The sound of a car approaching reaches a barely conscious Tien's ears. He listens as he lay in the rubble, eyes shut.
"Thanks for the ride, Bulma." a man says.
"Yajirobe, that food wasn't for you!" a woman yells with malice.
"Oh shut up, I know you're the kind of person who only eats half the carton."
"Ughhh! You're just the worst!" Tien hears the car zip away while footsteps come closer to him.
"Yo, hotstuff. You seen a green dude in kids clothes around here?"
Tien forces his eyes open with great effort. A short gross obese man fades into focus. "I know you, you're that Yajirobe guy. To answer your question, no. I haven't seen anyone that meets that description." He manages to pull his upper body off the ground.
"Oh. Well if you see him, tell him I brought some Senzu beans."
Tien gives the man an inquisitive look. "You must really care about him to come to a place like this."
Yajirobe scoffs. "Don't get the wrong idea. I just wanted to make sure he doesn't screw up again."
Tien allows himself to laugh. As he does he notices someone in the street at least half a kilometer away. He focuses and sees a girl wander. She seems to be searching for something with a worried expression.
"Hey, it's that girl from before!" Tien shouts out.
His outburst startles the girl and draws her attention. She then starts running over in a hurry. As she closes in she slows to a jog.
"You're alive!" The words escape her breath in between heavy puffs of air.
"Right back at you." Tien responds calmly.
Videl takes notice of the greasy man standing beside Tien. 'Hey, I know you! You're that gross dude in the background of dad's video calls! You do some really nasty stuff!"
"Hey, I don't go around telling snot-nose kids like you how to behave!" Yajirobe huffs in anger and embarrassment. "Anyway, have you seen a green dude about seven and a half feet tall and wearing an outfit way too small for him?"
The question grabs her attention. "You mean the guy fighting the Saiyan!"
"Yeah, that sounds about right. How's that coming along? Sounds like he's not dead at least."
Videl's face changes to give a bit of a ticked off impression. "They haven't even started fighting yet. I swear it's been at least ten minutes and all they've been doing is throwing insults at each other. It's so annoying!"
Meanwhile, atop the terrifying pyramid of power, the fate of the planet is decided.
"Marvelous, is what I would so wish to say, but alas there is only hysterical doubt in my mind. You talk as if the universe itself had somehow lost its fickle little mind and allowed you to approach my level."
Piccolo scratches his head. "Well, yeah. I wouldn't put it like that, but I'm pretty sure I'm stronger than you now. I mean, I did eat my mom."
"It surprises me not that a simpleton such as yourself would equate patricide to tyrannicide."
"It doesn't really matter what you think. I'm just here to kick your butt."
"Ha. I think you'll find it will be your rectum that inherits the kicking, brother!" and with that Gohan explodes into his Super Saiyan form.
Piccolo responds by powering up as well. The two massive auras clash in the middle; bathing the city in two divided pallets.
"I'm going to end your suffering now, brother! Have a taste of the hell beneath you!" Gohan lashes out an overhead chop at near inconceivable speed. To his surprise Piccolo manages to block it with one hand.
The Namek roars and thrusts his fist into the child's gut. "Satan Punch!"
Gohan is launched across the steps and is sent flying right through the roof of his throne room. His pained cry echoes the whole way. After he disappears beyond the structure Piccolo lets out a "Heck yeah!"
Piccolo's triumph is short-lived as he notices the steps he stands on begin to glow white-hot and melt away, giving way to a mighty beam of energy being spewed from the mouth of Gohan on the opposite side of the pyramid. Piccolo is blasted away into the edge of several skyscrapers, causing them to collapse completely. Gohan bounds through the hole he had created and bursts toward Piccolo with an intensity that shatters windows all around.
Piccolo manages to block just in time. Gohan's momentum pushes a resisting Piccolo back until they collide with a building, then another, and another. It's not until they reach the outer edges of the city that Piccolo manages to redirect the mad Saiyan's trajectory downward with a "Satan Suplex!"
Gohan is sent pummeling through the earth a mile deep. The force causes an intense earthquake that splits the city in two. Piccolo watches on as the ground in front of him shifts upwards along the cracked earth's new fault. It shoots over his head, shadowing him.
"Crud!" He manages to escape before the earth spews open in a wave of magma. He looks in horror as a river of lava fills the broken earth across the city.
Back on the ground, Yajirobe's eyes widen as far as they can and his jaw drops to the floor. "Okay, world's ending. We're getting the hell out of here." He picks up the wounded Tien in one hand and Videl in the other before hastily propelling himself into the sky and away from danger.
"When did you learn to fly, Yajirobe?" Tien expresses his curiosity.
"Long story short, I drank a lot of water. I'm probably like ten times stronger than you right now. Hope that doesn't bother you."
Tien laughs with a somewhat confused and uncertain face. "Anyway, I could really use a Senzu bean right now."
"Sorry dude, these are for bros only." Yajirobe is quick to deny Tien without much care.
"Ew gross! Your greasy hands are staining my uniform!" the girl complains and wriggles about.
"Kid! I will drop you!" Yajirobe glares at the girl with deathly seriousness.
Videl clutches his arm in terror. She doesn't say another word.
Just then an explosion of lava and ash springs from the earth a kilometer high like an erupting volcano. Piccolo keeps his cool as the tiny tyrant rises like the devil.
"Took you long enough. I was starting to think you sent yourself to hell." Piccolo smirks, amused with himself.
Gohan's breathing is heavy. After a moment of rest, he regains some stunted composure. "Well done, brother. I admit I had not expected you to come so far. I'm forced to concede that power runs in the family!"
Piccolo changes to a casual tone. "Oh, about that. Turns out Namekians reproduce asexually. That's what I meant when I said we weren't brothers back there."
Gohan looks Piccolo in the eye dumbfounded. "Oh the pity I wish I felt for your miserable existence. If strangers we are, then strangers we shall be. Come Namek, I will now demonstrate to you the all-powerful authority of the divine."
"Ha, sorry to tell you, but I'm just warming up." Piccolo grunts and releases a wave of energy. "I haven't even been using half of my strength! How about you?"
Gohan gives the Namek a surly look. "You continue to insist upon the idea that we measure our strength on the same level. Allow me to give you a revelation that even a lowly life form such as yourself can comprehend." With that Gohan raises his hands to the air with feverish delight. Between his palms a grand sphere of energy forms. Within a moment he launches the projectile at Piccolo.
Piccolo only smirks as the awesome force approaches him. The mighty energy swallows his silhouette like a star to a speck of dirt. With one mighty kick, Piccolo sends the attack into the sky where it ignites; briefly lighting the planet in whiteness that penetrates even the darkest cloud. "Hercule Cheap Trick Knock Away Kick!"
Gohan stumbles in the air. Within an imperceivable instant Piccolo emerges inches away from his face. The Saiyan nearly falls to the ground, too stunned to remain airborne. Piccolo grabs the runt by the collar and launches him into the city. As he collides with the pavement Piccolo appears just above and forces his face into the ground as they tear through the road. When they reach a building, Piccolo thrusts a kick that grinds Gohan along the wall. Before the boy escapes the surface, Piccolo pounces him into the 30th floor.
Inside they find themselves in a bathroom. Before Gohan can even curse the Namek, Piccolo grabs him by the hair and slams his face into a toilet. "Satan Swirly!" he maniacally shouts as the boy squirms about.
While Piccolo enjoys himself Gohan latches onto the toilet and tears it from the foundation. He slams the defecation device into Piccolo's jaw, dazing him for a moment. Gohan follows with his index and middle finger and manages to prod the Namek's eyes. Piccolo retreats in pain.
"Take this you insufferable bottom feeder!" Gohan blasts Piccolo out of the building, which rattles it enough to disintegrate into a pile of rubble.
Gohan loses sight of the Namekian. It isn't long before he feels intense pain in his pants. Behind him, Piccolo latches onto the Saiyan's spandex and pulls upward with excruciating force. "Dynamite Wedgie!" He shouts as Gohan screams in agony.
The Saiyan squats his body and with a mighty grunt, he releases an explosive wave of energy in every direction. It's enough to cause Piccolo to release the boy. Gohan darts up into the sky. By the time Piccolo looks up finds another massive sphere of energy crashing toward him. He manages to catch it with his hands but is brought to the ground by the momentum of the ball of light. He thrusts upward to toss it back, but before it makes it very far, it's sent right back to him. Up above, Gohan pounces his own attack. He rises and furiously drops repeatedly to match Piccolo's efforts to repel it.
By the third collision, the blast is set off in Piccolo's face. A whole city block evaporates and Piccolo is smashed into the earth. Gohan descends to Piccolo's position. The Saiyan is now drenched in sweat and heavy breathing. Piccolo sits up, and as he does Gohan lands a hook to his cheek. When Gohan winds up for a second strike, Piccolo intercepts.
"Satan Backhand!" Piccolo's slap sends the child booming across the ground. This time the boy doesn't get up.
Piccolo gets to his feet and makes his way over to the shaking Saiyan on the ground.
Gohan manages to speak. "Just what the hell are you!"
Piccolo stands towering above Gohan, now giving the boy a stern look. "I am Son Piccolo! And I am a Super Namekian!"
Gohan breathes furiously and looks Piccolo in the eye with absolute animosity. "I must say, most impressive, for a filthy slimy animal. Don't let my current condition get to your head dear Namek. Our respective positions remain unchanged!"
Gohan scans his surroundings frantically for a means of escape or victory. Beneath his bravado, the scared little Saiyan desperately searches for a way to turn the tide. In his panic, a lunar light grazes his face. He looks up to the now broken clouds. "Oh my, oh my! The heavens do indeed shine upon me today!"
Piccolo lets a bit of worry seep into him, unsure of the meaning of the Saiyan's words.
"This night is the night of this world's full moon, don't you see!" Gohan rejoices at his fortune. "Saiyans are a remarkable race, as you will soon discover! Behold Namek! My Truest, most unstoppable might!"
Gohan looks into the moon's light and embraces the insanity that it fills him with. His body pulsates and expands. His eyes glow red and golden fur covers his body. Piccolo looks on in terror at the monster that grows before him.
"What is this madness!"
Gohan laughs as his mind dissolves. Within moments he takes on the form of a gigantic golden great ape with a hideous bowl-cut. He releases a roar that pierces Piccolo's ears and shatters the earth around him. A beam of energy shoots from his gaping mouth that melts an entire nearby mountain range into a plateau. The beast then beats his chest. Piccolo finds himself completely unable to move. He just looks on as the monkey turns its attention to him.
"Not good!" The monkey smashes the earth where Piccolo was standing, he only just manages to avoid the colossal arm. He attempts to fly up and out of the monster's sight. Before he knows it, the ape appears in front of him, and with a single swat of its hand Piccolo is sent crashing back to earth a mile away like an apocalyptic meteor.
In the crater, Piccolo lies beaten. "I can't win against something like that! It's not fair."
The ape starts a wild rampage that tears apart the landscape. Piccolo just watches on. "No matter how much stronger I get, that guy always manages to get right back ahead of me! It's not fair! It's just not!"
"Piccolo, you must not give up!" a voice rings out with no discernible origin.
"Mom? Is that you?" Piccolo looks around but is unable to find anyone.
"Yes, Piccolo. You need to get up. You're stronger than you think."
"Where are you, mom? I can't see you!" Piccolo frantically searches.
"I'm with you Piccolo. You must believe in yourself. My knowledge is now your knowledge. Look deep and you will find the answer you need."
"I don't understand! What am I looking for?" The voice no longer responds. "Mom, please! Just tell me!"
Piccolo is soon alerted to the sound of someone approaching. He looks over to see Yajirobe on his way. Limping behind him is a man he doesn't recognize, and propping up his weight over her shoulder is the girl he saved earlier. In the background, the ape ravages the city.
"Senzu bean." Yajirobe pulls out a bag and pours the contents in his hand.
"Ah, come on dude, you got like ten of them!" The three-eyed man behind him shouts in anger.
Piccolo takes a bean and eats it.
"Shove off, dude, hey!" The two men struggle for control of the beans until the taller man swallows one down and gives Yajirobe a mean look. Yajirobe responds by sticking out his tongue.
The three-eyed man greets Piccolo. "Hey, bozo over here told me you're Goku's kid. My name's Tien. I have a good deal of respect for your father."
"Thank you, My name is Son Piccolo." Piccolo nods respectfully.
"So what's the plan?" Tien questions the now recovered Piccolo.
"I've got to concentrate. My brain told me to look for something in my mind."
Piccolo remains silent. He focuses on his mind meditatively. The periodic rumbling of destruction from afar shakes the fighters as they impatiently wait for Piccolo to respond. Deep in his mind, he finds Namekian secrets and abilities he had never heard of. He explores a vast knowledge of the universe that nearly overwhelms him. He even sees his mother and father perform acts upon each other that nearly make him puke.
He opens his eyes at last. He gives the others an uncertain look. "I know what I have to do, but I don't know if I can do it alone."
"Well, that's a shame. Too bad there isn't more of you." Yajirobe answers casually, either not understanding Piccolo's words or choosing not to.
Piccolo looks to the ground with a lonely look on his face.
Tien grabs his shoulder to get his attention. "Well, I'm ready to help. That monster took a lot from me. I'm not going to rest until this is over."
Piccolo gasps and gives the man a thoughtful glance.
Tien continues. "Whatever you need me to do I'll do it. I know I'm not strong enough to take him on, but I'll help wherever I can."
The girl chimes in. "Same here! That creepy little twerp killed my dad!"
"Yeah, mine too." Piccolo reciprocates.
Tien moves on to finish his thoughts. "We've all lost something to that monster."
"I didn't" Yajirobe interrupts to make his correction known.
Tien restarts his thought. "Most of us have lost something to that monster. We're all on the same side here. One team. One goal. What do you say, kid? Want to make it official?"
A grin finally emerges on Piccolo's face. "Heck yes! All hands in. Team Satan on three!"
Tien bashfully pauses the eager Namekian. "Uhhh… I don't know if I can get behind that name. How about something like the Crane Force?"
"Yeah, how about we not worry about this right now and focus on stopping that freak. I mean, a lot of people are getting killed right now." Yajirobe declares while flicking a booger at Tien.
"Satan Fighters!" the girl shouts, ignoring Yajirobe's logical complaint.
"We'll shorten it to S Fighters for Tien. Is that cool with everyone? Raise your hand if you're cool with S Fighters." The group raises its hands disinterestedly. "Okay, S Fighters on three, one, two, three, S Fighters!"
After their half-hearted chant. The four warriors stand at the edge of the cliffside. They stare down the titan in the distance that continues to tear apart Central City and the surrounding countryside. What lies ahead of them will not be easy. Knowing this, they bravely prepare their mission to save the world from certain destruction.