Chapter XXV: Missing . . .

Playtime wasn’t as much fun today. Hide-and-seek had become Trunks’ and Goten’s favorite game since Bulma had forbidden tag while on Capsule Corporation property. The two Saiyan children had a nasty habit of putting holes through walls while chasing each other around. Hide-and-seek had been a decent compromise. They enjoyed tag as it helped them train without their parents really thinking about what they were doing. Hide-and-seek helped the boys ‘do what Gohan does really well’ as Goten put it.

Trunks stepped outside as he continued to scan around him for Goten’s signature. They both idolized Gohan for this particular talent. Goten’s bigger brother had so much control over his own power that he could disappear at will and be a thousand miles away before they realized it. They wanted to do that too; it would drive Vegeta crazy.

The real twist to their game kept it simple. The one in hiding didn’t have to stay in just one place. It was more cat and mouse than hiding and seeking. It was fun, and they were getting really good at it, but only when the other put effort into it too.

Goten stayed still as Trunks closed in. He wasn’t trying today. Trunks stopped walking around the edge of the large dome and realized Goten was up on the roof. Sure enough, the younger boy sat next to an outcropping with his arms around his bent legs and staring at nothing.

This just isn’t the same. Trunks floated up and waved at his best friend. Goten looked over, but did nothing else to acknowledge the gesture. Trunks floated around and took a seat at his side. For a time they said nothing. Trunks looked around the Capsule Corporation property for anything interesting, but no. He had lived his entire life here after all. “You okay?”

Goten shook his head and gave a grunt. The two had not talked much for the last week. Goten, the more-often-than-not hotbed of babble, was very withdrawn. Trunks wished he knew what the feeling was, but he had no brother like Gohan was to Goten. Sure, the three of them were really close, but not like those two. “I’m sure he’ll come back, Goten. Maybe he had to go somewhere and fight a bunch of bad guys. You know?”

“Then why wouldn’t he say anything?” Goten sniffled. “He just left and didn’t tell mom, and he didn’t say good bye . . .”

Trunks saw the tears coming before they started to well in his friend’s eyes. He gave Goten a smack on the arm and a wide smile. “Gohan’s, like, one of the strongest guys ever! Nothing’s going to happen to him.”

Goten shut his eyes tight and shook his head. “That’s not true! There was that fight in the city. And I know how strong Gohan is, but it was really hard on him even if he won’t say it. A-and he won’t tell us what’s wrong, or let us help him, and . . .” Goten looked up at Trunks crying. “I-I didn’t have a dad, but Gohan was a-always there for m-me and . . . I don’t want to lose him!”

Trunks had never seen Goten cry like this before. Really crying. He put an arm around his best friend and gave him a half hug. “It’ll be okay, buddy. He’ll come back.”

While the two half-Saiyans above the dome sat together their mothers were well below in one of Capsule Corporation’s many small kitchens. Bulma set a cup of hot tea before Chichi, who sat at the center table, and then leaned back against a stove with a cup of coffee for herself. Since Chichi first called her about Gohan’s disappearance Bulma had put every resource at her personal disposal into trying to find him. Her eyes and ears around the world at the many branch offices had offered nothing, and her latest attempt had also failed. She had to break that news to her friend now.

“That special scanner that I’ve had sitting in the research wing couldn’t locate any powers besides Vegeta and the others.” Bulma said before taking another sip from her cup. That scanner had been a decade’s long project at finally recreating Vegeta’s original Saiyan scanner but with a much greater capability that would not short out when reading power levels of ridiculous heights. She had managed to bring it online a few years ago and then programmed it detect each Z Fighter’s unique power and display the level. Gohan had originally helped her test it by letting the device try to find him anywhere around the world.

That brought Bulma to her second point. “He always was really good at being undetectable, but if the scanner can’t locate him, Chichi, then it means Gohan either isn’t on Earth or doesn’t want to be found.”

Chichi held the teacup and sighed. “Thank you, Bulma. I know you tried your best.”

Bulma smiled, but inside she felt so much worse. Gohan, she, and Vegeta were the only ones who knew there was someone running around with the complete stolen data file on the Saiyans, the androids, and all the related technology. It made her shudder, but Bulma knew that Chadorick had all the tools available to create something horrible. Possibly enough to contain or even kill someone with the power of a Super Saiyan like Gohan. She should know. Bulma had tried to create such devices herself should another powerful enemy appear.

“I just . . . wish I knew where my baby was.” The teacup cracked and began to leak as Chichi’s face twisted to a harsh glare. “That way I can go over to him and thrash him good!” She stopped as the hot tea ran over her fingers and Chichi realized what she had done. “Oh . . . you see? I’m so worried sick all I can think about is how I’m going to punish him.”

“Well, we all deal with worry in different ways, I guess.” Bulma chuckled. “You know, Chi, this isn’t the first time Gohan’s been out and about without you knowing where he was or what he was doing.”

Chichi had gotten up to grab a towel. “That’s not true! The only time I’ve ever been apart from Gohan without knowing anything about what was going on was right after I lost my Goku to his horrible brother.” She dropped the broken teacup into a sink and then began mopping up the spill. “That miserable Piccolo stole my Gohan away to train him for another battle.”

“You’re still holding a grudge against him for that?”

Chichi put a halt to her swabbing and glanced over. “Well, of course I am!”

“Huh.” Bulma finished off her coffee and set it aside. One of the kitchen screens on Chichi’s side had been on this whole time, but the volume kept down. Bulma caught a few words on the news scroll and frowned. “Hey, could you turn that up?”

Chichi turned around and noticed the set for the first time. She turned the dial up and they listened to the reporter onscreen. “After nearly four weeks of utter silence, Chadorick Gordino of the Union Foundation has finally come forward and laid to rest the fears of the citizens. Mister Gordino had little to say on his absence, claiming internal security reasons, but assured the world that his renowned organization would soon return to its normal operations. I believe I speak for all those over here in Satan City when I say we’re glad to hear that!”

The weight around Bulma’s wrist gained a pound as she listened. The white watch she now wore, always, was in fact miniaturized dragon radar. With Gohan gone it was up to Bulma to keep tabs on the balls and ensure Gordino had not begun collecting them himself. So far each of the seven balls had remained unmoved. Bulma had considered gathering them on her own, but in the end she realized the danger in doing that should the crime lord sweep in. Too many risks were involved with that play.

Bulma turned away from the newscast and dropped her cup into the sink as well. Gohan, I don’t know where you are, what you’re doing, or just what in the world you’re thinking, but now was not a good time to do this.

- DBZ -

The flashing of cameras and the roar of the media mob called to him outside the tinted glass windows of the stretch limo that arrived at the Union Foundation Tower. Chadorick waited until his driver opened the door to straighten his dark blue suit, one he bought just for this occasion, and then stepped out. He raised his hands to the crowds and smiled with a rare cheer for him.

The onslaught of questions came next. They were much the same as the ones he left mostly unanswered back at the press conference. He waved his hands, motioning for them all to quiet down, and then Chadorick cleared his voice. “Once again I thank you all for your concern and curiosity, but as I have already mentioned to your affiliated I left behind I can not disclose my location or activities for the last several weeks on a security basis.

“However, I would like to add one last thing. On that day, which I can’t help but notice how the press has so lovingly titles ‘Gang-Day’, a great many tragedies happened. Then, for reasons we still don’t understand, that all became undone and Satan City has reaped the benefits since. For all the rebuilding we have done since then, which the Union Foundation has continued to actively support, I must stress that none of this would be without the efforts of the Satan City Police Department, Miss Videl Satan, and our vigilant protector Saiyaman. Wherever he is I hope he knows how much I appreciate all he has done. Thank you all.”

Despite his first statement they all burst forth against the guards and rope barrier with more questions. Chadorick continued to smile and wave, accompanied by his men, and walked in to his company’s headquarters. The lobby receptionist bid her hellos. Chadorick made straight for the elevator, entered with the others, and then inserted a key into the control box to gain access to the penthouse floors. He hoped in the back of his mind that the repair crews had remembered to change the paint tone as he had requested.

Tips and Charlie fidgeted in their brand new suits like snakes trying to shed skin. Tips spoke up and he pulled at the collar. “Seriously, Chad, do we really need to be paraded around in these stupid suits?”

“Those stupid suits, as you so callously call them, cost me the better part of three-hundred-thousand.” Chadorick rolled his eyes. “They were a birthday present, Tips.”

“Well I’m with Tipsy. Couldn’t you have gotten us a gift card to the Hustler instead?”

“Hot wings and skimpy servers appeal to you two better than fine apparel?” Both of them made enthused nods. “Consider your bonuses cut since you’re obviously wasting them.” Chadorick ignored the groans and checked his watch. “Fifteen minutes and still nothing. Maybe he really is missing.”

Tips finished unbuttoning his blazer and shoved his hands into the pockets of his pants. “I don’t mean to not be all for the grand master plan here, but I’m really not that upset that Saiyaman hasn’t shown up royally pissed off.”

“I agree.” Charlie opted to remove his and hang the coat from his left arm. “When you told me we were doing the press conference today I was certain I’d be getting a fist in the face for certain.”

Chadorick grinned. “Charlie, why on Earth would you think that?”

The elevator doors chimed. Chadorick, still gazing over at his left hand man, watched a blur streak below the waist into Charlie’s crotch. The man screamed and fell to his knees with his hands grasping at the burning injury. Another gust of rushing air and Chadorick whirled around to see Tips slam against the back of the car with a bloody nose and his body crushed into the wall. Then a powerful hand gripped the crime lord’s brand new suit and Chadorick felt himself heaved out and flying across the penthouse suite until he landed, not gently, in one of the large chairs. It then tipped over and he crashed into the floor.

Rubbing the throbbing lump growing on the back of his skull, Chadorick struggled up to see his assailant. With disappointment, he watched as Videl pressed the elevator call button and the doors closed. He stood up on shaky legs and regained his composure. “Well, good afternoon Miss Satan. I don’t recall this appointment in my planner.”

Videl began walking towards him while cracking her knuckles. She did not smile or show any hint of satisfaction in her actions thus far. “You look upset, Goonbino.”

Chadorick dusted himself off with his free hand. Those contractors had done a terrible job cleaning up after themselves. He would have to take out for dry cleaning again after. “To be quite honest, I was hoping Gohan would have been the one to barge in the embodiment of wrath, for a moment I thought you were him, but watching Charlie lose his manhood in such a manner was enough to know you weren’t. Gohan wouldn’t have taken a cheap shot like that.” His head feeling better, Chadorick straightened his coat to perfect smoothness, albeit still dusty. “I really have no idea how I’m going to explain that one to the insurance company.”

“Shut up!” Videl stopped on the other side of the overturned chair and grabbed him by the collar again.

“What are you planning to do, Videl? Arrest me?”

Her grip tightened to a strangle. “Me arresting you is the least of your worries right now, I think.”

“So it’s to be a sound beating, then?”

“You strapped a bomb to my chest!” Videl roared so close that Chadorick had to blink to avoid the saliva that flew from her tongue. “After you stuck me with a taser, after you nearly killed me at my school with a bomb, and after you let that homicidal machine loose to kill me!” She yanked him back away from her. “I’m going to drag your sorry ass down the street with a chain around your neck all the way to the district courthouse and . . .”

“We set one foot outside this office together and our dear Gohan’s secrets bump my so called arrest to page four.” Chadorick hissed with what little breath he still had. Videl’s grip lapsed and he drew in much needed air. “Besides, Videl, just how long would that last? You have nothing but hearsay, testimony provided only by Gohan and yourself, and I’ll have a dream team of lawyers who will turn the district courthouse into a fifteen minute show trial.”

They stared down one another for a minute, or in Videl’s case stared up as the crime boss had a good four inches on her, before she released him completely and backed away a step. Chadorick once again straightened his suit and rubbed his throat. “So, are you done with your temper tantrum?”

Videl’s eyes narrowed to slits just before she struck out and landed a harsh right hook into Chadorick’s face. He flew backwards into the steps of the level sputtering obscenities as his hands clung to the already bruising skin. She harrumphed and crossed her arms. “That’s for the bomb. I think you owe me at least that much, jerk.”

This time Chadorick left his clothes the wrinkled mess they had become. He wiped away the blood trickling from list left nostril away with a sleeve. “I believed you had more self control than that, Miss Satan.”

“I’m not like Gohan, Goony.”

He nodded. “Oh, that I can agree with. You’re not half the woman that Gohan is a man, Videl. I dare say it, but he’s incorruptible. He is the ironic, perfect example of humanity.” Videl’s ear twitched at the key word in his last statement. “The only one who possibly loved more than Gohan does would have been his father.”

Gohan’s dad? How much more does Chad know than I do? Videl frowned. “Your poster child for the Good Samaritan also happens to be an outstanding liar.”

“And with good reasons. Not that you’d understand any of it, yet.” Chadorick turned around and walked over to one of the wall cabinets where he kept a choice selection of liquors. “Just what do you know, Videl? His parentage, perhaps? You know about his abilities, for certain, but you really don’t know anything else about Gohan, do you?” Opening one of the doors he pulled out a crystal bottle filled with an amber alcohol. “I understand Gohan much better than you do. I appreciate that understanding more than you would. It’s what’s allowed me to best him and outwit him thus far.”

Videl stormed across the room and came to his side. “Do you think this is all some sort of stupid game!?”

“In a manner of speaking.” Chadorick took a sip of the bourbon and felt it burn down to his stomach. “Really we’re just playing a more ‘for keeps’ version of cops and robbers. The only real difference is that I’m the only one who doesn’t have rules. So, yes, we’re like three friends playing a game.”

“Do not talk like we’re your friends. Ever!” Videl felt very close to showing him how strong her left hook was compared to her right.

“Why not? Each of the three of us shares something special with the other.”

“And just what do you and I share that’s so special?” Videl seethed.

Chadorick took another drink and leaned in closer. He whispered to her. “You and I know that Gohan’s the one who killed Cell and your lying coward of a father stepped in to fill the role of a glory hound.” He had considered the risk of yet another violent outburst for that last jab at the young woman’s ego, but Videl made no flinch as his accusation. “Mark me well, Miss Satan. Gohan’s friends and family won’t be the only ones to suffer should I end up in a holding cell for even five seconds. Yours have just as much to lose. Now, I suggest you take the punches you’ve gotten and leave before I call the police and have them remove you for trespassing.”

Videl kept her glare fixated on him for a moment longer before walking by towards the windows. “I’m going to be watching you, Goony. Remember that.”

Chadorick finished off the glass and set to pour himself another. “Watch all you want, Videl. Nothing you do surprises me.”

“Is that a fact?” Videl smashed her elbow into the glass and shattered one of the large panes. She then gave Chadorick a one-fingered salute and took off into the sky.

Chadorick kept his jaw from dropping as he watched her vanish into a cloud, “Well . . . so she can fly.” The elevator doors across the floor dinged and he watched as his two companions fell out still groping at their wounds. Chad snapped his fingers and pulled out his cell phone. “Oh, right. The insurance company.”

- DBZ -

“Come in!” Hercule bellowed from behind a stack of papers he held in his hands. The tournament was so close that he could almost taste it, but the task of being the man in charge of the now larger than life event had left the World Champion with less time for training and more focus on bureaucracy. Things he had believed he could delegate to event coordinators Hercule now found himself working on late into the night. Just how hard is it supposed to be to make such a grand vision as his work out in the end?

The doors to his study parted and a man in a brown raincoat wearing thick rimmed sunglasses snuck in. Hercule blew out a breath at the sight and returned to his work. “Pomo is there a reason why you feel the need to wear that ridiculous getup every time you’re on the job? You look like a character in an old gangster movie.”

“How do you expect me to do my job if I can’t maintain an aura of stealth and anonymity?” The detective leaned down low, appearing as if his whole body were making one fluid curve, and peeked his head underneath a table to his right.

“You stick out worse than my hair!” Hercule chuckled at his own joke. He was such a killer. He signed a few more documents before looking up to see Pomo lifting up a stack of books and sweeping his hand underneath. “What? Hey! Hey, stop coming into my home and checking it for bugs that don’t exist!” Hercule yelled.

“I must be done, Mister Satan!”

“My foot!” Hercule slammed down the papers and rose from his desk. “Look, Pomo, we go back a long way, but I can’t have anyone doing work for me walking around with their heads all screwed upside down over bizarre conspiracy theories!”

“Ah ha!” Pomo whirled and finally produced a pointing hand from his coat. “That is exactly what they want you to think, Hercule!”

A vein throbbed on the champ’s head. “Who is they!?”

“If we knew that then they wouldn’t be in power.” Pomo withdrew his hand to stroke at his chin in a most thoughtful manner. “But never fear, for I am always on the case.”

Hercule grunted and held his open palm out. “Well, while you’ve been off chasing Kami or whoever else for leads, what’d you find out about my daughter?” Pomo quickly pulled a small envelope from an inner pocket and gave it over. “She’s skipping on her duties to help me organize this tournament,” he opened the flap, “never tells me where she is,” Hercule pulled out the first photo, “disappears every weekend, and to top it all off . . . she . . . boy?”

Pomo shook his head and paid attention to his client again. “I’m sorry; I was lost in deep pondering. What did you ask?”

“The boy.” Hercule flipped around a photo that showed Videl walking next to someone he had never seen before. “Who is this guy?”

“Oh, him? You’re daughter’s been spending a lot of time with him, oh yes indeed.” Pomo took the photo and studied it as though for the first time seeing it. “They’re practically in cahoots, those two. You came to me wanting to find out where she’s running off to and staying day in and out? Well, she’s spending all her time with him.” He handed the photo back. “I must say that he is a lucky guy.”

Hercule crumpled the photo into his fist as he snatched it away. “A lucky guy!? Huh! Y-you’re telling me this scrawny punk of a pencil pusher has been kissing my sweet, innocent little girl!?” Her ripped the remaining photos out of the envelope and began sifting through them. “I swear if he’s so much as laid lips to her I’ll . . . I . . .” Hercule made a sound as his breath caught in his throat. He had come to a stop at one very incriminating shot. “W-w-w-what is s-s-she d-doing!?”

Pomo leaned around to see which picture in particular the champ was asking about. “Oh, well, she’s flying. I never said they were seriously an item at the moment, Mister Satan. The young man is only teaching her how to fly along with a few other interesting things.”

“F-fly?” Hercule fell back into a chair he wasn’t even sure was there as he stared at the photo in his hands. “S-she can really do that? But that’s impossible! It’s all just tricks and magic. My daughter’s hooking up with a punk illusionist!”

“Not true!” Pomo once more pointed a finger in the air. “As a matter of fact there have been a great many recorded fighters with such abilities from the previous tournaments.” He moved in on Hercule. “They just don’t want you to know that.”

“Oh shut up about they!!” Hercule bellowed. With Pomo retreating a safe distance the champ turned his focus back to the issue at hand. “Tricks and magic or not, the rules still apply! If that scrawny kid wants my sweet baby’s hand then he’ll have to prove he’s tough enough to protect her.”

“And just how does one do that?” Pomo inquired.

“Well, that’s simple. He just needs to prove he’s got the guys to get in the ring with the King and take him down.” Hercule smacked a fist to his chest. “If he chickens out then he ain’t fit to marry my only daughter. Where’s this kid live so I can demand he signs his butt up for the tournament preliminaries?”

Pomo shrugged. “Well, his name is Son Gohan, but I have no idea where he is at the moment. He’s vanished.”

Hercule’s fury ebbed a little as he heard a name that had only been mentioned at the first tournament he ever participated. Son . . . Son? Nah, there’s no way. “Vanished, eh? Well, he didn’t just up and leave the planet, you know.”

- DBZ -

Instant transmission and similar versions of the teleportation ability relied on the user’s senses entirely for direction. One could move from place to place by either sensing a very powerful ki or by being familiar enough with another that it is easy to distinguish them even from vast distances. Without either of those requirements the ability becomes guesswork at best and risky. Even if you teleported away from one place, say on the far side of the galaxy, you were likely to never be able to return the same way.

So, if one was to leave a place they did not know, and could not return by sensing out another’s power, then they would have to take their time and search out their way back. In Gohan’s case it had taken him six days of constant instant transmission and questioning so many aliens on strange worlds to finally be standing where he was. He had hoped, in a small way, that this world wouldn’t be here. That last attack that Gohan had narrowly avoided could have easily blown it to pieces those four years ago. It had not.

“Then I suppose we shall go together!” The energy ball erupted in his hand and grew to enormous sizes in an instant. The moment it touched the surface of the planet, Gohan felt the rush of the explosion.

It was stupid. Gohan stared at the ruins of the Library and the gaping path of destruction that had gone through it. Frieza, Cell and Jugger were all alike. They would never commit suicide just to beat an opponent. They would only want you to believe that. Gohan had spent four peaceful years on Earth pretending everything he left in space was dust and he could forget all about it.

“Naïve.” Gohan chastised himself. “I should have come back here and finished it when it was still happening.” Duran’s world and the remains of his Library told Gohan a horrible truth that he already knew. They were will alive. They’re alive, but they didn’t stay here. Duran would have rebuilt the Library, and I would be able to sense Jugger, but I don’t . . . wait. Gohan’s gaze turned to the horizon where he felt a number of small powers gathered together. He lifted from the ground and gathered speed as he cut through the darkening skies.

It occurred to Gohan that for all the time he had spent on this planet under Duran’s tutelage he had never explored beyond the Library. Perhaps the endless book supply had been part of the reason. He knew nothing about this world or what it was like. Gohan’s sudden curiosity came to immediate disappointment as the idyllic landscapes that surrounded the Library gave way to dead and rocky terrain that held little life. It was a sad joke. Duran’s piece of paradise had been built upon a dead or dying world. So whom was he sensing?

The sight of a large camp fire came into sight. Gohan flew down and made out a group of aliens huddled around the flames with a makeshift, though poorly built village surrounding them. Gohan recognized them now as Duran’s servants.

The villagers saw him before he touched down. All the young ones ran behind the legs of the adults, and a few of the adults even ran behind some of their comrades. As Gohan set down he heard one distinct world whispered in a frightened tone between two of the alien servants. “Kamalii.” The one who said it had pointed at Gohan.

He walked to them with raised hands. “No, I’m Gohan. I’m a Saiyan.” Gohan reconsidered that description. “Well, actually I’m a half-Saiyan, but I’m no monster.”

“You were here before.” One of the older aliens stepped forward and stared up at their visitor. “I remember you were a guest of the master. I remember we tried to feed you.” The elder closed his eyes and made a sad shake of his head. “We were not very successful.”

My eating habits seem to make people feel bad no matter where I am. Gohan knelt down so that he was at eye level with the aliens. He spoke to the elder. “I came back to find Duran and Jugger. The fighter Duran had attack me the day that . . .” Gohan stopped before finishing that line. The hungry and miserable faces surrounding him must have lost the only home they ever knew the day he stormed out on Duran and clashed with Jugger. A new aspect to his irresponsibly shone through.

“Half-Saiyan should not feel that way.” The elder said. “The master was an evil man. We had been his servants for so many generations we have forgotten now.” He turned to look into the flames. “The master is no longer here, now. He went away the day half-Saiyan opposed him.”

“Do you know where?” Gohan could not let the last six days he had spent abandoning his friends and family on a whim to be fruitless. He had enough to answer for when he got back without going back with this all resolved. At last, resolved.

“We do not know. But red demon stayed.” Jugger. “He fed on us for a while. Red demon tormented us. Then he despaired and did not even do that. Red demon was trapped on this world with no ship. It was made his prison.”

Gohan felt a rush as he continued with his questions. “Jugger was really left behind? Where is he hiding?”

“Red demon is no longer here. Six seasons ago two came and took the red demon away. We hide from them, afraid of the dark powers that came from them, but the two left with the red demon and we have been alone ever since.”

Another dead end. Gohan considered what he had heard. Duran had vanished completely during the fight. He remembered that just as he had achieved his transformation to Super Saiyan Three Jugger had been calling for the master only to be unanswered. Duran was gone without any leads. Gohan then thought of the two strangers who abducted Jugger and carried him away. The villagers said they were able to feel the dark power of the two.

“Tell me; were you able to follow the path of the dark powers with your senses?” Gohan asked.

The elder nodded and looked away from the flames into the appearing stars above. He pointed to a bright cluster just off of the horizon. “The dark ones and red demon were moving with speed to those stars before we could sense them no longer.”

Gohan stood upright and placed the forefingers of his right hand to his head as he stared into those stars. The villagers, now overcoming their mild fear, gathered closer around him and watched in silence foe some minutes. Gohan neither moved nor blinked as he concentrated all his senses into the star cluster.

When he finished, Gohan lowered his hand and looked to them. “I can’t sense anyone there, but there are several worlds with some life. One of them feels a little empty.” He smiled. “I feel responsible. You don’t have to stay here anymore. I can take you all somewhere better than this place. Somewhere green, with water, and where you could really make a better living for yourselves.”

The elder’s lips parted. “You would do this for us, half-Saiyan?”

Gohan chuckled and motioned for them all to come closer. “Everyone closest to me lay a hand on my arm or legs. Everyone else just make sure you’re touching someone who is touching me or touching someone who is touching me.” As if entranced, they all did as Gohan requested. He waited until he witnessed the completed webbed chain of villagers connected to him. Gohan replaced his fingers. “Let’s take you all home.”

With a whine and in a streak of light, they vanished.

The Author’s Annotations:

Not a bad turn around after those last two chapters, eh? At least when you compare it to my last waiting period.

A lot of fun scenes in this chapter despite how sad Gohan’s family is over his abrupt departure. Everyone was probably expecting Gohan and Chad to be the first with a scene once he came back into the picture, but that right was reserved for someone who would actually deck the guy. For all the crap that Chad put Gohan through, he did way worse to Videl. Those two make an interesting dynamic now.

Hercule’s gunning to force Gohan to compete in the tournament now, and I kinda like the conspiracy nut turned private investigator so I might bring him back later for kicks. The end of this chapter sets up the end of the pre-tournament arc and will then lead right into the big event: The World Martial Arts Tournament.

The review count’s skyrocketed. The 900th reviewer will receive a special kudos in the next chapter. The 1000th reviewer I will throw in to a chapter as a sort of “guest star” appearance. All in good fun. This story is about to his a pretty coveted milestone.

Oh, and I’m considering pulling from the beta reader pool here to proof new chapters. I want two, really. One for make sure the story still flows and that I’m not going weird places with the characters (which I almost did a couple times in this chapters) and one to critique the technical aspects. Preferably I want people who are already trying to offer beta services on the site (but not necessarily those with high beta counts). Just drop the hint if you’re interested.

Anyway, let me know what you guys think about this chapter! I’ll be working on the next chapter as I can. Laterz.