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

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

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

Complete Dialogue
I don't remember where

the name for this story

came from.

I think it was

always

The Forgotten,

in my head.

I can't see it as anything else.

-KidVegeta

Tell Me Governor...














<GUVA REALIZES THAT ALL HIS SOLDIERS ARE DEAD>

<HE WALKS QUIETLY TO HIS OFFICE AND MOVES UP TO A COMPUTER TERMINAL; HE CALLS UP LORD COOLER’S INSTALLATION; HE GETS NO RESPONSE>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<IN SPACE>

<MAY 8TH 774 AGE>

<NEAR PLANET EARTH>

<VERY SUDDEN PULL UP>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cardinal: Be that as it may, we’ve only been up here for 14 hours. And-

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

Cardinal: Perhaps. Can we do naught but trust to hope? What are the other alternatives?

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

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

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

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

Cardinal: <TO LEDAS> My name is Cardinal. I am many things. But in this instance, I am only here to deal with you.

Ledas: <NOT UNDERSTANDING> With me?

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

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

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

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

Dewberry: <COOLY> Uh yeah.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Guva: <SLOWLY> Space… aliens…?

Dewberry: Oh yeah.

Guva: …

<THERE IS AN AWKWARD SILENCE FOR A WHILE>

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

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

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

Guva: I-I’m what?

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

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

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

Guva: <STARES OUT AT IT> <SIGHS HEAVILY> Ahhhh… at last.

Dewberry: How many are ya takin’?

Guva: <TURNS TO DEWBERRY> What?

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

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

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

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

Cardinal: <TO DEWBERRY> It all went smoothly?

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

Cardinal: Good, good. <TO HIS TWO REMAINING ASSOCIATES> We will head back to Earth then, ourselves. I do not know how it came back… but perhaps those questions are best left unanswered.

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

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

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

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

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

Cardinal: So nice to be back.

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

Cardinal: Dispose of them, Kindler.

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

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

Kindler: But si-

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

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

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

<AS HE IS WALKING; KINDLER TRIPS SLIGHTLY, AND THE GUN IN HIS RIGHT HAND GOES OFF>

<IT HITS LEDAS IN THE HEAD, CAUSING KINDLER TO DROP HIM; LEDAS DOES NOT MAKE A SOUND, BUT FALLS SILENTLY>

<KINDLER STEPS BACK, WITHOUT EMOTION UPON LEDAS’ BODY; BLOOD IS RAPIDLY POOLING AROUND THE CHILD’S HEAD>

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

<WITHOUT ANOTHER LOOK, DESPITE IT BEING AN ACCIDENT, KINDLER TURNS SWIFTLY AROUND AND EXITS>

<CUTS TO EARTH>

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

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

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

Vegeta: Who are you?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vegeta: Done playing around, old man?

Guva: <STRETCHES OUT HIS ARMS AND LEGS; STRAINED IN SPEECH A BIT BECAUSE OF THIS> You asked my name before? I am Senior Governor Guva, caretaker of Planet Cooler 92 and a second tier advisor to the aforementioned Lord Cooler. I am here, tracking down a rogue soldier; a deserter of my installation. He is a Saiyan, much like you.

Vegeta: <LAUGHS HIMSELF> You’ve got the wrong race <SARCASTICALLY> governor. We Saiyans never run from a fight.

Guva: I doubt you could generalize your entire species like that. But this is all hearsay; I have not come many long days and searched countless cesspools to argue with your arrogance. You are not the one I wish to fight.

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

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

Vegeta: Do what you want. But there aren’t any Saiyans here who are running from a weakling like you.

Guva: <QUITE CALM, HE LAUGHS AGAIN> The Saiyan I’m searching for is just a child… or something like that. I’m not quite sure, actually.

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

Guva: Maybe you do know him. The little bastard went by Ledas. Does that name strike a chord?

<VEGETA’S EYES WIDEN; HE STEPS BACK>

Guva: Now then, are you going to tell me where he is? Or will I have to start up a riot?

<VEGETA DOES NOT ANSWER AND THE SCREEN FADES TO BLACK>

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dewberry: Hey, shut up!

Ryori: What did I do?

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

Dewberry: What? You gonna kill him?

Kindler: Just give him to me.

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

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

Dewberry: <GRUMBLES> Whatever…

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

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

<BEYOND IN THE BACK ROOM, LEDAS STIRS>

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

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

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

Layeeck: <TO HIM> There is no honor in death.

<LEDAS TURNS OVER WITH MUCH PAIN; HE WINCES>

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

<HE DOES NOT ANSWER HIS FATHER>

Layeeck: Everything you need is right before your eyes!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<HE EATS IT, AND STOPS SCREAMING ALMOST IMMEDIATELY>

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

Ledas: Dad? <MORE ANXIOUS> Dad?!

<HE LOOKS AROUND AND THERE IS NOTHING THERE>

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

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

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

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

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

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

<KINDLER FALLS SLOWLY; HE IS DEAD>

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

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

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

<LEDAS COCKS HIS HEAD AND UNWINDS HIS BODY>

Ledas: You know, after being cooped up in here for so long… it feels good to let it all out. <WITHOUT A WORD OR SOUND OR CHANGE OF HIS BODY, LEDAS GOES SUPER SAIYAN>

<DEWBERRY DOESN’T FLINCH AND HE KEEPS THE GUN ON RYORI>

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

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

<DEWBERRY FALLS OVER DEAD; HIS SKULL CAVED IN>

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

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

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

Ryori: A Saiyan? What’s that?

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

Ryori: Ledas?! What is it?

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

Ryori: But what?

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

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

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

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

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

Ryori: <TEARY> What?!

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

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

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

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

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

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

<DOWN BELOW, ON THE SAME MOUNTAIN TOP, GUVA AND VEGETA ARE STANDING AND STARING AT EACH OTHER>

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

Guva: <TO HIMSELF; HEAD THROWN BACK IN SLIGHT AMUSEMENT> And a great riot it will be.

Losers Fight First
<THE SCREEN FADES FROM GREEN>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Goku: My name is Goku.

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

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

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

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

Gohan: <STEPS TO GOTEN> Quiet, Goten.

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

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

Tien: What’s this guy talking about?

Guva: <SCANS ALL THEIR POWER LEVELS, FINDS THEM TO BE DISMALLY LOW> Oh, nothing. Perhaps he’ll come out on his own. Until then, how about a friendly sparring match? That is of course if any of you are up to it…

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

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

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

Guva: <WATCHES THIS, A SMILE COMES TO HIS FACE> Ever so confident, I see. <HE TURNS BACK TO GOKU> I hope you have at least a class three medical tank for your friend over here. He seems rather oblivious to what I’m about to do to him.

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

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

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

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

Goku: Well… I don’t know…

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

Goku: <SIGHS> Alright, fine.

<GOKU AND GUVA INSTANT TRANSMISSION AWAY>

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

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

Piccolo: <STERNLY> Enough, you two.

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

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

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

<BEHIND, KORIN COMES INTO VIEW>

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

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

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

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

Goku: What?! You don’t have any?

Korin: <STRAIGHT> No.

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

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

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

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

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

Guva: Hmph. <WALKS BACK UP TO GOKU AND TAKES HIS ARM, AS IF WANTING TO TAKE A NICE EVENING STROLL IN THE PARK> If we’re done here, mister boss man, I think we should get back.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Piccolo: Hmm… this may be trouble.

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

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

<THE LAMER Z FIGHTERS ALL GASP AT THIS>

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

Guva: Are you up for round two?

Yamcha: Heck yeah!

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

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

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

<STILL SLOWLY CLIMBING DOWN TO THEM IS THE SMALL FIGURE OF A CHILD; TRYING HIS BEST TO GET TO GUVA’S POWER OFFPUT BELOW>

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

Chiaotzu Vs. Guva
<THE SCREEN COMES UP SUDDENLY, AS A GASP CAN BE HEARD>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chiaotzu: Wha…?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ledas: Hi… Vegeta.

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

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

Vegeta: <IRRITATED> What do you want?

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

Vegeta: <YAWNS> Who?

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

Vegeta: Hmph. <TILTS HIS HEAD AWAY>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<THE CAMERA CUTS BACK TO GUVA AND TIEN>

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

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

<HE PURSUES AND BEGINS TO BEAT UP ON GUVA>

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

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

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

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

Ledas: <LOOKS AT VEGETA AND GOKU> Hey… where are your tails?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Guva: Honestly, I…

<SUDDENLY TIEN DROPS GUVA AND WALKS PAST HIM>

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

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

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

<GUVA BEHIND THEM GETS SUPER ANGRY>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<ABRUPT TO BLACK>

Snow Day
(If you don't understand this chapter, I suggest you re-read it; I promise there's a super important message in here -KidVegeta)

<FLASHBACK>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Layeeck: That was a long time ago.

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

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

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

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

<LAYEECK DESCENDS AND WALKS TO THE SAIYAN NEAREST HIM, NOSCAL GOES TO THE SAIYAN IN THE FAR CORNER>

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

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

<LAYEECK LETS OUT A MUFFLED SCREAM BUT THE BEAST IS STILL ASLEEP AND DOES NOT ATTACK HIM AGAIN>

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

Layeeck: <ONCE AGAIN INTO LEDAS’ EAR; WHISPERING> Ledas?! It’s your father, Ledas! Wake up, we’re… we’re going on a mission. Yeah, we’re going on a mission today, Ledas… just you and me this time!

<AT THIS, LEDAS SITS UP WITH SUDDEN HASTE, THE MOTION OF IT KNOCKING LAYEECK BACK DOWN>

Ledas: <IN GREAT APE VOICE> A mission?! Where? When’re we going?!

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

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

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

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

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

Ledas: Awright! We can fight for real now!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ledas: <IN AWE> Snowing? What’s that?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ledas: <GIDDY> Betcha can’t hit me!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Noscal: Who are you? What do you want?

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

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

<NOSCAL BOWS HIS HEAD, AND THEN WHEN HE LOOKS BACK UP, HE SENDS OUT AN EYE BEAM AT THE CREATURE; TO NO EFFECT; WITH A GRIM LOOK, HE SLUMPS HIS SHOULDERS IN DEFEAT>

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

<THE CAMERA CUTS BACK TO LEDAS AND VEGETA>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, LEDAS’ SCOUTER GOES OFF>

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

Layeeck: Ledas are you there?

Ledas: <TIRED> Whaddizit?

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

Ledas: Bu-

Layeeck: <DISTRESSED> Immediately.

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

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

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

Ledas: What is it, dad?

Layeeck: <SAID MONOTONE, WITHOUT EMOTION> Your grandfather is dead.

<LEDAS TEARS UP BUT BEFORE HE CAN SPEAK, LAYEECK TURNS BACK TO THE HOME>

Layeeck: The traditional Saiyan burial isn’t possible here, I’m afraid.

Ledas: <IN TEARS> But why?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<THE SCREEN PANS BACK AND SHOWS THAT MUCH OF THE ENTIRE PLANET IS COVERED IN SNOW; FRIEZA’S SHIP IS HOVERING ABOVE IT ALL, JUST WATCHING, AND WAITING>

<END FLASHBACK>

Story Of My Life
<FLASHBACK, BENEFACTOR>

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

<INSIDE, THE HALLS ARE ABANDONED AND VERY QUIET>

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

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

Frieza: Ah, Captain.

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

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

<THE BENEFACTOR DOES NOT ANSWER>

Frieza: <CHUCKLES TO HIMSELF AT THIS> Of course you would be the only who could…

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

The Benefactor: <FORCED WHISPER> What?!

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

The Benefactor: Yes.

Frieza: <TURNS BACK TO FACE THE WINDOW; CURTLY> Then you will let me finish. That day, it came to my attention that your planet had already been conquered. That all but a small group of your species had been exterminated. This was before my team had even touched down on the soil of that place. But I did not immediately see the connection; <LEANS HIS HEAD BACK> Ah, but now I do.

Frieza: It was you! My Benefactor who toppled his own race.

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

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

The Benefactor: I chose my path…

Frieza: That’s marvelous, Benefactor. So mysterious, and dark… Oh, everyone misunderstands you; Zarbon, the soldiers, even I… <HE TRAILS OFF>

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

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

<THE BENEFACTOR STOPS TO LISTEN BUT DOES NOT ANSWER>

Frieza: If I were never to have come and taken you from your wretched hole, and left you there alone to deal upon the consequences your own justice… what would have become of you? What would you have sunk to, all alone on your little planet?

The Benefactor: <COLDY> Tranquility motivates all.

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

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

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

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

Frieza: Can’t? Or won’t, Captain?

<FRIEZA SUDDENLY READIES A FINGER BEAM AND SHOOTS IT INTO THE BENEFACTOR; THE BENEFACTOR DOES NOT TRY TO DODGE OR BLOCK IT; IT HITS HIM FULL ON AND HE FALLS OVER WITHOUT A SOUND, BLEEDING>

<WITHOUT ANOTHER WORD, FRIEZA WALKS OUT>

<CUTS TO ANOTHER BENEFACTOR FLASHBACK>

<THE AREA IS INSIDE OF A HOUSE, WITH A DIRT FLOOR; THE POSSESSIONS INSIDE ARE UNASSUMING AND SPARCE; AHEAD IS A LIGHTLY WOODED TABLE; ON IT IS A FEMALE, OR AT LEAST IT MAY HAVE BEEN; IT IS REPTILIAN, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY DEAD; ITS ENTRAILS ARE LAYING ABOUT, BLOOD IS ALL OVER THE PLACE; THE ACTUAL CORPSE IS LAYING ON THE MIDDLE OF THE TABLE, ON ITS BACK; SHARDS OF A BROKEN CHAIR ARE IMPALED UPON HER>

<AROUND A CORNER COMES ANOTHER FIGURE, COVERED IN A DARK HOOD; HOWEVER THE REST OF HIS BODY IS ABLE TO BE SEEN; HE IS REPTILIAN AS WELL AND HE HAS A TAIL>

<HE WALKS UP TO THE CORPSE, OBSERVING IT>

<HE SUDDENLY TURNS AROUND, REVEALING HIS FRONT FEATURES; HIS WHOLE CHEST BOTH HIS ARMS ARE COVERED IN BLOOD; IN HIS HAND IS A KNIFE>

<HE WALKS FORWARD A FEW FEET, PEERING AT SOMETHING BEHIND THE CAMERA; THE CAMERA TURNS AROUND AS HE WALKS UP TO IT, REVEALING A DOOR, SLIGHTLY CRACKED>

Creature: <IN A ROAR> Come out!! <MUCH, MUCH LOUDER> Come out, ya little bastard!! I can see ya... watchin' me!

<THE DOOR OPENS FULLY, UNWILLINGLY; IT REVEALS A CHILD REPTILE JUST LIKE THE OLDER ONE>

<AT THIS, THE LARGER CREATURE LAUGHS AND WALKS FORWARD, KNIFE RAISED>

<BUT A FEW STEPS INTO IT HE STOPS, THEN SUDDENLY PLUNGES THE KNIFE INTO HIS OWN CHEST, NEAR HIS HEART; HE GURGLES AND SPUTTERS FOR A MOMENT, THEN FALLS SIDEWAYS ONTO THE DIRT, DEAD>

<HIS BODY CONVULSES FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE HE FINALLY GOES RIDGED; THE YOUNG ALIEN WALKS UP TO THE BODY AND KNEELS DOWN NEXT TO IT>

<HE IS EMOTIONLESS AND HIS EYES ARE DARK; HE SPOTS THE KNIFE, AND AFTER A HESITANT SECOND, HE RIPS IT OUT, SENDING A SPIRE OF BLOOD POURING OUT WITH IT>

<HE WIPES THE KNIFE OFF ON HIS SHIRT, WHICH IS A LIGHT BROWN AND SIMPLY WOVEN; HE BRINGS THE KNIFE UP TO HIS FACE AND LOOKS AT HIS REFLECTION WITH WIDE EYES OFF IT’S SHINING BLADE>

<THE CHILD GETS UP AND WALKS OUTSIDE; HE IS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE; THERE ARE OTHER BUILDINGS AND TOWNS AROUND; FAR OFF THERE ARE POPULATED CITIES WHICH HE CAN SEE; THEY ARE SENDING OFF VAST PLUMES OF SMOKE; AND THERE IS A GREATLY LIVELINESS AROUND THEM>

<HE STARES AT THE LIFE AROUND HIM WITH HATE>

<THE CHILD LETS OUT A SCREAM, LOUD AND UNNERVING; THE DUST SHOOTS UP AROUND HIM AND THEN IS, IN A NEAR SONIC BOOM, PULSED AWAY>

<QUIVERING WITH HIS NEW UNDERSTOOD POWER, THE CREATURE BEGINS WALKING FORWARD>

<HE LOWERS THE KNIFE IN HIS HAND TO HIS KNEE, IT’S BLADE SHINING OFF THE SETTING SUN AHEAD>

The Benefactor: <TO HIMSELF; SOMEWHAT QUIETLY> And soon it will all be gone.

<HE LUNGES FORWARD INTO THE NIGHT, SHOOTING OFF A KI BLAST IN EACH HAND, EACH WAY AND TO THE HOUSES BEYOND>

<CAMERA CUTS BACK TO THE PREVIOUS FLASHBACK>

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

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

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

<AFTER THIS BIZZARE DISPLAY, THE BENEFACTOR GETS UP AND OPENS A POD>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<THE BENEFACTOR INTENSIFIES HIS POWER OUTPUT, AND GUVA IS DISTURBED BY THIS; HE QUICKLY AND QUIETLY HOBBLES OUT OF THE ROOM IN A FRIGHTENED RUN>

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

<HE STANDS UP AGAIN, IN FULLEST OF POSTURE>

The Benefactor: <ECHOING IN THE CAVE> No words, for our dearly departed?

<THERE IS NO ANSWER>

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

The Benefactor: <RAISES HIS HEAD> It’s not like you to play favorites, darling.

<THERE IS STILL NO RESPONSE>

The Benefactor: Your supremacy is unmatched. But <SIGHS, A VERY RARE SIGN FROM HIM> <HE READIES THE SMALL CIRCULAR BLACK ENERGY BLAST HE HAS DONE SO MANY TIMES BEFORE; IT IS ONLY ABOUT THE SIZE OF A QUARTER> tell me, how can it be? How can it be a God… if I may kill it?

Lauto: <BOOMS OUT FROM A DIM LIGHT ABOVE THE BENEFACTOR’S HEAD> Could one utter such talk to his own shadow and have it believe?

The Benefactor: Truth is timeless. <LONG PAUSE; HE LAUGHS, ALMOST PERCEPTIVELY> Bonne chance, darling.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Latchkey
<WIDE ZOOM IN>

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

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

<YAMCHA DOES NOT ANSWER>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Benefactor: <TO KRILLIN> Be that as it may…

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

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

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

Piccolo: <ANGRY GROWL> Who are you to?

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

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

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

<AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF THIS, WHERE THE AIR IS STILL AND EVERYONE IS WATCHING THE BENEFACTOR, LEDAS’ EYES DART UP AND WIDEN; HE SUDDENLY TURNS AROUND, 180 DEGREES AND LAUNCHES HIMSELF AT VEGETA>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<RYORI SLUMPS HIS SHOULDERS AND LETS OUT A SIGH OF DEFEAT; HE WALKS BACK OUT INTO THE SUN AND ACTIVITY; HE WALKS DOWN THE ROAD FOR A FEW BLOCKS WITH HIS HEAD DOWN>

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ledas: Wha-

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

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

Ledas: Oh… it’s him.

<FOR SOME REASON HE SEEMS TO NOT REMEMBER ATTACKING VEGETA OR SEEING THE BENEFACTOR BEFORE; HE GETS UP AND WALKS OVER TO HIS QUARRY AND SKIDDISHLY APPROACHES TO WITHIN ABOUT 10 FEET OF HIM>

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

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

Ledas: <SOMEWHAT SCARED, BUT DETERMINED> I guess…

Tien: <IN A SHOUT> No!!

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

Tien: You’re fighting me.

The Benefactor: I am?

Tien: Let’s go!

<TIEN AND CHIAOTZU RUSH THE BENEFACTOR; LEDAS STEPS BACK, MOUTH AGAPE IN SLIGHT AWE>

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

<CUTS BACK TO RYORI>

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

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

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

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

<OUT OF A SIDE DOOR, COME OUT TWO PEOPLE; THE FIRST, A WOMAN IS SLIGHTLY FLUSTERED; THE OTHER, A MAN OF HIGH STATURE AND ELEGANTLY DRESSED, WITH SLICKED BACK WHITE HAIR FOLLOWS HER>

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

Cardinal: Marissa darling, cancel my lunch. I think I’ll be eating out today.

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

Cardinal: <PLEASANTLY> May I help you?

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

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

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

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

<CHIAOTZU IS DONE>

<THE BENEFACTOR LANDS, AND TIEN DOES AS WELL>

<TIEN BEGINS TO RUN FORWARD TO CHECK ON CHIAOTZU’S BODY, BUT THE BENEFATOR USES HIS TELEKINESIS TO PICK UP CHIAOTZU FIRST AND THROW HIM UP AND OVER THE MOUNTAINSIDE BEHIND THEM; HE THROWS HIS ARM BEHIND HIM WHEN HE DOES THIS, BUT DOES NOT MOVE HIS FIGURE WHILE DOING SO>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Benefactor: Oh Mr. Cyclops, are you done?

<TIEN DOES NOT MOVE, AND CONTINUES PANTING HEAVILY>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<THE BENEFACTOR FEELS HIS STRENGTH AND PUTS UP HIS OWN GUARD, REALIZING THAT INDEED GOHAN IS STRONGER THAN HIM IN THIS FORM>

<GOHAN TELEPORTS BEHIND THE BENEFACTOR AND SWIPES HIS LEGS, CAUSING HIM TO FALL; HE THEN PUNCHES HIM SIDEWAYS AND ELBOWS HIM INTO DIRT; THE BENEFACTOR GETS UP, BUT GOHAN LANDS ON THE BENEFACTOR’S FACE WITH HIS TWO FEET; THE BENEFACTOR FALLS BACK DOWN>

<GOHAN THEN SENDS A CASUAL MASENKO INTO THE BENEFACTOR, AND SHOOTS HIM AWAY; HE DESCENDS BACK TO THE GROUP>

Gohan: I guess I don’t know how strong I am, huh? Heh heh. <HE LAUGHS AGAIN> Hey Piccolo, do you want to help me finish him off?

Piccolo: What’s that, Gohan?

Gohan: <STILL SMILING IN THAT ANNOYING WAY OF HIS ADULT FORM> For old times sake… I haven’t been able to fight with you in practically forever! How about it?

<PICCOLO CHUCKLES HIMSELF AND LAUNCHES INTO THE AIR>

Piccolo: All right, Gohan. Let’s do it.

<THE TWO AIR DASH AT THE BENEFACTOR, WHO HAS NOW STUMBLED OUT, TO FACE THEM; HE IS PISSED HIMSELF AND POWERS UP A BLACK ENERGY BLAST IN EACH OF HIS HANDS, AT HIS FULLEST POWER>

<PICCOLO AND GOHAN BEGIN TO DEFTLY MOVE ABOUT HIM, AND BEGIN TO CREATE THEIR ATTACK>

<UNLIKE YAMCHA AND CHIAOTZU, OR EVEN TIEN AND CHIAOTZU, THIS PAIR IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE DANGEROUS; IN ADDITION TO THEIR MUCH HIGHER POWER LEVELS, THE TWO KNOW EACH OTHER’S TECHNIQUES INSIDE AND OUT; THEY ARE BASICALLY STREAMLINED IN THEIR ATTACK>

<THE TWO COME AT THE BENEFACTOR AGAIN, AND PICCOLO LAUNCHES A MASENKO OF HIS OWN; GOHAN TELEPORTS TO THE SIDE OF THE BENEFACTOR AND SLIDES INTO THE CREATURE, HITTING HIM INTO THE BLAST>

<IT HITS DEAD ON AND THE BENEFACTOR FALLS, BROKEN IN HIS MANY ROBES; HE DOES NOT MOVE>

<BOTH OF THE FIGHTERS DESCEND AND LET THEIR GUARDS DOWN, IN THEIR VICTORY>

<BEHIND THEM, THE TWO ENERGY BALLS IN THE BENEFACTOR’S HANDS EXTINGUISH, EVER SO QUIETLY>

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

<FOR REFERENCE, THOSE STILL FIGHTING FIT ARE: GOKU, GOHAN, GOTEN, VEGETA, TRUNKS, PICCOLO, KRILLIN, ANDROID 18; THOSE WHICH HAVE BEEN DEFEATED (THOUGH NONE ARE DEAD) ARE YAMCHA, TIEN, AND CHIAOTZU; GUVA IS DEAD; LEDAS AND THE BENEFACTOR ARE ALSO PRESENT>

<GOHAN AND PICCOLO ARE STANDING IN THE FOREFRONT OF THE OTHER Z FIGHTERS, HAVING JUST DEFEATED THE BENEFACTOR>

<HOWEVER, IN TYPICAL GOHAN FORM, HE HAS UNDERESTIMATED HIS OPPONENT AND TURNED HIS BACK TO THE RUBBLE; PICCOLO IS STILL WATCHING, WARILY>

<BEFORE MUCH CONVERSATION CAN BEGIN BETWEEN ANY OF THEM, THE ROCKS UPLIFT BEHIND THEM; THE BENEFACTOR IS ONCE AGAIN UPRIGHT, IN THE AIR AND HOVERING WITH THE DEBRIS AROUND HIM; HIS ARMS ARE OUTSTRETCHED; HE DESCENDS BACK TO THE GROUND, AND ALL THE DEBRIS MELT AROUND HIM INTO NOTHING>

Piccolo: I-impossible! How did he get up after that?!

Gohan: <TURNING> Whoa, I guess he is stronger than he looks…

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

<THE CAMERA SHOOTS UP OVER HIS SHOULDER TO SHOW OFF WHAT THE BENEFACTOR IS DOING; THE GRASS, BEFORE GREEN AND LIVELY NOW SHRIVELS AND DIES, THIS RAPID DYING OFF SHOOTS OUT IN A CIRCLE ON THE GROUND FROM THE BENEFACTOR’S FIST>

<AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF THIS, IN SILENCE, THE BENEFACTOR GETS UP AGAIN>

The Benefactor: <A PAUSE> Where were we?

<HE MOVES FORWARD WITH BLINDING SPEED, CATCHING ALL OF THE Z FIGHTERS OFF GUARD; IN THIS TIME, THE BENEFACTOR’S TARGET, GOHAN, HAS NOT PUT UP HIS GUARD>

<THE BENEFACTOR HITS UP TO GOHAN AND TAKES HIS RIGHT ARM, AND SNAPS IT IN HALF, LITERALLY; THE BONE AND BLOOD COMES UP THROUGH GOHAN’S SKIN AND PIERCES THROUGH IT; GOHAN FALLS BACK ONTO THE GROUND, SCREAMING AND YELLING AND CRADDLING HIS ARM; THE OTHER Z FIGHTERS ARE AGHAST>

The Benefactor: <STEPS OVER GOHAN’S WRITHING BODY> Now, I will not waste any more of my time with this. Give me the child, or… <HE GESTURES BACK TO THE CURIOUS PATCH OF DEAD GRASS BEHIND> I will take more of this planet’s life.

Piccolo: You’re a fool! You think we’ll do what you say just because you burnt some grass? Your tricks aren’t more than child’s play!

The Benefactor: No. <HE STARES AT PICCOLO, BUT DOES NOT SAY ANYTHING ELSE>

Piccolo: W-well… <ANGER RISING> then what?!

The Benefactor: You are all so… predictable.

<HE PUTS HIS HAND OUT AGAIN, FINGERS OUTSTRECHED; FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, NOTHING HAPPENS, THEN VISIBLE ENERGY TRAILS COME STREAMING INTO VIEW; BUT NOT OUT OF THE BENEFACTOR’S HANDS, BUT INTO THEM; AS IF HE IS SUCKING SOMETHING IN>

<AT THIS TIME, SEVERAL OF THE Z FIGHTERS, PICCOLO, GOTEN, AND TRUNKS HAVE COME TO GOHAN AND DONE WHAT THEY COULD TO HELP HIM (WHICH IS BASICALLY NOTHING)>

Gohan: <BETWEEN FITS OF PAIN> Iaaahhh… wha wassat? Didya guys feel that? <HE RAISES HIS HEAD FOR BUT A SECON,D THEN FALLS BACK AGAIN>

Goku: <REALIZING, AS THE OTHERS DO> The people… they’re gone. No way. How could he have done that?!

Trunks: H-he killed them all…

The Benefactor: So you see what will be done. I will drain this planet of its life until my demands are given to me.

Vegeta: <FROM BEHIND, IN A SLIGHT RASP> Bah, just give him the kid.

Goku: But, Vegeta… he’s a bad guy.

Vegeta: Listen Kakarot, do you have any better idea?! This fool is going to destroy the planet if we don’t give the kid up.

The Benefactor: <BUTTING IN> Oh yes. Any of us could destroy this place, that‘s no great trick. But I lack your necessary self-control, and any of the… emotional attachments.

Piccolo: <STILL CROUCHING OVER GOHAN; GOTEN AND TRUNKS ARE THERE TOO; HE GROWLS OUT IN ANGER, BUT ALSO IN RESIGNATION> Goku, do it! Even if we’re stronger than him, he could just suck all the life out of us. He’ll just kill everyone if try that. We have no other choice!

Goku: N-no… I won’t allow it!

<GOKU STEPS FORWARD AND TAKES OFF HIS TOP SHIRT, LEAVING ONLY THE BLUE; HE HIMSELF BEGINS TO POWER UP, FIRST TO SUPER SAIYAN, THEN TO SUPER SAIYAN 2; AT LONG LAST, AND AFTER A MULTITUDE OF SCREAMS, PERHAPS UNNECESSARILY SO, HE TRANSFORMS TO SUPER SAIYAN THREE; AND THEN HE JUST STANDS THERE, ALL PROUD WHILE EVERYONE IS IN SHOCK, AS IF THEY NEVER EXPECTED THAT HE COULD DO THIS>

<GOKU STEPS FORWARD; OF COURSE HE IS SUPER COOL AND QUIET AND OTHER CHARACTERISTICS THAT HE IS NORMALLY NOT>

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

The Benefactor: <SIMPLY> No. <TO VEGETA; IN A WHISPER AND A STARE> Vegeta… prince of all Saiyans…

<THE BENEFACTOR DOES NOT SAY ANYTHING ELSE, BUT CONTINUES TO STARE AT VEGETA; VEGETA STARES BACK; AFTER SOME TIME, VEGETA BREAKS THIS, AND GETS UP; HE STANDS STILL FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, THEN HE SUDDENLY LUNGES AT LEDAS AND HITS HIM, WITH HIS ELBOW, IN THE BACK OF THE YOUNG SAIYAN’S HEAD; LEDAS FALLS, UNCONSCIOUS; BEFORE HE HITS THE GROUND, VEGETA SCOOPS HIM UP AND AIR DASHES TO THE BENEFACTOR>

<AT THIS, GOKU AND ALL THE OTHER TURN AND GRUNT IN THEIR USUAL SURPRISE AT ANYTHING>

<VEGETA LANDS, HOLDING LEDAS; HE FACES THE BENEFACTOR>

<THE BENEFACTOR DOES NOT RETURN ANY GESTURE TO HIM, BUT INSTEAD FLEXES HIS ARMS BACK, AND SEND THE THREE BODIES OF TIEN, YAMCHA, AND CHIAOTZU, WHOM HE HAD IN STASIS FLYING BACK TO GOKU’S COMPANY>

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

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

Android 18: Oh great. <SHE IS EMBARRASSED>

<18 LOOKS OVER TO HIM, BUT DOES NOT MOVE; HE RETURNS JUST IN TIME FOR THE BODIES OF THE THREE DEFEATED BEFORE LAND RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM, ALL UNCONSCIOUS>

<GOKU IS STILL IN HIS FIGHTING STANCE THOUGH, CLEARLY HE WANTS TO END THIS NOW>

The Benefactor: We can fight later, <WRY PAUSE> I promise. Until then, <GESTURES> tend to your fallen.

<WITH THAT, THE BENEFACTOR JUMPS INTO THE AIR AND VEGETA FOLLOWS HIM; THE TWO FLY AWAY AND OUT OF SIGHT>

<ALL THE Z FIGHTERS STILL ABLE RUSH TO HELP THOSE UNCONSCIOUS; ALL EXCEPT GOKU; HE GRUNTS AGAIN, PERHAPS USELESSLY, AND THEN ASCENDS INTO THE AIR>

Goku: <TO PICCOLO; HE IS STILL IN SS3 HIMSELF> Piccolo, get Gohan and the others out of here. Make sure they get to a hospital. I’m counting on you, Piccolo.

Piccolo: Hmph, and what are you going to do, Goku, stay here and play the hero?

Goku: <RAISES HIS HANDS INTO THE AIR; IN A SCREAM> Look, I don’t have time to argue with you Piccolo. Get them out of here! If you want to help, you can just give me your energy later!

Piccolo: Bu-

Goku: <SCREAM> Go!!! There’s no time!!

<PICCOLO PAUSES FOR A SECOND, BUT THEN ABANDONS HIS RESPONSE; INSTEAD, HE NODS KNOWINGLY TO GOKU AND GRABS GOHAN; THE OTHER Z FIGHTERS HELP WITH THE OTHER UNCONSCIOUS AND THEY ALL TAKE OFF TO THE CITY>

Piccolo: <IN HIS MIND, AS HE’S FLYING> Goku… what was he trying to do… Energy… No… <HIS EYES SUDDENLY WIDEN, AND HE LOOKS BACK AS HE’S FLYING> he couldn’t be!

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

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

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

Cardinal: Mr. Shoekki?

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

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

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

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

Ryori: <FORCEFULLY> Now!!

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

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

<CUTS BACK TO VEGETA AND THE BENEFACTOR; THEY ARE BOTH LANDED; LEDAS IS SEMI-CONSCIOUS AT THEIR FEET>

The Benefactor: <CRAWLS OVER THE ROCK> Go into town. Have yourselves a good time.

Vegeta: <INCREDULOUSLY> What?! Do you think this is some kind of game?

The Benefactor: <SAID STRAIGHT> That’s funny. Now get going, boss.

Vegeta: Pshhh. <HE IS SUPER DUPER ANGRY, BUT MORESO IS HE WARY; VEGETA DOES NOT, PERHAPS STRANGELY CONTEST TO THE BENEFACTOR>

<HE WALKS FORWARD, EVER PRIDEFUL AND GRABS LEDAS BY THE HAIR, STANDING HIM UP; LEDAS GOES UPRIGHT, BUT STUMBLES; THE TWO WALK FORWARD IN SILENCE AND AWKWARDNESS, NOT KNOWING WHAT THEY ARE DOING, NOR WHY THEY ARE DOING IT>

<VEGETA OBVIOUSLY WAS LOCKED INTO THIS BECAUSE OF HIS OWN FEAR OF THE BENEFACTOR; HENCE WHY HE ATTACKED LEDAS AND ATTACKED THE BENEFACTOR BEFORE; BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, WHETHER HE WANT TO ADMIT IT OR NOT, HE REMEMBERS THIS CREATURE FROM HIS CHILDHOOD, AND NOW HE SEES THE FEAR OF IT; AND FEAR CAN MOTIVATE SOMEONE TO DO QUITE ABNORMAL THINGS, GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY>

<PERHAPS THAT IS WHY HE IS ACCOMPANYING LEDAS AT THIS POINT, NOT WANTING TO BE LEFT ALONE WITH THE THING>

<AS THEY GO, AND THE SUN SETS IN THE DISTANCE, THE BENEFACTOR WATCHES THEM FROM HIS ROCK; WITH ALL HIS VAST CONTENT>

The Benefactor: Just a child and his pet; enslavement by delusion. <THE BENEFACTOR DROPS A SMALL PEBBLE HELD IN HIS HAND, DOWN THE SMALL HILLSIDE, ROLLING AND CAUSING MAYHEM AS IT GOES> How stupid is that?

<WHITE SCREEN FADES INTO THE SUN ABOVE>

Spirit Bomb (season finale part 2)
<CAMERA SPINS QUICKLY UP OVER THE SCENERY TO GOKU; IT ZOOMS CLOSELY IN ON HIS FACE; HE IS HOVERING IN THE AIR, ARMS ABOVE HIM, IN SUPER SAIYAN 3>

Goku: <SCRUNCHED FACE; IN HIS MIND; HE IS USING TELEPATHY> Goten… Trunks… can you hear me?

<THE CAMERA SWITCHES TO GOTEN AND TRUNKS WHO ARE FLYING BEHIND PICCOLO; NEITHER OF THEM ARE CARRYING THE FALLEN, AND BOTH STOP SUDDENLY; PICCOLO AND THE OTHERS DON’T IMMEDIATELY NOTICE, AND CONTINUE FLYING TOWARDS AN UNKNOWN HOSPITAL>

Trunks: <ALSO STOPPED, AT GOTEN> Goten, is that your dad?

Goten: <OUTLOUD> D-dad?!

Goku: <IN HIS DEEP SUPER SAIYAN 3 VOICE> Goten, Trunks, listen to me. I need you two to get Vegeta and his friend out of the city.

Goten: Oh… which city, dad?

Goku: <RAISES VOICE IN IMPATIENCE; PERHAPS UNCHARACTERISTICALLY OF HIM> Goten, I don’t have time to play games with you! There’s a town right to your left! Just look and you’ll see it.

Goten: <PEERS OVER> Oh <LAUGHS> I see it!

Goku: <PATIENCE RETURNS> Good.

Trunks: <SPEAKING UP> But, uh, Mr. Goten's dad, how are we going to get my dad to listen to us?

Goku: Vegeta is acting really weird right now, he may be under a spell. Do the fusion dance if you have to. But just get them out of the city.

Trunks: But… but why?

Goku: Just do it! <YELLS> All the people of earth are in danger unless you get him out of there! Go, now!

Goten: <TOGETHER> Right!

Trunks: <TOGETHER> Right!

<THE TWO AIR DASH AWAY, INTO THE CITY BELOW>

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

Korin: Hey! Princess! Wake up!

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

Korin: <IGNORING; HE THROWS A SMALL POUCH AT YAJIROBE, MUCH LIKE THE ONE HE THREW TO LEDAS IN THE PREVIOUS SAGA> Take these senzu beans to Goku. It’s a new batch I just got today. His friends should probably need a couple of them by now.

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

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

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

Korin: <QUICKLY> Don’t be disrespectful.

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

Yajirobe: Bah! If Goku wants to get himself killed, that’s his problem. It’s not my fault he gets all hurt every time he fights. I’m not saving him!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yajirobe: Bah!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<YAJIROBE JUMPS INTO IT AND SPEEDS AWAY>

<CUTS TO IN THE TOWN BY THE SEA; VEGETA AND LEDAS ARE WALKING SLOWLY DOWN THE SIDEWALK; VEGETA IS IN HIS BLUE JUMPSUIT ONLY, LEDAS IS STILL WEARING HIS EARTH CLOTHES FROM WHEN CARDINAL KIDNAPPED HIM, WHICH ARE ALL COVERED BY A DARK RED AND FADED HOODIE>

<LEDAS IS WALKING WITH HIS HEAD DOWN AND SHOULDERS UP; VEGETA IS WALKING IN PROUD POSTURE>

Ledas: <DOESN’T LOOK UP> Hey… Vegeta.

<VEGETA DOES NOT ANSWER; LEDAS CONTINUES IN A LOW VOICE>

Ledas: I dunno exactly why you’re ignoring me… maybe it’s because you thought I was dead… or maybe I’m just… j-just too weak…

<VEGETA DOES NOT ANSWER>

Ledas: <RAISES HIS VOICE A BIT TO A DISTRESSED WHISPER> But why are you helping that monster?! Don’t you remember what he was like?!?! When we were working for Frieza?

<VEGETA DOESN’T ANSWER HERE EITHER; HOWEVER, IT CAN BE INFERRED, WELL NOT REALLY BUT I WILL SAY ANYWAYS, THAT VEGETA IS ONLY FOLLOWING TB’S ORDERS, DESPITE THINKING HIMSELF TO BE STRONGER, BECAUSE THIS IS THE END OF DBZ, AND VEGETA IS “IN TOUCH” WITH HIS FEELINGS, OR SOMMAT LIKE THAT; ANYWHO, HE HAS A HARD TIME EXPRESSING THEM AROUND LEDAS, AND INSTEAD IS USING THIS TIME TO TRY AND TO AWKWARDLY BREAK THEIR TENSION SO THAT THE TWO OF THEM MAY FIGHT TB; STILL DOESN’T EXPLAIN WHY HE AGREED TO GO INTO TOWN THOUGH, NOR WHY HE‘S NOT PARTICULARLY TRYING TO OPEN UP TO LEDAS AT ALL…>

Ledas: <HE FINALLY TURNS HIS HEAD TO VEGETA, WHO LOOKS AWAY, CHIN UP IN HAUGHTINESS> Why won’t you talk to me, Vegeta?!

Vegeta: <WALKS FORWARD> Because you aren’t real.

<VEGETA WALKS FORWARD FOR SEVERAL MORE STEPS>

<LEDAS DROPS TO HIS KNEES, HIS LIP QUIVERING; PEOPLE CONTINUE WALKING PAST THE BOTH OF THEM; LEDAS’ VISION IS SURREAL, AND HE ALMOST BEGINS TO HALLUCINATE AGAIN, BUT NOT QUITE>

<FOR IN FRONT OF LEDAS, IS A SHOP, WITH THE CURIOUS SIGN OF THE ELEGANT “C”; THE SAME VERY SIGN THAT HE HAD WITNESSED ON CARDINAL AND HIS MEN>

<AT THIS TIME, VEGETA TURNS BACK AROUND, JUST IN TIME TO SEE LEDAS GET UP, AND IN A TRANCE WALK INSIDE>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<SHOEKKI’S BODY IS NOT DECOMPOSED BECAUSE, DUE TO THE DRAGON BALL’S WISHING BACK THE EARTH, THIS IS BASICALLY ONLY ABOUT 16 HOURS SINCE SHOEKKI DIED>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<SCREEN REFADES TO WHITE; A BRIEF SCENE IS SHOWN OF GOKU, STILL PREPARING HIS ATTACK, THE CAMERA PANS BACK TO NOW SHOW THAT IT IS INDEED A LARGE SPIRIT BOMB; HE HAS GATHERED A TON OF ENERGY FOR IT, FROM AROUND THE EARTH AND SOLAR SYSTEM BEYOND>

<THE BOMB IS GAINING SIZE; IT IS BIGGER THAN THE ONE ALREADY THAT WAS USED AGAINST FRIEZA, BUT NOT YET AS BIG AS THE ONE USED AGAINST KID BUU>

<GOKU STAYS THERE ALONE, CONTINUING TO GATHER ENERGY FROM WHERE HE CAN; HOWEVER, IT WILL NOT BE AS BIG AS THE ONE HE DID AGAINST BUU>

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

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

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

Cardinal: Yes, what is it Marissa, darling?

Woman 1: There are two men waiting to speak to you, in the lobby. Shall I bring them back?

Cardinal: Is it a business matter?

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

Cardinal: No need, no need. I’ll go talk to them myself. <HE SMILES BROADLY AND EXITS>

<CARDINAL WALKS OUT TO THE LOBBY OF HIS SMALL BUSINESS; OUT IN THE WAITING ROOM ARE TWO FIGURES, ONE VEGETA, WHO IS STANDING, ARMS FOLDED, BY THE DOOR; HE IS OBVIOUSLY BORED>

<THE OTHER IS LEDAS, WHO HAS HIS BACK TO THEM, HIS TAIL STANDING UP, AND OUT FROM HIS CLOTHES; HE IS PERCHED ON A CHAIR, REACHING AND TOUCHING A PICTURE ABOVE HIM, IN BOREDOM AS WELL AS CURIOSITY>

<AS CARDINAL COMES OPENS THE DOOR AND COMES INTO THE ROOM, LEDAS TURNS; THEIR EYES LOCK>

<WITHOUT HESISTATION OR ANY ADDITIONAL MOVEMENT, LEDAS GOES SUPER SAIYAN; AND CARDINAL, MOUTH SLIGHTLY AGAPE, SLOWLY CLOSES THE DOOR; HE WALKS AT FIRST, BUT THE BEGINS TO RUN BACK TO RYORI; HIS ONLY CHANCE OF SURVIVAL>

<LEDAS LOWERS HIS HEAD AND THEN JUMPS OFF THE CHAIR AND FORWARD, INTO THE WALL, CRASHING THOUGH IT TO CHASE AFTER CARDINAL>

<VEGETA SEEMS UNDISTURBED BY THIS, AND LAZILY WALKS IN THROUGH THE DAMAGED WALL AFTER LEDAS; HE SEEMS WHOLLY UNINTERESTED IN THIS MATTER>

<OUTSIDE, DOWN THE STREET A FEW BLOCKS ARE GOTEN AND TRUNKS; THE BOTH OF THEM ARE RUNNING DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, MOVING THEIR HEADS THIS WAY AND THAT, SEARCHING FOR VEGETA; RIGHT WHEN LEDAS’ OUTBURST HAPPENS, BOTH OF THEM STOP AND LOOK FORWARD; THEY FEEL AND KNOW EXACTLY WHERE HE IS>

Goten: Whoa Trunks did you feel that?!

Trunks: Yeah. It came from that building up there.

<BOTH START RUNNING AGAIN>

Goten: Do you think it’s your dad, Trunks?

Trunks: <CHIPPER> No, it doesn’t feel like him. But maybe it’s that weird other kid that he was with. Who knows?

Goten: If they’re powering up, they must be in trouble!

<AT THIS, BOTH OF THEM PICK UP THEIR PACE, AND ARRIVE AT THE CARDINAL SHOP; THEY ENTER THROUGH THE DOOR AND RUN IN AFTER THE TWO OTHER SAIYANS>

<CAMERA CUTS TO GOKU AGAIN, HE HAS HIS SPIRIT BOMB NOW ALMOST COMPLETE>

Goku: <IN HIS MIND, TO HIMSELF> Oh no, I can feel someone powering up. This isn’t good… I have to go faster! <WITH THAT, HE POURS HIS OWN ENERGY AND LIFE-FORCE INTO THE BALL, AND IT GROWS TENFOLD>

<AT JUST THIS TIME, THE BENEFACTOR LANDS RIGHT IN FRONT OF GOKU, ONTO THE GROUND>

Goku: What? You? No way…

The Benefactor: Just you and I, boss.

Goku: But… no! You were supposed to be-

The Benefactor: <HOLDS UP HIS HAND> Let me stop you there, boss. Do not make yourself a fool. <PAUSE/BREAK> My mind is my own; you cannot possibly dare to understand it.

Goku: Where are the others? I didn’t feel their powers decrease. You couldn’t have beaten them already!

The Benefactor: Their path has branched away from ours. But it will re-connect soon. Until then…

<THE BENEFACTOR LAYS DOWN, ON HIS SIDE IN THE GRASS>

Goku: <DISTURBED BY THIS> Who are you… what are you?!

The Benefactor: Me? I’m many things. I’m a young boy. A disturber of the peace. A schoolgirl ever ready for her first date, a soldier flogged and bleeding on the stones. Once given a name. Given a rank, a title, a home.

<HE PAUSES, ALMOST UNWILLING TO CONTINUE, BUT CONTINUE HE DOES>

The Benefactor: And once <PULLS UP HIS SLEEVE, REVEALING DEEP SCARS UPON HIS SCALED ARMS, UP TO AND UNDER HIS CHEST ARMOR> given these. By my own, who had so easily fallen to corruption. But it was my torment that made me better. <THE BENEFACTOR SUDDENLY STOPS AND REGAINS HIS CALM MANNER; HE LETS OUT A SOFT BREATH> I think your attack is ready, boss. Or as ready as it’ll ever be. Shall we?

Goku: What?! How do you know…? <IN HIS MIND; STERNLY> But he’s right, it is done. But he doesn’t know how dangerous it’ll be. <BACK ALOUD> Well, here goes nothing.

Goku: <REGAINING A BIT OF HIS CONFIDENCE> You sure are cocky <HE REACHES BACK AND BEGINS TO THROW THE BOMB AT THE BENEFACTOR; HE YELLS OUT WITH THIS> but this will put you in your place!

<GOKU LETS OUT A SCREAM AND THROWS THE SPIRIT BOMB AT THE BENEFACTOR; THE BENEFACTOR PUTS OUT HIS ARMS TO STOP IT, CALMLY>

<GOKU STANDS BACK AND PUTS ALL OF HIS REMAINING ENERGY INTO PUSHING THE BALL INTO THE BENEFACTOR; AND THE BENEFACTOR KEEPS HIS OWN ARMS OUTSTRETCHED, READY TO DEFEND HIMSELF>

<JUST AS THE BALL REACHES THE BENEFACTOR’S FINGERTIPS, A GREAT WHITE LIGHT SHOOTS OUT, COMPLETELY TAKING OVER THE SCREEN>

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

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

<END REUNION SAGA>

Cue Great Spirits. Credits roll during this time.

Trivia

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