Thoughts

Computer Speech/Robotic Speech

"Speech"

Disclaimer: DC and the Dragonball Franchise belong to their respective owners; I own nothing.

Chapter 66: Boiling Point V


May 18th

Age 763 (2013), Manhattan, 5th Avenue

"Bringing you here probably wasn't the best idea," Yamcha chuckled as he slowly rubbed the back of his neck. Gohan shared his sentiments, but instead of verbalizing them, the Demi-Saiyan simply nodded his head. The restless crowd surrounding the store was growing larger and larger by the second. Multiple police officers and their barricades were perched outside the store's glass doors, but they did little to restrain the legions of adoring admirers.

"Who do you think tipped them off?" Gohan asked as he looked at his chaperone. Yamcha glanced down at the Demi-Saiyan beside him and placed a thoughtful hand underneath his stubbleless chin, trying to think.

"Honestly, I'm not sure. Anyone could have seen us fly here, and our outfits are anything but inconspicuous." Yamcha's orange and blue Turtle School Gi stuck out like a sore thumb amidst the high-end clothing in the Gucci store. Gohan's indigo Gi, courtesy of Piccolo, wasn't much better either.

"If you don't mind me butting in, I think I have the answer to your question," A woman suddenly said. Gohan and Yamcha swiveled their heads toward the voice and realized it was the cashier at the register. The duo walked across a long red carpeted floor, passing several racks of gaudy clothes and colorful mannequins before stopping in front of her wide sandstone desk. She greeted them with a warm smile.

"Gohan's the most famous child in the world for obvious reasons. Goku and Wonder Woman are his parents; he's easily recognizable. But you're pretty famous, too, Yamcha. You participated in the World Martial Arts Tournament."

"Whoa, you remember that?" Yamcha exclaimed in surprise. His participation was ancient history as far as he was concerned, but the cashier grinned and nodded.

"The World Martial Arts Tournament is the most viewed sporting event in the world, of course, I remember. The fact that you're hot makes you hard to forget too. On top of that, you're one of Goku's closest friends, and you're dating Bulma Brief, the wealthiest woman in the world."

"Well, actually, we're kind of on the fritz right now," Yamcha admitted sullenly. Vegeta's tenancy at the Capsule Corporation was ruining his relationship with Bulma. He kept those details to himself, though.

"So, you're single?" The cashier leaned over the desk and looked Yamcha in the eyes. Her eyes were emerald, and long strands of curly blonde hair dangled over the shoulders of her alabaster business suit. She smelled intoxicating, and up close, Yamcha noticed an endearing mole near the corner of her lip. The pair were inches apart now, and their close proximity made the Lone Wolf as uneasy as he looked.

"Uh, that's a…funny question. I…don't…. know. Maybe? Yes? No?….. it's complicated." Yamcha finally summarized after fumbling through his words, but his disjointed answer did little to dissuade the cashier's pursuit.

"If you're single, maybe we can get together later and…..."

"We should get going, Yamcha," Gohan abruptly announced, coughing loudly into his hand. The cashier frowned at the interruption, and Yamcha used the brief respite to pull away from her. He mouthed a silent "thank you" to the Demi-Saiyan as he turned towards him.

"Would you look at the time? I guess we should get going," Yamcha looked at the nonexistent watch on his wrist and laughed nervously. "It's a shame we couldn't get what we came here for, though. We shut down the store, and this still happened."

Gohan's head drooped. Aside from him and Yamcha, no one else was present except for the store's security and employees, and most of them remained silent, too awestruck to do anything besides their jobs. The store's other customers had been removed the moment Gohan and Yamcha had arrived.

Yamcha paid a pretty penny to keep any curious eyes out of the store as Gohan shopped for his birthday outfit. The receipt for this outing was sure to be costly, but Bulma was the one footing the bill, and if her credit card somehow ran out of funds, Yamcha had Bruce Wayne's credit card on standby. But it was all for naught; the plan had ended up backfiring anyway.

"We can try another store," Gohan said optimistically, but Yamcha's expression dashed his hopes.

"I'm sorry, kiddo, but the crowd will probably follow us wherever we go. I had no idea you were this famous."

"Neither did I," Gohan groaned. His parents and Bulma had done an excellent job keeping him oblivious to his notoriety. There were more people than he could count outside the Gucci store's doors, and each one of them had cameras, incessantly snapping pictures and screaming his name. Some of them yelled Yamcha's name, but those shouts were drowned out by the cheers for Gohan. News crews and the paparazzi were setting up, and a fresh batch of police officers was frantically trying to shut down traffic on 5th avenue.

Things were spiraling out of control.

"I'll pay the store for their services, and then we can go. I'm not sure how we'll make it out of here in one piece, but we'll try." Yamcha slipped his hand into his pocket, pulled out Bulma's black card, and handed it to the cashier. She grabbed it and rang up the amount he owed for an hour of private luxury shopping. It was more than most people made in a year, but she didn't gawk or display any astonishment. She printed the receipt and seemed anxious to tell Yamcha something, but his cell phone suddenly rang, saving him from another uncomfortable conversation.

Yamcha quickly answered the call and was surprised to hear Krillin's voice on the other line. The former monk was so excited, and he spoke so rapidly that his words were barely audible. He sounded like the Flash.

"Calm down, Krillin. You said what? No way! Are you serious? This is the best news ever! Gohan's going to be so happy! We're on our way now!"

Yamcha hung up the phone smiling from ear to ear. He snatched his receipt and Bulma's credit card before grabbing Gohan's hands and marching the perplexed boy toward the front doors. A pair of officers in front of the doors chided his choice, and store employees yelled that there was a back exit, but Yamcha pressed on. He flung the doors wide open and instantly regretted the decision.

He, Gohan, and the host of police officers in front of the store were nearly swallowed by the ecstatic crowd. The crowd surged forward, knocking several officers onto the concrete sidewalk. They were on the verge of a veritable stampede. The sight of Gohan up close sent the sea of people, adults and children alike, into a delirious frenzy. For everyone's safety, Gohan had to leave.

Cameras flashed in a dizzying dance around the Demi-Saiyan, and his eyes burned. Was this what Superman's heat vision felt like? A photographer for the Gotham Gazette settled his lens on Gohan and zoomed in for a still shot, but by the time his camera focused, Gohan and Yamcha were already gone. Chikyu's heroes were soaring above their onlookers.

The miffed and disappointed crowd tried to follow them with their eyes, but the duo soon disappeared into the clouds. Once the heroes were thousands of feet in the air, and New York's skyscrapers were out of view, Gohan asked Yamcha the question that was assailing his mind.

"What's going on?" The Demi-Saiyan asked. Yamcha was so jovial it was almost frightening. He hadn't even been this happy when he'd been resurrected.

"I can't tell you, Gohan, but just trust me, you'll love the surprise that's waiting for you when you get home."


May 18th

Age 763 (2013), Washington, D.C, Hall of Justice

"You fools actually make me miss Bulma's company. At least that blasted woman provides some modicum of entertainment. The lot of you are as boring as ordinances from Frieza." Vegeta snarled as he pressed the keys on an oversized black remote control. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of tv channels, but each one was even more pitifully boring than the last, and the two people on his couch might as well have been invisible. They spoke only when spoken to.

"You should be grateful given the circumstance," Martian Manhunter said curtly. He was seated on Vegeta's left side with a bright fuchsia pillow on his lap. The violet sofa they shared was large enough to seat seven people. J'onn J'onzz occupied the spot directly next to Vegeta, but somehow the Flash, on his right, was seated even closer. Barry Allen's ribs were practically touching Vegeta's.

"This is a question that's been on my mind for a while now. What did you watch in space? Was there cable in space, and if so, what was it like? I bet it had to be way more interesting than dozens of reality tv show reruns." The Flash rolled his eyes at the scenes on the massive one-hundred-and-fifty-inch tv. It was mounted on a large wall, and the light from the screen loomed over the trio amidst the darkness of the room. Batman's theatre room was still a work in progress, so for now, the Justice League had to settle for this tv in the lounge.

"You know, you're even stupider than you look," Vegeta cocked his head to the side and stared at Barry oddly, blinking in disbelief. "Of course, we have television in space, and it's beyond anything you Earthlings can fathom," The prince said matter-of-factly.

Martian Manhunter's skepticism was written all over his face. "I figured a mighty warrior like you would be too busy with conquests to bother with meaningless things like mindless entertainment."

"Conquering planets is entertainment; it's what Saiyans live for." Vegeta scoffed. "But, in truth, even Saiyans have downtime. No matter how much I wish I could, no one can train or fight every second of the day."

"So, what did you do in your downtime then?" The Flash inquired. Vegeta loved to hear himself talk, often about vapid boastful things, but this was one of the few subjects that piqued Barry's interest.

"Raditz and Nappa enjoyed hunting and visiting brothels, amongst other things…" Vegeta's voice trailed as he caught the look Barry was giving him out of the corner of his eye. "But me, I spent my downtime studying history, seeking to understand the remnants of Saiyan society. I'm the prince and heir to the throne. It's my duty to ensure that my species and culture aren't erased."

"Not to state the obvious, but Saiyans are practically on the verge of extinction, so things aren't going well on that front," Barry's words earned him a spiteful glare from Vegeta. "You, Goku, and Gohan, if you want to include him, are the last remaining Saiyans."

"Actually, there's one more Saiyan left, the one who resembles Goku," J'onn addended. Superman never failed to mention the Saiyan he'd fought at the Mojave Desert during the Justice League's meetings.

"The Saiyan who resembles Kakarot?" Vegeta repeated the words in confusion. Only one Saiyan fit Martian Manhunter's description, but Bardock was long dead.

"Yep. J'onn showed us Superman's memories once and that Saiyan was the spitting image of Goku. It's kinda eerie. He gave Superman one hell of a fight. They say everyone has a doppelganger, but I didn't think that applied to aliens too. Come to think of it; there's a lot we don't know about aliens." The Flash continued rambling, but Vegeta's ears had already tuned out of the conversation by that point. There was only one thing the prince was concerned with now.

"I have to find that Saiyan, whoever he is," Vegeta tightened his gloved hand into a fist. The enemy of his enemy was a friend, and with luck, this unknown Saiyan could prove to be more useful than Nappa or Raditz had ever been.

J'onn raised a brow. "That's highly unlikely. You should be aware of what happened to that Saiyan, especially considering the fact that he was responsible for Yamcha's death. In fact, none of this should be news to you at all. You live in the same household as Bulma and Yamcha. They should've told you this."

"Well, clearly, these are details they've kept from me," Vegeta said sarcastically. "I spend my time training, and I rarely encounter that buffoon Yamcha, much less speak to him. We have nothing to discuss. If it weren't for this bomb in my head, I would've already sent him back to the afterlife with you two as his escorts." The Saiyan turned to his right and left side, smirking at the grim expressions on the Flash and Martian Manhunter's faces.

"Just when I thought we were making strides," The Flash sighed and reclined into the soft cushions of the sofa. He wasn't getting paid enough to deal with Vegeta; matter of fact, he wasn't getting paid at all.

"Statements like that are the reason we were ordered to keep an eye on you. Today is a very special day for Gohan, and we won't let you ruin that. I'll have to ask Bulma how she deals with you on a regular basis. Her patience is exemplary and beyond -" Martian Manhunter abruptly halted and turned his gaze to the phone vibrating in his pocket. He seized it and immediately answered the call upon seeing the name on the screen. The conversation was brief, but it completely flipped J'onn's mood.

"This is a wonderful turn of events. Gohan will surely be thrilled, as I am. I've been dying to meet her. We're on our way now." J'onn ended the call and sprang from the couch. He telekinetically turned the lights in the lounge on and urged Vegeta and the Flash to rise. "It looks like you'll get your wish Vegeta; we're taking you back to Bulma."


May 18th

Age 763 (2013), Gotham, The Batcave

"What do you gift to a child who practically has the world at his fingertips?"

"You don't see the irony of this question, Bruce?" Superman laughed so loudly his voice echoed across Batman's subterranean headquarters.

The dark knight rotated in his chair and tore his gaze from the Batcomputer. It was a gigantic hardware system that was a true testament to Bruce's wealth and technological prowess. It dwarfed anything Argus owned, and even Bulma lacked anything in her arsenal that was this advanced. The Batcomputer was a one-of-one creation, and Batman's eyes were usually glued to it unless he had company.

"What are you implying, Clark?" Bruce asked in an indignant tone. His cowl hid his face, but Superman could still see the beginnings of a frown tugging at his lips.

"You're the child of billionaire parents. I'm sure your parents asked themselves this same question every time your birthday came around. What do we give to our beloved spoiled son?" Clark teased, but Bruce took offense.

"I wasn't spoiled," Batman said flatly. "I often received the gifts I wanted, but that doesn't mean –"

"- You were spoiled." Clark cut in. It was understandable, considering Bruce's economic background, but the least he could do was be honest about it.

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"This is pointless," Batman grumbled in frustration. He removed his cowl and ran thick gloved fingers through his jet-black hair. "How you manage to be more childish than Gohan is a mystery to me."

In the distance, Piccolo snorted. Bruce couldn't tell whether he was amused or annoyed, but it was probably both knowing the Namekian. Ma Junior hovered above a broad illuminated platform that featured Batman's trophy collection. There were several zigzagging platforms that stretched as far as the eye could see in Bruce's cave, and steel stairs and railings connected each one. Some platforms were rarely touched, and that was evident by the amount of dust on them, but the one that housed Batman's keepsakes was spotless.

Piccolo was intrigued and baffled by Bruce's decision to display such dangerous relics in open view. There were guns, swords, all assortments of weapons, and even an animatronic T-rex. It was nothing that could harm Piccolo, but if one of Batman's villains ever broke into his lair, the dark knight's life would be in danger. Perhaps Bruce had unwavering faith in his fighting skills, or maybe the Batcave was impregnable, but either way, this museum of menacing memorabilia was folly.

"What did you get Gohan for his birthday?" Superman asked. The question was obviously aimed at Piccolo; Batman was still wrestling with ideas. The Namekian turned and floated toward the platform that held the Batcomputer.

"I got the boy what he needs the most," Piccolo said as he landed on the railing adjacent to Clark. He hopped onto the floor without ever rustling his white cape. The man of steel was fascinated by his words.

"What do you mean by that? What's the thing Gohan needs the most?" Superman inquired. Piccolo had spent the most time out of anyone present with the Demi-Saiyan. As much as Clark hated to admit it, Piccolo's kidnapping of Gohan had turned out to be beneficial for the planet.

"I got Gohan tools for his training. He needs them. Bulma wants his face stuffed in books, but that boy is meant for greater things."

Superman sweatdropped. "You…. can't…be serious…. right?" He asked, straining his voice. The Namekian didn't answer. His face said it all; he was dead serious.

"What Gohan needs is his parents. Preferably both of them, but hell, I'll take even one of them for the time being," Batman said pointedly. Diana had disappeared along with Themyscira, but there was no reason for Goku to be absent.

"Bruce, we've talked about this several times. I'm sure Goku has a good reason for –"

"– There's no good reason to abandon your son," Bruce's voice was filled with venom. This was one argument Clark would never win with him.

"You don't understand Saiyans, and you don't understand Goku," Piccolo said sagely. He knew little about parenting; his own father had been a monstrous demon who had only birthed him out of a need for vengeance. But Goku's relationship with Gohan was the opposite; he cared deeply for his son. "Goku is gone because he has to be. Frieza's empire still exists, and Kami knows who will come to this planet seeking revenge. There's no doubt in my mind that Goku is out in space prepping for such a scenario. Gohan's safety is of the utmost importance to Goku, and the only way to ensure that is by getting stronger."

Piccolo's logic was sound, but Bruce was inexorable. "Neither of us can speak for Goku's mind, but what you said is rational. However, there's no reason why Goku can't be here on Earth training while simultaneously spending time with his son. You don't need to explore the galaxy to get stronger; Superman is proof of that."

Kal-El quickly waved his hands in front of his chest while shaking his head. "I'm actually the worst example you could use, Bruce. Kryptonians draw their strength from the photonucleic effect of the yellow sun. Saiyans, humans, Namekians, and other species have to –"

Superman's train of thought was shattered as a loud ringing noise suddenly filled the air. The man of steel looked up at the multiple screens that comprised the Batcomputer and saw that Bruce had a call. Superman was stunned at the fact that Batman got reception all the way down in this cave, much less on a computer, but Bruce was even more astounded. No one had the Batcomputer's phone number, or so he thought.

"You'll have to hold that thought, Clark," Bruce spun his chair around and faced the Batcomputer. He dabbed his thumb on a letter on the keyboard and answered the call. "Who is?" Bruce demanded before the person on the other line could get a word off.

"It's me, Bulma; who else do you think could get this number?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm.

Bruce ignored her remark and got straight to the point. "What is it? Gohan's surprise party is supposed to start at 1 pm, Chikyu standard time, and It's only 4 pm on the east coast of the United States. We have a six-hour time difference, and some of us are still gathering our gifts," In the background, Superman chortled. Bruce was the only one still trying to decide on his present.

"Forget all of that. Gohan won't care about any of our gifts now, especially yours, Piccolo. I know you're there in the background," The Namekian grunted in response and confirmed Bulma's words. "You should've been here with me and Krillin helping us set up the party instead of flying off to Gotham for Kami knows what, but whatever."

"If you have a point, make it, Bulma," Bruce muttered. She could chastise Piccolo in person; there was no need to make use of the Batcomputer for this.

"Oh yes, like I was saying," The Capsule Corp heiress got back on track. "The wish Gohan wanted the most has come true. Diana's returned home. She's here at Mount Paozu. I still can't believe what I'm saying. It's a mira –"

Bruce hung up the call before Bulma completed her sentence. He didn't need to hear anymore. He jolted out of his chair and dashed to his guests, who were still trying to process the bombshell Bulma had dropped. "You heard her; let's get going. Nothing else matters now."


May 18th

Age 763 (2013), Mount Paozu

"What's going on?" Diana's words lingered in the air like the thick summer heat. Mount Paozu always got like this, this time of year, but she was used to it, and the humidity was exactly as she remembered it. The heat here paled in comparison to Themyscira's, but it was still enough to douse a man or woman's clothes in sweat. Bulma and Krillin were shaking uncontrollably and sweating profusely, but that had little to do with the weather.

"Pinch me; I've got to be dreaming, right?" Krillin uttered through chattering teeth. Bulma did the favor for him and pinched the former monk's earlobes with her sharp fingernails, eliciting a loud squeal of pain. "I didn't mean that literally, Bulma!"

The Capsule Corp heiress didn't reply to Krillin's complaint; her eyes were glued to Wonder Woman, thoroughly examining the would-be Amazon from head to toe. The situation seemed too good to be true. Diana had vanished out of the blue almost two years ago with no clues about her whereabouts. What were the chances and likelihood that Gohan's mother would magically return on his birthday? This was a script that even Kami couldn't write; Bulma refused to believe.

If this woman somehow was Diana, then Goku's wife had grown even more stunning since her last appearance. She was breathtakingly beautiful and conveyed a regal aura even while dressed for battle. The bulky golden round shield strapped to her back gleamed in the sunlight, and its weight looked crushing, but the imposter bore it with no strain. Her dark black hair streamed well past her shoulders and extended nearly as far as her red cape. The red cape was outlined in gold and was clasped together by a large pin over the imposter's clavicle.

The pin was engraved with Greek letters that Bulma could not decipher. The crown on the imposter's head also featured Greek letters, but they were illuminated. The crown resembled a trident, most likely Poseidon's, but its three golden prongs were curved and jagged. The sharp prongs jutted out from a silver tiara with a crimson star in the middle, and upon further inspection, the crown was attached to a light helmet, the same shade as the prongs. Golden cheekpieces covered both sides of the imposter's face.

A burgundy leather bodice accentuated the imposter's curves, and her metallic blue pteruges brushed against her thighs. The skirt was held together by a broad gold belt hammered into the shape of a w. The woman's knee-high boots featured adjustable gold and red greaves, which, like most of her outfit, sparkled under the rays from the sun. Two dense silver bracelets covered her wrists and forearms. The imposter was reminiscent of Diana, but her appearance had changed so much that it aroused suspicion.

An investigative interrogation was needed.

"Who are you?" Bulma's eyes narrowed as she took a bold step forward. The woman in front of her certainly had Diana's height; she towered over Bulma, but there were several tall women across the globe, and a shapeshifter could easily mimic Wonder Woman's stature. The Martian Manhunter was proof of that.

"I'm Diana, you know me, Bulma," Diana huffed an exasperated sigh. She'd expected mixed reactions to her return, but nothing like this. Bulma eyed her like she was a complete stranger.

"I couldn't recognize her Ki signature at first because it's changed so much, but it's starting to feel familiar now, Bulma. I'm willing to bet this really is Diana," Krillin, ever the optimist, gave Wonder Woman his vote of confidence, but Bulma was still highly skeptical.

"The fact that you couldn't distinguish this so-called Diana's energy signature at first still gives me reason to pause. Something isn't right here, and I won't rest until I figure it out." Bulma inched closer to Wonder Woman, taking careful, slow steps until she was face to face, or rather chest to face, with her. The imposter's breasts were much larger than Bulma remembered, another indication that the woman in front of her was a charlatan.

"What do I have to do to prove to you who I am, Bulma?" Wonder Woman tilted her head and looked down at the pensive billionaire. Their blue eyes met, and after a brief moment of reflection, an idea popped into Bulma's mind.

"Tell me something that only Diana, the real Diana, would know about Gohan," Bulma smirked as she saw the woman freeze. The expression on her face twisted into concern. Bulma had her right where she wanted her.

"Did something happen to Gohan? Is he alright?" Wonder Woman began frantically looking around, scrutinizing every angle of her surroundings. "Where is my son Bulma? I need to see –"

"- Not until you answer the question," Bulma cut her off. The imposter ground her teeth angrily, and for a split second, Bulma questioned her safety. The fury in the woman's eyes blazed briefly but was quietly quashed. She calmed herself and answered the question without hesitation.

"My son," Diana emphasized her relation. "Used to think the monkeys he would see on tv, in nature, and at the zoo were his kin because of his tail. One time when he was a baby, he escaped from his crib. Goku and I searched for him all afternoon, and we eventually found him in a nearby jungle playing with orangutans." Diana would never forget that day. It was a funny memory now, but at the time, her heart had practically leaped out of her chest when she'd discovered her son's absence.

Bulma burst out laughing, and Krillin joined in. The Capsule Corp heiress knew the tale well. Goku had recounted it numerous times, and though she hadn't been present that day, the mental image of those events was ingrained in her mind. Thankfully Gohan had never done anything that crazy under her supervision.

"You really might be Diana," Bulma admitted with a cocked brow. Her words elicited a deep sigh from the Amazon.

"C'mon, who else could she be?" Krillin gestured toward Goku's wife. He was just as frustrated with Bulma's cynicism as Wonder Woman was.

"I know what will make you believe," A lightbulb flickered in Diana's mind, and she reached for the lariat hidden beneath her shield. The Lasso of Truth would dispel any distrust. The legendary lasso glowed as Wonder Woman dangled it in her hand. Before Bulma could object or make a snarky remark, Diana wrapped one end of the rope to Bulma's hand and attached the other half to hers.

"My name is Diana Prince. I am a daughter of the Amazons, Goku's wife, Gohan's mother, and the queen of Themyscira."

Bulma's reaction was slow, but the words hit her like a ton of bricks, and she had no choice but to accept the truth. Her eyes swelled with tears as she digested everything. It was true; it really was true. Diana had returned home after so long. Wonder Woman slowly unfastened the lasso and returned it to its resting spot, but Bulma was still too disoriented to speak. A trembling hand clamped her mouth shut.

"Bulma, please say something, anything. I'm worried," Diana finally said after several moments of awkward silence. Her words did nothing to remedy the situation. Bulma remained mute.

"Maybe the lasso showed her too much?" Krillin offered with a shrug. It was at least in the realm of possibility, and Diana's head nod confirmed as much.

"It wouldn't be the first time that the lasso has –"

SMACK!

Wonder Woman blinked mid-speech, and when she opened her eyes, Bulma was shrieking and yelling curses at the sky. All the acrylic nails on Bulma's right hand were broken, and the heiress was frantically waving her hand, trying to cool the burning pain. It was a futile effort. Diana rubbed her cheek and felt nothing, but the reality of the situation was still dawning on her; Bulma had slapped her!

"Why did you do that?" Wonder Woman asked. She apprehensively approached Bulma, who had backed away to gain some distance. Krillin stood stiff as a mannequin. The former monk opted to stay out of their quarrel, and that was for the best.

"Because you deserved it!" Bulma shouted. She finally stopped shaking her hand and extended a finger to point at Diana. "You have no idea what Gohan went through, what Goku went through, what I went through when you suddenly disappeared. All you left behind was a stupid letter, and we all had to pick up the broken pieces of our lives. Gohan needed his mother, Goku needed his wife, and I…. I needed my friend, but you weren't there." Bulma began sobbing, but before the hot tears streaked down her cheeks, Wonder Woman's arms were there, pulling her into a tight hug.

"I'm so sorry, Bulma. I didn't mean for any of this to happen to you, my son, or my husband. If I could go back and change things, I would; please believe me. I shouldn't have abandoned my friends and family like that," Diana's apology could never rectify her actions, but it was all she could do. She consoled her friend, and they embraced, exchanging tears on each other's clothes. "I will make it up to you, Bulma. I'll make it up to everyone. I swear it by the gods."

"Don't ever do anything like that again," Bulma ordered as she laggardly slithered out of Diana's arms. The Amazon's grip was ironclad, but eventually, Bulma escaped. She took a whiff of herself and noticed Diana's scent had overtaken her own. The queen smelled heavenly, and the fragrance of lilacs now coated both of them. Bulma would've loved to extend their embrace, but she had pressing matters to attend to now, and the workers she'd hired were beginning to stare.

"We should take this inside, so we can all talk in private," Krillin suggested. Bulma and Diana both agreed. They turned and began the short trek to Diana's house. The queen took one last confused look at her backyard, wondering who all these people were and what the heck was going on.


Dragonball DC

Wonder Woman sat at her wooden kitchen table in silence. Bulma and Krillin were both on the phone making calls to their friends to share the good news about Diana's return. Krillin only made one call which was to Yamcha. She couldn't hear the Lone Wolf's voice on the other line, but Krillin's response to his words indicated Yamcha's jubilation about her reappearance.

Bulma made two phone calls, and the first was to someone named J'onn. Maybe he was a friend of Goku's? One that her husband had made during her absence? Diana couldn't be certain; all she had were her assumptions. J'onn was a very common name, but she didn't personally know anyone with that name.

Diana focused her hearing, but it was impossible to tell who had answered Bulma's first call. However, Bulma seemed to have a good relationship with J'onn, whoever he was, and that made Diana curious to meet him. Batman was the recipient of Bulma's final call, which was of no great surprise, but it was shocking for Diana to hear that Piccolo was in the Batcave with Superman and Batman. Piccolo was a villain, just like his father, and he was Goku's arch-nemesis. There was no reason for Goku's friends to spend time with him.

Bulma sounded so chummy when she spoke about Piccolo during her call, which was even more baffling. There was clearly a missing piece of information that Diana wasn't yet privy to, but she intended to fill in the blanks, and that wouldn't take long; the calls were over now. Bulma was loudly fuming with a scowl on her face as Krillin tried to ease her anger. Bruce had hung up on her seconds after she'd mentioned Diana's reappearance. Knowing Batman, he'd dropped everything and was speeding to Mount Paozu as quickly as possible.

"I noticed neither one of you called Goku," Diana said as she stretched her arms across the table. It was practically brand new and was double the size of her previous one. Her husband had likely replaced it, though she doubted it was of his own volition. "Where is my husband? Is he with Gohan?" Today was their son's birthday, so it was plausible that Goku was away spending time with Gohan, but he should've been the first person Krillin or Bulma called.

"Should I tell her, or do you want to do it?" Krillin gulped and exchanged a skittish look with Bulma. The Capsule Corp heiress shook her head and volunteered to do the task.

"Tell me what? What's going on? Speak to me plainly, the both of you," Diana demanded. Since she'd arrived, both of her friends had been acting strangely, though not without cause. However, their behavior was beginning to irk her now. Bulma and Krillin sat across the square table, side by side with one another, and neither one was eager to speak, but Bulma eventually mustered up the courage.

"A lot has happened while you've been away, Diana. This will take a while, but I'll explain everything to you as best as I can."

Bulma's words ended up being the understatement of the century. By the time the billionaire was done talking, Diana felt as if ages had passed, but the clock on her stove revealed that only five minutes of actual time had flown by. This was too much for Diana to process. The destruction of Themyscira had been an easier pill to swallow than this.

"Goku died…Yamcha died…. Tien died…. Chiaotzu died…... Krillin died," Wonder Woman glanced at her bald friend, and he smiled at her sheepishly, but he had no reason to be embarrassed. He had ventured into space, fought valiantly, and died at the hands of a galactic despot. She was the one who was ashamed, deeply ashamed, for abandoning her friends in their greatest time of need. "I'm so sorry."

Diana's voice cracked, and Bulma knew she was on the verge of tears again. The Capsule Corp heiress wasted no time slipping out of her chair and rushed over to her friend. This time Bulma reached down and pulled her into a hug, though her grip wasn't anywhere near as strong as the Amazon's.

"It's okay, Diana; it's okay," Bulma repeated over and over. The overwhelming guilt the queen felt was palpable. "We survived all that chaos. The important thing is that you're here with us now; that's all that matters."

"I wish that were true, but it's not," Diana whimpered. "I have to earn the forgiveness of everyone I've wronged, starting with you, Bulma. I just pray Goku and Gohan can find it in their hearts to forgive me. I failed my duties as a mother and a wife."

"You're too hard on yourself, Diana," Bulma wiggled out of their embrace and used a free hand to lift the queen's chin. "Goku and Gohan will forgive you. They love you. Nothing you can do would ever change their feelings about –"

"- Aunty Bulma, we're here!" Gohan shouted as he walked through his front door. Yamcha trailed behind him. It had been a while since the Demi-Saiyan had been home, but his house was picturesque as always. He heard voices in the kitchen and sensed three Ki presences there. Two of them were familiar to him and obviously belonged to his Godmother and Krillin, but the third one was a mystery. It faintly reminded him of his mother, but she had disappeared, and even she wasn't that powerful.

Gohan was anxious to see who it was. He ran into the kitchen, leaving Yamcha behind, but came to a screeching halt as soon as he stepped onto the room's tiled floor. Everyone's eyes were glued to him as he stood frozen, mouth agape in shock.

"Mom?!" Gohan asked. The woman in question gently pushed Bulma to the side and dashed over to him. She swooped Gohan into her arms and cradled him, crying as she whispered in his ears.


A big thank you to everyone who reviewed chapter 65!


Q/A:

guardianx15: Almost all of your questions are potential spoilers, so I'm not going to respond to them, sorry.

Anonymous Mastermind: Goku has no reason to revive Raditz. Unlike Donna, he never showed any regret for his actions.

Blyat: The pacing of this story has admittedly been a problem. At certain points, the pacing has been too slow or too fast. I need to improve that, but in general, this will be a slowly-paced story. There are a lot of things I want to flesh out, and that requires time.

scl04: In DBZ canon, I always found it odd that Yamcha easily forgave Vegeta, who was partially responsible for his death. Vegeta didn't play a role in Yamcha's death in this story, but Yamcha isn't going to sweep Vegeta's past actions under the rug, especially when he's shacked up at Bulma's house. Goku and Diana owe Bulma a lot for caring for their son while they've been away. She's the Godmother of the century, for sure lol.

la gran diosa zorra fantasma: I don't have any plans for Hercule. Bra will appear in this story. Did you mean Android 16?

drake202: Donna's labors will be explained soon. Turles was the one who Darkseid's emissary saved, not Raditz. Kara is still on ice; Goku won't meet her for a long time.

Martiz S.G: Yamcha won't be a joke in this story. I have some big plans for him. I like your idea about Hal.

DRAGONDAVE45: Waller has a few tricks up her sleeve. Ras al Ghul and Vandal Savage are aware of the Dragonballs. Their past interactions with the Dragonballs will be explored.

Vault Hunter: The Flash and The Martian Manhunter were amazed, but they'd already been informed about the Dragonballs, so they weren't going to be completely mind-blown.

N: Honestly, I'm not sure what I'll do with the DC: Cross Epoch story.

Thunder Dragon: Diana using the Dragonballs to restore Themyscira is a bit tricky because of Hera's 's hookup with Harley Quinn may or may not be of significance later.

Tomorrow-man15: The Z-Warriors and Batman and Superman have an excellent relationship. That hasn't been shown on screen very much, which is a mistake of mine, but you'll see more evidence of that as the story progresses.

kaffeenator666: Vegeta probably won't go to space like he did in canon, but he will still train. The Android saga in this story is going to be totally different than it was in canon. I have a lot of big things planned for the Androids. Cell will be extremely OP, and he'll be a tremendous problem once he finally appears. Weaknesses like Kryptonite or fire might be able to harm him, but due to all his other DNA, it won't bother him too much.

I'm not really sure where I'd place Diana right now. She's on an SSJ tier, but how strong precisely? That's something I'll have to determine, but I like your idea. Trunks will arrive with a DC character; I won't say who, but it will be someone who is related to DC's trinity.

Donald Tenney Jr: A Piccolo/Martian Manhunter fusion would be interesting. I'm not going to spoil who will travel with Trunks.

gotham0101: Gohan will be much stronger than his mother after fighting Cell. Hippolyta will be out of the picture for a long time.

Fantom-Phoenix: Thanks for the very kind words. I'm glad I could provide inspiration.

Ardee: Yes, there were missed opportunities in earlier chapters. The DC and DBZ plots should've intertwined more, and it was a mistake to largely keep them parallel to one another. Going forward, that's something I'll rectify. Involving Batman or Superman in the Namek saga wasn't really feasible. Namek has three suns, and Superman would've trounced Frieza. Batman wouldn't have been much use on Namek.

Superman is listed as a deuteragonist, but this story doesn't actually have a protagonist or a deuteragonist. When I first started writing this story years ago, I listed Goku and Superman as the main characters so I could draw attention to the story, but I should probably remove them now. Wonder Woman has gotten a lot of screen time, and that's admittedly due to my bias; she's my favorite DC superheroine. Superman deserves more screen time, and he'll get it.

The Goku/Diana pairing would've probably felt more believable to you if I had shown the dynamics of their relationship on screen. I showcased bits and pieces, but I skipped past a lot of things. Gohan's God, Ki, is just due to his lineage. Diana's a demigod, so as a byproduct of that, Gohan has God Ki.

I feel like I've finally started to hit my stride with this story. I know it's crazy to say this after Sixty-six chapters, lol, but I feel like my writing is improving a lot. Constructive criticisms from my reviewers have helped me a lot. The DC and DBZ casts will interact with each other heavily from now so the separation issues shouldn't be as prevalent.

Guest: Goku and Superman are listed as the main characters, but to be honest, this story doesn't have a main character. Goku and Superman need to be featured more, though.