Thoughts

Computer Speech

"Speech"

Disclaimer: DC and the Dragonball Franchise belong to their respective owners; I own nothing.

Chapter 25: Emissary II: Casualties

November 4th

Age 762 (2012), Remains of Manhattan

"Total number of deaths?"

"Nearly two million, sir."

"How many Argus agents were among that toll?"

"Approximately fifty, sir."

With a prolonged sigh, Steve Trevor removed a cigarette from his inner left pocket and lit it. He knew it wasn't good for his health, and ChiChi constantly warned him of its toxic chemicals, but it simply couldn't be helped. He was under a tremendous amount of stress. The numbers his operative had just listed were staggering. An entire metropolitan area had been wiped off the map in an instant.

Ashes.

That was all that remained of the once sprawling city. Wall street, the federal reserve, and other countless important locations were now gone. The federal government was in total panic. The President had immediately called the head of Argus moments after the borough had been destroyed. The leader of the free world was less than overjoyed at the fact that his government agency had done next to nothing to prevent it. It was the single most devastating attack in human history.

"Is there really anything we could have done to prevent this though?" Chichi murmured as she scooped up a patch of dirt. There was no sign of life here, not even worms had survived Nappa's ire.

"Yes, we could," Steve glowered as he turned to his second in command. "It's our job to protect this nation from threats like that...and we failed."

"An alien invasion?!" Their superiors in Washington already wanted to hold them accountable, but these we were circumstances no one could have been prepared for.

"Do I need to remind you of our budget? Amanda Waller has already managed to chew me out five times today, alone." The secretary of Metahuman affairs had it out for Steve. Ever since his selection as commander of ARGUS, the ebony woman had done everything in her power to undermine him. She believed he was weak, pitiful, and infantile. Failing to preserve Manhattan only supplicated her arguments to the president.

"I've always hated that bitch," Spit spewed from ChiChi's lips as she uttered the words. "Sometimes I wonder where her true loyalties lie with all that scheming and conniving she does." As Steve's girlfriend, Chichi had experienced some of Waller's misplaced wrath. There no level too low, that the secretary wouldn't stoop to antagonize Steve.

"Say what you may about her ChiChi, but she is a patriot." That was one point the colonel would never refute. Though they stood at odds with one another now, he and Waller had been teammates as a part of Team 7. Never once had Waller wavered in duty to her country, even if it came as a detriment to her former friends.

Noting Steve's scrunched jaw, Chichi decided to drop the subject altogether. She knew how he could get when it concerned matters regarding patriotism. "But still, she's an incredible nuisance to us. And now with this little fiasco here, don't you think she'll do everything in her power to hamper you even more?"

A scowl formed on Steve's face as he placed a thoughtful hand under his chin. Prior to the onset of the Saiyan's arrival, Amanda had lobbied for bills that would significantly cut ARGUS' spending. Metahuman weaponry did not come cheap. She aggressively argued about the lack of tangible production from Argus. For all the spending, all the weaponry, all the agents…what had they truly accomplished?

"As much as I hate to admit Chichi, she may have a point." Chichi and Steve's secretary blanched as they heard his words.

"Have you lost your mind?" The Ox-King's daughter cocked her head to the side, glancing at the man she loved as if he had grown two pairs of heads.

Victoria October, better known as Steve's secretary, was as equally baffled. "Excuse me, sir. I know it's not my place to interject in a conversation between two higher ranked officers, but your conclusion is wrong."

"How so?" A curious brow rose. It was Victoria's opportunity to shine.

"First and foremost our agency has only recently been introduced to the public. Within the last year to be exact," Victoria stated as she fumbled through layers of papers on her clipboard. "Our funding, while large, is not even a fraction of the spending that Miss Waller does," Even though Amanda essentially sought her organization's destruction – Victoria still held her in high esteem. "Cadmus, I believe it was, has nearly double our budget and is practically ran by secretary Waller alone."

"Cadmus, I nearly forgot about that," Steve mumbled as he was forced to reassess the situation. Cadmus was a genetics research project that had been founded in the same year as ARGUS. Waller had been looked at, several times, for consideration as director of ARGUS. But time and time again, she had been overlooked for reasons that were unknown to him or any of his operatives. When Steve had finally been made commander, Waller had petitioned for her own government division – it was granted.

Truthfully, no one outside of Cadmus knew what went on there. Even Steve, with his level five clearance, knew almost nothing about its inner workings. But as Victoria passed him a piece of paper with its recently approved budget for the next year, his jaw slumped. With this type of funding, ARGUS could have recruited and trained the best agents from around the world. What was Cadmus doing that required such astronomical amounts of money?

"Now, continuing with my points," Victoria said as she slyly plucked the paper from her director's hands. "We've only had stable leadership for the past two years. Prior to your arrival ARGUS was just a poorly managed division of the government, one that was given little thought to. Sure, we had the funding- but we lacked direction. But with you at our helm things have totally changed. You brought Chichi on board," Her hand motioned to Steve's girlfriend. "And created subdivisions within ARGUS for specific threats. In another two years just imagine where we might be."

"But do we even have that amount of time?" A gloomy Chichi said as she placed her hands on her hips. "From the looks of things in Washington and the public perception, the tide was quickly turning against them.

"The government can't shut us down, they wouldn't dare!" Victoria exclaimed. She had worked at ARGUS since president Bush had signed that executive order in 2006. The government couldn't possibly flush down all the hard work they'd done…could they?

"No, Victoria is right," Steve finally spoke as he lifted his head. "The government has put far too much time and effort into this organization. They wouldn't dare implode it now," A quick smile emerged on Victoria's face, but was as quickly wiped away by his following words. "But, Chichi raises fair points as well. Our superiors in Washington aren't happy with our failures, my failures," His mind was filled with thoughts of Candy Etta. "We need to be smarter going forward. Amanda will use our failure here to garner support against us. Public perception is already against us. We need to redouble our efforts."

"What's the plan then?" ChiChi and Victoria asked at the same time, their voices overlapping.

"Recruitment. We need more capable soldiers in our task force, preferably Metahuman ones. As we witnessed just yesterday, we are truly living in the age of wonders. We lost several brave and courageous agents, but we cannot let their deaths be in vain. We must make the world a safer place so that incidents such as these, no longer occur."

Chichi noticed the somber tone in Steve's voice as he mentioned his fallen agents. He still hadn't gotten over Etta's death. She had been one of his best agents, and closest friends. Watching her and Beatriz die, live on satellite, was a harrowing experience.

His secretary didn't need to hear any more. His small speech had touched her very core. "I'll get right on it, sir. Before the day is over you'll have a sheet of worthy potential candidates for ARGUS employment on your desk." Signing off with a military salute the bio-weapons expert walked off to begin her assignment.

"She doesn't need much of push, huh?" Chichi commented as she watched Victoria strut into the sunset.

Steve chuckled as he shook his head. "Not at all."

"So what about my assignment then?" The mood became serious as the brunette folded her arms.

"I want you to gather as many Ki users as you can; we're going to need them."

"For what exactly?"

"For training. Those extraterrestrial beings that mysteriously vanished with the Saiyans, were even more powerful than them. ARGUS is going to need as many allies as it can get if they ever decide to come back."

November 5th

Age 762 (2012), Cadmus Island, Location Unknown

"Absolutely delicious."

Taking another bite of his powdered donut, Dr. Gero paused to take a sip of his coffee. He would need it. Amanda Waller had him tirelessly working night and day on the numerous projects she had initiated. His treatment was inhumane, even mindless animal cattle were allowed rest – but not him. Amanda Waller was in violation of at least ten of her government's laws regarding the treatment of employees. But the ebony woman couldn't have cared less.

Dr. Gero was an ant, a bug, a worthless pile of bacteria that she wouldn't hesitate to squash if she ever deemed it was necessary to do so, and she never failed to remind him. Not a single day went by where he didn't think of or plan for his escape. Waller knew this too, she was no fool. Which is why she had implanted a bomb into his bloodstream. The key code to it was accessible only through her DNA. If she was ever somehow killed, the bomb would go off. Their two fates were directly intertwined.

The sweetness of the donut instantly soured in his mouth as he thought about it. Spitting out the smushed remains, he wiped his lips before turning his attention to his desk. The schematics for his new batch of Androids were coming along nicely. With the funds and resources at his disposal, he was capable of almost anything now. The Red Ribbon Army had been a global organization, but as a terrorist entity, they lacked the network that only a government could provide. If there was one thing that Amanda Waller did for him, it was spare no expense for his scientific endeavors.

"I hope you've been doing something besides raiding my facility's food pantry, Dr. Gero." A chill went down the scientist's spine as he heard the authoritative voice from behind him.

"Miss Waller." The words were drawled with noticeable contempt. His rage was barely concealed as he swiveled in his chair to face her.

"Dr. Gero," The secretary of Metahuman affairs remained stone-faced, not even flinching as noticeable puffs of steam emerged from his nostrils. "As much as you love to stare at my pretty little face, we have more pressing matters at hand."

"Of course," Ignoring her sarcasm, the scientist quickly gathered his files and rose from his seat. There were confidential papers he hadn't even told her about. "I assume you're here for an update on the project?"

"What other reasons would I be here for?"

Without a further word, the duo exited his workshop and began the walk down a long, winding corridor. They made their way past several open-view laboratories where experiments were currently being conducted. Through the reinforced plexiglass Amanda Waller could see, what should have been, several illegal examinations, being conducted. Blood-curdling screams echoed throughout the hallway as they traversed further along.

One particular experiment was so brutal that the scientist conducting it threw up from the sheer amount of blood that erupted as he sawed his subjects arm off.

Pausing, mid-stride, Waller momentarily halted their walk. "I assume that's project, Piccolo?"

The former Red Ribbon associate merely nodded his head. "The regenerative strands of DNA from Piccolo's biological makeup had previously been difficult to isolate. The issue we're having now is bonding his cells with a host. Every subject seems to reject them and subsequent regeneration fails to occur."

"That sounds like a scientific problem, your scientific problem," Amanda was a tactical and strategic genius, and in no way shape or form was she stupid – but science was not her field of study. "Resolving problems like that," Her hand pressed against the glass. "Is what I brought you here for."

Dr. Gero's lips fluttered open to speak but were quickly closed as he realized it would be pointless. Waller expected nothing less than perfection from him. Trying to appeal to her emotional pathos would be fruitless, considering she didn't have any.

Returning to their walk the duo scurried down the hall, eventually making a left as they turned into an open space laboratory.

"This is it?" the secretary was rather unimpressed until Dr. Gero removed a remote from his lab coat and pressed the singular red button in its center. The floor around them began to shake. Cement tiles swayed violently, prompting Amanda to speak. "Just what do you think…." But her sentence was left incomplete as she viewed a gigantic neonatal chamber emerge from the ground.

"Satisfied?"

Waller shot Gero a glare before strutting forward to examine the lone occupant of the ooze filled chamber. It was small. So tiny in fact that Waller had to squint just to see how large it truly was. It was barely the size of a grapefruit. The readings on the machine connected to the chamber indicated that it was alive and breathing though. It was barely a week old but the showed signs of tremendous growth.

"Remind me again, what is the name of this?" Amanda asked as she turned her attention back to the scientist who initiated all of this.

"Project Cell."

"Will this work though? Just minutes ago you were indicating that you had problems merely bonding Piccolo's cells to a human host. What more of dozens of heroes?" She was skeptical, and rightfully so. Everything Dr. Gero had informed her of sounded too good to be true.

"The problem in that other lab is a result of human tissue. Project Cell is being completely organically built. He'll have no problem assimilating with the DNA of Metahuman beings." Stroking his grayed beard Dr. Gero assured her. If all went well this would be his greatest scientific creation yet!

"Have you managed to bond the other DNA samples I had collected for you?"

"Goku and Superman you mean?" Waller simply nodded. "Not yet. I'm still in the early stages of examining their DNA strands. This is only a trial run after all."

"But we need to get it right," Jabbing a finger into Dr. Gero's chest, the secretary drove the point home. "If this project is successful it could result in even more funding for your scientific endeavors and a larger spotlight for Cadmus."

Not to mention the elimination of Argus. Amanda mentally added.

"I understand completely then."

"I'm glad were on the same page. I'll be back in two weeks to check on your progress once more," Amanda had cameras constantly following his moves round the clock, but there was nothing like being here in person. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some business to attend to." Noting the time on her watch Waller slowly walked out of the room, making a right at the intersection of the corridor.

Dr. Gero waited until he could no longer hear the clanking of her heels, before unveiling a secondary remote from his right pocket. As he pressed the large blue button at its center, the chamber containing Cell rotated around revealing another experiment behind it.

It won't be too much longer till this one is grown. Just you wait, Waller…I will have my revenge!

November 6th

Age 762 (2012), Themyscira, Royal Chambers

"The time has finally come my dear sisters."

"Now? Are you sure?"

"I can no longer wait, Myrto. Derinoe and her abomination threaten to sink our society even further into the depths of Hades! I must put an end to it… now."

Barely contained fury blazed in Alkyone's eyes as she slid her golden helmet over her face. "Are you with me Philomela?"

The Amazon in question, who was seated to her right, simply nodded, tightening the cloth covering her eyes as she stood. "Till the ends of the Earth, I will follow you." Placing a hand over her chest she swore the solemn vow of loyalty.

"You don't even need to question me Alkyone, my answer is yes." Myrto, a blonde haired Amazon, smirked as she reached for her sword across the table.

"Good," Alkyone said as she rose, using her palms to lean against the table. "You two will be a part of the royal council once I ascend to the throne."

"What about Charis?" Myrto inquired. She was a fellow Amazon who had joined them on their quest to kill Diana at birth.

"I had already informed her of my plan prior to this meeting. As we speak she seated outside of Derinoe's bed chambers, waiting for my signal."

"Eliminating her will be fairly easy, that old crone has lived well beyond her time," Philomela scoffed as she folded her arms. "But getting rid of Donna will be the true challenge."

"She views Derinoe as a motherly figure, she will not react well." Myrto mused as she rubbed her chin.

"Of course not. That is why we will need to strike as quickly as possible and dispose of her with minimal bloodshed." It was a task easier said than done for Alkyone. Numerous times they had butted heads and had been the verge of fighting. Her anger always got the best of her, but deep down she knew Donna outclassed her in every way.

"And how do you propose to do that? She's a magically enhanced version of our former queen." The true origins of Donna's birth had not been made widespread to the general Amazon populace, but Alkyone's inner circle knew.

"That is a big problem in and of itself. But all we need to do is force her into doom's doorway like we did with Diana," Following Hera's flooding of Themyscira, the Amazon's had risen against Diana, finally seeing her as the great dragon Alkyone had always warned of. "And from there they will kill one another. There is more animosity between those two than the entirety of man's world."

"We can potentially kill two birds with one stone then."

"Exactly, Philomela," Alkyone nodded. "What concerns me the most is the damage it might do to our people. The civil war has already taken so much from us."

Everyone in the room grimaced as the events of last year's war replayed in their mind. Though several Amazons had chosen to side with Derinoe, many had remained loyal to Hippolyta. It wasn't until Strife provided her golden apples of discord that things had changed. Derinoe's faction of Amazons had eaten the apples and became infused with thoughts of aggression and violence. Under hers and Alkyone's guidance, they had waged a bloody and brutal civil war that greatly diminished their population.

"You did what you had to do to secure our future Alkyone. If not for you who knows whether Hera wouldn't have destroyed us all?" Fighting against her sisters had been a tough pill to swallow for Myrto. She didn't relish in wanton bloodshed like the rest of Derinoe's hypnotized legion. All she wanted was the best for Themyscira.

"But unfortunately those actions have steered us to this current point." Though Philomela was blind, her heightened senses had forced her to endure the same horrors as everyone else. She didn't blame Alkyone but knew a radical change needed to occur.

"I cannot change the past," Alkyone sighed as she gripped the edges of the table. "But we can alter the course of the future. What we do tonight is for the benefit of all future Amazons. Once we cleanse our society of Derinoe and Donna, I will rededicate all our efforts to finding a way out of this accursed dimension. But first, Derinoe must die!"

November 6th

Age 762 (2012), Themyscira, Donna's Bedchambers

Something wasn't right.

Lifting her head from her pillow Donna surveyed her surroundings. Everything appeared to be normal. The flames illuminating her room flickered as brightly as ever, the steel bolts covering her door remained the same, and her ever faithful sword lay on her nightstand. All in all, everything seemed picturesque. But Hippolyta's clone could not shake the eerie feeling which was causing the hair on her skin to rise.

Rising from her silky sheets Diana's sister slide into her slippers. Maybe a walk around her bedchambers would settle her mind. Fastening her nightgown she began her slow strut around the room. The window which led to her balcony was open, which was odd considering she always left it closed. But glancing outside everything seemed perfectly fine. The courtyard, which was behind her room, was empty, save for the royal guards who normally patrolled it.

Maybe it's just my imagination.

Sauntering back to her bed the brunette took a seat at the edge of it. Ever since her birth, it seemed like things were always so tense. There was never a moment of peace for her, not even after Derinoe's civil war. Her quasi-mother had never allowed her a moment of leisure. Great expectations hung over her head night and day.

Derinoe expected her to be like Hippolyta or rather, a greater version of her.

Truthfully, Donna had no such aspirations. She greatly desired to chart her own destiny. But she did not wish to disappoint Derinoe or the potential Amazons looking up to her for leadership. But how was she supposed to lead when she didn't even know the qualities that it required? Sure, she was Hippolyta's biological twin, but they did not share the same mental makeup.

Donna's life, thus far, had been shaped by violence with others using her as a mere puppet. Derinoe pulled the strings and she merrily followed in whatever direction she pointed. She knew no better and after all, that had been the purpose of her birth. But as wretched as her life was it was not her fault. There were other to blame, such as Hippolyta and the Diana.

Technically they were twins. This room, in fact, had once been Diana's bedchambers. Were the gods mocking her by constantly comparing her to Hippolyta's child? At every route and turn she was constantly reminded of Diana, whether it was the statues erected in her honor or the Amazons merely speaking of her. Diana this, Diana that, it was almost as if they had forgotten that she was responsible for the present state of the Amazons!

When her accursed sister had returned to the island last year she thought it was her chance to silence her memory once and for all. But Donna had failed to kill her and had even been humiliated by her in battle. Even though Wonder Woman had eventually been imprisoned in Doom's Doorway, Donna's anger wasn't sated. Only Diana's death would alleviate her fury. It was something Alkyone loved to remind her of.

Derinoe didn't truly trust the former royal guard. That went double for Donna. There was a growing sense of agitation from Alkyone. Derinoe had already begun to prepare for what she believed was an inevitable confrontation between the two. Alkyone was now disgusted by Donna's mere existence and viewed her as a reminder of a failed history. If Derinoe ever gave her the word she would happily slay the self-righteous Amazon.

Maybe that was why she felt so on edge tonight. Half of her nature consisted of magic. Themsyscira was magical itself. She could almost feel the flow of the island. Whatever magic that had been used to create her had provided her with a connection of some sort. When the civil war had first broken out she had felt this same spine-chilling feeling.

Maybe I should go inspect the other quarters to alleviate my worry.

Standing up Donna began the short walk towards her door. But halfway there she paused as she felt a sudden rumbling emerge from behind it.

"What is going on?"

She was soon given her answer as her door was promptly kicked down. In front of the now shattered entrance stood two very angry Amazons.

"Charis, Myrto, what is the meaning of this?" Donna shouted as she took a step forward. Truthfully she already knew the answer. Their posture indicated they were ready for a fight.

"You were never fit to rule besides us."

Donna's eyes narrowed as a third Amazon emerged. "Alkyone. I should have known." The words were uttered with pure contempt, her hands balling into a fist. "What do you want?"

"We're here to remove you from your post. You're no longer necessary in my plans for Themyscira."

"Your plans?" Diana's sister parroted. "Derinoe would never allow such a thing!"

"And what makes you think she is in any position to do anything about it?" A goading smirk spread across Alkyone's face as she snapped her fingers. "Bring her inside."

"As you wish Alkyone"

On cue Philomela sprang from the shadows, the tip of her blade dangling in front of Derinoe's neck. Chains shackled her hands and feet preventing any potential movement. Her face had seen better days and was marred with scars and bruises.

"What have you done to her?!" The tiles on the floor cracked as Donna screamed. Derinoe was the only one who had ever cared about her.

"Nothing too bad….yet," Alkyone grinned as she gripped her former friend's face. "I do plan on killing her, though. However, you can prevent that."

"How? What do you want me to do?" Fear squeaked into Donna voice as she watched the former guardsmen toy with Derinoe's head. All it would take was one slice, and she would be dead.

"For you to follow us."

"To where?"

"Doom's Doorway."

"Are you out of your mind? I would never!" Hippolyta's clone immediately rejected the proposal. That was a fate almost worse than death.

"I would have preferred to do this the with your cooperation but regardless, it will be done." Alkyone's face twisted into a scowl as she gave Charis the signal. "It's yours."

Donna was given no time to react as an arrow slammed into her chest. The pain, however, was minimal. Did Alkyone forget that she was an enhanced being? "Did you really think that was going to have any effect on me?"

"No, but the enchantment on it will."

"W-what enchant…" Donna's words slurred as her vision became blurry. The world around her began to spin and before she knew it, her eyes had succumbed to the darkness.

November 7th

Age 762 (2012), West City, Capsule Corps

"I still can't believe that they're dead." Bulma sighed as she flipped through an old scrapbook. Dozens of pictures from their countless adventures lined its pages. How simple things had been back then.

"And I was powerless to do anything about it." Clark frowned as he leaned back against the couch. Seated directly across from Bulma he could see the tears swelling in her eyes.

"That was then. This is now," Batman stated as he turned to Clark, who lay right next to him on the couch. "We can't dwell on that. We have to move forward."

"That's easier said than done." Clark didn't have the same mental fortitude as the dark knight. Death was not something he got over quickly.

"I'm not telling you to get over it. I'm merely asking you to brush those thoughts aside for the time being," Contrary to his normally aloof demeanor, Bruce cared deeply for every life that was lost. Especially those of his friends. "We can sit around crying about it, or we can do something."

"Do what though?" Bulma sniffled as she sat the scrapbook down on her coffee table. Piccolo was dead and she sincerely doubted whether a Lazarus pool could resurrect all of her friends.

"Clark, do you remember what Raditz said during Goku's battle with him?"

The man of steel paused, surprised that Bruce had even been conscious during that altercation. "Not exactly. Goku's brother said a lot of things actually."

"He called Piccolo a Namekian," Bruce replied, answering his own question.

"How did you even hear..…"

"I didn't," Bruce interrupted. He knew the question would arise soon enough. " My suit is equipped with a highly advanced tape recorder. I listened to the audio following the conclusion of the fight."

A grin tugged at Bulma's lips as she heard the words. Batman was always on top of everything. "But what does a Namekian have to do with anything though?"

"I believe that is the name of Piccolo's species."

"There's a whole race of beings like Piccolo out there?!" Clark's eyes expanded to their extremities. One version of Piccolo was tough enough to deal with. He couldn't imagine the potential dangers that an entire race could pose.

"Potentially, I believe so," Batman calmly stated. Superman's apprehension was logical, but who was to say every Namekian was like Piccolo?

"I know Piccolo and the two of you weren't on the best of terms. But it seems like he truly turned his life around in the end. He did sacrifice his life-saving Gohan." Bulma still couldn't believe the words she had just uttered. When Ma Junior had kidnapped her Godson last year, she never would have predicted such an immense bond.

"Piccolo died heroically, that can't be denied," Superman admitted. "But let's not forget the fact that he tried to take over the world!"

"And how many years ago was that Clark? Outside of that day at the tournament, he hasn't truly done anything evil. In hindsight his kidnapping of Gohan was necessary. Neither one of us could have properly trained him." His thoughts on the situation had changed tremendously following his altercation with Turles. The Earth needed as many heroes as it could afford.

"And on top of that Kami and Piccolo are the members of the same race. We can't paint them all with the same brush." Bulma chirped in.

"Look, I'm not trying to paint these Namekians as all being the same. I'm just saying we have a reason to be little nervous." Clark spoke as he waved his hands defensively. He would never try to unfairly classify a group of people. He just wanted to be on the safe side.

"Your point is noted and will be taken into consideration," Batman responded. Superman's opinion was always respected in these kinds of discussions. "But as I was saying, Piccolo is a Namekian. If Piccolo, or rather Kami, was able to create Dragonballs…it's possible that the Namekians may have their own pair."

"And if they do we might be able to resurrect our friends and everyone else who died during the Saiyan's attack," Bulma concluded. The cogs in her mind were already beginning to churn as she pondered the possibilities.

"That would require us to go to space, wouldn't it? And who knows how long this trip might take." On paper, it sounded like a great idea to Clark. But all the details were really murky.

"Yes, it would," Batman said as he placed his hands on the coffee table. "Which is why I'm recommending that you go Bulma."

"M-me?" Bulma stuttered. "This has to be some kind of joke right?"

"I'm dead serious," Bruce said in monotone. "Most of Earth's heroes are gone now. I would have suggested Clark or myself, but the Earth will need some kind of defense while you're gone."

"What about Krillin? Or Goku?"

"Do you really think either one of them would know how to pilot a spaceship?' Bruce asked with a raised brow.

Superman and Bulma both shook their heads. If anything, Goku might crash it. Did he even know how to drive a car?

"Exactly. But I still want them to accompany you on this mission. If anything goes wrong they'll be there to protect you."

"Well, when you put it like that," Bulma mumbled as she scratched her head. "I guess I really don't have much of a choice. A space trip sure does beat anything I had planned at Capsule Corps too."

"It's settled then," Standing up from his seat Batman noted the time on his watch. "All we need to do now is notify them of our plans. Krillin should be getting out of the hospital any time now."

November 7th

Age 762 (2012), West City, Wukong Hospital

"So you want me to go to space in search of a planet that we have no idea of?"

"Pretty much." Batman curtly said. It sounded even more ridiculous when Krillin worded it like that.

"If it will bring back our friends, I'm willing to do it." Krillin didn't even hesitate with his answer. If there was even a slim chance that everyone could be revived, he would take it.

"But what about me?" Gohan asked as he turned from his father's bed. He wanted to be a part of this coalition.

"It's too dangerous Gohan." Since Goku was out of commission Bulma was his primary caretaker. Sending her Godson into space wasn't something she would allow.

"That's not fair!" Gohan pouted as he crossed his arms together. He was old enough to defend the Earth, but not to go into space?

"I know you want to see Piccolo again, but it's just too dangerous." Krillin tried to explain. Neither one of his parents would forgive him he allowed any harm to befall him.

"My mom would let me go if she were here," Gohan mumbled as he leaned against a nearby wall. Times like this made him miss her even more.

Everyone in the room shared a collective frown. Wonder Woman was still a sore spot for them. The fact that they had failed to locate her hung heavy in their hearts. Batman was supposed to be the world's greatest detective but had been utterly useless till this point. For all of Bulma's technological advancements, none of them had helped find her dear friend. Superman's enhanced senses hadn't picked up on anything either.

"I don't know what your mother would say Gohan," Clark regretfully said as he placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "But I do know that she would want us to keep you safe."

"Y-y-you don't have to worry about that." A weak voice wheezed from the bed.

"Goku!" Bulma shouted as she dashed over to her best friend. "You're awake."

"I am," He tried to laugh but halted as pain crept through his body. "You can take Gohan with you."

"Are you sure?" Batman questioned as he strode over to the bed. Goku's parenting style had always been unorthodox, but this was beyond even him.

"I am," Goku assured. "Gohan needs this. He needs to help our friends in the Otherworld."

"If you're ok with this," Bulma said, staring him dead in the eyes "I'll take him with me."

"Thanks." A smile was all Goku could muster.

"And while you guys are away in space we'll redouble our efforts to find Diana." Superman had been forced to split his time between training for the Saiyans arrival and searching for Wonder Woman. With the threat averted, he could focus all his attention on this.

"I'll speak to Chichi at ARGUS and ask them to assist us once again," Batman added. ARGUS had access to tools and technology that not even Bulma could create. "But we'll also need to start preparing for the worst case scenario."

"The worst case scenario?" Bulma parroted in confusion.

"Those beings who assisted the Saiyans could return at any time. They managed to knock Clark out with a single finger. It's obvious that they're even more powerful than the Saiyans."

Superman glowered as he recounted those events. For all intensive purposes, Kal-EL had managed to keep up with Turles fairly well. But that mysterious woman had defeated him with such ease. Before he had passed out, Goku had relayed information about another mysterious visitor who had taken the Saiyan prince. These otherworldly beings appeared to possess godlike abilities.

"That's just greater incentive for us to find Namek and resurrect everybody," Krillin said he paced the room. "As powerful as everyone in this hospital wing is, they wouldn't be enough to defeat them."

"I have to agree with Krillin here," Bulma supplicated with a head nod. "All we can really do is just focus on Namek. If those women wanted to they could show up right now and destroy us all. But they haven't. There's obviously something we don't know about. And we have to gear up for that."

"I need to gain more power." Staring at his hand, flashbacks of Turles thrashing came to mind. To protect the Earth Clark would need his power to grow in leaps and bounds.

"I think we're all getting a little bit too far ahead of ourselves now," Batman frowned from behind his cowl. "Clark and I will handle all of that. You three just need to worry about Namek. Everything else is moot if you guys don't succeed."

"Well, I think you're going to need a little bit of help if you plan on doing that." A bombastic voice said from the window.

Rushing to the open window, the room's occupants turned their gazes outside.

"Who the hell are you?" Bulma demanded as she viewed a man floating in the sky. An emerald aura surrounded his green and black uniform.

"I'm the Green Lantern of space sector 2814 and by command of the guardians of Oa, I'm here to assist you."

A big thank you to everyone who reviewed chapter 24!

Authors Note: Thanks to all my reviewers for my making this story the most reviewed one in the DBZ/JL crossover section. I never expected this kind of response when I initially created it.

Q/A:

TaitanoRules555: I have seen the latest episode of Dragonball Super.

Yaz: Vegeta will still be in the Namek saga. Krillin x 18 is not going to happen in this story, and you'll see why as the story progresses. Goten and Pan will be a totally different story as far as divine Ki is concerned when we finally get there. In theory, Cell could have divine Ki due to the DNA he will have.

Vadaco: My favorite DBZ villain is Majin Buu.

Ivs: Diana became that strong during the 3-year time-skip. I'm not sure what level I'd place Donna at, but she's stronger than the current main cast right now. Videl and Gohan will not be paired in this story. I like eccentric pairings and exploring ones far from the norm, it is FanFiction, after all, lol. Gohan will be a warrior in this story, but probably won't be a scholar. He'll be intelligent but due to different circumstances in how he was raised in this Universe, he just won't have the interest.

SAM: Yes, the DBZ humans will train harder than they did in canon. Kaio-ken might be involved, but they'll develop other skills.

dark flacon: The lady that helped Turles was Intri.

Dude64: Vegeta is still going to end up on Namek. Turles is going to remain a villain, maybe even more so than he was in canon.

Darkmist111: Current Turles couldn't defeat Diana.

S3rp3nte: Keep in mind that this story was originally written in 2014, long before Dragonball Super. The cosmic hierarchy I created at the onset of this story doesn't include the new characters that DBS introduced. The only characters that I'm going to use from DBS are Beerus and Whis. I never pondered the idea of the source being connected to God Ki. Good idea.

Mercwiththemouth: 1. You'll see why Frieza destroyed Krypton during the Namek saga. 2. The only version of Brainiac that had anything to do with Krypton's destruction is the DCAU version of him. Pre-Crisis, Post-Crisis and New 52 Brainiac have had nothing to do with it. He will be making an appearance though.

GokuBlackGodOfDe: The Flash will not be going to Namek. He just gained his powers in the last chapter lol.

Kabuto S. Inferno: As always, thanks for pointing out my mistakes. No need to worry about the conclusion of the previous fights, I do indeed have something planned for Turles and Vegeta.

Rufael: I do plan on using some characters from the DBZ movies. Broly will make an appearance. You saw Diana in this chapter. I did remove Diana from the main storyline so that other characters could evolve and grow. Great deduction.

Sailor Dragonball 87: Intri and Kaiyo are New Gods. Diana will be a part of the Cell saga.

JOEL: 1. Saiyans cannot receive a Zenkai through a minor injury. 2. A Saiyan hypothetically could. 3. King Kai is aware of other cosmic beings. 4. Idk whether Klarion will appear. 5. Can't disclose. 6. I was inspired to create this story because of another author who had made a similar story, but with Marvel instead.

Rasenshuriken152: None of the people you mentioned are DC characters, so no. Idk what you mean by Ghost Nappa.

Golden Dragon King: The Teen Titans will appear in this story later.

SCIENCE9: Those are all great predictions.

EXTRA 9: 1. Broly will not fight Doomsday 2. Tien has met Ra's 3. You saw their reaction in this chapter. 4. That would be spoilers so I can't speak on it. 5. That's spoilers too. 6..Piccolo never actually committed a crime during the tournament, there was no justification to arrest him.

Guest: I've already stated that Future Trunks will be in this story.

Trebeh: the Vegeta/Bulma pairing is crucial to the timeline though. Plus changing it would result in fewer Saiyans.

Havic of Crimson Carnage: I don't understand your question. Also, I don't watch DBZ Abridged.