Reunion Saga (The Forgotten)

Please Note: This story contains occassional swearing and graphically gruesume deaths.

The Reunion Saga is the fifth saga of Dragon Ball Z: The Forgotten. It takes place after the Planet Earth Saga and before the Fulfillment Saga. This saga chronicles the aftermath of the previous saga, wherein Guva comes to Earth to challenge his once loyal Saiyan soldier Ledas.

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

Theme Song
The theme song for this Saga is Waiting On You by Weezer.

Complete Dialogue
I don't remember where

the name for this story

came from.

I think it was

always

The Forgotten,

in my head.

I can't see it as anything else.

-KidVegeta

De Facto


<772 AGE>













<GUVA STEPS OUT OF HIS POD, IN ROBUSTLY ELEGANT ARMOR; HE LOOKS AROUND AND SEES ALL THIS>

<GUVA PRESSES THE COMPUTER PAD ON HIS LEFT GAUNTLET; FOR SEVERAL SECONDS THERE IS NO ANSWER; AS HE WALKS THROUGH THE DEBRIS, HE HEARS A SMALL SOUND COMING OUT FROM UNDER SOME BODIES>

<GUVA TAKES THE PILE AND MOVES THEM ASIDE, CURIOUS TO THE PINGING SOUND; IT IS THE WRISTBAND OF A DEAD SOLDIER, HIS PERSONAL ASSISTANT>

<GUVA REALIZES THAT ALL HIS SOLDIERS ARE DEAD>

<HE WALKS QUIETLY TO HIS OFFICE; HE CREATES AN IMAGE SLASH SWORD, CAUTIOUSLY AS HE ENTERS; HE HOLDS IT BEHIND HIM AND IT LIGHTS A BALL AROUND HIM; HE ENTERS INTO THE COMPLEX AND FINDS THE LIGHTS TO BE OFF; HE WALKS THROUGH, NOT FINDING ANYBODY AND MOVES UP TO A COMPUTER TERMINAL; HE CALLS UP LORD COOLER’S INSTALLATION; HE GETS NO RESPONSE>

<FOR SEVERAL MOMENTS, GUVA STANDS THERE, SPARKS AND DUST FALLING FROM THE ROOFTOP, THE DOOR TO THE OUTSIDE OPEN BEHIND HIM; BUT AS HE GETS NO RESPONSE, HE TURNS BACK AROUND>

<HE SEES SEVERAL NATIVES, CURIOUSLY MOVING ABOUT BEHIND HIM; THEY DO NOT NOTICE HIM BUT ARE SCAVENGING; GUVA WALKS OUT TO GREET THEM>

Guva: <ARMS SPREAD, QUIET ANGER TO THE NATIVES> So, I leave my post for one day, and this is how you repay me? I, your governor, let each and every one of you filthy animals live in peace on my planet. I alone saved you from certain annihilation. And this… is the thanks I get? All my soldiers dead and my city in shambles!?

<THE CREATURES STARE BACK WITH FRIGHT BUT DO NOT RUN; THIS ANGERS GUVA GREATLY AND HE SENDS OUT AN ENERGY WAVE, KILLING THEM ALL>

<BREATHING HARD WITH ANGER, GUVA JUMPS TO THE SKY; HE EXTENDS HIS PALM AND CREATES A BALL OF ENERGY; AT GREAT LAST, HE THROWS IT ABOVE HIM BUT ON A CURVED TRAJECTORY TO THE FOREST>

<AS THE BALL REACHES THE AREA ABOVE THE TREETOPS, IT EXPLODES AND SENDS OFF THOUSANDS AND THEN MILLIONS OF SKINNY, ELONGATED BLASTS OF ENERGY; THEY SHOOT ABOUT, ALMOST RANDOMLY DOWN TO THE GROUND BELOW; GUVA WAITS FOR SEVERAL MOMENTS>

<AFTER DOING SO, HE CLICKS HIS SCOUTER, READING FOR ANY POWER LEVELS ON THE PLANET; AFTER A GOOD SEARCH, HE CAN SEE THAT HE IS NOW THE ONLY LIVING BEING REMAINING ON HIS PLANET>

<HE SLOWLY DESCENDS BACK TO THE GROUND AND SITS BACK IN HIS POD; THE DOOR REMAINS OPEN>

<WITH A SIGH, GUVA BEGINS TO SCROLL THROUGH A COMPUTER SCREEN ON THE LEFT; HE DOES SO SOMEWHAT CARELESSLY AND WITH ONLY ONE FINGER; HE IS LOOKING FOR VARIOUS DESTINATIONS>

<SUDDENLY HE PAUSES AND RECHECKS HIS SCREEN; UPON IT IS EARTH; HE STARES AT IT FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, REMEMBERING THAT THAT WAS WHERE BOTH COOLER AND LEDAS WENT; HAVING NO OTHER THING TO DO; GUVA SHIFTS HIS JAW AND BRINGS HIS FINGER BACK INTO HIS HAND IN A SORT OF FIST; HE CLOSES HIS POD DOOR AND SETS COURSE FOR EARTH>

<AS HE SETS OFF, THE BLACKNESS HE HAD BE ENVELOPED IN, IN LAUTO’S CAVE, IS SEEN, FORMING AROUND A ROCK OVERLOOK, AS IF WATCHING HIM>

<END OF HURT>

<CUTS TO NEXT SCENE; IN SPACE; IT IS MAY 8TH, IN THE 774 AGE>

<NEAR PLANET EARTH; VERY SUDDEN PULL UP>

Kindler: You know kid, you really look like a Gary. Has anyone ever told you that?

<LEDAS, WHO IS ONLY HALF CONSCIOUS, JUST LOOKS UP AT HIM WITH ONE EYE; HE DOES NOT RESPOND>

<THE SCREEN RE-FADES IN, STILL OUT OF FOCUS TO THE INSIDE OF LEDAS’ GRAVITY ROOM; SINCE IT IS ALSO A SPACESHIP, THIS IS THE DEVICE THAT CARDINAL AND HIS CREW TOOK AT THE END OF THE LAST SAGA TO ESCAPE BUU; RYORI AND LEDAS ARE BOTH LAYING AT KINDLER’S FEET; THE FORMER IS STILL UNCONSCIOUS>

<KINDLER HIMSELF IS WELL DRESSED, STILL, THOUGH HIS EYES LOOK A BIT MORE SULLEN, AS IF HE HASN’T GOTTEN MUCH SLEEP; IN HIS HANDS IS A PIECE OF ROPE>

<DEWBERRY IS SITTING ACROSS FROM HIM, FACING THE CONTROLS OF THE SHIP, AND SITTING IN A CHAIR; IT IS ASSUMED HE IS PILOTING IT; THERE IS NO SIGN OF CARDINAL, AT FIRST>

Kindler: Hey, Dewberry! What do you think? Doesn’t he look like a Gary?

Dewberry: <LOOKS OVER> The kid? Naw way, man. That little alien looks just like this guy Trey I knew in high school… we would always-

<CARDINAL ENTERS, THROUGH A DOOR ON THE RIGHT; KINDLER AND DEWBERRY IMMEDIATELY TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO HIM>

Cardinal: <STERNLY WALKS OVER TO DEWBERRY> Is there any update on our situation?

Dewberry: <AT HIS STATION> Naw, Mr. Cardinal. It’s still gone. It was the same an hour ago.

Cardinal: <TURNS TO HIMSELF> Perhaps this is only a prolonging of the inevitable. <BACK TO KINDLER> Kindler, how are our supplies?

Kindler: Boss, we’ve got enough for another month or so, but with Earth being gone and all…<NODS TO THE GLASS WALL AHEAD; CLEARLY THERE IS NO PLANET IN THE VIEW> I don’t think it much matters either way.

Cardinal: Be that as it may, we’ve only been up here for 20 hours. And-

Kindler: And you think the Earth is gonna come back? No offense sir, but that don’t make sense.

Cardinal: What are our other alternatives?

Kindler: None, sir. <BOWS HIS HEAD AGAIN, WATCHING THE SLIGHTLY CONSCIOUS LEDAS> But I’m always right. We’re dead out here. And there’s not a thing I can do about it.

Ryori: <WAKES UP SLIGHTLY; HIS HEAD IS COVERED IN DRY BLOOD ON ONE SIDE> Le-Ledas? W-where are we?

Cardinal: <WALKS OVER; SEES THAT THE BOYS HAVE WAKEN> Ah, awakened at last! I had thought my concoction of M99 was too strong for both of you.

Ledas: <TURNS TO CARDINAL; TALKING SLOWLY, FOR HE HAS JUST WOKEN UP> Who are you? What did you do to me?

Cardinal: <TO LEDAS> My name is Cardinal. I am many things. But in this instance, I am only here to keep you from doing anything harmful.

Ledas: <NOT UNDERSTANDING> Me?

Cardinal: You are the alien. The menace to my society. It was my duty to remove you before something… catastrophic occurred. As it were, something catastrophic occurred anyway. <GESTURES TO THE WINDOW AGAIN>

Dewberry: <YELLING> Mr. Cardinal!! Look! It’s back!

<CARDINAL AND KINDLER TURN AND LOOK OUT THE WINDOW; THE EARTH HAS SUDDENLY APPEARED IN THE PAST FEW SECONDS>

Cardinal: What?! How? Did this just happen?

Dewberry: <COOLY> Uh yeah.

Cardinal: It came back, just like that.

Kindler: What’s going on…? How can a planet just come back like that?

Dewberry: Aw, don’t question it, Kindy. There’s lotsa things goin’ on we don’t know about.

Cardinal: There shouldn’t be.

Kindler: He’s right. No use questioning it.

Cardinal: On your parts, of course. <REGAINS HIS COMPOSURE> Very well, Dewberry. Set us a course back home.

Dewberry: Uh… Mr. Cardinal. That’s not all. There’s another ship comin’ right at us! <BEFORE CARDINAL CAN ANSWER; THERE IS A HUGE SHAKING OF THE SHIP; CARDINAL IS AN OLD MAN AND THEREFORE ALMOST FALLS OVER> Uhhmm… they’ve docked wit’ us.

Cardinal: <WITH MUCH AUTHORITY> Mr. Kindler, would you kindly take our passengers into the other room? Dewberry, open the hatch. Welcome our new guest for me. <HE SMILES, VERY MUCH FAKING IT>

<WITH THAT, KINDLER TAKES RYORI/LEDAS AND MOVES THEM INTO A ROOM IN THE BACK; DEWBERRY GETS UP, COCKS HIS PISTOL AND MOVES FORWARD TO OPEN THE DOCKING DOOR>

The Cruelest Of Atrocities
<A LATCH OPENS; THE CAMERA COMES AROUND THE CORNER FROM THE OUTSIDE INTO CARDINAL’S SHIP; IT FOLLOWS GUVA, WHO IS IN HIS ARMOR, DOWN A LONG HALLWAY TO THE DOOR>

<AS HE REACHES THE INNER DOOR, IT OPENS FOR HIM; REVEALING ONLY DEWBERRY BEHIND IT; DEWBERRY ISN’T EXACTLY FRIGHTENED; ESPECIALLY AFTER HE SEES GUVA, HE IS STRANGELY UNCHANGED>

Dewberry: <WITH A GOOD OL’ ACCENT> Oh, hey.

<GUVA IS SLIGHTLY WARY AT THIS NONCHALANT GREETING AND HE ENTERS WITH SLIGHT CAUTION; AND HIS EYES SQUINTING>

Dewberry: So uh… whatcha doin’ here, man? Are ya lost?

Guva: <PEERING ABOUT THE MAIN ROOM; IT IS MOSTLY BARREN> Do you even know who I am?

Dewberry: Oh yeah totally man. You’re one of those space aliens.

Guva: <SLOWLY> Space… aliens…?

Dewberry: Oh yeah.

Guva: …

<THERE IS AN AWKWARD SILENCE FOR A WHILE>

Dewberry: <UNNOTICED> Why’d you come to visit me?

Guva: <SUDDENLY BUSINESS-LIKE> I am looking for a planet called Earth. My directions seemed to be faulty; it’s not where I thought it was. You wouldn’t happen to know of its location, would you?

Dewberry: Ohhh I get it. You’re going to Earth to harvest some of us up for experiments. <PUSHES GLASSES BACK UP>

Guva: I-I’m what?

Dewberry: I saw it on Syfy, what yar gonna do with us. It’s cool man, I won’t tell anybody. <STANDS UP AND GETS REAL CLOSE TO GUVA’S FACE> I’m on your side!

Guva: <A BIT ANNOYED> You must be one of the intellectuals of your race. But Earth. Do you know of its location? Or am I wasting my time? <HE PULLS DOWN HIS HAND AND SHAKES IT; SPARKS SHOW UP, BUT HE DOES NOT FULLY FORM AN ENERGY BLAST> I don't appreciate wasted time.

Dewberry: <ON HIS CHAIR, HE ROLLS ACROSS THE VAST METAL FLOOR TO THE WINDOW, FEET IN AIR; HE STOPS, SLAMMING INTO THE WALL, HARD; THEN HE WAVES A SINGLE FINGER AT GUVA TO COME OVER> See that one out there? <HE POINTS TO EARTH THROUGH THE LOOKING WINDOW> That’s Earth.

Guva: <STARES OUT AT IT; SIGHS HEAVILY> Ahhhh… at last. Curious how I did not see it on my scanners.

Dewberry: How many are ya takin’?

Guva: <TURNS TO DEWBERRY> What?

Dewberry: How many are ya gonna take for your ‘speriments?

Guva: <GATHERS UP HIS CAPE AND WALKS OUT> Only one.

<GUVA THEN DEPARTS, AFTER A FEW MOMENTS HIS POD RACES BY IN FRONT OF THE WINDOW>

<AT THIS TIME CARDINAL COMES OUT, WITH KINDLER; KINDLER IS HOLDING LEDAS AND RYORI IN EACH HAND; THEY ARE GROGGY>

Cardinal: <TO DEWBERRY> It all went smoothly?

Dewberry: Oh yeah. The alien guy didn’t wan’ anything.

Cardinal: Good, good. <TO HIS TWO REMAINING ASSOCIATES> We will head back to Earth then, ourselves. I do not know how it came back… but perhaps those questions are best left unanswered. Aliens popping up everywhere, planets being destroyed and coming back… there’s little we can do to stop any of it.

Kindler: But sir, what about these two? <HE DROPS THE TWO SEMI-CONSCIOUS BOYS AND GESTURES TO THEM> What will we do with them?

Cardinal: When we land, Kindler, when we land.

<THE SHIP FLIES BACK TO EARTH AND LANDS IN A ROCKY AREA>

<THE AREA IS BARREN, WITHOUT ANY FOLIAGE; IT IS HIGH ON A MOUNTAIN; THERE IS NO SIGN OF LIFE AROUND>

<WHEN THEY LAND, CARDINAL IMMEDIATELY OPENS THE FRONT HATCH AND STANDS AT ITS ENTRANCE, STARING OUT>

Cardinal: So nice to be back.

Kindler: <MOVES FORWARD; HE IS TIRED FROM HIS LACK OF SLEEP, BUT IS HIDING THAT> Mr. Cardinal… now what will we do with them?

Cardinal: Dispose of them, Kindler.

Kindler: <INCREDULOUSLY> Kill them?! They’re just children, sir.

Cardinal: Children who have seen too much. <HE TAKES SOMETHING OUT OF HIS SUIT INNER POCKET; IT IS A CAPSULE AND HE THROWS IT ONTO THE GROUND> I cannot afford them to mention any of it.

Kindler: But si-

<THE CAPSULE TURNS INTO A HOVER CAR; CARDINAL WITH SURPRISING GUSTO JUMPS INTO IT AND SPEEDS OFF>

<KINDLER RETURNS INSIDE; HE TAKES THE GUN OUT OF THE BACK OF HIS BELT AND LOOKS AT IT; HE SEEMS TROUBLED BY IT>

<NONETHELESS, HE TAKES LEDAS IN ONE HAND, STILL HOLDING THE PISTOL IN HIS OTHER AND DRAGS THE SEMI-CONSCIOUS KID INTO A BACK ROOM>

<AS HE IS WALKING; KINDLER TRIPS SLIGHTLY, AND THE GUN IN HIS RIGHT HAND GOES OFF; HE GASPS AS HE SEES IT ALL UNFOLD, A CHIEFLY UNWANTED ACCIDENT, THOUGH IT IS>

<IT HITS LEDAS IN THE HEAD, CAUSING KINDLER TO DROP HIM>

<KINDLER STEPS BACK, WITHOUT EMOTION UPON LEDAS’ BODY; BLOOD IS RAPIDLY POOLING AROUND THE CHILD’S HEAD; LEDAS DOES NOT MAKE A SOUND, BUT FALLS SILENTLY>

<LEDAS’ EYES ARE CLOSED AND HIS BODY IS MOTIONLESS>

<WITHOUT ANOTHER LOOK, DESPITE IT BEING AN ACCIDENT, KINDLER TURNS SWIFTLY AROUND AND EXITS; HE LOOKS LIKE HE REALLY WANTS TO GET OUT OF THERE>

<CUTS TO EARTH>

<IT IS MORNING; VERY EARLY MORNING; THERE IS A GREAT MIST ABOUT THE ROLLING HILLS AROUND; THERE ARE FEW TREES BUT THE GRASS IS VERY GREEN AND LIVELY>

<VEGETA IS PRACTICING SLIGHTLY IN THIS WEATHER; HIS POWER LEVEL IS ONLY ABOUT 300,000 OR SO AND HE IS NOT IN SUPER SAIYAN>

<A FIGURE, CLAD IN HEAVY PURPLED AND BLUED ARMOR, A DARK CAPE BILLOWING ABOUT HIM, LANDS WITH A THUD INTO THE GROUND BEHIND VEGETA>

Vegeta: Who are you?

<THE CREATURE LANDS AND FEELS AT HIS HAIR, RUNNING HIS HANDS THROUGH THE STARK WHITE STRANDS OF IT; BUT HIS FACE IS STILL YOUTHFUL AND HIS BODY SPRY>

Unknown: A Saiyan? It seems Lord Cooler wasn’t lying when he said the some of the rats had escaped that sinking ship. <HE TURNS TO FACE VEGETA; FACE IS CLEARLY SHOWN NOW, IT IS GUVA>

Vegeta: Saiyan? <INDIGNATION> How do you know who I am?

Guva: <CHUCKLES TO HIMSELF, AS HE KNEELS AND FEELS THE WET GRASS UNDER THEIR FEET> I’ve seen that hair before. <HE EXHALES AND CLOSES HIS EYES, STANDING BACK UP AND POINTING HIS FACE TO THE SKY> It’s been a while since I’ve been able to enjoy the relaxing scenery of such a temperate planet.

<GUVA SUDDENLY OPENS HIS EYES AND FORMS A SMALL BALL OF ENERGY, HE THROWS IT INTO THE AIR WITH SURPRISING QUICKNESS; AS THE SCATTERSHOT BALL REACHES A CERTAIN ALTITUDE, IT DETONATES AND SENDS SEVERAL SMALL, ELONGATED BEAMS FLYING IN ALL DIRECTIONS>

<THEY DETONATE AROUND, ON THE COUNTRYSIDE; SMOKE WEAKLY POURS OUT FROM EACH OF THE BLAST’S HOLES; VEGETA STANDS WITH HIS FACE TOWARD GUVA, ARMS CROSSED; HE IS NOT IMPRESSED>

Vegeta: Done playing around, old man?

Guva: <STRETCHES OUT HIS ARMS AND LEGS; STRAINED IN SPEECH A BIT BECAUSE OF THIS> I am not fooling around. I’m on a mission. Tracking down a rogue soldier; a deserter of my installation. He is a Saiyan, much like you. The Saiyan I’m searching for is just a child… or something like that. I’m not quite sure, actually.

Vegeta: <BAITED WHISPER> Oh yeah? What’s his name?

Guva: Maybe you do know him. The little bastard went by Ledas. Does that name strike a chord? <VEGETA’S EYES WIDEN; HE STEPS BACK> What, you’re scared of me now?

Vegeta: <CALMING HIMSELF READILY> No chance.

Guva: Good. You are not the one I wish to fight.

Vegeta: Hmph. I wouldn’t waste my energy on you.

Guva: <SCANS VEGETA’S POWER, WITH HIS SCOUTER; IT’S ONLY IN THE LOW HUNDRED THOUSANDS> Oh, naturally. You can’t actually run from a fight if you never do fight after all.

Vegeta: Yeah right.

Guva: I’ve raised my power level high enough. If he is here, he will come to me. Well, go on then. <HE GESTURES FOR VEGETA TO LEAVE WHEN HE HEARS A SHARP BUZZING SOUND THAT NEARLY BRINGS HIM TO HIS KNEES; VEGETA DOESN’T NOTICE> Actually, stay. I have a proposition for you, once he arrives.

<VEGETA IS TRAINING AGAIN, COMPLETELY IGNORING GUVA; GUVA SMILES>

Blink
<KINDLER WALKS DOWN THE HALL BACK TO THE MAIN ROOM; IN IT, DEWBERRY AND RYORI ARE TALKING>

Kindler: <AS HE IS WALKING, TO HIMSELF; VERY QUIETLY> Darn diddly do dat…

<KINDLER PAUSES FOR A MOMENT AND THROWS HIS PISTOL INTO A SIDE CLOSET; HE CONTINUES WALKING, NOW WHISTLING… OR TRYING TO; HE CAN’T ACTUALLY DO IT YET>

<HE ROUNDS THE CORNER TO DEWBERRY; DEWBERRY HAS RYORI SITTING NEAR HIM AND THEY ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A CONVERSATION>

Dewberry: Yeah, he’s cool. <SIGHS> If Kindler was a girl, I would so date him.

Ryori: <GROGGILY STILL> That’s a weird thing to say.

Dewberry: Hey, shut up!

Ryori: You brought it up.

Kindler: <ENTERS; WALKS UP TO THE KID; HE DOES NOT HAVE THE PISTOL WITH HIM> Dewberry, the kid.

Dewberry: What? You gonna kill him?

Kindler: Just give him to me.

Dewberry: <WHINE> Tell me, Kindy. I wanna know!

Kindler: <STRAINED, PERSONALLY> Dewberry, you’re just another of Cardinal’s underlings. It’s not my place to reveal to you every little aspect of our plans.

Dewberry: <GRUMBLES> Whatever…

<DEWBERRY BEGRUDGINGLY PUSHES RYORI, WHO IS STILL TIED UP, ACROSS THE FLOOR>

<KINDLER TURNS RYORI AROUND, WHO IS KNEELING, AND TAKES HIS HAND TO THE BACK OF RYORI’S HEAD>

<BEYOND IN THE BACK ROOM, LEDAS STIRS>

<AS IS EVIDENT NOW, WHEN THE BULLET ENTERED INTO HIS HEAD IT DESTROYED THE KI SUPPRESSOR THAT WAS KEEPING HIM FROM KILLING EVERYBODY BEFORE>

<IN ADDITION, LANDING AS HARD AS HE DID ON THE METAL FLOOR CRACKED THE SUPPRESSOR AND CAUSED IT TO FALL OFF HIS HEAD>

<AT THIS, LEDAS LOOKS UP, EYES GLAZED OVER; ABOVE HIM IS STANDING A HALLUCINATION OF HIS FATHER>

Layeeck: <TO HIM; HE IS LEANING DOWN OVER LEDAS, HIS FACE INCHES AWAY FROM HIS SON’S; HIS VOICE IS SHAKING> There is no honor in death.

<LEDAS TURNS OVER WITH MUCH PAIN; HE WINCES>

<HIS FACE IS ABSOLUTELY COVERED IN BLOOD, SOME OF IT DRIED; THE SIDE OF HIS HEAD HAS A SMALL BULLET HOLE IN IT>

<HE DOES NOT ANSWER HIS FATHER>

Layeeck: Everything you need is right before your eyes!

<LEDAS BREATHS HARD OUT OF HIS NOSE, HE CRAWLS A BIT MORE AND SLIPS FROM HIS BLOOD WHICH IS NOW IN A HUGE POOL ON THE METAL GROUND>

<HE STOPS MOVING AND ROLLS OVER, BREATHING HARD, EYES AFLUTTER; HE IS CONVULSING SLIGHTLY>

Layeeck: Think! What do you have, Ledas!? What can you use to save yourself?

<LEDAS RAISES HIS HAND AND MOVES HIS FINGERS, IN FRONT OF HIS FACE; AFTER A SECOND HE LOWERS IT AGAIN>

Layeeck: Do not let yourself be killed by these creatures. Fight! Be a Saiyan!

<LEDAS GASPS, AND A FLURRY OF MEMORIES COME BACK, OF KORIN’S TOWER; THE SMALL WHITE CAT EXPLAINING TO HIM THE VARIOUS MAGICS OF HIS PLACE; AND THEN GIVING HIM THE POUCH; THE POUCH TO USE IN CASE OF INJURY>

<WITH THAT, LEDAS SLOWLY REACHES INSIDE HIS SHIRT AND PULLS OUT THE POUCH; HE AGAIN SLOWLY TAKES OUT A SINGLE BEAN AND EATS IT>

<HE LAYS THERE FOR A SECOND, CHEWING AND THEN SWALLOWING>

<NOTHING HAPPENS FOR SEVERAL MOMENTS, THEN LEDAS LETS OUT A SCREAM, AND CLUTCHES AT HIS HEAD; HE SCREAMS AGAIN; OBVIOUSLY THE PAIN HAS NOT GONE FROM THE SINGLE BEAN>

<LEDAS TAKES ANOTHER BEAN, THIS TIME ALMOST CONVULSING AS HE DOES SO>

<HE EATS IT, AND STOPS SCREAMING ALMOST IMMEDIATELY>

<LEDAS STANDS UP, WIPING THE BLOOD FROM HIS FACE; HE LOOKS AROUND; THE VISIONS OF HIS FATHER ARE GONE NOW; HE IS BREATHING HEAVILY>

Ledas: Dad? <MORE ANXIOUS> Dad?!

<HE LOOKS AROUND AND THERE IS NOTHING THERE>

<LEDAS GOES TO ASK AGAIN, BUT THEN HE HEARS HURRIED TALKING COMING FROM UP AHEAD; HE REALIZES THAT KINDLER IS STILL ALIVE AND THAT RYORI IS IN THE OTHER ROOM>

Ledas: Ryori!

<WITH A SUDDEN JOLT, LEDAS JUMPS OUT AND DOWN THE CORNER>

<BACK UP AHEAD, KINDLER HAS RYORI IN AN EXECUTION POSE>

Kindler: <TO DEWBERRY> I took care of the other one. But this kid’s no harm to us, or Mr. Cardinal. I think we can…

<AT THIS MOMENT, LEDAS SKIDS INTO VIEW; KINDLER TURNS TO FACE HIM>

<IN A SUDDEN MOVE, LEDAS SHOOTS A KI BLAST AT KINDLER; IT STRIKES HIM IN THE SIDE OF THE FACE, SPLURGING OUT BLOOD AND FLESH HALF OF HIS NECK IS RIPPED OFF, ALMOST ENOUGH TO SNAP THE ACTUAL BONE FROM THE FLESH>

<KINDLER FALLS SLOWLY; HE IS DEAD>

<DEWBERRY FALLS BACK IN HIS CHAIR BUT TAKES OUT HIS PISTOL; HE POINTS IT TO RYORI, HOLDING HIM ONCE AGAIN AS A SORT OF HOSTAGE>

Dewberry: <AGITATED AS HE HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE> Get back or I’ll shoot!

<DEWBERRY CRAWLS TOWARD RYORI AND GRABS HIM AROUND THE BACK OF THE NECK, PULLING THE PISTOL UP TO HIS HEAD>

<LEDAS COCKS HIS HEAD AND UNWINDS HIS BODY>

Ledas: You’re next. <WITHOUT A WORD OR SOUND OR CHANGE OF HIS BODY, LEDAS GOES SUPER SAIYAN> Don’t blink.

<DEWBERRY DOESN’T FLINCH BECAUSE HE DID NOT SEE THE TRANSFORMATION TAKE PLACE; HE KEEPS THE GUN ON RYORI>

<LEDAS SMIRKS AND CREATES AND AFTERIMAGES WHICH STAYS IN HIS PREVIOUS PLACE; HIS REAL FORM MOVES AROUND BEHIND DEWBERRY, TOO QUICKLY FOR THE LATTER TO SEE>

<LEDAS PUNCHES HIM, CAUSING THE PISTOL TO BE THROWN AWAY>

<DEWBERRY FALLS OVER DEAD; HIS SKULL CAVED IN>

<LEDAS UNTIES RYORI, WHO IS IN WONDER AT LEDAS’ SHOW OF POWER; UP TO THIS POINT HE DID NOT KNOW LEDAS WAS AN ALIEN>

Ryori: <ALMOST WITH A BIT OF CAUTION> Ledas… what are you?

Ledas: <REGRESSES TO HIS NORMAL STATE; LAUGHS PLAYFULLY, SUPER KID-LIKE> I’m a Saiyan! Oh, I guess I never told you, huh?

Ryori: A Saiyan? What’s that?

Ledas: Well, it’s my species. Y’know, I look just like you, but I have a tail and stuff. <HE SHOWS RYORI HIS TAIL> See?

Ryori: Whoa, a tail. That’s awesome! What else can you do?

<LEDAS GOES TO ANSWER, BUT SUDDENLY SNAPS HIS NECK AROUND, FEELING GUVA’S SHOW OF POWER; THIS IS NOT SO MUCH BECAUSE OF HOW POWERFUL GUVA IS, BUT BECAUSE LEDAS CAN FEEL HIM AT ALL, ON EARTH>

Ryori: Ledas?! What is it?

Ledas: <STANDS UP> I-I’ve gotta go, Ryori. There’s something I have to fix.

Ryori: But what?

Ledas: There’s a bad person out there I’ve got to deal with. Y-you can’t help…

Ryori: <STARES AFTER HIM> Are you gonna kill him too?

Ledas: Oh… <LOOKS AT THE BODIES OF KINDLER AND DEWBERRY; HE SOMEWHAT REALIZES THAT SEEING PEOPLE DIE IS NOT SOMETHING RYORI IS USED TO> they were gonna… I mean he was gonna shoot you!

Ryori: <DROPS TO HIS KNEES> It’s okay, I guess. My brother would have done the same thing. <LOOKS UP> But where is he, Ledas? Where’s Shoekki?

Ledas: Oh. <UNCOMFORTABLY; AFTER A PAUSE> I think he’s gone… like those two. <GESTURES AGAIN TO THE DEAD>

Ryori: <TEARY> What?!

Ledas: <STEPS BACK, STILL UNCOMFORTABLY> I-I… I gotta go…

Ryori: <SINKS BACK DOWN, TEARS WELLING AGAIN; TO HIMSELF> He’s dead?! He… <VOICE BREAKS> can’t be.

<WITH THAT, LEDAS TAKES OFF, FLYING OUT OF THE DOOR OF THE MODEL 14 GRAVITY SUPPRESSION UNIT>

Ledas: <IN MIDAIR, TURNS BACK AROUND; SUPER CHEERFUL> Just wait here! I’ll be back soon. <TO HIMSELF> How can Guva be here?

<AND WITH THAT, LEDAS TAKES OFF, RUNNING AND FLYING DOWN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN TO GUVA; THE SUN IS JUST BEGINNING TO BUD UP OVER THE MOUNTAINTOP IN THE EARLY MORNING>

<RYORI SLINKS TO THE FLOOR, AND REACHES OUT FOR DEWBERRY’S PISTOL; HE GRABS IT AND IN ONE FELL SWOOP BRINGS IT UP, IN HUGGING NATURE, TO HIS ARMS>

<DOWN BELOW, ON THE SAME MOUNTAIN TOP, GUVA AND VEGETA ARE STANDING NEAR EACH OTHER; VEGETA IS STEADILY POWERING UP MORE AS HE IS TRAINING; HIS POWER LEVEL IS NOT AT ABOUT ONE MILLION>

<AT GREAT HASTE, GUVA RISES INTO THE AIR, LOOKING OVER THE TOWN BEHIND THE MOUNTAIN AND SENDS OFF A BLAST, DETONATING THE WHOLE THING>

Guva: <TO HIMSELF; HEAD THROWN BACK IN SLIGHT AMUSEMENT> Come out, Ledas, before I torch the entire countryside.

They Call Me Yamcha
<THE SCREEN FADES FROM GREEN>

<THE CAMERA ZOOMS OUT, SLOWLY, FOCUSED ON A SINGLE BLADE OF GRASS; AFTER A FEW MOMENTS OF THIS, THE GRASS IS COVERED BY A DARK SHAPE>

<THE CAMERA PICKS UP ITS ZOOM OUT AND THE SCREEN SHOWS GUVA, NOW BACK ON THE GROUND; HE HAS HIS BACK TO VEGETA, AS HE IS SURVEYING THE SMOKE FROM HIS RUINOUS AFFAIR OF THE LAST CHAPTER>

<AS HE SURVEYS, SEVERAL LOUD THUDS BREAK THE SILENCE BETWEEN THE TWO>

<GUVA LOOKS OVER HIS SHOULDER, AT LONG LAST, AS HE TURNS TO FACE THE NEW SOUNDS, THE THUDS CONTINUE>

<LANDING AROUND THEM ARE THE Z FIGHTERS; NAMELY, GOKU, GOTEN, TRUNKS, PICCOLO, KRILLIN, AND 18>

<GUVA TURNS IN A WIDE SMILE AND WITH A BROAD GESTURE; AS HE DOES SO, MORE Z FIGHTERS CONTINUE LANDING AROUND THEM>

<TIEN, CLAD IN HIS HEAVY CLOTHES FROM THE BUU SAGA AS WELL AS CHIAOTZU LAND; GOHAN COMES UP TOO, HE IS WEARING A SUIT, WHITE ON BLACK>

Goku: <TO VEGETA, WHO HAS HIS OWN BACK TO GOKU, ARMS FOLDED> Hey Vegeta… who is this guy?

Guva: <PUSHES FORWARD, TO GOKU> Who am I? I think the more important question is who you are. And why you all have landed here, disturbing my peace. <HE THROWS HIS HEAD BACK AGAIN, HIS HAIR SLIGHTLY WET>

Goku: My name is Goku.

Guva: <SEEING THAT GOKU IS WAITING FOR HIM TO RESPOND> … Yes, go on.

Goku: My friends and I protect this planet. It’s our job to deal with people like you… who hurt the innocent.

Guva: Oh I see. That’s so cheesy. But carry on if you have more.

Goten: <OUTBURSTING> Hey mister… are you a bad guy?

Gohan: <STEPS TO GOTEN> Quiet, Goten.

Piccolo: <EVER COOL> Hmph. <AT GUVA> So what do you want with us?

Guva: With you? Nothing. As I’ve already explained to this <GESTURES TO VEGETA> Saiyan, my business is with someone else. Someone… <HE SCANS THE SKIES AND AROUND> who is mysteriously hiding. Maybe that’s one of your doings.

Tien: What’s this guy talking about?

Guva: I have no qualms with you; I merely seek to bring enough attention to myself to allow him the awareness of my presence. <SCANS ALL THEIR POWER LEVELS, FINDS THEM TO BE DISMALLY LOW> Perhaps he’ll come out on his own. Until then, how about a friendly sparring match? That is of course if any of you are up to it… I am in no hurry. <TO HIMSELF> Keep them all in one place, right.

<SUDDENLY ANOTHER THUD MUCH LOUDER THAN ALL THE OTHERS BEFORE SOUNDS OFF BEHIND GUVA; HE TURNS ALONG WITH ALL THE Z FIGHTERS TO SEE A FIGURE, SILHOUETTED BY SMOKE>

<THE SMOKE SLOWLY CLEARS AND IT REVEALS YAMCHA, HEAD DOWN, TURNED; HE IS WEARING A SHIRT, PROBABLY TOO TIGHT, TO SHOW OFF HIS MUSCLES; EVER THE BADASS, YAMCHA ALSO HAS A BASEBALL CAP ON HIS HEAD, BACKWARDS OF COURSE; HE LOOKS UP AND SMILES, SHOWING OFF HIS PEARLY WHITES>

Yamcha: Sure, I’ll fight ya. <HE LAUGHS; AND JUMPS FORWARD TO GUVA> Whaddya say?

Guva: <WATCHES THIS> A confident plebian. Very well. <HE TURNS BACK TO GOKU> I hope you have at least a class three medical tank for your friend over here. He seems rather oblivious to what I’m about to do to him.

Piccolo: <TO GOKU AS WELL> Maybe you should pick up some senzu beans before we start, Goku.

Goku: Oh yeah, Piccolo! That’s a great idea.

<HE PUTS HIS FINGER TO HIS HEAD, ABOUT TO INSTANT TRANSMISSION AWAY; BUT BEFORE HE CAN, GUVA STEPS FORWARD>

Guva: Now what is this? I don’t want any funny business. Wherever you’re going, I’m sure you can take me along. After all, what do you have to hide?

Goku: Well… I don’t know…

Guva: <GRABS ONTO GOKU> I know that technique. Lord Cooler has used it before. So wherever you’re going, I know you can take me along with you.

Goku: <SIGHS> Alright, fine.

<GOKU AND GUVA INSTANT TRANSMISSION AWAY>

Yamcha: <WALKS OVER TO THE OTHER Z FIGHTERS, GREETS THEM; HE ENDS UP FACE TO FACE WITH VEGETA> Hey Vegeta, if I were you, I wouldn‘t let Bulma see me fight today. <HE FLEXES HIS MUSCLES, ALMOST RIPPING HIS SHIRT> Yeah, she had a thing for me back in the day… and now that I’m as ripped <FLEXES AGAIN> as ever, you better watch out. <HE LAUGHS>

Vegeta: <STONEY FACE THEN SUDDENLY ERUPTS INTO LAUGHTER> Oh, is that right, little man? <HE OPENS HIS MOUTH AGAIN TO TALK BUT PICCOLO STEPS IN>

Piccolo: <STERNLY> Enough, you two.

<CAMERA SWITCHES TO KORIN TOWER; GOKU AND GUVA SUDDENLY COME INTO VIEW, HAVING INSTANT TRANSMISSIONED TO THE MAIN FLOOR>

<AS SOON AS THIS HAPPENS, GOKU LETS GO OF GUVA AND STARTS WANDERING AROUND CALLING FOR THE KITTY KITTY>

<AT THIS TIME, GUVA MOVES UP TO A LONG WOODEN TABLE UP AGAINST ONE OF THE RAILINGS; THERE ARE VARIOUS, WEIRD CONTRIVANCES LITTERED ACROSS IT>

<BEHIND, KORIN COMES INTO VIEW>

Korin: What’s that, senzu beans? You need some, Goku?

Goku: <CHIPPER> Yeah, just a few if you can spare them. That would be awesome.

Korin: <JUMPS UP ONTO THE FAR RAILING> Well that’s nice. But I don’t have any beans for you. Somebody <HE EMPHASIZES THAT WORD AND TURNS TO YAJIROBE> had to go and eat them all!

Yajirobe: <IN THE CORNER, SITTING IN THE SHADOWS> I was hungry. Stupid old cat…

Goku: What?! You don’t have any?

Korin: <STRAIGHT> No.

<BEHIND THEIR CONVERSATION, GUVA PICKS UP A STRANGE DEVICE, IT IS LIKE A PYRAMID, COVERED IN STRANGE LETTERINGS AND WHATNOT; HE MESSES AROUND WITH IT>

<SEEING THIS, KORIN WITH SUDDEN AGILITY JUMPS UP TO GUVA AND SWATS THE DEVICE AWAY; IT LANDS ON THE FLOOR, AND OPENS>

<WHILE IT IS NOT POINTING AT ANYONE, THE TOP OF THE DEVICE OPENS AND STARTS SETTING OFF A HIGH WIND, SUCKING THE AIR IN>

<KORIN, WITH INDIGNATION PICKS UP HIS STICK AND WALKS AROUND BEHIND THE DEVICE, POKING AT THE BACK OF IT; IT IMMEDIATELY CLOSES; HE PICKS IT UP AND GINGERLY SETS IT BACK DOWN ON THE TABLE; HE TURNS TO GUVA>

Korin: <WRYLY> Any of my other priceless artifacts you want to play with? This isn’t a museum, your highness.

Guva: Hmph. <WALKS BACK UP TO GOKU AND TAKES HIS ARM, AS IF WANTING TO TAKE A NICE EVENING STROLL IN THE PARK> If that’s all, take me back.

Goku: Oh… right, yeah. Well I’ll see you around, Korin! <HE INSTANT TRANSMISSIONS BACK TO THE AREA WITH THE OTHER Z FIGHTERS>

<GUVA WALKS BACK AWAY, AND YAMCHA MOVES FORWARD INTO A FIGHTING STANCE>

Guva: <CIRCLING; HIS SCOUTER IS FLASHING> I’ve known plants with higher power levels than you.

Yamcha: <UNWINDS HIS SHOULDERS> Don't underestimate me; I can bite, hard.

<GUVA DOESN’T EVEN POWER UP; HE STRIDES FORWARD TO YAMCHA>

<YAMCHA DODGES HIM AND AFTERIMAGES AND SHOOTS UP INTO THE AIR, VERY HIGH AND FAST; GUVA LOOKS UP, SURPRISED AND DOES THE SAME>

Vegeta: <LOOKS AWAY AND WALKS OFF TO SIT DOWN ON THE GRASS BEHIND> Hmph… show off.

<THE TWO SHOOT UP INTO THE CLOUDS; AS SOON AS GUVA STOPS, YAMCHA LAUNCHES HIMSELF FROM A CLOUD COVERING FROM BEHIND AND HITS GUVA; GUVA TURNS AROUND, TRYING TO PARRY BUT IT’S NOT THAT MUCH USE>

<YAMCHA BACKFLIPS, KICKING GUVA IN FACE AS HE DOES; HE JUMPS BACK AND THEN SUDDENLY PUSHES FORWARD; AGAIN GUVA DOES NOT ANTICIPATE THIS AND IS HIT IN THE FACE; HIS LONG TRUSTED SCOUTER FALLS OFF, BROKEN>

<GUVA GROWLS; HE LOOKS AROUND AND CANNOT FIND YAMCHA ANYWHERE; THE CLOUDS ARE TOO MISTY AND HE CANNOT SENSE POWER WITHOUT HIS SCOUTER>

<AS HE MOVES FORWARD, QUIETLY, A DARK FLASH JUMPS AND SKIDS ACROSS BEHIND HIM; GUVA PICKS UP ON IT AND TURNS; HE SHOOTS A FEW SMALL BLASTS IN A SEMI-CIRCLE IN THAT DIRECTION; HE TURNS AROUND JUST IN TIME TO BE HIT IN THE CHEST BY BOTH OF YAMCHA’S FEET>

<YAMCHA HITS GUVA SIDEWAYS, LIKE IN A “T” SHAPE; AS GUVA HUNCHES OVER IN PAIN, YAMCHA RIGHTS HIMSELF BACK UP AND GATHERS HIS ENERGY>

<AFTER A COUPLE SECONDS OR SO; YAMCHA SHOWS HIS ENERGY, A HUGE SPIRIT BALL AND THROWS IT RIGHT INTO GUVA’S WIDE EYES>

<IT CONNECTS, AND EXPLODES; BEFORE THE DUST CAN CLEAR, YAMCHA APPROACHES AND SENSES GUVA’S PRESENCE; HE LAUNCHES HIS HANDS, INTERLOCKED DOWN UPON THE GOVERNOR’S HEAD, CRACKING IT AND SENDING THE LATTER SHOOTING DOWNWARDS, AND HITTING THE GROUND HARD; VERY HARD>

<YAMCHA DESCENDS TO THE GROUND, GRINNING AND CONFIDENT; AT LONG LAST, GUVA STIRS, AND STUMBLES OUT FROM HIS CRATER>

<HIS ARMOR IS ALL CRACKED AND HIS CAPE IS TORN AND HAS HOLES IN IT; HIS BODY IS SLIGHTLY DIRTIED AND BLOODIED; HE IS A GREAT SHINER UPON THE TOP OF HIS HEAD>

Guva: Impressive. Very much so, my friend. I did not expect you to be able to damage me so easily. But that‘s enough from you. <HE RIPS OFF HIS CAPE AND THROWS IT BACKWARD, WITH THE WIND>

<AT THIS MOMENT, YAMCHA LAUGHS AGAIN AND SPRINTS FORWARD, ARMS OUTSTRETCHED YELLING “WOLF FANG FIST” TO NOBODY IN PARTICULAR; HE HITS GUVA, WHO IS CHARGING UP; YAMCHA’S WOLF FANG FIST IS SUCCESSFUL, AND IT KNOCKS THE WIND OUT OF GUVA>

<GUVA IN INDIGNATION RISES AFTER A FEW BATED BREATHS AND BACK-KICKS YAMCHA AWAY>

Guva: <WIPES DUST OFF OF HIS FACE; THEN BEGINS TO CHARGE UP> Gah! What was that?

Yamcha: Heh heh, it’s not my fault you let your guard down.

Guva: It’s just common courtesy… I let you charge up and you let me. Now, let’s go!

<GUVA CHARGES TO HIS FULL POWER AND PUMPS UP HIS MUSCLES; THE Z FIGHTERS WATCHING ARE ONLY SLIGHTLY IMPRESSED AS HIS LEVEL IS STILL FAR, FAR BELOW THEIRS>

Piccolo: Hmm… this may be trouble.

Gohan: <TURNS TO PICCOLO> What do you mean, Piccolo?

Piccolo: <ALWAYS COOL> That alien is now far stronger than Yamcha. Even when they were even, Yamcha couldn’t give him any major damage. Now if he’s not careful… he could get himself killed.

<THE LAMER Z FIGHTERS ALL GASP AT THIS>

<AT THIS MOMENT, GUVA TURNS BACK TO YAMCHA, SMILING>

Guva: Are you up for round two?

Yamcha: Heck yeah!

<YAMCHA AGAIN RUNS AT GUVA IN WOLF FANG FIST FASHION, BUT THIS TIME GUVA SIDESTEPS HIM AND SWIPES AT THE BACK OF YAMCHA’S HEAD, PARALYZING HIM>

<GUVA TAKES THE WARRIOR BY THE BACK WITH HIS LEFT HAND, AND WITH HIS RIGHT HE READIES HIS BLAST; THE Z FIGHTERS CAN ONLY LOOK ON IN HORROR AT THIS SUDDEN CHANGE OF EVENTS>

<THE CAMERA SLOWLY ZOOMS OUT BACK PAST THE FIGHT, AND UP INTO THE MOUNTAINS>

<STILL SLOWLY CLIMBING DOWN TO THEM IS THE SMALL FIGURE OF A CHILD; TRYING HIS BEST TO GET TO GUVA’S POWER OFFPUT BELOW; HE IS NOT FLYING, BECAUSE HE SENSES OTHER POWERS AND DOES NOT WANT TO RISK GIVING OFF AN ENERGY READING TO THEM>

<THE CAMERA ZOOMS OUT MORE, AND EVENTUALLY FADES TO BLACK>

The Ones That Really Matter
<THE SCREEN COMES UP SUDDENLY, AS A GASP CAN BE HEARD>

<YAMCHA HAS CHARGED AT GUVA, BUT THE LATTER HAS EASILY BRUSHED HIM ASIDE, TAKING OVER DOMINANCE>

<GUVA TAKES HIS LEFT ARM AND PUTS IT AROUND YAMCHA’S NECK AND ALMOST CASUALLY DROPS TO HIS OWN KNEES AS HE STARTS TO SUFFOCATE THE Z FIGHTER>

<THE GOVERNOR TURNS HIS HEAD TO FACE THE OTHERS; HE MOCKINGLY SMILES TO THEM>

<MANY OF THEM ARE QUIVERING WITH ANGER, MOST NOTABLY TIEN AND CHIAOTZU; AFTER A FEW MOMENTS OF THIS, CHIAOTZU GETS UP AND SHOOTS FORWARD>

Chiaotzu: <HE JUMPS FORWARD TO CHALLENGE GUVA> Stop that, you big meanie!

Tien: <MOVES FORWARD TO BRING HIM BACK> Chiaoztu! No!!

Piccolo: <HOLDS OUT HIS ARM TO STOP TIEN> No Tien. If he wants to fight, let him.

Tien: But… he’s not strong enough! He’ll just get beaten.

Piccolo: <GRUFFLY> Maybe. But he’s stronger than before, Tien. They may be able to pull it off, especially if Yamcha is still able to fight.

<AT THIS TIEN SETTLES DOWN A BIT AND MOVES BACK; HE, WITH THE REST OF THE Z FIGHTERS CONTINUE TO STAND STILL AND WATCH THE FIGHT>

Guva: <TO CHIAOTZU> What’s this? Another to challenge me? Why, I haven’t finished this one off yet! <HE TIGHTENS HIS STRANGLEHOLD ON YAMCHA; YAMCHA SPUTTERS AT THIS>

<WITH A YELL, NOT WAITING FOR ANYTHING, CHIAOZTU FLIES AND KICKS GUVA ACROSS THE FACE; GUVA DROPS YAMCHA AT THIS AND STANDS UP, BUT STILL IS CALM>

Guva: So… you both want to fight me… at the same time?! Do you have no honor, no sense of the perfect tranquility of this duel? I only fight one at a time. That is the ultimate skill.

Yamcha: <COUGHING; HOARSELY> May’e… may’e you’re just scared, huh? You don’t want to lose. <STANDS UP> Well let me tell you something, buddy, if you can’t take on me and him together there’s no way you’d stand a chance against Goku or Vegeta. They’re way stronger than us.

Guva: <GROWLS> Uuaah…<HE RIGHTS HIMSELF BACK UP> Silence!

<GUVA SENDS OUT A BLINDING DISPLAY OF KI, SENDING HIS TWO OPPONENTS BACKWARDS>

<GUVA SENDS OUT SEVERAL KI BLASTS, BUT YAMCHA AND CHIAOTZU DODGE; THE TWO SPLIT OFF AND GO IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS; THIS GREATLY CONFUSES GUVA WHO HAS TO STOP SHOOTING OFF KI BLASTS AND LOOK FOR THEM; IN THIS TIME HE DOESN’T THINK TO PUT UP HIS GUARD, WHEREIN BOTH YAMCHA AND CHIAOTZU HIT HIM, CRACKING HIS ARMOR EVEN MORE>

<GUVA DROPS TO A KNEE, IN PAIN AND SHOOTS AWAY YAMCHA>

<GUVA AND CHIAOTZU BEGIN TO DUEL AGAIN, WHERE GUVA QUICKLY REGAINS HIS ADVANTAGE; HIS STYLE OF PUNCHES AND KICKS ARE HIGHLY ORNATE AND SOPHISTICATED AND DESPITE CHIAOTZU’S SMALL SIZE, MOST ARE LANDING>

<YAMCHA RECOVERS AND SHOOTS INTO THE AIR, LANDING, WITH A PUNCH ON GUVA’S BACKSIDE; GUVA DID NOT SEE, HEAR, NOR EVEN ANTICIPATE SUCH A MOVE AND AS SUCH IS HIT HEAD ON; HE FALLS FACE FIRST INTO THE GRASS, SPITTING UP BLOOD>

<ONCE AGAIN, THE TWO ATTACK GUVA; HE CAN BARELY HOLD THEM AND HE IS BATTED AROUND; HE SOMEWHAT LOSES CONSCIOUSNESS>

<AT THIS TIME, YAMCHA TAKES TO THE AIR AND CHIAOTZU TURNS GUVA AROUND; HE HIMSELF CONTINUES TO PUNCH AT THE GOVERNOR; YAMCHA ABOVE READIES HIS EXTRA LARGE SPIRIT BALL>

<GUVA QUICKLY REALIZES THIS FATAL MISTAKE AND TAKES CHIAOTZU OUT WITH A SINGLE KICK; HE THEN SHOOTS INTO THE SKY AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME FAR HIGHER THAN YAMCHA IS POSITIONED>

<HE CONTINUES FLYING UPWARD, BUT AS HE DOES, HE SENDS ONE SMALL BALL OF SCATTERSHOT DOWN TO YAMCHA; THIS CAUSES YAMCHA TO GET HIT BY THE KI BLASTS AND DISSIPATE HIS SPIRIT BALL>

<BUT ONCE AGAIN, GUVA DID NOT ANTICIPATE A SECOND FIGHTER AS HE COMES TO A STOP; BEING AS HE CAN ALSO NOT SENSE KI, GUVA DID NOT SEE THAT CHIAOTZU HAD TAILED HIM THE WHOLE WAY UP, RIGHT BEHIND THE GOVERNOR>

<CHIAOTZU SENDS OFF AN ENERGY TELEKINESIS SHOT AND IT HITS GUVA, PARALYZING HIM>

<HE COMES AROUND TO FACE GUVA AND SHOOTS A DODON RAY AT THE GOVERNOR; WHILE IT’S NOT SUPER ACCURATE, IT SILL HITS GUVA IN THE FACE AND RIPS APART HIS RIGHT CHEEK; BLOOD POURS OUT AND HE SCREAMS; BEING PARALYZED, GUVA CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT>

Guva: I-is… that the best you’ve got? <IN HIS MIND> The little clown thing is weak; much weaker than I. If I can only get him alone for a few moments… <HE GLANCES DOWNWARD, SEEING YAMCHA SHOOTING UP AT THEM> damnit! Don’t they ever stay down!? Individually I could so easily kill them. But together, they’re unbeatable. <BACK TO CHIAOTZU> You! Clown… thingy… uh… if that’s your most powerful attack, you may as well give up!

Chiaotzu: What?

<AT THIS, CHIAOTZU LOSES CONCENTRATION FOR A MOMENT AND GUVA BREAKS FREE OF HIS PARALYSIS>

<HE SHOOTS STRAIGHT AT CHIAOTZU, AND HITS HIM AWAY; AT THE SAME TIME, YAMCHA REACHES THEM, AND GRABS ONTO GUVA’S LEG; HE RIPS THE GOVERNOR DOWN, AND THROWS HIM BELOW; BUT GUVA TELEPORTS BEHIND YAMCHA AT THIS, HE IS STILL FAR TOO CONSCIOUS>

<HE HIMSELF HITS YAMCHA AWAY, BLOWING OFF HIS SHIRT AND SENDING HIM INTO THE GROUND; INSTEAD OF PURSUING YAMCHA HOWEVER, GUVA INSTEAD TURNS BACK TO CHIAOTZU>

<WITH ONE SWIPE, GUVA HITS CHIAOTZU AWAY INTO THE MOUNTAIN>

<HE DESCENDS AND JUMPS ONTO YAMCHA’S LYING BODY>

<GUVA TURNS YAMCHA OVER AND HITS HIM, OPEN PALMED IN THE MOUTH; YAMCHA SCREAMS AND SPITS UP BLOOD; GUVA THEN ELBOWS HIM IN THE CHEST AND BREAKS HIS RIB CAGE; AT THAT AND ANOTHER THROW AWAY, YAMCHA IS DEFEATED>

Tien: Chiaotzu!! <HIS ANGER SURGES; AND HE JUMPS FORWARD> I’ll avenge you, my friend. <TO GUVA> You’re facing me now.

Guva: <PANTING; FIGURE IN SHAMBLES; HE WIPES AWAY BLOOD FROM HIS TORN CHEEK> I’m not here to play games with every little maggot that crawls out of the ground. My quarry is a Saiyan, not a freak with three eyes! You want to die, that’s your problem. Leave me out of it…

Tien: <CALMLY, AS HE TALKS HE TAKES OFF HIS HEAVY CLOTHING; WELL HE TAKES OFF HIS SHIRT CLOTHING> I’m not a freak. But you just hurt my friend, Chiaotzu. That’s unforgivable. <AT THIS, HE READIES A WHITE, LIGHTNING-ISH BLAST IN EACH HAND AND THROWS THEM AT GUVA>

<GUVA HOWEVER HAS ALREADY FALLEN TO HIS KNEES, HIS HANDS CLASPED AROUND HIS ARMS; HE DOESN’T SEEM TO NOTICE WHEN THE BLASTS HIT HIM, NOR WHEN HE FALLS BACK, SEVERAL DOZEN FEET FOR DOING SUCH>

<GUVA’S EYES ARE WIDE, AND HIS LIP IS TREMBLING; ABOUT HIM, SOMETHING WHICH NO ONE ELSE CAN HEAR, IS A FLURRY OF QUIET WHISPERING; CONSUMING HIM OVER>

<AT JUST THIS TIME, BEHIND THE Z FIGHTERS, LEDAS COMES DOWN FROM THE ROCKS, SKIDDING WITH PEBBLES ABOUT HIM ONTO THE GRASS; VEGETA, WHO IS ALSO SITTING BEHIND THE OTHER Z FIGHTERS, AS IF BORED, IS THE ONLY ONE TO IMMEDIATELY NOTICE LEDAS>

<AND WHILE THERE IS DRIED BLOOD ACROSS HIS FACE AND HE HAS AGED SOMEWHAT SINCE THEIR LAST MEETING, VEGETA RECOGNIZES HIM; THEY MEET EACH OTHERS’ EYES>

Ledas: Hi… Vegeta.

Paid In Blood
Vegeta: <BORED> Who are you?

Ledas: <BREATHLESS, NERVOUS> Ve-vegeta…? That’s you, right?

Vegeta: <IRRITATED> What do you want?

Ledas: <TREMBLING STILL> Vegeta? <HE WALKS UP CLOSER> It’s… it’s me, Ledas.

Vegeta: <YAWNS> Who?

Ledas: <A BIT LOUDER; SOME OF THE Z FIGHTERS TURN TO FACE HIM> Don’t you remember me?!?!?!

Vegeta: Hmph. <TILTS HIS HEAD AWAY>

Goku: <DESPITE THE ACTION AROUND, HE WALKS OVER TO VEGETA AND LEDAS; GOHAN, GOTEN, AND TRUNKS COME WITH HIM> Whoa Vegeta… who’s this guy?

Vegeta: <STILL SOMEWHAT IRRITATED> Bah… <HE OBVIOUSLY DOESN’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT AND LAYS DOWN ON THE GRASS, ARMS BEHIND HIS HEAD; HE CLOSES HIS EYES AND PRETENDS TO SLEEP>

Ledas: <STANDING OVER VEGETA> Come on! Look at me! Remember!

<THE CAMERA CUTS TO A TOWN, IT IS BRIGHT, SPARKLING SOMEWHAT, NEAR THE SEA; AS THE CAMERA PANS BACK A BIT IT SHOWS OFF RYORI, SULLEN AND DIRTY; HIS HANDS ARE FREE BUT HE IS STUMBLING DOWN THE ROAD>

<AS HE WALKS BY HIS COAT BILLOWS AND IT CAN BE SEEN THAT HE HAS A PISTOL IN IT; IN RYORI’S HAND HOWEVER IS A SMALL PIECE OF CLOTH>

<AFTER SOME TIME, BREATHING HARD AND IN SOME KIND OF ANGUISH, RYORI STEPS INTO A SIDE BUILDING; THE PLACE IS A FANCY ONE, WITH ELEGANTLY CARPETTED FLOORS AND WALLS, THERE ARE EXPENSIVE, OR AT LEAST WHAT LOOKS LIKE EXPENSIVE ARCHITECTURE AND FURNITURE THAT LITTER THE PLACE; THOUGH THE MAIN WALKWAY FORWARD TO THE DESK IS CLEAR OF ANYTHING, INCLUDING PEOPLE>

<AT THIS, RYORI WALKS UP TO THE MAIN COUNTER AND STANDS ON HIS TOES, PEERING OVER; AT LONG LAST, A TELLER WALKS OVER TO HIM>

Teller: <SHE IS SURPRISED AT RYORI> May I help you, little boy?

Ryori: <IN A QUICK WIT> Here… <HE TAKES THE PIECE OF CLOTH FROM HIS HAND AND SETS IT ON THE TABLE> I wanna know where I can find this place.

<THE CAMERA MOVES UP AND OVER RYORI’S SHOULDER, REVEALING WHAT THE THING HE WAS HOLDING WAS; IT SEEMS TO BE FROM A PIECE OF SHIRT, OR JACKET MAYBE; IT IS A SIMPLE, ELEGANT INSIGNIA OF A BRAZEN “C”>

<THE CAMERA CUTS BACK TO GUVA AND TIEN>

<GUVA HAS SLIGHTLY RECOVERED FROM HIS WEIRD FIT EARLIER AND NO WHISPERING CAN BE HEARD>

<TIEN, WHO IS OBVIOUSLY ANGRY, RUNS AT GUVA AND ELBOWS HIM; AS GUVA DOUBLES OVER, TIEN SWIPES FROM BEHIND HIS LEGS, CAUSING THE GOVERNOR TO FALL UP; THEN TIEN CHOPS HIM IN THE CHEST AGAIN, AND SENDS GUVA FLYING AWAY>

<HE PURSUES AND BEGINS TO BEAT UP ON GUVA>

<BUT AS THIS IS HAPPENING, THE CAMERA MOVES LEFT, AND BACK TO THE Z FIGHTERS>

Ledas: Aw, Vegeta, don’t you remember me? We used to play together all the time… like remember that time in the snow? <VEGETA DOESN’T ANSWER>

Goku: <TO LEDAS; HE NOTICES LEDAS’ TAIL; ENTHUSIASTICALLY> Whoa, are you a Saiyan too?

Ledas: <BACK TO GOKU, SCRATCHES THE BACK OF HIS HEAD> Oh, yeah… you must’ve seen my tail… <HE HIMSELF TURNS AROUND TO LOOK AT IT> It’s always falling off <LAUGHS> but I can always grow a new one! <LOOKS AT VEGETA AND GOKU> Hey… where are your tails?

Goku: <MATTER O’ FACT; A LITTLE PROUDLY> I had mine removed a long time ago.

Ledas: That’s stupid. You’re not a true Saiyan without a tail!

Goku: <IN HIS GOKU VOICE; LIKE WHEN AROUND RADITZ> From what I’ve seen, the Saiyan’s aren’t very nice people. They just go around hurting and killing and-

<GOKU IS INTERRUPTED BY GUVA BEING SLAMMED INTO THE GROUND NEARBY; GUVA IS EXTREMELY WEARY FROM HIS LAST BATTLE WITH YAMCHA AND CHIAOTZU; NEVERTHELESS, TIEN IS STILL FAR STRONGER THAN HE AND THIS FIGHT IS NOT EVEN AT ALL>

<GUVA DODGES OUT OF THE WAY, ON THE GROUND, AS TIEN TRIES TO LAND A MOVE ON HIS LYING BODY; GUVA ROLLS AWAY AND FIRES A SCATTERSHOT, BUT IT IS NO USE AS TIEN IS EASILY ABLE TO BRUSH IT ASIDE>

<TIEN RUSHES AT GUVA AND SENDS OFF A SOLAR FLARE; OBVIOUSLY THIS BLINDS GUVA FOR A MOMENT>

<TIEN USES THIS TO GRAB GUVA’S ARMOR PAULDRONS AND THROW HIM INTO THE AIR; ONCE IN THE AIR, HE HIMSELF SENDS OFF A DODON HAIL, WHICH PIERCES GUVA MANY TIMES, BLOODYING HIM EVEN MORE>

<WHEN GUVA LANDS HARD INTO THE EARTH, HE DOES NOT GET UP>

<TIEN WALKS FORWARD SLOWLY AND SHOOTS A ONE HANDED KI CANON AT GUVA; WHEN THE DUST CLEARS, GUVA IS CRITICALLY INJURED, NOW ONLY BARELY ALIVE>

<TIEN PICKS HIM UP WITH HIS RIGHT HAND AND HOLD THE FORMER GOVERNOR BY HIS NECK; BLOOD IS NOW POURING FROM GUVA’S BODY; THE CAMERA SPINS AROUND FOR A SECOND AND HIS BLOOD CAN BE SEEN DRIPPING FROM HIS FEET, WHICH ARE ONLY HOVERING A FEW INCHES OFF THE GROUND>

Tien: Get ready to die!! <HE LIFTS UP HIS LEFT HAND AND BEGINS TO FORM ENERGY FOR A SINGLE-HANDED KI CANON BLAST>

Guva: Why are you doing this?! Let’s… let’s just talk, like gentlemen!

Tien: You hurt Chiaotzu! I can’t feel him at all! <TRAILING OFF; LOOKING AT SOMETHING FAR OFF> He was my good friend…

<GUVA LEANS HIS HEAD BACK AND SPURTS UP SOME MORE BLOOD, HE CROAKS OUT A LAUGH>

Guva: Honestly, I…

<SUDDENLY TIEN DROPS GUVA AND WALKS PAST HIM>

Guva: <IN A PAINED WHISPER> Wh-what… is… what are you doing?

<HE TURNS AROUND TO SEE WHAT TIEN IS WANDERING OFF FOR; FROM THE RUBBLE BEHIND, CHIAOTZU STAGGERS FORWARD>

<TIEN SMILES AND LAUGHS, LONG AND HARD, HE KNEELS DOWN TO TALK TO CHIAOTZU AND INSPECT THE SERIOUSNESS OF HIS WOUNDS>

<GUVA BEHIND THEM GETS SUPER ANGRY>

Guva: Bastard! Get back here! Finish me now! <HE THROWS A SMALL OVAL SHAPED BLAST AT TIEN>

<TIEN IS KNOCKED OVER FROM THIS, BUT WHEN HE GETS UP AND TURNS AROUND, HE SEES THAT GUVA HAS ONCE AGAIN FALLEN TO HIS FEET, NOW AUDIBLY SCREAMING; HIS EYES ARE WILD AND BASICALLY POPPING IN THEIR WIDE GAZE>

<TIEN IS NOT MOVED BY THIS DISPLAY OF EMOTION AND SWIFTLY GRABS GUVA AGAIN; THIS QUIETS THE GOVERNOR DOWN>

<TIEN TAKES HIS BLAST AND BRINGS IT TO GUVA’S FACE, BUT HE HOLDS BACK FOR A SECOND, UNWILLING TO GO THROUGH WITH IT>

<LEDAS LOOKS THROUGH THE GROUP OF Z FIGHTERS, AND SEES GUVA STANDING THERE>

Ledas: Guva! <BUT GUVA DOES NOT HEAR HIM>

Guva: <LAUGHS AGAIN> Hahahahahaha. Do it. <NOW HOARSELY AND SPITTING> Come on, you spineless coward! Do it. DO I-

<GUVA GOES RIDGED, MIDSENTENCE; TIEN DROPS HIM; AFTER A COUGH, HE FALLS DEAD ONTO THE GROUND; TIEN MOVES BACK, STEPPING AWAY FROM THE CORPSE>

<STICKING OUT FROM THE BACK OF HIS GUVA’S CRACKED AND BLOODIED ARMOR IS A KNIFE>

<CROUCHING OVER THIS ALL IS NOW A FIGURE, DARKLY HOODED, CALMLY WATCHING>

<THE FIGHTERS HADN’T NOTICED HIM UP TO THIS POINT, AND WHEN GUVA’S BODY FALLS, THEY ALL LET OUT A GASP>

The Benefactor: <PULLS KNIFE OUT OF THE NOW LIFELESS CORPSE; HE LOOKS UP TO THE GROUP WATCHING> Did ya… miss me?

<ABRUPT TO BLACK>

Snow Day
<FLASHBACK>

<THE CAMERA COMES INTO A LARGE ROOM, VERY TALL; IT IS PANELED WITH VARIOUS STONE TILES, COVERING THE VAST GROUND, THERE IS OF COURSE A ROOF TOO, BUT IT IS VERY HIGH UP, MAYBE 100-150 FEET; THE SIZE OF THE HUGE ENCLOSURE IS ABOUT THAT OF A NORMAL STADIUM>

<IN THE ENCLOSURE ARE 4 BEINGS; TWO ARE HUGE, LIKE GREAT MONKEYS; THEY ARE NOT WEARING ARMOR, BUT ONLY TRAINING PANTS>

<THE OTHER TWO ARE FLYING ABOUT FRANTICALLY; THEY ARE BOTH SAIYANS, IN FULL ARMOR; IN FACT THEY ARE WEARING MORE THAN THE REGULAR SAIYAN ARMOR, THEY ARE WEARING FULL BODY SUITS COVERING EVEN THEIR FACES AND TAILS>

<AS CAN BE ASSUMED THIS IS BECAUSE THERE IS A POWER BALL AT THE CENTER OF THE ENCLOSURE, AND THE TWO UN-TRANSFORMED SAIYANS DON’T WANT TO TRANSFORM THEMSELVES; THEY SEEM TO BE TEACHING>

<THE TWO GREAT APES LUNGE AT EACH OTHER, CLEARLY NEITHER IS SENTIENT; THEY ROLL AROUND, FIGHTING AND HACKING AT ONE ANOTHER; IN ADDITION BOTH SEEM TO BE RANDOMLY SHOOTING OFF ENERGY BLASTS IN ALL DIRECTIONS AS IF THEY CANNOT CONTROL THEIR POWER>

<THE TWO ADULT SAIYANS ARE ONLY WATCHING AS OF NOW, BUT ARE STILL WEAVING THIS WAY AND THAT, DODGING THE TWO’S ENERGY OFFPUT>

<THE TWO SAIYANS STOP, AND SHOOT UP HIGHER INTO THE AIR TO LET THE GREAT APES COOL DOWN FOR A MOMENT>

Layeeck: <SHOUTING OVER THE COMMOTION> I don’t think it’s going to happen today. They’re still far too wild.

<THE OTHER SAIYAN IS FAR OLDER THAN LAYEECK; HE HAS A BEARD AND HIS HAIR IS A SILVERY BLACK>

Lascon: You’re too impatient, Layeeck. Give them some time to get used to the new form. They’re only children after all! <HE LAUGHS, HEARTILY> Do you remember how long it took you to master that form?

Layeeck: That was a long time ago.

Lascon: You were almost 11 years if I remember, before you mastered it.

Layeeck: Those were different times. Besides, my son is far stronger than I was at his age.

Lascon: <LEANS FORWARD, PEERING DOWN> And that makes it all the harder… look, they’ve tired out. This is our best chance.

<BOTH SHOOT BACK DOWN TO THE FLOOR; THE TWO GREAT APES ARE STILL TRANSFORMED, BUT ARE SPLAYED ACROSS THE GROUND ASLEEP>

<LAYEECK DESCENDS AND WALKS TO THE SAIYAN NEAREST HIM; LASCON GOES TO THE SAIYAN IN THE FAR CORNER>

Layeeck: <INTO THE EAR OF THE UNCONSCIOUS BEAST> Ledas! Ledas, wake up! <IN MORE OF A WHISPER> Ledas?!

<AT THAT, THE GREAT BEAST’S ARM RUMBLES AND GRABS LAYEECK; WITH A LAZY AND TIRED THROW, IT PUSHES LAYEECK INTO THE GROUND, HARD>

<LAYEECK LETS OUT A MUFFLED SCREAM BUT THE BEAST IS STILL ASLEEP>

<HE GETS UP, LIMPING FROM HIS FRACTURED KNEE, AND CAUTIOUSLY RE-APPROACHES LEDAS>

Layeeck: <ONCE AGAIN INTO LEDAS’ EAR; WHISPERING> Ledas?! It’s your father, Ledas! Wake up, we’re…

<LEDAS OPENS ONE EYE, LOOKING AROUND; HE SPOTS LAYEECK; AT THIS, LEDAS SITS UP WITH SUDDEN HASTE, THE MOTION OF IT KNOCKING LAYEECK BACK DOWN; STILL SITTING UP, HE TURNS HIS BODY TO FACE LAYEECK; LAYEECK IS EASILY DWARFED BY LEDAS’ PRESENCE; LAYEECK HOLDS HIS GROUND>

Layeeck: My son. Ledas…

<LEDAS PICKS HIM UP WITH HIS HAND, CLUTCHING TIGHTLY AROUND LAYEECK’S BODY; HE GROWLS, SHOWING HIS TEETH; HE SLAMS LAYEECK ONTO THE GROUND; LAYEECK KEEPS AS QUIET AS POSSIBLE; LEDAS KEEPS HIS FATHER WRAPPED IN HIS HAND AS HE DOES THIS>

<LEDAS SNARLS AGAIN>

Layeeck: You remember me. Look at my face! Look at me! I am your father, Ledas. Your father! Look at me! <LEDAS DOESN’T MOVE; HE IS ROARING, AND NOT LOOKING AT LAYEECK> I said look at me!

<LAYEECK SENDS A SHOCK BLAST DOWN THROUGH LEDAS’ BODY, JARRING HIM BACK TO REALITY; LEDAS GROWLS IN PAIN AND LIFTS HIS FATHER UP, CLOSER TO HIS FACE; HE INSPECTS LAYEECK ALL OVER; AS LAYEECK CONTINUES TO STARE INTO HIS SON’S EYES, LEDAS STARES BACK AT HIM; HIS STANCES LESSENS; HIS EYES GLAZE OVER, AND HE SHAKES HIS HEAD; WHEN HE LOOKS BACK AT HIS FATHER, HE HAS MORE PURPOSE IN HIS LOOK>

Ledas: <IN GREAT APE VOICE> I am.

Layeeck: <RECOVERS> Ledas?! <LETS OUT A BREATH OF AIR> My son… is that you?

Ledas: <CHEERFUL> Yeah! <HE HOLDS OUT HIS HAND AND NOTICES IT’S ALL HAIRY AND WHATNOT> Whoa, what’s this?

<LEDAS SETS DOWN HIS FATHER AND STANDS UP; HE ADMIRES HIS BODY, HE JUMPS AROUND, TESTING IT OUT>

<LAYEECK LOOKS BACK OVER TO WHERE LASCON WENT; THE SAIYAN ADULT IS HOVERING ABOUT 20 FEET IN THE AIR, WITH HIS ARMS CROSSED; BEHIND HIM IS AN AWAKE, YET UNMOVING GREAT APE; LASCON SEEMS UNTOUCHED AND HIS WHOLE “SENTIENCE” MISSION HAS GONE WITHOUT INCIDENT>

<LEDAS NOTICES THE OTHER GREAT APE; HE TURNS TO FACE IT IN A BATTLE STANCE>

Ledas: Awright! We can fight for real now!

<THE OTHER APE LAUGHS HIMSELF, BUT DOES NOT SPEAK>

<LEDAS JUMPS AND LUNGES HIMSELF AT THE OTHER APE, WHO HAS TAKEN A DEFENSIVE STANCE>

<RIGHT BEFORE THE TWO CONNECT, LASCON TURNS SUDDENLY AND SHOOTS A KI BLAST AT THE POWER BALL, DESTROYING IT>

<LEDAS REVERTS IN MID-LUNGE, AS DOES THE OTHER AND THEY TUMBLE INTO EACH OTHER AS THEY REGRESS>

<LASCON AND LAYEECK WALK UP TO THE TWO, LEDAS AND VEGETA, AND THROW THEM TOWELS>

Lascon: <AUTHORITATIVE> Now that’s enough, boys. Your trainings for today are done.

Ledas: <UPSIDE DOWN, A TOWEL AROUND HIS NECK> You mean we get the rest of the day off?!

Lascon: I don’t see why not. It would be quite mean of me to keep you boys locked up in here all day… when it’s snowing outside.

Ledas: <IN AWE> Snowing? What’s that?

Lascon: A rare occurrence on Planet Vegeta. I suggest you make the most of it. <HE SMILES ,WARMLY>

<LEDAS GETS UP, EXCITED; VEGETA GETS UP TOO, BUT HIDES ANY EXCITEMENT HE MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE>

Ledas: Thanks, grandpa! <HE WAVES THE ADULTS OFF AND RUNS TO THE DOOR; VEGETA WALKS, SLOWLY BEHIND>

<LASCON AND LAYEECK STAY BEHIND A BIT TO CLEAN UP>

Lascon: Today was quite an interesting day, wasn’t it Layeeck?

Layeeck: Yeah, it was unbelievable. I mean… they just got right up and ran out after all those hours of being in that form. I don’t even think I could do that! <LASCON LAUGHS> … or you for that matter.

Lascon: It’s you, not me who promised young Ledas a father-son trip off planet. I sure hope you didn’t lie to him about that.

Layeeck: <SIGHS> No, I’ll get around to it eventually. It’s just not desirable, I guess. Kind of unnerving when you’re not in control any more.

Lascon: <LAUGHS> When have you ever been, son?

<THE CAMERA CUTS TO A BIT LATER IN THE DAY, OUTSIDE; THE ENTIRE AREA, WHICH IS SLIGHTLY WOODED IS BLANKETED IN SNOW, VERY HIGH UP>

<VEGETA AND LEDAS ARE BOTH STANDING IN IT; LEDAS PLAYING AND JUMPING AROUND IN IT, AND VEGETA MERELY STANDING, HAUGHTILY OBSERVING>

Prince Vegeta: <SHOOTS A SMALL BEAM OF ENERGY, WHICH DOES NOT DISSIPATE AS HE TALKS, INTO THE SNOW; HE MELTS A CIRCLE AROUND HIMSELF> So what? It’s just frozen water…

Ledas: Yeah, but it’s fun Vegeta! Come on!

<LEDAS DIVES HEAD FIRST INTO THE SNOW AND AFTER A SECOND HE RESURFACES A BIT TO THE RIGHT; HIS HAIR AND FACE IS COVERED IN SNOW; HE SMILES>

Prince Vegeta: Hmph. I don’t get the big deal.

Ledas: <LAUGHS> Aw Vegeta, just try it!

<LEDAS THROWS SOME SNOW AT VEGETA, IN A BALL; YES REALLY>

<IT HITS VEGETA IN THE FACE AND HE BRUSHES IT ASIDE>

Prince Vegeta: <ANNOYED> Stop it! <HE TURNS, SWIFTLY WITH HIS CAPE>

<AT THIS, LEDAS JUMPS, LAUGHING AND TOPPLES ONTO VEGETA, CAUSING THEM TO BOTH FALL INTO THE SNOW; VEGETA IS NOT HAPPY>

<LEDAS JUMPS BACK AND READIES MORES SNOWBALLS; HE THROWS SEVERAL AT VEGETA>

Ledas: <GIDDY> Betcha can’t hit me!

<VEGETA STANDS UP AND IS ABOUT TO RESPOND BUT HE IS HIT IN THE FACE AGAIN WITH A SNOWBALL>

<VEGETA WITH SOME RESTRAINT, PICKS UP SOME SNOW AND FORMS IT INTO A BALL HIMSELF; HE SHOOTS UP INTO THE AIR AND HITS IT AS HARD AS HE CAN INTO LEDAS>

<THE TWO JUMP AROUND, DODGING EACH OTHER’S SNOW BALLS AND HAVING A GOOD TIME>

<THE CAMERA CUTS BACK TO A HOUSE, QUITE SIMPLE; IT IS NOT IN A VERY POPULATED PLACE; NO OTHER HOUSES ARE AROUND; THE SUN IS SOMEWHAT SETTING BEHIND IT, AND IT IS ON A HILL WITH A SINGLE TREE TO THE LEFT>

<INSIDE IT WALKS LASCON STILL IN HIS FULL ARMOR; WITH A SIGH OF HIS OWN, HE TAKES OFF HIS ARMOR AND HANGS IT ON A RACK; HE WALKS INTO HIS BEDROOM AND WINCES, FALLING OVER AND CLUTCHING AT HIS SIDE; HE BREATHS HARD FOR A FEW MOMENTS THEN GETS UP AGAIN>

<NOW SOMEWHAT TREMBLING HE WALKS FORWARD THREE STEPS; SUDDENLY HIS HEAD SHOOTS UP AND HE TURNS AROUND>

<THE CAMERA IS FACING WITH THE INTRUDER, JUST A BIT BEHIND HIS LEFT SHOULDER>

<THE INTRUDER IS DRAPED ALL IN BLACK; HIS FACE CANNOT BE SEEN; HE TAKES ONE STEP FORWARD IN HIS SILENCE>

Lascon: Who are you? What do you want?

<THE FIGURE DOES NOT ANSWER AND TAKES ANOTHER STEP FORWARD>

Lascon: I’m warning you. Get back! <HE HIMSELF STEPS BACK AND SHOOTS A SMALL ONE HANDED ENERGY BLAST AT THE CREATURE; AT THE SAME TIME HOWEVER HE FALLS OVER, TRIPPING BACKWARDS>

Creature: Tell me.

Lascon: Tell you what? What do you mean?

Creature: The name.

Lascon: Whose?!

Creature: <QUIVERING> The child. Your grandson. Partner of the Prince. His name.

Lascon: You mean Ledas? But, you… y-you want… no… w-what… wait!

<THE CREATURE GOES BACK TO QUIET UPON GETTING ITS ANSWER; IT CLAWS THE FACE OF LASCON, MAKING HIM FALL BACKWARD; LASCON BOWS HIS HEAD, AND THEN WHEN HE LOOKS BACK UP, HE SENDS OUT AN EYE BEAM AT THE CREATURE; TO NO EFFECT; WITH A GRIM LOOK, HE SLUMPS HIS SHOULDERS IN DEFEAT>

<THE CAMERA TURNS AGAIN TO BEHIND THE CREATURE, AND AS IT MOVES FORWARD, IT COVERS THE ENTIRE SCREEN>

<THE CAMERA CUTS BACK TO LEDAS AND VEGETA>

<THE TWO OF THEM ARE STILL PLAYING IN THE SNOW; VEGETA SEEMS TO HAVE WARMED UP TO THE IDEA OF IT>

<THEY TUMBLE DOWN THROUGH SOME TREES INTO A SMALL VALLEY; THERE IS A STREAM RUNNING THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF IT; AT THE NEAR END, THERE IS A FALLEN TREE THAT IS SPANNING ACROSS IT LIKE A BRIDGE>

<VEGETA AND LEDAS JUMP ONTO IT AND CAREFULLY START TIP-TOEING ON IT>

<VEGETA WHO IS IN THE FRONT TURNS AROUND AND WITH A GRIN ON HIS FACE GETS IN A BATTLE STANCE; LEDAS INTERPRETS THIS CORRECTLY AND ATTACKS; THE TWO START FIGHTING, IN CLOSE COMBAT; PUNCHES AND KICKS FLY FOR SEVERAL MOMENTS; NEITHER HAS THE EDGE>

<THE TWO GET INTO A BLOW EXCHANGE ON THE TREE AND SEND FLURRIES OF PUNCHES AT ONE ANOTHER>

<AT LONG LAST, BOTH OF THEM FALL OFF, AND ONTO THE ICE; IT CRACKS AND THEY FALL IN>

<THE TWO BOYS ARE SWEPT UNDERWATER, AND WHEN THEY TRY TO RESURFACE, THE ICE IS THICK ABOVE THEIR HEADS>

<BOTH ARE TOO COLD AND WEARY TO BREAK THROUGH IT, POUNDING ON IT WITH THEIR FISTS>

<AT LONG LAST, NEARLY RUNNING OUT OF AIR UNDER THE WATER, LEDAS AND VEGETA GRASP HANDS TOGETHER AND COMBINE A GALICK GUN BLAST, TO SHOOT THROUGH THE ICE>

<IT WORKS AND BOTH COME FLYING UP AND BACK ONTO THE SNOWY TURF; BOTH COLLAPSE, EXHAUSTED>

<ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, LEDAS’ SCOUTER GOES OFF>

<HE WEARILY GRASPS AT IT FROM THE SNOW AND PICKS IT UP; IT IS LAYEECK CALLING>

Layeeck: Ledas are you there?

Ledas: <TIRED> Whaddizit?

Layeeck: Ledas, I need you to come meet me at your grandfather’s house, immediately.

Ledas: Bu-

Layeeck: <PRESSED> Immediately.

<LEDAS PICKS UP ON HIS FATHER’S IMPORTANT TONE AND JUMPS INTO AIR; HE DASHES OFF, SPRINTING IN THE AIR>

Prince Vegeta: <WATCHES HIM GO, STILL PANTING> Bye, I guess… <HE LAYS HIS HEAD BACK DOWN AGAINST THE SNOW AND CLOSES HIS EYES; HIS ARMS BEHIND HIS HEAD, ALMOST LIKE HIS ADULT FORM WAS IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTERS>

<LEDAS SHOOTS TO HIS GRANDFATHER’S HOUSE WITH MUCH HASTE; HE LANDS, FACING HIS FATHER AT THE DOOR>

Ledas: What is it, dad?

Layeeck: <SAID MONOTONE, WITHOUT EMOTION> Your grandfather is dead. But do not lower yourself to tears. There is no place to be soft here.

<LEDAS TEARS UP, BUT DOES NOT LET LAYEECK SEE THEM; BUT BEFORE HE CAN SPEAK, LAYEECK TURNS BACK TO THE HOME>

Layeeck: The traditional Saiyan burial isn’t possible here.

Ledas: <IN TEARS> But why?

Layeeck: <STILL> There’s not much of him left. I can’t get what’s left of him out of the house… So! <BRISKLY> We will do it as we can. Stand back, Ledas. Help me give him the proper respect.

<LAYEECK GATHERS HIS ENERGY AND SHOOTS OFF A HUGE BALL INTO THE HOUSE, EXPLODING IT AND CAUSING IT TO GO UP IN FLAMES>

<AT THIS TIME, LEDAS HAD SUNK TO HIS KNEES, BUT HIS FATHER RIGHTS HIM BACK UP; HE HELPS LEDAS TO PUT HIS OWN ARM OUT>

<LEDAS, UNDERSTANDING, LETS OFF A SMALL BLAST OF HIS OWN TO ADD TO THE FIRE; LAYEECK HELPS HIM KEEP HIS HAND STEADY; THE FIRE BURNS BRIGHTLY FOR SOME TIME, AND THE TWO STAND IN SILENCE, WATCHING; NEITHER SPEAKS A WORD>

<THE SCREEN PANS BACK, TO THE SINGLE TREE ON THE LEFT OVERLOOKING THE LONELY HOUSE>

<PERCHED ATOP IT, WITHIN THE SNOW ITSELF IS A BEING, DARKLY DRAPED, HIS FACE UNSEEN; AS HE WATCHES FOR SOME TIME, THE HOUSE COLLAPSES IN ON ITSELF; AS THE FIRES COOL AND ALL TURNS TO ASH, LAYEECK AND LEDAS, BELOW, SHOOT OFF INTO THE SKY AWAY>

<SEEING THIS, THE FIGURE, THE BENEFACTOR HIMSELF JUMPS OFF FROM HIS TREE AND WALKS AWAY; AS HE TRUDGES THROUGH THE SNOW FOR A WHILE>

<THE SCREEN PANS BACK AND SHOWS THAT MUCH OF THE ENTIRE PLANET IS COVERED IN SNOW; IT PANS BACK OUT TO SPACE, SHOWING THE ENTIRE PLANET>

<END FLASHBACK>

Furcifer Pardalis
<FLASHBACK, BENEFACTOR>

<THE CAMERA IS ON FRIEZA’S SHIP, WHICH IS HOVERING OVER PLANET VEGETA>

<INSIDE, THE HALLS ARE ABANDONED AND VERY QUIET>

<THE CAMERA MOVES DOWN THE MAIN CORRIDOR, WHICH CIRCLES AROUND INTO A ROOM, WHICH IS NOT LIT AT ALL; THE ONLY LIGHT IS A BIT SEEPING IN FROM THE HALLWAY OUTSIDE THE OPEN DOOR; ONLY FRIEZA IS IN IT; HE IS STANDING, FACING THE WINDOW, STARING DOWN AT PLANET VEGETA>

<QUIETLY, A NEW BEING ENTERS; IT IS THE BENEFACTOR; HE IS STILL CLOTHED COMPLETELY IN BLACK>

Frieza: Ah, Captain.

The Benefactor: <WALKS UP TO BEHIND FRIEZA; HE KEEPS ABOUT A 3 FOOT DISTANCE BETWEEN HIM AND HIS LORD> You wanted me, Lord Frieza?

Frieza: <RAISES HIS HEAD> I have spent a great deal of time wondering about many things. I had hoped you could enlighten me as to their meanings.

<THE BENEFACTOR DOES NOT ANSWER>

Frieza: <PAUSES FOR SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE CONTINUING> The day Zarbon and I found you-

The Benefactor: <FORCED WHISPER> What?!

Frieza: <TURNS TO THE BENEFACTOR> Do you remember that day?

The Benefactor: Yes.

Frieza: <TURNS BACK TO FACE THE WINDOW; CURTLY> Then you will let me finish. That day, I came to conquer your planet. We found all but a small group of your species had been exterminated. This was before my team had even touched down on the soil of that place. But I did not immediately see the connection; <LEANS HIS HEAD BACK> Ah, but now I do. It was you! My Benefactor who toppled his own race.

The Benefactor: I don’t see a question here.

Frieza: <NOW FULLY TURNS TO THE BENEFACTOR AND WALKS FORWARD TO TALK TO HIM FACE TO FACE> You and I are not so different, Benefactor. Only, I chose to kill my race because of necessity. You did it simply because you could.

<ONCE AGAIN, FRIEZA TURNS BACK TO THE WINDOW AND STARES OUT, FOR A LONG TIME; AT THIS TIME, THE BENEFACTOR TAKES IT AS HIS TIME TO LEAVE; HE TURNS AROUND AND BEGINS TO WALK OUT>

Frieza: <LOUDER> But tell me this, Benefactor, before you leave.

<THE BENEFACTOR STOPS TO LISTEN BUT DOES NOT ANSWER>

Frieza: If I were never to have come and taken you from your wretched hole, and left you there alone … what would have done? What would you have sunk to, all alone on your little planet?

The Benefactor: Nothing would have changed.

<THE BENEFACTOR TURNS BACK AGAIN TO WALK OUT; FRIEZA MOVES FORWARD; HIS FULL FORM COMES INTO THE LIGHT>

<HE IS WEARING ARMOR, BUT IS IN HIS FINAL FORM; HE LIFTS THE CHEST PIECE OVER HIS HEAD AND THROWS IT ASIDE>

<THE BENEFACTOR TURNS AT THIS NOISE; HE NOTICES FRIEZA IN HIS FINAL FORM; THE BENEFACTOR DROPS TO HIS KNEES, ALMOST IN A BOW BEFORE FRIEZA>

The Benefactor: Trying to scare me, my lord? <RAISES HIS HEAD SLOWLY, REVEALING HIS EYES> I can’t feel anything.

Frieza: Can’t? Or won’t, Captain?

<FRIEZA SUDDENLY READIES A FINGER BEAM AND SHOOTS IT INTO THE BENEFACTOR; THE BENEFACTOR DOES NOT TRY TO DODGE OR BLOCK IT; ONLY AT THE LAST SECOND DOES HE READ, IN HIS MIND, FRIEZA’S POWER LEVEL, WHICH IS MUCH HIGHER THAN HE EXPECTED; HE HAD NOT RAISED HIS OWN POWER LEVEL TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ENOUGH DAMAGE TO WITHSTAND THE BEAM; NEVERTHELESS, THERE IS NOTHING HE CAN DO AND IS HIT BY THE BEAM>

<HE FALLS OVER, INTO THE DARKNESS; ONLY A SINGLE STREAM OF HIS BLOOD IS SEEN FLOWING OUT FROM HIM>

<WITHOUT ANOTHER WORD, FRIEZA WALKS OUT>

<CUTS TO A DIFFERENT FLASHBACK>

<THE CAMERA BEGINS TO RAPIDLY SWITCH BETWEEN A SCENE AND A BLACK SCREEN, GIVING OFF THE EFFECT OF BLINKING; ONLY HEAVY BREATHING AND A HEART BEAT CAN BE HEARD DURING THIS TIME>

<THE SCENE VARIES BETWEEN SEVERAL PLACES; AT FIRST IT IS ON A SNOW WORLD, THE BENEFACTOR IS STUMBLING IN THE SNOW; BEHIND HIM ARE TWO DEAD FRIEZA SOLDIERS, STILL FULLY CLAD IN THEIR ARMOR; ONE OF THEIR HEADS IS TORN OFF, BUT THE SECOND SEEMS TO BE SIMPLY DEAD FROM NO SEEABLE EXTERNAL INJURY>

<THE BENEFACTOR APPROACHES THEIR TWO PODS; BEFORE HE ENTERS ONE, HE DROPS TO ONE KNEE AND FEELS THE SNOW IN HIS HAND FOR A FEW MOMENTS, RAISING HIS HEAD INTO THE BLIZZARDING SKY ABOVE>

<HE DOES NOT SEEM HIMSELF; THE CAMERA ZOOMS OUT, SHOWING HIS FULL FIGURE; BLACK MATTER IS EVAPORATING OFF OF HIM AS HE SITS THERE; HIS POWER IS BASICALLY LEAVING HIM>

The Benefactor: <BRINGS HIS HAND UP> What?!

<AFTER THIS BIZZARE DISPLAY, HE STUMBLES FORWARD; HE QUICKLY CRAWLS FORWAD AND OPENS A POD; HE IS SURPRISED THAT FRIEZA HAD ACTUALLY DAMAGED HIM SO MUCH>

<SWITCHES TO A DIFFERENT SCENE>

<THE BENEFACTOR’S POD CRASHES ONTO A PLANET; LAUTO’S PLANET; HE CRASHES INTO THE CAVE ITSELF; THE DOOR OPENS AND HE FALLS OUT, BARELY CONSCIOUS>

<HE LOOKS UP INTO THE DARKNESS; THERE IS A BIT OF LIGHT COMING FROM AHEAD; HE SEES A FIGURE STANDING; IT IS A LANKY, SCALED CREATURE; GREEN AND BLACK, WITH A TAIL; HIS MOTHER, AS SEEN IN THE OUTBREAK SPECIAL>

<THE BENEFACTOR FLIPS OVER AND LIES ON HIS BACK; HE LOOKS UP TO THE CEILING>

The Benefactor: What are you? <HE PUTS A CLAWED HAND ON HIS CHEST, BY HIS WOUND> You read memories. Read mine. <HE QUIVERS IN PAINED SILENCE WAITING FOR A RESPONSE> Do you know him?

Lauto: He has never set foot here.

<THE BENEFACTOR ROLLS OVER, AND SEES THE VISION HAS CHANGED TO LEDAS; THE LEDAS VISION WAS THE ONE WHO SAID THAT; THE BENEFACTOR LETS HIS HEAD FALL TO THE ROCKS>

The Benefactor: If you can save me, save me.

Lauto: Why should I?

The Benefactor: You see it. <THE BLACKNESS IS STILL EVAPORATING FROM HIM> Fix me before I die. Before I get a chance to give him all of it.

Lauto: Expecting nothing in return?

The Benefactor: <QUICKLY, BREATHLESS> Expecting nothing in return.

Lauto: Close your eyes.

<THE BENFECATOR DOES THIS AND THE SCENE ENDS>

<THE NEXT SCENE IS THE BENEFACTOR ON PC92, OR AT LEAST IT LOOKS LIKE IT; THIS IS AFTER LEDAS HAS LEFT AND ALSO AFTER GUVA AND BANAS HAVE LEFT FOR LAUTO’S CAVE>

Lauto: <UNSEEN, REMEMBRANCE> He came from the ranks of the army. I gave him all you could bestow, as requested. He resides on their 92nd outpost.

<THE BENEFACTOR WALKS SILENTLY THROUGH THE RUINED OUTPOST; IN A FAR CORNER HE SEES THE LAST BASTION OF GUVA’S SOLDIERS AND A GROUP OF NATIVES FIGHTING IT OUT IN A BLOODBATH ON THE COBBLED STREETS>

<THE GROUPS BOTH TURN TO FACE HIM AS HE DRAWS NEAR; SEVERAL OF EACH SIDE ATTEMPT TO ATTACK HIM, BUT HE SIMPLY WALKS PAST THEM; AS THEY TOUCH HIM THEY DISSOLVE INTO NOTHINGNESS>

<THE BENEFACTOR HOLDS HIS HANDS OUT, AS IF FEELING IN THE AIR FOR SOME KIND OF SCENT OR TRAIL, HE GOES OF FOR SEVERAL MINUTES DOING THIS>

<AT LONG LAST HE COMES TO GUVA’S HALF DESTROYED OFFICE BUILDING; HE STOPS SUDDENLY AND LOOKS UP>

<HE REACHES OUT HIS LEFT HAND WHILE STILL LOOKING UP AND PULLS AT SOMETHING; AFTER A MOMENT HIS POD COMES FLYING INTO VIEW; STILL LOOKING UP THE WHOLE TIME, HE CLIMBS IN IT AND SHOOTS OFF>

<THE NATIVES AND SOLDIERS STARE AT THIS BIZZARE DISPLAY FOR SEVERAL MOMENTS, BUT THEN GO BACK TO FIGHTING>

<THE CAMERA PANS BACK FROM THE OUTPOST; AFTER SEVERAL MOMENTS, A BLACK CLOUD ERUPTS AND AN EXPLOSION GOES OFF; THE ENTIRE HOST OF SOLDIERS AND NATIVES FALL DEAD>

<ABRUPTLY, THE CAMERA SWITCHES TO LAUTO’S CAVE; INSIDE IT IS THE BENEFACTOR, SITTING COMFORTABLY ON A ROCK>

<BELOW, GUVA AND BANAS ARE FIGHTING; HE IS SIMPLY WATCHING; HE TURNS HIS HEAD TO LOOK UP AT THE ROCK CEILING>

<HE HIMSELF DOES NOT TALK, BUT CURIOUSLY PEERS AT SEEMINGLY NOTHING>

<HE JUMPS OUT OF HIS TRANCE AS THE FIGHTING STOPS BELOW, AND HE HEARS THE VOICES OF BANAS AND GUVA SPEAKING; HE WATCHES IT ALL UNTIL GUVA KILLS BANAS>

<THEN AT GUVA’S SLUMPING UP AGAINST A WALL, THE BENEFACTOR OUTSTRETCHES HIS HANDS AND CLOSES HIS EYES; GUVA BELOW, SOMEHOW HEARS SOMETHING THAT SPOOKS HIM; EVEN IN PAIN, HE RIGHTS HIMSELF UP, IN A SLUMPED POSTURE, PEERING AROUND>

<THE BENEFACTOR INTENSIFIES HIS POWER OUTPUT, AND GUVA IS DISTURBED BY THIS; THE BENEFACTOR LOWERS HIS ARMS AND JUMPS OFF THE ROCK HE IS PERCHED ON; ONCE AGAIN HE LOWERS HIMSELF TO THE GROUND AND BRINGS THE DIRT INTO HIS HANDS, FEELING IT FOR SEVERAL MOMENTS BEFORE LETTING IT ALL SLIP AWAY>

<HE STANDS UP AGAIN, IN FULLEST OF POSTURE>

The Benefactor: <ECHOING IN THE CAVE; MOUTH WIDE, WITH TEETH OUT> Governor of 92.

Guva: <TIRED> Who… who are you?!

The Benefactor: Where is your Saiyan?

Guva: Long gone. To earth. I don’t know what happened to him. But-

The Benefactor: Take me there.

Guva: Take you?!

The Benefactor: Or I slit your throat.

<GUVA SUDDENLY CREATES AN IMAGE SLASH, AND SLASHES AT THE BLACKNESS AROUND HIM; IT LIGHTS UP A FIGURE FOR HIM TO SEE; THE BENEFACTOR CATCHES THE SWORD IN HIS HANDS AND SHATTERS IT EASILY; GUVA REALIZES THIS CREATURE IS FAR, FAR STRONGER THAN HE>

Guva: Why do you want him?

The Benefactor: You will lure him out, and gather his friends, if there are any of power.

Guva: W-why?

The Benefactor: They will not stop me. When they are gathered, I will take all of them out. Then I can get to him safely.

Guva: I have no choice. <HE STANDS UP, PAINFULLY> Follow my ship. I’ll take you to him.

<GUVA EXITS>

<THE BENEFACTOR STAYS>

<THE BENEFACTOR WALKS UP TO WHERE BANAS WAS KILLED AND RUNS HIS OUTSTRETCHED CLAWED FINGERS ON THE BURNT ROCK>

The Benefactor: <RAISES HIS HEAD> Did he tell you his name, when you met?

Lauto: Ledas is his name.

The Benefactor: You saved my life and gave him my power. <HE READIES THE SMALL CIRCULAR BLACK ENERGY BLAST HE HAS DONE SO MANY TIMES BEFORE; IT IS ONLY ABOUT THE SIZE OF A QUARTER> I know your identity, Kai. Fallen exile. I saw you as I slept, as I healed. You thought I hadn’t. <PAUSE> That secret dies with you.

Lauto: <BOOMS OUT FROM A DIM LIGHT ABOVE THE BENEFACTOR’S HEAD> Those who kill gods are marked for life. You will not last, as you are.

The Benefactor: How can it be a God if I may kill it?

<HE DROPS THE BLAST ONTO THE GROUND WITH A THICK AND HEAVY THUD, ECHOING THROUGHOUT THE CAVE; HE SLOWLY RAISES HIS HEAD AGAIN, AND WALKS OFF INTO THE DARKNESS, LEAVING LAUTO TO DIE ALONE>

<THE CAMERA COMES OUT OF THE FLASHBACK, BACK ONTO THE GRASSY TURF OF THE PRESENT TIME>

<THE BENEFACTOR IS STANDING OVER GUVA’S BODY, CHIAOTZU AND TIEN IN FRONT OF HIM, AND THE REST OF THE Z FIGHTERS, SANS THE DEFEATED YAMCHA IN THE CORNER, BEHIND THEM>

<THE BENEFACTOR’S NEW PRESENCE HAS EVEN DRAWN THE ATTENTION OF VEGETA AND LEDAS, WHO ARE BOTH STARING JUST AS FASCINATEDLY AS THE OTHERS>

The Benefactor: <TO HIMSELF, QUIETLY> Well, we’re all back. Who’s next?

<THE Z FIGHTERS DO NOT IMMEDIATELY ANSWER; BUT TIEN HOLDS HIMSELF EVER STEADFAST BEFORE THIS NEW FOE; HE LOCKS DOWN INTO A FIGHTING POSE WITHOUT A WORD; OBVIOUSLY STILL PISSED THAT HE DIDN’T GET TO KILL GUVA HIMSELF>

Machination Master
<WIDE ZOOM IN>

<KRILLIN JUMPS FORWARD FROM THE Z FIGHTERS GROUP; THE CAMERA BOTTOMS-UP WITH HIM AS HE GOES; HE LANDS BY YAMCHA’S CRUMPLED BODY; BY THIS TIME, YAMCHA IS ON HIS SIDE, FACING AWAY FROM KRILIN; HE IS NOT MOVING, YET HE IS STILL BLEEDING; HE IS COVERED IN BLOOD>

Krillin: <KNEELS DOWN TO YAMCHA> Hey, Yamcha! Yamcha? Hey, are you there, buddy? Yamcha?!

<YAMCHA DOES NOT ANSWER>

Krillin: <TURNS BACK TO THE OTHER Z FIGHTERS, GRIMLY> He’s hurt pretty bad, guys. Are you sure there aren’t any senzu beans for him?

Goku: <SHAKES HIS HEAD, CONCERNED; BUT FOR SOME ODD REASON HE IS STILL MOTIONLESS> Uh-uh. I don’t have any.

Krillin: <TURNS BACK TO YAMCHA, PICKS HIM UP> Then I’ll have to take him to Dende myself.

<KRILLIN FLIES UPWARD AND BEGINS TO TAKE OFF TO THE TOWN>

<AT THIS TIME, THE CAMERA MOVES BACK TO THE BENEFACTOR WHO HAS BEEN STANDING MOTIONLESS OVER GUVA’S BODY THIS WHOLE TIME; IN FRONT OF HIM ARE TIEN AND CHIAOTZU; BOTH IN FIGHTING POSE>

<TO HIS FAR LEFT ARE GOKU, VEGETA, AND LEDAS; LEDAS PARTICULARLY IS STARING AT THE BENEFACTOR; THE BENEFACTOR IS NOT LOOKING AT HIM>

<JUST AS KRILLIN STARTS TO LEAVE, THE BENEFACTOR LETS OUT HIS HAND, FINGERS SPREAD; STOPPING KRILLIN IN MIDAIR; WITH A SMALL PUSH OF HIS HAND, KRILLIN IS BATTED DOWNWARD BY SOME UNSEEN THING, AND YAMCHA IS THROWN AWAY>

<KRILLIN GETS UP AND RUNS AGAIN TO YAMCHA’S BODY, BUT HE IS STOPPED AND BROUGHT UP INTO THE AIR, ABOUT A FOOT>

<THE BENEFACTOR IS NOW FACING HIM, BOTH ARMS OUTSTRETCHED; HE HAS KRILLIN IN STASIS>

Krillin: <AGITATED> What are you doing? Can’t you see my friend over there is hurt!?!?! I need to get him help!

The Benefactor: <TO KRILLIN> No one is leaving here.

<THE BENEFACTOR MOVES HIS HAND SWIFTLY ABOUT, IN AN ARC; IT BLOWS KRILLIN BACK INTO ROCKS BEHIND HIM; HE IS COVERED IN RUBBLE; KRILLIN DOES NOT SURFACE; AS IS USUAL ALL THE Z FIGHTERS DO THAT THING WHERE THEY MOAN IN AWE FOR LIKE 10 MINUTES>

Piccolo: <TO THE BENEFACTOR> Are you insane?! What’s your problem? They weren’t fighting you!

The Benefactor: <DOES NOT TURN BACK TO PICCOLO> That one over there sealed his own. And we will leave him to it. <SHIFTS HIS CLOTHES> Who are you to play god?

Piccolo: <ANGRY GROWL> Who are you?

<THE BENEFACTOR TURNS BACK, BUT NOT TO ANYONE IN PARTICULAR; HE WALKS TO THE LEFT OF TIEN AND CHIAOTZU WHO TURN AS HE GOES, AND SETTLES TO BEING RIGHT IN FRONT LEDAS’ LINE OF SIGHT; HE LOOKS UP AT LEDAS>

<AS HE WALKS, HE PLACES HIS HANDS OUT IN FRONT OF HIM; HE BRINGS THEM UP OVER HIS HEAD AND CREATES A CIRCLE AROUND HIMSELF; SMALL PARTICLES OF ENERGY FORM AROUND HIM; HE VIOLENTLY PUSHES THEM AWAY, AND THEY GO EVERYWHERE, CAUSING THE AREA WHERE ALL THE Z FIGHTERS ARE TO BE FILLED WITH A LIGHT, DARK FOG>

The Benefactor: Yes. <IN EXHALE> I’m so fucking special.

<UP AHEAD, LEDAS’ EYES MEET WITH THE BENEFACTOR’S; OR AT LEAST THEY MAY HAVE, IT’S NOT LIKE THE BENEFACTOR’S EYES ARE EASY TO SEE BENEATH HIS HOOD>

Ledas: It’s him! He was on Frieza’s ship! You have to remember. He gave us our first mission. Vegeta?

<VEGETA WATCHES LEDAS AS HE TALKS; WHEN LEDAS FINISHES, HE CLOSES HIS EYES AGAIN>

<AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF THIS, WHERE THE AIR IS STILL AND EVERYONE (SANS OUR PROTAGONIST) IS WATCHING THE BENEFACTOR, LEDAS’ EYES DART UP AND NARROW; HE SUDDENLY LAUNCHES HIMSELF AT VEGETA>

<VEGETA IS STILL SITTING ON THE GRASS BEHIND IN BOREDOM, HIS ARM IS ON HIS KNEE; HE IS COMPLETELY UNPREPARED BY LEDAS’ SUDDEN ATTACK OF HIM>

<LEDAS BARRELS INTO HIM, AND THEY BOTH TUMBLE DOWN INTO THE GRASS, LEDAS PUNCHING, VEGETA IN A DAZE OF CONFUSION; HE IS ONLY BLOCKING>

<LEDAS LANDS ON TOP ON HIM, AND BATTERS VEGETA’S DEFENSE BACK AND BEGINS TO WAIL ON HIS FACE, PUNCHING AT HIM RELENTLESSLY>

<SEEING THIS, BEHIND, THE BENEFACTOR FALLS BACK, ONTO THE GRASS; HE LOOKS UP TO THE SKY AND PUTS HIS ARMS BEHIND HIS HEAD IN RELAXATION; HE CLOSES HIS EYES>

<CUTS TO RYORI, WHO IS WALKING DOWN THE SIDEWALK OF A STREET IN THE TOWN BY THE SEA; THE SUN IS HIGH IN THE AIR AND IS GLARING DOWN>

<HE WALKS FORWARD FOR SOME TIME, SEEMINGLY WITHOUT PURPOSE; BUT THEN IT BECOMES APPARENT THAT HE IS TAILING SOMEONE; SOMEONE IN A SUIT AND WITH WHITE HAIR>

<RYORI ANXIOUSLY GRABS AT THE PISTOL IN HIS COAT POCKET; HE HOLDS HIS RIGHT HAND ON IN, THOUGH HE IS TREMBLING>

<THE MAN UP AHEAD TURNS OFF INTO A SIDESTREET, WHICH IS DESERTED; RYORI MAKES HIS MOVE AND RUNS AFTER THE MAN, PISTOL OUT IN THE OPEN>

<THE MAN IS ABOUT 20 FEET UP AHEAD OF RYORI WHEN HE STOPS; RYORI STOPS AS WELL AND RAISES HIS GUN TO THE MAN’S FIGURE; HE STARTS BREATHING IRREGULARLY>

<SUDDENLY, THE MAN TURNS TO HIS LEFT, AND OPENS A DOOR, THE DOOR OPENS INWARDS AND HE BEGINS TO STEP IN; RYORI LOWERS HIS GUN, PEERING AT THE MAN; THE MAN TURNS TO RYORI BRIEFLY AND SMILES BEFORE ENTERING; CLEARLY THE MAN IS NOT CARDINAL, AND RYORI HAD SIMPLY MISTAKEN HIM FOR SOMEONE ELSE>

<RYORI SLUMPS HIS SHOULDERS AND LETS OUT A SIGH OF DEFEAT>

Ryori: No, it’s not him. Dang it.

<HE WALKS BACK OUT INTO THE SUN AND ACTIVITY; HE WALKS DOWN THE ROAD FOR A FEW BLOCKS WITH HIS HEAD DOWN>

<CUTS BACK TO LEDAS AND VEGETA; THE Z FIGHTERS ARE NOW WATCHING THEM FIGHT, BUT NO ONE IS STEPPING IN JUST YET; GOKU SEEMS LIKE HE IS ABOUT TO THOUGH>

<LEDAS CONTINUES TO HIT AND PUNCH VEGETA’S FACE, WHO IS NOW PARRYING AND FIGHTING BACK; BUT CLEARY HE IS NOT POWERED UP, NOR WAS READY TO FIGHT; AND HIS STRENGTH IS, THEREFORE, MUCH LOWER THAN LEDAS’>

<LEDAS READIES A PLAYFUL GALICK, PERHAPS IN IRONY; HE RAISES BOTH HIS HANDS ABOVE HIS HEAD AND BEGINS TO FORM THE CYAN ENERGY BLAST; VEGETA LOWERS BACK HIS HEAD AND COUGHS UP BLOOD, NOT WILLING TO OFFER ANY MORE RESISTANCE>

<RIGHT BEFORE LEDAS LOWERS AND FIRES THE BLAST INTO VEGETA’S FACE, IN CLASSIC DBZ QUASI-DRAMA, GOKU JUMPS FORWARD TO STOP HIM>

Goku: Hey! Stop, you two! This is no time to be fighting!

<LEDAS LOOKS UP, KINDA LIKE A PERSON’S CAT WOULD UPON RIPPING APART SOME VALUABLE POSSESSION, LIKE AN “OH DID I DO THAT” KINDA THING>

Ledas: No, Vegeta, stop acting like this!

Goku: Look, if you two have something to settle, you can do it later… right now we gotta deal with this guy… Come on, we have to focus on this!

<HE GESTURES TO THE BENEFACTOR LYING ON THE GROUND IN EVER SO SWEET REPOSE>

Ledas: I don’t want to fight him. You can do it.

<HE GETS UP AND WALKS BEHIND VEGETA, SKIDDISHLY HIDING FROM THAT ALIEN IN FRONT OF HIM>

<THE BENEFACTOR LIFTS HIS HEAD, IN MOCKING DAZE HIMSELF AND LOOKS OVER TO LEDAS>

The Benefactor: Oh, you ready? I’ve been waiting for this. <HE STANDS UP>

Ledas: <SOMEWHAT SCARED, BUT DETERMINED> You’re not getting near me…

Tien: <IN A SHOUT> No!!

<ALL TURN NOW TO HIM; HE IS STANDING, SOLEMNLY TO THE BENEFACTOR’S RIGHT; HE IS IN BATTLE POSE HIMSELF, AND CHIAOTZU IS STILL BESIDE HIM>

Tien: You’re fighting me.

The Benefactor: I am?

Tien: Let’s go!

<TIEN AND CHIAOTZU RUSH THE BENEFACTOR; LEDAS HOLDS HIS POSITION, CAUTIOUSLY HOLDING HIMSELF IN PLACE>

<TIEN AND CHIATZU BEGIN TO ATTACK THE BENEFACTOR WITH A TON OF ENERGY; HE SIMPLY DODGES THEM>

<CUTS BACK TO RYORI>

<HE WALKS DOWN THE ROAD UNTIL HE COMES TO AN INTERSECTION; HE STOPS AND LOOKS UP, AROUND AT ALL THE STORES ON EACH SIDE OF HIM>

<HE AT LAST NOTICES A SMALL SHOP, RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM; HIS EYES WIDEN IN SHOCK AS HE SEES THE SYMBOL ON THE DOOR; IT IS THE SAME SYMBOL ON THE PATCH OF CLOTHING THAT HE HAS IN HIS HAND>

<RYORI LOOKS DOWN AT THE PIECE OF THE TATTERED INSIGNIA THAT HE IS HOLDING; HE IS SURE THAT THE TWO ARE THE SAME; HE TAKES A DEEP BREATH IN AND WALKS TO THE DOOR AND INSIDE>

<INSIDE IS A SMALL, WELL LIT ROOM; THE WALLS ARE WHITE AND THE GROUND IS TILED; THERE IS WOOD AND CARPETTING ON THE FURNITURE ABOUT; HOWEVER, THE RECEPTION DESK IS EMPTY; RYORI CAUTIOUSLY MOVES IN CLOSER, AND PUTS IS RIGHT HAND ON HIS CONCEALED WEAPON, AGAIN>

<OUT OF A SIDE DOOR, COME OUT TWO PEOPLE; THE FIRST, A WOMAN IS SLIGHTLY FLUSTERED; THE OTHER, A MAN OF HIGH STATURE AND ELEGANTLY DRESSED, WITH SLICKED BACK WHITE HAIR FOLLOWS HER; HE LOOKS TIRED, AND HIS CLOTHES ARE DAY-WORN>

<THE MAN NOTICES RYORI, IN MID SENTENCE; HE STOPS WALKING AND PEERS CURIOUSLY AT RYORI>

Cardinal: Marissa darling, cancel my lunch. I think I’ll be eating out today. And be sure to call me when the UN gets back on my inquiry.

<HE SMILES WARMLY TO HER AND THEN WALKS INTO THE WAITING ROOM, TO MEET RYORI; HE WALKS RIGHT UP TO RYORI, MERE INCHES AWAY FROM THE LITTLE KID>

Cardinal: <PLEASANTLY> May I help you?

Visionary
<TIEN SCREAMS AND LAUNCHES HIMSELF AT THE BENEFACTOR, WHO PLAYFULLY AND COYLY LEAPS BACKWARDS, ARMS FOLDED; CHIAOTZU ALSO LUNGES FORWARD AND BEGINS TO ATTACK AT THE BENEFACTOR>

Tien: <IN HIS MIND; AS HE IS FIGHTING> Chiaotzu?! What’s he doing attacking this thing?! He’ll get himself killed!

<THE THREE CONTINUE FIGHTING; THE BENEFACTOR IS NOT REALLY DOING ANYTHING BESIDES LAZILY DODGING AROUND>

<AFTER A FEW MOMENTS; THE BENEFACTOR DODGES LEFT AND SENDS OUT AN INVISIBLE PULSE INTO CHIAOTZU’S FACE; IT HITS THE LITTLE CLOWN THING FULL ON AND KNOCKS HIM BACK, BLEEDING AS HE GOES, INTO THE GRASS BEYOND>

<CHIAOTZU IS DONE>

<THE BENEFACTOR LANDS, AND TIEN DOES AS WELL>

<TIEN BEGINS TO RUN FORWARD TO CHECK ON CHIAOTZU’S BODY, BUT THE BENEFATOR USES HIS TELEKINESIS TO PICK UP CHIAOTZU FIRST AND THROW HIM INTO THE PILE OF RUBBLE WHERE YAMCHA AND KRILLIN LAY; HE THROWS HIS ARM BEHIND HIM WHEN HE DOES THIS, BUT DOES NOT MOVE HIS FIGURE WHILE DOING SO>

<TIEN BEGINS TO OPEN HIS MOUTH, BUT THE BENEFACTOR STOPS HIM; CLEARLY, LIKE ALL OF US, HE’S TIRED OF THIS PANIC OVER CHIAOTZU>

The Benefactor: He will be fine, I do promise. Just as you will.

<TIEN HUNCHES DOWN, AND POWERS UP TO HIS MAXIMUM, HE BEGINS TO MOVE TOWARD THE BENEFACTOR WITH HIS FULLEST OF STRENGTH>

The Benefactor: <SPREADS OUT HIS ARMS> One, two, three. Look at me.

<HE LEAPS BACK AGAIN AND TIEN JUMPS FORWARD; TIEN IS TRYING HIS HARDEST, BUT THE BENEFACTOR IS BARELY TRYING, AND HAVING FUN AT IT TOO>

<TIEN CONTINUES TO PUNCH AND KICK AND THROW ENERGY BLASTS AROUND, BUT NONE HIT>

<BEHIND THEM, LEDAS STUMBLES BACK INTO THE GROUP; VEGETA IS LAYING ON THE GROUND, DRIED BLOOD RUNNING DOWN HIS FACE AND NECK; HE HAS BRUISES AND CUTS ALL OVER HIS FACE, BUT STILL HE WON’T LOOK AT LEDAS>

<LEDAS LOOKS OVER AT HIM, BUT DOES NOT PURSUE ANY INTERVENTION>

<HE INSTEAD WALKS BACK OVER TO GOKU; AND CROUCHES DOWN ONTO THE GRASS>

Goku: <TO LEDAS> So… who are you exactly? What’s your name?

Ledas: <MATTER OF FACT, AS ALWAYS IN THESE SITUATIONS> I’m Ledas.

Goku: <BECAUSE HE ALREADY KNEW THIS FROM CHAPTER 6> I didn’t think there were any other Saiyans out there…

Ledas: <LOOKS UP AT HIM> But you’re a Saiyan. <PAUSE> Besides, how did you get here with Vegeta?

Goku: <LAUGHS, SCRATCHES AT THE BACK OF HIS HEAD> Oh, I uh… hehe… I’ve been here my whole life.

Ledas: <LAUGHING TOO, CURIOUSLY> But how did Vegeta get here?

Goku: Vegeta’s been here a while too, ever since Frieza…

Ledas: <BATED> Frieza?!?! You guys know Frieza?!

<CUTS BACK TO TIEN AND THE BENEFACTOR’S FIGHT; IT IS GOING MUCH THE SAME, BUT TIEN IS TIRING>

The Benefactor: <DODGING BLOWS> Can’t you see me? I would think with your special advantage… <HE LAUGHS; A RARE SIGN FROM HIM; IT SOUNDS VERY WEIRD, HOLLOW ALMOST EMPTY>

<THE BENEFACTOR DODGES MORE BLOWS; AND TIEN JUMPS BACK, EVEN MORE TIRED NOW; HE SHOOTS OFF A ONE HANDED DODON CLUSTER BEFORE FALLING TO ONE KNEE, PANTING AND DRIPPING WITH SWEAT; OBVIOUSLY, THE BENEFACTOR IS NOT HARMED BY HIS BLAST>

The Benefactor: Oh Mr. Cyclops, why have you stopped?

<TIEN DOES NOT MOVE, AND CONTINUES PANTING HEAVILY>

<THE BENEFACTOR OPENS HIS MOUTH AGAIN TO TALK, BUT TIEN SUDDENLY UPRIGHTS HIMSELF, AND LETS OFF A YELL, WITH HIS NEO TRI BEAM; HE SHOOTS OFF A PRELIMINARY BLAST>

<THE BENEFACTOR GOES TO BLOCK AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME IT ACTUALLY TEARS INTO HIM, AND PUSHES HIM BACK>

<TIEN SENDS OFF CONTINUES BLASTS OF THIS FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, BUT IT DOES NOT LAST; THE BENEFACTOR REGAINS HIMSELF, AND READIES HIS OWN BLAST, AND UNDERHANDED SPIKE OF ENERGY; HE BRINGS IT UP OVER HIS HEAD AND THROWS IT INTO TIEN>

<THE STRIKE HITS TIEN, LIKE A SPEAR AND GOES THROUGH HIS UPPER CHEST CAVITY; THE BLAST DOES NOT DISSOLVE, BUT STAYS STUCK IN HIM; BLOOD SUDDENLY BURSTS AND RUNS OUT AROUND THE WOUND; TO THIS, TIEN SEEMS TO TAKE NO NOTICE>

<THE TWO LEAP AGAIN AT EACH OTHER AND THE BENEFACTOR DODGES AROUND BEHIND TIEN, UNDER HIM AND TO HIS BACK; HE HITS TIEN WITH A BACKHAND ON THE BACK OF HIS HEAD>

<THE BENEFACTOR THEN FOLLOWS IT UP WITH A TELEPORTATION TO TIEN’S FRONTSIDE, WITH A KNEE TO HIS CHEST>

<AT THIS POINT, THE TWO GET LOST IN THE FOG ABOVE THEM; THE FOG IS GETTING MUCH THICKER NOW, AND PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO REALIZE IT>

<HE THEN CLUBS DOWN ON TIEN’S BOWED HEAD, AND HITS HIM INTO THE DIRT>

<TIEN IS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS AND UNABLE TO FIGHT AT THIS; HE IS DONE>

<THE BENEFACTOR DESCENDS BACK TO THE GROUND, UNTOUCHED AND UNHARMED; HE FACES THE Z FIGHTERS ONCE AGAIN>

<HE LOOKS UP AT THEM WITH A SORT OF EVIL CURIOSITY; BUT NONE MOVE YET>

<AT GREAT LAST, THE BENEFACTOR POINTS TO LEDAS, WHO IS STILL TALKING TO GOKU BEHIND>

Ledas: Whoa… and you can wish people back? I didn’t know that Vegeta actually died! <HE LOOKS OVER AT MR. GRUMPERS SPRAWLED ACROSS THE GROUND; HE SEES THAT VEGETA IS STILL NOT MOVING, IN HIS ANGER; INDEED HE‘S PRETENDING TO SLEEP>

<LEDAS LOOKS BACK, BUT HE SEES THAT EVERYONE HAS GONE QUIET AND IS LOOKING AT HIM; THERE IS A FIELD OF VISION RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM THAT GIVES OFF THE BENEFACTOR, WHO IS HOLDING A SINGLE FINGER OUTSTRETCHED TO FACE HIM; HE SUDDENLY TURNS TO PANIC>

The Benefactor: <QUIETLY, BUT IT CARRIES TO ALL OF THE Z FIGHTERS> You and me. Now.

Ledas: <GETS UP, AND STUTTERS BACK, BEHIND GOKU; HIDING ALMOST> No! I don’t want to fight you! <TO GOKU> Don’t make me fight him! I don’t want to do it!

Gohan: <TO THE BENEFACTOR> What’s your problem? Can’t you just leave us alone?

The Benefactor: None of you have any meaning to me. That one <STILL WITH FINGER RAISED> is my only prey. Whom I hunted long… and far…

Gohan: You’ve hurt our friends… <GESTURES TO TIEN, YAMCHA, KRILLIN, AND CHIAOTZU WHO ARE ALL LAYING UNCONSCIOUS; OUT OF THEM, YAMCHA IS THE ONLY SERIOUSLY INJURED> We won’t let you just get away with that!

<THE BENEFACTOR DOES NOT ANSWER TO THAT, BUT MOVES FORWARD TO FACE LEDAS; LEDAS STILL STANDS BEHIND GOKU, CHILDISHLY NOT WANTING TO FACE THE BENEFACTOR AGAIN EVEN THOUGH HE HAD WILLINGLY DONE SO IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER>

<BUT INTO THE BENEFACTOR’S WAY, MOVES GOHAN NOW; HE TAKES HIS BUSINESS SUIT OFF, THROWING BACK, SO THAT HE HAS ONLY A WHITE UNDERSHIRT ON>

Gohan: I said you weren’t going anywhere, creep. I’ll fight you if I have to.

The Benefactor: Try it.

<HE QUICKLY GOES SUPER SAIYAN 2; BUT SINCE HE HAS HAD HIS POWER UNLOCKED BY ELDER KAI (ULTIMATE GOHAN), HIS HAIR DOES NOT CHANGE COLOR; STILL HE IS AT HIS MAXIMUM POWER>

<HOWEVER, WITHIN SECONDS, GOHAN FALLS TO ONE KNEE, BREATHING HARD>

<THE FOG IS NOW CLEARLY ENVELOPING>

Gohan: What’s happening? I’m out of energy…

The Benefactor: Get your friends to help.

<THE BENEFACTOR CONTINUES WALKING TO LEDAS>

<THE OTHERS TRY TO POWER UP, EXCEPT FOR VEGETA; PICCOLO POWERS UP, AS WELL AS GOTEN AND TRUNKS; THE THREE OF THEM FLANK GOHAN; HOWEVER, JUST LIKE WHEN HE TRIED TO POWER UP, THEY CANNOT MANAGE TO DO IT; GOTEN AND TRUNKS BOTH FALL TO THE GROUND FROM TRYING TO DO IT; THEY APPEAR EXHAUSTED>

Piccolo: What’s going on? Goku, something’s wrong.

The Benefactor: <HE WALKS PAST THOSE THREE TO GOKU> Are you going to fight me?

Goku: If I have to.

<THE BENEFACTOR PUNCHES GOKU; GOKU BLOCKS IT AND STEPS BACK; GOKU HAS SETTLED DOWN INTO BEING FOCUSED; HE SAW THAT, PERPLEXINGLY, HIS SONS AND PICCOLO WERE UNABLE TO POWER UP; HE POWERS STRAIGHT TO SUPER SAIYAN THREE, BIPASSING THE FIRST TWO TRANSFORMATIONS; HIS AURA COMES UP BRIGHTLY AND PUSHES BACK THE BENEFACTOR; THE FOG IS DISINTIGRATED AROUND HIM; HE FACES THE BENEFACTOR, ALL SERIOUS-LIKE>

Goku: <IN THAT DEEP SS3 VOICE> So, how do you like this

<THE BENEFACTOR DOES NOT ANSWER; HE SLINKS UP TO GOKU AND PUNCHES; GOKU BLOCKS; GOKU’S POWER DOESN’T SEEM TO HAVE BEEN DRAINED, LIKE THE OTHERS’ HAD BEEN; HE KICKS THE BENEFACTOR TWICE, FLIPPING AROUND ON THE SECOND ONE; HE FOLLOWS THAT UP WITH A BARRAGE OF PUNCHES TO THE BENEFACTOR’S FACE>

<THE BENEFACTOR ATTEMPTS A COUNTER, BUT GOKU CATCHES HIS HAND; HE SNAPS IT BACK, FLIPPING THE ALIEN OVER; GOKU ELBOWS THE ALIEN IN THE RIBS AND THEN THROWS HIM ONTO THE GROUND; HE FOLLOWS THIS UP WITH AN ATTEMPTED KAMEHAMEHA; HOWEVER, WHEN HE TRIES THIS, IT DOESN’T WORK; THE BLUE BEAM FLICKERS FOR A SECOND, BEFORE EXTINGUISHING; GOKU FALLS TO HIS KNEES, ONE HAND ON HIS SHOULDER>

<HE LOOKS UP AT THE BENEFACTOR AND REGRESSES BACK TO HIS NORMAL STATE>

Goku: What is all this?

The Benefactor: My plan, now complete. <HE POINTS HIS HAND, PALM OUT, TO GOHAN AND THE OTHERS; HE SHOOTS A BEAM TO EACH OF THEM, CAUSING THEM TO FALL TO THE GROUND> This fog around you, it is my creation. As you sat and watched us fight, it drained each of your powers. And now that you are feeble enough, I can eliminate you. Leaving just the boy for me.

<LEDAS WATCHES THIS; HE SEES THE BENEFACTOR’S PLAN, AND REALIZES THAT THESE FRIENDS OF VEGETA’S WILL BE NO HELP TO HIM; HE GRABS VEGETA BY THE HAIR; BEFORE VEGETA CAN PROTEST OR GET AWAY; LEDAS RUNS OUT, NOT POWERING UP UNTIL HE IS OUT OF THE FOG>

<ONCE HE IS OUT OF THE FOG, HE TAKES TO THE AIR>

<THE BENEFACTOR PUTS A BEAM TO GOKU’S FACE AND SHOOTS IT; GOKU FALLS TO THE GROUND, UNMOVING, AND HENCEFORTH UNHELPFUL AGAINST THIS NEW THREAT>

Make Me (season finale part 1)
<WIDE BACK DROP OF THE MOUNTAINSIDE; IT PANS DOWN ONTO THE GRASS>

<FOR REFERENCE, THOSE DEFEATED, EITHER BY GUVA OR THE BENEFACTOR’S AFFLICTION ATTACK ARE: GOKU, GOHAN, GOTEN, TRUNKS, PICCOLO, YAMCHA, TIEN, AND CHIAOTZU (THOUGH NONE ARE DEAD); THOSE WHO ARE STILL ABLE BODIED ARE: VEGETA, KRILLIN, AND ANDROID 18; GUVA IS DEAD; LEDAS AND THE BENEFACTOR ARE ALSO PRESENT>

<THE Z FIGHTERS ARE ALL ASLEEP, LYING DOWN; THE FOG IS STILL AROUND>

<ANDROID 18 HAD, IN THIS TIME, HIDDEN BEHIND THE RUBBLE; SHE OBVIOUSLY WANTED NO PART IN THIS FIGHT, AND SEEING EVERYONE ELSE BEING SO EASILY BEATEN, SHE NEEDED TO RETREAT; SHE IS BEHIND THE RUBBLE OF THE MOUNTAIN>

<AT AROUND THIS TIME, KRILLIN FINALLY JUMPS UP FROM THE RUBBLE AND STUMBLES INTO VIEW>

Krillin: <IN A SLIGHTLY BROKEN VOICE, AND WITH A STUMBLES> Hey… guys… I’m… I’m all right!

Android 18: Oh great. <SHE IS EMBARRASSED; IN A WHISPER> Get down here, Krillin!

Krillin: Huh?

<18 LOOKS OVER TO HIM, BUT DOES NOT MOVE; THE BENEFACTOR HEIGHTENS HIS SHOULDERS, PERCEIVING KRILLIN; HE SHOOTS A KI BLAST AT KRILLIN, HITTING HIM; KRILLIN GOES FLYING BACK, ACROSS THE GROUND, OUT OF THE FOG>

<THE BENEFACTOR DOES NOT SPEAK, INSTEAD HE DROPS TO ONE KNEE AND PULLS BACK THE ROBES OF HIS LEFT HAND WITH HIS RIGHT; HE EXTENDS OUT HIS ARM, WHICH IS A DARK VIRIDIAN AND HEAVILY SCARRED; HE PUTS IT DOWN TO THE GROUND, FINGERS APART AND POUNDS HIS KNUCKLES INTO THE GROUND; SENDING OFF A BACKLASH OF AIR; THE FOG DISSIPATES; EVERYONE REMAINS IN THEIR EXISTING STATES>

<THE CAMERA SHOOTS UP OVER HIS SHOULDER TO SHOW OFF THE BENEFACTOR AS HE TAKES TO THE AIR AND FLIES AWAY; WHEN HE LEAVES, 18 GETS UP AND CAUTIOUSLY APPROACHES HER UNMOVING HUSBAND; AS SHE GETS CLOSER, A BLAST, A LONG STRANDED BEAM COMES SHOOTING DOWN AT HER; IT HITS HER, SENDING HER INTO A CRATER>

<CUTS TO RYORI AND CARDINAL; BOTH ARE IN TOWN, SITTING OUTSIDE AT A CAFÉ; THEY ARE IN THE SUN, AND THEIR TABLE HAS AN UMBRELLA; BOTH ARE SIPPING ON DRINKS; CARDINAL TO SOME ALCHOHOLIC BEVERAGE, AND RYORI TO WATER; BOTH ALSO HAVE PLATES OF FOOD BEFORE THEM, BUT NEITHER HAS TOUCHED THE FOOD>

Cardinal: Unfortunate, yes. I did not think they would fail. Dewberry, perhaps, but not Kindler. No, not him…

Ryori: <HEAD BOWED, SWAYING; MUMBLING> Where’s my brother?!

Cardinal: Mr. Shoekki?

Ryori: <GROWLING> You know his name! Tell me!

Cardinal: <NOT A QUESTION> You want me to take you to him.

Ryori: <TAKES THE GUN OUT OF HIS JACKET, WITH MUCH GUSTO; HE POINTS IT AT CARDINAL’S FACE> Yeah! And we’re going now!

Cardinal: <STRANGELY UNSURPRISED AT THIS GUN> Can you not let an old man finish his meal? Is that too much to ask for but a common courtesy?

Ryori: <FORCEFULLY> Now!!

<HIS WHISPER PICKS UP A BIT, BUT STILL NONE OF THE OTHER DINERS NOTICE WHAT IS GOING ON>

Cardinal: <SIGHS AND GETS UP, DROPPING HIS FORK ONTO THE PLATE> Very well, young master. I will <PAUSE> take you to your brother. <TO HIMSELF, AND QUIETLY> By thy means, deprived.

<CUTS TO VEGETA AND LEDAS; THEY ARE IN A FOREST EMBANKMENT ON THE EDGE OF THE TOWN, NEAR THE OCEAN; VEGETA IS STANDING UP NOW>

Vegeta: <PEERING AROUND A TREE> Kakarot’s power just disappeared.

Ledas: <BEHIND HIM> I told you, Vegeta! It’s him. He was on Frieza’s ship. He’s coming to kill us.

Vegeta: You aren’t real.

Ledas: <EXACERBATED> Vegeta! Look at me. It’s Ledas.

Vegeta: <TURNS AROUND> No, fool. You’re a vision.

<LEDAS SHOOTS VEGETA WITH A SMALL KI BLAST INTO THE FACE>

Ledas: Then why can I hurt you?

Vegeta: <HEAD PULLED BACK> Grr… it’s a trick.

<LEDAS POWERS UP TO FULL POWERED SUPER SAIYAN, HIS MAXIMUM POWER>

Ledas: Nuh uh, look what I can do!

<VEGETA LOOKS AT HIM; AS HE IS DOING IT, A THUD SOUNDS BEHIND VEGETA>

<IT IS THE BENEFACTOR>

The Benefactor: Prince of all Saiyans.

Vegeta: <SPINS AROUND> Get away from me.

The Benefactor: Get away from him.

<CUE STRENGTH OF A THOUSAND MEN>

<THE BENEFACTOR POINTS TO LEDAS, VEGETA SEES THIS>

<VEGETA STEPS BACK, HE LETS THE BENEFACTOR WALK FORWARD TO SUPER SAIYAN LEDAS>

Ledas: Vegeta, don’t!

The Benefactor: Quiet.

<VEGETA WATCHES AS THE BENEFACTOR APPROACHES LEDAS>

Ledas: You’re not killing me. I’ve spent too much time trying to find Vegeta for that.

The Benefactor: You come with me and will not speak another word about it.

<THE BENEFACTOR STEPS FORWARD AND REACHES FOR LEDAS; LEDAS DODGES HIM; HE TAKES TO THE TREES; THE BENEFACTOR ATTEMPTS TO PURSUE, WHEN VEGETA STEPS IN; HE, HIMSELF, IS IN HIS MOST POWERFUL SUPER SAIYAN 2 STATE>

Vegeta: Where do you think you’re going?

<VEGETA NOW REALIZES THAT LEDAS HAS TO BE REAL, IF THIS CREATURE IS AFTER HIM; HE IS NOT ABOUT TO LET THE ALIEN TAKE LEDAS>

<THE BENEFACTOR ATTEMPTS TO ELBOW VEGETA, BUT VEGETA CATCHES HIM, AND TWISTS IT; THE TWO ERRUPT INTO A BLOW EXCHANGE; AS NEITHER SIDE YIELDS, THE BENEFACTOR TAKES HIS KNIFE, WITH HIS OTHER HAND, AND SPINS THE OTHER WAY, AND CUTS VEGETA ACROSS THE FACE WITH IT; VEGETA LETS GO OF THE ALIEN>

<THE BENEFACTOR RUSHES LEDAS; LEDAS FLIES THROUGH THE TREES AS BEST HE CAN, BUT THE BENEFACTOR CATCHES UP TO HIM EASILY>

<HE ATTEMPTS TO STOP LEDAS BY SHOOTING SEVERAL EXPLODING WAVES AT THE BOY; LEDAS DODGES THEM, DUCKING UNDER SPLINTERING WOOD AND VAST FOLIAGE; HE COMES TO A CLEARING OVER THE OCEAN>

<LEDAS TURNS AROUND AND SHOOTS A KYORRA FLASH; THE ALIEN PURSUER BLOCKS IT, BUT IT IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO DAMAGE AND SLOW HIM>

<LEDAS STANDS THERE WAITING TO SEE IF HIS ATTACK DID DAMAGE, WHEN THE BENEFACTOR LUNGES OUT OF THE SMOKE, HIS CLAWED HANDS OUTSTRETCHED IN AN ATTEMPT TO GRAB THE BOY>

<FROM ABOVE COMES VEGETA; HE KICKS DOWN, AND SEND THE BENEFACTOR INTO THE WATERS BELOW; HE GRITS HIS TEETH, CREATING A FINAL FLASH; HE SENDS IT DOWN AFTER THE BENEFACTOR; LEDAS HELPS WITH HIS OWN ENERGY>

Ledas: <BREATHING, SHOULDERS FORWARD> Thanks.

<VEGETA DOESN’T LOOK AT HIM>

<THE BENEFACTOR SUDDENLY APPEARS BEHIND VEGETA; HE WRAPS HIS ARMS AROUND THE PRINCE AND BRANDISHES HIS KNIFE; VEGETA IS CAUGHT OFF GUARD; HE BARELY HOLDS THE ALIEN’S HAND FROM PUSHING THE KNIFE INTO HIS CHEST; AS THE TWO STRUGGLE, LEDAS AIR DASHES OVER AND DOUBLE KICKS THE BENEFACTOR IN THE FACE; HE LETS GO OF VEGETA>

The Benefactor: Come with me.

Ledas: Make me!

<HE LAUNCHES AN ICE CANNON INTO THE ALIEN; IT DAMAGES HIM, BUT NOT SEVERELY>

<END OF STRENGTH OF A THOUSAND MEN>

Ledas: <TO VEGETA> We’re strong enough to kill him together.

Vegeta: Add your attack to mine.

<VEGETA DROPS INTO POSITION, YELLS ‘BIG BANG ATTACK’, AND STARTS FORMING THE YELLOW ENERGY; LEDAS FALLS TO THE SHORELINE TOO AND READIES A KYORRA FLASH OF ALL HIS ENERGY>

<THE BENEFACTOR IS BEFORE THEM; HE STANDS, HIS ARMS FOLDED, IN A TALL STATURE>

<CUE SOLITUDE>

<JUST BEFORE HE AND VEGETA WERE TO RELEASE THEIR BLASTS, LEDAS SEES THE BENEFACTOR SPLIT; THE IMAGES OF THE ALIEN SPLIT INTO SIX SEPARATE ENTITIES; LEDAS PAUSES>

<HIS VISION GOES RED AND HE FALLS ONTO ALL FOURS; HIS KYORRA FLASH DISSIPATES; HE SEES THE BENEFACTOR ALL AROUND HIM, CONSUMING ALL SIGHT; LEDAS SHAKES HIS HEAD TO GET RID OF THE IMAGE, BUT THIS IS NO IMAGE; HIS EYESIGHT STILL RED, HE SEES THE FIGURES APPROACH HIM; THE UNCONTROLLABLE FEAR HE HAD FIRST FELT AROUND THE BENEFACTOR IS AROUND HIM NOW, AND HE CAN NOT SO MUCH AS LIFT AN ARM TO DEFEND HIMSELF>

<UP AHEAD, HE SEES VEGETA; ONE IMAGE OF THE BENEFACTOR BREAKS FROM THE REST AND RUSHES TO VEGETA; VEGETA HAD TURNED HIS HEAD AND WAS STARING AT HIS OLD FRIEND WHEN LEDAS FELL, AND ONLY NOW LOOKS BACK; THE BENEFACTOR GRABS THE PRINCE’S SHOULDERS WITH ONE HAND, AND WITH THE OTHER TAKES HIS KNIFE AND STABS VEGETA, UNDER HIS LOWER JAW, UP INTO HIS MOUTH>

<LEDAS SCREAMS, BUT HE CANNOT HEAR HIS OWN VOICE; VEGETA STAGGERS BACK, DROPPING HIS BLAST INTO THE WATER, AND CREATING A HUGE EXPLOSION FROM IT>

<THE BENEFACTOR TWISTS HIS KNIFE, RAMMING IT WELL ENOUGH; BLOOD POURS OUT; HE PULLS THE KNIFE OUT OF VEGETA AND LETS THE SAIYAN FALL; HE TURNS AND RUNS TO LEDAS, THE SMALL BOY, HELPLESS ON THE GROUND, NOW WITHOUT HIS GREATEST FRIEND TO STOP THIS MONSTER>

<END OF SOLITUDE>

At The River's Gorge (season finale part 2)
Krillin: 18! <HE RUSHES OVER TO HER> S-she’s breathing, that’s good. <HE LOOKS UP> Goku? Gohan? Piccolo? W-what happened to you guys?! <HE RUNS UP TO THEM, ONLY TO FIND THEM IN THE SAME STATE AS 18> Senzu beans… I have to get everyone senzu beans. Wait, Goku said there weren’t any. <A MILLION IDEAS FLY THROUGH HIS EYES> Dende! I’ll go get Dende. <HE RUNS BACK TO 18, KNEELING DOWN TO HER> Stay right here, 18. I’m going to get help. I’ll be right back, I promise. D-don’t worry about anything.

<WITH THAT, KRILLIN TAKES OFF TO THE LOOKOUT>

<CAMERA TURNS TO KORIN’S TOWER; IT IS ALMOST SUNSET>

Korin: Hey! Princess! Wake up!

Yajirobe: <SLEEPING AWAY FROM KORIN; MUMBLES SOMETHING INCOHERENT> I was sleeping, you stupid cat!

Korin: <IGNORING; HE THROWS A SMALL POUCH AT YAJIROBE, MUCH LIKE THE ONE HE THREW TO LEDAS IN THE PREVIOUS SAGA> Take these senzu beans to Goku. They just sprouted a few minutes ago. His friends should probably need a couple of them by now.

Yajirobe: <GRUMPILY BRUSHES IT AWAY> No way man. Do it yourself!

<KORIN LUNGES TO YAJIROBE AND HITS HIM WITH HIS STICK, ACROSS THE HEAD>

Yajirobe: Ow!! What was that for?!?!

Korin: <QUICKLY> Don’t be disrespectful.

<ROLLS BACK OVER, TRYING TO GO BACK TO SLEEP>

Yajirobe: Hey, if Goku wants to get himself killed that’s his problem. It’s not my fault he gets all hurt every time he fights. I mean, come on. He’s the greatest fighter in the universe. He shouldn’t get any help. I’m not saving him!

<WITH THAT, YAJIROBE CLOSES HIS EYES AND TRIES TO SLEEP>

Korin: <KIND OF A LONG PAUSE BEFORE HE SPEAKS> That’s nice.

Yajirobe: <OPENS ONE YES; IN RAGE HE THROWS HIS PILLOW AT KORIN, WHO LOFTILY JUMPS OVER IT> Shut up!

Korin: <WITH AN AIR OF CONTEMPT; SUBTLE IRONY> Well if you aren’t gonna give them the beans, you may as well go help them fight.

Yajirobe: <SITS UP> Whatever. I could beat up any of those guys Goku fights. <CROSSES HIS ARMS, TURNS HIS HEAD LEFT, AND AWAY FROM KORIN> I just choose not to.

Korin: <NOW WITH MORE CONTEMPT!> You must be big and strong from all that hard training of yours, right?

Yajirobe: Bah!

<YAJIROBE GETS UP, SCRATCHING HIS HEAD, STILL TIRED; HE WALKS TO THEIR REFRIGERATOR AND OPENS THE DOOR, PEEKING IN>

Yajirobe: <SUDDENLY, WITH ENERGY> Where’s all my food?!

Korin: <JUMPS BACK UP ON THE RAILING OF THE TOWER; HE IS FACING YAJIROBE> Hehehehehehe.

Yajirobe: <IN A GROWL> You stupid cat! You ate all my food! <THROWS SOMETHING> You don’t even have to eat!

Korin: <PLAINLY, BUT WITH SOME SUBTLE IRONY> Get yourself some food after you give Goku those senzu beans. <IN SARCASM> The faster you go, the faster you can fill your belly!

<YAJIROBE MUMBLES AGAIN, IN A CHORUS OF “STUPID CATS” AND OTHER UNMENTIONABLE THINGS; HE PICKS UP THE POUCH OF SENZU BEANS AND TAKES OUT A CAPSULE; HE THROWS IT AND IT FORMS INTO A CAR>

<TO CLARIFY, THIS CAR IS BLUE, AND IS DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE THAT LEDAS DESTROYED THE SAGA BEFORE; INDEED, YAJIROBE (OR KORIN, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU SEE IT) DOES HAVE SEVERAL CARS; SHOCKER, I KNOW>

<AT THIS TIME, KORIN MOVES SUPER FAST AND THROWS SOMETHING INTO THE CAR; THE CAMERA IS NOT FAST ENOUGH TO SEE WHAT IT IS, AND YAJIROBE ISN’T AWAKE ENOUGH TO NOTICE IT>

<KORIN RETURNS TO HIS PERCH AS IF NOTHING HAS HAPPENED, HOWEVER NOW HE HAS A VAST GRIN ON HIS FACE>

<YAJIROBE JUMPS INTO IT AND SPEEDS AWAY>

<CAMERA CUTS TO CARDINAL AND RYORI; BOTH ARE WALKING DOWN A DIRT PATH, WITH A VAST EXPANSE OF TREES ABOUT ON EACH SIDE; AT LAST, THEY COME TO A CLEARING>

<THE PLACE IS A GRASSY HILL, OVERLOOKING THE OCEAN BELOW; WHEREIN A CLIFF BLOCKS OFF ANY ATTEMPT TO GET DOWN TO THE BEACH BELOW>

<CARDINAL WALKS FORWARD CALMLY AND RYORI BEHIND HIM; RYORI HAS HIS GUN OUT AND POINTED AT CARDINAL’S BACK>

<THE BODY OF SHOEKKI IS LAYING UNTOUCHED IN THE CENTER OF THE GRASS; HIS CLOTHES ARE MOVING SLIGHTLY IN THE WIND, BUT OTHERWISE IT IS MOTIONLESS>

<THE TWO WALK UP TO THE BODY, AND CARDINAL GESTURES TO SHOEKKI’S FACE>

Cardinal: As you see, my young master, your older brother took his own life.

<RYORI DROPS HIS PISTOL ONTO THE GRASS AND RUNS FORWARD TO SHOEKKI’S BODY>

<SHOEKKI’S BODY IS NOT DECOMPOSED BECAUSE, DUE TO THE DRAGON BALL’S WISHING BACK THE EARTH, THIS IS BASICALLY ONLY ABOUT A DAY SINCE SHOEKKI DIED>

<RYORI PICKS UP HIS BROTHER’S BODY, WELL TRIES TO; HE KNEELS DOWN AND CRADDLES SHOEKKI IN HIS ARMS, CRYING; HOWEVER THIS CAN NOT BE HEARD OVER THE GREAT WIND BLOWING ABOUT>

<CARDINAL PULLS BACK THE RIGHT SLEEVE OF HIS VERY EXPENSIVE BLACK SUIT; HE TAKES OUT A SYRINGE FROM WITHIN IT>

<HE WALKS UP BEHIND RYORI AND LOOKS OVER HIM, FEIGNING REGRET IN HIS WATERY BLUE EYES AS HE LOOKS DOWN AT THE EMOTIONAL SCENE BELOW HIM>

Cardinal: I’m sorry, Ryori, <FAKE SIGH> but your brother was deeply disturbed. I did all I could, but he simply couldn’t be swayed. It is unfortunate.

<RYORI REMAINS HUNCHED OVER FOR SEVERAL MORE SECONDS, WITHOUT RESPONDING>

Ryori: <JUMPS UP AND TURNS AROUND AND PUNCHES CARDINAL IN THE GUT AS HARD AS HE CAN> You liar! <IN TEARS AS MUCH AS ANGER> You killed my brother!! <HE REACHES FOR HIS GUN, BUT SEES THAT IT’S NOT THERE; HE LOOKS OVER, TO SEE IT OUT OF REACH IN THE GRASS BEHIND> No! <HE STUMBLES BACK> Shit!

Cardinal: <MOVES FORWARD, SMILING> Yes. Shit.

Ryori: You’re going to kill me too?! That’s what you do!?

Cardinal: No. I protect this planet. And the scum of society cannot understand what I do. What I go through! Your brother got what he deserved! What he put unto himself!

<RYORI LAUNCHES AT CARDINAL, KNOCKING THE MAN DOWN; HE STARTS STRANGELING HIM, EVEN AS HE HAS TEARS IN HIS EYES; THE SYRINGE IS A FEW FEET AWAY IN THE GRASS; CARDINAL REACHES FOR IT, HYPEREXTENDING HIS ARM TO GRAB IT; RYORI DOESN’T NOTICE, AS HE IS IN A BLIND FURY>

<HE TAKES THE SYRINGE AND PLUNGES IT INTO RYORI’S NECK; SCREEN FADES TO BLACK>

<LEDAS DROPS TO HIS KNEES, HIS LIP QUIVERING; HE PUTS HIS HEAD IN HIS ARM AND CRIES, LONG AND HARD; LEDAS’ VISION IS SURREAL, AND HE ALMOST BEGINS TO HALLUCINATE AGAIN, BUT NOT QUITE>

<FOR IN FRONT OF LEDAS IS A FIGURE; THE BENEFACTOR>

<THE TWO OF THEM ARE UNDERGROUND IN A BUNKER; IT IS VERY DARK>

The Benefactor: Did he tell you? <LEDAS STILL HAS HIS HEAD BOWED, IN THE SAME POSITION AS BEFORE> The Kai. <LEDAS LOOKS UP> The one I gave authority over my power to. <LEDAS DOES NOT ANSWER> In the cave.

<THE BENEFACTOR SAYS ALL OF THAT VERY SLOWLY, AND LEDAS BEGINS TO PICK UP ON WHERE HE IS GOING>

Ledas: N-no!

The Benefactor: He gave you a gift.

Ledas: NOO!!

The Benefactor: As I requested.

Ledas: It… can’t...!

The Benefactor: My power flows in you.

<LEDAS GRIPS HIS ARM AS IF HE WANTS TO PULL THAT POWER OUT; OBVIOUSLY, HE CANNOT; HE LOOKS UP AT THE ALIEN; THE TEARS ARE STILL ON HIS FACE, BUT NOW THEY ARE MANGLED WITH HATRED>

Ledas: <THROUGH HIS TEETH> Why would you do that?!

The Benefactor: Because you are to become my pupil.

Ledas: I won’t!

The Benefactor: <HISS> You won’t.

Ledas: You won’t even tell me who you are.

The Benefactor: Me? I’m many things. I’m a young boy. A disturber of the peace. A schoolgirl ever ready for her first date, a soldier flogged and bleeding on the stones. Once given a name. Given a rank, a title, a home. <HE PAUSES, ALMOST UNWILLING TO CONTINUE, BUT CONTINUE HE DOES> And once <PULLS UP HIS SLEEVE, REVEALING DEEP SCARS UPON HIS SCALED ARMS, UP TO AND UNDER HIS CHEST ARMOR> given these. By my own, who had so easily fallen to corruption. But it was my torment that made me better. <THE BENEFACTOR SUDDENLY STOPS AND REGAINS HIS CALM MANNER; HE LETS OUT A SOFT BREATH> You will reconsider.

<HE TAKES TO THE AIR, AND SHOOTS UP INTO THE BLACK CEILING>

<CAMERA CHANGES TO THE NEXT SCENE>

<THE BENEFACTOR IS OUT BY THE PLACE HE TOOK OUT VEGETA; IT IS AT THE POINT WHERE THE RIVER FLOWS INTO THE OCEAN; IT IS A WOODY AREA>

<HE IS ON ALL FOURS, MOVING SWIFTLY>

<HE COMES UPON A DEER; HE SEES IT, AND IT DOES NOT SEE HIM; HE QUIETLY GOES AROUND A TREE AND CIRCLES IT; HE FINDS A LOW LYING HOLE AND DUCKS INTO THAT; THE DEER CONTINUES EATING FROM THE GRASS; IT DOES NOT HEAR ANYTHING AS THE ALIEN SLOWLY CREEPS UP TO IT, BY WAYS OF USING THE GRASS>

<THE BENEFACTOR GETS TO A SPOT JUST BEHIND THE DEER; SUDDENLY IT LOOKS UP, PINNING ITS EARS BACK; HE JUMPS ON TOP OF IT, DIGGING HIS CLAWS INTO IT>

<HE DRAWS BLOOD EASILY; THE CREATURE ATTEMPTS TO ESCAPE, BUT THERE IS NO LUCK TO BE HAD TODAY; HE CRASHES OVER IT, RIPPING AT ITS THROAT; ONCE HE HAS DONE THAT, HE MOVES ONTO ITS BELLY, RIPPING THAT OPEN AND SPILLING OUT THE INNARDS HE RIPS THROUGH THE INTESTINES AND OTHER ORGANS, THROUGH THE BONES, THROUGH THE TISSUE, THROUGH IT ALL, UNTIL HE IS COMPLETELY COVERED IN BLOOD>

<BLOWING OFF STEAM FROM LEDAS’ REFUSAL TO BE HIS FRIEND, THE BENEFACTOR TAKES HIS FRUSTRATION OUT ON KILLING A HELPLESS ANIMAL>

<HE STANDS UP>

<A HUGE EXPLOSION GOES OFF BEHIND HIM, LEVELING THE FOREST AREA TO HIS IMMEDIATE RIGHT; THE CAMERA SHOWS AN ABOVE SHOT, AND THE BLAST IS HUGE; SO MUCH SO THAT IT EVEN REACHES ABOUT A THIRD OF THE WAY INTO THE CITY, DEMOLISHING ALL OF WHAT IMPACTS>

<THE BLAST TAKES UP THE ENTIRE SCREEN>

<SCREEN REFADES TO WHITE; BACK AT CARDINAL’S OFFICE, CARDINAL HIMSELF WALKS IN THE BACK WAY, THROUGH DIMLY LIT, ABANDONED, AND CARPETTED HALLWAYS; EVENTUALLY HE PICKS A DOOR, AND SETS THE UNCONSCIOUS RYORI INTO IT>

<HE SIGHS, AND FIXES HIS HAIR, WHICH IS PULLED BACK AND SILVER, AND WALKS OUT TO THE MAIN ROOM>

Woman 1: <COMES AROUND A CORNER WITH HASTE, SHE BUMPS INTO CARDINAL> Oh, Mr. Cardinal! I was looking for you, sir.

Cardinal: Yes, what is it Marissa, darling?

Woman 1: They called a few minutes ago! I told them you would call back-

Cardinal: Of course. Did they schedule a face meeting?

Woman: <SLIGHT STUTTER> O-oh… they didn’t say… but I can go check-

Cardinal: No need, no need. I’ll go return the call, myself. <HE SMILES BROADLY AND EXITS>

<CARDINAL WALKS OUT TO THE HIS OFFICE; HE SITS DOWN AT HIS DESK AND SIPS ON A CUP OF COFFEE; HE REACHES FOR THE TELEPHONE AND DIALS A NUMBER; HE STANDS UP ONCE IT STARTS RINGING AND HOLDS IT IN HIS LEFT HAND>

<HE BEGINS TALKING ON THE PHONE; HE IS AGITATED AND FORCEFUL IMMEDIATELY, SWINGING HIS FREE ARM AROUND AS HE MAKES HIS POINTS TO HIS UNITED NATIONS LACKEYS>

<AS HE SWINGS HIS RIGHT ARM AROUND, THE BENEFACTOR RELEASES HIS FRUSTRATION BLAST; AND WOULDN’T YOU KNOW, CARDINAL’S BUILDING IS IN THE VICINITY>

<HIS BUILDING IS BLOWN IN A JAGGED CUT DOWN THE MIDDLE, SO THAT WHERE HE STANDS, IT IS ALL GONE, BUT, FOR INSTANCE, WHERE RYORI IS BEING KEPT, REMAINS UNTOUCHED>

<CARDINAL HAD HIS RIGHT ARM OUT AS IT ALL WAS BLOWN UP, AND THAT IS RIPPED OFF OF HIM; HE IS THROWN INTO A WALL, BREAKING HIS BACK; HIS ARM GOES FLYING, AND BLOOD IS EVERYWHERE>

<CARDINAL FALLS INTO UNCONSCIOUSNESS AS THE ENERGY CONTINUES WRECKING THE CITY>

<AWAY FROM CARDINAL’S WRETCHED FIGURE WE GO; THE CITY IS SHOWN FROM A STREET VIEW; GREAT WHITE LIGHTS SHOOT OUT, COMPLETELY TAKING OVER THE SCREEN; PEOPLE, CARS, BUILDINGS IN THE WAY ARE COMPLETELY INCINERATED>

<THE CAMERA FALLS TO THE GROUND, COVERED IN DUST; THERE IS NO SOUND AT FIRST AND NO SIGN OF EITHER WARRIOR; THE CAMERA THEN BEGINS TO GIVES OFF A RINGING SOUND, SIMILAR TO HOW ONE WOULD HERE AFTER A HUGE EXPLOSION GOES OFF NEARBY, LIKE A RINGING IN ONE‘S EARS>

<CUTS TO LEDAS IN THE BUNKER>

<HE IS SITTING ON A COUNTER, UP AGAINST A WALL; HE IS NOT RUNNING BECAUSE HE KNOWS AT THIS POINT, NO MATTER WHERE HE GOES, THAT CREATURE WOULD FIND HIM>

<HE IS IN HIS BASE FORM, NOT SUPER SAIYAN, AND HAS HIS ARM EXTENDED OVER HIS KNEE (WHICH IS UPRIGHT); HE IS LOOKING AROUND, AND NOTICES MOVEMENT>

<HE SHOOTS A SMALL BLAST AT WHATEVER IT WAS, ONLY TO SEE IT WAS BUT A RAT; THE BLAST LEAVES IT AS NOTHING BUT ASH, BUT THE BRIEF FLASH OF LIGHT SHOWS OFF ONE OTHER THING OF GREAT IMPORTANCE; A DOOR>

<AND UPON THIS DOOR, IN DULL RED ON WHITE, FADING, FLAKING, DISINTEGRATING COLORED TEXT IS THE PICTURE OF TWO LETTERS>

<THEY WERE, UNTO THEMSELVES, TWO WHITE ‘R’S WITH A BOWTIE TO THEIR BACKGROUND; AND LEDAS SAW THEM, THOUGH HE KNEW NOT WHAT THEY MEANT; HE COULD NOT>

<LEDAS GETS UP AND WALKS TO THE DOOR; HE USES HIS WHITE AURA TO LIGHT HIS WAY; HE RUNS HIS FINGERS OVER THE DOOR’S SYMBOL BEFORE GRASPING THE DOORNOB AND OPENING IT; THE BLACKNESS BEYOND BECKONING, HE WALKS INTO IT, BECOMING CONSUMED>

<THE CAMERA DOES NOT FOLLOW>

<SLOWLY, AT THIS, THE SCREEN FADES TO BLACK AND ALL IS NOW QUIET; ALL IS NOW PEACEFUL ONCE AGAIN>


 * <END REUNION SAGA>

Cue Great Spirits. Credits roll during this time.

Trivia

 * For feedback, or general thoughts about this saga, please leave comments on the Reunion Saga completed! page. That's the place that I'm most likely to see your comments about this saga.
 * Not counting the Outbreak special, this saga is the only time where The Benefactor's face is shown. Although even then, it's only in a flashback to his childhood.
 * This saga is the only saga in the entirety of The Forgotten that does not introduce any new original characters.
 * This saga is by far the shortest in terms of the timeline. It spans only one day.