Part 7, Chapter 5: The Impending Battle

...

I will finish things with him MY way! The SAIYAN way!

And know this! When I do kill him, it will be because I have CHOSEN to, not because you told me to!

(That Vegeta... He really is...)

S-Shallot!!

...! Is everyone okay?

Are we okay?! What about you??

I felt some incredible Ki approaching you before but...was that Majin Buu?!

The one and only, or...not, I guess.

What do you mean? Where is he? And what about Vegeta?

A guy in a...black hood?

And he just zapped Majin Buu away or something?

I cannot fathom how you keep surviving your run-ins with all these dubious characters!

You can thank Vegeta for this one. That hood guy wanted me dead on the spot.

Vegeta chased him off?

Not quite... He just said he didn't wanna beat me the way I was and flew off somewhere.

...

He'll come back, though, and when he does, we'll finally put an end to all this.

But hey, don't worry!

Next time, he'll have his old pride back, I know it.

If you really think so...then I do too!

I'll be as happy as anyone to see Vegeta back to his arrogant old self, but that's not the end of our worries...

What do you mean?

Well, for instance, who the heck is that black hood guy and why did he let you off the hook?

Bulma's got a point. Vegeta might not have wanted to kill Shallot, not yet, at least...

...But surely this hooded fellow could have done it any time he wanted.

...

...I'm just glad Shallot's okay! Can't we worry about the hood guy later and just be glad for that?

...Gohan's right! Getting all worried's only gonna give us a headache, and Shallot doesn't need to lose any more brain cells. Let's get him patched up!

Seconded! What's say we go to Mai's new base for help? Maybe they can spare a bed and some rations... ...For Shallot, of course! Ah hah hah!

Ngh...! What is this...?

It's a special little space that I whipped up for times like this. Did you have a nice trip?

Tch, you meddling...!

I'm afraid Shallot has already been called dibs on, Buu. You'll have to wait your turn.

We wouldn't want to use you up prematurely, would we now?

Just what are you plotting?!

Oh, I don't know. Perhaps I'll have you wait here while I think about it.

Rgghh...! Let me OUT!! RELEASE ME!!

Now, now. This place is made of layer upon layer of folded space-time. I know how you just love enclosed spaces...

Even a great shout like yours cannot tear it... Do try your best though. Ta-ta...

Wait! You...!

Let me out! Let me out let me out LET ME OUT!!

I DO WHAT I WANT! WHEN I WANT!!

To hell with your insipid plans! You will regret this!! Mark my words!!

Well, that should keep him occupied for the time being. Now what...

Ah, yes. Giblet... It's almost time... How fun! Hm hm hm!

...So how're you feeling, Shallot?

Take a guess...

GREAT!! Never better! What with all the food and sleep I got here!

You ate way too many rations! Mai put on a brave face, but I know on the inside she was weeping for all those canned beans!

Don't worry, I don't think food will be a problem anymore!

Check it out! We went up those mountains nearby and gathered up all this stuff!

I never knew you were such a little survivalist, Gohan!

Heh heh! It's all thanks to my training with Piccolo when I was younger!

And no thanks to you, Shallot! We've got barely any supplies and you're over there gobbling up beans like it's the end of the world!

Eek!

*sigh* At least you found Gohan and Cabba for us, I'm thankful for that.

Right! It's really great to be with Cabba again... You too, Gohan!

I didn't ever think I'd get to meet a young version of you like this!

Hah hah! It's crazy seeing what the Trunks I know looked like when he was younger too!

We're still a Saiyan down, though... Two if Bardock never shows up.

Well, we've always got a bunk open for him if he has a change of heart! The more Saiyans around here, the better if you ask me.

Yeah! It's great having Gohan and Cabba around the base to help out!

Heh heh! Good to hear, Trunks.

Oh yeah! I got something to tell you!

...?

About your old man, Vegeta!

You mean you met him again?!

"Meet" maybe puts it too softly...but yeah! I couldn't bring him back with us this time, but listen...!

Woah...I don't believe it...

Crazy, right? Leave it to your dad to shake off the mastermind's mind control just 'cause he felt like it!

...

...Right! Thank you, Shallot!

Well, no time to snooze, let's get back out there and find the last Saiyan!

Yeah! We all know you've done enough snoozing, mister.

Just one more to go... Nothing like the end in sight to get the engine revving!

Trunks, Cabba, Gohan! The base is in your hands for now!

Roger!

Leave it to us, Master!

Be careful out there, Shallot!

Allllright!! I can't wait to find this last Saiyan! I'm pumped up!

...Soo, where we lookin'?

Huh?! Don't ask us!

We had Mai's intel to go off before, but I guess we're on our own this time...

Hmm... Where to start...

Hm... Why don't we just, you know, leave it to Shallot's creepily dog-like instincts!

What?! Why me?

When there aren't any leads to go on, the best thing to do is just follow your instincts. And mine say to follow you!

Y'know for a scientist, that doesn't sound very sciencey...

C'mon, Shallot! This means you get to throw caution to the wind and drag us around the way you like!

Oh yeah! ...Hey, wait a sec! You're making me out to be like some kind of loose cannon!

More like "wild cannon," am I right? Come on, Shallot, we want you to lead us with your awesome impeccable instincts!

Ahh fine, if you say so... Instincts...instincts...let's see...

...

THAT WAY!! ...ish!!

Come on, man...

That's way too vague!

Well ya said to go off my instinct! What do you people want from me?!

I say that way-ish and that's that! And no complaining if it's a bust!

HRAAH!

Tch, these bums didn't know anything either, huh? Just where is that crusty old wizard hiding?

Hey, Caulifla? It's really no big deal, let's just forget Babidi and...

Not a chance! Even if it ain't to you, it's a big deal to me!

No one messes with my protégé and walks away with all their bones still in the right places!

Caulifla...

Rrgh, just where the heck is this guy? We haven't found so much as a whisker of him!

P-Perhaps he's too frightened of you to show his face anymore!

...Of me?

...Well of course he is, silly! I'm the roughest and toughest there is in this tournament! Hah hah!

That's gotta be why we can't find him! Heh, it ain't all glory bein' the best there ever was, you know!

Y-You said it, Caulifla! Ah hah hah...

It's times like this you almost wish that jerk was around...

That jerk...?

You know, Shallot! The jerk!

...You wish...Shallot...was around...?

Huh? What's with that scrunched-up face you're makin', Kale?

We can use him! He can sniff up all kinds of stuff with that dog nose of his!

Hey!! Who're you callin' a dog?!

Shallot?!

What the...Caulifla?! What's up?

I don't believe it, he really found some Saiyans...!

That's our boy! I never doubted him even for a second, you know.

What the heck happened to you?! When we split up, weren't you about to have a...bathroom emergency?

Well...a lot happened, actually! But I'll tell you later!

Right now, I need your help with something!

Righteous Saiyans...?

Damn right! And with you two in the mix, we've got all we need!

Caulifla is certainly righteous! Like a knight in shining armor...!

One hundred percent!

...Are you...

...Sure about that...?

Grrr...!

Eek! I-I mean she's definitely in the top percentile! Totally righteous! No need to glare! Ah hah...

We don't even need to worry about that grump Bardock not showing up anymore if we have you two!

So, what exactly do you need five righteous Saiyans for anyway?

Oh, well, we need five righteous Saiyans for uh...you know, the uh...

...

Go on...?

Why the heck are we doin' this again?

W-What?! So you're just out here chasing Saiyans not knowing what to do when you catch them?!

You sure know how to tick a girl off! Showin' up uninvited with some grand mission you don't know nothing about, give me a break!

It ain't like that! Once we get the Saiyans, we just gotta go talk to Whis! He'll tell us what to do!

Forget that! I've got a better idea. How about you help US find that rotten old Babidi creep!

...Babidi? I don't know if you heard, but he's long gone...

...What?

Y'MEAN SOMEONE ELSE GOT TO HIM FIRST?!

We've been out here searching for that prune for ages and you're sayin' he's already DEAD?! Why didn't you tell me sooner?!

How could I have?! I had no idea where you two were!

That's because you practically told us to run for our lives from your impending bowel-ocalypse!

I did that to help you two! You have no idea how close to the line it got after you left!

I don't care about your stomach problems, man! Go see a doctor or something!

...Hey, Bulma? I don't like where this is going.

Okay, time-out, you two! Why don't we all just calm down and talk it out back at the base?

Tch, we'll I guess we've got nothing else to do since SOMEONE didn't tell us that Babidi already bit the dust.

Throw in a meal at this base of yours and you've got a deal! I'm starving! ...You guys got any beans?

I'm afraid supper's gon' have to wait, little lady.

You...!

But don't worry, starvation ain't gon' be what gets ya. Heh heh heh...

You again...#13!!

Looks like yer pal Bardock ain't around this time. And who have we here...Caulifla and Kale, that right?

Huh?! How'd you get our names?!

Uhh, how to explain... They're bad guys who collect fighters' data. Like computer scammers! ...Do you know what a computer is?

What the, Bulma? Weren't you standing here just a second ago?!

We've been around long enough to know when sparks are about to fly! Sorry to spoil your "Stay back, I got this." cool-guy moment.

We're counting on you, Shallot! Cross their wires up real good this time!

Heh, guess we can get to the fightin' quicker this way! Let's rumble!

I don't know who you are, hat head, but you're here to take a dig at Shallot, right?

Not just Shallot, Saiyanette. I've determined that ALL Saiyans are a threat to our directive and must be eliminated with a capital E.

Keh, you ain't gonna be so smug in a minute after Kale and I drag you through the dirt!

*whistles* She talks the talk...

...#15!!

Heh!

Hey! Back it up, shades!

Haahh!!

Aagh!!

Caulifla!!

No...! Caulifla!

Grr...!

...

So you like to sucker punch, huh?! I'll show you how to fight dirty!!

Caulifla! Wait for me!

Kale, no! You head over to Bulma and protect those guys!

B-But...Caulifla is...!

Kale, listen to me. Can you still transform like you did against me?

...! I...I don't know if I...

Then stay back. For your sake and for Caulifla's.

...Understood.

...

Sorry to keep you waiting, big guy. Ready for your scheduled maintenance?

I ain't been waitin'. I just been sittin' back watchin' you simple Saiyans make my job easier...

Ever heard of wolves splittin' up the sheep to make easy pickin's?

...!

And you ain't got Bardock to bounce off either this time, slick. Yer number's up!

Ngh..! Is it just me or did you go and get even tougher?!

You got wool for brains or somethin'? It's like I told ya', we're upgradin' every day thanks to Dr. G's computer.

Still, yer a tough son-of-a-gun for keepin' up with me in spite of that, Saiyan.

Don't give me that crap! Talking big like getting stronger came from your own hard work!

Save yer sentiment for the other meatbags, meatbag. Efficiency is all that matters.

You...!

Powerin' up's all about optimization, see? That's what makes me better than you. That's how I do THIS!!

What the?!

Hah hah hah hah!!

(Is that...Ki?! I thought androids didn't have any Ki!)

HRRAGH!!

Tch, of course... Dark Ki! So you're with the mastermind too!

Hope yer wearin' yer big-boy pants, S-man, 'cause I'm gettin' serious!

Argh!

Hah hah hah! I thought as much.

My analysis of yer speed and power are right on the dot. Face it, kid, I outclass you in every way.

O'course, I've even factored in yer cute little Super Saiyan trick and it ain't gonna help you one bit!

...

Looks like our last rodeo must've been an anomaly in the algorithm.

Grrgh! Your stupid made-up words don't scare me, robot!

...Y'mean the computer stuff?

If you're tryin' to say you've got me all worked out, how can you even think you're a true fighter?!

What're you on about?

Following some plan laid out all nice for you by that computer, thinking that it makes you better than me...!

YOU REALLY TICK ME OFF!!

Heh, finally turning the Christmas lights on, eh?

But you just don't listen, do ya'? This is all accounted for, I'm still gonna deck yer halls, boy.

Then I guess you've got nothing to worry about, tincan!

Let's see if your math checks out!!

HAAHH!!

Grghh!

So? Was THAT part of your all-knowing aquarium?!

Ngh...it's...algorithm, you...idiot! How is this possible?!

Now do you understand?! There's no way you can win against me!

No way I can win...?! No...there's always a way! The numbers don't lie!

Bardock was right, you're just a puppet! You've got no thoughts of your own, no instinct!

And I ain't losing to no hollow, soulless, FAKE warrior! Not ever!!

I don't understand...! I done everything like the computer said! How could I lose?!

Was that itself an error?! I don't..zZzt...this can't...!

(No...cool yer circuits, cowboy. There's a way to beat this punk... I just gotta figure it out...!)

Curse you...!

#15! We're high-tailin' it!

...!

Huh?! Get back here!!

Oh no you don't! Not this time!

HAAHH!!

Agh...!!

...Tch, just give it up, you...!

...They're gone?! Dammit!

Not a trace of their scent, either... They must've gone underwater somewhere!

Shallot!

Caulifla! You okay?

'Course I am! Like I'd ever lose to that sneaky little shrimp! ...What's with the hair?!

Huh? Oh, you mean Super Saiyan 3?

Super Saiyan 3?! There's a 3 now?! ...Well? Spill the tea! How'd you do it?!

Heh, you sure you wanna know? Might take you years if it took me a couple of months.

A couple of months? What'd you have this up your sleeve when we last met? It hasn't been that long, has it?

Oh, right...the time-changer...

You guys! Over here!

Bulma! Everyone alright?

We're fine. And...you?

Same here! Guess I scared 'em off...

Caulifla! Are you hurt?! Tired?! Hungry?!

Come on, Kale! Who do you think you're talking to?! Well, maybe that last one...

...I guess I'll leave you two be. Man, it's like Caulifla's the only person in the universe to that girl!

Why don't we start heading back to the base like we were going to? All five of us?

Sounds like a plan! And once we're there, we can try to get Whis to come and brief us on the...

Hello!! Did someone say "brief?"

W-Woah!

W-Who the hell're you?!

You almost gave me a heart attack!! ...Er, I mean, how gracious of you to come so...promptly!

I thought it best to help you keep things proceeding as fast as possible.

...?

Oh my, Shallot! It looks like your training mission is going swimmingly!

Hmm...yes indeed. Your Ki feels much better than before!

For real?! Alright! ...I did have to transform once or twice though...

Well, be that as it may, Shallot, Bulma, Jaco...

Congratulations on a job well done!

Now, allow me to explain how we will use the five Saiyans you've found to unlock a new power for Shallot.

A new power...?!

Ho ho, I thought you'd like that. This is the method to call upon...

...The power of Super Saiyan God!

Darn it... I shoulda' beat that kid! The computer's plan was perfect, all variables an' contingencies...

So why?! What am I missin'? Where was the error, where was the fault in our calculations?!

...

...#13, my scans detect an error in your processing algorithms.

Our highest priority is the erasure of all Gokus from history.

...! No, it's...

Eliminating Shallot is a side note in our directive. Your protocols have deviated from the computer's.

Deviated from the computers...? ...Wait a sec', that's it!

I think we need to submit you for maintenance. Activating capsu...

SHUT YER TRAP!!

Ungh!

Sorry, #15, but I'm gonna need you to lend me yer parts!

I finally see the answer.

If I'm gonna beat that punk, I gotta do it myself.

I...I ain't need that computer to tell me what to do no more!

Now do you understand?! There's no way you can win against me!

"No way..." Them words changed somethin' in me... A shock to my circuits, some kinda...feeling...

But I understand now. I found somethin' I couldn't process, and that response was...anger! I feel it!

And I will use this rage to destroy Shallot!!

Not because of no computer... No algorithm...no directive...! This is my...my own will!!

Just you wait, Shallot... Heh... Hah hah hah!!