Thoughts
Computer Speech
"Speech"
Disclaimer: DC and DBZ belong to their respective owners; I own nothing.
Chapter 17: Attack of the Saiyans IV: Aftermath
December
Age 761 (2011), Metropolis, Lexcorp Labs
"Run a full analysis. I want a thermal reading, a radiation scan, and a full assessment of the metal alloys that were used to create it. I don't care how long it takes, I want to know everything about it."
"A full analysis will be complete in 24 hours Mr. Luthor"
Satisfied with the response from his computer, Lex swiveled in his chair as he turned away from the massive mainframe. It had been two months. Two long, arduous, months following the battle of Gotham. 'Grief in Gotham' as the event had been dubbed by various members of the media, had resulted in catastrophic damage. Millions, possibly billions, worth of damage had been done to the city. The entertainment sector and the bay were in complete shambles.
Normally Lex would have taken immense pleasure in his words materializing into truth. The so-called superheroes had caused as much, if not more damage than they had prevented. Lexcorp satellites had recorded all of the mayhem, thankfully from a safe distance. Officially. the government had announced that it was a previously unknown Metahuman that had attacked. All data regarding the event had been wiped clean by Argus, save for Lexcorp of course.
The government didn't want to panic an already frightened public. Aliens were of course nothing new, the man of steel was an extraterrestrial after all. But an alien invader was not something the US government was ready to reveal. It was quite hypocritical from Lex's standpoint, but he knew there greater schemes at work. Aside from scrubbing the battlefield clean of evidence, Argus had retrieved the alien's body as well.
It was incredibly frustrating to have been beaten to the punch. Who knew what secrets Goku's brother held? Sure he was dead, but the Saiyan's body could have provided fascinating research. The abilities he had displayed had overpowered the Earth's mightiest superheroes. With that amount of destructive potential Lex would have been capable of anything.
But he had unfortunately been robbed of that marvelous opportunity. He would just have to settle for the intriguing scouter the Saiyan had worn. The possibilities were nearly endless with this device. It was capable of sensing a person's energy signature. Ki was still one of the world's greatest mysteries, and nothing aggravated Lex more than being left in the dark.
But this wee little machine would finally shed light on it. Lex had always considered a being like Superman the ultimate big brother, but even he could not do what this scouter could. The Kryptonian's powers had limitations, where it seemed Ki, or at least this scouter, did not. It could potentially serve as the ultimate tracking device. He had seen it for himself, scanning the energy signals of his employees from deep inside his laboratory.
In the wrong hands it could be disastrous, but fortunately, it was in Lex's.
As wonderful as this all was, there was still a startling bit of information that he had uncovered; Saiyans. Two more Saiyans would be arriving soon, and in an undisclosed amount of time too. If these invaders were even as remotely powerful as their comrade, it would spell doom for mankind. Humanity was on the brink of an event that could alter human history. It was a stacked deck against the Earth, but Lex knew what cards to play. When the dust finally settled, he would be the hero humanity deserved and needed to usher them into a new age.
December
Age 761 (2011), Washington, Argus headquarters
Argus headquarters was abuzz with life. This, however, was nothing new in the two months following Goku's death. The murder of one of the Earth's most powerful beings sent shockwaves that reverberated around the globe. Chikyu's hero had been universally beloved. King Piccolo's miraculous defeat, by Goku's hands, had jumpstarted the very creation of Argus.
That event was now known as the Metahuman flashpoint. Since 2003 the number of Metahumans had skyrocketed astronomically. People with gifts and special abilities were coming out of the woodwork every single day. It was incredibly hard and almost impossible to keep pace with these brand new discoveries. Even more perturbing was the fact that the overwhelming majority of these cases appeared to be in two places: Chikyu and America.
The NATO allies and sister countries were plagued by the same issues. During George Bush's tenure as president, an executive order was given to create Argus. The United States was still heavily focused on the war on terror, but Metahumans were an even bigger concern. No expense was spared to fund the organization. The government had gone to extreme lengths to make sure of it. Heck, most of the budget for the campaign in Iraq had actually been rewired to fund Argus.
The Advanced Research Group Uniting Superhumans, as the organization had been named, was to serve and monitor Metahumans. Until recently there had been no acting head to command the agency. An assortment of generals and field agents had served as commander for brief periods of time, but none had been deemed fit for complete leadership. But that had all changed once Colonel Steve Trevor had strolled through the front doors.
The sandy-haired operative had been the first person to encounter Wonder Girl. Steve Trevor had personally been rescued by her hand. The majestic power he had witnessed sparked the urge to learn more about superpowered beings. From that day forward he tirelessly devoted himself towards that effort. In a few short years, he had made an astounding rise in military ranks. But it had come as a complete shock when he had been offered the chance to become head of Argus, something he previously didn't even know existed.
The agency had been cleverly kept under wraps, until recently. Years of waiting had finally coalesced into a level seven event. Raditz arrival was the starting point for Argus public introduction. The agency would be needed now more than ever, especially considering the threats to come. They could no longer afford to hide in the shadows.
"Colonel Trevor!" An abrupt shout awoke the commander from his momentary stupor.
The director of Argus shook his head as he turned from the computer screen. His vision was blurry from the consecutive hours staring at the screen.
"I'm worried about you Steve, you've been cooped up in here for days," A concerned Chichi noted as she approached his desk.
"I just lost track of time," He muttered as he fumbled through the numerous files on his desk.
"I know you're concerned about what's to come- we all are. But you can't stress yourself out in here," The room the Ox-King's daughter was referring to was the commander's office. It was a rather bland, stereotypical office, but Steve liked to keep it simple.
"We have an undetermined amount of time before another alien invasion. Goku is dead. Wonder Woman is missing and assumed to have shared the same fate. Goku's killer is still at large, Raditz body is missing and we lost track of his scouter!" Angrily slamming his fist into the metal desk, Steve scowled as he mused over all this madness.
"We had no control over any of that Steve. Who could have predicted an alien falling out of the sky? All of our agencies activity thus far, has remained Earthbound," No one had considered the possibility of Goku being an extraterrestrial. In hindsight, his tail should have raised some of Chichi's personal alerts, though.
"I can concede to that Chichi. But the fact remains we were specifically tasked to be in charge of such things. It's our job and failures like this can't happen on our watch," It was only a few months since president Obama had hand selected him to lead Argus. So far Steve hadn't done anything to inspire confidence.
"Look I understand your feelings," Chichi had once held romantic feelings for Goku, news of his death had crushed her. "Wonder Woman saved your life and started you down this road." Trevor's story was infamous around the organization, everyone knew.
"Which is why it's so frustrating that I can't do anything for her," All the news and data may have pointed towards the Amazons death- but Steve didn't believe it. "At the very least her son deserves answers." The director's head hung low at the mention of Gohan. The most recent reports indicated that he had been kidnapped by Piccolo.
"We could have sent a strike team like I suggested." Chichi frowned as she took a seat on the edge of the desk.
"And we would have sent them to their deaths. This organization isn't equipped with the means to deal with someone that powerful."
"But I could have-"
"Even with your ability to use Ki, it would have still been fruitless." Steve dismissed as he waved her off. On top of that, he couldn't afford to lose his top operative.
"So where do we go from here then? What are our next moves?"
"I-I don't know," A dejected Steve lamented as he ran his fingers through his hair. He began pacing as he rose from his seat. "There's just so much to account for. I thought I knew what I was getting into when I accepted this job. But this...this is something I'm just not prepared for."
Steve was a normally calm and collected soldier. He was the one who convinced Chichi to join the agency. Seeing him in this capacity was alarming, to say the least. The burden of it all was finally weighing on him. Chichi's position as second in command would be more pivotal than ever.
"Just know I'm here for whatever you need," Chichi whispered as she hovered to him, taking hold of his hand. "You're one of the strongest people I know. We'll get through this together." Intertwining her hand with his Chichi smiled as she strengthened the grip.
Reciprocating her smile Steve leaned down as he swooped in for a kiss. "You always know how to make me feel better.
December
Age 761 (2011), The Block
"Twenty million tons?"
"Yes, that's your new limit now."
Superman sighed as he released the weights from his grasp. He was up ten million from his last attempt. His training with Dr. Shay Veritas was working wonders, he had been fortunate to meet her. The block, as she called it, was an advanced research facility located near the center of the Earth. It was one of the few selective places that Kal-El could train without endangering lives.
"That's good enough for today Superman, you should take a break and rest up for tomorrow." Dr. Veritas stated as she hovered over to the man of steel. The machine surrounding the Kryptonian was massive.
"As much as I'd like to, we both know that won't be possible. The Earth is facing a monstrous threat and I need to train as much as possible. On top of that, you know that my Kryptonian physiology doesn't require rest due to yellow sunlight." Clark finished with a smirk as he rose to meet the scientist.
"Ah yes the Saiyans," Shay deciphered as she put a thoughtful hand on her chin. "Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that there was a race as powerful as yours in the cosmos. If only I had been there to observe Raditz in the flesh. His power, speed, and energy projection all deserve clinical observation. Where does that power come from? What purpose does a tail serve,"
Superman chuckled as Dr. Veritas began spouting off scientific jargon. She had a tendency to do that.
"If only Goku was here so I could,"
At the mention of his deceased friend's name Kal-El's jovial spirit vanished. Sensing she had hit a sensitive spot, Shay instantly tried to shift the focus of the conversation.
"But moving on, your progress has been-"
"It's fine Dr. Veritas you don't have to avoid him for my sake." It was still hard to process, but Clark was slowly coming to terms with his comrade's death.
Shay hadn't received the opportunity to meet the Saiyan, but she loved everything Superman had told her. Though she spent most of her time cooped up in her laboratory, Dr. Veritas knew of Goku's impact on the world. Wonder Woman's husband was one of the most beloved figures on the planet. His death had a profound effect around the globe. Chikyu had spent the entire month following his death in mourning.
"You'll get him back." Placing a reassuring hand on his shoulders the scientist smiled. Superman had informed her of the plan to resurrect him using the Dragonballs.
"We will. We have to," The Man of steel confidently said as he balled his fists. Earth wouldn't be able to defeat these new Saiyans without Goku's help. "But as you were saying earlier about my progress?"
"Oh yes, I almost completely forget," Palming her forehead the scientist opened her tablet as she quickly flipped through data. "Your strength has grown tremendously since our first test. The Photonucleic effect which grants you your powers is significantly lessened by being underground. When you finally do reemerge into the sunlight your power should multiply astronomically."
Bending down as he glanced over the data Clark couldn't help but grin at his improvement. His idea of training was completely unorthodox and had been disparaged by Bruce. The dark knight had suggested intense sunlight radiation. High exposure to the sun's rays would magnify his abilities in previously unseen ways. But Clark decided to put his trust in Shay instead.
His initial meeting with Dr. Veritas had come through a freak accident. She had required his help following an experiment that had gone awry. After saving her life Shay had felt indebted to him and promised to help in any way possible. Clark finally took her up on her offer following his battle with Raditz. So far she had yet to disappoint him.
"Maybe you've become powerful enough to face Piccolo now?" Dr. Veritas asked with a raised brow. Superman had been unable to rescue Gohan the first time, but maybe his added strength would do the trick now.
In the aftermath of the battle with Raditz, Ma Junior had kidnapped Gohan. Superman and Batman had been nearly powerless to stop him. Bursting onto the Capsule Corps compound, the Namekian snatched Gohan from Bulma's grasp. Wonder Woman had gone MIA and no one had seen her since her encounter with Intergang. At this point, she was presumed dead, but Bruce had never stopped looking for leads.
"As much as I hate to admit this...I'm not."
"What?!" Came a shocked reply from Shay as she shook her head.
"I know I'm not the only one whose been training for the Saiyans arrival. Tien, Yamcha, Krillin, and Chiaotzu have been preparing as well. I know for certain that Piccolo has grown even more powerful by now. Attempting to take him down would just be an exercise in futility."
"B-But you're Superman! You don't let these type of things just happen!"
"I know Shay and it doesn't sit well with me either but I haven't been left with a lot of choices. Bulma managed to slip a tracker onto Gohan and we've been following his every move. Even while underground I'm still monitoring his actions with my enhanced hearing. And as much as I hate to admit it, Piccolo is the person most capable of training Gohan while his parents are gone. We'll deal with him after this is all settled."
Staring directly into her eyes Superman reassured her. Gohan was his Godchild and he would make sure he survived this, no matter the cost. Piccolo would receive justice in due time.
October
Age 761 (2011), Capsule Corps
"I won't let you take him!"
"You have no other choice. I''m not going to repeat myself." Raising his hand Piccolo summoned energy to his fingertips as he formed a Ki beam. His true intentions weren't to harm Bulma, but he would do whatever was necessary.
"Your childish emotions will put the entire Earth at risk! Are you failing to realize this?"
"Oh no, I understand perfectly. Goku left Gohan with me to watch over him. Handing him over to one of his most powerful foes isn't exactly the smartest ideas." The sarcasm oozed from her words as she pulled Gohan closer to her.
"You know you don't have the means to stop me." Piccolo had already taken care of the security system surrounding her house. Finishing her off would be a piece of cake if he desired.
"Then what are you waiting for? Do it already then!" The Capsule Corps heiress couldn't understand his stalling. The Piccolo she knew wouldn't hesitate.
"All I want is the boy. I am the only one capable of training him properly for the threat to come."
"His mother can do a good enough job when she gets back."
"That's wishful thinking I cannot afford to have. Wonder Woman's energy signal went missing after she flew over the Aegean sea. Who knows what's happened to her."
The Aegean sea? That's where Themyscira is! But what could she have gone to do there? Her exile isn't over yet. For her to abruptly leave in the middle of the night isn't a good sign. Goku had theorized that she had gone to help Batman in Gotham. This isn't right at all.
"W-w-where's my Daddy?" Gohan sniffled as he wiped a tear from his eye. His mother had warned him to be wary of Piccolo and the Namekian's angry disposition certainly wasn't helping.
"He's dead." Ma Junior said rather bluntly, eliciting a stream of tears from the child.
"Thanks a lot, Piccolo, you've really done it now," Scowling as she pulled her Godson into her arms, Bulma wrapped him into a tight hug. "Don't worry Gohan we'll get your dad back no matter what."
Rolling his eyes Piccolo shook his head as he watched Bulma comfort the wailing child. The being with the most potential on the planet was reduced to tears by the mere truth. He would have correct that weakness under his tutelage.
"I have no time nor do I care to sugarcoat my words, even for the sake of a child. Gohan will be the secret weapon in our defense of this planet."
"So you want to use him as a weapon?" Bulma's brows furrowed as she eyes narrowed. This was a new low even for Piccolo.
"I have no intention of keeping him if that's what you think," The Namekian scoffed, he was no one's babysitter. "I just need him until the crisis is averted."
"Over my dead body!" An indignant Bulma shouted as she clenched Gohan even closer.
Shrugging Piccolo lowered his arms. "Have it your way then."
In a flash, the Namekian closed the gap between them, as he dashed across Capsule Corps front lawn. Rapidly moving his hands Piccolo struck key pressure points which caused the billionaire's body to become numb. In one fell swoop, he grabbed the boy and began marching away.
"You won't get away with this!"
"Oh but that's exactly what I'm doing." Piccolo nonchalantly said and he continued moving. By this point, Gohan had begun thrashing against his grip.
"Let me go!" The enraged toddler anguished as began kicking and screaming.
"Calm yourself before I..."
Piccolo's sentence was left unfinished as Gohan broke free from his grasp, leaping into the air as he began to attack. His Ki infused kick was immediately blocked as Piccolo raised his forearm. The air surrounding them hummed as the two appendages connected with one another. Quickly distancing themselves both fighters settled into proper battle stances.
"Go get him Gohan!" Bulma shouted from the sidelines. Her body may have been immobile but she could still provide moral support.
Might as well see what I'm working with here. Relaxing his guard Piccolo provided Gohan an easy opening. The Demi-Saiyan admonished him and took it with no hesitation. Surging forwardthe adolescent reeled off a rapid-fire succession of punches. Ma Junior allowed them all to connect, gauging the power of each blow.
Impressive. Kami's evil half noted as he felt the sting of each strike. His skin was actually throbbing. As the child levitated into the air to punctuate his Kata Piccolo struck him in the stomach. There was a brief look of shock on the boy's face before his pupils went white. In less than a second Gohan was out cold, landing harshly against the ground.
"You monster!" Bulma yelled as tears obscured her vision. "You'll pay for this!"
"When the time comes I'll answer for my deeds. But until then I'm going to do what's necessary."
"Batman and Superman won't let you get away with this!"
"And what makes you think they possess the power to do that?"
"They'll find away!" Bulma's lips trembled as she spoke. Her tone betrayed her confidence.
"With Goku dead and Wonder Woman MIA, I am the most powerful being on this planet. If they want to stop me, fine. But if this planet is blown to bits by your best friend's species- I won't be to blame."
Without another word the Namekian blasted off into the skies corralling an unconscious Gohan as he did so.
"Shit!" Was all Bulma could say as she watched him fade into obscurity.
October
Age 761 (2011), Themyscira
"Hippolyta!"
Diana and Donna could only gawk in amazement as Hera stepped foot onto Paradise island. A massive earthquake followed as her gigantic toes planted down nearby the palace.
"Reveal yourself Hippolyta!"
The enraged goddesses words echoed like a sonic boom as her eyes scanned over the over the island. The queen would face judgment for her actions today.
"I know you're angry Hera but please, it doesn't have to be this way." Wonder Woman pleaded as she slowly rose to her feet, her ears still ringing in pain.
"You have no place in this discussion Diana. Your very existence is a reminder of your mother's betrayal!" Hera scowled as her pupiless eyes glanced down upon the princess. She was another one of her husband's bastard children.
"Oh, great and mighty Hera do what you must. The Queen and her daughter must pay for their sins." Donna urged as she knelt on her knees. The queen of the gods was an extremely volatile woman, she would not forget this grievance easily.
"I am not my mother nor can I apologize for her sins, but I can plead for your mercy. Has she not served you well? Has she not brought the gods honor?"
"Your mother was an excellent monarch, the greatest I have witnessed in Earth's history. But her deceit cannot be forgotten. I was largely responsible for the conception of the Amazons and this is how she repays me?" The anger rippled through every word as the waves surrounding Themyscira grew even higher.
"I don't know what went through my mother's mind when she decided to have an affair with Zeus. She is deserving of punishment," Diana swallowed hard. Even if it was her own mother she still had to uphold Amazon values. "But in your current mind-state, you won't be able to dictate it rationally. You have to calm down Hera."
"Calm down!?" Zeus' wife screeched, thunder crackling in the background as she shrunk down to normal size. "Do you know who you're talking to? Hush your mouth child."
Diana was flung back as Hera levitated her across the courtyard. Her momentum was eventually stopped as she collided with a pillar, unearthing its foundation.
"And you," Hera's eyes flickered over to Donna "Just what kind of creature are you?" The Olympian knew every Amazon that resided on Themyscira, and she was not one of them.
"She is our sacrifice to repair our former queen's misgivings Hera." Derinoe answered as she emerged from the palace doors. The chaos had waned significantly and no longer required her to take cover.
"Your sacrifice?" The mention of that word piqued Hera's interest. The Olympians weren't like the Mayan gods, demanding blood sacrifices at every turn, so just what was she referring to?
"We seek to cleanse Hippolyta's bloodline from the Earth." Alkyone spoke up as she followed Derinoe's lead, emerging from the confines of the mansion.
"Alkyone?" The surprise was evident in the goddesses voice. The former royal guard was supposed to be imprisoned.
"Hippolyta must pay." With a hard tug, the once loyal Amazon dragged Hippolyta out of the house. The queen tumbled as the chains around her neck lurched her forward.
"There you are." The blood-lust was palpable as the queen of the gods laid eyes on her traitor. The waves encircling Themyscira inched closer as she tightened her fist.
"Hera please forgive me." Hippolyta begged as she brought before her patron god. Tears streamed down her face as she knelt before her.
"In your current state, I might almost have pity for you," The Amazon was a truly a sight for sore eyes. Hippolyta hadn't looked this worn down since the battle with Hercules. "But betrayal such as yours can never be forgiven."
"Not only did she deceive you Hera, she lied to us all as well."
"She deserves to die!"
"I was once her most faithful and loyal servant but I can longer trust her after all of her lies. She kept a secret from us that could have destroyed the Amazon populace!"
"And she imprisoned me for recognizing the dark truth about her daughter!"
"Kill her!"
"There must be penance!"
Hera listened silently as Alkyone and Derinoe voiced their opinions on the matter. Long ago Derinoe had indeed been one of Hippolyta's most trusted Amazons. They had even developed a romantic relationship. Alkyone had once been a devoted soldier. The reason for her imprisonment had been murky, but Hera had decided to leave those matters to the Amazon queen.
Alkyone had a spiteful reason to hate Hippolyta, but Derinoe's reason was legitimate. It seemed even the most faithful Amazon had turned against Hippolyta.
"As legitimate as your grievances may be, I don't care," Alkyone and Derinoe's faces blanched at Hera's words. "I am merely here to enact my vengeance. I could care less about you or this accursed island."
"B-b-but Hera we had nothing to do with -"
"Silence!" Hera's hands glowed at they pointed at Derinoe. "My judgment is my judgment. Since you followed her, you must share the blame as well."
"I take full responsibility for my actions Hera, but please don't punish my sisters for any of my deeds. Spare them and do what you must with me."
"You have no say in what happens to Themyscira anymore. Your rights were forsaken the moment you betrayed me!"
Hunching down Hippolyta placed a palm on Hippolyta's forehead. "Oh, what could have been." Clay began to form around the queen's body, spreading from her forehead to her feet. In an instant, Hippolyta became a lifeless statue.
"Mother!" Diana sprung into action as she took charge against the goddess. It didn't matter if Hera was the queen of the gods. It didn't matter if all the lies had lead up to this. Hippolyta was still her mother.
"I've had enough of you," Wonder Woman didn't even make it halfway before she caught by an invisible force. "You broke the terms of your exile."
"Yes, Hera! Punish her!" Derinoe gleefully shouted
"She must pay for her transgressions!" Alkyone added in.
"Actually, you will all pay!" With a cruel smile, Hera released the waves she had been holding back. Derinoe and Alkyone could only watch in terror as the massive streams of water flooded their homeland.
What have we done?
October
Age 761 (2011), King Yemma's Desk
"Is this Hades? It looks a lot different than I imagined." Goku mumbled as he glanced around the spacious room.
"No Goku, this is King Yemma's check-in desk. This is the place souls go before they receive their final destination."
"Oh, final destination? You mean like the movie?"
Kami couldn't help but sweatdrop at the Saiyan's response. Well, that is one way to look at it.
"King Yemma decides where a soul go. There are two options: heaven and hell."
"Well this is odd," Goku frowned as he folded his arms. "Diana described the afterlife a bit differently from you. There's Tartarus, the Elysian fields, the..."
"Oh, I understand now." Kami nodded as he interrupted Goku. "Wonder Woman told you about her afterlife."
"Her afterlife?"
"Yes her afterlife. You know there are multiple after life's right?" Kami asked as he leaned forward.
"Uh...not really?" Goku chuckled as he rubbed his temple in confusion.
"That's strange I thought Diana would have informed you about them," Kami mused as he rubbed his chin. "It's of no matter though, I'll just explain it to you."
"Okay." Goku nonchalantly shrugged as he began to pay extra attention.
"For starters, there are multiple pantheons of gods in the Universe."
"Pantheons?"
"A group of gods." Goku's education had been significantly limited due to his childhood. It was no fault of his own but the god of Earth would have to be careful with his words.
"The Shinjin, the pantheon I belong to, are one of those groups of gods."
"Okay, I think I'm catching your drift." Goku nodded along as he digested the newfound information.
"The Shinjin are a race of beings that are separated into four groups. The Kai's and the Kaioshin are the benevolent, righteous gods. King Kai, whom you'll be seeing later, is a Kai. The Makai and Makaioshin are malevolent evil demons. They are polar opposites of one another."
"So you're a Shinjin too then?" Goku inquired as he attempted to investigate further.
"No, I'm something entirely different. Actually, I'm not sure what I am," Kami glowered as he began rambling. "My situation is a bit different. You refer to me as 'Kami', but that isn't my real name. Kami is actually a post, a designation for the Earth's god. You could be Kami one day."
"Really?" The Saiyan's eyes expanded at the mention of it. Kami had been a great teacher and a secondary father figure to Goku. Taking over his job one day didn't sound too bad.
"But that hopefully won't be for a long time," The deity chuckled. "But as I was saying I belong to the Shinjin pantheon. The Kai's and Kaioshin are the head gods but several other deities, such as myself, are under their jurisdiction."
"Diana worships the Greek gods. I actually met one of them when I was younger. How do they fit into the puzzle though?"
"They coexist with the Shinjin. They have their own rules and regulations though. The places you previously mentioned, Tartarus and the Elysian fields, are locations in their afterlife."
"Why did I end up in this specific afterlife though? I thought I would go to Hades."
"You didn't end up there because you don't believe in the Olympians."
"But I do believe in them! I've met them before and I know they exist." Goku rebutted. The rest of the world may have stopped believing in them, but Chikyu's hero knew the truth.
"You believe in them but you don't worship them. Did you pray to them? Did you honor them? Did you ask for their guidance? I know your wife did."
"No...I didn't." The Saiyan finally admitted. His wife was the one who was a firm believer in the Greek gods. He merely showed respect, but not once had he ever prayed to them.
"And there lies your answer," Earth's guardian said with a smile. "The afterlife people end up in depends on their belief system."
"Their belief system?"
"Their religion or faith in other words. Diana believes in the Greek gods. If she ever dies she'll end up in their afterlife. The same thing applies to people of other faiths."
"Oh okay," Goku paused as he pondered Kami's words. "But I don't have a faith. I never prayed to the Shinjin. Heck, this is my first time ever hearing of them."
"I knew you'd ask that eventually," The Namekian grinned as he raised a finger. "The Otherworld, the place we are currently at, is a junkyard of sorts."
"A junkyard?" King Yemma parroted as he finally joined the discussion.
"Oh no, I didn't mean it like that King Yemma." Kami nervously chuckled as he anxiously waved his arms. Offending the owner of the check-in desk was something he did not want to do.
"What your prasinous friend meant to say," The red ogre glared at the Earth's guardian. "Was that the Otherworld is a place where people with no particular faith go to." [1]
"So everyone who doesn't believe in something ends up here?" The Saiyan inquired further.
"Yes, everyone," King Yemma continued. "As you can imagine that's a lot of souls in a Universe as big as ours."
"What happens if I start believing in a pantheon of gods though?"
"You'll be judged by whatever belief system they have. But since you're already dead that's not going to be possible."
"So my wife and I will be separated once we finally die huh?" The Saiyan frowned as he reached that sudden epiphany. That just wasn't fair!
"I can see you're displeased with that tidbit of information. But if you wouldn't mind...can we finally get down to business!" King Yemma shouted as he slammed his fist into the gigantic desk beneath him. He was an incredibly busy man.
"Oh yes, my apologies King Yemma," Kami quickly apologized for wasting his precious time. He had completely lost track of time during his conversation with Goku. "We're here because we have one special request to ask of you."
December
Age 761 (2011), Batcave
"Master Bruce you've been at this all day, I think you should take a break."
Remaining impassive Batman slumped further into his chair. He couldn't afford to take a break right now. The stakes were too high for him to even consider momentary relaxation. He had to find a way to prepare the Earth, as well as himself, for the threat to come. Chances could not afford to be taken.
"I know you named yourself after a Bat, but even they do not remain in the dark constantly."
Bruce scowled as he finally swiveled around in his chair to face his butler, and life long friend. It had been what? Two days since he had lead the cave? That was normal for him.
"It's only been 48 hours Alfred."
"Actually, it's been 120," His butler said matter-of-factly. "Quite frankly this isn't healthy, even for you."
Had it really been that long? The dark knight couldn't believe he had let time escape like that. Had he been that caught up watching footage of Raditz arrival? The stubble underneath his cowl was unnaturally long. He usually shaved every two days.
"You're right Alfred," Bruce finally conceded as he rested his chin on his fist. "Is everything at Waynetech okay?"
His ever faithful butler simply nodded. "I informed them that you were out of the country on business."
"Thank you," Bruce curtly replied as he breathed a sigh of relief. Alfred always covered for him when he got lost in his work. "It's getting harder and harder to manage both aspects of my life."
Alfred snorted. This was something he already knew. Balancing Batman and Bruce Wayne was truly a juggling act. It was getting to the point where Alfred was struggling to remember who the real person was. Bruce was slowly becoming a mask for Batman.
"When you started this campaign against crime in Gotham I was one hundred percent behind you," Bruce had been so young when his need for justice had overtaken him. "But I'm beginning to see the true toll it's taking on you. These late nights, the lack of sleep, the physical punishment...is it worth it?"
Batman frowned as he slowly removed the cowl from his face. Dangling the black polyester in his face he contemplated Alfred's words. Batman was more than an alter ego for him, it was who he truly was. In the grand scheme of things, his life didn't matter. If he didn't stand up to injustice, who would?
"The worth isn't the true question Alfred, the success of my mission is. My life or death doesn't mean anything at all. In a world where beings fly, shoot lasers from their eyes, and produce energy capable of destroying cities I am truly meaningless."
"Master Bruce don't say that." Hearing those words was like putting a bullet through Alfred's heart. He didn't intend for his honest questioning to result in this.
"Let me finish old friend," Bruce halted him as he raised a hand. "I am meaningless in the power hierarchy of this new age that we are entering into. I have no gifts of my own to do battle with, save my mind. How successful can be with that alone?"
"Your mind isn't your only gift," Alfred contested as he flicked on the lights in the Batcave. "You are one of the greatest martial artists on the planet."
"I was Alfred. I was," Bruce sighed as he tossed his cowl onto the floor. "Ki has made my martial arts skills almost obsolete."
"What do you mean?"
"Anything that I can do physically can be easily overmatched by someone who can use Ki. The only reason I've been able to defeat Talia Al Ghul in our encounters is because she lacks the ability to use it."
"Then why not learn how to channel?" Bruce was never one to back down from a challenge.
"It could possibly take decades for someone who isn't Homo Magki to learn it. Talia's father learned how to channel it without being part of that subspecies, but only because he had the necessary time to do so. Six hundred years is time I cannot afford."
"Ah yes, I almost completely forgot about that," Alfred crossed his arms as he sighed. "The Homo Magki have an advantage over you on that."
Finally rising from his chair Bruce began pacing around the Batcave. There were numerous artifacts that served as a trophy case of sorts. A mask from the joker, a giant penny from Two-Face, but did any of it truly matter in the end. They were all small fries in the pecking order. Raditz had shown him just how vulnerable and weak he was.
How would he be able to fight these new Saiyans?
"When I left Gotham to embark on my worldwide training trip I was completely clueless about the world. I ignorantly believed that my training would be enough to protect Gotham. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that beings so powerful existed on our planet. The World's Martial Arts tournament was my first real exposure to true power. Everything I believed was shattered that day."
"But you pressed on, you continued to training irrespective of the gifts you witnessed."
"At the time, I did so because the majority of those gifts were in hands of the good. But now," Bruce's next sentence lingered in the air before he finally spoke. "Maniacal aliens are threatening to kill us all."
"So you're giving up then?" Alfred asked with a brow raised.
"Never!" Bruce indignantly replied. "I just don't know where to go from here."
"The answer is simple master Bruce," Alfred smiled as the man he had sworn to take care of glanced at him. "You keep going. Even without superpowers or Ki, there's no one more capable of defeating them than you. You'll find a way."
December
Age 761 (2011), The Sahara Desert
"What type of monster is he?!" Piccolo's breathing slowed as the sweat dripped from his forehead. His hand was still trembling in terror, but he still managed to control his motor functions. "Unbelievable."
That was the only word which could encapsulate the chain of events that had just taken place before him. As normal he had dropped Gohan off in a remote location for training. Yesterday it had been Antarctica, but the Namekian had been in a particularly good mood today. He had decided to go somewhat easy on the three-year-old. He had dropped him off in the middle of the Sahara desert.
There were no cities, villages, or huts for hundred of miles where Piccolo had released him. Gohan was forced to survive on his own. Taking his normal position high in the sky, far away from leering eyes, Ma Junior inspected him. Goku's son was not at all bothered by the scorching climate and trudged on like a true warrior. By now Piccolo had come to expect this, seeing as how the Demi-Saiyan was a prodigy.
All had seemingly gone well until night time. Gohan had been practicing new battle techniques when suddenly, his focus had been broken. Though he was a mere child, Gohan's attention has hard to capture. The pubescent boy fell into a strange trance as he stared at the full moon. It was then that all hell broke loose.
Ma Junior was sure he had seen all of Earth's wonders, but Gohan had amazed him today. The hybrid had transformed into a gigantic ape. Almost instantly the mindless monster went on a horrific rampage. Fortunately, there was no one around for miles. The endless grains of sands bore the brunt of the monster's rage. Even more frightening had been its power.
With that transformation, Gohan had become even more powerful than Raditz. His power skyrocketed to a frightening level. If not for his quick thinking Piccolo would have been dead right now. The Namekian smartly deduced the source of Gohan's powers; his tail. Swiftly slicing it off Gohan had reverted to normal form. He would have been doomed otherwise.
Now as he hovered over the unconscious child Piccolo was faced with a dilemma. The full moon had played a part in his transformation. If the other Saiyans shared the same ability, the Earth would be powerless to stop them. He could destroy the moon but the planet would suffer as a result. The Earth's ecosystem was dependent on it. But there wouldn't even be an Earth to worry about if the Saiyans transformed into those apes.
I have to do it! It's better to take the preemptive strike. What I do now is for the sake of the Earth.
"Don't do it!"
Piccolo stopped dead in his tracks as a new voice emerged. It sounded almost ethereal.
"Reveal yourself!" The Namekian demanded. There was no one around them for miles. He couldn't even feel a Ki presence.
"I'm here." In the blink of an eye, a rather large white owl fluttered in front of Piccolo.
"An owl? Is this a joke?" Ma Junior asked incredulously. This was almost a scene straight out of Harry Potter.
"I wish there was something to joke about, but there isn't. I am only here because of the dire circumstances."
"The Saiyans you mean?"
"No, a threat even greater than them."
"Greater than the Saiyans?" This was just his luck. "What is it now?" Piccolo sighed, his words dragging as he asked.
"It regards Gohan's mother."
"Diana." Piccolo quickly realized.
Following Goku's death, Batman had scoured his home for answers. Wonder Woman had gone missing during the most crucial of moments, and that was not her character. With Superman's help, he was able to find a letter she had left behind. It detailed Diana's reason for leaving, revealing she had gone to Themyscira. Unfortunately for the Earth's heroes, when they had ventured to the island, there was nothing there. Bulma had been completely flabbergasted.
"What happened to her?" Quite frankly the Namekian didn't really care, but Diana's power would be of great use.
"Let's just say there was a big dispute within our family."
"Our family?" Ma Junior repeated. The words she had used along with her appearance shed light on who she really was. "You're Athena!"
"Correct." The Owl nodded as it landed on the Namekian's shoulder.
"Will Wonder Woman be returning anytime soon?"
"That's completely dependent on my mother. But she is alive for the time being."
"Well that's of no use to me," Piccolo scowled as he folded his arms. "Why did you come here anyways? You're interrupting serious business."
"I thought you would like my help, but your attitude says otherwise. I can gladly go elsewhere if you're going to continue being so -"
"Your point has been made," Athena was a god. Turning her away wouldn't be the smart thing to do.
"Good," The goddess smiled. "As I was saying. Wonder Woman will be of no help to Earth right now. I'm working on a plan to assist her though. But those affairs are my own and I cannot include you mortals in them."
"Fair enough." Piccolo shrugged. Helping his arch-nemesis wife wasn't exactly on his to-do list anyways.
"I am here to help concerning my nephew, though. He has a great future ahead of him," The tapestry of the fates had decreed it. Gohan would be the one to bring great change to the Universe. "But he cannot control his power right now." [2]
"What do you suggest I do then?"
"Let me seal it."
"Seal it? I'm sure you already know about the Saiyans that are on the way. We need every advantage we can get."
"But at what cost? You've seen what Gohan is capable of. If left unchecked he could destroy the planet before they even get here. You have no experience dealing with the child of a god!"
"The child of a god?" Confusion settled onto the Namekian's face. Goku was just a Saiyan, that meant Diana was an Olympian! "How is that possible?"
"I've said too much already," Athena mentally berated herself. That nugget of information shouldn't have been shared. "I will seal his divine powers until he is of age. His normal strength will be left alone though."
"I...I can agree to that," Ma Junior begrudgingly accepted. Gohan's potential godly abilities were something he had no expertise in. "But what about the moon?"
"I will deal with it when the time comes. I will make sure the Saiyans are unable to use it to their benefit. Their might is nothing in comparison to my own."
"Too bad you gods only care to meddle in our affairs when it benefits you," His shared knowledge with Kami granted him the history of the Olympians. "Get it over then, I don't have all night."
December
Age 761 (2011), The Himalayas
"We've been up here for days Tien, I think it's time we move one."
"Just one more day Chiaotzu and I promise we'll leave."
The mime-like man groaned, but eventually slumped into the frosty snow. Meditation was vital to their training, but at this point, Chiaotzu felt they had done enough. They had been up here for close to a week now, doing the same exact thing every day. Things were becoming monotonous, even for him. They had agreed to train in a different location every week, so the former assassin was baffled as to why they remained here.
"We'll be done soon enough Chiaotzu, I promise."
"Time is of the essence, Tien. The more time we waste here the closer those Saiyans get to Earth."
In truth, there was a secret reason why Tien had chosen to remain here for the time being. Sure, the Himalayas were a beautiful place, and there was a spiritual aura surrounding it, but he had come here for a completely different reason. These mountains held the last reported sightings of Lady Shiva. Though he had long ago abandoned his allegiance to the League of Assassins, he still maintained ties with Shiva. Following their last encounter, she dropped a bombshell on him; she was pregnant.
The world's most dangerous female assassin was far from promiscuous and had only been sleeping with one person to his knowledge. Everything seemingly pointed to Tien being the father. He had spent the past several months hunting her down until Raditz had arrived. The Saiyan's rampage and subsequent murder had halted everything. But even as they trained for greater threats, his mind remained fixed on locating her.
I hate withholding all the information from Chiaotzu, but he didn't exactly leave on good terms with Shiva. I need to confirm it's absolutely true before I reveal this to him. If she's lying, it wouldn't be the first time. I know there are more important tasks at hand, but I can't just let this go. I need answers.
December
Age 761 (2011), Diablo Desert
"They say home is where the heart is," Smiling to himself, Yamcha scanned his old stomping grounds. It was exactly how he remembered it. "I haven't been here in years. Time sure does fly."
Hovering into the air, memories began to flood the lone wolf's mind. His days as a bandit weren't the most moral, but they were some of the best times of his life. Everything had been so simple, so easy, back then. Tagging along with Puar, the duo robbed and stole everything they needed. They survived in the wilderness alone, off pure instinct.
Unfortunately, those days were long gone. He didn't miss the thievery or his former life of deception. But he did miss its beautiful simplicity. The world was so small back then, and easy to compartmentalize. But now he was dealing with alien invaders from another planet.
His position in the Universe was getting smaller by the day. Goku had changed his life the day they had met. Following that event things only got stranger. Demons, monsters, magic and an assortment of other supernatural things became a staple in his life. Yamcha's power grew, but other beings often dwarfed him.
In all honesty, he hadn't felt useful since his first world's martial art's tournament. But now he had the opportunity to change all that. Goku's death had been a tragedy, but the Saiyan had died a hero. Yamcha had to do him proud. It was his turn to finally step up to the plate.
After all these years and failures; I can finally correct my mistakes.
December
Age 761 (2011), Aokigahara
Suicide forest. It was an offsetting name, and quite frightening to outsiders, but Krillin didn't mind. The terrible connotation it held didn't bother the former monk at all. Surprisingly it was actually very peaceful here. Aside from a few curious tourists, there wasn't anyone here to impede his training.
When he had received news of Goku's death he had been crushed. Goku was his dearest friend, stretching back to their days under Master Roshi's tutelage. The fact that the combined efforts of the Earth's heroes had barely been enough to defeat Raditz, had been quite unsettling. Even worse was the fact that these approaching Saiyans were believed to be even more powerful.
Aliens, who would have thought it?
The revelation of Goku's true lineage had been a shock, but easy to digest. It explained all of his quirks and unnatural abilities. No matter how hard Krillin trained Goku seemed to pick up things easier than him. His strength was monstrous, even for a Ki user, and his now detached tail was completely out of the norm. It all made sense once Bulma had broken it down to him.
The Capsule Corps heiress had rounded up her old friends in hopes that they would be able to defeat Piccolo. The former demon king had kidnapped Gohan, much to her dismay. But Batman had ultimately dissuaded them. The Earth didn't need any more unnecessary conflicts. Plus, as much as they hated to admit it, Piccolo was best suited to train Gohan. Things most certainly would have gone differently if Wonder Woman were present though.
Diana where are you?
The Amazon princess was another dear friend of Krillin's. She had married his best friend after all. Her disappearance had been extremely unsettling and had resulted in a worldwide search for her. So far nothing had come up though. It appeared the world would have to make due without it's most powerful hero.
Krillin had gotten to so used to depending on her. The Diana and Goku handled most of Chikyu's threats. Krillin had mostly been at ease when she had been around. Sure, there were occasional instances which called for his help, but most of his time was spent relaxing in the sun. That dependency had made him weak. It was something he sought to rectify with his training.
The Earth is counting on me and I can't let it down. There's no one else to rely on but me. I don't know how Goku is so carefree with all this pressure. I have to rise to the occasion now.
December
Age 761 (2011), Areopagus, The abode of Ares
"So your plan succeeded?"
"It did brother and it was surprisingly easy too."
"How so?" Ares questioned as he scrutinized his sister. His numerous attempts to destroy the Amazons had always failed, how had she been victorious?
"With careful planning of course," Strife chuckled with a snort. The god of wars plans were always so convoluted. Hers had been rather simple. "It began when daddy dearest tried to capture the Dragonballs." [3]
"All those years ago, I remember," Ares mused as he recanted that round table meeting. "Father had been so adamant about retrieving them."
"And I was the one who had slipped the idea into his mind, mental suggestion is quite powerful," The magenta goddess grinned, as she took a sip from her ever-present glass of wine. "I knew he would select the Amazons for the task and select his daughter to do it. I was more than happy to be his messenger." [4]
"Zeus played favorites as usual." Ares grumbled.
"But that's what our father does," Strife shrugged. The king of the gods was as biased as any mortal. "Our little sister failed in retrieving the Dragonballs and ultimately could not betray her friends."
"How pitiful. Those bonds and relationships will only tie her down."
"And they have brother. It's why she got exiled remember?"
"How could I forget? That was such a wonderful day." A toothy smile gleamed underneath Ares helmet.
"From there I simply planted the seeds of distrust by telling Derinoe the truth. You wouldn't believe how scorned, older lovers can be." [5]
"Derinoe was a loyal fool."
"Hippolyta's old flame did the rest. She freed Alkyone and began creating dissension on Themyscira," Even Strife had to commend that old crone for her strategic abilities. "Years of subversion along with poor leadership by Hippolyta finally culminated."
"This plan of yours took far too long now that I think about it." Ares commented as he thought about all the years that had been wasted.
"But what is time to an immortal?" Strife had an eternity to succeed. Time was meaningless to her. "Creating a clone of Hippolyta was quite ingenious on Derinoe's part." [6]
"Her revolt was successful too." Ares added. He had watched the brutal battle from this same realm.
"But of course, she wouldn't have succeeded without my gift."
"The apples you mean?"
"Of course," Strife smiled. They were her favorite possessions. "That was the little push the Amazons needed, and Hera simply did the rest."
"Mother's jealousy and anger is something even I do not wish to invoke," Ares grimaced, an involuntary shudder going down his spine. "So mother destroyed them?"
"No, they aren't dead. Hades hasn't received any new Amazons since their civil war," Strife frowned. That was rather displeasing. "But on the bright side, they no longer exist on the earthly plane."
"But they are gone, though?"
"Yes, they won't be able to impede on your plans. You're not worried about the Saiyans though?"
The god of war scoffed. "I could eliminate them with the blink of an eye if I pleased. Those mortals will defeat them anyways."
"So we're on to phase two then?"
"Of course sister. The time for waiting is over."
January
Age 762 (2011), Cadmus Island
"Be careful with that! We need his body to be in pristine condition." Amanda Waller barked as she berated a clumsy scientist.
"I..I'm sorry." The nervous man quickly apologized.
"Don't apologize, do better." Amanda growled as she grabbed him by his collar.
"I don't think your attitude is helping them Amanda."
"That's Ms. Waller to you. And I don't believe I asked for your opinion," The ebony woman scowled as she turned to face Dr. Gero. "You're lucky you're not in prison right now."
Amanda's temperament alienated his work staff, but he could not refute her point. He was a member of a fallen terrorist organization. He had been fortunate to even be offered this job. The Red Ribbon Army had been his life, but following its fall he had nothing. This job had become his saving grace.
"My apologies," The scientist swallowed. He would have to put up with her for the time being. "But we work better in a relaxed environment."
"You'll work in whatever environment I give you," As far as Amanda was concerned; she owned Dr. Gero. "I'm doing you an unnecessary favor by even bringing him here. Argus is looking everywhere for Raditz body. I brought him to you because I know you're the most capable man for the job."
The scientist's eyes widened at this. Was she actually complimenting him? "Of course, and I'm extremely delighted to begin examining him. But why did you bring him here though?"
"Steve Trevor is a fool," Amanda stated bluntly. She was the secretary of Metahuman affairs, but Steve had been chosen to lead Argus. "He's too weak and kindhearted to do what's truly necessary. I know his moral code would never allow him to mutilate a dead corpse. Raditz body potentially holds secrets that we need to know."
Spite. It was always some petty reason which led to political disagreements. Amanda Waller might have deluded herself into believing she was doing this for her country's interests, but Dr. Gero knew better. At the base of this was her anger for being skipped over. He would have to play along though.
"I agree, which is why I'll immediately begin working on it."
"You had better," The secretary threatened, with a pointed finger. "For all our sakes."
A big thank you to everyone who reviewed chapter 16!
Authors Note: Over 450 reviews! Thank you so much for all the love. I can't believe it's already been two years since I published this story. Time sure does fly.
[1]: Numerous people in previous chapters have asked for an explanation about the various afterlife's in this story. Everything is based on belief. Diana believes in the Greek gods, so she will go to them when she dies. If you have no particular belief you end up in the jurisdiction of the Shinjin. They also oversee the use of Ki in the broader Universe. Otherworld is based solely on deeds, and not beliefs like other afterlife's might be.
[2]: Gohan's hidden potential is even more destructive due to his lineage in this story. Athena has to take some precautions to keep him from unraveling underneath all it's might.
[3]: This took place back in chapter 5.
[4]: This took place in chapter 7
[5]: This took place in chapter 10
[6]: Took place in chapter 14
Q/A:
Jackalope89: A Goku/Superman fusion just has to occur though, they are the main characters of this story lol. The red head in question is an alien, and she isn't Starfire. I only mean SSG, no SSB or above. The story will feature the Teen Titans, but that will be much later down the line. I went back and edited those mistakes.
Neobahamut86: The DBZ cast will participate in a DC event in the future.
Rowknan: Hopefully my writing wasn't as wordy this chapter.
Edgar H. Sutter: The Vega system is where Tamaran and those other planets are located.
Anubis9 lord of death: This story will include some DBZ movie villains, but not all of them. The DBZ cast are still heroes, just not superheroes. The villains will still try and kill them lol.
Ferdiad: Diana's power will plateau eventually.
Moshe30350redstar: Turles and Bardock are brothers in this story. Goku went to the DBZ afterlife.
Aztec 13: Turles doesn't have the tree of might yet.
Bruno Zaigot: I went back and edited those mistakes. Thanks for the kind words.
RecklessBaka: I'm not entirely using the New 52 plot, but it is heavily based on it. Alkyone is a character that appeared in Post-Crisis. I chose to use it because I was reading those storylines when I came up with this story. I'm drawing from all forms of DC comics media, so I'm not using any particular story. The only characters that are probably going to appear from Dragonball Super will be Beerus and Whis. Dragonball Super is changing too many plans I already had.
Outplace: The legion of superheroes will not be appearing in this story. Frieza already knows about the existence of other powerful beings. He has an organization that spans hundreds of planets.
NoNameReviewer: Cell will be even more powerful than he was in canon. Trunks will be from this Universe.
Jackalope89: I'm probably not going to include a lot of things from DBS. I already had this story planned out before it was released.
JOEL: Frieza and the Green Lanterns relationship will be explored in future chapters.
Beerus123: It depends on the specific DBZ character and Olympian god.
Ninan 222: The afterlife varies for different characters depending on their beliefs.
Goku122222: DC characters can be resurrected by the Dragonballs.
Sheploo: Not sure what your question is.
crayonraisin: What Maxima/Superman story are you talking about?
Uub God Of Destructuon: Uub will show up in this story later on down the line. Goten will appear as well.
