Disclaimers
All characters appearing in D.C Comics are copyright Time Warner. Al characters appearing in Dragon Ball Super are copyright Toei Animation & Akira Toriyama. They are the property of their respective owners. No infringements of these copyrights are intended and are not authorized by the copyright holder.
All original characters and concepts are the property of Celgress.
Power Woman Wife of Goku – Episode Thirteen A Time of Peace
By
Celgress
Age 765
Earth, afternoon
Vegeta eyed the mysterious silver-haired (apparently) Saiyan girl with mounting suspicion. Who was see? Where had she come from? How could she be a Super Saiyan (when that power had been lost for ages until the foolish Kakarot somehow stumbled it)? Why did she insist on talking with Goku and Carri in private after vanquishing with such ease the despotic Frieza and his equally reprehensible father King Cold?
'Are the rest of us not good enough for you, whoever you are?' Vegeta thought with a snort. What were they saying? Try as hard as he might he could not make out words, dammit! Out of the blue, Carri hugged the girl while Goku patted one of her shoulds, 'interesting, if sickening.'
A good distance away out of earshot, Bra finished her story after forty-odd excruciatingly long minutes. A part of Bra wanted to cry several times during her tale. But her mother always told her that warriors hold their emotions firmly in check which Bra now managed with great effort. Relating Gohan's demise was particularly tough.
"You poor thing," Carri said. "I think you deserve a hug."
Bra flinched for a moment. She did not know how she should react. She felt her resolve melt when Goku placed his hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently. She began to sob softly despite her best efforts to maintain composure.
"That's it. Let it out." Carri said.
"You're safe here," Goku said. "No one will hurt you."
"You guys are even nicer than mom told me you were." Bra said some moments later after extracting herself from Carri and Goku. Wiping the tears from her eyes she sniffed. "This medication will cure you of the Heart Virus. You should take it soon." Bra handed Goku two small bottles. "Each of these contains one dosage of the cure."
Carri frowned at the bottles. "What about Gohan and Zangya?"
"Who is Zangya?" Bra said confused.
"A little Hera girl we met on Yardrat," Goku said pointing over to where Zangya stood among the Z Fighters with Gohan next to Gine and Raditz.
"If we're infected are the kids infected too?" Carri wondered aloud.
"I don't know," Bra admitted. "I think Gohan might have recovered from the Heart Virus at some point." Bra glanced over her shoulder at the gathering of heroes. "I should go before the others ask questions I shouldn't answer. I've spent far too long here already."
"We understand," Carri said.
"Good luck," Goku said.
"If you guys survive I won't need good luck. The future will be rewritten. I'm certain of it." Bra said with a smile.
"Thanks for your vote of confidence. I hope your faith in use isn't misplaced." Carri said.
"Are you kidding me? You're Goku and Carri. You defeated the Red Ribbon Army, King Piccolo, Garlic Jr., Turles, and even Frieza. You're an unstoppable duo. Those Androids and Starro the Conqueror are finished. If you are around when they happen by they won't stand a chance. They've already lost." Bra gushed beaming at her ideals, "bye now. I wish you good luck not that you'll need it."
Before either Carri or Goku could reply, Bra waved at them flying faster than anyone could follow her progress to her hidden Time Machine. Bra was happier than she had ever been before in her short life. The Time then Machine whisked Bra back to the future.
"I wish I shared her confidence," Carri said.
"Me too," Goku said.
"Are you going to tell us who that was or leave us in the dark?" Duluma asked approaching the duo with the other Z Fighters.
"I'm afraid we can't," Carri said apologetically.
"We made a promise," Goku said.
"Can you at least tell us what you discussed with her?" Tien asked annoyed by their evasive response to Duluma's question.
"She told us in three years a group of artificial humans or Androids created by Dr. Gero of the Red Ribbon Army will appear. They'll wreak havoc. You'll confront them but die." Carri explained.
"Huh, we'll fight them and be killed, eh. What about you and Goku?" Krillin asked.
"We'll already be dead from a sickness called the 'Heart Virus'," Carri said.
"Preposterous," Waller said. "Even if true, which seems doubtful, how would this girl know such things?"
"She's from the future," Goku answered.
"And you believe her?" Raditz said.
"She showed us some pretty convincing evidence," Carri remarked remembering the recording of a more mature Duluma that Bra played for them along with her distinctive Amazonian sword, gauntlets, and lasso she had shown the duo.
"What are those, Goku?" Duluma asked gesturing at the small bottles.
"Medication for the Heart Virus," Goku said.
"Obtained by a girl allegedly from the future? And she wants you and Carri to take these?" Duluma said.
"Ah-huh," Goku said nodding his head.
"Kakarot you, idiot! They could be poison! How do you know this isn't a trap?" Vegeta growled.
"We can trust her Vegeta." Goku insisted.
"You don't know that! She might be a liar." Vegeta said.
"We've seen proof she isn't," Carri said.
"Proof I could have examined to determine it's authenticity if she had allowed," Duluma said. She was deeply skeptical of the girl's extraordinary story. "At least let me analyze what's in these bottles before you use it. I'll determine if the substance is safe or not in my laboratory."
"Of course," Carri said. Carri trusted Duluma implicitly. She told Goku to hand the bottles over to her best friend.
"I'll soon get to the bottom of this," Duluma said holding one of the bottles up so sunlight passed through the liquid contained within. "I'll also require blood samples from both of you, Gohan, and your new friend. In a few days, we'll see if any of you have this virus, or not, if it exists. In the meantime, I'm glad you're home." Duluma smiled at Carri and Goku.
"We all are," Krillin said to which the others readily agreed.
Home of Goku and Carri, afternoon
"You're so precious and quite the little helper," Gine said to Zangya who insisted on assisting her and Carri who were preparing a feast for the return of the wayward trio plus one.
"Thank you, Mrs. Gine," Zangya said struggling to carry a mixing bowl that was nearly as big as she was.
"No little one, call me Gine. Or better yet Grandma Gine," Gine insisted.
"Okay, Grandma Gine," Zangya said always the obliging sort.
"Here, baby, I'll take that," Carri said taking the bowl from Zangya. "You go sit with Goku, Gohan, Grandpa Gyū (Ox King), and Uncle Raditz. We'll handle the cooking from here."
"But I want to help," Zangya said.
"You've already helped enough. You've more than earned a rest, Zangya." Carri said.
"Okay," Zangya said glumly. She left the kitchen.
"She'd work herself to death if I'd let her. She's always so eager to please." Carri said.
"Maybe she thinks you'll abandon her if she doesn't prove herself useful?" Gine suggested.
"You think so?" Carri said worriedly.
"I know I felt that way for a while after we met," Gine said frying up several hundred pounds of meat in an enormous pan your average human could not possibly lift.
"I apologize if I gave you that impression," Carri said using her super-speed to cut up massive amounts of vegetables in just a few seconds.
"It wasn't anything you did or said, I was insecure," Gine said. "I know what it is like to be on your own for a long time, and what it can do to a person's psyche. I can only imagine how badly a child would feel." Gine paused for a moment here. "If you and Goku conceive another child would you still want Zangya around?"
Carri was stunned by Gine's harsh words. "How can you even ask me such a thing? I couldn't love that little girl anymore if she were my flesh and blood. I gave up being automatically wished back here so I could stay with her."
"Exactly the answer I was looking for," Gine said with a warm smile. "Give Zangya time and a lot of care. She'll become secure with her position in our family."
"Gine, you always know the right thing to say," Carri said. "Now, I have an observation for you. If I may be so bold?"
"Which would be?" Gine asked.
"I've noticed the way you and my father look at each other. Also, you use his real name not his title when talking with him or about him. Is there something going on between you two I should know about?" Carri asked with a mischievous smile.
"Your father and I have grown very close since my return from Namek. We've been a great comfort to each other during your absence. In fact, last week Gyū asked me to marry him." Gine said.
"And you said yes, naturally?" Carri said.
"I wanted to very much but Raditz doesn't approve of our relationship," Gine said an expression of sadness on her face.
"Who cares," Carri said. "You're both adults. Your children are grown. You deserve happiness. For what it's worth I think you and dad marrying is a wonderful idea and I'm sure Goku and Gohan will agree."
"Be that as it may, I can't go against the wishes of one of my sons, regretfully," Gine said with more than a hint of disappointment in her voice.
"Nonsense," Carri said. "I'll handle Raditz. You concentrate on your upcoming nuptials."
"Do you think you can convince him to withdraw his objections?" Gine asked hopefully.
"I'm sure I can," Carri said. "All I need is the proper carrot to dangle in front of our reluctant rabbit. I'll offer him a deal he won't refuse, trust me."
An Outdoor Venue in the Ox Kingdom, now home to a colony of Namekians, one week later, afternoon
"By the power vested in my as God of Earth, and Elder Namekian of this Planet, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Kami said.
The crowd cheered while the happy couple kissed expect for Raditz who was to busy chatting up his date. "And then I blew his fool head off with a Ki blast, like this," Raditz said making a gesture with his right hand.
"How fascinating," Waller said dryly.
Oh, how Waller detested the big oaf. The only reason she agreed to let him drool all over her was to keep Carri from outing her past to the others as an alternate Earth supervillain. While Waller agreed to date Raditz for three months then let him down gently she made it clear there would be no funny business. The thought of Raditz touching her intimately turned her stomach. She was saving herself for someone worthy of her and this dolt was not him.
All the eligible women excluding Waller who could not pry herself away from Raditz gathered to catch the bouquet. Starfire was the lucky girl, a fact that excited her greatly. Starfire babbled about being next to get hitched for the rest of that day much to the chagrin of Launch who had her eyes on Tien as did Starfire it would seem or maybe Chiaotzu, the Tamaranean seemed fond of each to a similar degree.
The Grand Hall, night
After the wedding reception ended everyone danced long into the night as a band of Namekian musicians played occasionally accompanied by Korin's odd yowling signing. A ruckus, happy atmosphere prevailed. The fact Earth had been depopulated did not matter. The fact they could be facing a terrible threat in three short years did not matter. All that mattered was the celebration of love and life. It was a rare moment of happiness for a world and peoples plagued by tragedy. Even the typically sour Vegeta got into the spirit. He and Duluma out-danced everyone on the dance floor by night's end.
Capsule Corp the next day, afternoon
"I'm sorry," Duluma said after her test confirmed that Goku, Carri, Gohan, and Zangya were infected with the Heart Virus.
"Why are you sorry? It isn't your fault. The medication can cure us, right?" Goku said.
"I think it might, it's safe that much I've determined, but there is indeed only enough for two dosages. If I give you and Carri the dosages there is a strong chance the kids might get sick or even die before I can replicate more. That's assuming I can replicate the medication. There is no guarantee." Duluma said.
"Give them the dosages instead of us. We'll take our chances." Carri said without missing a beat.
"I agree, Gohan and Zangya come first," Goku said.
"You might die," Duluma said.
"I can think of something a lot worse. We live but they die." Carri said. "I, I couldn't, I just couldn't live with myself if that happened."
"Me either," Goku said.
"And because their deaths would be natural the Dragon Balls of Earth may not be able to revive them. I assume a virus counts as natural despite their young age." Duluma correctly observed. "The Namekian Dragon Balls maybe could bring them back but we don't know for sure. It would be touch and go, which would also apply to you guys if you die of this thing."
"We'll take our chances," Carri said.
"Besides, I know you'll be able to make more. You're a genius." Goku said.
"I hope your faith in me is not misplaced," Duluma said mirroring what Goku and Carri said to Bra roughly a week before which was not lost on the pair.
Sickbay of Capsule Corp six months later, morning
"They have to get better," Gohan said holding his mother's hand.
Carri and Goku lay in beds that were positioned side by side with a small space between. The pair slept fitfully tossing and turning. Their bows were damp with sweat.
"They'll be fine. I gave them the medication. In a few days, it'll take effect." Duluma said.
"Why didn't we get sick when you gave it to us, Mrs. Duluma?" Zangya asked. Behind her and Gohan stood Gine and Ox King.
"I'm not 100% sure. I think their reaction is more severe because your infection wasn't so advanced. If only I had replicated the formula more quickly." Duluma lamented. Vegeta stood silently against a wall observing everything but saying nothing.
"You did your best, dear," Gine said.
"No one is blaming you." Ox King said.
"Thanks, but I should have worked harder. I wasn't as diligent as I could have been. I doubted the story of the future girl which in retrospect was a huge mistake." Duluma said.
"Don't be so hard on yourself. You've developed a vaccine so the rest of us are protected from the Heart Virus. You're still a hero in my book." Ox King said.
"Carri and Goku need their rest. I'll let you know if their condition changes." Duluma said herding Gine, Ox King, Zangya, and Gohan outside a few minutes later.
"You lied to them, to the girl," Vegeta said.
"I couldn't very well tell them the truth." Duluma scowled.
"You have no idea when or if Kakarot and his halfbreed bride will recover," Vegeta said.
"Don't call Carri a 'halfbreed'," Duluma snapped irritated by her husband's crassness, an all too common occurrence.
"Why not, it's true," Vegeta said slowly making his way towards Duluma.
"I'm a 'halfbreed too, or have you forgotten?" Duluma challenged.
"I don't see you as such. Amazonians trump Kryptonians, in my book. Amazonian genetic material is akin to Saiyan genetic material, it does not blend it dominates," Vegeta said cupping Duluma's chin.
Duluma pulled away after slapping his hand. "I'm not in the mood, Vegeta."
"Well, I am in the mood, Duluma," Vegeta said. "I wager we could both use a distraction given current events."
"Fine, meet me in the training room. We'll see if you're warrior enough to claim me this day." Duluma said.
"I thought you'd never ask," Vegeta smirked a devilish glint in his eyes that was mirrored by Duluma's own. Duluma could not pass up a good challenge combative or intellectual a fact Vegeta knew and at times exploited.
To Be Continued
Next Up – World's Strongest:
With Goku & Carri in no condition to fight, when Piccolo & Nail go missing in the Arctic and Master Roshi is abducted it is up to Vegeta and Duluma to lead the charge. Our heroes must deal with the diabolical Dr. Wheelo and his monstrous creations.
Author's Note One -
The reason Dr. Wheelo and his creations were returned to "life" or rather existence by the wish is the same reason the Androids and Majin Buu returned; they aren't considered lifeforms in the traditional sense but more constructs the same as buildings.
Author's Note Two -
Since my last chapter, I've received numerous reviews and PMs complaining about my power scale for various characters. I repeat this is a crossover. I cannot do one to one power scaling based upon feats or otherwise because the properties each have their own rules that seldom agree (even within the properties themselves at times take DBZ vs Super vs GT or DC Comics vs DC Animated vs DCU there are glaring inconsistencies). If you disagree with my placement of a given character fine but don't constantly bombard me with thesis length messages telling me why I'm wrong. I'm blending these properties as best I can. I don't want to op or nerf any character if I can avoid doing so as it makes using that character pointless.