As the dust settled, a ship emerged from the haze. Bulma, having skilfully landed it, stepped out. Piccolo touched down beside her. "The missile came from about a mile in that direction," he informed them.
Goku and Vegeta began to float off the ground, ready to head in that direction. But before they could, Bulma grabbed onto Vegeta's foot. "And where do you think you're going?" she said, annoyance etched on her face. "You were going to leave me here again!" She continued to berate them.
Goku breathed a sigh of relief, grateful to be out of her line of fire. He drifted further away, with Piccolo at his side, both skimming just above the ground to stay under the radar. Vegeta, not wanting to be excluded, scooped up Bulma and surged ahead at a breakneck speed. Overwhelmed by the velocity, Bulma yelled out, "Slow down, you idiot!"
As the four of them approached the base, they descended and landed. Goku closed his eyes, attempting to sense something, but there was nothing. More precisely, there existed an area where he could sense nothing. It felt eerily similar to when he tried to reach out beyond Earth and couldn't. That meant wherever he couldn't sense anything, there was undoubtedly something significant concealed.
As they drew nearer, it was Bulma who made a discovery, her gaze fixed on her tablet. "Hey guys, over here," she called out, walking over to a cluster of rocks, "there's something beneath these." Indeed, something was hidden underneath. Suddenly, a blast disintegrated the rock before Bulma's eyes. She spun around to find Vegeta, his hand still raised from the attack. Bulma's face flushed with anger, her vein throbbing visibly.
Piccolo observed silently, pondering what she ever found appealing in Vegeta.
Beneath the remnants of the now-vaporized rocks lay a hatch. Vegeta approached, thrust his hand straight through it, seized hold, and yanked back, hurling the hatch far into the distance.
Leaping into the shadowy abyss, he channelled energy into his palm, conjuring a sphere of white light that pierced the darkness. Bulma, Goku, and Piccolo trailed behind, descending into the depths.
Simultaneously, alarms blared throughout the facility. On the screens, Dr. Gero watched as the intruders penetrated his stronghold. With urgency mounting, Dr. Gero initiated his emergency protocols.
In a flurry of motion, he dashed to his workshop's side and slammed a button, instantly shrinking everything into a single capsule. Snatching it up, he pocketed the precious cargo and made a beeline for the portal device. Moments later, a new gateway shimmered into existence.
"It's time for my departure," he mused. "All I need for my grand scheme is here with me." With a determined stride, he stepped into the void, the portal sealing shut as a foreboding countdown commenced.
Meanwhile, in the corridor, a piercing blue beam erupted, striking Vegeta head-on. His anguished cry echoed as his energy sphere dissipated, plunging the room into darkness save for the stark glow of the relentless azure beam.
As two additional beams of light surged forward, they found their targets in Piccolo and Goku. The impact was immediate and debilitating, leaving them writhing on the ground, each struggling against the paralyzing effects.
Bulma stood amidst the chaos, miraculously unaffected. It seemed the system did not recognize her as a threat, sparing her from the beams' crippling force. Seizing the moment, she dashed towards the door, her mind racing with plans to aid her friends. But the door stood firm, locked and unyielding, mocking her attempts to open it. Her strength alone was not enough, and a groan of despair slipped from her lips as she realized the futility of her efforts.
Meanwhile, Goku's body was a battleground of pain and resilience. The blue beam that had ensnared him was relentless, yet beneath the surface, his Saiyan physique was adapting, fighting back against the overwhelming energy. With a deep concentration that belied his agony, he began to harness his own power, channelling it into a semblance of control. His arm trembled as he raised his palm, from which a slender beam of energy emerged. It was a mere whisper of his usual might, but it was all he needed. The beam struck the door with precision, burning through the metal to create a small, but crucial opening. It was just large enough for Bulma to slip through, a sliver of hope in the encroaching darkness.
Squeezing through the small opening, Bulma found herself in a control room cluttered with dials and screens, the source of the blue beam looming ominously at its centre. Her mind raced as she scanned the room, searching for anything that could halt the relentless energy.
Bulma quickly assessed the control room, her eyes settling on the central computer terminal that controlled the blue beam. She knew that brute force wouldn't suffice; she needed a more subtle approach. Sliding into the chair, she booted up the terminal, her fingers dancing across the keyboard with practiced ease.
The screen was a maze of code and security protocols, but Bulma was undeterred. She initiated a bypass sequence, her mind working in tandem with her hands to navigate through the digital labyrinth. Lines of code scrolled by in a blur as she deployed countermeasures against the system's defences.
As the seconds ticked by, Vageta's groans of pain were a stark reminder of the stakes. Bulma's concentration was absolute, her resolve unshakable. With a triumphant keystroke, she breached the final firewall, gaining access to the beam's control functions.
She didn't hesitate, executing a series of commands that reversed the energy flow. The blue beam's intensity waned, its roar reduced to a whimper before extinguishing completely. Vageta's form relaxed as the pressure lifted, and he took a deep, life-affirming breath.
Bulma leaned back, a bead of sweat trailing down her temple. They had done it. She had done it. The crisis was averted, not by might, but by intellect and willpower. As Goku rose to his feet, he looked down at Vageta's and Piccalo's unconscious forms.
As Bulma delved deeper into the computer's labyrinth, she stumbled upon a countdown. Panic seized her; she frantically attempted to halt it, but it was futile—the system was locked, and once initiated, the countdown was unstoppable. Pinpointing its location, she cried out, "Guys, hurry over here—we've got a serious issue!" A piercing screech filled her ears, and she spun around to see Goku tearing the door off its hinges.
"What's going on?" he bellowed.
"It's a bomb," she declared, "and I can't shut it down in time."
"Where is it?" Goku demanded. Bulma gestured towards an impenetrable wall. "It's behind that," she explained with a tone of finality. "But there's no entry point, and it seems there are sensors embedded in the wall—any attempt to break through would trigger an explosion," she illustrated with a gesture of a blast. "I'm at a loss for how to defuse it. We must evacuate immediately; there's no time to salvage the equipment," Bulma announced, rising from her seat.
In that instant, an ominous black rift tore through the fabric of space, unfurling like a dark curtain before them. Bulma, her voice barely above a whisper, uttered a disheartened, "What now?" The air grew thick with tension, the very atmosphere charged with an unspoken dread.
The void yawned wider, an abyssal maw that seemed to consume the light around it. Goku, ever the warrior, squared his shoulders, his eyes reflecting a resolve as unwavering as the earth itself. "No matter what it is, we'll face it together," he declared, his confidence a stark contrast to the creeping shadow before them.
Bulma's mind raced, her scientific curiosity warring with the primal fear that clawed at her instincts. The bomb was one threat, but this—this was unknown, a variable she couldn't quantify or predict. Yet, in the face of the unknown, there was a certain thrill, a reminder of the countless adventures and close calls that had defined their journey thus far.
Earth One (DC)
Before Bruce, the anomaly swelled, a burgeoning singularity that seemed to devour the very essence of light, casting an oppressive shadow over everything. "At last," he thought, a mix of trepidation and anticipation coursing through him. The darkness that bled from the anomaly was palpable, creating an eerie sensation that unsettled even the stoic vigilante. His HUD, usually a beacon of information, showed no signs of danger, yet Bruce's instincts screamed otherwise. This was uncharted territory, a phenomenon that defied his vast knowledge.
With a determined press of a button, he initiated contact with Alfred. "I've activated the anomaly, Alfred," he announced with a gravity that belied his calm exterior. "I'm going in."
From the other end, a hesitant voice emerged, tinged with concern. "M-Mr. Wayne, I must protest..."
Bruce cut across firmly, "It's imperative. I need to uncover what happened to Clark, to ascertain if there's a chance to bring him back. He deserves that much from me. Hold down the fort while I'm absent, will you?" Without awaiting a response, he plunged into the void, Alfred's fractured affirmation the last thread of connection to his world.
As Bruce ventured into the abyss, he ensured every sensor and recorder in his suit was meticulously documenting the journey. One second... two... and on the cusp of the third, his vision began to return. The transition was brief, a mere three seconds in the void before a blinding light overloaded his HUD. Swiftly, he deactivated the display, and as his eyes adjusted, they settled on the figures before him—a man with spiky hair and a woman with vibrant blue locks.
Earth Two (Db)
As the portal tore open, a frigid gust surged forth, heralding the arrival of a spectral figure cloaked in white. Bulma recoiled, her heart racing at the unexpected apparition. Goku, however, remained a statue, his senses sharpening as he assessed the uninvited guest.
A voice, deep and resonant, broke the silence. "What have you done with Clark?" it demanded, echoing with an authority that seemed to reverberate through the very air.
"Clark?" Bulma echoed, confusion lacing her words. "Who's that?"
The figure's patience frayed. "I'm not here for games," it retorted sharply. "Reveal his location, or else—"
But before the threat could be fully articulated, Goku materialized before the figure, swift as a thought. The visitor recoiled, a mix of surprise and wariness flickering across its features. In a swift motion, it hurled a diminutive device towards them. Goku's reflexes were instantaneous; he snatched it from the air with effortless grace. Then, without warning, the device erupted, spewing a dense cloud of gas that enveloped the room.
Bulma coughed, her eyes stinging as she tried to make sense of the chaos. Goku, undeterred by the smokescreen, stood ready, his body tensed for action. The figure, now obscured by the haze, was an enigma—a puzzle that demanded solving.
Goku suddenly felt a sharp jab at a vital point, a strike that betrayed his lowered defenses. He had misjudged the figure, assuming weakness where there was none. "Piccolo's going to have a field day with this," he grimaced internally. His left arm hung uselessly by his side, but his warrior spirit remained undaunted. Sensing a ripple of movement to his right, Goku gathered his ki, unleashing a powerful burst of energy that swept away the gas and sent the figure tumbling through the air.
As the figure struggled to regain footing, Goku was already upon him, hoisting him up effortlessly. "Why did you attack us?" Goku demanded, his voice a mix of confusion and authority.
"You're kidnapped Clark," the man shot back, defiance in his tone. Suddenly, a surge of electricity coursed through Goku, a clever ploy by the stranger to escape. Goku released his grip, slightly taken aback yet unscathed. He couldn't help but admire the figure's ingenuity.
The figure, meanwhile, was taken aback by Goku's resilience, thankful for the mask that concealed his astonishment. "What kind of being is he?" he wondered silently.
Finally, Goku addressed the tension. "There seems to be a misunderstanding. We're here to thwart a villain's scheme—it's likely he's the one who has your friend," Goku explained, hoping to bridge the gap of mistrust between them.
The figure paused, his stance easing as he weighed the sincerity of Goku's words. But before he could reach a verdict, Bulma's voice cut through the tension.
"We have an urgent issue at hand—the imminent explosion!" she exclaimed, her annoyance palpable.
"Explosion?" the figure echoed, perplexed. "What explosion?"
With a roll of her eyes, Bulma retorted sarcastically, "Oh, just the bomb behind that wall," gesturing dismissively towards the solid barrier.
Intrigued, the figure approached the wall and pressed a button on his helmet. After a brief scan, he moved closer, his hand reaching out to touch the surface. Bulma watched, assuming he was merely inspecting the wall. To her surprise, his hand began to phase through, revealing a concealed mechanism—a hidden button that had eluded them all.
The wall ascended silently into the ceiling, unveiling a bomb of daunting proportions. He approached the ominous device, crouched down, and scrutinized it intently for a long minute. Then, with a deft movement, he extracted a tool from his belt and began to tinker with the bomb's intricate mechanisms.
Bulma leapt from her chair, her approach as swift as her growing panic. "What are you doing?" she exclaimed, her voice laced with alarm. "You're going to get us all killed!" The figure stood, turned, and faced her, his helmet coming off to reveal his identity. "The bomb is now harmless," he assured her calmly. "I'm Bruce. And you are?"
Bulma was momentarily struck dumb, awed by his quick-witted resolution of a problem that had stumped her, and admittedly, by his striking features. She found herself momentarily at a loss for words, her mouth opening and closing in mute astonishment.
They conversed for the next thirty minutes, delving into the complexities of interdimensional travel—a topic that quickly surpassed Goku's interest. Opting for mental training, Goku seated himself, eyes closed, centering his breath. As he verged on commencing his image training, a faint yet distinct energy signature caught his attention. It was familiar, reminiscent of the formidable power he'd encountered during his sparring with Piccolo. Curious, he rose and exited the room, his abrupt departure drawing Bruce's gaze. "Where's he off to?" Bruce inquired, his curiosity piqued enough to prompt him to follow. "He's probably just looking for food," Bulma responded, her tone suggesting this was a routine occurrence.
Goku approached a sealed door, behind which he sensed a familiar presence. As he reached out to open it, a sudden blue beam struck him, forcing him to his knee—though he withstood it better than before. Channeling his energy to counteract the beam, it abruptly ceased. Looking up, Goku noticed a bat-shaped device embedded in the control panel, the source of the beam now obvious. "Thanks, Bruce," he acknowledged with a nod.
He rose and tested the door once more, but it remained unyielding. Frustrated, Goku set his stance and rammed his shoulder against the steel barrier. The metal groaned under the assault of Goku's formidable strength, eventually warping and crashing to the ground with a thunderous clang.
Bruce observed in silent contemplation, pondering the full extent of Goku's capabilities.
Stepping through the remnants of the door, Goku and Bruce found Clark lying on a table, struggling against an active blue energy beam. As Clark's gaze met Bruce's, a fleeting smile crossed his face before he succumbed to unconsciousness, the battle with the beam taking its toll.
Earth 3 (DC)
Dr. Gero discovered himself in an alternate version of Earth, one that bore a striking resemblance to the planet from which Clark originated. However, this Earth was set in an earlier period of history, with the significant distinction that Krypton had not yet met its demise.
From his pocket, Dr. Gero retrieved a compact capsule. With a click of the button and a skillful toss, the capsule transformed, materializing a spacecraft before him. He stepped aboard and programmed the coordinates for Krypton into the navigation system. As the ship soared into the cosmos, Dr. Gero's meticulously laid plans were beginning to unfold, marking the start of a new chapter in his grand scheme.