Review Responses:
To Ethan Demas: I appreciate the long review. And I left you a little treat in this chapter. I hope you enjoy it! And thanks for the advice!
To SuperSaiyanFever: It never does…*Foreshadowing noises intensify*
To AbyssShadow32: Goku may have been the main character, but the side characters were what made Dragon Ball interesting before all of the fighting and action took a hold of the narrative. I for Gohan to eventually have his own cast similar to his father based on who he's met in the past. Now, this may vary based on my decisions and what has happened in the anime. Only time will tell, though and there's no guarantee that who you want to appear will actually show up.
To TheEngineer123: First off, I freaking love you, man! Dude, I love the idea to make a Bully Maguire reference, but I already did that in Sonic RESURGENCE in the finale of the first arc.
To Ushindi: 1. I'm not going to spoil when that's going to happen.
2. Search up S-Cells on the internet
3. I do not read the Super Manga
That's all for now, on with the show.
Last time on Dragon Ball Z PRIMAL, Gohan brought along his friends to a fancy party where they celebrated Barry Khan's sister. It was there where they met the rich and successful scientist and businessman, Dr. James Yanagi. Little do they know that he was a man name Dr. Wheelo, who may have his own agenda at play and has a boiling grudge against Mr. Satan. He seems to also have plans involving the DNA of a Saiyan hybrid. What does this mean for Gohan and the Dragon Team? Find out, now!
Downtown, Hercule City, Age 774
While being driven in the back of a limousine on the freeway, the wealthy and well-groomed scientist, Dr. Yanagi, also known unbeknownst to the public as Dr. Wheelo, sat in the backseat, discussing business negotiations with an unknown individual over the phone.
(...Hello, this is Dr. Kōchin from East City Universe Labs…)
"Yes, Dr. Subaru Kōchin? This is Dr. James Yanagi, CEO of Willow Industries. How are you, sir?"
(O-Oh, Dr. Yanagi?! I'm great, fantastic! I didn't expect a call from such a large name in the field of Biology. You know, my father could walk again thanks to your outstanding breakthroughs in modern medicine. And I'm eternally grateful for your hard work.)
The wavy-haired doctor smirked as he said, "That's exceptional to hear, Dr. Kōchin. Try not to think too critically about it, though. While I do take pride in my craft, what my company and I do for a living is to serve a greater purpose. To take the next large step in human evolution for the good of mankind."
(R-Right. So, uh, how can I help you today?)
"I'm content that you asked, good sir. You see, this is a business endeavor and it has come to my attention that you are one of the rare select few individuals on the planet to be in possession of the even extraordinarily rare element, tritium. Is that true, Dr. Kōchin?"
(Yes, it is Dr. Yanagi. I have a few cases of tritium vials in my possession. )
"I'd like to personally purchase a few of them if its possible."
(...Purchase? I don't know, Dr. Yanagi. Tritium is extremely rare as you stated before. The only other people who have tritium besides me are scientists in the Ox Kingdom, the royal scientists that are under King Furry's command, and Bulma Briefs herself. It's something that I can merely put a price tag on.)
Smiling, Dr. Wheelo uttered a single word over the phone.
"Thirty-eight million."
There was silence on the other end for thirty seconds. The smirk never left Wheelo's face, knowing that he had Kōchin where he wanted him.
(...W-What?)
"That is my offer. I'll give you thirty-eight million zeni in cash for three vials of tritium that weigh fifteen grams each."
( I…I…)
"Any day now, Dr. Kōchin. I am a patient man at heart, but we both have schedules. And mine is very packed."
(Okay! I'll consider it.)
"Splendid, now we have a bit of an understanding. I'll load the funds as soon as possible. Is it possible to pick it up after business hours today?"
(Or c-course, Dr. Yanagi! I'll have them ready by the afternoon. Until then, sir!)
"Until then, cheers."
Hanging up that number, Dr. Yanagi turned to his newspapers and saw a headline that made him scowl.
The title was labeled, "Horrifying Monster Attacks Market, Three Beastmen Tragically Killed".
On the front page was a picture of a blurry monster that was seven feet tall. It appeared took resemble a sasquach with blue fur, blond locks on the lower part of his mostly bald head, very light lavender skin, and glowing red eyes. The face seemed human, weirdly enough, but had a primal expression about it.
Dr. Wheelo cursed under his breath before making another call.
"...Yes, it's me. It's been a while," The scientist said in a cold fashion. "I have some…supplies for you to pick up."
Forest Clearing, Mount Paozu, Age 774
Nearby the Son Residence, Gohan, who wore his old training gi, was busy dodging attacks from the offensive Videl. Since the school day ended early for them, the two were able to take the extra time on their hands to train with each other.
While informing their parents of their approval beforehand.
"HIYA!"
Gohan intercepted a right cross with his own, causing a small shockwave. Seeing the half-Saiyan jump back, Videl pursued him with more punches and jabs. While to a normal human, her barrage would most definitely be considered faster than the eye could track, the eldest son of Goku's greater perception of speed allowed him to detect, block, and or evade her blows.
"I can sense the energy flow from your punches! Not bad, Videl-san! But I know you can do more than this!"
Seeing that the direct approach wasn't working, Videl changed tactics. Channeling her ki to power up, Videl charged at Gohan from off the ground to seemingly go for a similar take-down maneuver. Gohan was about to counter again.
Videl smirked, confusing the veteran. When Gohan's fist made contact, the solid appearance of Videl blurred and became intangible.
That's when Gohan gasped, uttering, "Afterimages,"
Suddenly, he was surrounded by seven of them that shared the same devious smirk on their pretty faces.
"What's the matter? Can't tell us apart?" All of them said at the same time. "Go on and find me, Gohan-kun. Do so if you dare."
Sharpening his senses, Gohan quickly detected his opponent's energy signature. Looking up, Gohan found Videl ten feet high in the air.
"Got you!" Videl declared, putting her two hands over her face with her palms facing her. "Solar Flare!"
"Crap baskets!" Gohan grunted as he shielded his eyes out of reflex.
'Now's my chance!' Videl thought.
Descending to where Gohan was blinded, she went on the attack. Using Rapid Movement to get in front of Gohan, she punched his solar plexus to knock the wind out of him. She then proceeded to combo off of her punches and kicks which pushed the hybrid back, performing her Falcon Rush.
To end the chain attack, the girl used a knee strike, then a left-legged side kick, and finally a right-legged roundhouse kick as she shouted, "Eagle Kick!"
The last kick sent Gohan. Before he could sprawl towards the ground, Gohan recovered swiftly by backflipping to his feet.
Wiping his face, Gohan felt a small bruise on his left cheek.
'Huh…I actually felt that!' The stunned scholar said mentally with a small smile beginning to seep through his serious expression. 'Heh! This girl sure is something special.'
The excitement of the feeling caused his tail to sway in such a manner as it hung out in the open.
"Don't let your guard down!" Videl shouted as she rushed at him again.
Out of pure instinct and without thinking, Gohan leaned to the side to avoid a front kick. Then, he placed his hand on her stomach and shot a small and weak kiai blast, knocking the teen on her butt.
Groaning in pain, Videl looked up to see Gohan kneeling before her with a hand extended.
"Good job! That was a great strategy that you implemented. I felt the force of that last attack."
Videl grumbled with her cheeks puffed up like that of a child pouting.
"Yay. I barely scraped a piece of skin tissue." Videl said in a sarcastic fashion. "I guess that's a breakthrough."
Frowning, Gohan folded his arms, saying, "Videl-san, I understand that you're not satisfied with your current level of power, but being where you are right now is significantly greater than you were when you first started. You should own that."
"Yeah, I get that. But it's not enough!" Videl huffed, clenching her fists. "Maybe I'm not able to get ridiculously as powerful as you or your alien friends, but I can't stand the thought of being so weak compared to my own peers! If legends like Mr. Krillin, Mr. Bandit, and Master Tenshinhan could shoot beams from their hands that can shatter mountains, then I know I will get higher!"
Gohan remained silent as she watched the girl sigh.
She says, "...I just don't want to be left behind and stand on the sidelines helplessly. I want to, no, I need to be ready for the next time something crazy happens again."
Gohan nodded, understanding wholeheartedly how she felt. He was facing a similar issue since his defeat at the hands of the Prince of All Saiyans. Videl sought power to get stronger, much like his own father. Like himself, however, she not only yearned for it out of the need to feel security in herself but to be prepared to help others and the planet.
Placing a hand on her shoulder, Gohan told her, "I know how you feel, and I feel the same way. But you have to understand that there's more to martial arts than just raw power and strength."
Glaring at him, she asked, "What's that supposed to mean? You basically nuked that Cooler monster with your raw power!"
"No," Gohan said. "That's not what I meant. Videl, do you know what ki is made up of?"
"Not one bit. You haven't said anything about that while we were training." Videl said, shaking her head. "How is that relevant?"
Gohan then sat down with his legs crossed, motioning Videl to join her by his side with a smile. She did so after letting out a huff.
"There are three principles that ki follows to persist. Genki, Yūki, and Shōki." Gohan stated, to which Videl listened closely. "To use ki, you need to be in great physical condition and good health throughout your body; that's Genki. If you master your body, your mind must fall in line with it. To be in the right state of mind is to obtain Shōki. And to have Yuki is to have the will power, or courage to utilize the power from within. You need to have all three to proficiently use ki."
"...Okay? What does this have to do with you and your power?" Videl inquired.
"Videl-san, I struggled with controlling my power for so long. Sometimes, it would be because I was either scared of my own power if I were to be consumed by rage or when I did snap, I'd let the Saiyan side of me derail my right state of mind. Even still, I struggle to maintain Shōki and Yūki to this day. This is why I still train. Not just physically, but mentally and spiritually."
"Okay, but that doesn't change the fact that you're hundreds of thousands, probably millions of times stronger than me. That's hard to swallow, Gohan-kun."
"Videl-san, if I learned anything from my father and the experiences that I have, is that the battle isn't just any ordinary match throwing fists at other opponents. No, it's a battle of minds. You have a strong will, and you're as healthy as an ox. In spite of your sharp and analytical side, you're also quick to anger if the right buttons are pushed. I see that your Shōki is your weakness."
Videl bit her lip, swallowing her pride as she received this information in stride. She bowed her head slightly, thinking about the warrior's words critically.
"But just because I have tremendous power, doesn't mean that I'm unbeatable," Gohan said, taking Videl by surprise.
"Shut up!" Videl said, pointing at him as if she was accusing Gohan of committing a heinous act. "You killed Cell and Cooler! As far as I know, you're the strongest guy in the universe! Second to none!"
Gohan proceeded to laugh awkwardly as he scratched his cheek in a nervous fashion.
"Hehehe! …See, about that…" Gohan grinned warily.
Squinting at Gohan, Videl accused, "...You've been hiding something, haven't you?"
"Um…"
"Well? I'm waiting, Son Gohan! What are you hiding from me?"
"...I actually had a fight with Vegeta a few days after the invasion. As it turns out, he stayed in a place where he could have a year's worth of training in a single day. Anyways, Vegeta surpassed me in power by ascending and mastering the second level of Super Saiyan. He ended up kicking the crap out of me until I was down for the count. So, Vegeta is the strongest fighter now." Gohan chuckled nervously.
Videl closed her mouth with her eyes nearly popping out of her sockets in shock.
'...No way! The asshole with the widow's peak and a messed-up receding hairline beat Gohan-kun by training in a day!? These Saiyans are insane!'
"Oh wow…." Videl muttered. "T-That's…news."
"Yeah. But I'm kind of glad, though." Gohan said with a grateful tone.
"What? Why would you be okay with losing to a guy like that!?" Videl shouted before huffing and crossing her arms. "How Ms. Bulma can put up with a massive jerk like him is beyond me."
Gohan held up his arms, saying, "Hey, it's alright! Vegeta may be…difficult at times, but he's come a long way since he first arrived here. If you get to know what's beneath the scowling battle-hardened prince, you'd learn that he's quite insightful when he wants to be. Vegeta set me straight on what I had to do. And now, I'm aiming to surpass him and go even further than his power."
Seeing the determination and the spark of gold in Gohan's eyes caused the girl's heart to skip a beat.
"Listen, it's not all about strength or power. You have the skills, determination, and mindset necessary to virtually best even the most powerful of opponents. Believe me, you're one of the most resourceful people I know. You can do anything if you put your mind to it."
Videl turned to Gohan while leaning toward him. He could see the shimmer of hope I'm her eyes, signifying the vulnerable side of her seeping through.
"...Do you really think I can?"
"I know you can," Gohan answered while standing up. "That's why we're starting your training in learning the Kaiōken."
Inwardly, the daughter of Hercule squealed with excitement. She was so elated at the moment that she could kiss the hybrid if she was honest with herself.
…Not that she would do so. No, Gohan was only a friend and she had more self-control than that! The crime fighter would not allow herself to elope with any boys! She wasn't Erasa!
Standing up with her morale fired up, Videl said with an excited expression and a confident grin, saying, "Well, what are we waiting for? Come on! Teach me now!"
Gohan nodded to the girl's "request" and told her to stand back, which she heeded mindfully.
"Okay, this is a technique that my father learned from a deity that oversees the north galaxy in which we live in."
"Woah, hold on! There are more guardians than the one on Earth?" Videl questioned.
"Well, actually, King Kai is a legitimate god. My dad met him after the first time he died and went to Other World." Gohan clarified. "Besides, King Kai is the Kai of the North Galaxy."
"You mean to tell me that there are, like, more of these gods-Kai guys?"
"Well, if King Kai is the "North Kai", then there's a great chance that there's a South, East, and West Kai."
"That's insane! Just how many of these gods are there?"
"We'll save that for another day," Gohan promised. "Anyways, through intense conditioning of the body and the cultivation of the mind, the technique allows the user to fill the body on the molecular and sub-molecular levels with more and more ki. Furthermore–"
"English, Gohan-kun!"
"Oh, sorry. What I mean is that by training your body and mind both to such a high degree, you can use this technique to its best. From there, the user multiplies their strength and speed in short bursts by increasing the flow of ki throughout the body. Try to perceive it as how the circulation of the blood through your veins is dependent on how fast your heart beats. The faster the heartbeat, the further the blood flow will increase."
"Okay, that sounds great and all. Just show it to me already!"
A serious expression formed on Gohan, which Videl noticed immediately.
"Fine. But remember, this is a dangerous technique. If you overdo it, you'll be likely to ruin your body, or worse. So pay close attention."
Videl nodded to her teacher, saying, "Gotcha."
Taking a deep breath, Gohan focused his mind as he took a horse stance and channeled his ki. Suddenly, the invisible flow of energy caused his spiky mop of hair to raise and spike, leaving a few bangs to hang down. That invisible energy started to turn into visible steam, which came from the hue of reddened skin Gohan had obtained.
"Kaiōken!"
In a matter of seconds, a fiery red aura thundered itself into being, cloaking Gohan in it. The power and heat it emanates took Videl by surprise, nearly causing her to stumble.
She then took a glance at the technique and paid attention to detail.
'Damn! Now there's definitely a difference! His power doubled! He wasn't kidding about it being a multiplier!'
"This technique requires you to be able to maintain your ki while you capitalize on the amplification of your strength, speed, and power," Gohan said before deactivating the technique. "Now, because you're still below the level of Yamcha, you're maximum multiplier without life-threatening consequences is Kaiōken x2. So, whatever you do, do not use this technique unless it's the last resort. And if you do need to, try not to go further than the second multiplier."
'...Great. I get to learn it, but I can't have some fun with it when I want. I swear, his mom rubbed off on him and he doesn't even realize it. …I going to have to fix that soon.'
Sighing the umpteenth time, Videl relented…for now.
Gohan saw the dissatisfaction in Videl's eyes and felt a form of guilt weighing on his heart.
'...She looks just like Dad when Mom doesn't let him train for the day. I didn't mean to bum her out, but the Kaiōken may cripple her or worse if she gets reckless with it. Still, Videl-san must have been looking forward to using the technique freely as she does flying. I've gotta cheer her up somehow…'
"Tell you what, Videl. Since you made great progress in today's training, we can take the rest of the day to develop your own energy wave." Gohan suggested, placing his fists on his fists.
Like a flip of a switch, Videl's disappointment instantly turned into excitement once more.
"Now you're speaking my language! Let's get this show on the road!"
Hercule City Bank, Hercule City, Age 774
It was Saturday in Hercule city and the morning shifted to the afternoon. Many of its citizens were still in the midst of dealing with their daily affairs, from work, weekend schooling, and other miscellaneous chores.
Down the street, Gohan and Sharpner walked together after jogging around the local park. The two ran into each other along the way and decided to hang out while they ran laps around the park.
Now they were cooling off, with Sharpner wearing a white muscle shirt, dark green sweatpants, and red running shoes. Gohan wore a light green tracksuit with white accents on the sides of the outfit and black track shoes.
"It's a good thing that we ran into each other. I would have been bored out of my mind," Sharpner said, walking along the sidewalk.
"Yeah, that's true," Gohan nodded. "I've been wondering about that. I'd figure that you'd either be working on with your dad or hang out with Erasa-san."
Scoffing, Sharpner said, "We were supposed to be watching a movie today like we always do on Saturdays after shopping, but she blew me off. Again."
"…Seriously? That doesn't sound like her at all."
"Well, get used to it. 'Rasa is too busy in lalaland with the pretty boy. They're probably off on a date kissing each other's faces off, or something."
"Why does it bother you so much? Khan-san doesn't seem that bad."
Looking toward Gohan with an irritated demeanor, he said, "Come on, Brains. Use your head! That pretty boy is nothing special. He's a rich asshole who only cares about his image and would prey on the people who blindly kiss his dirty privileged ass to get what he wants out of them and throw them into the trash. Guys like Khan aren't nearly worth the time or effort of girls like 'Rasa. …She deserves better, but she's too blinded by his smug prick pretty boy face to see that guy for what he really is."
Sharpner and Gohan cringed at the thought of it. The former more than the latter, especially.
From the change in ki and mood drop, Gohan could tell that it bothered the longer-haired teen.
'Wow, Videl-san is right. He must really feel strongly towards her if Sharp-san is acting so differently than normal.'
"Have you ever told how you feel about Khan-san to Erasa-san?"
"Like that matters now. She told me that they started going out. I'm not going to get in the way of that out of respect. Erasa can handle guys, believe it or not. But, if he hurts her in any way, I'm breaking every bone in his body." Sharpner answered with finality, subconscious raising his ki.
'Sheesh! Tenshinhan really laid into his training. He's about as strong as Videl from three months ago!'
"Speaking of which, how is your training with Tenshinhan coming along?"
Sharpner smiled with his usual cockiness. Lifting his left hand, he formed a ball of energy from his body, prompting Gohan to look at the young man impressed.
"I see, you've gained access to use your ki."
"Oh, I learned more than that," Sharpner explained. "On top of this and Haku Tsuru-ken, I can fly, sense energy, create those weird phantom clones–"
"–Afterimages–"
"–right, those. I can also shoot the Dodonpa and I'm still learning the Kikōhō, though." Sharpner concluded, dispelling the ki ball.
"Really? All of that in three months?" Gohan questioned. "Impressive. Tien must not have pulled his punches with you during your training sessions. I can tell by sensing your power."
Rubbing his neck as if there was a sore taking a hold of him.
"Ugh… Don't remind me. That guy forced me to balance on a rope while defending myself from a crane with a stick. Then, I had to carry heavy ass boulders on my back across a valley and do his garden by plowing the dirt with my hands and eventually pulling out the vegetables. And those plants are huge, Brains! Like, they are as large as the ones you grow!"
Gohan scratched his head sheepishly.
"Oh boy, that sounds like him, alright." Gohan chuckled.
After spending the time walking a few blocks, Sharpner stopped to take zeni out of a local ATM.
"Hey, Brains. Remember when we went to the arcade not too long ago?"
"Uh, yeah? Why are you asking?"
"Well, Son, you seem like the type of guy to enjoy tournament fighters. I often go for the grappler characters. I like their strong attacks and seeing them doing their flash super moves. They fight me…well, who I used to be." Sharpner admitted. "What's your type, man?"
The hybrid's mind subconsciously answered, "Strong, cunning, determined, a great sense of morality, bright blue eyes—"
"–Brains, I'm talking about your type of fighting characters, not your type of chicks."
" …Wait, did I say that–Argh!"
Gohan facepalmed hard, cursing himself for speaking out loud without thinking straight.
Sharpner shook his head with a smug smirk on his face.
'Out of all of the girls in the school, he gets the hots for Videl. Man, I think his kind are masochists or something.'
"I-I mean, I don't really p-play video games all that often. But when I do, I usually gravitate towards the characters that are well-rounded in their move set. A jack of all trades, so to speak." Gohan explained.
Sharpner then found himself giving Gohan an odd gaze. He was perplexed, to say the least. This wasn't too off-putting for Gohan, as he found himself being the odd one out of their friend group.
"...Gotta say, Son, I didn't take you for a Shotokan main."
"What's wrong with Shotokan players?"
"Nothing's wrong with them. They are good players but the characters that they play are boring and basic. They play it safe."
"I like to think that when they've grown attached to a character, they've grown into the playing style of said character to the point where the player is confident to take on other players. Just like in martial arts."
"Feh. It's still plain vanilla. There are a ton of fighters in rosters that have so much flare to them." Sharpner countered. "The grappler may be slow, but their powerful attacks are hard to deal with. It makes for exciting matchups."
"I can't argue with the matchups, but my answer still stands. I like the Shoto archetype." Gohan said, standing by his answer.
"It's a brand choice, but I can respect that." Sharpner shrugged.
In the middle of Sharpner's transaction, Gohan's watch beeped in a similar manner to Videl's communicator. The two looked at each other with a serious sense of understanding. Gohan answered the call in his low, smooth, and professional Saiyaman voice.
"Ziam copies."
(Hey, Bucket Head. It's Videl. Listen, I need a favor because I'm in the middle of a meeting that Dad dragged me to.)
"What's the situation?"
(It's the Red Shark Gang. They're back in the streets again!)
Both Sharpner and Gohan's faces contorted in shock.
"What!? Shouldn't they still be locked away?"
(I'm not sure how but somebody bailed out of a few of them. Their leader is out causing trouble by the bank as we speak.)
"That shouldn't sound too bad."
(Oh yeah? Well, get this. The chief said that he's piloting a suit of armor.)
The two boys looked at each other, both recalling the Cooler incident. Gohan could hear the heart of the blond pounding with anxiety.
Speaking back to his watch, Gohan said with finality, "I'm on my way. I'll update you after."
(Gotcha. Be careful out there.)
With that, Videl had cut the link. Gohan turned to Sharpner wordlessly, with his firm gaze telling everything the former jock needed to know.
"It's cool, bro. Do your thing."
Gohan nodded, then sprinted to the nearest deserted alley and pressed the red button.
"Suit up!"
In a flash of yellow, the watch materialized his black and red Saiyaman costume, allowing Gohan to take into the skies and head to his next destination that needed attending.
-Meanwhile, in Satan Bank of Hercule City-
The police department had its hands full with this particular situation. The locals who weren't younger folk recording the situation on their devices were swiftly fleeing out of sheer terror that was in the streets.
Standing in front of the stairs of the financial institution was none other than Rock of the Red Shark Gang. However, the tall man that resembled the fallen Saiyan, Nappa, was controlled what seemed to be a giant sleek dark blue mecha that seemed to resemble the Robot Soldiers of Cooler's design with bits and pieces of aspects that could also come from the Red Ribbon Army and Pilaf's past schematics.
In the cockpit of the vessel was an eager and crazed Rock, who used the machine gun cannons on its arms to fire back at the cars of the police officers.
The chief then took the opportunity to fire back at the armored crook.
Rock laughed at him, saying, "Is that the best that you can do? What a joke!"
The mech took its hand, grabbed a piece of concrete from the floor, and threw it at the chief's car. The older cop had to take one of his younger colleagues that were next to him and drove away from the flying debris. A smart move on their part, as the hunk of rock utterly crushed the car upon impact.
Supporting Rock were SlimJim and Jimbo, both suited in black jumpsuits, protective vests, pads, arm guards, and combat boots. But the real upgrades were their choice of arms. While Slimjim held a high-tech cooling gun with "Netsu-Dorobo" painted on each side, Jimbo held what seemed to be an advanced plasma cannon with the word "Genki-Tanken" painted on each side.
"Oi! We ain't gonna say it, again! Bring us either Hercule, his bitch of a daughter, or Saiyaman, or we're gonna cause some more damage to this city like it's West City up here!" Jimbo demanded.
One random police officer got upset and decided to charge the three criminals. SlimJim moved the dial clockwise and targeted his gun, activating his measuring ray. From there, he moved the dial to the opposite feature, and fired a blast, freezing the officers in a block of ice.
This left officers shaking.
"Holy shit!"
"Did you see that!?"
"He's frozen solid!"
Jimbo, feeling cocky, decided to follow up by blasting the frozen cop with the particle cannon, leaving nothing but smoke from where the cop stood.
The chief gasped to himself, "...Sweet Kami."
"We want those big shots here, now!" Jimbo echoed, shooting at another police car, destroying it while scrambling any of its systems.
"I'm here for the flying freak! And if I don't see him in the next minute, I'm killing every single cop in the vicinity!" Rock in a frustrating manner.
The other cops turned to the chief, who was sweating bullets.
The leader was getting overly agitated, the arms of Rock's mech opened two palms and ignited sparks of blue flames.
And directed them to the chief's location.
"Fuck it! I'm tired of waiting! You're all de–"
The mech that Rock was piloting was struck by an invisible force, locking it away from the line of fire the police had. SlimJim and Jimbo turned to each other, bewildered at the phenomenon, in which their feelings were shared by the bystanders and the police force.
"Did you see that?"
"No duh! He was sent flying!"
Next to the chief, his younger female partner asked, "I didn't even catch that. What took Rock out?"
Looking up, the chief smiled.
"Not a what, kid. But who."
Catching on, everybody's worrisome shouts turned into a thunder of cheers as Saiyaman ln arrived on the scene as he slowly descended to where the criminals were located. SlimJim took this time to secretly take Saiyaman's body heat with his weapon. Rock, who was in a crater, launched himself from out of the ground and landed in front of the bank's stairs.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the newest world hero." Rock chortled. "We've been waiting for you, Mr. Saiyaman."
"Red Shark Gang, huh? Abusing your freedom the first chance you got, I see." Saiyaman pointed out in his deep and firm tone. "Who got you out?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Rock sparked before firing a stream of blue fire flames at Saiyaman, and the police officers.
Being the protective person that he was, Saiyaman got in front of the stream, tanking the hit as he screamed to the officers.
"GET OUT OF HERE! I'LL TAKE CARE OF THIS!"
Taking the hint, the policemen and women all made a tactical retreat, but not going too far to where they cannot protect the people.
Turning back to Rock, Saiyaman fixed his posture and casually walked through the blue flames, unphased from the stream.
Scowling, Rock's mech dispatched six small missiles at the superhero. Saiyaman stopped it with a larger kiai, blowing them up.
Saiyaman smirked at this, saying, "It's going to take a lot more to bring me down."
Little did the hybrid anticipate, he was struck by an electrical blast that caused him to temporarily stun him and disable his ki-based abilities.
"Argh!"
'W-What's going on!? I can feel my ki, but I can't access it! It's like it's blocked disabled!"
Wiping his head around, he could see SlimJim with the biggest devious grin on his face.
"Ha! It worked!" The crook said. "We got you right where we want you!"
"...W-What did you do to me?" The masked hero questioned, slowly standing up to look at his foes.
Jimbo said, "Let's just say that in exchange for our bail, we were given the job to test out anti-freak equipment."
Taking his gun, Jimbo fired at the hero, freezing his legs in place.
Rock reeled the mech's right fist back saying, "And we came here prepared with the right kind of tools!"
The next thing Gohan knew, he was sent to a building adjacent to the back, crashing through the window of a jewelry store and landing on the counter.
"What's the matter, hero? I thought you were tough!"
Saiyaman got up and thought, '...Okay. For one, ow! And two, I've got to stop getting so cocky. Thirdly, what kind of tech was that? It was like Cooler's stuff, but there was more to it. I thought Bulma's team at Capsule Corp confiscated all of the techs that were all over West City.'
Saiyaman attempted to fly, only to fall back down.
"Crap! My ki control is so wonky right now that I can't even fly properly! I'd have to rely on my natural speed to beat these two if I want Hercule City to survive. But first…"
Using his helmet's new software that Bulma installed, Sayiaman's helmet camera zoomed in and toggled the three criminals' weapons they each were utilizing at the moment. As it ran through the schematics, everything clicked in his mind.
"A cryo gun, particle cannon, and an advanced weaponized exo-suit. Targeted to deal with ki users? Or perhaps just me. And what kind of person made something this sophisticated?"
Shaking his head, Saiyaman said, "No time to think about that. I got work to do. This time, I won't be messing around!"
Using his superior speed, Saiyaman blurred out of the store and dodged the lasers and the cryo blast. With a single clap of his hands, Saiyaman created a shockwave out of raw kiai, sending all three of the criminals flying and sprawling down on the ground. Taking his chance, the hero confiscated both guns at blinding speeds and crushed them with his bare hands.
When Slimjim and Jimbo saw this, they swallowed hard and nervously glanced at each other, sharing an "Uh oh…"
Before they knew it, they were lifted up, slammed into each other's heads via Saiyaman's doing, then everything turned black due to unconsciousness.
Rock groaned, rubbing his head while I'm the cockpit.
"Ugh… Did somebody get the number of the truck that hi–?"
He didn't get even get the chance to finish his thought, for a crimson-gloved hand grabbed a hold of his face, ripping him through the cockpit and throwing him to the ground.
Standing before a nervous Rock was a triumphant Saiyaman with the chief of police and his remaining coworkers, staring him down.
'...Shit.'
With Rock and his boys being apprehended and taken to the polices cars, the bystanders cheered for Saiyaman's victory, chanting his name as they would do for Hercule. Of course, Saiyaman never paid any mind to it.
Checking on the chief, Saiyaman asked, "Are you alright?"
The older cop answered, "I'm fine. While this was out of the ordinary, my experience keeps me from being indecisive and helped me stay alive. What about you? That blast seemed to nearly make you crumble. And nothing ever seems to hurt you before."
"I don't know, but I scanned their tech with my helmet. I'll have somebody to help me figure this out. Whoever made those weapons intended to do away with people like me."
"Right," The chief nodded. "Are you feeling better?"
The hero tested this by levitating for a few moments before giving him a salute and taking off to the skies.
"...I'll take that as a yes."
Deserted Wasteland, Nearby Hercule City, Age 774
The Son of the late demon king had long since let Gohan off to be on his lonesome to be his own warrior, his own person. After all, Piccolo, much like Tenshinhan, was a solitary individual.
Because of this, it was exceptionally rare for the Super Namekian to feel the need to worry about Gohan's physical being. Emotionally was another story, given that Piccolo spent over seven years aiding the young man in keeping his sanity because of the overwhelming burden that was Gohan's guilt over Goku's sacrifice.
But now, he was growing concerned over another matter entirely.
While Piccolo and Gohan communicate more often than other warriors in the Dragon Team, the first teacher of Gohan had not spoken with him in over three months. On top of that, he'd sometimes felt his ki signature disappear completely, only to reappear after a few hours or so.
While he knew Gohan knew Instant Transmission and waved it off to him testing the move, Piccolo eventually recalled the mechanics of the technique and recognized that something else was happening without his knowledge. So, he came to one conclusion.
He needed to talk to Gohan, face to face.
Piccolo, who was now standing on a mountain top in the direction of the city that was in the distance, prepared to head off when a pillar of light appeared in front of him.
"What the–!?"
Materialized from the light were Kibito and Shin, the Supreme Kai. While Kibito remained silent, as he sensed the former guardian of the Earth within Piccolo's being, Shin smiled at the stunned Namekian in a benevolent manner.
"Greetings," Shin said kindly. "I hope that we haven't startled you too much."
Piccolo, while regaining his composure, stared at the newcomers with a hardened and analytical glare.
'These two definitely aren't from around here. That, I am certain. …Huh!? I can't sense his energy! …W-What is this feeling? This p-presence! I never felt anything like it! Especially the shorter one! I-I'm shaking! Why a-am I shaking!?' Piccolo thought frantically, feeling his body tense and trembling every so slightly.
"Who are you? Why have you come to this planet?" Piccolo questioned steadily. "We already had enough trouble from the last visitors that came here."
"Peace, Young Namek," Kibito said, raising his right hand with an open palm. "We are not your enemies. This is simply a social matter,"
Staring at Shin, Piccolo asked, "...I've never felt a presence like yours before. If I may ask, would you happen to be the Daikaiō by any chance?"
Shin shook his head, with his smile never leaving his face, "A close guess, Piccolo. Still, that's incorrect. I am not the Grand Kai."
"Lord Shin far exceeds that title, Young Namek," Kibito remarked. "In fact, He owns the title of Kaiōshin, the Supreme Kai."
Piccolo gasped in awe, shock, and slight fear.
"T-T-The Supreme Kai!?" The Namekian echoed. "W-Why would a being like you want anything to do with me? And how do you even know who I am?"
Shin chuckled stating, "Those questions are elementary. I can answer that in one riddle. Despite being strangers to each other, guess one person that we both know in common with each other."
"Ond person that we both kn–"
That was when it dawned on the Namek. Shin continued to smirk with Kibito sharing the same expression.
"That's right, Piccolo. I have met your former protégé. And I must say, he was more than I had hoped for as a warrior and a benevolent person." Shin complimented. "By seeing you in person, I can fathom why he holds you in such high regard."
"What do you mean by what you have hoped for? What's this got to do with Gohan?" Piccolo questioned.
"Namek, all of your questions will be answered in due time. All you need to do is that you're among new allies, and your student is in the greatest of hands." Kibito cryptically responded.
"All that we ask is three things of you."
"...I'm listening."
Holding and counting from one hand, Shin listed off, "One, your knowledge of his must be kept under secrecy unless I, or Gohan, give you permission to detail my existence to others in your social group. Two, trust in what I say. There are things beyond your understanding that Kibito and I know of."
"Okay. And the third."
"No matter what happens to Gohan, always believe in him and his strength. There's more to him and his power than even he realizes. But that power can only be truly awakened when there are individuals like yourself that can help push him in the right way. Can you do that for me, Piccolo,"
Shin extended a hand to the green slug man.
Piccolo crackled his own smile, meeting the deity's hand with his own in a handshake.
"Of course, Lord Shin. It's an honor to meet you."
The three then took the time out of their day to get to know and understand each other, sharing stories regarding a certain shy and gentle Saiyan hybrid.
Laboratory, Yanagi Estate, Age 774
Dr. Wheelo sat on the chair in front of his supercomputer, watching the video of Saiyaman taking damage from the weapons that the Red Shark Gang had used on him.
"Hm… So, the Netsu-Dorobo project was the most effective weapon. …Interesting. I figure that Saiyans were resilient to extreme temperatures, but to withstand dry ice and blue fire. Yes, my choice holds more weight than I realized."
Taking out a notebook and a piece of paper, Wheelo wrote down the information regarding the effectiveness of the invention.
"Dr. Wheelo, the Samsara Chamber is prepared and is on standby in its room." The AI stated.
"And the tritium battery supply?"
"Installed and in one hundred percent maximum capacity."
Grinning, Wheelo got up from his seat and made his way into one of his testing rooms where a large metallic pod-shaped chamber stood.
Stripping away his lab coat and his shirts, the frail Dr. Wheelo walked to the console and pressed a few buttons that opened the pod and two apparatus that held the three vials of the Pinyin formula on each side.
"Sir, there is a thirty percent chance that the process of genetic fusion through this method could result in a fatality. Are you absolutely cer—?"
"–I am," Wheelo asserted, leaving no room for arguing. "I've waited too long for this moment to be dashed away by hesitation! …Forty thousand years of evolution and we've barely even tapped the vastness of human potential."
"Very well, sir. The genetic splicing process will begin in ten seconds…"
Wheelo laid down and placed him in a plank position, resting his arms on his sides, breathing in and out. When the ten seconds were done, the pod closes and the chamber began injecting the formula into Wheelo's body. That's when the radiation began and the splicing process was underway.
Flashes within the pod and loud humming lasted for another fifteen seconds. Before anybody knew it, the machine stopped, and then there was silence.
A machine that had Wheelo's vitals on display emitted a flat-lining pitch, signifying his death… until a consistent beep appeared, stabilizing its heart rate.
The computer then opened up the chamber, letting out steam. As the room where the chamber was held open, out came Dr. Wheelo, who now stood roughly the size of Gohan with a physique of a bodybuilder with an eight pack. His muscles were defined, his eyes were more narrowed, and his hair was a bit more untamed with parts that were spiked. The man stumbled onto the floor first. He was still breathing, albeit felt the sore pain that coursed through his body. Regardless of the agony, Dr. Wheelo picked himself up one leg at a time. He stiffly walked to the vertically tall mirror. The gray-haired young scientist merely applauded himself on his gut feeling.
"...See? It's c-certainty…that it yields…flattering results. Wouldn't…you agree?" Wheelo cackled weakly, forming a sharp toothy grin.
To Be Continued…
With the process now complete, Wheelo has seemingly succeeded in infusing his DNA with that of a Saiyan hybrid. What does this mean for Gohan and the others? We'll have to wait and see. More exciting adventures await Gohan and his friends next time on Dragon Ball Z: PRIMAL!
Author's Note: Hey guys, I'm back again!
Sorry for the weaker chapter, I'm working to keep the pace of the saga similar to the first one. After all, this entire story is supposed to replace the Buu Saga in the anime canon. And that, in itself, is quite the challenge. But, I'm up for it!
Let's talk about references and new terms.
First off, Dr. Kōchin who Dr. Yanagi (Wheelo) was talking to is the son of the old man you see in the World's Strongest movie. However, the old man wouldn't have the same backstory as the one from the Toei continuity.
"Genki-Tanken" means "Spirit Dagger", as the cannon essentially destabilizes the energy temporarily, "Netsu-Dorobo", meaning, Heat Theif, takes a person's body heat and converts it into cooling temperature to use against a target. These (and the exo-suit) are creations of Dr. Yanagi (Wheelo).
The Pinyin Formula is made up of a compound that is composed of DNA taken from Gohan's blood. "Pinyin" is the Chinese word for "Peach". Peaches are one of the main fruits that are plentiful on Mount Paozu, or Flower Fruit Moutain. Samsara Chamber could be a reference to the egg that Sun Wukong emerged from. Samsara is a reference to the idea of rebirth and reincarnation.
Also, Sharpner is officially as strong as Videl by the end of the Cooler Saga. There are no arguments. Tenshinhan made him suffer for the power jump off-page. You'll get to see the result of his training soon. Just be patient. Oh, fun fact, he is a brunette who bleaches his hair to look like a bad boy in this canon.
We'll see more of Erasa, Goku, Cocoa, and Chi-Chi next chapter.
What do you guys think of this chapter? Do you have any questions? Speculate. Comment. Tell me what is your favorite moment, your least favorite moment. How well is this Saga paced? Let me know your thoughts, criticisms, and ideas by reviewing and PMing me. See you guys, later!
-DarkShadowGames451