The guards watched with trepidation as their leader fell backwards before their very eyes, a tiny drip of blood leaving his nose – Goku left standing, teeth bared. The gentle thud of his unconscious form hitting the deck struck their ears like a thunder crack. They stared at the pacification field flashing over Goku's body, his muscles still twitching with agony, and the tiny blinking light on his collar, knowing in that instant that they had just witnessed the impossible.

Goku turned to the nearest guard. It's okay, the guardian rapidly assured himself, No matter whatever trick he just pulled, there's no way he could breach my defenses! In that same instant Goku appeared in front of him, sinking his fist deep into his stomach.

The other guards stared in horror as spit flew from their comrade's mouth, he too toppling over and landing immobilized on the deck. The next one fell from an elbow to the side of the neck.

"What—attack!" cried one desperately. His silence followed as Goku's fist struck the underside of his chin in an uppercut, lifting his body into the air.

Still, the others heeded the cry and went on the attack. Goku's agonized body turned to face them, his whited eyes roaring with the feral battle rage of a mighty Saiyan beast. Everyone that came at him met the same fate. It was like his body worked outside of himself – outside of the pain and the endless convulsions. And as he gritted his teeth and screamed, each and every obstacle toppled before him.

(**Scene Break**)

Sepis's antennae quivered in the stunned silence as he watched that single monitor, all else disappearing in his mind. What he saw in his calculated brain wasn't pure miracle, but simple impossibility. He could tell exactly what Goku was doing. The inhibitor chip in the collars – and any other similar restraints he had developed – served a single purpose on a prisoner. That was to cut off a person's access to their own energy reserves. Theoretically, of course, it had always been a possibility that even after being inhibited, that the person was still capable of manipulating energy as long as it was a source outside themselves.

But using the pacification field in place of his own energy? He supposed it wasn't one-hundred percent impossible. But the improbability was off the charts! The person would have to be an absolute genius at manipulating their own body and energy – far beyond even a master's abilities. And on top of that, they'd have to do it while in a ridiculous amount of pain…and at the same time somehow have the mental aptitude to overcome the muscle convulsions. It was a mathematical nightmare. And yet, all that was happening, right now. Inescapable, evident reality.

There was an awe in Sepis's chest. Not only that, but deep, true love for the person he had named friend. Goku. He and Nevrrest had so many of the same traits he admired. Boldness. Strength. Confidence. Tenacity. Brilliance. How could he not call them friend? For a moment, Sepis completely forgot the math and the situation, just watching with wonder and adoration as the supposedly helpless Goku plowed through the guards.

But this moment of bliss was shattered as Nevrrest's image on another screen lurched helplessly in her tank. Sepis looked at her. He looked at Goku, the screen catching a brief glimpse of his whitened eyes and battle rage

Sepis blinked and his pupils slowly shrank to dots. The silence fell again. And then a sound came that he at first didn't recognize. It rose from the depths, shooting up in volume and icy terror every second. By the time he flung himself up out of his chair, he realized it was his own scream. Sepis shrieked even louder, clutching his head in both hands as he stared at the image of Goku, rattling in his exoskeleton.

"He…he's going to kill me…!" he squeaked, barely breathing, "He's coming for me! I'm going to be murdered by my own friend for what I've done!" He clutched his face as oil leaked across his body, feeling his senses reel as he grew dizzy with fright. "I don't want to die! I'm too afraid to die!" He gripped the side of the console and about fell over when he saw the red blips heading in Goku's direction. He stared at it for a moment before glancing at Nevrrest's image again, which had grown calm and serious. A wave of calm passed over him as well, like her hand touching his shoulder. "Oh. But of course. Of course she's still protecting me."

He sat back down, folded his trembling hands, and watched.

(**Scene Break**)

Goku's war-cries echoed off the passage walls as he slammed his fist deep into the face of another guard. Though more came at him, he was barely aware of them. Instinct had taken over, the roaring, primal beast within guiding his every movement. His merciless strikes brought his enemies lower with every second, throwing out a hand and sending the energy of the field blasting against a guard's chest. Armor split and sprays of blood flew till all that remained were the fallen, unconscious or too injured to move. The beast still roaring, Goku dropped to all fours and screamed with all his might till his fingers split the floor panels and the pacification field loop finally gave out.

Goku collapsed, letting his head rest on the cold floor. "…Wow…" he groaned after a moment, "That really did a number on my body." He pushed his arms under him, shaking with the strain. "Can't stop now…gotta…keep moving forward."

He got himself up on a knee, but paused as he heard something echoing from above him. Slow, deliberate clapping. Goku craned his head. The ceiling sloped upward ahead of him and there he could see the figure of a man. He was posed floating in the air with his back to the wall, one knee braced upward and head bowed slightly. The clapping was muffled by the black gloves he wore and the mostly burnt cigarette pinched between his fingers in his left hand.

"Bravo. Well done," the man smiled, "I gotta hand it to you. That was one of the most impressive displays of sheer fighting genius I've ever seen."

Goku looked up at the man suspiciously, standing up. "Thanks for the compliment. Can I ask who's giving it?"

The man smiled. "Sure you can." He lifted off the wall and floated down.

Goku watched him descend, taking in whatever details he could about the man. If he was a warrior, he sure had an odd build for it. His body was thin and lanky with large hands and feet, almost like a cartoon character Gohan might have watched when he was little. His eyes were bright golden and so was his hair, which was stiff and formed a single, solid shape that curled about his ears like ram's horns. But the most important detail he caught as the man landed – a black uniform marked by three red stripes and a star.

"Ah!" Goku started, "You're a marshal!" His fist tightened. "Does that mean you work for Nevrrest?"

"Come on, give a guy a break," the strange man smiled, gesturing with his nearly burnt out cigarette, "I haven't even answered your first question yet."

Goku straightened. "Alright. Let's hear it."

"Don't be so uptight," the man chuckled, "Honestly, you should be relieved. Today's your lucky day. You've run into the one person in this whole fleet who's actually happy to see a saiyan." He dropped the cigarette on the ground, crushing it to a fine powder under his boot. "Name's Nada. And you're Kakarot, right?"

"That's my saiyan name, yeah," Goku answered after a pause.

Nada spread out his fingers before him in a shrug. "Good to hear. Goku's just too weird for me. Makes you sound like a duffer."

"Sorry, but I can't really talk," Goku stated, no longer in the mood to be pleasant, "So if it's all the same to you, I have to be going now."

"Jeez, now you're not letting me answer your second question," Nada complained, "Where are you in such a hurry off to anyways?"

"If you do work for Nevrrest, you probably know that already."

"Really?" he asked curiously, putting his fists to his hips and leaning forward, "I guess my lady must be leaving me out of the loop on something cause I haven't the slightest idea. The obvious assumption would be that you're trying to escape. But somehow, I don't get that vibe from you."

Goku's brow hardened. "So you do work for Nevrrest."

He shrugged. "You say that like it's some kind of revelation. This is her fleet, of course I work for Nevrrest." He fished out a fresh cigarette and tapped the tip to this palm, lighting it with the heat of his energy. The end flared bright orange as he put it to his lips. "So, Kakarot. Tell me something."

Goku's expression sank further with disapproval. "I already told you, I don't have time to talk. So if we're going to do this, I'd rather just get on with it." His fist tightened at his side.

Nada's golden eyes lit with joy. "Amazing. You've got nothing left and you still want to fight. I love that. There are so few true warrior races left in the universe."

Goku couldn't help but pause at that. "What do you mean?"

"Judging by your age, you wouldn't remember. You were probably just a baby when your planet was destroyed." Nada thumbed his chest, grinning at Goku over his cigarette. "See, I'm a cypher. Like the Saiyans, we are a true warrior race. There's nothing more we love than fighting. You Saiyans became our rivals after that King Vegeta took the throne." Nada's grin grew. "I haven't seen a saiyan since I was a little boy. You don't know how much we've missed you."

"I see," Goku answered, "So I take it then you're here for a fight?"

Nada's expression actually saddened slightly, smoke drifting from his nostrils. "I wish. Getting to fight the guy that took down Frieza would be like heaven on terra for me." He snorted. "But you're in no condition for a fight."

Goku paused for a moment. And then he got a wily look, smiling seriously. "I don't know. To answer your earlier question, I'm looking to get this collar removed. If you let me by for now, I promise I'll come back and fight you."

Nada stared at him, blushed slightly, and then bowed his head, pinching the bridge of his nose and groaning. "Damn. Now that's tempting. But sorry, I can't do that." He held up a finger at a time. "One, I'd be disobeying orders. Two, I'd lose for sure." He chuckled helplessly. "I might be exceptionally strong for my kind. But I'm no Frieza. And I'm certainly not the guy who beat him." He smiled. "Still. Any other situation. You bet I'd take you up on that."

Goku's shoulder slumped slightly. He had really hoped that would work. He had to admit, he was just about out of ideas. Sure, he'd taken out the guards, but that had sapped the last of what little strength he had. His body was sore and weak and he had a feeling this guy was plenty strong. Maybe if he could start up the pacification field again he'd be able to fight. But he wasn't convinced he'd be able to win.

Nada rubbed at one of his horn-like splits of hair. "But you got a point. As much as I want to talk to you, I can't waste time just talking." He held up a hand. "Best get the job done and talk at the same time." He snapped his fingers in Goku's direction.

Goku cried out as he suddenly rocketed off the ground, a burst of energy exploding the air around him, tearing his prison uniform. The air smoked as he hit the deck. What was that? Goku thought, I didn't even see any energy come out of him! Before he could think on it further, Nada snapped his fingers again. His body buckled painfully into the air, another explosion lifting him up before he even hit the ground. The Master Marshal snapped thrice more, each movement conducting a symphony of explosions and pain. Goku crashed against the deck again, finally having enough breath to scream.

Nada landed with both feet in the small of his back, causing Goku to lurch and give out another howl. Nada leaned over him, inspecting him like a janitor might a puddle. "Not enough…" He hopped off him and kicked him in the side, sending him flying. Goku spat blood as he hit the wall and fell flat again. Nada walked casually towards him and stood over him. "Can you still talk?" Goku looked up at him, lips bloodied, eyes intense with frustration. Nada stooped down by him. "So I have to know," he said, eyes wide and excited like a child, "What was it like to kill Frieza? It's a crime no one was there to record the battle. It must have been the greatest sight…"

Damn it! Goku thought, clenching his fists against the floor, What do I do now?! Every time I overcome an obstacle, a new one comes to take its place! I'm running out of time…

"Hey now, come on," Nada complained, poking him in the temple with one of his disproportionally large fingers, "You gotta give me something. How about this? I'll go a little easier on you if you do. It's not like I enjoy attacking someone who can't fight back. But I can't just take you back to your cell without smarting you a bit." He pulled his cigarette from his teeth and blew out smoke, some of which drifted in Goku's face, making him cough. "Especially with all the grief you've been causing Nevrrest."

"Do you know what Nevrrest has been doing to Vegeta?" Goku glared.

Nada blew out more smoke. "Vegeta? Somewhat. You must mean the off-the-book stuff." He cracked a smile. "I mean, it's not like it's the first time the like has been done."

Some veins showed in Goku's eyes. "What?"

"Nothing so extreme as I'm sure she had arranged for him," Nada continued to smoke, "But there's always been hazing. The necessary beating. All that stuff that's part of a little something I call reality."

"You bastard," Goku hissed, pushing himself up on his elbow, "You knew she was doing stuff like that and you just let it happen?!"

"Pfft," Nada snorted a white plume. He stood up. "Let it happen? I'm one of the people that carries it out." He put his oversized foot on Goku and rolled him onto his back. "All the probationary marshals do." Grabbing Goku by the shirt, he lifted him up and began to mechanically punch him in the stomach.

No! Goku thought as he gasped with pain, I can't keep letting my body take damage like this! If this keeps up much longer, I won't even have enough strength left to look for Vegeta!

Nada paused, letting Goku hang in his grip and inspecting his work with disinterest. "Come on, throw me a bone," Nada encouraged with pep, "Give me some of the gritty details about you and Frieza! How long was the battle? How well matched were you with him? How did you finish him off? Really, I'm not asking for much."

There's gotta be something I can do! Come on, Goku, think!

"Hey!" Nada said with annoyance, flicking him hard in the forehead, "Don't you know it's rude to ignore other people when they're talking to you? Don't be so stubborn."

Goku tightened his brow. "Where's Vegeta?"

"With all the other cadavers, I'd imagine," Nada shrugged.

He frowned slightly as Goku grabbed his arm. "Liar!" he accused, "You said you were involved with Nevrrest. What has she really done with him?!"

"I must have hit you harder than I thought," Nada cocked his head, his golden horn-like hair catching the light, "I was never involved with whatever happened to Vegeta. Nevrrest wanted that one all to herself. And he's dead now, everyone knows that."

Goku paused. …He's not lying, he realized. Goku's grip on him tightened. "Listen, Nada. Vegeta's alive. I'm sorry, but I don't have time for you right now! If you don't stop delaying me, I might not make it in time to save him."

"Hey," Nada scolded, flicking him in the forehead again, drawing a darker bruise, "Stop talking nonsense. I don't want to hear about that guy, I want to hear about you and Frieza."

"I don't have time for this, Nada!" Goku shouted.

"Stooooop," he said, flicking him again, this time drawing blood. He blew smoke. "You seriously think you're going to talk me into letting you go?"

"I have to try," Goku seriously replied, a red drip running down his nose past his right eye.

Nada grew an amused, crooked grin, clenching his teeth over the cigarette. "Will you listen to this guy?" He drop kicked him down the hall. "What kind of saiyan are you anyways? I don't remember any of you being so whiny." He paused, surprised as Goku struggled and got to his feet. "You sure about that?" Nada called, putting a hand by his mouth, "I know I broke a rib with that one."

Goku held his side a little, one eye squinted as he breathed heavily and slowly, trying to think. Man. This guy is efficient. He keeps chatting up a storm, yet he hasn't slowed down one bit. I guess there's still one more thing I can try. I just hope my body will have enough to keep going after this. He drew a breath and raised both hands, palms up high into the air.

Nada froze with a little, puzzled frown and then snorted out a huge cloud of smoke, laughing. "Okay, stop. I can't take you seriously when you're doing that…whatever…" He snickered and gestured with his cigarette. "…This is supposed to be."

Damn, Goku squinted, concentrating, There isn't much left to draw from nearby. I already used it all on the last one. I'm just gonna have to try harder!

Nada appeared in front of him and sank his fist into his stomach, spit and blood flying from Goku's mouth. "I'm not one for cheap shots," he said, catching him by the shirt before he flew, "But come on, you were begging for that one." His expression went from cocky to bewildered as Goku staggered in his grip, putting his hands up again.

I gotta reach further! Goku coached himself, Come on, there's gotta be something! His eyes narrowed. This guy's good. And he saw what I did to the guards. He won't fall for that. So…a sneak attack is my only shot!

Nada blinked at him and let go, stepping back as Goku just stood there with his hands in the air. He put his large hand to his chin and tapped his large boot. "…You know," he finally said, "If you're trying to surrender, you're doing it wrong."

"I'm not surrendering," Goku flatly replied.

"No no, hear me out," said Nada, tossing his cigarette butt aside. This time it was Goku's turn to be surprised as Nada got on his knees and put his hands behind his head. "See? This is how they have you do it. Trust me, I've had lots of practice."

Goku actually got distracted from his search for energy, frowning. "Practice? What do you mean?"

Nada stood up. "Come on. You don't know?" He unzipped his jacket and let it slide down to his elbows. Goku's eyes opened wide with shock at the glow coming from Nada's shoulder: 0023. "I told you I was probationary."

Goku's stance loosened slightly. "You're…you're one of the prisoners?"

"Probationary community service in the marshal core," Nada confirmed, "Or, Nevrrest's hunting dogs, as some call us." Goku's eyes drifted down the glowing numbers to the many scars that covered Nada's torso under his black tank top. "Well disciplined dogs."

Goku's eyes flashed with horror, realizing that those scars matched the claw marks that had once been put into his face. "She…!"

"Hmm?" Nada looked down at the scars. "Oh yeah." He closed the jacket, covering the numbers and scars again. "My goddess hates my guts. She hates all us probationaries. She uses us, but she likes to remind us every once in a while that we're still just the blood-drenched hounds of Frieza."

"Your goddess?" said Goku.

"Makes sense, doesn't it?" Nada's chill face darkened a little. "Frieza called himself a lord and emperor. But really, he never acted like one. More like a cruel god who took joy in tormenting us mere mortals. And now another has taken his place on the food chain. Power changes hands, but nothing really changes. Am I right?" He rubbed at his neck, stretching a little. "Besides. At least my goddess is a true warrior. That is something actually worth worshipping."

Goku's teeth clenched, feeling the pit of his chest starting to burn. "Nevrrest," he growled. He tightened his stance once more. Come on! I just need a little energy!

Nada's wristband signaled suddenly and he answered it. "Report."

Wait…I might actually feel something!

"Both of them?!" Nada cried with shock. He put his fingers up into his hair. "Aye-yi-yi! Alright…just focus on Oom'Bagu then. Let them fight it out." He eyed Goku as the saiyan stood with his hands in the air. "I'm about to bring in naughty boy number one."

A tiny speck of blue started for form above Goku's hands. Yes!

Bam! Nada's elbow sank into him from the side, Goku's body completely buckling with the motion. This one didn't just hurt. It sent him rolling so hard that this time when he came to a stop he was in too much pain to move.

Nada's large boots filled his vision, his lanky body stooping next to him. "Yeah, I know. I'm a real buzz-kill."

"Yes, you most certainly are!"

Nada's head jerked. "That energy…!"

A pink beam weaved down the hall and struck Nada right in the small of his back. Nada screamed and flailed as he disappeared clashing and clanging through several passageways, riding the blast out of sight.

Goku stared in shock where Nada had gone. "Geeeh!" he cried, jumping as the hallway shook under the pounding steps of a giant, green monster with a spiked shell. Goku blinked at the thing. "Umm…are you the one that helped me?"

The monster put his fists to his hips. "Do you see anyone else around here? Come on!" He grabbed Goku by the arm and shot with him at super speed down the hall. They hit a security door and the beastly turtle swiped his band over a machine. "Authorizing prisoner transfer!"

"Authorized," chimed the computer.

Goku yelped as he was yanked through the doorway, the creature finally coming to a stop. Goku steadied himself and looked at the creature with cheerful appreciation. "Wow! Thanks so much for saving me back there! I owe you one!"

The creature grunted. "You're very welcome, saiyan."

"But um…I gotta ask," Goku said, scratching a finger against his chin, "Who are you?"

Goku nearly fell over as the beast roared in his face. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHO AM I?!" He put his knuckles to his hips again. "Grr. Brain damaged fool."

"Huh?" Goku blinked as the monster started to twist and shift, shrinking down in size. He blinked again as the transformation completed. "GEEAAH!" he yelped and pointed, "Dr. Tottle?!"

"Gives me a crick in my neck, every time, I swear," Dr. Tottle complained, old and wrinkled as usual.

"But," Goku stared, "How did you—"

"It's my second form, you moron!" Dr. Tottle shook a fist at him, causing Goku to wince back like a puppy, "And we don't have time to chit-chat! The Evisceration Wave is my strongest attack and even that won't faze someone like Nada for long!"

"Right!" Goku stiffened, abruptly putting his serious face back on.

"Wait." Dr. Tottle rapidly sniffed the air. "Is that…?" He sniffed again and then howled unhappily, covering his nose. "Oh gods, that is you! Ugh! Saiyan musk, it's the worst!"

"My what?" Goku stared again.

"Oh defiler's vomit, you were fighting weren't you?!" He pushed him. "No! Don't stand that close to me! Back-back-back! Just follow me at a distance so I can breathe."

"What?"

"Your smell! Just come on so I don't have to smell your wretched battle musk!"

"Do I really smell that bad?" Goku asked, sniffing himself with confusion.

"Hurry up!"

"Geeah!" Goku ran behind Dr. Tottle, the little shell-less turtle holding his nose. "So, where are we going?"

"Where do you think?" Dr. Tottle scowled, "To the infirmary, of course!"

Goku gasped happily. "You mean…you'll help me get this collar off?"

"What, did you think I was just going to leave you as Nevrrest's peanut monkey?" He looked ahead again, still jogging rapidly. "Besides. It just so happened I quite recently became a rogue member of the Justice. So I suppose breaking a man out of maximum security goes with the repertoire now."

"You what?"

Dr. Tottle glanced back again and actually smiled. "I'm rebelling against Nevrrest too, Kakarot."

"What? Really?!"

"Yes of course really!" Dr. Tottle snapped, "I wouldn't joke about something like that." His brow lowered as they hit another security door, waiting while the locks opened. "I wanted to take her head off when I realized how she'd sabotaged the outcome of Vegeta's trial. And I suspect that's not all she's done. Subverting her own system! The very face and named Founder of the Justice! Can you believe that?"

"Well kinda," Goku shyly agreed, "I mean, I knew it all along, it's just nobody believed me."

"Because it's unbelievable," said Dr. Tottle with disgust. They passed through the door. "You know, you're damn lucky curiosity got the better of me. You wouldn't have a prayer of escaping without insider help. Of course, we'll be on the run for the rest of our natural lives, but oh well, such is life." His face turned blue. "Oh gods…I'll be on the run with a saiyan for the rest of my life…now fates, that's just cruel!"

"No wait, it's okay!" Goku protested, holding up his hands, "Cause I'm not gonna escape!"

Dr. Tottle stopped dead in his tracks. "Come again?"

"I know you're probably not going to believe me," Goku said, rubbing uneasily at his prison collar, "But I know Vegeta's still alive."

"Still alive?!" cried Dr. Tottle incredulously. He sighed and turned to him, somewhere between annoyed and sympathetic. "Kakarot. I know you Saiyans might not think a little gas could hurt you, but I assure you it kills just as if not more effectively than an energy blast."

"I know," Goku answered, "Oom'Bagu told me about how prisoners are executed. But my gut tells me that's not what happened."

"It did." He touched his band, doing a search for and bringing up Vegeta's medical record. He showed Goku the read-out of Vegeta's vitals going dark. "Complete cardio and respiratory failure," he stated sadly.

"It's too nice," Goku shook his head, "Nevrrest wouldn't be satisfied with that."

Dr. Tottle suddenly frowned, his eyes shifting slightly. "…You know," he finally said, "As crazy as it sounds…you may have a point." He lowered his wrist. "As I recall…when the execution facilities were being built, Nevrrest was opposed to the chosen form. I know because all us doctors were called upon for reference during its construction. Her remark on the matter was that it was 'far too kind a way for murderers to die'." He glanced at his wristband again. "But the evidence is solid…" He shook his head. "I'm a man who believes in facts, Kakarot."

"Isn't there some way she could have just made it look like Vegeta died?" Goku asked.

"Theoretically…" He paused, frowning. "I suppose that xyetha causes a death-like paralysis in the first place. That's the second gas involved in the process. So I suppose the senses of the witnesses could be tricked. But the computer confirmed it. I don't know if you could trick a computer. But then…it could be possible to create a fake bio read-out. But it would take weeks to build the simulation, plus an enormous background in both computer tech and some strong understanding of biology."

"Well…can't Sepis do all that?"

Dr. Tottle froze.

"I mean," Goku continued, still tugging at his collar with annoyance, "I know it was Sepis who caused whatever that was that happened at your lab."

A death shroud descended over Dr. Tottle's face. "He…what?"

"Well I figure it was him at least," Goku shrugged, "I mean, I know it was Sepis who gave food to Lacor." Goku noticed a ki aura burning around Dr. Tottle. "Are you alright?"

"My…" The wall panels shuddered around them. "Lab." He turned on Goku, eyes blazing, actually scaring the poor saiyan. "That imp violated my lab and my patient?!" His teeth ground. "Of course. Nevrrest's closest confidant. And the lone survivor of Arlia…Vegeta's last known planet destroyed. Heads will roll!" He lifted into the air and grabbed Goku's wrist again, taking flight through Seven at blazing speed.

Goku's heart raced. He believes me.

They hit another security door, Dr. Tottle's hands flying as he opened it. "If your theory is correct – and we can't waste time debating if it is or not – then Vegeta was not killed, but put in a coma. If you factor in the Saiyan metabolism and your incredible ability for breaking down poisons…" The door opened and they were flying again. "Then Vegeta would have taken eight to twelve hours to awaken. Maybe five at least. If he was lucky, he had a few hours before Nevrrest decided to carry out what she imagines is a proper execution. There are thousands of forms of execution in the galaxy, the slowest of which takes a maximum of three or four days to complete. That's if she chose that lot. In short…" They reached the infirmary door. "We have no time."

He threw Goku on a medical table. "Wait," Goku squeaked, suddenly having doctor-fright, "What are you going to do to me?"

Dr. Tottle moved too fast for his senseless mind to perceive, the turtle-man appearing next to him with a tool and – to Goku's surprise – a second inhibitor chip. He slapped the little box to Goku's collar bone and Goku yelped as it sank partially into his flesh.

"Gah!" Goku cried, "Wait, you're not supposed to put another one on me!"

"The tool won't activate if I don't." He zipped around him, each movement removing a piece of the collar till it was completely gone. Goku touched it and Dr. Tottle reappeared next to him. "So, tell me, Kakarot," he rattled out, "How large are your wife's breasts?"

"What?" Goku stared and then screamed as Dr. Tottle sliced the flesh right off his collar bone. The chip flew up into the air and clattered, bloodied, on the floor. Goku's eyes widened, gasping as his body flooded with energy, his muscles swelling and his senses exploding. Dr. Tottle had already patched the wound somehow by the time Goku jumped off the table. "Alright!"

"Well?!" Dr. Tottle cried, clenching his hands, "Hurry up and sense him out!"

"Already on it," Goku promised. He shut his eyes for a long moment, concentrating very hard. Goku's eyes snapped open again, his jaw dropping in shock. "But…how can that be?! I…I can't sense him!"

"Oh…" Dr. Tottle looked down, "Then he is dead."

"No, you don't understand," Goku breathed, "I can't sense him anywhere! Not even in Other World! He's just gone!"

Dr. Tottle's eyes bulged. "Wait a minute, you can sense the dead?! Never mind, don't answer that. So you can't sense him at all?"

"No!" Goku cried, looking around frantically, "It doesn't make any sense!"

"No, it makes perfect sense," Dr. Tottle said firmly, "It confirms you were right, Kakarot. If you can't sense him, that can only mean he's in an energy-sense blocked location."

"What?! You mean you can stop someone from sensing your energy?"

"There's a rare material that can block ki flow, yes," Dr. Tottle confirmed, "A small bit of it is in every inhibitor chip, in fact." He grasped his chin. "Nevrrest is more clever than I give her credit for. Of course she would hide him from energy sense."

"What are we going to do then?" Goku frantically asked, "This fleet is huge – he could be anywhere!"

"First, you're going to drink this," Dr. Tottle said, suddenly holding a pink liquid.

"This?" Goku took it.

"It's healing supplement," Dr. Tottle explained, shortly after Goku downed it, "That should fix any damage you got on the way here. Second, we need to—"

There was a pounding on the door. "Open up, Doc, I know you're both in there!" Nada called.

"Speaking of running out of time," Dr. Tottle rattled. He zipped around, rubbing something on the mark on Goku's neck and then appearing next to him again. "Kakarot, there's something I need to say."

"What is it?" Goku turned.

"I'm overriding the security!" Nada thumped again.

"Sorry," Dr. Tottle stated.

"Huh?" Goku blinked, "For what—EEEEEYEEEAAAAAHHHHH!" Goku shrieked, leaping in the air as Dr. Tottle mercilessly stabbed him in the butt with a needle. Goku ran around in a circle, holding his butt as a vial filled up with blood. "Ge-ge-gegeege! Get it out-get it out-get it out!"

"Hold still!" Dr. Tottle barked and yanked it out.

"Gaaah!" Goku howled, twitching his fingers up at the ceiling. He turned away and folded his arms, pouting with tears in the corners of his eyes. "How could you do that, Dr. Tottle, I thought we were friends," he whined.

"I needed a blood sample and I didn't have time to convince you." He darted over to one of his medical cabinets.

The door opened, a slightly disheveled Nada stepping through. He smirked and snapped twice. Two explosions went off. Dr. Tottle cried out, falling to the floor and the vial of blood clattering away from him. The smoke cleared and Goku just stood there. Nada's eyes bulged with horror. "Oh shit."

"Dr. Tottle!" Goku appeared next to him, lifting him up, "Are you okay?"

Dr. Tottle slapped him. "What are you waiting for?!" he snapped, "Take him out!"

Nada put his big hands up. "No wait, that's not—"

Goku appeared in front of him and non-maliciously sank his fist into Nada's stomach. Spit flew from his mouth and Goku gently caught him, laying him down on the floor. Dr. Tottle groaned painfully, getting himself back up and retrieving the vial. "Thank the gods, it didn't break."

"Why do you need my blood?" Goku asked, rubbing at his butt sorely.

"So I can take you out of the system." He opened the vial and injected it with something from his medical cabinet. The blood turned purple. "There," he sealed it again, "Now I need to exchange this sample for the one the computer is storing. If I can do that, it won't be able to track your bio signature or use the pacification field against you anymore." He eyed him. "Even with your defenses back, the field will still pack a punch. We can't afford that." He stowed the vial in his medical belt.

"But what about Vegeta?" Goku pressed.

"I'm getting to that," Dr. Tottle snapped. He put on a fresh lab coat. "There's only one person that can locate him now. Or should I say one entity." He folded down his collar. "The avatar of Misado."

"Of course!" Goku pepped, stooping and clenching his fists, "Misado's connected to everything in the universe!" He straightened, tightening his brow. "I just have to locate her." He stood still for a long moment and then started. "What…oh no!"

"What now?!" Dr. Tottle cried, exasperated.

"I…I can't sense the avatar either! What does that mean?"

"Not the same as Vegeta, I'm afraid," Dr. Tottle heavily frowned, "I was afraid something had happened."

"What?" said Goku with concern.

"When I tried to stop Vegeta's execution," he explained, "I saw Misado's avatar rush past me towards the execution chamber. It did not return. Not that I saw, at least."

"Oh no," Goku gasped, "But what are we going to do then?!"

Dr. Tottle thought hard. "Go look for it anyways," he determined, "Start at the execution chamber on the Hammer." He looked down at his belt. "I'm going down into the mechanical to replace your blood sample with the one I tampered with. You'll have to go ahead without me. Use your skills to get past the rest of the security checkpoints. Find Misado. Find Vegeta. Be ready for anything.

Goku's brow lowered. "Right," he firmly nodded. He put his fist to his hand. "Okay then! Hang in there, Vegeta!"

"And one more thing."

"Gah!" Goku cried, dancing back and Dr. Tottle violently assaulted him with a can of air freshener.

"There," Dr. Tottle swept the air, "Now get going!"

"Geeeh! I'm going!" Goku floated into the air and took off out the door like a shot.