[Rated:] R - Dave's not here, man. (Author's Note: What exactly that had to do with the rating will remain unknown at this time.) -------------------------------The Hunt------------------------------------- Part Three [by] Ben Weeks [dedicated to] Gary "Pass the Applesauce" Andrews Darton "Aren't the Irish from Scotland" Briscoe [note] Hi, and welcome to Part three. And what a part it is. Many of you may have noticed my, uh, part two is different, and that part of it is now on this part. Sorry, but this is due to complications. Whad kind of complications? Complicated complications. The kind of complex complications that are so full of complicated complications that the pure complicatedness of it will fill your brain with so many complexities that it will seem more complicated than an advanced complex calculus book. I told you it was complicated. Many thanks go out to TOD for being a sport and posting this on his page. Many thanks go out to Darton for reminding me how smart I really am. And thanks to Gary for reminding me how hungry I was. Thanks to you all! And of course, many thanks go out to the master, Akira Toriyama. Who will arrive first on earth? "Hey Hitler, don't worry about only having one testicle. Uncle Sam's got plenty of balls to go around." --Dennis Miller "Hey! Look! That must be them!" Kurillin's voice rang out hopefully as he saw the ship enter the atmosphere, surrounded in flames. Indeed, he could sense it as Gokou's Ki. "That's dad...but where's Vegeta?" Gohan strained his eyes as he peered at the ship zooming through the clouds, coming closer to the mountains. Piccolo looked up at the ship, a strange and slightly worried expression on his face. He could sense Gokou's Ki, alright, but there was something definitely different about it... Piccolo tried to place it, but was interrupted with the explosion of the ship hitting the ground and tossing up the earth around it like water. Gohan shielded his face from the flying dust and wind from the ship's landing. Kurillin stepped behind a rock. After a few moments, the dust cleared. But with it went all the sounds of life that had comforted them. Now, without the sounds of the birds, of the calling of animals, there was a deathly, tense silence. Piccolo felt uneasy, as if the entire planet was watching and waiting, as if some evil force threatened all that lived. Piccolo's breath started to come harshly and short; the Ki was approaching, and it was Gokou. But it was horribly different. Even Kurillin noticed something wrong. However, he just chalked it down to spacetravel and such things. He still felt uneasy, though, as Gokou's bright orange-clad body zipped into view. Gohan squinted his eyes, trying hard to sense what exactly was different about father. Suddenly, with a rush of power, Gokou landed admist them, sending the large rock Kurillin had hid behind tossing into the air. Kurillin gritted his teeth. Something horrible.... Gokou smirked wickedly, and it was terrifying. Piccolo walked forward cautiously, eyeing Gokou. Gokou seemed to be concentrating on something else, ignoring those around him. Gohan ran forward, heedless, to hug his dad. Abruptly, it hit Piccolo in a blinding flash of comprehension and he lunged forward, crying out at the top of his lungs. "GOHAN! NOOO!!" Gokou raised his left hand, gathering a strange, yellow energy into his hands. The light reflected off of his viciously grinning features, making the innocent saiya-jin seem like a demon. Gohan looked up strangely, looking at his dad's left hand in bewilderment. "Dad...?" Piccolo cursed and ran forward, a ball of Ki forming at his right fist. He leapt into the air and landed next to Gohan, right as Gokou brought down his powered first to fire at his son. Piccolo fired at the exact same moment, the beam arcing out to meet his opponent's Ki blast right as it left his charged hand. Gokou's Ki was caught in the side before it could hit Gohan. The beam's met, and flashed violently in a huge invisible explosion of power. Piccolo was agape at the fact that he was actually managing to handle Gokou's power, even though his Ki couldn't hold much longer. He couldn't speak, so great was the concentration that he required. As the colossal powers clashed, Gohan stood agape at his dad, small and confused. Gokou's beam started to edge closer to Gohan, and Gokou's face lit up with glee. "GOHAAAAN!!" Right as the beam overcame Piccolo's blast, Kurillin swooped in and grabbed Gohan, pulling him out of the way. Gokou's blast struck the ground and ripped it to pieces, sending gale-force winds pounding into them from the area of the explosion. Piccolo leapt back and rubbed his arm. Gokou turned his head slightly to gaze piercingly at him. Piccolo felt uneasy as Gokou licked his lips sadistically, turning his powerhouse of a body to face the confused Namek. If he wants to beat me so bad, then why doesn't he go Super Saiya-jin? wondered Piccolo. It's not like he didn't have the time. Gokou walked slowly forward, still seeming somehow preoccupied. Piccolo took a small step backward, falling into a fighting stance while his opponent strode towards him. Gohan gulped slightly, wondering what could be happening to his dad. Kurillin dusted himself off. Gokou was within punching distance. Piccolo gazed at him, watching warily. Gokou smiled slightly and with a rush of power, the air around him exploded into yellow Ki energy as his hair flashed blonde. Piccolo shielded his eyes from the bright explosion as Gokou rose into the air, his body surrounded by yellow energy. He shined in the sky, piercing the ground with his power. He relished in his power and looked down to Piccolo, smirking wickedly. Piccolo grunted and backed slightly away, bringing his energy back into his hands. The ground seemed about to explode as invisible energy raced around the two. Suddenly, with a brilliant flash, Gokou disappeared into the distance, bright yellow Ki tracing his path far beyond the horizon. Gohan walked slowly over next to Piccolo, his eye's searching the sky where his dad had just disappeared. A small tear formed at his eyes as he tried desperately to comprehend what had just happened. Kurillin rubbed his shoulder where he had been hit by a flying piece of rock. He staggered slowly over next to Piccolo, feeling drained of energy. Piccolo looked down at Gohan, smiling softly. "Are you okay, Gohan?" Gohan nodded slowly, still peering off into the distance. "Mr. Piccolo...." Gohan began, wondering what exactly to say. "What's wrong with dad? Why would he try...try to...." Gohan stopped as he felt a lump form in his throat. Piccolo shook his head. He had no idea. As he tried to figure out why Gokou had not only attacked him, but had just left without any reason whatsoever, Gohan sniffled, trying not to cry. Kurillin watched in the distance, his face grim. Suddenly Piccolo's eye's popped open. His mouth dropped as his arms fell out to his sides in amazement and fear. Comprehension washed over his body like water. "THE DRAGONBALLS!!!" Kurillin gasped and stood up straight as if he'd been shocked. Gohan blinked in surprise. Piccolo leapt into the sky with a flash of power and zoomed off into the distance, following after Gokou. Kurillin cursed and followed suit, as Gohan stood agape. Gohan stared at them long after they had disappeared, trying to settle the conflicting emotions inside his body. He looked at the ground, seeing a footprint Gokou had left in the dirt. "Dad...." With a firm resolve, he wiped the tears from his body and rocketed into the distance after his friends, refusing to let Piccolo fight without him. Gokou glanced greedily at all of the dragonballs. Seven of them. Hard to believe the small orange orbs could make him supreme in the universe. But he knew their power. Stepping forward, he yelled at the top of his lungs. "SHENLONG, I COMMAND YOU TO COME FORTH AND MAKE MY WISH COME TRUE!!" With a brilliant flash of light, Gokou's hair was blown back as the Eternal dragon exploded into existence above him. The sky darkened as the planet rumbled with fear. Shenlong hovered in the sky, his massive sleek green body curling around the sky like a huge snake. Gokou laughed with insane glee as he realized immortality was his for the taking. He stepped forward and raised his hands to the sky, feeling ecstasy rolling around his body as Ki tingled with expectation. He opened his mouth and promptly a foot was shoved into his face, smacking his skin and sending him flying to the side. He skidded along the ground and hit a rock on the other side, cracking it in half with thunderous explosion of sound. Piccolo landed on the ground slowly and with an attitude, his whole body exuding power and control. His white cape waved behind him in the wind, his face showed no emotion, only strength. He reached up calmly and slipped off his cape, throwing it on the ground with flourish. He pulled off his turban and tossed it in the dirt, making a loud clanking noise. Gokou dragged himself to his feet, his face contorted in anger. He clutched the rock he hit with his hands and steadied himself, feeling rage overwhelm him. He turned to see Piccolo standing grimly before him. Gokou wiped blood from his mouth and gritted his teeth in hatred, a feeling that had rarely coursed through his veins before. Deep inside him, some part of his body repulsed at what he was doing, and that prevented him from reaching his full power. Piccolo sensed this, too, and knew that if he ever had a chance to beat Gokou, it was now. But he felt drained, somehow, and nervous as to what had happened. He had once been taken over by an insane scientist, but that had never happened, to his knowledge, to Gokou. He remembered what Gohan had told him about Captain Ginyu. Could that have happened? No. Gokou's power was too great, and besides, this Ki was definitely Gokou's. Whatever was going on, this was his opponent. He had killed Gokou before, and by Kami, he could do it again. "What's happened to you, Gokou? The fighter I knew would never have stooped to beating on poor little children, especially his son." Gokou flashed his teeth in a frightening grin, showing a lust for blood. "My name is not Gokou. My name.....is Kakarotto." Piccolo gasped. And that was when it happened. Gokou streamed forward, his blonde hair waving violently in the wind, and grabbed Piccolo's head with his hands. Piccolo gurgled in surprise and tried to pry Gokou's arm's loose. Gokou pulled Piccolo's head down as he brought his knee up hard, hitting Piccolo in the face with the force of an atom bomb. Piccolo fell backwards, blood flying through the air from his face. Gokou was suddenly behind him, catching Piccolo and pushing his body into the ground. The Namek felt his body thrust into the hard rock, ripping flesh and muscle. He cried out as Gokou shoved him deeper and deeper sadistically into the hard earth. Suddenly, there was a huge explosion far in the distance. There was no time to notice it, however, as Kurillin arrived at that moment. Gokou leapt back from Piccolo and narrowed his eyes gleefully at Kurillin. "Ah..fresh meat..." Kurillin blinked in perplexion. Piccolo flew up out of the crater and fired a beam at Gokou. Gokou caught the beam and ricocheted it off his fingers like lightning. Kurillin ran forward and was abruptly and surprisingly joined by Gohan, and the two leapt into Gokou's body, punching and kicking with everything they had. Gokou knocked Kurillin back and then they were suddenly joined with Piccolo, and with his added power they started to do some damage to Gokou's body while Shenlong looked on patiently and quietly. Finally, Gokou said: "Enough of this!" and with a simultaneous double punch and kick, sent the three flying away from him. His body crackled with lightning as at his side he gathered a massive amount of energy. He brought forward the beam and with a tremendous yell, fired it with a huge rush of power and wind towards Gohan. Gohan cried out, shaking in fear as he saw the beam overtake his vision, blocking out everything else. The Ki blast zoomed towards him. With a curse, Piccolo decided he could solve one of their problems and save Gohan at the same time. He zipped through the air and with a rush of power, landed in front of Gohan and threw his hands out in front of his body. Gokou suddenly cried out in fear. "NOOOO!!!!!!!!" The beam hit Piccolo, and in a huge explosion, decimated his body. Gohan screamed out in surprise and terror as Piccolo's flesh withered under the heat of the beam and stole his soul, killing him. Gohan fell to his knees as winds and flames and explosions ripped the ground away from around him. He sobbed, looking for the remains of his mentor's body. But alas! there were none. Kurillin felt a tear of frustration and anger form at his eye. He walked over to where Gohan was and sat down, blood streaming heedlessly from his nose. He compassionately hugged Gohan's sobbing form to his chest. He closed his eyes. This is A NIGHTMARE!!!!! Gokou looked at the sobbing form of his son in anger, seeing the dragonballs turn to stone. Shenlong disappeared in a puff of smoke. Gokou cursed in bitter rage. His flaming eyes bore into Gohan and his fury made the ground crackle with power. He licked his lips and smirked evily, his face contorted in cruelty. Something snapped inside of Gohan. With an inhuman cry of anger, he blasted away from Kurillin in rage and flew at his dad, his pupils fading out in a whirlwind of power. Gokou gasped and brought up his hands to block Gohan's punches, watching wickedly as Gohan punched and kick, all to no avail. Finally, Gokou brought back his fist to hit Gohan in the face. BAM!! Gokou grunted in pain as Gohan buried his fist into his father's nose, causing blood to stream out in an arc. Gohan kicked and hit his father in the groin, making Gokou's eye's pop open in agony. Gohan finally reached back and gathered a massive amount of Ki energy into his right hand. With a rush of power that sent rocks flying into the distance, some into poor unnoticed Kurillin where they easily slid off of his bald head, he brought his fist forward, which contained all the hate, all the anger, all the sorrow he bore at Piccolo's death, zooming with unimaginable strength towards his father. Emotions are an interesting thing. They sweep over the body like a wildfire, often at times when they are not wanted, melting the crude metal that makes up our base instincts and forging it into a figure that represent what we are. It's amazing what anger and hatred can do; they can boost power up to over thirty times it's original and lend one such ferocity that it makes even the strongest quiver in fear. No one truly understands what power the emotion can give to every action. Gokou caught the fist. A gargantuan wall of invisible energy suddenly snapped into existence for a brief second between the two, popping loudly and causing the clouds above to be dissipated into nothingness. After examining his son's power, Gokou finally dropped the fist and let the boy fall to the side, bringing up his knee into Gohan's gut. Gohan cried out in pain, but Gokou cut him off by knocking his body to the ground with a powerful double-fisted blow. Gohan hit the ground with a loud whump, propelling sand and rock in all direction. Gokou rubbed his bleeding nose and frowned. He rose slowly into the air, about thirty feet above Gohan. Kurillin closed his eyes and bowed his head, bereft of any and all hope. Gokou felt power course through his body. Gohan lay on the ground, bloody, his body broken and beaten. His eyes were unfocused and glazed, his face was vacant and empty. Gokou sneered in disgust; killing him would be too easy. Something deep inside him tried to prevent him from beating Gohan, but it was no use. Whenever he thought about doing right, his body hurt terribly. So this was much simpler and easier. He placed his hand forward and shook his head. Such a waste. There were few enough saiya-jins as it is. I'll guess this makes me the last one. Ki energy surrounded his outstretched hand in brilliant hues of blue and purple. He felt the energy reach it's peak and he almost released it. But suddenly, a new Ki flared into his senses, overwhelming all others. It was close, and he suddenly turned in alarm, his golden hair waving in the wind as he scanned the area they were in. It was a small cove, water lapping about a mile away, mountains jutting all around them. So it wasn't difficult to see who had appeared. But it surprised Gokou greatly. His whole body shook in shock and bewilderment. Gohan peered up blankly; Kurillin's breath caught in his throat. Impossible... The figure spoke quietly. "Well, well, well. I see I've arrived not a second too late." Vegeta. ---------------------------End of Part Three--------------------------------