Gin's Redemption

The plane crashed into the edge of the volcano and split in half! The four of them were separated, Gin and Vegeta were tossed onto a ledge inside the volcano while Goku and Toushiro remained at the top. When everything settled, they all quickly tried to reorganize themselves.

Goku: "Toushiro... You.. Alright?"

Toushiro: "Yeah, I'm fine Goku! You?"

Goku: "I've been better."

Toushiro: "That fight with Zabar took a lot out of you and Vegeta, huh."

Goku: "Yeah, well... I'm not so sure it's over just yet!"

The young captain helped Goku to his feet as the earth raised saiyan called out to his friend.

Goku: "VEGETA! WHERE ARE YOU!"

Vegeta: "Down here!"

Goku and Toushiro ran over to the edge and peered down. On a ledge just a few feet away from them, they saw Vegeta and Gin slowly picking themselves up. Behind them remained the wreckage of most of the plane. Toushiro took his eyes off of his second lieutenant and gazed out at the bright glow of the volcano. Only a few small scattered islands sat in the middle a bubbling hot lava. The volcano was growing more and more active as a result from the crash. The heat was intense! Even at the top Goku and Toushiro were both feeling the heat. The rocks under their feet were almost to the point of being too hot to touch with bare skin.

Goku: "Vegeta! Can you stand?"

Vegeta: "Just barely!"

Gin shook his head and slowly rose to his feet. He was in far better condition then Vegeta was in.

Vegeta: "Gin, you ok?"

Gin: "Yeah, I'm ok. What about you?"

Vegeta: "Wish I could say I've been worse without having the word 'dead' involved."

Gin: "We need to get out of here, before that lava starts rising."

Vegeta: "Now that's a smart idea."

Gin and Vegeta slowly started to walk away from the plane wreck. Suddenly, there was a cry from Goku!

Goku: "VEGETA!"

Vegeta quickly looked up at them and saw that Goku and Toushiro was suddenly starting to climb down towards them! Why were they doing that? The answer came with a cry from Gin.

Gin: "Vegeta! Behind you!"

The saiyan prince quickly turned around and stared right back at the wreckage. Smoke was bellowing out from the wreck. Then a figure walked out of the smoke, his eyes glowing bright orange with rage!

Vegeta: "Damn you Zabar..."

Zabar was alive and seemingly uninjured.

Zabar: "I should've killed you years ago... Vegeta."

The saiyan prince snarled at Zabar.

Vegeta: "Your mistake. It's over, Zabar!"

Zabar: "Over?"

Zabar laughed as smoke continued to pore out from behind him. Confidently, the man took a few steps towards the saiyan and Gin, knowing that they were both unaware of what he was standing on.

Zabar: "I'm... Just getting started!"

Just like that, Vegeta watched in horror as Zabar rammed his fist and arm into the missile he was standing on. That was when it suddenly dawned on him... It was the Uroboros missile! Back at the top of the volcano, Goku and Toushiro were still trying to make their way down to help Vegeta and Gin. Goku glanced down at them just long enough to see what was happening. The Uroboros started to swarm over Zabar's arm and engulf it. Right before their eyes Zabar transformed and mutated. The Uroboros engulfed his entire chest and shoulders, the bright orange core glowed at the center of his chest. When Zabar pulled out his now completely mutated arm out, the Uroboros tore away parts of the metal missile and shaped those pieces into blades.

Zabar: "Time to die, Vegeta."

The mutant leaped off the missile and landed on the ledge just feet away from Vegeta and Gin. Slowly he began to walk towards them. There were only two ways out now. Either down towards the lava or risk the climb up. Either way, Zabar had them cornered. What was worse, the battle earlier had drained most of Vegeta's power and Goku was in no better condition. The only one's who could still fight were Toushiro and Gin... And Gin was the only one closest to Vegeta.

Zabar: "Why can't you understand, Vegeta?"

Vegeta: "Gin, fall back!"

Vegeta was able to warn Gin in time and the Soul Reaper was able to get away fast enough. Vegeta however could not.

Zabar: "Do you really believe the world is worth saving?"

Just as he finished his sentence, Zabar whipped his mutated arm at Vegeta and sent him flying. Gin, Goku and Toushiro could only watch as the prince tumbled further into the volcano. The impact from Zabar and the fall down the crater took the last of Vegeta's strength, and he laid there unable to defend himself anymore. His body was broken but his spirit wasn't and Vegeta continued to fight Zabar with his words.

Vegeta: "Anything is worth saving so long as there is one soul who can fight for it!"

As Vegeta struggled to get up, Zabar continued his advance towards him.

Zabar: "Natural selection leaves the survivors stronger and better! Humans have escaped this winnowing for far too long!"

Vegeta: "And so have you!"

Zabar only got angrier and quickened his pace, slowly closing the gap between him and Vegeta. Above them, Gin watched the scene. It was obvious that Vegeta didn't have the strength to defend himself and Zabar laughed at the saiyan's defenseless form. As he watched the mutant slowly close the gap, Gin remembered back on the last few weeks. As he did so, a fire started to burn within him. Then he remembered the flight. Vegeta's flight over the Soul Society with him riding on the saiyan's back with Squad 10's captain. That flight made Gin see what Vegeta truly was... And that warrior had given him a second chance, one that was dying with each step Zabar took towards Vegeta. Now that fire was an inferno! He had to do something! Without a second to spare, Gin leaped into the volcano! He landed in-between the two rivals and stood his ground against Zabar.

Zabar: "What is this?"

Gin: "This man gave me a second chance when others did not. So if you want him, you'll have to go through me first!"

Without warning, Gin fired a Kido spell at Zabar and made a direct hit! But the blast only helped Zabar's mutation and the Uroboros exploded out of his other arm!

Zabar: "Damn you!"

Vegeta: "Gin... Get out of here!"

Gin: "... ... No."

Fierce eyes glared at Zabar's glowing ones. The determination they held only hid the doubt. He maybe smarter then Zabar, but Gin only had Kido to rely on. At least... Until Toushiro's voice called out to him.

Toushiro: "Gin!"

The former captain looked up at the young captain. Toushiro and Goku were still trying to reach them, but they had seen what was going on as well... And Toushiro felt it was time to reunite a Soul Reaper with his Zanpakuto!

Toushiro: "Catch!"

The child prodigy pulled something out of his clothes and tossed it with all his might at Gin! The fox faced man caught it and smiled when he realized what it was. Unsheathing his Zanpakuto, Gin now stood confident against Zabar!

Gin: "Shoot'em dead, Shinso!"

The dagger-like sword suddenly shot out at Zabar with amazing speed! The blade hit it's mark on Zabar's shoulder but didn't seem to faze him at all. Suddenly, the glowing core appeared at the center of his chest. Remembering back to when they first encountered the Uroboros.

Gin: *The glowing core... That's his weakness!*

Then Gin noticed that his attack had pushed Zabar dangerously close to the edge of the rock island they were standing on.

Gin: *The lava!*

Now Gin had a strategy. Before Toushiro appeared on the scene, Gin was considered a prodigy himself. Unaware that Gin had figured out his weakness, Zabar roared in anger!

Zabar: "No one makes a fool of me! NO ONE!"

Gin: "Well then I'm so sorry for doing this... Here I come!"

Gin unleashed his Zanpakuto again and the impact pushed Zabar further back. Now he was only inches from falling into the lava! But Zabar wasn't done yet!

Gin: "Shoot'em dead, Shinso!"

With one final attack, Gin impaled the core on his chest. Time seemed to slow down as Zabar fell into the lava, but not before grabbing Gin by his waist. Somehow Zabar still stood strong in the lava, but only just.

Zabar: "I won't die alone!"

He began to pull Gin in. The former captain tried to stand his ground but it only slowed him down as he got closer and closer to the edge! Gin was sure that he was done for when a roar rang out behind him! Suddenly... Vegeta sank his teeth into Zabar's tentacle like arm! With all of his remaining strength, Vegeta ripped Zabar's arm off of Gin and tossed it back at the mutant! As they watched Zabar struggle in the lava, Vegeta and Gin realized that they were sinking! Just then, they heard a helicopter. They both gazed up to the sky to see a helicopter flying over them. Goku and Toushiro were already onboard and were guiding the pilot.

Goku: "Grab on!"

Goku tossed a ladder to them. Gin helped the exhausted saiyan on the ladder. To his amazement, Vegeta somehow summoned the strength to climb the ladder. Just as the lava reached the top, Gin leaped up and grabbed the ladder just in time! Slowly they reached the copter where Goku and Toushiro helped them in. But the celebration had to wait.

Zabar: "VEGETA! GOKU!"

In a final, desperate act, Zabar launched his tentacle at the copter and grabbed it! Then he tried to pull it into the lava!

Goku: "Hang on!"

While the copter was being tossed around, Vegeta almost fell out. But the close call presented a perfect shot. Seeing that this was their best chance, Vegeta summoned as much strength as he could into an energy attack. Goku saw what he was doing and joined the prince.

Vegeta: "Suck on this, Zabar!"

Goku: "Your time's up you son of a bitch!"

Goku and Vegeta fired their energy blasts at the same time, and both made a direct hit. Zabar was gone... In an explosion sending lava upward and settling back down again. It was finally over. A few minutes later... Goku, Vegeta, Toushiro and Gin all sat in the copter in silence for a while before Vegeta spoke.

Vegeta: "It's over."

Toushiro: "Yeah."

Goku: "Finally..."

Yamcha: "It's about time!"

Vegeta: "Yamcha?"

Vegeta looked over to the front of the copter and found that Yamcha was flying it.

Yamcha: "Lucky for you guys that Val called me!"

Goku: "You just realized that it was Yamcha, Vegeta?"

Vegeta: "Cut me some slack, Kakarot! I had more important things to worry about then who's flying this thing!"

Everyone just laughed. Even Vegeta chuckled, but he was just too exhausted to really laugh. He gazed out the window with a smile, Goku was slumped in the seat across from him, Gin sat next to Goku while Toushiro sat next to Vegeta.

Vegeta: "More and more I find myself wondering if it's all worth fighting for."

Goku sat up a little and looked over at Vegeta. Toushiro and Gin did the same. The saiyan prince continued to look out at the ocean they were flying over. Then he turned and looked at the three of them with a smile.

Vegeta: "For a future without fear... Yeah, it's worth it."