West City
"What?? A gravity chamber that multiplies gravity up to three hundred times your own weight? And it keeps doubling?? You weigh about fifty pounds right now. By your requirements, twice that would be a hundred pounds, equivalent to two of you. Then, with the doubling, three times a hundred pounds is three hundred pounds, four times that is... Good heavens, I'm afraid Earth doesn't have the kind of material you're looking for! There can't be any material strong enough to withstand such terrifying gravity!" Bulma's eyes widened in shock.
She couldn't even imagine how terrifying three hundred times would be with the multiplier doubling each time! (I'm bad at math. Any experts want to calculate it? See you in the comments!)
"Leave the materials to me. Just tell me this: if I find something strong enough to withstand that gravity, can you build the gravity chamber I asked for?" Son Gohan asked.
"Who am I?? I'm Bulma, the very definition of a genius! As long as you can find the materials, I can make it work—not just at three hundred times gravity, but five hundred!" Bulma couldn't resist the challenge and immediately made a bold declaration.
"Great, it's a deal!! I'll go find the materials, and once I do, I'll come back to you! I'll be off now. Goodbye, beautiful Ms. Bulma!!" Son Gohan lifted his feet slightly off the ground and vanished in a burst of speed.
"That little rascal—he does everything on a whim. There probably isn't a material like that anywhere on Earth! Could he actually go looking for it on another planet?" Bulma shook her head and put Gohan's words out of her mind!
Whoosh!!!
"Ahem, sorry to bother you... could I borrow the Dragon Radar, Ms. Bulma?"
"Goodness, you scared me! Didn't you leave already? The Dragon Radar? Are you planning to make a wish to Shenron for strong materials?" Bulma immediately guessed what Son Gohan was thinking.
But the truth was unexpected. Son Gohan shook his head.
"It's related, but I'm not going to wish for it directly!"
"The Dragon Radar? Let me look for it! Wait a moment!"
Bulma went to her workshop and rummaged through everything. It took her a full hour to find it!
"Oh, the battery's dead. Wait a moment, I'll replace it!"
Bulma picked up a screwdriver, removed the back cover, and put in a new battery!
Beep, beep, beep!!! Bzzzz!!!
"Huh?? Why is the signal fluctuating? Could it have broken from sitting unused for so long?" Bulma murmured in surprise.
"Ms. Bulma, I've got one on me!" Son Gohan said, taking out the Four-Star Dragon Ball he was carrying.
"I see!!"
Following the Dragon Radar's directions, Son Gohan quickly found all seven Dragon Balls!
But he didn't summon Shenron. Instead, he returned to Mount Paozu. He didn't go home, but went looking for the spaceship his father, Sun Wukong, had arrived on.
He'd trained on Mount Paozu for so long that he knew the terrain by heart!
He knew every canyon, cliff, and pit like the back of his hand!
He'd simply been so focused on training that he'd never gone out of his way to search for the ship!
He searched every cliffside and canyon inch by inch. In the fourteenth pit, he finally spotted a round spaceship completely buried beneath weeds!
He raised a palm slightly and struck the air!
Whoosh~
An invisible wave of energy instantly scattered the weeds covering the ship, revealing the spaceship in all its original glory!
A spaceship capable of traveling through the depths of space was truly remarkable!
Though it had been covered in weeds and exposed to the elements for more than twenty years, it hadn't rusted at all. Its surface still gleamed coldly!
"If this ship can withstand it, I'll have saved a wish!!" Son Gohan murmured to himself.
He silently calculated his plans.
He raised a palm and gathered his energy. A surge of power lifted the spaceship into the air!
Then he carried it as he flew toward Bulma's house!
West City
"Gohan?? You're saying this is the spaceship your father arrived in? Sun Wukong is an alien?? No wonder he's so freakishly strong. He has a tail, and during a full moon he even..." Bulma realized she'd said too much and stopped herself.
Then she glanced at the tail behind Son Gohan!
"Don't worry, Aunt Bulma. My family goes to bed early. We never look at the moon!" Son Gohan waved his hand.
"You know about that??" Bulma asked in surprise.
"Mm-hmm!"
The mysterious little boy only made Bulma even more curious!
"Does Sun Wukong know he's an alien?" Bulma asked.
"I'd appreciate it if you kept it secret for now, Ms. Bulma. My father doesn't know yet. When the time is right, I'll explain it to him!" Son Gohan asked.
"All right! I'll examine the material first. Wait here a moment!" Bulma removed a component from the spaceship and hurried to the testing room.
Fifteen minutes later
Bulma slowly stepped out of the testing room!
"How is it, Ms. Bulma?" Son Gohan's expression stiffened slightly, because he could tell Bulma didn't look happy!
"Although this material is harder than anything on Earth, it still can't meet your requirements. But if we lower the standard, I can make a gravity chamber that reaches three hundred times normal gravity. That means increasing the gravity based on your weight—not doubling it, then multiplying the doubled weight again. It's a little convoluted, but I think you understand, right?" Bulma explained.
"Mm-hmm, Ms. Bulma, I understand. That's about what I expected!! Then please go ahead and start on it according to those requirements. I should be able to find stronger materials before long. A gravity chamber with the usual multiplier won't do me any good!" Son Gohan said.
"Sure! I can make the basic version for now, and we can add to it once you find other materials!" Bulma agreed.
"Great, then I'll be off!!"
Twenty minutes later
Son Gohan arrived at the base of Korin Tower! He gazed up at the tower stretching into the clouds and marveled.
"It really is tall!! I wonder if the Ultra Divine Water will work on me!"
Son Gohan lifted his feet off the ground and shot straight up!!!
A few seconds later, he had already reached the place where Korin lived!
"Sun Wukong's son. A boy with extraordinary talent, stronger than Sun Wukong!" Korin arrived beside Son Gohan, holding a wooden staff!
"Hello, Korin. It seems you were right when you told my father that from atop Korin Tower, you could observe everything on Earth." Son Gohan greeted him.
"I'm nowhere near that capable. That ability is only a small part of what Kami and Mr. Popo taught me!" Korin waved a hand modestly.
But there was still a hint of pride on his face!
"Korin, I came to use the Ultra Divine Water to increase my strength!" Son Gohan explained.
"Hey, hey, hey!! Son Wukong's son... can't you see I'm right here? Your father and I are like brothers. Shouldn't you be calling me Uncle?" Yajirobe complained from where he sat leaning against the wall!
"Heh, Yajirobe... Uncle! You've wasted plenty of Senzu Beans over the years, haven't you? Korin, need any help? I could take out the trash for you!"
Whoosh!!
"What are you doing? Stop it!! I'm sorry, let me go!" Yajirobe clung desperately to Son Gohan's wrist and begged.
Son Gohan grabbed Yajirobe by the collar and lifted him off the ground, holding him in the air beyond the edge of the platform!
Son Gohan looked down on this chubby freeloader with all his heart!
In the original story, the fatso did get to save the day once in a while!!
But wasn't that always because he'd eaten so many Senzu Beans that there were barely any left, leaving the Z Fighters unable to recover and forcing him to bring them more?
Even during Vegeta's first battle with Sun Wukong on Earth, the lack of Senzu Beans had left Sun Wukong bedridden for an entire month!
"All right, Gohan, let him go. He may be a freeloader, but I'm alone here all year round. It really does get boring!" Korin pleaded on Yajirobe's behalf.
"Since Korin's asking, I'll let you off. But listen carefully: from now on, don't waste another Senzu Bean! Understand?" Son Gohan's small body radiated a powerful aura, and his eyes were filled with murderous intent.
"I understand! I absolutely won't eat any more Senzu Beans!!" Yajirobe replied in terror.
"Korin, since you're letting him stay here, you should make him earn his keep and provide you with dried fish. My dad told me the fish he grills is delicious!" Son Gohan teased.
"Dried fish??" Korin heard him and couldn't help drooling!
"Yajirobe, did you hear what Son Gohan said? Four meals a day—no, three! Dried fish with every meal. Can you do that? If you can't, I'll ask Son Gohan to throw you off. You can't fly, can you?" Korin gave Yajirobe a faintly threatening look.
"No problem, no problem!!! That's easy!!" Yajirobe immediately agreed.