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Chapter 3: The First Attack
Vegeta had taken off into the sky, leading everyone back to his home. Goku had to carry Chi-Chi who was clinging to him for dear life. Goten and Trunks trailed a little ways behind, whispering quietly to each other.
Vegeta's mind had drifted once again. His thoughts kept shifting to Bulma. He hoped that she hadn't been near the areas where the fireballs had landed. He hadn't sensed her prescence anywhere near them, but he hadn't been completely focused at the time.
Arriving at the house, everyone landed softly on the grass in the front yard. Trunks led Goku, Chi-Chi, and Goten inside. Vegeta lagged behind outside, staring worridly at the street that went past. Evidence of the devastation in the city still remained in the cloudy sky.
He remained outside for a few more seconds, then slowly walked to the front door. He shut it quietly behind him, then headed for the living room.
Goku was sitting on the couch next to Chi-Chi who was nursing his injured arm. Every few seconds, Goku would let out a tiny whimper and try to pull away from his wife who would just pull Goku back towards her. Goten and Trunks were sitting on the floor in front of the TV. They had turned on the news now showing pictures of the destruction in the city.
Vegeta strolled over to the window and leaned up against the wall next to it, staring out at the city in the distance. A reporter had now come on the news and was going on about the devastation, rescues in progress, and any survivors. Vegeta paid no attention, though, as he gazed out the window, several thoughts were running through his mind.
A sudden bang interrupted his train of thought. Turning his head, he saw Trunks kneeling next to the TV, hitting it every few seconds. The picture had begun to fade out and become fuzzy.
"Trunks, stop doing that," Vegeta said, turning back to the window.
"But the picture is messed up," Trunks protested, giving the TV one last smack.
"It's not the TV," Vegeta answered, his voice slightly softer then before. "It's something else."
"What?" Goku chimed in. He let out another whine and flinched.
As if in reply, the earth began to rumble. It was a deep, low vibration at first, then it began to grow to a violent quaking. Vegeta kept his balance by placing one hand on the wall. Everyone else stayed seated, grabbing onto anything or anyone nearby.
Suddenly, the ground became still. An eerie silence had fallen with the exception of the heavy breathing of the five people in the room. Everyone glanced around, confused about the sudden pause in the shaking.
Immediately sensing a new prescence, Vegeta spun around to face the window. He watched in surprise as a large, strange creature appeared to shoot up from beneath the ground, sending rocks into the air. It didn't hesitate and dove towards the window. The creature smashed into the glass, causing it to shatter into a thousand sharp pieces.
Vegeta never had a chance to raise his arms as the hideous creature attacked. It flew towards him with surprising speed, letting out a a blood-curdling howl. It slammed into Vegeta with astounding force, sending him flying backwards onto the floor. The creature landed on top of him, its knee pressed into his stomach, and its hand gripping the prince's throat tightly.
Vegeta swung his fist to knock his attacker off of him. He was surprised to find that his punch was blocked, and his fist caught and held in the creature's grip. The prince glanced over what he could see of his assailant. He quickly noticed that the ugly creature had four arms. Bringing his stare back up, he glanced into its dark eyes. There was something there that Vegeta recognized only too well.
Desperately trying to free himself, Vegeta swung with his free hand as hard as he could. The creature also had a free hand, and it caught the prince's other fist.
Vegeta found himself completely pinned down. The creature's grip on his throat tightened as it looked directly into the prince's eyes and let out a sharp hiss. Vegeta narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth, still struggling to pull his arms out of his attacker's strong grasp.
During all of this, Goku was trying to get Chi-Chi off of him and into the kitchen, away from the creature. Chi-Chi was shrieking the entire time. Seeing that his father needed help, Goten ran over with Trunks and pulled Chi-Chi away from Goku to the safety of the next room.
Goku, finally free, ran back to aid Vegeta who was still pinned down. He dashed over, letting out a cry, and brought his foot up in a firm kick to the creature's belly. The kick was strong enough to tear it off of Vegeta, and send it flying back out the window.
Free of his attacker, Vegeta quickly stood up and leaped out the window after it, Goku close behind. The creature was once again on its feet, its black eyes glinting. It had sharp, white teeth that were bared menacingly. Its four arms each had a hand with five clawed fingers. It looked to be quite powerful, yet nowhere near the level of the two Saiyans that stared back.
"It may be strong, but I sense no..." Goku searched for the right word, his eyes narrowing.
"No mind," Vegeta finished. "It has no mind of its own. It seems to be under the control of something else."
The creature continued to stare, apparently waiting for the two Saiyans to make a move. It kept emitting soft chittering noises, never blinking its black eyes.
Vegeta, suddenly wanting to destroy this monster, attacked, swinging his fist. The creature dodged it, to Vegeta's surprise, and swung one of its clawed hands. Vegeta barely managed to sidestep the punch, stumbling backwards. The strange creature was not powerful, yet it was astonishingly fast and agile.
Vegeta, becoming even more determined, attacked once more, Goku joining in this time. The creature was able to block them both and attack simultaneously.
Without warning, it let out a piercing shriek and swung all four of its clenched fists. It caught Goku directly on his injured arm, causing him to cry out in pain and step back quickly.
Noticing that the creature's attention was focused completely on Goku for that second, Vegeta attacked, He slammed his fist into its back, causing it to let out an awful howl and fall to its knees. The prince didn't let up and brought his foot up in a brutal kick. The kick caught the the hideous creature square in the face. Its head snapped back, and it collapsed onto the grass. The creaure laid there unmoving except for the slight twitching of its clawed fingers.
Vegeta stood up straight, staring down at his fallen assailant. Noticing Goku walk up beside him, Vegeta tore his gaze away from the ugly creature to glance at him. He saw that the injury on Goku's arm had begun to bleed again. Goku gritted his teeth and placed a hand on the wound, attempting to stop the flow of blood.
"What was that?" Goku asked, continuing past Vegeta to the creature sprawled out on the grass. The twitching had stopped, and it now laid completely still.
Receiving no answer, Goku turned back to face Vegeta. The prince was staring off into the distance, but his eyes seemed to hold an empty stare, his expression blank.
Goku could not remember ever seeing Vegeta like this. It was as if he had completely zoned out. This was so unlike him. He was usually quite focused, but in the past few hours, Vegeta's mind seemed to have wandered away from what was happening at the present. Ever since they had left the city after the fireballs had landed, Vegeta appeared to have slipped into a trance. Only sudden occurrences such as Trunks banging on the TV or the creature attacking forced his mind back to reality.
"Vegeta?" Goku's voice came out in a whisper. He wasn't sure if the prince had heard him or not. Goku did not receive any reply, but didn't know what else to say.
Hearing his name, Goku turned around to see his wife running up to him, tears brimming in her eyes. Goten and Trunks darted towards the creature, wanting to get a glimpse of what it was that attacked.
Hearing the soft sound of footsteps, Goku turned back around. He saw Vegeta slowly walking away from the house, not appearing to take any notice of the others. Without warning, he suddenly took off into the sky, leaving the others staring after him.
"Vegeta! Where are you going?!" Goku called after him. He quickly spun around to face the others. "Wait here." He then shot into the sky after the Saiyan prince.
Goku quickly caught up to Vegeta who paid no attention to him at all. The prince was not traveling as fast as he was capable, and he seemed to refuse to acknowledge Goku who was now alongside him.
"Vegeta, what's wrong?" Goku asked, attempting to get any answer from his friend. Vegeta didn't so much as look at him, and he tried again. "Where are you going? Please answer me...Vegeta?"
Vegeta had turned his head to look directly into Goku's eyes. Goku immediately became speechless, and a shiver ran down his spine.
Goku saw worry and dread in the prince's eyes, but there was something else there, too. Something Goku had never seen before in anyone's eyes.
It was like a...fear. An icy terror accompanied by a burning panic barely kept under control. This fear was not just on the surface in his cold eyes. It seemed to penetrate deep into his mind and soul, almost appearing to control his actions.
Vegeta turned his gaze straight ahead once more. Goku attempted to reach out with his mind, trying to get any response, no matter how small. He proceeded carefully, unsure of what he may find.
Goku hastily ceased his efforts when he found his way into his friend's mind after receiving what could only be described as a shock. Vegeta's mind was complete chaos, his many thoughts unfocused, yet one thought stood out above the rest. It was a memory that remained unclear to Goku, yet he could almost feel the horror and pain it caused to Vegeta.
Goku didn't risk going any further into the prince's mind. That memory Vegeta had kept secret from everyone he knew, and apparently for a good reason.
The third-class finally decided that all he could do was follow Vegeta to where he was headed. Looking around, he realized that the sky was becoming increasingly dark with clouds, the sunlight no longer penetrating through. They seemed to be approaching some mountains off in the distance. As the two Saiyans drew nearer, Goku could see dead trees thick along the mountainside. What once appeared lush and green was now brown and dead.
Goku followed Vegeta as he landed in a mass of tangled branches. He started picking his way forward, carefully pushing aside the dead limbs of the trees. Goku was now extremely worried, fear beginning to slowly creep up his spine. Vegeta seemed to know where he was going, treading carefully through the dry branches.
The Saiyans soon reached what appeared to be a stone wall hidden behind a thick mass of dead vines. Vegeta reached forward, his hands trembling, and pulled aside the dead, dangling plants.
An opening or a doorway had now been uncovered, leading underground. Vegeta ran his hand along the edge of it, then moved his gaze downward. Goku followed his gaze and looked to the ground. Splintered, broken pieces of a dark-colored wood lay in the doorway. Vegeta bent down an picked up one of the larger pieces. It appeared to have part of some sort of picture or inscription etched on it.
Vegeta gasped sharply and let the piece of wood fall from his hand. Goku immediately faced the prince, his eyes wide. He saw that his friend's eyes were closed tightly, and sweat trickled down his pale face.
Goku opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out. He took in a deep breath and spoke, but his voice barely made a sound. "Vegeta?"
Vegeta turned to gaze at him, the look in his eyes seeming to intensify. He slowly spoke, his mouth dry and his voice a crackling whisper. "It's free."
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