Vejiita, the Saiyajin no Oji, the... would-be... Densetsu no Super
Saiyajin, one of the last surviving members of his entire race, was scared
nearly out of his wits. His hand wedged into the collar of the little Namekuseijin
whom had helped cause his impending death, and with Kyande and Kakarrot's
kid behind him, he stared up into the face of death itself;
Freezer.
Despairingly he wished for Katera to be there. She'd protect him from the cruel master standing, fuming, on the rock face above. She always had. She wasn't afraid of Freezer.
She was stronger than he.
Swallowing hard, and fighting an internal battle to stop his body from shaking, Vejiita dropped Dende and turned to face his fear as best he could.
" Vejiita, " said Freezer, despite his angry expression, it was still in the smoothest, most serene voice ever imagined, " I'm disappointed in you. "
Vejiita blinked sweat from his eyes. Why wasn't Kyande doing anything? She was a Super Saiyajin, why wasn't she killing Freezer? Was she afraid as well? Did she know something he didn't? Was the power he'd aspired for all his life, that legendary power that came along only once in a generation... was it still not enough to defeat Freezer?
" Really, " Freezer continued, " I always knew you'd turn against me, Katera would make sure you never thought otherwise. "
Vejiita gave a start. Katera, that's right, her hatred of Freezer had been mutual. Had... had Freezer stopped at the ship first and killed Katera while she was unconcious? Had he killed Kakarrot as well? Was Vejiita stripped of both his love and his right to revenge?
Vejiita felt weak in the knees. Too many thoughts. Katera couldn't be dead. She couldn't. No...
Still Freezer went on, " But, like this? " he spread his hands, and Kyande noted sickly that he had blood on his left one. This fact did not escape Vejiita's eyes either. Freezer smiled thinly, the motion making no move to erase the anger from his presence, " tsk. I thought you would have gone for something a little less, subtle: and working with Earthians? How below you. "
Vejiita was shaking, his fear driving his adrenaline to a boiling rage. How Dare Freezer speak to him this way?! How dare he even Pretend to know him so well! If Katera were dead, then Vejiita had the sole responsability of avenging his race, and all the wrong Freezer did to him personally. Vejiita narrowed eyes like glistening orbs of jet. If it took all of him to do it, Freezer would die that day.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Surrounded by the warm liquid, Gokuu furrowed his brow. What a ki! He exclaimed inwardly, It's unlike anything I've ever felt!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Namekusei's pristine serenity spread beneath him like a long forgotten kaleidoscope he'd never seen. The suns, the warm air, the gentle sounds of water lapping against the grassy islands, all of it made Piccolo feel that until now, he'd not truly known who or what he was. Perhaps he was right. For being told one is Namekuseijin and actually experiencing the beauty of the home planet which gave him that birthright were two very different things.
Piccolo was home. He was finally at home.
In a graceful motion, Piccolo took to the air, his white cape flapping around him. As he headed for where he sensed Gohan, a new lightness came to his face, without ever altering his expression. In this moment, not when fighting Radditz alongside his enemy, Son Gokuu, not when training and caring for the son of that enemy, Gohan, nor when giving his life to protect that boy, but in this one moment of perfect peace, Piccolo was no longer the demon king, nor would he ever be again.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
As Kyande watched Vejiita, she likened his self control to one last
fine string, holding him back from the brink of death. As she
watched, that fine string snapped, and Vejiita was let loose with all
the anger and brazeness his race was known for.
Kyande cringed as first Vejiita landed the first punishing blow, then cringed again when that, and the whole barrage that followed, had absolutely no effect on Freezer.
They needed Gokuu and they needed him fast.
Wak! Dende!
Kyande jarred herself into motion and ran forward to scoop Dende up from where Vejiita had depositited him. Turning on an angle, she took a running start towards Freezer's ship.
" Come on, Gohan! "
Freezer and Vejiita took a moment to stare after them.
" Don't think that you'll escape me! " Freezer hollered after them, just as Vejiita demanded,
" Where are you going?! "
Kyande turned around and met Vejiita's gaze. She felt her stomach knot at the fear she saw there. " We're going to get Gokuu, you moron, " she called back, though without the insulting edge, " um... keep him busy. "
Freezer laughed sardonically while repeating, " keep me busy... " which
wasn't all that comforting to anyone.
Kyande, Dende, and Gohan reached the island where Freezer's ship was just as Katera was coming too. Her mind a little hazy from the hit, she got to her feet and blinked at the trio. Upon recognizing Kyande her head immediately cleared and she leaped to attack, shouting, " Why you--!! "
Kyande looked this way and that, she still had Dende in her arms. What could she do?! Squeezing her eyes shut she screamed, " Vejiita's fighting Freezer!! "
Katera's fist stopped, brushing the very tip of Kyande's nose. " He's... what? "
" Fighting Freezer?! What'd you think I said? " Kyande demanded. " That he's raiding the refridgerator? That he's... I don't know... making a pizza?! "
" Shut up, damn you! " Katera shouted and took off towards where Gohan was pointing wordlessly.
" There, " said Kyande with a small measure of satisfaction. " Two against one should hold Freezer off long enough... I hope. " Turning to the ship she began running again and leaped to the top of the ship. Jumping down the shaft in the center, she hit the ground on her feet, cushioning her knees to break the fall, and immediately took off running again. She could hear Gohan's footsteps behind her and felt a small amount of relief relieve the tension in her head. Maybe they would get through this alive.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Katera careened into the valley Freezer and Vejiita had made for themselves. She took a broad sweep around the edge and came in to kick Freezer hard in the back of the head. The tyrant turned at the last moment, and Katera noted that he still had a scouter on. Before she could react, he had clasped both hands around her ankle and had her thrown into a rock face.
Vejiita watched as she clambered out of the rocks and flew to stand next to him. She was a little roughed up but unscathed. Vejiita smiled, " Katera... "
She glared at him. " What? You thought I was dead? Thanks a lot! You idiot! You think too much! "
" I think too much! " Vejiita snapped back resentfully.
" Children, " said Freezer, smacking both in the face with the heel of his hand. Both Saiyajin fell back, while Freezer mocked, " stop fighting or I'll have to separate you... " he chuckled, " literally. "
Katera growled as she got to her feet. " Bastard! " she declared, shaking her bangs from her eyes in one careful jerk of her head, " You're trying to goad us into fighting you blindly! " She spat to the side, " Well I won't do it. If you want a real fight, " she crossed her arms and raised her head so as to look down upon the other warrior before her, " You fight me, one on one, and silently. "
Freezer smiled. He'd been waiting a very long time for this day.
Vejiita caught Katera by the arm and demanded in a harsh whisper. " Katera! What are you doing?! "
Katera looked at him, " Fighting. Isn't that what I do best? Go, Ojisama. Go with Kakarrot and Kyande to Chikyuu. From Gohan we can tell that human women are capable of bearing Saiyan children. Go start a new race of Saiyajin. "
" I don't want a bloody human woman, " Vejiita snapped, " I want you! " Really, it was an accomplishment for him to admit it out loud.
Katera stared at him, her face devoid of expression.
Suddenly Freezer was there, with his hand over that face, cutting off the air. He looked at Vejiita with lucid red eyes and stated, " Don't worry, Vejiita, she'll be in good hands. " With that, Freezer forcefully whipped Katera past Vejiita's stark face and threw her into the rock face opposite that which he had previously.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
In the medical bay, Kyande set Dende down and raced for the Regeneration tank holding Gokuu.
Wait, Kyande froze over the controls, what if we're letting him out too early? Did Dende heal him? But... Freezer's gonna kill Vejiita... did Vejiita die? Did he or didn't he? When did Gokuu fight Freezer? Was it on Namekusei? ... but then how did he end up on Chikyuu to meet Mirai Trunks... will there be a Mirai Trunks?! I CAN'T REMEMBER!! I CAN'T THINK STRAIGHT!! Kyande lowered her head in despair and it slammed into the release button. " Ooowww! "
Already the effect was in place, and the liquid was draining from around Gokuu. Kyande fidgeted, knawing on her thumbnail and trying to shake the sudden feeling that she'd screwed things up again.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
" I'm just wondering why we didn't think of that on Namekusei, " Gohan mumbled in self-disgust.
Gokuu shrugged.
Sarro smiled. " You didn't have the luxury of beforehand knowledge, " she turned her gaze to her daughter, " regardless of how little your memory held of that knowledge. "
" It was all happening so fast! I couldn't think straight, alright?! " Kyande defended herself. " That, and Freezer was scary. Such a puny little guy with so... much... power... heh... " Kyande trailed off at the murderous look Vejiita gave her. Laughing nervously, she amended, " or maybe it was the horns on his head! I don't know! "
Sarro sighed. " Anyway... "
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Kyande glanced at the console as the Regeneration tank opened. Long ago Sarro had taught her the language, but it took Kyande a moment to figure out that it was warning her that Gokuu was only at fifty percent of health.
This was wrong! This was all wrong! He couldn't have been healed by Dende! That wouldn't make him powerful enough. He had to heal gradually to allow for such an increase! He either had to heal gradually from that one set of wounds, or... Kyande trailed off as she watched Dende heal the other warrior, or...
Just as Gokuu was standing, again in perfect health, Kyande grabbed him by the shoulder and said, " Gokuu, consider this part of your training, " before punching him straight through to the heart.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
" Bravo, Kyande, " commented Trunks dryly.
" You baka! " Goten exclaimed.
" Shut up! " wailed Kyande. " Aren't I being tortured enough!? "
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Piccolo had been flying steadily for not a very long time when suddenly
he noticed another Namekuseijin lying in the dust below
him. Without quite knowing why, Piccolo paused, then descended down
towards the ground.
Upon seeing him, a smile touched Nail's battered face. " Ah, you're here, " he greeted, " The Earthian's made their wishes. That's great. "
Piccolo crouched next to his... brother... and made a statement more than a question in voicing the name, " Freezer. "
" Yup, " Nail confirmed, " he's definately more powerful than he looks, and has plenty more power to spare, if you catch my meaning. " He considered Piccolo for a long time. " But there is one way for Freezer to feel pain for what he's done to our people. This body cannot fight anymore, but yours... "
Piccolo sneered, some of his demon king personae coming through, " You want to fuse with me? I think you should know, I've already been split into two parts. "
" Yes, I know. But with both our powers in one body we should be more than enough to defeat Freezer, " Nail assured.
Piccolo looked away. " Will I still be me? "
" Sure. But I'll be there too. You'll feel very little difference after awhile. " Nail raised his hand. " Please, brother, it's the only way. "
Begrudgingly, Piccolo agreed, and took Nail's hand. Nail gave one last smile and closed his eyes. Suddenly his body glowed with a vibrant white light, and Piccolo was forced to sheild his eyes. Gradually, Nail faded away, and Piccolo stood alone. The auras of both he and Nail frothed around him as one, and Piccolo felt the true force of Nail's words.
The power! The absolute, pure, power! It was unlike anything he'd ever experienced, anything he'd ever dreamed.
Freezer was going to die that day.
[Funny how everyone seems to have that one thought in their heads]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Gokuu choked and staggered backwards. Eyes full of betrayal gazed at Kyande as he stumbled off his feet and landed hard on his rear. His breath rasped and his face ran with sweat.
Gohan and Dende stared at Kyande in silent horror.
Kyande lowered her fist and stared at Gokuu impassively as he neared death at her hands. Finally she ordered quietly, " Heal him again. "
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Katera picked herself up and wiped the blood from her mouth. Licking her split lip she flew at Freezer again. Again she was knocked back by the tyrant, and still she got up.
Suddenly Freezer leered at her and directed a blast, not towards her, but towards Vejiita, who was watching, rooted to the spot a short distance away.
Katera turned and shouted, " Ojisama! " counteracting Freezer's blast with one of her own. Suddenly angrier with her prince than with Freezer, she raced for him and punched him in the face. Vejiita hit the ground and stared up at her indignantly. Katera paid this no heed and snapped, " Vejiita, you are the crown prince of the Saiyajin, now bloody well start acting like it! Damn you, Ojisama! Are you going to die so easily, like your father?! "
Vejiita's indignity went off scale, which was exactly what Katera was hoping for. His fighting spirit returned to him, using his fear for adrenaline once more.
Good. Katera didn't have strength enough to fight for him anymore, she was too busy fighting for her own life.
Freezer's knee dug into her back at that moment. Katera lurched forward and into her prince as he was standing. Using Vejiita to steady herself, Katera spun and got Freezer in the jaw with a high roundhouse kick. She followed this through with a punch to his nose. Freezer retreated across the valley, wiping blood from his once perfect white features.
Vejiita stood next to Katera and said quietly, " I don't plan on dying this day. "
" 'bout time. "
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Dende had just finished healing Gokuu from the first of Gokuu's Kyande-inflicted wounds when she blasted Gokuu full on in the face.
Again he looked at her with betrayal, and Gohan scowled at her.
" What are you doing?! " he demanded.
Kyande glared at Dende, who immediately resumed healing. In response she said, " He's not powerful enough yet, this is increasing his power. Your father is going to defeat Freezer. "
" But, " wheezed Gokuu, " why can't you? You're a Super Saiyajin. "
If there was anything Kyande regretted about this whole thing it had to be that. Quickly she lied, " I can't do that anymore! "
Gokuu and Gohan stared at her in shock and dismay.
Kyande looked away. " I can't... I was... given the power temporarily while I was here. I've over extended my stay... and... besides, " She looked down at the warrior who was back up to full health again, " Son Gokuu, you are the Densetsu no Super Saiyajin. My power comes after yours. "
" Hah? "
Kyande let out a breath, finally understanding what her mother meant by 'half-truths.' " I'm a time traveller. Trust me, you're going to be meeting a lot in the future. "
" Oh. "
Kyande offered Gokuu a hand up. " Come on, let's get you outfitted for battle. " Gokuu stared at her cluelessly as she helped him to his feet. With a smile she answered, " We're getting you some armor. "
Gokuu stopped short. " I'd rather fight in my gi. "
" But-- "
The older, yet in a way younger, warrior placed a hand on her shoulder and said, " I'll be okay. I prefur it this way. Let's go meet this Freezer. "
Kyande took a breath as she followed him out of the spaceship. Here we go...
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bulma cried outrage and stormed around the ship she'd come to Namekusei in. They still hadn't returned! Jerks! What were they doing?
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Katera and Vejiita were still fighting Freezer when Kyande, Gokuu, Gohan, and Dende arrived.
" Well, " said Kyande nervously, " They're still alive! That's a good sign! " She continued to giggle in a nervous manner until she and the others reached the bottom of the valley.
" So, " said Freezer, " you've all returned: and look, you brought a friend with you. "
Kyande took a step forward to the front of the group and sneered at the tyrant before her. " Freezer, you dishonor us! " she declared, once again leaving everyone in the dark as to what she was doing.
Freezer looked amused. " Oh, and how have I done that? Please tell me so that I may make amends. "
" You dishonor us by insulting us. We are the last of the great Saiyan race. " Kyande raised her head, " I do believe you are holding back on us. That's not your true form, is it? "
" This form is as true as your own, " replied Freezer.
Kyande furrowed her brow. " But this is not your true power. "
Vejiita's face lit as he caught on. Coming forward to stand next to Kyande he declared, " She means that you can transform and increase your power. "
" Yes, " Kyande agreed, " honor us by allowing your defeat to be in your transformed state. "
" Allowing my defeat? " Freezer echoed, an eyebrow gracefully arched.
[did Freezer have eyebrows in first stage? no, he didn't, but I stand by my conviction that that phrase describes more an expression than the actual action of raising one's eyebrows]
His mouth curved cruelly. " Alright then, you little monkeys. If you so desperately want your deaths to be painful. In this special moment, I will fight you not in my first, second, or third stage transformations, but we're going straight to the top, to my fourth and most powerful form. "
" Good, " Kyande said menacingly, " let's see who you really are. "
" Do you have any idea what you're doing? " Vejiita demanded in a whisper.
" Surprisingly, yes, " answered Kyande.
Freezer crouched into battle stance. He clenched his fists and yelled, long and loud. Kyande blinked at the force of his ki and began to regret goading him. She was beginning to regret a lot of things.
In a rippling effect, from toe to head, Freezer's muscles bulged out, and his mass increased until his body armor shattered, sending shards flying every which way.
One of these shards sliced across Vejiita's cheek, and a thin well of blood began to trickle from it. However, this was of no consequence. When it seemed Freezer had finished, he sneered and asked, " That's it? So you grew a bit bigger. I think Rikuum, Baata, and Ginyuu proved that muscles and size do not equal a brain. "
Ooh. There was one thing Kyande had to admire about Vejiita. He sure knew how to throw a stinging insult.
" This, " said Freezer in a deeper voice than his previous, " is only my second transformation. " Again he began the process, and soon had twisted and stretched his form again.
This time he looked reminiscent of one of the creatures in the Alien movies. He had a large oblong head and his tail was nearly one and a half the length previous.
Kyande steadied herself as he began the final transformation. This time the energy created blasted outwards, making their valley a plain upon which they stood and stared at the glowing creature that would, eventually, be Fourth Stage Freezer.
Kyande didn't like this. She really didn't like this. They were too close to ground zero there. Freezer's ki alone was going to kill them.
Grabbing Vejiita by the shoulder she spun him to face her and shouted in his face, " Come on! We have to move! " Turning, Kyande grabbed Dende, cursing herself for even bothering to protect the little brat. The others all followed her, not to Freezer's ship, but in the opposite direction. They landed on an island across a large bridge of water from Freezer.
In the middle of the transformation, with many fine lines of glowing energy separating his features into a jigsaw puzzle, Freezer turned and regarded them all coldly.
" So, " Gokuu breathed, " this is Freezer. "
" Yeah, " said Kyande sarcastically, " ain't he pretty? "
" That's all very well that you can keep your sense of humor intact, Kyande, " stated Katera, her eyes never leaving Freezer, " but I severely hope you have a plan to go with this. "
" Sure, " Kyande shrugged. " Stay alive. "
Katera broke off her stare at Freezer to stare at Kyande incredulously.
" Listen, " Kyande said, " I'm pretty sure I know how this battle turns out. It's not pretty but it all works out in the end. "
" Pretty sure? " Katera grabbed her by the collar, " Pretty Sure?! You're betting our lives and futures on something you're Pretty Sure about?! Have you any idea what Freezer's Sentu Ryoku is at this level? "
" Well, no... " Kyande admitted.
Katera dropped her. " At best, " she said steadily, " estimates range up to and around one million. "
Gohan choked.
Gokuu stared. " One million, huh? Too bad you can't still go Super Saiyajin, huh, Kyande? "
Did Gokuu just enjoy revealing things that got her into trouble?
" You Can't?! " Vejiita demanded.
" Heheh, well... "
Vejiita turned his back on her and declared, " You've killed us all! "
" You obviously don't know Son very well, " declared a deep voice.
Everyone spun to face the owner of the voice and found themselves presented with a tall Namekuseijin dressed in an indigo gi with a white cape and turban.
" Piccolo, " Kyande smiled.
" Piccolosan! " Gohan cried happily and ran for his mentor.
Piccolo greeted Gohan with an affectionate placing of his hand on the boy's head. He then straightened up and strode to join the others. Piccolo turned his steely gaze upon his once sworn enemy and said, " Son never loses a battle. "
Gokuu gave Freezer a worried look. " I don't know about this one, Piccolo. "
" Nonsense, " Piccolo berated him, " You are stronger: and if you aren't now you will be. "
Gokuu smiled at the Namekuseijin's confidence.
Suddenly Freezer yelled, calling attention to him once more. The white light dividing him with fine lines suddenly burst outwards, and for a moment Freezer was blotted out. When the light dispersed, what remained was a creature full of deadly grace.
Fourth Stage Freezer stood with his feet together, with one slightly behind the other. His arms were by his sides, his hands open. From head to foot his skin was a pale, pale gray, almost white, with deep amethyst coloured gem-like formations breaking the continuity. There was one on each shoulder and one atop his smooth head. A thin, streamlined face stared out at the unlikely group of opponents, with narrow red eyes and a small purple mouth. He stared with an expression so placid it frightened.
Then there was his ki. It was insurmountable. That ki was beyond anything Kyande could have imagined. It felt like Super Saiyajin, and perhaps it was akin to that. But Freezer's ki was frigid, calm, calculating. Making him the deadliest of opponents.
Kyande shot a sidelong glance at Katera and Vejiita. Both were sweating heavily, and quivering ever so slightly. They were afraid, and rightly so.
Slowly, Freezer brought his hand up and pointed with one finger across
the water. Everyone on the island froze despite their
screaming instincts to run. Abruptly Freezer grinned, and Katera fell
back with an outcry.
Kyande blinked. Freezer's attack had... had been so fast she couldn't even see it. But, she could see the effects.
Katera had just barely caught herself before falling. But this would not save her. She held a hand already red to a wound in her chest, and Kyande knew it had punctured her heart, as well as a lung. Thick crimson blood ran from her mouth down her chin to the ground, and she choked. Finally Katera could hold her weight no more. Her strength gave out and she collapsed.
Vejiita was immediately at her side, shouting her name. Katera looked
at him with fast dying eyes and said a silent good-bye,
gently touching his cheek with bloody fingers. Then she was gone.
Kyande felt tears well up within her eyes. She whirled around to face Freezer, who hadn't moved a millimeter since the attack.
Sensing Kyande's eyes on him, he slid his gaze over to meet hers, and said serenely, " Oh, I'm sorry. I took your looking at her as an invitation to kill her first. "
Kyande's tears overflowed, running down her cheeks. She felt so cold she could have sworn they were freezing on her face. Ruthless, Freezer was beyond ruthless.
Vejiita probably would have been doing some crying of his own if he weren't so angry. Standing from the body of his dead companion, he shook with rage for a moment, staring at the face devoid of all but death.
" Freezer, " he said shakily, before powering up to a level Kyande had not felt previously from him. Turning to face the murderer he screamed out, his throat rasping, " I Will Destroy You! " before taking off intent on just that.
Kyande gave a start and called, " Vejiita! "
But it was too late, and the battle had already begun.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bulma sat in the middle of the ship and wailed, " I want to go home! "
---------------------------------------------------------------------
" and she wasn't the only one, " commented Sarro.
¤¤
[The fight with Fourth Stage Freezer has begun! Dammit, I wanted to start it this chapter. Ah well. How will Kyande fare in the coming battle? Is Vejiita racing off to his doom? I'm going to be late for English so I gotta go! Ja ne. But come back next time for Part Fifteen; Fight to the Death! Defeat Freezer If You Can!]
[Written by Inseiko, 1999]
¤