SIXTEEN

The deafening sound of a gunshot makes the officers load their guns and another shot is fired past Officer Kosuke's head. In an instant, Thermo catches the other bullet before it reaches them. He quickly puts Miu behind him protectively and drops the now crushed bullets. Someone shouts open fire and another person forces officer Kosuke to the ground out of the gun fire. Matsuda had tackled Officer Kosuke to the ground to save him. As the gun continued to fire away, Thermo made a ki barrier to protect them and Miu was thoroughly confused and frightened.

Officer Kosuke and Matsuda rush into the crowd of police to make them stop firing to no avail until officer Kosuke reached the commander in the middle and snatched his megaphone.

OFFICER KOSUKE

"ALL UNITS, CEASE FIRE RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!!"

No one listens as the attack continues. Officer Kosuke and Matsuda shove through the crowd and stop the gunfire. With the destruction getting more chaotic from their intervention, Thermo takes the opportunity to grab Miu and jump into the air, causing her to scream in panic.

On the other side of Mozu Plaza, Plutos and Alto were looking everywhere for Miu when they heard her scream.

PLUTOS

"Miu!!?"

ALTO

"Was that her?"

PLUTOS

"Come on!"

Plutos grabs Alto and they fly off in the direction of the scream. It doesn't take them long to reach the cluster of police officers getting knocked around and fighting Officer Kosuke and Matsuda as if the unit was possessed. Plutos dives down and powers up then explodes with a wave of energy strong enough to scatter the crowd into the street in order to find Miu.

MIU

"PLUTOS!!"

Plutos looks around the street before his eyes travel up a building to find her secured in Thermo's arms as he stood on the rooftop with her. Matsuda stands from the crowd and sees Plutos and follows his gaze to see Miu and Thermo. To him, Thermo seemed like an enemy trying to take her.

PLUTOS

"Th-Thermo!?"

ALTO

"Plutos! Who is that!? An enemy!?"

PLUTOS

"N-no! Brother!! What are you doing!?"

Plutos flies after them.

THERMO

"They tried to kill her."

PLUTOS

"What…?? Miu are you alright?"

MIU

"I uh… ugh…"

Miu struggles to hold back her tears and Plutos stiffens up, not knowing what to do. Thermo starts patting her head and confuses Plutos, but at least she's calming down. Matsuda watches them from where he stood confused and irritated that he couldn't be up there with them. His energy escapes him from thinking he can't help her from where he is. The officers around him start to wake up and panic from seeing the heat waves around him and they back off before pointing their guns at him next. He wasn't paying attention when one fires at him and Officer Kosuke gets shot in his place. Miu screams as she watches it happen, making Plutos look and see them surrounded.

Matsuda watches his father slump forward and catches him before he hits the floor. Before any more shots are fired, Matsuda explodes with a cry of rage as his energy shakes the earth around him. His power grows so much that the road around him makes a crater that grows in size and forces the unit around him to run to escape the growing hole beneath him. Sparks start to fly, his hair blinks silver and his tear filled eyes blank out and turn red. The energy was so strong that his glasses shattered off his face. The energy explodes again and sends another shock wave out and sends the entire unit flying miles out. Only Alto, Plutos, Thermo and Miu were able to withstand the energy enough to not faint.

PLUTOS

"... we have to leave."

MIU

"What!? No but…!"

THERMO

"Lets meet with Hypo. He'll have a better means to handle this."

PLUTOS

"I'm sorry Miu, but this just got worse than it should have and we can't understand why. Such a pain in the ass. We're set back so far because of this."

MIU

"N-no! No! Please wait!"

Plutos and Thermo quickly leave with Miu as she cries to them to let her go to Matsuda to no avail.

Officer Kosuke taps Matsuda's face and starts speaking to him.

OFFICER KOSUKE

"... M-matsuda… c-c-calm down, son."

Officer Kosuke wraps one arm around Matsuda and holds him close as he repeatedly tells him he's okay. It takes a while for Matsuda to calm down and think clearly as he looks at Officer Kosuke with panic and loss in his eyes. His breathing starts to steady slowly as he wraps his arms around his father, still in tears as he mutters a call to his father.

OFFICER KOSUKE

"I'm okay, kid. I'm okay. I promise. I'll be fine. Think you can help your old man call for backup? I… can't seem to move my other arm, son."

MATSUDA

"Y-yeah… okay…"

Matsuda reaches for Officer Kosuke's coat pocket and pulls out a communication device to call the main troops. When someone shoots his hand before he could speak into it. Hurting his hand and sending it across the road and breaking the call button.

COMMANDER RODREY

"I don't think I can let you do that, boy. You made one hell of a mess in my part of town and I don't appreciate that one bit."

OFFICER KOSUKE

"You… What the hell are you doing?"

Matsuda looks around and sees some of the officers standing again and pointing their guns at them. Alto was struggling to fight off some of the officers that had tails. They were using their own energy to apprehend him to the ground.

COMMANDER RODREY

"Well I can't just go havin' troublemakers like your damn kids making a mess of my city now can I? You not only made a mess of the central plaza, but you let a suspect of crime escape the scene, and even assisted in their escape, Tadashi."

OFFICER KOSUKE

"Rodrey, you son of a bitch… The hell do you think you're trying to pull here?"

The commander raises his hand and signals the others that were able to stand to surround them.

COMMANDER RODREY

"I'm about to let the world know you've been housing a damn monster. And imma make sure that the lord knows the isles are ready for war. Put 'em away, boys."

The commander makes his way to his vehicle while the others try to force Matsuda and his father apart.

OFFICER KOSUKE

"GET OFF ME! LET GO!"

MATSUDA

"DAD!! NO!!"

OFFICER KOSUKE

"Matsuda!! Go after Miu!! Get Alto and get outta here!"

MATSUDA

"Dad! No, I can't just let them take you! This isn't fair!!"

OFFICER KOSUKE

"Get the hell out of here, boy! You gotta find Miu and make sure she's safe!"

COMMANDER RODREY

"I've been waiting a long time for this, Kosuke. You dumb shit."

OFFICER KOSUKE

"Go now!!"

Matsuda clutches his fists and grits his teeth as he lets his emotions take over and burst again, sending his captors off him and rushes off to grab Alto and run.

COMMANDER RODREY

"Go after them."

A few officers race off after them and make chase, quickly catching up to the boys without effort. Matsuda is the first to get tackled, forcing him to fight them back and go off in agitation. He fights back in rage as he picks up speed. Alto uses his flexible arms to dodge the attacks and stay above the street as he swings from the streetlights until he's kicked down and crashes into the street. The officer over him pulls out a baton ready to batter him when a knee is sent into his skull, sending the officer flying back into a few others and knocking them over. Officer Flute was now standing over his son, Alto, and without hesitation pulled his taser gun and shot it at the next few officers that attacked next.

While Matsuda was doing his best to control his power to fight off the other officers without losing himself again, Chief Moro save him the struggle and tears two of the officers off him and smashes their heads together before throwing them back across the street so hard that they crash land on the racing patroller Commander Rodrey was speeding off in. The patroller comes to a violent halt as he crashes at the end of the road into the next building.

CHIEF MORO

"I'll make sure that comes out of his last paycheck."

*****

Thermo and Plutos race through the sky with Miu now quietly panicking and praying for her friend's safety as she whimpers with guilt and sorrow. Plutos couldn't stand watching her cry the whole time.

PLUTOS

"Oh, come on. You don't really think they'll lose to such weaklings do you?"

MIU

"Why did this even happen?? I don't understand what happened? Why would they suddenly attack out of nowhere?"

PLUTOS

"...I don't know. Maybe they're the corrupted sort that think picking on the innocent is a funny way to waste time."

MIU

"Mmn~!!"

Miu's eyes grow wide with panic and frustration, making Plutos regret his words.

PLUTOS

"Well, once we figure out what their motives are, we can ruin them from the inside and stop them, right?"

MIU

"AND WHY COULDN'T WE DO THAT THEN?!"

PLUTOS

"UGH!!? About that…!"

THERMO

"And what do you suggest we do for that to happen? I'd be more than willing to turn back now. But what will that accomplish?"

Miu goes silent again with obvious frustration until she finally sighs and squeezes Thermo's shoulder.

MIU

"... thank you for your help…"

PLUTOS

"OH RIGHT! Thermo, This is my friend Miu. Miu, this is my little brother, Thermo."

THERMO

"I see…"

MIU

"N-nice to… wait. Your little brother??"

PLUTOS

"I know. I know. That's just how our genetics work… So, Thermo. A question?"

THERMO

"Hm?"

PLUTOS

"How did you know Miu was there? I don't think I ever told you what she looked like. Did you do your own research or something? Because I know for a fact you never looked through the papers before sending them to Lord Kai."

THERMO

"You're right, I didn't."

PLUTOS

"... then how did you know that was her?"

THERMO

"I didn't."

PLUTOS

"...."

THERMO

"...."

PLUTOS

"Will you kindly explain to me why you saved her then?"

THERMO

"I know her energy from when we were training."

PLUTOS

"... from training?? You mean when we were looking for living planets in the galaxy?"

THERMO

"Yes."

PLUTOS

"... that doesn't make any sense, you know."

MIU

"Um… what are two talking about??"

PLUTOS

"We and three others have been training for years improving our power to find a place to live in with a peaceful environment… Peaceful enough that is."

MIU

"So you sensed life on this planet?"

PLUTOS

"Yes. We can feel life from the entire galaxy and determine if it's safe enough to live in. Which is how we came to this planet."

MIU

"... but he said he knows my energy??"

PLUTOS

"He did… Thermo, what do you see now?"

THERMO

"Hypo is a few thousand miles from now with a cluster of fairly strong beings. One of which is following him."

PLUTOS

"... wait, you can pick him out of that mass of light south of here??"

THERMO

"It's how I found her."

Plutos flies in front of Thermo and forces them to stop.

PLUTOS

"So you're telling me you can see energy better than me and Hypo?? Is that what I'm hearing??"

THERMO

"What?? No… I don't think so."

PLUTOS

"You have no idea what you just said, do you?"

THERMO

"Did I say something wrong??"

PLUTOS

".... *sigh* I guess I'll ask Lord Kai about this later. Since you clearly don't even realize how much you've accomplished. I don't believe this…"

Plutos continues forward and Thermo follows after him confused.

They finally reach the southern city and land in a deserted area. Plutos looks around for a while before looking at Thermo.

PLUTOS

"Well, where is he?"

Thermo looks at Plutos for a while before looking ahead and shutting his eyes. He's quiet for a long while until his head tilts left and he opens his eyes again looking in that direction.

THERMO

"That way."

PLUTOS

"... well, lead the way then. And hand over my friend."

THERMO

"I'm fine like this."

PLUTOS

"She can walk, you fool. Put her down."

Thermo looks at Miu for a moment. She didn't look like she was paying them any mind anymore.

THERMO

"... oi."

MIU

"Hm? Huh??!"

PLUTOS

"... Miu, they'll be fine. The namekians called the main station to back them up. If there's someone to trust there, those slugs… uh… Flute and Alto, will have their unit take care of it. And I know the chief will make sure they're safe. They're his people after all."

MIU

"... yeah… you're right. But I'm still worried. Mr. Kosuke is a normal person. And Matsuda wasn't allowed to train his power…"

PLUTOS

"So you're aware of his power. That's good. No need for an explanation. Come down now. We need to find our big brother."

Miu looks at Thermo and he lets her down. Plutos wraps an arm around her waist and they fly through over the small buildings to find Hypo.

In the main district of the southern city, Hypo was on his comms device with Supreme Kai Talafan.

SK TALAFAN

"... I see. So there's more to this planet than anticipated."

HYPO

"So far. I've noticed that many of the residents here are runaway fugitives from this Central Mozu place. Ran out of their homes and made to live this way for a while. Though most of them have the strength to take over the entire city, they're not smart enough to, and have no will to serve themselves that way. As if they were trained to be pets and workdogs."

SK TALAFAN

"Oh… heavens."

HYPO

"What do you wish to do with them? For the record I WON'T be making some rehabilitation camp for them. That just won't happen and I refuse to waste my time to redirect their loyalty."

SK TALAFAN

"No. no. I won't do that to you. I know better than to trust any of you three with something this big. I can't have more tyrants on this planet."

HYPO

"Well, don't forget you trained us and already made the Red Patrollers masters of their own planet to cleanse."

SK TALAFAN

"I don't know how they are actually managing that planet so well."

HYPO

"You already know we don't care for such things, so stop worrying. Now tell me what to do with these broken fools. I got one stuck stalking me for who the hell knows why. Bastard won't tell me because he doesn't even know why."

SK TALAFAN

"Let him shadow you then. See what he can learn from you."

HYPO

"Urgh. really?"

SK TALAFAN

"Do you have a better idea? I could have you start a rebellion against-"

HYPO

"No! No, it's fine. It's fine. Hm?? Thermo?? Plutos?!"

SK TALAFAN

"I'll leave you to your work then."

HYPO

"Ah. Yes, of course, sir.

Hypo hangs up and looks in the direction his brothers were coming from, noticing a different energy signature from theirs. Hypo Flies up and waits for them to get in range of his sight, seeing Plutos holding Miu made him raise his brow at them with concern crossing his mind and twisting his expression in annoyance after.

Plutos smiles at Hypo only to get glared at making him feel like he was in trouble.

HYPO

"... Well? What did you do this time? I thought we set you up for school not too long ago. And who did you kidnap?"

PLUTOS

"What!? Excuse you!! I didn't do anything at all!! The stations are corrupt!"

HYPO

"That's nothing new, you dolt. This is why I told you to keep low and stay out of trouble. What are you doing, bring trouble to me this time?"

PLUTOS

"Excuse you. But this isn't even my fault!"

HYPO

"Yet you brought it here, and thus making you liable. Explain this instant."

Plutos explains the situation they are in with Miu's help, putting Hypo and even Thermo in a foul mood.

HYPO

"What in all of the nine galaxies is wrong with this planet!? First there's oppression of the original humans, now there's a corrupt system full of fucking tyrants!? We might as well take this place ourself and say fuck the system with this mess!"

PLUTOS

"Mind the readers, Brother. So what will we do now?"

HYPO

"Go back and get that saiyan family and teach them how to get stronger. They got involved in this mess because of you so you fix this mess with them."

PLUTOS

"I just got here!!"

HYPO

"Thermo, you can help me take care of the-"

THERMO

"I have my own problems, so I'll go instead. Plutos can help you manage the metahumans here."

HYPO

"Meta-what-now?"

THERMO

"I'll call them metahumans for now. They have as much power as a super saiyan as far as I can tell and that's just the tip of the iceberg."

Hypo looks at Thermo with much confusion before looking at Plutos and pointing at Hypo waiting for an answer.

PLUTOS

"He can see power levels better than we can. So much so that he can see the shape of a person amidst the chaos of colorful clouds we see."

HYPO

"... now that's just broken."

PLUTOS

"Let's go with his idea. Is that fine with you Miu?"

MIU

"... not like I have a choice."

HYPO

"Don't worry if they die, we can just figure out where those dragon balls are and see what Thermo's little namekian home can do."

THERMO

"That was my plan anyway. I'll be back."

HYPO

"Hey hold-"

Thermo leaves without hesitation and flies back to Mozu. Hypo groans in annoyance but lets it go with a huff before looking at Plutos and Miu.

HYPO

"Well, let's go. I have an empire to start constructing."

MIU

"Wait, a what-now??"

HYPO

"I plan on making these… 'metahumans', as Hypo has chosen to call them, into a civilisation of its own. I'm not just going to sit here looking at this detestable mess. And you and Plutos are going to help me do that while Thermo gets your friends and whatever else he needs."

PLUTOS

"Then I will start setting up some secur-"

HYPO

"You're going to help them clean out that tower of termites. It's your punishment for bringing your problems to me. What the hell even happened with school?? Did you think running over here would stop you from doing some actual homework??"

PLUTOS

"I DID NO SUCH THING!! WE WERE HAVING A NORMAL DAY SHOPPING WHEN THIS MESS STARTED AND YOU CAN BLAME THERMO FOR STARTING IT SINCE HE'S THE REASON WE HAD TO FLEE!!"

HYPO

"... well hopefully he's going there to take responsibility for that mess, then."

PLUTOS

"Thank you!! My god! It's always my fault for all this nonsense, I didn't even do anything to start with. All I did was exist for pity's sake."

HYPO

"Stop complaining, my god. I'm sorry, alright?"

Plutos huffs as he and Miu follow Hypo to the crowd of people.

In the city of Mozu, the namekian mutants and Burac were watching the chaos from the window of their new room, quivering and scared of what may have happened as soon as Thermo left them. Many days had passed since the incident in Mozu Central Plaza and the entire city was in a state of confusion.

BURAC

"Oh my gosh… What in the world just happened?? Did the police just open fire on civilians?!"

MUTANT1

"What's going on out there?"

MUTANT2

"I-is mister Thermo gonna be okay?"

BURAC

"F-for now, we'll need to keep you two out of trouble so just be patient. I'm sure he'll be back for us soon."

As soon as night falls, Burac puts the mutants to bed and goes to try to make a call when the front door opens to the room and scares him into screaming and dropping his phone.

BURAC

"wAAA!!? What! Uh!? M-M-Mister Thermo, sir!?"

THERMO

"When is the next meeting for your firm?"

BURAC

"EH!? I-it will be tomorrow morning, why!?"

THERMO

"Perfect. Make sure everyone one in charge gets a message."

Thermo holds out a bag and drops it on the ground, forcing it open to reveal the crystals inside. Burac stares at the riches before him in shock.

THERMO

"I better have a seat there by the time I get there. I'd like to have a word with them as the exclusive VIP."