Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Dragonball Victory : Legends Never Die ❯ XXV ( Chapter 25 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Faia Saiyajin 
Anime/Manga: Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Supernatural / Occult / Martial Arts / Comedy / Adventure / Action | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 12.18.2003 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.3K | Visits: 138 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Supernatural / Occult / Martial Arts / Comedy / Adventure / Action | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 12.18.2003 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.3K | Visits: 138 | Status: Completed
XXV
Gokou sat on a broken hump of rock, one foot drawn up, his elbow resting on his knee, his chin in his palm. Waiting wasn't one of his strong suits, especially under the circumstances. He eyed those around him, trying to pass the time until Goten and the others arrived. Needle had said that it was urgent that they wait, but didn't specify as to why.
Kuririn, off to his right, was trying not to pace. Juuhatchi-Gou had been gone nearly an hour, and it seemed that the monk sprouted a grey hair every minute she was gone. He was standing stock-still, his arms crossed, his eyes on the ground. But his foot tapped impatiently, and he kept clearing his throat.
Gohan and Videl had caught up with them not long after Kuririn had raced past. After checking doubly sure to see if they were the supposed 'clones', the group had let down their guard. Gohan was standing, arms at his sides, scanning the skies for his younger brother. Videl was deep in thought, sitting on the grass beside him.
Vejiita, as usual, was standing away from the group, his back to them. But he, too, was feeling every minute of Juuhatchi-Gou's absence, compiled with his son's untimely arrival. 'Damn this whole ordeal. Damn it damn it damn it. And damn that stupid Android. All she needs to do is come back and tell me where these damn freaks are, and I can take care of it and still be home in time for bed." He chewed at his bottom lip a moment, gloved fingers straying to his chest. Sliding under the loose blue fabric of his shirt, he felt the slight ridges that marked his left pectoral muscle. It would be like any other scar, of the numerous ones that marked his body, but this was not earned in battle. It was Buruma's mating-mark, assuring him that he was exclusively hers. She wore a set of teeth-marks, naming her as his life mate. She's screamed like a dying animal when he'd inflicted it, and had whirled in their bed, clawing him hard and deep, despite her frail Chikyuujin strength. "Buruma..." he said softly, seeing her before him. She was showing her age, but still, she was his wife, and her youth was conveyed in her eyes ....and in other ways, of course, he couldn't help but smirk. Saiyajin aged slower, and compiled on the near agelessness reaching Super Saiyajin gave them, Vejiita still looked like he was a young man, even if he didn't feel it on his worst days. And now, for the third time, he was going to be a father. He wouldn't lie to himself. He had been both furious and annoyed that she was pregnant again. And when he'd stomped off in a rage, he'd found Kaeru. He turned his head slightly, to the left.
Kaeru was lying there, resting somewhat comfortably against a rock. She was still covered in blood, from wounds given to her by the fake Piccolo, and the fake Gohan, which he had witnessed with his own eyes. Her neck, at least, was whole again, no longer lumpy and broken from where it had been mutilated. Piccolo stood a good ten feet behind her, turned slightly away. He was looking self-important, as usual, Vejiita noted. His arms were crossed, and his ever-present scowl was perfect. He failed to notice, however, how closely Piccolo's stance matched his own. Yet, however hard Piccolo tried to glare in distaste at the invisible thing before him, his eyes kept flicking to Kaeru, as the half-vampire woman healed herself.
She'd refused blood, from anyone who offered. Vejiita tried to threaten her into it, shaking her so hard that her teeth clacked together. Didn't she see that she was needed? She was a burden to them like this! Kaeru merely pushed him away, even half-dead, her strength surprising. The woman had become almost enraged when he'd suggested that she drink from one of the bodies. He dropped the subject while she was still going off on a harshly uttered tirade about abominations and desecrations. Now she lay near lifeless, but Vejiita could feel her trickle of ki swelling, growing stronger. It was a given that she'd be even more powerful, now that she'd been beaten so badly. Saiyajin grew stronger with every defeat. It was partially because of their genetic makeup as inborn fighters, and partially because of their undefeatable attitude.
"Here they come!" Gohan cried out, pointing to the 5 specks in the sky. He almost rose to meet them, but stopped at Piccolo's warning growl.
"We have to make sure it's them, first." He lowered his arms, staring defiantly at the incoming crowd. Two more had joined them, as they were still miles away. Piccolo nearly cursed verbally, as Nail did so in his head. It was his cousins, Awl and Saw, Hammer's brothers. 'The fools!' Nail swore, Piccolo agreeing. As they came in closer, Piccolo murmured his relief. Yarn, Needle, and Spindle were there, bringing up the rear. Trunks was silent, but Goten was waving, making a great deal of ruckus. He heard Gokou chuckling, as those on the ground clustered closer together, to welcome them.
Much hugging and clapping on the back later, the joyful mood died quickly. Trunks told the tale of Muuri's fusion with Spindle quickly, and of uselessness of the Dragonballs. Nail, inside Piccolo's head, was both saddened and enraged. Piccolo realized his fists were clenched, so tight they were shaking. He shook his head slightly, crossing his arms, begging Nail to be quiet, and to not come through so strongly. The Piccolo that was Kami-sama merely watched and waited, still the silent, looming, wizened presence snuggled up close with his brain.
"Time is wasting..." came the ragged words behind them. Kaeru was on one knee, trying to get to her feet, despite the violent quaking of her arms and legs. "They will not be pleased to discover that they can't use the Dragonballs." Vejiita was the closest, and without his permission, she clasped his arm, using it as leverage to get herself to a standing position. He aided, trying not to be noticed, pulling his arm up enough to tug the woman to her feet.
Trying to walk, pulling herself along on the shoulders of those in front of her, she bowed her head to Spindle, reverently, saying something in fluent Nameckjin. Spindle blinked in response, but felt Muuri stir, nodding his head. "You speak like a scholar, young one, but you are not Nameckjin." he replied in his native tongue.
"Pardon, Revered One. I am Kaeru, daughter and student of Gitah, son of Viorin." She smiled, somewhat embarrassed, at the shock on Spindle's face. "I am a Saiyajin, raised by Gitah when I was orphaned here."
"Gitah has been gone from this planet for many many years, Kaeru, daughter of Gitah, son of Viorin. Where is he?"
"He is dead, Revered One. Killed nearly two centuries ago."
Spindle started. "And how is that you are still alive? Saiyajin do not live as long as Nameckjin."
"I am no longer mortal, Revered One." She winced, keeping her head bowed. She would have toppled over, if it weren't for Gokou's support. He'd taken her arm, slinging it around his shoulders, holding her up.
He nodded slowly. "I see." Spindle smiled, one of Muuri's most gentle, compassionate smiles. "Then let it be known that Kaeru, daughter of Gitah, son of Viorin, has returned to us at last."
Kaeru nearly fainted. The phrasing of the welcome was the most formal, the words used were completely honorific. "But, Most Revered One..."
"Hush, Kaeru, hush." He couldn't help but smile, as he stopped speaking Nameckjin. The only one not looking bewildered was Piccolo. "Needle? Can you...?"
Once again, Needle knew what would be said before it was. "I can, brother." He stepped forward, putting his delicate, long boned fingers on Kaeru's forehead. "Hold still. This will feel strange, at best."
Strange, indeed. A tremendous shudder ran through Kaeru, right through to every hair on her tail, followed by a sub-zero chill that left her open-mouthed and gasping for air. "...how? I am..."
"If death can be mended by the touch of a Nameckjin skilled in healing, then your wounds are a paltry thing, Kaeru."
Vejiita, Gohan, and Kuririn nodded. Dende had healed them all, when they'd been practically dead. The scratches and bruises had faded from her face, and now she was rubbing the dried blood off with the back of her hand. Gokou had carefully let her go, sighing audibly when she was able to stand on her own.
Kaeru bent her head to Needle. "I thank you for your kindness." Flexing her fingers, awed that she could move without pain, she grinned a little. Her apparent joy was lost as she turned her mind back to the matters at hand. Muuri was lost to them forever, Juuhatchi-Gou roaming the coutryside looking for perfectly replicated versions of the men she was standing amongst, and on top of that, she was fiercely hungry. Ignoring the growl in her stomach for sustenance, Kaeru touched her bottom teeth to her upper lip in thought. "So... we've got confirmed visuals of Gokou, Gohan, and Piccolo..."
"Who is making them?" Saw asked softly, popping the knuckles in his left hand loudly. Kuririn blanched, going from white to a sickly green, looking like an small-eared, antennaeless Nameckjin struck with fever. He scrutinized the smaller Chikyuujin. "You've had experiences with things like this before?"
"...nono... it's not that... but Juuhatchi-Gou said that Gokou...well his arm anyway... was grown. And ... " He swallowed with much difficulty, looking to those that had been involved with the Jinzouningen and the Cell Game.
"But Gero was killed." Gohan said quickly. "In both timelines. Along with Cell. Besides... oh... dear..." A thought occured to him then, that made his stomach knot. Videl silently touched his arm in comfort. "Cell."
Once again, Gokou was a little slow on the ol' upswing. "Cell what?" Piccolo, beside him, growled in exasperation. The Nameckjin grasped what Gohan was trying to express, and it made a cold sweat break out on his forehead, his turban soaking up most of it.
"Cell. Remember Gero said that Cell was made from our DNA? That's why it knew our ki attacks and fighting styles." A dim light appeared in his 'Tousan's eyes, a small flickering of recognition. "If Gero had enough DNA left over..."
"He could grow versions of us, and train them to be evil." The Saiyajin Prince, from the back, finished Gohan's sentence, looking offended. Someone would DARE to duplicate his singular superiority?!
Gohan nodded, agreeing with him. "Obviously, some parts of them would have to be artificial, which would enable Gero to control and program them like he did Juuhatchi-Gou and Juunana-Gou." Androids 17 and 18 were once humans, before Gero got his hands on them, making them enhanced humans, with only one mission - to kill Gokou and his friends. Kuririn fidgeted. He didn't like being reminded of his wife's murderous past.
"It's a vague explanation, but in these trying times, even vagueness is welcome." Spindle sighed, his brothers and Hammer nodding in agreement. "We are to assume that there are ...how many, aside from the ones we've seen?"
Gohan counted off in his mind, his eyes skyward in thought. "It's safe to say that besides Gokou, Piccolo, and myself... there is a possibility of Vejiita, Kuririn, Tienshinhan, Yamucha..."
"Basically, anyone who was around before the fight with Furiiza." Gokou then grinned wryly at Trunks, Goten, and Kaeru. "Looks like you three are still one-of-a-kinds." His son rolled his eyes.
"Oh... lucky us."
Kaeru snorted wryly. "What about strengths? Obviously, you are all stronger than you were when the DNA had to have been collected, right?"
"I suppose Gero advanced our strengths, when he saw how strong we'd become. Remember... it was a shock to Gero when my 'Tousan went Super Saiyajin." Gohan glanced at his father. "Besides... when Gero sent out his insects, I was still a little boy."
"The guy that strangled me weren't no little kid." Kaeru grunted, rubbing her neck.
Looking at Kaeru askance, Trunks sorted out his thoughts, before turning his attention to Gohan. "But where and when did Gero, since we're all assuming it's him behind this, have the time to create and grow replicas?" Gohan shrugged blankly, and given that he was the one who had been producing the most logical explanations so far, it was safe to say that he was out of answers. When all the suppositions had been given, this left everyone standing around, each one trying to devise a solution.
After a protracted silence, Yarn finally spoke up, his broad mouth curved down into a scowl. "We're not getting anything accomplished standing here. I suggest we split into two groups and..."
"What? Find the Jinzouningyou?!"
"HEY!!" Kuririn, suddenly filled with a type of anger that made even the biggest coward brave, whirled on Vejiita, who was stunned at the monk's reaction. "She's not a DOLL!" Vejiita was not a man of tall stature, and Kuririn was a dwarf beside him, but even Vejiita backed away when Kuririn faced him with rage and resentment in his eyes. His whole face was red, his teeth bared, his eyes narrowed beneath the black shock of his hair. "Watch your comments, Vejiita!"
An uncomfortable silence fell on the group, the eyebrows of various people shooting up. Vejiita's mouth had dropped open a bit, and he didn't know whether he should apologize for insulting Juuhatchi-Gou or smash Kuririn for his impudence. Instead, he turned his back, glowering at a tree hard enough to make it wither. Kuririn stared at Vejiita's back a moment longer, wishing that he was strong enough to beat some sense into the cocky little upstart. "I know that we can't track Juuhatchi, given that she doesn't have a power level..." He sighed raggedly, turning away from Vejiita. "But..."
"We can still try." Gokou nodded firmly. "But we won't split up." He turned his face to the sky, his eyes closed, as if he were smelling the air. Actually, he was trying to pinpoint the faint blips of ki that would match his or any of his friends. If the clones were made of thier stuff, they should display even a little bit of a power level. He could feel the others watching him in silence, and he was sure Gohan and Piccolo were doing what he was.
Spindle put a hand to his chin, thinking. "Yes. Son Gokou is right. If we stay together, there is a lesser chance of being ambushed by someone that could pass as an ally. And if Kuririn's wife is indeed in danger, it will take our combined efforts to defeat this nemesis."
Vejiita, still trying his damndest to stare a hole into the fabric of space-time, growled softly under his breath. He preferred to work alone, no matter what side he was on. Nappa had been a hindrance to him, the bumbling bald fool. "...then let's get a move on." He finally muttered harshly, biting off the end of a swear when Kaeru unexpectedly laid a friendly slap on his shoulder, hard enough to make him step forward to keep his balance. "Watch it, woman!"
Kaeru bared her fangs in a toothy smile. It was the smile of a Saiyajin anticipating the one thing that brought members of the race complete happiness - beating the life out of something. "Touchy touchy... can the tough-guy act." Vejiita was speechless for the second time in under 5 minutes, before grinding his teeth together hard enough to make the veins in his neck stand out. Had everyone lost their sense of respect?! "Kami-sama... what crawled into your shorts?" Apparently shocked at his less-than-jovial reaction, the woman tsked, knuckling a strand of her wild hair out of her face. Now that she was healed completely (but still hungry), and had a general idea of what was going on, Kaeru was as happy as a tailed clam, and definetly eager to go. The sweet taste of revenge filled her mind, making her overjoyed in the way only a Saiyajin could feel about exacting vengeance. Even if the life of a Nameckjin had softened the hard edge of Saiyajin brutality, it had not dulled it completely, and Kaeru was testing its edge. Behind her, she heard Gokou chuckle in satisfaction.
"I think I've got 'em." His eyes opened, and he beamed at those around him, obviously pleased with himself. Gohan and Piccolo, their eyes still closed, nodded once.
"I think I've found them as well." Gohan murmured softly. It was a small pulsing of concentrated energy, that flickered in and out, yet was still so faint that he had trouble holding onto it.
"As do I." Gohan's mentor said after a few seconds. "To the northeast." Eyes snapping open, Piccolo marched a few steps purposefully in the direction he had mentioned, his white cloak swirling around him. It was Nail's sense of righteousness that made him feel like he had a vendetta personal against Gero's offspring.
"Then there's no sense in standing around here, is there?" Trunks nearly shouted, the first one to leave the ground, hovering a few feet in the air. "Let's go find Juuhatchi-Gou and settle this once and for all." Thirteen bodies rose to meet him, each one adding their own agreement. Needle faltered, hesitating, his arms at his sides as he floated amongst them. The way his long antennae fell infront of his face, they obscured the black of his eyes, giving the psychically-gifted Nameckjin a mystical appearance. His tone was soft, and bore no urgency, but it was enough to send the hackles rising on the necks of any being that had hair or hackles to raise.
"A great blackness looms on the horizon. ...this will not be so easily remedied." His eyes did show then, as he lifted his head, a unexpected cold gust of wind blew, stirring hair, clothes, and antennae. "Someone is going to die."
Gokou sat on a broken hump of rock, one foot drawn up, his elbow resting on his knee, his chin in his palm. Waiting wasn't one of his strong suits, especially under the circumstances. He eyed those around him, trying to pass the time until Goten and the others arrived. Needle had said that it was urgent that they wait, but didn't specify as to why.
Kuririn, off to his right, was trying not to pace. Juuhatchi-Gou had been gone nearly an hour, and it seemed that the monk sprouted a grey hair every minute she was gone. He was standing stock-still, his arms crossed, his eyes on the ground. But his foot tapped impatiently, and he kept clearing his throat.
Gohan and Videl had caught up with them not long after Kuririn had raced past. After checking doubly sure to see if they were the supposed 'clones', the group had let down their guard. Gohan was standing, arms at his sides, scanning the skies for his younger brother. Videl was deep in thought, sitting on the grass beside him.
Vejiita, as usual, was standing away from the group, his back to them. But he, too, was feeling every minute of Juuhatchi-Gou's absence, compiled with his son's untimely arrival. 'Damn this whole ordeal. Damn it damn it damn it. And damn that stupid Android. All she needs to do is come back and tell me where these damn freaks are, and I can take care of it and still be home in time for bed." He chewed at his bottom lip a moment, gloved fingers straying to his chest. Sliding under the loose blue fabric of his shirt, he felt the slight ridges that marked his left pectoral muscle. It would be like any other scar, of the numerous ones that marked his body, but this was not earned in battle. It was Buruma's mating-mark, assuring him that he was exclusively hers. She wore a set of teeth-marks, naming her as his life mate. She's screamed like a dying animal when he'd inflicted it, and had whirled in their bed, clawing him hard and deep, despite her frail Chikyuujin strength. "Buruma..." he said softly, seeing her before him. She was showing her age, but still, she was his wife, and her youth was conveyed in her eyes ....and in other ways, of course, he couldn't help but smirk. Saiyajin aged slower, and compiled on the near agelessness reaching Super Saiyajin gave them, Vejiita still looked like he was a young man, even if he didn't feel it on his worst days. And now, for the third time, he was going to be a father. He wouldn't lie to himself. He had been both furious and annoyed that she was pregnant again. And when he'd stomped off in a rage, he'd found Kaeru. He turned his head slightly, to the left.
Kaeru was lying there, resting somewhat comfortably against a rock. She was still covered in blood, from wounds given to her by the fake Piccolo, and the fake Gohan, which he had witnessed with his own eyes. Her neck, at least, was whole again, no longer lumpy and broken from where it had been mutilated. Piccolo stood a good ten feet behind her, turned slightly away. He was looking self-important, as usual, Vejiita noted. His arms were crossed, and his ever-present scowl was perfect. He failed to notice, however, how closely Piccolo's stance matched his own. Yet, however hard Piccolo tried to glare in distaste at the invisible thing before him, his eyes kept flicking to Kaeru, as the half-vampire woman healed herself.
She'd refused blood, from anyone who offered. Vejiita tried to threaten her into it, shaking her so hard that her teeth clacked together. Didn't she see that she was needed? She was a burden to them like this! Kaeru merely pushed him away, even half-dead, her strength surprising. The woman had become almost enraged when he'd suggested that she drink from one of the bodies. He dropped the subject while she was still going off on a harshly uttered tirade about abominations and desecrations. Now she lay near lifeless, but Vejiita could feel her trickle of ki swelling, growing stronger. It was a given that she'd be even more powerful, now that she'd been beaten so badly. Saiyajin grew stronger with every defeat. It was partially because of their genetic makeup as inborn fighters, and partially because of their undefeatable attitude.
"Here they come!" Gohan cried out, pointing to the 5 specks in the sky. He almost rose to meet them, but stopped at Piccolo's warning growl.
"We have to make sure it's them, first." He lowered his arms, staring defiantly at the incoming crowd. Two more had joined them, as they were still miles away. Piccolo nearly cursed verbally, as Nail did so in his head. It was his cousins, Awl and Saw, Hammer's brothers. 'The fools!' Nail swore, Piccolo agreeing. As they came in closer, Piccolo murmured his relief. Yarn, Needle, and Spindle were there, bringing up the rear. Trunks was silent, but Goten was waving, making a great deal of ruckus. He heard Gokou chuckling, as those on the ground clustered closer together, to welcome them.
Much hugging and clapping on the back later, the joyful mood died quickly. Trunks told the tale of Muuri's fusion with Spindle quickly, and of uselessness of the Dragonballs. Nail, inside Piccolo's head, was both saddened and enraged. Piccolo realized his fists were clenched, so tight they were shaking. He shook his head slightly, crossing his arms, begging Nail to be quiet, and to not come through so strongly. The Piccolo that was Kami-sama merely watched and waited, still the silent, looming, wizened presence snuggled up close with his brain.
"Time is wasting..." came the ragged words behind them. Kaeru was on one knee, trying to get to her feet, despite the violent quaking of her arms and legs. "They will not be pleased to discover that they can't use the Dragonballs." Vejiita was the closest, and without his permission, she clasped his arm, using it as leverage to get herself to a standing position. He aided, trying not to be noticed, pulling his arm up enough to tug the woman to her feet.
Trying to walk, pulling herself along on the shoulders of those in front of her, she bowed her head to Spindle, reverently, saying something in fluent Nameckjin. Spindle blinked in response, but felt Muuri stir, nodding his head. "You speak like a scholar, young one, but you are not Nameckjin." he replied in his native tongue.
"Pardon, Revered One. I am Kaeru, daughter and student of Gitah, son of Viorin." She smiled, somewhat embarrassed, at the shock on Spindle's face. "I am a Saiyajin, raised by Gitah when I was orphaned here."
"Gitah has been gone from this planet for many many years, Kaeru, daughter of Gitah, son of Viorin. Where is he?"
"He is dead, Revered One. Killed nearly two centuries ago."
Spindle started. "And how is that you are still alive? Saiyajin do not live as long as Nameckjin."
"I am no longer mortal, Revered One." She winced, keeping her head bowed. She would have toppled over, if it weren't for Gokou's support. He'd taken her arm, slinging it around his shoulders, holding her up.
He nodded slowly. "I see." Spindle smiled, one of Muuri's most gentle, compassionate smiles. "Then let it be known that Kaeru, daughter of Gitah, son of Viorin, has returned to us at last."
Kaeru nearly fainted. The phrasing of the welcome was the most formal, the words used were completely honorific. "But, Most Revered One..."
"Hush, Kaeru, hush." He couldn't help but smile, as he stopped speaking Nameckjin. The only one not looking bewildered was Piccolo. "Needle? Can you...?"
Once again, Needle knew what would be said before it was. "I can, brother." He stepped forward, putting his delicate, long boned fingers on Kaeru's forehead. "Hold still. This will feel strange, at best."
Strange, indeed. A tremendous shudder ran through Kaeru, right through to every hair on her tail, followed by a sub-zero chill that left her open-mouthed and gasping for air. "...how? I am..."
"If death can be mended by the touch of a Nameckjin skilled in healing, then your wounds are a paltry thing, Kaeru."
Vejiita, Gohan, and Kuririn nodded. Dende had healed them all, when they'd been practically dead. The scratches and bruises had faded from her face, and now she was rubbing the dried blood off with the back of her hand. Gokou had carefully let her go, sighing audibly when she was able to stand on her own.
Kaeru bent her head to Needle. "I thank you for your kindness." Flexing her fingers, awed that she could move without pain, she grinned a little. Her apparent joy was lost as she turned her mind back to the matters at hand. Muuri was lost to them forever, Juuhatchi-Gou roaming the coutryside looking for perfectly replicated versions of the men she was standing amongst, and on top of that, she was fiercely hungry. Ignoring the growl in her stomach for sustenance, Kaeru touched her bottom teeth to her upper lip in thought. "So... we've got confirmed visuals of Gokou, Gohan, and Piccolo..."
"Who is making them?" Saw asked softly, popping the knuckles in his left hand loudly. Kuririn blanched, going from white to a sickly green, looking like an small-eared, antennaeless Nameckjin struck with fever. He scrutinized the smaller Chikyuujin. "You've had experiences with things like this before?"
"...nono... it's not that... but Juuhatchi-Gou said that Gokou...well his arm anyway... was grown. And ... " He swallowed with much difficulty, looking to those that had been involved with the Jinzouningen and the Cell Game.
"But Gero was killed." Gohan said quickly. "In both timelines. Along with Cell. Besides... oh... dear..." A thought occured to him then, that made his stomach knot. Videl silently touched his arm in comfort. "Cell."
Once again, Gokou was a little slow on the ol' upswing. "Cell what?" Piccolo, beside him, growled in exasperation. The Nameckjin grasped what Gohan was trying to express, and it made a cold sweat break out on his forehead, his turban soaking up most of it.
"Cell. Remember Gero said that Cell was made from our DNA? That's why it knew our ki attacks and fighting styles." A dim light appeared in his 'Tousan's eyes, a small flickering of recognition. "If Gero had enough DNA left over..."
"He could grow versions of us, and train them to be evil." The Saiyajin Prince, from the back, finished Gohan's sentence, looking offended. Someone would DARE to duplicate his singular superiority?!
Gohan nodded, agreeing with him. "Obviously, some parts of them would have to be artificial, which would enable Gero to control and program them like he did Juuhatchi-Gou and Juunana-Gou." Androids 17 and 18 were once humans, before Gero got his hands on them, making them enhanced humans, with only one mission - to kill Gokou and his friends. Kuririn fidgeted. He didn't like being reminded of his wife's murderous past.
"It's a vague explanation, but in these trying times, even vagueness is welcome." Spindle sighed, his brothers and Hammer nodding in agreement. "We are to assume that there are ...how many, aside from the ones we've seen?"
Gohan counted off in his mind, his eyes skyward in thought. "It's safe to say that besides Gokou, Piccolo, and myself... there is a possibility of Vejiita, Kuririn, Tienshinhan, Yamucha..."
"Basically, anyone who was around before the fight with Furiiza." Gokou then grinned wryly at Trunks, Goten, and Kaeru. "Looks like you three are still one-of-a-kinds." His son rolled his eyes.
"Oh... lucky us."
Kaeru snorted wryly. "What about strengths? Obviously, you are all stronger than you were when the DNA had to have been collected, right?"
"I suppose Gero advanced our strengths, when he saw how strong we'd become. Remember... it was a shock to Gero when my 'Tousan went Super Saiyajin." Gohan glanced at his father. "Besides... when Gero sent out his insects, I was still a little boy."
"The guy that strangled me weren't no little kid." Kaeru grunted, rubbing her neck.
Looking at Kaeru askance, Trunks sorted out his thoughts, before turning his attention to Gohan. "But where and when did Gero, since we're all assuming it's him behind this, have the time to create and grow replicas?" Gohan shrugged blankly, and given that he was the one who had been producing the most logical explanations so far, it was safe to say that he was out of answers. When all the suppositions had been given, this left everyone standing around, each one trying to devise a solution.
After a protracted silence, Yarn finally spoke up, his broad mouth curved down into a scowl. "We're not getting anything accomplished standing here. I suggest we split into two groups and..."
"What? Find the Jinzouningyou?!"
"HEY!!" Kuririn, suddenly filled with a type of anger that made even the biggest coward brave, whirled on Vejiita, who was stunned at the monk's reaction. "She's not a DOLL!" Vejiita was not a man of tall stature, and Kuririn was a dwarf beside him, but even Vejiita backed away when Kuririn faced him with rage and resentment in his eyes. His whole face was red, his teeth bared, his eyes narrowed beneath the black shock of his hair. "Watch your comments, Vejiita!"
An uncomfortable silence fell on the group, the eyebrows of various people shooting up. Vejiita's mouth had dropped open a bit, and he didn't know whether he should apologize for insulting Juuhatchi-Gou or smash Kuririn for his impudence. Instead, he turned his back, glowering at a tree hard enough to make it wither. Kuririn stared at Vejiita's back a moment longer, wishing that he was strong enough to beat some sense into the cocky little upstart. "I know that we can't track Juuhatchi, given that she doesn't have a power level..." He sighed raggedly, turning away from Vejiita. "But..."
"We can still try." Gokou nodded firmly. "But we won't split up." He turned his face to the sky, his eyes closed, as if he were smelling the air. Actually, he was trying to pinpoint the faint blips of ki that would match his or any of his friends. If the clones were made of thier stuff, they should display even a little bit of a power level. He could feel the others watching him in silence, and he was sure Gohan and Piccolo were doing what he was.
Spindle put a hand to his chin, thinking. "Yes. Son Gokou is right. If we stay together, there is a lesser chance of being ambushed by someone that could pass as an ally. And if Kuririn's wife is indeed in danger, it will take our combined efforts to defeat this nemesis."
Vejiita, still trying his damndest to stare a hole into the fabric of space-time, growled softly under his breath. He preferred to work alone, no matter what side he was on. Nappa had been a hindrance to him, the bumbling bald fool. "...then let's get a move on." He finally muttered harshly, biting off the end of a swear when Kaeru unexpectedly laid a friendly slap on his shoulder, hard enough to make him step forward to keep his balance. "Watch it, woman!"
Kaeru bared her fangs in a toothy smile. It was the smile of a Saiyajin anticipating the one thing that brought members of the race complete happiness - beating the life out of something. "Touchy touchy... can the tough-guy act." Vejiita was speechless for the second time in under 5 minutes, before grinding his teeth together hard enough to make the veins in his neck stand out. Had everyone lost their sense of respect?! "Kami-sama... what crawled into your shorts?" Apparently shocked at his less-than-jovial reaction, the woman tsked, knuckling a strand of her wild hair out of her face. Now that she was healed completely (but still hungry), and had a general idea of what was going on, Kaeru was as happy as a tailed clam, and definetly eager to go. The sweet taste of revenge filled her mind, making her overjoyed in the way only a Saiyajin could feel about exacting vengeance. Even if the life of a Nameckjin had softened the hard edge of Saiyajin brutality, it had not dulled it completely, and Kaeru was testing its edge. Behind her, she heard Gokou chuckle in satisfaction.
"I think I've got 'em." His eyes opened, and he beamed at those around him, obviously pleased with himself. Gohan and Piccolo, their eyes still closed, nodded once.
"I think I've found them as well." Gohan murmured softly. It was a small pulsing of concentrated energy, that flickered in and out, yet was still so faint that he had trouble holding onto it.
"As do I." Gohan's mentor said after a few seconds. "To the northeast." Eyes snapping open, Piccolo marched a few steps purposefully in the direction he had mentioned, his white cloak swirling around him. It was Nail's sense of righteousness that made him feel like he had a vendetta personal against Gero's offspring.
"Then there's no sense in standing around here, is there?" Trunks nearly shouted, the first one to leave the ground, hovering a few feet in the air. "Let's go find Juuhatchi-Gou and settle this once and for all." Thirteen bodies rose to meet him, each one adding their own agreement. Needle faltered, hesitating, his arms at his sides as he floated amongst them. The way his long antennae fell infront of his face, they obscured the black of his eyes, giving the psychically-gifted Nameckjin a mystical appearance. His tone was soft, and bore no urgency, but it was enough to send the hackles rising on the necks of any being that had hair or hackles to raise.
"A great blackness looms on the horizon. ...this will not be so easily remedied." His eyes did show then, as he lifted his head, a unexpected cold gust of wind blew, stirring hair, clothes, and antennae. "Someone is going to die."