Secrets Saga (Heart of a Warrior)

The Secrets Saga is the first saga in Dragon Ball Z: Heart of a Warrior and introduces the main character, Nion. It deals with her discovering her past as well as her friendship with her high school classmates, Futo and Sala.

Theme Song
The theme song for the Secrets Saga is I See Demons by Book of Black Earth.

The Girl With the Spiky Hair






Figure 2:  KAKAROT!



Vegeta: DODGE THIS NEXT ATTACK IF YOU CAN,  BUT KNOW THAT IF YOU DO, YOUR PRECIOUS LITTLE PLANET WILL BE GONE!!

Goku:  No, you can’t!



Girl:  Remarkable…



Girl:  What is he waiting for?...

Goku:  Kaioken times three!



Girl:  Kaio-…what?

Goku: KAAA… MEEE…



Goku: HAAA…

Vegeta:  Now, Kakarot, prepare yourself for oblivion!

Goku: MEEE…

Vegeta: <THRUSTING HIS HANDS FORWARD, RELEASING THE ENERGY WAVE> GALICK GUN!

Goku: <FOLLOWING SUIT> HAAAAAA!!!!

<THE TWO BEAMS CLASH, SENDING A WHIPLASH THROUGHOUT THE AIR AROUND THEM; THE GIRL TRIES TO MAINTAIN HER FOOTING BUT IS SLOWLY GETTING PUSHED BACK; DESPITE THIS, SHE STILL WATCHES ON, SMILING; SHE FALLS TO HER KNEES ON THE CRUMBLING TERRAIN>

Girl: <FLICKING HER HAIR BACK; THINKING> Such power…

<THE SCREAMS HEARD FROM GOKU ARE HEARD THROUGHOUT THE TERRAIN AS HE STRUGGLES TO MAINTAIN HIS KAMEHAMEHA WAVE; THE GALICK GUN BEGINS TO SLOWLY PUSH BACK THE KAMEHAMEHA; STATIC, CUTS TO A CLOSE-UP ON THE GIRL’S FACE; SHE’S ENAMORED BY THE BEAM CLASH BEFORE HER>

Goku: <STILL STRUGGLING TO PUSH BACK THE GALICK GUN> KAIOKENNN……TIMES FO-

Voice: <OFF-SCREEN> Nion!

<THE GIRL IS STARTLED AT THE SUDDEN CALLING OF HER NAME; SHOT CLOSES IN ON HER EYE>

<CUT TO AGE 768, OCTOBER 31; SHOT ZOOMS OUT FROM HER EYE TO REVEAL THAT SHE IS SITTING IN A CLASSROOM, SURROUNDED BY STUDENTS; SHE SHAKES HER HEAD AND LOOKS UP TO HER TEACHER>

Ms. Faulconer: Am I interrupting something, young lady?

<NION LOOKS TO HER LEFT AND RIGHT, OBSERVING THE STUDENTS HOLDING BACK THEIR LAUGHS; ONE OF THE BOYS SMILES AND WAVES AT HER; ANOTHER ONE OF THE STUDENTS, A GIRL, THROWS BACK HER LONG BROWN HAIR ALMOST COVERING HER RIGHT EYE AND RAISES AN EYEBROW>

Nion: Is something wrong?

<MS. FAULCONER TILTS HER HEAD TO THE SIDE AND PUTS A HAND ON HER HIPS, SHOWING OFF HER ANNOYANCE>

Ms. Faulconer: You were dozing off in my session, young lady. Again.

Nion: I see. <LOWERS HER HEAD> I apologize.

<MS. FAULCONER SEEMS TAKEN ABACK, BUT SMILES NONETHELESS AND TURNS BACK TO THE BOARD; THE STUDENTS AROUND NION BEGIN TO BUZZ, NOTABLY THE GIRL WITH THE SUSPICIOUS EYEBROW>

Ms. Faulconer: Very well. Just pay attention now. Alright?

Nion: Understood.

Unknown voice: <OFF-SCREEN> Man, what a kiss ass!

<THE CLASS ERUPTS WITH LAUGHTER; NIONS SEEMS UNAFFECTED BY THE COMMENT; NION TURNS AND FOCUSES ON A GROUP OF THREE BOYS BEHIND HER; ONE OF THE BOYS, GRANT, IS OF AVERAGE HEIGHT AND BULKY, WHILE THE OTHER TWO ARE SKINNY>

Ms. Faulconer: Watch your language, Grant. Now apologize.

Grant: What? It’s not my fault she’s a kiss ass, Mrs. F.

<NION RAISES FROM HER DESK AND BEGINS TO PACK HER BELONGINGS>

Nion: <STILL UNFAZED> That’s funny.

Grant: <FROWNS> Hell you talkin’ about, kiss ass?

Nion: It took you two seconds to come up with that attempt of a joke, yet it takes you an hour to complete a simple math problem. Even a toddler knows how to multiply by zero.

<SOME STUDENTS BEGIN SNICKERING AGAIN; GRANT AND HIS GOONS ARE NOT AMUSED>

Student: <OFF-SCREEN> Yo, she just dissed him!

Grant: <HIS FACE TURNING RED> Shut up!

<NION TURNS TO LOOK AT THE CLOCK; IT’S TICKING AWAY ENDLESSLY>

Ms. Faulconer: <SPEAKING STERNLY> Young man, if you keep up this sass, I swear, I will send you to the principal’s office so fast-

Grant: If that makes you feel better.

Ms. Faulconer: And I’m going to contact your parents about your outlandish behavior!

Grant: If that makes you feel better too.

<THE CLOCK STRIKES TWELVE AND THE DISMISSAL BELL RINGS; NION TURNS TO LEAVE THE ROOM BUT NOT BEFORE TAKING A LAST GLANCE AT THE GROUP OF CHILDREN THAT LAUGHED AT HER EARLIER>

Nion: Comment?

<THE STUDENTS STAYED SILENT; GRANT RISES FROM THE GROUP AND SMILES>

Grant: As a matter of fact, kiss-ass…

Nion: <SIGH, THINKING> Such an aggressive one.

<GRANT MOVES TOWARDS NION AND STOPS WITHIN ARMS REACH>

Grant: You think you’re pretty funny, don’t ya weirdo?

<NION REMAINS SILENT, SLOWLY GROWING IMPATIENT>

Grant: Not only do you constantly daydream in class like you have nothin better to do, but every time we have tests, you cheat and get perfect scores every time while we suffer!

Nion: <LOWERS HER HEAD> Can I go now?

Grant: No you can’t!

<GRANT STEPS FORWARD AND GRABS NION BY THE ARM; SHE TRIES TO STEP AWAY TO NO AVAIL>

Grant: Word of advice, you might think you’re all big and bad because your parents work at Capsule Corporation, and you might not like hanging out with us “lower-class individuals”, but here, that’s not gonna fly. So I say you find solace in your little crazy mind somewhere else, because we don’t like weirdos in our class!

<NION STAYS SILENT, CONTEMPLATING HER NEXT MOVE; EVENTUALLY, SHE BEGINS TO CLINCH HER FIST; BEFORE SHE CAN REACT, THE GIRL WITH THE EYEBROW PUTS A HAND ON GRANT’S SHOULDER>

Ms. Faulconer: Sala, please take your seat!

<THE GIRL NAMED SALA DOESN’T RESPOND; SHE INSTEAD TAKES A GLANCE AT NION, WHO RETURNS THE LOOK; SALA TURNS TO GRANT AND GRINS>

Grant: Wha- what are you doing?

<NION DROPS DOWN TO A SINGLE KNEE AND CLOBBERS GRANT BENEATH THE LEGS, SENDING HIM TO THE FLOOR WINCING IN PAIN>

Sala: Yikes! Not what I had in mind…

<NION SHRUGS HER SHOULDERS AND GRINS; SALA TAKES A STEP OVER THE INJURED BOY AND EXTENDS HER HAND TO NION>

Sala: Sala.

Nion: <RELUCTANT, EVENTUALLY CONCEDING> …Nion.

Sala: Pleasure to meet you.

Nion: <TAKES HER HAND BACK> Yeah.

Sala: I’m surprised he had anything down there to hurt! Am I right?

Nion: I appreciate the help. I’ll be going.

<NION GRABS HER BACKPACK AND EXITS THE CLASSROOM; MS. FAULCONER IS LEFT WITH HER MOUTH AGAP AND THE BOY ON THE GROUND, CHERISHING HIS CROTCH>

​Terrifying Menace or Sparring Partner?
<LATER THAT DAY>

<SHOT PANS BEHIND NION, WHO IS IN HER BLACK AND RED TRAINING GI WITH THE CAPSULE CORPORATION SYMBOL ON THE BACK; ACROSS FROM HER ARE HER TWO SPARRING PARTNERS, WHO ARE BOTH RED IN THE FACE AND HAVE SWEAT POURING DOWN THEIR FACES>

<NION TAKES A MOMENT TO POP HER KNUCKLES WHILE THE TWO REST; ONE OF THEM IS TWISTING THEIR ARM AROUND, SCARED THAT NION MAY HAVE BROKEN IT>

Nion: <IN HER FIGHTING STANCE> Again!

<NION’S PARENTS WATCH FROM AFAR, WITH WORRIED LOOKS ON THEIR FACES; THEY KNEW SHE LOVED TO SPAR, BUT TODAY, SHE SEEMED LIKE SHE WANTS TO JUST LET OUT HER FRUSTRATION ON HER SPARRING PARTNERS; ONE OF THEM TAKES OFF THEIR SPARRING HELMET>

Sparring Partner #2: Don’t you think that’s enough, Nion?

<SHE SCOWLS AND RUSHES OVER TO HIM, DRIVING A KNEE INTO HIS STOMACH, FOLLOWED BY A BACK HIT TO HIS FACE, SENDING HIM ACROSS THE ARENA; THE OTHER PARTNER, A BIT TALLER AND SCRUFFIER THAN HER, STANDS UP AND CHUCKLES, BUT CEASES WHEN HE REALIZES THAT HE’S NEXT UPON LOOKING AT NION, WITH NO FEAR IN HER EYES; HE GETS INTO HIS FIGHTING STANCE AND NION FOLLOWS SUIT>

Nion: <TAKES A DEEP BREATH> Again, Felix!

<HE ACKNOWLEDGES AND CHARGES NION, THROWING BACK TO BACK PUNCHES WITH GREAT FURY, ONLY FOR NION TO EFFORTLESSLY DODGE THEM ALL; HE ATTEMPTS A KICK TO HER HEAD, BUT NION CATCHES HIS FOOT AND SPINS HIM AROUND FOR A LITTLE BIT; AFTER A FEW SECONDS, SHE RELEASES HIM, DROPPING HIM TO THE FLOOR; SHE APPROACHES HIS DAZED BODY AND STANDS OVER HIM; AFTER STUDYING HER OPPONENT’S STATE, SHE TURNS TO HER FATHER>

Nion: I’d like to focus on ki training now, Father.

<HER FATHER OBLIDGES, MAKING HIS WAY TO A NEARBY CONSOLE AND PRESSING A FEW BUTTONS; TWO HOLOGRAPHIC TRAINING DUMMIES APPEAR IN FRONT OF HER, STARTLING HER FORMER SPARRING PARTNERS>

Nion’s Father: Shall we begin?

Nion: <NODS> Yes.

Nion’s Father: Good. Now, what is “ki”?

Nion: Ki is the life force energy present inside every living being.

Nion’s Father: Good. Now what are the three primary parts of ki?

Nion: …Genki, …yūki, …and shōki.

Nion’s Father: Meaning?

Nion: Vigor, courage and mind.

Nion’s Father: Very good. Now, face the dummies in front of you.

<NION DOES AS SHE’S TOLD>

Nion’s Father: Now, close your eyes. Sense them

<NION TAKES A DEEP BREATH AND CLOSES HER EYES; AS SHE’S DOING THIS, THE DUMMIES BEGIN TO MOVE; THEY IMMEDIATELY SPLIT UP AND GO TO NION’S LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES; THE DUMMY TO NION’S RIGHT RAISES HIS RIGHT ARM, SEEMING TO PREPARE FOR AN ATTACK; UNBEKNOWNST TO IT, NION’S HEAD HAS TILTED A LITTLE TO THE RIGHT AND SHE’S SMILING; SECONDS LATER, THE DUMMY DASHES TOWARDS HER>

Nion’s Father: Fire!

<NION’S EYES OPEN AND SHE IMMEDIATELY LOOKS TO HER RIGHT, SEEING THE DUMMY COME IN AT FULL SPEED; SHE RAISES HER RIGHT ARM, EXTENDING HER HAND AND ELEVATING IT AT A DIAGONAL ANGLE; A DARK GREENISH AURA ENGULFS NION’S HAND AND SHE FIRES A KI WAVE AT THE DUMMY, IMMEDIATELY DISINTEGRATING IT>

<ACCOMPLISHING THIS, SHE TURNS TO THE OTHER DUMMY, WHO HADN’T MOVED AN INCH; SHE RAISES HER OTHER ARM AND PREPARES TO CHARGE ANOTHER KI WAVE, THIS ONE BEING THE SAME TINT OF GREEN AND SPHERICAL IN SHAPE, BUT NONETHELESS RADIATING WITH ENERGY>

Nion: <THINKING> Let’s see… what did he call it? <ALOUD> TRY HARD ATTAC-… no that’s wrong.

Felix: <WITH AN EYEBROW RAISED> Uh... what?

Nion: DEMON SPARK… no.

Sparring Partner #2: <AS NION CONTINUES YELLING NAMES IN THE BACKGROUND> What’s she doing?

Felix: Trying to name that attack I’d guess.

Sparring Partner #2: <SCOFFS> What? Why’d she wanna name a useless beam at-

Nion: BIG BANG ATTACK!

<INSTANTLY, THE SPHERE LEAVES HER PALM AND CRASHES INTO THE DUMMY, DISINTEGRATING IT AS WELL; FELIX AND THE OTHER SPARRING PARTNER ARE FROZEN IN FEAR AT THE SIGHT>

Nion’s Father: Well done, Nion. <LOOKS BACK TO THE CONSOLE> Except for that naming nonsense…

<NION IGNORES THIS JAB, PROCEEDING HER STRETCH OUT HER ARMS IN PREPARATION FOR MORE TRAINING; AS HER FATHER CONTINUES ON THE CONSOLE, UPON TAKING A QUICK GLANCE AT FELIX, SHE FREEZES UP FOR A SECOND UNTIL SHE GRABS HER HEAD AND STAGGERS AROUND, VISIBLY IN PAIN; SHE DROPS DOWN TO A KNEE AND GRUNTS>

Nion: Felix, what... did you do to me!?

<FELIX RUNS OVER TO NION IN THE ARENA, WHO’S STILL WINCING IN PAIN>

Felix: What are you talking about, kid? I didn’t do anything to ya!

<SHE GRITS HER TEETH, READY TO RESPOND WITH AN ANGRY EXPLICIT TIRADE, BUT INSTEAD, SHE GLANCES AT FELIX, WHOSE TALL, LEAN FIGURE IS MORPHING BEFORE HER; AFTER A STARTLING METAMORPHISIS, HIS BODY CEASES SHAKING AND A NEW FIGURE STANDS BEFORE HER, ONE THAT MADE HER FREEZE IN FEAR; THE SHADOW CAST OVER HIM HIDES HIS BODY AND FACE, BUT HIS ABNORMAL SHAPE GAVE AWAY HIS IDENTITY; THE FIGURE TAKES NOTICE OF THIS AND TAKES A STEP TOWARDS HER>

Shadowed Being: Etch this into your skull... I am the Emperor of the Universe! The likes of you are only fit to grovel at my feet! Or Better still... To die! In Disgrace! At the hands of Your Master!

Nion: GET AWAY!

<NION THROWS A PUNCH AT THE FIGURE AND, MUCH TO HER SURPRISE, CONNECTS; SHE TAKES NOTE OF THIS AND FOLLOWS UP WITH AN UPPERCUT FOLLOWED BY A BACK HAND, EVENTUALLY ENDING WITH A SWIFT UP KICK TO HIS CHIN, SENDING HIM FLYING AWAY>

Nion: <RUBS HER EYES> Get up!

Shadowed Being: <GRUNTS> … What the hell, Nion!?

<THE SHADOW ENGULFS THE FIGURE AND EVENTUALLY SUBSIDES, SHOWING FELIX ON THE GROUND, BLEEDING FROM THE MOUTH>

Felix: I thought you were done with that!

<NION TAKES A MOMENT TO SLAP HERSELF SILLY, EVENTUALLY REGAINING HER SENSES; SHE LOOKS AT FELIX AND SEEMS TO INTEND TO APOLOGIZE, BUT DECIDES AGAINST; SHE MAKES HER WAY TO THE EXIT, WHERE HER FATHER IS WAITING; HE STEPS IN HER PATH>

Nion’s Father: Do you have the slightest bit of restraint in you, young lady!?

Nion: I… <STAMMERS> I’m sorry, Father. I don’t know what came over me.

Felix: Now, Mr. Jenkins, don’t blame her for-

Mr. Jenkins: <FACES FELIX> If I wanted to discuss this with you, I would, now be silent and return to your duties!

<FELIX BOWS HIS HEAD IN SUBMISSION AND OBLIDGES, WAVING GOODBYE TO NION>

Mr. Jenkins: Now you… don’t give me that! You know, your behavior has been a subject that we’ve needed to discuss recently.

Nion: ...Is this about the Felix thing? Because-

Mr. Jenkins: This isn’t about Felix, he’ll be fine. What in blazes happened in there!?

Nion: What are you talking about, Father? I did a good job against-

Mr. Jenkins: On the contrary. You seemed… distant out there. As if something was tampering with your concentration. And on top of that, I’ve never seen you so eager to train. Did something happen at school today?

<NION BLOCKS OUT HER FATHER’S NEXT WORDS TO THE BEST OF HER ABILITY; AS SHE DOES THIS, HER VISION STARTS TO BECOME BLURRY AGAIN>

Nion: <RUBS HER EYES> This again!?

<SHE RUBS HER EYES OVER AND OVER UNTIL HER VISION DISAPPEARS COMPLETELY; SHE KNOCKS HERSELF ON THE HEAD A FEW TIMES BEFORE COVERING HER FACE WITH HER HANDS, NOT WANTING TO SEE WHATEVER SHE WAS ABOUT TO SEE; A VOICE ECHOES IN HER MIND, ONE THAT SEEMS SCARED, YET DOMINANT AT THE SAME TIME>

Voice: <ECHOES> Take care of your mother for me. She needs you…

<NION’S VISION BEGINS TO RETURN, BUT THE ONLY THING SHE SEES IS A SILHOUETTE OF A SPIKY HAIRED INDIVIDUAL IN THE DISTANCE, GRABBING ONTO SOMETHING MUCH LARGER THAN HIM>

Nion: <THINKING> Goku!? The hell…?

<MR. JENKINS COMES BACK INTO VIEW, SHAKING HIS DAUGHTER RAPIDLY; SHE SNAPS OUT OF HER TRANCE AND STARES AT HER FATHER, TREMBLING A LITTLE; SHE REMOVES HIS HANDS FROM HER SHOULDERS>

Mr. Jenkins: Nion! Are you listening to me!?

Nion: <THINKING> The hell is happening to me…?

<NION TEETERS A BIT, MANAGING TO CATCH HERSELF; SHE PUTS A HAND ON HER HEAD AND BEGINS TO WINCE IN PAIN>

Mr. Jenkins: <IN A SOFTER TONE> Nion, what’s wrong? <PAUSES, COMING TO A SUDDEN REALIZATION> Nion, did you-

Nion: Goodnight, Father.

<SHE SHAKES AWAY HER FATHER’S GRASP AND JOGS AWAY, NOT LOOKING BACK; CLOSE-UP SHOT OF MR. JENKINS, WHOSE WORRIED GAZE IS SLOWLY REPLACED WITH ONE OF DETERMINATION>

​The Best Kind of Parents
<LATER THAT NIGHT>

Mr. Jenkins entered his office and slammed the door behind him, startling his wife who was deep in thought behind her desk which, conveniently, was right next to his.

Mrs. Jenkins: Did you talk with her?

Mr. Jenkins: I tried, but… she looked at me as if she’d seen a ghost.

Mrs. Jenkins: Well you do have a bit of gray approaching, my dear.

Mr. Jenkins rushed over to the mirror, in an albeit comedic manner, and scowled at his wife for lying to him, to which she simply chuckled some more.

Mr. Jenkins: Aside from your unnecessary joking, this is serious!

Mrs. Jenkins sighed and rose from her desk and made her way to her husband’s side, leaning against the wall in front of him.

Mrs. Jenkins: What did she say?

Mr. Jenkins: She didn’t really get to tell me. She said something along the lines of… “Take care of your mother for me”.

Mrs. Jenkins: What’s that mean?

Mr. Jenkins: How am I supposed to know?

Mrs. Jenkins: <SIGHS> Always the defiant type, aren’t you? Do I have to do everything myself?

Mr. Jenkins: Nonsense. You will do nothing until I can discover the cause for her… deceptive behavior.

Mrs. Jenkins: And how long will it take for that to happen?

Mr. Jenkins said nothing. It was all Mrs. Jenkins needed to strut pass her husband and make her way to their laboratory, which, also to their convenience, was located underneath Capsule Corporation itself.

Mrs. Jenkins: Come on, before someone sees!

Mr. Jenkins took his wife’s advice and kept close to her as they made their way through the halls of the building, which was now abandoned due to it being closing time. Sensing there were no people nearby, they jogged down into the lower depths via the large staircase hiding beneath of the building until they were met by a giant metallic door.

Mrs. Jenkins: I got this.

She stepped up to the door and cleared her throat.

Mrs. Jenkins: Onion.

The sounds of gears whirling and twirling echoed throughout the dimly lit hallway. Specks of dirt fell on Mr. Jenkins lab coat, which made him quiver in embarrassment. He quickly dusted himself off as the door slowly rotated open, giving off an ominous light that forced Mr. Jenkins to raise his arm over his eyes. When the light died down, he lowered his arm and he, along with his wife, entered their laboratory. Inside, there wasn’t much that was different from an average lab at Capsule Corporation. In fact, most of the equipment down there was taken from above, away from the eyes of the Briefs family and any other Capsule Corporation staff. To the left was Mr. Jenkins’s portion of the laboratory, complete with a desk, a monitor overlooking it, and a table nearby used for experiments. Mrs. Jenkins’s part of the lab was similar, with the only difference being that she had a glaring picture of her, Mr. Jenkins, and Nion together in front of her school hanging on the wall. What really stood out was the human sized containment pod in the rear, which Mr. Jenkins took disdain towards and immediately turned away from. He looked at the computer monitor and made his way over to it, which was still messy from the last time he used it. He shoved away several reports and assignments that he could less about in order to get to his keyboard. Relieved, he slouched in his chair and pushed a button labeled “Enter”.

Computer: Welcome, Doctor.

The monitor flickered on and displayed a picture of Nion. Alongside her were various statistics and vital signs, all of which were normal, much to Mr. Jenkins’s relief. He typed in a few letters and the monitor brought up a silhouette supposedly representing Nion’s brain activity, which had a flashing orange indicator next to her head that read in bold letters “Data Corrupted”.

Mr. Jenkins: <LETS OUT A HEAVY SIGH> Dammit…

Mrs. Jenkins noticed her husband’s anguish from her own desk and turned to him.

Mrs. Jenkins: What’s the situation?

Mr. Jenkins: There’s interference with her temporal and occipital lobes. I can’t monitor her brain functions, so something is affecting her there.

Mrs. Jenkins: Might be those boys at school. I wouldn’t be surprised if she had an infatuation with any.

Mr. Jenkins: Don’t be ridiculous, Lucy. The way she looked at me earlier… something was wrong.

Lucy: Could it simply be a side effect? It isn’t unusual for visions to occur.

Mr. Jenkins: Maybe, but to Nion? Something is awry with her, and I can’t quite put my finger on it.

Lucy: Do you think, ...<CLEARS HER THROAT> Do you think she’s aware?

Mr. Jenkins: Impossible.

Lucy: <SCOWLING> You don’t sound confident.

Mr. Jenkins: That doesn’t matter right now! Maybe… do you think it’s a side effect?

Lucy: I just said-

Mr. Jenkins: It has to be! Her brain is being flooded with memories that aren’t hers. It seems logical given the risk of the procedure.

Mrs. Jenkins: Like a… “bleeding effect”?

Mr. Jenkins: That’s a sort of broad way to put it but, indeed.

Mrs. Jenkins: <SIGHS> I feared this would happen. And you didn’t listen to me!

Mr. Jenkins: Think back to the procedure. The overwhelming number of foreign cells within her could be the catalyst, especially the ones present in her brain. Perhaps they’re forcing her to recall specific moments… but why? And more importantly, why now?

Mrs. Jenkins: I literally just said… <CLEARS HER THROAT> Well, given the recent events that have taken place, especially that monstrosity of a tournament last year, it would be no surprise if those subliminally triggered something within her subconscious.

Mr. Jenkins: <TAKES A DEEP BREATH> That’s one way of looking at it, Lucy, my dear. Ā sō!

Lucy: What was that?

Mr. Jenkins: Never mind that.

He continued typing on his keyboard and was shown two files, both locked of course. One was simply titled “CLASSIFIED” with the other was unusually titled “OPERATION_BOWTIE”. While Mr. Jenkins fiddled around with the files on the computer, Lucy took a walk towards the back of the lab, putting significant interest in the human-sized pod Mr. Jenkins shrugged off earlier. She placed a hand on the pod and, with a great sigh, lowered her head and shook her head with shame. A small tear began to take form in her right eye and she quickly wiped it away, away from the unsuspecting gaze of her husband. As she wiped away the tear, she could feel a combined sense of dread and guilt begin to overwhelm her. She began to frown at the pod and fell deep in thought about everything going on. Nion, her husband, their work, everything. Everything could spiral out of control at any moment and put an end to everything her and her husband had managed to do. All while having a great big smile on her face, whether it be fake or legit. Normally a happy, chipper woman, not letting anything, especially her daughter or her husband, bring her out of her cheerful moods, this mysterious pod was able to do knock her off her usual demeanor, however, and it bothered her greatly.

She took her hand off the pod and took a look back at her husband, who was still typing away at his keyboard. She didn’t dare look at the screen, probably out of guilt for whatever contents that were laid out in front of him. Lucy stepped away from the pod and made her way to her desk, where she noticed a mysterious helmet-like object lying on it. It had the outward appearance of a regular baseball helmet, but the attached wiring and circuitry on the back of it made her suspicious.

Lucy: Chris?

Chris: <TURNS HIS HEAD FROM THE MONITOR> Hm?

Lucy: What’s this helmet for?

Chris: Oh, that thing? <SHAKES HIS HEAD, TURNS BACK TO THE MONITOR> It’s a memory enhancement prototype I was working on.

Lucy: Why were you working on it?

Chris: In case she needs to remember, of course.

Lucy: ...Remember what?

Chris: What do you think?

Lucy: <IN AN ANGRY TONE> Why on Earth would she need to remember any of that!? Would it even be possible given her previous position!?

Chris: <LOWERS HIS HEAD> Classified.

Lucy had none of it and marched over to Chris, slamming her hands on his desk. She glared a hole into Chris’s eyes, who was unmoved at his wife’s sudden change in temper.

Lucy: Classified my ass, Christopher!

Chris: Language, darling.

Lucy: She doesn’t deserve to go through that Hell again!

Chris: Would you rather have her go through Hell or us!? After everything we’ve done to get here, you want to throw all of that away for her sake!?

Lucy opened her mouth to respond, but was unable to find the words to counter her husband. Because she knew, deep in her heart, that she felt the same way. And she hated it.

Lucy: You speak as if she’s just a tool. We’re not monsters, Chris. We’re scientists! Can you even fathom the consequences if anything goes wrong? Or if she finds out?

Chris: That would be improbable.

Lucy: How can you be so sure!?

Chris: I am.

Lucy: And what of the bleeding effect?

Chris: A minor problem. It shouldn’t be of any worry to us.

Lucy: Be realistic, Chris! What would be the consequences!?

Chris: <LETS OUT A BIG SIGH> If you insist, if her visions happened to complicate everything, ...then one out of three things would occur. And only one of those scenarios involves a happy ending for this… “family”.

Lucy: Is that all?

Chris: I share your concerns, my dear, I truly do. But in order to achieve our goals, she needs to be prepared to take the risk… <TURNS TO THE MATTER> No matter the cost.

Lucy: Have you honestly changed this much since the collapse of the army?

Chris: I’m not discussing that right now.

Lucy: It’s what you always think about.

Chris: You know why we must do this, correct?

Lucy turned to the monitor and her face grew even colder. She quickly turned away from it and gritted her teeth.

Lucy: And what if the cost is too much? Even for her?

Chris: It won’t be.

Lucy: How can you be so sure?

Chris knew his wife was in a wounding state of mind, so he rose from his chair, put an arm around her and brought her towards him to embrace her. He knew it wouldn’t stop her questions, but he knew at least that she would stop asking questions for the next few seconds.

Chris: <TALKING SOFTLY> She’ll be ready. I promise. Then we can be the big happy family you always dreamed of.

Lucy: You promise me?

Chris: On my life.

Reassured by her husband’s words, Lucy’s mood softened, and she relaxed herself on his chest. Unbeknownst to Chris, Lucy was still skeptical with her husband’s plans, but she knew that if everything went according to plan, everything would be all right in the end.

Hopefully.

Making Friends... and Enemies
<CUTS TO NION THE NEXT DAY, PRERARING HERSELF FOR SCHOOL; SHE DARTS PAST HER PARENTS NEAR THE FRONT DOOR, CATCHING THEIR GAZE OUT THE CORNER OF HER EYE; UPON EXITING AND CLOSING THE DOOR BEHIND HER, SHE STARES AT THE CAPSULE CORPORATION BUILDING, WHICH IS CONVENIENTLY A LITTLE WAYS AWAY FROM WHERE SHE LIVES, NO MORE THAN A TEN-MINUTE WALKS HEADING EAST; SHE BEGINS HER WALK TO SCHOOL>

Sala: <OFF-SCREEN> Would you look at that?

<NION IS STARTLED AND SWINGS AROUND TO SEE SALA, WHO’S LEANING UP AGAINST A NEARBY POLE>

Nion: How long were you standing there?

Sala: Long enough.

<NION TURNS AWAY FROM HER AND BEGINS TO WALK, WITH SALA FOLLOWING SUIT; SALA IS ACTIVELY TRYING TO START A CONVERSATION, BUT NION CONSTANTLY IGNORES HER ADVANCES>

Sala: Did someone piss in your cereal?

<AGAIN, NOTHING FROM HER; SALA TROTTED HER WAY IN FRONT OF HER>

Sala: Come on, N. I don’t like when my friends are upset.

Nion: …N?

Sala: N! Your new nickname, FRIEND!

Nion: You put emphasis on friend?

Sala: Because I want you to believe it. Plus, you need someone to smack you in the head when you have your little… “class-time daydreaming sessions”.

<NION FACE FORMS A SUBTLE GRIN; THIS MAKES SALA GIDDY, WANTING TO SAY MORE>

Sala: Was that a smile!?

Nion: <TURNING TO FACE THEIR ROUTE> No…

Sala: You’re smiling and responding to me. I like that.

Nion: We’re gonna be late.

<THE TWO CONTINUE THEIR TREK, OCCASIONALLY TAKING A GLANCE AT OTHER BUILDINGS, PEOPLE, ETC; IT’S QUIET FOR A LITTLE WHILE, AND NION TRIES TO THINK OF SOMETHING TO EASE THE TENSION>

Nion: How fast are you?

Sala: <RAISES AN EYEBROW> Why?

<NION SQUINTS HER EYES AND MAKES OUT THE SCHOOL IN THE DISTANCE; IT IS NO MORE THAN TWENTY BLOCKS AWAY, WHICH GIVES HER AN INTRIGUING IDEA>

Nion: Feel like getting a little morning exercise?

Sala: <SMILES> What do you have in mind?

Nion: <POINTS TO THE SCHOOL> A little morning jog. Nothing more.

Sala: Morning jog?

<SALA SQUINTS IN THE DIRECTION OF THE HIGH SCHOOL>

Sala: That’s at least twenty blocks!

Nion: So?

Sala: … You’re on.

<THE TWO STOP IN THEIR TRACKS AND TIGHTEN THEIR BACKPACKS; NION SQUATS DOWN INTO HER FIGHTING STANCE>

Sala: You, uh, about to fight or somethin’?

Nion: More comfortable running in this position.

Sala: If you say so.

<SALA TAKES A LAST SECOND GLANCE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND PREPARES HERSELF>

Nion: Ready?...

Nion: Set…

<BEFORE SHE CAN FINISH, SALA SPRINTS IN FRONT OF HER LIKE A BAT OUT OF HELL, ALARMING HER>

Nion: What the-!?

Sala: <IN THE DISTANCE> Catch up, spiky!

Nion: <ANGRILY, YET HUMOROUSLY> I DIDN’T SAY… <GRUNTS> Little...

<NION POKES AROUND IN HER HAIR FOR A MOMENT BEFORE TAKING OFF; DESPITE HOW FAST SHE’S GOING, SHE DOESN’T SEEM TO BE GETTING TIRED IN THE LEAST; SHE MOMENTARILY CLOSES HER EYES TO FOCUS SOLELY ON THE RUNNING, RELYING ON HER SOMEWHAT KEEN SENSES TO STEER HER AWAY FROM ANY OBSTACLES; SHE RELISHES THE WIND BRUSHING HER FACE AS SHE PLANTS FOOT AFTER FOOT ON THE CONCRETE CRACK!>

<HEAD MEETS POLE AS NION COLLIDES DIRECTLY INTO A LAMP POST IN FRONT OF HER; SHE FALLS TO THE GROUND, CLUTCHING HER HEAD WITH CARE; SHE SHAKES HER HEAD A FEW TIMES TO MAKE SURE THERE’S NO PERMANENT DAMAGE>

Nion: Damn posts…

<SHE LOOKS IN FRONT OF HER, NOTING THAT SALA IS A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE AWAY FROM HER, AND GAINING EVEN MORE; BACK ON HER FEET, NION PICKS AT HER HAIR FOR A SECOND BEFORE RESUMING HER RUN; AS SHE’S RUNNING, NION REPEATEDLY SHOWS NO SIGNS OF FATIGUE>

<AFTER WHAT SEEMS LIKE AN ETERNITY OF RUNNING, NION MAKES HER WAY UP TO THE SCHOOL ENTRANCE, WHERE SALA IS SHOWN BREATHING HEAVILY AND SWEATING PROFUSELY; NION JOGS HER WAY TO HER EXHAUSTED FRIEND AND SMILES>

Nion: Fun, wasn’t it?

Sala: <STILL BREATHING HEAVILY> How… the hell… are you not… tired!?

Nion: I do this often.

Sala: Running… like a maniac?!

Nion: Training.

Sala: Might I ask what are you training for?

Nion: Just cause. It’s fun.

Sala: Fun!? Sweating like a pig and exhausting yourself is fun!?

Nion: …I’m not exhausted though.

Sala: …Who the hell are you?

<BEFORE NION CAN RESPOND, THE BELL RINGS INSIDE THE BUILDING, SIGNALING THE BEGINNING OF CLASS>

Sala: Crap baskets! Let’s go!

<SALA GRABS NION BY THE HAND AND THE TWO RUSH INTO THE BUILDING>

<AN HOUR LATER>

<NOT TO NION’S SURPRISE, CLASS WAS EXTROADINARILY AWKWARD; EVERY NOW AND THEN, SHE’D PEEK OVER AT GRANT AND HE’D GIVE HER A MEAN GLANCE, PROMPTING HER TO TURN HER HEAD BACK, UNAMUSED; SHE OPENS HER BACKPACK AND RETRIEVES A SMALL CONTAINER CONTAINING A PLETHORA OF TURKEY LEGS; NION TAKES A MOMENT TO INHALE THE SMELLS EMANATING FROM THE CONTAINER BEFORE REMOVING THE TOP AND DEVOURING THE TURKEY LEGS>

<AFTER A WHILE, MS. FAULCONER IS CALLED INTO THE HALLWAY FOR UNKNOWN REASONS; A SHORTER, RELATIVELY SKINNIER YOUNG MAN WITH A BUZZ CUT SITTING BEHIND NION, WHO’D BEEN STARING AT HER MOWING DOWN ON TURKEY FOR A WHILE, STANDS FROM HIS DESK AND POKES HER BACK; NION, OBVIOUSLY ANNOYED AT THE INTERRUPTION, PAUSES HER EATING AND HALF TURNS HER HEAD TO THE YOUNG MAN>

Nion: What is it, Futo?

Futo: S-Sorry, I’m sorry N-Nion! But, er, that young sir back there, he, uh, he wants to fight y-you!

Nion: <FINISHING OFF ANOTHER TURKEY LEG> Who?

<FUTO POINTS DIRECTLY AT THE BOY WHO HE WAS REFERRING TO; NION SMILES AT REALIZING WHO HE WAS TALKING ABOUT>

Nion: Is that so?

Futo: Yep. I-In fact, he told me to tell y-y-you-

Nion: <PUTS A HAND IN FUTO’S FACE> I’ll finish my food first. When I’m done, take your time and tell me.

<FUTO OBLIGES AND WAITS PATIENTLY AS NION PEELS THE LAST PIECE OF MEAT OFF HER LAST TURKEY LEG AND PLOPS IT INTO HER MOUTH, MOANING WITH ENJOYMENT AS SHE SWALLOWS IT; SHE CLOSES HER CONTAINER AND PLACES IT BACK INTO HER BACKPACK BEFORE LETTING OUT A BIG BURP; FUTO TRIES HIS BEST TO NOT LOOK DISGUSTED>

Nion: Excuse me. Continue.

Futo: Quite. A-Anyway, I-I was told that he wanted to meet y-y-you in front of the s-school after the day was over.

<NION SMILES DEVILISHLY AND GAZES AT GRANT, WHO NEVER TOOK HIS EYES OFF NION>

Nion: <RAISES AN EYEBROW> Sounds like good exercise.

Sala: <CLEARING HER THROAT> Um, Nion?

Nion: Hm?

<SALA MAKES HER WAY IN FRONT OF NION AND PLACES HER HANDS ON HER DESK, MORE THAN LIKELY OUT OF CONCERN>

Sala: Are you sure you know what you’re doing? What if a teacher notices?

Nion: School will be over. They don’t care what happens to anyone after.

Sala: That’s a cynical way of putting it… You should know, I’ve heard that Grant never goes into a fight by himself. He’s bound to have his “boys” back there back him up.

<NION’S EXPRESSION DARKENS AS SHE TAKES ANOTHER LOOK AT GRANT, SITTING BY FOUR OTHER STUDENTS WHO, LIKE HIM, ARE EYEING HER DOWN WITH UNDOUBTEDLY HOSTILE INTENTIONS; SHE LOOKS AWAY FROM THE BOYS AND GRINS AT SALA>

Nion: Feel like seeing me in action?

Sala: What!? This ain’t a joke. Think about this. All four of those bozos, they wouldn’t think twice about smacking you around, especially with the way you are.

Nion: What about the way I am?

Sala: You know! I mean, no offense but you really come across as a bit aggressive, especially after what happened with him the other day didn’t help at all.

Nion: That was me being nice.

Sala: That’s what I’m talking about! He’s trying to bait you! I dunno how you look when you’re provoked, but I don’t wanna see it wasted on those bozos.

Nion: That’s not fun.

Futo: But N-N-Nion, think about-

Nion: <WHISPERING> Whatever happens after school just happens. I don’t want your advice. I don’t need your advice. I don’t want anything. The only things I want are just me and my fists. Got it?

<FUTO AND SALA EXCHANGE LOOKS OF HEAR; AFTER A WHILE, THEY BOTH NOD AT NION>

Sala: Ok then.

Nion: Thank you. Now get back to your seat. I’m gonna go train.

Futo: Right n-now!? But class i-is s-still going-

<NION IS ALREADY GONE BY THE TIME FUTO FINISHES HIS SENTENCE>

Sala: <SIGHS> So be it.

<AN HOUR LATER>

<NION PACES BACK AND FORTH IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL BUILDING, THROWING JABS IN FRONT OF HER WITH EVERY STEP; FUTO AND SALA STAND IDLY BY, NEAR THE OTHER STUDENTS WHO’D GATHERED TO WATCH; AFTER MINUTES OF SILENCE, THE FRONT DOOR BURSTS OPEN AND GRANT AND HIS FOUR FRIENDS STEP OUT>

Nion: Figured.

Grant: <CHUCKLING> What’s up? You tryna back out now?

Nion: No.

Futo: Y-You should feel bad!

<ONE OF THE BOYS FLINCHES AT FUTO; FUTO BEGINS TO SWEAT A BIT AND DASHES BEHIND SALA FOR HOPE OF PROTECTION; SALA ROLLS HER EYES AND SIGHS>

Nion: No, Futo. They shouldn’t feel bad about you and your boys fighting a girl…

<NION GETS INTO HER FIGHTING STANCE>

Nion: <SMIRKING> He should feel bad about you and your boys getting beat up by a girl.

Grant: We’ll see about that, freak. Ready boys?

All together: Ready!

Boy #1: To-

Boy #2: Ge-

Boy #3: Ther-

Boy #4: We-

Grant: Are-

Nion: <THINKING> What the hell-!?

All together: The Ginyu Force!

<NION PLAYFULLY SLAPS HERSELF SILLY, IN HOPES TO CLEAR THE MYSTERIOUS VOICES OUT OF HER HEAD; AFTER CONTINUOUS SLAPS AND EYE RUBBING, NION’S POINT OF VIEW HAS BEEN OBSTRUCTED BEYOND BELIEF; A GROUP OF UNUSUAL AND UNDOUBTEDLY COLORFUL WARRIORS STAND BEFORE HER, WITH VENOMOUS LOOKS IN THEIR EYES; NION BEGINS TO PANIC, SWEATING PROFUSELY AND HER STANCE BEGINS TO SWAY A BIT>

Futo: N-N-Nion! What’s wrong?

<JUDGING FROM NION’S PANICKED EXPRESSION, SHE IS UNABLE TO HIM>

Nion: <GRUNTS> This again…?

“Ginyu”: Let’s go!

Rest: Yes!

<NIONS TAKES A FEW STEPS BACK TO ASSESS HER SITUATION AND ATTEMPTS AGAIN TO SHAKE HERSELF OUT OF HER ILLUSION, TO NO AVAIL>

Nion: <THINKING> Can’t concentrate… Vision’s fading… Who the hell…?

“Ginyu”: What’s wrong, Nion!? Scared to face us now?

<DEEP DOWN, NION KNEW IT WAS GRANT THAT WAS MAKING THE REMARKS, BUT HER MIND KEPT TELLING HER A DIFFERENT STORY; SHE EVENTUALLY STOPPED TRYING TO ESCAPE HER ILLUSION AND, AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF SILENCE, BEGINS TO CHUCKLE>

“Ginyu”: What’s so funny, freak?

Nion: Nothing at all… Ginyu! This fight just got a bit more interesting…

“Ginyu”: Ginyu?... Who the hell’s-?

<NION RETURNS TO HER FIGHTING STANCE AND HER GRIN TURNS FROM A CONFIDENT ONE TO A NIGH INSANE ONE; HER EYES HAVE GOTTEN DARKER AND HER PUPILS HAVE SHRUNK>

Futo: What i-i-is her deal?

Sala: I don’t think she can hear us…

Futo: What?

Nion: Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP! If they can beat you up, then so can I! Come and get it!

Boy #4: The hell? She’s gone loco man.

Grant: <GRUNTS> Don’t let her scare you, boys. Let’s get her!

<GRANT AND HIS BOYS READY THEMSELVES FOR A FIGHT, WHILE NION LICKS HER CHOPS SENSUALLY>

​ ​ From Grant to Ginyu!?
<THE GROUP RUSHES NION WITHIN SECONDS, IMMEDIATELY SURROUNDING HER; SHE TAKES A DEEP BREATH AND OBSERVES THE SITUATION>

Nion: What’s wrong!? Must I throw the first punch?

<NION WOBBLES FROM SIDE TO SIDE FOR A BIT, WHICH MAKES THE “GINYU FORCE” A BIT UNEASY; HER TWO OPPONENTS AHEAD OF HER, “JEICE” AND “BURTER”, SHAKE OFF THEIR NERVOUSNESS AND COME IN WITH A FLURRY OF PUNCHES. NION EASILY MANAGES TO DODGE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM AND, UPON REALIZING WHEN THEY WERE OUT OF BREATH, COUNTERS WITH A KICK TO THE GUT OF “BURTER” FOLLOWED BY AN UPPERCUT TO “JEICE”. SHE MAKES SOME DISTANCE BETWEEN THEM CHARGES BACK IN WITH A DOUBLE PUNCH TO THE DUO’S STOMACHES, SENDING THEM SKIDDING MANY FEET AWAY FROM HER>

Nion: <TWISTS HER WRIST, SMIRKING> Thought you two would be better than that. Guess I was wrong.

<SHE TURNS HER ATTENTION TO “GULDO”, WHO IS STANDING IN SHOCK AT THE SIGHT OF SEEING HIS FRIENDS BEING EASILY BESTED BY THIS YOUNG WOMAN; OUT OF SHEER CONFIDENCE, NION WALKS OVER TO HIM AND SLAPS HIM IN THE FACE, WHICH SENDS HIM TO THE FLOOR>

“Guldo”: <GRABS HIS CHEEK> Ow ow ow ow ow! Hey.. you’d better-

<NION SHOOTS A VENOMOUS LOOK AT HIM, AND HE IMMEDIATELY SHUTS UP; SHE TURNS TO FUTO AND SALA, WHO WERE BOTH STANDING IN AWE; NION COCKILY GRINS AT THE TWO>

Nion: Like these pip squeaks have a chance…

<HER SHOWING OFF ULTIMATELY GETS THE BEST OF HER AS SHE SUDDENLY FEELS HER ARMS BEING TRAPPED BEHIND HER, FINDING LITTLE TO NO ABILITY TO BREAK FREE; OUT THE CORNER OF HER EYE, SHE SPOTS THAT “GINYU” WAS THE ONE WHO WAS HOLDING HER TIGHTLY IN A FULL NELSON HOLD WHILE “GULDO” AND “RECOOME” CLOSED IN; THE TWO SEEMED HESISTANT AT FIRST, HOWEVER, AS “JEICE” AND “BURTER” LAID NEARBY, STRUGGLING TO REGAIN THEIR COMPOSURE>

Nion: <SHAKING BACK AND FORTH RAPIDLY> Get… off of me, you-

“Ginyu”: What are you two waiting for!? Hit her!

<THE TWO NOD AT EACH OTHER IN AGREEMENT; “RECOOME” CLOSES IN ON NION AS SHE CONTINUES HER STRUGGLE TO BREAK FREE; SHE EVENTUALLY CEASES HER EFFORT AND SLOUCHES A BIT AS “RECOOME” CONTINUES HIS APPROACH; OUT OF OPTIONS, NION BRACES HERSELF AS SHE’S MET WITH A DEAFENING PUNCH TO HER GUT, WINCING IN PAIN AFTERWARDS>

Nion: <GRUNTS> Ergh… little-

<RECOOME LIFTS HER HEAD UP WITH HIS RIGHT HAND, CRACKS A SMILE, AND DELIVERS A STRAIGHT LEFT PUNCH TO HER STOMACH, FOLLOWED BY A RIGHT HOOK AND BEGAN TO REPEAT THE PROCESS OVER AND OVER; AFTER HE WAS DONE PUMMELING HER, NION COUGHS UP DROPLETS OF BLOOD AND SLOUCHES HER HEAD BACK DOWN>

“Ginyu”: Yea, give her another one!

Sala: <THINKING> These bastards...

Futo: N-N-N-Nion, get outta there!

Nion didn’t respond.

Sala: <THINKING> Come on, girl. These fools really hurting you?

<THIS TIME, IT IS “GULDO” THAT BEGINS TO THROW A PUNCH; ALMOST COMICALLY, HE CONTINUES TO TWIRL HIS ARM OVER AND OVER, AS IF PREPARING TO DELIVER A DEVESTATING UPPERCUT>

“Jeice”: Yea, deck her! Deck her!

<AS “GULDO” PREPARES HIS SWING, NION OPENS HER EYES AND BRINGS UP HER RIGHT LEG, DELIVERING A SHARP KICK TO “GULDO’S” CHIN>

Nion: <FORMING A GRIN> Gotcha, bitch.

<AS “GULDO” STRUGGLES TO REGAIN HIS COMPOSURE, NION OPENS HER EYES AND PUSHES HER FEET OFF “GINYU”, FREEING HERSELF AND THROWING HIM OFF BALANCE, WHICH SEND HIM TO THE FLOOR; SHE DOES A BACKFLIP ON TOP OF HIM, LANDING WITH HER RIGHT FOOT PLANTED SQUARELY ON HIS NOSE, IMMEDIATELY BLOODYING IT; SHE TURNS TO “RECOOME”, VAULTING OVER “GINYU” AND EXTENDS HER RIGHT LEG OUTWARD, KICKING “RECOOME” AND SENDING HIM TO THE GROUND AS WELL; TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, SHE KNEELS TOWARDS THE FRIGHTENED “GULDO”, PUTS ON A GREAT BIG SMILE, AND SOCKS HIM IN THE FACE, BLACKENING HIS LEFT EYE>

<SHE TAKES A SECOND TO OBSERVE HER SURROUNDINGS, NOTICING THAT “JEICE” AND “BURTER” WERE SLOWING RECOVERING FROM THEIR EARLIER MISFORTUNES; SHE DASHES OVER TO THEM AND STANDS BETWEEN THEM; SHE JOKINGLY PATS THEIR HEADS BEFORE GRABBING THEM BY THEIR HAIR AND BONKING THEM TOGETHER, IMMEDIATELY KNOCKING THEM OUT; THEY FLOP TO THE GROUND AND SHE TURNS TO FACE “RECOOME”, WHO’S NOW GRITTING HIS TEETH WITH ANGER; NION WIPES THE LITTLE BLOOD FROM HER LOWER LIP AND GETS INTO HER FIGHTING STANCE, STILL SHOWING NO SIGNS OF WEAR, TEAR, OR EVEN DAMAGE FROM THE PUNCHES SHE RECEIVED A MOMENT AGO>

“Recoome”: How… the hell… did you?

<“RECOOME” IS JOINED BY “GINYU”, WHO NUDGES HIM FORWARD A BIT; “RECOOME” BEGINS HIS MARCH TO HIS OPPONENT, BUT SOMETHING CATCHES HIS EYE; HE TAKES A MOMENT TO OBSERVE NION, WHO’S STANCE HAS SUDDENLY BECOME SLIGHTY WOBBLY, NOT IN A WAY THAT SHOWED SHE WAS TIRED, BUT IN A WAY THAT SHE SEEMED A BIT… DISTURBED; UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, HE TAKES A GLANCE TO THE BACK OF HER PANTS, NOTICING SOMETHING BROWN AND HAIRY EMERGING FROM IT; NOTING HIS HESISTANCE, NION TAKES THE OPPORTUNITY TO RUSH HIM, GRABBING HIM BY THE THROAT; SHE BEGINS SQUEEZING IT, IN A WAY THAT CAN PUT HIM TO SLEEP, THE HARD WAY>

“Ginyu”: H-Hey! Let him go!

<HE TAKES A STEP TOWARDS NION AND SHE RESPONDS BY POINTING HER INDEX FINGER AT HIM; SHE SAYS NOTHING AFTERWARDS, JUST GLANCING AT HIM WHILE SHE TIGHTENED HER GRIP ON “RECOOME’S” NECK; KEEPING HER FINGER POINTED, SHE FACES THE FADING “RECOOME” AND, ALMOST MANIACALLY, BEGINS TO CHUCKLE

Nion: You like that, freak? How’s it feel, freak!? You still wanna mess with me, FREAK!?

<”RECOOME”, RUNNING OUT OF BREATH, TOOK HIS LAST MOMENT TO STARE INTO NION’S EYES AND, BEFORE PASSING OUT, NOTICES A BRIEF FLICKER BEHIND HER; HE IMMEDIATELY FAINTS AFTERWARDS, WITH NION NOT RELEASING HIM UNTIL SHE FELT SOMETHING GRAB HER ON THE ARM>

Sala: <YELLING> Let him go, Nion!

<NION NEVER LOOKS IN SALA’S DIRECTION, WHERE THE LATTER HAS GRAB AHOLD OF HER ARM; NION’S VENOMOUS GAZE PENETRATES SALA’S STERNESS WITH EASE, EVENTUALLY, CONCEDING AND RELEASING NION’S ARM; SHE BACKS AWAY AND, UPON REALIZATION, GLANCES AT NION’S PANTS AND SMILES; SECONDS LATER, NION FEELS A SHARP STING BEHIND HER, FORCING HER TO DROP “RECOOME” TO THE GROUND, STILL UNCONSCIOUS BUT BARELY BREATHING; SHE TURNS TOWARDS SALA WITH AN ANGRY GAZE AND MOUTHS A SWEAR AS GINYU TUGS HER FRIEND AWAY FROM HER>

Grant: We- we’re telling the principal on you!

<”GINYU’S VOICE HAD CHANGED, NION NOTICED, AND SHE TURNS AROUND WITH A SMUG GRIN AS SHE SEES GRANT’S FRIENDS LAID TO WASTE IN FRONT OF HER, WITH GRANT STILL DRAGGING HIMSELF AND HIS FRIEND AWAY; HER EYES HAVE RETURNED TO NORMAL AS WELL>

Grant: Y-YOU GOD-DAMN FREAK!

Nion: I haven’t hurt you much, I noticed. Want me to fix that?

<THE STUDENTS WHO HAD COME TO WATCH THE FIGHT BACK AWAY AS NION GRABS AN EMPTY CAN ON A NEARBY TABLE AND BEGINS TO FLIP IT IN HER HAND>

Futo: Don’t do i-it!

Nion: Convince me.

<FUTO BEGINS TO MAKE HIS CLAIM, BUT NION HAS ALREADY HOPPED ONTO A TABLE, READY TO PULL OFF WHATEVER DEED SHE HAD; GRANT HAD ALREADY SETTLED HIS FRIEND INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT OF HIS CAR; NION BEGINS CHUCKING THE CAN INTO THE AIR OVER AND OVER AND TURNS HER BACK TO THE CAR; AS THE CAN FELL, IT WASN’T HER HAND OR HER HEAD THAT CAUGHT THE CAN, BUT IT WAS CAUGHT BY, AND WAS NOW WRAPPED AROUND NION’S EXUBERANT, FURRY TAIL>

Nion: <CALLS OUT TO GRANT> I should’ve mentioned that I’m a bit trained in martial arts, shouldn’t I?

<NION SWINGS HERSELF AROUND AND, UTILIZING HER TAIL, CHUCKS THE CAN IN FRONT OF HER; THE CAN SOARS LIKE A BULLET IN THE AIR, FIGHTING OFF THE GUSTS OF WIND IN ORDER TO MAKE IT TO ITS TARGET; GRANT FINALLY MADE HIS WAY TO THE DRIVER’S SIDE OF HIS CAR AND AS HE BEGINS TO OPEN HIS MOUTH, THE CAN COLLIDES IN THE FRONT OF HIS SKULL, SENDING HIM SPIRALLING TOWARDS THE GROUND IN A HUMOROUS, YET PAINFUL MANNER; SATISFIED, NION TUCKS HER TAIL BETWEEN HER GRANTS AND MAKES HER WAY TO GRANT; STILL CONSCIOUS BUT BLEEDING, GRANT IS FIXATED ON NION’S TAIL>

Grant: <IN A DAZED MANNER> You… h-have a tail.

Nion: Observant as ever. Now beat it.

<GRANT STAGGERS INTO HIS CAR, SLAMMING THE DOOR BEHIND HIM; AS HE TURNS IT ON, NION STEPS IN FRONT OF THE CAR, GAWKING AT THE TWO, ESTABLISHING A FORM OF MENTAL DOMINANCE IN THE PROCESS; HE SLAMS DOWN ON THE REVERSE PEDAL AND DRIVES AWAY>

Sala: <RAISING HER HAND FOR A HIGH FIVE> That was legit, baby!

<UNKNOWING OF WHAT TO DO BUT NOT WANTING TO DISAPPOINT, SHE RETURNS THE GESTURE; SUDDENLY, MS. FAULCONER ARRIVES, WITH SOME FACULTY STAFF AND A FEW OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO THE AREA>

Sala: <IN A COCKY MANNER> Bout time you slackers showed up. My girl here just kicked some a-

Ms. Faulconer: My office, Nion!

<THE GIRLS EXCHANGE LOOKS OF CONFUSION AND SALA MOUTHS A SWEAR TO HERSELF WHILE NION LOOKS AT THE OFFICERS AND THE STAFF, ALL WHOM ARE FIXATED ON HER; SHE IMMEDIATELY CURLS HER TAIL BACK INTO HER PANTS TO NOT CAUSE ANY MORE UNWANTED ATTENTION>

Nion: What did-

Ms. Faulconer: Now!

Sala: What are you talking about!? She-

<ONE OF GRANT’S FRIENDS, OR “RECOOME” AS NION SAW, INTERVENES AND COLLAPSES ONTO THE OFFICER>

Goon: <STILL COUGHING> Th- That’s not true, officer! She attacked us! Beat us up for no reason!

Sala: Oh, that’s a load of bull-

Goon: And she has a tail on her! She’s a freak! A FREAK!

Sala: Officer, please, that’s not what happened! No one here has a tail, am I right guys?

<SALA TURNS TO THE GROUP OF STUDENTS>

Sala: Tell them!

<NONE OF THE STUDENTS SAID A WORD; ENRAGED, SALA TURNS TO NION AND FUTO>

Sala: Nion!?

<FUTO OPENED HIS MOUTH TO SPEAK, BUT, AFRAID IT WOULD COME OUT IN BITS AND PIECES, REMAINED SILENT; NION, SEEMING UNFAZED BY THE WHOLE THING, NEGLECTED TO COMMENT AS WELL; ONE OF THE OFFICERS STEPS TOWARDS THE GIRLS>

Officer: Come with us so we can sort this out. We’re not going to ask again, ma’am.

Sala: But she was defending herself!

Officer: <STERNLY> I’m not going to ask again.

<NION TAKES A DEEP BREATH AND FOLLOWS HER ORDERS, TAKING A LAST SECOND GLANCE AT FUTO AND SALA AS SHE DISAPPEARED INTO THE BUILDING; THE REMAINING STAFF AND OFFICERS ENCOURAGED THE STUDENTS TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES AND GO ON WITH THEIR DAY; SALA, HOWEVER, STAYED IN THE PARKING LOT, STILL ENRAGED>

Voice: <OFF-SCREEN> Tough break?

<STARTLED, SALA TURNS AROUND AND STARES AT THE SOURCE OF THE VOICE; SHOT POSITIONS ITSELF ON THE FACE OF AN ATTRACTICE YOUNG WOMAN WHOSE BLONDE HAIR ALMOST HIDES HER OMINOUS, BLUE EYES; SALA DIDN’T BOTHER CHECKING OUT THE REST OF HER BECAUSE SHE WAS STILL ENRAGED, INSTEAD TURNING BACK TO THE ENTRANCE>

Sala: I don’t get this friggin place. Cheer for the hero to beat up the bully, doesn’t even vouch for the hero when she gets in trouble.

Voice: I wouldn’t worry about her. She’s tougher than she looks. She’ll get over it.

Sala: And how do you know that?

<SALA TURNS TO LOOK AT THE WOMAN, BUT SHE WAS ALREADY MANY FEET AWAY, WALKING AWAY FROM THE SCENE>

Futo: <WALKING UP TO SALA> Who was that?

Sala: …I don’t know.

<THE WOMAN TURNS A CORNER AND DISAPPEARS FROM THEIR VIEW, LEAVING SALA TO HER THOUGHTS>

​X = Nion + A Lot
<CUTS TO LATER THAT DAY, SHOT OPENS TO A DIMLY LIT STREET WHERE NION IS SHOWN WALKING HOME FROM SCHOOL, HER BLACK HOODIE COVERING MOST OF HER FACE AND MAKING HER ALMOST INVISIBLE IN THE EVENING SKY>

<SHE MAKES IT TO A CORNER AND PREPARES TO TURN BUT BEFORE SHE MAKES THE TURN, HER BODY TENSES UP, ALMOST AS IF SHE SENSES SOMETHING, OR SOMEONE, NEARBY; SHE STOPS IN HER TRACKS AND GRABS THE LAMP POST OVERSEEING THE CORNER AND DARTS HER VISION TO HER LEFT AND HER RIGHT TO MAKE SURE SHE WASN’T GOING CRAZY; THE LIGHT IN THE POST BEGINS TO FLICKER RAPIDLY; SHE TAKES A STEP FROM UNDER THE POST BUT IMMEDIATELY RETRACTS IT>

<CURIOUS, SHE RELEASES HER TAIL HIDDEN UNDER HER PANTS AND LETS IT FEEL THE DRAFT OF THE WIND COMING IN, IN HOPES TO FEEL ANY DISTURBANCES; AS SOON AS SHE DOES THIS, HER BODY TENSES UP AGAIN>

Nion: I know you’re there.

<NO RESPONSE CAME; SHE REMOVES HER HOODIE AND KNEELS INTO HER FIGHTING STANCE>

Nion: If you have business with me, make it quick…

<NO RESPONSE STILL; NION SCOFFS, THINKING HER SENSES WERE LITERALLY PLAYING TRICKS ON HER; SHE BEGINS TO REMOVE HERSELF FROM THE LAMP POST>

Voice: <OFF-SCREEN> So, it is you?

<NION JUMPS IN SURPRISE; SHE TURNS AROUND AND COMES FACE TO FACE WITH A YOUNG LADY>

Young Woman: It took me a minute to track you down, but here you are…

<CAMERA SLOWLY PANS UPWARD ON HER, SHOWING OFF HER PETITE FIGURE COVERED BY DARK TEAL JEANS, A WHITE TOP AND A BLACK MINI VEST; THERE’S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT>

Android 18: …Nion.

<NION WIDENS HER EYES>

Android 18: What? How do I know your name? It wasn’t hard.

<NION IS TAKEN ABACK, UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE INTENTIONS OF THIS STRANGER>

Android 18: I’d think you’d remember that, at least. We were friends once, after all. <FLICKS HER HAIR BACK> Well, friends might be pushing it. I think the proper word is… “acquaintances.” I’ve known you for quite some time, if you can believe it.

<NION STAYS SILENT>

Android 18: Truthfully, I’ve been keeping my eye on you, but that’s beside the point.

<SHE BEGINS WALKING SLOWLY, EVENTUALLY COMING FACE TO FACE WITH NION; NION, STILL SILENT, DOESN’T ALTER HER ALERT GLANCE AT 18>

Android 18: That was quite a ruckus you put up at your school earlier. I’m more shocked that you went along with taking the fall.

<STILL NO COMMENT FROM NION>

Android 18: <DARTS HER EYES TOWARD’S NION’S TAIL> You gonna hide that anytime soon?

<NION IMMEDIATELY TUCKS HER TAIL BACK INTO HER PANTS, EMBARRASED>

Android 18: <CHUCKLES> No need to get embarrassed over that.

Nion: <GROWING IRRITATED> What do you want?

Android 18: <HER SMILE DISAPPEARS> No need to be so hostile.

Nion: What do you want?

Android 18: <SIGHS> …I’m here to help you, whether you believe me or not. <NION SEEMS TAKEN ABACK BY HER WORDS, ENOUGH THAT SHE TAKES A STEP AWAY FROM HER AND RAISES AN EYEBROW>

Android 18: Look, as “exciting” as this is, I don’t have a lot of time. So listen carefully.

<18 PUTS HER HAND ON NION’S SHOULDER, WHICH IS MET WITH NO RESISTANCE>

Android 18: I tried to tell my brother this, but he’s nowhere to be found, which is why I’m telling you. You’re in danger.

Nion: Danger?

<18 REMOVES HER HAND FROM NION’S SHOULDER AND IMMEDIATELY MOVES IT TO THE BACK OF NION’S PANTS, WHERE SHE GRABS HOLD OF HER TAIL, INSTANTLY IMMOBILIZING NION AND SENDING HER TO THE PAVEMENT>

Nion: <GRUNTING> Let go!

Android 18: One moment.

<THE WOMAN TAKES HER OTHER HAND AND TRIES TO YANK NION’S TAIL RIGHT FROM HER PANTS; NION BEGINS TO SCREAM IN AGONY, WHICH EVENTUALLY MAKES THE GIRL STOP AND REMOVE HER HANDS FROM THE TAIL; NION SLOWLY REGAINS HER FOOTING, FULL OF RAGE IN THE PROCESS>

Android 18: And I thought it was just a cheap attachment. Nonetheless-

<NION DOESN’T LISTEN TO ANY MORE FROM 18 AND LUNGES HER ARM FORWARD, CONNECTING WITH A PUNCH TO HER FACE; HOWEVER, INSTEAD OF SKIDDING AWAY, 18 STAYS STANDING, ATTEMPTING TO FORM A GRIN WITH NION’S FIST STILL IN HER FACE>

Android 18: <WITH MUFFLED LAUGHTER> Nice shot. You’ve been training, haven’t you?

<BEFORE NION CAN ANSWER, 18 RESPONDS WITH A JAB OF HER OWN, THIS TIME IN NION’S LOWER STOMACH; NION FLENCHES IN PAIN, REMOVING HER FIST FROM THE 18’S FACE; SHE TAKES A FEW STEPS BACK AS NION DROPS TO ONE KNEE AND NURSES HER STOMACH>

Nion: <THINKING> That…. hurt! What the-?

Android 18: I’m not here to fight you, Nion. I’m here to warn you.

Nion: By grabbing my tail?

Android 18: I was curious. Don’t mind it. <HER GRIN QUICKLY SUBSIDES> But listen, there’s something you need to know. You’re a Saiyan, right?

Nion: <CONFUSED, HER EYES WIDEN> Why would you think I’m a Saiyan?

Android 18: <CONFUSED AS WELL> Aren’t you a Saiyan? I know little about them, but I do know at one point, they usually sported tails, similar to the one that you have now. That would make you one of them, correct?

Nion: <MOVES HER EYES TO HER SIDE, THEN BACK TO 18> I’m just a regular person, same as you.

Android 18: Same as me, huh? <SMIRKS> We’ll see about that.

Nion: <ALARMED, EXPRESSION DARKENING TO A SCOWL> What’s that supposed to mean?

Android 18: Well, remember when I said I didn’t come here to fight you? Nion: I thought as much.

<NION MAKES A DASH TOWARDS 18, WHO SIDE STEPS OUT OF THE WAY, APPEARING BEHIND NION; SENSING SHE’S FALLEN FOR HER BAIT, NION TRIES TO GO FOR AN OVERHEAD KICK, BUT MEETS NOTHING BUT AIR AS 18 BACKS AWAY FROM IT; NION TURNS TO FACE HER, BUT SHE’S MET WITH A SWIFT KICK TO HER LEFT ARM, BENDING IT IN AN UNUSUAL WAY BUT FORTUNATELY NOT BREAKING IT; SHE TAKES A SECOND TO OBSERVE IT BEFORE GRITTING HER TEETH AND CHARGING 18 ONCE AGAIN>

Android 18: <WHILE GUARDING NION’S BARRAGE OF PUNCHES AND KICKS> You’re fast. I’m a bit surprised, zero.

Nion: <CONTINUING THE BARRAGE> Zero!?

<EVENTUALLY, ANDROID 18 FINDS A WINDOW AND BACKS AWAY FROM THE FLURRY AND EXTENDS HER ARMS AT A TILTED ANGLE, POINTING DOWNWARD>

Android 18: <SUBTLY ANGERED> Take a moment. You should know if you continue this, it won’t end well.

Nion: I know that if I don’t continue this, you won’t leave me the hell alone.

<SHE MAKES ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO RUSH 18, BUT BEFORE SHE ENCOUNTERS HER, SHE IS KNOCKED BACK BY AN UNKNOWN FORCE; SHE TUMBLES TO THE GROUND AND GRABS HER HEAD, CONFUSED; UPON RETURNING HER GAZE TO 18, SHE NOTICES THAT SOME SORT OF BARRIER HAS FORMED AROUND HER>

Nion: A barrier?...

Android 18: No matter how strong you think you are, even you can’t break through this barrier. Now listen-

<BEFORE 18 CAN CONTINUE, NION MAKES ANOTHER ATTACK ATTEMPT, GETTING KNOCKED BACK ONCE AGAIN>

Android 18: <NOW VISIBLY ANNOYED, CLOSING HER EYES> Are you going to keep this up or are you going to listen to what I have to say?

<NION PICKS HERSELF OFF THE PAVEMENT AND TAKES A DEEP BREATH; SHE TAKES A MOMENT TO OBSERVE THE BARRIER SURROUNDING 18, NOTING ITS CIRCULAR STRUCTURE>

Nion: <SOFTLY> Hmm… barrier.

<SHE TAKES HER RIGHT HAND AND RAISES IT TO HER FACE, CLENCHING IT IN A FIST; SHE CLOSES HER EYES; SHOT CLOSES IN ON THE FIST, ACKNOQLEDGING THE SUBTLE RUMBLING THAT IT BEGINS TO MAKE; IT PANS BACK OUT, SHOWING NION WITH HER EYES OPEN AGAIN, SMILING; SECONDS LATER, HER FIST BECOMES ENVELOPED BY SOME SORT OF ENERGY; IT’S MINISCULE FORM LOOKS SIMILAR TO ANDROID 18’S BARRIER>

Android 18: <EYES WIDENING> Interesting… it seems you’ve been trained in ki as while.

<NION LOOKS BACK AT 18, STILL GRINNING AS SHE DOES IT; AFTER SECONDS OF TENSION, SHE DASHES TOWARDS 18 AGAIN; AS SHE COMES WITHIN ARM’S GRASP OF 18, SHE BRINGS HER EMPOWERED FIST IN FRONT OF HER; THE ENERGY WITHIN HER FIST IS ENOUGH TO PENETRATE 18’S BARRIER, IMMEDIATELY BRINGING IT DOWN, MUCH TO 18’S SURPRISE>

Android 18: <STAGGERS BACKWARDS> I didn’t expect you to be able to do that…

Nion: <IN A MONOTONE VOICE> Wasn’t too hard once I took a second to observe that barrier you had up.

Android 18: You… you replicated my barrier instantly? Without any practice or-

Nion: Whatever technique I see, I can do. Doesn’t matter what it is.

Android 18: <SMIRKS> Well aren’t you special?

<NION SMILES AND, SURPRISINGLY, ANDROID 18 SMILES RIGHT BACK>

My Friend the Android
<THE TENSION IS THICK WITH THE TWO FOR A MOMENT, WHOSE ARROGANT SMILES PIERCE EACH OTHER; EVENTUALLY, ANDROID 18 STEPS UP TO NION, WHO LOWERS INTO HER BATTLE STANCE AND SHAKES OFF ANY DUST FROM HER HOODIE>

Android 18: I was hoping to resolve this without resorting to combat, but you’re actually kind of fun. <RAISES HER FISTS> Shall we continue?

<NION RESPONDS TO HER REQUEST BY LAUNCHING A RIGHT HAYMAKER TOWARDS 18, WHICH IS BLOCKED; 18 PUSHES HER FIST BACK, MUCH TO HER ANNOYMENT, AND RESPONDS WITH A, WHICH 18 IMMEDIATELY DUCKS; SHE FOLLOWS WITH A SERIES OF SWINGING KICKS, ALL OF WHICH 18 AVOIDS AS WELL; SHE SWITCHES TO HER RIGHT LEG AND DELIVERS A BARRAGE OF KICKS IN RAPID SUCCESSION; 18 MANAGES TO DODGE THESE AS WELL, BUT IS CAUGHT OFF GUARD BY A KNEE STRIKE FROM NION’S LEFT KNEE THAT CONNECTS WITH HER CHIN; NION TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THIS AND DELIVERS A LEFT-LEGGED ROUNDHOUSE KICK THAT STAGGERS 18>

Nion: <UNDER HER BREATH> Got you!

<NION CONTINUES TO BARRAGE 18 WITH SWING KICKS AND JABS, MOST OF THEM CONNECTING; 18 IS VISIBLY FRUSTRATED WHILE TRYING TO GUARD THE ATTACKS, ATTEMPTING TO FIND A BRIEF OPENING IN HER ATTACKS; BEFORE 18 HAS A CHANCE TO COUNTERATTACK, NION LEAPS ON TOP OF 18, RESTING UPSIDE DOWN ON TOP OF HER HEAD; DESPITE 18’S STRUGGLING, SHE MAINTAINS HER PERFECT BALANCE, EVEN CROSSING HER ARMS AND CLOSING HER EYES>

<18 TRIES TO SWIPE NION OFF OF HER HEAD, BUT NION LEAPS IN THE AIR WITH EVERY ATTEMPT; NION TAKES A SECOND TO PAT 18 ON THE CHEEK AND SLIDES OFF HER HEAD, LANDING BEHIND HER, FACING AWAY; 18 SWINGS HER ARM AROUND, BUT NION DUCKS IT; 18 NOTICES THIS AND CONTINUES SWINGING, CATCHING NION IN THE FACE WITH HER OTHER FIST; NION STAGGERS BACK, LEAVING HER OPEN TO ATTACK>

Android 18: Block this!

<ANDROID 18 BEGINS CHARGING HER ENERGY IN HER PALMS AND BEGINS TO FIRE MULTIPLE SWIRLING ENERGY SPHERES AT NION; NION SHAKES OFF HER DIZZINESS AND BEGINS CHARGING ENERGY WITHIN HER HANDS AS WELL; INSTEAD OF RESPONDING WITH BLASTS, NION EXTENDS HER ARMS OUT AND A SECOND BEFORE THE FIRST BLAST HITS, A BARRIER DISINTEGRATES IT UPON IMPACT, ALONG WITH THE NEXT FEW BLASTS THAT COME INTO CONTACT; DESPITE THIS, 18 DOESN’T LET UP, CONTINUING TO FIRE BLASTS AT THE BARRIER; WITH THE BARRIER STILL UP, NION SLOWLY TAKES A STEP FORWARD>

<HER SLOW WALK EVENTUALLY TURNS INTO A STEADY JOG AND, WHILE 18 IS IN MID MOTION OF THRUSTING HER ARMS, SHE LOWERS HER BARRIER AND DASHES TOWARDS 18; UNBEKNOWNST TO NION, 18 CATCHES WIND OF THIS AND, INSTEAD OF PUNCHING 18, NION PUNCHES THE AFTERIMAGE THAT SHE’S LEFT BEHIND, MUCH TO HER CONFUSION>

Nion: What the-?

<ANDROID 18 APPEARS BEHIND NION AND CHOPS HER IN THE NECK, BRIEFLY STUNNING HER AND DROPPING HER TO A KNEE; 18 CIRCLES AROUND NION AND TAKES A STEP BACK BEFORE RUNNING UP AND PUNTING NION IN THE FACE, LAYING HER OUT; ANDRIOD 18 WALKS OVER TO NION AND GRABS HER BY HER NECK, TAKING NOTE OF HER BLOODIED LOWER LIP>

Android 18: Look, this is going on for much longer than I thought. Now why don’t you-

<BEFORE 18 CONTINUES, SHE NOTICES A CHANGE IN NION; HER STUNNED FROWN HAS MORPHED INTO A PLAYFUL SMILE; HER EYES FLY OPEN, WHICH HAVE CHANGED AGAIN, SIMILAR TO HER FIGHT EARLIER WITH GRANT, LOOKING NEAR SADISTIC; 18’S EXRESSION DARKENS, UNAWARE OF WHAT SHE HAD PLANNED NEXT; NION BEGINS TO BREATHE HEAVILY OUT LOUD, WHICH DOESN’T FAZE 18>

Nion: <STOPS BREATHING HEAVILY, STILL LOOKING VENOMOUS> I remember you now.

Android 18: Oh?

Nion: Yea… I do. From back in the… <EYES BEGIN TO ROLL> Lazuli…

Android 18: <EYES WIDEN> Lazuli? How do you-

<NION CLAPS HER HANDS INCHES AWAY FROM ANDROID 18’S FACE; THOUGH NOT AN ATTACK, 18’S FOCUS ON NION RESULTS IN HER BEING BRIEFLY STUNNED, RELEASING HER GRIP ON NION>

Nion: <IN HER HEAD> One second. Use it.

<IN SLOW MOTION; NION REGAINS HER FOOTING AND LAUNCHES HERSELF AT 18, SWEEPING HER OFF HER FEET AND COLLAPSING ON THE GROUND; IN NORMAL MOTION; NION ASSUMES A DOMINANT POSITION OVER HER, PINNING 18’S ARMS TO THE GROUND; NION’S EYES RETURN TO NORMAL AND HER SMILE DISAPPEARS>

Nion: Now then, why don’t you tell me what “danger” you’re talking about?

Android 18: <GRUNTS> Your… your parents.

Nion: …What?

Android 18: Get off of me… and I’ll tell you everything.

Nion: <GRABS 18 BY THE NECK, HER EYES BECOMING DARK SHADED AGAIN> That’s not gonna cut it! The hell are you getting at!? What do you know about my parents!?

Android 18: I won’t tell you anything unless you calm down and listen!

<AFTER SOME SPECULATION, THOUGH HESITANT, NION RELEASES HER GRIP ON 18 AND HELPS HER UP TO HER FEET>

Android 18: Thank you.

Nion: Talk.

Android 18: <CLEARS HER THROAT> Now then, your parents. Christopher and Lucille Jenkins, am I correct?

<NION NODS>

Android 18: <SIGHS> I remember those names. I remember hearing them when I was a kid.

<CUTS TO A FLASHBACK OF A YOUNGER LAZULI AND A YOUNGER LAPIS (ANDROID 17) IN THE MIDDLE OF NORTH CITY; THE TWO ARE TAKING TURNS HIDING BETWEEN BENCHES, TREES, AND ANY OTHER OBJECTS WHILE FOLLOWING THREE ADULTS, EACH DRESSED ELEGANTLY; THE TWO ADULTS, WHOSE YOUNGER FACIAL FEATURES APPEAR TO BE THAT OF A YOUNGER CHRIS AND LUCY, SEEM TO BE CONVERSING WITH THE MAN IN THE FRONT, WHO’S LESS THAN INTERESTED>

Chris: Please reconsider, Sir. This idea, these Androids you’re so worked up over, this has to have-

Man: I’ll have no more of your complaints, Christopher. <STOPS WALKING, TURNS TO FACE THEM; SHOT PANS DOWN TO AVOID HIS FACE> Do you not understand the importance of this? The fear we could inflict? <CUTS TO CLOSE-UP OF HIS RIGHT EYE, SQUINCHING> The enemies that we could crush?

Lucy: Sir, if I may, the amount of trouble it would cause to have artificial machines, each with their own mind, willingly serve under us, that’s just too much! We already have that failure in the mountains. These things, these… “machines”, as powerful as they are, under our beck and call alone? Without any other leadership or guidance? Imagine what the repercussions could be if they were to turn on us.

Man: You as well, Lucille? <GRUNTS> You should recognize that, to maintain our course towards the primary objective, we have to take measures that, while inconceivable to you, would only warrant our dominance even higher than anyone could’ve imagined.

Lucy: But Sir-

Man: Especially someone like you should understand that. With you two and that girl you picked up for me. Had it not been for you, I would’ve used her as the perfect specimen for my first creation.

Lucy: <ANGRILY, ALMOST TEARING UP> You leave her out of this! She has no part in this experiment of yours!

Man: How is she, by the way? Still on the way to kicking the bucket?

Chris: <STEPPING BETWEEN THE TWO> Leave her out of this, Doctor. We followed you religiously in a different time, but now we want nothing to do with your foolish experiment, and, to be frank, we want even less to do with you!

Man: <TAKES A DEEP BREATH, THEN CHUCKLES> Alright then. If that is your wish. If you want no part of this so be it, but I will continue my research, with or without someone as spineless as you. Whether my research involves taking that girl by force, or anyone else that I come across, it will be done.

Chris: Bastard… if you lay one finger on her-

Man: You’ll do what, exactly? Rebel against me? You must know that such actions have consequences… such as the collection of that girl.

Chris and Lucy: What!?

Man: You’ve revealed that you have possible thoughts of rebellion. That alone is prime for dismissal, but I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt just this once. <GRINS> In exchange for the girl.

Chris: You…

Man: And if you don’t comply, I’ll make the rest of your pathetic lives a living hell, by the hands… of her. <TURNS HIS BACK TO THEM> As of the end of this week, she’s my property. Say your goodbyes soon.

Chris: <ANGRILY> You… you… GERO!

Dr. Gero: <SMILES> Good day.

<DR. GERO WALKS AWAY FROM THE TWO, LEAVING THEM SEETHING>

Ignorance is Hell
<CUTS BACK TO PRESENT DAY, CLOSE SHOT OF NION WITH A LOOK OF PURE DISTURBANCE ON HER FACE. THE THOUGH OF HER PARENTS BEING A PART OF THE INFAMOUS RED RIBBON ARMY IS COMPLETELY FOREIGN TO HER>

Android 18: After 17 and I heard about you possibly becoming Gero’s next puppet, we had to do something.

Nion: … Which was?

<18 TURNS HER BACK TO NION, LOWERING HER HEAD A BIT>

Nion: Lazuli…?

<18 RAISES HER HEAD UP AGAIN AND TURNS HER HEAD TO THE LEFT, HER EYE COVERED BY SLIVERS OF HAIR>

Android 18: We had to get you out.

Nion: Get me out? What do you mean “get me out?” What did you do?

Android 18: We… “helped” them break you out.

Nion: You helped my parents escape Gero’s grasp? So, why are you speaking of them as if you’re terrified of them?

<18 STAYS SILENT>

Nion: …You honestly expect me to accept silence after telling me this? …<GRINS> I should thank you, I suppose. You did a good thing.

Android 18: <LOUDER, ANGRIER> A good thing!?

Nion: You did what you had to. No harm done.

Android 18: <A SNARL FORMING, HER ANGER INCREASING> What… I had to…!

Nion: <NOTICES HER SNARLING> Is something the matter? Did you not do the right thing when you saved me? My parents for sure-

<18 BACKHANDS NION, DROPPING HER TO THE GROUND>

Android 18: You’re the product of hell spawns!

Nion: <WIPING HER FACE OFF> What are you-

Android 18: You haven’t figured it out, have you!?

<SHE GRABS NION’S COLLAR AND PULLS HER CLOSER; CLOSE-UP SHOT OF 18’S ANGERED EXPRESSION>

Android 18: Those devils sold us out!

Nion: What?

<CUTS BACK TO THE BREAK OUT, THIS TIME IN SURREAL, FUZZY VISIONS; WHAT’S CURRENTLY MADE CLEAR IS THE SIGHT OF CHRIS AND LUCY, WHO’S CARRYING A BODY BAG OVER HER SHOULDER, WITH LAZULI AND LAPIS RIGHT BEHIND HER>

Silhouette of Chris: Hurry now, I know the way out!

<TIME SHIFTS AHEAD A FEW SECONDS; THE GROUP RUNS OUT OF A SMALL CAVE WHERE THEY ARE MET WITH A STEEP CLIFF OVERLOOKING NEARBY MOUNTAINS AND FORESTS>

Lazuli: North City is close. You should be safe there.

Chris: We can make it from here.

<CHRIS MAKES HIS WAY TOWARDS THE TWINS AND EXTENDS HIS HAND>

Chris: Thank you, thank you so much!

<THOUGH RELUCTANT, LAPIS RETURNS THE GESTURE>

Lapis: Don’t mention i-

<LAPIS FALLS TO THE GROUND, UNMOVING>

Lazuli: What the-?

<CHRIS PUNCHES LAZULI SQUARE IN THE FACE, KNOCKING HER OUT COLD; LUCY IS TOO BUSY STRUGGLING WITH THE BODY BAG AHEAD TO NOTICE HIS ACTIONS BEHIND HER>

Lucy: Chris? Christopher, we must leave! What’s holding you!?

<CHRIS DRAGS THE UNCONSCIOUS LAPIS OVER TO LAZULI AND REMOVES HIS LAB COAT, SPREADING IT OVER THE TWO>

Chris: I’m coming, sweetie. Just tying up some loose ends.

Lucy: <ATTEMPTING TO TURN AROUND> What did you-?

Chris: Let us leave! Now!

<CHRIS WHISKS HIS WIFE AHEAD OF HIM AND THEY SLOWLY DISAPPEAR INTO THE MOUNTAINS, WHILST BACK ON THE MOUNTAIN RIDGE, A MYSTERIOUS FIGURE STANDS OVER THE UNCONSCIOUS TWINS>

<SHOT CLOSES IN ON THE FIGURE’S EYE, THOUGH THE RAGGED OUTSKIRTS OF HIS EYES ARE PROMINENT AROUND THE EDGES>

Dr. Gero: Excellent…

<HIS EYE SLOWLY MORPHS INTO NION’S EYE AND THE SHOT PANS OUT; BACK IN THE PRESENT DAY, NOW FOCUSING ON THE DISCOMFORTING EXPRESSION SHE HAS>

Nion: <WHISPERING> Gero…

Android 18: Doctor Gero: a vile, heartless man. He kidnapped my brother and I. Ran tests on us, experimented with us. Granted, it did wonders for us, but looking back at what we went through… <18’S EXPRESSION BECOMES BLEAK, ALMOST TO THE POINT OF HORROR> It was terrifying. No one should ever have to go through that.

Nion: <TAKES 18’S HAND OFF HER COLLAR AND HOLDS IT GENTLY; HER FACE BECOMES SOFTER, ALMOST FEELING SORRY FOR THE ANDROID> … I’m sorry.

Android 18: It’s times like this that I don’t regret 17 killed him.

Nion: <STARTLED> Killed him!?

Android 18: You heard me? What, you wanted to “question” him? <SCOFFS> What questions would he answer to you?

Nion: <LETS GO OF 18’S HAND> He’d let me know more than you have!

Android 18: I told you everything you needed to know.

Nion: Incorrect. You never told me how I fit into all this.

Android 18: Fit? There is no fitting into when it comes to those demons you call parents.

Nion: <A VEIN POPS OUT OF HER SKULL> Don’t talk about my parents like that.

Android 18: And why shouldn’t I!?

Nion: Because the way I see it, they did what they needed to do so that they could save me from whatever awaited with this Gero, and from you if I’m being honest.

Android 18: <BECOMING ENRAGED> What did you say!?

Nion: The way I see it, he cut off two delinquents who might’ve caused trouble for them the second they flashed as much as a stack of zeni in front of them.

Android 18: Ungrateful little- <GRITS HER TEETH>… can you not see that we were trying to help you!?

Nion: And look what that did for you.

Android 18: <RAISING HER VOICE> Because of you!

Nion: <RETURNING THE TONE> But why did you want to help me!?

Android 18: <HER EXPRESSION SOFTENS, LOWERS HER HEAD, ALMOST WHISPERS> …I guess you could say… I had a duty of care.

Nion: <SHE PAUSES, TAKING IN THIS UNUSUAL RESPONSE FROM THIS, SO FAR, CAREFREE INDIVIDUAL THAT STOOD BEFORE HER> Lazuli…

Android 18: <CHUCKLES> Why do you keep calling me that?

Nion: Because it’s your name… or at least that’s the name in your head. <TAKES A DEEP BREATH> And since you quote-unquote “rescued me”, I owe you, whether I remember you or not.

Android 18: <SCOFFS> Unless it’s zeni, I’m just fine.

Nion: Of course… We can always hit up the bank.

Android 18: <ALARMED> Wouldn’t your folks know it was you?

Nion: Not true. There are others around who can do it just as effectively as I can... <FOLDS HER ARMS> Never mind then.

<IN THE DISTANCE BEHIND NION, THE MOON, A FULL MOON TO BE EXACT, BEGINS ITS RISE IN THE SKY; SHE FEELS THE LIGHT BOUNCE OFF HER, WILLING TO EXPERIENCE IT HEAD-ON BEFORE HER FEELS A SUBTLE BUZZING IN HER HOODIE POCKET; SHE TAKES HER PHONE OUT>

Nion: It’s my father. Said to report home right away.

Android 18: You don’t have to go back home, you know.

Nion: What?

Android 18: You can’t possibly go back home, not after everything I’ve told you.

Nion: That was years ago.

Android 18: Years don’t mean anything to devils.

Nion: If that’s the case, why haven’t I seen anything suspicious in their laboratory? I sneak in there whenever I get bored and I spot no signs of anything sinister.

Android 18: You’re not looking hard enough. Nion, forgive me, but I’m worried that if you don’t step away from those monsters, you’ll become one yourself.

Nion: And if that happens?

Android 18: Then I’m doing what I almost did when I saw you.

Nion: Which is?

Android 18: Killing you right then and there, along with those people you call parents.

Nion: <TURNS AWAY FROM 18, SCOWLING> Guess we’ll see when it comes to it.

Android 18: <TAKES A DEEP BREATH> I guess we will.

Nion: Tell me this, at the least. <SHE TURNS TO FACE HER> Something’s been bothering me lately. These visions, these… hallucinations. I’m not an expert in the mental department, but I know… <SHE BRINGS A HAND TO HER CHEST> there are memories in here that aren’t mine. Personalities that aren’t mine.

<18 IS CONFUSED, THEN RUBS HER EYES TO BLOCK OUT THE RAYS OF THE FULL MOON OVERLOOKING THE CITY>

Nion: There’s a reason this is happening and there’s a reason you saved me from that Gero. You know more than you’re letting on, Lazuli. <TONE SHIFTS, BECOMING MORE CURIOUS> I know your real name and I don’t know how!

<ANDROID 18 IS HESITANT, FIXATING ON THE FULL MOON, DOING HER BEST TO IGNORE NION’S REQUEST>

Nion: You said it yourself, we were friends once.

Android 18: Acquaintances.

Nion: Same difference, now tell me… who am I? <CLOSE-UP SHOT ON NION> What are you hiding?

Android 18: <UNCOMFORTABLY SHIFTS HER FOCUS BACK TO NION> Have you ever heard the phrase “ignorance is bliss?”

Nion: To hell with that. <GRABS 18 BY THE SHOULDERS> Tell me, I want to know… who am I?

Android 18: <DODGY AND RELUCTANT, EVENTUALLY FREEING HERSELF FROM NION’S GRASP> That, you’ll have to find out for yourself. <FLIES AWAY AT LIGHT-SPEED>

Nion: Hey, wait!

<TOO LATE; 18 IS LONG GONE; NION CONTEMPLATES FOR A MOMENT BEFORE RETURNING TO THE LAMP POST IN THE CORNER; SHE TAKES NOTICE OF THE MOON’S SHINE ALL AROUND HER, TAKING NOTE OF HER DISFIGURED SHADOW GLOOMING BEHIND HER>

Nion: Mother… Father…

<AS NION TURNS AWAY FROM THE LAMP POST, WE SEE A FLATLINE SHOT OF NION STANDING UNDER THE MOON IN THE DISTANCE, WHERE HER SHADOW BEHIND HAS TAKEN A NEW SHAPE, ALMOST IN THE FORM OF A GIANT MONKEY OF SORTS; SHE THROWS HER HOODIE ON AND SLOWLY GOES ON HER WAY>

<LATER THAT NIGHT>

<NION CLOSES THE DOOR BEHIND HER AS SHE ENTERS HER PARENT’S RESIDENCE; THEY ARE NOWHERE TO BE SEEN, MUCH TO HER RELIEF; SHE TAKES A SECOND TO GRAB SOME TURKEY LEGS FROM THE REFRIGERATOR BEFORE HEADING UPSTAIRS TO HER ROOM; HER ROOM IS A SMALL BUT TIDY ONE, WITH BOOKS STACKED NEATLY ON A SMALL SHELF TO THE RIGHT WITH A ROOM WIDE CLOSED CLOSET TO THE LEFT. SHE SIGHS AT THE SIGHT OF HER BED, SUMMONING HER TO THE CENTER OF THE ROOM; SHE RESPONDS TO ITS CALL, TOSSING HER HOODIE NEAR THE CLOSET DOOR, AND FLOPS ON HER BED>

<AS SHE CLOSES HER EYES, THE SHOT ZOOMS ONTO HER FACE, EVENTUALLY COMING UPON A DARKENED ENVIRONMENT, SURROUNDED BY A MYSTERIOUS MIST; NION IS SHOWN, STANDING IDLY, CLOTHELESS, WITH MIST COVERING UP ANY FORBIDDEN PARTS>

<AS SHE’S STANDING, THE MIST SLOWLY BEGINS TO DISAPPEAR; PILLARS OF ROCK COME INTO VIEW, ALONG WITH THE OUTSKIRTS OF WHAT SEEMS TO BE A DESERT IN THE FOREGROUND; STRANGELY, FROM NION’S POV, THE ENVIRONMENT BEGINS TO SHRINK, ALMOST AS IF SHE’S RISING IN THE AIR OR GROWING AT A RAPID RATE>

<THE TERRAIN EVENTUALLY STOPS SHIFTING; SHOT PANS OUT, SHOWING NION TOWERING OVER A NIMBLE PILLAR, ACCOMPANIED BY VARIOUS MOUNTAINS IN THE DISTANCE, ALMOST LIKE A GIANT OVERLOOKING A LANDSCAPE>

Nion: <THINKING> The mountains… but… but this is-…

<AS SHE GAZES AT THE DESERTED TERRAIN BEFORE HER, SHE FOCUSES HER ATTENTION ON A MINISCULE GREEN BUG ON THE SURFACE BELOW; IT’S SEEMINGLY FIXATED ON HER, EITHER IN TERROR OR SOMETHING ELSE; CURIOUS, SHE REACHES HER HAND OUT TO TOUCH IT, BUT IMMEDIATELY NOTICES THAT HER ARM IS NOW BROWN AND HAIRY, WHICH STARTLES HER>

Nion: My hand… What is this!?

<THOUGH NION CAN HEAR HER VOICE CLEARLY, SHE SENSES THAT HER VOICE IS JOINED BY SOMETHING ELSE; SOMETHING ANIMAL, FEROCIOUS, ALMOST LIKE A ROAR; SHE’S STARTLED, RESULTING IN HER LOSING HER BALANCE ON THE PILLAR AND FALLING TO THE GROUND BELOW; BEFORE SHE HITS THE GROUND, SHE IMMEDIATELY WAKES UP FROM HER DREAM, FALLING ONTO THE FLOOR OF HER BED ROOM INSTEAD>

<SHE REMOVES THE COVER FROM OVER HER, SHAKING OFF THE DUST FROM THE TANK TOP AND GYM SHORTS SHE HAD ON; AFTER MESSING AROUND WITH HER HAIR A LITTLE, SHE RETURNS TO HER BED; SHE FINDS THAT SHE’S UNABLE TO SLEEP, SO DECIDES TO CARESS HER TAIL FOR A BIT; MAYBE HURTING IT WOULD MOTIVATE HER TO FALL ASLEEP, BUT SHE DECIDED AGAINST>

<THIS GOES ON FOR A FEW MINUTES UNTIL SHE GROWS BORED OF THE ACTIVITY, DECIDING INSTEAD TO MEDITATE; SHE TAKES A DEEP BREATH AND BEGINS, THE WIND PROVIDING ASSISTANCE IN SOOTHING HER SOUL WITH THE WISKS FLYING AGAINST HER WINDOW>

Nion: <SPEAKING LOWLY> I need to know…

Meeting your Maker (Season 1 Finale Part 1)
<THE NEXT DAY>

<NION IS TAKING A TEST, MOVING FROM ANSWER TO ANSWER WITHIN SECONDS; GRANT AND THE OTHERS AREN’T IN CLASS TODAY, MUCH TO HER DELIGHT; THOUGH SHE MANAGES TO RACE THROUGH MOST OF IT WITH EASE, SHE FREEZES AT THE LAST QUESTION; CLOSE-UP SHOT OF NION’S IMMEDIATELY SWEAT-INFUSED FACE, HER EYES DILATING IN DRAMATIC DETAIL; SHE DROPS HER PENCIL TO THE FLOOR, WHICH ALARMS MS. FAULCONER>

Ms. Faulconer: You dropped your pencil, Nion.

<AFTER SECONDS OF SILENCE, NION BEGINS TO HYPERVENTILATE TO HERSELF; EVENTUALLY HER VOLUME INCREASES AND THE ENTIRE CLASS HEARS, DISTRACTING FEW BUT NOT ALL>

Ms. Faulconer: Nion, what’s wrong?

<HER PUPILS BEGIN MOVING RAPIDLY, EVENTUALLY SHRINKING AND BECOMING THAT DARK SHADE OF GREY AGAIN>

Nion: <WHISPERING TO HERSELF> Kakarot, Kakarot, Kakarot, Kakarot- <SHE TAKES A DEEP BREATH BUT HAS TROUBLE SLOWING DOWN AFTERWARDS>

Futo: S-s-she’s hyperventi-i-ilat-

Sala: <FROM THE BACK OF THE ROOM> She’s hyperventilating, teach! Get the nurse!

<NION GETS UP FROM HER DESK, GRABBING HER CHEST>

Ms. Faulconer: <OPENS THE DOOR AND CALLS IN THE HALLWAY> Get the nurse, now!

<NION’S SATANIC GRIN RETURNS; SHE POINTS AT MS. FAULCONER>

Nion: So, it is you… CELL!

<FROM NION’S PERSPECTIVE, SHE’S EYEING DOWN THE INFAMOUS BIO-ANDROID THAT THREATENED THE EARTH THE YEAR PRIOR, CELL>

Ms. Faulconer: <TERRIFIED> Cell!?

Nion: You’re not gonna get me… you’re not gonna get me! <SHE PAUSES; SHE’S AWARE OF WHAT’S GOING ON; NOW TERRFIED> Not again…

<NION RACES OUT OF THE CLASSROOM AT AMAZING SPEED; SALA AND FUTO LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND RISE FROM THEIR DESKS, BUT SALA SHAKES HER HEAD AT FUTO>

Sala: You’re staying here.

Futo: But I-

<SALA HAS ALREADY FOLLOWED PURSUIT BEFORE HE CAN FINISH>

<CUTS TO MOMENTS LATER; NION IS LEANING ON A WALL BEHIND THE SCHOOL BUILDING, HER HOOD SLOUCHED OVER HER HEAD; SALA APPEARS FROM THE DISTANCE AND WALKS OVER TO HER>

Sala: You cool?

Nion: Come.

<SHE WALKS TO THE PARKING LOT, TRAILED BY SALA; THEY WALK TO THE FRON OF THE SCHOOL, AVOIDING SECURITY OFFICERS ALONG THE WAY; THEY MAKE THEIR WAY TO A TREE STUMP, WHERE NION MAKES HERSELF COMFORTABLE>

Sala: Mind telling me what all that was about?

Nion: What did you see?

Sala: Hm?

Nion: When I fought Grant and his scrubs, what did you see?

Sala: <FOLDS HER ARMS> That’s not why I came out here. I asked-

Nion: <STOMPS THE GROUND, LEAVING A SMALL CRACKLE IN IT> What did you see!? Sala: <PAUSES, THEN SPEAKS> What do you mean? I saw you kicking ass, if you want a short answer.

Nion: That’s not want I want. Be straight with me. <TURNS TO FACE HER> What did you see from me?

Sala: <RELUCTANT, TAKES A DEEP BREATH> Damn psychotic is what I’d call you. Had it not been for me, those boys might’ve been in the hospital, or worse. You didn’t seem like yourself.

<NION FEELS HER HEAD BEGINNING TO FEEL HEAVIER; SHE STANDS FROM THE STUMP AND STAGGERS AROUND FOR A BIT, MOANING>

Sala: Nion?... What’s wrong?

<NION STOPS STAGGERING AND PUNCHES A HOLE THROUGH THE STUMP; SALA IS FRIGHTENED>

Nion: <HEAD STILL AFFECTING HER> Dammit…

Sala: Do… you need to go see the doctor or-

Nion: <ANGRILY, ALMOST FEROCIOUS> NO! <SHE CLUTCHES HER HEAD MORE, GROANING IN PAIN>

Sala: Come on, you need to get to a doctor. <SHE FLINGS NION’S ARM OVER HER SHOULDER, BUT NION IMMEDIATELY SHOVES HER AWAY>

Nion: <STILL IN PAIN> I don’t… need that right now. <TAKES A MOMENT TO BREATHE SLOWLY> I need to do some investigating.

Sala: <STILL CONFUSED> What the hell was that?

Nion: Too many memories… I can’t keep up with it all.

Sala: Memories?

Nion: I need you to come with me…

Sala: <SHOCKED> I’m amazed. Skipping school is one thing, but you’re already inviting me over? Moving fast, aren’t we?

Nion: This isn’t the time to be joking, Kakarot, you idiot! <NION PAUSES FOR A MOMENT UPON HEARING WHOSE NAME SHE JUST UTTERED>

Sala: That carrot guy again?

Nion: <CLINCHES HER HEAD AGAIN> Dammit… it’s worse today.

<SALA STAND BY, CONFUSED YET CONCERNED>

Nion: I need to do some breaking and entering. You in?

Sala: <SCOFFS> Who do you take me for? A delinquent?

<NION STARES AT SALA WITH A RAISED EYEBROW>

Sala: … We going or not? <LOOKS OVER TO A NEARBY TREE> Go back inside, Futo!

<HE EMERGES, NERVOUS>

Futo: I want to help.

Sala: I said you can-

Nion: Just let him come.

Sala and Futo: Really!?

Nion: I find it disturbing that you keep telling him to hang back whenever I have a crisis. Let the boy have fun for a change.

Futo: Thank y-you!

Nion: Come on, they should be in their office right now.

Sala: Where exactly are we going again?

Nion: To their lab.

<CUTS TO AN HOUR LATER; THE THREE ARE INSIDE CAPSULE CORPORATION, THEM SUCCESSFULLY SNEAKING BY THE GUARDS ON POINT; THE TWO ARE MAKING THEIR WAY TO THE UNDERGROUND PARTS OF CAPSULE CORPORATION>

Sala: How do you know about this place?

Nion: My parents did my best to make no one knew about it, apparently. It was luck that I trailed them one day and happened to see it for myself. I’m surprised no one else knows about it with the amount of times they go into it.

Sala: Which is how many?

Nion: Recently, too many. They’ve been erratic, almost as if something terrible is occurring.

Sala: And you think this something has something to do with you?

Nion: Yes.

<THE THREE FINALLY MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE METALLIC DOOR; FUTO IS IN AWE>

Futo: Wow! I-I’ve never seen a-a-anything like it!

Nion: A giant metal door?

Futo: N-N-Not in person.

Nion: <TAKES A DEEP BREATH> Onion.

<THE MECHANISMS BEGIN WORKING AGAIN, EVENTUALLY OPENING THE DOOR TO THE THREE, REVEALING THE LAB WITHIN>

Sala: What the-…?

Nion: I never thought I’d see this up close… come on.

Sala: Wait a minute. You knew the password?

Nion: Obviously.

Sala: So, why haven’t you been in here already?

Nion: I needed someone to keep watch in case my parents got curious.

Sala: Keep watch?

Nion: Futo, watch the door for me. Please?

<FUTO DOESN’T ANSWER; HE’S STILL AMAZED BY THE SCIENTIFIC MARVEL IN FRONT OF HIM>

Sala: <SNAPS HER FINGERS TO HIS FACE> Hey, buddy! Focus! <HE SNAPS AWAKE> We need you to watch the door, okay? Make sure Nion’s folks don’t interrupt us.

Futo: Oh! Um, okay.

<HE FACES THE EXIT, FIRM AND CONFIDENT IN HIS STANCE; SALA WALKS TO NION, WHO’D BECOME TRANSFIXED BY THE FAMILY PORTRAIT NEARBY>

Sala: When was this taken?

Nion: When I first enrolled at Orange Star.

Sala: Really? <OBSERVES THE “FRESHMAN” NION, WHO LOOKS NO DIFFERENT THAN THE NION SHE KNOWS> I guess age is but a number, eh?

Nion: I suppose.

<SHE WALKS OVER TO HER FATHER’S DESK, WHERE THE COMPUTER MONITOR AND THE MECHANICAL DEVICES NEAR IT HUMS IN SILENCE, AWAITING COMMAND; SHE SITS IN HIS CHAIR AND PRESSES ENTER ON THE KEYBOARD>

Computer: Welcome, Doctor.

Sala: <GIGGLES> What kind of idiot doesn’t even have a password for his computer?

Nion: The kind who thinks no one else can access it.

<THE MONITOR FLICKERS ON, DISPLAYING A SILHOUETTE OF NION AGAIN; VARIOUS STATISTICS AND READINGS APPEARED SHORTLY AFTER>

Sala: What is this?

<NION SHIFTS HER FOCUS TO THE KEYBOARD AND TYPES IN A FEW LETTERS; HER SILHOUETTE SHIFTS TO THE SIDE TO SHOW HER A FLASHING GREEN INDICATOR WHICH READ “CONFIGURATION OF SUBJECT 0 AT 95 PERCENT COMPLETION>

Sala: Subject 0? <TAKES A CLOSER LOOK> Wait… is that you!?

Nion: Subject 0?

<SHE HAS A FLASHBACK OF ANDROID 18 CALLING HER “ZERO” WHEN THEY FOUGHT; SHE TAKES THE CURSOR OVER TO THE FILE “CLASSIFIED”; SHE CLICKS ON IT, BUT IT ASKS FOR A PASSWORD>

Nion: Dammit… <BEGINS TYPING RANDOM WORDS OVER AND OVER TO NO AVAIL> Come on, you aren’t that complex, Father. <SHE TAKES A MOMENT TO PONDER WHEN SOMETHING EVENTUALLY COMES TO HER AND SHE TYPES IT IN; FAILURE>

Sala: Any other ideas?

Nion: Nothing.

Sala: Hm… let me have a crack. <BEGINS TYPING ON THE KEYBOARD>

Nion: Good luck. If I can’t get it, I doubt you-

Computer: Access Granted.

Sala: You were saying?

Nion: <CONFUSED> How… did… you-?

Sala: There was a piece of paper under the desk with a word on it.

Nion: … And what was that word?

Sala: Guess.

Nion: <SIGHS> Of course, Father.

<NION OPENS THE FILE AND IT SHOWS A VIDEO CLIP SHOWING NION’S FATHER; SHE CLICKS IT; SALA TAKES NOTICE AT A WEIRD LOOKING HELMET NEARBY>

Chris: The operation has been a success, but there’s still a few issues that we’re quite unsure of. While we’ve replaced the dying cells with brand new ones, these new cells aren’t exactly harmless, nor are they guaranteed to be safe.

<HE SHIFTS THE CAMERA BEHIND HIM, SHOWING AN UNKNOWN BEING LAYING ON AN OPERATING TABLE, WHERE LUCY IS TENDING TO THE PERSON>

Chris: Utilizing the tools and plans “received” from Doctor Gero’s Android program, we’ve managed to not only create a being not only equal to his, but superior! Not only the superhuman enhancements, but we’ve given her the most superior cells that this planet has ever seen!

<HE MOVES THE CAMERA TO A MONITOR NEAR HIM; A DISORGANIZED GROUP OF CELLS APPEARS>

Chris: Saiyan cells!

Nion: <GASPS> Saiyan!?

Chris: That’s right. Not only have we created our own version of a Red Ribbon Android, but we’ve created the first ever… Red Ribbon SAIYAN! A Saiyan-Android hybrid if you will.

<ON THE MONITOR, THE MYSTERIOUS CELLS, NOW LABELED “S-CELLS”, BEGIN TO INVADE THE REGULAR, HUMAN CELLS NEXT TO IT>

Chris: But, as stated before, these cells aren’t entirely safe. From the data we’ve collected from Gero, Saiyans are warriors, bred for combat, aggressive beings, and their cells are no different. Not only have the S-cells replaced the dying ones, but they’re slowing eradicating the human ones, pushing them back in a nicer term. Soon enough, the regular cells will be wiped out and she’ll be identical to a full-blooded Saiyan, excluding the other “enhancements” and modifications that we’ve made.

<ON THE MONITOR, THE S-CELLS HAVE FULLY OVERTAKEN THE REGULAR CELLS, BUT THEY SUDDENLY BEGIN TO MULTIPLY RAPIDLY>

Chris: We never counted on the S-cells being so violent. We’re afraid that if the multiplication of the cells isn’t halted, not only would she have the biology of a Saiyan, but she would THINK like a Saiyan. That alone equals trouble for not only us, but the world.

Chris: Not only would her mental stability be corrupted, but, if not taken care of, she would lose control and who knows what would happen. Which is why…

<HE GLANCES OVER TO HIS WIFE; HER SAD EXPRESSION INDICATES HER OPINION ON WHAT HE’S GOING TO SAY>

Chris: Which is why we are going to have to wipe her memory.

Nion: <ASTONISHED; HORRIFIED> Wh-…What?

Chris: Everything she experienced before and during this operation occurred will disappear. They’ll be replaced by a personality matrix of my choosing. Though, we’ll want her to keep a low profile to not draw attention to herself. She’ll think she’s a regular human girl, when she’s but a machine. A superpowered machine created to serve and obey, like all children do.

Nion: <NOW ANGERED> Father…

Chris: The cells whom we’ve provided for her are of concern as well. <GRABS A NEARBY LADYBUG LOOKING DEVICE> We’ve constructed a device similar to Gero’s remote tracking device that enables us to constantly receive info on the subjects whose cells these are and are able to augment her strength so that it not only matches theirs but succeeds them!

Lucy: If I may, dear.

Chris: <TURNS TO HIS WIFE AND MOANS> Yes?

Lucy: This is just a hypothesis, but if we were to implant her with new memories, won’t the Saiyan cells counteract and give her memories of their own?

Chris: That’s preposterous!

Lucy: <GRUNTS, THEN CALMS DOWN> It’s not impossible! Just listen. What if these cells were to give her the memories of those subjects? And with the remote tracking device constantly uploading data and capturing their DNA, their memories could mix in with her new ones. Maybe even replace the new ones, like the cells have done!

Chris: <PUTS A HAND ON HIS CHIN> You may have a point. <CHUCKLES> But don’t worry, I’m positive if that happens, it’ll be a side effect that’ll disappear immediately.

Lucy: How can you be so sure?

Chris: Because your theory is ridiculous and has a minute chance of occurring.

<LUCY TAKES OFFENSE TO THIS, BUT NEGLECTS TO RESPOND, INSTEAD REMOVING THE SHEET FROM THE FIGURE’S FACE, REVEALING AN UNCONSCIOUS NION>

<NION AND SALA ARE HORRIFIED; THE VIDEO ENDS>

Sala: <PETRIFIED, NOT KNOWING HOW TO SPEAK TO NION> Nion…. you’re a… a-

Nion: An Android?

Sala: And a Saiyan!

<SHE DRAGS THE CURSOR TO THE FILE LABELED “OPERATION_BOWTIE AND, SURE ENOUGH, THE PASSWORD IS THE SAME WITH A VIDEO HIDDEN BEHIND IT; SHE PLAYS IT>

<MR. JENKINS APPEARS ON THE SCREEN AGAIN; THIS TIME HE IS HOLDING A SMALL REMOTE IN HIS HAND; INSTEAD OF LOOKING PROFESSIONAL IN HIS LAB COAT, HE LOOKS GRITTIER, DIRTIER, HIS LAB COAT OFF TO THE SIDE>

Chris: I thought I was past the fall of the army. I thought I was past her death. But I can’t. I won’t. I won’t forgive them for bringing that monster here! <REACHES FOR A BEER AND FINISHES IT BEFORE TOSSING IT AWAY> This right here… this is my revenge.

<HE SHOWS THE REMOTE TO THE CAMERA; IT HAS A DIAL THAT TAKES UP THE MAJORITY OF THE DEVICE WITH A SMALL RED BUTTON LOCATED ABOVE IT>

Chris: This remote alone has the ability override Android 0’s entire being.

Nion: Android 0… so that’s my name now.

Chris: With it, I gain complete control over everything she does. Her movements, her memories, her personality, all under MY control. And with this, I can avenge Brianne and exterminate the miscreants for bringing that bastardization of a creation here! And I don’t even care if Goku or “Kakarot” or whatever he is long dead. I’ll simply settle with the next best thing!

<HE ZOOMS THE CAMERA TO HIM, LOOKING EVEN MORE DISTURBED THAN BEFORE>

Chris: He’s responsible for my daughter dying… so now I’ll be responsible for his son dying! And the best part about this is that he isn’t here to stop us! I’ve already seen firsthand that an Android can handle this “Super Saiyan” that they become when 18 crippled Vegeta. All I have to do is augment her strength even more and she’ll be able to take them all on at once! And once Gohan is dead, I can turn my attention to reclaiming my former position in the world when I reform the ILLUSTRIOUS Red Ribbon Army!

Chris: That’s right! It’ll start anew, with me as the head and my most loyal creation as the executioner… <SMILES> Isn’t that right Android 0!?

<FOOTSTEPS ARE HEARD AND “ANDROID 0” STEPS INTO VIEW; SALA’S EYES WIDEN WITH AMAZEMENT>

Android 0: Affirmative, Father.

Voice: <OFF-SCREEN> Nion!?

<NION SHUTS OFF THE MONITOR; HER AND SALA QUICKLY JUMP FROM IT; MRS. JENKINS IS STANDING IN THE DOORWAY, SCARED>

Nion: Mother…

Sala: FUTO! <TURNS TO HER RIGHT, WHERE FUTO IS, HIDING BEHIND HER> I thought I told you to keep watch!

Futo: S-s-sorry! I listened on y-you!

Mrs. Jenkins: What are you doing here!?

Nion: Sorry, “Mother”, but you’re not the one asking questions here! <RAISES A HAND TO HER MOTHER, BEGINS CHARGING HER ENERGY> I am.

Mrs. Jenkins: What!? You… you wouldn’t shoot me Nion!

Nion: I honestly don’t know anymore. I want answers… NOW!

<EVERYONE IN THE LAB IS SUDDENLY ENVELOPED IN A BRIGHT LIGHT; THEY SUDDENLY VANISH; SECONDS LATER, THEY REAPPEAR IN A RANDOM STREET IN WEST CITY, NEAR CAPSULE CORPORATION>

Futo: AAH! What happened!?

Mrs. Jenkins: Particle Displacement Teleporter. It only activates when a surge of ki is detected in the lab and it teleports anyone in it a safe distance away.

Nion: Nice try, wanting to save your lab. But I’ve already heard everything.

Mrs. Jenkins: Sweetheart, no! It’s not what you think!

Voice: <OFF-SCREEN> That’s enough!

<MR. JENKINS APPROACHES THE GROUP, SCOWLING WHILE HIDING SOMETHING SHINY AND METAL IN HIS HAND>

Nion: Father…

Mrs. Jenkins: You were…

Mr. Jenkins: <SMILES AT HIS WIFE> I’m not a fool, Lucille. You never go to the lab of your own accord. <GLARES AT NION, STERNLY> That’s enough out of you, Nion.

Nion: I haven’t even started yet.

<NION RUSHES OVER TO HER FATHER; SHE SUDDENLY FREEZES IN POSITION BEFORE GRABBING HIM; MR. JENKINS BRINGS HIS RIGHT HAND FROM BEHIND HIM, SHOWING THE SMALL REMOTE FROM THE RECORDING, WITH THE BUTTON PRESSED DOWN; NION FALLS TO THE GROUND, HER PUPILS FADING FROM HER EYES>

<SALA AND FUTO LOOK ON IN HORROR; MRS. JENKINS COVERS HER FACE, ATTEMPTING TO HIDE HER TEARS>

Futo: N-N-Nion…..?

Mr. Jenkins: Don’t worry, she’ll be fine. Once we’re done rewriting her memory again, she’ll be back to her old self.

Sala: Rewriting!? The hell do you mean rewriting!? You’re gonna erase her memory again!?

Mr. Jenkins: Personally, I don’t see the difference.

<SALA ATTEMPTS TO APPROACH THE DOCTOR, BUT NION SUDDENLY SNAPS TO LIFE, GRABBING SALA BY THE THROAT AND LIFTING HER A FOOT OFF THE GROUND; NION’S FACE IS EMOTIONLESS AND STALE THE ENTIRE TIME>

Sala: You… you can’t! She’s your daughter!

Mr. Jenkins: You saw the recordings, haven’t you? She’s not my daughter! She is a machine! A machine created to serve MY needs. And believe you me, I can do whatever the hell I want with it.

Mrs. Jenkins: “It”?

Mr. Jenkins: <TURNS TO HIS WIFE, SMILING> “Her”, my love. Remember, I’m doing this for us.

<IT’S SUBTLE, BUT NION TELLS THE STORY OF HER STRUGGLE THROUGH HER EYES, WHICH IS THE ONLY THING SHE CAN CONTROL AT THE MOMENT; SHE DARTS HER GAZE TO FUTO AND SALA, HOPING THAT SOMETHING WOULD TRIGGER THEM OR TRIGGER HER TO DO SOMETHING; SHE TAKES ONE QUICK GLANCE AT THE MOON AND, OUT OF CURIOSITY, LOOKS AT IT AGAIN>

Nion: <THINKING> The moon… but that’s-!

<NION IMMEDIATELY HAS A FLASHBACK OF HER DREAM THE NIGHT BEFORE, ALL IMAGES OF THE GIANT BEING SHE WAS FLASHING BEFORE HER EYES>

Nion: <THINKING> Oh no… no no no no-

Mr. Jenkins: Nion, dispose of your friends for me, sweetie.

Futo: N-no!

<HER THOUGHTS ARE INTERRUPTED BY A LOUD HEARTBEAT THAT IMMEDIATELY STIFFENS HER BODY; HER EYES LOSE THEIR GRAY CENTER AND SHRINK TO A SMALLER PURE REDDISH COLOR; HER HEARTBEAT BEGINS SPEEDING UP, HER CHEST POUNDING BACK AND FORTH WITH EVERY BEAT>

Mr. Jenkins: I gave you an order miss-… <HE NOTICES HER SUBTLE TREMBLING AND LOOKS UP AT THE MOON ABOVE HIM> Oh no…

<NION RELEASES HER GRIP ON SALA, WHO IMMEDIATELY SCURRIES AWAY; NION BEGINS SNARLING LOUDLY, HER BODY RAPIDLY BULKING UP AND HAIR PROTROUDING ALL OVER HER>

Sala: What is this!?

<SALA GRABS FUTO AND THE TWO MAKE THEIR ESCAPE, HIDING IN A NEARBY ALLEY>

Sala: <BREATHING HEAVILY> You should be safe here…

Futo: Me?

Sala: Get out of here, Futo. It’s no place for you.

Futo: A-A-And it is for you?

<SALA DOESN’T RESPOND, INSTEAD SHE PEEKS AT THE SCENE FROM BEHIND THE BUILDING THEY’RE HIDING BEHIND; NION HAS GROWN CONSIDERABLY IN SIZE, HER FACIAL FEATURES ALL BUT GONE>

Futo: What’s happening?

<SALA CONTINUES TO WATCH IN HORROR AS NION CONTINUES HER TRANSFORMATION, ROARING IN THE NIGHT; FUTO CAN’T FIGHT HIS CURIOSITY TO MAKE HIS WAY OUT OF THE ALLEY, BUMPING SALA OUT OF THE WAY; AS HE MAKES HIS WAY IN THE STREET, HE IMMEDIATELY FREEZES>

Sala: Futo!

<SHE TRIES TO GRAB FUTO BACK INTO THE ALLEY, BUT SHE BECOMES TRANSFIXED BY THE SAME SIGHT THAT FROZE HIM JUST NOW: THE SIGHT OF NION, NOW A RAGING OOZARU IN THE NIGHT>

Mrs. Jenkins: <IN THE DISTANCE> Nion!

<SALA AND FUTO STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER AS THEY WATCH THEIR FRIEND LET OUT AN EAR DEAFENING ROAR AS A RAGING OOZARU IN THE NIGHT>

Trivia

 * The letters of the words that Futo stutters all follow a pattern: they all begin with either an S, A, I, Y, A, or N.
 * There are a few phrases of dialogue paying homage to TeamFourStar. See if you can find them all!