Author notes:

27/09/2020: Here's another revised chapter.

So before I start, I made a few changes. Slug's got a few tweaks Raditz has a little more characterization and Okome is a little more outspoken.

I have actually placed a one-time OC by the name of Kulira. Initially she was going to be put into the fanfic to elaborate on Paragus's history, but because I felt pretty hesitant of mixing up Oc and canon together, I left her out. But now that I have some more confidence in using Oc characters, I've put her back in.

So I hope you guys don't mind the newer, one time off Oc. Enjoy!

North galaxy - Planet Earth - Wastelands

In the howling, arctic wind of the grey world hovered the Super Namekian. He observed the white world below, then his gaze shifted to his clenched fist.

"A Namekian? You're nothing like us!"

Those memories, those eyes of his own brethren; disappointment and sadness. The area around Slug's eyes creased as he gritted his fangs tightly shut.

"Just like Katas's son, you were sent away to avoid the cataclysm if none survived. But you… you returned with such a foul and evil heart, something our race never shared from our known history."

To think he was that son's fool.

Slug dug his nails into his palm. Soon his palm bled. Those dark and firm eyes, oh how he hated the sight of a Warrior-Clan Namekian opposing him! And to think that he also had a son- a bodyguard infact to defend that withering fool!

"You senile, rotten fool." Slug muttered to himself, his face twisted into a scowl. "The years of peace made you one of those weaklings. You poor fool," he gibed as a wide smirk crept across his lips, "it wasn't the cataclysm that would have killed you weaklings," he raised both his hands out to the white world before him, "it was the likes of the almighty Emperor of the Universe Frieza!" He chortled up at the sky.

After several moments, he fell silent. "Saichoro." He mentioned, his gaze falling to the grey and chilly world below. "Why you believed old age is a gift is beyond me. Why did you choose an old and withered body than a young and vigorous one? Those years of peace left you weak and defenseless against the likes of Frieza." He tutted, shaking his head side to side. "Too bad, I won't return to a home plagued with such weak ideals." He turned his attention to the howling world behind him.

It was time to take Earth as his own.

Within the blanket of hail and ice, her cold eyes observed from the mist, twirling her staff within her hands. What a beautifully cruel and evil heart- a heart enough to make a garden bloom with such negativity and hatred. Towa's lavender gaze shifted to a faint, golden light seeping through the dense mist.

Ah yes… X-498's 'dear', little sister. That annoying water-brat of the Time Patrol must be eliminated.

As Towa thought, she soon smiled at a thought. Perfect… maybe a web of lies and deceit should be enough to drive her mad- and create a fruitful harvest of Kili.

With that plan, Towa concealed her presence and waited for her opportunity to strike.

The footprints imprinted into the snow drifted away into the icy gale and into the white fog obscuring the inky skies above. A golden light seeped out into the dark world from the gaping mouth of a stone cavern. Shadows danced across the frosty walls as what little warmth from the golden flames faded into the darkness.

The Defenders of Earth huddled around the small fire, currently discussing their plans to once and for all defeat the Super Namekian Slug.

Gohan sat closest to the flames, cuddling the grey scarf wrapped around his pale neck. He shivered, his teeth chattering because of the cold. To think they must fight a Namekian just like Piccolo… the young fighter wondered if they could truly defeat someone that powerful? Gohan looked over to Okome, who laid besides Gohan as reassurance.

Okome shifted her gaze to Gohan and nodded with a hum. Sure it was a tough situation they were in, but surely they must pull through. Yeah Slug was a minor inconvenience, but she refused to let the likes of Towa get away… but just how was she supposed to find her and confront her? The thought racked her brain.

Okome shifted her gaze up at the dull and damp walls of the cavern, resting her head in her hands as a large scarf laid over her body. No coffee and no energy left, will be a tough fight. She closed her eyes, briefly thinking about that time in the arctic. Her sister, Layla… Okome couldn't help but constantly worry over her health, not when Towa was about. Okome opened her eyes and looked over to Krillin, who sat with his hands clasped over his mouth in deep thought.

Krillin observed the flickering flames. How on Earth were they meant to beat Slug? The thought of him fighting another Piccolo... ouch, the tournament left a bitter taste in his mouth. Surely there was a way to beat him- he must, for his allies sake. Afterall, Goku trusted him on this. His dark gaze shifted to Raditz, hardening at his former enemy. As much as he disliked the fact that he must work with his former enemy, for Goku's sake, Krillin listened to his friend's words and put aside his differences.

Launch stood near the mouth of the gaping cavern, her mouth concealed by a mask. She gripped the metal hold of the gun, her green eyes watching the foggy oblivion ahead as the other fighters recovered their strengths. For Tien's sake, she refused to abandon them. She turned her head briefly to Raditz's direction, briefly observing the wild-haired Saiyan conjuring a plan. Though she was aware Krillin held his reservations for him, Launch stood by Krillin's side, choosing to take action against Raditz the moment he betrayed them.

Raditz sat, perched on a boulder. Aware of the tension hanging in the air, he put it aside and focused on the bigger danger at hand. He rested one hand on his knee and the other rested under his chin. He continued to speak with King Kai.

"So, is that the plan then, eh?" Raditz spoke, his dark eyes observing the golden flames swaying out into the darkness.

"Yes." King Kai replied from his small, home world. He rubbed his chubby chin. "Whistling could be the only advantage you may have against Slug. But," he pointed his index finger at a thought, "you must play it smart."

Raditz shifted his gaze to his trembling hands. He firmly patted his gaze, removing his apprehension and fatigue. With a set of sharp eyes, Raditz clenched one hand into a fist. "Alright!" Raditz struck his clenched fist into the palm of his other hand. "I'll regroup with Kakarot, considering me and him are the only strongest ones to kill that Namek. Everyone else are the decoys then."

"I suppose so." Launch walked away from the cavern mouth and stood besides Krillin, near the flickering fire. "Me and Krillin will set up a distraction. I'll toss in some smoke bombs and Krillin can blind those annoyances."

"Sorry guys." Krillin raised his hand to Launch and Raditz. "I don't have enough ki to pull off another Taiyoken." He placed his hand on the damp and torn shirt of his gi, soaked red from Slug's previous strike. "And this wound won't be going anytime soon without a senzu bean." He laughed weakly, though he winced through the pain with his optimism.

"Never mind." Raditz replied, shaking his head. "For Kakarot's sake, you're going to act as support. I can't you-" he looked to Gohan and Okome, "actually, I can't have any of you guys dying." He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to adapt his strategy. He clicked his fingers as a thought. "Yeah," his eyes sparked with a plan, "you guys will act as support, but stay primarily on look out while me and Kakarot fight Slug." He pointed to Krillin, "think you can shake off Slug's goons in the meanwhile?"

"Sure." Krillin closed his eyes. He tilted his head up and crossed his arms in confidence, "but you better hold out on your side too." He opened his dark eyes. As Raditz opened his mouth the rebut, Krillin continued, "we can't have Slug beating you black and blue like last time-" his eyes mellowed, "and for my bud's sake, don't place all the burden on your shoulders." He raised his hand to Raditz, showing his palm, "let us take some of the weight off, alright man?" He raised his fist to Raditz and waited.

Raditz blinked at Krillin. What was he on about? After several seconds, Launch sighed with a squinted face.

"He's askin ya to fist bump him." Launch rubbed her forehead, noticing Raditz's visible confusion.

"Yeah, well this isn't the time for any of that buddy-buddy stuff." Raditz placed his hand over Krillin's fist and turned his fist away. "Remember, I'm-"

-"Here to help Goku, I get it." Krillin sighed. He raised his brows, "but you need to loosen up too. You don't want any aching muscles from all that tension, get what I'm saying?"

"Krillin has a point." Okome spoke as she sat up.

"And besides, who knows if this might be our last time seeing each other?" Launch added on as she shifted her gaze to Krillin. "One minute we're havin a happy time, then the next is finding one of our buds dead."

Krillin's brows dipped down. King Piccolo's children, specifically Tambourine… jeez, he will never forget those cold and murderous eyes, and that twisted grin.

"At least you guys are still alive." Raditz shifted his gaze to the outside of the cavern. "Some weren't so lucky, whether it was having good comrades to watch their back, or just flat out dying." He sighed, recalling his time with Vegeta and Nappa. His face scrunched up at those memories, memories that conflicted with his Saiyan principles compared to his little brother's ones. He opened his dark eyes once more, "That's our break, let's move out!" He rose to his feet, clenching his fists tight as the blizzard howled from outside.

"It's about time..." a silvery voice echoed into the chilly breeze.

Raditz's eyes narrowed. They were being watched.

"Get down, all of yous!" Launch yelled, loading her pistol with a click. As Krillin, Gohan and Okome ran for cover, Launch clicked a capsule.

As Raditz was about to speak, the ground beneath them cracked apart. With a sudden explosion, dust and debris obscured the grey lands.

With that cover, Launch tossed several smoke bombs.

However, Wings zoomed straight towards Launch.

"It's futile running away!" Wings roared, zooming into the murky depths of the smoke bomb. With a powerful swipe of his wings, Wings blew away the whirlwind of smoke.

Empty.

Confused, Wings frantically searched around himself. "Where'd you go?" Wings landed with a heavy thump, searching for any of the fighters.

However, the ice beneath him cracked under his weight. As Wing's took off, a bullet struck Wing's arm. As Wing's snapped his head to the direction of the bullet, Launch skidded past him from below, reloading her pistol with several bullets filled with extreme heat.

"Surprise muscle head!" Launch yelled, skidding to a stop on the ice. She aimed her pistol up, aiming towards Wing's shoulder. "I hope you like it hot!" She smirked. Gotta hand it to Mei for this idea. She thought as she fired several crimson bullets towards the incoming Wings.

"You're not getting away-" He halted as his throat dried up. "GRGH!" He croaked, his eyes tearing up from the stinging sensations in his eyes. He jerked his head back, shaking his head as he tried to clear his burning eyes. "Damn it!"

As Launch skated away, Angila raised his hands towards Launch from the grey sky.

"Wings! You buffoon!" Angila yelled, his hands crackled with static."Ngh!" He winced as a whip of water yanked Angila's wrist, causing him to break his concentration. His eyes followed the whip until he met Okome, hiding within the icy terrain. His eyes snapped wider at the sight of the water freezing into ice.

"Hey, ginger git!" Okome taunted, "Looks to me you got," Okome smirked up at the ginger alien, "chilled to the bone." She chuckled, squinting her eyes like a cat as she skated away from the fuming Angila.

From besides Angila, Medamatcha tilted his head, wondering where the humour in Okome's taunts were. "... lame!" Medematcha booed, raising his fist up at the girl. "Even I can say something better than tha-"

As Medamatcha pursued Okome, a glint of gold caught Angila's attention.

-"Medamatcha! Behind you!" Angila yelled, ripping his hand free.

A golden disk zoomed towards Medamatcha at blinding speeds.

Medamatcha snapped his head back. His small eyes widened.

It was all a distraction.

With no time to defend, Medamatcha was sliced in half.

"An… gila…" Medamatcha cried out, reaching his small hands out to Angila as his vision rapidly blacked out. "It's… getting dark… wake me up… when it's… over…" he closed his eyes, only remembering the look of distraught in Angila's eyes.

As Medamatcha's lifeless body fell, Angila's face twisted with anger. How dare they!

"Curse you!" Angila yelled, his brows furrowing, his teeth clenching tighter. "CURSE YOU ALL!" He raised both his arms up towards the grey and howling sky. Ki crackled from his palms, as his angered gaze met with Okome, who continued to smirk at Angila.

"That's cute." Okome squinted her eyes closed at Angila, aware of a glowing disk zooming after the ginger warrior.

"Kienzan!"

A burning sensation ripped through Angila's gut.

It was then when Angila realised what they planned. Unfortunately it was too late.

Numb. Angila eyes flicked to the crimson, tainted cloth fluttering past his eyes.

Thump, thump…

Angila's eyes widened. He gasped. A gash ran through his abdomen, severing his lower limbs. No scream left his lips, not a single whimper escaped his lungs. His eyelids fell over his eyes.

"Lord… Slug…" Angila stuttered as he fell from the sky. "I suppose… this is the end… of my… service." He closed his eyes as his decapitated body vanished into the white world below.

Krillin averted his gaze away from Angila, his brows dipped up. Their loyalty, Krillin questioned why did they trust an evil man? Just what was it for them to justify their means to follow and carry out those malicious deeds? The monk could only assume this was the consequence of having an alien as his best friend.

Meanwhile, Wings rampaged in blind anger.

"You little brat!" Wings yelled as his crimson, cracked eyes searched for the blonde woman Launch through the heavy blanket of dust and ice.

"Over here!"

Wings snapped his head over to the sound, his hands crackling an orb of ki. As Launch aimed her pistol at Wings, riding her one-wheeled motorcycle, the brown-gargoyle fired the blast.

Shit! Launch thought as the beam zoomed towards her. As she revved the engine to accelerate faster, a purple ball of static diverted the blast.

Behind the blonde was Raditz, hovering with a purple, crackling ball of ki.

"If you had taken the time to flee earlier," Raditz scowled, raising the crackling ball of purple ki at the angered Wings, "you wouldn't have ended up like this." He narrowed his eyes. "Farewell." He raised his hand at Wings, making sure he killed the brute.

Wsh!

A sudden zip of crimson light pierced Wing's chest, ripping through his heart. Raditz's eyes widened, his eyes glanced to the source of the light.

It was him again, the Super Namekian Slug.

"Why- grgh!" Wings choked, blood surged from his pale lips. "L..Lord S.. lug!" He plummeted into the icy terrain. As he fell, his gaze only saw his Lord hovering the air.

And his Lord refused to look at his dying comrade. Betrayed, the brown-gargoyle closed his eyes, his final breaths cursing Slug.

"You weak and worthless imbeciles." Slug raised his voice, his arms crossed over his chest. "And here I thought all three of yous would have got the job done in an hour." His dark eyes scowled at the unmoving corpses of his followers. After several seconds Slug twisted his head at the five standing before him, his lips grew with a wide, fanged grin. "No matter, they can all be replaced."

Krillin, Gohan, Raditz and Okome widened their eyes, horrified at Slug's words. How could anyone have the heart to replace their long serving ally? On the other hand, Launch aimed her pistol up at Skug, ready to shoot him if he taunted the fighters any further.

Raditz gritted his teeth, his fists trembled in silent anger. This was like Nappa's situation all over again- well, at least Vegeta was forthcoming about it.

"Here's a proposition;" Slug continued, gesturing his hand up at the five, "why don't you all work for me?" He drew his hand to his chest, "At least you'll live." His dark eyes observed the wild-haired Saiyan.

The Saiyan, Raditz, Slug assumed a Saiyan like him would be a great asset to the Super Namekian. If he could force him to abide to him, no one should stand in his way, especially a heart so cold and callous.

"You…" Raditz growled, "you're just like Frieza!" Raditz raised his voice, raising his trembling fist at Slug. To betray a long-time ally- this was a cruel action, betrayal to the ones who swore their loyalty. Nappa, how Raditz remembered his betrayal at Vegeta's hands, and how the likes of Frieza murdered his own men in cold blood.

Blood, violence and agony- then the despair, the sounds of whimpering begs to stay alive- to have a second chance that never had the chance to reach their lord's ears. The thought sickened Raditz, angering him further.

"Raditz… my son, I know you take after your mother, but you must stay true and firm. Even if your mother was not much of a warrior like myself, you must never turn your back on those who swore their loyalty to you."

Those dark eyes of his father, Bardock. Raditz remembered those stern eyes.

"You and Kakarot are my legacy. Don't forget that son."

And the last time he saw his father. He could only assume his father remained on Planet Vegeta until his dying breath, fighting against Frieza for the sake of his Saiyan brethren.

But his mother… oh how Raditz wondered what happend to her. The only thing he remembered was that smile- a smile on the verge of tears. That memory, for some reason, his heart hurt at the thought of remembering his mother's smile.

Raditz narrowed his dark and wrathful eyes, yet he restrained his anger. "Even if they served you," Raditz continued, his jaws tensed, "you kill them once they become a nuisance- or useless!"

"A man like you don't deserve respect," Okome added on as she gripped the grey scarf wrapped around her neck. What a childish b******! Okome squinted her eyes as the frost on the ground slowly surrounded her. "You should-"

"Frieza and I don't care about respect." Slug interrupted Okome as he descended from the inky sky. "And after all of this preparation, this planet is mine now."

"What do you mean-" Launch halted as her feet refused to budge. She flicked her green eyes to her numb ankles, chained with a heavy shackle of ice.

The fighters, excluding Okome, all glanced to each other, all noticing ice forming on their skin.

As for Okome, she shook her head. How troublesome… how arrogant…

"Now, don't you morons see it?" Slug sneered, raising both his palms out towards the group. "It will only take a matter of minutes to freeze all of yous. Look at the sky if you don't believe me." He pointed up at the dark sky above. "No heat from your sun means that you'll live in eternal darkness." He chortled, taunting the defenders opposing him.

Okome sighed, and slumped her shoulders. This action agitated the Super Namekian. Okome walked on ahead of the group as the ice creeping on her skin broke away into dust, and surrounded her small form. The ice also freezing the defenders also broke away into dust.

"You really are a cocky b******." Okome cracked her knuckles, releasing the tension in her warm hands. Krillin and Gohan snapped their gaze to Okome, wide-eyed at Okome's use of foul language. As for Launch and Raditz, they snickered. "So, Slug-face, want to try and steal Earth in an environment that's to my advantage?" She taunted with a smirk on her lips. Her dark, navy eyes held a gleam.

Yet she knew this confident front might not be enough for Slug to become hesitant and second guess.

Slug grinned. "That's real cute coming from someone who's from a bloodline of such weaklings."

"Sure, if weaklings, by your definition, means someone who actually stands by their allies and not do them dirty." Okome laughed to herself. "Seriously, you're a big, impatient baby. You think you can do s*** yourself, and then you think because you're some high and mighty prick, you think we'll just accepted your stupid proposition?" She shook her head, "you're so Kami-damn stupid that it gives me a migraine."

Raditz laughed out with squinted eyes. To think an Earthling had this much venom towards a stronger individual- it reminded him of his father's no nonsense attitude towards his enemies.

Slug furrowed his brows at Okome's taunts. That weakling will eat those words. As he raised his hand at Okome, a spear of ice pierced the Namkeian. As he gasped, several more pierced him, trapping the Namekian in one place.

Okome stretched her fingers, guiding her ki to freeze the blood in Slug's veins. This is all I can do for now. Okome thought, If I try anything more advanced, I could risk burning out what's left of my ki.

However, Krillin stressed the fact that Slug was similar to Piccolo. After all, Slug could be just as cunning as Piccolo- the ome who followed the path of his previous incarnation.

"He can regenerate!" Krillin warned Okome as a trail of thick vapour left his lips. However, he shivered, and focused on conserving his energy.

"I'm aware." Okome answered, observing Slug's movements. "And I'm just making sure karma gets her payment, since this a****** thinks he could fool me by playing dead." Her navy gaze darkened.

Gohan tilted his head and squinted his eyes at Okome. Why was it now he realised Okome wasn't all innocent as she seemed? Did Piccolo know that side about her? And for her age… Gohan did wonder if Okome was actually the same age as him. Her critical analysis in terms of battle knowledge was sharp for her age, just like how he was with his academics. Something didn't seem right now that he thought about it- but now wasn't the time to ponder on those things.

"Hey, Mei?" Launch spoke, raising her gun up at the suspended Slug, "I'm seeing some purple light coming off from him."

Purple! Okome snapped her gaze to Slug, her eyes widened. The purple crackling aura, and the red, bleeding eyes- no! That could only mean one thing.

And she knew she could do nothing against such foul magic. She gritted her teeth tightly shut. Towa...

Everyone snapped their attention to Okome, aware of her sudden shock.

With a sudden, defeaning shockwave, the ice caging Slug shattered, sending a whirlwind of dust and debris.

And from the sky, her cold eyes observed Okome with a gleam. To think as a result of the timed magic, Okome, that weakling and student of 'her'... she ended up with those who threatened her plans. Towa stroked her fingers against her black staff, plotting her next action. At least Slug should delay Okome's search for her long-lost sister.

With a smile, Towa turned away from Earth and vanished in a swirl of black and red. Now it's time to focus on the Time Patrol, and also watch for those who grew, becoming a threat to her- especially that one Saiyan. No, she shouldn't worry about him, not when he was sealed away for eternity.

As a billow of dust obscured the battlefield, the defenders took their stances. From Raditz's hands, a scarlet ki crackled as he witnessed the eye of the damp and arctic storm. Gohan and Krillin clenched their fists close to their chest whilst Launch took aim with her gun.

But Okome, her body trembled with a silent anger.

"DIE!" Raditz screamed as he fired two orbs of crackling ki, clearing the storm before the fighters.

At the same time, Okome raised her arms, firing off several spears of ice alongside Raditz's beam to pierce Slug once more.

Following after Raditz; Gohan fired a Masenko, Krillin fired a Kamehameha and Launch fired a volley of bullets.

A grin grew wider across Slug's lips.

The defenders froze at the sight of a massive form emerging from the clearing storm.

"You've got to be kidding me." Okome gritted her teeth at the sight of a giant before them. She drew her arms back and raced to one side, evading a massive hand crushing her. However, the land cracked once more from the heavy strike. Shit! Okome thought as she lost her footing. With a sudden burst of hot steam from beneath the cracking ground, Okome was hurled into the inky sky.

With one leap, Gohan caught Okome and used the heavy whirlwind of scorching steam and cold winds to conceal his presence- and regroup.

"First time?" Krillin spoke with a quiet voice as he caught up to the young duo. Okome sighed and nodded as she flew besides Gohan. "No worries, I kinda know how to beat him, but-" he chuckled with a twitching smile, "trying to act on it won't be easy."

"Well," Raditz scowled at the giant behind them as he carried Launch close to him, "if Nappa didn't rip my tail off, maybe this could have been dealt with sooner."

"But-"

"No…" Raditz interrupted Krillin, as he landed on a raised, icy ground, "even if I was weakened, it doesn't mean I haven't controlled the Great ape transformation."

"That's fine and dandy but," Launch spoke with an edge to her voice, and shoved Raditz away from her, "what's the point of mentioning that when ya don't have one now?" She crossed her arms over her chest as she stared at Raditz with an arched brow.

"I just want my coffee for f**** sake!" Okome grumbled, slamming her hand into the frosty ground. Several towering pillars of ice shot up from the ground, offering temporary shelter. "Raditz?" She drew one hand to her ear, indicating Slug's sharp hearing.

"Yeah…" Raditz shifted his cautious gaze to the Earthling.

"Give me a lift." Okome pointed to herself, "I'm going in with full force, and since I have the advantage at the moment, I'm going to whittle him down so that your brother and his group can finish him off." She twitched her brow, and tilted her head with a smirk.

Understanding what Okome meant with her words and actions, everyone nodded.

"When did you become the tactician, Mei?" Launch asked as she kept an eye on the giant. "You seem to know more than a kid for that age."

"I-" Okome fell silent. She drew one hand to her chest, the ends of her brows dipped up. She kept her gaze low, gesturing her need to speak later.

Gohan inspected her. He looked to her lips.

"I promise to tell you all the truth when the time is right."

Those words Okome mouthed, it confused Gohan, leaving the boy to wonder what secrets she hid.

A crimson beam of light raced past the defenders.

That was bad news.

As the land beneath them crumbled away into a hue of crimson, the fighters soared into the sky again. Though for Launch, Raditz aided her once more.

Launch's green eyes witnessed the land reduced to nothing but lava beneath them. With a harsh torrent of heat, she shielded her eyes with one hand as the air burned her skin.

Aware of Launch burning, Raditz drew one arm over her face, protecting her for his little brother's sake.

"Knock it off, would ya?" Launch scowled at Raditz as her face burned red. "It's only a little heat." She crossed her arms over her chest as she looked away from him.

Raditz glanced to her. With a deep sigh, Raditz shifted his gaze from Launch to Slug behind him.

From the icy world below, the giant Namekian Slug shifted his gaze up at the sky, no longer consumed in a black and crackling aura. With a wide smirk, he shifted his gaze to the tiny insects fleeing from him.

"Bow before my glory!" Slug's voice thundered, raising one of his hands up at the group. What could those insects do against him in this powerful state?

Krillin whipped his head back, his eyes widened at the sight of a green, snake-like limb.

"Get down!" Krillin yelled, plunging into the roaring, white land below. As the limb missed him, his eyes trembled as the limb raced towards Raditz and Launch. With gritted teeth, Krillin snapped his attention behind him, noticing another green limb flying towards him. With a ki blast, he fired, casting another heavy blanket of dust.

However, Slug's green, outstretched hand pursuing Raditz and Launch showed no signs of stopping. Clicking her pistol, Launch held the pistol close to her eye and took aim at the incoming limb.

Okome dived close to Launch, followed by Gohan halting above Launch, his arms raised above his head.

"Just because your big doesn't mean your stronger!" Gohan yelled as a spark of gold left his palms. "Masenko HA!"

"If you just accepted my proposition, then you all wouldn't be in this problem!" Slug sneered, his stretching hand rammed through the golden energy beam and straight towards the group-

A row of icy bubbles drifted towards Slug. What could some little, insignificant thing do to harm him?

On contact against Slug's warm arm, the freezing bubbles exploded into a dense blanket of steam. Slug gritted his fangs. Of course, that water weakling used the blizzard to her advantage. As he opened his mouth to fire a beam at Okome and Gohan, a ki blast struck the back of the Namekian's head.

"Over here!" Krillin yelled, throwing his hands down. With another explosion of light from the sky, several spears of light rained down on the giant. "You should have thought about making yourself bigger!"

From the heavy storm, two beams of light zoomed towards Krillin. Krillin raced out of the way.

"Launch! Raditz!" Krillin called out, aware he occupied Slug's attention.

"Over here green man!" Launch yelled, gripping onto Raditz's forearm as she took aim of Slug's face.

Slug twisted his head to the sharp whistling of an incoming bullet; a plume of crimson shot towards him.

Slug swatted the powdered bullet, dispersing the chilly particles away from his eyes. He refused to let that happen again.

"Kienzan!"

Slug twisted his head back, a golden disk of ki dashed towards him from the ivory oblivion behind him.

"I'm not going down that easily!" Slug showed his teeth at the bald monk. A surge of energy rose up his chest and up his throat, before erupting from his mouth in a burst of white.

Crap! Krillin thought, widening his eyes as an icy slither of sweat slid down his face. I don't have time to counter that!

"KRILLIN!" Gohan yelled, dashing over to the bald monk. He shoved the monk out from line of fire before crashing against the soft ground with a crunch. Hearing a crunch besides him, Gohan looked to Okome. "Thanks Okome for the landing!"

"No probs." Okome raised her thumb to Gohan.

On an ivory peak, an elder male faced his palms out at the racing beam. He cupped them then drew them close to his waist.

"Ka-"

A blue light sparked. Slug's black eyes flicked over to the growing light. What a bother... it's time to kill all of them.

Thwack!

"Grgh!" Slug yelled, a sharp shot of pain slapped into his face. He whipped his head up; a carpet holding a black genie and a blue-haired woman hovered above.

Bulma held a gun in one hand, aiming at Slug's head. "I go away for a few hours and an a****** like you decides to make my life difficult!" Bulma yelled, raising one fist at the giant. "Can you aliens stop trying to take over Earth?" As Slug turned his focus away from Bulma and towards the blue light, Bulma gritted her teeth. If he found Roshi now, then this distraction will be all for nothing.

As Slug looked to the blue light, he caught Okome right in front off his eyes.

"Night night Slug-face!" Okome rammed her foot into Slug's scarred eye.

"YOU INSECT!" Slug roared out as he clasped his pained eye. As he swatted one of his hand, Okome pulled back.

"-HA!"

Slug forcefully opened his eyes and snapped his head towards a speeding, blue beam. A vein bulged from Slug's brows, angered at the relentless spirit of his enemies.

"DIE! ALL OF YOU!" Slug thundered. The ground shook; an eruption of snow and dust shrouded the battlefield. He back-handed the incoming Kamehameha, his eyes cracked with red veins.

"PHWWWT!"

A high pitch whistle blasted the Super Namekian's ears.

Slug collapsed onto his knees, gripping his pointy ears as the whistling became increasingly louder. "I refuse to let you weaklings beat me!" Slug yelled, snapping his head side to side as he crouched on the ground.

Witnessing Slug's moment of weakness, Roshi drew his hands back.

"NOW!" Roshi yelled, dispersing the Kamehameha.

Two speakers hovered behind the old hermit, one red and one blue.

From the arctic sky above, a yellow cloud raced down from the inky sky. Wielding a red pole; Chichi rode the Nimbus, twirling the power pole over her head.

"TAKE THIS!" Chichi yelled, slamming the extended pole over Slug's eyes.

With a yell of anguish, Slug clasped his throbbing eyes.

From the snowy landscape, Okome skated across the icy terrain, whipping an arm of water around the giant Namekian's body to restrain him.

From above Slug, Bulma crouched over the edge of the magic carpet. "Goku!" Bulma yelled, gripping the edge of the carpet, "NOW!"

From the chilly sky, a silent Goku hovered. He held a fist full of blue, shimmering energy.

"Sorry Slug, but your reign over Earth ends here." Goku said, observing the restrained Slug. He raised his hand out towards Slug. "It's time to-"

-"HAH!"

With a snap of his head, Slug fired a beam from his mouth.

"GOKU!" Everyone yelled as the beam zoomed towards Goku. Gohan, Okome, Krillin and Raditz raced to Goku, in hopes to reach Goku before the beam struck him.

Oh ramen... Goku thought, the energy beam zooming towards him. He widened his eyes, aware if he moved now, the Genkidama will be lost.

"Oh dear."

The heat from the incoming beam subsided.

Goku opened his dark eyes again. Popo stood before Goku, hovering on the magic carpet with Bulma by his side. He held his hand up as the laser of light shattered into tiny specs.

"I refuse to let the home Kami loved so much be reduced into a mere spaceship." Popo spoke with a deep and calm voice. He lowered his hand, hissing from the smoke. "This is a final warning, leave."

Slug shifted his dark gaze to Popo, his eyes dark and twisted with anger. The lifeforms on Earth… according to Kakuja's and Gyoshu's knowledge those residing on Earth were classified as weaklings. But why, why did these 'weaklings' contradict his data? These weaklings… they angered the Namekian. He was made a fool, that information those who collected for him, it made him look like a fool!

That anger and shame, Slug used every ounce of it to claim Earth as his.

"You Earthlings!" Slug spoke with a trembling and dry tone, "HOW DARE YOU MAKE A FOOL OF ME!" He scowled at the opposition, his fingers curled into his palms. "YOU WILL ALWAYS BE WEAKLINGS! WEAKLINGS I TELL YOU!"

Raditz scoffed and shook his head. "No." Raditz spoke, meeting Slug's furious gaze. "I wonder," he prolonged his voice and raised his brow, "are you projecting your 'weak' and 'hurt' pride onto us?" He drew his hand to his chest with a grin. "It's not our fault that you feel that way." He shrugged his shoulders and closed his eyes.

As Slug retaliated, a whip of water wrapped around his wrist and yanked his weight to the ground. Curse that brat!

Raditz hovered besides Goku, who held the small Genkidama. "You don't seem to understand how universally skilled they are." Raditz continued, crossing his arms over his chest. "They are, after all, the most skilled at controlling ki." His dark gaze shifted to Krillin, smirking at the exhausted monk.

The thought of Kakarot being surrounded by allies who were trustworthy and loyal, he couldn't have been more happier for his brother's sake. Yet, his smirk soon vanished.

It was unfortunate that Vegetadid not see that the same way. Nappa, even if he was an Elite, Raditz knew Napppa tried to keep the unity, aware they are the last known Saiyans alive. Yet Vegeta… oh Vegeta! Raditz questioned why the Prince took advantage of those qualities.

Loyalty… one must be careful to who they swore their loyalty to, even if they are of the same race.

"You should have really thought about getting rid of your allies now, huh?" Goku chimed in with a smile. "They could have bailed you out."

"You think?"

At that moment, Earth's Defenders fell.

A barrage of beams screeched through the chilly air.

To Raditz, it was as if time slowed down around him. With the deafening sound of his heart beating against his ears, Raditz shifted his dark gaze to his little brother, painted black and white in the heat of the incoming beams. His little brother… how did he still hold those fierce eyes?

"Raditz, as my first born, please! You must look after your little brother when I can't. Please! Remind him to hold his Saiyan Pride, even if he was born weaker than you."

Those dark and teary eyes, those pleads… Gine. Those were his mother's last words. Raditz refused to ignore his mother's words, not like last time.

"Kakarot! Get down!" Raditz yelled, slapping the back of Goku's head, forcing Goku to plummet against the ground. However, he knew he could not save himself.

The shimmering energy collected in Goku's hand vanished into the cold and silent atmosphere.

Slamming against icy ground, Goku crunched into the snow. Goku breathed for a few moments, trying to regain his strength to move. As he sat up, he froze. His eyes trembled at the silent sight before him, his ears hearing only a faint ringing sound.

Impaled by several beams of light, Raditz screamed out at the sky. He fell. He collapsed onto his bloody knees, then his eyes closed as he fell flat on his face. After a shaking breath, Raditz squinted open one, quivering eye, reaching his bloody hand towards his little brother.

"Raditz!" Goku screamed, scrambling over to his brother, gasping the damp and freezing air.

"Kakaro-grgh!" Raditz gagged as blood left his lips. "Forget about me, just… gck!" He coughed, gripping his cracked, black chest plate. Drenched with the stench of his blood, Raditz continued, yet no more words left his dry lips.

Goku knelt, resting Raditz's head on his knees to ease his brother's pain. Blood seeped through Raditz's chest plate, dying the Earth-raised Saiyan's hands and clothes red. "Conserve your energy." Goku spoke with a mellow yet slightly quivering voice. However, his coal eyes shook at the sight of his wounded brother. As Goku opened his mouth to speak, Raditz pointed his trembling hand towards the white and silent land to his right.

Goku followed the direction of his older brother's index finger, towards an ivory peak.

A heavy weight squeezed Goku's chest as he gasped. His mouth hung open as his empty eyes witnessed the cold world before him.

At the foot of the peak, Puar, Oolong, Okome- they laid, still, against the stone, frosty ground. Goku searched further up the ivory, ragged lands, his stomach churning with a heavy and burning sensation. His son and his wife… buried in the snow as the power pole stood alone in the arctic breeze like some headstone.

"No..." Goku whispered to himself as his chest tightened. "No- this... this c..can't be." His onyx, shaking eyes widened as he witnessed what laid at the top of the peak.

His closest friend and teacher, Krillin and Roshi, they laid still, their bodies half buried into the tainted, red snow.

Goku clenched his fists, his dark eyes falling onto his older brother; still and pale. His fists trembled, his eyes trembled more violently.

"What a shame." Slug's voice thundered into the chilly atmosphere. He grinned, standing tall in the heavy blizzard. "You see, if they just agreed to join, this wouldn't have happened." He squinted his eyes and raised his chin up at the tiny warrior beneath him. "Now look at them," he squinted his eyes, taunting Goku, "let this be a preview to your last stand against the all-powerful, Super Namekian Slug!"

"You..." Goku spoke, his voice trembled. He rested Raditz with a gentle crunch against the crimson snow. He rose to his feet, clenching his trembling hands into fists. "I won't... I won't-"

-"What are you honestly going to do?" Slug sneered, raising one of his palms down at Goku. "You've lost, surrender your home and you'll live."

Yes, if they gave up; they'll live- at the cost of their planet transformed into his desired vision of a home, a star cruiser.

"Hng... Grgh." Goku gritted his teeth tight as a spark of energy clawed up to his throat. This power… he never felt something so wild- so violent, so cold and empty.

The thought of Krillin lying on the cold ground, his blank eyes, his silenced lips and that loneliness in death… how Krillin's sudden death churned Goku's stomach. Tambourine… That anger, that spark of untamed and unforgiving rage, it grew in Goku's heart, in his mind and soul. His friends… they weren't supposed to be hurt, or dead for that matter. He already lost five, and he refused to lose anymore.

Goku's onyx eyes flickering from onyx to nothingness. Krillin… Roshi… if they died… they could no longer return. Shenron could only grant permission to those who died once to be resurrected once- something Krillin and Roshi were now denied of. He refused to lose them, not again.

"...Ka.. ka… rot." Raditz wheezed, his trembling hand gripping his younger brother by the ankle. Goku twisted his head to the sound of his older brother's weak words. Not a single whisper left his older brother's lungs; only more blood left his lips. HIs hand slipped from Goku's ankle an slammed into the blood-stained ice with a quiet crunch.

The snow hissed, a ring of steam and static crackled around Goku. His black hair rose and fell with every breath- quivering gasps; his hands clenched, his body burning with a sensation of fire.

And the Earth-raised Saiyan snapped.

"I WON'T FORGIVE YOU!" Goku roared from the top of his lungs, erupting into a harsh storm of gold. His black hair spiked up and his eyes; blinded. "HAH!" The ice pelting from the sky evaporated with a hiss, leaving behind nothing but a burst of golden heat.

Slug arched his brows, his face twitched at the sight of Goku standing alone. And when he met those blinded eyes, Slug was struck by several arms of light.

That power… was that weakling hiding it?

"HA!" Goku roared, his ki lashing at the cold air around him, breaking the ice and shattering them to nothing. He snapped his head up at the Super Namekian. "I WILL END YOU!" His blinded eyes glared at the towering Namekian, eyes that did not waver.

Slug's heart beated rapidly against his ears. As he met Goku's furious gaze, his muscles refused to budge.

In a second, a piercing cry echoed in the vast, white world.

Crick!

Scarlet plops of blood splattered against the ivory snow.

Slug's dark and trembling eyes shifted to the red snow to his right. Then he widened his eyes at the realisation of the sight before him.

Kakuja!

Goku's fist rammed through Kakuja's gut, blood trickled down his fist and dripped off his wrist. His sharp breaths scorched Kakuja's skin as his mind and body rattled in rage.

And Kakuja's last sight was Goku's blinded eyes holding a storm in his heart.

That power- that wrath; if not tamed, that power will consume the Earth-raised Saiyan. That power… this burning power surged through his body and soul, limiting Goku's vision to only see Slug- that man responsible for harming his allies.

As Goku ripped his fist out from from Kakuja's gut, he twisted his blinded gaze to Slug as his golden aura crackled around him. He growled lowly from his lungs as the ice pelting him dissolved into a heavy mist.

From the ground, Raditz forced his dull eyes open once more. As the sight of his little brother consumed in a fierce and cold aura, his eyes widened and trembled at the fury blinding Goku.

Kakarot... Raditz thought, wheezing as he forced himself to crouched on all fours. You can't be telling me that... that! He collapsed flat on his face, his bloody and bruised face half buried in the snow. The Legendary Super Saiyan! Kakarot... He scrunched his face up at the horror of such a thought. You must not let your rage blind you. If that happens- if that happens! His eyes trembled.

You will lose all your allies! He curled his fingers into his palm, scrunching the snow in his palms. Don't surrender to your emotions, control it and aim it at the one who's caused the pain.

Oh if the Prince knew... how the Prince would try to slaughter his kin. This transformation was meant to be a gift entitled only to those of a high stature. But; would the Prince want a power that could potentially lead to his fall? Raditz lifted his head up, summoning whatever energy left within his hollow body.

However, Raditz shifted his gaze to the grey sky. A pink and small ghoul caught his attention, laughing in a squeaky voice. Raditz hung his head.

So that was it… his time in the living world was coming to an end.

Kakarot. Raditz thought, mustering every last ounce of his strength in his body and soul. I refuse to let you become that legend, not a monster of pure destruction and carnage. A slight smirk shifted on his dry lips, I'm going to help you beat that massive bastard, and stop you from going mad.

It was all just a battle for Earth, a battle for their home and the inner struggles of the rage within the warrior Goku.

South Galaxy - Nameless Planet.

Crimson light seeped through the blanket of silver clouds, bathing the rugged, blue lands with a cool twist of the arctic winds. The Tree of Might was no more. However, the barren wastelands remained silent as ever, as though it had always been this way.

This planet, many years past yet it still remained desolate. Yet, that vision of creating a lavish ruse- there was still much time until Comet Camori arrives.

From the shattered window-side, Paragus shifted his only black eye to a blue, gentle glow reaching out from the dim room. A set of beeps and clicks echoed from a single, somewhat dated machine. That machine, a healing tank, he was lucky to have a spare healing tank hidden deep within the walls of the ancient building. If such a valuable asset was destroyed, who knows how bad his situation could get.

Krang, you truly are a genius. Paragus thought, rubbing his bushy moustache with one hand. With the blueprint of the healing tank, you know how to replicate another with the help of Angol's soldiers. His eye flicked to the stone ground; a trail of crimson painted the turquoise tiles.

Ah yes, the recognisable smell of blood and sweat.

From the dark, metal doorway, and up to the glowing tank, the tiled path tainted the room with a rotten, iron stench. To think Paragus would witness his son at his weakest point- no. To think his son, a Saiyan warrior gifted with that prowess, could be reduced to such a state.

Paragus leaned closer to the glass of the tank.

Submerged in a cool, blue light, Broly rested with a mask concealing his mouth and nose. Numerous wires coiled around his raw and scarred body, though several of those wires were anchored into his arms, chest and head. With a strained breath, his brows arched and his closed eyes quivered.

"Son,"Paragus spoke quietly, placing one hand on the glass. He observed his son's pained face. Paragus drew his hand down the glass frame. "That power; I'm helping you control yourself without needing to go through so much pain and anger." His brows dipped up, "Believe me, I know what the legends meant about the Legendary Super Saiyan,"his hand drew over to the monitors of the tank. He read the report, reading the slow thumps of this son's heart, "bloodthirsty, ruthless and completely mad... those traits are in you."His only eye gazed to the silent face of his son. Sweat trickled down his brow. "It's terrifying,"Paragus averted his only eye away from the slumbering Broly, "terrifying because no Saiyan was so extreme in their lust for battle and madness as you." His saddened eye met Broly's half-open and dull eyes.

Paragus drew back, away from the healing tank.

Only a halo of darkness surrounded his father. A billow of bubbles left Broly's mask; his eyelids slid over his dull eyes as he slumped his bare and raw back against the metal, cool walls of the tank. As much as he wanted to scream out in pain, his body refused to listen.

Paragus lowered his hands, sighing silently in relief.

Glimpsing his father's sigh of relief, Broly's weak eyes closed, his hand drifting to his side.

Even now… even to this damned day, nothing changed between them.

As long as Broly was locked up, Paragus kept Broly at arm's length. As much as Paragus hated that idea, he refused to be harmed further by his son's hands. However, he knew the day he committed that deed was the day his son will harbour hatred for him- Paragus speculated that very hatred will consume Broly, and ultimately be his fall.

Paragus met Broly's weak gaze. He clenched his fist, his fingers gripping the ring tightly. He turned his face away from his son, squinting his only eye shut.

"You mustn't hate him for what he becomes- even if his birth weakened me. Paragus, promise me you'll watch over our son."

How can I? Paragus thought to himself. Her coal and teary eyes… those tears washing away the blood from her pale face. He looked up at the ceiling briefly, his only eye observing the scarlet light from the nearby star painting the dim room. He shifted his gaze to his son's weak and withdrawn form.

"We live in a cruel world. We're dogs to Cold, and we're 'blessed' with a King who's just a fawning cry-baby. No doubt, either one of them will be after our son sooner or later."

And those memories...

She stood before him, facing away from Paragus as she watched the pale, golden sun sink into the red and arid desert in the distance. After several moments, she turned to him as she stood at the edge of the canyon valley.

"Whatever those dogs have planned," she spoke, her voice sharp like daggers, "they must not take our son." She clenched her bloody, fingerless glove and raised it to Paragus, her fierce gaze meeting his dark and sad ones. "My time here is at an end Paragus." Her voice quietened, her gaze softened as she drew her hand to her side.

"Kulira, you can't go through with this!" Paragus spoke, raising the palms of his hands out to her. "I'm just an average warrior serving the Elites. Nappa of all people will get wind of this!"

"Don't worry about that meat-head." Kulira smirked to Paragus. "He's too busy babysitting King Vegeta's son on some distant planet. Say..." She raised her brows and her coal eyes widened at a thought, "speaking of your rank, I think it's about time you got promoted." She clicked her index finger and thumb, "You know," she pointed her index finger to him as she rested one hand on her waist, "you're already performing like an Elite, kinda like that odd fellow Bardock." She chuckled to herself. "I wish you both could pipe it down between yourselves." She guffawed up at the golden sky, clasping her cracked and bloody armour at the abdomen.

"How can you be this happy when you're dying!" Paragus yelled at Kulira, "I only obeyed your order to follow you- and I assumed you had plans of recuperating. But," he lowered his hands to his sides, "instead, this place is your grave, isn't it?" He squinted his eyes at her.

Kulira stopped laughing and averted her gaze from Paragus. "There's nothing more you can do now." She raised her hands out to Paragus as the last of the light from the nearby star vanished. "As a final order from your senior, you must let me go." Her voice hardened. "Accept the accusation that you've killed me. At least then… the King should exile you." She softened her eyes, "at least you can be free from those dogs, and our son can live a new life." She leaned back, away from Paragus and fell towards the valley behind her.

And from her bloody lips, she whispered,

"I'm sorry."

"Kulira!" Paragus yelled, rushing after her. He reached to her, his eyes trembling at her falling and silent form.

However, from Kulira's fingers, she fired several green beams of light at Paragus, striking Paragus's arm, chest, abdomen and legs simultaneously. With an anguished scream, Paragus was forced to stop at the immense power from Kulira's strike. As he regained his composure, Paragus snapped open his eyes.

"KULIRA!" Paragus screamed louder, witnessing her form vanish into the darkness of the abyss. As he gave pursuit, a beam of light passed his shoulder. As he twisted his dark eyes to the source of the beam, several Saiyan Elites watched him.

Paragus opened his only eye from his sequence of memories. Kulira…

That trust, that loyalty- he no longer held those values.

From the healing tank, Broly observed his father's weak eyes. He drifted in the lukewarm liquid, the cold sensation submerging his raw and burning body. He took another gasp of breaths, his hands twitched as he struggled to move. Another billow of bubbles left his mask with a strained breath. He refused to close his eyes, refusing to fall into that world of torment again.

-"Son." Paragus softened his voice as he leaned towards the glass window of the tank. "Just breathe," he ran his hand over the window, "then we can talk without throwing any punches."

Broly opened his dark eyes again, meeting his father's trembling pupil. He closed his eyes and ignored his father's pained gaze.

"Son," Paragus knelt before the healing tank. "I don't want you doing anything rash. You could have died with that outlet of energy."

Broly dipped his head down, refusing to acknowledge his father's gentle words.

"You do understand that your wounds take much longer to heal?" Paragus continued, his voice hardened as a way to get his son to listen to him. "In that state you're in now, you would have died."

Broly opened his dark eyes. A low and muffled growl left his throat.

Paragus closed his eye and took a deep breath. He patted the rims of the glass window. "Rest well; son." He rose up to his feet. He walked over to the window side again, his grey cape fluttering in the warmth of the silver breeze.

As Broly raised a trembling hand to his father, he noticed his reflection from the glass. His eyes trembled at the sight of a familiar, golden crown resting against his forehead.

Reduced to a tool- a puppet to be used once more.

Paragus shifted his gaze from the lifeless world outside to the bed in the corner of the dim room.

In silence, a red-haired Earthling slept. Besides her knelt a Shamoian child.

"Samoe." Paragus spoke, shifting his gaze back to the crimson horizon. He interlocked his fingers behind his back. "Before any of Angol's soldiers return, make your way to the district. I can't have you get beaten like the last time, not when Saishi is unconscious."

Samoe shook her head.

"I understand that you care," Paragus acknowledged with a nod, "but, that care can be costly to a weak race as yours. It's unfortunate, but this is what happens in this world." He shifted his attention back to Samoe. "You're aware of the history between the Saiyans and Cold's empire, correct?

"...Yes, sire." Samoe replied, raising her head up at Paragus. "Frieza, the one who destroyed countless planets, and self proclaimed 'Emperor of the Universe', enslaved and drove many races to extinction, even as powerful as the Saiyans."

"You should be thankful that you were all found by me." Paragus continued, "Frieza would have annihilated your entire race. He had far better resources located around the universe." He shook his head at a distant memory. "At least serving me has allowed you all to live."

Samoe bowed her head, gritting her teeth tighter. She shook her head, removing those dark thoughts from her mind. Her parent's unmoving bodies, the crumbled building and those dark eyes. She shifted her gaze from Paragus to Broly, her garnet eyes observing Broly's weak form. It only took one pull of the plug to kill that monster, yet…

Her gaze shifted to her plump fingers brushing Saishi's cold and rough ones.

How could someone bring themselves to kill someone?

Without hope... Samoe thought, observing Saishi's empty face, people will die. Saishi… we need you! Her hand grasped Saishi's wrist firmer.Yet the thought of Saishi serving Paragus… she wondered why Paragus let the likes of Saishi be left alive- instead of leaving her to die. "May I ask a question?" Samoe spoke with a quiet voice. She bowed her head at the elder Saiyan, closing her eyes in thought.

"... you may." Paragus replied, rubbing his chin with his thumb and index finger.

"Why her?" Samoe asked, her eyes shifting over to Saishi. "Why did you let Saishi live?"

Broly opened his eyes, observing Samoe seated next to Saishi.

Paragus remained silent for several seconds, aware of the tension in the air.

"Saishi has qualities that makes her a valuable soldier." Paragus answered, rubbing his moustache. "She has the durability to withstand my son's moments of fury, and her techniques are one I could hope to achieve." He laughed to himself for a moment. "There are more qualities, but those two are the main reasons- aside from her 'understanding' and 'loyal' ethics."

Broly scowled at his father's remark. A low growl left his throat, soon alerting Samoe and Paragus. As he forced his body to move, Paragus showed his hand to Broly, showing the ring in his hand.

Yet that warning only angered Broly further.

Broly ripped the mask from his face and forcefully opened the tank.

Samoe clung to Saishi's side, hiding from Broly's wrath.

"You really have no idea how to keep that anger of yours in check." Paragus spoke as the tank door swung open. He walked to Samoe's side, and stood in front of the unconscious Saishi.

Broly rested his hand against the door of the tank, his heaving breaths left his lips. He leaned against the wall besides the tank, and forced himself to move, ignoring the blaring pain restricting every part of his body, mind and soul.

"You…" Broly growled lowly, his dark and twisted eyes glared at his father, "one of these days… mark my words… I'll kill you." He raised his hand out at his father, his vision falling darker as he drew his strength. "I hate you," the area around his eyes and nose creased, "and nothing will change that."

"I know." Paragus spoke with a sad tone. The ring around his hand glowed a faint green.

A roar of pain filled the silent world- the same cry of agony Paragus recognised too well. Samoe twisted her gaze away from the harsh light, fearful and horrified at those pained howls.

A thump… silence fell once more.

Paragus observed his son, his quivering body curled into himself as he laid alone against the stone, cold ground. Paragus heard his son's trembling and sharp breaths, aware of possible trauma his son suffered. He turned his gaze away from his son and left without another word.

Kulira… forgive me. Paragus thought to himself as he hung his head, concealing his saddened gaze.

A few hours later.

Her lavender eyes cracked open. Saishi awoke, jerking her body up and knelt on the grey sheets of the worn bed. After several moments, Saishi tilted her head to one side, confused. Her eyes searched the dim room. She tilted her head up, looking up at the cracks on the ceiling before shifting her gaze to the gaping mouth of the machine beside her.She inspected the chamber of wires hanging to a metal hanger, including a mask. Her pale feet swayed on the stone surface. She gazed over to her hands; pale- and human like. She traced her wrist up to her arms with one hand

Am I… human? Saishi thought to herself.

Not a single sign of that Demonic scar tainted her flesh.

Or so she thought.

Faint scars surfaced on her skin, as though a phantom etched those old wounds. The thumps of her heart rattled against the bones of her rib cage. Her breaths fell into gasps. She collapsed onto her knees.

Those crimson eyes!

"Mortal… " a serpentine voice echoed from the depths of Saishi's mind. Saishi's trembling pupils thinned into slits. "Mortal and Demon... we are united at last."

Saishi's face drained of colour as she felt Karu's crimson eyes burn into her back. Saishi clawed her scalp, shook her head and squeezed her eyes shut. This all must be a nightmare!

As Saishi opened her eyes, she glimpsed a red and black spark passing her finger tips. That only meant one thing.

And she knew she had no where else to run.

"You should be resting."

Saishi glanced to the swaying shadow of a cape.

"Paragus!" Saishi spoke with a raspy and sore voice. She dipped the end of her brows, relieved to see him.

"Just rest." Paragus continued, switching off the healing tank. The machine's blue glow faded into the darkness. The silver light from outside seeped into the room. "And just for extra reassurance, you won't be receiving any training today, not in that state." He turned to her, making sure she was still conscious.

Rising up to her feet, Saishi's circular pupils observed the turquoise, stone floor briefly. She met with Paragus's gaze once more.

"I may have overstayed my welcome," Saishi bowed her head, drawing her hand over her chest. "I'll take my leave and get back to work."

"Saishi?" Paragus replied, stepping away from the healing tank as Saishi passed him. "Wait a minute." Paragus raised his voice, causing Saishi to stop. "Look," he pointed to her, "there's no need to be in a rush. Exhausting yourself never helps, understood?" He inspected her wavering form.

The girl, what's happened to her? Paragus assumed the battle against Turles left her in that state- or his son for the matter. To think she begged the likes of his son to end her life, it was bizarre.

"I understand." Saishi nodded her head. "Thank you." A small smile shifted on her lips.

"Before you go Saishi-" Paragus walked over to her. "Tell me; the Saiyan Turles has been defeated, correct?" He placed his hand on her shoulder with a firm pat.

Saishi tilted her head, trying to recall her hazy memories. "... Broly must have defeated him." Saishi answered, "he blasted Turles out to space. There's no way someone can survive in a vacuum, right?"

"True." Paragus nodded, drawing his hand away from her shoulder. "We Saiyans can survive in the higher layers of a planet's atmosphere, usually the stratosphere."

"Right." Saishi rubbed her face with her wrist. "No- wait," she lowered her hand as she squinted her eyes. "Broly," her lips trembled at his name, "did kill him." She widened her eyes briefly at the thought.

The splatter of crimson across the serene reflection... the half drowned face with a lopsided grin, and the bitter hatred running from his empty eyes on that day.

That Saiyan, Broly…

Saishi covered her quivering lips and turned her face away from Paragus. She squinted her stinging eyes as her throat heaved.

Why? Why did it have to be her who lived?

"I don't expect anything less of him to be honest." Paragus replied, rubbing his chin. Saishi snapped her shaken gaze to him. "Well then, you don't suppose his other comrades are alive?" He met Saishi's quivering gaze.

Saishi's breaths stopped. Sweat slithered down her brow.

His crimson eyes, the mark on his hand and that feeling of utter devastation of no control. Those Demons…

Saishi took a deep breath, drawing a lock of her scarlet hair away from her face. This wasn't the time for her composure to break.

"... No." Saishi replied, drawing her right hand over her left shoulder. "On that note, I want to apologise for my failure of the mission Paragus." She drew her hand over her chest and bowed her head. "Broly must be-"

-"Stop." Paragus hushed Saishi with a whoosh of his arm. "I'm aware of everything." He lowered his arm to his side. "I don't know why you believed you 'failed' the mission from. But," his gaze mellowed, "I can say where Turles is dead, we won't be swayed by his ideals anymore." He rubbed his chin. "He was a tough customer, I'll give you that."- and it was a shame considering he was a Saiyan. Paragus thought to himself.

"Why did you let Turles fight Broly?" Saishi asked, raising her head up at Paragus. "Wasn't Broly forbidden from fighting at all costs?"

Paragus looked to Saishi, silent for several seconds. It was true, his son was forbidden from fighting. However, whatever happened between Turles and Broly was far beyond his own control.

Not that Paragus planned for Broly to break out of his restraints. If more than anything, his son's freedom allowed Paragus to plan in the chaos of Broly's frenzied hysteria-

Except for those two.

Just who were they? Who merely appeared one second and vanished the next, just like phantoms? And just how did Turles become that much more powerful- even rivaling Broly's prowess in his base form?

Those questions must wait.

"Well, initially I had Broly under control," Paragus began, drawing his hand away from his chin, "until I gave him the commands to stop Turles's allies from intervening." He sighed, shaking his head. "I had no option but to let Turles fight Broly when Turles's men presumably killed you." He raised his palm to her. "However, under all that chaos my son's good for, I thought I could find out something about that rogue Saiyan." He curled his fingers into his palm. "To no avail, it seems as though that wasn't the case."

Wasn't the case? Saishi thought, wondering what Paragus meant. "Hm?" Saishi hummed, "Was he someone you knew?"

"No." Paragus replied, looking from his palm to Saishi. "But, he did remind me of someone I used to know." He paused for a moment. "Have you heard of the notorious Saiyan Bardock?"

"Bardock?" Saishi tilted her head to one side. Her tail swayed side to side for several moments. "No."

That should have been obvious. Paragus thought as he sighed silently. "Then it's important that I must disclose any information regarding him." He drew his hand to his chin. "After all, you are a comrade of mine, and it would be rude of me to leave you out of it." He raised his hand to her, to which Saishi nodded. "Bardock was a low-class Saiyan, but he was notorious for his efforts and determination." Paragus turned his attention over to the open window. "He was the leader of his squad of five; Tora, Shugesh, Bargos, Fasha and Gine. They each had a formidable skill... well except for Gine. She didn't seem much of a warrior."

And to think Bardock chose her of all people…

"If you don't mind me asking Paragus," Saishi raised her hand to Paragus. "What has Bardock got to do with all of this?"

Paragus took a breath. He turned to Saishi.

"That man..." Paragus hissed, gritting his teeth tightly together. Saishi blinked at the sudden shift in Paragus's voice. "Just like King Vegeta," Paragus continued, "I despise that man." The bridge of his nose crinkled. He turned his gaze to the open window, observing the scarlet light seeping through the grey clouds. "But, I hate the both of them for two different reasons." He pointed his index finger towards the ceiling. "One, as you already know Saishi, I hate the King because he missed a great opportunity to have a strong warrior serving under him." He furrowed his brows. "My son could have been one of the greatest warriors to have served the King," The corners of his lips rose up. Then they fell, "but he chose that blasted option." He looked to his hand, clenched into a fist.

"The King saw your son as a threat," Saishi mentioned, her gaze observed his clenched fist, "because of his power reading and the legends-"

That legend…

-"He was just a new-born!" Paragus raised his voice, glaring at the crimson horizon in the distance. "He was harmless!" His hands loosened, his fingers curling open; his only eye gazed at his palm. "If the King allowed me to raise him, no one would dare to question the King's authority- the King would have been proud to have such a powerful warrior serving under him." He slammed the side of his fist into the nearest wall, denting the surface. "If only that egotistical man listened, we may have had a chance against that tyrant!"

Saishi glanced to his hand resting against the wall. This was a sensitive subject. But if it was, why did he openly speak about it?

"May I ask why Frieza destroyed your home?" Saishi asked, gesturing her palm to Paragus.

"Because of the Saiyan named Bardock." Paragus replied, looking over to Saishi. "I blame Bardock entirely for Frieza to make that decision." He raised his fist to Saishi. "If Bardock obeyed the order of the hierarchy the King set, Frieza would have left Planet Vegeta alone!" He relaxed his fist and lowered his hand to his side. "But here we are, only a handful of Saiyans remain, far and out of reach from each other." His voice softened as he shifted his gaze back to the horizon once more.

If only the elder Saiyan knew. Frieza eradicated the Saiyans due to what he foretold- what he feared.

"Besides that fact," Paragus continued, inspecting the amber mist in the distance, "I heard the King had two sons, not to mention Bardock too."

"What?" Saishi snapped her head to Paragus. "Then are they-"

-"Excluding Prince Vegeta, it's a possibility." Paragus rested his hands on the wooden ledge.

Saishi tilted her head like a bird. Prince Vegeta? The same name like King Vegeta? And Planet Vegeta? No wonder Paragus hated Vegeta's guts.

"But we're not allies." He crinkled his brows. "The King's sons will pay with their life for the pain their father left. As for Bardock, I doubt that his son's are alive; they were low-class warriors after all; but who said they did not carry their father's unbreakable will?"

Raditz and Kakarot... who knows where they were in this universe? Hell, Frieza's underlings could have already hunted them and killed them off. Either that or they may have blended in with the cultures of another race; a loss of Saiyan pride and honour.

The only Saiyan Paragus knew who is alive to this day is the Prince Vegeta. The other Prince dared to be named for his cowardly nature- nothing but a taint on the King's royal blood. It would be a surprise for such a weakling like him to be still alive after all those years.

Vegeta. Only Prince Vegeta was Paragus's main target, the son of the enemy who punished Paragus and his son. If not the father, the sons will pay for their father's wrongdoing.

"Saishi," Paragus turned his head to her, "you do understand why I am doing all of this?" His only eye gazed into the lavender depths of her eyes.

Saishi dipped her head. Yes... that bitter taste of hatred and pain because of the trust you once had with someone.

Revenge.

Yet… was this truly the way to solve such a deep-rooted hatred? Broly… maybe she understood why Broly became the way he did- withdrawn, distrust and anger. It took only a split second for his mood to switch.

If only there was someone out there who had the patience and compassion to understand him...

Saishi knelt on one knee. "I understand Paragus." She bowed her head. "I will aid you to bring Prince Vegeta down to his knees." She closed her eyes and drew her hand over her chest as an act of her oath. "A King is supposed to act as a defender and saviour to his people, not abandon them and do what he wishes."

Paragus observed her. What a strange ideal… was a Saiyan King supposed to reflect those ideals? No… there was a long, forgotten Saiyan who once held those ideals;

Yamoshi.

"There's no need to go that far." Paragus waved his hand, dismissing Saishi's serious oath. "As long as I have your cooperation, there will be no problems between you and I. Now." Paragus shifted his gaze back to the window. "You are free to go."

"Thank you Paragus." Saishi rose up to her feet. With a twist of the feet, she slipped into the silver streaked walls of the narrow, dark hallways.

Paragus observed Saishi vanishing into the hallways, his only eye saddened at her words. Kulira… her loyalty to the Saiyan race- was it right to have such a loyal soldier?

Chained to an oath could be a deadly prison.

As Saishi strode down the hallway, streaks of silver rays crept through the cracks of the worn building. Her bare feet patted the stone, crumbled floors; before slowing to a stop. Saishi glanced up at the larger cracks, following the crack up before gazing up at the red light seeping through the open roof.

A group of hushed chatter echoed from above, their tiny, dark eyes gazed down at Saishi.

"Shamoians." Saishi called, raising her hands up at the small creatures. "Don't be afraid of me. I have no intentions of harming any of you." She faced her empty palms up at the Shamoian creatures, all murmuring between each other.

"It's you!" A Shamoian child yelled as she pointed down at Saishi. "You're the one that's taming that monster!"

"Huh?" Saishi tilted her head. Her? Taming who now?

"I don't understand." Saishi circled her hands. "Mind telling me more?" Saishi looked over to a pale green Shamoian, hidden amongst the elders of the group.

"Don't act as if you don't know!" The elder besides the young one pointed a spade at Saishi. "He completely ignored his duties today, not only that but he ignored his own men." He gripped the metal handle of the spade tighter. "What did you do to that monster?"

"Hold on!" Saishi shook her open hands at the Shamoians. "You're all annoyed that Broly didn't punish you guys? I mean-" She dropped her hands to her sides. "You guys should be grateful you didn't get punished by him, he's pretty… dangerous." Her lips quivered. She shook her head, dismissing the memory of those twisted and dark eyes. Why would you try to get into trouble with someone like Broly? Saishi thought, gritting a smile. What a bunch of weirdos...

"That's not the point." The young Shamoian yelled again, shaking his head left and right. "How on Planet Shamo did you survive his onslaught? He's not even laying a finger on any of us, after whatever happened out there." She pointed to the barren wasteland outside.

"Hey..." Saishi tilted her head as her circular eyes gleamed at them. "If you want me to explain what's happened, I will. There's no need to be so hostile about it."

"Well, we don't trust you because you work with him." The young one retorted, crossing her arms as she raised a brow at Saishi.

"Guys, it's alright." A small voice peeped from behind the group.

Saishi's gleaming eyes widened at her cheery voice. "Samoe?" Saishi's voice perked up.

The crowd cleared as a small, lavender-haired alien poked her head from behind the crowd.

"You're okay. Thank goodness." Samoe sighed, leaning over the edge of the cracked walls, wiping away the sweat from her forehead.

"Same to you." Saishi laughed, smiling up at Samoe. "What's the commotion?"

"Everyone here thinks that the monster has gone-" She whistled, circling a finger next to her head. "And they're blaming you for it. Which I don't agree with!" She twisted her head at the other Shamoians, showing her teeth.

Saishi blinked, drawing away a stray, scarlet hair away from her face. Those twisted eyes- Saishi drew her right hand over her left shoulder, trying to block out that memory.

"Wasn't Broly always crazy though?" Saishi questioned, squinting her eyes as she itched her cheek. "I mean, I know he pretty much hates everyone here, that's one thing I'm pretty sure he won't even try to cover up."- and I wasn't here long enough to make him go mad either. Saishi thought to herself.

"Saishi," Samoe raised her hand down at Saishi. "To be honest, we just knew that there was another Saiyan who was responsible for the damage... and we're basically the ones cleaning this all up. Besides that, the monster has been acting weird."

"Was Broly trying to kill you guys?" Saishi snapped her cold, lavender eyes wider and clenched her fists.

"No... not even close." Samoe hummed, itching the side of her face. After a moment, she raised her hands to Saishi, "I was carrying some stuff for my people and then I tripped-" She rubbed her face with her wrist, "and I landed at his feet. Usually I would be kicked to one side by him but…" she sighed, "he just seemed so out of everything at the moment- and besides the fact that he's all bruised." She drew her hands over to her chest, down to her abdomen and across her arms, indicating the bruises she recalled.

His dark, blank eyes... what was going on with that monster? Samoe never seen the Saiyan so out of place before, and so bloody. At least she knew that he wasn't some invincible monster now.

Saishi closed her eyes, recalling the intense stench of blood during Turles's fight. She covered her mouth, disturbed at the violence she witnessed. "Hmm…" Saishi covered her mouth, shifting her weight onto her left leg. If she needed some answers, it was best to go now. Who knows when she would find the next opportunity to approach him, unable to fight back?

Yet, the chains of fear constricted her body. Even if Broly was severely injured, somehow that alone wasn't enough to feel truly safe. His rage and extreme violence… it was something that constantly kept Saishi anxious- on constant guard.

Just what on Earth is he?

She shook her head. She refused to let her fear drown her.

"I'm going to talk to him then." She smiled up at the Shamoians. "Thanks for the convo!" Saishi waved her hand and raced towards the gaping hole up ahead within the damaged hallways. If what the Shamoians said was true, then she should use the opportunity to talk to Broly.

"WHAT?" Samoe, and the Shamoians behind her, yelled, gripping the edges of the cracked walls. "ARE YOU REALLY GOING TO- HEY!" Samoe screamed, budging past the crowd. This woman... Samoe thought, closing her mouth as she loosened her grip on the stone walls. I told her to stay away from that monster. Hmph... I can't even do anything to stop her either! She gritted her teeth. I need to seriously change her mind on that monster. He's never good news!

The skies swirled with colours of crimson, gold and blue, with streaks of silver clouds. The light from the nearby star warmed the navy earth below; the stone, towering structures stood in the ray's wake. The structure, even though multiple cracks appeared on the building's structure, it stood over the remains of the crumbled ruins left by the previous battle with Turles.

But that Saiyan... Something felt familiar... his face? His hair? Those features; it just seemed off.

Broly's dark eyes slid open, observing the view of the vast sky above him. He laid on the slanted, stone rooftops of what remained of the stone building, resting his arms under his head as one leg hung over the edge. What on Hell was he doing here wasting his time on those thoughts? He should be beating those Shamoian filth... if he had the ki that is.

Broly raised his hand up to the sky, looking at his shaking palm. He gritted his teeth, clenching his hand into a fist. This weak and crippled state... how wretched! What was he supposed to do in this wretched state? Sit still and do nothing? He poked the cold metal placed over his forehead, even if he had the energy; this little annoyance would zap it all away.

But that shock... how he remembered he laid utterly useless at his father's feet. He wasn't sure if he could survive another shock of that level. He closed his eyes again, feeling the cool wind brush past him.

If only there was a way to leave this world- to escape that wretched path and memories…

Tic... tic…

It wasn't even a moment of silence after those last chain of thoughts.

"...So; this is where you hang around huh?"

Broly twisted his head to his right. Saishi stood several meters away from him, her arms raised close to her chest with the tips of her fingers touching the other. He twisted his head back, closing his eyes as the breeze passed through his unruly hair.

"You should be resting." Broly spoke with a sharp tone and raised his elbows briefly. "And you shouldn't be able to get this high up either- not in that state any way."

Saishi's breaths shook for a moment. His actions, again they threw her off. "You know, you have a room right?" Saishi replied, tilting her head at the laying Saiyan. "You didn't exactly win that fight against Turles back there without a scratch, you kno-"

-"Don't tell me what I should be doing." Broly snapped open his dark eyes. He shifted his eyes over to the girl. "... how did you get up here?" Broly shifted his eyes, inspecting her from head to toe. "You can't fly without mastering the basic ki rules." Unless there's something she's not saying…

Saishi swayed her tail side to side for a moment as she drew her hands to her sides. "I didn't fly." Saishi shook her head. "There was a pile of rocks, which kinda acted like a pathway up here." She pointed to the rocky formation besides the building.

A damp and barely intact staircase reached the side of the rooftop, though the distance between the staircase to the rooftop was by several metres. One of the rocks from the staircase crumbled, before collapsing with a sudden clatter.

"Except… some of the rocks gave way." Saishi laughed weakly to herself with squinted eyes. "But, by the way you fly, flying seems a lot easier." She sat down, resting her shaking legs as a result of a leap of faith. She gazed over to the flamed-coloured skies, a bundle of leaves swirled up into the sky..

To think the sky reminded her of home...

Broly shifted his gaze from the worn staircase to Saishi. It was a miracle she didn't miss, otherwise that terrain below would have skewered her. Actually, he was one to talk. "Why are you here?" Broly asked, facing the sky. "To annoy me?"

"No." Saishi twitched a smile back to him. The gentle winds brushed through her maroon hair as she observed the far horizon. "The view of the sky is pretty nice up here." She took in the sight of the amber mist rising from the black, arctic mountains in the distance, and the scent of the winter breeze passing her hair.

As much as she admired the haunting view, sight seeing was not on her list.

In silence, they both observed the golden sky. A few moments passed. Then some more as the wind whistled past them.

Broly twisted his head to Saishi, who rested her chin on her knees as her tail laid still on the ground. He sighed.

"Are you expecting me to train you now?" Broly asked, raising one hand to her as the other remained tucked under his head. "You know I'm not interested at the moment."

"Huh?" Saishi snapped her head at Broly, her tail flicked up briefly. "N..no." She covered her mouth, masking her gasp as a yawn. Her voice dipped quieter, "I used to watch the sky when I was younger." Her chin rested on her knees. Her eyes fell to her pale, trembling hands.

"So what?" Broly shrugged his shoulders. He stared up at the darkening sky again. "Things come and go." He closed his eyes. "They're not guaranteed to last forever. Even if they did," he opened his eyes, "it would get boring fast."

"I guess..." Saishi curled her fingers into her palms. She drew her hands to her maroon sash wrapped around her waist and pulled out a small, circular, gold piece. A locket. She inspected her keepsake. "People come and go." She drew her forehead close to her locket, reminiscing the time when she was with her family.

Amaya. Mother. Father. Her heart ached, longing to reunite with them. But Towa… oh how was she supposed to return to them when Towa stood in her way?

"Sharing the same blood holds no special meaning." Broly sat upright. He noticed Saishi holding the locket close to her. "...Being a Saiyan, bloodlines meant nothing- unless you were of Royalty." He looked away from her and stared off to the crimson horizon. "Other than that, the offspring kept the Saiyan bloodline alive."

"So, you don't care about each other?" Saishi asked, looking to Broly. "I mean-"

-"I honestly have no idea how Earthling offsprings are raised. But, the Saiyans are sent off to conquer the other planets as newborns." Broly intervened, shifting his gaze back to her. "Being a warrior race meant that we didn't have to be 'friendly' with each other. We fight and kill. That's that." He tucked one knee under the other, sitting in a meditative stance. "Now, unless you're related to the King, or his bastards, then your bloodline may hold some importance." His dark gaze hardened with slight anger.

"... right." Saishi prolonged her voice, her tail remained still on the tiles. Sweat slithered down her face, aware of his silent wrath. No wonder they turn out crazy…

"... what other nonsense do you want to talk about?" Broly continued, observing her quivering form. Clearly she was after something…

Saishi tucked her locket away. The smile on her lips faded.

"What happened when I passed out?" Saishi asked; her cold, lavender eyes observed him. "With the whole ordeal with Turles?"

Broly paused and arched his brow. Strange… did she suffer amnesia? Actually, did he have the energy to explain all of that? Frankly no. "He's dead, that's that." Broly answered, laying back down on the tiled surface.

That rogue Saiyan, Turles... what a bother. That monstrosity of a power- lucky for Broly, at least his own prowess overcame that weakling's ones.

"Please… you have to…"

The Saiyan remembered those words. Her crippled and pathetic state.

"Please… end this…"

Those words angered him, words belonging to cowards.

"What am I?"

Broly paused and raised his brows. That form… those bloodshot eyes and hunger, he questioned what she truly was. Was she a deranged beast masked in human skin? Or someone who clung onto a delusion that she was once human? The Saiyan wasn't too sure himself, yet the fact he called her anything but a human upsetted her. There was some truth in that.

Yet for her to plead for death… and those two, clearly they had some history- but what?

"There was a strange energy I felt- two strange energies from those two you fought." Broly's gaze fell on her. "Who were they?" His dark eyes remained firm.

The cold, violet eyes from that woman, what was she up to? Sure she gave Broly a challenge, but something didn't seem right about her... And that man, what was his deal with Saishi? He could have killed her with one strike.

Yet, there was that illogical boost in power Saishi received. If she used it sooner, then maybe she wouldn't have been beaten up like the rag doll she is now.

Yet… she was less 'human' than she ever was. Feral, hostile and blood-thirsty, Broly questioned if she always had those traits, or if it was primarily exclusive to that form.

Ah whatever! She was a headache to understand.

Saishi gripped her tank top. Her eyes widened. Her pupils shook. She gritted her teeth tightly shut at the mention of those two.

"They are denizens of the Demon realm." Saishi hissed, her quivering voice fell to a whisper. "Those two... they can twist your mind to do their bidding." She raised her voice, unable to keep her voice at one, controlled level.

"Demons?" Broly questioned, raising a brow. "What's next? Angels?" He sneered. However, his smirk faded upon realising her silent fear. "I'll take your word for it." He looked up at the sky once more. "They are powerful, far beyond your league anyway."

"Trust me, they are." Saishi nodded her head. "The mind isn't very strong to their magic; so once your mind is won over, there's no chance of getting out of that." She shook her head side to side.

"Demons." Broly muttered to himself. "And those Makaioshin; is that what you meant?" He looked to her, "That form-" He raised his hand to her, "are you some reject?"

A reject…

Saishi fell silent.

A failure…

It felt as though a lump formed in her throat. Her lips quivered. Her sight blurred. She gritted her teeth tighter. She drew her head away from him, concealing her face from his sight.

"It's nothing like that." Saishi's voice became raspy. The bridge of her nose furrowed. "I'm an Earth... I'm a-" she took a sharp gasp of breath, "I'm an Earthling- I never wanted anything to do with them!" She raised her voice at Broly, her eyes glinting crimson for a moment. She snarled, covering her face as she refused to let her negative emotions consume her.

Broly raised his brow. Her eyes, why did they constantly alternate between the two colours? Besides the fact her tail gave away her current emotional state. He squinted his eyes shut. "So, all that power you have is not yours?" Broly questioned, blinking his eyes once. "And you weren't born with that power either?"

Saishi stopped. Her lavender eyes squinted, before closing. She shook her head, hiding her face behind her hands. Her identity, how could she let that innermost struggle leave her lips?

"Look, kid," Broly paused and drew his hand over his mouth as he yawned, "everyone has their own problems in life." He continued. "You just have to keep pushing forward, even if there is no path ahead." He pointed up at the golden sky above, his dark eyes observing the faint crescent moon in the distance.

"But how do you regain your identity?" Saishi asked, rubbing her dampened face with the back of her hands. "A demon, a monster," she took a rugged breath and observed her pale hands; her sharp, black nails in particular, "I question if I am an Earthling-"

-How did I get into this mess? Broly thought, rubbing his unruly hair.

"Kid," Broly muttered, lifting his body upright. "So what? You're still alive, breathing." He pointed at Saishi. "While you take one breath, another person is taking their last."

Saishi took a breath. She raised her head, her cold, blank eyes set on the Saiyan as her face became empty of expression. "What's the point of living if you're only used as a puppet?" Saishi twisted her head at Broly, her tears on her face glistened. She narrowed her slitted, cold pupils at him. She drew her hand to her shoulder, "There's nothing to live for when you're tagged like a damn dog." She yanked her neckline to one side and exposed her right shoulder.

The Time Breaker sign was carved deep into her flesh and soul.

"Do you have any idea what the Hell this is?" Saishi raised her voice at the Saiyan. "Do you have any f****** idea what this thing does? Or how much pain this thing creates?"

Broly shifted his gaze from the marking to Saishi's angered gaze. Where the hell did that aggression come from? He sighed and tapped the crown resting against his forehead, though agitated at Saishi.

"Oh right…" Saishi prolonged her voice as the rims of her irises glinted crimson, "That measly instrument created by mere mortals is really that awful," once Saishi opened her eyes again, her irises were crimson, "compared to wasting your entire life bounded to a weakling who only cries for peace and love-"

Saishi gasped, her irises snapped back to lavender. Upon realisation of Karu's words, Saishi froze. Her heart beated against her ears.

As Saishi rushed to her feet to leave, Broly gripped her arm, his fingers digging into her skin. Saishi tensed up and froze.

"You already know lying to me will get you hurt,"

Broly spoke with a stern voice, "and now that you 'surrendered' your life to me, it will be a bad move for you to try and run."

Saishi squeezed her eyes shut and refused to look towards him.

"What are you, really?" Broly asked, narrowing his eyes on her as he stood behind her, "That mask of yours will fall off one day."

After several moments, Saishi wrested her wrist free from Broly's grip. Her tail laid still on the worn, stone tiles. "I don't know." Saishi answered quietly, clasping her red and sore wrist. "It's been twenty-nine months- and," her shoulders slumped as she drew her hands close to her. She slowly faced him, "I don't remember what it means to be an Earthling." Her voice dipped quieter as the rims of her eyes glistened.

Broly's dark eyes trembled, his fists shook as he restrained his anger. With a sharp intake of breath, he snapped at the sight of her tears.

"Would you just get a hold of yourself!" Broly yelled at her, glowering with a snarl. "Crawling, coughing, bleeding, vomiting and doing anything in your power to live is acceptable to survive this hellish world." The whites of his eyes crawled red with veins. "But giving up- surrendering, is never an option." He clenched his trembling fist at her.

Saishi fell silent. She twisted her head away from him, her shoulders raised as she squeezed her eyes shut.

"You know what sickens me about you?" Broly continued with a low growl, "you would rather die than fight. You're a coward."

Coward!

"Not true!" Saishi yelled back, slapping Broly's fist away from her face. "It's not true." She shook her head, drawing her hands to her head. "I have been at the mercy of that monster for twenty-nine months," her voice quivered. "I have tried to escape-"

Escape… surely she meant 'that' path.

Broly gripped her by the throat and lifted her off her feet by several feet. Saishi squinted her eyes, her fingers digging into the golden band of his wrist.

"Suicide," Broly mentioned with a low and trembling growl, "I'm sure you've heard of it."

Saishi arched her brows, her quivering gaze met him, frightened to answer him.

"A coward like you should know!" Broly yelled at her, his grip tightened on her throat. "You begged me to kill you on that day, and I refused solely on that reason." He narrowed his dark eyes, "why should I be your mercy when I struggled all my life?" He glared at her. "WHY?" He dragged her to his eye level.

As he dug his fingers into her skin, he felt something cold, sturdy and rough beneath his skin. He shifted his gaze from her face to her throat, noticing the black scales encasing her skin.

Saishi opened her eyes slowly, meeting his confused and wrathful ones. "Even if you did try to kill me… that monster refuses to let me." Her arms hung to her sides as her tail swayed in the air.

"I lost my humanity for a while now. There is nothing left to save."

Humanity…

Broly released his grip on Saishi. Saishi fell onto her knees and grasped her throat, gasping for air.

"You're lying." Broly spoke with a low and dry tone. His eyes shook as his teeth clenched tightly shut.

Saishi glanced at him. Her wide eyes trembled as Broly turned his back on her.

"You're lying!" Broly yelled, his angered gaze faded into a hurt one. "The one thing I asked for was the truth," his dry and sharp voice quietened as his gaze shifted to the open, scarlet horizon, "you of all people lie to my face! WHY?" He cried out to the amber sky, his ki crackled around him. "Damn it all." His voice hushed as he fell to his knees and slammed both his fists into the ground- yet, instead of breaking the stone tiles, his own flesh bled as a result of his previous wounds. He hung his head as a green light brimmed from his crown. His breaths quivered as he squeezed his eyes shut.

At this point, he disregarded the shock from his crown. Instead, he would rather let the damn thing leave him numb to everything around him.

With a harsh scream, Saishi witnessed Broly crying out to the pale sky in a blinding storm of green and gold. His screams... was he pleading for help? If he did or not, her heart throbbed in pain.

Silence fell once more.

The Saiyan laid paralysed on the ground, his rapid breaths heaved as his dull and lifeless eyes stared into the empty space.

Those lifeless eyes… to think a monster like him shared those eyes.

Though her legs faltered, Saishi took one step after the other towards Broly. Her skin paled, though she continued to push on.

Those screams, those lifeless eyes, and the strong smell of blood and sweat lingering in the air. No, she refused to be reminded of those memories.

Her feet froze for a moment.

Broly was still a monster, a liar, a madman. Breaking all her ties to that man was her only solution to find her own peace.

Yet… as much as she refused to acknowledge him, she continued to approach him. She raised her hand to him, her sullen gaze set on his crown.

For a moment, the ends of Broly's brows arched up, his eyes quivered and his jaws clenched shut.

Why? Why wasn't she turning her back on him, just like everyone else had? Or shared those eyes; distant, cold and bitter. The isolation; grey loneliness, then black pain, then scarlet anger, and then that pain once more. An endless cycle. Why? Why was she not following them? Why was a powerful fighter like her aiding a monster like him?

WHY?

The Saiyan squeezed his eyes shut, trying to drown out the excruciating pain crushing his mind. This confusion, whether he chose to ignore it or not, it wounded him.

Saishi knelt before him, one of her hands reaching to his crown. Yet the moment she came into contact with the crown, a shock of ki struck her, burning her fingers. With a restrained cry, Saishi gripped her burned hand and backed away from Broly.

Saishi shifted her gaze from her burnt and trembling hand to Broly's crown again, her hurt gaze witnessing his weak form. That crown… Paragus… why did he use such a high voltage against his own flesh and blood?

She knelt besides Broly again and shook her head side to side.

"Broly…" Saishi spoke with a quiet and quivering tone, "I…" She closed her lavender eyes, her face damp with tears. "I'm sorry." She wiped away her tears, refusing to cry. She looked to Broly's weak state once more, his blank eyes staring off to the scarlet horizon in the distance. "Even though… I know it won't change what's happened." Saishi drew her burnt hand to his crown again, only for a slight shock to strike her hand.

"Sai...shi?" Broly spoke, struggling to breathe as he laid on the ground. "Why… do you try-" he drew his fingers into his palms and pushed his hands into the ground, "to help a monster?" He lifted himself, his body trembling under the pain.

Saishi inspected Broly, distracted by his swaying stance as he tried to sit up. It was then she realised the faint scars against his skin, and his heaving breaths.

"...I've seen it all." Broly continued, his dark and weak eyes fell on the bloody and cracked tiles beneath him. "I've killed- I've murdered so many damn people;" he took a sharp breath and bared his teeth, "the elderly, the young… the strong, the weak and the helpless." He lifted his head and turned his gaze to Saishi. "I've killed them all." His quivering gaze hardened on her.

It was all in the name of survival; kill or be killed as they say. Hunted down by that tyrant's army, fighting the inhabitants- and this Hell of being used nothing more than a tool by his own father.

The Saiyan heritage... there's no Saiyan left. Where's the pride and honour in the Saiyans who despised and feared a mere child? A 'legend' the King saw nothing more than a threat to his own people- what a coward. Pride? Honour? What a load of rubbish! They can cling onto their idiotic ideals and rot with it in Hell. For all he knew, he was crafted into a monster-

"Grk!" Broly flinched, his arms giving way under the intense pain.

Except of slamming against the stone tiles, the Saiyan's rough fall was cushioned. Broly froze. He remained still for several moments.

"Enough already."

Broly snapped his sharp and feral gaze and met with her sombre gaze. What the Hell was she doing?

"Rest is just as important to you as it is to me." Saishi continued softly, observing Broly resting against the grey material of her thighs. She softened her eyes, "Please, don't resist." She gently pressed her hand into the back of his head, keeping the Saiyan rested against her as she inspected the faint scars against his back and arms. Those scars… how long did he endured those scars for? Or how long did it take her to notice he held those scars?

The instant Saishi drew her hand to his scars, Broly snarled and shoved Saishi away from him, keeping his distance from her. He stumbled onto his feet, trying to keep his balance.

Yet he collapsed once more, unable to block off the aftermath of pain as a result of his crown. With a restrained yell, the Saiyan met with the cold ground, his numb body refusing to cooperate. As he opened his weak and quivering eyes, instead of meeting the amber sky, he met with Saishi's soft gaze.

"... leave." Broly growled with a sharp tone.

Saishi shook her head.

"Leave!" Broly raised his voice. Yet, his body refused to move as a result of the trauma restricting his flesh and bones.

Saishi shook her head as her tail swayed side to side. She knelt besides him, watching over his weak state.

"I can't." Saishi replied with a gentle voice. "Judging from the intensity of that shock," her tail rested on the ground, "that shock disrupts your muscle and nerve functions for several hours." She turned to him, "You're struggling to breathe too-"

Broly shook his head as a hushed growl left his lungs.

A cry, a scream and a stab of pain, drowned by the darkness surrounding his slumber.

Broly snapped his eyes open. He gasped, paralysed against the stone tiles. Sweat drenched his skin as his bloody fingers dug into the stone grounding him.

His mind slipped once more. He had no where to turn to, no where to find peace, now where to get away from it all.

Saishi remained besides Broly, aware of Broly's silent pain drowning him. No. He was a monster capable of levelling cities- Hell, destroying planets with ease. He was no ally.

Yet, he was more 'human' in this present moment. His vulnerability, pain and silent pleads, how could she turn a blind eye to someone suffering?

Just what was this twisted game Towa played?

Broly snapped open his dull and dark eyes. A gentle and warm sensation enveloped him. This feeling… a heat of a fire- yet it did not hurt him, it alarmed him. He shifted his gaze to Saishi, noticing her seated besides him.

"Broly," Saishi spoke softly as one of her hands brushed through his bristle hair as the other remained out of his sight. "I think… I understand now why you asked about the whole birth-right thing-" She fell silent, hesitant to continue.

Broly shifted his mellow gaze to the golden clouds above. "... what of it?" He spoke as his breaths calmed.

"...Paragus told me of a powerful birth-right." Saishi continued, speaking with a cautious tone. "And… he believes you have it." She raised her head and gazed up at the golden, passing clouds. "A legendary prowess found after every thousand years or so-" her eyes softened and observed Broly, "a gift as Paragus explained it."

"Whether if it is a gift or curse…" Broly spoke, his dark gaze taking in the pastel and serene sky, "it's a 'painful' burden." A wince left his lips. "The Legendary Super Saiyan… those words alone instil great fear into any Saiyan." He closed his eyes and turned his head away from her.

"Dad, what is this 'Legendary Super Saiyan' you talk about?" Broly recalled. As a child, his feet dangled from the wooden seat as he watched his father tinker with several metal instruments in front of him.

Paragus stood still for several moments. He closed his leather book and drew the golds to one side of the worn and wooden desk.

"You see son," a younger Paragus raised his head, the golden flame of the nearby lamp light filled the dim room, "it's a very powerful Saiyan that appears every thousands of years." He slumped his shoulders and turned to his only son.

"Powerful?" Broly tilted his head to one side. "How powerful?"

Paragus walked to one side, guiding Broly's gaze to the twilight sky from an open, cracked window with one hand. "You see the stars in the sky?" Paragus asked as the lamp light flickered. Broly squinted his eyes and counted the stars, his tail swayed side to side as he focused. He nodded and looked up to his father standing besides him. "That particular Saiyan can conquer the stars, and bring entire galaxies to his mercy."

"Galaxies?" Broly raised his brows, his tail raised up in alarm.

"Precisely." Paragus smirked to himself as he rested both his hands behind himself. "However, what we're not told about the Legendary Super Saiyan is that they are a separate and unique bloodline altogether."

Broly tilted his head to one side, now curious. "What does that mean?" Broly jumped off from the seat and gazed up at his father.

"Not much is known about them." Paragus continued, meeting his son's curious gaze. "You see, we already know that when a Saiyan of that power dies, it takes about a thousand years for the next one to appear. However," he raised his index finger to the worn ceiling, "it's also possible that the one who possesses that power can also pass on that power."

"Huh?"

Paragus laughed to himself. "Of course, you're too young to understand any of that." He cleared his throat and continued. "You see, I loved your mother very much-"

-"Blergh," Broly scrunched his face up, his face paled, "I don't want to know that!" He clenched his fists and shuddered internally. He crossed his arms over his chest and puffed his cheeks out. "I don't know why you speak highly of her, it's not like she came back like she said."

Paragus shifted his saddened gaze to his son. "Broly," his voice hardened. Broly perked up his head at the sound of his father's stern voice. "Don't ever speak of your mother like that," he narrowed his dark eyes, "understood?"

The young Saiyan curled his fingers into his palms. "It's true and you can't change my mind about it!" Broly shot back, his tail stiffened in anger. "You keep saying she'll return next week, but she never did." He clenched his fists at his father and flashed a dark glare. "You're a liar!"

It was then Broly was struck with those twisted, angered and disappointed eyes.

"If you understood any of the hardships your mother suffered, you wouldn't be speaking of her like that!" Paragus raised his voice over Broly's, causing the young Saiyan to flinch. "You are her living legacy!" He raised his fist at his son, though he did not strike him. He turned away from his son, frustrated at his son's reserved persona. "Act like a true Saiyan warrior instead of whining like a coward, Broly." He muttered as he strode back to his desk.

Broly stood, mortified at his father's words as the light dimmed. He hung his head, his trembling gaze falling to his quivering fists in silence. He shook his head side to side, refusing to believe his father's words. Lie after lie, what was it to say this whole birth-right was another lie he made up?

However, even as a child, he couldn't help but believe that the latter was true. Fear… concealing such a raw emotion was not possible.

A legacy… that power… a constant burning, raw and primal power rattled on his nerves, clawing itself free from his grasps. That power… it only took one moment of anger and pain for that power to consume the young Saiyan into an abyss of wrath and fury.

The days following after… darkness fell over portions of the galaxy, slowly erasing the life that once flourished, year after year.

And the years that followed after, his father… oh how he remembered his father screaming in agony at the loss of sight in one eye, the utter helplessness and pleads his father swore when he knew he no longer had any control over him.

Broly opened his dull eyes, witnessing the amber sky and felt the cool and gentle wind wash over him. That power… even now that power constantly beckoned him, refusing to let the Saiyan have his peace and rest.

"And if a Saiyan... is discovered with that power," Broly continued, growly lowly as he forcefully shoved his clawing impulses to the back of his mind, "their life is forfeit..." His face scrunched up.

"Forfeit?" Saishi's voice dipped up, her breaths quivered.

No reply left Broly's lips.

Saishi knew what he meant. The golden crown, the reaction of fear from the Angols and Shamoians alike, Turles's insinuations and Paragus's distance from Broly. They all knew- and she wondered who else knew of Broly's prowess.

"Broly," Saishi leaned closer to Broly, yet she still kept one hand out from his sight, "do you believe you are one of them?" She spoke calmly, her other hand barely brushing against his raven hair.

Broly opened his eyes slowly, then he shifted his dull gaze to her. After a moment, his eyes glimmered. Wait… did she- was she questioning that power?

"No, I don't." Broly replied, shifting his gaze back to the pastel sky. He yawned and sat up. He froze. He squinted his eyes and tilted his head. He clenched and relaxed his hands for several moments, then he drew his hands to his abdomen, then legs.

The pain… where did it all go?

As Broly shifted his gaze to Saishi, Saishi retracted the muscle fibre of her wrist and tucked both her hands onto her thighs. Once Broly looked to her, she concealed the inner part of her wrists with her black wrist guards.

However, Broly grasped her wrists and inspected them. Saishi widened her eyes. As she drew back, Broly kept his grip firm on her.

"You…" Broly spoke, removing the black wrist guards she wore. Though Saishi opened her hand to stop Broly from removing her wrist guards, Broly curled her fingers into her palms and partially revealed her scarred wrists.

"Knock it off!" Saishi wrested her arm from his grip. Except the excessive force struck the Saiyan's chin. Saishi gasped and drew her hands to herself, even though that force did nothing to him. Saishi squeezed her eyes shut and drew away from him, preparing for the worst.

Learning of Saishi's startled nature, Broly tilted his head. "You gave a portion of your ki to me, I'm sure of it." He rubbed his chin, confused why she concealed something he was aware of. "No one… has done that before, to me." He shifted his gaze to her again, noticing her back facing him.

Saishi pulled the wrist guards over her exposed wrists, then raised her knees close to her chest. "I… I don't want to see that pain." Saishi replied, resting her chin on her knees. Her tail laid behind her, acting as a barrier between herself and Broly. "I've grown sick from it." She gripped her chest with one hand as her maroon hair swayed in the gentle, cool breeze.

Broly blinked. After a moment, a slight smirk shifted on his lips. "You're not a coward." Broly spoke, leaning closer to her.

"Hu?" Saishi blinked. Her ears twitched as her head perked up. "But you said-"

-"You're humble, meek and foolish," Broly continued, resting on his front besides her. He paused, noticing Saishi drawing her tail to her side and acted as a barrier. He sighed. Saishi was the type of person to keep her distance from someone like him. He watched her tail sway side to side, deducting how Saishi felt. Then he shifted his gaze to the black scar against her neck.

Broly rested both his arms over her tail.

Saishi glanced at the Saiyan, her face reddened in annoyance. She flicked her tail at him, warning the Saiyan to keep his distance. However, a slight laugh left Broly's lips.

"What can I say?" Broly continued, leaning his head on his arms. He watched her; her withdrawn gestures, her warmth and her gentle words… how her silent pains crafted a broken yet gentle person.

Aware of Broly's mellow gaze, Saishi's face flushed brighter. He seriously did not understand personal boundaries! As she leaned away from him, a warm and firm touch brushed her neck- namely the black scar of the Time Breakers.

Saishi squeezed her eyes shut, restraining her urge to scream out. She shoved Broly's hand away and clasped the side of her neck. She drew the neckline of her tank top up and concealed the scar.

Broly caught himself and blinked for several moments, taken back by her sudden strength. He raised his brow, confused and amused.

"Don't." Saishi winced, her tail writhed against the ground. She hissed, her body shivering, aching from the intense stinging pain. "That area's extremely sensitive."

A gentle weight rested on her head.

"It's good to know that you weren't lying about that." Broly spoke, resting one hand on her head as the other remained tucked under his chin. Resting on his front again, he continued, "I don't know what you've endured to become the way you are, but," he drew his hand to her upper arm, "your scars, I haven't met someone with a heart like yours."

Saishi opened her eyes slowly, pondering what he meant by those words. After a moment, she spoke softly, "They say the kindest ones are crafted from the cruelest depths of Hell." She drew her hand over her upper arm and drew herself away from Broly. "But…" a thought occurred to her. She shifted her lightened gaze to him, "... Never mind." Her lips shifted a small smile.

Broly blinked at her. His mind froze, not sure why Saishi smiled- or how to react to her warmth and positivity. He concealed his mouth and nose with both arms, his confused gaze stared to the darkening horizon.

Unknown to Saishi, a slight smile shifted on his lips. That gentle warmth… it was strange to feel something like that. That feeling, it wasn't filled with anger, sorrow or pain. He leaned his head against her and observed the golden horizon. A silver mist basked the dark mountains in the distance, and drifted to the valleys below.

"Broly?" Saishi squeaked, her face blushed as she noticed the Saiyan resting close to her. She tilted her head lower and noticed him breathing slowly with closed eyes. To think… no! Saishi pinched her face with force, reminding herself he was a Saiyan. She crept away from him, leaving him to rest.

Or so she thought.

"Saishi?" Broly hummed, raising his brows. Saishi paused. "I wouldn't do that if I were you." He opened his eyes, his gaze hardened on the darkening horizon, "my father isn't what he makes himself out to be."

Saishi's brows dipped up. She turned her gaze away from him, drawing her hands close to her chest. No. She refused to have this talk with him- not when Paragus knew of his son's ploys.

As she rose to her feet to leave, Broly shifted his gaze to her. He closed his eyes, his fingers digging into the stone tiles as he heard her footsteps retreat.

"Saishi," Broly raised his voice, his voice harshened as a warning, "as his son, I know what he's all about. It takes one wrong move for him to get a hold on you." He shook his head and frowned, "I'm never the person to beg, but my father will u-"

A crackle of green sparked from Broly's crown. It was at this moment Broly learned of a terrible realisation.

An agonising scream howled into the darkening sky, blazing the sky in a shroud of green and gold. With another heart-wrenching scream to the darkening abyss, the stone tiles shattered, and what remained burned against the hushed wind.

"Broly!" Saishi shrieked, her quivering eyes witnessing the blinding light consuming Broly once more. She brushed away the golden flames surrounding her. However, her eyes quivered, witnessing Broly drowning under the blinding and burning flames.

Broly shook his head, restraining his cries as choking growls as he clasped his head. Yet the pain seared his flesh and bones. Paralysed, he screamed out once more, frantically trying to drown the flames of his recurring agony.

Broly collapsed onto his knees, his dull and empty eyes stared to the scarlet horizon, overshadowed by a blanket of black mist. His arms hung as his body, now numb from the pain, struck the shattered, scorched tiles.

Like some grievously wounded creature, Broly's breaths heaved. He witnessed a dark ring surrounding the edge of his vision. Yet, he desperately fought, clinging onto his consciousness.

Damn that old man!

With another violent roar, Broly gritted his jaws, refusing to give into the pain scorching his flesh and bones. His body convulsed, his breaths turned to wild and deep gasps as the weight of his heart beated against his ears. He growled lowly, his fingers dug into the tiles as his face twisted in pain.

This pain, on the verge of death, completely helpless, slowly feeling his strength leave him, squeezed out of him- No more… no more…

Broly squeezed his quivering eyes shut, struggling to move, to feel, to breathe. Paralyzed all over, Broly forced himself to move, refusing to fall unconscious and face those nightmares again.

A familiar warmth enveloped him once more.

The weight soon left Broly's lungs, easing his breaths. And the pain crushing him faded, filling him only with a gentle warmth. But a hum… he heard a quiet and low hum fall on his ears.

As Broly opened his eyes, he found himself resting the side of his face on her thighs. He soon realised the gentle and slow stroking motion against his head.

"Thank Kami," Saishi spoke, her quivering voice strained, "I can't go through that again." Her sullen eyes glistened as she brushed her hand through Broly's bristle hair. "Towa," she closed her eyes. Her shoulders slumped forwards and shook her head side to side. She opened her damp eyes, her lips quivering, unable to form any words.

Perplexed, Broly shifted his widened gaze to her. Her tears, she wept silently. Humanity… if one lost their humanity, surely they would not shed a tear for someone else's misery- or for a twisted and tainted heart like his.

Yet… she wept.

Broly closed his eyes partially, listening to her cries for several moments. Once the pain subsided, and his impulses grew bored from his ignorance, he sighed and lifted himself to kneel. His gaze fell onto her small and withdrawn form. Even though he knew she can fight back, he learned she hated the sight of pain and violence- something he knew no fights in his lifetime can avoid.

He drew his hand to her. Though Saishi pulled away, Broly drew his hand to her chin, then lifted her gaze to him; quivering and damp.

"Rest." Broly spoke, his voice calm and quiet. "That's all I want you to do now." He drew his hand away from her chin and looked to the dark horizon. Several orbs of light lit up in the distance and hovered against the darkness, like fireflies hovering above the serene surface of a lake at dusk. "When the mind is weak, the body follows." He sighed and closed his eyes.

Those lights… stars so young. Those lights… the life that once roamed free, and sparked bright with life. Those lights… eyes that brimmed with life and joy.

Yet… one by one those lights vanished, shattering into thousands of pieces into the darkness devouring them.

Broly opened his dark eyes, closing off his mind to those memories. "I know you disagree with the fact I let you live, but," he laid down on his front, "... look," he looked over his shoulder to her, "it's not my place to tell you about your family. But, whether they're alive or not, you can't die on them."

For several moments, only silence remained.

Broly watched Saishi, waiting for her to say something.

Saishi did not reply. Instead, her damp eyes closed and her head hung. She swayed, her weak eyes falling onto the broken tiles, tainted by blood.

"... this is Towa's fault… all of it."

After uttering those bitter words, Saishi rested her trembling hands against the scorched surface, aware of the weight of Karu's constant eyes. "I can't return to them," Saishi spoke with gritted teeth, "not when those bastards continue to roam free." Her voice wobbled with anger and tears. "And my sister..." she slumped her shoulders and hung her head lower, unable to utter proper words from her quivering lips. She shook her head, disgusted at how useless she felt.

"Come." Broly raised his hand to his side, guiding Saishi to sit besides him. "Talk, get it off your chest." His mellow gaze fell onto her small and withdrawn form.

To think there was another damaged individual, yet… her heart… it wasn't filled with malice or cruelty.

Saishi lifted her head, her brows dipped up. She met his mellow gaze, though she hesitated. She shook her head, averting her quivering gaze from the Saiyan.

However, something warm and bristly brushed against her arm. She shifted her gaze, soon noticing the Saiyan sitting besides her. She widened her quivering eyes and drew away from him. However, her back bumped into something stiff. As she glanced behind herself, Broly deducted her frightened condition.

And he knew how much she wanted to escape.

"Saishi, you can't keep running away." Broly spoke, concealing his Saiyan tail beneath his red sash. "You will never solve anything if you keep running away." He sighed and shook his head side to side, "I have seen the effects of death, the rage, the fear, the sadness. I have seen people charge in blindly to avenge those I killed in front of them." He paused. Then he continued, "I have seen people taking their own lives in front of me, without a fighting chance." He drew his hand to her, showing his palm to her. "Death isn't your answer. Even if you tried to escape those bastards, maybe you're here for a different reason."

Saishi paused. She shifted her gaze to Broly.

"The Shamoians." Saishi spoke with a raspy voice. "Yeah… I remember…" she averted her gaze from him again and observed her black nails.

"And?" Broly nodded, encouraging her to speak.

"I told them… I'll return them home… somehow…"

"And?"

"And I'll try to return home… to see my family again."

"I know there's more."

Saishi curled her knees to her chest and concealed her face, her vision blurred from her tears.

Broly watched her with the same, mellow gaze. He sighed. This was going to take longer than he thought.

"If it makes you feel better, I'll promise something to you." Broly spoke, raising his hand to her. "Remember that promise thing you did some time back?" He curled all his fingers into his palm, all except his smallest finger.

Saishi shifted her gaze to him, her eyes glimmered, recognising what he meant. She read his lips, hearing what he promised.

Truce.

"But…" Broly shrugged his shoulders with closed eyes, "I need you to tell me what's going on with you right now." He pointed to her. "If you don't clear your mind now, you'll suffer another one of those episodes- and trust me, I know how bad they can get."

After a moment, Saishi slowly nodded her head. She took a deep breath, trying to calm down. After several breaths, she spoke softly. "I..." Saishi drew her hands away from herself and rested them on her knees. "Ever since I ran into my former masters, I've been on edge lately."

"... no wonder you screamed." Broly mentioned, laying down besides her. "On some nights, I heard someone screaming, but today I found out it was you of all people."

Saishi's face reddened, ashamed at the truth. Her tail laid still on the ground. "X-498," She drew her hand to her neck, brushing the black scar. "That's the name she gave me, and only referred to me by that name for twenty-nine months."

Broly observed her, deducting her quiet words. "For two years?" He asked, tilting his head. Saishi nodded. "I'm surprised you remembered your name."

Saishi opened her mouth, then she fell silent.

"What?" Broly caught her holding back her words. "You're telling me that's a fake name you gave to my father?" He raised his voice at her.

At the sound of Broly's raised voice, Saishi drew away from the Saiyan. "I'm sorry." Saishi's words strained on her lips as her eyes squeezed shut.

Broly remained quiet, learning his raised voice triggered fear and anxiety. He took a breath and calmed his voice. "Tell me, who do you refer to yourself as?" He drew one hand to his chest, "By name, you know me as Broly. But by others, I'm referred to as a Legendary Super Saiyan."

Saishi's body trembled. Her skin paled.

"By human flesh and bones, I am Saishi." Saishi replied, drawing into herself as her eyes quivered, "but…" she closed her eyes, "the monster within me, by bloodlust, chaos and darkness, I can't mention her name." She shook her head, "her power-" She shivered. She rubbed her scarred arms as she remained withdrawn. "As for my true name…" her gaze softened, "that's something I'll have to tell you in the future."

Broly remained quiet, observing her shaken composure. He leaned his head against his arms, deducting her words. After several moments of silence, and the cool winds passing them, he spoke, "You're Saishi," Broly squinted his eyes shut, "I don't give a damn what they call you."

Saishi blinked, her shoulders dropped.

"I meant what I said back then." Broly continued, opening one of his eyes. "You are Saishi, a proud Earthling survivor." He raised his hand to her arm, "Your scars are proof of that. Don't forget that."

Saishi's eyes glimmered with a soft light. She looked to her arms. With her fingers, she traced her faint scars with a gentle and tender touch. Her damp gaze softened.

"I… didn't think of it like that." Saishi closed her eyes. "Thank you."

Broly shifted his eyes wider to those words. He squinted his eyes and rubbed his chin, confused at what she meant. After several moments, he sighed and squinted his eyes shut, still confused why he felt the way he did. "Shut it." Broly replied, averting his gaze from her.

Saishi blinked and tilted her head. However, instead of pursuing the issue, she remained silent and sat besides him. She observed the night world alongside him, taking in the silent world.

From the inky skies, a trio observed. With the relevant data they collected, they retreated into the dark abyss.

Soon, the assault will begin.

Until next time!