After the incident involving Margarita, peace and tranquility in the colony was rare. Mason couldn't sleep or eat. He felt guilty for what happened to Margrit. Now she's in the healing chamber. It'll be at least days (or weeks) before she will wake up.
"Why did she do it? Why? Why am I so special here? Why?" Question marks filled up his head each night.
Jerrell wasn't happy about this, either. (Margrit...I'll get revenge for you. Soon enough, I promise you, we'll tear apart the Empire to pieces.)
Meanwhile, Zorton was meditating by the lake. He wasn't so thrilled about what happened to Margarita, either. He got on his feet and blasted the water, making a big splash. The water reached very high. He took a deep breath and made another splash.
He caught his breath and recharged his energy. Behind the bushes, someone was watching him.
Zorton heard a clapping sound. He looked behind and saw Radus clapping. Radus (in a sarcastic tone): "That was amazing! I am impressed, Zorton. Yes, that's your name, isn't it, Zorton?"
Zorton: "How did you know it was me in the beginning?"
Radus: "C'mon! We're old 'buddies'. I can recognize you without your mask. Your fighting style is exactly the same as before. Zorton, your skills haven't improved much."
Zorton: "Your fighting style is the same too. I will not forgive you for what you have done."
Radus smiled. "You want revenge, don't you? Here is your chance. Come get me!"
They began fighting fiercely. It wasn't just a regular match, it was a grudge match, a grudge that lasted twenty years.
Radus fired a green ball, Zorton dodged, and fired a red disc. Radus dodged. They continued exchanging projectiles, and things in the environment blew up as a result of their recklessness.
"Heh, this is exactly as I thought." Radus said. "You haven't improved a bit over these years. What have you been doing?"
Zorton: "The same goes for you!" He fired a beam.
Radus knocked it away. "Oh, but this is where you are wrong. I am much more powerful than before. You don't even compare to me, rebel." (There's no way I can lose, after absorbing the orb.) He fired a strong beam.
Zorton covered his face from the light. "Aaaaah!"
Kaboom.
Radus laughed. But Zorton was still alive. His suit was damaged. "Is that all?"
"Is that all?? Don't act so cocky, you're practically half dead, old man."
"I see now. You think you are stronger, don't you? Because they gave you more dark energy."
"You're finally starting to understand, don't you?"
They charged and hit each other in the air.
Radus continued talking as they kept their distance. "Dark energy is the best."
"It's dangerous for you. You're being used as a ginea pig, Radus. You're just a lapdog for Dark Spectre!"
"Quiet, you!" He fired a stream of balls.
Zorton dodged, but some of them hit him. "Aaah!" He fell to the ground. A part of his mask was damaged, and his face was partially revealed.
Radus landed. "Pathetic! This will be the fate of all rebels. Those who are stupid enough to join the Faction, and those who are unfortunately associated with the Faction, whether by birth or what not, will be eliminated. We have no room for scum like you in Arlia."
"You…will…not win this war."
"Oh really? That coming from someone who lost his family? Heh. I heard that your son is still alive, Burdok. And he's in the colony, right? I'll find your son and kill him!"
"Nooo!" Zorton screamed and charged recklessly, as Radus opened his palms and fired. Boom.
Jerrell stared at the healing chamber, with Margrit inside. She looked so peaceful while unconscious. He swore he will make the Empire pay dearly, even if it costs him his life. He powered up.
Mason was on his bed, his head full of thoughts. He just couldn't sleep with so much on his mind.
("Mason...") the voice of Zorton said. He was trying to communicate telepathically.
"Who is this?"
("Don't you recognize me?")
"Zorton? Where are you?"
("I...I need your help.")
"What's wrong?"
("I need your help. Radus has captured me...")
"Radus? Where are you?" Zorton's voice faded away and couldn't be heard. "Zorton!!! I've gotta find him!" He flew out from the window and tried to sense Zorton.
(Where are you Zorton? I can sense him, but barely. His power is fading away! I've got to hurry.)
He turned towards the direction where Zorton was being held captive. "Don't
worry, I'm coming soon..."
Leila: "Zelfire, have you seen Mason or Zorton?"
Zelfire: "Not really."
"I haven't seen them all day, it's like they disappeared."
"Don't worry about them. They can take care of themselves, right?"
"Yeah, but its not like them to run off like that."
"They'll show up when they get hungry. Speaking of food, it's almost lunch time!"
Mason reached an abandoned building and entered. He walked slowly inside, being very careful.
"Zorton?" he asked.
"Mason?"
"I found you at last!"
"Get out of here! It's a trap!"
D. Soldier#4: "Yes, and now its time to die!"
Dark Soldiers appeared out of their camouflage and ambushed Mason.
D. Solfier#3: "Die!"
"You're not taking Zorton!" Mason said.
Pow! Wham! Crack! Within seconds the fight was over. All the soldiers were finished.
Mason unchained Zorton and took him outside into the forest. "Zorton, you told me to come here..."
"No, it was Radus. He can communicate telepathically like us."
"Radus?"
"He tricked you. I could've asked for your help, but I did not because it was a trap."
"So I was actually talking to Radus before?"
"That's right." Radus said.
"Huh?"
"You managed to defeat the useless soldiers in record time, but you won't beat me that easily. In fact, you won't beat me at all."
Zorton: "Leave Mason out of this! This is our fight."
Radus: "Forget it old man. You've already lost. Now, Mason is mine!"
Mason: "Come and get me!"
Radus: "He he he, I knew you'd show up if I used Zorton."
Mason: "Of course, after all, he's my ally, and we protect each other!"
Radus: "He's your ally? Is that all?"
Mason: "What do you mean?"
Radus: "You mean you don't know?"
Zorton: "No, don't tell him!"
Mason: "Know what?"
Radus: "He never told you? I'm surprised, after all these years..."
Mason: "Zorton, what's he talking about?"
Zorton: "I...I'm sorry Mason. I've been keeping this secret from you all this time...but I think its time you know."
Mason was confused so he listened carefully. Zorton removed his mask, and Mason saw his face for the first time.
Mason: (Zorton is old. I had no idea.)
Zorton's face was definitely not what Mason imagined him to be. He was wrinkled, with black spots on his forward. His face was one that contained years of struggle and agony, and sleepless nights.
"Mason, I am your father..."
"What?! You're kidding me, right?"
"No, it is the truth. My real name is Burdok, I am a sayan like you."
"Nooooo!"
"Please listen, I didn't mean to hide it from you..."
Radus: "Awww, what a touching moment. And now I'll defeat you! Like father, like son!"
Mason: "So you're the one who hurt my father?"
Radus: "That's right! Poor old Burdok, he's been wearing his mask ever since the first time I attacked him!"
"Twenty years ago, when Radus attacked my home, I suffered a fatal injury. Until this very day I can't breath without this mask."
Mason: "What happened to you all these years?"
Zorton: "When my home was attacked, I had no choice but to send to another planet for your safety. I tried looking for you after I became stronger. My journey to Earth was long and perilous, but I made it there at last. I searched for the strongest fighter there, and found you. I wasn't sure it was you, but when I saw your birthmark I knew you were my son."
Mason: "But why? Why Radus? Why did you do it?"
Radus: "Because he's a rebel! And all rebels must perish!"
Mason: "That's all you have to say? Well then, goodbye Radus!"
They started fighting and Zorton at this point couldn't do anything but watch them. Radus shot fire beams while Mason dodged all of them. Then they both blurred out of sight. They continued hitting each other, and Mason punched him. Blood was dripping from his mouth. Radus wiped the blood off his mouth and laughed.
Radus: "Is that all you've got? Oh well..."
Mason: "What?"
Radus put his hands together and closed his eyes. Mason wondered what he's about to do.
Suddenly, Radus split into two! Then four! Then six! Then eight!
"What the?!"
Now, there were eight Radus's surrounding him. "How did you do that?"
Radus #1: "Heh heh heh. Only those skilled enough can learn the Split Form Technique."
Radus #2: "It's over! You lose!"
"I must be seeing things! So many Radus's! Unreal!"
"Which one is the real one?" Zorton asked no one.
Mason: "It's an illusion, so one of them must be real." As he's trying to figure out which one was real, all the Radus's laughed out loud. It seemed there was no way to tell them apart.