12 Gathered Warriors (1/2)
A warm breeze blew across the West Wastelands.
Three Saiyan warriors stood together across from Earth's strongest fighters. Tien, Krillin, and Yamcha had completed their training on Kami's Lookout and had journeyed to meet the invaders. Kakarot had been wished back to life the previous month and was almost back to Earth. He should already have been back but wanted to do some extra training and lost track of time.
They were shocked to see Piccolo and Gohan, who were already there ahead of them. They could sense Piccolo and Gohan's respective strengths had taken massive strides. However, they also knew that their opponents were no joke. When the Saiyans landed one of them blew up South City. Due to the early warning satellites the population was notified of the incoming ships. Not that attempted evacuation helped matters; they were still too weak to survive the blast.
”So, are you the humans who fought Turles's men?” the spiked haired Saiyan in the middle of the group asked.
”If they are, Prince Vegeta, then I should make them suffer.” the Kakarot lookalike added.
”Yeah we did.” Tien answered, ”You shouldn't think we are pushovers.”
”Who knows we might not even need Kakarot or Raditz.” Yamcha joked to calm his nerves.
The group shared a quick laugh before it was interrupted by a newcomer to the group.
”I guess I could've taken my time, then.” a familiar voice joked.
The group of friends peered around to see Kakarot back on the side of the living. They all felt they could relax much more now that their friend had returned.
Vegeta and Turles shared a glance before the Saiyan Prince took a step forward. He was amazed by the uncanny resemblance Turles and Kakarot shared, one was bad enough for the Prince.
”Did you say Raditz?” Vegeta asked his sharp gaze on Yamcha.
”Yeah, Kakarot's older brother Raditz should be on the way.” the former bandit answered.
Vegeta remembered the name of Raditz because he turned down a position on Vegeta's squad. He was the reason Turles ended up joining. He had presumed Raditz died on the mission he took, instead. If Raditz also planned to oppose him he would just have to show him the power of a Saiyan elite.
”Nappa, Turles we aren't in a rush. Plus, I'm curious to see this Raditz.” Vegeta hopped back onto a boulder. ”Turles we should test the humans with your pets.”
”I was hoping you'd say that.” Turles walked forwards and removed a pill bottle from his armor. He made four holes in the dirt and dropped an equal number of seeds in them. ”These are the bulbs of plant lifeforms called Cultivars. Saiyans used them as weapons at one time. These are a special breed cultivated by me. I call them the bad batch. They have around the same strength as Daiz and Amond.”
No sooner than he finished speaking, the Cultivars erupted from the dry dusty ground of the wasteland. The creatures were short with bulbous heads and red eyes. Their hands and feet had three white razor sharp claws. The armored skin of the Cultivars' torso, head, hands, and feet were midnight black; while its arms and legs were a dark gray.
”So human... want to try your luck, since you were so cocky before?” Turles asked Yamcha.
”Why not.” Yamcha stated with confidence.
He approached the area in the midpoint between where the Saiyans' group was and his. When he was in position, he dropped into his fighting stance. His friends gave him a few words of encouragement and awaited what their friend was going to do.
Nearby, over the battlefield, a hovering helicopter was bearing witness to everything that transpired. On the side of the yellow helicopter was a ZTV logo. Inside a man with a red baseball cap trained his camera on the scene before switching his view to his boss seated beside him.
”Folks, this is Jimmy Firecracker broadcasting to you live at the scene of an alien incursion.” the thin mustached anchor announced. ”We've just witness one of the aliens grow creatures from the ground. Stranger still, the aliens looks almost identical to former world champion, Kakarot.” Jimmy informed his audience.
”It now appears as though, Yamcha, another World Martial Arts Tournament contestant is going to fight first.” he concluded.
The Cultivars chattered among themselves for a few moments. It seemed they were deciding a plan of action because when they finished, one charge over at Yamcha.
The Cultivar moved with dizzying speed. Its arms were outstretched with its claws poised to strike. When it drew closer to the pony-tailed warrior, it made a slashing leap. Yamcha waited until the last moment to vanish from the monster's sight while it was in midair.
CRASH!
Yamcha reappeared to the side of the creature driving it into the dirt with a downward elbow. A cloud of dust filled the area obscuring everyone's sight. The body of the Cultivar flew from the cloud in a large arc. It left a trail of dust leading back to its group.
”My scouter showed a power spike.” Vegeta said to his allies, ”I think these Earthlings can hide their powers.”
Turles nodded in agreement with Vegeta's assessment of the situation. He looked angrily back at his three remaining Cultivars.
”Don't just stand there! Kill!” he shouted.
”Grrrk! Grrk!” the three responded and charged as a group at their target.
SWIPE! SWIPE!
Yamcha gracefully flipped back to avoid twin slashes from the nearest creature. While he was airborne, another tried to grab him in bear hug. It attempted to lock its arms and legs around Yamcha, but it was moving too slow.
SMASH!
Yamcha caught the wrist of the Cultivar and twisted it around slamming the creature into its ally that was trying to pull off a flanking maneuver. The creature he flipped to avoid came back for another round. This time, its attacks were twice as ferocious. Yamcha used a side kick to create some distance from the monster. When this was achieved; he charged up the Kame School's signature attack, the Kamehameha.
BOOM!
The Cultivar was disintegrated from the blast, turning it to dust. Kakarot and his friends were impressed by Yamcha's display against the four monsters. Turles was extremely furious at the ease in which his work had been destroyed. Nappa took pleasure in Turles's anguish over his Cusher Corps. failing before it really began, and his prided bad batch losing.