A/N: For long time readers (That's so weird to say...) who skipped right to this chapter, first off, thanks so much for giving the story another shot :D I encourage you to read the author's notes in chapter one, as it spells out my plans from here on out. To those of you who suffered through my abysmal unedited chapters, I sincerely thank you, and hope you enjoy the chapter. :D

Chapter 9

Krillin watched the TV, immediately taking in every rule to the Satan Games. He really should be over there, watching it in person, but his wife had insisted that it wasn't a place for Marron. She had, for reasons he had to admit were reasonable, insisted that there three year old daughter should not stay home alone with his perverted martial arts master.

So, the three of them were having family bonding time, starring at Roshi's fifteen inch television, analyzing every rule and condition called out. Marron had fallen asleep almost immediately, but that was probably for the best. She wouldn't understand what was going on anyways, and now she wouldn't be up all night.

"Who do you think Gohan will choose?" Krillin asked his sensei, "To be on his team I mean."

"Piccolo, Tao, and Crane," The turtle hermit guessed. "They are all tough ones left."

"I would assume Harriman as well," the Krillen added, "He is supposedly strong, but I doubt he's as strong as the rumors say."

"I can see that," Roshi agreed. Any guesses at the final member?"

"I don't know actually," the monk admitted, "We've pretty much wiped out all the real threats."

"Well than, who do you think would be best on Hercule's team?" Roshi asked.

"Tien and Chioutzu want to be on it," Krillin listed off, "Yamcha, being the famous one of us will undoubtedly be asked, and his daughter is probably in by default. The last one would probably be you actually, being the world famous Jacki-chun and all."

"Me, fight again?" The world's oldest man replied in shock, his eyes widening "No, I'm a trainer now. You younger generations are much better cut out for this than me."

"Come on," the master martial artist joked, "I think your just being modes-"

Suddenly, his head twisted towards the window, where there an undetectable source of light appeared on the horizon. Normally, he wouldn't think twice about it, especially considering 18 was supposed to be home any time now, and being an android prevented him from ever detecting her. But there was something… different. This approaching stranger wasn't his wife, he could tell that much. And the only other one that he couldn't detect…

"Roshi," He snapped, "Grab Marron, and get the fastest hover car. I'll be right outside, leave immediately if I start to charge up."

"Wha-"

"Now!"

The sage nodded, trusting his student. Picking up the sleeping girl, he immediately began to move to the back door. Krillin, gathering courage, walked out the front door, trying his hardest to quench his anxiety.

He hadn't seriously fought in years, and now he was going up against someone at least ten times his strength. He really hoped he was just overacting, but he had to be realistic. This was probably going to be like old times, where he was going to have to kill, with his, and everyone he would die for's, life on the line. His only hope for survival was the new attack he had developed with Roshi, but it had never exactly come out correctly…

As the light approached, he got the gut feeling that, just like old times, it was probably going to turn out bad for a human like him.

The assailant was soon in view, and the monk's worst fears were confirmed. Android 17, the inexhaustible super android.

Krillin let his power skyrocket, whipping up a whirlwind of the sand on the beach. The android paid no mind, diving straight to the eye of the storm, launching his fist at his victim's temple.

However, to his surprise, it passed right through an illusion of the superhuman. He looked up, too late to see the once bald monk slam into him, sending him crashing into the ocean. The shockwave from the collision, as well as the impact into the endless ocean, sent water retreating into the air, only to come cascading down shortly after. The liquid never reaching the Z-warrior, instead vaporizing when it came in contact with his outpour of energy.

'That actually worked!' he realized in astonishment, but the victory was short-lived, as the cyborg resurfaced, and casually fixed his hair. Of course, he showed no signs of being hit with the force of a hundred missiles.

"Not bad Krillin," He laughed nonchalantly, "I haven't been hit that hard in years."

"What do you want?" He asked, dropping into an augmented turtle stance. The blue eyed android grinned.

"That is none of your concern," he answered, dashing foreword, catching the Z-fighter with an uppercut couldn't remotely keep track of. He was momentarily blinded by pain as jaw exited its socket, reminding him just how painfully out of practice he was.

He recovered quickly however, watching his enemy closely, while still riding the momentum from hit. As the mechanical super being disappeared from its resting spot, the once bald warrior backfliped into an upright position, his fingers just inches away from his eyes.

"SOLAR FLARE!" He bellowed, not at all surprised to find 17 just in front of him, rubbing his eyes in a frantic attempt to cure his overloaded sight. The short fighter kicked off his opponent's shoulders, opening a mile gap between them in an instant. Charging up as long as he dared, he threw his hands up to create a ten foot pillar of dense energy just above him.

"I will kill you for that, you-" But the android never finished, as his sight returned to him, causing him to back up from the never before seen energy formation.

"Wha-What is that?" The android shouted in borderline panic.

He answered in concentrated silence, swinging his arms forward.

Hundreds of paper-thin distructo discs flew out of the pillar, orbiting around the human, some shooting out in a nonstop barrage at there master's instructions. Seventeen maneuvered between them, but as Krillin moved his arms back, the disks returned to orbiting around him.

"Good," He said with a stupidly huge grin, "It's stable. Now, get ready for Krillin to SHINE, baby! RAGING DISTRUCTO STORM!"

His arms became a blur, directing the plates of death to both attack the overwhelmed android and protect him in one intricate and ever changing pattern.

Seventeen weaved through the endless onslaught, never finding an opening to escape or attack. Cuts began to appear throughout in random places, never very deep. They weren't hindering him in the slightest, but the fact remained that they appeared, and all it would take was a sing slip up on his part or single move that he simply couldn't avoid.

Seconds turned to minutes, and seventeen had to admit to himself that Krillin was turning out to be a bigger pain than he ever would have guessed.

Suddenly, he found an opening, and dashed through it right towards Krillin's feet. He grinned, seeing the weakness in the technique. He controlled the discs with his muscles, so forcing him to block or use them involuntarily would completely wreck everything. However, as he reached striking distance, he was shocked that there was a glowing orb of energy floating between the monk's feet.

"KAMEHAMEHA!" the master of the turtle style martial arts bellowed, sending a powerful blast straight into the android, point blank.

He wasted no time as the black haired assailant was sent hurdling into the ocean's depths, swiftly directing all of the discs after him, only one going rouge into the horizon.

He panted heavily, he didn't have the raw stamina or strength that some of the other, more beastly Z-fighters, and this had taken it's toll on both his energy and body. However, the distructo discs were more than capable of slicing through foes far more powerful than there user.

Moments passed, and he began daring to believe he had won. After all, with how many fights he had been in, he had to win eventually right? But that hope was utterly crushed when a blue dome was created, expanding outward until just before it touched the island, where it seemed to shimmer and dissipate. The lack of any destruction on the island didn't go unnoticed by the raven haired fighter.

'Was that a coincidence?' he wondered as the android slowly floated up to his altitude, 'Or does he simply want it intact? But the only reason he would do that is for something on the island, or by extension, something in kame house.'

"I don't remember you being such a pain in the ass Krillin," He hissed, both of his hands glowing, signaling that he was charging up a powerful attack.

Krillin however, was only half listening. 'What is it that we could be hiding that he would need so badly that he would restrict his own power like that? Think man, that's why you've died as rarely as you have.'

"You've earned my respect," the machine admitted, "You held me this long. Your reward is telling Goku this message when you see him in the afterlife: I am, will be, and always have been the strongest."

'Strongest, more power, unlimited power, dragon balls!' Krillin fit together at a pace that amazed even him. Yes, he remembered now. Six years ago, the Z-fighters had agreed that they would have to keep at least one of the dragon balls safe, hidden in places that were in honor to Goku.

Hidden in the world's capital – Where he defeated the Demon King Piccolo.

Under the Cell Games arena – The location of his last, and greatest, stand.

In a hollowed out compartment in Korin's tower – They couldn't decide wither to put it in Kami's lookout or in Korin's so they compromised.

In his childhood house – where he was raised by his adopted granfather.

In his own house – Where his son was born, where he lived with his wife, and where a uncountable number of memories with his friends and family.

In Capsule Corp., in the most top secret and impenetrable safe on earth – Where his all-time friend and longtime rival lived.

In Kame-house – Where he was trained in martial arts, and met his best friend.

His best friend…

He had to keep the dragon ball safe, it could very well be the final one he needed. But he doubted he was going to get out of this alive to tell anyone.

No, he was going to make his last stand right here. He had to stop Seventeen from getting the dragon balls, and getting whatever wish he wanted.

Quickly, he assessed the situation. He was facing the island, seventeen facing him, and thus away from the island. He probably didn't want any damage to come to it. He knew he couldn't hope to match him in an energy duel in the fashion that Goku tended to, and he knew that he couldn't be like Piccolo and dodge him. He was neither fast nor powerful enough.

There was no getting around it. There was only one way to win this fight.

Everything seamed surreal as he pulled his arm back starting a Kamehameha. This was the end. He couldn't get wished back anymore, this time his death would be final, as he was already wished back not once, but twice.

He looked back on his life as he poured every last ounce of energy into his final act as a living being. Endless hours of training, and the results that were shown in battle. He had seen people killed, and had even been the executioner. Countless hardships in colossal battles far beyond his capabilities, withier it be against an intergalactic tyrant, or his brutal elite squadron.

However, it wasn't all bad. His adventures with Goku were each a once in a thousand lifetimes experience, and he knew that he wouldn't have traded a single experience for an average, dull life.

And he got to do things some never dared let themselves dream. He had traveled the universe, across space and time, and had saved the world at least a dozen times.

And in the end, his life goal was achieved. He had a beautiful wife, and an even more beautiful daughter. No matter what he would ever say to himself this was how he wanted to die, defending his family. What greater end was there in life?

He really would have preferred to live, to watch over Marron as she grew up. However, he knew that it was better to make sure she could grow up. He would give up his life a dozen more times if it meant she could go to school, live a happy life, and one day start a family of her own. Good god, one day he would be grandfather! But that was in the years to come, and he would have to settle for watching from above. Now was the time to do his part, and leave the rest to his wife.

He didn't regret a single moment of his life, wouldn't change it for all the riches in the world. So it was now his time to end it in a way that he could be proud of.

No hesitation.

No holding back.

He threw his hands forward, not hearing himself scream the chant of the turtle style's signature technique, despite straining his throat. He saw seventeen send his own blast, undoubtedly anticipating the collision.

However, Krillin wasn't aiming at the android, and the two blasts soared past each other. Seventeen could only watch in horror as the Kamehameha incinerated the home of heroes, the blast destroying the island.

Krillin grinned as he let his arms fall to the side. He than closed eyes and breathed in, welcoming the blast.

"The rest is up to you, guys" He said with a chuckle, as the blast plowed through him.

Of all of his deaths, he accepted this one to be his final, the final note in the grand symphony of an unsung hero. Before one final thought ran through his mind that he hoped would live as long as his soul resided in other world.

I love you #18

Seventeen's eyes widened in horror as the blast completely annihilated the entire island, and the dragon ball with it.

The only thing that seamed to almost remotely make up for it was that the bastard who did it was dead. However, that didn't fix the fact that Krillin of all people had blown up the dragonball!

How had he figured out his plans, let alone prepare himself for death fast enough to stop them by sacrificing his own life?

Plans needed to be adjusted. He had time, yes time was on his side. However, the longer he waited, the more improbable it was to achieve his goal. Especially with the training addict known as Vegeta, who made even his current plans risky at best.

'Maybe, just maybe, the dragonball was left intact!' He said to himself hopefully, but immediately shot down the idea. That attack had enough power to destroy continent, a little sphere, no matter how magical, simply couldn't have the strength to withstand that.

He looked behind him, seeing six specs of light that were quickly growing.

'Guess that's my cue to leave,' he sighed, before he felt a weird sensation in his shoulder, followed by an excruciating pain. He looked to his left arm, the source of the pain, to find exactly what the sensation was.

There was a splash in the water, as he gazed at his shoulder in disbelief.

A distructo disc had deprived him of an arm.

He starred at the spot where his missing limb was supposed to be, memorizing every wire that was protruding out of the socket. However, his stupor could only last so long, as the lights were getting closer, and a golden one was pulling ahead, scaring the android into action.

He let himself freefall into the ocean, creating a ki barrier around his exposed wires to keep them from getting wet.

There were many adjustments to be made, and he also had to start a few projects. But before all of that, he had too see the Rules and Regulations to the Satan Games. He had to see just what his 'rival' had given him to work with.

But for now, he let himself drift through the ocean.

"Krillin!" 18 was screaming, tears running down her face, "Krillin, how could you die on me like this? Where is Marron? Please tell me you at least saved her! Krillin!"

"Your absolutely sure this is where the island was?" Vegeta demanded of Yamcha.

"Absolutely," The scar faced baseball player assured him, "And believe me, I wish it wasn't."

"I can't believe Krillin is dead," Tien muttered, "But judging by the power of that last blast, and the fact that the island is gone, he went down fighting."

"Idiots," Piccolo growled, "Weren't you following the fight?"

"Following the fight?" Chioutzu asked incredulously, "The only power given off was from Krillin!"

"You really have been wasting your time these past years, haven't you?" He growled. "I for one developed the ability to detect artificial Ki. However, seeing as it isn't needed for an android to survive, I can only detect it when fighting. That's why I haven't found the culprit yet. But if you hadn't wasted the years away, you'd have been able to detect that the last blast was the only one to hit the Island, and it did so right before he died."

"You could tell what was happening that easily?" Yamcha asked in surprise.

18 looked at the Namekian sharply, "Can you find Marron?" She demanded. "Is she still alive?"

"I could detect the fight because of the collision of such huge powers," Piccolo explained calmly, "Dende should know where she is, given that she is alive."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" She screamed, blasting off at high speeds towards the lookout.

"I'll never truly understand human connections," Piccolo muttered, watching her leave.

"What about you and Gohan?" Yamcha asked, "You treat him like your son, or at least a nephew."

"He is my student," He said coolly, "And I wouldn't freak out like that if he was killed. I will however, do everything I can to keep him alive. That's probably why he is alive."

"It really is," Tien noted, "You and Vegeta."

"We're also the only reason your alive," Vegeta growled, "Unless you think you can go toe to toe with the likes of Bojack, Cell, and Broly and with that puny power of yours."

Tien suddenly became very interested in the ocean, causing the saiyan prince to scoff.

"So, what now?" Chioutzu asked, "If there is an android strong enough to beat Krillin, and quickly enough that we couldn't get here in time, than the only one guaranteed to be safe is Vegeta."

"How would you know he is safe?" Yamcha asked, interested.

"He was obviously scared of someone," The mime like character explained, "And he was capable of more than Yamcha and I, and is probably stronger than Tien considering the fight speed. That means that only three of us might stand a chance, Vegeta, Piccolo and 18. But he did run, so that means at least Vegeta is stronger."

Piccolo blinked. "Did you just make a contribution?" He asked, caught off guard, "And a good one?"

"Yea Chioutzu," Yamcha agreed, "Good job!"

Vegeta however, frowned. "Everyone, Kami's lookout. Green bean, get Kakarot's family. I'll guide the weaklings there now, and than get my family. Be there in a half hour, I won't repeat myself."

Pikkon was sent spiraling, skidding to a stop after a dozen feet.

"My god Goku," King Kai gasped in amazement, "He was your equal only a few years ago!"

"Yea," he agreed, pouting slightly. "To be honest, I miss Vegeta. He never fell too far behind me."

South Kai, who just happened to be passing by gasped. "North Kai, you have another one of him coming?" The god exclaimed.

"Not sure actually," He confessed, "I'm pretty sure Vegeta is going straight to hell. But yea, Vegeta was his rival. But I've got seven more top of the line fighters coming as well. Not as good as Goku, but they take out any of almost all of my other ones, including Oolibu."

"That's not fair!" The Kai protested, causing King Kai to laugh.

"It just goes to show the North Galixy is the best!" He bragged, "And it's only getting stronger! I don't know about you, but all the Ice-jin in MY galaxy have been killed."

However, before the boasting could be continued, his antennae began twitching, and he looked to Goku in surprise.

"Goku, Krillin is coming!"

The saiyan's facial expression went cold immediately. "What happened?"

"Well, we're going to have to learn that once he gets here, isn't he?" came the annoyed response, "I stopped keeping track of whats happening on earth after Bojack!"

The saiyan charged up to super saiyan two, letting his awesome power radiate off him, but continued on, ignoring the damage to his surroundings.

"What are you doing?" Pikkon shouted, coughing up blood. That last hit had forced a rib to puncture his lungs. A rather unpleasant experience, even if you couldn't die.

Goku let his energy fall back to normal levels.

"There is something else there," He said distantly, "But I can't reach it. It's like a new form of super saiyan, but no matter how much stronger I get; I can't seem to reach it. It's completely different from… everything else. It's almost like the power has nothing to do with power, if that makes any sense."

"No Goku," King Kai said simply, "It doesn't make any sense. Not at all. Go meditate or something until-" He was abruptly cut off by Goku lifting him off the ground, spinning him in a circles.

"Meditating! You're a genius King Kai!" He laughed, "I've been focusing so much on my body, I forgot to work my mind!"

With that, Goku dropped him, blasting off to find a quiet place.

King Kai sweat dropped. Did he forget that Krillin was coming?

A/N: To everyone, dedicated and not, thanks so much! I'm really looking forward to continuing this story, and hope you guys are looking forward to reading more!