Death

"Death"
Written by Sheik7574

"Let me tell you what we're dealing with gentleman...these are not your ordinary soldiers. LOS, special forces. I'll leave that to your imagination. Lance Corporal Slanith Jones and the recently acquired Lieutenant White, a transfer from the experiemental Makao division."

A straight laced, Gentryman bursts out, "Our government is sending Demons amongst our soldiers?!"

The commander's brow furrows, "Not demons, general. Merely unresearched specimens from an uncharted order."

One of the scientists drums his fingers on the desk, "So you know nothing about it. You've given a creature of nigh immeasurable power access to some of the most sophisticated euthansia equipment on the market and training rivaling that of the world's most established militia." He sighs, "At what point, Commander, did this seem like a good idea?"

The military man sniffs, before running a hand through his hair, "Well you see, we were going to put him in with the Psionist. So we could monitor and control him. There'd be no risk of defection, see?"

"Hmph, and we see how well Latrune turned out." The Gentryman adds with a snort.

"It wasn't a controlled environment! How the hell were we supposed to know about the natives?!"

"Is that not why we have I.S. division?"

The decorated veteran bites his tongue, his face now a distinct shade of magenta.

A minute passes, the tension hangs over the
"Zeke, you're awfully quiet for a recipient of 8 service medals. Surely you must have some pre-coordinated fail safe for situations like these?"

"Forced extraction, negotiation won't work with a dirt bag like Jones. We hit them where it hurts and let the chips fall in place."

The Gentryman rolls his eyes, "You have some sort of plan to lure them out of hiding? They could be halfway across the galaxy by now!"

"Silence fool! Let the old one speak." The scientist spits before gesturing for the Commander to continue.

Zeke nodded, "They're pirates right? It couldn't be more simple. Tangle a carrot and release the hounds. That greedy sum-bitch Jones can't help himself."

"Yes, yes. But we need the appropriate bait, can't be anything too extravagant or they may reject the offer." The scientist said while rubbing his temples.

"Why not the missionary ship?" The Gentryman piped up, offering his two cents.

The Scientist slurped his coffe, "Now I'm all for getting rid of evangelicals, but doesn't that seem a bit counter productive? Slanith and White'll butcher them in an instant."

"We'll replace the born agains with something far more appropriate. The Double Helix Elite, a step above the LOS." The Gentryman couldn't help but smile, tossing in that last jab at the general.

Zeke scoffed, "In name only. Those irradiated freakshows wouldn't make it past the front line. Air support'd roast them alive."

From there it dissolved into a spirited debate of the efficiencies of the two military branches, which the scientist ended by abruptly "spilling" his coffee on the two men.

"Any-way." The scientist said putting great emphasis on the word, "To business gentleman. We will buy out the rabid evangelicals and send them on their way. From there we shall leave a platoon of Helix aboard the ship with a legion of LOS lurking in close pursuit to cut off any chance of escape."

The general puffed out his chest as his head was filled with visions of awe-inspiring dog fights and Slanith's fiery death.

"Zeke! The meeting's over, get your shit and meet us at the Nebula." The Gentryman said while turning off the lights, plunging the room in inky darkness.

"Damn you haughty ass Gentrymen..." The general snarled as he tripped over the chair and scurried to meet the others.



The scene was a familar one, the charred and battle scared storage unit of the US Sago. Rumored to be the fastest merchant vessel of the Sago development line, commandeered not two months shy of its first run. 50 million, a state of the art cruiser, vanished off the map and into the laps of two small time renegade deserters of the esteemed LOS armada.

Collection attempts have been met with stout resistance, following a recent explosive crime spree that has left 20 dead in its wake. At the moment the two fugitives for planning their next mark, an attack on the merchant freighter, Neptune's Bounty. Slanith had done the research, it was being rented out to Human missionaries. Stocked to the brim with medicine and food, they were sure to make a killing hocking the stuff on the Black Market.

An estatic Slanith Jones sauntered into the room, trying to avoid putting much pressure on his cybornetic right leg. Pulling up a chair he affectionetly slapped Lieutenant White upside the head.

"This is it, kid. Time to make our point."

"First, I don't think..." The Lieutenant started, stoically sticking to the use of their assigned code names.

"That's right. You DON'T think. You leave that shit to me." The grizzled First said checking the safety of his Rifle. He really couldn't stand when Second started to punch loopholes in his plans.

"Now here's the plan kid. I'll take the ship and hammer down. They'll swarm me, leaving themselves wide open. You see smoke, that's your green light."

A standard rush & riot, it came as no news to the Majin at his side. A more studious warrior would have recognized it as Sun Tzuh's classic Pincer. But to the two thugs, it came as one of their oldest plays.

"Hey kid. Kid! I'm talking to you!" First yelled snapping his fingers.

"Hu-Wuzzat?" Second snaps to attention.

Whap! First slaps the Majin upside the head.
"Listen fool! We ain't gonna get a second chance. The pod's opening."

"First-"

"Here we go!"

"Wait!"

"Banzaiiiiii!" The Konatsu slams his fist onto the Release switch, Second screams as he is sucked into the depths of space!

While Second floats aimlessly, First's fingers are busy at the wheel. The Konatsu's putting his years as an LOS helmsman at work, calyst covered thumbs now an dingy blur. Flashing lights, the elastic Second lets his ki surge as he stretches himself to his very limit!

"Ye-ye-yeah!" The hyperactive humanoid chirps as his rubbery countenance bridges the rough mile of space between him and his prize. A dark red aura pools around his fist as it smashes through the merchant trade ship. "Come to Papa!" The dent widens, causing the vessel to slowly fold into itself. Inside the now smoking cockpit, First grins trying to silence the many alarms.

"Atta boy, Second...."

Retracting his arm, Second vaults himself to the crippled ship like a slingshot, eagerly eating up the great distance. No sound comes out of the Majin's mouth as he splats against the titanium shell like a fly on the dashboard.

"Something's trying to board!" One of the technicians shouts, reaching for his rifle.

"Focus on the damn ship you idiots! Do you know what'll happen if he hits the life support?!"

"C'moooon! Daddy needs a new set of Glocks!" First sends off a volley of heat seeking missiles after the ship.

Fireworks dot the sky as a multitude of Mutant fighters are reduced to dust and marrow. "Shields at fifteen percent." An automatronic voice pipes up.

"Bah, go to hell you piece of shit!" First snarls yanking the wheel in the other direction.

The burning craft, though on its last leg, responds beautifully, a testament to its Sago make. Whipping about at a bone breaking 600 g's First is pinned to his seat, as the ship flails out of control, managing to evade the brunt of the WTO's .300 caliber barrage.

Meanwhile Second has slipped past the first line of defense breaking his body down into an shapeless ooze and pooling into the miniscule cracks of the SS Cuirass. He focuses making sure not a single drop is spilled, sliding across the ceiling until holing up in a forgotten air vent.

"Stupid First." The Majin hissed, watching the scene unfold over the captain's comlog. "Stupid curse. I'll have to save him too..."

With the missile gambit played, First has ran out of options. What to do? Take the escape pod and pray that he can jettison to a random asteroid? Don an EVAC suit and go out swinging? The former mobster grips his daichi until his knuckles turn white. One shot, the ship, he could take them all out if he planned it right...

Meanwhile on the besieged Cuirass, Second is pooling his ki for the first strike. "Killi, killi, bob bomb!" The Majin kicks open the vent and dives at the unsuspecting Captain! Their reaction is instaneous, Second hadn't even managed to pass the door before he is filled with enough ki to power the Neo Nirvana.

"Shit..." The Majin whispered diverting his energy to fill the spreading holes covering his form. He hits the floor and pops back up throwing the table with him. Blasts rain but their Renzokou rush lacks the firepower to destroy the improvised titanium shield. The Majin's temple flares as he pushes with all his might, forcing the table towards the clustered soldiers with a fierce telekinetic blast!

"Duck and cover!" Two Mutants jump apart, Red & Blue no name races of some backwater planet, they crouch and fire three glowing orbs apiece at the miniscule elastic wonder.

Second summons his polymorphing powers again, cramming his essence into a ceiling bulkhead!

"Where'd he go?"

"What the hell?!"

"On the ceiling!"

"I don't see-"

Screeching like a banshee Second bursts from under the floor vent swallowing the Saiyan captain whole! Astonished gasps, and a timid scream break the heavy tension. Soon the air is thick with the pungent scent of sweat and charred meat.

On the outside, First's dogfight is getting worse. Two fighter's are on his tail, "Can't see a damn thing with all this smoke. COM, release the hose!"

"Hose engaged....system malfunction. Hull is in critical condition. All remaining power is being diverted to power shields."

"What? N-no!" First's grim mask has been replaced with that of horror, "COM reverse that order! I need my engines!"

The whirring of the enemy ships, he can hear them clearly now.

"Incoming transmission. Sender: LOS."

"No fucking way..."

"Well, well, exile First we meet again." A very familiar Half-breed's ugly mug pulls up onscreen.

"Dammit, of all the rotten luck. It had to be you!" First spits slamming his hand on the sparking console.

"Honestly, you didn't think you were going to get away did you? I mean, where were you going to hide? I have the entire force of the LOS at my control, the means to sweep away an entire galaxy at my beck and call! Oh and, don't try any of those crack heroics. We have you surrounded. You can either go back to Solitary and await the gestation or be incinerated by laser fire. Your choice."

"Parley."

"Not an option, I'm afraid." The gentryman fiddles with the joystick, finger hover a bright red button.

"I'm exorcising my right of passage. As a former LOS, I demand Parley."

"Men, on my command." Ezekiel Gray, commander of the LOS armada and asshat in chief, allows a sly grin to cross his features.

"Zeke!" The bastard was enjoying this...

"Ready..."

"After all I've done for you.."

"Aim...." Zeke's grin broadens, he waggles his eyebrows at the redfaced swordsman.

"You owe me you little shit! Wouldn't be nothin' without me and Second!"

Zeke smiles as his finger hovers over the button, "And with that threat gone, I have the potential to become ANYTHING...."

Click.

First dives for the radio, "Second, get away from the ship! Whatever you do, don't engage- BZZRT!"

Second's blue Tsuihidan was quickly swallowed by the horde of bodies that tackled him to the ground. "Mother!" Even his curses were muffled as the clumsy genetic rejects kicked him into submission. The Majin lashed out, twisted, and bit, but it seemed every swing was rebuked by four more! Tearing off a sub-human's arm, the Makao succeeded in beating off two of his attackers before he found himself on the receiving end of a very nasty Eraser Gun.

"Gorp!" The last of the iridiscent beam washed over him, leaving a smolering stump in its wake. Second trembled for a half second before the lower form beheaded a sputtering Mutant with a roundhouse kick!

"Fuck, what is this guy?!"

"Shoot him again!" Another screamed brandishing his massive Zat cannon.

Second's leg whipped out an impossibly long heeldrop that split the titanium table in one go! Mr. Blue slid forward on both knees forcing a massive beam from his internal reserve. Second leaps backward, spewing meaty chucks of Majin as his upper torso seemingly pops out of the shriveled stump.

Now whole, a fuming Second lands in the center of the Mutant mosh pit, wielding two shards of the broken table. The misfits hesistate for a minute, as if actually considering thier chances of survival. Death at the hands of some alien, or facing the wrath of the wretched LOS warlord?

Second never waited for their answer, lunging forward he embeds the titanium chunk into a humanoid's skull! Bouncing from that staggering mess, he severs another's arm with a well placed swing. Slinging the blade like a deranged gardener Second manages to thin the enemies ranks, but he's still outnumbered four to one. And the bastards don't seem exhausted in the least.

Panting like an overworked Siberian husky, Second shrieks as his forelock comes to life and fires a pink beam at one of the mutants! Poof. The next, there's a chocolate chip cookie sitting in his place. Like lightning Second's arm shoots out and retracts popping the sugary confection into his mouth.

"W-what?"

"It ate him..."

A rush of power flows through the Majin's body, steam starts emitting from every pore!

"Hurry up before he morphs!" The mutants start funneling ki with the intention of a renzokou session, but they are quickly interrupted.

"Gentleman. And spawn of Satan. Please divert your attention to the southernmost window."

The men pause and obey the voice, against their own ambition. So unexpected, so commanding, there was only one who could inspire that fear in men...

Hunks of metal and flaming rubble punctuate the inky blackness. Second drops his blade to the floor, "First?" The child like demigod asks, voice cracking with emotion.

"Don't fret. You'll be joining him in a minute."

Second snaps to attention, a vermillion whirlwind erupts at his feet! Coalescing energy, 60....80%.
The monster lunges for the door, knocking aside Mutant and Gentry alike. Galeforce winds whip about his frame, dissuading further intervention from those unaffected by the earlier technique. Straining under the pressure, the Majin forces still more adrenaline into his veins, the chemical cocktail clocking him at over 15 miles per hour.

Feet pound the gun metal tiling, the writhing wounded, and multicolored power readings along the walls, all a blur. Chest, lungs, legs, his body screamed in agony; but he couldn't stop yet. Not here, not now! Tunnel vision, nothing else existed save for the single escape hatch door. He could make it out just at the end of the hall....twenty more feet and he was home free. "Hooooome Free!" The Majin screamed as he wrenched open the sterling double doors.

Bump. Bump. Bump. Bump. The next few moments passed in slow motion. Second had rushed onto the loading bay, quickly boarding a forgotten escape pod. Right hand hammering all the control as he strapped himself in, foregoing a dozen security checks. Didn't matter, nothing mattered, he only had a few seconds before- Click. Too late.

The hangar was filled with a rumbling drone as the vacuum seal was broken and they were exposed to the frigid air. Second gasps, an alien raspy note, floating before him is the massive LOS drop ship and its fully primed planet eating Eraser Gun.

"C'est la fie." Zeke whispered as his thumb covered the firing mechanism.

The energy from LOS' final attack, it was ubearable. The battle cruiser's 100% laser had enough force to level a planet. One can imagine what it did to the merchant freighter. An asteroid field is being generous, the site of First's murder was essentially atomized.

The creature looked up, with rapidly deteroiating black eyes, saw its dashed and ashen limbs. Was that his arm...or leg? He didn't anymore. A white hot pain, absolutely searing tore into his body. He wondered, what would happen now? The stories never said what happened to a fallen Majin. No soul, was there even a place for one such as him?

Bump, bump. The beating of his hideous heart.
High pitched screams as a thousand daggers puncture his chest.
Bump, bump. Wracking sobs as the blue death continues its descent.
Last thoughts, what would have happened if he'd never hopped the fence?
Taken the wizened Elf man's hand, embarking on this lunatic's quest for breasts and crystal meth,
Something special Second guessed,
He'd never really know.
Now...as the blue light washed over him, he'd finally go home....