EPISODE NINE - MYSTERY MAN Z REVEALED

The announcer steps up to the podium. "Ladies and gentlemen, the quarter final bouts are about to begin. Please take your seats.”

One of the monks running the tournament takes the podium. "Please call forth all remaining fighters.”

“All fighters to the arena.”

Mason walks onto the stage. Ochocinco approaches the stage. The fighter known as Mystery Man Z walks onto the stage, followed closely by Ceit Amiot the Changeling.

“Please unroll the scroll of the fighters who have participated up until now."

A scroll is unrolled with a list of names, some of whom are crossed off already.

"We will now ceremonially strike out the names of the fighters defeated in the last round of fighting."

Ryodo's name is crossed out.

"Ryodo was beaten by Mason Titanstalker."

"He was an honourable opponent."

Freiza's name is crossed out.

"Freiza was defeated by opponent Ceit Amiot."

Yokai Reizen's name is crossed off.

"Yokai was defeated by the Android Ochocinco."

"Hmm"

“Mystery Man Z was given a pass to this qualifying round. Mystery Man Z, you will be required to fight in the third round, is that understood?"

"Yes."

"WHO IS MYSTERY MAN Z!? WHO ARE YOU?!"

"Very well then, here is the roster of the round three quarterfinal matches."

A large scroll is unravelled as Chinese drums roll in the background. On it are the following names:

Android Ochocinco vs Mystery Man Z

Ceit Amiot vs Mason Titanstalker

“Let the third and quarterfinal round of the World Martial Arts Tournament officially begin! All fighters please leave the stage except today's fighters. Mystery Man Z, you will face Android Ochocinco."

Mason glares at MMZ and walks off the stage.

Mystery Man Z, in his dark robe of maroon and black takes his position on the arena floor. Ochocinco moves towards his side of the floor. He's yet to even glance at his opponent.

Evil Kai turns to Cell. "See, Cell, this is where things will get very interesting."

Cell, sitting to the side of Evil Kai in their private viewing box, comments to his master, "Who is this guy anyways? You never told me which corner of Hell you dug this guy up from?"

"I found him a very proficient fighter, and he will suit my needs just fine. Just watch. He is about to disrobe. I think you will find this…rather amusing."

Mystery Man Z reaches for his hood with both hands....

The robe is thrown to the corner of the ring and lands in a pile. Two dark gloves come off as well and land in the pile.

Ochocinco finally turns his attention to his opponent, as he is about to reveal his true identity.

The fighter remains, in maroon and black training gear. He stretches his fingers.

"I never would have guessed it to be this guy!"

Cell turns to Evil Kai eyes open. "Are you mad? Why on earth would you invite him to this tournament old man? Do you purposefully want me to lose?"

"Don't question me. Without me, you wouldn't be here. You will still get your shot, Cell, like all the others. You should be more concerned on whether or not you disappoint me than just winning. You better not."

Mystery Man Z stands there ready to fight. He flexes his green muscles and his two antennae appendages raise from his skin. "When I attack you, it's going to hurt a lot."

"Hmm. We'll have to see about that"

The announcer, recognizing the fighter, gasps. "Oh my...Let the fight begin!"

Mystery Man Z has been revealed to be non other than the former guardian of the earth, Piccolo. He begins to meditate in place as he uses all his concentration to throw his power level readings completely out of whack, making his opponent unable to detect his true strength.

Unable to get a grasp of his opponent's true potential, he decides to test him the old fashioned way. The Android's eyes flash quickly twice, and he instantly charges the green colour alien, unleashing a flurry of strikes.

Piccolo sets up for a block, as the attacks come one after another and fast and hard. As Ochocinco punches, his punch is met by Piccolo’s hand. As he kicks, the other hand comes up. A roundhouse kick is blocked by a cross arm bar block. The two powers meet in Piccolo’s corner of the ring, and Piccolo doesn't move even an inch from his spot.

"Oh my.... I've seen this before..."

"Now it's my turn." With that, Piccolo raises his knee back, and it comes forward with lightning speed.

Ochocinco braces himself, preparing to absorb the oncoming attack.

Ochocinco barely has time to move. He knows he has put his arm down in the right spot to block the move but the next thing he knows he is flying through the air and feels like he's been hit by a bus. Suddenly he comes to a complete stop, and the momentum causes him to vomit uncontrollably all over the place.

"This is...unexpected..."

Behind him is Piccolo, inches away from a fan in the stands, holding Ochocinco from what inevitably would have been a ring out and the death of that fan. The fan faints. Piccolo tosses Ochocinco onto the arena floor where he lays there motionless.

Piccolo floats down to the ring beside his cloak and pulls out a bag. He reaches into the bag and pulls something out and then tosses the bag to the arena floor.

"NO WEAPONS! ABSOL..."

"Relax, it's not a weapon."

He walks over the motionless Android, flips him over and places something in his mouth. "Chew."

"I thought that was a myth..."

Ochocinco, barely conscious, feels the Namek place a tiny item into his mouth. Not knowing what it is, he's hesitant to chew it.

"Chew it or die, it's your choice Android."

He swallows the item whole, not bothering to chew it.

Suddenly the Android feels light as air, like brand new.

Piccolo lifts him up and places him on his feet. Right in his face, he stares right into the Android's eyes. They stare at each other for what seems like forever. Piccolo’s eyes all tense with anger, Ochocinco’s eyes all uncaring.

"Here's the deal. I have never met an android I liked. All of your kind are always created for an evil purpose. You have one chance to prove to me you are different….WELL ARE YOU?"

"..."

"ARE YOU DIFFERENT?"

"I can not answer your question...for I do not know what my true purpose in this world is... When I awoke.…‘born’ into this world, it was in an empty laboratory. I have no way of knowing how long I lay dormant in there. All I could tell was that it had been quite some time since any life had last occupied it."

"Do you want to kill me, Android? DO YOU? ANSWER ME!"

"I care not for your life...whether or not you live or die... But do I have to kill you? No..."

"Fool."

Piccolo walks over to his corner of the arena. "Attack me." His back is to the Android.

Ochocinco isn't sure what game the Namek is trying to play. I guess he'll have to play along for the time being. So he shoots an electricity blast at the back of his opposition.

Piccolo turns just in time to bat the attack away. The blast flies into the air and fizzles out.

"I SAID ATTACK ME!" With that, Piccolo flies at the Android with his fist raised into the air. Ochocinco tries to fire back with a swift strike of his own. The two meet in the air, and Ochocinco is grabbed by the throat by Piccolo and brought down into the arena below.

The arena smashes as the Android becomes the cause of a crater four feet deep. The arena cracks like a windshield being hit by a rock at high speeds. The cracks run all along the arena splitting it into three separate sections.

As the dust settles, the Android is fizzling in the crater, electricity pouring fourth like blood.

Piccolo releases his grip, then wipes his nose. This is when he realizes the blood dripping from it. "Heh, little punk has spirit." He walks over to the bag and pulls out another item.

"I SAID..."

Piccolo, without looking at the announcer, interrupts, "Not a weapon, remember."

Piccolo climbs into the crater he helped create, and places the fruit into the Android's mouth. "Chew. Swallow. Whatever, just eat the damn thing."

"I...don't understand. You're clearly...stronger than I. Logic dictates...you end it already..."

He picks up Ochocinco and forces his head into the direction of Cell. Cell almost falls out of his chair out of shock.

"See that Android, the one they call Cell? SEE HIM? I SAID DO YOU SEE HIM?"

Ochocinco barely nods.

"Understand me clearly, Android Ochocicno. Cell is a monster. He is an Android, like you, and the reason I hate your kind so much. But none of that matters. If he succeeds at winning this tournament he will unleash hell on Earth the likes of which you couldn't possibly imagine."

"The man beside him is Evil Kai. And I'll be honest I have no idea what his intentions are with your planet but I can tell you I don't feel good about any of this. Not at all."

"Look at me." He tilts Ochocinco’s head. "I SAID LOOK AT ME." Ochocinco's eyes turn towards Piccolo.

"DAMMIT CHEW THIS OR YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS BEFORE I CAN EXPLAIN THIS TO YOU."

Ochocinco once again digests whatever it was the Namek has fed him, still not fully understanding what his intentions are.

"Now here’s the deal. Picking me for this tournament from amongst all Hell’s minions is highly unusual for someone who supports anarchy and violence. I know I am not here to win the tournament. That's not why I have been brought back.”

Evil Kai lets out a little laugh.

"Can you hear them? What are they talking about?"

"Silence you. I'll tell you what you need to know."

Piccolo to Ochocinco continues. "Fate has a role in all of this. Me fighting you is no mere coincidence. But I look at you and all I see is cold calculating evil. I really know very little, but something tells me when this is all over, after the tournament is done, you are going to have to make a choice. It is going to be a very real choice that could decide the balance of power in the universe. I need to know two things: If I can trust you to make the right choice, and if you are able to make the hard choices. In that bag is fruit from a rare tree in the Afterlife. It's unusual in the sense that if living souls eat it, they are revived, much like sensu beans on Earth, but much much faster. I‘m going to teach you to be stronger, and not to hold back."

"It doesn’t make sense right now, not even to me, but what do you think of what I just told you?"

"You are right in your assessment of me... I look at the life that inhabits this planet, and I feel nothing for it."

Piccolo growls.

"I do not know if that's how it's supposed to be, but it is all I know."

Piccolo turns around and shouts to the sky. "I DONT UNDERSTAND. WHY AM I FEELING THIS IS RIGHT? WHY MUST I DO WHAT I THINK I MUST DO? HAS BEING IN HELL FOR SO MANY YEARS DRIVEN ME INSANE?" He drops to the ground on his knees clearly frustrated. A few moments pass.

Mason looks at Ryodo. "Dude I think he's gone bonkers."

He turns around to the revived Android "I don't understand why, but I feel it is important to continue what I started. But know this Android, when this is over, win or lose, I need you to know I trust you to make the right decision. I don't know what that means, so don't ask. .... It's just how I feel."

Evil Kai lets out a smile.

Cell turns to him flabbergasted. "I think he's lost his mind."

Piccolo turns to Cell, "YOU. I'M COMING FOR YOU IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO SPREAD YOUR EVIL BEYOND THIS RING."

"BIG WORDS FOR A MENTAL PATIENT."

Ochocinco isn't sure what to make out of what the Namek has said to him.

Piccolo flies up and at Cell, who backs out of his chair.

“NO ATTACKING THE CROWD! OR I WILL DISQUALIFY YOU!"

Piccolo backs down growling angrily. He turns back to the Android. "ANDROID. YOUR TRAINING BEGINS NOW. KILL ME."

"NO KILLING!"

"SHUT UP!"

Piccolo to Ochocinco, "ATTACK ME LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT, BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, IT DOES. IF I WIN, YOU DIE. IF I DIE, YOU WILL FIGHT CELL. AND HE PLAYS FOR KEEPS."

Ochocinco stares at the Namek.... Logic seems to have been thrown out the window for the time being. "Initiate, Gallet Gun!" Ochocinco places his left hand over right. The orb in his left palm begins to glow bright red. Once the blast is fully charged, it is sent flying across the arena floor.

"NOW WE'RE TALKING!" Piccolo charges up an energy blast of his own, and the blast collides with Ochocinco’s, slowly pushing his blast backwards. Feeling overwhelmed, Ochocinco puts more energy into his own blast.

The blasts eventually even out. Suddenly Piccolo disappears and the blast freely flies into the air. Piccolo reappears a dozen feet to the left. Grinning, he fires three blasts of energy at the ring below.

Ochocinco sees the blasts coming, and attempts to fly up into the air, avoiding impact. The three blasts explode behind him. Seeing the Android approach him, he starts throwing punches. Ochocinco throws some punches of his own.

The two collide and punches fly through the air. Eventually Piccolo ends up turning Ochocinco around, and grabbing his waist he spins him dizzily in a circle and throws him hard into the ground below. A massive dust cloud goes into the air.

Piccolo lands on the arena mat near the impact site.

Ochocinco slowly rises up to his feet, beginning to grow frustrated with this predicament.

Piccolo tosses him a piece of fruit from the bag.

"...you can't be serious?”

"Eat it."

Ochocinco stares at the fruit thrown his way.

"FOOL."

Piccolo falls to the ground grasping his head. He turns to Evil Kai. "It’s you isn't it. You're controlling my thoughts aren't you?"

Evil Kai just smiles.

"No, it's not.…”

“Goku....."

He gets up. "Android, you cannot defeat me. Your calculations are correct. My power level is over 20 million."

Ochocinco's eyes widen at the sound of that, as do Cell’s.

"But I know now, that whatever evil faces this world soon, it is beyond this tournament‘s time. And I will be gone by then, back to Hell like all the others."

"I feel in my soul that your part to play is important and I don't know why. But this is not a game, Android.” He tosses Ochocinco another piece of fruit, and one more piece, three in total.

"I don't understand..."

"Eat them when you like, but don't be an idiot. Now your real test begins. If you fail, you will die, and if you are evil like I fear, you will go to Hell with me."

"MULTIPLY: REMAINING KI!"

With that, Piccolo’s body starts to blur and out of it four forms are left in the ring, each looking like it’s maker. One of the forms each walks to each of the four corners of the arena. The crowd lets out some ooo’s and aaa’s.

Ochocinco watches as he is now surrounded at every corner of the arena.

One of the forms speaks to Ochocinco. "Android, make your ultimate choice wisely. Each of my forms is now equal to your strength and speed and defence and spirit. You will fight one at a time. If you win it will be a miracle in and of itself. If you fail, I have failed."

"Goku.... I trust you."

A form turns to Cell. "DID YOU HEAR ME CELL? YOU WILL NOT WIN. I DO NOT KNOW HOW I KNOW THIS. BUT YOUR EVIL PLAN WILL NOT SUCCEED."

One turns to Evil Kai. "I do not know what your game is, but I know this: Win or lose, I will see you in Hell....." At this the Kai laughs in glee.

"I still fail to see what it is you are trying to accomplish. But it appears I have no choice but to continue with your game.”

The last form speaks to Ochocinco. "Android, answer my questions: Will you make the right decision? Or are you as evil as I am afraid you are? Do you look at Cell in fear and anger as you should? Can you care about the millions that will die if you allow him to win?"

Ochocinco turns his attention to Cell, then back to the Piccolo form that is speaking to him. "I have sat by and watched the actions of this planets inhabitants. To say I find their actions to always be logical...I would be lying. Like I said to you before, I awoke in this world unsure of what my true purpose was. I was welcomed into existence in an empty laboratory, awoken from a pod. There were other pods in the lab... some empty...some already open...some that looked like they were forcibly broken out of... In my time wandering this planet, I searched for meaning... searching for the reason why I am in fact here... I have learned one thing... I am exception at combat... It didn't matter who I faced... age, creed, race...none of it mattered. Before today, I thought myself to be superior to anyone else living on this world... You asked me if I can care about the lives of the people inhabiting this world... if I can make the right choice when it comes down to it... that is a tough question to answer..."

"That is a terrible answer. It’s very cold. But for some reason I believe it is the right answer."

Piccolo whispers to himself. "Goku... wherever you are, I feel you inside me. I trust you are making the right decision in my heart. For years I was hardened against the Android race. I hate them. I could crush him. Now you tell me this is important, that this goes beyond Cell. I do not understand.... But you have never led us wrong before..."

What is going on? Is Evil Kai infecting Piccolo’s brain with these confusing thoughts? Is Goku back someplace? Has he returned with the Dragon Balls? And if so where is he? There are no immediate answers as four Piccolos’ square off against the Android they call Ochocinco. What does this all mean?

Find out next time on DRAGON BALL XTREME!