"What's plan now Goku? Piccolo did so the Dragon balls don't work anymore."
Goku went pale, realizing the severity instantly. With Piccolo dead, Kami had died alongside him. That meant the Earth Dragon Balls were permanently inert. They couldn't revive Piccolo, fix Nappa's corpse, or restore anyone else.
"We're completely crippled," Goku admitted heavily, looking at the fallen Saiyans and the crippled Z Fighters. "No Dragon Balls. No Kami."
he sighs before speaking. " We can go to Namik The home planet of Piccolo and Kami Use their Dragon Ball to bring them back."
"Namik..." Goku repeated, his eyes lighting up with hope. "The Dragon Balls there... they could revive Piccolo and Kami, right? And maybe even heal the others?" He turned to Max, his expression determined. "We have to go to Namik. It's our only chance."
"No, you are going to namik Bulma and I can help you with a ship But that's all everything else is on you."
Goku's eyes widened with hesitation, but he knew Max was right—he couldn't trust anyone in this chaotic mess.
"Alright... I understand," Goku said, jaw clenched tight. "We'll go to Namik and figure out if those Dragon Balls can bring the others back." He glanced at the Z Fighters who were still groaning, injured but alive.
A massive wave of Reverse Cursed Technique washed over the battlefield, encompassing Krillin and Tien instantly.
Their shattered ribs snapped back into place, internal organs healed, and bruises vanished. Krillin gasped, stumbling as his vitality surged back instantly. Tien, battered and missing chunks of flesh, was fully restored, his third eye blinking open completely. They were good as new.
The healing wave reached five-year-old Gohan, who lay unconscious with his tail stump still bleeding. His wound sealed instantly, the scar vanishing as if it had never existed. The toddler stirred, blinking awake with confused but clear eyes, wiggling his fingers and looking at his healed hands.
Krillin rushed over, tears streaming. "Gohan! Buddy, you're okay!"
Max floated silently, the glowing aura of the Reverse Cursed Technique fading around them. The battlefield was a graveyard of destruction—Nappa dead, Vegeta incapacitated, the mountains leveled—but the critical members of their group were alive.
Krillin helped a groggy Gohan to his feet. Goku looked at Max, the reality of their next mission weighing heavily on him.Max floated silently, the glowing aura of the Reverse Cursed Technique fading around them. The battlefield was a graveyard of destruction—Nappa dead, Vegeta incapacitated, the mountains leveled—but the critical members of their group were alive.
Krillin helped a groggy Gohan to his feet. Goku looked at Max, the reality of their next mission weighing heavily on him.
In an instant, Max vanished from the devastated battlefield and materialized inside the pristine, high-tech lobby of Capsule Corp. Bulma was pacing frantically, her knuckles white, while Panchy sat wringing her hands on the couch. The silence of the room was deafening compared to the chaos they had just escaped.
"Max!" Bulma screamed, rushing toward him.
"Where the HELL have you been?!" Bulma shrieked, grabbing Max's arm and practically shaking him. "We heard explosions! Mountains falling apart! And Goku... is Goku okay?!" Panchy jumped up too, her eyes wide with panic. "Is everyone alive? Please tell me everyone is alive!" She looked ready to faint.
"OK, one at a time."
The two women immediately snapped their mouths shut, clutching each other's hands.
Bulma slapped her hands over her mouth, trembling. "Is Goku alive? Please tell me he's alive."
Panchy squeezed her daughter's arm, tears in her eyes. "What about Krillin? Tien? And... oh god, the little boy?"
"OK, so everybody but the two you just named our dead the Dragon balls don't work Goku's going to need a ship to get to another planet to use their Dragon balls and Bulma. Can you build the ship?
Bulma shook her head sharply, forcing herself to focus. "A ship... yes, I can build a ship. Capsule Corp has the best spacecraft technology in the universe." She glanced at the emergency monitors showing the devastation across the globe. "But how far is this Namik planet? And what kind of supplies will Goku need? Food? Water? Medical kits?"
"Probably everything and you should probably use the ship I brought here that Raditz came in on as a basis."
Bulma's eyes widened as the realization struck. "Raditz's pod... genius." She grabbed a tablet, fingers flying across the screen. "That tech is centuries ahead of anything Earth has. I'll cannibalize the navigation systems, the propulsion drive, and the gravity chamber. It'll cut construction time from years to weeks."
"I'll have my engineers strip it down immediately," Bulma declared, her brain already racing through schematics. "With Raditz's tech as a base, I can create a hyperdrive system capable of interstellar travel. We'll need life support, cryo-sleep, and a massive navigation database."
She looked back at Max, her voice cracking slightly. "How many... how many did we lose?" Panchy was still crying quietly on the couch, her shoulders shaking.
"Five and just so you know none of us are going."
The number hit Bulma like a physical blow. Five dead. Her knees buckled, but she caught herself on the armrest. "Five... including Yamcha, Chiaotzu, Tien...?" She couldn't even finish the list, too afraid of who else was gone.
She looked at Max with wide, scared eyes. "You said... none of us are going?"
"Yes, I'm staying and so are you two."
"But Max, Goku needs help! And I know how to build the ship!" Bulma protested, torn between her desire to help and her responsibility to Earth. Panchy looked up, red-eyed and sniffling.
"Goku, Krillin, Tein and Gohan are going we are not."
The finality in Max's voice silenced them both. Panchy nodded shakily, understanding that this was Max's decision as protector. Bulma took a deep, steadying breath.
"Okay. I'll work non-stop. The ship will be ready in under three weeks." She paused, looking at Max with an intensity that made even him pause. "And you..."
Bulma stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "You'll stay here with us? Protect Earth while they're gone?" She needed reassurance that Max wouldn't vanish too, leaving them utterly defenseless. Panchy watched with wide eyes, hoping for confirmation that their protector would remain.
"Yes I will."
A collective breath escaped both women as if they'd been holding it for hours. Panchy surged forward, wrapping her arms around Max in a desperate hug while Bulma practically tackled them both.
"Thank god. Thank god you're staying," Bulma sobbed against his shoulder. "We can't lose anyone else. Earth needs you."
Max's strong arms encircled both women, holding them close. He felt their hearts racing, their bodies shaking with emotion. In that moment, he wasn't just their protector; he was their anchor, their hope. He hugged them tighter, silently promising that he would stay.
After a long moment, Bulma pulled back, wiping her tears on her sleeve. "I should get started on the ship." She looked at Max one last time before rushing out, leaving Panchy still clinging to him. Panchy lifted her head, looking up at Max with tired, red-rimmed eyes.
"Max?" Panchy whispered, her voice hoarse from crying. Max looked down at her, noting how small and fragile she looked. She swallowed hard before continuing. "Will you... will you stay with me tonight? In my room?"
"Yes I will."Relief washed over Panchy's face, making her look years younger. She needed comfort, security, someone to chase away the nightmares that were already forming in her mind. Max followed her silently up the stairs to her bedroom, closing the door behind them.
Panchy climbed into bed, scooting over to make room. Max kicked off his shoes and lay down beside her, pulling her gently against his side. She curled up against him, fitting perfectly under his arm like a puzzle piece. Max wrapped his arm around her, holding her close as she buried her face in his chest.
They lay there in silence, the house feeling emptier than ever without the usual sounds of friends and laughter. Panchy's breathing gradually slowed as exhaustion claimed her, but she didn't let go of Max's shirt. Even in sleep, her grip tightened, as if afraid he might disappear.
Three long, tense weeks passed. Earth had returned to an uneasy peace, the devastation slowly being rebuilt. Capsule Corp's underground hangar now housed a sleek, futuristic ship - Bulma's masterpiece. The hyperdrive engine hummed softly, ready for interstellar travel.
The day had finally come. Goku, Krillin, Tien, and Gohan stood by the ship, their bags packed with supplies and clothes. Bulma was there too, looking proud and exhausted from weeks of non-stop work. Panchy stood silently off to the side, her arms wrapped around herself.
"Be careful guys."
Goku nodded solemnly, knowing the danger they were facing. "We'll be back before you know it," he promised, trying to sound more confident than he felt. Krillin and Tien exchanged worried glances but nodded in agreement.
Bulma stepped forward, giving each of them a fierce hug. "Don't you dare get yourselves killed," she ordered, her voice cracking. "I just built this ship, so you better use it to come back!" She punched Goku's arm lightly, fighting back tears.
The group boarded the ship, waving goodbye through the window. Max stood beside Panchy and Bulma, his arm around Panchy's shoulders. As the ship lifted off with a soft hum, Panchy buried her face in Max's chest, sobbing quietly. Bulma watched, her eyes dry but haunted.
The ship disappeared into the sky, leaving behind a heavy silence. Bulma turned abruptly and walked away, not wanting to break down in front of everyone. Panchy stayed in Max's arms, crying softly. Max looked up at the empty sky, a quiet determination in his eyes. He would keep his promise to protect Earth... and wait for their return.
Days turned into weeks as they waited for news. Life at Capsule Corp continued, but the atmosphere was heavy and somber. Bulma threw herself into work, trying to distract herself from the constant worry. Panchy spent most of her time in Max's room, finding comfort in his presence.