Dawn broke over Kame House with the sound of Bulma's voice cutting through the morning air like a drill sergeant's whistle.
"Alright, everyone up! We've got work to do!"
The Dragon Radar in her hands beeped steadily, its screen showing several scattered dots across a map of Earth. She'd been up since 4 AM calibrating the device and plotting their search routes.
Master Roshi emerged from the house carrying a steaming cup of coffee, already dressed in his training gi. "Any luck pinpointing the remaining ones?"
"Well, the good news is we don't need to find all seven," Bulma replied, adjusting her calculations. "Goku had already collected four of them before... before the fight. So we only need three more."
"Only three?" Krillin stretched as he joined them on the beach. "That should be easier, right?"
"You'd think so, but they're scattered pretty far apart. One's about 200 miles north in the mountains, another's east over the ocean, and there's one southwest in some desert region that keeps moving."
"Moving?" Master Roshi raised an eyebrow.
"Either someone else has it, or it's with a very mobile creature. Won't know until we check it out."
Before anyone could respond, the sound of approaching aircraft filled the air. Three figures descended from the sky, landing gracefully on the beach in front of Kame House.
"Tien! Yamcha! Chiaotzu!" Krillin's face lit up with relief. "You made it!"
The three-eyed warrior touched down first, his expression grim but determined. "We felt those power levels from hundreds of miles away. What the hell happened here?"
Yamcha landed beside him, his usual cocky demeanor replaced by serious concern. "We came as fast as we could. Where's Goku?"
The mood immediately sobered. Piccolo, who had been standing slightly apart from the group, stepped forward. The Z-fighters instinctively tensed at his movement - recent alliance or not, old habits died hard.
"Dead," Piccolo said bluntly. "Killed by his own brother, with... complications."
"His brother?!" Tien's third eye fixed on Sage, who was practicing slow, methodical kata forms in the sand nearby. "And who's that supposed to be?"
"That's... complicated too," Krillin muttered, his voice carrying obvious discomfort.
What followed was another lengthy explanation of Saiyans, Frieza, planet destruction, and Sage's catastrophic mistake. The new arrivals took it about as well as expected, but their wariness extended beyond just Sage.
"So let me get this straight," Yamcha said, glancing between Sage and Piccolo. "He's the same species as the monster that killed Goku, he helped cause Goku's death, and now we're supposed to trust him? Plus we're working with the Demon King?"
"Former Demon King," Piccolo corrected curtly, clearly annoyed by the continued suspicion.
"That doesn't exactly inspire confidence," Tien said, his stance remaining defensive.
Sage paused his training, having clearly overheard the conversation. His jaw tightened slightly, but he didn't turn around. Instead, he resumed his kata with slightly more intensity - controlled, but with an edge of frustration.
"And there are two more of them coming in a year who are even stronger?" Tien added.
"Also accurate," Master Roshi confirmed grimly.
Chiaotzu, who had been quietly observing, suddenly piped up in his childlike voice: "He's working really hard. His movements are very precise."
"Chiaotzu!" Tien scolded.
"What? They are! He's been practicing the same sequence for twenty minutes, making tiny adjustments each time."
The innocent observation was more accurate than anyone realized. Sage was indeed perfecting every movement, driven by a mixture of guilt and determination that wouldn't let him settle for anything less than flawless technique.
"Look," Master Roshi intervened, "we can debate trust issues later. Right now, we need to focus on two things: finding the remaining Dragon Balls and getting stronger. Sage here has offered to share some Saiyan training techniques."
"What kind of techniques?" Tien asked, his martial artist curiosity warring with suspicion.
Sage finally turned around, his expression serious but not defeated. "Energy circulation methods. Combat efficiency. Ways to maximize power output without waste." His voice was steady, professional. "Fifteen years of training alone taught me to be precise with every movement."
"We'll take any advantage we can get," Master Roshi said firmly. "Show them what you showed us yesterday."
The demonstration began with Sage taking a centered stance in the sand. Unlike the hollow, broken figure from two nights before, this was clearly a trained warrior preparing to teach.
"Saiyan combat philosophy is built around one principle," Sage began, his voice gaining confidence as he moved into instructor mode. "Efficient power application. We don't waste energy or movement."
He demonstrated the breathing pattern, his aura flickering briefly around him as his ki circulation became visible.
"The techniques I'm about to show you were developed for maximum effectiveness with minimal energy waste. They're not flashy, but they work."
What followed was a focused session on power development and energy control. Sage guided them through breathing techniques and circulation patterns, his instruction clear and methodical.
"The key is maintaining flow even under stress," Sage explained as Yamcha struggled with the pattern. "In a real fight, your breathing will be disrupted. The circulation has to become instinctive."
"Interesting approach," Tien observed as he followed the breathing pattern, immediately feeling his ki flow more efficiently.
"It's based on years of solo training," Sage replied matter-of-factly. "When you don't have sparring partners, you learn to maximize every exercise."
Piccolo was adapting the techniques with frightening speed, his analytical mind grasping the concepts immediately. The other Z-fighters watched him with visible unease - having their former enemy become even stronger wasn't exactly comforting.
"This is remarkable," Piccolo said, genuinely impressed. "It's like unlocking reserves I didn't know I had."
"Great," Yamcha muttered. "The Demon King's getting a power boost."
"I can hear you," Piccolo replied dryly.
"And he can hear better now too, apparently," Yamcha added, though his tone carried less hostility than before.
Even with the tension between the group members, the results were undeniable. Krillin's energy felt more stable than it had in years. Yamcha's ki attacks required less effort to maintain. Tien was integrating the techniques with his existing abilities with impressive skill.
The most surprising development came when Gohan joined them. The boy had been staying close to Master Roshi, still uncertain around these new people despite their connection to his father.
"Don't force it, Gohan," Sage advised gently as the child struggled with the breathing patterns. "Your power is enormous, but control takes time."
"I can't do it!" Gohan said, frustrated. "Everyone else is getting it, but I can't make the energy stay still!"
"That's normal," Tien said, his protective instincts overriding his wariness. "Here, try focusing on absolute stillness first. Don't worry about the circulation until you can maintain calm."
The advice worked. Within minutes, Gohan was successfully maintaining controlled energy flow, his massive potential becoming even more apparent.
"Kid's going to be a monster," Yamcha observed with admiration. "In a good way," he added quickly.
"He has more raw power than any Saiyan child I ever heard of," Sage said, watching Gohan with something approaching wonder. "With proper training, he could surpass all of us."
"Including the ones who are coming?" Krillin asked.
Sage's expression grew serious. "Eventually, yes. But he's still just a child. He needs time to grow into that power."
"Which is why we need to buy him that time," Master Roshi concluded.
After a week of training sessions, the group had settled into a cautious routine. Trust was still fragile, but competence bred respect, and Sage's instruction was proving invaluable.
"Alright," Bulma announced during their morning briefing, "I think we're ready for our first Dragon Ball hunt. The one in the mountains seems the most accessible."
"Finally," Yamcha stretched, eager for action after days of meditation and breathing exercises. "All this energy work is great, but I'm ready to hit something."
"Patience," Sage said calmly, continuing his own warm-up routine. "Rushing into unknown situations gets you killed."
The statement was delivered without drama - just practical wisdom.
"Voice of experience?" Tien asked, his wariness now mixed with curiosity.
"Fifteen years of training teaches you to think before you act," Sage replied simply. "Or you don't make it to sixteen."
Their first Dragon Ball hunt led them to a mountainous region north of the city, where one of the remaining Dragon Balls was supposedly hidden in an ancient temple.
What Bulma's technology hadn't detected were the temple's guardians.
"I count at least fifteen of them," Piccolo reported, floating above the treeline as he surveyed the situation.
Below, robotic sentries patrolled the temple grounds with military precision. Each was roughly humanoid but clearly mechanical, their red sensor eyes scanning constantly for intruders.
"Well, this is new," Yamcha commented. "Since when do ancient temples have robot guards?"
"Since someone decided to upgrade their security system," Tien replied dryly.
"Standard defense scenario," Sage observed, studying the patrol patterns. "We could go stealth, but with this many of us, coordinated assault might be more efficient."
"You sound like you've done this before," Krillin noted.
"I've had to think tactically about difficult situations," Sage replied carefully. "You learn to assess threats quickly when you're on your own."
The attack was swift and coordinated. Tien went in first with methodical precision, systematically disabling robots with perfectly calculated strikes. Yamcha followed with his Wolf Fang Fist, scattering robot parts across the temple grounds with flashy combinations.
Krillin's energy attacks were more focused than ever, thanks to the new circulation techniques. Even Piccolo's attacks seemed more controlled and devastating.
But it was Sage who surprised them most. He moved through the robots with clinical efficiency - each strike calculated for maximum damage with minimum energy expenditure. No wasted motion, no unnecessary force.
"Efficient," Tien noted approvingly as Sage disabled three robots in rapid succession.
"Old habits," Sage replied, already moving toward the next target. "When you train alone, you learn to conserve energy."
The real crisis came when one of the larger guardian robots broke through their assault and charged directly at Gohan. The boy froze in terror, too overwhelmed to react.
Without hesitation, Piccolo intercepted the attack, his arm extending to catch the robot's strike before it could reach the child.
"Stay back!" Piccolo snarled, his other hand charging with energy.
He blasted the robot to pieces, then immediately knelt beside the shaken boy.
"Are you hurt?" Piccolo's voice was surprisingly gentle.
Gohan shook his head, staring at his unlikely protector with wide eyes. "You... you saved me."
"Of course I did," Piccolo replied, as if it were obvious. "You're Goku's son."
The moment created an unexpected bond. For the rest of the mission, Gohan stayed close to Piccolo, and the former villain seemed to naturally fall into a protective role.
Within minutes, the temple grounds were clear. The Dragon Ball sat on a pedestal in the center of the main chamber, pulsing with warm orange light.
"One down, two to go," Bulma said, carefully placing the orb in a protective case.
"And we're getting stronger," Master Roshi noted. "Each of us in our own way."
"Even working together better," Krillin added, though he still glanced warily at Piccolo. "Sort of."
"We functioned well as a unit," Sage observed objectively. "With more practice, coordination should improve significantly."
"Listen to him," Yamcha said with grudging respect. "Talks like a real tactician."
"Solo training teaches you to analyze everything," Sage replied. "Or you make the same mistakes repeatedly."
Their return flight to Kame House was filled with tactical planning and cautious optimism. The successful mission had boosted confidence, though tensions remained.
"So what's next?" Yamcha asked. "Two more Dragon Balls, right?"
"The moving one in the desert, and one that's apparently underwater," Bulma confirmed.
"Underwater?" Krillin groaned. "I hate underwater missions."
"I can handle underwater operations if needed," Sage offered. "Saiyans can hold their breath longer than humans."
"Useful," Tien admitted. "What other advantages do Saiyans have that might help?"
"Enhanced recovery rate, better combat instincts, higher pain tolerance," Sage listed matter-of-factly. "And we get stronger after recovering from serious injury, though I wouldn't recommend relying on that."
"Wait, what?" Yamcha perked up. "You get stronger from getting beaten up?"
"It's called Zenkai," Sage explained. "Near-death experiences can trigger significant power increases. But it's unreliable and, obviously, dangerous."
"Good to know, but let's stick to regular training," Master Roshi decided quickly.
As Kame House came into view on the horizon, the sun was setting, painting the sky in brilliant colors. Their first major mission was ending successfully, despite the underlying tensions.
"Not bad for our first real cooperation," Krillin admitted.
"We're learning," Tien agreed. "Slowly, but we're learning."
Sage remained quiet during the praise, but there was something less tense about his posture. The successful mission had given him something he'd lacked for fifteen years - the feeling of being part of a team.
"You know," Master Roshi mused, "we might actually have a chance. We're all getting stronger, and we're learning to work together."
"Two Dragon Balls to go," Piccolo added, still keeping Gohan close. "Then we bring Goku back and have months to prepare."
"Think Daddy's getting stronger too?" Gohan asked hopefully. "Wherever he is?"
"Your father never stops improving," Roshi assured him. "I guarantee he's training just as hard as we are."
"In his own way," Sage added quietly. "Saiyans don't know how to give up. It's... one of our better traits."
The comment earned him a few thoughtful looks, the first time anyone had heard him speak positively about his heritage.
Over the following days, training continued with increasing intensity. Sage's techniques were becoming second nature to the group, and his tactical insights during sparring sessions were proving invaluable.
More importantly, the walls were slowly coming down. Yamcha had stopped making snide comments about "Saiyan tendencies." Tien was actively seeking Sage's input on combat strategies. Even Krillin's suspicion was giving way to grudging respect.
The transformation wasn't complete - trust built over weeks could still shatter in moments. But for the first time since arriving on Earth, Sage began to believe he might have found something he'd thought lost forever.
A place to belong.
In the depths of space, two pods continued their relentless journey toward a small blue planet. Inside, two elite warriors slept, their arrival still months away.
But Earth's defenders were no longer waiting passively. They were hunting, training, and slowly learning to trust each other - even if that trust came with conditions and constant vigilance.
The real battle for Earth's survival had begun, one day and one small victory at a time.