Chapter 10: The Shadow Over Earth
Leon stood on the patio balcony overlooking downtown West City. It was a clear, quiet evening, and the sun was sinking into the ocean on the other side of the city, casting a soothing orange glow over the city. The clouds lining the horizon at sea were blue on top, white in the middle, and pink on the bottom as they reflected the fleeting sunlight.
"Earth is still just as beautiful as it has ever been," Shin said softly as he emerged from the shadows of the Capsule Corp Mansion. "Despite its many encounters with the monsters that have threatened its existence, it still holds its beauty and composure."
"Supreme Kai!" Leon said surprised to see him. "What are you doing here?"
"Right now I'm here to enjoy the beauty of this world's sunset," Shin procrastinated.
"It is awfully pretty," Leon agreed. "Wish that all the slime ball criminals in the city out there could appreciate it."
"I suppose the ripples of Majin Buu's wave have not all vanished yet, have they?" Shin said apologetically. "I am terribly sorry."
"Not your fault," Leon assured him. "Just one of those things. Guess everything has been a bit darker since Shell died. Even Trunks… Especially Trunks."
"Yes," the Kai agreed. "Yes, I know what you mean."
"Sometimes I kinda feel like I let him down, Supreme Kai," Leon admitted. "He asked me to look after her, and, well, I didn't."
"Nonsense," Shin corrected. "You did all that you or anyone else could have done. Believe nothing other."
"Then why didn't Trunks trust me to go with him?" he asked. "Why wouldn't he let me help?"
"Trunks' journey is his own right now, my friend," Shin answered. "As is ours."
"What do you mean?" Leon asked inquisitively.
"Fate, it seems, is again at work on this planet," the Supreme Kai explained. "And once again, I'm asking you for your help. It's strange, but I sense strong destiny in you and Trunks. Everywhere you two go you make friends who always come to your aid in times of need. I am honored to be one of those friends."
"Supreme Kai," Leon interjected, "I don't mean to be disrespectful, but I don't quite follow you. What's wrong?"
"Just an old Kai's ramblings," he said with a smile, but then it slowly faded. "I'm afraid I've come to warn you. Again, your planet is on the brink of war. Even now, a shadow of evil is descending upon Earth. Within the week, I fear Earth will be surrounded by it. It will not be long now."
"Whoa, hold on a minute," Leon cried. "Shadow of evil? What do you mean, Supreme Kai?"
"Saiyans," Shin answered softly. "We thought they were all destroyed. It was believed that Trunks was the last, but our worst fears have been realized. For the past month, I had been focusing on a strange power that has been creeping across the galaxy. After I learned that Trunks was on a journey across the universe, I located him. I sensed a dark energy near him, and for a moment I thought it was him. But he missed it. And as a result, that power is on its way to Earth as we speak."
"You mean Saiyans?" Leon clarified. "Saiyans are invading Earth?"
"Not exactly," Shin restarted his explanation. "As I said, we believed that Trunks was the last, but not so. There aren't many left, maybe as many as a dozen, but we're not sure. As soon as I learned of this matter I called for a Kai Council, and according to everything I've learned we believe that a handful of Saiyan warriors have gathered an army and are looking for their last surviving relatives. We believe those to be Goku and Vegeta. Obviously, they won't find them because they are no longer living, but the Saiyan's have been searching tirelessly for them. Namek was destroyed, but it was the last place they looked. That means that their next stop will be Earth. And there's only one thing for sure when they get here and don't find who they're looking for. Earth will be enslaved if it is even allowed to endure."
"Well, then what are we going to do?" Leon asked loudly. "We have to find Trunks! We have to tell him to come back before the Saiyans arrive!"
"I'm afraid it isn't that simple anymore," Shin explained. "You see, Trunks is light years away, and fighting his own battle right now. He will come to help, but not immediately. It will be up to us to protect Earth until he returns."
"We've already tried this!" Leon argued. "The last time it cost Shell her life! This buying-time plan never works! It only gets people killed!"
"This is the only option we have," the Supreme Kai reasoned.
"Well, it's not good enough!" Leon shouted. "If we're going to be fighting an army, we're gonna need one of our own. And right now there are only two of us. We need a plan."
"I didn't come here to tell you that this would be easy," Shin said quietly.
"Well, that's good," Leon said cynically. "Because you certainly haven't."
Shin looked at Leon hard.
"I'm sorry," Leon sighed. "It's just that, you saying that we have to fight an army of Saiyans is like you saying we're fighting an army of Trunks. You and I both know that we can't stand up to something like that; we need more people."
"Then what do you suggest?" Shin asked.
"How long do you think we have before the Saiyans are within range of attacking us?" he questioned.
"Perhaps three or four days," the Supreme Kai replied.
"Then we had better be recruiting, and doing it fast," Leon stated firmly. "Do you have any idea where you could find people willing to fight with us?"
"I could check some of the southern-most galaxies," Shin answered. "There might still be some warriors friendly to our cause there."
"Then that's where you should check first," Leon agreed. "I'll see what I can come up with on this planet, Supreme Kai, but in all honesty, we both know that the people of Earth aren't up for this kind of fight."
Shin nodded in agreement.
"Check back with me before three days have passed, and let me know who you have found to help us," Leon instructed.
"I will, but first I must return to the Kai Planet," he explained. "There are some spirits that I must speak with first. It may be possible that we may attain our army with far fewer bodies…"
"What?" Leon asked, confused.
"Never mind," the old Kai assured. "Just find as many people with decent fighting powers as possible while I'm away."
"I'll do my best," he replied. "Just don't get your hopes up…"
"Right," Shin said in parting. "Good luck, my friend. I will see you again soon."
"Good luck to you too," Leon wished. "Don't be late."
The Supreme Kai smiled at Leon's joke as he disappeared from the balcony.
"Good luck…" Leon said to himself quietly. "Never is."
Silently, he took to the skies and began his global search for warriors to aide in the defense of the Earth.
Just outside of Earth's solar system, an ominous power crept closer and closer to their quiet planet.