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| Jia | |
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| ジア, Jia | |
| Detailed Information: | |
| Appearances: | Dragon Ball: Heart of the Dragon |
| Nicknames: | Agent-J |
| Species: | Human |
| Gender: | Female |
| Birthplace: | South City |
| Birthdate: | September 3, Age 750 |
| Date of Death: | n/a |
| Birth Power Level: | 0.0001 |
| Maximum Power Level: | 4 |
| Personal Pronouns: | 私 |
| Height: | 5'11" |
| Weight: | 142.9 lbs |
| Hair Color: | Black |
| Eye Color: | Brown |
| Rank: | Caretaker, spy |
| Organizations: | New Red Ribbon Army (Age 767 - Age 774) |
| Favorite Food: | Deep fried shrimp |
| Favorite Vehicle: | Hovercar |
| Hobbies: | Painting, cooking, yoga |
| Family: | Cardinal (boss) Ledas (employer) Chari (student) Olivien (student) |
Jia (ジア, Jia) is a human native to South City. In Age 767, she came to be employed by Cardinal. In Age 774, after Cardinal gave Ledas and Ryori a new house, Jia offered to be their caretaker, which they accepted. Thereafter, for years to come, she acted not only as the children's caretaker, but as a spy for Cardinal, helping him work a slow strategy towards ending the Saiyan presence on Earth.
She is a secondary character in Dragon Ball: Heart of the Dragon and is a main character in Monkeyboy's First Vacation.
Overview[]
Appearance[]
Jia is a tall woman with black hair and brown eyes. She has pale skin. She wears glasses sometimes, although she has contacts too. Her ethnicity is perhaps dominantly Han Chinese. She tends to wear professional black suits, black shoes, and white gloves. She wears minimal make-up, but does apply ruby red lip balm. Her hair is long, pulled up in a ponytail, and she has bangs. Her nose is medium-length, and her eyes are also medium in size. She has a rounded face and a long neck.
Personality[]
Jia presents as a motherly figure in the West City Saga. She's somewhat hands-off in her approach to parenting Ryori and Ledas. She isn't able to prevent them from doing whatever they want, as Ledas' power is something she has no control over. Jia tries her best to make the boys act civilized, though she is not super successful in that venture. She tries to keep the boys on a regimented schedule, waking them up early every morning for school. Ledas loves her cooking, respecting her greatly, and considers her a part of the crew because of her somewhat chill personality.
As that saga goes on, she takes a liking to them, even telling Cardinal that she doesn't believe they are a threat in an attempt to save their lives. She refuses to kill Ryori after being ordered to do so, though she does poison Ledas and uses a paralyzing agent on him. As they spend more time together, Jia realizes that she enjoys the boys' company, becoming disillusioned with Cardinal's plot to kill them. She works against Cardinal in subtle ways from then on. After Cardinal is put in a coma by Ledas, she takes a more brazen approach, remorselessly killing Oscalpano when he tries to poison Ledas. She maintains a fake persona around the other NRRA soldiers, such as Nhobusa, pretending to go along with their long-term plot against Ledas. In reality, she no longer believes in the NRRA's mission by the end of the saga and would prefer them to be dead and gone just as much as Ryori.
She has little experience in the dating world. Because she cannot have children, she has not been able to find a long-term boyfriend. She is not interested in one-night stands or friends-with-benefits scenarios, so she hasn't found the right man yet.
Jia is an authoritative person. She carries herself in a dominating way that made Chari and Olivien respect her from a young age. She is strict, but not severe, in her style of child-rearing. She is not a loveless person, but perhaps more introverted in terms of expressing emotions. She is not swayed by tears or by bribery.
As seen in Country Matters, Chari and Olivien had learned how to sneak alcohol into the house. Thus, they knew how to work around her blind spots. Whether or not she was aware of their actions is unknown, but it's unlikely she knew, for she would have likely told Ledas about it. When Jia cannot calm the twins or make them do what she wants, she tends to threaten to tell their father about their actions, which usually shuts them up good, for Ledas can be even harsher than Jia in terms of doling out punishments for bad behavior.
By the time of Monkeyboy's First Vacation, Jia has become calmer, relishing in the fact that she has a home and a found family with the Hareki boys and Ledas. After the traumatizing night on Asazari, she resolves to seek out romantic love, as she'd already been fulfilled in her maternal role. Knowing she could die at any moment makes her more impatient and forward. She begins dating Shoekki during the story. In chapter 5, she confronted him on a whale-watching trip to ask if they were seriously dating. When Shoekki committed to her, it meant everything. She's elated to have a boyfriend after years of being unsuccessful in relationships.
History[]
Dragon Ball: Heart of the Dragon[]
West City Saga[]
On May 28, Age 774, Ryori and Ledas were playing video games in their home when Jia arrived. She informed them that she had been tasked by Cardinal to be their caretaker for the next five years and would make sure they completed middle and high school, otherwise they'd lose funding for the house. She had enrolled them in a four-week accelerated summer program (that would start next Monday) to get them through the seventh grade. They agreed to complete the class, though Ledas refused to allow her to put in place a curfew, citing his training with Vegeta sometimes going late into the night. After learning about Vegeta marrying Bulma, Jia requested a visit Capsule Corp. with the Saiyan because she wanted to snag a prototype CLEAN-BOT 1000 to help her with the housework. Ledas said they could go tomorrow.
The next day, Ledas and Jia visited Bulma at Capsule Corp. Bulma offered them a few CLEAN-BOT 1000s in exchange for Ledas giving her a hand in her lab. The boy begrudgingly accepted after Jia reminded him that he'd otherwise have to clean the bathrooms himself. Ledas then suffered through many hours of tedious lab work with Bulma.
That evening, Jia was putting away dinner when Cardinal contacted her, asking for an update. She assured him everything was going according to plan and the boys didn't appear to be a threat.
On May 30, Age 774, Ses was in the kitchen trying to fill a glass of water. Jia entered, screaming upon seeing Ses. The Saibaman fled out the back door in distress, dropping his glass, and leaving the sink running. Jia tried to apologize, but he was long gone. After calling over a CLEAN-BOT to clean up the broken glass, she looked out the window, watching Wilde and Carawa sunbathe in the backyard while Ses and Ame sparred in front of them, thinking to herself how crazy this was.
On May 31st, after Ryori woke up and went to the kitchen for some orange juice, he noticed Ledas sleepwalking down the hall in Super Saiyan 2. He woke Ledas up. Jia came into the kitchen, saying she saw Ledas sleepwalking in the guest bathroom last night. Ryori reminded him he was in Super Saiyan. The Saiyan didn't know how he ended up out there, though he noted he had a history of sleepwalking both on his homeworld and Planet Cooler 92. Jia asked the boys what they wanted for breakfast, as they'd need to leave for school soon. Ryori wanted French toast, while Ledas demanded eggs and bacon. After getting ready for school, the boys returned to eat breakfast. Only two slices of bacon were ready, and they weren't cooked as crispy as Ledas liked, so he tried to make one crispier with a ki blast. However, he overdid it, turning the bacon to ash.
Ryori reminded him he was still in Super Saiyan. Ledas said he wouldn't leave the form until he had mastered its energy consumption. Ryori didn't like the idea, as Ledas might prove to be a danger in class. Jia didn't think it was a good idea either, as Ledas' hair color was now different, and his teachers would not tolerate that (dyeing one's hair in West City schools was not allowed). Ledas was appalled by human culture relating to dyeing one's hair, saying it wasn't the teachers' business. Jia noted that dyeing one's hair was seen as an act of rebellion and would reflect poorly upon her, but Ledas didn't care, stating again that even if he had dyed his hair, it was none of the teachers' business. He plucked out a hair to show them it wasn't dyed, which eased their anxiety somewhat. Ryori brought up an old case of a girl with naturally brown hair being forced to dye her hair black because her teachers didn't believe that was her natural hair color. She was able to sue the school for a lot of zeni. Thus, Ledas would be safe. While Jia relented, she preferred if Ledas didn't go to school in Super Saiyan. Ledas ranted about humans thinking they had the right to enforce hair color policies on students before scarfing down his plate of bacon.
On June 1st, Ledas, Ryori, and Chiaki returned to the house. Chiaki was freaked out by Carawa in the front yard. Jia, having heard Chiaki's scream, opened the door and let them in. Hachi and Chiwan were inside. Hachi was petrified of Carawa. Ledas apologized for taking so long, Chiaki explaining that Ledas had been in a martial arts street fight. Jia brought them a platter of food, also giving Ledas a bowl of hot and sour soup spiked with poison before excusing herself. Chiaki thanked her, calling her "Mrs. Hareki". Ryori told him that Jia was their caretaker and was not related to him. Nevertheless, Ledas complimented her and called her part of the crew, which touched Jia deeply.
Ledas recounted his bout against Master Kamome as Jia retreated to her room, receiving a text from Cardinal. Jia texted back that she had poisoned the boy, noting that his Saibamen may prove to be a threat as well.
The next day, Carawa watched Jia talk to police officers in the front yard. She told them she wasn't housing leprechauns in her backyard, although she had Capsule Corp. tech. The police apologized for bothering her, noting that crazy neighbors were common in big cities. Jia stated that if the neighbor called the cops on her again, she'd seek a restraining order against her.
Afterward, Jia returned to her room. Cardinal texted her, asking for an update. Jia told him the poison hadn't affected Ledas, asking if she could discontinue it, for if anyone else accidentally ate the poison and died, it would blow their cover. Cardinal told her Dr. Usuba had come up with another means to deal with the Saiyan, so she could pull back.
On the night of June 4th, Jia and the Saibamen watched 90 Day Fiancé. The doorbell rang. Wilde paused the show. Jia went to see who it was. A police officer had Ryori in tow. The boy staggered inside. Jia smacked him on the back of the head and asked him where he'd been. Ryori gave a vague answer. The officer told Jia that Ryori and his friends had been in a bar and gotten drunk. He was going to charge him with misdemeanor minor in possession. Jia gave him a SAARO card, telling the man she was fostering Ryori under the orders of King Furry and would do anything to make the charge go away. Seeing that the king was involved, the officer agreed to let Ryori off with a warning, though if he ever caught the boy doing anything illegal again, he would charge him no matter what. Jia thanked him and said that if he was ever looking for a promotion, she'd put in a good word for him.
Once the officer had left, Jia demanded Ryori explain himself. Ryori said he didn't feel good and needed to lie down. Jia was fine with that but said they'd continue the conversation in the morning. Ryori thanked her for getting him off with a warning. He agreed with Ledas that she was a nice lady before stumbling to his room. Jia felt a great deal of pride, restraining herself as best she could.
In the evening of June 5th, Ledas returned home. Jia was surprised to learn he hadn't been with Ryori and the others the previous night (assuming he had been in jail). Ledas didn't know what she was talking about, saying he had been off-world with Bulma. Jia thought he was joking. He was far more interested in getting dinner. He asked for some chicken korma, which Jia agreed to heat up.
He found Ryori in the living room watching baseball on television. Ryori was peeved at Ledas, saying he'd been texting him for the past two days without hearing back. Ledas apologized, saying he'd been off-world with Bulma and hadn't received the texts until he returned to Earth. He told Ryori about the rejuvenation tank adventure, which eased Ryori's emotions. He asked his friend what had happened on Earth while he was gone. Ryori told him about the debacle at the Guac. Ledas apologized for not being there and offered to make it up to him by taking him on a ride in his gravity training unit to any planet he wanted to visit, as Bulma had installed an AI to pilot the ship for them. Ryori was delighted, eager to see Jupiter and Neptune up close.
While Ledas ate chicken korma, he asked them to change the channel, as he couldn't stand baseball. Jia assumed he was going to rant about how stupid and barbaric humans were, but that wasn't it at all. He said that since Goku and Vegeta had chosen Earth to live on and had humans as mates, he didn't see why it'd be any different for him. Because of that, he loved Jerry Springer, as he found the showcase of human culture very informative. Jia changed the channel to a romantic movie where a woman and a man were kissing. Ledas thought the woman was trying to bite his lips off. Jia and Ryori had to explain to him what kissing was.
Later, Jia, Carawa, Ryori, and Ledas played monopoly. After Carawa lost most of his money to Jia, he rage quit, running down the hall screeching while the others watched The Three Stooges, having a grand old time.
The next morning, Jia cooked breakfast while Ledas and Ryori had a sword-fighting competition to mark the third deleted scene. She called them out when Cardinal texted her to collect the sample. Jia tried to delicately push back, typing that their scheme against the Saiyan had become unnecessary because he didn't appear to be a threat. Cardinal told her to do her job or he would replace her.
After Ledas and Ryori left for school, Jia made a smoothie for the Saibamen. She received a call from Cardinal, excusing herself to the Saibamen's displeasure. Cardinal said he'd be there in five minutes to collect the sample. Jia promised to have it ready. She collected several blond hairs from the shower drain, putting them in a baggie before returning to the kitchen. She found the Saibamen finishing up the smoothie before fighting over who would drink it first. Wilde managed to emerge victorious from the scuffle, taking the first drink. Ame came in with a flying kick, knocking him away and drinking the rest of it (although the container had spilled all over the floor). Jia yelled at them, chasing them to the backyard with a broom.
On the morning of June 7th, Jia was awakened by a strange beeping sound. She noticed Ledas passed out in the guest bathroom as she went looking for the source of the noise. It didn't take her long to realize the sound was coming from Ledas' space pod (which was in the backyard). Jia returned to the bathroom and woke Ledas up. When he heard the sound, he shuddered.
Ryori joined them in the backyard. Ledas swore there wasn't anything wrong with his ship but refused to explain what was going on. After he hesitated to open the pod door, Ryori did it for him, triggering a song the Plantains had recorded mocking his birthday. He ran into the pod to turn off the song (otherwise it'd loop forever), noting he'd disable it if he knew how. Ryori asked if those voices were the members of his PTO team he'd mentioned before. Ledas confirmed it. Ryori felt sorry for him that his teammates had been so abusive. Jia wanted to know if he wanted a party for his birthday. Ledas wasn't comfortable with that human custom. He requested they treat it like a normal day. Ryori was flabbergasted, not understanding why he didn't want a big party with everyone from school. Ledas said having attention on him was awkward and he'd prefer to just chill. Ryori believed the PTO had really messed him up; Ledas returned to the house, hoping to get a few more minutes of rest before class began.
On the afternoon of June 8th, after getting home, in deleted scene #5, Ledas told Jia about the Kiseibachi before asking her to replace his and Ryori's beds with one king-sized bed. While she was surprised, Jia agreed to do so. Later that night, she investigated, noticing the boys sleeping in the same bed and realized they were dating. She texted Cardinal the details.
That evening, Jia, Cardinal, and Dr. Usuba met at the Bluefin Café in West City. Jia informed them Ledas was out of senzu beans and Bulma hadn't yet finished the rejuvenation tank. Cardinal urged Usuba to prepare the next Kiseibachi swarm as soon as possible, as their window to strike was shrinking. Usuba estimated it would take him a week or so. Cardinal offered to bump up his pay by four times if Usuba was able to get the swarm built faster. Usuba thought he would need a much bigger swarm than last time. He would also work to improve their energy tolerance. Cardinal gave him three days to finish the project before dismissing him from the meeting.
Once he had left, Cardinal said that they would use Usuba's Saiyan xenophobia to their advantage. He was the perfect candidate. He then gave Jia canisters of paralyzing agents to be installed in the CLEAN-BOTs. Jia would have to pilot the bots to Ledas while he slept and spray him. Jia asked what was to become of Ryori. Cardinal ordered her to spray him with the paralyzing agent too, which would undoubtedly kill him. Feeling the pressure, Jia wasn't sure if she could do it. She tried to defend Ryori, saying he was innocent. Cardinal threatened to replace her with another agent if she didn't carry out her orders. Jia swore she'd do it.
On June 9th, Jia, Ledas, and Wilde were in the kitchen, the former two working on Ledas' history essay. Wilde enjoyed pineapple juice while watching television. Ledas wanted her to add a point about how ineffective King Furry was in defending Earth from the Saiyans. Jia didn't want to, as that could be construed as disrespectful to the monarchy. Ledas didn't back down, asking her if they lived in a free society or a totalitarian regime where one could not speak one's mind. Ryori entered. Jia said Ledas could say whatever he wanted about the king, but his teachers might lower his grade for offending them (without any way of proving it). Ledas refused to remove the line, stating that were it not for the Z Fighters, Earth would've been conquered years ago. Jia didn't want to add that point either, as while correct, Ledas' teachers would think he was acting like a delusional chūnibyō. Ryori agreed with Ledas' assessment, though he thought Ledas might get another detention for speaking badly about King Furry. Ledas didn't care, saying he'd do another afterimage showcase if that happened. However, that'd be two strikes against Ms. Mahobi. Wilde left, having finished his pineapple juice.
Ledas asked Jia how they could prank Ms. Mahobi. Jia refused to help, worried they could be expelled if they were caught doing anything to their teacher. Ryori dismissed her concerns, stating they weren't going to do anything serious or get caught. Ledas' power and speed would protect them. Ledas also wanted to add a point in the essay about how Mr. Satan was a fraud, incapable of beating even King Piccolo. He and Ryori bickered over Mr. Satan's abilities, with Ryori noting Ledas would probably get a shitty grade if he disparaged the world champ. Ledas didn't care because it wasn't like he was going to become a scholar. They were able to convince him to soften his language, however, to not risk getting too bad of a grade. Jia tried to get Ledas back on track by analyzing the Saiyan invasion.
In the wee hours of June 12th, Jia prepared a CLEAN-BOT with the paralyzing agent. Cardinal texted her that they were ready. She released the CLEAN-BOT into the house soon after. Ledas was sleepwalking down the hall. The CLEAN-BOT flew over to him, spraying him in the face with a bluish mist. His shoulders slumped, and when he reached the door to his room, his hand couldn't clench it, causing him to continue walking down the hall to the back door. Flinging it open, Ledas stumbled outside and collapsed on his stomach in the grass. After a moment of hesitation, Jia, who had been watching from the hall, texted Cardinal that everything was ready to go. Then, she entered Ryori and Ledas' room, the CLEAN-BOT's remote clutched tight to her chest.
In the master bedroom, Jia stood over the sleeping Ryori, unwilling to activate the CLEAN-BOT. After thinking about it, she pocketed the remote and walked out, unable to complete her mission.
That night, she convened with Oscalpano and a man named Nhobusa (Cardinal's second-in-command) in a hospital room in Central City. Cardinal was hooked up to a breathing machine, unconscious. Nhobusa told them their orders were to lay low and wait for Cardinal to wake up. Oscalpano asked how many SAARO employees had survived. Nhobusa told him that they were the only three remaining on the mainland. Five associates and two dozen lower-level employees were stationed in the Crimson Fingers island chain to the south.
Oscalpano wanted to attack Ledas before he had a chance to heal, thinking it was their only chance to kill him. Nhobusa didn't consider that was wise, as they had no means of hurting the boy. Nhobusa said King Furry had appointed a new head of SAARO due to Cardinal's condition, and as such, they no longer had access to government funding in their campaign against the boy. He refused to give Oscalpano access to Cardinal's private accounts to finance further actions against the Saiyan. Jia promised to monitor Ledas without interfering. Oscalpano didn't appreciate that strategy. He suggested they try poisoning Ledas again. Jia reminded him that Ledas had hardly been affected by the paralyzing agent. Her life could be put at risk if they tried poisoning him again. Oscalpano still wanted to try again. Nhobusa warned him that he would be going against Cardinal if he did so. Oscalpano pleaded with them to help him, citing their mission directive at SAARO as preserving Earth at all costs, which they'd only be able to do by killing the Saiyan. Nhobusa told him they had no means of killing Ledas, so he needed to drop it.
A nurse entered the room, quickly leaving after Nhobusa flashed his SAARO badge and asked for privacy. Oscalpano followed her out. Nhobusa asked Jia to contact him if Ledas threatened the planet. Otherwise, her orders were to observe and report. Jia asked if she should stop Oscalpano if he tried anything. Nhobusa wanted her to contact him in that case, noting her account would fund Ledas' house and expenses for at least two more years, so there was no need to change anything yet. He promised to call her when Cardinal's condition improved.
Jia recalled the doctor saying they hadn't detected brain waves in Cardinal, fearing he'd become a vegetable. Nhobusa wasn't as pessimistic as her, reminding her there would need to be more tests done before that was confirmed. Jia wanted them to create a contingency plan in case Cardinal never woke up, but Nhobusa refused to entertain the thought. They said their goodbyes, and Jia left the room.
On June 15th, Bulma showed up at Ryori and Ledas' house with the rejuvenation tank. She wanted to install it on Ledas' gravity training unit. Jia told her the boys weren't home, but she could put the tank in anyway, inviting her inside. Bulma was happy to see Jia was still using the CLEAN-BOTs. They moved to the backyard, entering the gravity training unit. Bulma thought Ledas would want to enter the rejuvenation tank as soon as possible so he could resume his training. Jia confessed she didn't properly understand him, asking Bulma for advice. She wondered why he needed to train so much. Bulma told her about the Saiyans' competitive warrior spirit. Easing Jia's anxiety, she told her Goku, Vegeta, Ledas, and the others were good people and would protect the Earth from outside threats. Bulma was impressed that Jia could handle raising a Saiyan, as in her experience, they were quite a handful (stubborn and voracious, for the most part). They agreed to have lunch together next week to continue their discussion. Bulma then began installing the rejuvenation tank, showing Jia how it worked.
In the early hours of June 16th, Oscalpano snuck into Ryori and Ledas' backyard, entering the gravity training unit. He found Ledas in the rejuvenation tank on the lower deck. He loaded what may have been poison into a syringe gun. From behind, a CLEAN-BOT appeared. Suddenly, it sprayed him in the face with the paralyzing agent Cardinal had given Jia. Oscalpano tried to unholster his pistol and shoot the bot, but he fell to the ground, losing his balance and ability to move. His vision blurred, Oscalpano raised the pistol, shooting randomly, before falling over unconscious.
Jia watched this from a series of camera feeds in her room. She considered texting Nhobusa about what had happened, but deleted the unsent message, thinking better of it. She left her room, ready to spend a long night getting rid of the body.
After class on June 16th, everyone left except Ledas and Ryori. Jia was waiting for them in the hallway. Mahobi, Ledas, and Jia entered the teacher's office while Ryori played on his phone outside.
Mahobi informed Jia Ledas had two detentions (on Friday and Saturday) and had been disruptive in class multiple times. He was at risk of not passing the seventh grade if he continued acting out. Jia said the detentions she'd given him were illegitimate, and after targetting Ledas for his natural hair color, she couldn't trust Mahobi's judgment. Mahobi apologized but noted she had only been following official policy. Ledas called her a terrible person for going along with an immoral policy. Mahobi found that rude and asked Jia to put a stop to Ledas' behavior. She backed up the boy, agreeing that the teachers had been harassing him. She threatened to take Mahobi and perhaps the school at large to court if they did not back down, noting that as a SAARO employee, she'd have access to the king's treasury to pay for the finest lawyers.
Mahobi didn't believe she had done anything wrong by giving Ledas detention for disrupting her lecture on the Saiyan invasion. Ledas was fine with her reprimanding him, but he had a big problem with detention, thinking no teacher should have the power to hold a student after class. He said she wasn't his mother and it wasn't her place to try to parent him. Mahobi wanted to suspend him for saying that. Jia told her to stop getting caught up in emotional bullshit and focus on her teaching. Mahobi realized there was no getting through to the woman, thinking it now made sense why Ledas was the way he was. Ledas questioned the morals of anyone who thought detention was a legitimate teaching tool. Mahobi said it was her right by the law, so he'd have to suck it up. It didn't matter if Ledas thought it was wrong of her to give him detention. It was her call. She refused to rescind either detention. Jia ordered Ledas to remain respectful of Mahobi in the classroom and threatened her with legal action if she tried to suspend him. She and Ledas left swiftly afterward, not saying another word to Mahobi. Ryori regrouped with them and everyone left.
In the afternoon of June 19th, Jia, Ryori, Ledas, and Chiaki visited the West City Zoo, looking through all the exhibits. At the monkey exhibit, Chiaki pointed to one who was masturbating, calling him Ledas' brother. Ryori remarked the monkey had more stamina than Ledas. Chiaki was jealous of the easy life the monkey lived, receiving free food and housing and getting to masturbate all day every day while people watched. Ryori thought he'd enjoy prison if he thought that was so great. At a cafe, Ledas made a bit of a spectacle of himself by eating eight sandwiches and about a pound of fries in one sitting.
Chiaki confirmed to Ryori that Chiwan had found the messages Tabashi had drunk-texted her from his phone funny. Ryori wondered why he didn't ask her out. Tabashi was very worried about what would happen to their friends group if she rejected him. Ryori wanted him to ask Jia for advice. Jia admitted she'd never dated anyone before, so she wouldn't be the best person to ask. Given that she couldn't have kids, her dating pool was a bit shallower than one would expect for someone as attractive as her. Ledas said he and Ryori were pretty much her kids because they were orphans. She very much appreciated how they had accepted her into their lives.
A girl walking by gawked at Ledas' tail (which was clutching a sandwich). Her mother promised it was just a toy and boys did not, in fact, have tails. Chiaki said his therapist had recommended he just ask Chiwan out and see what happens. Ryori agreed with that, but Chiaki didn't find it easy to do. Ryori recommended he should try to learn how to skate to impress her, which Chiaki didn't think was a bad idea.
Later, they visited the tiger exhibit. Ledas thought the tigers looked incredibly cool. Unable to help himself, Ledas flew into the tiger enclosure, trying to pet one. The tiger took several swipes at him. He dodged with afterimages, petting the feline and agitating it. Several women noticed him in the enclosure and began to scream, so Ledas flew back to the others in a flash of light. Jia told them they were leaving before anyone recognized Ledas as the one who had jumped in the tiger exhibit, as she didn't want to deal with the zoo's security staff.
Walking off, she received a text from Nhobusa asking her to meet him at the hospital in two days, as Cardinal's condition had changed.
On the night of June 21st, Jia met with Nhobusa in Cardinal's hospital room. King Furry and a pair of his royal guards joined them. Nhobusa confirmed that Cardinal had no brainwaves. He was effectively a vegetable. He planned on pulling the plug sometime before morning, but not before transferring Cardinal's assets to SAARO. Furry told them they'd maintain their positions in SAARO (Nhobusa as the commander of the detachment in the Crimson Fingers, Jia as Ledas' caretaker). He wanted to know more about what Jia was doing, however. She explained that she was acting as Ledas' caretaker because he was only thirteen and an orphan. Hopefully, with her guidance, she could prevent him from ever attempting to conquer the world. The king wondered if she and Cardinal had been planning an elaborate assassination plot against the boy, speculating that the NRRA tower collapse had been related to that. Nhobusa swore that wasn't the case, lying that Cardinal had ceased action against the boy more than a month prior. Jia noted that Ledas was doing better with a parental figure in his life and was about to graduate seventh grade.
Furry was glad to hear it, confirming he'd fund her position until the boy reached the age of eighteen, at which point she'd return to her previous role in SAARO. He ordered them to never attack Goku's friends again, telling them that the group had been responsible for Majin Buu's defeat, not Mr. Satan, which surprised Nhobusa. He promised to fire them if he found any evidence of them working against the Z Fighters, including Ledas, in the future. With that, he and his guards left the room.
Jia asked Nhobusa what their plan was. He asked her to lay low for now and not tell Ledas about Cardinal's death. He would devise a new plan, but it would take a while. He promised to come up with their final effort against the Saiyan before he turned eighteen and King Furry's funding ran out. Nhobusa began texting someone. Jia took that as her cue to leave.
Back home on June 24th, Jia, Ledas, and Ryori had bowls of ice cream to celebrate the kids' seventh-grade graduations. Jia was extremely proud of them. Ledas wondered if the teachers had known he was scamming them. Ryori didn't believe so. Jia thought they'd recognize that his essays had been written at a level above a seventh-grader's but wouldn't be able to prove it, especially after that last in-class essay. She praised Ryori for his memorization skills that had helped them accomplish that. Ledas said he hadn't really learned how to read many kanji, but he had been able to do the math on his own for the most part. Ryori asked him if he was going to go to school with them next year. Ledas didn't want to (the scam would be much harder to pull off over a whole year), though he confirmed he was going to be around no matter what. He had to make sure he could focus on his training. He knew there'd be plenty of opportunities for them to hang out with the other seventh-graders as Ledas was certain Earth was his home now. He wasn't going anywhere.
While this was going on, Jia poured Carawa a cup of juice. The Saibaman took his prize and scurried off. Jia asked the boys not to get into any trouble, as Ledas' powers wouldn't be able to save them every time. Ryori promised. When the television show went to commercial, Ledas demanded they mute it, and the three conversed about how weird it was that so many people will just sit there and watch commercials. Ryori thought those people belonged in the trash, which made even Jia laugh.
On July 19th, Vegeta and Ledas made their way to the Capsule Corp. backyard so that Vegeta could show him Super Saiyan 3. Bikini watered her flowers while Jia and Bulma had lunch together.
Monkeyboy's First Vacation[]
In the first scene of chapter 1, on June 5, Age 776, Jia led Shoekki, Ryori, and Ledas through the streets of West City to their new home (three blocks north of Capsule Corp.). The size of the three-story mansion blew them away. Jia warned them to open their storage capsules outside so they wouldn't damage the house.
Ryori declared he and Ledas would take one of the master bedrooms, which Shoekki found odd since there were enough rooms for everyone. Ryori refused to explain why. Jia noted Shoekki was unaware Ledas and Ryori were dating. Shoekki took the other master bedroom while Jia settled for one of the guest bedrooms. Once inside, the boys raced upstairs to explore while Shoekki and Jia checked out the kitchen.
Jia told Shoekki Ryori had been in high spirits ever since he had been revived by the Dragon Balls, trying to make small talk. Shoekki asked her if she really worked for Cardinal. She confirmed that she was but was not doing anything nefarious, as she had watched over the boys for two years and hadn't known Shoekki would be coming back. She swore she wasn't scheming (which Shoekki remained unconvinced of) when Ledas and Ryori slid around the corner in their socks.
The boys were most pleased with the house, thanking Jia profusely for buying it. Then, Ryori walked over to Shoekki and hugged him, telling him how much he'd missed him and how happy he was to have him back. Ryori wanted to throw a party for his return. Shoekki threw out the idea of spending a night in the Guac with strippers and booze. Ledas admitted he and Ryori had been to that nightclub several times before, which made Shoekki laugh. He couldn't believe they hadn't been caught.
Ryori asked if he'd like to take a trip to the Crimson Fingers (a southern island chain) to visit their maternal grandparents, whom they hadn't seen in years. Shoekki was down with the idea. Jia couldn't stop them (not that she wanted to), confirming the budget would allow it. Shoekki dialed his grandparents to set up the trip.
Realizing this was the perfect opportunity to end the New Red Ribbon Army once and for all, Jia excused herself from them, going out front to make a call to Nhobusa, who was running SAARO from the Crimson Fingers. She told Nhobusa that the boys had decided to take a trip to the Crimson Fingers to visit their grandparents. He told her that Zeshmedinokov's ki-restraining device wasn't finished yet and didn't know if it would be completed in time. He promised contingencies were in place, swearing that the Saiyan would be dealt with soon after arriving.
After ending the call, Jia wondered what the contingencies could be, growing anxious that Nhobusa hadn't told her. She suspected he didn't trust her. Jia wondered if the fabled skinchangers of the Crimson Fingers (whom she knew were aliens called Makyans) would be used against Ledas. Either way, she didn't care, for she had faith in Ledas' ability to defeat them.
In the second scene, on June 7th, Ledas returned home from Capsule Corp. with his new age adjuster (which could properly morph his body into his correct age, which he'd set to 15 to match Ryori's). Stepping foot inside, he was ambushed by a crowd of people shouting "Surprise!". Chiwan, Hachi, Chiaki, Tabashi, Azashi, Ippi, Ryori, and Jia were there. Ryori ran over, noticing he was wearing his age adjuster, commenting that Ledas looked great. Ledas was flustered, unaware that it was his birthday. He didn't want to celebrate, but Ryori was able to convince him to have a chill afternoon hanging out with friends, feasting and playing video games, which he found appealing. The teenagers spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out, bonding, and eating as much food as they could stomach.
In the fourth scene, on June 8th, Jia, Shoekki, Ryori, and Ledas took a plane from West City to South City where they boarded a boat to take them to the Crimson Fingers (as there were no airports down there). A pair of old fishermen would take them down. One explained that few people went to the Crimson Fingers this time of year, as most tourists usually left a week earlier to catch both the Kurenai Harumatsuri and Kurenai Natsumatsuri celebrations, so they'd be the only passengers.
Shoekki passed the time talking with the fishermen and helping them catch dinner, while Jia read a book or was glued to her phone and Ledas and Ryori played multiplayer racing games on their Switches. They had swordfish sushi and miso soup for dinner, along with saké. Everyone got fairly drunk (the boys weren't allowed to drink more than one serving, but Shoekki snuck them extra cups), having a great time while the sailors told outlandish stories. Eventually, Ryori fell asleep on top of a dozing Ledas on the couch.
The next morning, everyone had scrambled eggs for breakfast. Soon after, the island of Hosomaki appeared in the distance. The sailors dropped them off at the port, Jia giving them a tip before leaving.
There were many people about as they made their way across the docks to Ohano's, a pub owned by Shoekki and Ryori's grandparents. Inside, a few sailors were finishing up their rounds before heading to bed. Ryori saw his grandfather behind the bar, wiping it down, and ran over to him, so happy to see him so many years apart. He hugged Ryori and Shoekki while Jia and Ledas watched (awkwardly).
Ryori told his grandfather about how they had moved to West City and how Shoekki had become a security guard for Dream Land. They introduced Jia and Ledas to Mr. Ohano. Jia explained she was the boys' caretaker and that Ledas had been living with them for the past two years. Mr. Ohano promised to take them on a fishing trip on his sailboat, the Blue Breeze, after his bar closed for the day (at 10:00 a.m.). Ryori asked him to make one of his grandmother's special seasickness tonics before they left, as he had felt queasy on the boat ride down.
While they waited for the bar to close, Ledas ordered three plates of chicken gyōza; Shoekki ordered a shot of shōchū. They engaged in small talk with Mr. Ohano while waiting for the bar to close. While they did, Ledas snuck off to join a group of men playing darts, but he kept returning to Jia for more betting money. Becoming exasperated, Jia tried to get Ledas to stop by telling him about the legend of the skinchangers, a group of demons who had haunted the Crimson Fingers for decades.
Mr. Ohano confirmed the legend, stating that the skinchangers had supposedly hunted down natives and tourists alike for many years. Nobody knew if they were demons, aliens, or human serial killers. Jia speculated they lived on Umihebiza, the most southern island in the Crimson Fingers. She reminded everyone she was a SAARO agent, and as such, had been stationed down in these islands years ago to monitor the skinchangers as part of her job. Shoekki remembered there being a weird castle-like formation in the waters to the north of Hosomaki, wondering if the skinchangers lurked there. Mr. Ohano told him hundreds of sailors had sworn on their ships they had seen skinchangers near that structure. He implored Ledas not to get involved, as dealing with the skinchangers was SAARO's responsibility, but Ryori knew Ledas wouldn't stop until he found them.
In the third scene of chapter 2, on June 10, Age 776, Ledas and Ryori along with Mr. Ohano, Mrs. Ohano, Jia, and Shoekki, visited the Asazari Wildlife Preserve. They took the Blue Breeze over. There were many people there. They toured the weather relay station first, Mr. Ohano providing commentary on the meteorological, biological, geological, and seismic research areas. Ledas was very tired on account of the demonic apples he'd eaten several hours prior and was having a tough time enduring the trip. He asked Jia where the government outpost was, insinuating he had skinchanger bodies to cash in. She didn't believe him but told him they'd visit the outpost on their way out.
It wasn't long before they returned outside and began trekking through the wildlife preserve. They observed birds and dinosaurs, Mr. Ohano providing commentary on them, while Ledas grew more tired and reckless and affectionate toward Ryori. Ryori didn't rebuff him, which was a relief. They viewed the island's sunken caldera from a high vantage before going to the jaguar exhibit, then the turtle exhibit.
They took an elevator down underground to view the ocean from below the island. The area was packed, though Ledas found it immensely cool. They were able to get a group picture together.
Afterward, they left the park. On their way out, Jia and Ledas stopped by the government outpost. Inside, they approached the receptionist who was named Vestigia. Jia informed her Ledas had caught several skinchangers and was looking to collect a bounty. Ledas threw the capsule containing their bodies onto the floor, revealing the foul storage container. A whiff of death caught Vestigia, almost breaking her. She didn't know what to do, so she called her supervisor. Ledas was proud of himself, though he remembered that humans had been meeting with the skinchangers when he'd come upon them. He resolved to look into that further, as the Dragons of the Dawn had said the government was working with them.
In the fourth scene, on June 11th, Mr. Ohano, Mrs. Ohano, Shoekki, and Jia watched the sunrise together at the summit of Haiirotori Mountain (the highest point on Hosomaki). They made comments about Ryori and Ledas sleeping in the same bed, which surprised Jia. She realized everyone else knew the boys were dating.
They watched the sunrise, sharing an emotional moment together. Mrs. Ohano lauded Jia with praise for raising the boys, knowing what a difficult task that was. She deflected, thanking them for inviting her to the Crimson Fingers. The beauty of the islands was almost enough to overwhelm her. She wondered if they would stay for the rest of their lives or had plans to move to a big city upon retirement. The Ohanos confirmed they weren't going anywhere.
Mrs. Ohano asked Jia why she had become Ryori and Ledas' caretaker, as she thought Shoekki was fulfilling that role. Shoekki came up with a lie that he had been imprisoned on a baseless charge of hitting a parked car with his motorcycle (when in reality, he had been dead). He said he got a huge settlement from the case, which Jia found amusing.
With the sun rising, they decided to return to town. Jia hung back, waiting to link up with Shoekki (he had wandered off to puff his vape). She asked Shoekki to keep a secret for her, which after some back and forth, he agreed to do. She told him Cardinal was dead and the New Red Ribbon Army disbanded (that part was a lie), trying to remove his suspicions of her. She told him that a large portion of Cardinal's funds had been granted to her by King Furry, allowing her to purchase the house in West City. They could live comfortable for decades to come (if not the rest of their lives).
She admitted that she was primarily Ledas' caretaker, since he was an alien. She had been sent to monitor him and make sure he wouldn't get into trouble. She knew that wouldn't be the case by this point. Shoekki wasn't surprised Ledas was an alien, as he had revealed that on the fishing trip in chapter 1. Shoekki told her she could stay as long as she wanted to, even after Ledas reached the age of eighteen, as the boys loved her and she was a great cook.
He didn't understand why she hadn't told them about Cardinal, however. She said that if they had known the money was coming from her and not Cardinal, their relationships might become transactional in nature, which would destroy her. She didn't want them to think they had an endless supply of money. Jia admitted that since she couldn't have kids, Ledas and Ryori were as good as it was going to get. She saw them and treated them as her children and wished for Shoekki to respect that. He promised to keep her secret. They returned to the Ohanos, and the four made the hike down the mountain together.
In the sixth scene, later that day, Mr. Ohano, Mrs. Ohano, Shoekki, Ryori, Jia, and Ledas visited the Sepiche ruins in Raskintown. They explored the town, visiting the depleted iridium mine, the marketplace, and the docks before coming to the Sepiche ruins. Mr. Ohano had a grand old time playing the tour guide, telling them all about the sculptures and how they got there, not to mention why the Sepiche had gone extinct (allegedly).
Without warning, Chervil and his skinchangers appeared, Chervil kicking Ledas into a Sepiche statue. He swore he'd get revenge for Ledas killing Tarrago. The pedestrians in the immediate area fled in terror. Chervil attacked Ledas, who retaliated with grim focus, shattering one of his arms and sending him into a tree. He told everyone to stay back, promising he had everything under control. Not wasting time (for his friends and lover were threatened), Ledas hunted down Chervil's retinue, killing every one of them with a singular blow. Chervil tried to shoot an energy blast at them, but Ledas rushed him, squeezing his wrist, forcing the ki to shoot into the sky. Battering him, Ledas threw him into a tree. Boasting stupidly, the Makyan limped away, shooting a ki blast into the ground to mask his escape.
Ryori and the others ran over, asking if he was okay. Ledas was, though he remained on guard. Mr. Ohano was stunned by what he had witnessed. Ryori provided cover, saying Ledas had been trained since he had been little and was immensely powerful (not to mention what he'd shown in chapter 1 by capturing that bluefin tuna). Ledas swore he wouldn't leave before destroying every last skinchanger, for the bounties were enticing. Mrs. Ohano and Shoekki were at a loss for words as Ledas threw a capsule to the ground, revealing a storage container. He piled up the bodies to take in for big zeni.
In the third scene of chapter 3, on the evening of June 12, Age 776, Mr. Ohano, Mrs. Ohano, Shoekki, Ryori, Jia, and Ledas attended the Kurenai Natsumatsuri at the Black Sand Beach of Raskintown. There were loads of people there. Jia and Shoekki went off to socialize by the water while the others watched a procession of dancers come down the road.
After Ledas and Ryori participated in the all-you-can-eat competition, they noticed Shoekki entertaining a group of girls at a table while Jia talked to a man Ledas recognized at another table. That guy was the one who'd talked to them in the Sea of Clouds Onsen.
In the fourth scene, that night, Ryori got up to use the restroom. On his way back, he heard voices coming from the hallway outside his room. Jia was talking with a man, pointing a pistol at him. Ryori freaked out, though he held his tongue. She told the man he wasn't taking Ledas. He was surprised, thinking that had been the plan. She promised to shoot him if he tried, offering to let him go if he backed off. The man was unwilling to abandon his mission. Jia said that Ledas wasn't evil, hadn't done anything to harm the planet, and that there was no reason to kill him. The man said that Ledas had destroyed his organization's lab, which Jia clarified had been an act of self-defense. Ryori didn't know what the hell was going on. The man called her a rat.
Before she could respond, Jia slumped over. A second man appeared behind her, pulling a syringe out of her back. He told the other man to affix the device, whatever that meant. He disappeared into Ryori's room, dragging Ledas out moments later by his tail, a strange crown-like thing attached to his head. The other man slung Jia over his shoulder.
They left the house. Ryori couldn't help but follow. He had to stop them somehow. The men exited out the back door, going down the dock. He shadowed them. They were preoccupied, talking to one another. He wasn't seen as he followed them to their boat. After they boarded it, he waited for them to descend below deck before jumping overboard. He leapt under a tarp, knowing that no matter what, he couldn't allow those guys to kill Ledas and Jia. He'd die before letting that happen.
In the first scene of chapter 4, in the wee hours of June 13, Age 776, the New Red Ribbon Army boat containing Jia, Ledas, and Ryori (unbeknownst to Nhobusa and Rambutala) arrived at Asazari. The men took their prisoners into the outpost while Ryori hid underneath a tarp. He waited a while before following them in.
He found himself in a tunnel where a large metal door prevented him from entering. Thinking he was screwed, Ryori noticed a small booth to the left with monitors on inside (although the light was off). He snuck over, opening the door as quietly as he could. A woman was asleep in front of a wall of monitors showing camera feeds of the island. He spotted the men on the feed in the telescope observatory talking with another guy in a white lab coat, Jia and Ledas lying unconscious at their feet. He realized he was on Asazari, thinking it weird these guys were government operatives.
In the second scene, a few minutes later, Nhobusa ordered Zesh to wake Jia and Ledas. Zesh injected them with a serum to remove the sedatives from their systems. They stirred, growing confused when they got their bearings straight. Ledas didn't know where he was. Nhobusa told him that didn't matter, as he'd be dead soon. He told him the New Red Ribbon Army did not forget what he had done to them. Ledas would pay for those he'd killed.
When the boy got to his feet, Zesh turned on the ki-restraining device, sending an electrical charge through his body. He fell to his knees, crying in pain as his own ki was used against him. Jia called him a monster. Nhobusa sarcastically welcomed her back to the realm of the living. She reminded him King Furry had ordered them to stand down against Ledas, but Nhobusa wasn't having it. He didn't take orders from Furry and would soon overthrow him if things went according to plan.
He ordered Rambutala to record Jia's meltdown so they could watch it later while sipping champagne. He told Jia she had been naive to fall to their simple trick in the Ohano house. Her betrayal would have karmic repercussions. Ledas didn't understand how she knew these men. Jia admitted they were colleagues. Nhobusa clarified that she was a member of the New Red Ribbon Army. Their main goal since Age 774 had been finding a way to kill Ledas. She had known about it the whole time. Nhobusa tried to turn Ledas against her, but he wasn't having it, saying he trusted Jia completely and wouldn't fall for their crap.
Nhobusa admitted that after Cardinal had died, he had become the New Red Ribbon Army's leader. Jia reported directly to him. Ledas was startled to hear of Cardinal's demise. Rambu found it hilarious Jia hadn't told him about it. Nhobusa questioned why Jia hadn't told Ledas about the plan to kidnap him that night, as she had known about it beforehand. He wasn't swayed, saying he'd talk with her about it after killing them. Nhobusa wasn't concerned, thinking Ledas couldn't harm them with Zesh's ki-restraining device impairing him.
Zesh increased the device's power, causing an electrical field to form around Ledas, frying his body with his own energy. He fell to the ground screaming. Jia begged them to stop hurting him. Nhobusa reminded her that they were getting revenge for Ledas killing Cardinal, Oscalpano, Dewberry, Kindler, Morucan, Tresparson, and all the rest. There would be no peace, no reconciliation. Jia didn't understand why they were torturing Ledas instead of just shooting him or throwing him into the ocean, but Nhobusa dismissed her concerns, stating there was only one way they could kill him for certain (as the ki-restraining device didn't remove Ledas' muscles, reaction time, and general durability).
He whistled. A moment later, Chervil and a host of his elite soldiers two dozen strong entered the room. Nhobusa shook Chervil's hand while Jia gawked at him. Nhobusa gave the order for the Makyan to kill the boy. Chervil was most eager to oblige, for he was avenging those of his people Ledas had killed. Nhobusa implored Jia to watch as Rambutala tossed her away from the action. Chervil's minions formed a circle around him and Ledas. Ledas rose to his feet despite the pain he was feeling, facing his opponent with tenacious resolve. Ledas told Chervil he had no hope of beating him, which the Makyan laughed off as childish hubris.
Chervil elbowed him, beginning their cataclysmic fight. Ledas retaliated with an uppercut (much of the room was destroyed in the process). The pair exchanged blows, leveling severe hits upon one another without letting up. Nhobusa was surprised Ledas could keep up with Chervil even with the ki-restraining device operating at nearly maximum power. Neither one had much defense. They took a lot of hits. The telescope was destroyed during their clash, which made Nhobusa wince. He knew that'd require a lot of zeni to replace.
Because of Chervil's broken hand, he had to work extra hard to hit and parry, and it wasn't long before his stamina was running low. As time wore on, Ledas got the better of the exchanges, landing blow after decisive blow against his opponent. It wasn't long before Chervil was running on fumes. He approached the Saiyan after taking a bad hit, goading him. Ledas didn't answer, instead throwing himself at the Makyan once more. They rose into the air, exchanging blows at a rate Nhobusa couldn't comprehend. What he could see confirmed his worst fear—Ledas had more stamina, more power, more discipline, and probably more experience. He was slowly wearing away at the King of the Demons. He realized Ledas would've destroyed Chervil had the ki-restraining device not been active.
Having had enough, Chervil fired an icy blast of ki from his mouth at Ledas, who didn't attempt to block it. The attack rolled over him, encasing him in a frosty prison, freezing him solid. Chervil took a victory lap to the applause of his crew. Jia became hysterical. The other demons praised Chervil's cunning. Chervil said Ledas hadn't known who he was dealing with, causing him to pay the ultimate price.
As if on cue, the floor rumbled, the air grew hot, and Ledas burst from his icy tomb with an echoing scream. Furiously, he called Chervil a cheap shot artist and a coward, demanding he fight him for real. Chervil wasn't one to take orders. He powered up his Freezing Breath again. Ledas charged him down, mirroring his previous action.
However, when Chervil unleashed his attack, Ledas back-flipped, rising to the air, and created a pearlescent half-bubble of energy to deflect the attack. He shot a kiai through the bubble to angle the attack right back at Chervil, entombing him in ice. Without remorse, Ledas smashed Chervil across the face with a spinning back heel, shattering his head and killing him. His minions were most upset. They attacked at once, though he tore through them with ease, taking only a blow or two to eliminate each one in a whirlwind of attacks.
Ledas landed before Nhobusa, turning his sights on him. Zesh protected him by sending the ki-restraining device into overdrive (and risking it overheating), which caused Ledas to fall to his knees again, recalibrating against the pain. Nhobusa congratulated him for defeating the Makyans, saying it had been his plan all along to use Ledas to rid the world of their presence (which was partially true). Ledas was dumbfounded. He didn't understand why Nhobusa hadn't hired him to kill them if that were the case. Nevertheless, he wouldn't forgive Nhobusa for abducting him and Jia.
Nhobusa was unfazed, telling Zesh to end the boy's misery. Ledas whirled around, focusing on the doctor when Nhobusa shot him in the back with a tranquilizer. Ledas tried to shoot a Finger Beam at him but couldn't. He threw himself at Nhobusa but fell unconscious in the air, skidding to the ground harmlessly.
Nhobusa declared victory, ordering Rambutala to drag Jia away. Jia begged for them to show mercy to the boy, but Nhobusa wasn't having it. He activated the intercontinental ballistic missile, which rose from the floor. He explained to Jia that the only way they could ensure Ledas' death would be to hurl him into the sun. Zesh unscrewed the door and threw Ledas into the missile before retreating with Nhobusa, Rambutala, and (unwillingly) Jia out of the room. They watched from the hallway window. Nhobusa pressed another button, and the missile shot into the sky, bathing the room in fire upon its exit.
He threw Zesh the remote, feeling a deep sense of relief. Rambu whined that he had been promised a fun time with Jia. Nhobusa granted him that final dishonor, though he reminded him Jia would have to end up in the ocean at the end. Realizing what was about to happen to her, Jia fought and cried. Didn't make a difference. Nhobusa reminded her that betraying the New Red Ribbon Army had consequences. She would reap what she sowed.
In the third scene, a few minutes later, Ryori reached the hallway outside of the telescope observatory. He watched quite a bit of the Ledas and Chervil fight before witnessing Zesh stuff the Saiyan in the intercontinental ballistic missile. Then, Nhobusa shot him off into space. He was numb. Rambutala dragged Jia down the hall. Ryori hid behind a stack of boxes. As they passed, Jia and Ryori's eyes met. He silently implored her to remain quiet with a finger over his lips. Terrorized though she was, she honored his request.
In the fourth scene, after Ledas returned to Earth, he asked Ryori where Jia was. Ryori said another NRRA soldier had carried her off, though he didn't know where they were. Ledas closed his eyes, sensing for her. Locking onto her location, he shot off, tearing through walls and rooms to reach her as quick as he could. The sedatives in his bloodstream drove him with desperation. He didn't have long before he fell asleep. He had to end this now.
When he came upon Rambu, the man was holding a shot glass and a bottle of alcohol. Jia was chained to a bed. It was clear what was about to happen. Ledas knocked him over upon entering. Rambutala rolled over, unholstering his pistol. Ledas killed him with a Finger Beam from his tail before he could do anything.
Jia was beside herself. She couldn't believe Ledas was back. He said they had Ryori to thank for that, vaporizing her handcuffs. Jia hugged him. While Ledas was uncomfortable with people touching him (except Ryori), he hugged her back, taking in the weight of the moment. She thanked him, asking if he'd dealt with everyone. He confirmed he had, though he sensed additional ki signatures in the building. Jia confirmed they were low-level New Red Ribbon Army soldiers. Ledas flew off with haste (he didn't have much time), destroying them as fast as he could, returning less than a minute later. With that, the New Red Ribbon Army was officially no more.
They returned to Ryori. From there, the three walked out of the outpost, returning to the docks. Ledas curled his tail around Ryori's waist in affection and to keep balance. He didn't care if Jia saw (and she did), knowing she'd be cool. Ryori was in good enough spirits to go along with it. Ryori thanked Jia for not blowing his cover. Jia admonished him for following them to Asazari, though she thanked him, for if he hadn't, they'd be dead. She praised his courage. Ledas agreed.
Ryori noted he'd seen how she had stood up against them back at his grandparents' house and knew she was a good person. He asked if she was a part of their organization, as they had said as much. Jia lied that she didn't know they were coming that night, although she had worked for Cardinal in the past. She swore she loved them and would do anything for them, which the boys appreciated. Ryori praised Ledas for how he killed Chervil. Ledas was surprised Ryori had seen that. Overcome with euphoria and emotion, Ledas succumbed to the tranquilizer, falling asleep in Ryori's arms, swearing he'd give Ryori a sweet reward for saving him when they got home.
In the fifth scene, the next morning, Ledas arrived at Ohano's just in time to witness a group of customers leaving a few minutes before closing time. Mrs. Ohano, Jia, Shoekki, and Ryori were sitting together at a table inside. He joined them, pulling up a chair. Around a dozen patrons were still in the bar. Mr. Ohano worked behind the bar, serving several sailors.
The group greeted Ledas, Shoekki wondering if he'd had the most alcohol in his life last night, as he looked rough. Ledas didn't know for certain but assumed that was the case. Mrs. Ohano promised they'd take it easy that day, as the Kurenai Natsumatsuri had taken a lot out of everyone. They were going to hang out in the bar and maybe explore Hosomaki later. There were no other plans. Ledas very much appreciated that.
Ryori handed him a menu, saying he could order anything for free. Ledas wasn't hungry. Mrs. Ohano asked how he'd liked the festival. Ledas had had a blast. He lamented, somewhat, how he hadn't won the eating competition, though. She was shocked he had even been in contention for the prize given his slim physique. He praised the fireworks, saying it was a night he'd never forget. Ryori nudged him, looking panicky. Mrs. Ohano invited them to come again next year. She and Mr. Ohano had missed their grandchildren. Shoekki promised they would so long as he could get time off work.
He was peeved about the women giving him no action, however. Maybe next year would be better in that regard. Ryori found it funny he hadn't hooked up with anyone last night. He blamed it on Shoekki getting super drunk, which Jia reprimanded him for saying. Shoekki wasn't offended, just thought he hadn't gotten lucky. Jia said he'd find a mate eventually, calling him charming and good-looking, which was unusually forward of her.
She told him not to be humble, as Ryori had boasted he'd been pulling in a new woman every weekend back when they'd lived in Seikishi. Shoekki didn't know what the reason had been. Maybe his time "in prison" had dulled his flirting skills. Ledas realized he was lying to cover for being dead for two years, which made him gain respect for Shoekki. Ledas said that there were tons of sexy women in the Guac, so he should try with them. Shoekki still couldn't believe the bouncers hadn't thrown him and Ryori out whenever they'd gone there. Ledas said he was too quick, which Shoekki replied was not the best quip to make regarding women. Jia wondered if Shoekki was boasting, which Mrs. Ohano found to be a bit over the line. Jia said that after Mrs. Ohano had ordered them alcoholic drinks, she was feeling careless, especially this early in the morning.
Ledas excused himself to use the restroom. Ryori went with him. When they returned, Jia was a lot drunker. Ledas didn't mind. She'd earned it after what had gone down the previous night. Ryori wanted to get a round of shots for the table. Jia was into it. Mrs. Ohano wasn't sure. Jia asked her to go for it, for since they were on vacation, they should have a little fun. That convinced Ryori's grandmother to relent, although she'd only do one more shot.
Soon after, the rest of the sailors and tourists were ushered out of the bar and Ohano's closed for the day. Mr. Ohano joined them at the table. They were discussing the trip to the Asazari Zoo a few days back. Mr. Ohano interjected, saying that whenever they were ready, he was going to teach them how to make a few of his pub's staple dishes. Shoekki was into the idea. Ryori was too, but he needed another round of shots first. Ledas thought his desperation for alcohol meant he was about to come out, which gave him hope. Mrs. Ohano got to her feet, saying she couldn't have any more. Jia joined her, although not after openly flirting with Shoekki. The women returned to the Ohano house.
In the first scene of chapter 5, on June 14, Age 776, Mr. Ohano, Mrs. Ohano, Shoekki, Ryori, Jia, and Ledas explored the town of Hosomaki, sightseeing. In the evening, they took the Blue Breeze to Raskintown where they congregated with loads of people in Tikupau to take part in the face-painting festival that served as the finale of the Kurenai Natsumatsuri. Ryori vaguely remembered taking part when he'd been little. It was good to be back.
Mr. Ohano pointed out the various shops and stores on their way to the festival area, acting as a tour guide. They came across a place known as the Thirsty Clam, which Mr. Ohano had trouble explaining the purpose of. Shoekki told everyone it was a whorehouse, which caused Mrs. Ohano to rebuke him. Shoekki said that Ryori and Ledas were old enough to know what that meant. They hadn't grown up in a puritanical atmosphere like his grandparents had. Ledas wanted to look around inside, but Ryori told him that wasn't going to happen.
Arriving in Tikupau, they split off, Ryori and Ledas remaining together. There were tons of people around. Ledas led him to the food line, which Ryori found unsurprising. Ryori's grandparents mingled with a group of natives while Jia and Shoekki split off in opposite directions.
After getting their faces painted, Ryori and Ledas noticed that Jia had moved to Shoekki's table, hanging close to him. He entertained the idea of them getting together, thinking it wouldn't be so bad. The boys bought double shots of saké and watched the dancers and fire-breathers. Drunkenly, Jia enticed Shoekki to join her on the dance floor. He was gobsmacked, pointing it out to Ledas. Ledas thought they were going to get lucky. He hoped they wouldn't just be a one-night stand, as they could be good together. Ryori agreed, though he feared what would happen if they broke up.
After returning from the forest (where Ledas had shown Ryori his Great Ape form), Ledas and Ryori found Shoekki and Jia at a table with a group of sailors and joined them. A sailor regaled a story of how his father had coaxed a woman into his bed to tempt the young boy. When she called him over to her, the father burst out from the closet with a rifle in his hand, chasing his son into the living room to be laughed at by his sailor crew. Jia, Shoekki, and Ryori thought that the woman had been culpable for the events, considering her actions highly immoral.
Shoekki poured everyone another round of saké (Ryori asked for another and was given it). Ryori and Ledas were properly drunk now. Giving in to reckless abandon, Ryori massaged Ledas while everyone continued talking. Another sailor, Happu, described how when he'd get drunk, he'd jump in a shark cage and try to punch a white or a tiger. Happu said that another sailor, Pupuro, had gotten his pinky finger bitten off by a baby tiger shark he'd tried to catch with his bare hands. Everyone drank more, shared more stories, grew rowdier, and had a great time. Ryori continued to massage Ledas, growing more confident.
In the second scene, after waking up, Ryori and Ledas found Mrs. Ohano, Jia, and Shoekki in the kitchen. Mrs. Ohano was cooking eggs and bacon, which Ledas found most agreeable. Jia discussed the plan for the day, saying they were going on a whale-watching trip that afternoon. Everyone was alright with that. They were going to go on a hiking trip across Hosomaki afterward. Again, nobody had any complaints.
Ryori asked Shoekki if he'd picked up any girls the previous night. Shoekki said he had, though he refused to give the girl's name, saying that keeping it close to the chest was a theme common in their family. Ryori said that he'd eventually told him about his relationship with Ledas, but Shoekki didn't care, saying he should've told him sooner. He refused to disclose his hook-up. Ledas didn't understand, thinking Shoekki would have an easier time telling them about a one-night-stand than a relationship. Regardless, Shoekki refused to say anything.
Mrs. Ohano noted that she'd taken pictures of everyone from the previous night and would send them the photos soon. She said that Ledas was part of her family since he was Ryori's family. Ryori was embarrassed, although he went along with it.
After they ate breakfast, the four of them played the board game "Articulate!". Ledas wasn't super up-to-date on human culture, but he held his own, answering several questions correctly. He, Ryori, and Mrs. Ohano formed a team while Jia and Shoekki were their opposition. They had a grand old time. Ledas proved his worth more than once (he knew his geography pretty damn well) and knew that there was nowhere else he'd rather be.
In the third scene, a few hours later, Mr. Ohano, Mrs. Ohano, Shoekki, Ryori, Jia, and Ledas went on a whale-watching trip. The Ohanos were on deck with Shoekki (with most of the other passengers) while Ledas and Ryori were in the cabin. Jia joined the boys inside, as it was really cold. Ryori was in rough shape, suffering from seasickness.
Ledas was eating food while talking to Beelzebub on a hand-held device. Ledas told Beelzebub about bounty hunting the skinchangers, making loads of zeni. He had officially completed the Starchasers' second bounty. Beelzebub congratulated him, though he lamented the payment had been in Earth's currency, as that wouldn't help them buy a planet. Ledas asked if he had checked the galactic registry for any high-paying bounties. He confirmed there were several high-level bounties listed that they could go after. Ledas swore he'd be up for the challenge. Beelzebub said he was coming to Earth in a week before they said their goodbyes.
Ryori asked Ledas to fly him back to Hosomaki, as he didn't think he could endure the trip any longer. Ledas tried to get him to stay. Jia took that moment to sit down with them, asking how Ryori was doing. He pretended he was alright. He asked Jia to get him a refill for his special anti-seasickness draught. She said his grandmother had prepared a thermos, so he'd be good. She asked Ledas to distract him from the boat's lurching while she went to get Mrs. Ohano.
When they returned, Mrs. Ohano refilled Ryori's cup. He wasn't doing well. Ledas was trying to show him funny videos on his phone, but that wasn't working. Jia pointed out that since seasickness was like motion sickness, watching videos wouldn't help. She asked him to distract Ryori with stories or banter. He retold the story of them sneaking into Ms. Kairyupin's house when they had been in seventh grade to steal the ecology test answer key. They had seen their teacher's pot of curry boil over, causing a huge mess in the kitchen. Ryori laughed, remembering how mad Ms. Kairyupin had been. Mrs. Ohano said that she would pretend she hadn't heard that, which Ledas gave a sarcastic response to.
Jia and Mrs. Ohano left them and returned outside. They split off, Jia going to the side of the boat to take in the view. They would soon be at their destination by her calculations. Nearby a man was sitting on the ground, listening to songs on his headphones. As the ship eased to a stop, he cast a fishing line into the sea. He brought in a striped goatfish moments later, cutting off its head and casting the body back into the ocean. He raved about how great the heads were before pocketing it in a stinking pouch and scampering away.
Jia's thoughts turned to Shoekki. She wondered if he was the one for her or if sleeping with him last night had been a mistake. A nearby couple lamented that the animal preserve on Asazari had been closed before they had had a chance to visit. They threw barbs at one another, exchanging passive-aggressive words. She returned to her thoughts, thinking that after surviving that horrific night on Asazari, she had to shoot her shot. She had almost died before loving anyone, before getting a long-term boyfriend. She wouldn't make that mistake again.
She walked over to Shoekki, who was talking to Mr. Ohano about his octopus wrestling days. After the conversation stalled, she pried him away. They retreated to an area away from anyone else. Jia asked him if last night had been a one-night stand or if they were dating now. She needed to know if being drunk had been the main reason they'd hooked up or if there was something more authentic going on. Shoekki didn't think it was a mistake, offering to change up his routine and do more for her the next time they had sex. She admitted the sex had been fine. That wasn't what she was talking about. She wanted to know if their relationship was real or not. He was down for having a serious relationship with her, although he admitted he hadn't known that was her desire. He promised to be there for her.
They were about to kiss when a whale breached on the port side. The onlookers screamed and whooped, taking videos with their phones before a torrent of water came down upon them. Ledas and Ryori ran out of the cabin to get a look. A second whale (or perhaps the first one coming around again) breached the surface. The onlookers watched the glorious moments through their phones. Ryori vomited over the railing, emptying his stomach at long last into the sea. Another whale broke through the surface, the crowd whistling and applauding. Shoekki threw his arm around Jia, saying he was down for a relationship with her. That meant everything to her.
In the fourth scene, later that day, after having dinner, Mr. Ohano, Mrs. Ohano, Shoekki, Ryori, Jia, and Ledas climbed up the Pukitehau Trail in Hosomaki. They engaged in lively conversation, which Ryori noted was rare for Ledas, although he was probably in a good mood as his belly was full. Shoekki noted they had walked this trail many times in the past, back when he and Ryori had lived here. Ryori tried to remember, vague recollections coming to him in fractured blurs, but he couldn't settle upon anything solid. He lied, saying he did remember.
Mrs. Ohano said Ryori had been hyperactive back in the day, which was a far-cry from how he acted nowadays. Ledas was super surprised. Ryori pretended that was because he'd gotten older, not because he'd endured death of his parents. He promised to visit his grandparents more often now that they were settled in West City. Mrs. Ohano was just happy Shoekki had been exonerated. Shoekki lied that he'd gotten a huge check from King Furry as compensation for his time "in jail". Mrs. Ohano told them that if they ever needed anything, they shouldn't hesitate to call. They'd be there for them.
Around the bend, they came across thatch-roofed restrooms. Mr. Ohano told them there wouldn't be another on the way up, so if they had to go, they should go now. Ryori and Ledas left for the restrooms while Shoekki and Jia snuck off to vape together.
In the distance, Shoekki and Jia vaped to their lungs' content. Mr. Ohano whistled for them to return to the pack after Ryori and Ledas came back. Once reunited, they made their way up the mountain together. Mr. Ohano brought them to a stop before the great Makipulu tree, which had been struck by lightning several hundred years ago. Mrs. Ohano reminded Ryori they'd been here many times before. Shoekki remembered, although Ryori struggled to bring the memories forth. Shoekki brought up the time Ryori had climbed the tree only to fall and sprain his wrist. Ryori pretended like he remembered.
They reached the summit, approaching a cracked boulder. Shoekki and Mr. Ohano ushered the rest of them over to the boulder, looking for a specific place. Mrs. Ohano gestured to the spot, and they looked upon it: in Age 769, they had written their initials into the stone (including Ryori's parents). Ryori remembered, overcome by emotion. Mr. Ohano handed Shoekki a rock, asking him to do the honors (etch their current trip into existence). Everyone etched their names into the stone, Mr. Ohano adding '776' at the end. They stood back, admiring the stone face. Ryori was overcome with emotion and nostalgia.
Country Matters[]
In the first section of this story, just when Chari was about to pour Bulla some vodka, Jia, Chari and Olivien's caretaker, returned home. She asked the girls if they had had dinner, and they confirmed they had. She asked Bulla if she was staying the night. The half-Saiyan said she was, and promised to text her mother about it. She asked where Olivien was. Chari told her that the boy had gone out and that she would go fetch him soon. Then, Chari told Jia it would be perfectly fine for her to go to bed, as she looked tired. The woman did not need to be asked twice. In the second scene, Bulla lamented the fact that Jia would soon find out about the hole she had left in the wall.
Girl[]
When he flew home in the second scene of this story, Oli could sense Jia, Chari, and Ledas inside their house. In the third scene, Olivien awoke and went to the kitchen, where he found Jia. His caretaker told him that both Chari and his father were out. She did not know where his father was; Chari was at Capsule Corp. He told her he would be going out that day, but did not tell her where or when he would be back. Jia did not press him to answer either question, though. He asked Jia to tell Chari and Ledas that he was staying over a friend's house that night. She promised she would and then told him that one of his father's friends had come back to Earth with him and wanted to talk to Olivien. Oli sensed for non-human power levels and realized that it was Okinaro. He thanked Jia and departed for the Inari.
Trivia[]
- Jia is one of the only members of Cardinal's team to survive multiple stories that she is featured in.
- As she is introduced in the first scene of the first chapter of the West City Saga, Jia is the first new character introduced in all of Dragon Ball: Heart of the Dragon.