Chapter 10: Damage Saga: The Mother of Freiza

It is the night before the big day at Mark Zuko's manor. Goku, Gohan, Piccolo and Bulma meet outside of Capsule Corporation in a circle, concerned about what happened earlier in Hercule City and the invitations they received right after the catastrophe. Bulma is the first one to speak up, a look of slight concern but also serious resolve. "Alright, there are two main things we need to talk about right now. First we need to talk about Damage. Piccolo, what are your thoughts?" Piccolo looks at Bulma with his arms folded. "So far, all we know is that Damage knows too much about us and our adventures. The only reason I can fathom is that she knows us personally. She also said that she trained under Ox-King." Goku interrupts angrily. "She's lying. She only said that to confuse us. Ox-King and Chi Chi lived alone on Fire Mountain for years before I finally met them. Chi Chi is the only person he could have trained at the time. Even after Chi Chi married me, Ox King still gets few visitors." Bulma looks at Gohan calmly. "What did you learn, Gohan?"

"I know that mom isn't Damage."

"Are you sure, Gohan? After all, Chi Chi is known for her violent outbursts."

"Maybe, but she's no killer. Damage was still with me when dad went back home. Mom was at home at the exact same time that Damage was helping out with the riot." Piccolo speaks up again. "And we know it's not Android 18 because she has no ki signature for us to detect, but Damage does. Also, she's like Vegeta, she's too proud to hide her face."

"Yeah, if she wanted to kill us, she would come right out and say it," responds Goku. "Plus, why would she need to wear a protective suit? Man made weapons have no effect on her!" Piccolo looks at Bulma again. "At first I considered you a suspect, Bulma."

"EXCUSE ME?! Why would you suspect me?!" Bulma shouts at Piccolo who raises his voice back at her briefly. "I said at first!" Piccolo regains his composure. "I considered you a suspect because of your knowledge of technology. You are one of the few people on Earth smart enough to make a suit like that."

"But didn't you guys say that Damage knew martial arts?"

"She did," replies Goku, "and based on what moves she used, we know that she's a brawler."

"Bulma, does Bra know martial arts? Did Vegeta train her," asked Gohan.

"Vegeta gave her some training when she was little, but he stopped. He seemed more focused on making Trunks stronger. He has been pretty lenient with her on training."

"Goku, how can we be sure that Rachel is not Damage," asked Piccolo.

"Because Shenron never would have given her such power if she couldn't be trusted."

"Still though," responds Bulma, "it is something to consider. Now then, moving on. The second main thing I wanted to talk about is the mystery of Mark Zuko."

"Damage said that Mark hired her to attack me, but then tried to have me killed." Goku looks shocked. "What?! Why didn't you tell me that earlier, Gohan?"

"Goku, you told me that you felt a massive dark force coming from Mark," said Piccolo. Goku looks at Piccolo seriously. "Yes, the first time I saw him on TV. There was an evil power inside of him, but there was more than that. I looked into his eyes and I saw hatred. Pure, absolute hatred."

"Mark also saved you from the Kamehameha Wave," said Gohan with Goku retorting. "There is no way he could have blocked that with one hand. No ordinary human can do that."

"Goku, Rachel warned us about the God of Evil. Do you think Mark is connected in some way," asked Bulma.

"When I sensed Mark's power on television, it felt like it reached into another dimension. It felt like Bills all over again."

"Goku, you don't think Mark is...," Piccolo questioned as Goku responded, "I think so. I think Mark is the Darkness." Bulma briefly claps her hands to get everyone's attention. "Alright, listen up! We are going to Mark's mansion tomorrow. We cannot let Mark know that we suspect him. We are going to go there and act natural, like nothing is wrong. Mark Zuko is a public figure; we need to tread carefully."

The next day, Goku and the gang stand outside of a large white manor with pillars on the front. They all wear their best outfits, with Goku wearing a brown suit and Chi Chi wearing a navy blue skirt suit. Gohan wears a pale blue suit and Videl wears a red ball gown. Pan wears a very classy black men's suit with the left flap overlapping and has four brown buttons with brown dress shoes on her feet. Bulma wears her navy blue skirt suit as well with Vegeta and Trunks wearing black suits. Bra just wears her usual red dress with boots and arm covers to match. Piccolo shows up in his usual training clothes with Majin Buu and Hercule wearing their usual outfits as well. "Um, isn't somebody going to ring the doorbell," asked Hercule after a long silence among the group. "I'll get it," responds Trunks. Trunks rings the doorbell and everyone anxiously awaits an answer. One of the two large wooden doors with gold handles open, showing a bronze robot dressed as a butler. "Good day, sirs and madams," answers the butler android in a very prissy voice, "I will summon my masters." In a blur, the robot takes off, leaving everyone in awe. A few seconds later, the robot butler returns. "Whoa, talk about service," responds a surprised Goku. "No wonder he uses robots."

"I'll take that as a compliment." Mark and Sheila show up at the door with Mark in a dark suit with grey vertical stripes, a dark grey suit shirt under his jacket with a red tie and black and white loafers. Sheila wears a green sleeveless dress with black slippers. Mark smiles as he addresses his guests. "Come in, welcome." The group enters the large manor, seeing a crystal chandelier with white floors and a black banister on the twin staircase. Straight back through the lobby is the kitchen and in the backyard is a pool area with 15 tables. The group marvels at the decor of the Zukos. "Come with me. I will show you around."

Mark opens the door to his personal library, filled with over twenty shelves of books and directly in front is a red leather chair. "This is where I come to educate myself."

Mark then shows them the indoor racquetball court. The floor is a nicely polished, light brown wood and the racquets are hung on the left wall. "Whenever I need some exercise and some fun at the same time."

Mark then shows them the inside of a movie auditorium. "My own private movie theater. This is the only way to watch movies. I have a digital projector in the monitor room, so it plays DVD's. It can also play current movies as well."

The group now find themselves sitting at a very large dining table inside of the dining room. The dining room is able to fit an army of people. There are slide doors in the white dining room that lead outside to the pool. Mark sits at the head of the table with Sheila sitting to his left. The robot servants bring out serving plates for each of the guests. "I prepared something for each of our guests," said Mark. When Goku's plate is uncovered, it shows a large ham on a bone. "Sweeeeet," chimes Goku. Majin Buu's plate is uncovered, showing a brownie cake. "Hooray!" When the robot servant reaches Piccolo, it gives him a pitcher filled with water. "For you, Piccolo, I prepared some fresh spring water." Android 18's plate is uncovered, showing a stack of Senzu beans. Android 18 looks at Mark with contempt. "How did you get these?"

"I made them. I did my homework on all of you; I know about the Senzu beans. They caught my eye, so I decided to grow them. Like Piccolo you don't eat, but you will eat these for health and energy." Footsteps can be heard coming from the door to the dining room. "Mummy, daddy. Can I join you," asked the voice of a young girl with a British accent. She steps in, wearing a blue Little Bo Peep plaid dress with white stockings and black slippers. She is around 4'7 with long silky smooth black hair and green eyes. Her skin is light tan and her face has even features. The girl approaches Mark's seat at the table. "I was getting lonely. Can I join you and your guests?" Mark then puts his hand on her shoulder, showing her to the guests "Ah yes. Everyone, this is our daughter, Katie. She goes to school in England but is home for a few days. Katie, you can sit to my right." Katie then walks over and sits down near the head of the table to Mark's right. Goku tries to read Mark's reaction. "I don't see it now, that feeling of malice from before. When his daughter walked in, he dropped his guard for a moment." Goku ponders on this. "Maybe he does have a redeeming quality after all." Sheila looks over at Vegeta with a calm expression. "So Vegeta, how are you? It's been a while."

"Not long enough, witch!" Sheila sighs at his response. "I see that you're as charming as ever."

"Vegeta, what did I say on the way here? Behave," said Bulma calmly scolding him. "I have nothing to say to you, Sheila, of course we both know that's not your real name," responds Vegeta in a livid voice. "Seriously Sheila, what did you do to make Vegeta so angry at you," asked Bulma. Sheila looks at Bulma with sorrow. "Vegeta told you, didn't he, Bulma? I was the queen of the Planet Trade Organization. Freiza and Cooler are my sons."

"But that was a long time ago, Sheila. If I had to judge you for your past actions, I would have to judge Vegeta, Piccolo and Majin Buu the same way."

Goku reaches his hand over the table, seeing a plate full of deviled eggs. His tongue is sticking out, which means he's in hunger mode. Pan then slaps his hand from his left as he holds it in pain. "Ow, what did you do that for, Pan?" Moaned Goku. Pan sits their in her suit, giving Goku a mean look. "Grandpa Goku, give other people a chance to eat. If you're still hungry, just take one of Eighteen's Senzu beans. They should fill you right up."

"I'm with Pan," responds Android 18, "I'm not going to eat all of these, let alone one." Android 18 takes one from her plate and tosses it to Goku. Goku catches it and chomps it down, instantly filling him up. Goku turns back to Pan with a smile on his face. "So Pan, I heard you've been doing really well in school lately. I think it's amazing how you can train so much and still have time to study." Pan smiles back at Goku. "Well, even though dad gave up on training, mom didn't and I got most of my study skills from him. Mom wanted me to keep training because she knew that you wouldn't always be around, and dad wanted me to keep up with my studies, so I found a way to do both." Pan reaches into her pants pocket and takes out a wrist device with a touch screen. "Voila! This is my IQ Manipulator!" Goku and Chi-Chi look at it in awe. "Where did you get that, honey," asked Chi Chi. "I made it, Grandma Chi Chi, just like you made the food maker at the hut." Goku looks at Pan with suspicion. "Pan, have you been drinking Persona as well?"

"I have, and it did more than make me smarter. It made me stronger as well and allowed me to increase my energy as much as I want. It made me smart enough to make this so I wouldn't have to keep drinking it."

"And how smart are you now," asked Goku.

"Well, the last time I used this device, I gave myself an IQ of 195, smart enough to memorize most things."

"Pan, you heard about what the Persona did to your Grandma Chi Chi, right?" Pan bends over to look over at Chi Chi with a blank expression. "Have you been drinking too much, grandma? That would explain your sudden collapse. The body can only handle so much energy at a time."

Piccolo sits at the table quietly with his arms folded. He looks over at the other side of the table and sends a telepathic message to Gohan. "Did you hear?"

"I did. Pan never told me about that device. Maybe she thought I would get upset."

"But why hide it from you? You're her father, Gohan."

"Pan has a compulsive need to prove herself. She gets it from dad and from Videl. She's been like that ever since she was four years old. Maybe she hid the device from us because Videl would have seen it as an easy exit, though I'm not sure if controlling her IQ is a safe thing to do."

"My point, Gohan. Everything about the Persona drinks are unnatural. There have been reports on the news about people collapsing from adrenaline overdose. Guess what caused it?!"

"Persona?"

"Exactly. Giving free energy drinks to the masses and now a bunch of people becoming addicted to it like a drug. Does that sound very rational to you?"

Goku is looking over at Piccolo and Gohan and can't help but overhear their telepathic conversation. Goku looks serious now as he stands up from his seat and walks over to Mark's chair. "Mark, can I talk to you in private?"

Goku and Mark stand in the lobby of the manor with everyone else back in the dining room. "So Goku, what do you need?" Goku gives Mark a suspicious glare. "My wife has become addicted to your drink, Persona. Just yesterday, she collapsed from adrenaline overdose and she's not the only one. People who have been drinking Persona have been suffering from side effects, like panic attacks and violent outbursts. Care to explain those?" Mark makes a calm smile. "Well, every product has a side effect, Goku; Persona is no different. People who are having panic attacks from my drinks probably had mental issues to begin with."

"Except they didn't, Mark," responds Goku getting angry. "Those people had no history of mental illness, so what you just said makes no sense." Mark looks at Goku with an emotionless look on his face. "If there is a point to this, Goku, I'm willing to hear it."

"Did you think you were clever, blocking the Kamehameha with one hand? No ordinary human can do that, not even the human fighters in my group can do that! I'm fully aware of the dark power surrounding you, spilling out and reaching far beyond the mortal universe. If you truly cared about saving the world, then you wouldn't be selling weapons, so why don't you come clean, Mark?!" Goku clenches his fist tightly as he opens his eyes wide in fury. "YOU'RE THE GOD OF EVIL!" Mark then makes a sadistic smile and makes a brief applause. "Congratulations! You finally figured me out."

"It was you who destroyed Hercule City, wasn't it, Mark?!"

"Actually no, that was the Black Dragons." Goku looks confused. "Black Dragons?"

"You'll meet them soon. So Goku, have you figured out Damage's identity yet?"

"What does that have to do with anything?!"

"Oh Goku, such a glorious fighter and yet so stupid. The clues have been in front of you all along. Damage knows everything about you. Want to know how? The answer is simple. She is someone you know. Someone you have ignored for years. Someone you have claimed to love, and yet have shown no affection for in years." Goku looks to the side. "Think about it, Goku and think hard. Damage has committed over a dozen murders. What will happen if Vegeta is next on her list?" Mark turns around, walking back toward the dining room. "You are a guest in my house, Goku. Try not to ruin that."

It is sunset and everyone has gone back home. Most of the gang enjoyed their time at Mark's manor, but Goku, Piccolo and Vegeta left with more suspicions than ever about Mark and his wife, Sheila. Goku, Piccolo, Gohan, Bulma and Vegeta meet outside of Capsule Corporation to discuss what they learned at the manor today.

"It would seem that Goku's suspicion about Mark being the God of Evil was right. Even worse is that Mark was on to us the whole time. He knew that we suspected him, so he admitted it to Goku," said Bulma upset. "He was playing Devil's Advocate with us today, keeping his enemies close rather than take us all out when he had the chance."

"It also stands to reason why he would have a Supreme Kai on his side," said Vegeta, "Sheila may be the one who is giving him his supplies, as well as feeding him information about us. Let us not forget that she is also Freiza's mother, so there is a chance that some of her soldiers are here and if that is the case..." Vegeta looks down, worried. Goku looks concerned. "What is it, Vegeta?" Vegeta's eyes waver a bit. "She may have called the Reapers."

"Reapers? Who are they?"

"Mercenaries like the Ginyu Force, except they were given immortality long ago, making them invincible."

"Wow, they sound strong! I'd like to meet them," said an excited Goku. "THIS ISN'T A JOKE, KAKAROT! The Reapers are cold and ruthless. They enjoy killing, hence their title." Goku now becomes upset. "I don't like men who enjoy killing."

"More on that later," said Piccolo, "now back to the subject of Damage. According to Goku, Mark already knows her identity, but gave Goku the clues we needed. We know that she knows both the Kamehameha and the Masenko. The only way she could know those techniques is if she saw them before. She used the techniques like an expert, so she is not just stealing them."

"Hmm. Gohan, I just thought about something," said Bulma, "didn't Pan leave for the beach right before Damage attacked you?"

"She did. Why?"

"So why didn't Pan sense her presence?! As I recall, you said that Damage has an energy signature that you can track. If that's the case, then why didn't Pan know that Damage was inside the house?"

It is nighttime at the Zuko manor and the three Zukos have all gone to bed. However, a prowler stands outside of the manor, wearing a black protective suit. She looks at her right wrist, showing an IQ Manipulator. Damage teleports into the manor, but Sheila wakes up, sensing trouble.

Damage sneaks into the master bedroom, where the married couple sleeps. She sees Mark in bed with Sheila and slowly makes her way over to the bed. She takes out her teleport gun, knowing that it will get the job done. One blast through Sheila's skull and it will all be over.

Flashback

"Gohan, you said that Damage was already inside the house when you got home that day. How is it that Pan didn't know," asked a concerned yet suspicious Bulma. "I also think it's weird that Pan never went into the bedroom to check on Videl."

"I never said that," replied Gohan becoming slightly upset. "Pan told me afterwards that when she went into the bedroom no one was there, nor did she sense anything out of the ordinary."

End of Flashback

Damage puts the barrel of her teleport gun to Sheila's skull. She stands there for a moment before whispering. "For your crimes against the universe, may your soul rot in hell." Suddenly, a yellow hand grabs Damage's right hand and applies pressure. Damage drops the teleport gun and looks over her shoulder and cannot believe what she sees. "Sheila? How are you on the bed and standing behind me?!" Sheila smirks and throws Damage through the window.

Flashback

Piccolo looks over at Gohan and answers. "We know that Damage is capable of energy constructs. What if she is able to mess with our senses as well? It would explain why Pan didn't sense her."

"No, I don't think so," said Goku hard in thought. "Damage has an average ki level, so it would be too low for us to detect right away."

"Actually Kakarot, we don't know what Damage is fully capable of yet. We do know that she is a normal human using some highly advanced technology that both Bulma and Mark are working on."

End of Flashback

Damage floats outside in the woods near the pool of Mark's manor. Damage is waiting for Sheila to pop up any second, but the Supreme Kai flies past her overhead. A series of exploding energy balls can be seen in the distance when the erupting energy overtakes Damage, sending her to the ground. Her protective suit is now slightly damaged as Sheila lands in front of her. Damage struggles to get up, laying down on her stomach. "Did you think I didn't know who you are under that stupid mask?" Damage covers herself with a bright green light, engulfing herself and Sheila for a brief moment. Sheila now has a blank expression on her face as her nightgown flows in the wind. "Oh no, you knocked out my powers. Whatever am I going to do," said Sheila in a monotone, sarcastic voice. Damage stands up, but another Sheila punches her into a tree, breaking it in half. Damage is in pain as she tries to get up, but is horrified when she sees Sheila's face looking at her from the ground itself. "W-w-what is going on?!" The broken tree then transforms into a replica of Sheila and walks over to her in its wooden body. "I knocked out your powers. How are you doing this?"

"I am everything and nothing, everywhere and nowhere." A giant head of Sheila emerges from the earth, looking down on her. "Your precious power blocker has no effect on me because I am too powerful for that. Also, I am not limited to a single body. Everything around me IS my body!"

"No," said a horrified Damage. "You mean you're..."

"I am omnipresent. I cannot die for I have no physical form. I have transcended that limitation." Sheila's giant rock head fires eye beams at Damage, uprooting the earth and knocking her out. Her protective suit is now heavily torn off. Sheila assumes her normal form again as Mark walks up from behind in his black pajama pants. His toned abs stretch as he yawns. "So, what should we do with her," asked Mark. Sheila looks down at an unconscious Damage and takes a few seconds to answer. "I say we kill her."

"Hmm. Are you sure about that?"

"Why not, Mark?"

"Use your eyes, Sheila. We have company." Sheila looks to her right, seeing Goku staring at them angrily. Sheila then looks to the left, seeing Gohan and Bulma. Mark looks over his shoulder, seeing Piccolo standing behind with Vegeta in front. Mark returns his eyes forward. "Hello, Saiyan Prince," said Mark. "Did you all come here to rescue Damage, even though she invaded my home?"

"We have questions for her, so nobody is killing her. Understand," said Vegeta.

"You do know that the suit is for show, right," asked Mark with Gohan replying, "What are you talking about?"

"How do you think she makes her energy constructs? Do you see any wires or gadgets on her? She keeps her power level average in order to throw you off. That's why Pan did not sense her." Goku's group look surprised. "You didn't notice? She is not as powerless as she claims. In fact, she is..." Damage floats to her feet as a massive energy increase emerges from her body. Suddenly particles begin to fix her suit from the energy around her. Vegeta turns around to face Damage just when a golden aura covers her body, giving off a familiar energy. "A Super Saiyan," said Mark nonchalantly.

Next Chapter: Damage is unmasked and put on trial for her murders. Also, who are the Black Dragons and why did they destroy Hercule City? The Damage Saga continues!