Kateraope stood at the base of the waterfall, with her back to him. Her arms were crossed and her sword stuck out of the ground next to her.
" Piccolo, was it? " she said, with no previous indication that she knew of his presence.
Piccolo stormed forward and stood next to her with his own arms crossed. " What are you doing here? " he growled menacingly.
" I'll assume that is a 'yes.' "
Piccolo snorted and lifted into the air. Flying for the waterfall, he centered himself in front of it, crossed his legs in a sitting position and set his chin on his chest. Pointedly ignoring Katera, he proceeded to begin meditating.
Katera rose into the air and moved to his level. Remaining in a standing position, she kept her arms crossed and spoke, " I came here for two reasons, the first was to curse this place where I arrived on this damnable little dustball, which I have concluded. There's no way to change the past, I know that all too well.
" Or do I? " she inquired shrewdly, lowering her head, " Something weird happened up there. That Son Gokuu knew what I was about to do, he caught me midway through an attack that was acting upon a last-minute decision. You were a part of that, and I know he would have given you an explanation. I heard Vejiita yell at Son Gokuu about eight seconds, which at the time would have been more than enough time to account for my attack.
" Come on, Piccolo, as his friend, I know Son Gokuu would never keep anything from you or any other of those friends of his. So tell me, what did he and Vejiita know that we didn't? "
" Son is no friend of mine, " stated Piccolo resolutely.
Katera gave him a skeptical look. " Would you like me to go through synonyms until I find one to your liking? "
Piccolo opened his eyes and looked at her. " He did talk to me. " In response to Katera's silent prodding, he said, " But first we're going to make this an exchange. You give me answers before I give you anything. "
Katera then appeared amused. " Alright then, Piccolo, go ahead and ask. Tell me what has sparked that sluggish Namekian curiousity. "
" You. I want to know what the deal is with you and Vejiita. " Katera made a face. " That is something I would prefur to talk about after things are settled. Suffice enough to say that he wronged me, and if Nappa were still alive you can bet I would have killed him a dozen times over by now. But for wronging me, the Saiyajin no Oji must die. "
Piccolo was quiet a moment. " You're different from other Saiyajin I've met. "
" Oh, and what was that? " Katera sneered, " Three? Four? Though Son Gokuu doesn't exactly count, does he? " Katera paused, then answered the true nature of the question behind Piccolo's statement, " For all intents and purposes, considering my race, I have an above average intelligence factor. Or so I've been told. I've also been trained in areas not within the traditional Saiyan schooling. Does that answer your question? "
" To a certain extent, " conceeded Piccolo.
" I see, " Katera moved back slightly, " Now you. "
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It was the oddest sensation in the worlds.
Sarro had to admit that half her mind was occupied with examining and, indeed, revelling in this sensation. Feeling such a mismatched cacophony of emotion was interesting at least. On the one hand, she was presented with the warm reception of a seeing a good friend... for the first time.
With Mirai Dende's arrival in her living room, Sarro had been presented
with having half of her receive him as an old friend, and
the other half remain distant as one is with a new acquaintance. It
divided her attention in so many ways Sarro knew she would be requiring
an asprin later on.
But, there was business to attend to.
Crossing her arms and shifting her weight, Sarro inquired, " How is the future, Dende? "
Dende sighed, and Sarro half expected him to say 'ano' again. Instead he launched right into the complications of it, " It changes every moment, Sarro. We've already diverged far from the original timeline. What with Son Gokuu's early return and the appearance of Jiiyar after bringing Katera to this planet. Some things are happening as they should, mainly with Doctor Gero and Trunks. But in looking at the possiblities you're going to have to work harder to keep things in line if you wish for your intrusion to have a lesser effect. " Dende paused and admitted, " Jiiyar's ripples through the fabric of time have not petered out. More problems stemming from that are on their way. "
" Problems named Katera, correct? " Sarro said ruefully. It was a statement, not a question.
Dende's expression matched her tone. " That girl is more trouble than she's worth, if you ask me. "
" I didn't, " said Sarro, and Dende couldn't tell if she was teasing or not. Sarro turned curtly and walked over to the window. Placing one hand on the window frame she continued speaking, " I can feel it, Dende. I've felt it for so long I don't even need to search for the feeling. It's right there. What I am doing is justified. Have a little patience, Dende. It'll all work out in the end. "
There was silence a moment. Sarro stood at the window looking out at the horizon and Dende struggled with his next order of business. Finally he straightened up resolutely and said more sharply than he had intended, " Sarro. "
She turned, curious at his tone. " What? "
" There is another thing. " He cleared his throat as Sarro waited patiently for him to say it, " Yamcha. "
Sarro's expression altered subtly. " What about him? "
Dende narrowed his eyes. " Don't play dumb, Sarro. " His expression softened sympathetically. " You're attracted to him. "
Sarro stiffened. " He's an attractive man. "
" You're going to have to distance yourself from him if you plan on leaving after the battle with the Dark Power is through, " Dende pointed out.
" I know that, " said Sarro with some measure of indignity, " this is my plan, Dende. Yamcha will not be a factor in my final decision. "
Dende smiled knowingly, " I was unaware that decision had yet to be finalized, Sarrochan. " He turned to go, but still added over his shoulder, " Funny thing about this planet, Sarro, many have a hard time leaving it. "
With that he was gone, back to the future, and Sarro found herself alone with a multitude of thoughts she didn't want to have.
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Katera had to admit, what Piccolo had told her did not go over well.
So, Sarro had the ability to alter time itself. Katera should have known. But, it did confirm her suspicions.
Sarro was not all she appeared to be. No. That frightened little girl routine was a ploy, one everyone fell like the aho they were.
[aho = a derogatory way of saying fool]
Sarro had a plan, a plan Katera was sure she figured in somehow. She also knew that way would not be a way Katera would find to her liking.
No one was going to manipulate her.
Sarro would learn that all too well.
But, she mused as she landed in the clearing she had claimed as her home on this little dustball, what of Son Gokuu. He had to be a part of that plan as well. Why else would Sarro come to the planet? If Katera attacked anyone the Super Saiyajin would kill her.
Damn.
Katera sneered. According to her readings the triclops was her 'watcher' for now. He wasn't far off. Probably keeping track of her with that sense everyone she'd met on this planet seemed to have.
Well, he was insignificant at best.
Floating up effortlessly, Katera entered the branches of a large oak tree and settled herself down on a branch that bent itself up and around into a perfect chair. She'd been sitting here for the majority of the past few days: bored.
Reaching down Katera detached her sword from her belt and laid it across her lap. She considered it for a moment. Rucuruu would be so disappointed that she'd not killed the prince yet.
Not that she hadn't tried.
Damn that Son Gokuu and his legendary power. Just her luck the prince had associated himself with the one being more powerful than her. The coward. She'd worked so hard to best him, only to be bested by another.
A snapping sound within her clearing turned Katera's attention from her thoughts to her surroundings. Her eyes widened as her scouter alterted her to the presence of that power-- that incredibly high power-- in her clearing. How had she missed that? Katera turned her eyes on the clearing, and the object her her sudden fear.
He stood at the center, swathed in a deep black cloak that shone with a dark purple in the sunlight. From within the darkness of his hood gazed deep orange eyes. Strangely formed armor adorned his shoulders with deep gray spikes.
Slowly he extended a bony, gray-skinned hand and pointed directly at Katera's chest. She blinked at him in indignation. What Was he doing? Slowly, but with some measure of speed, he turned his hand palm up, and the string of events leading to Katera's catastrophe began with a single word.
" Shine. "
The next second and a half seemed an eternity to Katera, as she attempted to move out of the way, but found herself too slow. The attacked enveloped her in white light and searing pain, and Katera screamed. Her back arched and her eyes went blank with death. The attack left her, and Katera's body slumped back into the branches. With a clatter, her sword fell to the ground.
Tenshinhan landed in the clearing immediately afterwards and demanded of the dark figure. " What have you done?! "
" I have killed Kateraope, " the Dark Figure stated, " the rest of Zellosama's
players are going to be next. One by one they will follow Kateraope to
hell. "
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[Like the title said. Sarro just can't keep everyone alive. That's twice in three chapters that Katera's died. Good grief. Sarro's going to get reeaaally tired of this. But, find out the solution to this one in the next chapter; Let's Go! Dende's Solution to Katera's Death]
[Written by Inseiko, 1999]
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