"Buu turn you into candy!" screamed the pink blob, as an arcing, magical beam was transmitted from the antenna on his head toward the Surfer. The attack found its mark, and after a bright flash, the powerful cosmic being had been transformed into a cholocate bar!
"Buu, you did it!" yelled Uub in victory. However, it turned out he had spoken too soon, as a white flash blinded Goku, Buu, and Uub temporarily, and after it subsided, the Surfer was back to normal.
"Transmutation. I was not expecting that. Still, you will find you are not the only one so capable," intoned the Herald of Galactus as he fired a bright white beam of energy at Majin Buu. The energy consumed him, and after it left his being, the mystical monster was now a solid stone statue!
Goku, enraged, charged at the Surfer, but before he could move a single inch, the Surfer was already over 100 feet in the air, soaring up into the stratosphere. Goku attempted to follow, but as soon as he left the upper atmosphere, he started coughing and hacking due to lack of oxygen, and the Surfer was continuing unimpeded.
Goku fired a ki blast, but his silvery target effortlessly dodged it and then sped off out of sight.
"He got away," deduced Uub as Goku returned to earth.
"Don't worry, we'll get him," replied Goku, as he picked up Gohan's unconscious body.
"I'm taking Gohan home. Be careful." Those were Goku's last words before he departed the scene using his instant transmission technique. Meanwhile, in high earth orbit, the Silver Surfer was preparing to summon his master. He expanded his cosmic senses and detected the great power of mighty Galactus. Stretching his arms in that direction, he let loose a brilliant flare of energy that would serve as a beacon to summon his master to this planet.
Several hours later, the Surfer decided to return to the earth. He entered the atmosphere, glowing like a meteor, and stopped on a dime at around 30,000 feet above sea level. Flying even lower at a slower pace, he reached the ocean. As he soared over the waves, he saw how they reflected the radiant sunlight.
"This is truly a beautiful planet. It is a shame it will soon be gone," he thought. His thoughts were soon interrupted as he spotted a small island up ahead. There appeared to be one tree and a small pink house on it. The Surfer slowed down to inspect this peculiar landmark. As he circled the island at an altitude of a few hundred feet, he suddenly heard shouting coming from within.
Just then, a woman exited the house and flew up to confront him.
"You're that Silver Surfer freak, aren't you?" she asked angrily.
"My cosmic senses indicate you are a cyborg," he replied. "A precisely tuned burst of electromagnetic energy along the correct spectrum frequency should instantly incapacitate you"
By that time, a rather short man had exited the house and had flown up to join them.
"Listen buddy, I don't know exactly what you just said," he began, "But it sounds to me like you're threatening my wife, and I'm not going to stand for that"
"I admire your bravery, but not your foolishness," replied the Surfer, as he subconsciously began to draw on his cosmic power reserves.
Master Roshi had been watching the scene from below with ever growing nervousness. He had sensed Gohan's power spike to enormous levels earlier but then suddenly disappear, and he was pretty sure this "Silver Surfer" character was responsible. He decided to try something. Running outside, the old man screamed:
"Hey, Surfer guy! You don't need to fight anyone! Why don't we just come inside and talk it over?"
The Surfer looked down at the ancient martial arts master, and slowly nodded his head.
"Yes," he said. "That would be acceptable." This stunned everyone around, especially Roshi. He was incredulous, it had actually worked? It was best not to question a miracle, he decided, and went back inside, awaiting his guest.
Up in the sky, the trio descended slowly to the ground. The Surfer picked up his board and carried it inside.
"Here, have a seat, Mr. um... Surfer," said Krillin nervously. The Herald of Galactus acknowledged the gesture and sat down on the couch.
"What do you wish to discuss?" he asked.
"Well you can start with why you and your master want to snack on our planet!" demanded Eighteen.
"Very well. However, I must inform you that it is a long tale. I was not always the Silver Surfer. Once I was known as Norrin Radd of the planet Zenn-La. Our people had explored the universe ages ago, and now space travel was relegated to our distant past. Everything we ever wanted was easily available through simulations. However, I was not content with this life of idleness. One day, our planet came under threat from the being known as Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds. We deployed our most powerful countermeasure, the Weapon Supreme, but it failed to do anything against the menace. As he was about to consume our world, I flew up alone in an antique spacecraft and offered my services to be his Herald, to help him seek out and consume planets, if he would spare Zenn-la. He accepted, bestowing a small fraction of his power onto me, and I was transformed into the Silver Surfer. I quickly found another planet for Galactus to eat, and Zenn-la was safe. However, I was forever isolated from my home, cursed to roam the stars to find sustenance for Galactus. That is why I am here today."
"That's an interesting story," replied Krillin, "and it certainly answers the question, but still there's one problem: WE DON'T WANT TO GET EATEN"
"I am truly sorry," replied Norrin, "But there is nothing I can do. The will of Galactus is absolute"
"What if we could convince you this planet was worth saving?" asked Eighteen.
"You may try," was the Surfer's response.
For the next several hours, the inhabitants of Kame House told tales to the one once known as Norrin Radd. Tales of daring, tales of happiness, tales of loss, tales of courage and bravery, tales of terror, all the tales of their struggles against threats to the earth.
After they were done, the Surfer sat amazed. He had never suspected the struggles these beings had gone through to preserve their planet. It was simply inconcievable. He even thought for a split second that they might find some way of defeating Galactus, but immediately banished the thought from his mind. Still, it would be a horrible travesty that all that effort to protect the earth was ultimately wasted.
"Well, what is your answer," asked Roshi, after the Surfer had spent a few minutes contemplating what they had told him.
He paused for a few seconds, then finally uttered "I will assist you".
Next chapter: The Coming of Galactus!