บท 55: Chapter 55: Beach Episode!
I took in a nice long breath. Taking in the smell of the ocean, the salty water in the air. The wind blew, carrying with it a warmth that seemed to fill the soul. The sky above a picturesque blue. My flip flops flopped as I walked amongst the people dressed for relaxation. A variety of tropical shirts and swimwear.
Not that I was much different. I had forgone my usual look for something beach appropriate. A two-piece swimsuit that looked like athletic wear. Over it I wore a white hoodie. I garnered no gazes as I walked. The people were too absorbed in their own lives as they walked about.
The trip here, to the resort world, was rather short. However, it was long enough for us to hatch an inkling of a plan. I was dropped off on a separate shuttle if only to keep the worst of our pursuers off the escorts tail. I had no idea if it would work, but Helmsman assured me it would.
Not that I minded being able to frolic on the beach. Families gathered and laughed. Children played with toys and animals. Dead eyed employees walked around desperate for tips. Stores hawked their overpriced goods.
The port I came from led to the beachfront part of the resort world. Well, most of the world was beachfront property somehow. Still, I planned to sunbathe a bit and gather envious leering gazes on the beach before heading to the promenade nearby. It promised a wide variety of good food options and games.
From there I may make my way to the entertainment sector. Watch movies or shows. Possibly clock out and head to the hotel I had reserved later on in the hotel district. That was my plan. From there I'd deal with my pursuers while keeping an ear out in case the escort needed aid.
My tail swished as I walked slowly to the beach. I had to stop a few times as wandering hordes of teens or young adults ran past. On the way I meandered, stopping to try on various sunglasses and hats for the sake of it. Eventually I found a pair I found acceptable, wearing a pair of shimmering sunglasses and a straw hat from somewhere else.
I looked more and more like a tourist as I went collecting all kinds of bits and ends. I walked past the beachfront shops and stores and down the steps to the beach proper. I took in the crowds. It wasn't too busy. That perfect balance between being busy and not so busy. At this point I was fully decked out in beach attire. Flower necklace, sunglasses, hat, bracelets of all kinds and even a nice handbag. Money wasn't an issue for my spending, though Doc would likely complain about it. She did the financing for our band. Between everything else.
People played in the water. An exciting game of volleyball was being played by a large group of people. Even saw people playing chess on a giant chessboard in the sand. Beach chairs and loungers were placed all along the beach. Cloth hung on some that swayed in the wind. Umbrellas stuck fast nearby providing shade.
I could smell barbecued foods as small stalls cooked simple meals. Condensation ran down glasses filled with colorful liquids at the seaside bar. Kids played in the sand, parents watched and laughed. Like seals people laid about sunbathing. Swimsuits galore.
It was a lot to take in. Normalcy, Simple joy. Bodies laid bare showing their assets only magnifying just how safe this beach felt. Nobody hid anything, not even pale figures and their big bellies that hypnotically jiggled were shamed or put down. Even if I knew my own body was perfect, it still sent a shiver of appreciation down my spine as I saw the muscular visages of muscular men and toned woman. I unzipped my hoodie carefully. Taking a moment to reveal what lay underneath.
Eyes stopped. Bodies crashed. More than a few whistled in awe. The envious gazes, the worshipping looks, it all fed into my ego. Confirming what I already knew as I stretched for all to see. More than a few stared as I did so. Loosened up, I made my way down to the beach. A few thumbs up and compliments rang out, and then, it all returned to normal. I was just another member of the beach, and normally, it would have bothered me, but for once, it felt just right.
I heard footsteps approaching. I turned my head as they spoke.
"What an incredible bod!" He was huge and muscular. Skin bronzed and shining under the sun. He wore boarding shorts.
"Thanks." I said, unsure how exactly to respond to that. I mean, being shameless about it may work, but being honestly complimented out of the blue is jarring. It was also a little embarrassing, if not flattering.
"How do you do it? What's your routine?" he asked with clear excitement shining in his eyes.
"I do gravity training. Once it gets high enough the air becomes like soup, and you can swim in it like the ocean." I explained calmly, just taking in the odd moment.
"Ah, no wonder…" He seems to think a moment…
"Wait…" Something connects. "How are you surviving gravity high enough to turn the air into soup? Wouldn't you have serious issues with blood circulation and such?" Oddly, he didn't sound accusing. He wasn't questioning if I was lying, no, he was questioning how it was I even did it.
"Well, I admit it was an issue at first. Your blood begins to thicken into an almost solid substance. Even normal actions become impossibly hard. But I mean I am a Saiyan, and I adapted. It's what we do."
I say with a non-committal shrug. He opens his mouth to respond, but his eyes catch my tail swaying behind me. Then looks back to me, and back to the tail. He repeats this a few times. His eyes grew wider with each repetition until finally.
"Are… are you, THE SUPER SAIYAN!?"
He almost squeals the last part out like a fangirl meeting her boyband idol. His enthusiasm nearly knocks me to the ground as he heaves and waves his arms like a startled goose.
"Oh, wow… There's no way… Right? You can't be? But that tail…:
He started hyperventilating.
"You have good eyes, I am Rettas, THE Super Saiyan." I decided to simply lay it out.
My words make him go still. And with incredible speed he launches himself at me before cupping my hand into a handshake.
"It's an honor! AN HONOR! I've seen all your fights! Me and my girlfriend are HUGE fans, can, I like, get an autograph, a picture!? ANYTHING!" The man was hyperventilating. Gosh, this was really embarrassing.
"Sure, go ahead. I'll need something to write with though."
He pulls out a phone and we end up taking a picture together. Then he swears and runs to a pair of bags nearby. He pulls out a notebook and a pen before running back. Which I sign with little to no fuss.
"Oh, I can't believe I ran into you here of all places! She's going to be so jealous. I can't wait to tell her all I can. I mean, your bod really is perfect. Just looking at you makes me jealous. Not too bulky, but your muscles are perfectly defined, yet you still maintain a feminine charm. Nothing like those hulked out monsters you see nowadays. Me and my girlfriend have a hard time figuring out how to better compress our muscle mass.
Would… would you have any tips?"
I glance him over. Well, he has a raging life energy.
"Best I can say is it's a mental thing."
"Mental?"
"Right, like your attitude. Big and loud. Try to contain it. Except with your body. Think of it like looking in the mirror and practice subduing your aura a bit maybe?"
"Huh… Well, I can give it a shot. Nothing else?" He nodded so seriously even though I wasn't sure if it would work. I had the vague idea that if I told him drinking bleach would help, he would do so without a second thought. Not that I would, that was just blatantly cruel. Like kicking a puppy.
…Why do I have the sudden urge to do that? Never mind, anyway…
"Not unless you can survive an extended period under absurdly high gravity or deep in the ocean depths." I supply, just to be sure.
"I'll keep that in mind then. What brings you here anyway? Are you on break while you prepare for the tournament?" I had a feeling that he was likely going to try. Well, hopefully he does it safely and doesn't try making his own gravity chamber or something. I also considered the latter part of his comment.
"I heard about the tournament, but you can consider this as me on the job." I answered after thinking through a proper response.
"Oh? I knew you wouldn't just vanish! Does that mean you'll be taking part in the RON Martial tournament for the right to compete in the universal tournament in a few years?"
"I plan too." I nodded sagely. He vibrated in place with glee.
"Alright, then I need to make sure to buy tickets now."
He had a wide grin as he ripped out his phone, spilling his bag's contents everywhere without a care. While he did so I looked around, pinging out with my ki. I didn't sense any real pursuers. Though… I did feel out a figure extremely far away looking at me through what I think was a pair of binoculars. I look back to the man claiming to be my fan and bite my lip a little.
"Say, if I may." I decided that such faith shouldn't go unrewarded. I mean, he was a fan and all.
"Hm?"
He paused what he was doing to look at me.
"I suggest you get leaving. I have a feeling something may go down on this planet soon."
I didn't know if that was true but having him caught in the crosshairs wouldn't be good. Wouldn't be good for my future fanbase I mean. He looked confused but seemed to nod his head. Accepting what I said without question.
"Well, we were planning to leave anyway today. I just decided to head to the beach and chill awhile longer. The planet we came from is cold all the time and we wanted to enjoy the heat a bit. Though, I suppose we can leave sooner if you think it's a good idea. My girlfriend got sick of it pretty quick though. So, it shouldn't be hard to convince her." He muttered after a few moments of thought.
"I think you and your girlfriend should." I pressed, just to be sure.
"Right. I'll get my stuff then and head out. She's going to be so jealous!" He yelled as he gathered his stuff on the ground and ran off. Nearly slipping in the sand a few times as he went.
I rolled my shoulders feeling an odd tenseness in them. I brought my hand to my ear.
"Any issues Helmsman?"
"None so far."
Why then did I have such a bad feeling.
"What's your status?" He asked over the comm.
"I'm sensing a spotter far out."
"Probably a sniper. They won't move unless their certain they can kill you."
"You think that's all they'll send?" Worried that there had to be more to it. A spotter's job was to spot after all.
"Definitely. CHET wouldn't devote so many resources into killing you. The loss of a Super Carrier is a big deal, but the possibility of sparking a war between them and RON is too costly for them to send anything else."
Helmsman seemed oddly aware of CHET doctrine. Especially when he gave us a run-down of what kind of assassins we may face. Nothing too fancy, but he also gave us a heads up in case something worse shows up. It's not like I'm an expert either though. Rather everyone looked at him as if what he said was common knowledge. And it probably was.
"Alright… well, let me know if anything changes."
"You as well. Helmsman out."
I sigh and find myself a lounge chair. I sit down and lay back after kicking off my flip flops. A bit of time passes as I settle in. My hoodie at my side. My skin exalting in the warm sun. I let my hands fall to my sides, dragging them along the sand just under my chair.
As I do so, my fingers catch onto something. Pulling it up I'm greeted by a half full bottle of suntan oil… Well, alright then. When in Rome I suppose. I slather myself and get cooking.
I drift into an odd state. Half asleep, half awake. The sound of waves, laughing children, chittering teens, and a little undertone of beach music playing on a stereo somewhere. It all blends together with the warm sun on my skin as I slowly adjust my form like a pancake flipping itself.
The only thing missing is a-
"Excuse me, miss?"
I groggily turn to the fellow.
"Hmm?" Is all I can muster in my current state.
"Can I get you anything to drink?"
"A Pina Colada."
"Right away miss." I barely had time to understand what happened before he came back. A huge familiar cold drink sitting in front of me.
"Your drink Miss."
I blink in confusion as the man flees off to his next target. Cautiously I grab it and taste it… Perfection… Well, this beach had everything. I felt myself loosen up. My cares and worries flee away. Carried away by the breeze and the sea. My Voyeur was still watching me unmoving after all this time.
Time flows. The sun passes its zenith. Settling for its slow descent. The crowds dispersing, the children leaving to fill their stomachs. People chat about coming back later for the night shows. The beach enters a strange state. A lull before the storm. I brush the sand considering what I should be doing. My stomach definitely needed sustenance and not more alcohol and drinks.
Just a few more minutes first. I sigh… prepared to absorb as much sun as I could. Opening my arms to greet it. Except, the sun disappears. The breeze blows, almost chilly with the sun's absence. I prop myself up to look around, even pulling down my sunglasses. My hat long discarded to the sandy beach below.
I look up. A shadow blocks the sun.
"Rettas, this is Helmsman. We're picking up strange signals. Is everything clear down there?"
I go to mess with my comm device and answer when a shadow appears closer. A ping of my ki informs me of a rapidly approaching life signature. I didn't know what I should be doing. Which resulted in the decision being made for me as it slammed down before me. The shockwave of its rapid descent blasted away everything. Sand burst out blocking my vision.
I blinked it away, the sound of something like a clock. Click, clack, click, clack. Echoed out and as the sand dispersed, I saw a massive metal coffin standing before me like a monolith on the beach. My instincts screamed as I heard a final clack, followed by a loud hiss. I leapt back just as something burst forward already moving to gather my ki. A loud whirring noise echoing from the shadow before me.
It blasted through the cloud of sand kicked up by the coffins opening. A mirrored blade whose edge shimmered whiffed right in front of my face. A faint whirring echoing from it. I had a single good look at the thing. seven and a half feet of towering metal. A massive two-handed mirrored blade in its hands. Its arms and legs are thicker than my torso.
I didn't have more time to think as I felt my ki click into place.
"GALICK SHOT!" The purple shards of energy slammed forth, perforating the metal giant. Slamming into and through it as blood, sand, and ki mixed into a hazy mix behind it. Still, even then. As blood spurted from its wounds the thing did not die. It stomped to charge again with its blade held high as I charged forward. My fist barely dents in its chest plate as the thing shrugs off my blow.
It kicks out nearly hitting me as I slam my hand into one of the holes in its body and with a loud shout sent a blast of ki into its form. Blood and meat spray out as the thing slows, then falls to its knees. I become aware then, of all the coffins slamming down around me. I move to its arm, trying to pry the blade from its hand just as a coffin slams open from behind. Another titan charges me with a blade at the ready.
With effort I managed to pry the blade out of the titan's arms and bring the blade to bear. I twist, avoiding the new titan's swing as I raise my own blade and slam it down. The new titan attempts to parry the blow only for my blade to cut through, and with suicidal determination drops it's blade to grasp at my blade as it sinks into its chest.
Whatever whirred inside the blade began to scream as the blade glowed a blood red as it slowly carved into it's hand and slowly into its chest. The titan's hand was mauled and slowly disintegrated until the blade stopped with a final loud sad whine. It tried to stand and failed as blood seeped from its wound, its hands stuck fast to the blade embedded into it.
I turn as a third and fourth come in. I slam the third's leg with a kick, only to be kicked in return by a fifth suddenly appearing. The blow echoed through my body, making every bone and muscle crackle from the force as I was flung towards the fourth titan.
In midair I managed to re-orient. In that split second, I dodged the swung blade and twist into a spinning kick. The force so great it smashes in the skull of the titan, but they do not fall. The sand on the beach exploded from the force of my blow, yet still it stood. Still, the thing did not die as it counter punched me. Hitting me once more and forcing me into the stand as the titans worked to surround me. It was then, that I realized, that other than the first one, I failed to kill any of them.
Even the most wounded one struggled to stand yet lived. Blade still sticking out of their chest hand still mangled. A true testament to their sheer will and determination.
"Alright, NO HOLDING BACK!" Angry, and no longer caring, I fly forward. Impacting the one I kicked, punching with all I had. Muscles in my arm protesting as the recoil slammed through my body. My reward was a massive dent in the thing, nowhere enough to kill. My eyes widen in shock. How dense were these things!?
I hear a whirr and I move and on instinct block. Changing to a deflect at the last second as I remember what that blade did just seconds prior. The blade carves through skin and skips off bone as it cuts off a meaty strip. I bite back a curse as I push myself harder and faster. Each blow did more and more damage as I ignored the pain and damage I was doing to my own body. Until I manage to puncture one of their armors and like a steam cooker, I blast my ki within until something pops.
I turn to face my next opponent, only to be faced with more of them. Weapons the size of half my body in their hands. My monkey brain immediately realized I did not want to be shot by that. A single pulse of my ki and my body moves. Bullets shooting out in a hail I could barely see. I slam into one of the sword wielders and use them as a living shield. It fights me but goes slack as bullets fill it and begin popping through the other side.
I prepare to charge forward in that single breath as my shield is rapidly reduced to nothing more than scrap when I feel something slam into me. My head turns to see the crippled titan's body ramming into me, using themselves as a ram to shove me from cover. I bring my arms forward to block as bullets hit.
It felt like the shower in the gravity pod near the max setting. The bullets impacting me injuring muscle and bone underneath. In under a second, I felt like well tenderized meat as I blasted forward ignoring the growing pain in my body as I braved the storm. I barreled into the front most shooter and dug my hand into any crevice I could before blasting them from the inside.
I was ready to move to my next target as they moved to surround me with practiced ease. A louder noise catches my attention as new titans' wielding massive weapons near half their size lower their barrels. I bolted without thought. Bullets shooting past only leaving after images as I push myself to go as fast as I can. An errant bullet slammed into my leg, nearly shattering my knee before I found a target.
The target doesn't last long as I grab onto it. Thrusting it between me and my new assailants. The bullets shredding through it like paper. I opt instead to simply chuck the titan forward. Using it as a basic cover before flying over and slamming down from above. I disable and destroy the titan I hit while under the renewed hail of fire and metal.
More of them appear wielding swords and pistols. I dodge, weaving through them. Thrusting myself into their faces as they level their pistols into my face. Only to fire just behind my ear. I kill, rip and tear. Everything becoming a mindless bloody haze. I smash aside another titan and prepare to kill when my instincts scream, my body moves without conscious thought. My eyes locking on a massive bullet just in front of me, heading straight for my shoulder.
I tried to move, but the world slowed to a stop and began to inexorably catch up. Time marches as the bullet slowly, but surely slams into my shoulder. The bullet slamming, something underneath cracking and popping before the deformed bullet skips off and behind me as I blast back. Leaving a blood trench where it passed.
I hit the ground hard. Only the shooting pain from my arm brings me back to full alert. Instantly I knew, my arm was dislocated, my shoulder covered in fractures. With a burst of resolve I re-socket it. The pain was incredible as I stood. My decision was made.
The titans looked at one another as my ki surged. The sand billowed. I felt my pain flood into a tingling energy. My breath was coming out hot like an engine billowing smoke. I stepped forward, prepared to put my life on the line. I felt the first challenger approach. I punched out, their neck crackled as my fist hammered into them, transitioning into a grab. With them in my grp, I raise my knee and have their chest greet their back. I felt a final wheeze as their internals squished. A weird meshy sound followed by viscera pouring from their helmet. They fell over, never to stand again.
The second came, I protested their existence by crashing my elbow into his own and with a mighty pull, with some leverage, ripped his arm out of the socket and bludgeoned a newcomer with it as I tore into its chest plate with my fingers. My fingers were bloody and raw from the attempt as I dug for creases to pull on. But my efforts produced results as I ripped off the chest plate and bared its open chest to all and ripped its hearts out with ease.
Another came, slamming into my leg. I tried to throw it off, only for another to slam into my back. Its arms wrapping around me even as I slammed its skull in. In death it held fast. Next were my arms, then my legs as more Titan's leapt at me to hold me down. Using their superior mass to simply hold me down.
The haze fled. The growing fire in my body bled away into ice. My vision sharpened as I saw the final titan rushing me like a world-class sprinter. I couldn't move. Their combined weight held me fast preventing me from even taking flight.
"SHITSHITSHITSHIT!" I repeated constantly as the titan approached. Its hand reaching for behind it. If it's a knife I think I can muster enough force to get it to stab its friend, my mind already forming plans, my body coiling to respond. This was hardly the worst-case scenario.
It wasn't a knife. It was a head sized glowing thing. It even made strange science noises. It crushes the thing in its hands. A sparking hazy blue substance billows out from the cracks as it slams into me, sealing me within a tomb of titans. The only light being that small contraption, until everything became light. Oh… A bomb then?
I had a mere moment to consider everything as a sun was born in front of my very eyes. I could swear I heard a full choir singing the song, "You're Fucked." By Ylvis, Like, I was well and truly fucked. I blinked.
I gasped. Memories flicker as I slam up. Blood spills from my lips. I cough up flecks of meat and bone. I pull myself from the sand. Ignoring the rivers of blood pouring from my cracked and melted skin. My ears ring, my world spins as I get my measure. I stumbled, narrowly avoiding a bullet to the head. A quick pulse tells me, the Voyeur was shooting at me. Had been.
I stood, getting into position. My vision flickering as I gathered what I could. I waited… and waited. Until I felt that familiar sensation. The bullet heading for my head as I turn and strike out.
"GALICK RIFLE!" It pierces along the path of the bullet, the bullet that carved a bloody furrow on my face. I didn't see the result but knew instinctively I had killed the sniper. I took deep breaths. I was badly injured. Blood loss was already stymied. My body was already working overtime to fix the damage as I channeled my ki to aid it.
My hazy blurry vision began to clear as I reviewed my memory. The sound of blood rushing in my ears. A final drastic pulse of ki blasting forward to help mitigate the blast. I have another wheezing cough as I hack up more meat and blood. My victory underscored as more coffins slam down, larger than the last.
I psyched myself up. Ready to once more rip and tear. To give it my all. Only for the coffin to open and reveal a ten-foot monstrosity similar to the shredder box from back in the pyramid… My mind connects dots. The steel titans were eerily similar to the robot guys creations. Another larger coffin slams down, I vaguely hear the roar of an engine and weapons. More and more coffins rain from the sky like artillery impacting the beach.
I smirk and laugh hysterically as I face down the new bigger titan before me.
"I suppose, it's time for my final resort!" I yell out, my ki blasting out as I gather as much as I can. The thing steps back, levelling weapons down on me in preparation for my charge.
I open my mouth, ready to charge, "RUN AWAY!" The other way… as fast as I can I burst backwards. My sudden change in direction confused my enemy as it tried to figure out what the hell had just happened. Once they did after a beat, realize what the hell just happened, they burst forward, bullets and missiles shooting out in a hazy blur. I dodged as best as I could. Still, some clipped or hit near me, enough to make my already failing body get closer to the edge.
Breaking into the promenade district I made my way through the wide alleys until I managed to lose my pursuers. I crash into a smaller bar built into the ground. The atmosphere was nice. Blue glowing aquariums lining the walls and filled the dark room with a blue hue. I find a corner and fall into it. Blood dribbling out and forming a pool as I wheeze for breath.
"Rettas! Rettas!? Are you there? This is Helmsman! Respond!"
I blink. My mouth is dry. Head stuffy. Did I? I didn't know. I brought my hand up.
"This is Rettas." I say after swallowing. I could taste blood and, maybe teeth…
"You're alive! Good, what happened we lost you?"
"Big, seven-foot-tall metal giants. Lots of them."
I swallow again, my mouth like a desert. I try to stand, instead opting to simply break an aquarium above me. Drinking from the falling tide to sate my thirst. I grab a few fish and eat them as they flop around.
"Gene soldiers…" I heard him mutter over the line.
"That bad?"
I ask unsure.
"Yes, this isn't just a hit Rettas. It's a full invasion. We've managed to hold our own in space with the local RON defense force, but numerous CHET ground forces have made landfall and are massacring the inhabitants. You need to get to the Instructor and evac as soon as you can!"
My head was pounding. I felt exhaustion kicking back in.
"Give me a bit. I got beat pretty bad and I need a little nap, aight?"
"Rettas? Rettas!? Fuck!"
His voice began to fade away as I went back to sleep. My ki slowly moving as I let it slowly heal me.
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