Thoughts
Computer Speech/Robotic Speech
"Speech"
Disclaimer: DC and the Dragonball Franchise belong to their respective owners; I own nothing.
Chapter 58: Iceberg II
March 1st
Age 763 (2013), Fortress of Solitude, Antarctica
"Kelex, how long will this take?"
"Approximately ten minutes, Kal-El. Once I've concluded my examination and completed a bio-scan, I'll be able to diagnose what's going on with you."
With a soft sigh, Superman nodded and made himself comfortable, well as comfortable as any person could be strapped down to a metallic table. The table resembled an operating table but was triple the size of Clark's body and was made from an alien metal so rare that intergalactic wars were fought over it. The only reason Clark had managed to get his hands on a few pounds of the metal was because of an appreciative space merchant whose life he had saved. The Fortress of Solitude was littered with numerous gifts, weapons, and apparel that Clark had managed to collect over the years. Every nook and cranny of the Fortress featured something spectacular and jaw-dropping, but what Clark was most fond of was the statue of his parents, Laura and Jor-El.
The thirty-foot statue was carved from lilac crystals and mounted at the entrance of the Fortress of Solitude. Clark's mother and father were pictured hoisting the planet Krypton above their heads. Batman had visited a few times and had once commented how a similar statue of his parents would be appropriate for the Batcave. It had yet to come to fruition, but Bruce was slow to make additions to his lair. Bruce was as slow as Kelex seemed to be taking.
Superman peeled his eyes away from the statue of his parents and focused them on the gold-orange machine that was circling his body. Kelex's two slim scrawny arms were poking and prodding every inch of his torso. Kelex's would-be hands were three sharp pincers that could have gashed an ordinary man, but Clark was as invulnerable as ever. It was a painless feeling but a nuisance nonetheless. Kelex finished his observations on Clark's torso and proceeded to his legs.
Clark still couldn't see the correlation between this haphazard physical exam and the bio-scan, but Kelex never did anything without good reason.
"When would you say you first began noticing a change?" Kelex asked as he glanced at Superman. The robot's face was goggle-shaped, flat, and featureless, except for an electronic waveform that resembled an EKG. The waveform bounced from left to right on the screen that made up Kelex's face whenever the robot spoke. A thick flexible cable connected Kelex's head to his body, which was reminiscent of a wasp's abdomen.
"I began noticing a change in January, shortly after the Justice League's run-in with Vegeta."
"What happened specifically?"
"After that encounter with Vegeta, I started noticing that my powers were increasing. Little by little, I realized that things that usually required a strenuous effort were becoming easier and easier for me to overcome."
"Things like what?"
"For instance, in February, I assisted Hal Jordan in solving a planetary dispute. We ventured deep into space far beyond our solar system, something I had never done before. As you're well aware of, I can't breathe in space, but due to my Kryptonian physiology and the effects of a yellow sun, I can hold my breath for an extraordinary amount of time. Previously I could only hold my breath until I reached Jupiter before needing to return to Earth and catch my breath, but I was able to preserve well beyond Pluto and arrive in a totally different star system."
"What you previously established as your limits began to change," Kelex deduced.
"Yes, exactly. I single handily took out an alien armada without even requiring Hal Jordan's help and what was most surprising was the speed I did it with."
"How large was the armada?"
"The armada contained one hundred and thirty spaceships."
"And roughly how long did it take you to eliminate them?"
"Two minutes at most. Some were larger than others, and the biggest one was the same size as New York City."
"Fascinating, absolutely fascinating," Kelex said as he slowly retreated from Superman's legs. He hovered over Clark's head, beeping as he began the bio-scan.
"Fascinating? That's all you have to say?" Superman repeated with his brows knit. He had hoped for a more scientific response. Slight irritation seeped through his words, which Kelex quickly took notice of.
"I know you would've preferred for Dr. Shay Veritas to examine you, but unfortunately, she's occupied with her experiments in another dimension." Kelex said as he descended to the ground beside the examination table.
"Kelex, I never said…."
"You didn't have to. I may be a machine created by your father, but I'm not blind to emotions."
Clark couldn't deny that. It was the gift and the curse of Kelex's programming. His father, Jor-El, had designed Kelex to be emotionally intelligent, and his father had done too good of a job at it.
"Look, Kelex, it's not like that at all," Superman began. "Shay has been assisting me with a myriad of issues before I discovered you in the Fortress. She and I have a long-tenured relationship."
"A romantic one, possibly. Your heartbeat fluctuated at the mention of her name. I've yet to meet her in person, but per your numerous vivid descriptions, she would be a satisfactory mate for you, especially given her high intelligence."
Superman's face turned as red as the sigil on his chest. He coughed to clear his throat, but his embarrassment remained plastered on his features.
"I appreciate the sentiment, but Shay and I have a professional relationship, and it will remain that way."
"As you say," Kelex lifted his arms and gave a shrug. "But your mother and father's relationship began in a similar manner." The robot dropped the subject before Clark could respond and proceeded to the results of the bio-scan.
"This is only my initial diagnosis. A further examination will be required to gauge the veracity of these conclusions but based on what I've observed thus far, your cells are absorbing solar energy at a faster rate."
"I pondered that as a possibility, but I wasn't sure. My powers have fluctuated in the past based on things like my distance from the sun or solar flares."
"True as that may be, that's not the case in this situation. Your Kryptonian cells appear to be charging vast amounts of solar radiation at a rapid rate, leading to your increased abilities."
"There's no way for me to reverse that?"
"Why would you want to?" Kelex cocked his head to the side, perturbed. "Your increased abilities mean that you'll be able to better protect your adopted homeworld Kal-El."
"How can I protect it if I'm the one destroying it?" Clark murmured, but the words were still loud enough for Kelex's keen ears to hear them.
"Destroy? What are you referring to?"
"Earlier today, I nearly killed a criminal metahuman when I attempted to detain him. I collapsed Atlas's lungs when I punched him, and he's still hospitalized as we speak. Atlas and I have fought before, but that was when I knew what my limits were. But now, with my increased strength, there's no telling what I'm capable of. That's why I asked you to restrain me when I arrived at the Fortress." Superman lifted his arms for demonstration. Three circular metallic straps attached to his arms connected him to the table. Each one weighed millions of tons, but Clark had no doubt in his mind that he could snap them with a simple flex of his muscles.
"That is a significant problem."
"You said I was absorbing solar energy at a faster rate. Does that mean my power will continue to increase?"
"I can't be one hundred percent certain, but my answer would be yes if I had to guess."
Superman threw his head back against the table with a resounding thud and grimaced. "That's what I was dreading. What am I going to do now, Kelex? If I can't get a grip on my abilities, I'll be a detriment to everyone around me, including you."
"Your sentiment is heartfelt but false, Kal-El."
"In what sense? Explain." Clark insisted, genuinely confused.
"The rate of your body's solar absorption may or may not continue to increase. That can only be determined upon further observation. But irrespective of that, you still possess the opportunity to train. Before you were Superman, you were Superboy, and in those days, your powers were significantly weaker. You grew mightier, and over time, you learned how to control your new levels of strength. This is simply more of the same."
"You make it sound so easy," Superman couldn't help but chuckle. It had taken him years of struggle to even arrive at this point of self-control with his powers. Ma and Pa had helped him significantly during those developing stages, but they weren't around anymore, and their presence couldn't be replaced.
"Easy isn't the term I would use, but it shouldn't be too difficult of a task to accomplish from my vantage point. You're a member of a team filled with superpowered beings. Surely one of them can help train you, and if not them, Goku's friends and family can be of assistance. You have a large network of potential help available to you, Kal-El; use it."
Superman's mouth hung open, words rustling in his mind, but unable to form a complete sentence. "When did you get so wise?" The Kryptonian finally said after some time.
"I'm not wise; your father's programming was wise," Kelex rebutted. The robot was incapable of facial expressions, but Clark swore he saw the semblance of smirk flash on Kelex's faceplate.
"If we're done here, I would like to continue my next round of observations in the science lab."
Clark tilted his head and nodded. "I have no problem with that." They were currently in the hallway that connected the entrance of the Fortress to the living area. It was a luminous, colorful hallway that featured paintings of Krypton's history on both sides of the walls. But as beautiful as it was, it wasn't the proper place to conduct experiments. Clark's anxiousness had forced Kelex to prematurely begin his observations here.
The Fortress's science lab was incredibly spacious, and it featured a multitude of tools and technology that would be key to Kelex's tests. "I'm ready when you are."
March 1st
Age 763 (2013), Belle Reve, Louisiana
"I'd be better served on this mission alone, Waller. These fools are dragging me behind!" Vegeta growled into his earpiece. He was seconds away from ripping it out of his ear and crushing it if he continued to receive static on the opposite end.
"Hey! I can hear you, ya know?" Harley Quinn pouted, folding her arms together as she stared up at the Saiyan. She sat on a tiled floor, drenched with sweat and bruised beyond belief. The pink t-shirt under her red and blue bomber jacket was in tatters, and her legs had purple bruises all the way up to her short shorts. The black boots on her feet had once featured heels but had snapped during an ill-advised attack on Vegeta. The only thing more damaged than her body and outfit was her ego.
"After these past couple months, I thought we were pals, Vegeta."
"Seriously, Harley?" Livewire scoffed from beside her. She placed a wobbly hand on the floor and used it for support as she lifted herself off the ground. Her black leotard had seen better days. She was currently in her electrical form, and that was the only reason her lumps and bumps weren't visible. "This pineapple-haired clown doesn't have friends. How many times does he have to remind you of that? He only cares about himself." She gestured towards the prince, whose back was now turned against her.
"Friends are for fools, and even if I were a fool, I still wouldn't be stupid enough to consider this band of abominations as that." Vegeta snapped. He was too preoccupied with tugging at the electronic collar around his neck to spare Livewire a glance. Every prisoner in the room was wearing one, but Vegeta's collar was the only white one, the same color as his Saiyan battle armor.
"Your way with words never ceases to amaze me," Deadshot said sarcastically. He was sprawled on the floor behind Vegeta with his arms laid out in symbolic defeat. His red-and-black body armor was glazed with blood, and none of it was Vegeta's. The Saiyan didn't have a single scratch on him.
"When we finally beat you, I'll enjoy tearing your bones apart. I've never eaten an alien before," Killer Croc's gravelly voice called out. His words were brimming with pride and determination, which Vegeta found funny considering the reptile was stuck in a hole in the wall.
"If you keep talking like that, I'll punch you through the roof next time." Vegeta threatened as he whipped his head around to face the mutant. "You're in no position to be making threats." The wall on the left side of the room was nearly caved in. Heavy slabs of cement had collapsed on Killer Croc's body following Vegeta's assault, and yet still, Waylon Jones had the gall to flap his lips.
"None of you will do anything," Amanda Waller said as she abruptly sauntered through a nearby door. It was the front door, the door that led to a seemingly never-ending hallway. It swung open violently, drawing everyone's attention. Amanda's pace was brisk but steady until she reached Vegeta, stopping just inches away from his face. She wore a gray suit with a white collared button-down shirt underneath. She was naturally taller than Vegeta, but with the additional height of her heels, she stood a full head over him.
The room was in worse shape than she had expected. There were potholes, fissures, dents, and other abrasions everywhere Amanda's head turned. The hidden cameras had kept her in the loop about the ongoing activities of her recruits, but it was another thing to see the damage up close and personal. The room was the size of an NBA basketball court, windowless, and deprived of any natural light. A cluster of thick lightbulbs on the high ceiling were the only things illuminating the grey, dreary room.
"Oh, you finally graced us with your presence today, and how nice of you to put on some perfume just for us," Vegeta sneered with a scowl as he took a sniff. Amanda had initiated training sessions following their feast in January. Her would-be team sparred and trained practically every day, but not once in the past two months had the secretary of Metahuman affairs paid them a visit in person.
"Ooh, Waller, you smell goooood. Lemme guess that's Michael Kors? Nah, knowing a big wig like you, that's probably something more expensive like Versace, Chanel, or maybe it's one of the Capsule Corporation's new brands." Harley Quinn mused as she slowly rubbed her chin. "Mistah J bought me some perfume once, but it turned out to be acid when I sprayed it. It nearly killed me, but the liquid formed a heart shape in the air. Isn't that sweet?" Harley sighed longingly as she clasped her hands together, resting her cheek against them. The occupants of the room all gave her perplexed expressions.
"That's a story you should've kept to yourself," Livewire finally said after several awkward moments of silence.
"I hope that's the last quip I'll be receiving," Amanda Waller deadpanned. She took a quick scan of her prisoners, and none of them said a further word, although Vegeta was itching to curse her out. "The time of our mission is nearly upon us."
Deadshot lifted his head off the ground and slid his mask off. His left eye had a dark circle around it, and his other eye was halfway shut. He shook his hair which was damp with sweat, and said, "Seriously?" His voice was raised with warranted skepticism.
"Yes. Per our estimations, the Dragonballs will be active in May, which means that in the next few weeks, most likely in early April, I will task this team with the retrieval of the dragon radar."
"The dragon radar?" Killer Croc repeated as he slowly wrenched himself free from the rubble of the shattered wall. Dust and grime trailed his footsteps as he limped towards his team at the center of the room. There were a zigzag of scars across his chest and freshly cut bruises that dripped with blood. Amanda squinted, and upon further inspection, she saw faint traces of steam from Killer Croc's wounds, most likely caused by a Ki attack.
"You didn't read the notes I sent you?" Amanda's lips curled into a frown as she watched Waylon Jones pause a few feet behind Vegeta and scratch his massive temple in a confused manner.
"What notes?" Killer Croc asked, scratching furiously as he tried to think.
"I sent them to you and everyone else on this God-forsaken team!" Amanda turned and circled the room, pointing a wiry finger at everyone who was present.
"Are you talking about those letters the guards put in my cell?" Vegeta asked as Amanda's finger settled on him. "I disposed of them after I was informed of who sent them." A pile of letters had arrived on his bunk last week, which he had never bothered to open. He didn't see the purpose; anything Amanda Waller needed to tell him could be done face to face, or like she so often preferred, via earpiece interface.
Amanda's knuckles were white as she clenched her fist. If she didn't need a team for this mission, she would've blown all their heads off on the spot. "Those letters contained detailed notes about the dragon radar. That information is vital to your upcoming mission."
"Maybe these lackeys need to be told about the dragon radar, but I don't," Vegeta pressed his thumb to his chest. "I already know what the dragon radar is; Bulma used it on Namek."
"You've seen it in use before," Amanda realized. I'll have to interrogate him about his exploits on Namek at a later time. "Well, since you have first-hand experience with the device, why don't you tell your teammates all about it?"
"I'll do no such thing," Vegeta crossed his arms together with indignance. "You provide the intel, don't you? Then do your job."
"I'd be smarter with my choice of words if I were you, Vegeta." Amanda rolled up her sleeve and pressed a button on her gold touch screen watch. The collar around Vegeta's neck instantly tightened. One of his gloved hands shot out to grab her, narrowly missing her throat before he fell to his knees, unable to stand. "The day when your attitude outweighs your usefulness is the day you die. You'd do well to remember that, Vegeta." Amanda leaned over and whispered into Vegeta's ear.
The Saiyan was in tears, growing blue in the face as his oxygen and Ki were both simultaneously being drained. He was hunched over on both knees on the verge of unconsciousness until Amanda suddenly relented and released her stranglehold.
"I don't know…. what the cost will be…. but soon….very soon," Vegeta said in between pants and gasps for air. " I will kill you, Amanda Waller." Vegeta's head slowly lifted, revealing a pair of chilling bloodshot red eyes. They narrowed in on the secretary of Metahuman affairs, who was unbothered and stared blankly at the prince.
"That's the type of motivation I need you to have for this mission, Vegeta," She watched as the Saiyan rose to his feet, never once taking his brooding eyes off her. "Have you changed your mind, or do we need a repeat of what just happened?"
Insolent as ever, Vegeta shook his head. "That little torment was nothing compared to the horrors I faced under Frieza's rule. Do your worst."
Amanda's face betrayed no emotions as her mouth clamped shut, but behind her lips, her teeth ground. "Fine, I'll do it myself." She said, voice seeping with annoyance. "Pay attention because I will not repeat this information again!" She cautioned everyone in the room.
From the floor, Deadshot gave Amanda a dismissive wave. Livewire gave an exaggerated yawn so loud it echoed off the walls of the empty room. Killer Croc grunted in indifference. Harley raised a hand over her head and gave a thumbs-up sign while Vegeta glared at his prison warden in silence.
" Per our best intel, the Dragonballs are magical and mystical in nature. Each Dragonball has a unique energy signal. Bulma Brief, the CEO and heiress of the Capsule Corporation, created a device, the dragon radar, to key in on that energy signal. Without the dragon radar, it will be nearly impossible to locate any of the Dragonballs."
"I have a question on the tip of my tongue, but I have a feeling I already know the answer," It was a rare moment of apprehension for Livewire, but Leslie Willis was never too shy to say what was on her mind. "Where is this dragon radar located?"
"Based on all the intel I've amassed, the dragon radar is located inside Bulma Brief's home."
A deep frown settled onto Deadshot's face. "You want us to break into the headquarters of the Capsule Corporation?"
"Yes, do you have a problem with that, Floyd?" Amanda replied with a brow raised. "You're an assassin. Surely, you've faced far more treacherous missions than this."
Deadshot flicked a loose strand of hair from his forehead and rolled his one good eye. Waller was baiting him, but he wouldn't fall for her ploy. "As long as my checks cleared, I was willing to accept any mission. However, this mission is very peculiar. You've assembled not one, but two teams for this mission. That's a lot of firepower for a simple retrieval. There's something else you're not telling us."
Amanda restrained a smirk. Intuitive as ever, Deadshot. "First and foremost, I haven't assembled two teams. In fact, there aren't any teams yet because none of you are official members of Task Force X. Captain Boomerang's group and your group will continue to undergo rigorous training until I deem your efforts satisfactory, and not all of you will meet my standards." Amanda's eyes flickered to Killer Croc. Aside from Livewire, he was the only Metahuman in Vegeta's group, and Waylon's performance thus far had been lacking.
"All of these stupid dumb tests!" Livewire shouted angrily as electricity sizzled around her. "It's the same thing over and over every day. If you're going to make us fight, at least let us fight a different opponent. Why keep Killer Frost and her bunch separate from us? They should be getting their assess kicked by Vegeta just like us!"
"I have my reasons, and it's as simple as that," Amanda said snottily. Livewire, however, was displeased with the response and didn't attempt to conceal her emotions. The electrical sparks from her body intensified, flying near the vicinity of Amanda's face. Amanda quickly flashed her watch, and with that simple demonstration, her thinly veiled threat was understood. Livewire backed down immediately and returned to her human form.
"Try that again, and I'll kill you," Amanda glared at Livewire, and the former blogger gave her the finger. "I'll be back to check on this group's progress at a later date. Don't disappoint me." Amanda took one last survey of her squad before departing through the door she had left open.
Age 763 (2013), Planet Yardrat
"I don't think I have any energy left," Goku groaned as he slumped into the soft backdrop of Yardratian grass. It was a welcome embrace. The long blades of grass were surprisingly cool, even though no rain had fallen in the past week. The yellow sky was clear, and the sun was as bright as ever, but there was hardly any heat. Even after these past couple months, Goku still couldn't get over how perfect the weather on this planet was.
He was shirtless and let the breeze wash over him. Tranquil moments like this reminded him of Mount Paozu. His mind drifted to thoughts of his home, his friends, his son…his wife. She would've loved his current training ground, a glade in a stunning forest with trees so high they melded into the sky. Once he learned the Instant Transmission technique, he would find Diana and make his family whole again.
"Will that be all for today, Goku?" A gentle voice called out, breaking his reverie.
Goku lifted his head slightly off the turf, looking towards Elder Pybara, who was standing a few feet in front of him, and smiled. "I'd love to give it another round, but I'm completely drained."
"We can continue tomorrow." Elder Pybara was easily the largest Yardratian on the planet, but that was only due to the effects of his gigantification technique. He was well over seven feet tall in his current form, but the light blue Yardratian was the same height as Gohan in his true form. His hairless head was chesnut-shaped and lacked ears but featured two whiskers along with two pointed tips at the top of his scalp. He was a plump man, but his weight never constrained his movements. He was dressed in the garments all Yardratians wore, the same outfit Goku had on, albeit with a shirt.
Goku let out a sigh of disappointment, but the Yardratian elder nodded in understanding. He joined Goku on the ground, landing silently, and crossed his legs on top of one another. "I could heal you, but I know that would be against your wishes." The Yardratian's eyes hovered over Goku's chiseled body. There were wounds from his chest up, and most notably, his hands were swollen.
"I'll heal soon enough; it's no biggie," Goku said nonchalantly. He could've taken the easy way out, but his current struggles would make his eventual achievements that much sweeter.
"As you say," Elder Pybara remarked and switched gears. "You're progressing quickly. You've shattered all of my expectations thus far."
"Really?" Goku asked in genuine surprise. Elder Pybara was as honest a man as he'd ever met. The Yardratian never hesitated to heap praise, but statements like that were still mindblowing to Goku.
"Yes, in fact, you're probably the best student I've ever had." Elder Pybara's words were filled with pride. "If I had more students like you, I would have already retired." He slapped his knee and gave a jolly laugh, which Goku joined in.
"But there's something I want to…no, there's something I….. need to show you," Elder Pybara sprang to his feet, and in a flash, he was standing over Goku's face, offering him a helping hand up.
The Saiyan blinked in confusion but latched onto the appendage and allowed Elder Pybara to pull him up."Is something wrong?" Goku asked, noting the sudden change in his sensei's demeanor.
"Nothing's wrong, but I have to show you something that will be vital to your training. Spirit control will make much more sense to you after you witness what I'm about to show you."
Goku's interest was beyond piqued now. He leaned down to grab his undershirt and armor, but Elder Pybara seized his hand before he could.
"Your clothes will still be here when we return, and besides, you won't need them where we're going."
"Where we're going?" Goku repeated. He found Elder Pybara's tone odd. "Will we be flying there? Is it far from here?"
"No, we're going into space, and we'll be teleporting there."
"But you said that Yardratians are prohibited from using Instant Transmission to travel to other planets," Goku argued. That was the first rule Elder Pybara had taught him when he'd agreed to train him.
"Well, technically, we're not traveling to another planet; it's just space," Elder Pybara said with a chuckle. It was a loophole, but as the creator of the aforementioned rule, he could break it if he deemed it necessary.
He locked hands with Goku, and without a further word, the duo vanished from the forest clearing. In the blink of an eye, Goku found himself in the desolate vastness of space. He held his breath, expecting oxygen to be lacking, but surprisingly Elder Pybara was able to speak to him.
"I'm shielding us with my Ki. There's a layer of it surrounding the two of us. As long as we stay connected, you'll be able to talk and breathe as freely as you did on Yardrat."
Goku's lips flopped open. He examined himself, and sure enough, there was a golden aegis of Ki wrapped around his body. It hummed with life and was a brilliant flame amongst the infinite darkness.
"Will you teach me this technique?" Goku asked. This ability, combined with the Instant Transmission technique, meant that he could travel from planet to planet without needing a spaceship.
"In due time," Elder Pybara said calmly. "But first, there's something else you must learn." The Yardratian flipped around, and with a hard yank, he brought Goku along with him.
Goku's eyes expanded to the size of saucers once he caught sight of it. Words seemed useless and inadequate to describe what he was witnessing. It was a wall, an enormous behemoth wall that stretched as far as his eyes could see and well beyond that. Its height was so tall that space seemed to vanish behind it. Where did it start? Where did it end?
These were impossible questions to answer, and no amount of contemplation from Goku would ever solve that riddle. Gargantuan ghoulish figures were carved into the gold material of the wall. One moment the wall appeared to be made from some alien metal, and the next, it seemed as stony as any mountain. The colossal figures inside the wall stood with their mouths gaping in terror, bellowing a horrified cry that was inaudible to all ears present. Red beams of light, similar to Superman's heat vision, poured from some of their eyes, extending just short of where Goku and Elder Pybara stood.
"What….what…what is that?" Goku's heart was in his throat.
"That is the Source Wall…the origin of all Ki in the Universe."
A big thank you to everyone who reviewed chapter 57!
A/N: Thank you to everyone who helped me reach 1900+ reviews.
Q/A:
guardianx15: I think you're forgetting the time skips that took place before the Cell Saga. The Cell Saga in this story hasn't even started yet.
scl04: Dr. Gero won't necessarily be responsible for Superboy's creation, but the groundwork he and other scientists have done will lead to Superboy's eventual birth. What Eris and Ares have been up to will be revealed soon. Yes, Goku has gained notoriety throughout the galaxy for defeating Frieza.
derpmaster9000: I kept the Vegeta and Bulma pairing because I need Trunks and Bra to exist. Gohan, Goten, etc., can exist without Chi-Chi being their mother, but the same can't be said for Trunks and Bra.
Non: The Multiverse will be explored after the Cell Saga.
Martiz S.G: Bulma will still be responsible for the creation of the time machine.
NirvanaFrk97: The durability of the Saiyans has been written inconsistently throughout the Dragonball franchise. They are far more durable than humans but have been displayed as being vulnerable to things you wouldn't expect.
Guest: To be honest, I haven't really thought much about Babidi. We're a long way from that point in the story. I have things planned for Majin Buu, but I haven't pondered Babidi's magical prowess.
chris2828: You'll get an explanation for that. Whis will likely never fight Darkseid in this story, but a conversation between Darkseid and Beerus is possible. It's tough for me to say who the best martial artist in this story is, Ki excluded. There are so many skilled martial artists in both universes. I'd probably say Goku, but I'm not sure.
Vault Hunter: Those are all fair and valid criticisms. I did a poor job in earlier chapters with character interactions, and I let many important things happen offscreen. I did a lot of telling instead of showing in previous chapters, and I regret that now. The DC and DBZ characters will interact with each other a lot more from this point. Things won't feel as awkward and random.
My plan with Superman was to slowly build up his strength, similar to what happened with New 52 Superman. Yes, he's taken quite a few losses, but things won't remain that way. He'll become the powerful Superman that everyone knows and loves soon. Turles wasn't included in this story solely for that reason. I have a lot of things planned for Turles, and so far, he's been a valuable asset for Darkseid. Turles will play a significant role in a story arc down the line, and certain subplots are building towards that.
DRAGONDAVE45: I will be using other Androids for this story's version of the Android saga. And yes, you're correct; this version of Cell will have DNA from various members of the Justice League and the Z-Fighters.
tarifullbuster: Yes, Saiyan invulnerability is written very inconsistently throughout the Dragonball franchise.
Marvelfan4Life: Yes, Goku's name and reputation are being spread throughout the galaxy following Frieza's defeat.
IgrisBlue98: I don't understand your question.
Zoa: No, I don't have any other DB/DC projects in mind after this one.
KingJGamer: I'm only implementing certain things I like from DBS.
Tilong: Yes, Cell will be extremely OP in this story.
TerribleCalamity: Vegeta won't be imprisoned for long. In DC, various devices have been built to dampen and drain powers. For instance, in Young Justice, there's a collar that stops speedsters from using their powers. In Belle Reve, the prison where Vegeta is stationed, all metahuman prisoners have some sort of device that suppresses their abilities.
There are numerous examples of devices that inhibit powers in the comics and other DC media.
It's not a leap for someone to develop a device that can dampen or drain Ki in this shared AU. The cuffs were never used on Turles. A more in-depth explanation of what the cuffs do is due and will be given. The cuffs only drain Ki from the person they're attached to, and it's typically not enough Ki to kill someone, just enough to keep them weakened.
Werewolves: Goku made an appearance in this chapter.
