I don't own DBZ and I wrote this just for fun. I normally like to fit stories into continuity of the original story, but I'm almost positive I won't be able to do that this time. I'm cool with that though since this seems like a fun fanfiction to write. I would also like to thank my best friend for being a beta-reader for me on this.
Part 1
Videl was used to being called in to assist the police, however this request was a little different from normal. She was asked to take part in an undercover sting operation. After hearing the details, the detective in charge asked if she knew anyone else who would fit the profile, could be trusted, and would be willing to help. After careful consideration of her friends, the only one that she felt able to ask was Gohan.
That day at school she kept studying him, trying to determine whether she should ask him or not. She knew he was a "good guy". He was very kind, polite, had a sense of justice. Even though she knew there was something odd about him, something that he was hiding, oddly enough at the same time she also knew she could trust him.
Meanwhile, Gohan had noticed that Videl's attention seemed to be focused on him and not class. Of course this was hardly unusual. It was a favorite pastime of hers to try to solve the puzzle of Son Gohan. Right before the end of class, she seemed to reach a decision and whispered to him that she wanted to meet with him privately after school. Normally when she asked this, he tried to figure a way out of avoiding her since the meeting usually involved a grilling, but this time it seemed different so he was actually patiently waiting for her at his locker after school.
What she asked him came as a surprise and he couldn't help but wonder if she had asked him because she had figured out his "SaiyaMan" identity. However, as she explained more, it was not for this identity she had picked him, but for the reputation he had in school; the rather nerdy, kinda wimpy bookworm that Sharpner declared him to be.
As she told him more about it, he found out why he would work well in this undercover case. A strange clinic had sprung up that advertised a "get strong quick" program. What made the police question it was the strange personality changes some of the clinic's patrons had undergone. Even more suspicious was the large number of clients who ended up on missing person reports.
After agreeing to help, she introduced him to her police contacts. He found out that they planned on using him because they were afraid Videl would be recognized and the culprits might be suspicious of her. The police wanted to bust the clinic right away, but needed some more evidence before they could.
The plan was for Gohan and Videl to go to the clinic on the upcoming Saturday. Videl was going to wear a wire. They didn't want Gohan to have to worry about one. Also, they felt if the wire was discovered on Videl, that it could be explained away easier without compromising their operation. (If confronted, she was simply scoping out the place for her father to see if it lived up to its claims and whether or not any of his competition was using the facility.) The officers also didn't know whether Gohan and Videl would have to make several visits to the clinic to get enough evidence or if they would be able to signal them for the bust on the first visit.
Luckily it was already Thursday and Saturday was fast approaching. Gohan decided not to tell his mother what was going on. He correctly assumed that she would forbid him from doing it, never mind the fact that bullets couldn't hurt him. He simply told her he was planning on going out with a friend on Saturday. The reaction that is was Videl was quite interesting. She started out ranting about him going out with a girl then changed in mid-rant to dreamy comments about Grandchildren. Gohan just sighed to himself and let her be. Whatever, just as long as she wasn't forbidding him to go out.
At last Saturday arrived. Gohan met with Videl at the station. The detective went over everything once more with them and tested the wire Videl had hidden on her person. They weren't too worried about Videl, but to Gohan they stressed not putting himself into danger and not to take any chances. A van brought them to the clinic. It parked a few blocks away. Videl was to go in first and a few minutes later Gohan would follow. The men in the van told him when she went through the door. An uneasy feeling started to creep up Gohan's spine. It just got worse the closer he got to the building. Unconsciously, he lowered his ki. He didn't know if it was his senses alerting him to a specific danger or just a premonition, but fear for Videl kept him going forward like nothing was wrong.
When he walked inside, it looked like a gym. There was a large number of people working out on various pieces of equipment throughout the open room. It really did look like a standard gym. There were quite a few BIG guys walking around in work-out clothes with the clinic's logo on them. Videl was talking to one of them at a desk. As Gohan approached the desk, she walked back to a chair to finish filling out some papers. He walked up to the desk and smiled at the large muscular man behind it (whose nametag proudly proclaimed him as "POP") and began to inquire about the program.
It was explained to him that he needed to fill out a detailed application that would determine which specific program he would take part in. He thanked the man named POP and walked over to the set of chairs where Videl and two other guys were working on their papers. Gohan found it interesting that besides the general questions the application also had an essay question asking, "Why do you want to get stronger?"
Gohan surreptitiously sneaked peeks at Videl's essay. Evidently, she had been recognized when she came in because she started hers out with "As the famous daughter of a famous Martial Artist…" The basis of her argument was actually quite funny to Gohan. She said she wanted to become stronger than her father so she could date anyone she wanted. Her father apparently was worried about her ability to fend off the unwanted advances of a strong guy and if she dated a weakling he wouldn't be able to protect her from the afore mentioned types advances either. If however she became stronger than her father she could date any type of man she wanted by virtue of her own strength.
Gohan's essay said that basically as a bookworm most of the guys and even the girls in school didn't take him seriously. He wanted to become stronger so he wasn't so hesitant when it came to physical activities. As Gohan finished up he noticed the other three had already finished and were still waiting in the chairs. When he brought up his papers to the desk another of the uniformed work-out guys (this one dubbed COLA) walked to the chairs and told the four he would give them a tour of the facility and answer some of their questions. They were shown various work-out areas like the one in front, locker rooms, and some assessment stations where they would be tested and determined healthy for their routines. All in all, it looked mostly like a typical gym with its own private physicians.
There were however some discrepancies and the bad feeling never left Gohan. As time passed the sensation of wrongness seemed to grow. Most worrisome was the strange energy signature coming from an area of the facility that they were not shown in the tour. It seemed to consist of a hallway and a series of doors. Also, spaced throughout the building were some odd looking doorways. He couldn't say exactly what was odd about them, at least not without making a pointed examination of them. If these things weren't enough to make him paranoid, he noticed there were quite a few cameras to keep an eye on everyone and everywhere they went. As the tour ended they were led back to the chairs to wait for POP to schedule their appointment times individually.
A figure in a lab coat sat at his desk. His room was filled with various monitors. Some were video monitors showing members of the clinic and others were computer screens providing a constant stream of information. A knock at his door interrupted his viewing pleasure. One of the work-out boys came into the office and bowed his head to the man behind the desk.
"So, Soda, any interesting ones today?"
"Actually, there were two, Doctor. One is Satan Videl, daughter of Satan Hercule."
"Really? It is interesting that she came here, but not surprising that she's a candidate. However, I had heard that she sometimes works with the police. Any reason to be suspicious of her interest in our program?"
"After reading her application, I'd say no." Soda handed the man Videl's papers. "From everything I've heard about her, the reason she is here is legit, what with her father being as well known as he is."
"Fine, who's the other candidate?"
"Oh, this one I think will really interest you." He handed a second folder to his boss.
"Heh, heh, another scholarly type wanting some muscles, but why does this one have you smirking. I know they've been rather good candidates so far, but what makes him so special?"
"Just take a look at his energy reading and I think you'll agree with my assessment."
The seated man quickly perused the file. His eyes widened and he looked up at his muscle bound henchman. "What?! Are you sure this is right?"
"As you can see, although the readings fluctuate a bit, he seems to carry a naturally high amount of energy."
"Yes he does, and what a pity that the wonderful energy is being wasted on someone who would rather not use it-he'd rather just sit in the library."
"Not anymore since he's here."
"Ah yes," the doctor paused to look at the name scrawled on the file. "Son Gohan would like to become stronger and we'll show him that he can be stronger, right before we take all that lovely energy away from him."
"So when do we enroll them in the program, Doctor?"
"Why not today?"
"Sir?"
"Giving the girl preferential treatment is only fitting considering who she is. And the boy, it would be a shame to let that one get away. Make it so."
"Yes, Doctor, I'll have Pop schedule their first sessions today. "