"So, how has training been?" Bulma asked as we all sat in the dining room of the Capsule Corps' HQ, Mom and Gramps looking up as well as Trunks grinned and nodded while his tail swayed excitedly behind him.
We did that a few weeks ago after he realized just how much stronger I am in my base form that I was without my tail and so, with some blood, tears and a lot of cursing and slurs, we finally managed to pull it out.
He still gets weak whenever someone grabs it, but that training has been a slow and steady process just like how it was with me.
"It was awesome~! Gohan didn't really teach us all individually, but it felt so much more fun to train with others than it was to train on my own.
"You mean it was more fun to kick other people around after you kept losing to me. Also, it's only been four months so give the others time and you won't find training so much fun anymore." I added with an amused smile, Bulma giggling as he gave me a disgruntled look while I raised a hand to grab the last raptor leg to Yajirobie's displeasure.
"You already ate most of the belly and two legs. You don't need any more." I said and he just grumbled before I raised the leg up right as someone tried to grab it from behind.
Looking at Erasa with an amused smile, she just gave a sheepish giggle before Videl pushed her back into her seat from where she was sitting next to me, with me taking a bite right before I blinked as Videl brought my arm to her and tore a chunk off as well.
"Really?" I asked as I watched her chew, to which she simply gave me a smile and a shrug that made me roll my eyes before I turned to Bulma as she spoke up.
"So, you'll be happy to know that the spaceships are done."
"Wait, what? Also, did you say…spaceships? As in plural?" I asked as I stared at the woman in shock, the others mirroring my expression as Bulma smirked and nodded.
"Yep, five spaceships up and ready for use. So, when we get the Dragon Balls, what are we wishing for other than bringing everyone back since Porunga grants three wishes, right?" She asked and I frowned slightly as I scratched the back of my head.
"To be honest, I don't believe we should revive everyone."
"What?" Mom asked in shock as she looked at me, Bulma frowning as she put her utensils down and looked me in the eyes.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Think about it. How many people have just managed to move on from their significant others by taking new lovers? How many houses have we destroyed to make new ones because the previous owners were no longer here? You've seen how perfect our little society is when it's just a few hundred thousand people we need to feed. If we make that wish and we bring back everyone, our society would crumble because people would want their stuff back. Husbands and wives would have to choose between a significant other that passed away years ago or one that they survived with through the harsh times. Believe me, I want to restore the world back to how it was and I know that our society will grow out to be bigger and bigger the longer it exists, but as the new king that you all instated, I need to take in consideration all the pros and cons of our choice and right now, the two are equal in my eyes."
"And what of our friends and family? Those that died to protect us, to protect you?" She asked and I could see the anger burning in Bulma's eyes as I scratched the back of my head.
"King Kai, what do they all say?"
"To be honest, Tien, Chiaotzu and I have had some fun times here on the Other Side and our lives here are far better than they were down there." Yamcha answered and I smiled as I knew that those three didn't exactly have any attachments to the world, Bulma pinching the bridge of her nose as she spoke.
"Goku, Krillin? What of you guys?"
"To be honest, I don't mind coming back, but I also don't mind the afterlife. It's been pretty sweet."
"I know I can't be revived with the Earth's Dragon Balls since I was already revived when Vegeta attacked Earth. If you can revive me in some way with the Namekian Dragon Balls, I wouldn't mind helping you all protect Earth…or train. I miss my body." Father added after Krillin spoke and I rolled my eyes with an amused sigh as I saw Bulma gritting her teeth while Mom had a hopeful smile on her face.
"King Kai, can you connect us to Vegeta or Piccolo?"
"Piccolo is still on the Grand Kai's planet as a reward for winning the Four Quadrants Tournament so I don't know if it's all right now to contact him or not. As for Vegeta, you're about…five or six years too late. His soul has been in Hell long enough to be cleansed and reincarnated as someone else in the Universe. However, I can say that he is most definitely not the same person right now."
"…I need some air." Bulma muttered as she stood up and walked out of the room, Mom sighing before she stood up and followed after her as I palmed my face.
"This leader shit is hard."
"Being a king isn't easy work. Believe me, I know." Gramps said with a smile as he patted my back and I gave him a thankful smile before he followed out after them.
"You don't look happy with my decision." I said as I looked at Trunks, who looked down at his plate before shaking his head as he gave me a shaky smile.
"No…no, I'm fine. It was just…surprising to hear that my dad has already been reincarnated, I guess."
"That…is understandable. What about you two? You guys want to have an input here?"
"We don't even know what the hell you were talking about." Videl said with a frown, Erasa shrugging and nodding in agreement as I smiled when I remembered that the two of them don't really know what we're talking about.
"Basically, if you guys had the opportunity to wish back everyone that was killed by the Androids in the last thirteen years, would you knowing that you would be destabilizing the little society you've been in charge of for the past month or so?"
"Oh, then I wouldn't bring them back. If doing that means that our group is going to just bring back bad memories for people who have tried their best to move on, then that's just a selfish act on our part."
"What if you ask people about it? You know, there might be some who actually want just one day more to make peace with their friends and family." Videl added and I frowned slightly as I had thought of that, but I also don't know how I feel about making the Dragon Balls public knowledge.
'I mean, no one would be able to find the Dragon Balls if Mr. Popo just keeps them on the Lookout. Hey, King Kai. You there?'
"Oh, a private conversation this time, eh?" He asked and I smiled as I spoke.
'If possible, may I ask that you connect me to Piccolo just for a few minutes?'
"I've been here for the past few minutes since you all stopped talking to him. It's good to hear your voice, Gohan." After years of not hearing it, Piccolo's voice nearly made me teary-eyed as I felt a lump in my throat, nodding as I took a deep breath before continuing.
'It's great to hear yours too, master.'
"Glad to hear it. So, what brings you to ask for my presence?" Piccolo asked and I had to admit I missed his ability to go straight for the problem instead of talking for hours and hours on end.
'What do you think of my decision?'
"Life is about choices. Some we regret, some we're proud of. Some will haunt us forever, but the decisions we make are the ones that shape us all into who we are. Think about all the different paths there are when you're struggling to make a choice, but once you do, decide not only with your logic, but also with your instinct and stand by it. After all, what's the first thing I taught you?"
'Dodge the mountain?' I added jokingly and smiled as I heard his chuckle before he responded.
"The second thing."
'Trust your gut for it is the only thing that will is actually looking out for you.'
"Good. Well, I'm going to head back to training now. With Vegeta gone and Goku now just a floating cloud, the only other sparring partner able to keep up with me is this guy called Pikkon. He's pretty strong, but I'm getting close." Hearing about Pikkon being in this universe shocked me a bit, but I didn't ask as I simply hummed and nodded.
'Okay, thank you, master, and thank you King Kai for this opportunity.'
"No problem. Goodbye, Gohan."
"Good luck with your choice." Piccolo and King Kai greeted respectively and I felt myself sinking back to reality as the connection cut off only to stare at the curious looks Videl gave me as she turned my head from side to side while Erasa poked at my face.
"Want to explain what's going on?"
"Oh god!" They both jumped as I spoke up, making me smirk as I looked around only to see that it was just us three left in the dining room.
"Uh, where's Yajirobe and Trunks?"
"Off for some more training. Trunks dragged him with him. Also, what the hell was going on with you? You kept smiling, nodding and humming even when we tried to get your attention."
"Oh, I was talking about something personal to King Kai."
"The weird voice that spoke up? Who is that anyway?"
"The divine deity that overlooks the northern quadrant of the universe which is also where Earth is." I answered, both of them staring at me before Videl just pinched the bridge of her nose as Erasa grinned.
"Say, now that it's just us three, who are you picking as the wife and who's the concubine?"
"Are you still on that?" I asked with a sigh, the woman simply giving me a cheeky grin and I looked at Videl only to do a double-take at the blush and raised eyebrow she gave me.
"Tell me she didn't get you too?"
"We've been throwing ourselves at you for a month straight and you haven't even tried to kiss one of us. Therefore, we're not leaving here until you pick one of us to be the wife and the other as the concubine."
"…Wife." Instead of drawing it out, I simply pointed at Videl before standing up, leaving both the two women flabbergasted just long enough for me to get out and away from the place.
"Alert! Alert!" However, I nearly jumped out of my skin as I heard the alarms of the headquarters going off, looking at the blaring red lights before turning to see Videl and Erasa coming out of the cafeteria as well while still looking a bit shocked at what I said.
"We'll talk about that later! Get to Bulma and Mom and get them to the underground safe house! Trunks, Yajirobe! Gather the Dragon Warriors at the Northern sector! Cell! Meet us there!"
"Got it!/ Right!/ As you command, Gohan!" Trunks, Yajirobe and Cell answered respectively through the radio attached to my new watch that Bulma gave as I ran out onto the backyard before racing up into the sky and towards the sector I pointed out.
"West City Citizens! This is your King speaking! An intruder has been spotted in the Northern sector! All residents of that area must be evacuated and all civilians must be taken to the safe houses! Dragon Warriors! Meet me at that sector!" I spoke through the watch and grinned as hundreds of white auras shot up from the ground and towards me, Trunks, Yajirobe and Gramps flying past them moments later right before we all landed in the Northern sector.
As soon as we did, half of the warriors went to help escort the civilians while the others followed the four of us as we ran to the spot where I could see the intruder on my watch, leaping over a rooftop only for my heart to stop for a brief moment as I caught sight of the intruder looking up at all of us.
Tall and curvaceous, the woman had a slight tan to her skin with glasses and long bushy auburn hair, a gold ring around her left middle finger with a pair of hoop earrings and light blue eyes that watched as we all landed in a formation around her.
Dressed in a sleeveless, short blue and red checker-pattern minidress with black tights and matching black arm sleeves and ankle heel boots with a red boot on the right foot and a blue boot on the left foot, the woman finished off her outfit with a white lab coat thrown over it.
To most of the people, they were confused at why the alarm went off for the woman, but I knew who was in front of us as the Power Pole was out of my ear and in my grasp in the blink of an eye.
After all, if Cell was considered a monster, then Android #21 was the queen of monsters.
"Identify yourself!" I barked out as I walked over to stand a few meters , everyone else standing still as the woman looked hesitant before answering.
"V-Vomi. I hear that this is where the safe have is supposed to be?"
"Well, Vomi, it's nice to meet you. I am Gohan, leader of this quaint little group."
"I know. You told everyone that in your message." She answered and I smirked before my eyes widened as Trunks spoke up.
"How did you activate our secret sensors that are designed to only detect Androids?" I cursed myself for not stopping him from talking as Vomi answered with a smile.
"That's because I am one. Android #21, at your ser-!" A ki blast barely missed her as I diverted it up and into the sky while holding a hand out, a scarlet aura appearing around everyone that tried to jump forward to attack as they all were frozen in place.
"No! Do not attack! I order again! Do not attack!"
"Why not?! She's an Android?!"
"So is Cell! Are you telling me you're going to attack him too?!" I shouted at the man who spoke up, to which he gritted his teeth as another spoke up.
"Cell has helped us and proven himself to not be a threat. Can you say the same for her, King Gohan?"
"Is that what you're trying to teach your son here, Mina? That he shouldn't trust anyone until they prove themselves useful to us?" I asked the woman and she glared at me in response, making me sigh as I saw everyone else looking angered while Vomi just looked confused.
"Listen, I understand that all of you are angered by the fact that I'm stopping you from killing an Android and if I were in your shoes, I would be too. However, the actions of a few should not affect the actions of the many. Besides, Vomi has not done anything yet so why must we attack her just because she's an Android?"
"I agree with King Gohan. While I am wary of Ms. Vomi here, that does not mean that we should treat her unjustly and with prejudice. That would make us no more different than the monsters that thought anything human should be wiped off from the planet."
"Just as you say, Cell. The Androids were the ones who destroyed so let us be the ones who heal. Would you all at least give her a chance to at least let her prove herself? If not for her, then for me." I asked them all as I let go of the energy around them and it was to expected as some of them simply flew away while the rest looked caught between hesitance and anger as they followed after their colleagues.
"W-Well, you won't find any trouble with us." Yajirobe answered with a hesitant grin, Cell and Gramps nodding in agreement as Vomi gave a thankful smile before looking over at Trunks who had a frown on his face.
"Trunks?" I asked and my fellow hybrid looked at me with the same frown as his tail twitched behind him before sighing and nodding.
"Gohan seems to think there's good in you so I'll give you a chance, but give me one reason to think you're evil and your existence will be burned away right then and there, understood?"
"U-Understood!" Vomi answered with a nervous nod and Trunks nodded before rocketing away, Yajirobe and Gramps just shaking their heads while I sighed before turning to the nervous Vomi with a shaky smile.
"Well, Vomi, welcome to West City and from what I can see, good luck."
A/N: And another chapter done with an Android joining the group~!
How this will work out since she doesn't have Buu's cells, we'll have to wait and see.
Also, the process of them accepting the Androids as friends is going to take a while.
Not long, but a while.
Another also, I wanted to go with the idea of Gohan just flat out rejecting the thought of reviving the others, but as you all can see, he's still quite hesitant on doing so as I'm going with a more realistic setting for what will happen if everyone is just revived.
People are usually revived within a few months, but we're talking about bringing back people killed over the course of thirteen years and even if people would be happy to see loved ones being brought back to life, there will always be some kind of drama when you bring that many people back to life.
Anyway, check out my Pat-reon-.-com-/-KingCrimsonNova to read ahead on this as well as many other stories that may peak your interest. If you want to, you are free to, but if you don't want, all's good as I will still be uploading here. This is just me trying to get some extra cash.
As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one...
Ba-Bye~!