Chapter 2 – Warnings and Preparations

The next day outside Goku and Chi Chi's house…

Gohan: Ow!

Gohan scans the area, trying to find out what had hit him and sees something next to his foot. He picks it up and examines it. It's a small round object with mini thrusters at the bottom and a folded piece of paper secured to the top. As he removes the paper, the hover sphere jumps into the sky and blows up. The boy presents the note to his father.

Gohan: Dad! Dad!

Goku: What is it?

Gohan: Read this.

Goku (reading the note): Where'd it come from?

Gohan: It was attached to a hover pod. The pod blew up right after I took the note off.

Goku: Let's see if Bulma can find out where these coordinates lead.

Gohan: Could it be from the people who attacked yesterday?

Chi Chi (yelling from inside): Goku! I need you for a second!

Goku (nervously): Umm…let's go now.

VOICE: You shouldn't leave without her knowing it…

The two turn around.

Gohan: Piccolo!

Goku: Piccolo, you should see this.

He hands Piccolo the message.

Piccolo (after reading the note): Hmm. They must be the same ones we heard about in the news.

Elsewhere

Goku: We got this message a little while ago. It says, "To my fellow adversaries: I am responsible. Come and get me. The Solstice will surface from the depths of Hell toward the Heavens as the sun sinks west."

Bulma: We got the exact same note, and I've already pinpointed the location of the coordinates.

The scientist walks to a computer desk and starts typing. A large holographic map of the planet is displayed. The area where the coordinates disclose the location of the Solstice is in red.


(Bulma)
Now, according to the map, the Solstice should be on an island somewhere north near those old Red Ribbon Army towers. Don't let it's location deceive you – this island has mostly tundra, jungle, and desert-like climates. But since it has this many different ecosystems, it's structure is imbalanced.

If there is a direct airborne attack on it, let's say the Kamehameha wave for instance, it will go straight through the island, detach the island from the earth's crust underneath the ocean, and cause the entire island to sink and collide into the crust and drive into the center of the earth.

(pulls up a holographic simulation showing a Kamehameha wave hitting the center of the island and going through until it hits a weak spot in the bridge – the underwater bridge breaks; the island turns on its side, sinks, and rams through the center of the earth)

Now, if you hit the island near its coast where the land isn't as dense, the energy will just do the same thing, but it will take a longer time for it to find a weak spot. In either case, if the island rams into Earth, all that friction would cause the mantle to increase in temperature.

At the least, this would cause massive earthquakes all over the planet. At most, the planet will collapse on itself.
(end Bulma)


Goku: Okay, we'll be careful.

Bulma: You'd better be. I don't want to find out that you destroyed the planet.

Goku: Where are Vegeta and Trunks? We should get going.

Bulma: They have to get some things straightened out first. You three can go without them, they'll be awhile.

Yamcha and Krillen enter the room.

Yamcha: You mean five.

Krillen: Yeah, don't forget about us.

Goku: Yamcha. Krillen. What are you two doing here?

Yamcha: Well, since I practically live here I know what goes on.

Krillen: Yeah, and I was just playing with the baby. Y'know, thinking of starting a family in this lifetime. Say, you're not going to forget about us this time like you did with that guy who wanted to kill "all Saiyans on Earth." Right?

Goku: Oh, right. I was going to tell you—

Yamcha: Yeah right! We humans would've been too much of a handicap for you guys so ya didn't even bother with us!

Bulma: Yamcha!

Yamcha: Sorry. Must be some of what I had last night talking. What was that anyways?

Goku: Do you think Vegeta and Trunks will be ready anytime soon?

Bulma: Well…

Goku: What's wrong?

Bulma: Vegeta thinks this whole thing is too mortifying for a warrior like him. Trunks' trying to convince him otherwise and knowing them both, they'll be at each other for quite some time.

Elsewhere

In the gravity chamber…

Trunks: But Father, if we don't stop them they'll destroy the rest of the earth and kill off everyone!

Vegeta (pauses his training to respond): Must I remind you that I tried to do the same exact thing?

Trunks: But you're not like that anymore. You have a lot to live for now.

Vegeta: Nothing too bad will happen, especially with that ingrate Kakkorot playing hero.

Trunks: You say you're a great warrior, even better than Goku. I don't believe you.

Vegeta (irritated): What the hell do you mean by that? I am a better warrior by a million-fold!

Trunks: Then prove it.

Vegeta (a little stunned, then smirking): All right. You've convinced me. I'll fight. But do one thing first; cut your hair. You look like a sissy little schoolgirl.

Right after Trunks exits the chamber, Vegeta slips out of the house, leaving his son behind.

---
Trunks, with his lavender hair at ear's length again, searches around the house looking for something. He runs into Bulma.

Trunks: Mother, have you seen my armor?

Bulma: I had to get rid of it. I couldn't get the blood or the odors out. I could make you another prototype if you wait a while…

Trunks: No thanks. I don't want you to go through that. I'll wear what I usually do.

Bulma (just remembering something): The Detersion Reservatory!

Trunks: The…laundry room?

Elsewhere

The convoy of comrades journey to this unknown, unseen terrorist. Someone silently joins the group.

Goku: Hey, it's Vegeta. Where's Trunks?

Vegeta: He'll get here when he gets here.

Elsewhere

In the Detersion Reservatory…

Bulma: I sent your outfit to be washed. Since a Droid sent in an emergency, I forgot to type in a command telling this to send your clothes upstairs. Hold him for a second.

She gives Trunks his younger counterpart. She lifts the door of a machine upwards, puts her hand in it, and grabs a small tubular object. Trunks claims the object from Bulma and quickly changes his clothes.

As he puts on his jacket, a small charm falls out of one of the front pockets. He picks it up and starts to examine this strange object. It is a small golden emblem – about four centimeters in length and no more than three centimeters wide – of half a heart with a wing on one side, much like a bat's. Bulma walks pass him. The sight of the charm catches her attention.

Bulma: What's that?

Trunks: I'm not sure. I can't remember where it came from or when I got it, but I always need to keep it near me.

Bulma: Just as long as I didn't give it to you. I wouldn't want to know that my own son didn't appreciate what I give him.

Trunks tries to save himself while waving one hand and putting the other behind his head while nervously laughing.

Trunk: Umm…I didn't mean it that way, Mother. I remember everything you give to me. (seriously) But I just wonder… (snaps back into reality) Where's Father?

Bulma: I couldn't find him myself. That arrogant father of yours! He probably left when you were getting ready!

Trunks hastily flips the object back in the left pocket of his jacket and runs out of the house.

Trunks: Bye Mother! Love you!