Raditz's speech had pumped up the small group of survivors like never before, he didn't even have to do much, he was the survivors sole spiritual sustenance, him coming here had almost made them delusional.
But the android threat was truly over so they can afford to let loose, even if they don't know it yet.
After Raditz and Satan spent a whole lot of time assigning jobs, they let the newly appointed messengers spread the word, the word that hope was here.
"That will be it folks, in a few more days the threat of androids will be all gone."
"And remember, Ki- ahem, Saiyaforce is something within all of us, you just have to believe!"
"Now I must go, another group of tentatious survivors need-"
*Beep*
*Beep*
*Beep*
Raditz's heartfelt speech was disrupted by his satellite phones beeping in the emergency pattern.
Quickly picking it up as this was a call from Bulma, Raditz responded with swift and to the point answer.
"I am here."
"The restaurant! Quick!! 18 is going critical!"
Raditz's eyes shrank, what?! 18 was going to blow up?? How did her explosive activate!
Dammit, if 18 was going critical so should 17, maybe Bulma didn't mention that because unlike 18, he isn't in the heart of a hideout.
"Just a second"
"Quick! You got 10 seconds left!"
Frowning hard Raditz dropped the satellite phone and concentrated, but he wasn't able to pinpoint her location quickly.
'Shit, I barely remember the environment around her much less it's Ki.'
'Found it, hopefully this is it.'
*Swish*
As Raditz vanished, the survivors looked at each other with fearful eyes, one of the androids was going to cause havoc and Raditz was all alone trying to save them?
The fierce scholar used his quick wit and picked up the satellite phone Raditz was too busy to keep, looking at the call still connected he asked the one in the opposite end.
"Hello, excuse me, is Mr Raditz going to be okay?"
"Huh? How would I know!? Just hope to god he'll be fine, or else there's going to be hell from past."
"Why did Gero have 16's explosive connected with 17 and 18! I swear-"
*Click*
Disconnecting the call in a hurry Bulma seems to have started trying to salvage whatever she can and the fierce man clutched the phone.
"She might be Dr B! Everyone! Dr B is trying to support Saiyaman!"
The fierce man once again used his mind to put two and two together and riled everyone up by telling them the truth.
His superhero was right now trying to save everyone as an explosive was about to blow up on his face.
'In movies these kind of explosives are often deadly to the hero, so this must be some powerful stuff right?!'
The man thought with sweat pouring down his hands, he was just assigned as a new Saiyaman, if Prime was to fall he'll have to pick up the mantle.
He wasn't ready! He sure hoped Prime beats the situation.
Meanwhile at the restaurant where 18 was eating.
*Swish*
Teleporting before 18, Raditz turned around and looked at her sitting in a daze, her spoon having been dropped to the ground.
'This idiot! Why is she sitting in a daze! At least fly upwards into the sky.'
Seeing 18 with her eyes shaking Raditz clicked his tongue, this situation wasn't a joke, this was the same explosive that was capable of eradicating perfect Cell, the one inside 16 which past Bulma took out.
Although Raditz was sure he can survive the blast, he didn't have enough time to contain the blast or get her out of here, especially not enough time to concentrate on a place that didn't have enough civilians.
And why was she still sitting in a daze?!
"Move yourself fool! At least try to get yourself into open! Do you simply want to die???"
Raditz growled at her which caused 18's eyes to shake and then soon her face morphed into one of rage.
"What are you doing here?! Get out! The explosive has been activated, I am done!"
"You won! Now out! Get out, Get out!"
Raditz understood right away from her hysterical shouting that her imminent death had scared her a bit too much.
She's around a hideout, something she seems to have forgotten or simply dosen't care about anymore, her sudden demise almost has her catatonic.
'This won't do, like this she won't even make an attempt to contain the blast, not only will she definitely die she'll take everyone along with her.'
'I'll just have to contain it for her, here goes nothing, do your thing Ikari.'
*Growl*
Eyes shining bright yellow, Raditz walked towards her, which made 18 look at him with a shaken look.
"What are you doing?! Run, get out of here! Are you trying to rub it into my face that you won! I-"
*Clutch*
A sudden tight hug from Raditz had android 18 shut up involuntarily.
'You are hugging me.. now of all times?! I am going to die, why now.'
"Run, you don't have to show pity to me, run and save yourself!"
Raditz meanwhile didn't care one bit about 18's fantasies because he was much more concentrated on covering the explosive inside her with his ki.
His arms wrapped around the exact part where the explosive would be leaking from her back, this was the all the 'hug' was for, there was no pity here, only an attempt to contain the explosion.
"What are you still doing here-"
"Shut up 18! Let me concentrate."
Raditz's words seems to have somehow worked and 18 slowly began hyperventilating less, she turned quite and had a face which showed she was contemplating her life, which was flashing before her eyes.
'Who would have thought in my final moments it's my 'highest priority' who would try to save me.'
'He surely knows it's an explosive capable of killing him too, he still trying to save me, is this what being strong is all about.'
'I have done some truly horrible things.'
18 could feel her explosive heating up but she could also feel the powerful arms of Raditz, wrapped around her, they gave her security she didn't think she could get in this situation.
So looking up from his chest, 18 spoke with a sigh.
"It's going to blow up any moment... Thanks for being there for me.. sorry."
Raditz meanwhile completely ignored her words in favour of concentrating and finally showed a relieved smile.
He managed to sense a place with no-one around, now he can teleport 18 to that spot and keep the damage to a minimum.
"Hold tight."
"What-"
*Swish*
18 found herself up in the darkening evening sky, the peeking moon attracted her and so did the devastation below, something which she had caused.
It all felt so surreal to her now.
She especially felt thankful to Raditz who stuck around, trying his best to protect her even now.
"Raditz.. Thank you."
"You'll be fine."
Raditz assured 18 so she doesn't make any wrong moves and messes up the situation further, and she might actually survive if she let's him do his thing.
But to 18 Raditz's words sounded kind, a kind of assurance which can keep her going.
"I see.. "
*BOOOOOOM*
With her thanks the explosive within her chest finally detonated in the night skies, the sheer energy emitted from it caused the skies to brighten like day.
In another spot away from civilisation another such detonation occurred, 17 blew up along with his sister.
Both spent their last moments contemplating the scale of what they have done and feeling the remorse for it, all the pain and suffering they had dished out had come back to bite them from within.
A poetic way to go, but such was life, full of such poetic justice.
Advanced chapters ahead on patréon
www.patréon.com/ImagineMaker