Inner Workings of My Mind
Chapter 6
Goku was sparring with Pikkon in Other World when he felt it. It was a massive power that seeped through the universe and it was incomprehensibly immense. The various warriors that were training jerked to a halt as they sensed the huge power level.
Goku looked around quickly, searching for King Kai. There he was beneath a tree, antennae twitching chaotically, as the blue Kai attempted to pinpoint the source of power.
"King Kai!" Goku called as he rushed over to the short, round Kai.
King Kai snapped his attention to the Saiyan. "Goku," he sighed in relief. "We must go speak with the Grand Kai. This is unlike anything i've ever felt before."
The Earth raised Saiyan followed behind King Kai as he headed into Grand Kai's house. When they entered it, they found the other Kais gathered around the Grand Kai, who was pacing with a look of concentration on his face.
Goku stood, twitching with impatience and wanting to take action. Whoever this was, they were strong! Goku excitedly concentrated on the power level. It clearly came from the living world, but it was so massive that it could be felt even by the dead. The Saiyan focused on the power level and tried to get a deeper sense and understanding of it.
Goku's head tilted to the side and he frowned in confusion. King Kai, who had noticed his bouncing and twitching form, turned to give Goku his full attention.
"Goku?" King Kai inquired, his tone serious and for once not attempting to make a joke. By now, they had caught the attention of the rest of the room. Grand Kai stopped his pacing to watch the Saiyan.
Goku's brow furrowed in concentration. "This ki, it's really strong and so it is hard to tell, but it feels really... familiar."
"Who is it, Goku?" Grand Kai queried, the other Kais observing in silence.
"It's really hard to tell through all of that power," Goku trailed off. The look of concentration in his dark eyes intensified. Suddenly, his eyes widened. "It's-"
"That's enough, Goku," a voice cut in.
Everyone in the room spun around to see a short figure with purple skin and a white mohawk stepping out from behind a pillar in the room. He was overshadowed by a large figure who hovered close by.
"Supreme Kai!" Grand Kai exclaimed.
"Supreme Kai?" Goku questioned. King Kai quickly explained the hierarchy of the universe and the importance of the Supreme Kai.
A wide smile spread across Goku's face. "Woa, that's so cool. So... Since you're the Supreme Kai, you can get me into the living world temporarily to investigate, right?" Goku asked. The other Kais watched on in horror as Goku greeted the short, purple skinned Supreme Kai so informally.
Rather than getting offended, the Supreme Kai looked amused. However, his companion did not. The hulking figure with light red skin and long silver-white hair stepped forward.
"How dare you treat the Supreme Kai so informally! I'll have you know that-"
"That is enough, Kibito, thank you," the Supreme Kai interrupted. He then continued and answered Goku's question. "Unfortunately, I cannot, Goku. There are some rules that even I cannot bend."
Goku frowned. "I think I have a right, Supreme Kai. I need to know what is going on!"
"I'm sure you know more than any of the other Kais, Goku. Am I correct?"
The Earth raised Saiyan shook his head. "I just know who the power belongs to, not what is going on."
"Who is it?" King Kai inquired.
Goku smiled. "It's Gohan, of course."
An expression of bewilderment appeared upon the face of King Kai while the others merely looked confused.
"But- but, Gohan?!" King Kai spluttered. "I knew he was strong, but he is not that strong! You're stronger than him, Goku!"
"Until now, I was. But his current power exceeds even that of my third form, King Kai." Goku grinned as his warrior blood sang in excitement. "Wow, he must've been training a lot to make that much progress!" the Saiyan exclaimed.
"And who exactly is this Gohan?" West Kai asked.
Goku continued smiling and answered, "He is my son!"
"Your son?" West Kai asked skeptically. "And just how old is this kid?"
Goku held up his fingers trying to count. "Well, we celebrated his eleventh birthday just before I died, so I guess he is really older since he has that extra year in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber... Gah, I hate math!" Goku exclaimed.
King Kai groaned. "He is almost twelve, Goku. If you add on that year from the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, he is almost thirteen physically."
"I highly doubt that a child is that strong," West Kai argued. "I bet that-"
"Now is not the time for petty squabbles," Supreme Kai interrupted. "Goku is correct about Gohan's age and his skill. We are merely here to share with you some of the information as to what might have happened before Kibito and I go to resolve this problem. And, we have some questions for you, Goku..."
Gohan closed his eyes and tilted his head back as he relished in the feeling of the power coursing through him. The half-breed Saiyan tried to venture the depths of his power, to try and measure or quantify it, but he couldn't. It was just too much.
Vegeta watched critically from a couple of meters away. The prince had his suspicions as to what had occurred, but they were only just theories floating in his mind. He scowled darkly at the young hybrid. The brat had just ascended another level and Vegeta had yet to attain the second transformation!
Gohan's eyes snapped open as he sensed two powers suddenly appear. The Saiyan hybrid shifted into a fighting stance and prepared for battle. Vegeta followed closely behind as he too felt the new presences.
"There is no need for that," a voice said as the two figures stepped out of the shadows of a nearby outcropping.
Gohan and Vegeta carefully assessed the figures, but did not relax their stances.
"Allow me to introduce ourselves... This is my assistant, Kibito, and I am the Supreme Kai," the short, purple skinned figure said.
Gohan's eyes widened and his stance relaxed slightly. The boy wrapped his now black tail tightly around his waist. "The Supreme Kai?" he asked. His gaze turned suspiciously. "Why are you here? What have I done to warrant the attention of the Supreme Kai?"
Vegeta also relaxed out of his stance, but remained tense. The Saiyan Prince shifted closer to Gohan, not letting his guard down. Kais or not, he didn't trust anyone without good reason.
Kibito looked offended at the words of the young half-breed, however, Supreme Kai responded before Kibito could reprimand the boy.
"Calm yourselves, my friends," the Supreme Kai told, raising his hands in a consoling manner. "As for why I am here: The power of your transformation could be felt even in the heavens. I have come to see your power for myself, and offer some advice."
"A-Advice?" Gohan inquired.
"Yes. After consulting with your father, Goku, we have determined that your transformation is not a normal Super Saiyan transformation. In fact, in the scheme of things, it seems that you have skipped a level necessary for gaining control over the immense power you now hold," Supreme Kai explained.
Gohan tensed at the mention of his father and his black-rimmed, golden eyes narrowed in thought. Goku, huh?
Gohan couldn't hate his father. However, that didn't mean that the young boy wasn't incredibly pissed off at his father's stupid decision to stay dead. His father had caused him and his mother a lot of problems and Gohan owed him a good punch in the face.
"And what exactly did you find out from Kakarot?" Vegeta demanded.
"Goku achieved the second level of super saiyan shortly after he died. And recently, he was able to reach a third. However, it is nothing like what Gohan has achieved. It also appears that Gohan's transformation can only be reached if a Saiyan has their tail," Supreme Kai observed.
"And your advice?" Gohan asked.
"I would suggest reaching the third level and gaining control over that form before training in this one. It will help stabilize your ki and allow you to eventually gain full control and strengthen your body. I am sure that you are already feeling the strain."
Supreme Kai was right. Gohan could feel a rapid drain on his ki even though he wasn't even fighting. His muscles were also beginning to feel sore.
Vegeta raised an eyebrow skeptically. "And just how is he supposed to stabilize his ki without training in this form?" he asked. "Even in his base form his ki will have greatly increased. Training in this third level on top of it will only had further strain and chaos to his ki."
Supreme Kai merely smiled and reached into his pocket, pulling out an intricate black bracelet. "This will solve all your problems," he said.