Dragon Ball Oblivion: The Lone Wolf Saga

Chapter 1 – Isolation

by: Shisoukengo

Justify you waste away, You dare to dream but still, you're too afraid

And now you're broken and deceived, Lost to live this cruel reality

You're disconnected so alone, Severed ties from all you know

Isolation

Brings you to the end, Until you love again

Isolation

If you could only see, What will come to be?

Four Years After the Events of the Tournament of Power

Surrounded by the vast darkness of space, among the twinkle of both distant and nearby stars, a round object streaked through the emptiness. Shaped like a disc, with clear windows that circled around the front of its structure, this object flew through the vast emptiness of space at incredible speeds. Inside, two figures stood in front of a control panel, eyeing the concourse as it detailed the trajectory of their current course toward their destination. A beeping sound alerted them of their next checkpoint, the final one that would see them set on a straight path toward the planet to which they were heading.

"I've gotta say, usin the gravitational pull of stars to help propel us along our journey's a brilliant idea, Nashi," one of the figures spoke, its voice deep, gruff, and distinctly male in tone.

Humanoid in appearance with the exception of the sharp incisors and angular ears which sat atop his head; he was of average height and stout in stature, this being stood with his arms crossed over a chiseled and muscular frame. His arms, shoulders, and the sides of his abdomen and chest were covered in sparse gray hairs, the center of his chest and abdomen the only part of his body that was bare. Dressed in black, loose-fitting pants and a copper-colored vest, which had two sections that extended past his waist and down each leg. On the center of his chest, connected to two plated straps that extended both over each shoulder and around his waist, was a blue metallic circular device. Strapped just above each of his wrists and ankles, were metallic bracers digitally connected to the metallic device on his chest.

Although the navigator of the crew and thus directing their course, he still sometimes marveled at the scientific brilliance of his other companion. Turning his head toward said companion, he looked on as the other being continued to monitor the panel, which displayed a digital map of the star system through which their ship was traveling. The other figure turned to look at him, having seemingly completed their inspection of the ship's panel.

"Well Lupine, he wanted us to be as efficient with our fuel as possible, to give us time to prepare for our arrival on Earth, and so he could complete his training." Turning to glance in the direction of an area of the ship behind them, the second being, a female, softly blushed then clasped her face with both hands as she released a soft sigh, the look reminiscent of a female infatuated with a male. "He's so strong and cool, yet considerate at the same time, amazing!"

Lupine had to shake his head at the antics of the only female member of their group. With fair tan skin, and long, curly hair the color of an apricot, and an athletic body that had grown a solid foot in height and slightly more curvaceous since her revival, her beauty certainly made her a sight to behold. This was only compounded by her impressive intellect and teasing disposition.

But what made her so interesting, and a constant source of amusement was her clear infatuation with the DE-facto leader of their crew. She was clearly romantically inclined toward their teammate, as well as fiercely loyal, however, her unfamiliarity with such emotions made her attempts at communicating those feelings awkward. The other two beings had spent the past three months within a portion of the ship, further honing the skills and techniques they individually collected and had spent the previous 3 years mastering. Unfolding his arms, Lupine began walking toward the back of the ship, intent on informing the third member of their crew of the upcoming final leg of their journey. While there was no established hierarchy to their motley crew, as each of them viewed themselves as equal contributors to their crew, both viewed this being as the leader of the group. Passing through the automatic doors which led to the rear quarters, he stopped at a large set of double doors. He could feel the physical pull and strain on his body, even though he hadn't entered the room yet. Given the fact that Nashi had specially designed this portion of the ship with a magnetic field to isolate it from the other parts of the ship, it was a testament to how hard their companion was training inside. As he could not enter the room while the field was raised, since doing so could potentially throw them off course, causing potentially fatal consequences, he instead pushed a button on an intercom located on the wall. "As you requested, we've reached the final portion of our journey." He waited a few moments, but after receiving no response, Lupine turned and began walking back to join Nashi in guiding the ship to their destination.

After all, both he and Nashi were adept at detecting ki signatures thanks to the person currently in training, and he could tell from the slight fluctuation of his comrade's ki inside the training room that he had heard the message. Giving a wolfish smile, so appropriate on his features, he began reflecting on the man he'd met several years prior.

'Your strength has grown by tremendous amounts since I met you, like watchin a pup grow into an alpha. Because of ya, I've also gained power I never thought possible, and my kin was also revived in the process.' Lupine returned to the deck of the flying spacecraft, folding his arms over his chest once again as he looked out of the window, onto the blackness of space. The ship bounded around the red star known as Centaurus, the nearest star to the system in which they were headed. 'Because of the things you've done, for me and my people, I invoked the rare custom of my kin, the Okuri, and have taken your journey as my journey, and your enemies as my enemies. And in the name of my kin, I shall see you returned to your home, and your honor restored.'As the ship propelled away from Centaurus, and continued on its journey, the training room in the rear of the ship filled with the ki of its lone inhabitant. Arms held in the customary position of his iconic fighting style, legs held in a stance perfectly designed to enable him the most efficient movements possible, the figure stood in what appeared as a meditative pose. A crimson aura swirled around him in a vibrant display of power, before slowly, gradually receding back onto its wielder. It receded further until finally, it settled as an almost thin shield of ki that extended mere inches from its wielder's skin. Dressed in a pair of loose-fitting black sweatpants and white tank-top on his muscular frame, sweat soaking both portions of his clothing as his body simultaneously held the strain of employing the technique he was using, while standing under the intense gravity of the training room.

'Seems like I've finally got a full mastery over this technique,' the figure thought as he slowly released his ki, his muscles somewhat relaxing from the strain of having employed one of the North Kai's most famous techniques.

Straightening himself back to an upright position, he took a moment to stretch and move his limbs, feeling the stiffness alleviate slightly while his joints popped. The strain of the intense gravity in the room still made movement slightly difficult, but no less impossible as he'd made it a point to train from 300-500x the gravity he was accustomed to on his home-world for the past few months he'd been traveling through space.

'Just like I guessed, gradually training under all of this insane gravity over the past few years has built my body up in a way to drastically reduce the strain from using this technique.'

Looking over toward the other occupant in the training room, he watched the figure for some time, the being's green skin, pointed ears and dual antennae, an obvious indicator of his alien race. The figure sat in his own, more traditional meditative pose, actually suspended in mid-air, surrounded by his own vivid and powerful white aura, despite the enormously high gravity effect in the room.

'Kid's so much like Piccolo, it's scary,' the space traveler thought as he shook his head, though he had been told by the other Namekians that the silent warrior carried himself more like their former hero, Nail.

Turning away from his other traveling companion to a device located in the center of the training room, the mysterious warrior walked over to its console, the panel displaying the figure, x500. Pressing down on the bottom of two buttons located toward the right side of the panel, he held it as the number on the panel gradually lowered down to 01. As the number lowered, the pressure that the figure had been feeling on his body receded in tandem, before subsiding altogether. The invisible weight released from his body was immediately felt, as he let out a sigh before then walking over to a nearby portion of the room. Removing the towel from the hand-bar attached to the wall, he wiped the sweat that poured from his pores.

He could feel the muscles in his body gradually releasing their tension, allowing his movement to become easier and more fluid. After another deep breath and a sigh of release, he tossed the hand towel over one shoulder, walking over to the door which had released its electronic lock once the machine had been lowered back to its original setting. Reaching up with hands calloused over the years he'd spent training and fighting, he pressed a button on the wall near the door.

'Glad that I've gotten used to training in such high gravity,' his lips quirked upward in a barely there smile. 'At least I'm not accidentally breaking buttons anymore. I'm sure Dr. Briefs will be glad for that, though I'll still have to explain the ship he built being destroyed. Hopefully trading him for this one will square everything.'

He made his way from the training room to the nearby lavatory, deciding that a long, soaking bath was much needed prior to his arrival back on his home.

'Home, huh? Sounds so strange to even say, since it hasn't really felt that way even before I left. That, and I've been away for so long.'

The thought was not entirely strange, given not just the circumstances behind his leaving, as well as the events that took place since his departure. But also due to the actions, he intended to take upon returning to his home world.

'I don't wanna see any destruction or loss of life because of this, but I'm gonna need every advantage I can get.' As this thought crossed his mind, he clenched his fists in resolution, his eyes narrowed in focus as he used a washrag lathered in soap to scrub and bathe his body, cleaning off the sweat and grime that had covered him from his training sessions.

There were so many factors to consider, the two most prominent ones being the two Saiyans who now called his planet their home. Not only had they achieved the highest echelon of power that any mortal being could achieve, that of god-like ki, but they had even received personal instruction under the tutelage of Whis, the angelic being responsible for training Beerus, the fearsome God of Destruction of their universe. And as if that wasn't bad enough, they also had the support of other beings of incredible power, such as demons like Majin Buu, to cybernetic twin androids and even the only living super Namekian. Not to mention other high-level Saiyans as well. Not only was the scale of power virtually insurmountable, but they were also disadvantaged in numbers as well.

'The three of us have been busting our butts over the past few years to get as strong as we have, and we've defeated guys who were considered monsters themselves,' he reflected as he rinsed his body clean, before immersing himself in the bathtub nearby. 'I'm confident we could last against and defeat the Androids, Buu, or even the other Saiyans. But I got no interest in fighting kids, and none of the things I've done since leaving, or intend to do will amount to anything if I don't fight either of those two.'

Feeling his muscles finally fully relaxing from the warmth of the bath water, the person tilted his head back and draped a towel over his face, his body sinking further into the water as he reflected on the adventures he'd had, the true friends he'd made, the battles he fought, and the inner struggles and weaknesses he'd overcome.

Yamcha stood off to the side after having watched Goku and the others leave for the Tournament of Power, the shock of being cast aside and left behind short-circuiting his thoughts. Suspended in utter disbelief, he hung his head while his faithful companion, Puar, and the perverted pig Oolong, both tried to console him. Slowly, his brain began working again, posing numerous questions and pondering multiple reasoning in an attempt to try and figure out why out of all his friends was he the only one left behind.

'I don't understand. I mean, guys like Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, and Piccolo are a given. Anyone would expect those guys to be on the team.' He thought as a depressive feeling sank into him, enveloping his entire being, as his eyes focused on the ground in front of him. 'Kuririn and Tien-Shinhan would be the same, and if Kuririn's goes then obviously 18 is gonna be there as well. But why 17? Even Frieza?! Those guys have never tried to protect anything, they've only tried to destroy things!'Tilting his head back to stare up at the night sky, Yamcha continued to ignore the consoling efforts of Puar, while Oolong continued to watch in an odd combination of concern and exasperation. Obviously, the pig didn't think that Yamcha seriously had any desire to fight in the tournament, given how long he'd been out of commission as a fighter. "Come on Yamcha, be serious! They're going to decide the fate of the whole universe! You haven't fought seriously in almost ten years, ever since that Cell tournament ended." The pig shrugged as if his words made all the sense in the world. "They probably thought since you backed out of that last tournament before Buu came along, that you wouldn't want any part of this tournament either. Especially since you haven't had the best of luck in these things."Puar gasped at his fellow shape-shifter's blunt words, the natural instinct to defend his long-time friend and ally. While the floating cat scolded their friend, Oolong defending the legitimacy of his words in return, Yamcha himself felt the crushing weight of the pig's words. The depression that enveloped him constricted even further, like a snake crushing the life out of its prey. In this case, that prey being the heart in his chest.'Is that true? But that doesn't really make any sense. I mean it's not like Kuririn has ever had any big successes at tournaments. In fact, he'd stopped training just like I had for a while. The only reason he even began training again for the last tournament is that we all knew Goku was coming back to compete for a day, and he knew 18 was looking to compete as well.'

The former bandit looked back down at the ground in front of him, the bickering of his two companions mere background noise.

'None of this makes any sense at all! If it's about having not trained in a while, Roshi-sensei should be even more out of practice than I am! And as much as I respect him, he's practically ancient. And Frieza, the guy's done nothing but try to kill everyone and everything in his path. He even blew up the whole planet, I don't get it!'

As the depressive feeling continued to tighten its grasp, he delved deep inside of himself, hoping to search for some inner refuge from the crushing feeling. But there seemed to be no escape, as the reality of the betrayal by those he considered friends sank in.

Betrayal.

That single word brought about a realization. And with that realization came clarity. With clarity, a separate feeling slowly emerged. Small, at first, as an ember among a pile of kindling. It grew and escalated as it battled back against the depression, igniting other feelings which he had long suppressed.

'I've been a number of things in my life, some of them good, some of them bad. But I've NEVER been a coward! I fought for this planet, I fought with them, and for them! For Goku! I risked my life and even died, all just to help them fight HIS battles. And they, HE just leaves me behind?'

As the thought passed through Yamcha's mind, he began reflecting on the actions of those around him. While Goku had never been known for being secretive, he hadn't come out and told him about the tournament either. He'd had to find out, ironically, from overhearing about it at Bulma's party. Along with Tien's aloofness, and Gohan's bout of nerves when Yamcha mentioned being invited to the tournament. All of these things began to put themselves into place, like pieces of a puzzle coming together to form a clearer picture. And he knew, deep within, the true reality of the situation. And that really wasn't just that he was left behind, it was that he was never even considered as a possible member from the very eyes drifted from the ground at his feet to the fists now clenched at his side, and his jaw tightening to the point of being painful, surprising himself at the response his body gave off. As if it recognized both the anguish and hunger welling up inside of him before his mind did, and was responding in kind. Yamcha glanced back around the corner of the wall he was hiding behind, watching as the blue-haired woman continued to watch the sky after everyone had left.'After everything, I've given, and everything I've lost, are you saying I'm not good enough?' He scowled as the question lingered in his mind, transforming the simmering emotions within him into a raging inferno. 'That's bull-crap! No way I'm gonna take this lying down!'

Turning his gaze away from his former girlfriend, back to the night sky, his eyes narrowed as his face morphed into a scowl, as an idea, a plan formulated in his mind. His voice was deep, low, and deadly serious as his mind became clear. He knew what he had to do, and addressed the only being he knew could trust to help him.

"Puar," the shape-shifting, floating cat turned from his argument with Oolong at his friend's voice, "are you with me?"

Perplexed by his longtime friend and ally cryptic question, the feline nonetheless nodded in agreement, an easy question considering the pact he'd made with the former bandit years ago.

"Then let's go! We've got some work to do and not a lot of time to do it."Puar frowned, confused by Yamcha's words, but didn't have any time to dwell on them as Yamcha grabbed his friend and leaped from the balcony they had been standing on, taking to the sky at incredible speed. This shocked the shape-shifter, who then could only clutch onto the shirt Yamcha was wearing, holding on for dear life. The grimace on Yamcha's face belied the struggle he was having at maintaining such a speed, an obvious sign of how out of shape he was when it came to utilizing his ki.

'I can't believe how tough this is! This must be because I haven't trained in so many years, my ki feels like it's literally slipping from my body!' He thought as he looked ahead, struggling to maintain his speed through sheer force of will. 'Still, I should be able to reach the tower fairly soon.'

True to his inner thoughts, after several minutes of flight, he saw the appearance of the base of Karin's tower. Pressing further, a burst of ki propelled him forward and upward as reached the base, then tilted skyward. Moments later, Yamcha slowed as he reached the balcony, and leaping over the banister to encounter the wise, feline martial arts master as he landed. The cat, having sensed the human's approach, as very few even knew the location of his home, never mind having the flight capability necessary to reach it in such a fashion. Still, while not shocked by the human warrior's arrival, he was nonetheless curious as to what necessitated this particular house call.

After landing, Yamcha approached and bowed to Karin, his tone and mannerism unusually humble in delivery. After all, the feline master was well aware of the human's somewhat cocky reputation.

"Karin-sama, it's good to see you again," he spoke as he offered the traditional martial arts bow, "I'm sorry for appearing so unannounced."

The old martial arts master nodded in acknowledgment, his trusted staff held customarily at his side.

"Yam-chan, good to see you again also. As one of Earth's greatest heroes, you don't have to apologize for showing up so suddenly. Kami knows Goku-chan does it all of the time." He answered in jest. "That said, I must ask what brings you here? I thought you would have joined the others in competing in the universal tournament?"

The feline martial arts master found the human warrior's response to his question very interesting. The grimaced, pained expression on his face spoke volumes to the deity. While he'd heard of the human warrior's decision to retire from fighting, it still baffled him that he hadn't joined his comrades for this tournament. After all, he was confident in saying that the young man wasn't just one of the most powerful warriors on Earth, but within the galaxy as well. Especially since at his zenith, he was leagues above where the Saiyans, Vegeta & Nappa, were when they first arrived on Earth. Even counting the lack of training over the last several years, it was apparent he hadn't allowed himself to fall too far below that level.

'I couldn't possibly imagine Yam-chan turning down the chance to join his friends in defending the Universe, even after his decision to retire. He's not someone to run from the chance to defend the planet and help his friends, as well as redeem his previous losses.' Karin thought as he zeroed his attention back onto the human warrior's response.

"Nah, apparently they decided they didn't need me for this one," he spoke, the response laced with a bitterness that Karin could tell he was trying to hide under a smile.

As if the whole thing were a joke, with a punchline he was still trying to figure out. Deciding it best not to dwell on it too much, the feline master decided to move the conversation along.

"I see, so what brings you here?" He repeated the question, all the while continuing to observe the human warrior's response.

"Well, Karin-sama, I figured with the other guys all busy with the tournament, that I've decided to go on a training journey on my own. I realized that a big part of me, that remembers what it was like to fight beside the guys, hasn't been happy at all with my decision to retire from fighting. I mean, I wasn't even told when Frieza came back here, and now I'm not involved with the tournament at all."

At this, the bitter tone returned, and this time the joking smile he wore only moments before disappeared, in favor of an expression that more belied the frustration he was feeling. Karin was well aware of the old expression, regarding curiosity and the cat. And the young man's explanation, while completely plausible on the surface, certainly had his curiosity peaked as to what training journey he intended to set out upon, and in what manner he thought the feline master might help. Deciding a little bit more information wouldn't hurt, he opted to do a little more fishing.

"Hmm, well I would say that would certainly go quite a ways in helping you out," the talking cat nodded in reply. "Even I can tell just from looking at you, that your strength is much lower compared to where you were a few years ago. So, how can I help you on this journey you seek to take?"

The feline master of martial arts found himself surprised when the human warrior approached a few feet and knelt in front of him, down on one knee, a fist touching the floor while his other arm rested on a bent knee. Head bowed, the one known as the God of Martial Arts was once again shocked at the unheard display of humility. While a bit over the top and uncharacteristic, as it was an action he would usually expect from Krillin, Karin found his curiosity now far surpassing his shock at the human's actions. Further compounded when the man finally spoke his request.

"Karin-sama, I've come to your home, seeking any senzu beans you might have left, please. I know I'll need them on the journey I plan to take."

"Hmm, I see. Unfortunately, I already gave Krillin and the others a few that I had already produced. And as you know, it takes considerable time to grow a new batch." At his response, he watched as the human warrior's face unveiled his frustration, a hangdog look appearing at his words.

"Relax, Yam-chan, I didn't say I gave them all of my beans. I still have some left over," he spoke, as Yamcha's immediately brightened at this news.

"Will you lend them to me, Karin-sama? Even if it's only a few, please!" He bowed his head once again, maintaining the prostrating pose, an ultimate sign of respect toward the 800-year old cat.

Karin observed his former pupil momentarily as if attempting to gauge the severity of his former charge's resolve. Upon meeting the human's gaze, Karin could just as easily see the hunger, and resolve in the warrior's gaze. After moments of this silent stare down, Karin gave a subtle nod, before turning and moving toward a nearby woven basket. Lifting the lid, the feline martial arts master reached in, retrieving the requested items inside of it before turning back toward his former pupil.

"I'm afraid I haven't grown that many, Yam-chan, since the last time I gave some to your friends," he spoke as he placed the items in a small cloth bag. "So a few is only all that I can give."

Yamcha looked toward Karin, smiling in gratitude as he accepted the bag, glancing inside to gauge the number of beans. Counting the number eight, the human warrior pulled on the string, closing the bag. Standing back to his feet, Yamcha once again bowed to the feline master.

"Thank you for this, Karin-sama, I'll be sure to pay you back when I return!" With those parting words, the Human warrior turned and, grabbing his friend Puar, sprinted back toward the edge.

Activating his ki, he leaped over the ledge and once again took off at impressive speed for someone still attempting to shake off the rust. Puar's squeal of shock was the only sound that could be heard over the projection of ki. Karin approached the ledge, looking over as if still seeing the two, even after they had already disappeared beneath the clouds.

'Good luck on your journey, Yam-chan,' he thought as he continued to observe the ki trail that marked the direction that the human had taken.

Yamcha pushed himself once again, his eyes squinting and face scrunched due to the strain of projecting his ki to the degree he was using. In a similar time, as it took for him to arrive at Karin's lookout, he found himself arriving back on the Capsule Corp. property. Extinguishing his ki just before he landed, Yamcha took a moment to look around the moment he touched down. Clutching the bag of senzu beans he held in his hands, Yamcha proceeded to put the next part of his plan into action, drawing on the stealth from his long renounced days as a bandit, as well as his speed developed over the years to seek out and locate the old scientist, Dr. Briefs. Quickly locating the elderly man working on a new device in his workshop, he quietly approached the scientist. Dr. Briefs placed his tool down on the table, stretching as he worked out the kinks in his bones. Yamcha could tell that age was beginning to fully bear down on him, and though things didn't end well between the fighter and his daughter, his respect for the elderly man never wavered.

"Dr. Briefs," The scarred, ex-bandit inclined his head toward the elderly scientist, who casually removed the cigarette from his mouth, extinguishing it before tossing it in a nearby ashtray. "You know those things are gonna kill you one of these days, right?"

"Yamcha my boy! You know, that's exactly what Mrs. Briefs and Bulma have been telling me. But at my age, one cigarette here and there isn't going to make much of a difference now will it?" Yamcha nodded, conceding to the old man's point. "Now, what brings you to my workshop? I thought you'd have departed for that universal tournament, along with the others." The younger man's hangdog expression told the doctor that he'd had a similar presumption.

"No, apparently they decided they didn't need me for this one. So I've actually come to ask a favor of you. Actually a couple of them, for old time's sake." At this, he could tell he had the doctor's attention, as the man squinted at him curiously.

"And what would that be?" Dr. Briefs asked, wondering about the younger man's intentions.

"Would you happen to still have a working spaceship by any chance?" At this, the doctor's face morphed from curiosity to incredulity. However, he quickly masked it, hoping to talk the younger man out of whatever he was planning.

"As a matter of fact, I believe I do. I decided it might be best to have one on standby, ever since that mess with Frieza returning happened. So I rebuilt one of our older models, the one Vegeta destroyed, with some assistance of course. Why on Earth would you want a spaceship?" He asked as he pulled out a carton of cigarettes he always seemed to keep in the inside pocket of his doctor's coat.

"For training," the younger man answered briefly, keeping his answer as short as possible, an action not unnoticed by the elderly scientist.

But what also did not escape the older man's eye, was the look in the eye of his younger counterpart. While he had always been a man of intellect, not one of combat, every man knew that look when he saw it. It was a look universally recognized in any human, a mixture of desperation and determination, of hurt and hunger. To his seasoned eye, it was the look of an animal backed into a corner.

"Alright," Dr. Briefs nodded, agreeing to Yamcha's request. "How soon would you need it?"

"I'd like to have it as soon as possible, preferably before Goku and the others return," the younger man looked down at the floor again. "I honestly just wouldn't rather see them as I am now."

Dr. Briefs studied Yamcha for a few more moments, then finally nodded once again, as if seeing and acknowledging for the first time how truly affected the younger man was by being left out of the universal tournament.

'You don't feel like you truly belong anymore, do you, Yamcha?' The thought passed momentarily, as he realized the former martial artist was speaking again.

"Please, Dr. Briefs," he spoke as he bowed forward, clasping his hands in front of him, "I know my history with you and your daughter didn't end all that great, and you don't owe me anything. But please, just this once, please help me out this one time!"

"Whoa there, my boy! I never said I wouldn't help, and I understand your feelings. So there's no need to beg," he held his hands up in a placating gesture. "And what was your second request?"

At this, Yamcha blinked, momentarily confused at the elderly man's response. Seeing this, Dr. Briefs determined that clarification was in order.

"You mentioned a second request, what is it?" He asked, as the fog of confusion was swept away and recognition dawned.

"I want to borrow the dragon radar," he stated, catching the elderly man off guard for the first time.

"The dragon radar? What do you need that for? The dragon balls are still out of commission, and will be for some time."

"I know that, but just humor me, please?" he requested, his tone final, his eyes resolute.

Dr. Briefs grunted in acknowledgment for a moment, then shuffled over to a desk, once again littered with spare parts and various tools. After rummaging around for a few moments, he finally pulled out a familiar looking item. Shuffling over to the younger man, he stiffly handed over the dragon radar.

"This is an old model, one which we haven't used since the time you all returned from Namek. It could probably use some fine-tuning, so it might not have the pin-point accuracy of the newer model, but it should still work all the same."

Yamcha accepted the item, nodding gratefully at Dr. Briefs, looking at it for a moment as Puar continued to watch silently from his perch on the man's shoulder. Dr. Briefs accepted the nod with one of his own, then turned to pick up the device he had been working on off of the desk and leave the room, gesturing for Yamcha to follow him. The two made their way, albeit at a sedate pace, through the corridors of the Capsule Corporation building, eventually emerging outside on another portion of the property. Ahead of them, Yamcha could see the all too familiar spaceship, branded with the logo of Capsule Corp across the side of it. The two men headed toward the entrance of the ship, where Dr. Briefs pointed to a button near the door. This caused the door to open, and a set of stairs descended downward, stopping once it reached the ground. Yamcha whistled, while Puar looked on in awe, although the ship did appear all that different from the one which he'd watched Vegeta use all those years before. As Yamcha began to make his way into the ship, Dr. Briefs followed him, speaking to him on the way up the stairs leading inside.

"For the most part, the ship still operates the same, however, we've made some improvements to it," Dr. Briefs stated as Yamcha examined the circular inner chamber.

"It looks the same as before," he spoke, unable to discern any differences between this refurbished model and the old one.

"That's because you're only focused on the cosmetics, my boy," the scientist spoke in reply as he shuffled about. "For starters, this ship has been fitted with a more fuel efficient engine and speed adjustment settings, allowing one to choose as to what speed they will travel. At current capacity, I estimate this ship could reach new planet Namek in roughly one and a half month's time while traveling at full speed. Of course, this would also mean that at half speed it would take upwards of three months to reach."

The elderly scientist maneuvered to the ship's control panel, turning to the younger man still standing in the center of the spaceship. Yamcha followed him, still taking in the list of improvements as Dr. Briefs went on to explain the startup process for the ship, and how the destination selection option functioned. As Dr. Briefs revealed the default destination selected for the ship as New Namek, Yamcha turned to face him, a question upon his lips.

"Wait, how can this ship get to new Namek? King Kai never told us where in the galaxy their planet is located." Dr. Briefs nodded, the former martial artists' question a valid one.

"Ah, just one of the many other improvements I've had the chance to make to this ship. One of the many advantages we've gained by having numerous aliens visit our planet is that we've been able to take advantage of not just the technology they brought with them, but the secrets they hold as well. The first ship I built, which Goku used to travel to the former planet Namek, only had the coordinates for that planet installed in it. Mainly because it was a rush job, as Goku needed to get to Namek as soon as possible. However, the space pod that Vegeta first arrived in held the location of many more inhabited planets located throughout the galaxy. This information was later improved upon, after Frieza's most recent return to our planet, providing us with updated information of even more planets, everything from the atmosphere to a description of the native inhabitants, to location, including that of new Namek."

Yamcha nodded in reply, silently glad that he wouldn't have to worry about trying to get the location of New Namek. His original plan had been to try and establish mental contact with King Kai, once he'd left the planet, in order to learn of Namek's location. However, with this detail out of the way, he could now use that request to obtain something else from the Lord of Worlds. Something which he knew he would definitely need in order to obtain the goal he was ultimately seeking to achieve.

"That's great, Dr. Briefs, I had no idea you were able to get so much information. So what else can this ship do?"

"I'm glad you asked my boy," the scientist responded, his voice portraying the excitement of further displaying the improvements he'd made. "The ship also comes with a media system, something which I also wasn't able to include in the first model that Goku used. It comes preloaded with multiple programs, including a training system that features a comprehensive analysis of the fighting styles and techniques of many of your friends. We were able to gain access to that information, compliments of Dr. Gero, when Bulma performed an extensive analysis of Android 16 while she was preparing to remove the explosive device with which he'd been equipped. Another feature we obtained from studying 16's mechanics and programming, is a built-in energy reader, capable of detecting and displaying energy signatures hundreds of times greater than any of those scouter devices used by Frieza's soldiers.

Another program preloaded into the ship's computer, is an information and repair program, that provides detailed analysis of how each piece of equipment and features within the ship operates, as well as simple, step-by-step instruction for making any necessary repairs or modifications to any of the equipment that helps the ship to operate at functional capacity. Like the previous model, it also holds a separate room which acts as the living quarters, containing a bed and a small kitchenette. The room also has storage containers stocked with capsules, which are filled with things such as food, tools, training equipment, and spare clothing designed in exact replicas and sizes of Goku and the others. Overall, there are enough supplies and fuel reserves stored to last up to 5 people for a full year of travel through space."

Yamcha stared in awe, shifting transfixed gazes between the brilliant scientist and his creation. He had to admit, it was like receiving a perfectly timed gift, the ship contained almost everything he would need to succeed in his goal of surpassing his former strength and regaining his standing and respect among those he once called friends. Well, almost everything, as there was one thing the former bandit was seeking to make extensive use of, and which the scientist had yet to mention.

"What about a gravity machine?" Yamcha asked, turning back to the elderly man.

"Oh, of course, it contains a gravity machine as well. A rebuilt version of the one used by Vegeta during his training to fight Dr. Gero's androids, though like the one he currently uses, this one is also capable of simulating an increased gravity environment of up to 500x that of the Earth. The only thing we haven't had a chance to install is this," Dr. Briefs stated as he held up the device he'd carried with him out of his lab.

"What is that supposed to do?" Yamcha, curious as to what was so special about the hand-sized part he clutched.

"This device here is a magnetic stabilizer, and its function is to regulate the magnetic lifters installed within the living quarters of the ship," Dr. Briefs looked at the younger man, seeing the comically lost expression on his face as if the doctor had been speaking an entirely different language. "Well, basically, it acts as the key component that makes the living quarter of the ship exempt from the effects of the gravity machine."

"That's incredible, Dr. Briefs, you've really outdone yourself!" Yamcha turned, giving a bow to the scientist, and receiving a mustache-covered smile in return.

"Dad! Dad, are you out here?" An all too familiar female voice called from outside of the ship, catching the two men's attention. Turning to leave the ship, the elderly man shuffled back over to the stairs.

"Well, I'll leave you to your training, Yamcha, while I go speak with Bulma. I'll let her know you'll be using the ship for a while, so she can assist you if you need anything else." Dr. Briefs spoke as he made his way down the steps of the ship.

"This is great, Yamcha-sama, with this I'm sure you'll be back to fighting form in no time!" Puar spoke, excited both at the idea of his longtime friend regaining his fighting spirit, but also growing stronger in the process. Plus, that would mean they would be hanging out at Capsule Corp for some time, and Puar always managed to have fun and feel at home at the family's home, despite the how the relationship between his friend and the scientist's daughter ended.

Yamcha, however, did not appear to share that same excitement, having a different plan in mind. And he only had a short window to act, as he knew Bulma would make an attempt to stop him once she learned what was going on. But before he could, he needed to make sure he didn't unwittingly drag his longtime friend and companion along unnecessarily.

"Puar, that question I asked you earlier," his words caught the shape-shifter's attention, his tone once again belying his intent. "I'll ask you again, are you with me?"

Puar frowned, confused as to why the former martial artist would ask him such a thing yet again. And while he did not know as to what goal his friend sought to obtain, he knew it was important, and that was ultimately all he needed to know to make himself and his response clear.

"Yamcha-sama, do you remember the pledge I made to you, all those years ago?" Puar asked in response.

Yamcha's face scrunched in thought, attempting to recall what pledge his friend was referencing. After a moment of thought, he was able to recall only one pledge ever made between the two throughout their years together. It was a fleeting memory, barely revived from the deepest recesses of his mind, but a memory that was no less important. One that invoked the image of a much younger man, bumping into an equally young shape-shifter who had just returned from shape-shifting school, within the woods surrounding a remote village. Bonded together by the tragic deaths of their loved ones, brought about by the betrayal of rival schools. And the words were spoken that cemented an unbreakable bond of friendship.

'Then, in the tradition of my forefathers, I pledge myself to you, heir of Urufu-Ryu, from this day forth. To whatever fate!'

Seeing recognition dawn on the face of his friend, and the genuine smile of gratitude which followed it, Puar knew he didn't need to speak the words again.

"Thanks again, Puar! Now let's get going!" Yamcha stated as he turned and walked back over to the ships operating the console.

"Going?" Puar questioned, now even more curious just as to what the martial artist was talking about.

His curiosity was soon sated in startling fashion, as Yamcha pressed the series of buttons Dr. Briefs had just shown him moments before. Suddenly, the ship itself seemingly sprung to life as a mechanized voice announced the startup procedure. Puar's startled look then turned to a comically panicked one as the door to the ship began closing.

"Yamcha-sama! What's going on? Why did you start up the ship?! I thought you were going to be training," He asked, only to be met with the determined gaze of his friend.

"Haven't you been listening Puar? I told Karin-sama we're going on a training journey, just one that's gonna take us from here for a while," he stated, smiling in a reassuring manner at his friend. "I promise, we'll come back here someday soon!"

At his last statement, both the friends had their attention returned to the ship, as the mechanized voice announced its launch. Realizing too late that they had not prepared by strapping themselves into the chairs nearby, the two were jerked off of their feet as the ship began its ascent into the sky. The two tumbled backward and into a while on the other side of the ship opposite the panel, flattening against it as the pressure from the takeoff continued to build. Outside, a fuming Bulma and shocked Dr. Briefs were equally startled at the shift launching into space.

"Yamcha! Get back here with our ship this instant!" Bulma screeched, pumping a fist at the flying object as if the martial artist were capable of hearing her over the sound of takeoff.

Back on the ship, Yamcha and Puar finally managed to right themselves, as the pressure finally began to lessen as the shift left Earth's atmosphere, entering the vacuum of space. Standing upright, and mutually rubbing their heads, the two turned toward each other, as Yamcha spoke.

"Alright, Puar, let's get this show on the road!" He stated as he turned toward the device in the middle of the room.

To Be Continued….