Dragon Ball: The Mrovian Series: Hidden Memories of Chaiva

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This page, Dragon Ball: The Mrovian Series: Hidden Memories of Chaiva, is property of KidVegeta.

This story, Dragon Ball: The Mrovian Series: Hidden Memories of Chaiva, contains adult themes and situations, or explicit sexual content, and may not be appropriate for children. Reader discretion is advised.

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Dragon Ball: The Mrovian Series: Hidden Memories of Chaiva is a special of The Mrovian series that addresses the events from Chaiva's perspective between Chapter 2: The Mrovians and Chapter 5: Destiny Before Pursuit of the Nitro Saga. It is written almost entirely by KidVegeta based on Hyper Zergling's plot-detail notes.

Characters

• Chaiva
• Nitro
• Fassfu
• Kirka
• Kaesh
• Sowrspot
• Baquilia
• Salman Behr
• Tanghor
• Tarofky
• Ozeli
• Jelsun
• Hikain
• Hwaninbum
• Pukco
• Nroop
• Orsicon
• Etreggy
• Cuber
• Yuki

Character gallery

Chaiva (kid)

Chaiva (adult)

Nitro

Cuber

Spoilers
Yuki

Story

Chapter 1: Unfortunate Divergence

<THE CAMERA SHOWS PLANET NITRO 297 EXPLODING FROM SPACE; THE ANGLE IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE SHOWN PREVIOUSLY; A SPACE POD IS SHOWN BARELY ESCAPING FROM THE SURFACE BEFORE THE EXPLOSION OVERTAKES THE PLANET; THE CAMERA PANS BACK SHARPLY AS IT SHOWS THE SPACE POD BEING SOMEWHAT OVERTAKEN BY THE OUTER EDGE OF THE SHOCKWAVE AS THE PLANET EXPLODES; THIS CAUSES THE POD TO VEER SHARPLY OFF COURSE>

<CUTS TO SEVERAL MONTHS LATER; THE SPACE POD IS SHOWN ENTERING THE ATMOSPHERE OF A SWAMPY, OVERCAST WORLD; IT STREAKS ACROSS THE SKY IN THE DISTANCE; AS THE CAMERA PANS BACK, IT REVEALS SEVERAL SINISTER-LOOKING ALIENS WEARING STRANGE MAKESHIFT ARMOR ENCIRCLED AROUND A GROUP OF OTHER CHAINED-UP ALIENS, NONE OF THEM MORE THAN ONE AND A HALF METER TALL, WITH BLUE AND BLACK SCALES, BLACK FINS INSTEAD OF HAIR, AND DARK, UNSEEING EYES; ALL OF THE SLAVES ARE WEARING THIN BLACK NECK COLLARS WITH RED LIGHTS ON THE BACK>

<A JOLEAN SLAVER WITH A SCAR ACROSS HIS CHIN WHISTLES, AND HALF OF THE GROUP TEARS OFF INTO THE SKY AFTER THE POD WITHOUT HESITATION; WATCHING THEM FLY AFTER IT, HE LOOKS AROUND AT THE OTHERS, EXCHANGES A LOOK WITH ANOTHER SLAVER OF HIS SPECIES, AND THEN FLIES OFF AFTER THEM>

<CUTS TO THE SPACE POD, WITH THE CAMERA LOOKING DOWN ON IT FROM OVERHEAD AND TO THE LEFT; THE POD HAS LANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A MUDDY MARSH; THE DOOR POPS OPEN, AND THE CONFUSED FACE OF CHAIVA PEERS OUT OF IT A MOMENT LATER; SHE YAWNS, CLIMBING OUT AND FLYING INTO THE AIR SO AS TO NOT GET HER BOOTS ALL MUDDY; HER FLIGHT IS SOMEWHAT AWKWARD, AND SHE HAS SOME TROUBLE BALANCING IN THE AIR AT FIRST; STRETCHING HER BACK AND NECK, SHE LOOKS AROUND, SOAKING IN THE NEW SURROUNDS>

Chaiva: <MUTTERING TO HERSELF> This is a miserable place. Figures… I wonder where Cuber is. Without a scouter, I’ll have to find him the old-fashioned way.

<CHAIVA EXHALES, THEN TAKES A DEEP BREATH; A FAINT BLUE-WHITE AURA MUSTERS AROUND HER FORM; SHE RAISES ONE HAND INTO THE AIR, PALM FACING THE SKY; A YELLOW BALL OF KI BEGINS FORMING OVER IT; JUST AS SHE PREPARES TO SHOOT IT INTO THE SKY, A DARK FUR BOOT COMES FLYING INTO FRAME, KICKING HER SAVAGELY IN THE SIDE OF THE HEAD; CHAIVA SAILS HEAD-FIRST TO THE MARSH, LANDING IN A POOL OF BRACKISH WATER>

<SPITTING WATER, THE SAIYAN GIRL JUMPS UP, STUMBLING BACK, FISTS RAISES, A STREAK OF BLOOD RUNNING DOWN HER RIGHT EAR; TWO ALIENS LAND IN FRONT OF HER, WEARING MISMATCHED ARMOR THAT SHE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE; THE SHORTER, STUBBIER ALIEN IS A SPACE-BADGER WITH BROWN-AND-BLACK FUR, WHO WILL BE KNOWN AS SALMAN BEHR; THE OTHER IS A MATURE CAT-LIKE NYARIN WITH AQUA FUR AND BLACK STRIPES AND THREE PAIRS OF LONG MUSTACHIOS DYED WHITE; THIS FELLOW’S NAME IS BAQUILIA>

Baquilia: Easy now, girl. Easy. We’re just here to help. You don’t want to end up Salmy over there, do ya? <SALMY POLITELY SMILES FOR CHAIVA, REVEALING HIS BROKEN AND CHIPPED TEETH; THE NYARIN RAISES HIS FIST AT CHAIVA AGAIN> Now, are you coming with us, or not?

Chaiva: Where? <SHE TAKES ANOTHER STEP BACK, EYES NARROWING> Who are you?

Salman Behr: <IN A HIGH, WET, SNIVELING VOICE> We’re your only ticket off this dump, you little shit. <HE CACKLES, THEN SHOOTS A RED FINGER BEAM AT HER SPACE POD, DESTROYING IT> The ticket ain’t free, neither. So you better come with us.

Chaiva: Never!

<SHE SPINS AWAY FROM THEM, SHOOTING A SMALL KI BLAST INTO THE WATER AND CREATING AN AFTERIMAGE THAT BACKS AWAY AS SHE SHOOTS INTO THE CLOUD COVER OVERHEAD>

Chaiva: <IN HER HEAD> They aren’t wearing scouters, either… but they hit hard. I don’t know if I can beat both of them.

<IN HER HAND, CHAIVA STARTS CHARGING UP AN ENERGY BEAM; SWOOPING BELOW THE CLOUDS, SHE SEES THE SPACE-BADGER SCOURING THE MARSHLANDS FOR HER BELOW; PAUSING, SHE AIMS TO FIRE HER ATTACK WHEN SOMEONE COMES UP BEHIND HER AND GRABS HER, PUTTING ONE OF THOSE SAME BLACK COLLARS AROUND HER NECK AS WAS SEEN ON THE ENSLAVED ALIENS BEFORE>

<CHAIVA GASPS, AND HER ENERGY ATTACK DISSIPATES IN HER HAND; THE CAMERA PANS BACK, REVEALING THE GREEN-SKINNED JOLEAN FROM BEFORE; LET’S CALL HIM TANGHOR; AS THE CAMERA PANS BACK FURTHER, THE REST OF HIS SQUAD IS SHOWN IN THE AIR, SURROUNDING HIM IN STAGGERED LINES SEVERAL TENS OF METERS APART; CLEARLY, THERE IS NO WAY FOR CHAIVA TO ESCAPE NOW>

Chaiva: <STRUGGLING, BUT TO NO USE> What the… get off of me!

Tanghor: That thing I just put around your neck… that’s a power regulator. It prevents you from powering up… <HE SMILES, REVEALING HIS BROWN TEETH> So you see, little girl, you’re helpless now. If I were to let go of you… you’d fall all the way to the ground. <CHAIVA GIVES A DISTRESSING LOOK AS HE ALMOST DROPS HER, GIGGLING TO HIMSELF> So then, what’ll it be? Do you want to come with us, or do you want to die?

Chaiva: <STRUGGLING AGAIN, THIS TIME MORE HALF-HEARTEDLY> I’ll kill you!

Tanghor: I like your spirit! You’ve got the heart of a warrior in you. But, that may be cheating on my part… for you see, I can sense your energy, and I sensed how strong you got earlier, trying to get away from Salmy and Baquilio. You didn’t even power up all the way. <HE SMILES AGAIN, LOOKING AROUND TO HIS FRIENDS; HE RAISES HIS VOICE> She’ll fetch a good price in the fighting pits, eh boys? <HIS MEN ROAR IN APPROVAL> Heheheh, alright then.

<WITHOUT WARNING, HE LEANS IN AND HEADBUTTS CHAIVA UNCONSCIOUS>

<CUTS TO TUHAK ECLI, HOME OF THE GALACTRIX ARENA; FROM SPACE, THE CAMERA ZOOMS IN ON THE NORTHERN POLE, REVEALING A LARGE SERIES OF BUILDINGS, ARENAS, SKYSCRAPERS, AND VARIOUS BUILDINGS ALL CRAMMED TOGETHER INTO A PORT KNOWN AS NALNARATH’S HOLD>

<THE CAMERA CUTS TO THE CITY, SHOWING THAT IT IS A GRIM PLACE AND DIRTY, WITH POLLUTION RISING INTO THE AIR FROM MANY BUILDINGS, AND BRIGHT FLOATING BILLBOARDS ADVERTISING ALL SORTS OF THINGS, SUCH AS BETS, SLAVES FOR SALE, PIT FIGHTERS FOR SALE, AND OF COURSE ADVERTISEMENTS FOR FOOD AND SEX; THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WALKING AROUND, ALTHOUGH THOSE WITH BLACK COLLARS ON ARE BEING ESCORTED BY THOSE IN MORE ORNATE AND COLORFUL CLOTHING, OR BY SLAVERS IN THEIR ROUGH, UNWASHED ARMOR; MANY ARENA BOTS FLY AROUND, SURVEYING, WATCHING, SCANNING SLAVES’ VITAL SIGNS, ASSISTING VISITORS WITH FINDING THE NEAREST RESTROOM, AND THE LIKE>

<AS THE CAMERA DROPS INTO THE THRONGS OF PEOPLE, MANY OF WHOM ARE OPENLY SMOKING NIL STICKS OR DRINKING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, LAUGHING AND JOKING AND BLOVATING TO THEIR FRIENDS IN LOUD VOICES, A FLOATING SIGN APPEARS AHEAD FROM BEHIND A VEIL OF SMOKE AND PEOPLE THAT SAYS ‘NEW STOCK - JUST ARRIVED TODAY’; BELOW THIS IS A HOLDING CAGE WITH MANY OF THE BLUE-SCALED ALIENS SEEN BEFORE; THE SLAVER BAQUILIO IS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE CAGE, TRYING TO COAX POTENTIAL BUYERS IN, BUT NOBODY’S BUYING; MEANWHILE, IN THE CORNER, SALMY AND A FEW OTHERS ARE PIGGING OUT ON MEAT KEBABS AND FOAMING DRINKS>

<THE CAMERA PANS TO THE LEFT, REVEALING TANGHOR WITH CHAIVA STANDING NEXT TO HIM; THEY ARE TALKING TO A PURPLE-SKINNED FAERIN WEARING LONG BLUE ROBES; THE FAERIN, WHO IS NAMED SOWRSPOT, LOOKS OVER CHAIVA; EVERY TIME THE SAIYAN BOWS HER HEAD, SHE RECEIVES AN ELECTRICAL SHOCK FROM THE COLLAR THAT MAKES HER LOOK UP AGAIN; THERE IS A DETACHED LOOK IN HER EYES; SHE WILL NOT LOOK AT THE FAERIN, BUT INSTEAD STARES OFF BEYOND HER AS THE SLAVER AND HER CONVERSE>

Sowrspot: Eighty? Why, I could find a girl like this three stalls down for a quarter of that price!

Tanghor: <COOLLY> Don’t think so, lady. Bots say she’s a Saiyan. You know about Saiyans?

Sowrspot: <GETTING ALL OFFENDED> My word, you are rude. Of course I know about the Saiyans. Do you take me for some backwater harlot? Frieza destroyed their homeworld. Last I’ve heard, he has a couple working for him… but they’re all that’s left.

Tanghor: <SHRUGS THEN REACHES FOR SOMETHING IN HIS POCKET> If you want the DNA tests, I’ve got them right here. It’s authentic. You can trust me.

<THE WOMAN SNATCHES UP THE PAPERS; A MOMENT LATER, SHE PEERS OVER THE TOP OF THEM, FIRST TO CHAIVA, THEN TO TANGHOR, THEN BACK TO CHAIVA>

Sowrspot: I… see. Yes, these are authentic. But, she doesn’t have a tail.

Tanghor: Must’ve lost it running away. I’ve heard they grow back. Just expose her to the moon. Take her out tonight, even. It’ll grow back. If it doesn’t, you can return her and get your money back. <HE RAISES HIS HANDS, SHRUGGING AGAIN> Otherwise, I’ve got other buyers lined up…

Sowrspot: <QUICKLY; SHE PULLS OUT A SPACE CREDIT CARD TO PAY WITH> No, no, no… that’s quite alright. I think I’ll take her. Your name is Tanghor, is it not?

Tanghor: That’s right.

Sowrspot: I remember you - you used to fight. What happened? Got tired of it all?

Tanghor: I still fight every now and then. You’ll see me out there at the start of next season. But I don’t do it too much anymore.

Sowrspot: Oh, why’s that?

Tanghor: I’m too good at what I do now. <RAISES HIS ARMS AGAIN GRANDIOUSLY> If I were gone, you wouldn’t have all this lovely stock to choose from…

Sowrspot: Ah, very good. If she proves to be a capable warrior, I shall return. Until then, good day, sir.

<HE HANDS HER BACK HER CARD, BOWING SLIGHTLY; THEN, THE SLAVER GIVES SOWRSPOT THE CONTROLLER FOR CHAIVA’S POWER RESTRAINT, AND THEY BEGIN WALKING OFF BACK INTO THE CROWD; AT FIRST, THE GIRL IS UNSURE OF IF SHE SHOULD FOLLOW, BUT SHE GETS AN IMMEDIATE SHOCK, SENDING HER RUNNING AFTER THE OLD WOMAN, WHO DOESN’T SO MUCH AS LOOK BACK AT HER TO SEE IF SHE’S FOLLOWING>

<THEY REACH THE END OF THE STREET AND GO DOWN A SHORT ALLEYWAY LEADING INTO A BUILDING; ONCE INSIDE, CHAIVA, ADJUSTING HER EYES TO THE ARTIFICIAL BRIGHTNESS, STOPS; THERE IS NO ONE ELSE INSIDE EXCEPT FOR AN ARENA BOT ATTENDING TO A MONITOR IN THE FAR CORNER; SOWRSPOT CONTINUES INSIDE, BUT WHEN CHAIVA DOESN’T FOLLOW HER, SHE ZAPS THE GIRL>

Chaiva: <GRITTING HER TEETH> N-no… stop!

<SIGHING, THE OLD WOMAN CLICKS IT AGAIN, GIVING CHAIVA A MORE FORCEFUL SHOCK THIS TIME; THE GIRL FALLS TO HER KNEES, BUT REFUSES TO MOVE, FORCING SOWRSPOT TO RETURN BACK TO HER; UPON REACHING CHAIVA, SHE FINALLY RELEASES THE BUTTON; THE GIRL IS SHAKING ON THE FLOOR, BREATHING HARD, UNABLE TO LOOK UP>

Sowrspot: <IN A WHISPER IN A SWEET VOICE> Now, now, my dear monkey, you can’t do that.

Chaiva: I’m not… going with you…!

Sowrspot: Oh, you are. I could have someone carry you, or you could come yourself. It’s happening either way. The more defiant you are, the more pain there will be. There doesn’t have to be any pain. <SHE REACHES DOWN, STROKING CHAIVA’S HAIR SOFTLY> It’s time to get up. We cannot be late.

Chaiva: <BARELY HAS THE ENERGY TO LOOK UP; HER EYES FIRST DART TO THE CLICKER IN SOWRSPOT’S HAND, THEN TO THE WOMAN’S FACE; HER JAWS ARE CLENCHED, BUT HER LIPS ARE PULLED BACK; FINALLY, SHE EXHALES FORCEFULLY, AND HER BREATHING SLOWLY DIMS; THE WOMAN RUBS HER SHOULDER, CAUSING THE GIRL TO FLINCH BACK, BUT THEN RELAX; HER FROWN SOFTENS> Where… where are you taking me?

Sowrspot: Why, to the other side of the planet. This teleporter will get us there in a flash. <SHE GESTURES TO THE DEVICE STANDING NEXT TO THE COMPUTER MONITORS THAT THE ARENA BOT IS WORKING AT> Come now, my sweet little monkey. We must be going.

Chaiva: <STRUGGLING TO STAND; THE OLD WOMAN DOES NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO HELP HER UP> But… what’s on the other side of the planet…?

Sowrspot: There are the training grounds… and many of the arenas. <SHE SMILES, STEPPING ONTO THE TELEPORTER PAD, WAVING THE GIRL TO JOIN HER> But one thing at a time.

<CHAIVA STEPS ONTO THE OTHER PAD, AND BOT BEGINS PRESSING MANY OF THE IMPORTANT SCREEN BUTTONS; RUNNING HER HAND THROUGH CHAIVA’S HAIR AGAIN, SOWRSPOT LOOKS DOWN ON CHAIVA, A THOUGHTFUL LOOK IN HER EYE; SOON GOLD LIGHT BEGINS TO ENWRAP THEM AS THE TELEPORTER HUMS TO LIFE>

Sowrspot: Don’t disappoint me out there. If you want to survive for a long time and make me lots of money, you have to be a Saiyan - you have show us all what your species is really capable of. Or else, you’ll die, and that would be quite a shame.

<THEY DISAPPEAR IN A GLOW OF LIGHT, LEAVING THE TELEPORTER AND BOT BEHIND>

Chapter 2: Gladiator

<CUTS TO SOWRSPOT’S TRAINING GROUNDS>

<THE TRAINING GROUNDS ARE STAGED LIKE A SMALLER FIGHTING ARENA IN AN OVAL SHAPE, ALTHOUGH ONLY ONE SIDE, THE ONE OVERLOOKING THE CENTER OF THE STAGE, HAS SEATING; HERE, THE FAERIN SOWRSPOT AND SEVERAL OF HER ATTENDANTS, FRIENDS, AND GUARDS (ALL OF WHOM ARE EITHER FAERETH OR JOLEANS THEMSELVES) WATCH HER GLADIATORS PRACTICING>

<CHAIVA IS STANDING NEXT TO HIKAIN, A GEOMOGEO WHO HAS REDDISH BROWN SKIN, AMBER EYES, AND DARK BROWN HAIR THAT COVERS HIS CHEST, BACK, ARMS, AND LEGS; WHILE HE IS SQUAT AND SHORT, HE LOOKS HUMAN-LIKE, EXCEPT FOR HIS DECIDEDLY APEISH FACIAL FEATURES; HIKAIN WHISTLES TO THE REST OF THE GLADIATORS TO GATHER AROUND; ALL OF THEM SURROUND CHAIVA, LOOKING HER OVER, MUTTERING TO EACH OTHER; THERE ARE SEVERAL GEOMOGEOS AMONGST THE GROUP, BUT EVERYONE ELSE IS OF A DISTINCT SPECIES, MANY OF WHICH CHAIVA DOES NOT RECOGNIZE>

Hikain: This is Chaiva. She’s #17 now. Hasn’t fought yet.

Jelsun: <HISSING; HE IS AN ORANGE-SKINNED SIMIAN ALIEN WITH WHITE FUR> And what is she? Just a girl! Won’t last long in League Two, I’d wager!

Hikain: We’ll see. <USING AN EXAGGERATED TONE> Tarofky, step up! It’s time for the placement trials!

<THE GROUP HOOTS AND HOLLERS; FROM HER BOOTH, SOWRSPOT APPLAUDS POLITELY; HER LADIES ONLY START DOING THIS AFTER THEY REALIZE SHE HAS, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A SECOND OR TWO PAUSE WHERE ONLY SOWRSPOT CLAPS; SOWRSPOT TRIES TO WHISTLE, BUT HER LIPS ARE TOO DRY, SO SHE CAN’T; THE CAMERA CUTS BACK TO THE ARENA, WHERE FIFTEEN GLADIATORS HAVE SURROUNDED TWO OTHERS; CHAIVA TAKES A WARY, DEFENSIVE POSTURE, GLANCING ONCE UP AT THE ONLOOKERS BEFORE EXHALING AND FOCUSING ON THE TASK AT HAND; TAROFKY, A SCRAWNY, BRUISED, RED-SKINNED ALIEN WITH LONG BLACK HAIR AND A SINGLE CURVED HORN PROTRUDING OUT OF HIS FOREHEAD AS WELL AS A FLESHY TAIL, STANDS OPPOSITE OF CHAIVA, RAISING HIS FISTS ALMOST EQUALLY AS UNWILLINGLY>

<THE GROUP BEGINS CHANTING FOR THEM TO BEGIN, THEIR SHOUTS GETTING LOUDER AND FASTER TO THE POINT WHERE TAROFKY EVENTUALLY BREAKS; SHOUTING WILDLY, HIS VOICE BREAKING, THE LITTLE GLADIATOR RUNS AT HIS OPPONENT WITH HIS HEAD DOWN, FISTS SWINGING; CHAIVA SIDESTEPS AND SIDEKICKS HIM WITH BRUTAL EFFICIENCY; THE OTHER GLADIATORS ROAR IN APPROVAL AS TAROFKY FALLS OVER ON HIS SIDE, UNCONSCIOUS>

Hikain: <RAISING CHAIVA’S RIGHT ARM INTO THE AIR> Winner! <LOOKING DOWN AT HER> Now you are #16. You’ll be able to use your full power now.

Chaiva: My full power?

Hikain: Your power regulator has been turned off. But so are ours. Behave yourself. <LOOKING UP, HE WHISTLES AGAIN> #15, step up! The placement trials will continue until one of you defeats this monkey!

<A FEMALE INOVIAN NAMED OZELI STEPS FORWARD; SHE IS A REPTILE BIPED WITH GREEN AND BLACK SCALES; AS BEFORE, THE REST OF THE GLADIATORS SURROUND HER AND CHAIVA (SANS TAROFKY, WHO HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE REJUVENATION TANKS) AND START CHEERING THEM ON>

Jelsun: Monkey? <SCOFFS> What… is she a Saiyan?

Gladiator 2: Impossible, the Saiyans are all dead!

Hikain: You’ll be fighting her soon enough, if the slavers are to be believed.

Gladiator 3: How strong is she?!

Gladiator 4: Can’t be too much. She’s just a kid.

Hikain: We’ll find that out for ourselves soon enough.

<OZELI IS MORE DEFENSIVE THAN HER FELLOW GLADIATOR, AND THIS TIME, SHE LETS CHAIVA ATTACK FIRST WHILE BOUNCING ON HER HEELS AND PLAYING COY; FINALLY, CHAIVA ATTACKS, SMASHING HER IN THE MOUTH WITH A LUNGING RIGHT HOOK; THE INOVIAN FALLS ONTO HER BACK; THOUGH SHE IS NOT DEFEATED, SHE TAKES A MOMENT TO GET UP, AND THIS IS ENOUGH TIME FOR CHAIVA TO COME DOWN ON HER CHEST WITH A FLYING KICK, KNOCKING OUT OZELI>

<THE CAMERA CUTS TO SOWRSPOT, WHO IS WATCHING THIS WITH GLEE WHILE SUCKING ON A NIL STICK; CUTS BACK TO CHAIVA, WHO IS NOW FACING OFF AGAINST A SPACE-BADGER; SHE EASILY DISPATCHES HIM WITH AN ELBOW TO THE GUT FOLLOWED BY A BACKHAND FIST TO THE SNOUT; CUTS TO CHAIVA BREAKING OUT OF A GRAB THAT A YELLOW-SKINNED ALIEN OF APPULE’S SPECIES HAD HER IN; SHE KICKS HIM IN THE LEG WITH THE BACK OF HER HEEL, SPINS AROUND AND STRIKES HIM THREE TIMES IN THE CHEST, CATCHES A DESPERATELY-THROWN PUNCH, AND THEN CRASHES IN ON HIS NOSE WITH HER ELBOW>

<CUTS TO CHAVIA DODGING AN ONSLAUGHT OF PUNCHES AND KICKS FROM ANOTHER GEOMOGEO (WHO HAS BLACK HAIR) BEFORE FRONT-FLIPPING OVER HIM, SHOOTING HIM IN THE BACK WITH A SLEW OF YELLOW KI BALLS BEFORE LANDING; RIGHT WHEN SHE DOES, HE COLLAPSES>

<CUTS TO A FIGHT BETWEEN CHAIVA AND SOME GREEN DUDE WITHOUT A CHIN; SHE BLOCKS SEVERAL PUNCHES, THEN KNEES HIM AWAY; HE BLASTS HER IN THE FACE WITH A BLUE ENERGY WAVE; PAUSING, THE SAIYAN GRIMACES IN PAIN BEFORE SHOOTING A YELLOW FINGER BEAM RIGHT THROUGH THE ALIEN’S CHEST; CUTS TO CHAIVA USING AN EXPLOSIVE WAVE TO KNOCK OVER A LEQII DRONE, WHO IS COVERED IN A PROTECTIVE RED AND YELLOW ARMORED SHELL AND HAS FOUR YELLOW BUG WINGS, PUMMELING HIM MERCILESSLY>

<CUTS TO CHAIVA ROLLING OUT OF THE WAY OF AN INCOMING HOOK KICK; SHE BLASTS AT HER FOE WITH A TORRENT OF KI, ENGULFING THE SURROUNDINGS IN SMOKE; THE RING OF GLADIATORS SURROUNDING THEM IS MUCH SMALLER THAN IT WAS AT THE START OF THIS AFFAIR; UP IN THE OWNER’S BOX, SOWRSPOT AND HER GALS ARE SMOKING AWAY AND GETTING DRUNK OFF LEIMA BIVO, AN ALCOHOLIC DRINK PRODUCED ON FAERI THAT MAKES THE DRINKER’S TEETH TURN PURPLE; THE SMOKE DISSIPATES AND A MUSCLED, HUMANOID HAND SHOOTS OUT TO GRAB HER; CHAIVA TRIES TO JUMP BACK, BUT THE GEOMOGEO CATCHES HER BY THE ANKLE AND PULLS HER BACK; HE GETS TWO OR THREE GOOD PUNCHES IN BEFORE CHAIVA IS ABLE TO SPRING TOWARDS HIM WITH HER UPPER BODY, PALM OUT, PLASMA ARCS FORMING AROUND HER HAND; A SECOND LATER, THE GEOMOGEO, FIST RAISED TO STRIKE HER IN THE MOUTH, SQUEALS IN PAIN AND FALLS OVER, WRIGGLING AND CLUTCHING AT WHAT REMAINS OF HIS REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS>

<CUTS TO CHAIVA NOW FIGHTING THE WHITE-FURRED ALIEN KNOWN AS JELSUN; SHE KNOCKS HIM AWAY WITH A SAIYAN BOLIDE; THE ALIEN RETALIATES BY SHOOTING TWO ENERGY BEAMS AT THE GIRL, AND WHEN SHE GOES TO BLOCK THEM, HE RUSHES HER, FEINTING WITH A LUNGE TO THE RIGHT BEFORE DROPPING TO THE GROUND AND KICKING HER LEGS OUT FROM UNDER HER; BEFORE HE CAN POUNCE ON HER, SHE JUMPS UP IN A BACK-FLIP, KICKING HIM HARD ACROSS THE FACE; AS THE MUNOPHIN STAGGERS BACK, CHAIVA IMMEDIATELY POUNCES ON HIM HERSELF, GRABBING HIS FACE WITH HER HANDS; AT ONCE, BLUE-WHITE KI EXPLODES OUTWARDS, UNLEASHING ITS POTENT FORCE UPON JELSUN IN A MASSIVE EXPLOSION OF HEAT AND ENERGY>

<BEFORE THE SMOKE CAN EVEN CLEAR, HOWEVER, A WHITE-FUR ARM GRABS CHAIVA AROUND THE NECK AND THROWS HER TO THE GROUND; HOWEVER, JELSUN DOES NOT LET GO, PROCEEDING TO SLAM HER AGAINST THE STAGE FLOOR FOUR MORE TIMES BEFORE FINALLY DROPPING HER; THEN, HE POINTS TWO FINGERS AT THE GIRL, A SPARKLE OF GREEN LIGHT FORMING ON HIS FINGERTIPS>

Chaiva: <CLEARLY EXHAUSTED, COVERED IN BRUISES AND BLEEDING WOUNDS> Alright… fine, I give u-

Jelsun: <LAUGHING AT HER NAIVE NATURE> That’s not how this works, kid.

<HE SHOOTS HER WITH THE TWIN ENERGY BEAMS AT POINT-BLANK RANGE, FLINGING HER TO THE FAR SIDE OF THE STAGE, WHERE SHE LANDS IN A CRUMPLED HEAP AND DOES NOT MOVE>

Hikain: <STEPPING FORWARD FROM THE OUTER CIRCLE> Well, #7, you’ve proved to be a killjoy.

Jelsun: <DRAWING HIMSELF UP PROUDLY> No way that kid’s better than me.

Hikain: She’ll be put in League Two - same place you’re in, isn’t that right? Maybe you two will meet up again…

Jelsun: <SPITTING> Bah, it’s a pity we can’t kill outside of the Premier League. She wouldn’t last one day out there if they could, I tell ya!

<HIKAIN IS ALREADY WALKING OFF, HOWEVER, WAVING BACK AT JELSUN NONCHALANTLY, MAKING A SHOW OF PRETENDING TO ACTUALLY LISTEN>

<CUTS TO THREE DAYS LATER>

<THE CAMERA PANS OVER A MODERATELY-SIZED ARENA WITH SEVERAL THOUSAND ATTENDANTS WATCHING IN DOZENS OF ROWS OF SEATS, AS WELL AS MORE EXPENSIVE (AND COZY) LUXURY BOXES SITUATED OVER THOSE; FLYING ALL AROUND THE ARENA, BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE BUBBLE-LIKE METAL CAGE SEPARATING THE GLADIATORS FROM THE AUDIENCE, ARE CAMERA BOTS WHICH CATALOGUE THE ENTIRE FIGHT FROM EVERY POSSIBLE ANGLE>

<BILLBOARDS AND ADVERTISEMENTS FLOAT AROUND THE ARENA, ABOVE THE FIGHTING STAGE, THE LARGEST OF WHICH BEING THE ARENA SCOREBOARD, INDICATING THE FIGHTERS ON EITHER SIDE - CHAIVA ON THE LEFT, HWANINBUM ON THE RIGHT, WITH PICTURES OF EACH OF THEM BELOW THEIR NAMES, AND BELOW THAT, THEIR RECORD IN ARENA FIGHTS; CHAIVA’S RECORD, OF COURSE IS 0-0, WHILE HWANINBUM’S IS LISTED AS 5-2; THE BOARD ALSO LISTS THIS FIGHT AS A ROUND 1 FIGHT, INDICATING THAT THIS IS THE FIRST FIGHT EITHER ONE OF THEM IS PARTICIPATING IN FOR THE SEASON>

<AN ELECTRICAL CONTAINMENT FIELD ENGAGES AROUND THE ARENA TO PREVENT ANY GLADIATOR FROM ESCAPING; THE SAIYAN AND HER FOE ARE SUDDENLY TELEPORTED IN ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE ARENA (TWO ARENA BOTS FLY OFF WITH THE TELEPORTER PADS AFTERWARDS)>

<HWANINBUM IS A BIPEDAL ALIEN WITH LIGHT BROWN SKIN, RED EYES, AND A CROWN OF THREE HORNS GROWING OUT OF HIS HEAD; AS IS CUSTOMARY IN LEAGUES ONE AND TWO, THE GLADIATORS DO NOT WEAR ARMOR; BOTH HWANINBUM AND CHAIVA ARE WEARING ONLY LIGHT TRAINING CLOTHES; CHAIVA LOOKS AROUND IN BEWILDERMENT AS THE CROWDS CHEER AND BOO FROM THE SAFETY OF THEIR SEATS; HWANINBUM’S DEMEANOR IS MUCH MORE CALM, ALTHOUGH HE IS FOCUSED ON CHAIVA, NEVER TAKING HIS EYES OFF HER>

<THE SCOREBOARD OVERHEAD LIGHTS UP WITH A COUNTDOWN TIMER FROM TEN; THE MOBS OF ALIENS WATCHING ON CHANT THE NUMBERS DOWN ALL THE WAY; AS SOON AS THEY REACH ZERO, THE LIGHTS ON CHAIVA AND HWANINBUM’S COLLARS CHANGE FROM RED TO BLUE, INDICATING THAT THEY CAN NOW USE THEIR FULL POWER>

<CHAIVA’S OPPONENT LUNGES AT HER, HORNS POINTED IN HER DIRECTION; SHE IMMEDIATELY SIDESTEPS, CAUSING HER OPPONENT TO FLY PAST HER; KNOWING THAT HE MISSED, HWANINBUM AIMS HIS HEAD AT THE GROUND, STOPPING HIS MOMENTUM WITH HIS HORNS, AND THEN FLIPS HIMSELF UPRIGHT; THIS TIME, CHAIVA ATTACKS AND FLIES AT THE DEMONIC ALIEN WITH A RIGHT AERIAL SIDE KICK; HWANINBUM SIDESTEPS CHAIVA AND THEN RIGHT-ROUNDHOUSE-KICKS HER IN THE FOREHEAD, SENDING HER SKIDDING ON HER BACK ACROSS THE GROUND; THE PALE-BROWN ALIEN LEAPS OVER CHAIVA AND GRABS HER SHOULDERS, PREVENTING HER FROM CONTINUING FURTHER, AND THEN LEANS DOWN TO BITE THE RIGHT SIDE OF CHAIVA’S NECK; THE SAIYAN YELLS IN PAIN, BUT THEN THROWS MULTIPLE LEFT HOOKS TO HWANINBUM’S RIGHT RIBS; THE FOURTH PUNCH LOOSENS THE GRIP OF CHAIVA’S OPPONENT ENOUGH FOR HER TO PUSH HIM OFF; BOTH ARE ABLE TO STAND, WITH CHAIVA CLUTCHING HER BLEEDING NECK WITH HER RIGHT HAND>

<HWANINBUM CHARGES AT CHAIVA ONCE MORE, THIS TIME WITH A RIGHT SUPERMAN PUNCH; CHAIVA, WITH HER RIGHT ARM, SLAPS HER OPPONENT’S FIST AWAY AND THEN WITH HER LEFT PALM SUPPORTING HER RIGHT FIST, SHE THRUSTS HER RIGHT ELBOW INTO HER OPPONENT’S ABDOMEN; BEFORE HWANINBUM IS SENT FLYING OUT OF CHAIVA’S REACH, SHE GRABS HIM BY THE SHOULDERS BEFORE RIGHT-KNEEING HIS ABDOMEN; CHAIVA THEN HOPS OVER HER OPPONENT FOR A DOWNWARDS RIGHT-ELBOW, SLAMMING HWANINBUM INTO THE GROUND; SHE THEN PROCEEDS TO PUNCH HIM WITH ALTERNATING FISTS, ENLARGING THE NEWLY-FORMED CRATER WITH EVERY STRIKE>

<THE SCOREBOARD LIGHTS UP, AND CHAIVA IS DECLARED THE WINNER; THE CROWD GOES CRAZY; CUTS TO ONE OF THE LUXURY BOXES WHERE SOWRSPOT IS WATCHING CHAIVA’S FIGHT WITH HER RETINUE; SHE LOOKS RATHER PLEASED WITH HERSELF AS SHE SIPS A DRINK>

<CUTS BACK TO CHAIVA, WHO IS STILL PUMMELING HWANINBUM MERCILESSLY, EVEN AFTER HE HAS CLEARLY LOST CONSCIOUSNESS; SUDDENLY, HER COLLAR’S LIGHT TURNS RED AGAIN AND SHE FEELS A SHOCK, BRINGING HER TO HER KNEES AS SEVERAL ARENA BOTS FLY OVER TO ATTEND TO HIM; CHAIVA’S COLLAR CONTINUES TO ZAP HER UNTIL THEY TELEPORT THE ALIEN AWAY; SHE SITS UP, GRABBING HER NECK, BITING BACK THE URGE TO SCREAM AS SHE LOOKS AROUND AT ALL THE PEOPLE CHEERING FOR HER; THE SCOREBOARD, OF COURSE, NOW LISTS CHAIVA’S STATS AT 1-0>

Chapter 3: Rising Star

<CHAIVA IS FACING OFF AGAINST A CRIMSON BLOB-LIKE CREATURE WITH MULTIPLE TENTACLES, A PUBBO; THE CREATURE HAS ITS LIMBS WRAPPED AROUND CHAIVA, WHO IS GRABBING ONTO WHERE THE SHOULDERS WOULD BE WITH HER HANDS; SHE KNEES HER OPPONENT SEVERAL TIMES WITH HER RIGHT LEG UNTIL THE PUBBO LOOSENS HIS GRIP, AND THEN SHE RIGHT-VERTICAL-KICKS IT STRAIGHT UP; THE BLOB-LIKE CREATURE IMPACTS THE ENERGY-BUBBLE CEILING, CAUSING IT TO FLICKER, AND THEN FALLS BACK DOWN, UNCONSCIOUS; THE SCOREBOARD LISTS CHAIVA’S STATS AS 5-1>

<CUTS TO ANOTHER FIGHT WITH CHAIVA DEFEATING AN ORANGE FURRY ALIEN WITH A LONG NOSE, A THEKAR, WITH A RIGHT REVERSE ROUNDHOUSE KICK TO THE ELECTRICAL WALLS, AND THE SCOREBOARD LISTS CHAIVA’S STATS AS 25-6; CUTS TO ANOTHER FIGHT, WITH CHAIVA KNOCKING OUT A YELLOW ALIEN WITH TUSKS, THREE EYES, SIX ARMS, AND DIGITGRADE LEGS, WHO IS ALREADY ON THE GROUND, WITH AN ELBOW DROP JUST BELOW THE STERNUM; THE SCOREBOARD LISTS HER STATS AS 67-7; CUTS TO YET ANOTHER FIGHT, WITH CHAIVA STRIKING A DODORIA-LIKE ALIEN WITH FEATHERS WITH A LEFT JAB FOLLOWED BY A RIGHT KNEE; CHAIVA THEN RAISES BOTH OF HER HANDS, LEFT HAND GRABBING RIGHT FIST, ABOVE HER HEAD IN PREPARATION FOR A DOUBLE AXE HANDLE>

<CUTS TO CHAIVA, NOW AN ADULT AND WEARING GALACTRIX GLADIATOR ARMOR, BRINGING HER DOUBLE AXE HANDLE DOWN ONTO A YELLOW LIZARD-LIKE ALIEN, WHO IS SUBSEQUENTLY SENT FLYING BACK (A MOVE THAT WILL BE CALLED THE MAMBA STRIKE); THE YEAR IS AGE 745; THE SCOREBOARD DISPLAYS THE NAME OF THE ALIEN: PUKCOLÄSIC; CHAIVA THROWS AN AURORA BOMB AT THE FLYING PUKCOLÄSIC, WHO CLAWS HIS RIGHT HAND INTO THE GROUND, STOPPING HIMSELF FROM GOING TOO FAR AND LANDING ON HIS FEET WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY DUCKING UNDER CHAIVA’S ENERGY SPHERE>

<BY THE TIME HE STANDS FULLY UPRIGHT, CHAIVA IS ALREADY UPON HIM WITH A RIGHT OVERHEAD HAMMERFIST; JUST AS SHE HITS PUKCO OVER THE TOP OF THE HEAD, SHE PLACES HER LEFT HAND BELOW HIS FACE AND FIRES OFF A SMALL AURORA BOMB (A MOVE THAT WILL NOW BE CALLED SLIDING AURORA MORTAR); THE RESULTING EXPLOSION VERTICALLY PROPELS CHAIVA’S OPPONENT AND SHE JUMPS UPWARDS AFTER HIM; CHAIVA FLIPS UPSIDE DOWN TO KICK PUKCO WITH BOTH HER LEGS, BUT HE TWISTS OUT OF THE WAY BEFORE FIRING OFF OFF A PAIR OF ORANGE-WHITE ENERGY WAVES, ONE FROM EACH HAND, PROPELLING HIMSELF BACK AND AWAY FROM THE BUBBLE CEILING WHILE ALSO BLASTING CHAIVA AWAY; AS THE LIZARD-LIKE ALIEN DESCENDS, SEVERAL AURORA SPHERES FLY THROUGH THE SMOKE OF HIS PRIOR ATTACK, EACH OF WHICH PUKCO DODGES>

<EVEN AFTER BOTH COMBATANTS HAVE LANDED, CHAIVA CONTINUES HER VOLLEY, LIGHTENING UP THE ENTIRE STADIUM; PUKCO JUMPS BETWEEN THE ENERGY SPHERES TO GET TO CHAIVA, WHO PROMPTLY HALTS HER ENERGY SPHERE VOLLEY AND JUMPS AT THE APPROACHING YELLOW ALIEN WITH A LEFT FLYING SIDE KICK KICK, WHICH CONNECTS; CHAIVA FOLLOWS UP WITH A RIGHT ROUNDHOUSE KICK, ANOTHER LEFT SIDE KICK, AND THEN A RIGHT VERTICAL KICK (A TECHNIQUE NOW KNOWN AS FLUTTERING VORTEX), THE FIRST OF WHICH HITS, BUT THE LATTER TWO OF WHICH PUKCO BACKS AWAY FROM; THE LIZARD-LIKE ALIEN FIRES AN ORANGE-WHITE ENERGY BLAST BEHIND HIM TO PREVENT HIMSELF FROM HITTING THE WALL, AND THEN LANDS BACK ON THE GROUND>

<CHAIVA RUNS AT PUKCO WITH ANOTHER RIGHT OVERHEAD HAMMERFIST, BUT THIS TIME, PUKCO SIDESTEPS; AS CHAIVA TURNS AROUND, THE YELLOW ALIEN TRIPS HER WITH A RIGHT SWEEPING REVERSE ROUNDHOUSE KICK AND IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWS UP WITH A LEFT ROUNDHOUSE KICK; NOW CHAIVA’S TURN BEING SENT TO THE WALL, SHE STOPS HER MOMENTUM BY FIRING OFF A BLUE-WHITE ENERGY BLAST>

<THE MOMENT SHE IS BACK ON HER FEET, CHAIVA SEES PUKCO FLYING AT HER WHILE READYING A RIGHT PALM STRIKE; CHAIVA, HOWEVER, IS READY AND CATCHES HER OPPONENT BY THE WRIST AND THEN POSITIONS HERSELF BEHIND HIM BEFORE PINNING HIM IN A SLEEPER HOLD; CHAIVA THEN SPINS COUNTER-CLOCKWISE 180 DEGREES AS SHE SLAMS PUKCO INTO THE GROUND, SCRAPING HIM ACROSS IT; THE LIZARD-LIKE ALIEN ROLLS HIMSELF BACK ONTO HIS FEET TO SEE CHAIVA JUMPING AT HIM AGAIN; HE HIMSELF JUMPS STRAIGHT UP TO GET AWAY FROM HER, BUT SHE FOLLOWS HIM INTO THE AIR AND STRIKES HIM OVER THE HEAD WITH A RIGHT AXE KICK, SENDING HIM BACK DOWN AND TOWARDS THE WALL BELOW>

<AN INTENSE ELECTRICAL CURRENT COURSES THROUGH PUKCO’S BODY AS CHAIVA LANDS BACK ON THE GROUND, AND THEN THE YELLOW ALIEN FALLS PRONE, UNCONSCIOUS; THE CROWD CHEERS AS THE SCOREBOARD DECLARES CHAIVA THE WINNER, UPDATING HER WIN/LOSS RECORD TO 523-47>

<ON THE GREAT FLOATING SCOREBOARD, CHAIVA’S NAME IS LISTED AS ‘MUKHTARI REGION CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER’; WHILE THE CROWD CHEERS AND BILLBOARD ADVERTISEMENTS FLOAT AROUND DESPERATELY IN FRONT OF THE TENS OF THOUSANDS GATHERED TO WATCH THIS FIGHT, PUKCO IS TELEPORTED OFF THE STAGE; BEFORE CHAIVA CAN SOAK IN THE MULTITUDES OF ALIENS CHEERING FOR HER, SHE TOO IS TELEPORTED AWAY>

<CUTS TO THE HOLDING CELLS; PUKCO’S MASTER IS BERATING HIM IN THE CORNER; HOWEVER, THE YELLOW ALIEN IS TOO TIRED TO LISTEN, AS HE IS SLUMPED OVER AGAINST THE ENERGY BARRIER INSIDE HIS HOLDING CAGE; INSIDE HER OWN CAGE, CHAIVA IS SHOWN LOOKING OUT AT SOWRSPOT, WHO IS FLANKED BY A PAIR OF FAERIN GUARDS>

Sowrspot: You had me worried there - leaving it until the last round. But you’ve finally done it, my Saiyan. Congratulations!

Chaiva: <LOOKING AWAY> Will I fight in the Premier League now?

Sowrspot: Why, of course, my dear. Being the winner of this season’s Mukhtari Championship qualifies you for the Premier League. You know what that means, don’t you? Look at me, girl.

Chaiva: <HASTILY> I might have to fight Hikain in a battle to the death.

Sowrspot: <LOOKING TO ONE OF HER GUARDS, HER FACE SCRUNCHED UP LIKE SHE HAD JUST EATEN EXPIRED SPACE TUNA> N-no… not exactly what I was thinking, girl, but I suppose you are right.

Chaiva: So he will be in next season’s Premier League?

Sowrspot: Naturally. He won this season’s Premier League, so he’ll have to defend his title. That is, unless a buyer steps in first. But don’t look so glum, dear. His - and yours, now - is the fate of all elite gladiators. The Prem is elegant that way: fighters win, or they die. There is no middle ground. 1024 fighters go in, and ten rounds later, only one of them remains. Do try to make me good money, dear. Try to reach the third round for me.

<SOWRSPOT AND HER GUARDS MARCH OFF; CHAIVA SIGHS, CRACKING HER KNUCKLES AND STARING OFF AT PUKCO AND HIS OWNER, WHO ARE STILL GOING AT IT; WHEN SHE LOOKS AWAY, THE CAMERA CUTS AWAY>

<CUTS TO SOWRSPOT’S TRAINING GROUNDS; CHAIVA AND HIKAIN ARE SHOWN TO BE SPARRING WITH EACH OTHER AWAY FROM THE REST OF GLADIATORS; THERE IS NOBODY IN THE AUDIENCE SEATS WATCHING THEM; CHAIVA HITS HIKAIN WITH A SPINNING KICK THAT KNOCKS HIM BACK; HE STOPS HIS MOMENTUM BY PIVOTING OFF THE GROUND WITH HIS LEFT ARM, ALLOWING HIM TO FLY BACK AT THE SAIYAN WITHOUT WARNING; CHAIVA ONLY MANAGES TO RAISE HALF A BLOCK BEFORE BEING BATTERED BACK; SHE TRIES TO KICK OUT HIS LEGS FROM UNDER HIM, BUT THE GEOMOGEO FRONT-FLIPS OVER HER, HEEL KICKS HER AWAY, AND TURNS, AND THROWS UP HIS HAND TO BLOCK CHAIVA’S DOUBLE-FIST LUNGE, AND KNEES HER IN THE GROIN>

<CHAIVA FALLS TO THE GROUND, BITING HER LIP IN PAIN; HIKAIN STEPS BACK, WIPING HIS FACE WITH A TOWEL BEFORE MOTIONING FOR HER TO STAND AGAIN>

Hikain: Not bad, #2, but if you’re going to compete in the Prem, you’re going to have to be faster than that. Let’s go again.

Chaiva: <NARROWING HER EYES AS SHE GETS TO HER FEET> Are you just testing me in case we meet in the next season?

Hikain: Not since we’re owned by the same wrinkly old Faerin. No, we can’t meet until the final.

Chaiva: So we could meet then…

Hikain: You have no chance of getting out of the first round with footwork like that. Now that’s enough stalling. We only have two weeks until the new Prem starts. Let’s go again!

<THE ALIEN LUNGES AT CHAIVA, WHO DODGES TO THE RIGHT; THE CAMERA ZOOMS OUT, SHOWING ALL OF SOWRSPOT’S GLADIATORS SPARRING WITH ONE ANOTHER; HIKAIN AND CHAIVA FIGHT EACH OTHER RELENTLESSLY, NEVER USING ANYONE ELSE AS A SPARRING PARTNER; CUTS TO CHAIVA PUNCHING HIKAIN ACROSS THE JAW; SHE BACKS AWAY, DODGING A FLYING KICK WHILE PEPPERING HIM WITH ENERGY BLASTS; CUTS TO HIKAIN BATTERING CHAIVA WITH SEVERAL RIGHT HOOKS; SHE IS FAR MORE BRUISED AND SCRAPED UP COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS SHOT; CHAIVA BACKS UP, SPITTING BLOOD, STRETCHING OUT HER JAW BEFORE RUNNING AT HIKAIN AGAIN; CUTS TO A SERIES OF RAPID CUTS BETWEEN HIKAIN AND CHAIVA FIGHTING IN THE ARENA, TRADING KICKS AND PUNCHES AND KI BLASTS; IN MOST OF THESE, HIKAIN OVERPOWERS CHAIVA, BUT SHE GETS SEVERAL GOOD HITS IN; REGARDLESS, AT THE END OF EVERY TRAINING SESSION, CHAIVA IS PUT IN A REJUVENATION TANK TO HEAL>

<AT THE END OF ONE SUCH TRAINING SESSION, IN WHICH IT IS NIGHTTIME AND THERE ARE NO OTHER GLADIATORS STILL OUT TRAINING SO LATE, THE CAMERA REMAINS WITH AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE TWO LEAVING THE TRAINING ARENA TO RETURN TO THEIR SLEEPING QUARTERS; AS THEY GET THERE, HIKAIN LOOKS AROUND SUSPICIOUSLY, THEN LEANS IN FOR A KISS, BRUSHING HIS LIPS AGAINST CHAIVA’S LIGHTLY AT FIRST; AS HE GOES TO PULL AWAY AND WALK TO HIS ROOM, CHAIVA PULLS HIM BACK FOR A SLIGHTLY LONGER KISS, BUT INDEED, AS THEY ARE SPOOKED BY THE NOISE OF A SPACE RAT RUMMAGING THROUGH GARBAGE, THE TWO HASTILY SPLIT APART AND BEGIN WALKING OFF TO THEIR OWN ROOMS; HOWEVER, AS HIKAIN REACHES THE DOOR TO HIS ROOM AND UNLOCKS IT, HE FEELS THE WIND STIRRING AND SPINS AROUND IN SURPRISE ONLY TO FIND CHAIVA STANDING THERE BEHIND HIM WITH A WRY SMILE ON HER FACE; AS HE GOES TO SPEAK, SHE COVERS HIS MOUTH WITH HER HAND AND PUSHES HIM INSIDE>

Hikain: <IN A HUSHED TONE, LOCKING THE DOOR BEHIND HIM> Chaiva, what are you doing? They could kill us if they found us in here together.

Chaiva: <SHRUGGING> We’re going to die soon, anyways. Let’s have a little fun before we do, alright?

<SHE APPROACHES HIM; HIKAIN GULPS AS THE CAMERA ZOOMS IN ON HIS FACE; HE IS SWEATING, BUT HE IS NOT NERVOUS>

<CUTS TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE>

<CHAIVA VERTICALLY LAUNCHES A DODORIA-LIKE ALIEN, AN UTTOVELM, WITH A SLIDING AURORA MORTAR; BEFORE THE UTTOVELM HITS THE ENERGY CEILING, CHAIVA THROWS AN AURORA BOMB FROM BELOW, VAPORIZING HER OPPONENT; CUTS TO HIKAIN, WHO SIDESTEPS TO THE LEFT FROM A THEKAR’S RIGHT PUNCH, GRABS HIS OPPONENT’S WRIST WITH HIS RIGHT HAND, AND THEN PULLS THE THEKAR TOWARDS HIM AS HE DESTROYS HIS OPPONENT’S HEAD WITH A LEFT STRAIGHT PUNCH; CUTS TO CHAIVA, WHO SENDS A HUMANOID WITH INSECT-LIKE FEATURES, A LEQIR, AWAY WITH A MAMBA STRIKE; AT THE OPPOSITE END OF THE ARENA IS A HOVERING AURORA BOMB, WHICH CHAIVA’S OPPONENT FLIES INTO, DETONATING BOTH THE ENERGY SPHERE AND THE LEQIR’S BODY; CUTS TO HIKAIN, WHO DECAPITATES A FOUR-ARMED FURRY ALIEN WITH WEBBED FINGERS, A HEOLIK, WITH A RIGHT FLYING FRONT SNAP KICK>

<CUTS TO CHAIVA, WHO IS FACING OFF AGAINST YET ANOTHER UTTOVELM, DROPKICKING HER OPPONENT THREE TIMES IN A ROW, WITH THE THIRD CAUSING THE BULKY ALIEN’S TORSO TO CAVE IN; CUTS TO HIKAIN, WHO SLAPS AWAY THE RIGHT FRONT KICK OF HIS OPPONENT, A TALL HUMANOID ALIEN WITH YELLOW SKIN, TO THE LEFT WITH HIS RIGHT HAND, AND THEN IN ONE SWIFT SUCCESSION WITH THE SAME HAND, HE STRIKES HIS OPPONENT IN THE GROIN WITH A RISING HAMMERFIST, ELBOWS THE OPPONENT’S STERNUM, AND THEN BACKHANDS THE OPPONENT’S ACROSS THE FACE, SNAPPING HIS NECK; CUTS TO CHAIVA, WHO IS FACING OFF AGAINST A CAT-LIKE HUMANOID WITH AQUA FUR AND BLACK STRIPES, A NYARIN, FLYING AT HER; CHAIVA THROWS AN AURORA BOMB AT THE GROUND BELOW THE NYARIN, BLASTING THE CAT-LIKE ALIEN UPWARDS; FROM BELOW, CHAIVA JUMPS UP AT THE NYARIN WITH AN UPWARDS DROPKICK, WHICH BISECTS THE CAT-LIKE ALIEN AT THE WAIST; CUTS TO HIKAIN, WHO IS FACING OFF AGAINST A RAPTOR-LIKE OPPONENT WHO LOOKS LIKE CLEN, A CYREN, WHICH CLAWS AT THE GEOMOGEO WITH HIS RIGHT HAND; HIKAIN STOPS THE CYREN’S CLAW WITH AN OUTWARD BLOCK OF HIS LEFT HAND, AND THEN USES THIS HAND TO PULL THE RAPTOR’S HEAD INTO HIS RIGHT ELBOW, CRUSHING IT IN AN ORANGE-WHITE EXPLOSION (A TECHNIQUE WE WILL NOW CALL THE HEAD MUSHER)>

<CUTS TO HIKAIN AND CHAIVA, BOTH OF WHOM ARE STANDING IN THE SAME ARENA; ABOVE THEM, ON THE FLOATING ARENA SCOREBOARD, IS A NOTICE THAT SAYS: ‘PREMIER LEAGUE FINALS: HIKAIN VS. CHAIVA!’; THE CROWD IS GOING ABSOLUTELY MENTAL; THE TWO WARRIORS ARE STANDING APART FROM ONE ANOTHER, THOUGH NEITHER HAS ASSUMED A FIGHTING STANCE>

Hikain: <CHUCKLING, IN SPITE OF HIMSELF> I guess ironic isn’t exactly the right word for this, is it?

Chaiva: <BITING HER LIP AGAIN, VOICE QUAVERING> Fight with honor, Hikain. Don’t go easy on me.

Hikain: Heh, no problems there. It’s you I gotta worry about! Don’t throw the fight! I’ll know if you do! They’ll kill us both if-

Chaiva: <BLINKING RAPIDLY; APPROACHING HIKAIN> Goodbye.

Chapter 4: Champion of the Arena

<CHAIVA THROWS A QUICK ONE-HANDED AURORA BOMB AT HIKAIN, WHO JUMPS OVER IT AND THROWS A BLUE-WHITE ENERGY BALL OUT OF HIS RIGHT HAND AT CHAIVA LIKE A BASEBALL; CHAIVA BLOCKS THE SPHERE WITH A BLUE ENERGY SHIELD AND THEN LEAPS FORWARD WITH BOTH HANDS EXTENDED IN FRONT OF HER, ALL FINGERS POINTED AT HIKAIN, INTENDING TO DOUBLE-SPEARHAND HIS LEGS; THE GEOMOGEO BACKS AWAY FROM CHAIVA, CAUSING HER HANDS TO EMBED THEMSELVES INTO THE GROUND, BUT SHE IMMEDIATELY GOES INTO A FORWARD ROLL TOWARDS HIKAIN AND PREPARES A RIGHT OVERHEAD HAMMERFIST WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY CHARGING UP A SMALL AURORA BOMB IN HER LEFT HAND; HIKAIN BLOCKS CHAIVA’S FIST WITH HIS RIGHT FOREARM AS SHE THROWS HER ENERGY SPHERE STRAIGHT UP; THE GEOMOGEO IMMEDIATELY RESPONDS WITH A SIMULTANEOUS RIGHT BACKHAND TO HER FACE AND LEFT SNAP KICK TO HER ABDOMEN; AS CHAIVA IS PUSHED BACK, HER AURORA SPHERE COMES DOWN ONTO HIKAIN’S HEAD AND DETONATES IN A COLORFUL EXPLOSION>

<WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS, HIKAIN LETS OUT A QUICK SIGH AS IF ACKNOWLEDGING THAT HE SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE ATTACK COMING; CHAIVA, WHO WAS ALREADY ON HER FEET, THRUSTS HER RIGHT KNEE AT HIKAIN, WHO STOPS IT WITH HIS RIGHT PALM AND THEN PUNCHES CHAIVA RIGHT IN THE MOUTH WITH HIS LEFT FIST; ONLY FLINCHING SLIGHTLY FROM HIKAIN’S PUNCH, CHAIVA THROWS A LEFT JAB AT HIM, BUT HE CATCHES HER WRIST WITH HIS LEFT HAND THAT WAS ALREADY OUTSTRETCHED, PULLS HER TOWARDS HIM, AND THEN THROWS A RIGHT RISING HAMMERFIST INTO HER GROIN; CHAIVA IS PROMPTLY SENT UPWARD AND HIKAIN CHARGES UP AN ENERGY SPHERE IN EACH HAND AND THEN THROWS THEM RIGHT AFTER LEFT AT CHAIVA, WHO TWISTS OUT OF THE WAY OF BOTH BLASTS; BY THE TIME CHAIVA LANDS, HIKAIN GOES IN FOR A RIGHT STRAIGHT PUNCH, BUT CHAIVA CATCHES HIS WRIST, GETS BEHIND HIM, AND HOLDS HIM IN A REAR NAKED CHOKE; SHE SUPLEXES HIM INTO A CRATER AND RELEASES HIM ON IMPACT, ALTHOUGH HE ATTEMPTS TO ROLL AWAY SHORTLY AFTER BEING SLAMMED INTO THE GROUND; CHAIVA REACHES OUT AND CATCHES HIKAIN TO PUT HIM IN A REAR NAKED CHOKE ONCE MORE; THIS TIME, HE TWISTS TO THE RIGHT AND THRUSTS HIS RIGHT ELBOW INTO CHAIVA’S FACE, BREAKING HER GRIP AND FLINGING HER BACK INTO THE AIR>

<AS CHAIVA COMES BACK DOWN, SHE THROWS OUT A FLUTTERING VORTEX, ALL OF WHICH HIKAIN DODGE; CHAIVA THEN JABS AT THE GEOMOGEO WITH HIS LEFT FIST, BUT AS WITH THE CYREN HIKAIN INTERCEPTS CHAIVA’S FIST WITH THE BACK OF HIS LEFT HAND AND TRANSITIONS INTO A HEAD MUSHER; CHAIVA’S HEAD, MUCH MORE DURABLE THAN THE CYREN’S, IS NOT CRUSHED BY THE ATTACK, WHICH HIKAIN EXPECTS, SO HE TRIPS CHAIVA WITH HIS RIGHT LEG IN AN OUTWARD SWEEP AS HE SLAMS HER HEAD INTO THE GROUND; HIKAIN TRIES TO FOLLOW UP WITH A DOWNWARD RIGHT PUNCH, BUT CHAIVA IS ABLE TO ROLL OUT OF THE WAY AND END UP BEHIND HIKAIN; THE SAIYAN PERFORMS A MAMBA STRIKE, KNEEING HIKAIN IN THE BACK AND CLUBBING HIM OVER THE HEAD, SENDING HIM TOWARDS THE WALL; HIKAIN, ONCE RECOVERED FROM THE PAIN, FIRES AN ENERGY WAVE IN THE DIRECTION OF THE WALL TO STOP HIMSELF FROM COLLIDING WITH THE INVISIBLE ELECTRIC FENCE; HOWEVER, CHAIVA IS ALREADY PREPARED FOR WHAT HIKAIN JUST DID AND KICKS HIM IN THE ANKLES WITH A RIGHT SWEEPING ROUNDHOUSE KICK, SENDING HIM INTO WHAT HE HAD JUST TRIED TO AVOID; AS WITH OTHER GLADIATORS WHO HIT THE ENERGY BUBBLE, INCREDIBLY VIOLENT ENERGY COURSES THROUGH HIKAIN’S BODY FOR SEVERAL SECONDS>

<HIKAIN FALLS AWAY FROM THE WALL AND ONTO HIS KNEES, EXHAUSTED; CHAIVA WALKS UP TO HIM AND PLACES HER PALM JUST IN FRONT OF HIS HEAD, WITH HER LEFT ARM GRABBING HER RIGHT BICEP; HIKAIN LOOKS UP AT CHAIVA AND NODS IN ACCEPTANCE OF HIS DEFEAT; CHAIVA UNLEASHES A MASSIVE BLUE-WHITE ENERGY WAVE OUT OF HER PALM, LIGHTING UP THE ENTIRE ARENA, BLINDING THE MAJORITY OF THE SPECTATORS; WHEN THE SAIYAN’S FINISHING ATTACK DISSIPATES, THERE IS NOTHING LEFT OF THE GEOMOGEO>

<CHAIVA LOOKS AROUND AT THE ROARING CROWDS OF SPACE ALIENS; A MINORITY PORTION OF THEM START A RAGGED CHANT OF HER NAME (MISPRONOUNCING IT, OF COURSE), BUT BEFORE SHE CAN SOAK IT ALL IN, SHE IS ONCE AGAIN TELEPORTED BACK TO HER HOLDING CAGE>

<WEARY FROM THE BATTLE, CHAIVA SITS ON THE FLOOR WITH HER KNEES UP, WHICH SHE RESTS HER HEAD UPON; SHE HAS HARDLY THIRTY SECONDS OF PEACE BEFORE THE SOUND OF SEVERAL PAIRS OF BOOTS ENTERING THE ROOM CAUSES HER HEAD TO JERK UP; SHE LOOKS UP ONLY TO SEE HER OWNER APPROACHING, AND INSTANTLY LOWERS HER HEAD AGAIN, NOT NOTICING THE OTHER MEN FOLLOWING HER AND HER GUARDS (THIS TIME SIX OF THEM - ALL FAERETH, NATURALLY) - NITRO, IN HIS GARGOYLE-LIKE THIRD FORM, AND THE SCHOLAR-IMP, KIRKA>

Sowrspot: <WITH A GLOWING SMILE> Oh, marvelous, Chaiva! You’ve done so well for me tonight! I’ve made a fortune, oh it’s, hic, wonderful! I’ll be celebrating all night. <SHE HOLDS UP A BOTTLE OF CHEAP SPACE WINE THAT IS CLEARLY MISSING ITS CAP> And look at this, even more good news! It appears we may have a buyer… a non-Galactrix-affiliated one, at that.

<CHAIVA’S HEAD SHOOTS UP AGAIN AND SHE LOCKS EYES WITH NITRO, WHO IS SMIRKING COOLLY AT HER; THE SAIYAN GIRL’S FACE GOES PALE>

Chaiva: <IN SHOCK> Y-you…! It’s you!

Nitro: <AMUSED, BUT OBLIVIOUS> Ah, it appears you’ve heard of Emperor Nitro after all. See, Kirka, all across the universe they know my name… even in lawless cesspits such as this.

Kirka: <TAPPING AT A WRIST-PAD> Sire, considering this gladiator is a Saiyan who - if her bio is to be believed - grew up in your brother’s region, I think it’s perfectly normal that she might know who you are.

<NITRO GROWLS AT KIRKA, CAUSING THE OTHER TO WHIMPER>

Chaiva: <IN A RAGE> You bastard! You’re the one who ki-

Sowrspot: <VOICE CRACKING, JOWLS SHAKING> That’s quite enough out of you! <TURNING BACK TO NITRO, LOWERING HER VOICE> I do apologize, my good… emperor. Pit fighters should never backtalk their masters! Please forgive me for my beast’s rudeness. She’s only a monkey. They are prone to being feisty.

Nitro: So I’ve heard.

Sowrspot: You can keep her collar if you wish… it may help control her.

Nitro: <STARING AT THE GIRL WRITHING IN PAIN ON THE FLOOR INSIDE HER CELL> I won’t need it. She’ll learn proper manners soon enough.

Sowrspot: You know, I heard the Saiyan homeworld was destroyed not long ago… there aren’t many of these left out there. You walk out now… not sure you’ll ever find a quality Saiyan like her ever again. She could be the last one of them monkeys to ever win a Prem.

Kirka: You want to sell her now because you’ll get maximum profits. If you have to enter her in another season of this league, she could die at any time, and all that valuable potential will be gone in a flash.

Nitro: Shut up, Kirka.

<KIRKA WHIMPERS AND BOWS>

Sowrspot: <SMILING WIDE> Let me tell you what… you look like a handsome Arcosian, has anyone ever told you that? What can I do-

Nitro: You’re pushing your luck, Faerin.

Sowrspot: <GLANCING AT HER GUARDS IN AGITATION> Alright, alright! How’s three million sound?

Nitro: <STIFFENS IN DISGUST> Three million?! Are you out of your mind, you old space bat?

Sowrspot: She’s a Prem League Champion with an impeccable record! And she’s a member of an endangered species! She’s a valuable warrior. I certainly can’t let her go for less than that. <FOLDS HER ARMS, LOOKING AWAY IMPUDENTLY> No, no, no. That won’t do.

Nitro: I could buy a tropical planet paradise for that price. Outrageous. You’re insulting my intelligence.

Kirka: K-king Nitro…

Nitro: Shut up, Kirka! Another word out of you, and I’ll leave you as a burn mark on the floor.

<THE OCARAN GULPS AND COWERS, BOWING AGAIN WITH SOME SHAKING>

Sowrspot: Hmph. <SHE STICKS HER NOSE UP AT HIM> You won’t even dare to counter-offer? What kind of a negotiator are you? You call yourself an emperor?

Nitro: I was going to offer five hundred thousand… but now…

<WITHOUT WARNING, NITRO SHOOTS RED EYE LASERS THAT EXTEND SEVERAL METERS OUTWARDS FROM HIS FACE BUT DO NOT FIRE OFF; BEFORE ANYONE CAN REACT, NITRO LOOKS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, AND IN SO DOING, DECAPITATES SOWRSPOT AND HER GUARDS>

<AT ONCE, THE ROOM’S LIGHTS GO RED, AND AN ALARM STARTS BLARING NOISELY THROUGHOUT THE ROOM; NITRO KICKS THE REMOTE FROM THE LIFELESS HAND OF SOWRSPOT, THEN CRUSHES IT UNDER HIS HEEL; THEN, HE SHOOTS A PURPLE FINGER BEAM AT CHAIVA’S CELL, BLOWING A HOLE IN IT; HE REACHES IN AND VIOLENTLY PULLS HER OUT BY THE HAIR, SETTING HER DOWN IN FRONT OF HIM>

<CHAIVA STARES UP AT NITRO WITH HATRED IN HER EYES>

Nitro: <LOOKING AROUND NONCHALANTLY> It looks like they’ll be coming for us. We better get moving. I am Emperor Nitro, and I am your new master, monkey. You will obey me, or you will end up like them.

<NITRO NODS TO THE CORPSES, WHICH ARE BLEEDING OUT ALL OVER THE PLACE>

Chaiva: <IN HER MIND> He doesn’t recognize me…

Nitro: Swear loyalty to me this instant, or die.

<HE POINTS AT CHAIVA, A TINY PURPLE BALL OF KI JUST BEGINNING TO FORM AT HIS FINGERTIP; AFTER TAKING A DEEP BREATH AND CLOSING HER EYES, CHAIVA OPENS THEM AGAIN AND FALLS TO ONE KNEE>

Chaiva: <SPEAKING AWKWARDLY AND SLOWLY, AS IF SHE DOESN’T KNOW WHAT SHE’S DOING> I, um, swear to serve you, my emperor, without question, um, loyally, for the remainder of my days.

Nitro: <SMIRKING; HE REACHES FORWARD, GRABS HER COLLAR, AND RIPS IT OFF CHAIVA’S NECK, SIMULTANEOUSLY MAKING HER STAND AGAIN IN ONE MOTION> Good. For a monkey, you’re not that stupid. You’ll be of use to me in the wars to come, I suspect.

<IN THE DISTANCE, THE WHIRRING OF SECURITY BOTS CAN BE HEARD; NITRO SHOOTS A FATTER FINGER BEAM INTO THE CEILING, BLOWING A HOLE THROUGH IT, AND THEN FLIES OUT; KIRKA GLANCES AT CHAIVA, GIVING HER A BEADY-EYED LOOK BEFORE FLYING OFF AFTER NITRO; CHAIVA LOOKS DOWN THE HALL, SEEING THE GALACTRIX SECURITY APPROACHING; AFTER A MOMENT’S HESITATION, SHE FOLLOWS KIRKA OUT THE HOLE>

<CUTS TO PLANET NITRO 01>

<THE CAMERA FLIES OVER NITRO’S CAPITAL CITY, SHOWING DOZENS OF BUILDINGS AND SKYSCRAPERS; ZOOMING IN ON ONE SUCH SKYSCRAPER, THE CAMERA CUTS INSIDE THE TOWER, AT THE TOP FLOOR, WHERE NITRO IS PACING BEFORE A WINDOW LOOKING OUT OVER THE REST OF THE CITY>

Nitro: … I need it done soon, before she has a chance to die on me. Tell me, Nroop, is such a thing possible?

<THE CAMERA CUTS TO A DIFFERENT ANGLE FROM BEHIND NITRO’S SHOULDER, REVEALING A GEOMOGEO IN PLANET TRADE ORGANIZATION ARMOR AND A CAPE STANDING BEHIND A DATABASE TERMINAL; THIS ONE IS NOTICEABLY YOUNGER THAN HIKAIN AND POSSESSES AN OCULAR IMPLANT IN PLACE OF HIS LEFT EYE>

Nroop: <CALMLY; LOOKING DOWN AT THE TERMINAL SCREEN AS HE SCROLLS THROUGH IT> It’s never been done before, emperor, as far as I can tell. I can’t guarantee success. <NITRO GIVES HIM A RANCOROUS LOOK> I-I-I will try my best - do whatever I can!

Nitro: You’ll do more than that. Should you fail in your task… <TURNS TO FACE NROOP SUDDENLY, TAIL TWITCHING IMPATIENTLY> well, you’re a genius, I’ve been told. You’re smart enough to know what’ll happen should you fail.

Nroop: <TRYING TO REMAIN CALM, BUT NOT BEING SO SUCCESSFUL AT THAT> As you command, my king. I will complete my task.

Nitro: <SLAPS HIS TAIL ON THE GROUND AS HE WALKS OVER TO THE TABLE TO POUR HIMSELF A GLASS OF THE FINEST ICE WINE> Take the blood samples only after she returns from her combat assignments. I would prefer if she were unconscious when you do it, but that may not be possible.

Nroop: Here’s to hoping she gets beat to a pulp on her next mission!

Nitro: <PLACES HIS EMPTY WINE GLASS ON THE TABLE, GAZES AT NROOP FOR A MOMENT, THEN STOPS, BUT DOES NOT TURN BACK AROUND> You are not to tell anyone. No one can find out about this.

Nroop: They won’t, my king.

Nitro: She is by all accounts the last female Saiyan in existence. Nroop,l make sure she is treated with the best of care. It is ironic, I suppose, that it was my own brother who tried to exterminate them. But they are warriors - known throughout the universe for their strength and stubbornness. They have a certain ferality to them that my own species does not possess. This will be done. Do you understand me?

Nroop: Yes sir, of course sir.

Nitro: She is not to know about any of this - she can never know. I will require her loyalty and strength if I am to succeed in invading the Mrovian Empire. You will not jeopardize that for me, scientist.

<NROOP BOWS, NOT SHAKING TOO BAD; NITRO’S TAIL WIGGLES ABOUT IN WILD IRRITATION AS THE CAMERA PANS BACK AND SLOWLY FADES TO BLACK>

Chapter 5: The Jealous Partner

<THREE SPACE PODS ARE SEEN ENTERING THE ATMOSPHERE OF A DESERT WORLD; CUTS TO THE SURFACE; GENERAL FASSFU, THE RED-SKINNED ARCE-ALBUMIAN WHO IS WEARING PTO ARMOR IN RED COLORING WITH YELLOW LINING AND A BLUE JUMPSUIT, IS HOVERING HIGH IN THE SKY, WATCHING CHAIVA THROUGH HIS RED SCOUTER; HIS ARMS ARE CROSSED>

<THE CAMERA SHOWS THE LIVE FEED OF HIS SCOUTER FOR A MOMENT, SHOWING CHAIVA FLYING BELOW, WITH ANOTHER ARCE-ALBUMIAN, FEMALE AND WITH SHORT BLACK HAIR, WEARING THE PAULDRON VARIANT OF PTO ARMOR COLORED ALMOST ENTIRELY BLACK, FLYING BESIDE HER; THE TWO APPROACH AN ABANDONED PTO OUTPOST, MANY OF THE BUILDINGS RIDDLED BY BURN MARKS, SHATTERED WINDOWS, AND SEVERAL COLLAPSED WALLS; AS THEY APPROACH, HOWEVER, A YELLOW KI BALL GOES FLYING PAST CHAIVA, BARELY MISSING HER HEAD; SHE PAUSES FOR A MOMENT, THEN DIVES TO THE RIGHT, WHILE HER COMPANION FLIES TO THE LEFT>

<A SPACE PIRATE, WEARING NON-IMPERIAL ARMOR, SHOOTS UP FROM A WINDOWLESS BUILDING, APPROACHING KAESH, BUT SHE SIMPLY REMOVES HER SCOUTER AND SHOOTS A BLUE-WHITE EYE BEAM AT THE BUGGER; HE PROMPTLY EXPLODES; THE PIRATES UNLEASH A WAVE OF ENERGY BLASTS FROM MULTIPLE BUILDINGS, FIRING AT BOTH SOLDIERS; CHAIVA AND KAESH WEAVE BETWEEN THE INCOMING BLASTS, DODGING THEM WITH SHOWMANSHIP, WHILE STARING AT EACH OTHER; CHAIVA DOESN’T BETRAY A HINT OF EMOTION; KAESH, WHOSE EYES ARE GLOWING BRIGHT BLUE, IS CLEARLY ANNOYED, AND SPEEDS UP, EFFORTLESSLY REACHING THE OUTPOST BEFORE THE SAIYAN; AS SOON AS SHE COMES TO A STOP, THE ARCE-ALBUMIAN UNLEASHES ANOTHER, BUT MORE POWERFUL BLUE-WHITE EYE BEAM THAT ARCS FROM ONE END OF THE CITY TO THE OTHER, CUTTING THROUGH ALL OF THE BUILDINGS AT NO HIGHER THAN THE THIRD FLOOR>

<A MOMENT LATER, THE BUILDINGS EXPLODE; CHAIVA, NOW HAVING NOTHING TO DODGE, FLIES RIGHT OVER TO KAESH, WHO IS SMIRKING TRIUMPHANTLY AT THE SAIYAN>

Kaesh: Looks like you weren’t needed this time.

Chaiva: <REALIZING WHAT KAESH DID, BRINGING OUT HER ANGER> You should have left some of them for me!

Kaesh: <SHRUGS> There’s always the next outpost. But don’t worry yet, monkey… <LOOKING UP AT THE SKY, WHICH IS CLOUDLESS; A BURNING STAR CAN BE SEEN IN THE SKY> this system’s star is yellow. But I’m not complaining. I take it as a challenge - like wearing weighted clothing. But it’s only fair when I’m paired up with you to give you this sense of hope. Savor it for now, monkey.

<FASSFU APPEARS IN THE AIR OVERHEAD AND WHISTLES, GETTING THEIR ATTENTION INSTANTLY>

Chaiva: <CLICKING HER SCOUTER TO REFOCUS ITS TARGET, THEN KICKING OFF INTO THE AIR> Looks like you left some stragglers! Hah! Don’t worry, I’ll clean up your mess.

<KAESH SWEARS UNDER HER BREATH AND FOLLOWS CHAIVA INTO THE AIR; THEY DASH TOWARDS THE SMOLDERING RUINS OF THE OUTPOST; THE CAMERA PANS BACK, SHOWING SEVERAL SURVIVING SPACE PIRATES FLEEING FROM THE OUTPOST IN ALL DIRECTIONS, MANY OF THEM IN THE AIR; AS THE SCREEN FADES OUT, SEVERAL FLASHES OF LIGHT - BLUE-WHITE AND ORANGE-WHITE - OVERTAKE THE DARK SPECKS OF THE PIRATES, ELIMINATING THEM SWIFTLY>

<CUTS TO PLANET NITRO 01; THE CAMERA CUTS INTO NROOP’S LAB; NROOP, WEARING HIS FINEST ARMOR, IS INSPECTING CHAIVA, WHO IS WEARING NOTHING BUT UNDERWEAR, FOLLOWING THE EVENTS OF HER LAST MISSION; HER BODY IS MOSTLY FINE, ASIDE FROM A FEW CUTS AND BRUISES HERE AND THERE; NEVERTHELESS, THE DOCTOR IS LOOKING HER OVER CAREFULLY, BUT EVERY SO OFTEN, HE SNEAKS A GLANCE AT CHAIVA’S CHEST AND ABDOMEN; CHAIVA OPENS HER MOUTH TO SAY SOMETHING, BUT STOPS HERSELF>

Nroop: <NOTICES CHAIVA WAS ABOUT TO SPEAK AND PAUSES HIS INSPECTION> Were you about to say something?

Chaiva: No, it’s nothing.

Nroop: Did you injure something in the last mission that I wasn’t told about?

Chaiva: It’s nothing. Carry on.

<NROOP CONTINUES HIS INSPECTION AND DOES THE SAME PEEKING AS HE DID BEFORE; HE THEN STICKS CHAIVA IN THE ARM WITH A NEEDLE TO COLLECT A SAMPLE OF HER BLOOD>

Chaiva: What was that for?

Nroop: This is standard procedure for all of King Nitro’s elites… just to make sure you haven’t picked up any alien viruses that could harm you or the others.

Chaiva: Oh, alright.

Nroop: <CONTINUING TO INSPECT HER BODY; HE REACHES HER TAIL; AS HE IS LOOKING IT OVER FOR ANY CUTS, HE BECOMES SURPRISED THAT SHE IS NOT REACTING> Do you feel that?

Chaiva: What? Is something wrong with my tail?

<SHE FLEXES IT, WRAPPING IT AROUND NROOP’S WRIST>

Nroop: <STILL SURPRISED> No, not at all. It’s just curious… I was under the impression that a Saiyan’s tail is extremely sensitive… that it hurts quite a bit to be squeezed.

Chaiva: <NONCHALANTLY> Sensitive spots are weak spots. I toughened up my tail years ago.

Nroop: <SMILING AWKWARDLY> A wise move. <HE STANDS UP, PULLING AWAY, AND SHE UNWRAPS HER HER TAIL FROM HIS ARM TO PREVENT HERSELF FROM BEING DRAGGED OFF THE EXAMINATION TABLE> In any case, you are perfectly healthy. You are free to resume your duties, Chaiva.

Chaiva: <PUTTING ON HER CHEST ARMOR, THEN GOING FOR HER BOOTS> As you command, my lord.

Nroop: I’m not a- <HE PAUSES, SWALLOWING, AND THEN TILTS HIS HEAD, RAISING HIS EYEBROWS> N-nothing. Forget it. You may go.

<CUTS TO A DESERT WORLD; A PIRATE OUTPOST, BUILT IN THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN, BEING SEVERAL THOUSAND METERS (ROUGHLY A THIRD OF THE WAY) UP; THE CAMERA SHOWS A WIDE SHOT OF THE DESERT AT NIGHT; IN THE DISTANCE, A BUS-SIZED FLYING MANTA-RAY-LIKE ALIEN IS GLIDING THROUGH THE MOONLIGHT>

<THE PIRATES ARE ROUGHLY FORTY TO FIFTY STRONG, AND THERE ARE FIRES GOING IN FRONT OF ALMOST EVERY TENT; FROM THIS DISTANCE, THEY ARE BARELY LARGER THAN CANDLES; SUDDENLY, KAESH AND CHAIVA ENTER FROM THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF THE SCREEN, FLYING INTO VIEW AS THEY DESCEND FROM THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE; SOON, THEY BECOME LITTLE MORE THAN DOTS AS THEY APPROACH THEIR PREY>

<THE CAMERA ABRUPTLY CUTS TO A JOLEAN PIRATE WHO IS PISSING OUTSIDE OF HIS TENT, A SAVORY SPACE KEBOB HELD IN ONE HAND AS HE RELIEVES HIMSELF ALL OVER THE CLIFF, THE SPLASH DAMAGE OF HIS PISS FALLING DOWN UPON ANOTHER POOR MARAUDER’S FIRE, QUELLING IT INSTANTLY; IN THE NEXT MOMENT, HE IS TAKEN OUT BY ONE OF CHAIVA’S TELEPORTING INVERTED SPINNING KICKS; ANOTHER PIRATE COMES WALKING ALONG THE CLIFF’S EDGE, HOLDING A CASK OF UU’GOC; CHAIVA IMMEDIATELY FIRES TWO ORANGE-WHITE ENERGY BALLS AT THE JOLEAN; THE FIRST RIPS OPEN HIS CHEEK, CAUSING THE MAN TO SCREAM, CLUTCHING AT HIS WOUND; BEFORE HE CAN DO MUCH ELSE, THE SECOND ENERGY BALL TEARS THROUGH HIS CHEST, DROPPING HIM>

<THE CAMERA TAKES CHAIVA’S POINT-OF-VIEW; SHE IS LOOKING OFF TO THE OTHER FIRES IN THE DISTANCE; WITHOUT WARNING, TWO THIN PARALLEL BLUE-WHITE ENERGY BEAMS CUT THROUGH MANY OF THE TENTS, DESTROYING HALF OF THE MOUNTAIN ENCAMPMENT IN A FLASH; SHE NOTICES A BLUE AURA SURROUNDING A FIGURE HOVERING IN THE AIR, WHICH IS CLEARLY KAESH; SUDDENLY, THREE BEINGS, ENSHROUDED IN GREEN AURAS OF THEIR OWN, AIR DASH OUT OF THE RUBBLE AND DUST OF THE COLLAPSED MOUNTAINSIDE TO ATTACK HER>

<THE CAMERA CUTS TO KAESH, WHO SHOOTS ANOTHER EYE BEAM AT THE FIRST OF THE INCOMING JOLEANS, WHO BLOCKS THE ATTACK, BUT IS NONETHELESS STUNNED BY THE BOLTS; HOWEVER, THE OTHER TWO DASH UP ON EITHER SIDE OF HER, SWINGING DOWN WITH THEIR FISTS; AFTERIMAGING OUT OF THEIR ATTACKS, KAESH STEPS UP AND INSTEAD ATTACKS THE OTHER JOLEAN, WHO IS CLEARLY NOT READY FOR HER, AS HE DOESN’T EVEN HAVE HIS GUARD UP WHEN SHE SMASHES HER FIST INTO HIS CHIN>

<KAESH FOLLOWS UP WITH SEVERAL MORE PUNCHES FROM HER RIGHT FIST TO THE JOLEAN’S FACE, WHILE HER LEFT FIST BATTERS HIM IN THE COLLARBONE; FLYING BACK, THE JOLEAN IS UNABLE TO STOP HIS MOMENTUM, SO KAESH DASHES AROUND BEHIND HIM, PUNCHING HIM HARD IN THE SPINE; ONCE AGAIN, THE JOLEAN SAILS AWAY, BLEEDING AND SCREAMING, AND KAESH AIR DASHES IN FRONT OF HIM AGAIN ONLY TO PUNCH HIM IN THE THROAT; THIS TIME, THE ALIEN IS THROWN BACK, THOUGH HE MAKES NO MORE SOUND AS HE PLUMMETS TO THE BASE OF THE MOUNTAIN, HIS ARMS AND LEGS FLAILING LIFELESSLY AS HE FALLS>

<JUST AS KAESH EXECUTES THE WARRIOR, ANOTHER APPEARS BEHIND HER, GRABBING HER AROUND THE NECK AND CONJURING A SMALL ENERGY DAGGER BETWEEN HIS INDEX AND MIDDLE FINGERS THAT HE HOLDS UP AGAINST HER THROAT; INSTANTLY, HIS COMPANION TELEPORTS IN FRONT OF KAESH, GRINNING>

Jolean Pirate #2: Gotcha.

Kaesh: <STRUGGLING TO NO AVAIL> Get off of me!

<SHE ELBOWS THE PIRATE IN THE RIBS, CAUSING HIM TO WINCE AND SCOWL, PRESSING HIS ENERGY DAGGER AGAINST HER NECK, SEARING HER SKIN; SHE EXHALES IN PAIN, CONTINUING TO STRUGGLE, BUT BEING UNABLE TO BREAK FREE OF THE JOLEAN’S GRIP>

Jolean Pirate #2: Careful now. Another move like that, and maybe I dig this right into your flesh. How’s that sound? <HE PRESSES THE DAGGER DEEPER INTO HER SKIN BEFORE PULLING IT AWAY> Don’t do that again. I’ll kill you. I will. Don’t think I will?

<THE PIRATE, WHOM WE SHALL CALL ORSICON, LAUGHS, BUT KAESH STOPS STRUGGLING REGARDLESS; AS HER POSTURE SLUMPS, HE DRAWS THE BLADE AWAY FROM HER NECK>

Kaesh: Alright… what do you want?

Orsicon: Well… <GIGGLING> Etreggy over there wants you. <ETREGGY WHOOPS AND FIST-PUMPS THE AIR LIKE A REAL MAN> I, personally, would rather have your monkey companion. So bring her over here and no one gets hurt.

Kaesh: <SCOFFS> No one? Do you think I would ever mate with that… pissant of a pirate? <SHE NODS TO ETREGGY, WHO LOOKS RIGHT PROPER FLUSHED IN THE FACE> No chance.

Orsicon: We weren’t asking. It’s either this, or death. And, personally, I’m not much of a necrophiliac. Etreggy, though…

<ETREGGY LOOKS AT KAESH LIKE GENERAL BLUE LOOKED AT OBOTCHAMAN; SUDDENLY, THE WIND PICKS UP, AND CHAIVA’S BLUE-AND-WHITE AURA CAN BE SEEN APPROACHING THE THREE AT GREAT SPEED; SHE REACHES THEM BEFORE THE JOLEANS CAN SAY ANYTHING>

Chaiva: Hey! What are you bastards doing?

Orsicon: What the hell?! Ya spooked me!

Chaiva: Let her go.

Orsicon: <ONCE AGAIN BRINGING THE ENERGY DAGGER UP TO KAESH’S THROAT> Hey, hey, hey, whoa. Easy there. One more move, and I’ll slice your friend’s throat. We don’t want that now, do we? Come over here… surrender, and no one has to die.

Chaiva: No, I think you’re going to die.

<THE SAIYAN RAISES HER PALM, A BLUISH BALL OF ENERGY GLOWING AND GROWING BEFORE HER HAND; SHE AIMS HER BLAST DIRECTLY AT ORSICON>

Orsicon: <WITH A CREEPING GRIN> So, that’s how you want to play? <WHISTLES> Etreggy… get her! Remember, monkey: if you resist, I’ll cut your friend’s throat.

<KAESH LOOKS TO CHAIVA, WHO IS LOCKED IN HER POSE, CHARGING UP HER ENERGY ATTACK AIMED AT ORSICON; FINALLY, ETREGGY ATTACKS HER WITH A HOOK KICK, BUT HIS HEEL GOES RIGHT THROUGH HER BODY, REVEALING THAT IT’S AN AFTERIMAGE>

<BEFORE ORSICON HAS TIME REACT, HE IS KICKED IN THE SIDE OF THE HEAD, A STREAM OF BLOOD ERUPTING OUT OF HIS LEFT EAR; THE JOLEAN’S LIFELESS BODY FALLS TO THE DESERT; ETREGGY SPINS AROUND, NOTICING THE ATTACK; HE YELLS IN HORROR, BUT BEFORE HE CAN SO MUCH AS FINISH HIS SCREAM, CHAIVA HAS CHARGED AT HIM WITH HER RIGHT BOOT EXTENDED, CRASHING INTO THE MAN’S CHEST; HE CATCHES HIMSELF IN THE AIR, EVEN AS HIS ARMOR CRACKS, AND RELEASES A TORRENT OF ENERGY BEAMS AT THE SAIYAN>

<CHAIVA EFFORTLESSLY TELEPORT-DODGES THROUGH THE ENERGY ATTACKS, REACHING ETREGGY IN SECONDS; AS HE GOES TO PUNCH HER, SWEATING HARD, CHAIVA ONCE AGAIN TELEPORTS, THIS TIME BEHIND THE JOLEAN, KICKING HIM IN THE BACK, SENDING HIM FLYING UP HIGHER; SHE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWS THIS UP WITH A PUNCH, SENDING ETREGGY EVEN FURTHER INTO THE SKY; THEN, SHE TELEPORTS INTO HIS PATH, KICKING HIM DOWNWARDS; SHE AIR DASHES UP TO HIM, BACKFLIP-KICKING HIM BACK UP INTO THE SKY; THE JOLEAN IS BARELY CONSCIOUSLY, SPEWING OUT BLOOD, TUMBLING ALMOST LIFELESSLY; THEN, CHAIVA APPEARS IN FRONT OF HIM, CATCHING HIM BY HIS HEAD WITH HER RIGHT HAND; IMMEDIATELY AFTER, A MASSIVE BLUE-WHITE ENERGY WAVE MATERIALIZES ALL OVER THE ALIEN, VAPORIZING HIM INSTANTLY; MUCH OF THE ATTACK REACHES THE GROUND, DECIMATING IT IN AN ECHOING BOOM, WHICH LEAVES A SMOKING CRATER BEHIND AT THE BASE OF THE MOUNTAIN>

<THE CAMERA CUTS TO A WIDE SHOT OF THE DEVASTATION, SHOWING THE SMOKE BEING BLOWN AWAY BY THE WIND BEFORE CUTTING TO A CLOSE-UP OF KAESH LANDING; CHAIVA LANDS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER; THE CAMERA REMAINS BEHIND KAESH AS CHAIVA SPEAKS>

Chaiva: That didn’t take too long.

Kaesh: <RAISING HER VOICE SUDDENLY> Y-you… you bitch! You’re just a show-off. You’re just trying to please General Fassfu, aren’t you? I know you want him! Admit it! Admit it already!

Chaiva: <STARING AT HER WITH A BLANK EXPRESSION> I don’t know what you’re talking about…

<THE CAMERA CUTS TO FASSFU, WHO IS HOVERING HIGH IN THE ATMOSPHERE, OBSERVING THE FIGHT FROM GREAT DISTANCE; HE CAN’T HELP BUT SMILE AS HIS OWN AURA APPEARS AROUND HIM AND HE DASHES DOWN TO THE TWO BICKERING WOMEN; THE CAMERA CUTS BACK TO THEM AGAIN>

Kaesh: You’re just trying to humiliate me in front of him! I won’t stand for that!

<A BLUE ENERGY BALL FORMS IN HER GLOVED HAND; BEFORE SHE CAN POINT IT AT THE CONFUSED SAIYAN WOMAN, HOWEVER, FASSFU LANDS, SENDING A SPIRE OF SAND INTO THE AIR>

Fassfu: <TIDYING HIMSELF UP NICE BEFORE SPEAKING> Excellent work, you two. Those pirates have been wanted dead or alive for nearly half a decade. <HE LOOKS AT CHAIVA, SMILING IN AN UNABASHED LOOKED> You’ve done quite well today.

Kaesh: <GETTING ON ONE KNEE> Thank you, General! I live to serve King Nitro!

<THE MALE ARCE-ALBUMIAN RAISES AN EYEBROW, THEN PERFORMS THE LONG, LABORED TASK OF TURNING AROUND TO FACE HER; CHAIVA, MEANWHILE, STANDS THERE, HER EXPRESSION BEING THAT OF CONFUSION MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE>

Fassfu: <SURPRISED; CURTLY> Oh… yes, yes, well done. Good job. Co-come on, you two. <HE TURNS QUICKLY TO FACE CHAIVA AGAIN> There are other pirates to hunt down. We serve King Nitro, do we not?

Chaiva: Aye, my lord.

Fassfu: Then let’s go; we aren’t paying you by the hour, after all.

<WITH THAT, FASSFU KICKS OFF INTO THE AIR, SHOOTING OFF INTO THE SKY, HIS AURA BEING LOST IN THE SUN ALMOST IMMEDIATELY; CHAIVA FOLLOWS HIM AFTER A SECOND; KAESH, LOOKING UP AT THEM BOTH, GRINDS HER TEETH FOR A MOMENT BEFORE KICKING OFF INTO THE AIR AND DASH OFF AFTER THEM>

Chapter 6: The Doctor's Revelations

<AGE 749>

<THE CAMERA SHOWS A SHOT OF PLANET NITRO 01 FROM SPACE>

<CUTS TO THE THRONE ROOM; THE ROOM IS QUITE LARGE, WITH A CEILING, SUPPORTED BY SPARSELY-ADORNED WHITE STONE PILLARS, THAT IS NO LESS THAN TWENTY METERS HIGH; IT IS EMPTY EXCEPT FOR EMPEROR NITRO, AND HIS SYCOPHANT, KIRKA; NITRO IS STANDING ONE STEP BELOW HIS THRONE, LOOKING DOWN AT KIRKA, WHO IS STANDING FEEBLY TWELVE STEPS BELOW, ALREADY ANIMATED IN SPEECH>

Kirka: … and, dare I say, my king, your own father is not someone you want to slight…

Nitro: I’ll do as he commands, for now. But if he thinks I’ll bow down to Cooler or Frieza, once he’s gone, he’s gotten even drunker than usual. I’ll send them into the afterlife to join him before I-

<A DOOR A LITTLE BEHIND AND TO THE LEFT OF THE THRONE OPENS, REVEALING NROOP; HE HASTILY MAKES HIS WAY TO THE THRONE; NITRO DOESN’T SAY ANOTHER WORD, INSTEAD USING THIS TIME TO STARE DOWN AT KIRKA MENACINGLY AND STRETCH HIS NECK>

Nroop: <BOWING UPON REACHING THE STONE STAIRS LEADING UP TO NITRO’S THRONE> My king!

Nitro: <TAIL FLAPPING IN IRRITATION> What is it, Nroop?

Nroop: Well, I, uh… <HE GIVES A SIDE-GLANCE TO KIRKA>

Nitro: Speak!

Nroop: It’s done, my king.

Nitro: <HIS STATURE BECOMES MORE ERECT> Oh… that project?

Nroop: <EXCITEDLY> Yes, my king.

Nitro: <SMILING WITH GLEE> Take me. Now.

Nroop: At once, my lord. <HE STANDS UP, GESTURING TO THE DOOR HE CAME IN FROM> This way.

Nitro: <EYEING KIRKA ONE LAST TIME> Keep this warm for me, will you? <HIS TAIL SLAPS THE SEAT OF THE THRONE, CAUSING KIRKA TO JUMP IN FRIGHT, BARELY HUSHING A SCREAM OF PANIC>

Kirka: Y-yes, milord…

<THIS TIME IT IS KIRKA WHO EYES NROOP AS THE DOCTOR USHERS THE EMPEROR AWAY; THE CAMERA PULLS BACK, FADING TO BLACK>

<CUTS TO A SPACE SHOT OF AN OVERCAST, SWAMPY WORLD SOMETIME LATER; THE CAMERA CUTS TO A LOW SHOT ON-PLANET, HOVERING JUST OVER A BOG, THE VAGUE OUTLINES OF DAMAGED PLANET TRADE ORGANIZATION BUILDINGS BEING BARELY VISIBLE THROUGH THE FOG; WITHOUT WARNING, A HOST OF ALIENS OF VARIOUS SPECIES COMES FLYING INTO VIEW FROM THE RIGHT SIDE; SOME ARE WEARING PIECES OF PLANET TRADE ORGANIZATION ARMOR, ALTHOUGH ALL ARE ALSO WEARING A MOTLEY ASSORTMENT OF ARMOR, CLEARLY INDICATING THAT THEY ARE PIRATES>

<AS THEY FLEE, A SUDDEN BLUE-WHITE BEAM OF ENERGY SHOOTS THROUGH SEVERAL PIRATES, PUNCTURING THEM FATALLY; THEN, A SLEW OF MEDIUM-SIZED BLUE ENERGY BALLS DESCEND FROM ABOVE DOWN ONTO THE PIRATES, VAPORIZING MANY OF THEM AND SENDING THE REST OF THEIR LIMBS SPLASHING INTO THE SWAMP>

<CUTS TO KAESH AND CHAIVA, WHO ARE HOVERING OVER THE STILL-RIPPLING BOG; KAESH LOOKS UTTERLY DISGUSTED>

Kaesh: Vermin. This is an imperial outpost! They have some nerve.

Chaiva: <YAWNING> They grow bolder by the day.

Kaesh: Don’t mock me, monkey. The growing population of space pirates is a real issue - one the General takes as seriously as I do… <SHE LOOKS TO THE SKY, BUT THERE IS NO SIGN OF FASSFU> It’s not like I’m surprised at your lack of awareness, though.

Chaiva: <NOT AT ALL BOTHERED> What are you trying to say?

Kaesh: Don’t play dumb. You know exactly what I mean. You’re not loyal to Emperor Nitro!

Chaiva: You really think that? How exactly will you prove it to anyone?

Kaesh: <VOICE RISING; POINTING AT CHAIVA AS SHE SPEAKS> Shut up. How dare you question my loyalty? The General knows that I am his servant!

Chaiva: He also knows you’re weaker than me.

Kaesh: <A VEIN NEARLY POPS IN HER FOREHEAD> Arrogant bitch…

<SHE THROWS HERSELF AT CHAIVA, WHO PARRIES HER PUNCHES AWAY WITHOUT MUCH EFFORT; ENRAGED, KAESH SCREAMS OUT, HER AURA COMING UP AROUND HER AS SHE ATTACKS CHAIVA AGAIN, THIS TIME WITH MUCH MORE SPEED AND FORCE; THE SAIYAN IS CAUGHT UNAWARE, HER GUARD BEING BROKEN INSTANTLY, ALLOWING THE ARCE-ALBUMIAN TO GRAB HER BY THE THROAT, PUNCH HER TWICE IN THE NOSE, AND FLING HER AWAY; AS KAESH GOES TO PURSUE, FASSFU APPEARS, THROWING OUT HIS ARMS TO STOP HER>

<CHAIVA CATCHES HERSELF IN MIDAIR, DASHING BACK, WIPING THE BLOOD FROM HER NOSE, BUT FASSFU TURNS TO THROW OUT ONE OF HIS ARMS TO STOP HER AS WELL; JUST LIKE KAESH, SHE OBEDIENTLY HALTS HER ATTACK>

Fassfu: That’s enough out of you two. I will not ha-

Kaesh: <IN A WAILING VOICE> She started it!

Fassfu: <GRABBING KAESH BY THE THROAT, PULLING HER CLOSE> You’re one of the emperor’s elites. You will not shame your rank again. I don’t want to be forced to find her <HE NODS TO CHAIVA, WHO HAS PLUGGED HER NOSE AND IS NOT EVEN LOOKING AT THEM> a new partner.

Kaesh: <HER EYES WELL WITH TEARS, BUT THAT ONLY MAKES HIM THROW HER ASIDE; SHE QUICKLY FLIPS BACK OVER TO STABILIZE HERSELF IN MIDAIR> Please forgive me, Lord Fassfu. I was wrong to bri-

Fassfu: <LOOKING KEENLY AT CHAIVA> That’s enough of your palaver; there are more pirates to kill.

<HE SHOOTS OFF INTO THE CLOUDS ABOVE, CARVING A HOLE THROUGH THEM WITH HIS AURA; THE WOMEN REMAIN FOR A MOMENT, CHAIVA SMIRKING AT KAESH BEFORE FOLLOWING THE GENERAL UP; KAESH GIVES A LOOK OF PURE RANCOR AS THE CAMERA CLOSES IN ON HER FACE; THEN, SHE TAKES A DEEP BREATH, AND THE HATE FADES FROM HER EYES SOMEWHAT, AND SHE KICKS OFF INTO THE AIR AFTER THE OTHER TWO>

<CUTS TO PLANET NITRO 01 SOMETIME LATER>

<CUTS TO NROOP’S LAB; THE GOOD DOCTOR HAD JUST BEGUN HIS INSPECTION, STARTING WITH CHAIVA’S SHOULDERS; HE THEN LOOKS AT CHAIVA’S TORSO AS HE’S DONE IN THE PAST, AND THEN AT HER FACE; THE SAIYAN APPEARS TO BE LOST IN THOUGHT>

Nroop: What’s the matter?

Chaiva: Nothing, it’s just I was thinking about that bitch.

Nroop: <RESUMING INSPECTION> You shouldn’t call her a bitch. She’s your teammate.

Chaiva: Doesn’t make her less of a bitch.

Nroop: They’re all cunts - the general, the emperor, even that worm, Kirka - every one of them, but if you go around saying that…

Chaiva: I know. I shouldn’t be thinking about such things now.

Nroop: You have nothing to worry about. You’re the lucky one, not her.

Chaiva: <IN HER HEAD> This is what you call luck? <OUT LOUD> She’s in love with him. I don’t see why. The General’s not as clever as he thinks. I’ve killed dozens of pit fighters who were more of a threat than him.

Nroop: So then what do you care?

Chaiva: She thinks I do.

Nroop: Then tell her the truth. The whole truth.

Chaiva: I’m stronger than her anyways, but it’d be better for her to feel conflicted. She’s weaker that way.

Nroop: You won’t have to worry about her, nor the general. The ones you should really fear, those are the rest of Nitro’s family - his father, Cold, his brothers, Cooler and Frieza, and even Frieza’s son, Kuriza, not to mention the uncles, Arcterial and Icer. They are the real threats out there. You don’t have anything to fear with your team. They’re just trying to survive under the royal family’s tyranny, just like you, just like me.

<NROOP TAKES HIS HANDS OFF OF CHAIVA>

Nroop: Anyway, I don’t see anything wrong with you as per usual.

Chaiva: No blood tests anymore?

Nroop: Ah, yes, well… recently, um, the systems have been upgraded, you see. A great convenience, in my opinion, that we can get all your readings in the rejuvenation tank now!

Chaiva: Huh… it’s that simple now?

Nroop: As I said, Chaiva, we don’t need to be doing that anymore. Not since the machines were upgraded.

Chaiva: <CHAIVA GETTING OFF THE EXAMINATION TABLE> Well anyway, it must have been difficult to work through my rant. Last I checked, you weren’t also a therapist.

Nroop: It was no bother at all.

Chaiva: I’ve got some time to kill. For listening to my own bitching…

<CHAIVA TAKES OFF HER TOP, AND THEN HER SPORTS THONG; NROOP’S EYES WIDEN IN ASTONISHMENT>

Chaiva: I’ll let you continue to “inspect” my body before I have to go. It’s the least I can do.

Nroop: <SWEATING NERVOUSLY> Wh-what do you mean?

Chaiva: I’ve seen the way you’ve looked at me since day one. I’m not as stupid as the bitch.

<NROOP IS SILENT, UNABLE TO RESPOND>

Chaiva: The longer you stand there and do nothing, the less time you have. I promise not to kill you.

<NERVOUS, NROOP APPROACHES CHAIVA, WHO TOWERS OVER HIM; THE DOCTOR BEGINS BY MASSAGING EACH OF CHAIVA’S BREASTS, ONE IN EACH HAND; HE THEN LIGHTLY PINCHES HER NIPPLES BETWEEN EACH INDEX FINGER AND THUMB AND GENTLY RUBS THEM; A FEW SECONDS LATER, NROOP LEANS IN AND PUTS HIS LIPS OVER CHAIVA’S RIGHT NIPPLE; AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF SUCKLING EITHER TEAT, HE TAKES HIS HANDS AND MOUTH OFF AND LOWERS HIS PANTS>

<CUTS TO TEN MINUTES LATER, JUST OUTSIDE NROOP’S LAB>

<CHAIVA, IN HER FULL ARMOR, WALKS OUT; GOING DOWN THE HALL, SHE RUNS INTO GENERAL FASSFU, WHO COMES AROUND THE CORNER AT GREAT SPEED; AT ONCE, HE PUSHES HER UP AGAINST THE WALL>

Fassfu: Where have you been? I’ve been calling your scouter for fifteen minutes!

Chaiva: <CALMLY, ALTHOUGH HER EYES ARE WIDE OPEN> I was getting treatment from the doctor. I only just got out, sir.

Fassfu: <PRESSING HER; LEANING IN, BREATHING DOWN HER NECK> Is that so, soldier?

Chaiva: You can ask the doctor himself if you wish.

Fassfu: That won’t be necessary. We have an hour until take-off.

Chaiva: Yes, sir.

Fassfu: And so I intend to use that hour as best I can before it disappears. <HE JERKS HER BY THE NECK, THROWING HER ASIDE; THE SAIYAN IS ABLE TO KEEP HER BALANCE, BUT COUGHS NONETHELESS, RUBBING HER NECK> Come with me, and turn your scouter off. I don’t want any distractions.

Chaiva: <MORE DISTANTLY> Yes, sir…

<HE WALKS DOWN THE HALL, MOTIONING FOR HER TO FOLLOW; TAKING A DEEP BREATH CHAIVA GLANCES BACK FROM WHERE SHE CAME FROM AND THEN FOLLOWS THE ARCE-ALBUMIAN TO HIS QUARTERS>

Chapter 7: Biding Time

<IT IS AGE 758; THE CAMERA SHOWS A DESERT WORLD FROM SPACE; CUTS TO THE PLANET’S SURFACE>

<KAESH COMES ONTO SCREEN FROM THE LEFT SIDE, DODGING PUNCHES FROM A PARTICULARLY IRATE SPACE PIRATE; HE IS A WHITE-FURRED SPACE-BADGER; DUCKING UNDER HIS ONSLAUGHT OF ATTACKS, SHE SINGES HIM ACROSS THE ARM WITH AN EYE-BEAM THAT STAGGERS HIM, ALLOWING HER TO PUNCH HIM HARD IN THE CHEEK, SHATTERING HIS BONES; AS HE GOES TO FALL, SHE CATCHES HIM BY THE NECK AND SNAPS IT BETWEEN TWO FINGERS>

<HIGHER ABOVE, CHAIVA CAN BE SEEN BATTLING TWO PIRATES AT ONCE; BOTH ARE JOLEANS; THE FIRST COMES SCREAMING DOWN ON HER FROM ABOVE WITH BOTH HANDS INTERLOCKED; CHAIVA USES AN AFTERIMAGE TO JUMP BACK, ALLOWING THE PIRATE TO SLIDE RIGHT THROUGH HER FORM WITH HIS ATTACK; HOWEVER, AS SOON AS HE DOES, SHE REAPPEARS TO HIS LEFT, HER AURA ORANGE-WHITE, AND FLIES AT THE ALIEN WITH HER LEFT KNEE OUT, BLUE-WHITE PLASMA SPARKS AROUND IT; WHEN SHE MAKES CONTACT WITH THE ALIEN, HE IMMEDIATELY EXPLODES INTO CHUNKS OF FLESH, HIS BLOOD VAPORIZING FROM THE FORCE OF HER HIT; WHAT REMAINS OF HIM FALLS IN CHARRED BITS TO THE DESERT FLOOR>

<THE SECOND JOLEAN, IN THIS TIME, HAD CHARGED UP A GREEN-WHITE ENERGY BLAST, WHICH HE PROMPTLY FIRES AT CHAIVA AS SOON AS SHE KILLS HIS COMRADE; WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO DODGE, CHAIVA BARELY HAS TIME TO SEE THE BLAST COMING AT HER FROM BEHIND BEFORE IT IMPACTS, ENSHROUDING HER IN SMOKE; THE CAMERA QUICKLY PIVOTS TO KAESH, WHO IS ON THE GROUND, RUBBING HER NECK; AS THE CAMERA ZOOMS BACK, IT REVEALS THAT THERE IS ANOTHER SPACE PIRATE, THIS ONE A BALD SOBREN; HE GRINS, CONJURING A PURPLE ENERGY SWORD IN ONE HAND WHILE FIRING A CONTINUOUS ENERGY BARRAGE AT THE ARCE-ALBUMIAN AS HE WALKS TOWARDS HER>

<BACK IN THE SKY, CHAIVA AIR DASHES OUT OF THE CLOUD OF SMOKE, HER AURA DISSIPATING IT; WITH A LOOK OF ANGER, SHE RUSHES AT THE JOLEAN, WHO, IN A PANIC, FIRES OFF A BARRAGE OF HIS OWN; CHAIVA EASILY DODGES THROUGH THE ATTACKS AND PUNCHES THE ALIEN TO THE GROUND; HE LANDS IN A MASSIVE CRATER THAT SENDS A SHOCKWAVE THROUGH THE AIR; CHAIVA LANDS, GLANCING OVER HER SHOULDER AT KAESH’S FIGHT, NOTICING THAT HER COMRADE IS HAVING A HARD TIME DODGING THE SOBREN’S BLADE; SHE SHRUGS AND STEPS UP TO HER PREY>

<BLOODY AND BRUISED, THE PIRATE STANDS, HIS KNEES SHAKING, HIS FOCUS GOING IN AND OUT; ANOTHER BALL OF GREEN ENERGY BEGINS FORMING IN HIS HAND, AND CHAIVA TAKES THAT AS HER CUE TO ATTACK; RUSHING FORWARD WITH BLINDING SPEED, SHE PUNCHES THE ALIEN IN THE CHEST, KNOCKING HIM BACK; HE FIRES THE ENERGY BALL AT HER, BUT SHE BATS IT ASIDE WITH LITTLE EFFORT; THEN, THE SAIYAN LEADS WITH A SPINNING KICK, BREAKING HIS BLOCK AGAIN; AS SHE GOES TO ATTACK HIM, HE RUNS AT HER, SHOUTING HEROICALLY AS HE DODGES ONE BLOW, TAKES ANOTHER IN THE EAR, AND DODGES THE THIRD BEFORE GETTING A CLEAN HIT INTO HER ABDOMEN; THE WOMAN DOESN’T SO MUCH AS FLINCH AS SHE ELBOWS HIM ACROSS THE FACE, SENDING A TRAIL OF BLOOD AND TEETH INTO THE AIR>

<AS THE JOLEAN GOES TO PUNCH HER WILDLY, CHAIVA JUMPS OVER HIS ATTACK, COMING DOWN ON HIM WITH SEVERAL KICKS FROM EACH FOOT, STAGGERING HIM BACK; BUT BEFORE HE CAN EVEN GAIN HIS FOOTING, SHE THROWS AN AURORA BOMB AT HIM, WHICH VAPORIZES HIM IN AN INSTANT>

<KAESH, MEANWHILE, IS DODGING THE AGGRESSIVE SOBREN, BUT SHE SEEMS VERY TIRED IN COMPARISON TO CHAIVA; HER OPPONENT SEEMS TO HAVE THE EDGE, AS SHE IS UNABLE TO GET VERY MANY ATTACKS OF HER OWN OFF BEFORE NEEDING TO DODGE HIS BLADE; FINALLY, HE MANAGES TO CUT HER DOWN THE BACK OF HER HAND; KAESH LEAPS BACK, AUDIBLY SEETHING>

Kaesh: Bastard!

Sobren: What? Afraid of a little blood? Come here, sweetie! I’ll make ya feel all better!

<SNORTING, THE WOMAN FLIES AT HIM AGAIN, THIS TIME DIRECTLY AT HIM; AS HE PULLS BACK HIS HAND TO SLICE HER CLEANLY IN HALF, KAESH SUDDENLY FIRES AN ENERGY BALL INTO THE GROUND IN FRONT OF HIM, SPRAYING SAND EVERYWHERE; AS THE PIRATE JUMPS BACK, SHIELDING HIS EYES, THE ARCE-ALBUMIAN DASHES EVEN FASTER, SPINNING OUT OF THE WAY OF THE SAND; THE PIRATE DOES NOT NOTICE HER FLYING UP ON HIS SIDE; BY THE TIME HE GLANCES TO HIS RIGHT, HIS HAND, FROM THE WRIST UP, IS ALREADY FALLING OFF HIS ARM, THE WOUND CAUTERIZED BY KAESH’S PIERCING EYE-BEAM; HE CRIES OUT, SWINGING WITH HIS LEFT FIST, BUT SHE CATCHES THAT, TWISTING HIS ARM AROUND VIOLENTLY, DISLOCATING IT FROM HIS SHOULDER BLADE; THEN SHE GRABS HIM BY THE COLLAR OF HIS ARMOR, HOLDING HIM AT ARM’S LENGTH>

Sobren: You bitch! You cut off my arm! My bloody arm! My good arm! I use that arm t-

Kaesh: You’re nothing.

<SHE TAPS HIM ONCE ON THE FOREHEAD WITH THE BACK OF HER HAND, AND HALF OF HIS BRAIN MATTER SPEWS OUT OF THE BACK OF HIS HEAD; THE CAMERA SWITCHES TO AN OVERHEAD SHOT, SHOWING CHAIVA APPROACHING KAESH, THE LATTER OF WHOM IS LEANING FORWARD ON HER HANDS AND KNEES, BREATHING HARD>

Chaiva: Looks like you’ve been slacking with your training.

Kaesh: Shut up. Don’t lecture me, monkey.

Chaiva: <WITH A WRY GRIN> I’m sure the General would be very interested to hear about this…

Kaesh: <RAISING HER VOICE; STANDING UP TO FACE CHAIVA> Hey! I’ll have you know that the last system’s star was yellow!

Chaiva: What does that matter?

Kaesh: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’m sure the General already told you, but you forgot. I knew it. Stupid bitch.

Chaiva: <RAISING A FIST AS SHE REACHES KAESH> What did you call me?!

Kaesh: Stupid bitch. That’s all you are. The General’s already explained it… he’s an Arce-Albumian too. Or is that news to you too?

Chaiva: So? What does that have to do with anything?

Kaesh: So… I need a hotter star than that to fully power me up.

Chaiva: That’s a shame. You should have gone and found a hotter one before coming here. That’s not my problem.

Kaesh: <EXASPERATED> The General gave us direct orders to come here immediately!

Chaiva: <SHRUGGING AGAIN> Well, there are more pirates down that way… <SHE CLICKS HER SCOUTER, LOOKING PAST KAESH> Are you coming?

Kaesh: <CONJURING AN ENERGY BALL IN ONE HAND> Let’s just blow the planet away and get this over with.

Chaiva: <DISBELIEVING> This is one of Emperor Nitro’s outposts…

Kaesh: <ROLLING HER EYES> We’ll say one of them did it.

Chaiva: No.

Kaesh: <IGNORING HER; AIMING HER ATTACK DIRECTLY AT THE GROUND> I don’t take orders from you.

Chaiva: Do it, and I’ll leave you here with them.

Kaesh: <LOOKS UP AT CHAIVA; THEY STARE AT EACH OTHER FOR A LONG WHILE> You’re weaker than me.

Chaiva: Want to find out?

Kaesh: <CONTINUING TO STARE AT CHAIVA WITH PURE RANCOR> Hmph… go on, then…

Chaiva: I’m telling General Fassfu about this.

Kaesh: <SPITTING INTO THE SAND> You would, you space rat.

Chaiva: <KICKING OFF INTO THE AIR; LOOKING BACK AT KAESH OVER HER SHOULDER> And to think… he told me he really liked you. I wonder what he’ll think now.

<SMIRKING, CHAIVA TURNS AND DASHES OFF>

<CUTS TO PLANET NITRO 01; OUTSIDE SHOT OF NITRO’S PALACE, SLIGHTLY ZOOMING IN ON ONE OF THE HIGH TOWERS SURROUNDING IT; THE CAMERA CUTS TO INSIDE FASSFU’S OFFICE>

<CHAIVA WALKS IN; FASSFU LOOKS UP>

Fassfu: And?

Chaiva: There are fewer pirates today than yesterday, sir.

Fassfu: Good. And how did the two of you fare without me?

Chaiva: <SMILING SOMEWHAT UNNATURALLY AS SHE APPROACHES THE GENERAL AND SITS ON HIS LAP> We missed you terribly.

Fassfu: <FINDING THAT AMUSING> That’s cruel, Chaiva. If you’re going to lie, you shouldn’t-

<CHAIVA LEANS IN TO KISS HIM; THE CAMERA PANS BACK THEN ABRUPTLY CUTS TO KAESH’S ROOM SEVERAL FLOORS DOWN; SHE IS LOOKING UP, HER SCOUTER ON, ALIEN CHARACTERS FLASHING ACROSS ITS SCREEN AS SHE BITES HER LIP>

<CUTS TO PLANET NITRO 01; IT IS MARCH, AGE 766>

<TWO SPACE PODS APPROACH FROM THE LEFT, ENTERING THE ATMOSPHERE TOGETHER; CUTS TO THE POD LANDING PADS; AS CHAIVA AND KAESH ARE GETTING OUT OF THEIR PODS, FASSFU CAN BE SEEN APPROACHING THEM>

Fassfu: I trust everything went according to plan.

Kaesh: <EAGERLY; SHE KNEELS, WHILE CHAIVA MERELY LOOKS AT HER STRANGELY INSTEAD OF FOLLOWING SUIT> Yes, General! We have rid Planet Nitro 133 of those pirates, like you commanded.

Fassfu: Good. In that case, follow me. I have a rare treat for you both.

Kaesh: <JUMPING UP TO RUN AFTER HIM> Yes sir!

<THE SAIYAN FOLLOWS THEM INSIDE THE NEAREST TOWER, ALTHOUGH SHE DOES NOT RUN TO CATCH UP; INSIDE, AROUND A DOZEN SPACE TRAFFIC CONTROL SOLDIERS ARE HUDDLED BEFORE A MASSIVE SCREEN ON THE WALL; A FEW OF THEM ARE TALKING IN HUSHED WHISPERS TO THEMSELVES; WHEN CHAIVA ENTERS, SHE FIRST NOTICES FASSFU OFF TO THE SIDE WITH KAESH POINTING TO THE SCREEN; THE CAMERA FOCUSES ON CHAIVA’S FACE AS HER EYES MOVE TO THE SCREEN; HER PUPILS DILATE, DESPITE THE BRIGHTNESS, AS SOON AS SHE SEES THE LIVE FEED>

<THE CAMERA SLOWLY PANS AROUND CHAIVA, REVEALING NONE OTHER THAN CUBER STANDING AGAINST NITRO ON SOME FOREIGN WORLD ON THE VIDEO FEED; CUBER HITS NITRO WITH A STUN BOLT AND THEN DRILL KICKS HIM, FOLLOWING UP WITH AN EXPLOSIVE SHINE, SENDING NITRO STRAIGHT UP; CUBER FLIES ABOVE NITRO AND KICKS HIM BACK DOWN, BUT AS THE SAIYAN FOLLOWS NITRO, THE ARCOSIAN THROWS OUT A LEFT BACKHAND CHOP; NITRO’S HAND STRIKES CUBER JUST BELOW THE EAR, SENDING THE SAIYAN OFF TO THE SIDE; MANY OF THE SOLDIERS GASP AND WHOOP, THROWING FISTS INTO THE AIR; CHAIVA LOOKS AWAY>

Chaiva: <IN HER MIND> So you did make it… I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into…

<SHE APPROACHES FASSFU, WHO IS IN RARE FORM, HIS CHEEKS ROSY WITH PASSION>

Fassfu: It’s not every day, is it, that you get to see our emperor showing off his power?! <HE CLAPS CHAIVA ON THE SHOULDER> Take note, Chaiva… this is what a real warrior can do.

Kaesh: <GLEEFULLY> Kill the monkey!

<SEVERAL OTHER SOLDIERS TAKE UP THE CHANT; CHAIVA BARELY SUPPRESSES A LOOK OF DISGUST; CHAIVA GLANCES UP AT THE VIDEO MONITOR AGAIN, WORRY ON HER FACE; NITRO NOW HAS HIS TAIL WRAPPED AROUND CUBER’S NECK; BEFORE THE ARCOSIAN CAN FINISH CUBER OFF, THE SAIYAN DISAPPEARS IN MROVIAN TELEPORTATION; NITRO REMAINS BEHIND, BEWILDERED, LOOKING AROUND FOR HIS FOE>

<SUDDENLY, THE VIDEO FEED SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND TURNS TO STATIC BEFORE COMING BACK ON AGAIN, THIS TIME FROM THE CAMERA OF ONE OF THE PROBES IN SPACE; WITHOUT WARNING, THE SCREEN LIGHTS UP AS MANY WARSHIPS CONVERGE ON THE PLANET, SHOOTING ENERGY BEAMS DOWN AT IT; WITHIN SECONDS, THE PLANET EXPLODES, AND THE FEED GOES OUT WHEN THE SHOCKWAVE OVERTAKES IT, THIS TIME TURNING TO STATIC FOR GOOD>

Chaiva: What was that?

Fassfu: <UNPERTURBED> Damn Mrovians. Blowing up their own planet so we couldn’t get it. They’ll be in for a surprise. That won’t do anything to our emperor.

Kaesh: Sore losers! They’ve only gotten a taste of what’s to come. Soon we’ll overrun Mrov itself.

Chaiva: <TURNING AWAY FROM THEM; IN HER MIND> He’s not strong enough to face Nitro again… and if he’s with these Mrovians, it won’t be long before they find him… I have to put a stop to this myself. <SPEAKING TO FASSFU> When will Emperor Nitro be returning, sir?

Fassfu: He’ll be back in a few days. Sit tight. We’ll be joining him in this campaign soon enough.

<CUTS TO SEVERAL DAYS LATER; FROM THE SURFACE OF PLANET NITRO 01, THE CAMERA PANS UP TO THE SKY, REVEALING NITRO’S ONLY SURVIVING SHIP FROM HIS ATTACK ON KULUDUG; CUTS TO NROOP’S TOWER; CHAIVA IS PEEKING OUT OF THE WINDOW DOWN AT THE SHIP; NROOP CAN BE SEEN ASLEEP IN THE BED BEHIND THEM; SHE SIGHS AND STANDS, REACHING FOR HER BOOT>

<CUTS TO THE PALACE; CHAIVA, IN HER FULL ARMOR, MARCHES THROUGH THE EMPTY THRONE ROOM (SANS THE EIGHT OR SO GUARDS) TO THE DOORS ON THE BACK WALL; GOING THROUGH THOSE, SHE HOOKS A LEFT DOWN ONE HALLWAY, A RIGHT DOWN ANOTHER, AND ANOTHER LEFT; SEVERAL GUARDS AND OFFICERS (MOST OF WHOM ARE NOT WEARING THEIR ARMOR, PROMPTING SUSPICIOUS LOOKS) PASS BY CHAIVA; SHE NOTICES THE DIMINUTIVE KIRKA WALKING DOWN A HALLWAY FROM THE RIGHT, CAUSING HER TO PAUSE>

Chaiva: <IN HER MIND> That’s the little space weasel who’s always tagging along with Nitro… he should know where the bastard is.

<KIRKA, NOT NOTICING HER, CONTINUES DOWN THE HALLWAY INTERSECTING HER OWN; SHE FOLLOWS HIM UNTIL HE GOES INTO A ROOM ON THE RIGHT, CLOSING THE DOOR HASTILY BEHIND HIM; SHE PAUSES BEFORE THE DOOR, SCANNING THE ROOM WITH HER SCOUTER; THERE ARE ONLY TWO READINGS INSIDE, BUT HER SCOUTER STARTS SOUNDING ITS ALARM BELL BEFORE SHE CAN READ THE POWER LEVEL OF THE SECOND PERSON IN THERE>

Chaiva: <IN HER MIND> That must be Nitro…

<SHE GRIPS THE DOOR HANDLE, LEANING IN TO LISTEN; WHILE SHE CAN HEAR VOICES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR, EVEN WITH HER SUPERIOR SAIYAN HEARING, SHE CANNOT MAKE OUT WHAT THEY ARE SAYING>

Chaiva: <IN HER MIND> I’ll only have one chance. I can’t let it go to waste.

<CHAIVA WAITS PATIENTLY UNTIL SHE HEARS FOOTSTEPS RETURNING TO THE DOOR; FEELING KIRKA GRIP THE HANDLE ON THE OTHER SIDE, SHE RELEASES HER GRIP; AS SOON AS HE OPENS IT, THE SAIYAN DISAPPEARS; STANDING IN THE DOORWAY, KIRKA, WHO IS HOLDING A PAPER BAG, SQUINTS, LOOKING AROUND>

Kirka: What’s with the draft? <HE PULLS A BLACK AND GREEN MUSHROOM OUT OF HIS BAG AND NIBBLES ON THE END OF IT> Don’t tell me the AC’s acting wonky again. Damn it all! Oh, Captain Tayon’s going to be hearing from me again!

<HE MARCHES OFF INDIGNANTLY>

<AS THE DOOR SHUTS BEHIND HIM, CHAIVA LANDS ON ONE FOOT RIGHT IN FRONT OF IT, FOLDING HER ARMS; THE CAMERA FACES HER AS SHE LOOKS TO THE OTHER PERSON IN THE ROOM>

Chaiva: You aren’t Nitro.

Unknown Alien: <TAKING A FEW SECONDS TO RESPOND; A LONG, DRAWN-OUT, SARCASTIC VOICE> Oh, so you can tell the difference between Father and I. What gave it away? Was it the hair? <THE CAMERA PANS AROUND SHARPLY, REVEALING A PALE-SKINNED ARCOSIAN WITH LONG BLACK HAIR>

Chaiva: <TAKEN ABACK> Sorry, I thought you were someone else.

Unknown Alien: Wait; stop. Are you telling me you don’t know who I am?

Chaiva: I’ve never met you before, my lady. <SHE BOWS STIFFLY AND HASTILY> You must be the emperor’s daughter.

Unknown Alien: <SCOFFING; SHAKING HER HEAD> My name is Yuki. I’m your daughter.

Chaiva: <CONFUSED; BACKS UP AGAINST THE DOOR> What the hell are you talking about?

Yuki: <APPROACHING CHAIVA> Father made me, yet half of the DNA he used was from a Saiyan. Never told me who, but it’s obvious. There aren’t very many Saiyans left, are there, mother? And Father keeps only one.

Chaiva: I never slept with him!

Yuki: <SHRUGGING> I doubt my father and you could have bred in the normal way. Don’t even make me think about that! Gah! All he would need is some of your DNA, and then Nroop and the others could work out the rest.

Chaiva: I see.

Yuki: So why did you come here, mother?

Chaiva: <STILL SEEMS AFFECTED> Mother…? <BLINKING RAPIDLY TO CLEAR HER HEAD> I was coming down to see the emperor, now that he has returned, I am going with him on his campaign against the Mrovians.

Yuki: <SMILING> Good luck out there. Pity I won’t be able to come along.

Chaiva: You’re a warrior?

Yuki: <PROUDLY> Stronger than you, if Nroop is to be believed. Perhaps when you return, we can spar.

Chaiva: <CAN’T HELP BUT CHUCKLE> You really are a Saiyan, aren’t you?

<YUKI WALKS TO THE DOOR AND OPENS IT FOR HER, POINT DOWN THE HALL TO THE LEFT>

Yuki: Father is down there, third door on the right. He’s having a meeting with some of his officers.

Chaiva: <STILL LOOKING SOMEWHAT EMOTIONAL> Right.

Yuki: Feel free to stop by any time. Just don’t let anyone see you. Father doesn’t want word of me getting around yet.

<CHAIVA NODS>

Yuki: And don’t worry - I won’t let him kill you, mother.

Chaiva: What?!

Yuki: I know he treats you like any other soldier around here, but I’m the princess of his empire. You have nothing to fear.

<A COUPLE OF GUARDS CAN BE HEARD COMING DOWN THE HALLWAY AND THE DOOR SHUTS ABRUPTLY BEHIND YUKI; CHAIVA STANDS THERE FOR SEVERAL MOMENTS, AS THE GUARDS PASS HER WITHOUT A LOOK, CLENCHING HER FISTS, LOOKING DOWN THE HALL TOWARDS WHERE NITRO IS; AFTER BREATHING HARD FOR SOME TIME, SHE PROMPTLY TURNS ON HER HEELS AND WALKS DOWN THE HALLWAY IN THE OTHER DIRECTION>

Chaiva: <IN HER MIND> She couldn’t be my daughter, could she? Nitro doesn’t have hair… Frieza didn’t either. I guess anything is possible. But she would never go against her father, would she? I have to find a way to save Cuber and her both…

<AS CHAIVA WALKS DOWN THE HALLWAY, A SMALL SMILE CREEPS ONTO HER FACE; THE CAMERA PANS BACK BEHIND HER AND FADES TO BLACK>

Trivia

• As the only portion of The Mrovian Series that is mostly written by KidVegeta, this story features no musical cues.