Thoughts

Computer Speech/Robotic Speech

"Speech"

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

Chapter 73: Vestiges II


January 18th

Age 764 (2014), The United States, Chihuahuan Desert

Twin Ki beams soared toward Superman and Piccolo. The tiny orange orbs initially seemed harmless but rapidly expanded in diameter as they inched closer and closer toward their targets. By the time the Ki beams were halfway to the ground, they'd ballooned into mammoth sizzling balls of deadly energy. Superman and Piccolo, however, remained seated in the dirt, unphased by the incoming attack, even as it hung over their heads.

The Frieza Force soldier who'd fired the beams watched anxiously, licking his lips in anticipation as his enemies' demise seemed inevitable. From his vantage point in the sky, there was nowhere for his prey to run; they were cornered. Just a few more seconds and the Earthlings would be vaporized. Frieza's reward was sure to be bountiful, but Kal-El had other plans in mind.

Superman craned his neck toward the voluminous orbs that were on the verge of reaching their destination and parted his lips. A tremendous gust of wind poured from the Kryptonian's mouth and slammed into the Ki beams. Their momentum stopped, and as Superman's mouth expanded wider, the Ki beams were pushed backward and repelled toward their sender. The pink lizard-like soldier's eyes flared with panic as he narrowly avoided being consumed by his own attack. He managed to escape in the nick of time, ascending even higher into the sky as his energy blasts sailed harmlessly into the distance.

He closed his eyes and sighed, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead, but when he opened them, Piccolo was in front of him with his hands coiled around his neck.

"Who are you?" The Namekian demanded. His grip was iron-clad even as the Frieza Force soldier fought back. The henchman threw several wild punches, pounding Piccolo's chest with furious blows, but they might as well have been mosquito bites. "I won't ask again!" Piccolo squeezed harder, and this time his assailant wheezed out a response.

"I'm…a…Frieza…Force…soldier…and…I..was..sent..here…to..kill…you," the alien said in between heavy breaths. The hue of his skin was draining rapidly, but Piccolo refused to let go until all his questions were answered. Piccolo squeezed and squeezed until Superman was forced to intervene. The Kryptonian snuck up from behind and grabbed Piccolo's arm, attempting to pull it back.

"There are better ways to get the information we need, Piccolo; let him go," Clark said sternly. Piccolo growled and ignored the request.

"You have your way of doing things, and I have mine. This soldier mentioned a reward from his master when he attacked us, indicating Frieza's presence on Earth, but we need to be sure. This could be a diversion for all we know."

"I think it is. Wouldn't you have been able to sense Frieza's Ki if he truly was on our planet?"

"Yes, in theory, I should have, but I didn't sense our attackers Ki either. Something strange is going on here; can't you feel it, Superman?" Piccolo asked as he looked into the Kryptonian's eyes.

"Maybe you're right, Piccolo," Clark admitted. "I failed to pick up on our assailant too. I

didn't hear anyone rushing toward us, but I might have been distracted. If this soldier isn't acting alone, then where are the rest of his comrades? I'd expect to see them by now unless he's an…." Superman's words trailed as a frightening realization struck him. "He's a scout!"

"Of course!" Piccolo shouted in agreement. He was about to pose a question to the soldier in his grasp, but the smirk on the lizard's face said it all; it was true.

"I can hear them, Piccolo; they're on their way now," Superman announced as he finally released the Namekian's hand. Clark had scanned the area with his super hearing, and a horde of Frieza Force soldiers was rocketing toward the Chihuahuan Desert. Their chattering was so loud it was impossible to miss, and they were all boasting about the invasion that had begun earlier today. The Justice League's worst nightmare had finally come to fruition.

"Well, in that case, there's no need to keep our guest alive," Piccolo snapped the soldier's neck before Clark could even voice his complaint. All the Kryptonian heard was a sickening crack followed by haunting silence.

"Why did you – "

"- He's an enemy who outlived his usefulness," Piccolo cut off Superman's tirade before it began. "Keeping him alive would've been counterproductive. Save your bleeding heart for the people who actually deserve it."

"And who gets to decide that? You?" Superman jabbed his finger into Piccolo's chest. "There was a time when you were on the opposite side of the fence, don't be so quick to forget that. Everyone deserves a chance at rehabilitation, and you just robbed that soldier of his. Superheros aren't executioners."

"Well, it's a damn good thing I'm not a superhero, then," Piccolo said smugly. "We can save this discussion for later. I see them; they're here." Piccolo pointed behind Clark, extending his finger to the distant mountain range. A legion of Frieza Force soldiers was zooming toward them from that direction. "Somehow, we'll be able to detain them all without killing them, right?"

Superman turned his head and ground his teeth once he caught sight of the swarm of soldiers. There were so many of them. This would be a tall task for the Justice League, let alone two heroes. Whatever point Piccolo was trying to make didn't matter right now; survival was the primary focus. Superman gave the Namekian a parting glare and blasted off to confront the would-be conquerors of Earth.

Clark rammed into the first enemy he saw. His fist stunned a blue humanoid alien, and his knee to the gut rendered the soldier unconscious. The alien's comrades didn't take too kindly to that and immediately peppered Kal-El with numerous Ki blasts as they charged toward him. The attacks inflicted minimal damage and caused more irritation than anything, but they slowed Superman down enough for an assailant to get her hands on the man of steel. White-gloved knuckles slammed into the Kryptonian's face with a thunderous force that echoed across the heavens.

A blow like that was sure to kill a man, but Superman's head didn't budge an inch even as his beauteous enemy repeated the action. She jabbed and jabbed and jabbed, alternating between hands once one appendage grew weary. The wind whistled around her, and sweat trickled down her helmeted face. Her hands were on fire, joints aching and throbbing in ways she didn't think were possible, but all her best efforts resulted in failure. Superman finally took pity on her and backhanded her, sending her soaring out of view; by the time she regained control of her body, she was on the other side of the planet.

Ma, forgive me. Superman silently apologized. His deceased mother had taught him to never hit a woman, and even though certain circumstances called for it, it was something Superman always felt uneasy about, but he had no qualms about thrashing his next foe. A barbarous Frieza Force soldier barreled into Clark as he was distracted. The collision didn't hurt, but it did snap Superman out of reverie. The Kryptonian quickly went to work on the plump warrior who was reminiscent of a boar.

The soldier's large ivory tusks were shattered when Superman's elbow crashed into his face. The invader's head was spinning, and the effects of a concussion were visible as the man of steel quickly finished him off. Two bursts of heat vision cracked the alien's Battle Armor and sent him sputtering out of the sky. He banged into the desert floor, leaving a trail of hazy smoke behind him. The soldier wasn't dead, though; Clark had restrained the full intensity of his heat vision.

But the other enemies surrounding Superman would be much more difficult to incapacitate. The full host of Frieza's Forces had arrived, and they wasted no time swarming Clark. In Frieza's mind, it was clearly quantity over quality. Most of his soldiers were fodder and easily disposed of, but they were pesky. Their Scouters made them aware of Superman's enormous power level, but that didn't deter them in the slightest; they attacked relentlessly even after witnessing flocks of their comrades be defeated. Their courage, if it could be called that, was admirable but annoying.

Restraint was becoming an increasing problem for Superman. He was withholding as much power as he could to refrain from killing his foes, but it was a time-consuming effort. Nearby, Piccolo was slaying his enemies left and right, and they all perished in horrific manners. It was times like these that Kal-El cursed the photonucleic effect that granted him his powers. He could hear every Frieza Force soldier's terrified screams, their desperate cries, and their pleas for mercy in crystal clear amplified volume.

He heard their hearts fail as Piccolo's Ki blasts ripped through their bodies. He listened to their blood vessels burst in a disturbing symphony that released scarlet raindrops from the sky. He smelled the blood in the air and practically tasted it. Superman strongly disagreed with Piccolo's methods but couldn't deny their efficient results. Once the Namekian dealt with an enemy, they were out of the way permanently, but Clark refused to tread that path.

The S-Shield on his chest stood for something that couldn't be sullied by blood. He was the embodiment of hope, and Kal-El had to hope for a better world, one that included second chances, or else what was the point of his heroism? Frieza was a galactic despot, a tyrannical overlord who'd enslaved trillions and annihilated countless worlds. How many of his soldiers had ever been given a chance to be anything more than a tool for his empire?

Clark doubted any of them had. They needed rescuing as much as the citizens of Earth, and simply killing them wouldn't solve the problems Frieza had created. Clark phased out of sight and reappeared a hundred yards away, silently observing the melee. The Frieza Force soldiers hadn't realized he'd vanished yet and were still eagerly launching attacks at the location he'd previously been in. They would eventually recognize their folly, but by then, it would be too late.

Superman inhaled deeply and exhaled with tremendous force. Several Scouters buzzed as they finally pinged in on his new location. All of the Frieza Force soldiers, except the ones engaged in battle with Piccolo, whipped their heads around to face him. They would've blasted off to assault the Kryptonian, but they were literally frozen in place. Thick sheets of ice blanketed the invaders from head to toe.

They were immobilized, and gravity quickly took its course. Dozens of soldiers began to plummet from the sky at breakneck speeds. They would die if they hit the ground, but Superman redirected their trajectory and grabbed each and every single frozen enemy in the blink of an eye. The Kryptonian safely placed them on the desert floor, neatly arranging them before taking off to confront the rest of his foes.

Clark was greeted with several Ki beams as he reentered the sky. He weaved in and out of their path with a grace that Piccolo so often mocked. The Namekian was fond of calling him a ballerina for all of the evasive maneuvers he knew. Superman froze every opponent he crossed paths with. Some had wisened up to his tactics and tried to flee, but Clark caught them anyway, hawking them down before they got too far.

Superman froze a sizable chunk of his remaining foes, but there always seemed to be more. They were like the heads of a Hydra. He'd already knocked out several Frieza Force goons prior to using his frost breath, but their numbers were seemingly inexhaustible. It was maddening.

Close by, Piccolo continued mauling through his opponents in routine fashion. He'd quietly kept a watchful eye on Superman's fray, splitting his focus as he battled enemies of his own. The Kryptonian was fairing well, which came as no surprise to Piccolo; he'd expected it. These troops were pitiful warriors and weren't even worth the cost of the tech it took to arm them. Thousands of Scouters, Ray Guns, and Battle Armor, all for what? It was a waste of the Planet Trade Organization's resources.

Frieza's overhead costs weren't anything Piccolo gave a damn about, but the Namekian found it increasingly odd that the galactic tyrant would dispatch so many weak soldiers to face enemies that were so obviously superior to them. Their chances of victory were slim to none, and Frieza had to be aware of that. The Frost Demon was numerous things ranging from a sadistic psychopath to a maniacal control freak, but he wasn't stupid. Everything he did was for a reason, no matter how petty it was, so what was the thought process behind sending all these troops?

As Piccolo's mind wandered, his opponents suddenly stopped fighting. They all paused as they clutched their Scouters, screaming and shouting hysterically.

"P-P-Please, Lord Frieza, give us another chance!"

"We've been your loyal servants for years; you can't do this to us!"

"I committed my entire life to the Planet Trade Organization; it can't end like this!"

We're some of the shouts Piccolo heard. He was baffled, puzzled at what was going on. He couldn't hear what was being said on the other side of the Scouters, but maybe Superman could. He turned in the man of steel's direction, and once he did; multiple explosions went off.


January 18th

Age 764 (2014), Chikyu, Kame House

Tien pushed Krillin out of the way before a Ki beam disintegrated him. The former monk hit the ground hard, cracking the wooden tile floor but was relatively unscathed. The same couldn't be said for Master Roshi's house, though. The evaded Ki beam ripped through the kitchen table and a sofa before finally puncturing a wall, leaving a gaping hole in it. The breeze from the sea fluttered in, as well as several unwelcomed guests.

The Frieza Force soldier who'd launched the Ki beam wasn't alone; his comrades began to pour into the house, grinning maliciously as they stepped through the hole their colleague had created. Chiaotzu spurred into action as soon as they entered the Kame House. The mime-like warrior raced across the floor and kicked two aliens in the jaw before they could declare their intentions. They outweighed and towered over Chiaotzu, but they fell nonetheless. Once they collapsed, Chiaotzu turned his attention to the rest of their crew, who wasted no time unleashing a flurry of Ki blasts on him.

For once, Chiaotzu's miniature stature was a benefit to him. He was so small and agile it was easy for him to duck, hop, and skip over his foe's Ki beams. Three Frieza Force soldiers fired at him nonstop, but their best efforts were futile. It was like a game of tag that ended almost as quickly as it had begun once Chiaotzu realized the damage he was causing to the foundation of Master Roshi's house. The floor around him was in complete ruins, and the soft patch of grass underneath it was visible.

Chiaotzu needed to end things immediately. He extended his index finger and discharged multiple Dodonpas at his opponents. The attacks were aimed precisely, and each one struck their target in the throat. The Frieza Force soldiers were flung back as the thin rays of Ki sliced through their flesh, and they gargled on their blood as they slowly succumbed to their wounds. By the time they tumbled to their knees, Chiaotzu was already back in the kitchen.

Tien was engaged with the red bullish soldier who'd initiated the Frieza Force's assault when Chiaotzu arrived. The kitchen was a mess, and the ongoing battle only worsened things. The fragments of shattered glass dishes were strewn all across the floor, along with matching cutlery. The kitchen table was literally split in half, likely from a blow that someone had missed, and multiple wooden chairs had been shattered into splinters.

Krillin and Master Roshi were trying to usher Launch away from the fray, but the irascible woman was adamant about helping Tien. She fought tooth and nail against her housemates, but a sneeze finally brought her to her senses. Tien shoved his opponent into a cabinet, smashing it. Several spices were flung into the air, and once Launch's nose caught wind of them, she sneezed, reverting her to her blue-haired personality. Krillin and Master Roshi were able to force her up the stairs, and once she was out of sight, Chiaotzu joined his best friend's skirmish.

Their opponent was even taller than Piccolo and much bulkier too. His skin was burgundy, but his nose and long, thick, jagged horns were brown. He wore Battle Armor as was customary for all Frieza Force soldiers, but his pants were noticeably absent. His only undergarments were a pair of black underwear that looked cartoonishly small on a man of his height and build. It would have been easy to dismiss him as a joke, but the alien's fighting skills were anything but that.

He kept Tien and Chiaotzu on their heels as they danced across the crumbling Kame House. The invader preferred hand-to-hand combat, which was fine by his opponents, but his strength was too great for either one of them to match. Chiaotzu was sent soaring through the living room TV, cleaving it, following a punch from his assailant. He recovered quickly, hopping up in time to see Tien get decked in the stomach and sent flying out of the house.

The former assassin tumbled across the beach, landing face-first with grains of sand in his mouth. He spat them out and angrily stood up as his enemy raced toward him. Chiaotzu was on his back, hitting him with a combo of punches of kicks, but they all bounced off the alien's skin with no visible damage. The soldier endured the pounding, but once he hit his boiling point, the alien reached back and grabbed one of Chiaotzu's legs mid-kick. He twisted it, eliciting a scream, and flung the pale warrior as far as the eye could see.

Chiaotzu disappeared over the ocean. Tien was concerned but knew his best friend would be alright; he'd survived worse. He sparked his aura and traded blows with the alien as they finally crossed paths again. Shockwaves echoed after every strike, whether it was a hit or miss. Their battle eventually took to the skies, and Tien was able to truly let loose. His opponent was still physically stronger than him, but he didn't have to worry about Launch potentially being collateral damage anymore.

High above the ocean, clouds parted as Tien and his opponent clashed. The soldier's size and raw strength were his trump card but also a detriment. The bullish warrior relied too heavily on brute force and had likely never bothered to hone his other skills. Without the walls of the Kame House to keep him confined, Tien was able to dodge and parry most of his attacks. The ones that did land hurt like hell, though.

Tien's forearm throbbed as he blocked a punch that might've taken his head off. The enemy soldier smirked and surprisingly backpedaled away after that, granting Tien a slight reprieve. The alien was about ten yards from Tien when he decided to speak.

"It's been a long time since I had a fight like this. I only took a handful of soldiers with me because I assumed you'd be weak compared to the other high power levels on this planet, but how wrong I was. You've proven to be a decent challenge so far."

A smirk tugged on Tien's lips. He was still withholding the full brunt of his power, but his enemy didn't need to know that.

"My name is Shisami," the soldier pounded his chest proudly. "I'll be the last thing you see before you die!"

Shisami abruptly zoomed toward Tien, nearly catching him off guard, but Chiaotzu blindsided the alien before he got home. A massive Ki beam from behind forced the soldier into the ocean down below. He landed with a large splash but reemerged within seconds, steaming figuratively and literally. The backside of his armor had been cracked, but Chiaotzu's attack hadn't managed to wound his skin.

What's it going to take to finally put this guy down? An even bigger Ki blast? Chiaotzu pondered as Shisami came stampeding toward him. He launched several furious blows that were aimed with the intent to kill. They might have connected if Shisami hadn't been so blinded by rage. His punches were all sloppy, and he leaned too far into them, allowing Chiaotzu to evade each one. Tien attacked Shisami from the rear, but not with much fervor.

We need to keep him alive, at least until we figure out what's going on. Tien telepathically communicated to Chiaotzu. His best friend nodded, but it would be a tall task considering Shisami's current temperament. Under Master Shen's tutelage, Chiaotzu and Tien had been trained as assassins. Nearly all of their abilities were related to murder. Subduing an opponent without killing them wasn't a skill they'd mastered even after all these years.

A sleeper hold might do the trick, but Tien would have to perform it in one quick motion. Shisami would raise hell if he felt Tien's arms slowly wrapping around his neck. The Triclops decided to go for it. He lunged at Shisami from behind and grabbed his head. Tien cradled Shisami's head with one arm and choked his neck with the other. The alien's neck was so girthy it was difficult to get a good grip around it, but Tien held firm.

Up front, Chiaotzu peppered Shisami with several Ki blasts at point-blank range. They lacked the juice to kill the soldier, but they still packed enough of a punch to break at least a few ribs. The former Crane student's plans seemed destined for success until Tien heard a jarring beeping noise emerge from Shisami's Scouter. It was radically different from the sound Scouters made when they were calculating a power level; in fact, it sounded like a bomb ticking.

Tien's eyes widened, and he frenetically released Shisami. He tried to warn Chiaotzu, but it was too late; a gigantic explosion rocked the skies.


January 18th

Age 764 (2014), Washington, D.C, Hall of Justice

J'onn glanced over his shoulder as he ascended higher into the sky. Down below, at the Hall of Justice, the evacuation process was going smoothly. Streaks of gold and yellow lightning were visible all over the Justice League's headquarters. The Flash was doing his job splendidly, ushering civilians, security guards, and even the police to safety. It was their job to protect and serve, but in situations like these, the officers wouldn't be useful unless they were Metahumans.

The psionic presences that J'onn had detected earlier continued to grow louder. Their thoughts were like a blaring alarm in his mind, and try as he may, the Martian Manhunter couldn't silence them. The villains that were approaching were a violent and rowdy bunch, but surprisingly, thus far, they hadn't inflicted any damage on their way to the Hall of Justice. Washington, DC, should've been under attack considering the large number of enemies currently traveling through the city, but there were no reports of anything out of the ordinary from J'onn's bracelet.

The silver bracelet on his wrist was a gift from Argus, and its purpose was multifaceted. It was a communication link between the Justice League and Argus but also served as an information relay device. The bracelets were connected to multiple satellites, police scanners across the globe, and numerous other things that Argus had yet to make the Justice League privy to. Batman was wary of the bracelets and wore his sparingly, but J'onn found them beneficial regardless of Bruce's conspiracy theories.

As J'onn made his way into the city, the thoughts he was sensing became more specific. There were several mentions of Frieza, an invasion, and the search for the highest power levels on Earth. The picture was starting to become clear to J'onn. The Planet Trade Organization was invading Earth. J'onn tapped his bracelet and relayed that information to the rest of the Justice League and Argus. It was imperative that he got the word out immediately.

But there was one pressing question on his mind now; why hadn't Argus detected the Planet Trade Organization's ships approaching Earth? Argus had launched multiple satellites into space last year in preparation for this exact scenario. Those satellites were worth millions of dollars, and Chi-Chi complained about their cost swallowing up a significant portion of Argus's budget each time she and J'onn talked. This was another catastrophic failure for Argus and

Steve Trevor would take the blame for it if this situation ended in disaster. Amanda Waller already had it out for Steve, and she didn't need any more ammo to sully his name.

"He's mine!"

J'onn suddenly heard a voice shout. The Martian snapped back to reality as his would-be attackers finally came into view. There were even more of them than he'd previously thought, and they were indeed Frieza Force soldiers. If J'onn hadn't been a telepath, their armor and the sizeable interlocking f letters on their breastplates would've given them away. There were dozens of soldiers, all congested between the skyscrapers downtown.

The soldier who'd shouted was charging at J'onn at a relatively high speed. He was faster than the human eye could keep up with, but his movements were easy for the Martian Manhunter to decipher. J'onn sidestepped the alien's initial jab and watched it breeze past his face. A flurry of others followed, and J'onn nimbly evaded them too. His opponent quickly tired out, huffing and puffing exasperated breaths.

The soldier's conditioning was weak, or he'd overextended himself; either way, J'onn knocked him unconscious with a karate chop to the neck. He plunged from the sky and hit the gravel hard. Several cars swerved out of the way to avoid hitting him, which resulted in multiple accidents. The police would soon be on the scene, but J'onn had to steer his enemies to a more remote location. The Flash had evacuated the Hall of Justice to preserve lives; fighting the Frieza Force in a crowded area like this would only bring more innocents into harm's way.

J'onn fled the scene as fast as he could. Several Frieza Force soldiers mentally insulted him, calling him a coward as he sped away. They gave chase as expected, and J'onn led them back to the Hall of Justice. The building and its surrounding plot of land were clear now; J'onn did a quick psionic scan before landing in front of the hall's humungous water fountain. The Hall of Justice would likely be destroyed in the upcoming fray, but it was the safest location in the city to hold this fight.

J'onn tapped his bracelet and tried to contact Superman, but all he received was radio silence. That didn't bode well. The Kryptonian had likely been attacked too, but Clark could hold his own, especially with Piccolo by his side. J'onn called Aquaman, but the Atlantean didn't answer; he rarely did. The Flash blurred next to J'onn, startling him, but the Martian played it cool.

"I got everyone out of the building safe and sound," Barry announced. "I thought Batman would be done gearing up by now, but I guess not. I wonder what's taking him so long. I contacted Argus after I dropped off the last civilian. They should be on their way to give us a helping hand."

"I'm not so sure of that," J'onn said, shaking his head. "I contacted them, too, but Frieza's attack seems to be highly coordinated. His soldiers are going after the highest power levels on the planet, and as you very well know, some of the Earth's mightiest warriors are Argus agents."

"Chi-Chi, Fire, Ice, Katana, Dr. Light…." Barry's words trailed as he thought of all the Metahumans employed by Argus. It was a long list that increased monthly.

"But we can dwell on that later, look alive; they're here!" J'onn pointed to the sky where several Frieza Force soldiers were currently hovering. It had taken them a little while to catch up to him, which meant his enemies would have no answer for The Flash. Barry was tens of, if not hundreds of times faster than J'onn. The speedster took off and hit the first invader as soon as his feet touched the ground.

The Flash tackled an alien that looked like a mutation gone wrong. His head, if it could be called that, was one giant eye, and his torso was as slim as licorice. Barry doubted the alien knew what was going on as he dragged him into the trees behind the Hall of Justice. Barry repeatedly punched him at lightning speed and only stopped once he was sure the alien was unconscious. He planted his body next to a tree and dashed off to assist J'onn, who was clobbering foes left and right.

The Martian had shape-shifted into a Lovecraftian monster. J'onn had quadrupled in size, and slimy green tentacles jutted out from every part of his body. The tentacles wrapped around nearby enemies and squeezed them until they were on the verge of passing out. The captured desperate soldiers fired Ki blast after Ki blast at J'onn with what energy they had left, but their attacks all phased through the Martian's body. The soldier's Scouters could detect Jonn's power level, but they weren't aware of all the abilities the Martian possessed.

Barry doubted whether J'onn actually needed his help but provided it anyway. He knocked out a slew of enemies that were circling J'onn, preparing to open fire. One minute they were standing upright, and the next, they were on their backs, taking dreamless naps. These soldiers wouldn't be any threat for the foreseeable future, but their comrades refused to go out quietly. A hail of Ki beams rained down from the sky, and Barry cursed under his breath as he zipped around the ground.

He would always be at a disadvantage against an opponent who could fly; that was his one glaring weakness. Super speed was awesome, but no matter how fast Barry was, he was always vulnerable to an aerial assault. But fortunately, this current crop of enemies was too slow for their attacks to be meaningful. Their Ki blasts hammered the ground, ruptured the pavement, and crushed the concrete basin of the water fountain, sending water flooding everywhere, but they missed their target.

The energy shower wound up doing more damage to the Frieza Force than the heroes. J'onn's intangibility shielded him, but the soldiers The Flash had knocked out weren't so fortunate; they were vaporized by their comrades. When The Flash finally stopped running, he noticed their charred remains under the now-soaked soil. Batman wasn't going to be happy about all the money he'd have to fork over to pay for extensive repairs.

"Keep your head in the game." The Flash heard a robotic voice say from behind.

When Barry whipped his head around, he saw Batman running down the steps of the Hall of Justice, suited in heavy armor. If Barry's memory was correct, this was the same exoskeleton that Bruce had worn during his fight with Raditz. The suit was usually hung in a display case in the trophy room inside the Hall of Justice. Tourists loved taking pictures in front of it, and it was always a highlight of their tour around the Justice League's headquarters.

But this exoskeleton looked slightly different. It was much heavier for sure; Bruce's footprints left deep dents in the ground with every step he took. It sounded like a giant was making its way toward Barry. Several of Frieza's soldiers turned their attention to Batman once they spotted his hulking mechanical suit; it was impossible to miss. It was an easy target, too, and the soldiers didn't hesitate to hurl a barrage of multicolored Ki blasts at the dark knight.

The Flash dropped into a sprinting form, ready to dash off and rescue Batman, but the detective waved him off. Bruce let every single Ki beam hit his armor. An enormous cloud of smoke obscured Barry's view momentarily as the attacks detonated. Fear gripped Barry's heart, and for a second, he was concerned that he'd made the wrong decision listening to Bruce, but his concerns were quickly quelled. Batman emerged from the smoke totally unharmed and even smirked under his large metallic cowl.

"My turn," The dark knight said. Several rockets sprouted from his suit, surprising Barry and J'onn, who'd finally finished dealing with his opponents. The Frieza Force soldiers scoffed at the missiles as they sailed across the air and didn't bother to attempt dodging but quickly regretted that decision. Bruce's projectiles were tiny, but they certainly packed a punch. The Frieza Force soldiers were flung back, and some were even knocked out of the sky.

J'onn made sure to catch the ones that landed in his vicinity with his tentacles, holding them close. Barry, on the other hand, let them crash. These enemies weren't fragile humans; they'd survive the fall, and sure enough, they all did. Vengeance was written all over the soldier's faces as they collected themselves and gathered Ki for another assault, but their energy source was nowhere to be found.

Nothing came out when the soldiers thrust their hands, trying to aim at Bruce. Growls of frustration followed as more and more soldiers realized that their Ki wasn't working. Barry seized the opportunity while they were distracted and blitzed multiple enemies, knocking them unconscious. J'onn telepathically put the soldiers in his grasp to sleep. They were lucid dreaming on the ground, unaware of what was happening around them. The remaining soldiers in the sky were hesitant to attack, and Barry couldn't blame them.

The numbers were in the Frieza Force's favor, and they were still losing. That had to be disheartening on multiple levels. Barry wanted to take a victory lap, but he knew it was too soon, and Bruce would scold him if he did. But either way, this battle was nearing its end. Bruce had seemingly figured out how to negate Ki attacks, and without that ace up their sleeves, these soldiers were in deep trouble.

"J'onn, if you force them out of the sky, we can finally finish them off," Barry said as he zipped over to the Martian. J'onn nodded and was about to depart but suddenly halted halfway off the ground. His face scrunched, and dread filled Barry's mind. I've seen that look before, and it isn't good.

J'onn scanned the minds of his enemies; they were terrified. A message was being relayed through their Scouters, and whatever it was had Frieza's troops whimpering in fear. Death and destruction had occupied the soldier's thoughts from the moment J'onn had sensed them, but now they were scared for their own lives. J'onn's eyes widened once he witnessed one of the soldiers rip off his Scouter and frantically toss it.

"Everyone, run!" J'onn screamed, but multiple deafening explosions muffled his words.


A big thank you to everyone who reviewed chapter 72!

A/N: Thanks for the 2400+ reviews; I really appreciate it.


Q/A:

dinorun154: Fury is Goku and Diana's daughter.

bruh12354: Yes, Fury is Goku and Diana's daughter.I finally saw Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, and I'm aware of Gohan Beast. That transformation was very underwhelming to me, and it most likely won't appear in this story.

derpmaster9000: Yeah, Yamcha's love life is slowly falling apart, and Trunks' revelation will likely shatter things with Bulma permanently. Goku's long-awaited return will happen in the next few chapters. I am a fan of odd pairings, but I hadn't considered either of the Terra's. Raven has crossed my mind, though.

kaffeenator666: Fury won't replace Goten; he'll still exist. Fury was named Donna in the New 52, but I decided to call her Hippolyta in this story or Lyta for short. I don't know how I'll handle the WMAT in the Buu Saga, but the Saiyaman outfit will definitely appear at some point. I'm a fan of the design too. The New Gods perplex me because DC isn't consistent with their characterization. One minute the New Gods only exist in one form across the Multiverse, and the next, the New Gods exist in every universe; it gets confusing. In this story, I'm still juggling how I'll explain that.

Frieza's durability will really come in handy in the upcoming fight. His body is primarily comprised of Nth Metal, and Nth Metal has a lot of abilities like regeneration, magic negation, etc.; on top of that, he has a Yellow Lantern Ring. A one-on-one fight with Frieza likely won't happen, but it might occur with King Cold.

Goku is dead in the future; I didn't change that. 2. Fury was conceived before Goku's heart virus. 3. Future Gohan is dead, but how or why isn't the same as canon. I can't speak on his godly powers. 4. The Justice League is out of commission in the future. 5. The Dragonballs are gone in the future. 6. Some of those things partially explain why Fury and Trunks traveled to the past. 7. I can't answer this one. 8. Yes, Fury is half-Saiyan, part Amazon, and part Olympian.

I love Dragonball Multiverse. I've been reading it for years, and I read it every time it's updated. I know a lot of fans hate DBM Bra, but I'm one of her stans, lol. DBM actually inspired a few things in this story. I have something planned for the Olympians, but I can't spoil that. Yamcha's relationship is doomed; I feel awful for him. Tien has a child with Lady Shiva.

DaDankPrince: Thanks for the kind words. Yamcha won't be cast aside in this story. I have plans for him beyond the Android Saga.

gotham0101: I also didn't expect to post the previous chapter on a Tuesday, lol. Ultra Instinct won't be included in this story.

ENDDRAGON369: Superman and Wonder Woman is the one true pairing in my mind, lol. Yes, Fury is Goku and Diana's daughter.

Dontus -not Donut- Powerus: Goku will have a lot to deal with when he finally comes , he'll be able to soothe Diana, lol.

Jackalope89: Oh, I understand the end of the previous chapter, I hinted that Fury and Trunks had already messed up the timeline, so Fury doesn't care about screwing things up further.

Historiasrandom: Sorry to hear that; I hope your situation improves; keep your head up. By DBZ standards, Yamcha is perceived as a joke, but DC-wise, he'd be a planet buster and be taken a lot more seriously. You made many excellent points about Gohan and mentioned several things I'd never thought about. I have a lot to reconsider now. I've seriously pondered a Gohan/Raven pairing for all those reasons you listed, and it would be fun to write. I never mind long, well-thought-out reviews; they're the best.

Vault Hunter: I hope you enjoyed the Justice League's fight in this chapter. Frieza's death will be drastically different in this story; he won't die like he did in canon. This version of Mecha Frieza is too powerful to perish that easily. Trunks and Fury's time hijinks, the vortex, and everything else will be explained. I'm sorry you were disappointed with my selection of Fury.

There were multiple DC characters that I could've used; Superman's daughter was my second choice, but I ultimately settled on Fury. I loved Fury in the Earth-2 comics; her character design instantly drew me to her. This version of Fury will maintain a lot of her comic characteristics; she won't function as an OC, but I can understand those sentiments.

Kabuto S. Inferno: Yeah, the "I wonder when our enemy is going to attack, and then they suddenly attack us" trope is common in a lot of fiction, Justice League and Argus both dropped the ball, but at least they'll be better prepared for the next inevitable invasion. Amanda Waller, Lex Luthor, and a few others will definitely try and capitalize off of Frieza's invasion. This is Earth's third invasion in just a few years. Yes, Frieza was a lot more tactical with his strategy this go around.

You messaged me about the Donna/Fury thing; I won't dig too deep into that. But just for clarification, there are multiple versions of Fury, and in most cases, she has been blonde. Trunks and Fury have been messing around with the timeline by accident. The full ramifications of that have yet to be seen, but their meddling has been significant. Yamcha will be devasted when he meets Trunks and learns about his heritage; I feel bad for him, lol.

Jetty1: I'm surprised DC hasn't utilized Fury more often won't replace Goten in this story; he'll still exist. Your Goku and Diana idea is hilarious; I might have to borrow it. Toriyama probably just forgot about tails; I can't blame him, though; I've forgotten about certain things in my own stories, lol. If tails get utilized in this story, it'll probably just be for the SSJ4 transformation.

Deagle135: Trunks and Bra might have other siblings, but it's not set in stone.

scl04: T.I.G.H.T.S. stands for Tactful Intelligence Generates Helpful Troubleshooting AI is an idea I reused from my Dragonball: Chronos story. Tien's daughter, Cassandra, will play a major role in the next story arc, so you'll see her very soon. Yes, Fury is Goku and Diana's daughter. Fury and her powers will differ from Gohan, which you'll see shortly. I saved Bulma's reaction to news of Trunks' heritage for the next chapter, and the early revelation will have profound effects.

Anonymous Mastermind: Tien and Launch might end up together. Yamcha will be paired with a DC character. Yamcha isn't a baseball player in this story. I probably need to spend a portion of a chapter explaining what he does for a living. Yes, Fury is Goku and Diana's daughter.

Future Trunks is fundamentally the same but fundamentally different; you'll discover what I mean. I can't spoil any potential changes to the timeline that Trunks will cause, but you have some intriguing ideas. Vegeta and Harley's one-night stand will be mentioned again very soon.

It's difficult for the Z-Fighters to have a nemesis because they typically kill their enemies; I don't know who their nemesis could be.

From the moment I decided to make Cell so OP, I knew how he'd be defeated. I've had that planned from the jump; everything else, not so much, lol.

Thunder Dragon: Goku will return with a few new tricks.

Thunderer: I can't state when Gohan will make friends his age, but it will happen. Yes, Dr. Gero did try to clone Superman. Superman's daughter was my second option, but I eventually chose Fury instead of her. Yes, there will be a point when a DC hero surpasses Goku, and it'll happen soon.

DCTitans: Zatanna will appear later on in this story. Videl might appear earlier than she did in canon. Gothan Knights looks awful; I don't know why that show was greenlit.

Guest: The Namek Saga admittedly was a disappointment. I'm trying to partially make up for that now. The Justice League and Z-Fighters will team up soon; don't worry. Frieza won't get curb stomped just to hype up the Androids.

Agrimika: Cell will have a lot of various DNA. I can't reveal everything he'll have, though. The Android saga won't immediately begin after Frieza's invasion. In-universe, the events of the Android and Cell saga all took place within a month.

Phoenix Empress Sol: That was Fury, not Donna.

Guest: Thanks for the kind words. Your criticisms are all valid. There's not much to say on that front, but I'm continuously trying to improve this story so those same problems don't reoccur.

Guest: Who do you think I'll pair Gohan with? I have someone in mind, but it's not set in stone.

Guest: Gohan's pairing isn't decided yet.

Guest: Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad to hear you enjoy the slice-of-life portions of the story because I really used to struggle writing them. Tien and his daughter will be heavily focused on in the next story arc.

Noideas38: It's always nice to run into another Fury fan. Since Earth 2 ended years ago, she hasn't been featured in anything. I try to show the supporting cast more love than they received in canon.