Time passed.
One year.
Two years.
Three.
May 12. The day Trunks had warned them about.
Mount Paozu, outside Goku's home.
Gohan stood with Piccolo, staring at the sky. "Piccolo-san… why isn't Dad back yet?"
Piccolo's eyes stayed hard. "Something may have gone wrong in the future."
Gohan's throat tightened. "You think he ran into danger fighting the androids?"
Piccolo didn't answer.
Chi-Chi stepped out, arms folded tight. "You said he'd be back before the androids show up. Where is he?"
"Mom, he'll be fine," Gohan said fast. "Dad won't lose."
Piccolo looked toward the horizon. "Either way, we move. We meet the others on the island first."
Gohan nodded. "Right."
Chi-Chi held up a lunch box. "Do you want to take—"
"No, Mom," Gohan said, sweating a little.
Piccolo rose into the air. "Let's go, Gohan."
Gohan followed.
"Be careful!" Chi-Chi shouted after them.
They hadn't gone far before Gohan pointed ahead. "Piccolo-san—Krillin!"
Piccolo nodded.
They caught up to him mid-flight.
"Krillin-san," Gohan said. "Long time."
Krillin smiled. "Yeah… you've grown."
His eyes flicked behind them. "Where's Goku? He didn't come back?"
"He didn't," Piccolo said.
Krillin's smile faded. "He promised he'd be back early. So what happened over there?"
"No idea," Piccolo said.
Krillin swallowed hard. "If he doesn't show… Trunks said we might all get killed."
He shuddered. "And I still don't have a girlfriend."
Gohan blinked. "Krillin-san… it's been three years and you still haven't found one?"
Krillin stared at him.
"You brat," he muttered. "You think girlfriends grow on trees? If I'm getting one, she's gotta be cute—and someone I can actually live with."
Gohan nodded, dead serious. "Then good luck. I'm sure you'll find one."
Krillin brightened instantly. "Now that's what I like to hear."
A little farther on, the island came into view—southwest of South City.
"There." Krillin pointed. "That's it."
They hovered off the side and looked down.
"Big island," Gohan murmured.
Krillin's face tightened. "And there are people down there. That's bad."
"If we can't draw the androids away, civilians get caught in it," Gohan said.
Krillin nodded, then glanced toward a ridge. "Two strong ki signatures over there—Yamcha and Tien. Let's go."
They shot over.
Yamcha and Tien were already waiting.
Bulma was with them.
And Emily—holding a baby.
Greetings were exchanged fast, but everyone's eyes kept scanning the sky.
Bulma looked at Gohan and blinked. "Wow… you're tall now."
Krillin's eyes went wide. "Bulma? Emily? Why are you here?"
"We're just going to see what the androids look like," Bulma said. "Then we're leaving."
Emily nodded. "That's all."
Krillin leaned closer, peeking at the baby. "Is that… Vegeta's kid? Trunks?"
"It is," Emily said.
Krillin laughed. "Man, baby Trunks looks mad."
Emily's eyes narrowed. "What's that supposed to mean? I rejected you once, and now you're taking it out on my son?"
Krillin froze. "That's not—"
Emily huffed. "Good. Because I'm a mom now. Don't get any ideas."
Krillin looked like he wanted to cry.
I asked her out like… twice. Three years ago.
Piccolo cut in. "Enough. Where's Vegeta?"
Emily shook her head. "We haven't been living together lately. But he'll come. He's been training for this."
Piccolo's gaze shifted to Bulma. "Ken?"
"He left Earth a while ago," Bulma said. "No clue where."
Piccolo exhaled through his nose.
Ken was gone. Goku was gone.
This couldn't have picked a worse time.
Yamcha looked around. "Trunks said Goku would be back before today. So why isn't he here?"
"Something happened in the future," Piccolo said.
Yamcha's face tightened. "Like what? You think Goku lost over there?"
"No one knows," Krillin said. "We'll find out when he gets back."
Tien spoke quietly. "I left Chiaotzu at home. He trained, but he can't handle this."
"That's the right call," Krillin said.
They fell into a tense silence.
Then—elsewhere.
Trunks' timeline.
One month earlier.
New Capsule Corporation's headquarters.
Bulma had the time machine ready.
Goku and Trunks stood at the ramp, ready to leave.
Piccolo, Gohan, Krillin, Tien, Yamcha, Chiaotzu, Master Roshi, Korin, Yajirobe—everyone came to see them off.
No matter how many times you did it, goodbyes still hit.
"There was a problem during charging," Bulma explained. "We thought we'd finish two months early, but the material's hard to find."
"It's fine," Goku said, waving it off. "In the original timeline, the androids won't activate for another month."
Trunks nodded. "Right."
Goku grinned. "Then let's go."
"Yes, Goku-san," Trunks said.
They stepped forward—
A streak of gold dropped in front of them.
Vegeta.
"Kakarot." Vegeta's eyes burned. "What about our deal? You running off without fighting?"
Goku scratched his head. "Oh. Vegeta. You're done training?"
"Yeah." Vegeta clenched his fists. "And this time, I'm beating you."
Goku glanced at the time machine, then back at him. "Alright. Quick match."
They moved out.
Vegeta took his stance across from him, confidence written all over him. "I can go Super Saiyan now… and I've gone beyond it."
Goku blinked. "Seriously? That's amazing."
Vegeta's grin sharpened. "Now we start."
His ki started to rise—
Something green flashed into existence behind Goku.
A long tail stabbed for his back.
Everyone froze.
No one recognised the creature.
Vegeta's pupils shrank. He didn't even have time to warn him.
Goku shifted on instinct.
Ultra Instinct's evasive reflex kicked in.
He slipped aside and countered in the same motion.
One kick smashed into the creature's face.
It spun and dropped hard onto the ground.
The creature stared up at Goku, stunned.
…He dodged that?
I should've drained someone else first.
Vegeta and the others rushed in and formed a circle.
"What is that thing?" Krillin blurted.
"That design is ugly," Yamcha muttered.
"It tried to kill Goku," Tien said, eyes narrowed.
"Dad, are you okay?" Gohan asked.
"I'm fine," Goku said, breathing out. "Good thing I trained a bit with the Supreme Kai. My Ultra Instinct reflex is sharper than it used to be."
Piccolo's eyes stayed locked on the creature. "It appeared with no warning. None of us sensed it."
The creature stood, dusting itself off like it owned the place.
Then it spoke.
"Not bad, Son Goku," it said lightly. "Your reactions are better than I expected."
Krillin's eyes bugged out. "It talks?!"
Goku frowned. "How do you know me?"
"I'll tell you—after you answer." The creature's smile didn't reach its eyes. "You were all supposed to be killed by the androids. How are you alive?"
Krillin jolted. "You know about the androids?"
"I know all of you," the creature said, voice calm. "Krillin—your signature move is the Kienzan. Tien. Yamcha. Piccolo. Vegeta. Gohan. Trunks."
Everyone went stiff.
Vegeta's patience snapped. "Enough."
His ki exploded outward.
The pressure rolled across the yard like a shockwave.
Everyone except Goku stared.
Vegeta had crossed a line.
Super Saiyan Two.
Goku whistled. "Vegeta… you're almost as strong as the me from this era."
Vegeta froze.
What did you just say?
As strong as this era's me?
So I'm still behind?!
"That's nonsense," Vegeta spat, rage surging. "I've surpassed Super Saiyan!"
He shot at the creature.
The creature—Cell—went pale.
This is wrong.
Vegeta's way stronger than he should be.
Vegeta's boot slammed in.
Cell threw up crossed arms to block.
The kick blew straight through his guard.
Cell shot into the sky.
Pain ripped through him.
What is this?
Did Vegeta kill 17 and 18 in this timeline?
I have to get out—
Cell gathered energy in his palm.
"Galick Gun!"
Before he could fire, a huge blast rose beneath him and swallowed the sky.
Cell's eyes went wide. "What—?!"
"Vegeta, don't kill him!" Goku shouted. "We need to know who he is!"
"No." Vegeta didn't slow down. "Not worth it."
The blast erased Cell completely.
Silence.
Goku stared.
Piccolo and the others stared.
Yamcha finally muttered, "Where did that thing even come from?"
Krillin scratched his cheek. "If he was planning to sneak-attack, he wasn't a good guy."
Tien shrugged. "Maybe Dr. Gero made another android."
Piccolo looked away. "He's gone. That's the end of it."
Trunks was still shaking, staring at Vegeta.
Dad's that strong now…
He looks stronger than the androids Trunks knew.
Vegeta turned back to Goku, grin returning. "Kakarot. Now it's your turn."
Goku sighed. "You've really come a long way."
"Stop talking." Vegeta pointed. "Transform. Show me that Super Saiyan God."
"I won't use that." Goku smiled. "It's not the best comparison."
Vegeta blinked.
Goku's ki rose—thick, golden, intense.
Wind slammed outward.
People staggered.
The time machine rocked, tipped, and hit the ground with a heavy crash.
Bulma's eye twitched.
The pressure settled.
Goku stood there in a calm golden form—his ki smooth, controlled, fully drawn out.
Vegeta's face tightened.
Even from pure ki intensity alone, Goku was above him.
Vegeta roared and charged.
He unloaded, strike after strike.
Goku blocked everything.
After a few exchanges, Goku placed one palm on Vegeta's chest and shoved.
Vegeta hit the ground hard.
He sprang up instantly, veins jumping at his temple.
Why is he still stronger?!
"I'm sorry," Goku said. "I have to go back."
He vanished.
He reappeared behind Vegeta.
Red divine ki flared.
Super Saiyan God.
One clean chop to the back of Vegeta's neck.
Vegeta dropped unconscious.
Everyone stared.
Trunks felt his stomach drop.
Dad… lost that fast?
Goku rubbed the back of his head and looked at Emily and Trunks. "Sorry. He was getting carried away. This'll cool him off."
Bulma pointed at the time machine. "Apologise to that."
Goku blinked. "The time machine?"
"When you powered up, you knocked it over," Trunks said, half laughing, half dying inside. "A key part got damaged."
Goku's face crumpled. "No way…"
Bulma crouched beside it, already working. "Honestly? You did me a favour. If we'd ignored this, it could've failed mid-jump. Better to catch it now."
"How long to fix?" Goku asked.
Bulma grimaced. "The material's rare. We're looking at more than a month."
Goku's eyes went wide. "So when we get back… the androids will already be active."
"That's right," Bulma said.
Goku paced, hands in his hair. "Gohan and the others could get hurt."
"You said Ken's around," Bulma said. "And Broly. With them, it should be fine."
"If they're on Earth," Goku said instantly.
Bulma's voice stayed level. "If the machine isn't right, you and Trunks could disappear during the trip. Don't rush it."
Goku stopped, then nodded, forcing himself to breathe. "Okay… we wait."
Krillin mumbled, "I thought I was gonna cry saying goodbye today. I had it all queued up."
Yamcha tilted his head. "Krillin, you don't even have a nose. How do you get 'nostril sting' tears?"
Krillin glared. "Get lost. I don't know you."
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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