Thoughts
Computer Speech
"Speech"
Disclaimer: DC and the Dragonball Franchise belong to their respective owners; I own nothing.
Chapter 57: Iceberg I
January 14th
Age 763 (2013), Themsycira
"We are gathered here in the remembrance of our sisters, all those who were tragically lost during our civil war," Diana said solemnly. She swallowed hard and fought back rising tears as she tried to keep her composure. She had to be strong for her people's sake. Thousands of eyes were staring at her, clinging to every word she uttered. She stood high on a small wooden podium near the forefront of a beach, overlooking the massive crowd of Amazons below her. They stretched all the way back to the forest, and some Amazons were even sprinkled amongst the trees.
"We were manipulated by outside forces. Some were gods, and others arose from amongst us. They sowed division and wrought chaos that nearly consumed us all. We fought over things that could've been resolved through diplomacy and dialogue."
Numerous faces in the congregation grimaced. Diana's eyes narrowed in on Aleka, whose face was blanketed with bruises that she had caused. The redhead had been one of the unfortunate warriors who'd run into the princess on the battlefield. She had a cast on her left arm and bandages around her waist, but still managed to look beautiful in her white chiton.
"Everyone has lost someone they cared about, whether they be a friend, comrade, lover, or a sister. All of us share collective grief, though some more than others. We will never forget the Themyscirans who died, nor shall we forget the folly that led to the loss of so many lives. A monument shall be erected in remembrance of all those who perished."
Euboea had suggested the idea, and Wonder Woman had wisely taken her council. Once the repairs to Paradise City were complete, the Amazons would erect a statue in the center of the city to commemorate the lives of the fallen. It was a project Iphthime would have loved to be a part of.
"Some of our sisters died during the onset of the civil war when my mother was overthrown and didn't receive a proper burial. Today, we remember them and all those who perished throughout the civil war, including its final battle. The casualties our island took are incalculable, and a numerical value can't be placed on the value of the lives that were lost."
Throughout the week leading up to the funeral, Philippus had done a headcount of the remaining Amazons. Prior to the civil war, there had been roughly one million Amazons, and now barely five hundred thousand remained. The civil war had split the Amazons in half, literally and figuratively, and it was evident in today's gathering. The crowd in front of Diana was enormous but was only one-third of what it should've been. Thousands of Amazons were still in various infirmaries, and the others were dead.
"This is the last time we shall see our sisters, and we are here to bid them a safe journey into the afterlife. May Charon accept our fare and usher our sisters into the Elysian Fields, and may the gods be merciful to our sisters. As your quee -" Wonder Woman paused, struggling to say the words. They felt sacrilegious to say. Her mother had been queen for ages and was still alive, albeit in statue form. The Amazons had voted her as their new liege and the sparkling crown on her head signified that position, but mentally she would always view herself as nothing more than a princess.
"As your queen," Diana's face soured. Nubia gave her a look, and she continued. "As your queen, death is something I don't expect any of you to succumb to. We are immortal beings with an infinite lifespan. Death is a rarity to Amazons, but it is an excellent reminder of how fragile our lives are when it does occur. We should honor our fallen sisters by embracing peace, cherishing our loved ones, and abstaining from the hatred which nearly tore our civilization apart. If we do that, we shall forge a brighter tomorrow, and the battles they fought won't have been for naught."
Diana descended from the podium to the sound of applause. She wore a long alabaster himation that dangled to her brown sandals. The Amazons clapped and cheered as she walked towards Philippus, who stood waiting with open arms. She clasped Diana's hands before pulling her into a hug. "You did good, Diana. Your mother would've been proud," The ebony woman said as she rubbed Diana's back soothingly.
Those words meant everything to her, and Diana would've loved to stay in Philippus's embrace, but she pulled herself away to attend to other matters.
She made a signal to the crowd, and a cluster of Amazons stepped forward. They were all dressed similarly to Aleka, clothed in white chitons, though theirs were overlapped with a white shroud that covered their faces. They had bows and arrows in their hands. Wonder Woman lit a match and sparked a fire that she passed to the tip of every bow, and once the arrows were lit, the archers fired them, aiming them at a gigantic funeral pyre on the shores of the beach.
The pyre was made up of colossal logs of wood that extended from one end of the beach to the other. There were hundreds of bodies laid across the wood, dressed in their finest garments. Gold coins had been placed on their eyes and tongues as symbolic payment for the River Styx. The arrows pierced the wood, and flames burst to life, dancing upward into the sky.
A melodic voice from the crowd, who was most likely Euboea, started a hymn, and the rest of the assembly followed. It was a song that detailed the cycle of a mortal's life. It was known to all Amazons, though none liked to sing it except at funeral processions. Diana's voice joined the harmonic choir, and members of the crowd began to lock hands with one another. Several feet away, Donna was weaving her way through the sea of Amazons to reach her sister.
Few Amazons had wanted her here, but Diana had insisted that her sister be present. In the end, it had been settled that Donna could attend, but only if she remained in the background, away from prying eyes. But the funeral was almost at its conclusion, and the hood on her robes was draped over her face, making it nearly impossible for anyone to recognize her, including her own sister. Wonder Woman was surprised when she felt a clammy hand interlock with her free one. Donna lifted her hood just enough for her sister to see the outline of her face.
They shared a smile and squeezed each other's hands, watching the smoke from the fire rise. Themyscira had a long road to recovery, but the first step had just been taken.
January 14th
Age 763 (2013), Hall of Justice, Washington, D.C.
"How great of a threat is Frieza?" Batman asked as he leaned forward in his seat, placing his elbows on a large round table as he interlocked his fingers underneath his chin. His eyes were focused squarely on Hal Jordan, who was debriefing every member of the Justice League with newfound info from the Guardians of the Universe.
"The Guardian's spies in the Planet Trade Organization have heard whispers that King Cold, Frieza's father, is embarking on a project to rebuild his body. King Cold is powerful in his own right but is nothing compared to his son. Even if Frieza is only half as powerful as he used to be, that will still present a monumental threat to Earth."
Superman's jaw clenched, and he sighed, earning a look from Batman, who was seated beside him. "Goku did a good job when he defeated Frieza, but now his sights will be set on our planet in his quest for revenge."
"He should've killed him when he had the chance. Someone as dangerous as Frieza sounds shouldn't be allowed to live," Aquaman said. He fidgeted with the golden trident in his lap, and it glowed alarmingly, much to Barry Allen's dismay.
"I'm totally against killing," The Flash said, his eyes still locked on the weapon to the left of him. "But it wouldn't have necessarily been a bad thing in this situation if Frieza had died on Namek."
Batman shot him a glare filled with all the contempt the world contained. "No," the dark knight said firmly. "The Justice League is staunchly against murder."
"And since when did you get to dictate the laws of our team?" Aquaman raised a haughty brow and crossed his arms over his broad chest.
"He doesn't," Superman quickly answered. "But I agree with Batman; we don't kill. We leave the judicial process to the law. I refuse to venture into that realm."
"As much as I hate to say this, Kal-El, but we may soon be forced to play the role of a judge if what Hal Jordan says is true," The Martian Manhunter spoke. He had been deathly quiet for the first half of the meeting, but this conversation required his input. "If Frieza comes to Earth, and I doubt he will come alone, how do we plan to handle him and his forces?"
"The same way we handled Starro," Bruce stated matter-of-factly. "We'll place him in the Phantom Zone."
"Actually, I'm pretty sure the Guardians will want him to be detained and taken to Oa," Hal objected. He knew his smug little leaders, and he doubted they would allow one of their greatest enemies to evade prosecution by their hands.
"Well, both ideas sound good to me; what's the problem, J'onn?" The Flash asked as his head swiveled between teammates. The Martian sat next to Hal, and his face was grimacing.
"We all saw Gohan's memories, didn't we?" J'onn asked the table, and they all collectively said yes, except for Aquaman and Hal Jordan, who had only been told of what had occurred on Namek. "Frieza's power is beyond anything we've ever faced. Let's say we somehow manage to have Frieza on the ropes in a best-case scenario; what's to stop him from destroying our planet like he did to Namek?"
Barry's hand rose to reply but fell limply to his sides as he pondered J'onn's words. Unlike Starro, Frieza wouldn't care about conquering their planet, and he'd have no qualms about annihilating it.
"Nothing….nothing would stop Frieza from blowing up this planet and killing us all," Aquaman responded through grit teeth. Frieza sounded like the culmination of every evil the world possessed, which made the Justice League's hesitancy to kill him even more mindboggling. "If the opportunity presents itself, I will kill Frieza, and there is nothing any of you can do to change that."
"I respect your authority as king of Atlantis, Aquaman," Superman turned, facing the sandy-haired man across the table. His hair had grown since their last encounter, and his locks were now inches away from his shoulders. "But above water, we work in unison. Here in this room, your opinion is valued and respected, but you don't get to make a decision unless we've all voted on it."
"Do you realize the power and authority I command? The people I'm responsible for? You and the rest of this motley crew can galavant around Earth with little to no repercussions because you bear no allegiances to anyone, save yourselves. I'm not so fortunate. Every act I make must factor in the millions and millions of citizens under my command. I refuse to allow a planet threatening despot to live just so you can sleep easy at night. Your morals and feelings aren't worth the potential lives we'd put at risk if we allow Frieza to live." Maybe it was because of his glittering gold costume or his ability to communicate with sea creatures, but land-dwellers didn't seem to take him seriously. He wasn't some mere superhero. He was the king of a drowned continent and would be respected as such.
"Things won't get to that point," Batman said calmly. The tension was thick in the air, and Arthur Curry was one comment away from inciting a full-blown argument. "Goku is still alive, and there's a possibility he'll return to Earth before Frieza arrives."
The Flash scratched his head and gave Batman a confused look. "But back at Bulma's place, you said - "
"What Barry's trying to say is that we can't bank on Goku for the time being," Superman interrupted. He was well aware of the conversation that had taken place at the Capsule Corps headquarters, and he refused to drag Gohan into this.
"Goku's son, Gohan, could be of great assistance to us. After all, Bruce, you did say that he would have to fill his father's shoes." J'onn said, floating out the idea that Clark had been dreading. Deep lines formed around the Kryptonian's mouth as he scowled, but Kal-El kept his thoughts to himself.
"You really said that, Batman?" Hal asked incredulously. The slits in his white domino mask widened. "You asked a four-year-old to help save the planet?" The idea sounded more ridiculous with each passing syllable.
"Look," Bruce's voice was low and flat. "I said what I said at the time to keep Gohan's spirits up. Goku's survived Namek, but his fate after that seemed uncertain. But after some contemplation, I have no doubt that Goku is in space somewhere, and it will only be a matter of time until he returns."
"Since you seem to hold all the answers, you might as well divulge when his return will be. This week? Next week? Next month? Two months from now?" Aquaman's irritation was getting the best of him. His Atlantean councilors would have never said anything so foolish without some semblance of proof.
"I don't know," Batman admitted. It was just a hunch, but a strong one.
"And now we're back to square one," The Martian Manhunter rubbed his temples. This was just one big circle.
"We can't rely on Goku, and we can't expect Gohan to live up to his father's name either. We formed this squad for situations just like this one. All of us will have to step up and do our part," It was just that simple in Superman's mind. "Starro caught us off guard, but now we have a chance to be preemptive against our next threat."
"This hasn't been mentioned yet, but what about the Dragonballs?" The Flash suggested with cautious hope. "I'm not one hundred percent sure how they work or function, but couldn't we just use the Dragonballs to get rid of Frieza?"
Hal placed a hand on his clean-shaven chin and said, "That's actually not a bad idea; it could work."
"The Dragonballs?" Aquaman repeated, the words sounding as foreign as the magic used in the object's creation. His teammates had informed him of what they were, and he didn't like the sound of it. Mystic wishes were rarely granted without some unwanted consequence. "I'm the only person at this table familiar with magic, and I object to the idea of using some dragon genie to fix our problems."
"It's not a genie," Barry said, sweatdropping. He had corrected Aquaman at least a dozen times, but the Atlantean still insisted on referring to the Dragonballs that way.
"Regardless of the terms or jargon you want to use, I don't support the idea," Aquaman slammed his green gloved fist on the steel table, hammering his point home. The table shook, rocking from side to side until Superman placed a hand on it.
"You were just upset about Batman purportedly dictating the laws of our team, and now you say this?" The hypocrisy was too glaring for Clark to omit. "The Dragonballs aren't your cup of tea; I get that. But they could potentially stop an invasion and prevent numerous deaths. At the very least, you should lend an open ear to that idea."
"Big Blue's got a point," Hal added in support. Aquaman glanced at the two of them and begrudgingly grunted.
"I'll listen, but as I continue to say, it's not wise to dabble with that kind of magic," He leaned back into his soft leather chair and motioned for any one of his colleagues to speak.
"The Dragonballs would be a splendid help, but they're currently inactive and are incapable of being used in their present stone state," Batman said sagely.
"That's true, but since Piccolo and Kami returned to life, we'll be able to use them again soon enough," Superman countered.
"Yes, but we seem to have forgotten the original goal of the trip to Namek. It wasn't to defeat Frieza and free the galaxy from his tyranny. The intent was to resurrect the people that had died during the attack of the Saiyans. As soon as the Dragonballs can be used again, that wish will take precedence."
"That…that's all true," The wind was taken out of Superman's sail, and he sat in silence for a brief moment. "All roads keep pointing back to the same thing; we'll have to handle Frieza on our own. We can't rely on any outside help."
"That might not be necessarily true," J'onn said, shaking his head. "We have a member of the Green Lantern Corps on our team. Surely, they can provide us with some help considering how dangerous Frieza is and the threat he's posed to the Guardians of the Universe." If there were ever a time for the Oans to lend a helping hand, it was now.
"I'm probably all the help this planet will be receiving for the time being," Hal's words sent the room into a frenzy.
"What? Why?" Superman blurted out.
"What use is an intergalactic police force if they refuse to offer their assistance? It's no small wonder why I scoff at your authority." Hal had proven himself to be capable on the battlefield, but the rest of the Green Lantern Corps had yet to earn Aquaman's respect.
Hal rolled his eyes at Arthur's remarks. "The Planet Trade Organization is in complete disarray right now as news of Frieza's defeat is spreading throughout the galaxy. The Guardians have the Green Lanterns stretched thin as they try to keep the peace."
"Wouldn't that be more of an incentive to keep an eye on the Earth? The man who defeated Frieza is from this planet. Surely, the Guardians must know that this is where Frieza will set his sights once he's recuperated," J'onn said.
"It seems obvious to me and the other Green Lanterns too, but the Guardians have their minds made up, and once those smurfs agree on something, it's almost impossible to change their mind." Hal squeezed his hand so tight it could've drawn blood. The Green Lantern Corps was the most effective law enforcement agency in the Universe, but when it came to their leaders, they were as powerless as the people they protected.
"Can you fill us in on what's going on in the galaxy?" Batman asked. His interest had shifted to more pressing matters. The Green Lanterns were a dead end, but at the very least, their knowledge would be useful.
"Several planets under Frieza's control are threatening open rebellion. It's something that was once inconceivable. Frieza ruled through fear and unquestioned might. The fact that someone in the galaxy was stronger than him has given hope to a lot of races and species. Not to mention the fact that Frieza's brother, Cooler, is waiting in the wings, ready to pounce if Frieza displays any further weakness."
"Frieza has a brother?!" Barry exclaimed as he practically leaped out of his seat. Things kept getting worse and worse.
"How powerful is Cooler compared to his brother?" Clark asked, a sliver of fear in his voice.
"Some reports say that Frieza and Cooler are equals, and this is Frieza at his peak before the injuries he suffered on Namek," Hal watched as the faces at the table paled, and even J'onn, whose skin was shamrock green, drained in color. "But there have been whispers and rumors in his corners of the Planet Trade Organization that he has found a way to surpass his brother."
The silence was deafening, and no member of the Justice League was eager to talk after Hal's bombshell.
"Well, at least we can go out swinging," Barry finally said after what felt like an eternity. He chuckled to himself, and that seemed to break the ice.
"I'm not prepared to die yet," Aquaman snapped. "But I like your willingness to fight."
"Uh….thanks?" The Flash said, unsure of how to perceive the comment.
"What's been made clear today is the need for teamwork. All hands are needed on deck if we're going to stand a chance against what's potentially coming," Superman scanned the table, making eye contact with everyone as he turned his head. "Hal, can you keep us updated on Frieza and his movements? The more we know, the sooner we can put together some semblance of a plan."
Hal nodded affirmatively. "I'll make sure I keep you guys in the loop with any additional information I get from the Corps's spies or any GL's."
"At this point, that's all we can really ask for," Superman said earnestly. "If no one has anything else to say, I think we can call this meeting adjourned."
January 14th
Age 763 (2013), Cadmus Island
"The United States government has truly spared no expense," Dr. Wheelo whistled in amazement as he stepped foot into a laboratory. It was gargantuan and dwarfed any of the conditions that the League of Assassins had given him to work with. Long, heavy steps led him further into the room, which seemed to have no end. It stretched as far as his singular eye could see, and numerous scientists were scurrying in different directions across the vast concrete floor, so focused on their assignment that none gave him a passing glance.
"It seems a bit gaudy for my tastes," Professor Ivo said dubiously as he rubbed his chin. He brushed past Dr. Wheelo and stopped a few paces ahead of him to further examine his newfound surroundings. He glanced around the lab with scrutinizing green eyes, inspecting all the various machinery it contained. There were large cylindrical tanks filled with teal liquid on every wall. The lid of the tanks was attached to thick black wires that zigzagged across a dimly lit ceiling, making it difficult to locate the wire's origin point.
"Whose idea was it to construct the lab this way?" Professor Ivo sucked his teeth and reached into his left pant pocket, pulling out a pair of thin glasses that he quickly wiggled onto his face. There was hardly any light in the room, and the few lights that the room did possess were carmine, casting an eerie red glow over the lab.
"It was my idea," Dr. Gero said as he crept up from behind. He strolled leisurely with his wrinkled hands clasped behind his back. "If the darkness in the room bothers you, I can turn on the additional lights." The former Red Ribbon Army scientist said almost mockingly.
Professor Ivo turned halfway and frowned at his soon-to-be partner's tone. "No, that's unnecessary. I'm a big boy; I'm not afraid of the dark."
"As you say," Dr. Gero inclined his head and set his sights on Dr. Wheelo. "I assume you have no problem with the lab?"
"Of course not; what do you take me for?" Dr. Wheelo snorted indignantly. He was an elderly man but could've been considered youthful in comparison to Dr. Gero. He had straggly white hair that hadn't been touched by a comb in weeks, and ever so often, it dangled over his face. He wore a white device with a red lens over his right eye, and his sharp-pointed goatee was just as white as his hair. He wore a white lab coat that was buttoned all the way up to the top and a brown pair of slacks.
"Well then, if no one else has anything to say, let's continue this little tour," Dr. Gero walked ahead of his fellow scientists and gestured for them to follow his lead. They kept a brisk pace as they trekked through the lab, passing by several scientists who paid them no mind. At different points, Dr. Gero paused to point out experiments of great significance. In truth, he could've halted every few seconds; there were numerous experiments in this particular lab, but that would've been too time-consuming. Instead, he only focused on the Android experiments and Cadmus's ever-amassing army of clones.
"Let me get this straight; The U.S. government is bankrolling all of this?" Professor Ivo asked. He already knew the answer to his question, but it was still unfathomable in his mind that the government would consent to an endeavor like this. His hands trailed the glass of a nearby tank, and he crouched low to read the name of the subject inside it. It was a decaying clone of Superman. The clone was naked, sickly thin, and had bones protruding out of every angle of its shriveling skin.
"That was one of the first attempts to clone a Kryptonian, and it didn't go so well," Dr. Gero's voice drawled as he stood over Professor Ivo. "But to answer your question, yes. The United States is funding every experiment in this lab and on this island."
Professor Ivo stood up and rotated around, meeting Dr. Gero face to face. He was taller than him but hunched down as he was now; their height difference was of little significance. "And what do you think the government will do with you once they've sucked your ideas dry and achieved all their aims?" Professor Ivo walked side by side with Dr. Gero, and Dr. Wheelo trailed not too far behind them, growling loudly at the stupidity of the question.
"The government will discard him just like the League of Assasins sought to discard me. Knowledge is power, and Dr. Gero knows far too much to be allowed to live. He's already a criminal, and the government will have no qualms about eliminating him," Dr. Wheelo glared a hole through the back of Professor Ivo's skull. This man was supposed to be a world-renown scientist, but so far, everything about him screamed incompetency, even the way he was dressed.
Professor Ivo was dressed like a golfer, and none of Dr. Wheelo's prior insults had convinced him to change his clothing. Professor Ivo wore a white dress shirt beneath a green, sleeveless sweater, and a bright red bow tie was pinned to the collar of his shirt. His dress shirt was tucked in his pants, and his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing lanky arms. He wore black pants that were one size too small, and they stopped just short of his ankles, showcasing a pair of fuzzy white socks.
"Everything you've said is true, and I have no illusions about the government's supposed goodwill towards me. Amanda Waller will have me killed once I'm of no further use to her," said dryly. He had come to grips with that reality when he'd first been detained.
"You seem content with your fate," Dr. Wheelo stroked his goatee. "But I refuse to go out like that. Amanda Waller will die by my hand. Her stupid task force killed my assistant, Dr. Kochin, during their mission to retrieve me."
"And the group she sent to capture me destroyed my ultimate creation, Amazo!" Professor Ivo ground his teeth, and for the first time, the redhead was visibly angry.
Dr. Gero shared their rage towards Amanda Waller, but he kept his emotions subdued. "Don't worry; Amanda will receive what she deserves soon enough," He gave an unsettling smirk and dug into his pocket, pulling out an orange keycard; they were finally here. At the end of the laboratory stood an electronic steel door that could only be accessed by the keycard in Dr. Gero's hand.
"Project Cell is behind those doors?" Professor Ivo asked as he watched the door's sensor scan Dr. Gero's keycard.
"What an astute observation. You're a genius," Dr. Wheelo said snarkily. "You have quite the knack for stating the obvious," Amanda Waller had informed them of their duty when she'd dropped them off at the island three days ago, and what else could possibly require this much security?
"Project Cell is behind these doors, but there's something else I want to show you," Dr. Gero said as the door finally slid open.
"What is it?" Professor Ivo and 's voices echoed together in unison.
Wisps of light peaked through from the other side of the door. "Inside, I will show you the means we'll use to take down Amanda Waller."
A big thank you to everyone who reviewed chapter 56!
Q/A:
Bebobp: The Namekians have remained out of sight, so only a few people even know they're on Earth.
Martiz S.G: When I first started writing this story, I had no idea how I would merge both worlds. Using Japan as the base of the Dragonball world seemed cliché and wouldn't have made sense for this story. Instead, I decided to make up a fictional country and use that as the location of the Dragonball world. DC has multiple fictional countries, so this is nothing new. I'm not aware of any other stories that did the same thing, so the comment about the originality of Chikyu is a bit confusing.
scl04: Honestly, writing the Suicide Squad interactions is my favorite part of every chapter. Your guess was correct about the radar. Wonder Woman is in for one hell of a surprise when she finally heads home. Don't worry; the Amazons will eventually discover that they've had help from outsiders. And as you saw in this chapter, Diana doesn't want to be queen, so that's going to be a problem.
tgminecraft18: Yes, Gohan could regrow his tail, and yes, the Dragonballs are inactive for now, but they will soon be active. Yes, Amanda Waller has Dr. Gero, but he doesn't have a dragon radar.
Ppsspp: I've said multiple times that I'm not doing Dragonball Super. I'm not going to do Dragonball GT either. There will be a story arc after the Cell saga that addresses the misuse of the Dragonballs. The only aspect of Super that I will include is SSG, Beerus, and Whis.
guardianx15: Yes, Saiyans are very durable, but their skin isn't invulnerable like a Kryptonian's. Goku's skin has been pierced by a needle, though that was only in the anime. And yes, Goten will have a sibling.
Fuckmegun: That's a good idea, and that would explain who taught Future Trunks swordsmanship. I hadn't that about any original techniques, but that does sound like a good one.
Guest: Future Trunks and Goku will be arriving soon.
Anonymous Mastermind: As Kevin Garnett once said, "Anything is possible!" lol.
Sean Malloy-1: Yep, that's a mistake on my part; thanks for pointing that out. I'll edit that.
VincentFS: That's a mistake on my part; thanks for pointing that out. I'll edit that.
Ayrton Senna: The prophecy concerning Gohan will be revealed later.
Kermit T Frog: 1. I changed some of the canon pairings, and Android 18/Krillin was one of them. I do have something planned for both of them, though. 2. Ra's will be the villain of an upcoming arc, so you'll see how big of a threat he is very soon. Ra's wasn't involved in the King Piccolo fight. 3. You and a lot of other people have been waiting for it. The reunion will happen after Frieza's arrival. 4. Diana would have an emotional reaction if she witnessed Master Roshi get hurt, they were close in her younger years, and he was part of her surrogate family at one point.
