Piccolo rubbed his shoulder having just popped it back into place. He sat on the edge of a side table in his room of Kami's temple. It was eerily silent now that the town had been attacked and void of it's residents but his mind still buzzed. The sounds of pacing and debating in the other rooms seemed amplified by the deserted buildings around them.
It could also have just been the beating his head had endured that day. Either way he wanted it to stop, to focus on anything else. I guess I could always talk to him. How long has it been since the last time? A week maybe?
Piccolo slowly inhaled, his eyes closed as he sensed out the all too familiar energy. It was always easy for him to find. He could spot it out of millions; that soft and intricate aura like wildflowers with an airy sweetness. It quickly surrounded him and he couldn't help a small smile.
"How long have you been trying to contact me?" Piccolo asked.
"A few days." Gohan replied. "I started to get worried after a full week of silence and with the recent news."
"I'm sorry." Piccolo said. "I should have kept more frequent contact. I lost track of the days."
"It's fine, I'm just-" Gohan started.
"No it's not. You're still struggling with the last time I died, I should do whatever I can to ease your worry." Piccolo's tone was stern.
Gohan was silent a moment with no response to counter with. "Is everyone still alright?"
Piccolo bit his cheek. "Yes. We're all still alive."
"I'm sure you've been keeping up on the news. There still haven't been anyone reported dead but a lot of people have begun to go missing. It's worrying." Gohan said.
"Probably just hiding anywhere they can." Piccolo replied.
"But entire towns? That's a lot of people, near impossible to just lose track of them nor hide them anywhere so easily." Gohan said.
"What?" Piccolo asked.
"The king started sending out armed forces to check on towns who hadn't been attacked yet and some like Gingertown are just empty. No one's been able to find any registered residents for them, not one." Gohan explained.
"When did this start happening?" Piccolo asked.
"Four days ago I think. From what I heard there are three towns that weren't destroyed like the others. With the exception of the missing people, everything else is still intact and safe." Gohan answered. "It's nothing like the attacks from 17 and 18. I've been considering going to investigate while you're all busy with them."
"No, you should stay home." Piccolo said.
"You might be right that they just preemptively evacuated and are hidden somewhere else. It'll be an easy task and ensure everyone's peace of mind." Gohan assured.
"We don't know what could be the cause. It could be something even worse!" Piccolo argued.
"I promise I'll stay low and go during the next fight so they won't be at Gingertown. I need to get out of this house for a bit anyhow." Gohan said.
"You're only safe because they didn't follow you home that night they attacked you! Leaving would compromise that safety and put your family in danger." Piccolo nearly growled.
"I can handle this." Gohan remained calm and determined.
Piccolo's door opened as Krillin stepped into the room. "They're attacking again! We just got the update."
"Already?!" Piccolo stood up, only receiving a nod from Krillin before he left. "Gohan I have to go."
"Another attack? This is a good time to start then." Gohan said. "I'll tell you what I find later."
"Gohan no! DON'T YOU DARE!" Piccolo demanded but he received no answer. "DAMMIT!"
He charged from his room and through the halls. A couple of the fighters, preparing to take off towards 17 and 18, caught him. Yamcha spoke "Where are you going so fast? We're not ready yet."
Piccolo didn't even slow when he replied. "I have to stop Gohan."
As soon as he opened the front doors, he leapt to the sky and flew as fast as he could towards Gingertown. When he landed, he saw that what Gohan had said was correct. The buildings and roads were just fine as any other day, but devoid of all life. Even the carriages left in the roads were horseless. It was somehow more unsettling than the other abandoned towns. With everything appearing fine, he half expected people to pour out of buildings at any moment but the silence dragged on. At least in the towns that were attacked, one could look at the ruins and expect no one left.
Piccolo began his search for Gohan. A long while later and half the town skimmed, he hadn't even picked up a hint of Gohan's energy. Suddenly his arm was tugged, dragging him into one of the buildings. He reacted without thought and punched at the figure.
"Ow!" Gohan yelped as he covered his cheek.
"Gohan? What the hell?!" Piccolo yelled.
"Quiet, and lower your power." Gohan whispered. He pressed Piccolo against the wall, keeping them both from view of the windows.
"What are you doing-?" Piccolo started but Gohan clamped his hand over Piccolo's mouth.
"Lower your power before he finds us." Gohan spoke through their link.
Piccolo glared at Gohan but soon did as requested and nodded, pulling Gohan's hand away from his face. "You shouldn't have come here."
"You're right as usual Mr. Piccolo." Gohan replied halfheartedly as he glanced to the windows.
"It's dangerous." Piccolo said.
"Everything is dangerous. It feels like I've been in danger quite a few times in my life. My father's been off fighting dangerous people since long before I was born. We've all faced death in one way or another." Gohan turned his eyes back to Piccolo. Determination fueling to his core. "I can't keep staying off to the side. I truly appreciate your care for my safety but… I need to help."
Piccolo could only sigh. It was too late, they were both already there. "What did you find? Who are we hiding from?"
"There's a strange man here. He's just been wandering through town." Gohan said.
"A survivor?" Piccolo proposed.
"I doubt it. He keeps laughing to himself like he's admiring the event. Whatever happened, I think he's the cause." Gohan explained. "Feel that? That's his energy."
Piccolo honed into the approaching aura. It wasn't natural, he couldn't even pin point a single species from it. Like a horrid mix of everything in one pot, it was nauseating to experience. Piccolo slowly neared the windows to glance upon the man. At first he couldn't make out anything, until the man's face turned just enough. "We need to leave now!"
Piccolo grabbed Gohan's arm and hurried to the back of the shop. Gohan tried to cautiously keep up, making as little sound as possible. "You recognized him?"
"He's with 17 and 18. We assume their leader or creator." Piccolo replied.
"Creator?" Gohan asked.
"They like to talk a lot during fights." Piccolo said. In the back room he found no exit not even a window. Damn!
"My, my." An old man's voice spoke up from behind them, freezing them both still. They turned to see his silhouette in the shadow of the doorway. "So eager to run away."
Piccolo didn't wait for him to approach and kicked through the wall. "RUN!"
They bolted through the hole, taking flight. Gohan kept close to Piccolo's side but didn't make it far before he felt the sharp grip around his throat. The old man suddenly beside him, arm outstretched and hand around his neck. Gohan tried to pry the fingers loose enough to breathe but like last time he couldn't manage any leeway. In front of him, Piccolo hadn't noticed yet and kept getting faster and further away. He shifted his eyes to the man, shriveled skin with patches of light green. Bald head with very few wiry hairs left and something seeming to probe its way through, horns? The eyes were intense. Unnaturally dark and needlepoint as they stared into Gohan, dead steady, unblinking. Gohan forced what little voice he could "Who are you?"
"I find acting first will yield the best results… but I'm so close, maybe I can be afforded some bragging. After all you are his son." The man muttered with a ragged chuckle. Then his face turned solemn as he longed over the words again. "Goku's son…"
Gohan tried to form a response, a gasp or something, when he felt something pierce his back. He spotted a glimpse of what penetrated him. His other hand? No... A TAIL? He began to gag on the sensation flooding him. Like he was being sucked out of his own body from the fresh wound.
NO! Not again! I have to stop it this time. Gohan felt something in himself burn. He needed to change this one, make this event different from the last when Piccolo had to save him. He knew he had that power but he'd never been able to use it. Even now he could feel it spark, the teal flickering in his eyes and the light pouring through him. Then everything slipped from him, his strength, his control. He still couldn't transform.
Piccolo reappeared, grabbing the man's wrist with one hand and punching in the elbow with the other; forcing the arm the bend the wrong way and snap. The elder man screamed and instantly retracted all limbs from Gohan. Piccolo swiftly grabbed Gohan's arm and flew away with him as fast as he could.
"Pi- Picco...lo…." Gohan struggled to hold onto Piccolo as he began falling, he was finding it difficult to speak let alone fly. Piccolo pulled him into his arms but almost dropped him when he felt a blast strike his shoulder.
Piccolo turned to the offender, firing ki in rapid bursts at what he now recognized as 18. He balanced Gohan on his chest as he leaned back, using his attacks to help put more momentum and distance between them. Soon she was gone from sight, he had some hope that he damaged her but kept alert looking behind in case she popped up again.
Gohan felt his body slowing down; sounds were warbled, his vision blurring together. His mind was fogged over and the moment he could process what he saw over Piccolo's shoulder, he wasn't able to warn Piccolo. He brought his hands up to cover, and hopefully brace, Piccolo's neck and closed his eyes tight.
Only a second later, they crashed into a window of Gohan's home. Piccolo's shoulder broke the first impact on the large staircase letting them tumble down it. Piccolo continued to hold and cradle Gohan until they settled at the bottom.
Footsteps quickly approached to investigate the sound. Chichi's voice nearly cracked in her yell. "OH MY GODS!"
Piccolo struggled to gather his breath as he checked over Gohan for major injuries. Nothing new was apparent but it was like his energy had shriveled to nothing. "You alright kid?"
"I think I can pull through, just exhausted somehow." Gohan gasped his response, having to pull on Piccolo's arms just to sit up.
"I think we have a little time before she finds us here. Chichi, it's no longer safe. You need to leave for Kami's temple. We'll protect you there." Piccolo explained in a calm manner.
"It was nice here while it lasted." Chichi sighed and left for a room at the back of the house.
"Did you sustain any injuries?" Piccolo asked, glancing over Gohan again.
"I don't think so." Gohan tried to focus on his body for pain but only felt the potent fatigue. He was fighting to remain conscious.
"Don't pass out yet. We need to get you somewhere safe." Piccolo said.
"I can't really move. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have gone." Gohan apologized.
"How lucky am I?" 18 chimed through the broken window down to her targets. "Defeating your friends again so soon after the last bout became so boring that I left it up to my brother. He's so easily entertained. Chasing you however, seems to be much more fun. Allow me to guess…. Goku's home?"
"Hold on tight." Piccolo whispered. He stared at 18 as he lifted Gohan in both arms. "Let's see how well you keep up then."
18 giggled as she watched Piccolo charge through the house, taking a moment to enjoy herself before taking after him. Gohan buried his face into Piccolo's chest before they broke through a second window in the back of the house. Piccolo winced at sudden pain, his shoulder had taken too much damage today and now he could feel some of the muscle tearing.
Kami's church is the safest and he can check over Gohan, but I'd be leading her right there if I did. Piccolo mulled over his choices for as long as he could till he just about flew past the church, deciding he might be able to lose her properly until he could reach Master Korin. Suddenly an image of himself and Gohan flew ahead of them as they were yanked sideways into the temple. Piccolo almost tripped from the sharp decrease in speed but caught himself.
"The illusion will lead her away for a while." Kami explained. "To the basement, hurry."
Piccolo silently did as he was told. The rooms below were empty, no one had returned from fighting 17 yet. He carefully rested Gohan on the first table he found. Gohan held to him for support and tried to gain enough attention for conversation.
"What happened?" Kami asked.
"Attacked by Gero. Seems like he sucked all of Gohan's energy before I pried him off. I don't know what else he might have done, there isn't any bleeding or obvious signs of injury." Piccolo summarized, intending for Kami to focus on Gohan's condition. Kami took note and did just that.
"Gero?" Gohan asked in a weak whisper.
"His name is Dr. Gero. He was a scientist for the Red Ribbon Army I mentioned before our initial search. He was on the list of known suspects that Bulma gave us." Piccolo explained. He watched Kami circle the table and place his hands on Gohan's back. Gohan flinched at the touch but soon calmed.
"He certainly seems powerful, no wonder they're causing trouble for this long against all of you. Even my father hasn't stopped them yet." Gohan said.
"When we found them weeks ago, he was just an ordinary old human. He's been missing since then." Piccolo said with annoyance, his eyes sharp under furrowed brow. "He had an entire lab and seeing what he could create, 17 and 18, it's possible he's modified himself."
"Just an old man? He doesn't look so ordinary now." Gohan said in disbelief. He closed his eyes as Kami's energy poured into him. He quickly felt rejuvenated.
"I'm just supplementing you with my own energy for now until you regenerate your own. This mark on your back looks ugly but it should fade fine. If he had held on any longer, who knows what else he might have done. Piccolo's right, there's nothing obvious to worry about. I'd have offered a senzu but we're already in short supply with these dragged on battles and this doesn't look bad enough to need one." Kami explained.
"I understand, thank you for your help." Gohan replied.
"Though maybe we should put ice on that cheek. It's the most worrying of your conditions right now." Kami stated.
Piccolo stiffened at the remark before looking closer to Gohan's face, with a hand under his chin to get better light. He frowned at the inflamed bruise, just starting to turn blue, knowing it was his punch that formed it. He muttered "Sorry."
"It's fine I can barely-" Gohan winced as he touched his cheek "feel it."
"I'll get ice." Piccolo said as he left the room.
"You really are Goku's kid." Kami sighed.
Gohan looked over his shoulder to Kami, confusion gilded his eyes, surprised and unsure how to respond to the sudden tonal shift.
"I'm disappointed in you. Running in without even so much as a partner, in these dangerous times." Kami said.
Gohan turned to the floor beneath him and sunk his head. He knew he had made a bad choice. "I'm sorry."
"I know you are but you still let me down. You're too smart to act like that." Kami scolded.
"I just really wanted to help… I have to be more than the kid who always needs to be saved." Gohan replied feeling his heart sting at the truth of his words. Stronger than most people and yet here he was being the weak link.
"I can understand wanting to assist as opposed to sitting safe in a plush palace like some entitled, glorified king…." Kami stilled himself and calmed his tone having touched his own nerve. "But like it or not you're too important to some of us… Piccolo… in particular. You're his weakness, his 'Achilles heel'. Consider this perspective; you've had to watch him die, quite horribly, right in front of you. That alone was to prevent your own death. He has since seen you broken by trauma for many years, beaten to near death in an alley, and now today. You haven't been unfortunate enough to watch him drag himself through his depression and you slept the night and day away last time you nearly died unaware of how he handled and processed it. Next time you want to jump into the action, think about how it'll affect him. Try to remember you are the one person he cares for and don't do anything foolish."
Gohan found no words to reply with. His head and heart heavy with guilt. I hurt him this time didn't I? I made him so worried about me. The image of Piccolo watching over him after the last attack played in his mind. He stayed with me all day.
"If he's failed to explain just how much you matter to him, I might do it myself." Kami muttered.
In the next room, Piccolo sighed. Even in the ice room, surrounded by such cold air and piles of crystal clear blocks, he could hear everything said. That old man just loves to interfere. He knew he needed to talk to Gohan. The last time he tried to express his full devotion, he ran; most likely leaving Gohan with more questions than less.
He chipped the ice erratically in his frustration towards himself. Piccolo cursed his inability to follow through. He could see and strategize every conversation in his mind. Plan every possible response, anything about himself would have been explained; all worries and wants. Yet any time he finds a moment alone with Gohan, with a meaningful conversation started, he feels strangled into closing up again. He buckles and pulls away; and every time he is surprised again by Gohan's patience for him. He couldn't tell if it was fear or something else that restrained him but he was thankful for Gohan's respect and kindness.
Though it should never have to come to it… we'd break ourselves for the other. If anyone should know me in and out, I want it to be him. I… I trust him with that. Piccolo recalled Gohan wanting to say something to him. Most likely just requested training to get alone with me to talk without gaining any odd looks from his parents or Vegeta.
Piccolo tied a cloth around the ice chips and stood firm, resolving himself. When he got the time to listen to Gohan, he would force himself to remain until he had answered everything Gohan needed to hear and said everything in his mind.
Maybe I should do it soon. With Gero's new strength and mass disappearances, we might not have long.