Disclaimer: All characters and settings belong to their respective franchises.

Gohan hummed to himself as he searched through his recent memories, arms and legs crossed. His eyes were closed, trying to visualize as much of what had happened before he saw that... strange red flash. What exactly was it? Part of Schweinorg's magic? Whatever it was, the last thing he remembered was a sharp pain before the red was replaced by pitch black. The next thing he knew, he was waking up in the middle of an empty hallway.

He tried to retrace his steps. How did he get here? What or where was "here"? He sniffed the air, taking in the sterile and conditioned quality that made his nose itch a little, more used to the mountain atmosphere of Paozu. It resembled the interior of a hospital or the Capsule Corp medical wing; as he should know from experience. Scratching his black tresses, he blinked in pause when he began to feel a…strange tingling sensation behind him, having recouped his bearings and much of his senses.

He craned his neck to the side, almost brushing his chin against his shoulder, only to catch something in his peripheral vision. "What the...?" He craned his neck even further, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets at a very familiar movement coming around the corner. With a start, he let out a small scream, causing him to cover his mouth with both hands.

Taking a moment to steady himself, he lowered his arms and let out a long breath. A bit calmer, he tilted his head back to double-check, and there he could make out the wagging shape of his tail. "Wha...?"

Cautiously, he reached a hand up as he slowly waved the appendage over his shoulder, allowing him to stroke it with his hand, causing it to twitch involuntarily. "M...My...tail..." It had been years since he had last seen his tail, let alone had it attached to his body. "H-How...?" He jerked his head around quickly, the hairs on the back of his neck standing up in concern as confusion washed over him. How on earth did his tail grow back?

At a loss for answers, he shifted his focus back to the letter, which was lying carelessly on his lap after he had dropped it in shock. He picked it up and reread the contents before turning it over, and to his surprise, he found some additional writing. Nothing much, just that it was relevant to what he had just discovered.

P.S.S.

Do try to hide your tail.

Sighing, he scratched his head in resignation, remembering that he had not only given his consent, but had actually volunteered for this. Rising to his feet, he took a moment to regain his bearings and suppress his ki, not that he had been eager to radiate his energy upon awakening, but better to be safe than sorry, per Schweinorg's advice. Blinking to clear his vision, he scanned the rest of the corridor until he spotted the wall to his right with a strange symbol etched into it.

Stepping closer, he examined it with curiosity, lifting a hand to run his fingertips over the surface. If he could describe it, it resembled an elegantly illustrated "C" surrounded by olive leaves. "C? Wait..." He glanced around the corridor. "Could it be...?"

Breathing in, he closed his eyes and expanded his senses to see if he was alone or if there were others nearby. Soon he caught... people – several of them, all spread out in whatever this place was, and thought it could only be the Organization's facility. "So this must be the place. Chaldea." He rolled his shoulders and adjusted his uniform before noticing his tail hanging loosely from his back. A few awkward minutes later, he remembered that Vegeta used to wrap his tail around his waist for convenience.

He was about to walk around in search of the nearest energy source when he felt someone approaching his position. He sensed no malice or killing intent from this new presence and figured it could be one of the staff. The young half-Saiyan relaxed, adopting a casual demeanor so as not to alarm whoever it might be. The last thing he wanted was to make a bad first impression.

Double-checking that his tail was sufficiently hidden under his uniform, he walked in the direction where the presence was coming from, and soon enough, he spotted someone in the distance – a girl? Narrowing his eyes, he saw that it was indeed a young woman who looked to be about his age, no, older. By three or four years. He might have aged a year in the Room of Spirit and Time, but he knew that he was still an 11-year-old boy, going on 12 in a few months.

The girl stopped when she seemed to have spotted him, and picked up her pace as she began to come closer. "There you are," she said. Gohan did not react, suspicion immediately forming in the pit of his stomach from her addressing him. Memory problems aside, he didn't believe he had ever met this girl before. She was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt over a dark blouse with a white collar and a red tie with the same intertwined diamonds sewn as patterns. The rest of her outfit consisted of a dark skirt, leggings, and brown shoes. She wore dark-framed glasses over her lavender eyes, which were obscured by strands of lilac hair that almost reached her shoulders.

She seemed harmless to the outside observer, but Gohan could sense an unusual energy coming from her. He decided to act accordingly. "Excuse me?"

A bit taken aback at first, the girl spoke, "I've been looking all over for you. You're late, and they're already starting."

Gohan, looking genuinely embarrassed, said with a furrowed brow, "Sorry, I... I got lost." He grinned impishly to further sell it, and the girl let out a sigh, though she didn't seem upset at all.

"It's understandable, Senpai."

Gohan blinked. "S...Senpai?"

The girl stared at him, then took a moment to look him over. "Oh, uh, that's just how you address someone with seniority. Are you not Japanese?"

"Japanese? Could that be a country? An ethnicity? Uh, no, I'm Chinese, actually," Gohan replied, and was thrown off by the words that had just passed through his lips. "What?"

The girl seemed to accept his answer with an apologetic nod of her head. "Oh. I see. Xuezhang, then."

Gohan waved his hands in front of him, starting to feel uncomfortable. "Y-You don't really have to address me like that, Miss. I'm really not that much older than you. I'm still 11."

This seemed to elicit a more drastic reaction from the girl. "11?!" She ran her eyes over him more thoroughly, as if to confirm if it was true. "You're 11 years old? Could you be a prodigy?"

Gohan chuckled awkwardly, scratching his cheek with a finger as he replied, "S-Something like that. A-Anyway, you mentioned that I was late?"

The girl perked up and said, "Oh, yes." She spun on her heel, motioning with her hand for him to follow. "We need to hurry. The Director doesn't like to be kept waiting."

"Right," Gohan nodded and marched after her, his thoughts racing. "Chinese? Where did that come from?" Sifting through his memories and the material he had studied over the years, he couldn't possibly have known about a country called China, which seemed to be the equivalent of the culture surrounding his family. Images and information he hadn't known before flashed through his mind, causing him to recoil at how surreal it felt. "It could only be Mr. Schweinorg. Using his magic, he must have filled me with this information to better blend in."

It was the only explanation he could reach, for if he dwelled on it any longer, he feared he might begin to believe that his life, the life he had known since childhood, had been some kind of fabrication. He shook his head of any treacherous thoughts and reflected through his most critical memories. He was Son Gohan, the son of Son Goku and Son Chi-Chi. He trained under the Namekian Piccolo and had other friends and companions with whom he had fought and shed blood. He nodded inwardly, satisfied with that self-assessment.

"By the way," Gohan shook himself out of his thoughts when he heard the girl address him again, looking over her shoulder with a curious glint in her eyes. "I didn't catch your name. I'm Mash. Mash Kyrielight."

"Son Gohan," the half-Saiyan introduced reflexively, causing the girl to stop and stare at him oddly.

"Are... you really Chinese?"

The awkwardness returned with added intensity. "S-Sorry, I took some Japanese lessons over a year ago, and I've kind of gotten used to being called that name by my tutor. I'm actually Sūn Wùfàn. There it is again. How could I know that? Just how much information did Mr. Schweinorg give me?" He even spoke with a slight accent that he was certain wasn't there before. They kept walking, with Gohan struggling internally over his knowledge and memories conflicting.

Soon they arrived at an elevator, which Mash opened by pressing the "down" button. They both entered, and it was here that Gohan began to ask, "Ms. Kyrielight, was it? Are you... a master candidate?" He kept himself from flinching, having once again inadvertently drawn from the knowledge implanted in him.

Mash didn't respond, nor did her body language change. Then, a soft hum from her was followed by a response, "Not really. I'm…more of an intern."

"Oh," Gohan understood. "So, what's it like here? Er, forgive me if I sound a bit intrusive."

Mash shook her head and smiled. "No, no, it's alright. As a master, you have every right to inquire about such matters concerning Chaldea. No one should be discouraged from asking questions. That's how people learn and information proliferates. At least, that's what my own tutor would tell me."

Relieved, Gohan listened as she began to explain. As she did so, he looked out the glass wall of the elevator, which gave them a view of a dim chamber, if he were to describe it. "Chaldea is a research facility and observatory that gathers researchers of every stripe, from sorcery to science, all for the purpose of continuing the history of humankind for as long and as strongly as possible. For that purpose, our top researchers have developed 'Chaldeas', a global environmental model. It was proposed that, theoretically, planets have souls, so a miniature was created to reflect the state of that soul. As my tutor put it, 'as long as the light of civilization burns in Chaldeas, humanity is guaranteed to last at least another 100 years.'"

"100 years?" Gohan repeated questioningly. It should be much longer than that. Also, planets have souls? That was the first time he had ever heard of such, but he refrained from voicing it out or interrupting her.

Mash nodded. "However, the light has been fading for some time now. If the light disappears entirely, that can only mean human civilization has come to an end. According to the calculations, the human race will become extinct around December 2016."

"December, 2016? Does that mean they have the same calendar as my universe? Wait. 2016?! It was still Age 767 when I left. 2016? Then that should be..." His expression was one of fear, as if to convey that he was reluctant to count down the days of the inevitable, but that he was truly in the dark as to what exact year he was in.

Mash, her own expression grave, confirmed soberly, "Approximately two years from now."

Hearing this, Gohan became genuinely perturbed, for the extinction of humanity would occur in about two years. It was like the Cell Games all over again. "Then, this is it. We really have to do this." He clenched his hand into a fist, his face tightening into a determined frown. Mash nodded.

"Regarding our mission, there was the discovery of a recent anomaly in the timeline," the girl continued. "Known as Spatial Singularity F. From 2004 to 2016 CE, there was a suburban city in Japan. Considered an 'unobservable area', it is believed that this period of time does not exist in proper history." The elevator stopped with a soft ding and the doors opened, but not before Gohan caught a glimpse of something on the bottom floor of the vast chamber that resembled a large effigy or pillar surrounded by protrusions pointing toward it. "It was this discovery that was presented to the United Nations for the approval of the Rayshifting System."

"Ray-shifting?" Gohan questioned as they both stepped out, but stayed in place just outside the closing doors.

"Rayshifting is referred to as the means by which Chaldea can execute its mission," Mash elaborated. "It's basically time travel, which is achieved by converting organic matter into particles known as 'Spiritrons' and sending them back into the past. By this, we can intervene and correct whatever the anomaly may be."

Gohan blinked in amazement, reminded and drawing comparisons between this 'Rayshifting' and the Time Machine that the future Bulma had built for Trunks. "It's basically an alternate timeline," the half-Saiyan surmised. "A timeline that shouldn't exist." Now that was an interesting thought. Could Trunks have simply landed in a timeline that was so different from his own that it shouldn't have happened? That their timeline counted as a singularity that should have been corrected?

It intrigued and concerned him. "Sūn-kun?" Gohan blinked, breaking out of his thoughts and glancing at the older girl. "Is something wrong?"

Gohan winced at the concern on Mash's face. "Oh, uh, I'm sorry, Kyrielight-san. I was just…remembering someone who once confided in me a theory about time travel."

"Really?" Mash said curiously. She had no reason to distrust the boy's remark, as being a Magus who was scouted for Chaldea, they could have only been exceptional in their education at the Clock Tower. Only the best had any chance of becoming a master candidate, after all. "Is the theory in any way similar?"

"Well," Gohan started, organizing his thoughts in order to omit certain details. "Imagine, for example, you travel back to the past. Rayshifting, as you put it. You arrive," he flashed a glance at Mash, who nodded, "and after arriving, you go about doing what you can to change it. You warn people, the key players that can significantly alter the outcome, even solve some problems along the way. Kinda like what Chaldea is supposed to do."

Mash nodded again. "That's right."

Gohan hesitated, licking his lips for this next part. "Then, you come back to the present, and, naturally, you expect there to be a change or two, big or small. You might even be expecting things to be better, or maybe just okay. But then, once you do, you get a good look at your present, and you find out that…"

Mash, listening intently, asked, "Nothing…changed?"

Gohan shook his head. "Nothing. Nothing changed at all. None of the things you did had any effect on the present whatsoever."

Rather than be shocked by this, Mash lowered her head in thought, bringing a finger up to her chin. "So, you ended up in an alternate timeline?"

"That's right."

"But, isn't that the point? Correcting the anomaly to change the present?" Mash pointed out, to which Gohan hummed in puzzlement. "Shouldn't that alternate timeline not have existed in the first place?"

"Well," Gohan shrugged, though he was inwardly unnerved by the implication, "it was just a theory. He mentioned that it might not be possible to go back to your present per se, but it could also be a design flaw in the system you're using." That had been the hypothesis Trunks had offered as to why he had ended up in a past that was an alternative to his own. Maybe there had been a flaw in the way the time machine traversed the timestream.

"A flaw," Mash mused. "Are you expressing concern that there might be a flaw in our Rayshifting technology?"

"I think it's a reasonable concern," Gohan said in a terse, but conciliatory tone. "I mean, the system was tested, right?" He quickly remembered Schweinorg's warnings that a bomb had been planted somewhere in the area where the Rayshifting was to take place. If he could get someone, maybe even a technician, to check the area, he could try to avert the imminent deaths of all the Masters.

Mash nodded. "Indeed. Numerous tests were conducted to ensure that it is completely safe."

"Is it regularly checked before and after every test?"

"Of course," Mash nodded. "You needn't worry, Sūn-kun."

"M-Me? Worried?" Gohan feigned with a crooked grin, though a part of him was genuinely wary of the time leading up to the fateful moment.

Mash smiled, chuckling a bit at the young boy's anxiety. "Maybe we can continue some other time. We'd better hurry."

"Right," Gohan nodded, but as he was about to take a step, he froze, every hair on his body standing on end as his senses picked up another presence. His body stiffened, but he kept his composure and focused on the newcomer as they were approaching from the adjacent corridor. Soon the figure came into view. It was a man who looked to be in his late 30s or early 40s, wearing a green coat and black pants that ended in black knee-high boots. On his head was a matching green top hat. The man was tall and thin, but well built, with long brown hair that was curled voluminously.

Gohan glared at the man, but schooled his features once the latter's gaze landed on him. "Oh? Ah, hello there."

Mash, recognizing the man, bowed her head in respect. "Good morning, Professor," she greeted.

"And good morning to you, Ms. Kyrielight," the man replied before turning his attention to the boy standing next to the young girl. Gohan was on guard when the man gave him an inscrutable look, which was then replaced by a pleasant expression and a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Greetings, young man."

Gohan nodded. "Hello, sir." The man lifted a finger.

"Not 'sir', Mr. Sūn Wùfàn," he corrected. "I am Lev Lainur, but you may refer to me as Professor Lev." A friendly chuckle escaped him. "Everyone who knows me does so. I work as one of the engineers."

"Uh, alright, Professor," Gohan agreed. "But, how do you know my name?"

Instead of answering immediately, the man raised his arm to his chest, pulling up his sleeve to reveal a wristband that gave off a glow. A holographic panel appeared, which seemed to be a digitized ID card with Gohan's information and photo on it – one he distinctly remembered never having taken or filled out. Yet another assurance from the wizard that his infiltration would go unquestioned. He subtly studied Professor Lev, noting his body language and found nothing amiss.

Still, he couldn't shake the ominous feeling he got from the man. It…almost reminded him of Frieza's aura.

Almost.

"It's all right here," Lev provided, gesturing at the holographic ID. "Sūn Wùfàn. No. 48. It says here you were born in Beijing, attended the Clock Tower at only 8, and graduated when you were 10. You studied under the Departments of Archeology and Modern Magecraft Theory. Quite the glowing resume, Mr. Sūn."

Gohan let out a terribly awkward chuckle as he broke into a cold sweat, knowing full well that none of his so-called qualifications were the slightest bit true.

"It's hard to believe you're even among the common recruits," Lev continued, and Mash saw the young man in a new light. "If anything, you're more than qualified to be part of A-Team."

"Uh...uh...uh...uh, w-what can I say?" the half-Saiyan stammered profusely, sweating bullets. "I...I was never that boastful. I mean, I wouldn't call myself a genius. J-Just good 'ol hard work! Ahahaha..." What the heck, Mr. Schweinorg?!

Lev dismissed the panel and crossed his arms behind him. "Indeed, quite admirable, Mr. Sūn. Oh, that reminds me. The briefing is about to start. If you hurry, you can still make it."

"Yes, Professor," Mash nodded, then turned to Gohan. "Sūn-kun."

With that, the pair went on their way to the conference room. Lev lingered his gaze on the back of the boy's head, wondering how in the world Chaldea was able to acquire a replacement for that brat Fujimaru on such short notice.

His smile turned lukewarm. "And she told me she'd take care of it…"

Gohan, on his end, did not cease in keeping his senses locked onto the Professor even as they entered another hallway. "Did he say he was one of the engineers?"

After arriving at the conference room, Gohan saw that a number of people, all wearing the same uniform as him, were already there. He chose a seat for himself, while Mash stood to the side, and sat down on the one closest to her in the back. Waiting, he pulled out his phone to see if he had any reception or Wi-Fi. To his relief and amazement, he did, and wasted no time in seeing how different this world was from his own. He did not fail to take into account that nearly all of the features of his phone were also altered, presumably to fit with this world's software.

Geography, snippets of history, key locations, and even culture. It fascinated and amazed Gohan that so much of it was different and yet similar to his own world. For one, the dinosaurs had been extinct for millions of years. China and Japan were culturally the closest to what he knew, which explained how he was granted his fake identity. Even the characters of their written language were indistinguishable. Could it be that there was some form of divergence that sharply branched off their respective Earths?

Half an hour of browsing later, a tap on his shoulder jolted him out of his study. It was Mash, who silently pointed forward as a young woman came into view of the now seated crowd. Wordlessly thanking the girl, he pocketed his phone and sat up straighter, keeping his eyes and ears peeled. Out of the corner, he spotted Professor Lev entering the room shortly after the woman, placing himself next to Mash for the upcoming briefing. The half-Saiyan kept his body language relaxed, still sensing the ominous energy he picked up from the man earlier, though it seemed even more conspicuous now for some reason.

"Does he not know how to hide his energy?"

The boy knew that not everyone could do so. He had not been able to sense anything from Schweinorg previously, which had given him the impression that they simply had a different form of energy or Ki where he came from. But that was apparently not the case, as he managed to sense the people gathered here, with only Lev being the most egregious in the entire facility.

"Welcome to the Chaldea Security Organization!"

Gohan's shoulders jumped at the voice, and his eyes darted forward to see the young woman standing there with a commanding air, both hands on her hips. She was wearing a rather ostentatious black and yellow cloak over a white dress, with intricate patterns sewn into the yellow sections. A red cravat hung from her neck, attached to a jeweled button. She was fair-skinned, with long, flowing white hair braided at the side. Piercing yellow eyes stared back at all of them, with the kind of intensity that comes naturally to one with authority.

Yet, Gohan could sense that she was a little…nervous?

"My name is Olga Marie Animusphere," the girl introduced herself. "And I am the director of this organization. Let me get right to the point and say that all of you here have been carefully screened for potential that is rare even among your fellow Magi. The potential to not only perform a Spiritron Drive for Rayshifting, but also the Magic Circuits necessary to become a Master, thus allowing you to acquire a Servant for the battles ahead. However," Olga's stern gaze intensified, "do not presume that having been granted this privilege means you are in any way special. You are not to be anything more than tools, necessary sacrifices for the preservation of humanity. You are not here for glory, you are not here to attain honor for your families, and most of all, you are not here for any of the usual shenanigans you might have been up to back at the Clock Tower."

"The hell?" One of the candidates could be heard saying in outrage.

"Is she serious?" Another asked the one seated next to them.

"Tools, she says?" one said with such incredulity as to find the girl's words absurd.

Whispers and murmurs began to resonate among the gathered, all save Gohan, who could only sit back quietly and observe.

"I guess all the rumors about her were true. She's nothing like Lord Animusphere."

"Silence!" Olga spat at them, unamused by their bellyaching. "As I was saying-"

GROOOOWL!

"...Eh?"

"Huh?"

Heads turned in confusion at the noise that cut into the briefing. Some stood up in high alert, thinking perhaps an animal had intruded into the facility, as unlikely such a thing was.

Gohan lowered his head, his face becoming red as a tomato, hunching down to clutch at his belly as if his organs were about to spill out. Lev, who was closest to Mash, couldn't suppress a chuckle, genuinely enjoying something so unexpected – a growling stomach.

However, not everyone thought as he did. "Who dares...?" Olga Marie snapped, a vein throbbing at her temple. Those closest to Gohan all pointed to him, and he didn't think his head could sink any lower between his shoulders as the woman marched towards him. "Who is this?!" The boy flinched at the demanding tone, but he didn't answer, too embarrassed and remorseful to say anything as the girl was now glaring down at him.

Seeing that he wouldn't cooperate, which was another strike against her, the Director lifted her wrist to reveal the same bracelet Lev held. "No. 48," Olga revealed as she read the holographic ID out loud. "Commoner's Block...?" Snickers and giggles began to fly around, as the other Magi wondered if they had just found their resident problem child.

Gohan could only return her smoldering glare with a placating smile, half hoping that it would be enough. Alas...

"Out," Olga ordered in a hoarse voice, pointing to the wide automatic doors. "You are hereby confined to your room until further notice."

Rather than argue, Gohan politely complied as he rose from his chair and headed for the door, with Mash volunteering to accompany him. "Make sure he doesn't sneak out," Olga ordered. She gave the girl a meaningful look, and the intern nodded in understanding.

In the midst of escorting him to his room, Mash snorted, before a hearty chortle escaped from her. "Sorry about that," Gohan apologized, hanging his head and shoulders in shame.

"No, no," Mash said through her mirth, "it's okay, Sūn-kun. It..." She snorted again and turned her head away, now clutching her own stomach, but instead of trying to hide her ravenous hunger, it was because of the full laughter that followed.

"I'm really sorry," Gohan continued, rubbing the back of his head. "I... have a very high metabolism."

Mash regained her composure, but still seemed to stifle a snort. "Oh, could it be because of your magic circuits? Your output?"

Gohan's expression slowly changed to a stony smile. "Yes," he said, trying to sound convincing, but only ended up speaking in an almost robotic tone. "It's because of that. And nothing else."

Mash blinked and managed to catch the young man's... rather strange way of expressing himself. "It's nothing to be ashamed of, Sūn-kun. I'm sure many other magi have similar problems."

"I know, but that was still mortifying no matter how you slice it," Gohan said, crestfallen. "And I ended up ruining Ms. Animusphere's orientation."

Mash smiled. "Do you not resent the Director?"

Gohan looked at the older girl in confusion. "No. Why? She had every right to be upset."

Mash was silent for a moment and seemed about to answer, but shook her head at the last second. They walked the rest of the way in silence until they reached a door with the number "48" etched onto it. "Here you are," Mash told him. "Room 48."

"Thank you, Ms. Kyrielight," Gohan said gratefully. But before he could enter, he asked, "By the way, when is the mission?"

"Tomorrow," Mash revealed.

"Great," Gohan exclaimed, determined not to mess up. "I promise I won't be late."

"Late?" Mash repeated, some concern seeping into her tone. "Sorry, Sūn-kun, but I'm afraid you won't be permitted to participate."

Hearing this, Gohan was about to step inside after the door slid open when he snapped his head toward her in shock. "What?!"

"When the Director said to lock you in your room," Mash explained, "she meant it. You're not allowed out until she says so. In other words, you are... suspended."

Gohan looked as if someone had just told him that Icarus had died in a freak crop-dusting accident. "B-B-But, but I, I can't..."

"Hm?" Mash stared at Gohan in curious confusion before catching himself.

"I... and I was so looking forward to it, too," Gohan lamented after composing himself. "This is bad. This is very bad. I can't be holed up in my room." If he couldn't make it in time, then…

"Well, I'll be seeing you, Sūn-kun," Mash said, bidding her farewell. Gohan could do nothing but wave in turn, his mind spinning with what he could possibly do in this predicament.

As he entered his room, he heard a sharp beep that startled him as soon as the door closed. Turning around, he saw a light on the side of the door where the knob usually was, glowing red, indicating that it was locked. "So I really am suspended," he sighed, exhausted from the day's events, and decided to take a breather to collect his thoughts. He first took stock of the room. It was simple, sterile, and had only basic amenities: a bed, desk, and chair. He spotted a door at the far end of the room and figured it could only be the bathroom.

As he took a step toward the bed, he was stopped by a mirror hanging on the opposite wall, his reflection visible in its periphery. He shuffled closer, examining his appearance in case there had been any other changes, at least cosmetically. To his relief, he found that there were none, not even a hair out of place. He smiled to check his teeth, then turned his head back and forth; it could have been worse. He could have had square-shaped eyes or even fangs.

After pulling himself together, he walked over to the bed and took off his shoes to sit cross-legged on it. Just as he was about to bend down, he remembered the luggage he had brought with him. To his relief, everything was accounted for, including the case filled with his capsules and even the bag of Senzu.

Now sitting comfortably on the bed, he examined each of his meager possessions. He opened the case filled with capsules and counted eleven of them. He carefully pulled out each numbered capsule and laid them out in order, then took the time to read what was contained in each one. The last thing he wanted was to pick wrong at a critical moment. "Let's see." He plucked up a capsule and read the instructions that came with the case. "A house. It should have running water, but I'd need to refill it with a source. Rain or sea water will do. The built-in purifier should do the rest. It should also have a fully stocked fridge and extra clothes for me."

He put the capsule down and picked up another. "Another house? Looks like Bulma's not taking any chances." Maybe if he was traveling in a group, it would see some use. Another capsule contained rations, and knowing a Saiyan's appetite, it had to be in the truckloads. He picked up the fourth capsule and saw that it was just the latest model of rice cooker. "Pfft. Maybe I could use the Mafuba with it, if I even knew how. Maybe on that Professor Lev. He said he was one of the engineers, which makes him a prime suspect. Still, I shouldn't jump to conclusions..." It was still better to be on guard, especially around someone who exuded such a sinister aura. He had never felt such energy, except from someone like Frieza...or Garlic Jr. "That's it. That's what his aura reminded me of."

If this Lev character really was bad news, then maybe he could nip this in the bud a lot faster.

If only the universe wouldn't jinx him for thinking that.

The fifth capsule was already in his hand as he read what it contained. "A motorcycle? Guess I'm old enough to ride it. It's…kinda like a bicycle, right? Right. All that's missing is a license." The sixth capsule was an Aircar. "Okay, license or no, maybe I should have someone older and who actually knows how to drive a car for this one." The seventh capsule was a Naval Ship.

Gohan had to read it again, pushing some Ki into his eyes to see if he was understanding the characters correctly. What he held in his hand at that moment was a fully functional naval vessel, probably armed to the teeth. Never mind how the woman managed to acquire one legally, the fact that Bulma had one at all made the young man wonder just how much pull Capsule Corp truly had in their world. "Well, it's gotta be useful for something."

The eighth capsule contained a much smaller, but no less practical powerboat. "Now this is more like it. The naval ship might as well be situational, but this thing is definitely more suited for common use."

The ninth capsule was – "No way! Saiyan Armor?!" If it was in any way similar to what he wore during the training session with his father, then it was definitely more maneuverable than the Chaldean Mystic Code. "Seriously, Bulma's thought of everything!" the half-Saiyan said out loud. Just two more to go.

The tenth capsule was an entire clinic, fully stocked with medicine and the latest medical equipment. As if he couldn't ask for more. "This is insane! No, not insane, incredible!"

The eleventh and final capsule was…"Huh?"

Gohan read the instructions that came with the capsules, detailing each one. The sole exception was the eleventh, which only had the simple line, "Use in case of emergency." It was also a Jumbo-type, much bigger than the standard small capsule.

"This must be the surprise Bulma meant." He scratched his chin, wondering what it could be. If it was anything that trumped all the others and could only be used in an emergency, then it's only logical for him to check. He picked it up and turned it in his palm until the number was facing him, staring at it in deep thought. His thumb softly tapped the button, torn between wanting to activate it and just leaving it alone for the intended emergency.

After several minutes, he decided against the action, putting it down with the rest. "If it really is for an emergency, then I can't just squander it." He would need to be smart in how to use the capsules. Losing them would place him at a disadvantage in this alternate Earth, and honestly, it'd just be a waste of Bulma's efforts.

He inserted the capsules back into the casing and placed them on the nightstand next to his bed. With that done, he brought up the bag of Senzu and undid the knot. Upon opening it, he was glad to see it full of freshly grown beans, close to bursting, all of which would be invaluable going forward. He was about to tie it back shut when another hunger pang gave him pause. He glanced at the door, wondering if he could be allowed to grab a bite to eat. That was when his gaze landed on the still open bag of Senzu.

With a shrug, he figured one should be enough to keep him good until the following day, upon which he would have to either break through the door if his suspension wasn't lifted, or hope to Kami that someone like Mash would come along with breakfast. It's not like they were just going to let one of their own starve, right?

Popping a Senzu into his mouth, he chewed as he pulled at the knot and tossed it next to the capsule case. Now all he needed to do was take a bath, change into his pajamas, and perform his nightly ritual, which consisted of an hour of pushups, situps, and drinking a glass of warm milk.

His expression fell. Oh, right. He couldn't exactly bring out an entire house into a room this small. With a sigh, he decided to make do with his uniform, only he would have to forgo the bath.

A few hours later, after pacing around the room and doing his pushups and situps—sadly without the warm milk—he switched off the light and plopped down on the bed. He would need to be well rested for tomorrow, but he was fast asleep for no more than a few minutes.

Elsewhere…

A lone figure had their eyes glued to a screen showing the inside of Room 48, giving them a clear, if intrusive, view of the newcomer as he came into view via the hidden camera installed. The boy seemed to be suspended, if the red light by the door was any indication, but that was fine. They felt it would take more than that to keep the young man in custody.

They, or She, had her suspicions the moment she heard that the 48th slot was filled not long after Fujimaru Ritsuka declined the invitation for "personal reasons", which she didn't believe for a second. No way was anyone going to pull a fast one on her that easily. But that wasn't the first of bizarre discrepancies that had aroused her brilliant mind. Most definitely not. It was because of…

Well, she would need to put that on the backburner until she was in the clear. She had no confidence of being able to stop the inevitable, but perhaps this anomaly that had seemingly popped out of nowhere could, however unlikely. If there was anything she had learned about the intricacies of Quantum Theory and Mechanics, it was a fixed point. Those deaths had to happen.

But, all of that nonsense could wait. What currently caught her attention, besides this unexpected divergence, was the nifty toys he had brought with him.

"Ah, ragazzo mio, what secrets do you hold?"