Dragon Ball: The Great War

Dragon Ball: The Great War is a story created by KidVegeta and Hyper Zergling. The story revolves around the events of the, focusing particularly on the rise of. It is mainly told from his perspective, though there are times the narrative shifts to others' perspectives. Numerous characters from KidVegeta and Hyper Zergling's personal fanons are present; so, in a way, this story acts as a precursor to each of their own main stories.

Characters

 * King Vegeta
 * Nappa
 * Dogom
 * Artachoc
 * Ocra
 * Layeeck
 * Cyleria
 * Lascon
 * Zhukin
 * Amanito

Story
''Please note: The person referred to as Vegeta in this story is, the father of the seen in Dragon Ball Z. There are a few scenes were both of these characters are present. In those scenes, they are distinguished by being called "King Vegeta" and "Prince Vegeta" respectively.''

1. Crucible


<737 AGE>







King Vegeta:  All of this will be yours one day, Vegeta.

Prince Vegeta:  Hmph, they’re just a bunch of weaklings. Why should I care about such trash?

King Vegeta:  We Saiyans are a warrior race, my son. Every one of us. We are the greatest fighters in the galaxy! Our pride knows no equal. Even the weakest among us is a powerful fighter. And when you leave this planet and make a name for yourself out there,  it will be your pride that will keep you alive. People will learn to fear and respect you because you are a Saiyan, because they know what you are capable of.  And you will do yourself no favors, my son, by belittling my soldiers. Countless times, they have proven themselves to me in battle and in loyalty.

Prince Vegeta:  Oh yeah, when?

King Vegeta:  Haven’t I told how I became king?  Very well. Vegeta. Let me tell you how,  by the blood of all Saiyans,  I united our race and forged my empire.



King Vegeta:  Some years back, before I was king, I was no more than the son of a tribal leader.

<THE CAMERA SHOWS A SMALL SAIYAN SETTLEMENT, WHERE THERE ARE ROCK BUILDINGS AND FIRES GOING; IT IS SUNSET; AROUND THE HOUSES AND FIRES, A FEW SAIYANS ARE MILLING ABOUT; ALL OF THEM ARE JUST WEARING SIMPLE CLOTHES OF FUR OR LEATHER-LIKE MATERIAL>

King Vegeta: <VOICEOVER> My father had been gravely ill. He had been unable to rise out of bed for weeks. Because of this, growing murmurs of appointing a new leader were getting louder and louder. The people wanted a strong leader. We were Saiyans; we led by example. And it was a poor portrayal of our tribe to be led by a weakling. So I prevented any drama from developing. I made myself the leader.

<THE PANELS SHOW KING VEGETA SMOTHERING HIS WEAK FATHER; HE THEN EXITS HIS TENT; FACING SEVERAL SAIYANS; AMONG THEM IS VEGETA’S ADVISOR, LAYEECK, AND HIS FATHER, LASCON; BOTH ARE HIGHLY RESPECTED MEMBERS OF THE TRIBE; THEY LOOK AT HIM, BUT HE WALKS PAST THEM AND WALKS ONTO A ROCK, WHICH PROTRUDES FROM A CLIFF OVERLOOKING THE REST OF HIS CAMP; BELOW, ARE HIS PEOPLE, AND VEGETA LOOKS AT THEM>

King Vegeta: <VOICEOVER> And this is where my conquest of the planet truly began.

<THE STORY GOES INTO REAL-TIME AT THIS POINT>

Vegeta: My father is gone, brothers.

<THE OTHER SAIYANS LOOKED SHOCK; MANY OF THEM GROAN, AND A FEW EVEN YELL>

Layeeck: So what then, Vegeta? Are you our leader now?

Vegeta: <CONFIDENTLY> I am.

Layeeck: The people must know they have a new leader. It will take days to send messengers out to each corner of your territory, Vegeta. There are many peoples your father lorded over, but they must be told this news.

Vegeta: They will be. And the other tribes will soon know my name as well.

Layeeck: What do you mean?

Vegeta: I have plans, brothers. I want to unite our race and drive the Tuffle scourge from this planet. Where my father was weak, I will show the world that I am strong! I will no longer stand for us living amongst rocks and barely being able to survive! We will take this planet as our own and start a true warrior empire. I cannot stand to watch my people suffer through droughts and food shortages any longer. We must take what is ours if we want to survive.

Lascon: <STEPPING FORWARD> The other leaders will not bow down to you. You know that, Vegeta.

Vegeta: I do. That’s why we’re going to take them out, one by one.

<LASCON, LAYEECK, AND THE OTHERS LOOK DUBIOUS AT THIS CLAIM, EVEN AS VEGETA REMAINS CONFIDENT; THE CAMERA PULLS BACK SLIGHTLY AND FADES TO BLACK>

<A FEW DAYS LATER, VEGETA IS SHOWN TO HAVE GATHERED THE WARRIORS OF HIS TRIBE UP; THERE ARE MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND OF THEM; HE IS MARCHING IN THE FRONT OF THE GROUP; AT LAST, HE RAISES HIS HAND AND THEY ALL STOP; LAYEECK IS BEHIND HIM, AND AT THIS, HE COMES UP TO WHERE VEGETA IS>

Vegeta: We are on Creissa’s land now. She’s a leader of one of the seven tribes, but hers is the smallest. We will find her, take her captive, and make her join us. Having her forces boost our own will allow us to take on the larger tribes. <HE TURNS TO LAYEECK> Give them the signal, brother. Quick and fast. Let’s do this.

<LAYEECK STEPS BACK AND CREATES AN ENERGY BLAST IN HIS HANDS; HE SHOOTS THIS INTO THE SKY, WHERE IT EXPLODES IN A BRILLIANT FLASH OF LIGHT; AS SOON AS THE SOLDIERS SEE THIS, THEY ALL LET OUT A ROAR SO LOUD THAT IT SHAKES THE GROUND; THEN, ALL TOGETHER, THEY RUN FORWARD>

<THE NEXT PANELS SHOW VEGETA’S FORCES ATTACKING CREISSA’S DEFENSES; THEY SHOOT ENERGY TO DESTROY GUARD TOWERS AND HOUSES; THEY PUNCH GUARDS INTO SUBMISSION AND DESTROY THE GATES THEY WERE GUARDING; VEGETA, LAYEECK, AND HIS ELITES ARE SEEN AMONGST THE FIGHTERS; OVER TIME, THEY MAKE THEIR WAY TO CREISSA’S ENCAMPMENT>

<AS THIS OCCURS, VEGETA, LAYEECK, LASCON, AND A FEW OTHERS BREAK OFF FROM THE MAIN GROUP AND RUSH INTO CREISSA’S ENCAMPMENT; THEY QUICKLY TAKE OUT HER PERSONAL GUARDS AND DRAG HER OUT OF HER TENT, BY HER HAIR, AND SHOVE HER ONTO THE GROUND; AHEAD OF HER, PAST THE BODIES OF HER FEW GUARDS, ARE THE LEGIONS OF VEGETA’S FORCES; THEY TAKE UP ALMOST ALL OF WHAT SHE CAN SEE>

Vegeta: <PACING AROUND CREISSA> Do you see the might of my army, Creissa? Do you see how weak you are in comparison?

Creissa: Who are you? Why are you attacking me? I have no problems with any of the other tribal leaders! This is uncalled for, you dog!

Vegeta: My name is Vegeta. I am here to unite our Saiyan race and eradicate the Tuffles. I need your people to join with me.

Creissa: What?! These are my people! You cannot take them!

Vegeta: Not any longer. My soldiers have taken out your personal defenses, and you are my hostage. I don’t want to have to kill any more of your people. I need your forces to help me take on the other five tribes.

Creissa: No! A war with the other tribes and the Tuffles is foolish. Nappa and Zhukin have tribes that are so large, that you will never be able to conquer them. And even if you do, the Tuffles outnumber us one thousand to one! How can hope to overcome them? They have technology, Vegeta. They will waste you and your people. I don’t want mine to die with them.

Vegeta: We are warriors. The Tuffles are not. With all our people behind me, I know we can take them on.

Creissa: You must be new to this game of power! Only a fool would look at utter annihilation and see it as victory! If you do this, you will doom us all to die!

Vegeta: <COLDLY; LOOKING DOWN ON CREISSA> Kill her, Layeeck.

Creissa: You dare attack me?! Just because I’m a women doesn’t mean I can’t fight! I’ll show you why I’m the leader of this tribe!

<LAYEECK JUMPS FORWARD AND ATTACKS CREISSA; SHE DODGES A FEW OF HIS PUNCHES, BUT HE WEARS HER DOWN RATHER QUICKLY; SHE TRIES TO PUNCH LAYEECK, BUT HE CATCHES HER ARM AND SWIFTLY BREAKS IT; SHE SCREAMS IN PAIN, GIVING LAYEECK OPPORTUNITY TO WRAP HIS ARM AROUND HER THROAT; HE BRINGS HER TO HER KNEES AND HE STARTS CHOKING HER TO DEATH; SHE STRUGGLES, BUT LAYEECK IS TOO STRONG FOR HER>

<VEGETA STEPS FORWARD, GRINNING SLIGHTLY; HE SQUATS DOWN AND STARES IN CREISSA’S FACE, EVEN AS THE LIGHT IS FADING FROM HER EYES>

Vegeta: We move on without you, bitch.

<A FEW MOMENTS LATER, SHE IS DEAD; THE CAMERA PANS BACK AS LAYEECK DROPS HER BODY TO THE CRACKED GROUND; HE DOESN’T EVEN SEEM TO CARE THAT HE JUST KILLED SOMEONE>

Layeeck: All right. I’ll send envoys to each of her settlements. We’ll give them the option to join with us or die.

Vegeta: Good. I think most of them will choose the right path.

<HE SMIRKS, THEN STARTS LAUGHING; LAYEECK AND THE OTHERS JOIN IN>

<THE NEXT SCENE IS BACK AT VEGETA’S CAMP; HE IS WALKING AMONGST THE PEOPLE, LAUGHING AND JOKING WITH THEM, BE THEY MAN, WOMAN, OR CHILD; A SAIYAN MESSENGER SUDDENLY COMES DASHING INTO THE CAMP>

Saiyan 1: My lord Vegeta! <HE KNEELS IN RESPECT>

Vegeta: What news, boy?

Saiyan 1: We have added almost all of Creissa’s people your territory. Her soldiers are marching into our camps as we speak.

Vegeta: And what of those who refused my offer?

Saiyan 1: <WITH A SMIRK> They aren’t around anymore, my lord.

Vegeta: Excellent! <HE CLAPS THE MESSENGER ON THE SHOULDERS> You have done well. Now go tell them, we’re marching again. I expect them to be ready by tomorrow morning.

<THE MESSENGER NODS AND RUNS OFF>

<NEXT, A MONTAGE IS SHOWN OF VEGETA’S ARMY MARCHING TOWARDS THE NEXT TRIBAL LEADER’S TERRITORY; THEY PILLAGE AND BURN OVER THE OUTLYING VILLAGES AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY TOWARDS THE MORE POPULATED REGIONS; AS THEY DO THIS, THE CAMERA SWITCHES TO A LARGE TENT, WHERE A SAIYAN SITS ON A THRONE; HE IS INSTANTLY RECOGNIZABLE AS BEING PARAGUS>

<A MESSENGER RUNS UP TO THIS SAIYAN AND RECOUNTS TO HIM WHAT IS GOING ON, WHILE SCENES OF VEGETA’S SOLDIERS BURNING THE COUNTRYSIDE AND MARCHING TOWARDS HIM ARE SHOWN; PARAGUS IS SWEATING AND LOOKS LIKE HE IS IN UTTER TERROR>

Paragus: There is no choice! I must surrender!

<THE NEXT SCENE SHOWS PARAGUS KNEELING TO VEGETA OUTSIDE HIS TENT; THEIR MEN SURROUND THEM; A GREAT WIND IS BLOWING>

<THE SCENE CUTS TO THE NEXT DAY; VEGETA IS STANDING OVER A CLIFF, LOOKING AT A DESERT BELOW WITH PARAGUS BEHIND HIM; HIS OTHER MEN ARE ALSO THERE, THOUGH THEY ARE STANDING FURTHER BACK>

Vegeta: Direct combat against Zorn will severally reduce our numbers.

Paragus: We can force him to yield.

Vegeta: How?

Paragus: Zorn’s territory is nothing but a dried wasteland. His tribe is always limited on food and water, so most of it is built around the few small lakes he has. My past raids on his tribe have also revealed the locations of his hunting grounds. If we get rid of those resources, he will have nothing left to sustain his tribe with. He’ll be forced to join us.

Vegeta: Very well. Then tonight, we will eliminate his food and water supplies.

<THE NEXT SCENE CUTS TO THE NIGHT ASSAULT; FIRST, ONE OF VEGETA’S MEN IS BY HIMSELF FLYING ABOVE AN OPEN AREA WITH SEVERAL VISIBLE WILD ANIMALS; HE THEN LAUNCHES A SUPER ENERGY WAVE VOLLEY AT THE LAND BELOW, PURIFYING IT OF LIFE; HE LOOKS TO HIS RIGHT, AND SEES A SIMILAR EXPLOSION OFF IN THE DISTANCE, AND THEN FLIES AWAY; NEXT, ANOTHER ONE OF VEGETA’S SOLDIERS IS SEEN STANDING NEXT TO A SMALL LAKE, POURING A JAR OF POISON INTO THE BODY OF WATER, BEFORE TAKING OFF LIKE HIS ALLIES HAD>

<THEN, A MONTAGE IS SHOWN OF VEGETA’S FORCES ATTACKING ZORN’S WEAKENED WARRIORS; SOME OF ZORN’S MEN ARE SEEN COUGHING UP BLOOD IN THEIR HUTS; FINALLY, VEGETA, LAYEECK, AND SEVERAL OTHER SAIYANS OF VEGETA’S TRIBE ARRIVE AT ZORN’S HUT; ZORN ATTEMPTS TO FIGHT BACK, BUT VEGETA OVERPOWERS HIM; DECIDING THAT ZORN IS TOO IMPORTANT TO KILL, VEGETA SPARES HIM; EVEN AS ZORN IS KNEELING IN BRUISED DEFEAT, VEGETA REACHES OUT A HAND TO HELP HIM UP; ZORN TAKES IT AND JOINS WITH VEGETA’S FORCES>

<SEVERAL DAYS LATER, AT VEGETA’S CAMP, VEGETA HIMSELF STANDS IN FRONT OF LAYEECK, PARAGUS, ZORN, LASCON, AND SEVERAL OTHERS>

Vegeta: <TO THE OTHER SAIYANS> Before our conquest, we were but a single tribe. Although we have joined four nations of warriors, our work has just begun. Tonight, we claim Dogom’s lands!

Layeeck: My lord, even with our tribes united, our numbers barely exceed those of Dogom’s.

Vegeta: That is why we must all strike his capitol at once. His lands may be well-guarded, but he cannot have all of his forces defending a single location. Any objections, brothers?

All Other Saiyans: No, sir!

Vegeta: Then we will double our numbers by tomorrow.

<THE NEXT SCENE SHOWS MANY PRIMITIVE BUILDINGS ON FIRE, FROM HIGH ABOVE; MULTIPLE EXPLOSIONS CAN BE SEEN GOING OFF AT RANDOM LOCATIONS; THE CAMERA THEN CUTS TO THE INSIDE OF DOGOM’S CAPITAL BUILDING; DOGOM AND A FEMALE SAIYAN ARE BACK-TO-BACK; TWO OF VEGETA’S WARRIORS CRASH THROUGH THE WALL OF THE BUILDING AND CHARGE AT THE FEMALE SAIYAN; SHE TELEPORTS BEHIND THEM, GRABS THE BACK OF THEIR HEADS, ONE IN EACH HAND, AND THEN CURLES HER FINGERS, PUNCTURING THEIR SKULLS; THE MOMENT THEIR BODIES GO LIMP, SHE TOSSES THEM ASIDE>

<MEANWHILE, DOGOM IS FIGHTING THREE OTHER SAIYANS; HE INCINERATES HIS FIRST OPPONENT WITH A RED BEAM FROM HIS RIGHT PALM, AND THEN DECAPITATES ANOTHER WITH AN AERIAL BACK KICK; THE THIRD ASSAILANT CHARGES AT DOGOM HEAD-ON, BUT IS STOPPED IN HIS TRACKS WHEN DOGOM BARRAGES HIM WITH DOZENS OF PUNCHES AND FINGER-JABS; WHEN DOGOM’S ATTACK IS SEEMINGLY FINISHED, HIS ENEMY APPEARS UNHARMED, UNTIL HIS ORIFICES GLOW WITH BRIGHT GREEN KI BEFORE HIS ENTIRE BODY EXPLODES; INEVITABLY, EVEN MORE SAIYANS ARRIVE, CREATING MORE HOLES IN THE WALLS AND FURTHER WEAKENING THE BUILDING’S FOUNDATIONS>

Dogom: How are you holding up, Aubere?

Aubere: I’m just getting warmed up.

Dogom: That’s good to hear.

<UNFORTUNATELY FOR DOGOM AND AUBERE, THEIR ENERGY DOES NOT ALLOW THEM TO TAKE ON ALL OF THEIR FOES AT ONCE; THE ENTIRE CAPITOL BUILDING IS SOON DESTROYED, AND AUBERE IS EVENTUALLY INCAPACITATED BY AN ENERGY BEAM JUST BELOW HER CHEST, FORCING DOGOM TO FEND FOR HIMSELF AND PROTECT HER UNCONSCIOUS BODY; AT THIS TIME, VEGETA AND LAYEECK PERSONALLY CONFRONT DOGOM>

Dogom: <ANGRILY> Vegeta…

<DOGOM GRADUALLY WAVES HIS ARMS AROUND IN A WIDE MOTION, SIMILAR TO MASTER ROSHI’S OPENING MOTIONS TO THE ORIGINAL KAMEHAMEHA, AND THEN THRUSTS BOTH OF HIS PALMS FORWARD, DISCHARGING A MASSIVE BLUE BEAM; VEGETA IMMEDIATELY RESPONDS WITH A ROYAL GALICK GUN, LOCKING THE TWO IN A BEAM STRUGGLE; ALTHOUGH VEGETA IS SLOWLY WINNING, THE STRUGGLE IS TAKING SIGNIFICANTLY LONGER THAN OPTIMAL; TO QUICKEN THE PROCESS, LAYEECK THROWS AN ENERGY SPHERE AT DOGOM, KNOCKING HIM AWAY AND DISSIPATING HIS BEAM; DOGOM FALLS FACE-FIRST INTO THE GROUND, BLOODIED AND BEATEN; VEGETA WALKS TOWARDS THE DEFEATED TRIBE LEADER; SOON, VEGETA’S OTHER ELITES COME IN; ZORN, PARAGUS, AND LASCON, ARE SEEN MAKING THEIR WAY INTO THE RUINED BUILDING>

Dogom: <WEAKILY> I know why you’re here.

Vegeta: Then I have no need to explain my cause.

Dogom: What reason do I have to ally myself with a sneaky bastard?

Vegeta: <LOOKS AT THE UNCONSCIOUS AUBERE> Layeeck, kill her.

Dogom: <IMMEDIATELY> Wait! Leave her alone!

<VEGETA RAISES A HAND, SIGNALING LAYEECK TO PAUSE>

Dogom: Fine, I’ll join you. I want the Tuffles gone anyway.

Vegeta: Good. It would be a waste to not have you at our side.

<VEGETA TURNS HIS BACK TO DOGOM AND WALKS AWAY>

Dogom: <STILL ON THE GROUND> You know, you could have just negotiated.

Vegeta: <WITHOUT TURNING AROUND> Were it so easy.

2. Conquest
<IT IS NIGHT>

<SEVERAL SAIYANS ARE HUDDLED AROUND A FEW BURNING FIRES; THEY ARE JUST OUTSIDE OF THEIR TENTS; AHEAD OF THEM IS A SMALL RIVER; ON THE OTHER SIDE IS A HUGE METROPOLITAN CITY; THE SAIYANS ARE WATCHING IT>

Artachoc: They’re all cowards and weaklings, hiding behind their walls. I could kill every Tuffle in there with my bare hands!

Ocra: Calm down, Artachoc. Now is not the time.

Artachoc: Why not? We Saiyans are the superior race! We should kill every one of those Tuffle weaklings right now!

Ocra: <SHAKING HER HEAD> We can’t. Not now. <SHRUGGING> Maybe when Vegeta unites the remaining tribes, but until then, we can’t do anything. Border patrol is all we are useful for.

Artachoc: <SNEERING> I bet those Tuffles are just waiting for us to turn our backs, and then they’ll strike!

Ocra: I don’t think so. What would they gain from that?

Artachoc: <EYES ON THE CITY; HE STANDS UP> They know we’re a threat. Maybe they want to try and stop us before we eliminate them.

Ocra: <LAUGHS IN DISBELIEF> Artachoc, do you really think–

Artachoc: There, look! <ENERGY FORMS IN HIS HANDS AT ONCE> There’s Tuffles coming! <TO THE OTHER SAIYANS> Stand up! Battle ready, now!

<THE SAIYANS ALL STAND UP AND FALL INTO DEFENSIVE STANCES; THE TUFFLES SOON COME INTO VIEW, MARCHING IN STRAIGHT, NEAT LINES ACROSS THE RIVER; THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THEM; IN CONTRAST, THERE ARE ONLY A FEW DOZEN SAIYANS>

Saiyan 1: Tuffles? What do you lot want?

<AS THE TUFFLES ARE MARCHING FORWARD UNISON, THEIR LEADER STRIDES AHEAD OF THEM; HE IS CLOTHED IN HEAVY, ORNATE BLUE/WHITE ARMOR; HE RAISES A GLOVED HAND, AND THE SOLDIERS BEHIND HIM STOP AT ONCE; HE TAKES OFF HIS HELMET TO SPEAK TO THE SAIYANS>

Tuffle 1: <TO HIS SOLDIERS> Hold up! <TO THE SAIYANS> What are you cretinous Saiyans doing here?

Artachoc: This is Vegeta’s territory. Turn around and we won’t kill you for trespassing.

Tuffle 1: This is Tuffle territory, not some place for you… vile barbarians to wallow in your own filth. The High Council has deemed this a proper location for a new city. You will pack and leave or we will vaporize you into nothingness. You have my word, Saiyans.

Artachoc: Oh yeah? Who are you to order us around, little man?

Tuffle 1: My name is General Amanito. I am the commanding officer of the Tuffle armies. You would be smart to turn away right now. I promise you, we will not leave. But if you want to die, I will gladly help you along that path.

Saiyan 1: Fool! Don’t you know the might of the Saiyans?!

<AMANITO UNSHOULDERS AN ENERGY RIFLE AND AIMS IT AT SAIYAN 1; A SECOND LATER, HE FIRES THE SHOT, WHICH HITS THE POOR SAIYAN RIGHT IN THE NECK; THE SAIYAN FALLS OVER WITHOUT A SOUND, DEAD; BOTH SIDES TENSE; ALL OF THE SAIYANS SHOUT OUT ANGRILY>

Amanito: <TO HIS SOLDIERS> Leave nothing standing. Burn the bodies when this is over.

<THE SOLDIERS ALL TAKE OUT THEIR ENERGY RIFLES; THEN, TOGETHER, THEY SHOUT AND RUN FORWARD ACROSS THE RIVER; THE SAIYANS YELL BACK (MANY SHOUTS OF ‘VEGETA!’ PERMEATING THE CRISP NIGHT AIR); ARTACHOC LEADS HIS SAIYANS RIGHT AT THE TUFFLES>

<ARTACHOC LUNGES AT THE NEAREST TUFFLE, LOWERING HIS SHOULDER AND LUMBERING INTO THE SOLDIER; THE TUFFLE SCREAMS AS HIS ARMOR SHATTERS AND HE FLIES BACK, BLOODIED AND WOUNDED; A DOZEN TUFFLES SHOOT THEIR ENERGY RIFLES AT ARTACHOC, BUT HE JUMPS AND ROLLS OUT OF THE WAY; AS SOON AS HE REACHES THE, ARTACHOC CREATES A GROUP OF SMALL KI EXPLOSIVE BLASTS IN A SMALL SEMI CIRCLE, WHICH HITS ALL OF THE TUFFLES AND THROWS THEM BACK>

<OCRA FOLLOWS ARTACHOC AND PUNCHES TWO TUFFLES WHO WERE SNEAKING UP BEHIND HIM; ANOTHER GROUP TRIES TO SHOOT HER, BUT SHE GATHERS HER AURA AROUND HER AND SHOOTS RIGHT OVER TO THEM; THEN, OCRA THRUSTS HER ARMS FROM HER SIDES AND CREATES A SMALL EXPLOSIVE WAVE, WHICH INCINERATES HER OPPONENTS; SOON, MORE TUFFLES COME RUNNING INTO VIEW, AND SHE DUCKS OUT OF THE WAY OF THEIR ATTACKS AND CHARGES AT THEM, KICKING THEM AWAY; THEN, OCRA SEES A TUFFLE FIELD COMMANDER AHEAD OF HER; SHE RUNS UP TO HIM, DODGING HIS ENERGY ATTACKS AND THEN PUNCHES HIM RIGHT IN THE FACE; HE GOES FLYING BACK AND SHE TELEPORTS AHEAD AND THEN CRUSHES HIM DOWN INTO THE DIRT; OCRA LOOKS UP AND SEES HUNDREDS OF TUFFLES RUNNING RIGHT AT HER; SHE CHARGES UP ENERGY IN BOTH OF HER HANDS AND THEN ROLLS ASIDE AND SHOOTS HER BLASTS RIGHT AT THE TUFFLES>

<THE TUFFLES START TAKING OUT MANY OF THE UNNAMED SAIYANS; THEY ISOLATE THE SAIYANS AND THEN ENCIRCLE THEM; AS THE SAIYANS TRY TO RUSH A SINGLE TUFFLE, THE ENTIRE GROUP FIRES ENERGY AT THEM UNTIL THE SAIYAN FALLS, DEAD; SOON, IT IS ONLY OCRA AND ARTACHOC LEFT STANDING>

Ocra: <JUMPING OUT OF THE WAVE OF AN ONCOMING BLAST> Artachoc! It’s lost! We have to go!

Artachoc: <CREATES A STAND OF ENERGY WHICH HE USES TO GRAB A TUFFLE AND PULL TOWARDS HIM; THEN, HE THROWS THE TUFFLE INTO THE GROUND, CAUSING A HUGE CRATER TO FORM> No! We can take them! They’re just a bunch of weaklings!

Ocra: We’ll die! <SHE JUMPS PAST A GROUP OF TUFFLES, SHOOTING ENERGY BLASTS DOWN ON THEM AS SHE FLIES OVER THEM> Get it through your thick skull! Do you want to die?!

Artachoc: I’m not dying today!

<ARTACHOC KICKS A FEW TUFFLES, SHATTERING THEIR ARMOR AND CAUSING BLOOD TO FLY EVERYWHERE; THEN, A LARGE GROUP OF TUFFLES SURROUND ARTACHOC; HE LOOKS THIS WAY AND THAT, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HIS BEST METHOD OF ATTACKING; THEN, SUDDENLY, THEY ARE RELEASE ENERGY BLASTS AT HIM; THE ENERGY BEARS DOWN ARTACHOC; HE PUTS UP HIS HAND TO SHIELD HIS FACE FROM THE ATTACK’S BRIGHT LIGHT; SOON, THE LIGHT OF THE COMBINED TUFFLE ATTACKS COVERS THE ENTIRE SCREEN>

<CUTS TO VEGETA, LAYEECK, AND PARAGUS; IT IS STILL NIGHT>

<ALL THREE ARE ONLY WEARING SIMPLE TRAINING CLOTHES; LAYEECK CHARGES AT VEGETA AND HITS HIM WITH A RUNNING UPPERCUT; AS VEGETA FLIES INTO THE AIR, LAYEECK JUMPS FORWARD AND DOES A FLIP KICK, SENDING VEGETA FURTHER BACK; LAYEECK FOLLOWS THIS UP WITH A TELEPORT-FLIP KICK; AS VEGETA GOES TO RECOVER, LAYEECK HITS HIM WITH AN EXPLOSIVE WAVE; VEGETA FALLS TO THE GROUND; AS LAYEECK CHARGES HIM AGAIN, VEGETA JUMPS UP, SLIDES AROUND HIM, AND THEN PUNCHES LAYEECK IN THE BACK; LAYEECK ATTEMPTS TO RECOVER, BUT VEGETA GRABS HIM AND SLAMS HIM FORWARD; FOLLOWING THAT UP, VEGETA PUNCHES LAYEECK UP INTO THE AIR, AND THEN JUMPS OFF THE GROUND AND KICKS LAYEECK HIGHER INTO THE AIR; HE THEN TELEPORTS ABOVE LAYEECK AND COMES CRASHING DOWN ON THE SAIYAN>

<AT THIS TIME, PARAGUS JUMPS IN AND STARTS ATTACKING VEGETA; VEGETA PARRIES HIS ATTACKS AND FLIPS OVER PARAGUS; PARAGUS SPINS AROUND, THROWING A BLIND PUNCH, BUT VEGETA DUCKS AND KICKS PARAGUS’ LEGS OUT UNDER HIM; LAYEECK RETURNS AND SHOOTS AT VEGETA, KI ENVELOPING HIM; VEGETA BLOCKS THE ATTACK, THOUGH IT STILL THROWS HIM BACK; LAYEECK AND PARAGUS THEN RUN FORWARD TOGETHER AND ATTACK VEGETA AT THE SAME TIME; VEGETA DODGES THEIR PUNCHES AND KICKS AND SMALL KI BLASTS BY DUCKING AND JUMPING AROUND; AFTER A MOMENT, HE RELEASES AN EXPLOSIVE WAVE WHICH CATCHES BOTH OF THE SAIYANS; THEN, HE SHOOTS AN ENERGY BEAM AT PARAGUS, KNOCKING HIM AWAY; HE FINISHES LAYEECK WITH A SWIFT KICK TO THE CHIN; LAYEECK FALLS>

<VEGETA STANDS UP STRAIGHT, SMILING; HE CRACKS HIS NECK AND THEN HELPS PARAGUS AND LAYEECK BACK UP>

Vegeta: You’re too slow, Layeeck. And you panic too much, Paragus. Neither one of you can hope to beat me.

Layeeck: Maybe if I trained as much as you, Vegeta, I’d be faster.

Vegeta: You won’t get the results if you don’t put in the effort, my friend. Anyway, we should be getting back. I planned a war council for later this night.

Paragus: The time for talk is done! We need to march on the Tuffles before they become a threat to us! Our forces won’t have any chance against them if they mobilize. We must hit them before they know what is happening!

Vegeta: <BREATHING HARD AND STROKING HIS CHIN> We don’t have the numbers. Even if we take the Tuffles by surprise, they would be able to repel us. They have technology on their side. And there are so many of them. One victory will alert the rest of them to our intentions. Then they will fortify their cities, and we will never be able to get inside.

Layeeck: So what’s the plan then?

Vegeta: I need Zhukin’s and Nappa’s forces first. Theirs are the two largest tribes. If I have their warriors behind me, we can exterminate the Tuffles.

Paragus: A war with Nappa or Zhukin would cripple us. Both of their tribes outnumber us. We’ll lose more Saiyans than we could possibly gain. Our war should be against the Tuffles, not out brethren.

Vegeta: I won’t be fighting Nappa or Zhukin. We will absorb their forces without much bloodshed.

Layeeck: How?

Vegeta: First, I’ll challenge Nappa to single combat. Once I’ve beaten him, our forces will outnumber Zhukin’s, and he will be forced to surrender. If he doesn’t surrender, we’ll kill him. <VEGETA SMILES> Sound good?

Layeeck: Vegeta, this is a mistake. You cannot beat Nappa. He’s the greatest warrior on the entire planet. He’s a legendary warrior!

Vegeta: <RAISING HIS EYEBROWS> He used to be, I’ll give you that.

Paragus: You think you are stronger than him?

Vegeta: You have been a part of our training sessions, haven’t you?

Paragus: Of course, Vegeta. Why do you ask?

Vegeta: Then you know my strength. Well, a slice of it. I haven’t used my full power against you two yet. Perhaps if you get stronger…

Layeeck: Impossible! I was trying my hardest against you, sir. You had to be fully powered up!

Vegeta: Do you really think I would lie to you, old friend? I am not one to boast. <HE SIGHS WHEN THE TWO STILL LOOK UNCONVINCED> Fine, I’ll show you.

<VEGETA STEPS BACK AND LETS OUT A LONG, LOW SCREAM; HIS AURA FLARES UP AROUND HIM; THE GROUND QUAKES AND NEARBY ROCKS SHATTER; THE GRASS VEGETA IS STANDING ON IS INSTANTLY VAPORIZED; ONCE VEGETA IS DONE CHARGING UP, HE LOWERS HIS ARMS AND GESTURES FOR THE TWO TO ATTACK HIM AGAIN; THEY BOTH RUN AT HIM; LAYEECK AND PARAGUS COME AT VEGETA FROM TWO DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, BUT HE DODGES OUT OF THE WAY AND THEY CRASH INTO ONE ANOTHER; THEN, VEGETA RUNS AT THE TWO; THEY TRY TO ATTACK AGAIN, BUT HE JUMPS AROUND WITH TELEPORTATIONS FOR A MOMENT BEFORE HITTING BOTH OF THEM INTO THE DIRT; THEN, VEGETA EXTINGUISHES HIS AURA>

Layeeck: <FEELING HIS JAW> Impressive, Vegeta. That packed quite a punch.

Paragus: <EYES BULGING> I couldn’t even see you!

Vegeta: <ARMS OUT> You see, my friends? I have grown stronger than any Saiyan before me! All the battles, all the training has paid off. Not even that brute Nappa can stand up to me now.

Layeeck: How sure are you, Vegeta? Have you ever seen Nappa fight?

Vegeta: <SHRUGS> How fast can someone his size be? Even if he’s stronger, I am smarter and quicker. I’ll wear him down.

Layeeck: But all he would need is one–

<SUDDENLY, TWO SAIYANS COME RUNNING ONTO THE SCENE>

Ocra: Vegeta!

<VEGETA, LAYEECK, AND PARAGUS TURN TO SEE OCRA AND ARTACHOC COME RACING ONTO THE SCENE; BOTH OF THEM ARE BRUISED AND BATTERED; OCRA HAS CUTS ALL OVER HER FACE AND ARTACHOC HAS A BLOODY GASH ACROSS HIS BARE NECK>

Vegeta: What’s happened, soldier?

Ocra: <OUT OF BREATH> The Tuffles… th-they… breached the s-southern border!

Artachoc: <ANGRY> They… killed everyone else.

Ocra: We… are the o-only ones who got away!

Paragus: What?! <HE TURNS TO VEGETA> See, Vegeta?! We must fight the Tuffles right now!

Vegeta: <LOOKING AT OCRA AND ARTACHOC CURIOUSLY> No. We leave for Nappa’s territory tonight. No war council. No more thinking this over. We’ve run out of time. I need his Saiyans at my side right now, or the Tuffles are going to kill us all.

<CUTS TO THE DAY>

<IT IS HOT AND BRIGHT OUT; THE CAMERA PANS ACROSS A LARGE DESERT EXPANSE UNTIL IT SETTLES IN ON A LARGE COLLECTION OF TENTS; THE ONE AT THE CENTER OF THIS SETTLEMENT IS THE SIZE OF A FOOTBALL STADIUM AND IT IS DECORATED WITH FANCY PAINT AND WOODEN TOWERS AT EACH CORNER>

<THE CAMERA MOVES THROUGH THE SETTLEMENT, SHOWING MANY SAIYANS WALKING AROUND OR EATING OR DOING OTHER ACTIVITIES; THE CAMERA COMES UPON THE SETTLEMENT’S FRONT GATE; THERE, SEVERAL GUARDS ARE STANDING BEHIND THE METAL BARRIER; SEVERAL SAIYANS ARE ALSO SITTING ON THE WALLS AROUND IT; FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE GATE COMES A NEW GROUP OF SAIYANS; AT THEIR HEAD IS VEGETA; AMONGST THE GROUP IS ZORN, LAYEECK, DOGOM, OCRA, ARTACHOC, AND PARAGUS; VEGETA CALMLY STRIDES UP TO THE GATE AS HIS GUARDS FOLLOW HIM>

Saiyan Gate Guard 1: <BRANDISHING HIS FISTS> Hey, you! Stop right there!

Vegeta: <UNPERTURBED> I am here to see your chieftain, Nappa. Did my envoys not tell you of our meeting? Nappa and I have a duel to get to. I don’t want to be kept waiting.

Saiyan Gate Guard 2: Oh, you’re Vegeta? Come on in. <HE OPENS THE GATE FOR VEGETA’S GROUP AND WALK INSIDE>

<VEGETA’S GROUP MOVES FORWARD TO THE MAIN TENT; AS THEY GO, MANY OF NAPPA’S SAIYANS GIVE THEM DIRTY LOOKS OR HURL INSULTS AT THEM, BUT THE GROUP IGNORES THEM; THEY ENTER THE GREAT TENT; INSIDE ARE DOZENS OF GUARDS; THEY PUSH VEGETA’S GROUP INTO THE CENTER OF THE ROOM, CAUSING LAYEECK, DOGOM, AND ZORN TO BRIEFLY SCUFFLE WITH THEM; AFTER VEGETA’S GROUP PUSHES THE GUARDS AWAY, THEY MOVE INTO THE CENTER OF THE ROOM; THERE, ON A MASSIVE THRONE, SITS NAPPA; HE IS HUGE, TALL, AND EXTREMELY MUSCLED; NAPPA IS WEARING HEAVY FURS AND A CAPE; HE IS DRINKING FROM A SAIYAN SKULL; WHEN HE SEES VEGETA, HE GRINS AND TAKES A DRINK>

Nappa: So you’re the cocky little fool who thought he could beat me, eh? Kind of puny, aren’t you?

Vegeta: They said you would be a giant.

Nappa: <TAKES ANOTHER DRINK> Did they? And what do you think? <HE STANDS UP AND FLEXES HIS MUSCLES> Have you ever seen such a warrior?!

Vegeta: <COCKS HIS HEAD, NARROWING HIS EYES> I thought you would be bigger.

Nappa: <DROPPING HIS SKULL CUP> Har har har! Hehehehe! That’s a good one, Vegeta. Ya’re funny, I’ll give ya that. It’s a shame I’ll have ta squish ya now.

<BOTH FIGHTERS STEP FORWARD; THEY START STRETCHING; NAPPA PULLS OFF HIS CAPE AND THROWS IT INTO A CORNER>

Vegeta: My envoys told you the prize for the winner, right?

Nappa: Hehe, yeah, they did. I win, I get all your Saiyans. <DAYDREAMING> I’ve always wanted a bigger empire! Maybe I’ll finally get rid of that rat Zhukin once I get yar guys! He’s always been an annoying thorn in my side…

Vegeta: And if I win, I get yours.

Nappa: <SHRUGS> Ha! Like that’ll happen, Vegeta!

Vegeta: <LOWERING INTO A DEFENSIVE STANCE> Watch and see.

<IN THE BACKGROUND, VEGETA’S SOLDIERS WATCH>

Dogom: What chance does Vegeta have?

Zorn: <FERVENT> Vegeta will win! He must!

Layeeck: <ARMS CROSSED> He’s stronger than he lets on. But Nappa has unbelievable power. Vegeta will need to tire him out. He’s faster than that brute, at least.

Ocra: <OBSERVING> And smarter too. Besides, he knows what he’s doing. He wouldn’t challenge Nappa if he was going to lose.

Artachoc: He better win! I don’t want to be Nappa’s slave! I’ll die before I let that happen!

<AHEAD OF THEM, NAPPA FINALLY LOWERS INTO A FIGHTING STANCE; HE SCREAMS AND THEN CHARGES AT VEGETA>

<WHEN NAPPA REACHES VEGETA HE REACHES OUT WITH BOTH HANDS IN AN ATTEMPT TO GRAB THE SMALLER SAIYAN; VEGETA, HOWEVER, DASHES AWAY FROM NAPPA’S ARMS, AND THEN HE IMMEDIATELY DASHES RIGHT BACK BEFORE THROWING TWO CONSECUTIVE KICKS WITH EACH FOOT, ONE AFTER ANOTHER; ALTHOUGH NAPPA IS LARGER THAN VEGETA, HIS ARMS ARE STILL SHORTER THAN VEGETA’S LEGS, AND HE IS SUBSEQUENTLY STRUCK BY VEGETA’S ATTACK; SOMEWHAT FRUSTRATED, NAPPA LUNGES AT VEGETA ONCE MORE, ONLY FOR THE SAME THING TO HAPPEN>

<IT TAKES NAPPA SEVERAL MORE TRIES TO REALIZE THAT HIS ORIGINAL PLAN IS NOT WORKING; THIS TIME, NAPPA PULLS BACK HIS LEFT HAND AS HE CHARGES AURA AROUND IT, AND THEN THRUSTS HIS PALM FORWARD, THROWING AN ENERGY SPHERE AT VEGETA; VEGETA JUMPS OVER THE ENERGY BLAST, WHICH FLIES INTO THE DISTANCE AND COLLIDES WITH A WALL, CREATING A MASSIVE EXPLOSION>

<NAPPA GROWLS AND STARTS SWINGING WILDLY AT VEGETA; VEGETA JUMPS BACK AND RUNS AROUND NAPPA AS THE LARGER BRUTE TRIES TO HIT HIM; VEGETA SHOOTS SMALL KI BLASTS AT NAPPA WHILE THIS IS GOING ON, THOUGH THEY DON’T DAMAGE THE LARGER SAIYAN VERY MUCH; SOON NAPPA IS EXHAUSTED, WHILE VEGETA IS ABLE TO GET A FEW GOOD PUNCHES IN ON HIM; NAPPA’S EXHAUSTION CAUSES HIM TO SLOW DOWN, AND WHEN VEGETA JUMPS FORWARD AND HITS HIM, HE CANNOT RETALIATE FAST ENOUGH>

<VEGETA THEN APPEARS BEHIND NAPPA AND THROWS A PUNCH; NAPPA, HOWEVER, IS JUST FAST ENOUGH TO BLOCK THE ATTACK; NOW RIGHT IN FRONT OF EACH OTHER, THE TWO THROW OFF MULTIPLE PUNCHES AND KICKS BLOCKING EVERY ATTACK INITIATED BY HIS OPPONENT; AFTER SEVERAL SECONDS OF STALEMATE, NAPPA SUDDENLY SPINS HIS ENTIRE BODY WITH OUTSTRETCHED ARMS AND HANDS CLENCHED AS FISTS; NOT EXPECTING SUCH AN ATTACK, VEGETA IS STRUCK ACROSS THE WAIST AND KNOCKED AWAY>

<USING THIS OPPORTUNITY, NAPPA CHARGES AT VEGETA ONCE MORE; UNFORTUNATELY FOR HIM, VEGETA HAS ALREADY RECOVERED FROM NAPPA’S ATTACK; VEGETA FLIES ABOVE NAPPA AND THEN STOMPS ON HIS HEAD WITH BOTH FEET, SLAMMING THE TYRANT INTO THE GROUND; NAPPA THEN ATTEMPTS TO ROLL AWAY TO AVOID BEING HIT BY WHATEVER ATTACK VEGETA MAY BE FOLLOWING UP WITH; VEGETA, HOWEVER, RECOGNIZES WHAT NAPPA IS DOING, AND INSTEAD, PROCEEDS TO RUN TO WHERE NAPPA IS GOING TO; JUST AS NAPPA GETS BACK ONTO HIS FEET, VEGETA GRABS THE BIGGER SAIYAN BY THE COLLAR AND THEN UPPERCUT-PALMS HIM WITH HIS FREE HAND; VEGETA IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWS THIS UP WITH TWO QUICK KICKS, ONE WITH EACH LEG, A KNEE, AND THEN A FLASHKICK; AFTER THIS STRING OF HITS, NAPPA IS ABLE TO JUST RECOVER FROM PAIN AND TRIES TO ESCAPE IN ORDER TO RECOLLECT HIMSELF; VEGETA CONTINUES TO PURSUE AND PROCEEDS TO HIT NAPPA WITH TWO FLASHKICKS AND ANOTHER KNEE, JUST BELOW THE CHEST; NAPPA IS SENT FLYING OFF INTO THE DISTANCE AND THEN LANDS ON THE GROUND, BARELY CONSCIOUS; VEGETA FLIES UP TO WHERE NAPPA IS LYING AND THEN PUTS ONE FOOT ON NAPPA’S CHEST WITH BOTH PALMS AIMED AT HIS DEFEATED OPPONENT>

<BEFORE NAPPA CAN DO ANYTHING, HIS GUARDS RUSH FORWARD AND ATTACK VEGETA’S GROUP>

Saiyan Guard 1: <MID-PUNCH> You’ll never get away with this, maggot!

Saiyan Guard 2: <LUNGING FORWARD> For Nappa! Die, scum!

Vegeta: <ANGRILY; STANDING STILL> Kill them! Quickly, before this gets out of hand! I don’t want a riot on my hands! We need Nappa’s soldiers!

<NAPPA’S LOYAL SOLDIERS EACH ATTACK A DIFFERENT SAIYAN IN VEGETA’S GROUP; SOME OF VEGETA’S UNNAMED GUARDS ARE KILLED, HOWEVER, LAYEECK, DOGOM, ZORN, AND THE OTHERS ALL SHOOT ENERGY BLASTS AT THE SAIYAN GUARDS AND QUICKLY KILL THEM; THEN, THE GROUP MOVES PAST THE SMOLDERING REMAINS OF NAPPA’S PERSONAL GUARDS AND CROWDS AROUND NAPPA HIMSELF; NAPPA LOOKS RATHER UNCOMFORTABLE>

Vegeta: So what do you say, Nappa? Will you swear loyalty to me right now or do you want to end up like your friends over there?

<NAPPA EYES THE BURNING CORPSES FOR A MOMENT; HE LOOKS ANGRY AND SAD AND TIRED; SUDDENLY, NAPPA SHOOTS HIS HAND FORWARD IN A FIST; EVERYONE STEPS BACK IN SURPRISE EXCEPT FOR VEGETA, WHO STAYS WHERE HE IS; JUST BEFORE NAPPA’S FIST HITS HIM, NAPPA STOPS HIS HAND AND OPENS IT; VEGETA SMIRKS AND THEN GRASPS NAPPA’S HAND AND HELPS THE LARGER SAIYAN UP>

Nappa: <LAUGHING HOARSELY> Sure, Vegeta. I’ll help ya. But whaddya actually want?

Vegeta: <CHIN RAISED> The whole damn planet.

3. King of the Badlands
<IT IS THE EARLY EVENING; THE PLANET’S SUN IS JUST BEGINNING TO SET>

<THE CAMERA PANS OVER A VAST DESERT WITH SCANT VEGETATION; THERE ARE MOUNTAINS AND CITIES OFF IN THE DISTANCE; VEGETA’S SAIYAN ARMY COMES INTO VIEW; THERE ARE SO MANY OF THEM, THAT SOON THEY TAKE UP THE ENTIRE SCREEN; AT THE HEAD OF THE ARMY IS VEGETA AND HIS TRUSTED ADVISORS; THEY COME UPON A CLIFF OVERLOOK; BELOW THEM IS VEGETA’S HOME (THE SAME ONE SEEN IN CHAPTER 1) – OR, IT USED TO BE; NOW, IT IS A SMOLDERING RUIN; CHARRED CORPSES AND TENTS DOT THE SCORCHED EARTH AND THERE ARE A FEW SMOKE TRAILS RISING FROM THE GROUND>

<THE CAMERA ZOOMS IN ON VEGETA’S FACE; HE LOOKS DEVASTATED AND ANGRY AT THE SAME TIME>

<THE CAMERA CUTS TO NIGHT; VEGETA’S ARMY HAS MADE CAMP ON THE THE STEPPES; THERE ARE MANY TENTS ERECTED AND FIRES BURNING; VEGETA IS STANDING IN THE SAME PLACE HE WAS PREVIOUSLY, LOOKING DOWN ON HIS DESTROYED HOME; THE WIND IS GOING HARD, CAUSING HIS HAIR AND CLOTHES TO BLOW ABOUT; VEGETA’S ARMS ARE CROSSED>

<FROM BEHIND VEGETA COMES NAPPA, ARTACHOC, AND PARAGUS>

Paragus: This is the Tuffles’ doing, no doubt. We need to eradicate them as soon as possible.

Artachoc: <GROWLING> Yeah, cowards hit us while we had our backs turned.

Vegeta: <NOT TURNING TO FACE THEM> They were peaceful once. What happened? Why this sudden bloodshed?

Nappa: <COMES UP AND PATS VEGETA ON THE SHOULDER> You happened, Vegeta! They’re afraid of ya unitin’ all the tribes!

Artachoc: As well they should be!

Vegeta: <SIGHING> Perhaps… but this is strange, coming from them. I didn’t think they had the audacity to pull such a move. <TURNING HIS HEAD FINALLY; TO ARTACHOC> I thought you said their General just wanted room for a new city?

Artachoc: <SHRUGGING> That’s what he told me.

Vegeta: Then he lied to you. These Tuffle dogs are playing dirty. <LOOKING BACK OVER HIS DESTROYED HOME; FURIOUS> If only we had gotten here a few hours ago, I could have killed every one of those Tuffles with my bare hands! But they have only prolonged the inevitable! I’ll find this Tuffle General and bleed him, myself. I swear it. He’s a fool thinking he can do this to me and get away with it.

Nappa: <CAREFUL> I thought ya needed more soldiers, Vegeta.

Vegeta: We need all of Zhukin’s forces, yes. The Tuffles outnumber us a thousand to one.

Artachoc: But our warriors are worth a thousand of theirs!

Nappa: Heheh, mine are! I know that.

Vegeta: Your soldiers are mine now, Nappa. I beat you in battle.

Nappa: Yeah, ya did. <HE POINTS A FINGER TO THE SKY AND GRINS> And I respect ya for it, boss.

Vegeta: <SHAKING HIS HEAD> All right, get out of here you three. I’ve sent scouts to Zhukin’s territory requesting a meeting with him. Get some sleep. Tomorrow, we will negotiate with him. And if it comes to it, I will kill him. As long as I get his soldiers, that is all that matters.

Nappa: Ya know, they call Zhukin the King of the Badlands. Ha! Who wants ta be king of a desert? I know I wouldn’t.

Vegeta: <NARROWING HIS EYES> There will be only one king by the end of this.

<WITH THAT, THE OTHERS SAY GOODNIGHT AND WALK OFF TO GET SOME SLEEP>

<CUTS TO A LARGE CITY WITH MANY TOWERING SKYSCRAPERS AND BUSTLING STREETS>

<INSIDE ONE OF THE LARGEST SKYSCRAPERS, THE FIGURE OF GENERAL AMANITO, THE TUFFLE WHO FOUGHT ARTACHOC IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER, WALKS INTO VIEW; HE IS WEARING HIS ORNATE BLUE AND WHITE ARMOR SANS HIS HELMET, WHICH HE IS CARRYING IN HIS HAND; HE IS IN A DARK CIRCULAR ROOM; THERE IS ONLY A SINGLE DIM LIGHT HANGING OVER THE CENTER OF THE ROOM>

<AS AMANITO MOVES FORWARD, HE KNEELS AND BOWS HIS HEAD>

Amanito: Councilors…

<ABOVE AMANITO ARE EIGHT OLD TUFFLES WEARING DARK BLUE ROBES; THEY ARE SITTING BEHIND A RAISED BENCH WROUGHT WITH FINE WOOD CARVINGS ACROSS IT; THEY ARE LOOK RATHER WEAK AND TIRED, BUT THEIR EYES ARE SHINING BRIGHT>

Tuffle Councilor 1: Update us on the status of the Saiyan threat, General?

Amanito: <AMANITO LOOKS UP; HIS FACE CONTORTS IN DISGUST> The vermin will be dealt with, my lords and ladies. <HE NODS TO THEM> I am currently outfitting our soldiers with the most up-to-date technology. Once they are outfitted, I will deploy our full forces into the field.

Tuffle Councilor 2: <SCRATCHING HER CHIN WITH A LONG FINGER> We have never before needed such an army, General. We are a peaceful race. This is most unnatural.

Amanito: If I do not lead our troops against the Saiyans, we will have the scourge of their hordes at our city walls within a fortnight! There is a Saiyan named Vegeta who is uniting all of the Saiyan tribes. Soon, he will have the full might of his race behind him. What are we to do? Sit back? Or fight for our survival?

Tuffle Councilor 3: Quite right, quite right, General. We must protect our people at all costs.

Tuffle Councilor 4: Before, the Saiyans were no threat to us. But now that the mongrel tribes have been united, I fear for our safety. These are troubling times.

Amanito: I will need additional power to command our forces across the planet. It will take our entire resources to rid this planet of the Saiyan filth. I can only do so with full discretion.

<THE TUFFLE COUNCILORS TURN TO ONE ANOTHER AND CONVERSE FOR A MOMENT; THEN, THEY LOOK BACK AT AMANITO, THEIR EYES SHINING>

Tuffle Councilor 2: Very well, General. We will grant you temporary executive powers. This High Council has ruled the Tuffle race for a thousand years, but if we must break tradition to survive, we will. <THE OTHERS NOD IN AGREEMENT> As soon as all of the Saiyans are eliminated, you will return your power back to us.

Amanito: <STANDS UP AND BOWS> Thank you, my lords and ladies. I will use all my powers to kill this Vegeta and his barbaric hordes. I swear it on my life.

<HE BOWS AGAIN AND EXITS WITH HIS HEAD HELD HIGH>

<CUTS BACK TO VEGETA’S CAMP; IT IS STILL NIGHT>

<NAPPA WALKS TO HIS TENT; LAYEECK IS MILLING OUTSIDE OF IT>

Nappa: Whaddya want?

Layeeck: I want to know something, Nappa.

Nappa: <BOOMING SNEER> Out with it, then! I’m tired.

Layeeck: How can I be sure of your loyalty to Vegeta?

Nappa: Cuz I’m not stupid. The strongest Saiyan gets ta be leader. And for now, that’s Vegeta. He’d kill me if I tried anything.

Layeeck: <CURIOUS> For now?

Nappa: We made a battlepact, ya idiot. Ya were there. Ya saw it! He beat me fair’n’square. Besides, ya know all Saiyans take battlepacts seriously.

Layeeck: But you aren’t like most Saiyans.

Nappa: <EVIL GRIN> Heheheh! <RAISES HIS FIST TO THE AIR> Nah, I’m somethin’ special–

<SUDDENLY, NAPPA IS HIT IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD AND THROWN FORWARD; HE LANDS FACE-FIRST IN THE DIRT; THREE BLACK FLASHES MOVE BY LAYEECK AND RUSH NAPPA; IN A MOMENT, THE HULKING SAIYAN IS UP; HE LETS OUT A ROAR AND LUNGES FORWARD WITH A SWINGING PUNCH; THIS CATCHES THE FIRST BLACK FIGURE IN THE CHEST, KNOCKING IT OVER; HE THEN CREATES A SMALL EXPLOSIVE WAVE WHICH KNOCKS ALL THREE OF THEM AWAY FROM HIM>

Nappa: Assassins! <TO LAYEECK> Heh, wanna squish some bugs, Layeeck?

<LAYEECK NODS>

<BOTH NAPPA AND LAYEECK SHOUT AND THEIR AURAS COME UP AROUND THEM; THE THREE FIGURES CLOTHED IN BLACK COME BACK INTO SIGHT, THOUGH THEY DON’T ATTACK YET; INSTEAD, THEY ENCIRCLE THE TWO SAIYANS; BOTH LAYEECK AND NAPPA PREPARE ENERGY IN THEIR HANDS; NAPPA’S ENERGY IS WHITE, LAYEECK’S IS PURPLE AND BLACK>

<ALL TOGETHER, THE THREE ASSASSINS JUMP FORWARD; NAPPA LUNGES AT TWO OF THEM, THROWING HIS ENERGY WILDLY; LAYEECK STEPS BACK AND AIMS AT THE LAST ASSASSIN, SHOOTING HIS KYORRA FLASH CALMLY; HOWEVER, THE TWO SAIYANS SOON REALIZE THEIR FOLLY AS THE ENERGY BLASTS GO STRAIGHT THROUGH THE AFTERIMAGES; THEN, FROM ABOVE, THE THREE ASSASSINS COME SCREAMING DOWN; TWO OF THEM KICK NAPPA IN THE HEAD, CAUSING HIM TO STAGGER BACK; ONE JUMPS DOWN ON LAYEECK AND PINS HIM TO THE GROUND; LAYEECK AND THE ASSASSIN START ROLLING AROUND IN THE DIRT TRYING TO GAIN DOMINANCE>

<NAPPA CREATES A WHIRLWIND KI ATTACK THAT PUSHES THE ASSASSINS BACK; THEN, HE JUMPS AT ONE AND CLUBS IT DOWN IN THE DIRT; IT FLIES INTO A CRATER AND DOES NOT MOVE AGAIN; THE OTHER ONE EVADES NAPPA’S SECOND LUNGE AND KICKS HIM IN THE BACK WITH A FLURRY OF KICKS; NAPPA ANGRILY SPINS AROUND, THROWING A WHITE KI BLAST AT THE FOE; THE ASSASSIN SIMPLY BLOCKS THIS ATTACK AND TELEPORTS OUT OF SIGHT; NAPPA SPINS AROUND LOOKING FOR THE ASSASSIN WENT WHEN A RED ENERGY BLAST COMES FLYING AT HIM FROM ABOVE HIM; HE LOOKS UP IN TIME JUST TO SEE IT HIT HIM IN THE FACE; A LARGE EXPLOSION GOES OFF, CONJURING UP TONS OF SMOKE AND DUST AND ROCK FRAGMENTS; AS THE SMOKE SETTLES, NAPPA IS SEEN TO BE STANDING IN THE SAME PLACE; HIS CLOTHES ARE IN TATTERS AND HIS FOREHEAD HAS A BLOODY GASH ON IT; THE ASSASSIN IS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN>

Nappa: So that’s how ya wanna play, is it?! I’ll make you pay for scratchin’ my face!

<THE ASSASSIN THEN TELEPORTS BEHIND NAPPA AND GOES FOR A DEEP PUNCH; HOWEVER, NAPPA SPINS AROUND AND ELBOWS THE ASSASSIN BACKWARDS; AS THE FOE IS STUMBLING, NAPPA JUMPS FORWARD AND SLAMS EACH HAND AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE ASSASIN’S BODY, AS IF HE WERE CLAPPING WITH THE FOE IN BETWEEN THEM; THE ASSASSIN LETS OUT A SCREAM AND SPITS UP BLOOD FROM THE DARK SHROUDS COVERING HIS FACE; THEN, NAPPA GRABS HIM BY THE TAIL, PULLS HIM UP FROM THE GROUND, AND SLAMS HIM BACK TO THE DIRT, MERCILESSLY; AFTER THREE OR FOUR SLAMS, THERE IS A MODERATE CRATER WITH BLOOD STREAKS IN IT; THE ASSASSIN’S BODY IS LIMP; NAPPA THROWS IT INTO THE AIR AND INCINERATES IT WITH A QUICK KI BLAST>

<BEHIND HIM, LAYEECK IS STILL FIGHTING THE LAST ASSASSIN; LAYEECK IS NOW ON TOP OF HIS OPPONENT AND HAS HIS ARMS AROUND THE SAIYAN’S NECK; HE HAS RIPPED OFF THE ASSASSIN’S SHROUD, SO THIS ASSASSIN’S HEAD AND NECK ARE ARE BARE; THERE ARE DEEP CUTS IN THE ASSASSIN’S NECK AND BLOOD IS RUNNING FREELY DOWN LAYEECK’S ARMS>

<LAYEECK STARTS SQUEEZING THE LIFE OUT OF THE SAIYAN WHEN THE ASSASSIN SHOOTS A MOUTH BEAM AT LAYEECK, WHICH HITS HIM IN THE FACE; HE FALLS OFF OF THE ASSASSIN; AS LAYEECK HOWLS IN PAIN AND CLUTCHES AT HIS BURNT FACE, THE ASSASSIN KICKS LAYEECK TO THE TURF AND STARTS CHOKING HIM; LAYEECK STRUGGLES AGAINST IT, BUT HE CANNOT EASILY BREAK FREE; SO LAYEECK LEANS FORWARD AND BITES THE ASSASSIN’S HAND, TEARING SKIN AND MUSCLE AND TENDONS ALL AT ONCE; THE ASSASSIN SCREAM AND LAYEECK HEADBUTTS HIM, THEN KICKS HIM BACK; THEN, LAYEECK DOES A DIAGONAL FLIP, LANDS, AND DOES A SWIFT KICK TO THE ASSASSIN’S THROAT; THE ASSASSIN COUGHS AND HIS FACE LOOKS SURPRISED, AND THEN HE FALLS, DEAD>

<LAYEECK AND NAPPA STAND HUNCHED OVER FOR A MOMENT, PANTING AND MOANING IN PAIN>

Nappa: <BREATHING HARD> Hahaha! What a bunch of fools! They should know better than ta attack me! I’m the greatest Saiyan in the world!

Layeeck: <STANDING UP STRAIGHT>Shut up, Nappa! Why would anybody send assassins after you?

Nappa: <PROUDLY> Cuz I’m special.

Layeeck: No, that can’t be it. Someone must be trying to kill us off before we reunite the tribes. <MORE TO HIMSELF THAN TO NAPPA> That’s the only reason I can think of. <TO NAPPA> But if they sent assassins after you, that means they must have sent assassins after…

Layeeck & Nappa: <TOGETHER; SURPRISED; HORRIFIED> Vegeta!

<LAYEECK AND NAPPA RUN OFF TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED TO VEGETA>

<CUTS TO ANOTHER TENT AT A VIEW FROM OVERHEAD, WITH SEVERAL SAIYANS STANDING AROUND IT, GUARDING; TWO SAIYANS DRESSED SIMILARLY TO THE ONES WHO ATTACKED NAPPA FLY TOWARDS THE SAIYANS ON THE GROUND; THE SAIYANS  GUARDING THE TENT DO NOT NOTICE> <THE ASSASSINS DISPATCH EACH GUARD SILENTLY BY EITHER BREAKING HIS NECK, OR FIRING A POINT-BLANK QUIET-BUT-LETHAL KI BLAST AT THEIR HEAD; ONE SUCH KI BLAST, HOWEVER, FAILS TO KILL ONE OF THE GUARDS, CAUSING HIM TO SCREAM; THE ASSASSIN FINISHES OFF THE GUARD BY SMASHING THE VICTIM’S SKULL ONTO HIS KNEE> <THE FAILURE TO REMAIN SILENT DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED; DOGOM IMMEDIATELY BURSTS OUT OF THE TENT AND FLIES INTO THE ASSASSIN WITH A SIDE KICK; BEFORE HIS ENEMY CAN RECOVER FROM THE ATTACK, DOGOM DUCKS UNDER THE ASSASSIN AND SCORPION-KICKS HIM INTO THE AIR; DOGOM THEN FLIES AT HIS ENEMY, PREPARING TO FINISH HIM OFF> <THE OTHER ASSASSIN FLIES INTO DOGOM FROM THE SIDE TO SAVE HIS PARTNER; THE TWO ASSASSINS THEN CLOSE IN ON DOGOM, AND FIGHT HIM TWO-TO-ONE IN CLOSE QUARTERS; DOGOM IS ABLE TO HOLD HIS OWN FOR SOME TIME, BUT BEGINS TO TAKE STRAY HITS HE FAILS TO BLOCK; TO REGAIN HIS MOMENTUM IN THE FIGHT, DOGOM RELEASES A SHORT-RANGED EXPLOSIVE WAVE THAT PUSHES BOTH ENEMIES AWAY IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS; DOGOM IMMEDIATELY CLOSES IN ON THE FIRST ASSASSIN AND FLASH-KICKS HIM RIGHT THROUGH THE CHIN, SENDING A SHOCKWAVE UP HIS JAW AND INTO THE UPPER PART OF HIS SKULL, KILLING HIM INSTANTLY> <THE OTHER ASSASSIN DOES NOT FALTER, HOWEVER, AND CHARGES AT DOGOM; AS HANDLING ONE OPPONENT IS SIGNIFICANTLY EASIER THAN HANDLING TWO, DOGOM ALSO RUNS TOWARDS THE ASSASSIN; DOGOM RELEASES ANOTHER SMALL EXPLOSIVE WAVE; WHILE HIS OPPONENT IS STUNNED, DOGOM JABS THE ATTACKER, FLIES ACROSS THE ENEMY WHILE SPINNING, HITTING THE ENEMY WITH HIS LEFT LEG, REPEATS THIS TWO-STRIKE COMBINATION, JABS ONCE MORE, AND THEN GRABS HIS ATTACKER BY THE THROAT; WITH A SMILE, DOGOM THROWS THE ASSASSIN INTO THE AIR, FIRES TWO FINGER BEAMS AT THE OPPONENT, AND THEN FLIES UP TO THE OPPONENT WITH A FRONT FLIP; WHILE UPSIDE DOWN, DOGOM AXE-KICKS THE ASSASSIN RIGHT IN THE CHEST, BREAKING SEVERAL RIBS AND STOPPING HIS HEART IN THE PROCESS; THE ATTACKER’S LIFELESS BODY CONTINUES TO FLY UPWARDS FROM THE FORCE OF DOGOM’S KICK, WHILE DOGOM RETURNS TO THE GROUND; REALIZING THAT VEGETA WAS LIKELY IN DANGER AS WELL, HE LEAVES THE GROUND ONCE MORE TO HEAD TO THE SAIYAN LEADER’S LOCATION>

<CUTS TO VEGETA>

<THE CAMERA SHOWS THAT VEGETA IS STILL WHERE HE WAS WHEN HE TOLD NAPPA AND THE OTHERS TO LEAVE HIM EARLIER THAT NIGHT; THERE ARE DEAD GUARDS AND ASSASSINS LYING ON THE GROUND, AND THERE ARE MANY CRATERS FROM ENERGY BLASTS AND IMPACTS; DOGOM, NAPPA, AND LAYEECK COME RUNNING UP; VEGETA HAS CUTS AND BRUISES ALONG HIS FACE AND ARMS; HE IS HOLDING AN ASSASSIN BY THE NECK WITH A SINGLE HAND>

Vegeta: <TEETH BLOODY> Who sent you?!

Assassin: Like I’d tell you!

Vegeta: <SQUEEZES THE ASSASSIN’S NECK HARDER, CAUSING THE SAIYAN TO WRITHE IN PAIN> Answer or die, scum. I will not waste time with you any longer.

<THE ASSASSIN SPITS AT VEGETA; VEGETA SNARLS AND THEN RIPS OUT THE ASSASSIN’S THROAT; THE SAIYAN HUNCHES OVER AS BLOOD SPRAYS OUT OF HIS OPEN WOUND; VEGETA PUNCHES HIM UP INTO THE AIR, THEN FOLLOWS THIS UP WITH A TELEPORT SPINNING KICK AND A SWIFT BEAM TO THE HEAD; THE ASSASSIN’S LIFELESS BODY DESCENDS TO THE GROUND JUST AFTER VEGETA LANDS AND NOTICES NAPPA, DOGOM, AND LAYEECK BEFORE HIM>

Vegeta: <GESTURES TO THE DEAD SAIYANS ON THE GROUND> Zhukin’s assassins. I think they were his best soldiers. Shame they had to die before we could add them to our ranks. But they wouldn’t answer my questions.

Layeeck: We know, Vegeta. He sent some after us, too.

Vegeta: <SHAKING HIS HEAD> So Zhukin wanted to take all of us out?

Dogom: It makes sense, though. If he eliminated all of the former tribe leaders, he would have no competition.

Nappa: <LAUGHING> King of the Badlands, huh?!

Vegeta: Not for much longer. Before these assassins attacked me, my scouts returned and told me Zhukin had agreed to our meeting. <FEELING HIS WRISTS> But there won’t be a meeting now. We’re going to kill that bastard, no questions asked. Gather up your best men, brothers. We’ll need them tomorrow.

<CUTS TO THE NEXT DAY>

<IT IS FOGGY; IT IS RAINING; IT IS MUDDY>

<VEGETA’S PERSONAL GUARD MAKES ITS WAY THROUGH THE MUD UNTIL THEY REACH A GROUP OF TENTS SURROUNDED BY A PALISADE WALL; THE PLACE HAS NO GATE, SO THEY ENTER WITHOUT STOPPING; AS THEY DO, HOWEVER, THEY SEE MULTIPLE SAIYANS ABOUT; MANY OF THEM ARE SITTING BEHIND THE WALLS ON RAISED PLATFORMS, THOUGH OTHERS ARE STANDING ABOUT; THEY ALL GIVE HATEFUL LOOKS TO VEGETA’S TEAM>

Saiyan: <FEMALE SAIYAN SITTING ON THE WALL; SHE SNEERS AT VEGETA’S GROUP; TO LAYEECK AND OCRA IN PARTICULAR> You won’t be getting out of here alive.

Ocra: <FROWNING> We’ll see about that.

<THE SAIYAN FEMALE SPITS AT THEM, BUT VEGETA IGNORES HER; HE STRIDES FORWARD, CONFIDENTLY, UNTIL HE COMES INTO A TENT; THE TENT IS QUITE LARGE, AND IT HAS MANY HOLES IN THE TOP OF IT, ALLOWING FOR SCANT LINES OF FOGGY LIGHT TO SHINE THROUGH; THERE ARE SAIYANS LINING THE WALLS OF THE TENT; VEGETA AND HIS GROUP ENTER AND THEY SOON SPREAD OUT OVER ONE HALF OF THE TENT>

<STANDING IN THE CENTER OF THE TENT IS A TALL SAIYAN WITH ONE BLACK EYE; HIS OTHER IS COVERED BY AN EYEPATCH; HE IS WEARING DARK FUR PANTS, BLACK GLOVES, AND A LONG FUR CAPE; UPON HIS HEAD IS A CROWN MADE OF GOLD AND BONE, POKING OUT BETWEEN TUFTS OF SHAGGY BLACK HAIR; HIS FACE IS COVERED IN STUBBLE, AND THE REST OF HIS BODY IS COVERED IN SCARS; THIS SAIYAN IS CLEARLY ZHUKIN>

Zhukin: <SMILING> Vegeta… so nice to see you are well. <RAISES HIS EYEBROWS> Have you come to finally bend the knee?

Vegeta: <FROWNING> You would be wise to do just that. I have more soldiers than you. I have united the other tribes. I hold the advantage.

Zhukin: <SHRUGGING> Do you? <HE STEPS FORWARD AND STARTS WALKING DOWN THE LINE OF VEGETA’S SOLDIERS> Ah, Zorn. <HE NODS TO ZORN> Dogom. <HE NODS TO DOGOM> Paragus, my friend! How is my daughter treating you? Is she with child yet?

Paragus: <GRUFFLY> She is a fine wife. That’s all you need to know.

Zhukin: <SMIRKING> Pity she couldn’t make it. But I’ll be seeing her soon enough. I promise you that. <HE MOVES ON> Nappa! I am surprised you are here. I never thought I’d see you playing Vegeta’s dog.

Nappa: <GROWLING> Careful, kingy. We wouldn’t want to mess up your crown.

Zhukin: <CHUCKLES AND THEN MOVES TO VEGETA> I count five tribe leaders, Vegeta. Where is Creissa?

Layeeck: <COLDLY> Dead. And you’ll suffer the same fate if you don’t surrender.

Zhukin: <NARROWING HIS EYES; HIS SMIRK IS STILL ON HIS FACE, THOUGH IT HAS LESSENED> A king does not kneel.

Artachoc: Oh yeah? Who made you the king, anyway?!

Zhukin: <PUTS HIS ARMS OUT TO HIS SIDES, PRESENTING HIS BODY TO THE ONLOOKERS> Why, these scars did. I took my crown with my own sweat and blood. I did not beg anyone for it. I did not negotiate for it. <HE LOOKS AT VEGETA> You may have more Saiyans, Vegeta, but I have more experience in the field of battle. You are truly a fool if you think you can best me.

Vegeta: <RAISING HIS CHIN> I don’t want it to come to bloodshed.

Zhukin: <TEETH FLASHING IN HIS SMILE> Hasn’t it already?

Vegeta: Your assassins failed like all the rest. And so will you, if you try anything.

Zhukin: <WALKING RIGHT UP TO VEGETA> I am not like the other tribe leaders. I am not a coward. I am a descendant of the last Legendary Super Saiyan! I am his successor. <SLOWLY AND DELIBERATELY> It is my right to lead our people.

Vegeta: Do you even know why I’m uniting our people? Do you have the slightest idea?

Zhukin: <LAUGHS> You want to defeat the Tuffles, don’t you?

Vegeta: I want the Saiyans to return to our former glory. This is our planet, not theirs.

Zhukin: <FLICKS HIS FINGERS, AND A SAIYAN GUARD COMES FORWARD> The Tuffles outnumber us a thousand to one. You cannot hope to conquer them. You have to be quite naive to think you could. But I am not like you, Vegeta. I have dealt with the Tuffles in another way. <THE GUARD REACHES ZHUKIN AND DISPLAYS SEVERAL ENERGY RIFLES, SCOUTER-LIKE DEVICES, AND HEAVY BATTLE ARMOR> I have made them my allies.

Vegeta: <EYES WIDENING> No…!

Zhukin: <GRABS AN ENERGY RIFLE AND STARTS WAVING IT AROUND AS HE WALKS ABOUT THE TENT> Do you know where we are, Vegeta? Do you know what this place is?

Vegeta: The seat of the last Legendary Super Saiyan. It’s where he ruled our last great empire from.

Zhukin: <NODDING> Aye. It’s just a barren rock now. A memory of the past. But not for long. With the Tuffle technology and the power of my armies, I will take back what is rightfully mine! I will rebuild this place into a mighty city. And I will rule our race as a Legendary Super Saiyan!

Vegeta: You’re insane…!

Zhukin: So we come to it at last. <POINTING THE ENERGY RIFLE AT VEGETA> Bow or die.

Vegeta: Never.

<ZHUKIN FIRES THE RIFLE, AUGMENTED BY HIS OWN KI RESERVES, RIGHT AT VEGETA; THE BLAST GOES RIGHT THROUGH VEGETA’S FACE, SHOWING HIS BODY TO BE AN AFTERIMAGE; BEFORE ZHUKIN CAN REACT, VEGETA REAPPEARS BEHIND ZHUKIN AND GRABS HIM BY THE BACK OF THE HEAD; HE CREATES A PURPLE ENERGY BALL AND USES THAT TO HIT ZHUKIN DOWN INTO THE GROUND; THE ENERGY BALL EXPLODES, SHOOTING DUST UP EVERYWHERE; ZHUKIN YELLS, CREATING TWO ENERGY BEAMS IN EACH HAND AND THEN SHOOTS THEM WILDLY; VEGETA’S SOLDIERS HAVE TO JUMP OUT OF THE WAY TO DODGE THEM; AS ZHUKIN STANDS UP, VEGETA LUNGS AT HIM AND PUNCHES HIM UP INTO THE AIR; VEGETA FLIES UP AFTER HIM, BUT ZHUKIN DODGES THE ATTACK AND BICYCLE KICKS VEGETA BACK TO THE TURF; BEFORE VEGETA CAN STAND UP, ZHUKIN SHOOTS HIM WITH A STREAM OF ENERGY BLASTS; VEGETA IS HIT BY MANY OF THEM, BUT HE TELEPORTS OUT OF THE WAY AFTER A MOMENT; HE COMES UP BEHIND ZHUKIN AND PUNCHES THE SAIYAN IN THE SMALL OF THE BACK; ZHUKIN SPINS AROUND AND THE TWO BRIEFLY ENGAGE IN A BLOW EXCHANGE; THEN, ZHUKIN GRABS VEGETA BY THE TAIL; VEGETA SHRIEKS IN PAIN AND FALLS TO HIS KNEES>

Zhukin: You sad fool. <HE READIES A GREEN ENERGY BEAM AND PUTS HIS PALM RIGHT IN FRONT OF VEGETA’S NECK> I told you you can’t beat me.

<VEGETA’S MEN LOWER INTO BATTLE STANCES, MANY OF THEM READYING THEIR OWN ENERGY ATTACKS>

Zhukin: <TO HIS OWN SAIYANS> Stay them, if they decide to come forward. Leave Paragus. I don’t want to make my daughter a widow quite yet. <LOOKING BACK DOWN TO VEGETA; HE GRIPS VEGETA’S TAIL HARDER, CAUSING THE SAIYAN TO SCREAM OUT IN PAIN> Look, Vegeta. You’re kneeling! Now die!

<ZHUKIN GOES TO SHOOT THE ENERGY BEAM WHEN VEGETA CREATES A BLUE ENERGY BALL AND THROWS IT AT THE GROUND RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM; THIS CAUSES A MASSIVE EXPLOSION THAT FORCES DUST AND ROCK FRAGMENTS INTO THE AIR; ZHUKIN FIRES HIS BLAST AFTER A MOMENT OF BEING STUNNED, BUT IT IS TOO LATE; VEGETA HAS BROKEN FREE OF ZHUKIN’S GRIP AND HAS DISAPPEARED; IN THE DUST, ZHUKIN WHIRLS AROUND>

Zhukin: Where is he?! <HE LOOKS TO HIS GUARDS, WHO ARE ALSO LOOKING AROUND> Where is he?! <TO VEGETA> Come out, coward! A true Saiyan does not run from battle!

<EVEN AS ZHUKIN IS LOOKING FOR VEGETA, VEGETA’S ALLIES RUSH FORWARD AND START ATTACKING; LAYEECK, ZORN, AND DOGOM TAKE THE RIGHT SIDE; ARTACHOC, OCRA, AND LASCON TAKE THE LEFT SIDE; NAPPA AND PARAGUS TAKE THE MIDDLE; SOON, THE TENT IS FULL OF ENERGY BLASTS GOING OFF AND SCREAMS ECHOING ABOUT; IN THE CHAOS, ZHUKIN IS WANDERING AROUND LOOKING FOR VEGETA; ENERGY BLASTS AND PUFFS OF DUST ARE SHOOTING PAST HIM>

<SUDDENLY, ZHUKIN DUCKS AND SPINS AROUND; VEGETA APPEARS BEHIND HIM, THROWING A PUNCH; AFTER DODGING THE ATTACK, ZHUKIN ATTACKS VEGETA, BUT VEGETA JUMPS BACK AND SPINS OUT OF THE WAY; ZHUKIN FOLLOWS THIS UP WITH A FLURRY OF PUNCHES AND KICKS WHICH VEGETA EASILY DODGES IN THE FRAY OF BATTLE; SWEAT IS RUNNING DOWN ZHUKIN’S FACE, BUT HE CANNOT LAND AN ATTACK; HE STARTS SHOOTING ENERGY AT VEGETA; VEGETA STARTS HITTING THESE ASIDE AS WELL>

Vegeta: <OVER THE ROAR OF BATTLE; TWO SAIYANS FALL DEAD BEHIND HIM AS HE’S SPEAKING> Surrender, Zhukin! It’s lost!

<ZHUKIN JUST LAUGHS AND THROWS A LARGE ENERGY BLAST AT VEGETA; VEGETA PUTS UP HIS ARMS TO BLOCK THE ATTACK; IT HITS HIM AND CAUSES A LARGE EXPLOSION OF FIRE; THE FIRE CONSUMES VEGETA’S VISAGE; ZHUKIN WATCHES THIS, HIS EYE GLIMMERING WITH THE FLAMES; HE YELLS IN VICTORY>

<THEN THE SMOKE CLEARS AND VEGETA IS STANDING THERE UNHARMED BY ZHUKIN’S ATTACK>

Zhukin: <EYES BULGING; FEAR OVERTAKING HIM> What… no! That was my strongest attack.

<VEGETA FROWNS AT ZHUKIN AND THEN SHOOTS A RED FINGER BEAM AT THE KING; IT HITS ZHUKIN IN THE NECK, CAUSING IT TEAR OPEN; BLOOD STARTS SPURTING OUT; ZHUKIN GRASPS AT HIS NECK AND FALLS TO HIS KNEES; VEGETA SUDDENLY AIR DASHES FORWARD AND PUNCHES ZHUKIN IN THE FACE, KNOCKING HIM TO THE GROUND; VEGETA THEN REACHES DOWN AND RIPS ZHUKIN’S CROWN OFF OF HIS HEAD; EVEN AS ZHUKIN IS DYING, HE WATCHES VEGETA GRASP THE CROWN AND THE DESTROY IT WITH A SMALL ENERGY EXPLOSION; HIS EYES WIDEN MORE>

Vegeta: You are no Legendary Super Saiyan. You are no king. You are no warrior. Die as nothing, Zhukin.

<THE SCREEN PANS BACK AND SILHOUETTES BEHIND SOME ENERGY EXPLOSIONS AS HE SHOOTS A SMALL GALICK BEAM INTO ZHUKIN’S FACE, KILLING HIM; AROUND VEGETA, THE SOLDIERS ARE STILL BATTLING; A FEW QUICK SCENES SHOW EACH OF VEGETA’S NAMED ALLIES RUTHLESSLY KILLING ZHUKIN’S GUARDS; SOON THE BATTLING STOPS AND THERE IS SILENCE; THE GROUP WALKS UP BEHIND VEGETA AND LOOKS AT ZHUKIN’S CORPSE>

Layeeck: <BREATHING HARD> It’s finally over…

Nappa: <GRINNING> Haha, Zhukin doesn’t look like a king no more!

Dogom: Vegeta, we still need to take in his people. It’ll be harder to convince them to join us without Zhukin surrendering. They may try to resist.

Vegeta: <LOOKING DOWN AT ZHUKIN> I’ll go and see them myself. Once I show them his corpse, they’ll know there’s a new king of the Saiyans. Then they’ll fall with the rest. <HE TURNS AROUND AND LOOKS AT HIS SAIYANS> You have done well today, brothers. But now we must focus our attention on our true enemies. The Tuffles will pay for what they have done to us – for allying with Zhukin and soiling our honor as Saiyans, for killing our people, and for destroying our homes. If they want a war, then we’ll give them one. They are fools to underestimate us. It’s time we show these Tuffle dogs the true might of the Saiyans!

<span style="color:#191970" ><THE OTHERS RAISE THEIR FISTS INTO THE AIR AND ROAR IN APPROVAL; THE SCREEN ZOOMS OUT SLIGHTLY>

<ABRUPT TO BLACK>

4. Fear no Darkness
<SEVERAL BROKEN, BLOODY CORPSES ARE SEEN LYING ON THE GROUND IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE BATTLE IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER; OCRA, ALONE, WALKS PAST THE BODIES OF BOTH ALLIES AND FORMER ENEMIES; SUDDENLY, THE SAME FEMALE SAIYAN WHO EXCHANGED WORDS WITH OCRA IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER BURSTS OUT FROM BEHIND THE REMAINS OF A TENT WITH A FORWARD FLIP, ONE LEG EXTENDED; OCRA NOTICES HER ATTACKER TOO LATE AND IS STRUCK IN THE BACK BY THE HEEL OF HER ENEMY; THE ATTACK FLINGS OCRA ACROSS THE GROUND SEVERAL METERS, BUT HER ATTACKER IMMEDIATELY PURSUES HER; OCRA IS ABLE TO STOP HER MOMENTUM BY SLAMMING HER PALMS INTO THE GROUND, AND THEN SHE JUMPS OUT OF THE WAY>

Ocra: <EYES NARROWED> Oh, it’s you.

<DETERMINED TO TAKE DOWN HER FOE, OCRA CHARGES AT THE OTHER FEMALE SAIYAN; IN AN ATTEMPT TO CATCH HER OPPONENT OFF-GUARD, OCRA GOES LOW AND SLIDES ACROSS THE GROUND WITH HER LEG EXTENDED; THE OPPOSING SAIYAN IS ABLE TO JUMP OVER THE ATTACK, BUT OCRA IMMEDIATELY GETS OFF THE GROUND WITH A SPINNING BACKFIST; UNABLE TO DODGE, THE OTHER SAIYAN BLOCKS OCRA’S ATTACK, BUT OCRA IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWS UP WITH A DOUBLE-PALM STRIKE, PREVENTING HER OPPONENT FROM COUNTERATTACKING AND FORCING HER TO REMAIN ON THE DEFENSIVE; BELIEVING THAT HER OPPONENT WILL CONTINUE TO BLOCK, OCRA GOES FOR A GRAPPLE; HOWEVER, THE ENEMY SAIYAN LEAVES AN AFTERIMAGE AND REAPPEARS BEHIND OCRA BEFORE HITTING HER WITH A PALM STRIKE; THE UNEXPECTED ATTACK LEAVES OCRA STUNNED LONG ENOUGH FOR HER OPPONENT TO GRAB HER HAIR>

Saiyan: You’re finished!

<THE ENEMY SAIYAN, WITH HER FREE HAND, CREATES A SMALL KI BLAST; JUST AS SHE FIRES THE KI BLAST, OCRA SHIFTS HER HEAD JUST ENOUGH TO AVOID THE ATTACK, WHICH INSTEAD, CUTS OFF HER HAIR; NOW FREED, OCRA RESPONDS WITH A LOTUS KICK THAT KNOCKS HER OPPONENT AWAY; SHE THEN CHARGES A GREEN-AND-PINK ENERGY SPHERE IN HER PALMS BEFORE THROWING THE ATTACK AT HER FLYING ENEMY; THE OTHER SAIYAN FLIES OUT OF THE WAY AND RIGHT BACK AT OCRA WITH ANOTHER FRONT-FLIP KICK; OCRA ROLLS AWAY, DODGING THE KICK, BUT HER ENEMY IMMEDIATELY FIRES A SWEEPING FINGER BEAM, WHICH STRIKES OCRA AND BOUNCES HER AGAINST A NEARBY CLIFF>

<WHEN OCRA LANDS ON THE GROUND, SHE ATTEMPTS TO ROLL AWAY ONCE MORE, BUT HER ENEMY CHASES HER DOWN WITH A FLYING SIDE KICK; JUST AS OCRA IS HIT, THE ENEMY SAIYAN FOLLOWS UP WITH A SWEEPING ROUNDHOUSE KICK THAT POPS OCRA SLIGHTLY INTO THE AIR, AND THEN HITS HER WITH AN UPWARDS SPIRALING FINGER BEAM, SENDING HER FLYING VERTICALLY; OCRA’S OPPONENT THEN FLIES UP TO HER AND RELEASES AN ENERGY WHIP THAT WRAPS AROUND OCRA; THE ENEMY SAIYAN PULLS OCRA OVERHEAD AND FLINGS HER AWAY, BUT DOES NOT STOP FOLLOWING; SHE HITS OCRA AGAIN, BUT WITH ANOTHER SWEEPING FINGER BEAM FOLLOWED BY TWO QUICK KICKS>

<OCRA LANDS ON HER BACK IN THE DISTANCE, TOO BEAT UP TO MOVE; HER OPPONENT LANDS NEXT TO HER; WITHOUT MERCY, THE OTHER SAIYAN FIRES A GREEN ENERGY BLAST AT OCRA; THE ENERGY BLAST DETONATES, AND THEN ITS REMAINS CONTINUE TO BURN OCRA’S HELPLESS BODY; AS OCRA SCREAMS IN PAIN, HER OPPONENT CHARGES UP ANOTHER ENERGY BLAST IN HER MOUTH, READY TO FINISH HER OFF>

<SUDDENLY, OUT OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SCREEN, A WHITE AURA COMES SHOOTING INTO VIEW>

Layeeck: Hey!! Stop!! <HE FLIES TOWARDS THE FEMALE SAIYAN, WHO TURNS AND SHOOTS HER MOUTH BEAM AT HIM INSTEAD; LAYEECK DODGES THE ATTACK AND TACKLES HER BEFORE SHE GETS ANOTHER SHOT OFF; HE WRAPS HIS ARMS AROUND HER SHOULDERS AND DROPS TO HIS KNEES, HOLDING ONTO HER> What are you doing? Huh?! Answer me!

Saiyan: <STRUGGLING AGAINST LAYEECK> This is for King Zhukin!

Layeeck: <HOLDING HER STEADY; TEETH BARED> Zhukin is dead! It’s over, all right?! You can’t bring him back!

Saiyan: N-no! Get off of me!

<THE FEMALE SAIYAN CREATES AN ENERGY WAVE AND BREAKS FREE OF LAYEECK’S GRASP; SHE FLIES BACK A FEW FEET AND THEN FALLS INTO A FIGHTING STANCE; LAYEECK IS NOT HURT BY THE ATTACK; HE CAUTIOUSLY LOWERS INTO A FIGHTING STANCE>

Layeeck: That almost hurt. I’m impressed. <HE SMILES> So who are you, girl?

Saiyan: <EYES NARROWED> Come and find out.

<LAYEECK SHAKES HIS HEAD AND THEN CHARGES HER; SHE JUMPS OUT OF THE WAY AND SPIN-KICKS HIM ACROSS THE CHEEK; AS LAYEECK STUMBLES TO THE SIDE, THE FEMALE SAIYAN LANDS AND STICKS HER ARMS OUT; SHE SHOOTS THREE GREEN ENERGY BEAMS FROM ALTERNATING HANDS; EACH ONES HITS LAYEECK, WITH THE LAST ONE KNOCKING HIM TO THE GROUND; HE IS BRUISED, BUT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE IN PAIN>

Layeeck: <FEELING HIS SORE SHOULDER> Heh… you’ve got some fight in you.

Saiyan: <READYING ANOTHER BLAST> No mercy!

<LAYEECK JUMPS UP AND SHOOTS TOWARDS THE FEMALE SAIYAN WITH A FLYING PUNCH; SHE WILD SENSES OUT OF THE WAY, FLYING UP INTO THE AIR, AND THEN HURLS A PURPLE ENERGY BALL AT LAYEECK; LAYEECK CASUALLY BATS THIS ASIDE>

Layeeck: Enough!

<HE SHOOTS UP TO THE FEMALE SAIYAN AND TELEPORT KICKS HER DOWNWARD; SHE LANDS HARD IN A SMALL CRATER; AS SHE SITS UP, LAYEECK LANDS IN FRONT OF HER, HIS PALM OUTSTRETCHED, BLUE ENERGY RAPIDLY FORMING IN FRONT OF IT; THE FEMALE SAIYAN IS ON HER KNEES, STARING UP AT LAYEECK>

Saiyan: This isn’t over… you haven’t won!

Layeeck: Fool! You’re fighting for a hopeless cause! Vegeta is our king now. You can’t change that.

Saiyan: <SNEERING> Watch me.

<SHE STRUGGLES TO STAND UP AND ATTACK AGAIN, BUT LAYEECK SHOOTS HER WITH THE BLUE ENERGY BLAST FORMING IN FRONT OF HIS HAND, CAUSING HER TO FALL BACK ONTO HER KNEES; AS SOON AS HE FIRES THE ATTACK, LAYEECK INSTANTLY FORMS ANOTHER BLAST>

Layeeck: Vegeta doesn’t want to have to kill any more Saiyans. But if you keep this up, I’m sure he’ll make an exception. Do I need to take you to him? He won’t be as nice as me, I promise you that.

Cyleria: <BOWING HER HEAD> No…

Layeeck: Good. <HE EXTINGUISHES THE FORMING KI BLAST AND LOWERS HIS HAND> We’re all in this together, you know? We can’t be fighting each other. The Tuffles are our greatest threat. We have to stand together and fight them as one or else they will kill us all. Do you understand? <CYLERIA NODS> Good. Now tell me your name, girl.

Cyleria: <BITES HER LIP AND LETS OUT A SHORT BREATH> I’m Cyleria.

<CUTS TO AMANITO>

<THE ENTIRE AREA IS DESTROYED, CRATERS AND SCORCH MARKS DOMINATING THE LANDSCAPE; SMOKE IS RISING INTO THE AIR FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES, THOUGH A FEW ACTIVE FIRES ARE STILL BURNING; AMANITO’S ARMY OF HEAVILY-ARMORED TUFFLES IS MARCHING THROUGH THE LAND LIKE BUGS, DESTROYING SAIYAN SETTLEMENTS AND KILLING SAIYANS WITHOUT MERCY; AHEAD OF THIS ARMY IS AMANITO HIMSELF, WATCHING THE CARNAGE FROM A RAISED HILL; THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER TUFFLES WITH AMANITO, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE SOLDIERS ARE FAR BEHIND HIM, BURNING DOWN A SAIYAN SETTLEMENT; THE TUFFLES WITH AMANITO ARE WEARING SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ARMOR VARIANTS THAN THE REGULAR FOOT SOLDIERS, IMPLYING THEY ARE OF GREATER RANK>

<AROUND A DOZEN SAIYANS GO RUNNING BY AMANITO’S ELITE GROUP, FLEEING THE ASSAULT; THEY ARE ONLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN; AMANITO AND THE OTHERS RAISE THEIR BLASTER RIFLES AND FIRE ON THE SAIYANS, RUTHLESSLY KILLING THEM; THEY ALL LAUGH AND START BURNING THE CORPSES WITH THEIR WEAPONS; TWO COMMANDERS, VIROS AND SOLITARN, ARE BRUTALIZING THE CORPSES MORE THAN THE OTHERS>

Viros: Who said the Saiyans were a threat? <HE STARTS TO URINATE ON THE CORPSES> Hahaha! Nothing but a bunch of garbage!

Solitarn: <FIRE IN HIS EYES; HE DECAPITATES A DEAD SAIYAN WITH HIS ENERGY BLASTER> That is more than these animals deserve.

<SUDDENLY A TUFFLE SCOUT MATERIALIZES ON AMANITO’S LEFT GAUNTLET PORT AS A HOLOGRAM; THIS TUFFLE’S NAME IS NIVALUS>

Nivalus: General Amanito! News from the Saiyan rebels’ camp!

Amanito: <RAISES HIS ARM SO THAT THE HOLOGRAM IS AT EYE LEVEL> What is it?

Nivalus: Vegeta has killed Zhukin! He has unified the Saiyans and is now preparing to press forward with a huge army! They have converged not ten miles north of your position!

Amanito: <CLICKS OFF THE HOLOGRAM AND TURNS BACK TO HIS COMMANDERS> Damn it all! Zhukin was our greatest hope to tame these mongrel beasts!

Vitandi: <ANOTHER OFFICER STANDING NEXT TO AMANITO; HE DID NOT BRUTALIZE THE SAIYAN CORPSES LIKE THE OTHERS> General, it’s better that we kill the Saiyans. If we allied with them, they would have surely betrayed us.

Amanito: Perhaps. But now we are in for a war. A long and terrible one, I fear. <HE SHAKES HIS HEAD> Very well. We aren’t far away from their army. We’ll march tonight and take the Saiyans unawares in the darkness. If we strike effectively, maybe we can kill Vegeta before he knows what has happened.

Exitalia: <ANOTHER OFFICER STANDING NEXT TO AMANITO; SHE DID NOT BRUTALIZE THE SAIYAN CORPSES LIKE THE OTHERS> Kill the head and the body will fall.

Solitarn: <NODS> We outnumber them and have better weaponry and armor. It won’t be an even fight. We’ll crush this petty king before he gets a chance to catch his breath.

<THE CAMERA PANS BACK, SHOWING THE SUN STARTING TO SET IN THE DISTANCE; THE TRUE SCOPE OF THE CARNAGE CAN BE SEEN NOW; AMANITO’S ARMY HAS RAVAGED A HUGE SAIYAN SETTLEMENT, KILLING HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS, OF SAIYAN WOMEN AND CHILDREN>

Amanito: Surely, they know we are destroying their settlements while their armies are away. They will be angry. These Saiyans won’t go down easily.

Viros: All the better! It’s time they are met with the full might of the Tuffles!

Amanito: <MUSTERING UP A SMILE> Oh, they will be acquainted with us soon enough. All of us. <THE CAMERA MOVES TO THE ARMY, WHICH TAKES UP THE ENTIRE SCREEN IT IS SO BIG; AMONGST THE REGULAR SOLDIERS ARE TALL MECHS, SOME ALMOST TWENTY FEET TALL> Come, Commanders. Let’s move out!

<CUTS TO VEGETA AND HIS WAR COUNCIL>

<NUMEROUS SAIYANS ARE STANDING AROUND A WOODEN TABLE WHERE A BEATEN MAP IS LYING; GUARDS AND TORCHES LINE THE WALLS OF THE TENT>

Lascon: <POINTS TO A PLACE ON THE MAP> Here is their Capital, my King. If we strike quickly, we can surprise them. They won’t have enough time to raise defenses.

Dogom: Impossible. They would see our army coming far beforehand.

Lascon: We could move under cover of night.

Zorn: No, the Tuffles have technology on their side. They can see in the dark. They’ll know we’re coming no matter what.

Nappa: Cowards!

Vegeta: <ARMS FOLDED> First, we must defeat their armies in the field of battle. Once their defenses are crushed, then we will consider besieging their cities. But as long as they have armies marching through our lands burning and killing and ransacking at will, we cannot hope to best them.

Layeeck: Their armies outnumber us. And with their technological superiority, we can’t hope to meet them in open battle and win.

Paragus: We need to move now, Vegeta! I’m tired of breathing the same air as those Tuffle dogs! The fools can’t hope to match the power of the Saiyans!

<SOME OF THE OTHERS, INCLUDING NAPPA, RAISE THEIR FISTS TO THE AIR AND GRUNT>

Vegeta: Enough! Leave, all of you! I need time to think.

<ALL WALK OUT WITHOUT QUESTION, INCLUDING THE GUARDS; VEGETA STAYS THERE FOR A FEW MOMENTS, PACING IN FRONT OF THE MAP, HIS ARMS FOLDED AND A FROWN ON HIS FACE; THEN, VEGETA TURNS AND WALKS OUT FROM THE TENT, WHICH IS SITUATED AT THE TOP OF A CLIFF AREA; IT IS NIGHT; HE LOOKS DOWN AT THE THOUSANDS OF SAIYANS MAKING CAMP BELOW HIM>

<VEGETA WALKS ON UNTIL HE COMES TO A CLEARING, AWAY FROM THE TENTS; FINALLY ALONE, HE LOOKS UP AT THE STARS, HIS EYES WIDE AND INTENT>

Vegeta: <IN HIS HEAD> Father, if you are listening, I need your help. I don’t know what to do. The Tuffles outnumber us a thousand to one. They have better technology, fortress cities… by all rights, they should be able to exterminate us with ease. But many in my war council want me to march on their armies. It’s suicide, I think. I’m scared, father, but I can’t show it to them. I’m their leader, their king. I have to be strong. But it’s so hard… Father what would you do if you were in my situation? How would you defeat the Tuffles? Give me a sign, an answer… something, anything. Please!

<FROM BEHIND, A VOICE INTERRUPTS VEGETA’S THOUGHTS>

Saiyan woman: Watching the stars, eh? Can’t say I blame you. It’s beautiful tonight.

Vegeta: <SPINNING AROUND> Who’s there?

Saiyan woman: <STEPS FORWARD, SMILING; SHE HAS ONLY THREE TEETH; SHE IS QUITE OLD; SHE IS CARRYING A TORCH, REVEALING HERSELF AND HER TENT BEHIND HER> Just an old woman, son. No one to be afraid of. I figure we’re both out here for the same reason.

Vegeta: <TOO TENSE> And what’s that?

Saiyan woman: To get away from all that noise. <SHE GESTURES TO THE CAMP IN THE DISTANCE> Ever since that Vegeta declared himself king, the whole place has been too noisy for my old body. So I came out here. It’s much more peaceful, and I can watch the stars every night before I go to bed. <SHE MOTIONS TO THE SKY, AND VEGETA LOOKS BACK UP AT IT; MILLIONS OF STARS ARE SHINING DOWN ON THEM> You must be trying the same thing, eh?

Vegeta: <SLACKS HIS JAW> I suppose. When I was little, my mother told me that when we die, all of us become a star. All of my ancestors are up there, she said. I don’t know if I can believe that, but–

Saiyan woman: But you still came out here to speak to them, eh? <SHE SMILES BROADLY> She’s right, you know. Everyone has their star. Even you, aheheh! <SHE RAISES AN OLD CROOKED FINGER TO THE BRIGHT SKY> Look, son. Many stars are burning bright, but there’s one that’s shining more than all the rest. <VEGETA LOOKS UP AT IT> It’s almost like a moon!

Vegeta: A moon?

Saiyan woman: Ah, yes. The night’s sun.

Vegeta: What are you talking about?

Saiyan woman: Have you never heard of the moon, son?

Vegeta: <FOLDS ARMS> I haven’t.

Saiyan woman: Ah, poor child. It has been many years since the moon was last seen. I’ll give you that. But you should know your history, anyway. The moon is a great sign in our culture. A great and beautiful star it was, and when it glimmered bright, it is said that our people became invincible warriors for a night.

Vegeta: And what happened to it?

Saiyan woman: <TOOTHY SMILE> No one knows! It disappeared! All we have left are the stars.

Vegeta: Maybe one day, it will return, and our people will rise again.

<VEGETA LOOKS UP AT THE STARS AGAIN, HIS EYES GLIMMERING LIKE THEM>

<THE CAMERA CUTS TO VEGETA RETURNING TO CAMP>

<AS VEGETA IS WALKING BACK TO HIS TENT, HE NOTICES LAYEECK SITTING OUTSIDE HIS OWN TENT, HIS HEAD IN HIS HANDS; VEGETA WALKS UP TO HIS FRIEND>

Vegeta: <FROWNING> Layeeck… what’s going on? Is something troubling you?

Layeeck: <NOT LOOKING UP> Oh, it’s just… well, I fought a Zhukin loyalist earlier today.

Vegeta: Did you kill him?

Layeeck: Her. And no. She was trying to kill Ocra to get revenge for Zhukin’s death, but I stopped her.

Vegeta: And why is she still alive?

Layeeck: <PROCESSES THE QUESTION FOR A FEW MOMENTS, THEN LOOKS UP> I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I don’t know why. There was just something about her that I–

<SUDDENLY, A HUGE EXPLOSION GOES OFF, CAUSING BOTH SAIYANS TO JUMP; THEY IMMEDIATELY RUN AROUND THE TENT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED; BELOW THEM IN THE CAMP, THE TWO SAIYANS CAN SEE FIERY EXPLOSIONS ERUPTING IN THE DARKNESS, PEOPLE SCREAMING IN SURPRISE AND PAIN, AND OTHERS BARKING ORDERS>

Vegeta: <EYES WIDE> They are upon us… in the dead of night! Those Tuffle cowards! <TO LAYEECK> Layeeck, marshal the troops! Form a vanguard. I want the best of the best to charge with me into battle. Go! Hurry!

<LAYEECK RUSHES OFF AS VEGETA SKIDS DOWN THE CLIFF INTO THE ENCAMPMENT; TENTS ARE BURNING AND SAIYANS ARE EXCHANGING ENERGY ATTACKS WITH UNSEEN FOES FARTHER OFF; VEGETA WEAVES HIS WAY THROUGH THIS UNTIL HE COMES TO A BIT OF WRECKAGE, WHICH HE HIDES BEHIND; POKING HIS HEAD OVER IT, HE SEES ROWS OF ARMORED BEINGS STANDING IN RIGID FORMATION; IN FRONT OF THEM IS A SINGLE ARMORED INDIVIDUAL; VEGETA STANDS UP TO FACE THIS BEING>

Vegeta: Who goes there?!

Tuffle: <FERVENTLY> Soldiers, halt fire! <TO VEGETA> You are in no position to ask questions, Saiyan.

Vegeta: I am the King of the Saiyans, you Tuffle dog! You have made a grave mistake coming at me like this.

Tuffle: Oh, King Vegeta? Good. Excellent! Your death will be my pleasure. Imagine the newspaper headlines… the king of the mongrels killed by the illustrious and charismatic General Amanito! Oh, they’ll have a field day, I’m sure! Most excellent. <HE RAISES A BLASTER AND POINTS IT AT VEGETA> It’s time you die, Vegeta, so we can end this little game. This war will go no further.

Vegeta: <PUFFS OUT HIS CHEST> On the contrary… <HE TURNS AROUND AND SEES LAYEECK HAS GATHERED UP NUMEROUS SOLDIERS, INCLUDING NAPPA, DOGOM, PARAGUS, AND ARTACHOC; THEY ARE IN A LINE BEHIND HIM; LAYEECK NODS TO VEGETA AS SOON AS THEIR EYES MEET> this war has only just begun.

<VEGETA LETS OUT A YELL AND CHARGES FORWARD, HOT WHITE ENERGY ALREADY FORMING IN EACH HAND; THE SAIYANS BEHIND HIM FOLLOW SUIT AT ONCE; THE TUFFLES REMAIN STILL AND RAISE THEIR BLASTERS IN UNISON; GENERAL AMANITO RAISES HIS HAND AND GIVES THEM THE SIGNAL TO FIRE WHEN THE SAIYANS GET WITHIN RANGE; ENERGY STARTS TO FLY THROUGH THE AIR, THE SAIYANS DODGING AND SHOOTING BACK AT THE TUFFLES, WHO ARE UNMOVED; MANY OF THE TUFFLES ABSORB BLASTS AND FALL DEAD WHILE OTHERS HAVE WEAKER BLASTS BOUNCE OFF OF THEIR STURDY ARMOR>

<JUST BEFORE VEGETA REACHES THE TUFFLES, HE KICKS OFF FROM THE GROUND AND LEADS INTO THE SOLDIERS WITH A FLYING KICK; THE FORCE OF THIS KICK SENDS HALF A DOZEN TUFFLES FLYING BACKWARDS, THEIR ARMOR CRACK, THEIR BODIES LIMP; VEGETA LANDS AND SPINS ABOUT, SHOOT ENERGY BLASTS IN ALL DIRECTIONS; THE TUFFLES BREAK OFF FROM THEIR RANKS TO TRY TO TRAP HIM, BUT HE PUSHES THROUGH THEM, PUNCHING AND KICKING THEM TO THE GROUND AND VAPORIZING ANY WHO SHOOT THEIR BLASTERS AT HIM WITH HIS OWN KI RESERVES; SOON, THE SAIYAN VANGUARD REACHES THE TUFFLES AND THEY OVERWHELM THE FIRST LINE OF SOLDIERS>

<THE CAMERA PANS THROUGH THE BATTLING AS MORE SAIYANS JOIN THE VANGUARD AND BOLSTER THEIR FORCES; LAYEECK FIGHTS TWO TUFFLES IN HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT, GRABBING ONE BY THE NECK AND DECAPITATING HIM BY CREATING AND SHOOTING A GREEN ENERGY BALL WITH THAT VERY SAME HAND; HE SIDE-KICKS THE OTHER TUFFLE TO THE GROUND AND THEN ELBOWS HIM IN THE NECK>

<DOGOM LAUNCHES HIMSELF AT A GROUP OF TUFFLES, PUSHING THEM BACK WITH ARCING BLASTS AND A REFINED SERIES OF PUNCHES AND KICKS; PARAGUS DROPS TO HIS KNEES, SHOOTING LONG BEAMS FROM EACH HAND; WHEN SOME TUFFLES CHARGE HIM, HE PUTS UP HIS ARMS AS IF IN A BLOCKING POSITION AND THEN RELEASES AN EXPLOSIVE WAVE, INCINERATING ALL WHO GET TOO CLOSE>

<NAPPA RUNS FORWARD AND BASICALLY TRAMPLES AN ENTIRE GROUP OF TUFFLES; WITH EVERY PUNCH HE THROWS, HE RELEASES A KI EXPLOSION; DOZENS OF TUFFLES ARE KILLED WITH EACH OF THESE IMPACTS, THEIR BODY PARTS FLYING IN ALL DIRECTIONS; THE TUFFLE SURVIVORS BEGIN TO RETREAT>

<AMANITO IS IN THE MIDST OF THIS HYSTERIA; HIS HELMET IS GONE, HIS FACE BRUISED AND DIRTY; HE RETREATS WITH THE REST OF THE TUFFLES, SHOOTING HIS WAY PAST LESSER SAIYANS UNTIL HE COMES UPON THE SAIYAN KING; THERE, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TUFFLE ARMY IS VEGETA, STANDING ALONE ON A PILE OF BODIES; HIS FACE, CHEST, AND ARMS ARE ALL COVERED IN BRUISES AND CUTS; STILL, HE HAS HIS AURA AROUND HIM AND IS TAKING ON SO MANY TUFFLES AT ONCE, THAT SOME OF THE SOLDIERS IN THE BACK ARE JUST STANDING THERE IN AWE, NOT EVEN SHOOTING; A TUFFLE RUNS PAST AMANITO, KNOCKING HIM TO THE GROUND; THE GENERAL’S EYES ARE WIDE WITH HORROR AS HE WATCHES VEGETA FIGHT>

Vegeta: <PUNCHING A TUFFLE TO DEATH> To me! To me, my brothers! Rally to me!

<HE SHOOTS A SALVO OF KI BLASTS AT A GROUP OF TUFFLES SNEAKING UP BEHIND HIM AND THEN ROLLS ASIDE TO DODGE A DIFFERENT GROUP OF TUFFLES’ SHOTS COMING AT HIM; MORE AND MORE TUFFLES ARE DYING WHEN AMANITO TURNS AROUND AND SEES NAPPA AND THE OTHERS RUSHING TOWARDS HIM; AMANITO’S LIP IS TREMBLING AS HE TRIES TO GET UP AND FLEE>

Amanito: <TO HIMSELF> These Saiyans are unstoppable! They’re not warriors; they’re monsters! <HE LOOKS BACK TO VEGETA, WHO IS STILL CUTTING HIS WAY THROUGH THE TUFFLE ARMY> What have I done by waking this sleeping beast? What have I done?!

<ABRUPT TO BLACK>

5. Battle for Shintake Square
<THE CAMERA PANS OVER THE HILLS AND SPARSE FORESTS THAT THE LARGE ARMY OF TUFFLES IS RETREATING THROUGH; THERE ARE SEVERAL MILLION TUFFLES IN THIS ARMY; A FEW SKIRMISHES BETWEEN SAIYANS AND TUFFLES ARE STILL GOING ON AT THE BACK OF THE RETREATING SWARM>

<THE CAMERA NOSEDIVES DOWN INTO THE CROWDS OF TUFFLES RUNNING BY; MANY ARE BLEEDING OR INJURED; THEY ARE ALL MOVING WITH GREAT HASTE; THE CAMERA MOVES PAST THEM TO THE REAR GUARD, WHERE THE SAIYANS ARE OVERTAKING THEM; VEGETA IS LEADING HIS PEOPLE; WITH ENERGY BLASTS AND DEADLY PHYSICAL BLOWS, HE IS KILLING ANY TUFFLES HE CAN FIND>

<WITH VEGETA IS HIS WAR COUNCIL – DOGOM, AUBERE, ARTACHOC, OCRA, PARAGUS, ZORN, LASCON, LAYEECK, AND NAPPA; THEY HELP HIM FINISH OFF A GROUP OF RETREATING TUFFLES AS THEY COME TO THE HIGH POINT OF A LARGE HILL; LOOKING DOWN AT WHAT IS BELOW THEM, THE SAIYANS SIGH; VEGETA’S OWN ARMY IS COMING UP RIGHT BEHIND>

<THE CAMERA SPINS AROUND, SHOWING WHAT THE SAIYAN ELITES HAD BEEN STARING AT; IT IS A SMALL TUFFLE TOWN; THOUGH IT IS NOT AN ARMORED FORTRESS-CITY, IT IS LARGE ENOUGH TO OFFER THE TUFFLES COVER FROM THE SAIYAN HORDES; THE TUFFLES CAN BE SEEN RUNNING INTO THE TOWN AND TAKING COVER>

Dogom: Not a city. Only a town.

Lascon: Shintake Square, if I remember correctly. A border town with a small population. The Tuffles must be tired. It’s the only reason they would stop here. Shintake Square holds no strategic advantage for them.

Vegeta: They’re setting up defenses. <THE CAMERA SHOWS THE TUFFLES PUTTING UP TURRETS AND POSITIONING THEIR MECHS AT THE FRONT OF THE TOWN; THE REST OF THE TUFFLE ARMY IS SPREAD OUT, SOME HIDING BEHIND BUILDINGS, OTHERS TAKING UP POSITIONS ON THE ROOFS; AMANITO AND HIS UNDERLINGS CAN BE SEEN DIRECTING THEIR SOLDIERS INTO POSITIONS> We’ll have to raze the entire town.

Layeeck: So be it. They must die, Vegeta.

Nappa: Yeah, let’s kill some Tuffles! Haha!

Vegeta: <LOOKS AT THEM FOR A FEW MOMENTS, THEN NODS> Leave none alive. Not even the women and children. <EVERYONE NODS; VEGETA STANDS UP STRAIGHT AND CRACKS HIS BACK> Dogom, take your forces and hit them from the left. Paragus, Nappa, move in from the right. Zorn, with me. <HIS EYES NARROW> Kill them here, brothers. Let’s go!

<ALL OF THEM SPLIT OFF INTO GROUPS; DOGOM, AUBERE, ARTACHOC, AND OCRA GO LEFT WITH A CONSIDERABLE HOST OF SAIYAN SOLDIERS; PARAGUS, LAYEECK, AND NAPPA GO TO THE RIGHT WITH AN EQUALLY MASSIVE GROUP OF SOLDIERS; VEGETA, LASCON, AND ZORN TAKE THE MIDDLE; THEIR SUB-GROUP HAS THE MOST SOLDIERS IN IT>

<DOGOM SPLITS HIS GROUP IN TWO, GIVING ARTACHOC COMMAND OF HALF OF HIS LEGION; THEN, DOGOM SPEARHEADS HIS GROUP WITH AUBERE FOLLOWING CLOSELY BEHIND HIM; THEY RUSH INTO THE TOWN, EXCHANGING ENERGY ATTACKS WITH THE TUFFLES; BUILDINGS BURST ASUNDER, METAL AND BRICK AND DUST FLYING IN EVERY DIRECTION; SOON, THE ENTIRE AREA IS A CHAOS ZONE; FROM EVERY DIRECTION SHOUTS, SCREAMS, AND EXPLOSIONS COME ROARING IN; IN THE SWIRLING DUST, DOGOM’S GROUP REACHES THE CITY AND IS MET BY TUFFLES; DOGOM AND AUBERE ENGAGE THE TUFFLE VANGUARD IN HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT AT ONCE; AT FIRST, THE SAIYANS MAKE SHORT WORK OF TUFFLES, INCINERATING INFANTRY GROUPS WITH ENERGY BLASTS AND OR CRUSHING INDIVIDUALS WITH PUNCHES OR KICKS>

<SOON THE SAIYANS FIND THEMSELVES BEING ATTACKED FROM ALL SIDES; SOME OF DOGOM’S IMMEDIATE SUBORDINATES BEGIN TO SPLIT OFF IN ORDER TO COMBAT THE TUFFLES AND SPREAD MORE DESTRUCTION; THEY PUSH FARTHER INTO THE CITY; DOGOM’S GROUP HAS TAKEN MINIMAL CASUALTIES COMPARED TO THE TUFFLES>

<SUDDENLY, A LARGE ENERGY BEAM IS UNLEASHED UPON DOGOM’S FORCES, IMMEDIATELY VAPORIZING AN ENTIRE GROUP OF SAIYANS; THE ATTACK COMES FROM NONE OTHER THAN THE ARM CANNON OF A TUFFLE MECH; DOGOM SHOOTS A FEW STALLING ATTACKS AT THE BEHEMOTH, BUT HIS SMALL ENERGY BLASTS JUST BOUNCE OFF OF ITS ARMOR; DOGOM LOOKS ANNOYED>

Dogom: Fall back!

<THE MECH FIRES MORE SHOTS AT THE SAIYANS; DOGOM CONTINUES TO ORDER THE REST OF HIS FORCES TO FALL BACK, WHILE DODGING MORE ENERGY BEAMS; BEFORE THE MECH TURNS ITS ENTIRE ATTENTION TO DOGOM AND AUBERE, THE TWO OF THEM QUICKLY NOD AT EACH OTHER AND THEN MAKE THEIR MOVE>

<AUBERE FIRES OFF SEVERAL FINGER BEAMS AT THE MECH WHILE DODGING ITS UNCEASING BARRAGE OF ENERGY BOLTS; DOGOM THEN RUSHES TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MECH BEFORE CHARGING IN; HE KICKS THE MECH IN THE BACK, KNOCKING IT TOWARDS AUBERE AND CAUSING ITS ARM-CANNONS TO FIRE OUTWARD IN RANDOM DIRECTIONS; AUBERE THROWS A FOREHAND SWIPE, SENDING THE MECH RIGHT BACK TO DOGOM, WHO HITS IT BACK TO AUBERE ONCE MORE WITH AN AERIAL BACK KICK; JUST AFTER AUBERE HITS THE MACHINE BACK TO DOGOM ONCE MORE WITH A FLYING BACK KICK OF HER OWN, DOGOM BACK-FLIPS WITH HIS RIGHT LEG EXTENDED, CONNECTING WITH WHERE THE ABDOMEN WOULD BE ON A HUMANOID BEING, OBLITERATING THE MECH AND CREATING A BIG EXPLOSION>

<MUCH LIKE DOGOM’S GROUP, PARAGUS’ GROUP CHARGES RIGHT AT THE CITY; HIS PEOPLE YELL WAR CRIES AS THEY RUN FORWARD, HURLING ENERGY BEAMS AND BALLS AT THE TALL BUILDINGS OF SHINTAKE SQUARE; BY THE TIME PARAGUS’ GROUP ARRIVES AT THE PLACE, SEVERAL OUTER BUILDINGS HAVE ALREADY COLLAPSED; THEY START WADING THROUGH THE RUBBLE, EXCHANGING SHOTS WITH TUFFLE INFANTRY AND LUNGING AT ANY WHO GET TOO CLOSE; LAYEECK IS WITH PARAGUS, AND TOGETHER, THEY LEAD THE SAIYAN SOLDIERS INTO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CITY; FARTHER TO THE RIGHT, THEY CAN SEE NAPPA ATTACKING THE TUFFLES AS WELL>

<PARAGUS’ GROUP PUSHES THROUGH THE OUTER DEFENSES OF THE CITY, CRUSHING THE TUFFLES AND THEIR STATIONARY TURRETS RATHER EASILY; THEN, THEY ALL RUN THROUGH THE BLOWN OUT BUILDINGS INTO THE MORE PEACEFUL INNER CITY; HERE, THEY SEE NO TUFFLES; THERE ARE PAVED ROADS, RUNNING FOUNTAINS, AND THE LIKE, BUT NO OPPONENTS; PARAGUS CAUTIOUSLY LEADS HIS GROUP FORWARD WHEN, SUDDENLY, TUFFLES SPRING FORTH FROM THE BUILDINGS ON EITHER SIDE OF THEM; MANY OF THEM ARE SEVERAL STORIES UP OR ARE ON THE ROOFS; THEY START RAINING ENERGY ATTACKS DOWN ON THE SAIYANS; A LARGE DOOR JUST AHEAD OF PARAGUS OPENS UP; INSIDE OF ARE THREE TURRETS; THEY BEGIN FIRING AT ONCE, MOWING DOWN SAIYAN SOLDIERS; PARAGUS AND LAYEECK DUCK OUT OF THE WAY, FINDING COVER BEHIND A COLLAPSED PILLAR>

<EXPLOSIONS ARE GOING OFF EVERYWHERE; THERE IS SO MUCH SMOKE AND DUST THAT PARAGUS AND LAYEECK CANNOT SEE MORE THAN A FEW FEET AHEAD OF THEM; THEY CAN SEE THE ENERGY BOLTS OF THE TURRETS WHIZZING BY THEM, BUT THEY CANNOT SEE THE ACTUAL TURRETS>

Paragus: <BELLOWING OVER THE SOUNDS OF WAR> Cowards tricked us! We’re pinned down!

Layeeck: <FIRE IN HIS EYES; SMILING> You were a chieftain once, weren’t you Paragus? A true Saiyan warrior. Don’t tell me you’ve gone soft! <LAYEECK STANDS UP, NOT FLINCHING FROM THE ENERGY ATTACKS SAILING AROUND HIS BODY> You aren’t afraid to die, are you?!

Paragus: <ANGRILY> Like these Tuffle dogs could even make me bleed! I’ll show them a thing or two!

<HE JUMPS UP AND JOINS LAYEECK; THE TWO RUN FORWARD, ARMS OUT AND BEHIND THEIR TORSOS AS THEY RUN; THEY DODGE ATTACKS AND DEFTLY MOVE UP TO THE TURRETS; THE TWO SAIYANS USE FLYING KICK ATTACKS TO KNOCK THE TUFFLES OFF OF THEIR ENERGY TURRETS AND THEN THROW A BUNCH OF ENERGY BALLS INTO THE HOUSE; LAYEECK AND PARAGUS RETREAT BY ROLLING AWAY; A SECOND LATER, THE ENTIRE BUILDING EXPLODES>

<THE TWO THEN SEE A MECH APPROACHING THEM; THIS ONE IS SEVERAL FEET TALLER THAN THE ONE DOGOM AND AUBERE FOUGHT>

Paragus: <TO THE MECH> Hiding in your armor, are you?! It’s no use! I’ll crack you open like an egg!

<HE AND LAYEECK DASH AT THE MECH THROUGH THE AIR; AS THEY APPROACH IT, IT LUNGES FORWARD AND EFFORTLESSLY BATS THEM OUT OF THE SKY; THE TWO LAND HARD AGAINST THE WALL OF TOWER; BOTH ARE HURT; PARAGUS NOTICES THAT HIS NOSE IS BLEEDING; HE IS SHOCKED>

Paragus: Impossible…!

<HE LOOKS BACK UP AT THE MECH; IT FIRES SEVERAL ENERGY BEAMS AT THE TWO SAIYANS; THEY DODGE OUT OF THE WAY AND RETURN FIRE; THEIR ATTACKS JUST BOUNCE OFF OF THE MECH’S ARMOR, HOWEVER>

Layeeck: No way! That was my strongest attack!

Paragus: <IN DISMAY> This is too much! We must retreat, Layeeck! Rally the soldiers! Quickly! Before we are corpses!

<THE MECH BEGINS TO RUN AT THEM, READYING MORE ENERGY ATTACKS; THE TWO RUN AWAY FROM IT; THE CAMERA PANS BACK A BIT TO SHOW THE OVERALL DESTRUCTION; TUFFLE AND SAIYAN BODIES LINE THE STREET; THE TOWN IS IN RUINS, GREAT FIRES ARE RACING THROUGH THE BUILDINGS; STILL, THE MECH MOVES FORWARD>

<LIKE THE OTHER GROUPS, ARTACHOC AND OCRA LEAD THEIR OWN HOST OF SAIYANS, AND THEY ARE ENGAGED IN HEAVY COMBAT WITH THE TUFFLE DEFENDERS; OCRA IS AHEAD OF THE GROUP, JUMPING FROM INDIVIDUAL TO INDIVIDUAL, KILLING EACH TUFFLE INFANTRYMAN WITH A SINGLE PHYSICAL STRIKE; ARTACHOC IS JUST BEHIND, UNLEASHING SEVERAL ENERGY BOLTS TO COVER OCRA FROM STRAY HITS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE DAMAGE HER>

Artachoc: My turn. <CHARGES FORWARD IN FRONT OF OCRA>

<NOW ARTACHOC BEGINS TO USE MORE MELEE ATTACKS, FIGHTING SIMILAR TO HOW OCRA WAS, ALBEIT SLIGHTLY SLOWER, BUT WITH MORE FORCE AND BRUTALITY; AS ARTACHOC’S GROUP CONTINUES ON, THEY ARE SLOWED BY A LARGER BARRAGE OF TUFFLE WEAPON FIRE; A HEAVY CONCENTRATION OF TUFFLES ARE WITHIN A FORTIFIED BUILDING JUST UP AHEAD; ARTACHOC SEEMS UNPERTURBED>

Artachoc: Ready, Ocra?

<OCRA NODS AND THEN RAISES HER HANDS ABOVE HER HEAD; A PINK-AND-GREEN ENERGY SPHERE FORMS IN HER PALMS AND GRADUALLY INCREASES IN SIZE; ARTACHOC, MEANWHILE, AIMS INTO THE WINDOWS OF THE BUILDING, REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF FIRE FROM THE TUFFLES; WHEN OCRA’S ENERGY SPHERE REACHES THE SIZE OF A SMALL STRUCTURE, SHE THROWS THE KI BALL AT THE BUILDING; SEVERAL TUFFLES STOP FIRING AND LEAVE THEIR POSITIONS IN PANIC, WHILE OTHERS CONTINUE TO FIRE OUT OF DESPERATION; REGARDLESS, THE ENTIRE BUILDING, ALONG WITH SEVERAL SURROUNDING ONES, EXPLODES IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ENERGY SPHERE COLLIDES WITH IT>

<ARTACHOC’S SOLDIERS COME RUSHING FORWARD TO PURSUE THE RETREATING TUFFLES; ARTACHOC AND OCRA FOLLOW THEM INTO THE BREACH>

<THE CAMERA CUTS TO NAPPA’S LEGION; NAPPA’S GROUP HAS REACHED THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY; THE TUFFLE COMMANDER, VITANDI, IS LEADING THE GROUP OPPOSING NAPPA; THEIR STRUGGLE IS PARTICULARLY BLOODY; HUNDREDS OF BODIES ARE LYING ALL AROUND THE SQUARE, SOME HANGING IN WINDOWS, OTHERS FACEDOWN IN THE TUFFLE FOUNTAINS; BLOOD AND BLAST MARKS AND SMALL CRATERS DECORATE THE PAVED GROUND AROUND THEM; A DISCIPLINED GROUP OF TUFFLES IS HOLDING A LINE AGAINST THE SAIYANS; WHILE NO BUILDINGS ARE VERY CLOSE TO THE CENTER OF THIS TOWN, THERE ARE SOME FAR-OFF TURRETS AND SNIPERS STILL SHOOTING DOWN AT NAPPA’S GROUP>

<NAPPA IS COVERED IN DIRT AND SMALL CUTS; HIS SHIRT IS GONE; HE GROWLS AND RUSHES FORWARD, PUSHING A LARGE GROUP OF TUFFLES BACK; THE LINE OF TUFFLES FALTERS, THEIR FORMATION BREAKS AT ONCE; VITANDI SCREAMS AT THEM TO GET BACK INTO LINE, BUT THEY DO NOT LISTEN; NAPPA GRINS AND RUNS FORWARD; HE JUMPS INTO THE AIR AND THEN COMES BACK DOWN BY PUNCHING THE GROUND; THIS CAUSES A SHOCKWAVE TO SPREAD OUT FROM THAT CRATER THROUGH THE PAVED STREET; A SECOND LATER, A HUGE WHITE LIGHT COVERS THE AREA AND EXPLOSIONS GO OFF; TUFFLES SCREAM, DROP THEIR WEAPONS, AND TRY TO FLEE, BUT THEY ARE ALL DISINTEGRATED BEFORE THEY CAN GET AWAY; THE NEXT LINE OF TUFFLES TRIES TO MOVE FORWARD, VITANDI AT THEIR HEAD, AND KILL NAPPA; NAPPA ORDERS HIS SOLDIERS TO FOLLOW HIM, AND THEY RUSH FORWARD; NAPPA GOES RIGHT FOR VITANDI AND EXCHANGES A FEW BLOWS WITH THE SMALL TUFFLE BEFORE KICKING HIM LIKE A BALL; VITANDI GOES FLYING THROUGH THE AIR LIKE A RAGDOLL>

<THE DUST AND SMOKE OVERTAKES THE SOLDIERS OF EACH SIDE AS THEY CLASH, BUT WITHIN A FEW MOMENTS, IT BECOMES CLEAR AGAIN; HERE, NAPPA IS STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF A GREAT NUMBER OF TUFFLES; HE HAS BEEN SEPARATED FROM HIS SAIYAN UNDERLINGS; THE TUFFLES ALL RAISE THEIR WEAPONS AT NAPPA, WHO IS STANDING ON DEAD TUFFLE AND SAIYAN WARRIORS; FURTHER OUT, NAPPA’S SOLDIERS ARE STILL FIGHTING THE OUTER RANKS OF THIS TUFFLE GROUP>

<THEN, THE LARGE MECH THAT TERRORIZED PARAGUS AND LAYEECK APPEARS; IT COMES SHOOTING FORWARD TO MEET NAPPA; IT IS AROUND TWENTY FEET TALL, SO IT COMPLETELY DWARFS HIM; NAPPA SEEMS NOT TO CARE>

Nappa: <LAUGHING HOARSELY> Heheh! So ya wanna play too! Great! Let me introduce you to my fist! Hahahaha!

<NAPPA LUNGES AT THE HUGE MECH; IT PARRIES HIS FIRST ATTACK AND KICKS HIM BACK; NAPPA LANDS ON THE GROUND ON ALL FOURS AND THEN AIR DASHES RIGHT BACK TO THE MECH; THIS TIME, HE HURLS A FEW ENERGY BLASTS AT IT; WHILE THE BLASTS BOUNCE OFF OF THE MECH, THEY STILL CAUSE IT TO STAGGER BACK; NAPPA FLIES UP TO THE MECH’S HEAD AREA AND RAPIDLY PUNCHES AND KICKS IT; THE MECH THEN THROWS A BACKHAND SLAP TO NAPPA’S BODY; NAPPA TRIES TO DODGE THIS, BUT HE IS NOT FAST ENOUGH; HE IS FLUNG BACK FROM THE ATTACK, LANDING BACK IN THE CENTER OF AREA; THE TUFFLES MOVE BACK SLIGHTLY TO GIVE THE MECH ROOM TO PURSUE>

<NAPPA IS LYING ON HIS STOMACH WHEN THE MECH TRIES TO KILL HIM BY SQUASHING HIM WITH ONE OF ITS FEET; JUST IN TIME, HE ROLLS FORWARD AND OUT OF THE WAY, THEN HE BACKFLIPS OVER THE HUGE MECH; WHEN HE GETS BEHIND IT, NAPPA SHOOTS TWO ENERGY BLASTS AT ITS BACK AND THEN SHOOTS FORWARD WITH A PUNCH; THE MECH FALLS FORWARD BUT QUICKLY SPINS AROUND; NAPPA LOWERS TO THE GROUND AND PREPARES AN ENERGY BARRAGE WHEN THE MECH CHARGES HIM; HE DISSIPATES HIS ATTACKS AND PARRIES THE MECH’S ATTACKS; THE TUFFLES AND SAIYANS AROUND STOP FIGHTING TO WATCH THIS; THEY ARE ALL IN SHOCK THAT NAPPA CAN COMPETE WITH THE MECH>

<NAPPA’S AND THE MECH’S HANDS GET TANGLED TOGETHER AS THEY CONTINUE TO TRADE BLOWS; THIS CAUSES THE TWO TO GET LOCKED IN A CLOSE STRUGGLE FOR A FEW MOMENTS, EACH TRYING TO BREAK FREE OF THE OTHER; THEN, WITHOUT WARNING, NAPPA LETS OUT A VIOLENT SCREAM AND YANKS THE MECH’S ARMS FORWARD; WITH A TERRIBLE SCREECHING NOISE, THE TWO ARMS RIP OUT OF THEIR SOCKETS; THE MECH STUMBLES FORWARD; THE ONLOOKERS GASP; NAPPA THROWS THE ARMS OUT OF THE WAY AND GRINS>

Nappa: Looks like you’re broken. And I don’t like to play with broken toys, heheh!

<NAPPA JUMPS FORWARD AND CREATES A BLINDING-WHITE ENERGY BALL; HE THROWS IT AT THE MECH’S HEAD, CAUSING A HUGE EXPLOSION TO GO OFF; WHEN THE DUST CLEARS, THE MECH FALLS TO THE GROUND, ITS FRAME BROKEN AND CHARRED, ITS HEAD MELTED AWAY; THE TUFFLES LOOKING ON DESCEND INTO A PANIC>

<THEN, FROM BEHIND THEM, AMANITO COMES FORWARD; HE IS LEADING ANOTHER HOST OF TUFFLES; HE POINTS TO NAPPA>

Amanito: There! Focus your fire on the big one! Bring him down! <THE TUFFLES AIM AT NAPPA IN ONE FLUID SYNCHRONIZED MOTION> Kill the brute!

<THEY FIRE JUST AS NAPPA TURNS TO FACE THEM; THE TUFFLES AND SAIYANS AROUND NAPPA FLEE IN ALL DIRECTIONS TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF THE ONCOMING ENERGY; NAPPA JUST HUNKERS DOWN INTO HIS FIGHTING STANCE, STILL GRINNING>

<THE CAMERA MOVES TO VEGETA, LASCON, AND ZORN; LIKE THE OTHER GROUPS, THEY ARE BATTLING THROUGH THE WAR-TORN STREETS OF THE TOWN; ZORN IS ON ONE KNEE SHOOTING ENERGY BLASTS IN ALL DIRECTIONS; LASCON IS CLOSE TO VEGETA, COVERING HIS BACK; AROUND THEM, SAIYANS AND TUFFLES ARE BRAWLING IN THE STREETS; THE SAIYANS ARE MOSTLY WINNING EXCEPT WHEN THEY GET OVERWHELMED BY TUFFLE ATTACKS; TURRETS ARE IN THE WINDOWS OF MOST BUILDINGS RAINING DOWN HELLFIRE ON THE WEARY FIGHTERS BELOW; SMALL MECHS ARE TRUDGING THROUGH THE STREETS; A FEW LARGER MECHS ARE ALSO SEEN, AND THEY EASILY CUT THROUGH THE SAIYANS LIKE NO OTHER TUFFLE FORCES CAN>

<A GROUP OF TUFFLES COMMANDED BY THE TUFFLE SOLITARN ARE JUST IN FRONT OF VEGETA; THEY TRY TO BREAK VEGETA’S CHARGE BUT ARE UNSUCCESSFUL; VEGETA CREATES A WALL OF ENERGY TO ABSORB THEIR ATTACKS, THEN HIS SOLDIERS MOVE FORWARD AND EXCHANGE FIRE WITH THE TUFFLES; SMALL MECHS COME FORWARD TO FIGHT, BUT THEY ARE TAKEN DOWN BY LASCON AND A DOZEN SAIYAN WARRIORS>

<SOLITARN RUSHES FORWARD TO ATTACK VEGETA; VEGETA SNARLS AND RUSHES HIM RIGHT BACK; SOLITARN DUCKS AND THEN TRIES TO KICK OUT VEGETA’S LEGS, BUT VEGETA ANTICIPATES THIS; HE FLIPS OVER SOLITARN AND LANDS, NOT FACING THE TUFFLE; HE THEN SHOOTS A GALICK GUN BEHIND HIM BLINDLY; IT MANAGES TO HIT SOLITARN UNEXPECTEDLY, SHOOTING THE TUFFLE AWAY FROM VEGETA SUDDENLY AND SWIFTLY; VEGETA LOSES HIM IN THE CHAOS; HE SPINS AROUND AND USHERS HIS SAIYANS TO MOVE FORWARD>

Vegeta: <STANDING ON THE RUINED STATUE OF SOME FAMOUS TUFFLE> Brothers! Come with me and take this city!

<HIS SOLDIERS ROAR AND FOLLOW HIM; VEGETA TURNS BACK AROUND AND SEES AMANITO AND HIS LEGION MOVING FORWARD; AMANITO IS MORE WOUNDED THAN HE WAS PREVIOUSLY; HE HAS A BLACK EYE AND HIS FOREHEAD HAS A LARGE OPEN GASH THAT HAS BLOODIED HIS FACE AND ARMOR; STILL, HE MOVES AS IF THE WOUNDS DO NOT AFFECT HIM>

<VEGETA GOES INTO THE AIR, DODGES THE ENERGY ATTACKS BUZZING AROUND HIM, AND CHARGES DIRECTLY AT AMANITO; HE KNOCKS THE GENERAL TO THE GROUND BEFORE AMANITO KNOWS WHAT IS GOING ON; THEN, VEGETA SHOOTS ROYAL GALICKS IN EITHER DIRECTION TO INCINERATE AMANITO’S PERSONAL GUARDS; AMANITO TRIES TO STAND UP, BUT VEGETA KICKS HIM IN THE FACE AND PICKS HIM UP BY THE NECK>

Vegeta: <IN A WHISPER> Tuffle dog!

Amanito: <CHOKING> V-v-v-vegeta!

Vegeta: Now you die!

<VEGETA RAISES HIS HAND; HE FORMS ENERGY IN IT AT ONCE; AMANITO, HOWEVER, PULLS AN ENERGY KNIFE OUT OFF OF HIS BELT AND TURNS IT UP TO MAXIMUM POWER; IT SIZZLES AND CRACKS WITH ELECTRICITY AND HE SLICES IT UP VEGETA’S TORSO; VEGETA FALLS BACK SCREAMING AND BLEEDING>

<AT ONCE, AMANITO’S LEGION MOVES FORWARD AND SURROUNDS HIM, PROTECTING HIM FROM FURTHER HARM; AMANITO IS WRITHING ON THE GROUND; HIS RIGHT HAND IS BURNT AND BLACKENED – THE PRICE HE PAID FOR OVERCHARGING UP HIS ENERGY KNIFE SO IT WOULD BE ABLE TO HURT VEGETA; AMANITO’S SOLDIERS RAISE THEIR ENERGY BLASTERS AND PREPARE TO SHOOT>

<LASCON AND ZORN FLY UP TO THEIR KING; LASCON GRABS VEGETA AND PULLS HIM OUT OF HARM’S WAY; ZORN COVERS THEM WITH ENERGY ATTACKS; LASCON THEN TAKES VEGETA INTO A RUINED BUILDING, BEHIND SOME COVER>

Lascon: It’s lost, my king. We cannot prevail!

Vegeta: <GROANING IN PAIN> N-no! We must p-push forward!

Lascon: We’ll lose everything if we do! This town is meaningless. We don’t need to destroy it.

Vegeta: Their leaders are here… we must kill them!

Lascon: Paragus is retreating. Dogom’s forces are stonewalled. I don’t know what happened to Nappa. And we are taking far too many casualties here, my king. It’s hopeless!

Vegeta: Then I’ll reform the line and charge–

Lascon: We’ll lose too many soldiers if we try to assault them again. Don’t you remember the Tuffles outnumber us a thousand to one?! It’s suicide! If we lose any more troops, the war itself is lost! We won’t be able to match their armies in the future. This is but one small group of their total armies. We are not even overcoming this small group!

Vegeta: But…

Lascon: Every second we waste, more of us will die. Think quickly my king. Do not let emotions cloud your judgment. If we lose here, we lose everything! This battle is not worth the war!

Vegeta: <LOOKS DOWN, FEELING HIS WOUND; HE SEES THE BLOOD ON HIS HAND AND CLOSES HIS EYES; HE SEEMS TO BE IN PAIN> Very well, Lascon. Order the retreat. Tell them to fall back.

<VEGETA LOWERS HIS HEAD IN DEFEAT>

<THE CAMERA PANS BACK, SHOWING THE SAIYAN ARMY START TO FLOW OUT OF THAT SMALL TOWN; SHOUTS OF ‘FALL BACK!’ AND ‘RETREAT!’ CAN BE HEARD; BRIEFLY, THE CAMERA SHOWS DOGOM ORDERING HIS SOLDIERS TO FALL BACK; ARTACHOC AND PARAGUS ARE SEEN DOING THE SAME>

<SOON, THE SAIYANS ARE GONE, THOUGH MANY THOUSANDS, IF NOT MILLIONS OF BODIES ARE LEFT BEHIND; SHINTAKE SQUARE IS IN RUINS; FIRES ARE ACTIVELY BURNING AND THE ENTIRE AREA IS COVERED IN SMOKE; OUT FROM THE SMOKE COMES AMANITO, VITANDI, VIROS, AND EXITALIA; THEY LOOK OVER THE CARNAGE BEFORE THEM WITH GRIM FACES>

Viros: We have not won today. Neither have they.

Exitalia: They retreated, not us. I think we won.

Amanito: <HOLDING HIS RIGHT HAND GINGERLY; HE HUNCHES OVER IN PAIN> No, Viros is right. Each side has taken tremendous casualties today. But what have we gained from it all? Nothing! <HE SPITS AND THEN WINCES IN PAIN; THE CAMERA PANS BACK, SHOWING AN AERIAL SHOT OF SHINTAKE SQUARE> I fear that today shows where this war is headed. So much fighting, carnage, death… and, at the end of it all, no one standing victorious.