Thoughts
Computer Speech/Robotic Speech
"Speech"
Disclaimer: DC and the Dragonball Franchise belong to their respective owners; I own nothing.
Chapter 59: Iceberg III
March 1st
Age 763 (2013), The Source Wall
The Source Wall…the origin of all Ki in the universe.
Goku's mind dwelled on Elder Pybara's words. Over the years, he'd trained under the tutelage of several different masters. Grandpa Gohan, Master Roshi, Kami, Mr. Popo, King Kai, the list went on and on. But not once had any of his teachers explained the origin of Ki. It was possible that none of them knew the Source of it, but King Kai was a deity that outranked Kami; he, if anyone, should've known.
Ki was a life force energy that permeated through every living being. Humans, aliens, animals, and even the tiniest microbes all possessed Ki. Goku's eyes lingered on the colossal structure that was thousands of feet away from him, and a multitude of questions sprouted in his mind. Who created the wall? What was beyond it? What secrets did it hold? And how long had it been here?
To his best knowledge, Ki had always existed, or had it? He'd always assumed Ki was a fundamental force of reality like gravity, but this wall put that theory into question. The wall looked and felt alive. Were the detailed figures who were carved into the wall the ones responsible for the creation of Ki? It was impossible to count them all; it was like trying to keep track of the grains of sand on a beach.
Without being conscious of his actions, Goku began drifting closer to the wall, dragging Elder Pybara along with him. The Yardratian's grip was iron clad, and his palms were hot and clammy. He didn't resist Goku's pull and trailed slightly behind the Saiyan as Goku took the lead. They passed a cluster of absurdly large asteroids as they approached the wall. Science wasn't Goku's forte, but each space rock looked large enough to wipe out the Earth.
Goku got closer and closer, his ever-expanding eyes trembling as he came to a harrowing realization; the wall was indeed alive. The sheer size of the wall and its meticulously detailed design had distracted Goku from scanning the vicinity for any Ki presences. If he had done it sooner, he would've recognized the astounding power radiating from the wall. It was illogical and defied everything he had ever learned about Ki. There were multiple massive Ki presences, but at the same time, there was only one.
It was a conundrum, and the more Goku tried to wrap his mind around it, the more his confusion grew. He felt a throbbing sensation in the right corner of his skull that suddenly grew into a head-splitting migraine. Goku was forced to slow his flight speed, and when he did, Elder Pybara took the opportunity to caution him.
"You have to remove your focus from the wall, Goku. You will go crazy if you continue to focus on the Source Wall's Ki signature."
Goku didn't need to be told twice, and without delay, he swayed his attention. It took a few moments for his headache to subside, but when it finally did, he breathed a sigh of relief. "That was scary." He said, turning his head towards his teacher.
"Indeed," Elder Pybara supplemented. "My first encounter with the Source Wall went similarly. When the Yardratian elder before me brought me here, I nearly passed out from the overwhelming amount of Ki I felt."
"The elder before you?" Goku repeated in awe. Elder Pybara was hundreds of years old, which meant his predecessor had brought him here centuries ago.
"Yes, he was a very wise man, much smarter than I. His prowess with Ki was unfathomable. He taught me everything I know. He was so skilled with Ki that he never died of natural causes."
"What happened to him then?" Goku asked, leaning in closely, attentive to the tale. This was the first time Elder Pybara had ever mentioned his master.
"There comes a time when a master feels he has nothing left to teach his student. My master and I reached that point. I thought I still had a lot to learn, but he was satisfied with my knowledge. Shortly after that, he left Yardrat, seeking to explore this very wall in front of us," Elder Pybara gestured towards the Source Wall with his free hand. "He never returned. He got trapped inside of it."
Goku took a frightened step back. If Elder Pybara's master had gotten stuck inside the wall, that meant that the other figures inside it were most likely prisoners as well. "How did you find out?" Goku scanned the wall for any trace of a Yardratian but found nothing.
"My curiosity got the best of me after a few years when he never returned home. I teleported to the Source Wall and found my master trapped inside it, like a caged animal."
Without warning, Elder Pybara began to fly. Goku clung on for dear life as the Yardratian ascended higher and higher up the Source Wall, passing a maze of gargantuan alien faces. Their soulless eyes were hauntingly empty and devoid of any hope. When Elder Pybara finally stopped, he hovered in front of a gigantic being that resembled a Namekian. Unlike the other faces on the wall, this face had its jaw clenched.
"My master once stood here, but as time has passed, more unlucky souls have joined this wall, making it now impossible to locate him." Elder Pybara's shoulders slumped, and for once, his ordinarily jovial demeanor disappeared. "I would do anything in my power to rescue him if I could."
"I'll find a way," Goku said, brimming with determination. "You've done so much for me, Elder Pybara; this is the least I can do for you."
The Yardratian smiled sadly at his student. "I appreciate the sentiment Goku, but once someone is trapped inside of the Source Wall, it is impossible to free them. Some of these beings have been trapped in this wall for billions of years."
"Billions of years?" A shiver went down Goku's spine. "How do you know that? And if that's true, then when was the Source Wall created?"
"Knowledge of the Source Wall has been passed down from Yardratian elder to elder. Centuries ago, long before I was even born, planet Yardrat was visited by an extraterrestrial traveler. At that time in our species' history, we weren't technologically advanced, and visitors from the stars were scarce. A being named Metron visited Yardrat, claiming to hail from a world called New Genesis."
Goku shut his eyes and tried to think. During his stay in the Otherworld, he'd encountered people from a variety of planets, but none of them had ever mentioned a place called New Genesis.
"Metron told our ancient elder about his homeworld, a planet filled with gods. At that point in Yardrats history, the Kai's were the only gods we knew of, and that revelation was a great surprise to our people."
Goku couldn't help but chuckle. His experience with the divine had been the exact opposite. He'd learned about the other deities in the universe first when Strife had saved him from execution on Themyscira as a child. He eventually learned about the Kai's in later adventures, and Elder Pybara had been all too eager to hear about them.
"Metron told our ancient elder that he'd been watching our species and keeping track of our development. He was fascinated by our ability to wield Ki. We weren't the only race in the universe that could manipulate it, but per his words, we were the most skilled at wielding Ki. Metron was a god of knowledge who sought to unravel all the universe's mysteries through scientific study and introspection. He offered to teach the ancient Yardratian elder all he knew about Ki in exchange for one thing."
"What was it?" Goku asked, on the edge of his seat. What could a god have possibly wanted from a mortal?
"Metron wanted to conduct an experiment on a Yardratian. Our people demanded to know what kind of experiment he desired, but Metron refused to tell them until after they agreed. Against his better judgment and advice from his fellow Yardratians, our ancient elder agreed to Metron's terms."
"Are you serious? Why'd he agree to that?" Yardratians were amiable, friendly people; Goku had witnessed that firsthand when he'd crashed on their planet. They welcomed any and all visitors to their homeworld. But that type of kindness could easily be taken advantage of.
"Our ancient elder sensed no ill will from Metron. He was a neutral figure whose only interest was scientific exploration. But the ancient elder was still cautious and elected for Metron to conduct his experiment on him, not wanting to risk potential harm to his people. It was warranted wariness, but in the end, Metron's experiment proved to be beneficial to our planet." A smile as wide as a chasm engulfed Elder Pybara's face.
"What happened?" Goku clung to the Yardratian's every word, anxious to know what was next.
"Metron's experiment resulted in the creation of a new Yardratian species. As you're well aware, Goku, there are two different types of Yardratians." [1]
Goku nodded fervently. "Yes, there are Yardratians that look like you, and there are Yardratians that are pink with pointy ears." It was a succinct, poor description, but it was the best one Goku could give. The other types of Yardratians were indeed pink with pointed ears, but they also had bulbous eyes and two whisker-like appendages on the sides of their heads.
"Metron's experiment resulted in their creation. Without him, our brothers wouldn't exist. We owe him a great deal."
"And that's all he wanted? What was the purpose of that experiment?" Goku scratched the side of his face, confused.
"Honestly, I cannot say. At best, all I can do is give you speculations, and who knows if they're true. Metron isn't here to confirm or deny them. But, since you asked, I believe Metron conducted that experiment to see if Spirit Control was innate in Yardratians, and I think that experiment proved that to be true."
"And after that experiment, Metron taught the ancient Yardratian elder what he knew about Ki?"
"Yes," Elder Pybara nodded. "According to legend, they had numerous deep conversations about Ki; its potential usages, functionality, and origin. Their discussions about the origin of Ki lead the ancient Yardratian elder to the discovery of the Source Wall. According to Metron, the Source Wall is the origin of all Ki in the universe."
Goku shifted his gaze from Elder Pybara back to the Source Wall. There was something mystical and supernatural about it for sure; the amount of Ki that pulsated from the wall was proof of that. But Goku's mind still drew a blank at deciphering how a wall could birth Ki.
"I can sense your confusion, Goku," Elder Pybara said, studying Goku's befuddled expression. "Let me clarify, the energy behind the wall, which serves to fuel it, is responsible for the creation of Ki.'"
A brief silence washed over the pair as Goku stroked his chin, the gears in his mind churning. When the Saiyan finally stopped and looked prepared to speak, Elder Pybara was hopeful they had reached an understanding, but the statement that flew out of Goku's mouth dashed those hopes.
"I still don't get it," The Saiyan said nervously. The sweatdrop that appeared on Elder Pybara's face was large enough to weigh him down, but the Yardratian quickly composed himself.
"The Source Wall is named after its creator, The Source. To be quite honest with you, I don't completely understand it either, but as Metron once said, the Source is the origin of all things. Ki just happens to be one of those things. The Source Wall is a barrier that separates everyone and everything from the Source. A portion of the Source's power bleeds from the Source Wall."
"Well, from everything you just said, The Source sounds like a god, the God, I should say," Goku corrected himself. Every time he thought he had some grasp of the cosmos and its gods, a new piece of information came along and completely shattered his worldview.
"I suppose you can call it that," Elder Pybara mused. "But even those terms fall flat in accurately describing The Source. The Source is the essence of life, and what is Ki? Life energy. When we use Ki in any way, shape, or form, we are unknowingly drawing from The Source, which permeates through all things. The Source is all, and all is The Source. Spirit Control requires the deepest level of concentration and focus because you're pulling deeper from the well of The Source to manipulate your Ki."
"And you brought me here to show what that well looks like, or at least what the barrier surrounding that well looks like," Goku said as the lightbulb in his head went off. It all made sense now.
"Yes, exactly, Goku," Elder Pybara smiled proudly. "Yardratians have been practicing Spirit Control for ages, and we still don't know its limits. Every master has taught Spirit Control to his students in hopes that they surpass him, and I am no different, Goku. I meant what I said back on Yardrat; you're the best student I've ever had. Take the knowledge I'm giving you and push the known boundaries of Spirit Control. I have complete faith in you, Goku."
March 7th
Age 763 (2013), Themyscira
"The repairs to the northern gate are almost complete, but funds are running low as well as able-bodied workers. Numerous Amazons are still receiving medical care for wounds they sustained during the civil war. Io's progress with the Purple Healing Ray is going well, but her focus is split between that project and a multitude of other ones. She's doing all she can to assist in Themyscira's rebuild, but she is only one woman. The farmers say their crops will be ready soon, but we shouldn't expect much. Alkyone filled her follower's bellies at the expense of future harvests. This upcoming harvest will only yield…." Euboea's words trailed as she shifted her eyes from the scroll in her hands and glanced towards Diana, whose mind was anywhere but here.
The throne room was bare and desolate, dim and empty, and undoubtedly unbefitting of a queen. The construction process was slow and painstaking, but it was understandable; Themyscira had far more pressing needs than a rebuilt throne room. The room lacked windows, so lighting was at a premium. The only source of light was the tall salt rocks that lined the room from wall to wall, emitting a coral glow wherever they stood. Diana had elected to use them in place of torches because of their supposed health benefits.
On the ceiling, there was an incomplete mosaic painting that, thus far, only featured a pair of unsettling eyes. A chandelier was scheduled to be attached to the ceiling in the coming weeks, along with an octet of much-needed windows. Decorations and designs still needed to be added as well. The room was as grey and colorless as the stones it had been built on. But even more grey was the look in Diana's eyes.
Up a flight of lengthy, wide stairs, past her royal guards, sat the queen. Her throne was a simple wooden seat that could be found at any Amazon's dining table. It was a far cry from the lustrous golden throne that Alkyone had once built for herself. That throne had been smashed to pieces, along with the rest of the former royal palace, when Diana had slammed Cottus into the Earth. The fractured fragments of gold that had been unearthed beneath the rubble of the palace had been melted down and dispersed to the Amazons by Diana.
"Am I boring you, Your Highness?" Euboea said, slightly in jest. The queen quickly snapped back to reality, lifting her head from the pillow that was her right palm. Diana relocated her elbow from her chair's armrest and placed it on her lap, intertwining her fingers.
"No, no, of course not. Please continue, Euboea," The flustered queen implored as she tilted her crown and fixed her gaze on Euboea. The floor was literally and figuratively hers.
Euboea gave her an unsure look but returned her attention to the long brownish-yellow scroll that was dangling over the concrete floor.
"The upcoming harvest will only yield enough produce to last for a month if we're lucky. Fortunately, our emergency rations have remained untouched, but that will soon change if something drastic doesn't occur. In more pleasant news, Amazons have started venturing to the beach again. The air of despair and mourning is starting to…" Euboea paused and lowered the parchment below her chin. One swift glance revealed what she already knew; Diana was lost in thought again. Euboea sighed in frustration and quietly rolled up the scroll before speaking once more.
"My queen, your attention today seems to be elsewhere. I hate to intrude and interrupt your thoughts, so I will take my leave. Please excuse me and enjoy the rest of your day, Your Highness." Euboea took a polite bow, and before Diana could even voice a complaint, her saffron sandals were rattling against the floor as she exited the throne room. She passed a row of salt lamps as she made her way out.
"Well, that certainly could've gone better," Philippus commented as she watched one of the queen's most trusted advisors march out of the room. Euboea's jade himation scraped the ground as she departed, but even in anger, Euboea still managed to exude a certain level of grace and poise.
"On the bright side, our queen was able to finish her first meeting of the day in record time," Nubia giggled. "Not once did her mother clear a meeting like that."
Diana looked down the flight of stairs, her eyes arriving at its bottommost steps, and frowned. "What would I do without the two of you," She tossed her head back and soothed her temples. "I will apologize to Euboea at dinner tonight; I owe her that much."
She stood up and began her descent down the steps that seemed designed to provoke a tumble. She wished she was as graceful as her mother, but she was not. She had to grip her peplos tightly, curling the white fabric beneath her fingers to keep track of where each one of her feet landed. Nubia and Philippus parted ways when she reached the bottom, allowing her to pass. It was a long way towards the only exit in the room, and as always, Nubia and Philippus shadowed Diana as she walked towards it.
"You know this is unnecessary, right?" Diana asked as she peeked out of her peripheral. She hated being followed everywhere.
"I know, Your Highness, but it is our duty as members of the royal guard to accompany you wherever you go. It is the duty your mother charged us with," Philippus said. But true as her words were, Diana still didn't find them agreeable.
"If you're going to constantly follow me, at least change your outfits; the war is over," Diana pleaded. Nubia and Philippus were still dressed in full military regalia as if Alkyone would rise from Hades and torment them once more.
The ebony Amazons wore matching brass breastplates along with walnut pteruges that stopped just short of their knees. Fluttering red capes hung from their shoulders, and the black buskins on their feet were knotted tightly. They each held sharp steel javelins in their dominant hand. They were twins in every aspect, with the exception of their helmets. Philippus wore a Praetorian helmet, while Nubia had on a Coolus helmet that did little to contain her fluffy hair.
"Members of the royal guard must be dressed in military uniform if on duty. This ordinance came directly from your mother," Philippus said. She had been Queen Hippolyta's closest friend, and much to Diana's ire, she was a walking encyclopedia of rules and edicts.
Diana groaned. "Well, I'm queen now; I can change that rule if I so desire." Thus far, Diana's regime had been a mirror image of her mother's. Little had changed, but Diana planned to implement fresh ideas once Themyscira was stable.
"That's doubtful," Nubia rebutted. "You respect your mother too much to change her laws on a whim, especially since she's no longer here with us."
Diana's head drooped. Even after these past few months, her mother's predicament was still a sore subject. Philippus nudged Nubia in the ribs, and the regretful Amazon quickly apologized.
"My queen, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to – "
"No, it's alright," Diana dismissed her with a wave. "It's okay. The truth is often painful, but that doesn't make it any less true. My mother is gone and will likely never return unless Hera's anger subsides. But at least I can take some solace in knowing she's not yet in the underworld."
Diana's mother, or rather the golem that was now her mother, had been placed in the courtyard of the new palace. The statue had been too heavy for any Amazon besides Diana or Donna to lift, so the former had carried it there. A garden had been planted around the statue to beautify the area, filled with Queen Hippolyta's favorite flowers; peonies, hyacinths, daffodils, roses, lilies, and asters. Io had built a device to expedite the flower's growth, cutting the span of their germination in half.
"I have faith that we'll be able to restore Queen Hippolyta to normal one day soon," Philippus assured. Many had given up hope, but she hadn't. Hera's might was frightening, but the queen of the gods wasn't all-powerful. There had to be a remedy to this situation."
"I want my mother freed from that prison but not at the expense of our people," Diana cautioned. "Hera warned us that my mother's entrapment was the price of our peace. If we attempt to undercut her, she will return to finish what she started. Themyscira paid a heavy price the first time she attacked our island."
Nubia shuddered. She didn't need any reminders of that dark day. She was one of the few Amazons who had managed to make it to high ground before Hera had unleashed waves from the Aegean sea. She had still ended up nearly drowning, but the waters had receded by the time Themyscira had been teleported into a new dimension. Several of her sisters hadn't been so fortunate; they died choking on salt water from a sea they had once thanked Poseidon for.
"We must keep Hera at bay at all costs. Athena is on our side, but she alone cannot stand up to the potential wrath of her stepmother. She's done so much for us; we should honor that by keeping the peace she worked so hard to forge." It was a complicated but rational conclusion for Nubia to reach.
Who had freed Diana? Athena. Who had talked sense into Hera? Athena. Who had gone to the underworld to ensure Hippolyta's soul wasn't there? Athena. At every turn, the goddess of wisdom had assisted them, and it would be a tremendous slap to the face to destroy all that hard work by spiting Hera once more.
"It pains me to agree with you on this matter, but you're correct, Nubia," Diana added solemnly.
"My mother created this situation, and now she is paying the heaviest toll for it."
"What about your father, Zeus? We can speak to him and plead our case," Philippus suggested as Diana finally arrived at the door. It was bronze, double her height and triple her weight. Artists were waiting to give the door its final touches, but in the meantime, the gold ornament of an eagle hung above it.
Diana pushed the door and entered a hallway. "My father has had ample time to reach out to me, and until now, he has elected to remain silent." Wisps of sunlight from the nearby courtyard peeked through the gaps of ivory pillars as she walked. The morning dawn was nascent, and the queen basked in its pinkish-purple hue. Artisans of all varieties were packed in the courtyard, lugging their tools to predetermined locations. It was best to get the brunt of their labor done before it became too hot.
"It still wouldn't hurt to try; at worst, all Zeus can say is no," Philippus was adamant with her insistence. She had little fondness for the All-Father, but he was their best option.
"I know your heart is in the right place, Philippus, but as your queen, I demand you drop this at once." Wonder Woman's harsh tone surprised even her; she left no room for argument. She was the queen now but rarely referred to herself as such, only in situations that required absolute compliance from her subjects.
"Forgive me, Your Highness, I overstepped my boundaries," Philippus'would've taken a knee if Diana's back wasn't to her front. The dynamic between Philippus and her former student had irrevocably changed, and at times, it was easy to forget that.
"All is forgiven. Your loyalty to my mother is beyond admirable." Diana said as she observed her workers in the courtyard. She hoped to one day inspire that same level of loyalty.
The trio continued their walk in silence as Diana became enthralled with the ongoings of the courtyard. Like the rest of the new palace, it was still a work in progress. Tiles had been laid over the foundation, but engravings needed to be made in them. The sculptures Diana desired were only partially done, and the faces on the figures were unrecognizable. The hole for a fountain had been dug, but the fountain itself was still awaiting installation. Nothing was complete save for the garden that surrounded Queen Hippolyta.
"In the throne room, you were distracted, Diana. I sensed that, and Euboea did as well. What's on your mind, my queen." Nubia had to speak loudly to ensure her words were heard over the clamor in the courtyard.
Diana pulled her attention away from an Amazon who was hamming away at the torso of a white marble statue and responded. "My family, my family troubles my thoughts."
"Your husband and your son, you mean. All Amazons are family," Philippus corrected.
"Yes, my husband and son," Diana's lips trembled. "All Amazons are family, but my husband and son hold a greater place in my heart than any Amazon. It has been nearly three years since I kissed my husband or held my son. Who knows what trials and tribulations they've gone through in my absence? What perils they've faced. I abandoned my family to come to Themyscira at the onset of the civil war, and the guilt I feel is immense, especially now since the war is over and I still haven't returned home."
"So why don't you?" Nubia asked tenderly. The pain in Diana's voice was heartbreaking, and she sounded on the verge of tears.
"Because of my duty to Themyscira, my duty to the Amazons, my duty to you. I returned the key Hermes gave me shortly after the war, so I can't just teleport home. I desperately want to return to Chikyu, but so many things need to be taken care of first. Our homeland needs to be rebuilt not just physically but mentally and morally. Donna's trial starts soon, and I will have to adjudicate over that. Every day there is seemingly a new problem. If it isn't food, it's housing; if it isn't housing, it's economic. At the rate things are going, I won't see my family again for the foreseeable future."
Diana paused and ran her hands through her dark raven hair. It had grown well past her shoulders since the end of the civil war and stopped just short of her thighs. She tried to take deep breaths to calm down. No one ever saw her like this. She was supposed to maintain the regality of a queen but had just broken down in front of her guards, and Athena knew who else.
"It will be okay." Diana felt a pair of warm, comforting hands on her shoulders. She looked to her sides and saw Nubia and Philippus pulling her into a hug.
"We are here for you. Themyscira will be whole again soon under your leadership," Philippus reassured. "Your husband and son are brave, mighty, and courageous; you've told us that numerous a time. I'm sure they miss you, but I have no doubt that they're doing fine."
Diana smiled gratefully as she leaned into her sister's embrace. Philippus always had words of upliftment for her. She had to have faith in her family. Goku was capable of taking care of himself; he'd been doing it long before they'd ever met. Gohan was her son and the embodiment of the best aspects of his mother and father. He'd be alright no matter what; he'd learned from the best.
March 7th
Age 763 (2013), West City, Capsule Corp
"Gohan needs his education; everything in life isn't about fighting Piccolo!" Bulma Brief yelled as she sprang up from her couch. She tried to look intimidating as she glared into the Namekian's eyes, but Piccolo was unfazed.
Ma Junior snorted and crossed his arms. "What good will an education do him if the planet is destroyed?" Piccolo argued. He was fortunate to have inherited his knowledge from King Piccolo; he couldn't have imagined wasting so much time reading useless books.
"But the Earth isn't going to blow up; it'll be just fine. Gohan is four years old; the fate of the world doesn't have to rest on his shoulders. One day off from training won't hurt, and besides, the Justice League exists for a reason." Bulma shoved her finger into Piccolo's chest, which earned her an annoyed grunt.
Piccolo towered over her slim petite frame and could've easily flicked her away but restrained himself. He instead chose to attack her in another manner. "Why am I arguing with you? Just look at your outfit; it's obvious you have no sense."
Bulma's face flipped through a range of emotions before settling on outrage. "Well, for your information, Capsule Corp gear is the hottest thing on the market right now." She was dressed in a pair of yellow biker shorts that featured the Capsule Corp insignia on its sides and a rainbow-colored crop top that was brighter than any painting in her living room. Piccolo was dressed in his usual uniform.
From the kitchen, Gohan sighed as he tapped his pencil against his notebook. He was seated on top of Bulma's island table, trying to finish his homework but to no avail. Piccolo and Bulma had been arguing for the past thirty minutes. Gohan had been in the middle of class when Piccolo had suddenly arrived at the Capsule Corp headquarters for an unscheduled training session. Bulma had dismissed class following that and had issued Gohan an assignment. It wasn't a hard one, but with all this shouting, it was impossible to focus.
Gohan understood both sides of the argument. Bulma was right. Children, especially ones as young as him, needed to be in school. But on the flipside, Gohan needed to get stronger in case another threat like Frieza showed up to claim the Earth. Neither side was wrong per se, but there was a time and place for everything.
The Demi-Saiyan frowned and slammed his notebook on the table. It was times like this that he missed his mother the most. Her calming voice and tranquil demeanor put everyone at ease and ended quarrels before they got too raucous. He would've given anything for her to burst through the nearest door and pull him into her arms.
Mom, where are you? I need you.
A big thank you to everyone who reviewed chapter 58!
[1]: In DBZ, the pink Yardratians that Goku encountered were originally just filler. Akira Toriyama created the second type of Yardratians. In this shared AU, I came up with this idea to explain the differences between the two Yardratian species.
Q/A:
OmniIBIBUltraInstinctGodzilla: I won't confirm or deny that pairing, lol.
scl04: Donna and Diana are still in Themyscira. When Diana's reunion does happen, you'll get to see it. I didn't understand your Dr. Veritas question. A Joker and Vegeta interaction would be awkwardly hilarious. At some point, they will cross paths. I didn't notice it until I wrote the previous chapter, but Goku hadn't made an appearance in over 20+ chapters.
I'm not sure why that Instant Transmission rule was implemented, but in the Dragonball Super manga, that's what they said. The Ginyu Force attacking Yardrat seems to be a DBS retcon. I just stuck with what originally happened in DBZ. The source wall will be very important in the near future. I can't say if Buu will be stronger than Cell because that's totally dependent on who Buu will absorb down the line. But Cell will for sure be stronger than Buu initially.
tarifullbuster: Vegito may or may not appear, but a Goku/Superman fusion will most definitely occur in the future.
Ppsspp: I didn't update last month because I had personal things going on. Chapter 58 wasn't shorter than chapter 57.
Anonymous Mastermind: Bulma will develop new devices, but I can't reveal what they'll be for.
derpmaster9000: I went back and edited the previous chapter, so hopefully, those errors are gone now. I can't spoil what Goku will learn, but he will come back with some new tricks up his sleeve.
darkmist111: Yes, with the right amount of Ki concentration, it's possible for Vegeta to protect internal organs
DRAGONDAVE45: Gohan and Diana will have a tender heart-warming reunion soon. The version of Cyborg Frieza in this story has a Yellow Lantern ring.
Fuckmegun: Yes, Goku will eventually meet the new gods.
King Julius: I don't currently have any plans to do the war of the gods story arc.
Guest: I do plan on using the Hellbat armor later on for something. Various cast members will train Superman.
