By StarbearerTM aka Trynia Merin
Disclaimer: I
don't own Dragon Ball Z or Full metal alchemist. Funimation brings us these
master works of anime on DVD. Toriyama created DBZ, and Full Metal Alchemist
belongs to its own creators. I can only claim responsibility for the plot and
the character of Atomique, Parsnip, Fermi, Bohr, Merlot, Cabernet and other fan
characters here. The only pay I get is your reviews so please keep them coming!
And my thanks to those who have already reviewed! Kudos and hugs to you!
Atomique quickly increased the gap between her and her mate
pursuing her. Pressing her hand to her
face she increased her pace, almost tripping on the tall black boots of her
adopted armor. Not wanting to cry in
front of
"You really should stop
carrying on like this. They're starting
to wonder," Radditzu said firmly.
She wasn’t surprised to hear
his voice directly behind her. Still she
didn’t turn around, preferring to hug herself tightly despite the confines of
the hard armor. While she wished to rip
it off her body and throw it in his face, a small part of her cautioned that it
would be foolish to do so. Instead she
kept her gaze and attention fixed firmly to the cityscape just beyond the
glass.
"I'm sorry, it's just a
shock," she said sadly.
"It is one gift you dare
not refuse. Considering it's the best
armor you can get this side of the galaxy," Radditzu snorted. He reached out one hand to touch her
shoulders. To his delight she did not
push him away.
"Your own armor?"
she asked, glancing up at him. At last
she wheeled on him, eyes moist with tears.
"Are you going to be
displeased at THAT?" he snorted, arms crossing over his chest. This time he turned partly away from her,
showing his back. Apparently she wasn’t
the only one who could hold a conversation without facing her companion.
"No, it's just that… you
didn't tell me it was," she said, returning her gaze to the
cityscape. Both of them stood facing
opposite directions. Radditzu faced the
squares of light on the far wall, examining a seemingly fascinating pattern of
cracks while she forced herself to examine the details of every spire she saw.
“You forgot the scouter,” he
said, holding something out to her.
Atomique sighed, making no
move to take it. Shivering, she wiped
away her sadness. Just what she was
feeling at that moment she couldn’t identify.
A wall had risen up against light tendrils brushing into her
thoughts. It dawned on her that Radditzu
was doing anything but forcing his way into her mind. Despite her intense fear that he would know
her darkest secrets, he had made no mental move to enter.
"You like it then?"
he asked quietly, waiting for her rejection. Still he held the scouter towards
her.
“I don’t know what to say
really,” Atomique answered, not wanting to give more then a neutral answer he
could take in whatever manner he wished.
“Or will you throw it back in my face like you
did my other gifts offered so freely before?” Radditzu asked.
“I won’t refuse it. Is this the only thing that I have to wear
for duty?” she asked.
“Yes,” Radditzu grunted. “I destroyed your other armor as you said at
the table. Something many Saiyan males
do to their female mates. It symbolizes
the passage from old into a new trust.”
“Figures. What else do I have
to wear? I don't know if I should be pleased or sad… it's just so… weird. I mean Bardock and Lyssra have only two suits of armor to their possession and
you have only one that I know of!"
"It is all I have to
offer you at this time. The most
valuable thing that I own, female," he said quietly. Both of them turned their heads slightly to
one side in order to catch a glimpse of the other out of the corner of their
eyes.
"It's all you have,
that's weird but it's romantic in a way," she stammered.
"You serve me," he
said quietly, glancing down at her over one shoulder. His dark mass of hair quivered slightly under
his tense shoulders.
"And what does that
mean? Radditzu, what am I going to be
expected to do on this… mission?"
Radditzu finally turned
around to face her. He held out the
scouter to her expectantly, his expression unreadable. Softly he asked, "Then you agree to it
willingly?"
Atomique extended her hand to
accept the scouter. She turned it over
in her hands, realizing it was the one that he wore when they first met. Battered, slightly scuffed but still
usable. Glancing up at him she said,
"I have no choice do I?"
"None that are
wiser," he answered.
"Tell me, am I going to
have to do something stupid like pile 100 natives at your feet to prove
myself?"
Radditzu blanched at her in
confusion and astonishment. "No of
course not!"
"Really?" she
asked. "That is what you'd expect
Kakkarot to do, to prove himself…"
"You already have proved
your strength. You killed at least that
many destroyers who were after us, with your explosions. Though I didn't count them, there were at
least one hundred of them laying in waste…" he said.
"Kami," she trailed
off.
"That is a mere
initiation. You as a warrior have done
far more and far less in your missions.
I saw your mind the last five nights.
I've seen things that match my own aggression. And you have as well," he said
quietly.
“Maybe so, but I…”
“Tell me the truth woman. I
can tell you’re holding back right now.
Speak plainly. If you're lying I
will know it instantly," Radditzu growled threateningly.
“You won’t like it,” she
panted.
Radditzu struggled to calm
himself. Raising a hand to her cheek he
gently caressed it. "I will not
hurt you if that's what you fear."
“You were ready to hurt me
last night!” she glared at him.
“I was angry. And attacking you was a coward’s way. I was only trying to intimidate you into
telling me why you’re so stubborn,” Radditzu said.
"You want to know the
truth? You probably will think me a
weakling, right? I'm not a killer like
you and Nappa are. I can't exterminate
an entire civilization without cause.
Just to justify the existence of you or myself. I can't and I won't do it, Radditzu. No matter what threats anyone holds over
me," she choked.
"I know you can't,"
Radditzu said softly with a sigh. “That’s the problem.”
"I’d say it was! You enjoy killing, don't you? I don’t! And I make no apologies for it!"
Atomique accused him, poking a finger right into the chest of his gleaming new
armor. Like onyx it glistened in the
light of the twin suns pouring through the windows just before them.
"When it’s warranted
yes. Don't deny you don't hunt for
pleasure!" Radditzu cackled, shaking his head.
"But piling bodies like
wood… defenseless creatures that can't fight back! Radditzu I wont' do it!" she snapped.
"You don't have to, if
they give you no resistance. The only
reason to kill is if the customers wish the planet cleared. If they are vermin who have no use that's one
thing. Those that serve no purpose and
those who pose a threat. Those strong
enough,” he began. She pushed him away,
scrambling to her feet.
“Give me a BREAK! So, I just
kill a bunch of humans. That makes me
some great warrior? It makes me a weak
coward," she snarled.
"I'm not asking you to
do that," said Radditzu. "I'm
asking you to help me complete a mission.
Is it so hard? You haven't let me
TELL you what it is."
"Then what is it?"
she snorted, staring daggers at him.
"To help find my brother
for one thing. And to help conquer a
planet. That doesn’t' automatically mean
wholesale slaughter if you can bring the natives to heal. If you don't wish to kill them, you can find
whatever way you wish. Just as long as they agree to your terms," Radditzu
shook his head.
"
"I only cleared the
vermin too weak and miserable to survive.
Those I felt who deserved to survive I left to fend for themselves or
serve the customers. If they willingly
gave up, I let them have a sporting chance.
Most would be sensible and surrender.
They were the ones who were slaves and servants. They had a chance at life and
protection," he said.
"Listen to
yourself! Just like someone you’re
implying that I did so to in the past?” she trailed off.
"The Ishballans
perhaps?" he finished for her.
"You humans do the same thing.
Don’t' deny that's what you'd do if your race conquered other
worlds."
"We would," she
choked. "That's human nature."
"Indeed. You humans aren't different that much from
Saiyans. Love of your own race is the
greatest of all sacred truths. You'd
kill any other race so yours would survive.
That's the Saiyan way.
Subjugation of the weak in favor of those fit to survive,” Radditzu said
in a tight voice like the day before. His
hands descended on her shoulders, whirling her around to face him again. He brought his face close, his hot breath
fanning her face.
Atomique stood up to her full
height, glaring at him in sheer loathing.
He had said he wanted total honesty, so she had nothing to hide from him
now. Regardless of whether he would kill
her, she knew she had to say her piece given this opportunity. Marshalling the words before she lost her
nerve she shouted, "There is a better way! Radditzu, I don't know what you
expect of me!”
“What BETTER way is there,
Answer me woman if you’re so stubborn. Damn it, I’ve tried EVERYTHIGN to get you
to see reason! Can’t you see that…?”
Radditzu yelled eyes flashing with something close to rage.
Seeing that outrage, Atomique
found her nerve flaring into a flashpoint fury.
She grabbed his arms grabbing her shoulders. Tightly she squeezed his wrists, digging her
nails into his. Curling lips back she
showed her own sizeable fangs. All her
muscles quivered with the force of her tirade,
“There are SOME things that I can NEVER do, no matter what you say! Maybe I’ve killed in the past, but damn it you’re
asking me to do things that I’ll never find pleasurable! Why is killing and outright slaughter of the
weak a measure of proving your superiority?
You can’t logically tell me you find any pleasure in subjugating an
enemy like some BULLY when you could fight back and prove you’re a stronger
warrior by fighting a worthy adversary!”
At that moment Atomique’s
hands crackled with powerful ki.
Something boiled up inside of her along with the words, refusing to be
held back any longer. All the anger and
hatred over the past few months swelled and squirmed for release. Hardly realizing it she let it all go in a
single burst. Just before her purple
radiance flared, pitched with her angry scream.
Radditzu’s hands released the
next moment to her amazement. Horror
crossed his features that she could see rapidly shooting away from her body
towards the far wall. Plaster cracked
at his impact. Atomique glanced down at
her hands, and then dropped to her knees.
Slowly Radditzu sat up, shaking bits of wall off his dark hair. He
actually looked terrified of her at that moment. A wave of sheer fury had slammed into him
like a fist through the mental bond they shared. She had no comprehension of the loathing he
discerned seeping off her in waves. Pure
disgust hit him harder then the worst ki blast.
As much as his behavior had affected hers, she in turn had melted what
seemed a heart of stone. Even without a
scouter he had some inkling of power levels.
At that moment hers flared far greater then any level he had
expected. Yellow lights bleeped across
his scouter, alerting him at the precipitous climb.
“It can’t be. Her energy is equal to mine,” he
panicked.
“I… I’m sorry oh shit!” She
shuddered in horror, dropping to her knees.
Now he was going to kill her, she thought. If he was, she welcomed it. Far better to die then face life as one of
those blasted pirates.
“You… you realize what you
did?” Radditzu stammered, shakily approaching her. He dropped to his knees near her huddled
figure. She shuddered with great racking
sobs of relief.
“What does it matter
anymore?” she whimpered. “Go ahead and
kill me. You’re going to do that aren’t
you?”
Radditzu knelt down, resting
his hands on her shoulders. “So, that’s
the truth is it? You think so little of me and all of this?”
"I hate it, and I should
hate you," she whispered. Radditzu’s eyes widened discernibly, a look of
what surprisingly resembled hurt crossing his handsome face. His Adam’s apple bobbed once, showing his
hard swallow. He licked his lips, sadly
shaking his head.
“Am I such a monster to you,
precious one?” Radditzu asked his expression unguarded. Walls fell in those seconds, exemplified by
him reaching up to pull off his own scouter and regard her with both his dark
eyes.
“I cannot say,” she replied,
unable to look him in the eyes. Was he
resorting to making her pity him? Would
he really sink that low, lying to her?
Something told her that he was being as brutally honest with her as she
was with him. Stripping each other’s
soul to the bare bones in an instant that few but his father would see.
"I had thought as
much," Radditzu answered, glancing away.
“But I don’t hate you,
Radditzu. I hate what you’re making me
do,” she answered.
Voice cracking he said,
"Precious one don't you realize I have no choice?"
“That’s bullshit,
Radditzu. We always have a choice,” she
spat at him. “How long are you going to
let those with greater power tell you what to do?”
“I live to serve the Royal
House,” he answered.
“You’re capable of so much
more,” she whispered, shaking her head.
“You’re no weakling,” he
mumbled. “I tell you now that you will
have the freedom to do as you wish. But
you must accomplish the task given, or we'll both suffer a far worse fate."
“How generous of you,”
Atomique laughed harshly, rolling over to sit up. Radditzu huddled on the floor nearby, hugging
his knees in a way that seemed pathetic.
Gone was that harsh superior attitude, replaced with something like pity
towards her.
“It is, whether you realize it
or not, woman,” Radditzu said sadly.
“You don’t know what it’s like…”
"I can give you an
example from my experience. In my
universe, you killed your own brother.
You,
Radditzu squeezed his eyes
shut. She had him there. Why did he feel the need to justify himself
to her? She should be glad that he
spared her, and now he was showing his weaknesses to a mere woman? Cursing himself and his insanity, he snorted,
"That is your world, not mine. You
realize your value? You MUST join us, or
this world could suffer the same fate.
You think I WANT my brother dead if he's alive? If his power on your world is any indication,
it is in our best interest to convince him to return with us. And before he's formed irreversible bonds to
those weakling humans…"
"The so called ‘weakling
humans’ are the only genetically compatible species. Id’ be VERY careful who I call weak if I were
you. The half blooded son of your
younger brother was FAR more powerful then you could POSSIBLY imagine,"
said Atomique.
"I know that, but they
do not," Radditzu whispered, bringing his lips close to her ear. "That is why I insisted on this
mission.
"And what will you do
once you find him?" she asked.
"Fight Brolli and those that stand against us. But the planets we claim are not for THEM,
but for his glory. Raw materials out of
which he can forge a new empire,” he said.
Groaning, she slapped her
forehead. Radditzu blinked at her,
astonished at her disgust. She mumbled,
"You're the idiot,
Radditzu. What then? Try and wish for immortality?"
"Humph, that would not
be a bad idea, but what's the point? I
don’t want to live forever! That’s
ridiculous!" Radditzu asked.
"You'd turn down
immortality?" she gasped.
"Yes. It's too easy," Radditzu laughed,
throwing back his head. It was
Atomique’s turn to pick her jaw up off the floor. He leaned over towards her, bringing his
large body to press close to hers.
“It surprises you that much,
precious one?” Radditzu chuckled.
“I… didn’t realize… I mean
“How foolish do you think I
am, woman?” he guffawed, pressing his forehead to hers.
“Vegeta would think you were
an idiot for that,” she breathed.
“Little one, Saiyans live and
die. What insanity is it to cheat death
when the mission of a true Saiyan warrior is to defy it? We eliminate death, and there is no strength
in our living. That is the folly of this
idea. When we die we pass on to the
halls of our ancestors and fight an even greater war. To defy the will of Father Oorzu is treasonous.”
"So if you DID get the
idea to wish for immortality it goes against Saiyan tradition?" she asked,
reaching up to stroke his cheek in her astonishment. Her respect had gone up for him considerably.
"Yes. Why do you think I'm going on that trip?
Atomique pulled her hand away
as if she’d stung him. He watched her
shift so she sat with her back to him, Indian style. Radditzu watched her
shoulders rising and falling, while her fingers clenched and unclenched into
small fists at either thigh. Catching
her temper she asked, "And what about your brother? What is his role in this?"
"To fight at his side
and reclaim the destiny denied us," Radditzu said with a low smirk. He loved his woman with such fury. She had become a Saiyan in ways she had hardly
imagined possible. There was no mate he
would have loved more than the woman before him right now. "And if he's that powerful, just think
what hidden abilities may lurk in myself.
I could be his equal and more. To
think of no longer crawling as a third class worm is far more attractive then
petty immortality."
"The Prince won't like
it. He’d disagree vehemently to your
philosophy," Atomique warned him.
Out of the corner of one eye she glared at him, showing only a quarter
of her face. Amusement spread over
Radditzu’s countenance seeing the firm set of her jaw and the gleaming anger
twinkling in his mate’s dark brown eyes. Although he couldn’t glimpse his
reflection in them now, he saw his own features mirrored in the green lens of
her new scouter.
"True, but it will give
him a reason to train," Radditzu chuckled. "I've known him since he was a
whelp. There is very little about him I
don't know. And from what Nappa and I
saw, we realized he was our salvation.
He's achieved the Legendary, as has my brother. There is no distinction in class if that is
true. All Saiyans can achieve the
Legendary. But that knowledge must be
kept from him till the right time."
"Maybe in that universe
but you can't know," she said.
"And if you want me to destroy the world your brother lives
on."
"No you idiot. Only clear it of those that oppose us. You must study it, and convince my brother if
he's there to join us. That's ALL you
need do. But you must also destroy any
forces that would oppose Saiyan control of that world for our own use. And if there are far too many weaklings
draining its resources you must thin out the surplus population."
"I won't kill for the
hell of it," she said. "I
won't slaughter innocents."
"They will die anyway if
Freiza's brother and sister find us. You'd be saving them from a far worse
fate," he said quietly. "Do as
you will, but your mission will be clear.
And you'll have a whole year in which to accomplish it. If in six months I don't hear from you, I'll
come myself. And if in that time he
hasn't been convinced, then you should reevaluate your squeamishness."
"I won't
slaughter," she said.
"The humans won't die by
my hand without provocation. Their lives
are yours to do with as you please. But
if they screw up our plan, then both of us will die," said Radditzu
quietly. "I died on your world at
my brother's hand, and that of that green man.
You will share the same fate if you fail."
"Then why aren't YOU
going?" she asked. He grabbed the
scouter from her hand, and fitted it over her ear to her surprise.
Affectionately he nipped her
nose, then chuckled, "Idiot, you know what went wrong. It's your chance to pave the way, so that I
might join you and both will succeed where one alone failed. If you convince Kakkarot to join us, and
leave his world forever, then you may spare that world. But if he refuses, you must do whatever it
takes to convince him otherwise before I come and get you both. The choice how to do so is yours. But you will not have any hope of severing
the bond that ties us. Don't think for a
moment that I can't find you.”
"I'll do your damn
mission if it means that much to you," she blurted out.
"Good. I knew you'd be
reasonable," Radditzu said, reaching out to draw her into his arms. "Now let's stop this and finish our
meal. And then you'll meet the other
members of the team."
"Shit," she
whispered, feeling as if she'd sold her soul to the devil.
“Nothing can change the shape
of things to come they say. My father’s
visions see a time when we are all free.
I hate to think he is completely wrong in this, as much of a fool as I
think him,” Radditzu purred, pulling her into his lap.
“Maybe there can be a
change. A better way. I won’t give up trying to convince you
otherwise,” she said.
“I wouldn’t have it any other
way, precious one,” he purred, leaning in for a kiss. “Like it or not we’re stuck with one another
for eternity. If that means that I put
up with your foolishness you must do so with mine.”
Radditzu held her close to
him on the floor. She buried her face in
his fall of black hair, clinging tightly to her mate that she could never
leave. Inextricably there was no escape.
Would she rule in hell rather than serve in heaven, she wondered? IT seemed that she had a better chance by
simply accepting her fate and then trying to change it when she was alone to
think.
“Curse it I love him,” she
sobbed.
“I know,” he whispered. “And the feeling is returned. I will never let you go, and I won’t let any
harm you. And I will never take your life
by my hand. This I swear.”