Dragon Ball Z Dynasty

by Feraligreater328

When travelling along Snake Way, Son Goku suddenly finds himself plummeting down to Hell. There, he meets a surprisingly familiar ghost from his past that promises to change everything about his life going forward. How will the Saiyan react to this sudden, positive change in his life? Find out in Dragon Ball Z Dynasty.

125. Chapter 123: Cassava's Tragic Fate

Dragon Ball Z: Dynasty

Written by: Feraligreater328 and StevenBodner

A/N: I have never really understood the feeling of what romantic love is. It's just never really been something I've inherently had a knowledge of. I know what love is, I've read books and all of that and I've formed my own opinions and made my own diagrams and flow charts and whatnot. I've always wanted to feel love for real. To feel like the characters that I try to write and stuff. That's why Dynasty is so gushy, at the end of the day. I just want to express what I think it's like to be in love. Cassava is based on someone that I love. Someone so dear to me that it hurts. I wish that I had managed to express that love, in a real way, before it was too late. Before I ruined things. Now I'm a dumbass in love and I'm alone. And I did it to myself.

I'm sorry that this author's note took a depressing turn. Reading this drummed up a lot of stuff. I love you, Tangerine.

Chapter 123: Cassava's Tragic Fate

Minutes before Bardock and Turles' falling out, in Cassava's quarters…

Turles entered Cassava's quarters with a lot on his mind. He had been summoned from a moment of silent contemplation to speak to his commander. She wanted to talk to him in regard to his Power Ball and the fallout of her report to the higher-ups. Turles knew she was being vague on purpose. Cassava was not a fan of this type of discussion. And he knew what she actually wanted to talk about: Bardock being forced to take credit for the Power Ball in Turles' stead.

The boy took a deep breath and thought deeply and introspectively about the situation. And he finally came to a refreshing conclusion. He didn't care.

Turles had grown used to that being his lot in life. He was destined to be swept to the side, never given credit, never taken seriously. And he was oddly fine with that. Turles had Bardock, Turles had all of his friends. Turles could live content knowing that the single most important person to him was able to benefit from something he did. He could be at peace.

The one-armed Saiyan walked into Cassava's quarters with this peaceful outlook, only to be shocked out of it by a sudden, furious shout. "KISS MY ASS, YOU POMPOUS LITTLE NOBODY!"

Turles shuddered and peaked around the corner into Cassava's little bed nook. The Warhammer was sitting on top of the covers in a simple gown, her missing arm's stump on full display and wrapped tightly in bandages. Turles frowned. "They really weren't able to heal it in the chambers, huh...?"

Cassava looked angry. She was glaring at the communication screen hanging on her wall with more open hatred than Turles had ever seen before. He shifted his gaze to the screen and immediately a lump formed in his throat. On the other end was an angry-looking, taller man. He had brownish-black hair and thin, but clearly growing goatee. He snarled at Cassava. "NOT ONLY AM I YOUR BETROTHED, I AM YOUR PRINCE! SPEAK TO ME WITH RESPECT!"

Cassava flipped him off. "RESPECT THIS!"

Turles swallowed the lump in his throat. He knew the truth, but he had never quite grasped it before this moment. That person on the screen was Prince Vegeta III, Cassava's husband-to-be. And the two of them, going by tone and stare, simply despised one another. Vegeta sneered back. "I see you're making that vulgar gesture with your non-dominant hand?! Where did the other one go?! Well?!"

Cassava snarled. "I lopped it off and put it in my bedside drawer. I reckon it's a better lover than you, Daddy's Little Princess! By the way, you might wanna wash that brown ring off your face! It's still there from the last time you licked his ass clean!"

Vegeta III recoiled back in shock. But he remained focused. "You use insults and vulgarity to distract from the point! Childish! How could you permanently disable yourself for a Low-Class, Cassava?! I knew you were impulsive, but I didn't think you were an idiot! However will you be presentable when our marriage comes to pass?!"

Cassava sneered and jerked her gaze away from the screen. "Get off my friggin' back! I already ordered a prosthetic! They're even sending a flesh glove to cover it up! No one is going to ruin your precious wedding!"

She shot him a hateful smirk. "It'll look great. Magical even~ Maybe Daddy-dearest will even tell you a l-l-l-l-l-likes you as a friend~"

Vegeta III growled. "Impudent woman. I hate you..."

Cassava sneered. "Well, you could be rid of me, ya know? Send your half-breed, unwanted scientist siblings to me. The coop is open! They can take as many eggs as they want and you can have your damned children and leave me the hell alone!"

She flopped back in bed. "Wouldn't have to marry a filthy commoner or nuthin'! Take my DNA and don't ever darken my door again!"

Vegeta III calmed a bit. "Unacceptable. I would need you around to instruct our offspring on how to control his Alpha-Type powers once they manifest."

She rolled her eyes. "You and your dad are such stubborn, one-track-minded, hear-what-you-want-to-hear idiots. I keep telling you that's not how that works. Cumber has told me time and time again that's not how that works."

Vegeta III was matter-of-fact. "We are uninterested in the psychotic ramblings of the voices in your head. You will do as you're told."

Cassava sneered. "Good luck marrying me in space, asshole."

Vegeta III sneered right back. "You have to come home eventually, Cassava. Even you must know that you cannot stay in space with those worthless scraps of yours forever. And always remember, we're watch-"

Cassava picked up a plate from her bedside table and tossed it through the viewing screen like a discus. Vegeta III was cut off and his voice disappeared, leaving a pregnant silence in the room. Cassava was breathing heavily; a nerve clearly having been touched. She reached over and grabbed a pitcher of water, pouring herself a glass and taking a long drink. Once she was done, she called out. "Turles. Come on in."

Turles sheepishly shuffled in, standing next to Cassava's bed. "Y-Yes, ma'am? You called?"

Cassava slapped her hand against the bed. Turles was confused, but then she did it again. He finally took the hint and climbed up, sitting on top of the softest sheets he had ever experienced. The boy just sat there, appreciating the soft sensation until a chuckle broke his daze. He looked over and Cassava was smiling. "Enjoying yourself? I can order you some if you'd like~"

Turles looked Cassava up-and-down. This was the most vulnerable he had ever seen the Warhammer. Normally she was this tower of power and intimidation. Dressed head-to-toe in her battle jacket and fatigues, she was enough to make the strongest Saiyan melt with fear. But here, sitting there in a nightgown and missing her dominant arm, this was almost a different person. Turles looked at each of Cassava's remaining limbs.

This was the first time he had seen them exposed like this, other than from a distance when her Oozaru form had rendered her nude. Each limb was covered in white, ropey scar tissue. It was a grizzly display and it made Turles shudder. What the hell could have done this to a beast like the leader of the Warhammers?!

From the limbs, Turles drew his gaze right into Cassava's eyes. She was smiling, trying her best to make the boy feel welcomed into her personal space... but there was a deep sadness in Cassava's ebony orbs. The conversation with her husband-to-be seemed to have drowned away the normal spark that the Warhammer displayed. But then, Cassava spoke. "Nubby, nubby, nubby~"

Turles flinched. Cassava waved her arm around. "Lookit this~ I'm part of Nubby Gang now too~! We even share the same missing arm! Ain't that wacky~?"

She cocked her head, drumming her remaining index finger against her cheek. "But I'm getting a prosthetic... so I guess it's only a temporary membership. Like those cards they sell on Cold Planet #49 where you get free ice cream after so many purchases..."

She sighed. "I wish I could visit that place more. I put in my application with Ginyu for that new high-level executive class group he's been approved to start... but I guess I got overlooked for some reason or another..."

Turles was gobsmacked as Cassava continued to ramble. "It's a shame too. Cuz I can dance like crazy. I'm good at basketball too. Just ask Taro, I don't fake the funk on a nasty dunk..."

She glanced down and saw Turles totally lost. "Oh, sorry. I lost my train of thought. Um..."

Cassava smiled wide and raised her tail from beneath her gown. "So, the Power Ball... tail me how you feel~"

No response. Cassava nervously pointed to her tail, hoping for at least a small chuckle at the pun. Nothing. Beads of sweat formed on her head and she sighed. "Fine. Sorry. I know you're probably upset..."

She looked at Turles with a glum expression. "I never wanted to steal credit from you, Turles. But the Power Ball is, quite possibly, the single greatest technique a Saiyan has ever developed. And my bastard future father-in-law... and his pathetic son... both refuse to promote it if it's going to be credited to someone they don't approve of..."

Cassava scratched the back of her head. "I fought for you, kid. But... the Saiyan army needs that technique and my hands... hand... is tied."

Turles shrugged. "It's fine. I don't really mind."

Cassava flinched. "What?"

Turles adopted a small smile. "I get it. I'm not well-liked among the Saiyan Royalty. A Low-Class. A cripple. A weakling. They see me as a stain on everything they want for the future, so of course they don't wanna credit me. I'm not the ideal Saiyan. I probably never will be..."

The boy chuckled. "But you took the time to at least make sure that someone I care for did get the credit. So I do appreciate that, Cassava. Thank you!"

Cassava adopted a small smile as well. "Anytime, Turles..."

Turles sighed. "Though, speaking of Bardock... he will definitely not take this as well as I did. He's probably going to be... livid..."

Cassava closed her eyes. "Well, don't you worry about that. I can handle him."

She cracked her knuckles by gripping her fist tight. Turles chuckled. But then, Cassava's tone became far more serious. "But this isn't about Bardock. This is about you, Turles. You don't need to pretend, you know?"

Turles flinched. Cassava's face was dead serious. "You don't have to act like you're totally fine with credit being taken from you. It's not healthy to lie to yourself about things like that."

The boy gasped. Cassava continued. "I can hear the sting in your voice. You thought that that technique was going to be your opportunity to get praise from the entire Saiyan Empire and leave your mark in history. And yet you were cast in Bardock's shadow once again. It sucks. You don't have to pretend like it doesn't..."

A long silence. Turles simply sat there, drumming his fingers nervously on his leg. After a while, Cassava spoke again. "Have you never even considered leaving that shadow, Turles?"

Turles visibly recoiled back at the suggestion. He looked at Cassava with wide eyes and spoke with just the slightest hint of contempt in his voice. "Are you suggesting that I abandon him, Cassava?! After all we've been through?! After everything he's done for me?! After what we just went through with Tursa?! How could you be so heartless?! How-"

Cassava reached forward and gently gripped his hand. "So defensive and offensive on the subject. And at the same time no less..."

She sighed. "No, Turles. I'm not suggesting that you abandon Bardock. And, just as a side note... I did add Tursa's name to the memorial wall..."

A brief smile flashed across Turles' face. "You did?! That's so..."

The smile faded. "... then what did you mean by that?"

Silence. Turles cocked his head. "Cassava?"

Cassava fell deep into her own mind. The words of her future husband echoed like the hellish bellow of a demon. As much as she didn't want to face the facts... Cassava was no idiot. She did know that she couldn't just avoid Planet Vegeta for the rest of her life. She knew that she would have to go back one day and that her fate would indeed be sealed once she did.

She glanced over at Turles, a new and much deeper sadness in her eyes. Before that time came... she had to at least make sure that these kids who had stolen her heart were able to live on without her protection. "I can't just let this go on, Turles. As it stands... neither of you boys are going to last if you continue living the way you do. You both need to grow up, or this world is going to eat you alive. You get that, right?"

Turles fell silent. Cassava's stern tone faded and she spoke much more gently. "I won't make you if you don't want to. I would never do that to you. But... I think a break would be good for you both. Just for a little bit..."

The boy shook his head. "Cassava, I... I don't..."

He clenched his teeth. "Bardock needs me just as much as I need him, Cassava! He's not good with people! Without me there he would... he would never admit it..."

Turles bowed his head. "He'd... be so lonely..."

Cassava flinched. She felt the bitter sting of tears forming in her eyes but quickly suppressed them. She took a deep breath and sighed. "I appreciate that, Turles. I really do. That bond between the two of you is one of your greatest strengths... but, at the same time, it's kind of the problem, bud..."

Turles looked confused. Cassava clarified. "You and Bardock could both be really great! Even better than you are right now! But, well, each of you keep using each other to avoid things. You'll never be strong if Bardock fights every fight for you! Bardock will never open up if you keep acting as his spokesman! And, eventually, those things are going to catch up to you guys!"

Turles bit his lip. Cassava shook her head. "I'm not saying I want to see a wedge between the two of you! Okay? I'm just... I'm just saying that I really want to watch you both grow. And I won't be able to do that with how things currently are..."

The boy finally spoke again, the gears in his head seemingly turning. "But... what if this separation makes us grow apart? I don't know what I would do if Bardock didn't need me anymore..."

Cassava pulled Turles into a hug, squeezing him tight. "That won't happen. I promise. Just give me... just give me 3 years, Turles. Can you do that? Just give me 3 years so that you and your brother can grow a bit. And if any lasting damage is done, I will take full responsibility. Okay?"

Turles looked up at her, his eyes shimmering. "And... we just wouldn't speak to each other for that long?"

Cassava shook her head. "Of course, that wouldn't be the case! You can't just totally shut someone out! Talk! Share a lunch! Talk about recent events and future goals. Just... don't be attached at the hip. Trust me. It'll do wonders for you both."

Turles looked at the smile on Cassava's face and he felt a deep trust in it. He knew that she would never mean him any harm. He nodded. "Fine. But I have two conditions for this separation. Okay?"

Cassava nodded. "Fine. Shoot."

Back in the present, still in Cassava's quarters…

Cassava finished typing the new order onto her communication pad, smiling as she got a confirmation of her request. "Done and done. I'm happy for you, Turles~"

But then, at that same moment, Cassava's ears pricked up to a commotion. She turned her head just in time to see the door to her room slam open and flinched back as he came shooting from around the corner like a bolt of lightning. Bardock screamed like a bloodthirsty beast, lunging into Cassava and tackling her out of her bed and onto the floor. Bardock slapped Cassava's arm out of the way and then began to unload punch after punch onto her face, screaming in incomprehensible furious snarls and only managing to fully form some of the nastiest names and unforgivable slurs that Cassava had ever heard.

As the boy continued to punch her, Cassava was finally able to make out more than the occasional derogative snarl. And, to her consternation, it was just more of what she had come to expect: Bardock threatening to kill her in a variety of colorful ways.

Unlike before, however, this brought Cassava no joy. She didn't think it was funny. Every time Bardock raised his fist, Cassava caught a glance of the boy's face and it genuinely made her heart sink. As the pummeling continued, Taro eventually rushed into the room and grabbed Bardock by the shoulders. "What the hell is wrong with you?! Get off of her you little-"

Bardock smashed the back of his head into Taro's face, breaking the older Saiyan's nose and sending him sprawling back. And then, without even a moment of regard for his attempted restrainer, Bardock went back to his furious attack on Cassava. He reared his fist back and sent it shooting forward... but this time it was easily caught.

Cassava slowly sat up, revealing a bruised cheek and a small dribble of blood out of her right nostril. Her glare was intense, but not angry. She stared in Bardock's face and made sure she was correct in what she saw. She was. It was fear, but not of her. It was sadness, lacking the tears. It was rage, but not towards any one person. Bardock was having an anxiety attack. A big one. His breathing was hoarse and squeaky and the sneer seemed frozen on his face.

Bardock opened his mouth to speak, but Cassava simply shoved him off of her. She stood, dusting herself off, and then turned her back to Bardock. She quietly poured herself another glass of water from the pitcher and then downed it in one gulp. "What? No attempts at my back? Normally you're so eager to spill my blood. Or is this not about that?"

The boy acted as if he was about to break into a vicious rant, but Cassava turned and glared down at him. "Shut up!"

Bardock's mouth snapped closed. Cassava pressed her hand against her face. "Now you listen to me, huh? It sure would've been nice to keep that arm..."

Cassava glared at him. "This tough-loner act is tiring, you know? And not only that, it's pretty sad too."

Bardock sneered. "Who the hell do you think you're talking to?!"

Cassava blew that question off. "This is about Turles, right? I'm assuming he told you about his reassignment? And you seem to think that I'm at fault? Is that it?"

Bardock snarled. "You bitch! How dare you-"

Cassava cut him off. "After all, it's not like Turles could have made that decision for himself. Huh?"

Bardock flinched. Cassava sighed through her nose. It was a little white lie for sure, but she needed some way to crack through Bardock's iron-thick skull. She'd apologize later. Cassava continued. "Funnily enough, I didn't even broach the thought of reassigning Turles. He asked me."

Bardock slowly shook his head. "But... no..."

Cassava bent over at the waist. "'But no' thinks Bardock. 'Turles couldn't have time to think to ask something like that. Not when he has me to worry about. Turles could never think of himself when he's putting out fires 24/7'..."

Bardock fell silent. "'Like telling Toma that I didn't mean it when I shot a blast at his back or like telling Fasha I didn't mean it when I called her an expendable Tuffle or like spending every waking moment of his life advocating and advocating over and over that I'm really a nice guy once you scrape away the two-thousand layers of crust on the surface! Turles can't have the time to think for himself or his own self-interests! Where could he find the time?! He's too busy trying to convince the world that I'm not a selfish goddamned child that refuses to grow the fuck up and learn to deal with people! That's all Turles is for! Right?!'"

The boy couldn't make a sound. Cassava frowned at him. "Tell me, and be real, Bardock. What do you actually see when you look at your brother? Do you see a person? A pet? An object? A burden? Let me get into your head here, cuz I'm genuinely interested in how you see things..."

Bardock sneered. "Look. I get it. You're pissed off about your arm! But that's no reason to punish him! He-"

Cassava raised the stump where her left arm used to be. "This?!"

She stomped her foot. "THIS?! You think this is about this?! Let me tell you something, you arrogant little twerp! This is nothing! If I was mad about this, you'd be dead! My stupid-ass future husband is mad about this, Taro is mad about this, CUMBER is mad about this! But, if I was mad about this, you'd be deader than the Starchians!"

Bardock flinched back, immediately recognizing that Cassava was not kidding in the slightest. Cassava knelt down to get eye level with him. "This isn't about my arm, Bardock. This is about Turles. This is about you and Turles. This is about needing space to breathe. Space to grow. Space to find a way in life that doesn't revolve around supporting and advocating for someone else! And it wasn't just for him!"

Finally, Cassava sat on the floor and crossed her legs. She sighed. "Look, I'm sorry. That rant was ugly. But... you have to think, Bardock. You have to think really hard. I know you care about Turles a lot. I know you always act in what you think are his best interests. But... have you ever thought about what he wants in life?"

Bardock closed his mouth. Cassava continued. "He's frail. I get it. He's not the strongest. I get that too. And..."

Cassava closed her eyes. "... and I get the distinct feeling that it's not just about him. Perhaps, deep down, you might be scared without him at your side. In some regards, you don't know how to function without him by your side. It's hard to do something like that, even as the dominant member of your relationship. He's always been there as a support... so him leaving denies you that support. Right?"

Bardock remained silent. Cassava nodded. "Well, think about it this way, Bardock. Maybe... maybe Turles saw that too. Maybe he realized that, the way things were going, you two were going to reach a point of no return. Maybe he realized that you would eventually reach a point where the relationship didn't work. Maybe... Maybe Turles just wanted to become strong enough to stand on his own before he really did become just a burden. Does that make sense? And doesn't he have the right to try to become stronger to prevent that sort of thing? Doesn't Turles deserve a chance to be his own man, Bardock?"

The boy's hands were trembling. Cassava continued. "Don't you?"

Things fell silent. Cassava sighed. She carefully stepped over Bardock, moving over to Taro and shaking him awake. After convincing her shorter second-in-command that everything was alright and that he should go to the med bay, Cassava turned back around and stepped over Bardock again. The boy had his head buried in his knees, so Cassava simply sat next to him. Things continued to stay silent, less the sound of Cassava pouring herself another glass of water. The two of them simply sat there, in what was possibly the most peaceful moment that had been shared together to that point.

Eventually, Cassava reached out and gently stroked the palm of her hand up and down his back. He tensed up a bit at first, but eventually just accepted it. Cassava spoke. "Are you okay?"

Silence.

Cassava continued. "He's told me all about you, ya know? About how you'd scrounge, skip meals so he could eat every day, fight tooth-and-nail against enemies, higher-ups, and even your own family just so you two could survive. How you forewent a pretty easy life... maybe even the life of a Mid-Class... just to stick with him..."

Finally, Bardock spoke from his knees. "Back then... I betrayed him once."

Cassava was shocked to hear that, but didn't interrupt Bardock. "The first mission we had together, the first time I actually saw him... I tried to kill him. I saw him as an obstacle for my own survival... and I tried to kill him. Once I realized who he was... I could never forgive myself for what I did. The more I looked out for him, the more he made up for what I lacked. I had someone who really understood me. He's the first person who ever gave a damn about me."

Cassava looked over at him. "You know, I mentioned that he says it a lot...but I don't disagree with him. I think deep, deep down, you are a good person Bardock. As good as a Saiyan can be, anyway..."

Cassava leaned close, carefully wrapping her arm around Bardock and squeezing him tight. "You've allowed him to make it this far, at great cost to yourself and you've convinced yourself that he needs you to survive. That he'd be lost without you. It's a selfish thought, but also quite selfless. But now... it's time to let him walk... run... trip... fall... and then learn to stand again. And I think that you really want to see him do that, right?"

Finally, and, for the first time, the 13-year-old boy really did sound his age. "But... I'm all alone if he leaves me..."

Cassava squeezed him tighter. "Oh sweetie. You're not alone. I promise you that. I would never let you be~"

Bardock glanced up at her. Cassava smiled at him. "Honestly, I've grown pretty used to you constantly trying to kill me. So, I'd probably feel pretty lonely with you. So... how about you keep that up and we just keep each other company in the process. Okay~?"

Bardock was silent. Cassava chuckled and stuck her tongue out just a bit. "Okay~?"

And then, to Cassava's inner shock, the last thing she ever expected happened. Bardock smiled, a sad smile but a smile nonetheless, and whispered. "You're a dumbass, Cassava..."

And so, 3 years passed…

From that day on, there were noticeable changes in the dynamics within the Warhammers. Bardock, famous loner and detractor of Cassava's leadership suddenly became firmly attached to her hip. Alongside Taro, the little brute acted as Cassava's muscle. He watched her flank like a tamed wolf for the period Cassava lacked an arm, and then lashed out at her foes like a rabid coyote even once she got her prosthetic.

Most speculated this was out of guilt for costing Cassava her arm in the first place, though no one was ever brave enough to say that to Bardock's face.

Slowly, the miserable loner that once haunted the halls of the Warhammer ship was gone. He was replaced by quite a sturdy cog in the Warhammer machine. After even more time, he even evolved to someone to refer to when things got dicey. His continued role in Warhammer leadership allowed him to grow and sharpen his combat intelligence, becoming quite the strategist as he matured.

Cassava, for this newfound loyalty, tried to give Bardock the position that Bell used to hold as her left-hand man. However, Bardock denied the title. His only comment on the matter being that the position could be better held by someone with a higher intelligence.

Turles, meanwhile, settled well into his new position in ship maintenance. At first, he worked studiously under the maintenance head. But, after a few invasions and a few "retirements" within the Warhammer ranks, Turles was promoted to the vaunted position himself. But, whether as a subordinate or a commander in maintenance, Turles flourished. His lazier cohorts often mocked him behind his back, accusing him of just trying to kiss up to their terrifying commander. Turles, however, had a much different motive in mind.

As he worked and fixed and toiled and repaired and addressed even the tiniest issue, the same mantra continued to play in his head. This mantra was also the reason he asked to be placed in maintenance, a place where his natural intelligence and attention to detail would be most useful.

"You have to come home eventually, Cassava."

Turles could often be caught wiping sweat from his brow with a determined air to his voice. Some would even accuse him of mumbling to himself. "Not if I can help it..."

And, just like with Bardock, this loyalty was rewarded. At the same time Cassava received her new prosthetic, specially made to conform to her power output and outfitted with a camouflaging sleeve of artificial skin, Turles received one as well. It was not nearly as advanced, even being called crude on its own packaging, but it was just what Turles had always dreamed of. He willed it to move and it moved, he was able to eat and drink simultaneously. It was like living a high fantasy for the former conjoined twin.

Late in the evening, some would even suggest that you could find him and Cassava together in her quarters, doing such mundane things as gripping glasses without breaking them, or crushing apples with intent to break them. Neither could conduct their energy through the lifeless metal, but neither seemed to mind as they simply enjoyed having two arms attached.

And, in the middle of all of this, it was apparent that little Turles was quickly growing in power. His growth spurt had arrived. And not having someone constantly standing between him and danger taught the boy to grow very quickly.

Meanwhile still, the other young Warhammers all enjoyed some growth as well. Toma quickly rose through the ranks and gained a reputation as a formidable combatant and reliable hand. Fasha, in her desire to escape the racist whispers of her lesser colleagues, developed into an impressive long-range fighter and deadshot sniper. Panbukin's excess weight was forged into a bulk of thick muscle, though his body retained its shape. Totepo experienced a massive growth spurt, towering over his comrades at over 7 feet tall. And little Gine, in spite of her lack of combat skill, still found a place in the Warhammer mess hall. It wasn't an escape from the violence and action of life as a Saiyan soldier, but it was a respite where she could find some form of relief.

The young Warhammers grew and grew, under the watchful eye of Cassava. And, like that, 3 years passed like a gust of wind.

Cassava – Age 28 – Power Level 29,000

Taro – Age 62 – Power Level 2400

Bardock – Age 16 – Power Level 5300

Turles – Age 16 – Power Level 2600

Toma – Age 17 – Power Level 3100

Fasha – Age 16 – Power Level 2750

Panbukin – Age 21 – Power Level 2800

Totepo – Age 23 – Power Level 3000

Gine – Age 15 – Power Level 750

It was a random day after a planetary extermination that the young Warhammer's each received a personal summons from Taro. Cassava had demanded that each of them report to her quarters for a meeting of the senior Warhammers. Each was surprised that nearly four years had passed since they had first been air-dropped onto Planet Chimichurri. They were actually tenured enough that they could be considered seniors in the Warhammer. Each of them accepted the invitation with gusto, interested in what Cassava might have to say.

In Cassava's private dining hall…

Toma opened the door to the dining hall and walked in, a smile immediately stretching across his face. "Hey, everybody! How's it going?"

Already at the table, Panbukin, Totepo, Fasha, and Gine smiled back. The lot of them hadn't gone radio silent on one another over these past 3 years, but the path of self-improvement had cut down on the time they were able to spend in one another's company. Toma sat down at an empty seat and looked around, only seeing four others. "So... either Cassava is bad at planning parties... or there's a lot less 4-year veterans to this outfit than I had assumed..."

Gine sighed. "Sadly, it's the latter. I was part of the planning for this meal... almost all of our seniors have been killed in action. The only people still alive before we were sent here are Cassava and Taro..."

The tone was grim, but Fasha quickly spoke up. "Well, on the bright side, I guess we at least get a nice dinner this evening. You said you were part of making this, Gine?"

Gine shook her head. "Planning, not making. But..."

She looked at the spread on the table with a look of hungry glee. "... I'd be lying if I said I hadn't planned around what I like to eat..."

Everyone else shared a good laugh over this. But then, the center attendant of the feast made her presence known. "Naughty girl~! Sweetening your own pot like that~"

The others turned their attention towards a door on the other side of the room. It flew open and Cassava marched in, Taro and Bardock standing on either side of her. The Warhammer planted her fists onto her hips and scanned over the room. "Man-o-man, look at all of you! 3 years is a long time, huh? You've all grown!"

Cassava quickly sat down at the table, Bardock and Taro both sitting next to her. She looked around and sighed. "Some would call this pathetic; you know? I called a meeting of my most senior officers and the oldest non-Taro here is only 28..."

Cassava chuckled, but it was a sad chuckle. "How... sad. So many powerful Saiyan falling left and right. Proud warriors left to rot on empty planets..."

Toma's mouth was dry. "Shit..."

Cassava slapped the table. "But let's move on from that! We aren't here to sulk, we're here to celebrate! I'm really, REALLY, REALLY happy to see that you brats are all still alive and thriving~"

Panbukin smirked. "Same here! Now let's dig in! I'm starving!"

The hefty Saiyan reached for food, only for Bardock to suddenly seize his wrist. Bardock looked annoyed. "Have patience, food bag. We're not all here yet."

Panbukin sneered. Cassava ruffled Bardock's hair. "Calm down, squirt. He'll be here any minute. Engineering is a long walk from here."

And then, as if on cue, the door opened and the final attendant to the dinner arrived. He stood there in awe, his now muscled-body showing through his coveralls. He was caked with grease and grime, but his smile shined bright. His skeletal, metal arm reached up to scratch the back of his head and Turles laughed. "Sorry I didn't have time to clean up! I didn't wanna be any later than I had to be..."

Instantly, everyone was up out of their seats. Toma, Fasha, Panbukin, Totepo, and Gine all ran up to Turles, so very happy to see him again. Toma was impressed by the arm. Fasha and Gine were impressed by the muscle. Panbukin and Toteppo were just happy to be able to slap his back without breaking him in half.

Turles chuckled. "Yeah~! I missed you guys too~"

Sitting there and watching his brother greet the others filled Bardock with an almost sheepish feeling. His mouth was hanging open, but the boy was silent. He realized that he didn't know what to say. In spite of Cassava not ordering silence between them, it had been more than 2 years since Bardock had seen Turles in person. And a little over a year since he had spoken to him even. The angry brat was at an utter loss and, for a moment, considered slinking away before he was noticed.

And then he was shoved out of his chair.

Bardock looked up at Cassava and Cassava shot him a warm smile. She mouthed three simple words and then waved him off. "He's right there."

Taking the hint, Bardock stood up and slowly shambled across the room. As he did, he examined his brother. Turles had become so big! Bigger than Bardock had ever imagined he'd be. The older brother's throat felt dry and cracked, like a sandy desert where words went to die. As he approached, the others took notice: first Panbukin and Fasha with their sour looks, then Toma and Totepo with indifference, then Gine with whatever that look she shot Bardock was, he didn't know.

And then Turles looked up and his face lit up as bright as the stars. "BARDOCK!"

The boy ran up and regarded his older brother with a nod of respect. "Hi~"

Bardock gripped his right fist. "H-Hi..."

He looked Turles up-and-down again. "Y-You've gotten bigger. I... see our time apart has done you well. I'm glad..."

Turles cocked his head, confused as his brother's bashful tone. Bardock did a 180 and nodded. "That's good. Well, I guess we'll just talk later and-"

Bardock felt a weight crash into his back. It was a heavier weight than he had expected. All at once two arms, one flesh and one metal, wrapped around him tight. Bardock was stunned, he didn't know what to do. Turles spoke again. "It's so good to see you again, Big Bro~"

Bardock bit his lip. He stared straight ahead at Cassava. Cassava had a pleased little smirk on her face and she shot a cheerful thumbs-up. Bardock smiled. "Yeah..."

Cassava called out. "Okay! Enough mushy shit! I've called all of you here for a reason, so sit your asses down!"

The young Warhammers all sat and Cassava planted her real fist into her cheek. "Okay. So, I'm sure you've noticed the recent swelling of our ranks. The older Warhammers might be dead, but we're getting plenty of NAILs to make up for it. Vegeta II is getting more and more petty about what he considers a defect by the day. So, I personally think that the old arrangement of me and my two sub-commanders isn't going to cut it!"

Everyone nodded, eagerly reaching for food and eating as Cassava spoke. She didn't care. "So, I'm officially announcing the Warhammer Leadership Committee. Four more people act as direct subordinates to Bardock and Taro, both of whom answer to me. As well as two people to lead the engineering room and the mess hall/medical branch. I think that would be the best way to lead the Warhammer going forward! Any objections~?"

Not a single one. Cassava smiled and grabbed a large shank of meat. "Didn't think so! Now then, my new officers... LET'S PARTY!"

3 years later, Planet Deepdish-Large…

In the blink of an eye, 3 years passed once again...

Cassava – Age 31 – Power Level 30,000

Taro – Age 65 – Power Level 2450

Bardock – Age 19 – Power Level 6100

Turles – Age 19 – Power Level 2700

Toma – Age 20 – Power Level 3500

Fasha – Age 19 – Power Level 2950

Panbukin – Age 24 – Power Level 3100

Totepo – Age 26 – Power Level 3250

Gine – Age 18 – Power Level 910

Cassava led her Warhammers on a walk through the main canyon where the Deepdishians housed themselves. It was a massive crag that split around the surface of the otherwise forested planet like a scar. Thus far, the resistance to the Saiyans' presence had been minimal. But the intel on this planet told a different story. This planet's defenses were so rock-solid that every prior incursion had been nearly immediately repelled.

As the Warhammer ship was landing, Cassava watched on from the bridge. All of the non-combatant Deepdishians had fled the planet in their meteoroid ships. Cassava knew then that they wouldn't find any soft targets on this expedition, only warriors.

Cassava's ears perked up as they arrived at the gate of what was most likely the main Deepdishian city. She held up her hand and her officers all immediately signaled for the rest of the troops to stop. Cassava smiled, just like it had been for the last 3 years, things were running like clockwork. She turned and looked behind, seeing the Warhammer ship in the distance. "Still too close to the ship for my liking, but..."

She turned and shouted. "COME ON OUT, DEEPDISHIANS! IT'S TIME TO MEET YOUR MAKER!"

From various holes punched into the rocky walls, out came shooting the Deepdishians. They were large people, with brown craggy skin and white hair. They rolled from their shelters like perfectly round boulders and landed with repeated dull thuds in front of the Saiyans. Cassava smirked. "Ooh. Showy~"

One of the Deepdishians unfurled, popping out his arms, legs, and head. He glared at Cassava and spoke. "You allowed our non-combatant people to escape with their lives. Are you, perhaps, Saiyans with a sense of honor?"

Cassava flinched. And then she cocked her head. "Well..."

Without warning, Cassava pointed her finger towards the Deepdishian and shot a beam directly at his forehead. The warrior stumbled back, but did not fall. He shot Cassava a stony expression. Cassava smirked and shrugged. "Sorry, rock boy, it wasn't a sense of honor that made us spare those cowards. My arm just hurts and I don't wanna make extra work for myself~! You can run with your bitch tails between your bitch legs if you wanna, I won't stop you~"

The Deepdishian sneered. "Rabid cur. You expect us to abandon our home like that?!"

Cassava winked at him. "Your choice. Gonna die if you stay though. Just SAIYAN~"

A chorus of groans from behind. A familiar voice shouted out. "YOU SUCK, CASSAVA!"

Cassava turned. "Shut your damned mouth, Taro!"

The Deepdishian growled. "You horrifying Saiyans treat people's lives as if they are play toys! It cannot be allowed to stand! You will face hell for what you have done!"

He rolled into a ball. "Every Deepdishian warrior has gathered in this one spot to bury you demons alive!"

The rocky monsters started rolling towards the Warhammers and Cassava smirked. "Perfect. This will be done in less than a day~"

Cassava raised her hand into the air and smashed it to the ground. "AFTERSHOCK BLAST!"

The ripples of Cassava's Ki shredded through the ground, causing it to erupt and send the Deepdishians into the air. However, with all of them being in boulder form, this only caused massive rocks to rain down on Cassava and her men. Bardock sighed. "For the love of..."

He turned and shouted. "EVERYONE! SHIELD!"

All of the Warhammers raised their hands up into the air to create a massive energy barrier. The Deepdishians bounced off of the barrier and crashed into the walls, quickly shifting back to their terrestrial forms and burrowing deep into the rocks.

Bardock turned to Cassava. "Smooth move, moron. Did you just not sleep last night or something?!

Cassava scowled. "Piss off. I told you my arm hurts!"

She gripped the point where her robotic arm connected to the flesh. It was burning. A wire had come loose within and was digging into her tender flesh underneath the metal. Toma quickly broke into the conversation. "If you two are done having a lover's quarrel..."

Bardock sneered. "Lover's quarrel?!"

Cassava growled. "Shut your damn mouth, Toma!"

Taro cut in. "FROM THE SIDES!"

The overhead barrier was quickly dispersed and the Warhammers all turned to face their emerging enemies. A few hundred Deepdishians shot out of the rocky walls of the crag with a few hundred more rolling out right behind them. Toma chuckled. "They've surrounded us. Great."

Fasha pointed her hand out, her index and pinky fingers extended. "LOCKHEED ARROW!"

The arrow collided into a Deepdishian as it unfurled. The warrior, a male with a bushy beard, took the energy arrow right through the heart, crashing into a heap and gurgling.

Fasha called out. "They have tough outsides but soft insides! They're a shell-type species!"

Another Deepdishian rolled behind Fasha, unfurling and revealing a massive hammer. "Intuitive reasoning! But it shall do you no good, Saiyan!"

He swung the hammer with all his might. Fasha and the soldiers around her all turned with shocked looks. As the hammer swung, Fasha thought she was dead. But then, Gine tackled her to the ground. The hammer missed Fasha, but hit two other Deepdishians instead. Their upper halves were torn away, reducing their legs to fountains of spurting blood.

Fasha looked to her brave little savior. "Thanks, Gine~"

She kissed Gine on the cheek and Gine smiled. "Any time~"

Toma leapt in as the two laid there and fired his Flame Bullet into the Deepdishian's face. The beast simply patted out the flames with a hearty laugh. "Stupid Saiyan! Our home is built within the main fault line of this planet! Our kind sleeps in lava to keep warm! Your flames mean nothing!"

And then, Cassava leapt in, kicking the Deepdishian in the side of the head and making his skull cave in. "Well now you can sleep forever!"

She called out. "Men! That's enough of this reactionary bullshit! Attack and kill!"

The rest of the Warhammers all roared with a ballistic fury, tackling into their foes and attacking with violent intent. More of the Deepdishians produced weapons (clubs, bats, hammers, etc.) and the war was on!

Bardock watched as the Deepdishians began to manhandle some of the weaker troops. Immediately, he shouted. "Cassava! I'm calling an audible!"

Cassava turned. Bardock continued. "These bastards produce a ton of body heat! Time to take advantage of one of Turles' doo-dads!"

Cassava nodded with a smile. She and Bardock each raised a hand high into the air and made a blast appear. The two of them threw their attacks down to the ground below and sent a massive smokescreen of dust and volcanic ash shooting up. Seeing this as their non-verbal cue, the rest of the Warhammers sprang into action. They each reached into their armor chest plate and pulled out a special eyepiece. Looping the hook over their ear and placing the lens over their eye, the Warhammers all now had the benefit of infrared vision through the thick clouds of dust. Now the fight was a lot more even against the massive foes.

Unable to see in the dust, two of the Deepdishians had no defense as Toteppo charged them. The massive Saiyan rained down blows upon his foes with furious savagery. The two Deepdishians tried to fight back, but Totepo quickly robbed them of their weapons. He raised a new club in his left hand and a new hammer in his right and brought them down upon his enemies. The two Deepdishians were left as little more than quavering puddles of stone soup by the time he was done. Two more Deepdishians came in with weapons of their own, but Totepo charged right at them without worry. His furious roar sounded through the entire battlefield.

A few yards away, Panbukin was having a fight of his own. He heard his larger counterparts screams and sighed. "At least he's having fun..."

Panbukin fired off a spearing kick, putting all of his weight behind it and caving in a Deepdishian's chest. The hulking creature fell back and coughed up blood, only to stand right back up and come charging. Panbukin groaned. "These things are damned tough..."

The foe pulled his arms to the side and swung his hammer with lethal force right at Panbukin's head. The hefty Saiyan fell to the ground and, moving as quickly as his frame would allow, shot his feet up and kicked the hammer out of the Deepdishian's hands straight into the air. Panbukin went for a punch and snarled. "If you're going to fight, fight like a man!"

The Deepdishian spat blood and caught his fist, sneering. "I am a woman, Saiyan scum."

She quickly punched Panbukin right in the face and sent him flying back, catching her hammer before it could hit the ground and going to kill him with it. Before she could, however, Bardock came rushing in from behind. "RIOT JAVELIN!"

He smashed the energy bolt into the Deepdishian's back. It burned through her rocky exterior and came shooting out of her already injured chest. Bardock landed with a skid next to Panbukin and offered his right hand. Panbukin took it and was helped to his feet. "Thanks, Bardock..."

Bardock was blunt. "Don't make me have to help you again, fatty."

Bardock leapt away and Panbukin rolled his eyes. "Asshole."

He then engaged another Deepdishian, getting involved in an exchange of vicious blows.

Bardock, meanwhile, leapt into several more confrontations. He saved soldier after soldier from an almost guaranteed death before crashing onto the ground next to Taro and executing two more Deepdishians with Ki blasts to their faces. Taro chuckled and elbowed Bardock on the back. "No one likes a showoff!"

Bardock stood and spit, firing another blast and killing another Deepdishian. "Unless what you're showing off is dope as fuck."

Cassava was having her black Ki hands hold a Deepdishian in a headlock while she prepared a blast. "He's got you there, Taro."

The headlocked Deepdishian tried to swing his bat at Cassava, but she simply used her black Ki hands to rip his head off. And then she levied her blast as another approaching foe, vaporizing them on the spot. But then, like air sucking in a vacuum, six more Deepdishians took their place. Two of them swung their hammers with enough force to cause a sonic boom. Two fired blasts from their mouth, and two fired blasts from their hands. "DEEPDISH THRUST!"

As the attacks came shooting in, Bardock was calm. "#13."

Cassava nodded. She picked up Taro and Bardock with her Ki hands and tossed them high into the air. Once she let them go, she punched both of the hands into the sides of the crag, causing a small landslide that caught the six Deepdishians unaware. Disguised by the falling debris, Bardock and Taro scaled their way down the falling rocks. And finally, one-by-one, the two men executed the Deepdishians with violent precision.

A couple more of the foes tried to join the fray, but Bardock was quick on the uptake. He grabbed one of the corpses of his slain foes and rolled it into a ball. The corpse was tossed with great force and crashed into one of the Deepdishians, crushing and killing them. The other was run through by the Ki hand's shadowy fingers and torn to shreds without hesitation. Bardock and Taro landed in front of Cassava and the Warhammer regarded them both with a proud nod. "Excellent job, boys!"

But then, like a shark fin cresting from beneath the sea, a massive kanabo crashed into Cassava and sent her flying through the dusty canyon like a missile. The ground cracked and crested up as whatever hit Cassava followed after her. Wordlessly, and with looks of annoyance on their faces, Bardock and Taro gave chase as well. They couldn't just let something get away with punking their leader like that.

Bardock and Taro went flying so fast that they didn't notice the familiar troops below them. Fasha had made it back to her feet and she and Turles were both standing guard over Gine. Turles fired a Sudden Storm, killing several approaching Deepdishians while Fasha used her Snipe Shot to kill one that was attempting a sneak attack from behind. The two of them both leapt back and caught sight of each other out of the corners of their eyes.

Fasha chuckled. "It will never not be amazing how much you've improved, Turles~"

Turles smiled. "I aim to please. And keep friends safe~"

Hammer swings came at both of the Saiyan, but an energy barrier sprang up that kept them both safe. The two looked down and saw Gine standing there, her arms splayed out. "We all aim to do that, Turles~ We have each other's backs, right?!"

Turles blushed, still unable to talk to Gine. Even this long having known one another, the purity and kindness of Gine's heart still made him flutter. He cleared his throat and tried to say something, but Toma quickly leapt in and distracted the conversation by killing the two hammer-wielders. Turles sighed and whispered to himself. "Oh, thank god..."

Toma landed with a skid and cracked his neck. "This just ain't my planet. My best attacks are fire-based..."

Fasha stifled a laugh. "That must suck..."

Panbukin and Totepo quickly rushed in. Panbukin called out. "Hey! Did you guys just see Cassava go flying like a damned rocket?!"

Toma nodded. "Yeah. Bardock and Taro were giving chase. Those three should be able to kill whatever the hell is attacking them."

Turles stepped forward, groaning as the dust that Bardock and Cassava kicked up finally began to settle. The ground was littered with a mixture of Saiyan and Deepdishian corpses. Their numbers had shed about thirty men, the Deepdishians had lost a little over a hundred. But still, the disparity in the number of troops on each side was quite large. The Warhammers were still outmatched.

Turles gave Toma a friendly punch on the arm. "Looks like you're leading us, Toma. Let's have all of this cleaned up by the time Cassava gets back! Huh?"

Toma nodded. "I agree. Let's slaughter these punks!"

As his allies charged forward, shouting commands and encouragement to the other troops, Turles looked over his shoulder. Cassava had been swatted back towards the ship. Turles felt a cold shiver run up his gut, but shook his head. "Damn it, should I-"

Gine nudged him. "You okay, Turles?"

Turles looked down at her and sighed. "Yeah. Let's just... let's go support the others!"

Gine nodded. "Right!"

Over by the Warhammer ship…

Bardock and Taro rushed into the valley where the Warhammer ship had been set. The base camp was in ruins from Cassava impacting into it, but the Blood Empress was mostly unaffected. She stood there, dusting herself off as her loyal henchmen touched down next to her. She nodded to each of them.

Bardock sneered. "Where's the bastard that hit you?!"

Cassava didn't say a word, she kept her eyes on the ground. Taro cocked his head. "Cassava?"

Cassava pulled the infrared vision lens off of her eye and gently put it away. "Turles is a genius. He wouldn't make a faulty piece of junk and give it to us for a serious fight. Whatever attacked me caught me off guard. I didn't see it coming. Which tells me..."

Bardock sneered. "No body heat."

Taro growled. "A cold-blooded beast."

Cassava steeled her gaze. "Not a Deepdishian."

And then, all at once, the monster burst from the ground. It had a long, serpent-like body. At the end of its tail was a steel kanabo welded on firmly. It had rocky skin, a mane of pure flames, inward curved horns, and shining emerald eyes. It hissed and spoke. "Welcome, Saiyan scum, to my planet! I see you have chosen to bother my faithful wards, the Deepdishians?"

Cassava stared at the creature and sighed. "ANOTHER WORM WITH A CULT?!"

The Warhammer looked at her non-robotic arm and then nervously at Bardock. Bardock snapped. "Quit looking at me like that!"

The beast sneered. "I am no worm, woman! I am the mighty Volvagia! I have lived on this planet since time immemorial! The Deepdishians came to this planet eons ago and have been faithful servants! I will not allow your kind to drive them away!"

Volvagia slammed his kanabo tail onto the ground, making the stone shatter. Cassava sighed. "So, a big thing against us three small things. Seems unfair."

Taro nodded. "A bit."

Bardock rolled his eyes. "All you do these days is bitch, Cassava."

Cassava looked over to Bardock, summoning a familiar energy sphere into her hand. "Would you be willing to listen to me today?"

Bardock shrugged. "Who knows? Guess you'll have to find out."

Taro sighed. "Little smartass..."

Cassava smirked and tossed the sphere into the air. "BURST OPEN AND MIX!"

Volvagia squinted and sneered at the glowing orb in the air. "What is that?!"

Cassava chuckled. "That's a Power Ball~! Created by an average fighter..."

Cassava, Bardock, and Taro all swelled to enormous size. Their snouts snorted and shot hot air from the nostrils. The two lesser Oozaru roared and Cassava herself bellowed. "... BUT ALSO A BRILLIANT SCIENTIST!"

She glared at Volvagia, summoning two black Ki hands. "THIS IS THE END FOR YOU!"

Bardock and Taro both showed signs of starting to rampage, but then Cassava called to them. "BARDOCK! TARO! GET IT TOGETHER! IT'S TIME TO FIGHT!"

Unlike before on Planet Starch, this time Bardock fell into line. He and Taro rushed past Oozaru Cassava with focused rage, tackling into the massive snake and bringing it to the ground. Watching as her two boys struggled with the snake on the ground, Cassava smiled. And then she looked down at her still normal-sized prosthetic lying on the ground at her feet. She picked it up gently and placed it on top of the Warhammer ship. She sighed as she looked down at her massive, bare nub. "I miss my arm..."

Casually, Cassava stomped over to the tussle, watching as the snake battered Taro and Bardock with the club on its tail. When the two of them stumbled away, Volvagia lunged at Cassava herself, but the Warhammer simply punched him in the face, knocking him into a heap on the ground.

Volvagia snapped up, revealing fangs dripping with corrosive poison. But the jaws were quickly grabbed by the massive, black Ki hands sticking out of Cassava's back. She smiled at Volvagia, but Volvagia refused to give in. It shed the kanabo from the tip of its tail and used it to stab Cassava in the side.

Cassava flinched, but only a little. She chuckled. "I have to give you credit. You could eat those Deepdishians like candy, or just wait for them to die and force whatever species buys this planet to serve you... and yet you came out of your hiding place to defend them~ Quite noble, honestly~"

Cassava sighed. "Also, pretty stupid."

She called. "Bardock."

Bardock rose up and grabbed Volvagia's sharpened tail tip, ripping it from Cassava's side. Cassava called again. "Taro."

Taro stood as well, helping Bardock to grab Volvagia's squirming form. The beast couldn't talk with the black Ki hands jammed into his mouth, but he had a look on his face that screamed "what are you doing?!". Cassava motioned with her free hand and the others obeyed the non-verbal gesture. The gripped Volvagia tight and pulled him out straight until he was parallel with the ground and there was no slack in his long, serpentine body.

Cassava chuckled. "Goodbye, Vovalgia~ Cumber asked me to use one of his techniques for this~"

The power on the black Ki hands surged and Cassava snarled. "DESASTRE RAIL GUN!"

The energy in the black Ki hands shot through Volvagia's innards like a hot knife, exploding out of his tail in a straight shot and shooting out over the horizon. The beam pierced through a far-off mountain, boring a clean hole through it, and then sailed off into outer space.

The two Oozaru holding Volvagia's tail dropped it and Cassava pulled the black Ki hands out of his mouth, allowing him to splatter onto the ground in a subtly twitching heap. Cassava regarded him for no more than a second and then reached up and crushed the Power Ball, made purposefully weak just as Turles had shown her. As she shrunk, Cassava spoke to the voice in her head. "Cumber, when is that beam going to stop?"

Cassava shrunk, her eyes going wide. "Wh-What do you mean 'when it hits something'?! What if it hits something important?!"

She cringed. "You're so irresponsible..."

Taro rubbed his head with a sigh as he approached his fearless leader. "Talking to your imaginary friend again, dear?"

Cassava snapped. "I'm already dealing with sass from Cumber. I don't need it from you too, old man!"

Bardock rubbed his head as he stood back up. Cassava's Primal Scream always gave him the worst headache. Like nails on a chalkboard. He looked through squinted eyes to see Cassava and Taro arguing back and forth and he allowed himself a small smile. But that smile quickly faded as Bardock saw a movement out of the corner of his eye. He looked over and saw, to his shock, that Volvagia wasn't dead. No, the snake was still very much alive and rearing back for a snap assault on the two bickering Saiyans.

Bardock was on his feet as the beast lunged. He called out. "Taro! CASSAVA!"

The boy tackled the two of them out of the way as the snake lunged. The beast's jaws snapped shut and Bardock shot it a look of scorn. "Die."

And then he pulled back his arm and shouted. "RIOT JAVELIN!"

The Ki bolt was fired and hit Volvagia right in the throat. The snake's eyes went wide and the blast exploded, blowing the beast's head off and sending it crashing into the Warhammer ship. Cassava, Taro, and Bardock all crashed onto the harsh, rocky ground and landed in a heap. And then everything was still for a few moments.

Bardock's eyes fluttered open and he sat up. "Ugh... damned snake..."

The boy sat up and looked over at Taro, whose face was lit up with a smile of gratitude. "Yeah! But you killed it! Nice work, Bardock!"

The two of them waited, sure that Cassava would have something to say as well. It was only when her voice didn't chime in that worry started to cloud their thoughts. The two of them turned and looked over, seeing Cassava knelt onto her knees and staring towards the ship. It took a moment, but the two Saiyans quickly realized what had happened. Volvagia's head had crashed into one of the thrusters of the ship, shattering it to pieces and causing the fuel within to ignite with the flames from his mane.

Bardock mumbled under his breath. "Shit..."

Taro reached forward. "Cassava...?"

He placed his hand on her shoulder and stole a quick glance at her face. Cassava was bone white as she stared at the broken ship. Vegeta III's words echoed in her head and she spoke in a hushed tone herself. "Oh... no..."

Later that evening, in a field away from the Warhammer ship…

It was perhaps Turles' reaction that really sold the grave nature of the situation the Warhammers found themselves in. Unlike everyone else who reacted with either stunned silence, subdued fear, or a combination of both, Turles lost it. His first noise was a yelp, like one a boy would let out when kicked between the legs, followed by a prolonged, hair pulling scream. But then, even more worryingly, Turles immediately went into fix-it mode. He assured Cassava that she had nothing to worry about and then jumped into work for 3 days without food or sleep. Eventually, Cassava walked into the wreckage that she knew sealed her fate and found Turles lying unconscious on a pile of scraps. She wrapped him in her cape, cradling him in her arms as she took him to his quarters. Cassava appreciated every last drop of effort, but the writing was on the wall.

The only way to get the ship repaired would be to have it transported back to Planet Vegeta.

And so arrived that dreaded, final evening, The recovery crew was going to arrive that next morning to take them all back home for the first time in a little over half a decade. There was tension in the air and no one had seen Cassava all day.

Somehow, Bardock and Taro knew what their orders were, however. Perhaps through some of that "Cumber" nonsense, they got the feeling in their heads and hearts of what Cassava's final order to them was. The two went into her quarters and grabbed a small box she kept in the climate control safe beneath her bed. And then they gathered Toma, Fasha, Panbukin, Totepo, Gine, and Turles.

The lot of them marched through the fields of the now empty Planet Deepdish-Large. The Deepdishians and Volvagia were long dead and the planet was silent as stars twinkled like shards of glass in the night sky. The ship was still visible in the distance, parked where it had been before in the crag. And out there, in that empty, grassy field, sat Cassava atop a rock. Her eyes were glued to the sky, watching as the occasional meteoroid slashed a shining white streak in the jet-black backdrop.

Cassava turned to them and smiled. "You came~ I'm glad that Cumber got you my message, Bardock and Taro. Now please, have a seat in the grass with me~"

The Warhammer slid down from her perch, sitting with her legs crossed in the grass. She had a calm smile on her face, one that made each of the Saiyans present feel safe. Though none had the nerve to ever say something like that to Cassava, lest she think any of them to be too soft for her outfit.

The mood was dreadful amongst them. And that was because, unlike the rank-and-file, they all knew what returning home to Planet Vegeta meant. They had all become close enough to Cassava to be privy to such details. Turles, in particular, looked dreadful. Not just the bags under his eyes, nor the dirt and the grease. Turles' eyes were colored with a saddened, dull gray. He had given it his all to piece that machine together. And yet, nothing.

Cassava grabbed the crate and opened it with a playful tone. "I was saving these for my birthday. They're a delicacy I picked up the last time I ordered supplies~"

The Warhammer reached into the crate and pulled out a refrigerated coffee jelly in a plastic cup. Her smile shined. "Coffee Jelly~! It's my favorite dessert! I was introduced to it by a pink-haired psychic from an alternate reality who accidentally teleported to our dimension when his hair-clips fell out~"

Toma blinked twice. "... Are you bullshitting us?"

Cassava ignored that question. "I was saving this for later, but might as well go all out seeing as this will probably be the last chance to~"

As Cassava passed out the coffee jellies, Bardock grinded his teeth. Something that she had said really annoyed him. "Goddammit, Cassava! You-"

Cassava offered the treat to Bardock. He stared at it for a minute and then stared at her. And then he took it with a grunt that vaguely sounded like an expression of gratitude. At first, the Warhammers all ate their treat in silence, the dread and overall awfulness of the situation weighing heavily on them. But then conversation started, and conversation turned to jokes, and jokes even turned to laughter.

For just a little while, it all faded away. Not just Cassava's tragic fate, but the Warhammer, the Saiyan army, Planet Vegeta, even the sheer awfulness of the universe they were forced to live in. For just that brief moment, they were friends enjoying each other's company under the theater of shining stars above. For just a moment, it seemed like that elusive h-word had settled over their lives like a warm blanket.

As time passed, the coffee jelly cups emptied and sitting positions transformed into sprawled out leans. Cassava and the closest thing she had ever had to fr... Cassava and her friends stared up at the heavens together. For a while the jokes continued, and then things turned into silent awe. Genuinely, none of them had seen something as movingly beautiful as that sky in their entire lives.

And then, Cassava spoke. "I'm well-aware of the reasons why... but I've never asked you all. What was it that brought you to my Warhammer? I want to hear it from you. Not some paper."

A pause. Then Panbukin spoke. "I was presented with a choice: live or starve. I chose to live."

Gine sighed. "I'm small and weak. And both things make me expendable."

Turles touched his prosthetic. "I'm missing an arm."

Bardock grunted. "I followed Turles."

To the surprise of everyone, Totepo grunted out two entire words. "Dumb. Angry."

After the shock wore off, Fasha spoke. "I'm... part Tuffle."

Taro groaned, scratching his head. "Was assigned to provide care for someone who outgrew me a while ago..."

And then, it fell onto Toma. He could tell that everyone was waiting for him to speak, though mostly because he had never actually shared his reasoning for being assigned to this hell in the first place. Toma swallowed a lump in his throat, knowing in his heart that these people cared for him. That he could share and be honest without reprisal. Toma spoke. "It was a moment of doubt. I... haven't ever experienced it since. But that could just be because I haven't found that exact situation since. I..."

Toma closed his eyes. "...I was asked to kill a defenseless child on a planet. I had just killed his parents. But... I couldn't. In that moment...something in my head just snapped and I couldn't force myself to do it..."

Things went quiet. But then, Cassava spoke. "Never lose that."

Everyone turned their attention to her, she continued. "That feeling within. That feeling that tells you what you're doing is wrong. Never lose that, Toma. It's a good feeling. It's a feeling Vegeta II would rather smother in the womb than have people be born with. Never... ever lose that..."

Cassava gave a chuckle, though there was no humor in it, and rolled onto her side. "I wish I had even half the backbone you have..."

The quiet returned after a while as Cassava laid there with her eyes closed. The others considered that she might have fallen asleep, though they didn't want to check. And then, after the longest time, Cassava spoke. "I was a pig farmer, ya know? Before all of this... this forced, loveless marriage... before 'Cassava' became a dirty word in the North Galaxy... before I created a sea of blood so deep that my nose can barely crest the surface for me to breathe..."

She spoke the words with a potent mixture of bitterness and fondness. "I was just a simple pig farmer. I was living a simple life. I'd almost even say I was happy..."

Everyone was speechless. Everyone except for innocent, little Gine. She spoke a question that seemed harmless on its surface. "So, how did you end up here?"

Cassava sighed. "There came a day when I realized the constant dread that filled life. How...pointless everything was..."

She made a face that gave off the impression she had just broken a bone, a twisted and pained face. "I understand why you did it now... Mama Scraps..."

20 years ago, Planet Vegeta…

A young girl tottered along next to the fences that separated hard ground from mud. It was mid-afternoon. She walked along with a welt pulsing on her forehead, a kind reminder of the "adjustment" that she had been forced to accept. In the distance, she could hear them fighting and screaming at one another. A masculine voice, a feminine voice, several lesser voices.

But it didn't matter. Arguments happened, people fought, that was life. All she cared about in this life was her piggies. And this was a special trip she was making to her favorite piggy of all: Mama Scraps.

It was a dumb name to be sure, but a name she had given. Even in spite of her father's protests that "you don't name 'em" or "this is business" she felt that Mama Scraps deserved a name. That pig had been a part of this farm for as long as she herself had been. Because that wasn't a pig given to the Meat Processors. That was a pig for husbandry. Mama Scraps made the ones for the Meat Processors, the Processors took them when they got big, and then Mama Scraps would make more.

And it was this girl's favorite job to care for Mama Scraps. Feeding her, petting her, hugging her when the farmhouse got too loud, reading to her, confiding in her, loving her, loving her, loving her...

The girl shook her head as the sounds of fighting grew more distant. She didn't need those people back there to live a happy life. She had her farm work. She had her pig. She was the happiest girl in the universe.

But still, those cries echoed in her head. Mama Scraps was an animal, but not a dumb one. Every time the Meat Processors would come in their transport vehicle, she would squeal. And not a normal squeal, but one full of sorrow and pain. The girl would hold Mama Scraps tight and the pig would try to struggle free while also taking care not to hurt the girl. Mama Scraps knew that girl cared. The girl felt her pain.

The girl knew, just as Mama Scraps did, that another litter of the pig's babies were leaving and not coming back.

The girl walked into the pen and rang the bell. "Mama Scraps! Come and get it! I'll tell you a story while you eat!"

Silence.

The girl set her bucket of pig slops down and called again. "Mama Scraps! Where are you? Nummy-nummy pig slops!"

Silence.

The girl's voice became a bit more frantic. "Mama Scraps! You have to eat to be strong for the next breeding! Where are you?"

Silence still. Worried for her friend, the girl walked to the other side. That was where the hay Mama Scraps took her naps on was. She quickly rounded the curve and looked over the gate. "Mama... Scraps...?"

It was such a sight to behold that the girl couldn't form words. A single nail jutting out, improperly pounded. Most likely her father. Most likely in an argument with her mother. The nail was stained red and there laid Mama Scraps, her throat slashed and leaking. Her eyes wide open and staring right into the girl's eyes.

"Mama Scraps..."

A scream. The sound of silence, amplified. A sharp, shrill screech that conveyed horror, pain, sadness, agony, and every other negative emotion. That scream continued on. It continued until her parents both came out. It continued as her father tried to "adjust" her. It continued as those red-and-black hands showed up. It continued as her parents backed away and ran back to their farmhouse, unaware of just how the call they were about to make would ruin their lives. And it continued as those hands tore the entire pigpen to the ground.

Back on Planet Deepdish-Large, late into the evening…

It was late and the crescent shape of the moon hung high in the sky. The others had started to trail off one-by-one, the aches of battle and the desire for sleep pulling them away. They regarded Cassava and Cassava gave them each the same cherry response: "I'm not dead yet~"

Yet.

Yet.

Yet.

It was a fallacy and Cassava knew it. But she had to put on a brave face. She didn't want the only friends she had ever made in her mid-thirties life to remember anything but a smile and maybe a pun. She'd have to think of a good one to leave them on. Finally, Taro stood. "I'm going to go make your bed for you, Cassava. Try not to fall asleep out here."

Cassava sarcastically rolled her eyes. "Thanks, Dad..."

Taro felt his mouth go dry, but he responded with as much sarcasm as he could force. "Sure thing, kid..."

And then, at that moment, Cassava thought she was alone. She closed her eyes and flopped her arm over her face. A cold wind blew and she reached for her cape to wrap up in. "Dammit, where is it...?"

A voice spoke. "You left it with Turles. He said he wanted to wash it before he gave it back to you cuz he got it dirty."

Cassava's eyes snapped open and she sat up with a start, using her prosthetic arm as a method of support. Bardock sat up as well. "What? Did a bug crawl into your tights?"

Cassava stared at Bardock for a moment, and then she groaned and flopped back onto the ground. Bardock shrugged and laid down as well, almost perfectly parallel with his commander. "Guess not..."

The two of them stared up at the stars. The stars that seemed to cradle this now dead world. The stars that all of the other Deepdishians now called home, waiting for a signal from their proud warriors that would never come. It was so quiet. It went from peaceful, to unnerving, and then back to peaceful again. As the two of them laid there, they could each feel the other's warmth. You couldn't tell how Bardock felt, his face was so bunched up and angry it looked to belong on the label for a can of stew. Cassava on the other hand found comfort in it. This guy who had spent a quarter of their relationship wishing Cassava dead...felt comforting. Cassava closed her eyes and thought that this must be why Turles stuck so close to him. His cold outside masked a comfortingly warm core, or so her thoughts told her.

Bardock spoke. "You know, she always talked about fleeing to the West..."

Cassava looked over to him. "Huh?"

Bardock looked at her. "Tursa. She always said that she was going to grab me and Turles and we'd flee to the West. The Saiyan Empire, the Cold Force... none of them ever go that way. It's wild, uncontrolled, free. So... why don't we just flee to the West, Cassava?"

She listened to him go on, he spoke in such a blunt way. "We could kill the people who come to collect us. Steal their ship. Fly to the border and that's it. Freedom."

Cassava sighed. "Unfortunately, I think that would be the time that the border would be crossed. The powers that I have... Vegeta II is sure they can be passed genetically. That's the conclusion he came to after that year I was...in his care..."

She crossed her arms over her chest in consternation. "That's why he set me up with his son. If... if I tried to flee that... a lot of people would end up dead, Bardock..."

Bardock snapped. "Who gives a shit?!"

Cassava flinched and looked over at him. Bardock's face was fiery and full of rage. "Who cares?! They're all scumbags just like we are! That's what it means to be a Saiyan, right?! If they chase us and they die in the process, that's their goddamned problem! Right?!"

Cassava punched her fist onto the ground. Trees in the distance shook and dropped leaves. "NO! That's not how that works, Bardock! Not everyone is born a scumbag or a monster! Life, duty, circumstance... that's what makes people monsters in this life! We can't just write their lives away like they don't mean a thing!"

Bardock snarled. "Isn't that what we've been doing the past 6 years?! I've seen how you function! You kill with a smile on your face!"

Cassava screamed. "YOU THINK I ENJOY ANY OF THAT?!"

Bardock flinched back, falling silent. Cassava looked disgusted. "This has never been my choice! I... I've never wanted to do any of this. I just want to go home and be with my pigs. But... But..."

Cassava's eyes went wide. She squeezed her flesh arm with her mechanical one, feeling each and every scar on it ache and burn. She imagined Vegeta II and his soulless scientist cohorts standing over her, doing things to her. She felt scalpels and needles and all other manner of instruments sinking into her flesh. She felt blood oozing and spilling as Vegeta II made notes on what reactions her blood and body were having to various stimuli, noting any instance of Alpha Saiyan power flaring up. Cassava curled into a ball. "... I just want to return to my pigs..."

This was the first time Bardock had seen Cassava this vulnerable. She slowly rocked back-and-forth in the grass, heaving for breath as the thoughts of returning to Planet Vegeta prodded every single thought in her head. Soon enough, Bardock tried to reach out and touch her. But, to his shock, Cassava spoke. "...but, I wouldn't trade a single second of my life-so-far away. Not one moment."

Bardock gritted his teeth. "Wh-What are you talking about?! Didn't you just go on a rant about hating everything in your life?!"

Cassava looked up at him. "No. I'm not happy about the killing, the invasions, and all that stuff. I was going through the motions to avoid going home... just trying to avoid having the last of my freedom snatched from me. But... I'm grateful for those bad times..."

Shakily, Cassava sat up and she smiled. "It's those bad times that allowed me to make such dear friends. I'm grateful for every second, Bardock~ Because... every second led me here, to this sky and to you~"

She chuckled. "These moments are what give life meaning, ya know?"

Bardock was silent, seemingly trying to process everything Cassava just said. Eventually, he managed to think up something to say. "Do you think you're going to Hell when you die?"

Cassava nodded. "Yes."

Bardock looked to her, seeing a sad luster shining in her ebony eyes. "But I'm not afraid of that. Fire and sulfur and blood... that's just life. At least I wouldn't have to deal with House Vegeta anymore..."

Cassava pulled her legs close, hugging them tight. "I know it's probably obvious, but..."

Her voice became truly small. She looked miserable. "...I'm scared."

And with that, Bardock lost his temper. He erupted to his feet and loomed over Cassava, screaming at the top of his lungs. "COWARD! YOU GODDAMNED COWARD!"

Cassava was shocked. Bardock sneered. "IF YOU DON'T WANNA DEAL WITH THE VEGETA DYNASTY, THEN JUST TAKE OVER! DON'T YOU REALIZE HOW STRONG YOU ARE?! YOU'RE THE STRONGEST SAIYAN ALIVE, GODDAMMIT!"

He stomped his foot, but Cassava didn't return his anger. The tone of his voice wouldn't let her. She could tell that he wasn't angry. Every squeak and crack of his voice pointed towards a much different emotion. Bardock screamed. "RULE PLANET VEGETA! HELL, RENAME IT PLANET CASSAVA! THEN YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO... leave us..."

Bardock fell back to the ground, falling on his butt as the thought seemed to truly first dawn on him. Cassava examined his tone and found not anger, but sadness. Frustration. Guilt, even. She remembered back to the fight with Volvagia. Bardock's Riot Javelin was what had sent the snake head flying into the thruster. Cassava looked at him, knowing in her heart that he was blaming himself.

Bardock started to speak. "Y-You can't leave like this. Cuz, if you did, then it would be all my-"

Cassava interrupted. "Don't even go there. You saved my life. Mine and Taro's. I won't let you think that any of this is your fault. You're not the one forcing me into this, Bardock."

Cassava spoke in a gentle voice. "But, are you really that desperate to keep me around?"

Bardock shouted, trying to mask his feelings with a voice full of false anger. "OF COURSE, I AM! I'D BE LONELY WITHOUT YOU!"

This made Cassava smile. She closed her eyes and placed her chin in her palm. "Man... I wish that my future husband was more like you~"

Bardock looked at her, seeing the curvature of her face and the genuine kindness in her smile. He despaired on the inside. He had never had someone like her in his life. Someone who cared and who loved unconditionally. Bardock couldn't express it in words, but he absolutely didn't want to lose that smile. And so, he acted desperately.

Cassava's eyes fluttered open in surprise. She looked down the bridge of her nose and saw Bardock there, his lips connected to hers. She froze in place, unsure of what to do.

Bardock pulled back with a desperate, panicked look in his eyes and spoke. "See! You don't need any of the Vegetas! I can be your husband! Whatever! Just... please don't leave..."

Cassava knew that Bardock was a very honest person. He didn't know how to be emotionally dishonest. And that kiss was a move of pure desperation. He really did just want her to stay. But Cassava pressed her hand to her lips. Even if he didn't mean it that way, the kiss to her felt...

Bardock blushed in embarrassment realizing what he had just done. And that blush was only made worse as Cassava started to laugh. It was low at first, but was quickly building into something much louder.

Bardock grinded his teeth. "D-Damn it. Why don't you just shut... your..."

As Bardock was listening though, Cassava's laugh began to change and warp. It became less and less of a laugh and more of a sob. A desperate sob. He looked over at Cassava again and his mouth felt slightly agape. Cassava was sitting there, a broken smile on her face and tears pouring down her cheeks. She threw her head back and her sobbing laughter howled into the night sky.

Now Bardock was really quite unnerved. He had grown up with three basic tenets in his life: Protect Turles, Survive At All Costs, and Never Cry. Strong Saiyans never cried. And yet... here was the strongest Saiyan he knew, crying her eyes out right next to him.

Cassava spoke, still sobbing and hiccupping as she did. "Y-You did it again, you bastard! I... I thought we had worked on that..."

Bardock looked confused. Cassava sniffled. "... you're ignoring what people need in their lives for...for the sake of trying to make them feel safe. Gods... I..."

Cassava's head hung low. "... I was ready to head into a life of loveless marriage. I was ready to never... never know what a feeling of true love is like. And now..."

She pressed her fingers to her lips and closed her eyes. "..now I know what it's like on the other side of the fence. You've forced me to know that feeling that I'll never be allowed again. I... I hate you; you know that?"

Bardock listened to Cassava's words. He heard what she was saying, but the tone didn't match. She said it again, with a small smile on her face. "I hate you, Bardock~"

Tenderly, Cassava reached across the grass and placed her hand on Bardock's cheek. She held him tight and looked into his eyes. Bardock was confused. "Wh-What are you doing...?"

Cassava looked into Bardock's eyes and she saw all of the pain. Turles was unfortunate, but Bardock's life had been no better. The only reason Turles wasn't just as abrasive is because Bardock spent their time together taking the hardest hits and the most savage beatings. She smiled softly at him. "... one day. One day, Bardock, you'll be happy..."

Bardock flinched. Cassava continued, her eyes welling up. "I don't know when, or where, or how...but one day it's going to happen. You're going to wake up with a warm feeling in your chest and you're going to be happy. All of life's troubles... and all of the pain... they'll seem like distant memories and bad dreams. So, when that time comes..."

Cassava's smile suddenly seemed a lot sullener. Her voice cracked and the tears poured again. "... just forget all of this, okay?! Just... promise me... when that happiness comes to you, you forget all of this misery and pain and you hold onto that happiness and you never let it go no matter what..."

The smile broke, giving way to a miserable frown and puffy red eyes. "Just be happy, okay Bardock?"

Bardock didn't get what she was saying, but he nodded his head. Cassava sniffled, barely regaining her composure. And then she returned the kiss that Bardock had given her. "Try not to stay out too late. You'll worry Turles..."

Finally, Cassava the Warhammer stood up and walked away. Bardock turned to glance at her, but it was too late. Cassava was gone from sight.