Episode #10: Strange Enemies

The day went to night among the NESF's base. Spars were, for the most part, finished. The heroes were actually about to go fight outside at night, but first...

"What the hell is this?" asked Drew, looking at the paper, then at the orange hedgehog across from him.

"It's not like I'm leaving for the rest of the war..." Streak said. "I leave tommorrow for my clan's grounds. I was going to have to do it anyway so I could show what I learned...if it goes well, you might have a new sparring partner; you might not...depends on when command gets back to us."
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Corey was outside the base, punching and kicking at the air, still trying to get his new style. He hadn't quite mastered it yet.

Zukai crossed his arms watching Corey.

Corey didn't know he was there. Zukai had only wanted to watch the younger saiyan for a moment.

Could this be the only reason he's improved so much? Or was that talk with Goku so much more then what it seemed? Zukai sighed. It was no question the boy was strong, but it seemed more that he had a talent.

For some odd reason, there was something about Corey that reminded Zukai of his cousin, Brandon. He couldn't make out why, but it was just something.
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Makuta was walking through the halls of the base, pondering things. He had allowed the soldiers a day off of work today, allowing there exhausted bodies some time to prepare for more torture. At the same time, him working them was in fact his own resting from his intense training. That from which he had to return to.

"Were you there, Changeling bastard?" Makuta remembered his words in the fight with the BT Robo. How the face he had imagined the owner to have cept changing through the cycle of features he remembered from that fateful day.

The Namekian quickly stopped, thinking that he heard a ever so slight noise. He remained quiet, focusing on his surroundings. When all seemed fine, he continued on.

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What he did not notice...was but a corner away.

A single "girl" stood against the wall next to the corner, its skin and hair colors a light greyish blue and her clothing a pitch black dress.

Drew and Streak continued to remain in the room, silently staring one another down, unbeknownst to them they too were being watched...
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Zach remained idle, hands behind his head, he too, being watched.
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Wait until the time is right, girls...Only then will you be able to see what you need to...

Zukai began to get closer to Corey, ready to watch more closely.
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Nadie adjusted her armor. She'd just finished washing up before it would be time for her to continue training. She didn't want Makuta to always be looking out for her, she had to start using her free time more wisely for not just her, but the rest of the NESF's sake.

Terra sat in his lab, hunched over the screen that was built into the table. He rapidly fiddled with multiple programs. He looked exhausted, dark circles under his eyes. Small patches of facial hair were visible.

"The Super School...has such defenses. I find it hard to believe we could even get inside..." he gripped to himself. He closed his weapon designs and BT Robo blueprints, and looked at what data had been gathered on the Super School on the NESFs previous mission as well as eye witness reports. "It's all of theirs jobs to fight...I have to at least do this much...think...!!"

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Far to deep in his research, the scientist failed to notice the blue androgynous being pass his wide open door and continue down the hall.

Drew rubbed at his temples. "Fine, first thing tomorrow. But don't take too long with whatever it is..."

"Thank you, sir..."

Before Drew could say anything, his eye spotted something. "What the--"

He stood from his chair.

"Something wrong?" Streak asked, turning.

"...It..." Drew shook his head.
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Just on the opposite side of the door, and quickly shuffling away, was a pink androgynous being; ashy pink skin and hair, and the same black attire as the blue one...
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Corey continued his training, unknown he was being watched.
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Zach got up from his bed. He didn't know why, but he felt uneasy. Almost as if he were...being watched. The Saiyan got up, feeling restless.

"...I'd better...go see if Corey's tail regrew..." the teen said, quickly walking away, somehow bypassing an ashy green figure in the shadows...

Nadie was opened the door and began to head out into the hall. She was somewhat still adjusting her armor as she walked not paying attention to what was in front of her. When she finally looked up it was to late...

Crash

"O..Oh I'm so sorry---"

Nadie began to rise looking at the person she bumped into, "I...I---" She froze. Whatever it was was now staring at her. Nadie was scared for that moment, shaking her head and stumbling back for distance.

Makuta continued walking through the hall, his instincts flaring at him. He began to turn a corner, and a fist flew at his face. His hand moved on its own, catching the fist before it struck it's face. Makuta didn't strike back, as he knew the fist had slowed itself down.

"Oh, it's you..." Makuta noted. Zachs eyes were wide, as he lowered his fist.

"Sorry...you surprised me..." Zach admitted, sighing.

"You should listen a little better, you could have heard me coming..." Makuta pointed out, grinning.

"Makuta..." said Zach. "Please tell me I'm not the only one imagining it..."

"Imagining what?"

"That...I'm being watched..." Zach said.
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The pinkish being looked at Nadie, and its reddish eyes began to glow. It raised its hand, not even saying anything in response. A pinkish energy ball began to form.
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Seek refuge for as long as you can and watch their movements. Do it however you like...and when you're found out...you know what to do...

"?!"

A gasp suddenly echoed out from the terrified Nadie. But she quickly got hold of her actions and took a step back. She braced herself for the attack. Her mind quickly wandered.

I...I sense barley anything from it. What does that---

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Zukai crossed his arms as Corey sent out a kick to the air. He held the position, slowly positioning to a rest.

Zukai turned away for a moment. Something in the bottom of his stomach just began to stir. He began to utter the name out loud...

"N---"

The explosion echoed through the base.
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Makuta rushed past Zach, knocking him aside.

"Where did it-" the Namekian was cut short, when a green blast detonated on him.

Corey halted mid-stance, and got back into a ready-stance in a few seconds. He had heard the first explosion, closely followed by the second.

"Did that come from inside the base?!" asked Corey to himself.

Corey waited a bit, before finally moving to run towards the entrance again. However, before he could make it inside, something blue and humanoid ran out into him, somehow managing to punch him in the face. Off-guard, Corey was sent flying backward, but recovered in due time.
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Zach got into a ready stance, "What the..."

He looked around, eventually seeing something green, humanoid, and not friendly looking, "So we do have--"
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"Intruders...!" Drew grunted, as soon as the shock of the two explosions passed through the base. "Alright, Smear--"

"Streak..." Streak responded.

"Let's get going, quick! The first explosion was closer..." Drew said, leaping over the desk. "We'll talk about this later..."

Zukai looked towards them. Corey recovered but witnessed the blue being close in for a follow through. He braced himself for it.

There was a sound of something impacting something, but Corey felt nothing. He slowly opened his eyes only to see Zukai. He redirected the being's arm to the side.

The green humanoid through its fist out, to which Zach easily blocked. He blocked a few more pretty pathetic hits. Little form at all. He hesitated for a moment, and through a punch of his own. He found himself immediately blocked. This repeated.

Makuta had recovered from the blast almost immediately, but hadn't jumped in because he noticed something.

The stance the "girl" had taken to block the attacks, was the very stance Zach had taken...

The blue "girl" and Zukai stared back at each other, and both of the Saiyans swore they saw the girl's blue eyes flash brighter for just a split second as it seemed to register Zukai, and threw a punch at him, which Zukai averted before the two backed off. Corey rushed after the blue being, and threw a kick.

"?!"

Corey's form was already matched by the opponent. The two had thrown the exact same jumping kick, colliding legs and landing on the ground away from each other.
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Drew and Streak ran towards the explosion, seeing smoke up ahead. When they got there...

"I know you're around here!" Drew called out. "Show yourself!"

Out of the smoke came something which Drew would later describe as "freakish". A pink, androgynous being came forth, its eyes flashing as it saw Streak. It held out its hand in a similar stance, and fired pink ki bolts, forgetting its previous opponent as it did so.
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Zach threw more attacks, and the girl kept blocking and counterattacking. Both would sometimes hit the other, during which Zach realized something. He clashed his forearm with it, and backed off.

"Is it...copying me...?" Zach wondered aloud as he watched it slowly get into the same stance he was in.

Nadie came from behind the pink being. She swiped her hand diagonally to throat chop the pink being.
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Zukai stopped momentarily. The kicks weren't just executed at about the same time. The form was exactly the same as Corey's.

Zukai got in a stance, but waited it out slightly, somewhat using Corey as a guinea pig.

Makuta watched as the two continued there battle, watching the twos movements. From the sidelines, to a fighter like Makuta, the assailants movements were slightly off each of Zachs. But it's mimicry was beyond logic. Each time it recycled a previously mimicked tactic, it seemed to improve.

Not only that, but up they began fighting the figure had no presence whatsoever. Now, its power was steadily inclining as if warming up.

Corey and the blue being immediately broke off after exchanging a cross counter, both landing a punch to the other's face. Corey and the blue being flipped away, the former confused.

"It took me weeks to get it down to that point...and it only took it maybe a minute..." Corey thought aloud.
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The pink being was caught off-guard by the throat chop, leaving an opening for Drew to exploit. He rushed in close, but the pink being recovered faster than anticipated. Drew and the being wound up locking hands, with Drew kicking out first. The pink being fell back, firing another Ki blast that was stopped by a lightning strike from Streak.
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Zach and the green being both threw a punch with opposite arms. The fist missed Zach's head by inches and Zach managed to get his counterstrike off, sending the prototype into the wall.

Nadie shot a ki blast of her own to counter the Pink being. Afterward she charged forward towards it, ready to continue her attack.
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Zukai watched, eyes widened, "It's ability to adapt to it's situation is amazing,"

Zukai was almost ready to attack, his hands glowing as he charged up his attack.

Corey and the blue being rushed in again. The blue being was now matching his moves almost perfectly, seeming to be able to counter each of his moves. Eventually, Corey faltered, and was met with a kick to the stomach followed by a punch to the ground.
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Nadie rushed through the smoke, the pink being not able to react to her Ki attack or her follow up move. Drew rushed in from behind, kicking their opponent in the ribs. Streak, in light form, zipped forward, landing another good hit.
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The green being charged out of the rubble, and Zach and it began a test of strength in the middle of the hall.

The blue being was blasted from behind by Zukai as he unsheathed his sword charging forward.
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Nadie continued after Streak's attack, throwing a fist entombed in ki.

Zach and the green being struggled against each other, seemingly on equal footing. After a few seconds however, Zachs feet skidded back just a bit. While insignificant, the mental impact of being overpowered by any degree struck him hard.

This was only for a moment however, as the green being was sent flying, smashing through the wall into another room. Zach regained his composure and looked up at Makuta, who was standing before him with his fist outstretched.

"This thing sure is interesting...but us letting it stay kicking could end up to much of a bother..."

The blue being caught a downward sword slash from Zukai, and held the blade between its hands. While it was losing the test of strength, it wasn't budging that much.
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Nadie's hit made contact with the Pink being, throwing it backwards with an explosion of Ki. Drew followed, his attack of choice kicking it to stun it, and grabbing on to it.

"Here goes..." Drew said, "Primary Lotus--!!"

Drew grunted, feeling a cramp shoot through him as his muscles worked beyond their normal capacity. He couldn't hold on to the pink being as it spun. The pink being still spun through the wall with an explosion, but Drew held on to one arm.

So that's the risk...The damn move rips up your muscles...Saiyans and humans aren't that much different in that respect...
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"That's what I was thinking..." Zach said. "They must have sent these things here...But how'd they find out where we were?"

The green being began to recover from the last hit, seemingly dazed from the unexpected interruption.

Nadie watched the attack with amazement. She shook her trance and made her way towards Drew to help.
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Zukai began to tilt his wrists and arms, causing the sword to push sideways as well as downwards, causing the blue being's arms to follow it. Zukai pushed his force the same way (Left), right knee raised, aiming for the side of the being. In retaliation it slightly moved to avoid Zukai's knee.
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