[O][U] The Battle for Freelorn Village

[Burter]

PCs: Super Buu, Kakarot

NPCs: Hiro (U), Gargantum (O)

"Sir," a soldier stated to the General as he set up his tent. "The village just sent a messenger out. Here."

The pink gumball looked back with a confused look. Quickly, he snatched the note.

General of the Outcast Regiment,

This village has just surrended to United. I'm sorry to say you are too late. Please leave us in peace, and let no blood be spilled today.

General Hiro of the United Army

[Super Buu]

Buu's narrowed eyes traced the lines of the letter a few more times before turning back to the messenger. "Give me a pen," he barked, and quickly one found its way into his hand.

Both of my lieutenants are itching for a fight, and I'm sure my boys would be happy to slaughter your troops. Obviously I'd rather not come to conflict, but neither am I going to leave peacefully.

You have until nightfall to surrender the village.

-Super Buu =)

[Burter]

General,

We will not submit to the likes of you misfits. Freelorn belongs to us.

-Proud Arlian General of United, Hirolanian

[Super Buu]

Proud Arlian General of United, Hirolanian,

I know you are but what am I?

-General Super Buu of the Outcasts

[Burter]

OCB:

Camp has on the opposite side of Freelorn by Garlic Jr's squad. Perimeters have been set and the ability to surround the village has been cut off.

Garlic's group will rp here now. That's him, Paragus and Celipa

[Celipa]

Celipa's ass shifted uncomfortably, lodged in between some very large and splinter-filled wooden crates. Her leg gave a particularly vicious throb, and she became painfully aware of the fact that no creature's limbs were ever meant to be bent in the way that hers were just now. She gave a sigh, and unclipped the binoculars from her waist.

The saiyan woman's vision filtered through the glass tubes of the binoculars, magnifying at least ten-fold and zooming in on the hustle and bustle of one camp in particular. She could identify no faces, nor could she depict any of their specific features - but she could definitely identify the vivacious color of their coats. Those individuals were most definitely Outcast.

She slipped out of her position in one fluent movement that brought her into a solid crouch.

I smell sweat...

Celipa's nose twitched once, twice.

And more importantly, fear.

Her feet shuffled silently, the padding on the bottom of her boots keeping her ominously silent. The only part of her that moved unproffessionally was Cel's tail, that gave one anxious swish behind her, brushing the ground gently. She leaned forward in an almost cat-like way and touched the tips of her fingers on the ground, using them to keep her steady.

Celipa was the wind, and she was the ground. She was the air, and she was the sun. Stealth and instincts would be her only tools, along with her pistol - the only thing in the world that had a permanent case of PMS.

No one in the United camp saw her leave. No one knew she was gone aside from Garlic Junior. It would stay that way, with luck.

~*~

Celipa pressed her back gently against another wooden crate. What a case of the utmost irony, that what she had found to be her only shelter in home camp would be her only shelter here as well, in so dangerous a territory!

The saiyan gulped once, and massaged her eyelids briefly. She could feel a bead of sweat forming on her forehead, but she ignored it. She was in the territory of those with the vivaciously bright coats, and no one would save her if she fucked this up.

No one would save her. But that was the risk she ran.

So she waited. Her ears were perked for the slightest hint of a voice, or footsteps. Anything she could hear, she could and would use to her advantage.

OOC: Burter, take it away.

[Burter]

OCB: Android 17's unit has arrived and joined the Outcast camp. With him is Sazuaa, Kid Buu and Wart (NPC)

[Android 17]

?Super Buu has faced opposition in his acquisition of Freelorn Village,? Paige spoke, striding into the room and placing her palms on the edge of her commander?s desk. The vice in the woman?s voice was accented by the small fissures splintering out from where she had placed her hands. Opting to avoid the destruction of his desk, Seventeen let out a sigh and pushed away the small table. The machine-hybrid nodded his head and motioned for the woman to follow him out the room.

?Has Wart?s men arrived at Brinstar?? The android inquired, glancing over his shoulder at the woman as he traversed the stone hallway. Paige nodded her head; the aggravation plastered across her usually calm visage something that her cybernetic warrior was not accustomed to. After all, she had spent an undisclosed amount of time dedicating her afterlife to saving the lives of the less fortunate, so it brought mass confusion to the man to see her so angry and befuddled.

?Upon receiving the letter from the Super Buu, I ordered Wart to amass all of your soldiers in the outer courtyard in preparations for departure. Was that overstepping any boundaries?? Paige asked, her expression shifting to the more depressed as she ponder the potential repercussions of her precarious actions.

?Nah,? Seventeen responded, grinning at his girlfriend as they entered the stairwell. ?But I?d like to read over that note if you still have it with you,? he requested, pausing to shut the door behind her.

?I do,? Paige replied, fishing into her tight, diminutive outfit and produced a crumpled up piece of paper from the pocket above her bosom. The expression she received from her boyfriend elicited a hasty respond from her end. ?The letter was pretty mangled when the messenger arrived from Buu?s camp on the frontlines,? she chuckled, nervously shifting her feet as she passed the letter to the cyborg.

?I believe you,? the onyx-haired man chuckled, unfurling the furrowed note and reading its contents aloud. ?Get yo ass down hur beotch and help me smash some skulls!!!1? With a hearty laugh, Seventeen stuffed the letter into one of his trench coat?s numerous pockets and sauntered down the stairs with a smile proudly displayed on his pallid countenance.

When the android and his girlfriend emerged from the stairwell, they were startled to see that all the soldiers aligned in flawless columns as they fervently awaited departure. Seventeen was stunned more so, because just a week ago the men had barely been able to march coherently, and now they had managed to organize into a coherent fashion. Although it was probably just because the prospect of battle was reinvigorating to their bored minds, the Commander of the Outcasts was still satisfied to see such progress.

?Men!? The machine-hybrid decreed, drawing the Power Sword and waving it above his head in an effort to ensure he garnered the attention of all the warriors assembled before him. ?We are poised on the edge of a conflict I know all too many of you have anxiously been anticipating for the duration of the last week and a half. We are going to join with General Super Buu and no doubt march onward to Freelorn Village. It seems that said habitation has been claimed by the United Army, but I say nay!? The android bellowed, thrusting the sword toward the sky.

The response was a unanimous chorus of wild screams as guns, swords, and all types of gear were thrust toward the blue sky looming above the heads of Seventeen?s battalion. Wearing a wild, enthused smile upon his face, the android began toward the front of the line?the men parting in order to provide their cybernetic commander with a clear path to his destination. Once he was proudly placed at the helm of the army, the cyborg gave the gatekeepers the signal to open the doors.

Seventeen smiled as the stone and steel gates slowly swung open?providing his men with an unimpaired view of their marching direction. Signaling forward, the cyborg led his eager soldiers across the plains that separated them from Super Buu, Freelorn Village, and the United Army. Although he could not claim to predict the future by any means whatsoever, the android was nevertheless enthused about the trials that waited for him on the horizon.

An hour or so later, Seventeen and his forces were ushered into Super Buu?s camp by a few stocky guards. The android smiled at the men as he turned around and nodded to his troops. Although they had all fallen silent over half a mile back, it was apparent that none of them had lost that aura of anticipation that had been bred back at Brinstar. Nevertheless, now that his men had arrived, the android knew he had some matters to attend to elsewhere in the camp.

?I want you guys to all attempt to relax, but I warn all of your to stay frosty. We all know that this city belongs to the enemy, but by no means does that mean we can?t fall under attack. Be wary of spies, assassins, sabateuors, or anything our vile adversaries may send against us in order to gain an early advantage. Keep your guys on you at all times and be aware of your surroundings. I can?t ensure I know when we are moving to the village, so for the time-being, just get pumped. Let adrenaline and valor fuel you as we make final preparations?dismissed!? The android ordered.

In a matter of seconds, his men had dispersed into the camp, and with a smile of satisfaction upon his ivory visage, Seventeen marched over to his destination?Super Buu?s camp. Once he verified with his soldier which tent he sought, the cyborg broke into a sprint and burst through the entry flap of the golem?s temporary abode.

?I?m here,? Seventeen decreed, his tone laced with the level of talent one would expect from the star of a soap opera. Super Buu glanced over at his leader and shook his head is disbelief.

?Nice to see you too,? the magical construct muttered, motioning with a hand for his commander to join him at an unfolded map of the region. ?Now let?s make some strategy or something.?

[Burter]

Assassaination Attempt

Chik-chik!

Super Buu's eyes veered to the left, away from the humanoid commander who moved in front of him.

A man in Outcast uniform stood holding a Ki Shotgun towards them. While he looked just like one of the Outcasts, Super Buu could see through the disguise easily enough. He could feel the danger.

On instinct, he let out a howl and lept forward. Upon impact, 17 let out a "Buu!?" when he was tackled. The shotgun blast howled through-out the camp, causing everyone to duck in surprise.

It was Super Buu, from on top of 17, who let out the shout. "ASSASSAINS!"

The entire unit nearby responded with aggression. 17 and Super both jumped up as the other assassains revealed themselves in perfectly similar Outcast clothing. The two leaders of the army dispatched the would-be killers with ease.

Nearby, Kid Buu was running to the scene to give assistance. A nearby soldier lept forward, weilding a sword of silver. Kid lept up, spinning around, cracking the neck of the man with a hard spinning heel kick.

"Lieutenant!" Shouted a soldier, "Behind you!"

Kid spun around in time to kick a dagger from another assassain's hand. Around him, chaos reigned as all the soldiers of the Outcast army sprang to hunt for more murders. Kid Buu had his own handled, dropping the third corpse on the body of the second.

"There are more over here!" Paige shouted at her Commander and his General. "Seventeen, over here!"

Sazuaa wrapped up a rope around the neck of the man who attacked him, as the other Outcasters circled around and cheered on the Soldier.

The assassain spun, a dagger up his sleeve appearing and cutting into the heart of the would-be soldier. Sazuaa's eyes lit up as he was peirced.

That was when Seventeen jumped into the circle, punching the assassain down. "Tie him up!" Came the response.

Super Buu appeared behind him, looking around. "Is that all of them?"

"Two escaped, Sir," a sniper responded from above a boulder. "They're going back to Freelorn. They're out of range."

Buu hissed unpleasantly. "So, they've chosen death."









































RESULT

9 Assassains were killed. 2 retreated back to Freelorn. 1 was captured.

Sazuaa is dead.

[Burter]

Assassaination Attempt

Celipa vs Kakarot

CRUNCH!

The apple was nice and juicy to the skilled saiyan warrior. His eyes lit up as the taste swarmed into his mouth. He avoided the carnage of the assassaination fiasco thanks to his hunt for the perfect apple on the tall, shady tree. Now back with the pack and enjoying his reward, Kakarot let out a happy sigh.

All of a sudden, the reality of war dawned on him again, in the form of a shadow on the ground. He had mere seconds to react, causing the blade coming down to miss his neck. He jumped up, nailing the assassain in the air with his shoulders, causing the person to roll in the air and fall to the ground on their heels.

Kakarot landed head of the figure. When he looked up, he saw a cute girl with recognizable spikey hair. No mistake: it was a saiyan. With a blade.

While it pained him to do it, he checked the apple, full force, at the girl. It literally cracked apart on her head, causing her to fall backwards against the rock behind her. In response, her wrist flicked and the blade flew expertly across the small field, impaling into the shoulder of Kakarot.

"Agh. That HURT!" Said the saiyan, stating the obvious. He lunged forward to Celipa, who also ran at him. A fight of skill, not of numbers.

"The Lieutenant is in trouble!" Someone shouted from afar, "Someone get to the Commander!"

The blade from Kakarot's shoulder shot out by his opposite hand, slicing the belly of the cute Celipa. She gripped her injured stomach, headbutting Kakarot in response.

The assassain could see soldiers running towards the fight to sustain her. Knowing that failure was better then capture, she fired a harsh ki blast to the ground and caused a mild explosion in the area. Kakarot landed on his feet after backflipped.

"What happened?!" 17 asked in surprise as he ran up behind Kakarot. He looked at the explosion. Where Celipa was, was nothing but burnt grass.

Kakarot fumed. "I'll tell you what happened, damnit! I lost my apple!"



























































RESULT:

Celipa has escaped. She has a gash across her belly. Without treatment, she's fucked.

Kakarot's been stabbed in the shoulder. That arm's use has been hindered.

[Burter]

Battle Statistics

Outcasts: 1,300 Combat Soldiers

United: 470 Combat Soldiers, 100 Citizens, Village Advantage

Winning army claims the village, and the land around it


The village itself is simple. Three streets with houses and buildings littering the sides of them. The houses are made of stone, and the streets are made up dirt. The village is surrounded by a tall gate. Around the village is flat grasslands with rocky boulders scattering the area. To the east is a large hill, making it for difficult escape.

Both sides need to make their pre-battle decisions to stay or go or surrender or whatever. The battle will likely not begin until tommorrow early afternoon, to give room for pre-battle roleplays.

[Celipa]

Celipa's vision was fogged over. She stumbled blindly into the United camp, one hand on her stomach, which was pouring blood. She was soaked with it and her hand was filled with the stuff.

"Someone...anyone..." her voice faltered and she almost fell forward. "I need...help.."

A soldier spotted the saiyan woman, in leaking blood and stumbling.

"MEDIC! MEDIC! WE'VE GOT A SOLDIER DOWN!"

He wasn't entirely correct...well, not just yet. Right after he spoke, Celipa fell to the ground, unable to walk any further. She could feel her body going cold and she began shivering. The hairs on her saiyan tail were standing on end, and she had lost her knife somewhere along the way.

So this is what death feels like.

Cold was embracing her as she lied there on the ground. But the pain was going away, and she was beginning to get a rather pleasant numbness in her stomach. Oh, how she desired the numbness to completely overcome her. She began to mutter, nothing in particular...just whatever she thought might be her last words.

There was a face in her head, one she could not pin a name to. It was Hellfighter 17...from her buried memories...but she did not know that.

"Don't leave me.." she muttered. "Please, don't go..."

OOC: =O

Open ended so Garlic can come with his medic.

[Tobias]

?One was captured.?

?Damn!? Garlic punctuated his curse by ripping off the armrest of the ornate chair he sat in. ?That?s the one thing I did not want. They could have all died.? He let the piece of wood clatter to the floor. He was almost sorry. The mayor?s house was lovely.

?But? one of the targets were removed.? Each word was enunciated perfectly. So sleek and eloquent. This man was an excellent messenger, too bad diplomacy was long gone here.

?Did they find any??

?I?m sorry?? A genuine look of confusion scrunched up the man?s face. So unfitting for his handsome bone structure.

?I told each one to search the enemies stores for licorice. But no luck I guess.? Garlic plopped a life-saver into his mouth. Pineapple.

?No, sir, I heard nothing about it.? He watched the goblin gestured with his hand, clearly offering a piece of the hard candy. ?No thank you, sir.? Was this the creature his life was entrusted with? His eyes were baggy, skin more gray than the green of the start of the campaign. And now he seemed more concerned with candy than the massive army at his door.

?Well aright then.? Garlics words were mumbled slightly as they formed around his sucker. He was silent as he did some scribbling on a scrap of paper. ?Inform Paragus and Hiro that we need to get all the alcohol, gasoline, and other flammable liquids in the town and gather them up. All of it. Then put what wood he can-?

?Where is he to get the wood??

?This is a rustic town. Everyone has firewood. He?ll get it. Any way, we light the sons of bitches on fire and?? he continued his explanation to the suave messenger to the minutest detail. The plan was simple, but Garlic thought it would be effective. The messenger not so much.

?If I may, sir? in my opinion, if you?ll take it, you?re grasping at straws.? Garlic coughed heavily into his fist. Wiping the mucus on his cloak he grinned.

?Straws are what we got.? The words barely left his mouth when another runner burst through his door.

?Celipa just got back. She?s bad. Blood everywhere.? The man looked ready to empty his stomach right there. Garlic didn?t bother with a reply. He was up in a flash. Sickness did not heed him as he arrived in the street with the speed only he could obtain. Seeing the Saiyans body pawed by the hands of lowly medics irked him. He wouldn?t loose her. He wanted the best.

?Doogie!? Spectators watched him become a greenish blur moving? where? Who the hell was Doogie?

Garlic didn?t stop at the door of the building the medics had chose to quarter their Hospital. He went right through. Adam would have thought it comical, almost like an old cartoon, if the situation wasn?t so grave.

?Come here.? Garlic grabbed the head medic and lifted him on one hand; yet another comical sight that laughter was lost on. Seconds had passed where the fallen assassin laid, but the speed demon was back, and bearing the best doctor he knew. He dropped him roughly next to Celipa and collapsed to the ground in a fit of hacks and coughs. Obviously he was not as fit as he appeared. Adam Mackenzie, Doogie Houser to Garlic, took control immediately. The two medics that made it there first obeyed him without question.

?All right get that Compression bandage on there. Make sure the stitching is tight. You, grab that bench, it?ll be our stretcher.? Adam then turned to Garlic. His whole chest heaved in and out as he tried to catch a breath. It wasn?t going so good. The medic layed his hands on the goblin?s chest, calm and as composed as any warrior in battle, and moving with as much control. He felt where the air getting caught. It had to be a massive buildup of mucus.

?Sir, the patient is-?

?Get her to the hospital for a transfusion. She lost a lot of blood.? Adam returned to Garlic Junior and pushed down. A gurgle. To an untrained ear it sounded bad, but he knew it meant there was some air getting through now, but still not enough. He fruitlessly pumped some more, and opened the demon?s mouth. He should have had gloves on, but the situation didn?t call for it. He stuck his hand in. Garlic rolled over and vomited on the dirt road.

?There we go.? Adam turned the little guy over to find him unconscious, but breathing. The shit had hit the fan now.

[Android 17]

The assassins had failed in regards to actually claim the life of any of the Outcasts, but a far greater casualty had been claimed by the marauders?Sauzaa. Although a greater percentage of the soldiers in the camp glanced over the death of the Frenchman as the demise of an outsider, Seventeen felt great sorrow in staring at the man?s broken body. After all, the blue foreigner had confided in the android for protection, and try as hard as he could?the cyborg had failed.

?I won?t fail again,? the machine-hybrid muttered, driving the digging spade into the ground as he unearthed a small patch of land. The pit was to serve as the last thing the android could offer to a man who had come to him for help a few days ago?eternal peace. Even as his hands trembled in anger and frustration, Seventeen lifted Sauzaa?s ensanguined corpse off the ground and carefully lowered him into the hole.

All around the commander, a number of soldiers watched solemnly as their leader began to shovel dirt into the grave of the blue-skinned alien. Despite the blatant aggravation he was going through at the moment, Seventeen?s eyes nevertheless conveyed the great deal of the pain and sorrow welling within him. The cybernetic warrior let out a sigh as he threw the last bit of dirt onto the grave. With a halfhearted sigh, the man let the shovel slid from his fingers and land on top of the mound of disturbed earth.

?How fares Lieutenant Kakarot?? Seventeen asked?his tone somber as he glanced over his shoulder at one of the onlookers. ?I take it his wounds weren?t as grievous as this poor souls??

?Aye, Commander,? the soldier responded, bobbing his head slightly to accent the validty of his leader?s words. ?He is being patched up in one of the medical tents and should be all dandy in a matter of him. The only problem is he can?t seem to stop carrying on about the apple that he lost in the conflict. Its death seems to have really struck him to his core,? with a wave of his hand, Seventeen cut the man off following the lame attempt at humor.

?And what about the assassin subdued during the conflict?? The onyx-haired warrior inquired, turning from Sauzaa?s gravesite and flashing a morose expression toward the group of soldiers gathered around him.

?He?s not going anywhere, Commander,? the same soldier responded, pointing to a tent a few yards away from their current location. ?He?s locked up in that tent at the moment. Should we have him executed??

?No,? Seventeen uttered, frowning slightly at the degree of difficulty it took to speak such words. ?We will not stoop to their level by soiling ourselves with the blood of some petty assassin. They can try all that want to aggravate us, but it will only culminate in their defeat. I can?t believe that an army pegged to be the token good guys would resort to petty assassinations and backhanded tactics. I have to go meet with General Super Buu, but I want you to tell everyone to prepare for war.?

?Yes, Commander!? The man shouted, saluting the android before turning to usher the rest of the onlookers onto their other duties. With a frown, Seventeen strode across the middle of the campsite and burst into the central tent with a glare of discomfort on his face. Super Buu, Wart, and Paige had gathered in the room and all flashed the android to same sympathetic expression. Moving away from the table, the machine-hybrid?s companion darted forward and embraced the blatantly perturbed man.

Seventeen feigned a smile to appease the persons amassed within the provisional building and turned to face Paige. Still wearing the fa?ade, the cyborg slid his arms around the woman and kissed her?the embrace lasting long enough to trigger Super Buu and Wart to turn their head in the opposite direction. Noticing how awkward the spontaneous, extended moment was for the other two persons in the room, Seventeen pulled back and put on a real smile for the woman he loved.

?I love you,? he muttered, their gazes overlapping as they stared into one another?s eyes?the recent attack had given them both a warning that at any moment their time together could be torn asunder. A stray bullet or an opportunistic assassin had the potential to tear them from one another?s arms at any moment during the coming struggle, and neither one of them was willing to watch the other die.

?I love you too,? Paige cooed, reaching forward to peck the android on the lips one final time before returning to her former position next to Wart. With a newfound lack of vice and frustration, Seventeen made his way to the table and cleared his throat. Snatching up a nearby piece of parchment and a pen, the cyborg began to scrawl a letter.

?What?s the message?? Super Buu inquired, peeking over the long table in an effort to glance at the note. The android discarded the pen and hastily rolled the aged paper into a scroll. With a nearby piece of robe, he tied the document shut at the center and instructed Wart to go snatch a messenger.

?A choice,? the android answered, sliding the scroll into a leather tube as he waited for Wart to return with a courier. ?The attacks disgust me, but I?d rather opt for less bloodshed, because there are bigger fish out there to fry. Despite my sympathetic nature, this is their last chance to depart or face my fury,? the ultimatum brought a smile to golem?s visage. After all, since Koola had eluded him days ago, Super Buu had been rearing for a fight.

?Here?s a messenger,? Wart uttered, entering the tent with an amphibious beast that seemed more adapted to a fish tank than a war zone. Nevertheless, Seventeen handed the container to the creature and pointed out of the room.

?Deliver that to our foes,? he ordered. ?Good luck, soldier,? the Commander added, placing a reassuring hand on the messenger?s shoulder and then motioning for him to depart.

?How do you think they?ll respond?? Paige inquired?the frown on her face summed up the former whitelighter?s opinion about the days to come.

?Prepare for anything,? Seventeen uttered, turning around to face his best friend and girlfriend. ?However this situation ends, its conclusion will not be easily forgotten. Make sure that there are sentries and guards on duty throughout the night incase our foes are more even more dubious than we imagined.?

OOC: Assassin is locked up hardcore, and Kakarot is being patched up in a medical tent. This is the letter:

Leader of the army stationed at Freelorn Village,

I must thank you for the dubious tactics you are willing to resort to in order to gain an advantage, despite the facade about the alignment of your army being 'good'. Nevertheless, I am not an evil man, and I will offer your army a chance to retreat from the village. This way there will be no bloodshed between our forces, and we can both walk away without having to put our lives on the line.

If you fail to retreat, I will be forced to take action in order to wrest the village from your control. I will expect my messenger to return with your response, because if we do not receive an answer by the rise of the sun or the messenger fails to return at all, we will press the attack.

Yours truly,

Commander Seventeen of the Outcasts.

[Tobias]

Garlic scrawled his message down from the 'Hospital' itself. He hated the words being written down, but was there really any other way?

My Dearest Seventeen,

Congratulations, you have achieved the victory every commander wishes. One without arms. This battle was over before I even knew it was to be started. It is unfortunate you bring our very nature into question merely because we used every tool we had to our advantage, but if thats how it has to be so be it. We will leave Freelorn village behind. This territory is your's. May we meet again under better terms.

Smooches,
Garlic Junior

"You take that message to your commander and this too." He handed the messenger a single red lifesaver. "My compliments."

[Belle Hibiki]

Kid Buu looked down at the piled bodies. Three in all, his victims lay over one another like discarded toys. Limbs broken, eyes staring, they seemed to bemoan their fate to the sky above. The other assassins were scattered nearby, some more obviously dead than the others, but unmistakably having shuffled off this mortal coil. The thrill of the kill pumped through him and seemed to radiate out from his skin in waves, his eyes alight with a sort of murderous furor. Finally, he had had some action. But his elation was short lived, tempered by the next thought that plunged through his mind and smashed his feeling of joy into shards.

He had taken down three by himself.

Super Buu had saved Seventeen.

The disparity might have struck some as a very fine one: had the child majin not taken out his share of the stealthy killers, might they not have succeeded in their mission? But that probably future didn't matter to the puttalin child. That chance was in the past, the decision made; gone, terminated, just like the bodies in front of him. What was left was stark reality, naked and pure, and that was the fact that he had been outdone once again by the creature that had once taken everything from him. One of his four fists clenched, a raw snarl of hatred working its way out from between his pointed teeth.

Weaker. Inferior. Discarded!

Abruptly, Buu slammed his pudgy fingers down. The head of an unfortunate assassin lay in his path, splattering apart like a watermelon struck by a heavy pink sledgehammer.

There was a collective intake of breath from the soldiers nearby. The weaker stomached ones turned green at the gills, some of them literally. Most of them had seen death. Most of them had seen men ripped into pieces. But there was something different about the way that the majin went about to all the corpses, dragging them into one giant pile. It was something terribly premeditated, deliberate, ugly; a blood-rusted thought given form and action.

After stacking the bodies, Buu casually reached into his open mouth, driving his hand deep past his throat and into his extra-dimensional gut. Floating in nothingness, his hand finally closed over what he was looking for, and he yanked it free, tearing the objects slightly at its perforated edge. A single sheet of paper. Blank. Dry.

The majin stuck out his finger, collecting the blood that still seeped from the shattered skull of one of the attackers. He began to write, scribbling a message onto its blank surface, letters glaring a smeared bright crimson. Calmly, though with a look of such irritation that it might have scared off a Jehova's Witness, the majin pried open the jaw of one of the attackers and stuffed the note into his maw. All else was silent as he grabbed the lowermost set of legs, turned towards the village in the distance, and began.

~+~+~+~

Armed and ready, waiting for their orders, the forces of Garlick Junior waited. Restless noises carried on the air, broken occasionally by the sound of something breaking as a trembling hand dropped whatever it was carrying. The first sound of whistling was barely heard, the black blob only spotted a moment before it slammed into the ground with enough force to make the windows rattle.

The body of an assassin exploded, bones crunching as its limbs snapped apart in splintery, dry sounds. There were screams from the town as a second rained down, then a third and a fourth.

Five, six, seven, eight corpses fell like comets down out of the sky and over the gathering United, already in the process of beginning their retreat.

A final body slammed into the ground, mercifully intact. A single ball of paper rolled from its open mouth. A soldier picked it up.

In blood, it read thusly:

"Salvation is at hand! Pass this note to the man next to you. If at least 1000 men see this note, you will be spared a horrific, bloody death!"

Back at the camp, Kid Buu looked out over the setting sun, the sky turning a bright ruby that matched his radiant eyes. He smirked, and as the screams of the townsfolk echoed in the distance he reflected, somewhat happily, that at least the day hadn't been a complete loss.