When the 439 Mountain area is mysteriously bombed in the middle of the night, Gohan sets out to find the person responsible.

A/N- Normally I wouldn't have written this. It's an idea that I've been pondering for a couple days, but didn't have any real motivation to write it. That was before my internet died. While it was only out for a day before I figured out how to fix it, that 24 hours gave me an opportunity to give writing a shot. After getting 1200 words into the story, I got invested enough to finish the chapter. I'm not sure if I'll continue the story, but at least I can say I gave it a shot.

Chapter 1

22:55 Friday - Somewhere above the 437 Rolling Hills Area

"This is Crimson-Leader, we are almost in the drop zone. ETA: 2 Minutes. Copy?" A loud voice calls out over the com channel.

"Crimson-Leader this is command, we copy. Continue as planned. Over" A gruff voice responded.

"You heard 'em. Let's deliver the package. Then we can make it home just in time for dinner." Said Crimson-Leader.

"Let's just get this over with. It's starting to get stuffy in here." Crimson-two responded.

"No kidding. If it were up to me, we would just do away with these damn windows all together." Crimson-three decides to voice her opinion.

"Okay kids, enough with the chatter. We are almost to the delivery point. Prepare to make the drop." Crimson-Leader commands.

"Roger that Leader" Crimson-two and three obey.

"Drop zone in 1000ft"

"800"

"600"

"400"

"Release on my mark."

"MARK!" Crimson leader yells as he releases his payload on the unsuspecting target below. An action immediately followed by crimson two and three.

As the package is descending to the target below, the three pilots accelerated their craft to the speed needed to be out of range of the oncoming blast.

22:56 – 439 Mountain Area - the Son household

Within the Son household, its residents were unknowingly living out the last minute of their lives.

Goten was sleeping peacefully dreaming about whatever a 7 year old dreams of.

Chi-Chi was at her desk, writing the book for her popular series, "A guide to dealing with children." A fictional story about a woman raising two alien children, one with a troubled childhood, the other never knowing his father.

She had started the series seven years ago when her husband had died, her son was in a depression, and it was found that she was pregnant. She figured that even if people were to read it for enjoyment, it would be an outlet to get things off her chest.

Right now she was writing up on her latest plan to deal with her training obsessive son. Due to his lack of social skills, she had recently enrolled him into high school. He had started a week ago, and it was already showing results.

He has only been going to school for a week, and has already found himself a girlfriend, no matter how much he tries to deny it! I might get to see great grandchildren yet! Was her last thought as her home was bombarded with a force that could eradicate small country.

23:00 – back with the pilots

"Mission control, this is Crimson-Leader, the package has been delivered. Detonation confirmed. Crimson is returning to base." Was the final transmission as radio silence was initiated.

Meanwhile in a dark room, a figure is illuminated by a series of monitors. "Well done Crimson." The figure then gets up and leaves the room.

8:30 Saturday – Capsule Corporation – Gohan

Currently eating breakfast in the CC staff lounge, Gohan hears a group of scientists chatting about the news.

"The media is saying that the crater just mysteriously formed overnight." Dr. River said.

"I would love to be down there, it sounds like an exciting mystery to solve." Dr. Grey responded.

"You're right about that. An entire area turning into a wasteland overnight? Unreal!" Dr. Martinez chirped in. Gohan's interest being peaked decided to join the conversation.

"What are you guys talking about? Are you saying that an area of the map just disappeared?" Gohan asked.

"You haven't heard yet?" Dr. River asks. Gohan shakes his head. "The media is going crazy! A mountain Area a few hundred Miles east of here was turned into a giant crater! Nobody knows what happened. That area was the completely isolated from the rest of the world. No witnesses. The only reason it was found, is because of a satellite network we finished years ago."

"So what theories have you guys come up with?" Gohan inquires.

"We haven't had much time to think it over, what with all that research on Ki we did last night; however, if I had to list some possible scenarios, I would say that it could have been a meteorite that got through our long range sensors." Dr. Martinez suggested.

"But isn't that supposed to be impossible? And even if it were possible, it would take an object the size of a baseball moving 1/1000th the speed of light to do what you're suggesting. Not to mention that it would have to survive atmospheric entry." Gohan argued.

"Yes, that is correct. Which is why that my least likely scenario." Dr. Martinez agreed then continued "My next idea is that it could have been a military weapons test. I know that the military has gone away from conventional weaponry a couple years ago, instead using the latest in laser round technology. Based on the media presence in the area, it is apparent that if an energy based attack was used, it was stable."

"Because of the lack of radiation, correct?" Gohan confirms, to which Dr. Martinez nods.

"Yes. If the crater was the result of one of the military's laser warheads, even if it was experimental there would still be enough radiation to warrant a full body suit. The technology of the military isn't at the stage where it can eliminate instability. As you already know, this is the reason why we are so interested in KI. It is the only clean, efficient, energy source known to man. Nothing gets wasted, unlike solar power, where we can't even harness a micro-fraction of the sun's energy. If it were clean energy, it would have come from out lab, and we aren't anywhere close to creating anything practical."

"Excuse me Dr. Martinez, before you continue, is there any possibility that this could have been the result of a spacecraft or other satellite crashing into the area. Much like the arrival of the alien invaders 13 years ago?" Dr. River questioned.

"It's unlikely. As Mr. Son stated earlier, anything coming from outside of the atmosphere would have been detected by our long range sensors. There is no possibility that it could have been a ship using stealth technology either. Ever since the universal information exchange was founded by the Namekians, there has been no known stealth technology that has worked in space and not been effected by the constant background radiation. Our sensors would have detected any anomalies." Dr. Grey answered.

"Right. This means that whatever formed that crated originated on earth." Dr. Martinez summarized. "My next theory, is actually a natural event. When the magma pockets under a volcano empties, there is a chance that the empty space can collapse in on itself. If there were a large enough cavern under the mountain range, the same could apply in this incident."

"Based on the video, I don't think that theory is very likely. If the ground were to simply collapse in on a cavern, there would be some evidence of what was there before. There would be more greenery, and the landscape would somewhat reflect what was there before." Dr. Grey argued.

"I agree. If the answer were that simple, the game would be no fun." Dr. Martinez responded. "Those were the only theories that I could think of off the top of my head. Maybe by the time we are done with the KI research, another lab will have an answer for us to review."

"We can only hope." Gohan concluded "Now then. Who wants to figure out clean energy?"

18:00 – Capsule Corporation

"Man that was a long day." Gohan yawned.

"Agreed." Moaned his fellow scientists.

"So. What area was it that disappeared anyways?" Gohan asked "I might have to drop by there on my way home."

"Oh? You live far enough away to simply drop by the 439 Mountain area? I doubt it!" Dr. River said with a smug smirk.

To which Gohan responded, "How did you know my family lives in the 439 Mountain Area?" Completely wiping the smirk off of the young doctor's face, replacing it with a nervous sweat.

"You're kidding right?"

"No. Why would I be? You've seen what I can do. Is it so ridiculous that I can fly at upwards 2000 miles/ hour?" Gohan confusedly replies.

Meanwhile Dr. Martinez was overclocking his suddenly alert brain, processing possible scenarios to break it to Gohan that his home was gone and his family likely dead. While it was hard for him to believe they were dead, there were more pressing matters to focus on at the moment. Telling Gohan. However, before he had any more time to think about it, Dr. Grey had already beat him to the punch.

"Gohan." The Elderly Dr. Grey said in a calm voice. "The area we were debating about during breakfast this morning. The mysterious crater. That was the 439 area. That was your home."

When these words were spoken, Gohan froze. He couldn't move. His brain trying to process what was happening.

It can't be true.

I refuse to believe that it's true.

Goten isn't dead.

Mom isn't dead.

It's not true.

It's not true.

IT'S NOT TRUE!

THEIR NOT DEAD!

THEY CAN'T BE DEAD!

With a sharp pain in the back of his neck, Gohan's limp unconscious form falls to the ground.

"Take him to his room." Vegeta said to Dr. River with authority that left no room for argument.

Dr. River nodded, picking up Gohan and leaving the room.

Vegeta then left the room, going towards where Bulma's KI was located.

18:20 – Bulma's lab

"Have you found anything?" Vegeta asked.

"Nothing yet." Bulma responded "I just can't figure it out. Every KI user we know of has disappeared, and there homes have been replaced with a crater. The kame island is gone. Tien's mountain is gone. The 439 area was wiped out. Piccolo's forest is gone. Yamcha's apartment building was blown up. The only connection is that all of them used KI. But if that were the reason, then why are we still here? Why didn't capsule corp. get blown to smithereens too? It doesn't make since!"

"You should stop for the night. You aren't getting anywhere and the longer you're at it, the worse it's going to get." Vegeta reasoned. "Get some dinner and go to bed."

"I will. But not yet. I have to figure out something. Anything! They're all DEAD! I refuse to give up without finding out something. I owe them that much." Bulma spoke, on the verge of tears. "I'm one of the greatest minds in the world. Second only to my father. I should be able to figure this out!"

She was openly crying now. Walking over to her, Vegeta wrapped his arms around her and spoke. "It's going to be okay. You will solve this much faster if you just stop now, and come back later with a fresh mind." Vegeta soothed.

Bulma's only response was a single nod of her head.

7:59 Monday – Gohan's room, Capsule Corp.

They're really dead. Gohan thought as he stared at the ceiling.

"GOOD MORNING BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE OF WEST CITY! IT'S 8:00 AND TIME TO WAKE UP FOR ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY! FOR TODAY'S WEATHER, IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER RAINY DAY! THAT'S RIGHT FOLKS, JUST LIKE YESTERDAY…" Gohan turned off the radio alarm and stared at the rain outside the window.

That's right, today's Monday. I better get ready to go. Gohan thought with a blank mind. He had spent all of yesterday in his room. When he wasn't crying his broken heart out into his pillow, he was going over what-if scenarios. (What if I didn't spend the weekend at capsule corp. What if I could have stopped their deaths by being there when they died? Would I have been able to do anything? Etc.)

Gohan had worked out yesterday that he would find out how his family and friends had perished. When he woke up the previous morning, he had learned that the media found several more locations where craters had appeared. Namely the locations of all the Z fighters. Learning this should have been the final blow to his sanity. But he decided that he doesn't want to break. He wants to break who or whatever is responsible for killing his loved ones. He wants them dead.

Getting up, Gohan packs a small bag with some clothes and supplies he thinks could be useful for the trip. A capsule house, two orange GIs, a bag of senzu beans, and some basic toiletries.

He makes the bed and leaves the room. He walks down the hallway with a purpose towards the staircase. Proceeding down the stairs, he arrives on the main level of the building. He starts toward the exit. When he is halfway there, he passes the staff lounge and hears his colleagues speaking about various theories to improve the KI research. Not wanting to leave without saying anything, Gohan opens the door and walks into the room.

"Hey, if it isn't Gohan! We were just going through some possible improvements that we could make to the…" Dr. River starts, but is cut off by Gohan.

"Sorry James. I'm not going to be able to continue working on the project for a while. I'm going away for a few months. Maybe you can ask Vegeta to help with your experiments." Gohan speaks with certainty.

"I see. You're going after the people responsible for the attacks on your friends. Correct?" Dr. Grey states.

"How do you know that someone is responsible?" Gohan asks.

"Simple. The circumstances don't allow for any other alternatives." Dr. Grey begins to answer "Anyone with two ears on their head could have heard your grief yesterday. And it is no small coincidence that all of your friends were killed by the same mysterious force at the same time."

"I see." Says Gohan "In that case, I'll be off. Good luck with the project." Gohan turned to leave, but stopped when a voice called out to him.

"Gohan" it was Dr. Martinez. "Don't bite off more than you can chew. Whoever is responsible for this, has already killed the strongest fighters on the planet. These people you're going after are dangerous. I want you to promise me that if a situation looks bad, get out before you get hurt. Earth doesn't need to lose another one of its heroes."

Gohan looked Dr. Martinez straight in the eye, and nodded his head once. He then walked out of the room and left the Capsule Corp. premises.

9:00 – Orange Star High school

When Videl entered the classroom, she was excited to have another battle of wills. Her target? Son Gohan. I know that he's hiding something. I'm sure if I can just keep the pressure on him for a couple more weeks, he'll have no choice but to give in and tell me. Too many things just don't match up. How can person do the things he does. He has to travel 500 miles every day just to get to school. He was able to jump over 20 feet in the air just to catch a baseball. He is able to withstand my glare for a full hour before giving in to my demands. Even dad would give in after only half a minute of that glare. Something just doesn't add up.

Walking up to her seat, she hears Erasa gossiping with some of her friends in the front row.

"Did you hear about those craters that appeared all over the place?" Nikki exclaims in an over exaggerated tone.

"Like yeah! They appeared in only the most remote places in the world! The media said that they just appeared overnight on the CC satellite network." Sidney said in an identical tone to her bubbly friend. Videl scoffs at any mention of the media. I wish they would just leave me alone.

"No way! How big did they say these craters were? If their big enough to show up on satellite, they must be the size of large city!" Erasa spoke with the same bubbly tone.

"They're actually all different sizes. The smallest one was in the 132 Forest Area and it's only the size of one of the mountains. While the largest completely destroyed the 439 Mountain Area!" Nikki answered. Videl momentarily froze. 439? Isn't that where Gohan said that he lives in? I wonder what happened. I'll have to add that to my list of inter… friendly questions to ask him.

RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING

"Alright class take your seats, as I call attendance." Mr. Ruler addressed the class.

…

"Maddison"

"Here sir"

"Osborn"

"Yo"

"Peterson"

"Up here Teach"

"Rubber"

"I'm. Like. Right here!"

"Satan"

"Present"

"Son"

"…"

"Son"

"…"

"What a shame. It appears that my only student with half a brain has decided to begin skipping class after only a week. And here I thought he had some potential." Mr. Ruler said sadly

Huh! Gohan's gone! NO! How will I be able to question him when he isn't here! Videl frantically thought to herself. I cannot allow this! He needs to answer my questions! I have a schedule to keep! "Sir! I would like to request an assignment!" Videl yelled out in the heat of the moment, her arm moving into a perfect salute.

Seeing such a perfect salute, Mr. Ruler's mind shifted from teacher to commanding officer in an instant. During the war over 40 years ago, he had lead a unit to hell and back without a single casualty.

"Cadet! What is the nature of your assignment?" His voice boomed, scarring some students out of their seats.

"Sir! I would like to track the location of Son Gohan, Senior of Orange Star High, and once found interrogate him for information! Sir!" Videl yelled to her Command Officer.

"Cadet! Based on your performance in the field, I trust that this request has no ill intention! YOUR REQUEST HAS BEEN GRANTED!" the Warrant officer shouted!

"Sir! Thank you! Sir! I will depart immediately! Sir!" Videl's shout echoed through the room. Quickly followed by the door slamming shut, signaling her departure.

Upon hearing his classroom door slam shut, Mr. Ruler shifter back into the teacher he truly is.

"What just happened?" he asked his still disorientated students

"…" was the only response he was given.

A/N

So there's chapter one. Like I said above, I don't know if I will continue this story or not. If I do, I have some ideas mapped out, so rest assured that it won't be without a plot. And in case you're wondering, the ending was just something off the top of my head. I needed a way to get Videl chasing Gohan, and that fit the bill. The speculations about the crater, I used as a medium to introduce the reader to some of the properties of my alternate universe. I am putting the rating to T because, while I'm not planning on major violence, I did kill off a lot of main characters. I'm not sure how other people may take that. If I tried to write a lemon, and put into the story, I'm sure I would only lose readers. Thus, I will not write lemons.

Given that this is my first story, I have no idea if my writing is good or bad. Are my ideas too rushed? Does the story flow well? Did I overdo that speculations about the crater? Should I have done Gohan's reaction any different? If you happen to read this and have 3 minutes, please leave a review.