The fluorescent lights of the Pentagon hummed, a stark contrast to the urgent energy that pulsed through its corridors. People moved with a focused determination, their footsteps echoing the weight of the world on their shoulders. In the heart of this organized chaos stood Cecil, his gaze fixed on the expansive display board. The board illuminated a detailed figure of Goku
"Any results?" Cecil's voice carried an undercurrent of barely restrained anticipation.
Donald, clutching his handheld pad, adjusted his glasses. "We do have results, sir. We've run every known test that we've run on Mark recently, pushing our analytical capabilities to their absolute limit."
Cecil turned slightly towards his assistant, his expression of curiosity. "So?"
"At first," Donald began lingering disbelief in his voice, "every test results proved as fruitless on Goku's DNA just like as those on Mark's DNA's test was. Bacteria, viruses, poisons, and venoms… all were equally, stubbornly indestructible." He paused, looking up from his pad.
A wry chuckle escaped Cecil. "So, we've got an indestructible alien martial artist with…childish antics," he remarked, a hint of dry amusement in his tone. "What's new?"
"I did say 'at first', sir," Donald clarified, turning a digital page on his pad. "The initial test results showed a genetic structure almost identical to a Viltrumite's. But upon deeper, more granular analysis, we found key, fundamental differences."
Cecil's gaze sharpened, interest in his eyes. "Meaning?"
"Whatever threats we introduced to the Viltrumite sample," Donald explained, his finger tracing a line on the device, "it simply…resisted. It barely registered the threats, its biology seemingly incapable of being affected. It was, as we understand it, impossible for a Viltrumite to truly get sick, or be overcome by any biological agent."
"Get to the point, Donald," Cecil urged, his patience wearing thin at Donald's rant
With a sigh, Donald turned the pad and offered it to his Director. The screen displayed a complex graph, but the conclusion was startlingly simple. "With Goku, however, his blood…it doesn't just resist. It…cleanses. The threat vanishes, utterly."
Upon hearing this, Cecil's head snapped up, his focus now entirely on Donald. His brows furrowed in a rare display of confusion. "Vanishes?"
"Exactly, sir," Donald confirmed, his voice hushed with a sense of awe. "From simple dirt to the most virulent venom, every sample we've analyzed shows the same result. It's as if his very blood…assimilates and eliminates any foreign substance at a fundamental level."
Setting the pad down on a nearby console, Cecil advanced towards the board displaying Goku's anatomical breakdown. He stood in silence for a long moment, his mind visibly working, processing the implications of this extraordinary finding.
"So he is identical to Viltrumite and at the same time... not? What does it mean?" questioned Cecil his hands in his pockets eyes narrowing in question
"We will get the results soon, sir"
"Keep the observation going," he finally said, turning back to his advisor. There was a newfound gravity in his voice. "Where is he now?"
"Antarctica, Eastern Plateau," Donald replied without hesitation.
Cecil's brows rose, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. "Is he still pushing that kid? It must be midnight there."
"Not only Mark, but Guardians of the Globe's been seen present. They've increased their training intensity by 130.4% since you briefed them on the approaching Viltrumites, sir," Donald stated.
"Damn it…" Cecil scoffed, a humorless chuckle escaping him. "He's putting everyone through a meat grinder." He turned back to the board, but his mind was clearly elsewhere. "How's 'the room' progressing?"
"The gravitational training room is nearing completion, sir. The engineers estimate another five days, but the scientists are strongly recommending an additional week to ensure structural integrity and long-term durability."
"Make it four days, Donald," Cecil countered, his voice firm, leaving no room for argument. "We don't have a week, much less days. Those…those bastards are coming at us, and they're moving at lightspeed. Give them whatever resources they need, whatever budget they require, but make it ready. It needs to withstand two powerhouses going at full tilt." He gestured sharply, his assistant diligently taking notes.
"On it, sir."
Reaching the door to his office, Cecil paused, turning back to Donald. A complex mix of emotions flickered in his eyes. "Call Goku," he said, his voice softer now, almost a plea. "Call him…when he's done." The unspoken words hung in the air: and pray he's not another Nolan.
_________________________________________________________________________
The biting cold of the South Pole reverberated with a series of powerful sonic booms. Figures clad in outfits reminiscent superheroes streaked across the icy terrain, converging on a single figure. This figure, clad in the orange uniform of the Turtle School, was Goku. His eyes, sharp and focused, darted with incredible speed, tracking the movements of each approaching hero.
"Aghhh!" A bellow of effort came from a man in a blue jumpsuit as he lunged at Goku. But even as the attack was launched, he knew it was futile. Goku had already vanished.
"Ooff!" The air cracked as Goku's fist connected. Striking from behind, he sent Immortal sprawling across the snow, the force of the blow leaving a visible trail in the frozen landscape.
Flick, flick, flick... The distinct sound of Rex's projectiles igniting reached Goku's ears. With a burst of speed, he evaded the attack just as the pieces detonated, sending up a shower of ice and snow. "Oh, come on, man!" Rex's frustrated shout echoed across the desolate expanse. He readied another barrage, but before he could launch them, Goku appeared directly in front of him.
"Shi-" Rex began, but the word was cut short. A devastating punch sent him flying, the sickening crunch of possibly broken ribs punctuating the air.
They had been training daily, pushing their bodies to the absolute limits in the harshest environment Earth could offer. Immortal, surprisingly, had been the one to suggest this brutal training regimen, and to their credit, the others had agreed. Initially, it was just Immortal, Mark, and Atom Eve, but after five days of what Goku cheerfully called "training," but what the others felt was closer to a relentless beating, the rest of the Guardians of the Globe joined in.
But it wasn't "training" in the traditional sense. Goku had offered only one approach: fighting.
It was a grim necessity. The Viltrumites were coming, and they were coming soon. The heroes weren't ready. Conventional training would take too long. So, they were forced to learn the only way that might give them a chance: outmaneuver, outsmart, and outlast.
"Come on, you need to be more persistent!" Goku's voice cracked like thunder across the battlefield as he effortlessly evaded Dupli-Kate's kick and blocked Shrinking Rae's tiny but powerful strike. "I told you two, do not engage me within my range unless you are absolutely certain I am fully distracted or stunned. You will only have one chance to strike, and then you must retreat as quickly as possible."
Suddenly, with lightning reflexes, Goku gripped both Dupli-Kate and Shrinking Rae by their armored calves. He spun them around like ragdolls before launching them towards a nearby snow-capped mountain. The impact created a small avalanche.
Thanks to Robot and Atom Eve, the less durable heroes were equipped with specialized armor. It wasn't as extensive as Robot's full-body suit, covering only their chests, legs, and arms to maximize maneuverability and agility. Atom Eve had also enhanced the armor with a layer of her energy, providing additional protection and reinforcing it against impacts.
"You have less chance of hurting them when their attention is divided," Goku said, deflecting a wild haymaker from Mark. He then shifted in mid-air, his movements fluid and unpredictable, to dodge a leg sweep aimed at his head. "Nice," he commented, grabbing Mark's leg. "But you're exposing yourself too much. Your arms should always be ready to defend." With a sharp tug, he brought his knee up into Mark's stomach, winding him. Before Mark could recover, Goku delivered a devastating two-handed blow to his back.
The force of the impact sent Mark plummeting towards the earth like a meteorite. The resulting shockwave was immense, like a bomb going off. Anyone on the ground who was standing or trying to stand was once again sent flying. The ice cracked and groaned under the strain.
Slowly, Goku turned his head, his senses straining to detect any remaining threat. A faint flick of Rex's exploding pieces igniting, the subtle hum of Atom Eve's energy manipulation, or the telltale whoosh of Immortal's super-speed. But there was only silence.
Exhaling slowly, Goku's tense posture relaxed, and a cheerful grin returned to his face. "Hehe, I think we should be done for today."
A chorus of moans, groans, and whimpers of agreement rose from around him. The battered and bruised heroes slowly began to pick themselves up, some of them swaying unsteadily from the repeated concussions and bone-jarring landings.
"I gotta admit, you all became much more coordinated and fast in your group offense," Goku said, his gaze sweeping across the group. "And you even lasted longer this time too." He glanced up at the overcast sky, judging the time.
From a nearby patch of churned snow, a metallic hand slowly emerged, followed by the rest of Robot. "It was precisely six hours and seventeen seconds," he stated in his monotone voice. "My calculations indicate this is nineteen minutes and fifty-one seconds less than yesterday's training duration."
Goku's smile tightened slightly. It was true; they were improving. Their teamwork was becoming more fluid, and their attacks were more synchronized. But he could also sense their growing fatigue. Their punches and kicks were losing some of their initial power. As Master Roshi had always taught him, even the strongest warriors needed rest.
Nearby, a man in a red and yellow suit groaned, clutching his head. "Ooooh. Holy mother of all the beatings from abusive dads! Man…" Rexplode managed to stand, his knees shaking slightly. "Just when I think I can actually land a single hit on you, Whoosh! and suddenly you're in front of me, handing my ass to me like a crackhead who owed money to a cartel!"
Chuckling, Goku moved to help the Guardians, Atom Eve, and Mark to their feet.
"No matter," he said, his voice reassuring. "I know it must be exhausting for you all to train like this every day. I can feel the fatigue weighing on your bodies. Superheroes or not, it's not good to train without rest."
"So, I think you all should rest for at least two days, and then we'll resume," Goku announced, eliciting a collective sigh of relief from the exhausted heroes.
"Ahhh, yeah, hell yeah! Who's ready for some pizza and beer night?" Rex yelled, earning a round of weary but genuine chuckles.
Immortal, the hero who had initially suggested this grueling training schedule, couldn't help but sigh in relief as he looked at Goku. "Thanks," he admitted, a rare note of vulnerability in his voice. "I've always thought I'd been through the worst of the worst, in every way imaginable. But I believe you've proven me wrong. Until next time," he said, offering Goku a handshake.
Chuckling, Goku returned the gesture. Soon, the Guardians of the Globe began to depart, their steps lighter at the prospect of some much-needed rest. As the group dispersed, Goku noticed Invincible and Atom Eve lingering nearby, sharing a private moment.
Goku's brows rose in surprise as he witnessed them kissing. He wasn't truly surprised, but he hadn't expected things to progress this quickly. Ever since he had arrived with Mark, he had mostly seen Mark with Eve or spending time with his younger brother, Oliver.
Speaking of Oliver, Goku noticed how quickly the infant was developing. He seemed to be learning and growing at an accelerated rate.
A sudden beeping sound drew Goku's attention. It was his wristwatch, hidden beneath his wristband. Rolling back the fabric, he quickly read the message displayed on the small screen.
(Cecil called. D.F.)
Huh, well, it's been a while since I spoke to Cecil. This must be important.
Once again, he glanced at the couple, who were now flying off into the distance. A knowing smile played on his lips.
Giggling softly, Goku placed his index and middle finger to his forehead. Time to go. In a shlink of displaced air, he vanished.