32 Discovered (1/2)
Raditz and his allies separated, spreading out through the emptied streets of South City. They decided to split up because they couldn't detect any strong presences in the area, they tried using their Scouters too. The cyborgs were either running late, or were already somewhere in the city.
Raditz walked down a street keeping his eyes open for Dr. Gero or the obese Android #19. They should clearly stand out with one looking like a fat clown and the other a lanky old man with a unique tall hat. It also was a bonus that they should have the Red Ribbon Army logo all over their clothing.
”What's everyone's status?” Raditz asked over his Scouter.
The replies which came back all were negative, no one had seen any sign of the targets. Raditz would routinely ask the status of the group.
”This is the fourth time you've asked.” Vegeta replied. He was watching the streets from the roof of a tall building. ”Why don't you just wait until one of us reports something?”
”Because if everyone replies we will know if someone gets ambushed.” Raditz explained. He knew how Yamcha got sneak attacked in the original story. Dr. Gero would grab Yamcha up by the face and shove his arm through Yamcha's chest.
Tien patrolled a sparsely populated street, staying vigilant of anything out of the ordinary. He wasn't sure how powerful the cyborgs were, but he was confident in the strength of the group. He had fought one of the original Bio-androids years ago and it wasn't too impressive.
The pedestrians on the street were going about their normal routine, unaware that their city might become a battlefield. When he reached the the intersection at the end of the street, Tien looked over at the street sign. He smirked to himself when he read that he was walking down Raditz Avenue.
”Tien Shinhan,” a gruff older male voice called out from behind Tien, ”Former World Tournament competitor. Defended the Earth against alien invaders. Friend and ally of Kakarot. Associate of Emperor Raditz.”
Tien turned to face the person casually listing of his information. The speaker was revealed to be a old man with a bushy white mustache, pale blue eyes, no eyebrows, and waist length bushy white hair. He wore a tall black hat, pinstriped orange button up shirt with yellow forearms, brown pants that became baggy near the bottom, and white shoes with black toes and heel. The man's hat had the logo of the defunct Red Ribbon Army right on the front.
There were two other people with the old man. Both appeared to be younger than the person who spoke to Tien. One of the old man's companions was wearing a black pinstriped suit with the same Red Ribbon logo on the breast pocket of the coat. The eyes of the suited man were solid yellow and he had medium length black hair.
The third man was taller than the other two and heavily muscled. He was bald with pink skin and pointed ears. He wore armor instead of more a more normal attire. The amour was similar to Promethean armor with the exception of having spikes on the shoulders and the Red Ribbon logo on it.
”Guys I think I found them.” Tien activated his Scouter to inform the team of his situation.
”Trying to call for help won't work. Your Scouter has been disabled.” the old man explained. ”But it is curious to hear to say 'you found us.' Did you somehow know we would be here?”
”Dr. Gero, if we get rid of him now, we can find whoever he was talking to later. They are more than likely in the city.” the pink skinned man said. His speech was more eloquent than his appearance might lead one to believe.
”You are probably right, Dr. Kochin.” Dr. Gero whipped out his hand with lightning speed, clutching the unprepared Tien by the throat.
”He is probably here with Kakarot and Krillin at the minimum.” the man in the suit said with some excitement.
The grip on Tien's neck tightened when the man mentioned Kakarot. Gero waited years to find Kakarot and reap his vengeance against him for destroying the Red Ribbon Army. When the army's bases were destroyed by the Kakarot Corps. Gero lost nearly all of his research.
Dr. Wheelo and Dr. Kochin had suffered as well from the destruction of the Red Ribbon Army. They had lost a valuable specimen in a fight in their Arctic Wasteland lab when Kochin was moving the last of their research.
”I hope you are right about Kakarot's presence, Dr. Wheelo.” Gero said.
Tien struggled with all of his strength to free himself of the grip of his captor. The more he fought the faster his strength seemed to leave him. He was on the verge of blacking out from the loss of energy and the lack of oxygen.
A sharp pain shot through Tien bringing him back to full awareness. Dr. Gero had pierced his chest with his arm. The front of Gero's clothing was now covered with Tien's blood. After removing his arm, Gero tossed the injured man to the ground like garbage. The people on the streets who saw this ran away from the scene screaming, some tried to call the authorities.
As Tien laid on the ground he could see the trio of cyborgs walking away from him, He fumbled weakly at his waist trying desperately to retrieve a Panacea bean.
”Anyone find anything?” Tien heard over his Scouter. He wanted to report the situation, but he was too weak to reach the button on his Scouter.
He heard his allies give their negative response and hoped his lack of a reply would be noticed. His hope was rewarded when Raditz did take note.
”Tien respond.” Raditz ordered.
After a few moments of silence, Raditz used the Scouter once more, ”Whoever is closest, get to Tien's location. His Scouter should show up if you search with your Scouter.”
”I'm on it.” Krillin sounded worried.
He checked his Scouter and the screen displayed the locations of the other team members. He found the point where Tien's Scouter was located and rushed through the air towards it.
As he drew closer to the location he could finally sense the rapidly fading Ki of his long time friend. He spotted Tien on the empty sidewalk, collapsed in a puddle of his own blood. When he landed he could clearly see the fatal puncture wound in his friend's upper torso.
”Tien's hurt really bad, guys!” Krillin communicated over his Scouter as he fished out a Panacea bean.