Pi had watched from the shadows for a very long time, her eyes bright in the darkness of the snowy fields, one covered by the light green screen of a scouter. The sword glinted at her side, ready. She hated to admit it, but she had been looking forward to the kill. There was something in her blood, in her soul; a hunger for blood and pain, unlike any other drive that might creep into her heart. Most Saiya-jins hungered for power, to dominate anything that stood in their path, to be the best, the most indestructible. For Pi, the thrill was in the killing itself, knowing that in that moment, a life was in hanging in her hands, and she was playing the role of the creator, the decision maker. She was lusting after the kill tonight, yearning for her mother to wander into the snowy fields, wanting to feel the warmth of blood and the power of death in her hands. There was the flicker of flame however, the lighting of a match, and her hopes were dashed, as Koronu turned and retreated back into the safety of the city.

“Damn her!” Pi cursed again, kicking the snow in the path ahead of her. Snowflakes stirred, flying up in a flurry of wind around her. “How did she know?”

It hit her suddenly, and her black eyes narrowed deeply. The Earthling. I knew Sukuashi had gotten too close to her. It would be just like that incompetent baka to give the enemy that kind of information, to let a pretty face cloud his judgment. She thrashed the sword about in the snow, creating deep rivulets in the white. He is completely unfit to be leader of this planet! Someone with that little intelligence is fit to be nothing more than a messenger. If that. I should have been leader a long time ago. If he wasn’t in such favor with the Council, I would be. I have everything! The power, the intelligence….The will to win and fight. That sniveling wretch has nothing against me. Once he is out of the way, and Koronu is disposed of, the planet will be mine.

She looked up for a moment, to the corkscrew tower rising above the snowy city. Her coal black eyes narrowed, thinking of Sukuashi, safe and dry in his tower room, of her mother, hurrying back in through the heavy black doors of the castle. Her own deceitful, lying mother and her idiotic father. She hated them. She hated everything. This awful planet and the pure white of the snow, the filthy soldiers and the haughty Council members….I hate it all! I absolutely hate it all!!

“Aaagh!” She cried out in fury, and threw her sword down in front of her with so much force that it created a small crater. Ice and snow flew up around her, washing her clothing in white. “Damn it all to hell! I should be leader!” She screamed out into the nothingness of the snowy fields. Anger swelled up from her stomach, hot, slick and greasy in her throat. She bent down to her hands and knees in the deep snow, panting, trying to get rid of the fury that had wrapped itself around her ice-cold heart.

She was still bent over like that when a small blip appeared on her scouter. There was a flash in her mind, a sudden impulse to turn, and just as she did, she caught sight of what looked like a falling star through the snowstorm behind her. As she looked at it, focused her eyes on it, the scouter numbers began to slowly climb, as if it were uncertain that such a power existed. There was no noise over the wind in the fields, and she couldn’t even see it that clearly, but she felt it when it impacted the ground, felt the tremor of it slightly beneath her feet, felt the sense of a new power on her planet. She stumbled to her feet quickly, and rose her hand to her scouter, adjusting it, then looked out to the area where the star had landed, miles away from the place she was standing. It registered zero again, not a speck of power on it.

My imagination? She thought, narrowing her eyes. The sky gave no indication that any foreign aircraft had just landed, and the city still seemed quiet and asleep. No, the other earthlings must have already arrived, in search of Sukuashi’s new mate. The earthlings, the humans, she didn’t have to worry about. It was the Saiya-jins with them that were bound to cause trouble. Vejiita and Kakarroto. Humans were nothing compared to the power that they held inside. Of course, her race of Saiya-jins, the Saiya-jins that had rightfully left the planet Vejiita and cultured a refined and sophisticated planet, they were much stronger than the others. Smarter, too. However, there was still the raw and unrefined power that Vejiita must be holding in his soul. He was a threat, and he had the entire royal line to back him up. Kakarroto, she didn’t know much about, other than the fact that he was some personal thorn in Sukuashi’s side. If they both came looking for the Earth woman, there might be trouble.

But then, trouble had always been Pi’s forte.

She took a step towards the crash site, to where she estimated they must have landed, then paused for a moment, thinking. If they come in many numbers, it may be smarter to have some soldiers on my side, and paralyzing guns for sure. We will wait until they reach right up to the city borders and then seize them and place them in prison, for torture, for death. Hai, telling Sukuashi would be the best action to take at the moment. If they come and I am unprepared, it could result in disaster. I will inform Sukuashi right away. She smirked. And after I do that, maybe I’ll get my kill today after all.

Potuto quickly walked through the streets of the city, a worn, dark cloak covering up his usual lab coat. The night was ending quickly, and he could see a tinge of light on the edge of the horizon, a sign that daylight was coming very soon. If he and Koronu were going to act, they needed to act fast. Adrenaline was already flowing through his body like waves, excitement in every step that he took. After all of their careful planning, after all the time spent agonizing over what was going to happen, they were finally acting. They were finally putting an end to Sukuashi’s rule, and they were finally going to be free. He allowed himself a small smile, and looked up at the dark night sky. The snowfall was beginning to weaken, but the wind was howling around him, and the dark cloak was flapping behind him like a flag, allowing chilling bits of air to touch his skin beneath. He turned a corner and paused for a moment, sliding back against the wall of one of the buildings. His eyes narrowed, watching the activity near the military barracks.

It looked as though all of the soldiers were assembled, their brisk, dark red uniforms bright against the white of the snow. They were in lines of some sort, but their entire positioning looked oddly unorganized and ill planned. Potuto craned his neck, trying to see more, and caught a glimpse of Pi, decked out in her full armor gesturing to the soldiers with a sword. He tried to make out what she was saying, but her words were distorted by the howling wind, chopped into pieces by the echoes from the rest of the city behind him. Making a quick decision, he decided that he needed to hear what she was saying, and stealthily crept closer to the soldiers and Pi, creeping behind the walls of the barracks, silent as a snowflake.

As several military vehicles, the vehicles usually reserved for field exploration, were pulled out into the area, lights shone on Pi, and it suddenly seemed as though even the wind heeded to her command of complete silence. Soldiers listened intently, their eyes keen and bright in the darkness.

There was a sudden noise, and Sukuashi appeared from behind the great doors of the castle. He was also in full armor, which gleamed ebony under the lights of the military vehicles. He stood proud and tall next to Pi, straight faced and full of dignity.

“As you know,” He began in a deep, commanding voice. “We are under attack.”

Attack? Potuto thought to himself, his brow furrowing. Under attack from who?

“Pi has explained our defense plan against the Earthlings, but there is something more that I would like to add: take only prisoners. There will be no death in this battle.”

At this, Pi started, and looked up into Sukuashi’s face with shock. No doubt, Potuto thought, she was looking for blood. And if I know Pi, she will surely get what she wants. Sukuashi’s orders mean nothing to her.

“There may also be Saiya-jin soldiers with them, left from the rule of Vejiita.” Sukuashi continued. “They will also be taken prisoner, but are to be guarded very carefully and treated with the utmost of suspicion. We all know that the Saiya-jins of Vejiita are like, and I doubt any of you want to face that kind of unpredictability and sheer animalism, but it is necessary. I will be fighting along with you in command as your general.”

“If you have any further questions, direct them to Pi.” He finished, and turned, whirling his blood red cape behind him as he walked.

As soon as Sukuashi had turned and walked away from the soldiers, they all erupted into questions, and Potuto took of running at full speed, kicking up snow behind him. He had to find Koronu, and fast. If the humans really had come for ChiChi and they had already landed and were waging war, this meant that the plans he and Koronu had so carefully put into place would surely be ruined. On the other hand, though, it could possible work out very well for them. The Earthlings could prove to be very helpful in their plan to overthrow Sukuashi. If they were both working towards the same goal, which was freedom, of course, then they just might be able to form an alliance.

He stopped for a moment, looked from side to side warily, then hurried into the darkness, to the place where they had agreed to meet, hours earlier. Now that Pi and Sukuashi were trying kill her, the city was no longer safe. And also, now that the Earthlings were here, it presented a new danger as well. In all the chaos of a battle, the Council would never even notice the death of Koronu or even question it. He turned a few corners, then slid his way into an alley and found her standing alone against a stone wall of one of the buildings. One hand was held out in front of her, and a small ball of ki was glowing, radiating just enough light for her to read by. She was devouring the Saiya-jin book, her eyes flitting back and forth from the pages to the key code. She had seen him coming of course, but paid no attention to him, didn’t even give an indication that she noticed him standing there, panting.

“Okaasan, there is something I need to tell you.” He panted, bending over on his knees. “The Earthlings are really here. They really came for ChiChi. It wasn’t just Pi saying that, they’re really here. All of the soldiers are assembled, they’re going into battle against them. Things have gone crazy. I don’t know what we’re going to do, but---”

“Calm yourself, Potuto.” Koronu interrupted calmly. She turned a page of the book. “I know the Earthlings are here, I felt Kakarroto’s presence here quite a while ago.”

“How?” He questioned, biting back a look of shock.

She looked up from her book for a moment and rose her eyebrows. “A mother always knows things like that. I felt Kakarroto’s presence from the very moment that he entered our atmosphere. ” Her dark eyes closed. “It’s been so long since I could feel his heartbeat this close to me. I feel like that entire part of my life has just reawakened. All of the happiness and stability of being with Bardoku….And the pain I felt when it was all taken away from me.”

Her eyes snapped open. “That bastard, Sukuashi. I want him dead. For everything that he has done to me, he surely deserves death.”

Potuto smiled grimly. “Well, that’s what we’re planning today, eh? Sukuashi’s death and our complete freedom from all of his oppression.”

“Hai.” She answered. “Though our plans will have to change slightly. I think our first order of business should be to ensure ChiChi’s safety and deliver her to into the hands of her people. I feel that Kakarroto is in serious danger as well, so I will be sure to keep an eye out for him. When I am positive that both ChiChi and my son are out of any danger, then I will locate Sukuashi and carry out our original plan.” Koronu looked back down at the book. “And your job is to keep the Earthlings safe. If you can, lead them to the safety of the tunnels. Find them quickly, gain their trust, and keep them away from those soldiers and their weapons. I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

“Sukuashi said that no one was to be hurt. They are only taking captives.”

She rose an eyebrow. “Interesting. I guess that makes things slightly less complicated for us.”

“What about Pi?” Potuto asked. “Undoubtedly she is going to get in the way.”

Koronu’s face gave away no emotion at all. “If she is in the way, do your best to dispose of her. Until I am finished reading this book, I will not be of much help to you.”

“What is in the book?” Potuto asked, looking over her shoulder to see.

She sighed. “Nothing much of interest, yet. So far it has been just simple accounts of past Super Saiya-jins and what they accomplished as Super Saiya-jins. There is nothing in here that shows how they achieved the power level of Super Saiya-jin, nor how to culture it. It’s just….well, an account of history almost. Nothing informational. I’m hoping that perhaps the rest of the book might prove to be more useful.”

“And if not?”

“We will give it all we have.” Koronu affirmed. “Right now I may be outnumbered in numbers of power, out-measured in muscle and strength, but as for pure grit and determination, I have more of it in my heart than a thousand of our enemies. Also, we have our friends from Earth now, who may prove to very useful in terms of power. Also, if they’re fighting to save a loved one, to rescue ChiChi, then there is no way they could possibly lose against Sukuashi and his soldiers.” Her eyes clouded for a moment, recalling some deep memory. “Sukuashi and the rest of our fellow Saiya-jins have no concept of caring, of being willing to give up life for another to continue living. But that is always where the strongest power comes from. Straight from the heart and soul, your spirit and your strength combine forces to create a blinding power, a raging storm of strength. You could fight for nothing, that’s true. Many will fight just for the hell of it, just for the rush and the glory of a victory. But to truly fight to defend a life, for a cause, for a purpose, that is the only time when your true power can be measured. Sukuashi may be strong indeed, Pi as well, but neither of them will ever realize their true strength, because there is no good in their souls.”

“Where did the Earthlings land, do you know?” She continued, raising her eyes from the book.

He blinked. “I believe all of the vehicles were heading out to the snowy fields just west of here. They must have landed out in the fields, probably to keep at least some sort of secrecy. Should I head out and try to intercept them before they reach the city?”

She shook her head. “Iie. Wait for a signal from me. A lot could happen between now and then, and we need to be prepared for anything. Go back to the castle and start getting supplies; guns, knives, rope, any kind of materials that we need. Be sure to stock up on the paralyzing antidotes, as well as several short term Nairb pills. I suspect that these Earthlings are not prepared for the cold that lies ahead of them.”

Chapter 50
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