Part 1, Chapter 6: Truth of the Survival Game

Oh, yeah! I feel great! Heck, better than great!

That's some overnight recovery.

What's the plan now, Bulma?

We continue our journey! ...Is what I'd like to say, but there could be others like Raditz lurking around.

Laying low in town could be a relaxing change of pace.

Speak for yourself. I just got strong! Why cower indoors when I can be out kicking major tail?

How nice it must be that you were built to be a fighting moron. We don't all share in your luck, okay?

Don't worry your blue head. I can protect you just fine!

Pah! With you on bodyguard duty, I'd say her chances of survival are even slimmer!

Eek!

Heya, pipsqueak! Looks like you managed to knock off Raditz.

S-Since when were you guys in the Capital?

Lemme guess. Aching for some company after camping out in the wilderness?

Stow your inane theories, woman! We have no interest in your company or this city!

Where have the runt and swordsman gone off to?

Oh them? Gohan left after we put the boot to Raditz. And Zahha's doing his morning meditation.

Fine. I can settle for you alone. ...Work for me.

Say what?

Take Raditz's place. Become my subordinate.

Raditz's...

Place?!

You mean to say that brute was with YOU?!

Ah, did I neglect to mention? Yes, he was mine. He was also a useless, incompetent insect.

Your besting him proves you are a fit replacement.

More like fit SERVANT!

Thanks, but no thanks. I didn't put that scum down to boost my resume.

What now?!

Fwa ha ha! But of course. I expected as much from you.

Let's cut the idle conversation, shall we? We both know there's only one way out of this.

Ha! Sure do. Training with you taught me as much.

Vegeta, Nappa. I'm gonna send you packing!

I'll give you points for spirit... Spirit I'm certainly going to enjoy breaking!

Hmph. Ha ha ha! A fine effort!

Rgh!

Yes, your fighting instinct is the real deal! You WILL fight under me! I'll see to that!

H-Hey, that's quite enough!

You'll reduce the whole town to rubble!

Listen to the girl.

Beerus? Damn... I didn't think he'd still be hanging around.

Looking for new members to add to your boy band is fine. But I found Shallot first. He's mine, understand?

What?

One more thing. If you wanna play rough, do it elsewhere. This town is my source of gourmet grub.

I've had enough of this scrawny cat dishing out the orders!

Nappa, don't!

Someone needs to learn some manners.

Haaangh?!

Wh-Whoa! Check out Nappa...!

Vegeta, I suggest you leave. While I sympathize with the loss of your pal, you're about to lose one more.

...Or maybe I should destroy you too?

Rrrrgh! Shallot! I will put this matter on hold... for now.

Next time, I expect a better answer!

Are they finally gone?

Looks that way.

Uh... What in blazes is going on?!

There was a fight. Don't sweat it.

Say, Lord Beerus. What did you mean by "I found Shallot, first"?

Exactly that. You bunch have... a special something, let's call it.

Oh yeah? What?

It's time I told you a few things. Hey, you can come out now!

Have I been waiting to hear that!

Seeing a young Vegeta in action was such a rush! I could hardly restrain myself back there!

Who the heck are you?

You gotta get outta here!

Wait, I remember! Why's your hair black?

Huh? Have we met?

...Goku.

Small world. So you guys have actually met this idiot in your respective times.

Allow me to introduce THIS era's Goku.

Not sure when you met those other versions of me... but it sure is swell to meet you!

Sorry, who is this guy?

Hey, Bulma's here! And she's young!

Y-You KNOW me? This is freaky.

Are you, like... my future husband or something?

No, no, and NO. Far from it.

Though I understand this must be a real blast from the past for you, we need to get down to brass tacks.

Right, right. Sorry! Heh heh.

We need help. Namely yours.

Oh yeah? What for?

We're gonna put a stop to this chaos by finding whoever's running the tournament.

The guy behind this? Wow.

And who could THAT be?

Wait, could it be "King Kai"? The guy that explained the rules by telepathy or something when we arrived?

Actually, the one who instructed him to brief all the fighters... was me.

Get out. So YOU'RE behind this?

Let me finish! The real mastermind took a very important hostage, forcing me to orchestrate this debacle.

M-Mastermind?!

...Then what does that make you?

Me? Only this universe's God of Destruction.

A g-god?! You're kidding! Then who's the hostage?

The Supreme Kai. Another divine being. The yin to Lord Beerus's yang, so to speak.

Er, Zahha? What exactly is a God of Destruction...?

I'll break it down for you later, so shut your pie hole.

The culprit demanded one thing and one thing only...

A massive battlefield for warriors to wage combat.

Why would anyone kidnap a god for THIS? It doesn't make sense.

As it stands, no one knows why this tournament is being conducted.

But one thing is certain, it won't end well.

I got it! Why not use the prize, the Super Dragon whatsits, and wish for the creep in a handbasket?

The "Super Dragon Balls" were recently used at the end of another contest, the Tournament of Power...

...rendering them inactive. The Supreme Kai's kidnapping was likely carried out with this knowledge.

This creep's making fighters duke it out to the death with the Balls as bait.

A sly one, this...

With the Super Dragon Balls not an option, it's up to us to find a more conventional solution.

If we wanna save the Supreme Kai AND take this mystery menace down, I can't show I'm up to something.

Which is where we come in. Our job's to sniff out the villain in Lord Beerus's place.

That's more or less the gist. Also, Goku is but one of many fighters acting on Lord Beerus's behalf.

Don't tell me that includes you too! Were you in on this the whole time?

Yeah. Pretty much.

We need your gadgets for this outing, Bulma. That's why I got Joke-o here to bring you into the fold.

I don't believe this! I'm doing tech support now?! I had actual plans for summer vacation!

Which is more important? One summer vacation or the future of Earth?!

Don't preach to me. I'm a bystander in all this. The future should be handled by the people LIVING in it!

I mean, there's a future me here, right? Why not go to her?

Whoever's behind this is likely keeping tabs on all my acquaintances from this era.

We can't afford to let him catch wind of our resistance.

Times are desperate. If it were up to me, Goku is the last person I would rely on.

Aw, lighten up, B! We'll get to the bottom of this in no time. You'll see!

One can certainly hope... Anyway, the future. SURELY you want to save it?

Well, yeah, I guess so...

If the future goes poof, so will your future husband, mind you.

Husband? So I DO get married to Prince Charming! Tell me, how charming is he? One hint! Pretty please!

Prince? Okay. Charming? I dunno... I mean, this is Veg...

Ack!

Shut your gob, idiot! Divulging the future to this Bulma will complicate things to no end!

Ho ho ho... If you really want to know someday, consider this era's protection your top priority.

Urgh... This is borderline extortion!

Well, guys? Whaddaya say? With you on the team, I know we can pull through!

I've briefed you on the situation. Next is the mission.

Bulma's brains are an absolute necessity, but we need the muscle to match. Can I count on you?

And if we say no?

Hmph. Try me. I assure you it's not an option.

...

Now, now. A decision of this magnitude requires time.

How about we call it a day and reconvene tomorrow? You can give us your final answer then.

Okay, okay! I'll be nice. Tomorrow then. Same time, same place.

Ooh...! AAAAH!!! WHY ME? WHY?!

Cheer up, Bulma! ...Sorry, that's all I got right now.

Find some guy capable of godnapping?! ...Nooope. Not for moi.

Helping is way better than the world getting annihilated without even knowing why.

This is more your field, Shallot. Not mine!

*sigh* Maybe I'll just stay cooped up in the Capital.

Again with that. You need to work on your positivi...

You call this FOOD?!

Huh?

What's the ruckus?

Tch! Not a decent meal on this entire planet!

Hey, what's the big idea?!

Oh? What do we have here? Come to give me a dose of justice, strongman?

I see the cowardly space cop is in your crew too. Heh heh. To what do I owe the displeasure?

Eesh. Dodoria. Now there's an unpleasant face.

You know this pink pineapple?

I'll say it once. Don't rampage here.

And one more thing... the food is freaking AWESOME. Your tongue must be as dumb as you are!

What's that, brat?!

Fellas? It's go time. Waste this runt.

So you're not all talk after all...!

(This neon balloon's damn strong! As strong as Vegeta, I'd say!)

The next time I see you, YOU'RE DEAD! Remember that, runt!

There he goes.

It takes a special kind of idiot to wreck a restaurant. Who is he, anyway?

Top-brass in an evil organization. Wasn't expecting him on Earth, but it makes sense, given the situation.

Evil organization?! What's someone like that doing in the Capital?

Well, looks like there's nowhere left for you to hide, Bulma. Not even in the cozy Capital.

J-Just my luck...

Work for Beerus and he'll see to it you survive, at least. Talk about employee perks, eh?

That's virtually the same as not having a choice at all!

Then the decision's been practically made for us.

For her, maybe. But how do you weigh in on this, Shallot?

I... I'm in!

That's unexpected, considering you don't have much of a stake in this fight.

I owe Beerus for his help in dealing with Raditz. That, plus...

I still have lots to learn about this era from you guys!

Or have you forgotten why I signed up to be your bodyguard? 'Cause I haven't!

Wow, Shallot...

Well, Whis? You think they'll take my offer?

Bulma's smart. She'll realize she doesn't stand much of a chance on her own.

As for Shallot and Zahha, hmm...

Yo, Beerus! We've come to a decision. We'll be joining your little operation.

That was fast. You have until tomorrow to think it through, you know?

Quicker is better for me. Plus, I don't have much else to do.

And what of Zahha? Is he not with you?

After hearing Lord Beerus's explanation, he up and vanished somewhere.

He STILL can't make up his mind? What is he, scared?

No need to rush the poor guy. There's still plenty of time, remember?

Yeah, to choose between choice one... or two. Not that complicated. I'll check up on him!

Not everyone's wired as simply as you, Shallot...

Really, are all Saiyans stupid or carefree?

Zahha! How's it going?

Shallot. What brings you here?

What's your take on Beerus's plan. You in?

I'm in all the way. I just got back from telling Beerus.

Yeah, I figured as much.

As for me, I think I'm done.

What? Don't tell me you're scared!

Trying to reel me in with my own ego? Not gonna work.

...Damn.

That purple chihuahua's probably who he says he is.

And yeah, something's not right about this tournament.

Then why sit this out?

If you really want to know, why not fight me?

Win and I'll tell you. Sound fair?

What? Are you off your rocker?

Damn! I was sure I had a chance...

What is your deal, Z? This isn't like you at all!

Tell me what's going on. What's more important than saving the future?

I'm not as trusting of this so-called destroyer as you.

You don't believe Beerus is a god?

No, no. He likely is.

But do you think these higher beings are in the godhood gig for the sake of us lowly mortals?

...

Taking this Beerus guy word for word doesn't seem prudent. Not to me.

That's not to say I don't agree with doing good for this world.

But I'll do it on my own terms, after gathering my own intel.

So that's how it is, eh? I guess I don't have a reason to object.

Consider that sparring match of ours a friendly send-off. Good luck out there.

And if those gods try to pull a fast one... lay them out flat.

Ha! That's what I do to most guys who piss me off anyway!

Don't I know it. You're always running that mouth, be the other guy god or mortal.

...That's not a compliment, is it?

Ha ha ha!

I guess this is where we part ways.

Yep. But we'll meet again, stronger.

Looking forward to our next match. ...Which I'll win, of course!

Don't be so cocky. Staying down's not my style, you know?

It's gonna have to be. I'm not losing!

Heh. Say bye to the others for me.

Will do. Don't die out there, Zahha.

So Zahha's a no go? He's got some stones, refusing a god.

He's not against us, just on his own. I'm sure we'll see him down the road.

That is, if he survives until then.

Allow me to explain the game plan moving forward.

What? So we ARE entering the tournament after all!

No. We ACT like we are, as a front to pursue our real goals: beating baddies and outing the mastermind.

And while we're at it, we look for promising candidates to join our resistance.

Hm. I was hoping for something, you know... more adventure-like?

Apologies for not being able to accommodate...

So we spot a guy, we beat him. I like that explanation better.

Speaking of which, I'm picking up a scent! There's someone strong right over there! Let's kick ass, gang!

Scratch one baddie!

Great work, Shallot. Keep at it. With you around, I might not be needed here after all.

Don't let your guard down. There could be much stronger foes ahead.

Remember Dodoria? We've no clue what his posse could be up to on Earth.

Hmm. Point taken.

While we're on the subject, what's the deal with that "evil organization" he's part of?

The Frieza Force. It's an army of bad guys led by this even badder guy... Frieza. Dodoria is his lackey.

It's quite possible that Frieza Force members from different eras could band together...

Or perhaps work with other villains to do nasty damage the likes of which we've never seen.

If that were to happen, Earth would be in some major hot water.

If this is your idea of a joke, please stop now.

...But I guess Goku could swoop in and save the day, right? Ha ha ha...

Goku, huh?

He's a Saiyan too, right? That golden hair can't be a dye job.

Oh, that little trick. Goku can turn into what's called a "Super Saiyan."

A Super... Saiyan?

We can pick this up later. Feel that, Shallot?

Sure do. Bogies inbound! ...Tch. Way to interrupt the conversation!

Speak of the devil. It's Frieza Force!

Hurry up! He'll murder us!

Who'da thought we'd run into someone THAT strong on this remote rock?

Stop running and fight us, you...

Holy...! What're you doing here?!

Huh?

Dammit all! I won't let you do this! You're the one getting ended, right here, right now!

The heck're you talking about?!

Guys? We are literally up against an alien horde.

There's nothing to fear, gang! We've got the numbers!

Go! Kill him all KINDS of dead!

I don't have a clue what you're babbling about, but you're about to catch these hands and more!

Whew. That all of them? Is it just me or...

Did they seem to be in an awful hurry?

Yeah. It was as if they were running from something. Weird.

And when they saw Shallot, they went absolutely bonkers.

Jaco! Look over there, where those goons came from.

Smoke. Something happened!

I'll say. There's supposed to be a small town there!

We'd better investigate. I'll fly ahead, Jaco. You follow on foot!

H-Hey!

...What I would GIVE to fly.