Vegeta released a sound that resembled all the demons of the underworld bursting force, so Nada poked him in the forehead, putting him out again. "Now…" he mumbled, glancing up, "Where is the nearest holding cell? Jeeze, I might have to go up a few decks." He looked around further as he meandered through the ruined storage bay, the ship shaking at regular intervals. Eventually, he spotted a gaping hole in the wall with congealing blood seeping at the edges. "What the…?"

Nada observed the bloodied secret room with the detachment only a former PTO soldier could. "Man. How many people were massacre in here? Somebody left a hell of a mess." Nada glanced down as the small saiyan started to stir again before noticing something in the corner of the room. "Aha! Well, what do you know? Lucky me."

Vegeta was just getting ahold of himself again when an excruciating pain in his tail forced out a scream.

"For real?" Nada complained, leaning from right to left over Vegeta as the metal jaws closed on his tail, "No one ever bothered to shackle you after the incident? Well, no point trying to chain you, then. I guess this will have to do."

Furious, Vegeta looked over his shoulder to find himself on the little bench Nevrrest originally had meant to chain him up on so he could 'ponder his coming death'. Wonderful. Not only had he been returned to this horrid place, but his tail had been stuck so far into the jaws that only a quarter of it remained on the outside.

"Whew…now that that's out of the way…" Nada bent his knees so that they were at the same level. "Let me get a look at you."

Vegeta snarled. I don't have time for this!

"Wow," Nada remarked, strangely friendly, "You really are the spitting image of the old Saiyan king. Your eyes have changed, though. You don't look anything like your old photos."

Vegeta looked at the talkative menace. "A Cypher. What is one of your kind doing in that uniform?"

Nada blushed a little and rubbed the back of his head. "It's a long story and this energy drain is killing my stamina. But we're the same like we've always been. I'm just on a slightly longer leash than you this time." He undid the snaps of his top and pulled down the right side to reveal the numbers 0023. "Anyhow, sorry to ruin your escape attempt, but I figure this will earn me some brownie points with my lady. Guy's gotta take whatever opportunity's presented to him, you know?"

"What the hell are you babbling on about?" Vegeta snapped, making Nada recoil slightly with a frown, "I don't have time for your nonsense."

"Okay, okay, I get it," Nada held up his large hand and sighed, "You're mad and not in the mood. But I can't help it. I've been kept from meeting you since we were both kids…" He noticed Vegeta's expression and he sighed again. "You're…too pissed too realize who I am, aren't you?" He smoothed his hands over his hair-horns as he stood up and pressed a thumb to his exposed chest. "Officer Nada of the Frieza Force, Commander of the Cypher Army."

Vegeta's brow rose and then lowered. "So, you're still alive."

"Same to you," Nada smirked. He scratched at his head. "Especially…considering you were supposedly executed yesterday."

"It didn't take," Vegeta retorted.

Nada laughed and even slapped his knee. "That's a good one. I like that." He bent to his level again. "But listen. I'm not here to mock you. Truth is, Frieza always made sure we were never in the same place at the same time. I used to always dream of fighting you. Would have probably died in the process, but I didn't care. Back then, the gap was close enough between us that I could have given you a good show of it."

Grrr, there's nothing sharp in here, Vegeta ignored him, looking around the cell, And even if there was, I wouldn't be able to reach it with my tail lodged so far in this damn thing. Damn it!

"And then Nevrrest wouldn't let me near you because she wanted you all to herself, selfish bitch," Nada grumbled, folding his arms. He sighed and bowed his head. "But, what can you do? You and I…most people may look like ants compared to us, but at the end of the day we're just pets to higher beings. We just bear our teeth in whatever direction our master points and that's about it."

"Just shut up."

"Hm?" Nada eyed him.

Vegeta glared at him. "You seem to think there's some kind of bond between us, but I shredded my leash ages ago. The Frieza Force is dead to me. And I'm certainly not bond to Nevrrest either. And you're nothing but trash I'll be dealing with as soon as I get free of this."

Nada's calm, vacant eyes lit with something, narrowing his gaze. "I think I'm starting to see why everyone always hated you." He seized the front of his shirt, Vegeta giving a pained gasp as the tension pulled against his imprisoned tail. "Let me make one thing clear. You don't get to brag about rebelling against Frieza! Because unlike me, you had nothing to lose!" He let go of him angrily and marched across the stained floor toward the hole.

"Perhaps that's true," Vegeta stated, stopping him, "But that's not the case anymore. And I won't lose it all because of some pet oven-mitt like you."

His oversized, Cypher hands tensed before getting out his pack of cigarettes. "That so, huh? Well I'm not losing what little freedom I have because of some stubborn gorilla." He stuck the cigarette in his mouth and paused as he noticed the body lying in the corner. He blinked. "The doc…" He stood over the body, the unlit cigarette hanging between his teeth. "So that's his second form, huh? Looks like Nevrrest got to him before I could. Shame. I was really hoping we'd get to finish our battle." He glanced back at Vegeta and narrowed his eyes again. "Seems today's just full of disappointments."

Vegeta watched him light his cigarette and step out through the hole, leaving Vegeta to grit his teeth. "Great, what now?!" he snapped. He tried to stand, but felt another pain shoot through his tail before falling against the wall again. "Perfect! He's stuffed it so far in there if I even try to move I'm likely to rip my tail out!"

Vegeta fell silent. Could that work? He glanced over his shoulder, observing how deeply and firmly the metal teeth sank into his tail.

What followed wasn't a thought so much as a feeling. And that feeling was determination. It was as though Nada had never shown his face and nothing had changed at all. The resolve of a slicing motion became the resolve of firmly planting both feet against the wall, facing forward and bent at the knees. He drew a breath again and started over from the beginning, steeling himself.

Kakarot's strong. He should be able to hold out at least a minute longer. That means, at least, I have enough time.

"I'm gonna go through two packs today at this rate," Nada grumbled, redoing the snaps of his uniform as he drew a long puff from his cigarette, "Man. I've had some frustrating days, but this one really takes the cake."

A terrible noise split the air and Nada's expression froze with shock, eyes wide. It was a sound he was familiar with but was not expecting to hear – the sound of someone in incredible pain. His mind flashed with scenarios, trying to decipher what was happening as he ran when his sensitive ears realized another sound underneath the scream – the cracking of bones and tearing of muscle.

Vegeta's mind flashed white as he struggled, every single one of his muscles tensed. Even without his energy, he knew that his physical body had incredible strength. It would be enough. It had to be enough. He would break from his tail for the chain it really was – discard it like a ruined glove. Taut as a violin string, Vegeta's tail stretched with various sickening sounds in a visceral orchestra. His consciousness whited again, making him sick to his stomach. Even so, he didn't let up the tension.

This is it…from now on, I refuse to be a prisoner anymore!

With a small spurt of blood, the tail snapped and gave way, leaving most of it behind in the wall. The quarter that remained dripped for a moment, but quickly settled itself. Vegeta's eyes snapped open. Nada stared with horror as Vegeta stood, the cypher's knees locked with shock.

"No way…this is insane!" Nada shouted at him, "There's no way you could have…no!" Vegeta took a step forward and Nada snapped his fingers, setting off an explosion right on top of the saiyan. "NO! This was it! This was my chance to turn things around! I'm not going back in a cell! Especially because of YOU!" He rapid-fire snapped his fingers, setting off explosion after explosion as he screamed.

Vegeta emerged dashing forward through the smoke. The veins showed in Nada's eyes as his middle-fingers pressed sharply to his thumbs, his panicked growls rumbling through his clenched teeth. But instead of unleashing another volley, Nada howled as Vegeta seized his fingers in both hands and crushed them.

"Yes, the annoyance of the Cypher Talent," Vegeta stated as he held him by the hands, "No warrior, no matter how strong, can avoid the Talent once it's begun. It is an inescapable attack that evades any deflection. But I also happen to recall that the Talent also requires some kind of physical cue to enact. Yours was obviously that snapping motion. You shouldn't have been so careless to reveal your trump card so easily." He released his hands, Nada falling backward as Vegeta reached out a finger toward him. "Now disappear." He poked him in the forehead and Nada landed in one of the room's pools of blood.

Vegeta left him there to sleep, running at first and then flying as all his ability and energy returned to him. It's back for good this time, he promised himself, Nevrrest's campaign against me ends here.

Suddenly, a probe blocked his way.

(**Scene Break**)

Goku let out a squeak of pain as Nevrrest's grip on his shoulders tightened, pinning him against the ground as her tail continued to throttle him. She bent over him, watching, her eyes narrowed in intent observation. "For someone who has supposedly died before, you aren't very good at it," she remarked, "What you are good at is prolonging your own suffering. This isn't fun for either of us, so enough already."

Goku wasn't listening. Instead, his thoughts were in overtime, trying to devise a way to escape Nevrrest's grip. Not only had he exhausted most his options, but he was losing the capacity to even attempt them. He was frankly amazed he'd managed to stay Super Saiyan Three this long after expelling so much energy. Perhaps it was because he knew the moment he lost his transformation it would be over. He couldn't let that happen. But what could he do? He tried fighting back, but he couldn't hit hard enough to force her to let go. Surprise tactics hadn't worked either.

Then it hit him. There was one thing he hadn't tried. It was crazy – he had never attempted it as a Super Saiyan Three before. And even if it did work, he wouldn't have anything left to fight with. That was, if his body even survived the effort. Still, he had to try. The one thing he refused to do was give up.

Goku's lips mouthed the word and Nevrrest's eyes widened as a red aura enveloped his golden form. The burst of strength from the Kaioken burned like lava in his veins and he used it to push up and punch Nevrrest deep in her stomach. The force of the impact shot through her like the shockwave of an explosion, one of the bone plates protecting her back popping off with a spray of blood.

He let the red aura fade, using the momentum of her body to scramble over her shoulders and hug her from behind, heaving her so that she planted against the wall. He wasn't sure what his next move would be, but he'd have to make every burst of kaioken count. His body couldn't handle any of this much longer.

"Krrr, what do you think you're doing back there?" Nevrrest snarled, her tail tightening even harder on Goku's throat.

The next move popped into his head. 'Kaioken,' he mouthed before driving his fist into the weak spot he had created with his last move.

The red again faded as Goku rode her down through several decks until they landed in a place that wasn't even lit, the glow of their auras the only thing shining. Nevrrest's hand clamped painfully over his skull. "You," she hissed, "Need to just die."

This is it! Goku thought before he flashed red again. Nevrrest cried out as Goku hooked a kick directly into the base of her tail, dislocating it. He readied a punch, prepared to send her flying from him and find his breath. But just as her tail came off his throat both her hands latched around it. Her feet hugged his waist, talons sunk in as the blow connected. Nevrrest hissed with pain as Goku struck her again and again, holding onto him with a zealous determination.

At the end of it, several small cracks had formed in her frontal plates and Goku's hair faded to a tussle of black spikes.

(**Scene Break**)

Laswe felt Goku's energy drop and grabbed Horkion's shoulder, shaking him harshly. "Come on! Tell me you've got something by now!"

"I-I do, but it's not finished!" Horkion stuttered, holding the lamp close as the galaxy swirled around them.

"Huh?! What more do the people of the galaxy want?!"

"They can't decide on Vegeta!" Horkion blurted. He wiped the sand from his brow. "The verdict on Nevrrest is coming clear, but Vegeta…people can't seem to decide. I'm sorry, Laswe, but I need more time!"

Laswe pulled at his fuzzy ear-tuffs. "Rrr, time is the one thing we're running out of!"

(**Scene Break**)

Chi-Chi hugged Goten close as she watched. Bulma squeezed Oolong. And with them, billions of people across the worlds watched as Nevrrest held Goku down, his face twitching as she glared into his eyes.

"Look at you," she growled, "Still judging me. I can see it written all over your face. I always hated that about you from the moment we met. You've always had this look like you're ashamed of me – like I just didn't 'measure up' somehow. And now your mind is spinning with what a horrid thing I have done. How I am about to rob every one of the Legendary Super Saiyan." She leaned close to his blue face. "But you want to know the truth, Goku? Your death means nothing to the universe. Cause all you ever were was a story. That's all you are. That's all you'll ever be."

A great uproar shot through the many watching the Justice News Channel as a pair of red boots landed full force against the side of Nevrrest's head. Her attention was so focused on suffocating Goku that her whole body stiffened with shock as her body hit the far wall, Goku's neck no longer in her grasp. Goku hit the ground and gasped so hard that his vision blurred. Next thing he knew he was flung over someone's shoulder and bounded away.

The familiar golden figure sat him down and turned away. "Vegeta," coughed Goku.

"Now you listen to me, Kakarot," the prince roughly stated, "You're going to stay there and recover your strength. No excuses. Understand?"

"I guess I don't really have a choice," Goku chuckled helplessly, looking like he could use a nap.

"I mean it." He turned his head to look at him and Goku was startled to see mauve tongues of flame-like energy rising from his glowing green eyes. "And don't you dare go soft on me like the last time."

Goku blinked. "What do you mean?"

"You know what I'm talking about," Vegeta snarled, looking watchfully ahead again, "During the fight against Majin Buu. I gave you a chance then to recover your strength and instead you wasted it on concern for me. Don't make that mistake again."

"Wait a minute." Goku tried to sit up. "Vegeta. You're not planning on trying to fight her by yourself, are you?"

"I am." He was silent for a moment, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "And this time, I promise, I won't end up in such a pathetic state. So you can rest at ease until you're ready to fight again. And once you're back on your feet…" He eyed him again. "I expect you to be ready to end this."

"Vegeta…" Goku answered, not knowing what else to say.

The ship shook as Nevrrest landed in a crouch nearby. She stood and turned her head this way and that, searching for them. "How, Vegeta?" she snapped, "I demand to know how. How did you get here? Who set you free? And where did you…" She stopped short as Vegeta emerged, standing on a debris pile. She blinked at him and then broke out laughing, her eyes wide with amazement. "Vegeta!" she cried, "Your tail!"

Neither Goku nor those who watched from across the worlds had noticed until then. All at once, they realized that a saiyan tail wasn't meant to be that short and that the wound was still fresh at the end of it. The pride of the prince and his connection to the oozaru had been severed.

"Ripped!" Nevrrest declared, startling those that watched further, "That's not a cut – that's a tear! You…" She laughed with delight. "You actually ripped your own tail off just so that you could come fight me. Oh my sweet prince…I'm honestly flattered. Honored even."

"Shut your mouth," Vegeta snapped, silencing her, "I didn't come to listen to your nonsense. I came to end it." He clenched a fist up at her. "Or is your tiny bird brain incapable of understanding the price of breaking the blood pact?"

She folded her arms and smirked at him. "Oh yes…you mean that by the ancient warrior's code my blood now belongs to you. Though, technically I haven't broken it…yet. All the same, good luck taking it." She strode up the mound and craned down to his level. "You really think…that Empathic Bind will give you enough strength to defeat me? Kekeke…still how desperately you squirm." Vegeta threw a punch so fast that she barely caught it, the shockwave causing debris to fly. Nevrrest stared at him in shock. "Not possible! Even with Empathic Bind, you shouldn't be anywhere near Kakarot's level!" Her eyes moved over him rapidly, stopping when she spotted the mauve band of energy that wrapped around his hand. She gasped and leapt back from him. "Not possible!"

Vegeta chuckled, lowering the hand. "Interesting. He said you'd say something like that."

Back when the probe had blocked his path, Vegeta was angry. He was even more irritated when a hologram of the bedridden Oom'Bagu had projected from it.

"Move your machine aside, Gregorik," he snapped, "I don't have time for your nonsense."

"Shut your damn mouth," Oom'Bagu snarled back, catching him off guard, "It is your princely prattle we don't have time for – nor do I have the patience. I am not pleased with what I am being forced to do."

Vegeta paused with interest. "I'm listening."

Oom'Bagu grunted. "You are familiar with the Empathic Bind and what it is capable of. Thus, you likely assume that is what this is about."

"Of course," Vegeta answered, folding his arms, "I'm not interested in your help."

Oom'Bagu snorted. "Quaint. Considering there is nothing you can do on your own at this point. You might as well be a fly buzzing in Nevrrest's ear with the level of power she's obtained."

"You don't think I know that?!" Vegeta snarled, glancing harshly away, "It doesn't matter. Despite the odds, I refuse to shy away from this fight."

"I feel the same," Oom'Bagu rumbled, "And yet, I am confined to this bed until my wounds are healed. What's worse, Nevrrest has taken much of my power for her own."

Vegeta snorted, smirking cynically at him. "Sounds to me like you're a bigger fly than I am. So why are you wasting my time?"

"Because there is a way I can make you just as strong as Goku."

Vegeta laughed. "As strong as a Super Saiyan Three? You must be exaggerating. You saw its power when it was stolen by the creature Un."

"I did," Oom'Bagu assuredly agreed, "Which is why I know I can take you to that level."

Vegeta's brow lowered. "How?"

Oom'Bagu growled. "It is the level beyond Empathic Bind. I call it as it is appropriately described…Empathic Slave."

"Sorry, not interested," Vegeta immediately answered, "I barely tolerated your Bind as it was. I have no interest in being even further under your control."

"Silence!" Oom'Bagu barked, Vegeta again startled by his rage, "It fills me with loathing to even mention it to you. Yes, Empathic Bind links the two together. But Empathic Slave does not. It is not equality in the slightest."

Finally, Vegeta understood.

Nevrrest seethed with rage, her feathers and plume puffing up around her. "No, it's not possible. Oom'Bagu wouldn't share that technique…with the likes of you!" She gave a screech of rage, blowing debris all around them. She thumbed her chest. "He shared even the knowledge of it only with me! It is our technique!"

"Yes, he told me that as well," Vegeta flatly replied, soaking in the moment, "You were the only person the Gregorik bore a strong enough understanding with to perform the Empathic Slave. You were also the only person he entrusted the secret with." He chuckled and grinned cruelly. "How that must hurt."

The ship shook with Nevrrest's wrath. "Empathic Slave…the very thing that inspired the Quantum Fusion Core…a technique that requires a bond so strong that Oom'Bagu's very life-force is invested in the process."

"Yes. And I must admit, the results are incredible." Vegeta looked with subtle awe at the mauve band around his hand. "As the Slave, it is though he has completely disappeared from existence – all that he is invested in me. But all I feel is myself. Not only that, but an enriched version. My thoughts and emotions have never been so clear to me – my understanding of my abilities have been given a crystal clarity. I feel more myself than I ever have before."

"This is impossible," she snapped, "Oom'Bagu can't perform that technique with anyone but me. Only I share a bond strong enough with him!"

Vegeta chuckled, the mauve flame flaring in his eyes. "It seems you've been replaced."

"And now," she hissed, "If I kill you, he dies as well. Fiend! You take pleasure in taking everything from me!"

"Take?" Vegeta scoffed. He chuckled and shook his head. "You poor thing. You never really did understand the technique if you thought it was 'taking' something. It is a gift, like a weapon in the hand. In fact, the only one that's been taking anything from someone is you. Or did you ask permission before you robbed your entire fleet of their ability to fight?" She looked nearly doubled in size her feathers were so erect. "Though, I will admit I intend to take something soon." He pointed at her. "I, Prince Vegeta, will be taking your life."

Goku pushed up off the rubble, looking at Vegeta anxiously. "Vegeta, no! We don't have to do that. I know Nevrrest has done some horrible things, but that doesn't mean she deserves to die."

"Quiet, Kakarot," Vegeta snapped, flashing a glance at him, "You had your chance to do it your way. Now it's my turn."

"But Vegeta—"

"It's already been decided!" he silenced him, "From the moment I separated from my tail, my mind was made."

A mournful cackle split the air, Nevrrest resting her hand over her eyes and letting it slide down onto her beak. "So it's true. This is really happening. You. Me. Vegeta…we're destined to kill each other."

"It doesn't have to be like that," Goku persisted.

"That's where you're wrong," Vegeta returned, ignoring Goku, "You had your chance to end me and you let it slip through your fingers. Now you're going to pay the price for your arrogance."

"Oh that's rich," she sneered, "Vegeta, Prince of Self-Worship. You have nothing to say to me."

"You're right." His palm opened and exploded forth a ray of yellow light. "I don't."

(**Scene Break**)

Dr. Leaton glanced repeatedly between the readouts on Justiciar Oom'Bagu's vitals and the mauve ring of energy that encircled his neck. He had witnessed the whole process of turning the Gregorik into the Empathic Slave and disapproved of the whole thing. The damaged empathic center of Oom'Bagu's brain was lit up like a cherry on the monitoring screen. If things went wrong, he could lose his empathy permanently. Or worse, he might never wake up. And what was even worse was that Vegeta hadn't even tried to stop him once he discovered how the technique would enable him to realize the full potential of his own strength.

But as Dr. Leaton watched the battle broadcast over the news and listened to the words that came from the prince's mouth, he realized perhaps that wasn't it at all. Maybe, he understood and even respected the sacrifice Oom'Bagu was making. Maybe, under that cruel laugh and vicious nature, Vegeta had honor and a moral code after all.

(**Scene Break**)

"Gllrr…I feel like we should be doing more," Laswe angrily muttered, eyes shut as he sensed with his energy, "Why is it lately we're always so powerless?!"

"Laswe, please calm down," Horkion soothed, cradling the lamp, "We're doing everything we can. Isn't that enough?"

"I just feel like a rat's ass having Vegeta fight for us again," he grumbled.

"It's not like we forced him to," Horkion reminded, "He's chosen this fight. Besides, it's in his blood. He's a warrior race. Both him and Goku."

"I know. But those two have been through enough. I really hate this."

Horkion rumbled uncomfortably, shifting the lamp in his palm. "Laswe…can I ask you something?"

Laswe gurgled irritably. "Yeah. Why not?"

"What are you hoping will happen to Nevrrest?"

The heavily adorned Ponachi opened his eyes to look at him and then shifted them away. "What needs to happen."

"And what is that?" Horkion pressed, "I mean, I want to stop her but—"

"So how about that ghost vote? Anything?"

Horkion sighed and looked at the lamp. "There's…some shift towards Vegeta's favor. But they still can't decide."

"For the love of…was my speech too mechanical?"

"No." Horkion rumbled and turned aside. "Things aren't always as black and white as you think."

(**Scene Break**)

After what felt like an eternity of shock from the pain, Sepis finally got ahold of himself. Not that he'd ever lost consciousness, but he hadn't been able to bring himself to move. But eventually, he couldn't stand being in the dark about Nevrrest any longer. He had to know if she was still okay. Or, at the very least, still alive. Surely she was, though, or the energy drain would have stopped. Still, he had to see the facts with his own eyes. Because if he had done something to hurt Nevrrest, even at her request, he would never forgive himself.

Halfway into the chair, he stopped to grip his chest. "I wonder if it's this bad for everyone in the fleet? Probably not…I'm such a wimp." He sat in the chair and drew a heavy breath. "Computer, please give me the status of Justiciar Nevrrest."

"Acknowledged," the computer pleasantly answered, giving a data readout, "Justiciar Nevrrest has sustained minor injuries to these listed locations. Vital signs stable. Power l…l…l-l-level inconclusive."

Sepis gave an enormous sigh of relief, slumping in his chair. "And where is she currently located?"

"Current location is the fourth level of Storage Compound B."

He hesitated for a long moment. "And…the status and location of Son Goku?"

"Information on Prisoner 4747 is limited at this time due to a malfunction with the prisoner's biotracker. However, Forty-Seven-Forty-Seven's identification chip is located in the third level of Storage Compound B. Movements indicate life."

He fell back again, his antennae hanging relaxed. "So they're both okay. That's…so good to know." The ship shook violently and he tensed again, glancing up at the glowing Core. "I wonder how the rest of the fleet is doing? Everyone's probably really upset. Nevrrest promised everything would be okay but…I don't know." He thought for a moment. "Computer, Justice News please."

It came on the screen and Sepis reeled back. "What? What is this?" He stared in disbelief as Vegeta flew across the screen, sending a volley of energy bolts Nevrrest's way. "What…Vegeta is…they're broadcasting the fight? And I thought she was fighting Goku?" He drummed his digits on the desk. "Computer, has Goku's location changed?"

"Negative."

"So he's no longer in the fight…could he be…badly injured?" He gripped his head, oil leaking from his shell. "What if Nevrrest's done something horrible to him like…like cut his limbs off?! No…no, calm down. You're getting hysterical. Goku can take care of himself. Goku is fine. Goku doesn't need you worrying about him and neither does Nevrrest." His bulgy eyes shifted back to the computer screen as Nevrrest lashed at Vegeta with her claws before blasting a red beam his way. "Heh…Nevrrest sure does look amazing in that new form. I can't believe she actually did it." He blinked. "Wait. If this is on the news…how many people are watching this?! Should they be seeing this…?"

He watched as Nevrrest flashed through the air and decided it was best to wait for now. He trusted his beloved friend. After all, at this point, what was there left to hide?

(**Scene Break**)

Both Nevrrest and Vegeta gave a mighty cry as they collided against each other, fingers interlocking as they grappled and hissed.

"Nice try, Vegeta," Nevrrest fiercely remarked, "But now that I know you're using Empathic Slave, you can't pull any surprises on me." Her grip on him tightened. "See, I know there's a couple major difference between it…and Quantum Fusion. For one, the Stop."

"I haven't used it that much," Vegeta mocked, "It almost seems like cheating."

"Stop bluffing," she snapped, "It's very taxing on Oom'Bagu's mind, so I know as well as you do you can't risk using it more than once a minute. Still. The ability to essentially freeze time for yourself – to turn one second into twenty – it gives one an edge. Especially if your opponent doesn't see it coming." Her foot came up and slashed at him. "But I DO!"

Vegeta leapt back, his brow narrowed. "I happen to know something as well." He stretched out a hand, a yellow orb charging. "I know you're stronger than me." Nevrrest's plume rose. "Surprised? I'm no longer such a fool that I fail to acknowledge my opponent's power. But you fail to see your own weakness!" He thrust the orb at her and she caught it against her wrist, clenching her beak as she knocked it aside, the far wall exploding. He flew at her, his rapid-fire punches colliding with her guard. "Your forces have deserted you, Nevrrest!"

She screeched at him, jabbing at his neck with her beak. "You mean the Justiciars? I don't need them!"

He caught her beak in his hand, his feet braced against her chest. "I'm afraid you can't bluff me either, Nevrrest. I know the truth about Quantum Fusion. That it's more than just an energy share or power amplification. You once said that it was the will of the weak banding together against the strong." They glared into each other's eyes. "That was literal, wasn't it? But the will of your fleet is no longer with you. You're weak, Nevrrest. Weakened by the very people you rob."

Her glowing yellow eyes blazed with hate. "Again…you dare…lecture me?!" Vegeta cried out as she swept her claws up, tearing a gash through his shirt and into his flesh from his abs to his collarbone. She began to beat him like a soccer ball between her fists and tail. "You accuse me of robbery?! How many lives have you robbed?! How many planets have you stolen?! How many innocents have you exploited for your own amusement?! I swear, if it's the last thing I do, I will pull you from your cloud and throttle you with that halo you dare to wear, MURDERER, THIEF, AND ABOMINATION!"

Vegeta's lips moved. "Stop." Like a miracle, everything froze – her fist poised above, her tail poised below, and his blood freezing in its fall. In Vegeta's mind, a single second of time turned to twenty, his vision quickly taking in the situation and deciding the best method of counter. The stop ended and Vegeta caught her fists against his hands and pinned her tail between his legs, his body shaking as he strained and the blood finishing its fall to the ground. "Tell me, Nevrrest…who has more right to lecture you? A fool who's barely known a selfish act his entire life…or a man with the same crimes as you?"

"Crimes?" she said with abhorrence.

He heaved and blasted himself away from her before zipping back and unloading a volley of energy attacks at her. "You're honestly going to tell me you didn't know the thrill of the thief as you took planets back from Frieza's forces? You didn't know the joy of murder as you slaughtered your enemies? And what but an abomination throws away her honor?" He flew at her, his fists raised above his head, the light of their energy glistening against the blood on his face. "So yes, I dare to lecture you, fool!"

The blow connected with one of the cracks that Goku had left in her armored plating, her head jerking down as she screeched. Nevrrest's eyes flashed before her tail whipped, cracking across Vegeta's stomach and sending him plowing through countless layers of metal. Vegeta grunted repeatedly as he bounced across tight layers of tubing and wiring, the darkness of the mechanical enveloping him. Just as she appeared, he leapt back, her razor sharp toes landing where he'd been lying a moment before.

She stalked toward him, her feathers puffed up. "Oom'Bagu, can you hear me? I want you to know that what you've done is unforgivable."

Vegeta wiped the blood from his face and flung it aside. "The Gregorik? I can tell you he doesn't care what you think."

"Shut up." Sparks flew as she swiped at him, deep grooves cut through the metal and wiring as he leapt away. "I'm being forced to suffer through all this to make things right. And it's all your fault. Starting when you helped Goku escape!"

Vegeta strained as he caught her blow against his arm, hissing with pain. "Fool! Don't get distracted!" He shoved a blast straight into her abdomen.

Nevrrest winced and backhanded him, sending him spinning away and embedding into the wires. Fire caught around them, Nevrrest walking through the flames. "You chose the saiyans over me. I want you to remember that. As for you, Vegeta, I was done with you hours ago and can hardly stand the sight of you anymore." Her tail arched over her head and so did her right hand, placing the end of her tail between her first two finger. Vegeta's eyes widened as incredibly intense energy began to dance over the arch of her arm and tail, meeting and condensing at the center. "So congratulations, Vegeta, you're being set free."

That energy…she's going for the kill! Vegeta thought as he watched, Damn it! And it's too soon to use the Stop. His body tensed. I'll just have to dodge it on my own.

A bright red spark lit at the tip of her tail, balanced against her tail feathers, and she cackled as she brought it up in front of her. "Ray of Malice. Kyyyaaah!"

A continuous red ribbon of death flew from her tail and Vegeta flinched to the side as it flew past his torso. Wait…she wasn't aiming for me! He saw her toes sink into and grip the metal floor. No!

"Ke-ke-ke," Nevrrest chuckled as the red ribbon turned in on itself and burrowed its way into the wall. Pipes and shrapnel flew as a hole opened up into space, the vacuum jerking Vegeta back so hard he flipped twice before he started fighting against the pull. His gaze came up to see Nevrrest's left hand charged with energy, the suction pulling her plume wildly over her shoulder. "Now…" Her brow lowered. "Get off my ship."

Vegeta screamed as the blast struck him in the chest, sending him hurling off like a comet into space.

AUTHOR NOTE

Hey fans! Can't get enough of Dragon Ball SW? Well I'm here to give you another friendly reminder that you can get even more content by following me on my Deviant Art page and Tumblr. Just search SwanofWar or allhailtheswanofwar!

See you in the next chapter!