Book 4: The Dissonance of The Earthling Saiyan

by Espeon804

Book 4. Humanity has proved itself a threat. Their ultimate creation backfires and becomes their worst enemy. A Bio-Android goes by the name of Cell - an insect like organism who absorbs anyone it can get to... but for what purpose? Saiyan, Human, Namekian, and Android are forced to join forces. This is indeed a dissonance. It seems that Goku is struggling with himself.

19. An alternate mindset of a genius!

Chapter 19 Plot:

Chapter 19: "An alternative mindset of a genius! The Saiyan's terrifying nature!" The unexpected battle has come to an end, but time is still ticking as Cell waits patiently for the deadline to arrive. It seems the humans had a way of dealing with the threat without needing to borrow the Saiyans' power after all! Because the Human's latest threat is fully developed and ready to bring great destruction, Prince Tarble finally had enough. Seeing anger and envy begins to make him act out. His lack of hope towards the future calls out an ugly side of him when everyone once again is against his ideals!

WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING…

Trying to tame Broly proves to be a chore. Paragus believes he has his head in the game… but how long will he keep it?

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A/N: Espeon804 here with another great chapter! First one published at the age of 21!

I had to push myself to get this done for y'all. You deserve it. People have been asking about the next update. I don't want anyone waiting too long.

Seems this book series is what most people enjoy. I have other works, you know. But hey, if you only like Dragon Ball, I understand.

It's just like how I've been playing the same game and ignored the others the past few days. Haha.

I'm slowly trying to improve grammar, and what proper words to use in a story as well. So, you may see some slight changes.

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Question of the day: (This is to improve me!) Is there a pet-peeve with the way I write, or what I write? Be honest!

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PUBLISHED: February 15, 2020!

WORDS: 20,376

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HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT:

BEWARE! This is chapter 19! I have finally come to this conclusion! This book will have a total of 30 chapters!

Chapter 30 is the final chapter!

When Book 4 is done, it might be it for OTES. I know I said before there could be a book 5 and 6 but…

Books 1-3 took 1 year each to make. This one has been dragging since 2017. I'm not sure how well I'll do in the future…

It's probably about time I focus on other works.

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ATTENTION: NEW STORY! Please do check out; "Pokémon Insighter: Platinum"!

… please?

Summary:

They were forced into world to alternate from their own: The world of Pokémon. They were told one thing: "Find The Insight". They have to journey through the Sinnoh Region to seek answers. They aren't the chosen ones, "The Inisghter" is. The twins are just disposable tools for the gods. However, they are kids with dreams, and EVERYONE has dreams.

...

Mia and her twin brother Will aren't the first to be pulled from their own world. They are just another attempt to find The Insight the Pokémon gods are seeking. But, why would they take someone from another world?

Many hope to find "The Insight" to achieve the impossible. A single sentence describes its power:

"All it takes is one Insighter, and the legendary monsters will bow before them during times of need."

It's a power that was thought to have disappeared thousands of years ago. However... it is alive, and many are after it. People desire it to make their dreams a reality, or for their nightmares to be destroyed.

People will fight for it. They say that in a world of Pokémon, the most lethal weapon should only be a sword or spear. Those with great malice will go beyond that.

No matter what happens, the twins must find The Insight first, and always follow the Trainer's Code.

Old characters and new characters will be seen! Some characters are unexpected to be seen! No need to be a PKMN fan to read it!

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So, I played Pokémon Sword…

I caught Wooloo. I didn't keep it. :(

Huh? How was it? I mean, it's fun. I just wish it didn't look so much like a 3DS port. Well, the wild area wouldn't fit in the 3DS but…

Aside that? Great music. Fun battles. Difficulty spikes. Fun rivals. Fun characters. The story? Could have been better.

But the music.

THE. MUSIC. IS. AMAZING.

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DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN DB, DBZ, DBGT, DBZKAI, OR DBS! Akira Toriyama does!

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Key:

"Talking"

"Foreign Language"

'Thoughts'

'Telepathy'

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-Chapter 19: An alternative mindset of a genius! The Saiyans' terrifying nature! -

The Saiyans' eyes are black, but Human eyes are never black. They can be a dark brown as the darkest color. It's another way to tell them apart. But it seems the red color in a Saiyan's won't show unless such a brutal nature begins to surface.

What happens when a Saiyan's eye color turns red?

Mainly, what happens is a transformation into the Oozaru - commonly known as the Great Ape. A Saiyan's primal form. A towering beast that is powerful and terrifying. A Saiyan's instincts are in their peak in such a form. Their eyes glow in the darkness, stunning anyone weaker than them.

Their eyes only glow when the beast is about to come out. But the red is seen when their "true" nature surfaces regardless. Saiyan rage… is absolutely deadly.

When their Saiyan instincts are at their peak, their senses are working at their highest point. They are aware of their surroundings. They become far more brutal. In such a state, everything they see… their very vision is red. Everything is red. They can smell everything… hear the tiniest pin drop. They are like a predator.

Saiyans… are considered a predatory species.

These sensations... How much she hates it.

She never wanted to hurt anyone so badly.

She never wanted to fight senselessly.

She never wanted to become what is seen as a monster.

But… they wanted her to do just that.

And, when it does happen… they shrink. They tremble. They have regrets.

She just wanted to live a simple life with her children after she retired. She wanted nothing more than to be happy in a fight-free life. Even after she died… she wished for no unnecessary conflict. But… the world just doesn't work that way.

She's supposed to be a kind Saiyan ever since she quit her blind life…

That stupid, stupid crap King Cold's doctors stuck in her will never go away. It gave her a reason to steer clear from fighting. But… even that wasn't enough. Someone always finds a way…

Gine finds herself acting in the way she despises. Is it her fault? Maybe.

She should be conflicted. She should want it to stop. But, she doesn't. She won't… because she can't. That's what the stupid experiment does to her. Once it starts, it cannot be tamed. That's what they wanted.

That's why King Vegeta wanted to get rid of it. He sent his loyal elites to wipe them out. They were thought to be dead.

And now, Nappa stands before one.

This is… a rather interesting twist. He found Gine, just as he was asked. He didn't to find her in this condition… and wearing the mark that gave her a death sentence she somehow avoided…

If Prince Vegeta finds out about this…

The Saiyan mother is aware of his discomfort. Though the way she responds, it tells the general that she is… extremely angry. How her words tremble with loathing and rage… Paragus clearly pushed her too far.

"You recognize it? I'm not surprised." Gine frowns at this. This was expected, since he is an elite soldier. They all recognize it. They have to.

Nappa's eyes narrow quickly. "I don't know what went down over here… but Gine, this is enough. Step aside, and I'll handle it from here."

Gine snarls as she spreads her fingers. "You should have arrived ten minutes ago, before I made up my mind!" She throws her hand down towards Paragus.

Her wrist is snatched.

Gine's eyes widen as they shift to the huge hand that caught it. She looks back, seeing Nappa. How did he move so fast?

The general is slightly bothered by the static that travels to his arm. "Seems like you lost your sense of self as well. Then again… this is what they did to you. It's the first time I see the results in the flesh in over thirty years…"

Gine grits her teeth as a snarl escapes her throat. She tries to pull her arm free, but he simply won't budge.

"How in the world did they miss you?"

Gine's growl becomes heavier. Her energy spreads out and engulfs her body. She releases it as a powerful discharge, and the general is hit with it directly.

Nappa screams out as the energy swallows his body. He is forced to let go and step away to save his body from becoming numb. He looks at her with a frown. "Ouch… looks like Raditz learned a few tricks from you, after all…!"

It takes a few seconds for him to recover from that. Seeing how defensive she is, he continues;

"I'm not going to kill you or anything if that's what you think. I only came here because I was asked to check on you. It's a good thing I decided to."

Gine's eyes widen as they fill with more rage.

"That look on your face… that's the face of a Saiyan in their primal mindset. You can't think logically right now."

"Out of my WAY!" Gine thrusts her hand forward, firing a Single Sunday. Witnessing him dodge it quickly annoys her further. "Whose side are you on?! WHICH ONE?!"

Nappa steps back as he carefully watches her movements. "I'm on your side," he answers. "But, I'm not going to let your anger consume you. I've seen what happens to those like you when it did. It's not pretty. How about we just let this go? I don't know what Paragus did to set you off like this… but you can't kill him. Not in your current condition."

Gine's tail nearly strikes the ground. She sprints forward and vanishes in an instant.

Nappa growls. 'She's fast. But if I know any better…' He turns around and blocks a kick from landing on his head. "Ah."

Gine narrows her eyes. She lands on the ground and jumps, delivering hand chop after chop, but each one was dodged or blocked. Growing frustrated, she throws out her knee, which is also blocked. She sends a high kick, and her ankle is snatched. Her eyes go wide in shock.

"You seem surprised." Nappa notes.

Gine growls and pulls her leg free. She sends a frenzy of kicks, and each one is easily blocked. She fakes out sending another kick, and fires a blast instead. He clearly saw this coming due to how he deflects it with little struggle. How is he seeing through her like this?!

Nappa pushes her back. "It's pointless for you to keep trying. Raditz once told me how you trained him personally. I figured you and him share the same fighting style and techniques. I've known Raditz since he was a kid, so let's just say I know how to counter his every move. It will work with you, too. So… do us all a favor… and ease yourself. You don't want any of your sons to see you like this, do you?"

Paragus finds himself able to move his fingers a bit. He just needs a little more time.

"My children… they are dying…" Gine says. "You can sense their presence somehow. You can feel their power level without a scouter. One of them is dying. Don't lie to me."

She isn't wrong. Nappa can sense Kakarot's energy falling like a stone. But he absolutely refuses to confirm it, knowing it would only fuel the fire. He can see how she is hurting inside. What is he supposed to say?

Without a word, she moves again with her incredible speed. Nappa is quick to block her next attack, but what he didn't expect was for her to snag his coiled tail. A pulse of energy is all it takes, and the energy runs through the limb. Gine watches him freeze up and fall to the ground with the tail still in her hold.

"What… what did you just…?" Nappa is almost at a loss for words. Even as she releases the tail, he can't move. The tail is always a weakness. Even if the squeezing doesn't work… breaking the bones makes it painful to move. But here, she stunned him through the limb. It's almost pathetic by how quickly she pinned him down, but the method means she has no intentions of hurting him.

She just wants him out the way.

This is bad. He can't move, and she has drawn her attention back to Paragus. She wouldn't consider any of this on her right-mind. Nappa begins to understand why she had quit the military in the first place.

Maybe, this is one of the major reasons. Regardless of what… Gine is far too nice to be so cruel. This… is the result of what happens when science plays with people.

"You should have never come here…" Gine mutters, glancing back at the general before looking at Paragus, who had crawled away a good distance.

Paragus takes notice of her approaching. He begins to crawl faster, but it ends abruptly as a boot slams on his head, forcing it to the ground. He groans in pain, and he desperately tries to move away.

She pushes harder as her hands fill with more energy. She speaks with a much darker tone as she lifts one hand. "How many shots will it take until your lungs finally burst? I got tired of your senseless talking."

Paragus' voice is mixed under her boot. It's full of panic.

"It's too bad. When I usually do this… they lose their ability to scream. I'll hold back for as long as I can, just to hear your suffering before you die. I'll kill you nice and slow."

Those words… Raditz had said them time after time whenever he gets pissed off.

Did he pick that up from Gine? Or is it just a mere coincidence?

Paragus' scream is louder now. He completely panics as the woman draws one hand back. Her eyes stand out in the darkness, filled with unspeakable malice.

"Gine… you have to fight it. This isn't something… you would do." Nappa calls her, once again trying to reach her, someway. "This is exactly what King Cold would have wanted. You can't give that bastard what he wants…!"

Gine stops her movements, but her eyes don't leave Paragus. The words Nappa said… they do manage to sink in. This is… is it truly necessary? Seeing his weak form… it reminds her… of the days she swore to leave behind.

Her hand shakes slightly as her eyes seem to relax just a bit, replaced with a hint of uncertainty. A tinge of fear. What is she doing?

Gine places a hand against her head. She blinks a few times to try to clear her head. Her vision is still red and somewhat blurry, only clear and focused on her target. She can smell his fear… hear his quick breaths…

She moves her hands over her eyes as she steps off the Saiyan. Taking several steps back, she nearly falls. Her breathing becomes heavy as she feels herself struggling. The small part of her is fighting to break free. She's having a mental war. This happens every time. Her gentle nature collides with the unnatural violent side injected into her. A tug-of-war…

"I… have to…" Gine turns away, trying to relax her hands. They struggle to try to do that much. "Stop… fighting…"

'You silly fool… isn't that a bit hard for you to do?'

Gine's quickly scans her surroundings. Where did that voice come from? It was a haunting whisper… she can't distinguish it.

'You know that you are a Saiyan. You said so yourself before you gave Paragus a beating.' It goes on. 'Fighting is in your blood. You may be gentle at heart… but you felt it, didn't you? The flow of battle… how it makes your blood boil… and the smell of blood gets your heart pounding. Why stop now? You have him where you want him. Your eyes tell it all. They have that crimson look that a true Saiyan holds… you don't want to stop.'

Who's talking? She can't pin the location. It sounds like it is everywhere…

'Your sons are in danger. You said this yourself; It is a mother's duty to protect her children, no matter what. So what are you waiting for? He's right there…'

Gine stiffens as her lips pull back again. Her eyes fall back on Paragus, and her tail twitches. The fur stands even taller, as her hands tighten more.

Behind her, the trees rock as the wind begins to pick up. Leaves fall from the branches as they wilt away. Purple mist… no… purple fog starts to pour from the forest, slowly, but closer to her…

Her energy gathers into her hands. She slowly raises them both as a low growl escapes her throat. It drags on, growing louder as the bolts jump across the palms. Her heart is pounding for her to finish this.

Finish this!

But… something grabs her arms.

Turning around, her eyes widen at the sight of Bardock. She becomes frozen, staring at his judging eyes that seem to narrow. She tries to pull her arm free, but he has a good grip on it. She growls angrily and pulls harder.

"Not now," Bardock says as he watches her struggle. "Not anytime soon."

How is he even here…? Or… did she slip so far that she is hallucinating? It's hard to determine. Looking at her surroundings… everything fogged out. There is nothing. Nothing but an endless void… and the very Saiyan who is talking to her at this moment. She begins to think she must be seeing things, and she tries to pull away again, but his grip is so strong.

The way he looks at her holds no anger. Anything else is hard to detect, but… he must be feeling… bad in some sense. Maybe because he encouraged her to fight, and it led to this mess?

Bardock takes her hands into hers. "There is nothing else to do here, Gine. This isn't you."

She lifts her head to look at him, but her eyes only catch sight of the stretching field. He's gone. The void is gone. It's like… he was never there.

But it felt like he was.

She looks at her hands, and they tremble, matching her emotions. Her eyes trail over to Paragus, who remains pinned down on the ground.

In an instant, her energy dies down as she gasps. Her eyes fade to normal, and she lifts her foot off of him, staggering back and covering her mouth.

The gathering fog retreats back into the forest quickly, with a quiet hiss of anger.

Realization sinks in. She knows what she did. She wanted to actually kill him in a painful way… which is simply… intolerable for her standards. She can hardly forgive herself right now. But, is it really her fault? Maybe she should have gone all-out sooner so that such a terrible response would have never occurred…

Nappa tried to talk sense into her, and she just ignored him.

This is exactly why… she was afraid of fighting again. She had the feeling that something would trigger this. It just had to be Paragus. What about Cell? Will it happen again with Cell? What if he hurts one of her children? Or even worse. What if he kills one of them? How would she handle it?

So many questions run through her head, and she feels herself nearing panic. How could she… be so careless by not picking up all the signs? No… she knew the signs were there. She just ignored them like an idiot. She stopped fighting the dread and started fighting without mercy. Like the monster she despises.

She was just protecting her children, right?

Right…?

Nothing makes much sense. All she knows is that she allowed herself to get this bad. If it dragged on then...

"Seems like… you zoned out for a moment there." Nappa' voice draws her attention. He is back on his feet, looking at her with a bit of relief, perhaps. His tail is limp, not moving very well. He doesn't appear angry, to her surprise. "I don't know what happened. I didn't think you would manage to snap back to your senses."

'But I didn't. Not on my own.' Gine keeps the thought to herself. She remembers warning Paragus about how only Bardock knows how to stop her. It's not easy to explain how he manages to do it every time...

"Listen. I won't speak a word of this. In fact, I'll pretend this never happened. I'm sure you would rather forget," Nappa says. "But, I can't save you if another outburst happens again."

Such mercy is unexpected to hear from a warrior of his class. Gine is baffled by his words. She has to confirm it all. "Why bother sparing me? You saw what happened."

"Don't get me wrong. I'm not exactly a merciful guy," Nappa says. "Just listen. I doubt you would ever recover from killing Paragus if that did happen. I recognize that look you had in your eyes. That's the last thing you would ever want to greet your sons with."

He has a point. She probably wouldn't be able to crawl herself back out if she did go that far. Calming down wouldn't happen. She would only forget everything else, drawing her attention to Broly with every intention to give him the same treatment. She knows he's hurting them, but it's not his fault. If she was still in that ugly state, such a reasonable thought would have never crossed her mind. Rage would be pinned down on Broly, and she might either kill herself trying to stop him, or do something unforgivable.

She places a hand against the damaged portion of the chest plates. If she wasn't convinced that she did this earlier, she is now.

Nappa's voice snaps her out of her thoughts.

"I'll take care of Paragus here. You find them quickly. The combined efforts from you and your eldest should be enough to put it all to a halt."

Gine tightens her clenched hand, and she looks towards the sky. "Gine… you miserable fool…"

- 0000 -

A horrible roar rips through the air. Gigantic fangs are blocked by a pair of strong hands that push the beast back to save himself from being bitten.

Zhanshitao pulls his head away from Broly quickly, and he begins to swing his massive legs. Each swing is dodged, but he doesn't stop. A heavy punch lands against his head, and he retreats back. His two tails aim for the enraged Saiyan, and massive and thick strings of web is unleashed from the very tip, flying towards the enemy.

Broly swings his arms the web wraps around his body. It doesn't help much. He finds himself struggling within it, growling irritably.

"He's holding him very well!" Future Trunks announces, somewhat impressed. He can't tell how long it would hold him. While this goes on, he turns to his father, who is trying to keep Kakarot alive for as long as possible.

"Not for very long. He doesn't stand a chance against him." Turles isn't so hopeful. "It should be enough to stall for everyone else to catch a breath. Unfortunately, I'm pissed off that I might not be much help."

"Why?" Raditz looks at Turles, somewhat confused.

Turles grabs his prosthetic arm, and with a single pull, it tears from his shoulder immediately. Wide eyes stare at the screws and metal pieces that fall to the grass. "I'm somewhat disarmed."

"Aaagh… must you be so reckless…? I did enough repairs… and I'm sick of it…" Tarble finally gains the strength to push himself to his hands and knees. He rubs his bleeding forehead, grunting in discomfort.

Vegeta is on his feet as well. "Tch. Bad timing for him to go asymmetrical."

"Seriously?" Turles isn't amused at all. Was Vegeta joking around?

"Vegeta. Do you think you can still hold him off somehow?" Tarble asks. "Unfortunately for me, Broly is too fast for my senses to keep up with. I'm starting to greatly miss being able to use my eyes."

"Oh. Now you admit your blindness is a flaw. Took long enough." Vegeta is almost mocking him. "This Saiyan here isn't ordinary, so I can see how you would be no help anymore. Make yourself useful some other way. Do your tinkering thing and fix Turles' arm since he looks like he's dying inside. It's annoying me."

"I'm right here." Turles grumbles under his breath. But, Vegeta isn't wrong.

"That's exactly why I'm asking you to buy me time. I can't simply replace his arm while we have a mad Saiyan after our tails." Tarble grumbles.

"Wait. Did you say 'replace'?" Future Trunks has to double-check.

"I figured this would happen one day, so I was prepared. I made a few extra, and it was draining. I'll spare you the details," Tarble explains. "And Vegeta. I doubt simply fighting him will do any good. You may find this unpleasant, but when I ask for you to stall, I mean for you to distract him with some other method."

"Another method?" Vegeta repeats, somewhat confused. "What other method could there possibly be?"

"Perhaps you should try speaking to him." Table's idea sounds crazy to everyone. That alone can't work.

"What?! You expect me to just fly around him, like I want to have some small talk?!" Vegeta looks at his brother like he's the biggest idiot in the world. "You think talking to him will calm him down?! You're asking the wrong person!"

"Every time he sees you, he sees our father. Allow me to remind you, he is the reason we are in this mess. So, fix it." Tarble reminds Vegeta, trying to convince him to carry out the plan.

"Fix it?! Are you mad?!" Vegeta snarls at him.

"Perhaps. Being around you lot made it hard to reason correctly time after time." Tarble admits. "I was never fond of our father anyway."

"You-"

"Aside that," Tarble interrupts. "Broly appears to have a mindset like a child. He's lost and confused. Even if it seems impossible, try, and don't be so rude about it."

Vegeta just blinks, almost lost in thought. It takes for a stray blast flying past him for him to speak again. He holds back another growl just for his words to be understood. "You see that?!"

"I can't. I would rather not, anyway." Tarble answers.

"Doesn't matter! You at least felt that! Your expectations are unrealistic! Me, fly up there, try to stall, and not piss him off any further?!" Vegeta shouts. "Try to have small talk; 'Oh! I'm sorry that you've gone mad! Would you fancy some lovely words and embraces?!' Is that it?!"

"Fancy? Who uses that word like that?" Future Trunks wonders. He knows Tarble has his way of speaking. Maybe he missed a few terms?

"He was mocking Tarble, in case you didn't notice." Raditz sighs. "And he used the word right. It's just a different meaning, and I'm in no mood to explain it."

"Oh…"

Tarble narrows his eyes. "I know it sounds crazy, but you have to believe me."

"I won't, and I refuse," Vegeta flatly says. "You can do that yourself! I'll pound that Saiyan to the ground if I have to! Saiyans don't make small talk!"

Table sighs as his brother flies away from the group. "This is why I don't talk to him. So be it. Doesn't matter. Let him die if he wants. The absurd fool deserves it."

Future Trunks can tell how much faith Tarble has lost in Vegeta. The younger prince has tried. He tried so hard, but the constant harsh treatment he gets in return… the teen understands why Tarble eventually snapped. The clock is still ticking, and Future Trunks fears that his future would become the present.

He doesn't comment on anything yet, but his expression tells it all. Everything about this is frustrating. His attention turns to Karot, who is watching the gigantic beast struggling to restrain Broly.

Future Trunks walks over to Raditz, and he says; "I can't possibly stop the bleeding… None of us can."

"No. He can't die. Not now…" Raditz mutters. His eyes never left Kakarot's wound once. He carefully scoops Kakarot into his arms as he stands, and he looks to his left. "I still have enough time to take him back to the ship."

Turles chuckles. "You know… even back when we were kids… you were always looking after us, huh?"

Raditz returns a small smile. "Well… what kind of brother would I be if I didn't?"

Table doesn't say anything, but he appears bothered by what Raditz said. He turns away with a sigh.

"Try to stay alive," Raditz says. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

Future Trunks knows what it means. He positions his body in a fighting stance, and his blue eyes watch the struggle above. He decides to attack when the moment is right, maybe as soon as Broly breaks free. He will leave himself wide open when that happens, and it's the perfect frame for ambush. It doesn't look like the web would hold long, after all.

Raditz leaves the ground quickly, heading for his destination. His move doesn't go unnoticed.

Broly snarls deeply at the sight alone. Seeing Raditz carrying Kakarot away gives him motivation no one wants him to have. His main target isn't finished yet. He struggles harder, and Zhanshitao is fighting harder.

Future Trunks shifts his eyes over to Karot, who simply watches the struggle. The fact that he just stands there upsets the teen. Did he not react when his father was shot? Well, yes. He did… but now they stand in the aftermath, and the child doesn't appear to care. Future Trunks speaks up. "Hey. Gohan."

Karot is a bit surprised to hear his birth name being used by someone beside his parents. He looks at Future Trunks, somewhat puzzled.

The teenager points a single finger towards Raditz. "Do you not care about what happened to your father? He's dying as we speak, and you're just standing here, like nothing happened!"

Karot frowns. "I was already scolded by Nappa. Why do you bother me? I already said it's better off if my dad does die."

"Is that anyone to talk about someone who just saved your life?!" Future Trunks' angry tone surprises the other Saiyans, who are now listening in. "I'm sure I'm not the first to say this, but Goku's- I mean, Kakarot's trying to fix everything he did! It's not entirely his fault! I'm sure anyone would had lost their mind if they went through the torture he had to endure! It didn't help that there was a demon manipulating him at the same time! If he didn't care about you, he would have allowed you to die!"

Karot's expression makes it clear he is irritated. He shakes his head. "Why does anyone care about how I feel?"

For a split second, Future Trunks sees his childhood self standing in Karot's place, and it scares him. Without thinking, he drops his fighting stance and jumps towards Karot, snagging his shirt and pulling him rudely close to him. "Because you are still a child! A child who is living in a cruel world! But unlike what I went through, you still have a chance to live a better life! You don't have to endure the pain and suffering like I did! While you stand here dealing with the start of it, I had to endure the aftermath! I lived in the basement since I was a baby, until I was seven years old! All because my mother knew people would want me dead for merely having a tail! All because my father is the brother of the Saiyan who brought harm to this world! All because of what those selfish people did to him! All he wanted was to bring father back to life!"

Karot looks more annoyed than surprised by how the teen is handling him. He takes in everything that was said to him, and he answers. "You defend my father like everyone else. But, you saw for yourself what he did. You had to stop him from killing Uncle Raditz using the crown, remember?"

Future Trunks stops a bit. What the child just said, he does recall having to step in. His hesitation is enough for Karot to see.

"So, you see the problem with trying to stupidly defend him. Let me go."

Future Trunks' doesn't release him just yet. Instead, he just stares at him, almost speechless. Does he really not care anymore?

After a few seconds of hearing Broly's angry screams, the child speaks again. "I said, let me go."

Future Trunks growls, and he throws his head forward, headbutting the child. Karot didn't scream, but he doesn't hide the pain behind his face.

Turles looks at the teen as if he lost his mind. He never treated his allies like this before.

Karot growls as he grabs Future Trunks' arm, pulling down to try to free himself. It doesn't seem to do much more than make the arm budge. He moves his hands to Trunks' fingers. "Gaah! Let me go- AH!"

Future Trunks dropped him to the ground without warning. He turns and walks away from him, looking towards the sky where the enraged Saiyan continues to rampage.

"REEH! GYAAAAAAAH!" Broly screams towards the sky, letting lose his rage for everyone to hear. His power flows from his body, untamed, and not controlled, matching his current state in every way. With a powerful flex, the web bursts and tears like confetti, and the Saiyan is freed.

Zhanshitao moves back, hissing angrily.

Future Trunks' eyes harden. He rockets from the ground with both hands clenched tightly due to tension. "If he won't fight, then fine! But, I refuse to watch everything being taken from me again! Never again! This is for the sake of the future!"

"Kid! The hell are you doing?!" Turles calls him. "Don't be so reckless! He'll tear your arm off like a damn doll!" He turns to Tarble quickly. "Aren't you going to help them?!"

"I'll keep the teen from dying. The other one doesn't exist," Tarble replies with a shrug.

"Wha…?"

Future Trunks isn't the only one moving in for an attack.

Broly turns swiftly, snatching the ambushing Vegeta's head with a single hand. He snarls, pulling the struggling prince close to his huge form. He glances to his right, and he swings Vegeta's body like a bat, striking Zhanshitao aside its head. The beast screeches as it falls over.

Future Trunks moves his hands in a blur before shaping his fingers into a diamond, aiming for Broly's back. "Burning Attack!"

The massive orange blast is unleashed in a brilliant glow. Broly turns around, and he quickly throws Vegeta right into it. The impact is strong, bursting as a massive shockwave.

"Oh, no! Vegeta!" Turles shouts, in pure disbelief.

Future Trunks is blown back. At the sight of smoke, and Vegeta falling from the cloud, the teen's hands fall over his mouth. His eyes are wide in terror.

Broly turns his attention to the shaken teen. He flies forward with clenched fists, and he throws a punch. Future Trunks crosses his arms as a guard at the last second. A loud snap is heard, followed by his scream. The teen is effortlessly pushed back. Broly's other fist comes flying for Trunks' head, but it stops abruptly an inch before impact.

Broly glances at his arm, seeing it caught in a rope of web. He turns with a heavy snarl, meeting the angry face of Zhanshitao.

Green liquid ooze drips from the side of the creature's head. His fangs ooze heavy amounts of venom. He fires another rope of web, and it snatches Broly's other arm. They tighten and begin to pull.

Broly pulls back, and almost immediately, Zhanshitao is yanked forward. Broly's fingers tighten around the rope as he begins to spin, swinging Zhanshitao along with him. The beast is spun around like a merry-go-round. Once released, Zhanshitao is sent flying back, roaring loudly as his body begins to glow.

The creature shrinks in seconds. His roar turns into a tiny and panicked screech as he falls from the sky like a ball. He flails his legs around, having lost his ability to fly.

A single hand catches him, belonging to Turles. He gently holds Zhanshitao in his hand. "I forgot Giantulas don't do well when they get dizzy… that's a pathetic weakness you got there."

He is rewarded with a web covering his mouth like duck tape.

Broly snatches the web left on his body, and he tears it off him with clenched teeth.

Table walks across the field with crossed arms. He stops as soon as he stands in front of Vegeta, who lies smoking on the ground. "Want to talk now?"

Vegeta groans. "Shut the-" His sentence is interrupted by heavy coughing. Once it's done, he grumbles. "... hell up…"

Table huffs, and he turns towards the sky. "What's taking Raditz so long to dry his tears?"

Future Trunks floats in the sky, staring at Broly who is senselessly screaming at the sky. His arms hang limp, completely useless. "D-damn it… he's too much. At this rate, this is suicide…"

Indeed, it appears to be. Broly has his eyes on Trunks. The enraged Saiyan rockets towards the wary teen, letting lose another scream drowned by fury. Knowing what he can do, knowing he can snap him like a twig if he wanted…

Future Trunks floats back quickly, but Broly is in front of him in no time. He grits his teeth as a heavy first comes flying for his head. Leaning his body back, it flies over his torso. He allows gravity to take over, falling towards the ground. Broly is on pursuit.

Throwing both fists down, Broly misses direct contact to Future Trunks' stomach due to how quickly he turns around. He turns and throws another punch, but the teen flips over his head. Broly snatches one of his limp arms, stopping the performance in a heartbeat. He forces him down and throws a punch at his head using his free hand.

Future Trunks shuts his eyes as the pain goes through his entire body. He kicks at Broly's stomach in efforts to pull himself free, but nothing works. He can feel the pressure on one of his arms. The pain grows worse, and so does his thrashing. A series of snaps is followed by the teen's agonizing screams. He kicks harder, and each blow is weaker than the last.

Broly throws another punch, but he is knocked forward by exploding light. Smoke rises from his back as he turns around, seeing Tarble lowering a single hand.

"I know that you are scared," Tarble says. "But I can't let you kill him." Spreading his fingers, energy gathers to both palms, growing into glowing spheres of light. He throws them both, and they soar for the enemy.

Broly tilts his head, and one sphere whizzes past. The other is right at his face, but Broly catches it with his teeth, and it is crushed and… eaten…?

Table lowers his hands slowly. His face twists as he tries to figure out what just happened. "That didn't sound right. Did you just…?"

Future Trunks throws his legs around Broly's neck, pulling him into a lock. His arm is freed, and he holds his position as Broly begins to swing his body around to throw him off.

"Tarble! Do it while you have the chance!" Future Trunks yells. "Use your Galic Burst!"

"What?! He'll just use you like a shield as he did to Kakarot and Vegeta!" Tarble protests. "It doesn't feel very pleasant to be hit by one directly! I hope you are aware!"

"I am aware! I've had my fair share of those in my life!" Future Trunks struggles to keep a firm hold. He's already slipping. "Just do it!"

Tarble positions himself, and he begins to charge the attack. "Alright then, just brace yourself!"

Future Trunks growls at the intensity of the charge. "No! That's not good enough! You need to make it stronger!"

"If I go all-out, you might as well throw your life away! I'm in no mood to encounter an angry Raditz!" Tarble shouts at him, pouring in more energy.

Future Trunks takes in a deep breath as he closes his eyes. He comes to a decision, and he blurts out; "I bet Vegeta wouldn't hold back at all! Maybe that's why he's stronger than you, because you're always hesitating!"

"What?!" Anger floods Tarble's face in an instant. His attack grows twice as powerful as he snarls. "Don't say I didn't warn you!" He thrusts his hands forward, unleashing a massive purple blast.

Broly pauses, seeing the attack soaring for him. His fingers tighten around the teen's legs, and he tears them free with a snarl. Holding on to his ankle, he throws Trunks right for the blast.

A small blast strikes Trunks on his back, and he is knocked out of range. The Garlic Burst strikes Broly directly, swallowing him in the light. It explodes as a massive shockwave, leaving a cloud of smoke behind.

Table catches the teen by his arm, earning a pained screen. "Oh, dear… forgive me, but you'll have to deal with this pain for some time. Feels like your bones are shattered. For you to keep fighting is remarkable… but that's not the only thing…"

He turns towards Karot, who lowers his crossed hands while panting. He had pushed himself to fly at the last second, and the results saved Trunks' life.

"Everything hurts…" Future Trunks mutters, wincing. "Please tell me that did something…"

With an angry roar, Broly charges right out the smoke screen with his mouth wide open. Both hands are charged with green spheres of energy, and another is being formed from his throat.

Karot floats back quickly. "He's not hurt at all!"

Table pulls Future Trunks behind him while charging a single-hand attack. It's too clear that it is futile, but there's not much else that can be done. At this point, they are just wasting their energy.

A stray pink blast strikes his back. Broly roars out as his attacks die off immediately. He presses a single hand against where he was struck before turning around with a snarl.

Soaring in with bared teeth, Gine thrusts her hand forward, unleashing another Single Sunday. This time, the attack is avoided as Broly flies out of range. It soars pass as he heads straight for her this time.

"Gine?!" Tarble is genuinely surprised. "What are you doing? Move out the-"

The woman rubs her hands together before swinging them both downwards in a cross. The strips of lightning fly forward and hit Broly square on his chest. He isn't pushed back, but the energy courses through his body.

A pink sphere flies from the distance, hitting Broly and exploding to a surge that travels through him. Lightning jumps around his body. He can't seem to move very well.

"Satuday Crush?" Karot turns, and his eyes widen. "Uncle Raditz?!"

Raditz flies in as his hand gets swallowed by pink and sparking energy. He forms another sphere, and he throws it towards the enemy Saiyan.

Broly is struck on the chest again. He grunts as the attack bursts and swallows him with static again. Another wave from Gine pushes him back.

The collar around his neck begins to blink before glowing, and a massive discharge engulfs his entire body. Broly begins to scream as his fingers grip around the collar in efforts to pull it free. The shock collar combined with Gine's and Raditz's attacks appear to be too much.

Blue and pink light illuminates the sky. Raditz and Gine push in more of their power, and Broly's cries become more desperate. His body won't be able to handle it for much longer.

"Come on…!" Raditz says through clenched teeth. "You can't carry this out forever! You have to quit!"

Broly tenses his body. His cries become weaker, and his thrashing weakens at the same time.

Gine lowers her hands. "Raditz, I think that's enough…"

Raditz lowers his own as his Super Saiyan form drops. He's completely exhausted, along with his mother. They won't be able to do that again.

His eyes remain on the Saiyan. The collar is the only thing hurting him now, but it only lasts for a few seconds.

Broly pants heavily, fighting to catch his breath. His eyes lock on to Raditz and Gine as he growls. He begins to move forward, but he winches and grunts, stopping and lowering his head. Slowly sinking, his hand grips around the other. His body tenses up, and he stops moving. Gravity takes over.

"Okay… what just happened?" Raditz is still on guard, but he is completely lost. "We didn't shock him too much, did we…?"

Gine shakes her head. "He should have been able to take what we gave him. I don't-"

"Oh!" Future Trunks' eyes widen. Despite the pain he is in, it doesn't stop his excitement. "That's it! It was Tao! He bit him earlier, remember?!"

"That… that's it!" Raditz gasps. "In his smaller form, his venom can paralyze his victims! Even for someone as strong as Broly, he can't do much now that it settled in! We struck luck!"

On the ground, Turles watches Broly descend. He takes a few steps back. "Talk about some serious luck. Shit…"

Vegeta slowly sits up, grunting as pain still courses through him. Broly hits the ground from a distance. The Prince growls at this. "Can't believe a dumb spider pinned him down…"

Those still in the air land on the ground. Future Trunks looks like he could fall over at any second. Whatever adrenaline he had left wore off.

"I can't believe it…" Raditz says as he carefully approaches the Saiyan. "I never imagined a Saiyan could be this strong…"

"I can't believe we are still alive…" Turles grumbles, approaching the group. "Maybe we should have trusted Kakarot's judgement. He never liked Paragus from the very beginning."

Gine's expression shows a hint of anger. She walks closer to the down Saiyan. "That Paragus… I'll never forgive him for what he did to his own son. Why treat him as a weapon?"

"Mom! What are you doing?! Don't get so close!" Raditz is alarmed. He grabs her shoulder, but a single glare from her is enough for him to step away with second thoughts.

Bending down and placing a hand against Broly's back, Gine turns to the others. "He's done. He is… scared enough."

"So, it's finally over." Vegeta struggles to do as much as remain sitting up. "If it were up to me, he would be dead by now."

"Well… the fault of his behavior lies on his father." Gine frowns.

"Did… you kill him?" Raditz asks.

"I didn't. A strong part of me wanted to… but I had to remind myself that one person does care about him, even if they don't see how it hurts. Besides… I had a bit of a conversation..." Gine sighs.

Raditz can tell how sad she is.

"I couldn't help him. So I hope that he could at least save himself," Gine says. "Nappa is dealing with him as we speak. I can only hope Paragus keeps his distance for now. He has no idea on just how lucky he is…"

Gine's statement reminds Raditz of what he sensed from her before. He looks at her and asks carefully; "Mom, you were fighting Paragus earlier, weren't you? What-"

"Drop the subject. I wish not to speak of it," Gine says, not bothering to look at him at all.

Hearing the irritation in her tone, Raditz decides to do just that. "Right… sorry…"

"Don't be. I'm the one who should be…"

- 0000 -

"What the actual hell did you do to yourself?"

"Ow! Watch it, damn it!"

"Don't yell at me, or I'll shove these screws down your throat!" Kauli angrily pulls another screw from Turles' shoulder with a pair of tweezers. She drops it on a plate littered with a few tiny and bloody pieces of metal. "I don't get why I have to do this shit. Ain't nobody asked you to go asymmetrical again."

"Well, sorry that I can't see the future," Turles says with sarcasm, almost rolling his eyes.

"That would be a curse, actually," Kauli responds as she pulls out another screw. "In case you are wondering, Tarble's gonna bring your spare very soon. His priority is healing Kakarot first. I would say Vegeta too, but that arrogant bastard's on his own. If he dies, ain't nobody gonna miss him. Let's be honest."

"It will still affect how we'll deal with Cell." Turles reminds her.

"Damn it. I forgot about that."

"You wouldn't know- OW! Damn it!" Turles jerks back and glares at her. "Stop poking me with those!"

Kauli growls, and she jabs the tool on his forehead, earning another small scream. "I told your stubborn ass to stay still! I don't even want to do this!"

"Stop it!"

Future Trunks sighs as he looks away from the scene. His arms are wrapped on a bandage, making it impossible to move. He lowers his head, feeling ashamed.

"Pick that head back up. There's no reason to beat yourself up." Raditz pulls a chair next to the teen before taking a seat. "No one would have seen it coming."

"Yeah, but…" Future Trunks shakes his head. "I messed up, and I'm messed up. I don't deserve any praise at all. You're better off scolding me instead of giving me false compliments…"

Raditz frowns. "What's with you? You hardly have any confidence in yourself."

"Dunno. Maybe it's because of my teacher. If he were here, he would have beat me down for hitting someone else instead of the proper target."

"Hm. You being half human… it took a toll on how well you take it."

Future Trunks frowns. "Do you think… that maybe me being here was almost meaningless?"

"Kid?" Raditz is confused.

"Well, not saying I did a terrible job. If it weren't for me, everyone here would have been killed by the Androids by now. It's just… all these things that happened… such as Cell and Broly… I never had any of that. None of those ever happened. It's so strange. Now I know for sure that… this place here where I stand… has nothing to do with me."

"What? What are you talking about? You're the one who-"

"I know I came here. But, we already talked about this. We said how whatever I do here won't affect my world - our future. Because my timeline takes place in a future that won't exist here. Originally we thought that there was only one."

"Yes. We talked about this. Our time won't change yours," Raditz says. "We apparently live in a multiverse."

"Y-yeah. That's it. A multiverse of some sort. L-like…" Future Trunks pauses to think about it. After a few hard seconds, he comes to an answer. "Alternate timelines. I live in a timeline entirely different from this one. Broly never came to my world. I didn't even know who he was until today. Androids 19 and 20 never existed in my world. A-and Kauli. I don't know. I never met her, but Chille was there. I-in fact-"

Raditz pushes his hands out a little. "Slow down kid. Take your time."

"Right. Right…" He nods. "Let's think about this. We already accepted the consequences. If we were to change history-"

"Hold on." Raditz cuts him off. "We? Who's we?"

Future Trunks answers. "My teacher and master. U-uh… Tarble and Gohan. They were looking into it. Then, after Karot died and I mentioned how we can't change the past, Tarble just went crazy and did a ton of research… it's hard to put into words but…"

The teenager sighs.

"If there was a single branch of time… anything done here would affect the future, which is my time. Since there is clearly a multiverse, it doesn't. But let's say there is only one branch. Small changes won't do too much. But let's say we stopped the Androids and Cell from doing the damage they did to me. I wouldn't have been raised to fight as I have been. Let's look deeper. Let's say… well, mom died in this time, right? She wouldn't have raised me. In fact, all of you are raising the baby me now. I would have never grown up to be this… timid. Or maybe… maybe such a major change would cause me to be erased from existence since my timeline would have never happened."

"That's… rather terrifying when you say that." Raditz realizes just how crazy time can be. He never thought so deep.

"That's it. Just like we said before. There could be countless other timelines out there. One where Goku never went with you. Maybe there is one when Frieza won. Maybe there is one when you never lost your homeworld. There could be thousands of yous out there. Thousands of Trunks, Gokus, Vegetas… all living in worlds different from ours. And, I am living proof. It's just that my and your timeline are the most similar to each other."

"That, they are. Many of your history adds up with ours, but at the same time it doesn't. Ours doesn't."

"Exactly. Then we have Cell here who came from a few years from my time. The Cell we are fighting against said that my father was Vegeta instead, remember?"

"That… I would rather not remember." Raditz actually did forget about that until now.

"It's crazy. Goku in my time got a virus, but you here caught it instead. Is time travel the reason, or is there really just different branches? If there are so many branches… which one is the root of it all. Which branch is the original? The one who started it all in a single shot… what my teacher called a cannon shot. A cannon."

"We may never know." The sudden voice of Nappa makes the pair jump. They turn and see him walking into the room, somewhat interested. "Seems the Tarble from your time had a good theory. Perhaps one of our timelines is the original. Or maybe, they aren't at all. As you said… you are living proof. The Trunks we see here is different from the baby Trunks we see as well. It explains your mannerism. While you are strong and fight well… you are rather timid at times. You've seen nothing but destruction since you were young, and somehow, you didn't go mad."

"I don't know how," Future Trunks says. "I honestly don't know. Maybe I have gone mad, it just didn't kick in yet. Or maybe all of us lost our minds. What about grandmother… and what she did earlier?"

Nappa pauses. The thought of running into Gine early only makes him a bit uneasy. "There are things a parent should never do in front of their kids. She has that mindset. But what we do know is that she hates fighting. Just like you and Karot. Just like Broly. Their hands were forced."

"I'm familiar with how ugly mother can be when she gets angry. It always happens when anger gets the best of her, and she hates it." Raditz says. "She's the nicest and most compassionate Saiyan I have ever been around. She was always there for me when I was young. But when she has to fight… I can see the warrior she once was. She… taught me a lot. Trained me. And now… I will train you."

"Me?" Future Trunks is confused, but he puts it together. "Oh. You mean the baby me."

"Yes. The trouble-maker you," Raditz says. He turns to Nappa. "I just remembered. What happened to Paragus?"

"Don't worry. He's taken care of," Nappa says. "He'll be serving his time until we figure out what to do with him."

A massive crash startles everyone. All heads turn to the source.

Turles has his head through a wall. Kauli walks away with clenched fists, grumbling something that can't be picked up. From the way her tail moves, it's obvious she is angry.

Radit crosses his arms, glaring at the hole. "The hell did you do?"

The only response Turles gives is a groan.

- 0000 -

"Help me… please…"

Paragus hangs from a cliff near a roaring waterfall. His tail is pinned by a boulder, leaving him almost completely immobilized.

The waters below bubble, and the teeth of a lunging predatory fish nearby snaps Paragus' head. The Saiyan swings helplessly as he manages to avoid the hungry creature. It falls back into the waters.

Paragus growls lightly as he tries to grab hold of the cliffside again. His hands tremble, unable to get a firm grip of the rock. "Damn it… if only this boulder wasn't here…"

"So… this is where he placed you? It is rather unpleasant... I must say."

Paragus freezes. He looks up, seeing boots at first. Looking further, his eyes fall on Tarble. "Tarble?! Tell me that you are here to free me! This tail-pinning is enough punishment!"

"You've been like this for quite some time. It is a fitting punishment for someone who brought us so much trouble. I can't exactly blame you… since my father is the reason that all of this happened."

Paragus studies Tarble's face for a few seconds before he laughs small. "Wait. You hate him too, don't you? That means you can't stand your brother, since they are so alike!"

"You aren't wrong. I hate them both," Tarble says, crossing his arms. "Their actions lead to so much chaos, one after the other. Most could have been avoided… but their arrogance led to unnecessary results."

Paragus smiles. He is pleased to hear this. "Then… you can help me, right? You can get me out of here… and you'll help me put down Vegeta!"

"Hmph. It sounds tempting… but you'll be the one helping me, actually." Tarble walks closer to him. He reaches out until his fingers touch the boulder. Grabbing the rock firmly with both hands, he lifts it free from Paragus' tail, and he throws it in the air. It flies off to the unknown.

Paragus falls immediately, towards the wild waters. The predatory fish lunges out, seeing its opportunity. Paragus turns and throws out his foot, landing a heavy kick against the creature's head, knocking it back into the river. He stops falling, floating just a few feet from the surface. He flies back to the cliff and lands near the prince. For a few seconds, he stumbles. "That damn Gine… I can hardly walk straight because of what she did to me…"

"She's not the type to hurt someone so much. What exactly did you do?"

"You mean, what they did? She bears the mark!" Paragus points at his wrist. "She hides it underneath her wristband!"

"Is that so?" Tarble is interested. He walks closer to Paragus, nodding his head. "You really are the help I may just need."

Paragus almost laughs. "I promise you, Prince Tarble, you won't be disappointed!"

"I know I won't. You'll do me good…" Tarble nods a few times. He lifts his hand, and he slams it against Paragus's face, grabbing hold of it firmly.

"H-hey! What are you doing?!" Paragus' words are muffled. He grabs Tarble's arm and tries to pull him away, but his face is squeezed even more. It's painful. He can't shake the prince off. "I-I thought you said we'll work together!"

"I'm sorry. Where did you pick that up?" Tarble asks, tilting his head. "I said you'll help me. I have no interest in helping you. I don't like working with arrogant idiots. I don't need another one under my nose."

He squeezes harder, causing Paragus to scream.

"You'll do me a huge favor, but you won't live to see it."

Blue light illuminates from Tarble's palm before engulfing Paragus' face. The struggling Saiyan screams in pure agony as he kicks his legs. He grows weaker by the second until he falls silent and limp.

"Tch." Tarble releases his head, which is charred beyond recognition. As the body falls, he removes his stained glove and tosses it in the air. A small blast vaporizes it in an instant. "I'm not exactly fond of doing that… but no one would think of it…"

He turns away and begins to walk.

"I can read his next move… but he has no idea what my next play is, does he?"

- 0000 -

The liquid inside the healing chamber drains away in seconds. Once the door opens, Kakarot pulls the mask off his face and steps out.

Sitting in a chair nearby is Raditz, who holds folded and fresh clothes in his arms, duplicating what the Saiyan wore before. He slowly stands and offers them to him, all while keeping his eyes in another direction. "You've been out for several hours."

"I'm not surprised," Kakarot replies, grabbing a towel to dry his hair. "And I take it that Gohan didn't care at all?"

"While we were waiting on you, he called you reckless," Raditz says. "And while we were fighting… sounds like he still won't forgive you. He didn't give a damn that you were hanging by a thread."

"At this point, I'm not surprised. Maybe I deserve it." Kakarot sets the towel down, and he sighs. "Especially after everything I did."

"You were being influenced, must I remind you?" Raditz says, before shoving the clothes in his brother's arms. "And put some clothes on already!"

Kakarot finally takes it, and he slips the uniform in no time. As soon as he secures it with a tie, he speaks. "You can look, now."

Raditz looks at his brother, and he crosses his arms. "Everyone is healed up and waiting on you. Your recovery took longer than expected… but at least you're alright. Can't afford to lose anyone."

"I know you were upset. Don't try to hide it." Kakarot gives him a smile as he walks past. "You brought me here, didn't you?"

"Hey… Don't start! I'll put you back in the chamber faster than you can blink!"

As soon as they enter the main room, a few of the warriors stand. However, it's ChiChi that breaks into a run and nearly tackles Kakarot to the ground with her aggressive embrace.

"Thank goodness, you are okay!" ChiChi squeezes him harder, unaware of how much pressure she is putting on him. "Do you have any idea how worried I was?! When Raditz brought you in, I felt so sick! You can't carelessly hurt yourself like that! Gohan won't do well without a father around!"

"Chi… can't… breathe…" Kakarot struggles to say.

"Oh!" ChiChi releases him and steps away.

"Kakarot actually jumped in to save your son," Raditz says, sticking a thumb towards Karot, who is setting a bowl down to feed his dragon. "But the kid didn't appreciate it."

"What? But Goku saved his life!" ChiChi pauses, and she glares at Kakarot. "Wait a second! Why would you even let him fight that monster in the first place?!"

"We had this discussion already. Broly is no monster. His father is," Gine says as she walks towards the group. She holds a jar filled with cookies, which Raditz is eyeing already. "Broly was trained since he was small just to kill Vegeta as a tool for revenge. As a mother, I'm sure that would upset you. Broly is innocent."

ChiChi clenches her fists. "He really did that to his own son?! I think I overheard him talking to you about it… and it's completely unforgivable!"

"I have a question." Future Trunks walks in, fully healed, and raising a hand to grab attention. "What are we going to do with Paragus' servants?"

As if on cue, they hear the quick movement from near the door. Gine quickly opens it, and she's met with the sight of the many soldiers swarming inside Paragus' ship in absolute terror. She holds her hand out just as Raditz prepares to jump in. "Let them go. They are harmless now."

"Hm." Raditz doesn't argue.

The ship roars to life within seconds. A cloud of dirt and loose grass is blown by the working engine. It begins lift off, taking off to the skies.

"Wait! Waaaait! Don't go!"

Raditz is nearly knocked over as Cheelai tears her way through the crowd. Lemo is close behind, waving his hands at the ship that is already disappearing in the clouds. After several seconds, they stop running, staring at the sky.

"Don't tell me we're stranded…" Lemo asks his partner, who looks like she is about to pull out her own hair.

Cheelai doesn't answer. She slowly turns, a bit frightened. The Saiyans just stare at them.

"We aren't going to kill you or anything," Gine says, shaking her head.

Turles is a bit surprised. "Wait. We're not- oof!" He places a hand against his elbowed stomach. He decides to distance himself from his mother, who looks like she'll be quick to do it again.

Cheelai narrows her eyes, taking a few steps back. "How can we possibly trust you? You were out there fighting Paragus! And the rest of you were going to kill Broly, weren't you?"

Kakarot steps in, waving his hands as he shakes his head. "Look. I know you two aren't evil or anything. You were just looking out for them, right? Sorry, I don't want to sound rude or anything… but that Paragus guy wasn't right. Take it from me. Allowing vengeance to get to your head can eat you alive, and it makes you make the worst decisions. I understand he was angry at King Vegeta, but to hold a grudge so long… It's not exactly healthy. Why pin the blame on his son? Prince Vegeta had nothing to do with his father's decisions."

"I can't believe I am defending him…" Raditz grumbles. He doesn't exactly have a choice. "Look. I don't care if you believe us or not. You don't have to trust us. Just know that even Saiyans have standards. Making your kid into a weapon is just wrong. You've been around him long enough to see that, haven't you?"

Cheelai and Lemo exchange glances. They apparently have the same thought, because Lemo replies with a slow nod. "We didn't like it whenever he would train him. His methods were… I don't know how to put it. He would constantly remind Broly that his sole purpose is to kill Vegeta but…"

"Broly doesn't like fighting. He doesn't like to hurt anyone, really. He's been training so much ever since he was a kid… so he never really had a childhood. I know Saiyans enjoy fighting, but if Paragus pushed Broly to the point that he hates it…"

"I see. Sounds like he overdid it. After all, Broly was never in a real fight before, unlike most Saiyans," Gine says, taking in everything she was told. "Today was his first real fight, wasn't it?"

"He looked frightened at some point… maybe because we were too much at first," Kakarot says. "Then as he caught on, his own anger made his power explode. Maybe he's scared of his own power."

Broly was indeed a threat, but he truly never meant any harm from the beginning. It makes sense now that everyone has a moment to think about it.

He never really wanted a fight. He only fought because he got scared. Was that it? Whatever happened to him in the past, he was reminded of that. It led to the chaotic battle that nearly left Kakarot dead.

Cheelai looks at Gine, narrowing her eyes. "Where is Broly? You didn't do anything to him, did you?"

"He's recovered. Don't worry," Gine answers, giving them an assuring smile to ease the tension. "He should be fine now. We haven't let anyone in, because we didn't want to frighten him. Maybe you should talk to him? He seems to trust only both of you."

Lemo nods. "Yeah. I guess we should. He's probably scared in there."

"Where is he?" Cheelai asks.

"Tao?" Gine turns to Raditz. "Go on and show them. Don't worry. They aren't mad at you."

"Wait. Why would we be mad?" Cheelai is confused, looking at the spider as it pokes its head from Raditz's head.

Raditz is confused. "Maybe because he- OW!" Raditz steps away, covering his punched head. He takes notice of his mother lowering her fist. "Okay, okay…! I'll shut up!"

Zhanshitao carefully crawls his way down Raditz's body, and he scatters past the confused pair of space soldiers.

After a few seconds of confusion, the pair begin to follow him inside the ship. Raditz closes the door. They rejoin the main room, where the other warriors have gathered. The Z-Fighters keep their distance from Vegeta, who is busy looking at the monitor.

Silence lingers for some time, until Krillin becomes bold enough to ask a question. "So uh… what happened?"

"Long story short?" Future Trunks explains. "Broly was beating us down. Raditz and grandmother managed to slow him down… and turns out Zhanshitao saved our lives in the end."

"The venom from a stupid Giantula. I refuse to believe that," Vegeta says with a growl. His fingers type across the touchscreen keyboard. His eyes are glued on the screen as he searches for something.

"It's venom can melt its target from the inside out, but only in its true form. In a small size, it can lead to some nasty paralysis." Raditz reminds him. "I'm not too surprised that happened. Tao isn't feeling too good about it, either."

"Does it look like I care about what that creature thinks?!" Vegeta shoots Raditz a glare.

"I don't think you even know what compassion is. You yourself consider it a weakness." Tarble's voice draws attention. He walks from the medical room. Lemo and Cheelai walk by Broly's side. "What happened is in the past now. I gave Broly a few shots to keep his nerves under control. Just be careful with what you say around him. Better yet, just stay quiet."

"You can't tell me what I can or can't do," Vegeta says rudely.

"Then by all means, go ahead and say what you want. Are you sure you want to be treated like a punching bag by Broly again? Or would you like a repeat of Cell? You're free to choose."

"Tch." It's Vegeta's only response.

Nappa walks to his side. "I'm sure we'll figure this out. Let's focus on what's important here. What will we do with Broly? He's clearly innocent here… Unlike his father."

"Wait. Where is Paragus?" Cheelai asks.

"Later." Tarble waves a hand, continuing the subject. He earns funny looks from Lemo and his partner, but he wouldn't notice them. "Nappa has asked a really good question."

"Yeah… may I answer that?" Yamcha raises a hand.

"No!" The Saiyans quickly shoot it down.

Tien pulls Yamcha back. "I wouldn't try wasting my energy on these Saiyans."

Yamcha crosses his arms, appearing irritated. "How could anyone bother wasting their energy on any of them? I can't believe she would do that to Raditz!"

"What was that?" Raditz looks at him, and Yamcha doesn't even budge. It is a bit surprising to the Saiyan, since he's used to him backing down. "Are we having a problem here?"

"Yes, we are!" Yamcha's response leads to many wide eyes staring at him. Where did this boldness come from?!

Even Raditz is surprised. It takes a few seconds for him to respond, growling lightly. "Oh? You've grown a bit of a spine, I see. If I were you, I wouldn't do anything stupid that would cause you to lose it!"

"Oh-ho! I wouldn't do anything stupid?!" Yamcha growls, taking several steps forward. "What the hell did you do to her, huh? You disgust me! You forced you way onto her, didn't you?! And you knew she-"

Krillin covers his mouth with a single hand. "Okay! I think we should head outside for some fresh air!" He and Tien begin to drag Yamcha towards the door. "Don't mind him! He just woke up a little cranky! I'm sure some outside time will calm him down!"

Once they leave the door, everyone looks at one another for answers, but there are none. Launch seems to have an idea, since she is the only one appearing very sad about it.

"Okay… moving on…" Nappa says, bringing everyone's attention back to the subject.

"Hmmm…." Kakarot tilts his head. "Oh! He can join us!"

"What?! Are you insane?!" Raditz gawks.

"Hold on!" Vegeta snaps at Kakarot, who only laughs. "Whoever said he can join?! You saw how destructive he is! You think you can just casually- hey! I'm talking to you!"

Kakarot smiles as he stands by Broly's side now. "I know a lot of bad has happened. Sorry for being a part of it, but we were all small. It can't be helped. Look." He points a thumb to himself. "I'll do my best to help you. Maybe even Raditz. He's really good with that!'

"I am not a counselor!" Raditz barks.

"But… Kakarot isn't wrong." Tarble interrupts. "After all… he was taken along with his son. Then it was me, then Turles, and finally, it was Kauli. Why not accept Broly? With enough patience and torturing… he can grow and learn to control his power, and his Saiyan instincts."

Kakarot grins. "What do you say, Broly?"

Broly takes a careful look at everyone. For the first time in a while, he seems calm. Not angry or scared, but he does appear somewhat nervous. He nods small, not saying a word.

"We will need time to think about it," Kauli says. "Seems like Broly will need the same."

"Hey," Kakarot says. "It's only fair. We took in everyone else. He can get help from anyone who's patient enough to teach him a thing or two. If he's willing to fight, then we have a good powerhouse against Cell."

"And if he's not?" Raditz asks.

"Well… maybe once this is over… we can train him in the time chamber so that he can learn how to keep his emotions under control. He's not bad or anything. He just needs help," Kakarot says. "He was misguided… like the rest of us were."

"You think so?" Vegeta speaks up, holding an annoyed tone. "Accepting him is like planting a ticking time bomb. As if I will allow that freak of nature to breathe in the same room as us!"

"Vegeta!" Kakarot frowns at the rude statement. He looks towards Broly, who is a bit hard to read at the moment.

Kauli gives Broly a light push. "You should take a walk. It's very pretty out here." She smiles at his confused expression. It was enough to convince the powerful Saiyan to leave for a look at the forest. It was a wise move, because now there is a new debate taking place.

"Go with him, please," Gine tells the two soldiers. They don't hesitate. They leave in a hurry.

This isn't going to end well.

"Don't you get it? Broly could help us defeat Cell! He's so strong!" Kakarot says. "Sure. None of us likes the idea of having to rely on someone else. But it's no ordinary tournament. This one is all about life and death! If nobody stops Cell, then all of us are goners!"

"We are all dead if we take Broly in! I don't care about what anyone thinks. If anyone tries to bring him in, I'll kill him and make sure he doesn't kill us in our sleep!" Vegeta won't listen to any of it.

"What are you? Afraid of him?" Tarble asks angrily.

Vegeta growls. "Unlike anyone else, I'm the only one making a rational choice here. In case you idiots had forgotten, I am the prince! No matter what you lower-class say, I get the final word! Don't think I'm just blinding making a choice! We all saw what he is capable of! What if he loses control of himself again?! We only got lucky because he was bitten earlier! We can't rely on a stupid spider every time!"

Zhanshitao lowers his head and crawls away to hide.

"Don't forget that I am your brother, and I am a prince as well! You don't always get the final say!" Tarble steps forward, already tired of what he is hearing. "Tossing aside your problems do nothing! I already told you that your last decisions brought utter chaos! It's time you allow someone else to decide! Such as myself! I am aware we are making a risky play here, but sometimes it will bring upon a better outcome!"

"You can't make any choices if you can't even see the problem!" Vegeta growls. "That single Saiyan weakened us to such a pathetic state, and you blindly agree to allow him to live among us?!"

"Don't play the same card father did." Tarble narrows his eyes. "You saw the aftermath. Abandon Broly, and he'll begin to think that his deranged father was right all along!"

"I am not changing my mind! I said he goes, and so, he goes! Look around you! Not everyone is willing to let him live among us! It's not that they hate him! They fear he will explode again! What happens if he has an outburst when we are weakened and unable to fight back?! That's the end of all of us!"

Nappa sighs. He seems to agree with a small nod. "He's not wrong. We can't just accept everyone. This is a real gamble."

"Sometimes it's better to be safe than sorry." Kauli shrugs. "I honestly don't care which choice is made. Broly is innocent. He just has problems we can't easily fix."

"As I was saying," Vegeta tells his little brother.

Tarble growls. "We took Turles and Kauli in when the choices seemed reckless. We knew Kauli was our enemy before, but we took her in, because we saw potential in her. We took Turles in, because he needed our help. So what if Broly is powerful and unstable? It can be fixed. He was never taught. If we leave him, he might end up destroying the entire galaxy!"

"If we take him, it might just happen quicker!" Vegeta protests. "Stop talking! You know nothing about how to handle these type of choices! You were a baby when you left our homeworld, so you know nothing about royalty anyway! You were born a prince, but you never lived as one! So sit this one out!"

Tarble snarls. "I will not! You've hurt enough people! I refuse to let you abandon someone for something that isn't their fault!"

"It is their fault." Vegeta snarls. "The same fault that led to your banishment. If you weren't such a sniveling coward who wasted their potential, you would have never been exiled in the first place!"

Tarble freezes.

"A Saiyan who cannot hold of their battling instincts is considered a failure! You and Broly alike! I will not take any other answer!"

Tarble clenches his fists. He turns to the others, growing angrier by the second. "So, all of you are just going to allow Vegeta to do this?!"

Kakarot frowns. As much as he would want to step in, he begins to think that Vegeta is right. They all saw how horrible things can get when Broly has an outburst. How can anyone learn to control that? If he sees as much as a knife… it's all over.

"You agree with him…?" Tarble appears shocked. At the same time, he's angry. This always seems to happen. The fact that Vegeta always gets the final word when these kind of things happen…

He's sick of it.

Gine sighs. "I tried. I really did. But… I don't know how much damage Paragus did to him…"

"You lose here, Tarble. When Broly returns, we are sending him far away from this planet." Vegeta crosses his arms. "There is nothing else that can be done to help someone like that. The sooner you accept that, the less painful it will be for you. I am in no mood to hear your complaining."

For a few seconds, Tarble sees his own father towering over him, looking down at him with the same judgemental expression Vegeta wears.

The words the king said that day;

"We are sending him far away from this planet. There is nothing that can be done to help someone like this. The sooner you accept, the less painful it is."

Tarble snaps from his thoughts as he storms forward and snatches Vegeta by his collar. "You will not make that choice! I said NO! He STAYS!"

Vegeta lands a heavy kick against Tarble's chest, knocking him down.

"Tarble!" Kauli gasps.

"Have you gone mad? You think raising your voice will change my mind?!" Vegeta crosses his arms. "Face the facts! It didn't! Stop being so emotional, and get over it!"

"Guys…" Future Trunks is growing uncomfortable.

The younger prince is on his elbows and knees in a few seconds, but his entire body shakes in rage. It's impossible to see his face due to it facing the ground, but his body language makes it clear on just what thoughts could be running through his mind.

This shouldn't be happening!

Tarble punches the ground, leaving a nasty crater. Slowly, he lifts his head. "Damn them! I am NOT going to be bested anymore, humiliated as a joke!"

Future Trunks rubs his face, and he looks at his teacher counterpart, growing even more worried about his judgment right now.

"I'm sick of fighting over this nonsense! This was very well preventable if nobody was so foolish!"

Nappa moves back a bit, trying to think of some way to calm the prince down enough so that he won't act so reckless… but it's hard to do when this situation is angering him as well.

"Anyone who thinks it's okay to leave someone without giving them a chance... They are wrong. And you, yoooou Vegeta…!" Tarble growls, licking his teeth as his lips pull back. "You're only going to bring more pain as you did before!"

Vegeta huffs. "So, you're going to throw a fit?"

Tarble is breathing hard from his shouting. Finally, after several tensing seconds, a roar of rage rips from the Saiyan's throat before he pounds a fist into the ground. Cracks burst around the small crater, and it becomes worse as he continues to pound it now with both hands. He screams and shouts, making the others grow a bit concerned.

"Am I just a dusting mat?!" Tarble asks through a snarl. "That's intolerable! This is… all because no one even listens to me! All you fools care about are your selfish hides! Did we forget why Kakarot lost his mind? Did we forget why Cell reached his perfect form?! It's all because of Vegeta! It's like I don't exist here, because my words are always ignored! Because of that, now we are standing in a pile of rubbish!"

Gine steps back, seeing just how badly he is shaking.

"And this is all because of what Vegeta did… and now we may just parish... No… I cannot allow this...!" He punches the ground again. "I WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS AT AAAAAALL!"

There is a few seconds of silence with the exception of his voice being carried by an echo. All eyes are on him, since he hardly loses his cool this badly.

Every hair on his tail stands on end as he begins to rant. "THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING! THIS WAS ALL SO PREVENTABLE! YOU ARE BLOODY IDIOTS! ALL OF YOU! I WARNED YOU, I TRIED TO HELP YOU, BUT ALL OF YOU JUST FOLLOWED VEGETA, DIDN'T YOU?! ADMIT IT!"

Nappa steps forward. "Hey… let's just calm down and think this through-"

"QUIET! ALL YOU EVER DID WAS STICK RIGHT UNDER HIM LIKE A LAPDOG!"

Nappa holds his words, not knowing how to respond to that.

Tarble fights to catch his breath.

Vegeta growls. "Are you done yet?"

Tarble snarls as he turns to Vegeta again. "You know what? I'm not! I was never done! Everything about you… all that you've done, all that you've caused... it JUST won't stop, will it?! I'm not going to sit on my ass while you let the world burn!"

Nappa shakes his head. "Tarble. Let's not act so rash. I know Vegeta is the main reason why Cell got this strong, but you can't just want him dead."

"We have to survive to get to The Cell Games…" Gine adds. "We need everyone's help!"

"Everyone's help?! Yes, of course! Vegeta sure did help out, by sending us all to death! We need everyone's help, but let's go ahead and abandon Broly!" Tarble's words sound horribly savage, overwhelmed by his fury. His frizzled tail rises as he shouts. "Your efforts are futile! We still have one last option!"

"Tarble! Stop it!" Future Trunks flies in, grabbing his shoulders firmly.

"Unhand me. Right. Now." Tarble's warning is cold and clear.

"You need to calm down. This is getting out of hand," the teenager warns him, ignoring the demand. "You are losing it! I mean… you're acting too much like…"

"Like what…?" Tarble says harshly. "Like the world you came from? It's probably already here… and we know who's fault that is…!"

Tarble shakes the teen off him. Future Trunks takes steps back as the prince slowly rises to his feet.

"I had the opportunity a looong time ago." Tarble snarls. "I had Vegeta on the ground! If I had killed him then, we wouldn't be having this problem! Cell would have never obtained his perfect form, right?"

Future Trunks tries to reason with him. "Well, it's just that-"

But Tarble is taking no excuses. He stomps his foot on the ground, making the teen jump. "RIGHT?!"

Future Trunks closes his mouth as he finds himself shutting his eyes and turning to the ground. He did this without even knowing. It became an instinctive response when his teacher would scold him in such an intimidating manner. "R-right…"

"So, I decided to let him go by your request. And, look at what happened? Cell became perfect, because you fools thought you knew it all!" Tarble shouts. "I was hoping Cell would kill him, but nooo. Let's put Vegeta in the healing chamber! The same Saiyan who sent us to DEATH! I don't get it! What could you possibly see in him that makes him a better prince than me? Huh?!"

Kakarot knows what this is.

He can feel it, and he understands it.

Kakarot begins to speak carefully. "No one ever said he was better. No one wanted any of this. But, whatever it is you are about to do right now… don't. I feel your anger… and it's ugly. I don't like it… because it's beyond normal anger. You're feeling a great deal of hatred, and what it does is dangerous."

"I know my anger is ugly," Tarble says lowly. "But if you stand for Vegeta, you are stupider than I thought. He was the one who caused your suffering due to exile, did he not?"

"Tarble… Don't do this." Kakarot tries to ignore the question he was asked.

Raditz nods. "As Nappa said… let's just sit down-"

"So all of you are against me?" Tarble snarls.

"What?!" Turles knows they never said that.

"So be it. I'll teach you a lesson on what happens when you disobey a prince such as myself!"

This brings great concern.

"Tarble is acting a lot like Vegeta, don't you think?" Raditz frowns.

"Minus the arrogant attitude, very much." Turles agrees. "Looks like they both get crazy when they are angry enough. It's time to let him blow off some steam and try to talk this out, maybe."

"Blow off some steam, as in fighting?" Kauli isn't fond of the idea at all.

Vegeta simply grows annoyed with his brother. "There is no point in your childish ranting. You might as well sit back. Trying to fight him will only kill you. Combat was never your strong point, no surprise."

"Heh-hah-hah-hah…" Tarble laughs almost desperately, wearing a twisted grin. "Maybe I was never so great in the battlefield, but I have the brains to work around it! It's true that I am not as powerful as you as a Super Saiyan, so without a doubt, I stand no chance against you!"

"You say you stand no chance, but you have that look you always have when you want to fight me. The results won't differ. Don't waste your time."

"Haha… you idiotic fool." Tarble grins wider. "You've grown so confident in your own abilities, you underestimate everyone else. I'll be blunt, dear brother. I said recently how this fight between us isn't over! Just as promised, you will be obliterated!"

Nappa steps forward. "Not happening."

"No? You still step in as his little safety blanket?" Tarble frowns. "Then I'm afraid I'll just have to break you. Including everyone else who stands in my way!"

"What…? Hold on!"

"Don't bother talking to him," Vegeta says. "You'll only waste your time."

"Shut up!" Tarble snaps at his brother. "What now?! So you think… that I am just some foolish idiot, huh? That you'll always be better than me? Smarter than me?! That you'll mock me for eternity?! I think NOT!"

Nappa looks over to Vegeta in concern.

"All of you are idiots for following him!" Tarble points a finger at them all, catching his breath from shouting so much. "All of you! His actions lead to Cell's perfection, and Broly's rampage! You still chose to stick with him?! After all this, all of you think he's the better prince, huh?!"

"We never said that!"

"Lies!" Tarble stomps on the ground. "All of you are wrong! I can fight well, too! I can lead! I can be just as effective as that bloody idiot, minus the consequences! I am the better prince! I have a better judgment! I am smarter than him! And I will be stronger than him! I AM FAR MORE SUPERIOR THAN HIM!"

Kauli takes a few steps back, sensing a terrible aura from the angry and younger prince.

Vegeta begins to walk forward. "Alright. It seems you still don't understand. Rant all you like. But it won't fix the spot you are stuck in. Maybe if you stop trying so hard, you'll find yourself failing less often. You want to be better than me? That's a dream you'll never get. I am destined to be the greatest Saiyan who has ever lived. You are just a wanna-be."

"Not wanna-be…" Tarble breathes in. "Much better… far better… than you will ever be! The only way to save the world is if you stop living. The only way I could possibly become as much as a king is if you are no longer breathing. It's a win-win. You die. We are saved, and I become Prince… no… King Tarble! The new Saiyan king. And we all know a king…" As if he can see, his eyes lock directly at his brother, holding a dangerous red glow. "... is FAR BETTER THAN A PRINCE!"

"THEN TRY IT!" Vegeta challenges as he transforms into his Super Saiyan form. He begins to bulk up, not restraining even an ounce of his power.

Tarble doesn't bother to get himself ready to fight. "I know I can't win a fight against you, big brother, but did you honestly think I was bluffing when I said I will win this fight?"

"You don't make any sense." Vegeta frowns.

"Of course you wouldn't understand. You don't play strategy like I do." Tarble chuckles. His foggy red eyes widen slightly, appearing wild at this point. "I know each of your weaknesses. I know where you are most vulnerable. I know so much more about each of you than you think."

Thankfully, he walks away.

But, it doesn't give anyone any sense of relief. Kakarot looks around, taking note of how concerned or disturbed they are. Future Trunks is the only one who appears terrified. It's understandable.

"He doesn't usually walk away like that," Nappa says. He isn't sure what to make of it.

"The Tarble I knew did." Future Trunks speaks quietly, but it is still picked up. "I know this isn't my world but… I heard how he changed and… to see it happen in person… it's starting to get harder to tell them apart now."

Raditz doesn't like the sound of that. "You're saying he's mirroring his future counterpart?"

"I just said it's getting harder to tell them apart. What else could that mean?" Future Trunks asks.

Vegeta crosses his arms. What the teen says doesn't intimidate him to the slightest. Still, he doesn't appear to want to deal with it. "Nappa. Keep an eye on him."

"That's the plan I was going for." Nappa nods. He heads out the door to find Tarble.

Vegeta heads back for the monitor. "Idiot. He thinks he can scare me? He's just throwing a stupid tantrum."

Gine rubs the back of her head before turning her attention to Future Trunks. She walks over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"

Future Trunks shakes his head. He answers quietly. "I'm… having a lot of ugly flashbacks right now. I… need a moment…"

Gine gives Raditz a concerned look. No words need to be said.

Something has to be done fast.

- 0000 -

At this point, Nappa feels like he's the only one keeping everyone from murdering each other. He had to talk some sense into Karot. He had to stop Gine from going too far with her actions. Now, he has to track down Tarble before he does something reckless.

Finding him doesn't take long, thankfully. The prince is heading somewhere, since he seems to know where he is going.

"He sent you after me, didn't he?" Tarble already knows. He stops walking to face him. It appears he has calmed down since his eyes are normal, but Nappa won't lower his guard.

The general slows down, and he sighs. "Look. I didn't come here to fight. If you need a walk to calm down, I understand but-"

"I'm looking for someone, if you want to know," Tarble says.

"Paragus?"

"Why would I waste my time looking for a dead man?" Tarble asks as he begins to walk again.

The words sink in quickly. "Wait. He's dead? But I-" Nappa pauses, putting the pieces together. "Why would you-"

"You wouldn't understand. Say a word of it, and you'll wish you never found me." Tarble sends his warning.

Nappa sighs as he follows. He's been threatened by Vegeta countless times before. To hear it from Tarble is a little new, but he knows his way around it.

At least… he thinks he does.

If Tarble isn't looking for Paragus… then there is one other person. The prince did his rant for this reason.

"You're going to bring Broly in against Vegeta's word?" Nappa asks.

"He doesn't understand," Tarble says. "Broly is lost and confused. He needs someone to guide him. What I don't get is why do you always stick underneath Vegeta? You've known him since he was a child, so you should know how his mind works."

Nappa sighs. That is true.

"You should know how to talk him out of making poor or reckless choices. But because you never pushed yourself to go that far, Cell became perfect. It's a shame." Tarble shakes his head.

Nappa frowns. "What are you saying?"

"Nothing much. But I realized you never really made your own choices. On the rare times you do, they are reckless. The fault lies in the fact that you simply don't know how to make reasonable decisions since… well, you were never given the chance," Tarble explains. "Think about it. To King Vegeta, you were just another piece of the chess board. Losing you is no big deal as long as the king is still standing. You could be replaced. You babysat his eldest who was just an entitled and bratty child. Listening to him is no problem. You practically raised him, so he may hear you out to some extent."

Vegeta did take his time to listen to Nappa after the Perfect Cell incident. Tarble isn't wrong…

"But since you rarely bother… you are a mere pushover for him. He is very much like his father. Right?"

"In many ways." Nappa agrees.

"Good. That means you know him," Tarble says. "Which means, you should know he won't have a problem tossing you in the sky and killing you with an ugly blast the day you become crippled and unusable for him."

Nappa stops walking all together. He just stares at the prince with a surprised look on his face.

Tarble seems to know this. He keeps walking, and a small smile of mischief forms on his face. It fades once he picks up something straight ahead. "Ah… there you are."

Nappa sees what Tarble found. He begins walking again to catch up.

Broly sits on a boulder, munching on an apple he had found. He takes notice of the pair and stands, appearing a bit uneasy. Cheelai and Lemo stand quickly, appearing ready to protect Broly.

"Easy there. We don't intend to bring any harm or bad things you may be thinking. Just talk." Tarble promises. "I hate to see you all alone with them out here. Why not hear me out? You deserve better than what you had before."

Broly just looks at him. "Better? What… do you mean?"

"Yeah. It doesn't seem like your brother even wants us around," Cheelai says, crossing her arms.

Lemo nods. "Yeah. We are worried another fight might break out."

"It won't happen. I won't allow it."

"Then, what are you here for?"

"Well… I just want to help you, that is all."

The answer makes them somewhat confused. Cheelai and Lemo look at Broly. He appears to remember what happened. He doesn't shy away from what was said. He listens carefully.

"You have the ability to harness your power without bringing unintentional harm. I know you can," Tarble says. "I know the feeling of being misunderstood. Regardless, there is hope for good things to come out if you show that you can put in the effort."

Broly frowns. "My father…."

Tarble frowns slightly, and he lowers his head. "Perhaps… your father was misunderstood, too. After all, Frieza was never a good fellow. In fact, he's far more foul than the worse piles of rubbish you find in the most neglected streets. He made the Saiyans do terrible things. Your father… I know deep down he's a good man. He cared about you, after all."

Nappa looks at Tarble, a bit puzzled.

He's lying. But… why?

Broly frowns. "Some of you tried to hurt him." Within seconds, he stands, looking like a child lost in a massive store. He looks around and sniffs the air. "I… I don't see him. I don't smell him. Where is my father?"

Nappa clearly wants to say something, but he knows Tarble would be listening. After knowing what he did, and trying to fight him in the time chamber…

He doesn't stand a chance.

Tarble's clouded eyes look towards Broly again. He speaks softly, sympathizing. "Your father… he committed terrible deeds. My brother would surely punish him, so… he's far. Most likely into hiding. He's hiding for a good reason. It is to protect you. It is take time to learn what decisions he could have made. I know he will return one day. It will be some time."

"What if he… never comes back?"

"Yeah. What if he doesn't?" Lemo asks.

Tarble shakes his head. "Regardless of what happens… I will never abandon you like this."

Nappa's eyes widen as he watches Tarble offer his hand.

"I know he wants you to be safe and appreciated. So, stay with us, where you will be safe. Where you will be appreciated. I will help you. There will be no shock collars. None of that. Just my grand gratitude, and wisdom to share. You come with me, and I will be glad to assist you." Tarble steps forward. "Your father would want this. He wants you to do better. So grant his wish.

Broly looks back as his friends, who aren't trying to pull him away yet. After a few seconds, he looks back at Tarble. "You think… he'll be happy?"

"I don't think. I know he will." Tarble takes another step closer.

Broly smiles small, and he takes Tarble's hand, shaking it lightly. "Thank you. I promise to make up… for my outburst."

"You are very welcome." Tarble nods with a friendly smile. "Welcome to Planet Earth. You have quite a show ahead of you."

Nappa just looks between the two.

What did he just witness?

The smile Tarble wears… it's not exactly so true…

---

BONUS: WHAT YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTER SAYS ABOUT YOU!

(Don't take this seriously. It's a parody.)

The OTES series has several characters that many love or hate. Some characters had more development than others. Others make you question what the heck the author is thinking.

I mean, why is a 21-year-old woman even wasting her time writing fanfiction in the first place?

What your favorite character may be will surely explain why you like them so much. This will go in order of appearance.

*Saiyans

-Kakarot/Son Goku- If your favorite character is Kakarot, commonly known as Goku, then you probably like the idea of good characters turning bad. You also like the idea of people being manipulated into doing things they would have never even thought of, due to their older brother and an edgy demon. You probably hope Kakarot would turn himself around and stop doing anymore harm than he already has. Maybe you are the youngest sibling and just want to do your own thing. Maybe you just win everything and nobody likes that.

-Raditz- If your favorite character is Raditz, then you are probably like the author who is the oldest among her siblings. You have to deal with your younger ones not listening to you or doing things that irks your nerves, but you still care for them. If you aren't an older sibling, then maybe you have someone who you look after and will protect with your life. Maybe you are colorblind. Or maybe you are just a candy addict who needs to be put on rehab. Or maybe you have a playboy magazine hiding in your room somewhere.

-Nappa- If your favorite character is Nappa, then you may be an older reader who is well above 12 years old. You like the idea of someone looking after others, and having control of the higher-ups. Perhaps you don't mind babysitting annoying children since you know how to handle them. Maybe you are as short-tempered as him. Or maybe you are just as bald as he is, and you feel bad for him.

-Vegeta- If your favorite character is Vegeta, then maybe you were a Vegeta fan before touching this series. Or maybe you just like the idea that Vegeta isn't what many would consider "soft and family man" that he became in Super, and is still the heartless person he was in the Saiyan and Namek saga. Maybe you relate to his ego and want everyone to look up to you.

-Tarble- If your favorite character is Tarble, then maybe you are the younger sibling who is always pushed around and bullied. You so desperately want to impress them, but they always push you aside. Perhaps you are a genius in the STEM academy. Or maybe you are envious of someone and wish you are better than them. Just don't become so obsessed like Tarble has, and you won't have to worry about manipulating anyone, or going as far as trying to kill someone.

-Turles- If your favorite character is Turles, then you're probably the kind of person who had so much taken, and you want it all back. Maybe you are desperate to achieve something that many think is beyond your reach. Or maybe you are that person who is always wanting something and is never satisfied, which is a problem. I hope you didn't take your mother's wallet to buy that new game you had your eyes on for months.

-Kauli/Ice Phlounder- If your favorite character is Kauli, commonly known as Ice Phlounder, then maybe you hate people just like she does. Maybe you grew up in a strict household with parents who don't play around. You probably had many nights as a child when you couldn't leave the table until that last piece of broccoli is off of your plate. Or maybe you relate to her and hate doing anything you don't feel like doing. You would rather sit around and read, or watch Grey's Anatomy all day to tune out the annoying world outside.

-Gine- If your favorite character is Gine, then you're probably someone who likes kind-hearted characters who stand out from the rest. Maybe you have a dark past and abandoned it to live a new life, but the past simply keeps haunting you. Or maybe you like the idea of kind characters going edgy for a moment just to protect someone. Or maybe you are colorblind. Seriously. What is the author thinking? She needs to rethink her life about writing these characters.

-Bardock- If your favorite character is Bardock, then you probably liked him before in the original series. Maybe you like the idea that he stood up against a foe he stands no chance against. Perhaps you wish you had the ability to see the future. Maybe you played PMD2 on your Nintendo DS and hope he has something related to "The Dimensional Scream". Or maybe you are hoping he gets as much screen time as Gine, because this is just not fair.

-Broly- If your favorite character is Broly, then maybe you liked him before. Let it be DBZ or DBS Broly. Perhaps you like the idea both versions are merged in this series. Or maybe you are hoping Broly gets plenty of screen time some you now know he will be part of the cast for the rest of the series. Perhaps you are in great need of anger management classes, because you just broke your father's possession when he denied you of going to a party.

*Hybrids

-Karot/Son Gohan- If your favorite character is Kaort, commonly known as Gohan, then you probably like the idea of children trying to find the path that is right for them. Maybe you live a divided life and hate the idea that you have to choose a side. Or maybe you are that kid in middle school who is going through puberty and is trying to find themselves. Just know that being a rebellious or edgy teenager is not cool.

-Future Seleriak/Future Trunks- If your favorite character is Future Seleriak, commonly known as Future Trunks, then you probably liked his canon character. Maybe you are a late teen just like him who wants to have a good life. You probably like the idea of a teenager taking his own path from his insane world to being happiness back into his life. Or maybe you are that fangirl who fantasies about Trunks in your dreams.

-Baby Seleriak/Baby Trunks- If your favorite character is Baby Seleriak, commonly known as Baby Trunks, then you must like children, especially smaller ones. You probably been around so many and know how to handle them. Or maybe you watched your younger siblings grow up from when they were a baby. Maybe you just like to see babies torture others unknowingly. Or maybe you were that bad baby once.

---

A/N: Finally finished!

Holy macaroni what just happened here? Is someone gonna beat me up because of what happened here? Is someone gonna question me because of what happened here?!

He played everyone, yo!

He played his cards, right!

What are ya gonna dooooo?

What are ya- You know what? I'll stop.

Okay! Let's see what Chapter 20 looks like!

*Opens document.*

*Sees that there are only 3,000 words.*

Ffffffffffffffffffffffff-

---

Possible Questions:

PQ1: Who are your favorite Pokémon Sword and Shield characters?

A: My top three are: Leon, Raihan, and Piers. Why?

Leon: Somewhat childish but very strong. He actually lifts. There is a weight station in his room. How strong is he physically?

Wants the best from everyone. Even when he lost against the player, it's bittersweet. Upset that he lost his title, but happy you rose up as the newest champion.

Raihan: Is a laid-back person who is always on social media. Probably has over 9,000 selfies. 10% are just pictures of a sandstorm.

Then he enters the battlefield and completely throws away his calm side and lets loose. He becomes wild and excited. If anything, his wild movements mock a dragon. He goes dragon mode, screaming at the sky and all.

(I made a video about it on my stupid channel. Lookie:)

Add to YouTube URL: /watch?v=OWUnt9kiF_s

Piers: He may live in a beat-up town, but it doesn't stop him from performing to entertain the residents. He may not have the best gym, but he proves he doesn't need power to be a powerful trainer. Does that make sense?

He is an amazing big brother. Must I say more?

PQ2: What took you so long to update?

A: To be honest, I didn't feel like writing OTES and worked on other things instead. I am a terrible person. Haha.

That's why Pokémon Insighter came around. But as I said before, it was another work I loved writing passionately. So please do check it out!

Once the mood kicked in to write OTES, I wrote this like a maniac. Whoo.

Also, as I explained before, this book has given me a hard time. You read my many walls of texts about my slow updates. I probably really need a long break once this is over.

PQ3: Will Gine keep fighting?

A: She most likely will lend a hand, but she'll also stop fighting once it is all over.

PQ4: Yamcha Vs. Raditz?

A: I would say it is a reference to how Yamcha stood up against Vegeta in the original series. Pretty sick if you ask me.

And I love how TFS handled it.

We'll miss you, Dragon Ball Z Abridged. It was a nice run.

PQ5: Wait… Broly is staying as a new cast member?

A: Yep. He's staying and will be in future chapters!

PQ6: WHAT THE FLIP HAPPENED AT THE END OF THE CHAPTER?

A: Tarble just found his Queen piece.

Haha. Get it? Because the queen is the most powerful piece?

I mean, Broly is a boy but…

Ah. Forget it.

What happened between Tarble and Broly?

My boy is playing Chess.

---

Question Time:

Q: A-am I...dreaming?

An OTES update...this early?

DAAAMN Gine, you go gurl!

Truth be told I've never seen Paragus as a fighter before, only now am I really reminded that he's a saiyan warrior.

I absolutely adore how you put together these fights btw, even though they're not the strongest in the power scale, the stakes are just as high.

Yamcha...F. I feel like yamcha's just the most unfortunate guy, he gets too much hate for no reason.

The guy tries his best, but what does he get? He loses bulma, his power is mocked because he's not able to do crazy goku shit, and he's the butt of all jokes.

You'd think he'd go emo crazy and lash out but no- he still tries to keep it upbeat.

My boi yamcha deserves better. #wolffanglivesmatter

AAARGH, WHY MUST YOU MAKE ME SO CONFLICTED L!?

Tarble's care for Kauli is just- mmmf

But like, Turles too-

REEEEEEE

"Ah shit, I darn caught the dumbass disease"

And this people, is why Kauli is best girl

HA! I KNEW NAPPA WOULD HAVE SOME EFFECT

Best mom strikes again, proving why he is indeed, best mom

GSSHGGKDUY

You really weren't lying last chapter when you said EVERYONE was fighting. Even Zhanshitao's throwing the hands!

...

N-nappa...Why...why did you make him a donut...

-OHP

JESUS CHRIST L DON'T SCARE ME LIKE THAT

...

I am saving Gine's lightning quote. That shit was badass- a stark juxtaposition to the gentle side she usually shows, I love it.

Whoops, Nappa's seen it. A-here we go~

A: Sorry for making you wait long this time.

I feel like I didn't give enough action in this chapter. Then again, I know I'll be worn out writing them non-stop during the Cell games… So taking a break is what I will need. I'm glad you enjoy them though.

Yamcha needs a break. He gets a little angry here, but he thankfully has his friends to help him.

Hmm. Where is Baby Trunks in this chapter?

Last chapter was a sneak peak of how I'll write the Cell games. And boy… if I didn't plan how the fights will happen ahead of time, I'll fry my brain.

I'm trying to give everyone a spotlight, of course.

---

Next Time:

*Insert DBZ Kai's "Episode preview theme" here*

Nappa: (Serious) This is Nappa! Listen carefully!

Nappa: (Worried) I have a really bad feeling about this. Whatever you are planning Tarble… I don't like it.

Tarble: (Annoyed) You wouldn't grasp it, even if I told you. You've played babysitter most of your life… so of course you'll naturally oppose me.

Vegeta: (Angry) So, you've brought him back even when I said I want him gone?! You really like to push your limits, don't you?!

Tarble: (Angry) Do you really think you are above consequences, Vegeta?

Vegeta: (Surprised) W-wait just a moment! What did you do?!

Nappa: Next time on, "The Dissonance of The Earthling Saiyan!" Chapter 20! "Kneel, or face the consequences! Countdown for the final battle!"

Nappa: (Surprised) We are supposed to be more worried about Cell! This is insane!

---

REVIEW! REVIEW!

---

To be Continued in Chapter 20!

---

Upcoming Chapters: (Read at your own risk!)

Chapter 20: "Kneel, or face the consequences! Countdown for the final battle!" The cards were set long before anyone noticed, and now the best hand was played! Prince Tarble stands in a position that not even Prince Vegeta would had predicted! Warriors of every type are set to prepare for the battle against Cell, but it won't be so easy now that they have no choice… but to trek carefully under a watchful eye. The word was kept firm… to not cross the line that was drawn. Future Trunks realizes he is about to relive his dreadful present again! And Karot finds himself caught up in the mess! And now… it appears Kakarot is no longer the main threat among the Saiyans, because that throne was taken!

Chapter 21: "What it means to stick together! Power comes in numbers!" The deadline is due to end! The warriors all brace themselves, taking in the training they endured to heart. But Kakarot isn't too shaken, and neither is Raditz. It's questionable, but the two brothers always seems to know what is going on. Knowing how powerful Cell is, they should be at least a little nervous? After what occurred for the last few days, Prince Vegeta finally came to a conclusion. And Prince Tarble seems to come to some agreement. There is no reason to play around anymore. Everyone has the dreadful feeling that not all of them will walk from the upcoming fight alive.

Chapter 22: "Show us your power, Trunks! The Tournament has begun!" The Cell games has finally started, and who is Cell's first pick? It's Trunks! No one ever said Cell would do the picking, but there can't be any complaints. No weapons means no swords, but the half-Saiyan warrior proves he doesn't need it to fight! It's clear on why Cell wanted to fight Trunks first. And it's also obvious on why he would want to fight Kakarot last. Maybe this was all due to personal grudges?

Chapter 23: "Human warriors, prove your worth! It's time to go all-out!" Cell so far shows little signs of being taken down. The hope next lies on the Z-Fighters who most of the Saiyans find a bit… unhelpful. However, Kakarot knows they aren't to be underestimated. The Humans learned a lot since their defeat five years back! Krillin, Yamcha, and Tien work together to fight that terrible threat! It seems they truly learned a lot. Humans learn from their mistakes better than anyone else, after all!

Chapter 24: "Time for the elites to take the floor! Incredible display of power!" Cell had decided to make things more interesting. After his battle against the Humans, he finds a thrill to fighting more than one opponent. He demands all three of the "higher ranking" Saiyans to take a stand. Surely, they can overwhelm him… right? It's hard to say, but they didn't train for nothing. The only concern is of Vegeta and Tarble can even work together properly during this intense fight!