Part 1, Chapter 7: The Saiyan in Red

We should reach the town soon at this speed.

My nose is telling me we're in for some trouble. But what kind...?

(Weird. I know this scent from somewhere...)

Something wrong, Shallot?

No... It's nothing.

Those Frieza Force cronies we ran into earlier, don't you think they were acting weird?

Weird? How?

Hmm. Like, when they saw you... they bugged out.

Save it for later! Someone's leaving town in a royal hurry!

Dammit! Why? WHY?!

He tailed us all this way? The kook's obsessed!

What're you talking about? It's YOU guys that're the kooks!

I knew it! Everyone fleeing from that town is terrified of you!

But that's insane. I haven't done squat!

Jaco here. Do you guys read me? I've been keeping an ear to the radio while en route.

I can't make heads or tails of the situation either. Once you reach town, proceed carefully. Got it?

Okay. Whatever's happening, reaching town is our first order of business.

Finally!

This place... it's in shambles! What the heck happened?

Maybe we can ask. Assuming there's someone LEFT to ask...

Found you, Saiyan brat!

Who're you?!

Zarbon! With Dodoria here, I should have known you'd be slinking around.

You really did a number on me, wiping out virtually all the men under my command!

This again? Why is everyone making me out to be some cold-blooded killer?

Feigning ignorance, eh? Where's the beauty in that?

I'm telling you, that wasn't me! I just got here!

Please. Save your repulsive lies.

A normal death is far too merciful a fate. Yours will be as hideous... as I am beautiful!

Go! Bring him in alive!

Tch! He's a strong one indeed.

Cut the crap already! I haven't done jack to you people!

No, you cut the crap! We saw you fly off with our own eyes!

Hey, you're...

If this is payback for our last little scuffle, you went way overboard, my friend.

Oh, Dodoria. You're alive. Toughness has always been your strong suit.

Save it. You never croak yourself... unfortunately.

This debate can wait. We have a monkey to cage.

Ha! That we do! Sorry, kid. But you're done.

Everyone's convinced you blew this town to pieces, Shallot.

Huh?!

I sense something! ...Someone's fighting!

Over there!

No, Shallot! You can't!

And why's that, Jaco?

Think! This guy has already taken out droves of Frieza Force soldiers!

Grr...!

At your current level, this is a lost cause. Turn back now!

No! I can't walk away from this. Not now!

Dammit! This is mayhem! Baddies and bystanders alike... all cut down!

Who did this?! Show yourself!

Look! There's someone over there!

...What? No... He... He...!

He looks exactly like you, Shallot!

You're telling me there are TWO Shallots?!

Oh? I guess I didn't kill everyone.

Wh-Who are you? And what's up with your face?!

Though I never thought it would be here... Finally, we meet.

I suspected you were flung somewhere in this era.

S-Stop muttering and give me a straight answer! WHO ARE YOU?!

...I've been waiting for this very moment.

Huh?!

Ha ha ha! At last! At long last...!

I can wring the life...

...from your! Filthy! Body!

What?!

Haaaaagh!

Gah! Ngrrh!

He's a born killer. Absolutely unstoppable!

Run, Shallot! Get away from that monster! Shalloooot!

(Damn! Nothing... works! His guard is... airtight!)

Is that all? Then you're still weak as ever.

Ungh!

Weakness makes me very, VERY... ANGRY!

Agh?!

I will erase you from this world!

That's far enough.

What the...

G-Goku?

Yo, Shallot! Looks like I made it in the nick of time!

Why did... you come...?

I contacted Beerus and asked for backup.

Who is this dude, anyway? He's the spitting image of you, Shall.

Don't ask me! That's what I've been trying to pry outta him!

Whoever he is, he's definitely a Saiyan.

You're a Saiyan too?

Then I'm in luck. I'll exterminate both of you in one fell swoop!

Oh? Think you can pull it off?

You won't be smirking for long!

Tch!

You still wanna do this? I think it's pretty clear who's stronger.

(Goku is crazy strong. I had no idea fighters of his level existed in this era!)

I'll admit my power can't hold a candle to yours, not as it is now.

But know this. I will hunt you down. It is inevitable.

The blood of the defeated...

The blood of the tainted...

Both will be expunged from existence! By me! Balance WILL reign once more!

Phew! There he goes.

*exhale* You saved my skin, Goku. I owe you one. A big one.

Don't mention it! We're both fighting for Team Beerus, after all!

A shame we couldn't save the town. It's been totally bulldozed.

Yeah. By Shallot's lookalike.

We should make a 180 for the Capital and report back to Beerus.

Welcome. Bulma already filled me in on your last tussle.

I managed to save Shallot! I'd like to say unharmed, but as you can see...

Ouch. He's certainly seen better days.

Yeah, I got manhandled. But we have more important things to worry about!

Uh, Shallot? Are you okay?

No! I was... helpless!

If only I were stronger... I could've beat that guy! Dammit! Dammit!!

Sulking about because of how the town ended up, are you? Well, that's one thing you don't need to worry about.

Huh?

You see, I've gathered up Earth's Dragon Balls and stored them in a safe place. We can use them to sort this all out when it's over.

The Dragon Balls? You have them?

Of course. They're not quite the Super Dragon Balls, but they certainly require keeping a careful eye on.

That explains why the Dragon Radar wasn't picking up a thing.

...Meaning all the people and cities caught in the line of fire can be wished back, right?

Smart girl. But only after we solve the crisis at hand.

Wishing them back now would only repeat what's happened.

What we need to figure out is Shallot's evil doppelganger. Do you have a clue who he could be?

Like I said, none! And even if I did in the past, I wouldn't remember now.

Who is that guy and how does he know me? Why does he have my face?!

C-Calm down, Shallot!

I have a few ideas of my own, but they're not worth jumping the gun.

That creep looked like Shallot, but the similarities end there. He was heartless.

Maybe we should do a little snooping!

And how, pray tell?

Me and Shallot will have a friendly match!

I'll compare Shallot's Ki to that lookalike's!

This place looks out of the way enough. You ready?

How're you feeling? After eating that Senzu, I bet you feel even stronger than before!

Yeah. I feel brand new, but better! That's some bean!

It appears Shallot has gotten stronger since his last battle in the city.

Good. We need him to get stronger.

This is a great opportunity to gauge how Shallot measures up to Goku.

While we're watching, get a feel for the kid's Ki, Whis.

Yes, my lord.

Go, Shallot! Whoo!

I doubt he'll take Goku down, but he can at least try.

Never say never! Shallot's gotten stronger, remember?

Heh heh heh. Don't say I didn't warn you!

Heh heh. Earlier I said this was to get a feel for your Ki...

But I have selfish reasons too. I've been dying to go head-to-head with you, Shall!

We think alike then! 'Cause I've been aching for a shot at YOU!

Then what're we waiting for? Let's get this show on the road!

That's the trick I've been wanting to know about! "Super Saiyan," right?

Train hard and you'll be able to do it one day. I guarantee it!

Heh! You make it sound like it's business as usual. You just watch... I'll get there...!

Heck, I'm sure I'll pass you up!

*pant*

Whew!

Well, Goku? How'd the kid do?

In all honesty, Shallot's Ki feels exactly the same as his evil twin's. Except...

What? Go on.

There's something slightly different. I can't put my finger on it.

Are they the same or different? Which is it already?!

Perhaps I can offer some insight. As all of you know, Shallot is a Saiyan.

But not your average Saiyan, it would seem.

What? How so?

Shallot's Ki matches those of warriors from the earliest eras of Saiyan history.

In simpler terms, he is an "ancient Saiyan."

Ancient... Saiyan...

Put simply, Shallot's era is from way, way back, yes?

Indeed... It's safe to assume what the doppelganger said to Shallot, "the blood of the defeated"...

...as well as to Goku, "the blood of the tainted", meant much more than we can currently deduce.

Tainted? Goku, did you do something?

I honestly don't know. I was raised on Earth, remember? I know zip about Saiyans.

Then we're still in the dark about pretty much everything.

For now. We will meet that mystery Saiyan again, like it or not.

I agree. You'd better train up before then, eh, Shallot?

That was the plan already. I don't need you on my back!

Once I'm strong enough to give that goon the beating he deserves, he won't be looking like me anymore!

Ooh, I like the sound of that! Shallot, Shallot, he's our man!

And what do you think of Shallot, Whis?

Hm? What do I... "think" of him?

It's quite possible Shallot's double could be Shallot himself, but from another era.

Think about it. The Shallot we know has amnesia.

So, in other words...

You mean to say the Shallot who leveled the town could very well be the "real" Shallot, with all memory intact.

Yes, I'm saying that it's a viable possibility. We may even have a case similar to Goku Black on our hands...

Hmm, indeed. However, it seems at the present moment we won't get any answers until Shallot gets his memory back.