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Lunar Eclipse
Chapter
The night was cold and dark, especially since the moon mysteriously disappeared again. Nick was annoyed; he'd been alive for hundreds of years and had come to love his moonlit romps across the countryside. He looked up into the sky, slightly different than the sky of his old home in the US. In a way he was glad that he had moved to Japan, there were fewer hunters to worry about and there was tons of wilderness left on this part of the continent.
He was also interested in the legend of this area, the Dragonballs. If he could gather them he could wish the moon back. He shook his head in slight confusion, sending strands of ebony hair over his ice blue eyes. He didn't need the moon to transform, but being a creature of nature the moon had an odd effect on him, and he'd come to crave the extra power the moon gave him. To run in the silvery light of a full moon was like getting a small taste of true freedom, of running forever free in the woods and never experiencing the troubles of civilization.
But he had to find the orbs first. And from what his sources had told him Mrs. Bulma Briefs had all the answers, a device to track them down.
He could see the giant dome of the Capsule Corp. building. He was going straight in and he hoped straight out. He had to be careful not to get caught. Not only was his freedom at stake, but the safety of his species. It seemed he melted into the bushes as he entered the backyard. He had scoped out the place a couple of days earlier, finding the location of the lab and the safest way there. He silently walked towards the back door, and on a hunch he turned the knob. Nani?! The door opened. A multi-billion dollar corporation with top secret information and the door is unlocked? That made him even more cautious as he walked into the building. It was easy enough to get past the alarm system, his hearing and eyesight being much more acute than humans do.
He finally found his way to the lab, immediately looking into the drawers for any unusual device, groaning when he found many. He almost cried out in joy when he found a little box marked 'Dragon Radar'. He was careful to put everything back into its proper place.
So engrossed in his search was he that he didn't notice someone moving up behind him. Just as he found it something heavy slammed into the back of his skull. It was a strong enough blow to kill a human, but luckily for him (maybe not so lucky) he was no such thing. He turned to face his attacker. Sapphire blue eyes glared at him with fire blazing in them. He recognized her as the president of CC, Mrs. Bulma Briefs herself.
"Nani! That should have at least knocked you out!" Bulma stepped back a little. But soon Bulma's surprise and fright turned into anger. "Who are you and what are you doing in my lab?! And how did you get past my highly advanced alarm system?" He stared at her, a bit confused by her sudden mood swing. He was also very aware that her screaming had attracted attention. He could hear and smell someone coming closer to the lab.
"What are you screaming about now Woman?" A short man with coal-black, spiky hair walked into the lab. His eyes were immediately on him.
"This man got past the security systems and YOU! Stupid Baka! Can't even catch a weak little, pathetic, weakling CHIKYUU human breaking into your own home." She mocked, mimicking him perfectly.
"You humans are too weak to sense, and I figured your ugliness would keep them away." He smirked at her knowing that she was going to throw one of her usual tantrums. He noticed that the other human was looking absolutely dumfounded. "But let's take care of this even bigger baka first."
"Fine! I don't care." Bulma turned her back to him; arms crossed, and nose up in the air.
Vegeta 'hmphed' and advanced on the intruder. Nick almost laughed; this guy was shorter than he was. Besides he was a weak human. He got into a fighting stance, just to humor the little man before he beat him into a pulp. Next thing he knew he was getting intimate with the wall on the other side of the lab and sliding down to the floor. What the Hell? He scrambled up off the floor, trying to figure out what had just happened. He looked from the spot he now was, to the spot he had been, to the man. The little man was leaning against a piece of machinery with his arms crossed and a smug smirk on his face. Maybe the woman... But she was still in the same spot and position she had been the last time he saw her. Nahhh...He couldn't be that strong.
"What's wrong little human, do I play too rough?" Vegeta mocked.
Nick growled and charged Vegeta; not realizing it had been Vegeta who had punched him into the wall. Once again, he found himself hugging the wall and soon after meeting the floor, but this time he gouged himself on a piece of equipment. Pain seared up his side. He forced himself up. And once again Vegeta was standing up against the machinery with that smug smirk on his face. The little man was actually knocking him into the wall without any kind of effort. Bastard...
Nick stepped back and evaluated the situation. This man had to be more powerful than him, but was he faster? He darted for the exit, only to be blocked by Shorty. He didn't slow down and slammed right into him. A brick wall would be softer. He could hear sirens in the background. Nick glanced over his shoulder...the woman was gone. She called the cops, Great! He needed to get out of here and he needed to get out of here fast! Okay, No more Mister Nice Wolf!
He backed a few feet away from the little man and concentrated on his transformation. Shorty seemed surprised as he started to sprout hair and teeth, but he didn't make a move. The sirens were getting louder and panic was threatening to take hold. He would have to charge before he was completely transformed, hoping that all of his limbs would be in proportion or he wouldn't be fast enough to get away.
It had been at least five years since he had transformed, and he was totally overwhelmed by the wolf mind. It only knew that it was in the open, in pain, and was cornered in a small room by a small man who had caused the pain, along with the loud noises and bright flashing lights hurting his ears and eyes. Nick was struggling to control the beast; his fear of loss of control almost helped him regain control. Almost.
The beast howled its anger, pain, and challenge for all to hear; an unearthly tone that sent chills down Vegeta's spine. It charged him, sinking its teeth into his arm, shaking its big canine head as it tried to remove the forearm from the rest of his body. Vegeta grabbed its neck with his good arm's hand, hoping to cut off its air. How could a stupid earthen beast overpower him? Him? The Prince of all Saiyans?
Vegeta started gathering ki. If he couldn't physically get the damn thing off, he just blast it to hell and back.
Vegeta felt himself weakening, why he didn't know. Saiyans could lose a lot of blood before succumbing to shock or unconsciousness. He needed to destroy the beast now! He let the blast go right in the beast gaping maw. It jerked back and let out a garbled howl.
The beast was in pain; half of its muzzle had been blown off. Already it was starting heal, but the man that had done this was starting to recover. The logical part of the beast's mind (a.k.a. human) told it that it would not stand a chance. Already it could feel the energy radiating from him. But already the beast could sense the taint in the man's aura already. He was more powerful and not he was on of them. It turned and darted the door and the way Nick had originally come in.
The blue-haired woman was in the hall. She was cautiously making her way down the hall with some sort of gun. But the wolf knew nothing of guns. She is weak! Cull the herd! Kill the weak! It lunged. She brought her arms up, trying desperately to ward off the attack, gun forgotten. It bit into the flesh of her arm, only to be blasted away by the short man. It knew it was outmatched, and self-preservation clicked in. It ran out than door, receiving yelps of surprise from the policemen outside.
Vegeta ignored the policemen and rushed Bulma to the Med. Lab. He could see bone where the beast had bitten her. Strangely enough the wound had stopped bleeding. The doctors and nurses took over as soon as he burst in through the door. Only after he was sure that Bulma was okay did he pay any attention to his own wounds. He looked in bewilderment at his wounds. Not only had they stopped bleeding, no bone was showing, but it was also scabbed over. Even with the Saiyan healing factor he would have needed stitches. And now he felt fine, as if he hadn't lost all of that blood. What the hell was going on? And what was that creature? Humans do not turn into giant humanoid dogs. Do they? He growled in annoyance. He would ask the annoying baka onna when she came out.
Next Morning
Vegeta woke up later than usual. He didn't have any idea why, he hadn't felt this good in years. Maybe I'll have to sleep in more often, might help excel my training.
He was in the middle of taking a bite of Mrs. Briefs' famous waffles when:
"Vegeta?" Came Mr. Briefs' voice. "Ahhh! There you are. Did you get bit too? I see you did. Interesting. Did you notice that Bulma's wounds were also healing at an incredible rate?" " He hesitated, as if expecting Vegeta to reply. "What did this creature look like? Was there anything strange about?"
"No, it was just a bakayarou Chikyuu-jin man that changed into a giant flesh-eating poodle. Nothing out of the ordinary, that happens all the time. Stupid baka!" Vegeta replied with extreme sarcasm. Mr. Briefs seemed taken aback with that answer.
"Sounds like a Loupe garou. *Laughs* But they're only legends." He hesitated. "But Saiyans can change into were-monkeys. Hmmm...Interesting. But we should still give you your rabies shot just in case."
"No puny Chikyuu-jin disease can make a Saiyan sick." Vegeta glared at Dr. Briefs and the old man decided that it wasn't even worth the effort. He walked off to check on his daughter, muttering about blood tests and other things the Saiyan prince could not comprehend. He soon called the Prince in to take blood.
Bulma grouched as her father took some blood. Her skin was now ultra-sensitive to any stimuli and now her father was poking her with very sharp needles. She looked at her arm; the wound that once took up her whole forearm was barely the size of a dime. She had no idea how that was possible and it spooked her. Even a mechanical genius that was in the dark about anything that had to do with biology knew something was terribly wrong. This was even faster than a Saiyan's healing factor. And how could she acquire such a healing system. Maybe the attack triggered something in her DNA. But that was less traumatic than say, Freeza. So deep in her thoughts was she that she jumped when Dr. Briefs patted her on the shoulder.
"Jumpy aren't we dear?" Dr. Briefs chuckled.
"Daddy? You said Vegeta was bitten too, right?" Dr. Briefs nodded. "Is he having the same symptoms as me?"
"What type of symptoms are we talking about?" Dr. Briefs asked worriedly.
"I'm sensitive to touch and light. My sense of smell is amazing. Nancy had bacon and eggs, some orange juice and coffee." She pointed at a woman clear on the other side of the infirmary. "My hearing is very acute. Vegeta's coming down." She added quickly, wincing as the door opened letting in bright light.
"I'll get you a pair of sunglasses." As Dr. Briefs walked off, Vegeta walked in growling about stupid baka humans and their stupid baka lights. He was shading the light out of his eyes with his hand as he quickly made his way to Bulma.
"Konnichi wa, Vegeta. How are you feeling today?" Dr. Briefs asked cheerfully as he made his way towards them. He handed his daughter a pair of sunglasses. Figuring Vegeta was suffering the same symptoms as Bulma, he had retrieved an extra pair of glasses. He handed them to the Saiyan prince who, strangely enough, immediately put them on.
"Well?" Vegeta demanded sounding especially annoyed and impatient. Dr. Briefs looked confused for a second and then nodded, slightly unsettling his ever present cat.
"Well, I found a foreign organism in your blood, but it's so close to your own DNA I'm not sure if it's a cancer or if it came from the wolf. It is similar to the gene that allows you to go Oozaru. Ahh! I see you grew back your tail." The older man watched in amazement as Vegeta's tail flicked back and forth. "Hmmm...Complete regeneration. Interesting. I think I need to do some more tests." At the two younger peoples' scowls he added, " I have enough blood for now. Now shoo! I have work to do." He shooed them off, walking away talking to himself. Bulma looked at Vegeta and vice versa. Vegeta, having a very acute sense of smell in the first place, noticed Bulma smelled different.
"Boy, Vegetable head, have you always smelled like a dog?" Bulma chided.
"Looks who's talking Woman. Hmph! And I do not smell like a dog." But he knew she was right. He had smelled like this when he woke up this morning. Thinking that he may have forgotten to bathe after the incident and that he smelled like his attacker, he had taken several showers and baths trying to relieve his body of the scent. He had even gone as far as stealing Bulma's scented bubble bath. All attempts were in vain, he still smelled like a stupid earth canine.
"What are you talking about? I do not smell like a dog," Bulma screamed, fuming at the comment. Vegeta turned and walked out. He really didn't need this; his extra sensitive ears were aching from that outburst.
He instinctively walked to the gravity room, but to his surprise he did not feel like training today. He walked back to his room and promptly fell asleep.
Vegeta dreamed for the first time in years. But the dreams made no sense to him. He watched as the sky darkened and Shenlon appeared in the ebony sky. He watched as the moon appeared in the sky. He watched as a familiar dark haired, blue eyed man changed into a familiar wolf. He saw several Oozaru, a light blue wolf and the familiar wolf faced a strange looking creature. Several "pictures" flashed before his eyes. He realized it was a creature in several different forms. A giant explosion blinded him and screams of pain deafened him. He woke with a start. "What the hell was that?!" He knew that it was not just a dream, it was too vivid to be a dream. Oh Well.
His stomach made its hunger known and he walked down to the kitchen. He could sense Bulma was there, and he was half tempted to head back upstairs. But his traitorous stomach made his presence known and he walked quickly to the refrigerator. He gathered together materials for a sandwich. He was about to put down the ingredients when he noticed that the table was covered with food. He looked to Bulma and gaped as he watched her eat Saiyan style. She was shoving as much food as possible down her gullet. She usually ate like a bird, and this sudden change in appetite stunned the Saiyan. His stomach brought him back to his senses with a loud growl. He put the food on the counter and proceeded to make several four foot tall sandwiches. He took the sandwiches over too the table and they ate in silence. Something kept nagging at him, something Dr. Briefs said the night before. Lopped-ear bunny? No, that was a quiet little animal that tasted delicious. He took another bite of his sandwich. Lop Giri? That just sounded weird. Lupe Ginyu? Possible a cousin of Ginyu? Loupe Garou? Yes, the last one sounded right. He decided to ask Bulma about it.
"Onna, what is a Loupe Garou?" He watched Bulma to see what her reaction was. Bulma's head snapped up. He shouldn't know that word, where would he hear it?
"Where on Chikyuu did you here that?"
"You're baka father was talking about it when he was talking to me after the dog attacked us." Bulma hesitated, sighed, and then proceeded to answer him.
"They're were-beings like you, except they turn into wolves. Have you ever heard of werewolves?"
"You've called me a were ape before, similar?"
"Yes. They need the moon to transform like you. But they don't need a tail to do it. And their bite changes the person they bit into one of them. Wonder why father would talk about them," Bulma pondered.
"Can they do it without the moon?" Bulma eyed him suspiciously.
"Depends on the area and its legend. Some say "no" others say "yes". I truthfully don't know. They're just legends anyway." Bulma shrugged and continued gorging herself.
"Baka Onna, that man turned into a wolf and attacked both you and me. We both smell like canines, we completely recover from the wounds, faster than any Saiyan. Sometimes Woman, you are really stupid. And besides, Super Saiyans were only a legend. Find out some more on this Lipi Ginke or whatever they're called." With that Vegeta walked out with the rest of his sandwiches and went to eat them in the gravity room. He could hear Bulma cussing him out clear to the training room.
Bulma finished eating. She refused to do Vegeta's bidding, but she found herself curious about the subject. She decided to finish her work in the lab before she played on the computer. She finished late; not really feeling fatigued at all even though she had worked all day. She turned on her computer and hopped onto the Net. She typed werewolf into one of her favorite search engines and waited for the results. She wasn't surprised at the amount of websites dedicated to the werebeings, but rather annoyed. Now onto the tedious task of sorting out junk sites from good sites.
What will Bulma find on the Net? Why did Vegeta have that strange dream?