Third Eye

In the end, it didn’t matter. For Neo, it was the future that was the most important thing, not the past. As it stood, his future was very uncertain. He wanted nothing more than another shot at Goku. But thanks to his failure, instead of six obstacles in the way of Goku…counting Goku himself, he had ten. Above all else, he now had what was left of the Red Ribbon Army after him as well for his failure.

For the time being, he had set up shop in an installation that had been destroyed by Goku in his childhood…actually, now that he thought about it, that was a bit of a stretch. It was destroyed by another android that betrayed the Red Ribbon army, number 8. It must have been some sort of design flaw, Neo mused, for so many androids to have turned against their creators and the army. Neo shook his head. Once again, he had his mind set in the past, when it was his future he needed to concentrate on.

As he pondered his dilemma, he was hit with an epiphany. Perhaps the past held his salvation. He still had the DNA samples of Goku, Vegeta, Freeza and Piccolo at his disposal. He could create the perfect killing machine to destroy Goku…but that had been tried before, with no success. Besides, almost all of his enemies were too powerful for whatever creation he could cook up anyways.

Whatever he thought up of, the numbers were always against him. If only there was a way he could even the odds, even a little. Another mental light bulb lit as his newest scheme worked into being. He was tempted to believe that this scheme was perfect, but he believed his last plan to be perfect as well and of course its outcome was less than so. Still, it was a good plan. It could, likely, kill two birds with one stone, as it were.

He just needed to get a few more cell samples…

While one would scoff at such a place, it did offer one thing that large cities could never provide…a truly peaceful environment…usually. This, however, was not a usual time. As with any other day, the people of the small village were getting up and going to their respective places of employment or education, when suddenly it began to rain fire.

It was as if their village had committed some grave sins and the heavens themselves wrested upon them divine retribution. Frightened citizens, never touched by such shear terror before, panicked and ran wildly to and fro, trying desperately to shield themselves from the devastation. Lives and livelihoods that had taken years to develop were ruthlessly snatched away in an instant.

The old grandfather, along with his two grandsons, Athen and Duon took shelter in a hardware store, hoping beyond hope that their shop wouldn’t be the next target. Slowly the assault subsided, leaving the survivors to take stock of the damage.

“Wha-what happened?” asked the terrified Athen.

“I…I don’t know,” said their grandfather. “I’ve never seen anything like this before…” With it apparently safe, the three horrified individuals crept out of their haven to get a better look at the destruction.

“I guess this means there won’t be any school today…” Duon said, shaking despite his bravado.

“It’s just too horrible,” said the old man. “How could this have happened?”

“What’s that?” asked Athen, pointing upwards.

Slowly, a man dressed in green body armor with a green jewel in the center of his forehead, descended from the sky with a gloating, hateful smirk on his face. He touched down in the center square, one of the few places not touched by the devastation. Looking approvingly at the destruction and at the fear filled faces of the populous, he announced, “Your king has returned! You will once again tremble with fear at the name Xeon! All of you will suffer for your betrayal!”

“Xeon!?!?” went Athen. He looked up at his grandfather, “Like that guy in your story?”

“It’s true,” the old man said. “It’s all true…”

Xeon raised his hand and fired another ki blast, destroying more buildings and once again sending the populous into a panic. His smirk enlarged into a sadistic grin seeing the devastation being caused at his hands. “Incredible! The power of this body is incredible! With this alone, I should be able to conquer this land again with no problem! But why should I settle for just this continent…with this power, the whole world would tremble at my feet!” He looked up, eyeing the old man and his grandchildren and fired another ki blast. “YES!!!” The old man grabbed his grandchildren and turned them around, shielding them with his body.

Out of nowhere, another man appeared and got in front of the three would be victims. ‘Look at these people…’ thought Xeon. ‘So willing to sacrifice themselves for each other…it makes me sick.’ The new man, however, did something Xeon never thought possible…he swatted his blast harmlessly away. “What--”

“XEON!!! This ends now!”

“Who are you to interfere with me?” went Xeon, indignant.

“My name’s Yamucha. That body you’ve taken over belongs to my friend and there isn’t room in there for the two of you. I’m going to make sure you leave!”

“I don’t think so!” said Xeon. “This body is just overflowing with power…there’s no way I’m going to give it up!”

“My friend, you have no idea what real power is.”

Growing impatient with the belligerent nobody, Xeon powered up and fired a rapid succession of ki blasts, all of which Yamucha batted away with ease. Growing impatient, Xeon lost his royal composure and launched himself at Yamucha raining a barrage of kicks and punches on the fighter. To his dismay, Yamucha absorbed every last hit, totally unaffected. He took a step back, “What…what are you? How could you withstand such an onslaught?”

“It’s like I said…you have no idea what real power is…but I can show you. Since you’re in Tenshinhan’s body, you should be able to feel ki as he does. Well, feel this…” Dropping his dampening field, Yamucha began powering up. He started out with twice Xeon’s power and kept getting stronger. The force Yamucha was emitting was so great; Xeon nearly fell on his rear, unable to stand up to it.

Yamucha smiled. At his current level, he was four times as strong as Xeon. “And I’m not even at a quarter strength.” Xeon’s eyes widened in terror. He was astounded to find someone with the strength Tenshinhan possessed. He couldn’t even fathom the thought of there being anyone stronger. Yamucha continued, “And if you open your senses, you would know that there are others that can generate far more than I can.”

As the two warriors faced off, Puar and Chaozu took the three citizens and lead them off to safety. At first, Puar didn’t notice, but all the while, Chaozu was trembling uncontrollably. Puar caught site of him and asked, “Chaozu? What’s the matter?”

“I-I can’t believe the amount of power Yamucha’s able to generate now…”

“Yeah…he has gotten considerably stronger than the last time you saw him. But why are you shaking so much?”

“It’s his power…it’s…it’s…”

“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” said Puar. “I don’t have the ability to feel ki like you do, but Yamucha’s ki has become so great that even I can--”

“No…his power…it’s horrifying…more so than Tenshinhan’s…”

“Huh?”

Xeon began backpedaling. Along with control of Tenshinhan’s body, he also had access to Tenshinhan’s knowledge. From that knowledge, he knew what Yamucha said was the truth. At his current level of power, he would be no match against any of the other warriors he spoke about. “Well…it would appear that I will be needing my other items after all…when I get them, we’ll see if you’ll still have your air of superiority!”

“You won’t get the chance to get anything!” Faster than Xeon could blink, the distance between them disappeared and Yamucha grabbed the jewel covering Tenshinhan’s third eye. Yamucha was caught totally unawares when a powerful jolt of energy erupted form the jewel, engulfing him and knocking him back.

Xeon smiled his cruel smile once again, “You won’t defeat me that easily!” With that, he flew away.

Yamucha slowly got back onto his feet. So Xeon had some sort of defense mechanism in place, huh. He would be ready for it next time.

With Xeon making a tactical retreat, everyone in the village came out of hiding again. “Yamucha! Are you okay?” asked Puar, flying to his side.

“Yeah. He caught me by surprise with that last move,” said Yamucha. He added darkly, “He won’t next time…”

“Wow! You were awesome!!!” Duon said, running up to Yamucha.

“Yeah, you sure showed him!” added Athen, stride for stride with his brother.

“Indeed,” went their grandfather. “Xeon of legend was the strongest man in the world. Until the great hero came, none in the land could stand up to his power. It would appear that he’s even more powerful now than he was in the stories and you were able to drive him away effortlessly. I’m very impressed.”

“Thank you. But Xeon has possessed my friend…and I wasn’t able to get him back…I failed…”

The old man nodded. “If the legends are true…and apparently they are…not just anyone can free a person that has been possessed by Xeon…”

“You keep mentioning a legend,” said Chaozu. “What legend is that?”

The old man went on to tell the three outsiders about the legend of Xeon, how a man named Kafye defeated him in the past and the promise Xeon made to return with the appearance of a man with a third eye.

“What was the significance of the person having the third eye?” asked Yamucha.

“I think that’s how Xeon was able to keep control of his hosts. Xeon’s last incarnation also had a third eye. The jewel is placed over that third eye and Xeon, somehow, exerts his will over the body that way,” explained the old man.

“You also said that not just anyone could remove the jewel from whomever it’s attached to,” Puar chimed in. If that’s true, who can?”

“According to the legend, Xeon’s bound to his host’s body by powerful magic. It will take powerful magic to remove the Jewel and free the host body from his influence.”

“Great. So all we have to do is find ourselves a magician…that should be easy…” went Yamucha, sarcastically.

“Easier than you think,” said the old man. “Kafye’s family has always had very powerful sorcerers and sorceresses. If you go to the center of the continent, you’ll find another village. It is said that the descendant of the hero Kafye dwells there. When you get there, ask for a woman named Kassex.”

“Thank you sir,” said Chaozu, bowing. “Come on guys, let’s hurry!”

About a half an hour later, Yamucha, Chaozu and Puar landed in the village that closest fit the description given to them by the old man. As they looked around to get their bearings, the village magistrate walked up to them.

“I haven’t seen you three around before. Anything you need help with?”

“Yeah,” answered Yamucha. “We’re looking for someone named Kassex. Do you know where she lives?”

The magistrate looked at them oddly. “Kassex? What in the world would you want with her?”

“We just came from the southernmost village…it was destroyed by a man that calls himself Xeon. Someone from that village said that this woman, Kassex, might be the only chance we have to defeat Xeon.”

“Xeon???” All those conversing turned to face yet another old man. He slowly made his way to them, his movements hindered by a severe limp, forcing him to walk with a cane. “I’ve heard the stories about Xeon. I figured them to be nothing but. But you say that he’s here? Now?”

Yamucha nodded, “Yes sir.”

“Guess that means all the stories were true.” He turned to the magistrate, “If that’s so, then they will be needing to see Kassex, or this will quickly become a very grave matter.”

The magistrate looked at the old man for a moment, then turned his attention back at the three newcomers. “Very well. I will take you to her. If you will follow me.”

In short order, Yamucha, Puar and Chaozu were brought to the doorstep of a small, one story house that looked like it was freshly abandoned. The paint on the walls was beginning to peel and the foliage surrounding the house were in the first stages of overgrowth. Loudly, the magistrate rapped against the front door and yelled in to its occupant, “Kassex! You have some people out here who would like to see you!”

“Just a moment!” came the reply from inside.

The magistrate turned back to the village’s visitors and said, “I hope you realize what you’re getting yourself into. I don’t know anything about this Xeon character you’re talking about, but Kassex is nothing but trouble. You’d better be careful dealing with her.” With that, the magistrate, rather hastily, walked away.

Suddenly, a loud explosion erupted from the house. Instinctively, Yamucha and Chaozu adopted defensive postures, getting ready for anything, while Puar ducked behind them. The front door flew open, releasing a thick, black column of smoke and a woman stumbled out, slightly singed and coughing violently.

Finally taking notice of her visitors, the woman straightened herself up, brushed herself off and smiled at them. “Hi. I’m Kassex. You wanted to see me?”

The trio looked at her dumbfounded. “She is the only hope we have of defeating Xeon?” asked Puar forlornly.

“For some reason,” said Yamucha, “I have this feeling that we’re all extremely doomed…”

Part three

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