บท 6: Chapter 6: Infiltration and Revelation
Early Morning in the Mountains
The morning sun barely touched the horizon when Piccolo sensed a familiar energy approaching. He braced himself, recognizing Gamma 2's energy signature closing in fast. Piccolo felt a flicker of irritation, the android clearly hadn't learned his lesson from their previous encounter. But this time, Piccolo had a plan.
Gamma 2 landed with a confident grin, fists clenched and ready for round two. "Good morning, green guy! Last time, you got away. But today, I'm here to finish the job."
Piccolo smirked, slipping into a defensive stance. "You Red Ribbon lackeys really don't know when to quit, do you?"
"Think what you want, but today, you're history!" Gamma 2 launched forward, his speed blinding, fists flying toward Piccolo with relentless force. Piccolo met each attack, countering with measured strikes while carefully holding back, just enough to let Gamma 2 believe he had the upper hand.
Then, with a calculated misstep, Piccolo stumbled, feigning exhaustion. Gamma 2 seized the opening, landing a powerful blow to Piccolo's side, sending him crashing into a nearby cliffside. Dust and debris flew up, shrouding the area in a thick cloud. Piccolo lay motionless, eyes closed, as if knocked out cold.
Gamma 2 chuckled, brushing dust off his shoulders. "That should take care of him. No one could survive that."
Without a second glance, he turned and flew off, his mission seemingly accomplished. But as soon as he was out of sight, Piccolo's eyes snapped open. Rising slowly, he concealed his energy and took to the air, following Gamma 2 from a safe distance, tracking him back to his origin.
....
The Red Ribbon base was hidden deep within a mountainous region, cloaked by sophisticated camouflage technology. Piccolo watched from a distance as Gamma 2 entered, the base materializing before his eyes as if from thin air. He landed softly, scanning the perimeter. Guards patrolled the area in tight rotations, each one armed with advanced weaponry.
Moving silently, Piccolo knocked out a lone guard in a swift, silent strike and stole his uniform, adjusting the cap low to hide his face. Disguised, he entered the base, navigating the dimly lit hallways with purpose, keeping his head down to avoid drawing attention.
After winding through several corridors, he found himself outside a large control room. Inside, he could see Magenta, Carmine, Dr. Hedo, and both Gammas, gathered around a central table, holographic blueprints and data displayed above it. A handful of Red Ribbon soldiers stood guard along the room's perimeter, their expressions sharp and focused.
....
Inside the Control Room
The discussion inside was heated. Gamma 1's voice cut through the room, reprimanding his partner. "Gamma 2, you didn't confirm the body. You should have verified that Piccolo was eliminated before returning."
Gamma 2 crossed his arms defensively. "I hit him hard enough that no one could've survived. Besides, if he had lived, he would've shown up by now."
Gamma 1 pointed to a screen, where blurry footage showed Piccolo's "body" fading into the trees as Gamma 2 flew off. "This is evidence enough. He escaped."
Magenta's face darkened, his jaw clenched with irritation. "If this blunder exposes our existence to those meddling Saiyans, we'll be forced to advance our plans. We can't risk them interfering."
Dr. Hedo, visibly uncomfortable, cleared his throat. "Gamma 1 and Gamma 2 are more than capable of handling this. We don't need to push Cell Max into action. He's not fully stable yet, and without the control system, he's dangerous, even to us."
Magenta glared at him, undeterred. "You said that Cell Max was designed to be the ultimate weapon. If Goku or Vegeta find out about us, we can't rely on these Gammas alone. I want Cell Max ready, Hedo. We need a weapon capable of overwhelming the Saiyans if they come poking around."
Hedo shook his head, his hands clenched into fists. "You don't understand. If we release him without the final control system, he could turn on us, with no regard for who he destroys. Cell Max isn't like the Gammas. He's not a 'hero.' He's pure destruction, with power that could consume even us."
Piccolo's eyes narrowed, listening closely. So, they have another weapon. Something called 'Cell Max'…
Magenta waved off Hedo's concerns with an impatient flick of his hand. "Finish the job. If we have to risk a little chaos, so be it. I'll take that over being unprepared."
Hedo sighed but nodded, clearly unable to defy Magenta's orders. Gamma 1 and Gamma 2 shared a glance, but neither objected. Piccolo took the opportunity to slip out of the hallway, aware he had seen enough.
....
Outside the Base
Once clear of the Red Ribbon base, Piccolo discarded the guard uniform and slipped into the shadows. He withdrew his communicator and dialed a familiar number.
"Bulma," he said as soon as she picked up, her voice sounding drowsy on the other end. "Are Goku and Vegeta around?"
Bulma yawned, then answered, "No, they're off training on Beerus' planet with Whis and… actually, Broly is with them, too. I'll try to reach Whis."
"Hurry," Piccolo replied. "The Red Ribbon Army is back, and they're planning something big. If they activate this new weapon they have, we're going to need all the help we can get."
Bulma promised to contact Whis immediately, though Piccolo knew there was no guarantee they'd respond in time. Hanging up, he frowned. Without Goku and Vegeta, the task of protecting Earth would fall to him, Gohan, and the others.
But he couldn't risk jeopardizing Androids 17 and 18, who would likely be vulnerable if Hedo had a way of finding their weaknesses. And Buu… well, waking Buu was out of the question. His options were growing fewer by the minute.
....
Beerus' Planet
Far from Earth, on a verdant hillside on Beerus' planet, Goku and Broly sparred, their energies clashing in vibrant bursts. Broly, still unrefined in his control, launched attack after attack with incredible strength, causing the ground to tremble. Goku kept his movements calculated, keeping his distance as he matched Broly's blows.
When Broly grew overly intense, Goku held up a hand. "Whoa, Broly! Take it easy! Remember, we're training, not trying to destroy the place."
Nearby, Vegeta sat cross-legged, meditating. His brows furrowed in concentration, barely reacting to the energy explosions around him.
Goku glanced over, curious. "What's with the meditation, Vegeta? Didn't know you had that in your routine."
Vegeta opened one eye, his expression focused. "During the Tournament of Power, I realized something about Jiren's fighting style. It's not just about raw power. Jiren saved his energy, releasing it only at critical moments, making each attack more efficient."
Whis nodded approvingly. "Very perceptive, Vegeta. There's more to strength than brute force. By focusing your energy strategically, you'll be able to increase your offensive power without exhausting yourself."
Vegeta smirked. "Exactly. And if Broly here could figure that out, maybe he wouldn't tear up the battlefield every time he got a little excited."
Broly, listening, looked to Goku for clarification. Goku chuckled, giving him an encouraging nod. "It just means controlling your strength. We're here to train, not destroy the planet, remember?"
Meanwhile, Beerus, awakened from his long nap, observed the newcomers with interest. Cheelai and Lemo were busy preparing food nearby, and Beerus, enjoying Lemo's cooking, had decided to allow them to stay. As he sipped from his cup, a tub of ice cream flew through the air and landed on Whis's staff, obscuring it from view, keeping him oblivious to Bulma's call.
....
Back on Earth
Piccolo flew swiftly to Korin's Tower, where he explained the situation to Korin. The wise old cat listened intently, then handed him the only two Senzu Beans he had left.
"These are all I've got, Piccolo," Korin said. "Use them wisely."
Piccolo thanked him, pocketing the beans, but he still felt uneasy. Without the Saiyans, the odds were looking grim.
As he flew back toward the ground, Bulma called him, her voice tinged with frustration. "No luck contacting Whis," she admitted. "And as for our other fighters, well, Gohan doesn't seem keen to act, Android 17 and 18 would be at risk, and Buu… well, we both know he's not waking up anytime soon."
Piccolo considered his options. Desperate times called for desperate measures. He remembered how the Grand Elder Guru had once unlocked Gohan and Krillin's potential, granting them access to power that had lain dormant within them. If Piccolo was going to face the Red Ribbon Army's new threat without Goku or Vegeta, he would need every advantage he could get.
He changed course, heading directly for Dende's Lookout.
.....
Dende's Lookout
Landing atop the lookout, Piccolo approached Dende, who greeted him with a concerned look. "Piccolo, what's wrong? I can sense a lot of tension in your energy."
"The Red Ribbon Army is back, and they've created powerful androids along with something even more dangerous called 'Cell Max.' If Gohan won't prepare himself to fight, then I need to reach my full potential. I was hoping you could unlock it, the way Guru did for Gohan and Krillin back on Namek."
Dende shook his head, his expression apologetic. "I wish I could help, but I'm too young to perform that kind of power unlock. My abilities aren't that advanced yet."
Piccolo's shoulders slumped in disappointment, but Dende's expression brightened as he remembered something. "But I can upgrade the Dragon Balls to be able to do it. If you can gather them quickly, they could grant you the potential unlock you're looking for."
A faint spark of hope ignited in Piccolo's eyes. "Bulma's likely already gathered them. I'll head to Capsule Corporation."
"Good luck, Piccolo," Dende said. "Be careful."
With a determined nod, Piccolo took to the air, speeding toward Capsule Corporation. If he couldn't rely on the Saiyans, he'd take matters into his own hands. One way or another, he would prepare for whatever was coming, and he wouldn't let the Earth fall into the hands of the Red Ribbon Army.
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