. . . THE FOLLOWING MORNING . . .

"Keep firing!" one of the Nudists yelled before his attacker plunged its hand through his chest.

Vomiting what tasted like copper he couldn't drop to his knees with the monster ahead of him. He heard the constant shrieking. Shrapnel piercing a red sky in uneven pops to keep it warmed. A thick, swirling veil that stunk blocking off any and everything. There was no breaching the lowest level of Honnō City. The Naked Sun remained afloat not far from its nearest harbor, amidst the rubble detached from the only bridge leading to the island. Just before he blacked out he caught a glimpse. Some of his peers were left standing. Most of them weren't. He recalled the Elite Four. Teenagers. Somehow they had the will to continue without the aid of uniforms serving as a few of their strongest resources.

Their best operative, Tsumugu, running along the deck emptying clips he had to reload as quickly, tackling the closest to him to shove a pointy barrel through is ocular captivity as he pulled the trigger, rolling off to twist into his slide so he could let off a swarm of needles at another hoping to stab him in the back. Their leader Mikisugi manning one of the last DTRs still in one piece, one of its legs kicking another across the sky as the cylinder cluster of barrels that was his machine's gatling gun cranked in its spin. Its rapid rate of fire tore into its target until their was nothing but a dried body left to fall for the ocean. The COVERS stopped for none of it. Being ripped to shreds to free their hosts, or end them, their sheer numbers kept. How they killed without mercy gave them the best chance at attrition. The wounded agent's colleagues were dying. He was. And all the while a massive problem remained above them all like it knew. His vision was fading but he could make out the perpetual glow it gave off no less.

x.x.x

"Somethin' tells me we're in trouble," Son said at the air.

It felt harder to take in. What he thought were flakes of ash fell from the cloud cover tapping gently against his palm. His calloused hand slowly closing reminded him of how dry it was. He glanced for Kuririn.

"Son. Give it to me straight. You really think we stand a chance here?" Kuririn said pulling at the ends of his belt until the knot squeezed his pants closer to his waist.

Son remembered their training. Their friendship. Not having an answer he glanced for the rope laces on his boots first, then anything, seeing Ryuko, Senketsu transformed to protect what of her he could, and how she watched him with an unbroken gaze. His relented for it. Satsuki's walking into what wasn't said caught all eyes.

"They cannot penetrate the field around the city," she shared. "Mako. Perhaps you should ..."

"You're not leaving me here! Short stuff can watch my back! I'll watch his!" Mako shot forward.

Those watching said nothing for her cheeks puffing out to push at the ends of her hair. How she raised the small hands she balled and narrowed her eyes like she meant what she said. Son smiled for her wearing a top matching his and Kuririn's, too big for her as it grazed her slender thighs, a similar fabric tied tight to keep it from opening. Bluer straps hugged her wrists, ochre Chinese toe shoes she borrowed fit closely to her feet as the one she borrowed them from had outgrown them.

"Kuririn," Son said.

"Way ahead of you," Kuririn nodded red in the face when Mako hopped on his back to close her arms around his neck.

Satsuki fingered the side of her restored Bakuzan impressed with its original length.

"You have my thanks, Muten Roshi-sama," she bowed not yet lowering the weapon placed on the flat of her hands.

Roshi remembered to close his mouth. As he finished ogling her armor, and her half naked body, he cleared his throat, straightening his sunglasses, wiping a silly grin from his face.

"Think nothing of it," he held his hands to his back, hunched forward. "Son. Kuririn. You have trained your entire lives for this."

He had the attention of his best pupils just ahead of him, yet he glanced for Ryuko and Satsuki.

"As have you," he added.

Ryuko's blank kept. Satsuki could see what the ruin caused. Inactive COVERS were wherever they stepped to wet the soil. As their elder lifted his chin anyone present followed suit. The ash continued to rain. The wind was cold, harsh if ever it picked up. Ryuko found a place next to Son. Locking eyes didn't quiet the darkened air between them as it waved against their hair. They had no time for goodbyes.

x.x.x

Inumuta, Nonon, Sanageyama, and Gamagori backed into the tightly knit group they could be, surrounded, led by Tsumugu and Mikisugi down to a few firearms and whatever ammunition was within arms reach.

"So this is how it ends huh," Mikisugi almost smiled.

"Get the kids inside. Submerge the ship and don't come back up until you see the sun again," Tsumugu said.

"Not happening," Nonon chirped leading the pack. "Lady Satsuki told us to stay and help you naked freaks!"

"It pains me to say that for once, she's right," Inumuta cocked the slide of his weapon, pushing his glasses closer to his nose.

If they didn't work so well he would of thought the sowing machine shaped tools they used ridiculous. The COVERS arriving creased the steel their stumps for feet touched to. They weren't hurried. Lurching after their prey took its time. Everyone tensed when two of the biggest lost their patience. They could leap over ten feet high, ogreish white arms raised to swing them down on what they wanted to bash. Tsumugu would have been the first to fire. He nearly didn't see it happen.

"Kienzan!" they all heard someone cry out.

Instinct told him to duck.

"Get down!" he yelled and without thinking the others fell prone against the deck's slick surface.

Flat light, spinning its edges into the sharp poking out, moved faster than their eyes could trace. Two more waved through the dark, nearly clashing, cutting through anything in their way to cross paths in the curve down as they carved up. Their buzzing heightened the higher they moved. Someone dropped to their defense to let his rider free. He raised his hand in the air again, slowly circling it, conjuring another. Thrusting his muscly arm ahead of him cleared any lining up splattering the deck with chunks unable to remain attached to their origin. Eyes locked on the anomaly. The girl wearing only the top of what was the spitting image of his.

"We know how to breach the barrier!" the new arrival said. "Get this thing under the water! Now!"

Tsumugu shared a nod with Mikisugi.

"... You heard the man," the latter said as he stood. "Everyone! Inside!"

He glanced to Mako, holding his hand out. She shook her head. Waiting a moment he then offered a nod before lifting his rifle flicking on the safety. Backing from them Tsumugu covered their retreat all of curious of the short statured warrior able to hurl vigor from his fingertips. Seeing him leave his place only to reappear elsewhere, then back where he started, then somewhere else in dizzying spurts. The opening on the hull remained up until only Mikisugi's head was poking from it.

"Tsumugu! Get your ass over here!" Mikisugi ordered, waving once, anxious.

"... Tsk," Tsumugu grit his teeth hating that he had to tuck his tail as he ran off.

Mako stood to Kuririn's back. She picked up the nearest weapon caught off guard by its heft. Her arms wobbled as she aimed it, but she didn't fire, lest she shoot him in the back of his head.

"Whoa there," he said with his hand on the top of it, carefully pushing it down. "You okay?"

"Of course I am!" she played it cool.

They nearly lost their footing as the enormous vessel they stood on woke. Horns bellowed so loud they wanted to cover their ears coupled with latches clicking in place. Feeling it lower Kuririn took hold of Mako's not letting go of the weapon she managed to keep in hand. They watched the waves swallow its imposing mass as it sank turning into itself before it couldn't be seen anymore.

"Ryuko will kill me if something happens to you," Kuririn said.

"Can you blame her? We're besties!" Mako took it in stride. "Don't fret short stuff. You're doing just fine."

"... Right," Kuririn wanted to smirk.

She shut her eyes, smiling, and weighed next to nothing as he leaned into the direction they were headed. Taking off she held on tight pressing her soft bosom to the back of his neck. She was unfazed by the violence, the piercing noise, it puzzled him as much as she kept him on his toes.

x.x.x

When he arrived only the smell was worse. Honnō City's citizens, from the wealthiest to the least privileged, were sprawled as nothing more than withered meat. Lifeless across as far as the schoolyard allowed him to see. He remembered the first day he stepped through its towering front gate. Then wasn't it. The sea of bodies led to the one standing at the academy's entrance with his hard arms crossed. Son thought the COVERS he controlled were trembling before him. Whatever he took from them he did so without hesitation.

"Kakarot," his enemy said.

As he spoke several COVERS salivated at the chance. Son remained still, a narrowed glare fixed on the one responsible for those lost. Turles smiled for them smothering him on the way down. He flashed his teeth for the ground he stood on shaking. He stood firm to see any attacking Son beginning to peel away.

"HAAAA!" Son managed to shout snapping loose earth to toss it with anything attempting to crowd his space.

White flaps leaned, then popped, bits falling with the living thumping against where they hit, curled up in their sleep. Only his eyes moved to check. They returned to Turles. The figment still a presence when the dust cleared.

"Do you see it now?" Turles said. "We Saiyans are meant to dominate the lesser. It is our lot."

"Your lot maybe," Son smirked. "I'm no Saiyan."

"Hmph. Raised by the weak. Thinks like the weak. Your father would spit on your grave, Kakarot," Turles sneered.

"My name ain't Kakarot!" Son raised his voice. "It's Son Goku! I had hoped you'd see reason."

"The feeling's mutual," Turles arms dropped, his tail unfurling from his hips.

Son watched the flex of his enemy's ashen chest wasting no time to lower into a stance best suited to the space between them. Neither paid attention to the pebbles shifting along their bodies then splitting like quieted fireworks. When he opened his eyes his fist was stayed between Turles palm. Turles kept his grinning, his response went unseen, though Son could feel where it slammed his stomach. He lost his wind as he was driven from his feet. He didn't have the time to turn as Turles was there, smacking knuckles against his cheek, sending him back where he careened from. It hurt to rupture the grounds thick wall and it didn't end as he tumbled across the dirt. The pain from blows he could barely spot was less comforting. Pervasive, the sting reaching from where it started. He had never been punched so hard in his life. Turles walked slowly to rub it in.

"Is that it? Disgraceful, Kakarot!" he said. "You can't hope to best our true enemy this way!"

He opened his palm relaxed for the shine growing before it fired. Son moved from the searing blast vaporizing one half of the stadium. Rising, he traded techniques with the shadow appearing where his fists were and weren't. He remembered to breathe but his opponent was everywhere he looked. Raising his twist his foot met Turles' bracer. He turned over him, shooting back, his elbow stopped, his free hand hooked as Turles ducked. Turles threw another orb that burned to touch smacked away from Son's slowing down to keep his distance. He didn't pay attention for how it lit up the sky when it burst.

"Your blood betrays you Kakarot!" Turles postured. "We were born for this!"

Son stopped thinking to remember. Scorched skies the domain he held himself between, he wrestled with guilt. His knees slightly bent, nothing held his feet, he exhaled bringing one fist to his hip, turning it over. Slowly showing one side to his opponent, he opened his eyes, stopping his leading hand to curl his fingers, but keeping them loose.

"You're right," he smiled. "I've never felt better. The blood rush. It's something else."

He caught Turles cracking a victorious grin.

"... Doesn't mean all's forgiven," Son's smile faded. "Every life you took Turles ..."

The red luster in Turles' eyes beamed, he leaned his neck, crossed his arms over his chest as his shoulders relaxed. He shrugged.

"I'm just getting started," he said coldly.

His vanishing act was no play on the eyes. Son reacted. When they met loudly opened a hole through the dark, jumping back and forth, up then down to whip at moisture forced to evaporate where it would.

x.x.x

Ragyo kept her head raised. She felt the centers of her large breasts stiffen beneath her thinner dress. Two weapons in hand were nothing short of giant pin needles, her fingers tight around their metal grips. Her high heels remained set in the mound she stood on, it gifting her with the verve she lapped up as it swirled to lick at her ankles. When she woke two were there; defying gravity as no one else could.

"Finally you accept your role, my daughters," she said smug as she was aroused. "Do you see them?"

Ryuko stayed her back to Satsuki's feeling the very heavens rock at its foundation. They knew why. They could feel Senketsu and Junketsu clinging tighter to their flesh. Ryuko glanced for hers as it glanced back.

"The Life Fibers vast knowledge. The Saiyans indomitable strength. A perfect union!" Ragyo went on about. "We will birth an empire!"

{... Son is in trouble Ryuko.}

"He's fine. I need you focused," Ryuko thought against what could be true. "Satsuki."

"I am ready," Satsuki steeled herself.

The afterburn was a result of thrusters flashing to aid how fast they darted, separating. As they stopped against Ragyo's blades she barely thought to inch from where she stood.

"I see further discipline is in order," Ragyo leered.

Spinning them off Ryuko doubled back, her scissors scraping sparks in her next pass. Satsuki's blade cutting loose she avoided her sister's progress speeding a response unique to her curving her blade right to swipe it left. Ragyo hopped from her place on the largest Life Fiber Ryuko didn't care to see. It lunged tendrils for her, desiring all that she was, granting Satsuki an avenue. She went for Ragyo locking her blade between hers crossing pushed back so her mother could parry Ryuko's instant dash. Ryuko felt something slimy wrapping her heels, even through the armor. She hacked at it able to bring the scissor in her right hand up to stop sudden pressure. Ragyo's demented gaze was too close for comfort.

"Naughty girls get the paddle!" Ragyo arched her swing.

"Ahn!" Ryuko hurled off into flips she couldn't control.

Sliding her blades together as Ragyo swung her arms out cut through Satsuki's Bakuzan. Her eyes widened for deja-vu, as it shattered, and suddenly she needed to grasp at the cold fingers snatching her neck to hoist her higher.

"Dearest Satsuki," Ragyo's mouth curved. "So anxious to see your mother fall. Isshin's disgusting influence, no doubt."

Thinking to cut her open at the belly Ragyo missed the chance. As she pushed her hand forward it was dislodged from her wrist. Free to breathe Satsuki tossed her boot into Ragyo's jaw as she turned over to fly back when she blitzed. Seeing the purple half of the scissor thrown her way she caught it by the handle without looking bringing it down and across with all of her ire. The satisfaction was seeing its red compliment rip through Ragyo's chest to stop just ahead of her nose. Ryuko at her back, Satsuki at her face, Ragyo wouldn't try to move.

"You feel that mother?" Satsuki needled. "Death awaits."

As a pair they swung their arms into a blinding flurry stopping abruptly to snatch their weapons lodged in Ragyo's body free, splashed by the red gush painting them when it sprayed from tearing slits.

"Been waitin' all day to see this bitch bleed," Ryuko snarked.

She set her back to Satsuki's, symmetry trained, their blades held behind where their knuckles almost touched.

"I doubt that did it," Satsuki chose to say.

They watched their mother carefully as she twitched like a worm losing most of its worth yet having the will to press on. The color was already lost in her face. Her deadpan eased into the smarmy they were used to. As she opened her mouth her blood gushed from it.

"Such strength," she managed. "Perfect."

It came for Satsuki first yanking her down.

"Satsuki!" Ryuko reached for her.

The blade stabbing her shoulder twisted slightly. Ragyo caught the wrist she meant to swing and held it there. She brought her head into Ryuko's so hard it knocked the warm red in her nostrils free. She took her by the hair so she wouldn't fall, harshly bringing her face close to hers.

"We can always force you to comply. Perhaps you would prefer it that way," Ragyo wiped her finger across the blood touching the top of Ryuko's lip.

She put it in her mouth and sucked.

{Keep your vile hands OFF of her!}

The sudden spikes jutting from Ryuko's armor made Ragyo jump as they pricked. She backed off as Ryuko rained for the hovering mass, flipping to then land on her feet, it trying desperately to take Satsuki. She cut away at tendrils wriggling from her. She pulled her free, losing her balance, springing from her hands to avoid Ragyo's falling slash. Satsuki's chest heaved up and down for the wind lost, her half of the scissor supporting her weight as she could take a knee. Try as it did where they sat melted from the armor giving off a flare that surprised her. She could see Ryuko's, its much brighter shine, and how she paid it no mind. Ragyo went for the obvious choice. Before Satsuki could speak both of Ragyo's blades were driven through her stomach.

"AHHN ...!" she screamed before she couldn't muster the air to finish it.

"STOP!" Ryuko hollered perturbed more when Junketsu failed.

Ragyo smiled to spite her kicking Satsuki from her weapons and watching her fly off. Pieces of her armor fell from her skin growing smaller as the drop went unchecked. She felt her body give, losing sight of the Primordial Life Fiber, Ryuko's gaping shock, and Ragyo's amusement.

x.x.x

Kuririn didn't have to try to kick the hinges from a door apart. He didn't rush to step through it as it clanked against harder steel. Mako at his back she aimed her pistol left, then right, all of focused.

"She has to be here. Ryuko's mom is, like, super creepy! Her favorite pet is always somewhere nearby," she said.

Kuririn scrutinized a lab he thought abandoned. It continued without human hands to keep it. Which meant it was just loud enough to keep them distracted.

"I know you're here," he said over the clamor. "Let's just, talk about this."

*... Talk? To filth? My mistress would never talk to you useless creatures!*

"Okay," Kuririn sighed.

He raised his guard minding his steps as the one over an intercom berated him. He saw it coming and pushed Mako aside. Arms stabbed through the dark, caught in his hands letting him know they were synthetic. First two, then three, then four, then more than he cared to count. His training served him well as he pushed his head over or around working in tandem with his limbs to ward them off. He arched his handspring vaulting into a twirl between razor sharp ovals hoping to saw him in half. Before his feet hit the floor he tossed one ball of heat, then another, touching down into balanced footing. He heard one end of the lab burn too quickly, the shriek of metal forced to melt. It provided the light he needed. His target remained behind shielding he guessed was unbreakable. The dashboard in front of her offered choice.

*Just die already!*

Rigid arms brightened translucent cables to let off flame at a missing target. They went for Mako, whom vanished. She reappeared behind Kuririn blocking the next claw arcing after him. He caught it and pulled taking some of the wall it was attached to with him. Rei's jaw dropped a mile as he suddenly suspended himself just ahead of the barrier she thought would work. His index joined his pointers to stop at the sides of his eyes.

"Look away Mako!" he yelled in a hurry.

Mako reached for a helmet, fumbling it in her hands, but pushing her face as deep as she could into it as she sat on her knees.

"... Taiyōkennnn!" he cried no longer soft spoken.

Rei's eyes opened as far as they could behind her shades. Both lenses cracked, rent to pieces. Her vision watered as every muscle in her face froze.

"AHNNNHHNNH!" she screamed for the heightening pain that followed.

The chamber glass shattered against her frantically wiping at her face as she rolled around on the floor dirtying her pantsuit and pumps. Kuririn touched down inside it, crouching to check on her. As he cradled her in his arms he could see the damage; the smoke wafting from pretty eyes she could no longer open. She was breathing. Just barely.

"Sorry about that," he muttered regretfully.

Mako stood next to him, as unsettled by the smell of burnt skin, some of it no longer smooth. The white of Rei's hair frizzed black. Kuririn stood making sure to keep her still.

"Climb on, Mako," he said and she knew to.

"You all right, Kuririn?" she asked, less chipper, attentive to the side of his face.

"... Not really," he was honest.

They said nothing else as he took them from the newly dark. Its machinery continued, unaided, catching fire from the steady stream of sparks shooting out.