High above the sprawling cityscape of West City, the last moments before departure buzzed with quiet urgency. The Capsule Corporation hangar was filled with crates, supplies, and the low hum of energy as the Z Fighters packed their gear for the six-month voyage ahead.
Inside a modest barbershop nestled on a bustling street corner, Piccolo sat stoic and still in the barber's chair, the faint scent of aftershave and clippers filling the air. The barber, a burly man straight out of a GTA 5 world, methodically trimmed Piccolo's hair into a sharp, clean style—something fresh for the long journey. (Some time ago Piccolo wished for some hair so he can start getting haircuts lol)
The barber wiped the clippers clean and stepped back with a satisfied nod.
Barber: (grinning)"All set, big guy. Lookin' sharp."
Piccolo ran a hand through his freshly cut hair, his face unreadable but calm.
Just as Piccolo rose to leave, the door swung open. A familiar figure strode in—Josiah, a rugged, street-smart ally with a warm grin. His presence was like a grounding force amidst the impending chaos.
Josiah: (nodding)"Piccolo! Ain't seen you in a minute, big dog."
Piccolo's stoic expression softened for a moment. He gave Josiah a nod and a solid dap, the kind that spoke of respect and long-standing camaraderie.
Piccolo: (gruff but friendly)"Big dog."
The two shared a brief but meaningful exchange—a handshake and a fist bump that carried weight beyond words.
Josiah: "Good luck out there, man. We'll hold down the fort."
Piccolo: (nodding)"I'll be back"
With that, Piccolo stepped out of the barbershop, the city sounds greeting him as he made his way to join the others waiting at Capsule Corp. The mission ahead was daunting, but every step forward was a step toward protecting the Earth they all loved.
Outside, the sun was setting—casting long shadows over the horizon—as the Z Fighters prepared to leave their home behind for half a year in the stars.
Inside Vegeta paced near a stack of crates, arms crossed, his usual scowl softened only slightly by the weight of the moment. Gohan was checking a digital map projected from a capsule device, his brows furrowed in focus. Trunks and Krillin were loading supplies into the spaceship, while Tien stood quietly nearby, stretching his fingers as if readying himself for what lay ahead.
Bulma bustled about, coordinating final checks on the ship's systems. Her usual confident smirk was tinged with concern.
Goku was warming up—his calm, familiar grin masking the seriousness of the mission ahead. He stretched his arms, then glanced toward the barbershop where Piccolo had just come from.
Piccolo arrived and nodded at each of them in turn.
Piccolo: (calm, firm)"Ready to move."
Vegeta glanced over, eyes sharp but approving.
Vegeta:"About time. This chase after those Dragon Balls won't wait forever."
Gohan folded his arms.
Gohan:"Six months in space. We need to be prepared for anything. That planet could be unlike anything we've faced."
Tien stepped forward, his voice steady.
Tien:"We'll face it together. Like always."
Krillin chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.
Krillin:"Yeah, and hopefully without dying this time."
A small smile flickered on everyone's face, a brief moment of levity before the long journey.
Bulma signaled to everyone.
Bulma:"Final boarding in five. Let's make this quick."
One by one, the fighters moved into the ship's sleek interior, the hum of the engines rising as the hatch sealed behind them. Outside, the sky darkened into night, stars flickering into view—a reminder of how far from home they were about to travel.
As the ship lifted off, Goku took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the stars ahead.
The vastness of space stretched endlessly around the sleek silver vessel. Blue and gold Capsule Corp emblems shimmered faintly on its hull, reflecting the distant light of stars. Inside, the ship hummed with quiet energy — its systems finely tuned for the long six-month voyage ahead.
In the ship's main chamber, silence reigned at first. Then a low voice cut through the quiet.
Piccolo: (arms crossed, looking out a wide window)"Feels strange… leaving Earth behind like this."
Krillin: (tightening his wrist wraps)"Yeah. We've left the earth before… but this? Six months in space. Not exactly a weekend trip."
Tien: (sitting in the lotus position, meditating)"Good. Time to focus. No distractions. No cities. No daily noise. Just training… and preparation."
Goku: (stretching, smiling)"This is kinda exciting, huh? Like a big vacation — except with way more punching!"
Vegeta: (already inside the gravity chamber)"Enough chatter. Every moment wasted is strength lost."
The chamber's door shut with a hiss, and immediately the muffled hum of increased gravity filled the hallway.
Training Rotations – First Week
Bulma had outfitted the starship with three key training areas:
A gravity chamber, maxed at 500x Earth's gravity.
A sparring arena, in case the gravity chamber is full.
A meditation deck, open to the stars with artificial breeze and silence.
The fighters quickly established a rhythm.
Gohan and Trunks paired off in the sparring area.
Trunks: (charging forward in Super Saiyan 2) "I'm pushing for Super Saiyan 3 before we land. Goten's probably already mastered it!"
Gohan: (dodging, blocking, calm) "Don't force it. You'll feel it when your body's ready. Let it come to you."
Trunks: (gritting his teeth) "No offense, but I've got to go beyond what I was before. I'm not letting Goten carry all the weight."
Piccolo remained mostly alone, deep in meditation.
He sat unmoving on the meditation deck, facing the stars, breathing in long, silent cycles.
A faint green aura surrounded him — pulsing slowly, steadily, like a drumbeat in the void.
Krillin and Tien alternated between sparring and running simulated drills. Sometimes in weighted gear, other times in anti-gravity.
Tien: (while sweating through a round of pushups in 100x gravity)"We may not be able to go toe-to-toe with Super Saiyan's, but if something sneaks up behind Goku or Vegeta... we're the ones who'll be there to stop it."
Krillin: (grinning)"Damn right. We're the last line before the worst-case scenario."
Goku drifted between everyone, sometimes training in silence, sometimes laughing as he helped someone refine a move. But when alone, he trained intensely — arms a blur, energy building and releasing in bursts that rattled the bulkhead.
Day 18
Three weeks into the journey, the crew had settled into a routine. No enemy ships. No strange energy signatures. Just long, silent space and relentless training.
Bulma: (through intercom) "All systems stable. Nothing unusual. I've got auto-drones watching every sector."
Gohan: (to the team) "This calm... it's rare. We need to use it well. Goten's probably getting stronger by the day. We should too."
Inside the Gravity Chamber
Vegeta stood shirtless, panting heavily, fists clenched.
Sweat poured from his brow, and the chamber was shaking slightly from the intensity of his ki. Trunks stood outside, watching.
Vegeta: (to himself)"…You think I'll let you surpass me, boy? You think I'll sit still while Kakarot and his spawn break new ground?"
He growled, flared his aura, and shot forward — resuming a savage solo bout against an automated training bot set to maximum difficulty.
Evening – Meditation Deck
The ship created a soft artificial dusk. Gohan sat beside Piccolo in silence. The only sound was the hum of the ship and distant stars flickering across the glass ceiling.
Gohan: (quietly) "Do you think he's okay out there… Goten?"
Piccolo: (eyes still closed) "He's not the boy you remember. Not anymore. He's something... different now. When we see him again, it won't just be power we notice."
Gohan nodded. Somewhere deep inside, he knew Piccolo was right.
Six Months Remain.
No threats had yet appeared.
But across the galaxy, the storm was still building.
Silently.
Slowly.
Waiting for the right moment to strike.