The KidVegeta Anthology/Dragon Ball Z: The Forgotten/Fulfillment Saga

a

Complete Dialogue
Much like my grandfather,

I can write with both hands.

This was a little skill

I tried to master

while taking notes in Biology.

At the very least,

it kept me from

falling asleep in class. -KidVegeta

A Phone Call From Sour To Prince Concerning The Serious Lack Of Toys To Play With In Prince’s House














<LEDAS STANDS UP AND LOOKS AROUND; HE SEES NO ONE NEAR HIM; THE CAMERA PANS BACK FROM HIM, SHOWING THE SCENE FROM BEHIND HIS BACK; HE IS STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF A LARGE CRATER; HE WATCHES AS SOME ASH FALLS AROUND HIM>

Ledas: <TO HIMSELF; GROGGILY> W-what happened…? Where’s everyone?

<HE TAKES TO THE SKY, FLYING TOWARDS THE CITY; HE DOES NOT HAVE HIS AURA AROUND HIM; AS HE GETS CLOSER, HE NOTICES SONIC BOOMS GOING OFF ABOVE THE CITY; HE GOES TOWARDS THAT; AS HE GOES, THE CAMERA LOOKS BELOW HIM AND SHOWS MANY DEEP GASHES IN THE GROUND, WHICH SHOW THAT LOTS OF ENERGY ATTACKS HAVE BEEN USED IN THE VICINITY>

<END OF Perfect Disguise>

<SCENE CHANGE>

<THE BENEFACTOR FLIES TOWARDS VEGETA; VEGETA, WHO IS IN SUPER SAIYAN 3, DODGES THE ATTACK, FLIPPING OVER THE ALIEN AND THEN LUNGING AT HIS BACK WITH A HIGH KICK; THE BENEFACTOR IS THROWN FORWARD; JUST AS HE TURNS AROUND, VEGETA SHOOTS A ONE-HANDED GALICK GUN IN HIS FACE; THE BENEFACTOR BATS THIS OUT OF THE WAY AND DIVES AT HIS FOE>

<THE TWO TRADE BLOWS, THOUGH ONLY A FEW HIT; EACH ONE THAT DOES, HOWEVER, CREATES A MASSIVE SONIC BOOM; THE CITIES BELOW START SHAKING AND MANY WINDOWS ARE BLOWN OUT; VEGETA TELEPORTS BEHIND THE BENEFACTOR AND HITS HIM DOWN INTO THE CITY; THE BENEFACTOR SLAMS THROUGH SEVERAL BUILDINGS BEFORE HITTING THE GROUND; AS HE LOOKS UP, VEGETA IS ALREADY ON HIM; VEGETA SHOOTS A FLURRY OF ENERGY INTO THE BENEFACTOR’S FACE; THE BENEFACTOR IS NOW BLEEDING>

<THE ALIEN HIGH-JUMPS THEN COMES SCREAMING DOWN ONTO VEGETA’S HEAD; AT THE SAME TIME, HE THROWS AN IMPALEMENT BEAM AT VEGETA; THIS CUTS VEGETA’S ARM, CAUSING HIM TO STAGGER BACK; THE BENEFACTOR PRESSES HIS ADVANTAGE BY ATTACKING VEGETA WITH A FLURRY ATTACK WITH HIS CLAWS AND TAIL>

<VEGETA JUMPS BACK, THEN RAMS HIMSELF FORWARD INTO THE BENEFACTOR’S BODY; THE TWO TRADE BLOWS FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AS THEY TUMBLE INTO THE STREET; THEN, THE BENEFACTOR PUNCHES VEGETA OFF OF HIM; HE TRIES TO KICK THE STUNNED SAIYAN, BUT VEGETA BLOCKS IT WITH A KICK OF HIS OWN; HE QUICKLY BACKHANDS THE BENEFACTOR>

<THE BENEFACTOR RETALIATES HITTING VEGETA WITH HIS TAIL; HE FLIPS TOWARDS THE SAIYAN, SHOOTING OFF SMALL ENERGY BURSTS AS HE DOES; AS VEGETA BLOCKS THEM, THE BENEFACTOR IS FREE TO HIT HIM IN THE GUT; THEN, THE BENEFACTOR GRABS VEGETA BY THE HAIR AND SLAMS HIS FACE INTO THE GROUND; HE REPEATEDLY BASHES VEGETA LIKE THIS UNTIL THE PRINCE SHOOTS A SMALL BEAM INTO THE BENEFACTOR’S SIDE; THIS CAUSES THE ALIEN TO DROP HIM AND FALL TO THE GROUND; VEGETA PRESSES HIS BOOT TO THE BENEFACTOR’S NECK AND PREPARES AN ENERGY BEAM>

<THE BENEFACTOR TAKES OUT HIS KNIFE AND PLUNGES ITS BLADE INTO VEGETA’S LEG; VEGETA YELLS OUT AND FALLS OFF OF THE BENEFACTOR; HE STUMBLES BACKWARDS, BUT QUICKLY REGAINS HIS FOOTING; LOOKING DOWN AT HIS BLOODY WOUND, HE QUICKLY CAUTERIZES IT AND THEN LOOKS BACK UP TO HIS FOE>

Vegeta: <GROWL> Enough! It’s time to throw out the space trash!

<HE CREATES AN EXPLOSIVE WAVE; THE BENEFACTOR IS THROWN BACK BY THIS; AS HE GOES TO STAND UP, VEGETA IS ALREADY SHOOTING ENERGY AT HIM; THE BENEFACTOR SKIDS UPWARDS AND RUNS FROM THE BLASTS; VEGETA TEARS THROUGH BUILDINGS AS HE TRACKS THE CREATURE; THE BENEFACTOR SHOOTS A FEW SMALL BLASTS AT VEGETA, BUT THEY DO NOT DO MUCH DAMAGE; SUDDENLY, HOWEVER, VEGETA STOPS FIRING, ALLOWING THE BENEFACTOR TO GET TO COVER>

Vegeta: <LOOKING AT HIS SHRINKING AURA; OUT OF BREATH> What’s going on? Why is my power going down?

<HE LOOKS UP JUST IN TIME TO SEE THE BENEFACTOR CHARGING UP A LARGE ENERGY BLAST; HE FIRES IT JUST AS VEGETA YELLS OUT AND BEGINS TO CONJURE UP ENERGY OF HIS OWN; VEGETA SHOOTS A STREAM OF ENERGY FROM BOTH HANDS TO STOP THE RED BEAM; SCREAMING PEOPLE RUN BY THEM AS THIS BEAM STRUGGLE GOES ON>

<VEGETA IS ABLE TO STAY THE BLAST, THOUGH HE IS UNABLE TO GAIN THE ADVANTAGE; EVEN AS HE CONTINUES TO THROW BLAST AFTER BLAST AGAINST THE BENEFACTOR’S, IT DOESN’T MOVE IT; RUNNING OUT OF ENERGY, VEGETA FALTERS AND THE BEAM BREAKS THROUGH HIS DEFENSES, FLYING TOWARDS HIM; IT HITS HIM IN A SPECTACULAR EXPLOSION, WHICH DESTROYS ALL OF THE NEARBY BUILDINGS AS WELL>

<AS THE SMOKE CLEARS, VEGETA IS DAMAGED; THE TOP OF HIS JUMPSUIT IS BLOWN OFF; HE IS STILL IN SUPER SAIYAN 3, HOWEVER>

<HE ATTACKS THE BENEFACTOR, WHO WAS WATCHING FROM ABOVE, WITH A SUDDEN TELEPORT-STRIKE; THE BENEFACTOR EVADES THIS WITH A TELEPORT OF HIS OWN; VEGETA GOES TO ATTACK AGAIN, BUT THE BENEFACTOR BLOCKS IT WITH A KICK; AS THE ALIEN SPINS OVER VEGETA’S HEAD, HE TRIES TO PUNCH THE PRINCE, BUT VEGETA SLIPS OUT OF THE WAY; HE TRIES TO FIRE A MEDIUM-SIZED ENERGY BLAST AT THE BENEFACTOR, BUT THE BENEFACTOR LEANS BACK TO MISS IT; THE BENEFACTOR THEN LUNGES WITH HIS RIGHT FIST; VEGETA THROWS ALL HIS WEIGHT TO HIS LEFT SHOULDER TO EVADE IT; YET AS HE DOES SO, THE BENEFACTOR SHOOTS AT HIS NEW POSITION WITH A ONE-HANDED ENERGY BALL IN HIS LEFT HAND; VEGETA TELEPORTS TO EVADE THIS; HE REAPPEARS ABOVE THE BENEFACTOR, ATTEMPTING TO CLUB THE ALIEN DOWNWARD; THE BENEFACTOR TELEPORT-EVADES THIS AS WELL; AS HE REAPPEARS BEHIND VEGETA, HE ATTEMPTS TO PUNCH THE PRINCE, BUT WHAT HE PUNCHES IS JUST AN AFTERIMAGE>

<VEGETA LANDS ON THE GROUND ON ONE KNEE; HE SMIRKS BEFORE STANDING UP AND LOOKING AT THE FLOATING ALIEN>

Vegeta: You’re a slippery one, aren’t you?

The Benefactor: <LANDING A FEW FEET FROM VEGETA> I could say the same of you.

Vegeta: Hmph. You can say whatever you want. <THE SCREEN MOVES LOWER, SHOWING VEGETA’S HANDS; IN THEM, BLUE ENERGY BALLS ARE FORMING> But you’re still going to lose. Take this!

<HE THROWS THE ENERGY AT THE BENEFACTOR; THE BENEFACTOR RETALIATES BY SHOOTING A TON OF ENERGY BACK AT VEGETA; THEY BOTH STAY IN PLACE AS THIS HAPPENS, BEING HIT BY NUMEROUS ATTACKS; THE CITY EXPLODES AROUND THEM; THE FIRES AND SMOKE OVERTAKE THE TWO FIGURES AS THEY CONTINUE TO SHOOT>

<SCENE CHANGE>

<POLICE CHIEF NAGAMO IS STANDING ON TOP OF A POLICE CAR, FLANKED BY TWO OFFICERS; MORE POLICEMEN ARE BELOW HIM; HE HAS A MICROPHONE>

Police Chief Nagamo: <HINT OF DISTRESS> Please, everyone form orderly lines! Don’t panic! We’ll all get out of here if we stick to the plan! I have numerous officers to assist you if you need any help. But please, keep moving. The explosions are getting closer! Let’s go!

<THE PEOPLE ARE AGITATED AND BUMP AND SHOVE ONE ANOTHER AS THEY RUN PAST NAGAMO; THE POLICE OFFICERS TRY TO CONTAIN THEM, BUT THEY AREN’T REALLY ABLE TO; MEANWHILE, EXPLOSIONS ARE GOING OFF AROUND THEM; SOME BUILDINGS ARE COLLAPSING TO THE RIGHT SIDE, CAUSING PEOPLE TO SCREAM AND FLEE TOWARDS NAGAMO>

<EVEN AS NAGAMO CONTINUES TALKING, HE NOTICES THE FIGURE OF CARDINAL COME WALKING UP TO HIM FROM THE LEFT SIDE; CARDINAL TAPS HIM ON THE SHOULDER, CAUSING THE BALDING CHIEF TO SPIN AROUND AND LOOK AT HIM>

Police Chief Nagamo: Cardinal? What are you doing here? <HE JUMPS OFF THE POLICE CAR AS THE LAST PEOPLE RUN BY; HE MOTIONS TO HIS TWO GUARDS> You two, head up the rear. We’ll be right behind you. <TURNING BACK TO CARDINAL> This is no time for talk! We are in the middle of a–

Cardinal: <HOLDS UP HIS HAND; HE LOOKS IMPATIENT AND ANGRY> I need your personal helicopter. Take me to it now.

Police Chief Nagamo: What?! Now?! The city’s collapsing! We won’t make it to the station in time.

Cardinal: Then drive me there. I need to go see what happened to my men.

Police Chief Nagamo: I…

<POLICE CHIEF NAGAMO TRAILS OFF AS HE SEES SOMEONE COME OUT OF THE SMOKE AND WALK TOWARDS HIM; IT IS A SOLDIER CLAD IN HEAVY MILITARY GARB; HIS FACE IS CLEAN-SHAVEN, ALBEIT BLOODIED, AND HE HAS A PISTOL IN HIS RIGHT HAND; HE IS DRAGGING SOMETHING IN HIS LEFT HAND, THOUGH IT CANNOT BE MADE OUT WHAT THAT IS>

<AS THIS MAN GETS TO NAGAMO, HE CASUALLY SHOOTS THE POLICE CHIEF IN THE HEAD; NAGAMO HAS NO TIME TO REACT, MAINLY BECAUSE HE DOES NOT EXPECT SUCH AN OCCURRENCE; HE IS DEAD BEFORE HE HITS THE GROUND; CARDINAL RECOILS SLIGHTLY AS HE SEES THIS; BUT THEN HE TURNS TO THE SOLDIER AND BECOMES MORE COMPOSED>

Cardinal: <INCREDULOUSLY> What are you doing, soldier?

Wisconsin: That’s private Wisconsin to you, sir. But there isn’t much time to talk, I’m afraid.

<A LARGE EXPLOSION GOES OFF NEARBY, SENDING A CAR INTO THE AIR; THE TWO RETREAT FARTHER BACK>

Cardinal: Where’s Silver? Where’s the rest of the Red Ribbon Army?

Wisconsin: <SARCASTIC> Were you coming to look for us, sir?

Cardinal: As a matter of fact, I was. The comms are dead. I didn’t know what happened.

Wisconsin: <COCKING HIS HEAD> Nothing good, that’s for sure. But at least I got something out of it. Look. <HE RAISES HIS OTHER HAND, SHOWING THE CRUMPLED FIGURE OF RYORI> This kid’s our ticket for victory. <CARDINAL GOES TO RESPOND, BUT ANOTHER EXPLOSION GOES OFF EVEN CLOSER TO THEM; WISCONSIN GRABS CARDINAL BY THE SHOULDER AND FORCES HIM TO TURN AROUND; THE TWO OF THEM RUN OUT OF THERE> Come on, sir. Let’s get out of here.

<THE CAMERA ZOOMS OUT AS CARDINAL AND WISCONSIN RUN AWAY; EVENTUALLY, IT SETTLES ON THE BODY OF NAGAMO, WHOSE HEAD IS STILL BLEEDING; HIS EYES ARE WIDE OPEN; ANOTHER EXPLOSION GOES OFF, THIS TIME CONSUMING THE CAMERA’S VISION>

<SCENE CHANGE>

<LEDAS COMES INTO VIEW; HE WATCHES AS THE BENEFACTOR AND VEGETA DUEL, SHOOTING ENERGY AT ONE ANOTHER AND TEARING APART THE CITY; JUST AS LEDAS GETS CLOSE, HE SEES VEGETA SUDDENLY STOP FIRING AND FALL TO HIS KNEES; THEN, VEGETA REVERTS TO HIS BASE FORM; HE IS CONSUMED BY THE BENEFACTOR’S ATTACKS AND THROWN LIKE A RAGDOLL>

Vegeta: <THROUGH SEETHING TEETH; GENUINELY SCARED> No! This can’t be happening! I can’t maintain the form! <HE LOOKS UP AT THE BENEFACTOR, WHO IS CLOSING IN ON HIM; HE GOES SUPER SAIYAN 1 – THE ONLY FORM HE CAN MAINTAIN AT HIS CURRENT POWER – AND THEN FLIES OFF AS FAST AS HE CAN> I need to get my energy back. Bah, where’s that stupid Namekian kid when I need him?!

<THE BENEFACTOR PURSUES HIM AS HE FLIES AWAY; LEDAS WATCHES THEM GO>

Ledas: <STRETCHES HIS HAND OUT AFTER VEGETA; QUIETLY> Vegeta, wait! <BUT VEGETA DOES NOT, OF COURSE; LEDAS SIGHS> I wish I was strong enough to help. But I’m so tired. If only Korin had given me more of those beans…

<LEDAS BOWS HIS HEAD>

Endnotes:

Raven Veins
<A QUICK SCENE IS SHOWN OF VEGETA FLEEING THE BENEFACTOR; HE FLIES THROUGH THE CITY STREETS; THE BENEFACTOR WATCHES HIM GO FOR A MOMENT, THEN STARTS SHOOTING PURPLE ENERGY AFTER THE PRINCE; VEGETA DODGES THESE ATTACKS, AS THEY AREN’T VERY POWERFUL AND MANY OF THEM HIT THE BUILDINGS AND STREETS ANYWAY>

<SEEING NONE OF THE BLASTS CONNECT, THE BENEFACTOR GROWLS, BRINGS HIS DARK AURA UP AROUND HIM, AND SHOOTS AFTER VEGETA>

<CUTS TO CARDINAL>

<EXPLOSIONS ARE STILL GOING OFF IN THE CITY; WISCONSIN AND CARDINAL DODGE THEM AND RUN INTO AN ALLEY; CARDINAL IS BREATHING HEAVILY; HE BENDS OVER AND HOLDS HIS HAND, CAUSING WISCONSIN TO STOP>

Cardinal: <BREATHING HARD> Hold up, private… I’m not as young as I used to be. I can’t keep going on like this. <HE BREATHES HEAVILY FOR A FEW MOMENTS BEFORE SPEAKING AGAIN> But the explosions haven’t quite reached us… so we can afford a moment’s rest.

Wisconsin: We are in danger as long as we stay here!

Cardinal: <COLLECTING HIMSELF> Be that as it may–

Wisconsin: No, we have to go now! Come on, get up! I’m not about to let either of us die.

<WISCONSIN MOVES TO CARDINAL, SHOVING HIM UP; CARDINAL GRASPS ONTO WISCONSIN’S ARM TO NOT FALL OVER; AS THIS HAPPENS, ANOTHER EXPLOSION GOES OFF THAT THROWS THEM FORWARD; WISCONSIN LETS GO OF RYORI TO GRAB CARDINAL, WHICH PREVENTS THE BOTH OF THEM FROM FALLING OVER>

<AS HE DOES THIS, RYORI SUDDENLY SPRINGS UP AND RUNS OFF OUT OF THE ALLEY AND BACK INTO THE MAIN STREET; WISCONSIN ONLY SEES HIM AFTER A FEW SECONDS; HE ROARS AND SHOOTS HIS PISTOL AT THE BOY, BUT RYORI IS TOO FAR AWAY, AND ALL OF THE SHOTS MISS>

Wisconsin: Damnit! <HE SPINS BACK TO CARDINAL> Come on, sir! We need to go get him! <HE GOES TO RUN OFF, BUT CARDINAL DOES NOT FOLLOW HIM> What are you waiting for?

Cardinal: <BOWS HIS HEAD; DEFEATED TONE> Let him go.

Wisconsin: <ASTONISHED> What?!

Cardinal: Even with him as a captive, we wouldn’t be able to hold off the other one. That alien is too powerful for any of us to handle. He would kill us long before we could give him even a scratch. <HE LOOKS UP> This war is over; we have lost it. Those boys are no longer our concern.

Wisconsin: He killed your son! And you’re letting him get away?! <HE POUNDS HIS CHEST AND LETS SPIT FLY> I’m the only soldier left! Me! I’m the one who survived! And I’m the only one who can make him pay for what he did to General Silver! <HE RUNS OFF AFTER RYORI, ABANDONING CARDINAL>

Cardinal: <GRAVE; VOICE WAVERING; IN A WHISPER> He killed my son? Oh, god!

<HE STARTS SHAKING; HE HAS TO HOLD ONTO THE SIDE OF THE NEAREST BUILDING SO AS TO NOT FALL OVER; DEBRIS FALLS FROM THE BUILDING AND A GREAT CREAKING CAN BE HEARD; CARDINAL PAYS LITTLE ATTENTION TO THIS, HOWEVER>

<EVERYTHING GOES NUMB FOR CARDINAL; HE SLOWLY WALKS OUT OF THE ALLEY, BACK INTO THE STREET; A SLEW OF EXPLOSIONS GO OFF AHEAD OF HIM; HE WATCHES AS ONE GRAZES WISCONSIN, WHO WAS RUNNING DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET; IT SENDS HIM FLYING BACK TOWARDS CARDINAL; ONCE HE LANDS, HE DOES NOT GET UP>

Cardinal: <DAZED; TEARY-EYED> Silver… my son. <HE REACHES WISCONSIN> Furry was right. We can do nothing. <HE LOOKS DOWN AT WISCONSIN, WHO IS STRUGGLING> The Red Ribbon Army is finished.

Wisconsin: <LOOKING UP AT CARDINAL; HE HOLDS HIS HAND UP> S-sir… help me…

Cardinal: <HE LOOKS DOWN AT WISCONSIN WITH HIS EYES STILL TEAR-DRENCHED; HE NOTICES WISCONSIN’S PISTOL LYING NEXT TO HIM> It dies with you, private.

<HE REACHES DOWN; HOWEVER, THE NEXT FRAME SHOWS THAT HE DOES NOT GRASP WISCONSIN’S HAND, INSTEAD GRABBING THE PISTOL; HE POINTS IT AT WISCONSIN, WHOSE BLOODY AND BURNT FACE CONTORTS INTO HORROR; CARDINAL FIRES THE SHOT, AND IT HITS WISCONSIN JUST ABOVE THE BRIDGE OF THE NOSE; THE PRIVATE FALLS OVER DEAD; CARDINAL THROWS THE PISTOL DOWN>

<JUST AS HE DOES SO, THE BUILDING TO THE RIGHT OF HIM CREAKS EVEN LOUDER; TURNING TO FACE IT, HE SEES A LARGE GASH IN IT; THE UPPER FLOORS ARE COLLAPSING ONTO ONE ANOTHER, AND AT THE POINT OF THE GASH, THE DEBRIS ARE FALLING OUT; AS CARDINAL WATCHES, THE ENTIRE BUILDING SUDDENLY LURCHES AND COLLAPSES; HE SHIELDS HIS FACE AS ASH AND SMOKE AND DEBRIS FLY TOWARDS HIM; ABOVE CARDINAL, ANOTHER BUILDING IS LEANING; IT BEGINS TO FALL OVER, RIGHT ABOVE HIM, THOUGH HE DOESN’T SEE IT>

<JUST BEFORE EVERYTHING HITS CARDINAL, THE CAMERA CUTS TO KRILLIN; HE IS FLYING FASTER THAN THE WINDS TO THE LOOKOUT IN ORDER TO GET DENDE TO COME AND HEAL EVERYONE>

<HE IS NEAR THE CITY WHEN HE NOTICES A SMALL BLUE DOT; IT IS SHINING FROM THE SUN’S RAYS HITTING IT; NOTICING THE GLEAM, KRILLIN APPROACHES IT; HE SEES, AS WE THE AUDIENCE DO, THAT THIS IS YAJIROBE, THE THANKLESS DELIVERER OF SENZU BEANS>

<KRILLIN’S FACE HAS BEEN WORRIED AND ANXIOUS THROUGHOUT HIS FLIGHT, BUT AT THE SIGHT OF THIS CAR, HE GIVES THAT UP FOR A SMILE; WITH HIS HAND OUT OVER HIS EYEBROWS, SHIELDING HIS EYES FROM THE SUN, KRILLIN DASHES UP TOWARD THE BLUE CAR>

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

<KRILLIN JUMPS INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT OF THE CAR; YAJIROBE IS NOT SURPRISED AT ALL BY THIS SUDDEN NEW PASSENGER IN HIS RIDE; AS WELL, YAJIROBE DOES NOT LOOK AT HIM>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Krillin: <WISELY> This isn’t even your car, Yajirobe… <KNOWING THAT YAJIROBE REALLY COULDN’T DO ANYTHING TO THROW HIM OUT, KRILLIN GOES TO PICK UP THE SENZU BEANS> Hey, you spilled all the senzu beans too…

<YAJIROBE GRUMBLES, BUT DOES NOT RESPOND; HE PUTS HIS FOOT ON THE PEDAL AND STARTS GOING EVEN FASTER; THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO SHAKE, MAKING IT HARDER FOR KRILLIN TO LOCATE THE SENZU BEANS, AS THEY ROLL UNDER THE SEATS>

<KRILLIN NOTICES, RATHER QUICKLY>

Krillin: Hey, slow down Yajirobe! I need to grab the beans you spilled. We’re gonna need a lot of them.

Yajirobe: Gah, don’t you ever shut up?

<KRILLIN DOESN’T LISTEN; HE STARTS PILING THE SPILLED BEANS INTO THE BAG AGAIN; THE BAG IS SITTING BETWEEN YAJIROBE AND KRILLIN>

Krillin: <TWISTS BACK AROUND, THROWING A HANDFUL INTO THE BAG> This should be enough. We have to get a senzu bean to 18 now. She was hurt pretty bad last time I saw her.

Yajirobe: Nuh uh. I’m takin’ ‘em to Goku.

Krillin: <A BIT ANGRY> Goku’s hurt too, but it didn’t look like it was as bad. We have to give one to her first. I mean, she’s my wife, my soul-mate, my… <CONTINUES TALKING ABOUT HOW PERFECT ANDROID 18 IS IN THE BACKGROUND>

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

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

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

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

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

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

<FLOATING BEFORE THEM IS VEGETA>

<VEGETA HAS DRIED BLOOD IN LINES DOWN HIS NECK, CHEST, AND ALL OVER HIS ARMS; THE TOP HALF OF HIS SHIRT IS BLOWN OFF; HE IS HOLDING ONE BRUISED SHOULDER WITH A GLOVED HAND; HE IS IN SUPER SAIYAN 1>

<HE GLARES AT THE TWO NITWITS>

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

Vegeta: <GRITTED WHISPER> Shut up.

Krillin: Uh…

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

Yajirobe: W-w-w-what beans?

<VEGETA LOWERS HIS LEFT HAND IN AN OPEN HAND AND PRESENTS IT TO YAJIROBE AS IF EXPECTING THE GOOD SAMURAI TO INSTANTANEOUSLY POUR BEANS INTO IT>

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

<SHOT IS FACING VEGETA, SHOWING HIS FACE AND HIS HAND EXTENDED, EXPECTING THE BEANS; IMMEDIATELY AS HE IS TALKING, YAJIROBE PANICS AND SCREAMS; VEGETA’S PRESENCE SCARES HIM>

Yajirobe: <IN A SQUEAK> Oh, uh, h-here! Take ‘em! <HE PAUSES, TAKING OUT THE POUCH AND SHOVING IT TOWARDS VEGETA> P-please don’t kill me, Vegeta! I’m your biggest fan!

<VEGETA SMIRKS AS HE GOES TO SWIPE THE BAG; JUST AS HE DOES, A BLACK FLASH COMES DOWN ON HIM; THE BENEFACTOR ELBOWS VEGETA IN THE BACK OF THE NECK, CAUSING VEGETA TO SLUMP FORWARD, SEMI-PARALYZED AND SHIVERING IN PAIN; THE BENEFACTOR GRABS PRINCE AROUND THE NECK WITH HIS RIGHT HAND; YAJIROBE AND KRILLIN CAN ONLY WATCH; THE BENEFACTOR LOOKS AT THOSE TWO AND PREPARES A DARK GREEN ENERGY BLAST IN HIS LEFT HAND TO DESTROY THEM>

<CAMERA SWITCHES TO LEDAS; LEDAS HAS FOLLOWED THE BENEFACTOR TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CITY; HE SEES THE BENEFACTOR HOLDING VEGETA>

Ledas: <HE SEES THAT VEGETA IS NOT MOVING> No! You’re not killing Vegeta!

<HE GOES SUPER SAIYAN AND TRIES TO RUSH AT THE BENEFACTOR, DESPITE BEING SO EXHAUSTED; AS HE TRIES TO DO THIS, THE BENEFACTOR’S ENERGY WITHIN HIM WORKS UP AGAIN; HIS VEINS TURN NOTICEABLY BLACK AND HIS EYES GO RED; HE SCREAMS IN PAIN AS HE LOSES CONTROL OVER HIS BODY>

Ledas: W-what’s going on?! Ahh!! <HE SCREAMS OUT IN PAIN> I can’t… control… I can’t… no!!

<HE SUDDENLY STARTS SHOOTING A BUNCH OF ENERGY TOWARDS NOT JUST THE BENEFACTOR, YAJIROBE, AND KRILLIN, BUT AROUND THE ENTIRE CITY; THIS DEMOLISHES MUCH THE CITY, BUT DOES NOT AFFECT THE BENEFACTOR; LEDAS SCREAMS LOUDER AS THIS PROGRESSES>

<THE BENEFACTOR WATCHES THIS FOR A MOMENT, THEN TURNS BACK TO YAJIROBE AND KRILLIN; HE SHOOTS THE SMALL GREEN ENERGY BALL INTO THE HOOD OF YAJIROBE’S CAR, CAUSING IT TO EXPLODE; THE TWO HUMANS SCREAM OUT, BUT THEIR VOICES ARE LOST IN THE FIRE AND SMOKE THAT CONSUMES THE WRECKAGE OF THE CAR AND THEIR BODIES; THE CAR FALLS TO THE GROUND>

<THE BENEFACTOR TURNS BACK TO LEDAS; HE AIR-DASHES TO THE SAIYAN’S POSITION; WITH A SWIFT KICK TO THE FACE, FOLLOWED BY A DEEP PUNCH TO THE PUNCH TO THE GUT AND A CLAW-SLICE TO THE LEFT CHEEK, HE RENDERS LEDAS UNCONSCIOUS; THEN, HE GRASPS LEDAS BY THE NECK AND PULLS HIM CLOSER FOR INSPECTION>

<HOVERING IN THE AIR, HE HOLDS UP BOTH OF THE SAIYANS IN HIS HANDS>

The Benefactor: Look at us three, back together. But not for long. <HE THROWS VEGETA TO THE SIDE; VEGETA PLUMMETS INTO A CRATER IN THE GROUND AND DOES NOT MOVE> You are the one I want. <HE THRUSTS HIS PALM OUT> It’s time for you to return what you stole from me, thief.

Endnotes:

Human Nature
<THE BENEFACTOR LANDS, HOLDING LEDAS STILL BY THE NECK; HE HAS HIS RIGHT HAND THRUST OUT, PALM UP, `TOWARDS LEDAS’ BODY; THE SAIYAN IS STILL UNCONSCIOUS AS HE BEGINS TO PULL ENERGY FROM LEDAS’ BODY; THE BENEFACTOR’S AURA COMES UP AROUND HIM AS HE DOES THIS, BUT NOTHING CAN BE SEEN COMING FROM LEDAS>

<BEHIND THE TWO, PAST THE CRATER WHERE VEGETA LIES, KRILLIN AND YAJIROBE ARE CROUCHED IN THE GRASS; THEY ARE TAKING COVER BEHIND THE SMOLDERING WRECKAGE OF KORIN’S HOVERCAR>

<KRILLIN IS DOWN ON HIS STOMACH, PEERING AROUND THE WRECKAGE TO GLIMPSE AT THE BENEFACTOR; NEXT TO HIM IS YAJIROBE, WHO IS SITTING AND COWERING; AFTER SEEING THAT THE BENEFACTOR HAS HIS BACK TO THEM, KRILLIN CRAWLS BACK OUT OF SIGHT>

Krillin: Whew, he’s not looking for us, at least. Hey Yajirobe, help me gather up some senzus.

<INTO THE GRASS, THE SENZUS HAVE FALLEN; KRILLIN LOOKS AROUND AND STARTS PICKING UP THOSE HE FINDS>

Yajirobe: N-no way!

Krillin: So you’re just gonna sit there, huh?

Yajirobe: <CROSSES HIS ARMS AND LOOKS AWAY> Hmph.

Krillin: <SCOWLING> Whatever. But y’know, this would go a lot faster if you helped me.

<AS SOON AS KRILLIN LOOKS AWAY FROM YAJIROBE, YAJIROBE GIVES UP HIS TOUGH-GUY ATTITUDE AND STARTS SHAKING AGAIN; HE COWERS RIGHT BEHIND THE CAR>

Krillin: <AS HE FINDS MORE SENZUS; HE HAS A HANDFUL NOW> Yajirobe, I’m going to need you to do something for me. <YAJIROBE DOES NOT ANSWER> Yajirobe!

Yajirobe: What?! What do you want now?!

Krillin: I need you to make a distraction so I can get away.

Yajirobe: <INCREDULOUSLY> Are you crazy, man? That monster w-would kill me! You saw what he did to m-my car!

Krillin: We don’t have much choice. I need to get these senzus to Goku and everyone else. Especially 18. And once they’re healed, they can deal with that alien guy.

Yajirobe: No way, dude. I’m not dyin’ today. You do it.

Krillin: I’m the only one who can fly! Besides, you could use your katana.

Yajirobe: Do you want me to get killed?! Gah, you’re worse than that stupid cat.

Krillin: <PLEADING> Yajirobe, we don’t have a lot of options. I–

<KRILLIN IS INTERRUPTED BY A SCREAM UP AHEAD; HE AND YAJIROBE IMMEDIATELY FALL TO THE GROUND; KRILLIN PEERS AROUND THE DESTROYED CAR; AS HE DOES, THE CAMERA ZOOMS AHEAD FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE, SHOWING A CLEARER PICTURE OF LEDAS>

<LEDAS HAS WOKEN UP; HE IS SCREAMING AS THE BENEFACTOR CONTINUES TO RIP ENERGY FROM HIM; THERE ARE DARK LINES FILLING HIS VEINS; HOWEVER, AROUND HIS EYES AND NOSE, THERE IS MUCH BLOOD; HE STRUGGLES AGAINST THE BENEFACTOR, BUT HE IS INEFFECTIVE>

<ENERGY STARTS COMING OFF OF HIS BODY IN SMALL PARTICLES, MUCH LIKE HOW GOKU GATHERS ENERGY FOR HIS SPIRIT BOMB; ALL OF THE ENERGY SLOWLY DRIFTS TOWARDS THE BENEFACTOR’S BODY BEFORE BEING ABSORBED; LEDAS CONTINUES TO THRASH, BUT HE CAN’T DO MUCH>

<SUDDENLY, THE BENEFACTOR DROPS LEDAS; LEDAS FALLS BUT DOES NOT GET UP; HE LIES IN THE GRASS, HIS CHEST HEAVING, CRYING OUT IN PAIN; LIKEWISE, THE BENEFACTOR SUDDENLY SCREAMS OUT IN PAIN; HE HUNCHES FORWARD, HIS ARMS THRUST TO EACH SIDE, AND DISSIPATES HIS AURA; MUCH LIKE WITH LEDAS, THE VEINS IN THE BENEFACTOR’S ARMS ARE NOW PRONOUNCED; THEY ARE DARK AND PROTRUDING; THE BENEFACTOR SHRIEKS AND STARTS SHOOTING ENERGY ALL AROUND>

<LEDAS ROLLS OVER TO HIS STOMACH AND STARTS CRAWLING AWAY AS FAST AS HE CAN; HE DOESN’T GO TOO FAST; LEDAS NOTICES THE WRECKAGE OF THE CAR AHEAD AND HE SEES YAJIROBE PEERING OUT FROM BEHIND IT>

Ledas: <HOARSELY; WEAKLY> Y-y-yajirobe? <HE REACHES HIS HAND OUT TOWARDS THE FAR-OFF SAMURAI> H-help me…

<YAJIROBE DISAPPEARS FOR A MOMENT, THOUGH LEDAS KEEPS HIS ARM RAISED AND DOES NOT MOVE; AFTER A FEW SECONDS, YAJIROBE COMES BACK INTO VIEW; HE THROWS SOMETHING AT LEDAS; LEDAS CATCHES IT WITH HIS OUTSTRETCHED HAND BEFORE DROPPING HIS HEAD INTO THE GRASS IN WEARINESS; BRINGING HIS HAND UP TO HIS EYES, HE SEES THAT HE HE’S HOLDING A SENZU BEAN; LEDAS’ EYES SUDDENLY WIDEN; HE ROLLS ONTO HIS BACK AND GRINS AS HE HOLDS UP THE SMALL BEAN; HE STARTS TO BRING IT TOWARDS HIS MOUTH>

<JUST AT THIS TIME, THE BENEFACTOR COMES INTO VIEW; AT ONCE, HE SHOOTS A FINGER BEAM, DESTROYING THE SENZU BEAN LEDAS WAS HOLDING; THEN, HE GRABS LEDAS BY THE FOOT AND DRAGS HIM TOWARDS HIM>

The Benefactor: Y-you’re not getting away! <HE SCREAMS AGAIN AND DROPS TO A KNEE, EVEN AS HE MAINTAINS A HOLD ON LEDAS> What have you done to me?

Ledas: <SHOCKED> I-I didn’t do anything…

The Benefactor: <SCREAMING LOUDER NOW> Liar! <HE CREATES A SMALL ENERGY BALL AND THEN SHOOTS IT AT LEDAS; LEDAS TAKES THE ATTACK HEAD-ON; HIS FACE IS BLEEDING NOW> You p-poisoned my energy! You tricked me!

<THE BENEFACTOR LETS GO OF LEDAS AND STARTS ROLLING AROUND IN THE GRASS, SCREAMING THE WHOLE WAY; SEVERAL OF HIS VEINS ON HIS ARMS HAVE BURST AND BLOOD IS NOW POURING FROM THEM>

<THE BENEFACTOR ATTEMPTS TO STAND UP, BUT HE CANNOT; IN FRUSTRATION AND PAIN, HE CREATES AN EXPLOSIVE WAVE; THIS THROWS LEDAS’ BODY LIKE A RAGDOLL; AS WELL, IT BLOWS AWAY THE WRECKAGE OF THE CAR; KRILLIN AND YAJIROBE ARE EXPOSED>

<THE BENEFACTOR IS NOW ABLE TO STAND UP; BREATHING HEAVILY, HE LOOKS DOWN AT HIS BLEEDING ARMS; THEN HE LOOKS BACK TO LEDAS AND PREPARES A LARGER BLAST TO KILL THE BOY>

<YAJIROBE STAYS COWERING IN THE GRASS; HE DOES NOT MOVE; KRILLIN, HOWEVER, JUMPS FORWARD; HE HAS A FIST-FULL OF SENZU BEANS, BUT IN HIS OTHER HAND HE IS READYING SOME ENERGY>

Krillin: <SHOUT> Hey! Over here!

<THE BENEFACTOR SUDDENLY LOOKS UP FROM LEDAS AND FOCUSES IN ON THE HUMAN>

<CUTS TO RYORI>

<A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE ARE SIFTING THROUGH THE RUBBLE OF THE CITY; OTHERS ARE CARRYING OUT BODIES; THE CAMERA ZOOMS IN ON A PARTICULAR GROUP; SEVERAL MEN ARE CARRYING TWO STRETCHERS; THEY ARE BEING LED BY A NURSE WITH DYED PINK HAIR; ONE OF THE PEOPLE ON THE STRETCHERS IS AN OLD MAN IN A TATTERED, BLOODY SUIT; THE OTHER IS A BOY>

<CARDINAL IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE WOUNDED THAN RYORI; BECAUSE OF THIS, HE SIMPLY LIES WHERE HE IS; RYORI, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS CONSCIOUS, THOUGH HE’S NOT TALKING; HE WATCHES AS THEY PULL CARDINAL NEXT TO HIM; RYORI, BEING A SNEAKY BUGGER, GRASPS AT A PIECE OF BROKEN GLASS FROM THE GROUND; NO ONE NOTICES AS HE REELS IT INTO HIS CHEST AND CONCEALS IT THERE>

<THE TWO ARE PUT INTO AN AMBULANCE AS THE NURSE CONTINUES TO WATCH OVER THEM; THEY ARE EACH INJECTED WITH SYRINGES SEVERAL TIMES; AFTER THIS OCCURS, CARDINAL STIRS AWAKE>

Cardinal: <HOARSELY> Where am I?

Nurse Yorokobi: Getting the help you need. You were caught up in that building that collapsed, Mr., uh… <YOROKOBI TRAILS OFF, AS SHE DOESN’T KNOW HIS NAME>

Cardinal: <IN A VERY TIRED VOICE> Cardinal.

Nurse Yorokobi: Mr. Cardinal, of course! But don’t worry, sir. We are going to give you the best care possible. You’ll be out of here in no time!

Cardinal: That’s great, dear. <HE SEES RYORI OPPOSITE HIM; THE BOY IS AWAKE AND STARING AT HIM WITH A LOOK OF ABSOLUTE HATRED> But please, can you give me a moment. Please.

Nurse Yorokobi: Of course, sir.

<NURSE YOROKOBI BOWS AND EXITS>

Cardinal: <HE SIGHS DEEPLY AND FALLS BACK ONTO HIS STRETCHER, LOOKING UP AT THE CEILING OF THE AMBULANCE> I didn’t think I would see you again, here at the end of all things. It’s fitting, don’t you think?

Ryori: <WHISPER> Shut up.

Cardinal: <RECOILING AT RYORI’S LAST SENTENCE> Can we not be gentlemen? <RYORI DOES NOT RESPOND; CARDINAL CLOSES HIS EYES> How did it come to this? What have I done to deserve this?

Ryori: <ANGER SURGING> You know what you did! You killed him! You killed my brother!

Cardinal: <FAKE SURPRISE> What? <HE SITS UP AND STARES AT RYORI, DUMBFOUNDED> Shoekki? I did no such–

Ryori: <SHOUTING> Don’t you say his name!

Cardinal: <WEARILY> It seems like another lifetime that he was part of my operation. But I swear to you, Ryori, I don’t know what happened to him.

Ryori: Yes you do!

Cardinal: Do you even know what he was doing for me? Do you even know why I had him helping me?

Ryori: <SHAKING> No…

Cardinal: He was helping me find the alien. The boy you were friends with. I was called in to deal with him. I was called in to keep all of us safe! <HE POINTS AT HIS CHEST> I am not the enemy! He is! And your brother knew that as well as I do!

Ryori: <HIS HEAD IS BOWED; HE LOOKS UP; IN A WHISPER> All you do is lie.

Cardinal: Your brother was helping me get rid of him. He was a good man. But I know nothing of where he is now. You must believe me.

Ryori: <UNDER HIS BREATH> Never.

<RYORI LAUNCHES HIMSELF AT CARDINAL, ALL TEARY-EYED AND SHOUTING; HE THRUSTS THE BROKEN PIECE OF GLASS INTO CARDINAL’S ARM, TEARING A LARGE GASH AS HE DOES; CARDINAL YELLS OUT AND BLOOD FLIES EVERYWHERE; RYORI’S FACE IS COVERED IN IT, BUT HE CONTINUES TO STAB CARDINAL>

<IN A MOMENT, YOROKOBI AND OTHER NURSES FLY IN; THEY TRY TO RESTRAIN RYORI, BUT THEY ARE UNABLE TO; RYORI STABS CARDINAL’S MANGLED ARM MORE AND MORE; FINALLY, YOROKOBI JUMPS FORWARD AND STABS RYORI’S NECK WITH A SYRINGE; RYORI FALLS OVER, COMPLETELY SEDATED; THE OTHERS RUSH OVER TO CARDINAL, BUT HE’S UNCONSCIOUS; THERE IS BLOOD EVERYWHERE>

<CUTS BACK TO THE BENEFACTOR>

<THE ALIEN LOOKS UP AT KRILLIN JUST IN TIME TO SEE A DESTRUCTO DISK FLYING HIS WAY; HE DODGES OUT OF THE WAY, THOUGH THE ATTACK GRAZES HIM; AS HE LANDS, HE LOOKS UP AND SEES A GROUP OF DESTRUCTO DISKS HEADING HIS WAY; HE SHOOTS A RED ENERGY BLAST AT THEM, DESTROYING THEM; HOWEVER, BEFORE HE CAN EVEN LOWER HIS HAND, KRILLIN JUMPS RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM>

Krillin: Solar Flare!

<A BRIGHT LIGHT SUDDENLY FILLS THE AREA, BLINDING THE BENEFACTOR; BEFORE HE CAN REGAIN HIS SIGHT, KRILLIN IS GONE; AS THE BENEFACTOR CONTINUES TO HOLD HIS EYES, ATTEMPTING TO RE-GAIN HIS SIGHT, LEDAS STARTS TO MOVE BACKWARDS>

<THE BENEFACTOR DOES NOT EVEN LOOK TOWARD HIM; HE FALLS TO HIS HANDS AND KNEES, NOT FACING LEDAS; HIS ARMS ARE STILL BLEEDING; LEDAS LOOKS BACK TOWARDS YAJIROBE; THE SAMURAI IS COWERING IN THE GRASS, BEING IN NO MOOD FOR CONVERSATION; AS HE TURNS BACK AROUND, LEDAS SEES THE BENEFACTOR STAND UP>

The Benefactor: <BLINKING FURIOUSLY> To hell with this planet.

<THE BENEFACTOR CREATES A SMALL BLACK ENERGY BALL, LIKE A HOCKEY PUCK, AND DROPS IT ON THE GROUND>

Endnotes:

The Door To Nowhere
<THE SCENE OPENS WITH AN AERIAL SHOT LOOKING DOWN AT THE THREE REMAINING CHARACTERS – YAJIROBE, LEDAS, AND THE BENEFACTOR; THE CAMERA LOWERS TO THE GROUND WHILE MAINTAINING FOCUS ON LEDAS>

<LEDAS TURNS AWAY FROM THE BENEFACTOR AND LOOKS AT YAJIROBE>

Ledas: Mr. Yajirobe? Is that really you?

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

Ledas: It doesn’t matter. But you wouldn’t happen to have any more of those beans, would you? I-I kinda need one…

Yajirobe: <MUTTERS TO HIMSELF AS HE HANDS LEDAS A SENZU> Yeah, that’s all you want from me…

Ledas: <EATS IT WITHOUT WAITING> Thanks. Now I gotta deal with that guy.

Yajirobe: <BARELY CONTAINING HIS FEAR> Pfft. In that case, I was just leaving.

The Benefactor: <HEAD BOWED, HE IS KEEPING TO HIMSELF> Useless. <THE OTHER TWO FALL INTO SILENCE> Wastes of flesh…

<HE THROWS AN IMPALEMENT BEAM AT YAJIROBE WHILE NOT LOOKING AT THE SAMURAI; LEDAS CREATES A SHIELD OF KI, WHICH THE IMPALEMENT BEAM BOUNCES OFF OF; HE DISSIPATES THE SHIELD AFTER THE DEFLECTION>

The Benefactor: <SEETHING> You will all die. I have had enough of this game! <HE TURNS AROUND TO FACE THEM> This planet is done. You are done. I’ll destroy everything if I have to. <HE SHOWS LEDAS HIS BLOODY ARMS> I wanted my energy back, but it looks like I can’t absorb any of it back without it nearly killing me. So you have no more use to me. It’s time we end this.

<LEDAS GOES INTO A DEFENSIVE STANCE>

Ledas: I’m not gonna be as easy as before!

The Benefactor: I’m not fighting you. <HE POINTS TO THE BLACK DISC OF ENERGY ON THE GROUND> I have already doomed this planet to destruction.

Ledas: <IN HORROR> What?! No!!

The Benefactor: It’s too late for all of you.

Ledas: <FRANTIC; MUTTERING TO YAJIROBE> Yajirobe, canya help too?! We need to kill him fast and I can’t do it alone!

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

Ledas: We’re all gonna die if you don’t help!

Yajirobe: Huh?!

Ledas: At least distract him! <PUSHES YAJIROBE FORWARD> Go on, Mister Yajirobe! Use your sword or something…

<LEDAS PUSHES YAJIROBE FORWARD TOWARD THE BENEFACTOR>

<YAJIROBE’S EYES WIDEN INTO HUGE SAUCERS; HIS HAIR STANDS UP ON END; HE TREMBLES UNCONTROLLABLY; THE BENEFACTOR, WHO HAS GONE BACK TO KNEELING AND INSPECTING HIS OWN WOUNDS, LOOKS UP>

The Benefactor: You really can’t wait to die, can you? <HE STANDS UP AND STARES YAJIROBE DOWN; HE READIES ENERGY IN EITHER HAND> So be it.

Yajirobe: <SCREAMING; TALKING VERY FAST> Oh, uh, please sir, I, uh, I-I didn’t mean to offend ya! I-I’m y-your biggest fan! <YAJIROBE SEES THE ENERGY, THROWS HIS SWORD AWAY, AND DROPS TO HIS KNEES TO BEG> Eek! P-please don’t kill me! I… I don’t wanna die! P-please! I’ll b-be your sidekick if ya want!

The Benefactor: Sidekick? Your groveling is a practiced art. <HE RAISES HIS HANDS, BRINGING THE ENERGY TO YAJIROBE’S FACE>

Yajirobe: <YAJIROBE JUMPS UP, HIS EYES WIDE AND HIS FACE COVERED IN SWEAT> N-n-no! Let me go!

<SUDDENLY FROM BEHIND THE BENEFACTOR, LEDAS COMES DASHING IN; HE IS IN SUPER SAIYAN; HE KICKS THE BENEFACTOR FORWARD, THEN IMMEDIATELY TELEPORTS UP TO HIM AND PULLS HIM TO THE GROUND BY THE BACK OF HIS NECK; HE THEN TELEPORTS IN FRONT OF THE BENEFACTOR AND KICKS THE ALIEN INTO THE GROUND WITH BOTH FEET; AT ONCE, HE HAS A BALL OF LIGHT BLUE ENERGY READY IN HIS FREE HAND, AND HE RELEASES IT INTO THE BODY OF THE BENEFACTOR; THE BENEFACTOR TELEPORTS OUT OF LEDAS’ GRIP, HOWEVER, AND THEN REAPPEARS ABOVE HIM>

The Benefactor: How is your energy restored?

Ledas: <LOOKING UP AT HIM> I know a trick!

The Benefactor: Fool! You are only delaying your death!

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

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

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

<IN THE BLAST, LEDAS ROLLS AWAY FROM THE ALIEN’S CONTROL AND TAKES TO THE SKY; THE BENEFACTOR IS NOT PLAYING AROUND; HE INSTANTLY FOLLOWS; BEFORE LEDAS CAN GET AWAY, THE BENEFACTOR GRABS HIM BY THE LEG AND PULLS HIM BACK DOWN; THE BENEFACTOR USES THIS OPENING TO LAUNCH A DOUBLE ELBOW ATTACK; IT LANDS, STAGGERING LEDAS AND MAKING THE BOY COUGH UP BLOOD; AN AWKWARD MOMENT LATER, THEY BOTH JUMP BACK TO THEIR FEET AND TAKE OFF FROM THE POSITION; LEDAS IS SLUGGISH>

<LEDAS LOCKS INTO A BLOW EXCHANGE WITH THE BENEFACTOR; THEY RAIN FISTS UPON EACH OTHER WITH QUITE A BIT OF SPEED AND FEROCITY; HOWEVER, AS TIMES GOES ON, LEDAS STARTS TO GET CUTS AND BRUISES ACROSS HIS ARMS AND FACE;THE BENEFACTOR IS NOT GETTING DAMAGED VERY MUCH>

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

<THE ALIEN PUNCHES INTO THE OPEN AIR AS HE FLIES BACK – JUST AS LEDAS MOVES INTO THAT AREA; THE FIST CONNECTS WITH LEDAS’ COLLARBONE, SHATTERING IT> <WHEN THIS HAPPENS, LEDAS FALLS TO THE GROUND FROM HIS PHYSICAL WOUNDS AND WEARINESS; HIS ENERGY IS DRAINING FAST>

<BEFORE LEDAS CAN DARE DO ANYTHING, THE BENEFACTOR WILD SENSES IN FRONT OF HIM; HE HITS LEDAS WITH BOTH OF HIS PALMS, FACE UP AND OPENED, UNDER THE CHIN; THE SAIYAN REVERTS TO HIS BASE FORM AT THIS, AND HE FALLS OVER, GASPING AND CLUTCHING AT HIS CHEST>

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

The Benefactor: Even in my weakened state, I own you.

Ledas: <IN A PAINED SCREAM> Yajirobe, help!

The Benefactor: Shut your mouth!

<THE BENEFACTOR PLACES A HAND OVER LEDAS’ MOUTH AND BEGINS FORMING ENERGY AGAINST LEDAS’ SKIN; LEDAS SCREAMS A MUFFLED SCREAM AND TRIES TO BREAK LOOSE, BUT HE CANNOT>

The Benefactor: I’ll kill you now. This planet still has a few minutes left. <HE LOOKS OVER AT WHERE HE PLACED THE PUCK-SIZED BIT OF ENERGY; THAT ENERGY IS NOW BURNING INTO THE GROUND, CREATING A LARGE CRATER AROUND IT; BLACK FLAMES AND ELECTRICITY CAN BE SEEN AROUND THE CRATER; IT IS JUST TO THE RIGHT OF THE BENEFACTOR> Plenty of time for me to get out of here. But for you, it’s the end of the road, kid. No one’s gonna save you now.

<LEDAS TRIES TO PUSH HIMSELF OFF OF THE BENEFACTOR; THE ALIEN HOLDS HIM IN PLACE, EVEN AS HE CONTINUES TO BURN LEDAS WITH THE FORMING ENERGY; LEDAS SCREAMS LOUDER, CONJURING UP HIS AURA AROUND HIM; ONCE AGAIN, HE GOES SUPER SAIYAN; AT ONCE, HE LOOKS RIGHT INTO THE BENEFACTOR’S EYES; PURPLE ENERGY COMES UP AROUND LEDAS’ EYES, BRIEFLY FILLING THEM WITH THE PERVASIVE LIGHT; THEN, TWO JOLTS OF ENERGY SHOOT FROM LEDAS’ EYES>

<FOR A SECOND, THERE IS NO SOUND; THEN, THE BENEFACTOR HOWLS OUT IN PAIN, WHILE FALLING OFF OF LEDAS; HE CLUTCHES AT HIS EYES, WHERE NOTHING BUT TWO DARK, CAUTERIZED WOUNDS ARE NOW; LEDAS IS TOO WOUNDED TO FINISH HIM OFF; AS SOON AS THE BENEFACTOR FALLS OFF OF HIM, HE RETURNS TO CLUTCHING AT HIS WOUNDS AND BREATHING HEAVILY>

The Benefactor: You wretch!! <HE POUNDS THE GROUND, CREATING A LARGE CRATER> What have you done?!

Ledas: <ATTEMPTING TO STAND UP; IN PAIN> That’s just the start… I haven’t even killed you yet…

The Benefactor: <TREMBLING WITH PAIN AND HATRED> Y-you think you’ve w-won?! Ahh!! <HE LAUNCHES HIMSELF AT LEDAS, KNOCKING THE BOY BACK TO THE GROUND> I don’t need my sight to rip out your throat! And after you, I’ll tear that fat little ingrate limb from limb!

<FROM A FEW METERS AWAY, BEHIND A HILL, YAJIROBE’S HEAD POPS UP; HE HAS RETREATED TO WHERE THE WRECKAGE OF THE CAR IS; THERE ARE A TON OF SENZU BEANS AND THE OTHER CONTENTS OF THE CAR LYING ALL AROUND>

Yajirobe: <FLUSHED WITH ANGER> Hey, I heard that, idiot!

The Benefactor: <EVEN AS HE CLAWS LEDAS AND SLAMS A FIST DOWN ON THE SAIYAN’S NOSE TO BREAK IT> Now the coward speaks! So typical! Your turn will come!

Yajirobe: <RECOILING WITH ANGER> Coward, huh? I’ll show you!

<YAJIROBE LOOKS AROUND FOR SOMETHING TO HURL; HE SEES THE PYRAMID ANTIQUE NEARBY; GRABBING IT, HE LETS OUT A GRUNT AND THEN THROWS IT TOWARDS THE BENEFACTOR; DESPITE YAJIROBE’S RELATIVELY WEAK POWER LEVEL, THE THROW IS ACCURATE AS IT IS QUICK; THE POINTED TIP OF THE SMALL BOX SOON CONNECTS WITH THE BENEFACTOR’S SKULL; THE LOUD THUD CRACKS LOUDLY OVER THE BLOWING WIND>

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

<LEDAS SITS UP BUT IS TOO WEAK TO IMMEDIATELY RETALIATE; HE FEELS HIS BRUISED NOSE AND GRIMACES>

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

<A GREAT WHITE LIGHT ENGULFS THE PLAINS; AS THIS OCCURS, A SWIFT WIND PICKS UP; YAJIROBE IS UNACCUSTOMED TO SUCH A BRIGHTNESS AND FALLS BACK TO SHIELD HIS EYES; LEDAS WATCHES, SQUINTING HIS EYES AS HIS HAIR BLOWS AROUND>

<THE BLIND BENEFACTOR SITS UP AND COCKS HIS HEAD AROUND, SENSING FOR LEDAS’ PRESENCE>

The Benefactor: <HISS> What was that you threw, worm?!

<BUT AS THE BENEFACTOR GOES TO STAND UP, THE WIND OVERTAKES HIM, SUCKING HIM TOWARDS THE BOX; HE YELLS OUT AND DIGS HIS CLAWS INTO THE GROUND, BUT THIS DOESN’T STOP HIM FROM FLYING BACKWARDS; AT THE LAST MOMENT, JUST BEFORE HE GOES INTO THE BOX, THE BENEFACTOR BRINGS UP HIS AURA AROUND HIM, BRINGING HIMSELF TO FULL POWER; HE BRIEFLY IS ABLE TO STOP THE THING FROM SUCKING HIM IN; THE BLACK BIT OF ENERGY HE CREATED EARLIER FLIES OFF THE GROUND AND GOES INTO THE BOX; AS IT DOES, THE CAMERA WATCHES IT; THE SMALL DISC DISSOLVES AS IT ENTERS THE LIGHT>

<THE BENEFACTOR’S AURA EXPLODES; THE FLOATING ENERGY AROUND HIM IS SUCKED INTO THE BOX; HE SCREAMS OUT IN PAIN AS THE BLOOD FROM HIS OPEN WOUNDS ALSO GETS SUCKED IN; HE STAGGERS FORWARD, BUT THEN HIS KNEES BUCKLE, AND HE FLIES BACK INTO THE LIGHT; IT QUICKLY OVERTAKES HIM, AND HIS FORM VANISHES>

<LEDAS IS ONLY A FEW METERS AWAY; HE WATCHES THE BENEFACTOR GET SUCKED IN; SEEING THAT, HE STANDS UP, BEAMING>

Ledas: Awwright! He’s gone! Thanks, Yajirobe! <HE TURNS HIS HEAD TO SEE WHERE YAJIROBE IS, BUT THE GOOD SAMURAI IS NOWHERE AROUND> So what is that thing? <THERE IS NO RESPONSE> Yajirobe? <HE GOES TO WALK AWAY AND FIND THE HUMAN, BUT AS SOON AS HE TRIES, THE BOX’S SUCKING POWERS PULL AT HIM; HE LOOKS DOWN AT HIS LEGS, WHICH ARE UNABLE TO MOVE FORWARD> Huh?! Why’s it still going? <HE TURNS AROUND AND SEES THE DEVICE IS STILL ON> Y-yajirobe! Stop it! Turn it off!

Yajirobe: <APPEARING OUT OF THE GRASS LIKE A PRAIRIE DOG> Huh, what do you want?

Ledas: <FIGHTING AGAINST THE SUCTION> Turn it off! He’s already inside it! I don’t want to go in there!

Yajirobe: <SEES THE BOX OPEN; HE BECOMES POSITIVELY FRIGHTED; IN HIS MIND> Eek! What did I do? The cat will be so mad about this!

Ledas: Hey! I can’t hold on much longer!

Yajirobe: <GATHERING HIMSELF UP> Sorry kid, I can’t help ya!

Ledas: <HORROR-STRUCK> No! You have to!

Yajirobe: <SCRUNCHES UP HIS FACE> Hmph, I don’t wanna get sucked in too.

Ledas: <LOSING HIS FOOTING> Yajirobe!

Yajirobe: Ugh, fine!

<YAJIROBE INCHES UP TO LEDAS WHILE HOLDING OUT HIS SHEATHED KATANA; LEDAS GRABS IT WITH BOTH HANDS EVEN AS THE WIND PICKS UP; IT BLOWS ABOUT HIS HAIR EVEN MORE; THE GREAT FORCE OF IT PULLS YAJIROBE CLOSER TO LEDAS AND THE PYRAMID; AS THIS GOES ON, YAJIROBE DIGS HIS SANDLED FEET INTO THE DIRT; YET AS HE TRIES TO PULL BACK, THE KATANA SLIPS THROUGH HIS GRIP; LEDAS CRIES OUT, BUT HIS VOICE IS MUFFLED BELOW THE ROAR OF THE WIND; AS YAJIROBE LOOKS UP, HE SEES LEDAS, WHO IS STILL CLUTCHING THE KATANA, FLY BACKWARDS>

<THE LIGHT OVERWHELMS HIS SIGHT EVEN MORE; LEDAS IS SUCKED INTO THE PYRAMID COMPLETELY>

<THEN, THE LIGHT GOES OUT AND THE PYRAMID CLOSES; THERE IS COMPLETE SILENCE; THE CAMERA ZOOMS IN ON THE BOX AND FADES TO BLACK>

Endnotes:

Ye Mighty
<CARDINAL IS SHOWN IN A ROOM; HE IS WEARING A HOSPITAL GOWN; HIS RIGHT ARM IS HEAVILY BANDAGED AND HE HAS SEVERAL IV TUBES IN HIS ARMS; EVEN SO, HE IS SITTING ON THE EDGE OF HIS BED, HUNCHED FORWARD; HE LOOKS UP AS NURSE YOROKOBI ENTERS>

Nurse Yorokobi: Oh, it’s… Cardinal, right? I’m glad to see you’re awake! You had us worried there for a while…

Cardinal: <RUBBING HIS FOREHEAD WITH HIS FREE HAND> I’m sure I did, dear.

Nurse Yorokobi: How’s the arm? Still hurting?

Cardinal: I could use some more morphine, if that’s what you’re asking me.

Nurse Yorokobi: <GIGGLING> Have you already maxed out your dosage? You were supposed to have enough for a few more hours!

Cardinal: <CLEARLY IN PAIN> Just get me some more.

Nurse Yorokobi: <SERIOUSLY; SHAKING HER FINGER> You know I can’t do that. It’s against hospital policy!

Cardinal: <NODS TO HIS TATTERED SUIT, WHICH IS STRUNG OUT OVER A CHAIR IN THE CORNER> Check my pants’ pocket. I should have more than enough money in there to sway your opinion. <YOROKOBI LOOKS UNSURE> How much do you make in a year?

Nurse Yorokobi: I–

Cardinal: <THROUGH GRITTED TEETH> I’ll give you double that right now, if you just get me some meds. Please, I need them!

Nurse Yorokobi: <WALKS OVER TO CARDINAL’S CLOTHES AND PULLS OUT HIS WALLET; FLUSTERED> I-I’ll go see what I can do…!

<CARDINAL LETS OUT A SIGH OF RELIEF; HE RUBS HIS EYES, THEN LOOKS BACK UP>

Cardinal: <RAISES HIS HAND> Wait. Before you leave, tell me – where is the boy?

Nurse Yorokobi: Oh… he’s being interrogated by some police officers. Well, he will be once he wakes up. He’s still sedated from what we gave him in the ambulance. <LOOKS OFF FOR A SECOND; HER FINGER IS ON HER LOWER LIP> I guess I should go check on him soon… He may need some help waking up.

Cardinal: Are you sure about that?

Nurse Yorokobi: <COMING BACK TO REALITY> Oh, rest assured, sir, we won’t let him harm you again! He’s in big trouble for attacking you. <SHE SHAKES HER HEAD> We’d have armed guards in front of your door, if the police weren’t so busy managing the city cleanup…

Cardinal: <WEARY; LOOKING AT HIS ARM> I have the utmost confidence in your ability to protect me from the boy, darling. Now, answer me this: has there been anyone here to see me while I was asleep?

Nurse Yorokobi: I’m sorry, Mr. Cardinal, there hasn’t been anyone.

Cardinal: <COLDLY> Very well. In that case, you can leave.

<YOROKOBI EXITS HASTILY; CARDINAL BURIES HIS FACE IN HIS FREE HAND AS THE SCREEN PANS BACK FROM HIS RATHER EMPTY ROOM>

<THE CAMERA MOVES TO WHERE KRILLIN IS; HE FLIES TO THE OTHER Z FIGHTERS, SENZUS CLUTCHED IN HIS FISTS; AS HE GOES, THE VAST DESTRUCTION OF THE PREVIOUS BATTLES CAN BE SEEN; THE CITY IS SMOKING IN THE BACKGROUND AND NUMEROUS CRATERS HAVE DESTROYED THE COUNTRYSIDE; KRILLIN LANDS, AND A FEW PANELS SHOW HIM GIVING SENZUS TO THE BADLY WOUNDED Z FIGHTERS – 18, YAMCHA, TIEN, CHIAOTZU, GOTEN, TRUNKS, PICCOLO, AND GOKU; THE FINAL PANEL SHOWS HIM RETURNING TO WHERE THE BENEFACTOR HAD BEEN SO THAT HE CAN HEAL VEGETA>

<THE CAMERA MOVES FROM KRILLIN TO THE ANTIQUE PYRAMID, WHICH REMAINS IN THE SAME PLACE THAT IT HAD BEEN DURING THE END OF THE LAST CHAPTER; A BREEZE BLOWS BY, MOVING THE GRASS AROUND IT, BUT THE PYRAMID REMAINS STILL; YAJIROBE IS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN AND KRILLIN DOESN’T SEEM TO HAVE NOTICED THE TRINKET EITHER>

<THE CAMERA ZOOMS FORWARD TO THE POINT OF THE PYRAMID UNTIL THE ENTIRE SCREEN IS COVERED IN BLACK>

<CUE I Might Be Wrong>

<LEDAS IS STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF A LARGE SAND-COVERED DESERT; THERE IS A SUN, AND IT IS BURNING BRIGHT RIGHT ABOVE HIM, SHOWING THAT IT IS NOON; THE CAMERA IS POSITION BEHIND HIM, SO THAT THE BACK OF HIS HEAD TAKES UP THE MAJORITY OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SCREEN; THE CAMERA CAN ALSO SEE WHAT HE SEES AHEAD OF HIM – A VAST EXPANSE OF DESERT AND A LARGE MOUNTAIN ON THE EDGE OF SIGHT>

<THE CAMERA MOVES AROUND TO LOOK AT LEDAS’ FRONT SIDE; HE IS WEARING CLOTHES THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT HE WAS WEARING WHEN HE WAS SUCKED INTO THE PYRAMID; HE HAS HIS FATHER’S CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD ARMOR ON; IT IS COMPRISED OF A RED ON BLACK PLANET TRADE ORGANIZATION CHEST ARMOR PIECE WITH A BLACK CAPE, METAL BLACK AND RED GUARDS FOR HIS WRISTS AND SHINS, WHITE BOOTS AND WHITE GLOVES, AND A GREEN SCOUTER>

<LEDAS RUNS FORWARD; AFTER A FEW METERS, HE LUNGES FORWARD, ATTEMPTING TO TAKE TO THE SKIES; INSTEAD, HE JUST FALLS INTO THE SAND; HE SITS UP, SHAKING THE SAND OUT OF HIS HAIR, LOOKING PUZZLED>

Ledas: Huh? Why can’t I fly? <HE RAISES HIS HAND TO HIS FACE, PALM UP, AND TRIES TO CREATE ENERGY; NOTHING FORMS, THOUGH SOME SAND FALLS AWAY> No energy either?! That’s so weird. <HE LOOKS UP AT THE MOUNTAIN IN THE DISTANCE> What the heck is this place?

<LEDAS STARTS TO RUN AGAIN; AS HE GOES, HE NOTICES BROKEN STATUES IN THE SAND; AT FIRST, THERE ARE ONLY A FEW, BUT AS HE GOES FURTHER, THEY BECOME MORE NUMEROUS, LARGER, AND MORE RUINED; THE FIGURES DEPICTED ON THE STATUES ALL APPEAR TO BE OF THE SAME RACE OF LONG-FACED, ALMOST PIN-HEADED CREATURES WITH THEIR EYES WHERE THEIR EARS SHOULD BE, THOUGH THEY ARE NOT ALIENS LEDAS HAS EVER SEEN BEFORE>

<AS LEDAS LOOKS AT THE STATUES, HE NOTICES SOME BLACK SHAPES MOVING AROUND THEM, THOUGH THEY ARE GOING TOO FAST FOR HIM TO MAKE OUT WHAT THEY ARE; AFTER SEEING THIS A FEW TIMES, HE NOTICES TWO DARK SHAPES PURSUING HIM; LEDAS LOOKS OVER HIS SHOULDER TO GET A BETTER LOOK AT WHAT THEY ARE; HE SEES BLACK, SHORT, CREATURES WITH HUGE EARS AND ROWS OF YELLOW TEETH; THEY HAVE DARK RED EYES; AS SOON AS HE LOOKS, THEY START CREATING PURPLE BALLS OF ENERGY IN THEIR HANDS AND THEN THROW THEM TOWARDS LEDAS; LEDAS FREAKS OUT, NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THEY ARE ATTACKING HIM; HE YELLS; LEDAS THEN ATTEMPTS TO DODGE THESE ATTACKS BY WEAVING AROUND, THOUGH EXPLOSIONS START GOING OFF IN THE SAND ALL AROUND HIM>

<BECAUSE LEDAS IS TRYING TO DODGE THE ATTACKS, HIS SPEED LESSENS; THE TWO LITTLE CREATURES CATCH UP TO HIM AND JUMP ON HIM; AS MUCH AS HE TRIES TO RESIST, HE IS NO MATCH FOR THEM; THEY SHOOT MORE ENERGY INTO HIM AND CLAW HIM UP REALLY BAD; PIECES OF ARMOR AND FLESH ARE TORN OFF OF HIS BODY AS BLOOD FLIES EVERYWHERE; LEDAS TRIES TO PUNCH ONE, BUT IT PUNCHES HIS ARM BACK WITH A KI-ENHANCED FIST, WHICH SHATTERS LEDAS’ ARM COMPLETELY; THE BOY SCREAMS AND SLUMPS OVER IN DEFEAT; THIS CAUSES THE TWO BLACK DEMONS TO JUMP OFF OF HIM>

<THE TWO BLACK MONSTERS LOOK AT ONE ANOTHER, SCREECH, AND THEN DIVE INTO THE SAND, OUT OF SIGHT; LEDAS CAN BARELY MOVE AS HE WATCHES THEM GO; HE ATTEMPTS TO GET UP, BUT HE CAN’T, AS HE’S TOO WEAK; HE SPITS UP BLOOD AND CRIES OUT>

<SUDDENLY A FIGURE MATERIALIZES IN FRONT OF HIM; THIS FIGURE IS ALSO DARK, THOUGH IT IS COVERED IN SWIRLING SAND AS WELL; LEDAS CANNOT MAKE OUT ANY FEATURES, EXCEPT THAT IT IS MUCH TALLER THAN THE TWO BEINGS THAT JUST ATTACKED HIM>

Ledas: <WITH BLOOD IN HIS MOUTH> Whasgoin’ on?!

Shrouded Being: Another has come to see me. Tell me who you are, sentient.

Ledas: <CAUTIOUS; VOLATILE> W-why do you care?!

Shrouded Being: This place is my home, and you have intruded upon it. I would like to know why.

Ledas: I don’t know where I am! I d-didn’t mean to be here!

Shrouded Being: And yet you are, biped. Perhaps you will be the one I have been waiting for, for all these eons. Perhaps you will have some use for me yet.

Ledas: W-w-what?! <BEFORE IT CAN ANSWER, THE SHROUDED BEING DISSOLVES INTO SAND, WHICH THEN FALLS TO THE GROUND; LEDAS SHOUTS TO NO ONE IN PARTICULAR> W-what do you mean?! H-hey!! Where’d you go…?!

<EVEN AS LEDAS IS SCREAMING, A WHITE LIGHT IS OVERTAKING HIM; HIS VOICE ECHOES SEVERAL TIMES AS THE SCREEN IS OVERTAKEN BY THE PIERCING LIGHT>

<THE SCREEN RE-FADES FROM WHITE; LEDAS IS STILL IN THE DESERT, THOUGH THE SUN IS BEGINNING TO SET; HE STANDS UP AND FINDS HIMSELF AT THE BASE OF THE MOUNTAIN>

<LEDAS IS NOW WEARING BANAS’ ARMOR SET, WHICH INCLUDES A LIGHT YELLOW JUMP SUIT, A BLACK AND TURQUOISE SHOULDERLESS CHEST ARMOR PIECE, WHITE BOOTS AND GLOVES, AND A PURPLE SCOUTER; HE APPEARS COMPLETELY UNHARMED; THERE ARE NO WOUNDS REMAINING ON HIS BODY>

Ledas: <INSPECTING HIMSELF> What’s going on? All the pain’s gone… I don’t get it… this can’t be real…

<LEDAS IS CAUGHT OFF GUARD WHEN A SCREECHER SCREECHES; HE JUMPS AND LOOKS FOR THE SOURCE OF THE SOUND; UP AHEAD, SITTING IN A TREE, ONE OF THE RED-EYED DEVILS IS WATCHING HIM; IT SCREAMS AGAIN, BUT DOES NOT MOVE; LEDAS WATCHES IT AS HE RUNS AWAY FROM IT, SUSPICIOUS THAT IT MAY ATTACK HIM; IT DOES NOT, AND LEDAS IS ABLE TO RUN OFF UNHARMED>

<AS HE IS CLOSER TO THE MOUNTAIN NOW, LEDAS CAN SEE MORE AND MORE DEAD, LEAFLESS TREES ALL AROUND; THERE ARE STILL SOME STATUES BURIED AND BROKEN IN THE SAND, BUT THEY ARE FEWER NOW THAN BEFORE; THERE IS ASH COATING THE STATUES, THE TREES, AND MUCH OF THE SAND>

<THERE ARE MORE AND MORE OF THE SCREECHERS IN THE TREES AS HE CONTINUES; THEY YELL AND JEER AT HIM, BUT THEY MAKE NO ATTEMPT TO HURT THE SAIYAN; HE CONTINUES RUNNING THROUGH THE TREES UNTIL HE COMES UPON A LARGE CLEARING>

<THERE IS A CIRCLE OF TREES AROUND A BIT OF PAVED ROAD; AS LEDAS REACHES IT, THE SHROUDED BEING APPEARS ONCE AGAIN; LEDAS STOPS RIGHT IN FRONT OF IT>

Shrouded Being: Your life is in my hands, biped.

Ledas: No it isn’t!

Shrouded Being: Look around you. This place is my prison; and soon it will become someone else’s. Perhaps you will be the new caretaker.

Ledas: No! You can’t make me! I’ll kill you first!

<LEDAS LUNGES AT THE SHROUDED FIGURE AND STARTS PUNCHING IT; THE FIGURE TUMBLES BACKWARDS AND LEDAS MERCILESSLY BEATS DOWN ON IT; HE NOTICES HIS ENERGY IS BACK AS HIS AURA COMES UP AROUND HIM>

Ledas: <IN HIS MIND> My energy’s back! <OUT LOUD> You’re dead now!

<LEDAS CREATES A KYORRA FLASH, SHOOTING IT DIRECTLY AT THE BEING’S FACE; ONCE IT HITS, THERE IS A LARGE EXPLOSION OF SAND AND DUST; LEDAS SEES THE CHARRED REMAINS OF A FACE; IT IS JUST BONE NOW, THOUGH IT IS BLACKENED FROM HIS LAST ATTACK; HE NOTICES THE SHAPE OF THE SKULL IS THE SAME AS THAT OF THE STATUES>

<EVEN THOUGH THE FIGURE LOOKS DEAD, IT SUDDENLY PUSHES LEDAS OFF OF IT WITH A SWIFT ENERGY WAVE; AS LEDAS SKIDS AWAY, HE LOOKS UP AND SEES THE FIGURE SPLIT INTO THREE; THEY ALL BEAR DOWN ON HIM>

Shrouded Beings: <ALL TOGETHER> You are now one of three, if but a slave to me. There is still another, and he is your brother. <THE MIDDLE FIGURE DISSOLVES AWAY> This time, I have a choice.

<THE RIGHT FIGURE DISSOLVES AWAY; AS IT DOES, THE BENEFACTOR COMES STUMBLING IN BEHIND IT; LEDAS SEES THE BENEFACTOR>

Ledas: <IN SHOCK> No!!

Shrouded Being: One will be damned to eternal solitude, and I will be set free. To be able to choose… how long I’ve waited for this moment…

<THE LAST SHROUDED BEING DISSOLVES AWAY, JUST LEAVING LEDAS AND THE BENEFACTOR; OF COURSE, THERE ARE TONS OF THE SCREECHER DEMONS SITTING IN THE TREES WATCHING THEM; SINCE THE SUN HAS SET, ONLY THE RED EYES OF THOSE CREATURES CAN BE SEEN; AND THERE ARE MANY RED EYES WATCHING; THEY ARE HOWLING AT THE FIGURES BELOW THEM, THOUGH THEY ARE NOT YELLING VERY LOUDLY>

The Benefactor: I smell a coward.

<THE BENEFACTOR TURNS TO LEDAS; HIS EYES ARE STILL GONE; NONETHELESS, HE HAS BLACK ENERGY FORMING IN BOTH HANDS>

Ledas: <PRIDEFULLY; TRYING TO PREVENT THE BENEFACTOR FROM ATTACKING> You’re not half as powerful without your eyes! Don’t try anything! Y-you can’t win! <HE SEES THE BENEFACTOR HAS ENERGY ALREADY READY; HE IS PREPARING TO SHOOT IT AT LEDAS> Oh, come on!

<LEDAS JUMPS UP AND CHARGES AT THE BENEFACTOR, READYING ENERGY BETWEEN HIS HANDS AS HE RUNS; AS HE GOES TO RAISE HIS HANDS, THE DEMONS ALL SCREAM IN UNISON; THE SOUND IS SO DEAFENING THAT THE TREES RATTLE ABOUT VIOLENTLY; LEDAS STOPS, DROPS HIS ENERGY, AND CLUTCHES AT HIS EARS, CRYING OUT IN PAIN AT THE LOUDNESS OF THE CREATURES; ONE OF THEM JUMPS OFF A TREE AND RUSHES AT LEDAS; HE KICKS LEDAS DEEP IN THE GUT, CAUSING THE BOY TO FALL OVER TO THE GROUND; EVEN WITH THE PAIN THAT BROUGHT HIM, LEDAS STILL HOLDS HIS EARS; TWO MORE OF THE SCREECHERS JUMP DOWN AND ATTACK THE BENEFACTOR FROM BEHIND, CLUBBING HIM INTO THE GROUND>

<THEN, AS THE TWO WARRIORS LIE IN THE SAND, ALL OF THE LITTLE CREATURES CREATE PURPLE BALLS OF ENERGY OVER THEIR HEADS; THEY SCREAM AGAIN, PARALYZING LEDAS AND THE BENEFACTOR IN PLACE; THEN, COLLECTIVELY, THEY THROW THEIR ENERGY AT THE TWO>

<THE ENERGY COMES CRASHING IN; A MASSIVE EXPLOSION DETONATES, DESTROYING THE ENTIRE AREA; PIECES OF TREES, STATUES, AND SAND ARE ALL FLUNG UP INTO THE AIR>

<THERE IS NO SIGN OF LEDAS OR THE BENEFACTOR AS THE SCREEN FADES TO PURPLE>

Endnotes:

Mephistopheles
<THE CAMERA FADES IN>

<IT IS SNOWING AND NEARLY PITCH BLACK>

<LEDAS IS HOVERING IN THE AIR AS A BLIZZARD WHIRLS AROUND HIM; HE IS WEARING THE SAME CLOTHES AS YAJIROBE, THOUGH THEY ARE SIZED TO HIS BODY; HE LOOKS DOWN AND MOVES BACK SLIGHTLY AS A SUDDEN RED ENERGY BLAST COME SHOOTING BY HIM; THE WIND PUSHES HIS HAIR BACK, BUT THE ATTACK HAS NO OTHER EFFECT ON HIM>

Ledas: <LOOKING DOWN INTO THE DARKNESS> Ha! Missed me!

<HE GOES SUPER SAIYAN, THEN DASHES DOWN INTO THE DARKNESS; THE CAMERA FOLLOWS HIM AND IT SHOWS THE BENEFACTOR DASHING UPWARDS RIGHT AT THE SAIYAN; THE TWO COLLIDE; BRIEFLY, THEY ENGAGE IN A BLOW EXCHANGE; THE LIGHT FROM THEIR AURAS IS THE ONLY LIGHT AROUND, THOUGH SOME LIGHTNING GOES OFF IN THE BACKGROUND EVERY FEW SECONDS; THE SNOW STORM PICKS UP>

<LEDAS LUNGES AT THE BENEFACTOR WITH AN ENERGY BALL IN HIS HAND; AS SOON AS HE THROWS IT, HE JUMPS OVER THE ALIEN AND THEN SPINS AROUND AND PUNCHES HIM IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD; THE BENEFACTOR FLIPS OVER LEDAS AND THEN PUNCHES HIM IN THE BACK; HE GRABS LEDAS BY THE TAIL AND THEN THROWS HIM DOWNWARD; HE FOLLOWS THIS UP WITH A BARRAGE OF KI BLASTS; WHILE MANY OF THESE BLASTS HIT LEDAS, HE IS ABLE TO STOP HIS FALL; HE BLOCKS SOME OF THE ENERGY AND THEN REGAINS HIS POSITION; SHOOTING BACK UP AT HIS OPPONENT, LEDAS SPLITS INTO TWO FORMS>

<ONE GOES LEFT AND ONE GOES RIGHT; EACH ONE IS CHARGING UP AN ENERGY ATTACK; HOWEVER, THE BENEFACTOR IS NOT FOOLED AND HE TELEPORT-KICKS THE LEDAS ON THE RIGHT; LEDAS IS SURPRISED BY THIS ATTACK, SO HE DID NOT HAVE ANY DEFENSES READY; HE TAKES THE HIT HARD AND FALLS LIKE A RAGDOLL>

<AS THE BENEFACTOR GOES TO PURSUE, THE SHROUDED BEING SUDDENLY APPEARS IN FRONT OF HIM>

Shrouded Being: You are needed elsewhere, biped.

The Benefactor: <FIERY> I am not yours to command!

<THE BENEFACTOR RAISES HIS FIST AND THROWS IT AS HARD AS HE CAN; THE SHROUDED BEING CATCHES HIS FIST EASILY WITH ITS LEFT HAND; IT CHUCKLES, THEN TELEPORTS AWAY WITH THE BENEFACTOR; WHEN THEY LEAVE, THE TWO OF THEM GET COVERED IN SOME GOLD ENERGY AND THEN DISINTEGRATE OUT OF SIGHT>

Ledas: <STEADYING HIMSELF; WATCHING WHAT JUST HAPPENED> H-hey?! What… what was that?

<SUDDENLY FROM ALL SIDES COME THE DEMON SCREECHERS; LEDAS DUCKS OUT OF THE WAY AS THEY START THROWING ENERGY AT HIM; NOW THAT HE HAS HIS POWER BACK, HE CAN FIGHT THEM OFF; THERE ARE AT LEAST A DOZEN OF THEM, AND THEY SPLIT UP TO ATTACK HIM; HE STARTS SHOOTING OFF ICE CANNONS AND PLAYFUL GALICKS TO STALL THEM; WHENEVER ONE HITS A SCREECHER, THE MONSTER EXPLODES INTO A CLOUD OF SMOKE, WHICH THEN QUICKLY DISSIPATES; HOWEVER, TWO NEW ONES JUMP FROM THE SMOKE OF THE DEAD ONE WHENEVER THIS OCCURS; HE TAKES OUT A FEW OF THEM BEFORE THEY START CHASING HIM AROUND; ONCE THEY DO, THEY START LANDING SOME ATTACKS AS WELL>

<THE CAMERA PANS BACK A LITTLE BIT TO SHOW THE FLASHES OF ENERGY GOING OFF IN THE OTHERWISE DARK MESS OF THE ICY BLIZZARD>

<THE SCENE CHANGES TO WHERE THE BENEFACTOR IS; HE MATERIALIZES A METER ABOVE THE GROUND AND DROPS TO IT ON ONE KNEE; STANDING UP, HE SENSES AROUND THE PLACE FOR ANY SIGNS OF AN OPPONENT>

<THE PLACE HE IS IN, THOUGH HE CANNOT SEE IT, IS AN ENCLOSED ROOM; THERE ARE STONE WALLS, A STONE CEILING, AND A STONE FLOOR; HOWEVER, MUCH OF IT IS OVERRUN WITH SMOKE AND WATER; AS THE BENEFACTOR MOVES FORWARD INTO THE WATER, A TENTACLE POPS UP AND ENSNARES HIM>

<THE ALIEN QUICKLY GRABS HIS KNIFE AND SEVERS THE TENTACLE, WHICH HAD WRAPPED AROUND HIS BODY; HE JUMPS OUT OF THE POOL OF WATER AND THEN MOVES FORWARD, NOW MORE QUICKLY, DOWN THE NARROW HALLWAY; AS HE GOES, MORE TENTACLES POP OUT; HE STARTS SHOOTING THEM AS WELL AS CUTTING THEM>

<HE MOVES FORWARD WHEN A SCREECHER COMES UP BEHIND HIM; THE THING SCREAMS AND THEN JUMPS ON THE BACK OF HIS HEAD; THE BENEFACTOR STUMBLES FORWARD INTO A MESS OF THE TENTACLES; ENSNARED BY THOSE AS WELL, HE IS QUICKLY DAMAGED BY THE COMBINED FORCES>

<THE BENEFACTOR CREATES AN EXPLOSIVE WAVE, WHICH FREES HIM FROM THE TENTACLES; HE THEN GRABS THE SCREECHER, WHICH WAS TEARING AT HIS HEAD, AND PULLS IT AROUND TO HIS FACE; THEN, HE DESTROYS IT BY CREATING AN EXPLOSION IN HIS HAND>

<THE BENEFACTOR TURNS BACK TO THE WALLS OF TENTACLES; HE BLOWS THEM AWAY WITHOUT A SECOND THOUGHT; WHEN HE DOES THIS, IT CAUSES THE ENTIRE ROOM TO COLLAPSE IN ON ITSELF; HOWEVER, THE BENEFACTOR DODGES THE FALLING STONE BY SHOOTING UPWARDS>

The Benefactor: Elementary.

<AS HE HOVERS OVER THE RUBBLE, SOMETHING LETS OUT A LARGE SHRIEK, CAUSING HIM TO TURN AROUND; AS SOON AS HE DOES, THE BENEFACTOR IS HIT BY A MASSIVE GREEN ENERGY BLAST; HE GOES FLYING BACK INTO THE RUBBLE>

<AHEAD OF HIM IS A HUGE, HIDEOUS MONSTER; THE THING DOESN’T APPEAR TO HAVE ANY EYES, BUT IT IS BIPEDAL AND HAIRLESS; IT IS AROUND 13 METERS TALL; THE THING THEN RUNS AT THE BENEFACTOR WITH ASTONISHING SPEED; WITHIN A SECOND, IT IS ALREADY ON HIM; THE THING STOMPS ONE OF ITS HUGE FEET OVER THE FORM OF THE BENEFACTOR; THE BENEFACTOR LETS OUT A GROAN AS HE IS CRUSHED DOWN INTO THE BROKEN STONE>

<THE BENEFACTOR ATTEMPTS TO GET OUT BY CREATING A LARGE ENERGY BLAST; THIS BLOWS UP UNDER THE MONSTER’S FOOT, CAUSING IT TO STUMBLE BACKWARDS; AT ONCE, THE BENEFACTOR SHOOTS UP, KI ENVELOPING HIS ENTIRE BODY, AND PUNCHES THE CREATURE IN THE FACE; IT HOWLS OUT IN PAIN AND THEN CREATES A MOUTH BEAM; BEING TOO CLOSE TO DODGE, THE BENEFACTOR PUTS UP BOTH ARMS TO BLOCK IT>

<THE BENEFACTOR STRUGGLES TO MOVE AFTER ABSORBING THE MASSIVE ATTACK; HIS BODY IS SMOKING AND HIS CLOTHES ARE TATTERED; AT ONCE, THE CREATURE SWATS HIM LIKE A FLY; THE BENEFACTOR GOES A WAYS BEFORE STABILIZING HIMSELF; YET WHEN HE DOES, THE MONSTER IS ON HIM AT ONCE, ALREADY TRYING TO TEAR HIM LIMB FROM LIMB; THE BENEFACTOR, THOUGH HE IS WEAKENED, DODGES AROUND THE MONSTER AND SHOOTS TWO LARGE BLASTS INTO ITS BACK; THESE OPEN TWO LARGE HOLES IN ITS BACK, THOUGH ONLY SMOKE COMES OUT FROM THE WOUNDS>

<THE CREATURE HOWLS AND THEN JUMPS INTO THE AIR INCREDIBLY HIGH; AS THE BENEFACTOR LOOKS UP TO SENSE FOR THE CREATURE, HE SENSES AN ENERGY BLAST COMING RIGHT AT HIM; HE BATS THIS ASIDE EASILY; YET RIGHT BEHIND THE ENERGY ATTACK IS THE MONSTER; THE BENEFACTOR IS NOT PREPARED FOR THAT, AND HIS DEFENSIVE STANCE IS BROKEN BY THE CREATURE WITH EASE; THE ALIEN IS THROWN TO THE GROUND INTO A DEEP CRATER>

<HE ROLLS OVER TO HIS HANDS AND KNEES AND SPITS UP SOME BLOOD; HE LOOKS UP AND SENSES THE MONSTER CREATING ENERGY BETWEEN ITS TWO HANDS; THE BENEFACTOR LAUGHS>

The Benefactor: H-ha! Is that all? <HE STANDS UP> It’s time I end this.

<THE BENEFACTOR SHOOTS TOWARDS THE MONSTER; IT THROWS ITS ENERGY TO HIM AS THIS HAPPENS; THE BENEFACTOR THEN CREATES AN ENERGY BLAST OF HIS OWN; HE PUTS ALL OF HIS POWER INTO THE RED BEAM; HE SHOOTS IT RIGHT INTO THE LARGE BALL THAT IS FLYING HIS WAY; THE BENEFACTOR’S ENERGY OVERTAKES THE MONSTER’S AND STARTS PUSHING IT BACK; THE MONSTER WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THIS, AND THOUGH IT GOES TO DODGE, IT IS NOT FAST ENOUGH; THE HUGE ENERGY BALL AND THE BENEFACTOR’S BEAM HIT THE CREATURE RIGHT IN THE FACE; IN THE MASSIVE EXPLOSION, THE MONSTER IS INSTANTLY VAPORIZED>

<THE BENEFACTOR LANDS ON THE GROUND, DROPPING TO ONE KNEE AS SOON AS HE LANDS; HE BREATHES HEAVILY AND CHECKS HIS BODY FOR WOUNDS>

<AT THIS TIME, THE SHROUDED BEING REAPPEARS IN FRONT OF HIM>

Shrouded Being: You have proved your strength and cunning, sentient. I am impressed.

The Benefactor: Then let me out of this place.

Shrouded Being: No, not yet. My own freedom must be assured first.

The Benefactor: <BREATHING HARD> W-what are you talking about?

Shrouded Being: Don’t you know what this place is? This hell? <THE BENEFACTOR SHAKES HIS HEAD> This is a mind prison. The greatest of all tortures in the universe. For in this place, one only exists; one does not age; one does not die. One can only suffer through immeasurable time. And I want to get out. You or the other will be my ticket.

The Benefactor: The kid will be easier to subdue. You will not so easily bind me to this place.

Shrouded Being: Perhaps not. But that is for me to decide.

<BEFORE THE BENEFACTOR CAN RESPOND, THE SHROUDED BEING TELEPORTS AWAY; AS IT DOES, ALL OF THE SCENERY GOES WITH IT; THE RUBBLE, THE SMOKE, THE WATER ALL MELTS AWAY INTO AN ENDLESS EXPANSE OF PURE WHITE, SAVE FOR THE BLACK DOT THAT IS THE BENEFACTOR>

<CUTS TO LEDAS>

<LEDAS IS NOW WEARING KINDLER’S SUIT>

<LEDAS IS BEING CHASED AROUND BY THE DEMONS WHEN THE SHROUDED BEING APPEARS IN FRONT OF HIM; THE SCREECHERS IMMEDIATELY STOP TRYING TO KILL HIM AND FORM A CIRCLE AROUND HIM>

Shrouded Being: You are not as easy to figure out as the other.

Ledas: <ANGRILY> Well, you’re not making any sense, either!

Shrouded Being: That is not my concern. What is my concern is getting out of this place.

Ledas: So? What does that have to do with me?

Shrouded Being: Everything. One being must be tied to this mind prison at all times. And that will be one of you two before this is over.

Ledas: Mind… prison? What’s that?

Shrouded Being: <SPREADING ITS ARMS OUT TO EACH SIDE> All of this around us. It is a place with no escape, a place where you cannot age or die. Whomever is bound to this infinite solitude will have to suffer through a life without end.

Ledas: It’s not gonna be me!

Shrouded Being: I have been leaning towards it being you, actually.

Ledas: <IN HORROR> You can’t be serious! No!

<LEDAS SHOOTS AN ENERGY BEAM AT THE SHROUDED BEING; THE FIGURE EXPLODES BUT IMMEDIATELY REAPPEARS A FEW METERS TO THE RIGHT; LEDAS SHOOTS IT AGAIN, BUT THE BEING REAPPEARS; HE DOES THIS SEVERAL MORE TIMES TO NO AVAIL>

<THE SHROUDED BEING SUDDENLY SHOOTS FORWARD AND GRABS LEDAS BY THE MOUTH; IT PICKS HIM UP AND BRINGS IT RIGHT UP TO ITS OWN FACE>

Shrouded Being: This place is mine. <THE SCREECHERS BEHIND START DISSOLVING AWAY INTO SMOKE> I control everything. <THE BLIZZARD STARTS TO LET UP> And you know nothing. You can do nothing to stop me! If I want to keep you here, then you will never escape. Your life is in my hands!

<THE SHROUDED BEING THROWS LEDAS DOWN; HE LANDS ON THE SMOOTHED OUT PEAK OF THE MOUNTAIN; BEFORE LEDAS CAN STAND BACK UP, THE SHROUDED BEING APPEARS AND PRESSES ITS FOOT TO LEDAS’ CHEST>

Ledas: Get offa me!

Shrouded Being: Look around you. This place is a figment of my mind. It is nothing. And yet you are in it. You are but a speck of dust in my thoughts.

Ledas: <MORE TO HIMSELF THAN TO THE SHROUDED BEING; SCOWLING; LOOKING AWAY FROM THE SHROUDED BEING> Yeah, right. I can take you.

<ALL AROUND LEDAS, THE SCENERY IS DISSOLVING AWAY INTO PURE WHITE; WITHIN A FEW SECONDS, IT IS ALL GONE; THE SHROUDED BEING STANDS OVER LEDAS STILL; THEN, NEXT TO LEDAS, THE BENEFACTOR TELEPORTS IN, COVERED IN GOLD ENERGY; LEDAS’ EYES GO WIDE>

<THE BENEFACTOR IS BREATHING HEAVILY AND LOOKS WOUNDED, BUT HE DOES NOT SPEAK; UPON SEEING HIM, THE SHROUDED BEING TAKES ITS FOOT OFF OF LEDAS>

Shrouded Being: I have learned enough about you two – and you will be chained to this prison soon enough. <BRINGS ITS SHOULDERS UP IN A BROAD, PROUD STANCE> There is no stopping this, sentients. You will help me escape this cursed place whether you want to or not. That much is certain.

<WITH THAT, THE SHROUDED BEING TAKES A STEP BACK AND THEN EXPLODES INTO A POOL OF SAND>

<ABRUPT TO BLACK>

Endnotes:

Riddle Me This
<ALL IS WHITE>

<LEDAS IS SITTING ON HIS KNEES>

<THE BOY’S CLOTHES ARE THE SAME AS WHAT HE WAS WEARING BEFORE HE ENTERED THE MIND PRISON – A RED HOODIE WITH A PLAIN WHITE SHIRT UNDERNEATH, BLUE JEANS, AND BLACK SHOES; THERE IS NO BLOOD OR DIRT OR ANY SIGNS OF DAMAGE ON THEM AT ALL>

<HE LOOKS AROUND AND SEES THE BENEFACTOR ON ONE KNEE NEXT TO HIM; AHEAD IS THE PILE OF SAND THAT THE SHROUDED BEING BURST INTO AT THE END OF THE LAST CHAPTER; LEDAS STANDS UP, KEEPING A DEFENSIVE GUARD UP, AS HE DOESN’T KNOW WHAT THE BENEFACTOR WILL DO; HE CAUTIOUSLY PEERS AROUND>

<THE BENEFACTOR STANDS UP, CAUSING LEDAS TO JUMP BACK>

The Benefactor: Your trickery has backfired on you.

Ledas: <ON EDGE> What do you mean?

The Benefactor: You tried to trap me in this place, yet it will be you who will not escape.

Ledas: That’s what you think!

The Benefactor: No, that’s what that sand-covered being told me. It plans on leaving you here.

Ledas: You’re just a liar. I’m not believing anything you say.

<SUDDENLY A BLUE LIGHT POPS UP AHEAD OF THE TWO; IT IS IN THE DISTANCE, BUT EVEN SO IT IS BRIGHT ENOUGH THAT THEY CAN SEE IT; WITHOUT A SECOND THOUGHT, THE BENEFACTOR GOES RACING TOWARDS IT>

The Benefactor: <IN A WHISPER> Time to leave.

<LEDAS FOLLOWS HIM AT ONCE; HE LOOKS PANICKED; THEY BOTH AIR DASH TOWARDS THE LIGHT>

<ONCE THEY GET CLOSE, THEY SEE A SMALL AREA THAT STICKS OUT FROM THE OTHERWISE WHITE, EMPTY EXPANSE; THE PLACE IS PROBABLY NO BIGGER THAN A HOUSE, THOUGH IT HAS NO ROOF OR FLOOR; THERE ARE MANY STONE PILLARS SCATTERED ABOUT IN VARIOUS HALF AND FULL CIRCLES; THE STONES ARE VERY PLAIN; IT DOES NOT HAVE ANY RUNES OR COLORS OR ANYTHING LIKE THE ACTUAL BOX THAT ENCOMPASSES ALL OF THIS HAD; INSIDE ARE SOME BENCHES AND TABLES; THERE IS NOTHING ON ANY OF THEM; THERE ARE FOUNTAINS AND THERE IS WATER RUNNING DOWN EACH OF THE STONE PILLARS; LEDAS AND THE BENEFACTOR LAND IN THE CENTER OF THE AREA>

<AS SOON AS THEY LAND, THE ENTIRE AREA COMES TO LIFE; THE WHITE FLOOR BECOMES A FILLED WITH ROCKS AND WATER AND SMALL PLANTS; THUS, THE ENTIRE AREA IS NO LONGER A WHITE EXPANSE>

<AS SOON AS THEY LAND AND BEGIN WALKING FORWARD, A BEING STEPS OUT FROM BEHIND SOME A STATUE LIKE THE ONE THAT LEDAS SAW IN THE SAND TWO CHAPTERS AGO (THOUGH THIS STATUE IS NOT BROKEN; THE BEING IS OF THE SAME RACE OF LONG-FACED BEINGS WITH THEIR EYES WHERE ANY NORMAL BEING’S EARS SHOULD BE; IT APPROACHES LEDAS FIRST>

<THE BEING STANDING OVER LEDAS IS TALL, PROBABLY A BIT LESS THAN 2 METERS TALL; IT IS MOSTLY HUMANOID; ITS SKIN IS A DULL GREY – AND IT IS REPTILIAN, MOST LIKELY; ITS HEAD IS TALL AND SLENDER, WITH EACH OF THE EYES PULLED OUT TO THE SIDES, LIKE EARS; IT IS WEARING A ROBE OF TAN AND WHITE, COVERING ITS BODY>

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

Alien: So we are finally acquainted face-to-face, biped. Still, I do not know your names. That is a bit odd, don’t you think?

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

<RATHER SUDDENLY, FROM BEHIND LEDAS A VOICE SPEAKS>

The Benefactor: <RATHER CHILDISHLY FOR HIM> Are you a scientist? A stinking doctor? You need to get me out of here!

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

Alien: <SLOWLY; TO THE BENEFACTOR> I am neither of those things, but I would like your name all the same.

The Benefactor: That is unimportant. All that matters is getting me out of here.

Alien: So be it. <IT TURNS BACK TO LEDAS> Now as to your earlier question, Ledas, my name is Verlate. And I apologize for what I put you two through earlier. It was necessary for me to gauge the nuances of your abilities and personalities.

Ledas: <SUSPICIOUS> Why do you need to know that stuff?

Verlate: I told you before – I must get out of this prison. Now for that to occur, one of you must stay here. And I need to make sure I can guarantee at least one of you will stay. I can try to force you to switch places with me – and believe me, I’ve tried this on numerous individuals before you two – but this will not work. The technological capabilities of this mind prison are far superior than in any Dyson Sphere. Escape is not so easy. Watch.

<VERLATE BRINGS HER AURA UP AROUND HER THEN SHOOTS STRAIGHT UP INTO THE AIR; THE BENEFACTOR AND LEDAS TRACK HER; AS SHE GETS HIGHER, THE TOP OF THE PLACE STARTS TO SPLIT OPEN, REVEALING A SLIVER OF DARK BLUE, WHICH IS THE OUTSIDE; AS SHE GETS CLOSER, IT’S AS IF SHE FLIES STRAIGHT INTO A WALL; AN INVISIBLE FORCE SHIELD SUDDENLY HITS HER AND PREVENTS HER FROM GOING ANY FURTHER; VERLATE TUMBLES BACK TO THE GROUND, LANDING ON HER FEET>

Verlate: See? The prison knows me. It only needs one occupant, and yet even when there are three of us here, I cannot leave.

Ledas: <SCOWLING> So you can’t get out. Just let me go then.

Verlate: That’s not the end of it. I have yet to try something else: having you voluntarily trade places with me.

The Benefactor: And why would anyone do that?

Verlate: I control everything inside this mind prison. I can keep you here forever, if I wish. So you would be wise to play this little game with me.

The Benefactor: What do you want us to do? Out with it!

Verlate: Answer a riddle. That’s it. If you get it correct, I will let you go. If you get it wrong, you agree to take on the burden of residency.

Ledas: I don’t know…cuz how do we know you aren’t lying? You didn’t even say why you’re in this thing to begin with. You could be some crazy person.

Verlate: Very well, I’ll tell you why I am here. I am a member of a race of beings which once watched over all life in this universe. We ruled it all, and I was one of my species’ most powerful members. Because of this, I was entrusted with categorizing other species and bringing them technology or language or other essential things for jump-starting their evolutionary processes. But one of these species, the Kais as they were called, tricked me and stole some of my power. And they nearly destroyed themselves because of it. It was my fault, and a judge sentenced me to eternal solitude in this mind prison because of it. I do not know what has become of my own race or the Kais, but it no longer matters. I just want to get out of here.

Ledas: Whoa, you were a god? A real one?! I didn’t think gods were real…!

Verlate: Yes, in my own time, I was. But I fear that time has long since passed. We were dying out even when I was sentenced. My species had been ravaged with disease and sterility, and we had no cure for any of it. It would not surprise me to learn that they are all gone by now.

The Benefactor: <HAUGHTILY> You are not a god any longer–

Verlate: No, I gave up that privilege when I pleaded my guilt.

The Benefactor: <CONTINUING THROUGH THE INTERRUPTION> –others have taken your place. These Kais you speak of… were they purple-skinned, white-haired beings?

Verlate: Why, yes. How did you know?

The Benefactor: Then I have killed one of these animals. He called himself a god, but he bled like all the rest.

Verlate: <IN A WHISPER THAT THE OTHER TWO DO NOT HEAR> Sertung, you did it… <TO THE OTHER TWO> If what you say is true, then the Kais are my successors. Perhaps only because we felt sorry for them… <SHE TRAILS OFF, THEN SNAPS BACK INTO REALITY> but, very well then. Since you have now heard my story, will you accept my offer? Answer one riddle, and I will set you free. When I first talked with you two, I was belligerent, almost delusional with power. Part of it was to invoke reaction, and part of it was beyond my control. But my excitement has been properly tempered now. You will have to trust in my word as coming from a perfectly sane being, or you will never leave.

Ledas: <FORCEFULLY> I’ll do it!

The Benefactor: <TAKEN ABACK BY LEDAS’ QUICKNESS> I need a moment to think this over…

Verlate: <TURNS TO LEDAS; SHE STARES HIM DOWN> You do agree to give up your freedom and be tied to this place should you answer incorrectly?

Ledas: Yeah, sure. It’s not gonna happen though. I’ll answer your riddle.

Verlate: Very well, biped.

Ledas: By the way, what’s a riddle?

Verlate: Something a small furry being, who once stumbled into this place like you have, taught me. Now, I will isolate you two, so you don’t know if the other has answered correctly or not.

<VERLATE CREATES A LARGE ENERGY PILLAR WHICH SEPARATES LEDAS AND THE BENEFACTOR; THE ENERY EXTENDS ALL THE WAY TO THE CEILING; IT IS A DARK YELLOW COLOR, AND LEDAS CANNOT SEE THROUGH TO THE OTHER SIDE ANY LONGER; VERLATE STAYS ON THE SIDE THAT LEDAS IS ON>

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

Ledas: Look mister, can’t you just let me go and keep that other guy in here?

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

Ledas: Oh… I’m sorry, miss…

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

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

Verlate: Unless he does what is needed, he can never leave. For you, it is the same.

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

Verlate: I already gave my word on the matter, sentient.

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

Verlate: One cannot judge with such reckless intent. Even as a prisoner, I will maintain my honor.

<LEDAS MUMBLES SOMETHING INAUDIBLE>

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

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

Verlate: You are still very young.

Ledas: <TALKING FAST; WILDLY> That’s a long story. He followed me all the way here and beat up all of Vegeta’s friends just so he could get me. He wants to kill me! If you let him out, he’ll just keep trying!

<THERE IS SILENCE>

Verlate: I will have no part in your quarrel. It doesn’t matter to me. But what does is giving you your riddle, if you are ready. Well?

Ledas: <LETS OUT A VERY LONG SIGH> I guess. <HEAD UP> Just do it.

<VERLATE SWINGS OUT HER ARMS; THE BRIGHT LIGHT DIMS, THE ATMOSPHERE QUICKLY CHANGES TO WATER; VERLATE AND LEDAS ARE BOTH COVERED IN IT; LEDAS AND VERLATE FLOAT ABOUT, THOUGH LEDAS REMAINS CALM WHEN HE REALIZES THAT HE DOESN’T NEED TO BREATH IN THIS PLACE>

Verlate: I find water to be a soothing medium for the mind. It will help you think to your fullest. <TO HERSELF; LEDAS DOES NOT HEAR> Or relax you just enough…

<LEDAS FLOATS AROUND ON HIS BACK, THOUGH HE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ENJOYING IT>

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

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

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

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

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

Ledas: Huh?

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

Ledas: Uh, canya say it again, please?

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

Verlate: There.

<THIS IS WRITTEN IN LEDAS’ SAIYAN LANGUAGE, BUT SINCE THERE IS NO POINT MAKING UP A LANGUAGE JUST FOR THAT, WE THE AUDIENCE MERELY SEE IT IN ENGLISH (OR WHATEVER LANGUAGE THIS STORY HAS BEEN TRANSLATED INTO)>

<LEDAS WORKS HIS BRAIN AS HARD AS HE CAN, BUT HE CANNOT COME UP WITH ANYTHING; HIS FACE IS VISIBLY FRUSTRATED; HE SWIMS AROUND, TRYING TO THINK; HE SHIVERS, AND FOLDS HIS ARMS FOR WARMTH; VERLATE WATCHES HIM AS HE STAYS FOCUSED ON HIS RIDDLE, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO POSSIBLY SOLVE IT AND PREVENT HIMSELF FROM BEING STUCK IN THE PLACE FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE>

<BORED OF WATCHING LEDAS THINK, VERLATE MOVES OVER TO THE BENEFACTOR, WHO IS SITTING IN A MEDITATION POSE; AS SOON AS SHE ENTERS, HE LIFTS HIS HEAD>

Verlate: Would you like a riddle as well, sentient? It is your only hope for getting out of here. <TO HERSELF> And truly, my own as well.

<THE BENEFACTOR SIGHS>

The Benefactor: <SLOWLY; DRAMATICALLY> All right, shoot.

Endnotes:

The Misoneistic King
<VERLATE IS STANDING OVER THE BENEFACTOR WITH A SOLEMN LOOK ON HER FACE>

Verlate: So, biped, you wish to leave this place, do you? Answer this riddle, and I will allow you your exit. <SHE CONTINUES, NOW VERY CRISPLY>

<p style="text-align: center;">Costless,

<p style="text-align: center;">worthless

<p style="text-align: center;">to those who don’t have it;

<p style="text-align: center;">Unattainable alone,

<p style="text-align: center;">yet sought by the individual.

<p style="text-align: center;">It is what we all want,

<p style="text-align: center;">yet cannot keep to ourselves –

<p style="text-align: center;">championed by Time,

<p style="text-align: center;">and killed by it, too.

The Benefactor: And I get only one guess?

Verlate: Correct. Guess wrong, and you are bound to this prison forever.

The Benefactor: What if the boy and I both get it wrong?

Verlate: Then you will decide amongst yourselves who will stay. By that point, I will be long gone, and it will not be my concern.

The Benefactor: <SIGHS, DROPS HIS HEAD BACK DOWN> Give me a moment to find the answer, then.

Verlate: As you wish.

<VERLATE EXITS, SMILING, AND WATCHES THE TWO BEINGS ATTEMPTING TO SOLVE THEIR RIDDLES; LEDAS IS ON THE LEFT OF HER AND THE BENEFACTOR IS ON THE RIGHT; OF COURSE, THE TWO ARE SEPARATED BY THE ENERGY WALL, SO THEY CANNOT SEE OR HEAR EACH OTHER; LEDAS IS SWIMMING IN WATER WITH HIS RIDDLE PHYSICALLY BEFORE HIM, WHILE THE BENEFACTOR DOES NOT HAVE EITHER OF THOSE THINGS ON HIS SIDE; AS SOON AS VERLATE IS OUT OF SIGHT OF THE BENEFACTOR, HER SMILE EVAPORATES AND HER FEATURES BECOME DARKER>

<VERLATE CREATES ONE OF THE BLACK DEMON MONSTERS SHE UTILIZED A FEW CHAPTERS BEFORE AND HOLDS IT IN HER HAND; IT GROWLS AND STRUGGLES A BIT, BUT SHE HOLDS ONTO IT TIGHTLY>

Verlate: <TO THE DEMON; IN A WHISPER> These two… they are so slow, aren’t they? So… unaware of what I have been through. I have been here untold years, wasting away through time and thought, and yet, they have no urgency in them! Don’t they see? <SHE STARTS BREATHING HARDER, CLENCHING DOWN ON THE DEMON’S NECK AS SHE DOES; IT STRUGGLES AND TRIES TO GET FREE AS SHE DOES THIS, BUT IT CANNOT> I need to get out here! I need to!! <SHE DROPS TO HER KNEES, SUDDENLY SCREAMING IN DESPAIR> I can’t stay here any longer! It’s an eternal living hell! <SHE LOOKS UP AND THE CAMERA FOCUSES ON LEDAS> That one is too stupid to answer my riddle anyway. I could just bind him here, now… transferring my energy signature to him… that would set me free! <SHE STANDS UP AND DESTROYS THE DEMON IN HER HAND> The riddles are just a game… just a distraction. They aren’t getting out, either way.

<WHITE ENERGY STARTS FORMING AROUND VERLATE’S ARMS; SHE MOVES FORWARD TO LEDAS’ SECTION; SHE TELEPORTS IN BEHIND HIM, THOUGH HE DOES NOT NOTICE; AS HE IS SWIMMING AROUND, SHE SNEAKS UP ON HIM, AIMING THE ENERGY TOWARDS HIM>

Verlate: <IN HER MIND; SHE FALTERS, HER ARMS QUIVERING; HER FACE LOSES ITS SCOWL> But what honor is there in this? How can I doom another to my own torment? Was I not a god once, a protector of all the living? <SHE SHAKES HER HEAD AND MOVES FORWARD; HER EYES BECOME DARK AND HER FACE BECOMES WRINKLED WITH MALICE> No! I don’t deserve this! There is only one way out of this never-ending torture, and it is before me! <SHE FOCUSES IN ON LEDAS AND TRACKS HIS MOVEMENTS> He is still young. He can afford some time in seclusion. But me… I have burned through too much of my life here. And I have served for my sins. It is my time to live, my time to leave! Even in this, I maintain my dignity!

<SHE GOES TO SHOOT THE ENERGY AT LEDAS>

<UP AHEAD, LEDAS IS STARING AT HIS RIDDLE, SCOWLING IN FRUSTRATION>

Ledas: Stupid riddle… who the heck makes this kind of lame stuff up?! It could mean anything! And what’s a dragon, anyway?

<SUDDENLY, LEDAS IS THROWN A FEW FEET FORWARD; HE IS COVERED IN A WHITE AURA, WITH WHITE WAVES OF ENERGY GOING DOWN HIS BODY; HE LOOKS DOWN HIS BODY, THEN OVER HIS SHOULDER AT WHAT COULD HAVE SHOT SUCH A THING AT HIM; BEHIND HIM, THERE IS ONLY A STREAM OF BUBBLES>

Ledas: What the…? <HE HOLDS HIS ARM UP TO HIM, AS WHITE ENERGY PULSATES AROUND IT> Was that an attack? But it doesn’t hurt… <HE SHAKES HIS HEAD> This is so weird…

<THE CAMERA PULLS AWAY FROM LEDAS’ CONFUSED FACE AND RACES UPWARDS; THERE, VERLATE IS SHOOTING TOWARD THE CEILING OF THE PRISON WITH THE GREATEST OF SPEED; THE TOP OF THE PYRAMID OPENS SLIGHTLY, REVEALING THE DARKNESS OF THE OUTSIDE; AS VERLATE GETS CLOSE, SHE HITS AN INVISIBLE WALL, WHICH BECOMES A DULL PINK COLOR WHERE SHE IMPACTS AGAINST IT; SHE FLIES BACKWARDS AFTER HITTING IT, BUT STAYS IN THE AIR; AT ONCE, SHE RACES BACK TO THE WALL AND IS HIT BACK AGAIN>

Verlate: <IN SHOCK, DISBELIEF> N-no… it can’t be! It can’t be!! <SHE SCREAMS, THEN SHOOTS A FLURRY OF WHITE ENERGY BEAMS INTO THE WALL; THESE EXPLODE HARMLESSLY AGAINST THE SHIELD; UPON SEEING THIS, VERLATE BREAKS DOWN COMPLETELY; SHE IS CRYING AND SHAKING AND DELIRIOUS WITH EMOTION> I put my energy signature into that other being! How does this prison still know it’s me? How?! I have loosened my ties to this cursed place; I have tricked it! And yet, this trick is on me! <SHE IS IN FULL DESPAIR NOW> Why can’t I get out? Is there nothing I can do?!

<VERLATE SPLITS HERSELF INTO TWO BEINGS>

Verlate: <TO THE PRISON (AS IF IT COULD HEAR HER OR CARE)> There, now there are two of me! Keep one here, and let the other go! Come on! <SHE RACES AT THE EXIT AGAIN, ONLY TO BE DENIED BY THE SHIELD; HER SECOND FORM SHATTERS, AND WHAT REMAINS OF VERLATE BEGINS TO SCREAM> Heartless justice! Have I not paid for my failings long enough? I was a god! I wielded impossible power! And now I am but a thrall to your cold-blooded law! Mortality has consumed you and your words, but Time has shielded me from that fate! And I cannot be in more agony because of it!

<VERLATE SHOOTS ONCE MORE AT THE ESCAPE, BUT SHE CANNOT GET AWAY; UPON BEING BATTED AWAY AGAIN, SHE LETS HERSELF FALL ALL THE WAY TO THE GROUND; SHE LANDS IN LEDAS’ SIDE>

Ledas: <HE IS SPOOKED BY HER LANDING IN FRONT OF HIM> Whoa, what was that for?

Verlate: <STANDING UP, THOUGH LOOSELY, AS SHE IS IN THE WATER; SHE TRIES TO RETURN TO A CALM STATE> H-how old are you, s-sentient?

Ledas: Uh, I forget. My life’s just been one big blur.

Verlate: <DETACHED; QUIETLY> Funny that one so young as yourself would say that. For me, I remember every second of every day. The burden of it all… I cannot describe it with words.

Ledas: O-okay. Are you all right? You look different.

Verlate: I have gotten some news, and it is not favorable. <SHE RAISES HER ARMS AND THEN DISSIPATES THE WATER AND THE ENERGY BARRIER BETWEEN THE TWO; LEDAS FALLS TO THE GROUND, LANDING ON HIS FEET; WHITE ENERGY SEEPS FROM HIS BODY AND RETURNS TO VERLATE; THE BENEFACTOR NOTICES THAT THE BARRIER IS GONE AND HE STANDS UP, LIMPING OVER TO THE OTHER TWO> Tell me the answer to your riddles, both of you. Give me a little mental stimulation before the end.

The Benefactor: <ARROGANTLY> I knew you would try some kind of trickery, <ESPECIALLY DISGUSTED> god. So my answer is friendship. Your have not fooled me with such an answer.

Verlate: <LOOKING AT THE BENEFACTOR, WIDE-EYED> Of course not. Was the irony lost on you?

The Benefactor: <SHOOTING RIGHT BACK> The irony convinced me it was correct.

Verlate: You are not as dumb as you look. <SHE TURNS TO LEDAS> You, on the other hand…

Ledas: <DEFENSIVE; ANNOYED> I don’t know… I’m not ready to answer yet!

Verlate: I once had infinite time to create these riddles, always laughing to myself as I thought up such clever wordings to them. But now, I cannot wait. I am done taking part in this game of life… so your answer, Ledas? Give it to me.

Ledas: No way! If I get it wrong, I’m stuck in here forever.

Verlate: <STARING AT LEDAS WITH A PIERCING GAZE; NOTICEABLY DEPRESSED> As if I really had such power. My words have boasted much and proved little. But please, let me hear your answer.

Ledas: I-I… don’t–

Verlate: Imagination! That is all. <SHE TURNS FROM LEDAS, HER SHOULDERS SLUMPING FORWARD> I suppose that irony was indeed lost on you. But, remember this, both of you: my tests before were designed to judge your mental states and capabilities in order to craft riddles you could never solve. I figured one of you out, at least, and that was all I needed to do. <MUCH QUIETER> Still, in the end, it did not even matter. To be so close to freedom and have it so cruelly snatched from your grasp…

The Benefactor: <INTERRUPTING VERLATE> My answer is correct, so let me go!

Ledas: <SUDDENLY> No, please! Keep him here! Let me go!

Verlate: <SITTING DOWN ON A NEARBY CHAIR> A small furry being was the last one to visit me before you two. That was a long time ago, though perhaps only a blink of the eye in the time I’ve lived. He told me all I had to do think up riddles, then tell them to the next people to enter this prison. Once they were focused on the riddle, I could switch my energy signature with them and trick the prison into thinking I was them and they were me. <SHE PAUSES FOR A MOMENT AND THEN LOOKS AT LEDAS> And I tried this on you, biped, because you were the weaker of the two. I forced your guard down by getting you to focus on you riddle, and then I pulled the switch. It was so easy.

Ledas: What?! How could you do that? <ANGER SURGING> I’ll kill you!

Verlate: You may as well. It didn’t work. But that isn’t the point. I have had numerous companions in this place. Each one, I have been unable to shackle here, no matter what tricks I try. The riddles were just a cover for my last hope, and now it’s gone, I have nothing.

The Benefactor: Then give up and die! Stop wasting everyone’s time!

Verlate: <LONG PAUSE> You are right. Why continue? Why bother? Time cannot be defeated like any mortal being. I have learned that now. We can withstand it for a time, but in the end, we are all consumed, even us gods. It is a pointless endeavor to try and fight back. <SHE LOOKS BACK OVER AT THE TWO ALIENS> You do know that even if I go, one of you will have to stay here. I presume you will want to fight over who gets that honor.

Ledas: <TEETH CLENCHED> I’m not gonna become the next you!

The Benefactor: The weak do not decide their fate.

Verlate: <IGNORING THEM, SHE LOOKS DOWN AT HER HANDS> I have persisted, outside of memory and time; forgotten by everyone. And once you are forgotten, how do you know you still exist? I have been a shell of myself for too long. <SHE STANDS UP AND LOOKS AT THE OTHER TWO> I need death to set me free. No more pain, no more sadness, no more feeling, no more thinking. That is all I want. <SHE CLOSES HER EYES AND EXTENDS HER ARMS> I am finally ready to let go.

Endnotes:

When Time And Life Shook Hands And Said Goodbye
<SCENE OPENS WITH A CLOSEUP OF YAJIROBE’S SWORD, WHICH IS STUCK IN THE GROUND SOME WAYS AWAY FROM VERLATE AND THE OTHERS; THE CAMERA THEN MOVES OVER TO THE THREE BEINGS>

<VERLATE IS STANDING STRAIGHT; SHE LIFTS HER HANDS OUTWARDS; AT ONCE, AN EXPLOSION OF LIGHT GOES OFF BEHIND HER; WITH IT, ALL OF THE SCENERY GOES TOO; FOR A BRIEF SECOND, THE ENTIRE PLACE IS NOTHING BUT WHITE>

Verlate: Your own imaginations will have to give this place new features. As for me, it is time to go. <SHE DROPS TO HER KNEES AND LOOKS AT THE TWO> It’s a beautiful way to die. To be able to stop thinking and let go, with the weight of existence no longer upon my shoulders… I could not ask for any better end. <SHE CLOSES HER EYES AND LEANS HER HEAD BACK; SHE IS SMILING> Last one out, get the lights, please.

<WITH THAT, VERLATE FADES AWAY LIKE SMOKE IN THE WIND>

<AS SOON AS SHE IS GONE, THE SCENERY RETURNS; HOWEVER, THIS TIME IT IS A DESERT PLATEAU REGION, WHICH IS SOMEWHAT SIMILAR TO HOW PLANET VEGETA LOOKS AND ALSO LOOKS LIKE THE PLACE THAT GOKU AND VEGETA DUELED AT DURING THE END OF THE SAIYAN SAGA>

<LEDAS LOOKS OVER TO THE BENEFACTOR AND GOES SUPER SAIYAN AT ONCE>

The Benefactor: Don’t kid yourself. You aren’t getting out of here.

Ledas: You shouldn’t underestimate me. I got you once before; and you’re lucky it was just your eyes last time.

The Benefactor: That was my error, nothing else. It will not happen again.

Ledas: Keep telling yourself that and I’ll do it again!

The Benefactor: I would kill you right now if it would not damn me to this place. But enough talk! I am leaving, and you cannot stop me.

Ledas: You’re weaker than before. I can feel it. I don’t know what happened to you in here, but you look like something beat you up.

The Benefactor: <THROUGH GRITTED TEETH> It’s just a scratch…

Ledas: Prove it.

<SUDDENLY, THE BENEFACTOR FLIES UP TOWARDS THE EXIT; LEDAS PURSUES HIM INSTANTLY AND SHOOTS A PLAYFUL GALICK AT THE ALIEN’S BACK; AS IT HITS HIM, LEDAS TELEPORTS IN FRONT OF THE BENEFACTOR AND KICKS HIM DOWNWARD; THE BENEFACTOR RECOVERS AND SHOOTS BACK UP TO LEDAS; THE BOY IS ALREADY SHOOTING AT HIM WITH HIS LEG OUT; HIS LEG CONNECTS WITH THE BENEFACTOR’S FACE; THE ALIEN CHOPS LEDAS’ LEG, PUSHING THE SAIYAN OUT OF THE WAY; HE SHOOTS A RED WIND AT THE BOY, AND THIS CAUSES LEDAS TO FALL AWAY; HE AGAIN TRIES TO SHOOT TO THE EXIT, BUT LEDAS IS BACK ON HIM AT ONCE; LEDAS GRABS THE BENEFACTOR’S TAIL AND PULLS HIM DOWN; IN HIS FREE HAND, LEDAS KI-SATURATES HIS FIST AND PUNCHES THE ALIEN DOWN>

<THE BENEFACTOR LANDS, THOUGH HE STRUGGLES TO REMAIN STANDING; LEDAS LANDS A FEW METERS AWAY FROM HIM; THEY ARE BOTH ON TOP OF A ROCKY PLATEAU>

<CUE Exodus>

The Benefactor: Fine. I’ll beat you into submission.

Ledas: You can try!

<THE BENEFACTOR CHARGES UP TO FULL POWER, HIS BLACK AURA COMING UP AROUND HIM AS HE DOES; LEDAS TAKES THIS TIME TO CHARGE UP SIMILARLY; THERE ARE A FEW PLASMA SPARKS IN LEDAS’ AURA FOR A SECOND, THOUGH THEY DON’T STAY AROUND LONG>

<NOW FULLY POWERED, THE BENEFACTOR MOVES FORWARD; HE AND THE SAIYAN CIRCLE ONE ANOTHER, LOOKING FOR AN OPENING; THE BENEFACTOR SHOOTS A SMALL KI BLAST, BUT LEDAS QUICKLY DEFLECTS IT; THE BENEFACTOR MOVES FORWARD, BUT LEDAS DODGES TO THE SIDE AND REGAINS HIS POSITION; THEN, LEDAS CREATES AN AFTERIMAGE AND TELEPORTS BEHIND THE BENEFACTOR; THE BENEFACTOR IS NOT FOOLED, AND HE SPINS AROUND TO PUNCH LEDAS; LEDAS BLOCKS THIS PUNCH BY CATCHING THE BENEFACTOR’S HAND WITH HIS OWN>

<Exodus REACHES 1:12 NOW>

<THE BENEFACTOR AND LEDAS STRUGGLE TO BREAK FREE FROM ONE ANOTHER; THEIR HANDS ARE INTERLOCKED, AND THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO PUSH EACH OTHER TO THE GROUND; THEIR AURAS FLARE UP AROUND THEM, AND THE ROCKS AND DIRT AND FOLIAGE ON THE GROUND ARE ALL BLOWN APART; AS THEY CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE, THEIR AURAS GET LARGER, AND EXPLOSIONS START GOING OFF FROM THE BITS OF KI THAT FALLS OFF>

<THE BENEFACTOR GAINS THE ADVANTAGE AND HE PUSHES LEDAS BACK; HE PLACES HIS FOOT OVER LEDAS’ BODY, BUT WHAT HE PUSHES DOWN ON IS JUST AIR, AS LEDAS IS ABLE TO TELEPORT AWAY IN TIME; HE REAPPEARS TO THE LEFT OF THE BENEFACTOR; AT ONCE, HE RAISES HIS RIGHT HAND AND SHOOTS A KYORRA FLASH AT THE BENEFACTOR; THE BENEFACTOR SHOOTS A FRENZY BLAST AT LEDAS TO STAY THE BOY’S ATTACK; FOR A MOMENT, THE TWO STRUGGLE; LEDAS GRITS HIS TEETH AS HE TRIES TO PUSH THE BEAM INTO THE BENEFACTOR; IT DOES NOT BUDGE, AND INSTEAD A GREAT WIND PICKS UP AROUND THE TWO>

<BUT THEN, LEDAS SCREAMS AND CREATES AN ICE CANNON IN HIS LEFT HAND; HE RAISES HIS ARM AND SHOOTS THE BEAM INTO HIS KYORRA FLASH, MAKING HIS SIDE GROW LARGER AND STRONGER; THE BENEFACTOR IS UNABLE TO HOLD THIS ENERGY BACK, AND THE KI BEAM OVERTAKES HIM; HE GROANS AS THE ENERGY HITS HIM AND EXPLODES>

<AT ONCE, LEDAS CHARGES FORWARD; HE FIND THE BENEFACTOR LYING ON THE GROUND AND GRABS HIM BY THE NECK; WITH HIS FREE HAND, HE RAINS BLOWS ON THE ALIEN’S FACE; HOWEVER, THE BENEFACTOR WAKES UP WHEN THIS OCCURS, AND HE USES HIS CLAWED FEET TO TEAR INTO LEDAS’ HOODIE AND PUSH THE BOY OFF OF HIM; HE STANDS UP AND SHOOTS A FLURRY OF ENERGY BLASTS AT LEDAS; THESE CATCH THE BOY AS HE IS TUMBLING AWAY, SINGEING HIM BADLY; HIS HOODIE IS TORN TO PIECES AND HIS JEANS ARE SLIGHTLY TORN AS WELL>

<THE BENEFACTOR RUNS AT LEDAS AND REACHES HIM JUST AS THE SAIYAN STANDS UP; LEDAS BLOCKS HIS PUNCH AND THEN JUMPS IN THE AIR AND THEN FALLS BACK DOWN, SLAMMING HIS FOOT ON THE BENEFACTOR; THE BENEFACTOR ATTEMPTS TO BLOCK THIS, BUT LEDAS’ ATTACK IS SO POWERFUL THAT HIS BLOCK IS BROKEN AND HE IS THROWN BACK AND FALLS TO HIS KNEES; LEDAS THEN PROCEEDS TO JUMP FORWARD AND START PUNCHING AND KICKING THE ALIEN; THE BENEFACTOR DODGES A FEW OF THESE ATTACKS AND THEN GRABS LEDAS BY THE BACK OF THE HEAD AND SLAMS HIS HEAD INTO THE BENEFACTOR’S KNEE; LEDAS YELLS OUT IN PAIN AND FALLS BACK>

<HE SHOOTS A UNRELENTING ENERGY BURST AT THE BENEFACTOR; THIS RIPS INTO THE BENEFACTOR’S SKIN; FLECKS OF BLOOD CAN BE SEEN FLYING FROM HIS BODY AS OLD WOUNDS ARE RE-OPENED>

<TO ESCAPE THIS, THE BENEFACTOR ASCENDS INTO THE SKY; HE THEN READIES ANOTHER ENERGY BLAST WITH BOTH HANDS TO FINISH OFF LEDAS; BUT LEDAS HAS ALREADY STOOD BACK UP AGAIN; HE SEES WHAT THE BENEFACTOR IS DOING AND SHOOTS A BUNCH OF RAZOR BLASTS AT THE ALIEN; THE BENEFACTOR ATTEMPTS TO KNOCK THESE ASIDE, BUT THEY GET LODGED INTO HIS SKIN WHEN HE DOES; NOT EXPECTING THIS, THE BENEFACTOR MOMENTARILY LETS HIS GUARD DOWN DUE TO THE PAIN THE RAZOR BLASTS INFLICTED UPON HIM; LEDAS SEES HIS OPENING AND FLIES UP TO MEET THE BENEFACTOR>

<IN THE AIR, LEDAS KICKS THE BENEFACTOR BACK; HE JUMPS FORWARD AND THEN PUNCHES HIM UPWARDS AND TELEPORTS TO WHERE THE BENEFACTOR WOULD BE TO DO A BICYCLE KICK DOWNWARDS; FOLLOWING THIS UP, HE PURSUES THE BENEFACTOR’S FALLING BODY AND PUNCHES HIM RIGHT INTO THE GROUND>

<LEDAS LANDS NEXT TO THE BENEFACTOR’S BODY AND WAITS FOR HIM TO STAND UP; THE BENEFACTOR DOES NOT, AND INSTEAD ROLLS OVER, KICKING AT LEDAS’ LEGS AS HE DOES; THIS CAUSES LEDAS TO STUMBLE BACK AND GIVE THE BENEFACTOR AN OPENING; HE JUMPS UP AND RUNS RIGHT AT LEDAS; THE TWO ENGAGE IN A BLOW EXCHANGE OF PUNCHES AND KICKS; EACH ONE OF THEM GETS HIT NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THE BENEFACTOR’S FORM IS ABLE TO OVERPOWER LEDAS’; HE TAKES THE OFFENSIVE AND KICKS LEDAS AWAY, THEN JUMPS FORWARD AND DOES A FLURRY OF PUNCHES AND KICKS TO THE BOY’S FACE; AS LEDAS TRIES TO RECOVER THE BENEFACTOR SHOOTS A QUICK ENERGY BLAST INTO HIS CHEST; LEDAS COUGHS, AS THE WIND IS KNOCKED OUT OF HIM, AND DOESN’T EVEN PUT UP HIS GUARD WHEN THE BENEFACTOR READIES A POWERFUL PUNCH; IT HITS HIM STRAIGHT IN THE GUT; LEDAS FALLS OVER AND REVERTS TO BASE FORM>

<THE BENEFACTOR IS ON HIM INSTANTLY, PINNING HIM TO THE ROCK>

The Benefactor: Your threshold for pain is remarkably low, kid. One good punch, and you’re down for the count. But for me, pain is a constant companion – one I don’t forget or neglect. And that is my advantage, here at the end of it all. Even being weakened and blinded, I still have one edge. <THE BENEFACTOR STARTS SQUEEZING LEDAS’ NECK> I’m not going to kill you, but you’re going to feel real pain before I leave! I’ll show you what I’ve been through!

Ledas: N-no!

<LEDAS CREATES AN EXPLOSIVE WAVE; THE BENEFACTOR YELLS OUT, BUT HE KEEPS A HOLD ON THE BOY>

The Benefactor: You’re going to have to try harder than that!

<LEDAS SQUIRMS, KICKING UP HIS FEET EVEN AS THE BENEFACTOR TRIES TO HOLD HIM DOWN; THE BENEFACTOR’S FACE IS ONLY INCHES AWAY FROM LEDAS AS THEY STRUGGLE; DURING THIS TIME, LEDAS LOOKS TO THE LEFT AND HE SEES YAJIROBE’S SWORD STUCK IN THE GROUND, POKING OUT FROM BEHIND A FEW ROCKS; HE REACHES HIS HAND OUT TO GET IT, BUT IT IS TOO FAR AWAY>

<THE BENEFACTOR DIGS HIS CLAWS INTO LEDAS’ NECK, CAUSING BLOOD TO START FLOWING OUT; LEDAS GROANS AND STARTS STRUGGLING IN A WAY THAT PUSHES HIM TOWARDS YAJIROBE’S SWORD; WITH ONE HAND, LEDAS RESISTS, BUT WITH THE OTHER, HE REACHES TOWARDS YAJIROBE’S SWORD; THE BENEFACTOR DOES NOT NOTICE THIS; HE IS FOCUSED ON LEDAS’ BLOOD AND MAKING THE BOY FEEL MORE PAIN>

<THE BENEFACTOR TEARS LEDAS’ HOODIE OFF; UNDERNEATH, THE BOY IS WEARING A WHITE SHIRT; HE STARTS RIPPING AT THIS, TEARING LEDAS’ SKIN UNDERNEATH; LEDAS ABSOLUTELY SCREAMS AS THIS IS GOING ON; WITH HIS RIGHT HAND, HE CREATES A SMALL ENERGY BEAM AND SHOOTS IT INTO THE BENEFACTOR’S FACE; THE ALIEN TAKES IT HEAD ON, AND THOUGH IT BRIEFLY STUNS HIM, IT DOES NOT MAKE HIM STOP; THEY INCH FURTHER TOWARDS YAJIROBE’S SWORD AS THIS HAPPENS>

<LEDAS STARTS SHOOTING A FLURRY OF ATTACKS AT THE BENEFACTOR, DAMAGING THE GOOD ALIEN EVEN MORE; AS HE IS DOING THIS, HIS LEFT HAND FINDS THE HILT OF YAJIROBE’S SWORD; HE LOOKS LEFT, GOES SUPER SAIYAN, AND PULLS IT OUT OF THE GROUND, CAUSING A BIG ENOUGH COMMOTION THAT THE BENEFACTOR STOPS TEARING APART AND LOOKS OVER; OF COURSE, HE CANNOT SEE THE SWORD, BUT HE CAN HEAR IT>

The Benefactor: What was tha–

<LEDAS SWINGS THE SWORD AND HITS THE ALIEN IN THE FACE; IT CUTS HIM DEEPLY ACROSS THE FACE; THE BENEFACTOR LETS GO OF LEDAS AND FALLS BACK, SHOUTING OUT; A TORRENT OF BLOOD IS FLOWING FROM HIS FACE>

<LEDAS MOVES AWAY FROM THE BENEFACTOR AND STANDS UP; HE FEELS THE WOUND ON HIS CHEST AND GRIMACES>

The Benefactor: <EXTREMELY ANGRY> DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM, YOU FOOL?!?! DO YOU KNOW WHAT I HAVE DONE?!?! I KILLED YOUR GRANDFATHER! I KILLED YOUR FATHER! AND I WOULD HAVE KILLED YOU AND THE PRINCE WERE IT NOT FOR FRIEZA! YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A MAGGOT TO ME! I DEFEATED ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS OUT THERE ON EARTH! AND MANY OF THEM WERE MUCH STRONGER THAN YOU!! WHY DO YOU THINK YOU CAN STAND UP TO ME?! WHY DO YOU RESIST?!

Ledas: <SHOCKED> Wh-what?! My… my f-father?!

The Benefactor: <STANDS UP; HE CAUTERIZES HIS WOUND IN AN INSTANT> That’s right. I killed him. You know almost all the Saiyans are gone. But do you know why? It’s because they tried to rebel against Frieza.

Ledas: <GETTING EMOTIONAL> No! You’re a liar! He killed them in cold blood!

The Benefactor: King Vegeta led a group of the best Saiyans to Frieza’s ship. Frieza took care of them in the blink of an eye. All except for your father, who cowered in the back and escaped Frieza’s first attack.

Ledas: <LOUDER> My father wasn’t a coward!!

The Benefactor: Oh yes he was! I was there, you fool! I saw him in the back of the group, trying to stay out of the fighting. And then once he was the only one left, he tried one final attack on Frieza, but he was so pathetically weak that his blast did nothing at all.

Ledas: <ALMOST CRYING> N-no, it’s n-not true! He d-didn’t!

The Benefactor: <TRYING TO BREAK LEDAS> And then I slit his throat and tore his flesh from his body. I tasted his blood. And it was just like yours. You have the blood of a coward and a weakling inside of you.

Ledas: <FALLS TO HIS HANDS AND KNEES, DROPPING YAJIROBE’S SWORD; HE REVERTS TO HIS BASE FORM; HIS EYES ARE WIDE AND HIS MOUTH AGAPE; HE IS STRICKEN> Y-y-ou…. bastard!!

<CUE To Glory>

<THE BENEFACTOR LAUGHS; LEDAS BEGINS BREATHING VERY QUICKLY; SOME PLASMA SPARKS ARE AROUND HIS BODY>

The Benefactor: You will never see them again. Your father, your grandfather, your friends. Once I’m out of here, I’m killing everyone on Earth. I’m going to make them suffer. But you will be here. You can’t even die to be with them. You will be stuck, alone, forgotten, like the piece of trash you are.

<LEDAS IS STILL BREATHING HARD; HE IS NOT EVEN LOOKING AT HIS OPPONENT; MORE AND MORE PLASMA SPARKS ARE FORMING AROUND HIS BODY, EVEN THOUGH HE IS IN BASE FORM; HIS AURA IS AROUND HIM, THOUGH IT SOMEWHAT FAINT>

The Benefactor: What, are you crying now? Don’t like how the world isn’t fair? Well guess what – life isn’t happy. The hero doesn’t always win.

Ledas: <LOOKS UP AT THE BENEFACTOR; THERE IS HATRED BURNING IN HIS EYES; HE IS IN SUPER SAIYAN 1> I’m no hero.

<To Glory REACHES 0:41 NOW>

<HE JUMPS UP AND CHARGES AT THE BENEFACTOR; THE TWO LOCK INTO A BLOW EXCHANGE, ONLY THIS TIME, LEDAS AND THE BENEFACTOR ARE SHOOTING ENERGY AS MUCH AS THEY ARE PUNCHING AND KICKING; THE CAMERA PANS BACK TO SHOW THEIR DESTRUCTION; EVERY PUNCH SENDS SHOCK WAVES AROUND AND THEIR ENERGY GOES FLYING ABOUT CREATING EXPLOSIONS EVERYWHERE; BRIEFLY, THEY GET LOCKED INTO A VERY FAST BLOW EXCHANGE>

<To Glory REACHES 2:07 NOW>

<LEDAS OVERPOWERS THE BENEFACTOR, FORCING THE ALIEN BACKWARDS; HE IS RUTHLESSLY KICKING AND PUNCHING THE ALIEN BACKWARD>

The Benefactor: <HOARSELY; WHILE THEY ARE FIGHTING; TRYING TO LESSEN LEDAS’ SPIRIT> You know what will happen! You cannot win! You have a coward’s heart!

Ledas: <ANGRILY> A coward wouldn’t be beating you!

<THEY CONTINUE FIGHTING; THERE ARE MANY KICKS, PUNCHES, AND TELEPORTING OCCURRING, AND ENERGY BLASTS; LEDAS USES A NEW TECHNIQUE, THE ADJUDICATOR, WHERE HE FIRES THREE ENERGY ATTACKS FROM HIS MOUTH SIMULTANEOUSLY; ONCE THEY HIT THE BENEFACTOR, RESIDUE REMAINS THAT BURNS HIS BODY; THIS GIVES LEDAS THE ADVANTAGE; HE PRESSES FORWARD AND KICKS THE BENEFACTOR IN THE CROTCH AREA BEFORE USING A SUPER EXPLOSIVE WAVE TO KNOCK HIM AWAY; LOOKING AT THE BENEFACTOR WITH DISGUST, LEDAS BRINGS HIS AURA UP AROUND HIM>

<To Glory REACHES 3:01 NOW>

<LEDAS LETS OUT A DEAFENING SCREAM AND HIS AURA SHOOTS UP ALL AROUND HIM; PLASMA SPARKS ARE EVERYWHERE; THERE IS MUCH ELECTRICITY IN HIS AURA; THIS KEEPS BUILDING UP UNTIL AN EXPLOSION GOES OFF, BRIEFLY COVERING THE CAMERA IN WHITE; LEDAS STOPS SCREAMING AS IT GOES WHITE>

<THE EXPLOSION HAPPENS RIGHT AT 3:32 IN To Glory>

<WHEN THE CAMERA REFOCUSES IN ON LEDAS, HE IS NOT IN SUPER SAIYAN 1 ANY MORE; HIS HAIR IS STANDING UP MUCH STRAIGHTER; IT IS VERY SPIKY; THERE ARE ELECTRICAL SPARKS MOVING ABOUT HIS BODY, THOUGH THEY DON’T SEEM TO BE HARMING HIM; THIS FORM IS, OF COURSE, SUPER SAIYAN 2>

<THE BENEFACTOR SHOOTS SEVERAL ENERGY BEAMS AT LEDAS, THOUGH THE BOY CASUALLY DEFLECTS THEM TO EITHER SIDE>

<THE BENEFACTOR FEELS HIS POWER AND IS IN SHOCK>

The Benefactor: What is this?! Why are you so much stronger now?!

Ledas: <UNIMPRESSED AT THE BENEFACTOR> You shouldn’t have said those things about my father. Now I’m gonna make you feel a lot of pain.

<HE AIR DASHES AT THE BENEFACTOR; THE BENEFACTOR STANDS UP AND ATTEMPTS TO BLOCK, BUT HIS BLOCK IS SHATTERED AND HE IS THROWN TO THE FLOOR; LEDAS PUNCHES HIM AND ELBOWS HIM IN THE NECK; THE BENEFACTOR STUMBLES BACKWARDS; HE ATTEMPTS ANOTHER ATTACK, BUT LEDAS EASILY BLOCKS IT; HE HEADBUTTS THE BENEFACTOR AND THEN FOLLOWS THIS UP WITH A FINGER BEAM TO THE FACE; THE BENEFACTOR FALLS BACK TO THE GROUND, EXHAUSTED AND DEFEATED>

<LEDAS MOVES BACK AND FINDS YAJIROBE’S SWORD, PICKS IT UP, AND SLINGS IT OVER HIS SHOULDER; THEN, HE TAKES TO THE AIR AND TO THE PORTAL AT THE CEILING>

<JUST AS LEDAS IS GOING OUT, THE BENEFACTOR CALLS OUT TO HIM ONE LAST TIME>

The Benefactor: Ledas?! Get back here, you worm!

<THE BENEFACTOR SCREAMS AND PUTS ALL OF HIS REMAINING ENERGY INTO A FINAL RED WIND ENERGY BEAM; IT SHOOTS DIRECTLY AT LEDAS; LEDAS PRODUCES A KYORRA FLASH OF HIS OWN AND SHOOTS IT AT THE BENEFACTOR’S ATTACK; THE TWO BITS OF ENERGY CLASH FOR A MOMENT, THOUGH LEDAS’ IS CLEARLY STRONGER; WITHIN A SECOND, IT COMPLETELY ENGULFS THE BENEFACTOR’S ATTACK AND HITS THE ALIEN, SENDING HIM INTO A CRATER; SEEING THIS, LEDAS SMIRKS>

Ledas: Goodbye, monster. I won’t miss you.

<HE TURNS AROUND AND AIR DASHES OUT OF THE PRISON>

<THE CAMERA MOVES TO JUST BEHIND THE BENEFACTOR; IT SHOWS HIM WATCHING LEDAS EXIT; ALL THE BENEFACTOR CAN DO IS DROP HIS HEAD TO THE GROUND IN UTTER DEFEAT; THE SCREEN FADES TO BLACK AS THE BENEFACTOR’S RAGGED BREATHING CAN BE HEARD>

<AFTER A BRIEF PAUSE, THE CAMERA RE-FADES TO COLOR>

<IT IS BACK OUTSIDE, AS LEDAS HAS RETURNED TO THE REAL WORLD; LEDAS REVERTS TO HIS BASE FORM AND LOOKS AROUND AT THE WORLD; HE IS BEAMING>

Ledas: <SMILING; SOFTLY> I’ve missed this place!

<LEDAS LOOKS AROUND; HE DOESN’T SEE ANYONE NEARBY; THERE ARE STILL SOME CRATERS FROM THE PREVIOUS BATTLES; AS HE GOES FURTHER, HE HEARS A NOISE; TURNING TO IT, HE SEES YAJIROBE SITTING NEXT TO HIS DESTROYED HOVERCAR; THE HUMAN APPEARS TO BE TRYING TO FIX IT; THIS IS CLEARLY IMPOSSIBLE, AS IT IS BUT A SMOLDERING WRECK>

Ledas: Hey, Yajirobe. <YAJIROBE TURNS AROUND AND SEES LEDAS; LEDAS THROWS HIM HIS KATANA, WHICH HE CATCHES WITH LITTLE GRACE> Wanna go home?

Endnotes:

Sticky Fingers
<IT IS NIGHT>

<LEDAS REACHES KORIN TOWER QUICKLY; HE FLIES UP TO THE RAILING OF THE TOWER, TOUCHING DOWN QUIETLY; BOTH HE AND YAJIROBE ASSUME KORIN IS SLEEPING, YAJIROBE SLIPS AWAY, OFF TO BED; NO MORE GLANCE NOR TALK DOES HE HAVE FOR LEDAS, AS HE IS QUITE TIRED, HIMSELF; LEDAS RAISES HIS HAND TO SIGNAL HIS GOODBYE, BUT DOES NOT TALK EITHER>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ledas: Really? What about Yajirobe?

Korin: Yeah, sure kid. He has to get up early to make sure he doesn’t miss a meal. <KORIN INSPECTS THE PYRAMID AS HE TALKS> You worked everything out with Vegeta and the others?

Ledas: Yeah, but… <LEDAS QUITS STARING INTO THE MIRROR; HE SPINS AROUND TO FACE KORIN, IN MOST SERIOUS REPOSE> um, Mr. Korin sir, do you think you could train me to be stronger? Like Vegeta is, I mean… <TRAILING OFF> C-could you be my teacher? I think you’re real smart and all.

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

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

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

<KORIN EXITS THROUGH THE DOOR>

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

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

Korin: <BACK ONCE AGAIN> Hey!

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

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

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

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

Ledas: Bu–

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

Ledas: But I can’t watch it all the time. Ryori and me were gonna go see that whale that could jump out of its tail… It’s very cool. <BACKFLIP> And besides, I have to train every day too. How’m I supposed to keep this thing from opening every place I go?

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

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

Korin: <TURNS BACK FROM HIS DOOR> Just a wild guess. Now go get some sleep, kid. Ya look like ya need some.

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

Ledas: Okay bye, then.

<HE THEN TURNS AND FLIES AWAY>

<A SHORT SCENE IS SHOWN OF LEDAS RETURNING TO HIS GRAVITY TRAINING UNIT ON THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN; HE LANDS AND WALKS TO THE OPEN DOOR>

Ledas: <LOOKING AROUND> Ryori? Where are you? Hey, Ryori?!

<THE SCREEN FADES>

<THE NEXT MORNING>

<CARDINAL IS LYING IN A HOSPITAL BED; HIS ARM IS STILL BANDAGED, AND HE IS STILL HOOKED UP TO MULTIPLE IV TUBES; HE HAS DARK CIRCLES UNDER HIS EYES; AS HE WAKES UP, THE CAMERA SWITCHES TO HIS PERSPECTIVE>

Cardinal: <YAWNING> Nurse… nurse! I need more morphine! Nurse! <HE OPENS HIS EYES AND SEES LEDAS STANDING IN FRONT OF HIM; LEDAS IS WEARING A BLACK HOODIE AND WHITE SHORTS; CARDINAL IS STARTLED> Oh! What are you doing here, Ledas?

Ledas: <ARMS FOLDED> You know why.

Cardinal: <SITS UP AND SIGHS> I am not a mind reader, boy. Especially not for aliens. Tell me what you want or leave me be.

Ledas: Tell me where Ryori is.

Cardinal: <RELAXES> That’s it? Well, he’s in confinement for what he did to my arm. See? <CARDINAL GESTURES TO HIS BANDAGES>

Ledas: <STARING CARDINAL DOWN> Whatever he did to you, you had it coming.

Cardinal: Well, I don’t th–

Ledas: I don’t care what you think. Just tell me exactly where he is.

Cardinal: He’s being held by the police somewhere in this hospital. I don’t know where, but he’s not getting free. He attacked me, Ledas. He’s going to be in serious trouble for that. They are questioning him now.

<LEDAS LOOKS OVER HIS SHOULDER, THEN STEPS FORWARD; HE IS LESS THAN A FOOT AWAY FROM CARDINAL NOW>

Ledas: <QUIETER, BUT STILL THREATENING> You’re pretty important here on Earth, aren’t you?

Cardinal: <GUARDED> One could say that.

Ledas: Then you’ll find a way to get him out of this.

Cardinal: And why would I do such a thing?

Ledas: If you don’t, I’ll find him, myself. And you know what that means. You don’t want any more people to die, do you?

Cardinal: I see. <HE LOOKS DOWN> In that case, I’ll try to work something out. But it will take some time. I am quite debilitated at the present moment.

Ledas: Once you’ve freed him, you’re gonna to buy him a new house and pay for everything he needs. Got it?

Cardinal: What?! Come on, be reasonable! That’ll be immensely expensive! My funds would be better served going into other–

Ledas: <IN A WHISPER> You killed his brother. <PAUSE> Now you’re gonna pay for that. He needs someone to support him, and that’s gonna be you. I don’t care how much it costs you.

Cardinal: So if I refuse, I assume you’ll find some way to make me?

Ledas: <FIERCELY> Yeah, that’s right.

Cardinal: You know, when King Furry told me about how your kind was protecting our planet, I don’t think he was talking about you.

Ledas: Whatever. Just get Ryori free.

Cardinal: <TO HIMSELF> How much has my power been reduced that I am now taking orders from a mere boy? <HE LOOKS UP TO LEDAS AGAIN> I’ll be working on it. You have my word, Ledas.

<LEDAS NODS AND GOES TO LEAVE; AS HE DOES, THE DOOR OPENS AND NURSE YOROKOBI ENTERS; SHE LOOKS AT LEDAS AS HE WALKS PAST HER, THOUGH HE DOESN’T SEEM TO NOTICE HER; ONCE HE PASSES HER, SHE POSITIVELY STARES AT HIS BACKSIDE UNTIL HE EXITS>

<THE SCENE MOVES TO RYORI’S ROOM, WHERE THERE ARE POLICE GUARDING THE DOORS AND SOME MORE POLICE INSIDE; SUDDENLY, A POLICEMAN OPENS THE DOOR AND STEPS OUT; HE LOOKS AT THE OTHERS AND SPEAKS>

Policeman 1: Come on boys, we’re leaving.

Policeman 2: Aren’t we taking the kid to the station for more questioning?

Policeman 1: Nah, no need.

Policeman 3: What?! Why?

Policeman 1: You guys ever heard of the Cardinal?

Policeman 2: No. What is he, some kind of religious man?

Policeman 1: <PATS A BRIEFCASE IN HIS HAND> Well, he’s my religion now, heh heh. He gonna make us a whole lot richer, provided we walk away. Now come on boys, follow me. Ain’t no point in throwing money down the toilet. Let’s go get paid.

<AFTER THEY LEAVE, NURSE YOROKOBI IS SEEN ENTERING RYORI’S ROOM, PERHAPS TO CHECK ON HIM; AFTER SOME TIME, LEDAS COMES WALKING DOWN THE HOSPITAL HALL; HE GOES TO ENTER THE ROOM>

<PERMANENTLY REDACTED SCENE 2, NOT POSTED>

<BACK WITH LEDAS, HE IS WAITING INSIDE THE HOSPITAL ROOM WHERE RYORI IS; RYORI IS LYING IN THE BED TO HIS RIGHT, ASLEEP OR UNCONSCIOUS FROM SEDATION; LEDAS IS ALSO ASLEEP, THOUGH THIS IS BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN SITTING AT THE TABLE NEXT TO RYORI’S BED FOR SEVERAL HOURS, WAITING FOR HIS GOOD FRIEND TO WAKE UP> <END OF CHAPTER>

Endnotes:

He Was Number One (series finale part 1)
<THE NEXT DAY>

<LEDAS AND RYORI HAVE LEFT THE HOSPITAL AND ARE AT AN AQUARIUM; THEY ARE WATCHING A WHALE JUMP OUT OF ITS TAIL; THERE IS A RELATIVELY SHORT, FAT MAN WITH A CYAN SHIRT AND A TAN HAT COACHING THE WHALE>

<AFTER WATCHING SAID OCCURRENCE, THE TWO WALK OUT OF THE AREA; THE WALL TO THEIR RIGHT IS SEE-THROUGH AND HAS WATER AND DOLPHINS SWIMMING IN IT; THEY ARE ALL TRYING TO MAKE A BUNCH OF NEW DOLPHINS, EXCEPT FOR A FEW WHO ARE EXPERIMENTING WITH THEIR BLOWHOLES; NO ONE SEEMS TO NOTICE ALL OF THE DOLPHINS DOING THESE THINGS, HOWEVER; THERE ARE AROUND 12 DOLPHINS>

Ryori: Y’know, Shoekki was going to take me to this place, before… uh…

<HE LOOKS RATHER SAD; LEDAS SEES THIS>

Ledas: He’d be glad you got to come.

Ryori: <LOOKING DOWN> Y-yeah. I still can’t believe he’s gone. I mean, I don’t know what to do. <HE LOOKS UP AT LEDAS> Have you lost family before?

Ledas: <WITHOUT EMOTION> Yeah, my parents are dead too.

Ryori: H-how did you get through it?

Ledas: <LOOKING UP AT THE SKY> I guess I don’t think about them much. Not since I found out about it. Training keeps my mind off it, too.

Ryori: <LOWERS HIS HEAD AGAIN> It doesn’t matter, anyway. With my brother gone, they’ll put me in an orphanage or something. I won’t be able to go to these kinds of places anymore. We won’t be able to hang out either, Ledas.

Ledas: <BRIGHTENING UP> No, it’s okay. I already dealt with that.

Ryori: <SUSPICIOUS> How?

Ledas: That Cardinal guy is gonna buy you a new house to live in, and he’ll pay for anything you want.

Ryori: <EYES NARROW; HIS FACE FLUSHES> Cardinal?! Why didn’t you kill him like everyone else?!

Ledas: <SERIOUSLY; SLIGHTLY DETACHED> Ryori, if I killed him, then you’d have no one to support you.

Ryori: <LONG PAUSE; SIGHS> I guess. Where’s this house, anyway?

Ledas: It’s West City, pretty close to Capsule Corp. C’mon, I’ll show you.

<THE CAMERA SWITCHES TO WEST CITY, WHERE IT ZOOMS IN A BLOCK; THERE IS A LARGE ONE-STORY HOUSE; PEERING THROUGH THE WINDOW, THE CAMERA SHOWS RYORI SITTING ON A COUCH, PLAYING VIDEO GAMES; THERE ARE BROWN BOXES ALL AROUND HIM, EVIDENCE OF A RECENT MOVE-IN; OUTSIDE, THE FRONT DOOR IS OPEN AND MOVERS ARE CARRYING IN MORE BOXES FROM A TRUCK>

<BEHIND THE HOUSE IS A LARGE YARD, WHERE LEDAS’ GRAVITY TRAINING UNIT IS PARKED>

<THE SCENE PICKS UP INSIDE OF THE TRAINING UNIT; LEDAS IS ONLY WEARING HIS TRAINING PANTS AND HIS FINGERLESS GLOVES>

Ledas: Computer! Raise it to 450G!

Computer: Initiating gravitational increase.

<AS SOON AS THE GRAVITY IS RAISED, LEDAS LETS OUT A GASP AND DROPS TO HIS KNEES; HE STRUGGLES TO STAND BACK UP; SEVERAL SPHERICAL DRONES ARE FLYING AROUND HIM; HE LOOKS UP AT THEM JUST AS THEY START SHOOTING ENERGY BLASTS AT HIM>

<LEDAS PUSHES OFF AGAINST THE GROUND AND DODGES THE FIRST SALVO; ONCE IN THE AIR, HE LOOKS OVER HIS SHOULDER AND SEES TWO OF THE DRONES HAVE FOLLOWED HIM; THEY SHOOT ENERGY AGAIN; HE DEFLECTS THESE BLASTS AND THEN SHOOTS A SMALL TEARDROP SHAPED BLAST RIGHT BACK AT THEM; THIS BLAST BOUNCES OFF OF THE NEAREST DRONE AS ITS SHIELDS FLARE; LEDAS FLIES TOWARDS THE DRONE AND THE OTHERS START SHOOTING MORE ENERGY BLASTS AT HIM; HE ATTEMPTS TO DODGE THESE, BUT THE GRAVITY IS STRAINING HIS BODY; HE IS HIT BY A FEW OF THE BLASTS AND FALLS TO THE GROUND>

<LEDAS ROLLS OVER TO HIS BACK AND LOOKS UP AT THE DRONES CIRCLING HIM; HE GRITS HIS TEETH AND THEN ATTEMPTS TO STAND UP; SWEAT IS POURING DOWN HIS FACE AS HE SITS UP ONTO HIS KNEES; THEY ALL SHOOT BLASTS TOGETHER; LEDAS WATCHES THEM APPROACH; JUST BEFORE THEY REACH HIM, HE SCREAMS AND THEN PUSHES OFF THE GROUND AND SHOOTS TO THE CEILING; HE CREATES A BLAST WITH BOTH HANDS OVER HIS HEAD AND THEN SHOOTS IT AT THE DRONES; ONCE AGAIN, THIS BLAST DOESN’T DO ANY DAMAGE TO THEM, AS THEIR SHIELDS PROTECT THEM; AFTER SHOOTING OFF THE ENERGY BALL, LEDAS IS EXHAUSTED; THE DRONES CONVERGE ON HIM AND SHOOT HIM WITH MULTIPLE BLASTS; WHILE HE PUTS UP HIS ARMS TO BLOCK IT, THIS DOES NOT PREVENT THE BLASTS FROM HITTING HIM; SOON, HE IS COVERED IN A CLOUD OF SMOKE FROM ALL THE ATTACKS HITTING HIM; A LARGE EXPLOSION GOES OFF, AND LEDAS FALLS TO THE GROUND>

<LEDAS LIES THERE FOR SEVERAL MOMENTS, SIMPLY PANTING IN EXHAUSTION>

Ledas: H-how does Vegeta train in this? This is insane! <HE SITS UP, IN PAIN, AND LOOKS AROUND AT THE VAST ROOM> Computer, raise the gravity to 500.

Computer: Scans indicate that your body is having trouble coping with the existing gravity. Raising it much higher will put you at risk of injury or death.

Ledas: Just do it. I’m not gonna argue with a stupid computer about how I train.

Computer: Very well. Initiating gravitational increase.

Ledas: <STILL BREATHING HARD> And turn on the turrets.

Computer: As you wish.

<THE COMPUTER RAISES THE GRAVITY TO 500G; AT ONCE, LEDAS FALLS TO THE FLOOR, UNABLE TO MOVE; HE GROANS AS HE FEELS HIMSELF UNABLE TO MOVE; THEN, LEDAS LETS OUT A SCREAM AND THE ROOM IS BRIEFLY OVERLOADED WITH YELLOW LIGHT; AS THIS LIGHT DIMS, LEDAS IS SEEN TO BE IN HIS RECENTLY ACQUIRED SUPER SAIYAN 2 FORM; HE SITS UP WITH EASE; THE DRONES ARE CIRCLING ABOVE HIS HEAD>

Ledas: <LOOKING UP AT THEM> All right, let’s try this again.

<LEDAS JUMPS INTO THE AIR; THE DRONES IMMEDIATELY PURSUE HIM AND START SHOOTING BLASTS OF ENERGY AT HIM; AS HE FLIES AND DODGES THEM, TURRETS APPEAR FROM SLITS IN THE WALLS, AND THEY TOO START SHOOTING ENERGY BLASTS; NO ENERGY BLAST DISSIPATES, AS THOSE THAT MISS LEDAS ARE REFLECTED BY THE DRONES BACK AT HIM; HE STARTS DODGING DOZENS OF ENERGY BLASTS AT ONCE; HE IS MOVING SO FAST THAT HIS PHYSICAL BODY CANNOT BE SEEN>

<AFTER SOME TIME, LEDAS TIRES, AND A FEW BLASTS HIT HIM; HE IS THROWN TO THE GROUND; AS SOON AS HE LANDS, HE JUMPS TO HIS FEET AND LOOKS UP AT MORE OF THE BLASTS COMING HIS WAY; HE SWATS THESE ASIDE AS THEY REACH HIM AND THEN FIRES A LARGER ENERGY BLAST BACK UP AT THE DRONES; THIS TIME, THE BLAST OVERPOWERS THE DRONES AND BRIEFLY IMMOBILIZES THEM, CAUSING THEM TO FALL TO THE GROUND; THE TURRETS SHOOT ANOTHER GROUP OF BLASTS AT HIM, BUT HE CATCHES THESE IN HIS HANDS AND MORPHS THEM INTO ONE GIANT BALL; THEN, LEDAS DISSIPATES THE ENERGY AND ABSORBS IT BACK INTO HIS BODY; PANTING, HE DROPS TO ONE KNEE>

Ledas: <SOUNDING VERY TIRED> Computer… return to normal gravity…

<THE GRAVITY RETURNS TO NORMAL AND LEDAS REVERTS TO HIS BASE FORM, SIGHING IN RELIEF AS HE FALLS BACK AND LIES ON THE FLOOR; HIS ARMS AND LEGS ARE SPREAD OUT AND HE IS STARING AT THE CEILING>

Ledas: How does Vegeta train in this? I can barely do it when I’m fully powered up… and he doesn’t even need to go Super Saiyan. <HE SIGHS> He’s gotten so much stronger than me since we got split up all those years ago. <LEDAS STANDS UP AND WALKS OVER TO THE COMPUTER; IN A COMPARTMENT ABOVE IT IS A SMALL BROWN BAG; HE TAKES THIS, THEN OPENS IT AND TAKES THE SAIBASEEDS INSIDE IT AND THROWS THEM ONTO THE GROUND; WITHIN A MOMENT, HIS REMAINING SAIBAMEN, WILDE, CARAWA, SES, AND AME GROW INTO THEIR MATURE FORMS; THEY ARE ALL RED> Hey guys. I’ve missed you!

<THE SAIBAMEN GRUNT; SOON, THEY ALL START SPARRING AND PLAYING AS LEDAS CONTINUES TO TRAIN ON HIS OWN, LIFTING WEIGHTS AND DOING HANDSTAND PUSHUPS AND WHATNOT; AFTER SOME TIME, LEDAS IS SEEN EXITING THE GRAVITY TRAINING UNIT WITH A TOWEL AROUND HIS NECK; HE WALKS OUT OF THE BACKYARD TO THE FRONT YARD AND THEN STARTS WALKING DOWN THE SIDEWALK; EVENTUALLY, HE COMES UPON CAPSULE CORP.; HE LOOKS AT THE MASSIVE PLACE THROUGH ITS BARRED FENCE; HE SEES VEGETA TRAINING OFF IN THE DISTANCE, OUTSIDE>

Ledas: <TO HIMSELF> He’s probably wondering what happened in that fight with the monster. And what happened to me… <HE WATCHES VEGETA TRAINING IN SUPER SAIYAN 3> Even with my new transformation, my power is nothing compared to his. <LEDAS GRIPS THE BARS OF THE FENCE AS HE WATCHES> I gotta go see him. We need a proper reunion. <HE LETS GO OF THE BARS AND STEPS BACK> But not today. I’m not ready yet. Maybe if I train some more, we could even spar together… <HE TRAILS OFF AND THEN WALKS OFF, BACK TO RYORI’S HOUSE>

<EVEN THOUGH LEDAS WALKS OFF, THE CAMERA DOES NOT FOLLOW HIM; INSTEAD, IT FOCUSES IN ON VEGETA, WHO IS TRAINING OUTSIDE ON THE ONCE PRISTINELY KEPT LAWN; IT IS NOW A MESS FROM HIS EXERCISES>

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

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

<VEGETA PAYS HIM NO NOTICE, INSTEAD CONTINUING HIS TRAINING ALONE; HE IS DOING A LOT OF DODGING TECHNIQUES IN HIS SUPER SAIYAN 3 FORM>

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

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

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

Mailman: Hey, ya bloody wanker! Screw you too! Whatever. You only got one letter anyway. Here, take it!

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

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

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

<VEGETA THROWS A KI BALL AND IT BLASTS UP THE TURF AROUND HIM, SENDING THE LETTER FLYING RIGHT AT HIM; IT LANDS AT HIS FEET; VEGETA KICKS THE LETTER UP INTO THE AIR, SNATCHING IT AFTERWARD IN ONE FLUID MOTION; HE OPENS THE LETTER>

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

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

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

<THE CAMERA RETURNS TO RYORI’S HOUSE, WHERE LEDAS HAS RETURNED TO; LEDAS WALKS THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR AND INTO THE HOUSE; THERE ARE BROWN BOXES EVERYWHERE, BUT THE MOVERS HAVE LEFT; MUCH OF THE FURNITURE THAT RYORI WANTED TO KEEP IS ALSO INSIDE THE HOUSE>

<AS LEDAS ENTERS, HE SEES A CRIMSON ENVELOPE ON THE NEAREST TABLE; ON IT, WHERE AN ADDRESSEE WOULD BE, IT HAS THE MARK OF THE RED RIBBON ARMY WITH A LARGE LETTER "C" IN THE BACKGROUND; HE GOES TO PICK IT UP WHEN RYORI, IN HIS SOCKS, COMES SLIDING INTO THE ROOM FROM DOWN THE OTHER WAY; BEING THAT THE FLOOR IN THIS ROOM IS WOOD, THIS METHOD OF TRANSPORTATION INDEED WORKS; I’VE TESTED IT MYSELF>

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

Ledas: <LOOKS UP, AS RYORI COMES IN AND HANDS HIM THE PAPER> I don’t know… I can’t read it. Here Ryori, you do it.

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

<HE TAKES THE PAPER FROM LEDAS>

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

Dear Mr. Ledas,

_______ ''If you are fully recovered by the time of reading this letter, I entreat you to consider my following request: To visit the address I have enclosed below in the swiftest of haste, arriving no later than the twentieth of May. I have invited several of your compatriots to attend as well, at the counsel of King Furry, and I expect that many of them shall indeed come. I feel our get-together could not be complete without you, Ledas. There will be no tricks, no deceits on my part. As you well know, I cannot harm you, and you could kill me in an instant if you so desired. So this is no trap. I have held up my side of our recent truce with buying your friend, Ryori, a new house to live in. And, of course, I will continue to support him for as long as I live, as you have forced me to do. So as I have done for you these many things, I respectfully request that you come and visit me this one time and participate in a martial arts tournament. Should you still be unswayed, let me say this – I expect that Vegeta will be waiting with me if you decide to join us. I know of your history with him, so if you come, I will make sure you and he are matched together. Please consider this, my humble offer.''


 * In Your Faith,


 * Sir Johan <LAST NAME SMUDGED OUT>

Ryori: <THROWS THE PAPER BACK INTO LEDAS’ LAP> That’s Cardinal, isn’t it?

Ledas: Yeah.

Ryori: So fuck him.

Ledas: <LOOKING AT THE LETTER> Wewll, he said he’s holding a tournament and that Vegeta’ll be there.

Ryori: So…? Who’s Vegeta anyway? <LEDAS LOOKS FLABBERGASTED AT THIS QUESTION; RYORI NOTICES LEDAS’ FACE; HE LAUGHS> What?! You’ve never mentioned a Vegeta to me. Whoa, wait! His name is almost as weird as yours. <PROUD AT HIS SUDDEN DEDUCTION> Is he like your brother or something?

Ledas: <THOUGHTFUL> Something like that.

Ryori: Oh…

Ledas: <LOOKS UP; INNOCENTLY> I going to go there, Ryori. You don’t have to come. But it’s an opportunity for me to spar with Vegeta again. <HE SMILES> Plus, I’ll have a few days to train for it.

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

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

Ledas: <WITH A SMALL SMILE; STILL LOOKING AT THE LETTER> Yeah, I hope so. I’ve been waiting for this for a long time.

Endnotes:

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

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

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

Guard: <COMING OUT TO MEET THEM> Stop! You can’t come further without proper identification. <HE STOPS IN FRONT OF THE TWO OF THEM> Do either of you have an invitation to this event?

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

Ryori: Oh… yeah, I got it. <HE PULLS OUT THE LETTER THAT HE HAD READ OUT LOUD LAST CHAPTER; IT IS STILL IN ITS CRIMSON ENVELOPE> Here, see?

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

Guard: It’s Mr. Ledas, right?

Ledas: Yeah.

Guard: All right. Follow me.

<THEN, THE GUARD GESTURES FOR THE TWO BOYS TO ENTER; THEY DO SO, AND HE FOLLOWS THEM INSIDE>

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

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

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

Ledas: <LOOKING UP> What exactly are we supposed to be doing?

Guard: Staying the night. Tourney’s not ‘till tomorrow, anyway. So get some sleep; you’re going to need it. <THE GUARD SCRUNCHES UP HIS FACE AND THEN LEAVES THE ROOM; BEFORE CLOSING THE DOOR, HE SAYS ONE MORE THING> Oh, the schedule’s on the table over there. <HE NODS TO HIS LEFT> Make sure you read it. It’ll bring you up to speed. Anyway, it’s late. Do you two need anything else?

Ryori: <STILL WITH HIS HANDS BEHIND HIS HEAD; NONCHALANTLY> Nope.

Guard: Good. Get some sleep, then.

<HE NODS TO THEM ONE LAST TIME BEFORE CLOSING THE DOOR AND LEAVING LEDAS AND RYORI ALONE>

Ledas: Ryori, can you read the schedule for me?

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

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

Ledas: Please… canya read it?

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

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

Ledas: Yeah, but what time?

Ryori: <SIGHS> Uh, I’m sure someone’ll come get you tomorrow, when it’s time. It’s not a big deal, dude.

Ledas: I just don’t want to miss this…

Ryori: <GRABBING SOME FOOD> What, fighting that Vegeta guy?

Ledas: Yeah.

Ryori: <STUFFING HIS FACE> You’re weird, y’know that, Ledas? I’ve never heard of someone who’s looking forward to fighting his friend.

Ledas: <SHRUG> I’m a Saiyan. Fighting is what we live for.

Ryori: Sure dude. If that’s what you like, then that’s cool. I mean, you can fight all you want, but you still can’t compare to the Legend.

Ledas: <NARROWING EYES> Who?

Ryori: <WITH HUGE EYES NOW> How can you not know about the Legend? Mr. Satan is the most popular person on Earth! He’s a superstar and a hero! With how much you love fighting, he should be your idol, dude!

Ledas: Yeah, but what’s he ever done?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<RYORI IS GRINNING>

Ledas: <TIRED> What are you doing under there?

Ryori: I was just looking around. This place is so big!

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

Ryori: <IMMEDIATELY> No!

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

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

Ryori: <WAY TOO ENERGETIC> Hey, let’s go see if it’s time for the fight! Come on, Ledas!

Ledas: <YAWNS> Huh? Wait up!

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

<LEDAS AND RYORI GET DOWN TO THE GROUND FLOOR AND LOOK AROUND; IT IS VERY BRIGHT OUT>

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

<THE TWO APPROACH THE STADIUM>

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

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

Guard 2: <TAKES LEDAS INTO A ROOM> Uh, it’s an all-day event. You’ve made it just in time, kid. We’re starting in about ten minutes. Crowds’re comin’ in and gettin’ seated now. You’re goin’ to be in one of the first matches. Look up there on the screen, it’ll tell you when it’s time.

Ledas: But… mister… I can’t read.

Guard 2: That’s not a problem. We’ll escort you when it’s time.

<HE GOES TO LEAVE>

Ledas: But wait, who am I up against?

Guard 2: <STILL LEAVING> It’s a random pick. You won’t know until the start of the match.

<WITH THAT, THE GUARD LEAVES>

<A BRIEF SCENE SHOWS THE STADIUM FILLING UP WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE; THE CAMERA MOVES BACK TO THE WAITING AREA, WHERE LEDAS IS; IT IS NOT LONG BEFORE A DIFFERENT GUARD RETURNS; HE MOTIONS FOR LEDAS TO FOLLOW HIM>

<LEDAS FOLLOWS HIM OUT INTO THE STAGING ROOM>

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

<THE CROWD’S ROAR IS DEAFINING; HE LOOKS UP AT ALL OF THEM AS HE WALKS OUT; IN FRONT OF HIM IS A PLATFORM; THIS IS THE WHITE-TILED PLATFORM SEEN IN THE WORLD TOURNAMENTS, WHICH ALL OF THE CONTESTANTS BATTLE UPON>

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

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

Trunks: Oh, it’s you. I remember you. You’re the one who helped us against those aliens a few days ago! What’re you doing here?

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

Trunks: Huh? Vegeta’s my–

Tournament Announcer: <HE IS THE TOURNAMENT ANNOUNCER WHO COMMENTATES THE WORLD TOURNAMENTS; HE IS WEARING A BLACK SUIT AND SUNGLASSES; AS WELL, HE IS CARRYING A MICROPHONE; FROM BEHIND, HE COMES UP AND WALKS OVER TO THE TWO OF THEM; HE INSPECTS THEM AND THEN STEPS BACK; HE THROWS HIS FINGER TO THE SKY> Are you ready?! Okay, fight!

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

Tournament Announcer: Look at those two go! The speed is unbelievable!

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

Tournament Announcer: Lettuce has Trunks in a stranglehold! What a magnificent, alert move! I’m simply amazed!

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

Tournament Announcer: That blow was explosive!

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

Tournament Announcer: Wh-what an unexpected turn of events! I’d say Trunks has a slight lead!

<LEDAS IMPACTS HARD AGAINST THE GROUND; TRUNKS, HOWEVER, STOPS>

Announcer: What a fine hit! Youch! That’s gotta hurt! My back is aching just watching it!

Trunks: Whoa, you have a tail. Are you a Saiyan?

Ledas: <IMPATIENT AT THIS RESPITE> How do you know?

Trunks: My father is a Saiyan, too. <PROUDLY> I’m half-Saiyan. I had my tail removed when I was a baby. <TANGENT> That’s what my mom said.

Ledas: Real Saiyans keep their tails!

Trunks: Oh yeah? Well I’m doing fine without it. Look what I can do!

<TRUNKS GOES SUPER SAIYAN; LEDAS DOES NOT REACT QUICK ENOUGH, LEAVING TRUNKS TO HAVE AN OPEN SHOT ON LEDAS’ FACE; THE PUNCH CONNECTS; LEDAS IS THROWN BACK>

Tournament Announcer: What’s this? Trunks’ hair has suddenly turned golden! This must be some kind of spiritual concentration!

<HOWEVER, AS TRUNKS GOES TO PUNCH HIM AGAIN, LEDAS JUMPS UP INTO THE AIR, AND THEN HE COMES SHOOTING BACK DOWN, LANDING A KICK ON TRUNKS’ HEAD; IT CONNECTS>

Tournament Announcer: Oh nice! That one really struck its mark!

<TRUNKS, STILL IN SUPER SAIYAN, IS UNFAZED; HOWEVER, LEDAS LANDS IN FRONT OF HIM>

Ledas: <TO HIMSELF> How is this kid a Super Saiyan?!

<LEDAS RUSHES TRUNKS AND PUNCHES HIM ACROSS THE FACE BEFORE KICKING HIM UP INTO THE AIR>

Tournament Announcer: They’re soaring into the air!

<LEDAS TELEPORTS UP TO WHERE TRUNKS IS FLYING TO; HE CHOPS AT TRUNKS’ BODY, CAUSING THE HALF-SAIYAN TO TUMBLE AWAY>

Tournament Announcer: And onto the offensive! Lettuce has now brought out a sudden and fierce combo!

<LEDAS FOLLOWS THIS UP WITH A TELEPORT-FLYING KICK, THOUGH TRUNKS DODGES THIS WITH A TELEPORTATION OF HIS OWN>

Tournament Announcer: He’s… he’s gone!

<TRUNKS REAPPEARS TO LEDAS’ RIGHT AND TRIES TO COUNTER LEDAS BY PUNCHING HIM IN THE BACK, BUT LEDAS BACKFLIPS OVER HIM AND THEN CLUBS DOWN ON TRUNKS’ HEAD, CAUSING THE BOY TO FALL TO THE GROUND; LEDAS LANDS A FEW FEET AWAY FROM HIM>

Tournament Announcer: An amazing battle unfurled up in the sky! The damage is really starting to show!

<TRUNKS STANDS UP AND LEDAS ATTEMPTS TO KICK AT HIM, THOUGH TRUNKS DODGES OUT OF THE WAY; TRUNKS QUICKLY JUMPS INTO THE AIR AND KICKS LEDAS ACROSS THE CHEEK; THEN, HE SHOOTS A BEAM INTO LEDAS’ STOMACH>

Announcer: Wha… what an incredible attack! That strike was perfectly timed!

<LEDAS STUMBLES BACK, BUT THEN, WITHOUT WARNING, HE AIR DASHES RIGHT AT TRUNKS ;HE READIES A SMALL ENERGY BALL IN EACH HAND, THEN THROWS THEM AT TRUNKS; AS TRUNKS GOES TO BLOCK THESE, LEDAS APPEARS BEHIND THE BOY AND KICKS HIM FORWARD, THEN LUNGES AND PUNCHES HIM TO THE GROUND>

Tournament Announcer: Absolutely incredible! We’re seeing a plethora of moves here! You can’t take your eyes off this for an instant, folks!

<TRUNKS STUMBLES TO GET BACK UP; HE IS CLEARLY WEAKENED>

Tournament Announcer: Trunks is hanging tough! But it looks like the attack is having some effect!

<TRUNKS YELLS OUT AND OUTSTRETCHES HIS HANDS; HE CREATES A GOLDEN ENERGY BALL IN EACH HAND THEN BRINGS HIS HANDS TOGETHER, COMBINING THE ENERGY, AND SHOOTS THE BLAST FROM HIS INDEX FINGER; THE BIG TREE CANNON FIRES STRAIGHT AT LEDAS>

Tournament Announcer: What a move! I’m amazed seeing it! Trunks’ energy is rising!

<THE BEAM SHOOTS DIRECTLY AT LEDAS; LEDAS CATCHES IT; IT STARTS TO PUSH HIM CLOSER TO THE EDGE OF THE RING, BUT HE QUICKLY OVERCOMES THIS BY BRINGING UP HIS AURA AROUND HIM AND RAISING HIS POWER LEVEL; THEN, HE JUMPS UPWARDS AND SWATS THE BEAM INTO THE SKY, WHERE IT DISSIPATES AT ONCE>

Tournament Announcer: What power! Unbelievable!

<LEDAS LANDS AND THEN CREATES A KYORRA FLASH; TRUNKS PUTS UP HIS ARMS IN DEFENSE JUST AS THE ENERGY ATTACKS HITS HIM>

Tournament Announcer: There it is! It’s the favorite move! Another lightning quick attack!

<TRUNKS IS NOT ABLE TO HOLD BACK LEDAS’ ENERGY BEAM; LEDAS QUICKLY OVERPOWERS THE BOY, CAUSING THE BEAM TO EXPLODE AND CATAPULT TRUNKS BACKWARDS, AWAY FROM LEDAS AND OFF OF THE STAGE; HE LANDS IN THE GRASS>

Announcer: Unbelievable! It’s over! What an attack! Trunks has fallen out of the ring! Lettuce wins! Both fighters are masters, possessing dizzying amounts of sheer power! But it looks like Lettuce has prevailed in this one! Let’s hear it, folks, for Lettuce, the winner of this match!

<THE ANNOUNCER HOLDS UP LEDAS’ ARM, SIGNIFYING THE BOY’S VICTORY; AFTERWARDS, THE ANNOUNCER CONTINUES WITH HIS TIRADE OF CONGRATULATING LEDAS, BUT LEDAS DOES NOT LISTEN; EVEN AS THE CROWD, RYORI INCLUDED, CHEER HIM ON, HE JUMPS OFF, SHOULDERS SLUMPED, AND QUIETLY HE RETURNS BACK TO HIS WAITING ROOM>

<LEDAS WALKS BACK TO HIS ROOM SLOWLY; HE HAS HIS HEAD BOWED, DEEP IN THOUGHT; AND HE IS NOT ALTOGETHER HAPPY THAT HIS OPPONENT WAS NOT VEGETA; AT LAST, HE REACHES HIS WAITING ROOM AGAIN>

Ledas: <TO HIMSELF; IN A WHISPER> But I wanted to fight Vegeta…

<WAITING FOR LEDAS IN HIS ROOM IS ONE PERSON; RYORI>

<HE IS STILL SHIRTLESS AND HAS THE FACE PAINT ON; LEDAS IS TOO PREOCCUPIED TO COMMENT ON IT; THE SAIYAN SITS DOWN>

Ryori: Wow, Ledas, you did great!

Ledas: How did you get in here?

Ryori: <TALKING QUICKLY> Oh, I just snuck in. Security’s pretty lax. No one’s watching the doors. <MORE SERIOUSLY> But that’s not the point! That fight was incredible! You were just like Mr. Satan out there! If you kept going like that, you’ll be as good as him for sure.

Ledas: <DISTRACTED> Yeah, okay.

<BEFORE RYORI CAN SAY ANYTHING ELSE, THE DOOR OPENS AGAIN; THIS TIME IT IS AN OLD MAN IN A DARK BLACK SUIT AND WITH HIS HAIR PULLED BACK; HE WALKS INSIDE, ALONE; HE GOES UP TO LEDAS>

Cardinal: You put up a good fight, master Ledas. Certainly, the seeding worked out in your favor.

<HE HOLDS OUT HIS HAND; LEDAS DOES NOT SHAKE HIS HAND, NOT ONLY BECAUSE HE HAS NO IDEA THIS IS A HUMAN CUSTOM, BUT BECAUSE HE IS STILL SUSPICIOUS OF CARDINAL; IN THE BACKGROUND, RYORI SCRUNCHES UP HIS FACE IN ANGER, BUT HE DOES NOT TALK>

Ledas: You. <HIS EYES NARROW> You said if I came, I could fight Vegeta. You said so! It was in the letter!

Cardinal: Indeed. But as you have seen, this showcase was neither limited to nor even built around you – in fact, I created this tournament for many great fighters. Ultimately, this is a memorialization of all of Earth’s greatest warriors, including yourself. See now, some fight. <HE GESTURES TO A SCREEN IN THE ROOM> We celebrate Earth’s victory together.

Ledas: I just wanna fight Vegeta. I don’t care about the other stuff.

Cardinal: All in due time, my boy. He has to fight in his match first. Afterwards, I’ll see what I can arrange. Is that acceptable, Ledas?

Ledas: <AVERTING HIS EYES TO THE FIGHT BETWEEN YAMCHA AND KRILLIN ON SCREEN> Sure, I guess.

<ON SCREEN, KRILLIN DODGES YAMCHA’S WOLF FANG FIST, THEN LATCHES ONTO YAMCHA’S ARM, SPINNING IT AROUND AND SNAPPING IT BEHIND HIS BACK; WITH A SINGLE KICK, KRILLIN PUSHES YAMCHA OUT OF THE RING; YAMCHA ATTEMPTS TO FLY TO RECOVER, BUT KRILLIN ELBOWS YAMCHA DOWN INTO THE GRASS; AS HE DOES THIS, THE CROWD ROARS; IT IS SO LOUD THAT BOTH HE AND CARDINAL MOMENTARILY STOP TO WATCH THE SCREEN>

Cardinal: <TURNING TO LEAVE> I will wait for Vegeta’s fight, then I’ll ask him if he’s up for another match with you. In the meantime, I have other matters to attend to.

Ledas: Wait! Don’t tell him it’s me. I want it to be a surprise.

Cardinal: <HAS A SINGLE QUIET CHUCKLE TO HIMSELF> It is strange, Ledas. Even as an alien, so much of you is like us humans. If it weren’t for your tail, I would have no idea what you are.

<WITH THAT HE LEAVES>

<LEDAS SITS DOWN; HE BOWS HIS HEAD AND CLASPS HIS HANDS TOGETHER; LISTENING TO THE ANNOUNCER, HE HEARS THAT GOTEN AND ANDROID 18 ARE FIGHTING, THOUGH HE DOES NOT WATCH; HE IS SHAKING WITH ANXIETY OVER FIGHTING VEGETA AGAIN; RYORI SITS DOWN TOO, WATCHING LEDAS, BUT HE DOES NOT DARE TALK>

<ANOTHER MATCH IS BRIEFLY SHOWN, AND IT IS GOHAN AND PICCOLO WHO ARE FIGHTING IN IT; GOHAN EASILY WINS; AFTERWARDS, TIEN AND CHIAOTZU FIGHT, THOUGH PRACTICALLY NO ONE CARES; FINALLY, ANOTHER MATCH IS SHOWN OF VEGETA AND GOKU FIGHTING; THE WINNER OF THIS MATCH IS NOT SHOWN, HOWEVER; LEDAS ONLY PARTIALLY WATCHES THIS MATCH>

<AT LAST THE DOORS OPEN IN FRONT OF HIM; CARDINAL IS THERE, GESTURING LEDAS TO COME FORWARD; LEDAS LOOKS UP BEFORE STANDING, THEN EXITS; RYORI FOLLOWS HIM>

<HE WALKS DOWN THE HALLS, SHOULDERS FORWARD, UNTIL HE REACHES THE STAGE>

<IT IS CLOSE TO SUNSET; MOST OF THE SPECTATORS HAVE LEFT; INDEED, THE ENTIRE AREA NOT AS IT WAS BEFORE; PEOPLE ARE STANDING AROUND THE STAGE, EATING FROM FOOD TABLES NEARBY; EVEN THE TOURNAMENT ANNOUNCER IS CHATTING WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE; VEGETA IS THERE, ON THE FAR SIDE; NEXT TO HIM IS TRUNKS AS WELL; SEVERAL OTHERS, A FEW Z FIGHTERS, AND UNNAMED HUMAN FIGHTERS ARE EITHER EATING OR TALKING WITH ONE ANOTHER; LEDAS WALKS PAST ALL OF THEM TO VEGETA; RYORI GOES UP TO THE FOOD TABLES AND STARTS EATING; HE INSTANTLY ENGAGES IN CONVERSATION WITH THE TOURNAMENT ANNOUNCER>

Ledas: <RATHER BLUNTLY, EVEN AS VEGETA IS STILL TURNED AWAY> Hi, Vegeta.

<VEGETA TURNS TO FACE HIM>

Ledas: <WALKS FORWARD; TALKING AS IF HE IS FAMILIAR WITH VEGETA> ‘member that time me and you took out that huge planet for Frieza in less than a day? Or when we got to go on Frieza’s ship? Or that other time we fought that real tough team of aliens, and you said…

Vegeta: <STILL UNEMOTIONAL> The first rule of war is that there are no rules.

<LEDAS SMILES UP AT VEGETA; VEGETA DOES NOT SMILE BACK; INSTEAD, HE SETS DOWN HIS PLATE OF FOOD AND GIVES LEDAS HIS FULL ATTENTION>

Ledas: <DROPS INTO HIS OWN> I’m sorry it took me so long to find you, and then that monster came and made everything worse and… <TRAILS OFF>

Vegeta: You were dead. You were still on the planet when we left you. <HE STARES AT LEDAS, WHO SIMPLY STARES BACK; VEGETA LOOKS AT HIM MORE INTENTLY> N-nappa said… <QUIETLY> he told me you were gone. Th-there was nothing I could do… All those years, I thought… <VEGETA LOOKS LIKE HE IS GOING TO GET EMOTIONAL, BUT HE CUTS THIS OFF; HE RETAINS HIS PRIDEFUL NATURE> But how are you here now?

Ledas: <EVER SO CHILD-LIKE> Well, I’ve been looking for you ever since we got separated. And now I’ve found you. So how about a sparring match, Vegeta? For old time’s sake?

Vegeta: <DRY THROAT CHUCKLE> For old time’s sake. <TURNS HIS HEAD; VICIOUSLY> Trunks, out of our way.

Trunks: <SCRAMBLING OUT OF THE WAY> Uh, okay dad.

<LEDAS AND VEGETA MOVE ONTO THE STAGE, AS THE OTHERS LOOK UP TO WATCH>

Vegeta: Hmph, it’s a been a while, hasn’t it? I’ve learned a few new techniques since we were children. <PROUDLY, BUT NOT IN A HATEFUL WAY> Prepare to be amazed.

Ledas: <QUICK RESPONSE; GRINNING SLIGHTLY> I’m gonna hit you so hard, Vegeta.

<WITH THAT, LEDAS BRINGS HIS ARMS INTO HIS CHEST, BOWS HIS HEAD, AND PUSHES OFF OF THE FLOOR WITH BOTH OF HIS FEET; HE RACES TOWARD VEGETA; VEGETA DODGES THIS ATTACK, ATTEMPTING TO BACKHAND LEDAS AS HE GOES BY, BUT LEDAS HAS CREATED AN AFTERIMAGE, LEADING VEGETA TO ONLY SWIPE AT THIN AIR; THE REAL LEDAS LANDS BEHIND VEGETA; HE LOWERS TO THE GROUND AND SIDE SWEEPS VEGETA’S LEGS, CAUSING THE PRINCE TO TUMBLE AWAY>

<AS THIS IS ALL GOING ON, THE TOURNAMENT ANNOUNCER SUDDENLY JUMPS UP AND STARTS COMMENTATING, BUT HE DOESN’T HAVE A MICROPHONE, SO VEGETA AND LEDAS CANNOT HEAR HIM>

<VEGETA RECOVERS, THEN SENDS A GROUP OF KI BLASTS AT LEDAS, STUNNING THE BOY; VEGETA USES THIS TIME TO TAKE TO THE AIR, FLYING RIGHT TO THE POINT ABOVE LEDAS; LEDAS SHOOTS UP AFTER HIM; LEDAS PUNCHES UPWARDS, VEGETA TILTS HIS BODY AWAY, MAKING THE ATTACK MISS; AS LEDAS CONTINUES FLYING UPWARD, HE OVERSHOOTS VEGETA, WHO DOUBLE KICKS LEDAS, AS HE GOES BY, IN THE RIBS>

<LEDAS GOES FLYING BACKWARDS FROM THE FORCE OF THE ATTACK, AND VEGETA CHASES HIM; WHEN VEGETA REACHES HIM, HE PUNCHES LEDAS’ LEFT SHOULDER AND GRABS HIM BY HIS RIGHT; VEGETA ATTEMPTS TO THROW LEDAS DOWNWARD IN AN IMPACT, BUT LEDAS BREAKS FREE AND KICKS VEGETA ACROSS THE FACE; VEGETA IMMEDIATELY RETALIATES WITH A BEAM, BUT IT EXPLODES; LEDAS HAD PUT UP AN ENERGY BARRIER, WHICH REFLECTED THE BLAST RIGHT BACK INTO VEGETA>

<SMOKING AND SINGED, THE SAIYAN PRINCE DOES NOT SEE LEDAS, AS HE COMES DOWN FROM ABOVE VEGETA’S HEAD, CONNECTING HIS FOOT WITH THE SMALL OF VEGETA’S BACK; VEGETA IS SENT DOWNWARD, WITH LEDAS IN HOT PURSUIT; BEFORE VEGETA REACHES THE GROUND, HE AFTERIMAGES BEHIND LEDAS AND PUSHES THE BOY TO THE GROUND>

<LEDAS ROLLS ASIDE, OUT OF THE WAY OF VEGETA’S INCOMING KICK, AND SENDS A SUDDEN BLAST OF ENERGY AT THE PRINCE; VEGETA TAKES IT HEAD ON, BUT IT BARELY DAMAGES HIM; INSTEAD, VEGETA’S SPEED SEEMS TO INCREASE FROM THIS, AND HE JUMPS AT LEDAS; LEDAS HAS GOTTEN UP BY THIS POINT, AND HE STEPS BACK, DEFENDING AGAINST VEGETA’S RELENTLESS HAIL OF BLOWS>

<FROM BEHIND, THE Z FIGHTERS THAT TOOK PART IN THIS TOURNEY (KRILLIN, YAMCHA, GOTEN, TRUNKS, ANDROID 18, GOHAN, PICCOLO, TIEN, CHIAOTZU, AND GOKU) WATCH THE FIGHT>

Krillin: Wow, he’s really something, isn’t he? Almost reminds me of–

Trunks: C’mon dad, you can win! Just go Super Saiyan!

Goku: Whoo, go Vegeta!

Piccolo: <FROM BEHIND THEM, QUIETLY> Vegeta isn’t trying to beat him; he’s testing him. It’s like when two dogs that have been separated for a while reunite. They don’t play again right away. Instead they sniff around and test the waters to see how much has changed. That’s what these two are doing.

Krillin: But, uh, what happens if they don’t get along?

Tien: One of them will lose an eye.

<KRILLIN GRIMACES LIKE HE ALWAYS DOES>

Yamcha: I remember seeing that kid when we fought that alien a few weeks back. I thought he said something about being friends with Vegeta.

Krillin: <WRYLY> I don’t know, Yamcha. I’ve heard Saiyans stay in their prime for a lot longer than us humans… but this is just ridiculous. He’s only Trunks’ age! He couldn’t know Vegeta.

Trunks: <TO KRILLIN> Hmph, he’s older than me. That’s why he won before.

Goten: It’s okay, Trunks. You’ll win next time!

Yamcha: Maybe there was some freak accident where he fell into some nuclear waste or something. I’ve heard it happens all the time. That’s how real super heroes are born.

<EVERYONE, AND I DO MEAN EVERYONE, IGNORES YAMCHA’S CRACKPOT THEORIES>

Android 18: <IN THAT BORED VOICE OF HERS> If he does know Vegeta, I’m sure there’s a perfect explanation for why he’s a little boy.

Krillin: <MISCHIEVOUS GRIN> And, uh, what would that reason be, honey?

Android 18: <TURNS HER FACE AWAY IN EMBARRASSMENT> How would I know?

Piccolo: <IN HIS MIND> That’s the kid I fought before. He was the one who blew up that town. <ANGRILY> He nearly killed me! And he killed all of those innocent people. But no one else knows… <PICCOLO FOLDS HIS ARMS> Better keep it that way. It’s no use bringing up what’s already happened. That kid isn’t the only one of us who’s done some ugly things in the past.

<THEY ALL DESCEND INTO THEIR PETTY RAMBLINGS SAVE FOR TIEN; TIEN KEEPS WATCHING THE FIGHT WITH ALL HIS FOCUS>

Tien: <TO HIMSELF MORE THAN ANYTHING> Their fighting styles are so similar. It’s almost like they’re the same person.

<BACK IN THE FIGHT, VEGETA KICKS, LEDAS BLOCKS; LEDAS PUSHES VEGETA AWAY AND BEGINS HIS OWN ATTACK; THE ATTACKS ARE ALL BLOCKED UNTIL LEDAS LOWERS TO THE GROUND AND SKIDS AROUND VEGETA; HE ELBOWS BACKWARDS, TRYING TO HIT VEGETA, BUT IT IS NO USE; VEGETA CATCHES LEDAS’ ARM>

<LEDAS TURNS HIS TORSO, AND WITH HIS LEFT HAND, HE THROWS AN OPEN-PALMED ENERGY BLAST AT VEGETA, BREAKING THE PRINCE’S GUARD; LEDAS THEN JUMPS INTO THE AIR TO REACH VEGETA’S FACE AND BEGINS KICKING IN A FLURRY>

<VEGETA IS PUSHED BACK, EVENTUALLY FALLING TO ONE KNEE BEFORE SLAPPING LEDAS AWAY; BOTH OF THEM HAVE A MOMENT OF RESPITE, WHERE THEY FALL TO THEIR KNEES AND BREATH OUT HARD FROM THE BATTLE>

<STILL KNEELING, LEDAS LOOKS UP AT VEGETA; THEIR FACES ARE DRIPPING WITH SWEAT; LEDAS WIPES IT AWAY; HE BREATHES IN A FEW SHARP BREATHS AND THEN GOES SUPER SAIYAN 2; HIS HAIR TURNS THE EXPECTED GOLDEN AND HIS EYES TURNING TO GREEN; WITH HIS AURA FLARING AROUND HIM, LEDAS STANDS UP AND WALKS TOWARD VEGETA, SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY; HE HAS HIMSELF READY FOR ANY ATTACK>

<AS HE REACHES VEGETA, VEGETA GOES SUPER SAIYAN 2 AS WELL>

<HE STANDS UP, AND THE TWO IMMEDIATELY GO BACK AT IT, KICKING AND PUNCHING, DIVING AND DUCKING; EACH OF THEM IS COMPLETELY OBLIVIOUS OF THEIR ONLOOKERS>

<IN THE BACK, ON THE LEFT A WAYS OF THE Z FIGHTERS, IS STANDING A SMALL HOST OF PEOPLE; CHIEF AMONG THEM IS CARDINAL, THE TOURNAMENT ANNOUNCER, AND RYORI>

<RYORI IS STILL IN HIS BATHING SUIT, AND HE HAS HIS FACE PAINTED FROM TAKING PLACE IN ALL THE PARTYING AND CELEBRATIONS OUTSIDE; STILL, HE IS WATCHING FULLY; HE HAS BARELY EVER SEEN LEDAS FIGHT, ESPECIALLY NOT THIS EMOTIONALLY>

<VEGETA AND LEDAS BEGIN FIRING SMALL KI BLASTS AT ONE ANOTHER, IN RAPID FIRE FASHION; THEY DODGE AROUND, SHOOTING THIS WAY AND THAT, WITH SOME OF THE BLASTS SKIDDING OFF OF THE PLATFORM AND AROUND THE ONLOOKERS; NONE HIT ANYONE THOUGH, THAT WOULD JUST CAUSE AN UNNECESSARY DISTRACTION>

<LEDAS LOWERS BOTH OF HIS ARMS TO HIS SIDES>

Ledas: Heya, Vegeta, remember this one?

<WITH A DEVILISH GRIN, LEDAS CONJURES UP A CYAN BALL IN EACH HAND; HE THEN PRESSES HIS HANDS TOGETHER, COMBINING THE TWO BALLS, AND AIMS THE ENERGY AT VEGETA; HE SENDS OFF A HUGE BLAST AT THE PRINCE>

<VEGETA RECOGNIZES THIS AS THE PLAYFUL GALICK, LEDAS’ VARIATION OF HIS OWN SIGNATURE SKILL; VEGETA MAKES UP HIS OWN BEAM, TOO; THIS ONE IS HIS STANDARD PURPLE ONE; HE AIMS IT AT LEDAS>

<THE TWO BEAMS COLLIDE; A BRIGHT LIGHT COMES UP, OBSCURING THE FOCUS AROUND THE TWO; DESPITE THESE TWO BEAMS BEING QUITE LETHAL SHOULD THEY BE SHOT AT BASICALLY ANYONE ELSE, BOTH LEDAS AND VEGETA ARE RESTRAINING THEIR POWERS SO THAT THEY DON’T DO SOMETHING FOOLISH LIKE BLOW UP THE PLANET>

<THE BEAMS PULSATE BACK AND FORTH, FROM LEDAS TO VEGETA AND BACK AGAIN; AFTER A FEW CYCLES, VEGETA PUTS MORE EFFORT INTO HIS BLAST AND SENDS IT RIGHT AT LEDAS; LEDAS ISN’T STRONG ENOUGH TO DEFEND AND HE IS HIT FULL ON>

<SMOKE AND ALL THAT STUFF FLIES AROUND WILDLY; VEGETA STANDS CALMLY, WATCHING FOR ANY SIGN OF LEDAS>

<BEFORE THE DUST IS FULLY CLEARED, LEDAS SPRINTS OUT, HIS ARMS IN A ‘V’ BEHIND HIS BACK; HE JUMPS AT VEGETA, SLAMMING HIS RIGHT FIST DOWN ON THE PRINCE’S CHEST; VEGETA RECOILS SLIGHTLY, THEN PUSHES LEDAS TO THE GROUND WITH A SINGLE PUNCH; LEDAS TELEPORTS UP AND STOPS IN FRONT OF VEGETA, PUTTING OUT BOTH OF HIS ARMS IN AN ATTACK; VEGETA CATCHES HIS ARMS AND THE TWO STRUGGLE IN A SILENT, GRUNTLESS BATTLE; LEDAS PUTS EVERYTHING HE HAS INTO IT, BUT HE CANNOT BEAT VEGETA’S SUPER SAIYAN 2 STATE>

<LEDAS LETS GO AND RELAXES HIS SHOULDERS; HE FALLS BACK ONTO THE GROUND, IN A SITTING POSITION WITH HIS LEGS ON HIS SIDES; HE LOOKS UP AT VEGETA>

Ledas: Aw, looks like you beat me, Vegeta.

Vegeta: Hmph, you didn’t put up much of a fight.

Ledas: At least we were a lot closer in power when we worked for Frieza! I was prolly even stronger.

<VEGETA LETS OUT A SMALL LAUGH AND FOLDS HIS ARMS AS LEDAS GETS ON HIS FEET>

Vegeta: I was always the stronger one.

<THE Z FIGHTERS COME UP AND TALK TO THE TWO OF THEM; IT IS NOTHING IMPORTANT, AND NEITHER VEGETA NOR LEDAS SEEM TO REALLY BE LISTENING TO THEM>

<FROM BEHIND, CARDINAL’S ENTOURAGE WATCHES IN SILENCE; RYORI, WITH THEM, IS FROWNING>

<FOR SEVERAL MOMENTS, HE WATCHES AS VEGETA AND LEDAS AND THE OTHER FIGHTERS ALL TALK, AND ASIDE FROM VEGETA, THEY ARE ALL LAUGHING AND TALKING>

Ryori: <TO HIMSELF, BARELY AUDIBLE THOUGH IT IS SOLEMN> Damnit, Ledas. You’re just like Shoekki… just gonna leave me and–

<LEDAS SUDDENLY APPEARS IN FRONT OF RYORI, PROBABLY BY INSTANTANEOUS MOVEMENT OR SOMETHING SIMILAR; HE GRABS RYORI’S SHOULDER AND PULLS HIM OVER>

Ledas: Oh I didn’t see you, Ryori!

Ryori: <DUMBFOUNDED AS HE IS BEING PUSHED FORWARD> Wha… you heard that?

Ledas: <COCKS HIS HEAD TO THE SIDE> Well you said my name.

Ryori: Great… you have super hearing, too.

<THEY ARRIVE AT VEGETA>

Ledas: <TO VEGETA ABOVE THE TALKING OF THE OTHER Z FIGHTERS> This is my friend Ryori. <HE LOOKS OVER AT RYORI, WHO IS SOMEWHAT AWKWARDLY EMBARRASSED BY HIS OWN APPEARANCE AMONG THESE WARRIORS> Canya take us to get food, Vegeta? I’m starving!

<VEGETA GLANCES OVER AT THE FOOD TABLES; OF COURSE, THEY ARE ALL EMPTY BY NOW>

Krillin: <PEANUT GALLERY> He sure does acts like a Saiyan…

Vegeta: Why would I know where–

Ledas: Cuz I saw your house! It’s huge. There has to be like a million pounds of food in there!

Vegeta: <HIS EYES ARE SOMEWHAT WIDENED> Fine, just this once.

Yamcha: Hey Vegeta, how about we come along and celebrate with ya guys?

Vegeta: <BREAKS IN WITH A HEARTY, SARCASTIC LAUGH; ALMOST IN AN OUT OF CHARACTER WAY> Oh yeah, that’s a good one. Invite the whole crew over! Why don’t we invite Kakarot, too?!

Goku: <FROM THE BACK> Hey, I heard that, Vegeta!

Vegeta: <SETTLES DOWN BACK TO HIS VITRIOL; RIGHT UP IN YAMCHA’S FACE> Don’t even think about it, fool. I’ll blow you away before you can get within 100 feet of her.

Yamcha: Okay! Okay! Sheesh, can’t blame a guy for asking!

<VEGETA TURNS AWAY, CHIN UP AND PRANCES OUT; LEDAS AND RYORI FOLLOW HIM; THE REMAINING Z FIGHTERS STAND THERE, DUMBFOUNDED AT THIS; IT SEEMS RATHER ODD TO THEM THAT VEGETA WOULD JUST GO OFF SO QUICKLY WITH LEDAS LIKE THIS; OF COURSE, SINCE THE TWO WERE CHILDHOOD FRIENDS, THIS SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE, BUT IT IS STILL RATHER ODD, CONSIDERING IT IS VEGETA, AND ALL OF THEM ARE QUITE PUZZLED AT HOW HE IS ACTING AROUND LEDAS NOW THAT THEY’VE FOUGHT AND BEEN REACQUAINTED PROPERLY>

Ledas: <TO VEGETA AS THEY WALK> Do you have a very good gravity room, Vegeta? That old guy in the white jacket it gave me mine. It’s really good. <CHILDLIKE GOADING> I bet it’s better than yours.

Vegeta: Bah, you stole that one.

Ledas: Oh yeah. <HE CHUCKLES IN DELIGHT> I forgot. <HE CONTINUES LAUGHING>

<THEY REACH THE OUTSIDE ENCIRCLEMENT>

Ryori: Ledas, how old are you really?

Ledas: Um, I don’t know, like how old Vegeta is.

Ryori: But that guy’s an old man. And you are just like me…

Vegeta: <TO RYORI> Watch it. I’m not that old.

Ryori: Whatever, man. But if you and him grew up together, why didn’t he get old like you? Is that something with you aliens, that only some of you get all old and gross like that?

<VEGETA GRUMBLES LIKE AN ANIMAL, BUT LEDAS IGNORES HIM; HE IS QUITE CHIPPER AS THEY ALL WALK ON>

Vegeta: Your idiot friend is right. If you really are alive, what happened out there? Why aren’t you grown up?

Ledas: <STILL GRINNING> Wewll, it’s a long, almost-incredible story. But, um, <SCRATCHES HIS HEAD> I think I forgot most of it…

<THE OTHER TWO SIGH, SHAKING THEIR HEADS; MERE MOMENTS LATER, THEY ALL TAKE OFF INTO THE SKY; LEDAS IS CARRYING RYORI AND FOLLOWING VEGETA; AS THEY SET OFF, THE CAMERA PANS BACK ALL THE WAY TO BEHIND CARDINAL; THE MAN WATCHES THEM, LOOKING UP AT THE THREE FLYING OFF INTO THE SKY; AROUND HIM ARE THE Z FIGHTERS AND A FEW HUMANS; AS VEGETA, LEDAS, AND RYORI FADE AWAY INTO SMALL DOTS, HE BOWS HIS HEAD AND WALKS OFF SCREEN>

<IMMEDIATE BLACK SCREEN AS CARDINAL EXITS>

<CUE El Scorcho>

<SLOW RE-FADE FROM BLACK>

<A MONTAGE OF SORTS FOLLOWS>

<LEDAS, RYORI, AND VEGETA ARE EATING FOOD AT CAPSULE CORP, MUCH TO THE CHAGRIN OF BULMA (BECAUSE OF HOW BARBARIC THEIR MANNERS ARE); DR. BRIEFS COMES OUT AND LEDAS HIDES HIS HEAD; THE GOOD DOCTOR SQUINTS AT LEDAS, ALMOST FINDING HIM FAMILIAR BEFORE MOVING ON WITH HIS DAILY TASKS; LEDAS RAISES HIS HEAD AT THIS AND LAUGHS; VEGETA, PERHAPS, HIDES A SMIRK HIMSELF>

<THE SCENE CHANGES TO CARDINAL, WHO WATCHES THE REMAINING Z FIGHTERS AND OTHER PEOPLE LEAVE HIS TOURNAMENT; THERE IS LOTS OF TRASH AROUND, EVEN ON THE TOURNAMENT STAGE; HE IS ALONE; THE WIND BLOWS SOME OF THE TRASH AROUND AND HE SITS DOWN ON THE EDGE OF THE TOURNAMENT STAGE AND WATCHES IT GO BY>

<THE SCENE CHANGES TO LEDAS; THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A FEW DAYS LATER; HE AND VEGETA ARE IN VEGETA’S OWN GRAVITY ROOM; THEY ARE SPARRING; VEGETA IS STILL A LITTLE RESERVED TO BE OPENING HIMSELF UP LIKE THIS, BUT SINCE IT IS LEDAS, HE IS SPARRING A LITTLE AND NOT BEING AS STANDOFFISH AS HE USUALLY IS; THE TWO SPAR FOR SOME TIME; THOUGH IT IS STILL SLIGHTLY AWKWARD AND NOT THE SAME AS IT WAS WHEN THEY WERE KIDS, VEGETA ISN’T TOTALLY OPPOSED TO THIS, WHICH MAKES LEDAS HAPPY; THE TWO DO SOME SPARRING IN THEIR SUPER SAIYAN FORMS; VEGETA SHOWS OFF HIS SUPER SAIYAN 3 FORM>

<KORIN AND YAJIROBE ARE UP ON KORIN TOWER, STILL DOING NOTHING, AND SQUABBLING OVER THEIR PRECIOUS FEW SENZU BEANS; KORIN HITS YAJIROBE OVER THE HEAD WITH HIS STAFF FOR BEING GREEDY; YAJIROBE CUTS ONE OF KORIN’S CAT TOWERS IN HALF WITH HIS KATANA>

<RYORI HAS LEFT VEGETA’S HOUSE, SOMETIME AFTERWARD; HE IS IN THE HOUSE THAT WAS MADE FOR LEDAS AND HIM; IT IS LATE AT NIGHT, AND HE IS PLAYING VIDEO GAMES; HE LOOKS BORED; SUDDENLY, LEDAS ARRIVES, AND COMES IN WITH A LOT OF ENERGY; RYORI’S FROWN TURNS UPSIDE DOWN AS HE AND LEDAS DESCEND INTO ENDLESS HOURS OF VIDEO GAMES AND PLAY; AFTER RYORI GOES TO BED, LEDAS COMES INTO THE BATHROOM AND SEES THE FULL LENGTH MIRROR COATING THE SHOWER DOOR; HE STARES INTO IT; EVENTUALLY, SITTING DOWN AS HE CONTINUES TO STARE; HE THINKS, INTO THE NIGHT, OF HOW TO GET VEGETA AND RYORI TO BE LESS AGGRESSIVE TOWARDS EACH OTHER, ESPECIALLY IF LEDAS IS GOING TO STAY; OBVIOUSLY, HE HAS NO IMMEDIATE IDEAS FOR WHAT TO DO>

<THE LAST SCENE SHOWS LEDAS RETURNING FROM A TRAINING SESSION WITH VEGETA; HE HAS A TOWEL AROUND HIS NECK; HE WALKS BACK TO HIS HOUSE AND WAVES TO RYORI, WHO WAVES BACK; LEDAS MOVES PAST HIM TO HIS BACKYARD, WHERE HIS SAIBAMEN ARE RUNNING AROUND; HE BEAMS AS THE RUN UP TO HIM; HE KNEELS DOWN TO PAT WILDE AND THE OTHERS ON THE HEAD, THEN MOVES ON TO HIS OWN GRAVITY TRAINING UNIT; HE OPENS IT AND WALKS INSIDE; HE GOES UP TO THE CONSOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT AND OPENS A SEALED BOX; INSIDE IS VERLATE’S PYRAMID; HE SHUDDERS AS HE LOOKS AT IT; THE LIGHT BRIEFLY SHINES IN ON THE BOX, CAUSING IT TO SPARKLE AND SHINE; THEN, LEDAS CLOSES THE BOX AGAIN; HIS SAIBAMEN ARE PLAYING AND FIGHTING WITH ONE ANOTHER IN THE BACKGROUND; HE LAUGHS THIS TIME AND TURNS BACK TO THEM; THE LAST SHOT IS A SIMPLE TIGHT SHOT OF LEDAS’ SMILING FACE>

<THE SCREEN RE-FADES ONE MORE TIME TO BLACK, SLOWER THIS TIME>


 * <END FULFILLMENT SAGA>

Cue Great Spirits. Credits roll during this time. This credits roll “scene-less” except for a small, continuous animation of Ledas and kid Vegeta running around throughout this sequence.

<END DRAGON BALL Z: THE FORGOTTEN>

Endnotes:

Alternate Endings
Several alternate endings to TF were considered. However, none are considered canon to anything. These alternate endings would occur just after The Benefactor defeated the Z Fighters at the end of the Reunion Saga. Thus, both of the below chapters ignore the entire events of the Fulfillment Saga.

Like A Bitch
<GOTENKS’ BODY LIES ON THE GROUND; HE’S SUPER BLOODY AND CLEARLY VERY VERY HURT; HIS LEFT EYE BALL IS REMOVED FROM THE SOCKET AND HE SEEMS TO BE MISSING AN ARM; HIS GHOST THING REALLY SCREWED HIM UP PRETTY BADLY>

The Benefactor: The tiger gallivants squares ‘bout the down triangle, his snarls being really loud. He slowly sucks the juice out of the zebra, until the gorilla comes and shows him who’s boss. And by my left hand I act upon this house, eating by the firelight with the utmost fortitude!

Vegeta: You monster! How could you do that? You’re a really bad person! What’s wrong with you? Do you kiss your mother with that mouse? Ach! If only someone way stronger and cooler than me was here to help me take this guy out!

<WITHIN MOMENTS, ALMOST AS IF GOD HAD ANSWERED VEGETA’S CRIES FOR HELP, A NEW HERO EMERGES FROM THE SKIES ABOVE THEM; KRILLIN AND YAJIROBE FLY DOWN FROM THEIR CARS AND THE BENEFACTOR ALMOST INSTANTLY VAPORIZES THE BOTH OF THEM>

Vegeta: Well, that was damn near worthless.

The Benefactor: And now the tiger gallivants about you, snake! Tonight the gorilla dies in hell!

Vegeta: Honestly, man, the metaphor isn’t really working right here, whatever you’re going for. It just comes off as nonsense.

The Benefactor: <TB, TAKEN ABACK BY THIS SUDDEN CRITICISM, RESORTS TO HIS NORMAL TYPE OF NONSENSE THAT EV’RYONE LOVES> Mommy cuts little triangles into the snake’s arms! Sonny cuts little triangles into the turtle’s shell in the dark room, but they all laugh at him and call the turtle the freak! But the triangles come again now, no matter what!

Vegeta: No! You monster! How could you say that?

<AND THEN, WITH A SUDDEN UNEXPECTED TWIST, A NEW FOE APPEARS, SLINKING STRANGELY OUT OF THE CAR THAT JUST FELL OUT OF THE SKY>

The New Foe: I thought I heard somebody say… turtle.

<THE BENEFACTOR, VEGETA, AND LEDAS ALL TURN TO SEE THIS NEW GUY, THEIR MOUTHS AGAPE; HOWEVER, AFTER SENSING HIS POWER LEVEL, THEY REALIZE THAT HE SUCKS AND ISN’T STRONG; VEGETA REALIZES THAT HE IS MASTER ROSHI; AS SUCH, THE BENEFACTOR JUST STARTS RUNNING TOWARD LEDAS AND VEGETA TO FIGHT THEM AND PROBABLY DEFEAT THEM LIKE EVERYONE ELSE>

Roshi: Hey! Don’t all you youngsters go ignoring me like that! That’s real mean! <IN HIS BURNING RAGE, HE UNLEASHES A SUPER AWESOME AND POWERFUL KAMEHAMEHA AT THE BENEFACTOR; IT HITS HIM STRAIGHT ON, KNOCKING HIM DOWN; HOWEVER, IT IS SO BIG THAT IT GOES ON PAST HIM AND HITS BOTH LEDAS AND VEGETA, INSTANTLY OBLITERATING THE BOTH OF THEM>

The Benefactor: Dude… you just killed the main character. I was, like, supposed to do that…

Roshi: True men don’t kill coyotes. <WITH A SUDDEN BURST, HE RUNS AT THE BENEFACTOR, LANDING A HUGE AMOUNT OF BLOWS ALL ACROSS HIS BODY; HE ENDS IT BY STEALING TB’S KNIFE AND STABBING HIM 37 TIMES; HE THEN BREAKS TB’S KNIFE, WHICH MOVES TB TO TEARS BUT HE HIDES HIS TEARS>

The Benefactor: That was easily the greatest combo I’ve ever seen, ever. <HE STARES AT ROSHI WITH FANGIRL-ISH ADMIRATION, BEFORE REMEMBERING HIS ORIGINAL INTENTIONS> But how could you do that to Ledas, man? He’s like super important to the story.

Roshi: <WITH CUNNING> He might have been important before, but now he’s dead… Jim.

The Benefactor: What? How do you know my true name that I’ve never told anybody ever besides my old pet cat Snookums?

Roshi: It’s because I’m the motherfucking turtle hermit. <WITH THIS EPIC DECLARATION, ROSHI JUMPS INTO THE AIR AND KICKS VEGETA STRAIGHT ON IN THE FACE, BEFORE LAUNCHING A SPECIAL BEAM CANNON AT HIM THAT STRANGELY ONLY TAKES LIKE 5 SECONDS TO CHARGE UP>

<THIS SUPER COOL BEAM GOES STRAIGHT THROUGH TB’S STOMACH, MEANING THAT STOMACH FLUIDS AND BLOOD START LEAKING OUT>

Roshi: <LIKE A COMPLETE BEAST> You might want to get a doctor to look at that. <ROSHI POUNCES AT THE INJURED BEAST, BEFORE PIMP SLAPPING HIM RIGHT ACROSS THE HEAD; THIS SENDS TB FLYING TO THE FLOOR, AND ROSHI COMES DOWN ON HIM TO LAND THE FINISHING BLOW>

The Benefactor: <AS ROSHI COMES DOWN ON HIM, HE IS OVERCOME WITH DESPERATION; FEARFULLY, HE BELLOWS OUT THE FOLLOWING ATTACK> Wild Sense!

<TB QUICKLY DISAPPEARS, LEAVING ROSHI TO HIT THE GROUND AND MAKES A HUGE CRATER IN IT; IN FACT THE CAMERA ZOOMS OUT AND SHOWS THAT ROSHI DESTROYED LIKE ½ OF THE WORLD WITH THIS AWESOME ATTACK, MEANING THAT HE ALSO KILLED LIKE 3 BILLION PEOPLE>

Roshi: How? How could you do that?

The Benefactor: Using Wild Sense takes mad skillz, ya old man. Mad skillz.

<ROSHI, INFURIATED BY THIS TAUNTING, POUNCES AT HIM AGAIN; ACCORDINGLY, TB WILD SENSES OUT OF THE WAY; TB THEN ATTACKS ROSHI AGAIN WITH HIS SUPER POWERFUL ATTACK OF MYSTERIOUS ORIGINS NAMED “DEATH RAY BEAM OF DEATH”; IT HITS ROSHI STRAIGHT ON THE HEART BUT HE DOESN’T EVEN FLINCH>

The Benefactor: You’re… you’re so strong. How high is your power level, man?

Roshi: 139.4… but it rounds down. <EVERYBODY (WHICH HERE JUST MEANS TB) STARES AT ROSHI IN AWE, NOT BELIEVING THAT A MAN WITH SUCH A LOW POWER LEVEL COULD BE SO KICK-ASS>

The Benefactor: Wha- whe- wh- ousa – de – what?

Roshi: Hmph. You’ve apparently never fought against a true master of martial arts. <HE ONCE AGAIN LEAPS AT TB, BUT TB JUST WILD SENSES AWAY LIKE A BITCH; HE CONTINUES JUMPING AT HIM AND MAKING REAL WILD PUNCHES, BUT NONE OF THEM CONNECT BECAUSE OF TB’S MAD WILD SENSING SKILLZ>

Roshi: Stay still so I can shoot you. <TB, JUST FOR FUN, WILD SENSES AGAIN> Argh diddle fumps! I guess I’ll have to use my bestest attack of all time. You won’t believe this one. <ROSHI EXTENDS ONE HAND AT TB, WHO STANDS STILL> Lightning Surprise! <A BOLT OF ELECTRICITY EXTENDS FROM ROSHI’S HAND, BUT BEFORE IT CAN MAKE CONTACT TB WILD SENSES AWAY>

The Benefactor: Oh har har har! You thought that could beat me? You’re an idiot! A complete idiot! You should just go kill yourself. That’s how pathetic that was. <UNBEKNOWNST TO HIM, ROSHI’S OTHER HAND WAS EXTENDED IN THE OTHER DIRECTION, AND HE FIRES A SECOND BLAST FROM IT; THIS ONE MAKES ALMOST IMMEDIATE CONTACT, ENVELOPING TB WITH THE GREATEST OF EASE>

Roshi: Hmph. I memorized your Wild Sense pattern and therefore knew exactly where you were going to be after you wild sensed, and aimed my other hand to target that exact area… bitch.

The Benefactor: Oh goddamnit. <ROSHI CLENCHES HIS HAND DOWN, THUS CAUSING THE WOMB OF ELECTRICITY TO EXPLODE; WITH IT GOES TB’S LIFE, AS HE QUICKLY EVAPORATES WITHIN THE FIERY MESS OF STUFF>

Goku: <RUNS ONTO THE SCENE> Don’t worry guys! I’m here to save the day! Wee-hoo! <SEES ROSHI> Um, where’s TB, sensei?

Roshi: I killed the bitch.

<CREDITS ROLL, DURING WHICH Killing in the Name BY Rage Against the Machine PLAYS THE ENTIRE TIME>

<THE END>

Endnotes:

To Be Proud
Krillin: Oh, Vegeta… <SOLEMNLY AND QUIETLY TO THE SAIYANS> How bad is it? Can we beat him?

Vegeta: <ANGER RISING> Great, the bald man’s here.

Krillin: Y-yeah, I know I’m not much help. Where’s Goku? Yajirobe said he wa–

Vegeta: Kakarot and the rest can’t help us. Pfft. Neither can you. Stay out of my way. <span style=“color:#DC143C”>

Ledas: <SPEAKING UP> What if we did that fuse-y thingy like Gotenks?

Vegeta: <LOOKING TO KRILLIN> He’s so weak, you would lose power from fusing with him.

Krillin: Now hang on a moment, Vegeta. Your friend’s got a point. If we did fusion, we might just be strong enough to beat this guy.

Vegeta: How could anybody possibly think that?

Ledas: Aw come on, Vegeta. Show us how!

Vegeta: Arghhhh. Fine. You take your fingers like this, and…

<VEGETA ASSUMES THE POSITION AND DOES THE DANCE HALFWAY>

Vegeta: <IN A BARK> Just like that, all right?

Ledas: <TOGETHER> Okay!

Krillin: <TOGETHER> Okay!

Vegeta: <TO LEDAS> And lower your power to his level.

Ledas: Wewll shucks. That’s really low.

Krillin: <SCRATCHING THE BACK OF HIS HEAD> Ah, sorry buddy. Heehee.

<LEDAS LOWERS HIS POWER LEVEL>

Ledas: Okay, let’s go.

<LEDAS AND KRILLIN DO THE DANCE; AS THEY ARE DOING IT, VEGETA THINKS TO HIMSELF>

Vegeta: Wait, why’s he fusing with the bald guy. We’d be a better–

<A BRIGHT FLASH OF LIGHT OVERTAKES THE SCREEN; VEGETA SHIELDS HIS PRINCELING EYES>

<FROM THIS NEW LIGHT, SLOWLY FADING, A NEW HERO IS BORN>

New Hero: Hmmm, what should I call myself. How about Kedas? No no, wait. I got it. Lillin. No, that’s no good. Hey, I know, Ledaillin. Yeah, that’s a great one.

Ledaillin: <POWERS UP> All right! All this power! I feel so much stronger!

Vegeta: <FROM BEHIND> I hope that’s not the bald man speaking…

Ledaillin: Aaaahhgggghhh!!!

<HE POWERS UP TO HIS MAXIMUM; THE MOUNTAINS BEHIND EXPLODE INTO LAVA WHEN HE REACHES HALF-SUPER SAIYAN 1>

<LEDAILLIN STEPS UP TO FACE THE BENEFACTOR>

Ledaillin: Whatchoo gonna do? Whatchoo gonna do? I’m too coo’ for you! Haha!

<TB GETS UP FROM PLAYING WITH THE SAND ON THE GROUND; HE MOVES FORWARD TO THE FUSION AND LOCKS INTO HIS BATTLE STANCE>

The Benefactor: Is that your… full power?

Ledaillin: <JUMPS FORWARD, HITTING AT TB> And dere ain’t nuttin you can do ‘bout it!

The Benefactor: <ENRAGED BY THIS; QUIETLY> Oh, iss owhn.

<AS LEDAILLIN DANCES ABOUT, TB STEPS BACK; HE THEN DOES A BEAUTIFUL BACKFLIP FORWARD, LANDING RIGHT ON LEDAILLIN’S SHOULDERS; HE GIVES THE FUSION A SINGLE PUNCH TO THE FACE, SENDING LEDAILLIN FLYING BACKWARD AND SIGHING AS HE GOES, SEEING AS THAT’S WHAT PEOPLE DO WHEN THEY GET HIT>

<THE BENEFACTOR THEN FINISHES THIS UP WITH A 10X FAMILY KAMEHAMEHA AND MELTS LEDAILLIN AND KILLS HIM>

<TB TURNS TO VEGETA>

The Benefactor: That was anticlimactic, dontcha think?

Vegeta: <SHAKING HIS FISTS TO THE SKY> Darn you!

<TB ENTHUSIASTICALLY JUMPS OVER TO VEGETA AND PULLS HIM DOWN TO THE GROUND; THE TWO OF THEM SIT TOGETHER>

<TB TAKES OUT HIS KNIFE; VEGETA KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE KNIFE COMES OUT AND ALREADY ASSUMES HE’S A GONER; TB THEN LIFTS UP HIS SLEEVE TO SHOW VEGETA HIS BODY>

The Benefactor: <SHOVING HIS EXPOSED ARM INTO VEGETA’S FACE> Heya Vegeta, I have to ask. Whaddya think that’un looks like?

Vegeta: <MUFFLED FROM THE ARM IN HIS FACE> Shdaaa whaa?

The Benefactor: <POINTS WITH HIS OTHER HAND TO HIS ELBOW> See here, lookie. Look! Doesn’t that look like a spider to you? C’mon, tell me I did good. I’ve been working on it for years.

<THE SPIDER IS SHOWN, CRAFTED MAGNIFICANTLY AND ELEGANTLY; ITS LONG LEGS AND PLUMP BODY ALL MELDED PERFECTLY ONTO TB’S ARM; IT BELONGS IN A MUSEUM, VEGETA THINKS TO HIMSELF>

Vegeta: <IN SHOCK OVER THIS> It-t-t-t’s a… a… a spider!

The Benefactor: <CLOSES HIS EYES AND NODS> It’s a spider.

<THE END>

Endnotes:

Endnotes
For my own reference, the chapter word counts are as follows:
 * 1: 1936
 * 2: 2337
 * 3: 1788
 * 4: 2211
 * 5: 2279
 * 6: 2038
 * 7: 2264
 * 8: 1944
 * 9: 3088
 * 10: 1592
 * 11: 2521
 * 12: 6361

For my own reference, the alternate ending word counts are as follows:
 * 1: 1164
 * 2: 646

< Part 29.7 <p style="text-align: right;">Part 29.9 >