The Final Lesson

Gochu was knocked a hundred feet backwards as the blast overran her defences. She could barely resist the energy that connected with her, but she did. With great difficulty, she broke free of the blast and directed it harmlessly into space. She was wasted and drained. It took all of her power just to think through the pain. She stumbled over to a fallen log.

Rokotaz chuckled a little as he took steps towards the girl, collapsed against the horizontal timber.

"I have to hand it to you," he said. "I wasn't expecting you to survive that blast."

Gochu coughed, replying in a drained voice, "I have to say I surprised myself there, too." She groaned as the loud, dull pain reverberated through her body. She continued, "So, now that you have your victory, kill me. I'm completely helpless."

Rokotaz folded his arms. "There is no honour in killing an incapacitated foe. I am rather interested to see how you will grow, and whether in the future we will be able to have a proper death match."

Gochu coughed again, then wheezed twice. "God, I think my ribs are broken," she observed. "I can barely move my arms." She smiled at Rokotaz. "You're not a bad guy when you're not trying to dominate a species, you know."

Rokotaz looked around. "Your race has been flattened and/or captured. This scuffle was the last one before I declare this planet conquered for the Illumina Empire and claim governorship of the land. There are no more battles to fight here. Why should I be of war?"

Mr. Strike couldn't believe his eyes! Here was Gochu, talking with the enemy after just being pounded flat by his attack!

Suddenly, Rokotaz's radio clicked on. "Yes, Empress Illumina…"

Rokotaz walked away. Gochu finally managed an adequate breath not broken by coughing and looked out at the field.

"Phoenix… Peatree… Mr. Strike…" she said as her eyes passed over their bodies. "Thank you."

Mr. Strike began to crawl over to Gochu. His frail body moved at a terribly slow pace. Gochu spotted the shuffling elder and smiled.

"Good. Mr. Strike's alive," she mumbled weakly.

Phoenix and Peatree weren't moving, but even from this distance Gochu could make out faint signs of breath being drawn. She breathed a sigh of relief – they were only unconscious. Gochu looked up at the sky and drew shapes from the lazily-drifting clouds to pass the time.

After what seemed like an agonizingly long time, the aged sensei finally reached his prize student. He righted himself on the tree stump, sorting his body out into a sitting position.

"Gochu…" he said weakly.

The girl looked at him and nodded.

Mr. Strike groaned loudly. He had exerted the last of his energy.

"I won't make it out of this battle alive," he said. "The person he's talking to right now… Empress Illumina… she isn't known for sharing her new possessions with the native populace. She will likely order the deaths of both you and me to clear the planet of inhabitants. Phoenix and Peatree will be considered a non-threat and used for hunting sport. When I do what I have to, remember that when the time comes to face Rokotaz again, you must fight with the memory of what is to happen."

He handed her a small satchel and fed her a small green bean.

"Take this senzu bean and tuck it under your tongue. Just as Rokotaz delivers the deathblow, swallow it. It will heal your entire body, but wait until Rokotaz finally leaves to move. At that time, feed one each to the boys, and when they come to, give them two, explaining what they are and what they do. Take an additional two for yourself and, once you pass by the island and pick up my capsule house, escape into the mountains to train. There are a lot of caves in the Yunzabit Heights, allowing for a lot of hiding."

This was a lot for the young girl to take in. She just sat there, stunned. She began to process everything her mentor taught her.

"Let the boys be seen. Let them satiate Rokotaz's hunting parties. Let that be their training. But you… don't step off the Yunzabit Heights for a while. Let Rokotaz believe you are dead. He cannot sense power levels, so you should be safe. Pick a cave deep in the Heights to set up the house, then train – not for a tournament, but for the sake of the human race. Reclaim Earth. Hopefully you'll be able to reclaim the earthlings from the Illumina Empire in the future."

The aged one lost himself in a fit of coughing. He cleared his throat and spat up some blood.

Suddenly, a light ray pierced Mr. Strike's heart and he died. Gochu screamed.

"The Empress Illumina has ordered your demise," he said. "Pity… I had hoped to use you as a toy."

Gochu knew her task, though the next few seconds were a shocked blur. She waited to swallow the bean as he pointed his index and middle fingers at her. She saw his fingers flash, and swallowed the bean just as the laser sliced through her heart. The stump blew up, sending an unconscious Gochu flying forward, and Mr. Strike's corpse off to the side. The girl lay down and did not move.

The bag of beans Mr. Strike gave her spilled all over the earth.

Rokotaz turned away and began trotting back to his ship.

"Mission accomplished," he thought.

To be continued in…

Dragonball Genetica

Season 2

"The Hero's Soul"