One Old Saiyan and Ten Teen Saiyans!

The air inside the battered pod is tense. Dim light flickers overhead, illuminating the battered walls and scattered pieces of technology. Ten teenage Saiyans sit on the cold metal floor, their arms bound behind them with energy cuffs. Before them stands Paragus, towering, stern-faced, and silent. His grizzled face is unreadable, his white hair tied back tightly, and his scouter eye long since torn away. His aura is heavy, and every movement he makes causes the young warriors to flinch. Paragus slowly walks past them, eyeing each of the youths with scrutiny. "Names. One by one. Speak, and speak clearly," he growls. The young Saiyans shift nervously, unsure whether to speak or wait. The first to answer is Corlan. With a half-cocked grin and nervous chuckle, he says, "Corlan. I am the Saiyan of Destruction... I guess?" "Destruction, you say? Hmph. We shall see," Paragus mutters, unimpressed. His glare moves to the next. "Kenji," the second teen speaks softly. His voice is smooth, calming. "I am the Saiyan of Creation." Paragus raises an eyebrow. "Creation and Destruction under one roof. Ridiculous." He keeps walking. "Kento. Saiyan of Time," the third one says firmly. His posture is straight, eyes locked on Paragus without defiance but with discipline. Paragus nods slightly. "At least one of you speaks like a warrior." "Liam! Uh, Saiyan of Space! I think," chirps the next, a smaller teen with bright eyes. He smiles nervously. "You think? Idiot," Paragus snaps. "Tenro," the fifth teen says with calm clarity. "I am the Mythical Super Saiyan. I am not your enemy." Paragus scowls. "Mythical Super Saiyan? That title is cursed." "Ren," the sixth says with a scoff. "Demonic Saiyan. Got a problem with that, old man?" Paragus steps closer, glaring directly into Ren's eyes. The room goes silent. Finally, Paragus turns away. "Plenty of problems. You are just not worth one of them." "Lucas," the seventh teen speaks calmly. "Angelic Saiyan. I only fight when it is needed." Paragus nods. "You speak like you know pain." "Torlack. Divine Saiyan," says the eighth, arms tensed but eyes collected. "Hmph. More delusions." "Codel," says the ninth quietly. He gives no explanation. Paragus squints. "And?" "Saiyan of Reality." Paragus turns to the last. "And you. Speak." "Jinsei. Saiyan of Evolution. We are not here to hurt you." "You could not if you tried," Paragus replies coldly. The silence that follows is heavy. The old warrior folds his arms and speaks with gravitas. "Frieza sent you, did he not?" No one answers. Then Corlan finally nods slowly. "Not to hurt you. Just... to find you." Paragus's face darkens. "Frieza will never touch me again. Nor shall he twist more Saiyans into toys. Corlan. On your feet." Corlan hesitates but obeys. Paragus grips him by the collar and yanks him forward. "Destroy every Scouter you have. Now." "Y-Yes, sir!" Corlan stammers. He stomps each Scouter one by one under his boot, the crackle of metal and sparks echoing. Once the last one is destroyed, Paragus releases him. "Good. Now you are lost to him, and that is how you shall remain." Paragus releases the energy cuffs from each youth with a click of his device. "You are not free. You are stuck. Your pods are broken, and I will not repair them. But if you want to live, you will train. You will survive. You will learn. Under me." The ten look at each other, uncertain. But they all nod. There is no other choice. They set up camp around Paragus’s pod, building crude tents and shelters from wreckage. Paragus trains them harshly, barking orders, correcting stances, and demanding absolute discipline. The days pass, and survival becomes routine. On the fifth morning, Paragus calls for Codel. "You. Quiet one. With me. We hunt." Codel follows without a word. The two walk silently into the forest, pushing through thick brush until they reach the base of a mountain. Paragus points. "Bear den. Smell it?" Codel nods and raises a hand. He fires a ki blast casually into the mouth of the cave. The entire side of the mountain rumbles. The blast punches through the back of the cave, opening a hole on the far side. Air rushes through the new passage. A strong gust roars into the entrance. Paragus stumbles. "Damn fool! The wind—!" Paragus fights against the vacuum, digging his heels into the earth, but the pull is too strong. His aged body starts to slide toward the cave. "Blast it all...!" Suddenly, a hand grabs his wrist. Codel’s face is still unreadable, but his grip is firm. "I have you," he says simply. Paragus growls, embarrassed, but lets himself be pulled back. Codel steadies him, and Paragus stands still for a moment. "You are stronger than you look," Paragus mutters. Codel shrugs. "I look how I look." They spot a deer fleeing through the trees and wordlessly give chase. After a short hunt, they return with it slung between them. That night, the deer roasts over the fire. The ten teens sit in a circle, laughing, shouting, poking fun at each other. "You barely lifted a finger today!" Ren shouts. "Better than your ugly face scaring the squirrels," Liam retorts. "Silence," Paragus says, though the word is more tired than angry. They fall quiet, and Paragus stares at the fire. A flicker of something stirs in his chest, but he shoves it away. "Sleep. You train at dawn." Groans echo as the teens roll into their makeshift beds. Paragus remains seated, watching the fire slowly burn low. The forest is quiet. The stars above are clear. And for the first time in a long while, Paragus does not feel alone.