Episode 9: Long Live the King

Narrator: Previously, on Team Chronicle: Bardock & Gine asked the boys to get Kakarot, their youngest son, out of the Sayian Baby Center. With the help of Raditz, they found Kakarot, but were forced to flee with the baby when pointed out to security. Now, with Frieza only one day away, is there any hope for survival?

OP: "Dragon Ball Heroes Theme" by Takayoshi Tanimoto

(The next day, the team is planning for the upcoming battle.)

Bardock: Right, so Tora will lead the squad to clear a path through Frieza's foot soldiers, the Eds will keep the general busy, & Mark & I will take Frieza on directly. Any questions?

Tora: Bardock, this isn't going to work! Even if the Eds can keep the generals busy, there's no way we can take on all those foot soldiers without being overwhelmed!

Double D: Tora has a point Mark; we're outnumbered.

Mark: Hmmm…you're right. We need more help. (Mark gets an idea.) Hang on; Bardock, you said that you talked to the king about your vision, right?

Bardock: No luck there, kid; King Vegeta didn't believe me, & there's no way he's going to hear out a non-Sayian.

Mark: No, but I've been reading up on the Sayian culture, including the politics.

Bardock: (I've got a bad feeling about where this is going…) so?

Mark: I've read that "if the king is challenged for a fight for the throne & loses, he must surrender the throne to the victor." So…if I beat the king, I'll be able to get the other Sayians to help, & I'll return the throne to Vegeta after Frieza is defeated.

Bardock: Are you crazy?! If you lose, King Vegeta will have you executed!

Mark: Don't worry, I can take care of myself. Besides, I have a plan. (Takes out a small button & hands it to Double D.) If this button flashes, it means I need an extraction. Can you do that Double D?

Double D: *gulp* Mark, please reconsider!

Mark: Well, it's either this or facing a whole army by ourselves, so what do I have to lose? Wish me luck!

(Mark walks out & flies towards the place.)

Bardock: I'm not saving him.

Double D: Oh dear…

(Meanwhile, at the place…)

(We see a Sayian being restrained in front of King Vegeta.)

Paragus: Please sire, he's just a boy! He could be a great warrior!

King Vegeta: That's exactly the point. If you stand in my way, then you'll die with him!

(The king starts charging a Ki Blast when suddenly, Mark bursts in through the ceiling & takes out the guards restraining Paragus.)

Mark: I'd run if I were you.

Paragus: Uh, right! You have my thanks!

(Paragus runs out of the throne room.)

King Vegeta: Who are you to interrupt the royal proceedings?

Mark: My name is Mark, & I challenge you for the throne!

(The other Sayians start talking rapidly.)

Sayian: A non-Sayian is challenging King Vegeta?!

Sayian #2: That's never happened before! Is it even allowed?

Sayian #3: Could he be have been sent by Frieza?

(King Vegeta waves his hand to silence the crowd.)

King Vegeta: You challenge me? Are you stupid or suicidal?

Mark: Neither; I just want to do what I feel is right!

King Vegeta: …Very well. I accept your challenge!

(The crowd backs up as the two fighters make their way to opposite sides of the hall. They face each other & assume battle positions.)

Mark vs. King Vegeta

BEGIN!

Mark: Kamehameha!

King Vegeta: Execution Beam.

(The two power beams collide & cancel each other out.)

Mark: (Looks like my training really paid off; Our Ki power is equal. Guess this means we'll have to settle this up close!) Kaio-ken x10!

(The two rush each other & exchange punches, kicks & knee gabs. Mark lands a hit in Vegeta's face, but then the king fires a Ki Blast point-blank that sends Mark flying back. The boy lands on his feet & charges again.)

Mark: ARROW KNEE! (Mark lunges towards the king, knee first, & hits him in the stomach, knocking him to the ground.) Time to end this! (Mark jumps into the air & crosses his arms.) CROSS ARM DIVE!

(The boy starts diving towards the king. However, Vegeta suddenly opens his eyes & catches Mark before the boy can slam into him.)

Mark: Wh-What the?!

(King Vegeta now has a glowing, rainbow colored aura around him.)

King Vegeta: Orga Blaster.

(A huge, purple Ki beam launches Mark into the air & slams him into the celling. After the beam gives out, the boy falls to the floor, barely conscious.)

WINNER: KING VEGETA!

King Vegeta: Ah, suicidal then.

Mark (thinking): H-How did…he do that? I…was winning…until he got that…rainbow aura! Not even…Kaio-ken x10 could protect me…after that! Looks like…I need to call...for my escape plan.

(Mark presses the button as King Vegeta walks over him.)

King Vegeta: Farewell, boy.

(King Vegeta charges up an Execution Beam to kill Mark. Suddenly, the doors burst open, & Double D, Bardock & his squad appear.)

King Vegeta: Bardock? What are you –?

(Bardock & Tora fire two Ki blasts that push the king back while Double D runs over to Mark & teleports them both out. Bardock & his squad quickly leave.)

Sayian Advisor: King Vegeta! Are you alright?

King Vegeta: I'm fine. What is Bardock doing, saving a non-Sayian boy?

(Just then, a messenger runs up to the king.)

Messenger: Majesty! We've received reports that Frieza is approaching Planet Vegeta…& he's bringing a large number of his army with him!

(King Vegeta then thinks back to the warnings that Bardock gave him earlier that week.)

King Vegeta: (So, Bardock was right…) Forget about that boy for now! Prepare my elite! I will go & face Frieza myself!

Messenger: Yes sir!

(That night, at Bardock's house…)

(Everyone is siting, looking down.)

Eddy: Well…that went well.

Mark: I don't get it Bardock. Why did you save me?

Bardock: You're our best shot at saving this planet. I didn't want to bail you out; I HAD to. Doesn't matter anyway; win or lose, we're finished.

Double D: If King Vegeta can beat Frieza, Bardock & his squad will be hunted as traitors.

Tora: If the king dies, we're the only ones who know Frieza is even coming.

Gine: Bardock…what are we going to do?

Bardock: We go on with the plan, face Frieza, & die fighting. Might as well spend my last moments fighting to save lives.

Ed: I'm sorry guys. It's my fault we're gonna die on an alien planet.

Eddy: Hey Lumpy, don't be that hard on yourself, you didn't know what that comic would do.

Double D: Eddy's right, Ed. It's not your fault. It's no one's fault; none of us planned for this to happen.

Mark: Wait… (Mark gets an idea)…the comic caused this…That's it!

Bardock: What's it?

Mark: I know what we need to do!