Dr. Briefs had installed a medical bay and healing bay within Capsule Corp years ago during the time of the Red Ribbon Army. There had been frequent injuries from that war with his daughter and the others, and many more to follow after that with Tien and King Piccolo. All of which didn't include the average person getting injured from some heavy machinery in one of the labs.

Yamcha took Goku to the main healing bay and put him into a healing tank. He then crossed his arms over his chest, internally deliberating something before he brought it out into reality with his words. "These Saiyans..."

"We can grow more than strong enough to combat them. We just need the proper training." Sho reasoned.

"Sho is right. Have some courage, Yamcha." Bulma said.

"These Saiyans are supposed to be really strong."

Bulma rolled her eyes. "Sounds like you're tapping out early. Do you want to be known as the ten second man?"

Yamcha scowled, clenching his fists. "That is so low!"

"Well, stop complaining." Sho said bluntly.

Yamcha growled. "You guys are nuts."

"This is why you got your leg broken at the tournament."

Yamcha turned red. "Really going below the belt."

Bulma smiled easily. "Someone needs to keep you in shape."

Yamcha on the other hand was still shaking his head, arms crossed over his chest. It was a clear sign he was nervous, something anyone that had known him for even a little while would have picked up on. "As long as someone handles the strongest Saiyan. We should be able to handle the other two with strategy."

Sho just shook his head and left.

"You know. I can't understand that guy."

"He isn't fond of your pessimism."

"Someone needs to let everyone else know they're insane."

Bulma gently set her hand on the glass of the healing tank, ignoring Yamcha. "Goku should be able to handle the strongest Saiyan. Kukyo should be able to handle the second strongest Saiyan. I wouldn't count out Piccolo either."

"I do hope they're all there, if you know what I mean. It would be bad if Goku or Kukyo were to develop...Something or another after that beating."

"Whoever it was...They were evil." Bulma said.

"It's those evil forces Kami is always going on about." Yamcha said, looking at the grimly staring Bulma.

Right now, she was concerned only with her friend in the dark blue healing fluid. Goku's body moved through the brightly colored substance, the fluids healing properties by now taking effect. For a while it appeared as if Goku were trying to resist the relaxing flow of the translucent liquid. Then, at last, he gave up his mumbling and relaxed, succumbing to the sedative powers.

A doctor turned away from the man who had been entrusted to his care. He angled his head to gaze at Bulma and Yamcha.

"Goku has been in shock, but he is now responding to the healing fluids. He is now out of danger." The doctor's words immediately wiped away the tension that had seized the duo on the other side of the window.

Bulma sighed in relief, and Yamcha grunted his approval of the treatment.

Goku was floating, weightless, surrounded by darkness and silence. It felt like he was drifting beyond the void of death itself. Consciousness was returning to his mind, but it had yet to reach his body. He thrashed a moment later in the dark blue fluid of the healing tank, creating a stream of bubbles that rose silently to the surface. His heart began to pound steadier, louder, and he could hear the blood rushing through his veins. His eyes popped open in time to see Yamcha come over to adjust some of the settings on his tank.

Within seconds his heart got quieter, and the involuntary thrashing of his bruised and battered limbs settled. His body was calmed by the tranquilizer, but his mind was fully alert and aware. Memories of motion and pain flickered across his mind's eye. The sights, sounds, and smells of the battle. The smell of blood burning in the air. He remembered the last blast, maintaining his course and speed with Raditz, his emotions the control mechanism, Kukyo and Piccolo's own blasts joining with his as the fulcrum.

Someone must have made everyone else step to the side when they found him, after he blacked out, and kept anyone less than intelligent from handling him while he was unconscious. Since becoming a martial artist, he had worked toward one clear goal. All his studying, all his training had been for one single purpose, to understand and command power, to bring peace and harmony, and to test his skills against worthy opponents.

Training would bring him power, clarity, focus, and strength.

He had to get stronger.

Goku had no way of estimating how long he had been delirious. He didn't even know what estimation meant. But now he was in full command of his mind and senses. He sat up on his bed in the medical center. Bulma was removing the protective pad from his healing face. His eyes were uncovered, and he was beginning to perceive the face of someone standing by his bed. Gradually the smiling image of Bulma came into focus. She gracefully moved toward him and gently brushed his hair out of his eyes.

"You are looking quite well. The scars will be just about gone in two days." She said as she looked at his healing wounds.

Across the room, the door banged open. Yamcha let out a cheerful greeting as he walked toward Goku. "Good to see you looking strong, Goku."

"Thanks, Yamcha."

There was an air of unusual tension in the halls of Capsule Corp. Goku, Kukyo and Piccolo, had scored a resounding victory over the Saiyan menace, and the celebration of the feast Bulma had thrown still hung in the air. During the whole thing, Krillin could be heard whispering between everyone, trying to find details out about the fight as much as he was giving his own.

Raditz had been completely wiped out, according to Kukyo.

The mood had little effect on Goku, however. It had taken three hours of being in the healing tank before he fully recovered from the horrific beating Raditz gave him. Raditz had been free with his fists and even more free with his mouth. He, along with Kukyo and Piccolo suffered more than a few thrashings over the course of that conflict.

Goku moved down the hallway at a slow walk, though his measured pace was one of choice rather than pure necessity. The lingering discomfort and pain he felt was insignificant. Thanks to the healing tank and a Senzu Bean, his broken bones mended, his bruises had vanished completely, and there was no sign of his blood or anyone else's on him.

A pair of laughing scientists approached him, clearly workers for Capsule Corp. They didn't speak about the fight or conflict with rumored accounts, but instead conversed about the three spaceships Bulma had brought in. They stopped for a brief second as they approached Goku and Bulma, the only solitary figures besides them in the hallway.

Goku scratched the back of his head, not quite meeting the eyes of the two as they passed. He didn't make any more outward signs of a reaction other than that.

He had barely begun to turn around a corner when Bulma pulled on his tattered gi.

"Goku, I have some really exciting news."

The statement caught him by surprise. "Really?"

She smiled. "I've made a spread and you're missing out on some delicacies."

Goku brightened up hearing that. "Did you make those steam buns?"

Bulma nodded, glad to see her old friend perked up and grinning. "Don't stuff so much in your mouth that your jaw cramps."

"Is Sho here?"

"Yes-"

"Awesome! We need him here for this fight and I want to spar him right now!"

Bulma rubbed her head. "He was helping me take apart that spaceship. Thanks to his help and everyone being so fast about the process, I think I will be able to make a spaceship in one year."

"That's great news!" Goku grinned.

"Besides all of that, we do have to discuss our next move regarding the Saiyans. I'm in the process of studying the technology and parts of the language."

Goku blinked.

Bulma shot him her own observant look. "You look surprised that they have a language, Goku."

"That man wanted us to kill the entire population."

Bulma hardened her gaze, wondering if the time was now, they should have the talk. "Even savages have a society. Chi Chi is here and you better brace yourself."

"She is?"

Bulma smirked a little. "She is quite fierce despite being occupied with Gohan. She has been training extremely hard whenever she has the time, so make sure your reflexes are sharp."

"Thanks, Bulma."

As he reached the edge of the next hall, the scents of the feast being prepared in the kitchens wafted out, pushing all other distracting and immediate thoughts from his mind. His mouth watered with drool and his stomach began grumbling. He had never been hungrier in his entire life. His whole stomach twisted into a single, giant knot, nearly bringing him down to his knees. He skipped up the stairs, racing for the nearing prospect of food.

Goku's belly felt like it was going to burst. He was in the process of gorging himself, tearing into his food with the manners of someone who had been raised in the mountains. He stuffed himself until his ravenous hunger was sated. It was only after he finished that he remembered there were others present. He focused a little more on the crowd, finishing off the rest of the onion soup.

Everyone was gathered, even Master Roshi, Puar, and Oolong were present.

Chaozu was at the front of the room.

Goku looked to the side.

Gohan was a few feet away entertaining himself with books and crayons.

Chi Chi marched up, hands on her hips.

"Hey Chi Chi-"

He was interrupted as her palm flew forward and forced him to hastily catch her wrist. Chi Chi worked her other wrist forward, turning her one in Goku's grip to the side and under, rolling it. Goku shifted, parrying the first strike and managed to deflect the knee that had been aimed for his stomach. He recovered easily enough, massaging the area she would have struck.

Chi Chi may have been a woman, but she could hit just as hard as any of them.

Chi Chi thrust her chest out, speaking in a relieved tone. "I am glad you're back in one piece and alive, Goku."

Goku clenched his fist, relieved that his wife had seen to the heart of the problem without saying any words.

That strike had almost been the same as the one Raditz sunk into him as a counter.

"We beat that space pirate."

"They must not be allowed to have their way. It is time, Goku."

"Time for what?"

"I'm going to be fighting."

"Don't be stupid. You'll get destroyed by these Saiyans." Yamcha said.

"You want to repeat that?"

Yamcha closed his eyes, looking sympathetic. "I get it. You want to help out and be useful. You can't though. These Saiyans are going to be brutal."

"We can go out into the yard right now, and I will show you how brutal I can be."

"You know I can't fight a woman seriously."

"Then shut your mouth before I stuff a capsule in it." Chi Chi had always been more emotional than the average human woman.

"I'm only being the voice of reason here." Yamcha explained.

Goku could see that Chi Chi wanted to keep Gohan away from the conflict. She had raised Gohan quite well. She wasn't happy to know that she and Gohan would have to train. Goku knew a little about how she felt. But he couldn't be upset about it. He and the gang would be able to train, and Gohan would grow up to be strong, smart, and righteous.

Goku smiled as he took in her image. She was very pretty, a perfectionist in the martial arts, a fierce fighter, and he did enjoy her company. She was a great sparring partner.

"Chi Chi, about Gohan..."

"Do you expect me to allow Gohan to fight?"

"Come on Chi Chi. Gohan should learn to defend himself, just in case." Goku reasoned.

"I don't know. All of us should be more than enough."

Kukyo looked at Chi Chi. "It still wouldn't hurt to train him. Training is good."

"Kukyo..."

Kukyo nodded before looking away. She replayed the battle over and over, remembered each bone breaking blow drilling her. No matter what she did, the outcome had been the same. There was no way she could get around the stabbing attacks, nor the power gap. They all needed to get more powerful, and her most of all.

Arguing with Chi Chi on the matter was pointless. The Saiyans were monsters pure and simple. They had no issue wiping out billions in cold blood. There was no greater motivation for them other than to wreak havoc and carnage.

"Do you want Gohan to fight too, Kukyo?"

"It doesn't hurt to train, Chi Chi."

"This is Gohan we are talking about here."

Kukyo nodded. "I know. I promise you no harm will come to my nephew."

Chi Chi could sense something was troubling Kukyo. She was barely paying attention as she rejected the idea of not training Gohan. She didn't know what was bothering her. In truth Chi Chi didn't care, as long as it didn't interfere with her child's studies.

"I don't want Gohan fighting these Saiyans."

Seeing the opportunity to pacify the situation, Krillin took the lead. "What if Gohan just trains instead. He won't fight the Saiyans, but he'll still be able to train."

Bulma smiled softly, ever the voice of reason in the group. "He can train and study. He can alternate it during certain days. He can also train during the spring and summer."

"Yeah, but..." Chi Chi wavered. "Alright, fine."

"You still intend to fight these Saiyans?" Yamcha asked.

Chi Chi smiled wider, crossing her arms over her chest. "I'm going to train as well. We need every advantage we can get against these Saiyans."

"I thought you had more sense than that."

Chi Chi glared at him. "Speak for yourself."

Bulma stretched out, moving to the front of the room. Now was as good a time as any to discuss the strategy. Satisfied with the silence, Bulma began to speak in her assertive tone once more. Sho got up and handed her a map with the latest data from their reconnaissance drones. She gave him a nod of thanks, unfurled it on the table, and put clips on the ends so everyone could get a closer look.

"Our drones indicate that Raditz landed here. Just west of the East Capital. We can assume that those three Saiyans will make their contact close to that point."

Bulma indicated both points on the map, before her finger went a little further west and stopped in a mountainous area.

"This is where Raditz met Piccolo. It is also where you guys fought. If he went South that put him in straight trajectory to Kame House. Passing right over Goku's home in the process."

A heavy silence fell across the room. Even Goku was left speechless. He could feel all eyes on him, waiting to see what he would do or say next.

Yamcha scratched at his cheek. "We could flank them."

"Yeah right. That won't work on these Saiyans. I would hardly call them martial artists or strategists. They are sheer brute force." Tien remarked.

Kukyo nodded, bending down to study the map better. "Look at this like a Saiyan would. Destroy the city. Destroy the forest."

Sho crossed his muscular arms over his chest, looking at Bulma. "We could make a barrier that may prevent them from breaking through the atmosphere."

Bulma shook her head. "That may do us more harm than good. If they begin to launch attacks from within orbit that's going to be bad news."

"You mean knock Earth out of orbit?" Krillin asked.

"Even I know they can't do that, Krillin. It is still a scary prospect nonetheless." Oolong remarked, giving Krillin a critical look.

Bulma regarded the statement with a steady nod.

That was something she already considered. If one of the Saiyans got mad enough, they could try to blow the whole plant to dust.

"So, we're going to let them crash land like Raditz did and possibly destroy a city with thousands of people?" Krillin asked, incredulously looking at the group.

Krillin looked to Bulma. "Be the voice of reason here."

"We have the Dragon Balls. We'll use them if we have to." Bulma replied.

"That just leaves us to the training." Goku said, smiling slightly.

Kukyo smiled. "Indeed."

"Who is going to train Gohan?" Oolong asked.

Chi Chi smiled confidently. "I will handle most of it. Gohan will watch us and train with us as well."

"I'm fighting?" Gohan asked, looking a bit shocked.

"Training. It's a little different." Sho said.

"Mommy says I'm not supposed to rough house." Gohan said.

Chi Chi smiled at Gohan. "This is where the exception comes into play."

"I am fighting mommy?"

"It's okay Gohan. Training is fine. You learn to protect." Chi Chi said in an understanding tone, putting him at ease.

Gohan smiled. "I'll do my best."

Bulma shot a look towards Chi Chi, folding her arms over her chest. "Is it just going to be all of you handling his training?"

Chi Chi inclined her chin, a sign of pride and dignity. "He'll be just fine with us."

Oolong cleared his throat, looking at the group with a small frown. "Before you guys ramp it up to the extreme like you always do...What role am I supposed to play in this?"

Bulma smiled easily, making a cutting motion in the air with her fingers. "If it comes down to it, and if we are unable to move...You will have to cut off their tails."

Oolong's eyes snapped wide open, his mouth dropping. "Have you gone completely crazy!? Are you high?! There is no way I'm going anywhere near those monsters! These Saiyans aren't that idiot Pilaf or even King Piccolo!"

Bulma's smile grew, and her eyes twinkled sharply. "You are an absolute last resort to be honest, Oolong. The same with Puar. We still need every advantage we can get. The Saiyans have a weakness. Their tails. We'll cut them off."

Oolong put his chin in his hand. "Are you sure about this?"

"You can both shape-shift. If one of us is getting crushed, you could be right behind the Saiyan doing it, and you will need to take action in order to save one of us...You don't need to worry too much for the time being. There's still Yajirobe." Bulma explained patiently.

Oolong sighed loudly, body deflating of tension. "I thought you wanted me to fight these Saiyans."

Bulma took the statement for what it was worth. "I'm glad we can count on you."

"Yeah, just don't get me killed." Oolong retorted.

"We are going to need some special training." Sho said.

Chi Chi put her fist in her hand, smiling. "What about Kami's Lookout?"

"I'm curious. It has been a while since I've got to roam around the Lookout." Kukyo said.

"I guess I'll go too, in that case. I can't let all of you pass me up. I'd look bad if I'm the only one a step below these Saiyans." Yamcha said, quirking a cocky smirk.

"I'll be here working on getting all of this technology converted and studied. You guys just focus on training, I'll take care of the technicalities."

Bulma allowed a confident smile to grace her face. She always loved the martial arts, but whenever she got the chance to use her wits and intelligence, it was always more rewarding. The implications of interstellar technology were staggering, and the fact that there were three more Saiyans coming...It meant everything was coming to a boil, the likes that have not been seen in years.

Goku smirked. "Let's do this you guys."

Tien regarded his old friend with a stern expression. "Chaozu, it's time to go. We're going to train."

"But Tien-"

"No buts. If the Saiyans win, no more McDonald's. No more playing video games online."

"I can't wait to fight these Saiyans." Chaozu said, smiling wide.

"This isn't a game. There is too much on the line." Krillin reasoned, trying not to sound outraged.

Chaozu tilted his head, regarding Krillin like he was stupid. "If they like to flail around like the first Saiyan did...I say the fight is already won."

Krillin scowled.

"What makes you say that?" Yamcha asked.

Chaozu only shrugged. "I bet you fifty thousand zeni, Raditz had no control over his ki. He was just destructive with about a ton of muscle on his frame and can focus his ki at a mediocre level. If the other Saiyans are the same we can let them strain their bodies with their ki. Then we strike."

"That is the confidence I've been waiting to hear! Chaozu is right, the simplest way to defeat these Saiyans is to break the backs of these Saiyans. Train hard you guys. I'll keep in touch throughout the year." Bulma regarded them with a smile.

"Alright you guys. Let's do this." Yamcha said with determination.

"Before you all leave. Master Roshi and I need to speak with Goku and Kukyo."

"Come on, Bulma. Everyone else is going to Kami's. I want to go with them to get special training." Goku said.

"It'll only take ten minutes." Bulma's tone broke no argument.