DB Multiverse

A strong and high pitched voice made both the executioner and his victim start.

“You can't do it!”

Out of surprise, 18 stopped her movement and looked up to see Son Gohan who just landed a few yards away. She turned to inquiringly look at her brother. He merely opened his hand towards the sky and shrugged.

Dark hair fell from the young woman's fingers and Vegeta put a hand on the ground so that he wouldn't collapse on his side. With a grimace of pain, he struggled to try and catch his breath and get up... to no avail.

The two cyborgs were at first astonished at the boy's reappearance. 18 walked two steps towards him, as if to better see him.

“You? You're alive!”

“Well, well... a ghost...” stated her brother. He scanned the surroundings. “The small bald one... He's not with you?”

Without paying attention to their question, Son Gohan went on with his way in by pointing at Vegeta who was painfully trying to catch his breath.

“I'm all alone! And you can't kill him now!”

18 answered to the affirmation of the small impudent with a pout of annoyance.

“We can? Why can't we?”

“Because you said so!” asserted the child, without losing countenance.

As he expected, the killer was taken aback by such nerve.

“We said so? What are you talking about?”

For now, she didn't pay attention to Vegeta anymore. Son Gohan was triumphant inwardly for the goal of his intervention was half reached. Please, may the next part go as smoothly. He so went on, self confident.

“Well, yes... You had said 'One per day'... and you already killed one of us today!”

An ironic smile replaced the expression of disbelief on the cyborg's face.

“If we were to go by the rules... we'd be bored to death!”

She threw a disdainful glance at the Saiyan at her feet, who was collapsing each passing second a bit more in the throes of a slow death.

“Besides, he's already dead.”

A veil of pain invaded the child's eyes at the sight of his dying friend. But he carried on with a moved tone.

“So, let me speak to him.” He lowered his head and his voice. “One last time.” Two tears ran down his cheeks as his voice cracked. “Please, I beg you... only a few words.”

18 looked once again at the fallen warrior who, curled up into a ball, was deeply clawing the dirt with his left hand, breathing having become way to painful to allow him to gulp enough air for him to survive. Then at her brother again. The latter didn't move, a way to tell her it was her to decide.

Son Gohan's heart furiously beat in his chest. If she didn't hurry, it'd be too late! Goku's son made his best to control his anguish... to reveal his impatience could make everything fail.

But he was completely relieved when he saw her move away with a hand gesture of disdain.

“Go on... It'll be my gift.” She raised a finger. “But only because you politely asked... and that I'm in a good mood.”

Krilin was right, it had worked! Not wasting any extra second, Son Gohan knelt at the dying Saiyan's side. He took him by the shoulder in order to lift him with care, making sure he turned back to the two bionic killers. The injured one emitted growls of dire pain, but the young fighter gently spoke to him.

“I'm sorry I couldn't come earlier...”

The child took his hand that he had kept clenched on his torso, even forcing to move it away and to open it. Vegeta made his best to try and dissipate the veil that was invading his sight to look at Gohan's move with surprise. The latter had placed a small object in the middle of his palm that pain kept tense.

“Bulma had given me the locket you had offered her...”

The child lowered his head, looking deeply affected as he closed Vegeta's fingers on his gift. “It was to bring you luck.” He went on as he got up. “Careful, I'm getting up. Don't worry, I'll help you to remain sitting.”

Matching the words with actions, he didn't let go of the wounded one's shoulders until he had felt him settle himself on his back.

He could hear the rare and so short pants of the body that was heavily leaning on him and he now stood firm in front of 18, abruptly changing into super Saiyan with an air of authority.

“I won't let you finish him!”