Almost to the big show-down. I hope people are still enjoying this, and I really appreciate that a few readers have told me that they do.

Locke

After assuring everyone who wasn't coming that we'd win, we all lifted into the air and started for Satan City to fight the final battle. Meadow insisted on coming with, and was currently hanging on for dear life on my back.

The city came into sight, as did Oreg's arena. We all slowed as we took in the giant colosseum where the city had been, walls reaching up high into the sky.

"He's really going all-out," Gohan breathed.

Vegeta scowled. "What do you expect? This fight decides the fate of the planet."

"What do you mean?" I asked. "It's just me."

Goku shook his head. "Locke, other than me and Vegeta, you might be one of Earth's strongest warriors. If he steals your energy, he might be able to compete with us, like he said." My eyes widened with shock. "If you lose, we all might."

I looked back at the colosseum with fear. "What have I done?"

We lowered to the ground in front of the huge entrance, so wide that we could all walk in side-by-side. We walked down the long hallway and came out into the arena. There was no platform like the World Tournament Stage, only a large area of metal on the ground. On the other side of the area stood Oreg, his arms crossed. The stands of the colosseum were filled with Androids, shadowy and otherwise.

The light of Oreg's eyes wasn't shining. "Is he... asleep?" I wondered.

Goten pumped his fist. "Perfect! Just blast him and get it done with!"

I nodded and moved to charge a Reaper Cannon, but Vegeta grabbed one of my wrists, holding it in the air. "Do you have no honor?!" he scolded. "You may not be a true Saiyan, but at least take some pride in a fair fight!" He looked at Oreg. "Hey, Android!"

Oreg's eyes flashed red and he looked up. "Ah, you've arrived." He lowered his arms to his sides. "I hope you appreciate the effort I put into making this stage for our battle. After all, we can't have an event this momentous-"

"Hey, you!" a loud voice roared.

Gohan covered his face. "Oh, god, no!"

Mr. Satan ran in from another tunnel, throwing off his cape. A camera crew followed him in. "Robo-freak! Call off your Androids or you'll follow your pal Cell to Hell!"

Oreg sighed. "I don't recall making this battle public," he pointed out. "I only have one opponent. After that, anyone may challenge me."

Hercule put his fists against his hips. "Why would I wait and let someone die when I can take you down right here, right now?"

I gritted my teeth. "Dude," I called, "I get that you have a rep to maintain, but is it really worth more than your own life? Oreg will kill you!"

He only grinned confidently. "I don't think so, kid." He took his battle position. "I'll mash you to bits!" He ran forward, his fist wound back. It slammed into Oreg's chest, and a sickening cracking sound echoed through the colosseum.

"Amazing!" the announcer yelled. "One hit and Mr. Satan was already able to damage the robotic fiend, Oreg!"

Mr. Satan stood still for several seconds, then dropped to his knees, gripping his broken hand. "Aaah ha haaaa!" he screamed in agony. "T-turned the camera off!" The cameraman started to, but suddenly a shadow Android appeared and snatched it.

Oreg chuckled. "I can't have that. I actually like the idea of televising this now." The Android's hands started moving faster than even my eyes could follow. When it was done, the camera had changed to a pile of dust. Then the dust rose up and vanished. "With these cameras, every angle of the fight will be recorded and broadcasted world-wide." Oreg then looked back down at Mr. Satan. "Now then, why don't I end your suffering?" He grabbed Hercule by the throat and slowly lifted him up.

Before he could drain him, I hurled an energy disk, slicing off Oreg's arm. "Run, you idiot!" I shouted. "Face it: you can run or die, but you just televised your biggest failure ever! You're done as an icon either way!" Hercule stared in disbelief, then jumped up and ran.

"C-C'mon!" he yelled to the camera crew. "We are not dyin' today!"

Once he was gone, Oreg turned back to me. "Well, now we have an audience," he said.

"So we do," I sighed. "Good thing I didn't plan on going back to school." I shifted into my battle position and changed into Darkness Form. "Let's get this over with. The sooner you're destroyed, the sooner the world is safe again."

Oreg wagged a finger. "I have one more thing first." He looked around at the Androids in the stands. "I happen to know your plan. To fight me yourself, then have the others attack in the event that you lose. I can't have that." All of the Androids rose. "My creations, destroy these pesky warriors!" The Androids lifted into the air and started to approach us.

Piccolo called out to everyone. "Everyone, to the sky! Locke, Oreg is your's!" Everyone blasted into the air, leading the army away, leaving me with Meadow and Bulma.

Oreg put his hands together, pleased. "Now, we may begin."

I turned to the remaining two. "Meadow, Bulma. Stay somewhere safe. If one of you dies, I'm gonna get my head torn off, either by Vegeta, Goten, or myself."

Bulma took a machine out of her pocket. "This can protect us from stray blasts and shockwaves. Don't worry about a thing."

Meadow stepped forward and hugged me tightly. "I love you," she said quietly. "Be careful."

I smiled. If this was my last verbal exchange with her, I was glad that that was what she'd said. "I love you, too." We separated and they went to the now-empty stands. Bulma pressed a button on the machine and a light blue field appeared around them.

I looked back at Oreg. "Anything else?"

He laughed and pointed his palm at me. "Only taking my position attop this wretched world." I pushed off the ground and zoomed towards him, starting the fight that would decide the fate of Earth.