Chapter Thirty Eight: The Fall of Muscle Tower

Bulma sped up the stairs, looking for her friends. After a bit of wandering she had managed to find a way out, and even now was scaling up it. Such was her haste that she passed by the hole in the wall around the same point that Kakarot and the others were falling through it. Speeding her way up the rest of the steps, she found a door and opened it before entering into the room.

There she found a man in a yellow sweater waiting for her. He had white hair, and sideburns and was very bulky. 'So you've finally arrived, have you?' he asked 'Bulma Briefs, I have orders to take you alive. Your friends will make for a tasty snack for my pet, but you the Red Ribbon Army has plans for.'

'Oh yeah!' said Bulma 'Well Kakarot and Yamcha are way stronger than you!'

'Brave words,' said the man 'I am General White, and it will be my pleasure to beat you senseless.' Dragging off his sweater, he revealed that he was wearing a black spandex top that showed off his bulging muscles.

Bulma took a stance, and then White was coming at her. She barely moved aside from his punch, and his next blow caught her in the gut. Bulma staggered back, then swung a kick at him, but he caught it, and flung her by the leg against the console. She landed hard, the wind being knocked out of her, and pulled herself gradually up.

'Ready to give up yet?' asked White.

'I'm ready to kick your butt so hard you'll be seeing triple for a weak, you jerk!' cried Bulma, hauling off her arm bands, and pulling off her training vest. Since her fight with silver, she had made it so that the vest was on the outside of her clothes. 'Lets go!'

She lunged forward and unleashed a flurry of punches which White kept up with easily, before a counterattack nearly caught her in the face. Bulma stooped low and kicked his legs out from under him, sending him crashing to the floor.

As he landed she arose and slammed one foot down on his chest. 'Ready to give up yet, pal?' she asked.

'I see how you handled Silver so easily.' White said with a grin. 'However…' He removed a gun from his belt and shot her in the leg. Agony shot through her as she screamed, falling back to land with a crash on the ground. Pulling herself away, she grabbed her leg, tears coming to her eyes as she whimpered. The pain was horrible.

White stood up, gun trailed on her. 'Well looks like the poor little girl broke a nail.' Pressing a button on the console he opened a channel. 'Soldiers, get in here. We have a prisoner in need of our hospitality.'

Bulma tried to stand, but the pain was too great.

Soldiers rushed into the room, guns readied and grabbed her by the arms as one brought out a medical kit. He stooped low. 'Sir, there doesn't appear to be a bullet hole. Just a really horrible bruise.'

'Well treat that, then.' said White 'But first show her to her new home.'

'Kakarot will make you pay for this…' said Bulma through the pain as she blinked away tears.

Her words fell on deaf ears.

They all landed with a crash. All save Kakarot, who landed easily on his hands and feet at a crouch. At that moment Eighter landed on top of Kakarot, who was slammed against the floor had. Eighter swiftly got off him.

'Oh no,' cried the Android 'he's crushed!'

'Don't worry,' said Launch 'Kakarot is a lot tougher than he seems.'

Kakarot arose, clutching his head painfully as they looked around. Eighter breathed in in shock. 'The fifth floor…'

'Hey Kakarot,' said Yamcha 'why didn't you tell us we were standing on the trap door you fell through?'

'Hey I got shot in the head with some kind of miniature anti tank gun!' snapped Kakarot 'You'll forgive me if the location of the trap door I fell through while unconscious eluded me!'

'Thats fair,' said Puar. 'but how are we going to get out of here.'

'This is the fifth level.' pronounced Eighter.

'Excellent,' said Kakarot 'lets just walk out through the hole I blew in the wall before.'

There was a long silence as everyone contemplated that.

'Well that was anticlimactic.' said Yamcha 'Kind of refreshing to solve something with no problem for once.'

'Refreshing?' asked Kakarot 'We've been doing that since the World Martial Arts Tournament.' He walked towards the hole. 'Now lets go before-'

Quite abruptly a white wall was slammed up against the gap, and the sound of power tools echoed. Kakarot waited a moment, then sighed. 'Kamehameha.'

His wave was thrust against the wall and it shuddered for a moment, before the wave was spent. It was burned away, and the others came up behind him, as they all looked at it.

'Huh,' said Yamcha 'I guess it kamehameha proof.'

'No its not,' said Kakarot 'we just need to put more power into it. Yamcha, have you learned the kamehameha wave yet?'

'Yeah,' said Yamcha 'I mean I'm not an expert, but I think I can do it.'

'Right,' said Kakarot 'Launch, Yamcha, kamehameha. Eighter, you stand there and look terrified.'

'Um… isn't this something my blonde self should be doing?' asked Blue Launch.

'You went through the same training she did.' said Kakarot 'So, no. You are just as qualified.'

'Okay…' said Launch, and they all took stances.

'Kaaa…' They cupped their hands.

'Meee…' They gathered their energy.

'Haaa…' A blue light appeared within their grasp.

'Meee…' The light grew.

'HAAA…' The light was unleashed.

The wall was blown apart, and the wave continued on to smash into the far wall. It burned through that, breaking through masonry and mortar before finally going out the other side. They stared out through to the outside, where darkness had begun to gather. A chill breeze blew in, sending their trench coats flowing around them. Well sending Launch and Yamcha's trench coats flowing around them.

'That was kind of overkill.' reflected Kakarot after a moment.

'The place is gonna blow in two hours anyway.' muttered Yamcha. 'Lets just get moving.'

They all left the room and began making their way up the stairs. By this point White had just shot Bulma in the leg.

Once Bulma Briefs had been safely locked away, General White walked to the edge of the trap door he had opened. He had given the order that the hole be patched, and to his satisfaction it had been reported done just in time. The material that had been used to patch the wall had proven able to block the kids strange abilities. So they weren't going anywhere.

He laughed evilly. 'Glad you could drop by, now listen carefully fools…' He halted as he realized that no one was down there.

Someone tapped him on the shoulder, and he turned around. His eyes became as large as saucepans by what he saw.

'Hi.' said Yamcha.

And then General White saw only Yamcha's fist, and was sent crashing against the far window. He bounced off and landed on his hands and knees, wiping blood from his mouth. 'You… your cheating!' he roared at last.

'You started it.' said Kakarot.

'No I did not!' cried White 'I set up an elaborate series of death traps for would be heroes to enjoy as they made a futile attempt to rescue their chief! Your supposed to rush in blindly, and fall into every snare and trap! Not circumvent the adventure I've prepared out of spite! Thats what all the other would be heroes did!'

'Yeah,' said Yamcha 'right before they were reduced to a pile of bones.'

'Come to think of it,' said Kakarot 'Murasaki said that no one had ever gotten past Major Metallatron. So how can there be any bones down there?'

'Well some of them are lifestock which I feed my pet.' said White as he stood. 'As for the human ones, Major Metallatron is a recent addition to our little obstacle course. Once he was added in, nobody made it to Buyon.'

'Wait, who or what is Buyon?' asked Yamcha.

'Oh nothing,' said White 'just my ace in the hole. My ultimately powerful monster which would have reduced you to a tiny pile of chicken bones if you'd only had the guts to fight it.'

'Sounds scary.' said Puar.

'It was!' snapped White.

'Hmm,' said Kakarot 'you know if I'd known there was a monster while I was back down in the pit, I'd probably have stuck around to fight it.'

'Kakarot,' said Yamcha 'don't tell me your actually buying into this?'

'Of course not!' snapped Kakarot 'What kind of brain dead pointy haired moron would give up a perfect chance for victory just to fight a strong opponent. I'm not and idiot Yamcha.'

'Yeah,' laughed Yamcha 'it would be kind of uncharacteristically stupid of you.'

'Agreed,' said Kakarot 'now lets kill this guy.'

'No Kakarot,' said Eighter 'there is no need for that.'

'Alright, fine,' said Kakarot in resignation. 'General White, I am giving you a chance to surrender. Failure to comply will result in your immediate and unceremonious termination. Give me the village chief.'

'You didn't say please.' said White mockingly.

Kakarot narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth before advancing on White, thoughts of murder coursing through his mind. White took several steps back, obviously intimidated. 'Please,' said Kakarot 'give me back the village chief before I tear out your insides and use them to decorate the dish on top of this tower!'

White reached the back of the wall, trembling.

Kami implored White to see reason, to surrender and go into hiding. He played upon his conscience, he called upon his sense of self preservation. He mustered his sense of goodwill.

He told White to stay to course, to seek a way of victory, and go through with his plans. He called upon his contempt, and reminded him that General Red did not tolerate failure. Lastly he mustered his anger at the defeats so far.

White made his decision.

'Not if you got on your knees and begged!' cried White.

'Wrong answer,' said Kakarot, 'now prepare to die!'

'Violence isn't the answer!' cried Eighter as he suddenly took a place before them. 'We must talk through our problems. We are men, not monsters.'

'Shut up.' said White, before grabbing his sweater from the desk and hurling it onto Eighters face. The Android groaned and stepped back several paces, before falling down to land with a crash.

Kakarot found himself suddenly feeling once more as he had after he'd hit his head, and his bloodlust fell from his mind as he kneeled by Eighter. 'Are you okay?'

'Heh,' said White 'weak simpleton.'

'Can you hear me Eighter?' asked Kakarot.

'Mmmhmm,' said Eighter. 'please don't fight.'

'Its okay,' said Kakarot 'it'll be alright. People like him can't be reasoned with.' His voice hardened. 'Sometimes you just have to put the animals down.' He stood up and approached White, standing before him.

White unleashed a flurry of punches, but Kakarot dodged them effortlessly, before tapping one foot against the mans leg. White clutched it, jumping up and down painfully as Kakarot watched. Eighter arose and looked on in concern.

'Problem?' asked Kakarot.

'You think thats funny?!' snapped White.

'Its hilarious.' said Kakarot.

'Look!' cried White, pointing away.

Kakarot rolled his eyes. 'Oh please, as if I'd fall for such a simple-'

While he wasn't looking at White, the General punched him in the face. Surprisingly, it hurt. A little, sort of like a bee sting, except not really as significant.

'Take that.' said White in satisfaction.

Kakarot looked up and smiled at him. 'My turn.' Then he punched him lightly.

White was sent flying to crash against the ceiling, before falling onto the table and then back to land with a crash on the ground. As he lay senseless, Eighter looked on in concern.

'Now, would you like to reconsider your previous refusal?' asked Kakarot, examining his knuckles. 'Or do I have to punt you around a little more.' White arose, looking terrified, and Kakarot looked to Eighter, wondering if the Android had something to say.

Then White leaped at him from behind. Kakarot glanced back, and then felt pain! He could hardly think, an unbearable weariness fell over him. White had grabbed his tail, and his whole body stiffened. He was unable to move. Unable to act, Kakarot was lifted off the ground by White.

'I have caught the little lamb, by its little tail.'

'Show mercy, please.' said Eighter.

'Stop talking!' cried White. 'I would worry about your own fate if I were you!'

'Kakarot…' said Eighter.

White spun him round in circles repeatedly by his tail, and the pain was horrible.

'Let him go, General!' cried Eighter 'Let him go!'before hurling him against the wall. It hurt a little and he landed with a crash as feeling began to return to his body. Eighter loomed over him in concern. 'Kakarot, Kakarot say something!'

'Heh,' said White 'I really love kids. They break so easily.'

'I feel kind of sorry for White.' said Puar 'I mean Kakarot hasn't been taking this seriously until now.'

'He is not going to be happy when he gets up.' reflected Yamcha, arms crossed.

'What is this, a spectator sport?!' cried White 'Shut up and wait your turn.'

Kakarot got up, slowly and deliberately and there was something terrible in his eyes. Eighter stared down at him.

'Don't get up,' cried Eighter 'please stay down-'

'Silence.' hissed Kakarot. 'We've been doing things your way for long enough.' A darkness seemed to cloud over his heart. Suddenly his friends seemed very distant, the innocence and purity which had driven him to hold back were gone now.

He was going to kill General White. And the General must have realized it if his expression was any indication.

'No Kakarot,' cried Eighter 'don't kill him!'

Kakarot surged forward and punched the fool in the gut as hard as he possibly could without killing him. He didn't just want him dead, he wanted him to suffer. He struck him across the face repeatedly, kicked him in the chest and sent him crashing against the control panel.

'You know,' said Kakarot as he moved forward. 'any fool can beat someone to death. But to beat a man within a hairs breath of his life? That takes true skill. I think I'll practice on you.' He raised a hand to begin, yet Eighter caught him by the hand. Kakarot looked up, feeling as if he had been submerged in deep water and only just been pulled onto dry land.

'You've won,' said Eighter 'its over.'

'Not yet its not.' snapped Kakarot 'I want this bastard dead.' He turned his gaze on him. 'Look at this fool, remember the bones in that room we saw. How people have died because of him, Eighter? How many more will die if we let him go.'

'Maybe,' said Eighter 'but if you give into your anger, you'll be no different than he is.' Kakarot paused, and looked at Eighter whose gaze was terrified. 'Kakarot, you are better than that.'

Kakarot lowered his gaze, feeling… was this shame? 'Fine, he probably isn't all that much of a threat anymore without his minions. Lets be honest, even if by some miracle he'd incapacitated me, Yamcha would take him out in seconds.' He glanced to White. 'You aren't worth the blood on my fist.' He paused. 'Oh by the way Eighter, you are a good person.'

White in the meantime began to crawl away. However as he did so, Yamcha stepped in front of him. White halted and looked up fearfully as a sword blade was put to his throat. 'Please…' he said.

'Bring us to the village chief.' said Yamcha.

White arose. 'Of course. I accept defeat. I will release the village chief.'

'Finally,' said Kakarot 'do you have any idea how much pain and time you could have saved yourself if you'd just cooperated from the start.'

'Follow me.' said White, leading them to a door.

'Oh this is wonderful,' said Launch 'I'm sure the village chief will be overjoyed to leave this place and go home.'

'I just hope the bomb doesn't go off.' reflected Puar 'Hey, where is Bulma?'

'Erm…' began White 'we captured her while you were in the pit. She is in the same cell.' He pressed a button, and the door slid open to reveal an old man listening at the door. On the far wall, Bulma was leaning near the window and tapping her foot.

'Told you so.' said Bulma 'What took you guys so long?'

'Somebody wanted me to not just murder White.' said Kakarot 'Did you get beat up by this guy?'

'Hey give me a break!' snapped Bulma 'I'm not bullet proof like you!'

'He shot you!' said Yamcha.

'Yeah,' said Bulma, raising one pant leg to show her bandage. 'its fine I can still walk.'

'Get out both of you.' said White 'You are free to go.'

'We're free?' cried the village chief. 'To leave?! Really?!' He looked around, as if scarcely able to believe it. He moved forward. 'Are you the ones responsible for this?'

'Yes,' said Kakarot 'we are a band of warriors who right wrongs, and slay evildoers. For now at least, its kind of a transition phase. We're her on behalf of the maiden Suno to rescue you. The guy in the trench coat is Yamcha, the blue haired girl is launch, you already know Bulma, and the little cat is Puar.'

'You came to rescue me?' said the village chief. 'You mean I can finally leave this crazy place?!'

'Yes.' said Kakarot.

Bulma walked past the chief and kissed Yamcha on the lips. 'My hero…'

'Well… I couldn't just leave you,' said Yamcha, blushing.

'Oh come on!' said Kakarot 'I'm the one who fought White! And we didn't even know you were imprisoned until after we'd beaten white. This does not qualify as a rescue romance!'

'I'm going home!' cried the village chief, grabbing Kakarot's hands. 'I'm really going home!'

'Unhand me.' said Kakarot in deadpan.

'So… you children defeated the General all by yourselves.'

'Yeah,' said Kakarot 'its pretty average work for us, actually.' He motioned to Eighter. 'This is eighter, he helped me save you too.'

Eighter grinned and flashed a victory sign.

The village chief's eyes widened in horror for a moment before he flashed a victory sign back to him. 'Th-thank you…' he said.

'You need not concern yourself with the Red Ribbon Army.' continued Kakarot 'We pretty much cruised through everything this guy had. Though I think he was actually the easiest fight we ran into. Well, not counting the guys with guns.'

'Thank you.' said the village chief.

'Well,' said Kakarot 'I suppose we ought to get underway before the bomb goes off.'

'Bomb?' asked the chief, blinking.

'Tick, tock, tick, tock…' said Kakarot meaningfully.

'Right,' said the chief quickly. 'let me just get my cocoa, I mean my coat.' He walked off.

'Finally,' said Eighter as the village chief returned. 'we can laugh again.'

At that moment White drew out the gun he had shot Kakarot with and put it to the elders head, gripping him with one arm. 'Don't anyone move a single muscle! Or the old man gets it!'

'Now can we kill him?' asked Kakarot.

'Be my guest.' said Yamcha.

'Go nuts, kid.' said Bulma.

'He deserves it.' said Puar.

'Well you did give him every chance to back out.' reflected Blue Launch.

'Go right ahead,' said White 'and as soon as you lunge at me, my trigger finger will blow this senile old fools brains out. Now this is whats going to happen, we are going to leave nice and slow. Don't try to follow.'

'Let me go!' cried the village chief.

White moved on past the cell door, still clutching the gun as Kakarot watched, unimpressed. 'Don't try anything heroic and he'll be just fine. His life in in your hands.'

'You are only making your inevitable beating all the worse.' said Kakarot.

'Please… general…' said Eighter.

White laughed to himself repeatedly as he backed toward the window. 'Watch me leave, or watch him die. Its your choice.' And he continued laughing. 'So whats it going to be, loser boy? You do understand what dead means, right? Take one more step, and its curtains for granpa.'

'Kill him!' cried the village chief. 'Kill him! Tear him apart! Tear him apart limb from limb!'

There was a long silence as Kakarot blinked, impressed and White looked afraid.

'Do it now boy!' cried the village chief. 'Rip out his still beating heart and grind his bones into dust! Think about the village! Don't worry about me, I'm not afraid to die!'

'Okay.' said Kakarot, before cupping his hands together.

'This isn't a joke!' cried White 'I'll open up his face with bullets!'

'Of course you will,' said Kakarot 'but I respect his desire to free his village, even at the cost of his own life.'

'No need to be hasty,' said the village chief 'lets explore out options.'

'Sorry old man,' said Kakarot, a shark like smile coming to his face. 'no take backs. Even though your courage has momentarily failed you, I will do what you know to be necessary to free your village. Your making a noble sacrifice. Kaa…'

'Wait a minute!' said White 'The old man doesn't want to die! You said you'd respect his wish!'

'mee…'

'Kakarot don't!' cried Yamcha.

'Don't do it!' cried Eighter.

'haa…'

'Kakarot,' said Blue Launch 'I think you should calm down.'

'I don't wanna die!' cried the village chief.

'mee…'

'Kakarot, if you kill the old man we will have spent like, a day in this stupid tower for nothing.' said Bulma with closed eyes of resignation.

That got Kakarot's attention. He seemed to ponder the matter for a moment. 'Eh, I think I still want to kill General White. Now where was I?'

'I think you were on kaa.' said Puar.

'But I thought he was on me.' said Blue Launch.

'I'll get on you later.' said Kakarot. 'I'll just start over.'

'Please General,' said Eighter 'spare him! Save both your lives.!'

'Spare me!' cried General White 'I give you a place in this army, and now I find out my destroyers a daisy! Your pleas of compassion make me sick!'

'Kaa…'

'White,' said Puar 'I really don't think Kakarots bluffing.'

'You do gooder types are all alike!' snapped White 'He'd never come all this way just to kill the one he came to save!'

'mee…'

'You really should quit while your behind, White.' said Bulma.

'Never!' cried White, before turning to Eighter. 'You are a traitor, and you will pay for your betrayal soon enough.' Then he smiled. 'Actually, there is another way. If you join my side, I promise to set the old man free.'

'Really?' asked Eighter, expression changing to childlike delight. 'You would do that?'

'haa…'

'Yes,' said White 'all you have to do is kill the boy.'

Eighter stared in horror.

'mee…'

'Kakarot,' said Bulma, kneeling down by him and wrapping her arms round him. 'that pose makes you look absolutely sexy.'

Kakarot halted in place, a blush coming to his face, before Bulma arose and walked away. 'Great, now I have to start again! Kaa…'

'I know its difficult,' said White 'so I will give you a chance. One of these two will die tonight. Will it be the boy, or will it be the old man.'

'mee…'

'Thats real classy Bulma.' said Yamcha.

'Oh come on!' said Bulma 'He was about to kill the chief!'

'I personally am not complaining!' cried the chief.

'Please, don't make me do this.' said Eighter, turning from Kakarot to White repeatedly.

'haa…'

'You could have tried tackling him, or say, not cheating on me while I'm not in the same room!'

'You could have tackled him! At least I did something!' snapped Bulma.

'He's twelve years old.' said Puar.

'I'm giving you a chance to redeem yourself!' said White 'Now do as your told and be silent!'

'mee…'

'Well he doesn't act like a twelve year old at all!' snapped Bulma 'Honestly white kind of twelve year old goes around trying to create a harem!'

'Apparently the kind your into!' snapped Yamcha.

Eighter stepped back in horror. 'No, this… this isn't fair!'

'Hang on, are you guys breaking up?' asked Kakarot suddenly.

'We're considering it.' snapped Yamcha.

'Wow,' said Kakarot 'threatening hostages really does help with ones love life.'

'I don't think thats a very family friendly aesop for this episode.' said Blue Launch.

'Can we focus?!' snapped Bulma.

Eighter clutched his head and fell to his knees.

Eighter had been programmed to destroy. He had been programmed to enjoy violence. He had been programmed to be everything that General White had wanted him to be. And yet one day, when he had looked in a reflective surface and thought: Thats me. Everything changed.

Suddenly he could choose to deny his programming, and as he observed events play out before him, unheeded, he had been left to make his own judgements. He did not want to kill. He didn't want anyone to end up killing anyone else. But General White was leaving no alternatives.

If he did not kill Kakarot, the old man would die. If he obeyed General White, Kakarot would die. If he attacked Kakarot, and was defeated or threw the fight, Kakarot would kill both General White and the village elder.

This wasn't fair. No one should have had to make this kind of choice:

'It is true,' said a voice 'that life is rarely fair. You cannot make choices for others only for yourself.'

'But… but…' Eighter thought. 'no matter what choice I make, someone will die.'

'Death is not the end. And that is by no means certain. However you must make a choice here, Eighter. And that choice may determine the lives of many. You know what General White means to do once he gets the dragonball.'

'I know what I must do, but… but I don't want anyone to get hurt. Even General White.'

'We are past the point where that is a probable outcome. All you can do at this stage, is act as you know is right. I've tried to reach White, just as you have tried. He has hardened his heart against all mercy, all good. He does not embrace wickedness, but neither does he care the effect his actions have on others.

He must be stopped.'

Then he heard their voices.

'Eighter, are you alright?' asked Kakarot.

'Eight,' snapped White 'you know I'm not a patient man! Choose now or I will kill them both!'

Eighter arose, more afraid than he ever had been in his life, but resolved. 'I will not help you.' said Eighter 'Let the old man go. Think of your soul. And look at these people. If you kill the old man, they will kill you. If you let him go, I promise you, we won't hurt you.'

General White remained silent for a long long time. Suddenly the elder bit his hand, and White recoiled. The elder was free, and running from him! White raised his gun and fired!

Yamcha leaped in the way, and was hit in the forehead, sent reeling back to land with a crash.

'You bastard!' roared Kakarot before surging forward.

White turned his gun and fired again, and Kakarot hit the ground and lay still.

'Stupid little brats!' said White in triumph. 'Their far too soft hearted!'

A rage suddenly came over Eighter, a rage like nothing he had ever felt. His anger was all consuming as he advanced upon White. A low growl emanated from his mouth as he cast a shadow over the General, who flinched back. Finally White threw aside the village chief and pointed his gun at Eighter.

'You want me?!' he cried 'Well come and get me! Come on, I'm not scared of you you stupid freak!' Yet his expression as Eighter came closer told a different story.

'Your not going to cause any more pain, General!' snarled Eighter.

'Stop!' cried White 'You get away from me! Don't touch me, stay back!' He pulled the trigger, but his gun clicked empty.

'Its your turn to suffer!' roared Eighter 'And this ones for Kakarot and Yamcha!' He swung his fist and punched the General.

General White went flying. He smashed straight through the bullet proof glass, and stonework, leaving a human shaped hole behind him as he flew away into the distance. As he did so the sun rose high over the mountains, and the welcome light of day came over them.

Eighter turned around and rushed over to Kakarot, who was being held by the village chief. 'Kakarot, Kakarot please don't leave me!'

'Come on boy,' said the village chief. 'try and snap out of it.'

'Don't worry,' said Bulma 'White shot me in the leg, and it only gave me a bit of a bruise. Yamcha and Kakarot are way tougher than I am.'

'Oh man!' said Blonde Launch 'This is one of those archaic armor piercing guns! They took it off the market because it was deemed too inhumane! I've wanted one of these for years!' She spun it round and sheathed it.

'I'm fine,' said Kakarot 'I'm just a little tired.'

'Your alive!' cried Eighter.

'Are you okay Yamcha?' asked Kakarot.

'Ow…' whined Yamcha 'I feel like I just got hit with my own wolf fang fist.'

'Yeah, well your the one who broke up with me, so don't expect sympathy!' snapped Bulma.

'No…' said Kakarot 'your wolf fang has about twice as much power. I mean assuming that it scaled with your previous levels of it. Because it hurt way worse than this. Hey, Eighter, are you alright?'

'I'm fine, Kakarot.' said Eighter 'I'm an Android. I can't be hurt.'

'Good.' said Kakarot 'I bet General White wishes he could say the same thing.'

Then, as they realized it was well and truly over, they all began to laugh. The laughter started weak, but grew stronger and stronger, until they were all in hysterics.

When the laughter ended, Kakarot spoke. 'Eighter, whats an android?'

'Its a robot that looks human,' said Eighter 'but inside its still a machine.'

'So we're human,' reflected Kakarot 'and your an android. I think I get it, but really its all the same to me. Your just Eighter.'

'Thats the nicest thing anyones ever said to me.' said Eighter.

Suddenly there was a beeping and Bulma looked to her watch. 'Uh… guys…'

'What is it Bulma?'

'We've got one minute and thirty seconds before this whole place blows.'

There was absolute silence.

'RUN!' screamed Bulma.

And they ran. They raced down the steps, and through the maze, and through the ninja garden, as little by little the clock ticked down. They knew that with every second they came nearer and nearer to the end, and they ran as fast as they could.

Finally they reached the place where they had fought Metallatron, where the bomb lay. Running up to the elevator, they found a sign on the controls. 'Out of order!' snapped Bulma 'You've gotta be kidding me!'

'Quick, find the stairs!' said Yamcha.

'We've only got thirty seconds left!' cried Puar from where she was looking at the bomb. 'We'll never make it in time!'

'Oh we're all going to die!' cried the village chief.

'Not on my watch pal!' snapped Launch before racing to the door out and opening it. 'Out onto the battlements, boys and girls!'

'This is your watch, Launch!' roared Bulma as they raced out the door and stood out in the cold. 'Now what?'

'Now we jump!' said Launch.

'Uh…' said the village chief. 'I'm afraid of heights.'

'Five seconds!' cried Bulma.

'Just go!' snapped Yamcha as he grabbed the villlaged chief and made a run for the wall. Everyone else ran with him, and they leaped off the battlements.

Behind them, Muscle Tower exploded into a million pieces, and inferno. The explosion bloomed behind them, as many rocks and debris rushed past their heads. Yet by some miracle they remained untouched, though the fires of Muscle Towers demise singed their clothes as they landed in the snow, and rolled down the hill to land in the drift.

For a moment they just lay there, breathing heavily.

'…I haven't had that much fun in years.' said the village chief.

'Oh shut up,' said Launch 'just shut up!'

The village chief arose, straightening himself out. 'Well, I suppose we should all head back to the village.'

'Can we eat when we get there?' asked Kakarot.

'I don't see why not.' said the chief.

Meanwhile Suno and her mother had been baking to pass the time, wondering when Kakarot and the others would return. Suno opened the oven and drew out the pan of cookies, taking in the scent as they removed it. Then she had a sudden feeling, and making her way over to the window wiped away the mist that had gathered. A smile came to her face.

'There is somebody here!' she cried 'Mom, look!'

Mother came over to the window and wiped it away, before looking through it. As she did so, Suno remembered her Father, and felt his absence more keenly than she had in years. Yet her sadness faded away as she saw that leading the figures approaching them was Kakarot, and with him was the village chief.

Suno and her mother raced to the door and called out to the figures approaching. 'Hello! Hello there!'

'We're here, we made it!' said the Chief, raising a hand. 'Hello!'

'Its the village chief!' cried Suno 'He's safe! Kakarot must have rescued him! My gosh!'

'I don't recognize the big one next to him.' said Mother.

'Its Kakarot,' said Suno 'he's safe!' She ran towards him, and Kakarot ran towards her with equal energy, laughing. As they approached each other. Kakarot grabbed her in his arms and swung her around, before bringing her in close.

'I told you we'd do it.' said Kakarot, and Suno blushed as she returned the embrace. 'Now I plan to add a lot of people to my harem, so you are going to have to share me.'

'Um… okay.' said Suno, not quite comprehending.

'Now lets go eat!' said Kakarot 'I haven't eaten anything for a whole day!'

'Right,' said Suno. 'I'm glad you all made it back. But uh… I think your supposed to limit yourself to one person. When you get married, I mean.'

He smiled roguishly. 'My Master taught me how to overcome my limits. Among other things.'

Suno's heart skipped a beat.

Meanwhile, Mai and her subordinates trudged through the snows wearily, their heavy coats doing little to ease their suffering. They had spent days moving onward, with no hope in sight until finally they reached the site of Muscle Tower. Or at least, where Muscle Tower used to be.

'Major Mai, here...' she said over he come. 'we've reached the location of the dragonballs.'

'Mai, the dragonballs have moved on!' cried Pilaf 'Get moving and find them at the following coordinates!' Mai did not hear the words as she and her subordinates landed in the snow in exhaustion.

Then the wreckage moved. Mai looked up, as suddenly the debris were swept aside as a gigantic pink beast roared skyward. Mai and her soldiers screamed as it lumbered forward, and reached out with on claw. Mai closed her eyes and waited for the end to come. Yet it didn't. Opening them, she backpetaled, seeing a giant claw in front of her face.

Except it was blue. The entire monster had turned blue. Mai got to her feet, and tapped it with her walkie talkie. Then she brought up he radio: 'Emperor Pilaf, there is something you should see.'

Authors Note:

Well this chapter was a lot of fun to write. This roughly concludes the Muscle Tower arc, though there will be something of an epilogue later. I am waiting for the opportunity to make Kakarot's harem plans crash and burn, but one hasn't presented itself yet.

I enjoyed writing the scene where Kakarot is planning to kill White and the village chief as one, simply because it was such a Kakarot thing to do.

…I can't think of anything else to add.

Oh right, I haven't forgotten about Buyon. I just came up with a really good idea on what to do with him.