Mount Paozu
"What is it, Son Gohan?" Vegeta was the first to speak.
"The enemies I mentioned are about to show up. First, let's see where you all stand. Come on different spot. Don't wake my mom." Gohan rose into the sky.
At the same time he shredded the micro-drones that had been spying on them. If the game was starting, he wasn't leaving loose ends to get in the way.
They streaked across the night to a barren stretch of wasteland.
"Gohan, where are the bad guys?" Goku asked the moment he touched down, itching to go.
"About three thousand kilometers west of Paozu, on a small island. They've already started. A lot of the locals are dead whole villages wiped out." After returning, Gohan had watched the rebroadcasts and memorized the location.
Androids had no ki signature; no one could sense them unless they fired an energy blast.
"What do you mean? You're saying the enemy's on Earth? Besides you lot, are there even strong fighters here?" Vegeta sounded skeptical.
"Don't underestimate this planet. And the enemies I'm talking about? Humans built them. You'll see soon enough." Gohan kept it coy mostly because explaining was a pain.
"Built… then they're not human?" Raditz zeroed in.
"Right. Earth-made androids."
"Huh? Androids? The Red Ribbon Army… Number Eight?" Goku blinked and blurted it out.
"Keep it down, Kakarot you'll blow my ears out," Vegeta muttered, digging at one ear.
"Yeah, Dad. The same Red Ribbon Army you crushed back then. Most of their leaders died, but a genius bio-android/robotics researcher survived, kept us under surveillance, and built powerful androids," Gohan said.
"Damn cockroaches… why won't they just stay dead?" For once, Goku actually ground his teeth.
"Stronger than Frieza?" Nappa wasn't sure he wanted the answer.
They'd surpassed Frieza by now, but in their heads he was still a nightmare.
"If they weren't, why would I bother warning you?" Gohan rolled his eyes.
"All right report your power, or just power up and let me see." He took out a single-ear headset and clipped it on. A tap, and a readout projected before his right eye.
"Hey, that looks like a scouter," Raditz said, intrigued.
"Hacked together for me. No upper limit, unlike your old junk. The eye window's gone laser projection now and it's built into a headset so it's easy to wear." Gohan flicked one to each of them.
"I don't need it. Not my style," Goku waved it off.
"Hmph. With ki-sense, I don't need a toy," Vegeta said, just as dismissive.
"Suit yourselves."
Raditz and Nappa put theirs on.
"Who's first?"
"I'll go. I'm the weakest." Raditz closed his eyes and drew his ki up.
"Yaaaah!" Arms crossed, his silhouette shifted his long hair flashed gold, pupils went green. If not for the eyebrows, he looked one twitch away from Super Saiyan 3.
Beep 100,000,000… 150,000,000! Gohan's scouter sang out.
"C'mon, big bro, that's it? All this time and that's the gain?" Gohan needled him.
"I was born a low-class warrior! Hitting Super Saiyan at all is a miracle," Raditz said, a little smug despite it.
"Low-class my ass. You think a mere third-stringer gets to stand beside the Prince?" Vegeta couldn't help snapping.
"Oh? Sounds like there's a story I missed. Talk, Vegeta," Gohan said, curious.
"Hmph. Low, mid, high ranks come from birth power alone. Potential isn't so simple. Take their father, Bardock born low-class, forged himself through long campaigns until he outstripped elites. My father noticed something was off, realized our ranking was wrong. He assigned Bardock's elder son and Nappa to me. He meant to change the system… but Planet Vegeta was wiped out before he could act," Vegeta said flatly.
"Prince Vegeta, how come you never told us that?" Nappa asked.
"Frieza had us bugged for years should I have sent him an engraved card? 'By the way, the men at my side have absurd potential'? Idiot." Vegeta didn't bother hiding his scorn.
"R-right! I'm an idiot," Nappa said quickly. Super Saiyan or not, the old fear of Vegeta lingered.
"I figured Gohan's training and your fast gains would break you out of that mindset, but you're still chained to those ranks," Vegeta growled, disgusted.
"Sounds like you all slapped a shackle on your own hearts," Gohan said mildly.
"So I can reach Gohan's level one day?" Raditz brightened, confidence trickling back.
"Work for it. This universe will keep throwing crises at us," Gohan said.
"Okay my turn!"
Nappa powered up. Golden ki flared around him. To Gohan's faint disappointment, the beard didn't get longer. The dome was still a dome just glossier in that golden glow; only the mustache turned gold.
"Looks like that 'no-hair' problem is permanent," Raditz jabbed.
"I was born without hair. That's not 'bald,'" Nappa barked.
"No hair is… literally bald," Gohan added helpfully.
"…"
Nappa Super Saiyan: 200,000,000.
Vegeta Full-Power Super Saiyan: base 50,000,000, ×80 ⇒ 4,000,000,000.
Goku Full-Power Super Saiyan: base 70,000,000, ×80 ⇒ 5,600,000,000.
Under Gohan's influence, both had surpassed Android 17 and Android 18 but against Perfect Cell, they were still a bit short.
(Not that Cell was around yet who knew which corner he was lurking in? Gohan wasn't even sure if the "Future Cell kills Trunks and time-jumps here" branch existed in this line.)
Either way, tomorrow he planned to ask Dende. As Earth's Guardian, Dende could watch the whole planet. If anything abnormal stirred, he'd see it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Your support keeps this story going leave a 5★ review, add it to your library, and feed it some Power Stones!
"Want to stay ahead of the game?Advanced chapters are up on my Patron. If you're enjoying the ride, swing by and check them out."
[email protected]/_theon
Change @ to "a"