TRIGGER HAPPY ------------- Authors: Adam and Josh Baker 4/29/01 Finished: 7/11/01 E-mail address: evaunit@pacbell.net Homepage: http://csd.varlew.net Scene: Temporal subspace. Chrono, Marle, Lucca, and Magus are seated in the Epoch, which is smoking and badly damaged. The left wing is almost completely off and the right wing is on fire. Chrono is having difficulty keeping the Epoch steady while Lucca is frantically trying to remedy the situation. Magus sits quiet, his arms folded, his face steady and calm. Marle is crying her eyes out, in complete and utter distress. Lucca: *Yelling over the deafening noise of subspace* I don't understand! Space-time is completely out of sync! I can't even get a pinpoint on where we are right now, and if we don't do something soon we'll be in even more trouble than we already are! Chrono: *Grits his teeth and tightens his grip on the wheel* Magus: I told you this wouldn't work.. Marle: We're gonna die! Why did I ever agree to this, Lucca?! Tell me why!! Lucca: *Pushing buttons on the Epoch's console* There's no time for that now, we have to -- Lucca's words are drowned out as a horrible screeching sound fills the air and a large distortion of time and space opens in front of the Epoch. The blue, circular swirls of the distortion draw the Epoch into it. Magus: I told you this wouldn't -- Lucca: Shut up and brace yourselves! As the Epoch is pulled into the distortion, it closes behind them in a blinding flash. * * * * * * * It is a sunny weekend afternoon. Gohan sits on the floor in his room, playing a video game while Chi-Chi prepares lunch in the kitchen. Gohan (with a confused look on his face): What?! The panther is his father? I just don't get this... Chi-Chi (from the kitchen): Gohaaan, are you done studying yet? Gohan (turning off the TV): Just about! Gohan walks to his window and stares lazily out at the countryside. Gohan: Boy, what a boring day... Gohan notices a circular blue object in the sky. He doesn't take much notice of it until it begins to grow. As he looks closer at it, a large, heavily damaged flying machine shoots out of it and plunges into a nearby lake. Gohan: Uh-oh! Mom, I'll be right back! Chi-Chi: Gohan, what are you - Gohan is out of the house before Chi-Chi can finish her sentence. He arrives at the crash site to see four haggard looking individuals crawling onto the shore. Gohan: Are you guys ok? Marle (coughing up water): Wh...where....are we? Gohan: That's not important, what happened? Lucca: We're not sure ourselves...Though we could use a hand with the Epoch here...I'm gonna need plenty of time to fix that sucker...Where's Belthasar when you need him.. Gohan: Oh, your airship? No problem. Gohan jumps into the lake and lifts the Epoch out of the water. He carries it over to Lucca, who is reeling with amazement. Lucca (nervously): Um..okay...thanks? Is there a place we might be able to stay while we're stuck...wherever it is we are? Gohan: Sure! You can stay at my house. We'll just have to watch out for my mom. Marle: Well, we wouldn't want to impose, right Chrono? ...Chrono?? Marle looks around and finds that Chrono is already following Gohan and the others toward the house. * * * * * * * Chi-Chi serves lunch to everybody at the table, which includes Gohan, Goku, Piccolo, Vegetta, Bulma, Krillin, Trunks, Chrono, Marle, Lucca, and Magus. Goku, Gohan, and Chrono all dig in voraciously, slopping up their food. Piccolo narrows his eyes at his food while Vegetta gingerly picks at it with his fork. Bulma (looking at Vegetta): Oh, stop picking at your food and eat already, will you? You're a guest here, be gracious and show some respect! Vegetta reluctantly takes a mouthful of the food. Magus smirks at Vegetta and imitates a whip crack. Vegetta scowls, but remains silent. Chi-Chi (breaking the tension): So Chrono, exactly where did you all come from? Chrono opens his mouth to speak but is cut off by Marle. Marle (to Chrono): Chrono! It's not polite to speak with your mouth full! (to Chi-Chi): Well, I think it would be best if Lucca explained that. Krillin: Oooh boy, I feel a flashback comin on.... Lucca (clearing her throat): Well, you see... I was conducting an experiment.... Krillin: Ah, ah, told ya... * * * * * * * Chrono, Marle, Lucca, and Magus are at the End of Time, speaking to Gaspar. Gaspar: I see no reason why it shouldn't work. You've conducted enough research on this matter, I trust your theories are correct. Lucca: See, I knew you'd believe me! Time travel with four people, if done correctly, is possible without breaking the Conservation of Time Theory. And even if it isn't possible, we'll just be sent back here again anyway, because it's the point of least resistance. I even modified the Epoch to seat four people for this experiment. Of course, Chrono will be driving so he'll be in front, and I'll sit behind him, to the right. Marle: I want a window seat too! Magus: Son of a.... Lucca: Well there you are then, let's get going! Chrono and company hop into their respective seats in the Epoch. Gaspar tips his hat at them as they take off. Lucca: Ok then, let's just go somewhere in the future. It doesn't really matter when. The point of this experiment is to see if it's possible at all. Magus: This isn't going to work. Lucca: Of course it will, I'm a genius, aren't I? Marle (pointing out the window:) Hey, shouldn't we be there by now? It never takes this long... Lucca (looking at her calculations): You're right, something's strange here... Suddenly the ship is rocked by unbelievable turbulence, almost severing the left wing. The right wing, under great pressure, bursts into flames. Marle explodes into tears. Lucca: *Yelling over the deafening noise of subspace* I don't understand! Space-time is completely out of sync! I can't even get a pinpoint on where we are right now, and if we don't do something soon we'll be in even more trouble than we already are! Chrono: *Grits his teeth and tightens his grip on the wheel* Magus: I told you this wouldn't work.. Marle: We're gonna die! Why did I ever agree to this, Lucca?! Tell me why!! Lucca: *Pushing buttons on the Epoch's console* There's no time for that now, we have to -- Lucca's words are drowned out as a horrible screeching sound fills the air and a large distortion of time and space opens in front of the Epoch. The blue, circular swirls of the distortion draw the Epoch into it. Magus: I told you this wouldn't -- Lucca: Shut up and brace yourselves! As the Epoch is pulled into the distortion, it closes behind them in a blinding flash. * * * * * * * Lucca: And that's pretty much what happened. The room is silent for a moment. Bulma (speaking up:) Y' know, my father knows more about this stuff than I do. How about we go and ask him what happened to you guys? We should even be able to help you repair the Epoch. Chi-Chi: Not tonight, you're not. It's late, and I'm sure our guests are tired. You can stay here for the night and take care of your business later. Krillin: "For the night"?! We were just eating lunch! How is it late at night all of the sudden? Everybody looks out the window and finds that it is indeed nighttime. Krillin: That was one doozy of a flashback. Lucca: Don't look at me... [Editor's note: Oops :P] Chi-Chi: Ok, people, get to bed like good responsible people. Chrono follows Gohan into his room, while Vegetta and Trunks take another. Lucca, Marle, and Bulma take respective couches, while Krillin sleeps on the floor. Krillin (grumbling to himself:) I swear, I just don't get any respect... Magus and Piccolo exchange stares and look across the hall into a room with a single bunk bed. Magus: Looks like it's just you and me, Cucumber. Piccolo: It's Piccolo. Magus: Right. Piccolo (raising his pointer:) Top bunk! Magus: Son of a... * * * * * * * The following morning: Chi-Chi (cheerfully:) Rise and shine, everyone, we have a long day ahead of us! Goku (from the other room:) Can't we sleep in a little longer? Chi-Chi (suddenly agitated:) I SAID RISE AND SHINE!!! Within two seconds, nearly everybody is in the living room, but they all look groggy, as if they had little or no sleep during the night. Krillin: My back...ugh...I'm more used to laying on my stomach... Bulma emerges into the living room, hauling a large mechanical device that looks like a small cavity for three people to stand in. Bulma: This should do the trick. Five seconds in this baby and we'll have all our energy back. I should really think of a name for it someday. "Ener..." something-or-other. I don't know. Well, hop in! Everybody takes turns in the machine, three at a time. Piccolo: Hmm...very refreshing.... Vegetta: I must say, it's not as far-fetched as I originally thought it to be. Vegetta's stomach grumbles. Vegetta (hanging his head:) But I'm still hungry... Lucca: Well at any rate, we're off. Gohan, Bulma, let's go! Magus (slowly walking into the living room and rubbing his back:) Feh... Bottom bunk, my ass... Goku (to Magus:) Hey Magus, you up for some sparring in the front yard? Magus (looking at Piccolo and grinning darkly:) Sure. One-on-one with Cucumber here would suit me fine. Piccolo (slightly annoyed:) It's Piccolo. Magus: Sure. Goku: Ok then, in that case, how about you two join me, Chrono, Trunks, Vegetta, and Krillin outside? As they all exit, Chi-Chi grabs Krillin by the arm. Chi-Chi: Krillin, you stay with me. I need you to help me make lunch for the boys. Krillin (incredulously, flailing his arms:) "Lunch"?! Why are we making lunch, it's 7:30 in the MORNING! Chi-Chi gives Krillin the evil eye and quietly growls. Krillin (crumbling:) Yes'm... * * * * * * * Outside in the front yard, the group plans to pair off to begin the sparring sessions. Magus (looking around:) Where's the short, bald one? Vegetta: Hah! That simp? Who needs him! Goku: Oh, you mean Krillin? Uhh....I don't know. Oh well. Let's get started. Piccolo (to Magus:) Don't expect me to go easy on you because this is your first time. Magus smirks and tightens his gloves. Goku (to Piccolo:) Ok then, it's you and Magus, I guess. Who am I with? Chrono steps forward and grins. Goku: Ok then, how about Trunks and Vegetta pair off? Marle (walking up to Goku:) Well, who do I spar with then? Trunks (answering for Goku:) Um, you stand out of the way, we wouldn't want you to get hurt if we can help it. Marle sticks her tongue out at Trunks and walks off in a huff toward the sidelines. * * * * * * * Back in Goku's house, Krillin is alone making sandwiches while Chi-Chi looks out the kitchen window at the group outside. Chi-Chi (with distaste:) Hmph...men.... * * * * * * * Now paired off, each group begins to spar. The most intense fight is between Piccolo and Magus, who seem to be genuinely fighting. Piccolo: Are you ready, stranger? Magus (grinning:) You bet, Cucumber. Piccolo: It's Piccolo! Magus: Of course. Piccolo rushes forward but is forced to pull back at the last minute as Magus's scythe whizzes past his neck. Magus is too quick to be hit by Piccolo's blows, but Piccolo is clearly on the offensive. Magus jumps back ten feet and points to Piccolo while chanting odd phrases. A large black hole appears beneath Piccolo. Piccolo (too confused to move:) What is this? Some sort of illusion? Magus doesn't move, his concentration peaked. The black hole abruptly closes without harming Piccolo at all. Magus opens his eyes and sees Piccolo still standing in front of him. Magus (scowling:) Damn! Piccolo charges forward. * * * * * * * Meanwhile, Chrono and Goku stand in front of each other, ready to begin sparring. Chrono unsheathes his Rainbow Sword and stands in his fighting position. Goku (slightly laughing:) I hope you don't think that sword will help you much. I've been up against swords bigger than you with little or no trouble. Chrono blinks and abruptly rises into the air, his arms above his head. Goku (nervously:) Um...what are you- Goku is cut off by a large, blinding dome of light that encloses him and a large portion of the front yard. White hot heat emanates from the light, burning his clothes. As the dome begins to fade away, Chrono slowly floats to the ground and is shocked to see Goku still standing, his clothes singed and smoking. Goku (grinning cheerfully:) Ow! Chrono's jaw drops to the floor and he shakes his head to check if what he's seeing is real. His spiky red hair flops from side to side. Goku (putting out his clothes:) Heeey, you've got the same hair cut as me! Where do you get it done? Chrono opens his mouth to speak but is cut off by Marle. Marle (pointing to the sky:) Hey, what's that?! Everybody looks up to see a flaming Capsule Corp. vehicle crashing into the same lake that the Epoch did the previous day. The group runs to the lake to investigate. * * * * * * At the lake, a very wet and flustered Lucca climbs to the shore. Lucca: Others...stayed behind...fix Epoch...I found out... Marle: Just take your time, Lucca. Lucca (taking a deep breath:) While Bulma and her father began their work on repairing the Epoch's body structure, I did a little research on what caused us to be sent here in the first place. By hooking up the Epoch's computer system to the Capsule Corp. system, I was able to go over the information logged during our...accident. As it turns out, the distortion that drew us here wasn't a natural distortion at all - although my research questions whether any distortion, in subspace or not can be natural, but anyway - but rather an irregular time gate that had not been closed completely. We unknowingly flew straight into the force that drew us into the time gate. My next question was why the time gate had such a large magnitude of force associated with it, and what it was doing there in the first place if it was as irregular as it was. I found out that this irregular time gate, rather than the End of Time, established itself as the "point of least resistance", thus sending the four of us here. On top of that, I was able to find an energy signature similar to that of the time gate at this marked geographical location. Lucca hands a printed data sheet to Chrono, who looks at it, shrugs, and hands it to Goku. Goku looks at it upside down, nervously rubs his neck, and hands it back to Lucca. Lucca: Unfortunately, there's still no way of knowing whether or not my experiment regarding the Conservation of Time Theory was successful because of the interference caused by the time gate. I suggest we check out that energy signature, because as far as I can tell, we won't be able to get home as long as that time gate exists because it makes this area the point of least resistance rather than the End of Time. Marle: You mean we're stuck here unless we can get rid of this irregular time gate? Lucca: Pretty much... There is a long period of silence. Goku: Well, I'm sorry I didn't understand much of what you said, but if it's help you need, I'm sure we can all lend you a hand! Trunks (thoughtfully:) The Conservation of Time Theory...Isn't that the theory that states "When four or more beings enter a time portal, they are sent to the point of least resistance"? I remember learning about that in school... Lucca: Yes, basically. I've been trying for a while to overcome that limitation. At any rate, we all need to go to the location I've mapped out and figure out what's wrong. The group sets out towards the vast plain, unsure of what lies in wait for them. * * * * * * Back in Goku's house... Chi-Chi (looking out the window:) Would you look at those guys... What in the world are they doing now?? Krillin (taking off his apron:) I don't know, but it looks important... I should go with them! See ya later, Chi-Chi! Krillin ducks the dinner plate Chi-Chi throws at his head and flies out the open window to join the rest of the group. Chi-Chi: That's it...He's sleeping outside from now on... * * * * * * The group arrives at the entrance of a mountainous valley where the green grass gives way to desolate landscape. Towering rock structures, craggy and imposing, surround the valley. At the end of the valley opposite of the heroes is a small figure that is difficult to make out. Lucca: Looks like that's it. Let's hurry! Lucca and company sprint towards the figure, then stop when they realize exactly what the figure is. Sitting cross-legged is a homely looking man of average build, maybe slightly overweight. In front of him is a picnic cloth with a large pile of sandwiches laid out before him. The man happily munches on a double-decker bologna sandwich. Vegetta (disgusted:) Bologna?! REPULSIVE!! Trunks: And for dinner, no less... Krillin (jumping up and down:) "Dinner"?! Why would he be eating dinner, it's one thirty in the AFTERNOON!! Lucca: Well, this is the location all right, but I don't see anything out of the ordinary. (to the man:) Excuse me, sir? Man (his mouth full, spraying food as he speaks:) Oomp! Just a sec! The group deflects flying bits of food as they wait for the man to chew and swallow. Man: Greetings, my name is Hoagie. What can I do for you? Vegetta (interrupting Lucca:) Well, *with disgust* "Hoagie", don't you have anything better to do than sit around and eat sandwiches all day like a gluttonous pig? You make me sick! Get out of our way, you bulbous slob! Hoagie: How dare you insult me when you don't know what I've been through! Wait... If I'm not mistaken, you're a saiyan! (looking at Goku and Trunks) And you! And you! It's all your fault that I'm the way I am! Marle: What in the world are you taking about? Hoagie: Back when I was but a young lad, I wasn't as smart or as strong as my peers, and they constantly mocked me about it. I tried to no avail to reach the levels they had reached. I spent years developing my muscles and my brain, but I still lacked the qualities needed to surpass my peers. Crestfallen, I finally asked them what I could do to reach their levels of power. They laughed at me, but one took me aside and told me his personal secret was to eat nothing but bologna sandwiches. I took this advice to heart and since then I've developed an addiction to these blasted sandwiches. Try as I might, I can't stop eating them. And it's all because of you saiyans! Lucca: But what does that have to do with this irregular time gate? Hoagie: I didn't say that the bologna didn't work. Eating so much lunch meat over these years has given me the ability to manipulate time! I can open up a portal to another time at my whim! Lucca: So it's YOUR actions that caused this time gate and made it the "point of least resistance"! It's your fault we're stuck here! Hoagie: .....come again? Magus: I see...Your manipulation of time must have created unstable time rifts in subspace which act as records of where you've been. We got drawn here because of you. Hoagie: ....Regardless! Now seems like the best time to carry out my plan of destroying the earth. I can finally outdo my peers, and as an added bonus, destroy a few saiyans as well! Goku: But aren't you a saiyan too? Hoagie: Uh...Regardless! I'll show my peers AND you guys my true powers! Hoagie initiates his powering up sequence, which consists of standing in place and screaming at the top of his lungs. Yellow lightning flares around his body, which seems to be growing ever larger and more muscled. Trunks (putting on a saiyan scouter:) Amazing! His power level is at 2,481,582,591,298! And a half! Krillin (laying on his stomach:) Well guys, I'm ready when you are! Hoagie (his voice now 3 octaves higher:) I will crush you like the monkeys you are! Marle (looking up at Hoagie:) Hey, wait a minute, you can't fool me! Your muscles didn't get any bigger, your head just got smaller! Gasps all around. Hoagie: ....Regardless! I still have enough raw power to destroy you and blow up this puny little planet! Magus (growing impatient:) Enough of this! Magus draws his scythe. There is a strong gust of wind and suddenly Magus is on his rear end, with a white "352" by his feet. Trunks (pointing to the number:) What's that? Magus (sweeping the number under his cape:) Uh...nothing... Vegetta (glowering:) I've had just about enough of your drivel! I'm going to - Vegetta is instantly face down in a smoldering crater beside Magus. Hoagie, with evil glee, shoots a blast of energy into a large mountain range, reducing it to a smoking rubble. Marle: Ooooh, that was such beautiful landscape! Krillin (from the floor:) Ah, don't worry...mountains grow like weeds out here. Ya see? Marle looks back where the mountain range was and finds an even larger one in its place. Marle: Well I'll be... Goku (distressed:) Oh man...he's so fast I can't even track his movements!! Hoagie (joyfully:) Fools! That was but one seventh of my true power! Magus: Then how can we expect to beat him? Piccolo: I don't know. But if we have to go down, we're going to go down fighting! Piccolo flies towards Hoagie, and Vegetta follows closely behind. Before they even reach Hoagie, he disappears, and reappears behind the two, slamming them head first into the ground with an unbelievable force. Goku (looking on:) That force was unbelievable! Hoagie: Fools! That was but one twenty third of my true power! Trunks (shaking his head:) Wait, wait, hold up....How was that attack a smaller fraction of your power than your first attack, when this attack was stronger? Hoagie: ....Regardless! I still have enough power to wipe you all out of existence! Marle (looking at Chrono:) Chrono, we've got to do something! We need to help! Chrono nods and unsheathes his sword. Marle chants an incantation and begins to rise in the air. Blue icicles circle her for a few seconds and then surround Chrono's sword. Chrono dashes over to Hoagie and jumps in the air, aiming his sword down at him. On contact, Hoagie is encased in ice and Chrono repeatedly encircles him, slashing as he goes. With a final slash, the ice is split in half and fades away. Hoagie remains standing, a grin on his face. In the blink of an eye, Chrono and Marle are hurtled through the air, with a white "723" and "827" trailing behind them. Magus steps forward and engages in a series of gestures and chants, then points to Hoagie. Screaming "Dark Mist!!", Magus releases a wave of black, evil energy towards Hoagie. Hoagie smirks and opens a time gate, draws the mist into it, and closes the gate. Hoagie (grinning darkly:) How quaint! There is a blinding flash of light and everybody is blown to the ground beside Krillin. Krillin: What's up, guys? Piccolo (to Chrono:) This looks hopeless. Do you have any more ideas? Chrono opens his mouth to speak but is cut off by Marle. Marle (pointing to the sky:) Hey look, it's the Epoch! The Epoch arrives in the valley and makes a shaky landing. It appears that Bulma and her father have done a very good job with its repair. Bulma and Gohan hop out of the cockpit. Bulma: Hey guys, I've got something to - Oh, I'm sorry, is this a bad time? Goku (getting up from the ground, to Hoagie:) Hey, uh, do you mind giving us a couple minutes here? Hoagie (suddenly civil:) Oh, sure, not at all. Hoagie sits down and pulls a sandwich out of his pocket. He hums quietly to himself and eats while Bulma relates her message to everybody, making sure she is out of Hoagie's earshot. Bulma: I've been doing more research on the energy source that Lucca discovered and I found out that the source of the energy isn't some sort of inanimate object. It's actually from a living individual. The energy patterns matched not only those of the time gate, but those of a saiyan as well. Hoagie innocently looks at Bulma and cheerfully smiles. Piccolo: Yes, we've figured out that much... Bulma: What I can't figure out is how that individual is able to manipulate time... Lucca: Well, what's more important is that he's way too fast for us, mostly because of his ability to bend time to his whim. Trunks: Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't subspace basically just the medium in which one travels from one point to another? Lucca: Yes, essentially, although it's tangible enough to actually exist in for long periods of time. It's a pretty unstable environment, but it's mostly just like standing in a pitch black room with no apparent walls or ceiling. Trunks: So basically, subspace exists outside of the normal boundaries of time, correct? Magus: I think I see where you're going with this. If we can somehow get our friend into subspace with us, he won't be able to manipulate time because time basically doesn't exist there. But how would we keep him from just opening another gate and leaving? Trunks: Well, since he wouldn't have opened that first gate that led him into subspace, he would have no control over gates that would let him leave subspace. We would determine any exiting gates because we would have triggered the opening of the entrance. Bulma: That's all fine and good, but how are we going to open a gate in the first place? Lucca (grinning:) You leave that to me... Hoagie (finishing his sandwich and looking at his watch:) Hey, are you guys ready yet? I don't have all day, you know! Lucca (grinning at Hoagie:) Oh, we're ready, all right... Lucca sprints over to the Epoch, jumps into the cockpit, and rapidly pushes buttons on its console. A large distortion of time and space opens in front of Hoagie, who jumps back in surprise. Lucca (shouting to the others:) Alright, everybody inside, now!! Everybody runs past Hoagie and into the time gate. Lucca hops out of the Epoch and is the last one to enter the gate. Hoagie (haughty:) Heh, as if I'd be foolish enough to follow you all in! What do you expect to do? Marle runs out of the time gate and looks at Hoagie. She twirls around in a circle, giggles to herself, and mockingly pats her rear end in Hoagie's direction before running back into the time gate. Hoagie (disgusted:) Such insolence! This is unforgivable! Hoagie pursues Marle into the time gate. * * * * * * Everybody, including Hoagie, stands in subspace. A loud howling sound of unknown origin reverberates throughout the void. Lucca (yelling over the din:) Okay, let's see what we can do in here! Gohan: Are you guys sure you want to go through with this? You all look awfully weak.. Krillin (pulling out a bag of Senzu Beans:) Lucky I have these things! I've only got four left, so you guys should take them. Krillin hands Chrono, Magus, Marle, and Lucca a Senzu Bean each. They cautiously chew on the bean, then smile as they feel their energy restored. Lucca (to Krillin:) Thanks a lot! Here, take this in return. Lucca hands a flask of glowing liquid to Goku. Vegetta (slightly annoyed:) Only one?! And why Kakarot? Lucca (smiling:) You'll see.. Goku fearlessly chugs the liquid down. Goku, Krillin, Trunks, Piccolo, and Vegetta all suddenly spin a full 360 degrees on their feet. Piccolo (stunned:) What was that?! Trunks: I don't know, but I feel like I'm at full power again! Goku (turning to Hoagie:) Now it's my turn... Hoagie: Oh, really? What do you think - Before Hoagie can react, Goku appears in front of him and lands a mighty uppercut to his chin, sending him flying 50 feet backwards. Hoagie (getting up:) Why you... Goku and Hoagie engage in a fierce battle, which seemingly consists of a total of three different punches repeated at lightning speed. After a while, Goku backs off. Goku (to everybody:) I can track his movements now, but he's still too strong for me to handle on my own. Come on, everybody! Magus (looking at Piccolo and grinning:) You ready....Piccolo? Piccolo (smirking:) Indeed. Piccolo and Magus lead the rush of heroes to aid Goku in his battle. Bulma and Krillin stay by the wayside, watching the fight. Bulma (to Krillin:) You don't have to do that, you know. You're not even fighting anyway. Krillin (from the floor:) Yeah, I know. Hours later, Hoagie lays on the ground in a bloody heap, panting and exhausted. Twenty feet away stand the heroes, on the verge of victory. Goku (to Hoagie:) It doesn't have to be this way! Just fix what you need to for our friends to get home and leave here forever! Hoagie (feebly:) Never... Goku (resigned:) Then this ends right now... In a flash, Goku's hair becomes longer and turns bright gold. His muscles bulge and his eyes turn pale blue. A yellow aura surrounds Goku, fluctuating with his movements. Goku takes a step forward, but abruptly stops and turns to Chrono. Goku (smiling:) This is your fight. Chrono nods and draws his sword. Goku places his hand on Chrono's shoulder, spreading the yellow glow over Chrono. The aura eventually focuses itself on Chrono's Rainbow Sword, making it resonate with power. Chrono turns to Hoagie and sprints toward him at full speed. With one slice, Chrono separates Hoagie into two halves, which promptly dissolve into a brown paste. Marle: Is it over? Trunks: Looks like... Vegetta: What a loser! He wasn't nearly as strong as his blasted fractions implied! Suddenly the ground rumbles and a strong gale picks up. Flashes of what seem to be lightning appear in the sky overhead. Gohan (yelling:): What's going on?! Lucca (at the top of her lungs:) Now that Hoagie's influence has been removed from subspace, the irregular time gate he created has disappeared! Subspace is attempting to realign itself to its original state! We need to get out of here as soon as possible, there's no telling what could happen to us if we - Lucca panics as she notices that the gate opened by the Epoch begins to shrink. Lucca (to everybody:) We don't have much time! The gate is closing! The group races to reach the gate in time, but it closes long before they can get there. Magus: Crap.... Fade to white. * * * * * * Everybody awakes on a white sandy beach with coral on the shore. Krillin (on his back:) Oh man, what happened? Where are we? There is a rustling sound from the edge of the beach. Everybody looks up nervously as a young man and young woman emerge from a part of the beach. The young man is wearing blue shorts and a red bandana, and holds a fearsome looking two handed weapon. Next to him stands a young blonde woman with a pony tail wearing short red shorts and a small white shirt. Young Woman: Oi, mates! Are ya guys lost or somethin'? Are ya all alright? Bulma: Where exactly are we? The young man opens his mouth to speak but is cut off by the young woman. Young Woman: What should be more important to ya is where yer goin'. We've got a boat ya can all hitch a ride in, if ya want. Marle: That would be great, thanks a lot! Piccolo (raising his pointer:) No bitch! Magus: Son of a... END