Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction / Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Payment in Full: Saiyan's 2nd Chance ❯ Proving Ground 2 ( Chapter 16 )

Proving Ground

 

Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or any of this except for the fanfiction characters Luari, Tomic, Lyssra, Chablis and other Saiyans that aren't part of the cannon! This story takes place on Alvegasei.

 

By Trynia Merin

****

 

Bardock had sent Lyssra to get him several tomes from the central repository. It was a few days after the Rutting ended, and a few days after Bardock had kicked Raditz out of the house. Despite her best efforts to convince him otherwise, Bardock sternly refused to broach the subject. So she let it go, figuring when he was ready he would reconcile. Otherwise Raditz would make the first move.

 

Bardock worshipped the old religion, as did Raditz and others. Nappa only used it for his own purpose, and it was rumored that Cabernet was the true power behind her strong mate. Talk spread like wildfire around the City after word reached the ranks about who was promoted after the rutting. Indeed Pepper had been made a Concubine, having resigned her commission to be Broly's newest consort. Luari had been rejected, and stewed in agony over that slight. Her aggression was channeled into her team, which now had taken Fasha, Celipa's sister. Bardock had gotten Celipa back for his team after a hue and cry. His team was gearing up for a separate survey of more planets for Tulles trees. Ones that were devoid of intelligent life, or were on the edge of extinction.

 

How was Tomic taking it, Lyssra wanted to know? Fortunately she knew Bardock's anger did not prevent her from associating with his daughter in law. Bardock would often travel for briefings with Minister Caulif. This particular day was no exception, so Lyssra was given some Aurites to go buy them lunch at the Plaza, where many prepared foods from other planets in the Paragus collective were available. The tentative alliance Paragus had hammered out with King Cold kept them from retribution. His own hand had stopped Freiza, and slain him. Now he was all but a surrogate son to the Icejin, provided Saiyans were not used to purge life without the selling of slaves. At least Brolly valued the enslavement of inferior forms rather then slaughtering them like King Vegeta the 13th had. The Legendary had saved them, but many doubted if he were the true Legendary. Most of the splinter group preferred to worship Father Oorzu, the old religion. Others worshipped Broly as a living god, those that survived. Paragus permitted both religions to be practiced, to their desire. That and the worship of Catra, the deity of Idsarsei that many half bloods had taken since they mated with Saiyan males.

 

Nearby several female members of Bardock's team were practicing Ki shots. Two armored vests indicated Scout class, while a female with brown epaulettes and bare legs nervously looked on next to a third who had a light green vest herself. Ever since the promotion, Tomic felt as if the others were giving her a wide birth. Why the hell did Raditz see fit to give her HIS Armor anyhow? Not many third classes wore the same style, and it seemed to get her a variety of responses. Namely the attention of one of her fellow recruits named Zucchini, and a tall thin male named Mandrake who was setting up targets.

 

"Get away you clown," Zucchini stuck her tongue out at him.

 

"Hmm I've been called worse, ladies," he laughed.

 

"Don't even try it, whelp," Fasha rolled her eyes at him. "Go back over there before you further embarrass yourself."

 

"Spoilsport," Mandrake mumbled. His gleaming third class armor was black with brown straps connecting the breastplates together. He had a style similar to Toma and the other males in Bardock's squad. Tomic glared at Mandrake as he wandered over.

 

"Give me a break, you could wipe up the drool with a sponge," she commented audibly to Zucchini.

 

The Saiyan female darted around to hide behind Tomic. Zucchini growled, "I said NO!"

 

"Can it, will you," Fasha barked at him. Her young admirer quailed and stepped away under the piercing gaze of the older female. Young males knew better then to piss off a battle seasoned one such as she.

 

"Now can we get back to practice?" Tomic wondered. "I'm wondering how you can even train if you're always chasing my friend!"

 

"Um well, hehe," he laughed, before Celipa's glare sent him running in the opposite direction. He suddenly stopped, and turned back.

 

"What?" Tomic glared at him.

 

"Someone's mixing it up over there at the Plaza ladies," he mumbled. Fasha and Celipa flickered their heads in the direction of the shouts.

 

"What the heck is that?" Celipa mumbled.

 

"Sounds like someone's having a big fight," Tomic mumbled, craning her neck as she peered past Mandrake's shoulder.

 

"Stay here, whelp. Don't get your ass dragged into this," said Fasha.

 

"I'm checking it out. Don't get involved, girl," Celipa warned her.

 

"But it sounds like Lyssra!" Tomic growled as she heard another screaming hiss. Green lightening crackled over the entire area, followed by a loud scream.

 

"Stay with her! Don't interrupt unless I call for backup! Mandrake, find Bardock NOW!" Celipa shouted.

 

"Will do! C'mon," he said grabbing Zucchini's hand and whisking her after him before she could protest. There was no room for new recruits. Tomic nudged the other out of her way, and Fasha stepped aside as if she'd been stung.

 

"I don't like this," Tomic mumbled. Fasha glanced from where her sister had run to Raditz new mate. Perhaps the youth had no clue of her true status.

 

"Tomic, how well have you been practicing your signature moves?" she asked.

 

"Well enough," said Tomic. "We'd better make sure your sister is okay."

 

"I agree. Just stay with me. Don't move unless she's in over her head," mumbled Fasha.

 

"What the HELL is going on here?" Celipa gasped as she rushed up, seeing Luari rubbing her hands. Other Saiyans and slaves had gathered in a ring to watch the two figures zipping in and out. Lima and Cellulose stood nearby. A hand dropped before her, stopping her.

 

"You've been asking for this idblood bitch, " Lima laughed. Lyssra's cheek slammed against the pavement. She pushed herself up off the pad of concrete.

 

"Fourth class scum," Lima continued to jeer. She kicked her hard in the ribcage. Lyssra rolled over, laying still. As Lima approached, the cat girl rolled over, hissing as she drew her claws. Green ki crackled around her. Lima chuckled as the ki force crackled over her body, stinging her.

 

"Get LOST," Lyssra growled. "Firetongue!"

 

A blast of hot plasma slammed into Lima, knocking her backwards. Surprised the Elite barely managed to regain her footing. "Surprisingly powerful for a drek eater. No doubt the old MAN taught you that one!"

 

"Don't you DARE call him old!" Lyssra growled, leaping onto Lima with claws drawn. A quick shift later and the Saiyan elite first class slammed her fist into the cat woman's gut, then slammed her elbow down.

 

"Pepperspray!" she laughed, hurling a series of tiny ki balls into her face. Lyssra barely managed to cross her wrists before another sphere of ki slammed her backwards. She crashed into the far wall of the Saiyan marketplex.

 

"Stay back third class. This is not your affair!" said Luari.

 

"The HELL it isn't! What the FUCK does she think she's doing!" Celipa growled, seeing Bardock's new mate getting smacked around.

 

"Stay OUT of this, lower class scum!" Luari glared at her. She hurled Celipa backwards, only to find the tough female warrior rolling over with her fangs bared.

 

"That was UNCALLED for!" Celipa glared at her. Shortly two other Third class landed near the circle of observers, seeing Celipa glaring angrily at Luari.

 

"Sister, what's going on… hey!" Fasha yelled, hearing screams and shouts.

 

"Merely a rite of satisfaction," said Luari. "You're under direct orders NOT to interfere. Got it?"

 

"Drek," Tomic mumbled as she stumbled up from the arena. She heard the yowling noise of combat.

 

"That's LYSSRA!" Celipa realized, seeing the clouds of dust dissipate. "How can you just STAND there and let her get knocked around, you KNOW it's an uneven fight!"

 

"Mind your place! You interfere at your own peril!" Luari snarled, shoving Celipa back towards Fasha.

 

"The hell she is!" Tomic suddenly burst out. "Who the HELL do you think you are? If you think we're just going to stand by and let my FRIEND get massacred!"

 

"Oh, well what have we here? Drekface got a promotion did she?" Luari snickered as she saw Tomic push her way between her friends.

 

"Go help her, and I'll take care of this!" Tomic growled.

 

"Are you NUTS?" Celipa glanced at her.

 

"You really think you can take me, child?" Luari laughed.

 

"Either let us through or we'll find OUT!" Tomic glared at her, standing in a defensive position. "Call off your pet or else I'll go in there MYSELF!"

 

"You can't order her around," said Celipa, glancing at Luari.

 

"All right you stupid bitch, go ahead. You think you purger primes are so fucking smart, you get yourself killed!" Luari laughed, letting Tomic past. The other third class and slaves parted to let Tomic through, glaring at her armor warily as if she was going to pound them. A few other third class with similar configuration blinked at her.

 

"Huh, you're newly promoted," said one of them, named Parsnip. "Come for the fun?"

 

"Shut up," Tomic glared at him, and pushed her way to the front. Her eyes tracked the two females exchanging rapid-fire blows. Angrily she zipped out, then shot in front of Lyssra crumpled on the ground. Her crossed wrists intercepted the energy blast surging towards her. A blinding flash blew Atomique's hair back at the same time pushing her backward with its force.

 

Celipa zipped out of Luari's sight range to crouch next to Lyssra. Carefully she picked up Bardock's made who lay in a heap broken like a cheap doll. A second later she blasted off towards the nearest regeneration tank facility while Atomique provided a much-needed diversion. Eyes focussed on Luari's prime recruit and second in command, the young Lima.

 

"Who dares!" she growled.

 

"Are you INSANE? What's SHE ever done to you?" Tomic glared at her.

 

"Oh give me a break. A Purger Third class thinking she stands a chance against an Elite palace guard?" laughed Lima, shaking long black braids out of her face.

 

"Oh hell, so that's what it means," she grumbled, kicking herself for her stupidity.

 

"Better not spoil yourself on drek like that idblood. IF you have any sense you won't interfere. This is between me and that genetic trash," Lima laughed.

 

"Some big warrior. Picking on someone who can't fight back. You're really mighty, you know," Tomic snorted at her.

 

"You shouldn't mess around. If Nappa finds out you damaged his newest recruit," called out Chablis, who suddenly pushed her way to the front of the circle. "Tomic, what are you doing girl, stay out of this!"

 

"Don't say I didn't warn you, Purger Third Class. You're one of Nappa's little recruits, huh? Stupid fool thinks he can make himself…"

 

"Don't you dare mock my father, space trash," Chablis snarled.

 

"One at a time," said Luari, shoving her way to block Chablis. "If the newbie Purger wants to get smeared, why should you stop her from defending your sire's honor?"

 

"I'll enjoy wiping that smirk off your face! Third Class Purger primes may be the top of the caste, but you're still scum!"

 

"Just shut up and fight me if you're going to, before I fall asleep," Tomic mumbled. Both warriors circled, Tomic keeping both arms raised at her sides while Lima crouched with one hand held before her head and the other held back.

 

"YEAHHH!" Lima shouted, vanishing. Tomic levitated up, then rolled to the side, blindly punching as the Elite shot forwards. Her hand managed to smash into the newer armor, diverting the punch that would have doubled her over. She'd seen Nappa do that basic move, and rolled out of the way of the second blow, a fist to the face. Another shift from the side caught her vision as Lima shot out with another vicious kick. Tomic ducked under that then swept her leg under to knock Lima off balance with both hands pressed to the pavement. She leapt back, hands raised.

 

"Venom blast!" Lima shrieked, hurling a ki ball towards her.

 

Raising her palm Tomic forged a sphere of glowing purple light. She shouted, "Saturday CRUSH!" Tomic hurled on of her own, exploding the low-grade blast in a flash of light. Clearly from the flickering scouter readings the Elite was just toying with her. Heart pounding she realized that she might well end up half dead with the levels of power radiating of the other warrior.

 

"Not bad, for a Third Class. I've seen that move before, but can't remember it," mumbled Lima.

 

"I'll be damned. That's one of Sgt. Raditz' moves," Luari mused tapping her chin. "But can she do anything herself?"

 

"Hey drekface, can you counter this?" laughed Lima. "Now see if you can follow t his…"

 

"Firefly!"

 

"Atomic Flux," she gasped, summoning three small spheres. They spun around her body, whizzing in small orbits along the X, Y and Z-axes. Small blasts peppered her, but each independent arc stopped them.

 

"Cute, very cute for a Third Class. But that doesn't mean drek!" Lima laughed at her. One of the small ki balls whizzed out, flashing right into the Elite's face. Atomique sent the others past her then struggled to bring them back. Soon they were whirling around the Elite to distract her concentration. Angrily she zipped out, then aimed a kick at Atomique's torso. She rolled back, wheezing as Raditz armor yielded but didn't crack under the strain. Lima laughed watching the warrior crash into a nearby wall.

 

"Whoa," gasped Chablis.

 

She lay there, stunned and shaking her head with the eruption of fire in her belly. "Tomic, get up!" voices yelled.

 

"Get up, get up and stand!" Celipa shouted, as Fasha held her back. "You're a Purger! Show this bitch us Third Class aren't pushovers!"

 

"C'mon, get up!" hollered Fasha. "You can do it!"

 

"Wait for it, Lima. Let the drekface get up and see if she's standing," Luari shouted. Lima waited, surging power along her long braid as she watched the third Class purger push herself to a leaning position. Tomic felt anger and humiliation surging through her. At that moment she rolled painfully into a defensive crouch. Lima was lanky and tall, while she was compact and sturdier. Most Third Class females were of smaller stature but larger muscle mass.

 

"I'll give you a little moment to regain your strength," Lima said.

 

"RAAAAHH!" Tomic snarled, deciding to risk a direct attack. She zipped out, and then saw Lima jump aside. She sloppily yanked Lima's braid and slammed her elbow into the other Saiyan's face. Grabbing the long braid she played crack the whip and swung the astonished girl around.

 

"You BITCH!" yowled Lima, crashing into the far wall. A chorus of laughter echoed from the third class contingent.

 

"How the hell am I supposed to take this," Tomic wondered. Then it hit her. Why play around when she had a perfectly good move that might do the work then and there. She rolled painfully to her feet, struggling to gain her energies. Brown hair crackled with the power that she gathered.

 

"Oh, we're going to charge up are we? I'll play. This next attack will end this now. No matter what you try, I'm going to wipe the floor with you!" Lima taunted. A loud hissing from her throat emanated like steam from a kettle. Lightening crackled over her body, drawing the energies from around her. Tomic crouched just as she had seen Nappa do, desperately pulling as much purple ki towards her. It would be hardly enough, but it might just save her butt long enough till someone stopped this.

 

"Don't waste it all, kid!" came Chablis' voice in her mind.

 

"I can't run and hide. I know I can do this," said Tomic.

 

"Be careful," Chablis nodded, suddenly realizing what the third class was doing.

 

"Tidal… flux…" growled Lima, gathering energy in waves. They began to swirl and circulate as she gathered them in whirlpool like rings. Angrily she threw her arms in a scissors motion, sending them in ever-increasing ripples. "WAVE!"

 

"Oh crap," mumbled Cellulose.

 

"Wait," mumbled Chablis, looking at Tomic. She raised her gauntlet, standing her ground against the first crash. Raditz armor dissipated the brunt of it, as she struggled to continue to build up her power. Crouching under the area of effect she realized she had to act as the bombardment increased. Liquid fire slammed into her with the force of concrete, making it impossible to stand. Pain crackled over her, and she suppressed the scream. Fortunately her greater mass was making it harder for the waves to push her off her feet.

 

"Disintegrate!" Tomic screamed, flicking two fingers upwards. Lightening crackled, crashing down near the tidal force. Caught in the black warp, Lima gasped as the energy snaked over hers. One of her waves slammed into Atomique full force, hurtling her towards the wall. The next second everyone heard the loud outraged scream of Lima surging with sizzling lightening similar to Nappa's trademark attack.