Many years ago…

In a darkened hall the size of a cathedral, sitting in an elaborate stone throne was King Kakarotto. He sat proudly and dignified, his arms resting on the great rock slabs that made the armrests. If he wanted, he could have ordered his men to open the sky lights and allow sunlight to stream into his throne room, but he enjoyed the peace of the darkness.

All peace was broken when he called out to the guards.

"Bring them in," he boomed. The tall doors at the end of the hall opened and three men, flanked by two guards, entered the room wearing thick, heavy chains.

The three prisoners looked weak. Though they all had considerable muscle, they cowered in the presence of the king. The one on the right bowed as he approached Kakarotto. The nearest guard grabbed him by the hair and pulled him back.

"Down bow to me scum," growled Kakarotto. "I don't need things like you in my Kingdom. What you did-"

"Please sir!" cried the one on the left. "We did nothing wrong! We were taunted!"

Kakarotto stood up and approached the prisoner. The King was six feet tall and towered over the short criminal. He raised a hand and slapped him, grabbed his scalp and yanked it, the chains around his neck pressing against his throat. The prisoner gurgled.

"You listen to me boy, you raped and murdered a woman. A mother. You have no rights, you are no longer a saiyan. You are shit, you are nothing!" he barked, spraying spit over the man's face.

"And do you know why you did this? I do…" He raised his other hand. "This is why!"

He grabbed his throat with his free hand and tore it off, the flesh snapping, blood spraying air escaped with a dull hiss. The man's eyes rolled up in his head.

"Look at this. Look at it!" screamed the King.

The prisoner managed to gain control of his eyes and look at his own throat clasped in the King's gloved fist.

"Its green… that's the only reason you're still alive. You may not know this, but Barban turns your blood green while it's effects."

"We-we never touched it!" screamed the other, yelling past the silent one at the King.

"Liar! Without it, you're friend wouldn't be alive." He nodded towards a guard at the end of the hall. The soldier hastily brought a bucket. The King threw the throat in the bucket, where it landed with a slap.

"Gotta save the parts, gotta make you look nice for your execution date." The King grinned. "Take them down to the dungeons, I want they prepared for the afterlife. Do a good job." The King watched as the prisoners were led out of the hall. Just as they reached the door, the middle man, the leader, who had been completely silent for the whole meeting, whipped around. His movement twisted the chains, putting huge pressure on his comrades and himself, but he ignored the pain. He snapped the chains, blasted the two guards then lunged down the hall towards the King.

Kakarotto laughed and shot the rebellious fool in the chest, his ki crackling as it struck his ribcage and forced the leader back to the door. He was unconscious, barely breathing, and was dragged out by the guards, while the other prisoners followed in tow. The King resumed his seat as the tall double doors slammed shut.

Out on the pillar of rock on which the King's Castle was built, the guards turned to the right and led (and dragged) the prisoners down the entrance stairs. They did not notice the young warrior Zakri pressed against the wall in the shadows of the large building.

After a full night and day of cornering scumbags in the city, interrogating the worst people, he finally got a hint that the ones who committed this heinous crime were arrested and taken to the Castle. It took him mere minutes to get there, and he waited patiently outside. When they were led into the Throne Room, took him every ounce of his will to hold himself back, to stop himself from tearing them limb from limb. But he controlled himself. He would make it worth while.

He crept slowly and silently, tailing them down to the dungeons. When he saw the last guard enter the chamber, he quickly ran and slipped through the closing door. He was standing on top of a staircase that ran down into the main Dungeon. He could see the three prisoners being lectured by the guards. Zakri crouched, ready to leap, just waiting for the right moment.

One of the guards pushed a prisoner against a wall. While his back was turned, Zakri pounced. He jumped on the back of the guard, grabbed him around the neck and twisted his head, snapping his neck and killing him. He kicked the other guard in the chest and tackled him, slamming him into the wall, compound his ribcage and crushing his lungs. Zakri grabbed one of the chain and pulled, yanking the legs of a prisoner and bringing him to the floor. Zakri stomped his neck, twisting his foot into the flesh. The grinding sound make his heart leap with joy. The wounded prisoner backed away, but was shot dead.

Having killed all but one, Zakri looked for the Leader. He must have regained consciousness, he figured. But that's a good thing. He's the one who will feel my pain. He's the one I want. He heard a jangle and whipped around. He saw the leader dashing up the stairs, his shackles dragging behind him. He bolted it out the door, escaping into the night.

Enraged, Zakri jumped up the stairs and dashed through the door. He saw the leader running up the stairs.

"Luce! I'm coming to get you!" screamed Zakri, who's face was twisted with madness. He charged up the stairs and quickly caught up to the weakened prisoner.

"Luce, you're gonna die…" he growled. "Slowly…"

Luce was unaffected by this. He didn't seem to care about pain. He laughed and tore his shirt off, revealing a huge scar shaped like a crescent moon.

Present Day

Zakri leaped through the window frame into the house. He grabbed Sedu and tried to pull him aside, but somehow he couldn't. He wasn't strong enough.

"Sedu, let me through…" he urged at his son. No reaction. Zakri let go of the child and hopped onto the table, slid to the other side and dropped to his knees. He examined Caush, who was smoking softly. He checked his heart and lungs. Aside from his combat training, Zakri was also a qualified medic. He was also a master of survival, languages and spacecraft.

"Son, you've been stunned. You'll be alright," he told Caush, who was barely conscious. He turned to Sedu. "Boy, I suggest you go to bed. Now."

Sedu turned and went to his room. Zakri watched him very carefully. He had seen the red aura, a sign of great power, before it faded when he entered the house. Zakri reached into a pouch on his belt and pulled out of tiny green pill. He pushed it in Caush's mouth and slapped his cheek, forcing it down his throat. The boy got up at once.

"Come outside, we need to talk."

"Huh? Alright," murmured Caush, who followed his father into the yard. Caush struggles on the dew soaked grass, still slightly dizzy.

"Now…" Zakri paused. He wanted to choose his words carefully. He paced for a moment. Caush knew that his thoughts were being invaded by The Enemy. No matter how many times he defeated them, they would always come back. Zakri never told either of his sons about his trauma, but Caush had read up on the war and what can happen to the people who fight in it. His father halted and faced him.

"Do you think your brother is… special?" he asked.

"Of course I do," replied Caush. "He's my brother."

"No, do you think he has special power?" Zakri narrowed his eyes.

"No, of course not. He's just a kid."

"I think he does. I think he showed us his powers tonight. I think you brought those powers out and revealed them to him."

"I don't think so. He was just a little angry. We had a disagr-"

"Bullshit. He's got something inside him. That boy is going to be a true warrior, unlike you." The insult stung Caush. He realized that he would no longer be his Dad's number one son. At least, until he could prove that Sedu had no powers. But how?

"Are you listening to me boy?" Zakri snapped, bringing Caush back to reality.

"Yeah, uh, what?"

"I said, I'm going to take him to my old comrade Dok tomorrow, to see if he can find anything… unique, while you're at that retched academy."

And with that he turned and strolled into the house, leaving Caush alone in the dark.