A/N: I got a lot of inspiration for this chapter from Stephen Baxter's excellent scifi novels. More specifically, his Xelee sequence books. Check them out if you like "hard" scifi, scifi that focuses more on the "science" parts.
The line separating Other World from the "real" one is often a tenuous one at best. The former has had many names amongst the living denizens of the latter over the eons. Some scientists here on planet Earth, noticed that the observable mass of the universe didn't quite explain the gravitational distortions they detected and theorized that there were large masses of undetectable mass permeating throughout the universe, probably even under our very noses. They dubbed this missing material Dark Matter. How very right they were. Like a shadow, Other World exists alongside our living world, side by side with little interaction save for gravity and special particular instances. Technically every living creature had the capability to cross the chasm separating the two realms, but there were restrictions: vast sharp bursts of energy. Energy that wasn't exactly the same type of energy known and manipulated throughout Otherworld and its counterpart, but energy nonetheless. There were only two ways of generating such energy: utilizing highly specialized and difficult teleportation techniques that drained the user of much of his ki or death. Death had the added caveat of usually only generating enough energy for the transportation of the "spirit" of the user, the actual ki essence of the original person. Except for a few, most organisms would only traverse the vast chasm via expiration. But to explain how this all came to be, we will have to look backwards in time, to very first moments of the universe.
When the universe first formed, before massive clouds of hydrogen reached a critical mass and began the amazing reaction known as fusion, before sub-atomic particles could come together in ways to form elements, before even the matter comprising those particles existed, before the ubiquitous tendrils of light spread across the universe, and before the very laws of physics as we know it had settled down and solidified themselves into the branches we recognize today, the university was in flux. It was a scorching thick cauldron of heat and energy small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. However, this soup was not uniform; homogeneity was a word alien to this universe. There were imperfections and there was randomness. Tiny, nearly non-existent defects perforated the tiny space-time continuum. Some regions of space didn't come together just right, and formed jagged crisscrossing lines along the boundaries, other areas had a slightly higher concentration of energy than others.
They were random and they were everywhere. But even randomness has the interesting trait of naturally generating order. Those with a limited understanding of Thermodynamics would decry this as impossible, that chaos could only ever grow in a closed system. Though the universe itself was closed, the regions that it was subdivided into were not. During those tumultuous times, the very first primordial black holes existed, forming the slightest first of conduits between the two disparate worlds. Their very gravity distorted the physics of the space around them, bending and twisting the very space around those massive dark singularities in ways unimaginable. Their very presence imposed a certain amount of order in a universe largely filled with chaos. Radiation and burst of energy flew around, disrupting and altering the ever simmering and changing the landscape, had their trajectories altered by the gravitational pull of these ancient singularities. Their paths now dictated to by the ever changing gravitational laws from these massive behemoths. It was there that the subtle but ubiquitous imperfections in the bubbling soup collided, reacted, broke off, and reformed – and order, ever so slightly, began to take shape.
Slowly at first, intersecting lines of space time defects would collide, split off, and reform. Then they would meet new lines and distortions and they would combine. Often times these collisions would prove fruitless, resulting in nothing but more chaos. But occasionally, something magical would happen. They would produce another space-time defect that would survive where its peers had succumbed to the hostility of the still burning universe. Most of the time, it too would eventually disappear, but occasionally, it would beget another one like it with many characteristics. This process would continue, each newer generation of iterations passing on many of the characteristics of their so called parents. But they too evolved, no copy ever being an exact duplicate. Those copies that prospered in their environment thrived and continued passing down their traits. Soon, these tiny bits of ordered imperfections began coalescing together and their actions mimicked the cooperation evident in cellular organisms that would surface many epochs later. Some would specialize in utilizing the ambient energy and radiation in the background; other would hunt them and steal the energy they had gathered, and they in turn would themselves be hunted. Thus it was in this primordial soup of colliding energy and radiation that the first forms of life began taking shape, feeding directly off the universe's energy that swirled and simmered in the background, and straddling the thin line between Other World and our own. They were the progenitors of what many in the universe would one day call the Kaio-Shins and the Demons.
Except from A History of the Early Universe published in 2040 by Son Gohan
Vegeta glanced over his back shoulder, his senses broadening to see if he was still being followed. He had lost his pursuers for now. Nonetheless, he kept a low profile, recognizing that his pursuers might have alternate means of tracking him. He stuck as close as he could to the uneven sloping terrain, utilizing decade's worth of experience where he had to surreptitiously flee or track enemies to blend into the landscape. Not that he cared for such insignificant gnats that dared follow him; in fact he could've blown them out of the sky rather than opt for the discrete maneuvering he was currently employing. Still, pointlessly and blatantly killing humans would attract the attention of the Namekians standing watch on the Lookout. They in turn would inform Kakarot's eldest brat and Vegeta was not yet keen on angering or risking the wrath of someone who was still irritably leagues strong than him. The fact that such murders might actual weigh in on his burgeoning conscience was conveniently ignored. However, there was still the important matter of speaking to Bulma about Capsule Corp's involvement in this whole affair. Vegeta slightly altered his trajectory, satisfied that he had indeed made himself sufficiently scarce, and began heading home.
After entering the Capsule Corp building, he immediately honed in on Bulma's ki signal, a slightly difficult task as it was now dwarfed under the growing power of his son Trunks. He remembered all too well the conversation he had with his mate about the boy's training. She had brought up such frivolous concerns like rapid muscle degeneration onset and how it could impede the boy's development, as if a Saiyan warrior could be afflicted by such trivial human ailments. Still, the woman had a will of her own strong enough to rival that of a Saiyan noble. That in conjunction with the fact that he was still living at Capsule Corporation at her pleasure meant that Vegeta was forced to do one of the few things he hated the most – compromise. Trunks, for the time being, would only train 2 hours every day, and only half an hour in the gravity room and only at 50x Earth's normal gravity at maximum. Still, there was some solace to this. He rarely ever sensed either of the kis from Kakarot's spiking, and that could only mean they had gotten complacent with their own training. One day, Vegeta's own progeny would surpass his rival's.
"Trunks," Vegeta shouted. "Where is that blasted mother of yours?" Trunks lazily looked up from the couch where he was perched watching TV and thought for a few seconds.
"Umm… I think she's in her lab."
"Very well, once I'm finished speaking with her, you and I are going to train."
"Oh come on Dad! My favorite cartoons are on. I want to see what happens!" Before, Vegeta would've been more inclined to just blast the TV away to make his point. Bulma, however, always threw a fit whenever that happened so Vegeta settled for diplomacy.
"If you don't do as I say, then I will up the gravity several times when you do decide you want to resume your training." Trunks quieted down shortly after hearing that. Satisfied that the brat would obey, Vegeta turned and began stalking through the building towards the laboratory. Employees hurriedly scurried to get out of his way. After years of working in the Briefs' household, a type of Darwinian natural selection had taken place. It was a simple enough trait, those who could recognize when their strange master was in one of his foul moods survived, those who couldn't, didn't.
"Woman, I have matters I need to speak with you about."
"What is it now Vegeta?" Came the annoyed response, loud footsteps already stomping towards the warrior's location. "I'm kind of busy right now with several ongoing projects, so make this quick." Bulma crossed her arms, mirroring Vegeta's posture.
"Who's Robert Boyles?" Vegeta demanded, skipping the preamble.
"You mean the Robert Boyles with CC? He's the Vice President and reports directly to my dad. My dad leaves most of the financial aspects of the company to him; he's too busy with his latest inventions to worry about such little concerns like that," Bulma laughed absent-mindedly at that, her own thoughts still drifting back to her latest invention she was tinkering with. "Why do you want to know? You've never taken an interest in company business before."
"I don't give a damn about the company. What I want to know is why he's selling Saiyan technology to the Earthlings."
"Selling Saiyan technology?" That snapped Bulma out of her reverie. "Vegeta, what on Earth are you talking about?"
"Don't play games with me, I was just at one of you human's military installations for an interrogation. While there I noticed that many of the soldiers there were sporting armor very similar to Saiyan wear. In fact, much of the equipment and electronics there were leap years ahead of what you humans should have. The only place I know of on this planet that could have access to such technology is this one. In fact, one of their officers let slip that they were dealing with Capsule Corporation, and that their liaison with your company is with this man I just mentioned, this Boyles person. Now are you going to tell me what's going on or not?" Vegeta studied the perplexed look on Bulma's face, searching for any signs of deceit, any chinks in the confusion covering her face. Years of service with Frieza and countless "interrogations" of his enemies had given Vegeta a good grasp at recognizing when he was being lied to, no matter the species doing the deed.
"What in the world were you doing in a government installation?" Bulma held up a hand in exasperation. "Vegeta, I think you'll have to start from the beginning and tell me what exactly is going on."
The Prince growled in frustration. He didn't think Bulma was deceiving him, and hadn't yet in the years they had been together. Vegeta swallowed deeply, he was just going to have to give his mate the benefit of the doubt.
"Very well then, listen carefully for I shall only repeat this once."
Babidi sat in his spaceship, his eyes closed, waiting. He was now located somewhere in the grey line separating Otherworld and the living world, the only place he ever felt save; here he was safe for the time being from the ever seeing and prying eyes of the Supreme Kai. He was awaiting word from his most trusted servant, Lord Dabura, King of the Demons. King though he may be in name, that didn't necessarily mean all the other Demon Lords paid allegiance to him unswervingly. There were even rumblings of discontent growing within the ranks. Apparently, they suspected that their ruler had somehow been suborned, that the King of Demons himself was now dancing to the tunes of some unknown puppet. How else could they explain where all of Dabura's new power came from?
They accused Dabura of not being in control of his own actions, that he was corrupted by some outside influence, and that his very actions would bring the various Demon Kingdoms into ruin through needless aggression against the Kaio-Shins. The irony of their concerns amused Babidi to no end. Suspicion was not the only emotion driving their allegations. Envy at the power Dabura had managed to procure simmered at the top of their minds. Paranoia and suspicion too permeated their ranks, after all if Dabura had succumbed, then it was only logical that other lesser lords had a well. Babidi could nearly taste the mistrust and greed seeping the air like some fine vapor. The very things they used to fight Dabura's control would in the end drive them into his grasp. For such advanced and ancient beings they could sometimes be very petty and myopic.
The short magician looked through his magic globe. Dabura's vision and all his senses were connected directly to it. Babidi would see, hear, taste, smell, and literally feel everything Dabura felt. If there was even the slightest bit of treason in the Demon Lord's mind, Babidi would know about it instantly. He could not physically harm him, oh Dabura was far too powerful for someone like Babidi did damage; but his mind bare and vulnerable to the wizened wizard's capabilities. But he had little reason to doubt his most trusted servant's loyalty, not with the way his will was now so absolutely dominated and overwhelmed with Babidi's own. Nevertheless, Dabura did have some statesmanship ahead of him to accomplish, and being able to directly peer into his servant's head would allow Babidi a glimpse of what he was planning. Though the wizard could use his magic to bind every demon attending the gathering to his will, he would rather not waste his energies in such profligate displays. He had after all spent countless eons amassing the requisite energy and ancient magic to bound the King of Demons to his will and enact his plans. What difference would a bit more waiting make?
However, the meeting had not yet commenced so there was still ample time to take a gander at his other projects. His infiltration of the living world and of the Kaio-shins was proceeding apace. The foolish natives of the planet Buu was buried in were more than eager to accept Babidi's technological trinkets, thinking only of what short term benefit such gifts could bring them, and not what the giver truly intends for them. As for the Kaio-shins, he was laying low and in watch. Soon, he would be ready to strike, but first he needed a bit more muscle to add to his cause. Babidi turned his gaze back to Dabura who was now standing before the assembly.
"Exalted Lords and Ladies of the Demon-Realm, it is I your King and rightful Sovereign Dabura who demands your attention," Dabura swept his piercing gaze around the most powerful Demon nobles in this part of Other World. They had assembled ostensibly to pay tribute to his benevolent rule, to genuflect at his feet, and profess thanks at his magnanimity for allowing them their piddling fiefdoms, but Dabura was aware of the growing discontent within his realm. No matter, they were but weaklings too pathetic to grasp the power and opportunity being presented towards them. "As you already know, some months ago I let it be known that I desire every noble under my lordship to begin mobilizing and training their personal retinue as well as every combat worthy warrior under their rule before deploying them under my direct command in my capital. However, it has come to my attention that several unnamed cowards have not only refused my summons, but have even begun flaunting them! They have begun spreading seeds of rebellions throughout the minds of my loyal subjects. We can ill afford such divisions while the treacherous Kaio-Shins muster their own forces in preparation to invade our prosperous lands. So it is in the interest of serving our own people that I call out the traitors within our midst. Who dares defy me, rightful and sole king of these realms? Speak up and air your feeble challenge, or let all know that you are nothing but sniveling cowards, incapable of any action save for bandying words, having naught to rely on but the true Demons who do battle in honor of our glorious realms!"
A hush descended upon the gathered, each one of the Demon-Lords eager to answer the challenge, their blood boiling with fury at the verbal gauntlet that had just slapped them across their cheeks. Fury, however, subsided under the instinct of self-preservation, very few, not even the Supreme Kai himself, would risk a needless provocation of the Lord King's wrath. Still, a war with the Kaio-shins could prove even more dangerous than facing Dabura.
"I have concerns with which I desire to address to you oh powerful ruler," rose the silky voice from among the hushed crowd. "Let it be known that I Lord Beelzebub tactfully disagree with certain decisions our most illustrious Lord King have made in recent times." Beelzebub nodded his head, his eyes downcast waiting for Dabura to acknowledge his response, but his peripheral vision still settling on the ominous yet mysterious M that had been inscribed upon his master's forehead some time ago.
Dabura waited content with letting Beelzebub squirm with nervousness before acknowledging him. "Oh trusted friend and counselor, I admire your concerns and confusion for I too had doubts with my course of action until recently. Should it please you to, I will answer any and all doubts that may be lingering in you and your associate's minds." Though no one else but Beelzebub had stepped forward, Dabura doubted very much that the ambitious young lord would have the gall to challenge him on his own. "Of course, such concerns are vital matters of our realms and cannot be spoken so freely of in the open where the enemies of our people gather and lie in watch. We should retire to my chambers alone where we can freely continue this discuss more freely."
Beelzebub hesitated, sensing a trap despite his King's surprisingly kind and merciful words. Many more powerful demon lords had previously been executed for lesser crimes than what he had just committed. Still, not even Dabura himself could easily overpower the alliance he had gathered. Beelzebub slowly inhaled and readied his nerves before nodding to his assembled allies. They all arose together and began following Dabura's outstretched hands towards the private sanctum where they would continue.
Unbeknownst to them, where they were being led to was the bowels of Babidi's spaceship. There, the wizard could exercise his "influence" on them without any outside intervention.