Fulfillment Saga (The Forgotten)

Please Note: This story contains occasional swearing and graphically gruesome deaths.

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

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

Theme Song
The theme song for this Saga is How I Made My Millions by Thom Yorke.

Complete Dialogue
Many long years ago,

I went to the crack dealer

To shoot him and steal his

“goodies”.

Unfortunately the police came.

How ironic.

-KidVegeta

The Door To Nowhere


<774 AGE>

















<AS IT SO HAPPENS, HE SEES THE WATER IS NOW RED; HE IS BLEEDING PROFUSELY; HE RAISES UP THE ARM THAT HE INJECTED THE SYRINGE INTO AND SEES THE VEIN IS BLEEDING OUT; HE CONTINUES SCREAMING UNTIL HE GOES UNDER THE WATER>

<HIS SIGHT GOES BLANK>

<CUTS TO THE CITY>

<THE BENEFACTOR IS STANDING IN THE STREET OF THE CITY; THERE IS A SMALL GASH IN THE ASPHALT IN FRONT OF HIM; HE SHOOTS A SMALL BEAM TO OPEN THE HOLE A SMALL BIT MORE; RUBBLE IS ALL AROUND; ON EITHER SIDE OF HIM, THE BUILDINGS ARE DESTROYED AND BODIES STREWN ABOUT; THERE IS A HUGE CRATER LEFT BY HIS PREVIOUS ATTACK BEHIND HIM>

<THE BENEFACTOR STOPS THE BEAM, IT IS LARGE ENOUGH FOR HIM TO JUMP IN; THERE IS NO SIGN OF ANYTHING BUT DARKNESS WITHIN IT; HE STEPS FORWARD>

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

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

<A POLICEMAN NOTICES THE BENEFACTOR>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Policeman 2: Hey! Answer the chief!

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

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

<THE POLICE OFFICER IS KILLED BY THIS BLAST>

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

The Benefactor: <LOWERS HIS HEAD INTO THE HOLE, NOT NOTICING THE POLICE> Iodine… there’s more down here.

<NAGAMO, MAKING ASSUMPTIONS NOW, ORDERS HIS MEN TO FIRE AND THEY DO; THE BENEFACTOR TURNS BACK TO FACE THEM, SNOUT FORWARD; HE STARES AT NAGAMO, BEFORE QUICKLY THROWING AN IMPALEMENT BEAM AT NAGAMO; NAGAMO, BEING ONLY A HUMAN, AND ONE OF GENEROUS PROPORTIONS REGARDLESS CANNOT GET OUT OF THE WAY; THE BEAM IS LARGER THAN HIM, AND NOT ONLY IMPALES HIM, BUT RIPS OFF HIS UPPER TORSO, LEAVING ONLY A SMALL MASS ON HIS RIGHT SIDE AND A PARTIAL, UPRIGHT PIECE OF HIS SPINAL COLUMN>

<THE OTHERS ROAR IN DISAPPROVAL AND CONTINUE FIRING AT THE BENEFACTOR, BUT THE LATTER IS PREOCCUPIED; INSTEAD, HE JUMPS DOWN INTO THE DARK CRACK THAT WAS RIPPED UP FROM THE GROUND>

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

<LEDAS IS WALKING DOWN A DARK HALLWAY, AND HE LOOKS UP; THE CEILING SHAKES; DUST COMES FALLING DOWN>

<LEDAS IS IN A WHITE T-SHIRT, BLACK SHORTS, AND SOCKS; THE REST OF HIS CLOTHES ARE GONE; HE IS SHIVERING FROM THE COLD>

Ledas: What are they doing up there?

<LEDAS WALKS FORWARD INTO THE SECOND ROOM; IT IS DARK, LIKE THE REST OF THE COMPLEX; HE PEERS AROUND FOR ANYTHING>

<HE STAYS IN POSITION, HIS MOUTH OPEN, WHEN HE HEARS A SOUND; LEDAS SPINS AROUND, FACING FORWARD, AND SHOOTS A KI BLAST; HE SEES A SHAPE MOVING, A HUMANOID SHAPE>

Ledas: A-are you the alien from Frieza’s ship?!

<THE SHAPE COMES FORWARD INTO LEDAS’ AURA, SHINING LIGHT ONTO IT; IT IS CLEARLY THE BENEFACTOR>

The Benefactor: <TO LEDAS> Sit down.

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

The Benefactor: Sit down.

Ledas: <BELLOW> You’re not my dad!

The Benefactor: No, I killed him.

Ledas: You wha…?

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

<THERE IS SILENCE FOR SEVERAL MOMENTS>

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

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

Ledas: Oh, uh… I… uh… <LOOKS AWAY> Wewll… I don’t wanna ’member you.

The Benefactor: <SHAKEN WHISPER> But you do. Go on, tell me about it.

Ledas: <HESITANT> Me and Vegeta saw ya when we worked for Frieza. But that was a long time ago… <PAUSE> I didn’t think you were still around. <TILTS HIS HEAD SIDEWAYS; STILL SCARED> Why were you following me?

The Benefactor: <QUIETLY, SHOULDERS PULLED FORWARD> Lord Frieza gave his soldiers many missions. But not me. Being his third captain, I was charged with watching over the Prince and you.

Ledas: But when me and Vegeta were lit-

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

Ledas: Hey, you’re not answering…

The Benefactor: Why I followed you? Why do you think? <THE BENEFACTOR LIFTS UP HIS SLEEVE REVEALING HIS ARM> I had nowhere to go after Frieza forsook me.

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

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

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

<THE BENEFACTOR LETS GO OF LEDAS; INSTEAD OF CONTINUING, HE SWIFTLY TURNS AND FLIES, WITH GREAT SPEED, OUT TO A FAR DOOR AGAINST THE WALL; HE GOES TO LEAVE>

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

The Benefactor: <QUIETLY, BELOW LEDAS’ SCREAMING> Jackals and vultures, they asked us; why? Why can’t you be like the others?! There is no question today. I have waited too long to be the authority.

Ledas: Stop!

The Benefactor: You will stay here, in this building until I return. Once the proper arrangements have been made, our training begins. Do not leave this place.

Ledas: I won’t… I guess. <HE HOLDS HIS BLOODY ARM>

The Benefactor: Good boy.

<THE BENEFACTOR TURNS AND SKIDS OFF; HOWEVER, BEFORE HE LEAVES, LEDAS SPEAKS>

Ledas: Wait. <THE BENEFACTOR STOPS, AND FACES LEDAS> D-did you kill him? V-v-vegeta? Did you kill him?

The Benefactor: He doesn’t matter.

Ledas: Then why did you bring me down here?!

The Benefactor: <WHISPER> Iodine.

Ledas: What?

The Benefactor: Mother’s house was on an iodine deposit. This is the only place on this planet where I could smell it.

Ledas: You mean you brought me here cuz it smells like your old house?

The Benefactor: Don’t leave. Don’t search for the Prince.

<THE BENEFACTOR RUSHES OFF>

Raven Veins
<LEDAS WALKS DOWN THE HALL, OUT OF THAT ROOM; HIS ARM IS HEALING UP, BUT IT IS STILL BLOODY; HE HAS A SULLEN, DEFEATED LOOK ON HIS FACE; HE MOVES OUTWARD INTO THE HALL; HIS AURA IS LIGHTING HIS WAY>

<HE SEES A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL>

<AS HE IS WALKING TOWARDS IT, WHEN HE REALIZES THAT THIS LIGHT IS MOVING>

<IT BLASTS FORWARD, CREATING A BIG FIREBALL THAT COMES SHOOTING DOWN THE HALL; LEDAS BLOCKS IT; WHEN IT CLEARS, HE PEERS AROUND AGAIN, LOOKING WHEN HE SEES SOMETHING>

<A TURRET COMES DOWN FROM THE CEILING ON THE FAR SIDE, IT AIMS DOWN AT LEDAS BEFORE SHOOTING OFF; HE DODGES IT BY STEPPING BACK AND THROWING HIS FAR SHOULDER BACK; AT THE SAME TIME, HE THROWS A SMALL KI BLAST AT IT, BLOWING THE WHOLE THING UP>

<HE STARES DOWN THE HALL FOR A MINUTE BEFORE ANOTHER WAVE OF DEFENSES COME UP AND PEPPER HIM DOWN WITH BULLETS; WITH HIS KI ABOUT HIM, NO BULLET CAN EVEN TOUCH HIM; HE SHOOTS ANOTHER BLAST TO DESTROY THEM AS WELL>

<A VOICE SUDDENLY SPEAKS UP, ECHOING DOWN THE LONG STONE HALLS>

Voice: Come here. <LEDAS LOOKS, PUTTING HIMSELF ON GUARD> Come here.

Ledas: W-who are you?

Voice: Come here.

<LEDAS SENDS OFF ANOTHER GLANCING BLAST TO LIGHT UP THE HALL, BUT HE SEES NO ONE>

<LEDAS HAS BEEN WALKING THIS WHOLE TIME, AND DRIFTS OUT INTO A ROUNDABOUT AREA FROM THE HALL; LEDAS CREEPS INTO THE ROUNDED OUT SECTION, PEERING AROUND FOR WHO WAS TALKING; HE HAS HIS HAND OUT; HE SEES NO ONE;

<SUDDENLY, TWO FIGURES COME UP FROM BEHIND HIM>

Soldier 1: I said come here, you little shit.

<A RIFLE IS THRUST INTO THE BACK OF LEDAS’ HEAD, THOUGH IT DOES NOT MAKE CONTACT; A FIGURE COMES OUT OF THE DARKNESS BEHIND THE RIFLE, AND IT SHOWS MAN, WITH A SECOND MAN BEHIND HIM; THEY ARE WEARING FULL BLACK AND SILVER ARMOR, HELMETED AND SUCH; ACROSS THEIR FOREHEAD AREA, AS WELL AS ON THEIR RIGHT ARMS IS THE SAME SIGN LEDAS SAW ON THE DOORS; THE TWO LETTER ‘R’S>

Soldier 1: You’re on Red Ribbon Army property. Restricted area. You’re in deep, now.

Ledas: Red Ribbon Army? What’s that? <LEDAS TURNS AROUND TO FACE THE MAN>

Soldier 1: You don’t need to know.

<HE PUTS HIS FINGER ON THE TRIGGER AND FIRES; THE BULLET DOES NOT GET TO LEDAS, AS IT DISINTEGRATES ON HIS AURA>

<HE LEVELS UP A SMALL ROUND KI BALL AND THROWS IT INTO THE MAN; IT EXPLODES, BUT DOES LITTLE ELSE>

Soldier 1: We’ve got heavier armor than you think!

<HE RUSHES AT LEDAS, WITH THE BUTT OF HIS GUN; HE SWINGS IT FORWARD; LEDAS BLOCKS AND SIDESTEPS; HE DID EXPECT THESE HUMANS TO HAVE POWER LEVELS HIGHER THAN ANY OF THE OTHERS HE HAD ENCOUNTERED>

<HE TRIES TO POWER UP QUICKLY, BUT THE OTHER SOLDIER SWINGS HIS RIFLE AT HIM; LEDAS BLOCKS WITH HIS LEFT HAND, ONLY TO SCREAM OUT HORRIFICALLY, A MOMENT LATER, WHEN THE WEAPON SLAMS INTO HIS BLOODY AND WOUNDED APPENDAGE; LEDAS FALLS TO HIS KNEES>

<THE TWO SOLDIERS LOCK UP THEIR WEAPONS AND AIM THEM AT THE BOY; THE FIRE>

<THIS TWO SECOND REPRIEVE HAS ALLOWED LEDAS TO POWER UP EFFECTIVELY; BEFORE THE BULLETS REACH HIM, HE PUTS HIS RIGHT HAND OUT AND SHOOTS A ONE HANDED GALICK AT THE TWO; IT INCINERATES THEM>

Ledas: <SITTING, KNEES UP; HE FEELS HIS BAD ARM, WINCING> Red Ribbon Army? What’s a whole army doing in this place? The alien must’ve known they’d be here. But… I don’t know.

<HE CRAWLS UP AND WALKS OUT>

<CUTS TO KRILLIN>

<KRILLIN IS THE ONLY REMAINING Z FIGHTER, THE SINGLE ONE THAT THE BENEFACTOR DID NOT TAKE OUT; HE IS FLYING FASTER THAN THE WINDS TO THE LOOKOUT, TO GET DENDE TO COME AND HEAL EVERYONE>

<HE IS NEAR A MOUNTAIN WHEN HE NOTICES A SMALL BLUE DOT; IT IS SHINING OFF OF THE SUN AND NOTICING THE GLEAM, KRILLIN APPROACHES IT; HE SEES, AS CLEARLY AS WE THE AUDIENCE DO, THAT THIS IS YAJIROBE, FLYING AS THE THANKLESS DELIVERER OF THE SENZU BEANS>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<KRILLIN NOTICES, RATHER QUICKLY>

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

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

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

Yajirobe: Nuh uh.

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

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

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

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

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

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

<THEY CONTINUE SCUFFLING ABOUT WHEN A SHADOW FALLS OVER THEM, AND THEY STOP; YAJIROBE LOOKS UP AND GOES WHITE>

<FLOATING BEFORE THEM IS VEGETA>

<VEGETA HAS DRIED BLOOD IN LINES DOWN HIS NECK, CHEST, AND ALL OVER HIS ARMS; HE HAS SOME BLOOD STILL CRIMSON WET UNDER HIS CHIN; HE IS HOLDING THE PART UNDER HIS CHIN WITH BOTH GLOVED HANDS, WHICH ARE ALSO BLOODIED BY HIS WOUNDS; HE IS IN HIS BASE FORM>

<HE GLARES AT THE TWO NITWITS>

Krillin: Ve-vegeta… what happened to you!?

Vegeta: <GRITTED WHISPER> Shut up.

Krillin: Uh…

Vegeta: The beans. <YAJIROBE IS PETRIFIED; SLOWLY> The beans, you fool.

Yajirobe: W-w-w-what beans?

<VEGETA LOWERS HIS LEFT HAND, IN AN OPEN HAND, AND PRESENTS IT TO YAJIROBE AS IF EXPECTING HIM TO PUT THE BEANS IN IT>

Vegeta: <SLOW DRAMATIC STYLE> The beans you have in your-

<SHOT IS FACING VEGETA, SHOWING HIS FACE AND HIS HAND EXTENDED, EXPECTING THE BEANS; IMMEDIATELY AS HE IS TALKING, YAJIROBE PANICKS AND THROWS THE BEANS RIGHT INTO VEGETA’S FACE EXTREMELY QUICKLY>

<VEGETA REACHES UP AND GRABS THEM, SCOWLING SOMETHING FIERCE; HE GIVES ONE LAST MENACING LOOK AT THEM BEFORE TURNING>

<AS HE GOES INTO THE MOVEMENT OF AIR DASHING AWAY, HE KICKS THE FRONT OF THE CAR WITH HIS HEEL, SENDING IT CAREENING INTO A FLIP, AND ULTIMATELY CRASHING INTO THE MOUNTAIN BEHIND THEM>

<BEFORE IT CRASHES, VEGETA IS GONE>

<CUTS BACK TO THE BUNKER>

Scientist 1: 0.00001% dilution.

Scientist 2: The biochemical enhancements will need to rest for a few hours. I suggest putting the subjects in a contained room to wait out the time. Shall I start with you, Captain?

Captain Green: Quadruple injection?

Scientist 2: Right. We’ll give you the first go. Once we begin, there’s no going back.

Captain Green: I am aware.

<THE CAMERA PANS BACK, SHOWING LEDAS WATCHING THEM; HE IS ON THE SECOND FLOOR LOOKOUT, SEEING EVERYTHING HAPPEN THROUGH A FULL WALLED WINDOW; SUDDENLY A GUARD ON A DIFFERENT LOOKOUT SPOTS HIM AND FIRES>

<THE BULLET SHATTERS THE GLASS, CAUSING LEDAS TO JUMP; HE GOES TO THE GROUND AND ROLLS OUT; WHEN HE LANDS ON THE FIRST FLOOR, HE IS SURROUNDED BY RED RIBBON ARMY SOLDIERS AND SCIENTISTS; THE ONES TALKING WITH CAPTAIN GREEN ARE PUSHED OUT, WITH HIM, BY SEVERAL GUARDS; ONCE THEY ARE OUT, THE REMAINING SOLDIERS RUN AT LEDAS>

<EVERY SOLDIER IS DRESSED IN THE SAME WAY AS THE ONES HE ALREADY KILLED; FULL BODY ARMOR, BLACK, SILVER, GREY; WITH THE RED RIBBON ARMY INSIGNIAS ON THEIR HELMETS AND RIGHT ARMS>

<SEVERAL HAVE HEAVY WEAPONS, LIKE HAND HELD TURRETS; THEY SHOOT AND SPRAY THE ROOM WITH BULLETS; THE LOOKOUTS HAVE SNIPERS, WHO WEAR SLIGHTLY LESS CUMBERSOME ARMOR AND NO HELMETS>

<LEDAS SHOOTS HOMING FINGER BEAMS AT ALL THE MEN, WHILE DODGING THEIR BULLETS EASILY; THE FINGER BEAMS ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO GET THROUGH THEIR ARMOR>

<FOUR SOLDIERS RUSH LEDAS AND TRY PUNCHING HIM; HE PARRIES THEM EASILY, AND KICKS THEM IN THE SHINS, NOT ONLY BREAKING THEIR SHINS, BUT SENDING THEM FLYING BACK; HE KILLS THE REMAINING ONES WITH PUNCHES TO FACES, SHATTERING THEIR VISORS>

<THE REMAINING FOOT SOLDIERS CONVERGE ON HIS LOCATION; HE SPRINGS THEM BACK WITH A QUICK EXPLOSIVE WAVE; THE ROOM IS COMPLETELY OBLITERATED; MANY OF THE SOLDIERS ARE KILLED BY THIS, BUT SEVERAL IN THE BACK ONLY HAVE THEIR ARMOR CRACKED; THEY CONTINUE SHOOTING AT LEDAS>

<LEDAS AIR RUSHES AT THOSE REMAINING STRAGGLERS AND KICKS THEM TO DEATH, EACH>

<HE CREATES A MORE POWERFUL BEAM FOR THE SNIPER AND DECAPITATES HIM WITH A SINGLE BLAST; HE SPINS AROUND AND DOES THIS TO THE OTHER SNIPERS, KILLING THEM>

<LEDAS RUNS TO THE DOOR THAT CAPTAIN GREEN RETREATED FROM, WHEN IT OPENS ITSELF>

<A FLASH BANG GRENADE COMES OUT, RATTLING LEDAS’ VISION AND HEARING; HE STAGGERS BACKWARD WHEN HE SEES SOMETHING WHITE TAKE OVER HIS VISION; HIS AURA VANISHES>

<HIS VISION BARELY COMING BACK, THE CAMERA SHOWS AN OVERVIEW OF THE SCENE; SEVERAL SOLDIERS HAD COME OUT, BUT UPON SEEING LEDAS ON THE GROUND, ONE TAKES A SYRINGE OFF HIS BELT AND INJECTS LEDAS IN THE NECK WITH IT>

<THIS SOLDIER KNEELS OVER LEDAS, LOOKING BACK, AS THE CHAPTER ENDS>

Iodiner
<ONE DAY LATER>

Voice: Will he be able to get loose?

Scientist 1: Doubtless.

Voice: Finish the extraction, then. When he comes to, we need to be gone.

<LEDAS OPENS ONE EYE>

Ledas: H-hey, where am I?

<HE SEES AROUND HIM; HE IS SUSPENDED IN MIDAIR, WITH ELECTRIC BINDING ON HIS ARMS AND LEGS, AGAINST A METAL BACK>

<HE RAISES HIS POWER LEVEL AND SNAPS HIS ARMS FORWARD, LETTING HIM FALL>

<BEHIND A GLASS IS A SCIENTIST, THREE GUARDS, AND ANOTHER MAN, WEARING DIFFERENT, SILVERY BASED ARMOR, WITHOUT A HELMET; HE HAS RED HAIR, AND A RED, SILVERY BEARD; THEY ALL SEEM SURPRISED TO SEE HIM AWAKE>

<HE HAS FORMED A KI BALL BEHIND HIM; HE THROWS THE ICE CANNON AT THEM, SHATTERING THE GLASS, DESTROYING THE COMPUTER CONSOLES, AND KILLING THEM>

<LEDAS JUMPS INTO IT; HE SEES THE RED HAIRED MAN IS STILL ALIVE; HE APPROACHES THIS MAN>

Voice: Stop! Get away!

Ledas: So, you’re the Red Ribbon Army? Your soldiers keep attacking me, but they’re not very strong.

Voice: You’re just like a kid I knew. But my men are better on this day.

Ledas: What are you talking about?

Voice: I’m Supreme Commander Silver. The last remaining officer from Red’s first legion. We’re here to complete his quest!

Ledas: Yeah, what’s that?

Silver: Getting the Dragon Balls, taking over the world… and with these new cybernetic and biochemical enhancements, me and my men are being made into the strongest humans to ever exist! <TO LEDAS> How did you get here? Nobody knows we’re here. Nobody knows we still exist!

Ledas: <MOVES INTO VIEW, HIS TAIL SWINGING IN IRRITATION> The alien put me here. He smelled iodine or something.

Silver: Yes, we have quite the nuclear arsenal… <HE SEES LEDAS’ TAIL> Tail!? No, you’re his son! <SILVER GETS UP AND CRAWLS, STILL FACING LEDAS, OUT OF THE DOOR BEHIND HIM> It can’t be!

<HE RUNS OUT; LEDAS INSTANTLY PURSUES; LEDAS SHOOTS A KI BEAM AT THE BACK OF SILVER’S BODY, BUT HIS ENHANCEMENTS, BOTH PHYSICALLY AND TECHNOLOGICALLY, HAVE GIVEN HIM QUITE THE STRONG BODY ARMOR; IT DOES NOT DAMAGE HIM ENOUGH; IT MERELY THROWS HIM ONTO THE FLOOR, ONTO HIS STOMACH; HIS BACK SMOKING>

<LEDAS RUNS UP TO HIM; HE CREATES A KI SWORD AND GOES TO CUT OFF THE MAN’S HEAD; HE GRABS HIM BY THE BACK OF THE COLLAR AND BRINGS HIS HEAD UP>

Silver: No! Don’t kill me. If I die, it triggers all our missile reserves to go off. You’ll be killed!

Ledas: No I won’t.

Silver: Or everyone you care about will. Whatever you want.

Ledas: I don’t believe you.

<SILVER IMMEDIATELY KICKS HIS BOOT, OPENING A SMALL BLADED POINT AT THE HEEL OF HIS SHOE; HE BICYCLE KICKS BACK, AND IT HITS RIGHT INTO THE SMALL OF LEDAS’ BACK; LEDAS IS TOO POWERED UP TO FEEL IT; IT DOES NOT PIERCE HIS SKIN>

<BUT THIS CAUSES LEDAS TO HESITATE, AND GIVES ENOUGH TIME FOR OTHER SOLDIERS TO COME SCREAMING AROUND A CORNER; THEY ALL SHOOT AT HIM; AS HE LOOKS AT THEM, HE DOESN’T SEE WHERE HE SLICES, AND HIS KI BLADE ONLY GOES INTO SILVER’S ARM>

<LEDAS IS DISTRACTED BY THE OTHERS, AND DID NOT SEE THAT HIS BLADE LET SILVER LIVE; HE JUMPS OFF THE OFFICER AND JUMPS AT THE SOLDIERS; HE DOES A STRONG, RIDING ATTACK INTO ALL OF THEM, TAKING EVERY SOLDIER OUT WITH A FEW PUNCHES; THEIR ARMOR IS STRONG, BUT WITH HIM POWERING UP MORE AND MORE EVERY SECOND, HE BECOMES EXPONENTIALLY STRONGER THAN THEM>

<WHEN HE IS DONE, HE TURNS AROUND; SILVER’S BODY IS GONE>

<CUTS TO THE CITY>

Cardinal: Marissa? Marissa?!

<NO ANSWER>

<HE LOOKS AROUND, SPYING HIS CELL PHONE ON THE GROUND A FEW FEET AWAY; HE REACHES OUT AND GRABS IT; HE TURNS IT ON AND PROMPTLY BEGINS DIALING A NUMBER>

<HE HAS HIS PHONE ON SPEAKER WHEN SOMEBODY ANSWERS>

Voice: F-father?

<THE SCENE ONLY SHOWS CARDINAL, THOUGH IT DOES ALTERNATE BETWEEN VARIOUS ANGLES>

Cardinal: Airgead! Get up here and get me help. A bomb has gone off, or something similar.

Airgead: Can’t you get one of your assistants to help? Are you hurt?

Cardinal: Badly. I’ve lost an arm. My assistants are all dead. I need you.

Airgead: Father, I cannot get to you within the hour. I am being – chased by a madman.

Cardinal: Get up here! I will not ask again! You will not leave me to die! <HE SCREAMS THAT LAST SENTENCE, THEN THROWS HIS CELL PHONE AWAY>

<HE NOW HAS A CLEAR SIGHT AHEAD OF HIM; HE LOOKS UP TO SEE SOMEONE STANDING IN FRONT OF HIM>

<RYORI HAS A LOOK OF UTTER HATE UPON HIS FACE; HIS TEARS OF OLD DRIED ON HIS FACE, HIS HEAD THROWN BACK, HIS FACE AND BODY DIRTY AND DUSTY FROM THE DESTRUCTION, HE WALKS FORWARD>

<IN HIS HAND IS A SHARD OF GLASS; A SHARP ONE, INDEED>

Cardinal: Ryori… we need to talk. Just talk.

Ryori: <HOARSE; QUIETLY> I bet that’s what you told Shoekki before you killed him.

<RYORI STEPS FORWARD, BLOCKING OUT THE CAMERA>

A Phone Call From Prince To Sour Concerning The Serious Lack Of Toys To Play With In Sour's House
Silver: You’re insane, you do know that?

<HE IS STANDING IN FRONT OF HIS SCIENTISTS IN A SMALL ROOM; HE HAS GUARDS AROUND; HE IS MONITERING A VIDEO FEED OF LEDAS FIGHTING HIS OTHER SOLDIERS>

Scientist 1: I’m just doing my job.

Silver: These tests are unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It’s revolutionary! I’m just glad I was able to recruit fresh troops a few years back. Without them stalling that boy, we’d be done.

Scientist 3: I believe they are suffering heavy losses, Commander.

Silver: It doesn’t matter. When I’ve been injected, and get his power, none of them will be needed. It’s amazing. We were going along just fine, and he shows up. Now I’ve got his blood, his DNA, and we can finally begin my transformation. Ultimately, the Red Ribbon Army will become the rulers over this world because of him. Who’d have thought Goku’s son would be the catalyst to our success? <HE LAUGHS>

<SILVER TURNS QUICKLY AND GOES TO HIS READY PLACE, TO BEGIN HIS INJECTIONS; HE HAS A PISTOL IN HIS RIGHT HAND; HIS RIGHT HAND IS THE ONE THAT WAS SLICED; HE IS HOLDING ONTO THAT WITH HIS LEFT HAND>

<LEDAS IS IN THE OTHER ROOM; SEVERAL SOLDIERS HAVE RIOT SHIELDS UP, AND ARE LOBBING GRENADES AT HIM; HE BATS THEM AWAY; A MAN COMES UP FROM HIS LEFT, JUMPING OUT OF AN INSIDE ENTRANCE PLACE THING; HE HAS TWO GRENADES IN HIS HANDS, THE PINS PULLED; HE JUMPS ONTO LEDAS AND WRAPS HIS HANDS AROUND HIM; THE GRENADES GO OFF>

<THIS DOES NOTHING TO LEDAS; THE MAN’S ARMOR ALLOW HIM TO LIVE, BUT LEDAS SMASHES IN HIS FACE>

<WHILE THESE RED RIBBON ARMY SOLDIERS ARE CYBERNETICALLY ENHANCED, AS WE CAN NOW SEE, WITH ADDITIONS TO THEIR MUSCLE SYSTEMS AND REFLEXES, THEY ARE NOT STRONGER THAN LEDAS; SURE THEY NEVER TIRE OUT, HAVE INCREDIBLE STRENGTH (COMPARED TO THEIR OLD BRETHREN), AND QUITE THE AMOUNT OF SPEED, BUT THEY ARE STILL ALMOST NOTHING TO LEDAS IF HE IS POWERED UP; AND HE IS>

<LEDAS MELTS THE LINE OF RIOT SHIELDS WITH A HEAVY KYORRA FLASH; HE RUNS FORWARD, KICKING AWAY THE FIRST, DAZED, GUARD, AND JUMPS INTO THE THICKET>

<HE OPENS HIS MOUTH AND YELLS OUT; THREE KI BLASTS SHOOT OUT; ONE STRAIGHT, ONE TO THE RIGHT, ONE TO THE LEFT; THEY ARE ORANGE; THEY MAKE CONTACT WITH THE SOLDIERS AND DECIMATE THEM, SENDING THEM BACKWARD, DEAD; THEY LEAVE RESIDUE THAT, AS ONE UNFORTUNATE SOLDIER FINDS OUT, WHEN STEPPED ON, DISINTEGRATE ONE’S FOOT, AND MUCH MORE IF STAYED ON>

<LEDAS CONTINUES KILLING THEM; HE HAS NO REMORSE IN HIS FACE>

<CUTS BACK TO SILVER>

Scientist 1: Green is done.

Silver: Good, send him to face the boy.

<THE DOOR OPENS AND CAPTAIN GREEN COMES OUT; HE WALKS WITH A RUMBLING WAY, FALLING FORWARD CONSTANTLY; HE HAS A SLACK JAW AND BLACK HAIR, MILITARY CUT>

Captain Green: Commander?

Silver: <HE IS KNEELING AS THE SCIENTISTS APPLY THE ANESTHETIC> No, make it M99. I don’t care if it’s horse tranquilizer. Give me half the dilution you gave Green. <TO GREEN> Well, our scientists sure know something. It’s much more practical than making a robotic android, don’t you think? Just apply their blueprints in a more organic way and you have it. Human genetic splicing. You’re our first success, Green. With all the other technological enhancements your armor and weapons have, this will be no contest.

Captain Green: You’ve been trying for years. And just now, we manage to get it right. Explain it, sir.

Silver: The soldiers drugged the boy for a day or so. We got his blood out and worked it in. He’s strong, as you can tell. But you’ve got all his strength now. Go kill him for me, Captain.

Captain Green: Of course, Commander. See you on the other side.

<THEY NOD AND GREEN LEAVES>

<CUTS TO THE CITY>

<VEGETA LANDS; HE SCANS THE AREA; HE SEES NOTHING OTHER THAN THE DESOLATE WASTE LEFT BY THE BENEFACTOR, CARVING A GAPING HOLE INTO THE CITY’S LIMITS; BODIES ARE STREWN ABOUT, ALL DEAD, AS VEGETA WALKS>

<HE FEELS A POWER COMING FROM BELOW HIS BOOTS; HE LOOKS DOWN, AND STOPS; HE BLASTS AWAY THE ASPHALT, TRYING TO GET DOWN THERE>

<UPON TEARING OPEN THE HOLE, HE JUMPS DOWN INTO IT>

<VEGETA LANDS IN THE DARK HALLS; HE USES HIS AURA, A BLUE ONE, LIGHTS HIS WAY; HE COMES INTO THE ROOM THAT LEDAS FIRST MET THE LARGE GROUP OF SOLDIERS; THERE ARE BODIES ABOUT; HE SURVEYS THE DAMAGE FOR A MOMENT>

<OUT OF THE RAFTERS ABOVE, A SOLDIER COMES; HE IS IN THE DARK BLACK AND SILVER HEAVY ARMOR LIKE EVERYONE ELSE; HE HAS NOTHING BUT A KNIFE IN HIS HAND; HE LUNGES AT VEGETA>

<VEGETA PICKS UP ON HIM AND MOVES FORWARD, LETTING THE MAN JUST FALL TO THE GROUND, ABOUT TWENTY FEET; BEFORE HE CAN GET UP, VEGETA HAS TURNED BACK AROUND AND GRABBED HIM>

Vegeta: Who did this?!

Soldier 5: A kid. What is he, your son?

Vegeta: <LOW LAUGH> Hahah. No chance.

<THE MAN FUMBLES AROUND, AND TRIES TO KNIFE VEGETA, THAT MAGGOT; VEGETA HEADBUTTS HIM TO DEATH, THEN THROWS THE BODY AWAY>

<CUTS BACK TO LEDAS>

<HE KILLS THE LAST SOLDIER IN THE AREA WITH A NECK SNAP; HE LOOKS AROUND, THERE IS NOBODY LEFT; LEDAS POWERS DOWN>

<BEFORE HE CAN DO ANYTHING ELSE, A FAR DOOR SLIDES OPEN; OUT FROM IT WALKS CAPTAIN GREEN; HIS ARMOR, IN ADDITION TO BEING BULKIER THAN THE OTHERS’, IS DETAILED WITH GREEN PAINT, SHOWING EXACTLY WHO HE IS; HE HAS AS SONIC DISRUPTOR IN HIS HANDS>

<HE FIRES IT AT LEDAS, SENDING THE BOY FLYING BACK INTO THE WALL; IN GREEN'S RIGHT HAND, HE READIES AN RPG AND FIRES THAT AT LEDAS; LEDAS BLOCKS IT, BUT IT DOES ENOUGH DAMAGE TO HIM>

<GREEN COMES SWINGING FORWARD, KICKING WITH HIS BOOTS AT LEDAS; LEDAS’ BLOCK IS BROKEN, AND HE IS THROWN BACK; HE STANDS UP>

Ledas: You sure are strong for a human.

Captain Green: We’ve been enhanced. Well, every soldier has the cybernetic technology. But Silver and I’ve got somethin’ extra. A bio-genetic enhancement. Well, it includes your blood, so I should be thanking you.

Ledas: My blood?

Captain Green: We’ve got to use what we can. And now that we have, I will be promptly eliminating you.

<GREEN STEPS FORWARD AND TRIES HIS SONIC DISRUPTOR AGAIN; LEDAS KNOCKS IT AWAY; GREEN PUNCHES AT LEDAS; LEDAS BLOCKS; GREEN ATTEMPTS TO KICK AT LEDAS; LEDAS BLOCKS THAT TOO; HE IS RAISING HIS POWER LEVEL ALL THIS TIME>

<LEDAS DODGES FROM GREEN BUT KICKING OFF THE WALL; THIS PROPELS HIM UNDER THE CAPTAIN, INTO HIS CHEST; THE TWO TUMBLE ONTO THE GROUND; GREEN PUNCHES LEDAS ACROSS THE FACE, USING THIS TO GRAB HIS KNIFE, IN HIS BOOT; HE TRIES TO STAB LEDAS>

<LEDAS SEES THIS COMING, AND TAKES GREEN’S HAND INTO HIS OWN; HE STOPS THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE BLADE; LEDAS BRINGS HIS AURA UP, INCREASING HIS STRENGTH; WITH IT, HE BREAKS GREEN’S HAND; FLIPPING OVER THE KNIFE, AND PUNCTURES IT INTO GREEN’S NECK; GREEN STRUGGLES AGAINST IT, BUT IT IS NO USE>

<LEDAS BREAKS OPEN GREEN’S ARMOR, AND THE BLADE GOES INTO HIS NECK; IN THE STRUGGLE, HE BRINGS THE KNIFE IN A SLICE DOWN ACROSS THE NECK, SPILLING BLOOD EVERYWHERE>

<GREEN IS DEAD>

<LEDAS SITS THERE, BREATHING, COVERED IN BLOOD; HE VIOLENTLY WAVES SNAPS HIS ARMS DOWN FROM HIS FOREFRONT TO HIS SIDES, IN THE AIR, AND SCREAMS OUT WITH IT; HE CREATES SOME KI DISCHARGE THAT BLOCKS OUT THE CAMERAS WATCHING>

<CUTS BACK TO SILVER>

Silver: How many men do I have left?

Scientist 2: Life signs show 86 men.

Silver: Order all of them back to this point. I want everyone to settle in and create an impenetrable point.

Scientist 4: Are you leaving us, sir?

Silver: There is something I have to do. If the boy survives Green, he will not survive me. Somebody give me some M99.

Scientist 1: Commander, what do you need it for?

Silver: Just do it.

<THE SCIENTIST HANDS HIM A CASE OF M99, PERPLEXED AS TO WHY HE’D NEED SUCH HEAVY TRANQUILIZER>

<SILVER RUNS OUT TO THE BACK ROOM WITH THE LAST GUARD HE HAS; FROM ALL THE KI BLASTING, THIS HAS CAUSED THE LIGHTS TO GO OUT; HE CLICKS THE FLASHLIGHT ONTO HIS SUPER COOL PISTOL; HE CAUTIOUSLY CREEPS OUTWARD; SPARKS FALL FROM THE CEILING>

<HE SEES MOVEMENT AHEAD; HE FIRES HIS PISTOL THREE TIMES; HE MOTIONS TO HIS GUARD TO NOT MOVE>

<THE MOVEMENT STOPS; THEY CROUCH WALK FORWARD TO SEE WHAT IT WAS; A HELMETLESS SOLDIER COMING BACK TO GUARD THE SCIENTISTS; SHOT IN THE HEAD, AND DEAD>

Silver: Idiot. Make yourself known in the hostile environment. <HE LOOKS UP> Waste your life for me, then.

Private Wisconsin: Maybe he was fleeing from the boy, sir.

Silver: If he was, he deserved to die.

<HE JUMPS OVER THE MAN AND MAKES HIS WAY TO THE GARAGE; YES, THEY HAVE ONE UNDERGROUND; WISCONSIN FOLLOWS HIM>

<AS THEY GET THERE, THEY RUN INTO A LARGER GROUP OF SOLDIERS, ALL IN RETREAT>

Silver: What’s going on?

Soldier 4: Sir, it’s the boy. We can’t even touch him. Even in our power suits!

Silver: <HE STOPS THEM> Get back there and fight!

Soldier 7: Sir…

Silver: Kill him, or I kill you.

<THE MEN LOOK SCARED AT THIS AND RUN BACK; WITHIN SECONDS, ANOTHER EXPLOSION GOES OFF; SOME OF THE BODIES COME FLYING INTO THE ROOM; LEDAS COMES IN AFTER THEM>

<SILVER SHOOTS HIS PISTOL AT LEDAS, BUT THE SAIYAN BLOCKS THE SHOTS; HE FIRES A BEAM WAVE AT SILVER; SILVER BLOCKS IT AND HIS ARMOR IS ENOUGH TO KEEP HIM ALIVE>

<LEDAS RUSHES AT SILVER; WISCONSIN IS IN THE BACKGROUND>

<SILVER PARRIES LEDAS’ ATTACK, AND PUNCHES BACK; IT DOES LITTLE TO THE BOY; THEY GET INTO A BLOW EXCHANGE; BECAUSE OF THE DARKNESS, LEDAS DOESN’T KNOW THIS IS SILVER>

<SILVER PUNCHES LEFT, ACROSS LEDAS’ CHEEK; HE SIDESWEEPS THE BOY ONTO THE GROUND; HE THEN KICKS LEDAS IN THE MOUTH; LEDAS SHOOTS A MORE POWERFUL BEAM INTO HIM NOW, CAUSING SILVER TO FLY BACK; ASSUMING HE WAS MERELY AS STRONG AS THE OTHER SOLDIERS, LEDAS STANDS UP AND RUNS OFF>

<SILVER IS NOT DEAD AT ALL; HE IS PERFECTLY FINE>

Silver: I’ll come back for you. If that’s your maximum power, you are in trouble. Come on, Wisconsin. We’re leaving.

<HE RUNS TO HIS MOTORCYCLE AND GETS ON IT; WISCONSIN GETS ON THE BACK, POINTING HIS ASSAULT RIFLE AROUND; WITHOUT PAUSING, SILVER CLICKS THE VEHICLE ON AND FLIES OUT OF THERE>

Light Goes Off
<LEDAS STANDS UP>

<HE WALKS CASUALLY OUT OF THE ROOM, HAVING VENTED HIS ANGER ENOUGH; HE WALKS DOWN THE HALL UNTIL HE SPOTS MORE SOLDIERS; THEY OPEN FIRE ON HIM>

Ledas: Come on, when will they stop attacking me? I thought I killed them all already.

<ANNOYED, HE THROWS A KI BALL DOWN TO THEM, BLOWING THEM UP; HE GOES SUPER SAIYAN AND AIR RUSHES DOWN THE HALL AT THEM; HE THROWS SOME SCATTERSHOT ENERGY BLASTS, MOPPING UP THE REST OF THE SOLDIERS IN AN INSTANT>

<HE REACHES A DOOR AND SLAMS THROUGH IT; INSIDE IS THE SCIENTIST BATTALION>

<HE STANDS UP>

Ledas: You’re the ones who took my blood!

Scientist 1: No! No we didn’t!

Ledas: But why would you need it?

Scientist 1: We were forced-

<LEDAS BLOWS THEM UP; ENOUGH TALKING WITH THEM>

Ledas: I don’t sense anyone else down here. Where’s that Silver guy at? <HE TURNS AROUND, AND HE GETS THE FLASH OF SENSING SOMEONE> Wait, who’s that? Vegeta?! He’s down here. But how could he-

<SOMETHING MAKES A NOISE BEHIND HIM>

<THE BENEFACTOR DROPS DOWN>

The Benefactor: You killed them all.

Ledas: Y-you’re back.

The Benefactor: Originally, I did not know they were here. I came back to take you, only to see you slaughtering them all. Because you are a Saiyan. You cannot help but fall into the bloodlust, like me.

Ledas: I’m not like you.

The Benefactor: Yes you are. You kill. You are not one to stifle those emotions.

Ledas: They attacked me!

The Benefactor: And now I am certain you are right to be my acolyte.

Ledas: No! It doesn’t mean that!

The Benefactor: Come with me now. We know you do not have the strength to resist.

<FROM BEHIND>

Vegeta: Oh, is that right?

<THEY BOTH LOOK AT VEGETA>

Ledas: Vegeta, you are alive!

The Benefactor: You’ve proved stouter than I thought. But this time, when I slit your throat, you will stay down.

<LEDAS RUNS BACK, FROM THE BENEFACTOR TO VEGETA>

Ledas: <QUIETLY> Um, Vegeta, do you have a plan or something? I think he’s still stronger than us combined.

Vegeta: Of course I do. Do what I do.

<VEGETA CREATES A FINAL FLASH, A VERY POWERFUL ONE; LEDAS SEES THIS AND CREATES A POWERFUL BLAST OF HIS OWN; AN ICE CANNON>

<THE TWO THROW THEM AT THE BENEFACTOR; THE ALIEN EASILY DODGES THEM, BUT THE BLASTS CREATE A LARGE ENOUGH EXPLOSION TO RIP A HOLE IN THE BUNKER, SHOWING THAT THEY WERE UNDERGROUND>

<THE CITY BEING QUITE FAR ABOVE THEM BARELY SHAKES; VEGETA USES THIS TIME TO CREATE ANOTHER BLAST, WHICH SHOOTS UPWARD AND MAKES A HOLE IN THE GROUND, ALLOWING HIM AND LEDAS TO ESCAPE FROM THE ALIEN>

<LEDAS WATCHES HIM AND THEN FOLLOWS HIM UP; THEY REACH THE CITY IN NO TIME AND LAND ON THE PAVEMENT>

<THE BENEFACTOR HAS NOT FOLLOWED THEM YET>

Ledas: So what’s the plan, Vegeta?

Vegeta: <HOLDS UP THE BAG OF SENZUS HE GOT FROM YAJIROBE> These. We wear him out, while keeping our power. <HE HANDS LEDAS HALF OF THE BAG; LEDAS POCKETS THEM> Eat one every time your power goes down too much.

Ledas: Okay. That’ll work.

<SUDDENLY THE GROUND RIPS UP AND THE BENEFACTOR COMES OUT; HE LANDS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM>

The Benefactor: Not today. You should not have made me mad. <THE BENEFACTOR STRETCHES HIS HANDS OUT AND BEGINS POWERING UP IN FRONT OF THEM> My power is greatly beyond yours.

<HIS POWERING UP, WITH HIS BLACK AURA, MELTS AWAY THE SURROUNDING AREA; THE BUILDINGS AND WHATNOT ALL GO AWAY>

Ledas: I’m not coming with you. You’ll have to kill me.

The Benefactor: You will come with me, and I will not have to kill you.

<BOTH LEDAS AND VEGETA ARE IN THEIR HIGHEST SUPER SAIYAN FORMS; THEY ARE AT FULL POWER, THANKS TO THE BEANS>

<THE BENEFACTOR IS DONE POWERING UP; LEDAS GOES LEFT, VEGETA GOES RIGHT; THE TWO JUMP AT HIM AND ATTACK; THEY USE FLURRY BLOWS TO TRY AND CONFUSE THE BENEFACTOR; THEIR BLOWS LAND, BUT DO NOT DO THAT MUCH DAMAGE>

<HE KICKS LEDAS AWAY WITH A LEG SWEEP AND TRIES TO FOCUS ON VEGETA; LEDAS CATCHES HIMSELF BEFORE HE HITS THE GROUND AND DASHES BACK UP TO THEM; HE PUNCHES THE ALIEN SQUARE IN THE BACK; VEGETA IS ABLE TO BREAK FREE AND SENDS AN ENERGY BLITZ AT THE ALIEN>

<THE TWO SAIYANS COME AT THE BENEFACTOR AT ONCE, PUNCHING HIM EQUALLY ACROSS THE FACE, ONE ON EACH SIDE; AS THE BENEFACTOR REELS BACK, THEY COMBINE A BLAST TO PUSH HIM BACK>

<VEGETA EATS A BEAN>

<THE BENEFACTOR RIGHTS HIMSELF UP; LEDAS HAS LANDED; HE ATTEMPTS TO ENGAGE THE ALIEN IN HAND TO HAND COMBAT; THE BENEFACTOR IS ABLE TO PARRY EASILY; LEDAS STEPS BACK AND CREATES ANOTHER JUDICATOR BLAST, SHOOTING THE THREE KI BLASTS OUT OF HIS MOUTH AND SCREAMING AT THE SAME TIME>

<VEGETA COMES FLYING DOWN, PUTTING HIS BOOTS INTO THE BENEFACTOR’S HEAD; THE ALIEN SEEMS UNABLE TO FIGHT THEM WHATSOEVER>

<THE BENEFACTOR ROLLS OVER AND FIRES AN IMPALEMENT BEAM AT VEGETA; HE HITS HIM; VEGETA LOOKS SURPRISED AS HE FALLS DOWN; THE BEAM DOES NOT DISSIPATE; HE YELLS OUT IN PAIN>

<WITH HIM DOWN, THE BENEFACTOR GOES TO FINISH HIM OFF WITH A BLAST, BUT LEDAS KNOCKS HIM OFF COURSE BEFORE HE CAN AIM PROPERLY; LEDAS TRIES SEVERAL POWER BLOWS WHEN HE LANDS ON TOP OF THE ALIEN; THEY ALL HIT>

<HE GOES TO FINISH WITH A BLAST, BUT THE BENEFACTOR DOUBLE KICKS HIM, FLIPPING UPWARD, AND LANDING ON HIS LEGS, BEFORE BACKHANDING LEDAS>

<THE BENEFACTOR RUNS TO VEGETA AND GRABS HIM BY THE NECK; HE PICKS HIM UP AND BEGINS A SHOCK WAVE>

<VEGETA GRABS ONTO THE BENEFACTOR’S ARMS AND THRUSTS HIS CHEST FORWARD, PUSHING THE IMPALEMENT BEAM RIGHT INTO THE BENEFACTOR; THE ALIEN DROPS HIM; VEGETA ROLLS LEFT AND CREATES A BIG BANG ATTACK IN HIS HANDS>

<LEDAS IS UPRIGHT AGAIN, CLEARLY AFTER EATING A BEAN; HE GETS THE BENEFACTOR’S ATTENTION BY SENDING A HAIL OF FINGER BEAMS AT HIM; THIS BUYS VEGETA TIME>

<VEGETA FIRES HIS BIG BANG ATTACK; IT LANDS A CRITICAL HIT ON THE BENEFACTOR; BUT HE HAD LEDAS WITH HIM; THE BLAST TAKES BOTH OF THEM OUT>

<CUTS TO SILVER AND WISCONSIN; A SECRET DOOR THINGY OPENS, AND THEIR MOTORCYCLE COMES FLYING OUT OF THE UNDERGROUND LAIR, UP IN A GENTLE SLOPE INTO THE STREET>

<THEY FLY OUT AND COME RACING DOWN; THEY SPEED PAST VEGETA WITHOUT THE SLIGHTEST LOOK AT HIM; VEGETA GOES TO TURN HIS HEAD TO SILVER, WHEN KRILLIN LANDS BEHIND HIM>

Krillin: Vegeta!

Vegeta: Oh, what is it now?!

Krillin: You took all the senzus. I need some for 18 and Goku and the others.

Vegeta: Bah, Kakarot got himself into that mess. We’re fine without him.

Krillin: 18! I need to give her one! Come on, Vegeta. Just for her.

Vegeta: If it gets you to shut up. <HE THROWS KRILLIN ONE>

<THE TWO STOP TALKING WHEN THEY SEE THE BENEFACTOR MOVING; LEDAS HAS CRAWLED AWAY FROM HIM; THE BENEFACTOR STOPS HIM; HE FIRES A CONTINUOUS BURNING ATTACK INTO LEDAS, CAUSING HIM CONSIDERABLE PAIN AND DROPPING HIM DOWN>

<LEDAS’ POWER IS DRAINED RAPIDLY; THE BENEFACTOR JUMPS ON HIM AND KICKS DOWN, PUSHING HIM FARTHER INTO THE GROUND; HE THEN SHOOTS A SINGLE BEAM INTO THE BACK OF LEDAS’ HEAD, CAUSING HIM TO GO SILENT>

<THE BENEFACTOR STAGGERS UPRIGHT AND FACES VEGETA>

The Benefactor: You have no idea what I am about to do to you.

Be My Example
<IN CARDINAL’S DESTROYED OFFICE>

Cardinal: I am trying to help you, Ryori.

Ryori: <SULLEN> You took me to see Shoekki, then drugged me again.

Cardinal: Well, you see, I couldn’t-

Ryori: Couldn’t let me tell anyone you killed him.

Cardinal: No! I simply needed to show you that your brother took his own life.

Ryori: Don’t lie to me.

<RYORI PUTS THE PIECE OF GLASS TO CARDINAL’S NECK>

Cardinal: I am not lying. It is the truth, whether you kill me or not. <HE PUTS HIS HAND ON RYORI’S ARM> What do you want me to do? I cannot bring your brother back to life.

Ryori: I want you to die.

Cardinal: <IN HIS MIND> Where is Airgead?! He cannot be late! <OUTLOUD> I am just an old man. Have pity on me. Please…

<RYORI GOES TO SPEAK WHEN CARDINAL MOVES HIS FEET, CAUSING RYORI TO TRIP; THE PIECE OF GLASS GETS LODGED INTO CARDINAL’S NECK; BLOOD COMES OUT; CARDINAL GRABS ONTO RYORI’S EXTENDED HAND MORE FIRMLY AND THROWS HIM TO THE SIDE>

<AT THIS MOMENT, A MOTORCYCLE PULLS UP>

<SILVER DISMOUNTS AND RUNS INSIDE; HE IS IN HIS FULL ARMOR; HE LOOKS PRESTIGIOUS; WISCONSIN STAYS AT THE MOTORCYCLE, GUARDING IT WELL>

<CARDINAL SEES HIM>

Cardinal: Airgead, son! There is a boy-

Silver: Oh, wow. You’re really hurt. I’ve only got anesthetic with me. I’ll have to take you to the hospital.

<SILVER KNEELS DOWN AND STICKS HIS FATHER WITH THE SYRINGE OF DILUTED M99; BEFORE CARDINAL CAN SAY ANOTHER WORD ABOUT THE DANGER OF RYORI BEING AROUND, HE IS UNCONSCIOUS>

<RYORI HAD ROLLED AWAY WHEN CARDINAL TRIPPED HIM; HE WATCHES, FROM BEHIND SOME RUBBLE, AS SILVER BEGINS TREATING HIS FATHER>

Ryori: He doesn’t deserve getting fixed.

<HE COMES OUT; SILVER IS SQUATTING, AND RYORI SEES HIS PISTOL IN ITS HOLSTER; RYORI RUSHES IT; SILVER TURNS, AND SEES RYORI AT THE LAST SECOND; HOWEVER, WITH HIS FATHER IN HIS HAND, HE IS UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING>

<RYORI GRABS THE PISTOL OUT OF HIS HOLSTER; HE AIMS IT AT SILVER/AIRGEAD AND FIRES; THE BULLET GOES THROUGH HIS LEFT EYE, AND KILLS THE RED RIBBON LEADER>

<AT ONCE, AS SILVER HAD THREATENED EARLIER, THE EXPLOSIVES ARSENAL HE HAD KEPT IN HIS BUNKERS GOES OFF; IT EXPLODES UP TO THE CITY, ENGULFING EVERYTHING IN MORE EXPLOSIONS, AND IN MORE FIRE>

<CUTS TO VEGETA; TWO MINUTES PRIOR>

Krillin: I, uh, guess I’ll be going then. You g-guys don’t need me…

<KRILLIN AIR DASHES OFF>

<THE BENEFACTOR AND VEGETA ARE THE ONES REMAINING; LEDAS IS BADLY HURT IN THE CORNER>

Vegeta: You’re weak now.

The Benefactor: Not as weak as my Prince here.

<THE TWO JUMP AT ONE ANOTHER; VEGETA’S AURA IS BLINDING>

<THEY GET INTO A QUICK BLOW EXCHANGE; VEGETA PUSHES THE ALIEN BACK AS HE RAINS PUNCHES DOWN UPON HIM; THE BENEFACTOR DOES HIS BEST TO BLOCK, BUT CLEARLY HE IS TIRED>

<VEGETA SHOOTS A SMALL KI BLAST AT THE BENEFACTOR TO BREAK HIS BLOCK; HE DOES A LUNGE JUMP, ENDING IN A KICK TO SHATTER THE ALIEN’S FRONT SIDE; THE BENEFACTOR FALLS DOWN>

<VEGETA GRABS THE LEGS OF THE BENEFACTOR, AND THROWS HIM UP INTO THE AIR; HE TELEPORTS UP AHEAD OF THE ALIEN, AND ELBOWS HIM DOWN BACK INTO THE GROUND>

<THE BENEFACTOR STANDS UP AND THROWS SOME KI AT VEGETA; IT BURNS INTO HIM, BUT HE PUTS UP AN X BLOCK, WHICH PREVENTS MOST DAMAGE; AS THEY RECOVER, VEGETA EATS ANOTHER SENZU BEAN; THE BENEFACTOR SEES HIM DO THIS>

<VEGETA RUSHES INTO THE BENEFACTOR; HE PUNCHES HIM QUITE A FEW TIMES; HE SLAPS HIM ACROSS THE FACE, SPINNING THE ALIEN AROUND; VEGEETA FOLLOWS THAT UP WITH A DEEP PUNCH THAT SENDS THE BENEFACTOR FLYING FORWARD; HE AIR DASHES AFTER HIM, PUNCHING HIM FORWARD AGAIN, THEN TELEPORTS AROUND AND ELBOWS HIM ACROSS THE FACE>

<AT THIS TIME, SILVER IS KILLED AND THE CITY BLOWS UP; BOTH VEGETA AND THE BENEFACTOR LOSE SIGHT AND RETURN TO THE GROUND>

<VEGETA SHIELDS HIS EYES FROM THE FLAMES AND CREATES A BUBBLE (YES, A BUBBLE) BARRIER AROUND HIM TO SAVE HIMSELF; WHEN THE FIRE CLEARS, HE SEES THE BENEFACTOR ACROSS FROM HIM, STANDING QUITE ARROGANTLY>

<IN HIS HANDS IS THE BAG OF SENZU BEANS; HE STOLE THEM FROM VEGETA>

The Benefactor: That was a foolish mistake to let your guard down. So, I take it, these beans restore my power? Is that right?

Vegeta: <SHAKING IN HIS BOOTS> No!

<VEGETA SHOOTS THE BAG OF SENZUS AND DESTROYS THEM, BUT IT IS TOO LATE; THE BENEFACTOR HAS EATEN ONE>

<WITH HIS POWER FULLY RESTORED, HE MOVES FORWARD TO VEGETA; VEGETA PUNCHES AT HIM AGAIN, TRYING VARIOUS STRATEGIES, BUT THEY DO NOTHING; THE BENEFACTOR DOES A STRONG PUNCH INTO VEGETA’S GUT; VEGETA HUNCHES OVER IN PAIN; THE BENEFACTOR GRABS VEGETA’S FACE AND SLAMS INTO THE GROUND; HE JUMPS ONTO VEGETA’S CHEST AND LETS HIS WEIGHT CRASH INTO THE SAIYAN>

<VEGETA SPUTTERS AND ROLLS OFF OF HIM; HE SENDS A HAIL OF KI BLASTS TO GIVE HIM TIME; THE BENEFACTOR IS HIT BY THEM>

<VEGETA ATTEMPTS TO CREATE ANOTHER LARGE BEAM, BUT THE BENEFACTOR WILL HAVE NONE OF THAT; HE RUSHES AT VEGETA; VEGETA, BEING THE TACTICAL GENIUS HE IS, USES THIS TIME TO RUSH THE BENEFACTOR, HIMSELF; HE SLICES AT THE ALIEN’S FACE, AND THEN FRONT FLIPS OVER HIM, BRINGING HIS FEET DOWN HARD ON THE CREATURE’S BACK; HE SENDS A QUICK GALICK AFTER THE FALLING BENEFACTOR>

<THE BENEFACTOR TELEPORTS THROUGH THE BLAST AND GOES BACK UP TO VEGETA; HE HIGH KICKS THE PRINCE UNDER THE JAW, IMMEDIATELY KNOCKING HIM UNCONSCIOUS; VEGETA FALLS TO THE GROUND, SILENTLY>

<THE CITY IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED NOW; EVERYTHING IS ON FIRE, AND BARELY ANY BUILDINGS ARE STILL STANDING; LEDAS IS OUT OF THE FIRE; HE IS AWAKE NOW, IF STILL IN PAIN>

<LEDAS EATS A SENZU BEAN TO REFILL HIS POWER; HE LOOKS UP TO FIND WHERE THE OTHER TWO HAVE BEEN FIGHTING; SUDDENLY, VEGETA FALLS RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM; LEDAS JUMPS BACK UPON SEEING IT>

<LEDAS RUNS TO VEGETA, BUT YOU KNOW WHO GETS THERE FIRST; HE PUSHES HIMSELF INTO VEGETA’S BACK, THEN PUSHES FORWARD WITH SEVERAL STRONG BLASTS; LEDAS GETS THERE NOT IN TIME>

<THE DEED HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE; VEGETA IS COMPLETELY DEFEATED; HE HAS NO SENZUS LEFT AND LEDAS CANNOT GET TO HIM TO GIVE HIM ANY>

<THE BENEFACTOR PICKS VEGETA UP AND SLICES HIM DOWN WITH A LIVE BEAM, CUTTING HIM ALL UP, WITH A ZIG ZAG PATTERN, GOING DOWN HIS CHEST; FOLLOWING THAT UP WITH A SECOND GREAT BEAM, VEGETA DISAPPEARS AND FALLS INTO THE RUBBLE BEHIND>

<THE BENEFACTOR TURNS TO LEDAS>

The Benefactor: It’s you and me once again.

<HE RUSHES AT LEDAS AND KNOCKS HIM IN THE HEAD; HE TWISTS THE BOY’S NECK SIDEWAYS, CAUSING HIM TO FALL OVER; SEVERAL DEEP PUNCHES AND A SHOCKING BLAST LATER, LEDAS IS ONCE AGAIN BADLY HURT>

<THE BENEFACTOR STEPS OVER HIM AND GRABS THE SENZUS LEDAS HAD; HE PUTS ONE INTO LEDAS’ MOUTH; LEDAS CHEWS IT AND SWALLOWS TO MAKE THE PAIN GO AWAY>

Ledas: <LOOKING UP AT THE BENEFACTOR, NOW HEALED AGAIN> W-what was that for?

The Benefactor: The most effective way to train you.

<THE BENEFACTOR REPEATS THE LAST THING, LEDAS IS COMPLETELY BLOODIED; HE SCREAMS>

Ledas: No, stop! This hurts!

<THE BENEFACTOR PUNCHES HIM INTO SUBMISSION, FOLLOWING IT UP WITH A SENZU>

<LEDAS STRUGGLES AGAINST THE BENEFACTOR; UPON HEALING AGAIN, HE DESTROYS THE REMAINING SENZUS SO THE BENEFACTOR CAN’T TRY THAT AGAIN; HE PUNCHES THE ALIEN IN THE GUT AND TRIES TO GET TO VEGETA, BUT THE BENEFACTOR IS TOO QUICK>

<LEDAS STOPS AND DIGS HIS FEET INTO THE GROUND, TURNING; HE SWIFTLY RUNS AWAY, AS FAST AS HE CAN; THE BENEFACTOR DOES NOT IMMEDIATELY PURSUE; HE WATCHES LEDAS>

<CUTS BACK TO RYORI>

<SILVER’S BODY, AIRGEAD’S BODY, HAD FALLEN ON HIM AND CARDINAL BEFORE THE PLACE BLEW UP; HIS ARMOR, EFFECTIVELY, SHIELDING THEM FROM THE EXPLOSIONS; NOW, SOME TIME LATER, THE CITY HAS SENT OUT AMBULANCES, POLICE CARS, AND FIRE TRUCKS; THE WHOLE THING>

<ONE AMBULANCE STOPS AT THEIR PLACE AND NOTICES RYORI STIRRING; THEY CALL IN HELP AND GET HIM AND CARDINAL STRETCHERS FOR THEIR WOUNDS AND BURNS>

<BACK AT THE MOTORCYCLE, WISCONSIN WAS THROWN ONTO THE GROUND AT THE BLAST; HE KNOWS THAT SILVER WAS KILLED; HE GETS UP AND LOOKS AROUND, BUT ONLY SEES MANY CARS, AMBULANCES AND SUCH, CROWDING THE STREETS AROUND, LOOKING FOR SURVIVORS>

<HE CALLS OVER A PARAMEDIC AND TO GET HIS OWN “WOUNDS” HEALED>

The Product Of A Stable Mind
<IT IS ALMOST DARK OUT; THE SUN IS SETTING AHEAD>

<LEDAS COMES FLYING DOWN FROM THE CLOUDS ABOVE, INTO THE FLATLANDS>

<BY THIS TIME, HE HAS FLOWN FAR AWAY FROM THE CITY; IN THE BACKDROP ARE HOSTS OF MOUNTAINS, AND AHEAD IS A NEW VALLEY; THE GRASS IS TALL AND THE LANDS ARE VERY FLAT; THERE ARE VERY FEW TREES AND NO SIGNS OF LIFE; LEDAS IS FLYING JUST OVER THE TOP OF IT ALL>

<AS HE COMES MORE INTO VIEW, LEDAS CAN BE SEE TO BE IN A PANIC RUSH, MOVING AS FAST AS HE CAN; HE IS FLYING TOWARD THE SUN AWAY; BEHIND HIM A BLACK DOT COMES UP TO HIS SHOULDER>

<THE BENEFACTOR IS IN PURSUIT, TRYING HIS HARDEST TO CATCH LEDAS>

<THE BENEFACTOR EASILY GAINS GROUND ON LEDAS; LEDAS TURNS HIS HEAD BACK TO SEE AND IS MET WITH A BURST OF ENERGY, WHICH HE MOST CERTAINLY DODGES; LEDAS FALLS LOW TO THE GROUND, CATCHING HIMSELF ONLY AT THE SECOND TO LAST SECOND>

<STILL FLYING LOW TO THE GROUND, LEDAS GOES SUPER SAIYAN; WITH THIS NEW “ENERGY” HIS MAXIMUM SPEED HAS FAR INCREASED; HE FLARES HIS AURA, CLEARING A PATH THROUGH THE OUTLAID GRASS BEFORE HIM; HE RACES OVER PLAINS WITH RENEWED VIGOR>

<BEHIND THE SAIYAN BOY, THE BENEFACTOR THROWS SEVERAL KI BALLS UP AT HIM; LEDAS TRIES HIS DARNDEST TO DODGE THEM, HOWEVER, SOME ARE MAKING CONTACT WITH HIM EVEN AS HE GOES>

<LEDAS REELS OVER, TURNING ONTO HIS BACK AS HE FLIES; HE RETURNS FIRE TO THE BENEFACTOR, FIRST A KYORRA FLASH, THEN SEVERAL ENERGY BALLS; ALL ARE DODGED, BUT THIS SLOWS THE ALIEN’S PURSUIT>

<THE BENEFACTOR THROWS HIS BLAST AT LEDAS’, AND THE TWO CONNECT; THEY GO UP IN EXPLOSION, OBSCURING THE VIEW; WHEN IT CLEARS, THE BENEFACTOR IS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN>

<LEDAS SEES THAT HE IS ALONE, AND DOUBLES BACK OVER, FLYING OFF AGAIN AT HIS TOP SPEED>

<OF COURSE, THE ALIEN IS NOT GONE; FROM THE EXPLOSION, HE HAS CATAPULTED HIMSELF UP AND OVER LEDAS, CURVING UP AND OVER, TO COME DOWN RIGHT ON THE BOY; AS HE COMES DOWN, LEDAS SENSES IT AND HE LETS OUT A PROTECTIVE BARRIER>

<PICKING UP ON THIS ATTACK, THE BENEFACTOR WILD SENSES OUT OF THE WAY; HE TELEPORTS TO UNDER LEDAS’ STOMACH; IMMEDIATELY, THE BENEFACTOR KICKS THE BOY UP, THEN DASHES UP AROUND HIM AND ELBOWS HIM TO THE GROUND>

<LEDAS FALLS BACKWARD AND CRASHES ONTO HIS BACK INTO THE TALL GRASS IN THE PLAINS BELOW THEM>

<AT THIS, THE BENEFACTOR DESCENDS TO THE GROUND; LEDAS GETS UP TO RUN AWAY AGAIN, BUT THE ALIEN HAS PREPARED SOMETHING TO STOP HIM; AN ENERGY COIL; IT WRAPS AROUND LEDAS’ MIDSIZE AND BINDS HIM TO THE GROUND>

<LEDAS FIGHTS IT; HE CANNOT BREAK FREE; INSTEAD OF TIRING HIMSELF OUT, LEDAS QUIETS DOWN AND DROPS TO HIS KNEES; HE STARES UP AT THE BENEFACTOR WITH THOSE HUGE EYES OF HIS>

The Benefactor: <STANDING OVER THE SAIYAN> Hello.

Ledas: <STILL BOUND, LOOKING UP> H-hi…

The Benefactor: I will unbind you if you promise to stay.

Ledas: Wewll… all right. I guess. <HE UNWILLINGLY GIVES IN>

<THE BENEFACTOR RELEASES THE ENERGY BIND; LEDAS FALLS FREE FROM IT AND SITS UP; THE ALIEN IS STANDING STILL>

Ledas: I don’t like your training. It’s too brutal.

The Benefactor: You should have a higher tolerance for pain.

Ledas: Yeah well, you shouldn’t be nearly killing me every five minutes! I can’t take it!

<THE BENEFACTOR SITS DOWN NEXT TO LEDAS>

The Benefactor: Then I will let up for now. <POINTS OFF, TO THE LEFT, OVER HIS BODY> Do you see that?

Ledas: What?

The Benefactor: <POINTS MORE DIRECTLY> That, right there.

Ledas: The tree?

<IT IS INDEED A TREE THE BENEFACTOR IS POINTING TO>

The Benefactor: It’s a good one. Tall and firm. Look at the branches. So big. So many. It is unbelievable. The monolith I have been searching for is here. <LOOKS TO LEDAS> And I want to climb it.

Ledas: <NOT UNDERSTANDING> Why are you telling me about it?

<THE BENEFACTOR LEANS FORWARD AND AIR DASHES TO THE TREE BEYOND; IT IS A SINGLE TREE; THE TRUNK TO IT IS MASSIVE; IT IS HEAVILY BRANCHED AND LEAFY; HE ADMIRES ITS FINE WOOD>

<LEDAS FOLLOWS HIM TO THE TREE, DRAGGING HIS FEET; HE REACHES IT TOO>

<THE BOTH LOOK UP AT THE TOWERING TREE>

The Benefactor: <WITH STRANGE NAIVETY> You first.

<LEDAS WALKS UP SLOWLY, ARMS ON HIS BEHIND HIS HEAD; THIS IS QUITE AWKWARD TO HIM; WITH A SINGLE JUMP, LEDAS REACHES UP WITH HIS ARMS AND GRABS ONTO THE LOWEST HANGING BRANCH; HE GRIPS IT, THEN PULLS HIMSELF UP ONTO THE BRANCH; HE RIGHTS HIMSELF UP, CROUCHING UP AGAINST THE TRUNK>

Ledas: Is that it? Can I go now?

The Benefactor: <QUIETLY> Very good.

<THE BENEFACTOR, AN OBVIOUS TREE CLIMBING MASTER, JUMPS UP ONTO A BRANCH HANGING OVER TO THE RIGHT FROM LEDAS; IN ONE FLUID MOTION, HE SWINGS HIMSELF ONTO IT>

<LEDAS DOESN’T WATCH, HE HAS SNAPPED OFF A TWIG AND IS CAREFULLY PEELING OFF THE LEAVES FROM IT, ONE BY ONE>

<THE BENEFACTOR SIMPLY STARES AT HIM IN SILENCE; LEDAS, FINALLY DONE WITH WHAT HE WAS DOING, DROPS THE TWIG AND LOOKS UP>

Ledas: <SIDE-COCKED> Wassur name?

The Benefactor: Would it matter? I know yours. Mine is no better.

Ledas: Yeah, but what am I supposed to call you?

<THE BENEFACTOR STRAIGHTENS HIS BACK AND TILTS BACK HIS HEAD>

The Benefactor: Until the training is complete, there is nothing to call me aside from Master.

Ledas: <IMMEDIATELY> You know, Master, you’re creepy.

The Benefactor: <HE TAKES A TWIG OFF FROM THE TREE AND MIMICKS WHAT LEDAS WAS DOING EARLIER> Scary, even.

Ledas: Y-you said you killed my father. Is that true?

The Benefactor: The Saiyan King and his guard assaulted Lord Frieza’s flagship. They chose their fate.

Ledas: <SERIOUS> But you didn’t have to do that! You could have helped him like you are with me!

<THE BENEFACTOR IGNORES HIM AND BALLS UP A FEW LEAVES THEN MASHES THEM TOGETHER INTO A BALL; HE THROWS IT, IN THE MANNER OF THROWING A BASEBALL, AWAY FROM THE BOTH OF THEM; AS IT REACHES THE HEIGHT OF ITS FLIGHT, HE SENDS OUT A FINGER BEAM AND VAPORIZES IT>

<LEDAS DOES NOT WATCH; INSTEAD, AS THE BENEFACTOR THROWS THE BALL, LEDAS JUST STARES AT HIM, OBVIOUSLY FORMING UP SOME PLAN>

The Benefactor: <SHAKING LEDAS BACK INTO REALITY> Try it.

<HE THROWS ANOTHER FOR LEDAS, EVEN AS THE SAIYAN BOY GLANCES AROUND FOR ANY SIGN OF VEGETA OR THE OTHERS; LEDAS IS NOT PREPARED AND DOESN’T SEND OUT A FINGER BEAM UNTIL IT IS FAR TOO FAR AWAY; HE MISSES>

Ledas: <UNDER HIS BREATH> Stupid leaves…

The Benefactor: Try again.

Ledas: <FIRMLY> What kind of training is this?

The Benefactor: <COLDLY, SLOWLY> Try. Again.

<THE TWO STARE FOR A MOMENT; LEDAS GIVES IN, PERTURBED BY THE BENEFACTOR’S MENACING OVERLOOK; HE HAS NO CHANCE OF RESISTANCE YET>

<HE THROWS ANOTHER, AND LEDAS HITS THIS ONE IMMEDIATELY>

The Benefactor: Yes.

<HE THROWS A FEW MORE, AND THEY GO ON WITH THIS; LEDAS IS EXTREMELY BORED; HE IS ITCHING TO LEAVE; HE KEEPS GLANCING AROUND FOR AN ESCAPE; HE POSITIONS HIS BODY UP INTO A CROUCH, IN PREPARATION OF A LUNGE; BUT TO WHERE HE WOULD LUNGE, HE IS NOT QUITE SURE YET>

Ledas: <BRINGING IT UP OVER THE GAME> I wanna go home. I’m hungry. I haven’t anything all day.

The Benefactor: Eat…?

Ledas: Uh, you know… food? Dontcha know what that is?

The Benefactor: In that case-

<SUDDENLY, LEDAS LUNGES ACROSS TO THE OTHER BRANCH; HE GOES SUPER SAIYAN 2, BRINING OUT HIS LIGHTENING AURA; HE PUNCHES AT THE ALIEN OPPOSITE HIM; THE BENEFACTOR IS CAUGHT OFF GUARD; HE FALLS OFF OF HIS BRANCH, BUT LEDAS REMAINS UPRIGHT>

<LEDAS HOVERS IN THE AIR; HIS AURA IGNITES WITH SPARKS, WHICH BURNS BACK THE TREE, SETTING IT ON FIRE; THE BOY IS AT HIS MAXIMUM POWER NOW>

<AFTER HE IS DONE POWERING UP, LEDAS LOOKS OVER AT THE BENEFACTOR; THE ALIEN IS ALREADY PREPARING SOMETHING>

<LEDAS CHARGES UP A HUGE, BLUE COLORED KI BEAM; THE BENEFACTOR OFFERS NO RESISTANCE, LETTING IT HIT HIM BEFORE HE RETALIATES; THE BEAM LAUNCHES FROM LEDAS’ HANDS AND CONNECTS WITH THE BENEFACTOR, SENDING UP A HUGE PLUME OF DUST AND DIRT INTO THE AIR; COUPLED WITH THE BURNING TREE NEXT TO THEM, THIS IS QUITE THE SCENE>

Ledas: I’m going to kill you so you will leave me alone.

The Benefactor: You were so polite moments before.

Ledas: No, I don’t want you around.

<LEDAS SHOOTS DOWN, LANDING AS HARD AS HE CAN ON THE BENEFACTOR’S CHEST; THE BENEFACTOR GRABS EACH OF THE SAIYAN’S LEGS, AND PULLS HIM DOWN, WHILE SITTING UP; HE HEADBUTTS LEDAS, SENDING THE SAIYAN STUMBLING BACK>

<THE BENEFACTOR IGNITES A KI SLASH IN HIS HAND, A SINGLE BEAM THAT EXTENDS FROM EACH OF HIS FOUR FINGERS (NOT HIS THUMB, MIND YOU); IT FORMS TOGETHER TO CREATE A MANAGABLE BEAM TO USE SIMILAR TO A KNIFE; IT IS A DARK RED; LEDAS GETS UP JUST IN TIME TO CONFRONT HIM; HE ROLLS TO THE SIDE AND ATTEMPTS A SIDESWEEP, BUT THE BENEFACTOR JUMPS OVER IT>

<LEDAS STANDS UP, HOPING TO BACKPEDAL AWAY FROM THIS, BUT THE BENEFACTOR IS TOO QUICK; HE USES HIS KI SLASH AND SWIPES IT, SIDEWAYS, ACROSS LEDAS’ HEAD, RIGHT ABOVE HIS EYEBROWS; THIS CUTS LEDAS, AND SENDS OUT A JET OF BLOOD, TO SPURT ALL OVER THE GRASS>

<LEDAS CREATES HIS OWN KI SLASH, A TEAL VARIANT, AND ATTEMPTS TO FIGHT BACK>

<THE BENEFACTOR WAS CAUGHT OFF GUARD AND WAS NOT ABLE TO POWER UP TO HIS MAXIMUM, SO WHILE HE IS STRONGER THAN LEDAS EVEN NOW, HE IS NOT IMPOSSIBLY STRONGER>

<THE TWO DUEL, WITH LEDAS SWINGING HIS SWORD MADLY, FORWARD, AND THE BENEFACTOR PARRYING AT FIRST; THE TWO TRADE POSITIONS, BUT NEITHER CAN GET AN EDGE>

<LEDAS ATTEMPTS TO GAIN AN EDGE BY FIRING KI BLASTS AT THE SAME TIME, WITH HIS OTHER HAND; THE BENEFACTOR DEFLECTS THEM, AND A FEW COME BACK TOWARD HIM, AND HIT HIM IN THE FACE; LEDAS STOPS, LETTING HIS SWORD DROP TO THE GROUND AND GO DARK; HE STUMBLES BACK>

Ledas: Ah, ow… <HE SAYS THIS SLOWLY BEFORE LOOKING UP>

<THE BENEFACTOR SLICES SIDEWAYS ACROSS LEDAS’ COLLAR BONE, CUTTING HIM OPEN>

<LEDAS FALLS TO HIS KNEES, AND THE BENEFACTOR LOWERS HIS KI SLASH, DISINTEGRATING IT; HE LETS HIS SHOULDERS DOWN>

<THE TWO BREATHE OUT IN SILENCE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS; THE BENEFACTOR MOTIONS THAT HE IS GOING TO TALK>

<LEDAS SUDDENLY LOOKS UP; HE STILL HAS HIS AURA AROUND HIM>

<THE BOY SHOOTS TWO SMALL PULSE BEAMS OUT OF HIS EYES; THEY ARE PURPLE, AND THEY SHOOT OUT SO QUICKLY THAT THE BENEFACTOR DOES NOT EVEN SEE THEM COMING; THEY HIT HIM IN HIS EYES>

<THE BENEFACTOR STUMBLES BACK; HE HOLDS HIS EYES, IN SILENCE, AND FALLS TO HIS KNEES; LEDAS SENDS OFF AN ENERGY WAVE, KNOCKING THE ALIEN BACK UP AGAINST THE TREE; THIS GIVES LEDAS THE AMOUNT OF SPACE TO MANUEVER BACK INTO THE AIR>

<THE BENEFACTOR CLAWS AT HIS EYES, BLOOD IS RUNNING DOWN FROM EACH OF THEM, THOUGH HIS FACE IS STILL MASKED;THE BLOOD IS RUNNING DOWN ALL OF HIS CLOTHES NOW, POURING OUT AS A DARK PURPLE; HE HAS YET TO MAKE A SOUND>

<THE ALIEN STANDS UP, STUMBLING AROUND AND FEELING OUT HIS WAY WITH HIS ARMS EXTENDED>

Ledas: <IN HIS HEAD; HE IS CIRCLING TB AS THEY FIGHT> He’s blind now; and if he can’t see me… I can escape and get Vegeta. <HE TURNS TO DASH> Maybe we can lure him into a trap or something.

<LEDAS TAKES OFF AND AIR DASHES AWAY FROM THE BENEFACTOR; BACK TO THE CITY>

<THE BENEFACTOR, STILL BLINDED, FEELS OUT HIS COURSE OF RECKONING AND THEN PURSUES LEDAS, SOLELY ON HIS KI SENSING>

<THOUGH HE IS SILENT, THE ALIEN IS CLEARLY FURIOUS BY HIS LOSS OF SIGHT; HE IS NOT PLAYING GAMES THIS TIME AND IMMEDIATELY REACHES LEDAS; HE BEAM-BLASTS THE SAIYAN CHILD WITH NO WARNING>

<THIS GREAT BLAST STUNS LEDAS, GIVING HIM NO CHANCE TO BLOCK OR DODGE; THE BEAM PUSHES LEDAS THROUGH THE AIR FOR SOME TIME; AT LAST IT DETONATES, LETTING HIM FALL TO THE GROUND, CRASHING INTO THE MUD>

<LEDAS IS BADLY BURNED FROM THIS; HE IS ALSO UNCONSCIOUS>

<THE WINDS PICK UP; NO OTHER SOUND, MANMADE OR OTHERWISE CAN BE HEARD>

<LIFELESS, BEHIND LEDAS’ BODY, THE BENEFACTOR LANDS; HE WALKS UP TO THE BOY, HIS KNIFE EXTENDED OUT IN HIS HAND>

<HE REACHES UP TO LEDAS, AND GRASPS ONTO THE BOY’S NECK; HE BRINGS THE KNIFE TO IT, AND CUTS; BLOOD BEGINS POURING OVER HIS ARMS; THE RED MIXING WITH THE PURPLE>

The Benefactor: <ALOUD> I was nice before. Not anymore.

Desperation
The Benefactor: <REPRISE> I was nice before. Not anymore.

<THE WIND BLOWS HARD OVER THE GRASSLANDS WHERE THE SAIYAN AND THE ALIEN HAVE LANDED; IT IS A DULL GREEN ALL AROUND; UNLIKE THE AREA IN THE PREVIOUS AREA (THIS ONE BEING SEVERAL MILES AWAY FROM THE LAST), THIS PLACE IS HILLY, CLOSER TO THE MOUNTAINS AND THE CITY IN THE DISTANCE; THE GREAT CITY OF BEFORE CAN BE SEEN, SMOKING, FAR OFF>

<THE BENEFACTOR ROLLS LEDAS OVER ON TO HIS BACK, CUTTING THE BOY’S NECK WITH HIS KNIFE AS HE DOES; BLOOD POURS OUT; LEDAS IS NOT CONSCIOUS RIGHT NOW>

<THE BENEFACTOR LEANS OVER LEDAS’ BODY, FEELING DOWN THE BOY’S NECK; FROM THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER, HIS EYES ARE STILL BLEEDING AND THE PURPLE BLOOD IS DROPPING ONTO LEDAS>

<THE BENEFACTOR, BECAUSE OF HIS BLINDNESS, CANNOT SEE LEDAS, BUT HE DOES FEEL OVER THE BOY’S BODY AS HE IS TALKING; AS HE REACHES LEDAS’ RIGHT ARM, HIS HAND FAULTERS; FOR THE FIRST TIME, HE IS GENUINELY TAKEN ABACK>

<HE RUNS HIS ARMS UP AND DOWN LEDAS’ RIGHT ARM; WHILE THE WHOLE THING IS COVERED IN BLOOD, THE ARM ITSELF IS FINE; THE BENEFACTOR LETS GO OF THE ARM, AND IT FALLS ONTO THE GRASS; REMEMBERING THAT HE HAD PREVIOUSLY CUT LEDAS’ ARM UP, HE IS PUZZLED AS TO WHY IT IS HEALED>

The Benefactor: <ALMOST WITH ENVY> Healed already? <HE PLACES HIS HANDS ON HIS ARM, FEELING THE DEEP SCARS UP AND DOWN> The beans did nothing to mine.

<HE BRINGS SHOULDERS BACK, KNEELING UP OVER LEDAS’ BODY; THE BENEFACTOR IS BREATHING HARD, AGITATED BY ALL OF HIS THOUGHTS; HOWEVER, IN HIS BLINDNESS, THE ALIEN DOES NOT SEE LEDAS STIR BELOW>

<LEDAS COUGHS UP BLOOD, AND WHEEZES AS HE TRIES TO COVER THE BLEEDING OF HIS NECK; IT IS NOT A DEEP CUT; MOST OF IT HAS DRIED, ANWAY>

<LEDAS SLIDES OUT FROM UNDER THE BENEFACTOR AND STANDS UP, STAGGERING INTO THE TALL GRASS; HE CLEARS OUT THE PATH, SO THAT IT IS NO MORE THAN ANKLE HIGH BELOW HIM>

<LEDAS LOOKS OVER HIS BODY; HIS EARTH CLOTHES, WHITE SHIRT ON BLACK SHORTS, ARE COMPLETELY COVERED IN BLOOD; BOTH HIS OWN AND THE BENEFACTOR’S; A VAST MIXTURE OF RED AND PURPLE>

<THE BENEFACTOR STOPS HIS HYPERVENTILATING, HE TURNS HIS HEAD TO LEDAS; THE DARK HOOD COVERED IN VARIOUS SPECKS OF PURPLE; ALL OF IT IS SHROUDED>

Ledas: <HOLDING HIS NECK; HOARSE> Maybe you should give up. I know you’re pretty hurt now.

The Benefactor: <CAREFULLY; HE STANDS UP, TOO> I have drawn your blood once again. The life force I gave you will be leaving. Then I may do to you what I want, and the pain alone will make you see your fault.

Ledas: Better let me go! Vegeta will come and kill you if you don’t.

The Benefactor: I look forward to it. His death will count more than the other’s did. No more friends. No more reasons. No more logic.

Ledas: You’ll be alone.

<THE ALIEN STANDS UP TO FACE LEDAS; HE OUT-DRAWS HIS ARMS; THIS IS NO ATTACK>

<CUTS THE EDGE OF THE MOUNTAIN>

<IN THE BACKGROUND, THE RUBBLE STIRS, AND YAJIROBE COMES ROLLING OUT; HIS CLOTHES ARE TATTERED AND HIS FACE DIRTIED, BUT HIS EYES ARE SHARP WITH INTENT; HE SCANS THE AREA FOR ANY SIGNS OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED WHILE HE WAS AWAY>

<LOOKING AT HIS WRECKED CAR, YAJIROBE SCOWLS>

Yajirobe: Stupid… <HE GOES TO KICK THE CAR, AS HE DOES SO, YAJIROBE TURNS TO ANGER> Vegeta. That cat’s gonna be so mad about this!

<YAJIROBE GRABS ONTO HIS BACKPACK, STILL LYING PERFECTLY UPRIGHT IN THE SEAT OF HIS CAR>

<YAJIROBE OPENS THE TRUNK OF THE CAR AND TAKES OUT SEVERAL ITEMS; HE PUTS EACH OF THEM INTO HIS LITTLE BACK-SACK THING; HE CROUCHES DOWN, REACHING BEHIND THE CAR, AND PULLS OUT KORIN’S PYRAMID ANTIQUE; HE SCOWLS AGAIN BEFORE PUTTING THAT IN HIS PACK TOO>

<YAJIROBE THEN SETS OUT FROM THE MOUNTAINSIDE WITH EVERYTHING HE HAS>

<HE REACHES THE PLAINS AND TAKES OUT HIS SWORD TO CUT A WAY FOR HIM THROUGH THE GRASS>

<THOUGH YAJIROBE IS NOWHERE NEAR AS STRONG AS ANY OF THE OTHER Z FIGHTERS (SANS, PERHAPS, THE CLOWN), HE STILL HAS AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF STRENGTH WHEN COMPARED TO NORMAL HUMANS; SO AS HE CUTS THROUGH THE GRASS AS HE RUNS, HE GOES AT AN UNFATHOMABLE RATE, TO ANY AND ALL ONLOOKERS WATCHING>

<CUTS BACK TO THE BENEFACTOR AND LEDAS>

BOTH ARE SIMPLY STANDING, LEDAS STARES AT THE BENEFACTOR, THE BENEFACTOR FACES HIS WAY; OBVIOUSLY THE ALIEN CANNOT STARE BACK BECAUSE HE IS BLIND>

<LEDAS, STILL CLUTCHING AT HIS NECK GOES SUPER SAIYAN, AND THEN BEYOND AGAIN; HIS AURA FLARES BRIGHTLY, INCINERATING THE GRASS A CIRCLE AROUND HIM; EVEN AFTER THIS, HE STILL DOES NOT MOVE INTO A FIGHTING STANCE>

<THE BENEFACTOR DOES NOT MAKE ANY CHANGE OF STANCE AT THIS>

<SUDDENLY, BREAKING THE STANDSTILL, A HUGE RUCKUS OVERTAKES THE TWO; AN ORANGE SAMURAI, HOPPING AND JUMPING AND RUNNING AND SWINGING HIS SWORD LIKE A BOSS>

<HE COMES INTO THE VIEW OF BOTH OF THEM, RUNNING IN BETWEEN THEM; HE JUMPS INTO THE CLEARING LEDAS MADE WITH HIS AURA; HE STOPS AT THIS, LOOKING AROUND AT THE NEW BARREN LANDSCAPE; HE STILL SWINGS HIS SWORD AROUND IN AN IMPRESSIVE SHOWCASE>

<LEDAS’ AURA EVAPORATES; HE REMAINS IN HIS SUPER SAIYAN STATE; HE FOCUSES IN ON YAJIROBE>

Ledas: Mr… Yajirobe? Is that really you?

Yajirobe: <SUDDENLY STRAIGHTENING> Oh, uh, hey kid. Whatchoo doin’ out here?

Ledas: We’re, uh, kinda in the middle of something… maybe you cou-

Yajirobe: Pfft. In that case, <PAUSE> I was just leaving.

The Benefactor: <HEAD BOWED, HE IS KEEPING TO HIMSELF> Useless. <THE OTHER TWO BREAK INTO SILENCE> You have no reason to live.

<HE THROWS AN IMPALEMENT BEAM AT YAJIROBE; LEDAS, OF COURSE, GRABS YAJIROBE, AND THE TWO TUMBLE OUT OF THE WAY AT THE LAST SECOND>

Ledas: <GETTING UP> What the heck? Leave Yajirobe out of this!

The Benefactor: <TO HIMSELF> Distractions will not be tolerated.

<LEDAS GOES INTO A DEFENSIVE STANCE>

Ledas: <MUTTERING TO YAJIROBE> Canya, you know, help too?

Yajirobe: <NORMAL VOICE> No way, man! If you wanna go fight and get yourself killed, that’s your problem. Leave me outta it.

Ledas: <STILL MUTTERING> Go on, Mister Yajirobe. Use your sword or something…

<LEDAS PUSHES YAJIROBE FORWARD TO THE BENEFACTOR>

<YAJIROBES EYES WIDEN IMMEDIATELY INTO HUGE SAUCERS; HIS HAIR STANDS UP ON END; HE TREMBLES UNCONTROLLABLY; THE BENEFACTOR, CHEST OUT, WALKS UP TO HIM>

The Benefactor: <AS A RUDE INTERRUPTER> No groveling. You seem like one to beg for your life. Do not try it. I don’t desire it.

<THE BENEFACTOR REACHES YAJIROBE>

<YAJIROBE SIDESTEPS AND BRINGS OUT HIS SWORD; HE SWINGS IT AROUND IN A DIZZYING ARRAY OF EXPERT HANDLING AND ARTISTIC FLUFF; SEVERAL TIMES, THE BLADE MEETS THE BENEFACTOR, IN THIS ATTEMPT TO CUT THE ALIEN UP>

<THE ALIEN MAKES NO DEFENSE; YAJIROBE CONTINUES HIS FLURRY ATTACK; AS SOON AS HE DOES, YAJIROBE LOWERS HIS SWORD TO THE GROUND, PANTING LOUDLY AND DRIPPING WITH SWEAT; THE BENEFACTOR HITS HIM OUT OF THE WAY>

<THE BENEFACTOR STEPS OVER THE BACKPACK YAJIROBE DROPPED, NOT NOTICING ITS CONTENTS>

The Benefactor: <TO LEDAS> Take me to the beans. Restore my sight.

Ledas: Never!

<THE ALIEN SIDE-KICKS AT LEDAS, BUT THE SAIYAN BOY DODGES IT, HE BRINGS OUT HIS HEEL AND CLUBS IT INTO THE BENEFACTOR’S LEG AS IT SWINGS PAST HIM; IT CONNECTS, AND THE BENEFACTOR FALLS, SIDEWAYS>

<THE BENEFACTOR PUSHES HIMSELF UP OFF THE GROUND AND ROLLS SIDEWAYS; HE GIVES OFF AN ENERGY FLARE, PUSHING IT OUTWARD; LEDAS BLOCKS AGAINST IT, BUT FALLS OVER>

<THE BENEFACTOR POUNCES ON HIM, THROWING ENERGY BLAST AFTER ENERGY BLAST ONTO THE SAIYAN’S BODY; LEDAS IS DEFENSELESS AGAINST SUCH AN ATTACK; LEDAS PUTS UP HIS HANDS IN AN ATTEMPT TO COUNTER-BLAST; THE BENEFACTOR PUTS HIS OWN HANDS AGAINST LEDAS, CAUSING THE BLAST TO BACKFIRE, CREATING A HUGE CRATER INTO THE GROUND>

<IN THE BLAST, LEDAS ROLLS AWAY FROM THE ALIEN’S CONTROL AND TAKES TO THE SKY; THE BENEFACTOR IS NOT PLAYING AROUND; HE INSTANTLY FOLLOWS>

<THE SAIYAN BOY REACHES HIM WITH A KICK, WHICH IS BLOCKED; THE BENEFACTOR USES THIS OPENING TO LAUNCH A DOUBLE ELBOW ATTACK; IT LANDS, STAGGERING LEDAS>

<AN AWKWARD MOMENT LATER, THEY BOTH JUMP BACK TO THEIR FEET, AND TAKE OFF FROM THE POSITION>

<LEDAS LOCKS WITH THE BENEFACTOR INTO A BLOW EXCHANGE; THEY RAIN FISTS UPON EACH OTHER WITH QUITE A BIT OF SPEED AND FEROCITY>

<THE TWO DODGE UP AND DOWN, EVENTUALLY LANDING ONTO THE GROUND; THEY CONTINUE IN THEIR BLOW EXCHANGE FOR SOME TIME, UNTIL, WHILE BACKING UP, THE BENEFACTOR STUMBLES OVER YAJIROBE’S SWORD; THIS GIVES LEDAS AN OPENING TO PUNCH HIM AWAY>

<THE ALIEN PUNCHES INTO THE NEW SPACE - LEDAS HAS MOVED INTO THAT AREA NOW; THE FIST CONNECTS WITH LEDAS’ COLLARBONE, SHATTERING IT> <WHEN HE DOES, LEDAS FALLS TO THE GROUND FROM THE FIGHT AS WELL AS HIS PHYSICAL WOUNDS; HIS ENERGY IS NEARLY DRAINED>

<YET BEFORE LEDAS CAN DARE DO ANYTHING, THE BENEFACTOR WILD SENSES IN FRONT OF HIM; HE HITS LEDAS WITH BOTH OF HIS PALMS, FACE UP AND OPENED, UNDER THE CHIN; THIS REOPENS THE NECK WOUND THAT LEDAS HAS; HE REVERTS TO SUPER SAIYAN 1 AT THIS, AND FALLS OVER GASPING AND CLUTCHING ONCE AGAIN>

<THE BENEFACTOR ADVANCES OVER LEDAS>

The Benefactor: <QUIETLY> Tell me how it healed.

<LEDAS MAKES A MUFFLED GURGLE IN RESPONSE; HE IS CONFUSED>

The Benefactor: <BREATHLESSLY> The arm.

<LEDAS DOES NOT ANSWER>

<TB KNEELS DOWN OVER LEDAS, WHO IS SQUIRMING, WIDE EYES AND ARMS THROWN, BUT HE IS PINNED; THE BENEFACTOR HAS THE BOY TRAPPED UNDER HIM>

<AS THIS IS ALL HAPPENING, ONCE AGAIN COMES YAJIROBE; BUT THIS TIME HE IS TARNISHED AND BRUISED; HE IS COVERED IN DIRT AND GRIME AND HE IS CRAWLING; HE COMES BACK INTO THE AREA WHERE THE OTHER TWO WERE FIGHTING; HIS SWORD IS MISSING AND HE GRUMBLES FURIOUSLY TO HIMSELF ABOUT BEING THROWN BEFORE>

<YAJIROBE COMES UP TO WHERE THE OTHER TWO ARE ON THE GROUND; HE CRAWLS UP CLOSE TO THEM, WHERE HIS BAG WAS; HE LOOKS INTO HIS BAG>

<AS HE IS FUMBLING THROUGH, HIS RAGE IS STILL EVIDENT; HIS HAND GETS STUCK AND HE FURIOUSLY RIPS THE BAG OPEN TO GET IT OUT; THE REST OF THE ITEMS IN HIS BAG COME SPILLING OUT; ON TOP OF WHICH IS THE PYRAMID>

<HIS ANGER STILL HIGH, YAJIROBE PICKS THE THING UP; HE THINKS TO HIMSELF, AS HE HOLDS IT, ABOUT THE STUPID OLD CAT SENDING HIM ON THIS MISSION TO BEGIN WITH>

<YAJIROBE STANDS UP AND HURLS THE PYRAMID ANTIQUE AT NOTHING IN PARTICULAR; THE THROW IS WILDLY INACCURATE, AND INSTEAD SAILS TOWARD THE OTHER TWO FIGHTERS>

<THE POINTED TIP OF THE SMALL BOX CONNECTS WITH THE BENEFACTOR’S SKULL; THE LOUD THUD CRACKS LOUDLY OVER THE BLOWING WIND>

<THIS CAUSES THE BENEFACTOR TO FLY BACKWARD OFF OF LEDAS; THOUGH THE ACTUAL ACT OF THROWING IT DID LITTLE TO DAMAGE HIM, THE MERE FORCE OF IT WAS ENOUGH TO MAKE HIM FALL OFF>

<LEDAS SITS UP BUT IS TOO WEAK TO IMMEDIATELY RETALIATE>

<THE PYRAMID LANDS ONTO THE GROUND, POSITIONED UP STRAIGHT; AFTER CONNECTING WITH TB, IT OPENS, FROM THE TIP ON TOP, IT SPREADS OUT WITH EACH OF ITS FOUR SIDES FALLING OUT AND DOWN ONTO THE GROUND>

<A GREAT WHITE LIGHT ENGULFS THE PLAINS; YAJIROBE IS UNACCUSTOMED TO SUCH A BRIGHTNESS AND FALLS BACK TO SHIELD HIS EYES>

<LEDAS IS ONLY A FEW FEET AWAY FROM THE BOX; AS THE LIGHT OVERCOMES EVERYTHING, HE STARTS TO BE SUCKED IN BY IT; HE IS TOO WEAK TO RESIST>

<LEDAS FALLS HEAD OVER HEELS INTO THE BOX; THE BENEFACTOR WALKS TOWARD THE BOX, CURIOUSLY WATCHING AS LEDAS IS BROUGHT IN>

<LEDAS HOLDS OUT HIS HAND, ALL FIVE FINGERS EXTENDED>

<HE GRASPS ONTO LEDAS’ ARM, ABRUTLY AND WITH MUCH FORCE; LEDAS GRIPS BACK>

The Benefactor: <DISTANT> You’re not leaving again.

<THE LIGHT OVERWHELMS EVEN MORE; LEDAS IS SUCKED INTO THE THING, FULLY; AS HE GOES, HE PULLS THE BENEFACTOR IN WITH HIM>

<THE LIGHT GOES OUT AND THE BOX CLOSES>

Riddle Me This
<ALL IS WHITE>

<LEDAS IS LAYING FACEDOWN>

<THE BOY’S CLOTHES ARE THE SAME AS WHAT HE WAS WEARING BEFORE, EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO BLOOD OR DIRT OR ANY SIGNS OF DAMAGE ON THEM AT ALL>

<HE WAKES UP AND STANDS UP TO HIS KNEES; HE LOOKS AROUND AT THIS NEW LOCATION; THERE IS NOTHING IN SIGHT, JUST ENDLESS WHITE EVERYWHERE; THERE IS ALSO NO SIGN OF THE BENEFACTOR, WHOM LEDAS HAD PULLED INTO THE PYRAMID ONLY MOMENTS BEFORE>

<LEDAS STANDS UP FULLY, STAGGERING FORWARD INTO THE NOTHINGNESS; THE LINES OF SIGHT IN ALL DIRECTIONS ARE MOSTLY CLEAR, BUT ON THE HORIZONS, THERE IS A HAZY WHITE FOG>

<THE FOG IS LEDAS’ ONLY REFERENCE POINT; HE BEGINS WALKING TO IT; IT IS QUITE FAR AWAY; HE KICKS OFF, TRYING TO FLY TOWARD IT; HOWEVER, HE FALLS FROM THIS, LANDING HARD ONTO THE GROUND; LEDAS TRIES TO FLY AGAIN, BUT THIS IS NO MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN HIS PREVIOUS ATTEMPT>

<COMPLETELY CONFUSED AT THIS, LEDAS STANDS UP AGAIN; AS HE DOES, HIS VISION IS BLURRED BY A DARK SHAPE, WHICH LANDS RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM>

<THE BEING STANDING OVER LEDAS IS TALL, PROBABLY CLOSE TO 7 FEET; IT IS MOSTLY HUMANOID; ITS SKIN IS A DULL GREY - REPTILLIAN MOST LIKELY; ITS HEAD IS TALL AND SLENDER, WITH EACH OF THE EYES PULLED OUT TO THE SIDES, LIKE EARS; IT IS WEARING A ROBE OF TAN AND WHITE, COVERING ITS BODY>

<LEDAS DRAWS HIMSELF UP INTO DEFENSE, CAUTIOUS OF THIS NEW CREATURE>

Alien: State your title, biped.

Ledas: I’m Ledas. <BELLIGERENTLY WITH A THRUST TO HIS CHIN> Who the heck are you?

<RATHER SUDDENLY, FROM BEHIND LEDAS A VOICE SPEAKS>

The Benefactor: <RATHER CHILDISHLY FOR HIM> Are you a scientist? A stinking doctor?

<LEDAS IS STARTLED BY THIS; HE STEPS AWAY FROM THE BENEFACTOR; HE DOES NOT LEAVE, BECAUSE THE ALIEN HOLDS OUT ITS HAND AS IT CONTINUES TO TALK>

Alien: <SLOWLY> Ledas. State your species, your intent.

Ledas: <SUSPICIOUS> I’m a Saiyan. And I dunno why I’m here. We were sucked in when that box opened up. <HE SCRATCHES THE BACK OF HIS HEAD> It was very bright…

Alien: The last one stated the same reasoning. He was much smaller; furrier, as well.

The Benefactor: <DRYLY> Tell us how we may leave.

Alien: This place you see around you is indefinite. Far superior than any Dyson Sphere; this is a mind prison, formed entirely of thought. My name is Verlate. I have been shackled to this place for eons.

The Benefactor: <FORCED> How do we leave?

Verlate: This prison must be sustained by a being’s mind. One being only. Any more are unnecessary, unneeded. By matter of fact, as was directed-

Ledas: <BUTTING IN> Wewll, I wanna leave now.

Verlate: I am afraid it does not work like that. It is my mind that keeps you here, and ergo my mind will set you free.

The Benefactor: <CROUCHES DOWN> You want something.

Verlate: All in due time.

<VERLATE DRAWS UP, THEN VANISHES; TELEPORTING AWAY FROM THE OTHER TWO>

<THE BENEFACTOR LEAPS UP FROM HIS CROUCH, KICKING OFF IN AN ATTEMPT TO FLY; HIS FALL IS EVEN MORE AWKWARD THAN LEDAS’ WAS>

<LEDAS WALKS UP TO THE SPRAWLED ALIEN BEFORE HIM, HANDS BEHIND HIS HEAD, AND HIS TAIL TWITCHING>

Ledas: I already tried that, mister. We can’t fly in here.

<THE BENEFACTOR ROLLS OVER AND STARES UP AT LEDAS>

Ledas: Look, I can’t even shoot energy. <HE PUTS HIS PALM OUTWARD, FROWNS HIS FACE IN CONCENTRATION; NO KI CAN BE SEEN>

The Benefactor: Interesting. <HE SITS UP> This creature’s mind is clever. It knew we would try to kill each other.

Ledas: At least you can’t make me do anything now.

<LEDAS WALKS OFF, NOT LISTENING; THE BENEFACTOR DOESN’T MIND; HE TAKES THE OTHER WAY, SO THAT BOTH OF THEM WALK OFF IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS>

<LEDAS WALKS FOR A FEW MINUTES; THEN, AS HE CONTINUES, THE BLINDING WHITE LIGHT TURNS TO DARK>

<LEDAS YELLS OUT; HE IS CLEARLY FRIGHTENED BY THE DARK; HE SCREAMS HIMSELF HOARSE UNTIL FINALLY QUIETING DOWN; THE DARKNESS STAYS EVEN WITH HIM QUIET; HE BELLOWS AGAIN, MERELY IN EXACERBATION - THAT IS UNTIL SOMETHING BRUSHES UP AGAINST HIS LEGS, BEHIND HIM; AT THIS, HE SHRIEKS, GENUINELY>

The Benefactor: Be quiet. You hurt my ears.

Ledas: <WILDLY> Gettaway!

<HE SWATS AT ALIEN, JUMPING AWAY AT THE SAME TIME; JUST AT THIS TIME, THE BLACK TURNS BACK TO WHITE, POLARIZING LEDAS’ EYES; HE COVERS HIS FACE WITH HIS HANDS, BREATHING OUT IN PAIN AT THE BRIGHT LIGHT>

The Benefactor: That’s rude.

<AT ONCE, A PIERCING SOUND OVERTAKES BOTH OF THEM; AN EXTREMELY LOUD RINGING NOISE; EVEN THE BENEFACTOR COVERS HIS EARS AT THIS; LEDAS, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS ROLLING AROUND ON THE GROUND IN PAIN>

<MOMENTS LATER, THE SOUND STOPS>

<LEDAS IS ALL RUFFLED AND GRUMPY; HE TURNS TO THE BENEFACTOR FOR ANSWERS>

The Benefactor: It is playing with us. It has impressive intuition… picking up every thought and action of the surroundings.

Ledas: So what?

The Benefactor: I would kill it.

Ledas: We can’t kill it, then we would be trapped here.

<THE BENEFACTOR STARES AT LEDAS, NOT BATTING AN EYE AT THE THOUGHT OF ETERNAL IMPRISONMENT>

Ledas: N-no… that’s the plan? <HE STEPS BACK> You think we can stay in here forever?

The Benefactor: It’s just as good.

Ledas: <SCREAMING OUT> Verlate! Verlate?! Let me out of here!

<AND JUST LIKE THAT, LEDAS IS TELEPORTED AWAY; THE BENEFACTOR IS LEFT ALONE IN THE VAST NOTHINGNESS>

<LEDAS IS TELEPORTED INTO ANOTHER AREA; THIS ONE IS MUCH LIKE THE LAST - STILL ALL WHITE AND VERY BRIGHT, HOWEVER THERE ARE OBJECTS HERE; THERE ARE STONE PILLARS, MANY SCATTERED ABOUT IN VARIOUS HALF AND FULL CIRCLES; INSIDE ARE SOME BENCHES AND TABLES; THERE IS NOTHING ON ANY OF THEM>

<LEDAS WANDERS THROUGH THESE; THE STONES ARE VERY PLAIN; NO RUNES OR COLORS OR ANYTHING LIKE THE ACTUAL BOX THAT ENCOMPASSES ALL OF THIS WAS; HE WANDERS THROUGH THEIR EMPTY HALLS FOR WHAT SEEMS LIKE FOREVER; ASIDE FROM HIS OWN NOISES, THERE IS NOT A SINGLE SOUND BEING EMITTED FROM THE AREA>

<HE COMES AROUND INTO A SMALL, INDENTED “ROOM”, SURROUNDED BY PILLARS THIRTY FEET TALL; IT LOWERS, BY STAIRS, INTO PLACE WITH A SINGLE, LARGE TABLE>

<SITTING ON THE EDGE OF THE TABLE IS VERLATE; NOT LOOKING AT LEDAS>

Verlate: A fate worse than death, don’t you think, biped? <SHE TRAILS OFF, REACHING OUT TO THE AIR BEFORE HER>

Ledas: I don’t care how long you’ve been here, mister, I just wanna go.

Verlate: It is difficult to tell for an outsider; still, I am a female of my species.

Ledas: Oh… I’m sorry, miss…

<LEDAS WALKS UP AND SITS DOWN NEXT TO VERLATE ON THE TABLE; HE SWINGS HIS FEET AND WHATNOT WHEN HE SITS DOWN>

Ledas: <SOMEWHAT EAGERLY> Is there any way to keep that other guy here with you? Y’know, after I get out?

Verlate: Unless he does what is needed, he can never leave. You are the same.

Ledas: But… can’t you keep him here even if he does whatcha want?

Verlate: I will not. There is no honor in vengeance.

Ledas: Who cares?! You can do whatever you want in here!

Verlate: One cannot judge with such reckless intent.

<LEDAS MUMBLES SOMETHING INAUDIBLE>

Verlate: This talk of him is borderline obsession. How can think so much of one being?

Ledas: I don’t even know his name. But he’s been following me around ever since I was real little…

Verlate: You are still very young.

Ledas: <TALKING FAST; WILDLY> That’s a long story. He followed me all the way here and beat up all of Vegeta’s friends just so he could get me. And then he took me to some underground place - just to show that if I can kill people down, I should be able to be friends with him! He’s crazy!

<THERE IS SILENCE>

Ledas: How do I get out of here? Now?!

Verlate: Take a simple test.

Ledas: Come on, let’s go!

Verlate: <STILL SLOWLY> Would you like to begin? Once we start, there is no going back.

Ledas: <HEAD UP> Just do it.

<VERLATE SWINGS OUT HER ARMS; THE BRIGHT LIGHT DIMS, THE ATMOSPHERE QUICKLY CHANGES TO WATER; VERLATE AND LEDAS ARE BOTH COVERED IN IT; LEDAS AND VERLATE FLOAT ABOUT, THOUGH LEDAS REMAINS CALM WHEN HE REALIZES THAT HE DOESN‘T NEED TO BREATH IN THIS PLACE>

Verlate: I find water to be a soothing medium for the mind. It will help you think to your fullest.

<LEDAS FLOATS AROUND, ON HIS BACK; HE DOES SEVERAL FLIPS, GIGGLING AT HIS FUN>

Ledas: <UPBEAT> Sooo… what’s the test?

Verlate: Answer this question correctly and you may leave. <SHE CONTINUES, NOW VERY CRISPLY>

<p style="text-align: center;"> Shining with the color of a utopian future

<p style="text-align: center;"> It is to your skull

<p style="text-align: center;"> As the sword is to the dragon

<p style="text-align: center;"> Use it wisely, this pragmatic tool

Ledas: What?

Verlate: The riddle describes a word. Find the word, and find your escape.

Ledas: Uh, canya say it again, please?

<INSTEAD OF SAYING IT AGAIN, VERLATE CUTS INTO THE WATER WITH HER FINGER, WRITING IN ORNATE RED LETTERS; THE ENTIRE RIDDLE HOVERS IN FRONT OF LEDAS SO THAT HE CAN STUDY IT; AND STUDY IT HE DOES>

<THIS IS WRITTEN IN LEDAS’ SAIYAN LANGUAGE, BUT SINCE THERE IS NO POINT MAKING UP A LANGUAGE JUST FOR THAT, WE THE AUDIENCE MERELY SEE IT IN ENGLISH>

<LEDAS WORKS HIS BRAIN AS HARD AS HE CAN, BUT HE CANNOT COME UP WITH ANYTHING; HE SWIMS AROUND, TRYING TO THINK>

Ledas: Miss Verlate… what happens if I get this wrong?

Verlate: I will leave and you will stay, in that instance.

Ledas: <INNOCENTLY> What do you mean?

Verlate: Your body will pass to me and I will go. Your mind will stay as caretaker to this place.

Ledas: N-no… I can’t stay here! Besides, you don’t look anything like me. You can’t just take my body.

Verlate: We all look different in our minds. But a body is a body. I cannot be choosy.

<LEDAS, FEELING BETRAYED, SWIMS AWAY FROM VERLATE; HE SHIVERS, AND FOLDS HIS ARMS FOR WARMTH>

Ledas: <QUIETLY; MORE TO HIMSELF THAN VERLATE> You’re not taking my body.

<VERLATE WATCHES HIM AS HE TURNS NOW TO HIS RIDDLE, TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO POSSIBLY SOLVE IT AND PREVENT VERLATE FROM TAKING HIS BODY>

Council Of Gods
<CAMERA COMES TO LEDAS, WHO IS STILL FLOATING IN THE WATER, LOOKING AT HIS RIDDLE>

<AT THIS TIME, THE BLACK SHAPE OF THE BENEFACTOR COMES SWIMMING IN; HIS MANY LAYERS OF CLOTHES ARE BILLOWING BEHIND HIM AS HE SWIMS UP TO VERLATE; LEDAS LOOKS DEVASTATED>

Ledas: <TO THE BENEFACTOR> What do you want?

The Benefactor: Don’t be sad.

Ledas: She’s going to take my body!

The Benefactor: <TO LEDAS, AS HE PASSES> Let’s not worry about that now, buddy. <TO VERLATE> Give me my riddle so I may leave this place.

Verlate: High arrogance is a quality I once held. I ended up here because of that.

The Benefactor: If I were to have arrogance, I would not have given this child a single thought. We should get moving on this, regardless.

Verlate: As you wish. For you,

<p style="text-align: center;"> Yarely, water on rock

<p style="text-align: center;"> Swiftest of sin, covering

<p style="text-align: center;"> All that it may stain

<p style="text-align: center;"> Make no mistake, 

<p style="text-align: center;"> To replace the wine

<SHE DRAWS THIS ONE IN THE WATER AS SHE SPEAKS IT, JUST AS SHE DID WITH LEDAS’ RIDDLE>

<THE BENEFACTOR PACES TO HIS OWN RIDDLES, SWIMMING BACK AND FORTH IN FRONT OF THE BRAZEN LETTERS; HE STOPS AFTER A MINUTE>

The Benefactor: Blood.

<LEDAS STOPS SWIMMING TO WATCH VERLATE’S RESPONSE; VERLATE DOES NOT ANSWER>

The Benefactor: <IN A THREATENING WHISPER> Answer.

Verlate: Wait for the other.

<LEDAS GROWLS AT THIS, THEN GOES BACK TO FIGURING OUT HIS OWN; HE SWIMS UP TO THE LETTERS AND RUNS HIS FINGERS DOWN THEM, TRYING TO GAIN SOME INSIGHT BY FEELING THEM; THE BENEFACTOR SWIMS UP BEHIND AND AROUND LEDAS DURING THIS TIME>

<BEING EASILY DISTRACTED, LEDAS WATCHES THE BENEFACTOR SWIMMING AROUND; HE NOTICES A GLINT FROM THE BENEFACTOR’S BELT AREA; THE ALIEN’S MOST FAVORITE POSSESSION>

Ledas: His knife! <PROUDLY> That’s my answer! It makes so much sense!

<THE BENEFACTOR QUIVERS AT LEDAS’ ANSWER>

The Benefactor: Who is right?

Verlate: <EMOTIONLESS> Both answers were correct.

Ledas: Then we can both leave?

Verlate: <SHE DESCENDS TO THE TABLE, AND KNEELS ONTO IT; SHE LOOKS TO LEDAS> The last one to enter here - though it many long years ago, was also correct. He was allowed to leave. Since then, it has been so long for me to wait. Sometimes the future must be made by you, yourself. Sometimes the opportunity remains open for anything. Not this time. This has gone on long enough.

<SHE FLICKS HER HANDS, CAUSING THE WATER TO LEAVE; THE OTHER TWO FALL TO THE GROUND IN FRONT OF HER>

Verlate: It’s a beautiful way to die. To be able to stop thinking and vanish; all like that. The goal was never to give up hope. The shackles were never there to begin with. I was grasping at straws. A victim to my own devices. <SHE STOPS HERSELF>

<VERLATE STANDS UP, THEN CREATES A RIP-HOLE (A PORTAL OF SORTS BACK TO THE REAL WORLD> UP ABOVE LEDAS AND THE BENEFACTOR>

Verlate: Last one out, get the lights, please.

<WITH THAT, VERLATE FADES AWAY; AS SOON AS SHE LEAVES, BOTH LEDAS AND THE BENEFACTOR FEEL THEIR PREVIOUS POWER RETURNING; THEY CAN BOTH FLY AGAIN, AND USE KI>

Ledas: <IN HIS HEAD> She said that one person had to stay here forever… that means <HE GLANCES TO THE HOLE ABOVE>, if I make it out first, he’ll be trapped!

<LEDAS JUMPS BACK, GOING SUPER SAIYAN AS HE TAKES TO THE AIR; HE FIRES A KI FLURRY AT THE BENEFACTOR, TO STALL HIM; THE ALIEN HAS ALREADY WILD SENSED OUT OF THE WAY>

<THE BENEFACTOR RE-APPEARS BEHIND LEDAS, AND KICKS AT HIM; HOWEVER, EVEN WITH THEIR POWERS RETURNED, THE TWO HAVE FORGOTTEN ONE VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF INFORMATION - THIS IS ALL IN THE MIND; THE PUNCH GOES RIGHT THROUGH LEDAS, DOING NOTHING; AS THEY BOTH REALIZE THAT THERE WOULD BE NO USE IN FIGHTING, THE TWO SHOOT UP, AIR DASHING AS FAST AS THEY CAN>

<THE BENEFACTOR HAD ALWAYS BEEN STRONGER THAN LEDAS; FAR STRONGER, ACTUALLY; HE REACHES THE PORTAL MUCH FASTER THAN LEDAS DOES, EVEN WITH THE SAIYAN IN HIS HIGHEST ASCENDED LEVEL; THE BENEFACTOR STOPS SHORT OF GOING THROUGH THE PORTAL>

The Benefactor: <THROWS HIS HANDS OUT; LEDAS IS ABOUT 20 FEET BELOW HIM> Stop, or I take the exit.

Ledas: <SHOUTING UP> What are you doing?! Just go through. You already won!

The Benefactor: <CONTINUES> Stay here with me. We will be gods in our own world. No one here to stop or bother us.

Ledas: That’s stupid. Vegeta is my friend. Not you!

The Benefactor: Not yet… but I will be. We will make it so. And we will become invincible together.

<LEDAS DESCENDS TO THE GROUND IN HIS DEFEAT; THE BENEFACTOR FOLLOWS HIM DOWN>

Ledas: We would never be able to get out of here. What does it matter if we’re invincible, then? <HE LOOKS TO THE BENEFACTOR>

The Benefactor: In here, we would have no death.

Ledas: I can’t stop you.

<THE BENEFACTOR APPROACHES LEDAS>

The Benefactor: There is no need. I am not killing you.

Ledas:<HEAD DOWN> You... just wanna train me.

The Benefactor: Imparting my knowledge onto someone worthy.

Ledas: <STILL> Why am I worthy? I’m not even close to the strongest in the universe.

The Benefactor: It doesn’t matter to me.

<LEDAS IS DOWNTRODDEN; HE MOVES FORWARD, HIS HANDS IN HIS POCKETS, HIS HEAD DOWN, KICKING AT THE GROUND>

Ledas: Fine, but I just want to know. Why did you kill him?

The Benefactor: There is no use looking into your past. We only exist together, today, to train and fulfill our duties. You will keep me company.

Ledas: <LOOKING UP, TAKEN ABACK> That’s what this is about? You’re lonely?

The Benefactor: When I was weak, I gave you a portion of my power so you would not die. It was always meant this way, for us to train together.

Ledas: You can’t let me be friends with Vegeta.

The Benefactor: There is no place for that.

Ledas: Yes there is. <PAUSE> There’s no place for you.

<LEDAS MIMICKS THE BENEFACTOR’S WILD SENSE, COMING UP BEHIND THE ALIEN; LEDAS SHOOTS RIGHT THE TB’S FIGURE, CATAPULTING OFF OF THE ALIEN’S INHERENT ENERGY; LEDAS USES THE BENEFACTOR’S ENERGY TO SHOOT PAST THE ALIEN>

<THIS SURPRISES THE BENEFACTOR, WHO DID NOT EXPECT ANYTHING LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN>

The Benefactor: Ledas?! <HE REACHES OUT, TO GRAB ONTO THE SAIYAN BOY; OBVIOUSLY, THIS FAILS>

<LEDAS STOPS ONE TIME BEFORE THE GATE; HE LOOKS DOWN AT THE BENEFACTOR; THE BENEFACTOR STARES UP AT LEDAS, BUT DOES NOT PLEAD OR BEG WITH HIM>

<LEDAS THEN TURNS HIS BACK TO THE ALIEN SHOOTS WITH ALL HIS STRENGTH THOUGH THE PORTAL AND OUT INTO THE REAL WORLD>

<THE PORTAL CLOSES, CUTTING OFF THE CONNECTION TO THE REAL WORLD COMING IN; THE CLOSING UP SENDS A SHOCKWAVE, SHOOTING THE BENEFACTOR BACK TO THE GROUND; HE LIES IN HIS DEFEAT>

<AFTERWARDS, THE BENEFACTOR STANDS HIMSELF UP, THEN WALKS TO ONE OF THE STONE PILLARS>

The Benefactor: <FALLS TO HIS KNEES> I’m a god too.

<HE STARES AT HIS HANDS, WHICH ARE BARE TO HIS SIGHT; THE DARK GREEN, SCARRED ARMS LOOK EVER LIFELESS, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE MERELY A THOUGHT>

<THE BENEFACTOR DROPS HIS ARMS, LETTING THEM FALL TO THE GROUND; HE ALSO LETS HIS HEAD FALL BACK, SO THAT HIS FACE IS LOOKING UP TO THE HAZY SKY ABOVE; HIS WHOLE FIGURE IS BROKEN; HIS MIND PRISON GOES DARK NOW>

<BACK OUTSIDE, LEDAS HAS RETURNED TO THE REAL WORLD; AROUND HIM IS YAJIROBE; YAJIROBE IS HUNTING A BIRD TO EAT, AND DOES NOT NOTICE LEDAS>

<HOWEVER, THE FORCE OF COMING BACK INTO THE REAL WORLD SCARES OFF THE BIRD; YAJIROBE LOOKS AROUND, ANNOYED>

Ledas: Hiya, Yajirobe. Wanna go home?

<YAJIROBE SILENTLY OBLIGES AND GETS ONTO LEDAS IN PIGGY-BACK STYLE; LEDAS LAUGHS AS THEY TALK, BUT NO WORDS ARE HEARD; HE TAKES OFF INTO THE SKY>

Ledas: <IN HIS HEAD> I’ll see you soon, Vegeta. Maybe when you’re all better… we can be friends again.

<HE FLIES OFF; THE MIND PRISON BOX IN ONE HAND, AND THE EVER HUNGRY SAMURAI ON HIS BACK>

Sticky Fingers
<ACROSS THE PLAINS, TO KORIN TOWER THEY GO; THEY BEING LEDAS AND YAJIROBE; THE FORMER HOLDING THE LATTER PRECARIOUSLY IN ONE ARM - AND THE MIND PRISON IN THE OTHER>

<IT IS NIGHT>

<LEDAS REACHES KORIN TOWER QUICKLY; HE FLIES UP TO THE RAILING OF THE TOWER, TOUCHING DOWN QUIETLY; BOTH HE AND YAJIROBE ASSUME KORIN IS SLEEPING, YAJIROBE SLIPS AWAY, OFF TO BED; NO MORE GLANCE NOR TALK DOES HE HAVE FOR LEDAS, OF WHOM HE IS IN DISTASTE AT>

<LEDAS TAKES THE MIND PRISON AND CAREFULLY PLACES IT (WITH TWO HANDS, MIND YOU) OVER ON ONE OF KORIN’S MANY TABLES; HE GOES TO LEAVE>

<AS LEDAS WALKS, HE NOTICES A GLINT FROM AN UPTURNED SLAB OF WALL AGAINST THE TABLE; HE WALKS UP TO IT, DRAGGING HIS FEET AS HE GOES>

<CURIOUS OF THIS STRANGE THING, LEDAS RUNS HIS HAND DOWN THE LENGTH OF IT, FEELING FOR CLUES; IT IS VERY COLD>

<LEDAS LIGHTS UP A SMALL KI BLAST, SO THAT HE MAY SEE MORE CLEARLY; WHAT IS STANDING BEFORE HIM IS A SIMPLE MIRROR; SLIGHTLY DIRTY FROM DISUSE, BUT A WORKING MIRROR NONETHELESS; HE STARES AT THE FIGURE OF HIS OWN BODY>

<SINCE LEDAS HAS NEVER SEEN A MIRROR BEFORE, THIS THING IS SOMETHING SURREAL TO HIM; HE HAS NEVER SEEN HIS OWN FACE BEFORE, OR EVEN HIS BODY FROM A FULL THIRD PERSON VIEW; HE COCKS HIS HEAD TO THE SIDE, EXAMINING IT>

<STILL DIRTY, AND BLOODY (COVERED IN HIS OWN AS WELL AS THE BENEFACTOR’S), LEDAS LOOKS QUITE TERRIBLE, BUT HE IS TRANSFIXED, SO MUCH SO THAT HE DOES NOT REALIZE HOW BRIGHT HIS KI BALL REALLY IS>

Korin: <FROM BEHIND> Like what you see, big guy?

Ledas: <WHEELING AROUND> Oh Korin, sir. I didn’t mean to wake you up.

Korin: Don’t worry about it. It’s not like I have anything to get up for in the morning. <OPEN/STILL LEAP ONTO THE TABLE>

Ledas: What about Yajirobe?

Korin: Yeah, sure kid.

<KORIN INSPECTS THE BOX AS HE TALKS>

Korin: You worked everything out with Vegeta?

Ledas: Not exactly… but…

<LEDAS QUITS STARING INTO THE MIRROR; HE SPINS AROUND TO FACE KORIN, IN MOST SERIOUS REPOSE>

Ledas: Um, Korin do you think you could train me to be better? Like Vegeta is, I mean… <TRAILING OFF> C-could you be my teacher? I think you’re real smart and all.

Korin: <TAKEN ABACK> What do you think I am, some kind of martial arts master?

Ledas: <INNOCENTLY> Uh, yeah. That’s what Yajirobe said.

Korin: <LEAPS OFF OF THE TABLE, WALKS BACK TO HIS ROOM> Don’t take this the wrong way kid, but there’s nothing I can do to help ya. <HE STANDS THERE SILENTLY FOR THREE MOMENTS; HE YAWNS> My advice is to go find Vegeta. He’s sure to know more about this than me. <ABRUPTLY> Now, it’s time for bed.

<KORIN EXITS THROUGH THE DOOR>

<LEDAS STARES AFTER HIM, THEN TURNS AND PUSHES OFF FROM THE GROUND, FLYING UP AND AWAY>

Ledas: <TO HIMSELF IN THOUGHT> But I want to get stronger before-

Korin: <BACK ONCE AGAIN> Hey!

<THIS STOPS LEDAS; HE LOOKS BACK AT THE TOWER, WHERE KORIN IS STANDING>

Korin: You’re forgetting something. Here. <HE THROWS THE MIND PRISON UP TO LEDAS, WHO CATCHES IT IN REFLEX>

Ledas: <GINGERLY, LOOKING OVER THE OBJECT> This isn’t mine. Yajirobe said it belonged to you.

Korin: <DRYLY> Whatever you stuck away in there, I don’t want to be left with it. I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night! And this cat needs his sleep, you know.

Ledas: Bu-

Korin: Look, if ya keep it in a safe place, there’s nothing to worry about.

Ledas: But I can’t watch it. Ryori and me are going to see that whale that could jump out of its tail tomorrow… It’s very cool. <BACKLIP> How’m I supposed to keep this thing from opening every place I go?

Korin: <TO HIMSELF> Sheesh, these Saiyan boys have no common sense… <TO LEDAS; KORIN IS A BIT GRUMPY> For starters, you shouldn’t be taking it with you everywhere you go. Put it somewhere safe, like under your bed. Just don’t forget about it. You wouldn’t want to accidentally bump into it one day and get sucked in again, now would ya? <TURNS AND GOES BACK TO HIS ROOM>

Ledas: <IGNORING> Wait, how do you know what it does?!

Korin: <TURNS BACK FROM HIS DOOR> Just a wild guess, kid.

<LEDAS WATCHES KORIN UNTIL THE DOOR CLOSES BEHIND THE CAT>

Ledas: Okay bye, then.

<HE THEN TURNS AND FLIES AWAY>

<CUTS TO CAPSULE CORP; THREE DAYS LATER>

<VEGETA IS TRAINING OUTSIDE ON THE ONCE PRISTINELY KEPT LAWN; IT IS NOW A MESS FROM HIS EXERCISES>

<THE MAILMAN COMES ON HIS DAILY ROUTE, STOPPING WELL OUTSIDE THE GATE IN FRONT OF CAPSULE CORP; HE STOPS, LOOKING AROUND FOR THE MAILBOX>

Mailman: Hey, where is it?! <HE SHOUTS TO VEGETA> Oi! Guy! Where’s your box?

<VEGETA PAYS HIM NO NOTICE, INSTEAD CONTINUING HIS TRAINING ALONE>

<THE MAILMAN PACES BACK AND FORTH, GOING ALL THE WAY UP AND DOWN THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING SEARCHING FOR THE MAILBOX; AT LAST, IN HIS QUEST, HE RETURNS BACK TO THE MAIN BUILDING; HE WALKS INTO SOMETHING AND NEARLY FALLS OVER; IT IS THE “STUMP” OF WHERE THE MAILBOX ONCE WAS; THE REST IS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN, CLEARLY VEGETA’S NEARBY TRAINING HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THIS>

Mailman: <VOICE CRACKING> Y-you’re mailbox… it’s gone! Where’d it go?

<VEGETA RIGHTS HIMSELF UP, SHOULDERS OUT AND FACES THE MAILMAN FOR A GOOD MINUTE, MERELY STANDING STILL AND STARING; THEN HE GOES BACK TO TRAINING>

Mailman: Hey, jerk! Whatever. You only got one letter anyway. Here, take it!

<HE THROWS A SMALL, NEATLY FOLDED, DARK RED LETTER AT VEGETA’S GENERAL DIRECTION; AS ANYONE WHO HAS EVER ATTEMPTED THIS KNOWS, SUCH AN ACT DOES NOT WORK; THE LETTER BARELY GOES TWO FEET INTO THE PROPERTY; THE MAILMAN WALKS OFF, NOT CARING ABOUT THIS RUDE WAY OF DELIVERING THE NEWS>

Mailman: <TO HIMSELF> Lousy billionaires. Think they can do whatever they want. Pfft. I wonder how he would like it if he was me…

<BACK ON THE COMPOUND, VEGETA’S TRAINING CONTINUES UNAFFECTED BY THE THROWING OF THE SCARLET LETTER; HE JUMPS ABOUT IN HIS OWN WAY, DODGING SOME UNSEEN ENEMY OR WHATEVER IT IS HE DOES>

<VEGETA THROWS A KI BALL AND IT BLASTS UP THE TURF AROUND HIM, SENDING THE LETTER FLYING RIGHT AT HIM; IT LANDS AT HIS FEET; FOR A MOMENT, VEGETA DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO>

<THEN, WANTING TO GET BACK TO HIS WORK, VEGETA KICKS THE LETTER UP INTO THE AIR, SNATCHING IT AFTERWARD IN ONE FLUID MOTION; HE OPENS THE LETTER>

<VEGETA STARES INTO IT FOR A GREAT DEAL OF TIME; PERHAPS HE IS OVERWHELMED, OR SIMPLY A SLOW READER; HOWEVER, BY THE TIME THE SUN BEGINS TO SET IN THE DISTANCE, HE HAS FINISHED>

<VEGETA SMIRKS, CRUMPLING UP THE RED PAPER AND THROWING IT ONTO THE GROUND BEHIND HIM; HE THEN WALKS BACK TOWARD THE HOUSE>

Vegeta: <YELLING> Trunks! Pack your things! We’re going!

<CUTS TO LEDAS>

<PERMANENTLY REDACATED SCENE 2, NOT POSTED>

<BACK WITH LEDAS, HE IS WAITING INSIDE THE HOSPITAL; RYORI HAS BEEN PLACED IN HERE FROM THE WOUNDS HE SUFFERED WHEN AIRGEAD’S FAILSAFE BLEW UP MOST OF THE CITY>

<LEDAS FALLS ASLEEP SITTING AT THE TABLE NEXT TO RYORI’S BED, WAITING FOR HIS GOOD FRIEND TO WAKE UP>

<END OF CHAPTER>

Simply Legendary part 1
<TWO WEEKS FROM THE DEATH OF SUPREME COMMANDER SILVER>

Ryori: Shhh, he’ll hear you coming.

Ledas: <BUCKLES DOWN> Is this okay what we’re doing?

Ryori: <POKES HIS HEAD UP FROM THE GROUND, CRANING IT OVER THE SMALL FENCE BEFORE THEM> It looks like he’s gone. Let’s go.

<HE GETS UP, AND JUMPS THE FENCE; HE LANDS IN A BROKEN POSTURE AND A SLIGHT LIMP; CLEARLY HIS DISCHARGE FROM THE HOSPITAL NIGH TWO DAYS AGO WAS NOT IN FULLEST OF RECOVERY>

Ledas: Ryori, you’re not answering me.

Ryori: <TRUDGING ALONG, NOT LOOKING BACK> Of course it’s okay. Me ‘n Shoekki used to do this all the time.

<RYORI COMES UP TO THE DOOR AND STOPS; HE TAKES SOMETHING OUT OF HIS POCKET AND FUMBLES WITH THE DOOR UNTIL IT OPENS; HE WALKS IN AND LEDAS FOLLOWS>

<INSIDE THE ENCLOSURE IS A LARGE BOX OF SORTS; IT IS RUMBLING; RYORI RUNS UP TO IT AND STARTS UNHOOKING THE STRAPS FROM THE TOP OF THE BOX>

<LEDAS SIMPLY WATCHES IN SLIGHT AWE AT RYORI’S EXPERTISE>

<RYORI FINISHES WITH HIS FLURRY OF UNHOOKINGS; HE THEN PUSHES UP ON THE TOP OF THE THING, CAUSING IT TO SLIDE RIGHT OFF AND OVER TO THE SIDE; WHAT IS REVEALED IS A POOL OF STEAMING WATER; A HOT TUB, MOREOVER>

Ryori: Aw, it’s just like I remembered!

<RYORI TAKES OFF HIS SHIRT AND SHOES AND SOCKS AND THEN JUMPS RIGHT IN>

<LEDAS WALKS UP TO THE TUB AND PEERS IN; HE STICKS HIS FINGER IN>

Ledas: <JUMPS BACK> Ow, that’s hot.

Ryori: You’ll get used to it. Come on, come in!

<LEDAS IS WARY TO DO SO, BUT HE TRUSTS RYORI; HE TAKES OFF HIS SHIRT AND SHOES AND SOCKS AND THEN STEPS IN; HE STRAIGHTENS UP; HE IS NOT USED TO THIS LEVEL OF HEATED WATER - AT LEAST WHEN NOT POWERED UP, HE CANNOT TAKE IT>

Ryori: Come on, Ledas. It’s fun; just jump in!

<HE SPLASHES LEDAS; THE SAIYAN BOY JUMPS BACK AT THIS, YELLING CURSES>

<THIS NOISE CAUSES A RUFFLING FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE; A MAN YELLS BACK>

Man: Who’s there?! Who’s out there?!

<A LIGHT TURNS ON AND THE FIGURE COMES OUTSIDE>

Ryori: <GOES PALE; TURNS FROM LEDAS TO THE DOOR ENCLOSING THE HOT TUB> Ah, shit. It’s Mr. Futekisetsuna.

Ledas: Mister who?

Ryori: <QUICKLY> Get down. We gotta hide from him.

Ledas: But-

<RYORI SUDDENLY GRABS LEDAS’ TAIL, JERKING THE SAIYAN BOY DOWN, UNDERWATER; MASKING ANY SORT OF YELL THIS TIME; RYORI THEN LIFTS THE STRAP AND PULLS ON THE CHAIN HOLDING THE COVER, AND PUTS IT BACK OVER THE HOT TUB, WITH HIM AND LEDAS STILL IN THE WATER>

<RYORI HEARS THE DOOR OPEN, AND LISTENS TO THE FOOTSTEPS; SOMEONE WALKS AROUND FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AND THEN LEAVES>

<RYORI SIGHS, WAITING A FEW MORE SECONDS AND THEN THE REOPENS THE HOT TUB, SWINGING THE TOP BACK OFF>

<LEDAS EMERGES FROM THE WATER; HIS HAIR VERY MUCH LOWERED FROM BEING SOAKED; HE IS NOT BREATHING HARD, DESPITE HOLDING HIS BREATH FOR ALMOST TWO MINUTES, SPOT O’ THE MOMENT>

Ryori: That was close. Ledas, you can’t-

<LEDAS GRINS AND THEN SPLASHES RYORI BACK; THEY GO INTO THIS FOR A WHILE; HOWEVER, RYORI STOPS THIS EVENTUALLY TO SHOW LEDAS SOMETHING>

Ryori: <STILL LAUGHING> Look at this. <RYORI REACHES OUT FROM THE HOT TUB AND PULLS ON A LONG HANGING STRING; HE PULLS DOWN ON IT, OPENING UP THE CEILING ABOVE AND REVEALING THE STARRY NIGHT ABOVE; SOMEWHAT QUIETLY, HE HAS STOPPED LAUGHING> Shoekki… he showed me how to do this the last time we came here.

Ledas: <CHILD’S VOICE> Do you miss him much?

Ryori: <HEAD DOWN> Yeah… sometimes. <LOOKS UP; TURNING THE CONVERSATION AWAY FROM HIMSELF> But what about you, Ledas? Where’s your family at?

<LEDAS LOOKS UP TO THE STARS ABOVE HIM>

Ryori: Oh right. I forgot you’re an alien. <HE LAUGHS AGAIN, BREAKING THE SHORT SERIOUS MOMENT>

Ledas: <DRAWN OUT> Yeaaaahh…

<RYORI ALSO LOOKS UP TO THE STARS ABOVE>

Ryori: Have you been to any of those? <POINTS AT THE MANY WHITE DOTS ABOVE>

Ledas: <SIMPLY> Some.

Ryori: Whoa really? What are they like? What didya do on them?

Ledas: Wewll, it’s been a while. I don’t remember much.

Ryori: Aw c’mon. You must remember something.

<LEDAS IS NERVOUS TO PROCEED>

Ledas: <IN HIS HEAD> He’d hate me if I told him…

<SUDDENLY, THE DOOR REOPENS MR. FUTEKISETSUNA IS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE TWO>

Mr. Futekisetsuna: I thought I heard something. Little rats, little loafers using my well-earned luxury.

<HE WALKS OVER, AND PLUCKS BOTH BOYS UP, BY THE HAIR AND THROWS THEM OUT, ONTO THE GROUND>

<THE TWO BOYS LAND HARD ON THE GROUND, BUT BOTH SIT UP WITHOUT TROUBLE; LEDAS STARES AT HIM WITH WIDE EYES, BUT RYORI’S EYES ARE NARROWED AND HIS BROW IS FURROWED>

Ryori: This is bogus, man. We weren’t doing anything.

Mr. Futekisetsuna: <VOICE SHAKING> G-get out!! Get out before I call the police!!

<RYORI FROWNS BACK UP AT THE MAN, THEN BREAKS AND TURNS WALKING OUT; LEDAS FOLLOWS HIM>

Ryori: Stupid adults.

<THE NEXT MORNING; IT IS INCREDIBLY EARLY IN THE MORNING; PERHAPS 11 AM; IT IS BRIGHT AND SUNNY OUT>

<LEDAS AND RYORI EMERGE FROM RYORI’S HOUSE; BY THIS TIME IT HAS FALLEN INTO EVEN GREATER DISREPAIR; WITH ONLY THE TWO OF THEM STAYING IN IT, IT MAKES A SUITABLE ENOUGH HOME>

<NEVERTHELESS, THE TWO WAKE UP TOGETHER, AND MOVE OUT; THEY WALK ALL THE WAY DOWN THE DIRT ROAD TO MRS. FANSHI’S HOUSE; BOTH TIRED AND GROGGY, NEITHER TALKS MUCH UNTIL THEY REACH THE HOUSE>

<MRS. FANSHI’S HOUSE IS STANDING, UNBLEMISHED; THE GRASS IS GREEN AND CUT, THE HOUSE ITSELF IS SHINING FROM ITS PAINT, A LIGHT PURPLE; THE ROOF IS DARK BROWN; THE DOOR IS DARK, AND IS INLAID ONTO THE HOUSE; ALL IS QUIET>

<LEDAS AND RYORI COME WALKING UP, IN NORMAL SPIRITS; THEY WALK UP TO THE DOOR; RYORI IS WEARING STANDARD CLOTHES, AND LEDAS IS TOO; NEITHER SHOWS SIGNS OF BATTLE SCARS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT; THEY SEEM NORMAL AND INNOCENT>

Ryori: Where did she think you’ve been?

Ledas: Um, I never told Mrs. Fanshi anything about it.

Ryori: What? Heheh, she must’ve thought you ran away!

Ledas: Why? I never ran away.

Ryori: Yeah, but when kids just run off, grown-ups think you’ve ran away.

Ledas: <SURPRISED AT THIS> Oh…

Ryori: Ya know Ledas, there’s a lot you don’t know about Earth.

<LEDAS AND RYORI ARE QUIET AS THEY WALK UP TO THE DOOR; LEDAS LEANS FORWARD AND KNOCKS; HE IS ON HIS TIPPY TOES AS HE DOES THIS>

<NOBODY ANSWERS, AND LEDAS KNOCKS AGAIN; AFTER ANOTHER PAUSE, WHERE NO ANSWER IS STILL GIVEN, RYORI TRIES THE DOORNOB, AND TURNS IT; FINDING IT SURPRISINGLY UNLOCKED; THE DOOR OPENS AND BOTH CHILDREN CREEP IN>

<THE LIGHTS ARE ALL OFF, BUT IT IS NOT DARK; THE SUNLIGHT IS SOMEWHAT SHINING IN; THERE IS STILL NO SIGN OF FANSHI>

Ryori: <LAUGHING ABOUT IT> Wow, this place is really clean.

Ledas: <NOT BOTHERED> It was always like this. Mrs. Fanshi liked to keep every little thing clean. It got kinda annoying…

Ryori: She made you clean with her?

Ledas: <GRINNING> Sometimes.

Ryori: <ALSO GRINNING> Haha! I betcha liked doing that!

Ledas: <SOMEWHAT QUIETLY> I didn’t mind that much. She didn’t yell at me if I did.

Ryori: <INTEREST TURNED> Bathroom?

<LEDAS POINTS DOWN THE HALL, AND RYORI FOLLOWS THAT TO A DOOR; LEDAS TURNS BACK AROUND TO FACE THE LIVING ROOM, HE STARTS TO WALK AROUND, LOOKING AT THE STUFF; PICTURES ON THE WALLS, AND VARIOUS TRINKETS (MANY OF WHICH ARE “CAT” STUFF); NOTICEABLY, HE SEES THAT NO PICTURES DEPICT HIM, HOWEVER, LEDAS IS NOT BOTHERED BY THIS>

<HE WANDERS DOWN THE HALLS; LEDAS ENTERS HIS ROOM; HE SEES IT MUCH LIKE HOW HE LEFT IT, HOWEVER THE BED IS MADE, AND THERE ARE NO MESSES ANYWHERE; HE LEAVES, AFTER A MOMENT, WITH NO EMOTION>

<LEDAS ENTERS INTO FANSHI’S ROOM (THIS ROOM HAS NOT BEEN SHOWN BEFORE); THE ROOM IS DARKER THAN THE REST; THE SHADES ARE DRAWN; HER BED IS A DARK PURPLE ON GREY; THE CARPET IS A WILD LONG VARIANT; THERE IS FURNITURE TOO, BUT NONE OF IT IS RELEVANT>

<AFTER NOT FINDING ANYTHING, LEDAS WALKS BACK DOWN THE HALL; HE RUFFLES HIS HAIR AND SCRATCHES HIS HEAD AS HE WALKS; A CLEAR LOOK OF PUZZLEMENT IS ON HIS FACE AS HE DOES SO>

<FANSHI IS NOT HOME; LEDAS HAS NO IDEA WHY; THOUGH HE HAS SEARCHED AND SENSED FOR HER, HE CANNOT FIND HER; AS HE CONTINUES TO THINK ABOUT THIS, LEDAS WALKS RIGHT BACK TO THE LIVING ROOM>

<HERE, NOW FACING THE DOOR, HE SEES A WHITE SLIP OF PAPER, UP AGAINST THE WALLED SHELF IN THE ENTRY; LEDAS TAKES THE THING, OPENS IT UP; IT IS A SLENDER CRIMSON PIECE OF PAPER FOLDED OVER SEVERAL TIMES>

<HE TAKES THE PAPER AND WALKS, SLUMPED, OVER TO THE COUCH; HE SITS DOWN AND ATTEMPTS TO READ THE THING, BUT HE CAN’T>

<RYORI, IN HIS SOCKS, COMES SLIDING INTO THE ROOM, FROM DOWN THE OTHER WAY; BEING THAT THE FLOOR IN THIS ROOM IS WOOD, THIS METHOD OF TRANSPORTATION INDEED WORKS; I’VE TESTED IT MYSELF>

Ryori: What’s that paper you got, Ledas?

Ledas: <LOOKS UP, AS RYORI COMES AND SITS DOWN NEXT TO HIM> I don’t know… I can’t read it. Here Ryori, you do it.

<LEDAS HANDS RYORI THE PAPER>

Ryori: <STUFFS A DIFFERENT PIECE OF SOGGY TISSUE PAPER HE HAD BEEN HOLDING IN HIS LEFT HAND INTO HIS PANTS POCKET> Oh yeah, I can read that. Gimme it. <AS HE TAKES THE PAPER FROM LEDAS>

<RYORI READS OUT THE PAPER; IT IS A LETTER>

Ryori: <READING THE LETTER; HE STUMBLES ON SOME OF THE MORE TRICKY WORDS>

Dear Mr. Ledas,

''It is, sadly, and unduly warranted that you may tear up or burn this letter at the mere sight of it. In vain though it may be, I have still taken the time to write you, for there is much that is still unexplained and much that must remain that way. I am sorry, sincerely sorry to hear of the passing of your guardian, Sachiko Fanshi. Undoubtedly, you have already heard of this and I can only imagine the pain you are feeling right now. Though I cannot bring her back, my boy, I can offer you some game of distraction, should you choose to accompany me. The recent occurrences of our world have led me to see that you are, even as provoked, a harmless and useless venture for me to pursue in the vanity of my position. To me, the past is the past, and I intend to leave it so. I trust to hope that you may do the same.''

''If you are fully recovered by the time of reading this letter, I belay you to consider my following request: To visit the address I have enclosed below in the swiftest of haste, arriving no later than the thirteenth of June. I have invited several old friends, all of which have obliged to meet me there. I feel our get together could not be complete without you, Ledas. There will be no tricks, for only a delusional chauvinist would wantonly give up his life in such a showing. I cannot do any more to harm to you, and that is just how I am content to stay. Vegeta will be waiting with me if you decide to join us. Please consider this, my humble offer.''

In Your Faith,

Sir Johan <LAST NAME SMUDGED OUT>

Ryori: <THROWS THE PAPER BACK INTO LEDAS’ LAP> That’s weird… I wonder who that guy is?

Ledas: <EMOTIONLESS; NOT AS AN ANSWER TO RYORI> Mrs. Fanshi’s dead. Where’re we supposed to go now?

Ryori: Maybe we can just live here by ourselves.

Ledas: <BEAMING DESPITE THE MOST RECENT NEWS> That would be awesome!

Ryori: But we don’t have any money. And you need money to buy stuff like food and video games.

Ledas: And the food at your house is almost gone.

Ryori: It wouldn’t be if you didn’t eat so much.

Ledas: Well, I’m hungry.

<LEDAS TAKES OUT THE ADDRESS THAT WAS ENCLOSED IN THE LETTER; HE SHOWS IT TO RYORI>

Ledas: Maybe we could go there?

Ryori: You seriously want to listen to that guy? It’s just a spam letter. Those things aren’t real.

Ledas: He said Vegeta would be there.

Ryori So…? Who’s Vegeta anyway?

<LEDAS LOOKS FLABBERGASTED AT THIS QUESTION>

Ryori: <NOTICING LEDAS’ FACE; HE LAUGHS> What?! You’ve never mentioned a Vegeta to me. Whoa, wait! His name is almost as weird as yours. <PROUD AT HIS SUDDEN DEDUCTION> Is he like your brother or something?

Ledas: He used to be my friend.

Ryori: Oh…

Ledas: <LOOKS UP; INNOCENTLY AGAIN> Can we please go there, Ryori? Just this once? I promise it won’t be long.

<RYORI STARES BLANKLY BACK; THEN HIS FACE TURNS INTO A SMILE>

Ryori: You’re gonna go anyway. So I’ll come with ya. <AS A GENUINE QUESTION> It will be fun, won’t it?

Ledas: <WITH A SMALL SMILE> I wish it will be.

Simply Legendary part 2 (series finale)
<IT IS NIGHT>

<LEDAS AND RYORI LAND, STUMBLING FORWARD INTO THE GRASS; AHEAD OF THEM IS A HUGE COMPLEX, SURROUNDED BY WALLS AND GATES; STRAIGHT IN FRONT OF THE TWO BOYS IS AN ENTRANCE>

<THEY MOVE TO IT IN SILENCE>

<A SINGLE GUARD IS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE GATE, PREVENTING LEDAS AND RYORI FROM ENTERING>

Guard: <COMING OUT TO MEET THEM> Stop! You can’t come further without proper identification. <HE STOPS IN FRONT OF THE TWO OF THEM> Do you have a card?

<RYORI AND LEDAS LOOK AT EACH OTHER; RYORI REACHES INTO HIS POCKET>

Ryori: Oh… yeah, I got it. <HE PULLS OUT THE CRUMPLED UP LETTER THAT HE AND LEDAS HAD FOUND AT FANSHI’S HOUSE> Here, see?

<THE GUARD TAKES THE PIECE OF PAPER, LOOKING IT OVER FOR SOME TIME; THEN HE POCKETS IT; HE WALKS OVER TO THE BOOTH AND PRESSES A BUTTON, OPENING THE GATES BEFORE THEM>

<THEN, THE GUARD GESTURES THE TWO BOYS IN; ALL OF THEM ENTER>

<THE GUARD LEADS LEDAS AND RYORI INTO THE MAIN BUILDING; UP THROUGH AN ELEVATOR; HE TAKES THEM DOWN A HALL AND TO A DOOR; HE OPENS IT, REVEALING A HUGE HOTEL ROOM INSIDE>

Ryori: <WALKS FORWARD WITH HIS HANDS BEHIND HIS HEAD> Awww, sweet!! <GRINNING> This place is huge!

<LEDAS, MEEKLY, FOLLOWS HIM IN, BUT THEN TURNS TO THE GUARD>

Ledas: <LOOKING UP> Um, what exactly are we supposed to be doing?

Guard: I have no idea, kid. Haven’t heard anything from up top. I’m just a gatekeeper; nothing’ fancy. I can’t help you.

<THE GUARD SCRUNCHES UP HIS FACE AND THEN LEAVES THE ROOM; BEFORE CLOSING THE DOOR, HE SAYS ONE MORE THING>

Guard: The schedule’s on the table over there <HE NODS TO HIS LEFT>. Don’t oversleep.

<HE CLOSES THE DOOR, LEAVING LEDAS AND RYORI ALONE>

Ledas: Ryori! Can you read the schedule for me, please?!

<RYORI DOES NOT HEAR; INSTEAD, HE IS AT THE FRIDGE, GATHERING A HUGE PLATE OF FOOD TO EAT; HE WALKS BACK TO THE TABLE AND SETS IT DOWN; LEDAS WALKS OVER TO HIM AND SITS DOWN>

<THE PAPER IS LAYING ON THE TABLE, NEXT TO THE FOOD; LEDAS PICKS IT UP AND THRUSTS IT INTO RYORI’S FACE>

Ledas: Please… canya read it?

<RYORI SIGHS AND TAKES THE PAPER; AS HE LOOKS IT OVER, BOTH HE AND LEDAS, WHO ARE QUITE STARVED, EAT CASUALLY OFF THE PLATE OF FOOD>

Ryori: <KID LIKE> Oh, it just says you gotta go down to the stadium tomorrow morning and do some fights or something. <HE TOSSES THE SCHEDULE ASIDE>

Ledas: <TO HIMSELF> Fight… <HE BURSTS INTO A SMILE> With Vegeta! The letter said Vegeta would be here tomorrow. That’s what it is!

Ryori: <GRABBING SOME FOOD> Uh, Ledas, who’s this Vegeta guy again?

Ledas: <STILL BEAMING> I already told you, Ryori. He’s my friend from a long time ago.

Ryori: Does he have a tail too?

Ledas: <STOPPING> Oh, um… he used to. But it’s prolly fallen off by now.

Ryori: <NOW HE IS LAUGHING> Aha! So you’re both aliens! I knew it. It can’t just be a coincidence that you guys both have really weird names.

Ledas: Yeah, I guess. But I wonder who made this place? It’s very weird.

Ryori: If it’s a fighting place, like a tournament, it’s probably someone really rich. And popular too, to get everyone to come and fight for him. Maybe… maybe Mr. Satan set this up! <WITH HUGE EYES NOW> Aw, wouldn’t that be cool to see the Legend, himself?

Ledas: Who’s Mr. Satan?

Ryori: He’s only the coolest guy ever. He’s like super strong and he can beat anyone - even you! He’s saved the world like a million times, and, and <RYORI BABBLES OFF INTO FANBOY INCOHERENCY>

<LEDAS LAUGHS, ONLY HALF PAYING ATTENTION; AS IT WAS, HE IS MORE FOCUSED, AND INTERNALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF FACING VEGETA TOMORROW IN A MATCH; THAT IS WHAT HE ASSUMES WILL HAPPEN>

<A FEW MOMENTS LATER, WITH THE PLATTER OF FOOD NOW FINISHED, LEDAS GETS UP AND GOES TO SLEEP; RYORI, AT THIS TIME, HAD ALREADY MOVED ON FROM PRAISING HERCULE, AND UPON FINDING A BUILT IN POOL IN THE HOTEL ROOM, HE GOES INTO THAT>

<LEDAS SLEEPS THE NIGHT WITH ANXIOUS EXCITEMENT WHILE RYORI SPENDS THE WHOLE TIME PLAYING ABOUT>

<IN THE MORNING, LEDAS WAKES UP; HIS HAIR IS ALL RUFFLED AND HE IS TIRED, BUT HE SLIPS OUT OF BED, NONETHELESS>

<LEDAS LOOKS AROUND AT THE MESS FROM LAST NIGHT; BITS OF FOOD AND TRASH, AND A WHOLE ASSORTMENT OF TOWELS ARE EVERYWHERE, NO DOUBT FROM RYORI’S LATE NIGHT FUN; HOWEVER, LEDAS DOES NOT SEE RYORI ANYWHERE - AS HIS BED IS STILL UNTOUCHED>

<LEDAS WALKS AROUND THE FRONT OF HIS OWN BED TO GET A BETTER LOOK; SUDDENLY, HE JUMPS BACK, STUMBLING OVER; FROM BELOW HIS OWN BED, RYORI’S ARM HAS SHOT OUT AND GRABBED ONTO LEDAS’ LEG; A MOMENT LATER, AND RYORI HIMSELF COMES SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDER THE BED>

<RYORI IS GRINNING>

Ledas: What are you doing under there?

Ryori: I was looking around. This place is so fun. <HE LOOKS OFF> It would be so cool to live here.

Ledas: <EYES SQUINTED> Ryori… did you stay up all night?

Ryori: <IMMEDIATELY> No!

Ledas: Wewll… your bed isn’t even messed up… and you’re still in your swimming pants.

<RYORI BREAKS INTO A SUDDEN GRIN, HE RUNS OUT OF THE ROOM, SWINGING THE DOOR WIDE OPEN>

Ryori: Hey, I almost forgot. We gotta go downstairs for that fight.

Ledas: Oh, right. Let’s go.

<THE SIGHT IS RATHER WEIRD - A YOUNG BOY IN NOTHING BUT HIS SWIMMING SHORTS, FOLLOWED BY A SECOND ONE, WITH TALL HAIR AND A TAIL, DRAGGING HIS FEET AS THEY RUN DOWN THE FINELY CARPETTED AND DECORATED HALLWAYS OF THE HOTEL, WHICH WOULD BE OTHERWISE QUIET AND COMPLACENT>

<LEDAS AND RYORI GET DOWN TO THE GROUND FLOOR AND LOOK AROUND>

<IT IS VERY BRIGHT OUT>

<LAST NIGHT THEY HAD NOT NOTICED THE HUGE STADIUM THEATER LOCATED NEXT TO THE HOTEL; BUT NOW, IN THE LIGHT OF DAY, IT CAN BE SEEN IN ALL IT’S GLORY; IT IS SEVERAL STORIES HIGH, PROBABLY BIG ENOUGH TO ENCOMPASS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE; AS IT IS, THERE ARE MANY BYSTANDERS WALKING AROUND OUTSIDE; BUT THERE IS NO SIGN OF VEGETA>

<THE TWO APPROACH THE STADIUM>

<THIS TIME, THE GUARDS NOTICE LEDAS IMMEDIATELY, AND ALLOW HIM ENTRANCE; HOWEVER, RYORI IS BANNED FROM ENTERING; UNPERTURBED, RYORI DECIDES TO GO UP INTO THE STANDS TO WATCH; HE RUNS OFF>

Ledas: <AS HE IS BEING WHISKED AWAY> Am I up against Vegeta, or what?

Guard 2: <TAKES LEDAS INTO A ROOM> It’s an all day event. You have a fight in… ten minutes. Look up there on the screen, it’ll tell you what.

Ledas: But… mister… I can’t read.

Guard 2: Uh, just wait. We’ll escort you when it’s time.

<HE GOES TO LEAVE>

Ledas: But wait, who am I up against?

Guard 2: <STILL LEAVING> It’s a random pick. We’ll let you know when it’s time.

<WITH THAT, THE GUARD LEAVES>

<IT IS NOT LONG BEFORE A DIFFERENT GUARD RETURNS; HE MOTIONS FOR LEDAS TO FOLLOW HIM>

<LEDAS FOLLOWS HIM OUT INTO THE STAGING ROOM>

<THERE ARE LOUD CHEERS AND WHATNOT; LEDAS WALKS OUT INTO THE BURSTING DAYLIGHT>

<THE CROWD’S ROAR IS DEAFINING; HE LOOKS UP AT ALL AS HE WALKS OUT; IN FRONT OF HIM IS A PLATFORM; A PLATFORM TO BATTLE UPON>

<IN THE STANDS ABOVE IS RYORI; HE IS STANDING ON THE ROW RIGHT ABOVE CHIAOZTU AND SOME OTHER BYSTANDERS; RYORI HAS HIS FACE PAINTED FOR SOME UNKNOWABLE REASON, WHICH MAKES HIM LOOK QUITE A BIT LIKE THE LITTLE CLOWN GUY; THEY ARE BOTH CHEERING LOUDLY, BUT CHIAOTZU IS ROOTING FOR LEDAS’ OPPONENT>

<STANDING OPPOSITE OF LEDAS, AS LEDAS JUMPS UP ONTO THE PLATFORM, IS A BOY - TRUNKS>

Trunks: Oh, it’s you. I remember you.

Ledas: <STANDS UP, TRANSFIXED BY ALL THE NOISE; WIDE EYED> Okay. <HE THEN LOOKS AT TRUNKS; WITH A PUZZLED LOOK> You’re not Vegeta.

Announcer: <FROM BEHIND, HE COMES UP AND WALKS OVER TO THE TWO OF THEM; HE INSPECTS THEM AND THEN STEPS BACK> You may begin!

<WITH THAT, TRUNKS LUNGES AT LEDAS; THE TWO OF THEM GET INTO A BLOW EXCHANGE; TRUNKS PUNCHES AND KICKS, WITH LEDAS ON DEFENSE>

<LEDAS ROLLS TO THE LEFT, GETTING AWAY FROM TRUNKS; HE THEN PUSHES OFF FROM THE GROUND IN A FLYING KICK, LANDING IT ACROSS TRUNKS’ JAW; HE LANDS, BUT TRUNKS HAS RECOVERED; TRUNKS RUSHES FORWARD AND PUNCHES LEDAS; LEDAS BLOCKS HIS PUNCH, SIDESTEPPING AND GRABBING TRUNKS AROUND THE NECK>

<TRUNKS LETS OFF AN EXPLOSIVE WAVE, WHICH BLOWS LEDAS AWAY; LEDAS ROLLS OVER, JUST IN TIME TO SEE TRUNKS SHOOTING OFF A BEAM OF ENERGY; LEDAS SHOOTS STRAIGHT UP INTO THE AIR TO DODGE>

<TRUNKS, HOWEVER, HAS USED HIS BEAM AS A DISTRACTION; HE SPRINGS FORWARD AND INTERCEPTS LEDAS, GRABBING HIM BY THE TAIL AND PULLING HIM DOWN>

<LEDAS IMPACTS HARD AGAINST THE GROUND; TRUNKS, HOWEVER, STOPS>

Trunks: Whoa, you have a tail. Are you a Saiyan?

Ledas: <IMPATIENT AT THIS RESPITE> How do you know?

Trunks: My father is a Saiyan, too. <PROUDLY> I’m half Saiyan. I had my tail removed when I was a baby. <TANGENT> That’s what my mom said. But look what I can do.

<TRUNKS GOES SUPER SAIYAN; LEDAS DOES NOT REACT QUICK ENOUGH, LEAVING TRUNKS TO HAVE AN OPEN SHOT ON LEDAS’ FACE; THE PUNCH CONNECTS; LEDAS JUMPS UP INTO THE AIR, AND THEN COMES SHOOTING BACK DOWN, LANDING A KICK ABOVE TRUNKS’ HEAD; IT CONNECTS>

<TRUNKS, STILL IN SUPER SAIYAN, IS UNPHASED; HOWEVER, LEDAS LANDS IN FRONT OF HIM AND CREATES A KYORRA FLASH; TRUNKS PUTS UP HIS ARMS IN DEFENSE, BUT THE EXPLOSION CATAPULTS HIM BACKWARDS; AWAY FROM LEDAS AND OFF OF THE STAGE; HE LANDS IN THE GRASS>

Announcer: And Trunks has fallen out! Ledas wins!

<THE ANNOUNCER CONTINUES WITH HIS TIRADE, BUT LEDAS DOES NOT LISTEN; EVEN AS THE CROWD, RYORI INCLUDED, CHEER HIM ON; INSTEAD, HE JUMPS OFF, SHOULDERS SLUMPED, AND QUIETLY HE RETURNS BACK TO HIS ROOM>

<LEDAS WALKS BACK TO HIS ROOM SLOWLY; HE HAS HIS HEAD BOWED, DEEP IN THOUGHT; AND HE IS NOT ALTOGETHER HAPPY THAT HIS OPPONENT WAS NOT VEGETA; AT LAST, HE REACHES HIS WAITING ROOM AGAIN>

<WAITING FOR LEDAS IN HIS ROOM IS ONE PERSON; RYORI>

<HE IS STILL SHIRTLESS AND HAS THE FACEPAINT; LEDAS IS TOO PREOCCUPIED TO COMMENT ON IT; THE SAIYAN SITS DOWN>

Ryori: Wow, Ledas, you did great. I didn’t know you were that strong. You were just like Mr. Satan out there! If you kept going like that, you’d be as good as him for sure.

Ledas: <DISTRACTED> Who’s that again?

<BEFORE RYORI CAN EXPLAIN, THE DOOR OPENS AGAIN; THIS TIME IT IS AN OLD MAN, IN A DARK BLACK SUIT, WITH HIS HAIR PULLED BACK; HE WALKS INSIDE, ALONE; HE GOES UP TO LEDAS>

Cardinal: You put up a good fight, master Ledas.

<HE HOLDS OUT HIS HAND, WHICH IS NOT A HAND AT ALL, BUT A ROBOTIC PROSTHETIC ARM; LEDAS DOES NOT SHAKE HIS HAND, NOT ONLY BECAUSE HE HAS NO IDEA THIS IS A HUMAN CUSTOM, BUT BECAUSE HE IS STILL SUSPICIOUS OF CARDINAL; IN THE BACKGROUND, RYORI SCRUNCHES UP HIS FACE IN ANGER, BUT HE DOES NOT TALK>

Ledas: You. <HIS EYES NARROW> You’re the one who gave me that letter?

Cardinal: Indeed. As you have seen, this showcase was not limited nor even built around you - but around many great fighters. See now, some fight. <HE GESTURES TO A SCREEN IN THE ROOM> We celebrate Earth’s victory together.

<ON THE SCREEN, KRILLIN AND YAMCHA - TWO Z FIGHTERS WHICH LEDAS HAD SEEN, BUT IS NOT FAMILIAR WITH, ARE FIGHTING>

<THEY CONTINUE FIGHTING FOR THE ENTIRE CONVERSATION - I WILL NOT GO INTO DETAIL ABOUT IT, BUT KRILLIN MOSTLY DOMINATES THE ENTIRE TIME, UNTIL HE WINS AT THE END>

Ledas: You tried to kill me and Ryori.

Ryori: Yeah, and he killed my brother. And then he kidnapped me again. <HE SLIDES OFF HIS CHAIR AND STANDS UP BEHIND LEDAS>

Cardinal: That is true. But as I watched the city burn, and helpless though I was, you and your friends were able to stay back the tide of evil - without any help by me. My original thesis, that you were the evil, the threat to all of us was shown to be untrue. I have abandoned my pursuit of you, boy. I apologize for any wrongs I have done to you, Ledas. I hope I can make it-

Ledas: Isn’t Vegeta here?

Cardinal: <PAUSE; BLINKS SEVERAL TIMES> Why yes he is.

Ledas: <RESOLVED> I want to fight him.

Cardinal: I-I…

Ledas: And, you hafta do something else too.

Cardinal: Say what you will, young master.

Ledas: <LOOKING DOWN> You gotta let me and Ryori live in a really good place like this with lotsa food. You pay for it all and we can have as much as we want.

Cardinal: Why would I do that?

Ryori: <STEPPING BACK> Because you killed Mrs. Fanshi and my brother. And we don’t have anywhere to stay.

<CARDINAL STEPS BACK>

Cardinal: I… see. And if I refuse, I assume...

<LEDAS AND RYORI STARE BACK UP AT CARDINAL, SUPER SERIOUSLY>

Cardinal: I expected as much. Very well. All of that will be arranged for you, then. <HE WALKS UP TO LEDAS, REAL CLOSE> Am I forgiven now?

Ledas: <AVERTING HIS EYES TO THE FIGHT BETWEEN YAMCHA AND KRILLIN ON SCREEN; CLEARLY, HE IS UNINTERESTED IN WHAT CARDINAL IS SAYING> Sure, okay.

<ON SCREEN, KRILLIN DODGES A WOLF FANG FIST BY YAMCHA, THEN LATCHES ONTO YAMCHA’S ARM, SPINNING IT AROUND, AND SNAPPING IT BEHIND HIS BACK; WITH A SINGLE KICK, KRILLIN PUSHES YAMCHA OUT OF THE RING; YAMCHA ATTEMPTS TO FLY TO RECOVER, BUT KRILLIN ELBOWS YAMCHA DOWNWARD, INTO THE GRASS; AS HE DOES SO, THE CROWD ROARS; IT IS SO LOUD THAT BOTH HE AND CARDINAL MOMENTARILY STOP TO WATCH THE SCREEN>

Cardinal: <TURNING TO LEAVE> I will go get Vegeta, then.

Ledas: Wait! Don’t tell him it’s me. I want it to be a surprise.

Cardinal: <HAS A SINGLE QUIET CHUCKLE TO HIMSELF> It is strange, Ledas. Even as an alien, so much of you is like us humans. If it weren’t for your tail, I would have no idea what you are.

<WITH THAT HE LEAVES>

<LEDAS SITS DOWN; HE BOWS HIS HEAD AND CLASPS HIS HANDS TOGETHER; LISTENING TO THE ANNOUNCER, HE HEARS THAT TIEN AND ANDROID 18 ARE FIGHTING, THOUGH HE DOES NOT WATCH; HE IS SHAKING WITH ANXIETY OVER FIGHTING VEGETA AGAIN; RYORI SITS DOWN TOO, WATCHING LEDAS, BUT HE DOES NOT DARE TALK>

<AT LAST THE DOORS OPEN IN FRONT OF HIM; LEDAS LOOKS UP BEFORE STANDING, THEN EXITS>

<HE WALKS DOWN THE HALLS, SHOULDERS FORWARD, UNTIL HE REACHES THE STAGE>

<THIS STAGE WAS NOT THE SAME ONE LEDAS HAD BEEN AT PREVIOUSLY; IT IS MORE OF A PRACTICE AREA, THOUGH IT IS OUTDOORS TOO; A DIRTY BROWN MAT STANDS AS THE ARENA IN THE CENTER, AND THERE ARE NO STADIUM SEATS ANWHERE AROUND; BUT THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT THIS PLACE IS BARREN>

VEGETA IS THERE, ON THE FAR SIDE; SEVERAL OTHERS, A FEW Z FIGHTERS, AND UNNAMED HUMAN FIGHTERS ARE EITHER PRACTICING OR RESTING; LEDAS WALKS PAST ALL OF THEM TO VEGETA>

Ledas: <RATHER BLUNTLY, EVEN AS VEGETA IS STILL TURNED AWAY> Hi, Vegeta.

<VEGETA TURNS TO FACE HIM>

Ledas: <WALKS FORWARD; TALKING AS IF HE IS FAMILIAR WITH VEGETA> ‘member that time me and you took out that whole big planet for Frieza in less than a day? Or when we got to go on Frieza’s ship? Or that other time we fought that real tough team of aliens, and you said…

Vegeta: <STILL UNEMOTIONAL> The first rule of war is that there are no rules.

<LEDAS SMILES UP AT VEGETA; VEGETA DOES NOT SMILE BACK, HE LOWERS DOWN INTO A DEFENSIVE STANCE>

Ledas: <DROPS INTO HIS OWN> I’m sorry it took me so long to find you, and then that monster came and made everything worse and… <TRAILS OFF>

Vegeta: You were dead. You were still on the planet when we left you. <HE STARES AT LEDAS, WHO SIMPLY STARES BACK; VEGETA LETS UP> But... you're not. What is this? What do you want? A fight?

Ledas: <EVER SO CHILDLIKE> Well, yeah!

Vegeta: If you are who you say you are, this will prove it. <TURNS HIS HEAD; VICIOUSLY> Trunks, out of our way.

Trunks: <SCRAMBLING OUT OF THE WAY> Uh, okay dad.

<LEDAS AND VEGETA MOVE ONTO THE MAT, AS THE OTHERS LOOK UP TO WATCH>

Vegeta: You can‘t beat me. I am far stronger than you. <PROUDLY, BUT NOT IN A HATEFUL WAY> Prepare to be amazed.

Ledas: <QUICK RESPONSE> I’m gonna hit you so hard, Vegeta.

<WITH THAT, LEDAS BRINGS HIS ARMS INTO HIS CHEST, BOWS HIS HEAD, AND PUSHES OFF OF THE FLOOR WITH BOTH OF HIS FEET; HE RACES TOWARD VEGETA; VEGETA DODGES THIS ATTACK, ATTEMPTING TO BACKHAND LEDAS AS HE GOES BY, BUT LEDAS HAS CREATED AN AFTERIMAGE, LEADING VEGETA TO ONLY SWIPE AT THIN AIR; THE REAL LEDAS LANDS BEHIND VEGETA; HE LOWERS TO THE GROUND AND SIDESWEEPS VEGETA’S LEGS, CAUSING THE PRINCE TO TUMBLE AWAY>

<VEGETA RECOVERS, THEN SENDS A BALL OF KI BLASTS AT LEDAS, STUNNING THE BOY; VEGETA USES THIS TIME TO TAKE TO THE AIR, FLYING RIGHT TO THE POINT ABOVE LEDAS; LEDAS SHOOTS UP AFTER HIM; LEDAS PUNCHES UPWARDS, VEGETA TILTS HIS BODY AWAY, MAKING THE ATTACK MISS; AS LEDAS CONTINUES FLYING UPWARD, HE OVERSHOOTS VEGETA, WHO DOUBLE KICKS LEDAS, AS HE GOES BY, IN THE RIBS>

<LEDAS GOES FLYING BACKWARDS FROM THE FORCE OF THE ATTACK, AND VEGETA CHASES HIM; WHEN VEGETA REACHES HIM, HE PUNCHES LEDAS’ LEFT SHOULDER, AND GRABS HIM BY HIS RIGHT; VEGETA ATTEMPTS TO THROW LEDAS DOWNWARD IN AN IMPACT, BUT LEDAS BREAKS FREE AND KICKS VEGETA ACROSS THE FACE; VEGETA IMMEDIATELY RETALIATES WITH A BEAM, BUT IT EXPLODES; LEDAS HAS PUT UP AN ENERGY BARRIER, WHICH REFLECTED THE BLAST RIGHT BACK INTO VEGETA>

<SMOKING AND SINGED, THE SAIYAN PRINCE DOES NOT SEE LEDAS, AS HE COMES DOWN FROM ABOVE VEGETA’S HEAD, CONNECTING HIS FOOT WITH THE SMALL OF VEGETA’S BACK; VEGETA IS SENT DOWNWARD, WITH LEDAS IN HOT PURSUIT; BEFORE VEGETA REACHES THE GROUND, HE AFTERIMAGES BEHIND LEDAS, AND PUSHES THE BOY TO THE GROUND>

<LEDAS ROLLS ASIDE, OUT OF THE WAY OF VEGETA’S INCOMING KICK, AND SENDS A SUDDEN BLAST OF ENERGY AT THE PRINCE; VEGETA TAKES IT HEAD ON, BUT IT BARELY DAMAGES HIM; INSTEAD VEGETA’S SPEED SEEMS TO INCREASE FROM THIS, AND HE JUMPS AT LEDAS; LEDAS HAS GOTTEN UP BY THIS POINT, AND STEPS BACK, DEFENDING AGAINST VEGETA’S RELENTLESS HAIL OF BLOWS>

<FROM BEHIND, THE FEW Z FIGHTERS THAT TOOK PART IN THIS TOURNEY (KRILLIN, ANDROID 18, YAMCHA, TIEN, PICCOLO, AND TRUNKS) WATCH THE FIGHT>

Krillin: Wow, he’s really something, isn‘t he? Almost reminds me of-

Trunks: C’mon dad, you can win! Just go Super Saiyan!

Piccolo: <FROM BEHIND THEM, QUIETLY> Vegeta isn’t trying to beat him; he’s testing him. It’s like when two dogs that have been separated for a while reunite. They don’t play again right away. Instead they sniff around and test the waters to see how much has changed. That’s what these two are doing.

Krillin: But, uh, what happens if they don’t get along?

Tien: One of them will lose an eye.

<KRILLIN GRIMACES LIKE HE ALWAYS DOES>

Yamcha: I remember seeing that kid when we fought that alien a few weeks back. I thought he said something about being friends with Vegeta.

Krillin: <WRYLY> I don‘t know, Yamcha. I’ve heard Saiyans stay in their prime for a lot longer than us humans… but this is just ridiculous. He’s only Trunks’ age! He couldn’t know Vegeta.

Trunks: <TO KRILLIN> Hmph, he’s older than me. That’s why he won before.

Yamcha: Yeah, but maybe there was some freak accident where he fell into some nuclear waste or something. I’ve heard it happens all the time. That’s how real super heroes are born.

<EVERYONE, AND I DO MEAN EVERYONE, IGNORES YAMCHA’S CRACKPOT THEORIES>

Android 18: <IN THAT BORED VOICE OF HERS> If he does know Vegeta, I’m sure there’s a perfect explanation for why he’s a little boy.

Krillin: <MISCHIEVOUS GRIN> And, uh, what would that reason be, honey?

Android 18: <TURNS HER FACE AWAY IN EMBARRASSMENT> How would I know?

<THEY ALL DESCEND INTO THEIR PETTY RAMBLINGS SAVE FOR TIEN; TIEN KEEPS WATCHING THE FIGHT WITH ALL HIS FOCUS>

Tien: <TO HIMSELF MORE THAN ANYTHING> Their fighting styles are so similar. It’s almost like they’re the same person.

<BACK IN THE FIGHT, VEGETA KICKS, LEDAS BLOCKS; LEDAS PUSHES VEGETA AWAY AND BEGINS HIS OWN ATTACK; THE ATTACKS ARE ALL BLOCKED UNTIL LEDAS LOWERS TO THE GROUND AND SKIDS AROUND VEGETA; HE ELBOWS BACKWARDS, TRYING TO HIT VEGETA, BUT IT IS NO USE; VEGETA CATCHES LEDAS’ ARM>

<LEDAS TURNS HIS TORSO, AND WITH HIS LEFT HAND, HE THROWS AN OPEN-PALMED ENERGY BLAST AT VEGETA, BREAKING THE PRINCE’S GUARD; LEDAS THEN JUMPS INTO THE AIR TO REACH VEGETA’S FACE AND BEGINS KICKING IN A FLURRY>

<VEGETA IS PUSHED BACK, EVENTUALLY FALLING TO ONE KNEE, AND SLAPPING LEDAS AWAY; BOTH OF THEM HAVE A MOMENT OF RESPITE, WHERE THEY FALL TO THEIR KNEES AND BREATH OUT HARD FROM THE BATTLE>

<STILL KNEELING, LEDAS LOOKS UP AT VEGETA; THEIR FACES ARE DRIPPING WITH SWEAT; LEDAS WIPES IT AWAY; HE BREATHES IN A FEW SHARP BREATHS AND THEN GOES SUPER SAIYAN; HIS HAIR TURNING THE EXPECTED GOLDEN, AND HIS EYES TURNING TO GREEN; WITH HIS AURA FLARING AROUND HIM, LEDAS STANDS UP AND WALKS TOWARD VEGETA, SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY; HE HAS HIMSELF READY FOR ANY ATTACK>

<AS HE REACHES VEGETA, VEGETA GOES SUPER SAIYAN 1 AS WELL>

<HE STANDS UP, AND THE TWO IMMEDIATELY GO BACK AT IT, KICKING AND PUNCHING, DIVING AND DUCKING; EACH OF THEM IS COMPLETELY OBLIVIOUS OF THEIR ONLOOKERS>

<IN THE BACK, ON THE LEFT A WAYS OF THE Z FIGHTERS IS STANDING A SMALL HOST OF PEOPLE; CHIEF AMONG THEM IS CARDINAL, AND STANDING AT HIS RIGHT IS RYORI>

<RYORI IS STILL IN HIS BATHING SUIT, AND HAS HIS FACE PAINTED FROM TAKING PLACE IN ALL THE PARTYING AND CELEBRATIONS OUTSIDE, BUT STILL HE IS WATCHING FULLY; HE HAS BARELY EVER SEEN LEDAS FIGHT, ESPECIALLY NOT THIS EMOTIONALLY>

<VEGETA AND LEDAS BEGIN FIRING SMALL KI BLASTS AT ONE ANOTHER, IN RAPID FIRE FASHION; THEY DODGE AROUND, SHOOTING THIS WAY AND THAT, WITH SOME OF THE BLASTS SKIDDING OFF OF THE PLATFORM AND AROUND THE ONLOOKERS; NONE HIT ANYONE THOUGH, THAT WOULD JUST CAUSE AN UNNECESSARY DISTRACTION>

<LEDAS LOWERS BOTH OF HIS ARMS TO HIS SIDES>

Ledas: Heya, Vegeta, remember this one?

<WITH A DEVILISH GRIN, LEDAS CONJURES UP A CYAN BALL IN EACH HAND; HE THEN PRESSES HIS HANDS TOGETHER AND AIMS IT AT VEGETA, SENDING OFF A HUGE BLAST AT THE PRINCE’S WAY>

<VEGETA RECOGNIZES THIS AS THE PLAYFUL GALICK, LEDAS’ VARIATION OF HIS OWN SIGNATURE SKILL; VEGETA MAKES UP HIS OWN BEAM, TOO; THIS ONE IS HIS STANDARD PURPLE ONE; HE AIMS IT AT LEDAS>

<THE TWO BEAMS COLIDE; A BRIGHT LIGHT AND SUCH COMES UP, OBSCURING THE FOCUS AROUND THE TWO; DESPITE THESE TWO BEAMS BEING QUITE LETHAL, WOULD THEY BE SHOT AT BASICALLY ANYONE ELSE, BOTH LEDAS AND VEGETA ARE RESTRAINING THEIR POWERS SO THAT THEY DON’T DO SOMETHING FOOLISH LIKE BLOW UP THE PLANET OR SOMETHING>

<THE BEAMS PULSATE BACK AND FORTH, FROM LEDAS TO VEGETA AND BACK AGAIN; AFTER A FEW CYCLES, VEGETA PUTS MORE EFFORT INTO HIS BLAST AND SENDS IT RIGHT AT LEDAS; LEDAS ISN’T STRONG ENOUGH TO DEFEND AND HE IS HIT FULL ON>

<SMOKE AND ALL THAT STUFF FLIES AROUND WILDLY; VEGETA STANDS CALMLY, WATCHING FOR ANY SIGN OF LEDAS>

<BEFORE THE DUST IS FULLY CLEARED, LEDAS SPRINTS OUT, HIS ARMS IN A ‘V’ BEHIND HIS BACK; HE STOPS IN FRONT OF VEGETA AND PUTS OUT BOTH OF HIS ARMS IN AN ATTACK>

<VEGETA CATCHES HIS ARMS AND THE TWO STRUGGLE IN A SILENT, GRUNTLESS BATTLE; LEDAS PUTS EVERYTHING HE HAS INTO IT, BUT HE CANNOT BEAT VEGETA‘S SUPER SAIYAN 1 STATE>

<LEDAS LETS GO AND RELAXES HIS SHOULDERS; HE FALLS BACK ONTO THE GROUND, IN A SITTING POSITION WITH HIS LEGS ON HIS SIDES; HE LOOKS UP AT VEGETA>

Ledas: Aw, looks like you beat me, Vegeta.

Vegeta: Hmph, you didn’t put up much of a fight.

Ledas: At least we were a lot closer back then! I was prolly even stronger.

<VEGETA LETS OUT A SMALL LAUGH AND FOLDS HIS ARMS AS LEDAS GETS ON HIS FEET>

Vegeta: I was always the stronger one.

<THE Z FIGHTERS COME UP AND TALK TO THE TWO OF THEM; IT IS NOTHING IMPORTANT, AND NEITHER VEGETA NOR LEDAS SEEM TO REALLY BE LISTENING TO THEM>

<FROM BEHIND, CARDINAL’S ENTOURAGE WATCHES IN SILENCE; RYORI, WITH THEM, IS FROWNING>

<FOR SEVERAL MOMENTS, HE WATCHES AS VEGETA AND LEDAS AND THE OTHER FIGHTERS ALL TALK, AND ASIDE FROM VEGETA, THEY ARE ALL LAUGHING AND TALKING>

Ryori: <TO HIMSELF, BARELY AUDIBLE THOUGH IT IS SOLEMN> Damnit, Ledas. You’re just like Shoekki… just gonna leave me and-

<LEDAS SUDDENLY APPEARS IN FRONT OF RYORI, PROBABLY BY INSTANTANEOUS MOVEMENT OR SOMETHING SIMILAR; HE GRABS RYORI’S SHOULDER AND PULLS HIM OVER>

Ledas: Oh I didn‘t see you, Ryori!

Ryori: <DUMBFOUNDED AS HE IS BEING PUSHED FORWARD> Wha… you heard that?

Ledas: <COCKS HIS HEAD TO THE SIDE> Well you said my name.

Ryori: Great… you have super hearing, too.

<THEY ARRIVE AT VEGETA>

Ledas: <TO VEGETA ABOVE THE TALKING OF THE OTHER Z FIGHTERS> This is my friend Ryori. <HE LOOKS OVER AT RYORI, WHO IS SOMEWHAT AWKWARDLY EMBARRASSED BY HIS OWN APPEARANCE AMONG THESE WARRIORS> Oh, we’re starving! Cantcha take us to get food, Vegeta?

Krillin: <PEANUT GALLERY> He does acts like a Saiyan…

Vegeta: Why would I know where-

Ledas: Cuz I saw your house! It’s huge. There has to be like a million pounds of food in there!

Vegeta: <HIS EYES ARE SOMEWHAT WIDENED; HE CAN NO LONGER BE IGNORING LEDAS> Fine, just this once.

Yamcha: Vegeta, how about we come along too and celebrate with ya guys?

Vegeta: <BREAKS IN WITH A HEARTY, SARTASTIC LAUGH; ALMOST IN AN OUT OF CHARACTER WAY> Oh yeah, that’s a good one. Invite the whole crew on over! Why don’t we invite Kakarot, too?! <SETTLES DOWN BACK TO HIS VITRIOL> Don’t even think about it, fool. I’ll blow you away before you can get within 100 feet of her.

Yamcha: Okay! Okay! Sheesh, can’t blame a guy for asking!

<VEGETA TURNS AWAY, CHIN UP AND PRANCES OUT; LEDAS AND RYORI FOLLOW HIM; THE REMAINING Z FIGHTERS STAND THERE, DUMBFOUNDED AT THIS; IT SEEMS RATHER ODD TO THEM THAT VEGETA WOULD JUST GO OFF SO QUICKLY WITH LEDAS LIKE THIS; OF COURSE, SINCE THE TWO WERE CHILDHOOD FRIENDS, THIS SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE, BUT IT IS STILL RATHER ODD, CONSIDERING IT IS VEGETA, AND ALL OF THEM ARE QUITE PUZZLED AT HOW HE IS ACTING AROUND LEDAS NOW THAT THEY‘VE FOUGHT, NOW THAT THEY‘VE REACQUAINTED PROPERLY>

Ledas: <TO VEGETA AS THEY WALK> Do you have a very good gravity room, Vegeta? That old guy in the white jacket it gave me mine. It’s really good. <CHILDLIKE GOADING> I bet it’s better than yours.

Vegeta: Bah, you stole that one.

Ledas: Oh yeah. <HE CHUCKLES IN DELIGHT> I forgot. <HE CONTINUES LAUGHING>

<THEY REACH THE OUTSIDE ENCIRCLEMENT>

Ryori: Ledas, how old are you really?

Ledas: Um, I don’t know, like how old Vegeta is.

Ryori: But that guy’s an old man. And you are just like me…

Vegeta: <TO RYORI> Watch it. I’m not that old.

Ryori: Whatever, man. But if you and him grew up together, why didn’t he get old like you? Is that something with you aliens, that only some of you get all gross and old like that?

<VEGETA GRRRS, BUT LEDAS IGNORES HIM; HE IS QUITE CHIPPER AS THEY ALL WALK ON>

Vegeta: Your idiot friend is right. If you really are alive, what happened out there?

Ledas: <STILL GRINNING> Wewll, it’s a long, almost-incredible story. But, um, <SCRATCHES HIS HEAD> I think I forgot most of it…

<THE OTHER TWO SIGH, SHAKING THEIR HEADS; MERE MOMENTS LATER, THEY ALL TAKE OFF INTO THE SKY; LEDAS IS CARRYING RYORI AND FOLLOWING VEGETA; AS THEY SET OFF, (CAMERA FROM BEHIND) CARDINAL WATCHES THEM, LOOKING UP AT THEM; AS THEY FADE AWAY INTO SMALL DOTS, HE BOWS HIS HEAD AND EXITS>

<IMMEDIATE BLACK SCREEN AS CARDINAL EXITS>

<CUE EL SCORCHO>

<SLOW RE-FADE FROM BLACK>

<A MONTAGE OF SORTS FOLLOWS>

<LEDAS, RYORI, AND VEGETA ARE EATING FOOD AT CAPSULE CORP, MUCH TO THE CHAGRIN OF BULMA (BECAUSE OF HOW BARBARIC THEIR MANNERS ARE); DR. BRIEFS COMES OUT AND LEDAS HIDES HIS HEAD; THE GOOD DOCTOR SQUINTS AT LEDAS, ALMOST FINDING HIM FAMILIAR BEFORE MOVING ON WITH HIS DAILY TASKS; LEDAS RAISES HIS HEAD AT THIS AND LAUGHS; VEGETA, PERHAPS, HIDES A SMIRK HIMSELF>

<LEDAS’ GRAVITY ROOM IS STILL ON THE MOUNTAIN, WITH DARK BLOOD STAINS ON THE FLOOR, ALL ABLE TO BEEN SEEN FROM OUTSIDE, DUE TO THE DOOR STILL BEING OPEN; THE BODIES OF KINDLER AND DEWBERRY ARE NOWHERE TO BE SEEN>

<THE SCENE CHANGES TO LEDAS; THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A FEW DAYS LATER; HE AND VEGETA ARE IN VEGETA’S OWN GRAVITY ROOM; THEY ARE SPARRING; VEGETA IS STILL A LITTLE RESERVED TO BE OPENING HIMSELF UP LIKE THIS, BUT SINCE IT IS LEDAS, HE IS SPARRING A LITTLE AND NOT BEING AS STANDOFFISH AS HE USUALLY IS; THE TWO SPAR FOR SOME TIME; THOUGH IT IS STILL SLIGHTLY AWKWARD, AND NOT THE SAME AS IT WAS WHEN THEY WERE KIDS, VEGETA ISN’T TOTALLY OPPOSED TO THIS, WHICH MAKES LEDAS HAPPY; RYORI, NOTABLY, IS ABSENT FROM THIS>

<KORIN AND YAJIROBE UP ON KORIN TOWER, STILL DOING NOTHING, AND SQUABBLING OVER THEIR PRECIOUS FEW SENZU BEANS; KORIN HITS YAJIROBE OVER THE HEAD (WITH HIS STAFF) FOR BEING GREEDY>

<CARDINAL, NOT LOOKING VERY WELL, PURCHASES A SMALL HOUSE THAT LEDAS AND RYORI CAN LIVE IN; HE LEANS OVER IN PAIN, GRASPING AT HIS SHOULDER - THE ONE THAT WAS SEVERED BY THE EXPLOSION, AND REPLACED WITH A PROSTHETIC; HE REACHES INTO HIS POCKET AND TAKES SOMETHING OUT; A SMALL BOTTLE, WITH THE MARKINGS ’M99’ THINLY SCRATCHED OVER ITS LID; HE TAKES OUT A SYRINGE FROM ANOTHER POCKET AND INJECTS HIMSELF WITH THE STUFF; LIKE SON, LIKE FATHER>

<RYORI HAS LEFT VEGETA’S HOUSE, SOMETIME AFTERWARD; HE IS IN CARDINAL’S HOUSE THAT WAS MADE FOR LEDAS AND HIM; IT IS LATE AT NIGHT, AND HE IS PLAYING VIDEO GAMES; HE LOOKS BORED; SUDDENLY, LEDAS ARRIVES, AND COMES IN WITH A LOT OF ENERGY; RYORI’S FROWN TURNS UPSIDE DOWN AS HE AND LEDAS DESCEND INTO ENDLESS HOURS OF VIDEO GAMES AND PLAY; AFTER RYORI GOES TO BED, LEDAS COMES INTO THE BATHROOM AND SEES THE FULL LENGTH MIRROR COATING THE SHOWER DOOR; HE STARES INTO IT; EVENTUALLY, SITTING DOWN AS HE CONTINUES TO STARE; HE THINKS, INTO THE NIGHT, OF HOW TO GET VEGETA AND RYORI TO BE LESS AGGRESSIVE TOWARDS EACH OTHER, ESPECIALLY IF LEDAS IS GOING TO STAY; OBVIOUSLY, HE HAS NO IMMEDIATE IDEAS FOR WHAT TO DO>

<THE LAST SCENE IS OF MRS. FANSHI’S HOUSE; SILENT AND STILL; JUST AS IT WAS LEFT BEFORE; NEAT AND PRISTINE WITH ONLY A THIN VEIL OF DUST COATING EVERYTHING; A SINGLE WADDED UP PIECE OF TOLIET PAPER, COURTESY OF RYORI LAYS ON THE COUCH; OTHERWISE, EVERYTHING SEEMS THE SAME; HOWEVER, DOWN THE HALL, THE CAMERA GOES; EVENTUALLY, IT COMES INTO LEDAS’ ROOM, WHERE THERE IS ONE NEW FEATURE; SOMETHING HE PLACED THERE TO KEEP SECRET AND TO KEEP SAFE; THE FORMER MIND PRISON OF VERLATE THE DISGRACED; THE NEW ETERNAL HOME FOR THE BENEFACTOR; THE SMALL PYRAMID BOX SITS PEACEFULLY ON LEDAS’ WINDOWSILL, SHINING FROM THE LIGHT COMING IN; IT IS SILENT AND IT IS ALL ALONE>

<THE SCREEN REFADES ONE MORE TIME TO BLACK, SLOWER THIS TIME>


 * <END FULFILLMENT SAGA>

Cue Great Spirits. Credits roll during this time. This credits roll “scene-less” except for a small, continuous animation of Ledas and kid Vegeta running around throughout this sequence.

<END DRAGON BALL Z: THE FORGOTTEN>

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

Like A Bitch
<GOTENKS'S BODY LAY ON THE GROUND; HE'S SUPER BLOODY AND CLEARLY VERY VERY HURT. HIS LEFT EYE BALL IS REMOVED FROM THE SOCKET AND HE SEEMS TO BE MISSING AN ARM. HIS GHOST THING REALLY SCREWED HIM UP PRETTY BADLY>

The Benefactor: The tiger gallivants squares 'bout the down triangle, his snarls being really loud. He slowly sucks the juice out of the zebra, until the gorilla comes and shows him who's boss. And by my left hand I act upon this house, eating by the firelight with the upmost fortitude!

Vegeta: You monster! How could you do that? You're a really bad person! What's wrong with you? Do you kiss your mother with that mouse? Ach! If only someone way stronger and cooler than me was here to help me take this guy out!

<WITHIN MOMENTS, ALMOST AS IF GOD HAD ANSWERED VEGETA'S CRIES FOR HELP, A NEW HERO EMERGES FROM THE SKIES ABOVE THEM; KRILLIN AND YAJIROBE FLY DOWN FROM THEIR CARS AND THE BENEFACTOR ALMOST INSTANTLY VAPORIZES THE BOTH OF THEM>

Vegeta: Well, that was damn near worthless.

The Benefactor: And now the tiger gallivants about you, snake! Tonight the gorilla dies in hell!

Vegeta: Honestly, man, the metaphor isn't really working right here, whatever you're going for. It just comes off as nonsense.

The Benefactor: <TB, TAKEN ABACK BY THIS SUDDEN CRITICISM, RESORTS TO HIS NORMAL TYPE OF NONSENSE THAT EV'RYONE LOVES> Mommy cuts little triangles into the snake's arms! Sonny cuts little triangles into the turtle's shell in the dark room, but they all laugh at him and call the turtle the freak! But the triangles come again now, no matter what!

Vegeta: No! You monster! How could you say that?

<AND THEN, WITH A SUDDEN UNEXPECTED TWIST, A NEW FOE APPEARS, SLINKING STRANGELY OUT OF THE CAR THAT JUST FELL OUT OF THE SKY>

The New Foe: I thought I heard somebody say... turtle.

<THE BENEFACTOR, VEGETA, AND LEDAS ALL TURN TO SEE THIS NEW GUY, THEIR MOUTHS AGAPE; HOWEVER, AFTER SENSING HIS POWER LEVEL, THEY REALIZE THAT HE SUCKS AND ISN'T STRONG; VEGETA REALIZES THAT HE IS MASTER ROSHI; AS SUCH, THE BENEFACTOR JUST STARTS RUNNING TOWARD LEDAS AND VEGETA TO FIGHT THEM AND PROBABLY DEFEAT THEM LIKE EVERYONE ELSE>

Roshi: Hey! Don't all you youngsters go ignoring me like that! That's real mean! <IN HIS BURNING RAGE, HE UNLEASHES A SUPER AWESOME AND POWERFUL KAMEHAMEHA AT THE BENEFACTOR; IT HITS HIM STRAIGHT ON, KNOCKING HIM DOWN; HOWEVER, IT IS SO BIG THAT IT GOES ON PAST HIM AND HITS BOTH LEDAS AND VEGETA, INSTANTLY OBLITERATING THE BOTH OF THEM>

The Benefactor: Dude... you just killed the main character. I was, like, supposed to do that...

Roshi: True men don't kill coyotes. <WITH A SUDDEN BURST, HE RUNS AT THE BENEFACTOR, LANDING A HUGE AMOUNT OF BLOWS ALL ACROSS HIS BODY; HE ENDS IT BY STEALING TB'S KNIFE AND STABBING HIM 37 TIMES; HE THEN BREAKS TB'S KNIFE, WHICH MOVES TB TO TEARS BUT HE HIDES HIS TEARS>

The Benefactor: That was easily the greatest combo I've ever seen, ever. <HE STARES AT ROSHI WITH FANGIRL-ISH ADMIRATION, BEFORE REMEMBERING HIS ORIGINAL INTENTIONS> But how could you do that to Ledas, man? He's like super important to the story.

Roshi: <WITH CUNNING> He might have been important before, but now he's dead... Jim.

The Benefactor: What? How do you know my true name that I've never told anybody ever besides my old pet cat Snookums?

Roshi: It's because I'm the motherfucking turtle hermit. <WITH THIS EPIC DECLARATION, ROSHI JUMPS INTO THE AIR AND KICKS VEGETA STRAIGHT ON IN THE FACE, BEFORE LAUNCHING A SPECIAL BEAM CANNON AT HIM THAT STRANGELY ONLY TAKES LIKE 5 SECONDS TO CHARGE UP>

<THIS SUPER COOL BEAM GOES STRAIGHT THROUGH TB'S STOMACH, MEANING THAT STOMACH FLUIDS AND BLOOD START LEAKING OUT>

Roshi: <LIKE A COMPLETE BEAST> You might want to get a doctor to look at that. <ROSHI POUNCES AT THE INJURED BEAST, BEFORE PIMP SLAPPING HIM RIGHT ACROSS THE HEAD. THIS SENDS TB FLYING TO THE FLOOR, AND ROSHI COMES DOWN ON HIM TO LAND THE FINISHING BLOW>

The Benefactor: <AS ROSHI COMES DOWN ON HIM, HE IS OVERCOME WITH DESPERATION; FEARFULLY, HE BELLOWS OUT THE FOLLOWING ATTACK> Wild Sense!

<TB QUICKLY DISSAPEARS, LEAVING ROSHI TO HIT THE GROUND AND MAKES A HUGE CRATER IN IT. IN FACT THE CAMERA ZOOMS OUT AND SHOWS THAT ROSHI DESTROYED LIKE ½ OF THE WORLD WITH THIS AWESOME ATTACK MEANING THAT HE ALSO KILLED LIKE 3 BILLION PEOPLE>

Roshi: How? How could you do that?

The Benefactor: Using Wild Sense takes mad skillz, ya old man. Mad skillz.

<ROSHI, INFURIATED BY THIS TAUNTING, POUNCES AT HIM AGAIN; ACCORDINGLY, TB WILD SENSES OUT OF THE WAY. TB THEN ATTACKS ROSHI AGAIN WITH HIS SUPER POWERFUL ATTACK OF MYSTERIOUS ORIGINS NAMED “DEATH RAY BEAM OF DEATH”. IT HITS ROSHI STRAIGHT ON THE HEART BUT HE DOESN’T EVEN FLINCH>

The Benefactor: You’re… you’re so strong. How high is your power level, man?

Roshi: 139.4… but it rounds down. <EVERYBODY (WHICH HERE JUST MEANS TB) STARES AT ROSHI IN AWE, NOT BELIEVING THAT A MAN WITH SUCH A LOW POWER LEVEL COULD BE SO KICK-ASS>

The Benefactor: Wha- whe- wh- ousa – de – what?

Roshi: Hmph. You’ve apparently never fought against a true master of martial arts. <HE ONCE AGAIN LEAPS AT TB, BUT TB JUST WILD SENSES AWAY LIKE A BITCH. HE CONTINUES JUMPING AT HIM AND MAKING REAL WILD PUNCHES, BUT NONE OF THEM CONNECT BECAUSE OF TB’S MAD WILD SENSING SKILLZ>

Roshi: Stay still so I can shoot you. <TB, JUST FOR FUN, WILD SENSES AGAIN> Argh diddle fumps! I guess I’ll have to use my bestest attack of all time. You won’t believe this one. <ROSHI EXTENDS ONE HAND AT TB, WHO STANDS STILL> Lightning Surprise! <A BOLT OF ELECTRICTY EXTENDS FROM ROSHI’S HAND, BUT BEFORE IT CAN MAKE CONTACT TB WILD SENSES AWAY>

The Benefactor: Oh har har har! You thought that could beat me? You’re an idiot! A complete idiot! You should just go kill yourself. That’s how pathetic that was. <UNBEKNOWNST TO HIM, ROSHI’S OTHER HAND WAS EXTENDED IN THE OTHER DIRECTION, AND HE FIRES A SECOND BLAST FROM IT; THIS ONE MAKES ALMOST IMMEDIATE CONTACT, ENVELOPING TB WITH THE GREATEST OF EASE>

Roshi: Hmph. I memorized your Wild Sense pattern and therefore knew exactly where you were going to be after you wild sensed, and aimed my other hand to target that exact area… bitch.

The Benefactor: Oh goddamnit. <ROSHI CLENCHES HIS HAND DOWN, THUS CAUSING THE WOMB OF ELECTRICITY TO EXPLODE. WITH IT GOES TB’S LIFE, AS HE QUICKLY EVAPORATES WITHIN THE FIERY MESS OF STUFF>

Goku: <RUNS ONTO THE SCENE> Don’t worry guys! I’m here to save the day! Wee-hoo! <SEES ROSHI> Um, where’s TB, sensei?

Roshi: I killed the bitch. <CREDITS ROLL, DURING WHICH KILLING IN THE NAME BY RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE PLAYS THE ENTIRE TIME>

<THE END>

To Be Proud
Krillin: Oh, Vegeta… <SOLEMNLY AND QUIETLY TO THE SAIYANS> How bad is it? Can we beat him?

Vegeta: <ANGER RISING> Great, the bald man’s here.

Krillin: Y-yeah, I know I’m not much help. Where’s Goku? Yajirobe said he wa-

Vegeta: Kakarot and the rest can’t help us. Pfft. Neither can you. Stay out of my way.

Ledas: <SPEAKING UP> What if we did that fuse-y thingy like Gotenks?

Vegeta: <LOOKING TO KRILLIN> He’s so weak, you would lose power from fusing with him.

Krillin: Now hang on a moment, Vegeta. Your friend’s got a point. If we did fusion, we might just be strong enough to beat this guy.

Vegeta: How could anybody possibly think that?

Ledas: Aw come on, Vegeta. Show us how!

Vegeta: Arghhhh. Fine. You take your fingers like this, and…

<VEGETA ASSUMES THE POSITION AND DOES THE DANCE HALFWAY>

Vegeta: <IN A BARK> Just like that, all right?

Ledas: <TOGETHER> Okay!

Krillin: <TOGETHER> Okay!

Vegeta: <TO LEDAS> And lower your power to his level.

Ledas: Wewll shucks. That’s really low.

Krillin: <SCRATCHING THE BACK OF HIS HEAD> Ah, sorry buddy. Heehee.

<LEDAS LOWERS HIS POWER LEVEL>

Ledas: Okay, let’s go.

<HE AND KRILLIN DO THE DANCE; AS THEY ARE DOING IT, VEGETA THINKS TO HIMSELF>

Vegeta: Wait, why’s he fusing with the bald guy. We’d be a better-

<A BRIGHT FLASH OF LIGHT ENCOMPASSES THE SCREEN; VEGETA SHIELDS HIS PRINCELING EYES>

<FROM THIS NEW LIGHT, SLOWLY FADING, A NEW HERO IS BORN>

New Hero: Hmmm, what should I call myself. How about Kedas? No no wait. I got it. Lillin. No, that’s no good. Hey, I know, Ledaillin. Yeah, that’s a great one.

Ledaillin: <POWERS UP> All right! All this power! I feel so much stronger!

Vegeta: <FROM BEHIND> I hope that’s not the bald man speaking…

Ledaillin: Aaaahhgggghhh!!!

<HE POWERS UP TO HIS MAXIMUM; THE MOUNTAINS BEHIND EXPLODE INTO LAVA WHEN HE REACHES HALF-SUPER SAIYAN 1>

<LEDAILLIN STEPS UP TO FACE THE BENEFACTOR>

Ledaillin: Whatchoo gonna do? Whatchoo gonna do? I’m too coo’ for you! Haha!

<TB GETS UP FROM PLAYING WITH THE SAND ON THE GROUND; HE MOVES FORWARD TO THE FUSION AND LOCKS INTO HIS BATTLE STANCE>

The Benefactor: Is that your… full power?

Ledaillin: <JUMPS FORWARD, HITTING AT TB> And dere ain’t nuttin you can do ‘bout it!

The Benefactor: <ENRAGED BY THIS; QUIETLY> Oh, iss owhn.

<AS LEDAILLIN DANCES ABOUT, TB STEPS BACK; HE THEN DOES A BEAUTIFUL BACKFLIP FORWARD, LANDING RIGHT ON LEDAILLIN’S SHOULDERS; HE GIVES THE FUSION A SINGLE PUNCH TO THE FACE, SENDING LEDAILLIN FLYING BACKWARD AND SIGHING AS HE GOES, SEEING AS THAT’S WHAT PEOPLE DO WHEN THEY GET HIT>

<THE BENEFACTOR THEN FINISHES THIS UP WITH A 10X FAMILY KAMEHAMEHA AND MELTS LEDAILLIN AND KILLS HIM>

<TB TURNS TO VEGETA>

The Benefactor: That was anticlimactic, dontcha think?

Vegeta: <SHAKING HIS FISTS TO THE SKY> Darn you!

<TB, ENTHUSIASTICALLY JUMPS OVER TO VEGETA, AND PULLS HIM DOWN ONTO THE GROUND; THE TWO OF THEM SIT TOGETHER>

<TB TAKES OUT HIS KNIFE; VEGETA KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE KNIFE COMES OUT AND ALREADY ASSUMES HE’S A GONER; TB THEN LIFTS UP HIS SLEEVE TO SHOW VEGETA HIS BODY>

The Benefactor: <SHOVING HIS EXPOSED ARM INTO VEGETA’S FACE> Heya Vegeta, I have to ask. Whaddya think that’un looks like?

Vegeta: <MUFFLED FROM THE ARM IN HIS FACE> Shdaaa whaa?

The Benefactor: <POINTS WITH HIS OTHER HAND TO HIS ELBOW> See here, lookie. Look! Doesn’t that look like a spider to you? C’mon, tell me I did good. I’ve been working on it for years.

<THE SPIDER IS SHOWN, CRAFTED MAGNIFICANTLY AND ELEGANTLY; ITS LONG LEGS AND PLUMP BODY ALL MELDED PERFECTLY ONTO TB‘S ARM; IT BELONGS IN A MUSEUM, VEGETA THINKS TO HIMSELF>

Vegeta: <IN SHOCK OVER THIS> It-t-t-t’s a… a… a spider!

The Benefactor: <CLOSES HIS EYES AND NODS> It’s a spider.

<THE END>

Trivia

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