"Well I'm glad that the plague was wiped out before the casualties got out of hand," King Kai said. "Oh, no need to thank me. That plague was never meant to happen in this reality, and as ruler of the North Galaxy, it's my duty to help eliminate anomalies. Still you should keep the antidote on hand in case it resurfaces.

"What? How am I doing?" King Kai reached up to touch the halo above his head. "Well, I'm kind of dead… It's kind of a long story." A knock came at the door. "Sorry, but I have to let you go. I've got a visitor," he said and cut the telepathic connection.

The incident had happened years ago, long before King Kai met Goku. A planet under his jurisdiction had been struck by a pathogen, which had never been intended to be released in this universe. It was during rare circumstances like these where the Kais were aloud to make contact with the realm of the living. King Kai contacted the head of the planet's religious sect and provided them with a recipe for proper medication after swearing them to secrecy. It hadn't been easy though. King Kai knew nothing about the pathogen at first and was forced to spend all the time he had researching it.

The crisis passed, but King Kai continued to check up the planet now and again to make sure that everything was still normal.

After Goku won the Otherworld Tournament, Grand Kai decided to give King Kai residence inside his mansion; four rooms total, which when added up, were larger than his original home on his late planet. His study was where he was now.

King Kai opened the door, and upon seeing his visitor, dropped to his knees. "G-Grand Kai, sir! What can I do for you?"

The Grand Kai adjusted his glasses with his index finger. He was dressed in his usual casual rocker jacket. "Well, the only thing you need to do for me, is let me in. I was just escorting some honored guests to meet you." King Kai looked up. Standing beside the Grand Kai was Supreme Kai Kibito Shin and his ancestor.

"Y-your Excellencies!" he exclaimed. He attempted to drop his posture lower, but he was already on the floor. Shoot! I can't let them think that I hold no higher respect for them than I do for the Grand Kai!

"Get up," Elder Kai said in an annoyed voice. "It's kind of hard to have a conversation with a man who has his face in the carpet."

"And you're blocking the doorway," Grand Kai added.

"Sorry!" King Kai said as he scrambled to his feet and moved to the side of the doorjamb. "What can I do for you?" he asked as the higher Kais entered his study.

Kibito Shin stepped forward. "When was the last time you checked the status of Planet Earth?"

Whenever Earth's involved, it's usually bad news for the entire galaxy, King Kai thought. "The last time I saw Earth was when I was there in person for a party being held by Mr. Satan. If memory serves, you were there too." Elder Kai made a grunting noise when he said Mr. Satan's name.

"I was," Kibito Shin said. "If you could check on the planet for us right now, I would appreciate it."

"Okay," King Kai said, and move his antennas in the general direction of Earth. He had long since memorized it. "I'm looking," he said. "What's wrong?"

Surprise appeared on the Supreme Kai's face. "You don't see anything strange at all?"

"No, everything looks pretty normal." King Kai looked Kibito Shin straight in the eye. "What is this all about?"

Kibito Shin took a deep breath, organizing his thoughts. "I'm not exactly sure where to begin."

"I think I can remedy that," King Kai said and spun around so his back faced them. "If you would allow me, I would like to read your mind."

"Who do you think you are?" Elder Kai spat. "What gives you any right to access the memories of a superior–"

"It's alright," Kibito Shin said, cutting his ancestor off with a gesture. "I'm fine with it. What do you need me to do?"

"Just place your hand on my shoulder, and I'll do the rest," King Kai said. Kibito Shin nodded and did so. King Kai focused inward and touched his memories. In less than an instant he learned off the dimensional shift, the barrier around Earth, and the figure that broke through the wall between universes. "Well…I can see how you would have a hard time putting this into words."

"What do you think?" Kibito Shin asked.

"I have no idea. I'm a martial arts master, not a physicist. All that I can tell you is that the barrier surrounding the Earth has vanished. It probably dissipated when whatever that thing was entered this universe."

"Can I get in on this conversation too?" asked Grand Kai.

"Now that you're up to speed on the situation," Kibito Shin said. "I can get to the reason for my visit."

"I'm still here you guys," Grand Kai added.

"You wouldn't be interested," King Kai said in a deadpan tone.

"In that case, I'm outta here," he said moving to door. "Supreme Kai, old man, just show yourselves out when you're done."

"Hey!" Elder Kai shouted grabbing his shoulder. "We're honored guests, you can't just ignore us! And who the hell are you calling old man, Santa Claus?"

Grand Kai shook off his grasp. "You really need to learn to chill out." He walked out with Elder Kai on his heels, who was shouting every curse he knew in several different languages.

Kibito Shin closed the door behind them and turned back to King Kai. "As I was saying, I remember looking at a few files you wrote about eight years ago. A similar situation occurred on Earth I believe."

Eight years ago… Then it came to him. "Ah yes," King Kai said. "It was actually nine years ago, a boy named Trunks traveled back twenty years in time to give a warning to Earth's warriors." He then understood what Kibito Shin wanted to know. "The Time Machine he used caused the exact same kind of dimensional shift as the one you saw.

"However, it didn't cause violent distortions like that figure did. A barrier didn't form around the planet either."

"So whatever that thing was," Kibito Shin said. "It crossed the dimensional plane using similar physics to the Time Machine.

A cracking sound echoed outside. Grand Kai and Elder Kai's disagreement had escalated to breaking furniture.

Son Gohan had proved to be stronger than the clone had expected, but the fight was slowly tipping into his favor.

The clone deflected a pair of ki blasts and fired off one of his own. Gohan dodged and, getting under the clone's guard, unleashed a combination attack of punches and kicks. The clone took the brunt of it and was sent flying on the final strike. Using a kiai, he stopped himself and took up a ready stance.

Gohan charged and the two fighters exchanged blows. The clone smiled in the middle of the fray. His opponent was bruised and bleeding, and his stamina was dropping fast. All the while, the clone had barely broken a sweat.

"Please…"

What the…?

"Please…"

The clone grunted and backpedaled away. The voice had spoken into his mind just like his master had, but it wasn't him.

"Please…"

"What? Who are you?" he shouted angrily.

Gohan looked at him with a confused look. "Are you…talking to me?" he asked as he gathered his breath.

The clone turned his attention back to the fight. He shoved out both hands and launched a ki blast at full power. Caught off guard and at such close range, Gohan just barely was able to put up a shield before the blast struck him. He was swept away.

Goku dropped into a fighting stance in midair. His opponent appeared a few meters away. It was dark, but the light from the moon illuminated his features.

Goku felt his jaw drop.

"Surprised that I followed you here, bastard?" asked Trunks. It wasn't Bulma's ten-year-old son. It was the Trunks from the future timeline.

"Trunks?" he asked, his voice full of confusion.

"Don't even try it," he said. "You can't fool me. The Son Goku in this timeline is dead."

Goku's mind raced trying to piece together the facts. For some reason, Trunks is here in this timeline, and he thinks that I'm an imposter.

Trunks was wearing a long black coat over a white undershirt and khakis. He didn't look any older than the last time he was in this time. Of course, he doesn't know that my life was restored.

"Trunks wait…I can explain what's going on here!" Goku exclaimed.

"Save it," Trunks spat and transformed into his Super Saiyan state.

What the…?

Trunks charged. He stopped short a meter away from Goku and fired a scatter of ki. Goku snapped his right hand to his forehead as fast as he could and teleported. He reappeared behind Trunks. His first instinct was to attack while his opponent was off balance, but Goku couldn't just attack a former ally without understanding the situation. Instead he shifted backwards and held up his hands in a defensive posture. Trunks spun around and attacked with a combination of punches. Goku blocked them all without going on the offensive.

What is going on?

The ki blast, with Gohan in tow, struck a nearby skyscraper and exploded. The entire structure collapsed. Shrapnel went everywhere. The young hero was buried in rubble.

The clone looked down at the destruction with a smile and no small amount of satisfaction. Farewell, Son Gohan. Your death will be the first of countless. He held up his hand above his head and gathered his ki. Sights locked on the ruined building, this would be the finishing blow.

"Wait."

The clone froze. This time the voice that had spoken to him was the master.

"Plans have changed. Son Goku is being delayed. I'm going to take care of the situation right now. Let his son go."

But why? asked the clone.

"Killing him will only make Goku angry. Until we've properly assessed his power, I don't want to take any unnecessary risks."

The clone gritted his teeth. Every fiber of his being was screaming, "Kill Son Gohan!"

However, the master's spoken words were louder. Very well. I'll head to the rendezvous point and wait for you.

"Be prepared," he said. "We may end up fighting Son Goku together." With that the master left his thoughts.

The clone felt his skin tingle. The chance of fighting Goku so soon was exhilarating. He looked down at the collapsed building where Gohan was buried. At least this way, I'll get to fight against him one more time.

With a crazed smile on his face, the clone gunned away at full speed.

Videl, Sharpener, and Erasa had arrived at the remains of the destroyed skyscraper just as Gohan had finally pulled himself clear of the debris. He was covered in dust and blood, but was still in one piece.

That guy wasn't kidding when he said he was stronger than a Super Saiyan, Gohan thought. The look-alike's power was much greater than his father's. At this rate I'm going to have to use the power Elder Kai unlocked…

"Are you alright?" Videl asked in panicky tones.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he said brushing dust from his currently blonde hair. "Get back. This isn't…what the?"

Gohan looked up to the sky where the clone had been only to find it completely empty. His energy was gone as well.

Videl realized the same thing. "Where did that look-alike go?"

"No clue," Gohan muttered. "I don't suppose any of you killed him while I was under that building?"

"Yeah, I knocked the sense right outta his head," Sharpener said with bravado, throwing a punch like he would a baseball. "Then Erasa slapped him across the face so hard it snapped his neck."

Videl grinned and said, "You sound like my dad."

Gohan was too busy searching out the look-alike's power to listen to them. I can sense something… It was not too far away; two power levels.

One was definitely his father's – his real father's. The other felt familiar as well, but Gohan couldn't remember who it was.

Videl noticed him grimacing and asked, "Trouble's not over yet?"

"Doesn't look like it," he replied. "It feels like my real father is in the middle of his own battle." He clenched his fist. "I've got to go see if he needs help."

"You don't look like you could handle another fight right now," Videl said as she grabbed his hand. Gohan said nothing. He just looked off at the sky. She sighed. The first thing Videl learned about Saiyans was that they were the most stubborn creatures on Earth.

"Go," she said. "But if I hear from Goku that you've died again…"

Gohan took her hand, cutting her off. He smiled at her warmly. "I'm not going to die," he assured her. Before Videl could respond, he spun around and took off.

She watched his ki trail dissipate into the air. "I'll be waiting Gohan. You better come back."

SMACK! SMACK! Goku recoiled clutching his chest and chin. Trunks was out for blood, and he wasn't pulling any punches.

After the pain subsided he asked, "Why are you attacking me?"

Trunks sneered. "Did you forget that you almost killed me and stole the Time Machine? Okay then – you nearly killed my mother. That alone is reason enough to attack you!"

Things were not going well. If the battle continued at its current pace, Trunks would kill him.

But why? Goku centered himself and considered his options. For whatever reason, Trunks was in a total rage; he couldn't be reasoned with. If Goku was to survive there was only one course of action.

He transformed into a Super Saiyan. "I'm not going to kill you Trunks," he said. "I will have to beat you unconscious however."