As a group they shot into the air; eight specs of light known to any with the sense of it as ki signatures. In the lead was Katera, with Gokuu right next to her. She was scowling fiercely as she flew, but near the outer reaches of the atmosphere, she suddenly gave a knowing grin.
Suddenly Gokuu realized what she already had. Shouting, " Hold It! " he grabbed Katera's gi and held her down with him. Everyone else paused and waited patiently for why Gokuu had stopped.
" Katera! " Gokuu asked, sounding a bit peeved, " Are they in outer space?! "
Katera's smile never dropped. " They have a ship in orbit, outside of the atmosphere. Looks like you all will have to stay behind afterall. "
Vejiita smirked. " You wish, " he said craftily, " You can take us off world, Katera, I know you can. "
Glaring at him, Katera growled inarticulately and almost immediately had a ki blast flaring towards the prince.
With a flash, Gokuu had intercepted, diverting the blast towards space and letting it detonate there. The resulting flash illuminated them all, leaving Gokuu's face in stark lights and shadows within Katera's vision.
Looking away from him, she said quietly, resentfully, " Stay close to me, and the artificial atmosphere should protect you from the vacuume. "
" How close? " Kuririn inquired.
Katera glared at him and snapped, " As close as you can get, and don't fidgit. I don't want to be responsable for any of you idiots bringing on your own demise. "
" Alright, " Piccolo intervened. " Let's just go. "
As a group everyone moved in closer to Katera, who gave a sigh of exasperation before resuming the trip upwards.
" You'd better not be leading us into a trap, Katera, " Vejiita warned.
" Would somebody please shut him up before I do? " Katera said tersely.
As the last of the atmosphere cleared, a large black ship came into view, settled in an orbit around the Earth. It loomed, for lack of a better adjective, a darkness upon darkness. It blotted out the stars and part of the moon, leaving no detail visible to the naked eye: nothing but the ominous darkness that settled like a cloud over everyone's dispositions.
" How are we going to get in there? " Gohan questioned from where he held onto Piccolo's cape at the Namekuseijin's shoulder.
Katera, who had been watching the ship through her scouter, answered after a pause, " There's an airlock open on our side of the ship. It's a trap, obviously, but there's no other way. "
Together everyone landed on the noisy metallic floor of the airlock, feeling a chill settle over them with the darkness. With a startlingly loud shoomp sound, the airlock doors closed and Katera dropped her aura.
Despite the cramped space, Katera drew her sword, nearly thwacking Tenshinhan in the face. Gripping the sword with both hands, she kept her eyes on the door... and waited...
Somewhere in the dark silence, Vejiita snorted.
Quietly Katera sneered, " Vejiitaojisama, I have no time for you right now. Keep your royal self quiet if you are so able, and wait your turn. "
Vejiita made a face, but found himself obeying her request/command.
Suddenly Katera's scouter beeped an alert and everyone else tensed at the new ki feeling. The inside door to the airlock opened. Katera took a step forward almost as it did so and cut down the soldier with a short, " Ha! "
Her steps silent as a cat's, Katera darted into the hallway without so much as a glance at the soldier she had felled.
Gokuu, however, was dismayed at this act and opened his mouth to rebuke the Saiyan warrior.
Katera antisipated his objection, surprisingly, and held up a hand to silence him. With swift, silent, hand motions, she indicated for them to follow her and took slow careful steps down the corridor.
Piccolo, despite himself, was finding the new Saiyan warrior awfully intriguing. He had been one of the few people to have volunteered to keep an eye on Katera on Earth, and now that he was watching her, he marvelled on the differences between her and the Saiyajin he knew.
So far her personality hadn't been much different from Vejiita's. Piccolo
supposed this attributed to their strong dislike for each
other, regardless of the mysterious, though bitter past they had. Her
fighting style had been the brazen kind associated with the Saiyajin, and
her disposition had been suitably agressive.
But now, Piccolo was seeing a completely new side to the warrior. She was very angry, he could sense that in her aura, but instead of making her stupid, and even more arrogant, agressive, and brazen, it was making her calm, cautious, and awfully articulate. She knew when to be quiet, she could handle the sword very, very well, and, Piccolo noticed for not the first time, she did not wear the Saiyan armor: leading Piccolo to the conclusion that Katera had received training outside of that of the usual for Saiyajin. Someone had taught her to be a very lethal, rounded-out warrior.
How interesting.
For Vejiita, these observations came with a sort of disgust that only he could muster. How pathetic, that she'd succumbed to this new form of fighting that the Saiyajin had despised. There was no greater pleasure than cutting one's enemies down with one's own bare hands. Weapons were for the weak, which is why the Saiyajin had always won out over them-- and now there was Katera, with so much potential and she wasted it on a sword.
Sarro would have found it interesting, how in this eerily empty ship, enclosed with darkness, and running to face possibly insurmountable enemies, nearly everyone had their attentions focused on Katera. Sarro, too, would have been devoting her attention to the other surviving Saiyajin female.
Never minding that she, herself, was an enigma at best.
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Yamcha had turned slightly more grim, sitting forward over his coffee mug before launching the story Sarro had requested.
" I first met Son Gokuu when he was a boy, or so he appeared, it turned out somewhere along the line he was only two years younger than I. He and Bulma were in the desert looking for the Dragonballs, when they entered my territory. " Yamcha smiled, " I was a bandit at the time, and they presented an excellent opportunity to steal some Hoi-poi capsules. "
" The kind Capsule Corporation makes? " Sarro clarified.
" Yeah, " Yamcha said, " where I was it was more important than money. Anyway, Pouar and I went out to steal them from Gokuu and Oolong, little realizing that Bulma was with them. " Sarro furrowed her brow, not understanding the problem with Bulma being there.
" Gokuu refused to give up capsules, and we had a little skirmish, before Bulma woke up and came into view. " Yamcha smirked in self- mockery, " I was deathly afraid of anything female at the time, and froze. Gokuu won the fight, and I retreated.
" When Pouar and I found out about the Dragonballs, I decided to use them for myself to wish away my fear. Somewhere along the line, I kept ending up helping Gokuu, until he became so natural I didn't even think about it anymore. When we all had to team up to stop Emperor Pilaf from making his wish for world domination-- "
" A very common wish, I'm sure, " Sarro commented.
Yamcha nodded wryly, " I did all I could to stop him. It wasn't a matter of who got who's wish, as long as the victor wasn't Pilaf. "
When Yamcha paused to take a drink, Sarro theorized, " I'm guessing that you got your wish, seeing as how you're quite the ladies' man according to Bulma. "
" No, " Yamcha contradicted simply, " I got over the fear on my own, without even realizing it. I guess it was having Bulma around so much. Naw, Oolong made it out through a little hole Gokuu made in the wall and wished for the panties of a hot babe. "
" The dragon granted that wish? " Sarro asked in dry incredulation.
Yamcha nodded again. " After than Pilaf got pissed and left us in a glass prison to roast in the sun. Gokuu told us the story of how his grandfather died, and we noticed that it was a full moon. "
" Ah, I think I can guess the rest. "
" Gokuu went Oozaru on us, and trashed Pilaf's place. Pouar ended up turning into a big pair of scissors to cut off his tail.
" After Gokuu woke up, we parted ways, and I didn't see him again until the next Tenkaichi Budoukai. There we were competitors. He'd been training under Kame Sen'nin, and had become incredible strong, not that he hadn't been before. " Yamcha caught sight of Sarro's confusion, " We thought he was human at the time. A human boy that could defeat warriors ten times his height with one blow is a bit unusual.
" Anyway, Gokuu made it all the way to the last match, against Jackie Chun. Chun, who was Kame Sen'nin the whole time, though we didn't know it then, just barely beat Gokuu in the final match.
" I lost contact with Gokuu again then, back then we were friends, but Gokuu was always off on his own adventures, so I only saw him intermittantly between them. That time, I hear, he took on the whole Red Ribbon Gang. "
Sarro gave an involunatary gasp. She'd heard of the Red Ribbon Gang, and the terrible legacy they would leave in the future...
Yamcha gave her a curious look. " 'Smatter? "
" Nothing, nothing, " Sarro searched for an excuse, " I, ah, I felt a chill. "
Yamcha looked a little suspicious, but didn't press into it. " Okay, well, after the downfall of the Red Ribbon gang, when it was thought Gokuu would at last have a little peace, Piccolo Daimaoh showed up after the next Tenkaichi Budoukai. "
Sarro furrowed her brow, " What is this Tenkaichi Budoukai? It keeps coming up. "
" Oh, it's the Strongest Under the Heaven's Tournament. They put one on almost every year. We liked competing in it, " Yamcha explained.
" Actually, it was at the Budoukai when Piccolo first reared his ugly head. "
" I thought you were allies with Piccolo? " Sarro inquired.
" Well, " Yamcha thought a moment, " First of all the Piccolo you know is more accurately refured to as Piccolo Jr. and the reason why we're allies now comes later. "
" Gotcha. "
" Piccolo sent one of his yoma minions to the Budoukai to destroy the fighters who made it to the final rounds. The yoma started out by killing Kuririn. "
[Yoma=demon]
Yamcha furrowed his brow, " The next events are a bit hazy. Apparantly
it seemed that Gokuu died, when in reality he'd just
become... lost... or something. He met up with Yajirobee, ate his fish,
fought another yoma that was after Yajirobee's Dragonball, seemed to die
again, but survived.
" Heh, Gokuu takes the word 'survivor' to a whole new level.
Yamcha smiled, " He went to Karin Tower, next, and met Senpyou. "
Sarro fought the urge to smile. She knew Senpyou. While staying with Dende in the future she'd become good friends with the wize old cat.
" From Senpyou he received the Holy Water, after a test of skill, natch. Then he fought Daimaoh Piccolo after a bit of training... and won. But at the last minute, Piccolo spit out one last egg-- that was where his yoma had come from-- from which was born his predescessor and... reincarnation of sorts; Piccolo Daimaoh Junior. "
" The Piccolo I met, " Sarro confirmed.
" Yeah. At this, Kamisama summoned Gokuu to Heavan's Platform for training, and no one saw him for a year. " Yamcha's eyes misted reminiscently, " It was incredible, when he came back. He was almost as tall as I, and more powerful than ever. He'd changed so much under Kamisama's guidance, become smarter as well as stronger. No one could possibly underestimate him now. At the next Tenkaichi Budoukai, he made his way up through the ranks until he was left with one opponent; Ma Jr.; Piccolo's alias.
" That battle was the first real, Major fight we got into. I went on for hours... until Gokuu finally won and Piccolo retreated. But for awhile there it seemed as though it would never end. "
" I know what that's like, " Sarro commented softly.
" After that, " said Yamcha solemnly, " there was five year's peace before the next battle came about. That was when Radditz showed up. "
" Radditz? " Sarro echoed, " That sounds like a Saiyan name. "
" Yeah, Radditz was Gokuu's big brother, he was the one to reveal that Gokuu was a Saiyajin named Kakarrot. I wasn't there for this battle, Bulma was mad at me and didn't tell me about the reunion at Kame Sen'nin's place. So all I know is heresay.
" Radditz abducted Gohan, Gokuu's son, and told Gokuu to kill a hundred people before the day was through. After Radditz left, Piccolo arrived and offered a deal to Gokuu; they team up against the Saiyajin, but after that they would have their big finale themselves. Gokuu was fine with that, and took off with the Demon King to fight Radditz. "
Sarro's face spread into a slow smile, " I'm beginning to see a pattern with Son Gokuu's enemies. " Though that darkness won't fall to a pattern like this.
Yamcha continued on, oblivious to Sarro's ominous thoughts. " Yeah, Gokuu died in the battle with Radditz, and Piccolo took in, or rather, kidnapped his son to train him before Vejiita and Nappa arrived. Radditz had told Gokuu 'n' Piccolo about their coming.
" During the year that followed, Tenshinhan, Chou-zu, Kuririn, Yajirobee and I trained on Heaven's Platform with Kamisama, while Gokuu trained with Kaiousama. "
Not the Kamisama I know, the one that came before Dende, Sarro reminded herself.
Yamcha continued, " All that training led up to the battle with Nappa and Vejiita. A lot of us died during that fight, while we were waiting for Gokuu to finish. "
" I think I know what happened next. Gokuu was wished back with the Dragonballs, just before Piccolo died, taking Kamisama with him. Then you and the others had to go to Namekusei for their Dragonballs to wish them back. "
" You're almost right, " Yamcha admitted. " The only survivors of that battle with Nappa and Vejiita were Kuririn, Gohan, and Gokuu. "
" Oh... " Sarro trailed off, looking down and away, " I'm sorry for bringing it up, then. "
" No, no, it's okay, " Yamcha assured her, " I mean, I'm here, I was obviously wished back. That's about it though, the last thing leading up to your and Katera's arrival. "
" Sarro, " Pouar piped up, speaking for the first time since introductions, " How did you hear about Gokuu? "
" Word of mouth, " answered Sarro, feeling like it was the first truth she'd told in a very long time.
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There was no way of seeing, but somehow everyone felt it when they left what had become a pitch black corridor into a very large, pitch black room. It was all they could manage to see their hands in front of their faces, and even harder to see their companions.
Since the darkness had closed in on them, the only sounds had been soft puffs of breathing and the occasional faint blips from Katera's scouter.
When they had been in the room for a few seconds, Katera suddenly stopped short. Gokuu and everyone else rammed into her, unprepared for this sudden cease in motion. Katera shot a dirty look over her shoulder. This was met with a variety of sheepish expressions from everyone but Vejiita. He returned the glare full force.
Katera sniffed and turned her back on the group. Hunching over a bit, she held one hand palm up before her and concentrated. Slowly a soft white light cast shadows in the darkness.
" Anyone still got thier tails? " Katera inquired.
" Um... no, " Gokuu answered, his tone perplexed.
" Damn, " Katera threw the sphere into the air, and drew her hand into a tight fist. The sphere exploded into light, driving away the darkness and revealing the room to everyone's shocked eyes.
They were indeed in a very large room. It almost looked to be a cargo bay, with long, plain walls of dull gray metal. The ceiling was higher than the eyes could fathom, and the floor smooth and metallic.
The most noticeable feature about the room, however, was what, or rather, who lined the walls. Row upon row of soldiers, in the old-style armor worn by the Saiyajin and those associated with Freezer, stood leering at the small group of warriors from Earth.
Approaching from a door opposite the one the group had entered from, was a tall man with pale blue skin and a long green ponytail. He regarded them from beneath hooded eyelids with sharp amber eyes.
Upon seeing him, Katera made a sardonic sound.
Gokuu looked around the room and his eyes widened incredulously, " Katera! These are all the people you've made angry?! "
" Gokuu, my friend, " Katera answered tersely, " these aren't even half. "
Several chuckles sounded in the room.
Kuririn couldn't believe it. There were so many! Members of every alien race imaginable, and a couple Kuririn couldn't have conjured up within his most fantastic fantasies, or nightmares. Every one had eyes trained on one aspect of the room; Katera, with a hatred in their eyes. That hatred was nowhere near that seen between the Saiyan warrior and Vejiita, giving further cause to wonder about their past.
" Well, " Vejiita spoke, shattering the silence encompasing those from Earth, " I was right. It is Jiiyar. "
The tall member of Zarbon's race smiled a cool smile. " Vejiita. How uncannily fortunate that the indirect cause of our problems arrives with the direct cause. "
Katera's expression darkened further, and her grip on her sword tightened.
" Kateraope, " Jiiyar said, a hard edge to his voice, " welcome to your
execution. "
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[Um... ano... heheh. Forget asking what Sarro's gotten us into, what has Katera brought upon us?! What will become of the Earth's Special Forces? Has Gokuu made an error in offering to aid Katera with these soldiers? Moralistically, one might wonder if he had the right to interfere. But, what's done is done, and now they have to fight to get out of it in Chapter Seven; This is Insanity! One Saiyajin can Cause a Lot of Trouble!]
[Written by Inseiko 1999]
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