Bringer of Death

Android Saga - Part 3: Anger

Android Saga - Part 3: Anger 

The lush foliage of Yardrat stretched for miles in every direction. A half-dozen alien children stood nearby, chanting happily in a language Goku didn't know. But the Saiyan wasn't paying attention to them. His focus was completely on one teenage alien. 

"Come on, Somen! You know you can't outrun me!" Goku was panting. No matter how fast he dashed forward, the boy just shimmered in place and apparated away. 

Somen grinned. "You have to feel my energy; all this huffing and puffing is only going to tire you out." The boy was incredibly talented for his age - it usually took many years for the Yardrats to master Instant Transmission. Goku had taken an instant liking to him. Although the alien looked nothing like Gohan, his cheerful disposition and eagerness to help him learn reminded the Saiyan of his own son. 

"Here, you should try to point your energy in the right direction. How do people from your race focus their energy into the smallest possible point?" 

When Goku first saw them using Instant Transmission, he thought it was the same kind of short-range super speed that the genie Popo had first demonstrated to him so many years before. But apparently just clearing his mind wasn't enough; he had to focus in an entirely different way. 

The Yardrat elders had explained the principle of the technique, though Goku really didn't pay very much attention. They described it as "pinching space" - forcing all their energy upward and forward until it broke through into a different dimension. By concentrating on a clear energy signature, the user's body and soul would be pulled across any distance instantaneously. 

Thinking back, Goku remembered the way Piccolo had developed the Special Beam Cannon, concentrating all of his energy into a tiny point at his fingertips. Maybe he could try something similar. 

The Saiyan raised two fingers to his forehead and concentrated. "How's this?" 

Somen watched closely. "That's good! You have great control over your energy. Once you get a feel for the technique, you'll be able to go really far - maybe even between planets! Now focus on my energy, and just let go of your body." The teenager clenched his fists and raised his power as high as he could. 

Goku suddenly appeared only a few inches away; the shock knocked Somen clean onto his back. "Whoa! That was quick!" Goku blinked, unsure of his surroundings. "Wait, did I really do it?" 

"Yes, you did! Quickly, too. Now can you help me up here?" 

"Of course!" The Saiyan was grinning from ear to ear. "Could you really travel between planets in an instant with this?" 

"I think so. Our greatest elders have developed their ability to the point that they can travel as far as our planet's moons, but your power is just so much greater. I'm sure you could go anywhere you wanted!"

Over the next month, Goku practiced his new technique night and day. He was determined to be able to use it as if it was second nature. Even if he couldn't become a Super Saiyan, maybe this would give him an advantage against Vegeta. 

One day, he decided to try something different. Concentrating, he sent out his strongest telepathic message. 

"Hey, King Kai! Can you hear me?" 

"Oh, Goku! Yes, I hear you. What are you doing on Yardrat?" 

The Saiyan raised two fingers to his forehead and concentrated as hard as he could. When he was sure he was focused on King Kai's energy and nothing else, he shimmered in place and disappeared. 

"WHAA?!" King Kai dropped his chopsticks. "Here I was, just sitting down to eat, and you had to come along and startle me! Doesn't anyone knock any more?"