章 53: Chapter Fifty-three
At first you thought it'd be easy, hop on the spaceship, fly back to Kanassa and kick a space pirate in the anus. But with each parsec the ship traverses your frustration mounts and now you just can't take it anymore.
Kicking the wall of the ship you shout in anger.
"Can't this rustbucket go any faster?"
"I'm already flooring it. If you want to overheat the engine and get spaced, feel free. But do it in someone elses ship. This baby cost me a years worth of my salary! An authentic Arcosian Mk II. That is a fifteen year old vintage! So if I catch you kicking my little pride and joy like that I'll personally make my wish null and void! You hear me?"
"GAH!" You sit down in the co-pilots seat and watch the screen as it flickers and your breath goes away. Despite feeling like you're going at about... 50-ish miles per hour the indicator clearly shows you passing by fucking galaxies.
"Don't worry. At top speed and with a full tank this ship can fly from one corner of the universe to the other in a month. The Arkosians might be weapon smiths but damn they can build freighters as well."
Staring out into hyperspace you feel the need to occupy your mind with something otherwise you risk going mad. But the Frost Demons curiosity proved to be even greater than your frustration as he finally blurts out what's been occupying his mind for a while now. "So uuuuuh... What's it like?"
"It? The movie, the TV series, the cousin oooor..."
"Errr... you know. Death." He returns his eyes to the windshield and manually adjusts the robot pilot so you avoid a few asteroid clouds and so you go on the most optimal path. "I always wondered what it's like. Buuuut never got quite curious enough."
You shrug. "It's nothing special. Hell this was technically my third time."
"Really? Shiiiiet. That must be cool. I don't think I could take one, let alone three."
"There is a certain comfort in knowing what's after it. Makes the whole concept a whole lot less scary. But I must admit, not a fan of the process. Even now when it was instantaneous it was... harrowing, feeling yourself slip from the mortal coil."
"And uuuuuh... what's after?"
"You know, Heaven or Hell. If you were good you get good shit if you weren't then ogres will shove spiky clubs up your bum."
"Huh... Guess daddy ain't gonna like that one bit." He says that so matter of fact like. Guess if anyone then he knows where his father will end up.
"Speaking of dying... why were you ready to bring me back?"
"Well..." Hail responds while adjusting the ships course. "It's hard to not notice when daddy goes all Scorched Earth. News of Frosts death trickled down the vine and got into my ear. Then I knew what he'd do and frankly... I don't approve."
"Yeah but why? Isn't he your family?"
He scoffs at the notion. "Hah! Yeah. But you can't exactly choose your family, can you?
I was his first son, the one he meant to be his successor..."
"So wait-" The pieces start to click. "Are you saying Frost was an afterthought?"
"Yeah. Daddy wanted an heir. When I came forth and said I want nothing to do with him or his little "empire" he did not approve but... didn't stop me. He made Frost instead and trained him to be his successor. I left both of them behind and good thing too. Frost ended up being a right cunt, a perfect match for Daddy. I tried my best to distance myself from both of them... And while nobody knows my exact relation to either I still can't escape the stigma of being a "member of Frosts race".
Funny, huh?"
"Yeah... funny."
"So yeah. It was no secret to me that Daddy would come for your head... to protect me.
And this is specifically the thing I wanted to avoid: Having blood stuck on my hand."
Crossing your arms you stare out. "I appreciate the gesture... But I hope you don't expect me to spare your daddy..."
"Ya see this is what I was gonna ask next.
I'd like you to NOT do that. This is a family matter..."
"No can do. This has arguably more to do with me. He killed me after all."
"Yes. And I brought you back! So please! Just consider that debt paid!"
"And then? Who will stop Hail? You?"
"That's the plan. Can I trust you to honor my request? Let ME handle him!"
You look over the guy and raise an eyebrow at him. Even though it'd be foolish to judge his over all power based on what you presume to be his first form, he's still much weaker than Frost ever was and definitely less intimidating than Rime. But you simply shake these doubts of yours away as you respond to him.
"Sounds good to me... But if things get hairy or he flees or tries anything underhanded which would harm others... I will be more than happy to step in."
"That's fair I guess." He looks at his arm and then clenches his hand. "Well... Buckle up. We're about to exit hyperspace." Hail then goes over the control panel and flips several switches before pulling down a level which prompts the ship to slow down and as you do he stares out the window. "Errr... how many suns does Kanassa have again? Kinda hard to tell after Namek..."
"Only one. Why?" You look out the window and immediately realize what's wrong. "Oh no..."
"This-This is wrong! One is green and the other is... on the planet?"
"No no no!" You smash your fist on the console in front of you in anger, angry at yourself and your ignorance. "How could I be such a fool!"
Of course it's easy to dismiss Death after experiencing it twice, knowing what's on the other side. Many people on Earth have either changed their ways in accordance to it or started living life in reckless abandon, stating that it doesn't matter what you do in life as long as you don't do anything outrageous.
And even though you don't really care much about your own life... that's not necessarily true for others. You've got the Twins, Lyn, Vados and the girls just to name a few.
You are part of their life now and as such yours is precious. "I was too reckless! DAMN IT!"
As you quickly stand up from your seat and walk to the door Hail begins shouting after you. "HEY! What are you doing?! You can't breathe in space idiot!"
"I'm going out! I have to fix this!"
"FIX WHAT?!"
"Just land and stay the HELL away from Rime until I get back!"
"Wait wait wait! What the shit is going on?!"
Entering the floodgate you wait until the chamber decompresses before jumping out with your ki keeping a bubble of air around your body. Looking out you see the glowing green aura of Kale and the myriad of life forces extinguished by one angry swipe of her arm. The once largest pirate armada of the universe has been reduced to little more than a cloud of junk orbiting Kanassa, its crew now scatters, begging for their lives. But nobody will hear their prayers. Not anymore.
"Damn it Kale... How far did you fall?"
There is no way around this, you'll have to risk your neck without endangering Kale. You'd rather not harm her since she's not in control of her own actions and there is a good chance you couldn't. So that leaves only one option left: Trying to get her back to her senses.
"This is gonna hurt, isn't it?" Flying over to the rampaging Saiyan you try to get her attention.
"Hey! KALE!"
"HRRRRRR!" She stops whatever she was doing and lets go of the poor pirate. Turning around she looks at you and growls as she becomes ready to charge.
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"
Without wasting a second she rushes you like a wounded boar, screaming and frothing at the mouth. She winds up a massive haymaker and prepares to punch off your face. Closing your eyes out of fear you spread your arms and welcome whatever is coming your way.
But when nothing happens you open your eyes and see her frozen in place.
Visibly shaken and shivering she stares at you with those eerie white eyes. Seeing this you swallow nervously and try to formulate what could constitute as an apology. "Hey Kale..."
"E-E-"
"Yes. It's me." Going in close you wrap your arms around her rather thick body and speak softly to her while trying to caress her back.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry!" Struggling with your emotions you snivel a bit while continuing.
"I didn't mean to scare you Kale... But it's okay now! No need to be angry!"
Slowly you feel the massive size difference between the two of you shrink as her body "deflates". Finally she's back to her usual but still amazonian size as she looks at you, tears swollen under her eye. "Is that really you? H-How?"
"Dragon Balls... Listen Kale... I know I scared you, I know I was an ass... I'll explain everything later and... AND YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO ME! If you want to beat me up then so be it but we GOT TO go and help Caulifla as well!"
She reaches up and strokes your cheek.
"Don't be silly! I'm just... *sniff* I'm just so glad you're okay!"
Despite still clearly emotionally shaken Kale manages to calm down enough to assert some semblance of control over the beast within. Side by side you make your way down to the planet where you finally manage to breathe a bit easier. Realizing the danger which Caulifla presents Kale tries to ask questions but cuts herself off as you make your way to the OTHER rampaging saiyan.
Finally you arrive at the location which feels like it was hit by a nuclear explosion.
Inside the swirling maelstorm you see three figures exchanging a mexican standoff.
Hail looks at his father who appears to be in his third form.
"Well well well... Transformed and still on your knees. Never thought I'd see that."
"H-Hail! Why are you here? It's dangerous! Get out of here!"
Caulifla then looks at the newcomer.
"Fuck off or die!"
"Ouch! Harsh! But... I'll give you a different offer." He points at you.
Caulifla turns around cautiously and becomes speechless. *GASP* Her pupils dilate.
"E-Eric?"
You walk up to her slowly and as you do the pain in her eyes becomes readily apparent.
Once within earshot you softly speak to her.
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry!" Going in you hug the girl while continuing to apologize to her.
"I can't undo the pain I caused but I will do everything I can to make this right! I promise!"
Instsead of answering or even acknowledging any of that she just begins to sob as her welled up emotions finally surface and she begins beating on your chest in frustration.
It isn't powerful, she clearly means no harm by it, she's simply frustrated. "Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Why? Why did you do this? How could you do this? I though you- I thought you!"
"I'm... truly sorry. I didn't mean to harm you."
Now openly crying into your chest Cauliflas confidence shattered and all that is left is a girl who's wrought up by the pain of loss.
You continue to caress her hair and ease her worries while looking at the two Frost Demons who are left alone. "Okay Hail... I did my part. Now it's up to you."
The two of them immediately begin conversing. "Okay Hail... Now that they are distracted! Let's get out of here and-"
"No."
"What?"
"You weren't listening. I came to put an end to this."
"Oh don't start this now!"
"But I AM starting this now-"
Rime then growls. "Listen here you ungrateful brat! All I did was for YOUR sake! Do you realize what would happen to you if I let this ape live? I was protecting you!"
"I don't remember asking for your protection.
All I ever wanted was to get away from your lifestyle. But it seems that's impossible.
So unless I fix this with my own two hands I won't be able to get a good nights sleep ever again. And that's a problem. All I ever wanted was a quiet life. But now I can't have it unless I handle you."
"So what? You'll fight your own father?
Don't kid yourself! You're even less of a fighter than I am! Do you really think you stand a chance against me?"
"I'll have to." Hail then swipes his arm and from the bio armor around his forearm sprouts a long needle like stinger, much like Frosts. But whereas the little bastards was the size of a tack this one looks more like a rapier. "Let's do this dad!"
Hail then begins to power up and with a shout jumps straight to his final form so he could close that seemingly insurmountable gap of power between him and his father.
"HYYYYAAAAAA!"
He charges his father and attempts to impale him but his "Daddy simply jerks his head to the side, dodging the blade before grabbing his sons hand and pulling him close.
"Get that weak shit out of here son!" He then headbutts Hail so hard the guy is sent flying backwards.
Slowly the pirate staggers up as he nurses the wounds he clearly sustained from fighting Caulifla and transforms with a shout.
"HAAAAAH!" Now in his final form and many of his most grievous injuries recovered at least a bit he stares down his insolent little son and lifts him by the throat. Hail struggles to breathe and gags on his own saliva as Daddy chokes him.
"I love you son but it's obvious you're in need of a SPANKING!" Tossing him around a bit, Rime then choke slams Hail into the ground so hard that it splits the earth in half.
"I applaud your effort but you should've known better! Maybe decades ago when I taught you and you were still practicing you would've stood a chance! But it's clear that your so called peaceful life has taken its toll on you! Victory has defeated you Hail!"
Hail flails around and tries to prick his father even a little bit but he fails miserably as his father wraps his tail around his wrists and binds them together. As a strange fluid drips from Hails stingers his father remarks them.
"Poison huh? Despicable... Have you become so weak that you had to steal ideas from FROST of all people? That's it... We're leaving this dirtball and you're coming with me! I'll have to beat some sense into you for your own benefit it seems!"
But before he could say one more word Rime finds a ki blast hitting the back of his shoulder and he turns around. Cracking your knuckles you step up and call him out. "Hey ASSHOLE! Remember me?"
"You... I KILLED YOU! How in the name of the Destroyer are you BACK?"
"Courtesy of your son. And now I'll return the favor by saving his hide... Besides-" You crack your neck. "I still gotta pay you back for that!"
You stare your murderer down and begin to formulate how to handle him. There is nothing in this world that'd satisfy you more than killing him. However... Hail might have an issue with that.
First things first, you have to save Hail from that predicament of his. Slowly opening a sneaky little portal behind you which would expand rapidly, you attempt to get behind Rime and snatch up his son before he could get hurt. You do just that but as you slink into the wormhole you are greeted by a death beam which almost takes off your head.
Rime looks at you and wags his finger.
"I don't think so... boy." Looks like that did not go as expected.
With a quick little change of plans you instead rush Rime in an attempt to occupy him so you can send Hail away with a portal underneath his body. Using time-skip you close the line between you and Rime and begin wailing on him. Unleashing every variation of your "Null Fist" moves you deliver a deadly combo right past his defenses.
However when the skip ends you find the pirate reaching for you with his hand, seemingly unfazed by your effort. You try to get away instinctively but you find his tail wrapped around your waist. "WHAT-"
Instead of choking you like he did his son the Frost Demon instead punches you straight in the face, drawing blood from your nose.
Cockily smiling he then speaks up. "Not bad. I actually felt that... But when you have a nearly indestructible body pain looses its meaning..."
"W-What the fuck are you? I thought you said you aren't a fighter!"
"I'm not... I try to avoid fights as much as possible because I dislike them. But so far I've never lost a fight I got into..." He motions towards the girls. "That one over there was far scarier... What do you say? Shall I kill you again and let her take over? Maybe then you'd achieve something."
Rime then pulls his fist back and drives it into your stomach, causing you to throw up a bit.
"BLAH!"
"Ugh... disgusting. This is why I don't like brawls. Such an ugly thing... Clean murder is so much better."
Gathering all your willpower you raise your hand. "N-NULL LANCE!"
The blast hits Rime right in the face but it barely knocks his head backwards. It's not that he's strong, he's roughly around the level Caulifla is around right now. But he's tenacious beyond description and he KNOWS this. Grinning he raises his other hand while still holding you tight and he unleashes a full powered energy wave which washes over you.
Normally such a trick would leave a mark on the user as well but the Frost Demons physiology shines in such a situation.
What would be fatal damage is barely a scratch in his case.
And as the dust settles down you find your vision being a bit blurry after such a wave of force hit you square in the face. "What a sorry sight... But don't worry. I won't kill you. I'll just knock you out. It'd be quite bothersome if those two snapped again! Now then... what should I do with you? Dismemberment? Disembowelment? Wait... can you survive that-"
But before he could speak anymore a figure who stayed out of this jumps into the frey and cuts Rime with his armblades. As you fall down Hail catches you with his tail and tosses you backwards. Rolling on the ground you manage to recover a bit and stand up.
Wiping some soot off your face you talk to him.
"Okay... I take it back. Your dad is quite problematic..."
"I know... I've never seen him so driven before!"
You close your eyes and think about this.
Transforming right now would most likely end up harming you in the long run. So instead you decide to employ... something equally as destructive. "Hail!"
"H-Huh?"
"Do you think you can occupy him?"
"I... I guess. But why?"
"Trust me. I got something that could put a dent in him but it will take a bit to prepare."
The Frost Demon hesitates for a moment before finally nodding in agreement.
"Okay. I trust you on this. Just... Don't make me regret this."
Meanwhile Rime looks at you curiously.
"What are you two talking about?"
"Nothing... Finally the Earthling saw that he has no place being here. So... it's just you and me now pops."
"You know Hail you should leave lying to your brother. At least he was good at it."
"Well it matters not. Because I'm about to end this."
Assuming a fighting stance Hail charges his father with his twin blades extended.
Slashing away he spins around his axis wildly hoping to scratch his father just a little.
And luckily Rimes lack of fighting experience shows. Despite managing to get away relatively free from the storm of slashes he did receive a few little cuts, namely around his cheek.
But once he got enough of his sons antics he blew him back and swiped away the liquid that trickled down his face. "You know... I don't even get why you bothered with poison.
You of all people should know how little it does to u-huuuu-uuuuus..." Rime then began to stumble as he started feeling woozy.
Reaching for his head in dumb confusion he struggled to stand upright. "H-How?"
"Finally..." Hail dusted himself off. "All that effort for a drop of blood. But at least it worked."
"H-How did yo-"
"What? Why do you find it odd? After all, I had a perfectly good test subject to develop the venom on..." Hail then looked up at you.
"HEY! EARTHLING! HE WON'T STAY DOWN FOR TOO LONG!"
"Already done!"
Slamming your hands together you revealed what you've been preparing as a tear forms in space itself. Then like the cork of a champagne bottle the immense pressure blasted apart the tiny hole until it was large enough to eclipse the sun itself.
"HEY RIME! LET'S SEE YOU WITHSTAND THIS!
...NULL! WORLD!"
Extending your palm you relinquish your hold on the pocket dimension filled to the brim with energy and like water from a breached den a tidalwave of raw magical power surged out and washed over the Frost Demon.
Hail was smart enough to get the hell out of dodge before it could hit him but Rime was paralyzed by the poison and so the energy washed over him. Shouting in an attempt to keep at least some semblance of control you eventually ran out of the built up energy and promptly closed the pocket realm.
Panting you looked down at the circular hole in the ground. "Good... fucking... riddance."
The cavern you just created looks like it was made by a massive drill. Everyone who's present gathers around it and look down at the pitch blackness where arcs of lightning, remnants of your magic, still dance around.
Unfortunately from all that power running around it's hard to say whether Rime is dead or not.
"I'll go down..." Hail volunteers and gently floats down after he's done gawking at this display of destructive power. Minutes later he returns with a still breathing but unconscious Rime.
"How fucking resilient are you?!" You ask him.
"We were built with one thing in mind: Survival. Our bodies are capable of functioning even if we are chopped into tiny cubes."
"I call... bullshit."
"No debating that... But blame the Kais who made us that way. And the planet which enabled it in the first place."
"So... what now?"
"I'd like to take him away if you don't mind...
Fratricide is not on my bucket list."
"You know what? Do what you will. But make sure he's lucked up behind every bar that exists in the universe. If he EVER comes after me, my homeworld, or the people I care for, he won't get a second chance."
He nods. "Naturally. I'll hand him over to the Sadala force. Supposedly they have a few black hole prisons set up. Maybe in one of those he can finally retire like he meant to do.
And... sorry about all this. Really."
You shake your head. "You don't have to apologize for something you didn't do.
And hey... Maybe if you're up for it I could whip you into shape so you could actually do something about him should he get back out."
"Heh... Thanks for the offer but... I don't think I got it in me. Besides, I got a job to get back to, a life to live. Maybe in my spare time I'll try to better myself, raise my level to Daddys.
Buuuut probably not. I'd rather not have more people drawing parallels between me and Frost."
"I can see why. Well... take care."
"Will do."
After Hail departs with his tied up father you returned to the girls who seem to have calmed down somewhat. Kales berserker rage finally ended and Cauliflas confidence returned. Now with both of them out of their Super Saiyan state you approach them.
Cauliflas immediate reaction is a slap in the face. She glares daggers at you, bears her teeth and grinds them furiously.... before going in for a great big hug. "Don't make me scared like that ever again!"
"Heh... Caulifla likes me~!"
"Ugh... there is no doubt about it. Only you can be this infuriating."
"Sorry... Really. But laughter is the best medicine. And if nobody is willing to be the clown then I will. Buuut... now that things have calmed down a bit I do owe you an apology... and an explanation."
"That you do..."
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