Lauto Saga (The Forgotten)

'Please note: This story contains graphic fights, and deaths may be horrifying. Characters will swear, sometimes severely. Sexual content is present, but has been censored/removed.'

The Lauto Saga is the second saga in the series Dragon Ball Z: The Forgotten. It takes place after the Prince Vegeta Saga and before the Planet Earth Saga. It chronicles the aftermath of Planet Vegeta's destruction, and the survival of the Saiyan Ledas during his crash landing on Planet Cooler 92.

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

Theme Song
The theme song for this Saga is After The Fall by Two Steps From Hell.

Complete Dialogue
When I was born

I had bright blue eyes.

Over the years, they mysteriously turned

more and more green.

And now

my eyes are going back

to a darker teal.

I wonder if this is normal...

-KidVegeta

Lyin' And Laughin'








Planet Cooler. 92 Technician 1:  We have some type of object incoming, matching the standard space pod classification. Can anyone confirm?

Planet Cooler. 92 Technician 2: Roger, it’s definitely a pod.

Planet Cooler. 92 Technician 3: Strange, we don’t have any due for return today…

Planet Cooler. 92 Technician 1:  Look, there is now clear visual. The verification number is definitely not one of ours.  I’m pinging the pod for a response. <PRESSES A BUTTON, WAITS; NOTHING HAPPENS>

Planet Cooler. 92 Technician 2: No response…

Planet Cooler. 92 Technician 3: What should we do?

Planet Cooler. 92 Technician 1: I’ll contact the Captain. <LEANS OVER AND PRESSES A BUTTON> Captain Banas, we have an unknown pod approaching base, no responses received…please advise.

Payar: <THERE IS A BRIEF PAUSE> Say again, soldier? The captain’s out, this is Payar. Go ahead, and I’ll see if I can help.

Planet Cooler. 92 Technician 1: Sir, we have a space pod incoming. It’s not one of ours, so we tried pinging it for response, but got none. We need someone to check it out when it lands.

Payar: Where’s it headed to?

Planet Cooler. 92 Technician 1: It is projected to land in the southern quadrant. A visible smoke trail should lead you to it.

Payar: <CURTLY> Send first platoon to my location. We’ll investigate.

Planet Cooler. 92 Technician 1: <PAUSES> Affirmative sir. They are on their way. And, sir…should I inform the governor?

Payar: No, soldier. I will tell Guva myself.

<CAMERA CHANGES TO THE SOUTHERN QUADRANT; MANY REGULAR SOLDIERS, APRIDO, MELOON, AND PAYAR AMONG THEM, MOVE TO THE LOCATION OF THE POD; THERE IS A VISIBLE SMOKE TRAIL ABOVE THEM, TO THE LEFT, DECENDING TO RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM>

Soldier 1: <THE SOLDIERS APPROACH THE POD> It hasn’t opened yet.

Soldier 3: Maybe they’re dead?

Soldier 4: Or maybe it‘s a trap. <A FEW TAKE A STEP BACK>

Payar: <MOVING FORWARD THROUGH THE CONGREGATION OF TROOPS AROUND THE POD> Get back! <PRESSES BUTTON ON SCOUTER> There’s a faint reading coming from inside, so whoever it is, they’re not dead.

<PAYAR WALKS UP TO THE POD AND HITS IT, IT OPENS; UNCONSCIOUS, LEDAS FALLS OUT, DRIED BLOOD IS ON HIS FOREHEAD>

Soldier 2: Ah, he is dead!

Soldier 1: No, only unconscious.

Payar: <KNEELS DOWN TO INSPECT THE STRANGER, HE PICKS LEDAS UP BY THE TAIL> Well, this is interesting. It’s a Saiyan. A child.

Meloon: I thought Frieza killed them all.

Payar: Evidently not. But that was a long time ago… over a year, I think. Why did he just get here now?

Meloon: <PEERING IN> May’e he got lost?

Payar: <CAUGHT UP IN HIS OWN GLORY> Imagine the reward we will get for delivering such a prize to Lord Cooler!

<PAYAR STANDS UP; MELOON SHOOTS AN EVESDROPPING SOLDIER, WHO FALLS OFF THE HILL THEY ARE ON INTO A CREEK BELOW; PAYAR THEN TURNS TO MELOON>

Payar: <IN A STRICT WHISPER> We go straight to the Captain with this, not Guva. <TURNING BACK TO THE SOLDIERS> Two of you, grab the kid. We’re taking him back to base.

<2 SOLDIERS CARRY LEDAS BACK TO CAMP WITH THE REST OF THE GROUP; LEDAS WAKES UP>

Soldier 1: Uh sir, he‘s waking up.

<LEDAS SENDS OUT A POWERFUL ENERGY WAVE THAT KILLS THE TWO SOLDIERS CARRYING HIM, HE DOES A ROLL TO THE RIGHT, INTO THE FOLIAGE; THE GROUP OF SOLDIERS PURSUE HIM>

Payar: <READING HIS SCOUTER> This one has some fight in him. Look at his power level. I’ve never seen a Saiyan with one so high.

Meloon: <STILL CONFIDENT, NOT WORRIED> He is still much weaker than us.

Aprido: <WITH A FEW OTHER SOLDIERS, THEY RUN AT LEDAS> Come back here you runt!

Payar: You are not to kill him.

Meloon: He he, Payar ya think he could?

<LEDAS BACKS INTO A CORNER, HAVING KILLED SEVERAL MORE SOLDIERS, THE REST HAVE BACKED OFF A BIT, PAYAR AND MELOON MOVE FORWARD, TO HIM>

Payar: <SHOUTING> Give it up, Saiyan! We don’t want to kill you!

Ledas: <CORNERED; PANICKY> I am a super elite! You don’t know who you’re dealing with.

Meloon: That don’t mean shit out here.

Payar: Even the best of you Saiyans are nothing compared to us. We don’t want to kill you…

Meloon: …yet….

Payar: <CLOSES EYES> I am losing patience.

Ledas: No! <LEDAS SHOOTS A POWERFUL ENERGY BLAST AT THE TWO; IT DOES NOTHING>

Meloon: Ha ha ha! That all you got?

<IMPATIENT, PAYAR RUNS AND TRY TO HIT LEDAS, BUT THE SAIYAN DODGES IT; LEDAS THEN MOVES AROUND PAYAR, AND SHOOTS A BURST OF ENERGY AT HIM, BUT IT IS EASILY DEFECTED; PAYAR JUMPS AGAIN, AND THIS TIME HE IS TOO FAST FOR LEDAS, PUNCHING THE SAIYAN CHILD IN THE FACE AND KNOCKINGS HIM OUT; PAYAR PICKS HIM UP AND STARTS CARRYING HIM>

Meloon: <IN A GOOD MOOD> This better be worth it.

Payar: <CALMING DOWN> It could get us off this rock. That’s worth it to me.

<LEDAS WAKES UP FROM A DAZE, HE IS INSIDE, IN A ROOM WITH PAYAR, WHO IS SITTING ACROSS FROM LEDAS, WITH HIS KNEES UP>

Ledas: <SITTING UP> What happened? Where am I?

Payar: <UNCONCERNED, FIDDLING WITH SOMETHING IN HIS HANDS> I knocked you out.

Ledas: <ANGRY, TRIES TO GET UP> You coward.

Payar: <RAISES HAND> Save it.

Ledas: <IS TOO WEAK TO GET UP, SO STAYS SITTING> At least tell me where I am!

Payar: Planet Cooler 92, in the ’great’ factory-outpost. And it’s a shit hole.

<BANAS, LIEME, MELOON ENTER THROUGH A DOOR ON THE RIGHT>

Banas: <WALKS UP TO PAYAR AND LEDAS; BANAS SHOOTS OUT ENERGY BEAMS, WHICH BIND LEDAS, CAUSING THE SAIYAN TO RISE INTO THE AIR, HOVERING, ARMS AND LEGS OUTSTRETCHED> So tell me, Saiyan… what the hell are you doing on my planet?

Ledas: <FIGHTING AGAINST THE ENERGY BINDS> I don’t know. This wasn’t where I was going!

Banas: Still, you landed here, and that’s all that matters now. <STARTS TO PACE A BIT> But entertain me… where was it that you were headed?

Ledas: <VERY CHILD-LIKE, STILL FIGHTING AGAINST THE ENERGY> That’s none of your business!!!

<BANAS, QUICKLY MOVES AND HITS LEDAS, SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES; HE GRABS LEDAS’ NECK AND PREPARES AN ENERGY BLAST>

Banas: Talk, or die. I don’t have time to play games with you all day.

Ledas: <FEARFULLY> I w-was headed to a planet. I don’t remember the name… me and Vegeta were gonna clear it out. P-please… just let me go…

Banas: <EXTINGUISHES HIS BALL OF ENERGY,LET‘S GO OF LEDAS, AND WALKS BACK, IGNORING HIM> Vegeta? <TURNS TO OTHERS> That name sounds familiar, who is it?

Lieme: <WITHOUT PAUSE> It’s the name of the Saiyan king and his son.

Banas: <TURNS BACK TO LEDAS> You liar. <HITS HIM> Now, tell me where you were really going.

Ledas: I did! Me and Vegeta were going to conquer a planet for lord Frieza.

Banas: You must think I’m stupid. Frieza destroyed your home planet and killed all of the other Saiyans over a year ago. I know there’s none of your kind left.

Ledas: <IN TEARS> What? <CRYING> You’re lying!!

Payar: He he he, looks like the kid didn’t know what happened. How long have you been out of touch?

Ledas: <WITH MUCH ANGER AND HATRED> I ALREADY TOLD YOU! <LEDAS BREAKS FREE OF HIS ENERGY BINDING, BUT IS QUICKLY SUBDUED AGAIN BY MELOON AND PAYAR>

Banas: Come now, why would I lie about something like that? It’s true. But judging by your reaction, I would guess you didn’t know.

Ledas: <HEAD BOWED, STILL CRYING BUT MORE SUBDUED> I didn’t know…

Payar: <FAKE ENTHUSIASM> But don’t worry, you’re safe with us. After all we’re all soldiers under Cooler, Frieza’s brother. And I don’t think he’ll try to kill you like Frieza did.

Meloon: <CHEWING ON SOMETHING> Wewll den, can I?

<NO ONE ANSWERS>

Ledas: <QUIETLY> Come on. Lemme go.

Payar: Yeah, right. And let you get away when we were just getting to know each other? You killed a lot of my men, you know. Somehow, I will make you pay for that.

Ledas: I promise I won’t tell anyone.

Lieme: <ARMS FOLDED> Never trust a monkey. <MELOON LAUGHS>

Banas: <BANAS HAD WALKED OVER TO A DESK, AND GATHERED SOME PAPERS, HE COME BACK TO THE GROUP> Payar and Meloon tell me that your power level is high for a Saiyan.

<LEDAS DOES NOT ANSWER>

Banas: <HINT OF SARCASM> We’ve already gone through this lesson. You answer me or you die. So, what is your power level?

Ledas: I don’t know…

Banas: We’ll get a reading later then to see how dangerous you are. Heh heh. <TURNS BACK TO HIS TROOPS> For now we need to figure out some kind of plan to keep this quiet from Guva.

To Cooler, With Love
<THE CAMERA IS LOOKING DOWN FROM THE SKY, ONTO ONE OF THE BUILDINGS; VOICES ARE HEARD COMING FROM INSIDE, AND THE CAMERA SLOWLY ZOOMS>

Payar: <STILL UNSEEN, THE CAMERA IS MOVING FORWARD TO THE BUIDLING> No, I told him not to say anything. I think we still have time.

Lieme: I do not think this will be something that you can hide for much longer, Captain. If you want to move, you need to do it now.

Banas: <CAMERA FINALLY REACHES THE BUILDING, IT GOES INSIDE, BANAS, PAYAR, AND LIEME ARE TALKING; MELOON HAS LEDAS SUBDUED IN A CORNER> Very well. Payar, Meloon, take this Saiyan to my quarters. Guva won’t be able to get in there, even if he does suspect us. We will keep the child there until I fig-<GUVA, FLANKED BY SEVERAL SOLDIERS ENTERS>

Guva: Captain Banas. <LOWERS HIS HEAD AS HE STEPS THROUGH THE DOOR; LOOKS AROUND> Conspiring, are we?

<GUVA WALKS INTO THE ROOM, LEAVING HIS GUARDS AT THE DOOR>

Banas: <WALKING FORWARD TO BLOCK THE VIEW OF LEDAS> Governor… you’re here early. I didn’t even put out the tea yet-

Guva: <WALKS PAST HIM> Spare me the theatrics, captain.

Guva: <SPOTS LEDAS, IN THE CORNER> Who is this?

Banas: He’s just one of our grunts.

Guva: <SEES LEDAS’ TAIL; SMILES> We have no Saiyans on this installation, Captain. And, if I may be so bold, I would say he was the one who recently crash landed in the southern quadrant.

Banas: That is a bold accusation.

Guva: Bold? Perhaps. Incorrect? I think not. <WITH AUTHORITY> Hand him over.

Banas: <DEFIANTLY STARES BACK AT GUVA>

Guva: Believe it or not, I am still much stronger than you, Banas. Just like always.

Banas: I hope you are not implying you wish to kill me? <LAUGHS> That would set such a bad example.

Guva: <WALKS PAST BANAS> Payar, give me the child.

Payar: <SITTING, KNEES UP AGAIN, ON THE EDGE OF THE DESK; SEEMS UNCONCERNED AS HE PAUSES FOR A SECOND> Yeah, take him.

Lieme: <IN A WHISPER TO BANAS> All of us together could take him.

Banas: <WHISPER, OUT OF THE SIDE OF HIS MOUTH; STILL EYEING GUVA> Now is not the time, Lieme.

Banas: <GUVA GRABS LEDAS, AND STARTS WALKING OUT, BANAS WAVES TO HIM> Until next time, governor. <GUVA WALKS OUT, WITHOUT ANOTHER LOOK AT BANAS> Don’t worry boys, we’ll get the last laugh out of all of this. I’m sure we will.

<ONBOARD COOLER’S SHIP, UNKNOWN LOCATION>

Cooler Soldier 1: My lord, we have an incoming transmission from Planet Cooler 92.

Cooler: <IN HIS CHAIR, COOLER IS LOOKING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION, OUT AT A WINDOW> Very well.

<SOLDIERS TURN ON THE SCREEN, GUVA IS STANDING, LOOKING THROUGH HIS SCREEN>

Cooler: <AS IF BORED> What is it, governor?

Guva: Yes, my lord. <PAUSES> We recently had an intruder land at our base.

Cooler: <TAIL MOVES, AS IF IRRITATED>

Guva: This intruder was a Saiyan. He killed several of our men, and his power level is quite high.

Cooler: <TURNS AROUND TO LOOK AT GUVA> Now why, governor, would you go out of your way to call me up over such a pedestrian tale?

Guva: It was only a child, milord.

Cooler: Ah. Just a child… that nearly managed to topple your little regime? And it benefits you to tell me this, how?

Guva: No sir, we were able to contain him, quite fast actually. But we thought since Lord Frieza’s destruction of the Saiyan planet so long ago, this could be one of the last… so we kept him alive…

Cooler: Even my dear brother couldn’t get rid of all the rats. It’s just like him to be careless with that. No, even he has several onboard his ship, right now.

Guva: Oh… well, since this one looks like he could have a lot of potential… maybe you would like to take him, milord?

Cooler: You <EXPRESSION REMAINS UNREADABLE> wish to give me a gift.

Guva: Yes… sir.

Cooler: You know, governor, I remember 92. And I must say… I am surprised.

Guva: Sir?

Cooler: Planet 92, is a rather easy one to manage. Quite different from the trials it took to get a governor there, but an easy rule nonetheless. The local species are weak, but they are also useful workers. I assumed that you would like that. But, perhaps, you would prefer more excitement? More adrenaline? Tell me, governor, was I wrong in putting you in charge of that planet?

Guva: N-no, sir. Of course not.

Cooler: Planet Vegeta was in Frieza’s quadrant. They are his mess, his fear. I do not care about his drama, governor. Such things are beneath me, and should be beneath you. <TURNS BACK TO FACE THE WINDOW> Though I must say, if only a child was able to kill so many of your soldiers, he will be an interesting, if not impressive project, should you decide to keep him.

Guva: Yes, my lord.

Cooler: Perhaps, with enough guidance, he could outmatch you one day.

Guva: <GUVA TRIES TO HIDE HIS RAGE, LIP TREMBLING> Yes, of course, lord Cooler.

Cooler: Oh, one more thing, Mr. Guva. If I wanted to reassign you, I would have done it by now. Good day, governor.

<TRANSMISSION ENDS, STAYS ON GUVA IN HIS OFFICE. BANAS, WHO WAS OFFSCREEN, ENTERS>

Guva: <SHOOTS A POWERFUL BEAM OF ENERGY THROUGH HIS WINDOW, MELTING A LARGE CIRCLE THROUGH IT> The f**k am I supposed to do?!?!?!

Banas: Backfired, did it? <LAUGHS>

Guva: <FURIOUSLY> Brilliant deduction, s**thead.

Guva: <TRYING TO COMPOSE HIMSELF> Br-bring in the child.

Banas: Why?

Guva: That wordy little bastard gave me an idea. Go on, bring him in!

<BANAS GOES OUTSIDE, RETURNS WITH LEDAS>

Guva: <REGALLY> Good news, Saiyan. I will spare your life.

Banas: <MOCKINGLY> Now that you’re safe, I think we should-

Guva: You will be part of Banas’ team.

Banas <EYES WIDEN> What?

Guva: That’s right, YOU will train him. It will be your job to make him into a competent soldier.

Banas: <STEPING FORWARD, TRYING TO ELIMINATE LEDAS FROM THE CONVERSATION> <HE GETS RIGHT UP TO GUVA’S FACE> We did not discuss this.

Guva: <MENTALLY PUSHING HIM BACK> “We” don’t have to. I am in charge here.

Banas: <STARES BACK AT GUVA FOR SEVERAL MOMENTS THEN BREAKS OFF> Don’t count on it being as easy as before, kid. <WALKS OUT ANGRILY>

Guva: Now, Saiyan, let‘s talk for a moment.

Ledas: Sir?

Guva: You know the man who just left… Banas? My captain?

Ledas: <FEARFULLY, LOOKING AT THE GROUND> Yeah…

Guva: I get the feeling you don’t like him.

Ledas: <OBVIOUSLY SCARED> I don’t know him…

Guva: You don’t need to lie to me. As it so happens, I don’t like him either. So, I ask again; do you like my captain?

Ledas: <A BIT MORE CONFIDENTLY> No.

Guva: <SMILES> That’s more like it. Now, let us discuss what I want to do to him.

Ledas: But he’s right outside, he could hear you!

Guva: Then, <KNEELING DOWN> let us whisper now, together, you and I.

Ledas: <INNOCENTLY> Do you want me to kill him?

Guva: <STILL IN A WHISPER> Train under him, learn all he knows. And then, when the opportunity presents itself, dispose of the bastard.

Ledas: But… what’s in it for me?

Guva: How about I don’t kill you.

Ledas: <STARES AT GUVA, CURIOUS>

Guva: Is that not enough for you? How would some information about your fellow Saiyans do, then?

Ledas: <EAGERLY> There are other Saiyans alive? Who? When can we see them?

Guva: <PUTS ONE FINGER OVER HIS LIPS>

Guva: <GESTURES TO THE DOOR> Until next time, then.

<CUTS TO BANAS, HE IS ANGRILY WALKING OUT OF GUVA’S OFFICE, AND IS DOWN ONTO THE GROUND LEVEL NOW; AS HE WALKS, HE, IN TANTRUM, KICKS UP THE DIRT AS HE WALKS>

<BANAS ENTERS THE BARRACKS, AMONG OTHER SOLDIERS, PAYAR IS THERE>

Banas: <AGITATED> Payar, we’re going.

Payar: <SITS UP> Where to, captain?

Banas: I haven’t the faintest idea.

Wind Swept
<SPACE SHOT OF A PLANET, IT IS NOT 92; THE CAMERA DISSOLVES INTO FOCUS ON PLANET IT IS FLAT, WITH SOME HILLS, BUT THERE ARE VERY FEW TREES, THE GROUND IS COVERED IN A LIGHT YELLOW/GREEN TALL GRASS; THERE ARE FIVE SPACE PODS LINED UP IN A ROW, EMPTY; DOWN A TRAIL, BANAS AND HIS ‘TAINS, AS WELL AS LEDAS ARE ALL IN A FLAT AREA>

<ALL ARE WALKING, BANAS SEEMS A BIT PREOCCUPIED>

Payar: Yeah, you should’ve seen the look on their faces… ha ha ha!

Meloon: You let ‘em keep their faces? I tell ya, I wouldn’t have done that.

Payar: That’s the difference between you and me, Meloon. I keep people around to witness what I do to them. You just kill them all, before anyone can see what happened.

Banas: Stop, this is it.

Meloon: This is what?

Banas: <TO LEDAS> I want you to show me your full power.

Ledas: <AS IF UNABLE TO, DUE TO VEGETA’S INFLUENCE> I can’t…

Banas: That is no matter. I have other ways to force my will.

<THE WIND PICKS UP, A LITTLE>

Banas: Meloon?

Meloon: Yeah, boss?

Banas: Make him bleed.

Meloon: <A WIDE SMILE ON HIS FACE> No probl’m.

<MELOON MOVES FORWARD, LEDAS MOVES BACK>

Meloon: Aw, come back. I ain’t gonna hurt ya! <CRACKING HIS KNUCKLES> Heh heh heh!!! <LEDAS STOPS, MELOON DISAPPEARS, AND REAPPEARS BEHIND LEDAS, HE PUNCHES LEDAS AWAY, INTO THE GROUND; MELOON WALKS UP, AND PICKS THE CHILD UP BY HIS TAIL> Come on, kid. Ya aren’t even tryin’! <THROWS LEDAS AWAY, HE LANDS ON HIS FEET>

Banas: You know, kid, it must have been hard to deal with the thought that all you care about, they are all dead. It’s only you left… all alone, with your betters.

Ledas: Shut up!!!

Banas: Your parents, your friends, all gone.

Ledas: SHUT UP!!!!!

<BANAS NODS TO MELOON, WHO ATTACKS AGAIN; THIS TIME LEDAS DODGES, AND FIGHTS BACK, HE STARTS RAINING ENERGY BLASTS DOWN ON MELOON>

Meloon: Heh, that tickles. <HE RISES INTO THE AIR AND KICKS LEDAS, SENDING HIM FLYING, MELOON FIRES A BEAM OF ENERGY AFTER HIM, WHICH DETONATES ON LEDAS AND CAUSES A HUGE BURST OF SMOKE; THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF IT, LEDAS DROPS TO THE GROUND; MELOON PURSUES HIM; WHEN MELOON REACHES LEDAS, HE STEPS ON THE UNMOVING CHILD, PRESSING DOWN; LEDAS STARTS SCREAMING, AND SPITTING UP BLOOD>

Meloon: Ha ha ha!

<LEDAS SENDS OUT A WAVE OF ENERGY AND PUSHES MELOON OFF OF HIM; HE THEN GETS UP AND CHARGES AT MELOON, PUNCHING AT HIM

Lieme: <WATCHING FROM AFAR> 15,000, captain.

Banas: That’s high, for a Saiyan, and a child at that. But still, I wonder why he is putting up so much of a fight with Meloon…

<CUTS BACK TO LEDAS, WHO IS VIGOROUSLY ATTACKING MELOON; MELOON, GETTING ANNOYED, BATS HIM AWAY, LEDAS FALLS TO THE GROUND AGAIN>

Meloon: <THERE IS A SMALL BRUISE ON HIS FACE, HE IS AWARE OF IT> You can’t beat me, you’re just a stupid monkey! <WALKS UP TO LEDAS, STARTS STOMPING DOWN ON HIM>

Ledas: Ahhhhhh!!!!!

Lieme: <SHOUTING, FROM AFAR> Meloon! You’re going to kill him.

Meloon: So?

Lieme: Do you remember nothing?! We are to keep him alive!

Meloon: Uh, I knew that.

<BANAS, LIEME, AND PAYAR WALK UP TO MELOON; LEDAS IS ON THE GROUND, COVERED IN BLOOD, GASPING AND COUGHING>

Lieme: <KNEELING DOWN TO LEDAS, INSPECTING THE CHILD> Cap’n, he’s going to die, if we don’t do anything soon. He has massive internal bleeding.

Banas: Idiot, Meloon! Payar, you have a kit on you?

Payar: Yeah, I’ll save him… <QUIETLY> this time.

Banas: <LOOKING OFF INTO THE DISTANCE> Fix him up, and let me know when you’re done. I’m going to go check something out. <BANAS TAKES OFF, AND STARTS FLYING, LOW TO GROUND, HIS SCOUTER IS SHOWING STRANGE CHARACTERS, AFTER A WHILE, BANAS LANDS>

Banas: So, what are you doing here? As you can see, I already eliminated this planet. There’s no real purpose for you to be here… unless you’re following me.

<THREE ALIENS COME OUT, FROM BEHIND SOME FOLIAGE>

Alien 1: Don’t tell me we’re in the presence of the illustrious Captain Banas?

Banas: <WITH HIS BACK TO THEM> You from 96? You smell like it.

Alien 3: Aha ha ha. Classy as ever, Captain.

Banas: Yeah, you’re from 96. So why‘d you follow me?

Alien 1: It was foolish to return here, Banas. <NODS TO THE OTHER ALIENS THEY ALL ATTACK>

<BEFORE THEY REACH BANAS, HE JUMPS TO THE AIR, STILL NOT FACING THEM, THEY CHARGE, AND HE DOES A BACKFLIP OVER THEM, LANDING RIGHT BEHIND THE SECOND ALIEN, HE BLASTS IT; THE OTHER TWO TURN AROUND AND ATTACK HIM, SENDING TONS OF BLASTS TOWARD BANAS, WHO EFFORTLESSLY HITS THEM AWAY, HE WORKS HIS WAY THROUGH THE BLASTS ALL THE WAY TO ALIEN 3, AND WITH A SINGLE SWIPE, DECAPITATES THE ALIEN; THE FIRST ALIEN IS HIT WITH A BLAST, AND FALLS TO THE GROUND>

Banas: <DECENDS TO THE GROUND, NEXT TO SINGED ALIEN> You’ve a lot to learn. And you’re lucky I’m in a good mood. Because I want you to go and tell your captain what I‘ve done. Tell him that 92 will always beat you guys at 96 any day, any place.

<THE ALIEN GETS UP, AND RUNS OFF; BANAS WATCHES HIM, THEN, WHEN THE ALIEN IS OUT OF SIGHT, BANAS RETURNS TO HIS SQUAD>

Payar: <LOOKING DOWN, STILL WORKING ON LEDAS> What was that all about?

Banas: Sometimes, I just get the urge to shake the beehive, to see if the bees will actually come out to sting me.

Lieme: <STANDING, LOOKING AT BANAS> So did they?

Banas: Heh, we’ll see.

First Glimpse
<BACK ON PLANET COOLER 92, GUVA’S OFFICE, THIRD FLOOR; HE AND BANAS ARE LOOKING AT THE WINDOW THAT GUVA SHOT A GIANT HOLE THROUGH EARLIER>

Guva: There are consequences for everything you do, Captain.

Banas: You went too far this time. The kid will only slow us down.

Guva: Perhaps. But let this be a lesson.

Banas: <WITH MUCH ANGER> A lesson?

Guva: Yes, Captain, you always seem to learn best from inconvenience.

Guva: <GETS UP OUT OF CHAIR, LYING> You see Banas, Lord Cooler wants us to train the Saiyan. And I will follow his orders, so if you’ve got a problem with that, then you can take it up him yourself.

Banas: <OBVIOUSLY WILL NOT DO THAT, COOLER IS TOO DANGEROUS TO BRING INTO THE DRAMA> Hmph… you’re smarter than you look.

Guva: Just wait ‘til you get to know me.

Banas: But about your other new idea… I would like to hear your inspiration for such an event.

Guva: <STARING OUT THE WINDOW> These native species are like animals. So unskilled and uncivilized, and I must confess boredom.

Banas: I'll put them up against the lower class grunts then. They could use some fun.

Guva: Yes, I agree, we need the morale boost. A content army is not likely to rebel. <HE LOOKS AT BANAS, WITH A CURIOUS FACE>

Banas: Ha! You should go out and fight them.

Guva: They‘re not worth my time.

Banas: Mmmhmm. <NODS, LAUGHS> Always the same elitist crap with you.

<CUTS TO PAYAR AND LEDAS, WHO ARE WALKING ON A TRAIL THROUGH A FORESTED AREA> Payar: No funny business kid. Normally Lieme does this, but the captain thought it would be better for you to try.

Ledas: <CHILD TONE> But what am I doing? <HIS INJURIES FROM THE BATTLE WITH MELOON ARE MOSTLY GONE, IN ADDITION, HE IS NOW WEARING COOLER‘S STANDARD ARMOR IN PLACE OF HIS PREVIOUS FRIEZA ARMOR; COOLER‘S ARMOR DOES NOT HAVE A SHOULDER GUARD OVER THE RIGHT SHOULDER, HIS ARMOR IS COLORED BLACK ON GREEN, WHICH IS THE SAME AS LIEME‘S ARMOR>

Payar: <CONFESSING, BUT EMBARASSED THAT HE HAS TO> I can’t do the energy binds.

Ledas: <IN AWE> You can’t use energy?

Payar: <THEY COME UP TO CLEARING, BELOW IN A VALLEY, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF NATIVES WORKING, IN A QUARRY TYPE SETTING> Shut up. Look, see those down there? Use your energy to bind their hands and legs together, we’re going to bring them back to command, without incident. <PAUSES, LEDAS DOESN’T SEEM LIKE HE WANTS TO DO IT> Do it, or you'll get beaten again.

<LEDAS, SCARED BY THAT, JUMPS DOWN INTO THE QUARRY AND SENDS OFF ENERGY BINDS TO THE NATIVES; THEY OFFER NO RESISTANCE, WHICH LEDAS FINDS CURIOUS; AFTER A FEW MOMENTS, LEDAS HAS THE WHOLE POPULATION LINED UP, BOUND TOGETHER; THEY, WITHOUT A NOISE, MOVE FORWARD, BACK TO THE OUTPOST>

Payar: <THERE IS A HUNGER IN HIS EYES> Good, good. <TO THE NATIVES> Come on, pick it up <HE HITS ONE OF THE NATIVES, IT SLUMPS OVER DEAD, THE REST CONTINUE MOVING, FASTER, CARRYING THE DEAD ONE ALONG WITH THEM>

<LEDAS IS WATCHING THIS ALL, CURIOUS; AS A FEMALE NATIVE PASSES HIM, IT GIVES HIM A CHILLING LOOK; NOT ONE OF SADNESS OR DESPAIR, BUT OF PITY; AS SHE WALKS BY, LEDAS STAYS STILL, WATCHING HER; THE CURIOSITY ON HIS FACE IS NOW MIXED WITH SADNESS>

<THEY ALL RETURN TO THE OUTPOST; SOLDIERS, CURIOUS LINE THE STREETS, LOOKING IN ON THE PROCESSION; PAYAR IS AT ITS HEAD, AND LEDAS IS FOLLOWING BEHIND, HE NOW IS WALKING AS IF WITH A WEIGHT ON HIS SHOULDERS; HE SEEMS TO BE SAD; THEY REACH GUVA‘S OFFICE, THE GOVERNOR IS STANDING OUT IN FRONT>

Guva: Ah, <TO PAYAR AND LEDAS> good job, you two. We are in for an interesting night. A very interesting night.

<CUTS TO THE EVENING, GUVA IS STANDING ON A BALCONY, BELOW HIM, THERE IS A GLADIATOR RING, DOZENS OF NATIVES ARE IN IT, PACING NERVOUSLY>

Guva: <SITTING, BUT THEN STANDS UP> <IN A BELLOW> Let us begin!! <THE DOORS OPEN ON THE FAR SIDE, DOZENS OF LOW CLASS SOLDIERS ENTER AND START SHOOTING BLASTS FROM THEIR WRIST MOUNTED GUNS AT THE NATIVES>

Guva: <BANAS AND HIS ‘TAINS, AS WELL AS LEDAS ARE WITH HIM> See, captain, isn’t this entertaining? <THE SCREAMS OF NATIVES, AND THE LAUGHS OF SOLDIERS RISES TO A DEAFENING LEVEL>

Payar: <WATCHING IT ALL, HIS EYES ARE TWINKLING> Yes, it is amazing.

<THE YELLING STOPS, ALL THE NATIVES ARE DEAD>

Guva: <STANDS UP AGAIN; PRESSES A BUTTON, THE DOORS REOPEN AND THE SOLDIERS LEAVE; A NEW GROUP OF SOLDIERS AND NATIVES COME OUT> Round two!!! <ROUND TWO STARTS, MUCH LIKE ROUND ONE>

Banas: What does everyone think of putting our new acquisition into the mix?

Guva: <SITTING, DOES NOT LOOK BACK AT BANAS> Yes.

Banas: Payar, take our little Saiyan down there.

Ledas: But, I don’t wanna g- <PAYAR GRABS LEDAS BY THE ARM, AND PULLS HIM DOWN, CARRYING HIM ALL THE WAY TO THE RING, HE THROW THE KID INTO THE GROUP OF SOLDIERS GOING FOR ROUND 3>

Payar: <WALKING OFF, BACK TO GUVA’S LEDGE> And don’t think about running off! You know what’ll happen to you, if you do.

<THE GROUP FOR ROUND THREE IS SMALLER, WITH ONLY 6 OTHER SOLDIERS BESIDES LEDAS, APRIDO IS AMONG THEM>

Aprido: So Saiyan, you’re in our group?

Ledas: <HEAD BOWED, VERY UPSET> Yeah.

Aprido: <SINISTER> Don’t get in my way, I don’t want someone so weak stoppin’ my fun.

Ledas: <HEAD STILL BOWED> Yeah, right.

<APRIDO IS ANGRY, BUT THE DOORS OPEN AGAIN, UP ABOVE GUVA CAN BE HEARD>

Guva: <IN A SHOUT> Round three!!!

<ALL, INCLUDING LEDAS ENTER THE RING; THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF NATIVES, CROWDING LITERALLY EVERY AVAILABLE SPACE IN THE RING, AS SOON AS THE DOOR CLOSES, THEY ALL CHARGE>

<THE FIVE LESSER SOLDIERS START FIRING BLASTS IMMEDIATELY, SHOOTING DOWN DOZENS OF NATIVES, BUT THERE ARE TOO MANY AND THE SOLDIERS ARE OVERWHELMED AND KILLED; JUST LEDAS AND APRIDO ARE LEFT>

Aprido: Aren’t you gonna attack? Come on, they’re running right at us! <LEDAS JUST STANDS THERE, HEAD BOWED, ARMS CROSSED>

Aprido: <TO HIMSELF> He thinks he's better than me? Well just wait, that little ape won't see what I have in store!

<APRIDO CHARGES UP A BLAST, AND TAKES OUT A LOT OF NATIVES, THE MAJORITY OF THEM FOCUS ON HIM, BUT A FEW, CAUTIOUSLY RUN UP TO LEDAS, AND START CIRCLING HIM, ALMOST SCARED TO ATTACK HIM; AFTER A FEW MOMENTS, A BOLD NATIVE JUMPS ON HIM, ALL THE OTHERS QUICKLY FOLLOW; LEDAS OFFERS NO RESISTANCE, AND FALLS TO THE GROUND, AS THE PUNCH AND KICK HIM>

<THE NATIVES CONTINUE TO PUNCH AND KICK LEDAS, HE STARES OFF INTO THE SKY ABOVE, AS IF UNAFFECTED>

Ledas: <IN HIS HEAD> I wonder what would Vegeta do? <A BRIEF FLASHBACK IS SHOWN OF THE TWO BLOWING UP A CITY FILLED WITH THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS, THEY ARE LAUGHING AND HAVING A GREAT TIME> <A TEAR COMES TO LEDAS’ EYE> Vegeta wouldn’t be so weak. <OUTLOUD, DETERMINED> He wouldn’t be so weak!!! <LEDAS SENDS OUT A WAVE OF ENERGY, DESTROYING THE NATIVES UPON HIM, HE GETS UP, AND SENDS OUT ONE MORE BLAST, DETONATING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RING, CAUSING A HUGE WHIRLWIND, KICKING UP DIRT AND SMOKE; WHEN ALL THAT CLEARS, ONLY APRIDO AND LEDAS ARE LEFT STANDING>

Guva: So captain, you think this Saiyan is going to slow you down, huh?

Banas: <LOOKING DOWN TO THE RING; STARING WITH A LITTLE BIT OF ANGER AND RESIGNATION ON HIS FACE>

Among The Giants
<IT IS RAINING SLIGHTLY, THE GROUND OUTSIDE IS MUDDY; BANAS, PAYAR, LIEME, MELOON, AND LEDAS ARE OUTSIDE, IN A FLAT, TRAINING AREA>

Banas: Lieme, Payar, begin your rounds, I’ll work with the kid and Meloon today.

Lieme: <NODS> Boss. <LIEME AND PAYAR RISE INTO THE AIR, AND START SPARRING>

Banas: <WALKS OVER TO MELOON AND LEDAS, THE RAIN PICKS UP> Now Saiyan, I know you’re stronger than you let on. But my team, the Plantains is a legendary force, feared by all. I will not let you bring down our reputation so fast. Meloon!

Meloon: Yeah?

Banas: Show this kid what’s expected of a member of my team. Oh, and don’t try to kill him this time.

Ledas: <AS MELOON IS APPROACHING HIM, HE HOLDS HIS GROUND> <IN HIS HEAD> Vegeta wouldn’t run from this guy… he would laugh at him! And then beat him! <MELOON REACHES LEDAS> Heh he heh.

Meloon: What’s so funny?!

Ledas: Aha ha ha!!! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!

Meloon: Why, you lit- <IN MID SENTENCE, MELOON IS HIT IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD BY LEDAS, WHO HAD MOVED TOO FAST FOR THE ELITE TO SEE; MELOON HITS THE GROUND, AND HIS HEAD IS COVERED IN MUD>

Lieme: <SEES MELOON FALL, STOPS> Hey, Payar. <NODS TO MELOON> Check it out. <BOTH STOP SPARRING, WATCH MELOON AND LEDAS’ FIGHT>

<MELOON GETS UP, HE IS ANGRY; HE CHARGES LEDAS, WHO DODGES OUT OF THE WAY, AND SHOOTS A BLAST AT MELOON>

Lieme: It’s amazing. Look, Meloon is obviously the stronger one, yet he’s losing. The child is playing on Meloon’s weaknesses, and he’s winning now, when he shouldn’t be.

Payar: How do you know?

Lieme: That’s what I would do.

<CUTS BACK TO MELOON AND LEDAS, LEDAS AND HIM ARE SPARRING, LEDAS DODGING EVERY PUNCH AND KICK MELOON IS THROWING AT HIM; MELOON IS HIT TO THE GROUND AGAIN, LEDAS SHOOTS A HUGE BEAM OF ENERGY AT MELOON ON THE GROUND, MELOON IS BLOWN INTO A HUGE CRATER>

Banas: Thank you, Meloon, for single handedly destroying my reputation for me. His power level didn’t even go above 24,000. You’re ten times as strong. So why is it you that’s on the ground? Hmmm?

Meloon: <GETS UP> Little brat confused me…

Banas: Lieme! Get over here!

<LIEME DECENDS TO THE GROUND, SENDING MUD FLYING>

Banas: You and the kid.

Lieme: Boss. <MOVES FORWARD AND ATTACKS LEDAS; THIS TIME LIEME IS EASILY THE BETTER, AND UNLIKE MELOON OR PAYAR, HE DOES NOT TOY WITH LEDAS; HE HIT’S THE CHILD INTO THE GROUND, AND EFFORTLESSLY MOVES AROUND HIM, CONTINUING TO CONFUSE HIM; LEDAS, FRUSTRATED, SENDS OUT SEVERAL KI BLASTS; LIEME CATCHES ONE AND THROWS IT BACK AT HIM; LEDAS, BREATHING HARD, GETS UP AGAIN>

Banas: Thank you, Lieme. As you can see, kid, we-

Ledas: <STANDING DEFIANTLY> Why didya stop? I wasn’t done.

Lieme: <WITHOUT A WORD, LIEME HITS LEDAS AGAIN, WHO BLOCKS IT, BUT CAN’T HOLD IT, HE IS THROWN INTO THE AIR; LIEME SHOOTS A KI BARRAGE AT HIM, AND THEN DISAPPEARS TO BEHIND HIM, AND HITS THE CHILD INTO IT; LEDAS FALLS TO THE GROUND, YET AGAIN; HE IS UNCONSCIOUS>

<FLASHBACK>

<LAYEECK AND LEDAS ARE TRAINING IN A SLIGHTLY FORESTED AREA>

Layeeck: Now then, what do you do when the opponent is stronger than you?

Ledas: <WANDERING OFF, NOT PAYING ATTENTION> I dunno…

Layeeck: <WITH CONTEMPT> If you were a coward you would run, but we are Saiyans, we never retreat.

Layeeck: Think! What is your opponent dependant on?

Ledas: <FLOATING> A scouter?

Layeeck: Very good. That is the first thing that you should always go for. <PAUSES> But what if they

don’t need a scouter?

Ledas: <FLYING UPSIDE DOWN, STILL NOT PAYING ATTENTION> Then I have to use the power ball.

Layeeck: It will drain your power to even use it. So it’s a gamble. But if you have to…

<LEDAS COMES BACK INTO CONSCIOUSNESS; HE LOOKS UP AT LIEME WHO IS FAST APPROACHING HIM; HE SEES LIEME DOES NOT WEAR A SCOUTER; LEDAS ROLLS OVER AND GATHERS HIS ENERGY AND SHOOTS A POWER BALL INTO THE AIR; LIEME STOPS, ABOUT TEN YARDS AWAY FROM LEDAS>

Lieme: <EYES WIDEN> Oh, well this is going to be interesting.

Big Mistake
<CLOSE UP OF THE POWER BALL, IT IS SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET IN THE AIR AND IS SHINING BRIGHTLY; THE RAIN HAS STOPPED>

Ledas: <ROLLS OVER ONTO HIS BACK, IS LAUGHING> Ha ha ha. You guys don’t know what I’m about to do, huh? <STANDS UP, ARMS OUTSTRETCHED>

Lieme: Boss, we have a situation here.

Banas: Yeah, what is that thing?

Lieme: It’s-

<LEDAS STARTS TRANSFORMING INTO HIS GREAT APE FORM, HE GROWS VERY TALL, AND GAINS HAIR ALL OVER HIS BODY; IN JUST A FEW SECONDS, LEDAS IS FULLY TRANSFORMED>

Lieme:… an artificial moon.

Banas: Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me…

<LEDAS JUMPS FORWARD, AND BATS LIEME AWAY, INTO A NEARBY MOUNTAIN, PAYAR MOVES FORWARD, BUT LEDAS GRABS HIM IN HIS HAND; LEDAS LAUGHS AGAIN; HE THEN THROWS PAYAR TO THE GROUND, COVERING HIM IN RUBBLE; BANAS RISES INTO THE AIR TO FACE THE APE AS HE TURNS TO AROUND TO APPROACH THE CAPTAIN>

Banas: There’s not many people alive who could single-handedly take out my entire team… with such ease. I applaud you, Saiyan. <HE CLAPS TWICE, AND ON THE SECOND CLAP DISAPPEARS; LEDAS LOOKS AROUND, BUT DOES NOT SEE HIM; BANAS REAPPEARS ABOVE THE APE’S HEAD, AND HANDS INTERLOCKED, BRINGS DOWN A POWERFUL PUNCH ONTO HIS CRANIUM; LEDAS, IN A ROAR OF RAGE JUMPS INTO THE AIR, MUCH HIGHER THAN BANAS EXPECTS, AND HITS HIM AWAY; BANAS IS ABLE TO RECOVER, MIDAIR, AND IMMEDIATELY SHOOTS A POWERFUL BEAM OF ENERGY AT LEDAS; LEDAS, AS WELL, WITHOUT HESITATION SHOOTS A BEAM OF ENERGY OUT OF HIS MOUTH, CAUSING A BEAM STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE TWO; BANAS, BEING MORE THAN TWICE AS STRONG AS LEDAS IN HIS GREAT APE FORM, EASILY OVERPOWERS IN THE STRUGGLE; A HUGE EXPLOSION SENDS LEDAS FLYING WAY BACK INTO THE FOREST, HE IS LAYING DOWN, NOT MOVING>

Banas: <MOVING OVER TO PAYAR> Hey, <BREATHING HEAVILY> Payar, you there?

Payar: <ROLLS OVER; DAZED AND IN PAIN> Hey, cap’n. Did ya get him?

Banas: <GLANCES OVER AT LEDAS, WHO STILL IS NOT MOVING> Not yet. You know how to get him back to normal?

Payar: Naw, cap’n. <COUGHS> Try Lieme, he‘ll prolly know... He knows everything…

Banas: <RISES INTO THE AIR, AND FLIES OVER TO LIEME> Lieme! You awake!?

Lieme: <COMES FROM AROUND A CORNER OF THE RUBBLE; HE IS DISHEVELED AND LIMPING> Yeah, boss, I’m here.

Banas: I need to know how to get him <NODS TO LEDAS> to go back to normal.

Lieme: <PAUSE> You have to cut off his tail. <COUGHS> It won’t be easy though.

Banas: Are you okay to fight? Can you help?

Lieme: Sorry, boss. <SLIDES DOWN TO A SITTING POSITION UP AGAINST THE ROCK> I can’t.

Banas: Alright. Meloon won’t be of any use either. I’ll try to get to his tail, before he wakes up. Stay here, I’ll be back.

Lieme: Heh, <COUGHS AGAIN> were else would I go, boss?

<BANAS RISES INTO THE AIR, AND FLIES OFF TO LEDAS; UNFORTUNATELY, LEDAS IS LYING ON HIS BACK, AND BANAS CAN’T GET TO HIS TAIL; HE TRIES TO ROLL THE SAIYAN OVER>

Banas: <IN AGONY> C-c-c-ome on!!!! Roll over, you big ape! <BANAS GETS LEDAS ROLLED OVER HALFWAY, WITH HIS LEFT HAND, HE KEEPS LEDAS PINNED UP, WITH HIS OTHER, HE READIES A RAZOR BLAST TO SEVER THE SAIYAN’S TAIL>

<LEDAS’ EYES OPEN, WITH A GROWL, HE TAKES HIS HAND REACHES BEHIND TO HIS BACK TO HIT BANAS; BANAS DODGES IT; LEDAS GETS UP AGAIN AND GRABS A TREE, HE THROWS IT AT BANAS, WHO DUCKS>

Banas: You even in there, Saiyan? Or are you just the beast inside?

Ledas: <LAUGHS> Captain.

<BANAS IS TAKEN ABACK BY THIS AND LETS HIS GUARD DOWN, LEDAS CHARGES AND GRABS HIM, THE RAISES HIM TO THE AIR, AND SLAMS HIM INTO THE GROUND>

<LEDAS TRIES TO STEP ON HIM, BUT BANAS MOVES OUT OF THE WAY, ROLLING THROUGH LEDAS’ LEGS; HE SEES AN OPENING AND SHOOTS A RAZOR BLAST UP AT LEDAS’ TAIL, IT SEVERS IT AND THE SAIYAN QUICKLY REGRESSES, FALLING TO THE GROUND, HARD, INTO A POOL OF HIS OWN BLOOD>

Banas: <STANDS UP, FIXES HIS HAIR, AND LOOKS AT THE SAIYAN> All this destruction from such a little kid. <WALKS OVER TO LEDAS, HE IS SLEEPING> What the hell was Guva thinking?!

<CUTS TO THE MEDICAL BUILDING>

<BANAS IS WALKING DOWN THE HALLS, WITH LESSER ALIENS WORKING ON SEVERAL REJUVENATION PODS; IN THE PODS, LIEME, PAYAR, AND MELOON ARE HEALING; STRANGELY, THOUGH HE IS INJURED HIMSELF, BANAS IS NOT GETTING HEALED>

<GUVA ENTERS>

Guva: <SERIOUS> This Saiyan gave your team quite a shellacking, didn’t he? I’m lucky to have you as my captain, Banas. Were you not as strong and smart as you were, he would have probably destroyed half the outpost, before I could respond.

Banas: <SERIOUS AS WELL, BUT STILL LOOKING AT HIS TEAM> Maybe, but the real question is, what do we do with him now? Do we kill him? <BOTH START WALKING>

Guva: No, I think he’s tamed now. I don’t think he’ll try the same trick twice. That form’s main power, after all, is it‘s unexpectedness. And now that that’s no longer a problem, the form itself is no longer a problem. <BOTH ARRIVE AT LEDAS’ TANK, THEY LOOK AT HIM; LEDAS IS BRUISED, AND WITHOUT A TAIL>

Banas: Look at him sleeping. So peaceful. <PUTS HIS HAND ON THE TANK> Well, enjoy your rest while you can, kid. You're gonna need it.

<CAMERA ZOOMS INTO BANAS’ EYES; THERE IS A BRIEF MONTAGE OF LEDAS BEING PUNISHED AND TORTURED ALL AROUND; HE IS THROWN ABOUT, BLOODIED, AND PHYSICALLY WORN OUT; THE CAMERA ZOOMS BACK OUT TO BANAS’ FACE; HE CHUCKLES>

A Mess Of Politics
<FLASHBACK>

Layeeck: What else is the power ball good for?

Ledas: It can re-grow my tail, but-

Layeeck: But what?

Ledas: <CHILD-LIKE> Power balls are hard to make.

Layeeck: You have to practice the technique. Whenever you have a free moment… try and make one.

Ledas: But what happens if I transform… I’d have to cut off my tail again.

Layeeck: If you feel you are about to transform, just destroy the power ball. No, your tail is your identity;

without it, you won’t be nearly as strong. Without it, you are no longer a Saiyan.

Ledas: But you cut off my tail…

Layeeck: <LOOKS ANGRY> Circumstances dictate responses.

Ledas: <INNOCENTLY, PLAYFULLY> I don’t know what you’re talking about…

<SCREEN FADES TO LEDAS, WHO IS WALKING OUTSIDE, HE IS HAVING A HARD TIME, AND FALLS OVER, BUT THEN GETS BACK UP, HE RETURNS TO HIS ROOM (note: Ledas is one of Banas’ personal elite, and therefore has a priority room in the barracks), AS HE WALKS PAST THE TROOPS, BARELY ABLE TO BALANCE, THEY LAUGH AT HIM; HE GOES INTO HIS ROOM, IT IS PLAIN WITH LITTLE BESIDES A BED, HE SITS ON IT>

Ledas: <LOOKING DOWN AT HIS HAND, HE CREATES A POWER BALL> Can’t let the others see… <THE POWER BALL STARTS TO FORM, AND GETS BIGGER, LEDAS’ WHOLE ROOM IS COVERED IN A BRIGHT LIGHT, HE IS HOLDING IT IN HIS PALM, BENT OVER IT, STARING CURIOUSLY>

<SUDDENLY, SOMEONE KNOCKS ON THE DOOR; LEDAS QUICKLY EXTINGUISHES THE POWER BALL; IT IS PAYAR>

Payar: Come on, Saiyan, we’re going.

Ledas: Going where? <PAYAR IS ALREADY GONE; LEDAS GETS UP AND RUNS OUT AFTER HIM>

<BANAS AND HIS ‘TAINS ARE ON ANOTHER PLANET NOW, ALL MOVING ACROSS A BARREN, SUNDRIED DESERT THE SUN IS BRIGHT IN THE SKY; BANAS GETS A POWER LEVEL READING, HE STOPS>

Banas: <LANDING ONTO THE GROUND> We’ve got trouble.

Lieme: <LANDS AS WELL> What is it, boss?

<SUDDENLY A TEAM OF SOLDIERS LANDS TO THEIR RIGHT, IN A DRAMATIC FASHION, DUST COVERS THEM, BUT ONE MOVES FORWARD, OUT OF IT ALL>

Banas: Ah, the bees. I was wondering when they would show up.

Planet Cooler 96 Captain: Captain Banas. It’s been a while.

Banas: What are you doing here? This is our mission.

Planet Cooler 96 Captain: <SHAKES HIS HEAD, LAUGHING> Go home boys, you couldn’t handle this anyways.

Meloon: Ha!

Lieme: Hmph.

Banas: Really? I wonder if you can back up your words, Captain.

Planet Cooler 96 Captain: <STEPS UP, INCHES AWAY FROM BANAS’ FACE> You know, I don’t take kindly to someone who kills my men. Especially when it’s fellow captain.

Banas: <UNMOVING, CONFIDENTLY> I’m surprised you care so much over such trash.

Planet Cooler 96 Captain: <STEPPING BACK A BIT> What do you propose?

Banas: You know what I want.

Planet Cooler 96 Captain: <A LIGHT IS IN HIS EYES> It’s not often I get to grind up some fresh meat. You’re on. <SIGNALS TO OTHER MEMBERS OF GROUP> But I want it one on one.

Banas: Fine.

<THE CAPTAIN RETREATS, THE PLANTAINS GATHER, TO DISCUSS STRATEGY>

Payar: Who goes first?

Lieme: <OBSERVING> We test their strength with our weakest.

Banas: <ALL LOOK AT LEDAS; IT IS NOTICEABLE THAT HIS TAIL HAS NOT REGROWN YET> That’s you, monkey.

Planet Cooler 96 Captain: Got your pick?

Ledas: <WALKING FORWARD; RIGHT HAND RAISED, SILHOUETTE SHOT, WITH THE CAMERA ON THE GROUND FROM BEHIND> Yeah, yeah.

Banas: <WATCHING HIM WALK OFF> Think he’s got a chance?

Payar: Who knows. All I care about is if it’s gonna be a good fight.

Lieme: Shut up and watch.

<LEDAS AND ONE OF THE SOLDIERS BEGIN TO FIGHT; IT IS RELATIVELY EVEN, WITH THE OTHER SOLDIER HAVING A SLIGHT UPPER HAND; AFTER SOME TIME, LEDAS IS HIT INTO A MOUNTAIN AND DOESN’T COME BACK UP>

Planet Cooler 96 Captain: <SHOUTING ACROSS TO BANAS> I hope that’s not the best you got!

Banas: Damn it. Lieme, kill him.

<LIEME RISES INTO THE AIR, AND STARTS TO APPROACH; SUDDENLY LEDAS SHOOTS OUT OF THE RUBBLE AND HITS THE SOLDIER IN THE AIR, CRACKING HIS ARMOR; THE SOLDIER IS STUNNED, AND CAN NOT MOVE; LEDAS HITS HIM AGAIN IN THE BACK, THIS TIME PUNCHING THROUGH HIS ARMOR AND KILLING THE ALIEN; THE ALIEN FALLS TO THE GROUND; LEDAS STAYS HOVERING IN MIDAIR>

Banas: Never mind.

Planet Cooler 95 Soldier 3: Coward.

Ledas: <APPROACHES THE OTHER PC96 SOLDIERS> I wasn’t done. He shouldn’t have turned his back on me!

Banas: Ledas! <LEDAS TURNS AROUND AND LOOKS AT HIM> You’ve used up your turn. Leave the rest of them for us.

<LEDAS RETURNS, HE IS RATHER HAPPY>

Banas: Lieme, take the next one.

<LIEME AND THE NEXT SOLDIER BATTLE; LIEME WINS, VERY EASILY>

<PLANET COOLER 96 CAPTAIN MOVES OVER TO HIS LAST SOLDIER, WHISPERS TO HIM>

Banas: Meloon, Payar? Which one of you want to go?

Planet Cooler 96 Captain: <MOVING FORWARD> Enough with the petty fights. Captain, let’s go, you and I.

Banas: Oh? So eager to die?

<BANAS AND THE PC96 CAPTAIN APPROACH EACH OTHER AND START TO FIGHT; LEDAS IS AMAZED AT HOW MUCH STRONGER THAN HIIM THEY ARE>

Ledas: I can barely even see them.

Lieme: Idiot. No one can see them. But we can sense them.

Payar: That right there, that is a real fight. Don’t get to see many of those on our rock.

Ledas: Why?

Payar: The only other one who’s close to Banas‘ level, is Guva. And Guva doesn’t fight.

<THE LAST REMAINING PC96 SOLDIER SUDDENLY DISAPPEARS, AND REAPPEARS BEHIND BANAS; BOTH PC96 SOLDIERS TEAM UP ON HIM; BANAS IS HIT TO THE GROUND; LEDAS MOVES FORWARD TO ATTACK>

Lieme: <GRABS LEDAS’ SHOULDER> No, fool. This is his battle.

Ledas: But they’re cheating!

Meloon: Don’t disturb the captain’s fight.

Payar: <RATHER UNCONCERNED FOR HIS CAPTAIN’S PREDICAMENT, MESSING AROUND WITH SOMETHING IN HIS HANDS AGAIN> Seriously, he’ll kill you.

<BANAS REGAINS HIS FOOTING AND CONTINUES THE FIGHT; THE OTHER TWO ATTACK HIM AGAIN AT THE SAME TIME, BUT BANAS QUICKLY ELIMINATES THE SOLDIER, IT‘S JUST THE TWO CAPTAINS NOW>

Planet Cooler 96 Captain: Heh, captain. You’re a lot faster than you look.

<BANAS MOVES BACK AND CHARGES A HUGE ENERGY BLAST, AND THEN FIRES IT AT THE CAPTAIN, THE CAPTAIN MOVES OUT OF THE WAY, BUT IT STILL IMPACTS THE PLANET, RIPPING A HUGE CHUNK OF THE PLANET OUT; THE SHOCK OF THE BLAST SENDS THE OTHER CAPTAIN FLYING, AND LANDING AT BANAS’ FEET; EVEN THOUGH HE IS WEAKENED, BANAS IS STILL MUCH STRONGER THAN THE OTHER CAPTAIN, AND AFTER SEVERAL PUNCHES, KILLS HIM>

<BANAS RETURNS>

Banas: <TO LIEME> You know, I thought their sting would be more…meaningful, more memorable. Too bad. Anyway, we should be leaving now, I think this planet’s unstable.

<ALL LEAVE AND RETURN TO 92, ON THE LANDING AREA, GUVA COMES OUT TO MEET THEM>

Banas: <GETTING OUT OF HIS POD> Hello to you too.

Guva: Banas, you-

Banas: Yeah, ok. I’m sorry I blew up the planet, but I couldn’t avoid it. I can get Cooler a new one tomorrow…

Guva: I’m not talking about the planet, Captain. You killed an entire LCPO operating team.

Banas: Oh, that? Who cares?

Guva: Lord Cooler cares. He specifically put in place rules to prevent his teams from killing each other. And here you are flaunting that around, like it was some kind of accomplishment.

Banas: Well, I th-

Guva: I don’t want to hear it. As of now, you are on indefinite suspension as Captain of Planet Cooler number 92. Until you return, Payar will assume the role of Captain. Come quietly, and I won’t bind you. But I will, if I have to.

Banas: No, I’ll come quietly. This time. <TWO OF GUVA’S GUARDS TAKE BANAS, AND THEY WALK OFF>

Guva: Now, did any of you kill a fellow soldier? <THERE IS A PAUSE> Well, did you?

Lieme: No, governor. It was all Captain Banas.

Guva: Fine, then. Payar will be the captain until Banas matures. You will continue your duties as normal. I don’t want the regulars to sense any kind of panic. Be examples, mentors to them.

Lieme, Meloon, and Payar: Yes, governor. <LEDAS REMAINS SILENT, LOOKING OFF IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION; IT IS NOTICEABLE THAT LEDAS‘ TAIL IS BACK, REGROWN>

Mysterious Presence
<SOME TIME HAS PASSED, LEDAS IS NOW 12 YEARS OLD; BANAS IS STILL ON SUSPENSION>

<LIEME AND PAYAR ARE ON A PLANET, IT IS DARK OUT AND RUGGED; THE ENTIRE AREA IS FILLED WITH NOTHING BUT ROCKS AND CAVES>

Lieme: Keep your eyes peeled.

Payar: No readings on my scouter. This place is empty. So why are we here?

Lieme: Soldiers, form up. (note: while Payar was given Captain’s rank, neither he nor Lieme has assumed complete control)

<SIX SOLDIERS, INCLUDING LEDAS, ALL FLY INTO THE AREA WHERE LIEME AND PAYAR ARE>

Payar: Kind of a creepy place…

Lieme: Four other teams were assigned to this rock before us. None of them were heard from ever again. So I want us to be extra careful.

<THE PLANET SHIFTS SLIGHTLY, THE SOLDIERS TAKE SOME EFFORT TO KEEP THEIR BALANCE>

Lieme: And did I mention the planet’s unstable?

<THEY WALK FOR A WHILE, AND COME UPON SOME DEAD SOLDIERS, NOTHING BUT SKELETONS IN ARMOR>

Payar: <KNEELING DOWN TO INSPECT> No energy burn… and no blunt trauma <TRAILS OFF> evident…

Soldier 2: So what killed them?

Payar: No idea… <ROLLS OVER ONE OF THE SKELETON’S, IT HAS AN INSIGNIA ON IT> 71, by the looks of it.

Lieme: That was the last planet to send a squad here. But that was only a week ago. I wonder why they are skeletons already…

Payar: <STANDS BACK UP, DROPPING THE SKELETON> Alright, let’s just do this and get out of here…

Lieme: <THEY CONTINUE WALKING FOR A FEW MOMENTS> Now, I need two of you to g- <PAYAR GETS A READING ON HIS SCOUTER>

Payar: <STANDS UP STRAIGHT, LOOKING AROUND> Got a power spike. It’s faint, but it’s definitely there.

Lieme: You got a direction of origin? <PAYAR NODS, AND POINTS SOUTH> Then let’s go, now.

<ALL EIGHT OF THEM FLY SOUTH (for the winter), UNTIL THEY FIND A CAVE; THEY ALL STOP; LIEME ASSUMES THAT WHERE THE POWER LEVEL SPIKE WAS SEEN>

Lieme: Payar, take 3 soldiers and go into the cave. Contact me once you find the inhabitants.

Payar: You two, come on. And you too, Saiyan. <PAYAR GATHERS HIS THREE SOLDIERS, AND THEY ALL GO INSIDE THE CAVE, AS THEY DO, PAYAR LOOKS BACK ONE MORE TIME, AND LIEME LOOKS RIGHT BACK AT HIM, TAPPING HIS SCOUTER>

Lieme: Any trouble at all, and I’m here. <PAYAR NODS, AND GOES INSIDE>

<PAYAR LIGHTS AN ENERGY BALL TO GUIDE THEIR WAY, AS THEY WALK THROUGH THE TUNNEL>

Ledas: Sir, what are we looking for?

Payar: Quiet.

<THEY WALK INTO AN AREA OF THE TUNNEL THAT WIDENS OUT CONSIDERABLY, IT IS NATURALLY LIT; AS THEY ENTER, SUDDENLY THERE IS AN EARTHQUAKE, BOTH THE ENTRANCE THAT THEY JUST CAME THROUGH, AND THE PASSAGE ON THE OTHER SIDE ARE BLOCKED OFF. SEVERAL LARGE ROCKS FALL ON PAYAR, WHEN IT ALL SETTLES, THERE IS NO MOVEMENT UNDERNEATH THEM>

Ledas: Aw, crap. <THE EARTHQUAKE SUDDENLY STOPS>

Soldier 1: Is he dead?

Soldier 2: I’ll check it out. <HE GETS CLOSER TO PAYAR’S LOCATION, BUT THEN THE EARTHQUAKE STARTS UP AGAIN, HE JUMPS BACK AND IT STOPS> Huh?

<SUDDENLY KI BLASTS START RAINING DOWN AROUND THEM, ONE SOLDIER IS KLLED IMMEDIATELY, LEDAS AND THE SOLDIER DODGE SEVERAL BLASTS BEFORE JUMPING INTO A NEARBY HOLE; AFTER A FEW MOMENTS, THE BLASTS STOP AND THEY COME BACK OUT>

Soldier 2: What the hell is going on?

Ledas: I don’t know. Maybe it’s a trap?

The Benefactor: Ya know kid, I never fancied you’d make it all the way here.

Ledas: <IN HORROR, FALLS BACK ONTO THE GROUND, HE BLINKS, THE BENEFACTOR IS NO LONGER THERE; IT MUST HAVE JUST BEEN A HALLUCINATION> D-did you see that?

Soldier 2: See what?

Ledas: <ERRATIC> That guy! With the hood! He was standing right there. <POINTS NEXT TO THE SOLDIER, NO ONE IS THERE>

Soldier 2: <STEPS BACK> You must be seeing things, kid. There was no- <SUDDENLY A HUGE ROCK FALLS IN BETWEEN THE TWO, IT CUTS THE SOLDIER ON THE RIGHT SIDE, ALL THE WAY DOWN HIS CHEST, HE FALLS OVER, IN AGONY>

Ledas: <STILL IN HORROR, BUT QUIETLY> What’s going on?

<HE WALKS OUT, THERE IS A SILENCE; UP AHEAD THERE IS A LIGHT>

Ledas: <SHIELDING HIS EYES> Who are you!? What do you want?!

Lauto: <IN A WHISPER, WHICH COMES FROM RIGHT BEHIND LEDAS’ EAR> You have suffered much loss, Ledas.

<LEDAS, STARTLED, TURNS AROUND AND SHOOTS A KI BLAST, BUT THERE IS NO ONE THERE>

Ledas: <ON EDGE> Who are you? How do you know my name?

Lauto: Who am I?

Ledas: <STILL ON EDGE, SCARED> Y-yeah…what the heck are you?!

Lauto: Open your eyes; show them to me.

Ledas: <WHO HAD CLOSED HIS EYES, BEING SCARED OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING, OPENS THEM; THEY ARE GREEN; BUT HIS HAIR IS NORMAL> W-why?

Lauto: <THE LIGHT BRIGHTENS EVEN MORE> A Saiyan.

Ledas: I know what I am!!!

Lauto: <THERE IS A LONG PAUSE, LEDAS CONTINUES LOOKING AROUND, HE IS SCARED, YET ALSO CURIOUS> Your memories… the pain... <ANOTHER PAUSE> But you have survived.

Ledas: <DROPS TO HIS KNEES; SCREAMING> I am a Saiyan! My father always said there will be no glory in death, in my death… <HE LOOKS UP>

Layeeck: No, only in the everlasting conquest.

Ledas: <HIS EYES WIDEN, AND HE REACHES OUT TO TOUCH LAYEECK, BUT LAYEECK WAS ONLY A HALLUCINATION> <STRICKEN; CHILD-LIKE FRIGHT> What are you doing to me?!!

Frieza: Nothing, my dear Saiyan, that you haven’t already thought of doing yourself.

Ledas: N-no… not you!!! <SHOOTS AN ENERGY BLAST AT FRIEZA>

Lauto: <THE LIGHT DIMS> Please, be civil. Keep your temper in check. <THE LIGHT COMES BACK, BRIGHTLY; LEDAS LOOKS UP, MOUTH SLIGHTLY OPEN, BUT THERE IS NOTHING THERE, AGAIN>

Soldier 2: <CRAWLING OUT FROM AROUND THE ROCK; IN PAIN AND BORDERLINE SHOCK> K-kid… get outta the way. <LEDAS TURNS AND STEPS BACK; THE SOLDIER SHOOTS HIS BLASTER AT THE LARGE LIGHT SOURCE COMING FROM THE FOCUS POINT OF THE ROOM; IT DOES NOTHING; THE SOLDIER, SLOWLY STARTS TO DISSOLVE, IN AGONY HE SCREAMS UNTIL HE DIES>

Ledas: <SUPRISING SHIFT TO CALMNESS> Are you gonna kill me too?

Lauto: <SOUNDS SLIGHTLY TIRED, BUT IT IS ALMOST UNNOTICEABLE> Every person assumes much. Children, especially.

Ledas: Just, please, tell me…what do you want with me?

King Vegeta:<HALLUCINATION> It’s a pity they weren’t the ones to fulfill the legend.

Ledas: <WATCHES THE KING, UNTIL HE DISAPPEARS, GRADUALLY, LEDAS HAS A HUGE ANGER SURGE> N-n-no!! It’s not t-true! I will become a Super Saiyan!!

Prince Vegeta: <HALLUCINATION> The last super Saiyan died because he couldn’t control his power.

The Benefactor: <REACHING OUT, HALLUCINATION; RATHER CALM> So, heed it all. Just let the darkness continue its path.

<LEDAS FALLS TO HIS KNEES, AND SCREAMS AGAIN, HE SENDS OUT A WAVE OF ENERGY; A LONG SILENCE BEGINS, JUST AS THE LIGHT DIMS>

Lauto: <AFTER SOME TIME> It is hard to find your way, without guidance, without a light.

Ledas: My father is dead. <KICKS UP SOME DIRT> Everyone I know is dead. <REGRESSING TO CHILD-LIKE TENDENCIES, TEARFUL> I don’t know what to do…

Lauto: The deep seated sorrows, within.

Ledas: <SNIFFLING> H-huh? What?

Lauto: Thus far untapped, unfocussed...

Ledas: I-I don’t understand.

Prince Vegeta: <HALLUCINTATION, WALKS RIGHT UP TO LEDAS> You could’ve helped me kill Frieza, Ledas…if you weren’t gone. Oh well, I’ll find somebody else.

Ledas: <REACHES OUT TO THE HALLUCINATION; BUT IT DISAPPEARS; TEARFUL, ANGRY> No, stop it!!! Stop twisting my memories!!! <HE FALLS TO HIS KNEES AGAIN, HOLDING ONTO THE SIDES OF HIS HEAD, WITH BOTH HANDS; SUDDENLY A BRIGHT LIGHT ENCOMPASSES LEDAS, HIS EYES ARE STILL GREEN, AND NOW HIS HAIR IS WHITE>

Lauto: Thus far… <THE LIGHT GOES OUT, COMPLETELY>

Chosen
<SHOT OF THE DARK, ROCKY PLANET, CAMERA SHOOTS ACROSS, TO THE CAVE; LIEME AND HIS SOLDIERS ARE STILL WAITING OUTSIDE, PACING; THE WIND IS BLOWING, AND LIEME‘S HAIR FLYING AROUND BECAUSE OF IT>

<ZOOMS INTO THE CAVE AGAIN, THE LIGHT IS STILL DIMMED; LEDAS IS STANDING THERE, BACK TO NORMAL (mostly), HIS EYES ARE STILL GREEN>

Ledas: <IN AWE> Was that me? A Super Saiyan? <A SMILE COMES TO HIM> It was, wasn’t it?

<THE HALLUCINATION OF FRIEZA COMES BACK, AND WALKS UP TO LEDAS>

Frieza: You Saiyans are all the same. Bold and stupid.

Ledas: <TREMBLING WITH ANGER> Me and Vegeta will become Super Saiyans and beat you!! You should be afraid of us!!!

Frieza: <SMILES> A worthless Legend, from a desperate race. Saiyans turn into monkeys, nothing else. Just a bunch of stupid monkeys.

Ledas: <REMEMBER WHAT LAUTO SAID EARLIER, HE FOLDS HIS ARMS, VERY VEGETA-LIKE> Hmph… you aren’t even real.

<FRIEZA’S EYES WIDEN IN HORROR, THE HALLUCINATION VANISHES, LEDAS IS THROWN BACK, ONTO THE GROUND; THE LIGHT GOES OUT, COMPLETELY>

Ledas: <IN THE DARKNESS, HE IS FEELING AROUND> <MUTED; CHILD-LIKE CURIOSITY> What just happened?

<THERE IS NO RESPONSE>

Ledas: The light’s gone out… can’t you turn it back on? I can barely see. <STUMBLES TRYING TO GET UP, AND FALLS BACK OVER>

Lauto: <RATHER SUDDENLY AND LOUDLY, LEDAS JERKS FORWARD IN FRIGHT> You are mistaken, Ledas. The light never went out.

<THE LIGHT FLICKERS, SLIGHTLY, THEN EXPLODES INTO BLINDING LIGHT, FOR A BRIEF SECOND; THEN IT GOES DARK AGAIN>

Ledas: <HANDS OVER EYES; BENT OVER> Ow… you didn’t have do that!!!

Lauto: Lest it return..

Ledas: <STILL SHIELDING HIS EYES, TEMPORARILY BLINDED> Huh?

Lauto: For anything can change…

Ledas: <PLAYFULLY, WITH SMILES> I can never understand you.

Lauto: Our time is done. Now, leave.

Ledas: Wait, what? <THE EARTHQUAKE REIGNITES, LEDAS WHO IS STILL TEMPORARILY BLINDED, IS, IN VAIN, TRYING TO DODGE ALL THE FALLING ROCKS, HE IS BEING HIT AROUND; AS HIS EYESIGHT COMES BACK, HE REGAINS HIS FOOTING AND STARTS RUNNING BACK TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE CAVE>

<SUDDENLY A HAND PUNCHES THROUGH THE RUBBLE AHEAD; IT IS PAYAR, BADLY INJURED, WITH HIS ARMOR HEAVILY CRACKED, BUT ALIVE>

Payar: <WEAKLY, GASPING> Saiyan… help me.

<DODGING THE FALLING ROCKS,LEDAS RUNS OVER AND HELPS PAYAR UP, WITH ONE ARM AROUND HIS NECK, THE TWO LIMP OUTSIDE>

<LIEME AND THE THREE OTHER SOLDIERS ARE STANDING RIGHT OUTSIDE, COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING INSIDE, AT THE SIGHT OF PAYAR, THEY ALL RUSH OVER>

Lieme: What going on?! How did this happen?

Ledas: <THE EARTHQUAKES START TO RISE OUT OF THE CAVE, THE ENTIRE PLANET IS SHAKING> We have to go, now!

Lieme: <ALL ARE RUNNING TO THE PODS> I’m going to torch this place, leave nothing behind.

Ledas: No!!! Don’t do that! Didn’t you see the power levels from in that cave? How high were they?

Lieme: One was over five million-

Ledas: Yeah, we just gotta leave this place alone!! We’re no match for that!

<LIEME HAS A CURIOUS LOOK ON HIS FACE, WATCHING LEDAS, AS THEY ALL RUN>

<ALL SIX REMAINING SOLDIERS SCRAMBLE TO THEIR PODS, THEY BARELY MAKE IT; THE REST OF THE JOURNEY GOES WITHOUT INCEDENT, AND THEY RETURN TO PLANET COOLER 92; THEY LAND>

Lieme: <GETTING OUT OF HIS POD, RUNS OVER TO PAYAR’S> <SHOUTING TO THE MANY SOLDIERS GATHERING AROUND THEM> Is the medical tank ready?

Technician 1: Yes sir, we’ve prepped it according to your directions.

<THE DOOR OPENS, PAYAR FALLS OUT, SEVERAL SOLDIERS GRAB AND TAKE PAYAR TO THE MEDICAL TANK>

THE COMMOTION LESSENS FOR A BIT, GUVA AND BANAS ENTER>

Guva: What happened this time?

Banas: <HE IS RATHER MUTED, DEPRESSED AND NOT IN ARMOR, HE WALKS UP TO PAYAR’S TANK> Is he going to live?

Technician 1: At this point, sir, his status is critical… we’re doing all we can, but I can’t guarantee anything.

<BANAS BOWS HIS HEAD BUT DOES NOT MOVE>

Guva: I’ll ask again… what happened here? Why are two of my men dead, and another, right there in critical condition?

Ledas: I…

Lieme: Not out here. <LOOKING AT THE MULTITUDE OF REGULARS STANDING AROUND> I think we should discuss this in private.

<ALL BEGIN WALKING TO GUVA’S OFFICE, LIEME PUTS HIS HAND OUT TO STOP LEDAS>

Lieme: Not you, kid.

Ledas: But… <EVEN GUVA AND BANAS LOOK CONFUSED>

Lieme: <TO THE OTHERS> I’ll explain, <DIRECT> in private.

Guva: Fine.

<THE REST LEAVE FOR GUVA‘S OFFICE, LEDAS WALKS OFF, IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, TO THE FOREST>

<THE SUN IS SETTING, LEDAS IS STANDING ON THE EDGE OF THE FOREST-CLIFF, LOOKING DOWN AT THE NATIVES WORKING; HE REMEMBERS THE FACE OFF THE ONE THAT HE BOUND UP EARLIER; HE STRETCHES HIS ARM OUT, FEELING THE AIR>

<FLASHBACK>

Layeeck: <SIGHS> It’s actually simple. Frieza’s the strongest. He's our leader.

Ledas: But if he’s so strong, then why does he need us to do all the work?

Layeeck: Doesn’t want to get his precious hands dirty. But listen to me, Ledas. If you ever meet Frieza, you must treat him with the utmost respect. While he’s around, think of him as our king. Because, he could kill you, if you even look at him the wrong way…

<END FLASHBACK>

Ledas: Guva, Banas, the others… none of them are as strong as Frieza. I’ve almost killed them so many times… I just have to finish it next time. I just have to kill them all.<LOOKING UP, AT THE THREE MOONS ABOVE> That thing it that cave… it didn’t kill me, like the others. <LOOKS BACK AT THE WORKERS, OBVIOUSLY TIRED> So, maybe I can help them…

<CUTS TO INSIDE GUVA’S OFFICE; GUVA, BANAS, AND LIEME ARE IN THERE, TALKING>

Lieme: The spike was over 5 million, governor. Who else could it be, besides the kid?

Guva: But you say you already had a reading coming from that cave, before any of you even got there.

Lieme: It wasn’t five million. It was around 100,000.

Guva: So it was unusually high… just not five million.

Lieme: I don’t know how the kid could’ve survived going in there if it wasn’t him. Anyone with a power level of that high could kill us in an instant, without any trouble… and Payar was heavily injured…

Banas: <STILL WITHOUT THE AUTHORITY THAT HE HAD WHEN HE WAS CAPTAIN> So then, why didn’t he kill Payar too? It would have been easy to make it look like whatever was in there did it for him…

Guva: Lieme, go get the child. I’ll talk to him, about this.

Lieme: Governor <NODS>… boss. <HE LEAVES>

Guva: They still see you as their captain.

Banas: <WATCHING LIEME FLY OFF IN THE DISTANCE> Old habits are hard to break…

<GUVA’S OFFICE, THE GOVERNOR AND LEDAS ARE ALONE, THEY HAVE BEEN THERE ALL NIGHT; THE SUN IS BEGINNING TO RISE IN THE NORTHWEST (THAT’S WHERE IT DOES ON THIS PLANET)>

Guva: I told you before I wouldn’t lower myself to torture. But we have gotten nowhere. Payar, Lieme, no one else saw anything except for you. And I know you’re hiding something, kid. <PAUSES FOR A MOMENT> What did you see?

Ledas: <SITTING ON A CHAIR> Nothing happened… there was an earthquake, and some rocks fell on Mr. Payar. But then, I helped him up and we left.

Guva: If you weren’t an important part of my plans… I wouldn’t put up with this crap, and you would be dead.

Ledas: <INNOCENTLY> But, I’m a good boy.

Guva: Don’t think this is the end of our discussion, because I assure you I will find out what happened there eventually. And seeing as your hiding it from me, I will assume the outlook won’t be in your favor.

Guva: <PAUSES, WALKS AWAY FROM LEDAS, BACK TURNED> I’ve, after much consideration, ended Banas’ suspension. I think he wants to go out on a mission today, and you will go with. Remember our agreement. Have you learned all need to kill him?

Ledas: <SLIDES OF CHAIR AND WALKS OUT> No… not yet.

Guva: Time is running out, Saiyan. I’ve given you far too long to cozy up with Banas. Soon, whether you are ready or not, we will end this.

New Tricks
<SOMETIME LATER, LIEME IS TRAINING ALONE, IN A LARGE, CIRCULAR ROOM, IT IS LIKE A STADIUM; THE ROOF IS MADE OF ROCK, AND HAS MANY NATURAL HOLES, AND SUCH IN IT, THUS, THE GROUND IS LITTERED WITH POCKETS OF LIGHT; THE GROUND IS SAND; IT IS HOT OUT>

<LEDAS IS STANDING BACK, WATCHING LIEME TRAIN>

Ledas: Mr. Lieme…why don’t you use a scouter?

Lieme: <LANDING, BREATHING HARD> Because I don’t need one.

Ledas: <CURIOUS KID TONE> You mean you have a scouter in your brain?

Lieme: If that helps you understand it, then yes. But, I can see things you couldn't even begin to comprehend.

Ledas: <RUNS UP TO LIEME; AT THE BARRIER> Teach me how to do that!

Lieme: It’s not something you can learn, I was born with it.

Ledas: Then you can show me!

Lieme: <LOOKING AT LEDAS> <IN HIS HEAD> The kid has potential. Maybe training with him could help me figure out how he’s gotten so powerful… and use that secret, myself… <OUTLOUD> As long as you don’t get in my way-

Ledas: Yay!! <LEDAS JUMPS OVER THE BARRIER, INTO THE TRAINING ZONE>

Lieme: <QUICKLY, AND TO THE ASTONISHMENT OF LEDAS, RIPS OFF THE CHILDS’ SCOUTER, AND THROWS IT INTO THE STANDS ABOVE> If you want to learn, there will be no more scouters. You must learn to get rid your reliance on such archaic machines. Because, anything that is made artificially, will fail you eventually.

Ledas: Mr. Lieme… do you think I can learn to sense people just like you?

<LIEME DISAPPEARS, THEN REAPPEARS BEHIND LEDAS, HITS HIM TO THE GROUND>

Ledas: <GETS UP> No fair… you gotta teach me.

Lieme: I don‘t have to do anything. If you can‘t adapt, then there‘s no point to continuing this! <LIEME DISAPPEARS AGAIN AND HITS LEDAS>

<LEDAS DODGES, BUT DOES SO, RIGHT INTO LIEME, CAUSING BOTH OF THEM TO FALL OVER; LIEME IS GETTING A LITTLE AGITATED; LIEME STARTS DISAPPEARING AND REAPPEARING ALL AROUND LEDAS; THERE ARE ABOUT HALF A DOZEN AFTERIMAGES SURROUNDING AND CONFUSING THE CHILD; LEDAS PUNCHES AT EACH OF THEM, BUT NONE ARE THE REAL LIEME, COMING FROM RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM, LIEME JUMPS FORWARD AND KICKS LEDAS IN THE FACE>

<LEDAS FALLS TO THE GROUND, BUT BEFORE HE HITS IT, HE DISAPPEARS, AND REAPPEARS BEHIND LIEME; LIEME SENSES HIM AND BACKFLIPS OVER THE CHILD AND BRINGS A CRUSHING BLOW DOWN UPON LEDAS’ HEAD>

Ledas: <DESCENDS TO THE GROUND, HOLDING HIS HEAD> <WITH LETHARGY> Owwwwie… you don’t have to hit me so hard…

Lieme: Stop your whining.

Ledas: <STILL IN PAIN> I’m just a kid.

<LIEME IS STILL A BIT AGITATED, HE ATTACKS AGAIN>

<CUTS TO THE BARRACKS, BANAS, PAYAR, AND APRIDO ARE IN BANAS’ QUARTERS; THE CAMERA MOVES IN, SLOWLY, AROUND THE CORNER THROUGH THE DOOR>

Banas: Just… don’t get caught. I don’t want Guva to suspect anything.

Aprido: Yes, sir! <PAUSE> But captain, why do ya want me to tail him?

Banas: No suspicion of me, if it’s only a regular.

Aprido: What should I do, captain, if I find that it’s true?

Banas: That Guva’s using the kid for something? It depends on what, really. But you are to come straight to me, if any confirmation is present…

Aprido: Yes, sir. I’ll be sure to watch everything that kid’s up to. You can count on me!

Banas: <AS APRIDO LEAVES, HE WATCHES, WITH A SOMEWHAT CURIOUSLY ELITIST LOOK> What do you think, Payar? Could Guva be planning something?

Payar: <SITTING IN A CHAIR, LEANING BACK, NOT LOOKING UP; HE IS MESSING AROUND WITH SOMETHING IN HIS HANDS> I dunno, cap’n. But if he is, it could already be too late.

<CUTS BACK TO LIEME AND LEDAS, IT HAS BEEN SEVERAL DAYS, AND THEY ARE TRAINING AGAIN>

Lieme: You’re getting quick. <DODGES OUT OF THE WAY, ACTUALLY HAS TO PUT EFFORT INTO TRYING NOT TO GET HIT> But you still are not focused enough.

Ledas: <STOPS ATTACKING> Whoa….

Lieme: <STOPS AS WELL> What is it, now?

Ledas: <SUDDENLY GRINS> I can feel you.

Lieme: <UNCONVINCED> Really? You think you can back that up? <HE RUSHES AROUND LEDAS, CREATING A CONFUSING MESS OF AFTERIMAGES AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME, LEDAS IS EASILY ABLE TO PICK UP UPON THE REAL LIEME, AND HITS HIM> <LIEME STOPS THE CONFUSION, AND SLOWLY DESCENDS BACK TO THE GROUND> So, you weren’t lying…

Ledas: <GIDDY WITH EXCITEMENT> Ha ha! I did it… I did it!

Lieme: Don’t get too cocky, you’re just beginning… and I’m still much better than you. <IN HIS HEAD> How the hell is he learning all this so fast? I’m watching him with my own eyes, and I can’t even believe it! What is his secret?

Ledas: I’m gonna attack again, Mr. Lieme… <LEDAS ATTACKS AGAIN, AND LIEME DEFENDS, BUT THEN LEDAS DISAPPEARS; LIEME CANNOT SENSE HIM>

Lieme: What the… where’d he go? <AFTER A FEW MOMENTS OF LOOKING AROUND, LEDAS COMES DOWN ON LIEME’S NECK, FROM BEHIND, SHOCKING THE ELITE> <GETTING BACK UP> And where did you go?

Ledas: I learned a new trick…

Lieme: <SPUTTERING> Yeah? And what was that?

Ledas: <PLAYFUL ARROGANCE> Hmph… I’m not gonna tell you!

<CUTS TO BANAS AND GUVA, WHO ARE WATCHING>

Banas: He’s over 100,000, yes… but that still doesn’t mean much.

Guva: At such a young age? Were you that powerful when you were young?

Banas: No...

Guva: But don’t you think it strange that this Saiyan is so powerful? All the other ones I’ve met have been worthless. This ones different… <LAUGHS> but I’m not worried.

Banas: <SARCASTICALLY> No, of course not… until he gets stronger than you.

Guva: Don’t worry about it, I have a plan in place if something like that was to happen. Seriously, Banas, you need to stop worrying so much. Stress is so bad for your health.

Banas: And what happens when he grows up? Hmm? He’ll certainly be even stronger!

Guva: Don’t you find it interesting that he hasn’t seemed to have aged at all, since that… incident with the cave? Where Payar was nearly killed? Maybe something did happen in there?

<BACK AT THE TRAINING AREA, LIEME HAS LEFT, AND LEDAS IS LEAVING, HIMSELF, WHEN HE NOTICES SOMETHING UP IN THE STANDS; HE FLIES OVER TO IT, AND SEES THAT IT WAS HIS SCOUTER, WHICH LIEME THREW SO MANY WEEKS AGO; HE PICKS IT UP, REMEMBERING THE DAY THAT HIS FATHER GAVE IT TO HIM, THE FIRST MISSION THAT THEY WENT ON TOGETHER; HE STARES AT IT, WITH SADNESS; WITHOUT ANOTHER THOUGHT, HE WALKS OUT, WITH THE SCOUTER STILL IN HIS HAND>

<THE CAMERA PANS BACK OUT, OVER THE OUTPOST COMPLEX, IN THE DISTANCE, APRIDO CAN BE SEEN, IN THE FAR LEFT CORNER, WATCHING LEDAS.

Old Dogs
<SEVERAL SCENES ARE SHOWN OF APRIDO WATCHING LEDAS; THE LAST ONE, OF LEDAS TRAINING IN A GRAVITY ROOM, AT (earth equivalent) 200G, APRIDO IS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THIS ONE, BECAUSE LEDAS IS TRAINING IN SUCH A FORCEFUL WAY, THAT APRIDO IS AMAZED; LATER IT CUTS TO BANAS’ QUARTERS; JUST HIM AND APRIDO ARE THERE>

Banas: So, what did you gather?

Aprido: He hasn’t seen the Governor once, since I started watching him, Captain Banas. He just trains all day.

Banas: A lot of us do that… which means nothing suspicious?

Aprido: <WITH FEAR> Uh… no! But, he does train at much higher levels than everyone else, sir…

Banas: How high?

Aprido: I saw him training last night at 200...

Banas: Impossible.

Aprido: Bu-

Banas: That’s all for today. Don’t come back until you have something more substantial for me.

<APRIDO NODS, AND EXITS, HE IS CLEARLY FRIGHTENED OF BANAS’ POWER, LIKE ALL THE REST OF THE LOW CLASS SOLDIERS>

<LEDAS IS STANDING LOOKING AT MELOON WHO IS EATING>

Meloon: Whaddya want?

<LEDAS STARTS WALKING TOWARD MELOON, IS OBVIOUSLY ANGRY>

Meloon: What are you doing?

<LEDAS WALKS RIGHT UP TO MELOON, AND RISES TO HIS FACE; LEDAS PUNCHES HIM IN THE FACE, KNOCKING BACK THE ELITE, AND SENDING HIS FOOD FLYING>

Meloon: <GRABS HIS FACE, TAKES A FEW STEPS BACK> Ow!!!

Ledas: That’s for my father.

Meloon: So, <WITH MUCH RAGE> you wanna play?! <MELOON PUNCHES AT LEDAS, BUT HE MISSES>

Ledas: <PUNCHES MELOON IN THE GUT, VOICE RISING TO A SCREAM> That’s for my planet!

Meloon: <DOUBLED OVER, SPITS OUT SOME BLOOD>

Ledas: <RAISES ARMS, HANDS INTERLOCKED TO HIT MELOON INTO THE GROUND> And this is fo-

Banas: <OUT OF NOWHERE, BANAS KICKS LEDAS IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD, THROWING HIM SEVERAL FEET AWAY INTO THE GROUND AND KNOCKING HIIM UNCONSCIOUS>

Meloon: <COUGHING> Ca-Captain… what are your doing here?

Banas: <TERSELY> What happened?

Meloon: <GRUMBLING> Stupid monkey surprised me. That’s all.

Meloon: <COUGHS> What’s that, Captain?

Banas: We have a problem, Meloon. It looks like that little alien was right. The kid’s getting stronger than we can handle.

<CUTS TO THE OUTPOST, IT IS LATE AT NIGHT>

Aprido: <WALKING DOWN THE CENTRAL ROAD AREA OF THE OUTPOST, IT IS QUIET, WITH NO ONE ELSE AROUND> Now where did that monkey go? <APRIDO SEES A BUILDING UP AHEAD, LIGHTS ON>

<APRIDO MOVES TO THE FACILITY, WHICH IS THE GRAVITY ROOM; HE NOTICES LEDAS INSIDE THE ROOM>

Aprido: What is he doing?

<LEDAS IS SITTING INSIDE WITH HIS HEAD ON HIS KNEES; HE IS TAKING A BREAK FROM HIS TRAINING>

<APRIDO NOTICES THAT THE GRAVITY IS UP TO (earth equivalent) 250G; APRIDO CAN‘T MOVE IN THAT, SO HE CAREFULLY SNEAKS AROUND THE BACK OF THE BUILDING, TO THE CONTROL ROOM (WHERE THERE IS NO EXTRA GRAVITY) AND ENTERS IT; SUDDENLY LEDAS JUMPS UP AND STARTS TO VIGOROUSLY TRAIN>

Aprido: <IN SHOCK> How can he even move in that?! <QUICKLY BECOMES VENGEFUL> He’s trying to show off! Well, that little brat isn’t better than me!

<LEDAS CONTINUES TO TRAIN, FORCEFULLY JUMPING AROUND THE ENTIRE FACILITY>

Aprido: I’ll show him who he’s dealing with!

<APRIDO REACHES FOR THE GRAVITY CONTROL PANEL; HE INCREASES THE GRAVITY TO 500G; LEDAS, WHO IS IN MIDAIR, FALLS TO THE GROUND, HARD, BOUNCING SLIGHTLY, HE CANNOT GET UP; APRIDO, GLEEFULLY MOVES BACK OUT OF SIGHT, PEEKING AROUND THROUGH THE WINDOW; THE GRAVITY HAS OTHER EFFECTS ON THE ROOM AS WELL, SOME WEIGHTS FALL OFF THEIR STANDS, AND START ROLLING TOWARD LEDAS>

<LEDAS ROLLS OVER AND SEES THE WEIGHTS ROLLING RIGHT AT HIM, HIS EYES WIDEN, AND WHEN THE CAMERA ZOOMS IN ON THEM, THEY ARE GREEN; HIS HAIR PULSATES, TURNING STARK WHITE, THEN BACK TO BLACK; LEDAS NOW IN A SEMI SUPER SAIYAN STATE, IS EASILY ABLE TO DODGE OUT OF THE WAY OF THE INCOMING WEIGHTS; APRIDO SEES HIS POWER LEVEL IS GOING UP EXPONENTIALLY>

Aprido: 100,000... 300,000...500,000...800,000... 1 million! <HIS EYES WIDEN IN HORROR> This is ridiculous, I‘m getting outta here! <APRIDO TURNS OFF THE GRAVITY AND RUNS OUT; LEDAS DROPS TO THE FLOOR STILL AS A SEMI SUPER SAIYAN; IN A BIT OF A DAZE, HE STUMBLES OUT OF THE FACILITY TO THE OUTSIDE, THIS FORM IS STARTING TO WEAR ON HIM PHYSICALLY>

Ledas: Yes! <STUMBLING, EXHAUSTED> I-I did it!! <SHOUTING TOWARDS THE BARACKS> I’ll kill all of you <WALKING FORWARD>… and-and Frieza too!

<AFTER A FEW MOMENTS, HE USES UP ALL HIS ENERGY, REVERTS TO HIS NORMAL STATE, AND COLLAPSES ON THE GROUND, ASLEEP>

<LEDAS SLEEPS THE ENTIRE NIGHT THERE, IN THE MORNING PAYAR FINDS HIM>

Payar: Ah, s**t. What the hell is he doing out here? <KICKS LEDAS> Wake up.

Ledas: <STIRRING> H-huh?

Payar: The hell are you doing out here?

Ledas: I d-don’t kn-now. <LEDAS IS EXTREMELY WEAK, ALL HIS ENERGY WAS DRAINED THE NIGHT BEFORE, AND HE HASN’T YET RECOVERED>

Payar: <KICKS HIM AGAIN> Get up.

Ledas: <TRIES> Leave me alone, Payar!!

Payar: <GRABS LEDAS, PUSHES HIM UPRIGHT> We’re going now.

Ledas: Where?

Payar: We have a mission.

Ledas: <STUMBLING, TIRED> Wait… what? Where?

Payar: I dunno. But this one came personally from lord Cooler, himself. Must be a big deal if he’s asking us…

Ledas: <CHILD-LIKE, FOLLOWING PAYAR, WITH PUPPY EYES> But where are we goin’?

Payar: <PUSHES LEDAS BACK> Stop with all the questions. We’ll know it, when we get there. <LEDAS CHASES OFF AFTER PAYAR>

Haunting Memory
<CUTS TO PC92 POD LANDING AREA, THE PLANTAINS HAVE RETURNED FROM A SUCCESSFUL MISSION IN HIGH SPIRITS, AND DIRTY FROM BATTLE>

Payar <LAUGHS> Well, it could’ve been worse. They could’ve been a threat.

<ALL ARE STILL ON THE TAKEOFF AREA, WALKING OFF AND TAKING OFF THEIR ARMOR AS THEY GO>

Banas: Saiyan, put back on your suit.

Ledas: What? Right now?

Banas: <IMMEDIATELY> Right now.

Banas: <NODS TO PAYAR> <TO OTHER PLANTAINS> Heh, watch this.

Payar: Think fast, monkey. <PAYAR ATTACKS LEDAS, LEDAS BLOCKS, AND KICKS PAYAR IN THE HEAD; PAYAR, UNPHASED, GRABS HIS LEG AND THROWS LEDAS BACK TO THE GROUND>

Ledas: <COUGHING, ON THE GROUND> Only a coward would wait until I wasn’t looking.

Payar: <SARCASTICALLY> You have to be ready for the unexpected. I thought you would have learned that by now.

Ledas: At least I can use energy. <SHOOTS AN ENERGY BLAST INTO PAYAR’S FACE>

Banas: Ha! He got you there.

Payar: <IN ANGER> Little monkey doesn’t know what’s coming.

Banas: Mmmm… and Guva isn’t here to stop you.

Guva: <COMING UP ON THEM, FROM BEHIND> Oh I’m not, am I?

Banas: <TURNING, SURPRISED> G-governor… what brings you out here?

Guva: Cut the bulls**t, Banas. I’m here to talk to <PAUSES, THEN POINTS AT LEDAS AND PAYAR>… those two.

Payar: What is it, governor?

Guva: I’ve once again started to feel the creeping up of that elusive boredom. You two will go and get me some more of those natives. I want to watch them die.

Payar: <WITHOUT HESITATION> Yes sir. <LEDAS DOES NOT ANSWER> We’ll get to it right away.

<SCREEN FADES INTO PAYAR AND LEDAS TRACKING THROUGH THE FOREST, TO THE NATIVE’S CAMP>

Payar: You remember how to do this?

Ledas: Yeah…

Payar: Well, wait. I want to kill some of them, first.

Ledas: Mr. Payar, do you have to kill them?

Payar: I don’t have to do anything. If I kill them, it’s because I want to.

Ledas: But they’re people too…!

Payar: Have you ever, for once, entertained the thought that I just don't care? Because I don’t. So save your petty sympathies.

<THEY ARRIVE AT ONE OF THE CAMPS, THE NATIVES SEE THEM, BUT CONTINUE WORKING>

<PAYAR WALKS RIGHT UP TO ONE OF THEM, AND HITS IT, KILLING IT; THE OTHERS STIR A BIT, BUT DO NOT RUN FOR FEAR OF DEATH; PAYAR WALKS UP TO ANOTHER AND PUNCHES ITS HEAD IN, LEDAS IS WALKING BEHIND PAYAR, MUTED, HEAD DOWN>

Payar: Ha ha ha! <HITS AND KILLS ANOTHER> This is great. <SUDDENLY HE STRAIGHTENS UP, AND TURNS AROUND; WITH A GRIN, HE PUNCHES LEDAS, IN THE HEAD, SENDING THE SAIYAN FLYING, DOWN INTO A SMALL CREEK BELOW; PAYAR CONTINUES HIS RAMPAGE ABOVE>

<LEDAS WAKES SUDDENLY, SPURTING WATER OUT OF HIS MOUTH AND GASPING; IT IS MID DAY; LEDAS GETS UP, LOOKING AROUND, IN FRONT OF HIM, THE CREEK FLOWS INTO A LARGE CRACK IN THE ROCK AHEAD; LEDAS, CURIOUS, STARTS WALKING ALONG, AND INTO THE CANYON-LIKE FORMATION AHEAD; HE HEARS A CURIOUS WHISPERING>

<AS LEDAS STEPS INTO IT, HE IS HIT WITH A VISION>

The Benefactor: <SQUATTING. SCRATCHING AT THE WALL ON THE LEFT SIDE AHEAD> It’s not something that can be created or artificially made… <TURNS HIS HEAD TO LOOK AT LEDAS> No, something like that can only ever be brought out by the select few.

<LEDAS STEPS BACK, HOLDING HIS FORHEAD, AS IF HE HAD A HEADACHE>

Ledas: <BLINKS, THERE IS NOTHING THERE; HE WALKS UP TO THE WALL WHERE HE SAW THE BENEFACTOR’S IMAGE, AND LOOKS AT IT; THERE ARE SCRATCH MARKS THERE, AS IF KEEPING TIME; LEDAS RUNS HIS FINGERS OVER THEM> Real? He was here? <STEPS BACK, HOLDING HIS HEAD AGAIN; LEDAS STUMBLES AND FALLS INTO THE ROCKY WATER, CUTTING HIS HEAD>

<PAYAR HAS BROUGHT BACK A GROUP OF NATIVES, DELIGHTED, HE AND GUVA GO WALK OFF, GETTING READY FOR THEIR ENTERTAINMENT; BANAS IS WATCHING, NOTING PAYAR WALKING OFF>

Banas: Payar came back alone. I guess Guva was too obsessed to see that. I wonder what he did to the kid… <TURNS, IT IS JUST HIM AND APRIDO, IN HIS OFFICE>

Aprido: <RIDGED> Sir?

Banas: Go out there, and find the kid. I want to know what happened… after all, he could be doing something worthy of notation.

Aprido: Uh, yes sir! <APRIDO QUICKLY RUNS OUT>

Banas: How curious…

<APRIDO RUNS OFF INTO THE JUNGLE, THE SUN IS STILL HIGH OVER THE SKY>

<CUTS BACK TO LEDAS, WHO HAS GOTTEN BACK UP, AND RETURNED TO THE NATIVE WORKING AREA, THERE IS DRIED BLOOD RUNNING DOWN THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS FACE>

<THE NATIVES ARE STILL WORKING, BUT LEDAS DOES NOT NOTICE THEM; AS THEY SEE HIM, A RIPPLE OF FEAR GOES THROUGH ALL OF THEM; LEDAS WALKS UP TO ONE OF THE DEAD NATIVES, THAT PAYAR KILLED EARLIER, IT IS IN THE SAME PLACE AS WHEN IT WAS KILLED; LEDAS KNEELS DOWN NEXT TO IT, STARING>

<LEDAS STAYS THERE, JUST STARING AT THE BODY; THE NATIVES SLOWLY GAIN CURIOSITY OF HIM, AND LESSEN THEIR WORKING>

<AT ABOUT THAT TIME, APRIDO ARRIVES, ON A HILL ABOVE, LOOKING DOWN ON LEDAS>

Aprido: Huh? What’s he doing. <DOES A QUICK CHECK OF POWER> No high power… like before.

Ledas: <STANDS UP; SLOWLY AND WITH SADNESS> Sorry about that… Payar can be pretty brutal. Just like me… <HE STEPS FORWARD, AND THE NATIVES STEP BACK; OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE AFRAID OF HIM> N-no… I’m not gonna do what he did. <WHEN THEY DON’T RESPOND, LEDAS BEGINS TO GET IMPATIENT; HE WAITS A FEW MINUTES, BUT WHEN NOTHING CHANGES, HE SIGHS AND WALKS OFF>

Aprido: Now where’s he going?! Isn’t he gon- <SUDDENLY, FROM BEHIND, APRIDO IS HIT WITH A ROCK, ON THE BACK OF HIS HEAD; HE LETS OUT AN INCIDENTAL YELL THEN FALLS; AS HIS BODY HITS THE GROUND, SEVERAL NATIVES ARE REVEALED BEHIND HIM>

<LEDAS, WHO IS WALKING BACK TO CAMP, HEARS APRIDO’S SCREAM, HE JUMPS, AND TURNS BACK AROUND; PERPLEXED>

<A QUICK SCENE IS SHOWN OF GUVA, MELOON, PAYAR, AND LIEME ALL ENJOYING THEMSELVES AS THE GLADIATOR MATCHES PROGRESS; BANAS, HOWEVER IS NOT WITH THEM; THE SCENE CUTS TO THE EDGE OF THE FOREST, WHERE BANAS IS STANDING, ARMS CROSSED, LOOKING OFF INTO IT; THE LOOK ON HIS FACE IS OF SLIGHT ANXIETY>

Finding Aprido
<IT IS MORNING, AND MISTY; CLOSE SHOT OF APRIDO, HE IS UNCONSIOUS; THE CAMERA PANS BACK, AND IT IS SEEN THAT HE IS HEAVILY BOUND TO A GREAT WOODEN PIKE, SLOWLY HE WAKES, AND STRUGGLES AGAINST HIS BINDS; BUT HE IS TOO WEAK TO BREAK FREE; APRIDO SCREAMS IN FEAR>

<IT IS NOTICED THAT THE CAMP HE IS IN IS MOSTLY VACANT, ONLY A FEW NATIVES ARE WANDERING AROUND, ONE OR TWO OF THEM SIMPLY STANDING AND STARING AT HIM>

Aprido: Go! Get away from me you disgusting animals! <SPITS AT THEM, BUT THEY DO NOT MOVE> <SCREAMING> Help!!! Captain! Somebody help me!!!!

<CUTS TO GUVA AND PAYAR, THE TWO OF THEM ARE WALKING OVER THE DEAD BODIES OF ALL THE ALIENS AND SOLDIERS KILLED DURING THE GLADIATOR MATCHES OF THE NIGHT BEFORE>

Guva: <STEPPING OVER SOME BODIES> So many of them. You had a good haul yesterday, Payar. They put up quiet a fight.

Payar: <PICKING UP A SCOUTER FROM A DEAD SOLDIER> Yeah, in big numbers, they can be quite… destructive. Moreso than I thought was possible… Sir, what are we going to do with them? Kill them all?

Guva: No, lord Cooler wants them alive.

<A FEW NATIVES ARE STILL ALIVE AND THEY COME RUSHING OUT, FROM UNDER SOME BODIES; THEY RUN AT PAYAR, WHO EASILY KILLS THEM>

Payar: And what do you plan on doing with them? The fun’s running out…

Guva: Long have I thought of this. What to do with the natives? But then, it came to me. I realized I alone have the fortitude, the unyielding will to bring our high culture to these worthless beings. To show them how to act, how not to rebel. And when they comprehend it, they will love me for it.

Payar: <GRIN> That won’t stop me.

Guva: I don’t plan on stopping you. Fear is a powerful motivator. It has, thus far, kept them in check. There has not been a single, major insurrection under my rule.

Payar: I’ll keep it that way, guv’nor.

Guva: Good. I think your captain could stand to use the same mindset, Payar.

<CUTS TO BANAS, WHO IS SITTING ON A ROCK; AS THE CAMERA PANS BACK, IT IS SHOWN TO BE NEAR THE NATIVES’ WORKING AREA, THE SUN IS SHINING BRIGHT, OFF HIS ARMOR>

<IN THE DISTANCE, A BIRD TAKES OFF, BANAS SHOOTS IT WITH A KI BLAST>

Ledas: <LEDAS IS WALKING THROUGH THE FOREST, TO THE VOICE HE HEARD EARLIER, AS HE’S WALKING, A SMOKING BIRD FALLS RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM; IT SPOOKS LEDAS> Whoa… what was that? <HE BEGINS TO INVESTIGATE IT, BUT THEN HEARS A SCREAM UP AHEAD> That must be the same person! <HE STARTS RUNNING THROUGH THE TREES TO THE VOICE>

Aprido: <APRIDO IS STILL TIED UP, THE FEW NATIVES MILLING AROUND HAVE LOST INTEREST, ONLY ONE OR TWO OF THEM REMAIN IN TOWN> Help!!! Somebody!!!

<LEDAS COMES SKIDDING INTO VIEW, RIGHT INTO THE LINE OF SIGHT OF APRIDO, THE TWO LOCK EYES>

Aprido & Ledas: <TOGETHER> You!!

Aprido: What are you doing here?

Ledas: I heard some screaming, and…

Aprido: Just get me out of this. <STRUGGLES VIOLENTLY; LEDAS WALKS FORWARD AND CAREFULLY CUTS APRIDO FREE, APRIDO FALLS TO THE GROUND> Now, for some payback.

Ledas: Don’t do it!

<APRIDO IGNORES LEDAS AND SENDS OUT TWO BLASTS, KILLING THE REMAINING NATIVES IN TOWN>

Aprido: <TURNING BACK TO LEDAS, SATISFIED> You can’t tell me what to do!

Ledas: <ANGRY YELL> Idiot! <LEDAS SHOOTS A BLAST AT APRIDO, WHO SCREAMS AND IS THROWN; THE EXPLOSION CAUSES A HUGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE; BANAS SEES THIS AND GETS UP QUICK, THEN TAKES OFF TO THE SMOKE>

Ledas: <APPROACHES APRIDO, WHO’S ARMOR IS HEAVILY DAMAGED; HE, HIMSELF IS INJURED TOO> I told you not to kill them! <HE READIES ANOTHER BLAST>

Banas: <LANDS BEHIND LEDAS> Saiyan! Stop that, <WITH AUTHORITY> now!

Ledas: <EXTINGUISHES HIS BLAST, AND TURNS HIS HEAD TO FACE BANAS; DURING THIS, APRIDO, FEARFUL, SLIDES DOWN THE HILL HE IS UP AGAINST AND RUNS OFF> Why?

Banas: That’s one of my soldiers you’re going to kill. You know I don’t take kindly to someone who kills my soldiers. Especially when they are one of my own elites.

<LEDAS DOES NOT ANSWER>

Banas: Then, let’s go.

<LEDAS SMILES, THEN TAKES OFF, TO PURSUE APRIDO>

Banas: <IN HYSTERIA, SPITTING> Fool! <HE TAKES OFF AFTER LEDAS>

<CUTS TO LIEME AND MELOON, WHO ARE TRAINING>

Lieme: <DODGING A PUNCH BY MELOON, EASILY> No, you must anticipate where I go. You won’t be able to see me, anyway.

Meloon: Well come at me again, eh? I’ll get ya this time!

Lieme: <CHARGES AT MELOON, THE TWO CONTINUE TO SPAR, LIEME IS SLIGHTLY BETTER, BUT HE IS NOT PUTTING FORTH AS MUCH EFFORT AS MELOON, THEY BOTH GET HIT A FEW TIMES, BUT THEN LIEME STOPS, CAUSING MELOON TO HIT HIM, ALMOST TO THE SUPRISE OF BOTH> <GETTING UP> Did you feel that?

Meloon: Feel what? My fist on your face? Har har. O’ course I did!!

Lieme: No, you fool. But of course, you wouldn’t sense that. You could hardly keep track of me.

Meloon: Well, what was it?

Lieme: It’s the Captain. He’s raised his power level… to battle ready. I’ve never seen him do that, on planet. He must be fighting someone. <RAISES INTO THE AIR, AND SHOOTS OFF> Come on!!

<CUTS TO GUVA AND PAYAR, WHO ARE CONTINUING TO WALK THEY ARE AT THE EDGE OF THE FOREST, WHERE THE NATIVES WORK>

Guva: I’m thinking of thinning the population. I mean really, how many are needed to meet our quotas? Six… seven million? What’s they’re population now?

Payar: I would say it’s close to 4 billion.

Guva: You up for some mass extermination?

Payar: <IN SHEER DELIGHT> Hell yeah. I can get started right now, if-

Guva: Not yet. I’ll speak to Banas first. See what he thinks.

<CUTS TO BANAS, WHO IS PURSUING LEDAS IN MIDAIR>

Banas: Don’t you dare kill him, Saiyan!

Ledas: <REMAINS SILENT, THEN SHOOTS A BLAST AT APRIDO> Ahhhh!!!

Banas: Stop! <SHOOTS A CLUSTER OF RAZOR BLASTS AT LEDAS, SOME HIT HIM AND CUT HIM>

<LEDAS, IN PAIN AND ANGER SHOOTS ANOTHER BLAST BEHIND HIM, AT BANAS, BUT THE CAPTAIN DODGES IT>

<APRIDO COMES TO A CLEARING, LEDAS GETS A CLEAN SHOT ON HIM, CAUSING THE APPULE TO FALL TO THE GROUND; LEDAS ABRUTLY STOPS TO STAY WITH APRIDO; BANAS, UNABLE TO STOP IN TIME, OVERSHOOTS THEM BOTH; LEDAS DESCENDS TO THE GROUND, AND APPROACHES APRIDO; APRIDO CRAWLS AWAY IN PANIC>

Ledas: I told you not to kill them!!!

Aprido: Okay man!! Okay! Just don’t kill me! <RAISES HIS HANDS TO SHIELD HIS FACE; BUT LEDAS BATS THEM AWAY, HE GRABS APRIDO’S NECK, WITH HIS LEFT HAND, AND READIES AN ENERGY BLAST WITH HIS RIGHT; BEFORE HE CAN KILL APRIDO, BANAS LANDS>

Ledas: Hmph… he shouldn’t have killed them!

Banas: Put him down!!

<LEDAS CHUCKLES, THEN FIRES HIS ENERGY BLAST, COMPLETELY INCINERATING THE APPULE>

Banas: <QUIET RAGE> Oh, you little f**ker.

That Makes Him The Guv'nor
Guva: <WALKING WITH PAYAR, LOOKING UP AT THE SKY> My my, it’s such a lovely day. So calm, so… <OUT OF THE JUNGLE COMES BANAS, CHASING LEDAS, BOTH STOP IN SIGHT OF GUVA> peaceful… thank you, gentlemen.

Banas: <SHOOTS AN ENERGY BLAST AT LEDAS; IT CAUSES AN UPROAR OF SAND AND DIRT AT GUVA’S FEET> Get back here!

<LIEME AND MELOON ARRIVE>

Lieme: Governor, boss… <PAYAR NODS TO LIEME AND MELOON; WHO RETURN THE GESTURE>

Banas: <IGNORING ALL> Get back here, Saiyan! <SHOOTS ANOTHER BLAST>

Ledas: Shut up! <SHOOTS A BLAST BACK AT BANAS>

Guva: Both of you, calm down! Now! What happened?

Banas: <DRAWING HIMSELF UP> The kid disobeyed me.

Guva: <TO LEDAS> Is that true?

Ledas: Hmph… I’ll do what I want.

Banas: He killed one of my men. One of my better soldiers, after I said not to.

Guva: And now what do you want, Captain?

Banas: I want to kill him. <MELOON’S EYES WIDEN IN EXCITEMENT; LIEME LOOKS CURIOUS>

Guva: <WIDE, ALMOST UNCHARACTERISTICALLY WIDE, SMILE> Oh? Well I see no problem in that, Banas.

Banas: <TAKEN ABACK> Really?

Guva: But I want to watch. You will fight in the stadium. Like all my entertainment does.

Banas: <A BIT OF IMPATIENT ANGER> Guva! I want to d-

Guva: Captain, I’m giving you the opportunity. The singular opportunity. Take it, or leave it. But do not drag it on.

Banas: Yeah, whatever. I’m so sick of this kid, I just want him to dead.

Guva: Sooner, rather than later, Captain. Let’s go, right now. <AGREEING, ALL WALK OFF, GUVA IS TRAILING BEHIND> <TO HIMSELF> I can not believe how smoothly things have come into place. What a lovely day…

<CUTS TO RIGHT OUTSIDE THE STADIUM, BANAS IS PACING, GUVA IS KNEELING, TALKING TO LEDAS>

Guva: You know what to do here. Are you ready?

Ledas: <LOOKING DOWN, MESSING AROUND WITH THE GROUND, WITH HIS FOOT> Well… I don’t know.

Guva: Well, we’ll see, right? Kill him, and remember what I’ve offered.

Ledas: Huh? What was that?

Guva: So much a child, you are. Do you not remember our conversation, so long ago?

Ledas: Well…

Guva: I have information on surviving members of your race. Your extinct race.

Ledas: <SUDDENLY EXCITED, REMEMBERING> Come on! Tell me!

Guva: You are close, just kill that one right over there <NODS HIS HEAD TOWARD BANAS>, and I’ll say everything.

Ledas: But… but what if I don’t kill him? <INNOCENTLY> He’s very strong!

Guva: Don’t worry about that. Now, go do what we’ve so long planned. <GETS UP>

Banas: <WATCHING, FROM AFAR, THE TWO TALKING> I wonder if that grunt ever found anything out. Maybe Guva wants the kid to kill me… but why? I always thought he would have more satisfaction doing it himself…

<GUVA STOPS TALKING TO LEDAS, AND WALKS AWAY, AS HE PASSES BANAS, THE TWO TALK FOR A BRIEF MOMENT>

Guva: Banas.

Banas: <NOT FRIENDLY> Governor.

Guva: <WALKS BY, CHUCKLES> Give us a good fight. <PAUSES AND STOPS> Strength and honor, Captain. <WALKS OFF>

Banas: <ANGRY> Yeah… to hell with you too.

<BOTH BANAS AND LEDAS ENTER THE ARENA, THE REGULAR SOLDIERS AND PLANTAINS ARE SITTING AROUND, WATCHING; UP ABOVE ON HIS LEDGE, GUVA RAISES HIS ARMS>

Guva: Begin!!!

Banas: <CIRCLING LEDAS> Guva enjoys this too much. To much in making me perform for him, like an animal! I swear, after the kid, I’m comin’ for him next.

<LEDAS AND BANAS BEGIN TO FIGHT, DODGING AND WEAVING AROUND EACH OTHER’S PUNCHES, SOMETIMES LANDING A FEW HITS, BUT NOTHING VERY DAMAGING>

Banas: <BACKING AWAY> Your power level’s pretty low, kid. You can’t hope to beat me like that.

Ledas: Oh yeah? My dad taught me how to beat you! Even if you are stronger than me! <LEDAS SHOOTS A FINGER BEAM AT BANAS’ SCOUTER, DESTROYING IT>

Banas: <GROWLING IN ANGER> Uuaaahh!!! Payar! Scouter! Give me your scouter. <RUNNING UP TO A SOLDIER IN THE STANDS> Scouter! Give me a scouter!!!!

Guva: <RISING> <TO HIS MEN> Hold your scouters, men. Leave them be. <TO BANAS> Fight on your own merit, Captain.

Banas: <INCREASINGLY ANGRY> Fools! <TURNS TO LEDAS> I’ll kill you right here and now. No more games.

<LEDAS STEPS BACK, AND WITH DETERMINATION POWERS UP TO HIS MAXIMUM; LIEME, FEELING HIS POWER IS AWESTRUCK>

Lieme: Impressive. He’s much stronger than I thought. He and the Captain are near even.

Payar: Do we have a legendary fight in the works, ya think?

Guva: <AHEAD, SITTING, BUT LISTENING> I do hope the Captain will put on a show. The child will surely be fighting for his life. Maybe that determination will win it, in the end?

<LEDAS IS DONE POWERING UP, HIS AURA IS STARK WHITE, BUT HE IS STILL NORMAL IN FORM>

<BANAS CHARGES LEDAS, WHO IMMEDIATELY SHOOTS A BEAM OF ENERGY AT THE CAPTAIN; BANAS BATS IT AWAY, BUT WHEN HE’S DONE, LEDAS IS GONE; HE REAPPEARS BEHIND BANAS, HITTING HIM UP INTO THE AIR; LEDAS BEGINS RAPID PURSUIT ATTACKS, HITTING BANAS AROUND MERCILESSLY; BANAS RECOVERS AND PUNCHES LEDAS, HARD, IN THE GUT, ENDING THE QUICK OVERTAKE>

Banas: <JUMPS BACK, STILL IN MIDAIR> Your quick Saiyan. Faster than you’ve ever been. But I’m better. I’ll always be better. <HE SENDS OF A RAINING OF RAZOR BLASTS AT LEDAS, WHO STILL UNFAMILIAR WITH THEM, TRIES TO BLOCK, TO DISTASTROUS RESULTS; BOTH HIS FOREARMS AND MUCH OF HIS CHEST ARMOR IS HIT WITH THE STUFF, CAUSING MANY SMALL CUTS>

<LEDAS, IN RAGE, FIRES OFF A GALICK GUN AT BANAS, WHO IS HIT WITH IT AND SHOT BACK, BUT HE QUICKLY RECOVERS; BOTH OF THEIR ARMORS ARE BEING DESTROYED>

<BANAS LETS OUT A YELL AND BEGINS TO ATTACK; HIS STYLE IS SO UNPREDICTABLE THAT EVEN LEDAS, SENSING HIM, HAS A HARD TIME BLOCKING; LEDAS IS HIT BACK INTO THE STADIUM, BACK FIRST INTO THE SAND; TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, BANAS SENDS A LARGE RAZOR BLAST AT LEDAS, WHO BARELY ABLE TO DODGE IT, GETS HIS TAIL KNICKED; BLOOD IS POURING OUT, EVERYWHERE; LEDAS SLIPS INTO A BRIEF UNCONSCIOUSNESS>

<FLASHBACK>

Layeeck: <RETURNS TO THEIR HOME> Ledas! Where are you? Ledas! Are you still mad at me for cutting off your tail? Come out! I can fix it… you just gotta come out!

Layeeck: Ledas! <SUDDENLY, LAYEECK’S BODY STIFFENS, HE FEELS AS HIS TAIL IS SLICED OFF; LEDAS LANDS BEHIND HIM>

Ledas: <STARING, CHILLINGLY COLD AND STILL> Hi… <LONG PAUSE> dad.

<LEDAS COMES BACK TO REALITY, SCREAMING, IN PAIN AND IN SORROW; BANAS IS HOVERING ABOVE, IN CONFIDENT ARROGANCE>

<LEDAS IS LOSING A LOT OF BLOOD, FROM HIS TAIL CUT, SO HE HAS TO DO SOMETHING INCREDIBLY PAINFUL, BUT NECESSARY; CAUTERIZE THE WOUND, WITH HIS OWN ENERGY> <LEDAS, TREMBLING GETS UP, AND GRABS HIS TAIL WITH HIS HANDS, HE BRINGS IT AROUND, TO HIS FRONT; LEDAS READIES A SMALL ENERGY ATTACK, AND PRESSES IT TO HIS TAIL; HE SCREAMS IN PAIN; HE IS COVERED IN BLOOD; LEDAS LETS HIS TAIL GO, AND THE WOUND IS CAUTERIZED SUCCESSFULLY, BUT LEDAS IS NOW DELIRIOUS FROM HIS PAIN>

<WITH A SMILE, BANAS DISAPPEARS, AND REAPPEARS TO ATTACK LEDAS, WHO CAN NO LONGER DEFEND AGAINST THE CAPTAIN’S ATTACKS>

<THE CAMERA SLOWLY ZOOMS BACK AS IT LOOKS UP INTO THE SKY, WHEN THERE IS NOTHING BUT BLUE, THE CAMERA FADES TO BLACK; THROUGHOUT THIS TIME, HOWEVER, THE SOUND OF THE CROWD, AND BANAS HAS NOT LESSENED>

Truly Alone
<LEDAS EYES SQUINT IN PAIN AS HE IS HIT AGAIN; BANAS KNOCKS HIM AWAY, INTO ONE OF THE WALLS, THE SOLDIERS ARE LETTING OUT DEAFENING JEERS>

<LEDAS GETS UP, QUICKLY, AND RETURNS TO THE FIGHT; WHILE BANAS CLEARLY HAS THE UPPER HAND, LEDAS CAN STILL LAND A FEW PUNCHES IN ON HIM; BANAS GRABS LEDAS BY HIS HAIR, AND ONCE AGAIN THROWS HIM INTO THE FAR WALL OF THE STADIUM>

Banas: I gotta give you credit, kid. You put up one helluva fight. But I’ve already told you… I’ll always be your better. Ha ha ha.

<LEDAS, IN PAIN, SHIFTS HIS WEIGHT, AND GRABS ONTO THE WALL WITH ONE ARM; WITH BOTH FEET, AND ALL HIS EFFORT, HE PUSHES OFF FROM THE WALL, RIGHT INTO BANAS; THE FORCE OF THE CHARGE KNOCKS BANAS OVER AND CRACKS HIS ARMOR, IN THE CHEST REGION; BANAS IS ON THE GROUND, BOTH KNEES AND ONE ARM HOLDING HIMSELF UP; THE OTHER ARM IS SUPPORTING HIS CHEST>

<LEDAS TAKES THIS TIME TO RECOVER, BUT BANAS WILL HAVE NONE OF THAT; HE JUMPS FORWARD, PUNCHING AND KICKING AT THE CHILD; LEDAS RETURNS THE EFFORT>

<THEIR FIGHT, ONCE AGAIN, TAKES TO THE SKY; NEITHER CAN BE SEEN; ONLY LIEME HAS ANY IDEA OF WHAT IS GOING ON>

Meloon: Uh… where’d they go?

Lieme: <LOOKING UP AT THE SKY, HIS HEAD IS CONSTANTLY MOVING, SLIGHTLY, KEEPING UP WITH THE TWO> They’re up there.

Guva: Oh really? It’s so much like the Captain to find a way to make this lose its interest…

Payar: What happens if Cap’n Banas is killed, sir? What do we do?

Guva: You should be happy, in that case Payar. You would be the new Captain.

Lieme: Yes, but what happens to the kid?

Guva: I’ll kill him myself. I’m much stronger than Banas is. That Saiyan would be no match for me.

Lieme: <STILL LOOKING UP, UNMOVING> A win-win for you, eh governor?

<GUVA DOES NOT ANSWER>

<BANAS AND LEDAS CONTINUE THEIR STRUGGLE, JUMPING ALL AROUND, ENERGY BLASTS ARE FLYING ALL OVER THE PLACE>

<LEDAS LANDS A HIT ON BANAS, STOPPING THE FLOW OF THE FIGHT; BOTH STOP MOVING, AND BOTH ARE WEARY>

<BANAS PAUSES FOR A MOMENT, THEN SHOOTS A RAIN OF RAZOR BLASTS AT LEDAS; LEDAS, THIS TIME KNOWING WHAT THEY ARE, SHOOTS A BEAM OF ENERGY RIGHT INTO IT, BLOWING THE RAZORS BACK INTO BANAS’ FACE, LIKE SAND FROM WIND; BANAS IS CUT ALL OVER HIS FACE>

Banas: <SUPRISINGLY, BANAS’ ANGER SEEMS TO MELT AWAY; HE IS LAUGHING> Heh heh. I knew I shouldn’t have tried the same trick twice, and on you of all people. <WIPING THE BLOOD FROM HIS FACE> So whaddya say, kid? Should we end this?

Ledas: <TO HIMSELF> Vegeta could beat him… Vegeta would beat him! <LEDAS BLINDLY CHARGES AT BANAS, A CRITICAL MISTAKE; WITH A SINGLE SLICE TO THE HEAD, BANAS HITS LEDAS TO THE GROUND, HE SENDS A FLURRY OF LONG, BUT SKINNY ENERGY BEAMS TRAILING AFTER THE CHILD; THEY ALL DETONATE ON WHERE LEDAS LANDS; WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS, LEDAS IS NOT THERE>

<BANAS DESCENDS TO THE GROUND, LAUGHING>

Banas: So, govvy… looks like the kid wasn’t that great after all. To bad, huh?

Guva: <HIDING HIS DISAPPOINTMENT> Yes captain. Bravo, on a performance well done. Truly, you were the better warrior today.

Banas: <BREATHING HEAVILY STILL> Yeah save all that crap for when you and me fight.

Guva: Come now, let us go! <SLOWLY, ALL THE SOLDIER LEAVE THE STADIUM, ONLY GUVA REMAINS, HE GOES DOWN TO WHERE LEDAS WAS LAST SEEN>

<GUVA BENDS DOWN, FEELING THE CHARRED SAND; HE STANDS UP, SUDDENLY, AND TURNS AROUND; LEDAS IS SITING ON A RAILING, BEHIND HIM>

Guva: Ah, I didn’t think you were dead.

Ledas: <CHILD-LIKE> Well… what do I do, now?

Guva: You want me to spare you? To show you mercy? Don’t kid yourself, Saiyan. You failed to kill Banas.

Ledas: Bu-

Guva: If he were dead, maybe I could help… but not anymore. Failing your singular purpose, I’m afraid, that you are of no more use to me, Saiyan. If I see you again, I will kill you. So get out of here! <HE FIRES A SMALL BLAST, KNOCKING LEDAS OFF THE RAILING; LEDAS IN FEAR RUNS OUT, OF THE STADIUM, TO THE FOREST>

<BANAS AND HIS PLANTAINS ARE SITTING OUTSIDE THE BARRACKS, WHEN LEDAS COME ROARING AROUND THE CORNER, DIVING INTO THE FOREST>

Banas: <IN A GOOD MOVE, SOMEWHAT DISTRACTED> What was that?

Lieme: <WITHOUT PAUSE> It was the kid.

Meloon: No way, the captain kill him!

Banas: Yeah, he’s dead alright.

Lieme: Sir, I saw him. And I can sense him, even now.

Banas: <UNCONVINCED> Naw Lieme, you must be tired. You’re seeing things.

Guva: <COMING OUT OF THE STADIUM, IN HIGH ELEGANCE> Captain, gentlemen, your quarry is in there <NODS TO THE FOREST>. This chase isn’t over yet. I want his body delivered, right to my office door, before tomorrow.

Banas: He’s dead, governor. I killed him.

Guva: <IGNORING BANAS> I will not ask again. Get going, gents.

Banas: Fine, let’s go see what we can find.

<BANAS AND HIS TEAM SPREAD OUT AND START SKIMMING OVER THE FOREST, IN AIR>

<LEDAS, BELOW THEM, IS FRANTICALLY RUNNING THROUGH THE JUNGLE AND WHATNOT, HE IS STUMBLING AND TRIPPING AS HE GOES; HE SEES PAYAR FLY OVER HIM, AND REALIZES THERE IS A PURSUIT IN PROGRESS; LEDAS STOPS, WAITING FOR THEM TO PASS HIM>

<ABOVE, LIEME SENSES WERE LEDAS IS, AND QUIETLY MOTIONS TO THE OTHER PLANTAINS TO FOLLOW HIM, TO THE SAIYAN>

<THEY DESCEND TO THE GROUND, SILENTLY, AND SEE LEDAS UP AHEAD, HE IS STANDING STILL, BACK TURNED TO THEM, IN FRIGHT; LIEME SILENTLY READIES A BLAST AND FIRES IT AT LEDAS; LEDAS SENSES IT JUST IN TIME, AND BENDS HIS TORSO OUT OF THE WAY, BARELY MISSING THE ENERGY>

<LIEME AND MELOON RUSH FORWARD, BUT LEDAS RUNS IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION; HE JUMPS OVER A LEDGE, INTO A ROCK FORMATION BELOW, LEDAS JUMPS INTO IT, HIDING HIM FROM SIGHT; AS A LAST MEASURE, HE LOWERS HIS POWER LEVEL AS FAR AS HE CAN, SO THAT LIEME CAN NO LONGER SENSE HIM; IT WORKS, AND THE PLANTAINS, AFTER SOME TIME GIVE UP THEIR PURSUIT; PAYAR RETURNS TO GUVA WITH THE NEWS>

Payar: Governor, the kid is gone.

Guva: <SITTING BEHIND HIS DESK, LOOKING AT SOME SCREENS; HE DOES NOT LOOK UP> But not dead?

Payar: Well… no, but I doubt he can live for long out there.

Guva: Never underestimate the kid, Payar… it’ll come back to bite you in the ass. <LONG PAUSE, AND A SIGH> I know that from experience.

Payar: Governor, I’ll keep looking for him. He can’t do much, without Lieme being able to sen-

Guva: Maybe, but I have another way to flush him out. Let us begin the thinning of this planet‘s population. It will no doubt send him into an emotion-filled rage. And in that state, we can take him out, much more easily.

Payar: <SMILING> You gonna take him out yourself, guv’nor?

Guva: And a leader must preserve the order. A successful one, anyway. And I’ll do whatever I have to, to stay successful.

A Promise
<FLASHBACK, UNKNOWN PLANET; STANDING, IN FORMATION ARE MANY SOLDIERS, COOLER BY ARMOR DESIGNATION; AMONG THEM, AS THE CAMERA WALKS DOWN THE LINE, ARE A YOUNGER BANAS AND GUVA>

Instructor: <PACING DOWN THE LINE> Each of you has been hand picked by lord Cooler, himself. He sees each of you as potential assistants to his grand design. <BANAS SHIFTS, BORED>

Instructor: <WALKS UP TO BANAS> You gotta problem… <LOOKS FOR BANAS’ RANK, ON THE ARMOR; RELAXES, A BIT> captain?

Banas: <GRINS> You like that, don’t you?

Instructor: <WITHOUT ANOTHER LOOK AT BANAS, CONTINUES DOWN THE LINE, UNTIL HE SPOTS GUVA, WHO IS ALSO A CAPTAIN> You! Captain, come forward. <GUVA STEPS FORWARD> <THE INSTRUCTOR TURNS BACK TO BANAS> And you, smartass. Forward. <BANAS, OBVIOUSLY CAREFREE MOVES FORWARD, IN CONTRAST TO GUVA, WHO IS STANDING STRAIGHT, AND GRAVELY> Both of you, fight.

<THE LINES NOTICEABLY MOVE BACK, CLEARING WAY FOR THE TWO CAPTAINS; THEY START CIRCLING EACH OTHER, LIKE HUNGRY WOLVES>

Instructors: <CLAPS HIS HANDS TO START> To the death, then.

Guva: <SHARPLY TURNS HIS HEAD> Wait… what? <SEEING GUVA DISTRACTED BANAS, JUMPS FORWARD AND PUNCHES THE FELLOW CAPTAIN, TO THE GROUND>

<SUDDENLY, GUVA WAKES UP, HE WAS DREAMING/REMEMBERING>

Guva: <GROGGY> Uaah… <STUMBLING FROM HIS ROOM TO OUTSIDE, IT IS FOGGY AND WET OUT>

<GUVA MOVES FORWARD A FEW FEET, ONTO THE STREET, AND SHOOTS A RED ENERGY FLARE UP INTO THE SKY, MILES AHEAD>

<A FEW MOMENTS GO BY, AND THEN ANOTHER FLARE IS SHOT UP, NEXT TO WHERE GUVA’S IS HOVERING; IT IS BLUE>

Guva: <CAMERA PANS AROUND, FROM HIS BACK, TO HIS FACE, CLOSEUP VIEW OF HIS EYES; THEY ARE HUNGRY, BURNING> So they found the kid.

<CUTS TO THE FOREST, A GROUP OF LOW CLASS SOLDIERS, AND MELOON ARE CHASING LEDAS; THEY FIRE BURSTS OF ENERGY AT HIM, CAUSING TONS OF EXPLOSIONS TO DETONATE AROUND THE SAIYAN, AS HE RUNS, SEVERAL LAND NEAR HIM, AND SEND HIM FLYING; HE LANDS IN A BUNCH OF BUSHES>

<BY THE TIME MELOON AND HIS SQUAD ARRIVE, THOUGH, LEDAS IS GONE>

<IN A TREE ABOVE, LEDAS THROWS A ROCK, PLAYFULLY, THAT HITS MELOON IN THE SIDE OF THE HEAD>

Ledas: You gotta be faster than that, Meloon!

Meloon: <TURNS TO FACE LEDAS, FURIOUS> Why you little bastard! <FIRES A BLAST AT LEDAS, WHO EASILY JUMPS DOWN FROM THE TREE IN TIME TO DODGE IT> I’ll kill ya!

<LEDAS OVERESTIMATES HIS OWN ABILITIES, AND FROM ALL THE ENERGY BLASTS, LOSES HIS FOOTING, AND SLIDES DOWN A GRASSY AND MUDDY HILL>

<CUTS TO A FLASHBACK; GUVA AND BANAS ARE ALONE, ON A PLANET; IT IS DARK, AND THE TWO ARE WADING THROUGH SWAMPLANDS>

Banas: This is first, huh? Sending two captains on the same mission?

<GUVA DOES NOT ANSWER>

Banas: Come on, man. We should have some fun while we’re out here! <HE TAKES HIS HAND AND SPLASHES GUVA; LAUGHS>

Guva: Stop it! We need to focus on the task at hand.

Banas: What? Catching one of those creatures? No way we can do that tonight.

Guva: We’ll get as far as we can before continuing in the morning. At this rate, we’ll be the fastest to ev-

Banas: <REACHES OVER AND PICKS UP A STICK, NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO GUVA’S SPEECH> Hey, Guva how far do ya think I can throw this stick?

Guva: There, one right there! <POINTS TO A SPECK OF DARKNESS OFF IN THE DISTANCE, IN THE SKY, HE TAKES OFF, SENDING WATER FLYING EVERYWHERE, AND TRIPPING UP BANAS, WHO FALLS UNDERWATER>

Banas: <RISING TO THE SURFACE; STRANGELY NOT BOTHERED; GUVA IS IN THE DISTANCE> Was it something I said?

<CUTS BACK TO REAL TIME; GUVA IS STANDING, WITH TWO HELPERS; THE ROOM IS ALL MARBLE, BUT OPEN, THERE IS NO FURNITURE; THERE IS SLIGHT DUST IN THE AIR; THE TONE IS VERY GRAVE; THIS ENTIRE SEGMENT IS DONE IN COMPLETE SLOW MOTION>

Guva: <SLOWLY> Banas, his entire team? Is there word yet?

Soldier 1: Uhh… no sir. <SWIFTLY CLAMPS ON GUVA’S LEFT WRIST GUARD>

Guva: <TO HIMSELF, DISTANT> No word… <THE SOLDIER PUTS ON GUVA’S OTHER WRIST GUARD>

Guva: I will go. I want him to die by my hand. Not Banas’. <HE EXTENDS HIS ARMS, TO MAKE A “T” POSITION OF HIS BODY, HE PUTS HIS HEAD BACK; THE TWO SOLDIERS SLIP HIS CHEST ARMOR OVER HIS HEAD; FITTING AND ADJUSTING IT ONTO HIS BODY>

<THE SOLDIERS MOVE AROUND, AND CLAMP KNEE ARMOR TO GUVA’S BOOTS>

<THEY GET UP, AND BRING OUT GUVA’S CAPE, IT IS A DEEP RED; THEY UNFOLD IT AND PLACE IT ONTO HIS CEREMONIAL ARMOR, PATTING IT INTO PLACE; ONE SOLDIER, COMES AROUND, FRONT, TO FACE GUVA, STILL PATTING DOWN THE ARMOR; HE NODS TO GUVA, AND THE DOOR IN FRONT OPENS; LIGHT EXPLODES ONTO GUVA’S FACE, COMING FROM THE DOORS AHEAD; GUVA’S HEAD RECOILS SLIGHTLY, AND HE SQUINTS, UNTIL HIS EYES ADJUST; HE WALKS OUTSIDE, AND LOOKS TO THE SKY>

Guva: Not Banas’.

<END, SLOW MOTION>

<CUTS BACK, RATHER SUDDENLY TO MELOON CHASING LEDAS>

<LEDAS CONTINUES TO RUN, THROUGH THE FOREST; HE IS GETTING DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO ONE OF THE NATIVE’S CAMPS>

<LEDAS TURNS AROUND, SHOOTING BLASTS, ONE HITS MELOON, AND SENDS THE FAT ELITE ROLLING; SEEING HIS OPPORTUNITY, LEDAS STOPS TO COMBAT THE OTHER SOLDIERS; THEY ALL RUN UP ON HIM, AND ARE SKIDDISH, NOT WANTING TO STRIKE; LEDAS SMILES, AND SENDS OUT A HOMING BEAM FROM EVERY FINGER OF HIS BODY, EACH ONE HITS ITS MARK, DROPPING THE SOLDIERS; LEDAS JUMPS UP AND DOWN A FEW TIMES, TRYING TO GET A PEEK AT WHERE MELOON LANDED; AFTER A FEW MOMENTS, HE TURNS AND TAKES OFF IN A SPRINT>

<MELOON, GRUMBLING, GETS UP AND RUNS OFF TO FIND LEDAS; HE NOTICES ALL THE BODIES OF HIS FALLEN SOLDIERS, THIS ONLY SERVES TO FUEL MELOON’S ANGER; HE COMES AROUND A BEND, AND TRIPS INTO THE NATIVES’ CAMP>

Meloon: <BREATHING HARD> Well….? Any of you see a kid?

<THE NATIVES DO NOT ANSWER>

Meloon: Hey! <TAKES A BALL OF ENERGY INTO HIS HAND, AND THROWS IT INTO ONE OF THE BUILDINGS, KILLING DOZENS OF NATIVES, THEY ALL SCREAM, BUT DON’T RUN, FOR FEAR OF REPRISAL; MANY ARE CRYING>

Meloon: <A SMALL SMILE COMES TO HIM> We gonna do this again? Or are ya gonna answer me?! Have you seen a kid come through here?!

<A FEW OF THE NATIVES SHAKE THEIR HEADS, FEAR IN THEIR EYES>

<MELOON PREPARES ANOTHER BLAST, BUT IS INTERRUPTED>

Guva: <HOVERING ABOUT 10 FEET ABOVE MELOON’S HEAD, TO THE LEFT A BIT; HIS ARMS ARE CROSSED> Meloon! Did you find the kid?

Meloon: <EXTINGUISHES HIS BLAST, AND LOOKS UP AT THE GOVERNOR> Yeah, captain… I was just chasin’ him!

Guva: So, where is he, then?

Meloon: Uh… well…

Guva: <WITH CONTEMPT> You lost him. How typical.

Meloon: I was still lookin’, governor…

Guva: <STARING OUT, OVER THE HORIZON> He’s long gone, by now. <SHARPLY> Meloon, let‘s go! We’re getting the hell out of here. <MELOON RISES, TO FOLLOW GUVA; GUVA, IN HIS ANGER OVER A NO SHOW, SENDS OUT A HUGE SHOT, UP INTO THE AIR, IT LANDS MILES AWAY, CREATING A HUGE CRATOR; WHEN IT DETONATES, IT GIVES OFF A HUGE BRIGHT LIGHT>

<WHEN THE LIGHT FADES, IT IS ANOTHER OF GUVA’S FLASHBACKS>

Guva: <FIGHTING WITH BANAS, STOPS, IN TANTRUM> Stop moving around like that! Fight like a normal person!

Banas: Oh? Captain Guva can’t seem to keep up with me. That’s such a shame.

Guva: I can keep up with you. You just give me a headache, with all that extra crap.

Banas: <SARCASTIC> Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt the good Captain. You need a hug?

<GUVA PUNCHES BANAS, WHO WAS NOT READY FOR IT, BANAS FALLS TO GROUND>

Banas: <JUMPS UP, READY TO FIGHT> Is baby having a tantrum?

Guva: Why don’t you find out?

<THE TWO START FIGHTING; AFTER SEVERAL MINTUES, NEITHER IS GETTING ANYWHERE, THEY DEGRADE TO RATHER PATHETIC FORM QUICKLY; THE INSTRUCTER COMES OUT, AND BREAKS UP THE FIGHT>

Instructor: Stop. <WITH MORE FORCE, WHEN THEY DON’T> Stop!!! <BOTH CAPTAINS FREEZE> Now, I don’t want to here either of you talking bulls**t until you can back it up. If there’s something I can’t stand, it’s an overconfident weakling.

<CUTS BACK TO THE NATIVE VILLAGE, THE DESTROYED BUILDING IS STILL ON FIRE; FROM A CORNER, LEDAS DROPS FROM A TREE, AND WALKS INTO THE VILLAGE>

<LEDAS TRIES TO HELP THEM PUT OUT THE FIRES, BUT THE NATIVES RUN FROM HIM; HE EXTINGUISHES THE BLAZES ANWAY, THEN TURNS TO LOOK AT THEM, THEY HAVE FEAR IN THEIR EYES>

Ledas: I can help… <RAISES HIS HAND INTO THE AIR TO POINT AT THE OUTPOST, WHICH CAUSES A RIPPLE OF CRINGES FROM THE ONLOOKERS> N-no… I’m not gonna hurt you…

<THE NATIVES, IN FEAR DON’T ANSWER>

Ledas: <LOOKING AT THE MULTITUDE OF CORPSES STREWN ABOUT> Meloon did all this?

<NO ANSWER>

Ledas: <KIND OF MUTED, THE ATMOSPHERE HAS LESSENED HIS ENTHUSIAM THROUGHOUT THE CONVERSATION> Well, don’t worry. I’ll make sure he pays for what he did. I’ll kill Meloon, and all the others too… <GETTING ANGRY> I promise I will. <CLENCHES FISTS AND RUNS OFF INTO THE FOREST; THE NATIVES REMAINED, PERPLEXED; THEIR FEAR IS SLIGHTLY LESS THAN BEFORE>

Our Savior, Fight Evil
<GUVA AND MELOON ARE RETURNING TO BASE; AS THEY GET BACK TO IT, GUVA STOPS ON THE EDGE OF THE FOREST, MELOON CONTINUES ON; THE SUN IS LOWERING IN THE DISTANCE; GUVA, MAD AT GETTING ALL DRESSED UP FOR NOTHING, TAKES HIS LEFT WRIST SUPPORT ARMOR OFF, WITH HIS RIGHT HAND, TURNS, AND THROWS IT HARD INTO THE TREES BELOW>

Guva: <IN MIDAIR, TURNS BACK TO FACE HIS OUTPOST> Why is it that the strongest of soldiers are also the stupi-

<THE LEFT WRIST ARMOR IS THROWN, HARD, HITTING GUVA IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD, HE BREAKS HIS POSE, FALLING FORWARD FOR A SECOND, BUT THEN COMES BACK UP; HE TURNS, ANGRY; WAITING, AT EYE LEVEL, IS LEDAS>

Guva: <CALMLY, REGALLY, YET MOCKING> Have we met? Your face looks so familiar…

Ledas: <DELIBERATELY> I’m going to kill all of you.

<GUVA DESCENDS TO THE GROUND, AND PICKS UP HIS WRIST ARMOR; HE TOSSES IT TO LEDAS>

Guva: Here, take it. If you want to beat me, your going to need some protection. <GUVA, IN CONFIDENCE, WALKS OFF LAUGHING>

<LEDAS REMAINS FOR A FEW MOMENTS, LOOKING AT THE ARMOR, THEN HE CAREFULLY STRAPS IT ONTO HIS LEFT WRIST; LEDAS TESTS THE FEELING OUT, FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN VANISHES, INTO THE TREES>

<FLASHBACK; GUVA>

<GUVA EXITS ROOM, HE IS RELIEVED>

Banas: <SITTING ON A RAILING, NEARBY> So, how’d it go?

Guva: <IGNORING HIM, WALKING BY> They want to see you next.

Banas: <PLAYFUL TONE> I’ll be sure to give you the good word.

<GUVA DOESN’T SEEM TO HEAR HIM, HE SITS DOWN IN A CHAIR IN THE CORNER, HEAD IN HIS HANDS, DEEPLY UPSET>

<THE CAMERA ZOOMS OUT, AND TO THE OUTSIDE, IT IS REVEALED THAT GUVA AND BANAS WERE ON COOLER’S SHIP>

<CUTS BACK TO THE OUTPOST, LIEME AND BANAS>

Banas: Whaddya say, Lieme? Will it work?

Lieme: Possibly. But I thought the governor already had an idea? Or is this it?

Banas: No, I come up with my own material. <SMILES> I thought you would have known that by now, Lieme. Guva’s idea, just all his others, is for the long run. And this kid, this annoying little thorn in my side… I want him gone now.

Lieme: Is that my cue to start it then, boss?

Banas: Yeah, Lieme. Get started now.

<CUTS TO PAYAR AND GUVA, IN GUVA’S OFFICE; FIRST FLOOR>

Guva: Patience. That’s what’ll win this, without incident.

Payar: <JUMPY, IRRITABLE; TALKING FAST> Just let me start… today at least. I won’t kill them all. I won’t. You want some? I’ll leave you some. But I gotta get started now, guv’nor… I really can’t take it anymore!

Guva: I have told you how I want this to pan out. And it requires, as I mentioned before, patience. I could always reassign this job to someone else, if you’re no longer up for the challenge…

Payar: <YELLING> No!! <QUIETS BACK DOWN, BUT STILL IS TALKING FASTER THAN NORMAL> I’ll be patient. Yeah, I promise. But when will I get to start?

Guva: I think Banas’ try something soon. Let’s see how that goes, before the great extermination.

Payar: <RARELY IS HE SEEN LIKE THIS, BUT THERE IS A CRAZED HUNGER IN HIS EYES, HE IS FIDGITING AND ANXIOUS> I-I can’t wait…

<CUTS BACK TO LEDAS, WHO IS AT THE NATIVES’ VILLAGE; MOST ARE THERE>

Ledas: I… I just want to help… <THE NATIVES LOOK AT HIM WITH FEAR, HE APPROACHES ONE, AND IT RUNS AWAY>

Ledas: Please… I’m hungry… <TEARS UP> and cold… please…

<LEDAS REACHES HIS HAND OUT TO TOUCH ONE OF THE NATIVES NEARBY, IN A PLEADING MANNER; IT RUNS AWAY FROM HIM AGAIN; STILL A LARGE GROUP LOOK ON, AT A DISTANCE, AS IF CURIOUS>

<LEDAS, DEFEATED, BACKS UP SLOWLY, UNTIL HE HIT’S A TALL WOODEN POST; HE FALLS OT THE GROUND, SITTING UP AGAINST IT; IT STARTS RAINING; LEDAS SITS THERE, CRYING AND SHIVERING ALL NIGHT>

<CUTS TO A SNOWY, MOUNTAINOUS PLANET, CURIOUSLY FAMILIAR; FLASHBACK GUVA>

<A SMALL GROUP OF SOLDIERS IS SLOWLY WALKING UP THE MOUNTAIN; THERE ARE SIX IN ALL, GUVA AND BANAS AMONG THEM>

<AS THEY ARE WALKING, ONE FALLS, DEAD FROM THE COLD>

<THE OTHERS CONTINUE ON, THEY COME UPON A GREAT CREVICE IN THE SNOW, ONE THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO JUMP (note: none can use ki right now, because all of them are wearing ki suppressors); BANAS AND TWO OTHERS HAVE NO TROUBLE, BUT THE ONE IN FRONT OF GUVA MISSES AND CLAWS DOWN WITH HIM A GOOD DEAL OF SNOW; GUVA JUMPS, AND ALMOST MAKES IT, BARELY HOLDING ON; BANAS RUNS FORWARD, AND PUTS HIS ARM OUT FOR GUVA; GUVA SITS THERE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, BUT GETTING COLDER AND COLDER, HE FINALLY GIVES BANAS HIS HAND, WHO IN TURN HELPS GUVA UP>

<THEY CONTINUE ON, GETTING TO THE SUMMIT, WHERE AN INSTRUCTOR IS WAITING FOR THEM>

<THE WIND IS ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATING UP THERE>

Instructor: Four? Is that all?

Banas: <CHIPPER> Yep, we’re it.

<GUVA LOOKS AT HIM, WITH CURIOUS DISGUST>

<THE INSTRUCTOR NODS, THEN WALKS BY, AND INDIVIDUALLY TAKES OFF EACH OF THE SOLDIERS’ KI SUPPRESSORS>

Instructor: Now then, how ’bout first one to catch me, wins? <LOOKING AROUND AT THE QUIET SOLDIERS> Hmm? Come on, let‘s go! <SHOOTS A BLAST AT THEM, THEN TAKES OFF, INTO THE HOWLING DARK ABOVE>

Banas: <CAUSUALLY WALKS UP TO EACH OF THE OTHER TWO SOLDIERS (WHO CANNOT HEAR DUE TO THE WIND), AND CALMLY KILLS THEM, THEN HE TURNS TO GUVA> I think this was meant for just the two of us. After all I always did want to give you another chance… <LAUGHS AND TAKES OFF AFTER THE INSTRUCTOR; GUVA, RUNS AND DOES THE SAME>

<THE FLASHBACK ENDS AND IT CUTS TO LEDAS AT THE VILLAGE, THE ENTIRE AREA IS WET AND ALL, BUT THE SKY IS CLEAR>

<LEDAS HAS DRIED SOMEWHAT, DO TO A LIGHT BLUE BLANKET THAT WAS LAID OVER HIM SOMETIME IN THE NIGHT; HE IS VERY SURPRISED TO SEE IT; THERE ARE SEVERAL NATIVES PEEKING AT HIM, OVER IN THE VILLAGE>

Ledas: <IN A SHOUT, BUT HOARSE FROM HIM CRYING ALL NIGHT> Did you give me this?! <HE HOLDS UP THE BLANKET; THE NATIVES DISAPPEAR, INTO THEIR HOUSES AT THE SIGHT OF IT> Well thanks… I guess.

<HE GETS UP AND LOOKS AROUND, HE NEARLY TRIPS OVER SOMETHING; IT IS A HUGE FLOWER BUD, YELLOW IN COLOR>

Ledas: <KNEELS DOWN TO INSPECT IT> What is this? <HE PICKS IT UP AND SNIFFS IT, IT IS LIGHT, BUT HAS NO ODOR>

<LEDAS LOOKS UP AT THE NATIVES AHEAD, SOME HAVE THE FLOWER THINGS IN THEIR HANDS; THEY HAVE THEIRS CRACKED OPEN AND ARE DRINKIN THE LIQUID INSIDE>

<LEDAS FOLLOWS SUIT (THOUGH IN A MUCH MESSIER WAY; HE DRINKS A LITTLE OF THE LIQUID INSIDE, IT LOOKS LIKE HONEY; QUICKLY, AFTER REALIZING HOW GOOD IT IS, LEDAS FINISHES HIS “FLOWER”>

<HE STUMBLES BACK, AND LOOKS AT HIS FINGERS, THEY ARE TINGLING>

Ledas: Whoa… <A GRIN COMES TO HIS FACE; HE LOSES HIS BALANCE, AND FALLS INTO SOME BUSHES; A FEW OF THE NATIVES LAUGH, HESITANTLY; LEDAS REEMERGES, LAUGHING HIMSELF>

Ledas: <SLURRED SPEECH> Wwhhasss indis stuff nenywaaay… <WALKING FORWARD, NEARLY LOSING HIS BALANCE; THE NATIVES TAKE A, COLLECTIVE, STEP BACKWARD, BUT IT IS NOT AS BIG AS BEFORE, THEY SEEM TO HAVE LESSENED THEIR FEAR; LEDAS ENTERS INTO THE CAMP AND WALKS ALL THE WAY TO THE TOWN CENTER; HE LAUGHS ONE MORE TIME, AND THEN FALLS, FACE FIRST ONTO THE GROUND, ASLEEP>

<THE NATIVES ARE NOW IN AN PLEASANT UPROAR, CROWDING AROUND LEDAS>

<THE CAMERA PANS BACK A BIT, AND IN THE TREES ABOVE, LIEME IS SQUATTING, HE IS TALKING, INTO A DEVICE>

Lieme: Boss… <LONG PAUSE, WHERE THE CAMERA MOVES AROUND HIM, SHOWING HIS LOCATION IN GREATER DETAIL> I’m in place.

Costly Preparations
<GUVA IS WALKING DOWN THE MAIN ROAD OF THE OUTPOST; HE WALKS PAST BANAS>

Guva: Ah, Captain Banas, good to see you.

Banas: <PREOCCUPIED, BUT HAPPY> Yeah, uh-huh. Tell them I’ll do it later…

Guva: <STOPS, AND TURNS AROUND, HE STOPS BANAS> You know, Captain, I haven’t seen you this happy in quite a while…

Banas: <COMING OUT OF HIS DAZE> Oh, Guva. When did you get here?

Guva: <SQUINTS> What do you have planned?

Banas: <SMILES, IN PURE JOY> Soon… governor. I’m sure you’ll hear about it sooner or later.

<BANAS WALKS OFF, GUVA STARING AFTER HIM>

<CUTS TO LIEME, WHO IS STILL IN A TREE ABOVE, LEDAS IS STILL ASLEEP>

Lieme: <TO HIMSELF> Now then, Saiyan let’s see your true colors. <HE LAUGHS, AND FLIES UP, ABOVE THE TREE TOPS; WITH SUDDEN FORCE, HE THROWS A BALL OF ENERGY INTO THE SKY, THE SAME BALL OF ENERGY LEDAS USED, SO MANY YEARS AGO, TO DISASTROUS RESULTS>

<LIEME MOVES BACK A FEW FEET, AND FOCUSES DOWN ONTO LEDAS>

<THE NATIVE CROWD AROUND LEDAS IS LAUGHING AND PLAYFUL, HE WAKES UP>

Ledas: Uaaaahhh…. <YAWNS> <HE SITS UP, AND SOME NATIVES BACK AWAY, BUT SOME STAY AS WELL> <HE LAUGHS AGAIN> What was that stuff…? <THE NATIVES MAKE NOISE, BUT NOTHING DISCERNABLE> Well whatever it was… heh, it was good. <PLAYFULLY> Got any more?

<THE NATIVES PASS ANOTHER ONE OF THE FLOWERS DOWN TO LEDAS>

Ledas: Ooooh! Thanks! <HE GRABS THE FLOWER, AND IN HIS HASTE TO OPEN IT, HE MAKES A HUGE MESS, SENDING PIECES FLYING EVERYWHERE> Ha ha… oops! <PICKING A PIECE OF FLOWER OUT OF HIS HAIR> Ha ha… I guess I don’t know my own… <LEDAS LOOKS UP INTO THE SKY, AND SEES THE POWERBALL> my… <HIS EYES WIDEN IN HORROR>

<LIEME DESCENDS TO THE GROUND, A FEW DOZEN FEET AWAY, HIS ARMS ARE CROSSED AND HE IS LAUGHING>

<AT THE SIGHT OF LIEME, THE NATIVES RUN BACK, BEHIND LEDAS, LEDAS GETS UP TO FACE THE ELITE>

Lieme: Hey kid, it’s been a while. Now, you care to tell your new friends what’s about to happen? Either way, though…. <HE SMILES AGAIN>

Ledas: Lieme!? What are you doing?

Lieme: Me? No, you misunderstand… it’s all about you.

<LEDAS LOOKS DOWN AT HIS HANDS, THEY ARE TURNING HAIR, ALL OVER HIS BODY IS; HE IS TRANSFORMING>

Ledas: N-no!! Not here! <HE SHOOTS A BEAM UP, DESTROYING THE POWER BALL, BUT THE DAMAGE HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE, HE IS STILL TRANSFORMING>

Ledas: S**t!!! <HE FALLS TO THE GROUND, AND GRABS HIS TAIL, HE IS CONTINUING TO TRANSFORM; HE HESITATES TO CUT IT, AND IN THAT TIME, GROWS TALLER AND TALLER, ALMOST INTO FULL APE FORM, HE NOW HAS NO CHOICE, WITH A SWIFT CUT, LEDAS REMOVES HIS TAIL, AND FALLS TO THE GROUND; LIEME’S EXPRESSION REMAINS UNCHANGED>

<LEDAS PICKS UP THE FLOWER THAT HE DROPPED EARLIER, AND TAKES A DRINK, THEN THROWS IT, AWAY; HE TURNS TO FACE LIEME, ANGER SURGING>

Ledas: <SAID CLEARLY AND WITH PURPOSE> I’ll kill you. Right here. Right now.

Lieme: Do you know who I am, kid? Do you know what I can do?

Ledas: I’ve surpassed you.

Lieme: No tail? Drunk off your ass? I say I like my chances… <LIEME MOVES FORWARD, GIVING OFF A DIZZYING DISPLAY OF AFTERIMAGES; LEDAS, WHO IS STILL INTOXICATED AND W HO HAS LOST A TON OF POWER FROM CUTTING OFF HIS TAIL CANNOT COMPREHEND LIEME’S ATTACK, AND IS HIT, STRAIGHT INTO THE GROUND> <FLASHBACK, GUVA>

<BANAS IS IN A FOREST, GUVA IS WITH HIM>

Banas: H-hey… Guvy… gettova here. <HE’S HOLDING SOMETHING UP, BUT GUVA CAN’T SEE WHAT IT IS>

Guva: What is it this time?

<NO ANSWER>

Guva: Banas? What it is? <HE WALKS AROUND A TREE, WHERE BANAS IS>

<BANAS THROWS SOMETHING AT GUVA, IT HITS HIM IN THE FACE>

Guva: What the hell, Banas?

Banas: Try it…

Guva: What is it?

Banas: <WAVING GUVA OFF> Shhh… juss… juss try idd. <HE SMILES>

<GUVA PICKS UP WHAT WAS HIT AT HIM, IT’S A YELLOW FLOWER; CURIOUS, HE LOOKS AT IT FOR A SECOND, BEFORE DROPPING IT AGAIN, IN ANNOYANCE; GUVA LOOKS OVER AT BANAS, WHO HAS TRAILED OFF, BANAS IS SHOOTING OFF TONS OF EXPLOSIONS, SHAKING THE PLANET>

Guva: S**it, Banas… I can‘t leave you alone for a second. <GUVA RUNS OFF AFTER HIM>

<CUTS BACK TO GUVA, IN HIS OFFICE, DRINKING SOME KIND OF WINE, OR AT LEAST SOMETHING LIKE IT>

Guva: <IN SWEET REPOSE> I wonder if Payar would back him or me? The other two… they’re probably already lost. But I have some leeway with Payar. I wonder if-

<GUVA’S OFFICE IS BUZZED>

Guva: <LEANING FORWARD, BACK TO NORMAL> What is it?

Soldier: Sir, Captain Banas, to see you.

Guva: <SIGHS> Yeah, send him in.

<CUTS TO LEDAS’ AND LIEME’S FIGHT; LIEME HAS LOST SOME OF HIS EDGE, BECAUSE LEDAS IS GETTING MORE AND MORE SOBER AS THE MINUTES WEAR ON>

<LIEME HITS LEDAS INTO A TREE, AND GOES FOR ANOTHER PUNCH, BUT ONLY HITS AN AFTERIMAGE; SEEING HIS OPPORTUNITY, LEDAS KICKS LIEME AWAY AND QUICKLY POWERS UP; THEY BOTH KNOW WHO IS STRONGER NOW>

<LIEME, IN VAIN, SHOOTS OFF A VOLLEY OF ENERGY, LEDAS SHOOTS A VOLLEY BACK; IN THE EXPLOSION AND SMOKE, LIEME IS BRIEFLY CONFUSED; LEDAS COMES OUT OF NOWHERE AND HITS HIM TO THE GROUND>

Lieme: <GETTING UP, IN PAIN> W-what are you doing? Why can’t I sense you.

Ledas: <COMES DOWN ON LIEME, AND KNEES HIM IN THE GUT> I have better control over my power than you do!

Lieme: <COUGHING; AND BLOCKING, HE STUMBLES BACK A FEW STEPS> You can lower your power level to nothing? <SUDDENLY LAUGHS> Don’t fool yourself, kid, I can do that.

Ledas: <LAUGHING AS WELL> I can do it at a split second.

Lieme: <EYES WIDEN> No… <LEDAS RUNS FORWARD AND HITS HIM; LIEME, SEEING HE HAS LOST, RETREATS; LEDAS, TO TIRED HIMSELF, DOES NOT PURSUE>

<LEDAS TURNS TO FACE THE NATIVES, CROWDED BEHIND HIM; THEY LOOK AT HIM WITH WIDE EYES; HE CHUCKLES FOR A SECOND AND THEN FALLS TO THE GROUND, UNCONSCIOUS>

<AS THE SCREEN FADES, THE NATIVES ARE SEEN TO BE RUSHING TO LEDAS’ UNCONSCIOUS BODY>

<SCREEN REFADES INTO GUVA’S OFFICE; HE AND BANAS ARE TALKING>

Guva: Why yes, I did. Four times, actually. Try to beat that. <HE TAKES ANOTHER DRINK>

Banas: <GETS A CALL ON HIS SCOUTER, PUTS ONE FINGER TO HIS OTHER EAR> This is Banas… Oh… Oh really? Yeah. Yeah, I’ll do that. Hold on, I’ll be there in a few. <CUTS OFF THE CONVERSATION> Sorry I can’t stay, governor. I’ve got business to attend to. <HE GETS UP AND WALKS ALL THE WAY TO THE DOOR, HE OPENS THE DOOR>

Guva: It didn’t work, did it?

Banas: You say something, governor?

Guva: Whatever you were planning. It didn’t work.

Banas: <STOPS, OPENS HIS MOUTH TO SAY SOMETHING, BUT NO WORDS COME OUT>… well…

Guva: No matter. I did expect as much. <BANAS TURNS TO LEAVE> Oh, and Captain?

Banas: <GRUMBLING> Yeah, what is it now?

Guva: Tell Payar, I want to see him. We have things to discuss.

<BANAS LOOKS AT GUVA ONE MORE TIME, AND THEN EXITS>

<VOICEOVER SECTION>

Guva: Now, Banas’ attempt failed. <SHOWS A SCENE OF LEDAS, BEING TREATED IN ONE OF THE NATIVE’S BUILDINGS; THEY ARE TREATING HIS WOUNDS, WITH THEIR OWN MEDICINE THAT LEDAS IS TRYING NOT TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH> Just as I expected.

Guva: You will draw him out. <PAYAR ENTERS THE FOREST, HE WALKS RIGHT INTO A NATIVE CAMP; THEY KNOW WHAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN> With precision.

Guva: And when he comes seeking vengeance… <PAYAR GRABS ONE OF THE NATIVES BY THE NECK, HE SNAPS IT, WITH LITTLE EFFORT; HE MOVES FORWARD ON THE OTHERS> we will, all of us, end this.

Guva: <FADES BACK TO HIS OFFICE, HE IS DRINKING A DRINK, IN HIS CHAIR, LOOKING OUT HIS THIRD FLOOR WINDOW; IN THE DISTANCE, THE SUN IS SETTING, THE SKY IS BLOOD RED> So it begins.

Ascendancy (season finale part 1)
Ledas: <IN PAIN> Ahhhh!!! <THE NATIVE TENDING HIM GIVES A STRANGE LOOK> It stings… <THE NATIVE GOES BACK TO TREATING HIS WOUNDS>

<IN THE DISTANCE, A LONG, HIGH PITCHED SCREAM IS HEARD; CHILLINGLY, IT GOES UNINTERRUPTED FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, AND THEN IN CUTS OFF, SHARPLY>

<LEDAS GETS UP, AND RUNS OUTSIDE; THE NATIVES ARE RUNNING ABOUT IN A PANIC, THERE IS PANDEMONIUM EVERHWERE; IN THE DISTANCE, SOME SMOKE RISES; IT IS SURELY AN ATTACK>

Ledas: <HE SEES SOME NATIVES TALKING AND RUNS OVER TO THEM> I <LEDAS POINTS AT HIMSELF> will go… <POINTS AT THE DIRECTION OF THE SCREAM>

<THE NATIVES COMPREHEND IT, AND ARE IN WONDER; LEDAS RISES INTO THE AIR>

Ledas: I won’t let them hurt anyone else. No more… <LOCKS EYES WITH ONE OF THE MORE IMPORTANT NATIVES> No more. <HE NODS, AND THEN SHOOTS OFF AFTER THE SCREAM>

<IT DOESN’T TAKE LONG FOR LEDAS TO FIND IT; BODIES STREWN EVERYWHERE, BLOOD EVERYWHERE; AND UP AHEAD, PAYAR, WITH THE FEW REMAINING NATIVES OF THAT TOWN>

Payar: <TURNS, WITH A NATIVE IN HIS HAND; WHEN HE SEES LEDAS, HE GRINS AND SNAPS ITS NECK; LEDAS’ ANGER IS NOTICEABLE> So kid… what took ya so long?

<FLASHBACK, GUVA>

<BANAS AND GUVA ARE ALONE, ON A ROCK FACE, STARING OUT OVER A SEA OF TREES>

Guva: So, they’re building an outpost here. I heard they still haven’t found anyone to run it…

Banas: You want be the overseer of this rock? <PLAYFULLY PUNCHES GUVA IN THE SHOULDER> I guess you really like those flowers.

Guva: <IN A RARE LAUGH> Banas… you know I don’t drink that shit.

Banas: Aw, you should try it Guva. Or would that be too humiliating, hmmm? To have a little fun?

Guva: I have fun…

Banas: Like hell you do. You see <STRETCHING, AND REACHING BEHIND TO GRAB TWO OF THE FLOWERS> the biggest difference between you and me is that I know where to spot the good stuff. Guva: Oh yeah? And what’s the good stuff?

Banas: Here. <THROWS HIM A FLOWER> Just relax. And don’t think about it. Guva: You’ve probably poisoned me… <LOOKS AT BANAS, WHO IS EAGER; GUVA LAUGHS AGAIN, AND THEN, WITH HESITATION, TAKES A DRINK FROM THE FLOWER>

<CUTS BACK TO PAYAR AND LEDAS>

Ledas: Don’t you touch another one!

Payar: <SMILES AGAIN, AND TAKES ANOTHER NATIVE; HE SNAPS ITS NECK, BRUTALLY> Oh? Did I do that?

Ledas: I told you! Stop it!

<PAYAR KILLS ANOTHER ONE>

Ledas: Enough! <WITH BLINDING RAGE, HE CHARGES PAYAR; PAYAR EASILY KICKS HIM OUT OF THE WAY, WITHOUT EVEN MOVING, HE KILLS ANOTHER NATIVE, AS IF PUSHING LEDAS’ ANGER>

Payar: Doesn’t matter how strong you are kid. If you act stupid, I’ll still kick ya.

Ledas: <ROLLS OVER IN ANGER> I’ll kill you!!!

<PAYAR TAKES SOMETHING OUT OF HIS CARRY POUCH, IT IS A FLARE; HE SHOOTS IT UP, INTO THE SKY>

<THE SCENE CUTS TO THE OUTPOST; BANAS AND HIS TEAM ARE READY, WAITING IN THE SHADOWS OF THE GRAVITY TRAINING ROOM; GUVA IS BEING FITTED WITH HIS CEREMONIAL ARMOR AGAIN, IN THE VAST MARBLE ROOM>

Soldier: I’m sorry sir… but we can’t seem to find your other wrist guard…

Guva: It is no matter that I am not aware of. Here <TAKES OFF HIS OTHER, AND TOSSES IT TO THE SOLDIER> take the other. My gift to you, for your loyal services. <THE DOORS OPEN, AND GUVA WALKS OUT, IN ALL HIS GLORY; THE SOLDIER REMAINS WHERE HE IS, HOLDING THE ORNATE ARMOR>

<GUVA, WALKING, SEES THE FLARE ABOVE; IN PLACE OF HIS WRIST ARMOR, HE HAS A COMPUTER TYPE DEVICE; HE PRESSES A BUTTON, AND CALLS BANAS WITH IT>

Guva: Captain, it’s begun.

Banas: <CRACKLING OVER THE SPEAKERS> I’m not blind Guva. I saw the flare.

Guva: Yes, but regardless, I want everything to go smoothly. You will not come out, until I call.

Banas: Yeah, yeah. I know. <CHANGE IN TONE TO THAT OF NOSTALGIA> Say, governor… when was the last time you and I fought together? Side by side?

Guva: I’m sure you remember it as well as I do, Captain. It was the day I became governor.

Banas: I try not to remember stuff like that…

Guva: That’s a good choice. We wouldn’t want you so upset on the eve of my glory?

Banas: Ha ha. Of course not. Seeing you fight is so rare. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.

Guva: Then by my next signal to you, it will be time.

<CUTS BACK TO LEDAS AND PAYAR>

Payar: Oh, bummer. Only one left. Too bad, I hate it when a good thing is over.

Ledas: <STILL ON THE GROUND> No… don’t.

Payar: What are you gonna do about it? <SNAPS THE NATIVE’S NECK> Huh?

<LEDAS DROPS HIS HEAD TO THE GROUND, EXTREMELY UPSET>

Payar: Well, think on it, kid. See ya. <HE THROWS THE BODY RIGHT IN FRONT OF LEDAS>

<PAYAR IS MESSING AROUND WITH SOMETHING IN HIS HANDS AGAIN AS HE LEAVES>

<LEDAS LOOKS UP, RIGHT INTO THE LIFELESS EYES OF THE NATIVE IN FRONT OF HIM>

<A FLURRY OF MEMORIES ARE BROUGHT BACK TO LEDAS; SCENES OF HIM AND VEGETA, HIM AND HIS DAD; TEARS COME TO HIS EYES, AND HE POUNDS THE GROUND WITH HIS FISTS>

Ledas: <STANDS UP, QUIVERING WITH FEAR> None.. none of you deserved this! I’ll make him pay.

The Benefactor: <VISION, WALKS UP TO LEDAS> Just let the darkness continue its path.

Ledas: <IN TEARFUL ANGER> Why do you keep coming back? I don’t want you to! Just leave me alone!

The Benefactor: It can’t be created… something like this can only be brought out by the right circumstances.

Ledas: They didn’t deserve this! I didn’t deserve this! <SCREAMING, CRYING> Everyone I know is dead because of Frieza. And everyone here has wanted to kill me since I got here!

The Benefactor: Were it so easy.

Ledas: NNNOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! <THE VISION OF THE BENEFACTOR SHATTERS, IN A BRILLIANT FLASH OF LIGHT LEDAS IS ENGULFED; HE LETS OUT ANOTHER SCREAM, SENDING BIRDS FLYING OUT OF THE TREES; THE CAMERA FOLLOWS THE BIRDS TO THE SKY, AND THEN DROPS BACK DOWN, THROUGH THE TREES INTO THE CLEARING, LEDAS‘ HAIR IS NOW GOLDEN; HIS ENTIRE AURA IS BLINDING>

<CUTS TO GUVA, WHO IS STANDING RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF THE OUTPOST, WAITING; PAYAR WALKS OUT OF THE FOREST, ARMS EXTENDED IN RELAXED CONFIDENCE>

Payar: Hey, guv’nor… I did it. I went and shook the beehi- <OUT OF NOWHERE, LEDAS COMES FLYING OUT OF FOREST, IN A HIGH JUMP, PAYAR DOESN’T EVEN SEE HIM, BUT GUVA DOES; GUVA IN SHOCK, EYES WIDE AND MOUTH OPEN, TAKES A STEP BACK; LEDAS, AS HE COMES DOWN TO THE GROUND, HITS PAYAR IN THE HEAD, SENDING THE ELITE FLYING SEVERAL FEET AHEAD, INTO THE MUD; LEDAS LANDS ON ONE KNEE; BLOOD IS POOLING AROUND PAYAR’S HEAD, BY THE TIME LEDAS GETS UP TO FACE GUVA>

Ledas: <SUPER SAIYAN> Hey, governor. How’ve you been?

<FLASHBACK; GUVA>

<GUVA, BANAS ALONE ARE SITTING IN A FLYING VEHICLE, IT IS BUMPING THEM UP AND DOWN, SUDDENLY, A DOOR OPENS, AND AN INSTRUCTOR COMES IN>

Instructor: Heh, after what happened on the first day, who would of thought it would be you two? Going at it, head to head, for the big prize.

Banas: <CONFIDENT> I wouldn’t have it any other way, sir.

<GUVA SAYS NOTHING, HE LOOKS ANXIOUS>

Instructor: Fate, eh?

Banas: <IMMEDIATLEY> You can’t ignore it, sir.

Instructor: <LAUGHS> Well then, Captains. Shall we begin?

Guva: <MUTED> Yeah, sure. Let’s get this over with.

Instructor: Good. <HE STEPS BACK AND OPENS ANOTHER DOOR, THIS ONE IS TO THE OUTSIDE, THE VEHICLE THEY’RE IN IS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FEET ABOVE THE AIR, AND IS MOVING RAPIDLY; WHEN THE INSTRUCTOR OPENS THE DOOR, A GREAT WIND ENTERS, BLOWING EVERYTHING AROUND; GUVA SEEMS EVEN MORE ANXIOUS; BANAS REMAINS UNCHANGED>

Instructor: Now, get out there… both of you. <HE PUSHES GUVA AND BANAS UP, AND OVER TO THE DOOR>

Guva: But sir, what are we to do?

Instructor: <SMILES> Oh, it’s quite magnificent. <GESTURES TO THE DOOR> Shall we?

Banas: <WALKS FORWARD> Come on, Guva. Try to have some fun. It’ll help you., I swear

<HE JUMPS OUT>

Guva: What the f**k did I just get myself into? <HE WALKS UP TO THE EDGE OF THE DOOR, AND THEN, WITH A DEEP BREATH, JUMPS OUT>

<THE INSTRUCTOR LAUGHS, AND THEN CLOSES THE DOOR>

To Each, According To His Sins (season finale part 2)
<THE CAMERA MOVES AROUND THE OUTPOST, IT IS EMPTY, BARREN; A SLIGHT WIND BLOWS THROUGH; RATTLING THE SILENCE, GUVA SPEAKS; THE CAMERA TAKES ITS TIME TO COME AROUND AND FOCUS ONTO HIM>

Guva: I-I thought I would come down and personally welcome you back. Your right, Ledas, it has been long.

Ledas: <WATCHING PAYAR‘S BODY> You don’t seem to do much, governor.

Guva: Don’t test me child, I could have so easily kill you hundreds of times!

Ledas: Really? <HE BOOSTS HIS POWER LEVEL UP EVEN HIGHER>

<CUTS TO BANAS, LIEME, AND MELOON>

Lieme: <CRIES OUT IN PAIN, AND GRABS ONTO HIS HEAD, AS IF HE HAD A HEADACHE> H-how?

Banas: What is it? What happened?

Lieme: Ah… you know how scouters self destruct, when overloaded?

Banas: Yeah… why?

Lieme: I don’t wear a scouter, boss. Mine can’t just self destruct.

Banas: So… the kid’s really that strong?

Lieme: I-I… I think it’ll take all of us, boss. I’m not lying.

Banas: What the hell is wrong with this kid? One day I beat him up, pretty easily… and the next it takes all of us to even be a fair match? What the hell…

<CUTS BACK TO GUVA AND LEDAS>

Guva: <UNCONCERNED AT LEDAS‘ POWER LEVEL INCREASE> So, pray tell, why have you returned?

Ledas: I made a promise. To kill all of you.

Guva: How about this? <STEPS FORWARD> You kill Banas’ team, and then we negotiate. I do have valuable information, remember.

Ledas: <IN ANGER, AND UNWILLING, BUT FORCED> Fine.

Guva: Just, this time, leave the Captain to me. I don’t want you to choke again, where it matters most.

<LEDAS’ ANGER SURGES AGAIN>

< GUVA PRESSES A BUTTON ON HIS WRIST TO CALL BANAS; QUICKLY BANAS AND HIS TEAM ARRIVE>

Banas: Ah, look who it is. <CONFIDENTLY WALKS UP TO GUVA> Can’t deal with him yourself?

Guva: Captain, I think you misunderstand. Ledas has returned to kill you and your team.

Banas: Oh?

Guva: A most ridiculous request, yes. But, nevertheless, I think you should give him a shot.

<BANAS AND HIS TEAM NOTICE PAYAR, THEY WALK UP TO HIM>

Banas: Hey, <HELPS PAYAR UP> Payar. Wake up. We’ve got stuff to do.

Payar: Uuuhhh… cap’n. I’m here. <HE GETS UP, ONTO HIS OWN FEET, PANTING, BUT STILL A THREAT>

Banas: <TO GUVA> So, you don’t want to fight him? What happen, did you read his power? <LAUGHS>

Guva: It will take your whole team to beat him, Captain.

Banas: Unlike you, I plan on fighting today. And I will.

Guva: You misunderstand, Captain. I don’t want to remove you from the fight, altogether… I just want you all to myself. <NODS TO LEDAS> <PUNCHES BANAS IN THE FACE, SENDS HIM FLYING, GUVA CASUALLY WALKS UP TO BANAS, WHERE HE LAYS> I’ve grown bored of it all. The planet, the outpost, the constant, insanity inducing monotony. But, most of all Captain, <GUVA CREATES AN ENERGY BALL, PALM UP; QUIETS TO A WHISPER> I’ve grown bored of you.

<GUVA THROWS HIS BLAST, IN THE LIGHT OF THE EXPLOSION, LEDAS CHARGES THE THREE PLANTAINS, WHO ALL START BATTLING HIM AT ONCE>

Banas: <RISES; SARCASTICALLY> My dear governor, I didn’t think you still had it in you. You almost chipped my armor.

Guva: Imagine that.

<BOTH GUVA AND BANAS POWER UP; THEY ARE THE SAME, IN POWER; THIS IS A PROBLEM>

Guva: <SMILING> You see, captain, I’ve indeed still got it.

Banas: <ENRAGED; TO HIS TEAM> Kill that monkey, then help me with Guva.

Guva: Remember, there is no “we” here. I want you all to myself <SLOWLY WALKS TOWARDS BANAS, THEN DISAPPEARS, AND REAPPEARS BEHIND BANAS AND KICKS HIM>

Guva: Surely you can do better? <BANAS JUMPS UP AND PUNCHES GUVA IN THE GUT, THEN SHOOTS AN ENERGY BLAST INTO HIS FACE>

Banas: You maggot!

<FLASHBACK, GUVA>

Guva: Yeah, sorry it turned out this way.

Banas: <BLINKING A LOT, HE IS NO LONGER IN HIS PREVIOUS CHIPPER MOOD> Look at the bright side. You can have all those flowers you want now.

Guva: Captain… you know each installation is given a garrison… and those are headed by captains.

Banas: <RAISES HIS HEAD, MOUTH SLIGHTLY OPEN> What are you implying?

Guva: I’m not implying anything. I want you to be my captain. You’re the best out there…

Banas: Second best, apparently. You did beat me, Guva.

Guva: Don’t worry, Banas. I don’t hold grudges.

<CUTS BACK TO REALTIME, JUST AS GUVA PUNCHES BANAS IN THE FACE; BOTH ARE FULL POWER, AND THE ENTIRE OUTPOST IS SHAKING FROM THEIR BATTLE>

<GUVA’S STYLE OF REFINED AND DETERMINED PUNCHES, VERSUS BANAS’ STYLE OF RANDOM, UNDETERMINED ATTACKS ARE IN SHARP CONTRAST HERE; NEITHER CAN GAIN AN EDGE>

<TO LEDAS AND HIS FIGHT; ALL THREE PLANTAINS ARE ABOUT EVEN WITH LEDAS; BUT LEDAS ISN’T TRYING; HE IS WEARING THEM DOWN, FROM LANDING CRITICAL HITS, TIME AND TIME AGAIN, NONE OF THEM CAN DAMAGE HIM>

<GUVA AND BANAS’ FIGHT IS HEATING UP, GETTING INCREDIBLY FAST, BEYOND WHAT ANYONE, EVEN LIEME CAN SEE; REGULAR SOLDIERS COME OUT OF THE BARRACKS TO WATCH; BUT THEY DARE NOT GET INVOLVED>

<BANAS HITS GUVA INTO A TREE, WHO SWIFTLY ROLLS OUT OF THE WAY OF A SHATTERING KICK; HE GETS UP AND THROWS A BLAST AT BANAS’ FACE TO STALL HIM; IT WORKS, AND GUVA RISES INTO THE AIR AGAIN, WITH THE HIGH GROUND; HE SPREADS HIS ARMS IN VICTORY>

<LEDAS HITS LIEME OUT OF THE WAY, AND RIGHT WHEN THE ELITE IS ABOUT TO GET UP, PAYAR IS SENT FLYING RIGHT INTO HIM; THAT LEAVES LEDAS AND MELOON ALONE; IT IS NO CONTEST, MELOON IS BEATEN THE GROUND, CRITICALLY WOUNDED, QUICKLY>

Ledas: <DESCENDS TO THE GROUND, OVER MELOON’S BODY> I never got to finish what I started last time. This time I won’t let anyone save you.

Meloon: Oh yeah, I’ll kill you first! <HE GETS UP AND RUSHES AT LEDAS, WHO SIDESTEPS AND GRABS HIS ARM, HE PULLS AROUND, BEHIND THE FAT SOLDIER, AND BREAKS IT; LEDAS READIES A GREAT ENERGY BEAM>

Ledas: And this… this is for Vegeta. <HE SHOOTS THE BEAM AT MELOON, KILLING THE ELITE>

Lieme: You’ll pay for that! <LIEME GETS UP AND RUSHES, SENDING OUT ALL HIS TRICKS, OF AFTERIMAGES AND WHATNOT; LEDAS CAN SENSE THROUGH, THOUGH AND FIND THE REAL LIEME; HE, IN A BRIEF, BUT VICIOUS FIGHT, DISARMS LIEME, AND SENDS HIM FLYING AGAIN; JUST AS LIEME GETTING UP, BLOOD DRIPPING, AND ON HIS KNEES, LEDAS SENDS OUT A QUICK FINGER BEAM, HITTING LIEME IN THE JUGULAR; LIEME FALLS, GASPING AND BLEEDING OUT, A SLOW AND IRONIC DEATH, FOR SOMEONE WHO FOCUSED ON THE QUICK KILL, SO MUCH>

<PAYAR, GROGGY, GETS UP, AND STUMBLES OVER TO LEDAS>

Payar: So kid… <PANTING, BECOMING DELIRIOUS> ya beat us. Bravo…

Payar: But the guv’nor… the cap’n… <STILL PANTING> they’ll get you. And it’ll probably be in a way you never thought… <PAYAR COLLAPSES IN AGONY; LEDAS APPROACHES HIM, GIVING THE ALIEN SEVERAL KEY, CRITICAL PUNCHES; PAYAR IS NOW CRITICALLY WOUNDED, AND HE KNOWS IT> H-h-hey… kid… <COUGHS UP BLOOD> just give me a good death… a warrior’s death.

Ledas: <SMILES> Goodbye, Payar.

Payar: <NOT UNDERSTANDING, HE HAS ONE EYE CLOSED IN PAIN> Wai… wha…?

<LEDAS, WITH A LAUGH, PICKS UP PAYAR, WITH ONE HAND, AND THROWS HIM, PRECISELY, INTO THE FOREST; PAYAR FLIES AND LANDS IN THE CENTER OF THE NATIVE TOWN THAT LEDAS STAYED AT>

Payar: <IN SLOW PAIN> Aaaauuuhhhh… whadda hell? Where the hell am I?

<SEVERAL NATIVES CROWD AROUND HIM, BUT HE TRIES TO PUSH THEM AWAY>

Payar: <IN PAIN, SAID SLOWLY> Go on. Get away!!

<PAYAR LOOKS UP, OVER HIM ARE STANDING SEVERAL MORE NATIVES, NOW SOME ARE ARMED WITH BLUNT KNIVES AND ROCKS>

Payar: <PAYAR TAKES WHAT HE HAD FIDDLING AROUND WITH HIS HANDS THE ENTIRE SAGA, AND SHOWS ITTO THE NATIVES; IT IS A SMALL NECKLACE OF SORTS, WITH A LONG LINE OF TEETH ON IT> Ya see that? <COUGHS> Ah… I’ll add all your… all of you to my trophy- <A NATIVE STEPS ON PAYAR’S ARM, SHATTERING IT, BUT ALSO DESTROYING THE GRIZZLY NECKLACE; PAYAR TRIES TO RAISE HIS HAND, BUT CAN’T; HE SEES WHAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN>

Payar: <THE NATIVES RAISE THEIR WEAPONS> <PAYAR LETS HIS HEAD FALL BACK AGAINST THE EARTH, HE SIGHS> Aw, f**k. <THE CAMERA PANS BACKWARD, BACK THROUGH THE TREES AS PAYAR‘S SCREAMS FADE, TO BANAS AND GUVA’S FIGHT>

<THEY CONTINUE THEIR FIGHT FOR A SHORT WHILE, THEN BANAS AND GUVA STOP, BOTH JUST FEET AWAY FROM EACH OTHER>

Banas: Give it up, Guva! You can’t beat me!

Guva: Just like old times, huh? <HE WALKS RIGHT UP TO BANAS, AND WITHOUT BEING CHALLENGED, RAISES HIS HAND TO RIGHT IN FRONT OF BANAS’ FACE, HE PREPARES ENERGY; BANAS, QUICKLY REACTING PUTS HIS OWN HAND UP, MERE INCHES FROM GUVA’S; WHAT BEGINS IS PERHAPS THE SMALLEST BEAM STRUGGLE EVER, WITH THE TWO STANDING, LOOKING IN EACH OTHER’S EYES; BUT AS THE POWER PUT INTO THE STRUGGLE GETS LARGER, SO DO THEIR BEAMS, AND THE MOVE APART; BY THE TIME LEDAS HAS KILLED THE PLANTAINS, THEY ARE WORKING UP A STORM, BEHIND HIM>

<LEDAS, SEEING THIS, SLOWLY WALKS, IN SUPER SAIYAN TO FACE THEM; HE WALKS SLOWLY, ALL THE WAY UP TO THE MIDDLE OF THE STRUGGLE>

Guva: Get back, Ledas! Banas is mine!

Banas: <SHOUTING BACK> Governor, you shouldn’t have. I’m blushing now.

Guva: Cut the bulls**t. <PUTS ALL HIS ENERGY INTO THE STRUGGLE, BANAS DOES THE SAME; UNDERSTANDABLY, NEITHER OF THEM CAN WIN THAT WAY>

Ledas: <CALMLY, WITH CONFIDENCE HE HAS NEVER HAD BEFORE> Neither of you will win.

Guva: Shut up! Just leave us alone! I’ll kill him!

Ledas: Heh… <HE CREATES A SMALL BALL OF ENERGY, VERY SMALL; AND AFTER A FEW LOOKS TO EACH OF HIS VICTIMS, HE THROWS IT INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE BEAM STRUGGLE, CAUSIGN THE WHOLE THING TO DETONATE>

<BOTH BANAS AND GUVA ARE THROWN FAR AWAY FROM EACH OTHER; BOTH ARE CRITICALLY WOUNDED, BUT BOTH ARE STILL ALIVE>

<LEDAS WALKS OVER TO BANAS, IN ORDER TO DISPOSE OF HIM>

Guva: <IN PAIN> No!!!!!!

<LEDAS CONTINUES WALKING, IGNORING HIM>

Guva: Banas… is… mine.

Ledas: Then do something about it. I’m not stopping you.

<LEDAS REACHES BANAS, BUT GUVA IS CRAWLING RIGHT UP, WITH HIM>

Banas: Go ahead, do it. But you will have a hard time explaining this to Cooler.

Ledas: I don’t care about Cooler. He means nothing to me.

Banas: <LIES HEAD BACK ON GROUND, LAUGHS> Foolish words from someone who has no idea what he’s talking about. <IN PAIN, BUT STILL TALKATIVE, HIS PAIN IS NOT EFFECTING HIS SPEECH> You may be strong, kid, but you’re nothing to him.

Banas: <TURNS TO GUVA, WHO HAS REACHED THEM> Kind of you to join us, governor. As for you, you better hope you die tonight. Cooler will be much worse. He’ll find out what happened here, and know that you can’t govern for shit. You’ll be gone before they can get a me a body bag. <LAUGHS, COUGHING BLOOD>

Guva: Quiet! <CRAWLS CLOSER> I will kill you.

Banas: <LAUGHING, AND SHAKING HIS HEAD> Hey…I’m not stopping you.

Guva: <RAISES HAND, ENERGY STARTS TO FORM; SUDDENLY LEDAS GRABS GUVA AND THROWS HIM TO THE SIDE>

Ledas: Not yet.

Guva: After… after I kill him.

Ledas: No. I’ve waited too long! Now tell me.

Guva: <STILL LOOKING AT BANAS, WHO IS NOT MOVING> Fine…

<VOICEOVER>

Guva: It surprised me later, just how lucky the kid was. <THE SCENE HAS NOT CHANGED, IT IS STILL WITH GUVA AND LEDAS, AND BANAS IN THE CORNER; SHOWS LEDAS CONTINUING TO PUSH GUVA FOR INFORMATION>

Guva: Especially when he heard his one friend in entire universe was still alive. <GUVA, A BLOODY MESS, CRACKS A SMILE AS HE TELLS LEDAS OF VEGETA>

Guva: <CUTS BACK TO GUVA’S ROOM, HE IS STARING OUT THE WINDOW; THE SKY IS A LIGHT YELLOW> It’s amazing, how certain events change a person. How someone else’s death can make you whole… and at the same time empty.

Guva: <TAKES OUT A DRINK, AND POURS IT> Frieza died, not too long ago, and the entire Galaxy is spinning out control, fast. Cooler, will of course, try some damage control… but even if he kills the person… that other Saiyan, who bested Frieza… I fear the damage is already done. Just as here, on 92, it’s hard to hide a successful revolt. The soldiers know their captain is gone. They know three of their betters are killed. Will these revelations bring about a greater boldness in them? Will it amplify their fears? And what of my pet project? The natives of 92.

<SCREEN CUTS TO THE NATIVES, WHO ARE STILL WORKING FOR GUVA BUT ARE MUCH HAPPIER>

Guva: The murder of Payar, it will give them confidence. It will also give them rebellious thoughts, the likes of which I fear we have not yet witnessed. And without my captain, without my team… who will stop them?

Guva: <GUVA AND LEDAS ARE IN POD CONTROL, GUVA IS SHOWING LEDAS WHERE EARTH IS, AND READYING HIS POD> And the kid. He’s gone, chasing ghosts, just like Cooler. Both off to that pathetic planet, Earth. Why it’s so special, I’ll never know. And who knows, maybe they’ll meet up and kill each other. Wishful thinking… but at least I don’t have to deal with either of them, right now. The natives, they will not know what happened to their savior. That he abandoned them, for his own wants. A pity, that so close to their salvation, it will still end, by my hands. After all <CAMERA PANS AROUND, TO FACE GUVA> a true leader, a successful leader will keep the order. He will be the one truly in charge. And I am the true leader here. The storms, they will all pass, in time. They will be but a distant memory, for those who remain. But <CUTS TO SPACE, IT IS LEDAS’ SPACE POD; INSIDE HE IS SLEEPING, DREAMING HAPPILY, HEADED OFF TO EARTH> it is foolish to let any one of your enemies live… because, who knows? Maybe I’ll just decide to dro-

<GUVA’S GLASS SHATTERS, AND HE FALLS BACK, SPILLING HIS DRINK; AS HE SITS UP, LOOKING AROUND, A FIGURE, SILHOUETTED BY THE SUN BEHIND IS STANDING OVER HIM>

Banas: <PUTS OUT HIS HAND, FOR GUVA TO GRASP> Governor, <NODS> how‘ve you been?

<END LAUTO SAGA>

Cue Great Spirits. Credits roll during this time.

Trivia

 * For feedback, or general thoughts about this saga, please leave comments on the Lauto Saga completed! page. That's the place that I'm most likely to see your comments about this saga.
 * This saga, timeline wise, takes place over the longest period of time in the series.
 * Cooler is the only previously established Dragon Ball character featured in this saga.
 * PC92's gravity is only 5 times that of Earth (half of Planet Vegeta). This may help explain some of the seemingly unexpected power level increases.
 * This saga is unique in having several references to the movie Gladiator. Three script references, to be exact.