Singapore, Age 737 Sunday December 3rd 1988
Taro, Bardock, Anne, and Kakyoin strolled along the boardwalk, enjoying the warm breeze and the sound of crashing waves. Anne's eyes sparkled with excitement as she spotted an ice cream stand ahead.
"Could I get some ice cream, please?" Anne cheerfully asked the vendor, her enthusiasm evident.
The shopkeeper smiled and replied, "Welcome! Hey there, miss. Ice cream is good, but have you ever tried chilled coconut juice? There's nothing quite like it. How about giving it a try?"
Curiosity piqued, Anne turned to her companions with a playful grin. "Well, why not? Let's give it a shot," she suggested, her eyes lingering on the open coconut with two straws.
Bardock, always open to new experiences, raised four fingers and said, "Four, please."
The shopkeeper chuckled and replied, "Thank you so much! That'll be sixteen dollars."
Anne, never one to shy away from negotiations, chimed in, "Hey, make it eight dollars! Eight dollars!"
Kakyoin, reaching into his pocket, pulled out the exact amount and handed it to the shopkeeper. "This should cover it," he said with a smile.
"Okay, enjoy!" the shopkeeper exclaimed, handing over the chilled coconut juice to the group.
With their refreshing drinks in hand, they found a nearby bench and settled down, sipping on the coconut juice and enjoying the delightful combination of sweet and refreshing flavors.
A guy steals Kakyoin's wallet. "I'll take that!" said the robber. Kakyoin summoned hierophant green which stretched lower to the ground and grabbed the fleeing robber by the ankle. The robber fell to the ground in fear as kakyoin appeared in front of the robber, the robber screamed.
Kakyoin's face took on a spooky look. "So you… thought you could just grab my wallet, you disgusting piece of crap!"
This brought the attention of the others who looked at the encounter. "I'll have you spewing blood!" said Kakyoin, kneeing the guy's face, breaking his nose as blood spewed.
Kakyoin, his normally calm demeanor replaced by an unsettling aura, stepped forward, sending a chill down the spine of the trembling thief. His face took on an intimidating expression as he confronted the robber.
"So you thought you could just grab my wallet, you disgusting piece of crap!" Kakyoin's voice dripped with anger and disgust, drawing the attention of the others nearby.
Anne's concern for Kakyoin was evident on her face, while Bardock tried to intervene. "Kakyoin!" he called out, trying to diffuse the escalating situation.
But Kakyoin, consumed by his anger, ignored their pleas. With a swift and powerful knee strike, he landed a blow on the thief's face, breaking his nose and causing blood to spew forth.
Anne's horror grew, and she urgently called out to Kakyoin, "Kakyoin! Why are you doing this?"
Undeterred, Kakyoin seized the terrified man by his hair, hoisting him upside down over his shoulders. The pressure he exerted on the thief's body caused him to scream in pain. "Come on! Come on! Come on!"
"hey! What are you doing, kakyoin? You'll kill him." said bardock.
"Oh my, a back-breaker? Such a brutal move! It's not like him at all." said Anne horrified.
"Come on! Come on! Come on!" continued kakyoin.
"kakyoin! I told you to cut it out! What are you, deaf?" said Bardock,unable to tolerate the brutality of the situation, intervened forcefully, delivering a punch to Kakyoin. "Kakyoin, stop it! You'll kill him!" Bardock exclaimed, hoping to bring his friend back to his senses.
The blow from Bardock knocked the thief free from Kakyoin's grasp, giving him a chance to escape. The tense atmosphere hung heavy as everyone processed what had just unfolded.
Kakyoin, now composed but still defiant, brushed off his school uniform and reached for his coconut drink. He took a sip, seemingly unfazed by the chaos he had caused. "That man tried to steal my wallet. He committed a crime," Kakyoin explained calmly. "And criminals should be punished. Tell me I'm wrong, Bardock."
Taro watched silently, his thoughts swirling. Kakyoin's behavior seemed uncharacteristic, resembling that of a Saiyan warrior rather than the gentle friend they knew.
Bardock's gaze held a mix of concern and disappointment. "Kakyoin, you're not acting like yourself. What's gotten into you?"
A tension-filled pause hung in the air as Kakyoin looked at Bardock and Taro, addressing their apparent hostility. "What are you glaring at? Are you seriously considering ending our friendship over a petty scuffle with a thief?" Kakyoin challenged, his voice tinged with defiance.
The thief, seizing the opportunity to escape, began wriggling away from the scene, desperate to put some distance between himself and the escalating conflict.
As the group stood in silence, their thoughts and emotions swirling, a sudden commotion nearby caught their attention. A group of children had gathered, their excited voices filling the air as they pointed to a tree beside them.
"Look, a beetle!" one of the children exclaimed, awe evident in their voice. The others eagerly joined in, expressing their amazement at the sight. "A beetle? Where?"
"There's four of them up there!" another child exclaimed, pointing towards the treetop. "I see them!" "So cool."
Kakyoin, momentarily distracted from the tension of the previous encounter, couldn't help but chuckle at the children's enthusiasm. Their innocent excitement brought a small smile to his face, momentarily alleviating his troubled mood.
Bardock, Anne, and Taro watched the scene unfold, their attention shifting from the intense situation to the simple joy expressed by the children.
"You're making way too much out of this. I'm just having a bad day. I'm so exhausted from the trip, it puts me in such a bad mood," Kakyoin muttered, trying to brush off the unsettling encounter.
"Just in a bad mood, huh? Seemed to me you felt pretty good," Bardock responded, his voice tinged with skepticism. "Joseph and Avdol think it's a good idea for us to head to India by train. We leave tomorrow. We'll take the cable car to Singapore station to reserve tickets."
As the children excitedly ran off, leaving the tree and the beetles behind, Anne turned "Mr.kakyoin bardock and taro's already gone-" her words caught in her throat when she saw Kakyoin secretly eating the beetle off the tree.
"R-right. I'll catch up in just a second," Kakyoin stammered, his mouth still full. He watched as Anne walked away, her expression a mix of confusion and unease.
Unbeknownst to Anne, Kakyoin looked back at her retreating figure before swallowing the beetle he had just consumed. His actions went unnoticed by the others, who continued on their way, unaware of what had transpired.
"Huh," Anne muttered to herself, glancing back at Kakyoin with a growing sense of terror. "Was that a beet- n-no. I must be imagining things. It must have been a piece of coconut or something." Anne thought.
"Oh yes, I do like coconuts," Kakyoin remarked nonchalantly, his words carrying an eerie undertone. Anne's unease only grew, and she quickly turned around, running back to catch up with Bardock and Taro.
"Hey, what's up?" Taro asked as Anne rejoined them, her breath slightly uneven.
"Uh, nothing," Anne replied, her gaze lingering as she looked back at Kakyoin. Something didn't feel right, and her instincts told her to keep her distance.
Taro and Bardock exchanged a glance, sensing Anne's unease. Their eyes briefly met Kakyoin's, but they couldn't quite put their finger on what had unsettled their companion.
They stood near the cable cars, watching them glide by while enjoying their ice cream. Anne savored her treat, licking the creamy sweetness as she engaged Bardock in conversation.
"Hey Bardock, are you going to eat that cherry? If not, hand it over already. I'm starving," Kakyoin said with a mischievous grin, approaching and plucking the cherry off Bardock's ice cream.
As Kakyoin teased Bardock, a playful exchange between friends, something unexpected happened."Uh-oh! Better watch out, bardock!" pushing bardock off the building. Kakyoin laughed as Bardock fell off. He could see the figure of a bardock falling below. Kakyoin turned around with a smile. "Who is next?" The others gasped, momentarily frozen in shock as they watched Bardock's figure disappear below.
Bardock suddenly stopped his descent. He hovered in mid-air, defying gravity, and silently made his way back up, careful not to alert Kakyoin to his presence. The group held their breath,
Kakyoin, still wearing his signature smile, turned around to face Bardock, sensing the intensity of his anger. Despite the tension in the air, Kakyoin maintained his playful demeanor.
"I'm only playing with you, good Ol' Bardock," Kakyoin said, attempting to diffuse the situation. Bardock walked around, his gaze fixed on Kakyoin's face, while the rest of the group observed the unfolding scene.
Kakyoin, aware of the eyes upon him, put a cherry in his mouth, biting off the stem. He tilted his head back, opening his mouth, and started moving the cherry around with his tongue, repeating the sound of "lick" multiple times. The cherry eventually slipped from his mouth, landing on the ground. Anne couldn't help but feel a sense of unease, thinking, "Kakyoin... it's like he's a totally different person!"
Unfazed by the discomfort in the atmosphere, Kakyoin smirked as he stooped down to pick up the fallen cherry, eating it without a care. Unbeknownst to everyone, Kakyoin subtly inflated his body, a sign that something was amiss.
Just then, the cable car arrived, breaking the tension. Bardock, seizing the opportunity, gestured for Kakyoin to get in, brandishing a ticket in his hand. However, instead of complying, Kakyoin continued to provoke Bardock.
"What's with all this hardcore glaring, Bardock, old pal?" Kakyoin taunted, his smirk widening. Bardock, determined to put an end to the chaos, raised his fist and ordered Kakyoin to get into the cable car.
"I'm gonna knock your crooked, possessed body right into the cable car!" Bardock declared, his punch landing with force and sending Kakyoin flying into the cable car. Taro swiftly took control, restraining Kakyoin in a chokehold, while the rest of the group cautiously entered the cable car. Anne sought refuge behind Bardock, fear etched on her face as she witnessed Kakyoin's bleeding and extended jaw.
"'Possessed' isn't quite the word," Kakyoin responded, breaking free from Taro's hold and growing in size. "This isn't Kakyoin!" Taro exclaimed, bewildered by the transformation unfolding before them.
Bardock questioned the intruder's true identity, pondering if he was a Stand, but realizing that he had been able to physically strike him. Meanwhile, the cable car doors closed, leaving Anne stranded on the platform.
"Bardock, I can merge with any organic matter I consume. I'm a Stand that anyone can see and touch. I'm the Yellow Temperance of the Temperance tarot card," the imposter revealed, the fake Kakyoin melting into yellow goo, revealing a topless man with long hair. Taro and Bardock circled around the man, observing as the goo was absorbed back into his body.
The man boasted about his Stand's abilities, "Gaze upon my handsome face with envy! Come on, bardock, old pal? Take a look at your hand. See that little bit of me? It latched on when you hit me." said the man. Yellow goo was attached to his finger. "But I'm warning you: touch it, and I'll go after your left hand, too. You should save your left hand for picking your nose! This stand is a slow eater… and the more it eats, the bigger it gets. You'll never get it off!"
As tension filled the air, Bardock's right pinky became covered in yellow goo, which started bleeding, causing Bardock and Taro to unleash a primal roar as their determination for battle surged through their veins. Purple aura radiated around Bardock as his Stand, 'Purpose Song,' was summoned. It delivered a powerful punch towards the imposter, but the yellow goo emerged from the imposter's body, intercepting the attack.
"When I digest you, I'll shove your crap down your measly throat!" taunted the imposter as the yellow goo covered Purpose Song's incoming fist. Bardock's right arm was engulfed in purple flames, causing him to wince in pain. He frantically moved his arm, trying to extinguish the burning sensation, while the imposter laughed in amusement.
Meanwhile, Anne urgently contacted Fasha and the rest of the group from the cable car platform. "Hey, is this Fasha? Bardock and Taro are in big trouble," Anne exclaimed, her voice filled with worry.
"Anne? What's wrong?" Fasha inquired, concerned by the urgency in Anne's voice. Jotaro , Avdol, Joseph, and Bardock's crew grew curious upon hearing the conversation.
"It's Mr. Kakyoin..." Anne started, her voice trailing off.
"Kakyoin?!" Fasha exclaimed in disbelief.
"So, he has betrayed us?!" Joseph interjected, his voice laced with disappointment and frustration.
"Mr. Kakyoin's face... his jaw extended! But Mr. Kakyoin wasn't Mr. Kakyoin! And Bardock and Taro got attacked by some weird slime on the cable car, and it's eating Bardock's finger!" Anne exclaimed, her voice filled with alarm and concern.
"Calm down! Where are you right now?" Fasha asked, trying to assess the situation.
"I'm at the boarding area for the cable cars at the trade center! They're being attacked! Mr. Kakyoin is attacking them," Anne replied, her voice trembling with fear.
"Hurry and come back to the hotel," Joseph instructed, taking the phone from Fasha. He quickly processed the information and realized the gravity of the situation.
Meanwhile, Kakyoin walked into the room, seemingly unaware of the chaos unfolding. "Did someone say my name just now?" he asked innocently.
"Where have you been?" Joseph questioned, suspicion in his voice.
"Bardock left me behind, so I was sunbathing by the pool with Polnareff," Kakyoin explained casually.
"With your uniform on?" Joseph raised an eyebrow, finding Kakyoin's response questionable.
"Yes, why not?" Kakyoin shrugged nonchalantly.
Joseph's eyes widened as realization struck. "It's all right. We have the real one here with us! Anne, that means your Kakyoin is fake!" he declared, confirming their suspicions.
"I've been telling you that!" Anne exclaimed, feeling validated that her suspicions were confirmed. Suddenly, the sound of breaking glass caught their attention.
"Bardock and Taro jumped out of the cable car," Anne continued, her voice filled with urgency. Bardock and Taro had managed to grab onto a nearby platform and hoisted themselves up to safety. Bardock inspected his hand, his expression grim.
"A stand that fuses with flesh?" Bardock muttered to Taro, realization dawning upon him.
"It's devouring my finger. Worst of all, I might have to lose my fingers," Bardock lamented, a sense of helplessness creeping in.
"We have to find a way to remove that stand from your finger," Taro replied, determined to assist his friend.
However, their moment of respite was interrupted by the taunting voice of Rubber Soul. "Think you got away? Sorry to burst your bubble. Now dig that earwax out of your ears and listen up, you two. My name is Rubber Soul, and my stand, Yellow Temperance, has no weaknesses. You didn't escape. I just have no need to chase you! You're as good as dead!" Rubber Soul's voice echoed from the distance as the cable car carrying him vanished.
Bardock took out a lighter and ignited the goo that covered his finger. The flames spread, but to his surprise, the yellow goo persisted. Taro watched in astonishment as Bardock scanned the area for a solution. His eyes landed on a child enjoying a popsicle in a nearby cable car. Perhaps the cold could freeze the yellow goo.
Without hesitation, Bardock flew over to the cable car and opened the door, causing a stir among the passengers. He stood up confidently and approached the kid, who looked bewildered. "I'm going to need that cold treat for a second," Bardock said, taking the popsicle from the surprised child.
One lady nearby expressed her concern. "Excuse me, young man? What do you think you're doing with that child?" she questioned. Bardock glanced back at her and replied, "This is your kid?" When the lady denied it, he simply told her to enjoy the ride and focused on his task.
Squatting down in front of the kid, Bardock explained his intentions. "Sorry, kid. When we get to the bottom, I'll buy you a new one, okay?" The kid nodded in agreement, and Bardock stood up, placing the popsicle against the yellow goo on his finger.
He hoped that the extreme cold would help burn off the stubborn substance, but to his dismay, the contact caused his hand to bleed. The yellow goo transformed into sharp needles and began digging deeper into his hand. "Now it's forming needles and digging deeper into my hand!" Bardock exclaimed, feeling the desperation of the situation.
The lady who had spoken earlier chimed in with a taunting remark. "Come now! Nothing will work, not even fire and ice!" she declared confidently. Bardock couldn't help but notice her strange behavior, blowing her nose and touching her breast.
Realizing that she was the true enemy, Bardock confronted her. "I told you before, didn't I? You won't find a single weakness. You're mine, you little..." the lady laughed as yellow goo dripped onto a nearby dog.
The kid, frightened and in tears, pointed behind his sleeping dad. "Papa! The puppy! It got our puppy!" he cried out. Bardock's attention turned to the dog, knowing he had to act quickly.
"You were waiting for me in this cable car, weren't you?" Bardock confronted the lady, causing both the dad and his son to scream in terror. "My precious pocky!" said the dad clutched onto the dog's leash, not realizing the danger it posed.
Bardock warned him, "Watch out! Don't pull him! Let go!" But it was too late. The yellow goo engulfed the dog, causing its head to break off with a gory explosion of blood. The leash and collar broke free.
As the chaos unfolded, Rubber Soul revealed himself, his disguise exploding into yellow goo. "I've come to put an end to you, Bardock, old pal!" he declared. Bardock's stand, Purpose Song, materialized and attempted to strike Rubber Soul with a pipe. However, the yellow goo trapped the pipe, rendering Bardock's attack ineffective.
Rubber Soul gloated, taunting Bardock "I keep telling you, I don't have any weaknesses! Are you even listening? You monkey! " noticing Bardock's tail around his waist began to tighten, triggering a painful memory of Frieza's laughter. The pipe in Purpose Song's grip twisted under the immense pressure.
"I touched a nerve. My stand is armor that can also absorb power. A defense wall that can also attack!" Rubber Soul exclaimed triumphantly, continuing to mock Bardock and asserting his helplessness against Yellow Temperance. The yellow goo swarmed Bardock, placing him in a dire predicament. As his hand bled, Bardock felt the gravity of the situation.
"You're right, you really have no weaknesses. Maybe you are the world's strongest, and that's terrifying. But I'll tell ya, we Saiyans are a powerful race of aliens. We use raw force to fight our way past any obstacle. I still haven't used my raw strength," Bardock declared, a determined look on his face.
Rubber Soul was taken aback by Bardock's words. As Bardock moved his hand, the goo stuck to it. Seizing the opportunity, Bardock leaped out of the doorway, with the goo still attached. Rubber Soul was pulled along by the weight of Bardock, screaming as he dangled in the air. Bardock looked down at him, a mixture of determination and satisfaction in his eyes.
Using the goo like a sticky rope, Bardock brought Rubber Soul closer. The fear in Rubber Soul's eyes was evident as Bardock continued to pull. The distance between them decreased, and Bardock tightened his grip on Rubber Soul's neck. Cocking back his fist, Bardock let it fly, releasing his hold on Rubber Soul upon impact.
Rubber Soul plummeted rapidly into the water below, only to be shot back up into Bardock's fist by the elasticity of the yellow goo. The impact broke his nose, and he fell back down, repeating the cycle. Sadao ran up to Taro and Anne, who watched the intense encounter unfold. Anne's mouth hung open in astonishment, while Taro smirked with satisfaction.
"What is this? The enemy is some kind of strange yo-yo," Sadao remarked, observing the back-and-forth struggle between Bardock and Rubber Soul. Taro nodded in agreement, understanding the dynamics at play.
With each resurfacing of Rubber Soul, Bardock delivered a bone-breaking punch, the force and elasticity of the goo causing the punches to accelerate. Rubber Soul screamed in pain as Bardock grabbed his neck, his strength and determination unwavering.
"I can't take it anymore. I'm through. My nose and jaw are broken. They have to wire my jaw shut too. Dio paid me to do this. I didn't plan on risking my life to go after you guys. There, see," Rubber Soul pleaded, the yellow goo being absorbed back into his body.
Bardock tightened his grip on Rubber Soul's neck, his expression stern. "I want something from you. The other stand users, I want all the info you've got," Bardock demanded.
Rubber Soul hesitated, expressing a sense of pride. "That is the one thing I cannot talk about. I have some pride, you know. I can't rat them out..." he trailed off. Bardock understood the code among stand users, the unspoken rule of not revealing one's abilities to others, exposing weaknesses in the process. His grip slackened.
But Rubber Soul blurted out crucial information, unable to contain himself. "Oh, I remember now! Death! The Empress, The Hanged Man, and The Emperor are after you!" he revealed, his words catching Bardock's attention.
"Thank you for the information," Bardock said, gradually loosening his grip on Rubber Soul's neck. Rubber Soul panicked, fearing Bardock might release him prematurely.
"N-no, honestly! I really don't know!" Rubber Soul pleaded, hoping to gain Bardock's trust. "Stand users never reveal their abilities to each other. If they did, they'd be exposing their weaknesses outright. But I do know that some witch taught Dio about stands... Her sons are one of the four coming after you. His name is j. Geil . He's unmistakable because he has two right hands, and his card is the Hanged Man. He's the one who killed Polnareff's sister, right? I've heard occasional rumors about his power... a mirror. Apparently, he uses a mirror. I haven't actually seen it, but Polnareff has no chance of winning. He's dead meat. That is all I have to say," Rubber Soul revealed, desperate to share what little he knew.
Bardock absorbed the information, realizing the gravity of the situation. j. Geil 's stand, the Hanged Man, posed a serious threat. Bardock's thoughts turned to his allies and the need to strategize.
"I appreciate your cooperation. You've been more helpful than you realize," Bardock said, his grip gradually slackening further. Rubber Soul felt a glimmer of hope, relieved that his life might be spared.
"But I can't let you go just yet," Bardock continued, surprising Rubber Soul. "You've caused enough trouble, and I won't risk you revealing our encounter to others."
With a swift motion, Bardock tightened his grip on Rubber Soul's neck once more. Rubber Soul gasped for breath, his eyes widening in fear. Bardock maintained a firm resolve, knowing he had to eliminate this threat.
"I'm sorry it has to end this way, but I can't afford any loose ends," Bardock said, his voice filled with determination. He focused his strength, channeling his raw power into one final move.
Releasing his grip on Rubber Soul, Bardock delivered a powerful punch, sending him hurtling back down into the water below. The impact was brutal, leaving Rubber Soul battered and defeated.
As Rubber Soul descended, Taro, Anne, and Sadao watched the scene unfold with a mix of awe and disbelief. Rubber Soul's presence had been eradicated, and the danger he posed had dissipated.
"He won," Taro said with a wide grin, marveling at Bardock's strength and resolve. Anne, still in shock, couldn't find the words to express her astonishment. Bardock floated down and over to the platform.
Sadao approached Bardock, a sense of admiration in his eyes. "That was an incredible display of power," he acknowledged. "You Saiyans truly are formidable beings."
Bardock nodded in acknowledgment, his focus already shifting to the challenges that lay ahead. The information provided by Rubber Soul had given him a glimpse into the stand users he would face, and Bardock knew he had to prepare himself and his allies for what was to come.
With newfound determination, Bardock took a deep breath, ready to face the next adversaries and protect those dear to him. The battle against the stand users had only just begun, and Bardock was resolved to see it through to the end.
As they made their way back to the hotel, Bardock and the others recounted the events that had unfolded. They knew the importance of staying vigilant and prepared for the journey ahead. Their next destination was India, and they boarded a train bound for Calcutta.
Inside the dining car, the group sat together, discussing their recent encounter. Polnareff turned his gaze toward the window and spoke up, "So, we're finally on our way to India. And the man with the two right hands is called J. Geil..."
Fasha, curious about Anne's whereabouts, interrupted, "Where did Anne run off to?" Joseph responded, explaining, "She was hanging around Singapore station right before our train departed, but..."
Avdol chimed in, sharing his suspicion, "The story about her dad sounded really fishy to me. I bet she is a runaway. But it is a bit lonely without that little rugrat, right, Jojo?"
Jotaro nodded in agreement, understanding the sentiment. "It's eerie... to think a stand could disguise itself as me," Kakyoin added, reflecting on the bizarre situation.
Bardock, standing next to Jotaro , joined the conversation, "Seems he had already turned into you by the time I left the hotel." The group contemplated the implications of such a deception.
Amidst the conversation, Kakyoin, with his usual nonchalant demeanor, pointed at the cherries on Jotaro 's plate. "Jojo, are you going to eat that cherry? Not to be greedy, but they are my favorite. Could I have one?"
Jotaro responded with a simple, "Yeah, sure," and handed a cherry to Kakyoin. Grateful, Kakyoin accepted it, biting off the stem. He then proceeded to playfully move the cherry around in his mouth, making the sound of "lick" multiple times.
Bardock, observing the peculiar scene, couldn't hide his disgust. Trying to divert his attention, Kakyoin exclaimed, "Hey, look, Jojo, flamingos in flight!" Bardock turned to glance out the window, momentarily distracted from Kakyoin's antics.
Unbeknownst to the rest of the group, Anne had found a hiding spot and fell asleep, seeking solace in the seat.