PART THIRTY: BABIDI’S TRAP

Chapter 141

Translated by npberryhill

“It’s finally over, Gast of Universe 7 is declared the winner of this fight... we all owe him our gratitude!” The Varga announcer slumped back in his armchair, exhausted. Over the next several minutes, the stadium lighting was restored while all available Nameks went through the stadium to provide care for those who needed it. The Varga who had fainted due to Hatchiyack’s scream was being resuscitated, but was still seizing with convulsions. The monster had wreaked true havoc.

Four of his brothers went to Carcolh, hoping they’d be enough to give him sufficient healing. As they applied their hands, one couldn’t help but glance anxiously at the pile of ashes nearby.

“That fiend was an abomination. We all owe you our lives, sir. Don’t worry, we’ll avoid resurrecting him or his monster later.”

“I doubt even the Dragon Balls can bring Raichi back to life,” Gast replied, shutting his eyes. “But, it’s probably for the best...

Over in the corridor of the Universe 3 apartments, a dark silhouette was listening closely. Baddack found Gast’s comments a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one. “So Raichi is really and truly vanquished, permanently? It’s almost too good to be true, I find it hard to grasp. Well, for all the use it does at this point... my people, my friends, they’re all still dead.

“Your musings are of no interest to Master Babidi,” Piccolo Daimao said from behind him, wearing a smirk. “He has, however, summoned you to join him. It’s his understanding that you have a certain... talent, one that he believes will prove most useful. He wants you at his side, guarding him personally. Go now.”

“Fine, whatever...” Baddack grumbled, bumping shoulders with the Namek as he passed.

Over on the Universe 16 patio, Son Gohan was checking on the members of his family. Fortunately, his wife and daughter had avoided the worst of Hatchiyack’s cries. Piccolo, preoccupied, stood against the wall seemingly recovering. Vegetto, on the other hand, sat silently by the wall, unmoving.

“Is everything okay, Vegetto? The suffering was difficult to bear, I know — but surely you would have resisted more than the rest of us.”

“I’m not really sure what happened,” the fused Saiyan answered, sighing and shaking his head. “It may be due to the fact that I still possess two souls, anchored deep inside of me, that I reacted so much more violently. Two for the price of one, so I had to pay double the fare. Anyway, I’ve got a bit of a headache, if you’ll excuse me...”

Gohan paused a moment. “Y’know, I’m worried about Bra too. I should go see how she’s doing. If Dad was that affected, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was as well.”

Vegetto turned. “Not now, Gohan, don’t disturb her. From having to deal with Ginyu, and now Raichi’s dastardly machine-beast, she’s had enough. Let her rest a little, we’ll wake her up in time for her next fight. After everything, she deserves a good nap, and I don’t want that interrupted.”

“I’ll just check that she’s alright then,” Trunks said, rushing down the hall. “Don’t worry, I won’t wake her up.”

Trunks of Universe 12 was recovering a bit at a time. The pain had subsided, but the memories — all those cries of horror, they still rang through his mind. Android 16 watched him, silent. The half-Saiyan shook his head, gritting his teeth, when he felt a strong tap on the top of his head. He turned, seeing Vegeta of the 13th Universe, who seemed to have been nearly unaffected.

“Get up, boy,” the Emperor said, looking down at him. “You’re supposed to be my son, right? Then don’t act like the other weaklings here, man up and take the pain without making a scene.”

“You aren’t my father,” Trunks answered him aggressively. “You may look the same, but somewhere along the way your paths diverged. The only one who’s ever been a father to me is Vegeta of the 18th Universe — a proud, brave, good man. You pale in comparison to him.”

“Hmph,” Vegeta grunted in disdain. “You mean the one who struggled in his fight with that idiot Kakarotto, and who suffered just as much as you from these pathetic lamentations? Pitiful. But... I suppose there’s still the seed of true Saiyan royalty hidden deep within you, boy. You’d do well to remember that the next time you behave like a coward.”

Trunks’ rage was about to explode when 16 put a hand on his shoulder from behind. He gave his friend a slight nod, calming him before he turned back to Vegeta. The latter had turned his back and was already walking away.

“You are a Saiyan. You are my son. Try and act worthy of it, kid...” the Emperor said as he left.

Trunks was speechless. It seemed in spite of his genocidal tendencies, perhaps this and all other Vegetas possessed a certain nobility. One thing was certain, their pride would always be foremost — and having a son that was a Super Saiyan was something to be desired.

Trunks of the 16th tiptoed through their apartments without making a sound, carefully shutting the door behind him. Approaching Bra’s room, he eased the door open and peeked in the crack. His sister was sleeping peacefully under her blankets, as evidenced by the calmness in her energy signature. If Hatchiyack had bothered her, his influence seemed to be completely gone now. Reassured, he gently shut the door and left, without realizing that a strange magic was now at work all around them, both in the arena and the corridors...

A Namekian healer rushed to the Frost Demon ship, having been summoned by Freeza and Coola. The two sons waited in front of the tank, arms crossed, as the healer was escorted in by several of their soldiers. He was clearly uncomfortable and in a hurry to leave.

“You requested a Namek, do you need some care?”

“Yes, he does,” Coola answered, pointing to the tank with his finger.

“Hurry and heal him,” demanded Freeza, narrowing his eyes and slamming his tail violently.

“I see, so you changed your minds after all,” the Namek said as he applied his hand to the glass.

“Our master insisted,” Freeza sneered.

“Hurry up,” Coola growled, glancing at his brother, who was immediately silent.

Little by little, the flesh that was torn, scorched, or wounded, was stitched magically together. Cold’s body damage faded away and the demon’s eyes finally opened — the Namek getting a bad feeling from his look. The emperor’s eyes glowed with malice; the healer desperately wanted off that ship now.

Over on the Universe 1 patio, the Kaioshins had gradually recovered their spirits. They all possessed a great predisposition to empathy, constantly concerned with the fate of innocent mortals, and thus had made perfect targets for the monster’s screams.

“Are you feeling better?” North Kaioshin asked, rubbing his head.

“I could be better, argh...” the south grimaced.

“Well, we’re still alive, thanks to Gast...” West Kaioshin added. “We’re fortunate that last series of attacks didn’t continue or we might not be.”

“Are you going to be alright?” Buu asked his captor. “You don’t look so good.”

“Don’t worry about me,” Grand Kaioshin replied with a smile. “It’ll take much more than that to spell out my end.”

Buu whistled casually, which earned him stern looks from the other Kaioshin, mistaking it for mockery. But the Djinn meant nothing of it, as something else had drawn his attention. Presumably, the arena wouldn’t be keeping its relaxed atmosphere for very long.

Across the arena, the members of Universe 18 were concerned with the state of everyone. Gohan hugged Pan and Videl in his arms while Piccolo checked on the condition of Trunks and Goten. As for Vegeta, he still held his trembling daughter in his arms.

“Are you alright, Bra?”

“I... think so,” she whimpered. “I’m sorry for worrying you, Daddy...”

“Don’t be,” he said, sketching a brief smile. “As long as you’re alright, that’s all that matters to me.”

Bra also smiled and quickly hugged her father, before finding a place to sit on the dividing wall with the 17th. Son Goku was amazed at his rival’s affectionate gesture though. He had heard from Piccolo about the prince holding Trunks before going off to face certain death against Majin Buu. But this time, it didn’t even bother Vegeta to act like that in public — had his paternal instincts actually taken precedent over his pride for once?

“Master,” Uub asked, his head clear enough to think now. “I’d like to go check on Son Bra, just to make sure she’s okay.”

“I’m sure she appreciates your concern, Uub,” Gohan answered, smiling. “But now’s not the best time, I can’t let you go.”

“Why’s that?” Uub exclaimed.

“In a few moments we will start the fourth round,” a Varga announced throughout the arena. “We are currently repairing the arena and double checking all our systems. But, in the meantime, if you’ll turn your eyes to the viewscreen, we have some commercials! Son Goku and Uub of Universe 18, begin preparations for your match!”

“See, that’s why!” Son Goku exclaimed.

Uub’s eyes widened. The match against his sensei was about to finally take place. His heart began to beat loudly, momentarily dismissing Son Bra from his thoughts. He was both panicked and excited at the same time — the moment when he would be pushed to the extent of his abilities, to the absolute max, had nearly arrived.

As his mind raced, a sizeable applause sounded throughout the audience. Gast Carcolh had at last exited the battlefield, returning to his balcony, and was receiving a standing ovation from the grateful public, now fully healed. Almost everyone adored the Namekain and cheered loudly in support of their hero. Uub, intoxicated by the atmosphere, exclaimed to his teacher:

“It will be an honor to fight you, master! I’ll give it my everything!”

“Do you think you’ll win?” Goku asked with a grin.

“Uh? I...”

He didn’t dare answer. Pan chuckled at seeing the young man so intimidated and embarrassed. Son Goten slipped behind his father and gave Uub two thumbs up from over Goku’s shoulder. Uub smiled, tightening his fists.

“Of course I’ll win!”

“Great!” replied Son Goku, satisfied. “I’m gonna give it my all, same as you — and I have no intentions of letting you win!”

“Hahah,” Uub laughed, challenging Son Goku.

At the sight of master and pupil exchanging a friendly banter, Piccolo and Gohan’s eyes met. Goten giggled before heading inside to use the restroom, giving Uub a final wink before he left. Even Vegeta smirked and, noticing Uub’s glance, gave him a discreet thumbs up. The young warrior had such supportive friends, but the joy and pride he felt at Vegeta’s recognition surpassed all else.

However, the Saiyan’s generous tones subsided quickly. With a dark look directed at Piccolo followed by a nod, the pair left the patio headed towards Universe 11’s...

In the apartments beneath, the wizard Babidi’s forehead poured sweat as he concentrated. His hands trembled as he held them above his crystal ball, which glowed with a dark purple aura. Majin Buu stared wide-eyed at the sight.

“What Babidi doing?”

“Hush!” ordered the demon king. “He’s casting a spell across the entire arena, transforming it into a magic room.”

Babidi’s body shook, the tiny figure breathing heavily as he stopped the incantation momentarily.

“Damnit, damnit, damnit! It seems I can’t extend my magic through to the apartments after all, it’s not only protected it’s far too big! The universes I wasn’t able to convert will prove problematic!”

“We’ll take care of them ourselves, master,” Dabra said. “We now have not only numbers, but also several powerful new warriors on our side. Nothing can stop us now.”

“Sure, just,” Babidi breathed deeply. “Let me regain some strength...”

“We may not have the luxury of time, Master Babidi!” Dabra exclaimed, pointing to the ball. “Vegeta from Universe 18 is headed straight for us!”

“What?” Babidi panicked.

“Can I go eat him?” Buu asked cheerfully.

“Damn it you’re right, we’ll have to advance the time table and launch the offensive! We go on the attack now! Dabra, you know what to do!”

The demon king bowed and ran to the exit. Babidi began reciting a long incantation as he waved his hands over the ball. It would be essential to put the maximum distance between the non-corrupted participants and the arena. But thanks to Vegeta, he didn’t have time to find a remote planet on the true other end of the universe. The clock was ticking, but he’d found a toxic planet a few billion parsecs from the arena. It was enough. They would all die quickly from suffocation before they had time to find the asteroid and teleport.

He finished reciting the spell just as Vegeta was passing in front of the 13th veranda, shooting his counterpart a look. Babidi sighed, relieved that he had managed to avoid a pre-emptive strike, then put his hands on the ball and unleashed his powers. Soon, all the universes would belong to him.