“Humph…not bad kid…not bad at all…” smiling again he followed the path of destruction. He soon came upon the final stand off between the two warriors. Tapion stayed about 20 feet in the air just starring at the two, wondering if either was still alive…somehow knowing one of them was alive.
Lying face down in the blood soaked earth was Chakrin. His open wounds showed Tapion that there was more to the battle than he had first imagined. Next to Chakrin was Trunks’ sword, the blade still stuck in the ground with the handle up in the air. At first, Tapion took little notice of Trunks’ headless body. He was so focused on Chakrin and his wounds that even after he touched ground and walked up to him to check his vital signs he was oblivious to Trunks’ body. Only after he had picked up Chakrin and turned around did he catch the white wisps of hair that belonged to the head. Shock over took his body as the thought of a headless Trunks’ lay on the ground only a few feet from him. Both of them looked as if they had died there together.
Closing his eyes Tapion tried to imagine what it must have been like for Chakrin to endure that much for something that he wanted so badly. His power was dwindling to the edge of nothing, but he was still alive. Breathing a sigh of relief, Tapion quickly teleported him to his ship and into the rejuvenation tank.
“It’s uncertain if he’ll live or die. He’s been through hell, honestly it’s a miracle that he was alive at all when you found him!” The voice in Tapion’s head was clear as he watched the tank fill with the liquid and cover Chakrin’s torn and beaten body.
“Yes, he’ll pull through though. He is after all, made of the best fighters to have existed before him. Once he is out I’ll fill him in on his past. I still need him to do one more task for me before I can send him to you.” Turning away from the tank Tapion walked into the next room and pondered for a second before continuing. “I need to dispose of someone…that will be his task….”
“Riiiiiiight… Tapion, you’re a lazy bastard. You could do it yourself you know.” The voice was of sarcasm. “OK then its settled. After your dirty work he’s mine.”
“Something like that you old green fart.” Laughing together they mutually ended the conversation.
Looking back toward the tank, Tapion could feel the energy inside Chakrin stirring. He could feel more life wanting to breakout and be free from everything. As well as a darker side nearly taking over his being.
Walking over to the tank Tapion settled into meditation, connecting his thoughts with Chakrin’s he felt his subconscious fall into a deep sleep as Chakrin’s inner demons came out to play.
~~The Dream World~~
Somehow it seemed real enough to have happened to him at some point in his life, but he couldn’t recall ever being in a place such as this. Chakrin wasn’t able to decipher what was written on the walls. It was in some other language, something he had never seen before in his life. The halls each had cameras at both ends recording everything that was going on in them. Rooms full of technicians working diligently could be seen as he walked past the huge reinforced windows. Huge machines used for very precise work could be heard humming away as they tried to keep up with the workers demands.
Turning down the hall and entering one of the doors he saw a room with four bodies. Three of which were decapitated still gushing blood from the severed artery in the neck. Twitching in irregular motions their lives had been ended tragically and swiftly, a blessing, when compared to the guy behind the desk. His chest was ripped open showing his inner cavity with a missing heart. Each arm had been cut to the bone and then peeled from each bicep down to his wrists. Blood seemed to cover every possible orifice on him. His eyes had been crammed into the back of his head leaving hollow empty sockets to stare back at Chakrin. His tongue lay on the desk next to his ears. Just like the others, he too, had his head taken from its shoulders, resting in his lap with a forced smile from the wires in his mouth.
Even in this reality Chakrin felt vomit hitting the back of his throat, as it was all he could do to hold it in. After regaining his composure he finally noticed a box on the desk. Upon opening the box and taking a closer look, he realized it also had a timer on it, a timer that was counting the wrong way…backwards. Opening his eyes widely he exclaimed,
*Bodies-Drowning Pool, starts to play in the background*
“OH SHIT!” Dropping the lid in the floor he ran out of the room and down the hall. Stopping and turning around in time to see five soldiers making their way down the hall toward the room. Opening the door the first guard could see the timer counting down from 3 as the other four soldiers moved past the room.
*2…1…song at beginning before he yells, “Floor”*
The explosion ripped through the room, turning a former S.W.A.T. member into a charred body, slamming it into the wall, leaving a blast print of it before the body fell to the floor. A look of sheer terror over took the other guards faces as they started to run down the hall. All along the walls by the ceiling were timed mines, all armed and counting down. After the initial blast went off, debris flew into the hall thus starting off the chain reaction.
The soldiers knew they were screwed. Running as quickly as they could down the hall the soldiers tried desperately to outrun the blast, knowing it was unlikely they would succeed. As the soldiers neared Chakrin he realized they had their guns drawn and aimed directly at him as they continued to make there way down the hall as the explosions began to take effect on the small group. Wide eyed, Chakrin turned and weaved down the hall as bullets ricochet off the walls around him. Behind him the explosions seemed to out number the bullets that had been chasing him as he felt the vibrations rock the walls and floor with each blast as they neared closer to him. Seeing a hall approaching on his left Chakrin prepared for a split-second jump to safety.
As he ran down the hall with the explosions gaining on him, knowing they had consumed his pursuers, he veered to his left before launching himself into the air to land on the opposite side of the hall just before the T-intersection. Pushing himself off the wall he cleared the opening, landing on the right side of the undamaged hall, as the chasing explosions continued on their own path of destruction flinging the bodies of the guard unit through the air within the fiery blast, his momentum pushed his body onward. Running on the wall for a few steps before he neared the first guard he took quick note of the other 8 or so guards waiting for someone to come down the hall, guns drawn. Taking two more steps along the wall he planted his lead foot.
Grinning widely Chakrin leaped off the wall toward the man. As the leader turned to see why the other soldiers were in awe, a blur of a left foot crossed his face cracking his skull and jaw before he was knocked unconscious from the spinning wall kick. Landing on all fours Chakrin once again leaped, landing in the midst of the group, deeming their weapons useless at such close range. Tackling one of the soldiers Chakrin proceeded to snap his neck in an effortless twist with one hand. Reaching out with his free hand he grabbed a grenade off the belt of a nearby soldier and turned, with a full body uppercut, to the soldier behind him. Punching through the soldier’s chest cavity he released the grenade inside the shock induced GI before picking him up and tossing his body toward 6 soldiers. Catching their wounded comrade, they failed to take notice of the hole in his chest until it was too late.
The explosion ripped the GI to pieces as it shot bone fragments and metal shrapnel through the air, wounding the nearby soldiers into submission and dazed confusion. Looking a guard right in the eyes Chakrin watched his life fade out. Releasing his grip on the soldier’s neck, Chakrin tossed aside the pincushion, of bone and metal shrapnel filled carcass against the wall as he made his way through the rubble and bloody bodies.
“Humph! ‘Body armor’” Chuckling to himself as he looked ahead.
Disturbing mumbles of incoherent rambling could be heard by the last few soldiers, as they were in search of a vanished body part or accepting their final breathes. Without looking back Chakrin walked on.
It was oddly quite after the last explosion. Though not all the soldiers were dead it was obvious they cared little for trying to kill the intruder. Kneeling down on his knees a soldier searched, in shock, for his missing hand as his bloody stump of an arm shot arcs of crimson red everywhere. A few others followed his actions, as shock seemed to take over control and make them begin a hopeless search of lost body parts. As if at once the last soldiers saw an appendage lying in the floor slowly twitching as the nerves died off. As they all neared the mutilated part, two pins fell in the floor between them. Looking up they all watched as time slowed down. Two green objects arched through the air towards them, almost as if they were nothing more than green metallic cans, the final members of the squad ignored them.
Turning down another hallway Chakrin waited for the incoherent mumbling to be silenced by the grenades. As the explosion killed off the remainder of the force a grin crossed his lips, as he continued on his way to the exit.
*”Bodies” ends and fades into “Click, Click Boom, Saliva”*
Passing doorways, halls, open areas, and other places where random people would normally have gathered were now strewn with blood and carcass of the dead and dying. It looked to be a path of chaos with no real purpose, but for some reason Chakrin felt no remorse, no sympathy, and no guilt for having witnessed such destruction of innocent lives. It was as if he were dead inside. He in fact would have been in shock at such atrocities earlier in life, but now he was no longer able to even find it in his head or heart to question what was going on. He simply followed the trail of blood and bodies and when he was no longer able to find that he was able to see marks along halls from a sword being dragged against it. Actually cutting through the wall in some places.
Feeling the need to run once more Chakrin moved quickly to one side of the hall before leaping into a diving twist. Sliding on his back across the floor he was able to see his silent attacker before he slid to the end of the hall and bolted for the exit. He felt fear reaching up from the pit of his stomach grabbing at his heart, nearly restricting his breathing. Gasping for breath he had reached the last door.
Turning back one last time he could see the hall begin to fill up with an endless amount of soldiers. They just seemed to come from nowhere. Opening the door Chakrin turned to stare down the business end of a Desert Eagle .357 Magnum. His eyes focused first on the end of the barrel and the distinct shape of it before they followed the hand to the wrist to the arm up to the eyes of the owner of the gun.
They pierced into Chakrin’s mind as having been seen before or at least in some lifetime before his. Somehow, he knew the distinct eerie green eyes. He couldn’t make himself move or look away. It was like he was trapped and unable to duck or at least try and move out of the way. Slowly a light from the outside crossed over the doorway. Revealing part of the face of the eerie green-eyed man. A scar crossed over his left ear around to his lip and up between his eyes disappearing in his jet-black hair. His skin was decayed and flaky from lack of care or mal-nutrition. His cheeks had sunk into his face revealing high cheekbone as well as a strong jawbone clinched shut with an almost completely burned cigarette hanging from his bottom lip. Exhaling slowly the smoke blew into Chakrin’s face before stopping suddenly.
Looking back into the barrel Chakrin could visualize the bullet sitting in the chamber. Waiting patiently for the hammer to drop on the primer and initiate the charge of powder in the shell to explode pushing the bullet out of its casing and through the barrel at deadly speeds.
Gliding his eyes back to his killers’ he watched as the eerie green eyes failed to blink as the trigger was pulled.
*Final words of the song- Click, click Boom, the “Boom” is an actual gunshot*
~~The Real World~~
Snapping back to reality Chakrin was wide-eyed and screaming through the mask. As the oxygen escaped causing a blinding horde of bubbles with in the tank, cluttering his view of the outside world.
“CHAKRIN!” Trying to gain some control over the situation Tapion released the fluids from the tank and opened it to free its captive. “What the hell are you freaking out for?! That dream…DREAM!” Holding Chakrin up by his face as he stared into his eyes. “It was all a dream Chakrin…just a dream!” Tapion was able to feel the evil inside his pupil and knew one day it would erupt into uncontrolled madness. “Chakrin, take deep breathes, ok? Come on now deep breathes…” Holding the oxygen mask up to Chakrin’s mouth Tapion turned it to 100% oxygen and waited for the calming effect to take over Chakrin’s body.
Passed out on his own bed, Chakrin slept peacefully for the first time in over a year. No nightmares, visions, or hallucinations were able to disrupt his slumber, not this time. He was finally able to sleep.
~~Days Later~~
The sun peeked in through the mini-blinds as it made its way into the sky. The birds were chirping loudly as the cool morning air blended with the heat from the sun forming thick fog across the fields spilling into the city streets. The smell of sweat and blood filled the room, heavily, as Chakrin’s mind slowly wandered back to reality. Closing the door on the dream world before opening the door to reality. Squinting slowly, he surveyed the room looking for any kind of clue as to where he was. Moving his arms up to his eyes to rub the sleep out of them he suddenly felt the pain still more than abundant throughout his body.
“AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!” Screaming loudly at this new revelation Chakrin quickly decided that he better take things a lot slower. “Tapion? Help me…please…” Saying the words was easier than trying to move. His jaw was sore along with 99.98999945% of his body but he was still able to think and breath without a machine and that was good enough for him.
“What? I’m busy.” He was nowhere to be seen yet his voice was as clear as could be.
“Umm…is it possible for me to move at this point? I should really get back to training or…pissing on my own.” Looking down noticing the tubes coming from under the blanket.
Laughing hysterically, Tapion appeared in the room still laughing at the seriousness in Chakrin’s voice. Walking over to the bed he grabbed a hold of the tubes, to Chakrin’s surprise, and slowly started to pull.
“DUDE!!!! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!!” Chakrin was trying to reach down and stop the cords from being pulled out.
Still laughing manically Tapion then yanked the cords completely out from under the covers and out of the machine. Stunned into silence Chakrin sat there, mouth wide open with his eyes rolling into the back of his head.
“Oh come on! They weren’t attached to begin with!” Pulling down the sheets. Sitting up quickly Chakrin exclaimed,
“I knew that! I was just testing you…and well you passed…”
Shaking his head as he let the cords fall to the floor Tapion turned and quietly walked out of the room.
“So did you, now come on.”
Looking around Chakrin noticed that he was sitting up. Frowning slightly he worked on getting out of bed and dressed.
“Crazy ol’ bastard. He could have freakin killed me! Playin' like my nuts were about to get ripped off and then he laughs at me!” Letting his mumbling fade into nothing, Chakrin finished getting dressed in his room and began a long walk down the hall way.
“Come on already! Breakfast is served at 8 not next week at 6 in the evening!” Tapion was giving Chakrin a hard time as he awaited the victors’ arrival at the table.
Rolling his eyes Tapion finally got tired of waiting and transported Chakrin to the chair.
“Now sit down already the damn eggs are getting’ cold!” Touching the plate Tapion brought the eggs back to the perfect temperature for eating and started to dig in.
Smiling slightly Chakrin managed to sit down and start his meal. Slowly letting the details of previous days come back to him.
“Eat it you’ll like it a lot. Eat it!” Tapion was staring now at Chakrin and the fork still rolled up in the napkin.
Thinking to himself, “His food is never good! Even the wild starving animals pass it up…why do I have to suffer?”
“…Just eat the shit already!” Jumping into Chakrin’s thoughts Tapion put an end to the conversation and levitated the fork up to Chakrin’s mouth with a full load of the so-called “eggs” on it. It was mixed with something else but Chakrin wasn’t sure what. Nor could he tell what it was. Seeing how the options were pretty much limited at this point Chakrin reached for the fork and preceded to eat the eggs.
Waiting for the worst flavor to hit him he began to chew the concoction of food, beginning to enjoy the taste in his mouth.
“What is this?” He asked as he took another bite.
“Horse shit. I added a little piss for color.” Laughing loudly as he took another bite.
“You’re a sick bastard! What’s really in this?”
“You need your strength I need you to take care of something for me so as you can see you need to hurry up and heal.” Putting down the fork Tapion waited.
“…senzu bean? You put a senzu bean in here? That’s cheating!” Almost angry at the thought of having to be healed by a bean. “What about my father, what can you tell me?
“Its all taken care of.” Sitting back in the chair, Tapion waited for the rushed reply of his pupil.
“WHAT! What do you mean its all taken care of?!” Standing up quickly he accidentally slid the chair back, impaling the wall behind him. “Son of a…” Shaking his head he pulled it out of the wall and sat down in the chair again.
“The ship outside has a detailed account of earth at the time your father, the scientist, was working on you. Everything you need to know will be in the program. The ship is also preprogrammed with coordinates for you. Its not a long trip, but rest and training while on the ship IS recommended.” Sitting back in the chair Tapion watched Chakrin.
*SNAP! *
The chair finally gave and crashed to the floor bringing Chakrin with it. After the dust settled Chakrin was still sitting in the broken chair, amazed as he pondered the thought of where he would be going.
“Well then, I guess I’ll take care of this last task for you and I’ll be on my way. Would it be ok for me to get some fresh air first? You know walk around a bit stretch the old muscles?” Levitating off the floor so that he could stand Chakrin waited for a reply.
A simple nod was all the reply given as Tapion disappeared for the time being to take care of other matters.
“I’ll be back Chakrin…you better be ready.”
And with that Chakrin was alone, to do as he pleased for a few hours.