An Amity Revived
Chapter Six
Anger burned within the sub-leader. Frustration, specifically. His fury blinded him so much he wasn't even doing what he was supposed to do. He wasn't sure even if he announced the search for actual proof in the first place. Maybe he just wanted to get away from everyone. Nonetheless, it was still very awkward to be overjoyed to be reunited with his comrades one minute to wanting to be far from them the next.
Toma knew perfectly well that the blame could not be put on Panboukin. He only brought up the topic of dead assassins because the previous conversation had come to an end. He was well known to keep everyone talking and active; after all, his well of topics never ran dry. Perhaps it was Toma's fault after all. If he had kept his thoughts to himself instead of jabbering everything out, maybe he would be enjoying life once again. However, he kept telling himself that most of the blame had to go to Celipa. She was the first to be annoyed, and she seemed a little too cheery to walk away from the group.
Toma closed his eyes lightly. The wind of his flight whistled through his ears, the loose fur on his auburn tail and his hair fluttered with the wind. The speed he was going was incredible for one that was revived a mere hour ago. He could care less; at that moment, he was irritated, confused, and most of all, worn out.
He slowly opened his eyes again, glancing towards the earth of the planet. The passing scenery underneath him streamed quickly passed him, but he never noticed anything peculiar about it. If he had been paying closer attention he would have gone dizzy. Lying on the ground were the decaying bodies of the Meatsei-jin, some crushed from demolished buildings, others craned in the most painful position imaginable. There were millions of them, and three times more of pieces of structures. This must have been a large and prosperous city.
Toma didn't care. Nothing of his surroundings seemed to faze him one bit. What really concerned him was the fact that Celipa implied she wanted Bardock to have lost the battle he fought. Normally she would have automatically agreed to the brighter side of the situation instead of looking at the dark. She would have easily said, "That could be possible."
But instead...
"Are you doubting me?! You have no idea where I found this! And you have absolutely no idea about the positions we were revived through! The reason being: you were the last one to be resurrected! Now, when I awoke from my supposed 'eternal sleep' I saw no rubble in the five-yard circle that surrounded me! Why? Because we were in a ditch caused by some sort of energy attack! We followed the ditch back to where we know we died. Therefore, we were caught in the middle of a battle where Bardock obviously lost! That ditch was at least seven miles long!"
There was an element in her words that has never been there before. Something that only Toma ever carried: reasoning. She had actually made a point, actually intended upon making a point. It was a definite first for the young Saiya-jin woman. In the past, she was closely related to a "push-over", for she gave in to arguments instantly. Sometimes before they even started. Toma remembered all of the times when an argument could have easily started if she wanted it to happen. But she never did.
That is, until a few minutes ago.
Did the other two notice her strange behavior? Probably not. They only notice two things: their victims and their enemies. Even if they did notice, they probably wouldn't care. Was he the only one who actually had some concern about it?
Damn. He hoped he was just telling himself he was worried and wasn't actually worried.
But what if she was right? Then the Saiya-jin race was gone. The commander of this small crew had been the last hope for them all; if he had died on the planet all the traditions and lives of the Saiya-jin were down the drain. Toma sighed the slightest bit, hoping that Celipa was wrong. She just had to be wrong. Bardock had to have made it off the planet alive and back to Vegetasei in time to defeat the cold lord. He had to have. So she had to be wrong!
Toma stopped abruptly, the aura that had been surrounding him vanishing. He didn't see anything, for he had not been paying attention to his surroundings, but a realization occurred to him. Something that was very important, and he should have thought of it sooner back before he had made the decision to start a search for the last piece of evidence that they needed. They had forgotten about one little detail that could have prevented the separation.
"Damn it," he muttered just under his breath, just barely audible. "How could we have been so thickheaded and missed it?"
Quickly he turned back around and started speeding off back towards their landing site. He doubted that anyone was going to be there when he arrived, but he hoped that someone was stupid enough to not have left yet.
This couldn't be happening. Not like this. What did he do to deserve this? What did they do? And why?
The red sky had become tedious quickly, but there was nothing else he could stare at. Toma was too weak to move, to change positions to have new scenery to look at. He tried to sit up several times, but either the pain held him down or the fear of feeling more pain than he already felt prevented him from moving. Or maybe the realization that his time to pass on was near. Whatever the reason, there was no way he could lift his body up.
He could let go any moment. He knew he could, but something told him to hang on. Something at the back of his mind was telling him not to let go of his life, so he didn't. He forced himself to stay alive. He didn't know what he was waiting for, but as long as his conscience was stubborn, he decided that he would be too.
But these rocks were piercing his skin too much! He couldn't stand it. Were they even rocks? They were too sharp; it was probably the remains of broken belongings of the inhabitants or the buildings of the inhabitants. He didn't care anymore though. He didn't care if these beings had been too easy to kill. They didn't have to go through even half the pain he felt. His companions hadn't either. They were killed on the spot, almost instantly.
He closed his eyes and let out a breath of agony. He cringed, placing a hand flat on the ground. He then brought it up closer to his body and head, bending his elbow. The other arm followed. He pushed off from them, lifting his upper torso only a couple millimeters from the ground before the pressure was too much for him to handle. He let the tension win, for he let himself drop what felt like more than five or six inches. He panted hard for a couple seconds before he forced himself to breathe regularly again.
The sound of a fast moving ship broke the silence. It was a sound of flight. It stopped abruptly once it had become louder, and a few seconds later a light tapping noise was made. He drew in a sharp breath and held it. Did one of the assassins returned to make sure they had all really died? It didn't matter. The assassins had scouters. They would know whether or not he was alive.
"What the hell?!"
His eyes shot back open, and a warm look of relief swept across his face. That voice was all too familiar. He called out the newcomer's name, unintentionally sounding the exact way he felt and looked. But both of them let it pass. That was not important at the moment.
Obviously, Bardock knew how much lack of time there was. Now that he arrived, Toma felt his life fading away quicker, but he felt more content than ever in his life. Bardock rushed to his side, wasting no time at all. There were many things to be informed of, but he was able to summarize it all in two questions: "What's going on? What happened?!"
Toma felt his body lifted higher than he managed to do on his own. Maybe that was all he needed. Aide. But what was the use now? Nonetheless, he was elated to not have to die staring at nothing, not having to die alone. Yet he did not want to disappoint his commander, his closest companion. He didn't give an answer to him yet, for he didn't intend to.
But after Bardock asked that one question that hit the spot, he had no choice but to explain everything.
Finally, after saying everything he thought he needed to say, he came up with an idea. He let out a small smirk, knowing everything would work perfectly if Bardock carried it out. The main message was: Challenge Freeza. Show that bastard that he should be afraid of the Saiya-jin. And we will not go down without a fight! If I cannot avenge the rest of our comrades' deaths, I ask you to do so.
He closed his eyes for the last time afterwards, letting death take him away. He carried hatred, relief, and most of all, satisfaction that Freeza will die by the hands of a Saiya-jin.
Getting yourself into more trouble, I presume?
I don't need another one on my back. Go away.
My, my. Quite touchy, I see.
What the..?! How did you get out of Hell?
Let's just say your mischievous acts are rubbing off on me now. I snuck out.
Unauthorized presence here at the Center. Go away before I turn you in.
Now you're on the authorities side? I never thought I'd see the day.
Don't think I won't!
You really have changed. You're no fun anymore. So, who did you resurrect?
Why do you care?
I'm just jealous you didn't resurrect me. And I want to be angry at someone so tell me.
What if I don't want to? Leave already!
And go back to Hell?
Yes!
Sorry. It took me a while to get here and I won't go back for a while. In fact, I was thinking about resurrecting myself somehow.
Impossible. If one could resurrect himself, then I would be alive right now!
No, in fact, I was thinking of using you. I'm guessing then I will know who you brought back to life instead of me.
Then what will you do to them? Kill them?
What do you think I am?
A monster. You bastard. You are going to kill them. I won't allow it. Not unless I can help it.
If there's anything you can do.
I dare you to try to use me to get your life back. Let's see if you can.
Fine. But it will be your fault, remember that...