"I'm waiting, child. Let's get this over with." Trunks glared at him coldly.

"This is just a game to you, isn't it?"

"Not at all. I need your power, and that of your friends as well. If any of you is strong enough to kill one of my people, I cannot allow you to leave this planet alive. We're far beyond fun and games, boy. You're out of your league."

"We'll see about that." Trunks raised a glowing hand, forming the ki into a sphere. Denatu lunged forward as Trunks turned and swung, aiming for the shape-shifter's face. Denatu disappeared instantly in a move even Trunks couldn't follow, materializing behind him and slamming his skull with a doubled-up fist. Trunks plummeted planetward with Denatu close behind him. Bracing himself, Trunks launched an energy blast at the ground below him, sending him rocketing back at Denatu. He whirled and let his momentum drive a stunning kick into Denatu's gut. Denatu doubled over, eyes bulging, as Trunks pulled back a ki-powered fist, aiming for Denatu's gaping mouth the way Takira had described killing Mordrig.

Denatu, by accident or design, shut his mouth just in time, taking the force of Trunks' blow full in the face; his head snapped back as his body arced through the air. Trunks flew under him to attack his spine, but Denatu twisted and lashed out with a desperate kick, causing Trunks to dodge and fall back. Denatu spun to face him, rigid with fury.

"That does it! This ends now!" he snarled. He closed his eyes and there came a low, almost inaudible groan as he summoned his ki. Trunks powered up as well, trying to guess what Denatu had planned.

Gohan, now able to sit up, watched in horror as Denatu's power level continued to rise. Gohan glanced at Trunks, silently willing him to interrupt Denatu's preparations, but apparently Trunks wished to let him finish.

Takira had no such sense of fair play. Bracing her feet apart, she prepared to launch the attack she'd been building. Denatu's energization was nearly complete; he sneered at Trunks.

"Now, boy, you'll see what it means to cross--" His threat was abruptly cut off by a voice from below.

"Final Flash!!" Takira screamed as the attack surged towards Denatu. He threw himself backward, out of its path, only to be struck from behind by Trunks. Even as Degradu turned to retaliate, Takira's attack hit him. Trunks was gone, suddenly appearing beside Gohan as the Final Flash exploded around the screaming Denatu.

"Are you okay, Gohan?" Trunks asked, keeping a wary eye on the action.

"Apart from being so weak I can barely lift my head? Fine." Gohan gritted his teeth as the smoke began to clear. "We'd better hope that killed him." Trunks shook his head wearily.

"Something tells me it won't be nearly that easy." A pale figure emerged from the dissipating smoke, barely singed but very angry.

"Bitch," he seethed, red eyes darting, quickly finding Takira. Denatu sent an energy sphere screaming toward her, but she was already gone.

Watching from the ground, Gohan and Trunks would follow her movements, barely. Denatu, too, could see her, but she moved too quickly and too constantly for him to nail her with an attack. Takira was moving as fast as she possibly could, and while it prevented Denatu from making a successful advance, she dared not pause long enough to make an attack of her own; and she was wasting precious energy. Soon she would be slow enough to strike. Panicking, she decided to try her energy drain again, in moderation. Summoning what was nearly the last of her energy for speed, she streaked towards Denatu; unfortunately, she was anticipated.

She realized her error too late, and her frantic attempt to veer off only redirected Denatu's grasping hand(intended for her throat)to her arm. He twisted it brutally, grimacing as she screamed. He jerked her closer to him, drawing her wakazishi with his other hand. He pressed the point to her upper abdomen, grinning at the pain on her face. He leaned closer to her.

"Live by the sword," he whispered in her ear, gradually increasing pressure on the blade, "Die by the sword." He shoved the blade into her just as Trunks slammed into him. He lost his grip on Takira but not the sword, and the blade slid upward, passing close beneath her ribs. She uttered a strangled shriek and fell, jerking the weapon from Denatu's grasp. She hit the ground with a painful thud, clawing desperately at the wound, pulling the sword out amid choking cries of agony. With shaking, blood-slick hands she pressed on the wound, trying to slow the bleeding.

The action above froze momentarily as Denatu and Trunks stared down at the fallen fighter. Denatu chuckled and grinned evilly at Trunks.

"Well, I suppose I should thank you. The way I had it planned, she would have died quickly. This is far more entertaining, I must say."

Trunks gave no indication that he'd even heard; he was still staring, horror-struck, at Takira. His breathing went shallow as he glanced at Gohan, then Goten, and finally the still-laughing Denatu. Trunks clenched his jaw as his body began to shake. The golden aura rushed around him, flickering with bolts of light. Denatu moved back a little as Trunks began to glow. He seemed to be curling in on himself, muscles bunching and tightening, until he straightened with a monstrous shriek, the ki exploding around him, sending Denatu hurtling away. Gohan turned away from the blast, shielding his eyes. When he looked back, Trunks was perfectly still, his aura swirling around him, laced with jagged streaks of electricity.

"Level Two," Gohan gasped. "I hope he can handle it--" Denatu had meanwhile recovered, and gave Trunks a look of contempt.

"Cute trick. If you're done with your little light show, perhaps we can get on with it?" For a long moment Trunks merely stared at him, then in the blink of an eye, he smiled and vanished.

*****

Azher grunted, panting, as his drew himself painfully to his feet. He'd given up kicking the door and had been trying to build up his energy to the point that he could stand. That shape-shifter, whoever he was, had done quite a number on him. Azher winced as he tugged gingerly at the rag he'd wrapped around his tail. His attacker had taken a bite out of it, though Azher couldn't remember. He must have been unconscious by that point, and in a way he was glad of it.

Pain throbbed from every inch of his body as he staggered to the door, testing the keypad though he knew it would be jammed. His assailant had probably smashed the keypad on the other side, damaging the opening mechanism. Taking several deep breaths, Azher gathered his energy and slammed into the door, leaving a deep dent. Snarling, he threw himself at it again. On his fourth try he suddenly broke through, sprawling onto the floor outside. Struggling to focus his reeling mind, he dragged himself to his feet again, making his way to the transport bay where the airspeeders were kept. They were slower than flying, but he lacked the energy to fly. Collapsing into the nearest one, he took off, aiming for the enormous ki he felt in the distance. He didn't know who that shape-shifter was or what he had planned, but Azher was certain it wasn't good.

*****

They'd been making good time, when Azher halted in midair. Confused, Dolmit veered and returned. Azher had his arms folded, eyes closed, a pensive frown on his face. He looked up as Dolmit approached him.

"Azher, what's the matter? You said you knew where this ship was."

"I do," he sighed, unfolding his arms, "and I must thank you for reminding me of it. It will be far more suitable for the journey ahead--"

"Journey? We're just going back to Geo," Dolmit interrupted.

"--but," Azher finished, "it is a journey I will need to make--alone." Dolmit pulled back, puzzled and suddenly on the defensive.

"Azher, what the hell are you--" He trailed off, eyes widening as the realization struck him, swiftly followed by a ki blast from Cordec.

Cordec took one last look at the limp figure on the ground below, then continued on his way, hoping he wouldn't run into any more of those. He had no quarrel with the Roc; he wasn't here to kill them. He was here to collect some valuables for barter, and to leave. He was halfway done already; self-consciously he checked the three small sacks he'd attached to his belt. Now all he needed was a ship.

He resumed his normal appearance as he flew, sighing in relief. Roc were so damned bulky, he didn't know how they could stand it. He saw the sky ahead of him glowing, and slowed down a bit; better to be cautious and avoid getting drawn into battle. He had a feeling that once he entered the fight, he wouldn't leave.

*****

'I hear her calling. That in itself is disturbing. She's badly wounded, crying out for help for the first time in her life--I can't understand it, but there's no time for questions now. She can't hear me through the pain; she doesn't know I'm coming. She has no reason to think that I'll answer her call--kami knows I haven't before. I didn't know--

'They'll try to punish me for this. I say let them try. They know by now that I act on my own agenda. I just hope I don't have to bring her back.'