Alea iacta est (Nam)[Saga]

[Geurin]

It was only right that they go after the man they knew to have destroyed their city. Geurin being his leader was but a technicality. His face, they had seen the blonds face and that was enough to condemn him for Geurin's crimes. They were outside the school, and Zach knew nothing of it. How could he? Even Geurin was aloof to their arrival, or at least he had been until a certain friend had contacted him. There was yet a being that hated Geurin with a passion, while with the same token needed him. The arrival of Rensou Hiruen meant one thing, that Earth was doomed to destruction. Boliko had shown restraint on Kold where Rensou had not, and as it stood Boliko was no where to be found. The ball had shone the arrival of Rensou and Sohko, Noko and Orenji. Though Geurin did not know the Namekian, he recognized the others. Rensou by fame, the others from their rather personal meeting. None the less there was a face he did not see, one that he knew would yet come. Perhaps the King planned an arrival, but even King Boliko was not nearly as much of a concern as the man Geurin sought.

Instantly the man appeared on the Lookout, Kami had already been perched over the edge shaking his head wearily at the terrible sight of things below. He had already been shaken with heavy heart by the actions of Geurin, but now an even greater threat was upon them. Rensou didn't seek to enslave, he sought revenge, and if his rage was even remotely close to factual they could be in for a genocide the likes of which humanity had not seen in years. His body was pulled instantly from the edge, and thrown into the wall of his home, Geurin had done that. His body appeared in front of the old Namek, his forearm on the Kami's throat.

"Tenshu!"

His eyes pierced through the old man, and so did the bone of his arm. He wanted with every fiber of his being to kill the elder shit, but they needed each other. They needed someone else. It was a terrible situation they had found themselves in, and yet there they were, inches from being able to end their personal vendetta and yet unable to do anything.

"You have seen them I know you have! Now bring him! Signal him! If you don't so help me god I will destroy this fucking planet myself!"

[Nam Reikonaga]

(I wrote all of this with my voice, including this message) XD

After so long finally the sight of earth was at window’s view and Nam was sitting quietly taking the time to admire his beautiful planet once more. It has felt like a long time when last he saw his home. It seemed so peaceful, yet only he knew what was coming. Within minutes his new and improved ship was descending into the earth’s atmosphere. It was much larger than before; taking about half of the Lookout’s area. They would have never guessed who it was that had arrived in such a luxurious spaceship; he left in a mere spacepod and now arrived in a vast ship capable of sustaining five people. But neither he, would have expected to find both Kami and Geurin in the same place, at the same time, at such an ironic time.

Nam arrived to earth with his power level suppressed, so nobody except the people present would know of his arrival; although, Ritoru might be another story. The moment the engines turned off, Nam rushed out of the ship to confront the two namekians. He couldn’t believe his eyes despite seeing clearly that his old mentor was alive and well. Even seeing him on planet Vegeta, it almost seems surreal. But unfortunately, it was in time for reunions.

“Get your hands off him,” he demanded. Honestly, Nam wasn’t sure how to feel about the situation; the fact that Geurin was here meant the battle hadn’t started just yet, and apparently Zach was yet to be aware of the saiyans presence. The fact that Geurin was standing before and now, meant he still had time to locate the dragon balls –that is, if the beast doesn’t kill Tenshu this instant. Nam was tempted to raise his aura, but he feared that would lead the saiyans directly to them, and he couldn’t afford that. He wasn’t betraying them, if there was anything to betraying at all, he just needed to buy time so that he can find the dragon balls; for if Geurin dies, so will Tenshu; and if Kami dies, the dragon balls will turn to stone and a wish will be impossible.

Nam had mixed feelings. It was hard to think of Tenshu for the sake of the dragon balls; to think of his mentor as nothing more than a means to an end, but there was nothing they could do. Geurin’s fate was sealed, and with it, Kami’s. Unless they can find an alternative, this was the only thing he could do. By the end of this day, it was likely that Kami would die…

[Deleted]

His heart did weigh heavily on the task at hand. As he looked down through the clouds at the world that Geurin had created, he could only imagine the creatures true intentions. Yet now they stood against a common enemy. Had Boliko Koregutsu been there perhaps Kami could have spoken sense into the King, and convinced him to keep Rensou on a tighter leash. But sending him alone was reckless, and Earth would pay the price. Rensou wouldn't steer clear of human civilizations, or avoid killing innocent people. Hell he may do it just for fun. He was unpredictable and the only thing standing in his way was Geurin.

"Geur"

SLAM

He couldn't even utter the devils name before his magic had him thrown into the wall, and his throat crushed by the man's crafty arm. His request was easy enough, yet it appeared Nam had already decided to land his ship on the Lookout. The ship landed swiftly and smoothly, not shaking the lookout at all. His head rolled to the right as Nam appeared.

"N...Nam"

[Geurin]

"Reikonaga....Welcome back Nam"
His arm pulled back, and Kami slipped to the ground, gasping for air. The old man served no purpose other than to continue breathing. Geurin was stuck dealing with his schemes, and now his only chance to be useful had been wasted. Here nam was, his ship landing softly behind them, and the hero himself rushing out at him.

"The last time I saw you, you were heroicly running away from my attack. I never got to tell you how funny I thought it was that your cowardice destroyed an entire planet. When you tell that part of the story do the saiyans laugh along with you?"

Geurin's attack had been over zealous, but he had passionately wanted to kill Nam, so passionately that he had created an attack capable of destroying a planet. In all reality Geurin had very much intended to leave without blowing the entire mass. He was going to strike a few buildings, hit the castle, and let Zach destroy Saru. Frankly all of their effort destroying small things had been ruined by the planets destruction. Although Geurin couldn't complain, it certainly sent the same message, if not a stronger one. On top of that it had proven that the man was capable of destroying a planet, a feat not easily accomplished.

"I was just telling Kami that I wanted to see you before all this mess started...Nam...I want to finish what we started"

Finally turning to face the saiyan, the look on his face would likely infuriate the man. It was in sheer contempt of Nam's emotions. Geurin could read the hero like a childrens book and it was almost sickening how accurate those readings were. It had nothing to do with reading his mind, or even plotting ahead of time. Geurin knew what Nam was thinking, because Geurin knew Nam. He had stalked the boy for years, and had literally relived each and every moment they had experienced a thousand times over. His mind, and his new simulator had fed his obsession, and now before him stood the project himself. Geurin had almost fallen in love with Nam, not on a romantic level, but on a twisted more diluted level that one would love a toy, or a good book. The problem was not how much he liked Nam, but in fact that he wanted control, and until recently he had been given that control. Nam's fear kept him on the run, and so Geurin was always the evil king, and even now his fear and discontent was clear.

But it wasn't enough, he needed more. He needed Nam to understand that Geurin was in charge, and he needed to do it in a manner that was truly final. As Geurin learned he couldn't kill the boy, not because he was not physically strong enough, but because Nam was so mentally important to the man. His survival was necessary to continue the obsession, so long as Geurin could control him, and manipulate his environment, the boy could live. Geurin lost control on Vegeta in a way that would never happen again, he had trained that weakness out.

"There...in the back...The Hyperbolic Time Chamber...This pathetic waste of space locks us in for two minutes, the victor walks out to help their allies or do as...they wish. And as an added bonus I won't even kill you, just lock you in there until I am finished"

The deal was made, if Nam agreed they would walk into the HBTC and fight for what would feel like several hours to them, but would be only two minutes in the real world. If Nam won, he could walk out and find the dragon balls as he wished, Geurin would be locked away unable to stop him or aid Zach. It was the only option he had that didn't end in one of them dying here and now. It was his only shot...at redemption.

[Nam Reikonaga]

Tsk! Nam snarls in distaste as he watches his mentors being jabbed, and yet he couldn’t do anything to stop it. The anger in his eyes grew, trying to suppress the obvious fear that trembled in his heart. And there he went, reminding him once again about his failures to try and lower his self-esteem even more. The saiyans didn’t know it, or at-least, Nam didn’t think they knew; about his escape from Vegeta, while he was quite capable of stopping the monstrous attack from burrowing into the ground and ultimately destroying their home. If Nam wasn’t the culprit, he was at-least an acquaintance to the mastermind behind their attack. He was always the acquaintance…

Nam had no way of knowing whether that would be the end of it. Whether his death would have truly saved the planet –or its people. He believed he was the only person alive with information on the dragon balls, and whether the planet disappeared or not, they would have still needed that knowledge to bring back Saru City and everyone who had fallen victim to Zach’s genocide. Although, it wasn’t long before he learnt that the saiyan king knew of these mystical spheres; in the end, all Nam did was save his own skin and allow their planet to collapse into nothingness. The guilt was so skin deep Nam needed to be the one to make the wish, he needed to be the person to gather the dragon balls and wish back the saiyan’s home and their people –even if it meant he had to do it alone. Redemption wasn’t about proving himself to a green goblin with a complexion, not anymore, it was about bringing back the world he failed to protect –so that his cowardly escape wouldn’t have been in vain and he could live without the guilt. But perhaps the two weren’t completely separate.

Nam was surprised to hear Geurin’s proposition though, it was definitely tempting. If he managed to lock Geurin up, he would probably have the time he needed to get the dragon balls. Regardless, Nam wasn’t a fool. He had trained in his new form time and time again and he had learned that he was no match for Geurin. His ‘new transformation’ dulled in comparison to the level of expertise General Rensou Hiruen had accomplished. Nam’s movements were limited and sluggish; although he obtained immense power, he only just barely managed to rival Geurin’s, without mentioning the severe lack of speed. That day, Nam learned an important lesson. Don’t sacrifice speed for power, if you can’t hit your enemy, then you might as well kneel and die.

The half-saiyan narrowed his eyes and glared. “And what if I refuse?” he stated, masking his fear with a false sense of courage. He smirked in a way he had never done in the face of a man who had quickly turned into his sworn enemy. He knew what Geurin would have said, and so he spoke before he had the chance of saying so.

“Who said you had a say in anything?” he spoke bluntly. “You and I both know that if I were to light up like a torch, it’d be the end of you…” The words would have most certainly enraged Geurin, the very blunt insinuation that he actually feared someone, it was just like the time Nam told Touketsuki Yakedo that he was hiding from Boliko Koregutsu. Geurin knew, and Nam knew, and Geurin knew Nam knew why they were here today. The saiyans who have landed on earth soil were more than capable of ending his reign, and he was very much aware of it. If either of them were to break out into a fight, it wouldn’t be long before they arrived. Nam’s almost nonexistent power-level tauntingly rose a mere 10k, something that would still remain under the radar, but possibly rouse panic from his aggressor. Nam didn’t want the saiyans to find them, not yet, but if this is what they have come to, then it was better to sacrifice the dragon balls. Hope still remained as long as namekians existed. Checkmate…

[Geurin]

"Hmhmhm"

His light-hearted laughter was stirred by Nam's sudden burst of bravery. The man had shown this false bravado time and again, his first time in the Namek's office. They had only just met and already the boy threw himself into the fray. The truth was Nam was in fact a brave man, his ethics without question were positive and righteous. The man himself had no faith in his actions, and that was where his fear did lay. It does not make a man brave who has no fear, but rather a man who can stand in the wake of that fear for the right cause. And Geurin respected that, he knew another man exactly like Nam, one whom had stood up to him with that same fear, and that same false sense of courage. Unfortunately for the side of good, that man lay on the ground at their feet.

"You are a clever man Nam, you have seen through me. You have powerful allies that rival myself, and faced against all of you at once I would surely be no match"

There was no point in conceding that fact. Geurin was well aware of Rensou's reputation, and considering he had helped Koregutsu kill suki, and the fact that the King sent him in his place led Geurin to believe that the saiyan was not all talk. Him and Nam combined would be more than a little challenge, hell Nam was challenge enough already. Throw in a pissed off saiyan legend and Geurin was no match. There was however one thing that Nam had failed to consider, or perhaps he had but chosen to ignore it. Deep down he had to know that Geurin would not be fighting a battle he could not win.

"You have made two grievous error's Nam. Your first is the most laughable...You assume that I die if Tenshu passes..."

It was true, if Nam chose to flick his wrist and end Tenshu's life, Geurin would in fact be dead. There was however one person capable of killing the old namek without suffering reprocussions. It was not as simple as slitting his throat, or blowing him away, but Geurin had ways of disposing of Tenshu without killing himself. The second error however was a far greater one, and as Nam's PL began to spike upwards Geurin couldn't help but point it out.

"You assume I have any love for the place I currently live, or the body I currently hold. Nam what does an animal do when backed into a corner? Understand that if I am put in a situation that I cannot possibly win...I take you, and the entire planet with me. In short, if you don't accept my terms, we fight here, and I promise I can kill you and this entire planet faster than Rensou can fly!"

That of course he couldn't be sure of, but putting his entire life into a direct attack on the planet would be hard to ignore, and with Geurin's instant transmission it meant he could go anywhere to do it. Nam's plan to intimidate Geurin into stalling was backfiring on him due to the insane fatal circle Geurin had placed him in. Perhaps with another villain Nam would call their bluff, but Geurin...Geurin had done it before, and Nam had been there for it. He had seen the crazy, and the darkness. Now the question was how would Nam handle the situation, would he test Geurin's insanity, or would he chance a fight he knew he could lose.

[Deleted]

Their trip had been a long and quiet one. Ritoru had heard and seen things that perhaps he had never been meant to hear or see. Nam was flying to Earth to help a group of people that Ritoru knew were bad. Perhaps not at their core, but in their intentions. He could feel their hurt, and that he would never wish on anyone else, but knowing the length at which they were willing to go to accomplish their goals was staggering. For a toddler of only four years of age he was certainly not prepared mentally to understand what to do, and more importantly his trust in his best friend was wavering. Nam had been the first person to choose Ritoru and to take him in, and not a few days later another man came, his sensei. Zach was like a father to him, and to hear all of these things spoken about him…None of it seemed right. Zach was the one from his dreams whom had seen and felt the chaos. The saddest story Ritoru had ever been forced to witness through a sixth sense phenomenon was the tale of Zach losing his parents to an evil creature, later revealed to be one of similar make to Ritoru, was tragic and brought Zach up to be bitter towards the saiyans that had done harm to him. But to retaliate like that seemed so out of character. How would Zach knowingly cause the same pain he had felt. Perhaps a four year old had a less constructed sense of universal compassion, but all of this evil, and hate. It was hard to see who the good guys were anymore.

But Nam was the Hero. Nam was the good guy and Ritoru was his sidekick. But Rensou Hiruen was not a good guy, or a hero. His warped sense of patriotism would lead him to do anything to accomplish his goals, and that was scary. Hero’s weren’t scary. If Nam was working with Rensou, and more importantly if Nam was going off to fight with Zach, then was nam really the hero Ritoru had raised him up to be. Everything from his muscular stature, to his kind nature brought the boy to believe so. But superman would never team up with the Joker to defeat Batman. Heroes were supposed to stick up for each other.

Obviously there was more to the situation that Ritoru could possibly understand, and as the large aircraft finally landed the boy was fast asleep contemplating the day’s events, and seeing something else…The woman he had run into on Nor, not the angry one who spoke in riddles, but the glowing enlarged one. He remembered her warmth, and in his dreams saw her tears. Of course not every dream Ritoru had was a prophecy, but this one felt real. That woman was full of sorrow and Ritoru could sense it. He kept trying to reach out and touch her, try and sooth her crying, but he couldn’t reach her. It was as if some sort of unnatural barrier was keeping them apart.

“Get your hands off of him”

His eyes opened instantly. While he had slept Nam had landed the ship and was already speaking to whomever their enemy was. Rubbing his eyes and sitting up slightly dizzy from his strange dream the boy could hardly remember where he was or what he was doing, and although the voices were significantly quieter after that first statement, he could still hear the jarbled mumbling of voices from the other side of the wall. Slipping out of his blanket Ritoru prepared to run out to see what was going on and made it to the door before realizing that he was still only sporting his capsule corp briefs. His groggy demeanor caused a slow dressing process, allowing for more back and forth conversation between the two men, and by the time Ritoru had gotten his training gi sweats up and tied around his waist he could hear the woosh of the wind through the open door. Although he couldn’t sense power, he could still feel the upheaval in the wind caused by the power curve, and knew something was happening. Running out in bare feet and a revealed chest the morning air caused goosebumps on the boys skin. Much like his sensei all he needed was the bare essentials to fight, and if Nam needed him a shirt wasn’t going to stand in his way.

Though what he saw was strange. Geurin, the man he feared most was now speaking with Nam, the old green man from before lay injured on the ground, and Nam, his hero, stood energy flaring and voice aggressively arguing with Geurin. Their juxtaposition seemed just strange enough that it appeared as though Geurin were being the reasonable one.

“Mickey?”

He said quietly in almost a whisper. The situation was scaring him, the dark morning sky seemed to suggest a darker intent to the day itself. Perhaps the Earth too knew what was to come, and had prepared for the storm. He couldn’t think of anything more to say, he had to understand what was going on. Geurin was the leader of Earth after all, he was probably trying to talk Nam into helping defend it, which in all honesty Ritoru would have supported. But he was no charismatic leader, or powerful hero. He was but a little boy, and was choked up by the entire situation. His eyes still red from his quick awakening, and the fabric of his oversized training pants fluttering in the breeze.

[Nam Reikonaga]

Nam’s false confidence was soon growing into a potential one as the namekian spoke once again, admitting that Nam was right. He thought that his leisure composure and ostensibly calm figure was all bravado to keep a straight face –a bluff. But that soon made a U-turn upon learning disturbing new knowledge; it seemed the namekian slightly misunderstood what Nam intended –although he retained the gist of it. Sometime even Geurin spoke more than required; sure, Nam thought they were linked –and one would die with the other, but he hadn’t insinuated it during the present conversation.

His eyes narrowed suspiciously and conflicted; If Geurin’s lifeline wasn’t linked with that of Tenshu, then would the opposite be true as-well? This meant Nam could now fight Geurin without holding back. But before he did that, he needed answers, and the news just got worst. Geurin revealed that he wouldn’t hesitate on destroying the entire planet and taking them with him if his hand was forced. Coward! Nam thought, feeling a bit of irony in his own words, the one who escaped death and allowed an entire race to become an endangered species.

But his actions don’t compare to those of Geurin, he thought, his were more pure, his had reason while all Geurin possessed was selfish and meaningless ambition that would only leave him a gaping hole in the long run –literally! He was the epitome of hypocrisy, feigning interest in a world he now governs with an iron fist, when in reality he would destroy it with his own hands a couple times over without the slightest hint of regret, and all just so he wouldn’t ‘lose’. Regardless, much like the impatient Touketsuki, Nam was once again being pressured to make a choice without much time to think.

There were various things to consider; like whether he should risk fighting a battle he was almost certain to lose and become locked away inside the HBTC for what might be years in his time reference inside the chamber, choose to stay and fight anyway –except risking the entire planet in the process-, and last but more importantly, the reasons behind Geurin’s actions…

Geurin definitely had a plan in mind, he thought. Nam couldn’t possibly believe that the namekian only wished to lock him away so that he could be ‘safe’ and remain out of ‘harm’s way’. But the only danger Nam could perceive was the green goblin himself, with his sharp skyward ears and those cold and calculating eyes. Geurin had a plan and Nam might be walking right into it… Nam’s scorn had returned and he glared at the namekian.

And as if things hadn’t been worse enough, the faint but familiar voice of an innocent and frightened child could be heard from behind. Mickey? his heart skipped a beat, and for a brief millisecond he felt like he’d just experienced cardiac arrest with a warm and dull pain next to his heart. There was only one person who called him by that name, he thought. His eyes tempted to widen in a gesture of surprise, but he needed to feign indifference –as if that would change Geurin’s next predictable move, although if he did, he was far worse than Nam envisioned him. He would be scum.

“Ritoru, go back inside!” he warned. His eyes hadn’t left Geurin’s though, and although Nam didn’t exactly yell, the little boy would know he was serious by the tone in which it was expressed.

“Tell me what you mean,” he said, “about you and Tenshu, what’s your connection exactly?”

[Geurin]

Mickey?

The words were music to Geurin's ears. Ritoru had on so many occasions called Nam by that name and it apparently had yet to grow out of the boy. Really Ritoru's presence was nothing more than absolute leverage. Geurin wasn't going to need any fancy fireworks to kill the boy, hell the child was weak enough that a quick jolt to the head would end him entirely. Though that too was not Geurin's intentions of the day. The fact was that Geurin's 'plan' had been interrupted by these saiyans. His 'plan' was in fact revolving around the planet Earth and Ritoru himself.

That said, the boy's death would not weigh on Geurin's conscious, nor would the destruction of the planet itself. A quick reset button is all that was. Geurin had power greater than Nam in one very important way, the dragon balls. He could easily create Hitoshin on another planet and without hesitation resurrect the planet, and any person or person's that he wanted. Nam did not own the same luxury.

"No more words Nam. If you want to talk see your way into the chamber. We will have all the time in the world then. Otherwise I think you know what my intentions are"

With that he looked over at Ritoru with a smile, he didn't need to say it, Nam knew. Geurin was in fact despicable enough to do what he was planning, and if Nam tested him he would be backed into a corner, the only way out being the boy or the planet itself. Nam's concern for Ritoru couldn't be hidden. Geurin had already seen it, and knowing who nam was made it more clear that he could never stop loving the boy. Though one thing that surprised him was Nam's resolve. Not a quivver in his voice, or a shake in his fist. He was prepared to end it tonight which begged the question why he would let Rensou do it.

Perhaps Nam still feared power, that was more than a small possibility, the stronger Geurin got the greater his confidence fell in his ability to control it. But power was necessary for control, and Geurin needed that control. The fate of the battle fell on Nam's shoulders. His next decision would lead them into the HBTC and to the fight of their lives, or would lead to the death of thousands or...perhaps just one.

[Nam Reikonaga]

Nam glanced at Ritoru and grits his teeth. The moment the child left the confines of the ship’s safety all was lost. Nam was going to stand up to Geurin, he was going to lecture the namekian on how he was not going to be pushed around any longer. He was done with running away, running away had done nothing but delay the inevitable, and the gap between their super powers hadn’t changed. Nam was going to fight Geurin here and now, he was going to call the saiyans with his aura and he was going to defend Earth the way he should have back on Vegeta. They would both, Geurin and Nam, vanish from the face of the planet and Nam would entrust the future to King Boliko Koregutsu while his spirit passed to the heavens or hell; assuming there was an after-life and his fate didn’t come down to mere decomposition, if so, so be it.

But Ritoru was at stake now, and as Nam began to consider his alternatives, he had reached a mind-boggling realization. The dragon balls; the idea of dragon balls, was changing him, and he was disgusted… At the same moment the thought even crossed his head, Nam fell under complete neglection. The idea of sacrificing the boy just as he had with planet Vegeta, only because some mystical dragon would rise from the mythical spheres and grant a perfect wish. The idea of such a thing was changing him, and he was just know realizing the monster which had been fermenting within his ostensibly perverted mind. The dragon balls were truly a dangerous thing, little by little, it would desensitize the people who learn about it; they would depend on it and they moral, their beliefs, what they stand for… it would all collapse under the temptation of such an exotic idea.

Nam looked at the boy again with eyes full of contempt, contempt for himself, for the thoughts he had dared entertain. Vegeta was one thing, but this was it, this is what it took for him to realize the wrongs of his ways and the manifestation of evil Tenshu had warned. Corruption that had come from the idea of a perfect wish, from power –as he stated, but not his own; the power which had corrupted him was that of an eternal dragon. He who swore he would not give in to temptations the way others would. All Nam wanted was for things to be the way they used to be, to live a normal life, settle down and have kids. But instead he was dragged into some intergalactic war full of misunderstandings, drama, death and pain above all. Although Nam was so infatuated with the past, even if it was the only thing he yearned for; sometimes we have to be steady and give up on the thing we want the most… even our dreams…

Nam’s fist clenches, and with a forethought he walked towards Geurin. What am I doing!

“Give them to me,” he demanded, “your senzu beans.” His hand reached out authoritatively, expecting the namekian to place the magical beans on his hands. Nam didn’t know for sure whether Geurin had any at all, but he refused to believe otherwise. Geurin had a plan under his sleeve, and if the namekian can’t manage to overpower the half-saiyan he would most probably aim to outlast him –just like on Vegeta; except, this time, Zach wouldn’t be around to make things easier for him. If Nam was going to do this, he needed to make sure he had every possibility to win. Failure was not an option.

[Geurin]

All of his scheming had brought him to this. Nam had agreed to the Namekians terms and now asked for only one thing in return. A guaruntee of a fair fight. Geurin wasn't one to fight fair, and if Nam hadn't asked Geurin would likely have taken them in and not thought twice about using them. But if it was so important to the boy he would indulge him. Holding his own hand open, the palm and fingers pointing up, a bean appeared on the first three fingers. Floating just above him, coated in a strange green Ki. He had of course kept them on his person for just such an occasion, but if Nam desperately wanted a fair fight, then he would get one.

"Give them to you...I think not"

He said, a small crystal ball floating towards them. Geurin had finally found his old toy in the lookout. When Tenshu had returned the ball left to greet him. Geurin had since reclaimed his property and with it a chance to sooth Nam's worries. Pointing his floating beans towards the ball and shooting them at it one would think the beans, or the ball, would shatter. But magic is a strange attribute that both contained. Upon touching the ball the bean was absorbed inside and the other two followed in the same manner. The floating crystal ball now held 3 Senzu beans and floated casually next to them.

"Only I can remove them, so its safe for me as well as you. Now...after you"

Taking a side step so that Nam could see through the door's of the lookout and down the hall, the HBTC was the first thing they could see, its door open to a room of grey matter. If Nam chose to, he could step in and accept Geurin's challenge. He had already made his decision, that much was clear. With a fair fight on the horizon for them, Geurin could almost smell the temptation wreaking off of Nam. He wanted so badly to destroy him, yet in that same manner, like a cat over a ball of yarn, he felt compelled to bat at it until there was nothing left. Nam still had much left in him, and this last fight would once and for all solidify the teen's inner struggle. Either he would step up as the hero he was always meant to be, or he would crumble under the true fear that is the Super Namek.

If Nam moved forward Geurin would follow behind him, closing the door's behind them. Leaving the confused child, and the injured old man to fend for themselves. The big boys were fighting now, and there was no place for them in the chamber. For the next two minutes all hell would break loose, yet for Nam it would be a longer process. For the next several hours Geurin and Nam could fight with no interruptions. Each footstep sent a thrill through his nerves, which only irradiated through his own Pl which slowly began to rise itself. No doubt with Nam's display they were already aware of their presence. Now they would be surprised to find that both Nam and Geurin would be removed from their radar. For no one could sense from within the chamber.

[Nam Reikonaga]

Nam smiled upon witnessing three beans manifest over Geurin’s fingernails. It was a nervous smile that meant many things. He was surprised to see an act of goodwill from the namekian, but he was both frightened by the mere presence of THREE senzu beans. Just as expected, he was walking into his own grave by accepting such an odd request. Geurin had reasons for everything, and yet he couldn’t shake off the feeling that he might have one or two more lingering around his sleeves; one for every finger, he thought.

But he was wrong to have thought Geurin was handing them over as he refused to do so the moment Nam’s arm reached further. He frowned and retracted his hand, “Then I guess the deals off,” he said. Then a familiar orb came floating in out of nowhere, an orb Nam instantly recognized. “So that’s how you’ve been keeping track of my whereabouts…” he said in disdain. Everything made perfect sense now; how despite his every effort to remain under the radar, he had always felt like someone was watching him, and yet there was. Geurin knew everything Nam had done from the moment his reign took over until now. It was an unsettling feeling. His life was truly nothing but a sitcom to Geurin, he wasn’t lying when he admitted to have been following the saiyans every move –back when they faced each other on Vegeta...

Nam thought that would have been their final battle, but things happened, the beans entered the sphere and Geurin stepped aside, revealing the passage that would lead them into that god forsaken hell. He remembered the year he spent in there with both Kami and Antary way back when things were ‘decent’, but now everything had gone crazy. Now he stared at it from afar once more, the fight would last about an hour, but whether he won or not would determine how long he would truly remain within that dreadful place.

Sweat nervously swept down his sun-kissed face as he glanced at Ritoru. The saiyans would be here, Ritoru would tell them where Nam went, that was his job now. He then looked at Kami. He had spoken terrible things last time they met and he only wished he could walk up to the old man and hug him for once. Thank him for everything he had done and sacrified, for giving him the opportunity to reach power never before thought possible. And apologize for failing every step of the way despite all the praises and high hopes he held for Nam. In the end, he couldn’t defeat Yakedo as he foretold, he convinced him to rejoin with his other half to create the source of their misery, he left a race to die by the hands of that same creature, and even now he was still being manipulated by his enemies.

Nam spent a good minute staring at the old man with eyes worth a million pictures. There was nothing left to say, there were no words left to spare. Nam gazed at the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, and as he did and walked towards it, he realized in a sudden moment of epiphany; Vegeta was only the prelude…

[Geurin]

The tantalizing idea that in just a few moments the two would get to exchange blows brought Geurin to a sensational ethereal place. His body was tingling with sensitive excitement. His eccentric opponent had finally stepped into his plan, and he could now handle the situation. One on one he had a chance to destroy his enemies, broken up they were manageable, Rensou himself was enough to throw Geurin off his game, but Nam would throw the entire match. The risk of being tag teamed was too great. He needed to fight Nam, and prove once and for all he was superior to the man.As the two combatants walked in, side by side through the double doors, they would be locked in, the building closing the doors at Geurin's command. Now getting out was up to Kami and Ritoru on the outside, their conflict would no doubt rival that of Nam and Geurin. The air inside was filled with emptyness. A lesser being may have been overwhelmed by the open space. The never ending expanse of the universe. Geurin and Nam were not lesser beings. They were anything but that. They were gods among men, but Geurin didn't see Nam that way. Nam was the mortal who dared to question his reign.

"Now we have all the time in the world"

His voice lightly echoed through the area, as if they were confined in a small space. Yet they were not, the area was an endless expanse, a plain that would not end or give. They were stuck together for the duration, and that meant that anything could happen. If Geurin didn't honor his agreement he could easily kill Nam at the end and there would be nothing to stop him. But then again Nam was more than a fighter to Geurin, he was an obsession.

His plans had never let him forget it. His evil intentions had never once been brought to question. As a matter of fact until the attack on Vegeta Geurin hadn't done anything particularly evil. Certainly he was cruel and calculating. But most of his infamy came from name alone. His true intentions had never once been revealed, and as they stared at each other from across the room, their gaze catching each other in a most fated manner, Geurin said the most serious thing he could think of.

"Not grooming yourself now a days? Their is still spittle on your cheek"

Namekian's hightened hearing and sight allowed this comical gesture to take place. Refering to the dried spit on Nam's face from his encounter with Rensou. Having left Nor right away he probably hadn't had time to show, or do more than rub away the grotesque saliva. Geurin's little jabs aside, he could feel that Nam was not the same kid he had met those five years ago.

"Nam...I lied. You may have defeated Touketsuki but as long as I exist this isn't over. I made you and every saiyan look like the enemy and now you can't even walk on your own birth place without people running in fear. I may seem human in a suit, but you still saw a Namekian..."

His neck cracked to the left. If Nam hadn't noticed yet, this was the first thing the boy had ever said to the Namek. In their first meeting he had said these very words. Geurin had replayed them in his head over and over again. Obsessing over them and loving them. He was right, he had destroyed a threat thought impossible, and still hadn't won. Geurin had taken everything from him short of his life, and even now continued to screw with the young Saiyan.

"You were wrong Nam...I am no Namekian...hmhmhm...I am a fucking god"

His ego was finally pushed to the point of insanely refering to himself as a Kai. His toothy smile hardly hiding the arrogant laugh that echoed in his chest. But why not think of himself as a God? He had essentially taken over an entire planet of people, and molded them into the kind of species he wanted. He had gone to another planet and decided its fate uncontested...or rather contested by a mortal whom was just that. Mortal. Geurin didn't see things that way. He saw himself for what he was. A God among men. His light laughter grew in scale as he thought about it. How he had been the only person of any he had met to accomplish his goals. Nam was left struggling to achieve his. Boliko was still stuck in a rut of vengeance and pain, Zach was as conflicted as ever and now trapped in a spiral of crazy redemption. Touketsuki Yakedo was dead, and his wife trapped by the enemy. There was not a happy ending to any of their stories, yet Geurin had accomplished everything and more. This was the last step.

[Nam Reikonaga]

Shivering goose-bumps rolled down his spine from the moment he took that first step into the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. It had been so long yet he remembered every corner of the place; there wasn’t much to remember. His steps echoed across the vast room which could only be described as the end of time and space itself; the moment the doors closed behind them they were in a realm of perpetual space hidden between the digits of time. Clank! It rang behind as the door was now locked in place and they were trapped until further notice.

Nam lifted his hands to his face to observe as he contemplated the dimension he had yet to fully understand. In this room, time slowed down –but at the same time it accelerated tenfold. One year inside meant a day had passed on the outside, yet their bodies still aged as if he were still residing on the outside world. In a way, he was both, gaining and losing days from his life. Geurin would stop closely behind him with about a meter of distance in relation to the sound of his voice as they gazed out of the only and main building in this realm into the vast eternity that was the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. Nam could feel him smiling with utter joy, and then he spoke.

Indeed, he thought to himself as the namekian decided to break the ice by explaining the obvious. They had all the time in the world, yet they had no time at all. Nam would turn to face the pointy eared goblin with an indifference which could only be described as his persona and he gazed at the man in utter silence as he continued to speak. It might’ve seemed like the saiyan wasn’t even listening by the calmness he emitted.

Geurin’s remark about hygiene was pretty precise, but not because of the spittle he had forgotten between all the dramas. He had still been wearing the same typical saiyan battle armor he had come across upon finding that abandoned ship on Vegeta, right after he was thoroughly injured and practically nude from his encounter with the green man. He actually thought he would have died, and then, maybe it would’ve been for the best…

Nam didn’t have much time to actually shower now a days, his bath was practically the rejuvenation tanks in the ship, but otherwise he was sweaty; his face was full of saiyan pride and fluid, and his hair was befittingly rebellious and bedridden.

Before Nam thought Geurin would continue with his jokes, he suddenly went to a serious tone, initiated by the utter of the half-saiyan’s name. Again, he remained stoic and completely silent, but his attention was now undividedly his if it ever wasn’t. His slanted and penetrating gaze twitched with interest as he spoke words which seemed familiar somehow, yet he couldn’t very well remember. It was only halfway through that he began to recognize the order and certain key words spoken that he insinuated the possibility that Geurin was repeating some words he had said once before; that, or he felt a need to remind Nam why they were enemies, perhaps to incentivize for their match to begin.
Nam was still stuck on those first words he spoke, ‘Now we have all the time in the world’, and so he wondered, whether he could get answers this time, real answers…

"I know you fear me Nam Reikonaga. You and every living being who has been forced to fight at my own hand. That fear...it drives me. I don't do this for the fame, or glory, or power. I am most content with the carnage you have seen today. I do this because that fear is what invigorates me. It is brings me to a level of Ecstasy that cannot be described with words. And with this monumental victory, I have been given another full helping of what I desire most. Nam you especially have fed my desires"

Nam had been staring at Geurin with the same expression even among all that laughter; it was as if Nam was studying Geurin and attempting to decipher him, and whence the namekian began to settle down he finally decided to speak. “Back in Vegeta, you told me; you do the things you do, not for fame or glory or power, but because fear drives you. Was that the whole truth, or is there something more?”

Nam always had the constant need to question their resolve, he wished to understand why someone would result to such things. Was life so boring that Geurin needed to make the universe his sandbox? If Geurin was serious back in Vegeta, he wondered whether anything changed between then and now. Maybe he had new reasons…

[Geurin]

His jaunty laughter had been cut short by the question. Stopping in mid laugh and bringing his focus back towards Nam it became rather clear that the man was not jilted by the inane taunts that Geurin had come to love. No this man was set to task and there was nothing steering him from it now. With nearly two hours before the chamber doors would open again they had time to chat, and that benefited them both. Geurin had after all been keeping his true intentions a secret for over one hundred years. Since his creation within Tenshu's mind their had always been something that irked at his being, and even Tenshu felt it. Never would he have guessed that the moment that held such insignificant value to the healer Namekian, would awaken such a vast demon inside him.

____________________________________________________

SLAM

Tenshu skidded across the sandy arena floor. His face bloodied from the last brutal attack. He was a healer being forced to fight warrior Namekians but that was to be expected, a healer with no talent for fighting was nothing more than a target. Everyone targets the healer before the rest of the team, if regeneration is not possible neither is victory. But this was insane. His training here was constant, he had not slept in weeks and although his physiology allowed for such a mental strain it was still more than bothersome. Rolling onto his stomach, and then propping himself up on his right for arm the young Namek attempted to bring himself back up to a fighting position. Another kick to the ribs would ruin any chance of that.

"Ugh...please..."

Ding

The six cloaked men took a step back. The training had concluded and Tenshu would be allowed to stand once again without being torn to pieces. His body broken and his Ki drained he hardly had the energy to sit up. Luckily for him the team needed his abilities, so dying would not suit their needs. Sitting next to him was the squad captain who sat next to their trainee and pulled out a small flask filled with water. Tenshu wasted no time in snatching it away and taking a large drink. The sun had been beating down on them particularly hard, and that was the point of the arena. It was located on the hottest plateau on the planet, and had walls that prevented wind from rolling in. A week of fighting in 120 degree temperatures would destroy the common warrior, but Tenshu wasn't common.

"Your power grows with each passing day young one. Surviving the full week is something that few ever accomplish. Truly our Guru has chosen well"

Tenshu took a break from his chugging of the precious fluids to let out a light hearted laugh. He was only seventeen years old, which explained his resilience, but certainly not his natural strength.

"Thank you Rinko. But this is all too much"

The man nodded and for a moment they sat in silence. Tenshu was not referring to the training, but rather the praise. For such a cut throat organization they were not shy about letting him know that he was gifted. Tenshu never saw himself that way. But it was true, he was easily the most clever of any of them. He had not only survived for a week, but he had actually done well, giving everyone with the exception of Rinko a run for their money. Even knocking one of the fighters out, and then to the surprise of the others reviving him to full health so he could keep fighting. He was a tactician and there was no doubt about that. He could read a fighters weakness just by speaking with them, which often kept the other members quiet. He was always using his attacks in unique ways and using his clever language to trick his opponents and tare them from focus. The others saw this skill as a waste of time, but Rinko saw its natural ability. If Tenshu could hone his skills, he would without a doubt become greater than any of them.

It was suggested that he was the savior of their people. The legendary Super Namek. Again this was lost on Tenshu who saw himself as the son of a priest. Rinko however had finally seen the potential himself, he saw what the Guru had seen in the boy.

"Ten, you have passed the final test. It is time for you to join our ranks as an official member of the Guru Guardians. We are the seven greatest fighters in all of the world, and defend the planet from outside intrusion. Our abilities keep the peace, and prevent other villages from causing trouble. We are the Guru's word and law."

The official Ceremony would be later in the day, but Renko couldn't wait to speak with Tenshu. His brilliance was something to be picked at, and Renko fellt it. With each conversation Tenshu proved himself to be wickedly charismatic and intuitive. The next words out of his mouth would prove equally as compelling and yet in a sense dark. His weary mind, and the physical strain on his body had called into question one thing...why them.

"Renko... Why are their so few of us? Why are there not more warriors?"

The captain didn't have to think long about his answer. The three clans of Namek were Healer, Warrior, and Follower. Being that the follower Namekians were of little talent in the realm of fighting or healing, they were the largest in population. Warrior Nameks were second largest, making up roughly ten percent of each village, and healers were a marginal group, taking up one percent of the total population.

"Tenshu we are a peaceful race. Even those of us who can fight dislike it, you yourself have said that. It is not the many that win war's but rather a select few who sacrifice so the other's may live. "

"But why can't everyone be like this Renko. Why can't our entire race be capable at defending itself?"

Even though Renko had answered Tenshu still retorted with the question. More and more Tenshu had begun thinking of their enemies. Tales of Saiyan warriors, and Icers, and other frightening aliens had come to mind, and it was unbarable to think that only the seven of them would be in any condition to do something about it. If every saiyan came to attack Namek what would they do? Seven men against an army? It was absurd, and Tenshu's thinking was outside of the box, but strangely dark for his normal tastes.

"If everyone was capable then no one would ever bother us Renko. We would never fear for the lives of our children, or for the safety of our home. We lost our home once before Renko, why have we not been inspired by this"

"Tenshu still your tongue. This isn't like you. A civilization run by aggression and barbarianism will only lead to violence. Why would we need to defend ourselves from an enemy when we ourselves would become it. Yes, I suppose if everyone could fight we would never need to worry about invasions from foreign lands. But what of us? Would that aggression not lead us to become the very evil we seek to keep out? I would say that any nation built on savagery and conquest would end up taking the homes of others. Power comes at a price Tenshu, and our power is enough to keep us safe. Any more would be irresponsible"

The words hit home, Tenshu was actually rather embarrassed as he leaned back and let the sun glide down his face. Though part of him still felt it. The saiyans were a race of these brutes, and they had in fact gone through the life cycle Renko had predicted. But with the right leadership...No Renko was right, the only way to lead a pack of brutes was to be one yourself. Anyone with an army like that, and evil intent could do whatever they wanted.

"You are right Renko, having just enough is more than we will ever need."

Those words were just right, and Renko stood at that point. Looking out over the walls of the arena and over the blue landscape below he felt compelled to reveal Tenshu's name. Of course the Guru Guardians were givers of Names to their newest recruits, their identities forever infused with their character and determination.

"The Guru is right, you shall be the resurrection of our people, and for that we shall name you for it. Geurin. Resurrection"

The name was a name of hope, and as it was announced people rejoiced the name Geurin. It stood for a revitalization. Their fields would grow, and civil unrest would be solved peacefully and justly. Funny how words change in meaning. No doubt Namekians of present day will see the word Geurin and have fear struck into their hearts. A torturous death awaiting them. Though the word had not always meant that it had first been one of hope. That day the seed had been planted, and within Tenshu grew the corruption he swore to fight against. That day was born true evil, and that day was born Geurin.

__________________________________________________

Fear. Back on Vegeta he had told Nam that fear was his motivation, and he had not lied to him. The fear that others felt for him was soothing, and ecstasy beyond fathomable words. Yet there was more than just fear to run his ambition. Striking fear into the hearts of millions was fun, and rewarding. But Geurin was a business man. He had been born by the words of his counterpart, and by an idea that no one person had ever figured out. He who controls an army of warriors, controls the universe. The saiyans had almost gotten it right, but lacked the leadership. Freeza had nearly mastered the technique but then fear took its place. Now there was the perfect storm, a combination of two great things, a people with the power to surpass the saiyan race, and a leader who would not fear them, nor allow them to squander their potential any longer.

"Fear...is what drives us all. Why does a man diet? They spend their entire life hunting for food, working for food, learning for food, and then when they get to much of it they stop. They fear for their health, or their looks. What causes a child to look both ways before crossing a street. What causes us to buy locks for our belongings or carry weapons at our side. Fear is something that exists as an entity of power, and using that fear can grant you power beyond your wildest imagination."

His mouth had actually begun to water at his own words. The thought of finally revealing his plot to someone was almost too good to be true, and the best part was that nobody could stop him now. Even if Geurin died at that very moment the change had already begun occurring, and a race of once sentient and generally peaceful beings had become ravaged with self delusion and violence.

"Do you know what the average human's power level was five years ago Nam? I'll tell you, it was 5.6. With over seven billion people on the planet there were only a select few that were capable of exceeding 25, and even fewer capable of exceeding 100. Now, Nam...the average powerlevel of an Earthling...is 106"

He let the words sink in. Of course the average would have to be shocking. Taking into account Zach who did make for a large number of that statistic, it still left for massive growth from the human's around them. Nam had to have seen it in his travels, and even now the planet was filled with a new smell, an aura of violence. This shocking revelation would finally begin to explain Geurin's plot for treachery.

"Human's have so much potential Nam. Their minds are malleable and their bodies capable of handling many things that other creatures cannot. Their mind's are brilliant beyond many of those around them, and best of all their vast in number with a population problem. Take...Zach for instance. His power is fanominal wouldn't you say? When last you fought weren't you surprised at his abilities? I would assert that this is only the tip of the iceburg for him. I believe Zach will be the first human being to reach over ten million power level...even more, I believe he will reach over fifteen million."

Again shocking numbers, and ones that Geurin had surmised after many trial and error attempts at observing the human. Zach after all had been a test subject. His body, his talents, his brain, and his life had all been a study of Geurin's overall hypothesis that given the right environment a human could grow stronger than any other living race known to the universe. Zach had the perfect set up. A perfect life torn from him, and a new life of bitter fighting and restless nights to provide him with a reasonable power level. Hell when Tenshu first met zach his power was already in the mid ten's of thousands. Now it rivaled even his own energy. The experiments were a resounding success. Geurin continued with his findings.

"Saiyans were already force to live under intensified gravity, Their babies were born stronger than the average adult male human. A baby saiyan could kill an entire platoon of soldiers and still have energy for more. I am proud to say that due to my efforts in devolving this society, the average human baby is now 10% of the power of a saiyan baby...the only thing I am missing is the gravity itself and for that...for that I have a dragon."

There it was, the coup de grace. He was going to use the dragon to create a constant gravity on the planet earth capable of crushing the average human to death in mere seconds...or rather the old average human. The new population seemed vicious, and capable. Nam had been away for some time, and unable to join proper society, but schooling was no longer required of children, but mandatory martial arts was taught to everyone. Even those who were once peaceful were forced to learn self defense, and now the entire population was stronger. The best part of all was that they liked it. Geurin had both mentally and physically trained the human race to become more aggressive and violent in a matter of five short years.

"The super dome was my favorite part. I knew the moment I opened the doors that it would be a success. It was my test of the human race, and they passed tremendously Nam. They were fucking incredible. When I told someone that their fight was to the death they didn't shirk, or cry, or beg for life. They wanted to kill each other. Sure there were a few that had not fully committed, but the numbers favored by hypothesis. Nam I have done it! I have bred a race that will soon rival the saiyans in power. I have built a race of people capable of going to other worlds...Just imagine what would happen if I took all the winners of the Super Dome and dropped them on say...Namek. Do you think Namek would stand up to that kind of ferocity. I estimate that it would take only one thousand humans to kill off every Namekian on the planet. Five hundred if a few of my personal pet projects were to go in, and only one if I sent Zach, but I think we knew that already"

Geurin was physically shaking with delight. All of his years of shadowing his research, and keeping his brilliance hidden was finally over. What was Nam going to do, go tell Zach? The man would never believe him, nor would any other human. Nam was a saiyan, a piece of alien trash that had destroyed them when they were weak, and Geurin was the man who made them strong. It was incomplete, but in just a few more years, barring a wish from the dragon, the human race would be able to compete with the average saiyan at birth -especially without a home planet of higher gravity, lower numbers, and a pacifist king-. In two or three generations the average human would be several thousand in PL and the strong ones, the well trained soldiers that Geurin was creating, would be stronger than any creature in the universe, and all would listen to Geurin's command. He would sweep the universe with his toys and destroy everything. He didn't want land, or wealth. He wanted to test his own chaotic muscles. He wanted to prove that his manniacle master mind was capable of conquering over anything, and most of all, he wanted even the mightiest of people to fall in fear of him and his might. For even if Geurin himself did not kill you, his trickery, and brilliance certainly would.