Ambush (Zach)

[kotan]

Kotan rubbed his eyes as he walked out of the camp site. Him and Brenden were camping in Mount Paozu, because Kotan had the feeling that there was a Dragon Ball somewhere around here. If there was one here for definite, then he would be happy to have found it. He was going to look for it early, while Brenden slept.

Sighing, the hybrid rubbed his hands again as his tail wiggled. This Dragon Ball hunt was not going to well so far. They hadn't found any of the orbs yet, but he was sure they would soon. He just had to stay optimistic and find out where the other six Dragon Balls were.

Powering up, the saiyan, human hybrid flew into the air and he looked around. Flying towards a high point on the mountain, he looked around this part of the mountain. There was nothing here that looked remotely like a Dragon Ball. The mountain may have contained a Dragon Ball somewhere on it.

He just had to search every nook and cranny of the mountain to find the Dragon Balls. Besides, he had a while before Brenden woke up, and he felt good about himself right now. Landing on a small walkway, he let his aura die down and he then rubbed his face again, getting rid of the sleep from his eyes fully.

Looking around the walkway fully, he walked forward, scanning every little nook and cranny that he could see and find. The entire walkway was full of them, so that was a lot of looking he had to do just to find anything that looked even a small bit like a Dragon Ball. Cracking his neck, he threw one hand behind him and unleashed a small ki blast in anger.

[Zach]

“I don’t understand it, Kami and I were already here. I fought an actual dragon for Pete’s sake. How can there be another dragon ball here?” Zach asked as he, Royd and Kris drew to a halt, high above the mountains. “Could your ship be wrong?”

“I have had the computer check and recheck the readings. It is not a sensor malfunction or an echo left behind by the ball your collected.” Royd replied. “There is a second ball down there.”

“Well, wherever it came from originally, it must have been brought there by someone, and they means they are likely looking for more if they know what they are.” Zach responded.

“Agreed, it could be dangerous.” Royd confirmed, to which the computer, listening over the communications link proceeded to go ballistic, filling the black haired man’s earpiece with a cacophony of unintelligible static. “The computer feels the same way.” Royd added, pulling the phone out of his ear.

“Mmmm, very well, I’ll go down, I’m best equipped to handle anyone we find down there. Kris you keep Royd safe. I’ll try to stay out in the open since you said you need to se me to do that mind reading thing of yours. I’ll let you know if it’s safe to come down.” Zach instructed and then started to descend away from the two. Zach wasn’t sure how much power Royd had in his hovering transport but seeing as he’d been carrying the thing around, there was probably enough power saved up to hang there for some time.

In the time that it took Zach to get from the others, down to the ground, Kotan had been up and down and was now walking along one of the mountain range’s many cliff sides. Zach would have spotted him sooner, or at least his energy had he been able to sense anyone’s but his own, he however did not until he was about fifty feet up and even the only through a fissure in the rocks. He’d been aiming to land on top of the cliff that Kotan was walking under and thus almost missed the boy. Changing direction though, Zach arced around the top of the cliff and descended to the path right behind the boy, just in time to catch a casual, if it could be called that, blast to the chest. The ki ball exploded against Zach’s left pectoral leaving a black smudge of ask and drew a growl from the young man, announcing his presence if the fact that the blast had exploded hadn’t done that already. Zach stood there, looking quite unhappy as he brushed the blemish off of his otherwise pristine chest.

[kotan]

Kotan rolled his neck, and out of his back-pack, he pulled out the Dragon Ball. He had kept it for safe keeping, as it was safer with him than it was with Brenden. He was quite powerful in his own right now. And he just liked to look after something that he was able to protect with the full extent of his power or skills.

Throwing it up in the air, Kotan caught it with ease and placed it back in his bag. Rubbing his hands together, he threw himself off of the walkway, but he floated right in the air. He was defying the laws of physics, floating in mid air with the smallest expenditure of his energy.

But then Kotan sensed a familiar power, one that had caused him pain months ago. Slowly turning around in the direction of the power level. And then, Kotan beheld of a sight that caused him to fear for his life, and his aura flared around him in fear.

It was the blonde guy that had brought him to the brink of death several months ago. This guy was one of the reasons he had become so powerful. But it was one thing he was afraid of. To be face to face with a man who had brought him to deaths door and who had caused Kotan to feel fearful for his life for good whenever against him.

And this fear caused his tail to wiggle wildly with fear. In his fearful state, Kotan accessed his Kaio-Ken, his power trebling and his body and aura both turned red. But, he calmed himself down and exited the Kaio-Ken, his power returning to thirteen thousand. Looking at the man, he gulped and said “Hey old chum. Long time no see.... How've you been? Listen, about the last time we met.... No hard feelings?” Kotan backed away quickly, afraid of this guy with severe fear. Was he after Kotan for revenge? Or was he after the Dragon Balls.

[Zach]

Still growling after Kotan idly tossed a ki blast into his chest, Zach couldn’t believe his eyes when the little brat just kept walking, it was like he hadn’t even noticed the thing exploded. ‘What is this guy dense? Does he not know that those things don’t explode unless they hit something? Wait, stupid question, he is part monkey.’ Zach thought to himself as he stalked after the other teen. He could hear Royd chuckling at the mental commentary but ignored it.

Then the black haired kid started tossing the very object of his search around, one of those dragon balls. He should have, he could have snatched it right there, he was fast enough. But he had an audience and could just steal the ball, at least not without a reason. Finally though after tossing himself off the rock face and gliding around a bit, the boy noticed Zach’s presence and to amusing effect. The blonde grinned as the younger teen backpedalled in reaction.

“Hmhmhm, took you long enough to pick up one my being here.” Zach chuckled, but otherwise held his steely gaze, locked firmly on the other boy. “I’m still trying to decide whether I like you or not, you’ve got a lot of things riding against you. You’re reckless and irresponsible for one, I was right behind you when you tossed that blast. What if I hadn’t been me but an average guy or a little kid? You would have killed them… me… you get the idea. You hook up with the wrong kind of people, that blue haired guy in Central City. And that whole monkey thing is going to be a problem too.” Zach started.

“On the other hand in Central you found a weak spot and you drilled it until I ralphed. I like that. Didn’t go for the knockout, but I can get around that. And oh look, you’ve collected one of those little gems. Providing you’re kind enough to just hand it over you’ll make my job a lot easier and I’ll be more inclined not to beat you up to make things even. What do you say?”

[kotan]

Kotan was truly and utterly afraid right now. Last time they had met, Zach had brought him to deaths door, and the experience had scared him to his core. But, Kotan had demonstrated dormant power that day, that only came out when he was angry and in a state of rage that resembled his rage in Oozaru form. But, this power had been released a bit recently with his power level going from six hundred to thirteen thousand in only two months. That day had shown Kotan that it was not always the higher power level that would win. It was sometimes tactics, wits and cunning that would win a fight.

And then Zach began to speak. He wanted the Dragon balls, and he was willing to attack Kotan for it if it was needed. As well as this, he said that he was use unsure if he liked Kotan or not. He did say Kotan had a lot of things riding against him, one being the accidental throwing of the Ki ball a few minutes ago.

“In my defence on the matter of the Ki ball, I had no idea anyone was there, and if I had I wouldn't have thrown that Ki blast.... also, I only attacked you in Central City because you insulted half of my species and that blue haired guy was okay.” Kotan had butted in with this cos he thought it was the right thing to do.

Then, Zach said about him taking his shot during their fight in Central City and not going for the knock out. Kotan didn't go for the knock out back then because he wasn't a heartless or ruthless monster that would kill for joy. He was a warrior, living by a strict code not to kill unless necessary, and unless it was something that had pushed him over the edge. And then Zach said about the dragon balls. He decided to make a stand. Flying closer to Zach, he said “Okay, I'm not giving you the Dragon Ball. I am travelling with a little boy to collect all seven, because he wants to wish his father back. I'm doing this to protect him.”

[Zach]

“I don’t think you’ve been keeping up with current events friend. That whole tournament thing a few months ago, incase you hadn’t heard, it was arranged by some interstellar dictator to see what planets were ripe for conquering. That same dictator is on his way here and will murder anything on his path to get his hands on the dragon balls.” Zach retorted, starting to lose his cool. This little pipsqueak was talking back to him like he’d actually won that fight one on one. As Zach recalled he wiped the floor with the monkey with one blow. The only reason the fight turned around was because he let it.

“And as for your defense, what if I had been that little kid? If you’re supposed to be keeping him safe, it wouldn’t have been very proper to blast the little guy to bits now would it?” Zach continued, dressing down the black haired boy. “Now I don’t know how much you do know but one thing you have to understand is I’m not the bad guy here. Heavy handed yes, but I’m not the one out exterminating whole planets. I work with a man called Kami and he’s charged me with locating all of these little guys and returning them to him. I can understand the kid wanting his father back, but we can’t risk the balls ending up in Suki… That dictator’s hands.”

Zach paused a moment and shrugged the backpack he was wearing off of his shoulders and tossed it to the ground. “Now. I don’t care how much of what I said you think is true, but one thing is for certain, I will be leaving here with that ball. We can do it a few ways, easy way; you give me the ball and that’s that. Not so easy way; you give me the ball and I let you kick me around again, fun and productive. And the hard way; You refuse to give me the ball, I kick you around and take it. The choice is yours.” Zach concluded and then folded his arms up behind his head, waiting for Kotan’s reply, be it physical or verbal.

[kotan]

“You mean, some insane, planet monger and dictator is coming to use the Dragon Balls, and then destroy the planet?” Rubbing his face, Kotan let out a frustrated shout. He was now faced with a dilemma. Give Zach the ball and take Brenden back home? Or continue the search for the orbs and try and run the risk of getting himself or Brenden killed? Kotan knew the answer to this question and he knew that if he was to keep his moral code and keep his sanity, he would not make the choice that would hurt Brenden, and would protect the world from a dictator that would destroy the world if he got the chance. The choice was quite clear.

While listening to Zach speak, Kotan extracted the Dragon Ball out of his bag. Looking down, Kotan said when Zach finished completely, taking every single word in. “If I had hurt the little boy, I would feel sick to my very core. I know you think I am just some ruthless monster due to the fact I am half saiyan. But the human and saiyan in me are both equally balanced. I'll give you the dragon ball. I don't want the world destroyed, and I understand that the young boy will be upset. But I don't want him get hurt. And besides, giving you the ball is not so bad. You're a good guy. You are just a bit heavy handed, and biased towards saiyans. But what if you have to work with half saiyans?”

Flying over to Zach, he held the ball right towards the other man and he rubbed his face with his free hand. “I've met Kami in a vision. He led me to the boys mother, who I saved before. After that, I found her son who had found this dragon ball. I think that Kami was leading me to the boy, so that I could eventually take the ball to you. Look after it dearly.”

[Zach]

With his arms still up behind his head and his body relaxed, Zach was a tempting target, but surprisingly the black haired boy didn’t take him up on his offer to get a few free shots in. The blonde wasn’t sure whether he liked that or not, on one hand he was getting the ball the easy way, but on the other he’d made an offer that almost seemed to be ignored. ‘Oh well, his loss.’ Zach though to himself.

“I think you mean I’m biased against them.” Zach corrected the boy. “But this…” he continued, unfolding his arms and accepting the ball. “…is definitely a redeeming factor. I was expecting you to put up a fight but I’m glad you can see reason. I wouldn’t be surprised if what you said is true and Kami engineered this whole thing. The ball though will be safe with me until I can get it to him.”

Picking the backpack up once more with his free hand, Zach stuffed the ball inside and then put the bag back on. He paused a moment and couldn’t believe the what he was about to say, almost yakking from the incomprehensible reason for wanting to ay what he was about to. “Look… You seem like a nice kid… Got some bad genes in you but you seem to deal with it ok. When this is all over, you come and find me and I’ll help train you. Sound good?” the blonde offered and prepared to lift off to join the others hovering up in the clouds.

[kotan]

Kotan knew that he could have attacked Zach, trying to pummel him until the blonde man defeated him with a single punch or energy blast. And that would cause Kotan pain, and even possibly death. But, he doubted this guy would kill him right now, as he seemed to have developed a bit more empathy and caring nature since their last encounter. And it was not like Kotan had not been tempted to attack. His saiyan desire to fight had cause this compulsion. However, thanks to his human side and rationality, he had fought the compulsion.

“Yeah, I meant you are biased against them. Yes, you've had some bad run ins with saiyans possibly. But not all of them are bad trust me, even a hybrid saiyan can be good, curbing their desire to fight into one used to defend people. And thank you for at least seeing this as some redemption. It seemed a good time to do something to redeem myself a bit. And if Kami did, he is quite an amazing person then.” Kotan had rambled this after Zach had taken the Dragon Ball.

Zach's next comment completely surprised him. He was offering to train with Kotan after the dictator had been taken care of. Stammering a bit, he said “Yeah, uhm sure. We could train. Just, take it easy because I might not be that powerful, or close to your power even by then. But, thank you for the offer.” Kotan then nodded, and flew back towards Brenden and the camp. Taking Brenden out of the tent, he turned it back into capsule form and then packed up all of his stuff, and Brendens. Picking up Brenden, he flew the young boy back to Satin City to take him back to his mother.

[Zach]

With matters largely wrapped up, Zach lifted off and came to a hover as Kotan replied, prompting a chuckle from the blonde teen. “Hmhm… Don’t worry, I’ll keep my weights on and if I’m still too much for you, I’ll just let you get some target practice in on my gut.” Zach replied and started to pull away. He made his ascent slow though, ensuring that he could watch and see that the two boys got off safely before accelerating and returning to the others.

“Not a word.” he cautioned Royd as he ascended back up next to the anti-gravitational disk. The man was grinning ear to ear, apparently having been listening in on the whole conversation with his telepathy.

“Of course… Heh hem… Well the computer is scanning the planet for energy sources similar to that of the ball here. It’s difficult to distinguish from all of the other sources on the planet but it’s suggesting we make stops in Satan City and Metropolis Island.” Royd responded.

“Ok, Metropolis Island is up next then I guess.” Zach stated and glided down underneath the hovering craft to grab a hold of it’s underside. “Hang on.” Was the last thing he said before turning himself and the vehicle towards the islands and accelerating off in their direction.



{Topic concluded. Power Level increase requested. Heavy weights in effect for Zach. Also since I replied for Royd in my Zach posts, I’m guessing he’s eligible for an increase as well. I would however ask that it be no more then 100 as he did not do much other then talk and probe. It would also seem unfair if a profile that didn’t technically make a post was awarded a significant amount of power. Thanks.}

[Jorlaxl]

Kotan: 2250 Power level

Zach: 3600 Power level (Heavy weights in effect)

Royd: 100 Power level

Am I doing this right?

[Geurin]

Your a little high there.

I would have been a little more stingy.
Zach:2000
Kotan:1600


That said how about we average them out and call it a day (Kotan is gone anyway so no need to add his.)

So zach gets a nice 2800