It was finally reaching the twenty-two-hour mark and Yamcha couldn't be any happier. Everyone had fallen asleep hours ago, even Puar his trusty copilot, had nodded off before the halfway mark, leaving him alone with only his thoughts for company as he guided them safely towards Baba's palace.
The desert's bright morning sun was a constant irritant for him, to the point where he had to put sunglasses on, despite the plane's heavily tinted windows. After shifting the pair onto his face, he spotted, off in the far distance, a lake that seemed to pop into existence, carrying three circular buildings and two pyramids on top of it. Yamcha smiled as he guided the craft towards it for a better look. He gazed upon the green four-platformed palace and felt a wave of relief; he had made it the whole way without falling asleep. He lowered the craft into a nearby dune and activated the landing gear. When the wheels finally touched the sand, he let go of the control wheel that he had gripped so tightly for so long and leaned back in his seat.
He breathed an exhausted sigh, he had been up for thirty-two hours straight and it was taking its toll on him, but there was no time to rest. They needed that information on the dragon ball as soon as possible.
He took off the noise canceling headgear he'd worn since he got on the plane and laid it on the console. He regretted taking it off almost immediately when he noticed Krillin's obnoxious snoring. He swiveled his chair around to see Goku and Gohan sleeping peacefully next to each other despite Krillin practically shouting in his sleep.
I don't know how those two managed to sleep through that noise. I mean...it's downright painful.
He stood from his seat and threw the sunglasses on the console. "All right everybody we're here! After twenty-two long hours of flight, we're finally at Baba's Palace!" Yamcha said, walking up and down the short aisle. "Wakey, wakey! Up and at em'! Let's go get that dragon ball!"
Upa, Gohan, and Goku all got up with relative ease, but Krillin was a different beast entirely. With considerable effort, eventually, the small monk sat up in his seat and joined the rest of the crew in the land of the living.
They exited the plane and entered the heat of the mid-morning desert. Yamcha led the way over the dune they had landed behind, and when they laid eyes upon the lake, it was like a beautiful blue oasis, springing out from the lifeless sandy landscape. The group approached the palace and took to the back of a short line that had formed at the entrance building.
A small pink ghost had noticed them and traveled to the back of the line for a formal greeting. Goku smiled and approached the being first. "Hi, this is fortune-caller Baba's house right?"
"Why, yes, this is Fortune-Teller Baba's Palace." the ghost patiently responded, mindful that he was just a child and perhaps didn't know he was degrading the title of the great and all-seeing Baba. "Are you six together?"
Yamcha stepped forward. "Yeah, we're all together."
"Marvelous, wonderful, wonderful... Just stay right here until I call you." The ghost said before floating back into the entrance.
The group waited for a while, seeing a few happy customers leave the estate with smiles plastered over their faces. Oddly enough many of the customers leaving seemed to be wealthy, and for Yamcha, it added some credibility to Baba beyond Master Roshi's vouch for her. Soon, the group was second in line, the only people left in front of them was a large gathering of muscled men who charged in as soon as the ghost allowed them through the check-in station. Within only minutes the men came out bruised, one even came out holding his broken nose in an attempt to stop the bleeding. The ghost over-enthusiastically waved as they left the entrance. "You six follow me, Baba will see you now."
"Wait, what happened t-to those guys," Yamcha asked nervously.
The ghost gave him an empty smile and giggled. "Come along, come along, she is in the main building."
The group reluctantly followed the ghost through the entrance building and along a stone bridge that led to the large palace center. Gohan lagged behind everyone, he had never seen Baba's palace before and enjoyed looking at the serene waters below the bridge. They were calm and clear, quite similar to his spring; however, the water at Baba's didn't carry the same feeling of cleanliness as the water there did. He saw he was falling behind and caught up to the group before anyone noticed his absence.
The ghost hurriedly shoved them into the large and foreboding structure that was lit only by candlelight. Slowly, a crystal ball floated down from the ceiling of the empty dome-like building. As the ball floated downwards it became clear that resting on top of it was a small elderly woman wearing a dark robe and long pointed hat. She smiled warmly as her guests gathered around her. "Oh my...Quite young visitors I have today."
"So your fortune-seller Baba?" Goku asked.
"That's Fortune-Teller Baba, child, Fortune-Teller Baba."
"Great! Can you help us find something we're looking for?"
She tapped her crystal ball beneath her. "Why yes, I can. Anything lost, I can find."
Krillin whispered to Yamcha, "You know for being such a creepy lady, she's actually kind of nice."
"Of course there is a...small fee for my trouble. Before taxes, and with Baba's bargain coupon, it will be roughly...erm, ten million zeni."
Goku whispered to Gohan, "Jack is that a lot?"
"For us Goku, yeah it's a lot, but Capsule Corp makes that in under a day so if we ask Bulma, we might be able to afford the fortune."
Baba, recognizing Gohan, nearly fell off her ball from surprise. "W-what in the world are you doing here?!"
"M-me?" Gohan asked.
"Yes, yes you what are you doing here?! You aren't supposed to be-"
"I'm sorry!" Gohan said trying to stop her before she said something that would expose him. "I mean... I'm sorry for last time."
"You two have met before?" asked Yamcha.
Baba, unnerved by this unexpected development replied, "Y-yes, he came looking for information...information on his father." Baba cleared her throat before continuing. "He received his fortune at a reduced price because I have a soft spot for the particularly unlucky; however, I am yet to receive payment for ehm...for said fortune."
"Right, right, I am working on it." Gohan said.
An awkward silence filled the room.
"Yes, well since you six are all together I will consider your debt absolved, Jack...that is, if you participate in the payment of this fortune."
Yamcha intervened, "That may be a bit of an issue ma'am because we don't have the ten million Zeni needed for a fortune-telling."
"Don't fret, young man. We have alternative methods of payment here. Come, follow Baba." The old woman said as she directed her crystal ball towards one of the many exits of the main building. She led them across a stone bridge, identical to the one they first crossed, towards a large sandstone platform. "This is your battlefield and here is how it works: I have five spectacular fighters that you will contend with. This will be a tournament-style competition where one of your team members will face one of mine up until either you win or I do. The prize for winning is one free fortune-telling and, of course, the absolution of all of Jack's previous debts."
Krillin was relieved, he had envisioned a far more sinister price for a fortune than a tournament, and considering how well he did at the World Martial Arts Tournament, he felt rather cocky. "Well, lady you are looking at three semi-finalists of the World Martial Arts Tournament!" He pointed over at Goku. "And even the runner-up. So bring out your fighters, we promise we'll go easy on em'"
"Feeling confident despite only having four fighters?" Baba asked. "Very well, I assume you will be going first then Krillin?"
Krillin exaggeratedly stretched out his shoulders. "I think I will, thank you."
Baba motioned her hand to the sandstone arena. "Very well, step onto the platform and prepare to meet Fangs the Vampire!"
Krillin stepped into his corner and on the opposite end, a bat landed and morphed grotesquely into a tall, pale, shirtless man with oddly long canine teeth that protruded from his lips. He stood there shielding his eyes from the harsh sunlight.
Krillin wasn't impressed by the physique of his opponent, he was far lankier than any martial artist he went up against during the tournament, even the monk. "Come on you don't expect me to believe this twig an actual vampire do you? Wouldn't he have already burned up in the sun?"
"The tales about vampires have been greatly...exaggerated, but I assure you I am the real deal." Fangs said with an increasingly unpleasing inflection.
Krillin stood firm in his stance. "All right then! Make your move!"
Fangs walked slowly towards Krillin with his teeth exposed and an unsettling, confident grin across his face. He stopped two feet short of Krillin and without warning kicked him as hard as he could. Krillin blocked the first attack, but couldn't avoid being hit by the vampire's fist that was thrown in tandem with a second kick. Krillin jumped back and Fangs did not pursue, he was already sure he had won this match.
"Y-you just got lucky that time pal, you won't get lucky again."
"I disagree!" Fangs yelled as he transformed into a bat and began circling Krillin. Trying to keep up with the nimble bat, Krillin swung his fists in the air continuously, missing his tiny opponent. When Fangs was sure Krillin had become disoriented enough, he flew just a few feet above him and dropped on top of him. He smashed his elbow onto Krillin's bald head ensuring his incapacitation and then, he threw him from the arena. Krillin landed in the water completely unconscious and would have sunk had Gohan not already dove in to pull him out.
Baba was pleased, Fangs did better than she expected him to. "All right, I suppose that makes it three on five now does it not?"
Yamcha conferred with Goku and a now soaking wet Gohan, "Well, Krillin didn't do too well so I think I'm going to go next. I can literally feel myself falling asleep over here and considering I've already been up for over thirty hours, I want to get my turn over with quickly. You two hang back and enjoy the show, all right? I'll make quick work of this tacky vampire."
Goku and Gohan nodded and Yamcha walked up to the stage. "Okay Fangs, looks like I'm your opponent and I want you to know right now, it's gonna take a lot more than your cheap bat tricks to beat me."
Fangs seemed unimpressed by Yamchas bravado and began the same slow approach he had done with Krillin. Fangs again stopped just a few feet in front of Yamcha and stood still. Yamcha waited for his attempt at a kick or a punch but nothing came so he decided to make an attack of his own. He swept at the feet of the vampire causing Fangs to transform into a bat. Once he transformed he attempted the same disorientation technique that he used on Krillin, but Yamcha refused to try and trace him, he stood perfectly still, not even turning his head as the bat flew around him.
Fangs, believing Yamcha was incapable of keeping up with him, dove around him a couple of times trying to bait out a response. Once he felt confident that Yamcha was outmatched, he flew above him and morphed back into his human form. Yamcha kicked the falling vampire back down onto the arena and charged at him. "HA! Got you now! Wolf Fang Fist!" Fangs barely stood back up before the rapid-fire punches broke through his thin and weak skin. He was riddled with deep cuts and scratches before the force of the many strikes ejected him from the ring. He landed into the water polluting it slightly with his foul acidic blood. He surfaced, completely baffled by Yamcha's strength and in disbelief that he lost.
Yamcha looked over the edge of the sandstone arena with his arms crossed. "What goes around comes around, wouldn't you agree Fangs?"
Baba was overjoyed, Yamcha had proven himself a capable fighter and a great entertainer. "Wonderful job my young man, wonderful job. Now that the warmup match has ended I'll bring out the real fighter."
Baba snapped her fingers but as the seconds passed, and no new fighter approached the arena, Yamcha smirked. "So is the next fighter too scared to come out after what happened to his friend? I would be too after witnessing the strength of my Wolf Fang Fist."
"Oh you misunderstand Yamcha, your opponent is already here; he's invisible."
After just having fought a vampire, Yamcha knew better than to doubt what she had told him. His cockiness quickly evaporated, and he stood in his stance and focused, trying his best to figure out a way to beat an unseeable opponent. Soon it became clear to him that he was incapable of concentrating. Whether it was the adrenaline or the sleep deprivation that kept him from formulating a plan, he didn't know, but he did know he'd need some serious luck if he was going to stay in this fight for very long.
"Let the match begin!" Baba said excitedly.
Yamcha began to sweat, the heat of the sun bore down on him like a heavy weight. He stood still, trying his best to listen for any sign that his opponent was on the offensive. Suddenly he was struck and punched in the stomach. Falling to his knees, he used this opportunity to sweep the floor with a kick. He connected with something and heard the opponent hit the floor as well. Yamcha stood up and backed away from the center of the arena slowly. The sun's heat coupled with lack of sleep made him weary but he tried his best to stay observant.
Gohan watched from the sidelines and anxiously waited for Yamcha's next move. He could sense the invisible man's energy and wanted nothing more than to tell Yamcha exactly where he was, but he kept silent.
Krillin had finally woken up and joined in the viewing. After seeing Yamcha get kicked around for a few minutes, Krillin had come up with a plan. "Hey Goku, you still have that flying nimbus?"
"Yeah Krillin but how's it gonna help Yamcha in his fight?"
"Don't worry, I think I've had an idea!" Goku and Gohan listened intently as Krillin explained, "So Bulma said she was heading back to the city right? And she'll need some way to get there so she'll be traveling with Master Roshi, flying his plane. West City is somewhere past this desert and they couldn't have started their journey any sooner than an hour after we left, so they should be only a little ways north of here. What I want you to do Goku, is to go get the two of them and bring them back here."
"What do we do when they get here Krillin?" Gohan asked confusedly.
"I'm gonna keep that a surprise because if you knew what I have in mind you might try and stop me," Krillin said with a sly grin on his face. "How long do you think it'll take you Goku?"
"No time at all Krillin, I'm on it!" Goku said before calling the flying nimbus.
Gohan stood completely unsure of what Krillin was planning. Whatever it was, he hoped that it would work.
Yamcha was now glistening in the sunlight, covered with a thin layer of sweat and brandishing new bruises dealt out by his invisible opponent.
Man am I in trouble. There's gotta be something I can do here right? I just have to think.
I can't see him and I can't flail around aimlessly hoping I hit him, I'll just tire myself out if I do that. Hm, maybe...maybe if I tune everything else out I can hear him.
He closed his eyes cleared his mind, letting everything fade away until there was nothing but him and the arena left. He could hear him, clear as day he could hear his bare feet stepping along the sandstone. He traced the sound to his left but he knew it wasn't close enough yet, he waited and listened to the steps increase in volume. He swung his fist, hitting what felt like the upper arm of his opponent. He continued his attack hitting his stomach then a collar bone then a femur. He hit different parts of the man's body, collecting information and forming a mental image of him from head to toe. Once the picture was complete he ferociously attacked where he figured the man was the most vulnerable. He beat him viciously until he heard Goku's voice break his concentration.
"Krillin I got them!" Goku yelled, carrying Roshi with one hand and Bulma in the other while piloting the flying nimbus.
Yamcha opened his eyes and heard his opponent drop to the floor, he quickly jumped back to his corner of the arena and stood in his stance, trying not to be distracted by his friend's conversation.
"There better be a good reason for this Goku! My dad is gonna be pretty upset that I'm not there to help him!" Bulma said angrily.
"I promise there is. Krillin has a plan to help Yamcha win his fight and he said he needed your help."
"My help? What am I going to do?" Bulma asked.
Goku shrugged. "I don't know, he said he wasn't going to tell us."
Krillin saw the pieces fall into place: Roshi was looking at Bulma, Bulma was looking at Goku and Gohan was watching Yamcha, now was when he would make his play. He stopped short when he heard Baba speak from behind him.
"You know, you're a conniving one Krillin. Your plan would have worked had Yamcha not already beaten my fighter."
"What do you mean? Yamcha beat him?"
Baba pointed towards the farther end of the sandstone ring. "Yes, he's laying unconscious on the other end of the arena but I wanted Yamcha to sit in suspense for a bit; I wanted to see what he would do if he wasn't attacked for a prolonged period of time. It's just a little experiment for my own amusement."
"That's pretty messed up lady. You knew what I was about to do and still waited this long to stop the fight."
Baba wagged her finger at Krillin. "You're one to talk, taking advantage of my brother like that! You should be ashamed of yourself."
"Master Roshi's your brother?!"
"Yes, yes what a twist...how else do you think he could afford my services? He may have his own island and martial arts school, but he sure doesn't have any money. Now come along, we must reconvene with the others before I get a headache from their bickering."
Baba floated to the center of the ring and announced Yamcha the winner, as her fighter was now incapable of carrying on with the match. Yamcha broke tiredly from his stance and walked off the stage to meet with the others.
"So Krillin, what's this brilliant plan of yours to help Yamcha?" Bulma upsettingly inquired. "He sure looks like he handled things by himself."
Krillin rubbed his shiny head. "Trust me Bulma you'd only get more upset if I told you it."
"Well, since Goku took us straight out of the plane to hurry back over here I guess I'm sticking around for a while. I doubt Oolong or Launch know where Baba's palace is so they'll probably just end up flying back to Kame House."
Baba floated over to the stone bridge they had traveled across and garnered everyone's attention. "Good to see you, brother. You missed my birthday...again."
"Happy birthday..." Roshi stammered out.
"Well thank you, a little belated but it will do. Okay everyone, for this third match I think a change of scenery is required. Follow me, we must travel back across the bridge and through the main building in order to get to this very special arena."
The group reluctantly followed the elderly woman back across the bridge only to find themselves walking across another one. Then, collectively, they entered a dimly lit building with a long staircase. At the base of the stairs, a stone skull carved into the wall watched them begin the climb. They continued up the stairs until they reached a white stone-tiled platform. Before them was an uninviting wooden door with a brass handle in the shape of a skull, and to the right of that, a new, narrower set of stairs.
"Everyone, enter through this door except for you, Jack. You and I will travel up the second set of stairs, we still have some business to discuss."
Although wary, the group huddled through the door, all except for Goku. He stopped, letting the creaky door close itself. He was reluctant to leave Gohan, something told him he felt uncomfortable being alone with her. "Baba is it all right if I stay with Jack?"
"No Goku, you must go wait with the others. He and I have important details about payment to discuss."
"O-okay." Goku reluctantly replied. He opened the wooden door and entered the room, closing it quietly behind him.
Baba led Gohan up the stairs, opening a secret door carved into the wall that the staircase was built around. The interior of the secret room was lavishly decorated with soft red carpeting and gold-lined boiserie walls. He took a seat at the table in the center of the room and waited as Baba floated to the opposite end of the table.
"You know, considering everyone in otherworld has been talking about you and your predicament, I suppose I should have expected a visit from you."
"Why's that?" Gohan asked, trying to sound as polite as possible.
"For information of course." she replied.
Gohan eagerly shifted his chair closer to the table. "Do you have anything that could help me?"
"Yes I do, and just because I like you, I'll tell you it for free."
"Thanks, Baba. So what's the news?"
Baba stepped off from her ball and stood on top of the table caressing it while staring deeply into it. "I'm getting a glimpse at your friend, Doctor Gero...he's on the move and his past self is accompanying him on his journey... They are carrying equipment, tools from the looks of it... hm that's odd..."
"What's odd, Baba?"
She pressed her face closeragainst the orb. "They seem to be moving out of a laboratory... They are deep within a mountainous region... There's snow on the ground."
"Do you know where they're heading?" Gohan asked.
"No, the crystal is fogging, I can no longer see them." Baba suddenly felt light-headed, perhaps she strained herself a little too much. She climbed back onto her crystal ball before speaking once more. "In my younger days, I could sustain an image for much longer. I'm sorry Gohan, but that's all I can show you."
"I really appreciate it, Baba. You didn't have to help me and the information you've given me isn't useless either. If he's moving then that means he isn't working on androids, which is good news for me."
"So sweet you are." the old woman said in a sweet, genuine tone. "Come along Gohan, the others are waiting. I have a feeling this next fighter will best that tenacious Yamcha. Then we'll see just how tough your father really is."
Gohan was confused. "You mean I won't have to fight?"
"Oh heavens no, I never had any intention of you fighting. It wouldn't even be close to a fair match. Your father, however, should last at least a couple of minutes."
Gohan could see the woman's confidence in her fighter, her small ki radiated with assurance which moved Gohan to protest. "I wouldn't be so confident if I were you. From what I've seen of my dad he can definitely beat anything you throw at him."
"Is that so? Well, we will see Gohan, we will see," Baba said before opening another hidden door. "After you."