BEEP!
An electronic signal sounds and Yamcha sprints from the base of the stairs leading into the Guardian's temple. He races for the trees lining the path to the ladder. Krillin charges a Kamehameha between his cupped hands at the same starting point. Bulma stands alongside Kami, tablet in hand.
Krillin thrusts his arms straight out. A brilliant blue and white wave of ki blasts forth from his palms. Yamcha keeps his eyes ahead even as a brightness begins to creep in from the edges of his peripherals.
He enters the lines of trees near the end of the tiled floor as a growing heat warms his back. Sweat forms over his skin as the hum of phasing energy rings in his ears. He passes the last tree, speeds to the top of the ladder, and takes flight into the open air. The beam shoots underneath him barely missing his toes.
Yamcha floats back to the platform passing a blinking sensor Bulma set up on the ladder. He moves over to the group. Kami nods approval, Krillin smiles, and Bulma stays fixated on the screen.
"If I'm reading it right, you both have set personal bests today," says Kami. He hunches down to squint at the glowing tablet.
"Yeah you guys are moving so fast I'd never be able to time you with a stopwatch," says Bulma.
Yamcha gives her a thumbs up, but her eyes never leave the electronic surface.
"Now for the results," she says. "Yamcha, you've been able to increase your initial movement speed and extended its distance by about ten yards. Krillin, your charge time and wave speed have decreased and increased respectively. So you are well on your way to being able to shoot quick, strong ki blasts."
"Alright, we rock," says Krillin making a V with his fingers.
Yamcha looks at his friend, and then back to Bulma who remains absorbed in her data analysis.
"Yeah we do buddy," he says.
Krillin presses his lips together at the lack of enthusiasm from his comrade.
"Nicely done, both of you," says Kami. "Let us proceed to the next phase."
The two warriors face off in front of the stairs. Yamcha holds his right forearm with his left hand just below the wristband. Yellow electricity sparks around his right hand. A growing light outlines it. Little particles dance between his fingers. The energy moves towards the center of his palm where a ki orb springs forth bobbing up and down.
Krillin readies himself for the attack. Yamcha whips his right hand around his head with only the index and middle fingers extended. The ball floats at the end of them moving just slightly behind as it follows the path they trace. As the ki formation finishes its orbit, Yamcha releases it.
Krillin zips into the air followed by the yellow orb as big as his head. He makes jagged turns careful to never repeat a any of them as he utilizes his full directional options. Yamcha jabs the index and middle fingers of each hand in alternating fashion directing the sphere after his sparring partner.
He never quite catches the bald man before the ki of his Sokidan technique runs out. The sphere loses momentum and size until it is too slow and small to do anything. The exercise finishes, and they report back to Kami and Bulma.
"You nearly had me a few times," says Krillin. "It's getting harder and harder to dodge that thing."
"Thanks man," says Yamcha. His eyes watch the tiles just ahead of his stepping feet.
"Excellent, both you," says Kami. "Krillin your speed is picking up more and more. And Yamcha, the control you now exhibit over such a complex move as the Sokidan is truly impressive."
"Yeah but it's still too slow and doesn't turn tight enough or soon enough," says Yamcha.
"Perhaps," says Kami. "You do still rely on the hand gestures too much. While they are a good way to help you focus, I think your reliance on them shows a lack of confidence in your ability to wield the technique. This is one of the few instances your yuki is actually holding you back. With enough confidence, you would probably be able to use the technique with just your mind."
Yamcha curls up one corner of his lips.
"But don't be too hard on yourself," says Kami. "It's impressive all on its own that you invented such a skill by yourself. Most people must learn such things from a master. And it's a complicated one at that given its extreme mobility."
"I guess so," says Yamcha. His face brightens with a small smile. "And Krillin, thanks again for all the advice on how to have better control of its movement. You're really good at it."
"Hey no problem. But even I haven't invented a technique like that."
"I bet you could if you try."
"Hmm, maybe."
"So here's what I noticed," says Bulma. She walks over eyes glued to her tablet. "My scanners indicate that your ki sphere is indeed interacting with the air molecules around it. Basically this means general rules of aerodynamics and drag apply to even the mysticism of ki. So put simply, if you want your Sokidan to travel faster, you need to condense its mass so it's smaller and therefore produces less drag. Of course by losing surface area this way, you have to be more accurate with the attack. That's all I really have for now."
She wanders away without lifting her head. Yamcha reaches out as she goes, then drops his head and arm together.
"She's still mad, huh?" says Krillin.
"Yeah. My stupid self didn't exactly say the right things in the smartest way when I tried to apologize and explain myself."
"I feel you man. I'm terrible with trying to communicate with women," says Krillin nodding his head with his eyes closed.
Kami thinks to himself, I'm glad I'm not human so I don't have to suffer through such terrible rituals as dating.
Yamcha looks over to Tien and Chiaotzu sitting in meditative poses facing one another.
"How come those two are getting it easy with meditation today?" he says.
"That's no mere meditation Yamcha," says Kami. "They are doing image training."
"What's that?" says Krillin.
"Normally it's an advanced shoki exercise where the user envisions an event and how well they would perform during it," says Kami. "It requires a strong will to not allow personal bias to interfere with the outcome. Otherwise the user risks lying to himself if the event is skewed in his favor. Deceiving your ego will only hurt you in the long run."
"Wait, you said normally?" says Krillin.
"Yes. If one does image training on their own, that's how it would work. However, Tien and Chiaotzu have telepathic abilities that allow them to link minds and image train together."
"So they are fighting each other mentally?" Yamcha says.
"They could, but that's not what I have them doing today. They are participating in a mock battle with the soldier from space Goku, Chichi, and Piccolo fought."
"Could we learn to do that?" says Krillin.
"Perhaps. Why don't you ask them how it works during the upcoming break."
…
Tien begins to sweat from his forehead. His closed eyes squint harder and harder in concentration as their movement underneath glides along the thin skins of their lids. His mouth switches between puckering and pursing a few times before the lips pull back in a pained snarl. Chiaotzu remains much calmer sitting before him.
Finally Tien breaks from the training as his eyes shoot open while inhaling vigorously through his nostrils. He looks at his partner who now begins to show the same facial expressions he did. A few moments later, Chiaotzu is the one opening his eyes and breathing hard.
"Looks like I still don't measure up," says Chiaotzu.
"Don't be too hard on yourself," says Tien. "With our teamwork, we almost had him. And your shoki has only gotten stronger. You lasted longer than I did."
"Thanks Tien."
"Hey you guys. Time for break," says Yamcha yelling over to them.
He and Krillin sit on a rolled out carpet with food dishes on it. Kami and Mr. Popo stand nearby. Bulma sits far aside engrossed in her research. She snacks with one hand while the other taps away at her computer. Tien and Chiaotzu join their fellow trainees.
So … you guys … can read minds … huh?" says Yamcha between bites.
"It's not quite that simple," says Tien. "We both have telepathic abilities, but I can only project my thoughts so others can hear them in their mind. Chiaotzu can do that and read the thoughts of others if they aren't guarded."
Chiaotzu looks down at his bowl of food and chopsticks.
"Really," says Yamcha. "Okay Chiaotzu. What number am I thinking of?"
Chiaotzu winces at the sound of his name. He sighs. Then he looks into Yamcha's eyes. For a moment nothing happens. Then Chiaotzu's white face begins to turn pink starting from both cheeks.
"What?" says Yamcha. "Embarrassed you can't guess my number."
"No," says Chiaotzu. "It's 1,323."
Yamcha's eyebrows arch upward like a stretching cat.
"Was he right?" says Krillin.
"Uh huh," says Yamcha.
"Wow that's amazing Chiaotzu," Krillin says. "Sorry for putting you on the spot. You okay? You look flustered."
"Mm-hmm. It's just what else Yamcha was thinking."
Yamcha drops his hands along with the bowl and utensils he is holding to his lap while his eyes widen.
"Oh, what was he thinking?" says Krillin.
"It's about Bulma."
Yamcha chokes on his food.
"You okay man?" says Krillin.
Yamcha squeaks out a yes.
"I'm fine. I'm fine. I think that's enough mind reading for now. So, uh, how exactly do I hide my thoughts from your prying little mind?"
"You have to use your shoki to focus on only the thoughts you need," says Chiaotzu still blushing. "You have to let unnecessary ideas pass through your consciousness without any kind of emotional reaction. If you start to worry or fantasize about them, they will linger in your awareness. These are the thoughts a telepath of my level can get access to."
"Okay," says Yamcha, "but how do I do that?"
"I like to visualize a person's consciousness like a murky river," the psychic says. "And their thoughts are the fish in that river. I can see the general outlines below the surface but not the specific details like what kind of fish it is. These are the thoughts I cannot read from another person.
"But if that person grabs onto one of these fish and pulls it from the river to examine more closely, then they are giving that idea greater attention in their mind. These are the types of thoughts I can read. It's when people focus on it. Does that make sense?"
"Yeah I think so," says Yamcha.
"And not only that," says Kami, "wandering thoughts irrelevant to the current situation will only weaken your mental energies for the task at hand. You can always revisit those thoughts later. Either write them down or make mental note of them, and then let them pass on without giving them importance right this moment."
"I'll be sure to put that on my list of things to learn," says Yamcha.
They all laugh and carry on with their break.
"Alright everyone, let's get back to work," says Kami as they finish the last few bites of their snacks. "Krillin, I want you helping Yamcha with his Ki suppression again since you have become the most skilled at it."
"Yes, it's quite remarkable," says Tien. "Hiding my presence was a major part of my assassin training, and you've managed to surpass me."
"Ah guys, it's nothing," says Krillin. His right hand scratches the back of his head as he gives a forced laugh. "Really. Come on Yamcha, you can do it too."
Krillin trots off ahead of his friend to an empty section of the palace floor.
"Tien and Chiaotzu," says Kami. "You two are going to switch over to genki training, correct?"
"Yes," says Tien. Chiaotzu nods.
"Proceed."
As they head out to the other side of the floating temple, Yamcha calls Chiaotzu back over. The little psychic floats to him.
"Hey," Yamcha says in an almost whisper, "I just wanted to say thank you for everything over the past few weeks. You've really helped me out with flying and what not, and I appreciate it."
Chiaotzu's face brightens with a smile.
"Thank you," he says. "You've helped me a lot too. I never thought I could keep up with you three before."
"You've done great little man. Don't feel intimidated around us. We're all friends."
"Right," Chiaotzu says tilting his head forward.
"Oh, and between friends, could you keep that little mental image from earlier between us?"
Chiaotzu's pale face flushes pink again.
"Sure thing."
With that, Yamcha jogs over to Krillin while Chiaotzu joins Tien. The three eyed man has already summoned a second pair of arms from his shoulders by using his Shiyoken technique.
"Are you ready Chiaotzu?" he says. "I'm going to push you even harder today with your hand to hand combat. We need to strengthen your genki to get you to the next level. I want you in your best shape for the Saiyans."
"Yeah, I know," says Chiaotzu. He pauses. "I've been thinking, could you teach me the Kikoho?"
"Chiaotzu!" Tien says. "That technique will destroy your life force. Probably even kill you."
"I know it's dangerous, but it could save us."
"No! We've discussed this once before and that should have been the end of it. Now never speak of it again."
Chiaotzu lowers his head. Tien takes a fighting pose. Chiaotzu clenches his fists. His head jerks back up.
"No Tien. I will do anything to protect you and the rest of my friends. Even if it means permanently injuring myself."
Tien relaxes his rigid posture.
"If you're not going to let this go, then let me tell you the horrible truth of that technique," Tien says. "Master Shen manipulated me into learning the Kikoho. He brainwashed me into believing there was some sort of honor in using a self-sacrificing attack for the glory of the Crane school.
"Master Shen forsook his morals to change the purpose of his teachings from one of self improvement to one of personal gain. He began training assassins instead of martial artists. He took payment for jobs instead of gratitude from people he used to help. And he demanded his students never fail their missions.
"So he forced us to learn the Kikoho. We were supposed to use it to kill our targets if nothing else had worked. Even though it would probably kill us, it was better to die than return a failure. And all of it was just to protect Master Shen's reputation."
Chiaotzu's face becomes more distraught with every word. Tien continues.
"In my arrogance, I used the Kikoho against Goku in the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament. Believing I could control its power, I ended up crippling myself. I know I didn't show it, but that's why I struggled against King Piccolo and his minions. Everything in my body hurt. Muscles, bones, organs, everything. It was like they were on fire slowly disintegrating away. Even my mind was affected. I couldn't remember old memories or even more recent ones from the current day.
"I felt older, like I was closer to dying. I couldn't even use the attack again. I tried to compensate by learning the Mafuba instead. It took me three years to recover but even that wasn't enough. I still couldn't compare to Goku and Piccolo in the next tournament.
"So no, I'm not going to teach my best friend something that will only result in you getting yourself killed. Now I will hear no more of this. Prepare yourself for training."
Tien lunges at Chiaotzu before his friend can fully ready himself. He seems possessed as he pushes the little fighter with the full force of his melee combat.
…
"Still not getting it huh?" says Krillin.
"Nope. I'm hopeless," Yamcha says.
"No you're not, I'm just not a good teacher," says Krillin. He thinks for a moment. "I've got it! You seem to be able to calm your physical energies but not your mental ones. You're beating yourself up too much. Try imagining a scene of what ki suppression looks like to you."
"Of what it looks like to me? Hmm." says Yamcha. He thinks for a moment. "I don't know man. What do you picture?"
"Me? Oh, uh, I-I don't think mine would work for you. You probably need to come up with one for yourself. Maybe something to do with a wolf?"
"A wolf huh? Hey, yeah. That gives me an idea."
Yamcha closes his eyes and his breaths become slower. Krillin feels his friend's energy drop to the point he cannot get it to go any lower than. It hovers there for a moment like a fishing bobber. It fluctuates up and down but never dips below the surface.
Then suddenly, Yamcha's ki shrinks away, and Krillin can only barely sense it at all.
"Woah, you did it! Nice job man," says Krillin. "What did you imagine?"
"I thought of a wolf stalking prey, silently hidden in tall grass."
"Perfect. Right on."
They bump fists.
"But I still need help being able to get my ki back out quickly," says Yamcha. "I feel completely helpless right now, and it's making me freak out a little."
"Right, right. Okay. Hmm," says Krillin.
A bang catches their attention. Bulma summoned a small jet from one of her Capsules and is already climbing inside the pilot seat. Yamcha and Krillin look at each other.
"Hey where are you going?" says Yamcha yelling after her as he jogs over. Krillin stays behind.
"I just heard back from Puar, Oolong and the others," she says. "They found the last Dragon Ball. I need to go meet up with them and secure those things so they are safe."
"Really, you need to leave right now?" Yamcha says. "Can't your dad do it or something?"
"Actually I haven't been able to get a hold of him for quite some time now. My mom says he's been acting weird. I need to check on him."
"Hang on, I'll go with you."
Yamcha grabs for the edge of the cockpit where a second seat behind the pilot one is. Bulma slaps his hands away.
"Hey, what's your deal?" says Yamcha. "I just want to help."
"No. You need to stay up here and train."
"You know you've been acting weird ever since we had that argument the other day. Usually we make up by now."
Bulma's head droops to the console of the plane, nearly resting on it. Her arms tremble as her hands grip her knees tightly.
"Bulma, what's wrong?" he says.
"I'm afraid of you dying, okay?" she says. "I'm afraid to get close to you if you're just going to leave me."
"Ah come on. That won't happen."
"You don't know that!"
Her head twists up to stare into his eyes. Hers are filled with tears.
"I'm terrified," she says. "I love you, and I don't want you to fight the Saiyans. I know you have to, but I don't want to lose you like we lost Goku."
"But Goku's coming back. And we can use the Dragon Balls to wish me back too if anything happens to me."
"That doesn't make it better. Even knowing that, the pain of watching Goku die in my lap before my very eyes haunts me. And bringing him back will never make that hurt go away. And I don't want to go through that again."
They both do not speak for a moment.
"I need some time," she says.
"Okay. Be safe."
"I will."
"Call me when you get home."
"I will."
Yamcha watches Bulma fly off across the light blue sky. A blood red apparition accompanies her flight. Despite being barely visible in the sunlight, the Makyo Star looms large on the horizon beside her aircraft. Its cratered surface makes a ghastly face following her with hollowed out eyes.