Part 1, Chapter 2: A New Encounter

So you're from a different time too, eh?

Yep. It was summer. I had my entire vacation planned out! But the second I hit the road, I get lobbed here.

Not so bad, all considered. Some of the people here are light-years from their own planets.

Shallot falls in that unfortunate category. His clothes don't match anything from Earth's history.

Listen to this egghead go. You from another era, too?

No, no, this is my time. Just not my home planet.

Being that I know the Bulma of this era, I've taken it upon me to guard her past self, this Bulma here.

Say, what's the future me like? Married to some dashing stud, I bet!

That I cannot say.

Galactic law prohibits sharing any information that could disrupt the timeline.

Aww! So I can't ask whether or not I managed to collect all the Dragon Balls either?

Speaking of which, the Dragon Radar hasn't picked up anything since I arrived here. What gives?

Sorry. You'll have to find that out on your own.

Ooh, but I wanna knoooow...!

Shallot, you're up! Saibamen incoming. Take them down quickly, would you?

You gotta be kidding me. Again?! We're counting on you, bodyguard!

Can you two scream in fear ANY louder? I'll take care of them, geez.

We're the ones that'll win this thing!

Yeah, so women and children can butt out! Wah ha ha!

Jeez. When it rains it freaking pours...

It should. Tons of fighters from all eras have been called to this very spot.

It doesn't matter where on Earth you are. The only way out of this is to fight.

While you guys idly chit-chat, certain death is upon us! Kick some butt already!

Yes, ma'am. Sheesh. You can't catch a break with this girl...

I wouldn't expect less from a Saiyan. Good job!

Remind me. Why are you commentating while I fight?

Pah! A super elite joins the fray only when he needs to!

Whatever. I'm not smelling any crazy strong baddies up ahead. And these guys are small potatoes. I'm fine alone.

You can tell all that with your nose?

Cool skill! If your memory doesn't come back, why not consider a career in the Galactic Patrol?

Totally not interested.

Hey, didn't you try to recruit me back in the day too?

Maybe the future me is an elite officer on the Galactic Patrol! Your superior, I bet.

Why, oh why are you just assuming you outrank me...?

While I can't divulge detailed info about the future, I will say you are, and I quote: "Perfectly content."

Wait, did I dump you or something? Is that why you're dodging the question?

Enough with the bizarre fantasies!

Can you blame me for wanting to know? If I could just catch a glimpse at what I'm doing...

I'll say this. I have NO intention of letting you meet yourself.

If I did, I'd never hear the end of all that infernal time machine business...

Time machine...?

... Dang.

Oh. My. KAMI!!! Do I seriously invent something that awesome?! Tell me, spaceman! TELL ME, I SAY!

I will do no such thing! Forget what I said! It's for your own good!

Conversations ARE possible without screaming, you know?

Would you look at that? We're almost at the Capital! Finally, some well- deserved R&R!

So this is the Capital of the future! Not too different from my version. It's only a few decades later.

Wh-What IS this place? The houses are huge! I've never seen a village like this!

It's no village. It's the Capital, remember? Anyway, clothes and food are first on the agenda.

Cheese and milk for me, please. I trust you don't need that written down?

Excuse me? I'm not traipsing out alone to do your grocery shopping!

You're going to have to. Us battle- weary warriors are in need of a coffee break.

... Why are you holding out your hand like that?

Well, we'll need some cash! Spare any? I don't have any of this planet's currency on me.

You're shameless.

I took the liberty of ordering a few items. Eat, eat! Earth grub ranks pretty high on the cosmic scale.

I dunno. Those are some extreme colors. Smells good though! Let's take a bite...

This is...amazing! I've never eaten anything this CRAZY TASTY!

H-Hey. Is this an all-you-can-eat kinda deal?

Yep! Knock yourself out! Bulma's rich, so I'm sure she won't miss a few zeni!

By the way, what are your plans for the near future?

I pretty much told you. Gonna learn what I need, then skedaddle.

Right, but after said skedaddling, what do you plan to do? You have no memory.

...I-I'll manage, okay?!

Well, if it isn't Jacko. Joke-o? I can never remember. On the beat, I assume?

Now what?!

Ack! Wh-Wh-What in space are YOU doing here?

Earth is a planetary smorgasbord of delectable foodstuffs. Why wouldn't I be here is the question.

But where was I? Ah. Sipping milk on the GP payroll, Joke-o? Tsk tsk.

I-It's not what it looks like! There are...extenuating circumstances.

Oh. I see you managed to locate the other Bulma. Well done.

I suppose I could look the other way on this matter, given your meritorious service.

Picking up a stray Saiyan amnesiac probably wasn't necessary, but no matter.

You better check yourself, mister. Keep up the high and mighty act and I just might...

...Do NOTHING at all! This is the very person who asked me to investigate this interdimensional mess we're in!

What Joke-o said. You really should know this already, but I'm Beerus.

And I am his attendant, Whis. Delighted to meet you.

By extension, you could say Joke-o taking you under his wing is really thanks to me.

Erm. It's Jaco... Sir.

Please. Jaco's not doing me any favors. We struck a deal. And I don't owe you jack.

Well, someone's full of beans. It's getting on my nerves...

D-D-Don't mind him, Lord Beerus! I'll be sure to educate this Saiyan ignoramus later!

What?! You're not my mom!

Whatever. I can tell you're not exactly busy, what with your amnesia.

Tch!

So I'll give you something to do: enter the Tournament of Time.

The one where the winner gets any wish granted? That tournament?

The very same. Join the tourney and explore the planet as you please. Oh, with Bulma of course.

Allowing her to see the current state of this world will do wonders to speed things along.

(I'd rather not fight in the tourney, but I don't think I have the luxury of choosing...)

Besides, you're a Saiyan. Fighting is what you do. It might be enough of a jolt to bring your memory back.

Fighting could...bring my memory back?

Hey, boys! I'm done shopping!

I see that's Bulma's younger counterpart. She looks even louder than usual.

Jaco. Take care of Bulma, will you? Same goes for you, Saiyan. Think you can handle that?

Psh. Can and will! That was the original bargain, after all. I don't need you barking orders at me.

And so you know, I'm not joining this tourney just 'cause you said to.

Fine, fine. Show me you've got the brawn to match that moxie and I might have a better proposal.

Well, at least the shopping's done. Finally. No thanks to you two.

Honestly! I wish you'd think about someone other than yourself for a change.

I could say the same thing about the you of this time! Always expecting me to be at her beck and call...

But that's not the same me as me! How am I supposed to know about any of that?!

Say, weren't you talking to someone back there in the city? Who was that?

The person who requested this investigation. I was making my report.

He told me to continue watching out for you and Shallot here.

Oh? Sounds like a nice guy.

Nice? Hardly! He uses me like a cheap lackey.

If we're supposed to prioritize safety, wouldn't hanging back in the Capital be the best way to go?

You don't look like a heavy hitter and this girl could very well die out there.

How rude! I time traveled all this way. I think I have a right to see what the future is like!

Plus, you never know. Maybe this turn of events could be the prelude to a real romance?!

The power of love! Transcending time! Oh, my white knight, come find me...!

(This version of Bulma is even kookier than the one I know...)

(But I suppose this pep is what led Bulma to meet all the colorful characters she knows now.)

Hey, kids! Odd time to be out on a road trip, wouldn't you say?

Time to rumble.

Did I hear someone's looking for love? What about us, sweet cheeks? Let's play.

Eek! B-By play, do you mean, like, video games?

Eeeeeh... No. No, we don't mean that. We mean we're gonna waste all the tourney opposition!

Yeah! And jack their stuff too!

Ha! I'd like to see you clowns try!

W-We're not done yet! Rearrange their faces, my Saibamen!

H-He MADE those things?!

Darn straight! Saibamen are engineered to be instant added muscle!

Hey! Try fighting fair and square, you big bullies!

Hear that? A backseat driver. Slice and dice, boys!

Some day. Stuck up by aliens! Can you believe that?

You are traveling with two aliens, so... Yeah.

The planet is crawling with guys like that thanks to the tourney.

So Beerus is probably right. Bulma's better off with us than alone in the Capital.

Someone out there might be crazy enough to vaporize the whole city. You never know.

The entire place? Talk about overkill.

Yup. We'd best find a way to fix this situation... And fast.

Uh... Yeah, I couldn't care less. I'm just gonna keep doing things my way.

You'd think the other fighters would be able to exercise a little integrity.

The warriors here come from all walks of life. Some are villains, others children. Be prepared for anything.

Geez. Kids too? That's just messed up.

If at all possible, I'd like to give them protection in our merry band. No objections, I hope?

Go right ahead. Like I care.

Wow. An actual humane reaction. Didn't think I'd ever hear one out of you.

Aaah! Aaaaaagh!

That sounds like a kid!

Talk about timing. Let's move!

...Tch!

Shallot?! Wait! Don't leave meeee!

Geh geh geh!

Rrgh!

Groooagh!

Whew.

Who...are you?

Shallot, another one! Incoming, 6 o'clock!

Gagyaaagh!

Mm?

The hell?!

That was too close for comfort.

Wh-Who're you?

You get points for coming to the kid's rescue, but you forgot to actually rescue him.

Otherwise, what's the point?

Cocky little...!

Stay focused now. There are more coming out of the woodwork.

*exhale*

*heavy breathing* What kind of bodyguard just up and leaves his employer?!

Why worry? You've got a super-duper elite at your side, don't you?

So, I guess you're the one who saved Shallot and the kid? Thanks.

I wasn't planning on intervening, but your bodyguard here couldn't guard any bodies, including his own.

Wanna say that to my face?! And I didn't ask for your help!

Okay, boys, the bell has rung. Back to your corners! ... Hey little guy, you okay? What's your name?

I-I'm Gohan. Thanks for saving me. I thought I was a goner...

(Gohan? He must be Goku's boy!)

What's a runt like you doing out here? Don't tell me you're a tournament fighter, too!

Y-Yes, I am, actually...

Man. They've stooped to recruiting grade-schoolers?

Who are you people, anyway?

Why bother with formalities? We're enemies. Only one way this can end.

I'll give you that one. We're fated by tourney rules to lock horns.

But do it now and those kids you've gone out of your way to help would be caught up in the fray.

So you don't truly mean to challenge me here. Or are you completely unreasonable?

Finally! Someone who talks sense! Isn't that right, Shallot? Don't go around picking fights!

...Fine. I'll wait.

Hmph. Here I was thinking you're just another hothead with something to prove. Guess you do have a heart!

It'd be more fun to smash your face in when you're good and ready. That's all.

I'm Zahha. And you? Let's hear it.

Shallot.

Shallot, eh? Pleasure to meet you... Aside from the fact that we'll be enemies on our next encounter.

Glad we could be civil about this. Now, I'd like to take young Gohan under my protection. Any problems?

None from me.

W-Wait, everyone! Please.

?

I... got separated from my teacher and can't find him!

Your what now?

Gohan! There you are!

Damn. Another baddie?!