Fulfillment Saga (The Forgotten)

'Please note: This story contains graphic fights, and deaths may be horrifying. Characters will swear, sometimes severely. Sexual content is present, but has been censored/removed.'

The Reunion Saga is the fifth and final saga of Dragon Ball Z: The Forgotten. It takes place after the Reunion Saga. This saga chronicles the conclusion of the battle between the Z fighters and The Benefactor; as well, all other out-standing plot points are wrapped up.

Characters
For a complete list of characters in the Fulfillment Saga, please visit this page.

Theme Song
The theme song for this Saga is Paranoid Android by Radiohead.

The theme song for the alternate ending of the saga, titled "Like A Bitch", is Killing In The Name Of by Rage Against the Machine.

Complete Dialogue
Many long years ago,

I went to the crack dealer

To shoot him and steal his

“goodies”.

Unfortunately the police came.

How ironic.

-KidVegeta

Pump Up


<774 AGE>

















<THE CAMERA MOVES EVEN FARTHER BACK, SHOWING OFF THE EDGE OF THE TOWN, WHERE GOKU AND THE BENEFACTOR HAD BEEN STRUGGLING WITH THE SPIRIT BOMB IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER/SAGA>

<HALF OF THE TOWN IS COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED; THE GROUND IS IN A HUGE CRATER, SMOKING SLIGHTLY, AND FILLED WITH A DULL RED; SMOKE IS LIGHTLY COMING UP FROM IT ALL>

<THE BENEFACTOR WALKS INTO THE CITY, LAZILY; HE KEEPS HIS HAND HELD OUT AT THIS TIME>

<BELOW HIM, IN THE CITY, IN WHICH PILLARS OF SMOKE ARE RISING, THE SOUND AND SIGHT OF POLICE CARS ARE RACING TOWARD THE SCENE; THE BENEFACTOR JUMPS DOWN TO MEET THEM IN THE CITY; OTHER THAN THAT, THE CITY IS QUIET>

<CUT FROM WHITE>

<THIS IS A SLIGHT ECHOING IN THIS RECOLLECTION; IT SOUNDS AS IF THE SPEAKERS ARE UNDERWATER>

<VEGETA AND GOKU ARE STANDING NEXT TO EACH OTHER; GOKU IS IN SUPER SAIYAN 3; VEGETA IS BLOODIED; GOKU HAS HIS HAND ON VEGETA‘S SHOULDER; OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE COMMUNICATING TELEPATHICALLY>

<GOKU PERHAPS SAYS SOMETHING BUT IT IS NOT HEARD; VEGETA TURNS TO HIM, WIDE EYED>

<THE CAMERA MOVES AROUND, SHOWING THAT THIS IS A BRIEF MEMORY OF GOKU’S FROM THE FIGHT EARLIER; THE BENEFACTOR AND THE OTHER Z FIGHTERS ARE ALL STANDING>

Goku: <THE RINGING LESSENS SLIGHTLY AS GOKU CONTINUES>…. whatever that thing tells you to.

Vegeta: <SLYLY; IN TELEPATHY AS WELL> You’re always playing the hero, Kakarot. <INTERRPUTED BEFORE HE CAN CONTINUE>

Goku: It’s not like that, Vegeta. This could be the only way to beat him. And after Buu, I really don’t want to drag this one out.

Vegeta: Hmph, fine.

<SLOWLY THE TWO MOVE, FACING THE BENEFACTOR>

Goku: I think we can beat him by overloading his circuits.

Vegeta: <MUTED; TURNS BACK> That’s idiotic, Kakarot. There’s no way this thing is another android. We’ve already destroyed Gero’s freak shows.

Goku: <CONVINCED> He’s not alive, Vegeta. I can’t feel him.

Vegeta: <LOOKS OVER AT GOKU> N-not alive?!

Goku: I don’t think so. <LOOKS AWAY>

<PAUSE; LOOKS BACK>

Goku: Just buy some time, Vegeta. Keep him busy for as long as you can. I can work out something… if you can just get him out of here!

<GOKU LETS GO OF VEGETA AND WALKS FORWARD IN HIS FEIGN OF FIGHTING THE BENEFACTOR>

<THE RINGING COMES BACK; VEGETA LAUNCHES HIMSELF TO SOMEONE OFFSCREEN, OBVIOUSLY LEDAS>

<CUTS TO THE CITY; INSIDE CARDINAL’S OFFICE; THIS TAKES PLACE ABOUT 3 MINUTES BEFORE THE OPENING SEQUENCE OF THIS SAGA>

<SUDDENLY INTO VIEW, CARDINAL COMES AROUND A CORNER, IN RARE DISORDER; HE IS SPRINTING DOWN THE HALL>

<HE SKIDS AROUND A CORNER, INTO A DOOR; HE TRIES TO OPEN IT, BUT IT IS LOCKED>

Cardinal: <ALOUD> Damnit, Marissa!

<CARDINAL JIGGLES THE DOORNOB FOR SEVERAL MORE SECONDS, BUT THEN STOPS, STRAIGHTENING UP>

<BEHIND HIM SKIDS INTO VIEW LEDAS IN HIS EARTH CLOTHES; HE IS IN SUPER SAIYAN>

Ledas: <ANGRILY> Turn around, you old man!

Cardinal: Boy, let’s ta-

<LEDAS LETS OUT A YELL AND BRINGS UP A LIGHT BLUE ENERGY BLAST, SHINING SUDDENLY THROUGH THE BARELY LIT HALLS OF THE BUILDING; HE THROWS IT TO CARDINAL, AND IT CLIPS THE OLD MAN IN THE LEFT ARM; COMPLETELY RIPPING IT OFF AND IMMEDIATELY CAUTERIZING THE WOUND>

<THE BLAST GOES ON PAST CARDINAL, BREAKING THROUGH THE WALLS AND INTO THE STREET BEYOND; IT HITS A BUILDING, BLOWING IT UP AND SENDING THE BURNING AND DEAD BODIES OF SEVERAL HUMANS OUT; NONE OF THE CHARACTERS NOTICE THIS>

<BACK IN THE BUILDING, CARDINAL FALLS, TWISTING TO THE GROUND, YELLING SOFTLY; HE CONNECTS WITH THE WALL AND ROLLS OVER ONTO THE FLOOR, NOW BREATHING ERRATICALLY>

<LEDAS RUNS FORWARD AND JUMPS ONTO CARDINAL; HE RAISES HIS ARM OVER THEM BOTH, IN THREAT>

Ledas: You’re the one that took me and Ryori! <YELL> You jerk! Why did you do that?! You almost killed me!

<CARDINAL IS IN PAIN AND DOES NOT ANSWER>

Ledas: <PAUSE> Answer me! I’ll kill you, I’m not kidding.

Cardinal: <SLUMPS DOWN AND RELAXES A BIT; IN RESIGNATION> That is a fair… <IN PAIN> question. You… you would be wondering why I have been so invested in your origins… after… after…

<VEGETA ENTERS; SLOWLY>

Cardinal: <SEES VEGETA, STOPS AND DIRECTS HIS VOICE TO THE SAIYAN PRINCE; IN ABSOLUTE SHOCK> It was you! You and the bald one. I remember that day! <HE CRAWLS BACK A BIT>

Vegeta: <BORED> What’s that?

Cardinal: <SOMEWHAT DISTRESSED> I-I was in East city… that day… you and him… killed all those people. November third, ’62! How are you here now?!

Vegeta: <TO HIMSELF> Hmph. Nappa was always too impulsive.

<LEDAS IS CONFUSED BY THIS; HE COCKS HIS HEAD TOWARD VEGETA>

Ledas: Vegeta? What do you mean?

<BUT AT THIS TIME, VEGETA TURNS AROUND HIMSELF; SENSING GOKU’S POWER DROP>

<SUDDENLY A POWERFUL WIND COMES ROARING INTO THE CITY; IT SLAMS INTO CARDINAL’S BUILDING AND BRINGS IT INTO RUIN; LEDAS IS THROWN FROM CARDINAL; CARDINAL IS COVERED IN DEBRIS; VEGETA REMAINS STANDING, BACK TURNED TO THEM>

Vegeta: <TURNS BACK, AGITATED> Kakarot‘s plan didn‘t work. <HE DROPS DOWN TO A POSE; INTO SUPER SAIYAN 2; TALKING FASTER> We have to fight it without him. The Namekian and Android are too weak… <HE SIGHS, ALMOST NOT WANTING TO GO ON, BUT HE DOES ANYWAYS; TO LEDAS> Y-you… can go Super Saiyan?

<LEDAS IS SURPRISED BY VEGETA SUDDENLY TAKING NOTICE OF HIM; HE NODS AND GOES SUPER SAIYAN 1 IN THE SAME MOTION; HE STANDS UP AND TURNS TO FACE TO CAMERA, TO SOME UNSEEN THING>

<AWAY FROM THIS, BUT IN THE SAME CITY, PICCOLO, ANDROID 18, AND KRILLIN LAND WITH TIEN, CHIAOTZU, YAMCHA, AND GOHAN (NOT SHOWN, BUT ASSUMED TO BE THERE); THEY ARE IN FRONT OF A HOSPITAL>

<ALL RUN INSIDE; AND AFTER A BRIEF SCENE, WHICH IS PROLLY TOO BORING TO GO INTO DETAIL ABOUT, THE DAMAGED Z FIGHTERS ARE PUT INTO ROOMS TO BE TREATED>

<PICCOLO, ANDROID 18, AND KRILLIN COME BACK OUTSIDE, THEY SEE THE WIND COME INTO THE TOWN AND LIKE A TSUNAMI, IT DEMOLISHES PRACTICALLY EVERYTHING IN ITS PATH, ALL THE WAY UP TO THE HOSPITAL; THE HOSPITAL IS ON A HILL, SO IT IS NOT STRUCK BY THE WAVE OF ENERGY>

Krillin: Did… did anyone else see that?!

<PICCOLO AND ANDROID 18 ARE SILENT FOR A MOMENT>

Android 18: That was an impressive blast. What do you think, was it Goku’s work?

Piccolo: No, Goku‘s power just disappeared! <ANGRY GROWL> He’s taking them out one at a time. Tien, Yamcha, Gohan…

Krillin: But Piccolo, if Goku couldn’t beat him, what chance do we have?

Piccolo: <STARES OFF FOR A MOMENT BEFORE ANSWERING> We have one more option. The dragon balls.

Android 18: The dragon balls? What wish could we use?

<ZOOM OUT FROM PICCOLO; NOT SMILING>

<CUT, SCENE OF BENEFACTOR>

<THE BENEFACTOR WALKS DOWN THE MAINSTREET OF THE TOWN; RUBBLE IS ALL AROUND; HE COMES UP ON THE HUGE CRATER LEFT BY THE SPIRIT BOMB, AND WALKS DOWN ONE OF THE CRACKED OFFSHOOTS FROM IT; THE CRACK IS PULLED UP FROM THE STREET AND SHOWS OFF AN UNDERGROUND AREA BELOW; THERE IS NO SIGN OF ANYTHING BUT DARKNESS WITHIN IT>

<HE FOLLOWS IT DOWN THE ROAD FOR SOME TIME, UNTIL HE ROUNDS A CORNER AND STOPS; AT THIS HE TURNS ALL HIS ATTENTION TO THE CRACK, NOW ALMOST A CANYON; IT IS DARK INSIDE IT; THE BENEFACTOR PICKS UP A PIECE OF RUBBLE, AND THROWS IT DOWN INTO IT; HE WAITS FOR A FEW SECONDS AND HEARS IT CLINK AGAINST THE GROUND; A METAL CLINK; THIS PIQUES HIS INTEREST>

<HOWEVER, AT THIS TIME, THE POLICE CARS ROAR UP BEHIND THE BENEFACTOR; THEY AT FIRST DO NOT NOTICE HIM; THEY BEGIN TO DIG THROUGH THE RUBBLE FOR SIGNS OF LIFE>

<FIRE TRUCKS AND AMBULANCES SHOW UP TOO, AND NOW EVERYONE IS BUSY TRYING TO FIND SURVIVORS IN THE DAMAGED PART OF THE CITY>

<A POLICEMAN NOTICES THE BENEFACTOR>

Policeman 1: Hey! Over there, chief! There’s someone there! <HE POINTS TO THE BENEFACTOR>

Police Chief Nagamo: <COMES AROUND THE CORNER> What? A survivor…? Quickly men, see if he needs help!

Policeman 1: I don’t know sir, h-he looks fine.

Police Chief Nagamo: Let’s not make assumptions. Come on men!

<NAGAMO AND A FEW POLICEMEN APPROACH THE BENEFACTOR; THEY SEE HE IS TALLER THAN A HUMAN; AS THEY APPROACH, HE SHIFTS HIS TAIL, WHICH MOVES AND BECOMES VISIBLE TO THEM>

<THEY ALL JUMP BACK, AGHAST BY THIS; ONE OF THE POLICE OFFICERS HAD HIS HAND ON THE BENEFACTOR‘S SHOULDER, BUT HE SCREAMS AND RUNS BACK TO THE REST OF THEM>

Police Chief Nagamo: <ON APPROACH> H-hello?! Who are you? Are you hurt?

<THE ALIEN REMAINS SILENT; AGITATION RISES IN THE POLICE FORCES>

Policeman 2: Hey! Answer the chief!

Policeman 1: Yeah, who do you think you are, some kind of punk?!

<THE BENEFACTOR DOES NOT ANSWER HIM; INSTEAD HE REACHES HIS FINGER BEHIND HIM AND SHOOTS THE POLICE OFFICER, IN THE HEAD, WHO HAD GRABBED HIS SHOULDER BEFORE; THE BLAST SHOOTS THROUGH HIM AND BLOWS UP A FEW CARS AND PEOPLE BEHIND HIM>

<THE POLICE OFFICER IS KILLED BY THIS BLAST>

The Benefactor: This energy will take some getting used to… from his spirit bomb, eh? <HE WAVES HIS FINGERS ABOUT>

Police Chief Nagamo: What the hell?! <PIVOTING HIS HEAD AROUND TO LOOK BACK AT THE CARNAGE> How dare you kill my men; there was no need for that. Unless… yes! You have to be the that destroyed this place! Men, take him down!

<NAGAMO, MAKING ASSUMPTIONS NOW, AND THE OTHERS OPEN FIRE AT THE BENEFACTOR, BUT THE LATTER IS PREOCCUPIED; INSTEAD, HE JUMPS DOWN INTO THE DARK CRACK THAT WAS RIPPED UP FROM THE GROUND>

<THE CAMERA FOLLOWS THE BENEFACTOR INTO THIS DARKNESS AND FADES OUT AS HE DOES>

New Plan
<PAN UP; BLACK>

<THE AREA THAT THE BENEFACTOR JUMPED DOWN IN THE LAST CHAPTER IS SEEN; SUDDENLY, A BLACK SHAPE COMES SHOOTING UP FROM THE CRATER IN THE GROUND>

<SEMI-SLOW MOTION; FROM BEHIND VEGETA‘S SHOULDER, DOWN THE STREET>

Ledas: Ve-vegeta… what is it?

<TWO EXPLOSIONS GO OFF IN QUICK SUCCESSION; SCREEN COMES UP>

<VEGETA AND LEDAS BOTH FALL BACK AT THIS>

<THE CAMERA SWITCHES OVER TO A DIFFERENT SCENE OF THE CITY; IT SHOWS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE DEAD BODY OF NAGAMO AND THE POLICE, POSITIONED OVER A SMALL, BLOWN OUT WALL; GOKU IS SHOWN AS WELL, LAYING IN A FAR OFF STREET, FACE DOWN; HE IS NOT MOVING; THE AREA IS SMOKING, AS IF THIS JUST HAPPENED, SECONDS BEFORE>

<THE CITY IS ENTIRELY QUIET NOW; AFTER THOSE TWO BLASTS BEFORE, IT CAN BE ASSUMED THAT EVERYONE IN THE VICINITY, SAVE FOR THOSE IN CARDINAL’S BUILDINGS ARE EITHER DEAD OR SILENCED>

<THE SCREEN FADES IN TO THE NEXT SCENE, SHOWING FROM BEFORE, LEDAS AND VEGETA STANDING IN A BUNCH OF RUBBLE; CARDINAL IS IN THE CORNER, BUT HE IS NOT MOVING>

<THE BLACK FLASH FROM BEFORE COMES OVER THE SCREEN AGAIN AND IT SLOWS DOWN ENOUGH TO SHOW IT IS THE BENEFACTOR; HE COMES INTO VIEW, KICKING LEDAS UP UNDER THE SHIN WITH HIS BOOT; LEDAS FALLS BACK, BLEEDING SLIGHTLY>

<VEGETA, STILL IN SUPER SAIYAN 2, LETS OFF AN ENERGY BLAST, BUT THE BENEFACTOR DOESN’T FEEL IT; HE KICKS THE GROUND AND SENDS A BRICK FLYING INTO VEGETA’S KNEE; VEGETA HUNCHES OVER AND BEFORE HE CAN RECOVER, THE BENEFACTOR AND LEDAS ARE GONE>

<JUST AT THIS TIME, GOTEN AND TRUNKS LIMP THROUGH THE DOOR AND RUN INTO VEGETA; THEY BOTH TRIP OVER HIM>

<THIS OBVIOUSLY PREVENTS VEGETA FROM GOING AFTER THE TWO>

<SCREEN ZOOMS OUT; ON A LONG STREET, COVERED IN DESTRUCTION; THE BENEFACTOR WALKS DOWN IT, DRAGGING LEDAS BY HIS TAIL, BEHIND; THE BENEFACTOR IS WEARING A GLOVE ON HIS HAND THAT HE IS PULLING LEDAS WITH, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN SEEN ON HIM BEFORE>

The Benefactor: <DISTANTLY; TO NOTHING IN PARTICULAR> I don’t care if it hurts.

<HE SWINGS LEDAS UP AND OVER HIS SHOULDER AND THROWS HIM DOWN INTO THE CRACK IN THE GROUND THAT HE HAD DESCENDED INTO BEFORE>

<AROUND THIS AREA ARE THE DESTROYED REMNANTS OF SEVERAL POLICE VEHICLES, AND MANY BODIES; IT IS ASSUMED THAT THE BENEFACTOR, UPON COMING BACK UP FROM THAT MYSTERIOUS UNDERGROUND PLACE BEFORE KILLED NAGAMO AND HIS MEN BEFORE SNATCHING LEDAS>

<THE BENEFACTOR DIVES INTO THE AREA AFTER LEDAS>

<ACT II/BREAK>

<PICCOLO, 18, AND KRILLIN ARE ALL IN THE AIR, FLYING; PICCOLO IS SPEAKING>

Krillin: Hey Piccolo… how are we supposed to find any of the Dragon Balls? We don’t even have the Dragon radar.

Piccolo: <OVER KRILLIN; IGNORING HIM> Android 18!

Android 18: <FLYING BEHIND, ANNOYED> What?!

Piccolo: What does your tracker say? Are we close?

Android 18: <STOPS, PUTS A FINGER ON HER TEMPLE> There’s two. One to the southeast and o-

Krillin: A radar in your head!? Wow baby, I didn’t know you had one of those fancy gizmos…

Android 18: <CONTINUES WITHOUT BREAK; ALSO IGNORING KRILLIN> One in the southeast by the swamp. There’s another in those mountains up there <POINTS>.

Piccolo: It will be faster if we split up. <GROWL>I’ll get that one… <MOTIONS TO THE SWAMP> you two get the other. Got it? <TO 18> We need to meet back up after we get them.

Krillin: <CHIPPER> Got it, Piccolo!

Android 18: <BATS HER HAIR AWAY; SLOWLY, STRESSED ON EACH WORD> Come on, let‘s go.

<PICCOLO SHOOTS OFF, BACK DOWN IN THE DIRECTION TO THE RIGHT; 18 AND KRILLIN AIR DASH OFF TO THE LEFT, AND UP TO SOME MOUNTAINS BEYOND>

<SCENE CHANGE>

<LEDAS IS LAYING ON A METAL TABLE IN A DARK ROOM; HE WAKES UP AND SITS UP, LOOKING AROUND>

<THE ROOM IS LARGE, INDEED LEDAS CANNOT SEE THE WALLS ON ANY SIDE; BESIDES HIS TABLE, THERE IS NO SIGN OF ANYTHING ELSE>

<LEDAS IS IN ONLY A TEE SHIRT AND PANTS; HE RANDOMLY HAS SOCKS ON TOO, FOR NO REASON; HIS OTHER CLOTHES ARE NOT ANYWHERE TO BE SEEN>

Ledas: <SITS UP ON THE TABLE> Hello?! <THIS ECHOES IN THE LARGE ROOM> HELLO?!?!

The Benefactor: <QUIETLY> Hey.

<LEDAS TURNS AROUND, JUMPING IN FRIGHT AND FALLS OFF THE TABLE; THE BENEFACTOR IS SITTING ON THE OTHER EDGE OF IT, NOT FACING HIM; IN HIS HAND IS HIS KNIFE; THE BENEFACTOR IS RUNNING HIS HAND UP AND DOWN THE BLADE OF IT; HE CONTINUES THIS EVEN WHEN HE TALKS>

Ledas: You… again! <IN FRIGHT STILL> Why’d you bring me here?

The Benefactor: Sit back down.

Ledas: <GETS UP AND MOVES AWAY> Lemme go, idiot I don’t want to be here!

The Benefactor: Sit down.

Ledas: <BELLOW> You’re not my dad!

The Benefactor: No, but I killed him.

<THE BENEFACTOR REACHES OUT HIS HAND AND LIFTS UP LEDAS WITH HIS KI, HE FORCEFULLY BRINGS LEDAS BACK TO SIT DOWN ON THE TABLE; LEDAS LETS OUT A SCOWL OF PAIN, BUT DOES NOT TRY TO GET UP AGAIN>

<THERE IS SILENCE FOR SEVERAL MOMENTS>

Ledas: <TURNS HIS HEAD TO THE BENEFACTOR> I’m cold. <SHIVERS> I-I want my clothes back. Please, I don’t even know you.

The Benefactor: You don’t know me. Why’s that? Why don’t you remember me?

Ledas: Oh, uh… I… uh… <LOOKS AWAY>

The Benefactor: My task was you, so much as Frieza took to the other. He had the prince, but I am content to lesser blood.

Ledas: Hey, you’re not answering…

The Benefactor: Why I followed you? Why do you think? <THE BENEFACTOR LIFTS UP HIS SLEEVE REVEALING HIS ARM> Look! Momma always said no wound was forever.

<THE BENEFACTOR STANDS UP AND LUNGES INTO LEDAS, CRASHING HIM AGAINST THE METAL TABLE; HE TAKES HIS KNIFE OUT; HE HOLDS LEDAS DOWN WITH HIS LEFT HAND AS HE KEEPS THE KNIFE IN HIS RIGHT>

<THE BENEFACTOR BRINGS DOWN THE KNIFE ONTO LEDAS, WHO HOLDS UP HIS OWN HAND TO SHIELD AGAINST THE BLOW; THE KNIFE PENETRATES INTO HIS FOREARM; LEDAS YELLS OUT, WITH HIS TEETH CLENCHED, BUT CANNOT BREAK FREE; THE BENEFACTOR SLICES THE KNIFE DOWN HIS ENTIRE ARM, TO HIS ELBOW, THEN LETS UP>

The Benefactor: <QUIETLY, BELOW LEDAS’ SCREAMING> Jackals and vultures, they asked us; <MOCK; HE CONTINUES TO CUT> and what would you like to be when you grow up, and what would you like to do when you‘re older? The others answered easily, groomed by tradition and mirrors; they knew truth.

<THE ALIEN FLIPS AROUND HIS KNIFE AND SLICES BACK UP THE OTHER WAY, WIDENING LEDAS’ WOUND>

The Benefactor: They still questioned me, as if they could not live without an answer. <PAUSE, COVERED IN BLOOD> ‘I want alone’, I would say. ‘I want alone.’ I had no false grins to give, they did not understand that. Mommy could hide in the closet and cut her arms in little triangles; nobodies knows, that makes it all right.

<THE BENEFACTOR LETS GO OF LEDAS; INSTEAD OF CONTINUING, HE SWIFTLY TURNS AND FLIES, WITH GREAT SPEED, OUT TO A FAR DOOR AGAINST THE WALL; HE EXITS WITHOUT WORD>

<LEDAS LAYS ON THE TABLE UNMOVING; HE LAYS HIS ARMS DOWN, WITH HIS LEFT STILL BLEEDING>

<AFTER A GOOD DEAL OF TIME, HE SITS UP AND SLIDES OFF THE TABLE; HE IS STILL COVERED IN BLOOD, MOSTLY DRIED; HIS WOUND IS STILL OPEN, FROM HIS WRIST TO HIS ELBOW; IT IS NOT BLEEDING OUT>

<LEDAS WALKS AWAY FROM THE TABLE; THERE IS NO LIGHT BESIDES ONE ABOVE THAT TABLE; SO LEDAS WALKS WITH HIS HAND EXTENDED WITH KI BLAST LIGHTING HIS WAY>

<HE EVENTUALLY FINDS A DOOR; ETCHED ACROSS THE FRONT OF IT IN FADED RED PAINT IS A SIGN, WITH TWO WHITE R LETTERS PASTED ON TOP>

<LEDAS PUSHES ON THE DOOR TO OPEN IT BUT IT DOES NOT BUDGE; HE TRIES THIS TWO MORE TIMES, BUT NOTHING HAPPENS; IMPATIEN WITH THE LACK OF PLOT DEVELOPMENT, HE STEPS BACK AND BLASTS THE DOOR DOWN WITH A KI BEAM>

<LEDAS MOVES FORWARD INTO THIS NEW DARKNESS>

<HE WALKS DOWN THE HALLS, THEY ARE METAL AND PLAIN, THE GROUND IS ALSO A DARK STONE; LEDAS WALKS AROUND THE CORNER INTO A NEW CORRIDOR>

<THERE ARE MANY DOORS ON EACH SIDE OF IT; EVERY ONE OF THEM IS OPEN AND ABANDONED; LEDAS SHINES HIS “KI LIGHT” INTO THEM TO LOOK AND SEES THEY ARE INDEED JUST REGULAR ROOMS, WITH TABLES>

<HOWEVER, THESE ROOMS ARE NOT IN ORDER, INDEED THEY ARE IN TOTAL DISREPAIR AND RUIN; AS IF A GREAT FIGHT TOOK PLACE IN ALL OF THEM>

<LEDAS DOES NOT STAY LONG, AND INSTEAD MOVES DOWN TO THE NEXT HALLWAY>

Unknown Voice: <COMING FROM UP AHEAD; THERE IS A DOOR CRACKED AND A LIGHT COMING FROM IT; THE VOICE IS ALSO COMING FROM IN IT> I don’t want to talk; I want him to stop. I don’t want to talk; I want him to stop. <LOWERS IN VOICE> I don’t want to talk; I want him to stop.

<THE VOICE STOPS>

<LEDAS STOPS TOO; HE WAS LISTENING THIS WHOLE TIME AND HAD BEEN CREEPING FORWARD; BUT NOW IN THE SILENCE HE IS MOTIONLESS>

<THERE IS SILENCE FOR SOME TIME, AND LEDAS DOES NOT MOVE; HE HOLDS HIS BREATH>

<INSIDE THE ROOM UP AHEAD, SOMETHING FALLS AND CRASHES LIKE GLASS BREAKING; THERE IS A FUMBLING AND THEN SILENCE ONCE AGAIN>

<LEDAS TIP TOES UP TO THE DOOR, AND GRABS ONTO THE WALL; HE GOES INTO THE MOTION OF LOOKING AROUND IN, BUT IS STOPPED>

<SUDDENLY THE VOICE SOUNDS OUT AGAIN, IN A WHISPER BEHIND LEDAS’ NECK>

Unknown Voice: I don’t want to talk; I want him to stop.

<CUTS TO THE OUTSIDE; THE BENEFACTOR LANDS IN AN AREA; IT IS A SWAMP; HE WALKS UP TO A TREE AND CLIMBS UP IT, INEXPLICABLY>

<HE WAITS IN THE TREES>

<JUST AT THIS TIME PICCOLO FLIES INTO THE SCREEN; THE CAMERA FOLLOWS FROM OVER HIS SHOULDER LOOKING DOWN AND LANDS WITH HIM INTO THE MUD>

<HE DESCENDS INTO THE SWAMP AND PUTS HIS HAND DOWN INTO THE WATER, OBVIOUSLY FEELING AROUND FOR SOMETHING>

<UP ABOVE HIM, IN A TREE, THE BENEFACTOR PUTS EACH OF HIS HANDS BACK AND READIES A DARK KI BLAST IN EACH>

<PICCOLO DOES NOT NOTICE AT FIRST, AND CONTINUES TO FONDLE THE GENTLE WATER>

<HE GRABS ONTO SOMETHING; AS SOON AS HE DOES, HE BECOMES AWARE OF HIS SURROUNDINGS AND TENSES HIS SHOULDERS>

<HE LETS OUT A SIGH AND DROPS THE DRAGON BALL FROM HIS HAND, WHICH IS STILL UNDERWATER; ALMOST UNWILLINGLY, HE TURNS AROUND, AND INTO A FIGHTING POSE>

<TO BLACK; ONE-BEAT>

The Hunt
<CAMERA IS UNDERWATER; LOOKING UP>

<PICCOLO IS FLOATING IN THE WATER, FACE DOWN; HIS ARMS ARE SPREAD; HE ONLY LOOKS MINORLY DAMAGED; HE IS NOT MOVING, AND HIS EYES ARE CLOSED>

<THE CAMERA COMES UP OUT OF THE WATER; BEHIND PICCOLO’S FLOATING BODY IS THE BENEFACTOR; HE IS FACING AWAY>

<THE BENEFACTOR’S ARMS ARE CROSSED, BUT THE WATER THAT HE IS ANKLE DEEP IN, IS RIPPLING AROUND HIS BODY>

<WITHOUT WARNING, THE BENEFACTOR LUNGES BACK AROUND AND GRABS THE BACK OF PICCOLO’S NECK; HE FORCES THE NAMEKIAN UP OUT OF THE WATER; PICCOLO WAKES AT THIS>

The Benefactor: <QUIETLY, UNDER PICCOLO’S SPUTTERING> Your plan with those balls… what was it?

<PICCOLO DOES NOT RESPOND, HE IS STILL TRYING TO GAIN HIS BREATH>

<THE BENEFACTOR THOWS PICCOLO UP AND OUT OF THE WATER, INTO A TREE BEYOND; HE TURNS AND TAKES TO THE AIR; THE BENEFACTOR FLIES AWAY>

<PICCOLO CRAWLS AWAY FROM THE TREE THAT HE WAS CRUMPLED UP AGAINST; HE IS ON HIS STOMACH; HEPLACES TWO FINGERS ON THE SIDE OF HIS HEAD; HE BEGINS TALKING>

Piccolo: <TO NO ONE SEEN> Now! Kr-Krillin… he’s coming… get out of there… find Goku!

<ELSEWHERE, KRILLIN AND ANDROID 18 HAVE GATHERED A DRAGON BALL, THEY ARE FLYING TO ANOTHER LOCATION; KRILLIN SUDDENLY STOPS, AS HE HEARS PICCOLO’S TELEPATHIC MESSAGE FROM BEFORE>

Android 18: What is it now?

Krillin: <BOWS HIS HEAD> 18... he got Piccolo. We have to leave. Let’s go!

<KRILLIN RUNS FORWARD, MOTIONING FOR 18 TO FOLLOW; 18 DOES NOT>

Android 18: We only have two of them. You need all seven to make a wi-

Krillin: There’s no time, 18. The dragon balls were just a distraction.

Android: <TAKEN ABACK> Then what‘s the point…?

Krillin: Goku just woke up. It’s part of Piccolo plan; we have find him. Come on, I’ll tell you about it on the way.

<KRILLIN RUNS FORWARD AGAIN>

Android 18: Is that why you were acting like an idiot, earlier?

Krillin: <TURNS> I don’t know what you’re talking about, baby.

<KRILLIN JUMPS AWAY FROM HER FLIES OFF; 18 FOLLOWS HIM>

<SCENE CUTS BACK TO THE RED RIBBON BUNKER; THIS IS WHERE THE BENEFACTOR TOOK LEDAS BEFORE>

<LEDAS RUNS DOWN YET ANOTHER DARKENED HALLWAY, HE SKIDS AROUND A CORNER INTO A WALL; THE VOICE THAT WAS FOLLOWING HIM IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER IS STILL CHASING HIM; IT IS DEAFENING NOW; HOWEVER NOTHING PHYSICAL CAN BE SEEN CHASING LEDAS>

Unknown Voice: I don’t want to talk; I want him to stop. I don’t want to talk; I want him to stop! I DON‘T WANT TO TALK!! I WANT HIM TO STOP!!

<A SECOND VOICE JOINS THE FIRST; LEDAS LOOKS BACK AT THIS>

Unknown Voice 2: Get back here! Hey, you! Stop!

<LEDAS SPRINTS INTO A ROOM, HE CLIPS INTO A TABLE AND FALLS, HITTING A WALL; THE FIRST VOICE SEEMS TO MOVE PAST HIM, STILL SCREAMING; THERE IS NO FIGURE GIVING OFF ITS VOICE>

<AS IT RUNS PAST HIM, THE SECOND FIGURE RUNS PAST TOO; THIS FIGURE IS REAL; LEDAS CAN NOT SEE HIM EXCEPT FOR THE FLASHLIGHT IN HIS HAND; NO IMMEDIATE FEATURES CAN BE SEEN>

<LEDAS STANDS UP IN THE RUBBLE; THIS GIVES OFF QUITE A BIT OF NOISE; THE SECOND FIGURE STOPS CHASING WHATEVER IT WAS HE WAS CHASING, AND LOOKS BACK IN LEDAS’ DIRECTION>

Ledas: <THINKS THE FIGURE CAN SEE HIM> You could hear him too?!

<THE FIGURE STOPS, THE FLASHLIGHT FUMBLES AROUND AND SHINES BACK INTO LEDAS’ FACE; RIGHT INTO HIS EYES; LEDAS SQUINTS AT THIS>

Unknown Voice 2: A kid? What the shit are you doing in here?!

Ledas: I… uh…

Unknown Voice 2: Wait.

<THE MAN SIGHS AND WALKS OVER TO THE WALL; HE SWITCHES ON A LIGHT; THE LIGHT REVEALS HIS FACE; HIS HAIR IS ORANGE-SILVERY; HE HAS A LONG ORANGE BEARD AS WELL; IN THE MESS OF THE BROKEN FURNITURE, THE MAN PULLS OUT TWO RICKETY CHAIRS FROM THE MESS AND SETS THEM DOWN; HE GESTURES TO LEDAS TO SIT DOWN>

Unknown Voice 2: Now, <HE SITS DOWN> let’s talk about why a little boy is running around in the dark of a secret research facility. This is heavy stuff.

Ledas: I was brought here by someone. I don’t want to be here.

Unknown Voice 2: Is it a good idea to lie to me? No. You have no idea what we’ve done down here. This isn’t a playground for little kids like you. But will I let you go if you don’t lie? Still no. You’re screwed, kid.

Ledas: Sir, who are you?

Unknown Voice 2: <RUNS HIS FINGERS THROUGH HIS BEARD> You will call me… Airgead. Yes, that was my name. Now we are drifting away from the problem here. You. What have you seen and what have you done?

Ledas: It was all him! <RAISES HIS LEFT ARM, SHOWING OFF THE SCARS> He cut me. It hurts…

Airgead: <LEANS FORWARD TO EXAMINE; IS A BIT MORE SERIOUS> Go on.

Ledas: If you tell me how to get out of here, mister, I can go get Vegeta. Maybe we can beat the monster together. <SHIFTS>

Airgead: <SIGHS> I can’t let you go; the city is in chaos above us. I would risk contamination. <LONG PAUSE> But… if you’re down here, then it’s already started. There must be a breach.

Ledas: Then why’re you down here, mister?

Airgead: I’ve been here a long time. Yes. Nobody visits me. Daddy may call sometimes; but he’s too well along to come by for dinner.

Airgead: <CONTINUES> After the fall of the Red Ribbon Army, some of us officers were left alive. We came here, did some experiments, plotted our revenge. But nuthin’ happened. We couldn’t do it. And they killed each other for it.

Ledas: <CURIOUSLY> What happened to you?

Airgead: That’s the benefit of having a billionaire father. <HE LAUGHS DRYLY>

<JUST AS HE DOES, AIRGEAD NOTICES LEDAS’ TAIL; HE STANDS UP ABRUPTLY AND TRIES TO HIDE HIS RAPID PERSONALITY SHIFT>

Airgead: <TALKING FASTER NOW> I-It worked. I survived and lived, and we’ve been close ever since.

Ledas: Maybe you should visit your dad instead of staying in this place every day.

Airgead: <LAUGHS> You’re right. It’s just not the same when it’s not face to face. But I can’t leave this place. As dirty and broken as it looks, I’d die if I left. That’s why… <STANDS UP> you have to go plug up that hole that you and your friend came through.

Ledas: Why does that matter?

Airgead: It’s simple. Yes. You plug up the hole on your way out. You get out, I live, we’re all happy. Sound good to you?

Ledas: Okay…

Airgead: <UPBEAT> Good! Because if I were to die, this entire city would go up in a failsafe explosion. We don’t want that. No, no. <POINTS HIS HAND AIMLESSLY, IT SHAKES GREATLY> It’s good to have me around.

<LEDAS DOES NOT HEAR THIS AND RUNS OFF, BACK DOWN THE HALL TO FIND THE PLACE WHERE THE BENEFACTOR BROUGHT HIM IN>

<THE CAMERA ZOOMS IN ON AIRGEAD’S EYES; IT SHOWS A BRIEF FLASH OF A YOUNG CHILD, WITH A TAIL, PUNCHING A MAN IN THE GUT; A MAN WITH THE SAME ORANGE HAIR>

Airgead: Goku… fate has given me your son.

<HE STEPS UP AND WALKS DOWN INTO ANOTHER ROOM; HE FUMBLES IN A DESK AND PULLS OUT A SYRINGE; HE FILLS IT UP WITH THE CONTENTS OF AN UNMARKED BOTTLE, WHICH WAS ON TOP OF THE DESK>

Airgead: Maybe I can’t fight anymore. No. But death from overdose is just as effective. Yeah, we’ll go with that. <HE PAUSES, LOOKING AT THE SUBSTANCE THAT HE IS FILLING UP HIS NEEDLE WITH> That hallucination… he wasn’t faking when he ran from it. He saw it too. How? That one was only reported by M99 users. No, he couldn’t have had any of mine. I don’t share with them. <TURNS AWAY> I DON’T SHARE!!

<HE FINISHES FILLING UP THE SYRINGE AND PUTS IT IN HIS POCKET; HE WALKS OUT, COMPOSED AGAIN>

<SEMI-SLOW FADE OUT>

<KRILLIN IS FLYING WITH 18; HE IS MUCH FASTER THAN HER, SO HE’S ABOUT 50 FEET AHEAD>

<AS KRILLIN IS FLYING, THE BENEFACTOR TELEPORTS RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM; KRILLIN DOESN’T SEE HIM IN TIME AND FLIES RIGHT INTO THE ALIEN; KRILIN FALLS UNCONSCIOUS FROM THE IMPACT>

<18 STOPS BEHIND HIM>

The Benefactor: I dislike all these little teams of you running around, like annoying bitches. All busy with your deceits. What is this one?

Android 18: <LAUGHS DRYLY> Why would I tell you?

The Benefactor: <SLOWLY STRESSED SYLLABLES> Because I asked.

Android 18: I’m not that easy.

<THE BENEFACTOR PUNCHES HER IN THE FACE; SHE RECOILS AND HE FLIES BACK A WAYS>

The Benefactor: These “Dragon Balls”, you have two of them. I know what they do. You’re going to make a wish to stop me. That’s clever. Now, what is it?

<18 ANSWERS BY THROWING AN ENERGY BEAM AT THE BENEFACTOR; SHE FOLLOWS THAT UP WITH A DESTRUCTO DISK; BOTH ARE EFFORTLESSLY SWATTED ASIDE BY THE BENEFACTOR>

<HE DOES NOT QUESTION HER AGAIN; INSTEAD HE SENDS ALL OF ONE KICK BACK AT HER GUT, SENDING HER FLYING; HE CATCHES HER WITH AN ELBOW TO THE RIBS BEFORE SHE LANDS>

<HE KICKS HER ONTO THE DIRT BELOW AND DIGS HIS BOOTS INTO HER BODY, PUSHING HER INTO A CRATER>

<HE PLACES HIS HANDS DOWN OVER HER AND SENDS OFF TWO SHOCK BLASTS>

<THE BENEFACTOR CONTINUES TO ATTACK 18 FOR SOME TIME; SHE DOESN’T ANSWER HIM AS HE DOES; BUT AT THE SAME TIME, SHE IS UNABLE TO BREAK FREE OR PUT UP ANY SORT OF RESISTANCE>

<THE BENEFACTOR THROWS 18 INTO A WALL; HE PICKS HER UP OUT OF THE RUBBLE WITH HIS ENERGY AND PLACES HER BACK ON THE GROUND>

The Benefactor: <CONTINUING HIS ENERGY ATTACK> You know what the most annoying thing about you all is? It’s not your maddeningly obvious ineptitude, nor your gravitation toward ill-thought drama. It’s the fact that there’s so many of you. None of you can fight. Those who can will be beaten anyways. So why bother? These stalling methods won’t work out forever. I sense only three others in your group. It… will not…

<THE BENEFACTOR SUDDENLY STOPS HIS ATTACK AND RAISES HIS HEAD>

The Benefactor: <IN REALIZATION> I could not sense you because you are artificial. It was your companion I was after.

<ONE YELLOW/RED BALL OF ENERGY FLIES INTO THE BENEFACTOR’S BACK AND KNOCKS HIM OVER; IT DID NOT DO MUCH DAMAGE AND HE GETS UP WITH RELATIVE EASE; HE TURNS TO FACE THIS NEW CHALLENGER BEHIND HIM>

Android 17: <FROM BEHIND> That’s right, buddy. Now lay off my sister. You and I can finish this alone. <RAISES HIS ARMS> How about it? Or are you too scared?

The Benefactor: <TURNS AND GETS INTO A FIGHTING STANCE> You’re right. Let’s fight, regardless.

<HE KICKS UP THE DUST AND WALKS TO ANDROID 17; WHO INSTEAD OF ATTACKING, AIR DASHES AWAY, BECKONING FOR HIS OPPONENT TO FOLLOW>

<THE BENEFACTOR RISES INTO THE AIR AND FOLLOWS WITH OBEDIENCE>

<CAMERA PANS BACK; FADE OUT>

Android's Delight
<SIMPLE FADE IN - AIRGEAD’S UNDERGROUND BASE>

<LEDAS WALKS DOWN A HALLWAY; CARPETTED AND GREY; IT IS DARK AND THERE IS NOTHING ON THE WALLS OR IN HIS WAY>

<HE PASSES BY A LOBBY; LIKE THE ROOMS HE WITNESSED IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER, IT IS DARK, COVERED IN DUST, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY IT IS TOTALLY DESTROYED; CHAIRS AND TABLES ARE STREWN ABOUT, CHIPPED AND BROKEN>

<ON THE EDGE OF ONE OF THE TABLES ARE A FEW BOTTLES, ALL OF WHICH HAVE THAT STRANGE SYMBOL WITH THE TWO ‘R’ LETTERS ON THEM; HE PICKS THEM UP, FINGERING THE TOPS OFF; HE POURS THEM OUT, WATCHING THE LIQUID FALL ONTO THE WOOD; IT A CLEAR LIQUID, ODORLESS AND VERY FLUID, LIKE WATER>

<SOME OF THE LIQUID GETS ON LEDAS’ SKIN; HOWEVER, HE WIPES IT AWAY, CASUALLY>

<AFTER THE CONTENTS ARE DRAINED AND HIS CURIOSITY SATISFIED, LEDAS SETS DOWN THE BOTTLES AND WALKS BACK INTO THE HALL, AND THEN DOWN IT>

<THE BOTTLES STAY PUT AS HE WALKS AWAY>

<AS HE WALKS, AIRGEAD TURNS ON THE INTERCOM AND SPEAKS>

<AIRGEAD DOES NOT HAVE MANY TV MONITERS IN HIS ROOM, BUT HE DOES HAVE ONE SCREEN TURNED ON, RIGHT ABOVE THE CROSSSPACE, WHERE LEDAS IS STANDING; THERE ARE FOUR DIRECTIONS LEADING OUT FROM THIS POINT, LIKE AS A PLUS SIGN>

Airgead: <OVER-DUBBED> It’s on your left… Stop. Yes, that’s it. <HE PAUSES AS LEDAS DOES THIS> Yes.

Ledas: <SPEAKING TO THE INTERCOM; HE IS PEERING DOWN THE HALL> But sir, this place is all flooded…

<SCREEN COMES TO BEHIND LEDAS’ SHOULDER, SHOWING OFF JUST THAT; THE ENTIRE HALLWAY BEYOND IS CAVED IN; THE GROUND HAS CRUMBLED, THERE IS NO FLOOR; PERHAPS 20 FEET BELOW IT, THERE IS WATER IN A VAST POOL>

Airgead: Yes. Yes. There’s water. Lot’s of water, yes. I would recommend you go as fast as you can-

Ledas: <INCREDULOUSLY> I hafta swim?!

Airgead: Be gentle with the metal. I don’t want a cave in. No, no. Take your time… go slowly, please.

Ledas: B-but sir, isn’t there another way? It’s gonna be really cold.

Airgead: <SIMPLY> Nope. I have already checked the other routes, and none will do. Too unstable, I’ve concluded. This is by far the safest, most practical way.

Ledas: <MUTTERING TO HIMSELF> Safe… yeah right…

Airgead: When you get to the hole, simply weld any of the extra panels to the broken part, and then swim out. Swim out. You will come up on the outskirts of town. From there you will go back to wherever you came from. Simple. Yes, it’s simple.

Ledas: <HEAD TILT> The monster could just make another hole…

Airgead: From what you’ve said, he will most likely follow you and leave me be. Now go, we have no time to waste. The contained air is escaping and soon I’ll be dead. If I die… <IMPLIED HAND RAISE; THOUGH IT CANNOT BE SEEN, EITHER WAY> this whole place goes.

Ledas: Fine, I’ll do it.

<LEDAS DRAGS HIS FEET UNTIL HE GETS TO THE OPENING>

<AT IT, LEDAS STRIPS DOWN; HE HESITATES A SECOND, BUT THEN JUMPS INTO THE WATER; INSTANTLY, HE LETS OUT AN UNDERWATER SCREAM AS HE FEELS THE COLD; LEDAS WRAPS HIS ARMS AROUND HIS SHOULDERS, THEN SWIMS LIKE THAT; HE DOES THIS SUPER CAREFULLY, AVOIDING ALL THE JUNK AND RUBBLE JUTTING OUT FROM THE SUBMERGED AND RUINED LEVEL>

<LEDAS CONTINUES ON THROUGH THE TWISTED METAL; HE HAS NO TROUBLE HOLDING HIS BREATH, BUT HE IS SHAKING FROM THE COLD; HE PICKS UP HIS SPEED A LITTLE BIT>

<IMPORTANT - LEDAS DOES NOT NOTICE THAT AS HE IS SWIMMING, HE GRADUALLY GOES UP, ON AN INCLINE, SO THAT WHEN HE REACHES THE END, HE IS ABOUT 20 FEET HIGHER THAN HE WAS WHEN HE STARTED>

<AFTER A FEW MOMENTS, LEDAS REACHES THE HOLE IN THE WALL; THE WALL IS UNDERWATER, OBVIOUSLY, AND THERE IS MUCH RUBBLE AROUND ITS AREA; HEADING AIRGEAD’S ADVICE, LEDAS SWIMS TO THE BOTTOM AND RIPS UP SEVERAL PANELS FROM THE FLOOR; HE THEN SWIMS BACK UP THE HOLE AND SWIMS THROUGH IT>

<ON THE OUTSIDE HE NOTICES THAT THIS IS INDEED A WALL;

<ONCE ON THE OTHER SIDE, HE CAREFULLY PLACES THE STUFF OVER THE HOLE, COVERING IT; WITH HIS OFF HAND, HE CHARGES UP A SMALL ENERGY BLAST, THEN SHOOTS IT AND MELTS THE PLATES BACK TO THE WALL>

Ledas: <IN HIS HEAD TO HIMSELF> I wonder how that guy knew I could do this…

<AS LEDAS WORKS ON THIS, AIRGEAD WATCHES HIM ON A MONITER SCREEN; HE NOTICES LEDAS FINISHING UP AND REACHES IN HIS DESK DRAWER AND TAKES OUT THE SYRINGE HE HAD EARLIER; HE THEN MOVES OVER TO A WALLED CABINET AND OPENS THE THIRD PANEL FROM THE TOP>

<AIRGEAD REACHES IN AND BRINGS OUT A SMALL, CLEAR TUBE; HE STICKS THE SYRINGE IN IT, AND PUMPS THE CONTENTS THROUGH THE TUBE; WHEN HE’S FINISHD, HE GOES BACK AND SITS DOWN IN HIS CHAIR TO STARE AT THE MONITER WITH LEDAS ON IT>

<THE ONLY LIGHT IN THIS MESSY AND DUSTY ROOM IS WHAT IS BEING GIVEN OFF FROM THE MONITER; OTHER THAN THAT, IT IS IN THE SAME DISREPAIR AS WHAT LEDAS WITNESSED IN THE MANY OTHER ROOMS OF THE BUILDING>

Airgead: <TO HIMSELF> Drowning… with the city in flames, and a serial murder loose, I doubt they will have any reason to look into this one. Kids like you drown all the time. Play by the river and knock you head and… that’s it. You’re gone. Fallen in. My ‘99 is traceless in the water. No. They won’t know any more than you do.

Airgead: <HAND SHAKING AS HE CLOSES UP THE DRAWER TO HIS DESK> I saw your tail. I saw your hair. Who else could you be, but the son of Goku? Yes, I’m right. Yes. <PAUSE> I know. <PAUSE AGAIN> The Red Ribbon Army will have its revenge now.

<THE CONTENTS OF THE SYRINGE HAVE REACHED THE WATER, AS INDICATED BY A BLUE LIGHT TURNING ON, ON THE CABINET BEHIND; AIRGEAD NOTICES THIS>

Airgead: <INTENTLY WATCHING LEDAS; STILL ONLY TALKING TO HIMSELF> Soon your body will numb and you will lose consciousness. After that it will only be moments before the water gushes in and floods your lungs. <SIMPLY> Then you drown. <SUDDEN GLEE> Ah, it’s happening! Yes! Yes. At last! Yes.

<BELOW, IN THE WATER, LEDAS HAS FINISHED REPAIRING THE HOLE; AT THIS TIME, HE TURNS TO SWIM AWAY, BUT STOPS RATHER QUICKLY INTO THAT; HE CLUTCHES AT HIS CHEST, THEN SUDDENLY GOES LIMP AND SINKS ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM; FADE OUT, AS HE HITS THE BOTTOM>

<OPENER PAN AROUND - SHOWS SHOTS OF SEVERAL AREAS; MOST NOTABLY, GOKU, STILL LAYING FACE DOWN AND UNCONSCIOUS ON AN ABANDONED STREET; THE CITY IS QUIET; APART FROM THE SIRENS STILL RINGING FROM THE POLICE CARS AND FIRE TRUCKS (THE POLICEMAN AND FIRE FIGHTERS ARE ALL DEAD, MOST LAYING AROUND IN RAGDOLL FASHION) THERE IS NO NOISE>

<ACT 2/BREAK>

<ELSEWHERE, 17 IS FLYING; HE GOES ON FOR A BIT, MAYBE 3 OR SO PANELS, BEFORE SHARPLY TURNING AND LANDING; THE BENEFACTOR, BEHIND HIM, DOES LIKEWISE, AND LANDS TOO>

<THE TWO ARE ON A RUGGED MOUNTAINSIDE, WITH MANY TREES; THERE IS A STEEP INCLINE OFF TO THEIR LEFT, WHICH LEADS DOWN INTO THE CITY; BEYOND THAT IS THE OCEAN>

<17 UNSHOULDERS HIS RIFLE, AND LOCKS INTO HIS FIGHTING POSE, LEFT ARM OUT>

<THE BENEFACTOR IS NOT FOCUSED ON HIM; HE WALKS, SHOULDERS THROWN FORWARD UP TO A TREE AND CROUCHES UP TO IT; HE POKES THE BARK WITH A SINGLE FINGER>

<HE STAYS KNEELED, EVEN AS 17 COMES UP BEHIND HIM>

Android 17: Hey! What are you doing?

The Benefactor: I want to climb this. Doesn’t it look fun?

Android 17: <ANNOYED> I don’t think you know who you’re up against, pal.

The Benefactor: <STANDS UP, BACK FACED AWAY FROM 17; SIMPLY AND QUIETLY> You are an android, as your sister is. You are a male. You are more powerful, smarter, faster than her… Nevertheless, you are no match for even the other ones, the ones already gone. You know this. <PAUSE> I have concluded you have a secret weapon or technique you wish to use on me. Otherwise, this is simply suicide.

<ANDROID 17 GOES TO SPEAK, BUT THE BENEFACTOR RAISES HIS HAND>

The Benefactor: The sooner this is over, the sooner I may climb. I am anxious, please start.

<ANDROID 17 DROPS INTO HIS FORM; ONCE AGAIN HIS LEFT HAND IS DOMINANT IN THIS>

<THE BENEFACTOR DROPS INTO HIS FORM, ON ONE KNEE, BOTH ARMS PULLED BACK>

<ANDROID 17 MAKES THE FIRST MOVE AND CHARGES; THE BENEFACTOR SHOOTS UPWARDS, NULLIFYING 17’S CHARGE; 17 ALSO TAKES TO THE AIR AND PURSUES>

<THE TWO BOTH SHOOT HIGH UP INTO THE CLOUDS ABOVE; THESE BE RAINCLOUDS AND ARE QUITE DARK; IT IS NOT RAINING>

<17 SHOOTS A BALL OF ENERGY UP TO THE BENEFACTOR, WHO BLOCKS IT, CAUSING HIM TO STOP; 17 CATCHES UP WITH HIM AND PUNCHES HIM IN THE SIDE; THE BENEFACTOR RECOVERS; HE DASHES BACK AND CONNECTS PUNCHES WITH 17>

<THE TWO ERUPT INTO A FLURRY OF PUNCHES AND KICKS; HOWEVER, VERY FEW OF THE BENEFACTOR’S ARE CONNECTING; EVENTUALLY HE IS HIT BACK AGAIN; THIS TIME HE DOES NOT DASH BACK SO QUICKLY>

<WHILE THE BENEFACTOR TAKES A FEW SECONDS TO RECOVER (AND WORK UP A NEW STRATEGY), 17 TAKES NO TIME TO GO ON THE OFFENSIVE; HE PREPARES TWO BALLS OF ENERGY; EACH ONE IS RED, OF COURSE>

<HE TWISTS HIS BODY AND THROWS BOTH AT THE BENEFACTOR; THE BENEFACTOR, WHILE STILL NOT RECOVERED, IS ABLE TO PUT UP A SINGLE, DARKLY COLORED BEAM AGAINST THE OTHER TWO>

<THE BENEFACTOR STARTS TO STRAIN AND PULSES HIS BLAST; AFTER BUT A FEW SECONDS, IT OVERPOWERS BOTH OF 17’S BLASTS, AND LANDS ON THE ANDROID, FULL ON>

<17 IS DAMAGED BY THIS, BUT NOT CRITICALLY; HE DOES NOT FALL AWAY, BUT REMAINS IN THE AIR; HE SENDS ANOTHER HANDFUL OF BLASTS AT THE BENEFACTOR, THEN DASHES IN, KICKING DOWN; THE BENEFACTOR BLOCKS, BUT IS PRESSED BACK BY THE FORCE OF IT; 17 SEES THIS AND SHOOTS AROUND BEHIND HIM AND DOUBLE-ELBOWS HIM DOWNWARD>

<AT THIS POINT, IT GETS QUITE A BIT DARKER AND STARTS TO RAIN; NEITHER FIGHTER MAKES ANY NOTICE OF THIS>

<AS THE BENEFACTOR FALLS, 17 PURSUES AT FULL SPEED UNTIL HE CRASHES INTO THE FALLING BODY WITH HIS FOOT; THE BENEFACTOR IS KNOCKED BRIEFLY UNCONSCIOUS BY THIS, AND SLAMS INTO THE GROUND UNPROTECTED>

<17 LANDS BEHIND HIM; BUT NOT WAITING FOR TB TO WAKE, HE PUTS OUT HIS HAND PALM FORWARD AND FIRES A PHOTON FLASH AT THE BENEFACTOR; IT MAKES CONTACT AND BLOWS UP INTO A HUGE EXPLOSION>

<WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS, 17 MAKES THAT SURPRISED FACE THAT MOST DBZ CHARACTERS MAKE WHEN THEIR OPPONENT IS SURVIVIES AFTER BEING HIT WITH A DEADLY BLAST; THE BENEFACTOR IS SITTING ON HIS KNEES, FACING 17>

<THE RAIN IS STILL GOING STRONG; IT IS NOW ALMOST TOTALLY BLACK OUT>

<WITHOUT WARNING, THE BENEFACTOR THROWS AN IMPALEMENT BEAM, BUT IT IS OFF CENTER, AND ONLY MANAGES TO CUT A LARGE PORTION OF 17’S COAT AWAY; 17 HIMSELF IS UNHARMED>

Android 17: <SHOUTING OVER THE RAIN> Give up already! You’re too weak to beat me. I’ll never get tired like you. My energy will never run out.

The Benefactor: <TO HIMSELF> But his technique… it is the perfect counter. I cannot attack him effectively. <STANDS UP> Your power is laughable. I can barely feel it.

Android 17: Yeah? You’ll regret being so cocky.

<THE BENEFACTOR STANDS UP; HE AFTERIMAGES HIMSELF AND THEN CHARGES; AS SOON AS 17 RETALIATES, TB PEELS OFF TO THE SIDE; AS HE DOES, TB SHOOTS SOME ENERGY INTO THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN THEY ARE BOTH ON; DUE TO IT RAINING, THE WHOLE AREA IS MUDDIED, AND IT DOESN’T TAKE MUCH TO SEND THE WHOLE THING INTO A SLIDE>

<17 TURNS RIGHT IN TIME TO SEE THE BENEFACTOR CHARGE INTO HIM, HEADBUTTING HIM DOWN ONTO THE GROUND>

<WITH 17 NOW SOMEWHAT SLOWED BY THIS, THE BENEFACTOR JUMPS TO THE AIR, AND FOLLOWS THE MUDSLIDE ALL THE WAY DOWN; HE SHOOTS ENERGY BLASTS CONSTANTLY INTO IT, CAUSING MANY MUDDY EXPLOSIONS>

<THIS GOES ON FOR A LITTLE BIT, UNTIL THEY REACH THE BOTTOM; AT THIS, 17 RE-EMERGES UNEXPECTEDLY AND KICKS AT TB; TB DODGES IT AND GRABS ONTO THE ANDROID’S LEG, SPINNING AND THEN THROWING HIM AWAY; TB FINISHES THIS OFF WITH A BLAST, WHICH PROPELS 17 EVEN FURTHER AWAY>

<THE BLAST FROM TB CAUSES 17 TO FLY ALL THE WAY INTO THE EDGE OF THE CITY; ENOUGH SO THAT 17 RAMS RIGHT INTO A BUILDING>

<17 RECOVERS QUICKLY, JUST IN TIME TO SEE TB LAND; SEEING THAT 17 IS STILL ABLE TO FIGHT, TB ARCS EACH OF HIS ARMS OVER HIS HEAD, AND BY TELEKENISIS RIPS UP ALL THE NEARBY BUILDINGS AND THROWS THEM ASIDE; THIS MAKES THE AREA A NICE FLAT BATTLE GROUND>

<17 ONCE AGAIN MOVES INTO HIS ATTACK STANCE>

Android 17: You can’t win! My energy will never run out!

The Benefactor: Sad to say, we won’t be going for that long.

<THE BENEFACTOR ALSO GETS IN HIS OWN STANCE>

<IN THE DISTANT RUBBLE, THE ONLY Z FIGHTERS STILL REMAINING: VEGETA, GOTEN, AND TRUNKS, EMERGE FROM THE RUBBLE, IN TIME TO WITNESS THIS>

<ABRUPT OUT>

Bloodied Turf
<ALL OF THIS TAKES PLACE THROUGH THE SIGHT OF AIRGEAD’S MONITORS>

<A LARGE EXPLOSION GOES OFF>

<THE OUTER WALLS OF THE RED RIBBON BASE ARE COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY THIS; THE WATER THAT FILLED THEIR AREAS IS NOW FLOODING INTO THE REGULAR BASE>

<THE FORCE OF THE WATER DESTROYS MUCH OF THE AREA, AND SWEEPS INTO THE ROOMS AND WHATNOT; AIRGEAD’S CAMERAS ARE DESTROYED AS WELL; OTHERWISE BLIND, HE OPENS HIS DOOR TO LOOK OUT>

<A JET OF WATER COMES DOWN THE HALL IMMEDIATELY, AND HITS HIM; AIRGEAD FLIES BACK, GETTING SWEPT DOWN THE HALL; HE LANDS ON HIS BACK; AIRGEAD ROLLS OVER, RIGHT INTO LEDAS, WHO COMES SWEEPING IN; THE FORCE OF THIS PROPELS BOTH OF THEM DOWN THE HALL EVEN FURTHER, THROUGH A FAR DOOR, AND INTO A ROOM; THEY ARE OUT OF THE RUNNING STREAM OF WATER INSIDE; NEEDLESS TO SAY, THEY ARE BOTH STILL DRENCHED>

<LEDAS PUNCHES AT THE MAN, BUT MISSES, AND SLIPS ON THE FLOOR; HE IS SOMEWHAT DROWSY FROM THE M99 EFFECT; AIRGEAD BACKS UP, CAUTIOUSLY, ON GUARD FOR A SECOND ATTACK; AS HE DOES SO, AIRGEAD FUMBLES IN HIS COAT JACKET FOR SOMETHING>

<LEDAS STANDS UP AND WOBBLES; HE ATTEMPTS TO GET A LINE SHOT OF AIRGEAD SO HE CAN MAKE ANOTHER ATTACK; HOWEVER, AIRGEAD CIRCLES BACK AROUND HIM, IN A NEAR SPRINT; LEDAS DOESN’T SEE THIS>

<WITH ONE FLUID MOTION, AIRGEAD TAKES HIS ARM OUT OF HIS COAT AND STICKS LEDAS WITH A NEEDLE; HE STEPS BACK AFTER IT PIERCES LEDAS’ NECK; LEDAS DOES NOT RETALIATE>

Airgead: <SMUGLY> Etorphine hydrochloride. 70 mg, non-diluted. The full bottle. Coupled with your previous exposure in the pool, I will say that’s more than enough to kill you. Yes. It’s clean. Effective. <TUGS AT HIS SAILOR’S BEARD> Like me.

Ledas: <CLUTCHING AT HIS NECK> B-b-but w-why? <HE FALLS BACKWARDS>

Airgead: <STILL SMUG> Your tail. A kid with one of those is the reason I’m down here today. He destroyed me. No, he destroyed us. The Red Ribbon was completely annihilated by him. Yes. I am the last one left. But I’m not one like them.

Ledas: <ON ONE KNEE> W-who is he?

<LEDAS IS BREATHING HARD, BUT HE IS NOT COLLAPSED; INDEED, AFTER A FEW MINUTES, HE SEEMS TO ACTUALLY BE GETTING MORE STABLE>

Airgead: Goku. You know that name, don’t you? He’s your father, of course. He’s the one that took my pride. You know what they did to me for that? You know what they did?! Locked me here, with the other scum… just because I made one mistake, just because I had one little blemish on my record. A defeat.

<AIRGEAD CONTINUES>

Airgead: I did not come here on my own will. No. It did not matter. Even if I was Colonel in their army. The best! But no, they imprisoned me for my failure. To be a test subject on their shit-brained experiments. All thanks to your father.

Ledas: He’s not my dad! My dad’s name was Layeeck. He’s dead.

Airgead: <IGNORING LEDAS>They all died. Every last one of them. Yes, I was there. Yes. But I could not leave… you remember that. Because of them and you! And look what you did now, ya little shit. Now you blew up that wall. No, no, no! I’ll die because of that! The air will come in. There is no other way. We can die together!

Ledas: I’m not dying anywhere with you! Just go back in your room or something and leave me alone. I’m leaving. The monster’s gonna come back anyways. I don’t want to be here with you two when he does.

Airgead: Wait.

Ledas: …

Airgead: <TO HIMSELF, IN HIS HEAD> This is taking too long. What’s going on? I need to stall him some more…

Airgead: <ALOUD> Listen! I’m not evil. I’m not like them any more. No. I repented. I gave it up. Yes. Look at me. I was all good down here, until you came. <RATHER SUDDENLY> WHY AREN’T YOU DYING?!!?!

<AIRGEAD COMPLETELY LOSES HIS COOL AT LEDAS’ NON-DYING; HE THROWS THE EMPTY SYRINGE AT LEDAS, THEN FALLS OVER; HE HITS THE FLOOR WITH HIS FIST SEVERAL TIMES IN PROTEST>

<LEDAS, PATIENCE NOW GONE WITH THIS CRAZINESS PREPARES AN ENERGY BLAST IN HIS HAND; HE AIMS IT AT AIRGEAD, READY TO END IT ALL>

Airgead: <TO HIMSELF ALOUD, FURIOUS> That’s over one hundred times the overdose limit!! The shit is going on here?!?! These kids with tails… they’re inhuman!!

Ledas: <WALKS FORWARD WITH THE BLAST> I shouldn’t let you live <SAID “LONG”> cuzzz you will just try to kill me again.

Airgead: You couldn’t have built up an immunity… no… no… no! <HE LOOKS UP AT LEDAS> You saw the vision. Yes, I was there. I saw too…

<LEDAS AIMS THE BLAST AT AIRGEAD’S FACE; AIRGEAD SEES IT, BUT IS NONE TOO CONCERNED>

Airgead: <SUDDENLY STOPS HIS PANIC AND SMILES> You lose. Yeah. My beautiful failsafe. Remember, kid? Yes. If I die, this whole place goes boom. You may be inhuman, but you will not survive that. No.

Ledas: You’re lying! I’m not stupid. You just don’t want to die.

Airgead: Of course I don’t want to die. Nobody in their right mind wants to die. What a stupid remark.

Ledas: <SIMPLY> I don’t believe you. You’re crazy.

Airgead: Sure. Fine then. Don’t believe. <ANGRY> But you’re making me ruin a very good shirt. Little shitter.

<HE RIPS OFF HIS SHIRT, SHOWING OFF HIS EXPOSED CHEST; FROM HIS RIGHT ARM, INTO HIS UPPER CHEST IS A SMALL, BLUE CABLE; IT RUNS FROM HIS FOREARM, ALL THE WAY TO HIS COLLARBONE, WHERE IT GOES INSIDE HIS BODY THROUGH A SMALL HOLE>

Airgead: This is the timer <HE POINTS TO HIS WRIST>. When I die, it counts down, then everything blows up. It is FUBAR‘d. <MOTIONS TO IT> So go ahead, kill me. Yes. Light up the whole city. Kill your friends.

<LEDAS GRUMBLES AND WAVES HIS HAND (WITH THE BLAST) AROUND FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, UNSURE; FINALLY, SHOULDERS SUNK, HE DISSIPATES HIS BLAST>

<CUTS BACK TO ANDROID 17 AND THE BENEFACTOR>

<THE TWO LEAP AT ONE ANOTHER AND GET IN A REALLY LONG BLOW EXCHANGE; TOO LONG TO BOTHER WITH WORDS>

<AS THEY GO AT IT (WHILE NEITHER IS GAINING AN ADVANTAGE), GOTEN, TRUNKS, AND VEGETA ALL COME OUT OF THE RUBBLE TO SEE THIS>

<AS SOON AS THEY COME INTO VIEW, 17 IS KNOCKED BACK, RIGHT INTO THEIR FOREGROUND; THE BENEFACTOR FOLLOWS, AND LANDS IN FRONT OF THE SPRAWLED OUT 17; TB IS FACING VEGETA AND THE KIDS, WHO ARE JUST A FEW FEET AWAY FROM HIM>

<VEGETA FOLDS HIS ARMS AND DOES NOT TALK; 17 IS STILL NOT MOVING>

Goten: Hey! You’re the jerk who beat up Gohan. I’ll make you pay for hurting my brother!

<HE RUNS FORWARD, BUT IN CLASSIC DBZ STYLE, TRUNKS STOPS HIM>

Trunks: <GRABS GOTEN’S SHOULDER, PULLS HIM BACK> Goten! You can’t just run out there. You’re going to get yourself killed.

Goten: Trunks, let me go!

Trunks: No, you’re not strong enough!

Goten: <SHOUTING> Then let’s do fusion! I wanna fight him! Come on.

Trunks: Oh. <LETS GO OF GOTEN, WHO FALLS FORWARD FROM HIS TUGGED-POSITION> Okay, I’m ready, Goten.

<GOTEN AND TRUNKS LINE UP, AND GET INTO THE FUSION POSITION>

Goten: <TOGETHER> Fusion… ha!

Trunks: <TOGETHER> Fusion… ha!

<THE TWO DO THE LITTLE DANCE THING, AND CONNECT FINGERTIPS; THE RESULT IS A BRIGHT FLASH OF LIGHT, AND WHEN THAT FADES, NONE OTHER THAN GOTENKS HIMSELF IS STANDING TO FACE THE BENEFACTOR>

Gotenks: Ha ha! You’re out of luck now! <HE GOES SUPER SAIYAN> I’m Super Gotenks!

The Benefactor: <CROUCHES DOWN, IN BOREDOM> That’s a good name.

<GOTENKS RUSHES AT THE BENEFACTOR; HE SUDDENLY TRIPS UP AND FALLS BEFORE HE CAN REACH HIS OPPONENT; ANDROID 17 HAS STUCK HIS ARM OUT AND GRABBED ONTO GOTENK’S LEG>

<ANDROID 17 STANDS UP>

Android 17: Hey. We are in the middle of something. <PULLS GOTENKS BY HIS LEG, THEN THROWS HIM BEHIND> Go home, stupid kids. I’ll handle this myself. <HE TURNS BACK TO THE BENEFACTOR> Don’t think I’m done with you, either.

<17 LOCKS DOWN, AND STARTS CHARGING UP AN ENERGY BLAST; SUDDENLY, GOTENKS COMES FLYING INTO VIEW; HE CLUBS DOWN ON THE BACK OF 17’S NECK, SENDING THE ANDROID SHOOTING INTO THE GROUND; TB REMAINS MOTIONLESS AT THIS; VEGETA STILL HASN’T MOVED SINCE THIS FIGHT BEGAN>

<17 IS ON HIS HANDS AND KNEES, LOOKING DOWN>

Android 17: You fool! How dare you touch me!

Gotenks: Hey, old man! Just give up, we can take over for you. It’s probably your naptime anyway. Hahaha!

Android 17: Why am I always stuck with the brats? <SHOUT TO GOTENKS> You want to play around? I’ll make you wish you had never even thought of it!

<EXTREMELY ANGRY NOW, 17 THROWS AN ENERGY BALL AT GOTENKS; GOTENKS DODGES, AND RETALIATES IMMEDIATELY, WITH A BEAM OF HIS OWN>

<THE TWO CONTINUE THIS FIGHT, EVEN AS TB AND VEGETA WATCH>

The Benefactor: Busy little bees. <TO VEGETA> Excuse me for a moment, Prince.

<VEGETA WATCHES, BUT DOES NOT MOVE; HE WOULD BE POWERLESS TO STOP THE BENEFACTOR ANYWAY>

<THE BENEFACTOR CREATES A SMALL GLOWING DISC OF ENERGY, AND DROPS IT ON THE GROUND BELOW HIM; IT MELTS AWAY A LARGE HOLE; THE BENEFACTOR THEN JUMPS DOWN INTO THIS, LEAVING 17 AND GOTENKS TO FIGHT>

<NEITHER ONE NOTICES HIM LEAVING, AND CONTINUES THEIR RUCKUS>

<CUTS BACK TO LEDAS AND AIRGEAD>

Airgead: I have to know, boy. Tell me. You saw the vision. Only my strain of M99 has that side effect. I’m the only one that has it. Have you been stealing?

Ledas: <ANNOYED OUTBURST> No! I’ve never been here before. I told you that monster found this place. I wouldn’t even come here if I knew about it. This place sucks.

Airgead: Yes. Of course. The fact remains, however, that you saw it. Explain that!

Ledas: Well… <HAND ON HEAD> that old Carronel guy gave me some of that stuff in the needle too… maybe he had some of yours?

Airgead: Carronel? I don‘t know him.<THINKS DEEPLY FOR A MOMENT> Oh. No. You would not mean… Cardinal, would you? N-not him. It can’t be.

<AS SOON AS AIRGEAD STOPS TALKING, LEDAS SCREAMS; A LOUD SCREAM, BUT NOT A LONGUN; IT‘S MORE OF A SCREAM OUT OF SUDDEN SHOCK>

<FOR IN THE CORNER OF THE ROOM, BEYOND ALL THE BROKEN AND SOGGY FURNITURE IS THE BENEFACTOR; HE IS HANGING FROM THE CEILING, UPSIDE DOWN; AND LEDAS HAS NOTICED HIM>

<AFTER LEDAS STOPS FROM HIS SCARE, BOTH HE AND AIRGEAD TURN TO THE BENEFACTOR>

Airgead: Well, well. I would come to think this is our monster, no? Are you… monster?

The Benefacator: Monster? I just wanna see what’s that in your hand.

Airgead: <LOOKS DOWN AT THE SYRINGE IN HIS HAND> This? This is my life. I’m a test subject for it. My addiction. It’s called M99. Yep. But…

The Benefactor: <QUIETLY, (NOT SARCASTICALLY)> Great.

<AIRGEAD WAS GONNA SAY SOMETHING, SURELY ABOUT WHY THE MONSTER WASN’T KILLING ANY OF THEM, BUT HE REFRAINS FROM THIS>

<THERE IS A LONG PAUSE>

Airgead: Monster, would you like some? I can give you some if you want. I have many spare shots. Yes. I do.

The Benefactor: Thank you, kindly. <NODS TO LEDAS> I’ll have what he’s had.

<THE BENEFACTOR TURNS TO LEDAS NOW, AS AIRGEAD RUMMAGES AROUND FOR SOME SPARE NEEDLES IN HIS JUNKIE DRAWER; AIRGEAD HAS NO FEAR OF THE BENEFACTOR>

<NOTE: M99 IS NOT A DRUG, JUST A POWERFUL TRANQUILIZER; AIRGEAD ONLY CONSIDERS IT SUCH, SINCE HE HAS USED IT LOADS, TO THE POINT WHERE ITS EFFECTS ARE MINIMAL; AT LEAST, FOR HIS STRAIN OF IT>

<AS AIRGEAD MAKES HIS STUFF, THE BENEFACTOR FOCUSES ON LEDAS>

The Benefactor: Sincerely sorry for the company; everywhere else was booked. Please forgive me.

Ledas: <INNOCENT> Are you gonna take me somewhere else now?

The Benefactor: I found what I was looking for. How does it go…? <PAUSES FOR A SECOND; AWKWARDLY> Oh, ‘it’ll be very spectacular’.

Ledas: It doesn’t matter. You’ll take me anyways…

<THE BENEFACTOR DOES NOT ANSWER>

<AIRGEAD RETURNS WITH A NEEDLE; HE PUTS OUT HIS HAND, TO GIVE IT TO THE BENEFACTOR>

Airgead: This is the best of my stuff. I hat-

<AIRGEAD STOPS IN MIDSENTENCE; THE BENEFACTOR, STILL UPSIDE DOWN, IS POINTING HIS FINGER AT THE MAN; IN FRONT OF HIS FINGER IS A THIN SLIVER OF METAL, HOVERING BY TELEKINESIS; AS AIRGEAD CONTINUES TO TALK, THE BENEFACTOR MOTIONS THE SLIVER FORWARD, AND IN ONE QUICK GESTURE, HE SLIDES IT RIGHT THROUGH (SIDEWAYS) AIRGEAD’S SKULL>

<AIRGEAD CHOKES AND SPUTTERS, THEN FALLS OVER; HE IS DEAD>

<THE TIMER ON HIS WRIST, THE COUNTDOWN FOR THE FAILSAFE BEGINS TICKING; IT’S ONLY A FIVE SECOND TIMER>

Ledas: What are you doing!? It’s gonna blow up!

The Benefactor: That’s the plan, boy-o.

<THE BENEFACTOR GRABS LEDAS, THEN SHOOTS UP INTO THE AIR, BREAKING THROUGH THE STONE CEILING EASILY; HE RISES THROUGH ALL OF THE FLOORS LIKE THIS; IT IS NO TROUBLE TO HIM; LEDAS, EXPECTING THIS, OFFERS UP NO RESISTANCE, AND LETS TB HOLD ONTO HIM>

<SOON, THE BENEFACTOR COMES UP ON THE HOLE THAT HE HAD BURNED INTO THE GROUND EARLIER; HE TAKES THAT TUNNEL, AND SHOOTS BACK UP TO WHERE VEGETA AND THE OTHERS WERE; IN THE CITY>

<AS THEY ARE GOING, THE BENEFACTOR WHISPERS TO LEDAS>

The Benefactor: We’ll be fine, so long as you can climb.

Now Gotenks
<KRILLIN, WHO HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS IS AWAKE AGAIN; HE IS SEARCHING ALL OVER THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN, AND DOWN INTO THE TREES BELOW FOR ANY SIGN OF ANDROID 18>

<KRILLIN IS CONSCIOUS, UNLIKE 18 AND PICCOLO, BECAUSE UNLIKE THE TWO OF THEM, HE WAS NOT TAKEN OUT BY THE BENEFACTOR; HE WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS, SEVERAL CHAPTERS PRIOR BECAUSE HE AIR DASHED RIGHT INTO THE BENEFACTOR; SO BASICALLY, HE KNOCKED HIMSELF OUT; HE’S ALL BETTER NOW>

<AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF SEARCHING, HE COMES BACK UP TO THE TREETOPS OF THE MOUNTAIN BASE, AND LOOKS AROUND; HE NOTICES THAT THERE IS A FLYING CAR APPROACHING HIM; IT IS BLUE>

<KRILLIN’S FACE HAS BEEN WORRIED AND ANXIOUS THOUGHOUT HIS SEARCH, BUT AT THE SIGHT OF THIS CAR, HE LESSENS THAT AWAY INTO A SMILE; WITH HIS HAND OUT OVER HIS EYEBROWS, SHIELDING HIS EYES FROM THE SUN, KRILLIN AIR SPRINTS UP AND TOWARD THE CAR>

<FLYING IN THE CAR IS YAJIROBE; HIS HAIR IS BLOWING BACK BEHIND HIM BECAUSE HE IS DRIVING REAL FAST>

<KRILLIN JUMPS INTO THE CAR, INTO THE PASSENGER’S SEAT; YAJIROBE IS NOT SURPRISED AT ALL BY THIS SUDDEN ADDITION TO HIS RIDE; AS WELL, YAJIROBE DOES NOT LOOK AT HIM>

Krillin: <STARTING CONVERSATION IMMEDIATELY> Haha, Yajirobe! What are you doing here? Didja bring us some senzu beans?

Yajirobe: Hmph. That’s all you ever call me for. You and your stupid beans. <TONE RISING> I’ve had it about up to here with being your delivery boy.

Krillin: <NERVOUS SMILE> Well… uh… that is why you came, right?

Yajirobe: Yeah, whatever. I‘m givin‘ the beans to Goku. <POINTS BEHIND HIM, INTO THE OPEN BACK SEATS> They’re back there somewhere. Sheesh. Stupid little bald headed… <MUMBLES OFF INTO INCOHERENCY>

<KRILLIN RUMMAGES AROUND, THEN FINDS THE BAG; IT IS LOADED WITH SENZU BEANS; HE PLACES IT UP ON THE FRONT SEAT WITH HIM, THEN GOES BACK TO LOOKING AROUND>

<BEING STILL WEARY HIMSELF, KRILLIN TAKES A SENZU BEAN OUT OF THE BAG AND EATS IT, AS HE IS STILL TURNED BACKWARDS; THERE ARE AT LEAST 100 BEANS IN IT, SO THIS IS NOT REALLY A WASTE>

Krillin: <STOPS RUMMAGING> Wow, Yajirobe have you been adding spices to these? That one tasted like cinnamon!

Yajirobe: <EMBARRASSED; BUT KEEPS HIS EYES FORWARD AND DRIVES> N-no…

<KRILLIN GOES BACK TO RUMMAGING IN THE BACK OF THE CAR; HE FINDS SOMETHING; HE BRINGS UP THE THING THAT KORIN THREW INTO THE CAR AT THE END OF THE LAST SAGA; IT IS THE PYRAMIND THING; THIS IS THE SAME DEVICE THAT OPENED EARLIER WHEN GUVA WAS PLAYING WITH IT ON KORIN TOWER; IT LOOKS VERY OLD, AND THERE ARE MARKINGS COVERING ALL OF ITS SIDES>

Krillin: <TURNS HIS HEAD BACK TO HIS DRIVER> Hey-a, Yajirobe… what’s this?

<YAJIROBE CAUSUALLY LOOKS BACK THROUGH HIS REAR VIEW MIRROR; UPON SEEING WHAT KRILLIN IS HOLDING, HE FREAKS OUT, THEN LETS GO OF THE WHEEL; THIS SENDS THE CAR INTO A WOBBLED FREEFALL; KRILLIN DROPS THE ANTIQUE; BOTH OF THEM START SHOUTING AND FLAILING ABOUT; BUT AFTER A SECOND OR TWO, YAJIROBE REGAINS A BIT OF HIS COMPOSURE, AND FLIPS THE CAR BACK RIGHT; HE THEN SKIDS DOWN AND CATCHES THE FALLING PYRAMID THING IN HIS LAP; HE RETURNS THE CAR BACK UP INTO THE AIR TO CONTINUE FLYING>

Yajirobe: <WITH CONTEMPT> You idiot! Do you have any idea what that old cat would do to me if he found out you broke that?!?!

Krillin: But, uh, Yajirobe… how would he know I did it? You’re the one driving…

Yajirobe: … CUZ I’LL TELL HIM YOU DID IT, THAT’S WHY!!!

Krillin: <ARGUING RIGHT BACK; WITTY> Well maybe if you weren’t such a terrible driver, I wouldn’t have dropped it.

Yajirobe: Hey, I outta throw you out for that!

Krillin: <WISELY> This isn’t even your car, Yajirobe… <KNOWING THAT YAJIROBE REALLY COULDN’T DO ANYTHING TO THROW HIM OUT, KRILLIN GOES BACK TO DIGGING IN THE BACK>

<YAJIROBE GRUMBLES, BUT DOES NOT RESPOND; HE PUTS HIS FOOT ON THE PEDAL AND STARTS GOING EVEN FASTER>

<KRILLIN NOTICES, RATHER QUICKLY>

Krillin: <COMING TO HIS SENSES> <TO HIMSELF> Oh, wait… 18. <TO YAJIROBE> Hey, wait! Where are you going?

Yajirobe: <ANNOYED> I already told you. Hmph.

Krillin: <TWISTS BACK AROUND> Wait, Yajirobe, we have to take a senzu bean to 18. She could be hurt.

Yajirobe: Nuh uh.

Krillin: <A BIT ANGRY> This is my wife you’re talking about, Yajirobe! We’re not taking any chances. Who knows if something happened to her…

Yajirobe: <STILL WITH THAT AIR OF ANNOYANCE> I bet she’s fine. Women these days can’t take any pain. They break a nail, they need a senzu bean. They scratch their arm, they need a senzu bean. They get lost in the forest, they need a senzu bean. Hmph. Just let them deal with it.

Krillin: <CONTINUING HIS OWN SPEECH, NOT LISTENING TO THE OTHER GUY> … if I could ever find anyone else? She’s perfect. We were MADE for each other!

Yajirobe: <CAREFULLY> Besides, that 18 girl is android or something. They have like robot stuff to make ‘em survive anything. Maybe that’s why she has such big-

Krillin: I’ll find her myself, then. Give me the senzu beans, Yajirobe!

<SENSING A THIEF, YAJIROBE DEFTLY SNATCHES UP THE BAG OF SENZUS; HE PLACES IT IN HIS SHIRT; KRILLIN DIVES AT THE WHEEL, AND THE TWO GET INTO A MINOR SCUFFLE OVER THE SENZUS; KRILLIN IS TRYING TO RIP THEM OUT OF YAJIROBE‘S SHIRT>

<HOWEVER, THIS IS ALL CUT SHORT; FOR JUST AT THIS MOMENT, ON THE EDGE OF THE HORIZON, TO THE SLIGHT NORTHEAST, A LARGE EXPLOSION GOES OFF; A REALLY, REALLY BIG ONE>

<AIRGEAD’S FAILSAFE HAS JUST GONE OFF; AND WITH IT, THE REST OF THE CITY HAS SUDDENLY BEEN CONSUMED IN FIRE AND DESTRUCTION; HUGES PLUMES OF SMOKE AND FIRE SHOOT UP FROM THE CITY, SOME REACHING IMPRESSIVE HEIGHTS; THE ENTIRE THING CAN BE HEARD AND SEEN FOR MILES AROUND>

<AFTER ONLY A SECOND, THE ENTIRE HOST OF FIRES GO OUT, AND RECEDE, LEAVING ONLY TRAILS OF SMOKE IN THE AIR, TO SHOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED; THERE WAS NO SOUND AT ALL DURING THIS EXPLOSION>

<UPON SEEING THIS, BOTH YAJIROBE AND KRILLIN STOP FIGHTING>

Krillin: W-w-was that the c-city?! W-where Goku was?!

<YAJIROBE LOOKS SHOCKED TOO, MAYBE>

<CUTS TO THE CITY>

<THE BENEFACTOR SHOOTS UP THROUGH HIS HOME-MADE TUNNEL OF THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER; HE LANDS RIGHT IN FRONT OF VEGETA; STILL ABOVE THEM ARE 17 AND GOTENKS, WHO IS IN SUPER SAIYAN, FIGHTING>

<VEGETA, 17, AND GOTENKS ALL NOTICE SOMETHING; THEN THE CITY BLOWS UP; AS FROM KRILLIN AND YAJIROBE’S PERSPECTIVE BEFORE, IT IS QUITE THE BIG ONE>

<AS IT EXPLODES; VEGETA AND 17 WILD SENSE ABOUT, LIKE BITCHES; GOTENKS SHOOTS UP HIGH INTO THE SKY TO ESCAPE IT; THE BENEFACTOR CREATES AN ENERGY BARRIER OVER HIMSELF AND LEDAS>

<AFTER THE DESTRUCTION IS OVER (WHICH IT IS, REMARKABLY FAST), EVERYONE RETURNS TO NORMAL; 17 AND GOTENKS BOTH DESCEND TO THE GROUND, IN FRONT OF THE BENEFACTOR>

<THE LANDSCAPE ITSELF IS SCORCHED AND BLACKENED; ALL BUILDINGS AROUND HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY DESTROYED; SOME RUBBLE REMAINS, HOWEVER>

<A QUICK SCENE SHOWS TIEN AND CHIAOTZU (AND ASSUMED GOHAN, OF COURSE), LAYING IN THE RUBBLE OF THE HOSPITAL, SEVERAL MILES AWAY; NONE ARE MOVING, BUT NONE ARE DEAD>

<ANOTHER QUICK SCENE ALSO SHOWS GOKU, WHO IS STILL LYING FACE DOWN ON THE GROUND; AFTER THE BLAST, HE IS EVEN MORE INURED; NOW TO THE POINT WHERE HE CANNOT MOVE AT ALL; HE IS IN NO WAY FIT TO HELP>

<BY THIS POINT, NOBODY IS IN ANY SHAPE TO FIGHT THE BENEFACTOR, SAVE FOR 17, VEGETA, AND GOTENKS; LEDAS, TOO, COULD HELP>

<THE BENEFACTOR STANDS UP, AND LETS LEDAS DROP OFF OF HIM, ONTO THE DIRT; VEGETA NOTICES THIS>

<THE BENEFACTOR DOES NOT LOOK AT EITHER OF THEM, BUT INSTEAD WALKS FORWARD TO THE OTHER TWO, CLEARLY WITH INTENT TO HARM>

<LEDAS SITS UP, ONTO HIS KNEES AND WATCHES TB WALK OFF, BUT DOES NOT SAY ANYTHING; HE SORTA LOOKS LIKE HE JUST WOKE UP, BUT THAT CAN NOT POSSIBLY BE TRUE>

<HE TURNS HIS FOCUS TO VEGETA; VEGETA STARES BACK>

<LEDAS STANDS UP, AND THEN WITH A GUILTY LOOK TOWARD TB, HE SCURRIES ACROSS THE NEWLY GLASSED GROUND, OVER TO VEGETA>

Ledas: <SKIDS INTO PLACE; WHISPERING> Vegeta!

<VEGETA STARES BACK AT HIM>

Ledas: <KIND OF PANICKED, HIMSELF; IMPATIENT> Vegeta! He’s too strong. We have to work together to beat him.

<SEVERAL SECONDS PASS>

Vegeta: <GRITTED TEETH> I know.

Ledas: S-so… you remember!

<LEDAS STARTS TO GET EXCITED>

Vegeta: <IN A QUELLING TONE> Let’s… just think up a plan now, all right?

Ledas: Right.

<THEY BOTH GLANCE AT TB SEVERAL TIMES; TB IS PREOCCUPIED AND DOES NOT HEAR/SEE/NOTICE THEM>

Vegeta: Now… <STRANGELY, HE IS ACTING LIKE A TEACHER; HE HOLDS OUT HIS FINGERS> There’s super Saiyan 1, and there’s Super Saiyan 2, Super Saiyan 3... Gah, when I put it that way, it sounds stupid. B-but… have you ascended beyond the first level?

Ledas: <LOW VOICE> I didn’t even know there were more levels. How can I tell?

Vegeta: Let him fight these two first. After that, you can power up. We’ll see then.

Ledas: <‘OPEFUL>Then we can fight together… and beat him…

<TO THIS, VEGETA SAYS NOTHING; HE PROBABLY HAS A PLAN, REGARDLESS>

<IN FRONT OF THEM, THE BENEFACTOR REACHES 17 AND GOTENKS>

The Benefactor: Decided yet? Who gets to fight?

Gotenks: Me!!!

Android 17: This is my fight, you spoiled brat!

<ANDROID 17 IS AGITATED LIKE HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE; THE TWO TURN ON EACH OTHER, AND RAIN DOWN ENERGY BLASTS AT ONE ANOTHER>

<THE BENEFACTOR CROUCHES DOWN, IN BOREDOM; AS HE DOES SO, HE WATCHES THEIR FIGHT, AND SCOOPS UP SOME DIRT FROM THE GROUND; HE RUNS IT THROUGH HIS HANDS BEFORE LETTING IT ALL FALL BACK TO THE GROUND>

<17 AND GOTENKS CONTINUE THEIR FURIOUS FIGHT; EACH IS NOW CHUCKING LARGE BALLS OF ENERGY AT ONE ANOTHER, CREATING A CHAOTIC SCENE; AS IF THE WHOLE CITY BLOWING UP WAS NOT ENOUGH, BOTH OF THEM ARE CREATING A NEW CHAIN OF EXPLOSIONS AND CRATERS>

<THE TWO RUSH AT ONE ANOTHER, AND BEGIN PUNCHING AND KICKING; HERE IT IS CLEARLY SHOWN THAT 17 IS ABSOLUTELY NO MATCH FOR GOTENKS; HIS ONE ADVANTAGE AGAINST THE BENEFACTOR, THE BEST COUNTER-FORM, IS USELESS AGAINST GOTENKS’ FIGHTING FORM; HE IS BATTERED AWAY, EASILY>

<17 GETS BACK UP; BECAUSE HE ENERGY DOES NOT RUN OUT, THIS FIGHT HAS LASTED FAR LONGER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE; EVEN VEGETA IS NOTICING>

Vegeta: Foolish! Gotenks has the power to take that freak, but he’s not thinking straight! He’s already used up 20 minutes. If he doesn’t focus his energy on it now, he’ll defuse before he can fight it. <POINTS TO THE BENEFACTOR>

<17 AND GOTENKS GET INTO THE SAME THING AGAIN; VEGETA SEES THIS, AND HAS HAD ENOUGH>

<HE GOES SUPER SAIYAN 2 AND DASHES OVER TO ANDROID 17; BEFORE THE ANDROID CAN REACH GOTENKS, OR EVEN REACT TO VEGETA, THE SAIYAN PRINCE LANDS BEHIND HIM; HE THEN SWIPES THE ANDROID IN THE BACK OF THE NECK, AND KICKS HIM ASIDE; THIS DAMAGES 17 IMMENSELY, AND HE DOES NOT GET UP FROM IT>

<VEGETA REGRESSES TO HIS BASE FORM, AND FLIES BACK OVER TO LEDAS>

Vegeta: Stupid brat. He‘s going to get us all killed. <SHOUTING TO GOTENKS> Now fight him, Gotenks! Use all your energy!

The Benefactor: <STANDS UP> Thank you, Prince. They were so tediously tiresome together. <TO GOTENKS, NOTING THAT THE SAIYAN FUSION IS DANCING AROUND, OBNOXIOUSLY, AND OVER THE TOP-LY STRETCHING AND PREPARING> Do you have any technique at all? Or will you just flail about like that the whole time?

Gotenks: Why don’t you come over here and see!?

<GOTENKS LAUNCHES A FINAL FLASH AT THE BENEFACTOR, WHO EASILY DODGES IT>

The Benefactor: Please, if it is not too much to ask, do that again. And take your time. I have no rush.

Gotenks: <GRINNING> Hey mister, you sure have a big mouth for someone who can’t even fight.

<GOTENKS LANDS ONTO THE GROUND; HE CIRCLES TB, WHO STILL HAS NOT GOTTEN UP TO FACE HIS OPPONENT; HE YELLS OUT, AND AT THE SAME TIME MOVES HIS HANDS ABOUT IN A FLURRY>

<THE BENEFACTOR WATCHES THIS; HE NOW GETS UP, AND TURNS TO GOTENKS; THE GROUND IS SHAKING, AND THE ENERGY THAT GOTENKS IS MAKING IS CREATING AN OVAL SHAPE ENCLOSURE AROUND THE BENEFACTOR>

<FOURTEEN KAMIKAZE GHOSTS ARE LINED UP IN A CIRCLE AROUND THE BENEFACTOR; EACH ONE IS FLOATING OVER THE GROUND, AND SANS THEIR STEROTYPICAL GHOST “FEET” AND WHITE COMPLEXTION, THEY ARE MIRROR IMAGES OF GOTENKS>

<TB SEES THESE THINGS, AND CIRCLES AROUND, LOOKING AT EACH ONE; THEY DO NOT MOVE, BUT SIMPLY LAUGH AT HIM>

<HE WALKS UP TO ONE, AND POKES IT WITH HIS FINGER; IT EXPLODES IN A HUGE BLAST, KNOCKING THE MONSTER BACK, ONTO THE GROUND; HE IS PUZZLED BY THIS>

The Benefactor: <TO GOTENKS> Inability and impossibility. They’re so close.

<HE WALKS UP TO A SECOND KAMIKAZE GHOST, AND POKES IT, EXPLODING IT; THE BENEFACTOR IS DAMAGED AGAIN BY THIS, AND SENT FLYING BACK INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE CIRCLE; HE GETS UP, THEN SHOOTS STRAIGHT UP, INTO THE CLOUDS ABOVE>

Gotenks: <CLICHED AS ALWAYS> Hehehe, you can run but you can’t hide. <TO HIS GHOSTS> Go get him. Blow up that guy's big ego! Show him Gotenks is number 1! <GOTENKS POINTS OFF>

<THE REMAINING TWELVE GHOSTS JUMP UP, AND FLY OFF AFTER THE BENEFACTOR ABOVE>

<TOTALLY UNSEEN TO ANY OF THE FIGHTERS BELOW, A SMALL, BLUE DOT IS APPROACHING THEIR POSITION; BEING THAT IT IS FLYING, OF COURSE THIS MEANS IT WOULD BE A CAR>

Fusion's Price
<FROM THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER, GOTENKS’ GHOSTS HAVE TAKEN TO THE SKY IN PURSUIT OF THE BENEFACTOR; THERE ARE TWELVE OF THEM>

<FOR A WHILE, THE THREE REMAINING WARRIORS, GOTENKS, VEGETA, AND LEDAS ALL STAND MOTIONLESS, STARING UP AT THE CLOUDS ABOVE THEM>

Ledas: <IN HIS HEAD; GLANCING TO VEGETA> The monster doesn’t want them. He could hurt Vegeta or kill him if he wants. <LEDAS’ FACE GETS DISTRESSED> No, that won’t happen!

<A MUFFLED EXPLOSION GOES OFF; IT IS FAR ABOVE THEM; THEN, AFTER IT, SEVERAL MORE EXPLOSIONS FOLLOW; AS SOON AS THEY STOP, A BLACK SPECK FALLS FROM ABOVE; VEGETA SIDESTEPS JUST IN TIME AS THE CRUMPLED FIGURE OF THE BENEFACTOR SHOOTS DOWN, RIGHT ON TOP OF WHERE HE WAS MOMENTS BEFORE>

<GOTENKS SEES THIS AND SMIRKS; CONFIDENT IN HIS VICTORY>

Gotenks: <PROUDLY> Looks like he’s not so tough after seeing my ghosts, huh? Ha ha ha!

<THE BENEFACTOR GETS UP; HE IS NOT ALL THAT DAMAGED; HE IS, HOWEVER, WALKING WITH A SLIGHTLY THROWN SHOULDER; BOTH OF HIS ARMS ARE NOW FULLY VISIBLE (DUE TO THE BATTLE DAMAGE FROM THE GHOSTS), THOUGH THE REST OF HIS BODY REMAINS AS IT WAS; UNSEEN>

The Benefactor: <TO GOTENKS; RATHER NAIVELY> I do not know you.

Gotenks: Hey, don’t play stupid now you’re losing! You know who I am.

The Benefactor: <MORE TO HIMSELF THAN ANYONE ELSE> If you think I’m so damaged that it’s safe to flout me, you’re mistaken.

<TB SETTLES DOWN INTO A STANCE; HE LOOKS TIRED>

The Benefactor: <ALOUD, YET STILL TO HIMSELF> When you cannot beat each other… <TO GOTENKS, LOUDER> The ghosts were a neat trick, really. But you see I’m still standing. Even a dozen were not enough to kill me. I bet you could make more, stronger and more powerful. Show it to me.

<GOTENKS STARES BACK AT TB>

Vegeta: Don‘t be a fool, Gotenks. He’s baiting you. Finish him yourself.

<GOTENKS BREAKS HIS STARE AND SMIRKS TO THE BENEFACTOR>

Gotenks: <IGNORING VEGETA; ONCE AGAIN, WITH PRIDE> Watch this.

<GOTENKS SPREADS OUT HIS ARMS AND LEGS; HE CONVULSES FOR A SECOND, POWERING UP HIS ENERGY, AS DOING SO; GOTENKS REACHES SUPER SAIYAN 2 IN HIS POWER UP; HE EXPELS YET ANOTHER GHOST; THIS ONE, HOWEVER, IS MUCH LARGER THAN THE LAST BATCH; AND THERE IS ONLY ONE>

<GOTENKS, EXHAUSTED FROM THIS, FALLS BACK ONTO THE GROUND, LANDING IN A SITTING POSTION; THE GHOST IS LOOKING AT HIM>

Gotenks: <POINTS TO TB> Him… go blow him up for me.

<THIS GHOST IS MUCH TALLER AND FATTER THAN THE PREVIOUS BATCH; AT GOTENKS’ REQUEST, IT TURNS AND LOOKS THE OTHER WAY, TOWARD THE BENEFACTOR; IT LUMBERS TOWARD HIM>

<TB HAD BEEN CROUCHING AT THIS TIME, AND ONLY LOOKS UP AT THE LAST SECOND TO DODGE THE KAMIKAZE ATTACK FROM THE GHOST; ONCE AGAIN, HE TAKES TO THE CLOUDS>

<THE GHOST PURSUES; VEGETA AND LEDAS ARE WATCHING INTENTLY; NEITHER SEEM TO BE TALKING OR MAKING PLANS IN CASE GOTENKS WERE TO LOSE, WHICH (WHILE VEGETA HAS BEEN VOICING HIS CONCERNS) SHOWS THAT BOTH OF BELIEVE TB WILL BE DEFEATED BY THIS>

<AS SUDDENLY AS TB AND THE GHOST WENT UP BEFORE, THEY COME FLYING BACK DOWN; THE BENEFACTOR IS STREAMLINED, CAUSING HIM TO ACCELERATE MUCH FASTER THAN THE BULKY AND FAT GHOST BEHIND HIM; HE TOUCHES DOWN ONTO THE EARTH AGAIN>

<AS FAST AS HE CAN, TB BOUNCES FORWARD TO GOTENKS; HE PUNCHES STRAIGHT AT GOTENKS; GOTENKS, BEWILDERED (AND STILL ON THE GROUND) STOPS HIS ATTACK, DODGING WITH A ROLL TO THE SIDE; HE GRABS THE BENEFACTOR’S ARM WITH HIS RIGHT ARM, AND PUNCHES THE ALIEN ACROSS THE CHEEK, WITH HIS LEFT; THIS CAUSES HIM TO STAND BACK UP>

<THE BENEFACTOR IS UNPHASED BY THIS; HE ELBOWS GOTENKS AWAY, THEN FOLLOWS UP WITH A SINGLE KNEE TO THE CHEST; GOTENKS HUNCHES OVER IN PAIN; TB, LIKE A SPIDER, CAREFULLY COILS HIMSELF AROUND GOTENKS, WRAPPING THE CHILD UP IN HIS ARMS, AND HOLDING TIGHTLY>

<THOUGH GOTENKS IS NOW IN SUPER SAIYAN TWO, HE IS ACTUALLY WEAKER THAN HE WAS PREVIOUSLY IN SUPER SAIYAN 1, DUE TO THE VAST AMOUNT OF ENERGY HE EXPENDED IN MAKING THE NEW GHOST>

<THE GHOST, IN AN AERIAL DIVE RETARGETS ITSELF TO THE BENEFACTOR’S NEW POSITION; IT BEARS DOWN ON GOTENKS AND THE BENEFACTOR>

<VEGETA SEES WHAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN; HE CHARGES UP A GALICK GUN TO PUSH THE TWO OUT OF THE WAY; AS HE FIRES, THE BENEFACTOR PUTS UP A PROTECTIVE BARRIER ON HIS SIDE, WHICH NEGATES THE BLAST>

<GOTENKS ALSO SEES WHAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN; PHYSICALLY POWERLESS TO MOVE HIMSELF OUT OF THE WAY OF THE INCOMING GHOST, HE RESORTS TO HIS MOST USED TECHNIQUE; HIS MOUTH>

Gotenks: <SCREAMING OUT> Stop! Go after him, not me- Okay, wait wait wait! <THE GHOST IS NOT STOPPING> I order you to stop attacking that thing! Stop! Listen to me!

<THE GHOST DOES NOT STOP; IT RUNS, MINDLESSLY, RIGHT INTO GOTENKS, TRYING TO GET AT THE BENEFACTOR BEHIND; JUST AS THE THING MAKES CONTACT WITH GOTENKS, TB SPRINGS AWAY, SPRINGBOARDING HIMSELF OFF OF THE FUSION‘S BACK>

<NEVERTHELESS, TB IS CAUGHT UP IN THE EXPLOSION, AS IT IS FAR TOO LARGE TO ESCAPE FROM IN THAT SHORT OF TIME; HE IS THROWN FACE-DOWN INTO THE DIRT, SEVERAL YARDS FROM THE NEAREST PILE OF RUBBLE>

<IN THE CENTER OF THE NEWEST CRATER, LEFT BY THIS EXPLOSION IS GOTENKS; HE IS BLOODIED AND BEATEN; ONE EYE IS SWOLLEN SHUT, AND HE IS LAYING UNMOVING; HE HAS REGRESSED TO HIS BASE FORM; HE IS STILL CONSCIOUS>

<THE BENEFACTOR STANDS UP; HE LOOKS AROUND UNTIL HIS EYES SETTLE ON GOTENKS; HE WALKS UP TO GOTENKS, INTO THE CRATER, KNEELING DOWN NEXT TO THE FUSION>

<GOTENKS DOES NOT ATTEMPT ANY WISE CRACKS OR RETORTS; HE IS TOO DAMAGED FOR THAT>

<TB SEES THAT HE HAS, ONCE AGAIN, WON; LAZILY, HE FINISHES THIS UP WITH A KICK INTO THE SIDE OF GOTENKS FACE; THIS CAUSES GOTENKS TO FALL UNCONSCIOUS>

<WITH GOTENKS UNCONSCIOUS, TB GRABS HIM BY THE HEAD, AND RELEASES AN EXTERMINATION RAIN RIGHT INTO HIS FACE; SEEING THE FUSION TO BE SEVERELY DAMAGED, BEYOND ANY HOPE, TB TOSSES HIM ASIDE, INTO THE RUBBLE>

<THE BENEFACTOR THEN RETURNS BACK TO VEGETA AND LEDAS>

The Benefactor: It’s the three of us again.

<NEITHER OF THE SAIYANS RETURN ANY TALK; BUT BOTH ARE STANDING, DEFENSIVLELY AND WARILY OF TB>

<TB RAISES HIS HAND AT THE TWO SAIYANS; HOWEVER, JUST AT THIS TIME, YAJIROBE’S FLYING CAR COMES SHOOTING INTO VIEW; BEING THAT IT IS QUITE NOISY, ALL THREE REMAINING FIGHTERS LOOK UP; KRILLIN IS HANGING OUT OF THE SIDE OF HIS SEAT, SHOUTING AT THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS>

Krillin: GOKU!! GOKUUUU!! WHERE ARE YOU?!!? GOKUUU!!

<THE BENEFACTOR GROWLS, SLIGHTLY AGITATED AND IMPATIENT BY YET ANOTHER NEW THREAT COMING INTO VIEW; HE PREPARES A SMALL MAROON ENERGY BLAST BEHIND HIS BACK, THEN THROWS IT UP TO THE CAR>

Alternate Endings
Several alternate endings to TF were considered. However, none are considered canon to anything:

Trivia

 * Colonel Silver's backstory, as revealed in this saga, was originally going to be a Legacies episode. However, that idea was scrapped, as it was not substantive enough to be its own story.
 * This is the only saga that I did not do any prewriting (plotwise) for.