Goku falters on the last motion of his usual warm up routine. He stumbles and stops. His body straightens; his teeth grind. Gohan's words echo in his mind.
That Saiyan said Piccolo was an alien. That means there could be more Dragon Balls out there somewhere.
He looks at a window of his house. Gohan studies at a desk behind the glass.
"Could it really be? Could we bring them back?"
He blows air out of his mouth and walks to the house.
"Everything okay honey," says Chichi.
Her voice carries from the spare room of the house. He saunters over to the door and leans against the frame. His wife kneels beside Tien who rests under a cover on a thin mat.
Her hands hover over his body making circular motions. She pushes his ki around to areas in danger of deteriorating without the nourishing life force since he cannot do it himself. The cool energy shuffles like pushing water across a surface.
She winces and sucks saliva back. Another pocket of decaying ki burns her skin. It seeps into the surrounding tissue of Tien's body and poisons it. She draws some of the mass out of the spiritual tumor and releases it from him. She works her hands over the sides of it, eroding a little with every pass. Just before she can reduce it all to dust, her energy exhausts. She leaves the rest for the next session. The dozens of other pockets weigh in her subconscious.
She looks to Goku.
"How's he doing?"
Chichi shakes her head.
"Well you're doing great with him. It's good we brought him home."
"What's on your mind?"
"What do you mean?"
"Don't play games. You're thinking about telling Bulma again aren't you."
"I mean if there's a chance, we have to try."
"So we barely survive the most dangerous encounter of our lives, and you want to fly off into space where more of those monsters are?"
"I think we owe it to our friends after everything they gave for us. Don't you want to bring them—"
"Don't you dare accuse me of not wanting them with us again. Of course I do. But my family was almost destroyed, and I can't bear to risk it again. Yes, they gave their lives for us, and I couldn't be more grateful.
"But I don't want their sacrifice to be jeopardized by running into those monsters who are no doubt still looking for the Dragon Balls. Why can't you understand that? I don't want this family torn apart again."
Goku purses his lips as his gaze drops to the floor. He crosses his arms and taps a finger above the elbow.
Chichi sighs. Her eyes fill with sympathy as she looks at her distressed husband.
"What if there are no more Dragon Balls? Do you really want to reopen everyone's emotional wounds with a false hope? Do you want to dangle it only to rip it away?"
"I think we should go!"
Goku spins to find Gohan just behind him.
"We need to bring back Mr. Piccolo and the others!"
Goku smiles while Chichi scrutinizes her gaze.
"Back to your room. This is grownup business."
Gohan skulks away dragging his feet hard enough so his toes point behind him with every step.
Goku raises his eyebrows at Chichi after they hear Gohan's door close.
"Look," she says. "if there were some way we could know for sure another set of Dragon Balls existed and that they were safe from whatever galactic empire is ruling the universe, then I'd absolutely be in favor of trying it."
"Some way of knowing … that's it! Hey King Kai."
"Goku, what are you doing?"
"Hey King Kai are you there?"
He opens his mind to send out the signal. His awareness stretches as far as it can. Spiritual noise chatters in his head until he feels the godly presence of his teacher make contact.
"Hello Goku. I was wondering how long it would take for you to call upon me. Is there something you need guidance on?"
"I'm wondering about Namekians. Do they have Dragon Balls, and are they safe from Vegeta and his friends?"
"Hmm. That sounds familiar for some reason. Let me check."
The god goes silent long enough for Goku to wonder if he is still there.
"Uh, King Kai?"
"Sorry, I discovered why Namek sounded so familiar."
"And?"
"Several hundred years ago, it suffered a great catastrophe that forced its inhabitants to flee. The planet itself is still there, but it's shrouded in negative energy. As for its people, they are scattered around the universe."
"Do any of them have Dragon Balls?"
"No, but it appears a specific sect of them has the capacity to create them. Perhaps they could be of some help."
"Wow, really? That's great! And are they safe from the likes of Vegeta?"
"Hmm. That particular group is, but it appears the Namekians are being hunted down, presumably for that very reason. I imagine it's only a matter of time before this group suffers the same fate."
"That's terrible. Can you warn them?"
"I'm forbidden from interfering, I'm afraid. The best I can do is minor influences such as telling you."
"So it's up to me then."
"No Goku. You are not a tool for doing my bidding. You must decide for yourself what you want to do. Never think of it as me directing my will through you. Such control would be dangerous to the balance of our universe."
"Oh, okay then. I guess I'll see what everyone here wants to do."
"That's the way Goku. Don't hesitate to call me if you need help. Just be aware there is only so much I can do."
"Oh one more thing before you go. How are Master Roshi, Yamcha, Chiaotzu, and Piccolo doing?"
"Looks like they have all made it through the Check In Station. Their acts of heroism have awarded them a place in heaven. So they are safe and happy."
"Alright! I can't wait to tell the others the good news. Thank you so much King Kai."
"Yes, it is good news. So maybe you want to think hard about what you do next with all this information. Anyway, good luck Goku."
Goku nods and grins wide at Chichi.
"Oh no," she says. "You can't just start calling up your god buddy every time you need to win an argument."
"But King Kai said the Namekians were safe for now, plus we can warn them to be on the lookout. It's a two for one. We find out if we can save our friends, and we protect other people from harm. How can you argue against that?"
Chichi glares, and Goku titters.
###
Krillin waves Goku in as he drops from the Nimbus cloud at Bulma's home.
"Hey Krillin, it's good to see you. I didn't expect to find you here."
"It's great to see you too, Goku."
They bump fists together.
"Honestly," says Krillin. "I haven't really known what to do with myself. Since Chichi took in Tien, I figured I could help out too. I've been flying back and forth between Master Roshi's place and here doing what I can."
"Wow, that's really far."
Krillin leads the way into the building and down to the labs.
"So what brings you to Bulma's? Are you finally recovered from fighting the Saiyans?"
"Just about. Still a little sore. I've got something I want to discuss with you guys. Hopefully it cheers everyone up."
"I should warn you. Bulma's been a real shut-in since the funeral. I've barely even seen her, and she hasn't said one word to me. I basically just bring her food three times a day and hope she eats it."
They pass by a cart with a dinner plate and silverware. There is a half eaten sandwich along with untouched sides. Krillin knocks on a door. A hollow echo greets them.
"Hey Bulma. Goku's here. He says he has some good news."
Goku looks over some blueprints lying on a long table by the door. Each one seems to be for a different invention. The math and science scribbled all over them make no sense to him. There are only two words that stand out to him as he looks over the complex designs.
Time machine?
A mechanical swipe snaps his head back to the door. As it slides sideways, it reveals a haggard Bulma. Her greasy hair clings to her face in strands. Frail cheekbones push through her face. All kinds of stains smatter the lab coat she wears. Her vacant gaze stares at the floor.
"Hey Bulma," says Goku.
Her apparition does not move.
Goku opens his mouth to tell her about the Dragon Balls.
Are you sure you want to dangle that hope in front of her?
He pauses.
"So I have this idea," he says. "What if Piccolo and Kami were aliens? Could that maybe mean there are more of their kind out in space somewhere? Maybe with Dragon Balls of their own? I mean, I don't know if it's a for sure thing or not, but…"
Bulma plods across the room to him. She runs headfirst into his chest while her arms wrap around his waist. Her sobs shake his torso while tears soak his shirt. He puts one hand behind her head and one on the middle of her back.
Krillin sulks at the sight.
Oh, sure, he thinks. Hug the guy who just showed up and not the one who's been taking care of you the last few weeks.
"I'm sorry," Goku says. "I shouldn't have said anything."
Bulma shakes her head and pulls away. She wipes her eyes several times while trying to speak through the crying.
"No. It's okay. Honestly, I haven't been able to let myself feel what I needed to feel. I've been in denial thinking I could somehow get around reality if I just willed myself through it."
Goku nods.
"What you said made me realize Yamcha and the others really are gone. I do need to accept what happened and start moving on, even if just a little."
"So you don't want to see if we can find any Dragon Balls?"
Bulma half cries and half laughs as she wipes away another set of tears.
"I'm saying I'm ready to try something new and accept that it might not work. It'll hurt if it doesn't, but I think I'm ready to face that pain now."
Goku smiles. Krillin steps up to them.
"Well if you guys are going to space, count me in!" he says.
"Thank you Krillin," says Bulma. "For everything. You've done so much to take care of me, and I haven't shown you any appreciation. I feel terrible and selfish. Yamcha was your friend, and I know you miss him as bad as I do."
Krillin's heart swells with pride.
"I do miss him a lot. And you can always count on me to help, even if it means going to space. But uh, I don't know how we're going to get there."
"I think my dad has us covered there. Follow me."
She winks and walks off with the men trailing behind. She leads them to the backyard where a spherical pod the size of a large room sits.
"What's this thing?" says Goku.
"It's a spaceship of course," Bulma says.
"It is!" says Krillin. "I thought your dad was just working on some random science project out here."
"Nope. He's been replicating the technology for intergalactic travel from the crafts left behind by the aliens for over a year now. Pretty neat, huh. I'm not sure how close to being done he is though."
The oval door to the ship falls open on a pair of pistons at its base. A set of steps to board the ship are attached to the inside wall. Dr. Brief walks down the stairs past four landing supports the round structure is raised on.
"Didn't mean to eavesdrop," he says. "But it sounds like you all need a ship."
"We sure do," says Goku. "When will this one be ready?"
"Oh not for a while. I still need to finish my perfect cappuccino maker and have it installed. After that, it'll be ready to go."
"We don't care about cappuccino!" they shout in unison.
"Alright, alright. You can leave whenever you want. Just don't call back here whining that you don't have a good cup of cappuccino when you wake up on a cold morning."
###
"Absolutely not. I forbid it!" says Chichi.
"Ah come on Chichi," says Goku. "Why can't Gohan come with us?"
Chichi leers from across the kitchen table.
"You're an adult Goku, you can do what you want, but Gohan is a child, and it is our responsibility to protect him."
Goku slides his eyes to the side where Gohan makes an urging motion with his hands.
"But it'll be a cult-chair-alley in-riching experience for him."
"Goku, did you look those words up in a dictionary?"
"What's that?"
Goku grins while his fingers lace behind his head.
"Gohan?"
Chichi turns to her son. Gohan drops his eyes.
"You know better than to try and use your father to get what you want."
"But mom, I just want to help Mr. Piccolo and the others."
"I understand that, but you're not getting involved. You should be grateful I'm even letting your dad give this crazy scheme a try."
Goku kneels by him.
"Sorry buddy. I tried. But your mom's right. I don't know what's out there, and you've been through enough danger for one lifetime."
Gohan's head dips as he slinks back to his room. When the door closes behind him, Chichi turns back to Goku.
"Goku, I'm not just scared for Gohan. I'm worried about you too. I don't want to lose you again. And those horrible monsters are waiting for you in space."
"I promise not to go looking for a fight. I love you and want to make it back safe. But I need to do this for them."
"I know you do."
They embrace. They soak in the warmth, uncertain of when they will be able to feel it again. They slowly pull apart. Goku backs up towards the front door. Chichi waves and Goku nods before closing the door behind him.
Chichi feels his ki expand and drift away as he flies to Bulma's. She knocks on her son's door.
"Gohan, can I come in?"
Silence.
"I'm sorry if you're upset, but can you at least talk to me?"
Silence.
"Gohan?"
She wrenches the door handle and shoves it open. Gohan is nowhere to be seen. She strides to the window. Her hands throw the glass outward and grab the sill. She searches the yard. Movement above draws her eyes. Gohan flies away on the back of a lilac dragon.
She shouts his name, but he never looks back. Her fist clenches over her heart while the other hand covers the back of it. She suppresses the urge to call for her Flying Zephyr.
"Oh Gohan. You're becoming more like your father every day. Please come home safe."
Author's Note 12/18/2021: Hello dear readers, I'm so happy to post a new chapter after many many months. Thank you so much to everyone who has been reading, favoriting, following, leaving reviews, and sending me messages asking about the status of this story while I've been away. Seeing the enthusiasm you all have for this story brings me so much happiness. Thank you is not enough but it is all I have, so thank you all so very much for your engagement.
I've been working hard on the latest arc, and I've nearly finished drafting it. I need to finish the current chapter I'm writing, and there could be one more after that. But then it's on to revisions, and I can finally start posting regularly again. I can't give an exact date because I never know for sure, but I'm hoping to post them early next year. For now, I leave you with this first chapter as an end of the year gift. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and have a great start to the new year. I'll see you all in the next chapter so take care of yourselves until then!