Well damn. It took me long enough, but I finally updated this Dragon Ball fic. It might take a while, but I will try not to take forever again. I know I had to shelve my DC fic until I have more time to work on it, and maybe even redo it. For now, however, this is my main fanfic that isn't My Hero related. Instead, it's a different overrated Shonen! I kid. I kid. I love them both, hence why I write them.

So, let's address something. There are a lot of references to Dragon Ball Lore. I wanted to plant seeds for the future. There are things I want to explore later, but you can't just dump it all at once in a wall of text. You have to start somewhere and seed that info through the story, building both the world and the narrative. I wanted to show that the Galaxy Soldiers are warriors out of time. They had been imprisoned in King Kai's planet for so long that the Universe had moved on. Now, they are in a hurry to catch up, and the universe better watch its ass.

I know the Arkosians are often thought to be Freeza's race and I suppose they could be. Instead, I made them a separate species. Either way, aside from just going "This is from a movie. This could happen in the future!" I asked myself.

"What has Bojack seen? What has he done? What names would pass his hips and whose lips would tremble as they breathlessly eked out his name before succumbing to oblivion?"

I also wanted to explore things like "What is 17 up to? How is Gohan coping? Was Goku actually just as fucked up as Gohan? At least Gohan had living parents and an education. How did X.S. Cash reach out to aliens for his tournament? Was that in the Bojack movie? I never actually watched that one."

That sort of stuff.

Finally, let's get to Zangia… God I tried to have it both ways here. My friend Annie is going to hit me with a shoe. Haha. Anyway, I saw what was done with Zangya and, much like everyone else, found it lacking. I also wanted to explore Gohan's life up to this point through his eyes by lampshading it with a parallel character. I wanted to also give him friends his age instead of a bunch of 30 year olds, his mom and grandpa, and a pet dragon. There's Lime, from that one filler. However, I did something different with Tao so far and have further plans, so she might just get a cameo.

I saw these issues, as well as not enough female fighters and stories, and mixed them all together in a big pot, adding the Super Broly method for seasoning. I hope this take on things is satisfying and gets you all invested. The entirety of Zangia being molded after a parent, as well as her being shoved into a chamber and forced to grow up quite literally… Yeah. I'm not very subtle here.

Finally… I need to add a content Warning.

THIS SHIT IS GOING TO BE ROUGH! SOme people have seen and read worse. I know. But yeah… Bojack is straight up abusive and while the others are uneasy, they go along with it. I will explore this more over the course of this arc and beyond. Bojack isn't entirely 2 dimensional here and we'll see his logic.

But to be clear, he is the villain and he is an abusive piece of shit. Clear? Cool. Sorry for the child torture. It will get better.

Thanks again to Annie, Galileo (my friend, not the ancient figure), and G-Viral for all their help. And thanks to y'all for reading.

—-

Bojack disembarked from the ship, flanked by his men as they gazed around at their surroundings. The planet's atmosphere was breathable, with a slight hint of cinnamon contrasting the cold, technological nature of the landing site. The captain spoke. "I thought I recognized this ship. It's got a similar construction to Chilled's armada. Far more advanced but I recognize a rival Pirate anywhere. Doubt he survived all this time."

"Maybe his family did. Anyway, according to this map, half our favorite marks are gone," Bido leaned over Bojack's shoulder, taking out a small tablet and zooming out to show a star chart of the quadrant, with various dots crossed out to signify their absence.

"Shame. Konats was practically a treasure trove. It was a great place to kick up your feet too. Same thing goes for Alpha. Shame. Still, it's a big cosmos and it's been a long time. We're bound to find something of value."

"So this is the place, huh? Kind of a dump." Bojack looked around with a cocky smile, stretching his arms out as if to challenge the entire planet to hit him with everything it had. When it became apparent that he was not going to have a fight just yet, the teal-skinned man became thoughtful.

"Nobody has set foot on this world in ages. I think the Arcosians did for a while. This setup is in line with their MO. The technology looks like something I found on my very first mission." Bojack pondered, narrowing his eyes as he scanned the landscape and got his further bearings.

"Then why are we here?" Bujin crossed his arms, surveying the landscape of abandoned buildings from ground level before taking to the sky for a better view.

"Because somebody never left. Let's just say my ex left something here and I'm making a claim."

"What could be so worthwhile that she left here?" Bido walked up next to his captain, taking out some binoculars to get a better look.

"A weapon of great potential, and if I can control her, the universe is practically ours on a silver platter." Bojack sneered, closing his eyes and listening for something. He could feel the vibrations, but he was listening for something in particular, a sequence that she would have set.

The pirate sneered. This was all too easy, like finding out the lock combination your ex-wife uses to store valuables. In essence, that's all this was to him.

"Follow me boys. Our key to riches is in one of these labs, practically gift wrapped." Bojack walked slowly in the direction he had listened towards, then stopped to look over his shoulder at his second-in-command. "and put those Binoculars away. You wouldn't know what to look for anyway." In a flash, the man was gone, having sped towards his prize

The rest of the Galaxy soldiers flew for a slightly more conspicuous building bearing an upside down crest that only Bojack recognized. Sure enough, he stood underneath it, grinning in satisfaction. "This is Arcosian alright. Any of you boys know what it says?"

"Sadly, I'm a bit rusty but it looks like-" Bido started, only to be silenced as Bojack slammed a fist through the door's center and dragged it off its hinges. As he discarded the useless slab and dusted his hands off, he turned with a flourish. "Pull to open. C'mon. In here."

The Galaxy Soldiers entered the building and were greeted by a greater foyer, branching out into dimly lit corridors lined with lights and machinery.

As they made their way deeper, they could see a brighter room up ahead. While unsure where they were going, Bido, Bujin, and Kogu followed behind Bojack as he made his way through.

"Captain's intuition…" Bojack stood steadfast, back turned to his crewmates without ever making eye contact. He swiftly produced a small rectangular piece of technology that was patterned similarly to Frieza Force armor, not that any of the Heran men would recognize that name.

Bojack considered the device for a moment, getting a feel for its weight and build before continuing to address his crew. "I also nabbed this while we were on the ship. Handy little gadget. I'm not entirely sure how it works, but it seems to have been able to pull up a map of the area. I'll have to thank whoever designed this remarkable toy by killing their race quickly."

"What if it's already a dead race?" Kogu spoke, breaking his previous silence as he got closer to investigate the object. "It could have been swiped by whoever we commandeered it from."

"Saves me the trouble then, but it's foolhardy to assume without checking. Besides, it practically has their branding. Use your head before you lose it" The pirate playfully slapped his crewmate's face, then focused on the screen of the gizmo and tapped it twice. "Here we are: The main lab. Spread out. We'll find what we're looking for faster that way."

The crew split up and scoured each nook and cranny for anything that stood out. Within a matter of minutes, their prize was found.

"Well, I'll be damned…She looks like the Spitting image of…" Bido's eyes widened in surprise before he took on a smug grin. "Is this our 'weapon', Bojack?"

The captain turned his head in the direction of his first mate's voice and wandered over, pleased by the find. This was all too easy.

"Good eye, Bido. Now stand aside and make that console. That should be the control node for these pods." Bojack gestured over to the row of cryostasis units behind him.

The door hissed as steam escaped and the pod door swung open wide.

"Wakey wake, girl. It's time to get up."

"Who…are you?" The girl spoke up in a groggy voice, setting eyes upon the large imposing man before her. She could see the top of a large snake tattooed on his chest but was brought to attention when she was addressed.

"You don't recognize me? Here…" Bojack smashed a glass display and held up one of the larger shards so the girl could see her reflection. The girl looked between the shards and the man until it clicked and the dream program's cryptic warning echoed through her head.

"We're the same. In fact, I am your father. I've come to take you home… Zangia."

"Zangia? Is that…my name?" The girl asked slowly, piecing it together. It was like watching a person thaw out of a robotic haze of prolonged slumber.

"You've been asleep a long time. But yes. You were named after a vain and cowardly woman, as cruel as they come. Now's not the time for that, however. We're headed out."

The crew started to walk towards the exit. Zangia, seeing this, decided to follow but was blocked by Bojack's arm. "Wait, is there a problem? You said we were leaving, correct?"

"Well, yes. But before we go, I need to test some things. How are you feeling, daughter?" Bojack knelt down to face the young girl, placing a hand on her shoulder.

The hand felt strange, warm and firm and yet, strangely foreboding. It was hard to place why though, and she was looking forward to leaving. She supposed she could just be feeling anxiety about new horizons. "I… think I'm fine."

Any kind demeanor that Bojack might have given off slowly dissipated, revealing his true self. "You do, huh? Let's test that. Shake off the rust," the large man mused as he tested his grip strength. Once he was satisfied, he disappeared in an instant, appearing behind his daughter.

"Nothing personal, but you are way too slow…" Bojack scowled, delivering a vicious kidney punch to the girl, followed by a roundhouse kick to the head.

She was on the ground in an instant, rubbing her head in confusion and pain. The pain in her skull felt like nothing compared to the agony and confusion in her heart. Her mind was racing in a million different directions, all of which would hopefully lead to her escape.

"Get up. Retaliate. I could have killed you and leveled this building if I wanted to, but I don't." Bojack cracked his neck and flexed his knuckles. "If you're my offspring, prove it. I came here for something and so far, I have found only disappointment"

"Why are…Why are you doing this to me?"

"You are soft and innocent…in this universe…in this…family? That is unacceptable. I'll give you one more chance to hit me or you're going back where you came."

The girl panicked, feeling her legs shake. She didn't want this. Maybe she was safer in the pod. Would that have been so bad? At least she would be safe. She could rest in her electronic world of fantasy and never be disturbed again.

And yet, she wanted freedom from this planet, from her dreams and simulations. This was her chance at freedom, at having a home she could touch and food she could taste. But first, she needed to prove she was strong enough to escape.

Maybe she could outrun them right now. The girl closed her eyes and focused, then formed some wires in her hand, made of light. Bojack raised an eyebrow at this as she came at him.

"Oh? Like your mother then. We chose your name well, Zangia! Come at me, girl!" The hulking brute took a stance, studying the girl's moves carefully.

She threw a feint, somersaulted onto Bojack's face and booked it for the exit. It was like her dreams, where she could run and fly through endless fields of yellow and skies of lavender. Unfortunately, those dreams were about to shatter, followed by a few bones. For now, she was grabbed by the leg, held in place like a utensil.

"You've inherited cowardice then. I see I must shake the sleep out of you to get what I want."

Zangia screamed in pain as she was ragdolled around by the leg, slammed into walls and the floor before being flung into the ceiling. As she plummeted towards the ground, Bojack leapt up and pulled her into a bear hug. In a violent display, the Galaxy Soldier suplexed her into the ground, leaving her gasping and hoarse.

"What are you doing, stupid girl? This universe is cruel. I am proof of that. Will you be cruel right back or will you die pitifully by your father's hand before even truly living? Choose, you sickening child!"

Zangia was frightened, eager to escape and find some moment of peace. Perhaps the dream she was in was safer after all. And yet that fast universe she had dreamed of, with things she could touch and food she could taste, beckoned her.

She could not have that if she were dead and she could not have it if she were dreaming.

"Hrnggg…GYAH!" The young girl shouted in desperation, grabbing her father's face and pouting all her energy into his mouth. It wasn't much of a strategy, but it could buy her time.

As her father loosened his grip, the girl rolled away and made a beeline for his legs. Every movement was currently agony, but she needed to fight to survive. She couldn't recall ever being trained, but the thoughts came as easily as a breath.

Zangia went for a leg sweep, sliding along the ground in a flash. That was when it all went wrong, and when it truly registered in her mind that she was dealing with someone far beyond her.

Bojack jumped briefly, avoiding her sweep deftly. Their eyes met: father and daughter. The man sighed and, like a bolt of lightning, descended with a powerful stomp, shattering her leg.

"Disappointing…Promising but ultimately disappointing… Bido? Put her back in." Bojack spat solemnly. Bido looked to Kogu with uncertainty, then back to Bojack.

"Are you sure about this?" The bearded man questioned. Sure they were ruthless and normally had no qualms about killing their own. However, she was just a kid; Bojack's kid.

"Have I done anything worth questioning?"

"Please, no. What are you doing? You said I would be going with you! I don't want to go back to sleep!"

"Oh you are, my child. You are…and who said anything about sleep? You just woke up. Strap her in and activate the machine. She's no use to us this broken…or this small. We don't need a kid. We need another soldier. "

Zangya tried to bang on the glass to get free, but her arms and legs were restrained. The harness agitated her injuries and adrenaline was the only thing keeping her from blacking out. No matter how much she struggled, the machine seemed to absorb her strength and even bolster its own defenses. A needle was jabbed into her neck, eliciting a gasp of shock. The syrup within made her muscles ache and her veins burn.

"It looks like there is normally a numbing agent and anesthesia applied, as well as a full day to make the process go as painlessly as possible."

"Fascinating. We don't have that kind of time and I don't have that kind of patience. My techniques and fighting specs are on file here. Download them into the computer and upload them into her." Bojack tossed a disk to his crew mate. "Some of her techniques are in there as well. It's only fair since she helped create this."

"So that's why you were in the training room the whole trip with blast shields up. Didn't think that heap would hold."

"There should be another one around here. For now, turn up the juice."

The young girl shrieked and howled as her limbs stretched and her whole body buckled. She could feel herself convulse with each bolt of energy fired into her to speed up the serum's effects.

"Sir, with respect, this could leave her dead or at least disfigured," Bido reminded his captain. He didn't want to overstep his boundaries, but it was good to remind him of why they were here.

Bojack shot him a strange look, as if he had grown a second head. "We're on a clone world. You say that like it's a legitimate concern."

Bido shook his head and backed off. "Fair enough."

Hours of this operatic agony passed until the girl's lungs gave out and she passed out, having coughed blood on her torn clothes. She was already longing for the dream world she had been torn from. The girl cursed her desire for freedom from the dream, and the ability to feel her surroundings. But now, she had been given her wish, violently.

"Keep it together, my Zangia. Let the hatred simmer and use it to fuel you. If you survive, you'll thank me. If not, well… we'll get it right eventually." He nodded solemnly, placing a hand against the glass as he observed the results. "We are soldiers, we are pirates. Sentimentality drowns in the oceans of blood we leave in our wake."

When the process had finished, the restraints were released and a quick jolt was administered to resuscitate the young woman. She looked into the shards of broken glass once more and, through her blurry vision and agony, she was shocked to see an older face staring back.

"Not a full adult. Late Teens I would say. At least she survived…for now. On your feet, Zangya. You're a mess. Good thing I brought a change of clothes."

The man tossed the girl a bundle of clothes, which she caught reflexively. "Get dressed, then come at me again. If you impress me, you'll get off this rock. If not, you'll die here."

"Good. There's rage in you. What I want to see. Show me power a God of Destruction would wince at. This is your survival, welp. FIGHT FOR IT OR BE CULLED!"

Zangia contemplated her new body. She was in utter disbelief. It had to be a dream again. She no longer felt the pain of her injuries or of being stretched out. She assumed the position? As if something had been forced into her mind while other things were pulled out from the depths.

Her hypothesis was denied when she blocked a punch from her father. She could feel the impact in her hand, rippling through her body. She gripped his fist the best she could, though it was hard to wrap her hand around something so massive. At least, it was in comparison to her hand.

"Still not impressed, but we're getting there."

A dot of lite emanated from her forehead as she focused and strained. An eye made of pure energy formed on her forehead before firing into Bojack's face. Bido watched with interest as he recognized a move he had created, only for it to have been mastered by somebody else.

A slide dash under her father's legs was followed up by a brutal ax kick and a barrage of energy attacks. The attacks surrounded Bojack and shifted him about, though not without resistance.

"Anything to say for yourself?"

"No."

It was the answer of a child, impetuous on the surface but so anxious and fragile as it hid behind its icy shell of false confidence and quiet violence.

She went for a quick succession of kicks and punches, some of which were blocked or dodged while others landed.

The wires from the girl's fingers became sharper, drawing blood from Bojack's neck. Her eyes went wide as she realized what she was doing.

"Good. Well… good enough. Don't want you actually stronger than me, however. That's how you get mutiny. I should know." Bojack headbutted his daughter and flipped her over his shoulder, stepping on her chest with intense pressure. "Ok, boys! We have our crew. This should be sufficient enough. Let's start taking out anyone who can oppose us. Let's see the nearest planet with anyone worthwhile."

The computer screen showed a full display of all inhabited worlds with warriors powerful enough to oppose Bojack.

"It looks like recently there was a spike in energy on this world, some clash between powerful beings that almost resulted in its destruction…heh. What do you know, Boss? Check the date on these readings."

"Well well. How interesting. Looks like we're headed to Earth. One last thing though. I'm getting sick of that noise. Let's take care of it, shall we?"

The Galaxy Warriors commandeered a new ship and flew out of the upper atmosphere of the planet. With some effort, they cleared the radius of the blast just in time to escape the Planet's destruction.

"Right. As I was saying. Earth." Bojack sat in the Captain's chair, or at least, he tried to. It was too small for his frame. Ultimately, he chose to stand. "Let's get some eyes on our destination."

"Yes sir," Bido saluted, only to be met with rejection.

"It's been way too long since we served together. Don't treat me like your commanding officer, especially since you were mine. Hera's gone, my friend. Nothing left but destiny and the stars."

Returning his attention to navigation, Bido activated the main screen in the cockpit and noticed a signal coming from the planet.

"Is it a distress beacon?" Kogu asked, looking up as he sharpened his sword with a spare whetstone he kept on his person.

The pirates listened carefully to a signal from Earth, so sort of blustery advert about warriors from the stars competing for a fabulous prize.

"Over the years, we have seen at least one incursion by men from space. The Saiyans, King Piccolo before them, apparently. And I have also heard tell in some circles of what looked like the remnants of a great flying saucer. It is for those reasons why I, X.S. Cash, wish to extend a hand to those beyond."

"Well, well. Even better, lads. It's an invitation!" Bojack grinned, firing up the warp drive in order to get to their destination that much faster.

"Zangia. Don't be shy, girl. You're part of this too now. I expect great things from you, girl,"

The young woman, still unused to her older body, felt unwell. Instinct and first impressions compelled her to pull away. And yet she was stuck here, with no other avenues but death. She felt like a captive as much as she felt like a crewmate.

"Looks like we can actually respond to that bulletin. Shall we respond?"

"Do you even know how to?"

"Your insubordination is cute, Bido. I'm in a good mood

Meanwhile, unknown to the pirates, a small cruiser was in pursuit, adorned with an insignia known throughout the cosmos: Galactic Patrol.

X

On Earth…

The plane finally reached its destination, slowly lowering to the ground as Bulma brought her in for the landing. They had just passed over Jingle village a few hours back and were now in a little patch of woods with a large enough clearing.

The black-haired cyborg brushed a strand of his bangs from his eyes. "Oh hey. You're Goku's kid, right? The one who took out Cell, right? I never thanked you for that."

"Sorry for killing you in the process," Gohan apologized and bowed, earning a laugh in response.

"No sweat, kid. I'm still around, right? Because of those Dragon balls?"

"That's right," The boy confirmed, borrowing a dragon Radar from Bulma. "They're inert right now, at least for about a year. We don't anticipate needing them for a while though."

"I remember that rotten old geezer, Gero, talking about the Dragon Balls. He had no interest in them himself, but the old Red Ribbon Army was tripping over themselves for those balls, all to feed some little man's ego." 17 examined the radar, contemplating how important it had been over the years. Not to him personally, but in the grand scheme of things.

"Oh, so you knew about them?" Gohan looked on, inquisitively looking at the man in front of him.

"A little. I never cared. My sis and I didn't need magic balls. If we wished for something, we took it. Nobody really gave us much or helped us, so we helped ourselves. That was another life, though. What brings you my way? Not like I do much fighting or robbery these days. Pretty sure triclops' wife has more of a rap sheet than I do." The raven-haired man grinned with a hint of noted amusement. He handed the radar back to Bulma and received a small box from her in turn.

"We came to drop this off for you: the Capsule Corp prototype watch designed. This one is custom made for you. Try it out."

Nonplussed, the cyborg put the watch on and pressed a button. "It's no Rolex. That's for sure. Let's see what this thing does. Where's the button on this doohickey?"

"Greetings. I am 4², your portable companion and comprehensive field guide. Hello 17."

The cyborg was stunned, a mix of emotions in his chest. He was supposed to be chill, aloof even. And yet he could feel himself tremble. 16 was dead. He had been killed by Cell and, because he was purely mechanical, he was not brought back.

Was he happy to have his friend back? Angry that a scientist had decided to play God and build an imitation of someone who can not be brought back to life? Or was he sad and frustrated at his inability to help.

"How…how did you manage this?" 17 asked in a shaky voice, trying not to give away just how taken aback he was.

"When I repaired him before the Cell games, we had to take the bomb out of his chest but we also made a copy of his operating system and everything else. It's standard procedure when repairing androids at Capsule Corp." Bulma explained, deciding to outline some of the features.

"Besides…he sacrificed himself to help save Earth. If the Dragon Balls couldn't bring him back, this is as close as I could think."

"Hey, 17? Why are you studying to become a park ranger?" Grappled with that asked. The wind blew through the trees, as if to clear the very air as the man

"Keeping tabs on me or are you doing a school report?" 17 took a drag out of a cigarette. He had a carom in the chest pocket of his jacket, as well as a lighter. As he exhaled a puff of smoke, he considered the burning tip of the cancer stick. It reminded him of the burning in his gut before he and his sister became reborn. It was the day their former identities were burnt away. He could remember the words he heard from the Doctor, as if it were a recording of a lucid dream. "Lapis and Lazuli were just orphans, street rats that nobody will miss. You two will become numbers in a greater equation, one that will benefit the future. Trust me…"

Regaining his composure, 17 continued to answer the question he was posed. It was only fair. He would probably be answering questions for a lot of kids. " But hey. No foul. Better than the old man or his wife or those other eggheads. Frapp was ok. Glad he got out. Seems like everyone who gets wrapped up in the red ribbon goes blue in the face. Surprised your old man managed to survive, though it probably took a toll on him. Most kids are catching insects or playing video games. You and your pops take on armies before puberty. That can't be good for the old noggin."

"I guess so. To answer your question, I guess it's neither. I just…I've been thinking about what exactly I want to study, if I do become a scholar. I know I'm not even a teenager yet, and I have my whole life ahead of me, but it's not like if I go to college, I can just major in everything, read a book, and go home." Gohan pondered a bit longer, rolling the words of the cyborg around in his head. He was here to deliver a watch with Bulma. He could have an in depth discussion about what 17 meant later. For now, however, it was stuck in his mind. Before he could explore that line of thought, Bulma chimed in.

"Yeah. Take it from someone who got her masters in physics and engineering. That's definitely not what it's like, no offense to your mom." The woman sighed, having flashbacks to grad school. Gohan could sense that the implications of 17's earlier words had given her cause for thought as well. He would have to ask her later too.

"I would have thought a kid like you would want to be a superhero. You practically are…as for why a Park Ranger? It reminds me of him. It's like a little connection to those days where 18, 16 and I went on our road trip of destruction and I wanted to make up for that, you know? It might just do him proud." The cyborg mused thoughtfully, looking down at the watch he was given.

He continued, silently astonished at how talkative he had become. However, he supposed that if he was going to range the shit out of some park or nature preserve, he would need to answer questions ."It seems right, especially now that all that is gone, you know? Now we're really free. No old man lingering over us from beyond the grave or weird future bug men. Still…much like before, all that freedom started to feel bitter. At least until you have someone to have your back."

"I'm not exactly the spiritual type, even though I more or less fought god…but I kind of have to wonder if 16 had a soul."

"I like to think he does. He proved himself worthy of one." Gohan responded. "Not that I'm an expert…or that I knew him as well as you did…but he valued life, made decisions that aligned with those values. I'm not sure what else would constitute a soul."

17 scoffed and smiled. "Well said, kid. You wanted to learn from me, you said? Stick with me. I'm about to visit a girl I've been seeing and she has some field guides on mountain species. If you want, you can tag along, then I can show you my study materials."

"I actually have to get back home tonight so I can't today. Can I come back this week?"

"No sweat, kid. Come back anytime you're ready and I can teach you what I've learned so far."

As Gohan returned to the ship, Bulma followed but was stopped.

"Almost forgot. I've been studying a lot. Here's some homework I did. Did some digging after I was brought back. It's a nice little report on Red Pharmaceuticals, how they funded an army in their bid to outcompete Capsule, as well as some of the Old man's failed designs. Even found a class photo of him and his team from the old Army. Dr Vomi, Dr. Frapp, some Wheelo guy and his assistant. Look it over. Might be fun for all the load of good it will do."

Bulma looked over the records and saw a photo of two babies being held by a stylish female scientist. Bulma was certain she had seen the woman before but had paid it no mind previously.. The caption said "Dr. Vomi Gero and her two sons, Gebo and Silver". Even the babies looked familiar, but she couldn't place why. Tucking the photo back into the folder, Bulma looked at 17 with concern.

"Where did you find all this? It couldn't have been easy."

"Frapp's in Penguin village, though he's so old at that point, I had to go through his books myself. The rest, I decided to dog through the wreckage of the Doc's old lab for closure. Unsurprisingly, I mostly found rocks. My sister's boyfriend and that future kid with the sword did a number on the place. Anyway, I've got a cram session to get to. Thanks for the watch. I'm sure we'll be best pals."

The dark-haired young man walked away from Bulma, waving his hand dismissively as an accent to his words. As the plane took off and his guests left, 17 couldn't help but smile. He had a second chance, as did his sister. And now, the trio was complete in a way. Even if it wasn't the same, it was good enough for him.

X

The ride back was mostly quiet, with both occupants of the aircraft trying to make out their own feelings about what 17 meant. Goku had always come out on top, after all. There was never any reason to question it. He was a bit thickheaded, but he always saved the day. And yet a word came to mind, especially for Gohan. It was one he remembered from his biology studies while reading through medical journals.

Trauma.

Bulma dropped Gohan off at Mt. Paozu before heading back home to West City. The boy dusted himself off and stretched his legs, following it up by flying around a bit to loosen his muscles.

"Where have you been, young man! You're home late…oh is that a new book?"

"Yeah. I went with Bulma to deliver something to 17 and he let me borrow a book on mountain flora and fauna. He offered to tutor me so that I can figure out what I want to do. Leaning towards natural Sciences. Apparently, he's studying to become a park ranger"

"Well, I'd rather you be a scholar than a nature cop, but at least you learned something today. I'm proud of you, my baby boy."

"Mom, I'm not a baby anymore."

"You are to me, even when I have an actual baby again."

"I actually think this could work out. I might have a direction I want to go in with my studies."

"Hey mom? Everything Dad faced when he was my age or younger… Do you think he was ever traumatized?"

"Honey…he was a bit of a muscle head. I want better for you."

"That's not what I asked. Everything with the Red Ribbon Army, it kind of led to Cell. Dad faced them, Freeza, King Piccolo, Garlic Jr, and others, and yet… did anyone ever tell him he was ok?"

"What brought this on?"

"Just thinking about something I talked about with 17. About how he and 18 didn't really have parents or anyone looking out for them. Gero didn't give them much choice. 16 had even less choice being based on a dead man… Gero's son… and stored in a box because he was faulty. And then on the ride here I asked Bulma…"

"We loved your dad very much… I just wish he had grown up a bit…"

"Did he have much of a chance?" Gohan looked at the floor. "Sorry. I'm being unfair. I'm going to head to my room to study. I'll come out to eat later."

Chichi felt anger boil in her stomach. She wanted to say something like "I am your mother! Don't talk to me like that! I don't care what planet you saved!"

But she couldn't. She was tired, sweaty, and hungry. What's more, her son wasn't wrong. The widowed single mother sat alone and sighed, speaking to her unborn 2nd child.

"What am I going to do, Goten?"

X

Time zoomed by with gusto and before anyone knew it, the day had arrived. The World Martial Arts tournament was legendary, having captured the attention and imagination of many the world over. After the 23rd, it had faded into the background, becoming more grounded and less of a spectacle. And yet the last champion, Hercule Satan, had become a worldwide sensation. The Cell games, for better or worse, brought the Tournament back into big time. In that case, the fate of the Earth was on the line in a way not seen since the 23rd Tournament.

This time, it was a birthday celebration for Monty Cash, son of the richest man on Earth, X.S. Cash. He had fiery red hair like his parents, accented by dimples and freckles.

Gohan appeared at the gates of the Arena, finding an awaiting party of familiar faces. Tien, Krillin, Yamcha, and Piccolo were there, but surprisingly, so was Trunks.

"Gohan! It's good to see you again." The time traveling Teen greeted, happy to see the boy who had grown up to be his mentor in another time.

"Likewise! Are you participating too?"

"Well, I thought I would see what these tournaments are all about, since the last one…wasn't a good experience but it wasn't exactly…Tournamenty… At least from what I have heard. "

"Yeah. It was mostly two Super Saiyans fighting a cyborg from the Future for the fate of existence. There weren't even any brackets. Over all, a let down," Tien joked calmly. "I think we might stand a chance this time, especially if nobody goes Super Saiyan."

"Good. I want to make it to the finals, as unlikely as that is. I'm pretty sure I can take Krillin."

"Keep dreaming, Yamcha. I wouldn't make it easy for you."

"Yeah. Apparently, this one is Intergalactic? Which…I mean, we do have aliens living on Earth but I didn't expect it to be commonly acknowledged, considering…the Earth's champion is skeptical of all that." Krillin deadpanned and raised an eyebrow before speaking to Gohan in a more chipper tone. "How's the real champ doing though?"

"Probably a branding thing. Pretty sure there will only be three aliens here, if you count Gohan and Trunks. If not, it's just me."

"Don't be so sure, big green. Nice to meet you. My name is Bojack." A large teal-skinned man walked into the arena, dressed like a pirate, with a durag over his long orange hair. "Me and my…friends here will be participating in this tournament. A sort of…cultural exchange. "

Gohan looked over at the group, all seemingly of the same species. There were three other men with Bojack: A tall one with a sword and hair similar to Trunks in his Super Saiyan form, a shorter one in a turban , and a bearded man in a mohawk.

Behind them, however, was a young woman with curly orange hair and similar earrings to the rest of her group. She had a menacing look on her face, and yet below it, Gohan could sense something he couldn't quite place. She looked at him, for a prolonged amount of time.

It made the young boy very uncomfortable. Was this like those weird magazines Master Roshi had? The woman looked away and headed to the front of the group.

As they headed past the concessions, Gohan saw some toy stands and sweets, all at exorbitant prices. It made sense though, given it was for a wealthy kid's birthday. The woman, Zangia, kept looking at some of the trinkets on display with wonder and amusement, but quickly switched to a sad expression before taking on the same resolute visage as before.

"Hurry up, girl. We have to make it to the vestibule." Bojack shouted. In a hurry the woman dashed ahead, appearing right beside the older man. Something about it made Gohan's skin crawl, but he would save it for later. He would fight according to the tournament rules and do his best.

Unbeknownst to the group, the current champion and apparent savior of the Earth had spotted the party and was in full panic mode. He didn't need his cover blown, or to suffer a humiliating defeat. He was sure he could spin that last one as throwing the match to be a good sport but eventually someone would wise up. That one guy from the Martial Arts Tournament staff seemed suspicious of him.

"Not like it matters. I'm still the champ. Those freaky aliens are probably just guys in suits or one of those weirdos who experimented with DNA drugs or whatever. Just as long as I do well by ol' Moneybags and his son. Bet he's a brat anyway, unlike my darling little Videl."

The oafish martial artist took a shortcut towards the main arena, as he was expected to aid in the delivery of the keynote. He just had to talk to X.S. Cash and make sure to give Monty and all the other rich patrons a good show. "At least he gets to see someone worth his time. Far better than some young viral sensation. What was that kid's name? The Vinnie? Kids these days don't know the value of a hard day's work. Can't wait to get home and just soak in my hottub though."

Hercule headed off towards the main sky box to talk to X.S. before things kicked off. He just hoped that, outside some autographs and a few interested gasps at the other fighters, the day would be manageable.

X

After about an hour, the commencement began. The brackets were chosen and the fighters assigned numbers, with each of the fighters stepping forward so that X.S and his son could see. Into the center of them all stepped Mr. Satan, Earth's savior and the greatest champion of them all, as it was known.

In the back of the crowd, a strange little gentleman kept trying to view proceedings, having stuck in using hisvtools of the trade. He just wished he was tall enough to see anything and not get squished by these earthlings.

"Welcome to the Intergalactic Martial Arts Tournament. So glad you could make it to my little man's birthday bash. Cake and Ice cream are on the way, but so is fast paced combat and highly skilled techniques. And unlike the old Tournament, well…we go big. World Martial Arts tournament? No, my friends. Any world is welcome to show its champions. We're going for the moon and even further beyond." X.S. spoke enthusiastically into the microphone, hyping up the participants.

The brackets were decided, though it was a bit different than past tournaments. X.S Cash explained the rules of the tournament, as well as its tier system.

"It's like this. My precious boy doesn't just want any old tournament. We got fighters from the stars and you gotta shoot for the stars if you want to face them. And that's not all. Like a fighting game, there will be multiple unique stages set up, using the best technology money can buy. And trust me… money is no object where we are concerned…" The wealthy man grinned, gesturing to his wife and young son.

The boy was adorned in a sailor suit and held onto a Mr. Satan doll, one he would insist was an action figure despite its lack of articulation.

Gohan couldn't help but wonder about his own father. Were there tournaments in otherworld? He knew his dad trained there. It only made sense, to him at least.

"It would actually be kind of great, in a way, dad and I giving our all at the same time." The young boy beamed wistfully. Perhaps going all out wouldn't be advised, even against his family's friends. They were strong, but not Super Saiyan strong. Actually, the young man wasn't sure if it was wise to go Super Saiyan here, lest he cause an uproar. "I suppose I can ask Trunks his thoughts before our matches."

As he thought to himself, he once again noticed the strange woman eyeing the Cash family, or at least looking in their direction. There was something off about her expression, however.

She looked sad.

Before he could ask what was wrong or investigate, the gong was sounded. Things were about to begin.

"Will the combatants for the first match get into place? Number 1 and number 2 please step forward to the main ring and prepare for instruction."

Piccolo and Gohan stepped forward and headed to the arena. It had been ages since they had sparred and now they would be opponents. It would be a good chance for the Namekian to test himself and his student, though Cell certainly provided a fitting final exam for the young half-Saiyan.

"It's been a long time since we fought, Gohan. This time, it's not just training. Don't hold anything back, kid." The green man smirked.

His student nodded but had concerns. "Won't Super Saiyan blow my cover? Everyone still thinks Mr. Satan defeated Cell."

Piccolo grunted in response. As annoying as it was, he knew his student had a point. He wished for some challenge to pit himself against, but it would have to do. "Fine, but don't pull any punches. I'll know"

"I wouldn't dream of it." Gohan beamed. There was a mischievous twinkle in his eye, not unlike that of his father. It was tempered, however, with respect for his first teacher.

Drums pounded as the two warriors entered the arena and stood at opposite ends. Everyone else watched patiently, though the ones who seemed most intrigued were Bojack and Zangia.

"Watch carefully, girl. You'll be targeting whoever wins this match." Bojack whispered to his daughter, pointing her attention to the fight as it began. The young woman stared intensely and awaited the start of the match.

With a deafening din of the gong, the match started; student vs teacher. As the bout began with a bang, Bojack and his band watched with vested interest.