Chapter 12

"How can you help us?" Trunks asked, somewhat skeptical of this new ally. Saoda stepped out of his cell and began to stretch his legs.

"Ah, yes. It feels good to walk for more than a few steps. I hope I can still fight... or remember how to fight..." he said after finishing his stretches. "Oh, you asked me a question. How can I help? I know the layout of the place; it's not like I haven't been stuck here for years or anything. I know where Snow's machine that drains all the ki is, the Ki Neutralizer. If we destroy that, we can destroy Snow and his roster of fighters. I know I can hold my own with Snow's guys but after seeing your friend's strength I think the two of you will easily annihilate the bastard and all his men."

"You said a bad word." Goten snickered.

Trunks shrugged. "Nothing I haven't heard my Dad say."

"Oh yeah, how rude of me to be profane around kids. How ever will you live?" Saoda remarked sarcastically. "Speaking of that, where are your parents anyway?"

"We don't know!" Trunks answered. "We were out shopping with our Moms and then the next thing we knew, they were gone and we woke up here."

"Hmm..." Saoda began to lean against the wall. "I don't see a lot of guests here so it's always a big event when someone new shows up, but earlier I did see two women on the way to be, uh... processed for our fearless leader Snow. Hopefully those two aren't related to you guys. I wouldn't want to be them..."

The boys' eyes went wide. "What?!" Goten cried. "What did they look like?"

"And what do you mean processed?" Trunks asked.

"I only saw the blue haired one. I couldn't get a look of the other chick." Saoda said, trying to recall more details of their appearances. "And as for the answer to question two... how do I explain this to a kid... let's just say knowing Snow as well as I do, he likely does not have good intentions for your Moms and the sooner we find them, the sooner we can get them away from Snow."

"What's he gonna do to them?!" Goten nervously asked.

"Ah...all I'll say is this, due to his issue getting rejected all the time because he's an insufferable prick Snow decided to keep your Moms to himself. So, unless you want him to be your new Dad, we better get going and shut off that machine so we can fight him. And of course, I will help."

"Oh no, he is DEAD when I see him!" Trunks said angrily as Goten nodded in agreement.

Saoda smiled. "Well, we all hate Mr. Snow, if we have that in common then we can all be friends. The Ki Neutralizer is under the ring, makes sense, right? Then he can pull all the energy of foreign fighters down there. I can get us to the machine, so we best get moving."

The two boys quickly followed the mysterious fighter as he made his way down the corridor. Trunk's heart sank for a moment as they walked down the dark path. He began to sense his father's ki for the first time in what felt like ages, and it was low, a far cry from the legendary levels of power that he normally sensed when his dad was around.

"You good, Pinky?" Saoda asked, noticing his anxiety.

"No..." Trunks muttered. "I just sensed that my dad is here and he's in trouble."

"Odd that you can still sense him, although there are spots in this place that the Ki Neutralizer isn't the strongest so occasionally it's possible to sense other people here. I take it your fathers are fighters too?"

"Yes..." Goten answered as Trunks stayed quiet. "They're the strongest fighters in the universe!"

Saoda chuckled. "Ha! That's what they all say. But then again, Snow does bring in some respectable fighters from time to time. The rumor going around is that he's trying to get some Saiyan warriors to compete for him. But that's impossible, the Saiyans are all extinct."

"They're not extinct..." Trunks finally spoke. "Our dads ARE Saiyans. And Goten and me are half Saiyan."

Saoda stopped in his tracks. "You know... if any other person said that, I would laugh at them but after what I've seen you guys do... it all makes sense. I'll be damned, some Saiyans still exist after all."

He turned to Trunks. "We really need to destroy the Neutralizer now, because if you sense that your dad is hurting, that means the machine is working. His energy is being sucked out and Snow is getting the upper hand. I know for a fact Snow's guys all gobble up performance enhancing substances like candy too, so that ain't helping matters. If Saiyans are losing, then we won't stand a chance either."

"Let's go then! What are we waiting for?" Goten cried out, and the trio started running not wanting to waste another second. Unbeknownst to them, a shadowy figure took a swig from his drink and slowly began to follow them down the corridor towards the Ki Neutralizer.

Videl looked out the window of the ship and was met with only blackness. She felt if she went outside, she would blend in with her red shirt and black leggings. Their landing had just commenced, ending a tense ride to this unknown world.

She turned back to Gohan and Krillin who were sitting by the ship's controls. "Are you sure we're here?"

Gohan nodded. "Positive, the interstellar Dragon Ball radar says the ball that Dad left behind is a few steps ahead."

Krillin sighed. "All I wanted was a peaceful weekend alone with 18 and Marron. And now here I am in the far reaches of space saving my friends from mortal peril!"

"Come on Krillin." Gohan said with a shrug. "Out of everyone left, you have the most experience traveling in space. If you didn't come with, you'd have to keep watch over Earth in case something happens while we're gone like Piccolo's doing now. You'd be bored to death right now!"

Videl rolled her eyes. "And we didn't force you to come! A few hours ago, you said you wanted to get out of the house for a little!"

"Yeah, for a little! Not a multi hour voyage!" Before Krillin could finish complaining the lights inside the ship began to flicker. Gohan and Krillin both stood up, watching the lights continue to flicker. Soon the ship let out a loud whir and the group was enveloped in darkness.

"That can't be good..." Gohan muttered. "I felt my ki dropping as soon as we entered the atmosphere, I think whatever is draining me is also what drained the ship's power. It's been working fine all day otherwise."

Krillin attempted to turn the ship's computer back on to troubleshoot. "Well, this is just terrific, the ship's dead. We're stuck in this creepy place now."

Videl began to make her way to the ship's exit and gave the door a push so she could step outside. "Well, no use in sitting around in here. Come on, we got a family to rescue."

Krillin began to follow behind her. "Well, your wife sure is enthusiastic about this situation. I wish I could say the same..."

"Same here..." Gohan said under his breath as he joined him exiting.

The two caught up with Videl, taking in the sights or lack thereof of the unusual new planet. The only source of light was coming from a towering building in the distance, that was no doubt the headquarters of the Ampheta organization. The group began to head over to the dimly light structure. Videl was the first to the giant gate.

"Looks like Snow doesn't want any visitors right now." Gohan remarked as he sized up the massive entrance that was closed off. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a familiar orange sphere sitting at the corner of the gate, the unmistakable three-star Dragon Ball. Videl walked over and picked it up.

"We are definitely in the right place at least." she said, handing the ball to Krillin who tossed it in his backpack. "Now how do we get inside?"

"Well, any energy attacks are out of the question." Krillin answered. "I can't draw any energy up, otherwise I'd have this baby blasted open already."

"I guess we gotta do things the hard way..." Gohan added as he walked up to the gate. He squatted down and gripped the edge of the gate. He attempted to lift it open, immediately struggling with the shocking weight of the entrance.

"Krillin!" he strained to get out. "I could use a hand over here!"

The diminutive fighter sped over and joined Gohan in lifting the gate up.

"What the... there's no way this thing is that heavy!"

"This is as high as I can get it!" Gohan responded, holding the gate just above his ankles. "And I don't know if I can hold it!"

Videl quite literally saw an opening and began to jog up to the two men. She slid underneath the gate, startling both Krillin and Gohan who dropped the gate and fell back.

"Videl!" Gohan cried out after dusting himself off. He then heard the sound of gears turning and machinery. The gate began to retract upwards and Videl was soon standing behind the gate.

"What happened to work smarter, not harder?" she teased, gesturing over to a computer terminal by the gate. "This thing was being held down with gravity locks. Mr. Snow really doesn't want anyone getting inside. Well sucks to be him!"

Gohan and Krillin walked inside. "Time is running out." he said, taking in the dark hallways that split off into two paths. "We are more likely to find everyone if we split into groups. Videl, let's look for Goten and Trunks. Krillin, you look for Mom and Bulma. Then we can all meet back here and look for Dad and Vegeta once we find everyone."

Videl nodded and followed her husband down the shadowy concourse, leaving Krillin alone at the entrance. He wiped sweat from his brow and took in a deep breath.

"I'm just one man! What do you mean split into groups?" Krillin asked as his friends headed off before letting out a sigh.

"And now I get to explore this creepy place all by myself, this day just keepings getting better." He thought after shaking off some apprehension. He began to head down the opposite walkway.

After sprinting deeper into the bowels of the compound, the group of Trunks, Goten and their new friend Saoda finally reached their destination; the room housing the Ki Neutralizer.

Saoda looked at the entrance, an apprehensive look on his face. "Hmm, not locked. I'm not liking this..."

"Why not?" Goten asked.

"If you haven't noticed yet, this place is extremely secure. It's very difficult to get in here or get out. And the door to this Ki Neutralizer is wide open. Be ready to fight, I would bet someone's in there guarding the machine."

Both boys nodded, giving Saoda the signal to enter. He entered a command on the wall console and the doors slid open. The three crept inside slowly. The room was poorly lit, only illuminated by colored light in the middle of the massive room shooting off from a machine in the center. That had to be the Ki Neutralizer. The machine was three stories high, with guardrails on each platform. A bright orange aura was at the top of the machine, it appeared to be a visualization of energy being sucked inside the machine. The colors periodically changed as they shot into the ceiling. The light was being shot up onto where the stadium was above the machine. The light was making a loud humming sound, drawing the glowing colors into a large cylinder.

Saoda looked back to his Saiyan hybrid companions. "Now the question is, how do we destroy it?"

Before the boys could answer, the entire room lit up. Saoda, Trunks and Goten turned to the entrance and saw an older humanoid standing there, liquor bottle in hand.

"What the hell are you doing here Saoda?" the man shrieked. Saoda glared back at him.

"What a disappointment to see you're still alive, Jerik." Saoda yelled back. He turned and started to loosen his wrist joints. "I suppose now will be a good time to change that. I've been waiting to get my hands on you since you tipped Snow off to my hatred of him and his company!"

Goten and Trunks followed suit and assumed their fighting stances.

Saoda chugged his liquor bottle and smashed it on the ground, his frown remaining. "Ah and I see you befriended the Saiyans' brats. That's good, Mr. Snow wants me to eliminate them as well! And I got some help!"

As soon as Jerik finished his sentence, two smaller fighters joined him. The two looked to be identical twins, both with dark long hair but one with pale blue skin and the other with light red skin. The two were smaller but still looked somewhat imposing as fighters. Cocky expressions on both of their faces.

"Remember the Brothers? The illustrious Cuca and the fearsome Monga" Jerik said introducing the two as they made bizarre flexing poses during when their respective names were called. "You're dealing with Mr. Snow's personal fixers and the greatest two-man team of fighters of all time. I would say with me fighting alongside them, we're something of a dream team! You stupid idiots don't stand a chance!"

"All I see is three clowns. And you know what? I was never scared of going to the circus." Saoda spat back.

A smug grin formed on Jerik's face as he and the Brothers assumed fighting stances. "Then let's do this!"

Jerik shot forward at Saoda as Cuca charged at Trunks and Monga at Goten. All six fighters began to trade punches and kicks at high levels of speed, evenly matched for now.

Acid looked down at his unconscious opponent as blood started to pour out of the side of his head onto the tiles of the ring.

"Looks like you sprung a leak, pal." he observed. "Too bad I ain't a plumber, I can't do nothing to help ya... heh..."

Vegeta lay in the ring motionless after the brutal hammer shot to the head. Acid and Cybin embraced on their corner of the ring, it seemed as though they got their boss the victory that he desired and now was their time to celebrate. The automated referee moved in position to start the 10 count.

"Ha! Good one Acid!" Snow cackled obnoxiously. "I guess you, Jerik, and me aren't the only ones that like getting hammered!"

"What happens if he doesn't get up?" Goku thought to himself. "Come on Vegeta..."

"ONE..." the automated count started.

"One Saiyan down, one to go..." Snow said to himself. "This is good, but I want to savor this moment..." He began to pull slightly on Bulma's chain, but she was unphased, too fixated on her husband lying in the ring.

"TWO..."

"Vegeta...please get up..." she thought to herself, her heart beginning to sink. She was quickly jolted out of her trance by a stronger pull of her chain. She glared back at her captor.

"He's done! It's ok dear, you'll get over him soon enough." Snow taunted. "I'll treat you so well you'll forget all about that filthy Saiyan. "

Bulma looked down at her husband lying unconscious. She had been optimistic earlier but seeing what was happening to Goku and Vegeta was making her feel more and more hopeless and powerless. Not to mention not having a clue what was happening to Trunks who had never left her mind either. Those feelings were starting to become overwhelming. Chi-Chi looked over at her friend, trying to offer her support and sympathy with her expression. But there was no denying Chi-Chi felt equally as powerless as Bulma did.

Snow was reveling in Bulma's sorrow. "You're not so confident now, are you? Ha! You won't backtalk me again. I ALWAYS win." He gestured her over to a tray near his throne. "It's time for you to get back to your servitude! Go fetch me that, Slave Bulma! What's inside it will enhance your FORMER husband's demise, for me of course."

Bulma loudly sighed, not trying to mask her annoyance and growing hatred for Snow. She stood up and walked over to the silver tray next to his throne. She couldn't see what was inside due to a matching silver lid. She brought it over to Snow, who eagerly removed the lid, carelessly tossing it to the side. Inside was a silver bowl of white powder and what looked like a handle for a blade.

"Ugh..." she thought, rubbing her sore neck while she sat back down. "What kind of metal is this collar made of? It's so thick! There has to be a way to get this thing off..."

Excited, Snow began to pour the white powder out into a line and picked up the handle. A small, purple beam shot out so that the promoter could cut up the powder into lines without wasting a single grain of whatever the substance was. Plugging one of his nostrils, he leaned down and snorted the line. He recoiled back, a look of ecstasy on his face as he let the substance take hold. Bulma looked back at the disgusting display of excess. But the device Snow was using to cut his powder with caught her attention. That could be useful if she could get her hands on it.

"Oh yes..." he moaned. "This is the greatest day of my life. I had my fighters, MY Ampheta fighters kill not one but two Saiyans and I walk out with their wives, who both happen to be gorgeous. The only thing Ampheta is suffering from is success...I hope our fans aren't too loud for you ladies..."

"What fans?" Chi-Chi piped up, confused.

Snow turned to look at her, he looked incapable of blinking.

"Can't you see them all?" Snow asked her. "All my adoring Ampheta fans ALWAYS show up once I get my white lightning. Another sold out show tonight!"

Bulma and Chi-Chi looked at each other, bewildered how much more unhinged their captor was acting after taking the strange white powder.

Snow hunched over his tray to inhale another line of the powder, not feeling satisfied with just one hit. As he was inhaling, Vegeta began to stir. He strained and pressed down on the metal tiles of the ring slowly pushing himself up right as the count reached eight. Bulma noticed his movements out of the corner of her eye and quickly turned her attention back to him. Snow was more interested on ingesting more of his powder than whatever was going on in his ring.

Chi-Chi joined her in silent anticipation as Vegeta got to his feet and started to inch towards Goku. Acid and Cybin looked over, surprised that he made it up in time before the count finished. Vegeta continued to creep over to Goku, blood dripping from the gash on his forehead onto the tiles.

Goku stood close to the edge of his waiting platform. "That's it Vegeta! Just get me in and rest up, I'll take care of these guys!"

Snow finally looked up from his powder and his mood shifted. "Don't just stand there! You morons!" he called to Acid and Cybin. "Finish him off so we can end this already!"

Acid raised his hand while Cybin remained in place, holding onto his hammer. "I got this! I am getting tired anyway...I wonder if the bars are still open..." He caught up with the slower Vegeta and grabbed his white boot, tripping up the Saiyan Prince.

"You're not going anywhere, little man." Acid taunted. "Except the afterlife!"

"No!" Goku shouted. "Damn it! He was so close."

"Vegeta..." Bulma whimpered up in the skybox, her eyes growing watery. Chi-Chi put her head down. She didn't like seeing Vegeta's beat down either and she hated seeing how much this fight was hurting Bulma. Now she was beginning to dread when her own husband would fight again. The most torturous part of all was being powerless to help.

Acid began to reel back, preparing to toss Vegeta out of the ring. "This will be a nice notch in my belt, not many can say they've defeated a Saiyan let alone their Prince."

Vegeta's eyes slowly opened, and he pulled his leg back. "You haven't defeated me yet, you damned inebriate!"

With that, Vegeta pushed back against Acid with what strength he had left sending him crashing into the stone across the ring next to his partner Cybin. Vegeta stumbled to his feet again and leaped towards the waiting platform, reaching his hand into the barrier to let Goku in to fight.

"Gosh darn it all, this isn't how it's supposed to go!" Snow screamed, realizing what just happened.

"Yes!" Goku exclaimed as he raced in, quickly assuming his fighting stance. He turned over to his partner who was now at rest. "Great job Vegeta!"

Vegeta slumped down on the platform, his breathing labored. "Just finish the job, Kakarot. Make them pay!"

Bulma and Chi-Chi's hearts raced as they could see that Vegeta was safe and Goku was now the fresh man in the fight. Acid stood up and shook his head, unaware that he was now fighting a new opponent. Goku struck him first, pummeling him with a punch to the side of his head sending him crashing into a corner pillar.

Cybin began to charge Goku, hammer raised in his hand, but Goku anticipated his attack. He dodged Cybin's strike with the hammer as he crashed the weapon into the floor creating a small crater. Before Cybin realized he missed his target, Goku tossed the hammer into empty seats surrounding the ring.

"I've had enough of your dirty tricks." Goku said as Cybin collected himself. The young fighter scowled at Goku and reeled back, about to deliver a punch. Goku was too quick for him through and blocked the punch by grabbing his fist.

"You still got a lot to learn." Goku said to him, as he tightened the grip on Cybin's fist causing him to scream out in pain. Goku tossed Cybin into Acid who still in the corner. More cracks formed in the pillar as Cybin slammed into Acid leaving both men in a heap. Goku looked back at Vegeta to check in on him. He was now standing up, clutching at his arm and still bleeding from the gash on his head. Goku knew Vegeta well enough to see that he was beginning to somewhat recover. He also noticed that Snow had forgotten to put the tag barrier up to prevent the fighter who wasn't tagged in to help out, that could come in handy should Vegeta recover enough. Goku made a quick mental note of that before turning his attention back to Acid and Cybin.

Goku put his hand around Cybin's sweat drenched curly hair and lifted him up.

"It's really a shame that you chose to fight for these guys. You got a lot of potential." he said quietly, feeling some pity for the young fighter choosing this path.

Cybin weakly tried to spit at Goku, tiny droplets of his blood staining his orange gi. "Go to hell, Goku. I'm an Ampheta Elite for life."

Goku shook his head, disappointed. "If you say so..." Goku stepped back and lifted his knee up, driving his knee into Cybin's jaw. This time he aimed his hit so that his opponent would fly out of the ring onto the floor.

"Ring out!" the automated referee declared.

"What?!" Snow was still in shock at how quickly the tide had turned against him.

Goku looked down at Acid who was still crouched down at the corner pillar. He gripped Acid's wrist and then looked over to Vegeta who was standing up. It was almost like Goku and Vegeta had a mental link from all the training they did together, and he soon realized that Goku wanted him to help out. Goku swiftly tossed Acid in Vegeta's direction. Vegeta locked his fingers together as if he was holding an axe and drove his locked fists down on Acid, volleying him outside the ring on the opposite side of where Cybin was lying.

Both men heard a satisfying call from the official. "Ring out!"

"You cannot be serious right now..." Snow said, stunned. Bulma and Chi-Chi struggled to contain their joy, hoping Snow wouldn't notice how their emotions had gone from hopeless to celebratory.

"I figured you'd want to be the one to eliminate him after that cheap shot with the weapon." Goku said to Vegeta, who half smiled.

"Hmph..." Vegeta snorted, he traced his gloved hand over his head to feel the extent of the damage from the hammer shot and winced. "You assumed correctly, Kakarot. I thank you for that."

Snow stood up; livid things weren't going his way. "You two CHEATED!" he shrieked from his perch above the ring, his shrill screech reverberating throughout the empty arena.

"Not once did you mention in your stupid rules anything about the resting fighter getting involved." Vegeta responded, wiping blood from his mouth. "You were too overly stimulated up there to put up the barrier. I'd say my elimination was fair game! So don't blame me for your incompetence!"

The unhinged promoter did not bother acknowledging his mistake. Instead, he looked over at Acid and Cybin lying unconscious on the ground.

"I NEVER do anything wrong!" he yelled. "My fighters failed me; I don't like them anymore! I don't need them!"

Snow activated a control on his throne, causing the floor where his fallen fighters were lying to glow. To Goku and Vegeta's surprise he had both Acid and Cybin ground into energy while they were lying down defenseless.

Snow sat back down on his throne, pouting and plotting his next move. "I would just say to hell with it and kill you both right now but that would be too easy. I want to see you both suffer. And I have one more fighter left, he is my strongest fighter and the defending champion of the Ampheta organization."

He violently pulled back the chains of his captives once again, their metal collars cutting off their airflow. "And I want my wives to watch their former husbands suffer and die. I think the memory of both of your deaths, your painful deaths would help making them... permanently subservient to me..."

He finally released them both, leaving them catching to catch their breath. "If only I knew where your brats were, I'd have them executed on the spot first. Actually, I am a bit concerned that no one's reported on their status... no matter, it's time for you to meet my champion. The man who will make your final moments the most agonizing moments of your entire lives..."