Lauto 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 Lauto Saga is the second saga in the series Dragon Ball Z: The Forgotten. It takes place after the Prince Vegeta Saga and before the Planet Earth Saga. This saga chronicles the aftermath of Planet Vegeta's destruction and the survival of the Saiyan Ledas during his crash landing on Planet Cooler 92.

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

Theme Song
The theme song for this Saga is One Truth by Globus.

Complete Dialogue
When I was born

I had bright blue eyes.

Over the years, they mysteriously turned

more and more green.

And now

my eyes are going back

to a darker teal.

I wonder if this is normal...

-KidVegeta

Lyin' And Laughin'
{C 

{C 

{C 

{C 

{C Planet Cooler. 92 Technician 1:  We have some type of object incoming, matching the standard space pod classification. Can anyone confirm?

{C Planet Cooler. 92 Technician 2: Roger that. It’s definitely a pod.

{C Planet Cooler. 92 Technician 3: Strange, we don’t have any due for return today…

{C Planet Cooler. 92 Technician 1:  Look, there is now clear visual. The verification number is definitely not one of ours.  I’m pinging the pod for a response. <PRESSES A BUTTON, WAITS; NOTHING HAPPENS>

{C Planet Cooler. 92 Technician 2: No response…

{C Planet Cooler. 92 Technician 3: What should we do?

{C Planet Cooler. 92 Technician 1: I’ll contact the Captain. <LEANS OVER AND PRESSES A BUTTON> Captain Banas, we have an unknown pod approaching base, no responses received…please advise.

{C Payar: <THERE IS A BRIEF PAUSE> Say again, soldier? The captain’s out, this is Payar. Go ahead, and I’ll see if I can help.

{C Planet Cooler. 92 Technician 1: Sir, we have a space pod incoming. It’s not one of ours, so we tried pinging it for response, but got none. We need someone to check it out when it lands.

{C Payar: Where’s it headed to?

{C Planet Cooler. 92 Technician 1: It is projected to land in the southern quadrant. A visible smoke trail should lead you to it.

{C Payar: <CURTLY> Send first platoon to my location. We’ll investigate.

{C Planet Cooler. 92 Technician 1: <PAUSES> Affirmative sir. They are on their way. And, sir… should I inform the governor?

{C Payar: No, soldier. I will tell Guva myself.

{C <CAMERA CHANGES TO THE SOUTHERN QUADRANT; MANY REGULAR SOLDIERS, APRIDO, MELOON, AND PAYAR AMONG THEM, MOVE TO THE LOCATION OF THE POD; THERE IS A VISIBLE SMOKE TRAIL ABOVE THEM, TO THE LEFT, DECENDING TO RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM>

{C <EACH SOLDIER WEARS COOLER’S STANDARD ARMOR; THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM FRIEZA’S (FEATURED IN THE LAST SAGA), IN THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE SHOULDER PAD OVER THE LEFT SHOULDER>

{C <MELOON IS A LARGE ALIEN; HE IS PINK AND SPIKEY LIKE DODORIA; APRIDO IS A SMALL CREATURE, OF APPULE’S RACE; PAYAR IS A SHORT-FACED, RED ALIEN; HE IS THE CLEAR LEADER AMONGST THE TROUPE>

{C Soldier 1: <THE SOLDIERS APPROACH THE POD> It hasn’t opened yet.

{C Soldier 3: Maybe they’re dead?

{C Soldier 4: Or maybe it‘s a trap. <A FEW TAKE A STEP BACK>

{C Payar: <MOVING FORWARD THROUGH THE CONGREGATION OF TROOPS AROUND THE POD> Get back! <PRESSES BUTTON ON SCOUTER> There’s a faint reading coming from inside, so whoever it is, they’re not dead.

{C <PAYAR WALKS UP TO THE POD AND HITS IT, IT OPENS; UNCONSCIOUS, LEDAS FALLS OUT, DRIED BLOOD IS ON HIS FOREHEAD>

{C Soldier 2: Ah, he is dead!

{C Soldier 1: No, only unconscious.

{C Payar: <KNEELS DOWN TO INSPECT THE STRANGER, HE PICKS LEDAS UP BY THE TAIL> Well, this is interesting. It’s a Saiyan. A child.

{C Meloon: I though Frieza killed them all.

{C Payar: Evidently not. But that was a long time ago… over a year, I think. Why did he just get here now?

{C Meloon: <PEERING IN> May’e he got lost?

{C Payar: <CAUGHT UP IN HIS OWN GLORY; DROPS LEDAS> Imagine the reward we will get for delivering such a prize to Lord Cooler!

{C <PAYAR STANDS UP; MELOON SHOOTS AN EVESDROPPING SOLDIER, WHO FALLS OFF THE HILL THEY ARE ON INTO A CREEK BELOW; PAYAR THEN TURNS TO MELOON>

{C Payar: <IN A STRICT WHISPER> We go straight to the Captain with this, not Guva. <TURNING BACK TO THE SOLDIERS> Two of you, grab the kid. We’re taking him back to base.

{C <2 SOLDIERS CARRY LEDAS BACK TO CAMP WITH THE REST OF THE GROUP; LEDAS WAKES UP>

{C Soldier 1: Uh sir, he‘s waking up.

{C <LEDAS SENDS OUT A POWERFUL ENERGY WAVE THAT KILLS THE TWO SOLDIERS CARRYING HIM, HE DOES A ROLL TO THE RIGHT, INTO THE FOLIAGE; THE GROUP OF SOLDIERS PURSUE HIM>

{C Payar: <READING HIS SCOUTER> This one has some fight in him. Look at his power level. I’ve never seen a Saiyan with one so high.

{C Meloon: <STILL CONFIDENT, NOT WORRIED> He is still much weaker than us.

{C Aprido: <WITH A FEW OTHER SOLDIERS, THEY RUN AT LEDAS> Come back here you runt!

{C Payar: You are not to kill him.

{C Meloon: He he, Payar ya think he could?

{C <LEDAS BACKS INTO A CORNER, HAVING KILLED SEVERAL MORE SOLDIERS, THE REST HAVE BACKED OFF A BIT, PAYAR AND MELOON MOVE FORWARD, TO HIM>

{C Payar: <SHOUTING> Give it up, Saiyan! We don’t want to kill you!

{C Ledas: <CORNERED; PANICKY> I am a super elite! You don’t know who you’re dealing with.

{C Meloon: That don’t mean shit out here.

{C Payar: Even the best of you Saiyans are nothing compared to us. We don’t want to kill you…

{C Meloon: …yet….

{C Payar: <CLOSES EYES> I am losing patience.

{C Ledas: No! <LEDAS SHOOTS A POWERFUL ENERGY BLAST AT THE TWO; IT DOES NOTHING>

{C Meloon: Ha ha ha! That all you got?

{C <IMPATIENT, PAYAR RUNS AND TRY TO HIT LEDAS, BUT THE SAIYAN DODGES IT; LEDAS THEN MOVES AROUND PAYAR, AND SHOOTS A BURST OF ENERGY AT HIM, BUT IT IS EASILY DEFECTED; PAYAR JUMPS AGAIN, AND THIS TIME HE IS TOO FAST FOR LEDAS, PUNCHING THE SAIYAN CHILD IN THE FACE, KNOCKING HIM OUT; PAYAR PICKS HIM UP AND STARTS CARRYING HIM>

{C Meloon: <IN A GOOD MOOD> This better be worth it.

{C Payar: <CALMING DOWN> It could get us off this rock. That’s worth it to me.

{C <SCENE CHANGE>

{C <LEDAS WAKES UP FROM A DAZE, HE INSIDE, IN A ROOM WITH PAYAR, WHO IS SITTING ACROSS FROM LEDAS, WITH HIS KNEES UP>

{C Ledas: <SITTING UP> What happened? Where am I?

{C Payar: <UNCONCERNED, FIDDLING WITH SOMETHING IN HIS HANDS> I knocked you out.

{C Ledas: <ANGRY, TRIES TO GET UP> You coward!

{C Payar: <RAISES HAND> Save it.

{C Ledas: <IS TOO WEAK TO GET UP, SO STAYS SITTING> At least tell me where I am!

{C Payar: Planet Cooler 92, in the. And it’s a shit hole.

{C <BANAS, LIEME, MELOON ENTER THROUGH A DOOR ON THE RIGHT; BANAS IS A TALL ALIEN WITH A FLAT FACE AND BLACK HAIR; HIS SKIN IS YELLOW; LIEME IS A TALL ALIEN, TOO; HE HAS A SMALL, LONG FACE AND TALL HAIR; HIS SKIN IS GREEN>

{C Banas: <WALKS UP TO PAYAR AND LEDAS; BANAS SHOOTS OUT ENERGY BEAMS, WHICH BIND LEDAS, CAUSING THE SAIYAN TO RISE INTO THE AIR, HOVERING, ARMS AND LEGS OUTSTRETCHED> So tell me, Saiyan… what are you doing on my planet?

{C Ledas: <FIGHTING AGAINST THE ENERGY BINDS> I don’t know. This wasn’t where I was going!

{C Banas: Still, you landed here, and that’s all that matters now. <STARTS TO PACE A BIT> But entertain me… where was it that you were headed?

{C Ledas: <VERY CHILD-LIKE, STILL FIGHTING AGAINST THE ENERGY> That’s none of your business!!

{C <BANAS, QUICKLY MOVES AND HITS LEDAS, SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES; HE GRABS LEDAS’ NECK AND PREPARES AN ENERGY BLAST>

{C Banas: Talk, or die. I don’t have time to play games with you all day.

{C Ledas: <FEARFULLY> I w-was headed to a planet. I don’t remember the name… me and Vegeta were gonna clear it out. P-please… just let me go…

{C Banas: <EXTINGUISHES HIS BALL OF ENERGY; HE LETS GO OF LEDAS, AND WALKS BACK, IGNORING HIM> Vegeta? <TURNS TO OTHERS> That name sounds familiar, who is it?

{C Lieme: <WITHOUT PAUSE> It’s the name of the Saiyan king and his son.

{C Banas: <TURNS BACK TO LEDAS> You liar. <HITS HIM> Now, tell me where you were really going.

{C Ledas: <HEAD KNOCKED TO THE SIDE> I did! Me and Vegeta were going to conquer a planet for lord Frieza.

{C Banas: You must think I’m stupid. Frieza destroyed your home planet and killed all of the other Saiyans over a year ago. I know there’s none of your kind left.

{C Ledas: <IN TEARS> What? <CRYING> You’re lying!!

{C Payar: He he he, betda the kid didn’t know what happened. How long have you been out of touch?

{C Ledas: <WITH MUCH ANGER AND HATRED> I ALREADY TOLD YOU! <LEDAS BREAKS FREE OF HIS ENERGY BINDING, BUT IS QUICKLY SUBDUED AGAIN BY MELOON AND PAYAR>

{C Banas: Come on now, why would I lie about something like that? It’s true. But judging by your reaction, I would guess you didn’t know.

{C Ledas: <HEAD BOWED, STILL CRYING BUT MORE SUBDUED> I didn’t know…

{C Payar: <FAKE ENTHUSIASM> But don’t worry, you’re safe with us. After all we’re all soldiers under Cooler, Frieza’s brother. And I don’t think he’ll try to kill you like Frieza did.

{C Meloon: <CHEWING ON SOMETHING> Wewll den, can I?

{C <NO ONE ANSWERS>

{C Ledas: <QUIETLY> Come on. Lemme go.

{C Payar: Yeah, right. Let you get away when we were just getting to know each other? You killed a lot of my men. Somehow, I will make you pay for that.

{C <LEDAS CAN SEE WHAT HE IS PLAYING WITH; IT LOOKS LIKE A NECKLACE>

{C Ledas: I promise I won’t tell anyone.

{C Lieme: <ARMS FOLDED> Never trust a monkey. <MELOON LAUGHS>

{C Banas: <BANAS HAD WALKED OVER TO A DESK, AND GATHERED SOME PAPERS, HE COME BACK TO THE GROUP> Payar and Meloon tell me that your power level is high for a Saiyan.

{C <LEDAS DOES NOT ANSWER>

{C Banas: <HINT OF SARCASM> We’ve already gone through this lesson. You answer me or you die. So, what is your power level?

{C Ledas: <TRYING TO STOP CRYING> I don’t know… it was like 12,000…

{C Banas: Good, he’s not dangerous. <TURNS BACK TO HIS TROOPS> Now we need to figure out some kind of plan to keep this out of Guva’s sight.

To Cooler, With Love
{C <THE CAMERA IS LOOKING DOWN FROM THE SKY, ONTO ONE OF THE BUILDINGS; VOICES ARE HEARD COMING FROM INSIDE, AND THE CAMERA SLOWLY ZOOMS>

{C Payar: <STILL UNSEEN, THE CAMERA IS MOVING FORWARD TO THE BUIDLING> No, I told him not to say anything. I think we still have time.

{C Lieme: I do not think this will be something that you can hide for much longer, Captain. If you want to move, you need to do it now.

{C Banas: <CAMERA FINALLY REACHES THE BUILDING, IT GOES INSIDE, BANAS, PAYAR, AND LIEME ARE TALKING; MELOON HAS LEDAS SUBDUED IN A CORNER> Very well. Payar, Meloon, take this Saiyan to my quarters. Guva won’t be able to get in there, even if he does suspect us. We will keep the child there until I fig- <GUVA, FLANKED BY SEVERAL SOLDIERS ENTERS>

{C <UNLIKE THE OTHERS, GUVA DOES NOT WEAR ARMOR; AND EVEN THOUGH IT WAS STATED HE WAS THE GOVERNOR IN THE LAST CHAPTER, I SHOULD MENTION GUVA IS THE GOVERNOR SO NOBODY IS CONFUSED>

{C <GUVA IS A TALL ALIEN; HE HAS A REGAL STATURE AND PURPLE SKIN; HIS HAIR IS WHITE>

{C Guva: Captain Banas. <LOWERS HIS HEAD AS HE STEPS THROUGH THE DOOR; LOOKS AROUND> Conspiring, are we?

{C <GUVA WALKS INTO THE ROOM, LEAVING HIS GUARDS AT THE DOOR>

{C Banas: <WALKING FORWARD TO BLOCK THE VIEW OF LEDAS> Governor… you’re here early. I didn’t even put out the tea yet-

{C Guva: <WALKS PAST HIM> Spare me the theatrics, captain. <SPOTS LEDAS, IN THE CORNER> Who is this?

{C Banas: He’s just one of our grunts.

{C Guva: <SEES LEDAS’ TAIL; SMILES> We have no Saiyans on this installation, Captain. And, if I may be so bold, I would say he was the one who recently crash landed in the southern quadrant.

{C Banas: That is a bold accusation.

{C Guva: Bold? Perhaps. Incorrect? I think not. <WITH AUTHORITY> Hand him over.

{C <BANAS STARES DEFIANTLY STARES AT GUVA>

{C Guva: Believe it or not, I am still much stronger than you, Banas. Just like I always have been.

{C Banas: I hope you are not implying you wish to kill me? <LAUGHS> That would set such a bad example.

{C Guva: <WALKS PAST BANAS> Payar, give me the child.

{C Payar: <SITTING, KNEES UP AGAIN, ON THE EDGE OF THE DESK; SEEMS UNCONCERNED AS HE PAUSES FOR A SECOND> Yeah, take him.

{C Lieme: <IN A WHISPER TO BANAS> All of us together could take him.

{C Banas: <WHISPER, OUT OF THE SIDE OF HIS MOUTH; STILL EYEING GUVA> Now is not the time, Lieme. <GUVA GRABS LEDAS, AND STARTS WALKING OUT, BANAS WAVES TO HIM> Until next time, governor. It’s always nice having you over. <GUVA WALKS OUT, WITHOUT ANOTHER LOOK AT BANAS> Don’t worry boys, we’ll get the last laugh out of this. I’m sure we will.

{C <SCENE CHANGE>

{C <ONBOARD COOLER’S SHIP, UNKNOWN LOCATION>

{C Cooler Soldier 1: My lord, we have an incoming transmission from Planet 92.

{C Cooler: <IN HIS CHAIR, COOLER IS LOOKING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION, OUT AT A WINDOW> Very well.

{C <SOLDIERS TURN ON THE SCREEN, GUVA IS STANDING, LOOKING THROUGH HIS SCREEN>

{C Cooler: <AS IF BORED> What is it, governor.

{C Guva: Yes, my lord. <PAUSES> We recently had an intruder land at our base.

{C <COOLER’S TAIL MOVES, AS IF IRRITATED>

{C Guva: This intruder was a Saiyan. He killed several of our men, and his power level is quite high.

{C Cooler: <TURNS AROUND TO LOOK AT GUVA> Now why, governor, would you go out of your way to call me up over such a pedestrian tale?

{C Guva: It was only a child, milord.

{C Cooler: Ah. Just a child… that nearly managed to topple your little regime? And it benefits you to tell me this, how?

{C Guva: No sir, we were able to contain him, very quickly actually. But we thought since Lord Frieza’s destruction of the Saiyan planet so long ago, this could be one of the last… so we kept him alive…

{C Cooler: Even my dear brother couldn’t get rid of all the rats. It’s just like him to be careless and arrogant. No, even he has several onboard his ship right now.

{C Guva: Oh… well, since this one looks like he could have a lot of potential… maybe you would like to take him, milord?

{C Cooler: You <EXPRESSION REMAINS UNREADABLE> wish to give me a gift.

{C Guva: Yes… sir.

{C Cooler: You know, governor, I remember 92. And I must say… I am surprised.

{C Guva: Sir?

{C Cooler: Planet 92, is a rather easy one to manage. Quite different from the trials it took to get a governor there, but an easy rule nonetheless. The local species are weak, but they are also useful workers. I assumed that you would like that. But, perhaps, you would prefer more excitement? More adrenaline? Tell me, governor, was I wrong in putting you in charge of that planet?

{C Guva: N-no, sir. Of course not.

{C Cooler: Planet Vegeta was in Frieza’s quadrant. They are his mess. I do not care about his drama, governor. Such things are beneath me, and should be beneath you. <TURNS BACK TO FACE THE WINDOW> Though I must say, if only a child was able to kill so many of your soldiers, he will be an interesting, if not impressive project, should you decide to keep him.

{C Guva: Yes, my lord.

{C Cooler: Perhaps, with enough guidance, he could outmatch you one day.

{C Guva: <GUVA TRIES TO HIDE HIS RAGE, LIP TREMBLING> Yes, of course, lord Cooler.

{C Cooler: Oh, one more thing, Mr. Guva. I know what you were trying to pull. If I wanted to reassign you, I would have done it by now. Good day, governor.

{C <TRANSMISSION ENDS, STAYS ON GUVA IN HIS OFFICE. BANAS, WHO WAS OFFSCREEN, ENTERS>

{C Guva: <SHOOTS A POWERFUL BEAM OF ENERGY THROUGH HIS WINDOW, MELTING A LARGE CIRCLE THROUGH IT> What am I supposed to do?!?!?!

{C Banas: Backfired, did it? <LAUGHS>

{C Guva: <FURIOUSLY> Brilliant deduction, shithead. <TRYING TO COMPOSE HIMSELF> Br-bring in the child.

{C Banas: Why?

{C Guva: <CALMING DOWN> That wordy little bastard gave me an idea. Go on, bring him in!

{C <BANAS GOES OUTSIDE, RETURNS WITH LEDAS>

{C Guva: <REGALLY; COMPOSED> Good news, Saiyan. I will spare your life.

{C Banas: <MOCKINGLY> Now that you’re safe, I think we should-

{C Guva: You will be part of Banas’ team.

{C Banas <EYES WIDEN> What?

{C Guva: That’s right, YOU will train him. It will be your job to make him into a competent soldier.

{C Banas: <STEPING FORWARD, TRYING TO ELIMINATE LEDAS FROM THE CONVERSATION; HE GETS RIGHT UP TO GUVA’S FACE; HEAD COCKED> We did not discuss this.

{C Guva: <MENTALLY PUSHING HIM BACK> “We” don’t have to. I am in charge here. I am the governor.

{C Banas: Gah!! Don’t count on it being as easy as before, kid. <WALKS OUT ANGRILY>

{C Guva: Now, Saiyan, let‘s talk for a moment.

{C Ledas: Sir?

{C Guva: You know who that was… Banas? My captain?

{C Ledas: <FEARFULLY, LOOKING AT THE GROUND> Yeah…

{C Guva: I get the feeling you don’t like him.

{C Ledas: <OBVIOUSLY SCARED> I don’t know him…

{C Guva: You don’t need to lie to me. As it so happens, I don’t like him either. So, I ask again; do you like my captain?

{C Ledas: <A BIT MORE CONFIDENTLY> Wewll, no.

{C Guva: <SMILES> That’s more like it. Now, let us discuss what I want to do to him.

{C Ledas: But he’s right outside, he could hear you!

{C Guva: Then, <KNEELING DOWN> let us whisper now, together, you and I.

{C Ledas: <INNOCENTLY; WHISPERING> Do you want me to kill him or something?

{C Guva: <STILL IN A WHISPER> For now, I want you to train under him and grow strong. And I have a feeling that won’t take long. Your power level is already extraordinary for your age.

{C Ledas: But… what’s in it for me?

{C Guva: How about I don’t kill you.

{C <LEDAS STARES AT GUVA, CURIOUS>

{C Guva: Is that not enough for you? How would some information about your fellow Saiyans do, then?

{C Ledas: <EAGERLY> There are other Saiyans alive? Who? When can we see them?

{C <GUVA PUTS ONE FINGER OVER HIS LIPS>

{C Guva: <GESTURES TO THE DOOR> Until next time.

{C <CUTS TO BANAS, HE IS ANGRILY WALKING OUT OF GUVA’S OFFICE, AND IS DOWN ONTO THE GROUND LEVEL NOW; AS HE WALKS, HE, IN TANTRUM, KICKS UP THE DIRT AS HE WALKS>

{C <BANAS ENTERS THE BARRACKS, AMONG OTHER SOLDIERS, PAYAR IS THERE>

{C Banas: <AGITATED> Payar, we’re going.

{C Payar: <SITS UP> Where to, captain?

{C Banas: We're going to a safe place, away from prying eyes.

<BANAS WALKS PAST PAYAR; PAYAR HOPS OFF HIS CHAIR, GRABS HIS SCOUTER AND FOLLOWS>

Wind Swept
<SPACE SHOT OF A PLANET, IT IS NOT 92>

<THE CAMERA DISSOLVES INTO FOCUS ON PLANET; IT IS FLAT, WITH SOME HILLS, BUT THERE ARE VERY FEW TREES, THE GROUND IS COVERED IN A LIGHT YELLOW/GREEN TALL GRASS; THERE ARE FIVE SPACE PODS LINED UP IN A ROW, EMPTY; DOWN A TRAIL, BANAS AND HIS ‘TAINS, AS WELL AS LEDAS ARE ALL IN A FLAT AREA>

<ALL ARE WALKING, BANAS SEEMS A BIT PREOCCUPIED>

Payar: Yeah, you should’ve seen the look on their faces… ha ha ha!

Meloon: You let ‘em keep their faces? I tell ya, I wouldn’t have done that.

Payar: That’s the difference between you and me, Meloon. I keep them around; you just kill them they know what happens. It’s no fun like that.

Banas: Stop, this is it.

Meloon: This is what?

Banas: <TO LEDAS> I want you to show me your full power.

Ledas: <AS IF UNABLE TO, DUE TO VEGETA’S INFLUENCE> I can’t…

Banas: That is no matter. I have other ways to force my will.

<THE WIND PICKS UP A LITTLE>

Banas: Meloon?

Meloon: Yeah, boss?

Banas: Make him bleed.

Meloon: <A WIDE SMILE ON HIS FACE> No probl’m.

<MELOON MOVES FORWARD, LEDAS MOVES BACK>

Meloon: Aw, come back. I ain’t gonna hurt ya! <CRACKING HIS KNUCKLES> Heh heh heh!!! <LEDAS STOPS, MELOON DISAPPEARS, AND REAPPEARS BEHIND LEDAS, HE PUNCHES LEDAS AWAY, INTO THE GROUND; MELOON WALKS UP, AND PICKS THE CHILD UP BY HIS TAIL> Come on, kid. Ya aren’t even tryin’! <THROWS LEDAS AWAY, HE LANDS ON HIS FEET>

Banas: You know, kid, it must have been hard to deal with the thought that all you care about, they are all dead. It’s only you left… all alone, out here in space.

Ledas: Shut up!!

Banas: Your parents, your friends, all gone.

Ledas: SHUT UP!!

<BANAS NODS TO MELOON, WHO ATTACKS AGAIN; THIS TIME LEDAS DODGES, AND FIGHTS BACK, HE STARTS RAINING ENERGY BLASTS DOWN ON MELOON>

Meloon: Heh, that tickles. <HE RISES INTO THE AIR AND KICKS LEDAS, SENDING HIM FLYING, MELOON FIRES A BEAM OF ENERGY AFTER HIM, WHICH DETONATES ON LEDAS AND CAUSES A HUGE BURST OF SMOKE; THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF IT, LEDAS DROPS TO THE GROUND; MELOON PURSUES HIM; WHEN MELOON REACHES LEDAS, HE STEPS ON THE UNMOVING CHILD, PRESSING DOWN; LEDAS STARTS SCREAMING, AND SPITTING UP BLOOD>

Meloon: Ha ha ha!

<LEDAS SENDS OUT A WAVE OF ENERGY AND PUSHES MELOON OFF OF HIM; HE THEN, GETS UP AND CHARGES AT MELOON, PUNCHING AT HIM>

Lieme: <WATCHING FROM AFAR> 13,000, captain.

Banas: That’s high, for a Saiyan, and a child at that. But still, I wonder why he is putting up so much of a fight with Meloon…

<CUTS BACK TO LEDAS, WHO IS VIGOROUSLY ATTACKING MELOON; MELOON, GETTING ANNOYED, BATS HIM AWAY, LEDAS FALLS TO THE GROUND AGAIN>

Meloon: <THERE IS A SMALL BRUISE ON HIS FACE, HE IS AWARE OF IT> You can’t beat me, you’re just a stupid monkey! <WALKS UP TO LEDAS, STARTS STOMPING DOWN ON HIM>

Ledas: Ahhhhhh!!!!!

Lieme: <SHOUTING, FROM AFAR> Meloon! You’re going to kill him.

Meloon: So?

Lieme: Do you remember nothing?! We are to keep him alive! Governor’s orders!

Meloon: <STEPS OFF OF LEDAS> Uh, I knew that.

<BANAS, LIEME, AND PAYAR WALK UP TO MELOON; LEDAS IS ON THE GROUND, COVERED IN BLOOD, GASPING AND COUGHING>

Lieme: <KNEELING DOWN TO LEDAS, INSPECTING THE CHILD> Cap’n, he’s going to die, if we don’t do anything soon. He has massive internal bleeding.

Banas: Idiot, Meloon! Payar, you have a kit on you?

Payar: Yeah, I’ll save him… <QUIETLY> this time. <PAYAR TAKES OUT A MEDICAL KIT AND STARTS TREATING LEDAS; LEDAS IS WRITHING IN PAIN> Stop squirming!

Banas: <LOOKING OFF INTO THE DISTANCE> Fix him up, and let me know when you’re done. I’m going to check something out.

<BANAS TAKES OFF, AND STARTS FLYING, LOW TO GROUND, HIS SCOUTER IS SHOWING STRANGE CHARACTERS; HE GETS FAR AWAY FROM HIS TEAM, OVER A LOT OF HILLS; AFTER A WHILE, BANAS LANDS>

Banas: What are you doing here? As you can see, I already eliminated this planet. There’s no real purpose for you to be here… unless you’re following me.

<THREE ALIENS COME OUT, FROM BEHIND SOME FOLIAGE>

Alien 1: Lord Cooler gave us this planet. You had no right to clear it for us!

Banas: <FACES THEM> If you really wanted to do some work for Cooler, you’d have beaten me out here.

Alien 2: <SEEING HIM> Don’t tell me we’re in the presence of the illustrious Captain Banas?! Is that you?

Banas: You know me and I know you. <HE STEPS OVER A ROCK> You’re from 96, I can tell. You smell like it.

Alien 3: Aha ha ha. Classy as ever, Captain.

Banas: Yeah, you’re from 96. Seriously pathetic outpost, if you ask me.

Alien 1: We weren’t asking anything, Banas. It was foolish to come here. <NODS TO THE OTHER ALIENS THEY ALL ATTACK>

<BEFORE THEY REACH BANAS, HE JUMPS TO THE AIR, NOT FACING THEM; THEY CHARGE, AND HE DOES A BACKFLIP OVER THEM, LANDING RIGHT BEHIND THE SECOND ALIEN, HE BLASTS IT, KILLING IT; THE OTHER TWO TURN AROUND AND ATTACK HIM, SENDING TONS OF BLASTS TOWARD BANAS, WHO EFFORTLESSLY HITS THEM AWAY, HE WORKS HIS WAY THROUGH THE BLASTS ALL THE WAY TO ALIEN 3, AND WITH A SINGLE SWIPE, DECAPITATES THE ALIEN; THE FIRST ALIEN IS HIT WITH A BLAST, AND FALLS TO THE GROUND>

Banas: <DECENDS TO THE GROUND, NEXT TO SINGED ALIEN> You’re lucky I’m in a good mood. Get out of here and tell your captain what I‘ve done. Tell him that 92 owns this system. Lord Cooler will be putting his trust in us from now on.

<THE ALIEN GETS UP, AND RUNS OFF; BANAS WATCHES HIM, THEN, WHEN THE ALIEN IS OUT OF SIGHT, BANAS RETURNS TO HIS SQUAD>

Payar: <LOOKING DOWN, STILL WORKING ON LEDAS> What was that all about?

Banas: Sometimes I get the urge to shake the beehive, to see if the bees will actually come out to sting me.

Lieme: <STANDING, LOOKING AT BANAS> Did they?

Banas: Not yet. <SIGHS> There’s always tomorrow.

<LEDAS IS QUIET; WITH PAYAR DISTRACTED BY THE CAPTAIN, HE VENTURES FOR AN ATTACK ON MELOON AGAIN; THE BIG BEAST DOESN’T SEE THE TEARDROP SHAPED BLAST UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE; IT KNOCKS HIM OVER>

<MELOON GETS UP; HE GROWLS, GETTING READY TO POUND LEDAS INTO THE DUST AGAIN; BANAS THROWS OUT HIS ARM>

Banas: No, leave him alone. He’s persistent, I like that. When he gets older, he’ll be as dangerous as any of you. None of Cooler’s other teams will be able to touch us.

<LEDAS IS WRITHING AGAIN, BUT PAYAR SNAPS HIS ARM DOWN QUICKLY AND BANDAGES HIM UP>

Two One Eyed Dogs
<TWO DAYS LATER>

<BACK ON PLANET COOLER 92, GUVA’S OFFICE, THIRD FLOOR; HE AND BANAS ARE LOOKING AT THE WINDOW THAT GUVA SHOT A GIANT HOLE THROUGH EARLIER>

Guva: You took the Saiyan with you last time. How was it?

Banas: <LYING> Nothing you need to be worried about. He’s just an inconvenience.

Guva: Good.

Banas: <MAD> Why is that good?!

Guva: Captain, you always seem to learn best from inconvenience.

Banas: Thanks for telling me.

Guva: <GETS UP OUT OF CHAIR; LYING> You see Banas, Lord Cooler wants us to train the Saiyan. And I will follow his orders. If you’ve got a problem with that, then you can take it up him yourself.

Banas: I don’t remember Cooler saying that.

Guva: Call him up and ask for yourself.

Banas: <OBVIOUSLY WILL NOT DO THAT, COOLER IS TOO DANGEROUS TO BRING INTO THE DRAMA> Gah, you’re smarter than you look.

Guva: Just wait ‘til you get to know me.

Banas: But about your new idea… I would like to hear your inspiration.

Guva: <STARING OUT THE WINDOW> These native species are like animals. So unskilled and uncivilized, and I must confess boredom. Banas: I’ll put them up against the lower class grunts then. They could use some fun.

Guva: Yes, I agree, we need the morale boost. A content army is not likely to rebel. <HE LOOKS AT BANAS>

Banas: Ha! You should go out and fight them.

Guva: They‘re not worth my time.

Banas: <NODS, LAUGHS> Always the same elitist crap with you.

<CUTS TO PAYAR AND LEDAS, WHO ARE WALKING ON A TRAIL THROUGH A FORESTED AREA>

Payar: No funny business kid. Normally Lieme does this, but the captain thought it would be better for you to try.

Ledas: <CHILD TONE> But what am I doing? <HIS INJURIES FROM THE BATTLE WITH MELOON ARE MOSTLY GONE, IN ADDITION, HE IS NOW WEARING COOLER‘S STANDARD ARMOR IN PLACE OF HIS PREVIOUS FRIEZA ARMOR; COOLER‘S ARMOR DOES NOT HAVE A SHOULDER GUARD OVER THE RIGHT SHOULDER, HIS ARMOR IS COLORED BLACK ON GREEN, WHICH IS THE SAME AS LIEME‘S ARMOR> You haven’t even told me.

Payar: <CONFESSING, BUT EMBARASSED THAT HE HAS TO> I can’t do the energy binds.

Ledas: <IN AWE> You can’t use energy?

Payar: <THEY COME UP TO CLEARING, BELOW IN A VALLEY, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF NATIVES WORKING, IN A QUARRY TYPE SETTING> Shut up. Look, see those down there? Use your energy to bind their hands and legs together; we’re going to bring them back to command, without incident. <PAUSES, LEDAS DOESN’T SEEM LIKE HE WANTS TO DO IT> Do it, or you get beaten again.

<LEDAS, SCARED BY THAT, JUMPS DOWN INTO THE QUARRY AND SENDS OFF ENERGY BINDS TO THE NATIVES; THEY OFFER NO RESISTANCE>

Ledas: <IN HIS MIND> Why don’t they fight back? They must be scared of me>

<AFTER A FEW MOMENTS, LEDAS HAS THE WHOLE POPULATION LINED UP, BOUND TOGETHER; THEY, WITHOUT A NOISE, MOVE FORWARD, BACK TO THE OUTPOST>

Payar: <THERE IS A HUNGER IN HIS EYES> Good, good. <TO THE NATIVES> Come on, pick it up! <HE HITS ONE OF THE NATIVES, IT SLUMPS OVER DEAD, THE REST CONTINUE MOVING, FASTER, CARRYING THE DEAD ONE ALONG WITH THEM>

<LEDAS IS WATCHING THIS ALL, CURIOUS; AS A FEMALE NATIVE PASSES HIM, IT GIVES HIM A CHILLING LOOK; NOT ONE OF SADNESS OR DESPAIR, BUT OF PITY; AS SHE WALKS BY, LEDAS STAYS STILL, WATCHING HER>

<THEY ALL RETURN TO THE OUTPOST; SOLDIERS, CURIOUS, LINE THE STREETS, LOOKING IN ON THE PROCESSION; PAYAR IS AT ITS HEAD, AND LEDAS IS FOLLOWING BEHIND, HE NOW IS WALKING AS IF WITH A WEIGHT ON HIS SHOULDERS; HE SEEMS TO BE SAD; THEY REACH GUVA‘S OFFICE, THE GOVERNOR IS STANDING OUT IN FRONT>

Guva: Ah, <TO PAYAR AND LEDAS> Good job, you two. We are in for an interesting night. Payar, take them to the ring.

<PAYAR GRABS THE FIRST IN THE LINE; HE DRAGS THEM AWAY>

<CUTS TO THE EVENING, GUVA IS STANDING ON A BALCONY, BELOW HIM, THERE IS A GLADIATOR RING, DOZENS OF NATIVES ARE IN IT, PACING NERVOUSLY>

Guva: <SITTING, BUT THEN STANDS UP; IN A BELLOW> Let us begin!! <THE DOORS OPEN ON THE FAR SIDE, DOZENS OF LOW CLASS SOLDIERS ENTER AND START SHOOTING BLASTS FROM THEIR WRIST MOUNTED GUNS AT THE NATIVES>

Guva: <BANAS AND HIS ‘TAINS, AS WELL AS LEDAS ARE WITH HIM> See, captain, isn’t this entertaining? <THE SCREAMS OF NATIVES, AND THE LAUGHS OF SOLDIERS RISE TO A DEAFENING LEVEL>

Payar: <WATCHING IT ALL, HIS EYES ARE TWINKLING> It’s amazing.

<THE YELLING STOPS, ALL THE NATIVES ARE DEAD>

Guva: <STANDS UP AGAIN; PRESSES A BUTTON, THE DOORS REOPEN AND THE SOLDIERS LEAVE; A NEW GROUP OF SOLDIERS AND NATIVES COME OUT> Round two!!! <ROUND TWO STARTS, MUCH LIKE ROUND ONE>

Banas: What does everyone think of putting our new acquisition into the mix?

Guva: <SITTING, DOES NOT LOOK BACK AT BANAS> Yes.

Banas: Payar, take our little Saiyan down there.

Ledas: But, I don’t wanna g- <PAYAR GRABS LEDAS BY THE ARM, AND PULLS HIM DOWN, CARRYING HIM ALL THE WAY TO THE RING, HE THROW THE KID INTO THE GROUP OF SOLDIERS GOING FOR ROUND 3>

Payar: <WALKING OFF, BACK TO GUVA’S LEDGE> And don’t think about running off! You know what’ll happen to you, if you do.

<THE GROUP FOR ROUND THREE IS SMALLER, WITH ONLY 6 OTHER SOLDIERS BESIDES LEDAS, APRIDO IS AMONG THEM>

Aprido: Ah, it you! What are you doing in our group!?

Ledas: Mr. Payar made me come. But, um, what I am supposed to do?

Aprido: <SINISTER> Haven’t you been watching? We get kill them all. As many as we want!

Ledas: I bet you do this a lot. Mr. Payar really likes it… <QUIETLY> but I don’t want to do it.

Aprido: Ah, Payar! He can’t help himself. He goes down to the quarries every now and then and when he returns, there’s a load of them dead. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. We haven’t had many of these organized events, though.

Ledas: <TO HIMSELF> They can’t be very strong if Payar can kill them. He doesn’t even use energy. <HE LOOKS AT APRIDO> I know I’m stronger than those guys, too…

<THE DOORS OPEN AGAIN, UP ABOVE GUVA CAN BE HEARD>

Guva: <IN A SHOUT> Round three!!!

<ALL, INCLUDING LEDAS ENTER THE RING; THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF NATIVES, CROWDING LITERALLY EVERY AVAILABLE SPACE IN THE RING, AS SOON AS THE DOOR CLOSES, THEY ALL CHARGE; LEDAS DOES NOT ENTER ENTHUSIASTICALLY>

<THE FIVE LESSER SOLDIERS START FIRING BLASTS IMMEDIATELY, SHOOTING DOWN DOZENS OF NATIVES, BUT THERE ARE TOO MANY AND THE SOLDIERS ARE OVERWHELMED AND KILLED; JUST LEDAS AND APRIDO ARE LEFT>

Aprido: Aren’t you gonna attack? Come on, they’re running right at us!

Ledas: I don’t want to be like Payar. <HE DROPS TO HIS KNEE> I’m not killing them. I’m sick of all the tests.

Aprido: <TO HIMSELF> He thinks he better than me? Well just wait, that little ape won't see what I have in store!

{C <APRIDO CHARGES UP A BLAST, AND TAKES OUT A LOT OF NATIVES, THE MAJORITY OF THEM FOCUS ON HIM, BUT A FEW, CAUTIOUSLY RUN UP TO LEDAS, AND START CIRCLING HIM, ALMOST SCARED TO ATTACK HIM; AFTER A FEW MOMENTS, A BOLD NATIVE JUMPS ON HIM, ALL THE OTHERS QUICKLY FOLLOW; LEDAS OFFERS NO RESISTANCE, AND FALLS TO THE GROUND, AS THEY PUNCH AND KICK HIM>

{C <THE NATIVES CONTINUE TO PUNCH AND KICK LEDAS, HE STARES OFF INTO THE SKY ABOVE, AS IF UNAFFECTED>

{C Ledas: <IN HIS HEAD> I wonder what would Vegeta do? <A BRIEF FLASHBACK IS SHOWN OF THE TWO BLOWING UP A CITY FILLED WITH THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS, THEY ARE LAUGHING AND HAVING A GREAT TIME; A TEAR COMES TO LEDAS’ EYE> Vegeta wouldn’t be so weak. <OUTLOUD, DETERMINED> He wouldn’t be so weak!! <LEDAS SENDS OUT A WAVE OF ENERGY, DESTROYING THE NATIVES UPON HIM, HE GETS UP, AND SENDS OUT ONE MORE BLAST, DETONATING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RING, CAUSING A HUGE WHIRLWIND, KICKING UP DIRT AND SMOKE; WHEN ALL THAT CLEARS, ONLY APRIDO AND LEDAS ARE LEFT STANDING>

{C Guva: <FROM ABOVE> So captain, you think this Saiyan is going to slow you down, do you?

{C Banas: <IN HIS MIND> I never did. But you don’t need to know that, Guva. <OUTLOUD> Oh, govvie, you know me. I’m always wrong and you’re always right.

{C <DOWN BELOW, LEDAS HAS LEFT THE COMPLEX AND IS WALKING BACK TO THE BARRACKS>

{C Ledas: Wherever Vegeta is, it can’t be as bad as this place. <HE STOPS; HE LOOKS AT THE SKY> I hafta get out of here.

Big Mistake
{C <A WHILE LATER>

{C <IT IS RAINING SLIGHTLY, THE GROUND OUTSIDE IS MUDDY; BANAS, PAYAR, LIEME, MELOON, AND LEDAS ARE OUTSIDE, IN A FLAT, TRAINING AREA; LEDAS HAS AGED SOMEWHAT; HE IS TALLER>

{C Banas: Lieme, Payar, begin your rounds, I’ll work with the kid and Meloon today.

{C Lieme: <NODS> Boss. <LIEME AND PAYAR RISE INTO THE AIR, AND START SPARRING>

{C Banas: <WALKS OVER TO MELOON AND LEDAS, THE RAIN PICKS UP> Now Saiyan, I know you’re stronger than you let on. But my team, the Plantains is a legendary force, feared by all. I will not let you bring down our reputation so fast. Meloon!

{C Meloon: Yeah?

{C Banas: Show this kid what’s expected of a member of my team. Don’t try to kill him this time, either.

{C Ledas: <AS MELOON IS APPROACHING HIM, HE HOLDS HIS GROUND; IN HIS HEAD> Vegeta wouldn’t run from this guy… he would laugh at him! And then beat him! <MELOON REACHES LEDAS> Heh he heh.

{C Meloon: What’s so funny?!

{C Ledas: Aha ha ha!! Grandpa always said strength isn’t everything! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!

{C Meloon: Why, you lit- <IN MID SENTENCE, MELOON IS HIT IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD BY LEDAS, WHO HAD MOVED TOO FAST FOR THE ELITE TO SEE; MELOON HITS THE GROUND, AND HIS HEAD IS COVERED IN MUD>

{C Lieme: <SEES MELOON FALL, STOPS> Hey, Payar. <NODS TO MELOON> Check it out. <BOTH STOP SPARRING; THEY WATCH MELOON AND LEDAS’ FIGHT>

{C <MELOON GETS UP, HE IS ANGRY; HE CHARGES LEDAS, WHO DODGES OUT OF THE WAY, AND SHOOTS A BLAST AT MELOON>

{C Lieme: It’s amazing. Look, Meloon is obviously the stronger one, yet he’s losing. The child is playing on Meloon’s weaknesses, and he’s winning now, when he shouldn’t be.

{C Payar: How do you know?

{C Lieme: That’s what I would do.

{C <CUTS BACK TO MELOON AND LEDAS, LEDAS AND HIM ARE SPARRING, LEDAS DODGING EVERY PUNCH AND KICK MELOON IS THROWING AT HIM; LEDAS IS LAUGHING YET AGAIN, AND THIS CAUSES MELOON TO BE RECKLESS; LEDAS DODGES HIM EASILY; MELOON IS HIT TO THE GROUND AGAIN, LEDAS SHOOTS A HUGE BEAM OF ENERGY AT MELOON ON THE GROUND, MELOON IS BLOWN INTO A HUGE CRATER>

{C Banas: Thank you, Meloon, for single handedly destroying my reputation for me. His power level didn’t even go above 40,000. You’re eight times as strong. So why is it you who’s on the ground?

{C Meloon: <GETS UP> Little brat confused me…

{C Banas Lieme! Get over here!

{C <LIEME DECENDS TO THE GROUND, SENDING MUD FLYING>

{C Banas: You and the kid.

{C Lieme: Boss.

{C <HE MOVES FORWARD AND ATTACKS LEDAS; THIS TIME LIEME IS EASILY THE BETTER, AND UNLIKE MELOON OR PAYAR, HE DOES NOT TOY WITH LEDAS; HE HITS THE CHILD INTO THE GROUND, AND EFFORTLESSLY MOVES AROUND HIM, CONTINUING TO CONFUSE HIM; LEDAS, FRUSTRATED, SENDS OUT SEVERAL KI BLASTS; LIEME CATCHES ONE AND THROWS IT BACK AT HIM; LEDAS, BREATHING HARD, GETS UP AGAIN>

{C Banas: Thank you, Lieme. As you can see, kid, we-

{C Ledas: <STANDING DEFIANTLY> Why didya stop? I wasn’t done.

{C <WITHOUT A WORD, LIEME HITS LEDAS AGAIN, WHO BLOCKS IT, BUT CAN’T HOLD IT, HE IS THROWN INTO THE AIR; LIEME SHOOTS A KI BARRAGE AT HIM, AND THEN DISAPPEARS TO BEHIND HIM, AND HITS THE CHILD INTO IT; LEDAS FALLS TO THE GROUND, YET AGAIN; HE IS UNCONSCIOUS>

{C <FLASHBACK>

{C <LAYEECK AND LEDAS ARE TRAINING IN A SLIGHTLY FORESTED AREA>

{C Layeeck: What do you do when the opponent is stronger than you?

{C Ledas: <WANDERING OFF, NOT PAYING ATTENTION> I dunno…

{C Layeeck: <WITH CONTEMPT> If you were a coward you would run, but we are Saiyans. We never retreat from battle.

{C Layeeck: Think! What is your opponent dependant on?

{C Ledas: <FLOATING> A scouter?

{C Layeeck: Very good. That is the first thing that you should always go for. <PAUSES> But what if they don’t need a scouter?

{C Ledas: <FLYING UPSIDE DOWN, STILL NOT PAYING ATTENTION> Then I have to use the power ball.

{C Layeeck: It will drain your energy to even use it. It’s a gamble. But if you have to…

{C <LEDAS COMES BACK INTO CONSCIOUSNESS; HE LOOKS UP AT LIEME WHO IS FAST APPROACHING HIM; HE SEES LIEME DOES NOT WEAR A SCOUTER; LEDAS ROLLS OVER AND GATHERS HIS ENERGY AND SHOOTS A POWER BALL INTO THE AIR; LIEME STOPS, ABOUT TEN YARDS AWAY FROM LEDAS>

{C Lieme: <EYES WIDEN> Oh, well this is going to be interesting.

{C <CLOSE UP OF THE POWER BALL, IT IS SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET IN THE AIR AND IS SHINING BRIGHTLY; THE RAIN HAS STOPPED>

{C Ledas: <ROLLS OVER ONTO HIS BACK, IS LAUGHING> Ha ha ha. You guys don’t know what I’m about to do, huh? <STANDS UP, ARMS OUTSTRETCHED> Well watch this!

{C Lieme: Boss, we have a situation here.

{C Banas: Yeah, what is that thing?

{C Lieme: It’s-

{C <LEDAS STARTS TRANSFORMING INTO HIS GREAT APE FORM, HE GROWS VERY TALL, AND GAINS HAIR ALL OVER HIS BODY; IN JUST A FEW SECONDS, LEDAS IS FULLY TRANSFORMED>

{C Lieme: … an artificial moon.

{C Banas: Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me…

{C <LEDAS JUMPS FORWARD, AND BATS LIEME AWAY, INTO A NEARBY MOUNTAIN, PAYAR MOVES FORWARD, BUT LEDAS GRABS HIM IN HIS HAND; LEDAS LAUGHS AGAIN; HE THEN THROWS PAYAR TO THE GROUND, COVERING HIM IN RUBBLE; BANAS RISES INTO THE AIR TO FACE THE APE AS HE TURNS TO AROUND TO APPROACH THE CAPTAIN>

{C Banas: There’s not many people alive who could single-handedly take out my entire team… with such ease. I applaud you, Saiyan.

{C <HE CLAPS TWICE, AND ON THE SECOND CLAP DISAPPEARS; LEDAS LOOKS AROUND, BUT DOES NOT SEE HIM; BANAS REAPPEARS ABOVE THE APE’S HEAD, AND HANDS INTERLOCKED, BRINGS DOWN A POWERFUL PUNCH ONTO HIS CRANIUM; LEDAS, IN A ROAR OF RAGE JUMPS INTO THE AIR, MUCH HIGHER THAN BANAS EXPECTS, AND HITS HIM AWAY; BANAS IS ABLE TO RECOVER, MIDAIR, AND IMMEDIATELY SHOOTS A POWERFUL BEAM OF ENERGY AT LEDAS; LEDAS, AS WELL, WITHOUT HESITATION SHOOTS A BEAM OF ENERGY OUT OF HIS MOUTH, CAUSING A BEAM STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE TWO; BANAS, BEING STRONGER THAN LEDAS IN HIS GREAT APE FORM, EASILY OVERPOWERS IN THE STRUGGLE; A HUGE EXPLOSION SENDS LEDAS FLYING WAY BACK INTO THE FOREST; HE IS LAYING DOWN, NOT MOVING>

{C Banas: <MOVING OVER TO PAYAR> Hey, <BREATHING HEAVILY> Payar, you there?

{C Payar: <ROLLS OVER; DAZED AND IN PAIN> Hey, cap’n. Did ya get him?

{C Banas: <GLANCES OVER AT LEDAS, WHO STILL IS NOT MOVING> Not yet. You know how to get him back to normal?

{C Payar: Naw, cap’n. <COUGHS> Try Lieme, he‘ll prolly know... He knows everything…

{C Banas: <RISES INTO THE AIR, AND FLIES OVER TO LIEME> Lieme! You awake!?

{C Lieme: <COMES FROM AROUND A CORNER OF THE RUBBLE; HE IS DISHEVELED AND LIMPING> Yeah, boss, I’m here.

{C Banas: I need to know how to get him <NODS TO LEDAS> to go back to normal.

{C Lieme: <PAUSE> You have to cut off his tail. <COUGHS> It won’t be easy, though.

{C Banas: Are you okay to fight? Can you help?

{C Lieme: Sorry, boss. <SLIDES DOWN TO A SITTING POSITION UP AGAINST THE ROCK> I can’t.

{C Banas: Alright. Meloon won’t be of any use either. I’ll try to get to his tail before he wakes up. Stay here, I’ll be back.

{C Lieme: Heh, <COUGHS AGAIN> were else would I go, boss?

{C <BANAS RISES INTO THE AIR, AND FLIES OFF TO LEDAS; UNFORTUNATELY, LEDAS IS LYING ON HIS BACK, AND BANAS CAN’T GET TO HIS TAIL; HE TRIES TO ROLL THE SAIYAN OVER>

{C Banas: <IN AGONY> C-c-c-ome on!!!! Roll over, you stupid ape!

{C <BANAS GETS LEDAS ROLLED OVER HALFWAY, WITH HIS LEFT HAND, HE KEEPS LEDAS PINNED UP, WITH HIS OTHER, HE READIES A RAZOR BLAST TO SEVER THE SAIYAN’S TAIL>

{C <LEDAS’ EYES OPEN, WITH A GROWL, HE TAKES HIS HAND REACHES BEHIND TO HIS BACK TO HIT BANAS; BANAS DODGES IT; LEDAS GETS UP AGAIN AND GRABS A TREE, HE THROWS IT AT BANAS, WHO DUCKS>

{C Banas: You even in there, Saiyan? Or are you just the beast inside?

{C Ledas: <LAUGHS> Captain Banas.

{C <BANAS IS TAKEN ABACK BY THIS AND LETS HIS GUARD DOWN, LEDAS CHARGES AND GRABS HIM, THE RAISES HIM TO THE AIR, AND SLAMS HIM INTO THE GROUND>

{C <LEDAS TRIES TO STEP ON HIM, BUT BANAS MOVES OUT OF THE WAY, ROLLING THROUGH LEDAS’ LEGS; HE SEES AN OPENING AND SHOOTS A RAZOR BLAST UP AT LEDAS’ TAIL, IT SEVERS IT AND THE SAIYAN QUICKLY REGRESSES, FALLING TO THE GROUND, HARD, INTO A POOL OF HIS OWN BLOOD>

{C Banas: <STANDS UP, FIXES HIS HAIR, AND LOOKS AT THE SAIYAN> All this destruction from such a little kid. <WALKS OVER TO LEDAS, HE IS SLEEPING; BANAS IS NOT MAD> You see that, Lieme?! Amazing!

{C <CUTS TO THE MEDICAL BUILDING>

{C <BANAS IS WALKING DOWN THE HALLS, WITH LESSER ALIENS WORKING ON SEVERAL REJUVENATION PODS; IN THE PODS, LIEME, PAYAR, AND MELOON ARE HEALING; STRANGELY, THOUGH HE IS INJURED HIMSELF, BANAS IS NOT GETTING HEALED>

{C <GUVA ENTERS>

{C Guva: <SERIOUS> This Saiyan gave your team quite a shellacking, I hear. I’m lucky to have you as my captain, Banas. Were you not as strong and smart as you were, he would have probably destroyed half the outpost before I could respond.

{C Banas: <SERIOUS AS WELL, BUT STILL LOOKING AT HIS TEAM> Maybe, but the real question is, what do we do with him now? Do we kill him? <BOTH START WALKING>

{C Guva: No, I think he’s tamed now. He wouldn’t try the same trick twice. That form’s main power, after all, is it‘s unexpectedness. And now that that’s no longer a problem, the form itself is no longer a problem. <BOTH ARRIVE AT LEDAS’ TANK, THEY LOOK AT HIM; LEDAS IS BRUISED, AND WITHOUT A TAIL>

{C Banas: Look at him sleeping. So peacefull. <PUTS HIS HAND ON THE TANK> Well, enjoy your rest while you can, kid. You’re gonna need it.

{C <CAMERA ZOOMS INTO BANAS’ EYES; THERE IS A BRIEF MONTAGE OF LEDAS BEING PUNISHED AND TORTURED ALL AROUND; HE IS THROWN ABOUT, BLOODIED, AND PHYSICALLY WORN OUT; THE CAMERA ZOOMS BACK OUT TO BANAS’ FACE; HE CHUCKLES>

A Mess Of Politics
<FLASHBACK>

Layeeck: What else is the power ball good for?

Ledas: It can re-grow my tail, but-

Layeeck: But what?

Ledas: <CHILD-LIKE> Power balls are hard to make.

Layeeck: You have to practice the technique. Whenever you have a free moment… try and make one.

Ledas: But what happens if I transform… I’d have to cut off my tail again.

Layeeck: If you feel you are about to transform, just destroy the power ball. No, your tail is your identity;

without it, you won’t be nearly as strong. Without it, you are no longer a Saiyan.

Ledas: But you cut off my tail…

Layeeck: <LOOKS ANGRY> Circumstances dictate responses.

Ledas: <INNOCENTLY, PLAYFULLY> I don’t know what you’re talking about…

<SCREEN FADES TO LEDAS, WHO IS WALKING OUTSIDE, HE IS HAVING A HARD TIME, AND FALLS OVER, BUT THEN GETS BACK UP, HE RETURNS TO HIS ROOM (note: Ledas is one of Banas’ personal elite, and therefore has a priority room in the barracks), AS HE WALKS PAST THE TROOPS, BARELY ABLE TO BALANCE, THEY LAUGH AT HIM; HE GOES INTO HIS ROOM, IT IS PLAIN WITH LITTLE BESIDES A BED, HE SITS ON IT>

Ledas: <LOOKING DOWN AT HIS HAND, HE CREATES A POWER BALL> Can’t let the others see… <THE POWER BALL STARTS TO FORM, AND GETS BIGGER, LEDAS’ WHOLE ROOM IS COVERED IN A BRIGHT LIGHT, HE IS HOLDING IT IN HIS PALM, BENT OVER IT, STARING CURIOUSLY>

<SUDDENLY, SOMEONE KNOCKS ON THE DOOR; LEDAS QUICKLY EXTINGUISHES THE POWER BALL; IT IS PAYAR>

Payar: Come on, Saiyan, we’re going.

Ledas: Going where? <PAYAR IS ALREADY GONE; LEDAS GETS UP AND RUNS OUT AFTER HIM>

<BANAS AND HIS ‘TAINS ARE ON ANOTHER PLANET NOW, ALL MOVING ACROSS A BARREN, SUNDRIED DESERT THE SUN IS BRIGHT IN THE SKY; BANAS GETS A POWER LEVEL READING, HE STOPS>

Banas: <LANDING ONTO THE GROUND> We’ve got trouble.

Lieme: <LANDS AS WELL> What is it, boss?

<SUDDENLY A TEAM OF SOLDIERS LANDS TO THEIR RIGHT, IN A DRAMATIC FASHION, DUST COVERS THEM, BUT ONE MOVES FORWARD, OUT OF IT ALL>

Banas: Ah, the bees. I was wondering when they would show up.

Planet Cooler 96 Captain: Captain Banas. It’s been a while.

Banas: What are you doing here? This is our mission.

Planet Cooler 96 Captain: <SHAKES HIS HEAD, LAUGHING> Go home boys, you couldn’t handle this anyways.

Meloon: Ha!

Lieme: Hmph.

Banas: Really? I wonder if you can back up your words, Captain.

Planet Cooler 96 Captain: <STEPS UP, INCHES AWAY FROM BANAS’ FACE> You know, I don’t take kindly to someone who kills my men. Especially when it’s fellow captain.

Banas: <UNMOVING, CONFIDENTLY> I’m surprised you care so much over such trash.

Planet Cooler 96 Captain: <STEPPING BACK A BIT> What do you propose?

Banas: You know what I want.

Planet Cooler 96 Captain: <A LIGHT IS IN HIS EYES> It’s not often I get to grind up some fresh meat. You’re on. <SIGNALS TO OTHER MEMBERS OF GROUP> But I want it one on one.

Banas: Fine.

<THE CAPTAIN RETREATS, THE PLANTAINS GATHER, TO DISCUSS STRATEGY>

Payar: Who goes first?

Lieme: <OBSERVING> We test their strength with our weakest.

Banas: <ALL LOOK AT LEDAS; IT IS NOTICEABLE THAT HIS TAIL HAS NOT REGROWN YET> That’s you, monkey.

Planet Cooler 96 Captain: Got your pick?

Ledas: <WALKING FORWARD; RIGHT HAND RAISED, SILHOUETTE SHOT, WITH THE CAMERA ON THE GROUND FROM BEHIND> Yeah, yeah.

Banas: <WATCHING HIM WALK OFF> Think he’s got a chance?

Payar: Who knows. All I care about is if it’s gonna be a good fight.

Lieme: Shut up and watch.

<LEDAS AND ONE OF THE SOLDIERS BEGIN TO FIGHT; IT IS RELATIVELY EVEN, WITH THE OTHER SOLDIER HAVING A SLIGHT UPPER HAND; AFTER SOME TIME, LEDAS IS HIT INTO A MOUNTAIN AND DOESN’T COME BACK UP>

Planet Cooler 96 Captain: <SHOUTING ACROSS TO BANAS> I hope that’s not the best you got!

Banas: Damn it. Lieme, kill him.

<LIEME RISES INTO THE AIR, AND STARTS TO APPROACH; SUDDENLY LEDAS SHOOTS OUT OF THE RUBBLE AND HITS THE SOLDIER IN THE AIR, CRACKING HIS ARMOR; THE SOLDIER IS STUNNED, AND CAN NOT MOVE; LEDAS HITS HIM AGAIN IN THE BACK, THIS TIME PUNCHING THROUGH HIS ARMOR AND KILLING THE ALIEN; THE ALIEN FALLS TO THE GROUND; LEDAS STAYS HOVERING IN MIDAIR>

Banas: Never mind.

Planet Cooler 95 Soldier 3: Coward.

Ledas: <APPROACHES THE OTHER PC96 SOLDIERS> I wasn’t done. He shouldn’t have turned his back on me!

Banas: Ledas! <LEDAS TURNS AROUND AND LOOKS AT HIM> You’ve used up your turn. Leave the rest of them for us.

<LEDAS RETURNS, HE IS RATHER HAPPY>

Banas: Lieme, take the next one.

<LIEME AND THE NEXT SOLDIER BATTLE; LIEME WINS, VERY EASILY>

<PLANET COOLER 96 CAPTAIN MOVES OVER TO HIS LAST SOLDIER, WHISPERS TO HIM>

Banas: Meloon, Payar? Which one of you want to go?

Planet Cooler 96 Captain: <MOVING FORWARD> Enough with the petty fights. Captain, let’s go, you and I.

Banas: Oh? So eager to die?

<BANAS AND THE PC96 CAPTAIN APPROACH EACH OTHER AND START TO FIGHT; LEDAS IS AMAZED AT HOW MUCH STRONGER THAN HIIM THEY ARE>

Ledas: I can barely even see them.

Lieme: Idiot. No one can see them. But we can sense them.

Payar: That right there, that is a real fight. Don’t get to see many of those on our rock.

Ledas: Why?

Payar: The only other one who’s close to Banas‘ level, is Guva. And Guva doesn’t fight.

<THE LAST REMAINING PC96 SOLDIER SUDDENLY DISAPPEARS, AND REAPPEARS BEHIND BANAS; BOTH PC96 SOLDIERS TEAM UP ON HIM; BANAS IS HIT TO THE GROUND; LEDAS MOVES FORWARD TO ATTACK>

Lieme: <GRABS LEDAS’ SHOULDER> No, fool. This is his battle.

Ledas: But they’re cheating!

Meloon: Don’t disturb the captain’s fight.

Payar: <RATHER UNCONCERNED FOR HIS CAPTAIN’S PREDICAMENT, MESSING AROUND WITH SOMETHING IN HIS HANDS AGAIN> Seriously, he’ll kill you.

<BANAS REGAINS HIS FOOTING AND CONTINUES THE FIGHT; THE OTHER TWO ATTACK HIM AGAIN AT THE SAME TIME, BUT BANAS QUICKLY ELIMINATES THE SOLDIER, IT‘S JUST THE TWO CAPTAINS NOW>

Planet Cooler 96 Captain: Heh, captain. You’re a lot faster than you look.

<BANAS MOVES BACK AND CHARGES A HUGE ENERGY BLAST, AND THEN FIRES IT AT THE CAPTAIN, THE CAPTAIN MOVES OUT OF THE WAY, BUT IT STILL IMPACTS THE PLANET, RIPPING A HUGE CHUNK OF THE PLANET OUT; THE SHOCK OF THE BLAST SENDS THE OTHER CAPTAIN FLYING, AND LANDING AT BANAS’ FEET; EVEN THOUGH HE IS WEAKENED, BANAS IS STILL MUCH STRONGER THAN THE OTHER CAPTAIN, AND AFTER SEVERAL PUNCHES, KILLS HIM>

<BANAS RETURNS>

Banas: <TO LIEME> You know, I thought their sting would be more…meaningful, more memorable. Too bad. Anyway, we should be leaving now, I think this planet’s unstable.

<ALL LEAVE AND RETURN TO 92, ON THE LANDING AREA, GUVA COMES OUT TO MEET THEM>

Banas: <GETTING OUT OF HIS POD> Hello to you too.

Guva: Banas, you-

Banas: Yeah, ok. I’m sorry I blew up the planet, but I couldn’t avoid it. I can get Cooler a new one tomorrow…

Guva: I’m not talking about the planet, Captain. You killed an entire LCPO operating team.

Banas: Oh, that? Who cares?

Guva: Lord Cooler cares. He specifically put in place rules to prevent his teams from killing each other. And here you are flaunting that around, like it was some kind of accomplishment.

Banas: Well, I th-

Guva: I don’t want to hear it. As of now, you are on indefinite suspension as Captain of Planet Cooler number 92. Until you return, Payar will assume the role of Captain. Come quietly, and I won’t bind you. But I will, if I have to.

Banas: No, I’ll come quietly. This time. <TWO OF GUVA’S GUARDS TAKE BANAS, AND THEY WALK OFF>

Guva: Now, did any of you kill a fellow soldier? <THERE IS A PAUSE> Well, did you?

Lieme: No, governor. It was all Captain Banas.

Guva: Fine, then. Payar will be the captain until Banas matures. You will continue your duties as normal. I don’t want the regulars to sense any kind of panic. Be examples, mentors to them.

Lieme, Meloon, and Payar: Yes, governor. <LEDAS REMAINS SILENT, LOOKING OFF IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION; IT IS NOTICEABLE THAT LEDAS‘ TAIL IS BACK, REGROWN>

New Tricks
<SOMETIME LATER, LIEME IS TRAINING ALONE, IN A LARGE, CIRCULAR ROOM, IT IS LIKE A STADIUM; THE ROOF IS MADE OF ROCK, AND HAS MANY NATURAL HOLES, AND SUCH IN IT, THUS, THE GROUND IS LITTERED WITH POCKETS OF LIGHT; THE GROUND IS SAND; IT IS HOT OUT>

<LEDAS IS STANDING BACK, WATCHING LIEME TRAIN>

Ledas: Mr. Lieme…why don’t you use a scouter?

Lieme: <LANDING, BREATHING HARD> Because I don’t need one.

Ledas: <CURIOUS KID TONE> You mean you have a scouter in your brain?

Lieme: If that helps you understand it, then yes. But, I can see things you couldn't even begin to comprehend.

Ledas: <RUNS UP TO LIEME; AT THE BARRIER> Teach me how to do that!

Lieme: It’s not something you can learn, I was born with it.

Ledas: Then you can show me!

Lieme: <LOOKING AT LEDAS> <IN HIS HEAD> The kid has potential. Maybe training with him could help me figure out how he’s gotten so powerful… and use that secret, myself… <OUTLOUD> As long as you don’t get in my way-

Ledas: Yay!! <LEDAS JUMPS OVER THE BARRIER, INTO THE TRAINING ZONE>

Lieme: <QUICKLY, AND TO THE ASTONISHMENT OF LEDAS, RIPS OFF THE CHILDS’ SCOUTER, AND THROWS IT INTO THE STANDS ABOVE> If you want to learn, there will be no more scouters. You must learn to get rid your reliance on such archaic machines. Because, anything that is made artificially, will fail you eventually.

Ledas: Mr. Lieme… do you think I can learn to sense people just like you?

<LIEME DISAPPEARS, THEN REAPPEARS BEHIND LEDAS, HITS HIM TO THE GROUND>

Ledas: <GETS UP> No fair… you gotta teach me.

Lieme: I don‘t have to do anything. If you can‘t adapt, then there‘s no point to continuing this! <LIEME DISAPPEARS AGAIN AND HITS LEDAS>

<LEDAS DODGES, BUT DOES SO, RIGHT INTO LIEME, CAUSING BOTH OF THEM TO FALL OVER; LIEME IS GETTING A LITTLE AGITATED; LIEME STARTS DISAPPEARING AND REAPPEARING ALL AROUND LEDAS; THERE ARE ABOUT HALF A DOZEN AFTERIMAGES SURROUNDING AND CONFUSING THE CHILD; LEDAS PUNCHES AT EACH OF THEM, BUT NONE ARE THE REAL LIEME, COMING FROM RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM, LIEME JUMPS FORWARD AND KICKS LEDAS IN THE FACE>

<LEDAS FALLS TO THE GROUND, BUT BEFORE HE HITS IT, HE DISAPPEARS, AND REAPPEARS BEHIND LIEME; LIEME SENSES HIM AND BACKFLIPS OVER THE CHILD AND BRINGS A CRUSHING BLOW DOWN UPON LEDAS’ HEAD>

Ledas: <DESCENDS TO THE GROUND, HOLDING HIS HEAD> <WITH LETHARGY> Owwwwie… you don’t have to hit me so hard…

Lieme: Stop your whining.

Ledas: <STILL IN PAIN> I’m just a kid.

<LIEME IS STILL A BIT AGITATED, HE ATTACKS AGAIN>

<CUTS TO THE BARRACKS, BANAS, PAYAR, AND APRIDO ARE IN BANAS’ QUARTERS; THE CAMERA MOVES IN, SLOWLY, AROUND THE CORNER THROUGH THE DOOR>

Banas: Just… don’t get caught. I don’t want Guva to suspect anything.

Aprido: Yes, sir! <PAUSE> But captain, why do ya want me to tail him?

Banas: No suspicion of me, if it’s only a regular.

Aprido: What should I do, captain, if I find that it’s true?

Banas: That Guva’s using the kid for something? It depends on what, really. But you are to come straight to me, if any confirmation is present…

Aprido: Yes, sir. I’ll be sure to watch everything that kid’s up to. You can count on me!

Banas: <AS APRIDO LEAVES, HE WATCHES, WITH A SOMEWHAT CURIOUSLY ELITIST LOOK> What do you think, Payar? Could Guva be planning something?

Payar: <SITTING IN A CHAIR, LEANING BACK, NOT LOOKING UP; HE IS MESSING AROUND WITH SOMETHING IN HIS HANDS> I dunno, cap’n. But if he is, it could already be too late.

<CUTS BACK TO LIEME AND LEDAS, IT HAS BEEN SEVERAL DAYS, AND THEY ARE TRAINING AGAIN>

Lieme: You’re getting quick. <DODGES OUT OF THE WAY, ACTUALLY HAS TO PUT EFFORT INTO TRYING NOT TO GET HIT> But you still are not focused enough.

Ledas: <STOPS ATTACKING> Whoa….

Lieme: <STOPS AS WELL> What is it, now?

Ledas: <SUDDENLY GRINS> I can feel you.

Lieme: <UNCONVINCED> Really? You think you can back that up? <HE RUSHES AROUND LEDAS, CREATING A CONFUSING MESS OF AFTERIMAGES AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME, LEDAS IS EASILY ABLE TO PICK UP UPON THE REAL LIEME, AND HITS HIM> <LIEME STOPS THE CONFUSION, AND SLOWLY DESCENDS BACK TO THE GROUND> So, you weren’t lying…

Ledas: <GIDDY WITH EXCITEMENT> Ha ha! I did it… I did it!

Lieme: Don’t get too cocky, you’re just beginning… and I’m still much better than you. <IN HIS HEAD> How the hell is he learning all this so fast? I’m watching him with my own eyes, and I can’t even believe it! What is his secret?

Ledas: I’m gonna attack again, Mr. Lieme… <LEDAS ATTACKS AGAIN, AND LIEME DEFENDS, BUT THEN LEDAS DISAPPEARS; LIEME CANNOT SENSE HIM>

Lieme: What the… where’d he go? <AFTER A FEW MOMENTS OF LOOKING AROUND, LEDAS COMES DOWN ON LIEME’S NECK, FROM BEHIND, SHOCKING THE ELITE> <GETTING BACK UP> And where did you go?

Ledas: I learned a new trick…

Lieme: <SPUTTERING> Yeah? And what was that?

Ledas: <PLAYFUL ARROGANCE> Hmph… I’m not gonna tell you!

<CUTS TO BANAS AND GUVA, WHO ARE WATCHING>

Banas: He’s over 100,000, yes… but that still doesn’t mean much.

Guva: At such a young age? Were you that powerful when you were young?

Banas: No...

Guva: But don’t you think it strange that this Saiyan is so powerful? All the other ones I’ve met have been worthless. This ones different… <LAUGHS> but I’m not worried.

Banas: <SARCASTICALLY> No, of course not… until he gets stronger than you.

Guva: Don’t worry about it, I have a plan in place if something like that was to happen. Seriously, Banas, you need to stop worrying so much. Stress is so bad for your health.

Banas: And what happens when he grows up? Hmm? He’ll certainly be even stronger!

Guva: Don’t you find it interesting that he hasn’t seemed to have aged at all, since that… incident with the cave? Where Payar was nearly killed? Maybe something did happen in there?

<BACK AT THE TRAINING AREA, LIEME HAS LEFT, AND LEDAS IS LEAVING, HIMSELF, WHEN HE NOTICES SOMETHING UP IN THE STANDS; HE FLIES OVER TO IT, AND SEES THAT IT WAS HIS SCOUTER, WHICH LIEME THREW SO MANY WEEKS AGO; HE PICKS IT UP, REMEMBERING THE DAY THAT HIS FATHER GAVE IT TO HIM, THE FIRST MISSION THAT THEY WENT ON TOGETHER; HE STARES AT IT, WITH SADNESS; WITHOUT ANOTHER THOUGHT, HE WALKS OUT, WITH THE SCOUTER STILL IN HIS HAND>

<THE CAMERA PANS BACK OUT, OVER THE OUTPOST COMPLEX, IN THE DISTANCE, APRIDO CAN BE SEEN, IN THE FAR LEFT CORNER, WATCHING LEDAS.

Mysterious Presence
<SOME TIME HAS PASSED, LEDAS IS NOW 12 YEARS OLD; BANAS IS STILL ON SUSPENSION>

<LIEME AND PAYAR ARE ON A PLANET, IT IS DARK OUT AND RUGGED; THE ENTIRE AREA IS FILLED WITH NOTHING BUT ROCKS AND CAVES>

Lieme: Keep your eyes peeled.

Payar: No readings on my scouter. This place is empty. So why are we here?

Lieme: Soldiers, form up. (note: while Payar was given Captain’s rank, neither he nor Lieme has assumed complete control)

<SIX SOLDIERS, INCLUDING LEDAS, ALL FLY INTO THE AREA WHERE LIEME AND PAYAR ARE>

Payar: Kind of a creepy place…

Lieme: Four other teams were assigned to this rock before us. None of them were heard from ever again. So I want us to be extra careful.

<THE PLANET SHIFTS SLIGHTLY, THE SOLDIERS TAKE SOME EFFORT TO KEEP THEIR BALANCE>

Lieme: And did I mention the planet’s unstable?

<THEY WALK FOR A WHILE, AND COME UPON SOME DEAD SOLDIERS, NOTHING BUT SKELETONS IN ARMOR>

Payar: <KNEELING DOWN TO INSPECT> No energy burn… and no blunt trauma <TRAILS OFF> evident…

Soldier 2: So what killed them?

Payar: No idea… <ROLLS OVER ONE OF THE SKELETON’S, IT HAS AN INSIGNIA ON IT> 71, by the looks of it.

Lieme: That was the last planet to send a squad here. But that was only a week ago. I wonder why they are skeletons already…

Payar: <STANDS BACK UP, DROPPING THE SKELETON> Alright, let’s just do this and get out of here…

Lieme: <THEY CONTINUE WALKING FOR A FEW MOMENTS> Now, I need two of you to g- <PAYAR GETS A READING ON HIS SCOUTER>

Payar: <STANDS UP STRAIGHT, LOOKING AROUND> Got a power spike. It’s faint, but it’s definitely there.

Lieme: You got a direction of origin? <PAYAR NODS, AND POINTS SOUTH> Then let’s go, now.

<ALL EIGHT OF THEM FLY SOUTH (for the winter), UNTIL THEY FIND A CAVE; THEY ALL STOP; LIEME ASSUMES THAT WHERE THE POWER LEVEL SPIKE WAS SEEN>

Lieme: Payar, take 3 soldiers and go into the cave. Contact me once you find the inhabitants.

Payar: You two, come on. And you too, Saiyan. <PAYAR GATHERS HIS THREE SOLDIERS, AND THEY ALL GO INSIDE THE CAVE, AS THEY DO, PAYAR LOOKS BACK ONE MORE TIME, AND LIEME LOOKS RIGHT BACK AT HIM, TAPPING HIS SCOUTER>

Lieme: Any trouble at all, and I’m here. <PAYAR NODS, AND GOES INSIDE>

<PAYAR LIGHTS AN ENERGY BALL TO GUIDE THEIR WAY, AS THEY WALK THROUGH THE TUNNEL>

Ledas: Sir, what are we looking for?

Payar: Quiet.

<THEY WALK INTO AN AREA OF THE TUNNEL THAT WIDENS OUT CONSIDERABLY, IT IS NATURALLY LIT; AS THEY ENTER, SUDDENLY THERE IS AN EARTHQUAKE, BOTH THE ENTRANCE THAT THEY JUST CAME THROUGH, AND THE PASSAGE ON THE OTHER SIDE ARE BLOCKED OFF. SEVERAL LARGE ROCKS FALL ON PAYAR, WHEN IT ALL SETTLES, THERE IS NO MOVEMENT UNDERNEATH THEM>

Ledas: Aw, crap. <THE EARTHQUAKE SUDDENLY STOPS>

Soldier 1: Is he dead?

Soldier 2: I’ll check it out. <HE GETS CLOSER TO PAYAR’S LOCATION, BUT THEN THE EARTHQUAKE STARTS UP AGAIN, HE JUMPS BACK AND IT STOPS> Huh?

<SUDDENLY KI BLASTS START RAINING DOWN AROUND THEM, ONE SOLDIER IS KLLED IMMEDIATELY, LEDAS AND THE SOLDIER DODGE SEVERAL BLASTS BEFORE JUMPING INTO A NEARBY HOLE; AFTER A FEW MOMENTS, THE BLASTS STOP AND THEY COME BACK OUT>

Soldier 2: What the hell is going on?

Ledas: I don’t know. Maybe it’s a trap?

The Benefactor: Ya know kid, I never fancied you’d make it all the way here.

Ledas: <IN HORROR, FALLS BACK ONTO THE GROUND, HE BLINKS, THE BENEFACTOR IS NO LONGER THERE; IT MUST HAVE JUST BEEN A HALLUCINATION> D-did you see that?

Soldier 2: See what?

Ledas: <ERRATIC> That guy! With the hood! He was standing right there. <POINTS NEXT TO THE SOLDIER, NO ONE IS THERE>

Soldier 2: <STEPS BACK> You must be seeing things, kid. There was no- <SUDDENLY A HUGE ROCK FALLS IN BETWEEN THE TWO, IT CUTS THE SOLDIER ON THE RIGHT SIDE, ALL THE WAY DOWN HIS CHEST, HE FALLS OVER, IN AGONY>

Ledas: <STILL IN HORROR, BUT QUIETLY> What’s going on?

<HE WALKS OUT, THERE IS A SILENCE; UP AHEAD THERE IS A LIGHT>

Ledas: <SHIELDING HIS EYES> Who are you!? What do you want?!

Lauto: <IN A WHISPER, WHICH COMES FROM RIGHT BEHIND LEDAS’ EAR> You have suffered much loss, Ledas.

<LEDAS, STARTLED, TURNS AROUND AND SHOOTS A KI BLAST, BUT THERE IS NO ONE THERE>

Ledas: <ON EDGE> Who are you? How do you know my name?

Lauto: Who am I?

Ledas: <STILL ON EDGE, SCARED> Y-yeah…what the heck are you?!

Lauto: Open your eyes; show them to me.

Ledas: <WHO HAD CLOSED HIS EYES, BEING SCARED OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING, OPENS THEM; THEY ARE GREEN; BUT HIS HAIR IS NORMAL> W-why?

Lauto: <THE LIGHT BRIGHTENS EVEN MORE> A Saiyan.

Ledas: I know what I am!!!

Lauto: <THERE IS A LONG PAUSE, LEDAS CONTINUES LOOKING AROUND, HE IS SCARED, YET ALSO CURIOUS> Your memories… the pain... <ANOTHER PAUSE> But you have survived.

Ledas: <DROPS TO HIS KNEES; SCREAMING> I am a Saiyan! My father always said there will be no glory in death, in my death… <HE LOOKS UP>

Layeeck: No, only in the everlasting conquest.

Ledas: <HIS EYES WIDEN, AND HE REACHES OUT TO TOUCH LAYEECK, BUT LAYEECK WAS ONLY A HALLUCINATION> <STRICKEN; CHILD-LIKE FRIGHT> What are you doing to me?!!

Frieza: Nothing, my dear Saiyan, that you haven’t already thought of doing yourself.

Ledas: N-no… not you!!! <SHOOTS AN ENERGY BLAST AT FRIEZA>

Lauto: <THE LIGHT DIMS> Please, be civil. Keep your temper in check. <THE LIGHT COMES BACK, BRIGHTLY; LEDAS LOOKS UP, MOUTH SLIGHTLY OPEN, BUT THERE IS NOTHING THERE, AGAIN>

Soldier 2: <CRAWLING OUT FROM AROUND THE ROCK; IN PAIN AND BORDERLINE SHOCK> K-kid… get outta the way. <LEDAS TURNS AND STEPS BACK; THE SOLDIER SHOOTS HIS BLASTER AT THE LARGE LIGHT SOURCE COMING FROM THE FOCUS POINT OF THE ROOM; IT DOES NOTHING; THE SOLDIER, SLOWLY STARTS TO DISSOLVE, IN AGONY HE SCREAMS UNTIL HE DIES>

Ledas: <SUPRISING SHIFT TO CALMNESS> Are you gonna kill me too?

Lauto: <SOUNDS SLIGHTLY TIRED, BUT IT IS ALMOST UNNOTICEABLE> Every person assumes much. Children, especially.

Ledas: Just, please, tell me…what do you want with me?

King Vegeta:<HALLUCINATION> It’s a pity they weren’t the ones to fulfill the legend.

Ledas: <WATCHES THE KING, UNTIL HE DISAPPEARS, GRADUALLY, LEDAS HAS A HUGE ANGER SURGE> N-n-no!! It’s not t-true! I will become a Super Saiyan!!

Prince Vegeta: <HALLUCINATION> The last super Saiyan died because he couldn’t control his power.

The Benefactor: <REACHING OUT, HALLUCINATION; RATHER CALM> So, heed it all. Just let the darkness continue its path.

<LEDAS FALLS TO HIS KNEES, AND SCREAMS AGAIN, HE SENDS OUT A WAVE OF ENERGY; A LONG SILENCE BEGINS, JUST AS THE LIGHT DIMS>

Lauto: <AFTER SOME TIME> It is hard to find your way, without guidance, without a light.

Ledas: My father is dead. <KICKS UP SOME DIRT> Everyone I know is dead. <REGRESSING TO CHILD-LIKE TENDENCIES, TEARFUL> I don’t know what to do…

Lauto: The deep seated sorrows, within.

Ledas: <SNIFFLING> H-huh? What?

Lauto: Thus far untapped, unfocussed...

Ledas: I-I don’t understand.

Prince Vegeta: <HALLUCINTATION, WALKS RIGHT UP TO LEDAS> You could’ve helped me kill Frieza, Ledas…if you weren’t gone. Oh well, I’ll find somebody else.

Ledas: <REACHES OUT TO THE HALLUCINATION; BUT IT DISAPPEARS; TEARFUL, ANGRY> No, stop it!!! Stop twisting my memories!!! <HE FALLS TO HIS KNEES AGAIN, HOLDING ONTO THE SIDES OF HIS HEAD, WITH BOTH HANDS; SUDDENLY A BRIGHT LIGHT ENCOMPASSES LEDAS, HIS EYES ARE STILL GREEN, AND NOW HIS HAIR IS WHITE>

Lauto: Thus far… <THE LIGHT GOES OUT, COMPLETELY>

Greatest Expectations
<SHOT OF THE DARK, ROCKY PLANET, CAMERA SHOOTS ACROSS, TO THE CAVE; LIEME AND HIS SOLDIERS ARE STILL WAITING OUTSIDE, PACING; THE WIND IS BLOWING, AND LIEME‘S HAIR FLYING AROUND BECAUSE OF IT>

<ZOOMS INTO THE CAVE AGAIN, THE LIGHT IS STILL DIMMED; LEDAS IS STANDING THERE, BACK TO NORMAL (mostly), HIS EYES ARE STILL GREEN>

Ledas: <IN AWE> Was that me? A Super Saiyan? <A SMILE COMES TO HIM> It was, wasn’t it?

<THE HALLUCINATION OF FRIEZA COMES BACK, AND WALKS UP TO LEDAS>

Frieza: You Saiyans are all the same. Bold and stupid.

Ledas: <TREMBLING WITH ANGER> Me and Vegeta will become Super Saiyans and beat you!! You should be afraid of us!!!

Frieza: <SMILES> A worthless Legend, from a desperate race. Saiyans turn into monkeys, nothing else. Just a bunch of stupid monkeys.

Ledas: <REMEMBER WHAT LAUTO SAID EARLIER, HE FOLDS HIS ARMS, VERY VEGETA-LIKE> Hmph… you aren’t even real.

<FRIEZA’S EYES WIDEN IN HORROR, THE HALLUCINATION VANISHES, LEDAS IS THROWN BACK, ONTO THE GROUND; THE LIGHT GOES OUT, COMPLETELY>

Ledas: <IN THE DARKNESS, HE IS FEELING AROUND> <MUTED; CHILD-LIKE CURIOSITY> What just happened?

<THERE IS NO RESPONSE>

Ledas: The light’s gone out… can’t you turn it back on? I can barely see. <STUMBLES TRYING TO GET UP, AND FALLS BACK OVER>

Lauto: <RATHER SUDDENLY AND LOUDLY, LEDAS JERKS FORWARD IN FRIGHT> You are mistaken, Ledas. The light never went out.

<THE LIGHT FLICKERS, SLIGHTLY, THEN EXPLODES INTO BLINDING LIGHT, FOR A BRIEF SECOND; THEN IT GOES DARK AGAIN>

Ledas: <HANDS OVER EYES; BENT OVER> Ow… you didn’t have do that!!!

Lauto: Lest it return..

Ledas: <STILL SHIELDING HIS EYES, TEMPORARILY BLINDED> Huh?

Lauto: For anything can change…

Ledas: <PLAYFULLY, WITH SMILES> I can never understand you.

Lauto: Our time is done. Now, leave.

Ledas: Wait, what? <THE EARTHQUAKE REIGNITES, LEDAS WHO IS STILL TEMPORARILY BLINDED, IS, IN VAIN, TRYING TO DODGE ALL THE FALLING ROCKS, HE IS BEING HIT AROUND; AS HIS EYESIGHT COMES BACK, HE REGAINS HIS FOOTING AND STARTS RUNNING BACK TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE CAVE>

<SUDDENLY A HAND PUNCHES THROUGH THE RUBBLE AHEAD; IT IS PAYAR, BADLY INJURED, WITH HIS ARMOR HEAVILY CRACKED, BUT ALIVE>

Payar: <WEAKLY, GASPING> Saiyan… help me.

<DODGING THE FALLING ROCKS,LEDAS RUNS OVER AND HELPS PAYAR UP, WITH ONE ARM AROUND HIS NECK, THE TWO LIMP OUTSIDE>

<LIEME AND THE THREE OTHER SOLDIERS ARE STANDING RIGHT OUTSIDE, COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING INSIDE, AT THE SIGHT OF PAYAR, THEY ALL RUSH OVER>

Lieme: What going on?! How did this happen?

Ledas: <THE EARTHQUAKES START TO RISE OUT OF THE CAVE, THE ENTIRE PLANET IS SHAKING> We have to go, now!

Lieme: <ALL ARE RUNNING TO THE PODS> I’m going to torch this place, leave nothing behind.

Ledas: No!!! Don’t do that! Didn’t you see the power levels from in that cave? How high were they?

Lieme: One was over five million-

Ledas: Yeah, we just gotta leave this place alone!! We’re no match for that!

<LIEME HAS A CURIOUS LOOK ON HIS FACE, WATCHING LEDAS, AS THEY ALL RUN>

<ALL SIX REMAINING SOLDIERS SCRAMBLE TO THEIR PODS, THEY BARELY MAKE IT; THE REST OF THE JOURNEY GOES WITHOUT INCEDENT, AND THEY RETURN TO PLANET COOLER 92; THEY LAND>

Lieme: <GETTING OUT OF HIS POD, RUNS OVER TO PAYAR’S> <SHOUTING TO THE MANY SOLDIERS GATHERING AROUND THEM> Is the medical tank ready?

Technician 1: Yes sir, we’ve prepped it according to your directions.

<THE DOOR OPENS, PAYAR FALLS OUT, SEVERAL SOLDIERS GRAB AND TAKE PAYAR TO THE MEDICAL TANK>

THE COMMOTION LESSENS FOR A BIT, GUVA AND BANAS ENTER>

Guva: What happened this time?

Banas: <HE IS RATHER MUTED, DEPRESSED AND NOT IN ARMOR, HE WALKS UP TO PAYAR’S TANK> Is he going to live?

Technician 1: At this point, sir, his status is critical… we’re doing all we can, but I can’t guarantee anything.

<BANAS BOWS HIS HEAD BUT DOES NOT MOVE>

Guva: I’ll ask again… what happened here? Why are two of my men dead, and another, right there in critical condition?

Ledas: I…

Lieme: Not out here. <LOOKING AT THE MULTITUDE OF REGULARS STANDING AROUND> I think we should discuss this in private.

<ALL BEGIN WALKING TO GUVA’S OFFICE, LIEME PUTS HIS HAND OUT TO STOP LEDAS>

Lieme: Not you, kid.

Ledas: But… <EVEN GUVA AND BANAS LOOK CONFUSED>

Lieme: <TO THE OTHERS> I’ll explain, <DIRECT> in private.

Guva: Fine.

<THE REST LEAVE FOR GUVA‘S OFFICE, LEDAS WALKS OFF, IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, TO THE FOREST>

<THE SUN IS SETTING, LEDAS IS STANDING ON THE EDGE OF THE FOREST-CLIFF, LOOKING DOWN AT THE NATIVES WORKING; HE REMEMBERS THE FACE OFF THE ONE THAT HE BOUND UP EARLIER; HE STRETCHES HIS ARM OUT, FEELING THE AIR>

<FLASHBACK>

Layeeck: <SIGHS> It’s actually simple. Frieza’s the strongest. He's our leader.

Ledas: But if he’s so strong, then why does he need us to do all the work?

Layeeck: Doesn’t want to get his precious hands dirty. But listen to me, Ledas. If you ever meet Frieza, you must treat him with the utmost respect. While he’s around, think of him as our king. Because, he could kill you, if you even look at him the wrong way…

<END FLASHBACK>

Ledas: Guva, Banas, the others… none of them are as strong as Frieza. I’ve almost killed them so many times… I just have to finish it next time. I just have to kill them all.<LOOKING UP, AT THE THREE MOONS ABOVE> That thing it that cave… it didn’t kill me, like the others. <LOOKS BACK AT THE WORKERS, OBVIOUSLY TIRED> So, maybe I can help them…

<CUTS TO INSIDE GUVA’S OFFICE; GUVA, BANAS, AND LIEME ARE IN THERE, TALKING>

Lieme: The spike was over 5 million, governor. Who else could it be, besides the kid?

Guva: But you say you already had a reading coming from that cave, before any of you even got there.

Lieme: It wasn’t five million. It was around 100,000.

Guva: So it was unusually high… just not five million.

Lieme: I don’t know how the kid could’ve survived going in there if it wasn’t him. Anyone with a power level of that high could kill us in an instant, without any trouble… and Payar was heavily injured…

Banas: <STILL WITHOUT THE AUTHORITY THAT HE HAD WHEN HE WAS CAPTAIN> So then, why didn’t he kill Payar too? It would have been easy to make it look like whatever was in there did it for him…

Guva: Lieme, go get the child. I’ll talk to him, about this.

Lieme: Governor <NODS>… boss. <HE LEAVES>

Guva: They still see you as their captain.

Banas: <WATCHING LIEME FLY OFF IN THE DISTANCE> Old habits are hard to break…

<GUVA’S OFFICE, THE GOVERNOR AND LEDAS ARE ALONE, THEY HAVE BEEN THERE ALL NIGHT; THE SUN IS BEGINNING TO RISE IN THE NORTHWEST (THAT’S WHERE IT DOES ON THIS PLANET)>

Guva: I told you before I wouldn’t lower myself to torture. But we have gotten nowhere. Payar, Lieme, no one else saw anything except for you. And I know you’re hiding something, kid. <PAUSES FOR A MOMENT> What did you see?

Ledas: <SITTING ON A CHAIR> Nothing happened… there was an earthquake, and some rocks fell on Mr. Payar. But then, I helped him up and we left.

Guva: If you weren’t an important part of my plans… I wouldn’t put up with this crap, and you would be dead.

Ledas: <INNOCENTLY> But, I’m a good boy.

Guva: Don’t think this is the end of our discussion, because I assure you I will find out what happened there eventually. And seeing as your hiding it from me, I will assume the outlook won’t be in your favor.

Guva: <PAUSES, WALKS AWAY FROM LEDAS, BACK TURNED> I’ve, after much consideration, ended Banas’ suspension. I think he wants to go out on a mission today, and you will go with. Remember our agreement. Have you learned all need to kill him?

Ledas: <SLIDES OF CHAIR AND WALKS OUT> No… not yet.

Guva: Time is running out, Saiyan. I’ve given you far too long to cozy up with Banas. Soon, whether you are ready or not, we will end this.

<END LAUTO SAGA>

Cue Great Spirits. Credits roll during this time.

Trivia

 * For feedback, or general thoughts about this saga, please leave comments on the Lauto Saga completed! page. That's the place that I'm most likely to see your comments about this saga.
 * Cooler is the only previously established Dragon Ball character featured in this saga.