In other worlds, the words "back from the dead" would have been hard to believe. In the world of the Dragon Balls, they were perfectly normal.
If you hadn't died a few times, you could hardly call yourself strong.
Bulma stopped pressing the matter and began lecturing them instead:
"Good. Then don't be so reckless again. Can you beat both Androids on your own? Don't you know how strong they are? You always charge in without thinking.
"Last time you lost an arm. This time you nearly lost your life."
Son Gohan hunched his shoulders and nodded along. "Yes, yes, yes."
"And you, Trunks. You're twelve now. Use your head. Stop thinking you can solve everything by charging in and killing them. What am I supposed to do if you both die?"
Trunks hunched his shoulders too, not daring to answer.
He sneaked a glance at Son Gohan and found Son Gohan sneaking a look at him.
Neither could hold back a laugh.
"You're laughing? You can still laugh?"
They immediately put on serious faces and buried themselves in their food.
With two ravenous Saiyans at the table, the food soon vanished.
Once they had eaten their fill, they sat back.
Warmth spread through Son Gohan's body. He could feel his strength returning rapidly, and before long, it broke through its old limits.
This is the Saiyan bloodline's unique gift. Every time a Saiyan comes back from the brink of death, their strength grows enormously. Son Gohan clenched his fist, feeling the power surging inside him, and could barely contain his excitement.
He knew it was probably something like potential: once it had been wrung dry, there would be no more to draw on.
Otherwise, Saiyans could exploit that trick until they were invincible. What chance would any other race have?
Before, Android 18 had beaten him effortlessly.
Now, though, he might be able to fight her to a draw. If he was feeling bold, he might even be able to get the upper hand.
Heh.
A glint flashed in Son Gohan's eyes as he imagined crushing Android 18's head.
But it was only a fantasy. He had no intention of rushing out to fight the Androids right now.
That would be ridiculous.
Android 17 was right beside her.
He wasn't just there to stand around looking cool. Son Gohan knew Android 17 was even stronger than Android 18.
Charging in now would be sheer stupidity.
Son Gohan valued his life. Without complete confidence, he had no desire to provoke those two monsters.
In the past, gaining strength had made Son Gohan overconfident, as though some of his intelligence had turned into raw power.
But after merging with another soul, that flaw had disappeared.
He now treasured his life, and his mind was clear.
"Gohan, stay here for the next few days. Rest and let your injuries heal. No running around, all right?"
Bulma spoke as she cleared the messy table.
Looking at Son Gohan, she remembered how lively and considerate he had been as a child. Her heart ached, and her eyes softened.
He had once been such a vibrant boy.
Now he had only one arm, and the safety of the entire world rested on his shoulders.
It was too heavy a burden.
Oh, Gohan.
"All right, Aunt Bulma." Son Gohan nodded and helped Trunks clear the dishes.
Then a thought struck him. "Aunt Bulma, didn't Uncle Vegeta ask you to build a Gravity Chamber for him? Is it still around?"
The old Son Gohan had known nothing about it. Now, though, he knew all about it.
He remembered that Bulma had converted a spaceship into a Gravity Chamber for Vegeta.
Vegeta used to train inside it.
But Son Gohan had never known it existed, so he had spent all this time training with Trunks outdoors instead of making use of it.
Then again, he could hardly be blamed. For one thing, no one had told him.
For another, every Z Fighter had died when Son Gohan was nine. With no one to teach him or train alongside him, becoming a Super Saiyan on his own had been an extraordinary feat.
There was far too much Son Gohan didn't know.
Bulma paused at his question.
"Yes, I converted the spaceship Vegeta brought back into a Gravity Chamber. It's at the old Capsule Corp site, but the Androids attacked the company once, so the ship was probably damaged."
"What do you need it for?"
Trunks, standing nearby, listened intently.
He was curious about the past, especially anything to do with Vegeta.
What kind of person was Dad, really?
"I want to train in the Gravity Chamber," Son Gohan said. "It just occurred to me that if Trunks and I trained in there, we might be able to defeat the Androids soon."
"Really?" Bulma's eyes widened.
She was a genius when it came to technology, but she knew next to nothing about martial arts and training.
"Yes, really." Son Gohan nodded. "I'll go look for it now. I'll be back soon."
"Gohan, I want to come too." Trunks looked at him hopefully.
"All right," Son Gohan said.
"Be careful. If you can't find it, I can build another one. Materials and equipment are scarce right now, though, so it might take a while," Bulma told them.
"Got it. We'll just take a look and come right back."
Son Gohan and Trunks flew toward the old Capsule Corporation site.
"Gohan, what was my dad really like?"
Trunks couldn't help asking as they flew.
"Your dad..." Son Gohan pictured Vegeta, then smiled. "He was very proud and hated losing."
"Who was stronger, Dad or Mr. Goku?" Trunks asked, his face full of admiration.
At that moment, Trunks was like any other child asking someone about his father.
Son Gohan glanced at him. Not wanting to shatter that image, he smiled and said, "They were equally strong."
Trunks brightened at his answer. "Ha! I knew it. Mom says the same thing."
Son Gohan was a little surprised. Bulma said that too?
Soon, they reached the old Capsule Corp site.
It had once been the busiest part of West City.
Now its former splendor was gone, leaving only ruins.
From above, the ground looked pitted and scarred.
The tall buildings were badly damaged, and damp moss covered many of them.
Son Gohan surveyed the area from the air.
He soon spotted what he was looking for.
"There it is."
A sphere about ten meters across lay crookedly in a fissure. It was almost certainly the spaceship.
Son Gohan and Trunks landed beside it.
"It really is the ship." Son Gohan was delighted.
Moss covered it, and a huge hole had been torn in its side, but there was no mistaking it for anything else.
It was Trunks's first time seeing such a thing, and curiosity got the better of him.
He touched it here and there, getting moss all over his hands.
Son Gohan walked around the ship.
At last, he found a raised button.
The ship's definitely damaged. I don't know if this Capsule button still works, but I should take it back and let Bulma have a look. Maybe she can fix it.
With that thought, Son Gohan pressed the button hard.
The ship shuddered. Then came a BOOM! A cloud of smoke billowed out, and the ship shrank into a Capsule that Son Gohan caught in his hand.
Trunks, who had still been touching the ship, jumped in fright.
"Gohan! You could've warned me. You scared me to death."
"Haha, I didn't think you were that easy to scare. Come on, let's head back first." Son Gohan smiled and put the Capsule away.
The two flew back the way they had come.
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