Author's Note: Hello all,
So, first off, thank you for being patient with the chapter delay. I've been a little busy with stuff and things on my end.
Speaking of busy, I looked at my schedule for the coming months, and I don't really like the outlook. Again, nothing bad, but it's clear to me that the rest of the year is going to leave me without as much free time as I'd like.
So instead of updating you guys towards the end of every month with another chapter delay, I'm going to be taking a looser 'when it's done' approach for the next few chapters. I'm still going to be using the month as a timeframe for each chapter, but if I miss an upload deadline by a week, I am asking for your understanding.
Which is a bummer because this chapter holds a few surprises and some sign of what I've got in store for the future of this arc. I am still committed and excited about this project. Real life is the only thing standing in my way.
Thank you all for reading and for your support! Writing this series and reading reviews continue to be one of the best parts of my month.
Please, enjoy.
"Well now, I'm surprised to see you still here."
Vegeta scowled at the elder monk as he stepped back into the entrance of the time chamber.
"I'm thinking," the prince snapped from the bed he had been sitting on since the old human had wandered back into the white void days ago.
"You've certainly picked the best place for that," Krillin said, walking past the saiyan towards the sink. "Months could pass in here and you would have only lost half a day out there. Certainly, more than enough time for a think."
"Don't patronize me human."
"That wasn't my intention, but I apologize nonetheless," Krillin answered, splashing some water onto his wrinkled face. "I see you've helped yourself to some of the food as well."
A pile of scrapes littered a corner of the entrance. A hard scoff was the only recognition Vegeta gave the small mountain of empty plates and used utensils.
"Flavorless junk."
"Yes, I imagine the feast you had at the capsule corp tasted better," Krillin said drying off his face. "Food is much better with company."
"You say that as if you were there." Vegeta noticed his stare sharpening to a glare. "Yet from what I can gather, you've been here longer than that."
"You're right," the old man said, turning back toward the prince with a gentle smile. "I've been here a very long time."
Vegeta paused and looked at this older version of the human he had grown to despise, only to find that raw hatred had been dulled to a whisper. He had spent the last few days going over everything he had been told by so many. Instead of anger, the prince realized more than victory over the human he was suddenly fueled by another purpose. He wanted to understand.
"… how?"
"I split myself in half," Krillin said calmly. "You've seen both Tien and I create copies of ourselves during battle, haven't you? After Namek I split my myself into two, one half returned to the surface while I remained on the lookout. Remained here."
"For what purpose? We could have used your strength in the battle against Cooler."
"To create a new set of dragonballs, I need to cultivate my strength here so I can form all seven. It has been a… difficult process."
"You? You're going to make more dragonballs?"
"That has been the plan, yet I have only succeeded once," Krillin nodded. "Unfortunately for us, King Cold's arrival threatened the entire planet, so I decided to separate my being into two. One to lead the others to victory on Earth, while the other focused on forming a new dragon of Earth here."
"Then you've been able to perceive what your other half sees?"
"… normally yes," Krillin said with a frown. "After the division, I was able to clearly see through the eyes of my other half and he could view the time chamber through mine. But as time passed our vision has become clouded and my sense of him and his activities has grown weak. I can see moments such as your time at capsule corp and our brief battle, but I am not aware of what my other half is doing now. In fact, I fear… I fear we are not of the same mind anymore."
"Android 14 operating at 72% efficiency doctor," Gero's computer said, its metallic voice echoing through the caves.
A loud crunch as the screen Gero had been monitoring the fight rang out as a vicious kick obscured 14s perspective to the head.
"Android 14 now operating at 68% efficiency doctor."
Gero ignored the retort and began entering new commands for 14. His decrepit fingers danced along the keys, hoping to find a new angle to turn the fight. Instead, he found himself at a loss. The Son Goku he knew was a martial artist at heart and he spent years studying the man's movements. Analyzing them, memorizing them, grinding them down until they were numbers, numbers he could use to build a fighter better than Son Goku, stronger than Son Goku. Yet as his machine continued to lose ground, the doctor realized that he was no longer fighting the martial artist he had been studying; Whatever this 'super saiyan' was, it was a form he had no numbers on.
"Android 14 now operat-"
"I AM AWARE," Gero said through gritted teeth. "Are there any other androids close to activation?"
"That is not advisable doctor," the computer sounded off. "The human known as Krillin's presence shows that more allies will approach soon. Given 14's early activation its odds of success are decreasing at a steady rate."
"Then 14 may be lost," the withered man seethed, his eyes narrowing. "How does Son Goku's battle power compare to the projected levels of the other androids?"
"Analyzing, current battle power has Son Goku's power slightly lower than 13 and 15's. Yet projections dictate that his level of strength place him weaker in comparison to 16, 17, and 18. More development time is needed for specific numbers."
"Is that so? Yet they are still so far off from completion," Gero said, his mood turning for a moment. "What of 19 and, more importantly, 20? What of my operation?"
The computer grew silent as it calculated the question. Its lights flashed widely before it came to its answer.
"Projections state Android 19 odds of success stand at 20%. Android 20's stand at 12%."
"….12%?"
The old doctor felt his vision blur from the wave of anger that passed through him. His breathing sped up and he could feel his focus slip once again.
"Then… then I will be unable to kill Son Goku with my own hands? Despite all I have done? Everything I have sacrificed?"
His computer, had no answer.
He had been traveling with Nail and, according to the Ginyu force's space pod; they were about an hour away from landing on Earth. He had reached out with his senses towards the planet in anticipation of returning home. With his abilities honed after a year of training, he scanned the Earth, trying to get a sense of where they all were. He struggled with this more than he thought. Eventually, he found most of them in a cluster close to each other, yet their ki signatures were weak. As if they had spent most of their energy just recently.
Alarmed, Goku swept through Earth again, this time trying to see if he could find the cause of what was happening. Instead, he located a ki source that was instantly familiar and stronger than he had ever known it to be before, but it was getting weaker.
"Chichi?" He asked himself in the quiet of the space pod.
With no time to think and no way to gain more answers, Son Goku did what he does. He acted on pure instinct.
Locking on to his wife's energy source, he teleported away from the space pod still traveling to Earth and found himself in a cave. Face to face with the machine that destroyed his grandfather's home.
Now his heart was pounding loud enough that he could hear it, but there was no joy in it this time. His muscles tensed and relaxed as every punch connected, but there was no exhilaration in it. The anticipation before the android lashed out against him was devoid of elation. All he could feel was the anger boiling through his veins, letting lose to a wellspring of power deep within, but the excitement was gone.
That sensation he had felt through so many of the battles over the years had vanished completely. All he had was this primal, animalistic rage.
14 attacked again with a precision strike to Goku's temple, only for it to hit air instead. The super saiyan growled and ran an elbow into the machine's chest, gouging out a sizeable hole. The crack was deep enough that it brought both sparks and a few wires out of it.
The blow shoved 14 back and bumped up into a large rock halting an escape. Goku planted a foot down and kicked out, pounding the android deeper into solid rock. The kick propelled 14 halfway through the massive boulder, nearly crunching its back in half.
"Kill Son Goku."
An explosion of ki blasts immediately followed after the metallic threat, causing Goku to slap two away and backflip to avoid another. With some distance gained, Goku landed on his feet and charged headfirst into the hole created. His head collided with the android, forcing him out into the other end and reducing the boulder to a pile of rubble.
As the machine slowly got to its feet, Goku flew at it again, this time diving at it with a strong right kick. The attack was obvious enough for 14 to move its head out of the way it time but instead of landing Goku stopped himself in midair and lashed out again with his other foot. This kick found purchase against the android's jaw, nearly snapping it off the machine's face and throwing it onto the hard grass-laden ground.
"Kill So-Son Goku," the android repeated, its voice compromised with its lower jaw hanging off its face.
The saiyan stood over 14 with a glare that could cut his aura flowing from him in pulses and waves.
"…hit me."
The machine paused in its attempt to stand, giving Goku enough time to repeat himself.
"You want to make me hurt, don't you? I'm giving the chance." His mouth curled into a grin. "Hit me."
"Acknowledged."
The hulking mass of metal stomped forward, rattling the ground and nearby trees with its left fist raised. Twisting its giant body just before contact, as it was designed to do, had the punch connected with terrifying force. A deep thump rang out from the impact and was enough to push Goku back as his heels dug into the dirt. The blow pushed him back about five feet and did nothing more.
"Is that all?"
The blank face of the android answered the question, yet it did not stop 14 from attacking again, this time with his right. Snatching the fist out of the air with his right hand, Goku leaned into a punch with his left. Directly into the machine's elbow.
A deep crunch rang out as the limb bent sharply in the wrong direction, coating Goku's fist with flickers of electricity. Still holding onto 14's fist, Goku spun around and twisted the machine into a shoulder throw. Landing onto its back loosened the arm enough that Goku was able to pull it out of if well-built socket with relative ease.
Attacking again, Goku drove his heel down, hoping to crush the android's head in one move. Only for the machine to roll away and fire off a ki blast near point-blank range. With a ferocity that even surprised Gero, Goku whipped another kick at the blast and sent it hurling into the sky. Without SPHERE to stop it the blast went beyond Earth's atmosphere before it fizzled out.
"….D-damge sustained: Moderate. Kkkill Son Goku."
"How do you expect to kill me when you can't even hurt me?" Goku said casually, tossing 14's arm to his side.
14 charged without an answer and remained undeterred in its single-minded goal to destroy the saiyan in front of him. Which opened him up in time for Krillin to strike.
Hurling the great tree he had cut down like a spear, the giant piece of lumber broke 14's stride and pushed him deeper into the forest.
"Krillin I told you to stay away!" Goku said firmly, his aura snapping wildly, his frustration clear.
"Chichi asked me to watch over you," Krillin answered quickly as he joined his friend's side. "I'm not leaving until this is over."
"Krillin, it's too much for you."
"No, it's not, not with us together. I can help Goku."
"I don't want your help," Goku snapped, a bead of sweat rolling down the side of his face. "Now stay here. I'm going to make him pay."
"Make him pay?" Krillin repeated. "No Goku, you should finish this now if you can. Don't drag this out any longer than it needs to be."
"That's not up to you," Goku said, his green eyes flashing as his voice shook. "This is my fight."
"Go-"
The conversation ended as the super saiyan blasted off to continue his hunt.
Dammit Goku! Krillin thought, immediately tracking his friend's ki signature again. The transformation must have wrapped his personality, just like it did when Gohan first changed.
Krillin's aura flared as he prepared to give chase, but was stopped as a gentle tone reached into his mind and spoke directly.
"Hold Krillin."
The monk's surprise at the voice dissipated his aura immediately.
"Kami, is that you?"
"Yes, I've been able to oversee the situation from the lookout and our bond as master and student. It appears Son Goku has transformed into a super saiyan like his son."
"Yes, and all the problems with it as well. He's determined to fight on his own and won't accept any help. This is like Namek all over again."
"No, it is not," Kami said, his tone firm. "Goku has more control over his strength than his son and despite his rage, he will not put the planet in direct danger. I can sense that Yamcha and this mysterious young man are approaching and will arrive shortly to assist, but I know you and your intentions. Son Goku is correct, this is not your fight."
"What? What do you mean?"
"If you were to fall here, then we will have lost our only way to summon the dragonballs. Son Goku can handle this fight, you must focus on surviving and taking your place as guardian."
"I'm not just going to stand back on the sidelines while he fights Kami."
"That is what the guardian of Earth does, Krillin. We watch and we hope the world cannot afford to lose you now. Hold back. You don't have Chiaotzu to save you this time."
"… Chichi asked me to watch over him, and that's what I'm going to do," Krillin said, his aura reigniting as he took to the sky. "I'm not the guardian yet."
"Krillin!"
Kami shouted, his voice doing little to persuade the determined human.
"Krillin!"
Without an answer, Kami cursed over the edge of the lookout his gaze fixed on his student's location.
"Kami," Mr. Popo said joining the guardian's side. "Is this power really Son Goku's?"
"It is," the namekian nodded. "He fights against an enemy we cannot sense, and despite the danger, Krillin has turned away from my counsel. He aims to fight in battle greater than he can handle."
"I thought we were safe once Cooler and his army had fallen," Mr. Popo said solemnly.
"As did I, old friend, and unfortunately that is where we erred."
"Can you contact Krillin in any way? I mean, the one in the time chamber?"
"That would be difficult," Kami said, shaking his head "The chamber is far too vast for me and there is no telling how deep he has traveled. I do not believe I could find him in time."
"Isn't he aware of what is happening to himself?" Mr. Popo asked growing desperate.
"He should be," Kami said with a scowl. "If he was, surely, he would join us here or stop entirely. That he has not, worries me greatly."
"Then… is there nothing we can do?"
"Very little, but as I told Krillin Son Goku will be able to-"
Kami suddenly stopped as his eyes grew wide, first with surprise, then with fear.
"Kami? What is it?"
"… it's Son Goku," Kami said slowly. "His ki energy, it's dropping."
"Doctor," the computer's voice said, cutting through the dim lights of Gero's lab. "14's odds of success have risen."
"What?"
Gero's attention returned to the screen, holding 14's perspective. It was easy to see that this battle had been completely one-sided since Goku's transformation. Yet as the minutes ticked on Gero realized what his computer had already analyzed. Son Goku was slowing down.
With one arm gone 14 continued to lose ground against the super saiyan. Yet Gero could clearly see Goku gasp for air. His strikes lost their most of ferocity, and for just a moment, Son Goku grasped at his heart.
"Something's wrong," Gero said as a twisted grin grew. "Something is wrong with him."
"14's odds of success have increased to 57%."
"That much? Then perhaps… we could end this now…"
With renewed interest, the old doctor pushed his machine harder, causing Goku's sudden weakness to accelerate.
Several lines of sweat rolled down his head as Goku struggled through his new sudden pain. His chest had seemed to clench around his heart out of nowhere and he could feel his newfound energy fading fast.
What… what is happening?
Barely blocking a punch and avoiding a ki blast that seared off more of his alien outfit. Goku backed away and struggled not to take a knee.
Why does my chest hurt so much?
His heartbeat felt irregular, and it was causing his vision to blur and darken. To the point where he could not defend against the powerful kick that collided with the side of his head. His skull throbbed and his shoulder ached as he landed on it but still the pain radiating from his chest overrode them both. With his right hand now firmly planted over his heart, Goku only had the strength to keep one eye open as 14 charged at him again.
Dammit! Goku thought to himself as the bombardment grew closer.
His golden aura sparking to life, the super saiyan flew into the sky, his breathing weakening as he did. Another throb from his chest as he spent more power left him blind to 14's approach. Coming down on him like a hammer, the machine plunged a punch directly into Goku's chest.
Heaving blood and losing control of his power, Goku fell out of the sky and crashed into the green ground below. He barely felt his harsh landing as the tightness in his chest intensified and his hair's golden glow dimmed back to black.
"Kkkkiill Sonnnnn Gku."
Tripping over its own words, the android dived at Goku, looking to punch a hole through the saiyan's ribs. So focused on its primary mission, 14 missed Krillin slamming his entire body into its side.
"Don't touch him!"
Smashing into the dense machine did not harm it in any way but it did shift it out of its flight path and sent it spiraling. Krillin adopted a hard stance as he squared off with the android.
"Eeeeeeerase."
Moving faster than Krillin could react, 14 lunged and grabbed Krillin by the head with a hand bigger than his torso. Ripping him out of the sky, 14 flew towards the ground with the back of the monk's skull leading the way. Krillin's head cracked wide upon impact onto the forest floor unable to put up any kind of defense as 14 reeled back and slammed the small human onto the ground again and again.
"EEEerasss."
"Reraaaase."
"Raseraserase."
Every broken repeat of the word was accompanied with another smash as the machine began crushing the monk's skull into something unrecognizable. Eventually the task was complete as Krillin's head had been reduced to splintering open and coated in red. Turning towards the primary mission objective, the android scanned and saw that while Goku had not moved and continued to writhe in pain he was now protected by a simmering ki barrier and another Krillin.
"Goku what's wrong?" Krillin asked, not taking his eyes of 14 as a small trail of blood leaked out of his mouth. "What's happening?"
"It's…it's my chest," Goku wheezed. "I can't…breathe."
"A heart attack?" Krillin asked before he heard and felt his barrier buckle under the weight of a straight punch.
"KKkkkkkl SSSson Gu."
14's speech patterns continued to fail, and it wailed on Krillin's ki sphere with the only arm it had. The first punch shook the entire small barrier, nearly forcing Krillin onto his knees. The second brought out a deep crack in the ki shell. Every strike bringing out another broken phrase from the barely functioning machine.
"kil SoG Noku."
"KiiiiiS On Guko."
The cracks in Krillin's barrier continued to spread faster than Krillin could patch them, the constant bombardment bringing his arms and energy low.
"Ki-"
With a final blow, the barrier shattered, leaving the small monk exposed. The back of 14's fist swung out, catching Krillin by the side of his face, sending him spinning to the ground.
"Kl SGn Oku."
Bouncing off his shoulder and powered by adrenaline, Krillin rushed at the android's side. He collided, but 14 remained still, turning instead to ram his only elbow into the small human's back. Krillin landed hard and scrambled to grab the silver machine's ankle, shifting his ki into electricity. A hard line of static ran up 14's leg, yet was ineffective. Shrugging him off with a kick, 14 turned back towards Goku, only for a sharp punch laced with electricity to slam into the back of his head.
"Gil Kgn Soku."
Whipping around 14 carved an opening into the monk's ribs, crushing one and cracking another. Heaving a wide of salvia and blood, Krillin pushed through the pain and tossed out a disc of ki. The android leaned away from the attack and sent out a blast of his own. Unable to dodge in time, Krillin stabilized himself, fired a burst of energy towards the bottom, and curved it upward. It shifted the beam just a few inches, but it was just enough to avoid the brunt of the blast. Ducking under it Krillin charged again static and sparks melting off of him as he rushed at 14.
… this might cost me an arm.
Swinging wide at the machine's face, Krillin's hand was snatched out of the air. Immediately, he felt the bones in his hand bend into each other as they were crushed with a single motion from the android. Swallowing the pain and focusing on what he set out to do the monk jammed his foot into 14's open socket and discharged every bit of voltage he could store in his limb.
"K..k.k. ..k."
The influx of electricity seemed to have some effect, giving Krillin the time he needed to return to Goku's side. Breathing heavily despite his shattered ribs and crushed hand the monk moved to help his friend to his feet. The machine recovered faster than he thought.
His barrier was gone, and his mind was clouded with concern and exhaustion as the kick robbed him of everything else. He felt his body fold into itself as the carefully constructed steel leg connected with his rib cage.
He felt his body leave the ground as the force of the kick knocked him completely off his feet. The air in his lungs left him as he landed and his brain flashed white as it tried to process the amount of pain his body was in. Slowly he opened his eyes, struggling to stay conscious.
He saw 14 step towards Goku with a fist raised high above its head.
"Kill."
He was back on his feet before his first thought. His ki enhanced his speed so he moved faster than this half of him had ever before. Yet he knew he wouldn't be able to save his friend in time.
Chiaotzu ran through his mind, and an absolute feeling of helplessness followed. He had been powerless to stop the death of his friend, and it was happening again.
He reached out with his one good hand, realizing that again, despite all that he had done, all he tried to do, it wasn't enough.
Please… not again.
His heart ached at the horror he knew was about to come.
Don't make me see this again.
His plea echoed through his mind, audible only to him, and one more.
So focused on stopping the machine from taking another member of his found family, Krillin had grown deaf to the sounds within him. Emanating beneath the waves of his mind, deep into the depths of himself, a sound rang out and something stirred.
Thump
Krillin did not notice the surge of power and continued to plea, continued to beg.
I want the power to stop this. The power to keep them all safe. To keep my promises… I want the power to-
The beat within drowned him out. The sound from Namek's last gift exploded out from the black void it dwelled in. Its cry held more force than he had ever experienced in his year of trying to connect with it, and now, its sound morphed into a single word.
…protect
Without warning, a rumble shook the entire lookout. The shake was powerful enough to knock both Kami and Mr. Popo from their feet.
"Kami! What is this?" Mr. Popo cried.
"I… do not know!"
The shaking continued as Kami found his feet and, after helping Mr. Popo up, rushed back over to where the rumble seemed to be focused. As they ran, it felt as if the ground beneath their feet started to give way as something was digging through the walls of the lookout itself. One last quake rattled the space before stopping completely. Looking over the edge, the namekian could clearly see the hole jetting out from the lookout's side.
"Kami what happened? Did something fly into the lookout?" Mr. Popo said, joining the guardian.
"… no," Kami said, studying the scene and slowly realizing what chamber the commotion was coming from. "Something flew out."
He did not know why Son Goku had collapsed and lost the power of the super saiyan, but he did not care. So many plans, so many androids, so many years spent on this one task, none of that mattered now that this opportunity was in front of him. At last, he would have the justice he so rightfully deserved.
Gero watched Son Goku struggle in the dirt and 14 raise its fist up high. He had entered in command to puncture the saiyan's chest just as he had his father-in-law. With Krillin helpless to close the distance and stop him, Gero enjoyed the moment to its fullest, this was perfect.
Thump
With speed that can cross the planet in seconds, it came from nowhere and stopped 14's swing cold. Hovering just above Goku's body, it floated there completely still, unnaturally still. The first of seven formed by Krillin it had traveled from the lookout and arrived here to stop history from repeating itself. Its orange color seemed to hold a light glow and its single red star seemed to shimmer in stronger light then even when it was first formed. It was an orb, The first of seven.
"A…dragonball?" Goku coughed out, unsure what to make of this. Until he heard Krillin's voice.
"uh..guh."
Looking over, Goku saw his friend stumble as his arm limply fell to his side. Splotches of gray ash marked his body as a steady stream of blood seemed to pour from both ears.
"Ah."
One more moan passed from his lips before the monk doubled over onto his side, unmoving.
"K…Krillin!" Goku screamed, not noticing that the dragonball that had saved his life fell to the ground just as its creator had.
Confusion encompassed Gero as his eyes stayed glued to the monitor, trying to understand what had just occurred. By the time his focus regained its point, his opportunity was gone.
"WOLF."
Yamcha had doubled his speed when he felt Goku's ki start to fall and he was already burning bright as he tore into the battered android. His hands alight with ki shredded open 14's side, uncovering another layer of the machine's inner workings. Yet despite the damage, 14's systems still functioned and its information on Yamcha informed its movements.
"FANG."
His second attack lunged at the side of 14's head as the fire from his kaio-ken singed the tips of nearby trees as his energy billowed out from him. This time the move was read, avoided, and answered with an uppercut that caught the former bandit in the chin. This left the machine exposed.
A blinding light of gold obscured 14's vision. The sound of a sword being drawn captured its attention, and the overwhelming power of another super saiyan overloaded its sensors. Easily finding the opening, Yamcha carved Trunks, found his spot and swung with both hands.
The stroke cleaved the android in half with enough precision that neither the machine nor its creator registered that the fight was already over. 14 turned towards Trunks who let his hair fall and fade from the bright gold to his normal purple staying crouched with his sword proudly displayed. The android rushed at the young man's back with its only remaining arm. Only for the cleave to take effect and 14 to split apart at the torso.
The two halves fell to the ground, scattering the insides of the machine and embedding them into trees and dirt. Trunks sheathed his sword as the android seemed to die and rushed over to Yamcha who was still shaking off 14's last hit.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, good job endi-" Yamcha started and stopped before he saw his friends on the ground. "Krillin! Goku!"
Rushing over to the small human first Yamcha flipped Krillin onto his back and discovered the full extent of the monk's injuries.
"Krillin what-"
Again Yamcha's voice failed him as an orange gleam out of the corner of his eye caught his attention.
"A dragonball? H…how?"
"I… it was Krillin."
Goku's gasps turned Yamcha back towards him.
"He… did something… and it saved me," The saiyan wanted to continue but another wave of pain cut him off as he clutched his heart again.
"Goku, what's wrong?!" Yamcha cried, picking up Krillin and walking over. "What's happening to you?"
"It's his heart," Trunks said, approaching them with a hand already in his jacket pocket. "It's a heart disease that is more effective against stronger individuals. His transformation into a super saiyan sped up this process… but it's way too soon for this to have happened."
The young man pulled out a small bottle and knelt down beside Goku. He unscrewed the top and lifted Goku's head toward the bottle. A firm hand on his wrist stopped him.
"What are you doing? What is that?" Yamcha asked, completely overwhelmed with what was happening,
"This is medicine for Goku," Trunks said quickly. "In my time, this heart disease killed him because there was no cure at the time."
"Killed? You mean in the future, Goku… dies?"
"Yes, but I have the cure here. It was made after he passed."
Yamcha said nothing and his grip on the young man's arm remained.
"Please, you have to trust me, this is why I'm here."
Reluctantly, the former bandit released his hold and Trunks moved to dump the contents of his bottle into Goku's open mouth. Tilting Goku's head back both watched the saiyan swallow the liquid down with a slight struggle. Almost immediately, relief came to Goku's face and his panting subsided to gentle breathing.
"Good," Trunks said, whipping his brow. "Looks like the medicine worked."
"Is he going to be alright?"
"Yes, from what I know, the medicine takes a lot out of the patient. He may be out for a bit."
"… okay," Yamcha said, his eyes moving back to Krillin, whose breathing had slowed even further. "Do you have anything that can help a human?"
"No, I don't."
"Then I'm calling this in," Yamcha said, placing a finger into his communicator. "Bulma, can you hear me?"
"Yeah I can. What's going on?"
"Fight's over and Goku seems safe, but Krillin's down. He's breathing, but barely. Do you have any beans left back with you?"
"Dammit Krillin," Bulma cursed. "No, I don't have any left, and Chichi's still out there as well. We need to…hey what are you-"
The sounds of a light struggle were heard before a fresh voice echoed in Yamcha's head.
"This is Piccolo. What's wrong with Krillin?"
"Piccolo? You're up?" Yamcha asked quickly.
"Yes, and so are the rest of us, but that doesn't matter. What's wrong with Krillin?"
"I'm still trying to figure that out," Yamcha said, looking over to the dragonball. "I don't have all the facts, but he got wrapped up in a fight that's left him barely alive and we don't have any senzu left."
"… take him to Kami, he'll be able to heal him," Piccolo said, his tone cold. "Bulma will catch us up and we'll take care of the rest, but you need to move now. We'll meet you there."
"We'll?" Yamaha asked in shock. "You're coming to the lookout?"
"Did I stutter human?" Piccolo snapped. "MOVE NOW!"
A loud click ended the call, leaving Yamcha with a destination.
"I'm taking him to the lookout," Yamcha said, cradling Krillin with one hand and picking up the dragonball with the other. "Do you know where that is?"
"The lookout?" Trunks said. "No, I don't."
"That's fine, you can sense energy, right? Just follow my lead when you can, but I need you to watch over Goku and find Chichi, alright?"
"Chichi, Goku's wife? Yeah, I… I know her."
"Good, I'm trusting you on this, alright kid?"
Trunks nodded and watched Yamcha fly into the sky, leaving him alone in the forest with the saiyan he had come here to save, and the still functioning visual and audio remains of Android 14. Recording everything.
"14 has failed doctor," Gero's computer said slowly.
"Yes, the battle has been lost decidedly," Geri said, standing up from his chair. "Son Goku lives and is stronger than we could have imagined. That human appears to have some technique pertaining to the dragonball and this young man from the future is a source of information we know little about. The battle is lost, yet the war can now begin."
Gero left the computer and started walking through the halls of his cave, the voice of his computer following him as he went.
"Computer, we will be scraping the plans for Android 20."
"Are you certain doctor?"
"Yes, the surgery needed for my transformation would take too much time. Son Goku is stronger now than I would be in the projected three years it would take for me to stabilize. No, my time will be better spent focusing on the other androids and perfecting them."
"With your assistance, projections show we will complete the androids at a much faster rate."
"Excellent, we shall focus on those closest to completion and send them in waves. The more we can send to occupy Son Goku's allies, the better. We shall divide and conquer them one by one."
"Understood doctor."
"Ensure that a beetle follows the young man from the future closely. We may not locate this lookout now, but tracking his movements now will open a path to guide us later. Eventually, their haven will become their tomb."
"Understood doctor."
"With my time now free, we can resume a few projects that have been abandoned. Android N perhaps, there is potential there."
"Understood doctor."
"… one more thing, begin research into including chemical warfare in some of the androids. This heart disease intrigues me."
"Almost there buddy, just hang on."
If Krillin could hear Yamcha as he flew toward the lookout now in sight, he gave no sign. Touching down on the lookout's surface, the wolf was grateful to see Kami and Mr. Popo already running toward him.
"Kami!" Yamcha said, laying the monk flat on the ground and the dragonball at his side. "Can you help him?"
"I can," the guardian answered while handing Mr. Popo his staff.
Kneeling down, he held out his arms just above Krillin's body and doused it with healing energy.
"You continue to play the fool Krillin," Kami said, his tone heavy. "One day it will get you killed."
"Is he going to be alright?"
"He will live," Kami said, his eyes shifting to the dragonball laying next to his student. "Yet now there are more pressing concerns on my mind."
"Goku said Krillin did something with the dragonball during the fight. I… I don't understand, though I thought Shenron was gone."
"He is," Kami nodded. "This dragonball is the first of seven, and it is Krillin who created it."
"Krillin did? How? Why?"
"It is an explanation sorely needed and deserved."
A new voice grabbed Yamcha's attention and looking away from his friend he saw Vegeta walking towards them, accompanied by a small older man. It took several seconds for Yamcha to realize just who he was looking at.
"… but you're… I don't-"
"It's understandable that you are confused. These sudden events have complicated matters in a way none of us were prepared for." The older version of Krillin said with a stern look. "Let us talk so you may understand what must come next."