[01] Forest Sector

[Vad]

The scuffle going on in the cleared area of forest looked interesting. Vad felt Piper's gaze fall upon him and soon a smile had crept upon his face. Slowly his metallic blades were forming over his arms, his scouter now tracking each target as they bounced around attempting to hit each other.

“Time to have some fun, I guess. Right?” He said nonchalantly like it was another day for him.

It was.

Night was in full swing and the heads up display on his scouter was illuminating the vision in right eye. Looking down at his hands Zulenka decided to forgo the use of his blades and have a little practice. The metal quickly receded and Piper found herself looking at a transparent image of her deranged friend.

Frozen caught the first blow. Vad emerged from an accelerated after image maneuver and drove an elbow into the changelings jaw. The teal hued Icerian stumbled to his right from the force of the impact, his balance being thrown off. Maleficus Nova halted his assault a little too late and planted a fist square into the Saiyan's jaw. Grabbing hold of the Namek's wrist, knowing who it was, Vad planted an open palm against his chest while letting his hold on the namek go. Nova stumbled backward keeping his gazed fixed on his father's friend. They had met on Mercy in the hotel before Mr. Big's plans.

Not knowing what her Master was thinking Tamsin immediately retaliated against the newly arrived Saiyan. She drew her knife and slashed upward at her opponents torso. Vad reeled back as the knife carved through the thin breastplate of his light armor. Emitting a low growl Zulenka formed a blade of his own over his forearm. The serrated blade finished hardening, but liquid metal kept dripping from the edges like blood from a fresh kill.

Lifting his new weapon toward Tamsin he grinned. She looked breifly surprised, but quickly gathered her focus and readied to defend Mal Nova.

Man I do not feel like fucking with her...

Vad righted his posture and let his blade retract into his skin. Unclasping his breastplate he let it drop to the ground. Frozen had regained his balance and was sprinting toward the Saiyan, who was reforming his torso armor, when he charged straight through a transparent copy of the warrior.

The changeling dug his heels into the dirt and slowed his movement to a walk. He searched his surroundings looking for his attacker, but to no avail. Frozen eventually shrugged and turned back to Mal and Tamsin who had also been looking for Vad.

Bad move.

With a quick push off the ground the Saiyan remerged from the After Image technique and barreled into Frozen's back pushing the changeling to the ground causing him to skid to Mal's feet. Tamsin clenched her teeth and started to move forward, but Maleficus grabbed her arm.

“How did I know you were going to be here, Vad?” Questioned the Namek.

A grin crept along his face.

The Saiyan had finished his fun and was now securing his newly formed breastplate to his chest. Frozen had rolled over onto his back and was breathing heavily, his stamina slowly returning.
The cool forest air filled Vad's lungs as he inhaled deeply.

“I'm wherever the fight is.”

Mal laughed. “Is Trixie going to be joining us?”

A smile appeared on the ex-assassin's face. “No, she's having some fun elsewhere. I'm here alone on her request and splitting heads open on her request.”

Piper raised an eyebrow toward her friend. Without Trixie to restrain him, Vad was going to take each fight to the very end no matter the cost. Cracking his knuckles, Zulenka started walking toward his blond haired friend.

“That was a good warm up, wouldn't you think?”

The woman rolled her eyes. “You really are something else.”

The Saiyan laughed.

“So Trixie isn't with you?” She asked.

“Nope. She thought it might do me some good to let me loose.” He said whilst rotating his right shoulder.

“Last time you were let loose you blew up a nuclear power plant. Do you remember? You also stabbed Juno and killed police officers.”

The soldier cracked his neck as his expression went blank.

“Yeah, no. Circumstances were different. When I get the next available chance, I'm leveling South City.” He said bluntly, but with a hidden joke.

“Oh really now? Don't you think people would stop you?”

Vad moved toward the bunker and sat down. The man yawned deeply before resting his head against the cold concrete structure.

“The wife wouldn't let me do it anyway. She might let me take out some political figures who had a hand in capturing her, but as for the entire city? Wouldn't happen, because it isn't the only tactical option. There are several hundred different ways I could exact revenge. Most of them don't involve civilians.”

Piper shifted her weight and rested a hand on her hip.

“This coming from a man who would have killed children just to get at Juliet?”

The Saiyan closed his eyes and scowled. “You keep bringing up an event that was occurring during a personal crisis. You threatening to hurt me didn't help and yes Piper, at the time I would have gladly dismembered children to kill that bitch.”

The blonde woman snapped her fingers. “Now we're getting somewhere!” She said with sarcasm.

“Oh just shut up. People change. I operate differently than before unless severely provoked. Ask Sage.”

With that statement in the open Vad got to his feet. He began walking toward the southern border of the clearing.

“I'll be over here if you so happen to need me.” He said.

Refusing to stop Vad kept walking past the edge of the clearing and into the forest. Taking a seat by a large pine tree he gazed up at the stars. He needed a quick power nap if he was going to compete against other fighters for as long as thing lasted. Jumping from Mercy's shit hole to this was going to be a true test of his stamina. More so than Frost or his adventures with Sage on Earth.

What are you up to babe?

Zulenka closed his eyes as he drifted into the realm of dreams.