Chapter 4: The Mysterious Doc

A/N: A bit early, but whatever. Next chapter will probably be out in a week or so.


Bulma poured over intricate blueprints, flipping through them with one hand and shoveling food into her mouth with the other.

"Don't you think you should slow down just a little bit, dear?" her mother, Panchi, asked.

"Now, darling, just leave the girl be," Dr. Brief commented, eyes trained on his newspaper.

Bulma swallowed and looked up, "Sorry, mom. I've just been going over these circuit maps for the scouter. I'm hoping to figure out more about how it works, so I can make my own."

"Oh, that's nice, dear!" Panchi said, with a smile sweet as honey.

Dr. Brief clicked on the TV mounted in the wall; Bulma glanced over at it.

"We've been receiving strange reports of a flying boy being sighted all over Orange Star City today. Witnesses all seem to agree that he wears an orange jumpsuit and has a toy sword on his back. There've been all kinds of speculation as to how this stunt was pulled off, but so far no one has found any evidence of trickery. Who is this boy, anyway?"

The reporter brought a hand to his ear, "This just in: Live footage is being broadcast to the studio of the boy in question. Apparently, he showed up at a criminal break-in. Let's see what's happening."

The feed changed to an outdoor scene of a building front with shattered windows. The picture rocked back and forth for a moment, then settled a bit higher. In the air, an orange blob floated, completely stationary. The camera focused, revealing a small boy with a sword on his back.

"Well, I'll be," the news anchor's voice played over the image, "It really looks like he's flying. An incredible stunt if ever I've seen one!"

Bulma dropped her spoon, "Oh my God! That's Gohan!"

"Goku's little boy? Oh, isn't he just the cutest little thing!" Panchi gushed.

"Already learned to fly, eh? They sure make 'em different nowadays, don't they?" Dr. Brief said, taking a sip of coffee.

"Oh, no! Chichi is gonna flip when she sees this," Bulma groaned.

"Come to think of it, didn't that lab just receive a shipment of those new energy crystals I've heard about?" Dr. Brief wondered aloud. He frowned in thought. "Can't quite remember the name. Hmm…"

"Wait, energy crystals? I haven't heard about that."

"Oh, yes, some colleagues of mine have been going on about it lately. They seem to think it'll bring us into a new golden age. I don't believe it." He flipped a page and snapped his newspaper taut. "Bunch of poppycock, if you ask me."


"Hey, Bale? What were you and that kid talking about before? You're lookin' all serious and broody now," Cuff pointed out. They had all cleared away from the building at the behest of the kid and Macey's group and were now watching from atop a nearby roof.

Bale sighed and shook his head, "Whatever is coming up, the kid doesn't think we can handle it. He said he wants to fight alone. Dammit, Cuff! He's just a kid! This kind of thing is our job. We're supposed to protect little kids like him, not rely on them!"

Cuff rubbed his chin pensively, "That 'kid' is sittin' in the middle o' thin air. He says he can do it alone; I believe him. Have you talked to Macey? She said she saw him do something pretty strange when they were leaving the building. She thinks he can do it, too."

Bale looked at Gohan as he leaned against the railing surrounding the roof's edge, "It's not about can. It's about should. And he shouldn't have to!"

Cuff shrugged, "What can we do?"

"I don't know."


Gohan listened closely as the thudding sound grew louder. "He'll be here soon." He took a deep breath, centering himself. He was still a novice at ki sensing and, while he was able to use it to some effect while sparring with Piccolo, it was much harder in a real battle. There hadn't been any reason to use it until now since the enemy was within sight and rather slow to boot.

"I should get some more practice in. After all, that was how I died the first time I fought in the Pendulum room." Though, he had been enraged at the time… that counts for something, right?

He closed his eyes and spread out his awareness, feeling for that spark of… something that represented the presence of another life. He found nothing. Well, not nothing. The faint ki of the policemen behind him shone in his mind like dim candles. He frowned, furrowing his brow. "This is strange… Someone that strong should feel like a bright flame. Why can't I find it? Wait… does he know how to suppress his ki?!" Big Paunch was seeming like a more and more formidable opponent.

Gohan opened his eyes, "I guess I'll just have to rely on my normal senses. Now, I just need to figure out how to take him down without killing him!"

Unfortunately, he didn't have an answer by the time Paunch made it back to the ground floor. Paunch limp-stomped out of the building, glaring up a storm at Gohan. Apparently, he had gotten used to the pain. Or had the crying routine been a ruse to lure Gohan closer?

His clothes were somewhat tattered from his rampages, but he still had the bag on his shoulder.

"Listen, Big Paunch. I don't want to hurt you anymore! If you just surrender, this can be over! Otherwise, I can't guarantee your safety."

"Over?! OVER?! You think you decide when this is over?!" He seemed much more sober now, the redness in his face was fainter. "It'll be over when I crush all yer bones, ya little pest! Now, why dontcha git down here and fight me like a man? Otherwise, I can guarantee none o' your li'l buddies in blue will be safe!"

"That has to be a bluff. No matter how strong he is, he can't hit that far away. As long as I keep him busy, he'll have to stay in this area," Gohan thought. He shook his head deliberately, "If you won't see reason, then I'll just have to defeat you!"

Gohan gathered ki in his hand and launched it at Paunch. Paunch was forced to endure it since his bad leg didn't allow for much mobility. He growled as the blast scorched his crossed arms.

Gohan prepared another blast, planning to continue harrying Paunch until he was too tired or too injured to continue. However, Paunch went red with anger and dug his fingers into the concrete beneath him. With a mighty heave, he pulled up a big chunk of it and lobbed it at Gohan. Gohan dodged, and the slab went flying into a building behind him.

Then he heard the scream. He turned and his eyes widened in horror as he realized what happened. A policeman had been hiding on the first floor of a neighboring warehouse, watching through the window. Now he was half stuck under a couple hundred pounds of concrete, moaning in pain. Another officer was trying, in vain, to remove the block.

Suddenly, something slammed into Gohan's back, throwing him to the ground. Big Paunch laughed, "What'd I tell you? Do as I say, or watch yer friends die; one by one!"

The rock lying atop Gohan shattered violently and Gohan stood; the pieces clattering to the ground. His lips pulled back in a snarl, breath seething through grit teeth. "THAT. IS. IT! I'm ending this right now!" He pulled his arms beside him and screamed. The concrete under his feet cracked as his aura burst out.

Gohan vanished, then reappeared right in front of Paunch. His fist crashed forward, twisting into the big man's gut. Most of the blow was absorbed, but it knocked Paunch off balance and he began to tip backward. Gohan vanished and reappeared behind him, driving a punishing elbow and then a knee into his back. Paunch shouted in pain as he rose a foot off the ground.

Gohan vanished again, and began pummeling him from all directions; finally culminating in a devastating hook to Paunch's temple, followed by a hammerblow to knock him back to the ground. Gohan took a moment to catch his breath, sweating puddles. "That has to be enough! I've used up most of my energy. Even Piccolo wouldn't be able to take that much punishment!" Though, Piccolo was far too skilled to be caught in a rush like that.

A jolt ran through him as he remembered the injured officer. "I should go help him now, while I have the chance." He zipped over to the sobbing man, gently lifting the rock. The officer who had been trying to help stared at Gohan with awe and fear, giving him a good berth. Gohan took a look at the injured man's legs and grimaced. "I guess it's lucky I've seen worse injuries in the Pendulum room. Now wouldn't be a good time to throw up."

The other officer jumped when Gohan's gaze pierced him. "Can you take him to the hospital? I'll carry him to your car. Just show me which one it is." They managed to get him loaded up quickly and the car sped off. Gohan looked back and saw Paunch struggling to his feet again.

"What's this guy made of?! He just doesn't stay down!" Gohan thought, incredulously. Nothing in this fight had gone as he expected it to. He thought he could swoop in, save the day, and return to the lookout in just an hour or two. And yet, here he was, in a battle almost as difficult as fighting the Saiyans in the Pendulum Room. "I underestimated him. Someone got really hurt because of my carelessness."

He knew what he had to do. The thought twisted in his gut, pulling at his moral fibers; slowly fraying the edges. "I don't want to do this." His hand rose slowly, wrapping around his sword's hilt. A painful lump formed in his throat, making it hard to breathe. "I tried to reason with him." He swallowed heavily. "I gave him every chance to surrender. But he won't listen. He's putting other people in danger. I can't let this go on!" The sword slithered out of its scabbard.

He could almost hear Piccolo's voice, "Harden your heart. If you want to protect, you must be willing to kill. Face him, don't hesitate."

Gohan grabbed the sword with both hands and looked up, searching out his adversary's eyes. What he found shocked him. Big Paunch was reared back, a sphere of energy floating outside his mouth and growing larger. He wasn't even facing Gohan.

"He's aiming at the police!" Before he had time to think further, he was moving; placing himself in the path of fire. He put his hands above his forehead in preparation for a Masenko, the most powerful ki blast he knew, but froze. "If I block his blast with my own they'll both explode together, doing even more damage! It's too late to stop him from firing, what do I do?!'

His eyes darted around as he desperately sought a solution. They landed on his sword. Piccolo's voice echoed in his head once more, "Reinforcing the blade with ki. An interesting technique."

Paunch fired, a horizontal pillar of yellow energy came screaming at Gohan, carving through the concrete ground with ease. Gohan flipped the blade until it pointed at the ground, bracing it against his shoulder for stability. Flaring aura shot down its length, surrounding it. Gohan tensed and the beam slammed into him.

"Gah!" he grunted, feet digging furrows into the street. "Such a powerful attack! And I still can't sense it; what's going on?!"

His teeth grit as his muscles strained to hold it back. Sweat dripped off his chin, evaporating against the asphalt; made hot by the energy. Gohan shifted, trying to put more leverage behind his blade. Slowly, he pulled the blade back, changing its angle. Then, with a great heave, he sent the beam up into the air. It soared into the sky, then burst; a spectacle of light and smoke in the sky. Shockwaves knocked over people in the street. Buildings shook and those closest to it had their windows shattered.

Gohan fell to his knees, chest heaving; sweat pouring off his face and arms. "Wait. I have to get up. This isn't over yet." But, when he raised his head, Paunch wasn't there anymore.


Dancing light and Billowing smoke seared its way into her mind. "Beautiful."

The shockwave crashed down, knocking her onto her butt. She propped herself up on her elbows, staring at the remnants of the massive explosion. "Incredible!" Her jaw hung in awe. "To think people can do such things! I want it! That power! That beauty! I want to do that, too!"

She pushed herself up, running to the roof's edge to take a look at the two who could do such wondrous things. But, when the smoke cleared, there was only one. "Where'd the criminal go?" she wondered. She shook her head, strands of red hair slapping at her face. "Doesn't matter, the kid is still there. I have to get down there. I have to talk to him! Before he disappears, too!"

She turned and ran for the stairwell. "Hey, wait! Macey! Where are you going?" someone called after her. She ignored them. There were more important things to do!


As the remnants of the explosion faded, the camera swiveled to the boy that had just deflected the beam of light. The sword lay on the ground next to him as he caught his breath.

"... Well, folks… I'm not sure what to say. Unfortunately, we don't have an anchor on scene. There should be one on the way, so don't worry! We'll surely get to the bottom of this mystery! Is it real? Is it a hoax? Maybe a promotional stunt for a new movie? Let's ask a guest…"

Bulma stared at the tv, mouth agape. "What just happened? Isn't Gohan supposed to be really strong? Why was he struggling with that guy?" She sighed. Nothing about this made sense.

"Oh, no. I'll have to be the one to tell Chichi. I forgot she doesn't have a tv… Is this how Krillin felt after Goku died? Augh! If he were here I'd make him do this, too! Though, he didn't even manage it last time."


Bale made it down the last set of stairs, huffing and puffing. "Damn, I'm out of shape!" He had to make sure the kid was alright! He could do at least that much, dammit! Cuff followed behind him, though slower. Bale noticed Macey was already kneeling next to the kid, shaking his shoulders.

"Please, you have to tell me how! I'm begging you! I have to know!" She sounded like she was about to cry.

"What is that girl doing!? Harassing the kid after he saved all our asses!" Bale fumed. He stomped up to her, pulling her up by the collar of her shirt. "Let him catch his breath, woman! Anybody would be tired after that!"

"Aww, don't be like that, Bale! I just wanna know, is all! What's wrong with that?"

"I'm curious, too! But, I'm not the one tryin' to shake the life outta him!"

As they argued, a man with a large video camera on his shoulder approached them. He stayed silent, and no one paid him any mind.

Gohan grabbed his sword and stuck it's point in the ground, using it to lift himself. He stood and leaned against it, wiping sweat from his brow. "Um, I don't mind telling you… but I want to make sure Big Paunch isn't still around here somewhere. It could still be dangerous." He slowly rose into the air, sheathing his sword.

"Oh, I wanna know how to do that, too!" Macey shouted, jumping up and down.

Gohan paused, still breathing hard, and looked at Bale. "Right, there was one more thing. A policeman got hurt when I dodged one of Paunch's attacks. I asked someone to take him to the hospital, but his legs were broken pretty badly."

Bale clenched a fist, nails digging into his palm, then nodded. Macey quieted down, biting her lip.

Gohan searched the area and found evidence of Paunch's escape. However, after a certain point, the signs disappeared. Scanning for energy signatures revealed nothing. He returned to the scene of the battle. Bale was speaking to someone over the phone. A scrawny policeman was directing efforts to cordon off the crime scene. The cameraman had moved just outside the cordon. Macey started waving ecstatically when she saw him.

Gohan's cheeks reddened slightly as he waved back, landing near her. She immediately bombarded him with questions. He did his best to answer them.


Paunch sat in the trailer of a semi-truck, cringing at every bump. Now that the battle was over he could feel all the little injuries he had received, and the pain in his leg was back at full force. "Damn that kid! How could he do that much damage to me?! The doc said I was invincible, now!" He sat there and fumed, bracing himself as the truck turned. "I'll get him back for this! Once the doc fixes me up, I'm huntin' him down!" He cringed in pain at a particularly bad bump. "I could really use a drink!"

The truck slowed to a stop, brakes squealing. "At least I got what doc wanted. I bet he'll make me even stronger as a reward," he thought, patting the duffel bag at his side. A ringing sound came from within the bag. He pulled out a small communication device and pressed a button on its side.

"Is that you, doc? I'm already on my way."

"Good. And you've secured the cargo, correct?" a voice came out of the device.

"Yep! Got it right here."

"I trust there were no complications?"

Paunch paused, "Well… I did have a bit of a run-in. I… lost all my guys."

"I see. You took care of the witnesses?"

Paunch choked audibly. "Uh, well, I-"

The trailer doors opened, revealing a nondescript man in a blue jumpsuit. He wore a hat and his face was covered by a bandana.

"Hand him the bag."

Paunch passed it to him, meekly. The man examined the contents, then nodded. Deftly raising a silver remote, he pointed it at Paunch.

"You've become a liability. Goodbye."

*Click*

Paunch fell over, lifeless. The com device clattered uselessly against the trailer floor.


A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed!