Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ The Mystery Within ❯ Rock Bottom ( Chapter 7 )

The Mystery Within

Part I - Prelude to Terror

Written by Namek Kaia

Disclaimer: I own nothing except original characters and attacks. And don't use them without my permission. You won't like the consequences.

Chapter Seven

Rock Bottom

Piccolo had to struggle with himself in order to wait patiently for her to speak as he watched her mouth freeze in its open position. Niko shifted uncomfortably knowing that his eyes were on her, waiting… anxious for her to begin. The thought of telling him about her past brought a rush of memories back to her mind… memories that she had never stopped trying to forget. Her stomach turned with an unknown feeling. Perhaps it was fear. Or it could have been pain… emotional pain. She suddenly felt dizzy, but decided to ignore it. Her stomach rose in her throat instead of her voice as she started to speak. Taking a deep breath, she calmed herself and attempted to begin again, only for the process started all over. She clenched the apple she held and threw it into the fire with a scowl on her face. "Forget it! I can't," she stated with anger and strode to the front window that revealed the pitch black of night.

Piccolo quickly left his lotus position and raced the few steps that stood between them. He grabbed her wrist and spun her the 180 degrees to face him so quickly that she nearly lost her footing. Niko stared at him with wide eyes as he squeezed both her tiny wrists in his hands, his expression feral. "What do you mean, you can't?" he seethed through clenched fangs.

Her scowl returned, deeper than before. "Because I just can't!" she yelled at him, wrenching her wrists out of his grip. She turned away from him, looking out into the darkness. She hugged herself, her hands gently rubbing her arms as if to calm her emotional stress. "I just can't…" she whispered.

"Niko," he replied sternly, "you promised. You promised to tell me what's happening here. You promised to tell me who you are!"

She quickly spun and advanced in his direction. For a split second, he thought she was going to physically strike him. "What if I don't know who I am!?!" she shrieked in his face. As soon as the tears began to sting in her eyes, she turned and retreated to the window once again. This time she gracefully curled herself on the window seat to stare out into the darkness.

Piccolo sighed, letting his anger go. He walked to the window seat and stood over her, staring down at her fragile but toned frame. "You have to tell me Niko."

She looked up at him with a glare that was meant to be fierce, but wasn't. "I don't have to tell you anything," she said, trying to overlap her hurt with anger. She pulled her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs and burying her head in them in attempts to hide her face. "I can't tell you," her muffled voice came.

Piccolo's arms crossed over his chest, a small scowl making its appearance. "Is it that you can't? Or that you won't?" he asked. His answer was her silence. She sat there without motion or sound, either ignoring his question or not hearing it at all. He could no longer hold back the irritation that was building in him as he spoke. "Niko, don't you think I at least deserve to know why people I don't even know are trying to kill me?"

"When have you ever asked your enemies why they're trying to kill you, huh?" she questioned into her jeans.

"Niko…"

"Piccolo… I… can't!!" she cried out, interrupting him. To her… it hurt bad enough that all these memories were rushing back at her all at once. But, above all that, it hurt worse that she couldn't bring herself to tell him. She didn't know if she was afraid of losing him like all the others, or if it was because she feared it would change the way he saw her as a person… as a fighter.

Piccolo was somewhat taken aback at her sudden outburst. One eye ridge quirked as he studied her form. Her hands were now clutching the calve of her jeans, her knuckles white. Her body began to shake, slowly at first, then gradually becoming more fierce. He felt her ki heighten then fade in an erratic pattern, as if she was battling with herself over something. Confusion mixed with worry settled in him until he obtained the first clue as to what was going on. At a closer look, he could see the wet stain spreading on the leg of her jeans near her eyes. She was crying… more like sobbing from what he could tell.

He froze. What was he supposed to do? Risk his personal space and hers to comfort her? Or continue to stand where he was and pretend like he didn't realize she was showing such strong emotions? He hesitated, contemplating the best route to take in such a fragile situation as this.

Niko's mind was in a state of chaos. Her memories and emotions conflicted with her warrior ways. The confusion that was her brain was in such a state of divergence that she couldn't control the sobs that rose in her throat so suddenly. She hated crying, despised it with nearly every fiber in her being. She saw no real point in it. Sobbing ones eyes out was a sign of definite weakness, but at this moment, Niko was weak. Once again, she had the mind of a child… so delicate and bemused… not understanding the reason for her awful pain.

Her life replayed itself in her mind. All the way from her childhood, a somewhat happy and peaceful stage, to the hell that was now her life. She slipped in a downward spiral of depression and confusion, now adapting a strange feeling that she was falling down a never-ending void.

Niko continued to fall for what seemed like eternity until she slowly stopped, followed by a warmth she hadn't know for so long. Strong arms encircled her, keeping her safe. She knew whose arms held her without even having to look. They were Piccolo's. She knew that they weren't his actual flesh and blood… that this image of him was still part of her memories, but he still gave her comfort. She remembered that, in more ways than one, he had saved her… protected her. She was reminded of just how much he meant to her. How much she really needed him. Then three words began mentally screaming at her.

Just. Tell. Him!

Her mind suddenly cleared, as if sharing her secret with him was the most natural thing in the world to do. After she confirmed her decision with herself, her eyes slowly fluttered open. She thought it funny that she could still feel his arms around her. As she took in her surroundings… she found that they were.

Niko's body immediately tensed in his hold. She looked up at him with sheer confusion only to find his face tilted down toward hers. "Niko? Are you okay?" he asked, sounding slightly concerned. She nodded and his features grew somewhat warmer, the corners of his mouth turning up ever so slightly. Her eyes then locked onto his lips and refused to move. She couldn't help but to wonder what they would taste like if she were to kiss him. Her head tilted toward his slightly, but she dared not to risk the consequences of such a personal act.

Once again Piccolo's body froze, his heart nearly racing. What is she doing? It looks like she's going to… No, she wouldn't. She couldn't. Not to someone like me. After what seemed like a long moment between them, she finally turned away.

"Why are we on the floor?" she asked, confused.

You lost your balance… after you started shaking. You were about to fall… and I caught you," he explained with uncertainty, knowing that she hated showing any kind of weakness.

"Oh…" she replied, slightly embarrassed. Then she shifted to move out of his arms. He let her go, but with hesitation, his minor faltering to release her surprising them both. After she returned to the window seat, she hung her head. "I… I'm sorry… I…"

"Why won't you tell me, Niko?" he asked, actually sounding a little hurt.

"No, I didn't mean it in that way. I'm sorry… that you had to see that. I…" she paused. Her mouth stood open as if to go on, but no words would come.

"Just tell me."

His request brought her back from her current explanation. At last she sighted and suppressed her nervousness. She opened her mouth, just as before. But this time, the words were already there.

"I'm not from here. This is far away from my home. Though I can't tell you for sure if I've ever had a home… a real home. For years I lived in an underground colony, seemingly unknown to others. We stayed away from everyone, and everyone stayed away from us. And tough no one could observe us, we observed everyone else extremely close. We adapted our technology from others and then improved it, allowing us to have the most high-tech equipment in all areas from weapons to domestic appliances. The security at our boundaries was considerably strict. Absolutely no one traveled in or out without clearance. Needless to say, treason was considered the worst of all crimes, punishable only by death.

"You have to put all these things in consideration with how our colony as run. We had two major "races", three if you count the slaves. The two prominent races are highly segregated. Only a small portion of the colony was considered middle territory, where all could roam, no matter their ancestry. Hence, the security inside the colony was also strict. The first, and most dominant, race was called the Zion, though they were more often called the Royals. They own the so-called "kingdom". The Royals believe they are the supreme rulers, and suppress all those below them. They are also the strongest beings in the colony, using their strength to hold power over all others. Royal schools would be more focused on training than knowledge of such things as history or the arts.

"The second is known as the Shen. They are similar to the Royals except that they lack certain privileges such as job offerings, housing, and schooling funds. Mostly all the money, however small, they received went to their schools. Money wasn't necessarily needed with the Shen, however. They valued knowledge more than anything. Where the Royals had strength, the Shen had brains. Their minds were so advanced that they were even capable of mental abilities… physic attacks, telekinesis, and the like."

"And which were you?" Piccolo interjected curiously. "You have both mental and physical powers."

Niko immediately stopped, but tried to hide her surprise. "I… um… I'd rather… not say," she replied, cursing herself for stuttering.

"Why not?"

"Well, it's not like that's important, right?" Before he could begin to reply, she continued. "Anyways…"

Piccolo immediately stopped her. "You still haven't answered my question, Niko," he stated simply, interrupting her again.

Niko sighed. "I was both… in a way. I kind of played both sides.

"And you weren't caught? You just said the security was strict, that the groups were separated."

"No," she said with a shrug. "No one pays attention to kids. I suppose they think we're unintelligent. But it's not like I was betraying either side. I wanted to go to school and improve my mental capabilities, but I also wanted to train hard and grow stronger. And I forged my Identifications so I could be in both territories. Simple."

"So, which side were you born to?" he asked.

"Well… neither really. Both my parents…" She suddenly grew silent.

"Is there something wrong?"

"Huh?" she asked, being shaken from her thoughts. "Oh… no. Nothing is wrong. I didn't really have parents. Well, I did… just not my biological ones. The couple that raised me were outcasts as I was, each from different sides, united by rejection. My mother was Shen, so she helped me enroll in school. My father, a Royal, did the same for me with training sessions. And… I sort of got the best of both worlds… for a while." Again, she grew silent.

"How did you end up here? What happened?" he asked quietly, arms still crossed though his body was becoming more relaxed from the comfort of the situation.

Niko's face immediately became somber. "Everything was fine until the Royals began suspecting that the Shen were going into another rebellion to gain control of the kingdom. Security within the colony grew extremely strict, making sure no Shen crossed over into Royal territory. And they were closely watched while in the marketplace, the neutral territory I spoke of before, where both groups bought food and supplies.

"Me and Mother were shopping one afternoon. As we were returning home, a fight broke out on the street between two groups of men, one Shen, the other Royal, and both probably gangs. First fighting began… Then laser guns were brought into play. Mother couldn't get us both off the street in time. She was killed… struck by a stray laser beam from one of the guns."

By now, Niko couldn't fight the tears standing in her eyes. Her voice was emotionless, and her tears silent as they fell.

"She slowly died… right in front of me. Just an innocent bystander, the only one that died from the outbreak. Help arrived too late. And she was gone… forever. The gang members only suffered some minor injuries, most not even seriously wounded. The bastards….

"So there I sat, alone on the street. My father was still at work at a job he had recently gotten at a Royals warehouse. No one else cared as they passed by, staring at me while I curled up against a building and cried until I couldn't cry anymore. I can't remember much of what happened after that. But I do remember soldiers from the Royals army breaking into my house and taking me captive. All they said was that my father was going to pay… and I was his bait," she explained, her lip beginning to quiver slightly as the event replayed in her head. After a shaky breath, she continued, pulling her legs closer to her chest and crossing them at the ankles.

"Father eventually came to my rescue, and we managed to escape from the colony. Then we ran. We've been running ever since.

"Town after town, city after city, we were always found. And those who had befriended us and help us paid the ultimate price… with their lives. Finally, we managed to find this house, away from civilization. No one else would have to die because of us. Now, I've lost everything I've ever had, except this home an my will to defend it." She stopped and slowly turned to him. "Are you satisfied now?"

"You still haven't told me everything, Niko," he stated, slightly annoyed.

"I've told you everything!" she objected, her brow wrinkling with anger.

"You still have yet to tell me why these people want you dead… why they now want me dead!" he explained, annoyance now evident in his voice.

"I don't know," she said through clenched teeth.

"You doknow!" Piccolo shouted.

"Like hell I do! I don't know why they've chased me all these years. Years, Piccolo. Years of my life that I've wasted running away. Well I'm through running, damnit! They won't take anything else from me… not ever again, do you understand?! So you have a choice. You can either fight along side me or you can die fighting them alone."

Piccolo scowled and stood, towering over her with menacing eyes. "Let me give you a choice, Niko. Either you start telling me the truth, or you will be forced to fight these bastards alone." At this point, he crossed his arms over his chest. "Your decision."

Her eyes looked up at him filled with hurt, but were quick to shadow it with a burning anger. Her jaw was set and she sat unmoving, simply staring.

After a long moment, Piccolo's arms fell to his sides. "Fine." He strode to the door full of anger, and then paused with his hand on the knob. He started to look over his shoulder at her, but decided against it and quickly left.

As he left the house, he was met with the fierce cold of the harsh winter. He wondered to himself when it had gotten so cold. Had he been staying inside Niko's house from his injuries that long? A gust of wind hit him, tugging his cape into violent, rippling waves. He shivered slightly, not greatly affected by the freezing temperature. Nice time to go for a swim, he thought sarcastically to himself and began to fly off. He was stopped by a sound in the woods, a crack of a branch. All Piccolo could think was that an intruder had been lurking around Niko's house. His frame tensed as his eyes became wide with a second thought. The hooded figure….

Piccolo then raced past Niko's house and straight toward the path the trespasser was making into the woods. He was swift, but careful to make no noise of indication of his presence. He caught up to the source of the movements, but couldn't make out the person before him, their body too shrouded in darkness even for Namekian eyes.

He noticed that they had been walking along the river for quite some time. With the severe cold, pieces of ice were already flowing with the stream of the river. One would most likely freeze to death if they were to fall in. But he quickly pushed these stray thoughts away and concentrated on his reason for being in the woods in the first place.

The figure far in front of Piccolo had now come to a stop at a ledge of rock where the river cascaded down to the lake below. As he slowly stepped closer, he could begin to make out the shape of a person… a feminine shape. He paused as something flickered in the dim light. A crescent moon charm, hung from a gold chain, dangled from her hand, the chain laced around her wrist. His eyes went wide with realization.

"Niko?"

Her frame tensed. "You shouldn't have followed me here."

"What are you doing out here in this weather? You could freeze. You're not even wearing a coat," he mentioned.

"You sound like you give a damn," she stated coldly over her shoulder then turned to stare back down at the dark pool of water beneath her. Piccolo's eyes followed hers, and as he did so, a pang of fear shot through his spine at his assumption of what was happening.

"Niko… you're not going to…" He trailed off, not able to say words that held such awful meaning.

"You can't stop me," she said, confirming his suspicions. "Nothing can stop me."

"But… but why, Niko?" he stammered.

"Why not? I have every reason to jump and put an end to this pain… this suffering. There's no reason for me to be here anymore. I have nothing to live for," she replied sadly, her voice quivering as she began to shiver. He knew it wasn't the cold breeze… she was crying again.

"Niko… you can't."

"Don't you understand? If I'm dead this whole thing goes away. No one else will have to die for a lost cause… a useless fight."

"This fight is not a lost cause! Earth's forces have encountered worse than those weaklings. They are nothing!" he opposed.

She turned quickly to face him, her face indeed stained with tears. Her eyes were cold and emotionless… eyes he had never seen before, though they looked somehow familiar. "Earth's forces are nothing against the hundreds… thousands of Zion soldiers! Unless they are defeated, the earth will be in grave danger. Don't you see? If I'm gone, then they have no reason to kill anyone else. I can't take another dead innocent on my conscience. I won't! They will not hurt anyone else! I'll see to it myself!" she shouted then turned, pushing her weight over the edge.

Piccolo quickly moved to the ledge and caught her by the wrist of her left arms just before she was out of reach. She look up at him with renewed tears in her eyes, a few spilling over to her cheeks.

"Just let me die, Piccolo. Please!" she asked desperately.

"I can't just let you kill yourself, Niko. You're giving in. Is this the way you want to honor your father?" he asked sternly.

She grew still for a moment, but shook the thought away. "You made a choice, Piccolo! You can't take it back. Now let me go!" she screamed at him, trying to jerk free of his hold.

"No! I won't let go!" he shouted back.

"Damn you, Piccolo! Let… me… go!!" she yelled in between jerks.

"No!! I won't!" I can't… I can't let you go.

With that, her eyes turned amazingly fierce, flashing a bright red just before Piccolo began to feel a sharp pain inside his head. It felt like someone was attacking his brain with razors. His hold on Niko disappeared as his hands immediately clutched his head. He could only watch helplessly as Niko fell to her icy death.