My ex builds a weapon that could blow us all away!"
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
As if the alarm had been sounded, the Cyclopian Guards all formed back together, smashing their way through fallen metal and rock to get to their prey.
"Alright, no more time! Roshi, protect Tights. Krillin and Gohan, you got Bulma. The rest? Keep them close to us! We don't want them spreading across the planet!" Piccolo yelled out as the others charged forward. Krillin grabbed Bulma, flying away as several guards came after them, but they never got close as Yamcha and Sarada blew them away with energy blasts. Gohan sliced away a pair that was coming from above. Realizing more were falling, he flew up sword ablaze with energy!
"MASENKO SLASH!" He yelled out, sending a slice of energy that cut upward, tearing apart a half dozen guards. Metal rained down around him as he caught himself surrounded by a half dozen more Guards, all with their gun gauntlets ready. Phasing away, he sped above one, slicing the head off before throwing his sword at another. It burst through as the energy carved it up. He flew up, pulling his sword out of the body, sending metal flying out from the falling guard. 2 of the guards charged at him with their short swords out. He cut through the first, turning back and grabbing the wrist of the second, he guided it into its lens, roundhouse kicking the elbow joint deeper into its eye socket. Piccolo had taught him to be ruthless. And though he would always strive to be peaceful at heart, he could see that these were metallic, no kind of life embedded in the metal junk.
He could live with that.
Down below, Tien and Chiaotzu and the pair of strangers were bound together not far from the mass. Several dozen Cyclopian Guards rushed them.
"Like old times, Chiaotzu?"
"Right behind you Tien. Hey, you two? Keep up!" Chiaotzu said as he and Tien flew forward.
"This is so...fucking cool!"
"No time for that!" The lavender-haired stranger quickly coddled the taller one before they were right behind the Crane Duo. Tien and Chiaotzu, like a practiced duo, flew in with each other, Tien slamming into one guard and blowing it back as Chiaotzu lifted another with his mind and crushed its head. The strangers were right behind them, the lavender-haired one with his sword out as the taller one lit his hands with yellow energy, punching through a pair.
"These things are paperweights!" He said, laughing as he ripped the head off of another and crushed it in his hand.
"Even still, they are numerous. HA! We must keep up the pressure and not let them overtake us!" Tien replied. His 3rd eye could sense an attack brewing from his left. Phasing over, he kicked the gun up that was aimed at Chiaotzu, sending an elbow into the chest area of the guard, smashing it in.
"Be careful Chiaotzu," Tien said in alarm.
"Not to worry Tien!" Chiaotzu smiled back, his hand glowing blue as he smashed a pair together not 20 feet behind Tien.
"I saw them."
"Uh huh!"
Master Roshi had wrapped his arm around Tights and flew up as a pair of Cyclopian Guards smashed into the ground where they were, allowing Piccolo, Chi-Chi, and Gohan to finish them off.
The master dropped a short distance away, releasing Tights, who was quick to raise her gun and fire. An intense, but thin beam of blue flew out like a laser, piercing one of the guards. She didn't stop, firing several more shots. Her time with guns had given her an advantage, she didn't have to reload, and there was less recoil than the normal Glock she was used to shooting!
Master Roshi smirked, concentrating on a trio of guards that were rushing them from the opposite side. One reached him quicker than the others, parrying away its blade it tried to stab him with and grabbing the arm of it, moving several feet away and swinging it back into the other 2. It knocked them over as they flailed to get back to their feet. Master Roshi held his hand out where they flailed, concentrating an explosion of energy on them. They exploded in metal bits that rained down, but the seasoned Master gave it no time as he turned around, spotting a guard that had gotten past Tights' field of vision, he rushed in next to the woman, sending the guard away with a kick.
"Thanks!" Tights replied quickly as she fired her pistol away, sending another 2 to the ground.
"No worries!" Master Roshi moved his head back as a Guard nearly took his head off with its blade. Not allowing for another swing, Master Roshi swung his fists in rapid succession, pulverizing the guard's midsection and blowing it back. He went to palm another one, but a thin blue beam of Ki sliced through the side of its head, flying out of the other side. The master saw the smoking gun from Tights' hand, watching as she turned it slightly to the right and fired another. He watched it pierce through another guard's red eye.
"Shepard has to come home to that? He better have a good excuse for being gone so long!" The master chuckled to himself as he slammed an elbow into another guard.
Sarada had a gash on her cheek from a stray blade catching her, and the armor she was wearing was cracked in numerous places, but she felt alive! It was taking a lot of effort for the Bandit to keep up with her as she plowed her way into another group of guards. She smashed one in the legs with a roundhouse kick, catching it as it fell and hurling it into the 3 behind her. She turned and fired a one-handed blast at the 4, watching in satisfaction as they blew apart.
"WOLF FANG FIST!" Yamcha yelled out, smashing one back with his patented technique before kicking it away. Sarada was already in mid-combination, her blade already out slashing it in half as she kicked the top half into another pair of guards. They worked very well as a team. Yamcha allowed Sarada to fight freely, picking off those who got too close as Sarada let loose.
The Z-Fighters didn't realize that they were slowly getting spread apart as more Cyclopian Guards dropped.
A large, metallic-sounding roar from above stopped much of the fighting as the fighters looked up, seeing the planet slowly pull itself apart, arms extending.
"WE CAN'T LET THAT THING LAND!" Piccolo yelled out, chills running up his spine. He and Gohan were both battered, the boy helping his Mom up to her feet. Chi-Chi was exhausted!
"I-I may have to…retire fr-from fighting after this." She said to herself more than anything.
Zzt
"Holy crap! Look at all this metal!"
"Hmph, seems we have arrived late!"
"Better late than never I suppose, right Shep-What THE FUCK!" Raditz yelled behind him, causing the other 2 Super Saiyans to look back. Raditz jumped back in horror as he expected Shepard to be right there.
"Oh no!" Goku's eyes widened as dread chilled his bones.
Shepard's left hand twitched, falling to the ground…
Holy shit! So Shepard's hand made it to Earth, but what happened to the rest of him? So look, guys and gals, in regards to the previous reviews, I just want to say that I am not trying to come off as mean, but I want to state the reality of Dragon Ball. And that is in some ways, struggle is what made Goku, and especially Vegeta, so damn great. I agree that such things shouldn't happen, and Shepard will make different decisions then Goku down the line ;D. Trust me on this! Next chapter, will we see the final conclusion to this terrifying Saga? Stay tuned until next time!