Age 776
Elder Kai sat in front of the crystal ball with his arms crossed, tapping his index finger against his bicep. Distorted images and energy waves still flickered inside it. He looked up when Kibito Shin reappeared a few meters away.
"No good?" he asked.
Kibito Shin shook his head in resignation. "No," he said. "I don't know what's going on, but I can't transport to Earth. Somehow that dimensional shift is blocking my Instantaneous Movement."
"I thought so," Elder Kai said and sat up. "It wouldn't surprise me if a physical barrier forming is a side affect of the shift." He let out a sigh. "For all the knowledge the Kais claim to have, the mechanics behind alternate dimensions are a mystery to us." He held up the crystal ball. "Yet here before us, something is trying to force its way across the barrier – and it's succeeding. It's quite infuriating, really." He looked at the image again.
"What the…?"
"What?" asked Kibito Shin.
Then without warning, the crystal ball flashed brightly and shattered in Elder Kai hands. Both men recoiled. Glass shards littered the ground at their feet.
"Well, that definitely isn't good," Kibito Shin said as he picked at the broken pieces. "So what was it?"
"Huh?"
"You saw something right before it shattered. What was it?"
Elder Kai crossed his arms and tried to put the image in his mind's eye into words. "For loss of a better word, it looked…humanoid. I wasn't able to get a good look at its features, but it definitely had a humanoid shape."
Kibito Shin wasn't sure what to say. In the all the years he had spent as Supreme Kai he had never dealt with anything like dimensional shifts.
No, wait…that's not true. I have seen something similar to this.
"Look at this mess," Elder Kai muttered holding up a shard from the crystal ball. "These things are a pain to make."
"We're going to Otherworld," Kibito Shin said quickly and placed a hand on his ancestor's shoulder.
"D-Don't just spirit us away without explaining first!" Elder Kai shouted. "You know I hate travel!"
"There's a resident expert on Earth there who I need to talk to." Without another word Kibito Shin's Instantaneous Movement whisked them away.
Goku had just wrapped up gathering firewood, and was in the kitchen of his home looking at a pile of mail Chi-Chi had left on the kitchen table. He held up the letter on top and looked at the address. A smiled formed on his lips. "This is what's called 'irony' right?"
"What is?" Chi-Chi asked. She was in the middle of sewing some blue cloth together.
Goku held up the letter so she could see it. It was from Mr. Satan. "Ever since your dad's fortune dried up, we've been reliant on the World Champion for income. If we hadn't let him take credit for the Cell Games and the battle with Majin Buu, then he wouldn't have any money to give us."
He was right, Chi-Chi had to admit. "Well, if you guys hadn't beaten Cell or Buu then no one would have any money…or life for that matter."
"Heh, I guess so," Goku said scratching his nose. "What are you working on?"
Chi-Chi smirked and held up her work. It was a sky-blue colored gi. "It's for you!" she said.
"F-for me?"
"I've said it more times than I can count, Goku. That orange gi stopped being fashionable over ten years ago. Time for a change."
"I'm sorry, but 'fashionable'?" Goku asked. "This uniform represents my training under Master Roshi and King Kai. I can't just toss it to the wind!"
"You don't even wear either of their emblems anymore," Chi-Chi pointed out. "Maybe it's time you got your own style."
Goku was at a total loss for words. Fashion and style were not his specialty.
He had awakened into the world with the knowledge of only one fact: that he was Son Goku.
Shortly afterward he had met him. He had introduced him to the second fact. That he was actually a clone of the real Son Goku. At first he was distraught by this until he told him of his purpose. Then he spoke of the third and most important fact: that he was the servant and he was the master.
Completely lost in a strange world, the master had told him what he had to do to fulfill his destiny. The clone Goku had followed his orders to the letter. He was able to tap into the memories of the original Son Goku as well as the ones the master provided. He learned of the time machine and where to meet the master in this timeline.
Trunks and his mother had tried to stand in his way, but neither had been any match for him, all thanks to DNA modifications done by Gero's computer. Now that he was in this reality, the master's plan could begin.
The clone surveyed the scenery before him. The first thing to do was test the powers of the Z-Warriors in this timeline; specifically Son Goku's. He was standing at the top one of the taller skyscrapers in Satan City's downtown. It would be easy enough to lure them out.
Gathering his energy the clone jumped into the air and fired off three ki blasts. The energy blasts lanced across the skyline and hit their targets. Three buildings shook and erupted into fire. Below, the people were in panic scurrying to and fro.
The clone fired again and again, excitement building up. Flames and smoke polluted the sky. Screams echoed in the air only to be cut off. This is what he wanted – to become a harbinger of death, then to become death itself. More and more of the downtown area fell into ruin. Primal Saiyan instincts ruled his every thought.
YES! I will destroy every last corner of civilization on this planet. Human, Saiyan, it doesn't matter. Everyone will die.
I'll kill them all! I'll kill them all! I'll kill them all! I'll kill them all! I'LL KILL THEM ALL! I'LL KILL THEM ALL! I'LL KILL THEM ALL!
"ENOUGH."
The single word penetrated the clone's mind, cutting off his massacre. It was him. He was nowhere to be seen; he had spoken directly into his mind as he always had.
"B-but I-" the clone started.
"Are you questioning me?"
"N-no!"
"You've caused enough damage; mindless slaughter will not benefit our cause…at least not now. Our enemies will be here soon so be ready."
"Right," the clone said. The clone wasn't afraid of the master's power. However, he was his only chance at fulfilling his desire to fight powerful opponents. Focusing on his mission all that remained was to wait for the Z-Warriors to show up.
It didn't take long. No sooner had he left his thoughts did the first opponent appear. The total slaughter he had inflicted moments before had been extremely satisfying, but the look of total shock on Son Gohan's face was even more so. Just as the master had said it would be.
Goku stood up with a jolt. Chi-Chi was so startled she almost ran her sewing needle through her thumb. "Wh-what is it?" she asked knowing something was wrong.
"A major power level just popped up outta no where," Goku muttered as sweat beaded on his forehead. "I've never felt anything like this before."
"Is it that powerful?"
"No, that's not what I meant," Goku said. "The power has an unnatural feel to it. It's hard to explain." He walked over to the door. "Regardless, I'm going to check it out."
Chi-Chi was at his side before he could walk outside. "And you're just going alone?"
"I'm sure Gohan, Vegeta, and the others felt it too. They'll be sure to show up at the source of that power." Goku looked at his wife and smiled at her. "Don't worry. I have no intention of being killed again."
"Still be careful, okay?" Chi-Chi asked feeling the weight on her heart lift a little.
"I will!" Goku said. Once he was outside he took to the sky.
Chi-Chi sat down and tried to focus on her sewing without much luck. She didn't notice Goten enter the kitchen.
"Mom, something's going on," he said.
"Don't worry," she said. "Your Daddy's going to take a look."
Gohan was enjoying a large plate of spaghetti when the earthquakes began. He, Videl, Sharpener, and Erasa were in the middle of dinner at a restaurant in downtown Satan City to celebrate their graduation. Now the restaurant was falling down around their ears.
And Gohan's spaghetti was in his lap. Damn it! I hate stains!
Patrons were scrambling in a panic to get to the exit. "What the hell's going on?" Sharpener asked.
"Let's get out of here, then we can ask questions!" Videl shouted. No one had a reason not to agree.
Once outside, Gohan realized that they were still in danger. Buildings were going up in flames all over downtown. People were running for cover as rubble fell from the sky. Some unlucky souls weren't fast enough. Floating above the smoke and fire in the air was a lone figure. Gohan was able to keep him in sight long enough to see the figure fire a ki blast at a group of stampeding people. They were vaporized instantaneously.
"Oh my God!" Erasa shouted, clinging to Sharpeners arm.
"That tears it…" Gohan muttered between clenched teeth. "Videl, let's teach this guy a lesson."
"I'm with you," Videl replied. "There's not a chance I'm gonna stand back and let some freakshow blow my hometown away!"
Simultaneously the two teenagers pressed a switch on their watches. Both of their bodies glowed for a brief second then the light exploded. When the smoke cleared Gohan and Videl were wearing their Saiyaman Team uniforms.
"Rip him a new one!" Sharpener said. Gohan flashed him a thumbs up.
"Let's go!" he shouted and flew up above the destruction with Videl at his side. The duo soared straight at the city's attacker. The mysterious figure noticed their approach and turned to face them.
"What the heck?" Videl exclaimed.
Gohan was at a total loss for words. He removed his sunglasses to confirm what he was seeing with his naked eyes.
His father was right in front of him. Wait…
"M-mr. Goku," Videl stuttered. "What in the world is going on? Why are you doing this?" Goku merely smiled with a face full of malcontent. He was wearing clothes that belonged in winter storm.
"Get out of here, Videl," Gohan said calmly. He had recovered from his initial shock and was in total control now. "It's not safe."
"But Gohan, y-your Dad…"
"It's not him."
Goku arched an eyebrow, but didn't seem concerned. "W-what?" was all Videl could get out.
"I know my father's energy," Gohan replied. "I have seen it up close for most of my life. This guy may look like Dad, but the energy's not even close."
"Nothing gets past you, does it?" asked the not-Goku with a voice that sounded just like his father's.
"Go!" Gohan shouted at Videl. As she retreated the possibilities ran through Gohan's mind. A look-alike? Or maybe a body snatcher like Commander Ginyu…
"I suppose there's no point in denying it," not-Goku said. "I guess you could say I'm not your father. But make no mistake; I am Son Goku.
"I would, however, like to meet the man you know as Son Goku. Beating you to a bloody pulp should get him to show up."
Gohan smiled and pulled the white bandanna off his head. "By all means, you're welcome to try."
The look-alike charged forward and threw a pair of punches at Gohan's stomach. Gohan blocked them with his forearms without trouble and followed up with a spin kick to the look-alike's head.
He dodged and landed an elbow in Gohan's side causing him to recoil. The blow had packed more than just a punch. Gohan felt like a few of his ribs had been cracked. The look-alike was putting out Super Saiyan-level power, but he was only in the normal state. Assuming he was a Saiyan.
Maybe he's like Turles, Gohan thought. A Saiyan who looked like Goku. But he didn't bother to hide the fact that he wasn't Dad…
Caught up in thought, Gohan didn't notice the look-alike's follow up until it was almost to late to dodge. Focusing everything in his right hand, Gohan slugged his opponent while he was off-balance.
The look-alike backpeddled away, nursing his left cheek. He spat blood and smiled, not looking the least bit rattled.
"Looks like holding back is going to get us no where," Gohan muttered and stole a quick look at the situation below. Most of the people in the area had evacuated leaving downtown abandoned. Good. I can power up without worrying about collateral damage.
Not-Goku looked on in amazement as Gohan transformed into a Super Saiyan. "Incredible," he said. "I've never seen this form in person before!"
"If you're Son Goku like you say, then you should be able to do this too," Gohan said.
"I don't need it. I'm already stronger than a Super Saiyan and then some." The look-alike charged again.
"Gohan…"
Goku could sense his son's power level rising. Things were getting serious in Satan City. From what he could tell Gohan and the mystery power where the only ones fighting. An energy that felt like Piccolo was also on approach, but Vegeta was nowhere to be found.
I wonder if Goten and Trunks are planning on showing up. I know Chi-Chi will throw a fit if my boy sneaks out, but she'll kill me if he gets hurt. And where is Vegeta? Why is it that jerk always has to make a dramatic entrance after everyone else is in a pinch. I'm really-
An energy spike interrupted his train of thought. Suddenly a ki blast lanced down from above. Goku jerked to a stop and shifted back. The blast nearly glanced the tip of his nose.
Goku took up a fighting stance. His attacker appeared a few meters away. Goku felt his jaw drop.