Chapter 10

(Rest stop)

(Heero and company are flying through space)

Trowa: We're low on supplies. We'll have to stop at this next planet.

(They descend and dock on waterfront)

Ryo: We're going to need some money to pay the docking fees for our ship.

Heero: Well, I have ten dollars and three cents. What about you guys?

Ryo: I have thirty. What about you, Trowa?

Trowa: Someone dropped this screwdriver by the dock!

Ryo: Well that's all well and good, but we asked how much money you have.

Trowa: You guys have money? Can I see? I haven't seen any for a long time. Whose face is on it?

Ryo: This penny has a very sad looking Goku. This dollar has Frieza, and this ten has Zarbon. I haven't seen anything higher since the joining, so I don't know.

Heero: Don't worry about it. If we can't get enough money, we can always shoot our way out. We should focus on learning about Frieza's army and what they’re planning.

Trowa: We should also stay alert to any useful information about the Pokemon as well.

Dr. J: (Peeks out from behind Heero) Can I come too?

Heero: You’re supposed to be working on those shields. It’s the reason we’ve kept you with us instead of locking you in a mental institution.

Dr. J: But I want to have fun!

(Heero closes his eyes and cocks his pistol)

Dr. J: I'm going...

(Walks off)

Ryo: Let’s not forget to enjoy ourselves. After all, this planet is known for its perfect beaches, wild clubs, and beautiful women.

Heero: So what should we do?

Trowa: Let's hit the beaches for a while, then later tonight we can search a bar for info.

Ryo: Sounds good to me!

(Heero looks blankly ahead as they walk)

Heero: (Thinking) So here we are, fighting for peace again. Is this all in vain? Will true peace come of this, or will we waste countless lives just so history can repeat itself again?

(Ryo notices Heero’s troubled look)

Ryo: (Waves hand in Heero's face) Yo! Are you ok, Heero?

Heero: Yeah, just pondering the course I'm about to take.

Ryo: Which is?

Heero: I'm not sure.

(They walk onto the beach and laze around. Heero notices a familiar figure nearby)

Duo: (Talking to some guy) Hey, my friend! How's it going? Wha'cha doin'?

Man: Who are you and why are you talking to me?

Duo: You know me; I'm your old pal Duo! Hey, let's go for a swim, what do ya say?

Man: I'll give you five bucks to go away.

Duo: The standard fee is twenty.

Man: Fine! Take it! Just go away! (Gives Duo twenty bucks)

Duo: Hey thanks bud! See you tomorrow!

Man: No! Here's fifty! Stay away from me forever!

Duo: The standard fee for that is two thousand.

(Man screams and runs off)

Duo: Bye! See ya tomorrow!

(Duo notices Heero)

Duo: Wow, Heero and Trowa!!! How did you guys end up here?

Heero: Our planet and businesses were destroyed.

Duo: I'm sorry to hear that. My business is going great!

Heero: You mean your job at the scrap yard?

Duo: Nah, Hilde and I broke up and then she fired me. Now I bother people until they pay me to go away.

Heero: I see...well, it looks like you found your calling in life. So, uh, how's that been going?

Duo: Great! I've scared almost everyone off this planet, and I'm so rich I collect starfighters! I’m hoping to retire soon, though. It’s a dangerous job, because occasionally I find people who are more interesting in pounding the living daylights out of me than in giving me money. But at least I have plenty of life insurance! So...who's that with you?

Heero: His name is Ryo. He drove the truck that delivered most of my products. He used to be a mystical warrior, or something, but he won his battle and forgot how to summon his armor.

Duo: Gee, that's too bad. So listen Heero, maybe we can hang around for a while today, you know, catch up a little, discuss the good old days, that sort of thing. What do ya say?

Heero: (Cold stare)...

Duo: Oh right, I forgot you were immune to me. So what are you doing now?

Heero: ...Trowa, could you talk to him for a while? I need a break.

Trowa: Sure thing, Heero.

(Heero leaves and lays on a lounge chair)

Trowa: Now if you must know, Duo, we're going to join Frieza's army to help destroy the Pokemon. Right now we're just stopping for supplies.

Duo: Yeah, those Pokemon lovers are all over here. Say, do you still have your gundams?

Trowa: No.

Duo: Oh. (Whispers) Well, don’t go passing this around, but I rebuilt mine. Not that I have a use for it or anything; it’s just a comforting thing to have around for emergencies.

Trowa: Well, feel free to...uh...j...joi...j-join us.

Duo: Naw, I should stay and run my business. Someone has to keep this place from becoming over populated.

(Everyone let's out a sigh of relief)

Duo: Well, unless you're gonna pay me, I better get back to work.

Trowa: Please, feel free to leave.

Duo: Sure. Maybe I'll see you again sometime. See ya!

(Duo leaves and Heero walks back)

Heero: (Sigh) I forgot just how annoying he could be.

(They all go for a swim, have some fun, and get some supplies. Then they lie around. At about 7:00 P.M., scene opens with the three of them lying on their backs on an empty beach)

Heero: So Ryo, why do you fight?

Ryo: Well, when I was a Ronin Warrior I fought to save the entire mortal world because only I could.

Heero: You had it easy. When I was a gundam pilot, I was always pondering ‘why do people fight’, ‘is true peace possible’, and ‘who should I be fighting for’.

Ryo: Man. I just had one clear enemy: the one trying to enslave my planet. Did you ever find the answers?

Heero: I determined that in order to achieve peace the hearts of the people must hope for it, and that I should fight those who oppose peace.

Ryo: Hmm. That's pretty deep. How about you, Trowa?

Trowa: I fight to protect those I care for. Those who are close to me…

(Short silence)

Ryo: So what do you think of Frieza's government?

Trowa: I've heard a lot of rumors that he's a tyrant who takes whatever from whomever he pleases.

Heero: Yes, but we don't know if there's any truth to them. And even if there was, that's probably the best thing to do, considering the chaos caused by the joining.

Trowa: Yes. Frieza needs raw materials in order to establish a government, and with such little order in the universe, force is the best way to get what you need.

Heero: Right. We've just recently established a system of currency. As I see it, Frieza is giving rise to peace from a chaotic incident, and we must fight to protect what peace we have.

Ryo: Wow...you guys really think these things through, huh? I usually just do what I feel and fight for what seems right.

Heero: There's nothing wrong with that. It’s the only way to live a good life, really. But that's not the attitude of a soldier. That's more like the attitude of a samurai.

Ryo: But how can you be a soldier if you don't have a master?

Heero: When we join Frieza's army, I'll be a soldier again. But for now, I think I'll treat myself to your samurai's life.

Ryo: Hmm.

(They lie for a while longer, then head to a bar)

Ryo: This seems like a good place to look. Let's spread out and see what we can learn.

(They all order drinks and go their separate ways. Ryo notices someone very familiar)

Ryo: Mia! What are you doing here?

Mia: Ryo? Is that you? I thought you were a truck driver on Titania.

Ryo: Haven't you heard? The whole planet was destroyed by Pokemon. I'm a Ronin warrior again, out to destroy the Pokemon dynasty!

Mia: Really? Well I'm glad to hear you're keeping busy.

Ryo: So how are Yuli and the guys?

Mia: Yuli went back to his parents. I have no idea what happened to them when the universes collided. Sai is a nuclear physicist, Rowen works with NASA, Kento is a professional boxer, and Sage is a world-renowned philosopher, writer, and poet.

Ryo: (Murmurs) Bastards.

Mia: Well it's not their fault you ended up driving a truck.

Ryo: Yeah, it's your fault. You were going to help put me through collage!

Mia: Well you shouldn't have entrusted your entire future with me! You need to take responsibility for yourself! Besides, that was a long time ago. Let's just chat for a while.

Ryo: Long time?! It's only been five years!!!

(Duo walks out of the bathroom and sits next to Mia)

Duo: Drinks all around! (Flashes wad of money)

Crowd: Hurrah!!!

Ryo: Hey Duo, what are you doing here?

Duo: I just came here with my girlfriend. (Puts his arm around Mia)

(Ryo punches Duo across his face. He falls unconscious)

Mia: Ryo! You're such a brute! I hate you!

Ryo: But Mia!

(Heero comes up)

Heero: Ryo, I know Duo can be annoying, but punching him isn't the answer. Just pay him like everyone else. Or, you could come get me.

Ryo: He's dating my Ex.

Heero: Oh. Is that her? (Points to Mia, tending to Duo)

Ryo: Yeah.

Heero: Well, you should probably just forget you saw her. I don't think she wants to see you right now.

(Heero walks back to where he was and listens to a conversation between two teens in uniform)

Teen #1: I can't believe we actually made it into the Pokemon army!

Teen #2: Yeah, dude, this is so awesome! We're gonna totally thrash Frieza!

Teen #1: Yeah, Pokemon is totally invincible. It'll last forever!

(They walk up to Heero. Heero can smell the heavy alcohol on their breath)

Teen #1: Hey, you agree with us right? Frieza's evil reign is about to end!

Heero: If you say so.

Teen #1: Hey, what are you, some kind of Frieza lover? Hey everyone, we have a Frieza lover here. Let's get rid of this faggot!

(Heero stands up slowly, eyes closed, opens his eyes, and punches the man out. The other teen retaliates, but Heero flips him over his shoulder. Other kids in uniform come up to fight. Then, for no reason, everyone else begins to fight the person they're talking to. Heero turns a table on its side and backs against a wall to guard against flying glasses and stools. Trowa joins Heero, but Ryo stays in the open and has fun beating people into the ground and showing off his fighting skills to protect Mia and, yes, even Duo. A flying bottle hits a light and starts a fire on the roof. A flaming wooden beam immediately falls and lands on Heero's leg)

Heero: Ahh!!! (More in surprise than pain)

(Some drunken hic grabs a fire extinguisher and rams it into a wall at top speed. It explodes, killing the drunk, and filling the room with foam. This extinguishes the flames)

Trowa: Thank you dead, drunken man!

(A police siren sounds in background. Everyone runs, but Heero can't. Ryo and Trowa lift the beam, but Heero's leg is broken. They start to carry him out, but hear the police car park in front. They get ready to fight, but in walks Dr. J in a police uniform)

Dr. J: Hi, guys!

Heero: What are you doing out of your room…in a police uniform?

Dr. J: Well, I got bored, so I went out and got arrested. After incapacitating the policemen, I stole one of their uniforms and hijacked their car. When I heard the bartender's call for assistance over the radio, I figured it was you and decided to come have some fun!

Heero: ...Ok. We're locking you up when we get back. But for now, let's just get off this planet before the real police arrive.