Vegeta ran down the hall and saw Gayah's door. He nearly threw the door when he opened it, and he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the sight before him. Zelon. He was HERE.
'Dammit! Of all my luck, he makes his decision while I'm gone.' His eyes glanced over to Gayah, who was still unconscious and now barely covered.
"Well, nice of you to join us, Vegeta. Were you looking for me?" Zelon asked. Vegeta put his hands on his hips, and as he did so, he slipped the yellow crystal in his back pocket. Zelon didn't know Vegeta had it! Vegeta smirked.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I WAS looking for you, Zelon. I was thinking you had forgotten about us."
"Well, you were wrong. On my watch, it took me exactly one hour to come to my decision. I will fight you, Prince Vegeta. And I promise it will be a fair fight," Zelon vowed.
"I won't take promises from you. Who says you'll keep your word?" Vegeta asked.
"No one said I would or wouldn't. I guess you'll have to wait and see," Zelon smiled.
"Then let's get on with it!" Vegeta challenged as he got in fighting stance.
"It would be my pleasure," Zelon replied.
"NO!" They both stopped what they were doing and saw Gayah standing beside the bed with her clothes on. When had she woke up? "There will be no fighting. At least between you two. I won't allow it."
"Oh, and what do you plan to do?" Zelon asked with a scowl. Gayah smirked.
"She won't do anything because we are going to battle!" Vegeta spoke up. 'Kakarita, what are you doing?! You're going to get yourself killed!'
"That's right. She doesn't have her energy. She is helpless, just like she was when she first arrived here," Zelon remarked. Gayah hung her head and her shoulders shook in anger.
"I'm not helpless, because I have people to fight for. I'll do whatever it takes to beat you, Zelon. I swear it on my life," Gayah snapped.
"Well, that's okay, because I OWN your life," Zelon commented. This just angered Gayah even more. 'Excellent. It's working. She has no idea what's coming her way.'
"You don't own me, Zelon. NO ONE does. I'm not property, and I think it's time for you to realize this."
"How do you plan on making me realize this when you are a regular Earthling with no powers to call your own? I have them in my throne room," Zelon laughed.
"Not anymore you don't," Vegeta blurted out. He lifted his hand from behind him and in his palm was the glowing yellow crystal. Zelon's eyes widened and Gayah gasped.
"I can feel it...my energy! Vegeta you found it!" Gayah exclaimed with a smile.
"It doesn't matter because you won't get the chance to use it!" Zelon snapped. He grabbed Gayah and a black portal appeared. "Prince Vegeta, if you really think you can beat me and get back your princess, then follow this portal. I'll see you soon."
"NO! KAKARITA!" Vegeta yelled. Gayah struggled to get lose, but no matter what she did, she just couldn't get free.
"Vegeta...no..." Gayah stumbled off. And with that, the two of them disappeared into the black portal, not to be seen. Zelon's energy signal vanished just as fast as his body did. Vegeta screamed out.
"I need to get back to Earth and tell them what happened!" And with that, Vegeta sprinted through his vortex, coming face-to-face with Goku...
Zelon and Gayah appeared through the black portal. Around them appeared to be nothing but oblivion. Zelon threw Gayah to the floor.
"You think you can win?! You're WRONG. I'll defeat Vegeta for your viewing pleasures, Princess," Zelon hissed as he towered over a still weakened Gayah.
"No, you're the one who is wrong, Zelon. You see, good has always triumphed over evil. This time will be no different," Gayah replied with a scowl. Zelon's shoulders shook with impatience. "I know your secret. I know your weakness. You're an energy parasite. That's why you hunger my energy so badly. In your past you must have been struck with a virus that sapped your energy for all eternity, and the only way to sustain your life is to feed off of the energy that belonged to the strongest life forms in the universe. Obviously you chose me for other reasons than that one. You must not have had much luck in the past with women."
"You don't know me, Gayah. And you never will because this is where you die." He lifted his hand to strike her, but something stopped him...
"Oh Dende...KITARIA?!"
Vegeta stood there, looking at Goku. "Kakarot? Where is everyone?"
"Vegeta, you're back. They're in the kitchen getting something to eat. Gohan's getting me something. Where's my sister??" Goku asked in the calmest voice possible.
"Zelon still has her, but I have THIS." Vegeta held out the yellow crystal.
"I can feel it...it's Gayah's energy!" Goku rejoiced as he slowly took the crystal in his hands. They both sat down on the other side of the room. "I don't think it's a good idea for her to get her energy back. Let's wait until she gets back here." Vegeta nodded.
"For once Kakarot, you may be right. I don't know what would happen if we gave her energy back," Vegeta sighed. "Especially since now she should be able to travel through this portal." Goku stared at him.
"So...did you and Gayah..."
"Yes Kakarot. We DID." Goku nodded.
"I figured you would."
"And why do you say that?" Vegeta inquired.
"It was the easiest way to go. And I have to say, I thank you for doing that for her."
"Well, don't be thanking me yet, Kakarot. We still have to get her back to this dimension."
"I know, but we will. You're the only one besides Kitaria who can go through to face Zelon, but I don't think sending Kitaria is a very good idea," Goku replied.
"She shouldn't have to deal with something like this. Just keep her out of it, Kakarot. I'll deal with Zelon," Vegeta stated.
"Are you sure you can do this alone?" Goku asked. "It's not that I don't have faith in you, but...I guess I'm worried for you."
"Well, you have nothing to worry about. I'll get Kakarita back. I bet my life on it," Vegeta vowed. While the two Saiyans were talking, they didn't see a figure slip around them and enter the vortex...
"Gayah, I'm glad you're okay," the girl said as she clenched Zelon's wrist in her hand and threw him across the endless space around them. He fell to the ground, moaning in pain. "If you think for one second you're going to mess with MY mother, then you're WRONG." Gayah looked up at Kitaria and felt a warm emotion swim over her; the same feeling she felt when she knew that nothing bad would ever happen.
'I can't believe this. Depending on my adoptive daughter to rescue me. First Vegeta, now Kitaria...' Gayah stood slowly, looking at Zelon stand up.
"That's IT. Gayah, you will now bow down to me."
"BOW to YOU?! Are you out of your mind? I don't bow to any -" Gayah stopped and felt something coming started to cloud her thoughts. "Wh - what's going on?!" She fell to her knees, clenching her head in her hands.
"Gayah! What's the matter??" Kitaria demanded. She looked up at Zelon, whose eyes were glowing an evil red. "Dammit. What do I do NOW?!"
"NOTHING. There is NOTHING you can do for her now." Kitaria started to power up.
"I will NOT let you hurt her!" Kitaria promised. 'This isn't good. If he unleashes her onto Earth, we're all done for! I need to figure out a way to get her back to normal. And the only way I see possible is to destroy Zelon.'
"So, where exactly IS Gayah, Vegeta?" Goku asked. Vegeta hung his head.
"Zelon took her to another dimension. He wants me to go and fight him. I wanted to come here and tell you and the others first before I did anything," Vegeta explained.
"What is Zelon trying to prove?!" Goku exclaimed angrily. "If he harms Gayah any more than he has already, I don't know what will save him from me."
"Kakarot, you can't even travel through the portal. How on Earth would you plan to get to her? You'll die first," Vegeta pointed out. Goku shook his head.
"I'd die for her, Vegeta. You of all people should know this."
"I DO know that, but there is nothing you can do. Only the girl and I can go through that vortex and actually have a chance at defeating Zelon!" Vegeta informed. Goku stopped and started to look around. "What?"
"Now that you mention it, I can't feel Kitaria's life energy here. You don't think she..." Vegeta turned his head and looked at the portal.
"Damn her. She just HAD to go after Kakarita!" Vegeta yelled. "I guess I better go. The next time you see me, I'll have your sister with me." And with that, Vegeta left. Goku sighed.
"Kitaria, don't do anything too drastic."
"Whatever you're doing to her, stop it now!" Kitaria pleaded.
"Shut up, girl. Wait until you see what Gayah really is," Zelon laughed. Gayah screamed out.
"Gayah NO!!" The black-haired woman started to stand slowly, a hiss escaping her mouth as her breathing calmed.
"You see, when I raped Gayah, not only did she become a part of me, but I became a part of her. She can be controlled by me and her evil powers will be awakened! This is her true self; the part of her that never would have been...until now," Zelon explained. After saying this, Vegeta appeared from the portal.
"VEGETA!" Kitaria exclaimed.
"What the hell were you thinking when you came here?!" Vegeta demanded as he approached the distressed girl. "What's the matter?" Kitaria raised her finger, pointing to Gayah.
"It's...Gayah. Zelon has taken control over her," she answered.
"Yes! She'll do whatever I say, whenever I say! And there is nothing you can do to stop me, especially since Gayah doesn't have her energy to help her!" Zelon laughed. Vegeta's eyes widened and he looked at Gayah. Her face was expressionless and her eyes had turned red.
"Kakarita...I won't let this happen to you..." Vegeta murmured.
"Like I said, there is nothing you can do to save her. You may have her energy, but it won't save you or her. She has been released into the darkness, her once pure soul now full of sin and hatred. Give up. Or suffer the consequences," Zelon replied. He laughed.
"It's sad. Using a woman as your shield. That will change. I'll take Kakarita home safely and DESTROY you!" Vegeta vowed.
"Gayah, what do you say about that?" Zelon asked. Gayah's shoulders shook as she chuckled evilly.
"I say...I could take on Prince Vegeta in your place, Zelon. And I'LL destroy HIM," Gayah answered in a raspy voice.
"You can tell it's not her, Vegeta," Kitaria whispered. "Listen to her voice. You just know by looking at her that she has completely changed. I can't fight her, Vegeta."
"You don't have to. I'll fix this. I want you to go back to Earth and get her energy from Kakarot. After I get her back to normal, we're giving her energy back so she can take revenge for what he's done to her," Vegeta ordered.
"Will you be okay by yourself?" Kitaria asked.
"Why do you care? You haven't before," Vegeta pointed out. Kitaria hung her head.
"I - I know. But it will change from here on out," Kitaria said.
"It doesn't matter right now. We need Kakarita's energy from Kakarot. Go get it. I'll take care of this," Vegeta explained. Kitaria nodded and ran into the portal, out of sight. Vegeta turned to Gayah and Zelon. "I will not fight Kakarita. I'll refuse just as I did when I first arrived on Earth."
"Ahh...so you refused to fight Gayah when you first came to Earth? Let's reminisce. I'm sure she was very angry for killing her friends and coming to her planet, wreaking havoc. And yet, you had no problem fighting Goku, but you wouldn't fight Gayah. Is it because she is the Princess of the Saiyans?" Zelon inquired. "Do tell, Prince Vegeta."
"Of course I wouldn't fight her. I have a connection with her that was reborn once we were reunited. And not long after, on Namek, she aligned herself with me against Frieza. That's when we became actual friends...on Namek, that was destroyed as well as our home planet," Vegeta started. He clenched his fists together. "Frieza took my father from me. I sure as hell won't let another one that I love be taken."
"Well, you're a little too late for that, Vegeta. Gayah has already submitted to me. You'll love this. After I raped her, we became a part of each other. Therefore, it is so easy to control her. Just wait until I take her again," Zelon scoffed. Vegeta growled.
"You're a fucking bastard. How dare you talk like that about her. She is not an OBJECT. She is a living, breathing person. And you're going to wish you never touched her. I'll make you pay, I swear it," Vegeta vowed. He powered up.
"Well, your fight isn't with me. It's with HER. YOUR princess. Gayah, ATTACK HIM!!" Zelon ordered. Gayah smirked and powered up. "Now Gayah, I want to watch him suffer, so drag out the pain."
"Of course Zelon." Gayah flew at Vegeta and they grappled fists.
"Kakarita, wake up! Don't let yourself be controlled!" Vegeta begged. Gayah just laughed.
"I AM awake, for the very first time. I can now understand why you want to defeat my brother. Having this kind of power feels wonderful," Gayah explained.
"I don't care about beating Kakarot anymore! I just want to take you back to Earth. Our HOME," Vegeta said.
"It isn't my home anymore. I'm glad to know you adjusted to life there. But as you said years ago, a Saiyan doesn't belong on that planet. A Saiyan needs a challenge. And here is MY challenge: finally getting the chance to fight you!" Gayah informed.
"Dammit Kakarita, I was WRONG. You taught me to love life and love living on Earth. I adjusted because you SHOWED me. You showed me care and love like no one ever did before. And now that I have finally learned it, you're giving it up because this bastard raped you and can control you to do what he pleases. But there is one thing he forgot. We're a part of each other now, and believe me, I won't give you up without a fight."