Update 4/29/16: Part I of Citadel: 25 has been released as Chapter 17. The chief premise of this story (surviving twenty-five missions for Frieza to get to live) is inspired upon the extremely low 24% survival rate for Allied air-crews in WW II, who in turn for surviving twenty-five missions over Germany were decommissioned. Obviously Axis survival rates are much lower.

Update 3/24/16: The first of Dragon Ball Citadel related short stories "Citadel: Genesis" is released as Chapter 16. These short stories elaborate on Citadel's back story and in-universe.


Chapter I: Family Reunion

"Mr. Popo", Dende said with a look of concern on his face, which is no longer surprising due to the events that have transpired over the last fifteen years, "I sense a great threat in the universe. Something that the defenders of the Earth are not prepared for."

Mr. Popo stopped watering his shrubbery due to his concern for Dende. Since Dende was usually his only form of company, he had a relatively deep care for him. He responded, "Is this threat more dangerous to you than the others we experienced over the last fifteen years? Though we cannot revive the remaining warriors without the dragon balls, there was not a single threat that necessitated us to summon Porunga on Planet Namek."

"That's the problem Mr. Popo." Dende looked at him with great concern, "This threat is on Namek. No one can get there fast enough to stop it." Mr. Popo simply chuckled until the guardian started to plead, "Son Goku, you must be watching…"

On Namek, a mysterious Saiyan Warrior, wearing black Saiyan armor with an angular "PS" on the left side of his chest, was finished gathering the dragon balls unopposed. After Frieza's invasion of the planet, the Nameks decided to hide the dragon balls rather than guard them, as they learned that the magical balls can easily be found by ki sensing. What the Saiyan did was find seven needles in a haystack.

"The culmination of over eighty years of waiting, my time has come! My victory has become guaranteed." Said the mysterious Saiyan who found the final Dragon Ball in a dark cave. All seven dragon balls were now glowing, as he used telekinesis to carry his other finds with him. "I've been to this planet so many times, studying the people, studying the language…" He smirked, then started to speak Namekian, "Porunga! Arise!" Porunga burst through the mountain and the skies grew dark. The Nameks stared up and knew they were in grave danger. This only meant that someone has gathered the dragon balls without seeking permission of the elder, it was no way for good.

Porunga arose, able to intimidate anyone, even the Saiyan to a degree, "You have awoke me from my slumber. I am Porunga, the eternal Dragon. I can grant you three wishes."

The Saiyan did not act as eager as expected, he was very patient after all. "Porunga, you are generous because I only have one wish. I wish to be—" Suddenly he was interrupted by a surprising display of power as another dragon appeared, Shenron. The Saiyan remembered seeing this dragon before he sensed Frieza coming to Earth. As he was contemplating whether or not this was another wish granting dragon, he was surprised to see Kakarot come out of the dragon. "Kakarot!" He said… happily!

Goku was wearing the same blue gi he had when he merged with the Dragon, he also spoke Namekian, "Porunga, I commanded you to disperse. I'm here to protect this planet." Without hesitating, Porunga went inside the balls, the sky turned green, and the balls flew into the air and scattered across Namek. The Saiyan was surprised, but not deterred. He smiled confidently as he looked into Kakarot's fierce eyes.

"I am Son Goku, I've come to protect this planet. If you wish to leave and change your ways, we don't have to fight."

This opportunity was too good, the Saiyan thought. Not only did Kakarot finally emerge from the shadows, he emerged specifically to handle matters with him. He was not simply just Son Goku the hero of Earth to him. "Kakarot… Immortality can wait. I have waited my whole life to be able to speak to you face to face. I would've never known that you would have the power of a god, commanding the dragons yourself!"

"You act like you know me. Don't say that you do." Goku smiled coyly.

The Saiyan wagged his tail from one side to the other before wrapping it back around his body. "I may have never met you, but I do know you. I am Nach. Son of Kale, brother of Bardock and Roman, father of Galbans and Pea, Uncle of Turles, Raditz, and Kakarot." Goku realized that this Saiyan's hair and height was like of his brother.

"So you are my uncle and you are here for the Family Reunion." Goku smiled with a hint of sarcasm.

"Not exactly, I'm here for business. But business can wait because I've always admired your power from afar. I have known of your great battles with Piccolo, Nappa, Vegeta, Cell, Baby, and the Android. By the time we knew Frieza was dead, your amazing power has been impossible to keep up with, until now of course."

"You speak as if you know how powerful I have become, I'm quite disappointed," Goku smiled anticipating the challenge, his face fell once again as he grasped the seriousness of the situation, "If you're here for immortality, we can't be friends. But I'll tell you again, you can change your ways or we'll have to fight."

Nach looked disappointed, "You challenging me to a fight does not change the respect I have for you. You are a true Saiyan warrior, representing how we are the ultimate warrior race. You protect what you feel is right."

"What do you feel is right, uncle?" Goku chuckled. "Living forever?"

"I'll tell you what is right, join my Protection Squadron and secure Saiyan control of the universe. Imagine a universe completely populated by Saiyans, no longer anyone's slaves but supreme as they deserve to be! Whether it is with you, or without you, you cannot stop the plans I have in motion. I know you will decline my offer, but because I respect you, I'll give you a choice."

Goku's light-hearted attitude has dissipated, "What's the difference between you and Frieza? Live and let live, that's what I say."

"We have found the remaining orphan Saiyans, like you Kakarot, who were sent to planets to destroy their life and to go on the market for that… Frieza. But, they have joined me to make sure that Saiyans return to their rightful place as the universe's supreme race."

"You better get your scouter ready," said Goku smiling, "I've trained non-stop without fatigue for fifteen years. The power I have obtained will be unfathomable to you."

Nach smiled due to his curiosity, "My genetics have been enhanced to bring my natural powers far beyond their limits; I'm the only Saiyan who truly reached the pinnacle of his power. However, I do want to see your full power. You see, my scouter is calibrated to displays power levels as high as mine; I can record new power levels. If you somehow break it because, I did not change the settings to be at your, heh, echelon, then I'll accept my fate. However, I want to see what you're made of."

"I'm warning you one last time Nach, to change your ways, or else." Goku roared as he was about to become intense.

Nach smiled, "This is a matter you'll have to settle with violence Kakarot!" Goku screamed and the sky turned pitch black, the only form of light were the waves of red, blue, then yellow ki emanating out of his body. The scouter looked like it was still turned off. Nach smiled, "Kakarot I don't have a reading yet, and my scouter's not broken." Goku then transformed to a Super Saiyan, still eliciting no response from the scouter. Then he gasped, transforming to Super Saiyan 4. "That old form? When you transform to a Super Saiyan as an Oozaru? I'm barely getting a reading, I can't see how many thousandths…"

Goku hid his frustration, hoping that Nach was simply bluffing, "I haven't shown you the tip of the iceberg yet."

Nach now shown his first sign of anger, "I told you to show me your full power!" Goku then yelled and his eyes turned white. The whole sky was flashing yellow, black, and white. Goku's hair grew down to his chest and turned white and his gi burned off. "Your shirt's off, this means you're serious!" Suddenly the sky returned to its normal green, Goku continued to have an aura around him.

Goku spoke with a deep and serious voice, "I have learned to sustain the massive energy drain of this form. I can stay Super Saiyan 5 for years at a time if I wish… I hope you're not disappointed."

Nach laughed happily, "I am not! Kakarot I'm proud of you! We all know that Saiyans are the universe's supreme beings! I measure you at around 450 adjusted units of power."

Goku smiled confidently, "How good is that?"

"I won't beat around the bush, it's a little less than 90% of my full power."

"If so, how come I don't feel any of it?" he remained confident.

"I will give you one last chance to join me or to die. I want you to live to see Saiyans gain their proper control over the universe. But if we have to fight, it won't be because I disdain you, but because we're Saiyans. It's what we do."

Goku screamed, "Talk is cheap! Back it up!" Nach then yelled and powered up, it was underwhelming. Until Goku started quivering for the first time in his life. "Well, how? You aren't even a Super Saiyan!"

"Transformations are for novices, simple mind blocks for holding back our true power. I learnt that a Saiyan's power is almost unlimited, by removing our fear of unleashing our full power we can exceed our natural limits. With my training and my enhancements, I know I'm the strongest in the universe which is why I took the chance to obtain my immortality." Nach's impatience grew, "You have one last chance Kakarot, join me now, or die!"

"If there's a way to win, I'm going to find it!" Goku yelled as he threw the first punch right through Nach's afterimage. "Whoa, he's fast."

"Your arrogance will be your downfall Kakarot! Now it's time to die with honor." Both of them mostly exchanged jabs through each other's afterimage. "You're much faster than a 450, you're truly a prodigy."

Goku, who was excited but surprised how fast he was fatiguing to avoid taking a serious blow responded, "I don't go by what anyone's readings say. I knew that Frieza was maybe four times as strong as me at my best, and I never backed down."

Nach angrily shot back, landing a powerful blow on Goku's cheekbone, "You backed down from killing him!"

Goku held his face as he watched Nach hovering above him rather than continuing to attack, "This is not good," he thought, "I'm fighting at my full power and he is barely using any energy to fight me back."

"I knew it was another Saiyan who killed Frieza when he came to Earth, I have yet to find him. I respect that you want a good warrior, a great challenge like him, to come back stronger. But at a cost to whom? He destroyed our planet!"

"Planet Vegeta's no planet of mine!" Goku then unleashed a furious counterattack with many punches, finally Nach was hurt to a degree. Nach knew by talking he may get Goku to pause.

"I like how you fight Kakarot, why don't you join me and become sparring partners, I can teach you to be even more powerful. Maybe you'll become more powerful than I."

"Offer declined Nach!" Goku then started moving his arms, "Ka-Me"

"I'm disappointed," Nach spat disappointedly, "you are going to use your trump card at almost point blank range where I can evade it?"

"Ha-Me!" Goku continued without paying attention.

"I didn't think this was going to end this soon." Nach continued.

Suddenly Goku vanished. "HA!" The Kamehameha wave appeared behind Nach catching him off guard. The attack pushed Nach deep into the ground and the attack detonated not far beneath the ground to prevent destroying the planet. As fast as Goku turned the tables, Nach appeared behind him visibly injured.

"That was a good technique." Said Nach breathing heavily, "I'll have to start fighting you seriously."

The two exchanged more punches and kicks, but Nach clearly had the advantage. Goku was taking on damage quickly, bleeding, while Nach appeared to be warming up. Goku knew he was about out of tricks, but he didn't have to let Nach know that, "I have a lot more where that came from!"

"I must ask you Kakarot, how did you learn instant transmission?"

"Before I tell you," Goku smiled, "tell me how you became this powerful. When Vegeta first came to Earth he didn't have a fraction of the power you have. And I thought he was the best."

Nach agreed with Goku, "You're right, Prince Vegeta was the best. Like you I'm a so called low class Saiyan, a lie created by King Vegeta. I trained my whole life to surpass the likes of King Vegeta and Frieza. Living on Earth, whenever I reached a new level of power I always would sense how far behind I really was. I remember feeling the surge in my veins when I finally reached far beyond Frieza's level of power, only to see how weak I was compared to you when you sparred with that creature Cell. With a new benchmark, your benchmark now in my mind, I continued training in order to become the universe's strongest! With enhancement of my DNA, my lifespan and my power has been enhanced beyond my wildest dreams. My endless training, Kakarot, is how I got to where I am today."

Goku was surprised he was on Earth about as long as he was, "If you were on Earth so long, why didn't we see you when we fought Majin Buu—"

"Who?" Nach said genuinely. Goku forgot that everyone who lived on Earth does not remember the terror of Majin Buu. "You asked me how I got my power, I want to know where you learned instant transmission."

"After my battle with Frieza, my spacecraft landed in Yadarat. Where I was nursed back to good health, and learned many new techniques. I am able to appear anywhere," Goku then instantly appeared next to Nach, "instantly."

"I too have learned that same technique in Yadarat. It's one of the most difficult techniques to acquire. So difficult in fact, you can only learn it there. Since only the natives of Yadarat are able to pass on the technique, I've destroyed their world long ago."

Goku was disgusted before regaining his composure, "I've realized the same thing myself when I tried to teach Majuub the technique. I never knew Yadarat was gone, the gods never told me. All I know is that you're pure evil and I will put a stop to you!"

"Talk is cheap," Nach spat out, "Unless you have a something left in the tank for me, I'm going to end this fight quickly."

"I do have one more technique," Goku smiled, "but you'll be lucky to survive it."

Nach smiled lustily, despite the risk he was taking, "I'd love to see it, your best against my best."

Goku's face grew serious, "Universe, time, space, I need you to grant me your energy!" The whole universe, existence for that matter, tacitly complied and helped Goku create a Spirit Bomb greater than the size of Namek. The Nameks looked at something far brighter than the suns, they were amazed. They remarked at how incredible it was. Meanwhile, Nach had a furious aura around his body while charging to his peak power. "Nach, I call this the Genki Dama. It's going to feel like the weight of the universe is crushing you!"

"I'm ready if you are Kakarot!" Nach screamed far in the air while Goku was standing on the ground with his arms raised.

"It's not too late for you to change your ways!" Goku yelled, apparently forgetting his realization that his opponent was stated to be pure evil by himself, "It doesn't have to end like this!"

Nach screamed while extending both of his arms straight his hands touching in front of his chest, "Genocide Gun, fire!" A furious red wave of energy shot out of his hands.

Goku condensed the energy of the spirit bomb to the size of a ball in order to effectively combat the attack. "It ends here!" Goku had to use all of his energy to focus on the strength of the Spirit Bomb, rendering him unable to use instant transmission to escape the blast if he was overpowered. Goku knew defeat was not an option, as Namek's ground was beneath him. However, he started to notice that Nach's space ship, a Saiyan Pod, floated behind him. It appeared that Nach planned on surviving if Namek were to be destroyed with his blast. "You fool!" Goku yelled, "If you destroy Namek, you'll destroy the dragon balls along with it!"

Nach laughed, knowing his victory was at hand, "It's a risk I'm going to have to take!" He grunted and shot a fresh burst of energy into the blast. The Genki Dama became over-powered, and disintegrated from Nach's attack. All that stood in the way of Namek and the Genocide Gun was Goku himself, effectively spent of energy. The weight of Nach's blast hit Goku, dissolving him like Cell and pure-evil Buu. Nach stopped his attack before quickly, letting his pod open its door and take him inside. This would prevent him from asphyxiating in space. With Goku's body destroyed from the attack, Namek was hit through her core, and the planet was about to explode.

"The explosion of the planet will act like a vacuum," Nach thought, but now safely inside the pod he used instant transmission to make him and the pod appear in the Milky Way. He did have his reasons for his ship to survive…

Back on Earth on the lookout, Dende was horrified, he yelled, "GOKU!" Mr. Popo looked very concerned for the guardian. "I cannot believe that power, undoubtedly he'll be here on Earth. I don't believe anyone here is close to the power of Son Goku. When this threat inevitably arrives, we have to be ready to combat the danger. Mr. Popo, we will have to gather all the Z Fighters. We don't have much time to prepare! This time the odds are stacked against us."

Nach's pod approached a large space station orbiting the Earth. It attached itself to one of the bays. Visibly, many other pods were parked onto the space station docks. Almost at once he left his pod, a tall Saiyan beauty was waiting for him. She had a very testy look on her face. "So you were out messing around again Nach?" She chided him. Nach looked back at her, she was maybe a half a foot shorter than him, but still very large compared to the mere humans on Earth. She had long loose-curly red hair to half-inch over her boots, with black roots. She wore grey Saiyan armor with a black cape pinned into the shoulder pads and a crest of a black stripe, a white stripe, and a red stripe going diagonally and the left side of her chest. He looked back at her red eyes and played off he was doing something else.

"What makes you say that? I used the same brand of soap and kept a clean change of laundry in the trunk!" Nach jested while being visibly scratched and bloodied.

"I didn't mean that!" She said irritated with her tail's fur puffing up like a cat's, "I know you were out there doing something stupid, and the day I can finally convince the Field Marshal of it he'll let me chop off your head myself."

"Maybe one day you may convince him to have my head, but he'll still never notice you!" Nach snarled out of jealousy.

"He notices that I'm a woman who can be trusted," she blushed then instantly regained her composure, "I got promoted to the rank of general due to my hard work and because the Field Marshal trusts my hands with the Neo-Saiyan army. He simply lets you and your Protection Squadron criminals masquerade as his body guard, special forces, or whatever you punks call yourselves to keep your stupid butt busy. You know you'll never be held in the same esteem as I."

Nach laughed, "Brown-nosing for the Tuffle, Cori, how predictable!" Then Nach grew serious, "I don't have to tell you of any of my quests for power across the universe. Like you don't look for serious challengers on your days off or your leaves from duty."

Cori laughed, and knocked Nach back an inch with her bust while his face turned blue with sweat, "Six days a week, I am the ultimate Saiyan soldier. On my day off I can care less about scouring the universe for the lack of decent challengers when I got all this beautiful hair to touch up." She then ran her hand and red painted nails across what seemed like an endless stream of hair, "If you want a decent challenge, if you want to complete your quest for power," she beat her chest once with her left fist, "then I'm right here." Nach walked past her to save face as she let out a sinister chuckle.

Nach continued down the hallway and eventually other Saiyans dressed in grey Saiyan armor saw him appear, some were surprised he was wounded, others were excited just to find out what happened. He heard the grumblings and accusations, he had his opponents in the Neo-Saiyan Army yet had his allies in the Protection Squadron. His daughter Pea, dressed in black armor with a "PS" just like her father came up to him, she was very short and thin for a Saiyan, and had long straight black hair, "Father, I am afraid to ask, but are you well?"

Nach held his hand in a stop motion to her, as he entered a room to approach his masters. Sitting in the room were three people, two dark-brown skinned Tuffles and his brother Roman, who was relatively short for a Saiyan, maybe around Kakarot's height. He was standing next to his wife Stuka, who was sitting next to her brother Zerstorer. Stuka, about as tall as her husband, whose reddish-black hair hung down tightly-curled to her chin was still in her lab coat after a busy day commanded Nach to speak, "Nach, our readings have that you were attacked by an exceptionally high power level. How did you find this warrior?"

Nach bowed though he did not respect how Stuka approached him as an employee, rather than a soldier responded, "While training on Planet— Edom, I kept getting false readings from my scouter, as a Saiyan, a fighter with the level of 450 piqued my curiosity."

"Saiyans always do exciting things on their days off." She responded sarcastically as she tapped her acrylic nails on her cheek.

Roman, who seemed to resemble his nephew Kakarot due to his hair and lack of a tail, said in a less serious tone while counting with his fingers, "On Wednesday, I made a four course dinner—"

Nach who faked a chuckled continued, "Yeah. I'm sure you heard everything that… transpired."

"We only listen into your missions," Stuka responded as Nach smiled, "We aren't concerned with what happens on your day off. Whether you shaved, watched TV, or apparently go out looking for fights is not our business. Who would ever know you would run right into the next big thing on your day off."

Nach then became serious, "It wasn't just the next big thing Ms. Stuka, it was Kakarot, the Saiyan. The protector of the Earth who disappeared."

Stuka and Zerstorer were galvanized. Zerstorer, who was about Nach's height, whose head had no hair and had a black and curly beard stood up, "Kakarot, the Saiyan who defeated Prince Vegeta, Frieza, and Baby? That Kakarot?"

"Yes him, Master. I have no idea why he was on Edom out of all places. I was out looking for challengers and finally found one. It didn't take long, and he didn't hold back."

Stuka laughed at him, "I don't see why you travel across the universe when perfectly good challengers are right here!" General Cori and Zerstorer smiled sinisterly as Nach looked in front and behind himself. "You've never even beat Zerstorer while sparring!" Zerstorer chuckled when she said that much to Nach's irritation. Nach thought to himself how becoming stronger than Zerstorer was a lifelong ambition, he could not let them know how ready he really was until the right time.

Zerstorer stood up. This permitted Nach to stand up and caused the rest of the Saiyans to enter the room. Roman stood with respect, ready to salute. Stuka continued to sit calmly, even picking up a tablet and writing with her stylus nonchalantly. Zerstorer, who was in full grey military uniform, with the black, white and red Tuffle crest on the left part of the chest, gold shoulder pads that hung down yet poked out like that of Baby, and a red cape, started speaking to his army, "The commander of my Protection Squadron, Nach, has eliminated the legendary Saiyan Kakarot. Due to the unexpected nature of Kakarot's power, this was our last delay in commencing preparations for the operation. With our latest power measurements verified to be accurate, we will be able to initiate Operation Citadel uncontested. In the first Thursday of the next month, after preparations are complete, we will commence Citadel at 1600. The time to unite the Universe under Tuffle leadership, has begun!"

All the Saiyans, but not Nach or the Tuffle Stuka, saluted Zerstorer, "Hail Zerstorer, our Master!"

Nach was too eager to begin, "Zerstorer… Master." Nach almost sneered. "Why do we not commence right now. If we are uncontested, there's no need to wait!"

"Hold your tongue Saiyan, know your place." The rest of the Saiyans were frightened, they did not know command under Frieza but they could imagine it. "We've waited for over eighty years, fifteen days barely phases me. Does it phase you?"

Under his closed lips, Nach clenched his teeth in disgust. He could not imagine why Zerstorer would want to wait for a single minute with how powerful he was. "No, no, Zerstorer, Master."

Zerstorer looked into the eyes of his army hopefully, and arrogantly, "Soon Saiyans and their Tuffle masters will rightfully rule the Universe. Every being will be mated with the superior Tuffle genetics and will eternally be under our command! There will be no more Friezas or apathetic Kakarots! Finally, the one meant to lead, myself, will finally rule!"