Co-written by SuperSaiyan2Link.
After having a senzu bean to heal from her battles prior, Pan listened as both Chronoa and Trunks explained who Towa was:
Towa hailed from the Demon Realm, having a talent for science and technology, but had little to no influence in her home world. In the early days of the Time Patrol, they needed assistance in building and sustaining the Time Patrol's tech, so the two decided to recruit her. While she never trained for combat, she flourished, helping in the early years of Toki Toki City.
They acknowledged her brilliance, but then moved on to what happened: Towa attempted to alter the main timeline for her own gain, which Trunks had to stop. Afterward, she went rogue, leaving Toki Toki City and attempting to alter the timeline several times. Years had passed since her last attempt, and with her being behind the latest attempted alterations, Chronoa and Trunks realized the idea of Towa giving up or moving on was too good to be true. With what Towa had pulled off so far with her power-ups and this ally of hers called Mira, both feared the worst had yet to come.
As the four of them left the library, Pima went ahead through the gate, understanding he was not needed yet, but stating he would be training for if a day were to come where he would be. Pan decided if nothing else was needed of her, she would depart as well, but she found her path blocked by the bearded owl she had encountered prior, whom Chronoa introduced as Tokitoki.
When Pan asked if Tokitoki was Chronoa's pet, the Supreme Kai of Time explained that he wasn't her pet, but that she was Tokitoki's caretaker and had been so for millions of years. After Pan got over her shock at both Tokitoki and Chronoa's astounding age, the Supreme Kai of Time elaborated that Tokitoki, being a divine bird, was incredibly important to their universe and time itself, and that ensuring his safety was of paramount importance.
Once Pan inquired if Tokitoki was very powerful, Chronoa elaborated that physically, he wasn't much to brag about, but he has power over time, making him vital to producing time itself. Even after this clarification, Tokitoki did not take the small jab lightly and flew up to Chronoa, cawing at her angrily. After Chronoa argued back at Tokitoki, telling him to watch his language, Trunks insisted it may take a while and that they'd get back to Pan at another time.
Instead of heading back to her housing unit, Pan sought out Amura, eventually locating her along with Umiu. Her two fellow patrollers in training asked her what it was like to tackle such massive events and battles, but Pan immediately changed the subject upon revealing she saw the Kaio-Ken and a technique of Nappa's, both of which Amura used against Pan herself in their spar long ago. Amura revealed that a large variety of techniques wielded by countless warriors throughout history could be learned by the patrollers and that she had picked them up from others.
Having seen how the Kaio-Ken boosted a fighter of Goku's caliber, Pan requested that Amura teach her how to use that technique, to which Umiu asked the same. Amura agreed to teach the two the technique, but warned that even for her to use it as briefly as she did before took months of training, and that the slightest error could put both their lives in danger. Both accepted the risk and accompanied Amura to the academy's training grounds.
From there, Amura tried to describe the process as basically as she could: that it was multiplying one's ki for a fraction of a second, greatly enhancing power, speed, and even senses, but takes a great toll on the body over time. Since Amura herself had yet to master Kaio-Ken times three or four, and as Pan and Umiu had never attempted it prior, she only wanted them to try working towards the standard version. Amura stood in place and demonstrated the technique first, both Pan and Umiu taking a step back from its power, as well as Pan sensing it was far stronger than when Amura used it in their battle. The two of them were instructed not to move around and just to try to get their power to multiply, then stabilize it.
Pan and Umiu charged up their ki, then shouted "Kaio-Ken!", seeing their ki briefly grow and take on a red hue, then immediately reverted back. Amura believed they weren't timing it correctly and taking too long to multiply their power, and waited for them to attempt it once more. In their second attempt, Pan and Umiu's ki grew moreso and remained red somewhat longer, but still lost it again. For their third try, Pan and Umiu's Kaio-Kens finally resembled Amura's and lasted for several seconds.
Seeing their progress, Amura wondered if they should try moving, but then saw that Pan's ki continued to grow even further. She told Pan to stop and power down, but Pan found she couldn't, feeling a great strain and seeing her muscles greatly increase along with her ki. Umiu had the same issue, but also seemed to grow massively, beginning to tower over the two of them. Both fell to their knees, their veins visible across their skin and struggling to breathe as Amura called for help. Pan and Amura finally managed to exit the Kaio-Ken, but after falling to their sides, they both lost consciousness.
Pan awoke, once again seeing Beetro watching over her.
"Kaio-Ken..." he started. "Perhaps one of the most common cases I heal patrollers from. So many attempt it, but very few master it."
She looked down at her arms, which were still bulkier than usual and the veins, while smaller, were still easily noticeable.
"It will take a bit more time for your body and Umiu's to revert to normal, though if you two continue to train with that technique like your friend Amura, it will take less time going forward."
Aside from her mind wandering back to her first experience using Kaio-Ken, she thought back to the discussion regarding Towa and her former status in the Time Patrol.
"Beetro, you're a non-combatant, right?"
"Yes. In fact, I joined the patrol on the condition that I'd never have to partake in battle."
"Are you the only one?"
"No, there was also To..."
He paused for a moment.
"I really mustn't discuss it."
"Towa?"
"Myself and older members make an effort not to discuss Towa with newer members... but since you're clearly aware of her, yes, she also joined as a non-combatant. We had that in common."
"Know her well?"
Beetro reflected on the past, and his earliest years in the Time Patrol.
"She was very dedicated to her craft. Always strove make everything here better. When we first met, she had already helped to upgrade the patrol's medical tech, which certainly helped me in my endeavors."
"Did she keep to herself?"
"No, not necessarily. Like you, she had been going through a tragedy from her home. We could tell Towa was trying to make the best of what she had here, up until...
"Until what?"
"An accident at the academy, which injured more than a dozen recruits and nearly killed... Hale."
Unknown to Pan and Beetro, Hakusa walked by the room, then stopped upon hearing that last statement.
"The Commander?"
"I mean, he wasn't a commander back then. Hale was a recruit at that time. But his wound from what transpired was the gravest of the bunch. "
"Just what happened?"
"I never saw it occur first-hand: only the results of it."
The door opened and Hakusa had their attention.
"I'll tell you what happened: Towa had just developed a new training bot, one designed to push us to our limits to aid in battles."
"The Saiyans that heckled Hale happened there, correct?"
After Beetro's comment, Hakusa paused, then continued.
"Right. It was them that went first. The bot seemed weak at first, but once they got cocky, they were taken down with ease. Hale tried next."
"But wait..." Pan inquired. "I thought you said you weren't there, Beetro."
"I wasn't. That was what Hale told me."
As Hakusa continued right after, Pan felt a change in the Saiyan's voice.
"Even after their loss, they still underestimated him. The bot powered up and it looked like Hale was done for, but he pushed himself forward, matching it and taking it down."
As much as Pan found something of a happy ending for Hale from that, she had to know...
"But if Hale won, then where was the accident?"
Hakusa crossed her arms, taking in a deep breath.
"Towa called it a wrap and tried shutting it down, but there was a malfunction. It attacked everyone around it and kept increasing its power. It knocked Trunks away and it would've killed..."
Hakusa was trying hard to not let emotion slip through.
"It would've killed those Saiyans were it not for Hale. He got in its way, taking a beam through his torso. It was after that when Trunks came back with his sword and cut it in two."
Trying to wrap it up, Hakusa turned to Beetro.
"Then Trunks flew Hale to you, right Beetro?"
"Indeed. I had to treat him for several days, both due to the extent of his wound and how much of our resources went to the other injured as well..."
Hakusa knew Beetro wasn't finished recollecting what she didn't want to hear.
"And if I recall, your leg had to be treated."
She couldn't hide it anymore and bit the bullet.
"Hale saved my life that day... even after how me and the other Saiyans treated him."
"It's in the past, Hakusa. You and they grew into what you are now."
All the times she had been in Hakusa's presence, Pan never saw anything remotely close to Hakusa acting condescending towards anyone. Even when Hakusa lightly pointed out Pan's then-lower power level with Trunks, it was done out of concern rather than arrogance.
As much as part of her tried to imagine Hakusa and other Saiyans acting snobby towards someone like Hale, her focused turned towards...
"Beetro... how soon can I get back into action?"
"Not too long."
She saw Hakusa about to leave, but the Saiyan turned back to her.
"Just be sure not to rush it Pan, okay?"
"Towa..."
Deep within her lair, Towa turned toward her inquiring partner.
"If our goal is to fight back against the Time Patrol's interference... why did you make me spare that patroller?"
"That is a fair question, Mira. This girl serves them, yes... but she isn't an unquestioning pawn. There is more to her."
"What would you propose we do when we encounter her again?"
As she considered an answer to his second question, Towa began tinkering with her formula. An idea sparked...
"We will see what happens and go from there."
Pan spent the following weeks in Toki Toki City working alongside Umiu under Amura's instruction to perfect their use of the Kaio-Ken. Neither had to return to Beetro's care since their first attempt, but both still found the technique difficult to hold.
"Now I want you both to spar using Kaio-Ken. Not times 4. Not times 3. Just basic Kaio-Ken."
Umiu walked back, then turned with his stance as Pan followed suit in the opposite direction.
"Ready?"
Both let their ki flow through them to better ensure control of it.
"GO!"
"KAIO-K...!"
"Excuse me."
Pan and Umiu were interrupted by Commander Hale stepping in between them.
"I regret that I am cutting your session short, but I'm afraid..."
"You need Pan for a mission?" Amura asked bluntly. "...not that I would know anything about her missions. I mean I know they're pretty important, but none of the specifics..."
"It's quite alright. And yes, you are correct."
They made their way through the Time Nest towards the library.
"Don't get discouraged," Hale began. "It took Goku months just to get Kaio-Ken to work."
Even as Pan remembered just how well Goku used Kaio-Ken in his battle with Nappa, she also remembered the tremendous strain it put on him against Vegeta.
"Don't forget, you advanced to the 30's without it."
"Commander Hale, if you don't mind me asking..."
"Please... what's on your mind?"
"That day... the accident..."
The topic didn't thrill him, but Hale remained ready to answer.
"How did you get through that?"
"My earliest days in the Time Patrol were hard for me. I was one of the first of Frieza's race to join and not all of my fellow patrollers were thrilled at the prospect."
"And Saiyans?"
"When I saved them from the training bot, things improved... but healing from that wound was a trial."
"That's when you met Beetro, right?"
This caused Hale to pause right at the steps and turn away from her for just a moment. Pan began to regret prying into his affairs.
"What am I doing? I'm treating Hale like an open book."
"I'm sorry, Commander. I didn't mean to pry."
He turned back to her.
"The truth is I don't believe I would have survived without him."
The library's doors opened quickly, Trunks' gloved hands visible to them.
"Pan, get in here now!"
Both ran through the library at a fast pace, Trunks' hand gripping Pan's wrist tightly to keep her from falling back.
"What's the situation?"
He didn't answer.
"Trunks?"
They remained silent after until they made it to the round room. Trunks finally let go of her, then zoomed toward the scroll.
"Trunks, would you please tell me what's going on?"
He stretched out the scroll and placed it into her hands. From what she could see...
Age 762
Bulma and Krillin, both on an alien planet, watched something unfold in shock and terror.
Vegeta lied on the ground in front of them heavily bruised, one of his shoulder guards broken off. He was slow to get up, grasping his chest in pain and spitting out blood as two men approached him:
One tall, green-haired and green-skinned with an aura of elegance, and the other bulkier with pink skin, spikes across his head and wrists, and much less refined in manner.