Chapter IV: Blackmail
Though she knew better, Videl punched her Hovercopter's console in frustration. For the past three weeks the Great Saiyaman had been fighting crime alongside her, and she had no clue who he could be. She didn't hate him. On the contrary, Videl liked Saiyaman. He was always around when you really needed him, and his help gave her more time for studies. Her grades had gone up since he arrived. Despite all that, Videl wanted to know his identity.
She scanned the city landscape, hoping to find something to take her anger out on. And there he was. Videl blinked to make sure she wasn't seeing things, but she wasn't. Almost parallel to her, flew the Great Saiyaman. He carried a school bag on his side.
Without thinking, Videl banked the Hovercopter in a sharp turn. I'm going to find out who he is, right now!
* * *
Gohan glanced over his shoulder to see Videl's Hovercopter closing in on him. And here I was thinking she'd let up. Gohan powered up and increased his speed. Videl's Hovercopter managed to keep up with him, and Gohan flew even faster. Seeing he wouldn't be able to outrun her, Gohan dove into the city. He hoped he could lose her in the maze of buildings.
She kept with him. Gohan tried making abrupt turns, but Videl proved herself quite the pilot and took them at high speeds. The costumed Saiyan grimaced, Why? Why didn't my dad just teach me that stupid instant transmission technique? Hey, wait!
Gohan couldn't perform his father's signature move, but human eyes wouldn't be able to follow him after a speed burst. Gohan halted in mid air and turned to face Videl. He could see the horror in her eyes as she tried to stop from colliding with him. With a grin on his face, Gohan vanished.
Videl stopped the Hovercopter and whipped her head around. She couldn't see him anywhere.
Gohan hadn't actually vanished. He hid behind a tree in an adjacent park, watching his pursuer. The Hovercopter turned, and flew away over some buildings. Gohan sighed, and backed away towards the open field. That had been closer than he would have liked. He tried not to speak to Videl as the Great Saiyaman. It would only increase his chances of discovery.
A loud engine sound and a gust of air blew behind Gohan. He whirled to see Videl making a landing only ten feet from him. How did she know I was here? Better yet, why didn't I know she was there? Gohan smiled and waved as she jumped out, "Well, hello there Ms. Satan. Funny meeting you here."
"Can it. That was some chase you gave me back there. For a moment I thought I had lost you."
"Well, I suppose I can't be as good at hiding as I am fighting crime." That didn't come out as well as Gohan thought it would.
Videl slammed her foot on the ground, "I know you've been helping me a lot, but I want to know who you are!"
"What? Why does it matter?"
"It does to me!" Videl reached out and grabbed what she could of the front of Gohan's shirt, and pulled him towards her, "Come on, just tell me who you are."
Gohan brought his hand up to his chin in a pose, "Well, we have worked together. I think I can trust you." All right Gohan, you keep missing these chances, but this time we're going to do it. Now, what kind of a pose am I going to make? He backed away from her and began, "I . . . am . . . the Great-"
A large explosion shook the area, and both teens turned to see a billowing cloud of smoke and fire rising from behind the line of buildings. Videl ran to her Hovercopter and took off. Saving people was more important than learning Saiyaman's identity.
Gohan watched as she sped to the scene, a little disappointed. That was a great pose I had thought of. I'm never going to get to show any of them off. Gohan launched himself into the air. The explosion had occurred at a nearby apartment building. He could see the lower half on fire, with the flames climbing up towards the people screaming for help. He saw Videl loading as many as she could onto her Hovercopter. It was a good idea, but Gohan knew the building wouldn't last long enough for everyone to get out.
On the roof, Gohan spotted a small tank. It didn't look like it held much, but it could be enough to buy some time. Gohan reached the top, and ripped off the valve to the tank. He then powered up a ki blast, and sent it down through the building. The water began to flow into the hole, and Gohan could see smoke building up at the base. It was working.
Videl noticed the Great Saiyaman going about the water tank. She smiled, Quick thinking. He really is a dependable guy. The next five minutes were spent ferrying people to safety. The fire had started to gather strength again, and began to move much more quickly than before.
Videl landed her Hovercopter and helped the passengers out. She noticed the Great Saiyaman and waved, "I think that's all of them."
He flicked her a thumbs up. Then a scream rang out. Both stared up to see a woman on the floor just above where the fire had reached. Oh, NO! Gohan flew to the woman as fast as he could. He reached her and yelled out, "Quick! We need to-" He glanced behind her to see the air waving. Only it wasn't from heat. Gohan noticed an open stove in the kitchen. He blinked, "You have got to be-"
The flames burst though the door and into the room. Gohan grabbed the woman and tried to get out. The flames touched the gas, and a second explosion rocked the building. Debris and pieces of structure littered the streets below. Videl cried out, "No! Saiyaman!"
Almost as though he had heard her, Gohan burst out of the smoke and flames. In his arms he held the woman, a little dazed, but perfectly fine. Videl ran up to his side, and gasped, "Your face . . ."
Gohan brought his fingers to his cheek, and winced. He pulled them back to see his blood coating his hand. Some shrapnel must have cut through his skin. It hurt now that he knew it was there, "Don't worry. I've had a lot worse in my lifetime." Gohan didn't want to stay around. The police and fire departments would handle the rest. He waved, "Good-bye!"
Videl didn't bother chasing after him. From the looks of all the sick and injured, she would be busy for a while.
* * *
Videl walked home slowly from school. Gohan hadn't shown up the whole day. It made her wonder if her suspicions about him begin Saiyaman were true at all. Why did she think that anyway? He was kind of a nerd; practically a genius, got perfect grades, and didn't participate in any sports. How could he be Saiyaman.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a car that raced by. Two laughing idiots holding beer cans veering into both lanes as oncoming traffic and pedestrians fled for cover. Then someone stepped right in their path. The car screeched to a halt, and the two men got out.
The driver threw a can at the intruder, "What the hell are you trying to do? Kill yourself!?"
Videl blinked to make sure she wasn't seeing things. Gohan's hand came up and caught the can, "Are you? I thought you guys learned your lesson, but obviously words were wasted on you."
The passenger dropped his can in bewilderment, "Huh? How . . . how do you know about that?"
"Shut up! It's just some punk kid!" The driver yelled, "I'll take him out in one blow!" The man pulled his fist back and ran towards the lone teenager.
Videl's first instinct was to run to Gohan's rescue, but she held back. This would be the perfect test to see if Gohan was Saiyaman. Videl slapped herself, What the hell are you thinking!? Gohan's going to be hurt and it will be all your fault! Videl ran as fast as she could, but knew it wasn't enough.
Gohan caught the driver's fist, and then pulled his arm in a loop. The driver cried out in surprise as he flipped onto his back in a very painful fashion. The passenger came to the aid of his friend, and performed a sweeping kick. Gohan caught that as well, and threw the man over his shoulder several meters.
He clapped his hands together, "Next time you guys had better not be going like a bat out of hell. I warned you I'd come back, and I did. There had better not be a third time." Gohan started walking off, leaving two drunken men half unconscious.
Videl ran after him, "Gohan!"
The young Saiyan froze, Oh, shit! Please tell me she didn't see that, please! Gohan turned around, Hey Videl!"
Videl stopped just in front of him, and saw the bandage across Gohan's cheek. She grabbed it and ripped it off, causing Gohan to yelp in pain. A thin, red cut lay on his face. Videl nearly felt giddy. She had done it! She had discovered the Great Saiyaman's identity! Videl smirked, "Hey, Gohan. Isn't-"
"Videl, what happened here?"
Videl turned to see two police officers waving to her. She looked back to Gohan, but he wasn't there. The entire street was empty, but Videl still held the bandage she had pulled.
* * *
Chichi never liked to see Gohan upset. She hated it when he was so upset that he would continuously bang his head against a wall calling himself an idiot over and over again. She grabbed his shoulder, "Son Gohan, stop that at once! You're going to put a dent in there so large I won't be able to fix it!"
Gohan paused in motion, and sat down in defeat. He looked up, "I got caught."
"What?"
"I stopped a couple of drunk drivers. They attacked me, and I put them down."
Chichi reentered the kitchen to finish dinner, "How is that getting caught?"
"Well . . . remember earlier when I helped Videl with that building?"
A crash could be heard in the kitchen, "I remember that! You missed a whole day of school! You were here having me bandage your face instead of studying like you should have!"
Gohan felt like running. It was bad enough coming home for a bandage, it really wouldn't work out well to go to a hospital, but he had to suffer through the same speech only seven times in length, "Yeah, I told you I was sorry. But, Videl had seen me get cut as Saiyaman. When she saw me fight in the street, she saw the bandage, and pulled it off."
Chichi bolted back into the living room, "Gohan are you telling me that your classmates know about your strength, despite my telling you to keep it a secret!?"
"Oh, come on mom! It wasn't on purpose. She just . . . sort of . . ."
"Well you had better hope you aren't kicked out of school for this! You're supposed to have an education!"
Gohan jumped out of his chair, holding up his hands in fear, "Whoa! Mom, I swear I'll take care of it. I'm not going to get kicked out of school!"
"Well you had better!" Chichi returned to the kitchen. Her movements became much harsher, but she calmed herself. After all, it wasn't entirely Gohan's fault that he was a hooligan. She could blame that on his father, or that green skinned monster Piccolo.
* * *
Gohan wasn't sure what was going on. Everyone in the school acknowledged him as they would every other day. No one stared, said "Hey! Great Saiyaman!" or anything. It seemed as though Videl hadn't told anyone about what happened the other day. But why wouldn't she? I can remember her really wanting to expose me. So what gives?
Gohan reached his locker and opened it. It looked just the same as the other day, and Gohan didn't know why he thought it would be different. He placed his things in, took out books he needed, and jumped as the door slammed shut. Next to him stood a very happy Videl.
He glanced down both ends of the hallway, making sure no one was around to hear. Videl laughed, "Don't worry. I haven't told anyone who you are . . . yet."
Gohan couldn't believe this, "Are you toying with me or something? Videl, I only keep it a secret because I don't want everyone thinking I'm a freak. It's bad enough having the highest GPA in the class!"
"I'll buy that. You know, Gohan, I did a little research after yesterday. You've really peaked my interest."
I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing, "And just what did you research?"
"Your family." Videl paced around her classmate as though she were interrogating him, "Did you know that the previous World Martial Arts champion, before my dad, was named Goku? You're face says otherwise. Well, Goku never chose to compete again after winning. He settled down, and had a son. Can you guess what his name is?"
A large lump gathered in Gohan's throat. He swallowed it, "No, but I'm sure you're going to tell me"
"I will. His name is Gohan. And that is you!" Videl stuck her index finger straight at Gohan's nose, "Goku's family lives in the four-thirty-nine mountain area. You live in the four-thirty-nine mountain area. Do I really have to keep going?"
Gohan knew he could have made one impressive show of denial had he really wanted to. But then again, what's the point? "All right already! Just keep your voice down, Videl."
Videl leaped several feet in the air, "I knew it! You're Goku's son. Then again, you would have to be with the moves I saw you pull yesterday and as Saiyaman. You wouldn't happen to also be the gold fighter, would you?" Gohan shook his head violently, "Don't worry, I believe you. This is so great! This year will be an awesome tournament."
Gohan blinked at the glossy look in Videl's eyes, "You lost me there."
"Gohan, I want you to enter the World Martial Arts tournament."
"What!? Videl, no way! I am not going to enter a tournament."
The young woman planted her fists on her hips and glared, "Well you had better enter, or else certain secrets about certain people are going to be revealed."
Gohan's jaw dropped, "You wouldn't."
"Oh yes I would. I want to have some real fighters to compete with this year. You certainly rank up there with me and my dad."
His mind raced as Gohan tried to find ways out of this. He could expose Videl's father for not having beaten Cell, but that would only draw attention to him and make Videl hate him. Wait, why would he care if Videl hated him. Gohan sighed, "Fine, I'll enter. Oh man, my mom is going to kill me for this."
Videl didn't seem to mind that fact, "All right! Oh, there's one more thing. Can you teach me how to fly like you do? If that's not just some trick that is."
"No, anyone can do it."
"Great! Let's start next week then. The tournament will be in one month, so you had better make sure you're in top shape. I don't want to run you into the ground." Videl ran down the hall and waved as she rounded a corner, "Don't worry, this is going to be fun!"
Gohan stood alone in an empty hallway wishing he were someone else.
* * *
Chichi slammed her plate of food on the table, "Absolutely NOT, Gohan. I forbid you to enter that tournament."
"Mom, please! Videl will expose me if I don't compete."
"And just whose fault is that?" Chichi grabbed her plate again and began stuffing food into her mouth, "I don't see why you had to go off and play hero in the first place. You should be focusing on your studies, not flying around the city looking for trouble."
Gohan thought furiously for a way to convince her. What would make Chichi agree to let him enter? If he could link it to his studies that would be great, but . . . "That's it!! Mom, the grand prize for the tournament is ten million zenny!"
"And why do I care? We don't need money."
"But mom, that's like winning the ultimate scholarship! You could put both me and Goten into any college you wanted with that money."
Goten looked up from his nearly empty plate, "Put me where?"
Chichi leaped to her feet with an expression of pure joy slapped on her face, "You're right! Oh, think of it. My son a Harvard graduate. Oh, and even little Goten. Gohan, if you enter you have to promise to win!"
Now Gohan felt some of that joy, "Sure mom. I mean, its not like that many people of my strength will be there. Wait . . . why not? I could invite everyone to join. Piccolo, Krillin, Eighteen, Vegeta, even Yamcha and Tien if they wanted to."
"No!" Chichi folded her arms, "I refuse to let you tell them. You want to lower your chances of winning?"
"Mom, when was the last time everyone got together." Gohan peeked over his shoulders in fear of being heard, "Besides, Vegeta's the only one to worry about, and I'm pretty sure I can take him."
Chichi stood in her place, growling at her son. She gave up and sat down, "Fine, but be warned Gohan. If you don't win, I will make your life very hard."
* * *
Vegeta gave a smirk that only came when he was truly happy, "That is the best idea you have ever given Gohan."
The teenager felt just as happy that Vegeta liked it, "Yeah. Krillin and Piccolo are coming, and then said they would get a hold of Tien and Yamcha. But in truth, I want someone to really test myself against. And you're the only person alive with that kind of strength."
"I'll take that as a compliment." Vegeta clenched his fist, "At last, a true battle. The last Super Saiyans locked in combat."
Gohan laughed, "You're getting into this already. Too bad my dad isn't around. He'd love this."
Well, you're right about that.
Gohan, Vegeta, Bulma, and Trunks jerked their heads upward at the eerie voice. Gohan recognized it almost immediately, "Dad!? Is that really you?"
You bet it is. We've been listening in up here, and thought it would be a good idea. Baba made some arrangements, and because of my record I'm being allowed one full day back on Earth. I'm going to enter the tournament with you!
Vegeta gaped, "Are you joking? Kakarott, if you are joking I swear I'll-"
Whoa, calm down Vegeta. I'm serious. I'll be on Earth for the day of the tournament.
Gohan felt like crying, "This is incredible! I can't believe it. My dad's coming home!"
Trunks had been silent throughout this. He had never seen his father so excited in his life when Gohan mentioned fighting him. Now he thought the man standing there was a whole other person. Trunks grabbed Vegeta's leg and pulled, "Dad, who is that?"
"A challenge, my son. A challenge."