Lighten Up
The screen disappears as mysteriously as it appeared. Everyone is left to ponder on what they've just witnessed.
The Z warriors and friends believe this may be another one of those strange anomalies that seem to happen to them quite often. Being used to such things, they take it all in stride.
Trunks and Goten are excited at the prospect of seeing more videos, hoping some will include them.
Gohan is still hoping desperately that if the screen returns, he won't be embarrassed and his secrets won't be revealed.
Goku wonders about the battle against Majin Boo that the Future Trunks mentioned. Is it an enemy that will show up in the future of this timeline? How strong is he?
Seeing as the screen has disappeared, the judges decide to continue with the tournament as planned. If the screen shows up again, they will pause the match currently in session.
The announcer tells the audience the plan and the match between Gohan and Kibito continues.
Everything seems to go well until Yamu and Spopovich tackle Gohan while everyone stands by and watches.
"Trunks, what's going on? Why isn't anyone helping Gohan?" A worried Goten asks anxiously.
"I don't know. They're all just standing there." His friend replied, just as anxious and confused.
"Maybe we should help him."
"Nah, your brother's really strong, Goten- almost as strong as my dad. He'll be fine. He's just… waiting for the right moment to strike." Trunks isn't so sure about that, but he's not about to worry Goten even more than he already is.
"But, the right moment seems like now. I really think we should go help him." Goten pleads.
"Alright, alright. We can go help him." Trunks gives in to the puppy dog eyes.
But before they can fly off to rescue Gohan, their legs are grabbed by two pairs of arms. Goku looks at the son he just met an hour ago.
"Goten, I know you're upset, but there's a reason none of us are going in to help Gohan."
Vegeta says to Trunks, "It would be needlessly reckless to rush in like a fool. We don't even know what's going on. Someone is keeping secrets and as soon as those two muscle heads," he gestures to the ring, "finish up with Gohan, I'm going to find out the full story. Until then, we'll just let things play out for now." He drops his son to the floor as Goku gently places Goten down.
"We understand, Dad." Goten says. He glances at Trunks.
"Stay out of it. I know it's difficult to just stand by and watch Gohan get hurt like this, but we've got no choice if we want Shin to tell us what's going on here. There's a bigger picture than what we've seen and I bet Piccolo has an idea who Shin and Kibito are. Otherwise, he'd be one of the first to get down there and stop Yamu and Spopovich." Goku says sternly.
All of a sudden, Gohan stops screaming. He drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes.
Yamu and Spopovich take off, not wasting a single second in getting out of there.
Kibito rushes over to Gohan to heal him while everyone crowds around Shin.
"Okay, we've stood by and watched. I think we deserve an explanation." Piccolo intones.
"Of course, but we must continue our conversation elsewhere. Follow me." Shin takes off into the air after Yamu and Spopovich.
Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, and Krillin decide to follow him. They instruct the others to stay and keep watch for the mysterious screen returning as it could be useful.
As they're flying, Shin explains that he is the Supreme Kai and why it was necessary to allow Yamu and Spopovich to drain Gohan's energy.
"Those two are the mind slaves of Babidi, a powerful wizard. He plans to resurrect Majin Boo, an alien monstrosity created by Bibidi, Babidi's father. My servant, Kibito, and I have been searching for Boo's egg, but we haven't been able to locate it. Our only hope was to follow his servants to his location once they'd collected enough energy."
"So you used Gohan."
"It was the only way."
"You could have-" But before Piccolo can finish, the same mysterious screen from before shows up directly in front of him.
"What the-" he exclaims in surprise.
The others turn to him, their eyes widening at the screen.
It reads 'Lighten up, Piccolo. Your counterpart from another timeline can do it.' before flashing a picture.
"#17, we're not using it as a training method on the others." Piccolo scowled, not exactly interested in this.
"Maybe not, but you must have some kind of fun hobby." #17 suggested.
Piccolo bared his fangs and smirked, "Sure, I've got a hobby. It's called scaring the stuffing out of weak humans!" he ended it with a growl.
"Surely you jest." #17 challenged, and then his eyes perked up, "Piccolo, I want to show you something. We just have to find the right place first."
Piccolo sighed, "Feh. Whatever, if you want to, it'll give us more a look at Canton anyways, but I don't think you're going to get me interested in whatever you're talking about."
"Aw come on, don't knock it until you've tried it." the cyborg replied in a taunting voice as he lifted up into the air and flew over to a nearby phone booth, and grabbed a phone book, looking through the yellow-pages for a few seconds.
He then closed the book, "I know where we can go now." he said, as he lifted up and flew away. Piccolo grumbled incoherently, and picked up and flew after his annoying and fun-loving ally.
After about 5 minutes of flying, #17 suddenly landed down on the ground, in the middle of a busy intersection in the Northeast section of Canton. Piccolo landed nearby.
"So what the hell are we here for anyways?" Piccolo asked. #17 pointed up above him, to a sign that read "Carlson's Motor Lot. Special Sale Today!"
Piccolo growled with some confusion, "A motor lot?"
"Follow me." #17 simply said and walked inside of the lot ahead of them. Piccolo cautiously followed, as he examined some vehicles, such as cars, trucks, motorcycles and even a few tractors from time to time. #17 walked up to a tall man near the back of the lot, who they soon found out was Leon Carlson, the owner.
"Well there, what can I..." then he saw Piccolo, in a semi-grumble mode, and looked a bit surprised, but then talked more, "Uh, What I can I do for you?"
#17 replied casually, "I'm looking for a high-end motorcycle or two with good mileage."
Leon looked at them, "Well, I'm sure I can find you something worth your time." he replied as he led them over a little towards the eastern-center of the lot, where he had pointed to a pair of Harley Davidson motorcycles, which #17 looked at as if he were a little child at Christmas.
He had read up on the motorcycles and cars of the merged world, at least what he knew would probably be sold around Canton, so he had already had a good idea that this was right up his alley. Now getting Piccolo to try it... that was a different story.
"Hey Piccolo. I want you to try one of these out!" he called over, as to make sure everyone else around knew he was speaking to the Namekian, which Piccolo found just a wee bit annoying. Piccolo then looked over at the motorcycle with a strange expression one might have when looking at a dead cockroach.
"Are you insane!" he growled.
"Whatsa matter Piccolo? You scared of a little automated bike?" #17 taunted him, hoping to use the advantage of being in public to coax Piccolo into trying it to keep his dignity.
Piccolo growled, realizing this immediately, "You damn idiot! Vehicles and I do not mix!"
"Oh come on, I know you can drive, considering Goku told me about the time you two took a driving test and got into a race with each other." #17 smirked.
Piccolo's jaw dropped about 9 inches at this statement, "That imbecile! He didn't? For your information, Chichi forced both of us into it! She thought we needed a small taste of normal life when we ended up doing that!" he then tried to explain his actions, but he was hoping that #17 hadn't know of the goofy getup and hat he had to wear that day more than #17 being aware of the driving part itself.
"Oh come on! Goku told me that it wasn't "that bad"." #17 said.
Piccolo grumbled at him, wanting to smash Goku's head into the ground now that he knew the lesser-intelligent Saiya-jin told #17 about their driving test incident. However Piccolo realized that a motorcycle was smaller than a car, and it wasn't like the others would know if he did try it once. Everyone else, even Vegeta, had at one point or another joked about how Piccolo was always dead serious all the time and didn't like to have fun.
"Grrr... FINE! I'll try the stupid motorcycle! But if any of the others see us and laugh, I'm going to give you a good beating later on!" Piccolo threatened, but giving in to his temptation.
#17 smirked, "I look forward to seeing you try." he said, as Piccolo begrudgingly walked up near the bike.
#17 asked Leon about the price of the motorcycles. He said it was a special sale at $750 dollars for each of them. He pulled out the required money, but Piccolo noticed this.
"#17, exactly where are you getting money?" he asked, with a raised eyebrow.
#17 replied, "I'll give you the full details later." he then handed Leon the money, and he boarded his own motorcycle, and Piccolo reluctantly boarded his own cycle.
After being given their ignition keys, #17 and then Piccolo turned on their motorcycles and revved them up for their test drive. Soon, #17 drove his way out of the lot and onto the road. Piccolo grumbled, and accelerated after him, and wondered what exactly #17 was trying to get him to do. The two would drive off and head back westward, heading down streets until they'd make a turn on Tuscarawas Ave. and drove westward down the wider road. (1)
"That was a complete waste of my time! I would never ride a motorcycle- not even in an alternate universe!" Piccolo scowls, crossing his arms.
Goku comments, "You have to admit, Piccolo, you looked pretty cool riding a motorcycle."
"And why would I be hanging around Android 17 anyway?" he continues.
"Enough of this nonsense! We need to get back to the matter at hand. Or have you all forgotten the dangerous threat to Earth, as well as the universe?" Vegeta interrupts.
"Vegeta is correct. We must not waste anymore time. We have to continue following the trail- and quickly, or else Yamu and Spopovich will be too far ahead of us." Shin warns.
"Let's go."
They blast away, leaving nothing behind but a blank screen.
(1) The Misfits, Series 1 by Lord CyroMinion
