Chapter 58: Fighting for the Wheel

In orbit… Helmsman watched everything grimly. The ship had hidden behind the moon shortly after detecting the CHET fleet approaching. They had barely noticed the dropship that had orbital dropped the gene soldiers until it was almost too late. Barely even managing to get a message out to Rettas before shit hit the fan.

There was a stern silence as they did everything, they could only watch the situation progress. Only calming when Rettas not only survived, but easily decimated the chapters forces. A single person taking out a tenth of a gene soldier chapter was unheard of. Especially not from this particular group.

"The Sons of the Emperor." He muttered aloud in both frustration and awe. None of them quite understood what that meant, well, except for Navigator. She shot him a worried look, but it also held a mix of shock and pride. Our Captain had managed to beat them back. If this spread, hell, nobody would believe it, let alone those who saw it and knew the significance of it.

Each fleet had a chapter assigned to it. Their numbers tended to fluctuate, but they typically operated in five-man teams. Equipment and skills tended to vary from fleet to fleet depending on age and funding. Typically, a chapter capped out around a hundred odd men. Each capable of putting a front down by themselves with ease.

The Sons of the Emperor were different. Not only did they have a fully manned chapter of two-hundred soldiers, but also had a group of Prime gene soldiers. Each one was worth more than planets. The chapter acted as a counterforce to invasions from the outer systems, and the constant sects skirmishing against CHET. Reports they managed to get brought the estimated casualties to a near tenth of the chapter as a whole. A monstrous cost. Especially since they had apparently used a suicide tactic. A tactic she survived.

Something that doesn't just happen, not unless you have the strength of a sect master.

Them being here is so out of left field, insane and absurd that he couldn't help but balk at it. Not only that, but they couldn't even provide support as they assisted the RON regional defense force, a smattering of poorly maintained ships in trying to rebuff the CHET invasion. It bothered him.

The waste of manpower was unsettling. The commitment of one of the major pillars of CHET to what should have been a fairly minor incident. He expected assassins, not fucking gene soldiers! Each one of them took decades to properly make and each death made many weep. From the common soldiers to the politicians.

The hell was the emperor doing!?

He wanted to desperately scream that. Even as he watched what was a full invasion force land just for a single person. Was Rettas really such a threat? Or… was it true? Was there truly a force influencing the emperor from behind?

He had a feeling it might be a case. Operation Phoenix Fall wasn't actually that big of a deal. If anything, it wouldn't have mattered. He should know. He was there.

He took a moment to adjust his cap and close his eyes. Soaking in everything that was happening.

"Helmsman, I'm picking up something strange on the planet." Doc chimed in as he tried to center himself. Nearly throwing him off again. He bit back a curse and looked before him as a screen appeared. What he saw made him sick. Gas was being pumped into the air. Some kind of mutagen. Transforming innocent CHET soldiers into horrific creatures.

His eyes grew red. His cap was lowered to hide his face. He didn't dare speak. He wasn't even sure if he could. This had gone too far. But… what the hell could he even do? No… he knew what he had to do. Once this was over, he had calls to make.

Back on the planet…

I heaved. Throwing a chunk of metal, a tank into the air to smash into a passing fighter. I screamed. The air trembled as eyes and ears bled. Soldiers collapsing like abandoned dolls. It was all kind of a blur as I moved from person to person. Ripping and tearing as I went. Chomping whenever I could in a desperate bid to fill my stomach.

It wasn't even anger propelling me forward. If it had been, it would have cooled to the point where I didn't really feel it. It was a numbing feeling as I went to work. Body moving on pure instinct. My rational mind is long gone. I couldn't even think or string any thoughts together.

Well, more than idle observations. I felt like I was watching all of my actions through a grainy television screen. I went back and forth silently. Only screaming whenever I used my Soul Howl. My abilities came out fluidly. My ailing ki used as it came in. I could feel a sort of debt fall in. A growing guillotine strung above my head that grew bigger by the second.

I was severely over drafting my potential. Whatever boost or power-up I had received long gone. In its place I felt an odd tickle, a warmth spread. Muscles and flesh wriggled. I could almost feel my cells changing. Altering on some fundamental level. Before I could even begin to understand what was happening, something changed. I noticed an odd pink fog filling the air. It tasted sweet. Sickeningly so.

I didn't sense any real threat. My body was too strong to be mutated by it. If anything, it only accelerated my healing. Soldiers mutated into fleshy horrors. The titan's seemed fine at first, but holes in their armor sprouted tentacles… tentacles… ah… I don't even have the energy to react appropriately. I was on the very brink. Pushing myself well beyond my limit. My body somehow manages to squeeze out just enough energy for what I need.

The burning and itching in my body intensified as I inhaled more of it. Everything felt kind of off. The carnage fading away. A low thrum filling me. Strangely… I could vaguely feel something pinging against my ki. My vision briefly sharpened as I saw more proto-Saiyan's. Clearly more human looking. They even had proper monkey tails. Only, they died like chumps despite their obvious basic mastery of ki.

They weren't near my density or power. Like a paper cube to a tungsten cube. As such, I just kind of drifted back into my head. I felt like I was on the verge of something. Different from that bliss before, and more like… like that strange feeling. Almost, but not quite… Like… like edging myself. Like I couldn't quite get over that hill. Even as I desperately tried. It just wouldn't go. Leaving me wanting more. Desiring it more as I desperately try to achieve it.

That strange feeling that it was just over that lip. That little blip of a bump. Like an inch from the absolute peak of a rollercoaster before perhaps the most incredible drop. By the second this feeling grew. It consumed me. Demanded attention. Yet, my vision didn't focus. Everything just faded. Became a blur as I desperately sought satisfaction. Release.

I was missing something critical. A nip on the ear? A good slap to the rear? A whispered slur, or derogatory comment… Huh… maybe I was more of a masochist then I admit. The physical pain wasn't enough. I needed to get punched somewhere good. I needed to really feel it. Like, in the soul.

I needed a good soul kicking I mused. Only, how can I expect that from mutant rejects? These Proto-Saiyan's were even worse than the ones on the ship. Clearly someone thought quantity was quality. Moron.

It could have been a test. Seemed likely. The mist was rapidly increasing the S-cells in my body, but I could also tell these cells were… lacking. They'd likely die and be cannibalized by the other cells soon enough. Likely feeding the E-cells, knowing them.

This wasn't quite enough for me to go false Saiyan, or anything. The cells wouldn't survive that. Too fragile. It all felt, meh. It was missing a critical component for this to be a true test. Just one more piece to the puzzle. SOMETHING!

I mean, so far, this seemed fairly half-assed. The gene soldiers were a nice addition, but a little too… big for me to take comfortably. Or well, at all. I was getting used to it than they had to go all in with that bomb, like, really dude?

I had to admire that single-minded devotion though. Hah… I mentally sighed. I was most likely not in any real danger. Not right now. I had hit a very strange equilibrium at some point, but the constant edging wasn't good for me. Ugh… I was likely going to be wired for the next couple of months like no-one's business. I had more pressure bottled up than liquid hydrogen.

I could almost go atomic… ha… my whole body was simply thrumming. My every cell bubbling as I felt something changing.

Suddenly, a moon blazed up above. No, it was artificial. What was that supposed too? I froze. Oh, hell no! I almost screamed. I could feel the monkey trying to come out. I tried to force it down and suddenly I found myself in a surrealist manifestation of the struggle I faced.

I was in a car, an old Coupe style Dodge Challenger of all things. A real American classic. The speedometer was on the redline as I blazed down an endless road. The radio was playing 'The Monkey Time' by Major Lance, as I drove. Beside me was a miniature Oozaru making monkey noises and in the back, visible in my rearview mirror, was the figure of the little girl that obscurely looked like me. It seems she was also incredibly confused about what was happening.

It was so surreal I had to stop and blink as I took it all in. My hands were set in the 10 and 2 position as I drove. Idly aware the slightest shift would have us fling to our deaths. I wasn't aware I was that close to the breaking point. It also had me thinking…

I was really losing it. The pink mist was likely making me loopy. Mutagen, likely. Could also have the effects of an aphrodisiac, or maybe adrenaline? Dopamine? Would explain why my thoughts are all over the place now.

Naturally, the monkey didn't care about my mental state or anything else really. It reached out its monkey mitts and tried to grasp the wheel. Normally, I would let it drive with no problem. Only, it was a shit driver, which meant we would die the moment they took the wheel. Our body was barely hanging on as it was, and even if the monkey could stay on the road, any more pressure and something is likely to give. And there was no way in hell I was taking my foot off the accelerator not with us so close to the edge! If I eased, even a mild smidgeon, I imagined we'd collapse unconscious, or dead.

Almost regrettably I slapped its hands back. The monkey looked at me with shock and hurt. I couldn't take my eyes off the road, and I didn't trust myself to keep totally still. We almost swerved off the road just by me slapping its hands away. But, even then I could understand the emotions radiating from the monkey.

"If you take the wheel, we die." I exclaimed as calmly as I could. I shouldn't have bothered. The monkey began to hoot and go crazy in the passenger seat. I had to slap away its grimy mitts as I struggled to drive.

"Darn dirty ape! Get your hands away from the steering wheel! Are you trying to get us killed!?" It flinched back and attacked with greater fervor. I was going to lose it.

"OI! HELP ME BACK THERE!" I cried out to the rear passenger as the monkey and I wrestled over the wheel. Somehow, we were still on the road. A small miracle that. All the while, I could vaguely notice I was essentially 404'ing in the middle of the street. I was very clearly struck dumb while I stared at the moon. Drool dripping from my lips as Proto-Saiyan's transformed…

Oh… So, like, I crash and die, or I struggle for the wheel and die? And why is this song still playing over the radio on loop!? WHY! We struggled over the wheel. Careening as we do so. A few times I felt the tires leaving the paved road as we went back and forth. If this wasn't just a metaphor for our fight, I'd be concerned about the wheel breaking off. Actually, it might just… FUCK!

I did like the idea of being compared to a classic muscle car though, but I didn't want to die like this! It was all so, anticlimactic! That momentary moment spent panicking gave an opening for the ape to lurch forward. Nearly causing us to spin out.

"FUCKING APE!" I screamed out as they jumped on my lap. We exchanged slaps like a pair of sissy's fighting. Neither of us, despite our very clear disagreement, wanted to inflict serious harm on each other. Ignoring how our life was clearly in danger. We had healthy boundaries. Unlike some people.

As we fought, I barely noticed an ape about to crush us. Ah, well, shit… Its palm descended, only to be blasted back.

"OH! MASTER!" I exclaimed, even the monkey halted as we both stared forward as he beat back the giant monkey. Somehow, my voice echoed out. His voice played out over the stereo over the music.

"Rettas! Are you okay?" He was clearly worried.

Me and the monkey exchanged a glance. Right, okay, temporary truce.

"Uh, maybe? Currently trying to figure something out." He gave me a very odd look.

 "Could you, uh, maybe hold them off for a bit while we have a chat here?" I continued.

He frowned but sighed. "Fine, but I'll need a better explanation later."

"Sure thing Master!" And, well, He started defending us. I think I saw the others with him. We let the moment sink in as the music filled the cabin.

"Right, where were we?" The monkey gives me a look, makes some monkey noises and shrugs. "From the top then?" It nods enthusiastically. "Wonderful."

I clear my throat. "Hands off the wheel you ape!" Once more we began to wrestle for the wheel. The passenger in the back looked between us, the stereo and they just watched the whole situation playing out before them with a blank face.

After a few minutes of struggling and a few times of nearly tipping over or flying off the road I came to a logical conclusion.

This wasn't going to work.

I couldn't control the car and get this monkey off my back, er, lap. This music was slowly driving me insane as well. Despite it being a good oldie. I needed to change gears. Especially since master and crew were faltering against the proto-oozaru. I had no idea how they transformed, but I wasn't the thinking type, normally. It didn't help that I was very clearly not in the right state of mind.

Hell, this whole thing might be a drug induced hallucination or something. One of those spirit trips or maybe an acid trip or some equivalent. Not that it made the whole situation any less dire.

Regardless, I needed to do, not think! I had only one option. Sink or swim!

"Get the wheel!" I cried out to the passenger in the rear. My words shook them and the monkey that was on my lap. I had no time to butter them up and convince them to take the wheel. DO OR DIE!

"WAIT!" I heard them yell, I gripped the monkey and flung them back into the passenger seat. My foot still slammed onto the accelerator. The car wobbled dangerously, I felt it starting to tip and swerve… Only for it to slam back, nearly making me take my foot off the gas as I slammed into the monkey.

I glanced over to see them struggling with the wheel as they stretched out from the rear seat. All according to plan! HAHAHA!

I glance over at the monkey. We shared a long glance.

"Alright then you little shit, lets handle this like real men." The monkey squints.

"Hoh, ook."

"Hm? What do you mean we're female? What's that got to do with it. If we fought like goddamn women, we'd tear each other apart like wild animals. I like you to much for that, so we're doing this like men, and… compromising."

"Hoh…" They agreed. Wonderful.

"Okay, so, the hells your problem and-"We swerved and nearly rolled over. "Keep your eyes on the goddamn road!"

"SORRY!" The rear passenger squeaks out. I cough.

"Okay, once more, the hell's your problem?"

The monkey hesitates. I sigh.

"Look… normally I'd be fine with you taking the wheel, but this? You and I both know you can't handle this. I mean, you can feel it too, right? That sensation. That little gremlin in your head telling you to go just a bit faster? Right?

I can't let this go. Not now. Our body is already pushed to the limit. A full Oozaru transformation would kill us. I know you're not an idiot. So, come on. Work with me here."

A few bumps hit us as we drove. Neither of us listen to the music as it fills the cabin, like it always was. Finally, they spoke.

"Hoo, ook, hoh." They said in monkey speech. I frowned. Not because I couldn't understand them, I do, but because… the monkey just confirmed something I knew. They'd been with the original Rettas. They knew I wasn't the original. But that wasn't the real issue as they continued. It was something I understood all too well.

I loosened my grip. Not enough for them to try something, but enough to let them know I understood.

"Look… I know… It can't be easy. It's not like I can always go ape, and there are a lot of time where me going ape isn't exactly viable."

It had been some time since I last transformed, now that I think about it.

"That doesn't mean you're any less important to me. I like being able to go crazy and wreck shit. It's the whole thing."

"Hoh, oh… ook."

"I'm not mad at you, what happened back at the shithole wasn't your fault. It just happened and I was blindsided. And I mean, you got a chance at the pyramid, didn't you?"

"Ook."

"I mean, yea, it was a bit disappointing, but still. I'm trying."

They lowered their head. I found myself grimacing.

"Look, and… I know I've said that one too many times during this conversation ,but… I get it. You, me, we both feel it. It doesn't matter what happens, be it me losing my tail for good or whatever this is that's trying to happen. I only know what's going to happen isn't a permanent thing. The fake cells in our body aren't enough to handle that kind of power yet."

It was insecurity. Our relationship wasn't wholly unlike Bruce Banner and The Hulk. Only, I wasn't a total dickwad. Bruce always considered Hulk to be a parasite. It was why he and him never got along. At least not until the newest marvel movies. If anything, his final form, mixing with hulk seemed fitting. Bruce always kept Hulk down, and when Hulk finally had the chance to live his own life and develop. Well, he learned a few things.

Bruce was abusive to Hulk. I mean, Hulk wasn't exactly a model citizen, but he could have done so much more for the guy. In a way, we both understood our relationship wasn't permanent. Originally perhaps the Oozaru had been simply an instinct of Rettas, but with me getting thrown in the mix it now was a mix between us. A sibling, in a way. Or perhaps a remnant memory of who Saiyan's truly were.

It had its own thoughts and fears. I could control it, but it was more like sharing the controller for a video game. When we transformed, it wasn't entirely me, but them. I was vaguely aware of it before. Always referring to them as a separate person, treating them as their own individual. Only now was it bearing fruit.

Didn't make it hurt any less. Whatever was happening with our body, whatever it was that was trying to happen, it was, it had both of us on edge. It couldn't go through. Not without them assisting. No, not without them doing the one thing any person hesitates to do.

They needed to hand everything over. Not just a controller. They needed to give me everything. It didn't help that we were essentially the same person to begin with. Neither of us wished to end our partnership. Both of us enjoyed each other's company in a strange way. Moreso since the ape was also a mix of the original Rettas.

An explosion echoed out over the stereo. Master was in serious trouble, as were the others with him. They were using ki to keep the mutagen away from them. A smart decision. I didn't know if it would affect Master, but I'd rather err on the side of caution.

Either way, I may be an unrepentant mass murderer, but I wasn't an asshole.

"Look, if… you don't want to do this. You don't have to." I finally relented. Easing my hands. "If you really want the wheel, feel free to take it. I think, we'd all agree to that. Right passenger?" I asked her. The shadowy figure looked at us. Nearly causing us to crash.

"Sorry!" She exclaimed again. My foot is still solidly on the accelerator. Once we were back going forward. I could hear her shuddering breath.

"I think, I would be fine with it. If you both are." They finally answered.

 I nodded. "There you have it, if you want the wheel take it."

I mean, I could take my foot off the accelerator, but not one of us wanted that. Whatever was about to happen, everything in our bodies and souls screamed for it to happen. Even… even if it meant losing something. Or possibly losing something in the future. I couldn't selfishly decide our fate. Even if the monkey was nothing more than a figment of my imagination. Even if they were only a small part of me.

They were me. And I was them. As such, it was only fair that we only move forward together. Or not at all.

The monkey hesitated. I could see them looking at the wheel, us, and our Master struggling against the giant apes. For a moment, I thought they'd take the wheel. But… when they reached their hand out. They placed it on my shoulder. A forlorn look on their face, but also one of budding excitement.

"Ook." I grinned. A sudden influx of emotions ramming into me. "Thank you." I said with all my heart.

"Now hand back the wheel!" I sat back down and gripped the wheel. I felt the car shift. Something happened in the back seat as the car changed into something eerily familiar. The car hitched and sped faster. A massive construction formed in the back seat squishing the rear passenger against the wall. A small tank formed between us as I shifted gears approaching the redline.

The moneky handed me a small blue pill. I gripped their hand.

"Together." I exclaimed and looked back to the shadow. They reached forward. Together we popped up the tank, placed it in.

"3…" I counted down. "2, ook" We spoke in unison. "1! HOH!" We slammed down. The blue pill shaped object quaked and shook as it dissolved into the nitro liquid. The needle slammed past the redline as it ignited. The world went white.