[Me]

I'm sorry again for leaving you with those two idiots who sit with us. But u know my dad, he's being very paranoid about the vigilante's break-in.

Videl glanced at the clock on the wall of the police department. It had been around thirty-something hours since the break-in and theft of the baby dragon. It was now Monday, and even if Videl had told her father that she was well, and even if she told him it was the vigilante's fault, he didn't believe her. Not that many people did. When she woke up a few hours later, she found no trace of that murderer's work.

He had even taken his time to place everything in its place. The only piece of evidence was the empty cage without a dragon in it. And when Videl claimed it was the vigilante, no one-or very few people believed her. No one believed a single human could destroy a gun with their bare hands, or bend metal. But she had seen it, that man wasn't normal at all. He wasn't even human.

Hercule Satan cared little about if he was human or not, what he did care about was that her daughter had been so close to a dangerous individual. Of course, the media hadn't taken so long to find out about it, and it was just a matter of time for them to storm her house. Erasa, in that aspect, had been saved, she hadn't seen the vigilante and her father wasn't as famous as Videl's.

Because, Miss Satan, when you delay justice, you're basically denying it.

Videl looked down again. Gohan had said something very similar, she remembered; in a way, the same words with different phrasing. What were the odds? And now that she thought about it, he was a fervent believer of that criminal, going as far as calling her father a liar. But a liar of what? Did Gohan and the vigilante know something she didn't? And what about that home run? The strength showed then was as abnormal as the one the vigilante showed.

Could Gohan have any relation to that man?

She shook her head. These were a bunch of coincidences. Gohan didn't look like someone that could hurt a fly...but then again, he had a bruise the fourth day of school, and his friend had told Videl that he had a knack for becoming violent when unrighteousness happened. That, and the fact that he hated anyone speaking badly of his father. Could he really have anything to that man?

However, one thing was throwing a drunk man out of a restaurant and another completely different was to kill someone and seem to enjoy it.

[Erasa]

Don't worry! Ik how annoying it must be to have to hide in the PD because of the media. And it's just Sharp right now, it seems Gohan is absent.

Videl frowned. Gohan was absent? How peculiar. That boy was always either super early or on time, never late, except that one time the first day of school, and he stressed over punctuality. It seemed odd. But did that really have any link with the vigilante? He lived in the mountains, would he know about it? Probably not. It was very likely that wasn't connected but still, it seemed that Videl's curiosity now had a real purpose. She would keep an eye on that boy, perhaps he did know something, or perhaps he was a master of coincidences. It didn't matter.

It was better to be precautious than not.

Her thoughts were interrupted as the chief came around, he looked tired, really tired. But managed to smile at her as he got close to her.

"Miss Videl," he greeted her. "It's nice to see you again, though I wish it was on better terms. How are you?"

"As fine as one could be with pesky media fooling around one, and a murderer visiting you."

The chief's smile fell and a serious look took its place. "Are you sure it was the vigilante? No one else?"

Videl frowned. "Of course I am sure! He spoke to me."

The surprise in the chief's face was evident. He looked around the department, half of the cops had stopped when they heard Videl speak. All of them looked as surprised and bewildered as himself. "Let's go somewhere more private, Miss Videl and then we can talk about the vigilante's-," he stopped. Hesitating on his words. "-visit."

They walked to an interrogation room, Videl first and the chief last, closing the door. It was highly out of character, or at least out of character from the profile the police made of that murderer, to do what Miss Videl claimed he did. The chief held nothing against no one if they didn't believe her.

Videl sat down and crossed her arms. The chief sat facing her, gave a tired sigh and looked at her. "Now, tell me what happened, and do not leave any detail."

She began telling her story for the fourth time in a day. Making sure to give him all the details, especially those where the vigilante showed incredible strength, bending metal and a gun as if it was butter. How he was dressed, with that cloak, his smell of cigarettes and his low, gruff voice.

"Hold up, did you just say he bend the gun like it was nothing?"

Videl nodded. "He wasn't even faced that I held it. As if he was immune to bullets. By his tone, I would be led to believe he was amused or annoyed at that."

The chief placed his hands on his chin, trying to make sense of what he was hearing.

The girl didn't waste a second to tell the fact that was bothering her the most. "He called me as blind and guilty as the rest of them. He called my father a liar."

The chief's eyes sparked in worry but recognition at the same time before lowering his hands. "I see."

"What? Is there something new?"

"I still have many questions, I'm afraid. I don't get why, someone who appears exclusively to criminals and kills them went and stole a baby dragon. It doesn't make sense at all. Not to forget he spoke to you, he didn't kill you. Well, at least we know his principles are untouched, he only kills 'bad' people."

Videl nodded. She was also pondering on that. It didn't seem something the vigilante would've done. Grab a baby dragon out of its cage. She could understand that maybe it was ethically wrong to hold an innocent animal hostage but there were dozens of cases like that, zoos for example. It wasn't something he usually did.

Then, why did he do it?

Was there something they had missed?

She met the chief's eyes again. "Do you have any theories of why he called my father a liar?"

The chief hesitated for a second before sighing. "You see, Miss Videl, remember the coverage of the Cell Games, and how after the delivery boy entered the stage, everything went dark, and when they gained coverage again it was to say your father was the victor?"

She remembered it very vividly. She had been glued to the TV, praying to all she knew holy that her father made it out alive from there. She didn't doubt her father was the strongest man in the world but it seemed that demon was invincible. When the TV went static, she had panicked, her heart sank in worry that something bad had happened to the last family he had.

Videl simply nodded.

"Well, some people, a small group of people, didn't believe your father was the victor. They saw it as highly improbable. They believed he took credit for one of those other fighters. They called him a liar, a thief and a fraud. The vigilante is probably part of those people."

She hadn't heard of that group. Now, she was curious. Most of the time everyone believed her father was the savior of the world and adored him. Even those who hated her father and herself believed to some degree her father was the victor of the Cell Games.

"Do we know where the delivery boy is?"

The chief shook his head. "No, we don't even know if he's alive or dead. From the unedited coverage of the games, one of the fighters called the delivery boy but the camera didn't catch his name, and we were forbidden to dig further."

"By who?"

"Your father."

What?

"He claimed there was no point in relieving the past. And that we should let the subject rest," the chief said. "And well, you see, Miss Videl, we were all happy that Cell was gone and the unknown fighters never were seen again, so we did just that."

Videl had had her doubts about her father's victory against that monster. Sometimes, it seemed her father didn't fit in that universe, but she had always shaken those doubts off her head simply because there seemed that no one else could defeat him. However, her father rarely left the house when a criminal asked for him, always giving an excuse. And now this.

Was her father lying to her?

No. It couldn't be.

"Why was I never told any of this?" Her tone turned angry and annoyed.

"There was no correlation between that and the vigilante. Up until now, that man only killed criminals and left without being unseen. No one survived to tell what he said to them, all except you, Miss Videl."

At that moment, her phone made a 'ting!' which indicated to her that she had received a notification.

[Unknown Number]

This is Glen. What the hell did you do to Gohan?!

Videl frowned. Many questions popped into her mind. How did Glen get her phone number? Why did he text her, and what the fuck did he mean? She hadn't done anything to Gohan. Doubts and theories began to appear in her head, what were the odds that when the vigilante appears doing something strange, Son Gohan did something, or someone did something to him.

[Me]

I don't know what you're talking about. I haven't done anything to Gohan.

Videl placed her attention back on the chief. "Do we know anyone who forms part of that group? Who believes my father is a liar?"

The chief thought about it, the lines on his eyes and front becoming more visible. "There's this man, a photographer who was at the games, he managed to take a picture of one of the fighters. He, however, doesn't talk too much about that. Apart from his comments about your father. I can give you his address, he lives in the city."

She looked down at her phone and started typing. This was too good of an opportunity to pass up. If Glen had texted her, it meant something wrong had happened to Gohan. By his text, it had been really bad. Enough to make him miss school. And exactly at the moment where the vigilante made his first mistake.

What were the odds?

[Me]

Where are you? Is Gohan with you right now?

She got an immediate response.

[Unknown Number]

No, he's not. And by what your friends told me, he's not at school either. I've tried calling him but he hasn't answered my calls. And I'm at work, why? What do you have in mind, Miss Videl?

So, Gohan seemed to have gone missing. Strange. She frowned. Why would he cut off communication with who seemed to be his only friend? Videl tried to remember him Friday, though she couldn't recall any wrongdoing or sign that would lead her to theorize he would leave. Gohan was the same as usual, or at least the usual they got to know. However, now that she thought about it, he did seem tired. Heavy eye bags hung from the bottom of his eyes.

[Me]

Can you meet me at the PD back in ten?

[Unknown Number]

I'll be there in five.

She smiled and put her phone back in her pocket. She looked at the chief who had already written down the address of the photographer.

"The man has become a kind of recluse, he doesn't like company much and especially when it comes to the police. But I guess that if anyone can make someone talk, it's you, Miss Videl."

She took the paper. "Thank you, chief. I'll do my best, and then some more."

The chief gave her a small smile, then he frowned. "How will you make it out of here? The media are stuck to the main door like flies."

"I have someone who's coming, don't worry."

"Well then," he got up and cleared his throat. "I wish all goes well, meanwhile we'll hold the fort here."

Videl then remembered the case with Kiu Orts. "By the way, has there been any updates on the murder of Kiu?"

"Not much, we haven't found out who could've been his second-in-command but we know for sure the vigilante is taking that empire down. The latest victims were all linked to Kiu, that we know."

"Keep looking."

"As you wish, Miss Videl."

And that much was sincere.

"What the fuck did you do to Gohan?"

Those were the first words, Glen, smelling of tomato paste and fresh-baked pizza, with a white shirt and black pants, said to Videl once she came to view. He didn't give her any time to even sit down.

Glen's car was nothing luxurious, in fact, it was quite the opposite. It seemed the car was going to fall at any moment, and it had faint traces of marijuana in it too.

"Didn't you read what I sent you? I did nothing to Gohan!"

He eyed her suspiciously then, he set the car on parking. "Then, why the hell did you ask me to meet you here? Did you know that I'm technically missing work, which is kind of bad on my part."

"I met the vigilante," Videl said bluntly.

Glen laughed a sardonic laugh which made Videl note that was probably where Gohan got his. "Yeah, sure, and I met God. Look, I know your father is a great man but you didn't have to pull a publicity stunt like that."

"It wasn't a publicity stunt, it was real. I saw him, I touched him, he talked to me and now he's gone again, but this the closest anyone has gotten to him without being killed."

"So, you're telling me that a man known for his gruesome ways of killing people met you? How did that even happen?"

"It's a long story but it had to do with a dragon and a theft."

Glen scoffed indifferently, however, his tone betrayed his disbelief. "Then why the fuck didn't he kill you? I'm sure your father is his number one enemy."

Videl looked down and with a harsh yet determined tone, she showed him the paper. "That I do not know, but that's what I'm going to find out. I have the address of someone who might have a clue."

"And why, Miss Videl, do you think I will help you in your game of cat and mouse with a stupid murderer? I came here because of Gohan, nothing more and nothing less."

You are a good friend, a loyal friend and I respect you for that.

"Because I can help you with that, too, however, I don't have the time to do that individually. I want to know why you think I did something to Gohan."

Glen stared at Videl for a few seconds. He was no longer the carefree and aloof friend she had met that Thursday noon, she could see now why Gohan had stayed with him. He was just like him, carrying a burden and a hint of sadness in his eyes similar to the one Gohan carried. What differentiated them was that Glen masked his with aloofness, Gohan did not.

After those seconds passed, he reluctantly placed the car on drive, to the paper on his hands, and looked at the road ahead of him. "He called me at three in the morning, he sounded between exhausted and nervous."

Videl said nothing, as her and Glen's eyes were fixed on the streets.

"I think he was crying."

That made her look at him, and she couldn't help but be surprised. Son Gohan had cried? It didn't seem like him, which meant that something serious had happened if he had cried. But what was he doing awake at those hours?

"Did he say something about me, or why you think I have something to do with him?"

"No, he said nothing of you. But, I know it had to do with either his family or his friends. And his family, well I don't know them, so I had to ask you. And it was most probable that you were the one with something to do with Gohan, given your obsession with him."

Videl scoffed. "I am not obsessed with him. As I've told you, I'm curious. He is a very special person."

And, perhaps, have something to do with the vigilante.

"Do not treat Gohan like your damn experiment. He's a human being."

"And I did not do anything to him."

Glen sighed. His face softened. "I told you, if you wanted to know him, you just needed to ask him."

"As if he was a very chatty person or even a happy one," Videl returned.

Glen chuckled. "I have a feeling he used to be, but that was before. Not like I've known him that long, who he is now is all I know."

That did make Videl curious, it seemed Glen had a knack for not having any censure. She could learn more about the now missing Gohan like that. Maybe get to know why he was like he was, and in that, the why it actually mattered to Videl. Why did she have this feeling Gohan was more than what he showed?

"Before?"

Glen shrugged. And in that shrug, he hesitated. "His-his father's dead. Been for a while now I think. Gohan never talks about him, I thought he had left his family but nope, he is dead. Don't ask me how or why or anything, all I know is that Gohan told Mister Abi when he asked him about his parents when he first started. We left the thing alone afterwards."

His father was dead. Well, now Videl knew why he was always so touchy when someone mentioned his father, even if it wasn't on purpose. His death must have been a hard blow on Gohan. It was understandable. When Videl's mom died, she felt like the whole world crumbled and her support left her alone. Like she was drowning, and it took her a while to regain her footing.

She wondered who Gohan had been, before his father's death. Had he been a happy person? Happier than he is now? Did he smile? Who had been Son Gohan when his father was alive?

Was he good?

They stayed silent the rest of the way, Videl stopped asking questions and Glen stopped answering them or commenting on things.

They arrived at their destination soon afterwards, Glen found a parking spot one block from the apartment complex where the photographer lived. The neighborhood was nice, a bit crowded but Videl gave that to the location, downtown was always crowded. The apartment complex, though, needed a repaint and maybe their grass to be cut but apart from that, Videl didn't find it to be the home of a recluse.

"This is stupid," Glen commented. "But it's better than working."

Videl said nothing as they made their way. The door was opened, being stopped by a brick. Even if Fall was closing in, the heat of the summer was still felt.

"What's the apartment number?" She asked.

"Number seven."

"So, on this floor."

It was the one at the extreme of the hallway.

She knocked. And no answer. Then, she knocked again, the same result. She decided to wait a few seconds to knock a third time.

But no response either. However, Videl kept knocking. Glen winced, it wasn't such a good idea, they could disturb the neighbors and he didn't want any more trouble than the one he had today.

"Maybe he's not ho-"

"Stop knocking, for fuck's sake!" A voice inside the apartment yelled.

"We just want to talk, sir," Videl said.

"Fuck off!"

"We won't go anywhere, I have all the time of the world." That was a lie and Glen snickered.

A laugh was also heard inside. "And so do I!"

A few minutes passed, and it was clear that the man wasn't going to open. Glen sighed. "Old man, or whatever, we just want to know about-," he stopped and looked at Videl. "Again, what do we want to know?"

She sighed irritated. "I want to know about the photo you took that day of the Cell Games!"

Seconds passed and the locks of the door began rotating and clicking, then the door opened. It was a man, late forties and early fifties, black hair still dressing his hair, blue navy pants and a gray shirt. He wore glasses. He looked at Videl with a frown, and his lips turned into an expression of confusion and disgust. "I know who you are, you're the daughter of Hercule, why would you want to see that damn photo?"

"I want to know what happened that day."

The photographer laughed. It was a cruel laugh. "No, you're not. Don't say stupidities, but sure, come on in." He stepped out of the door making way for them to pass.

Glen, already tired of standing up, was the first one to take a step forward, followed by Videl who was glaring at the man. The inside was full of pictures and awards, with some mentions on the newspaper framed. She recognized a few.

"Yeah, that was my work, my career."

"It seems you were famous, Mister," Glen looked at one article. "Mister Bandar."

Bandar shrugged and went for a drink on the fridge. "Sure, I was one of the most renowned photographers in the world. The reason was simply that I wasn't afraid to take risky pictures."

Videl went through all the pictures. Looking at them. "What happened?"

The man made his way to the living room where the two teenagers were looking at his work like it had been looked at decades ago. He had a drink in his hand. He sat on the rocking chair at the left of the small hall. "Your father happened."

Videl looked at the man, imitating him, she sat down on the coffee table, one of its legs supported by what seemed to be a folder. "Can I ask you some questions?"

Bandar shrugged indifferently.

"What happened that day?"

Bandar put down his drink and began rocking the chair, looking at his work with nostalgia. "I was simply the photographer, the one who would take the risk no other photographer wanted to take. That day, I saw things I never thought I would see. Men who could fly and moved at the speed of light, the strength that could destroy this world in a second, and energy shooting out of their hands."

Okay, that had to be a lie, even Glen believed it by how he glanced at the daughter of the savior of the world. With a clear message. The man is insane. But Videl said nothing, letting Bandar finish his story.

"The first man who fought him truly fought him not like Satan, was blonde, teal eyes and a gaze so serious that I believed he would save the world. And amusement, I cannot forget the amusement in his face. Cell was as amused as him. And how they fought! I couldn't even take a picture if I wanted to. I simply couldn't see them! They moved at the speed of light. I could only hear the tremendous sound of fists hitting skin. And then, the teal-eyed man stopped mid-air."

"What?" Glen whispered.

"I saw his mouth move, and he cupped his hands and from them, light emerged. The other fighters were bewildered, I remember. I thought right there and then, he was going to kill Cell and all of us together. But then, he disappeared and reappeared in front of that monster and the light exploded on him. Everyone cheered, I even forgot about taking pictures. I thought it was over, but then Cell did something and came back to life! At that moment, the fighter gave up. He gave up!

"I remember that," Videl said. Because she did. Glued at her screen, she was afraid something bad was going to happen to her father. "However, my father told me all of that were tricks."

Bandar scoffed. "I don't know what happened that day completely. But there were no tricks, I know that much."

"Then what, old man, what happened then?"

Bandar laughed. "He asked the boy to fight Cell! Could you believe it? A kid! I was bewildered, couldn't believe it. Was he really going to make a child fight? And we all saw what happened. Cell destroyed the kid, even the rest of his teammates were worried. Screams of agony resounded throughout the desert. I was too terrified to take a picture. But the fighter who asked him to fight? He looked every inch confident."

"I don't remember much afterwards," he admitted. "When he threw the boy to mountains and whatever, the force of the impact made me hit my head and I fell unconscious. But when I woke up, I will never forget what I saw. A huge gust of wind seemed to run through the desert, the force was too great. I saw the boy, bloodied and his clothes ripped stand near Cell. But Cell? He seemed a fucking bomb! I didn't know what was happening."

"This was when the TV went static?" Videl asked.

"Yes, then I took a picture. In those moments because I thought that if I were to die, I would want at least evidence that this happened. I saw how a boy saved us, how he with one broken arm gave this immense power, energy, pure energy came out of his hand, I could feel the heat of it. And Cell did the same and damn it, it was too great to even think it happen! Then, I guess my body decided to take a nap because the next thing I remember is your father claiming victory, and all those stupid fools believing him. But I knew better, no way he did. He was a puny idiot compared to even that boy."

Videl decided to let pass those insults against his father. She wanted the photo of the delivery boy. "Where is the photo you took?"

Bandar took his drink again and pointed at Videl. "You're sitting on it."

Glen looked at the folder supporting the coffee table. Videl got up as Glen lifted the table so she could take the folder.

"When I told the press that your father was a cheat and a liar, they called me a fool. When I showed them evidence, that damn photo, they called me a fraud. That I photoshopped it! Could you believe it? Me, out of everyone, photoshopping a photo! Everyone who worked with me left me and no one else wanted to hire me and here I am now. I know your father didn't defeat Cell, and it seems no one else wants to handle the truth. Too scared to do so."

Videl opened the folder.

Three things brought to her attention. The first one was the huge green and orange thing that seemed like Cell but at the same time not. It was immense, and even in the photo, one could see it was feet tall. Small arms and what could be described as a pained expression on his face.

Then, there was a man. He wore orange and maybe blue clothes, blonde spiky hair. His head was in a mid-turn, one hand touching the huge body of whatever that thing was and the other on his front. It seemed that his fingers were touching it. And, he was smiling. That was what confused Videl, why was that man smiling? It seemed Cell was going to explode at any moment and he was smiling. She got her answer when she looked at the third object.

The last thing was a boy, a child. No older than ten-years-old perhaps. Violet clothes and the same spiky blonde hair as the man but unlike the fighter standing up, he was on the floor, knees and hands touching the dirt. Looking defeated and his head turned to see the man. That's all Videl saw of who was deemed the delivery boy.

She concluded that the man was smiling at the kid. But why?

"I called it, Goodbye."

Glen frowned. "Why?"

"That was his father. The child's father. He said something to him, I don't know what it was. But then the fighter disappeared and the boy ran and screamed daddy, and his scream was horrible, agonizing even. I assume his father died. So, that last damn moment was their last time together, their goodbye."

"Do you have any idea of who this boy is?" Videl asked.

"No. I know they said his name but I don't recall it. I think it was some food or something along the lines," Bandar answered. "Why would the daughter of the idiot who makes everyone believe he saved the world want to see this picture?"

She didn't take her eyes off it. "I think the vigilante who's terrorizing this town has something to do with the boy or the fighters."

"Wouldn't surprise me. But then again the police are incompetent in their work. Do you believe it's the boy?"

"Perhaps."

"Take the picture if you wish, I can see in your eyes you still don't believe my story, not fully at least but perhaps you're beginning to comprehend."

"Comprehend what?" Glen spoke.

"That we're part of a much bigger universe and we don't know it yet."

"I don't care, I will catch that murderer. And you're right, I do not believe your story and I can see clearly why the others didn't either. It doesn't matter if the vigilante is the boy or not. You and all of those who believe in those tricks are pitiful."

Bandar shrugged again, indifferent at what Videl had said.

"I hope you do catch him."

That did take Videl by surprise.

Bandar's eyes softened and he looked down at his carpet. Then at the photo with an air of sadness and regret. "If it is that boy who's killing, I hope you catch him. He seems a sad person, a hurt person. He needs to heal. I hope you help him. He was only a child. That's all I got to say. He needs the help."

"Do you regret it?"

The Kamehameha was awry by the sudden voice speaking. Son Goku made a face as his attack didn't hit his mark. He turned around to the dead who spoke to him.

It was Pikkon, his arms folded and walking towards him.

"Huh?"

The fighter spoke again. "Do you regret it?"

Goku tilted his head in confusion. "Regret what?"

"Leaving your family."

His smile disappeared and he turned suddenly serious. "Oh."

"Do you?"

He shrugged. "No, I don't. I did the best decision by leaving them. And they're not defenseless. They got Gohan and Vegeta," his smile returned. "I bet they're mighty strong by now!"

Pikkon frowned in his confusion of Son Goku. "Don't you think you placed too much on your son's shoulders?"

"I know he can do it! He's mighty strong, not only physically but mentally," Goku chuckled remembering his son. Then, less enthusiastically, he added. "Gohan's always been a better person than me. He's honorable and kind. The earth is in good hands."

"Don't you miss them?"

Again, a shrug. "Not really. Once in a while, sure. But what's done is done and no purpose in beating it, right? They're doing good I know it."

It didn't seem like Goku cared too much for his family by his answers. Pikkon could only nod in somewhat understanding. Goku continued his training as his friend let him be.

Finally, without any more disturbances, he could concentrate for real. He was really close to reaching new heights. He just needed to focus. Breathe in. Breathe out. Feel your ki expand, reach your veins and flow through your body. Feel the power and concentrate on channeling it.

But that doesn't mean I don't need you.

It snapped and Goku was left in his normal state. He sighed.

Great.

Why could he not attain that level?

Was it because of something Pikkon said?

Do I regret it? Leaving my family?

No, he didn't. In fact, it had been the best decision he had made. All the bad guys were after him every time, with him gone it meant that the world could live in peace. Truth be told, he was doing everyone a favor by staying dead.

Yeah, that was it. He was doing them a favor by staying dead.

Besides, Gohan could handle anything easily. His family was okay, his friends were okay, there was no need to worry.

His son was okay.