"Whoever you are, you need to leave now!" the Namekian demanded, despite keeping a calm demeanour and the sphere flickered out of existence and he lowered his legs to stand. "By coming here, you have threatened what remains of this planet."

"Whoa, hold up, calm down and explain," Trunks held his hands up. "What's going on?"

The Namekian regarded him coolly and sighed. "Long ago, this planet came under attack. We called for aid from Earth's defenders, but they never came and faced with no choice, we merged all of our bodies together to create me. I am Ocarin, the last surviving Namekian and guardian of this planet."

Trunks froze and the colour drained from his face. He remembered when Piccolo fused with Kami in the past and how the action had rendered the Dragonballs inert, until Goku brought Dende to Earth. But here, Dende never came to Earth and if every single Namekian resided within Ocarin, including Dende, that could only mean that even the Namekian Dragonballs were inactive and there was no way to restore the Earth's Dragonballs. Without them, Trunks couldn't fix the damage done to his planet and he felt a wave of despair well up inside, something he hadn't felt since before his second trip into the past.

"You look troubled," Ocarin observed. "Clearly, you were expecting to see the planet populated."

"I was hoping to use the Dragonballs to fix my home," Trunks said. "Our set have been deactivated since Piccolo was killed. I thought the least I could do was restore Earth, but I guess we'll have to do it the old-fashioned way."

"Ah yes, the Dragonballs. With my creation, the Dragonballs were destroyed and since I have not been able to create a set of my own thanks to him, I cannot help you."

Hope started to glimmer in Trunks' heart. "You mean you can create Dragonballs?"

Ocarin spread his arms. "Of course. I do require the proper items, but it can be done. However, I am certain that the items I need have been destroyed. Do you still have your Dragon Statue?"

Trunks nodded enthusiastically. "Of course! I mean, I'm positive we do…um…I didn't check before I came here, but I'm sure we do. Perhaps you could come to Earth and help?"

Ocarin narrowed his eyes. "After you failed to help us when we needed you?"

The half-Saiyan sweat-dropped with a shame he felt he didn't deserve. "I'm sorry no-one was here to help you when you needed us, but that was certainly not my fault. Our defenders had been slaughtered and I spent my entire life living in fear and running for my life until I was strong enough to defend my planet. But I rather not get into an argument with you about that. If you need my help now, I'm here. All I ask in return is that you restore Earth's Dragonballs."

The Namekian crossed his arms and regarded Trunks coolly. "There is a fire that burns inside you. I can see it clearly. Perhaps you are strong enough to help me. What do you know about Cooler?"

"Frieza's brother?" Trunks frowned. "Goku defeated him years ago. It was the last time he turned Super Saiyan, as he died not long after that. What about him?"

"He was not as defeated as you were led to believe," Ocarin said. "Cooler survived, thanks to the Big Gete Star and he attacked our planet. That is why I'm the sole surviving Namekian. That is why my home is the ruin you would've seen."

"Let's help each other then," Trunks offered. "I help you defeat Cooler, you restore Earth's Dragonballs. Deal?"

"I don't think we'll survive the encounter, but very well," Ocarin agreed. "This way."

Outside the mountain, Pan and 16 watched as the Big Gete Star filled the atmosphere, its immense size devouring any remaining sunlight until only darkness remained. 16's scanners reported a mass of artificial energy signals that were greater than his own, while Pan was trying to keep herself calm like Trunks had taught her. She had never been in a real fight before and she didn't want to let her teacher down, but she didn't know how she would fair against something like this.

Multiple lights appeared on the Star's body, two giant spotlights shining onto Pan and 16. "Capture the live one," a voice boomed from the Star. "Destroy the machine."

Massive tentacles stretched from the Star and buried into Namek's landscape and swarms of Cyclopian Drones flew off the Star like a plague of locusts. Pan tried to force her fears aside as she took in the overwhelming numbers and she brought her hands to her forehead.

"Masenko!"

The golden beam blasted forth and smashed through the first few Drones, but others quickly recognised the danger and avoided the beam as it slammed into the Star. It had no effect on the massive machine, but Pan didn't notice as she threw herself into battle, utilising every inch of her training and Saiyan strength. Drones shattered around her fists and feet and 16 threw himself into battle alongside her, his brute strength cleaving through the Drones and leaving their destroyed bodies in his wake. Pan started firing energy blasts at any nearby target, not looking at where she fired them. Sometimes her blasts made contact, other times the Drones were able to avoid them. They began to swarm her, reaching for her and she snarled as she retaliated, throwing fists and energy blasts. A Drone grabbed her from behind and she caved its face in with her elbow. 16 fired his fist through a Drone's head and instead of reattaching his fist on the return, he unleashed a powerful blast that incinerate several Drones at once.

"There are too many of them," Pan thought as she kicked a Drone off her leg and another grabbed her from behind. She tried to throw her elbow back, but a Drone caught her arm and yet another Drone grabbed her other arm. "No, no, no, no! let me go! Let go of me!" She screamed and her aura ignited as she forced her energy outwards and blasted the Drones off her. "Where's Trunks? I wish he would hurry up. He'd show them what for."

An energy blast caught her in the chest and knocked her through the air. Pan caught herself and the Drones dog-piled her, their numbers too great as they flew her towards the Star. 16 saw what was happening and he tried to fly to Pan's aid and something hard slammed his chest and he ended up in the ground. The Android huffed as he picked himself up from the trench and faced the newcomer.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"I am Cooler," the robotic lizard replied with a haughty smirk. "The Saiyan child will provide an excellent amount of energy for the Star. As for you, machine, you are worthless."

16 quickly scanned Cooler. Although he had no natural energy, his artificial energy still exceeded 16's own and he quickly glanced at Pan as she was taken into the Star and he looked back at Cooler in time to catch a fist to his face. 16 flew across the landscape and smashed into a mountainside, his pain receptors going haywire. He knew he stood no chance against Cooler, but until Trunks arrived, he was going to do his best to try and get Pan back.

Prying himself out of the mountain, 16 searched for any weakness and tensed when none came up. Cooler smirked, as if knowing the reason behind 16's distress. The Android steeled himself for a difficult fight and decided to go on the offensive and flew straight at Cooler, his fist launching off his arm. Not expecting the manoeuvre, Cooler was caught by surprise and while he dodged the flying fist, he didn't dodge 16's follow-up punch.

"Lucky shot," Cooler chuckled. "But you are facing the next step in machine evolution. Allow me to demonstrate." He fired a Death Beam that drilled straight through 16's right chest and exited his back. 16 gasped in shock and a quick scan revealed that he had lost the full function of his right arm thanks to the positioning of the Death Beam. 16 looked for Pan and found her aboard the Star, as Cooler raised his finger. "Time to say goodbye."

16's sensors beeped, indicating an incoming energy signal and Cooler went flying across the terrain. The Android had never felt so relieved to see Trunks and he noticed the Namekian, his sensors stating that the newcomer was quite strong, almost on par with Trunks.

"16, are you okay?" Trunks asked. "Where's Pan?"

"She is aboard the ship. I cannot help you much," 16 replied, showing his damaged arm. "I will only be a hindrance."

"You get Pan, I'll handle Cooler."

"I will clear a path for you," Ocarin told 16 and he flew at the Drones, cleaving through them.

Cooler rose up from the crater and ascended to the sky until he was level with Trunks, who faced him fully. "It's been so long since I've seen a Saiyan. This time, however, I will be the victor. I know all about your Super Saiyan form and let me tell you now, you stand no chance against me."

Trunks couldn't help but smirk. "Did you know that there are levels beyond an ordinary Super Saiyan?" His aura ignited and with a shout, he transformed into an Ascended Super Saiyan. "How do you like your chances now?"

"Hm, interesting," Cooler said. "Unlike last time-"

There was a boom and Cooler flew across the sky. Trunks pursued and hammered blows against the cyborg's body. Cooler was surprised at the power and cursed himself for underestimating a foe once more and he quickly scanned Trunks' offence. He found an opening and drove his fist into Trunks' ribs, halting the attack. In reply, Trunks kicked him in the head and fired the Finish Buster. Cooler dodged the blast and shot several Death Beams in return. Trunks avoid them as he charged and his fist blasted straight through Cooler's chest. The cyborg gaped in shock and Trunks released a ki blast through the gap and obliterated Cooler. He turned towards the Star and saw that Ocarino was still fighting, easily holding his own, while 16 was nowhere in sight and Trunks presumed the Android was aboard the Star. He went to assist and stopped short when Cooler appeared before him.

"What?" Trunks cried. "I destroyed you."

"Yes, you did," Cooler said. "However, the Star does not let me die and it brought me back once more. My flaws have been corrected and this time, you will be destroyed."

Trunks threw a punch. Cooler caught his fist. Trunks unleashed a barrage of punches and kicks and Cooler blocked every single blow with a smirk. He nailed Trunks with a punch to the jaw and knocked him towards the ground. Trunks stopped himself from crashing and narrowly avoided Cooler's foot, but his tail smashed him in the side of his head. Flying back, Trunks performed the movement for Burning Attack and unleashed it. Cooler took the hit and shrugged it off like it was nothing.

"Dammit," Trunks thought. "What will it take to put him down?"

"Is that really all you've got?" Cooler mocked. "I expected more from a Saiyan."

"Very well. How about this?" Trunks replied and he cupped his hands to the side, purple energy shimmering in his palms. "Galick Gun!"

In hindsight, Cooler should have dodged the blast. He should not have let his arrogance underestimate his opponent's attack. But it was too late, as he had decided to take the blast head on, realised too late how powerful it was and couldn't do anything as it tore him to pieces. As the scraps of his body floated towards Namek's surface like burnt snowflakes, Trunks blasted towards the Star, pausing only to help Ocarin finish off the last of the Drones.

"Impressive," Ocarin commented upon seeing Trunks' Super Saiyan state. "What is it?"

"This is what we call a Super Saiyan," Trunks replied. "Now that we've taken out the welcoming committee, shall we remove this monstrosity from here?"

Ocarin motioned towards the Star. "After you."

Trunks entered the Star, the Namekian right behind him. He spread his senses in search of Pan's energy and found her deep within the Star, as a Drone appeared and was instantly destroyed by an energy blast. "We're going to have be quick."

Ocarin nodded and the pair flew down the corridor, blasting through any Drones that tried to stop them. Trunks kept his focus on Pan's energy and it was so still, like she was unconscious, and worried thoughts constantly rushed through his mind as he blitzed through the Star's defenders. He was so focused on finding Pan that he didn't detect the attack until it was too late and he was blasted through a steel wall. Ocarino halted and Cooler faced him with a smirk.

"Guess who's back? And this time, I am not alone."

Three exact copies took up position behind him and another three moved in behind Ocarino. In the next room, Trunks groaned and cursed himself for failing to be aware and he rose to his feet, finding five Coolers standing before him, all wearing an identical smirk.

"Okay, that is not creepy at all," Trunks thought and then it was bright and then there was only darkness.