Disclaimer: I still don't own DBZ. But I'm working on it!
Author's note: I just wanted to say thanks for all the reviews I really appreciated them. I wasn't expecting them, that's for sure! Anyway, due to semi-popular demand and a lack of social life on my part, here's the sequel! It's likely to be longer than the first but I won't be able to squeeze out the chapters quite as fast (Damn Uni assessments! Why can't fan fiction writing be considered a full-time career?). I hope you like it!
For two years the Z fighters policed the universe. There were a lot of worlds out there and many beings who would enslave them if given the chance. But these fighters were among the most powerful ever born and they were dead already, so they had little or nothing to lose if a battle did get too tough. But for five years they never met their match in battle. Most didn't mind. Only one of them was really dissatisfied with the arrangement, but that was to be expected when dealing with the Saiyan prince.
The latest mission given to them by the temporary Supreme Kai Kibito was to take care of a scientist who had taken control of an entire solar system. Much like Dr. Gero he was engineering life forms to do his bidding. A genetically engineered army of powerful soldiers with a hive mind capable of destroying entire worlds. After Goku decided to sit that one out Vegeta and Gohan traveled to the planet and carried out the mission. By the time they'd left the Doctor was dead, as were thousands of his hive-minded slaves.
What neither of them knew was one soldier was left. Only one out of tens of thousands, but he still had the knowledge and evil desires of his creator, and something the two Saiyans had left behind.
Over the next two years the soldier worked alone to restore the laboratory on another planet, far away from the original where he was sure he'd be safe for a while. Then he continued carrying on the Doctor's experiments…
It was a fairly important time on planet Earth. Three weeks ago the World Martial Arts tournament had been held, and after a heated and memorable battle in which half the stadium was destroyed Pan was declared the most powerful fighter on the planet. Trunks had come close. In reality his power level was virtually identical to Pan's. He still had plenty of fight left in him when she'd slammed him down from mid-air just a bit too hard for him to regain flight before touching the grass outside the ring. Since then she had been unbearable to be around and insisted he address her as World Martial Arts Champion Pan.
He'd pretty much told her what to go do with herself after that.
Two years and three weeks ago an evil wizard named Babidi had traveled to Earth to resurrect a powerful creature named Buu. Pan, Trunks, Videl and the Supreme Kai of the universe all had to fight together to defeat Babidi and his minions. It had been a tough battle and on several occasions all seemed lost for them, the planet and even the universe, but they had pulled through somehow.
Trunks had taken over as head of the Capsule Corporation. He wasn't much of a scientist but he was a far better administrator than his mother, who was retreating to her lab more and more these days. She was working on some kind of energy scanner, similar but more powerful than the old Saiyan-style scouters. Trunks believed she was growing bored during peacetime.
Videl had given up working for the military. She had no need for money these days and spent most of her time either training or working for various emergency departments. Chichi spent most of her time disapproving of everyone else.
And Pan…
To Chichi's great disappointment she had chosen to work for the Capsule Corporation rather than become a neurologist. She now worked on a small research team studying Saiyan space-flight technology. Their current project was supposed to be sold to the government by the end of the year.
As for the planet's newest alien immigrant…
Trunks still couldn't believe Pan and the Supreme Kai had hooked up. Sure his father Vegeta had been an alien, but at least he looked more or less human without the tail. Well his hair had been pretty alien as well but that was it. Still once he had gotten to know Shin he seemed like a nice guy. They trained together quite often and he was always friendly and polite with a quick sense of humour. When Chichi had found out this small purple guy was more than Pan's training partner she'd just about hit the roof, then chased him out of her house brandishing a frying pan.
Trunks guessed the Kais were having a good chuckle that day.
The remnants of the Earth's Special Forces were getting together that evening to celebrate two years since their last major battle. Master Roshi, Oolong and Puar had invited themselves (much to Chichi's disappointment), Trunks, Videl and Bulma were already there and they were just waiting on Pan and Shin.
"Why are they so late? I'm hungry!" Roshi complained. Trunks shook his head but had to agree. This was torture. Chichi was a great cook and he could smell the food hidden away in the kitchen.
"Can't we just start without them? We'll leave them some!" Oolong agreed. Videl raised an eyebrow. "Well he doesn't eat much so we'll just save her a couple of bowls. She won't mind."
"No one is eating until they get here." Chichi laid down the law. Trunks sighed inwardly. He hoped they wouldn't be long.
Shin stood before the five Kais and Kibito feeling a familiar dread settle into his stomach. He had been summoned from his new home on Earth and had arrived on his old planet to see the somber gathering.
"What is it?" he asked. They wouldn't interrupt his century on Earth unless something important was going on.
"There is a new threat. The Hive Army has been rebuilt and is now more powerful than before." Kibito said without a word of greeting. Shin frowned. He remembered those guys.
"They were never a threat before, and I thought Vegeta and Gohan took care of that a few years ago." Just because he was on vacation didn't mean he was completely in the dark as to the state of the universe.
"They did. But it seems one or more of the original Hive survived the attack. They've moved the base and now we can't find it. But there is a vast power out there. We can all feel it." Grand said.
"Yeah. Even West can feel it." East chimed in.
"Shut up. It's your quadrant that's the problem." West snapped.
"Enough." Shin said quietly. They shrank back and glared at each other. "How did the originals survive?"
"I convinced Vegeta not to destroy the planet. It's my fault." A voice said from behind him. A tall human-looking man with several scars wearing orange stood there with several other people. He bore a startling resemblance to Pan. Another older orange-clad man gripped his shoulder.
"It wasn't your fault." He said. Shin's eyes widened. That must be Goku…the first one was Gohan and the shorter man in the armour was Vegeta. A short human and a tall Namek stood off to one side.
"Does anyone know what this power is?" Shin asked, slightly unnerved. Somehow it never occurred to him that he'd meet his father-in-law, not to mention the two most powerful Saiyan warriors of their time. Vegeta looked away. The other two shook their heads.
"No. All I can tell you is that I've never felt anything so powerful." Goku said.
"You say that about everyone we've ever fought." Vegeta snapped.
"What are we going to do about it?" Shin cut off the argument before it started. The other Kais looked to him.
"Well…you are the Supreme Kai." Kibito said. Shin startled.
"No, you are. I'm on vacation, remember?"
"And now you're being recalled. What do we do?" Grand asked.
"I just got here! Give me a minute will you?" Shin snapped. He had not been expecting this. He thought out loud. "So we don't know what the threat is, or where, or how big. We just know that it's out there. How do we know it's not just another minor Warlord?"
"I can sense it's the Hive. I've been watching them for a while now. After Vegeta and Gohan supposedly annihilated them I couldn't feel them, but now it's the same presence. I know it's them, just as North Kai would know if Frieza returned." East said with a shudder. It was the first time Shin had seen her be completely serious. That unnerved him more than anything else did.
"The first thing we need to do is find them. We don't even know how strong they are yet so let's not panic." Grand Kai said. It was the first truly intelligent thing Shin had heard him say for several centuries.
"Look I know I'm just the human of the group, but I've got an idea." Krillin piped up. "If we can't sense where the power is, maybe we can use a radar or detector of some kind."
"Yeah. I'll just go out and build one." Vegeta spat. Krillin narrowed his eyes.
"Well while you're doing that, we'll just pay a visit to Planet Earth and see what Bulma can do." He said. Shin blinked. Of course! Bulma could sometimes come across as being a bit vacant but she was a genius where technology was concerned.
"Good thinking Krillin. I'll return to Earth and see what I can do there." Shin said, preparing to transport.
"Wait." North Kai stopped him. He turned to the others. "If we fight as we are now, you can only return to the other dimension for one day. Yamcha, Tien and Chiaotzu have chosen to move on, but you obviously are not ready yet. I suggest that we have the Dragon restore you all to life." There was silence.
"There's a dragon on Earth?" Piccolo demanded. North Kai nodded.
"Yes. Earth's new Guardian Dende created it." There was silence again.
"AND YOU DIDN'T THINK TO TELL US THIS?" Vegeta thundered. Shin looked at the Kais. Surely they weren't that stupid…
He looked accusingly at Kibito. He at least had some common sense. He looked away.
"I was watching the universe. I didn't know they hadn't told them." He said. Shin gritted his teeth.
"The dragon has been active for two years now." He said and waited for the inevitable reaction.
A few minutes later when Gohan and Goku managed to drag Vegeta off North Kai (and muffle some of the shouting and swearing) he continued. "I will return to Earth and have Videl and Pan search for the Dragonballs. Until they're found I will work with Trunks and Bulma on a way to detect this energy source." He said. There was silence.
"Pan? Videl?" Gohan repeated. A slow grin spread across his face. "I get to see my daughter again?" Even Vegeta looked shocked as realization set in. After thirteen years of being dead he was going to be resurrected again.
"Get some rest. I suspect you'll need it once you get back to Earth." Shin suggested to the fighters. "You five…" Shin turned on the five Kais. "See if you can't find something useful to do. Maybe try and find this power on your own. Even if we know which quadrant it's in it will help." He focused on Earth. He could feel Pan was worrying. His chest tightened. Thousands of years ago he had lost his family to an enemy. He hoped whatever this was his new family could stay out of it…
He placed his fingers to his forehead and disappeared.
Pan was pacing back and forth in the living room when suddenly Shin reappeared. Naturally he had to reintegrate right where she was standing…
"Ow." She tripped over him. "What happened?" she demanded. He looked grim.
"A possible problem."
"How big a problem?" she asked. He took a deep breath.
"We need to find the Dragonballs. The Z fighters are coming back." Pan's eyes widened.
"It's that bad?" She had grown used to the idea the Z fighters weren't coming back and that she, Trunks and Shin were now the Earth's defense.
"Well, that and it turns out they didn't choose to stay dead. That idiot North Kai didn't think to tell them the dragon had been resurrected." He glared. Pan stared at him.
"You're kidding!" For the last two years she'd simply thought the Z warriors had decided to move on. All this time her father and the others could have been returned to them…"I'm going to pulverize him." She ground her teeth.
"Wait in line." Shin growled. Pan hid a smile. Although he was a powerful fighter he was not a very intimidating person, no matter how angry he was. Fortunately he seemed too distracted to pick up her thoughts.
"I need to get over to the Capsule Corp and talk to Bulma. Will you and Videl look for the Dragonballs?" he asked. She blinked.
"Sure. No problem." Her excitement over her father coming back was overshadowing the danger Shin had spoken of. He must have sensed this.
"Pan this could be dangerous. We have no idea what this new threat is but it's enough for the Kais to summon me back and East Kai believes it is more than the Z fighters can handle at the moment." Pan nodded and tried to look serious but found it difficult. Surely with her, Shin, Trunks, Gohan, Vegeta and Goku nothing could be a threat!
The two of them transported to the Son household where they were greeted by several hungry people.
"Where have you been? Don't you know the elderly have to eat at regular intervals?" Roshi demanded.
"What is it?" Videl asked immediately. She knew Pan well enough to be able to tell when something was wrong. She turned to Shin.
"You'd better tell them. I'll help Grandma bring out the food."
"You're going to eat now?" he asked incredulously.
"Well if I'm going to search for the Dragonballs I'll need to keep my strength up won't I?" she said defensively. She hadn't eaten all day. Well…not since lunch anyway. He shook his head in exasperation but began telling the story.
Pan and the others ate while Shin talked. Chichi of course fainted when he announced Goku and Gohan were coming back, and then she promptly burst into tears. Now she was panicking because she looked so much older than Goku would. Pan sighed and reached for another bowl of food. Trunks reappeared into the room holding the Dragon radar. As soon as Shin had mentioned the Dragonballs he IT'd home to get it.
Bulma seemed strangely calm.
"The energy detector may be able to help. I'll need to get straight home to work on it if you want it for…tomorrow?" she said. Shin nodded.
"If it is possible. Pan, Videl, when you are ready…"
"Hmm?" Pan looked up from her dinner. He gave her a flat stare.
"The Dragonballs?" he reminded her.
"Oh yeah! Hang on." She gulped down the last of her food and stood up from the table. She went to take her small pile of bowls into the kitchen. He grabbed them off her.
"I'll get it! Just go!" Shin told her. Videl was standing by the doorway chuckling. Pan glared at him and went to exit the room, then changed her mind and quickly zipped into the kitchen, picked up an apple, and then decided to leave before he told her off again. Videl was already hovering in mid-air waiting for her.
"You know you really should take this a bit more seriously." She commented. Pan raised an eyebrow.
"This from the woman who called Buu a marshmallow?" she countered. Her mother looked away.
"Point."
"It's hard to be scared now I know Dad's coming back." She said.
"True. And from what I heard Goku over the last few years we should be pretty safe." Pan bit into her apple as they flew.
"Hmm. I'll bet he's not as strong as Trunks and I. Well, maybe Trunks." She said haughtily.
"If I didn't know better I'd think you had gotten a big head." Videl commented. Suddenly the radar started beeping. "There's one…typical!" she sighed. Of course it was laying on the edge of an active volcano! "You're going to have to have a talk with Dende about this!" she grumbled. Pan grinned.
"Yeah. You get that one and I'll go on ahead and find the next one." From the look of the radar it was in Antarctica. She knew she should have brought a jacket!
"Right. See you later!" Videl floated back down to Earth as Pan powered up and flew quickly towards the South Pole.
Trunks stood on one side of his mother's chair while Shin stood on the other. He didn't mean to crowd her but he was curious as to what she was doing. She had a small circular device that looked something like the Dragon radar hooked up to her keyboard. She was busily tapping away just as she had been for the last two hours or so.
"You know this is going to take a while. You two should sit down." Bulma suggested. Neither of them moved. She was talking to herself as she worked. "Now this wire goes in there…no not here…where the hell did that screw come from? Oh…right…No! Computer don't do that!" she shouted and hit the monitor as it froze again. "Damn! Now I'm going to have to reprogram the thing!" Trunks could feel a migraine coming on. He was a capable scientist but what his mother was doing was far over his head. After he leaned over to get a better view she slowly turned her chair to face him.
"I've hinted and I've asked you nicely. Now go away! I don't want to see you in here again!" she shouted. Trunks fell backwards, startled. "You too! Go on! Go blow up the gravity room again or something." She shouted at the Supreme Kai. He blinked.
"Sorry." He moved away hastily and they both retreated to the gravity chamber. Trunks didn't feel much like training. Fortunately he added a few modifications of his own to the room…
He turned on the television screen and started flicking through the channels. Shin sat cross-legged on the ground looking at him.
"Aren't you the least bit worried?" he asked. Trunks left the screen on a Star Trek re-run and turned to him.
"A bit. But we've been through this stuff before and come through all right. Besides, with the Z fighters, you, Pan and I we can't lose!"
"You know they're not as strong as you and Pan." Shin commented. Trunks blinked.
"It makes sense. They never needed to ascend…but then if they need to train the Hyperbolic Time Chamber is still there." Trunks said. Shin nodded.
"True."
"We don't even know if this threat warrants all the worry. So just relax!" Trunks lay back on the floor.
"I don't feel right not doing anything while Pan and Videl are looking for Dragonballs and your mother is sitting up working on that device." Shin was a nice guy but he really needed to learn to relax.
"Mom hasn't had this much fun in years. And Videl and Pan are probably having the time of their lives. Just sit back and watch TV." Trunks advised as Captain Kirk set out to save the galaxy once again…
