Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Hunted Saiyans ❯ Part 2: Chapter 5: Dance of Vengeance ( Chapter 11 )

Chapter 5

Dance of Vengeance

 

 

Trunks was the first to wake from his knock-out. For a moment he thought he was back at home, on Earth, but when he heard Goten's moan in pain and saw Strife's feet, Trunks knew better.

 

“Oh no…” Goten said as he tried to get up. Trunks could hear it too. “Strife's making his wish!”

 

****

 

“Almost there!” Tsuka promised Chibi Goten. True. Almost there. Somehow, Goten was to suffer the same fate as his father…

 

“Goten! Trunks!”

 

Was Goten dreaming? He thought he could hear his brother calling him… But that was impossible…

 

TCHAK!

 

Tsuka cried out, his arm suffering a burn from Gohan. Goten's eyes widened and saw Picollo attack Tsuba from the back, immediately freeing Trunks from his steel imprisonment. Gohan's arms grabbed Chibi Goten tightly and headed straight back for blessed ground.

 

“Picollo! Yeah!!” Trunks almost forgot he was running out of air, and it sounded more like, “i..clo… yeaaa…!” Picollo grabbed Trunks too and dived back towards the ground, Tsuba and Tsuka hot on their tails.

 

The four of them reached the Earth, Tsuka and Tsuba making it there a few seconds later.

 

“Bastards!” Tsuka swore bitterly.

 

Chibi Trunks and Goten jumped free from Picollo and Gohan and smiled victoriously, Chibi Trunks giving the piece sign. Tsuka was furious.

 

“Wait!” Tsuba suddenly said calmly. Tsuka looked at his brother as though he were mad, “What?!”

 

“Strife… is finished. He wants us to go back.”

 

****

 

Vegeta had managed to completely burn his opponent's leg off, but to his shock, just like Scar, it rejuvenated into a black living machine. Now trapped in the rocks, Vegeta could feel his life slip away. He tried to hold on to the cords of life, tried to think of Bulma and Trunks, but he was too weak to keep his thoughts straight.

 

“You're funny! Your yellow hair is gone!” he bellowed.

 

Vegeta chocked. Never in his life did he think he'd have more trouble then what Buu had given him, but obviously he was mistaken. As much as he hated himself for saying it, he wished Kakorot was here in order to fuse with him… His heart stung in pain and disgust. He needed that buffoon to save him and protect his family. He hated that idea. Kakorot left his own family; it was clearer then ever now! But as usual, the clown would show up at the last minute and save them all! Pitiful pain swelled within. He was not going to think about that. He promised himself never to die again as long as Bulma was alive… but now… maybe it was better if they all died… and maybe met in heaven?

 

“No…” he thought, trying to move out of his stony prison, trying to clear those thoughts.

 

Hot stinging tears filled his eyes. The sky was still dark, which meant that Porunga was still there. Yes… there still hope… If he died, the others could bring him back…

 

“After your dead, the whole universe will be at our feet…” the Hulk gave a dirty, tooth-missing smile. His black eye twitched when Vegeta didn't reply.

 

“Hey! Are you already dead?! I wanted to tell you how much fun I was gonna have with the females!”

 

Vegeta's eyes shot open.

 

“What?”

 

“He he he! I knew you weren't dead! I love killing. If I get pets, I can hit them everyday of the week, and,”

 

Vegeta growled, his heart raged. He tried to move, but he was still stuck.

 

“KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF THEM!!”

 

“Heh heh heh!!” the Hulk jumped up and down, clearly amused at Vegeta's anger and inability to do anything. “And I'm going to pull their hair out and bite their fingers and…”

 

“SHUT UP!!!” Vegeta's energy suddenly rose. So sudden, that he hadn't even noticed it yet. Ki encircled his body again and the hulk suddenly stopped jumping and clapping. Fury filled Vegeta's body, his chest felt like it was about to burst with wrath and anger.

 

“Wow, I didn't know you had that much in you! Let me get that one, the one with the blond hair! She looks yummy! Or that one, the one with the blue hair!!”

 

Vegeta's eyes widened and the Hulk laughed; it was just the reaction he wanted. The blue-haired it is! He bounced up and down Namek, heading towards Bulma who noticed him in the distance.

 

“No!! NO!!!” Vegeta's black pupils slowly vanished. His muscles and bones suddenly felt ten times thicker, a hundred times stronger. A flash of light and white electricity surrounded Vegeta's body, crackling and snapping in the surrounding air. His head fell back and Vegeta yelled his heart out, the pain in his chest, the rage in his heart… it was fuelling his power like never before. Gravity seemed to be a thing of the past as his energy burst like pressured water from its imprisonment. Vegeta felt his heart thump widly against his chest, his blood… it was coursing through his body, as though they tasted something new and delicious. There was a ringing in his head, a faint ringing that seemed to scratch his mind. But he ignored all this. Every part of him seemed to awake from a slumber, it was like his spirit was stretching while his body tried to break from invisible chains. His lungs of steel kept him yelling towards the heavens.

 

His mind kept playbacking the same words over and over again: “Never… I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL KILL YOU! BULMA! BULMA!!!”

 

His hair was gold, he was way past the ascended Saiyan. Lightning flashed above Namek, the rocks danced on the ground before they shattered. Within, Vegeta felt as though he was being reborn: he was an infant, nude and swirling in space, his tail wrapped around his plump leg, before he became a teenager, his eyes deathly cruel, his arrogant smirk only slightly visible before he became the man he was today. Fur suddenly sprung from his tanned skin and his canines grew to horrifying lengths as his appearance completely changed and he became the Oozaru he had so often used to terrorise his enemies. Then the spinning stopped and his figure burst like a bubble. The chains were released and it was happening…

 

He kept on screaming, his fury temporarily blinding his senses. For a moment, he thought he had gone deaf, the world was mute, and he knew he didn't care. But then his voice blasted back into his ears. The rough rock behind him had vanished, as though it had never been there. He could hear nothing other then his screams and the lightning, and his body becoming stronger. Even his sense of smell seemed to have increased ten-fold. His golden hair kept growing, and nowhere near stopped, until it reached his legs as he thrust his head back further, his fists clenched, his knuckles white like paper. His eyebrows sank and disappeared from his skin, his muscles cried and his power… oh Kami…

 

The Hulk, holding a screaming, kicking Bulma, stopped.

 

“Who…”

 

Vegeta panted. He slowly lifted his head. His eyes shone blue.

 

“Ve… Vegeta?” Bulma gasped.

 

Vegeta chuckled.

 

“Finally… This is what… Super Saiyan 3 feels like?”

 

The huge warrior angrily thrust Bulma from his grip and she fell to the ground with a cry. He was about to attack when Vegeta blocked and punched. He fell, his fat feet in the air before crashing down. But it wasn't over. Vegeta's rage had taken over him. Forgetting everything around him, the Saiyan prince was ready to break the hulk with his bare hands.

 

The hulk got up and kicked Vegeta with his new leg. Vegeta blocked and head butted his opponent. Blood shot from his cut. He stumbled and fell, stars flooding his vision. Vegeta screamed and Bulma got to her feet, running as far as she could.

 

“Die!!!”

 

Two ki balls filled Vegeta's arms and he pulled them together, “FINAL!!!”

 

The fat warrior stood up. He tried to block, but it was too late. Lava hot ki drowned his body and he screamed, his face getting horribly burnt.

 

“FLASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

 

An explosion. White light surrounded the area. Trees crumpled and turned to ash, Namek's waters became waves against the islands. The earth vibrated. Finally, the white light cleared and the hulk's body fell to into the middle of its crater, his clothes torn, his body filled with bloody cuts.

 

“Ha… ha…” Vegeta panted. Sweat dripped down his face. He fell to on his knees. The energy that had once fuelled and consumed him left him like water unplugged from a sink. His hair and eyes slowly went back to normal. He smelt of sweat and blood, his body was shaking. Bulma's footsteps stumbled over Vegeta's destruction as she tried to get to him. He heard the sound of rocks moving and looked slowly up.

 

“Grah!” The monster was alive! He grabbed Bulma and held her to his chest as she shrieked. Vegeta, in shock, tried to move, but he could feel his muscles stinging as they complained.

 

But then, like a miracle, Bulma stopped struggling as the huge warrior set her aside. He got up, never breaking eye contact with Vegeta.

 

“You're lucky. The boss wants me back. I'll kill you later.”

 

****

 

“It's done!” Porunga announced, “Name your second wish!”

 

“That's it, thanks,” Strife raised his finger. A jet of red ki shot from it and Porunga's eyes widened in shock. The beam went straight through the dragon's heart and Strife chuckled in amusement. Elder Namek gasped, “No! Impossible! No mortal can kill Porunga!”

 

Elder Namek suddenly gripped his chest tightly.

 

“He's having a heart attack!” a younger Namek cried and the rest screamed in disbelief. They tried to help him, but it was too late. Porunga was shrouded in yellow light and exploded out of existence. The Dragon Balls cracked; its deafening sound rang in the air. The balls turned to stone. The wise and respectable elder fell to the floor and died.

 

“No! NO!” Trunks couldn't move as he watched in horror. It was over. This wasn't a dream. The dragonballs, their only hope, were gone. Strife had made a wish and done the impossible. It seemed that Trunks was now living in a nightmare of impossibilities. Earth could never be wished back… Pulla was right. If they survived this, they'd forever be refugees in space.

 

The hulk was the first to arrive at full speed with Vegeta and Bulma right behind him. Bulma had seen everything. Behind them, Tsuba and Tsuka appeared, said no more then three words to Strife and then landed next to him. They waited patiently for Strife's new orders with their arms crossed over their chests. Strife smiled happily.

 

The fat warrior got the idea quickly and stood with his group. The rest of the Z-Warriors appeared including Tilo, who seemed to have held his own better then the rest of them. The raven-haired teen `hmphed' nonchalantly and stood with his group.

 

“Porunga! Where is he?” Gohan stuttered. He already feared the worst, “The dragonballs are gone!” he said unnecessarily.

 

“Ha ha ha… I see Shiva didn't make it! She was a pain in the ass anyway. I'm glad we came here though,” Strife looked at the Z-warriors as though not sure whether to show them his surprise or not.

 

“Bastard!!” Goten suddenly yelled, “You!! Now, NOW WE CAN NEVER WISH THE EARTH BACK!!!”

 

“Oh yeah, that place. It was a piece of shit anyway, the universe is better without that lump of mud. It only produced weaklings. We should know.”

 

His gang snickered in agreement.

 

“Let's kill him!” Goten snapped, looking at Trunks, “He thinks Earth produces weaklings, let's prove his fat mouth wrong!”

 

Chibi Goten and Trunks were one step ahead. They were determined to set things right. They hadn't come all this way to fail again!

 

“FU-SION- HAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!”

 

“Trunks!!!” Goten yelled. Trunks, a little startled, nodded. Slowly, as Chibi Gotenks revealed his famous fighting stance, Trunks stood a few feet apart from his best friend. And they began: in perfect symmetry: days of practice was all for this moment. Fingers to the side, knees apart, and the dance of vengeance began!

 

Tilo watched his father, “For Earth,” he thought.

 

“FU”

 

“SION”

 

“HAAAAAA!!”

 

Flash of brilliant white light and the sound of thunder. Tilo held his breath. Wind blasted from within the light and then cooled.

 

The Super Saiyan warrior stood with his hands planted on his hips. Hate burnt in his eyes and ki danced around his perfect body.

 

But he wasn't done.

 

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!”

 

Lightning snapped and crackled around Gotenks' body. The Namek's picked up their fallen elder and retreated slowly. Gotenks' hair became spikier and longer, his eyebrows disappeared. The grass colour in his eyes vanished and was replaced with a fierce blue.

 

“Let's play!” Gotenks mocked.

 

It was over before it began. One moment Yashamaru stood with his eyes lazy and his blood-stained hands in his pocket. Now, he was dead, Gotenk's hand dead-centre in the teenager's chest. He yanked it out.

 

“What the f--”

 

THACK!

 

The hulk's head was off and his circuit exploded in Strife's face. Blood and machine rained down.

 

“Bastard! I wanted to kill him!” Vegeta spat, ready to attack Gotenks when Gohan held him back, his face in shock. The warrior of Vengeance was not to be stopped.

 

His next target was Strife, but the twins jumped and protected him before he could lay a finger on their leader.

 

“He promised us,”

 

“Glory!”

 

“Their mine!” Chibi Gotenks held his arms up high. Two rings formed in each. He managed to balance the two perfectly in the air and yelled, “GELACTIC DOUGHNUTS!!”

 

But the twins jumped and dodged. Chibi Gotenks followed - the three were soon out of sight.

 

“You're strong,” Strife laughed, “But can you really beat me? The glorious-”

 

BAF! BAF! BAF! BAF! BAF!

 

Each punch Gotenks gave to the red-head's face sent blood flying. Strife stumbled and fell, but Gotenk's had no intention of stopping. As soon as the man got up Gotenks continued to send blow after brutal blow. Gotenk's knuckles become red in pain as hot tears slowly streamed down his face. Tired of using his knuckles, the warrior grabbed Strife's bleeding face and knocked it against his knee.

 

“That, was for my father,” Gotenks said, “Who died because of your master! And this,”

 

He grabbed Strife's hair and held it firmly, nearly breaking the man's neck as he bent it to the extreme. He then kneed him in the gut, “is for Earth…”

 

Videl and Chi Chi stared in horror. Pulla, who had never imagined that her husband had the ability to fuse and transform into one person, felt waves of terror as she watched him fight. This couldn't be the Trunks she knew. Her man would never… ever fight like a… barbarian. Her fingers trembled before her and she slowly felt faint. She held onto Bulma's firm shoulder as prickly tears formed in her eyes. What was she crying for? Earth? Her family she had lost there? Her life she had lost there? Gotenks? Trunks? His merciless attacks? She couldn't bear watch all that blood, hear those sickening sounds.

And then it happened. Blinded by rage, confused by emotions, reality lost, Gotenks grabbed Strife and hurtled him towards a bed of sharp, jagged rocks.

 

Crrrrrrraaaaaa!!!!

 

A really sharp, merciless rock stabbed the spiky-haired warrior in the chest.

 

Gotenks looked up, his heart drumming wild against his chest. He wanted to feel good for what he had just done, but somehow, he felt nothing. He expected happiness at the most and at the very least, he thought he'd feel some sort of burden lifted. But when his eyes directed him towards his enemy him, he gasped.

 

Srtife was laughing, his shoulders dancing up and down.

 

Shocked, bewildered, stunned, Gotenks could not comprehend what his eyes were telling him. The wound was so clear; it had gone through his chest and pierced his heart and lungs. Thick blood was falling from his mouth in an overload. He should have died instantly, if not right at this very moment. Strife held the piercing rock firmly in his iron grip and then slowly managed to slide off, the horrible sound of bone and blood crunching together finally sent shivers up Gotenk's spine.

 

“Ahhh…” Strife smiled, his eyes disappeared momentarily behind his lids, his voice in ecstasy, “Now that tickled.”

 

The huge, nightmarish wound in Strife's chest seemed to mock Gotenks as it began to close. The black metal within him worked with his body; tissues repaired and connected themselves again, bits of chips rewired and stuck with one another to form the microscopic layers of nano-parachinium that seemed to be so famous these days. He finally stood firmly planted on the ground, as good as new.

 

“How can this be?! You're supposed to be dead!!” Gotenks spat.

 

Strife cackled in glee. His face fell as he laughed harder. Even Tsuba and Tsuka seemed in shock and a little disgust; their faces stared at their leader in uncertainty.

 

Strife's face fell back.

 

The twins were hesitant.

 

“Strife… You didn't do what I think you did?” Tsuba asked.

 

“Hmnn…” Strife smiled broadly as he stared at his palms, “I was worried it might not have worked…”

 

“Stand back!” Gotenks suddenly ordered, his body in a fighting stance as he drew his arms back, dust flew behind the sudden movement: “KAAAA… MEEEE… HAAAA…. MEEEE….”

 

“Ha ha ha!!” Strife lifted his hand and patted his chest, “Bring it on! Give me your best shot!!”

 

Picollo's eyes widened. There was something strange about this Kamehameha. He looked at Vegeta and saw a moment of fear in the Saiyan's eyes. The planet was trembling. Gotenks was insane! Was he planning to kill them all?!

 

“Pulla!” Gohan cried, “Quick, get the engine running, we're leaving!!”

 

“G… got it!” she nodded.

 

But it was too late. The massive wave hurtled its way towards Strife, a Kamehameha like none of its predecessors. It enveloped the grinning man, eating the earth and trees that stood in its way, shattering islands and killing anything in its path. The Namek's cried out as they watched their planet become, once again, a victim of destruction. Their houses weren't spared. Their crops were wiped out. Everybody stared at the non-stop attack; the Kamehameha's heavenly blue colours illuminated their faces and would ever be etched into their terrified brains. Lightning crackled across the sky and Namek began to slowly fall apart. The land began to split as lava erupted from its slumber, narrowly missing a screeching Videl.

 

“He's lost it!” Gohan exclaimed, “He's completely mad!”

 

“Gotenks! STOP!!!!!!” Picollo roared, but it was no use. The Super Saiyan three was shrouded with rage.

 

“FATHER!!” Tilo called, “Please!! STOP!! YOU'RE GOING TO KILL US ALL!!”

 

Tilo's words trailed off. The beam slowed down and then finally stopped. Gotenks dropped to his knees. He panted heavily before he managed to laugh cockily, “ha ha ha... I always had it in me. That training wasn't for nothing….” His breath rasped in his mouth. His power was leaving him. “Oh… come on… it has only been five minu-”

 

The warrior spilt into two, Goten and Trunks stared at each other as though seeing one another for who they really were for the first time. In the distance, a figure stood brooding. His face was shrouded with sinister shadows as the lava seemed to have awakened just for him. Magma touched his feet and Tsuba couldn't help but flinch: Strife was very much alive and unscathed.

 

“What the hell! What's going on here?!”

 

The sight and smell of ash rose in the air. The planet rumbled and the Namek's whined in response.

 

“Please tell me this isn't true…”

 

Strife came closer towards the group and instinctively, nearly everyone stepped back.

 

“He's a monster!” Chi Chi cried, “He…”

 

“It took a while for all of you to figure it out. I can't accomplish anything if were to perish in the future. So I… solved my little “problem”…”

 

“Oh Kami…”

 

“This is it, we've lost. We're doomed!” Vegeta growled, fear in his eyes and voice, “No matter what we do, he won't die! He's immortal dammit!!”

 

Everybody understood. They had understood the moment Strife hadn't died from a punctured chest, but were hoping it wasn't true, that no one would be evil enough to wish for immortality.

 

“Split up,” Vegeta continued, his tactical brain working on overdrive.

 

“What?! NO!” Gohan retorted, sweat flying from his face, the heat becoming exceedingly unbearable.

 

“We have no choice!” Vegeta snapped.

 

“We have to stick together!”

 

“Fool! Then what? Have him kill us all in one go?!”

 

“Even if we split up the Voice will track us down!”

 

“Idiot! Don't you understand?!” Vegeta tried not to panic, tried to keep his voice steady and firm, tried to persuade that damn boy that there was no choice! “This is now a fight for survival Gohan, we have-to-split-up!”

 

“Vegeta!” Gohan pressed on, a little taken aback by the older man's irrational thinking, “There's only one spaceship!”

 

For a moment, Gohan thought he had won. Vegeta's eyes widened in realization and then growled. But then a young Namek stepped up, his antennae bending over his head in the massive heat, his voice small, yet still audible; “We have a ship. It's the same model Picollo Daio used to get to Earth. When Frieza destroyed our planet we decided to get help and build another spaceship, just incase a crisis like this would happen,” he spoke super fast, his voice trembling as he watched Strife do nothing as he watched them in amusement, and the twins immobile, waiting for orders. “It was meant to take us and escape, but you need it more. With the Earth gone, we doubt there is anywhere in the universe where we belong.”

 

“No, you can't do that!” Gohan pressed on, “Please, this is crazy! Picollo, tell Vegeta it's crazy! Why sacrifice all the Namek's for our safety?!”

 

“No, Gohan… you are a good man,” an older Namek approached, one that Gohan faintly recognized, “There is still hope for you. If splitting up will save you, then we'd much rather die and give you a chance to still set things right…”

 

“We're not going to set anything right!” Gohan was furious, scared, sad… was no one going to understand? “How can we when we're spilt up?! How can we when the dragonballs are gone?! No more wishes you guys!” But no matter how many times he yelled and argued, Vegeta's stone-cold eyes were set on his decision. Then, like a savior, Goten stepped in, “If we fight together, we might have a chance in defeating the Voice.”

 

Yes! Good brother! Now you're talking sense! Show them that Vegeta's words are pointless… But like a charged bullet Vegeta already had an answer,

 

“Fools! You mustn't think in strength in numbers: you have to realise that Strife, the Voice and every other bloody race is after us! No matter where we go together, they'll find us! I'm trying to protect,”

 

Strife yawned and it immediately fell silent. It was as though any wrong word would set off a bomb.

 

“The Voice is not that interested in you anymore…” he said, stepping towards them in slow, menacing steps, “He's found his perfect warrior. All he wants us to do now is eliminate any threats that remain. That's the only reason why he still sets off his virus for the lot of you.”

 

Vegata had summoned the courage to speak, “What do you mean his perfect warrior?”

 

“I mean,” Strife continued, gaining pleasure from watching their trembling faces as the heat scorched the planet, “he's found a warrior that will do his every bidding. A warrior that lives for the thrill of a fight, and that thrill only. A warrior that… does not think too much…”

 

“It can't be!”

 

“He's lying!”

 

Strife smiled in amusement, “Ahhh, I see you all know who I'm talking about. That's good, saves me a lot of trouble!”

 

“It can't be… we saw him die!” Gohan yelled.

 

“You saw him die? Are you sure? I was on the ship, I saw it happen. He didn't die.”

 

Gohan yelled in anger, “He would never! He would never do anything evil! He's the most pure and innocent person I know! He'd never!”

 

“Hey, whatever you say! But the Voice has his ways! As we speak that fighter is bubbling in a nice tube, unaware of his surroundings. With the Voice's warrior, he will be able to carry on where his race has failed. And we,” he looked at Tsuba and Tsuka, the remainders of his team, “get the privilege of having some of the riches and adventure offered along the way. Unfortunately I didn't think Yashamaru and the rest would die so soon. Anyway,” he shrugged; heaving is shoulders up indifferently, “the Voice is just a little worried about all of you…”

 

“Then what about Scar? Why did he betray him? Couldn't Scar just have finished all of us instead of having machines do all the work?”

 

“Scar was an idiot from the beginning. His whole life he'd been waiting for an opportunity to kill the Saiyans for what they did to his race. However, when he finally got his chance for revenge, Frieza beat him to it. He was staring at an annihilated planet Vegeta. Scar thought his reason for living was over. Until one fine day he heard from us that there was a couple of Saiyans left that were living on Earth. We also had the sense of telling him that he was no match for them, but that he needn't worry: someone could enhance his power if he really wanted a crack at them. All that power, in exchange for some blood tests, cell donation and of coarse his will to serve the Voice forever - when his need for that power was done obviously.

 

“Scar jumped at the opportunity, but was surprised to find so many races lined up to get this special power. What was even more surprising was most of them hated the Saiyans as much as he did! When it was his turn, the Voice had revealed that he was one of the five races that had passed the “test”. Scar was to feel honoured to get this power, whereas so many were rejected.

 

“But my master had other intentions. He knew from the beginning that Scar was both an advantage to him and a disadvantage. On the plus side, Scar had an amazing talent when it came down to finding spirits, much more then the other losers that wanted to kill you Vegeta,” Vegeta flinched and remembered what Chibi Goten and Trunks' had told him: He was the first to die in their timeline. The Gobanian hadn't killed him: Scar did. In the corner of his eye he saw Tilo cringe slightly every time Strife mentioned Scar's name. The teenager clenched his fists until his knuckles became ghostly white.

 

“That way, Scar would easily find all of you on Earth. On the downside,” Strife motioned his thumb downwards, “Scar was way too pissed off with the Saiyans, so much that if he found you, he'd give you no time to power up, in order to kill you all off quickly… but painfully. Scar was the best candidate for his secret plan despite this flaw.”

 

Tilo looked up. He tried to keep his voice under control, “And what was his “plan”?”

 

Strife smiled, amused at Tilo's attempt to be brave. He looked directly at the teenager and Tilo felt as though swords were inches away from his sweaty throat, “The Saiyan that could survive the longest against Scar's power, the one with the highest ki, in other words, the stongest,” he nearly hissed the word out, “would become the Voice's Warrior. And obviously, as we all know now,” his threw his hands up in the air, feeling exasperated, but happy all the while that he could here his own voice for so long, “Mr Son Goku/Kakorot, was the chosen one, and he would serve the Voice. Scar was no longer needed. The Voice had found his puppet. To save him all the trouble, he blew up the Earth, hoping to kill Scar and the rest of you. But you guys survived and he's pissed, because you're a potential threat to his plans.”

 

Picollo was stunned; his brain felt like it had received an electric shock. Goku? Captured and used as a weapon? That was why they couldn't bring him back to life, because he already was alive? Why didn't he say anything all this time? And the dragonballs… Kami, the dragon balls... Gone for ever…

 

“Goku…” Chi Chi was caught between crying and anger and happiness. Her husband was alive, but he was captured and he hadn't, or perhaps he couldn't use instant transmission to get back to them. What should she do now? What could she do? Was Vegeta still planning to split up?

 

But now, nature seemed to be against them again. The planet rumbled and shook. Everybody on planet Namek didn't matter to nature's force. If people died, they would die, if people lived, they would live. The natural balance was being upset and there was no choice now but to survive.

 

The sky had turned red and was stricken with ash from bursting volcanoes and lava as it filled the air.

 

“Start up the ship! We have to get out of here!”

 

Everybody looked at Vegeta. He changed his mind?

 

But it was too late. Way too late. To Namek, life was the size of an ant, and could easily be destroyed. A large gash suddenly cracked open, separating the Nameks, Vegeta, Goten and Picollo, from the rest.

 

***

 

“4,6,8,3… 4,6,8,3…” Small green fingers held onto a plastic, silver card. He stumbled towards the huge mountain surrounded by a lake, one that he had known his whole life. He was, after all, born on New Namek, and had never known the likes of Frieza and the Saiyans till this day. He was about the size of a ten year old, his eyes large and anxious as they searched for the secret entrance. He saw his reflection in the clear blue water and gulped. The entrance was a little swim away and could only be seen with Namek eyes. Very clever of Elder Namek, young Flute admitted. His sweaty hands held onto the Access Card and took a deep breath, his mind racing as he tried desperately to remember the secret code, “4,6,8,3… 4,6,8,3…”

 

The earth began to tremble and Flute looked over his shoulder. In the distance a new fighter had come to the scene. Gotenks, he thought he heard. The earth rumbled even more he couldn't keep his balance before he splashed backwards into the water. The young Namek resurfaced and coughed. He shook his head, took one last look at his planet, then dove into the warm water and towards the entrance.

 

Stringy green moss stuck strongly around the Identification slot and Flute reached out with his long, black nails. Quickly he rubbed his fingers to clear the slot and carefully slid the Card inside. For a moment Flute thought it wouldn't work, but to his relief lights switched on and he entered the code. The door opened upwards for him and Flute swam as fast as he could towards the surface. He broke through and gasped in the air. He blinked. He was in a cave by the looks of things. It was extremely dark in here… Normally a Namek wasn't used to the darkness. He got out of the water and searched for a light switch.

 

“AHHH!”

 

He accidently touched a huge spider and her nest and his hand recoiled. Shivering in the cold and feeling very unsettled, Flute continued to look for a switch. Finally, the lights flicked on and Flute took a moment to catch his breath. There was another door a few feet away and Flute walked towards it, despite his realisation that he had a phobia for spiders. He held onto the ice-cold handle and opened the door.

 

A long hallway was before him. The lights were thankfully still on and he spotted the kachin door staring back at him. There was another slot where he had to use the same code and, with a racing heart, ran towards the door. He had little time left.

 

The earth trembled and shook violently. He cried out loud and fell to his fleet. The lights flickered on and off and Flute already feared the worst. He spotted sparks on some of the cables and knew it would only be a few seconds longer before the power cut. He got to his feet and pushed himself towards the entrance. The place began to crumble and collapse and he hastily punched in the code, “4,6,8,3!”

 

The door opened and Flute fell forward. Before him, was Namek's Ship.

 

He took a paper out of his pocket and read the instructions: Speak the password out clearly and the doors will open. Step into the ship and go towards the control panel. Switch on the engine, it's a green button. There's another button that allows you to go on Auto-Pilot, it's a brown knob above your head. Type in these co-ordinates and then strap yourself in. As soon as the engine switches on the doors on top of the mountain will automatically open. Good Luck.

 

****

To be continued (obviously...)

 

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