Part Four

Gohan held the golf club nervously. He, and his colleagues from the conference, was stood on the cut grass at the first tee of the local golf course. Gohan had not realised that the morning of the second day of the conference was a considered a break. Many of the attendees had decided to try the course along the side of the island and, with his usual meek nature, Gohan had been press-ganged into going along. He now felt as he did when playing baseball on his first day at Orange Star High School.

Dr Matronyn struck first, sending the ball neatly onto the fair way. The others clapped and, after a moment, Gohan did as well. Dr Matronyn stepped back, pleased with himself, and lit a cigarette. Dr Hill then slapped Gohan on the back.

"Okay, Dr Son, your go," he said.

"Uh, right, great!" Gohan grinned nervously. "So, what am I meant to be doing again?"

"It's simple. You want to hit the ball onto the fairway, that's the long stretch of cut grass, as far as you can. From there you'll be playing out onto the green and then putting, attempting to hole the ball at the flag. This hole is a Par Four, so you want to get the ball in on four shots or less. The lower your score after eighteen holes the better."

"Okay. Thanks. Great." Gohan placed his ball on the tee and held the club next to it. Control, Gohan, control, he thought. You don't want to hit this too hard. Just lightly tap it, play a bad shot. Then maybe they won't want you to play anymore, because you'll be slowing them down. Yes, that's best!

Gohan smiled at his plan. He wiggled the club a little and bent his knees. Then he stretched the club back over his shoulder, preparing to swing and lightly clip the ball.

He was halfway through his downswing when the jolt of energy ran through his senses.

He snapped his head up, looking out over the water, and smacked the ball, which rocketed up into the sky, a sonic boom blowing off its back as it became a small black dot and then disappeared.

Dr Matronyn's cigarette dropped from his mouth. "We're playing from where the ball lands right?" he asked his bemused colleagues.

Dr Hill stepped up to Gohan who was still looking out over the ocean. "Well… that was quite some shot Gohan."

"Huh?" Gohan looked over at him.

"Your shot. I mean that broke the sound barrier."

"Did it really?" Gohan said, with exaggerated surprise. "Wow! What luck!"

"God knows where that landed, not on this island at any rate. Unfortunately that'll probably have to be a penalty shot off the tee, so if you'd like to place another ball…"

"Uh, I don't think I'd better. I don't think golf is for me." Gohan handed Dr Hill his club. "Anyway I have to go to the bathroom. See you guys later!" He ran off the tee and along the path back towards the University and was soon out of sight.

David Hill stared at the club in his hand a moment and then shrugged. "Weird. But when you've got to go you've got to go… Okay, Carl you hit next," he said, pointing at a tall man with dark hair.

Suddenly another sonic boom rocked the group, as an object jetted out over the ocean, gone before anyone could see it, leaving only a slipstream behind.

"What the Hell is going on today!?"

Gohan accelerated. The ocean waves below him were pushed aside, making the water much choppier than it should have been on the calm day.

Come on, come on! He gritted his teeth. Where are you? It should have been… There!

Gohan put on another jet of speed, stretched out his arms and caught his father, moments before Son Goku's unconscious body would have hit the water. Gohan pulled up slightly and glanced down at his father. He was still alive, barely. He'd have to resuscitate him quickly.

"Damn idiot! I told him!"

He increased his power again and blasted towards the Kame House.

Uub sat cross-legged and content whilst his mother fussed around him. She was a slightly pudgy woman, well respected within the village. She wore the traditional cloth garb along with a scarf over her forehead. They were in the house, a small pre-capsule building, with only two rooms; the living room and master bedroom. There was little furniture, only a carpet, on which Uub was sat, a table, a stove and a makeshift bed in the corner. The roof was made of thatched wood.

"You don't look like you've been eating well…"

"Mom…"

"And your hair! Oh I told you to get that cut!"

"Mom, I'm fine, honestly," Uub protested. He ran a hand through his mohawk hair, as if to emphasis the point that it was staying. As opposed to being dressed in either his training gi, similar to his master Son Goku's, he was instead wearing a pair of baggy trousers, that finished just below his knees, and a cloth garb draped over one shoulder and tied around his waste. "I've been living well out there, eating well and my powers have developed much more than before."

His mom crossed her arms. "Oh yes, your powers. Such wonders that they've increased under the tutelage of that man, what was his name? Son Gako? Eating us nearly out of home…"

"Mom…" Uub couldn't help the smile that spread over his face. He knew that his mother had liked Goku, despite his eating, and was pleased with his development. That didn't stop her having the occasional dig though, especially as her son was now becoming a fighter as opposed to a farmer.

"Okay, okay, rant over and fussing over," his mom said, waving her hands. A sudden wicked look crossed her face. "How's the city life then?" she asked sweetly. "Any Uub juniors on the horizon?"

"Mom!" Uub shouted in embarrassment as his mother laughed.

The young man was spared the horror of that conversation when there was a knock at the door.

"Come in," Uub quickly called.

The door opened and a man's head poked around the door. "Friend of yours to see you Uub," he said.

"Okay, thanks for letting me know, I'll be out in a sec." Perfect timing, Uub thought, knowing full well who it was. He leapt to his feet. "Well it'd be rude to keep them waiting, especially in this heat, so I'll just pop outside to see them and then never return to the aforementioned subject."

Before his mother could protest he dashed to the door and outside into the sun. The grass on the ground was dry but certain patches were damp, likely from water carried from the lake. The outside village was a loose collection of small homes and carts, with the other villagers milling around them. At the centre of the village, next to an old hover car, stood Yamcha.

The ex-bandit and former Turtle School Martial Arts Student and former professional baseball player had, surprisingly, aged quite well. He was balding a little now, with his hair a pale white, but other than that he looked fairly youthful. His scars, a cross on his left cheek and a long line from his forehead over his right eye, looked more prominent than they had, fiercer, as his skin pulled in a little with age. He smiled when he saw Uub approach.

"Hey," Uub called. "You have no idea how much I owe you."

"Oh? And how did I manage this miracle?"

"You don't want to know…"

Yamcha laughed. "If you say so! You can buy me a drink when I next see you. How are you doing anyway, its been awhile?"

Uub beamed. "Good actually, I'm back visiting my Mom."

As if on cue his mother stepped out of the house and caught up with her son. "Who's your friend Uub?" she asked.

"Mom, this is Yamcha. He's one of Goku's oldest friends."

Yamcha shook her hand. "I actually had the pleasure of being his first enemy and rival. A rivalry that lasted until he had something to eat."

Uub chuckled. "He told me about that. What are you doing out here anyway?"

"Ah, I'm just on a road trip. Visiting old haunts."

"Ah, so visiting the area of the first Boudokai you participated in?"

"Yeah, back when I thought I was going to make a fortune winning the competition. Then Goku, Krillin and a disguised Master Roshi turned up and that was that." Uub and Yamcha shared a grin. "So, anyway, I thought I'd be neat to trace out the various places that I went to, back in the old days, especially after Puar…" He paused. Then a sad smile passed his lips. "Well, no need to go over that again…"

"Yeah…"

There was a moment of silence, before Yamcha rapped the side of his hover car. "I'd best be off," he announced. "Travelling old style, so there's not much time except for a passing visit." He leaned over and shook Uub's mothers hand again. "A pleasure to meet you. You have a very remarkable boy."

"I know," she replied, putting an arm around Uub and swelling slightly with pride. "We always knew he was special. Especially after he saved most of the village during that horrendous hurricane when he was four."

"Mooommm…" Uub rubbed his hair embarrassed.

Yamcha smiled at him. Opened his mouth. Paused. Then shook his head. "Okay, see you around then," he said, jumping into the hover car and starting the engine.

"Enjoy your tour!"

"I will do!"

Yamcha waved and then pressed the accelerator. The hover car coughed a little then smoothly shot out of the village, weaving between the various huts.

"He seems a nice man," Uub's mom said. "You should have more friends visit sometime."

"Right Mom."

"Now come along. You're going to help me cook you something proper to eat." She started back towards the house.

Uub smiled and followed her. "Yes Mom."

Trunks dug into his second helping of sausages, egg and bacon whilst he waited for Goten to arrive. He was sat outside at a small café, in the centre of the city. His friend was meant to have been there by now, but Trunks didn't mind. It allowed him to catch up on his food, which he had missed that morning.

"Hey Trunks!"

He glanced up and smiled. Goten was walking towards him, waving with one hand and with the other in his pocket. He was dressed in a white shirt and jeans, his very long, spiky hair, dropping over his back to his waist.

"Hi Goten," Trunks replied as his friend sat down. "Your hair is even longer than when I last saw it."

Goten grinned and ran his hand through his hair. "I know. Dad says I look like Uncle Raditz, though I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing!" he laughed.

Trunks smiled. "So can I get you anything?"

"Ah, I'll have what you're having. Two of what you're having."

Trunks signalled to the waiter as Goten leaned back in his chair.

Goten was very laid-back and, unlike Trunks, had no regular work. He had hoped to take up his father's occupation of professional unemployment but his mom had been very opposed to the idea. He now drifted from one job to another. Presently he worked for a building company and was putting together a new office building in West City. Thanks to his great superhuman strength the job required barely any effort and he could spend a lot his time goofing off. His ability to sense energy also allowed him to know when his boss was coming.

"I presume you know why I've asked you here?" Trunks said, having made Goten's order.

"Not really," Goten replied, setting down his chair.

"Okay, I would have thought it obvious, but I wanted to make you my official choice for best man at the upcoming wedding."

"Ah." Goten scratched the back of his head. "I don't know Trunks, it's a lot of responsibility… And you know weddings and formality and that stuff doesn't really sit that great with me."

"Oh come on Goten, who else am I going to ask?"

"Weeeelllllll… I guess I could do it… on one condition."

Trunks sighed and rested his face on his hand. "And that condition is?"

Goten paused in thought a moment and then grinned. "We have to be Gotenks on your wedding night."

Trunks blushed and spluttered. Goten howled with laughter.

"Oh my God! You should have seen your face!"

"That wasn't funny Goten," Trunks growled.

"Yes it was!"

Trunks glared at his friend for a moment and then let a small smile grace his face. "Yes I suppose it was. Does that mean you are going to be my best man?"

"Of course I am. I'd be insulted if I wasn't."

The waiter brought over Goten's food and he began to eat.

"So how is the planning for the wedding going anyway?" Goten asked between mouthfuls.

Trunks grimaced. "It's… tricky… Mom's gone overboard on planning. Dad's utterly indifferent; at least once his idea of a traditional Saiyan wedding was rejected. I gather things are similar with Estella's parents. I'm certainly very anxious about tonight, Mom and Dad are going to be meeting Estella for the first time. Oh and by the way your Mom and Dad are coming round mine tonight as well."

Goten groaned. "Oh no…"

"What?"

"Whenever Mom sees these wedding arrangement things she always nags at me for not having a fiancée yet, or a wife yet, or a grandchild yet… It's got even worse since I broke up with Jamelia."

"Yeah… how did you guys break up anyway?"

"My tail decided to grow back at a very inopportune moment and she got freaked out."

Trunks made a face. "I told you you should tell her."

"I know, I know, but it's not easy. You should know, you had a massive existential crisis when you were planning on telling Estella."

The two lapsed into silence for a moment as Goten continued eating.

"Why did you invite my parents along?" Goten asked.

"I don't know. I guess I'm hoping that their presence will keep my parents from getting out of hand."

"You think putting my Dad and your Dad in the same room, will help keep things from getting out of hand?"

Trunks waved his hand. "Yes, yes. But I doubt they'll get into a fight so long as our Mom's are there."

"I'll keep my eye on the news to see how well that theory goes," Goten responded which made Trunks laugh.

Goten finished his food and the waiter took the plates away. Trunks asked him to get the bill and, over Goten's protests, insisted that he would get it.

"So what are you doing for the rest of the day?" Goten asked.

"Not much, avoiding work. Yourself?"

"The same."

"Okay…" Trunks flicked his eyes left and right and then leaned across the table. Goten did the same. "Goten," Trunks whispered, "What can you tell me about the people sat at the table behind us?"

Goten glanced over Trunks shoulder. At the table were two figures, dressed in long cloaks with hoods over their faces. They were both eating pastries of some sort.

"Not much. One about average height, one a bit shorter. Eating pastries. Wearing long cloaks."

"Right. And they're ki signature?"

"Unusual."

"That's what I thought…"

"What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking that we might want to keep an eye on them."

Goten nodded.

"You track them," Trunks continued, "And I'll join you later."

Goten nodded.

Instantly they both leaned back. "Well it was great to see you again Goten," Trunks said.

"Likewise," Goten replied, smiling.

Trunks stood up, took some money out and left it on the table. "See you around, have a good day."

"I will do."

Trunks smiled and put his hands in his pocket. He strolled past Goten and away down the street, but kept his senses fixed on the ki signature of his friend and the two mysterious figures.

Goten stayed sat the table, lounging and finishing his drink, looking up at the sky.

The two cloaked figures sat at the table for a moment longer. Then they paid for their food, stood up and walked away silently, in the opposite direction to where Trunks had gone. Goten looked down from the sky and waited until they were a suitable distance away. Then he too stood up and followed them into the crowd.

The lock on the door rattled. Then the doorknob turned. Then the door opened, silently.

Pan floated into the house and, after a surreptitious glance around, nudged the door closed. She then proceeded to float over the floor and up the stairs and then almost lost her balance when a voice caught by surprise.

"You know," Videl said from the living room, "your father did teach me how to sense ki signatures."

Pan cringed. She dropped to the floor and swept into the living room with a large smile on her face. "Hi Mom!" she exclaimed. "You're looking particularly radiant this morning!"

Videl, leaning against the windowsill, her arms crossed and a harsh expression on her face didn't look anything like radiant. "And where were you last night?" she asked.

"Oh, I was round Bra's. You know, I went to hers to do some work and then it got late and then…"

Videl held out her hand. "Bag."

"Mom…"

"Bag Pan…"

Pan sighed and reluctantly handed her rucksack over. Videl opened the top pocket and pulled out the top of the dress she'd worn. She chucked the bag back to Pan, who caught it.

"And you were planning on telling me that you were going to be out partying out all night, when?"

"It wasn't planned," Pan muttered, heading over to the kitchen sink. "It just kind of happened." She took out a glass and filled it with water.

"A single phone call would have sufficed, I'm sure Capsule Corp. must have one lying around."

"But Mom, it was fine, we just… went out, you know."

"Fine, huh? So is that fine, 'nothing happened' or fine 'we need to start gathering the Dragon Balls fine'?"

"Oh come on, I have more self-control than that…"

"Look Pan, I know that you're very strong, much stronger than me, but it still doesn't stop either me or your father worrying about you. We just like to know where you are and to have you tell us, not constantly having to trace your presence through ki signatures."

"Okay, okay, jeez…" Pan sipped the water. "Does Dad know?"

Videl shook her head. "I didn't think it best to trouble him. He was pretty upset yesterday?"

"Really? Why?"

"Planet Namek was destroyed by a star going nova," she said after a moment.

"Oh… God…"

"Yeah."

"Is he okay?"

"I think so. Your father's resilient; he'll be able to cope. He's coming home from the conference tonight and I want you to be in when he gets here. And then stay in. Papa Hercule and Uncle Buu are coming round for dinner tonight as well."

"I know, I remembered." She finished her water. "I'm sorry Mom." She darted over and gave Videl a hug. She stroked her daughter's hair.

"It's okay. Just promise you'll try and be a bit more considerate to your parents feelings in future?"

"I promise I'll try Mommy."

"I don't like the sound of that 'try'…"

Pan laughed.

Son Goku opened his eyes.

The light from the ceiling made him squint and raise his arm. He sat up slowly. His mouth was dry and he smacked his lips a few times. He was resting on the couch in Kame House; he recognised it now.

"Here drink this," he heard Chi-Chi say and felt a cold glass being put into his hand.

"Thanks," he replied and drank. It was water. It tasted good. "What happened? My head really hurts…"

"What happened is that you did exactly what I told you you could not do."

Goku winced and looked over. Leaning on the front door, his arms crossed, was his son Gohan. And his expression was fierce.

"Oh hey, Gohan. What are you…?"

"Did I not tell you, father, that you couldn't become a Super Saiyan 3 anymore? That the stress it put on your body would be too much, especially for your weak heart? And what do I sense, whilst I'm standing on a golf course with my colleagues? You powering up to that level in the middle of nowhere!"

"Look, Gohan, I know I did…"

"I had to fly across the ocean, grab your unconscious body, bring it back here and resuscitate you! Your… selfishness and desperate attempt to recapture past glories has caused Mom a lot of pain and me a lot of trouble!"

Goku looked down.

"I'm sorry Gohan… I just… I just thought that…"

"No, Dad, you didn't think. You never think. Least of all about other people."

"Gohan!" Chi-Chi glanced up at her son with a pained expression. "That's a bit much."

"No, Chi-Chi, it's okay," Goku said quietly. "He's right to say it."

Gohan stared at his father for a moment, then shook his head and turned around. "I've got to get back to my conference now," he said, wrenching open the door. "Enjoy the dinner tonight."

"Gohan, don't…" his mother pleaded, but he was long gone into the sky.

Silence settled on the room.

"I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused," Goku said after a while.

"Ah, don't feel too bad" Krillin, who had been standing awkwardly by the kitchen cabinets, said. "I mean even I've tried to recapture old glories. I've taken to wearing our old trainings shells again."

Goku smiled a little. Then he stood up. "Come on Chi-Chi, we'd better head back home."

"Goku, are you sure you can?" Chi-Chi asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine now." He touched his index and middle finger to his forehead and Chi-Chi took his free hand in hers. "See you later," he announced, a brief flash of his normal joyful voice emerging.

"Sure. Enjoy Bulma's," Krillin said, waving at him.

An instant later husband and wife disappeared.

Goten pressed his back against the bolder and peaked around the side. He had tailed the two cloaked figures up into the small rocky hills next to the city. They seemed to not be going anywhere.

What are you up to? he thought. As he had followed them he had picked up details. One, the taller of the two, seemed to be wearing boots similar to the ones Vegeta wore. The shorter of the two seemed to not be wearing anything and he occasionally thought he caught the glimpse of a tail.

They stopped. Goten drew back his head when he noticed them turning around.

"You can come out now!" a voice rang out, somehow sounding both high-pitched and deep at the same time.

Goten's eyes widened. They can't have…

A small ki blast struck the top of the boulder.

They have…

Goten swung out from behind it and looked across at them. They were still cloaked and staring at him. He couldn't make out anything beneath the hoods. Slowly Goten began raising his power level, knowing that Trunks would see that as the signal.

"You've been following us for a while," the shorter figure said. "I was wondering if you were wanting something?"

"Maybe," Goten replied. "Maybe I'm just practicing my sneaking skills."

The figure snorted. "Even if I couldn't sense your energy, and I assure you I can, your pungent monkey smell would have given away your presence anywhere."

"My what?" He furrowed his brows, confused, whilst also attempting to sneak a sniff of his armpit.

"And clearly you can't be that clever a spy if you'd follow us all the way into a secluded area like this." The figure waved his hand at the expanse.

"Or maybe I'm just confident," he replied with a smirk.

"Perhaps. Or… Ah… So when can we expect your purple haired friend?" Goten tried to hide his surprise. The figure glanced up. "Seems he's here now."

Trunks descended from the sky and touched down next to Goten. Goten nodded at him.

"Good day to you as well," the figure said, inclining his head at Trunks. "I was just remarking on your friends poor following ability."

"Who said we were interested in sneakily following you," Trunks replied. "Perhaps we have you right where we want you."

"It'd be news to me… So what do you want?"

"We're interested in you and your friend," Trunks said. "We noticed an unusual energy signature from you two. Besides which, wearing cloaks like that and hiding your faces? Come on its like you want people to be suspicious."

The figure laughed. "Perhaps I did. And perhaps you've done exactly what I was hoping you'd do."

Trunks and Goten exchanged a look. It hadn't occurred to either of them that they were the ones being drawn in.

"However," the figure continued. "If it worries you so much that you can't see my face… I'm happy to remedy that." The figure reached up and pulled back his hood.

Goten and Trunks' eyes widened in shock.

"Frieza!?"

So... something of a cliff-hanger there.

Thank you for reading, hope you enjoyed this latest chapter. Also, I realize that this is Dragon Ball and that there hasn't been a single fight yet. You will be rewarded for your patience next chapter. Promise!

Q: So, I'm starting to think that this ancient evil is the one who sealed Elder Kai in the Z-Sword

A: Ha, ha, not quite. That'd be a bit too DBM (I was actually thinking of name checking XXI, but decided to hold off on that).

Q: So, Jack is the Farmer's son, huh? That fits

A: Yeah, I'm hoping to insert lots of little allusions and nods to moments in the previous series: so watch out for them!

Q: I may be way off here, but I get the feeling this villain of yours is somehow related to Frieza.

A: Maybeee...

Q: One thing that kind of bugged me was the arguably OOC dialogue of some characters at times.

A: Thanks for pointing that out, I've tried to adjust things accordingly.

Q: Another thing that bugs me is the fact that King Kai didn't notice the trouble on Namek considering he's supposed to be watching over that part of the universe and I'd think with all that's happened both him and the Kaioshin would want to keep a close eye on all things regarding the Dragon Balls. Then again it could just be another case of Kai incompetence I guess.

A: Pretty much. The long years without major incident has sort of lulled them into a false sense of security.