Dr. Gero adjusted the monitor in his dimly lit lab, eyes narrowing as he watched the small screen. The footage was grainy, captured from the view of a Red Ribbon Army surveillance drone that had been tailing the strange duo—an unusually powerful young man and Capsule Corp heiress, Bulma Briefs—for days now. This was his first successful attempt at observing them. Up until now, every attempt to keep a close eye on them had failed due to signal interference or the drone's being attacked by wild life. But now, as they were driving off-road, the drone's camera finally offered a clear, unbroken view.
The small off-road vehicle bore the Capsule Corp logo on its side, and Dr. Gero found himself wondering how Briefs had become entangled in with the young man she traveled with—the one she called "Jaku." Every bit of information Gero had gathered so far pointed to this "Jaku" being no ordinary traveler. His power, the way he moved, none of it aligned with anything Gero understood.
As he watched, Jaku leaned forward in the vehicle, his gaze settling on the faded patch on their third companion's Chinese-style jacket—a short, nervous pig-man Gero had learned was called Oolong. There was a pause, and then Jaku's voice came through the audio feed, calm but with a hint of thoughtfulness.
"Hmm, now that I think about it," Jaku mused aloud, "I should probably take care of the Red Ribbon Army."
In the vehicle, Oolong's expression twisted with visible nervousness, his small, round face paling as he tugged on his collar. Dr. Gero's eyes narrowed at the statement, a hint of suspicion forming in his mind. Take care of the Red Ribbon Army? Did this young man truly think he could do such a thing?
Beside Jaku, Bulma responded with casual interest. "Oh, right. You told me they're also after the Dragon Balls, right?"
Dr. Gero's mind sharpened at this. So, they knew about the Red Ribbon Army's intentions. But how? Information about their search for the Dragon Balls was tightly controlled, known only to a select few in the organization. His fingers hovered over the controls, debating whether to adjust the volume. When Jaku's voice came through clearly, cutting through the static and cementing Gero's attention.
"Well, yeah, but the Red Ribbon Army's leader is a terrible leader as all hell. I mean, the dude made promises, but I think there was some backstabbing going on, or something like that." Jaku shrugged, leaning back in his seat. "I can't remember exactly. I don't have a fandom wiki in my head. But his wish, if I remember right, was to be taller. Taller. Can you believe that? Honestly, I'd rather take over myself than let him run things into the ground."
Gero's brow furrowed as he processed this. Take over the Red Ribbon Army himself? Who does this boy think he is?
Jaku continued, his voice taking on a tone of idle speculation. "If I'm going to change things, I'd prefer to have Dr. Gero on my side. But, you know, a version of him who still has his family. The one that made the androids in my memory was… well, a different kind of guy. Lost his wife and son thanks to a mess the Red Ribbon Army made."
In the vehicle, Oolong blinked, struggling to follow the conversation. Gero could almost see the gears turning in the pig-man's head as he tried to make sense of it all, clearly bewildered by the layers of context Jaku and Bulma shared between them.
Bulma chimed in with a snap of her fingers, her tone casual as she spoke. "Oh, right. Didn't you mention that Goku was constantly attacked by the Red Ribbon Army just for having a Dragon Ball? They never even asked if he'd lend it—they just attacked him at gunpoint, right? And didn't you say that whenever Goku encountered them, something bad would be always happening?"
She paused thoughtfully, continuing in a reflective tone. "i think you also said that Red and his goons ignored basic protocols for weapons and mechas. And that Gero's wife and son died because of some random missed missile from Red's mech?"
Jaku nodded with a resigned sigh. "Yeah. Goku had nothing to do with it, but Gero didn't see it that way. Instead, he went down the typical 'vengeance obsession' path, blaming Goku and everyone associated with him. It's your classic case of misplaced revenge. Then, eventually, he shows up in the Z timeline, all obsessed and twisted, only to be killed by his own creations because he didn't treat them like people."
Gero's eyes narrowed further, his mind racing. Goku? Vengeance? His own creations? What on Earth are they talking about? This was the first he'd heard of such… outcomes. His creations were his life's work, his prized projects. But the notion that he could lose his family due to Red's careless mistakes… He dismissed the thought, unwilling to consider the possibility that such a future even existed. That his leader was so incompetent.
The exchange continued, Jaku responding to Bulma's musings with a simple "Basically." His tone was casual, as if they were discussing everyday occurrences rather than matters that threatened the stability of the world—or Gero's potential future.
Gero's mind spun with questions. How could they know so much? And what was this nonsense about him creating androids, about vengeance and "losing control"? He didn't have an ounce of understanding of where this bizarre narrative had come from, but there was one thing he understood clearly: Jaku, this mysterious young man, knew too much. And his apparent indifference to the Red Ribbon Army, his casual disregard for their power, suggested he wasn't merely an obstacle—he was a threat.
As the vehicle rumbled forward, disappearing over the horizon, Gero sat back in his chair, eyes fixed on the last image captured by the drone. His fingers tightened over the edge of the control panel, knuckles white with tension. He would need to investigate this further, to understand who these people were, how they could know so much, and what this "Jaku" intended to do with his knowledge.
If this boy thought he could play games with the Red Ribbon Army and walk away unscathed, he was gravely mistaken.
Dr. Gero leaned in closer to the monitor, The strange young man, Jaku, continued speaking, his tone thoughtful yet steady, as if considering the weight of his words. The Red Ribbon Army had rarely been viewed with anything but fear and opposition, but Jaku seemed to have a completely different perspective.
"The main reason I don't just go out and wipe them all out," Jaku said, his voice steady, "is because the Red Ribbon Army could be useful if handled right. I'm not interested in destruction for destruction's sake, and there's a lot of innocent people working under them who probably don't have a choice in the matter."
Dr. Gero's eyebrow arched in surprise.
"Useful?" Bulma echoed, her tone skeptical as she steered the Capsule Corp off-road vehicle over a bumpy path, glancing at Jaku as if trying to read his mind. "You think the Red Ribbon Army could be an asset?"
Jaku nodded, his eyes distant as he considered his words. "Think about it, Bulma. They're misguided, sure, but they're also highly organized. And if I can redirect their manpower from trying to conquer the world to actually defending Earth, it'd be a real advantage. There are threats out there beyond anything they can imagine. Frieza's forces, for one."
Dr. Gero's pulse quickened, his mind spinning. Frieza's forces? What does he know about the outside threats? And how could he even suggest "re-directing" us? But there was a curiosity gnawing at him, the bizarre yet compelling logic Jaku presented drawing him in.
In the vehicle, Oolong scratched his head, looking from Jaku to Bulma, clearly struggling to follow the complex conversation. "Misguided? What exactly are you talking about?"
Jaku sighed, glancing at Oolong with an understanding look. "The Red Ribbon Army, Oolong, they're not inherently evil. Misguided, yes, but a lot of the people in it are just soldiers and workers following orders. They might believe they're part of something important, but in reality, their leaders are leading them in the wrong direction."
"Take Gero, for instance," Jaku continued, intentionally speaking the name to ensure it was overheard. "He's brilliant, a scientist who could do so much good with his skills, but he's locked into an organization with flawed leadership. With the right guidance, someone like him could become a powerful ally instead of… well, what he turns into in my memories."
Bulma nodded, understanding dawning in her eyes. "So, rather than treating them as enemies to eliminate, you're hoping to reach out and reform them?"
"Exactly," Jaku said, nodding. "The Red Ribbon Army's leader is too wrapped up in ambition and personal greed to see beyond his own goals. But if there were someone in charge who could understand the importance of protecting Earth rather than ruling it, they could be an incredible defense force. Gero's potential, for example, could be redirected to innovation and protection."
Dr. Gero leaned back, struggling to process the mix of emotions Jaku's words stirred. The suggestion of his scientific potential, of the army's latent value—it was something he'd considered himself, buried beneath layers of loyalty and ambition. Yet hearing it framed in this way, hearing his own name spoken in the context of potential for good, was something he hadn't anticipated.
The screen's image showed Jaku's face, clear and focused, as he looked out over the road ahead. "Look, the Red Ribbon Army is full of skilled people, powerful technology, and disciplined fighters. They just need a shift in direction. And with the kind of threats lurking out there, like Frieza and his forces, I'd rather have them on Earth's side."
Dr. Gero's eyes flickered with interest as the audio feed crackled with Oolong's bewildered voice.
"Uh… wait a minute," Oolong said, his confusion obvious as he tried to piece together the conversation. "Who the heck is Frieza?"
Jaku glanced over at Oolong, the question clearly anticipated. He paused, then said, "Frieza is… well, he's a tyrant. One of the most powerful beings in the universe. He's responsible for conquering planets, enslaving entire species, and eradicating those who get in his way. He's like a galactic emperor, ruthless and unbelievably strong."
Oolong's eyes widened, the disbelief plain on his face. "Galactic emperor? You're saying there's some kind of… space monster out there?"
Jaku nodded, his expression darkening. "Exactly. Frieza is beyond anything this planet has ever faced, and his power makes anything the Red Ribbon Army has seem like child's play."
Oolong fidgeted, visibly uncomfortable with the concept, but he ventured another question. "Okay, that sounds terrifying. But what about, uh, that Demon King Piccolo guy? Isn't he supposed to be some big, scary villain too?"
Dr. Gero leaned forward, intrigued. Demon King Piccolo? The name was unfamiliar, so he immediately tapped into his files, searching for any intel or myth associated with this so-called demon king. A few documents popped up on his screen—fragments of old legends, scattered reports from the Red Ribbon Army's earlier years. The information was limited, but there were references to a monstrous being, powerful and ancient, who once terrorized Earth before being sealed away. Gero's fingers paused on the screen, anticipation building as he listened closely to the conversation.
Jaku looked at Oolong and nodded. "Yeah, Piccolo's powerful, no doubt about it. He's a demon king, after all. But trust me, Piccolo's power doesn't even come close to Frieza's. Piccolo could destroy towns, maybe even cities, but Frieza? Frieza could wipe out entire planets without breaking a sweat."
Oolong's face turned pale, his jaw slack. "So… you're telling me that this Frieza guy makes Demon King Piccolo look like small potatoes?"
"Exactly," Jaku replied, his tone grim but matter-of-fact. "Frieza would consider someone like Piccolo as not even worth his time. And that's why Earth has to be prepared. If someone like Frieza ever took interest in our planet, the Red Ribbon Army's little toys and mechs wouldn't be enough to stop him."
Bulma leaned forward, her expression a mix of horror and fascination. "So, let me get this straight. You're saying Frieza is so powerful, he'd see our strongest fighters and technology as… nothing?"
Jaku nodded, a resigned look on his face. "Yeah, and that's why we need every bit of power we can get. That's why I want the Red Ribbon Army turned around and working to defend Earth instead of trying to conquer it."
Dr. Gero's gaze darkened as he absorbed Jaku's words. A being so powerful he makes Earth's greatest threats seem insignificant? Gero's hands clenched over the console, a cold determination settling in his chest. He'd never considered an external threat that could bring the Red Ribbon Army to its knees. But if this "Frieza" truly existed… then perhaps his scientific ambitions needed to expand.
Authors note:
I'm skipped info dumps early on to keep the plot moving and me writing the story. Jaku explains Dragon Ball's events casually to Bulma (and others) during quiet moments to clue them in, rather than front-loading details. Hopefully, this approach feels like a better narrative now. As of right now this story is a real rough draft. Planing on fixing the flow of such details t be better. as I plan on remastering the story and releasing the remastered version on royal road