Dragonball Fanon Wiki

RIP Akira Toriyama. The legend of your being will never be forgotten.

READ MORE

Dragonball Fanon Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Kvuni


This article, Dragon Ball: The Mrovian Series: Nitro Saga, is the property of Hyper Zergling.

Gokushenron Article of the Month Award

This page, Dragon Ball: The Mrovian Series: Nitro Saga, was the Article of the Month for August 2019! Congratulations!


The Nitro Saga is the second saga of The Mrovian series. It is preceded by the Genocide Escape Saga and is followed by the Return of the Ancient Enemy special.

Characters[]

Character gallery[]

Spoilers


Theme[]

The theme song for this saga is Leave Out All The Rest by Linkin Park.

 	Leave_Out_All_The_Rest_(Official_Video)_-_Linkin_Park 	 			  










Story[]

Chapter 1: Kailon's True Power[]

<IT IS 7 APRIL 739 AGE, ABOUT FIVE AND A HALF MONTHS AFTER THE DEATHS OF DOGOM AND CHUKBERRY>

<CUBER AND CHAIVA ARE SPARRING OVER AN OPEN PLAIN; CUBER HOLDS HIS FOREARMS IN FRONT OF HIMSELF IN AN X, BLOCKING CHAIVA’S INCOMING RIGHT FLYING SIDE KICK; AFTER THE IMPACT PUSHES HIM BACK, HE PERFORMS A BACK HANDSPRING TO GIVE HIMSELF SOME DISTANCE FROM FROM CHAIVA; THE SAIYAN GIRL RUNS AT CUBER, WHO THEN JETS FORWARD IN A LIGHTSPEED DART, THE SAME FAST SHOULDER-TACKLE DOGOM USED IN HIS FIGHT AGAINST BUTO; CHAIVA IS NOT PREPARED FOR CUBER’S SUDDEN ATTACK AND IS KNOCKED INTO THE AIR>

<ONCE SHE RECOVERS FROM THE HIT, CHAIVA CHARGES A BLUE-WHITE HANDBALL-SIZED ENERGY SPHERE IN EACH HAND AND THEN THROWS THEM AT CUBER, LEFT AFTER RIGHT; CUBER JUMPS OVER BOTH, WHICH VIOLENTLY EXPLODE ON THE THE GROUND BENEATH HIM, AND CHARGES UP A SAIYAN BOLIDE ATTACK; AS CHAIVA LANDS, CUBER FLIES AT HER, BLUE-WHITE ENERGY SURROUNDING HIS ENTIRE BODY; CHAIVA SIDESTEPS OUT OF THE WAY, BUT CUBER IS ABLE TO HALT HIS MOMENTUM AND LAND WITHOUT HURTING HIMSELF>

<WHEN CUBER TURNS AROUND, CHAIVA IS ALREADY FLYING AT HIM WITH HER RIGHT ELBOW EXTENDED IN HIS DIRECTION; CUBER REACTS IN TIME AND DOES A LEFT-HANDED ROUNDOFF, EVADING CHAIVA’S ATTACK AND POSITIONING HIMSELF BEHIND HIS OPPONENT; THE SAIYAN BOY THROWS TWO QUICK PUNCHES INTO CHAIVA’S BACK, LEFT, THEN RIGHT, AND THEN LANDS A FLURRY OF LEFT SIDE KICKS>

<CHAIVA PUTS AN END TO CUBER’S BARRAGE BY TURNING AROUND AND KICKING HIM AWAY WITH A RIGHT ROUNDHOUSE; SHE THEN FLIES PAST CUBER AND VERTICAL-KICKS HIM STRAIGHT UP INTO THE SKY WITH HER RIGHT FOOT; ONCE AGAIN, CHAIVA FLIES PAST CUBER, THIS TIME ABOVE, AND SENDS HIM TOWARDS THE GROUND WITH AN OVERHEAD DOUBLE AXE HANDLE; CHAIVA IMMEDIATELY FLIES IN CUBER’S DIRECTION UNTIL SHE ENDS UP BELOW HIM, AND THEN RAISES HER RIGHT HAND TO CATCH THE BOY ON THEIR WAY DOWN; ONCE ON THE GROUND, CHAIVA PUTS CUBER ON HIS FEET>

Cuber: <STILL IN PAIN BUT STANDING> Come on, I was so close to winning this time.

Chaiva: Well you weren’t close enough.

Cuber: I can’t believe I still haven’t beaten you once. Even when I get stronger, you always end up winning anyway.

Chaiva: You’re not the only one getting stronger, Cuber.

Kailon: <FROM SOME DISTANCE, HAVING SPECTATED THE FIGHT> My turn!

Cuber: Wait until the next planet. We’re tired and we don’t have healing tanks.

Kailon: <A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED> Okay…

<CUTS TO THE SAIYANS AT THEIR PODS; CHAIVA IS SITTING IN HER POD, DOOR OPENED, WHILE CUBER AND KAILON ARE LOOKING AT HER DASHBOARD>

Chaiva: <POINTING TO A PLANET ON THE SCREEN> We’ll go here next. It’s still pretty far away from Frieza’s empire.

Cuber: Got it. <TURNS TO KAILON> You’ll get to fight when we get there.

Kailon: <EXCITEDLY> Yay!

<AFTER CHAIVA CLOSES HER DOOR AND CUBER AND KAILON ENTER DOGOM’S FORMER ATTACK BALL, THE SAIYANS SHIPS LIFT OFF AND SAIL INTO SPACE>

<CUTS TO WHAT APPEARS TO BE A DARK THRONE ROOM OF SORTS; A BEING, RESEMBLING FRIEZA IN HIS THIRD FORM, EXCEPT WITH PRIMARILY PURPLE SKIN, IS SITTING ON A THRONE, WITH A PLANET TRADE ORGANIZATION SOLDIER STANDING ON EACH SIDE OF HIM; TO HIS LEFT IS A TALL ALIEN WHO IS VERY MUCH HUMAN-LIKE, SAVE FOR HAVING RED-COLORED SKIN, AND HAS SHORT, BLACK HAIR AND BLUE EYES; THIS HUMANOID IS WEARING PAULDRON PLANET TRADE ORGANIZATION ARMOR THAT IS RED TRIMMED WITH YELLOW, A FULL BLUE JUMPSUIT, WHITE BOOTS, AND A RED CAPE; TO THE RIGHT IS A MUCH SMALLER, IMP-LIKE CREATURE WITH DARK SKIN AND FOUR YELLOW EYES; THIS ONE WEARS A FULL SET OF PLANET TRADE ORGANIZATION ARMOR THAT IS BLACK AND PURPLE IN COLOR, COMPLETE WITH FULL CROTCH AND LEG GUARDS; YET ANOTHER HUMANOID PLANET TRADE ORGANIZATION SOLDIER, WEARING FULL ARMOR AND A HELMET, WALKS UP TO THE FRIEZA RELATIVE AND KNEELS>

Soldier #1: Lord Nitro…

Nitro: You wished to see me?

Soldier #1: Yes, your highness. A pair of Attack Balls hailing from Frieza’s empire are on approach to Planet Nitro 297.

Nitro: Frieza? We only just claimed that planet weeks ago. What does he want?

Soldier #1: There’s more, milord. We have scanned their interiors and believe the occupants to be Saiyan children – three in total.

Nitro: Is that so? Very well then, you are dismissed.

<THE SOLDIER LEAVES THE THRONE ROOM>

Nitro: <TO THE SMALLER ALIEN> Kirka, I will personally pay these Saiyans a visit, and you are to come with me.

Kirka: As you wish, milord.

Nitro: <TO THE TALLER ALIEN> General Fassfu, I trust that you will keep everything in order while I’m gone?

Fassfu: Of course, your highness.

Nitro: Good. <STANDING UP> I thought my brother exterminated all of the Saiyans. It seems that he was sloppy in his attempt at genocide. <GRINNING> Some day, his hubris will come back to bite him.

<CUTS TO THE SPACE PODS HEADING FOR THE DESTINATION PLANET; THEN CUTS TO THE INTERIOR OF CHAIVA’S POD, WHICH SHAKES AS IT IMPACTS THE GROUND; WHEN HER DOOR OPENS, SHE SEES PLANET TRADE ORGANIZATION SOLDIERS STANDING JUST OUTSIDE, ARM CANNONS AIMED AT THE SAIYANS>

<WITHOUT MISSING A BEAT, CHAIVA AND CUBER UNLEASH ENERGY WAVE VOLLEYS, KILLING ALL OF THE SCOUTS BEFORE THEY CAN TAKE FURTHER ACTION>

Cuber: I thought you said we were still far away from Frieza’s empire!

Chaiva: That’s what the computer said!

Cuber: Are you sure?

Chaiva: Why wouldn’t I be? It doesn’t matter now. Let’s turn our scouters on and see if there are any more of them. We’ll wipe them out before they can start tracking us.

Cuber: Alright. <TO KAILON> Come on, Kailon, let’s go.

Kailon: Bad guys?

Cuber: Yeah. We’re gonna kill all of them so they can’t find us.

<CUTS TO MOMENTS LATER, WITH ALL THREE SAIYANS IN THE SKY LOOKING AT A PLANET TRADE ORGANIZATION OUTPOST FROM ABOVE>

Chaiva: At least they’re all pretty weak. <AS SHE CHARGES UP AN AURORA BOMB; TO CUBER> You’re welcome to join in.

Cuber: Right.

<CUBER’S HANDS GLOW BLUE-WHITE AS HE RAISES HIS ARMS OUTWARDS TO MEET HIS HANDS ABOVE HIS HEAD; ONCE HIS HANDS ARE TOGETHER, HIS INDEX FINGERS, AGAINST EACH OTHER, POINT UP WHILE THE REST OF HIS FINGERS INTERLOCK; CUBER THEN POINTS AT THE OUTPOST WITH HIS INDEX FINGERS AND HANDS STILL TOGETHER, DISCHARGING A MASSIVE BLUE-WHITE BEAM THAT TAKES ON THE APPEARANCE OF AN OVERSIZED SPECIAL BEAM CANNON>

<SIMULTANEOUSLY, CHAIVA THROWS HER AURORA BOMB AND KAILON THROWS A METER-DIAMETER BLUE-WHITE ENERGY SPHERE OUT OF HIS LEFT HAND; ALL THREE ENERGY ATTACKS CREATE A MASSIVE EXPLOSION, BURNING THE ENTIRE BASE AND EVERYTHING AROUND IT TO THE PLANET’S MANTLE>

<SUDDENLY, THE SAIYANS’ SCOUTERS BEEP FURIOUSLY BEFORE EXPLODING; CHAIVA AND CUBER’S EXPRESSIONS CHANGE TO ONES OF FEAR>

Cuber: Di-did you just see what I thought I saw?

Chaiva: We need to get out of here!

<CUBER GRABS KAILON BY THE WRIST AS THE SAIYANS START FLYING TOWARDS THEIR SPACE PODS; THE APPEARANCE OF SIX ENTITIES STOP THE SAIYANS IN THEIR TRACKS; FOUR OF THESE ALIENS ARE OF THE SAME SPECIES AS FASSFU (ARCE-ALBUMIANS), WHILE THE OTHER TWO ARE NONE OTHER THAN NITRO AND KIRKA>

Nitro: Hello, Saiyans. I am Nitro, Emperor of the Southern Empire of the Planet Trade Organization. You are trespassing and have destroyed one of my outposts; such an offense is punishable by death. However, I will let you live if you serve under me.

<CUBER AND CHAIVA REMAIN SILENT, COMPLETELY UNSURE OF WHAT TO DO; CUBER PUTS HIS ARM IN FRONT OF KAILON TO PREVENT HIS BROTHER FROM DOING ANYTHING RASH>

Nitro: I haven’t got all day. If you do not answer me soon, I will assume you’ve chosen death. Or perhaps you need some convincing first. <TURNS TO ONE OF HIS HENCHMEN; THIS ONE HAS NO HAIR AND WEARS PAULDRON BATTLE ARMOR WITH THE SAME COLORATION AS RADITZ’S> Nukket?

<NUKKET NODS AND THEN RUSHES INTO CUBER WITH A LEFT GUT PUNCH; THE SAIYAN BOY COUGHS UP BLOOD AS HE BENDS OVER>

Chaiva: Cuber!

Kailon: Brother!

<BEFORE EITHER OF THE OTHER TWO SAIYANS CAN REACT, NUKKET FLIES BEHIND CUBER AND RIGHT-ELBOWS HIM DOWNWARDS IN THE BACK, SHOOTING HIM STRAIGHT DOWN; ON IMPACT, CUBER’S BODY CREATES A HUGE EXPLOSION; CHAIVA REMAINS FROZEN IN FEAR, UNABLE TO ACT>

<CUE CUT VERSION OF AN INSTRUMENTAL REMIX OF FAINT BY LINKIN PARK>

Kailon: <ANGERED> You...you hurt him…

<FAINT REMIX REACHES 0:13; KAILON’S BRIGHT GREEN AURA FLARES UP AROUND HIM AS HE ASSUMES THE TYPICAL POWERING-UP STANCE; THE SCOUTERS OF NITRO AND HIS HENCHMEN ALL BEEP MULTIPLE TIMES>

Nukket: Heh, what are you going to do with a power level of only 4,000?

Kailon: I’ll kill you!

<FAINT REMIX REACHES 0:30; KAILON’S AURA CHANGES INTO A YELLOWER SHADE AS IT GROWS LARGER; THE FORCE OF THE SUDDEN SURGE PUSHES CHAIVA AND NUKKET AWAY; ALL SCOUTERS BEEP FURIOUSLY AND THEN EXPLODE>

Nukket: What?!

<NITRO AND HIS HENCHMEN CONTINUE TO STARE AT KAILON IN AWE; ALL OF HIS SUBORDINATES EXCEPT KIRKA THEN ASSUME FIGHTING STANCES IN PREPARATION FOR THE INCOMING THREAT>

Nitro: <WITH A SMILE> Now that is power I can use.

<WITH HIS NOW YELLOW-GREEN AURA CONTINUING ITS GROWTH, KAILON’S PUPILS AND IRISES DISAPPEAR, AND HIS HAIR STANDS STRAIGHT UP AS IT CHANGES FROM BLACK TO THE COLOR OF BRASS>

<FAINT REMIX REACHES 0:58; WITH A YELL, KAILON JETS FORWARD AT NUKKET>

<FAINT REMIX REACHES 1:05; WITH A CLOCKWISE SWEEPING MOTION OF BOTH OF HIS OWN LEGS, THE POWERED-UP SAIYAN TODDLER DESTROYS THE ALIEN BELOW THE KNEES; AS NUKKET SCREAMS IN PAIN, THE RESULTING ORANGE-WHITE SHOCKWAVE OF KAILON’S ATTACK BLASTS CHAIVA BACK, ALTHOUGH IT DOES NOT ACTUALLY DAMAGE HER MUCH AT ALL>

<FAINT REMIX REACHES 1:12; KAILON THROWS A RIGHT FLYING SIDE KICK INTO NUKKET’S ABDOMEN, BLOWING AWAY THE ARMOR FROM HIS LOWER TORSO AND CAVING IT IN, CAUSING NUKKET TO IRONICALLY COUGH UP BLOOD>

<FAINT REMIX REACHES 1:18; KAILON READIES HIS LEFT FIST FROM BELOW, AND THEN FLIES STRAIGHT UP WITH AN UPPERCUT IN HIS MOST POWERFUL SHOENKEN YET; THE RESULTING PUNCH VERTICALLY BISECTS NUKKET AND COMPLETELY OBLITERATES HIS HEAD; THE TWO CHARRED HALVES OF THE ALIEN’S REMAINS CONTINUE THEIR WAY UPWARDS INTO SPACE>

<FAINT REMIX ENDS>

<CUTS TO CHAIVA, WHO IS NOW ON THE GROUND, HOVERING TOWARDS A CRATER, THE ONE CREATED WITH CUBER'S BODY>

Chaiva: <TO HERSELF> I knew Kailon was strong, but I've never seen anything like that before. I never believed in the story, but could he be it? Is Kailon a Super Saiyan?

<WHEN CHAIVA REACHES CUBER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CRATER, SHE DISCOVERS THAT HE IS STILL ALIVE>

Chaiva: <WRAPPING CUBER’S LEFT ARM OVER HER SHOULDER> Come on, let’s get you out of here.

Cuber: <AWOKEN, WEAKLY> Where’s...Kailon…?

Chaiva: <WHILE FLYING CUBER TOWARDS THEIR ATTACK BALLS> I...I think he’s the Legendary Super Saiyan. He just killed one of those guys like it was nothing.

Cuber: He...is? Dad would be so proud…

<CUTS TO CHAIVA PLACING CUBER IN DOGOM’S SPACE POD AND ENTERING COORDINATES INTO THE SHIP’S COMPUTER>

Cuber: Wait...what about Kailon…?

Chaiva: Don’t worry; I’ll take him with me when he kills Nitro and his minions.

Cuber: Thanks, Chaiva...I’ll see you later…

Chaiva: Don’t mention it. I’ll catch up with you when this is over.

<CUBER’S DOOR SHUTS BEFORE THE ATTACK BALL TAKES OFF; AS SHE PROMISED, CHAIVA MADE HER WAY BACK TO WHERE KAILON WAS>

<CUTS TO NITRO’S SURVIVING RED-SKINNED SOLDIERS, ALL OF WHOM ARE SHOOTING BLUE-WHITE EYE LASERS AT THE ENRAGED KAILON; THE SAIYAN TODDLER FLIES TOWARDS THE THREE ATTACKERS AS HE SPINS HIS ENTIRE BODY CLOCKWISE WITH BOTH OF HIS ARMS OUTSTRETCHED TO HIS SIDES, FISTS CLENCHED, HITTING AWAY THE ENERGY BEAMS; ONCE KAILON IS CLOSE ENOUGH, HE STOPS SPINNING, CURLS HIS BODY IN FETAL POSITION, AND THEN OPENS UP HIS LIMBS, FISTS STILL CLENCHED; AN ORANGE-WHITE EXPLOSIVE WAVE EMANATES FROM THE SAIYAN’S BODY BLASTING ALL THREE OF HIS ENEMIES AWAY>

<KAILON TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO THE ONE WITH LONG HAIR (WHO WE’LL CALL ZOTA, AND IN ONE SWIFT SEQUENCE, THE TODDLER BACK-FLIP KICKS HIS TARGET AND FOLLOWS UP WITH A RIGHT FOREHAND DIAGONAL KARATE CHOP; KAILON’S RIGHT HAND CUTS INTO ZOTA’S LEFT COLLAR AND PROCEEDS TO CLEAVE THROUGH HIS ENTIRE TORSO, ULTIMATELY SEVERING THE UPPER-RIGHT PART OF HIS BODY FROM ITS LOWER-LEFT>

<WASTING NO TIME, KAILON FLIES UP TO THE LARGEST ALIEN (NAMED BORGUR) AND IMPALES HIM THROUGH THE STERNUM WITH A RIGHT SPEARHAND, BLASTING A SIZABLE HOLE THROUGH BORGUR’S CHEST WITH AN ORANGE-WHITE ENERGY WAVE>

<THE LAST OF THE ARCE-ALBUMIANS (NAMED SRIEF), NOW FEARING FOR HIS LIFE, ATTEMPTS TO FLY AWAY; INEVITABLY TOO SLOW FOR KAILON, THE YOUNG SAIYAN EFFORTLESSLY CHASES HIM DOWN AND TURNS AROUND WHEN HE GETS AHEAD OF THE RED-SKINNED ALIEN; KAILON GRABS SRIEF BY THE COLLAR OF HIS JUMPSUIT AND THEN HEADBUTTS HIS TARGET IN THE FOREHEAD, TEARING THE CLOTH HE HELD ON TO; BEFORE SRIEF CAN LEAVE KAILON'S PROXIMITY BY THE IMPACT OF THE HEADBUTT, THE SAIYAN TODDLER GRABS HIM BY THE ARM WITH BOTH HANDS AND PROCEEDS TO SPIN, SWINGING SRIEF AROUND IN AN ORANGE-WHITE BURNING TORNADO; FINALLY, KAILON RELEASES HIS GRIP AS HE FIRES OFF A MASSIVE ORANGE-WHITE ENERGY WAVE THAT COMPLETELY ENGULFS AND VAPORIZES HIS TARGET>

<CUTS TO CHAIVA, WHO IS ON THE GROUND, WATCHING AT A REASONABLY SAFE DISTANCE FROM BELOW, UNDERNEATH A FOREST OF TREES>

Chaiva: Get ‘em, Kailon.

<CUTS BACK TO KAILON, WHO TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO NITRO; KIRKA SLOWLY BACKS AWAY IN FEAR, AND THEN TAKES OFF>

Chapter 2: The Mrovians[]

Nitro: Bravo. I may have lost some of my strongest warriors, but you’re far stronger than any of them. Join me, and–

<KAILON FLIES AT NITRO WITH A SAIYAN BOLIDE ATTACK; NITRO IS JUST BARELY ABLE TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY>

Nitro: <ANGERED> How dare you?!

<KAILON MAKES A U-TURN TO REPEAT HIS PREVIOUSLY-MISSED ATTACK; NOW ACCEPTING THAT THE SAIYAN HAS TRANSCENDED ANY LEVELS OF REASONING, NITRO FIRES A DEATH BEAM AT THE INCOMING TODDLER WITH HIS RIGHT INDEX FINGER; THE PINK LASER-LIKE BEAM STRIKES KAILON IN THE RIGHT SHOULDER, COMPLETELY HALTING THE YOUNG SAIYAN’S APPROACH; WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS, KAILON’S SHOULDER IS SEVERELY BURNED, MUCH LIKE HOW GOHAN’S IS IN HIS CONFRONTATION WITH SUPER PERFECT CELL; KAILON, HOWEVER, APPEARS TO BE BARELY BOTHERED AND CONTINUES TO POSSESS HIS FULL INTENT TO KILL; KAILON THEN RESUMES GOING AFTER NITRO, WHO FLIES BACKWARDS AND IN CIRCLES, ALLOWING THE SAIYAN TODDLER TO CHASE AFTER HIM>

Nitro: You stubborn monkey! No wonder my brother chose to drive you all to extinction! You’ve costed me valuable warriors and an entire planet!

<NITRO CHANGES HIS TRAJECTORY AND FLIES HIGHER INTO THE SKY AS HE RAISES HIS RIGHT FINGER STRAIGHT UP ABOVE HIM; A PITCH-BLACK SPHERE SURROUNDED BY BRIGHT-VIOLET PLASMA ARCS FORMS ABOVE HIS FINGER>

<CUTS TO CHAIVA BENEATH THE TREES>

Chaiva: Oh, no…

<HOVERING NO MORE THAN TWO METERS ABOVE THE GROUND, CHAIVA FLIES BACK TOWARDS HER SPACE POD>

Chaiva: <TO HERSELF> I’m sorry, Cuber...you won’t be able to see your brother again.

<CUTS BACK TO NITRO, WITH HIS DEATH BALL NOW MORE THAN A METER IN DIAMETER>

Nitro: You might be strong, but… <THROWS THE DEATH BALL DOWNWARDS AT KAILON> you’re still nothing compared to me.

<THE DEATH BALL PUSHES AGAINST KAILON, WHO PUTS UP HIS LEFT HAND TO BLOCK THE ENERGY SPHERE; AS THE DEATH BALL CONTINUES TO PRESS DOWN ON KAILON, THE TODDLER IS FORCED TO USE HIS ENTIRE BODY TO TRY TO PUSH BACK; NITRO’S ATTACK, CLEARLY TOO MUCH FOR THE SAIYAN BOY TO HANDLE, CONTINUES TO GRADUALLY PUSH HIM TOWARDS, AND EVENTUALLY INTO, THE GROUND>

<CUTS TO A VIEW FROM SPACE OF THE ENTIRE PLANET, WHICH EXPLODES, INEVITABLY FROM NITRO’S DEATH BALL>

<CUTS TO NITRO, NOW IN THE VACUUM OF SPACE; A SPACESHIP THAT LOOKS VERY MUCH LIKE FRIEZA’S THEN APPROACHES; UPON SEEING THE SHIP, NITRO ENTERS>

<CUTS TO THE SHIP’S INTERIOR, WITH KIRKA ON THE CONTROLS; THE DOOR TO THE BRIDGE OPENS, REVEALING NITRO>

Kirka: <TURNING AROUND TO FACE NITRO> Milord…

Nitro: Get us out of here.

Kirka: <TURNS BACK AROUND TO THE CONTROLS> Of course, sir.

<CUTS TO NITRO’S SHIP FROM THE OUTSIDE AS IT WARPS AWAY>

<CUE AN INSTRUMENTAL COVER OF IRIDESCENT BY LINKIN PARK>

<CUTS TO CUBER’S ATTACK BALL, WHICH SILENTLY CONTINUES ITS WAY THROUGH EMPTY SPACE>

<IRIDESCENT ENDS>

<IT IS AGE 741, TWO YEARS SINCE THE EVENTS OF THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER>

<CUBER’S ATTACK BALL APPROACHES A BLUE PLANET; WHEN IT REACHES THE THERMOSPHERE, SIX GOLD-COLORED DRONES APPEAR, FOLLOW THE SPACE POD, AND THEN SLOW IT DOWN WITH BLUE TRACTOR BEAMS; THE DRONES CARRY CUBER’S SHIP TO A GOLD-COLORED BUILDING, WHICH OPENS UP TO ACCEPT THE OBJECTS, AND THEN BRING THE VESSEL DOWN AN INTERIOR RUNWAY AND INTO A LARGE ROOM; A DARK, COLORLESS ENERGY BUBBLE SURROUNDS CUBER’S SPACE POD BEFORE ITS DOOR OPENS>

Cuber: <OPENING HIS EYES; HE IS STILL IMMENSELY WEAKENED> What? Where am I?

<ONE OF THE DRONES FLIES INTO CUBER’S SPACE POD AND HOVERS TO THE LEFT OF HIS HEAD; BEFORE CUBER CAN REACT, THE DRONE SHOOTS A SMALL BLUE-WHITE ENERGY BEAM TO THE BACK OF CUBER’S HEAD FROM THE SIDE, RENDERING HIM UNCONSCIOUS>

<CUTS TO SOME TIME LATER; CUBER WAKES UP, FINDING HIMSELF FULLY HEALED AND IN A BED IN A SMALLER ROOM AS HE SITS UP; HE NO LONGER HAS HIS ARMOR ON AND WEARS ONLY LIGHT GRAY LEGWEAR THAT ALSO COVERS HIS FEET; IMMEDIATELY INTENDING TO ESCAPE, HE OPENS HIS RIGHT PALM TO CHARGE A KI SPHERE IN IT, BUT NOTHING HAPPENS; SUDDENLY, A VERY TALL HUMANOID ALIEN MATERIALIZES OUTSIDE OF THE ROOM CUBER IS IN, BEHIND A WALL MADE OF THE SAME TYPE OF ENERGY THE BUBBLE WAS MADE OUT OF; THE ALIEN IS CLAD ENTIRELY IN WHITE AND GOLD ARMOR, SAVE FOR HIS FACE, WHICH HAS GREEN SKIN, A PAIR OF BLUE EYES, AND NO NOSE OR MOUTH>

Salhior: <TELEPATHICALLY> I see you have awoken.

Cuber: <STARTLED AT THE VOICE IN HIS HEAD> Where am I?! Where’s Chaiva and Kailon?!

Salhior: You came alone. Your vessel arrived several hours ago and we found your broken body inside. As you can see, we have seen to your full recovery.

Cuber: You’re lying! She said she’d come with my brother! <CUBER LEAPS OUT OF THE BED TOWARDS SALHIOR; TO HIMSELF, IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS LEAP> Why am I so slow?

<TEMPORARILY PUTTING ASIDE THIS REALIZATION, CUBER TURNS HIS ATTENTION BACK TO SALHIOR MID-FLIGHT AND THROWS HIS LEFT LEG OUT IN A FLYING SIDE KICK; CUBER’S FOOT MAKES CONTACT WITH THE ENERGY WALL, BUT DOES NOT DO ANY DAMAGE TO IT; STILL POSSESSING HIS REACTION TIMES, HE LANDS ON HIS FEET>

Salhior: I do not lie. We have scanned the entire system to ensure that no others had accompanied you.

Cuber: Let me go!

<CUBER HITS THE ENERGY WALL WITH A BACK-FLIP KICK, WHICH ALSO DOES NOTHING>

Salhior: You wish to be released? <CUBER SILENTLY GLARES AT SALHIOR> You are a Saiyan, yes? Then show me what you are made of. If you can defeat me in combat, I will grant you your freedom.

Cuber: How can I fight you when I’m stuck in here?

Salhior: Worry not. You will be allowed to use your full power when we battle.

<CUTS TO A HUGE ROOM; CUBER AND SALHIOR ARE STANDING ABOUT THIRTY METERS ACROSS FROM EACH OTHER; MULTIPLE MROVIANS (ALIENS OF SALHIOR’S SPECIES) ARE SPECTATING FROM SMALLER ROOMS OF VARIOUS ELEVATIONS FROM BEHIND WINDOWS MADE OF HARMLESS PLASMA>

Salhior: Whenever you are ready.

Cuber: You’re going down.

<CUBER RUNS AT SALHIOR WITH A RIGHT ROUNDHOUSE KICK, FOLLOWED BY TWO STRAIGHT PUNCHES, LEFT-THEN RIGHT, AND THEN A FLURRY OF LEFT SIDE KICKS; SALHIOR SIMPLY STANDS STILL, RECEIVING ALL OF CUBER’S BLOWS, BUT DOES NOT TAKE ANY DAMAGE; WHEN HE REALIZES HIS ATTACKS ARE DOING NOTHING AT ALL, CUBER STOPS>

Salhior: Fight me seriously, or do not fight me at all. <CUBER GROWLS IN ANNOYANCE> I am waiting.

<CUBER POWERS UP, HIS YELLOW KI RADIATING AROUND HIM; ONCE IN HIS FULL POWER, CUBER THROWS A FLYING LEFT SIDE KICK, WHICH SALHIOR SIMPLY SIDESTEPS; CUBER TURNS AROUND TO REPEAT THE SAME ATTACK, BUT THE RESULT IS THE SAME; THIS TIME, CUBER JETS FORWARD IN A LIGHTSPEED DART, FLYING AT HIS OPPONENT EVEN FASTER THAN BEFORE; THIS TIME, SALHIOR GENERATES A BLUE ENERGY SHIELD, WHICH CUBER ENDS UP GLANCING OFF>

<CUBER FLIES AT SALHIOR WITH YET ANOTHER FLYING LEFT SIDE KICK; INSTEAD OF DODGING, SALHIOR CATCHES CUBER BY THE ANKLE; HE THEN RELEASES CUBER AS HIS EYES GLOW VIOLET; THE SAIYAN, WITHOUT ANY CONTROL OVER HIS OWN BODY, REVOLVES RAPIDLY AROUND SALHIOR BEFORE BEING FLUNG STRAIGHT UP (A TECHNIQUE THAT WILL NOW BE KNOWN AS TELEKINETIC VORTEX); SALHIOR FOLLOWS CUBER INTO THE AIR AND ACTIVATES A BLUE-WHITE ENERGY BLADE FROM LEFT HAND; THE MROVIAN SWIPES UPWARDS TOWARDS HIS OWN RIGHT SHOULDER, HITTING CUBER WITH THE BLADE (A MOVE THAT WILL BE NOW KNOWN AS BURNING CLAW) THAT IS NOT CONCENTRATED ENOUGH TO CUT THE SAIYAN AND LEAVES ONLY SURFACE BURNS>

<SALHIOR RETURNS TO THE GROUND AS CUBER FALLS, UNABLE TO FLY FROM BEING IN TOO MUCH PAIN; JUST AS CUBER LANDS, SALHIOR HITS THE SAIYAN BOY AWAY WITH A LEFT SWEEPING REVERSE ROUNDHOUSE KICK; AS CUBER HITS A WALL, SALHIOR, WITH HIS RIGHT INDEX FINGER, POINTS TO THE TOP-LEFT AS HE CHARGES BLUE-WHITE KI ON HIS FINGER; HE THEN POINTS TO CUBER WITH HIS ACTIVE FINGER AS HE FIRES A BLUE-WHITE ENERGY BEAM OUT OF IT; THE BEAM EXPLODES ON THE INTENDED TARGET, AND WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS, CUBER IS REVEALED TO BE UNCONSCIOUS>

<CUTS TO LATER, WITH SALHIOR WALKING DOWN A HALLWAY ALONGSIDE ANOTHER MROVIAN WARRIOR; THIS ONE IS WEARING ARMOR THAT IS OF SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT AESTHETIC DESIGN THAN SALHIOR’S AND IS COLORED PRIMARILY GOLD WITH WHITE TRIM>

Ashuroas: Perhaps the High Council is right. It amazes me that you managed to convince them to allow the Saiyan to live.

Salhior: You know as much as I do that Frieza had betrayed the Saiyans. I will not deny that he could still be working for the Planet Trade Organization, but he is just a child and came here alone. Given his condition and responses upon his arrival, he certainly did not come knowing that he would find us.

Ashuroas: I only voice my concern for you, Supreme Admiral, as you have agreed to ‘take full responsibility’ for any negative consequences that may come with keeping the Saiyan alive.

<THE TWO MROVIANS REACH A LARGE GOLDEN AUTOMATIC DOOR, WHICH OPENS; BOTH MROVIANS STOP WALKING>

Salhior: Worry not, Ashuroas. I will continue to keep a watchful eye on the Saiyan.

<ONLY SALHIOR WALKS THROUGH THE DOORS AS ASHUROAS STAYS BEHIND; THE SUPREME ADMIRAL CONTINUES HIS WAY INTO THE ROOM UNTIL HE ARRIVES AT CUBER’S CELL; CUBER IS SITTING ON HIS BED>

Cuber: What do you want?

Salhior: I do not believe we have been properly acquainted, Saiyan. I am Salhior, Supreme Admiral of the Mrovian Navy. And you are...?

Cuber: Cuber.

Salhior: Tell me, Cuber. What brings you to the Mrovian Republic?

Cuber: <AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF HESITATION> I was with a friend and my brother. After Frieza betrayed the Saiyans, we managed to escape. We kept it up for a long time, but we accidentally landed on a planet owned by a guy named Nitro. One of Nitro’s soldiers almost killed me, but my friend got me off the planet. She said they would follow me after my brother killed Nitro and his soldiers. You told me they never came. I wish I knew what happened to them.

Salhior: Nitro? Do you mean Frieza’s younger brother?

Cuber: He’s Frieza’s brother?

Salhior: Yes, and I can assure you, he is very much alive.

Cuber: Wait, so does that mean...no… <TEARS WELL UP IN CUBER’S EYES AS HE LOOKS TO THE GROUND> I’ll never get to see them ever again. I won’t get to see Kailon...my brother, the Legendary Super Saiyan, kill Frieza...and...I’ll never get the chance to beat Chaiva.

Salhior: The likelihood of their survival is indeed slim. However, you are a Saiyan. If I recall, you are from a species of warriors who care only about strength and combat.

<CUBER CONTINUES TO SOB AND DOES NOT ANSWER SALHIOR>

Salhior: Will you continue to allow your friend and brother go unavenged?

<CUBER LOOKS UP BACK AT SALHIOR>

Salhior: I can help you become stronger.

Cuber: You can?

Salhior: But first, you must promise me that while you learn under my tutelage, you will not bring any harm to my people, and you are not to pilot any of our vessels without my permission. In return, you will no longer be held prisoner. Do we understand each other?

Cuber: Yes…I promise I won’t hurt anyone.

Salhior: Good. <THE ENERGY BUBBLE DISSIPATES> Now wipe your tears and follow me. We will begin your training immediately. Brace yourself.

Cuber: For what?

<SALHIOR AND CUBER DARKEN UNTIL THEY FADE TO BLACK; THEY THEN DISAPPEAR FROM HEAD TO TOE RAPIDLY, LEAVING CUBER’S FORMER PRISON IS EMPTY>

<CUTS TO ANOTHER GOLDEN ROOM, WHICH IS INITIALLY EMPTY; SUDDENLY, CUBER AND SALHIOR MATERIALIZE IN THE REVERSE FASHION THEY HAD DISAPPEARED EARLIER, GOING FROM BLACK TO BEING RESTORED TO THEIR NORMAL COLORATIONS>

Cuber: Whoa...what just happened?

<IGNORING CUBER’S QUESTION, SALHIOR WALKS TOWARDS A LARGE PAIR OF AUTOMATIC DOORS, WITH CUBER FOLLOWING BEHIND; THE DOORS OPEN, REVEALING A MASSIVE PLATFORM WITH THE VIEW OF OUTER SPACE MAKING UP MOST OF THE IMMENSE CEILING AND WALLS; NO MORE THAN TWO DOZEN MROVIAN WARRIORS, WEARING NOTHING EXCEPT GOLD-COLORED CLOTHING THAT COVERS ONLY THE GROIN, ARE SPARRING WITH EACH OTHER ACROSS DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THE PLATFORM>

Salhior: Behold the Lance of Mrov, the mightiest warship of the Mrovian Fleet. This is where your training will take place.

Cuber: Whoa, this ship is huge!

Salhior: This is actually just the training ground for our warriors. We are only in a section of the entire vessel.

Cuber: No way…

Salhior: I understand your astonishment, and you will have plenty of opportunities to explore the ship. Are you ready to begin?

Cuber: <WITH A SLIGHT SMILE> Yeah, definitely.

Chapter 3: Path of a Warrior[]

<SALHIOR AND CUBER STAND ACROSS FROM EACH OTHER ON THE MASSIVE GOLDEN PLATFORM; UPON SEEING THEIR SUPREME ADMIRAL PREPARING TO TRAIN, THE OTHER MROVIAN WARRIORS STOP THEIR SPARRING AND MAKE THEIR WAY OUT OF THE TRAINING GROUND; SALHIOR’S ARMOR THEN BEGINS TO DARKEN AND THEN VANISHES IN THE SAME WAY HE AND CUBER HAD WHEN THEY TELEPORTED INTO THE LANCE OF MROV, AND THE SUPREME ADMIRAL NOW ONLY WEARS THE SAME UNDERGARMENT THE OTHER WARRIORS WERE WEARING>

Salhior: Quoeyg, set the gravity to 100 g.

Quoeyg: <OVER THE COMMS> It will be done, Supreme Admiral.

Cuber: Wait, what?

<CUBER COLLAPSES INTO THE GROUND, BELLY-DOWN>

Salhior: <IN A SLIGHTLY SURPRISED AND DISAPPOINTED TONE> For one who regularly experiences relativistic acceleration,, this amount of gravity should be nothing to you. Yet here you lie, unable to even stand.

<CUBER RESPONDS ONLY WITH GRIMACING, STRUGGLING TO EVEN LIFT HIS BODY OFF THE GROUND>

Salhior: Very well, then. <TO THE UNSEEN QUOEYG> Set the gravity to 50 g.

<CUBER LIFTS HIMSELF UP ON ONE KNEE, AND EVENTUALLY IS ABLE TO STAND>

Salhior: <IF MROVIANS COULD SIGH> We have much to do.

<CUTS TO A LATER TRAINING SESSION; CUBER IS STANDING IN HIS FIGHTING STANCE, THE ONE THAT LOOKS VERY MUCH LIKE CAULIFLA’S WITH THE RIGHT FIST NEXT TO THE CHEEK AND THE LEFT FIST IN FRONT; HE IS SURROUNDED BY COPIES OF SALHIOR; THESE ARE NOT AFTERIMAGES, BUT RATHER SALHIOR’S ABILITY TO CREATE ILLUSIONS OF HIMSELF AND THE REAL SALHIOR IS AMONG THEM>

<CUBER JUMPS AT ONE OF THE SALHIORS WITH A LEFT FLYING SIDE KICK, BUT CUBER PHASES THROUGH, HAVING TARGETED A FAKE; THE REAL SALHIOR COMES AT CUBER FROM THE SIDE AND HITS HIM WITH A SMALL BLUE-WHITE EXPLOSIVE WAVE; AFTER CUBER REGAINS COMPOSURE, THE REAL SALHIOR IS ONCE AGAIN HIDDEN AMONG HIS CLONES>

Salhior: You have relied too much on your scouters in the past. You must reach out with your mind.

Cuber: But that’s what scouters are for! Can’t you guys make them?

Salhior: Mrovian warriors have no need for such primitive tools. We are all trained to sense energy.

Cuber: How do you know I’ll be able to sense energy?

Salhior: You ask too many unnecessary questions. If you must be enlightened, so be it.

<SALHIOR’S CLONES FADE OUT AND DISAPPEAR INTO NOTHINGNESS>

Salhior: I will close my eyes. You may attack me however you wish.

<SALHIOR SHUTS HIS EYES AS HE SAID HE WOULD; CUBER RUNS UP TO SALHIOR AND THROWS A BACK-FLIP KICK; SALHIOR SIMPLY BACKS AWAY FROM CUBER’S ATTACK; CUBER THEN REACHES OUT WITH HIS RIGHT HAND TO GRAB SALHIOR BY THE THROAT, BUT THE MROVIAN ONCE AGAIN BACKS AWAY; CUBER THEN TRIES TO CHASE DOWN WITH MULTIPLE LEFT FLYING SIDE KICKS, ALL OF WHICH SALHIOR DODGE; AFTER SEVERAL MISSED KICKS, SALHIOR CATCHES CUBER BY THE ANKLE LIKE HE DID IN THEIR FIRST FIGHT, AND THEN THROWS CUBER OVER HIS OWN HEAD AND BEHIND HIMSELF INTO THE DISTANCE; CUBER IS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF HIS BODY AND LANDS ON THE PLATFORM ON BOTH FEET>

Salhior: <OPENING HIS EYES> Do you see now?

Cuber: Are you sure you didn’t open your eyes just once?

Salhior: If you need proof, I will show it to you. Quoeyg?

<A GIANT HOLOGRAPHIC SCREEN APPEARS AGAINST A WALL, SHOWING THE VERY SAME PRIOR SEQUENCE OF EVENTS SLOWED DOWN TO ALLOW CUBER TO SEE THAT SALHIOR INDEED TOLD THE TRUTH>

Cuber: Ugh, fine. Scouters blow up all the time anyway.

Salhior: Are you ready then?

Cuber: Yeah, let’s do this again.

<SALHIOR ONCE AGAIN SURROUNDS CUBER WITH HIS CLONES>

Salhior: Reach out with your mind.

<CUBER RESUMES HIS FIGHTING STANCE AND TAKES A DEEP BREATH; THIS TIME, ALL OF THE SALHIORS LUNGE AT CUBER SIMULTANEOUSLY; IN RESPONSE, CUBER AIMS TO HIS LEFT AND THROWS OUT A FLYING REVERSE ROUNDHOUSE KICK WITH HIS RIGHT LEG; CUBER’S HEEL CONNECTS WITH THE REAL SALHIOR’S RIGHT SHOULDER AND SENDS THE MROVIAN AWAY WHILE THE FAKES VANISH; NOT ACTUALLY INJURED BY CUBER’S KICK, SALHIOR IMMEDIATELY LANDS ON HIS FEET>

Salhior: Well done.

Cuber: Thanks. I think I’m getting the hang of it now.

<CUTS TO TWO YEARS LATER, 743 AGE; SALHIOR, IN FULL ARMOR, IS STANDING ON A PLATFORM IN THE CENTER OF A ROOM THAT CAN ONLY BE THE BRIDGE OF THE LANCE OF MROV; A FEMALE MROVIAN HOVERS HER WAY ONTO THE PLATFORM FROM BEHIND SALHIOR; UNLIKE ALL OF THE ARMORED MROVIAN WARRIORS AROUND HER, SHE DOES NOT WEAR ANYTHING>

Aysuida: I am now off-duty, father. You wished to see me?

Salhior: <TURNS AROUND> Yes, Aysuida. Come with me.

<CUTS TO SALHIOR AND AYSUIDA WALKING DOWN A HALLWAY IN A DIFFERENT SECTION OF THE SHIP>

Salhior: Do you remember the Saiyan who arrived on Glaysia?

Aysuida: Yes, and you convinced the High Council to allow him life. What about him?

Salhior: I have been training the boy and he is becoming a mighty warrior.

Aysuida: What? And what of the Council?

Salhior: They know only that he is under my watchful eye.

Aysuida: Father, this is dangerous. If the Saiyan decides to betray us…

Salhior: He has lost his friend and his own brother to Nitro and wishes only to be able to avenge them. As you know, the Arcosian’s empire is expanding increasingly close to the Mrovian Republic. Should Nitro choose to declare war upon our people, the Saiyan boy can aid us in defeating him.

Aysuida: Even so, what if the Council discovers what you have hidden from them?

Salhior: I will ensure that they do not. Should that come to pass, however, I will accept their judgement, whatever it may be. Regardless, you have not had an adequate partner to spar with for many years.

Aysuida: Are you suggesting that I use this Saiyan to improve my skills as a warrior?

Salhior: Indeed. After all, you often lament to me how none of your peers are able to offer you such practice.

Aysuida: Your faith in this lesser being is perplexing.

Salhior: And why do you assume he is a lesser being?

Aysuida: Saiyans are nothing more than savages who live to only fight and kill.

Salhior: I once thought as you do, daughter, but I have come to learn much from the boy since I have taken him in as my pupil. In time, your perception of him will also change.

<CUTS TO CUBER WHO IS NOW SEVERAL CENTIMETERS TALLER THAN BEFORE, BUT STILL VISIBLY A CHILD; HE IS ALONE IN THE SAME TRAINING GROUND OF THE LANCE OF MROV; HE IS RUNNING BACK AND FORTH INCREDIBLY QUICKLY WHILE FIRING STUN BLASTER BOLTS IN BETWEEN CHANGING DIRECTIONS; HE THEN JUMPS, BUT THE INCREASED GRAVITY SUDDENLY SHUTS DOWN, CAUSING CUBER TO ASCEND HIGHER THAN HE INTENDED; HE IS ABLE TO REACT JUST IN TIME TO PREVENT HIMSELF FROM HITTING THE CEILING>

<THE TRAINING GROUND’S ENTRANCE DOORS OPEN AND SALHIOR AND AYSUIDA WALK INTO THE VAST ROOM; CUBER FLIES DOWN TO THE MROVIANS TO GREET THEM>

Salhior: Cuber, this is my daughter, Aysuida. She is the second strongest warrior in the Republic.

Cuber: <LOOKING OVER AYSUIDA> I’m guessing you want me to fight her?

Salhior: Indeed. She may not be as strong as I am, but do not take her lightly.

Cuber: Of course.

<THE GROUND AT THE PERIMETER OF THE TRAINING GROUND DESCENDS INTO DARKNESS, LEAVING A CENTRAL PLATFORM FOR CUBER AND AYSUIDA TO FIGHT ON; THEY FLY TO THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE PLATFORM, FACE EACH OTHER, AND ASSUME FIGHTING STANCES>

Salhior: You may begin whenever you are ready.

<CUBER JUMPS AT AYSUIDA AND POINTS AT HER WITH HIS RIGHT HAND IN THE SHAPE OF A GUN, PREPARING TO FIRE A STUN BOLT, BUT SHE ACTIVATES A BLUNT ENERGY BLADE OUT OF HER RIGHT HAND AND IMMEDIATELY HITS HIM WITH A DIAGONALLY UPWARD BACKHAND SLASH BEFORE HIS FINGER BEAM EVEN COMES OUT; THIS KNOCKS CUBER INTO THE EDGE OF THE PLATFORM, CRACKING IT ON IMPACT, AND HE BOUNCES OVER THE EDGE; CUBER CATCHES HIMSELF BY GRABBING THE PLATFORM, AND THEN PROPELS HIMSELF UPWARDS AS HE FIRES A PAIR OF STUN BOLTS IN QUICK SUCCESSION; AYSUIDA SHRUGS OFF THESE FINGER BEAMS, HOWEVER, AND BEFORE CUBER CAN THROW OUT ANOTHER ATTACK, SHE TELEKINETICALLY PULLS THE SAIYAN INTO HER LEFT PALM, GRABBING HIM BY THE MOUTH>

Cuber: <THINKING TO HIMSELF> That was like thirty kilometers.

<AYSUIDA KNEES CUBER IN THE ABDOMEN BEFORE THROWING HIM STRAIGHT UP, ONLY TO TELEKINETICALLY PULL HIM BACK DOWN INTO HER HAND ONCE MORE (A TECHNIQUE WE WILL NOW CALL PERPETUAL GRAVITY); AFTER SUCCESSFULLY REPEATING THE PERPETUAL GRAVITY TOSS THREE MORE TIMES, AYSUIDA REACHES OUT FOR A FIFTH TIME, BUT CUBER MANAGES TO CHANGE HIS OWN TRAJECTORY TO NARROWLY ESCAPE HER GRASP; CUBER BOUNCES ON THE GROUND AND THEN ROLLS AROUND AYSUIDA TO END UP BEHIND HER; ONCE ON HIS FEET, HE RESUMES FIGHTING STANCE>

Aysuida: I did not expect you to have the will to continue. Your tenacity is most commendable.

Cuber <TO HIMSELF> Is she mocking me?

<NOT LETTING AYSUIDA’S WORDS GET TO HIM, CUBER FIRES ANOTHER STUN BOLT AT HIS OPPONENT, WHO LEAPS OVER THE BEAM AND SWINGS AT CUBER VERTICALLY DOWNWARDS WITH HER ENERGY BATON; CUBER SIDE-STEPS AYSUIDA’S ATTACK AND RESPONDS WITH A FLYING LEFT SIDE KICK, WHICH SHE ALSO FLIES OVER; FROM ABOVE, AYSUIDA STRIKES CUBER WITH A BACKHAND SWORD SWING, BUT HE ENDURES THE HIT AND RESPONDS WITH AN EXPLOSIVE SHINE; THE MROVIAN BACKS AWAY JUST OUT OF THE EXPLOSIVE WAVE’S RANGE AND TRIES TO HIT CUBER WITH AN UPWARDS VERTICAL BACKHAND CUT; CUBER JUMPS BACK JUST OUT OF THE WAY AND THEN COMES BACK WITH A DRILL KICK>

<CUBER’S ATTACK CONNECTS AND HE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWS UP WITH AN EXPLOSIVE SHINE, BUT AYSUIDA BLOCKS IT WITH A BLUE ENERGY SHIELD; NOT RESPECTING CUBER’S SPEED, THE MROVIAN DEACTIVATES HER SHIELD TO TRY TO FIGHT BACK, BUT CUBER CATCHES HER WITH ANOTHER DRILL KICK, THIS ONE SUCCESSFULLY LEADING INTO ANOTHER EXPLOSIVE SHINE THAT SENDS AYSUIDA STRAIGHT UP ABOVE; CUBER PURSUES HIS OPPONENT INTO THE AIR AND HITS HER AWAY WITH A RIGHT FLYING BACK KICK; ONCE SHE REGAINS CONTROL OF HER BODY, AYSUIDA TRIES TO HIT CUBER WITH A DOWNWARDS VERTICAL SWORD SWING, BUT HE IS ABLE TO RETREAT AND SHOOT A STUN BOLT AT HER; THE MROVIAN BLOCKS THIS STUN BOLT AND TRIES TO APPROACH CUBER WITH ANOTHER DOWNWARDS VERTICAL SWORD SWING, BUT HE INTERCEPTS HER WITH ANOTHER STUN BOLT AND THEN JUMPS AT HER WITH HIS OUTSTRETCHED LEFT LEG>

<CUBER’S FLYING SIDE KICK GRAZES AYSUIDA, WHO IS ABLE TO CATCH HERSELF AFTER FALLING OVER; THE SAIYAN TURNS AROUND TO FIRE ANOTHER STUN BOLT, BUT THIS TIME IT’S THE MROVIAN’S TURN TO ROLL AROUND HIM; WHEN SHE STANDS BACK UP, AYSUIDA THROWS AN UPWARDS BACKHAND SLASH AT HIM, WHICH CUBER HOPS AWAY FROM BEFORE FLYING BACK AT THE MROVIAN AS HE FIRES TWO MORE STUN BOLTS; THE FIRST BEAM HITS AYSUIDA, BUT SHE DUCKS UNDER THE SECOND AS CUBER CONTINUES HIS ADVANCE; CUBER THROWS ANOTHER LEFT FLYING SIDE KICK, ALTHOUGH AYSUIDA DUCKS UNDER CUBER AND JABS HIM IN THE ABDOMEN WITH HER ENERGY BATON; BEFORE CUBER CAN REGAIN CONTROL OF HIS BODY, AYSUIDA GRABS HIM AGAIN BY THE MOUTH WITH HER LEFT HAND, KNEES HIM, AND THEN THROWS HIM STRAIGHT UP YET AGAIN FOR GOOD MEASURE; AS SHE TELEKINETICALLY PULLS CUBER BACK DOWN, THE MROVIAN SWINGS HER ENERGY BATON IN A DOWNWARDS VERTICAL CUT FROM OVERHEAD, HITTING CUBER ON HIS WAY DOWN AND SENDING HIM TOWARDS THE WALL>

<JUST BEFORE IMPACT, CUBER VANISHES IN MROVIAN TELEPORTATION STYLE, FADING TO BLACK BEFORE DISAPPEARING COMPLETELY; A FAINT BLUE TRACTOR BEAM THEN LOWERS CUBER FROM HIGH ABOVE BACK ONTO THE PLATFORM>

Salhior: That is enough for today.

Cuber: <ON HIS RIGHT KNEE> She really is strong. <THINKING TO HIMSELF> Kind of like someone I knew…

<AS THE IMAGE OF CHAIVA APPEARS IN HIS MIND, CUBER’S FACE BRIEFLY CHANGES INTO AN EXPRESSION OF SADNESS, ALTHOUGH HE DOES NOT LET IT GET AHOLD OF HIM>

Salhior: Do not let this defeat discourage you, Cuber. No other warrior has done so well against Aysuida in decades. I will return to the bridge; go to Quoeyg if you need to be healed.

Cuber: <AS HE GETS UP> Yes, master.

<AYSUIDA STARES FIXEDLY AT CUBER FOR A MOMENT BEFORE LOOKING AWAY; SALHIOR AND AYSUIDA LEAVE THE TRAINING GROUND AND THE AUTOMATIC Door OORS CLOSE BEHIND THEM>

Aysuida: Father, I will admit that I have misjudged the Saiyan. He has exceeded my expectations.

Salhior: I am glad that you have kept an open mind. <HE PAUSES, CAUSING AYSUIDA TO STOP AND LOOK BACK AT HIM> But before you go, I have a favor to ask of you.

Aysuida: Yes, father?

Salhior: Do not speak of this to the High Council.

Aysuida: You have my word.

<SALHIOR NODS AS A SILENT THANKS BEFORE MAKING HIS WAY BACK TO THE BRIDGE>

Chapter 4: Proving Intentions[]

<CUE ELYSIUM BY CHELSEA GRIN>

Elysium

Elysium





<CUBER AND AYSUIDA ARE SPARRING WITH EACH OTHER ON THE TRAINING GROUND, AND BOTH ARE SOMEWHAT WORN OUT, CLEARLY HAVING BEEN FIGHTING FOR SOME TIME; CUBER SHOOTS A STUN BOLT AT HIS OPPONENT AND GOES IN WITH A LEFT FLYING SIDE KICK; THE ENERGY BEAM HITS AYSUIDA, BUT SHE IS ABLE TO BLOCK THE SUBSEQUENT KICK; FAST AS EVER, CUBER HITS AYSUIDA WITH AN EXPLOSIVE SHINE BEFORE SHE CAN RETALIATE, AND THEN FLIES ABOVE HER BEFORE DRILL-KICKING HER DOWNWARDS FROM ABOVE; BEFORE AYSUIDA IMPACTS THE GROUND, CUBER LANDS UNDERNEATH HER AND LAUNCHES HER BACK UP WITH A RIGHT SCORPION KICK; HE THEN FOLLOWS FROM BELOW WITH A SUCCESSFUL FORWARD-FLIPPING KICK (THE DOGOM FLIP), HITTING AYSUIDA EVEN HIGHER; AGAIN, HE FLIES ABOVE HER AND DRILL-KICKS HER BACK INTO THE PLATFORM>

<AYSUIDA CATCHES HERSELF JUST BEFORE IMPACT WHILE CUBER LANDS; THE SAIYAN TRIES TO CHASE HER DOWN WITH A LEFT FLYING SIDE KICK, BUT AYSUIDA ROLLS AROUND CUBER TO END UP BEHIND HIM; CUBER TURNS AROUND AND SHOOTS A STUN BOLT, WHICH AYSUIDA LEAPS OVER, AND SHE THROWS A DOWNWARDS VERTICAL CUT, WHICH CUBER SIDE STEPS; THE SAIYAN JUMPS UP AND CATCHES AYSUIDA WITH A LEFT FLYING SIDE KICK, SENDING HER AWAY, AND THEN PELTS HER WITH A BARRAGE OF STUN BOLTS AS HE FOLLOWS HER; WHEN CUBER IS CLOSE ENOUGH, AYSUIDA TRIES TO TELEKINETICALLY PULL HIM TOWARDS HER, BUT THE SAIYAN IS ABLE TO REALIZE HE IS IN THE DANGER ZONE AND RETREATS OUT OF HER PULLING RANGE AND CONTINUES HIS FINGER BEAM BARRAGE>

<AYSUIDA CLOSES THE DISTANCE BY SPINNING HER WAY AROUND THE ENERGY BEAMS, PROMPTING CUBER TO THROW OUT A DRILL KICK; AYSUIDA BLOCKS CUBER’S DRILL KICK, AND THEN SPINS AROUND HIM AND LANDS FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM THE RANGE OF HIS SUBSEQUENT EXPLOSIVE SHINE; NOT LETTING UP, CUBER FOLLOWS WITH THE SAME SEQUENCE OF A STUN BOLT, DRILL KICK, AND EXPLOSIVE SHINE, BUT AYSUIDA ALSO AVOIDS THESE HITS IN THE EXACT SAME MANNER AS SHE DID BEFORE; NOW SEEMINGLY DRIVEN ONLY BY INSTINCT, CUBER REFUSES TO CHANGE HIS STRATEGY AND FIRES ANOTHER FINGER BEAM TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER DRILL KICK; INSTEAD OF SIMPLY BLOCKING AND EVADING THIS TIME, AYSUIDA CATCHES CUBER BY THE ANKLE AND THEN TOSSES HIM STRAIGHT UP; SURE ENOUGH, AYSUIDA GETS CUBER WITH FOUR PERPETUAL GRAVITY TOSSES IN A ROW>

<AFTER THE FIFTH TOSS, CUBER SWAYS TO THE LEFT, EVADING THE SUBSEQUENT PULL ATTEMPT; THE SAIYAN THROWS OUT AN EXPLOSIVE SHINE, BUT AYSUIDA, ALREADY EXPECTING A PANIC ATTACK FROM CUBER, DASHES AWAY; CUBER TRIES TO FOLLOW HER WITH A DRILL KICK, BUT SHE CATCHES HIM WITH A MID-AIR DOWNWARDS VERTICAL SWORD SWING, DROPPING HIM TO THE GROUND, AND THEN SUCCESSFULLY HITS HIM FROM ABOVE WITH A BACKHAND SLASH; AS CUBER SKIDS ACROSS THE PLATFORM, AYSUIDA FOLLOWS HIM AND REACHES OUT WITH A TELEKINETIC PULL; CUBER IS ABLE TO FLY OVER WHERE AYSUIDA AIMS, AND THEN COMES DOWN WITH YET ANOTHER DRILL KICK AND A SUBSEQUENT EXPLOSIVE SHINE, BOTH OF WHICH AYSUIDA BLOCK WITH A BLUE ENERGY SHIELD; THE MROVIAN ONCE AGAIN SPINS AROUND CUBER TO GET BEHIND HIM AND GIVE HERSELF SOME SPACE>

<CUBER FIRES A STUN BOLT AT AYSUIDA’S HEAD, BUT SHE DUCKS UNDER IT AND RUNS FORWARD WITH A BACKHAND HORIZONTAL SLASH, SWATTING CUBER OFF TO THE SIDE; CUBER SLOWS HIS MOMENTUM BY PUTTING HIS LEFT HAND ON THE GROUND, AND THEN ROLLS AWAY; ONCE CUBER IS BACK ON HIS FEET, BOTH HE AND AYSUIDA CHARGE AT EACH OTHER; CUBER THROWS OUT YET ANOTHER LEFT FLYING SIDE KICK THAT AYSUIDA JUMPS OVER, AND THE MROVIAN IMMEDIATELY RESPONDS WITH A DOWNWARD VERTICAL SLICE THAT CUBER DUCKS UNDER; CUBER TRIES TO HIT THE MROVIAN WITH A RIGHT FLYING BACK KICK, BUT SHE CATCHES HIM BY THE ANKLE AND THEN SWINGS HIM OVER HER HEAD AND INTO THE GROUND ON HIS BACK, DENTING AND CRACKING THE PLATFORM; AFTER RELEASING HER GRIP, AYSUIDA SITS ON CUBER’S THROAT WITH EACH KNEE ON THE GROUND ON EITHER SIDE OF HIM AND LIFTS HER RIGHT ARM AS SHE POINTS POINTS HER ENERGY BATON AT CUBER’S FACE>

<CUTS TO A LATER SPARRING SESSION; CUBER AND AYSUIDA RUN AT EACH OTHER, WITH CUBER ONCE AGAIN SHOOTING A STUN BOLT; THE MOMENT HE FIRES HIS FINGER BEAM, CUBER DASHES AWAY FROM AYSUIDA, WHO SHRUGS OFF THE BEAM, IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION; THE MROVIAN REACHES OUT FOR CUBER WITH HER LEFT HAND, BUT HE IS JUST FAST ENOUGH TO AVOID HER GRASP; AFTER SHE MISSES, CUBER RETURNS WITH A LEFT FLYING SIDE KICK, AND THEN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWS UP WITH AN EXPLOSIVE SHINE THAT LAUNCHES AYSUIDA UPWARDS>

<WHILE HIS OPPONENT IS STILL IN PAIN, CUBER FLIES ABOVE HER AND KICKS HER BACK DOWN WITH ANOTHER DRILL KICK, AND THEN APPEARS BELOW HER TO HIT HER WITH ANOTHER VERTICALLY-LAUNCHING EXPLOSIVE SHINE; CUBER REPEATS THIS EXPLOSIVE-SHINE-DRILL-KICK COMBINATION THREE MORE TIMES UNTIL AFTER THE FOURTH DRILL KICK, INSTEAD OF AN EXPLOSIVE SHINE, CUBER PERFORMS A FRONT SPLIT ON THE GROUND, KICKING AYSUIDA AWAY WITH HIS LEFT FOOT IN FRONT AND SENDING HER TO THE WALL; LIKE WITH CUBER IN THEIR FIRST FIGHT, AYSUIDA IS TELEPORTED TO THE TOP OF THE CHAMBER AND IS LOWERED BY A TRACTOR BEAM; STILL ABLE TO CONTINUE, SHE REACTIVATES HER ENERGY BATON; CUBER RAISES HIS RIGHT HAND IN THE SHAPE OF A GUN, PREPARING ANOTHER STUN BOLT>

<TRANSITIONS TO ADULT CUBER (STILL SHIRTLESS, BUT HIS LEGWEAR NOW ORANGE INSTEAD OF GRAY), NOW IN GLAYSIA’S STORMY ATMOSPHERE AND HIGH ABOVE ITS OCEANS, FIRING THE NOW POINT-BLANK STUN BOLT AT THE UNARMORED SALHIOR; THE MROVIAN FLIES UNDER THE FINGER BEAM AND JUGGLES CUBER WITH TWO BACK-FLIP KICKS, A BURNING CLAW, AND A BICYCLE KICK, IN THAT ORDER; SALHIOR TRIES TO HIT CUBER WITH ANOTHER BURNING CLAW, BUT CUBER DUCKS UNDER IT AND RETALIATES WITH AN EXPLOSIVE SHINE; AS SALHIOR IS LAUNCHED VERTICALLY, CUBER TRIES TO FOLLOW HIM TO HIT HIM BACK DOWN WITH A DRILL KICK, BUT SALHIOR BACKS AWAY FROM CUBER’S DESCENT AND SWATS HIM WITH A FOREHAND ENERGY BATON SWIPE; SALHIOR THEN FLIES AROUND CUBER TO END UP BEHIND AND HITS THE SAIYAN WITH A SCORPION KICK>

<AFTER SENDING HIS OPPONENT FLYING, SALHIOR THROWS A BLUE-WHITE ENERGY SPHERE AT HIM; CUBER FLIES OVER THE KI ATTACK AND APPROACHES SALHIOR WITH HIS LIGHTSPEED DART TECHNIQUE; THE MROVIAN TRIES TO INTERCEPT CUBER WITH A BACK-FLIP KICK, BUT THE SAIYAN FLIES OVER THIS ATTACK AS WELL AND RESPONDS WITH A DRILL KICK FROM ABOVE; SALHIOR ENDURES CUBER’S STRIKE, HOWEVER, AND GRABS THE SAIYAN BY THE FACE WITH HIS RIGHT HAND BEFORE AXE-KICKING CUBER AWAY WITH HIS LEFT FOOT; THE MROVIAN CHASES CUBER DOWN AND THROWS OUT A LEFT REVERSE ROUNDHOUSE KICK, BUT THE SAIYAN FLIES OVER SALHIOR AND ENDS UP BEHIND HIM; CUBER THROWS OUT A RIGHT FLYING BACK KICK, WHICH SALHIOR BLOCKS WITH AN ENERGY SHIELD, AND THEN THE MROVIAN TURNS AROUND AND BLASTS CUBER WITH A BLUE-WHITE EXPLOSIVE WAVE>

<SALHIOR FOLLOWS CUBER AGAIN AND WITH ANOTHER BACK-FLIP KICK, ALTHOUGH CUBER FLIES AWAY OUT OF THE RANGE OF SALHIOR’S LEG BEFORE HITTING HIS MENTOR WITH A RIGHT FLYING BACK KICK; NOW WITH CUBER ON THE OFFENSE, THE SAIYAN TRIES TO FOLLOW UP WITH A LEFT FLYING SIDE KICK, BUT SALHIOR FLIES OVER CUBER’S ATTACK; THE MROVIAN DECIDES TO GIVE HIMSELF SOME SPACE AND FLIES AWAY, PROMPTING CUBER TO GO AFTER HIM; WHEN CUBER CATCHES UP, SALHIOR THROWS OUT A SCORPION KICK THAT CUBER REACTS TO AND FLIES OVER, BUT THE MROVIAN TELEKINETICALLY TRAPS CUBER AND THEN USES HIS MENTAL POWERS TO FLING CUBER OVER HIS HEAD AND BEHIND HIMSELF; SALHIOR ONCE AGAIN CHASES AFTER CUBER AS THE LATTER REGAINS CONTROL OF HIS BODY; THE SAIYAN ATTEMPTS TO FLY AROUND SALHIOR TO BETTER POSITION HIMSELF IN RELATION TO HIS OPPONENT, BUT THE MROVIAN INTERCEPTS HIS DISCIPLE WITH A SCORPION KICK>

<SALHIOR’S KICK LAUNCHES CUBER FAR INTO THE DISTANCE; THE MROVIAN FOLLOWS CUBER AND CATCHES HIS STUDENT BY THE ANKLE BEFORE HE LEAVES THE PLANET’S ATMOSPHERE>

<ELYSIUM ENDS>

Salhior: Most impressive. You have come so far.

Cuber: Thanks, master, but I’m still nowhere near your level.

Salhior: In time, you will be. <SALHIOR’S ARMOR MATERIALIZES OVER HIS BODY> I must return to Mrov. I look forward to our next battle.

Cuber: Yeah, I’ll see you then.

<SALHIOR VANISHES IN MROVIAN TELEPORTATION; HIGH ABOVE, THE BOTTOM OF THE TITANIC LANCE OF MROV DISAPPEARS INTO THE CLOUDS>

<CUTS TO THE BRIDGE OF ANOTHER MROVIAN SHIP; ASHUROAS, THE MROVIAN OFFICER WHO VOICED HIS CONCERN IN REGARDS TO SALHIOR’S DECISION TO KEEP CUBER ALIVE, IS IN COMMAND OF THE VESSEL; SEVERAL MROVIAN WARRIORS OF LOWER RANKS ARE SEEN OPERATING THE CONTROLS OF THE SHIP>

Mrovian Warrior 1: Admiral, multiple Galatrix vessels are on approach.

Ashuroas: I did not think those vermin would ever be so bold. <TO THE REST OF THE BATTLE GROUP OVER COMMS> Bring them down!

<GOLDEN PLATFORMS THIRTY METERS ACROSS, WITH LARGE CANNONS ON THEM, FIRE VIOLET LASER BEAMS AT THE INCOMING SHIPS; THE SMALLER MROVIAN WARSHIPS, THE DESTROYERS, STILL MASSIVE AT 640 METERS (2100 FEET) IN LENGTH EACH, ALSO OPEN FIRE WITH BRIGHT-BLUE ENERGY BEAMS>

<THE SLAVERS’ SHIPS EXPLODE AS THEY NEAR THE ORBITAL CANNONS, BEING DECIMATED BY THE DEFENSIVE ATTACKS; SEVERAL OF THE OCCUPANTS, WHO ARE WEARING MASKS AND SUITS TO ALLOW THEM TO BREATHE IN SPACE, BEGIN RAISING THEIR KI AS THEY TUMBLE OUT OF THE EXPLODING VESSELS; AS THEIR AURAS OF GOLD AND RED AND GREEN AND BLUE FLARE UP IN THE VOID, THE ORBITAL DEFENSE TURRETS BEGIN TARGETING THEM>

<THE CAMERA CUTS TO ONE SUCH SLAVER WITH A VIRIDIAN GREEN AURA CHARGING UP; A TURRET LOCKS ONTO HIM AND OBLITERATES THE SLAVER SOUNDLESSLY, TEARING HIS BODY TO PIECES; HOWEVER, BEFORE THE TURRET CAN LOCK ONTO ANOTHER TARGET, THREE SLAVERS SWARM IT, PELTING THE TURRET WITH ENERGY BALLS, EVENTUALLY CAUSING IT TO EXPLODE>

<THE CAMERA PANS OUT AND SHOWS THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO MANY OF THE OTHER DEFENSE TURRETS; SOUNDLESS EXPLOSIONS RIPPLE ONE AFTER ANOTHER AND THEN RATHER SUDDENLY, THERE ARE NO MORE>

<CUTS TO ASHUROAS AND HIS CREW>

Ashuroas: Pursue them! They will not breach Glaysia’s defenses!

<THE CAMERA CUTS BACK TO ASHUROAS’ FLEET, WHICH BEGINS MOVING IN TOWARDS THE PLANET; THEN, THE CAMERA ZOOMS TO ONE OF THE SLAVERS, WHO IS ORANGE-SKINNED WITH WHITE FUR AND SIMIAN FEATURES; THE CAMERA PANS BACK SLIGHTLY, REVEALING AT FIRST TWO, THEN TEN, THEN TWO DOZEN, THEN FIFTY SLAVERS ALL APPROACHING GLAYSIA, THEIR AURAS EVERY COLOR ONE COULD IMAGINE; A FEW HUNDRED MROVIAN WARRIORS, CLAD IN ARMOR, POUR OUT OF THE LARGER MROVIAN SHIPS, THE CARRIERS (THESE BEING 1400 METERS OR 4600 FEET LONG EACH) AND FOLLOW THE SLAVERS TO THE SURFACE, AND THE PARENT VESSELS FOLLOW SUIT>

<ONCE THE MROVIANS IN ORBIT ENTER THE ATMOSPHERE, HOWEVER, THE SLAVERS ARE ALREADY WAITING FOR THEM AND BARRAGE THEM WITH ENERGY BLASTS; THE MROVIAN WARRIORS RETURN FIRE WITH VOLLEYS OF THEIR OWN, EVEN SUCCEEDING IN VAPORIZING THE WEAKER SLAVERS WITH THEIR VOLUME OF FIRE; THE STRONGER ENEMIES, HOWEVER, SHRUG OFF THE MROVIANS’ ASSAULT AND KILL A FEW DOZEN WARRIORS AND ALSO SEVERALLY DAMAGE SOME OF THE SMALLER SHIPS>

<THE SAME ORANGE-AND-WHITE ALIEN MENTIONED EARLIER CHARGES UP A BLUE-WHITE ENERGY SPHERE IN EACH HAND; TARGETING ONE OF THE MROVIAN CARRIERS, HE UNLEASHES HIS ATTACK IN THE FORM OF A PAIR OF ENERGY BEAMS OUT OF HIS PALMS; CUTS TO THE BRIDGE OF THE SHIP, WHICH REVEALS THE TARGET TO BE NONE OTHER THAN ASHUROAS’ VESSEL; THE WHOLE SHIP SHAKES AS IT TAKES A DIRECT HIT>

<CUTS BACK TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE CARRIER, THE HULL IS PARTIALLY DAMAGED, BUT THE REMNANTS OF ITS ENERGY SHIELDING FLICKERING IN THE FORM OF DYING SPARKS; CUTS BACK TO THE BRIDGE OF ASHUROAS’ SHIP>

Mrovian Warrior 2: Admiral Salhior, our shielding is depleted! The Keeper of the Hidden cannot take another hit of that caliber!

<CUTS BACK TO THE BATTLE ON THE OUTSIDE; THIS TIME, A BROWN HAIRLESS ALIEN WITH GREEN STRIPES CHARGES A BLUE-WHITE ENERGY SPHERE ABOVE HIS HEAD IN BOTH HANDS; INTENDING TO FINISH WHAT HIS COMRADE DID NOT, HE TOO TARGETS THE KEEPER OF THE HIDDEN AS HE DISCHARGES A SINGLE HUGE BEAM OUT OF BOTH OF HIS PALMS SIDE-BY-SIDE; SUDDENLY, A WHITE STREAK FLASHES FROM THE SIDE AND ENDS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE MROVIAN CARRIER; THE SLAVER’S ENERGY BEAM EXPLODES FANTASTICALLY REGARDLESS>

<WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS, THE INCOMING WHITE STREAK IS SEEN TO BE NONE OTHER THAN CUBER PERFORMING HIS LIGHTSPEED DASH, ARRIVING JUST IN TIME TO INTERCEPT THE ALIEN’S ENERGY BEAM WITH HIS BODY; DESPITE TAKING A DIRECT HIT, CUBER IS FAR STRONGER THAN HIS ENEMY AND DOES NOT TAKE MUCH DAMAGE AT ALL>

Cuber: Sorry I’m late.

<WITH BLINDING SPEED, CUBER FLIES UP TO THE BROWN-AND-GREEN ALIEN AND VAPORIZES HIM WITH AN EXPLOSIVE SHINE; NOT STOPPING HIS PATH, HE IMMEDIATELY FLIES FROM TARGET TO TARGET, KILLING EACH ENEMY WITH THE VERY SAME ATTACK WHILE LEAVING A TRAIL OF BLUE-WHITE LIGHT OUTLINED WITH ORANGE; IN AN INSTANT, NONE OF THE SLAVERS REMAIN>

Cuber: <ALMOST YELLING> I didn’t miss any, did I? I don’t sense anything that doesn’t belong here anymore.

Ashuroas: <TELEPATHICALLY FROM INSIDE THE KEEPER OF THE HIDDEN> You have slain them all, Saiyan, and for that...I was wrong to ever doubt you or the Supreme Admiral. This was not your fight, and yet you have saved us all.

Cuber: Thanks, I guess. I’ve lived here for so long. I thought I’d lend a hand.

Ashuroas: The Council may still mistrust you, but I will not forget what you have done for us today.

<CUTS TO SALHIOR’S BRIDGE; A HOLOGRAPHIC PROJECTION ABOVE THE HEADS OF THE WORKING MROVIAN WARRIORS ACTIVATES, REVEALING A MROVIAN WITH GOLD-YELLOW EYES WEARING A DARK-BLUE HOOD DECORATED WITH LINES OF GOLD>

Fadjist: Supreme Admiral Salhior.

Salhior: High Councilor Fadjist. I imagine you wish to speak about the Saiyan. I know I have violated the terms we have agreed upon. You may refuse any explanation I have to offer, but know that I–

Fadjist: The High Council has witnessed the Galatrix’s invasion of Glaysia and the valiancy of the Saiyan’s actions. Neither of you will be punished and the Saiyan may continue to live free; after all, he has done so under your care all these years without bringing harm to the Republic.

Salhior: <SURPRISED> You...have my thanks.

Fadjist: You have always served our people well, Supreme Admiral. We are aware that your intentions are pure, even if we may sometimes perceive your actions as reckless.

<CUTS TO GLAYSIA, FIRST OUTSIDE ITS MROVIAN RESEARCH FACILITY, AND THEN TO ITS INTERIOR; CUBER IS WALKING ALONGSIDE A SHORTER, STOCKIER MROVIAN WITH BLUE EYES DOWN A HALLWAY; THIS ONE IS ALSO WEARING AN EXOSKELETON, BUT UNLIKE THE ARMOR WORN BY THE WARRIORS, THIS SUIT IS BULKIER AND NOT FULLY-SEALED AND HAS NO HELMET>

Quoeyg: Now that you have joined the Mrovian Navy, we have prepared a suit of combat armor for you.

Cuber: I’m so much smaller than the rest of you. Did you really make a suit just to fit me?

Quoeyg: Indeed. We have always monitored your physical dimensions. Constructing this suit for you was not too difficult a task.

<CUBER AND QUOEYG STOP AT A SET OF AUTOMATIC DOORS AS THEY OPEN UP; UPON ENTERING THE ROOM, A FULL SUIT OF GOLD-COLORED MROVIAN ARMOR, TAILORED FOR CUBER, IS SUSPENDED BY INVISIBLE FORCES>

Cuber: Nice! You even remembered about my tail.

Quoeyg: You may put it on whenever you are ready.

Cuber: Uh, how do I do that?

Quoeyg: Your neural implant. The armor will teleport onto your body.

Cuber: Oh, right.

<CUBER OPENS HIS ARMS BEFORE THE ARMOR FROM ITS INVISIBLE STAND VANISHES INTO BLACKNESS AND REAPPEARS ON CUBER’S BODY>

Cuber: <VOICE SOMEWHAT ALTERED BY THE FULLY-SEALED HELMET> Whoa, awesome…

<CUBER’S HELMET TELEPORTS BACK ONTO THE INVISIBLE STAND, BUT THE REST OF HIS ARMOR REMAINS ON HIS BODY>

Quoeyg: Now, are there any colors you would prefer for your armor?

Chapter 5: Destiny Before Pursuit[]

<IT IS JANUARY 766 AGE; NITRO, STILL IN HIS THIRD FORM, SITS ON HIS THRONE WITH KIRKA NEXT TO HIM; FASSFU WALKS INTO THE THRONE ROOM AND GETS DOWN ON ONE KNEE IN FRONT OF HIS LORD>

Fassfu: King Nitro.

Nitro: Ah, General Fassfu, I was wondering when you would return. What do you have to report? lit Fassfu: We have laid claim to all of Frieza’s and Cooler’s planets and their respective armies. Many planets have already pledged loyalty to you. A few may take some convincing, but they’ll come around soon enough.

Nitro: Excellent. Finally, after all these years, the Planet Trade Organization is mine.

Kirka: Lord Nitro–

Nitro: King Nitro.

Kirka: <STARTLED> Y-yes, of course, King Nitro.

Nitro: Continue…

Kirka: What will you do about the other members of your family?

Nitro: What of them?

Kirka: My king, erm, Lord Frieza’s son, Kuriza, is still alive… I don’t expect he’ll take kindly to you laying claim to his father’s empire… Not to mention your uncles Arcterial and Icer are out there too. I have been receiving reports on their movements, and it appears they are both gathering forces and carving out their own territories.

Nitro: It does not surprise me that with my father and brothers gone, my uncles have begun plotting against me.

Kirka: <GLANCES AT FASSFU, THEN LOWERS HIS VOICE> B-but the boy…the line of succession-

Nitro: <PUTS A HAND UP TO PREVENT KIRKA FROM CONTINUING> I am fully aware of the laws of succession in my empire, Kirka. My brother’s son will not rule over me.

Kirka: He will try to take what he thinks is his by rights.

Nitro: He will try, and he will die, just like his father. Send Admiral Po and his fleet to those planets that still need persuading. And do not take long; I would like the empire to returned to me by the time I am finished with the Mrovians. <HE LOOKS TO FASSFU, WHO NODS, BOWS, THEN WALKS OFF, BEFORE RETURNING HIS GAZE TO THE HUNCHED-OVER KIRKA> Speak, Kirka. You look like you have something to say.

Kirka: <MEEKLY> With all due respect, my king, would it not be wiser to deal with your family before invading a foreign empire?

Nitro: The Mrovians may be hiding away on a few worlds here and there, but they are intelligent, cunning, and powerful. Their technological capabilities surpass even our own. Imagine, Kirka: if my scientists knew what the Mrovians did… Kuriza, Arcterial, Icer…none of them would stand a chance against me. And they won’t. Your spy has already found one of the Mrovian worlds - Kuludug, was it? That is where I will go. This should not take long. <HE STANDS UP; KIRKA JUMPS OUT OF THE WAY SO AS TO NOT GET TRAMPLED> When I return, I’ll kill the remaining traitors myself. Until then, keep an eye on my daughter for me.

Kirka: Of course, my king.

Nitro: <SUDDENLY STARES KIRKA DOWN WITH A HORRIBLE GAZE> Should anything happen to her, I will kill you… but not before making you watch every member of your species and your homeworld burn. Do I make myself clear, Kirka?

Kirka: Indeed, King Nitro. <HE BOWS> I am, as always, your faithful servant.

<CUTS TO THE BRIDGE OF THE LANCE OF MROV>

Mrovian Warrior 1: Supreme Admiral, we are receiving a transmission from Kuludug.

Guirrom: <ON THE HOLOGRAPHIC SCREEN> Supreme Admiral Salhior, this is Admiral Guirrom of the Bringer of Judgement. The Planet Trade Organization has invaded Kuludug in overwhelming numbers. I humbly request your aid.

Salhior: Continue to hold them off. We are on our way. <TO HIMSELF> We always knew this day would come.

<CUTS TO THE ORBIT OF KULUDUG; MULTIPLE CIRCLES OF BLACK OPEN UP – A MUCH LARGER ONE SURROUNDED BY SEVERAL SMALLER ONES; THE LANCE OF MROV FLIES OUT OF THE BLACK CIRCLE, WHILE OTHER MROVIAN WARSHIPS FLY OUT THE REST; ON THE SURFACE OF THE PLANET FROM ORBIT, MULTIPLE EXPLOSIONS CAN BE SEEN GOING OFF; CUTS BACK TO SALHIOR’S BRIDGE>

Guirrom: Supreme Admiral, I have dire news. A powerful enemy from the Planet Trade Organization is corrupting the minds of our warriors. We have not been able to eliminate him and have already been forced to kill our brethren under his control.

Salhior: Yes, I can sense him. He will be dealt with swiftly.

<CUTS TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE LANCE OF MROV, AND THEN ZOOMS IN; SEVERAL DOZEN MROVIAN WARRIORS CAN BE SEEN FLYING TOWARDS THE PLANET; AT THE FRONT IS A SMALLER BEING, BUT WITH UNIQUE ARMOR COLORATION CONSISTING OF A METALLIC TAN COLOR TRIMMED WITH ORANGE-BROWN; UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, THE SMALLER WARRIOR HAS A TAIL AND IS NONE OTHER THAN CUBER>

<A SWARM OF PLANET TRADE ORGANIZATION SOLDIERS BLOCKADE THE APPROACHING WARRIORS AND BEGIN FIRING ENERGY BLASTS, BE IT FROM ARM CANNONS OR THEIR OWN PALMS; CUBER PUTS UP AN ENERGY SHIELD THAT SURROUNDS HIMSELF AND REFLECTS THE ENEMIES’ ATTACKS; THE MROVIAN INFANTRY ALSO OPEN FIRE WITH ENERGY WAVE BARRAGES OF THEIR OWN, AND THE COMBINATION OF THE MROVIAN BOLTS AND THE REFLECTED ENEMIES’ ENERGY DECIMATE THE PLANET TRADE ORGANIZATION SOLDIERS, ALLOWING CUBER AND HIS COMPANY TO ADVANCE>

<ONCE IN THE ATMOSPHERE, CUBER AND HIS FELLOW WARRIORS EACH GLOW BLUE-WHITE, SURROUNDED IN A LAYER OF ORANGE LIGHT; ON THE GROUND, OTHER MROVIAN WARRIORS, WITH ENERGY BLADES ACTIVATED IN HANDS, CAN BE SEEN FIGHTING MORE PLANET TRADE ORGANIZATION SOLDIERS, WHO ARE SUPPORTED BY MIND-CONTROLLED MROVIAN WARRIORS, NO LONGER WEARING THEIR ARMOR AND WITH THEIR EYES NOW TURNED COMPLETELY BLACK; THE COMPANY OF MROVIANS WHO ARRIVED WITH CUBER IMMEDIATELY SUPPORTS THEIR ALLIES, WHILE CUBER, USING HIS KI SENSE ABILITIES, IMMEDIATELY RUSHES TO THE SOURCE OF THE CORRUPTION AS HIS HELMET DISAPPEARS, REVEALING HIS FACE>

<CUBER SOON SEES HIS TARGET, WHO IS A TALL, THIN HUMANOID WITH LIGHT GREEN SKIN, DARK RED HAIR, AND LIGHT-BROWN PAULDRON ARMOR TRIMMED WITH BLACK; HE IS SURROUNDED AND GUARDED BY MORE THAN A DOZEN NAKED MROVIANS UNDER HIS CONTROL; CUBER FIRES A STUN BOLT TO EACH OF THE MROVIANS’ HEADS, KNOCKING THEM UNCONSCIOUS, AND THE MOMENT CUBER’S TARGET REALIZES WHAT HAD HAPPENED, CUBER SHOOTS A STUN BOLT AT HIM AS WELL; THE ENEMY REMAINING STARTLED ALLOWS CUBER TO CONTINUE TO CLOSE THE DISTANCE, AND THEN IN ONE SWIFT SEQUENCE, THE SAIYAN FIRES A POINT-BLANK STUN BOLT, JABS THE TARGET WITH HIS LEFT FIST, BLASTS HIM WITH AN EXPLOSIVE SHINE, AND THEN FINISHES OFF WITH A RIGHT FLYING BACK KICK TO THE UPPER-ABDOMEN JUST BELOW THE STERNUM; CUBER’S KICK OBLITERATES THE ALIEN’S MIDSECTION IN AN ORANGE-WHITE EXPLOSION, PROPELLING THE ENEMY’S LIMBS AND HEAD IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS>

<CUTS TO THE MROVIANS WHOM CUBER’S TARGET WAS CONTROLLING; THESE MROVIANS STOP FIGHTING AND THEIR NATURAL EYE COLORS RETURN>

Cuber: <OVER COMMS> Admiral Guirrom, I’ve exterminated the pest. I’m going to the largest gathering of enemies. Withdraw your warriors from that area so I don’t accidentally kill them too.

Guirrom: <OVER COMMS> Understood. I will recall my forces from the location you have requested.

<CUBER FLIES TO HIS DESTINATION, AND ALL OF THE PLANET TRADE ORGANIZATION SOLDIERS IN THE AREA FIRE ENERGY BLASTS AT HIM; BEING FAR STRONGER THAN HIS ENEMIES, CUBER IS UNFAZED BY THE BOLTS THAT DO HIT HIM; ONCE IN THE CENTER OF THE ENEMY FORCES, CUBER UNLEASHES A SUPER EXPLOSIVE WAVE IN THE FORM OF A BLUE-WHITE SPHERE, ENGULFING EVERYTHING AROUND HIM IN THE SPAN OF SEVERAL SQUARE KILOMETERS; WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS, A HUGE MOLTEN CRATER REVEALS ITSELF BELOW CUBER; ALL BUT A SINGLE PLANET TRADE ORGANIZATION SOLDIER WAS IONIZED IN THE BLAST; THIS ONE IS A FEMALE HUMANOID WITH LIGHT-PURPLE SKIN, PLATINUM-BLOND HAIR IN A BUN, AND GOLD-YELLOW PAULDRON ARMOR>

Lunuma: So you’re the one who killed Litri. That was impressive, but not impressive enough.

<CUBER TURNS TO FACE HER BUT DOES NOT RESPOND>

Lunuma: With a power level of 20,000, you can’t win against me.

Cuber: <RAISES HIS LEFT EYEBROW, UNIMPRESSED> Really? <BECKONING WITH HIS LEFT INDEX FINGER> Then come on.

Lunuma: So arrogant. You won’t live to regret taunting me.

<LUNUMA FLIES AT CUBER WITH A RIGHT FLYING SIDE KICK; CUBER BACKS AWAY OUT OF THE KICK’S RANGE; THE FEMALE ALIEN THEN THROWS OUT BARRAGES OF KICKS AND PUNCHES, ALL OF WHICH CUBER DODGES; AFTER SEVERAL SECONDS, CUBER BARRAGES LUNUMA WITH A SHOWER OF STUN BOLTS, PUSHING HER BACK; CUBER AND LUNUMA CEASE THEIR COMBAT>

Lunuma: This isn’t possible! <CLICKS HER SCOUTER> You’re only at 20,000!

<CUBER SILENTLY SMILES, AMUSED AT LUNUMA’S CONFUSION>

Lunuma: This is a new scouter; how can it already be broken?!

Cuber: It’s not broken.

Lunuma: What?

Cuber: But I’ll break it for you.

<CUBER POWERS UP, HIS AURA SURGING OUT OF HIM IN A MAGNIFICENT YELLOW FLAME; SURE ENOUGH, LUNUMA’S SCOUTER SHATTERS, AS CUBER’S POWER LEVEL TRANSCENDS WHAT IT CAN READ>

Lunuma: <IN FEAR> No…

<LUNUMA PREPARES TO FLY AWAY, BUT CUBER IMMEDIATELY FLIES AROUND TO END UP IN FRONT OF HER; BACK FACING HIS ENEMY, HE VERTICALLY LAUNCHES LUNUMA WITH A RIGHT SCORPION KICK; HE THEN FOLLOWS LUNUMA INTO THE SKY TO HIT HER WITH AN EXPLOSIVE SHINE THAT SENDS HER EVEN HIGHER; AS THE FEMALE ALIEN CONTINUES HER WAY UP THE HIGHER LAYERS OF THE ATMOSPHERE, CUBER SURROUNDS HIMSELF IN BLUE-WHITE KI, AND THEN CHASES LUNUMA DOWN WITH A SAIYAN BOLIDE; UPON IMPACT, THE RESULTING AIR BURST COMPLETELY INCINERATES LUNUMA, LEAVING NO VISIBLE REMAINS>

<CUTS TO THE BRIDGE OF THE LANCE OF MROV>

Salhior: <TO ALL LOCAL MROVIAN FORCES> Cuber has eliminated all major threats. Continue your fight, warriors. We are nearly done!

<CUTS TO A FURTHER DISTANCE AWAY FROM KULUDUG; A FLYING SAUCER THAT LOOKS VERY MUCH LIKE FRIEZA’S AND COOLER’S SPACESHIPS FLIES TOWARDS THE PLANET; CUTS BACK TO SALHIOR’S BRIDGE>

Mrovian Warrior 2: Supreme Admiral, another ship has warped in! It is–

Salhior: Nitro…we must evacuate the colony!

<CUTS BACK TO NITRO’S SHIP; WHEN IT GETS CLOSE ENOUGH TO KULUDUG, THE REMAINING ORBITAL DEFENSE LASERS IMMEDIATELY FIRE UPON THE FLYING SAUCER, OBLITERATING IT; NITRO IS REVEALED WITHIN THE DEBRIS AND IS, OF COURSE, UNSCATHED; THE ORBITAL DEFENSE LASERS AND MULTIPLE MROVIAN SHIPS FIRE AT NITRO, WHO TAKES NO DAMAGE; HE LIFTS HIS RIGHT HAND AS PURPLE KI SURROUNDS IT, AND THEN SWEEPS HIS HAND TO THE LEFT, UNLEASHING A MASSIVE, WIDE PURPLE-WHITE ENERGY WAVE, DESTROYING EVERYTHING THAT FIRED UPON HIM>

<SUDDENLY, THIN BLUE-WHITE BEAMS HIT NITRO FROM BELOW, AND WHILE HE IS STUNNED, CUBER APPEARS ABOVE HIM AND DRILL-KICKS THE ARCOSIAN TOWARDS THE PLANET; NITRO GLOWS ORANGE-WHITE AS HE PASSES THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE, BUT THEN REGAINS CONTROL OF HIS BODY; WHEN HE LOOKS IN FRONT OF HIM, CUBER IS THERE>

Nitro: Interesting...I did not expect the Mrovians to have a Saiyan on their side, and a powerful one no less. You should join me; you have no future with the Mrovians, and I could use another powerful warrior such as yourself.

Cuber: You killed my brother and my friend.

Nitro: Pardon?

Cuber: Those Saiyans who landed on your planet almost three decades ago – I was one of them.

Nitro: Ah, yes, I remember now. A shame the tiny brat couldn't control himself. Nevertheless, my offer still stands. I wouldn't want to let your strength go to waste, and besides, what choice do you have?

Cuber: Of course you wouldn't understand. Just like Frieza, coercive power is all you care about. When I'm done here, no one will miss you.

Nitro: Bold words from a member of an extinct species. You seem to have forgotten who I am.

<JUST AS NITRO FINISHES HIS SENTENCE, CUBER HITS THE EMPEROR 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; ONCE CUBER REGAINS CONTROL OF HIS BODY, HE STOPS HIMSELF FROM CONTINUING AND PUTS HIS LEFT HAND OVER WHERE NITRO HAD HIT HIM, CLEARLY STILL IN PAIN>

Nitro: Nice try, but now you no longer have the element of surprise.

<TRYING HIS BEST TO IGNORE HIS INJURY, CUBER FIRES ANOTHER STUN BOLT AT NITRO AS HE FLIES TOWARDS HIM; THIS TIME, THE ARCOSIAN, WITH HIS RIGHT HAND, SLAPS THE ENERGY BEAM STRAIGHT BACK AT CUBER; NOT SEEING THIS MOVE COMING, CUBER GETS HIT BY HIS OWN ATTACK; BEFORE THE SAIYAN CAN DO ANYTHING FURTHER, NITRO IS ALREADY UPON HIM AND THRUSTS HIS OWN FOREHEAD INTO CUBER’S; THE SAIYAN FLIES BACK, UPPER BODY FIRST, BUT NITRO SIDE-KICKS HIM IN THE ABDOMEN WITH HIS RIGHT FOOT BEFORE CUBER CAN FLY TOO FAR, SHATTERING THAT PART OF THE ARMOR; CUBER BENDS OVER, BUT ONLY TO RECEIVE A LEFT ROUNDHOUSE KICK TO THE HEAD>

<AS CUBER IS SENT FLYING TO NITRO’S RIGHT, THE ARCOSIAN IMMEDIATELY BARRAGES THE SAIYAN WITH ORANGE-WHITE CRAZY FINGER BEAMS; CUBER CONTINUES TO SAIL BACK AS NITRO FOLLOWS HIM, CONTINUING HIS BARRAGE AND MELTING HOLES THROUGH THE SAIYAN’S ARMOR AND SKIN; AFTER A SECOND, NITRO STOPS HIS BARRAGE, FLIES ABOVE CUBER, AND THEN KICKS THE SAIYAN INTO THE GROUND; CUBER IMPACTS IN A SPECTACULAR EXPLOSION; AFTER THE SMOKE CLEARS, NITRO FLIES DOWN NEXT TO CUBER’S BARELY-CONSCIOUS BODY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CRATER>

Chapter 6: Sterilization Protocol[]

Nitro: <WRAPPING HIS TAIL AROUND CUBER’S NECK> Did you actually think you stood a chance? <NITRO LIFTS CUBER OFF HIS FEET>

<UNABLE TO MOVE, THE BLOODIED CUBER CAN ONLY GRIMACE AND GLARE AT NITRO; BEFORE THE ARCOSIAN CAN FINISH CUBER OFF, THE SAIYAN DISAPPEARS IN MROVIAN TELEPORTATION>

Nitro: What?!

<NITRO LOOKS UP AT THE MROVIAN VESSELS ABOVE>

Nitro: <YELLING> Mrovians, you stand before King Nitro, emperor of the Planet Trade Organization! I have beaten your champion! Your technological achievements are not unknown to us! If you join my empire, I will cease the slaughter of your people, but should you defy me, I will make sure you all suffer...every last one of you! Either way, your worlds, your ships, and everything else you own will be mine!

<CUTS TO SALHIOR’S BRIDGE>

Mrovian Warrior 3: Supreme Admiral, those who have survived have been evacuated to the ships.

Salhior: <AFTER A BRIEF HESITATION> Good. Now we must destroy Kuludug. Nitro will not possess our world.

<CUTS BACK TO NITRO>

Nitro: Perhaps you didn’t hear me clearly! I–

Salhior: <TELEPATHICALLY> We hear you, Nitro. We will not become slaves to your dreadful empire. You may have won today, but so long that there are Mrovians who draw breath, you will never break us.

<CUTS TO SALHIOR>

Salhior: All vessels, ready your weapons, now!

<CUTS TO THE SURVIVING MROVIAN SHIPS IN SPACE; THE ENTIRE FLEET TURNS TO AIM THEIR MAIN CANNONS IN NITRO’S DIRECTION; CUTS BACK TO NITRO>

Nitro: Are your measly ship cannons supposed to scare me?

Salhior: Warriors, unleash your fury!

<THE GIANT MROVIAN SHIPS UNLEASH THEIR MASSIVE BLUE-WHITE PLASMA BEAMS ONTO THE SURFACE BELOW; NO MORE THAN THREE HIT NITRO DIRECTLY AND DO NO DAMAGE TO THE ARCOSIAN LORD, BUT THE REST SHATTER AND MELT ENORMOUS CHUNKS OFF THE PLANET; THE SHEER VOLUME OF PLASMA FIRE BLINDS NITRO AS A SOLAR FLARE WOULD; STILL, NITRO ATTEMPTS TO RETALIATE, BLINDLY FIRING OFF A SUPER ENERGY WAVE VOLLEY UP INTO THE SKY>

<CUTS TO THE MROVIAN FLEET IN OUTER SPACE; MANY OF NITRO’S BLUE-WHITE ENERGY WAVES MISS, BUT SOME FIND AND DESTROY UNFORTUNATE MROVIAN SHIPS THAT HAPPEN TO BE IN THE WAY; ONCE KULUDUG IS NO LONGER HELD TOGETHER BY ITS OWN GRAVITY, THE MROVIAN SHIPS JUMP OUT OF THE STAR SYSTEM, LEAVING THE PLANET’S REMAINS IN THE FORM OF GLOWING DISASSEMBLED SPACE ROCKS>

<CUTS TO A GOLDEN ROOM WITH A HIGH CEILING, SALHIOR STANDS AT THE CENTER, WHILE FADJIST AND SEVERAL OTHER COUNCILORS SIT FROM ELEVATED POSITIONS; AYSUIDA, WITH A KATCHIN GLAIVE AND SHIELD IN HER HANDS, AND SEVERAL OTHER FEMALE MROVIANS WEARING SILVER ARMOR PIECES STAND AT THE WALLS OF THE ROOM (THESE WARRIORS ARE CALLED THE SHIELDMAIDENS)>

Salhior: Councilors, as you know, Kuludug was lost. Nitro himself arrived with the invasion force and was too powerful for us to stop. He has made it clear that he intends to enslave us and claim our technologies for himself. We currently believe that Nitro is unaware of the locations of our other worlds, or he would have invaded them already.

<THE COUNCILORS TELEPATHICALLY COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER>

Fadjist: We have the locations of Nitro’s planets, correct?

Salhior: Yes, Councilor Fadjist.

Fadjist: You and the other admirals are to destroy the nearest of Nitro’s outposts. Do not allow him any footing to continue his invasion.

Salhior: Understood. Is there anything else you require of me?

Fadjist: That will be all, Supreme Admiral Salhior. You are dismissed.

<CUTS TO SOMETIME LATER, WITH SALHIOR ON THE BRIDGE OF THE LANCE OF MROV>

Salhior: <TO ONE OF THE MROVIAN WARRIORS OPERATING CONTROLS> Open a channel to the other admirals.

<CUE AFTER THE FALL BY NICK PHOENIX>

Two_Steps_From_Hell_-_After_The_Fall_(Invincible)

Two Steps From Hell - After The Fall (Invincible)






<CUTS TO GUIRROM, WHO IS ON HER BRIDGE, LOOKING AT THE HOLOGRAPHIC PROJECTION OF SALHIOR’S FACE>

Salhior: Brothers, sisters, the Arcosian emperor Nitro has declared war upon our people and wishes to enslave us.

<CUTS TO A BATTLE GROUP OF MROVIAN SHIPS, HOVERING IN ORBIT OF A NITRO-CONTROLLED PLANET>

Salhior: The High Council has tasked us with destroying all of Nitro’s outposts that are immediate threats to the Republic.

<CUTS TO SEVERAL ALIENS OF A BIRD-LIKE HUMANOID SPECIES WITH RED FEATHERS IN CHAINED CUFFS WHO ARE WALKING FORWARD IN A LINE; PLANET TRADE ORGANIZATION SOLDIERS WATCH THEM FROM THE SIDES>

Salhior: We should not, however, condemn the unaffiliated to such fates. You are to focus only on Nitro’s minions and spare as many innocents as can.

<MROVIAN WARRIORS FIRE BLUE-WHITE ENERGY BEAMS AT THE PLANET TRADE ORGANIZATION SOLDIERS BELOW; IN THE CHAOS, THE SLAVES BREAK FREE AND SCATTER>

Salhior: Should Nitro’s forces overwhelm your fleet and you have no other choice, you may initiate the Sterilization Protocol.

<CUTS TO A MROVIAN BATTLE GROUP OF A FEW CARRIERS, BATTLESHIPS (THAT ARE SLIGHTLY SMALLER THAN CARRIERS), AND DESTROYERS, FIRING UPON A PLANET WITH THEIR STERILIZERS>

Salhior: The Mrovian Republic will not fall. In honor of Gykul!

<AFTER THE FALL ENDS>

<CUTS TO SALHIOR ON HIS BRIDGE; THE HOLOGRAPHIC COMMUNICATOR TURNS ON TO DISPLAY QUOEYG>

Quoeyg: Supreme Admiral, Cuber wishes to speak with you. He is currently on the training ground.

<CUTS TO CUBER IN HIS ORANGE LEGWEAR DASHING ALL OVER THE GOLDEN PLATFORM AT INCREDIBLE SPEEDS; WHEN THE AUTOMATIC DOORS OPEN, SALHIOR STEPS INTO THE VAST ROOM, PROMPTING CUBER TO TEMPORARILY STOP HIS TRAINING AND FLY UP TO THE SUPREME ADMIRAL>

Salhior: You wished to see me?

Cuber: Yes, master.

Salhior: You wish to speak about Nitro.

Cuber: Yes. After all these years, I finally got the chance to avenge my brother and friend, but I failed.

Salhior: We are still fighting a war against Nitro’s empire. You will get another opportunity to face him before this is over.

Cuber: I know. Thanks to your training, I’m now far stronger than any Saiyan I’ve ever known, and I might even be a Super Saiyan. I know you’re busy running the Navy, but you’re the only one who can help me raise my power quickly enough to give me a realistic shot at putting an end to Nitro and all those who follow him.

Salhior: Very well.

Cuber: Really?

Salhior: I may still be more powerful than you at present, but Nitro’s strength no doubt transcends far beyond my own. I have reason to believe that he has been holding back most of his power. Only you can surpass him in what little time we have, Cuber. Perhaps you only care to avenge your brother and friend, but your victory will put an end to this war and save the Mrovian Republic.

Cuber: Alright, then let’s not waste time.

<SALHIOR’S ARMOR DISAPPEARS; HE AND CUBER STAND ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE PLATFORM AS THE ROOM REARRANGES ITSELF AS IT DID WHEN CUBER FIRST FOUGHT AYSUIDA; CUBER OPENS WITH A BARRAGE OF STUN BOLTS, THE FIRST OF WHICH SALHIOR FLIES OVER, THE SECOND OF WHICH HITS SALHIOR, AND THE THIRD OF WHICH SALHIOR SIDESTEPS AS HE FLIES AROUND CUBER; THE SAIYAN TURNS AROUND AND HITS SALHIOR WITH ANOTHER STUN BOLT BEFORE GOING IN WITH A DRILL KICK; AFTER THE BLUE-WHITE ENERGY BEAM HITS HIM, SALHIOR PUTS UP AN ENERGY SHIELD, BLOCKING CUBER’S DRILL KICK, AND THEN FLIES AROUND CUBER AGAIN, AVOIDING THE FOLLOWING EXPLOSIVE SHINE; CUBER TURNS AROUND AGAIN TO FIRE ANOTHER STUN BOLT, WHICH SALHIOR SLAPS BACK TO CUBER WITH HIS RIGHT HAND; THE SAIYAN QUICKLY SHRUGS OFF THE PAIN AND FIRES YET ANOTHER STUN BOLT, WHICH SALHIOR JUMPS AND FLIES OVER AS HE MAKES HIS WAY TOWARDS CUBER>

<CUTS TO NITRO IN HIS NEW SPACESHIP; THE DOORS TO HIS BRIDGE OPEN, REVEALING A HUMANOID WITH LONG HAIR AND THE EARS OF A CAT, COVERED COMPLETELY IN DARK-BLUE FUR, AND WEARING SHOULDER-STRAP ARMOR THAT IS COLORED BLUE IN ALMOST THE SAME SHADE AS HIS ARMOR>

Fayg: You called for me, King Nitro?

Nitro: Hello, Fayg. I have something for you.

Fayg: This is about the Mrovians, isn’t it?

Nitro: Indeed. The Mrovians have begun destroying some of my outposts that border my empire to the east. Given their aggressiveness, they will undoubtedly attack Planet Nitro 458 soon. You will go there and infiltrate one of their vessels when they arrive. From what I understand, not even the Mrovians’ finest detectors can sense you, and you can maintain a telepathic link across virtually any distance.

Fayg: That is correct, King Nitro.

Nitro: Good. Notify me when you arrive on Mrov. When I give the order, assassinate the members of the High Council. Now, do you have any questions?

Fayg: No, my king. I will find Mrov; they will never see me coming.

<CUTS TO CUBER, WHO IS IN A LARGE GOLDEN CHAMBER SIMILAR TO THE LANCE OF MROV’S TRAINING GROUND, BUT WITH A COVERED CEILING; AS PART OF HIS USUAL TRAINING, HE IS FLYING EXCEEDINGLY FAST, CONSTANTLY CHANGING DIRECTIONS WHILE THROWING OUT STUN BOLTS AND EXPLOSIVE SHINES IN BETWEEN>

Salhior: <TELEPATHICALLY, THROUGH CUBER’S NEURAL IMPLANT> Cuber.

<CUBER STOPS HIS TRAINING>

Cuber: Yes?

Salhior: Typhon’s facility is under attack by Nitro’s forces. While Nitro himself is not present, his forces are being led by his General, Fassfu. Among all of our enemies in this war, Fassfu’s power is second only to Nitro’s.

Cuber: You want me to go there.

Salhior: The Fortress of Attainment is the only warship capable of killing a being of Fassfu’s caliber, but its Sterilizer should only be used as a last resort; not only could Fassfu evade its fire, but it would mean the destruction of Typhon. Make haste; there is little time.

Cuber: Understood. I’m on my way.

<CUTS TO SOMETIME LATER, WITH CUBER NOW IN HIS ARMOR BUT WITHOUT A HELMET, HOVERING TOWARDS A THIRTY-METER (100 FOOT) LONG GOLDEN SPACESHIP, A MROVIAN TRANSPORT; HE STEPS ON A PLATFORM BELOW, WHICH LIFTS HIM INTO THE TRANSPORT VESSEL; ONCE INSIDE THE COCKPIT, CUBER PRESSES A FEW DIGITAL “BUTTONS” BEFORE SITTING BACK IN HIS SEAT; CUTS TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE TRANSPORT VESSEL; THE CEILING OF THE ROOM IT’S IN OPENS UP TO REVEAL THE CONSTANT STORMS OF GLAYSIA, AND THEN CUBER’S TRANSPORT TAKES OFF INTO THE SKY>

<CUTS TO A TITANIC MROVIAN WARSHIP THAT IS FAR LARGER THAN ALL OTHER MROVIAN SHIPS EXCEPT FOR THE LANCE OF MROV; THIS SHIP IS THE FORTRESS OF ATTAINMENT; IT IS SHOWN TO BE SLOWLY DRIFTING IN ORBIT AROUND TYPHON; PLANET TRADE ORGANIZATION SOLDIERS, MOST OF WHOM ARE WEARING SEALED HELMETS, FIRE ENERGY BLASTS AT THE MASSIVE SPACESHIP AND ITS DEFENDING MROVIAN WARRIORS; MROVIAN WARRIORS AND NITRO’S SOLDIERS FALL FROM REPEATED FIRE ON BOTH SIDES>

<A BLACK CIRCLE OPENS UP IN THE DISTANCE, AND CUBER’S TRANSPORT FLIES OUT OF IT BEFORE IT CLOSES BACK INTO NOTHINGNESS; THE SCOUTERS OF ALL OF THE PLANET TRADE ORGANIZATION SOLDIERS EXPLODE; CUBER MATERIALIZES OUTSIDE THE TRANSPORT WITH HIS HELMET ON AND FLIES TOWARDS THE MASSIVE MROVIAN SHIP; AS HE DID SIXTEEN YEARS PRIOR AGAINST THE SLAVERS ON GLAYSIA, CUBER DARTS FROM ENEMY TO ENEMY, IONIZING EACH WITH AN EXPLOSIVE SHINE>

<SUDDENLY, A GREEN-AND-PINK KI SPHERE, SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN A BASKETBALL, SAILS TOWARDS CUBER AT A VERY HIGH SPEED; REACTING, CUBER FLIES OVER THE ENERGY BALL, WHICH CONTINUES INTO THE DISTANCE; CUBER LOOKS TO WHO THREW THE ATTACK, AND THEN THE CAMERA ZOOMS TO HIS FACE BEHIND HIS FACEPLATE, REVEALING AN EXPRESSION OF SHOCK>

Chapter 7: Short-Lived Reunion[]

<HOVERING ABOUT A HUNDRED METERS ACROSS FROM CUBER IS A FEMALE ADULT SAIYAN WHO GREATLY RESEMBLES CHAIVA, WEARING THE PAULDRON MODEL OF PLANET TRADE ORGANIZATION ARMOR COLORED BLACK AND RED; THE IMAGE OF THE PRE-TEEN CHAIVA AS CUBER REMEMBERS FLASHES ACROSS CUBER'S MIND; BELIEVING THAT THIS IS INDEED HIS FRIEND, CUBER DEACTIVATES HIS HELMET, REVEALING HIS FACE TO THE OTHER SAIYAN>

Cuber: <TELEPATHICALLY TO CHAIVA> Chaiva, is that you? It’s me, Cuber!

<CHAIVA’S FACE EXPRESSES A BRIEF MOMENT OF SURPRISE, BUT THEN RETURNS TO BEING SERIOUS; SHE FLIES AT CUBER WITH A RIGHT OVERHEAD HAMMERFIST, WHICH CUBER BLOCKS WITH A BLUE ENERGY SHIELD, CAUSING CHAIVA TO GLANCE OFF AROUND THE BARRIER; THE FEMALE SAIYAN IMMEDIATELY THROWS AN AURORA BOMB UPWARDS WHILE CUBER DEACTIVATES HIS SHIELD, AND THE ENERGY SPHERE PROMPTLY COMES BACK DOWN AND EXPLODES RIGHT ON HIM (A TECHNIQUE CALLED SLIDING AURORA MORTAR); WHEN THE ENERGY DISSIPATES, CUBER AND HIS ARMOR ARE REVEALED TO BE SLIGHTLY BURNED, BUT HE HIMSELF IS NOT PARTICULARLY INJURED; CHAIVA ATTACKS CUBER AGAIN, THROWING OUT MULTIPLE KICKS, KNEES, DOUBLE AXE HANDLES, AND SMALL AURORA BOMBS, ALL OF WHICH CUBER DODGE>

Cuber: <TELEPATHICALLY TO CHAIVA, WHILE STILL DODGING HER ATTACKS> Why are you doing this? Do you not remember me?

<CHAIVA SEEMINGLY IGNORES CUBER AND DOES NOT STOP HER ASSAULT>

Cuber: <THINKING TO HIMSELF> She doesn’t even seem like she’s trying. That means...of course; how did I not realize immediately? <TELEPATHICALLY TO CHAIVA> Listen, Chaiva. As much as I’d like to fight you right now, I’m here to kill Fassfu and Nitro’s soldiers. We can fight later, but not until I finish what I came here to do. I won’t even ask for your help.

<CHAIVA STOPS ATTACKING>

Cuber: <THINKING TO HIMSELF> Well that got her attention. <DIRECTED TOWARDS ALL NEARBY MROVIANS> Do not attack the Saiyan!

Chaiva: <MOUTHING SILENTLY, DUE TO BEING IN SPACE> Fassfu’s on the surface.

Cuber: <TELEPATHICALLY TO CHAIVA> I know. I can sense him.

Chaiva: <MOUTHING SILENTLY> I’ll help you kill Fassfu, but I need you to kill Kaesh, the girl who’s with him. Nitro found Mrov and is on his way. This invasion is a diversion. Stick to my plan, and I won’t kill any more Mrovians.

Cuber: <TELEPATHICALLY TO CHAIVA> How do I know I can trust you?

<CHAIVA GLARES AT CUBER>

Cuber: <TELEPATHICALLY TO CHAIVA> Where's Kailon? Did he–

Chaiva: <MOUTHING SILENTLY> Kailon didn't make it. Kill Kaesh, and go avenge him.

<CHAIVA NODS, QUICKLY POWERS UP, AND THEN FLIES TOWARDS TYPHON; CUBER THEN DOES THE SAME, RIGHT BEHIND CHAIVA>

Cuber: <TELEPATHICALLY TO CHAIVA> It’s good to see you again.

<CHAIVA GLANCES BACK IN RESPONSE, AND THEN RETURNS HER GAZE TO HER FRONT>

<CUTS TO FASSFU AND A FEMALE OF HIS SPECIES WITH SHORT BLACK HAIR STANDING NEXT TO HIM, ALSO WEARING NEW PLANET TRADE ORGANIZATION ARMOR, COLORED BLACK AND DARK GRAY; BOTH ARE IN FRONT OF A LARGE GOLDEN MROVIAN STRUCTURE, ARMS CROSSED; THEY LOOK UP TO SEE TWO GLOWING DOTS IN THE DISTANCE, SWIFTLY BECOMING BRIGHTER UNTIL THEY REVEAL THEMSELVES TO BE CHAIVA AND CUBER, WHO THEN LAND ONLY A DOZEN METERS IN FRONT OF THE ARCE-ALBUMIANS>

Fassfu: Chaiva, I expected you to take care of the threat in orbit, but I guess this works too. Now that we have him outnumbered–

Chaiva: Outnumbered? There’s two of us and two of you.

Fassfu: Excuse you?

Chaiva: Sorry to break it to you, but I was never loyal to Nitro. It was only a matter of time before I decided to get rid of all of you.

Fassfu: <IN DISBELIEF> What? What about–

Chaiva: Please. Those were simply your own delusions and nothing more. It was amusing to see how far I could go.

Fassfu: <CHEEKS DARKENING IN RAGE> No...

Kaesh: See? I told you she was a traitorous bitch!

Fassfu: <ANGRILY; IGNORING KAESH> No! <EYES GLOWING BLUE-WHITE> You cunt! When I’m done with you, I will make sure you regret ever crossing me!

<FASSFU FIRES OFF A PAIR OF BLUE-WHITE EYE LASERS AT CHAIVA, WHO DUCKS UNDER THEM; IN RESPONSE, THE ARCE-ALBUMIAN FLIES AT CHAIVA WITH BOTH FISTS EXTENDED; KAESH GOES AFTER CHAIVA AS WELL, BUT IS STOPPED BY A THIN BLUE-WHITE ENERGY BEAM; WHEN SHE STOPS TO SEE WHAT HIT HER, SHE SEES CUBER WITH HIS RIGHT HAND IN THE SHAPE OF A GUN, POINTING AT HER>

Kaesh: Why you…

Cuber: Your fight is with me.

<WITH A GROWL, KAESH LUNGES AT CUBER, WHO SLOWS HER DOWN WITH ANOTHER STUN BOLT; DETERMINED TO STRIKE HER OPPONENT, KAESH DOES NOT STOP HER CHARGE; WHEN SHE REACHES CUBER, SHE THROWS A RIGHT HOOK, BUT THE SAIYAN EVADES BY BACKING AWAY BEFORE COMING BACK WITH A DRILL KICK; THE SUCCESSFUL ATTACK INEVITABLY CONVERTS INTO AN EXPLOSIVE SHINE, FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER DRILL KICK AND A SECOND EXPLOSIVE SHINE; THE ENTIRE TIME, KAESH IS UNABLE TO RECOVER FROM THE SERIES OF STRIKES; WITH THE FEMALE ARCE-ALBUMIAN NOW ABOVE CUBER, HE JUMPS AFTER HER WITH YET ANOTHER EXPLOSIVE SHINE, AND THEN INSTANTLY DARTS AROUND TO END UP ABOVE HER, CONNECTING ONE FINAL DRILL KICK TO HER HEAD, COMPLETELY OBLITERATING KAESH ABOVE THE WAIST; THE RESULTING ENERGY BEAM THAT COMES OUT OF CUBER’S LEFT HEEL ENGULFS KAESH’S CHARRED REMAINS AND SENDS THEM THROUGH THE GROUND>

<CUBER LOOKS OVER TO CHAIVA, WHO SENDS FASSFU INTO SPACE WITH A HIGH SIDE KICK; CHAIVA TURNS TO SEE CUBER IN THE DISTANCE>

Chaiva: <SHOUTING> I thought your planet needs you!

Cuber: <TO HIMSELF> Right. <TELEPATHICALLY TO THE MROVIANS, AS HE FLIES INTO SPACE TOWARDS HIS TRANSPORT> Warriors, I am returning to Mrov to fight Nitro. Do not attack the Saiyan. I know she has slain many Mrovians, but that was only under Nitro’s orders. She will help us kill Fassfu and has promised to no longer fight against us. I know you have your doubts, but there is little time, and I ask that you trust me.

Saibron: <OVER COMMS> Cuber, this is Admiral Saibron of the Fortress of Attainment. We will allow your request. Should she fail or betray us, however, we will have no choice but to sterilize the entire system.

Cuber: <OVER COMMS, NOW IN THE COCKPIT OF HIS TRANSPORT> Understood.

<CUTS TO CHAIVA ON THE SURFACE; FASSFU LANDS ABOUT FIFTY METERS ACROSS FROM CHAIVA IN A FANTASTIC EXPLOSION; WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS, IT IS REVEALED THAT HIS CAPE IS GONE, HIS ARMOR IS CRACKED, AND PARTS OF HIS JUMPSUIT ARE TORN>

Fassfu: <ANGRILY> Stubborn bitch, why won’t you die?!

Chaiva: Haven’t you figured it out already? I’ve been holding out on all of you.

Fassfu: Hah! You wish!

Chaiva: You should have watched some of my fights at the Galactrix Arena… You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into.

<FASSFU FLIES AT CHAIVA, THIS TIME WITH HIS RIGHT FIST READY; HE TRIES TO HIT CHAIVA WITH AN UPPERCUT, BUT SHE LEANS BACK AWAY FROM IT AND RESPONDS WITH A RIGHT KNEE FOLLOWED BY A DOUBLE AXE HANDLE (A MOVE CALLED MAMBA STRIKE), BOTH OF WHICH FASSFU BLOCK; THE GENERAL THEN BACKS AWAY BEFORE FLYING ABOVE CHAIVA AS HE INHALES; CHAIVA THROWS OUT ANOTHER LEFT HIGH SIDE KICK AS FASSFU SHOOTS AN ORANGE-WHITE ENERGY WAVE OUT OF PURSED LIPS (FUSION BREATH); CHAIVA’S FOOT CONNECTS WITH FASSFU’S CHIN BUT THE FUSION BREATH INEVITABLY ENGULFS HER, BLASTING HER THROUGH THE GROUND>

<AFTER RECOVERING, FASSFU LANDS NEXT TO CHAIVA, WHO HAD ALREADY PULLED HERSELF OUT OF THE CRATER; FASSFU THROWS OUT A RIGHT STRAIGHT PUNCH, WHICH CHAIVA LEANS BACK AWAY FROM, AND THEN THE SAIYAN GRABS THE ARCE-ALBUMIAN’S ARM BEFORE THROWING HIM OVER HER SHOULDER AND INTO THE GROUND, CREATING ANOTHER EXPLOSION; BEFORE THE SMOKE CLEARS, FASSFU’S FUSION BREATH COMES OUT OF THE CRATER CHAIVA HAD JUST CREATED, STRIKING THE SAIYAN IN THE FACE AND LAUNCHING HER UPWARDS>

<FROM ABOVE, CHAIVA CHARGES UP A PAIR OF AURORA BOMBS, ONE IN EACH HAND, AND THEN THROWS THEM AT HER ENEMY, ONE AFTER ANOTHER AS SHE DESCENDS; FASSFU RAISES HIS FOREARMS IN AN X POSITION, MINIMIZING THE DAMAGE OF THE DOUBLE EXPLOSION; ONCE CHAIVA LANDS IN FRONT OF HIM, HE THROWS OUT ANOTHER RIGHT UPPERCUT, THIS TIME SUCCESSFULLY CONNECTING WITH CHAIVA’S MANDIBLE, SENDING HER BACK INTO THE SKY>

<CHAIVA STOPS HERSELF FROM LEAVING THE ATMOSPHERE AND GRABS HER JAW WITH HER LEFT HAND BEFORE FLYING BACK DOWN; WHEN FASSFU COMES TO VIEW, HE IS ALREADY CHARGING UP EYE LASERS; THE BLUE BEAMS HEAD FOR CHAIVA, WHO AVOIDS THEM BY FLYING OVER THEM AND THEN COMES DOWN WITH A DOUBLE-FOOT STOMP; FASSFU SIDE-STEPS CHAIVA’S KICK AND RESPONDS WITH A LEFT JAB TO HER FACE; CHAIVA THEN REACHES OUT TO GRAB HER OPPONENT, BUT HE FLIES AROUND HER AND HITS HER WITH ANOTHER LEFT JAB TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD; CHAIVA TURNS AROUND TO FACE FASSFU, BUT IS ONLY MET WITH YET ANOTHER LEFT JAB TO THE FACE FOLLOWED BY A RIGHT HOOK ACROSS THE CHEEK>

<CHAIVA FLIES BACK FROM THE IMPACT BUT THEN IMMEDIATELY LUNGES AT FASSFU WITH HER ARMS OUTSTRETCHED WITH SPEAR HANDS (SPEAR TACKLE); CHAIVA’S FINGERS STRIKE FASSFU JUST ABOVE THE ARMPITS, LAUNCHING HIM AT A SLIGHTLY UPWARDS ANGLE; SHE THEN FOLLOWS FASSFU FROM BELOW AND THROWS AN AURORA BOMB ABOVE AT HIM; THE ENERGY SPHERE SUCCESSFULLY REACHES ITS TARGET AND EXPLODES VIBRANTLY; KNOWING THAT FASSFU IS STILL ALIVE, CHAIVA THROWS YET ANOTHER AURORA BOMB, BUT THIS TIME, THE GENERAL DODGES BY FLYING OVER IT AS HE TRIES TO CLOSE THE DISTANCE; ONCE FASSFU IS WITHIN MELEEING RANGE, CHAIVA TRIES TO HIT HIM WITH A DROPKICK, BUT HE BACKS AWAY FROM IT BEFORE TRYING TO DESCEND; JUST AS HE FIRES OFF ANOTHER FUSION BREATH, CHAIVA SENDS HIM BACK UPWARDS WITH A LEFT HIGH SIDE KICK, BUT DOES NOT AVOID FASSFU’S ENERGY ATTACK THAT ENGULFS HER, INJURING HER SLIGHTLY>

<ONCE SHE RECOVERS, CHAIVA LEAPS AFTER FASSFU FROM BELOW WITH A DROPKICK, BUT HE FLIES OUT OF THE WAY AS HE DESCENDS; THE SAIYAN THEN TRIES TO HIT FASSFU WITH ANOTHER MAMBA STRIKE, BUT HE DODGES CHAIVA’S KNEE AS HE CHARGES UP EYE LASERS; CHAIVA’S DOUBLE AXE HANDLE CRASHES DOWN ONTO THE GENERAL’S HEAD AS HE RELEASES HIS EYE LASERS INTO CHAIVA’S LEGS, CAUSING HER TO GRIMACE IN PAIN; FASSFU ROLLS AROUND CHAIVA FROM THE CENTER OF THE NEW CRATER, BUT AS HE GETS BACK ONTO HIS FEET, THE SAIYAN CATCHES HIM AND PUTS HIM IN A REAR NAKED CHOKE>

<CHAIVA MAINTAINS HER GRIP AS SHE REMORSELESSLY GLARES AT HER ENEMY; FASSFU CLAWS AT CHAIVA’S ARM AROUND HIS THROAT, HIS FACE GRADUALLY BECOMING A PALER SHADE OF VIOLET BY THE SECOND; EVENTUALLY, THE GENERAL LOSES CONSCIOUSNESS AND CEASES HIS STRUGGLE, HIS ARMS DROOPING AT HIS SIDES; CHAIVA RELEASES HER GRIP, BUT BEFORE HIS BODY CAN HIT THE GROUND, SHE THROWS A LEFT HIGH SIDE KICK TO THE BACK OF THE ARCE-ALBUMIAN’S HEAD, UNLEASHING AN ORANGE-WHITE ENERGY BEAM AT THE POINT OF CONTACT; CHAIVA’S ATTACK DECAPITATES FASSFU AND THEN CASTS HIS CHARRED REMAINS INTO SPACE>

Chaiva: <PANTING> Good riddance…

<WITHIN SECONDS, SEVERAL DOZEN MROVIAN WARRIORS APPEAR, SURROUNDING CHAIVA, UNSURE OF WHAT TO EXPECT; CHAIVA SIMPLY LOOKS AROUND, UNCONCERNED>

<CUTS TO THE LANCE OF MROV IN HIGH ORBIT OF MROV, WHICH LOOKS SOMEWHAT LIKE EARTH WHILE HAVING A THIN BLUE TOWER THAT IS MANY TIMES HIGHER THAN THE PLANET’S DIAMETER, SURROUNDED BY FLOATING YELLOW RINGS LINED UP ACROSS ITS ENTIRE HEIGHT; SURROUNDING THE LANCE OF MROV ARE MANY SMALLER MROVIAN SHIPS, WHICH ARE DWARFED BY THE FLAGSHIP’S IMMENSE SIZE>

<CUTS TO THE LANCE OF MROV’S BRIDGE, WITH SALHIOR IN COMMAND AS PER USUAL, AND QUOEYG OPERATING ONE OF THE DASHBOARDS>

Quoeyg: Supreme Admiral, our deep space probes have detected Planet Trade Organization ships en route to Mrov.

Salhior: What? How?!

<HUNDREDS OF PLANET TRADE ORGANIZATION SPACE PODS AND TRANSPORTS COME INTO VIEW ON APPROACH TO MROV>

Mrovian Warrior 1: Nitro’s ships! Staggered line! Supreme Admiral, they outnumber us five-to-one!

Salhior: Then it is an even fight. All vessels, fire at will! Burn their wretched hides!

<CUTS BACK TO OUTER SPACE ABOVE MROV; THE ORBITAL DEFENSE LASERS AND MROVIAN WARSHIPS DESTROY DOZENS OF PTO SHIPS LONG BEFORE THEY CAN REACH THE EXOSPHERE, BUT AS NITRO HAS MANY MORE SOLDIERS TO SPARE, MROV’S DEFENSES ARE UNABLE TO STOP ALL OF THEM; THE STRONGER PTO SOLDIERS WHO EITHER SURVIVED THE DESTRUCTION OF THEIR SHIPS OR HAVE SIMPLY EJECTED FROM THEIR VESSELS TARGET THE ORBITAL DEFENSE LASERS, PROMPTING THE MROVIANS TO UNLEASH THEIR INFANTRY FROM THEIR OWN SHIPS; AS SALHIOR HAD PREDICTED, BOTH SIDES ARE ENGAGED IN A STALEMATE, NEITHER HAVING AN EDGE OVER THE OTHER>

Chapter 8: Invasion of Mrov[]

<CUTS TO A LARGE GOLDEN BUILDING AT THE CENTER OF A MROVIAN CITY, SURROUNDED BY MANY SMALLER HIGH-TECH-LOOKING STRUCTURES; ZOOMS IN TO THE DARKER SIDE OF THE CENTRAL BUILDING, ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF MROV’S SUN; CUTS TO A HALLWAY IN THE INTERIOR OF THE CENTRAL BUILDING; A TRANSLUCENT FIGURE SQUEEZES OUT OF A HOLE IN THE WALL; AFTER COMPLETELY EXITING THE VENT, THE TRANSLUCENT FIGURE TAKES ON A HUMANOID SHAPE, SPORTING CAT-LIKE EARS TO INDICATE THAT IT IS FAYG; IN FRONT OF HIM IS A SHIELDMAIDEN, PATROLLING THE HALLWAY, FACING AND WALKING AWAY FROM HIM; SILENTLY, HE HOVERS UP TO HER AND PLACES FOUR FINGERS OF HIS RIGHT HAND AGAINST THE BACK OF HER HELMET; HE ACTIVATES A BLUE-WHITE ENERGY BLADE THAT SHATTERS THE MROVIANS’ ENERGY SHIELDING AND CLEANLY MELTS THROUGH THE HELMET AND INTO THE BASE OF THE MROVIAN’S SKULL WHERE IT MEETS WITH THE NECK; FAYG QUICKLY DEACTIVATES HIS BLADE, CATCHES THE SHIELDMAIDEN’S BODY BEFORE IT HITS THE GROUND, AND THEN QUIETLY LOWERS HER CORPSE>

<CUTS TO A SMALLER ROOM, WHICH IS FADJIST’S OFFICE, WITH FADJIST SITTING IN A HOVERING CHAIR BEHIND A DESK, LOOKING AT A HOLOGRAPHIC PROJECTION OF THE BATTLE ABOVE; AYSUIDA STANDS GUARD BEHIND HIM IN HER ARMOR PIECES AND HOLDING HER WEAPONS; HAVING FELT THE SHORT SURGE IN ENERGY, AYSUIDA SHIFTS SLIGHTLY >

Fadjist: <TURNING SLIGHTLY TO GLANCE BEHIND AT AYSUIDA> Is something amiss?

Aysuida: You and the other councilors are in danger.

Fadjist: What?

Aysuida: Get down!

<AYSUIDA JUMPS IN FRONT OF FADJIST’S DESK AND RAISES HER SHIELD; A BLUE-WHITE ENERGY BEAM MELTS THROUGH THE METALLIC OFFICE DOOR AND STRIKES AYSUIDA’S SHIELD; THE IMPACT DENTS THE WALLS AND CEILING, ALTHOUGH BOTH AYSUIDA AND FADJIST ARE LEFT UNSCATHED>

<AYSUIDA LEAPS FORWARD AND RAISES HER LEFT HAND BEFORE TELEKINETICALLY PULLING FAYG’S FACE INTO IT; THE SUDDEN JERK OF MOTION SURPRISING HIM, HE LOSES HIS INVISIBILITY; THE FEMALE MROVIAN THROWS FAYG AGAINST THE WALL WITH THE BLUE PLASMA WINDOW, AND THEN SWINGS HER GLAIVE OVERHEAD, CUTTING HIM ACROSS THE TORSO IN A DOWNWARDS VERTICAL SLICE WHILE ALSO BLASTING HIM THROUGH THE WALL HE WAS ALREADY PINNED UP AGAINST>

<THE FEMALE MROVIAN FOLLOWS FAYG OUT OF FADJIST’S OFFICE, AND WHEN SHE REACHES HIM, SHE THRUSTS HER POLEARM FORWARD, STABBING HIM IN THE BELLY AND THEN LAUNCHING HIM EVEN FURTHER AWAY AND OUT OF THE CITY>

<CUTS TO THE BRIDGE OF THE LANCE OF MROV; FROM INSIDE, THE SPACE BATTLE CAN BE SEEN THROUGH THE VAST WINDOW; COUNTLESS ENERGY BEAMS FROM BOTH SIDES SAIL TOWARDS EACH OTHER, MANY MISSING AND OTHERS VAPORIZING TARGETS>

Salhior: He’s out there…

Quoeyg: Nitro?

Salhior: Yes. I can sense him. He waits just beyond the range of our orbital defenses.

Quoeyg: He is testing our resolve.

Salhior: Quoeyg, I will go and face Nitro. We cannot grant him any chance to destroy our homeworld. You are now in command of the Lance of Mrov.

Quoeyg: Supreme Admiral, you may be Mrov’s Champion, but Nitro is unlike any you have faced before. You have but a slim chance of defeating him.

Salhior: I do not intend to defeat him. I will keep him at bay long enough for Cuber to return. Until then, lead our fleet against Nitro’s forces with my full faith behind you.

Quoeyg: <HESITANTLY> As you command, Supreme Admiral.

<SALHIOR WALKS OFF THE PLATFORM OF HIS BRIDGE; CUTS TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE LANCE OF MROV; SALHIOR, NOW WITH HIS FACEPLATE ACTIVE, FLIES TOWARDS NITRO’S SHIP FAR IN THE DISTANCE; HE STOPS WITHIN A FEW HUNDRED METERS OF THE FLYING SAUCER; THE TOP OF THE MOTHERSHIP OPENS UP, REVEALING NITRO HIMSELF, GRADUALLY RISING OUT>

Nitro: <TELEPATHICALLY> So we meet at last, Supreme Admiral Salhior. Have you come to discuss the terms of your surrender?

Salhior: You are foolish to believe that you can bend us to your will so easily, Nitro. Your hubris will be your undoing.

Nitro: <TELEPATHICALLY> Is that so? Even if your forces manage to kill all of my soldiers here, there is nothing any of you can do to stop me. Destroying your pathetic world will only be the start of what is to come.

<WITHOUT A TELEPATHIC RESPONSE, SALHIOR FIRES A QUICK BLUE-WHITE KI BLAST AT NITRO’S FACE, DESTROYING HIS SCOUTER>

Nitro: <TELEPATHICALLY> Why you...if you’re so eager to die, then very well.

<NITRO VANISHES, BUT JUST AS HE DOES, SALHIOR MULTIPLIES, CREATING SEVERAL ILLUSION CLONES OF HIMSELF; AFTER HE REAPPEARS IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION, NITRO FIRES OFF INVISIBLE BLASTS FROM HIS FINGERTIPS AT THE SALHIORS; THE REAL SALHIOR, UNSCATHED, ATTACKS NITRO FROM THE RIGHT WITH A RIGHT BACK-FLIP KICK; NITRO TRIES TO RESPOND WITH A COUNTER-CLOCKWISE TAIL SWIPE, BUT SALHIOR BLOCKS WITH AN ENERGY SHIELD AND THEN TELEKINETICALLY HOLDS THE ARCOSIAN IN PLACE BEFORE STRIKING HIM WITH A RIGHT AXE KICK; SALHIOR TRIES TO HIT NITRO WITH ANOTHER FLASHKICK, BUT THE ARCOSIAN DODGES; NITRO TRIES TO COUNTERATTACK WITH A RIGHT ROUNDHOUSE KICK, BUT HIS LEG ONLY MAKES CONTACT WITH A FAKE SALHIOR, WHICH THEN MULTIPLIES; THE REAL SALHIOR LUNGES FROM THE LEFT WITH AN EXPLOSIVE WAVE, AND WHILE NITRO IS STILL STUNNED, HE ACTIVATES A BLUE-WHITE ENERGY BLADE OUT OF HIS LEFT HAND AND CUTS NITRO ACROSS THE SHOULDER WITH A BURNING CLAW>

Nitro: <AFTER RECOVERING, TELEPATHICALLY> Are you afraid to face me directly, Mrovian?

Salhior: As long as you continue to be predictable, I need not face you at all.

<NITRO GRIMACES IN ANNOYANCE, HIS GROWL SILENCED BY THE VACUUM OF SPACE>

<CUTS TO AYSUIDA AND FAYG, NOW FACING EACH OTHER OVER A VAST GRASSY PLATEAU>

Fayg: <CLUTCHING HIS WOUNDS WITH HIS LEFT HAND> I didn’t think any of you could be this strong.

Aysuida: You have underestimated us and are paying the price.

Fayg: It doesn’t matter. I will complete my mission one way or another.

<FAYG VANISHES; AYSUIDA RAISES HER SHIELD IN DEFENSIVE STANCE>

Aysuida: <THINKING TO HERSELF> I cannot sense him. I must remain on guard.

<AYSUIDA JUMPS AND SWINGS HER GLAIVE DOWNWARDS FROM OVER HER HEAD IN A VERTICAL ARC; HER WEAPON GLOWS BLUE-WHITE THROUGHOUT THE SWING AND AN ORANGE-WHITE BLADE OF ENERGY SLICES THE PLATEAU IN TWO; WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS, FAYG IS VISIBLE, HAVING DODGED THE MROVIAN’S ATTACK, NOW LUNGING AT HER WITH A BLUE-WHITE ENERGY SWORD IN EACH HAND; FAYG SWIPES BOTH OF HIS HANDS IN A SCISSOR-LIKE MANNER, GRAZING AYSUIDA IN THE ABDOMEN; HE THEN KICKS FORWARD WITH BOTH LEGS, HITTING AYSUIDA IN THE FACE AND CRACKING THE GLOWING VIOLET GEM ON HER TIARA; THE MROVIAN IS SENT FLYING BACK, BUT SHE IS ABLE TO QUICKLY REGAIN CONTROL OF HER BODY>

Aysuida: <TO HERSELF> So his stealth has limits. He cannot become invisible if he is to attack.

<FAYG DISAPPEARS ONCE MORE, BUT THIS TIME, AYSUIDA DECIDES TO FLY AROUND IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS; AFTER A FEW SECONDS, FAYG REAPPEARS, NOWHERE NEAR AYSUIDA, BUT THROWING A BLUE-WHITE ENERGY BLAST WITH HIS LEFT HAND; CAUGHT OFF-GUARD, THE BLAST HITS THE MROVIAN DIRECTLY; THIS TIME, FAYG CHARGES UP AN EVEN LARGER ENERGY SPHERE IN HIS RIGHT PALM AND THROWS THIS ONE AT AYSUIDA AS WELL; NOW PREPARED, THE MROVIAN RAISES HER SHIELD AT THE LAST NANOSECOND AND PUSHES IT FORWARD, SENDING THE SPHERE RIGHT BACK AT FAYG; ON CONTACT, FAYG’S OWN ATTACK EXPLODES VIOLENTLY ON HIM>

<WASTING NO TIME, AYSUIDA FLIES THROUGH THE SMOKE AND TELEKINETICALLY PULLS FAYG INTO HER LEFT HAND BEFORE THROWING HIM STRAIGHT UP; SHE THEN FLIES UP NEXT TO HIM AND CUTS HIM WITH A DOWNWARDS VERTICAL SWING OF HER GLAIVE; NOT LETTING HER ENEMY RECOVER, SHE SUCCESSFULLY REPEATS THE SAME STRIKE TWO MORE TIMES, EACH LEAVING ITS OWN GASH, AND THEN FROM ABOVE AND AIMING DOWNWARDS, AYSUIDA SWINGS HER GLAIVE IN A WIDE BACKSLASH, THE BLADE OF HER WEAPON SPLITTING FAYG CHEST-UP; THE CAT-LIKE ALIEN’S CORPSE SHOOTS DOWNWARDS OVER THE EDGE OF THE PLATEAU AND LANDS IN A HUGE EXPLOSION>

<CUE CUT VERSION OF VICTORY BY THOMAS BERGESEN>

Aysuida: <OVER COMMS> Sisters, I have slain the assassin. Come join me so that we can aid our brothers in battle against our enemies!

<WITHIN SECONDS, OVER TWO DOZEN SHIELDMAIDENS, RIDING ON QUADRUPEDAL BEASTS (MROVIAN PLAIN-RUNNERS), RALLY TO THEIR LEADER; AYSUIDA HERSELF MOUNTS AN UNOCCUPIED PLAIN-RUNNER>

<VICTORY REACHES 0:32; AYSUIDA LEADS HER COMRADES TO THE NEAREST CLUSTER OF PLANET TRADE ORGANIZATION SOLDIERS>

<VICTORY REACHES 0:48; THE SHIELDMAIDENS IMMEDIATELY START FIRING OFF SHOWERS OF MASSIVE BLUE-WHITE LIGHTNING BOLTS DIAGONALLY UPWARDS, WHICH THEN ARC BACK DOWN TOWARDS THEIR ENEMIES, FRYING THOSE TOO WEAK TO RESIST; NITRO’S SOLDIERS WHO EITHER ENDURE THE STORM OR ARE OUT OF ITS RANGE MAKE THEIR WAY TOWARDS THE SHIELDMAIDENS AND THEIR MOUNTS; IN RETALIATION, THE BEASTS OPEN THEIR MOUTHS, EACH SHOOTING OUT ITS TONGUE IN A CHAMELEON-LIKE FASHION, LATCHING ONTO TARGETS BEFORE PULLING THEM INTO THEIR MAWS; THOSE UNFORTUNATE SOLDIERS OF NITRO ARE SWALLOWED WHOLE AND CRUSHED WITHIN THE BEASTS’ DIGESTIVE SYSTEMS>

<VICTORY REACHES 1:19; CUTS TO THE MROVIAN FLEET BATTLING THE PLANET TRADE ORGANIZATION SOLDIERS WHO HAVE REMAINED IN SPACE IN A CONTINUOUS STALEMATE; A PLANET TRADE ORGANIZATION TRANSPORT THAT HAD BEEN BY NITRO’S SHIP INITIALLY FLIES TOWARDS THE PLANET; LIKE THE REST OF ITS KIND, IT IS SHOT DOWN BY AN ORBITAL DEFENSE LASER, BUT THE OCCUPANT, NAMED KRANT, SURVIVES AND REVEALS ITSELF, LOOKING LIKE A HUMANOID COMPOSED ENTIRELY OF BROWN CRYSTALS; FAR MORE POWERFUL THAN THE OTHER SOLDIERS, IT USES ITS BODY TO TEAR THROUGH MULTIPLE MROVIAN INFANTRY AND THEN CONTINUES ITS WAY THROUGH MULTIPLE MROVIAN WARSHIPS OF ALL SIZES, DISABLING THEM ALMOST IMMEDIATELY>

<VICTORY REACHES 1:53; CUTS TO THE LANCE OF MROV’S BRIDGE>

Quoeyg: The Supreme Admiral may not be present, but we will not be deterred. Focus all sterilizers on that being!

<CUTS TO KRANT, WHO TURNS ITS ATTENTION TO THE LANCE OF MROV AND POWERS UP, ORANGE AURA SURROUNDING ITS BODY; LIKEWISE, NEARLY THE ENTIRE REMAINDER OF THE MROVIAN HOME FLEET AIMS AT THE MROVIAN-SIZED TARGET>

Krant: <TELEPATHICALLY> Die, in King Nitro’s name!

<CUTS BACK TO THE LANCE OF MROV’S BRIDGE>

Quoeyg: No, I will leave that to you. Fire!

<VICTORY REACHES 2:24; CUTS BACK TO KRANT; JUST AS THE ELITE SOLDIER FLIES TOWARDS THE LANCE OF MROV, THE TITANIC SHIP UNLEASHES A MASSIVE BLUE BEAM, ACCOMPANIED BY THREE SMALLER ONES, THAT ENGULF THE ATTACKER; THE OTHER MROVIAN SHIPS FOCUS-FIRE ON THE TARGET WITH THEIR OWN STERILIZERS; THE CONCENTRATION OF THE MROVIANS’ MOST POWERFUL WEAPONS PROVE TO BE FAR TOO MUCH FOR KRANT TO ENDURE, AND THE CRYSTALLINE CREATURE MELTS AND THEN IONIZES AWAY BEFORE IT CAN REACH THE LANCE OF MROV>

Quoeyg: Well done, warriors. Continue the defense!

<VICTORY ENDS>

<CUTS TO SALHIOR AND NITRO, WHO ARE STILL IN COMBAT; NITRO LUNGES AT SALHIOR WITH A RIGHT STRAIGHT PUNCH, WHICH SALHIOR LEANS AWAY FROM; THE MROVIAN THEN FLIES AROUND NITRO AND VERTICALLY LAUNCHES HIS OPPONENT WITH A BURNING CLAW; SALHIOR “TELEPORTS” UP TO NITRO AND TRIES TO HIT THE ARCOSIAN WITH A RIGHT BICYCLE KICK, BUT NITRO FLIES EVEN FURTHER AWAY, EVADING SALHIOR’S FOOT; THE ARCOSIAN FLIES TO END UP BEHIND SALHIOR AND RIGHT VERTICAL-KICKS THE MROVIAN, MAKING IT HIS TURN TO VERTICALLY LAUNCH HIS ENEMY; NITRO THEN PURSUES WITH A RIGHT UPPERCUT, SENDING SALHIOR EVEN FURTHER>

<ONCE HE SHAKES OFF THE PAIN, SALHIOR “TELEPORTS” UP TO NITRO, WHO “TELEPORTS” TO END UP SALHIOR IN RESPONSE; BOTH “TELEPORT”-DODGE AROUND EACH OTHER, UNTIL SALHIOR THROWS OUT A BLUE-WHITE EXPLOSIVE WAVE, BLASTING NITRO AWAY; ONCE HE HIMSELF IS NO LONGER IN PAIN, NITRO AIMS HIS RIGHT PALM AT SALHIOR, WHILE GRABBING HIS RIGHT WRIST WITH HIS LEFT HAND; A BRIGHT PINK ENERGY SPHERE FORMS IN FRONT OF NITRO’S RIGHT PALM AND THEN FLIES STRAIGHT AT SALHIOR, WHO SIDE-STEPS THE DEATH CANNON; AS THE MROVIAN EVADES THE SPHERE, NITRO “TELEPORTS” UP TO HIM; BEFORE THE ARCOSIAN CAN DO ANYTHING, SALHIOR’S EYES GLOW BRIGHT VIOLET BEFORE THE MROVIAN UNLEASHES A BLUE-WHITE SUPER EXPLOSIVE WAVE; CUTS TO THE BATTLE ABOVE MROV, AND SALHIOR’S SPHERICAL ATTACK CAN BE SEEN AS IF IT’S ANOTHER STAR IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM>

<CUTS BACK TO SALHIOR AND NITRO, THE SUPER EXPLOSIVE WAVE HAVING DISSIPATED; SALHIOR IS NOW IN A NOTICEABLE SLOUCH, EXHAUSTED FROM THE ENERGY HE EXPENDED IN HIS FINAL ATTACK; NITRO, NOT TOO FAR AWAY FROM SALHIOR, IS LARGELY BURNED UP, ALTHOUGH NOT FATALLY>

Nitro: <GRINS, TELEPATHICALLY> Heh, you scared me there for a moment. But enough playing around; I think you have earned the right to see my true form.

<NITRO POWERS UP AND GLOWS PINK-WHITE; INSTEAD OF JUST FLOATING THERE AND LETTING NITRO TRANSFORM, SALHIOR FLIES UP TO NITRO AND FIRES OFF AN EXPLOSIVE WAVE, AND THEN FOLLOWS UP WITH MULTIPLE BACK-FLIP KICKS; TOO WEAKENED, HOWEVER, THE SUPREME ADMIRAL IS UNABLE TO DAMAGE THE TRANSFORMING NITRO; THE ARCOSIAN SHEDS HIS OUTER LAYERS AND RELEASES A WHITE SHOCKWAVE, PUSHING SALHIOR AWAY; WHEN THE LIGHT DISSIPATES, FOURTH-FORM NITRO HOVERS WHERE THE THIRD-FORM HAD>

Chapter 9: Fate of the Mrovians[]

<NITRO RAISES HIS RIGHT PALM AT SALHIOR AND THEN RELEASES A VERY POWERFUL KIAI, BLASTING THE SUPREME ADMIRAL TOWARDS MROV; THE EXHAUSTED SALHIOR BREACHES THE PLANET’S ATMOSPHERE AND BEGINS GLOWING ORANGE-WHITE FROM THE AIR FRICTION; SUDDENLY, A SERIES OF CONSECUTIVE BLUE-WHITE ENERGY BEAMS INTERCEPT THE MROVIAN, GRADUALLY SLOWING HIS DESCENT TO AN EVENTUAL HALT; CUBER COMES INTO VIEW, WITH HIS OWN LEFT PALM AIMED AT SALHIOR, TELEKINETICALLY SUSPENDING THE SUPREME ADMIRAL>

Cuber: I knew you’d personally go after him. I was worried you wouldn’t make it.

Salhior: Were it so easy.

Cuber: Heh, alright, I’ll take it from here.

<SALHIOR’S BODY FADES IN MROVIAN TELEPORTATION, AND NITRO DESCENDS INTO VIEW>

Nitro: Hello, Saiyan. Fancy seeing you here.

Cuber: <NARROWS HIS EYEBROWS> Nitro.

Nitro: You’re a perceptive one; you recognize me even in my true form.

Cuber: Tell me; what have you done to my brother? What happened to Kailon?

Nitro: <SCOWLING> You attacked my outpost, you filthy ape! <HE BEGINS TO LAUGH TO HIMSELF> You were mere nuisances back then. That little brat - he threw a temper tantrum, costing me that planet. I assume he was your brother? <CUBER IS GLARING AT NITRO, FURY IN HIS EYES> It was. What a shame. And you never knew for certain. You had hope for all these years. <HE CACKLES AGAIN> But fear not, monkey. You’ll be seeing him soon. I’ll take you there, myself.

<WITHOUT A WORD, CUBER FIRES OFF A STUN BOLT, WHICH NITRO FLIES OVER, BUT THE SAIYAN IS ALREADY UPON THE ARCOSIAN AND STRIKES HIM WITH A LEFT FLYING SIDE KICK; BARELY FLINCHING, NITRO RETALIATES WITH A RIGHT AERIAL REVERSE ROUNDHOUSE KICK THAT HITS CUBER BACK; THE SPACE EMPEROR TRIES TO FOLLOW UP WITH A RIGHT BACKHAND CHOP, BUT CUBER FLIES OVER NITRO’S ATTACK AND FIRES OFF ANOTHER STUN BOLT; NITRO FLIES OVER THE ENERGY BEAM AND THEN TRIES TO HIT CUBER WITH A DOUBLE AXE HANDLE, BUT CUBER BACKS AWAY FROM IT AND THEN POINTS AT NITRO WITH A GUN-SHAPED RIGHT HAND; BEFORE THE ENERGY BEAM LEAVES CUBER’S FINGERTIPS, NITRO PUNCHES CUBER TWICE, LEFT FIST THEN RIGHT, AND THEN RIGHT-FLYING-SIDE-KICKS CUBER IN THE ABDOMEN; NITRO FLIES BELOW CUBER, RIGHT-VERTICAL-KICKS HIM UPWARDS, AND THEN FLIES BACK TO THE SAME LEVEL AS CUBER FOR ANOTHER RIGHT BACKHAND CHOP, SENDING THE SAIYAN AWAY>

<NITRO CHASES AFTER CUBER WITH A LEFT OVERHAND PUNCH, BUT THIS TIME, THE SAIYAN IS ABLE TO BLOCK NITRO’S FIST; UNFORTUNATELY, NITRO IMMEDIATELY GRABS CUBER BY THE WRIST, PULLS THE SAIYAN TOWARDS HIM IN ORDER TO CONNECT HIS ELBOW WITH CUBER’S ABDOMEN; NITRO THEN TOSSES CUBER AWAY AND SUCCESSFULLY PURSUES HIM WITH ANOTHER RIGHT FLYING SIDE KICK>

<ONCE NO LONGER IN PAIN, CUBER FLIES TOWARDS NITRO WITH A DRILL KICK; THE SPACE EMPEROR NARROWLY LEANS AWAY FROM THE ATTACK AND RESPONDS WITH A RIGHT REVERSE ROUNDHOUSE KICK, BUT CUBER DODGES THIS ATTACK AS WELL BY FLYING OVER IT; THE SAIYAN RETREATS IN ORDER TO GIVE HIMSELF SOME SPACE WHILE NITRO FOLLOWS; CUBER TURNS AROUND AND FIRES OFF A BARRAGE OF STUN BOLTS; NITRO BLOCKS THE FIRST HALF OF THE ENERGY BEAMS WITH A BLUE ENERGY SHIELD, AND THEN JUMPS OVER THE REST; CUBER TRIES TO CATCH NITRO BY JUMPING AT HIM WITH A LEFT FLYING SIDE KICK, BUT THE ARCOSIAN RETREATS AND THROWS OUT ANOTHER RIGHT OVERHAND PUNCH; CUBER NARROWLY JUMPS OVER NITRO’S PUNCH AND ENDS UP BEHIND THE SPACE EMPEROR BEFORE FIRING OFF ANOTHER STREAM OF STUN BOLTS; NITRO MANEUVERS BETWEEN THE ENERGY BEAMS AND LANDS A FLYING RIGHT BACK KICK INTO CUBER’S FACE>

<AS CUBER IS SENT FLYING BACK, NITRO CHARGES UP A DEATH CANNON AND THEN FIRES THE PINK ENERGY SPHERE AT HIS OPPONENT; CUBER FLIES OVER THE ENERGY BALL, ONLY TO SEE NITRO APPROACHING HIM WITH A FLYING RIGHT BACKHAND; CUBER FLIES OVER NITRO’S CHOP AS WELL, AND THEN COMES DOWN ONTO NITRO’S HEAD WITH A DRILL KICK; ONCE NO LONGER STUNNED, NITRO GOES AFTER CUBER WITH A RIGHT HOOK, BUT CUBER SHOOTS THE ARCOSIAN IN THE FACE WITH A STUN BOLT, STOPPING HIM IN HIS TRACKS; THE SAIYAN REACHES OUT WITH HIS RIGHT HAND TO ATTEMPT TO GRAB NITRO, BUT THE LATTER TWISTS HIMSELF AWAY AND TRIES TO RETALIATE WITH COUNTERCLOCKWISE TAIL SWIPE; CUBER LEANS AWAY FROM NITRO’S TAIL, AND THEN IMMEDIATELY FLIES FORWARD WITH A LEFT SIDE KICK THAT LEADS INTO A VERTICALLY-LAUNCHING EXPLOSIVE SHINE; CUBER FLIES OVER NITRO AND KICKS THE SPACE EMPEROR BACK DOWN WITH A DRILL KICK; CUBER FOLLOWS NITRO DOWN, AND BEFORE THE ARCOSIAN CAN RECOVER, THE SAIYAN GOES INTO A FRONT SPLIT, HIS LEFT LEG GOING FORWARD INTO NITRO’S ABDOMEN AND SMACKING HIM AWAY>

<CUBER FIRES A STUN BOLT AND THEN IMMEDIATELY RUSHES FORWARD; NITRO FLIES OVER THE BEAM BUT CUBER IS NOW BELOW HIM; SEEING THE SAIYAN BELOW HIM, NITRO STOMPS DOWNWARDS, BUT CUBER DESCENDS EVEN FURTHER TO DODGE THE SPACE EMPEROR’S FEET; THE SAIYAN COMES BACK UP WITH A DOGOM FLIP, BUT NITRO ACTIVATES A BLUE ENERGY SHIELD OF HIS OWN, BLOCKING BOTH CUBER’S TAIL AND HIS RIGHT HEEL; NITRO COMES OUT OF HIS BARRIER AND DROPS WITH A LEFT OVERHAND, STRIKING CUBER OVER THE FOREHEAD AND KNOCKING HIM BACK; THE SPACE EMPEROR THEN CHARGES UP ANOTHER DEATH CANNON AND FIRES IT AT HIS TARGET; JUST BEFORE THE ENERGY SPHERE REACHES CUBER, THE SAIYAN HOLDS UP HIS FOREARMS IN AN X; AS THE DEATH CANNON EXPLODES ON CUBER, NITRO APPROACHES; WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS, THE SAIYAN IS NO LONGER WHERE HE WAS; FROM BELOW, CUBER ASCENDS TOWARDS NITRO, WHO IS TOO SLOW TO REACT; THE SAIYAN LAUNCHES NITRO EVEN HIGHER WITH AN EXPLOSIVE SHINE, AND THEN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWS THE SPACE EMPEROR WITH A RIGHT FLYING BACK KICK; CUBER’S KICK, HAVING HIT REALLY HARD, SENDS NITRO FLYING FAR>

<NITRO HALTS HIS OWN MOMENTUM; BOTH CUBER AND NITRO FLY AT EACH OTHER; NITRO, WHO’S A LITTLE FASTER IN THIS INSTANCE, STRIKES CUBER FIRST WITH A RIGHT SUPERMAN PUNCH TO THE FACE; AS CUBER IS HIT HARD AND SENT FLYING BACK, NITRO FIRES OFF ANOTHER DEATH CANNON, THIS ONE SCORING A DIRECT HIT>

<CUBER FLIES BACK FROM THE EXPLOSION, BUT THEN STOPS HIS MOMENTUM; HE LOOKS UP TO SEE NITRO FLYING STRAIGHT AT HIM; CUBER SHOOTS A STUN BOLT AT NITRO, WHO FLIES UNDER IT AND THEN STRIKES CUBER IN THE CHEEK WITH ANOTHER RIGHT SUPERMAN PUNCH, THIS TIME TO THE ABDOMEN; NITRO FOLLOWS UP WITH A RIGHT VERTICAL KICK, BUT CUBER BLOCKS IT WITH HIS LEFT PALM AND THEN DESCENDS WITH A DRILL KICK; NITRO FLIES FORWARD, DODGING CUBER’S ATTACK, AND THEN FLIES BACK WITH A RIGHT FLYING BACK KICK; CUBER STOPS NITRO’S LEG WITH AN ENERGY SHIELD, AND THEN FIRES OFF AN EXPLOSIVE SHINE, GETTING THE SPACE EMPEROR OFF OF HIM; WITH NITRO ABOVE HIM, CUBER TRIES TO FOLLOW UP WITH A FLYING RIGHT BACK KICK, BUT NITRO RETREATS BEFORE RETURNING WITH A RIGHT BACKHAND CHOP; THIS TIME, CUBER BACKS AWAY AND SHOOTS A STUN BOLT, WHICH SUCCESSFULLY HITS; NITRO, BARELY FAZED, GOES FOR A RIGHT SWEEPING REVERSE ROUNDHOUSE KICK IMMEDIATELY AFTER, BUT CUBER JUMPS OVER NITRO’S LEG AND LEFT-FLYING-SIDE-KICKS THE SPACE EMPEROR IN THE FACE; CUBER RELEASES A SUCCESSFUL VERTICALLY-LAUNCHING EXPLOSIVE SHINE, FLIES AROUND NITRO, AND THEN LANDS ON NITRO FROM ABOVE WITH A DRILL KICK>

<AS NITRO FALLS, CUBER TRIES TO LAND ANOTHER DRILL KICK ON HIM, BUT THE ARCOSIAN MOVES OUT OF THE WAY AND THROWS A RIGHT VERTICAL KICK; LIKE THE ONE BEFORE IT, CUBER BLOCKS THIS VERTICAL KICK, AND THEN CONNECTS ANOTHER LEFT FLYING SIDE KICK TO NITRO’S FACE; CUBER FLIES AROUND NITRO TO DELIVER A RIGHT FLYING BACK KICK, BUT NITRO TURNS AROUND JUST IN TIME TO BLOCK CUBER’S FOOT WITH HIS RIGHT FOREARM, AND THEN TRIPS THE SAIYAN WITH A CLOCKWISE TAIL SWEEP; WHILE CUBER TUMBLES BACK, NITRO SLIPS UNDERNEATH HIM AND KICKS HIM UPWARDS WITH A RIGHT RISING ROUNDHOUSE KICK WITH HIS LEFT HAND ON THE GROUND AS SUPPORT; THE SPACE EMPEROR THEN PROCEEDS TO JUGGLE CUBER WITH A LEFT HIGH FLYING REVERSE ROUNDHOUSE KICK, A RIGHT VERTICAL KICK, AND A RIGHT FLYING BACK KICK, IN THAT ORDER>

<NITRO TRIES TO LAND ANOTHER STRIKE IN THE FORM OF A DOUBLE AXE HANDLE, BUT CUBER IS ABLE TO REGAIN COMPOSURE AND FLY OVER THE ARCOSIAN’S FISTS; NITRO GOES FOR A LEFT BACKHAND CHOP, BUT CUBER FLIES OVER THIS ATTACK AS WELL, AND THEN FALLS ONTO NITRO’S BACK WITH A DRILL KICK; THE ANGLE OF CUBER’S ATTACK HITS NITRO MORE LATERALLY AWAY, PROMPTING CUBER TO PURSUE AND FLY UNDERNEATH THE ARCOSIAN; CUBER THROWS OUT A RIGHT SCORPION KICK, BUT THE SPACE EMPEROR FLIES OVER AND AWAY FROM THE SAIYAN’S BOOT; NITRO RETURNS WITH A RIGHT SUPERMAN PUNCH WHILE CUBER PREPARES A RIGHT FLYING BACK KICK; THIS TIME, FOR THE EXCHANGE, CUBER IS FASTER AND STRIKES NITRO IN THE FACE; CUBER TRIES TO FOLLOW NITRO WITH TWO MORE OF THE SAME ATTACK, BUT NITRO DODGES THEM BY RETREATING AND DUCKING UNDER, RESPECTIVELY; CUBER DOES NOT RELENT AND JETS FORWARD AT FULL SPEED, AND FROM ABOVE, SENDS NITRO INTO A CRATER WITH A LEFT PALM HOOK>

<STANDING AT THE EDGE OF THE CRATER LOOKING DOWN, CUBER REMAINS ON GUARD; NITRO POPS OUT FROM WHERE HE HAD BEEN LYING EARLIER AND FLIES AROUND CUBER IN ORDER TO END UP BEHIND THE SAIYAN; CUBER FIRES OFF A RIGHT FLYING REVERSE ROUNDHOUSE KICK AT NITRO, WHO BLOCKS CUBER’S HEEL, AND THEN LEFT-BACKHAND-CHOPS THE SAIYAN AWAY; NITRO SHOOTS A DEATH BEAM, WHICH CUBER FLIES OVER, ONLY TO COME FACE-TO-FACE WITH THE ARCOSIAN, WHO SENDS CUBER AWAY WITH ANOTHER DEVASTATING CHOP>

<NITRO FLIES AFTER CUBER, AND WHEN HE REACHES THE SAIYAN, HE PERFORMS A LEFT VERTICAL CHOP; CUBER, HAVING SHAKEN OFF THE PAIN OF THE PREVIOUS ATTACK, BACKS AWAY FROM NITRO’S ATTACK AND RESPONDS WITH A RIGHT FLYING REVERSE ROUNDHOUSE KICK; NITRO NARROWLY LEANS AWAY IN TIME AND IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWS UP WITH A RIGHT BACKHAND CHOP, BUT CUBER BLOCKS THE ARCOSIAN’S HAND WITH AN ENERGY SHIELD, AND THEN ASCENDS INTO THE SKY; NITRO TRIES TO FOLLOW CUBER WITH A RIGHT FLYING HIGH REVERSE ROUNDHOUSE KICK, BUT THE SAIYAN DODGES AND GOES FOR A DRILL KICK; NITRO EVADES CUBER AND FLIES AWAY>

<CUBER PURSUES NITRO, WHO TURNS AROUND TO FACE THE SAIYAN’S APPROACH; ONCE HE REACHES THE ARCOSIAN, CUBER THROWS OUT A RIGHT FLYING BACK, KICK, BUT NITRO BACKS AWAY FROM CUBER’S FOOT AND PERFORMS A FORWARD FLIP IN PREPARATION FOR A LEFT AXE KICK FROM ABOVE; NITRO’S HEEL COMES DOWN ONTO CUBER’S HEAD, BUT SIMULTANEOUSLY, A SECOND RIGHT FLYING BACK KICK CONNECTS WITH NITRO’S FACE, SEPARATING BOTH PARTIES AWAY FROM EACH OTHER>

<NITRO IS THE FIRST TO ACT AFTER THE PREVIOUS EXCHANGE AND FLIES AT CUBER WITH A RIGHT SUPERMAN PUNCH; THE SAIYAN FLIES OVER NITRO’S FIST AND ENDS UP BEHIND THE SPACE EMPEROR BEFORE DELIVERING YET ANOTHER RIGHT FLYING BACK KICK TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD; AS NITRO FLIES BACKWARDS, CUBER FIRES A BARRAGE OF STUN BOLTS, MOST OF WHICH HIT THE TARGET; NITRO DODGES THE LAST OF THE ENERGY BEAMS AS HE CLOSES THE DISTANCE; ONCE NITRO IS WITHIN MELEE RANGE, CUBER THROWS OUT A RIGHT FLYING BACK KICK; NITRO BACKS AWAY FROM CUBER’S ATTACK, BUT IS SOON MET WITH A FOLLOWED-UP DRILL KICK INTO ANOTHER CRATER>

<CUBER FIRES A STUN BOLT AT NITRO, WHO, FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CRATER, SENDS THE ENERGY BEAM OVER THE SAIYAN’S HEAD WITH A HORIZONTAL COUNTERCLOCKWISE DOUBLE AXE HANDLE; CUBER DASHES TOWARDS THE ARCOSIAN, BUT IS STOPPED BY THE NITRO’S TAIL WRAPPING AROUND HIS SHOULDERS; WITH CUBER IN HIS GRASP, NITRO DELIVERS A RIGHT UPPERCUT AND RELEASES HIS GRIP WITH THE PUNCH, SENDING CUBER UPWARDS; ONCE HE REGAINS CONTROL OF HIS BODY, CUBER PUTS HIS LEFT HAND OVER HIS CHIN AND THROAT; WITH LITTLE TIME TO WORRY ABOUT THE PAIN, THE SAIYAN ACTIVATES A BLUE ENERGY SHIELD, BLOCKING NITRO’S HEADBUTT FROM BELOW; THE SPACE EMPEROR GLANCES OFF THE EDGE OF THE BUBBLE, WHICH CUBER DEACTIVATES SHORTLY AFTER, AND THEN THE SAIYAN STRIKES NITRO HARD IN THE RIBS WITH A LEFT FLYING SIDE KNEE, SENDING HIM FLYING>

<NITRO STOPS HIS OWN MOMENTUM AND THEN RETURNS TO CUBER, STOPPING LESS THAN A HUNDRED METERS AWAY>

Nitro: You’ve grown a lot stronger since last time, monkey. Here you are, taking on my true form. But how much longer are you going to last?

Chapter 10: End of Another Emperor[]

<CUBER SHOOTS A STUN BOLT AT THE FLYING NITRO, BUT BY THE TIME THE BEAM GETS TO THE ARCOSIAN, THE LATTER BLOCKS IT IN TIME AND MAKES HIS WAY BACK TO THE SAIYAN; NITRO COMES IN WITH A RIGHT SUPERMAN PUNCH, BUT CUBER BACKS AWAY AND FIRES ANOTHER STUN BOLT; NITRO JUMPS OVER THE ENERGY BEAM, BUT CUBER CATCHES HIM IN THE AIR WITH A LEFT FLYING SIDE KICK; NITRO GOES FOR A RIGHT FLYING HIGH ROUNDHOUSE KICK, FOLLOWED BY A LEFT FLYING HIGH REVERSE ROUNDHOUSE KICK; CUBER BLOCKS THE FIRST STRIKE AND DUCKS UNDER THE SECOND BEFORE HITTING NITRO WITH A RIGHT FLYING BACK KICK; IN QUICK SUCCESSION, CUBER THEN SHOOTS A STUN BOLT, LANDS A LEFT FLYING SIDE KICK, RELEASES AN EXPLOSIVE SHINE, AND STRIKES NITRO WITH A DRILL KICK FROM ABOVE, IN THAT ORDER; CUBER FOLLOWS NITRO DOWNWARDS AND TRIES TO CONNECT ANOTHER EXPLOSIVE SHINE, BUT THE ARCOSIAN DESCENDS QUICKLY OUT OF ITS RANGE; NITRO COMES BACK UP WITH A RIGHT VERTICAL KICK, BUT CUBER FLIES OVER IT AND RETURNS WITH A DRILL KICK, EMBEDDING NITRO INTO YET ANOTHER CRATER>

<CUBER LANDS AND ATTEMPTS TO STRIKE NITRO WITH A RIGHT FLYING REVERSE ROUNDHOUSE ANGLED TOWARDS THE GROUND, BUT THE ARCOSIAN ROLLS AWAY FROM CUBER’S HEEL; THE SAIYAN FIRES A STUN BOLT AT THE NOW-UPRIGHT NITRO, BUT THE SPACE EMPEROR PALM-STRIKES THE BEAM RIGHT BACK TO CUBER; AFTER GETTING HIT BY HIS OWN ATTACK, CUBER TRIES TO RETREAT, BUT NITRO CHASES HIM DOWN WITH A LEFT BACKHAND CHOP, WHICH IS FOLLOWED BY A RIGHT FLYING SIDE KICK; NITRO FLIES TO THE OTHER SIDE OF CUBER AND REPEATS THE SAME KICK TO CUBER’S ABDOMEN, SENDING THE SAIYAN AWAY, AND THEN PURSUES WITH A RIGHT HOOK; CUBER BLOCKS NITRO’S FIST WITH AN ENERGY SHIELD BEFORE TAKING TO THE SKIES; FROM ABOVE, THE SAIYAN AIMS DOWNWARDS WITH HIS HAND IN THE SAME OF A GUN AND THEN RELEASES A BARRAGE OF STUN BOLTS THAT RAIN DOWN ON NITRO, WHO DEFLECTS AND DODGES THEM AS HE ASCENDS TOWARDS CUBER; NITRO PUTS A STOP TO CUBER’S BARRAGE WITH A HEADBUTT TO THE FACE; AS CUBER IS KNOCKED UP AND AWAY, NITRO CHARGES UP A BLUE-WHITE ENERGY SPHERE IN HIS RIGHT PALM, AND THEN UNLEASHES IT AT HIS TARGET IN THE FORM OF A BEAM-WAVE>

<NITRO’S ATTACK ENGULFS CUBER, WHO DOES HIS BEST TO ENDURE THE ENERGY WAVE; THE ARCOSIAN FOLLOWS UP WITH ANOTHER, SIMILAR ENERGY WAVE WITH HIS LEFT PALM, BUT CUBER FLIES UNDER THIS ONE AND FIRES A PAIR OF NEAR-SIMULTANEOUS STUN BOLTS OUT OF HIS RIGHT INDEX AND MIDDLE FINGERS; NITRO FLIES OVER THE TWIN BEAMS AND GOES FOR A RIGHT OVERHAND, BUT CUBER FLIES OVER NITRO’S FIST AND COMES DOWN ONTO HIS HEAD WITH A DRILL KICK; NITRO STOPS HIMSELF JUST SHORT OF IMPACTING THE GROUND AND FLIES AWAY, WITH CUBER CHASING AFTER HIM; AS NITRO TURNS AROUND TO FACE CUBER, THE SAIYAN PERFORMS A LEFT FLYING SIDE KICK; NITRO BACKS AWAY FROM CUBER’S FOOT AND THEN COMES BACK WITH A LEFT CROSS TO CUBER’S CHEEK; AS CUBER FLIES BACK, NITRO FIRES A DEATH BEAM, WHICH CUBER IS ABLE TO FLY OVER; IN THE TIME IT TAKES CUBER TO DODGE THE BEAM, NITRO IS ALREADY BELOW THE SAIYAN AND SWIPES HIS TAIL UPWARDS, KNOCKING CUBER HIGHER INTO THE AIR>

<CUBER RECOVERS FROM THE PAIN OF THE TAIL SLAP AND RETURNS TO NITRO, STARTING THE NEXT ENGAGEMENT WITH A RIGHT FLYING BACK KICK; NITRO RETREATS AND THEN THROWS A BLUE-WHITE BASKETBALL-SIZED ENERGY SPHERE WITH HIS RIGHT HAND, WHICH CUBER DUCKS UNDER; NITRO TRIES TO STRIKE CUBER WITH A LEFT OVERHAND PUNCH, BUT CUBER DUCKS UNDER THIS ATTACK TOO AND RESPONDS WITH A RIGHT SCORPION KICK FROM BELOW; NITRO BLOCKS CUBER’S FOOT WITH HIS FOREARMS, BUT DROPS HIS GUARD WHEN CUBER FIRES A POINT-BLANK STUN BOLT>

<THE SAIYAN TRIES TO FOLLOW UP WITH A LEFT FLYING SIDE KICK, BUT NITRO DUCKS UNDER CUBER AND THRUSTS HIS RIGHT ELBOW UPWARDS; STILL MID-KICK, CUBER SPEEDS FORWARD, AVOIDING NITRO’S ELBOW, AND THEN TURNS AROUND FOR ANOTHER STUN BOLT; NITRO LEFT PALM-STRIKES THIS BEAM BACK TO CUBER AND TRIES TO LAND A RIGHT OVERHAND PUNCH, BUT CUBER JUMPS OVER NITRO’S FIST BEFORE COMING BACK DOWN WITH A DRILL KICK; THIS TIME, NITRO BLOCKS THE DRILL KICK, BUT CUBER CONTINUES HIS OFFENSE, RELEASING TWO EXPLOSIVE SHINES IN A ROW IN RAPID SUCCESSION; IN ORDER TO AVOID A COUNTERATTACK, CUBER FLIES STRAIGHT UP AWAY FROM NITRO, WHO TRIES TO FOLLOW WITH A RIGHT VERTICAL KICK; CUBER ACCELERATES FURTHER UPWARDS, DODGING NITRO’S FOOT, AND THEN DESCENDS TO END UP BEHIND NITRO WITH A RIGHT FLYING BACK KICK>

<SENDING NITRO AWAY, CUBER CHASES HIM DOWN; THE ARCOSIAN ATTEMPTS TO REPOSITION HIMSELF, BUT CUBER CATCHES HIM WITH YET ANOTHER RIGHT FLYING BACK KICK; AS NITRO IS PROPELLED AGAIN, CUBER APPROACHES THE SPACE EMPEROR AS HE BARRAGES HIM WITH MORE STUN BOLTS, WITH THIS PARTICULAR VOLLEY BEING MORE INTENSE THAN THOSE PRIOR; ONCE CUBER REACHES NITRO, HE THROWS OUT A LEFT FLYING SIDE KICK, BUT NITRO IS ABLE TO REGAIN COMPOSURE AND BACK AWAY BEFORE COUNTERATTACKING WITH A RIGHT CROSS; CUBER BLOCKS NITRO’S FIST WITH THE SHIELD, AND THEN QUICKLY DEACTIVATES THE BARRIER; HOWEVER, NITRO THROWS OUT A LEFT JAB, WHICH CUBER IS ABLE TO BLOCK BARELY IN TIME WITH HIS LEFT FOREARM; NITRO THEN PERFORMS A COUNTER-CLOCKWISE TAIL SWEEP AT CUBER’S FEET, WHICH CUBER IS ABLE TO NARROWLY JUMP OVER; UPON RETURNING TO THE GROUND, THE SAIYAN GOES FOR A CLOCKWISE TAIL SWEEP OF HIS OWN, AND THEN PERFORMS A RIGHT FLYING REVERSE ROUNDHOUSE KICK SOON AFTER, BOTH OF WHICH NITRO EVADES BY BACKING AWAY>

<NITRO RETURNS WITH A LEFT CROSS TO CUBER’S CHEEK ONCE MORE AND THEN GOES FOR ANOTHER STRAIGHT PUNCH WITH HIS RIGHT FIST; CUBER BLOCKS THE SECOND FIST WITH AN ENERGY SHIELD AND COUNTERATTACKS WITH AN EXPLOSIVE SHINE; AS NITRO IS LAUNCHED VERTICALLY, CUBER TRIES TO FOLLOW UP WITH A LEFT FLYING SIDE KICK, BUT THE SPACE EMPEROR RETREATS; CUBER CONTINUES TO FOLLOW NITRO AND WHEN HE JUST ABOUT CATCHES UP, HE TRIES TO HIT NITRO WITH A RIGHT FLYING BACK KICK; THE ARCOSIAN LEANS BACK AND TRIES TO RETALIATE WITH A RIGHT CROSS, BUT CUBER FLIES OVER AND UP; THIS TIME, NITRO TRIES TO CHASE CUBER AND THROWS OUT A RIGHT FLYING HIGH ROUNDHOUSE KICK, BUT CUBER ONCE AGAIN ACCELERATES FURTHER UPWARDS TO AVOID THE STRIKE>

<CUBER DESCENDS WITH A RIGHT FLYING REVERSE ROUNDHOUSE KICK, WHICH NITRO LEANS BACK FROM, BUT THE SAIYAN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWS UP WITH A LEFT FLYING SIDE KICK; NITRO BLOCKS CUBER’S FOOT, BUT BEFORE HE COUNTERATTACKS, CUBER ONCE AGAIN REPEATS THE SAME KICK; INSTEAD OF BLOCKING AS HE DID BEFORE, NITRO SIDESTEPS AND STRAIGHT-PUNCHES CUBER RIGHT IN THE GUT WITH HIS RIGHT FIST; AFTER GETTING STRUCK, CUBER JUMPS AND TRIES TO ATTACK NITRO FROM ABOVE, BUT THE ARCOSIAN MEETS CUBER IN THE AIR AND CATCHES HIM WITH A FLYING RIGHT BACK KICK; NITRO TRIES TO CONTINUE WITH A RIGHT BACKHAND CHOP, BUT CUBER PUTS UP AN ENERGY SHIELD IN TIME TO STOP NITRO’S HAND; THE SPACE EMPEROR THROWS OUT TWO HOOKS, RIGHT THEN LEFT, BUT CUBER DEACTIVATES HIS SHIELD AND DUCKS UNDER BOTH PUNCHES, AND THEN BLASTS NITRO WITH AN EXPLOSIVE SHINE; AS NITRO GOES UP, CUBER FOLLOWS AND FINISHES WITH THE DOGOM FLIP, FIRST HITTING NITRO WITH HIS TAIL, AND THEN HARD IN THE ABDOMEN WITH HIS RIGHT HEEL; THIS FINAL STRIKE SHOOTS NITRO UP INTO THE THERMOSPHERE, WHERE THE BLACKNESS OF SPACE IS CLEARLY VISIBLE IN CONTRAST WITH MROV>

<CLUTCHING HIS ABDOMEN WITH HIS LEFT HAND, NITRO LOOKS AROUND TO SEE THE MROVIAN WARRIORS IN THE DISTANCE, FINISHING OFF THE STRAGGLERS OF HIS FORCES; BEFORE HE CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, CUBER APPEARS ROUGHLY A HUNDRED METERS IN FRONT OF HIM>

Nitro: <TELEPATHICALLY> Look at you, monkey, standing up to me, King Nitro, Emperor of the Universe. I have not had such a fight in ages. But enough of this. I grow bored of not trying.

<NITRO GOES INTO A POWER-UP STANCE, WITH HIS FISTS AT HIS SIDES; PLASMA ARCS FLASH MOMENTARILY AROUND HIS BODY; NOT WASTING TIME, CUBER FIRES A STUN BOLT, BUT NITRO DUCKS UNDER IT AND RIGHT-SUPERMAN-PUNCHES CUBER IN THE ABDOMEN; BEFORE CUBER CAN REACT BESIDES BUCKLING IN PAIN, THE SPACE EMPEROR REAPPEARS BEHIND HIM AND VERTICALLY LAUNCHES THE SAIYAN WITH A RIGHT UPPERCUT TO THE SPINE; NITRO DOES NOT STOP, FOLLOWING CUBER WITH A CLOCKWISE TAIL SWIPE SUCCEEDED BY A LEFT BACKHAND CHOP, SENDING THE SAIYAN AWAY; ONCE HE REGAINS CONTROL OF HIS BODY, CUBER ATTEMPTS TO FLY AROUND NITRO IN HOPES OF GETTING HIM FROM THE LEFT, BUT THE SPACE EMPEROR INTERCEPTS THE SAIYAN WITH A RIGHT BACKHAND CHOP FROM ABOVE, DRIVING CUBER BACK DOWN TO THE SURFACE; NITRO REMAINS IN THE THERMOSPHERE TO SEE FROM THE DISTANCE THE EXPLOSION HE MAKES WITH CUBER’S BODY>

<CUTS TO CUBER, PRONE, BARELY CONSCIOUS, AND AT THE BOTTOM OF A MASSIVE CRATER THAT IS GLOWING ORANGE WITH HEAT; NITRO LANDS JUST IN FRONT OF CUBER AND PLACES HIS RIGHT FOOT ON THE SAIYAN’S HEAD>

Nitro: What’s wrong, monkey? Couldn’t handle only fifty percent of my power?

<CUBER GROANS IN RESPONSE>

Nitro: I must admit, you are far stronger than any of my soldiers, and it would be a real shame to finish you like this. As I am feeling merciful, I will leave you with one other option: beg for your life.

<CUBER BEGINS TO GLOW, VERY MUCH LIKE HOW DOGOM HAD IN HIS FINAL MOMENTS>

Nitro: Fool. If you wish to take your own life, I will not stop you.

<JUST AS NITRO FINISHES HIS SENTENCE, HIS BACK BEGINS TO GLOW FROM A DIFFERENT LIGHT SOURCE; HE TURNS AROUND TO SEE A GREEN-AND-PINK ENERGY BALL FLYING RIGHT TOWARDS HIM; CAUGHT SLIGHTLY OFF-GUARD, THE ARCOSIAN GETS OFF CUBER AND FLIES AWAY IN RESPONSE; THE ENERGY SPHERE FOLLOWS HIM, HOWEVER, PROMPTING HIM TO DESTROY IT WITH A PAIR OF BLUE-WHITE EYE LASERS; HE THEN LOOKS AROUND FOR THE SOURCE AND SEES CHAIVA WITH HER OUTSTRETCHED RIGHT PALM AIMED AT HIM, LEFT HAND GRABBING HER RIGHT BICEP>

Nitro: Chaiva…? If you’re here, that means...

Chaiva: Yes, I killed Fassfu. I’ve waited long enough for this moment.

<CUBER GRADUALLY STANDS UP, HIS POSTURE SLOUCHED DUE TO EXHAUSTION AND PAIN>

Nitro: <TO CHAIVA> Between you and the other monkey over there…

<CHAIVA THROWS A VOLLEY OF FOOTBALL-SIZED AURORA BOMBS AT NITRO, WHILE CUBER AIMS WITH HIS RIGHT GUN-SHAPED HAND BEFORE RELEASING A BARRAGE OF STUN BOLTS; NITRO UNLEASHES AN ORANGE-WHITE SUPER EXPLOSIVE WAVE, SWALLOWING UP THE SAIYANS’ ENERGY BLASTS AND THE SAIYANS THEMSELVES, PUSHING THEM THROUGH THE GROUND; WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS, CUBER AND CHAIVA FIND THEMSELVES EMBEDDED AGAINST THE WALLS OF AN EVEN LARGER CRATER THAN THE ONE BEFORE>

Nitro: ...I think Frieza had long lost his touch at genocide. <NITRO FLIES DOWN TO CHAIVA> Now, I'm going to make a traitor disappear.

Cuber: No!

<NITRO IMPALES CHAIVA JUST BELOW THE STERNUM WITH HIS TAIL; SHE COUGHS UP BLOOD; CUTS TO CUBER’S FACE, WITH AN EXPRESSION OF SHOCK AND HORROR>

<CUE INSTRUMENTAL REMIX OF LEAVE OUT ALL THE REST>

<NITRO SCRAPES CHAIVA UP AGAINST THE WALL OF THE CRATER BEFORE LIFTING HER OUT, HOLDING HER UP FOR A BRIEF MOMENT BEFORE DROPPING HER BODY BACK DOWN, CAUSING IT TO BEGIN ROLLING DOWN THE BASIN>

<LEAVE OUT ALL THE REST REACHES 0:35; SUDDENLY, CUBER’S HAIR TURNS GOLDEN AND AN INTENSE YELLOW AURA ERUPTS FROM HIS BODY IN ALL DIRECTIONS, BLASTING AWAY THE ROCK HE WAS EMBEDDED IN>

<LEAVE OUT ALL THE REST REACHES 0:52; WHEN NITRO TURNS TO FACE CUBER, THE SUPER SAIYAN LUNGES FORWARD WITH A LEFT FLYING SIDE KICK, HIS FOOT GOING INTO THE ARCOSIAN’S ABDOMEN BEFORE SENDING HIM THROUGH THE CRATER’S WALL, CREATING A MOLTEN VALLEY; NITRO EVENTUALLY LEAVES THE GROUND DUE TO THE CURVATURE OF THE PLANET, AND ONCE HE CAN MOVE FOR HIMSELF, HE STOPS HIS MOMENTUM AND CLUTCHES HIS HEAVILY-BRUISED BELLY WHILE GRIMACING IN INTENSE PAIN>

<LEAVE OUT ALL THE REST REACHES 1:02; NITRO LOOKS BACK UP TO SEE CUBER FIRING A VIBRANT STUN BOLT THAT HITS HIM ABOVE THE LEFT ARMPIT, MELTING A HOLE INTO HIS FLESH>

<LEAVE OUT ALL THE REST REACHES 1:11; CUBER GOES AT NITRO WITH A DRILL KICK, BLASTS HIM UP WITH AN EXPLOSIVE SHINE, KICKS HIM BACK DOWN WITH ANOTHER DRILL KICK, AND THEN LAUNCHES HIM VERTICALLY WITH ANOTHER EXPLOSIVE SHINE; WITH NITRO STILL STUNNED, CUBER IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWS HIM FURTHER UP>

<LEAVE OUT ALL THE REST REACHES 1:19; BEFORE THE ARCOSIAN TRAVELS BEYOND EVEN THE STRATOSPHERE, CUBER UNLEASHES A BLUE-WHITE SUPER EXPLOSIVE WAVE FROM NO MORE THAN A METER AWAY; THE POWER OF A SUPER SAIYAN, INEVITABLY FAR TOO MUCH FOR THE 50% ARCOSIAN, MELTS HIM DOWN BEFORE REDUCING HIM TO ELEMENTARY PARTICLES>

<LEAVE OUT ALL THE REST INSTRUMENTAL REMIX ENDS>

<WHEN CUBER’S ENERGY DISSIPATES, HIS HAIR STILL GOLDEN, NITRO IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND; HE IS DEAD; INSTEAD OF ANY SORT OF CELEBRATION, CUBER IMMEDIATELY FLIES TO WHERE CHAIVA HAD BEEN LYING, BUT HER BODY IS MISSING>

Quoeyg: <OVER THE COMMS> Worry not, Cuber. Our probes have recovered Chaiva and we are pleased to announce that she will survive.

Cuber: <DEACTIVATES SUPER SAIYAN; TELEPATHICALLY OVER COMMS> I...thank you. <A TEAR ROLLS DOWN CUBER’S RIGHT CHEEK> You have no idea how much this means to me.

Quoeyg: <OVER COMMS> You have saved us all, Cuber, and we are forever in your debt. Saving your friend’s life is minuscule compared to what you have done for all of us. You should return to the Lance of Mrov. I imagine you will want your formal reunion the moment Chaiva wakes.

<ZOOMS OUT TO CUBER’S WHOLE BODY JUST BEFORE HE FADES OUT IN MROVIAN TELEPORTATION>

Chapter 11: Like Old Times[]

<A FEW DAYS LATER>

<CUBER, WEARING HIS ORANGE TRAINING HOSE, IS PRACTICING HIS USUAL PERSONAL-TRAINING ROUTINE IN THE TRAINING GROUND OF THE LANCE OF MROV>

Quoeyg: <TELEPATHICALLY OVER COMMS, CAUSING CUBER TO PAUSE> Cuber, come to the medical bay. Chaiva is waiting for you.

<CUTS TO A BIT LATER, WITH CUBER WALKING DOWN ONE OF THE LARGE SHIP’S MANY HALLWAYS TO THE AUTOMATIC DOORS AT THE END; WHEN CUBER REACHES THE DOORS, THEY OPEN, REVEALING A DIMENSIONAL PRISON DEACTIVATING AROUND CHAIVA, WHO IS WEARING A BLACK STRAPLESS SPORTS BRA AND UNDERWEAR; THE WOUND NITRO HAD INFLICTED UPON HER IS FULLY HEALED; CUBER STARES IN SILENCE AS THE MROVIANS IN THE ROOM, INCLUDING QUOEYG HIMSELF, EXIT THE SAME DOOR CUBER ENTERED FROM>

Chaiva: Are you going to say anything or are you just stand there and–

<CUBER HUGS CHAIVA, BURYING HIS FACE INTO HER LEFT SHOULDER; SURPRISED, CHAIVA IS INITIALLY UNSURE OF HOW TO REACT; AFTER A FEW SECONDS, HOWEVER, SHE WRAPS HER ARMS AROUND CUBER AS WELL>

Cuber: When you didn’t show up on Glaysia, I thought you were dead. Seeing you again couldn’t have made me any happier, and I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you twice.

Chaiva: <SINCERELY> Hey, I missed you too. Despite everything, we found each other after all these years.

<A FEW SECONDS OF SILENCE PASS AS CUBER AND CHAIVA MAINTAIN THEIR EMBRACE>

Chaiva: Alright Mr. Super Saiyan, you can stop acting like a big baby and let go of me now.

Cuber: <RELEASES CHAIVA> Super Saiyan?

Chaiva: I watched footage of what happened after I was out. That wasn’t a fight; it was a slaughter. And speaking of fights, don’t you owe me one?

Cuber: <SMILES> I never forgot. It’ll be just like old times.

Chaiva: So where are we doing this?

Cuber: I have an idea. <TELEPATHICALLY, OVER COMMS> Quoeyg, I have a huge favor to ask.

<CUTS TO A FEW MOMENTS LATER, WITH CUBER FACING QUOEYG, IN ANOTHER ROOM IN THE LANCE OF MROV>

Quoeyg: The High Council has agreed to your request.

<THE “TABLE” NEXT TO CUBER AND QUOEYG HOLOGRAPHICALLY PROJECTS THREE-DIMESIONAL BLUEPRINTS OF A TOWER WITH A FLAT ROOF AS THE TWO OF THEM LOOK ON>

Quoeyg: Normally, a structure such as this would be considered a misuse of valuable construction materials, but we are honored to provide you with this first gift. As promised, the platform will be ready soon.

Cuber: Thanks, Quoeyg; it looks perfect. I’m looking forward to it.

<CUTS TO THE FINISHED STRUCTURE, MADE OF A PALE-GRAY METAL AND WITH MOST OF IT SUBMERGED BENEATH THE OCEAN OF GLAYSIA; CUBER AND CHAIVA STAND AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF ITS MASSIVE ROOF>

<CUTS TO THE BRIDGE OF THE LANCE OF MROV, WITH SALHIOR AND OTHER MROVIAN WARRIORS WATCHING THE SAIYANS WHO ARE DISPLAYED ON THE COMMUNICATOR SCREEN; CUTS TO THE MROVIAN CAPITAL, WITH BILLBOARDS DISPLAYING THE TO-BE FIGHT TO THE MROVIAN CITIZENS>

<CUTS BACK TO THE SAIYANS, WHO ENTER IN FIGHTING STANCE; BRIEFLY CUTS TO 737 AGE ON PLANET VEGETA, WITH KID CUBER AND KID CHAIVA PREPARING TO FACE OFF IN THEIR SPARRING MATCH IN CHAPTER 6: TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION OF THE PREVIOUS SAGA, AND THEN CUTS BACK TO THE PRESENT>

Cuber: <SHOUTING> Ready?!

Chaiva: <SHOUTING, BLUE-WHITE AURA FLARING UP> I was born ready!

<CUE MORNING OF OWL BY BEYOND HORIZONS>

<CUBER FIRES A STUN BOLT BARRAGE WHILE CHAIVA THROWS AN AURORA BOMB BARRAGE; BOTH FLY LATERALLY AND GRADUALLY TOWARDS EACH OTHER, HOVERING ABOUT A FOOT ABOVE THE PLATFORM; NO ENERGY BLASTS REACH THE INTENDED TARGETS, AND EITHER COLLIDE WITH OPPOSING ENERGY BLASTS, FLY OFF INTO THE DISTANCE, OR DETONATE UPON IMPACTING THE GROUND>

<MORNING OF OWL REACHES 0:22; CUBER AND CHAIVA STOP THEIR BARRAGES AND LEAP AT EACH OTHER, CUBER WITH A LEFT FLYING SIDE KICK AND CHAIVA WITH A FLYING RIGHT ROUNDHOUSE KICK>

<MORNING OF OWL REACHES 0:23; BOTH KICK EACH OTHER IN THE TORSO, THE IMPACTS SEPARATING THEM FROM EACH OTHER; THEY EACH LAND ON THEIR FEET; BRIEFLY CUTS TO WHEN THEY WERE CHILDREN AT THIS POINT IN THE SONG OF THAT FIGHT, GRINNING AT EACH OTHER, AND THEN CUTS BACK TO THE PRESENT>

<MORNING OF OWL REACHES 0:33; CHAIVA RUSHES FORWARD WITH A SLIDING AURORA MORTAR; CUBER BLOCKS HER HAMMERFIST WITH AN ENERGY SHIELD, CAUSING HER TO SLIDE PAST HIM; NOT FALLING FOR THE SAME TRICK TWICE, HE BACKS TOWARDS CHAIVA AWAY FROM THE INCOMING ENERGY SPHERE, WHICH DETONATES ON THE GROUND IN FRONT OF HIM>

<MORNING OF OWL REACHES 0:39; CUBER TRIES TO HIT CHAIVA WITH AN EXPLOSIVE SHINE, BUT SHE IS JUST OUT OF RANGE AND PUNISHES HIM WITH A MAMBA STRIKE, CAUSING HIM TO SLIDE ACROSS THE GROUND>

<MORNING OF OWL REACHES 0:45; CHAIVA PURSUES CUBER WITH ANOTHER SLIDING AURORA MORTAR, THIS TIME HITTING THE GROUND NEXT TO HIM WITH A RIGHT HAMMERFIST, USING THE RESULTING EXPLOSION TO POP HIM UP, AND THEN FIRING HER AURORA BOMB AT HIM FROM BELOW>

<MORNING OF OWL REACHES 0:50; CHAIVA CONTINUES TO THROW SMALLER AURORA BOMBS FROM ALTERNATING HANDS AT CUBER, WHO DODGES EACH OF THE FOLLOWING ENERGY SPHERES>

<MORNING OF OWL REACHES 0:56; CUBER DESCENDS WITH A STUN BOLT THAT HITS CHAIVA, AND THEN BACKS AWAY TO AVOID HER HANDS THAT REACH OUT FOR HIM; CHAIVA PUTS UP AN ENERGY SHIELD TO BLOCK CUBER’S INCOMING DRILL KICK, AND THEN ROLLS AWAY FROM HIM BEFORE PUTTING UP ANOTHER ENERGY SHIELD; CUBER FOLLOWS WITH A LEFT FLYING SIDE KICK, HITTING CHAIVA’S SHIELD ONCE MORE; CHAIVA DEACTIVATES HER SHIELD TO TRY TO GRAB CUBER AGAIN>

<MORNING OF OWL REACHES 1:07; CUBER RELEASES AN EXPLOSIVE SHINE BEFORE CHAIVA CAN TOUCH HIM, LAUNCHING HER VERTICALLY, AND THEN FLIES OVER HER TO DESCEND WITH A DRILL KICK; AFTER KICKING HER BACK DOWN, CUBER INEVITABLY FLIES BACK TO THE GROUND AND HITS HER WITH ANOTHER VERTICALLY-LAUNCHING EXPLOSIVE SHINE; CUBER ONCE AGAIN FLIES BACK UP TO CHAIVA>

<MORNING OF OWL REACHES 1:13; CHAIVA DRIFTS OUT OF THE WAY OF CUBER’S DRILL KICK AND THEN THROWS A QUICK ONE-HANDED AURORA BOMB AT HIM, WHICH CUBER DUCKS UNDER AS HE MAKES HIS WAY BACK DOWN; ONCE HE IS ON THE GROUND, CUBER TRIES TO CATCH CHAIVA WITH A RIGHT SCORPION KICK AS SHE HERSELF ALSO DESCENDS, BUT SHE BACKS AWAY FROM CUBER’S FOOT AND LANDS SUCCESSFULLY>

<MORNING OF OWL REACHES 1:19; CHAIVA LEAPS FORWARD WITH A SPEAR TACKLE, BUT CUBER BLOCKS IT WITH AN ENERGY SHIELD, CAUSING HER TO GLANCE PAST HIM AGAIN; CHAIVA THROWS AN UPWARDS AURORA BOMB, SLIDING-AURORA-MORTAR STYLE, DETERRING CUBER FROM PURSUING HER; CUBER FIRES OFF STUN BOLTS AT CHAIVA AS HE KEEPS HIS DISTANCE AWAY FROM HER DESCENDING ENERGY SPHERE>

<MORNING OF OWL REACHES 1:24; THE AURORA MORTAR EXPLODES, BLASTING OPEN A CHUNK ON THE PLATFORM; CUBER FLIES THROUGH THE SMOKE AS CHAIVA THROWS A ONE-HANDED AURORA BOMB AT HIM; CUBER LEAPS OVER THE ENERGY SPHERE AS CHAIVA PUTS UP AN ENERGY SHIELD, BLOCKING CUBER’S DRILL KICK; CHAIVA KEEPS HER ENERGY SHIELD UP TO STOP THE SUBSEQUENT TWO EXPLOSIVE SHINES, AND THEN DEACTIVATES THE BARRIER BEFORE ROLLING AWAY FROM CUBER>

<MORNING OF OWL REACHES 1:30; CUBER PURSUES CHAIVA WHILE SHOOTING A STUN BOLT; WHEN CUBER REACHES CHAIVA, SHE THROWS OUT A LEFT JAB, WHICH HE IMMEDIATELY RETREATS FROM BEFORE GOING BACK IN WITH A DRILL KICK, THIS TIME HITTING CHAIVA AND SCRAPING HER ACROSS THE GROUND; CUBER TRIES TO FOLLOW UP WITH A RIGHT FLYING REVERSE ROUNDHOUSE KICK, BUT CHAIVA STOPS HERSELF BY SLAMMING HER HANDS THROUGH THE PLATFORM, AND THEN ROLLS AROUND CUBER, ENDING UP BEHIND HIM>

<MORNING OF OWL REACHES 1:35; BRIEFLY ZOOMS IN ON CUBER’S EYES, NARROWING OBSERVANTLY, BEFORE HE TURNS AROUND TO SEE CHAIVA MOVING TOWARDS HIM WITH AN AURORA BOMB CHARGED IN HER HANDS; CUBER LEAPS AT CHAIVA WITH A LEFT FLYING SIDE KICK, BUT SHE DROPS HER ENERGY SPHERE AND PUTS UP AN ENERGY SHIELD; THE AURORA BOMB EXPLODES ON THE FLOOR, BLASTING CUBER UPWARDS WHILE CHAIVA IS SAFE INSIDE HER BARRIER; CHAIVA THEN JUMPS UP TO KICK CUBER WITH AN UPWARDS DROPKICK, LAUNCHING HIM EVEN HIGHER UP>

<MORNING OF OWL REACHES 1:41; CHAIVA THROWS ANOTHER AURORA BOMB BARRAGE FROM BELOW, WHILE CUBER DODGES HER ENERGY SPHERES AS HE DESCENDS>

<MORNING OF OWL REACHES 1:47; JUST BEFORE CUBER LANDS BEHIND CHAIVA, HE HITS HER AWAY WITH A RIGHT BACK KICK AND THEN RUNS AFTER HER, PROMPTLY SHOOTING MORE STUN BOLTS ON HIS WAY, PINNING HER DOWN>

<MORNING OF OWL REACHES 1:53; CHAIVA PUTS UP AN ENERGY SHIELD TO BLOCK CUBER’S FINGER BEAMS, AND WHEN HE REACHES HER, HE HITS HER SHIELD WITH A DRILL KICK, GLANCING OFF OF IT AND ENDING UP BEHIND HER; CHAIVA DEACTIVATES HER SHIELD AND CHARGES UP ANOTHER AURORA BOMB BETWEEN HER HANDS; WHEN CUBER TURNS AROUND, SHE DROPS IT AS SHE DID WITH THE FIRST, REACTIVATING HER BARRIER; CUBER, INSTEAD, DESTROYS THE ENERGY SPHERE WITH A STUN BOLT BEFORE GOING IN WITH ANOTHER DRILL KICK; CHAIVA DEACTIVATES THE SHIELD AND ROLLS AWAY, PROMPTING CUBER TO PURSUE AS HE FIRES ANOTHER STUN BOLT; ONCE CUBER IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER, CHAIVA REACHES OUT TO GRAB HIM, BUT HE SIMPLY BACKS AWAY BEFORE GOING BACK IN WITH A DRILL KICK>

<MORNING OF OWL REACHES 2:04; CUBER ONCE AGAIN SCRAPES CHAIVA ACROSS THE GROUND, REPEATING AN EARLIER SCENARIO; LIKE BEFORE, CHAIVA QUICKLY STOPS HERSELF BY SLAMMING HER HANDS INTO THE STAGE; THIS TIME, CUBER’S EYES NARROW BEFORE HE WINDS UP HIS RIGHT LEG FOR A REVERSE ROUNDHOUSE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF WHICH HE SENT CHAIVA, WITH HIS YELLOW AURA FLARING UP AROUND HIM>

<MORNING OF OWL REACHES 2:10; CHAIVA ROLLS AROUND CUBER OUT OF INSTINCT IN ORDER TO GET BEHIND HIM>

<MORNING OF OWL REACHES 2:15; CUBER UNLEASHES HIS FLYING REVERSE ROUNDHOUSE KICK, HIS RIGHT HEEL CONNECTING WITH CHAIVA’S HEAD BEFORE SENDING HER FLYING FAR, LONG PAST THE OTHER END OF THE STAGE, WITH AN ORANGE-WHITE ENERGY WAVE COMING OUT OF HIS FOOT>

<MORNING OF OWL REACHES 2:26; FROM THE DISTANCE, CHAIVA, GLOWING BLUE, MAKES HER WAY BACK TO THE BATTLEFIELD; UPON ARRIVAL, SHE INITIATES AN AURORA BOMB VOLLEY; CUBER WEAVES BETWEEN THE ENERGY SPHERES ON APPROACH TO CHAIVA AND SHOOTS HER WITH A STUN BOLT; AFTER GETTING HIT, CHAIVA GOES FOR A MAMBA STRIKE, BUT CUBER DASHES AWAY FROM BOTH HER KNEE AND HER DOUBLE AXE HANDLE>

<MORNING OF OWL REACHES 2:38; CUBER RETURNS, CONNECTING HIS DRILL KICK AND PROMPTLY INITIATING HIS SHINE-DRILL COMBO; CUBER TRAPS CHAIVA LIKE A HAILSTONE IN A CLOUD, REPEATEDLY VERTICALLY LAUNCHING HER WITH EXPLOSIVE SHINES ONLY TO KICK HER BACK DOWN BY DRILL KICKS; HE GRADUALLY BRINGS CHAIVA TOWARDS THE END OF THE PLATFORM, WITH ONE LAST DRILL KICK THAT SENDS HER OVER THE EDGE; NOT YET DEFEATED, CHAIVA TRIES TO FLY BACK UP TO THE STAGE>

<MORNING OF OWL REACHES 2:47; CUBER DROPS BELOW THE EDGE OF THE ROOF AND THEN KICKS OFF FROM THE WALL OF THE MROVIAN STRUCTURE, BLASTING A CHUNK OFF OF IT AND PROPELLING HIMSELF UPWARDS AND TOWARDS CHAIVA>

<MORNING OF OWL REACHES 2:49; CUBER CATCHES CHAIVA WITH A DRILL KICK FROM ABOVE, SENDING HER INTO THE OCEAN WITH AN ORANGE-WHITE ENERGY BEAM THAT COMES OUT OF HIS HEEL>

Drill Kick Cuber vs Chaiva

<THE IMPACT CREATES A MASSIVE EXPLOSION AND IMMENSE TSUNAMI WAVES IN ALL DIRECTIONS>

<CUTS TO THE MROVIAN FACILITY OF GLAYSIA, WITH ONE OF THE TSUNAMI WAVES ON APPROACH; THE TOWERING WALL OF WATER CRASHES OVER THE MROVIAN STRUCTURES, ALTHOUGH IT DOES NOT ACTUALLY DO ANY DAMAGE AND ONLY SUBMERGES THEM FOR THE NEXT FEW MINUTES TO COME>

<CUTS TO THE MROVIAN CAPITAL, WITH THE MROVIAN CITIZENS CHEERING TELEPATHICALLY>

<CUTS BACK TO CUBER, WHO HOVERS ABOVE WHERE HE SUNK CHAIVA; HE FLIES INTO GLAYSIA’S OCEAN TO RETRIEVE HER; AT THE BOTTOM, HE SEES HER IN A POOL OF LAVA AND DESCENDS TOWARDS HER; UPON REACHING CHAIVA, SHE GRABS HIS WRIST AND LIFTS HERSELF UP; SEEING THAT CHAIVA CAN MOVE ON HER OWN, CUBER NODS AND THEY BOTH RETURN TO THE SURFACE; ONCE OUT OF THE OCEAN, THE SAIYANS FLY THEIR WAY TO GLAYSIA’S FACILITY>

Chaiva: So you finally beat me. How many tries did it take?

Cuber: None of those fights should count anymore. That was so long ago. You might have been better than me when we were kids, but I’ll make sure that won’t happen again.

Chaiva: Heh, that’s the spirit.

<THE SAIYANS CONTINUE INTO THE DISTANCE, THROUGH GLAYSIA’S EVER STORMY WEATHER>

<CUTS TO A FEW DAYS LATER; CHAIVA IS BY HERSELF IN GLAYSIA’S TRAINING CHAMBER, PERFORMING SQUATS WITH A PALE-GRAY METALLIC BARBELL WITH WEIGHTS MADE OF A LUSTROUS SILVERY METAL OVER HER SHOULDERS; THE FACE OF A SOMEWHAT APE-LIKE ALIEN, A GEOMOGEO, WITH AN OCULAR IMPLANT IN PLACE OF HIS LEFT EYE, MATERIALIZES IN CHAIVA’S MIND>

Geomogeo: 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.

<THIS MEMORY CAUSES CHAIVA TO STOP HER ROUTINE>

<CUTS TO CHAIVA WALKING INTO ANOTHER ROOM IN GLAYSIA’S FACILITY; SHE APPROACHES A MROVIAN SCIENTIST WORKING AT A COMPUTER>

Chaiva: Contact Cuber for me. I have something very important to tell him.

Epilogue: A Change of Pace[]

<THE STORMS OF GLAYSIA ARE RAGING AS ALWAYS; CUBER AND SALHIOR, IN THEIR TRAINING CLOTHES, ARE SPARRING OVER THE PLATFORM THAT WAS INITIALLY CONSTRUCTED FOR THE SAIYANS’ FIGHT; BOTH SIMULTANEOUSLY FIRE A KI PROJECTILE AT EACH OTHER, CUBER WITH A STUN BOLT AND SALHIOR WITH AN ENERGY SPHERE, BUT THE MROVIAN IS ABLE TO LAND HIS ATTACK WHILE DUCKING UNDER HIS OPPONENT’S FINGER BEAM; SALHIOR THEN APPROACHES CUBER WITH A BURNING CLAW, BUT THE SAIYAN STOPS HIM WITH ANOTHER STUN BOLT AND THEN FOLLOWS UP WITH A CLOCKWISE TAIL SWEEP AT SALHIOR’S LEGS; THE MROVIAN JUMPS OVER CUBER’S TAIL AND THEN RELEASES A BLUE-WHITE EXPLOSIVE WAVE, BUT CUBER BLOCKS WITH A BLUE ENERGY SHIELD>

<THIS TIME, THE SAIYAN ATTACKS WITH AN EXPLOSIVE WAVE OF HIS OWN, AND IT IS SALHIOR’S TURN TO BLOCK WITH AN ENERGY SHIELD; THE MROVIAN THEN REACHES OUT FOR CUBER, WHO FLIES OVER SALHIOR’S RIGHT HAND BEFORE COMING DOWN WITH A RIGHT FLYING BACK KICK; SALHIOR BLOCKS CUBER’S FOOT WITH ANOTHER ENERGY SHIELD, AND THEN TELEKINETICALLY HOLDS CUBER IN PLACE BEFORE FLINGING HIM WITH A TELEKINETIC VORTEX; WITH THE SAIYAN HIGH ABOVE, SALHIOR PURSUES FROM BELOW WITH A BICYCLE KICK, BUT CUBER TUMBLES OUT OF THE WAY; THIS ONLY PROMPTS THE MROVIAN TO ATTEMPT A SCORPION KICK, BUT CUBER BLOCKS IT WITH AN ENERGY SHIELD BEFORE RETALIATING WITH A RIGHT FLYING BACK KICK JUST BEFORE LANDING>

<ON THE GROUND, SALHIOR RETREATS AND PERFORMS A RIGHT ROUNDHOUSE KICK, BUT CUBER LEAPS AWAY AND FIRES A STUN BOLT; AS THE ENERGY BEAM HITS SALHIOR, CUBER RUSHES IN WITH A LEFT JAB, BUT THE MROVIAN CATCHES CUBER’S FIST IN HIS RIGHT PALM, AND THEN FLINGS CUBER UP AND AWAY BEHIND HIMSELF; CUBER STOPS HIS MOMENTUM, BUT THEN FALLS INTO THE OCEAN; SALHIOR RAISES A BROW, CONFUSED; A FEW SECONDS LATER, CUBER FLIES BACK UP FROM BENEATH THE WAVES AND LANDS BACK ON THE STAGE, IN FIGHTING STANCE>

Salhior: Is there something on your mind?

Cuber: Why do you ask that?

Salhior: Your form has been sloppy today. What is it that concerns you?

Cuber: Well…<SIGHING AS HE DROPS HIS STANCE> Since Nitro had always been a threat, I agreed to spend the past two decades on Mrovian worlds exclusively. Chaiva told me that she likes Mrov, but she’s also been to other worlds that are equally beautiful yet vastly different.

Salhior: You wish to travel with your friend.

Cuber: Yes, Master. I know I promised to train with you, now that Chaiva’s told us about Nitro’s living relatives…

Salhior: While that is true, the Planet Trade Organization is in disarray. Nitro’s relatives are of no immediate threat to us in their present state. I must say, you surprise me. You have told me that you appreciate Mrov’s beauty, but never would I have expected you to be interested in other worlds. You may go see the Universe with Chaiva. We will wait for your return.

Cuber: Thank you, Master.

<CUTS TO ONE OF GLAYSIA’S HANGARS; CHAIVA IS LEANING AGAINST THE WALL, ARMS CROSSED, AS CUBER APPROACHES HER>

Chaiva: Ready?

Cuber: Yeah, let’s go.

<CUBER AND CHAIVA WALK ONTO THE SMALL PLATFORM OF THE NEAREST MROVIAN TRANSPORT, WHICH LIFTS THEM INTO THE VEHICLE; AS USUAL, THE CEILING OF THE HANGAR OPENS UP, ALLOWING THE GOLDEN SPACESHIP TO TAKE OFF>

<CUTS TO A BIT LATER, INSIDE THE COCKPIT, WITH CUBER AND CHAIVA SITTING IN PILOT SEATS NEXT TO EACH OTHER; DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE SHIP IS A SMALL VIEW OF THEIR DESTINATION, AT THE END OF A TUNNEL OF CONCENTRIC CIRCLES OF DISTORTED STARS IN THE BLACKNESS OF SPACE>

Cuber: So where are we going?

Chaiva: Planet Nitro 338, near the center of Nitro’s galaxy.

Cuber: What if some of Nitro’s soldiers are still there?

Chaiva: We’ll kill them quickly. Don’t worry, we won’t find any Arce-Albumians. They hate stars that aren’t blue.

<THE TRANSPORT EXITS THE TUNNEL; CUBER LEANS FORWARD TO GET A CLEARER VIEW OF THE OUTER SPACE AROUND HIM THAT IS LITTERED WITH A FAR GREATER CONCENTRATION OF STARS THAN HE’S EVER SEEN>

Chaiva: <POINTING TO A PURPLE PLANET, A LITTLE OFF TO THE SIDE> There’s 338.

<CUTS TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE TRANSPORT, WHICH MAKES ITS WAY TO PLANET NITRO 338>

<CUTS TO SOME TIME AFTER THE SAIYANS HAVE ALREADY LANDED; THEY ARE SITTING AT THE EDGE OF A CLIFF OVER A VAST CANYON OF PURPLE ROCK; IT IS THE EVENING, AND THE SAIYANS ARE FACING THE SUNSET; THE HALF OF THE SKY BEHIND THE SAIYANS ARE OF A DEEP PURPLE, WHILE THE OTHER HALF OF THE SKY IS A DARK RED-ORANGE>

<CUE AUCKLAND BY VYEN>

Chaiva: I used to visit this place between missions. Not many come here, because they’re afraid of the nearby supernovas that could go off at any time, but I haven’t seen one yet.

<CUBER SILENTLY STARES IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SUNSET>

Chaiva: Well? Don’t tell me I wasted my time bringing you here.

Cuber: <SLIGHTLY TAKEN BY SURPRISE> Oh, sorry. I do really like the view. It’s surreal...like how I felt when I saw Mrov for the first time.

Chaiva: Mrov is nothing like this.

Cuber: Of course. I was just trying to explain myself by making a comparison.

<THE NOW-RED SUN EVENTUALLY DIPS BENEATH THE HORIZON; A FEW SECONDS LATER, CUBER STANDS UP, BUT CHAIVA CATCHES HIM BY THE WRIST>

Chaiva: We’re not done. There’s more. Just wait a little while.

<CUTS TO ABOUT AN HOUR LATER, WITH THE GLOW OF THE SUN NOW COMPLETELY GONE; AS WAS THE CASE IN OUTER SPACE, THE NIGHT SKY OF NITRO 338 HAS FAR MORE VISIBLE STARS THAN THAT OF ANY OTHER PLANET>

Cuber: Whoa…

Chaiva: Now if we’re lucky, we might even see–

<A RAIN OF METEORS FLY DIAGONALLY DOWNWARDS ACROSS THE SKY IN THE DISTANCE>

Chaiva: Speak of the devil. They happen a lot more often on this planet than anywhere else, but we’re still pretty lucky to be here at the right time.

Cuber: How did anyone ever sleep at night?

Chaiva: They didn’t.

<AFTER A FEW SECONDS, CHAIVA LEANS HER HEAD ON CUBER’S SHOULDER; CUBER LOOKS AT CHAIVA IN SURPRISE, BUT DOES NOT MOVE AS TO NOT RUIN THE MOMENT>

<SUNSET ENDS>

<CUTS TO THE NEXT DAY; CUBER AND CHAIVA ARE IN THE MROVIAN TRANSPORT, GOING THROUGH ANOTHER WORMHOLE>

Chaiva: You’ve never had alcohol before?

Cuber: The Mrovians don’t have mouths. They don’t drink anything besides water through their skin. Does this alcohol taste good?

Chaiva: I guess you’ll find out soon enough.

<CUTS TO A BAR WITH MANY ALIENS OF VARIOUS SPECIES; CHAIVA AND CUBER WALK UP TO AND SIT ON A PAIR OF EMPTY BAR SEATS; THE BARTENDER IS A HUMAN-LIKE ALIEN WITH PURPLE SKIN AND POINTED EARS; HE IS A FAERIN>

Faerin Bartender: What can I get you?

Chaiva: An Alahon-Distilled Nyarin Gin for me and a Blue Hurricane Starungi for my friend over here.

<THE BARTENDER GOES TO PREPARE THE DRINKS>

Chaiva: So, Cuber, what have you been up to these past twenty-something years? What was it like living with the Mrovians?

Cuber: I stayed on Glaysia for a couple of years until they made me a soldier. I usually just trained every day and I got to fight Salhior every now and then.

Chaiva: That’s it? Just training? I’m sure fighting Salhior was fun, but that sounds like a boring life.

<THE BARTENDER RETURNS WITH THE SAIYANS’ DRINKS>

Faerin Bartender: <HANDING CHAIVA HER DRINK> Here’s your gin, ma’am, and <HANDING CUBER HIS DRINK> here’s your Blue Hurricane, sir.

<CHAIVA AND CUBER EACH TAKE A SIP FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE DRINKS; CUBER WINCES IN DISGUST>

Cuber: <LOOKING LIKE HE HAD JUST SUCKED ON A SALTY PENNY> People drink this stuff?

Chaiva: Heh, weak.

Cuber: What?

Chaiva: If you can’t handle that, you wouldn’t be able to drink anything else. <TAKES A FEW GULPS>

Cuber: Whatever. Anyway, what happened after we got separated?

Chaiva: I ended on some planet where I got caught by these slavers, and then they sold me to some old Faerin lady. I became a gladiator for a couple of years and even became the champion. <TAKES ANOTHER GULP OF HER DRINK>

Cuber: Wait, slavers? Do you mean the Galatrix?

Chaiva: Hey, how do you know about them?

Cuber: They invaded Glaysia a while ago. The Mrovians wanted me to join the Navy because I took care of them.

Chaiva: Hmm...do you happen to remember what any of them looked like? <TAKES ANOTHER GULP OF HER DRINK>

Cuber: Well, the strongest one looked like a monkey with white skin and orange fur.

Chaiva: Wow, that’s crazy! I might have known him. Oh well, I suppose there’s no way for us to ever know. <TAKES ANOTHER GULP OF HER DRINK>

Cuber: Actually, if you’re curious, the Mrovian cameras did record the battle.

Chaiva: If I get bored enough, I might check it out.

<CHAIVA FINISHES HER DRINK AND LEAVES THE EMPTY GLASS OUT FOR THE BARTENDER TO FILL UP; CUBER SIDE-EYES THE EMPTY GLASS BEFORE GLANCING DOWN AT HIS OWN BRIEFLY>

Cuber: So how did you end up with Nitro?

Chaiva: He happened to be there when I became the champion. He killed the Faerin and didn’t give me much of a choice. <TAKES A GULP OF HER DRINK>

Cuber: And then?

Chaiva: <SLIGHTLY SLURRED> So...I joined him. He mostly just sent me to deal with...the constant space pirate problem he had…<TAKES ANOTHER FEW GULPS OF HER DRINK> There were a lot of them, I tell ya...but I got rid of ‘em all the same...<TAKES ANOTHER FEW GULPS OF HER DRINK; HER CHEEKS ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE FLUSHED WITH EVERY GULP>

<BRIEFLY CUTS TO A TRIO OF HUMAN-LIKE ALIENS WITH GREEN SKIN, JOLEANS, PLAYING A CARD GAME WHILE GLANCING AT CHAIVA AS IF LISTENING ON HER CONVERSATION WITH CUBER>

Chaiva: <SLURRED> Nitro made me work with Fassfu and Kaesh almost all the time...Kaesh, that stupid, annoying little bitch...always bitching to my face that I was always making her look bad in front of Fassfu because she convinced herself that I was in love with him. <TAKES ANOTHER GULP> Like, Bitch, just ‘cause you loved him doesn’t mean I did too. <TAKES ANOTHER GULP> Kaesh, the mistress of bitching...that’s what they should’ve called her. <TAKES ANOTHER GULP> Seriously, five ancient sages of Bitchdom all gathered together one day on the peaks of Mount Bitch to proclaim her birth...and a hundred years later, when all the bitch stars had aligned, she was born and made everybody's life around her a living hell, because she was such a bitch!

<CHAIVA TAKES ANOTHER GULP FROM HER DRINK; CUBER SMILES, AMUSED BY CHAIVA’S RANTING>

Chaiva: <SLURRED> I didn’t like any of them to begin with, but she just made it so much worse that sometimes I wanted to kill myself. I had to put up with this bitch for two whole decades, Cuber...two whole decades! <TAKES ANOTHER GULP>

Cuber: Didn’t I kill her?

Chaiva: <SLURRED; GIGGLES> You did, Cuber..you did me a favor...you did everyone a favor. She went out like the bitch she was...I knew even after all these years...you wouldn’t let me down…

<THE THREE JOLEANS WHO WERE PLAYING CARDS APPROACH CHAIVA FROM BEHIND>

Chaiva: <SLURRED> What do you want?

Jolean 1: Come with us. We’re taking you outside.

Cuber: <STANDING UP> What’s wrong?

Jolean 2: This doesn’t concern you. We only want her.

Jolean 1: <TO CHAIVA> Come with us, and things won’t get messy.

Chaiva: <SLURRED> You think...I’m scared of you? I know your kind...the same type of pirates I killed all those years ago...well, I’m sorry to say...I’m not sorry for killing your buddies.

Jolean 3: Why you–

Cuber: <TO THE JOLEANS> I won’t pretend to know who you are, but you need to back off.

Jolean 2: Or what?

Chaiva: <SLURRED> It’s alright, Cuber. I got this.

<CHAIVA PUSHES CUBER HARD WITH HER LEFT HAND; HE GOES FLYING OFF TO THE SIDE AND CRASHES THROUGH THE WALL OF THE BAR>

<CUE INSTRUMENTAL VERSION OF THE DRUNKEN MASTER II THEME>

<CHAIVA GETS UP OFF HER SEAT AS THERE ARE SCREAMS IN THE BAR; MANY BEGIN FLEEING WHILE THE BARTENDERS HIDE BEHIND THE COUNTER, HANDS OVER THEIR HEADS; CHAIVA STARES THE THREE JOLEANS DOWN>

<DRUNKEN MASTER II REACHES 0:21; CHAIVA INITIATES WITH A MAMBA STRIKE, RIGHT-KNEEING THE NEAREST JOLEAN IN THE ABDOMEN, AND THEN FOLLOWING UP WITH A DOUBLE AXE HANDLE THAT CLUBS THE SAME JOLEAN INTO ANOTHER, BLASTING THEM BACK AND THROUGH ANOTHER WALL; THE THIRD JOLEAN THROWS A RIGHT STRAIGHT PUNCH INTO CHAIVA’S LEFT CHEEK, BUT SHE IS BARELY FAZED AND GRABS HIM BY THE WRIST BEFORE FLINGING HIM AROUND AND BEHIND HER, SENDING HIM OUT ANOTHER WALL>

<DRUNKEN MASTER II REACHES 0:38; CHAIVA TURNS HER ATTENTION TO THE HOLE SHE MADE WITH THE FIRST TWO JOLEANS AND THEN FLIES OUT, IMMEDIATELY GOING INTO A SLIDING AURORA MORTAR, HITTING THE CLOSEST JOLEAN WITH THE RIGHT HAMMERFIST AND BLASTING THE OTHER WITH A ONE-HANDED AURORA BOMB; THE EXPLOSION OF THE ENERGY SPHERE LEVELS THE NEAREST BUILDINGS AND SHATTERS WINDOWS OF MANY OTHERS>

<THE THIRD JOLEAN SHE HAD THROWN EARLIER PUTS CHAIVA IN A FULL NELSON FROM BEHIND; AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF STRUGGLING, CHAIVA BREAKS FREE WITH BRUTE STRENGTH>

<DRUNKEN MASTER II REACHES 0:58; CHAIVA DROP-KICKS THE THIRD JOLEAN IN THE FACE, SENDING HIM FLYING OVER THE BAR>

<DRUNKEN MASTER II ENDS>

<CHAIVA LANDS PRONE, BUT SHORTLY GETS HERSELF OFF THE GROUND AND STANDS BACK UP; THE FIRST TWO JOLEANS COME OUT OF THE RUBBLE, BATTERED AND BRUISED; STILL, THEY INTEND TO FIGHT IN SPITE OF THEIR INJURIES; CHAIVA ONLY SMILES IN DRUNKEN CONFIDENCE AS THE JOLEANS CHARGE AT HER>

<SUDDENLY, THE JOLEANS STOP IN THEIR TRACKS, COMPLETELY FROZEN MID-DASH; CHAIVA ALSO TRIES TO MOVE ONLY TO FIND OUT SHE TOO CANNOT; ALL THREE LOOK UP TO SEE CUBER, SUPER SAIYAN, WITH A PALM FACING EACH PARTY, INDICATING THAT HE IS HOLDING THEM IN PLACE TELEKINETICALLY>

Cuber: Enough! None of you own this place, and yet you’re choosing to be idiots!

<THE THIRD JOLEAN LEAPS UP FROM BEHIND THE BAR AND TOWARDS CUBER; THE SUPER SAIYAN PROMPTLY FIRES A PAIR OF BLUE-WHITE EYE LASERS AT HIS ATTACKER, DESTROYING HIS HEAD AND CAUSING THE REST OF HIS BODY TO CONTINUE ITS MOMENTUM LIFELESSLY INTO THE DISTANCE>

Cuber: <TO THE REMAINING JOLEANS> If you wish to live, you will not try anything when I release you. Do we understand each other?

<EVEN THOUGH THEY CANNOT MOVE, IT IS EVIDENT THAT THE JOLEANS ARE IN FEAR; CUBER RELEASES THE JOLEANS AND CHAIVA, WHO HAS LOST THE COORDINATION TO STAND; CUBER DEACTIVATES SUPER SAIYAN BEFORE HE CATCHES HER AND WRAPS HER ARM AROUND HIS NECK; HE THEN HOVERS BACK INTO THE BAR; THE SAME FAERIN BARTENDER WHO SERVED THEM DRINKS IS STILL COWERING BEHIND THE COUNTER>

Cuber: <HOVERS TO THE COUNTER> Hey, I’m really sorry about all this. I’ll pay for the drinks, fix the damages, and we’ll be on our way.

<CUBER BRINGS CHAIVA INTO THE MROVIAN TRANSPORT, AND THEN LAYS HER DOWN ON ONE OF ITS PASSENGER BEDS>

Chaiva: <SLURRED> Come on, Cuber, I totally had ‘em…

Cuber: That wasn’t the point, Chaiva.

Chaiva: <SLURRED> Every party needs a pooper that’s why they invited you...party pooper...party pooper…

Cuber: I’ll be right back.

Chaiva: <SLURRED> Where you goin’? Don’t leave me!

Cuber: <SIGHS AS HE OPERATES SEVERAL CONTROLS ON THE WALL> I’m just going to fix your mess.

<A HATCH IN THE CEILING OPENS UP AS A MROVIAN PROBE DESCENDS FROM IT>

Chaiva: <SLURRED> Alright, alright...just don’t take too long...I’ll wait here, just for you.

Cuber: <AWKWARDLY> Please don’t blow up the ship.

Chaiva: <SLURRED> Heheh, you got it…

Cuber: <MUTTERING TO HIMSELF> Damn it, Chaiva.

<CUTS TO JUST OUTSIDE THE BAR, WHICH CUBER HOVERS OVER, WATCHING THE MROVIAN PROBE DO ITS WORK; THE ROBOTIC DRONE SCANS THE STRUCTURE IN ORDER TO SELF-GENERATE ITS BLUEPRINTS; A BLUE BEAM THEN SHOOTS OUT OF ITS CENTER, COLLECTING DEBRIS AND MOVING IT INTO THE HOLES CHAIVA HAD CREATED; ANOTHER BLUE BEAM THEN WELDS THE DEBRIS TO THE WALLS IN A WAY THAT RESTORES IT TO ITS PREVIOUS, NEAR-PERFECT CONDITION>

<CUTS TO SEVERAL MINUTES LATER, INSIDE THE COCKPIT OF THE MROVIAN TRANSPORT, WITH ONLY CUBER IN ONE OF THE PILOT SEATS; THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELLING THROUGH A WORMHOLE>

Chaiva: <FROM BEHIND> Cuberrrr!

<CUE INSTRUMENTAL COVER OF DREAM LANTERN BY RADWIMPS>

<CUBER STANDS UP AND GOES TO THE BED HE LEFT CHAIVA ON>

Cuber: What is it?

Chaiva: <SITTING UP> You know, Cuber, you’re a good man - a great man… And your tail… <SHE BURIES HER HEAD IN THE PILLOW AGAIN, TAKING SEVEN TO EIGHT DEEP BREATHS IN A ROW LIKE A REAL DRAMA QUEEN> well, you got one of those, heh.

Cuber: Uh, thanks?

Chaiva: <SLURRED; SITTING UP, SHE PRESSES HER FINGERS TO THE BRIDGE OF HER NOSE AND SMILES IN A DAZED SORT OF WAY> Ever since we got separated, I always knew you made it out...I knew it...and here we are, back together...I really missed you, you know? It’s true, I did! Even though it’s been so long, I never forgot the good times we had when we were kids...You ‘member? You ‘member. These past few days reminded me of back then...I couldn’t have been happier.

Cuber: I had a great time too. I wouldn’t mind doing this again...just, no more bars.

Chaiva: <SLURRED> Come on, Cuber...don’t be like that.

Cuber: <EYE ROLL> Fine, we can go to bars. But if you get this drunk…

Chaiva: <SLURRED> Yeah, yeah, I promise to not get wasted like this again. That gin… Cubes, I swear it’s a higher percentage than they’re lettin’ on...

Cuber: I’ll ask you when you’re sober. <TURNS AROUND TO WALK BACK TO THE COCKPIT>

Chaiva: <SLURRED> Cuber, wait!

<AS CUBER TURNS BACK TO FACE CHAIVA, SHE WRAPS HER ARMS AROUND HIS NECK AND MOVES HIS LIPS TO HERS IN A KISS; HE DOESN’T HAVE TO BE TOLD TWICE WHAT TO DO>

Advertisement