Thoughts

Computer Speech/Robotic Speech

"Speech"

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

Chapter 68: Steam II


May 18th

Age 763 (2013), Mount Paozu

Gohan couldn't decide which gift he liked best; there were so many of them. The two massive foldable white and grey tables in front of him were filled with presents. They stretched from each end of the table, and some were even stacked on top of each other. At their peak, they were far too high for Gohan to reach, but luckily the Demi-Saiyan could fly, and he wasted no time doing so as the veritable towers of babel began wobbling. Bulma had haphazardly stacked the gifts, and gravity was about to take its course.

But at the last second, before the multitude of presents sputtered into the air, Diana snatched them with blazing speed. The Flash whistled in admiration as the queen of the Amazons restacked the gifts in an orderly manner. Gohan blinked, and when he opened his eyes, all his presents were neatly reorganized on the tables by height, length, and weight. He descended to the ground and landed beside his grinning mother, who stood with a present in her outstretched hands.

Diana didn't have to say anything; Gohan understood the gesture. His mother wanted him to open her present before anyone else's. Bulma pouted amidst the crowd in front of the tables, but the heiress understood the deep connection between a mother and her son. Her lavish gifts would have to wait until later. Diana was so eager for her son to open the strangely wrapped gift in her hands; she practically shoved it in his face.

Gohan eyed the gift curiously. It was the first one he'd seen when his mother had taken him, Bulma, Krillin, Piccolo, and the Justice League inside the Invisible Plane. The jet was now parked in a nearby field, but Gohan had no idea how his mother would even find it. Nothing was visible inside the plane except the steering wheel, which stuck out like a sore thumb. His mother had given him a full tour of the aircraft, but unironically there hadn't been much to see.

The jet was large but nowhere near the size of a commercial aircraft. It was spacious enough to seat seven passengers, but no more. Wonder Woman's cargo had occupied almost all of the plane's storage, and most of it still remained in the plane, minus Gohan's gifts. His mother had brought back an abundance of knickknacks, clothes, spices, and souvenirs from her homeland. Gohan hoped his present was something cool like a shield or maybe even a lasso like the one his mother had.

The Demi-Saiyan thanked his mother for the gift and pulled it out of her hands. He ripped the packaging off in several swift motions, letting the wrapping fall to the ground. It didn't take Gohan long to figure out what his present was; a lightbulb went off in his head as his hands grasped a pommel. His gift was a sword. The Demi-Saiyan raised the weapon above his head and examined it as the sun gleamed off its razor-sharp steel edges.

The blade was surprisingly light for its size. The longsword was over half the length of Gohan's body, and the Demi-Saiyan looked comical, waving the oversized weapon around in the air. Piccolo had given him a sword once, but it was nowhere near this level of craftsmanship. This sword's hilt was wrapped in black leather and featured a metal bar as its hand guard. Greek letters were engraved on the blade from its tip to its base.

Gohan lowered the sword and brought it down to eye level as he tried to decipher what the words meant. He struggled for a while before promptly giving up. His mother giggled at his flummoxed expression and leaned over to read the engravings to him.

"I'll have to teach you Greek. As my heir, it's important that you know our language," Diana said. That was one portion of Gohan's education that Bulma wouldn't be able to assist him with. "The words say that this sword is a gift from the gods, and whoever holds this blade should honor their name and that of the Amazons."

"This sword is from the gods?" Gohan mumbled in awe. His mother nodded fervently.

"It was crafted by my brother, your uncle, the god Hephaestus. It can do a myriad of things, but the coolest one, in my opinion, is the sword's ability to slice atoms."

"Slice atoms?!" The crowd of onlookers shouted in unison. Bulma and Batman were the most shocked by the news.

"You're joking, right, Diana? There's no way you're being serious," Bulma uttered in disbelief. The scientific implications of a weapon like that were enormous. That sword was the ultimate killing device.

"Gohan needs to protect himself, I can understand that, but a weapon like that is too dangerous in a child's hands, Diana. Gohan can easily harm himself or someone else by accident," Batman chastised. His gift to the Demi-Saiyan would protect the boy, but it wouldn't be a detriment to his safety.

"I will personally train Gohan in swordsmanship. Yes, this sword is a great responsibility, but it's better for him to start learning now. When he reaches adulthood, he'll have a full grasp of the sword's capabilities."

Superman couldn't argue with Diana's logic. "That does make sense," The Kryptonian admitted after a long silence.

"And I'll assist with his training, too," Piccolo added. His responsibilities as Gohan's sensei would likely decrease since Diana had returned, but Ma Junior had no intention of completely abandoning his pupil.

Krillin looked at the Namekian beside him and scratched his head. "How's that gonna work? You don't even use a sword. Heck, I've never seen you use any weapon," The former monk said, befuddled.

"For your information, I gave Gohan his first sword," Piccolo said pointedly. He glared at Krillin, and he shriveled under his gaze.

"Point taken," Krillin chuckled nervously.

"Sheesh, Diana, that's a tough act to follow. That sword completely blows my gift out of the water," Yamcha said sheepishly. His gift was from the heart, but it couldn't compete with anything from the gods.

"It's the thought that counts, Yamcha," Diana insisted. "This isn't a competition, we're all here to celebrate my son's birthday, and he'll appreciate anything he gets. Isn't that right, Gohan?" Wonder Woman placed a hand on her son's shoulder, and the boy looked up at her timidly.

"Uhh yeah, mom, of course," Gohan agreed. He'd been too enamored with his blade to keep track of the adults' conversation. He'd only caught the tail end of his mother's sentence, but he agreed with her nonetheless.

"You heard it straight from the horse's mouth," Diana turned her gaze to Yamcha and smiled. "I have a few more presents for my son, and then I'll leave the rest to you guys." The group of guests nodded, and Wonder Woman proceeded to unveil the remainder of her gifts.

Diana's next gift was an orange scabbard for Gohan's sword. It wasn't an exciting gift, but it was practical, and Gohan understood why it was necessary. None of Diana's presents after that were sword related. Gohan received a multitude of Amazon clothing, books, and colognes. He wasn't sure why a child his age would need cologne, but according to his mother, the Amazons took great pride in their scents.

Aside from his sword, Gohan's favorite gifts from his mother were the bracelets he received and Hermes's Talaria. Technically both gifts weren't actually from his mother, but they'd been in her possession, and she'd elected to pass them down to her son. The bracelets were the original ones his mother had worn as a child. They were much smaller than the gauntlets she currently wore, but Wonder Woman promised her son that his bracelets were just as adequate. Athena had given Diana the bracelets on her fifth birthday, and the queen had decided to keep the tradition alive with her son.

Hermes winged sandals were also a blast from the past. The messenger god had given the sandals to Diana during her adolescence to assist her with her quest for the Dragonballs. She'd ultimately failed, but the sandals had remained in her possession until now. Gohan could fly without any external assistance, but the sandals were a unique piece of memorabilia and were part of his family's heritage. He'd likely never use them, but who knew what the future had in store for him?

Once Wonder Woman was done presenting her gifts, Bulma took her place in a hurry. The Capsule Corp heiress nearly barreled over the foldable tables in front of Gohan in a rush to get next to him. Bulma's gifts were much more opulent than his mother's, and no expense had been spared. The designer clothing she bought was nice, but Bulma and her Godson both knew that he would wear them sparingly. Gohan preferred Gi's for clothing, and that would likely never change.

Fortunately, Bulma also gifted her Godson Gi's with the Capsule Corp insignia branded on them. They came in an assortment of colors and could stretch to fit their wearer's proportions, so Gohan never had to worry about outgrowing them. He also received a suitcase filled with Bulma's latest capsules, and his mother wasted no time taking them off his hands, much to his dismay. But the most expensive present Bulma gave her Godson was the deed to a private island. It was a large island not too far from Chikyu that was uninhabited.

It was the perfect location for Gohan to hone his skills. There wasn't much wildlife there, and the island's treacherous terrain would keep any prying eyes away. Gohan, his family, or anyone within his friend group could train to their heart's content there. It was a gift of such magnitude that three presents later, Gohan was still trying to process it. The procession of gifts became a blur.

Yamcha handed Gohan another blade, the Azure Dragon Sword from his days as a bandit, and it was even heavier than it looked. Krillin gave him a deluxe pair of tickets to a baseball game and

The Flash gave him the latest gaming console. He'd never been to a sporting event, and Gohan rarely played video games, so both gifts were welcome surprises. The Martian Manhunter's presents were relics from Mars, handcrafted jewelry that had once been popular on the red planet.

Superman's gift was also jewelry but fashioned out of a different material. Nth Metal, as he called it, was an alien substance from the planet Thanagar. The man of steel didn't explain how he'd gotten his hands on the metal, but it was Gohan's now. The gold Nth Metal chain felt almost alive every time Gohan touched it, but what was definitely alive was Batman's gift.

The dark knight gave Gohan a pineapple-sized egg that felt as warm as his mother's touch. It was an egg unlike any other, and once Batman explained, it all made sense. It was a dragon egg which meant it had cost a pretty penny. The egg was due to hatch in the next few weeks, and Gohan would see its contents soon enough. Bruce had mulled over several gift ideas but had finally settled on the dragon egg once Bulma had called him.

"Icarus, I'll call him Icarus," Gohan decided without even seeing the dragon's gender. The name had a nice ring to it, and it tied into his Greek heritage, but all of the adults collectively sweatdropped once the words departed Gohan's lips.

"Whatever floats your boat, Gohan," Bulma said between hearty laughs. It was an odd choice, but it wasn't too outlandish considering all the names her Godson could have said.

Following that, it was time for Gohan to tour his theme park. Bulma's employees had finished setting up the rides, and all that was left was for Gohan to explore them. The Demi-Saiyan wasted no time hopping from one ride to another. He was a dizzying bundle of energy. No one could keep up with him save his mother.

She was apprehensive about the wandering eyes of the theme park's workers watching her and her family in a private moment, but Bulma assured her with the security steps she'd taken. Every employee had signed an iron-clad non-disclosure agreement. None of them would say a word about anything they witnessed today, or else the full weight of Capsule Corp's legal team would bear down on them. Bulma's words eased Diana's worries, and the Amazon queen relaxed, allowing herself to enjoy precious moments with her son. Shortly after that, the rest of the Son family's friends arrived.

Kami and Mr. Popo were late, but with good reason. They landed on Mount Paozu with a host of Namekians. The Guardian of the Earth had been occupying Bulma's role as their chaperone. Master Roshi, Turtle, Oolong, Puar, and Launch shuffled in minutes later. Everyone was surprised to see Launch, who hadn't even received an invitation to Gohan's party, but Master Roshi had insisted he'd take her after she'd threatened him.

Old friends and new friends mingled and partied to their heart's delight. Even Batman got in on the festivities after numerous complaints from Wonder Woman and Bulma. Humungous plates of food were served to every guest in attendance. Every cuisine imaginable was on the menu, from American to Chikyuan and everything in between. Gohan ate any dish that came his way and nearly put multiple catering services out of business singlehandedly.

The Flash's appetite was voracious as well, but today was Gohan's day, and he allowed the boy to eat to his heart's content. Somehow, miraculously, by the time the sun had set, there was still enough food left for the various partygoers to take home. Superman took home enough food to last a month. Before everyone dispersed and went their separate ways, Bulma's team of professional photographers took group pictures of everyone. Throughout the day, they'd snapped photos here and there of the birthday boy and his friends and family, but those had mainly been candid photos.

The off-guard pictures were surprisingly easier than the group photos. It was a massive undertaking to get everyone organized and aligned. Everyone had a particular pose they preferred, but those poses often interfered with the personal space of the person beside them. Some guests, like Piccolo, refused to even be in the group pictures at all, but Bulma's furious shouting eventually made Ma Junior comply. The Capsule Corp heiress was adamant about the photos, and though it took a while, she ultimately got her wish.

Everyone was satisfied with the end results, and Batman cracked a rare smile upon seeing the series of photos. He didn't admit it to anyone, but a few of the pictures would be hung on the walls of the Batcave. The dark knight was the first person to leave the party, which surprised no one. Bruce refused to take even a single night off from crime fighting. He wished everyone a farewell and took off in the Batplane minutes later.

The Flash followed him, and after that, it was a tidal wave of exits. The night went on, and more and more guests trickled out until there were only a handful of people left. J'onn was the last remaining member of the Justice League. The Martian and Diana exchanged stories until Gohan's energy ran out. The Demi-Saiyan exhausted himself in his theme park while playing games with Yamcha and Krillin. Once his eyes fell shut, the party was officially over.

Wonder Woman scooped her son into her arms once his snores became loud enough for her to hear. He'd had a long day and was in need of his bed. The queen of the Amazons thanked her remaining guests for participating in her son's birthday celebration and bid them good night. Everyone left except for Bulma, who wound up staying the night. She and Diana had a lot to catch up on, plus her workers would be back the next morning to dismantle the theme park they'd assembled.

Wonder Woman couldn't have envisioned a better day for her return. Things had been nearly perfect, but as she sat on the couch in her living room chatting with Bulma, the one glaring hole became more and more evident. Goku, her husband, the love of her life, wasn't present. He'd missed the entirety of their son's fifth birthday. Goku's absence was a weight Gohan tried to ignore, but it had been obvious how much the boy missed his father throughout the day.

Goku should've been there guiding Gohan's hands as he sliced his cake. Goku should've been there while his friends and family sang happy birthday to Gohan. Goku should've been there while they opened presents. Goku should've been there if only to hug his son and tell him how much he loves him, but Goku was a million, if not billions, of miles away. Her husband deserved at least a small slice of happiness after everything he'd gone through in her absence.

Her reaction had been subdued earlier in the day upon seeing Gohan's memories of his father's experiences, but everything had been too overwhelming to process. There had been one mindblowing revelation after the other. Intergalactic despots, genocides, the legendary Super Saiyan transformation, the origin of the Saiyan race, and even now, it still gave Diana a headache to think about it all. She had a lot to discuss with her husband whenever he returned from wherever he was, but for now, she had to be strong for Gohan.

All of her questions would eventually be answered, but until then, she would have to place her concerns on the back burner. Goku would return home; she had no doubts about that, but she had to ensure that Goku would even have a home to return to. Frieza's forces were still a looming threat, and they could strike at any moment. Diana had already lost her family once, and she refused to lose them again. She turned to a recliner across her living room and glared at Vegeta.

The prince was out cold and hadn't moved a muscle since J'onn had mentally incapacitated him. Before he'd left, the Martian had assured Diana that the Saiyan would wake up the next day around noon. J'onn had eliminated any possible chance of the prince ruining Gohan's birthday. Vegeta's mere presence in her home disgusted her, but it was a necessary evil. One way or another, once the prince woke up, he would give her insight into the inner workings of the Planet Trade Organization whether he wanted to or not.


January 1st

Age 763 (2013), Thanagar Prime

Fel Andar's stride was slow and steady as he walked down a winding hallway toward the war room. His placid expression denoted no emotions, but internally his stomach was churning. It was so uncharacteristic for him to be nervous, but try as he may, he couldn't suppress the feeling. Countless covert missions and battles in Thanagar's name should've prepared him for this moment, but his throat felt as dry as Terra Arcana. The desert planet was a long way from home, and as Fel finally entered the war room, he realized he was too.

Nearly all of the room's occupants turned to face him as his head peeked through a large open door. Idle chatter stopped, laughter dissipated, and piercing glares replaced smiles. Everyone was looking at Fel with scrutinizing, critical eyes, even his own uncle. Thanagarians weren't known for their kindness, and the royal Empress and her High Council were no exception. His uncle could've at least mouthed a greeting, but the Thanagarian Administrator completely ignored their familial bond.

The Empress and her High Council were seated at a massive circular Nth metal table. The war room itself was gigantic, easily larger than any apartment Fel had ever owned, but the Nth metal table still managed to occupy half of the room's space. The table was fixed in the center of the room, and its diameter was so wide the Thanagarians seated at it seemed to be worlds apart. There were a dozen cushioned chairs, each branded with the Thanagarian symbol; the head of a hawk, and all of them were filled except one.

Within seconds, a guard that had been posted on a nearby wall approached Fel to escort him to his awaiting seat. It was a short walk, shorter than his walk to the war room had been, but the guard took his sweet time guiding Fel to Thanagar's leaders. It had been easy to overlook the guard's presence in the room; none of them had moved an inch until now. Untrained eyes could've and would've assumed that the guards lining the walls were just well-crafted statues.

The guard leading the way in front of Fel was a stocky, burly man whose face was obstructed by his shiny gold helmet. An Nth metal mace was buckled to his hip, but his brethren, throughout the vast glimmering golden room, held an assortment of weapons. Shields, laser guns, swords, lances, and a multitude of strange weapons were all on display as Fel walked to his seat. The guards were all Wingmen, and though they were called that, there were women in their ranks as well.

The Wingmen were some of the best and brightest soldiers that Thanagar had to offer. Long ago, they had once served as Thanagar's police, but the Elite Hawkmen Force now occupied that role.

In present day, the Wingmen primarily served as front-line soldiers for the Thangarian empire, and they were easy to spot and identify on any battlefield; their distinct uniforms set them apart from the rest of Thanagar's military. Their winged gold Nth metal helmets were customary for all of Thanagar's forces, but the rest of their uniforms were one of a kind. The Wingmen wore dark green jumpsuits with gold Nth metal shoulder pads and wings.

Their gloves were gold, as well as their boots and Nth metal straps zigzagged around their chests. Their harness's converged at a singular intersecting point and was connected to a round ruby gem emblazoned with the insignia of the Thanagarian species. Every Thanagarian wore the symbol with immense pride, but none more than the Empress. She was the embodiment of Thanagar's spirit, and no one on the Thanagar Prime could match her beauty or passion.

Her jade eyes beckoned Fel's attention as he finally sat down. She was even more stunning than the holograms showed; she was a veritable goddess. Her bright, auburn hair ran down to her rippling abs. She was the only member of the table aside from Fel, whose midriff was visible, and she wore segmented armor, unlike anything he'd ever seen.

Her armor was predominantly navy blue and featured gold trim lining along its edges. Her shoulder pads were made from pure gold Nth metal and were much smaller than the Wingmen's, but they appeared to be more functional. The top half of her armor covered her chest, but nothing more. The red gem on it that housed the Thanagarian crest was abnormally large but dazzling. It showcased the full body of a hawk.

The Empress's chair was at least a foot taller than anyone else's on the High Council, indicating her position. Fel looked around the table and examined the faces that were present. He recognized most of them; they were high-ranking leaders in Thanagar's government, but he'd only personally met a handful of them. Fel spent most of his time off-world doing reconnaissance missions, growing Thanagar's spy network, and destabilizing enemy planets

, so he rarely got the chance to mingle with upper-crust society. The only person on the High Council who Fel occasionally spoke to was his uncle, Andar Pul.

His uncle was seated adjacent to him and looked anxious to begin the meeting. Andar Pul was a dark-haired, wrinkly, balding man whose ego was only matched by his appetite. He was a glutton for all kinds of delicacies, but most of all, power. He was the Administrator of at least twenty planets and oversaw their day-to-day functions. He wore an indigo service uniform that was similar to an Earth navy suit.

"Are you ready to begin your report?" Empress Shayera Hol asked. She was seated directly across the table from Fel and leaned forward in her chair, locking eyes with him once more.

Andar Pul gave his nephew a look, and the soldier quickly cleared his throat. "Yes, Your Highness."

"Well then, I'm waiting; we're all waiting," Shayera gestured towards her council, and their restlessness was written all over their faces. Fel didn't need any more prodding; his lips began moving.

"I personally attest to Namek's destruction on the Earth date of December 24th. I, and several other Thanagarian spies, were gathering intel in the Namekian sector when we witnessed Namek's abrupt destruction. Fortunately, our ships weren't anywhere near Namek's orbit when the planet was obliterated, and we avoided any casualties. However, our satellites weren't so lucky. All of the satellites that Thanagar had deployed to observe Frieza's ongoings on Namek were destroyed."

The Empress frowned. She had siphoned large sums of money from the public service budget to fund those satellites, and they were now worthless stardust. She pressed a button on her chair, and the table began beeping. Blue lights suddenly surfaced from the corners of the table, and they merged to form a giant hologram that stretched in every direction. Fel had just assumed that this was a plain Nth metal table, but how wrong he'd been.

The Empress said the word "Namek," and the Namekian solar system materialized on the hologram. Shayera wanted to see what this system looked like for herself, and she carefully eyed the celestial bodies as they hovered in her face. "The loss of those satellites is truly a shame, but as with all things, we can rebuild and create more. The data from those satellites are still available, correct?"

Fel Andar nodded. "Yes, Your Highness. All the information from the satellites is available on every military computer server. Every picture, video, and audio soundbite that my team captured is available for viewing. If you command it, I'll present them to you now." Fel dug a hand into his pocket and reached for the USB that was hidden near the bottom. It was an archaic, primitive device, but it was all he'd managed to grab on such short notice.

The Empress stopped him as soon as he'd finally managed to pull it out. She raised her palm and said, "I appreciate the gesture, but that's unnecessary. I'm well aware of everything that transpired on Namek up until December 24th. I just wanted to make sure Thanagar had proof of them. You can continue with your report."

Fel sank into his seat, confused. If the Empress knew what had occurred on Namek, then why was he here? After ages, he'd finally visited his parents just to be torn from them and ordered to the palace for this? This was a waste of everyone's time, but he didn't dare say that out loud.

"Your brilliant mind is the shining jewel of our empire, Your Majesty," Fel opted for flattery, but Empress merely rolled her eyes, ignoring his words. "The Saiyan from Earth, known as Son Goku, slew Frieza in single combat. I and many others believe he achieved the legendary Super Saiyan state."

Loud murmuring broke out amongst the High Council. They'd already heard this news prior to Fel's arrival, but their incredulity still wouldn't allow them to process it. Andar Pul conversed with a fully armored woman across from him, Paran Dul, and their talk quickly spiraled into bitter bickering. She was Thanagar's highest-ranking female general and looked prepared to put her battle prowess on display. All along the table, lively discussions dissolved into heated arguments that drowned out any further words from Fel Andar.

Order was only restored when the Empress quietly raised her hand and squeezed it into a fist. A hushed silence immediately fell over the war room.

"The legendary Super Saiyan transformation is just a myth," Shayera scoffed. "My father, Emperor Thal Provis, called it wishful nonsense. It is Saiyan folklore that was concocted to keep their hopes alive while tirelessly working for Frieza. Generations of Saiyans slaved under the Planet Trade Organization's rule, and none of them ever attained this supposed mythical state. After all these decades, why now? This Goku is from a backwater planet. Thousands, if not millions, of Saiyans spent their lives engaged in warfare, conquering worlds, but a Saiyan from a relatively peaceful planet is the one to finally become a Super Saiyan? It sounds ludicrous."

"I understand your sentiments, your Highness; you have every right to be doubtful, but I believe the legend is true," Fel Andar spoke cautiously. A few choice words would send the Empress's temper flaring. "Son Goku's rapid change following the death of his comrade, Krillin, is unexplainable otherwise. It has to be the Super Saiyan transformation. It's hard to come to grips with, but those good-for-nothing Saiyans weren't lying about the legend. Goku's physical appearance altered, and his power grew to heights so great that Frieza became visibly shaken. This is the transformation he and his ancestors were so frightened of."

Shayera wrapped her auburn hair around a finger and briefly contemplated Fel Andar's words. Her High Council looked eager to voice their opinion, but they all held their tounges.

"Frieza was always deathly afraid of the Super Saiyan legend, whether he admitted it or not. His actions proved that when he unwarrantedly destroyed Vegetasei, which was an unintentional favor for Thanagar. He destroyed Krypton to spite us, and his empire is still dealing with the consequences of that choice. The Kryptonians would've been a valuable ally or tributary state, but their war with the Saiyans ended in catastrophe. I have no love for the Saiyan race; no Thanagarian should; they were a thorn in our side long before they invaded the now-dead Rao system. But for once, it appears that one of our age-old enemies has done something to benefit the Thanagarian empire. The High Council and I will watch the recordings of the events on Namek, and if Frieza is truly dead, you will be rewarded for your intel."

Fel Andar was at a loss for words. Pinching himself felt like the smart thing to do, but if this was a dream, he didn't want to wake up. He'd served Thanagar dutifully and faithfully for the entirety of his young life, but the climb up the military ranks was agonizingly slow. With a single word, the Empress could propel him into the position he'd always dreamed of.

"I will humbly accept anything that you desire to give me, Your Highness." Fel Andar bowed his head, but Shayera halted him halfway.

"Until we can verify Frieza's death with a body, Thanagar will list his status as unknown, and we will continue to treat him as an active threat to our empire. This could be some sick ploy for all we know, and it wouldn't be the first time either. King Cold tricked my great-grandfather with a false truce between our empires, and that deception cost innumerable Thanagarians their divine blessing."

Fel knew what Shayera was referring to. Every Thanagarian did; it was the greatest betrayal in their history. King Cold's Cross, as it was now known, had stripped most of Thanagar's populace of their natural wings. Nth metal wings now served as a replacement, but an essential piece of Thanagar's proud history was forever lost. Empress Shayera was one of the few Thanagarians who was lucky to be born with feathery white wings, and many citizens pointed to that as a divine sign of her right to rule.

Shayera stood up from her chair and stretched. Her wings spread so far that it looked like she was preparing for takeoff, but she remained grounded.

"They're…they're beautiful," Fel Andar whispered to himself. In truth, they were more than that; they were breathtaking and made his gold Nth metal wings look like cheap imitations.

Shayera and Paran Dul were the only Thanagarians present with natural wings.

"Stand, Fel Andar," The Empress motioned her hands, and he rose to his feet.

She took a moment to carefully study him and wasn't disappointed by what she saw. Fel was a tall, handsome man with a muscular build and broad shoulders. His black hair was short and neatly trimmed like most Thanagarian soldiers. He wore no shirt, only a yellow harness strapped to his wings that bore the Thanagarian symbol and a pair of pale grey pants with matching boots. But what caught Shayera's eye the most was the chain dangling around his neck; it was impossible to miss.

"Yes, Your Highness?" Fel Andar stood with his hands clasped in front of him, waiting with bated breath.

"Whether Frieza is truly dead or alive, the Planet Trade Organization won't tolerate this defeat, especially from the hands of a Saiyan. Their vengeance will be swift and furious, like always. King Cold is likely plotting something now as we speak," Shayera mused, and the members of the High Council mumbled in agreement with her.

"I am your tool, Your Highness; use me," Fel Andar thumped his chest with his fist. "I can infiltrate King Cold's army and notify you of their ongoings. I am one of Thanagar's foremost spies, and I have proven that time and time again. Let me serve the empire again in this crucial moment and – "

"- No," Shayera cut him off. "I have other plans for you. Thanagar already has spies in King Cold's ranks; we don't need anymore. What Thanagar needs is a pair of watchful eyes on the Earth. I know you're familiar with the tale of Kalmoran; you wear him proudly." She stretched a hand and pointed to the miniature stone statue that hung from Fel's chain.

"Of course I am; he's Thanagar's most beloved ancestor," Fel looked down at his neck and smiled proudly at the figurine that was near and dear to his heart. Kalmoran was the ancient warrior who'd freed Thanagar from eternal service to the Cold family dynasty.

"You can be the Kalmoran of today's generation if you achieve the task that I'm about to give you," Shayera said, and Fel's head instantly snapped back up. "The Earth is full of unknown potential threats. In the past, I wrote that planet off, considering it insignificant, but time and time again, I have been proven wrong. So far, the citizens of Earth have miraculously repelled two alien invasions, one from the Saiyans and another from Starro, the conqueror. But the Earth's greatest feat was raising a Saiyan capable of defeating Frieza. No single person in the known galaxy has been able to accomplish that until now. There are still numerous things for Thanagar to sort out, like our quest for the Dragonballs, locating Princess Koriand'r, and much more. But for now, we need to keep an eye on the Planet Trade Organization, and the best place to do that is on Earth. King Cold, Cooler, or maybe even Kuriza will seek revenge; it's inevitable, and when they do, Thanagar needs to be there."

Fel Andar nodded in understanding. His Empress didn't have to spell it out for him; she was sending him on a covert mission to the Earth.


January 4th

Age 763 (2013), Almerac

"I swear, if I break a nail, you will spend the next fortnight in the dungeons!" Maxima screeched at one of her maids. The frightened woman's lips trembled, and she quickly apologized before slowing the pace of her brushing. The results were instant, and the pain in Maxima's fingers ceased.

"Ah, that's more like it," A satisfied Maxima cooed, smiling approvingly as she observed her maid. She was a petite humanoid, shy blonde from a recently conquered world who Sazu had recommended. A good servant was hard to find, and Maxima would've hated to get rid of her after her first week on the job. Her other maids were more tenured, but like all mortals, they were prone to mistakes, and that was something Maxima couldn't and wouldn't tolerate.

That was one of two primary reasons why her handmaids were a revolving door. The other was their tendency to betray her. Countless handmaids had attempted to assassinate her throughout her lifetime, but they had all failed. Almerac had endless enemies, and they were always scheming and plotting, devising new ways and methods to end the royal bloodline. Maxima had gotten so used to it that now she felt almost aggrieved when there wasn't at least one monthly attempt on her life.

But those things came with the territory when you were the head of an empire that spanned the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies. Almerac's provinces within the Milk Way galaxy weren't as large as the Plan Trade Organization's, but they were on equal footing with the Thanagarian empire. The Andromeda galaxy was another matter, though; Maxima's ancestors had colonized nearly half of that entire region of space. Only a few dozen stubborn systems remained that dared to resist Almerac's might. But soon enough, they would submit like the inferior races of her servants.

Maxima glanced around and saw her maids, a handful of them, scrupulously attending to her wants and needs. They all wore burgundy subligars and strophiums. Maxima was seated in a girthy porcelain square sunken bathtub that was large enough to fit a small platoon, but she was the tub's only occupant. Her servants sat on the wooden floor outside it, brushing her long luscious fiery red hair, filing her nails, and lighting scented candles.

Her bathroom didn't need any extra light; the gargantuan silver chandelier directly above Maxima's bathtub provided ample illumination; she just loved the scents of the candles. They came from various worlds within Almerac's empire and trading partners. Visiting delegations from tributary states often brought them as gifts to earn favor from the queen, and it usually worked. The latest set of candles that were currently being used had come from Tamaran. Almerac's relationship with Tamaran was rocky, but Maxima couldn't deny the goods they produced.

"Queen Maxima, I have urgent news for you," A soft voice suddenly announced.

Maxima turned and saw Sazu standing by the front door of her bathroom. She wore an elegant free-flowing teal, black and gold dress that dangled to her ankles. Her silk slippers were the same colors as her outfit, and a tall teal headdress covered most of her head and face, leaving only a tiny portion of it visible. Sazu lingered at the door briefly before trotting towards her queen.

"What are you all looking at? Get back to work!" Maxima snapped at her maids. Sazu's presence had momentarily distracted them, and they'd halted their work.

"Forgive us, Your Highness," Her servants said in unison. They lowered their heads in shame and didn't spare Sazu another glance.

"Pardon me for the interruption," Sazu curtsied as she finally reached the bathtub. She knew how much the queen hated to be disturbed during her bath; it was her only private time during the day. "If this weren't such an important issue, I would wait until later, but this requires your immediate attention, Your Majesty, and Almerac must – "

"- Sazu, you know such formalities are unnecessary between you and me," Maxima rudely interjected. She frowned at her secretary and most trusted advisor.

"In no way, shape or form did I mean to offend you, Your Highness, but it is my duty to – "

"- Uphold Almerac's traditions and protocols and ensure that they are never forgotten," Maxima finished the sentence for her. Sazu uttered those words at least once a day. "Blah, blah, blah. You don't ever get tired of repeating yourself?" The queen rolled her eyes and awaited a response, but she never received one; Sazu was too well-mannered to answer that question.

"The news I bring concerns Frieza," Sazu said, switching topics.

"Oh, that chump," Maxima raised a brow. "What has that fool done now?" The Planet Trade Organization was no friend of Almerac. The only reason the two empires had avoided war was because of Frieza's wiser older brother, Cooler.

"Frieza is dead!" Sazu said the words enthusiastically and expected the queen to be pleased by the news, but Maxima remained silent. The queen threw her head back and splooshed her feet around in her tub's warm water.

"It was bound to happen sometime; he was far too arrogant for my tastes. He needed to be humbled."

The irony of Maxima's words didn't escape Sazu. Scores of diplomats whispered the same criticisms about the queen behind her back, but now wasn't the time to bring that up, if ever.

"I hoped my hands would one day accomplish the deed, but that glory has been stolen from me. " Maxima folded her arms and scowled. "How did Frieza perish?"

"I can show you better than I can explain," Sazu reached into her pocket and pulled out a device that resembled a tablet. She pressed a few buttons and leaned over to hand it to the queen. As soon as Maxima grabbed it, a video began to play.

She dismissed her maids from the room with a wave and gave the recording her full attention. The video showcased unimaginable power from Frieza and an unknown opponent. A blonde-haired warrior and the androgynous mutant battled on a dying planet until it finally exploded. Frieza utilized underhanded dirty tactics, but it still wasn't enough. In the end, the tyrant was defeated, sliced in half by his own desperate attack.

"Where did you get this footage, and who is that man?" Maxima demanded as she gripped her hair. Her mind was in complete disarray. What she'd just witnessed had been….unfathomable.

This was the reaction Sazu had been waiting for. "One of our scouts intercepted that footage from a Thanagarian satellite. That blonde-haired man is a Saiyan from Earth named Goku."

"A Saiyan?" Maxima repeated the word with bitterness. Her ancestors had once tried to assimilate the Saiyans into Almerac's gene stock, but King Cold had thwarted those plans, and Frieza had ensured the Saiyan's extinction.

"Yes, a Saiyan," Sazu confirmed, and the frown on Maxima's face deepened. Some old wounds never healed. "The rumors from the Planet Trade Organization and Thanagar say that Goku has become a Super Saiyan."

"A Super Saiyan?!" Maxima jumped out of the tub, inadvertently exposing her naked body to Sazu. Her secretary didn't flinch and made no mention of the view that so many men desired. "So the legends were true. I would curse Frieza, but he's already dead. Almerac needs that kind of power in its arsenal, but Goku's victory cost him his life."

"That might not be true, Your Majesty," Sazu shook her head. "There have been reports about a spaceship that managed to escape Namek before its destruction. It's highly possible that Goku was inside it."

Maxima's pupils grew large. "Allocate every resource in our empire and investigate the veracity of those reports. If Goku is alive, my future heir will need the Super Saiyan power."

"I thought you might say that, Your Highness, so I did some research. Goku is already married, though his wife seems to have disappeared."

"I don't intend on marrying him; I only require his seed, nothing more," Maxima said brusquely. It was her job as the queen and the last of her bloodline to ensure that Almerac's dynasty continued.

"Pardon me, Your Highness, I was out of line," Sazu said apologetically. "There is also a Kryptonian on Earth, called Superman, who may be of interest to you. By all accounts, he is single, and he is one of Earth's mightiest warriors."

Maxima placed a hand on her chin and rubbed it. "During the age of the Kryptonian empire, it was a well-known fact that a Kryptonian's powers increased under a yellow sun. I'm sure that is the source of Superman's strength, but nonetheless, his genes would be an excellent addition to Almerac's breeding stock."

"Should I prepare your ship then?" Sazu asked. The queen would most likely want to head to Earth as soon as possible, but Maxima's response surprised her.

"No," The queen said firmly. "We will wait and see how things play out. The Planet Trade Organization has suffered a major defeat, and they won't rest until they have retribution.

I'm sure the video footage of Frieza's downfall will be dispersed throughout the galaxy, and I expect to see numerous uprisings and revolutions in the near future. I will stay on Almerac to ensure that the chaos does seep into our territories. But once the dust settles, we'll make our move."


A big thank you to everyone who reviewed chapter 67!

A/N: Apologies for the very slow update; I didn't plan on taking an almost month-long break, but writer's block happened, and then I fell out of my writing routine. I had the first thousand words of this chapter written the same day as my last update, but I couldn't think of anything after that. I also didn't plan for this chapter to be this long, but once I started writing, it kept getting longer and longer, and I rewrote portions of the chapter, like the Thanagar section, that I wasn't satisfied with, and the length got even longer. But anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter; see you all in the next one.


Q/A:

OmniIBIBUltraInstinctGodzilla: God Ki in this story will require a thorough explanationthat I will provide at a later date. I can't spoil Frieza's invasion, but it will differ drastically from canon. I think a lot of people have forgotten that Frieza has a Yellow Lantern ring.

Ppsspp: Future Trunks will appear soon.

Historiasrandom: The galactic consequences of Frieza's defeat haven't been overlooked. It was briefly explored in this chapter and will continue to be examined. Diana cares about what Goku went through in her absence, but he's not present right now, and her son is. Diana's reaction to her husband's exploits was briefly touched upon but not in-depth for that reason. She prioritized her son's experiences, but that doesn't mean Goku was ignored. When Goku returns to Earth, and he and his wife reunite, you'll get the full scope of Diana's reaction to everything he went through.

Kabuto S. Inferno: Frieza being responsible for the Saiyan's destruction was glossed over in the previous chapter. Wonder Woman is aware of that information, but she didn't verbalize it. However, when Frieza invades the Earth, that will be a key point of discussion. It will be difficult for Vegeta to remove the bomb from his brain and gain the Justice League's trust. Vegeta's growth, power-wise, won't be stymied, though.

Cell will only need one form because of all the DNA he'll have. He won't need to evolve because he'll already be the perfect being in his creator's eyes. I didn't say that Cell will have God Ki; I stated that he could have it hypotheticallyspeaking. I can understand the concerns about power-scaling in this universe because Cell will be very OP, but he'll still have some weaknesses. In the case of Majin Buu potentially being a weaker threat than Cell, that will just depend on who Majin Buu absorbs, and I have a great list of victims for him.

Jackalope89: Vegeta didn't actually kill any innocent people on Earth during the Saiyan saga, but he was still culpable for Nappa's actions, which is why Wonder Woman was furious with him.

Tomorrow-man15: The reviewers are the primary reason I write this story, so I always feel compelled to respond to their comments. I enjoy writing, but I would've quit a long ago if no one had read or reviewed this story. You guys, the reviewers, make the story what it is, and I try to respond to everything, positive or negative, within reason. I'm glad to know this is your favorite story on this website. Icarus made an appearance in this chapter.

scl04: Vegeta's interactions with the Justice League and the Z-Warriors will be interesting, especially once he and Bulma start and Wonder Woman will have to have a nice long conversation about Gohan's 'll see more of Diana's perspective and reaction to events that have occurred as things progress. When Goku returns, we'll dive head-on into her views about the Saiyans, SSJ, etc.

drake202: You'll get Diana's full reaction to Goku's experiences once he's returned to Earth and they're reunited.

I Am Real Super Sand: There was a lot of stuff to cram into the previous chapter, and I glossed over some things, such as the SSJ transformation, like you mentioned. But you'll see Wonder Woman's in-depth reaction to the SSJ form when she witnesses it in person in an upcoming chapter. The SSJ2 form will still appear, and SSJ3 will also appear. I'm a big fan of SSJ3; after SSJ4, it's my favorite transformation. A Goku/Vegeta transformation will happen at some point, but I'm not sure if it will be Gogeta or Vegito.

In the Buu saga, a Goku/Superman fusion will happen. I've wanted to write that fusion for years. My username on this site before it was Touzoshin was Kalkarot, so that should tell you everything, lol. I have plans for some DBZ movie characters. Dr. Wheelo has already appeared in this story, and I've stated numerous times that Broly will appear too. Major spoiler alert here, but I plan to include all the Androids from the Super Android 13 movie in this story's Android saga.

Bardock's past will be explored, but I'm not quite sure if it will be one big flashback. Buu will be a major villain in this story, but he won't be the end-game villain. I know how I want this story to end and who the final enemy will be. I can't spoil who knows or doesn't know about Majin Buu. I'm sorry, but I've just never personally cared for Hercule's character. I won't completely write him out of the story, but he won't play a significant role like he did in canon. The Buu saga was my favorite DBZ saga; I've never understood the hate for it.

Vtorx: Goku and Vegeta will still have a rivalry.

Thunder Dragon: Wonder Woman does have a daughter; you might be onto something.

Vault Hunter: Cell won't travel from the future in this story; that won't be a plotline.

guardianx15: I still haven't seen Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, so I can't say if Gohan's Beast form will appear.

Ardee: Going forward, Batman and Superman will have more important roles. I think you'll enjoy Frieza's invasion a lot. He has a Yellow Lantern ring, and King Cold will be more formidable than he was in canon.

kaffeenator666: In the previous chapter, there were so many memories and reactions to sort through, and I gleamed and glossed over certain ones. I prioritized certain things over others, but that was for a reason. As I said to other reviewers up above, you'll get the full scope of Diana's reaction to Goku's experiences once he returns to Earth. It's a tricky balancing act trying to decide what to write and how to write it.

Cell won't travel to the past. There will be a crisis in Trunks' future, and it will be DC-related. The Cell and Android saga's in this story will differ drastically from canon. I've thought this story out pretty far ahead, but there are certain plot points that I need to fill in here and there. God Ki in DBS doesn't make any sense, and that's something I still need to hash out in this story.

Your idea about God Ki seems logical. The Olympians have God Ki as a byproduct of being gods, but they can't use Ki in general; it's a little confusing, admittedly. Gohan is part human because Amazons are humans. Amazons were enhanced by the gods, but at their core, they're just the reborn souls of mortal women. I don't mind constructive criticism; it helps me grow as a writer, and long well, thought reviews are my favorite kind, so thank you for the feedback.

DRAGONDAVE45: Broly in this story will be an amalgamation of DBS Broly and the original Broly. I can't answer those Frieza/Darkseid questions. Gohan won't be paired with Supergirl; I feel that pairing has been overdone in this crossover section.

guardianx15: Wonder Woman has basically been SSJ tier since the Saiyan saga, and I've reiterated that several times throughout the story. Vegeta has some work to do to catch up to her, but Superman currently isn't too far from her in terms of strength. However, both of them will surpass her at some point.

Guest: Your question is a spoiler, so I'm not going to answer it.

Alex Hatake: The Cell saga will differ from canon.

gotham0101: Wonder Woman knows Gohan is strong, but she's unaware of his hidden potential. She'll train with Goku and Gohan, but I can't say if it will be in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.

Guest: Cell will get DNA from at least one other DC alien race. If I could go back in time, I would fix the Dragonball era of this story. It was a huge missed opportunity in hindsight, and that's part of the reason why I wanted to do a rewrite. Due to Namek's three suns, I didn't include Superman in the Namek saga. Maybe I could've included other DC alien empires in the hunt for the Dragonballs on Namek, but I didn't really have much in mind for that arc that would've deviated from canon.

Yes, I mostly limited Ki usage to DBZ characters, but as you said, you understand why it had to be done. I didn't want the DC characters to become too OP. For instance, Batman is a street-level hero; he doesn't need to be spamming Ki blasts; that would fundamentally change his character. I haven't entirely written off Ki usage for non-DBZ characters; it's just difficult for them to learn how to use it. People like Ra's al Ghul know how to use Ki, but it was an arduous process for him.