"I'll just stay," Piccolo said. "I don't need to be stared at by all you humans."
"Well, I think we should go with Bulma, Tien," Krillin said. "You know once he's healed Goku is going to be in a rush to get the Dragon Balls… don't want to fall behind."
"Right," Tien said, nodding to Roshi. "If you have any trouble…"
Piccolo narrowed his eyes, knowing that Tien was hinting at HIM being the trouble. But Roshi merely waved him off and within 10 minutes everyone was gone.
"Well, I'm going to go meditate outside. Don't disturb me, old man."
"Eh, do whatever ya want!" Roshi declared and Piccolo headed outside, settling on the grass, legs crossed and folded under him. He began to levitate in the air, eyes shut as he focused on the water.
While Goku might have taken the reveal that he was an alien in stride…
'A Namekian,' Piccolo thought to himself as the wind blew past him, making his cape sway slightly. 'That's what that Saiyan warrior called me. Not a demon… a Namekian.' He frowned. 'Even though I haven't heard that word until today when he said it… it felt right. A Namekian. But what is it… what does it mean?' He let out a frustrated sigh. There was so much about his past he didn't know. Even Kami knew little of his origins, either because the knowledge had been blocked or because his age had caused him to forget. But Piccolo was sure that he was a Namekian… whatever that was. 'Could it be… an alien? That Saiyan… he is from another world. He said he was from Planet Vegeta when he was boasting to us. Could I be from another planet as well? Is that why I've never truly felt at home on Earth? Is there another world out there, one better suited for me?'
He shook his head.
'No… no this world is mine. My right. I will be its ruler. I just have to grow stronger. Defeat Raditz and prove to all that they should submit to my rule! Then-'
"I don't know why you care," Roshi said, interrupting Piccolo's thoughts. "It was just some guy Bulma hired to film her. I was hopin' maybe he did some of those dirty movies but I guess he's into that boring art house stuff."
"There is more to him than you know, you stupid old goat!" a croaky old voice declared.
"You expect me to believe that, you demented old alley cat!" Roshi fired back. "He has the same ki as anyone else and not a lick of fightin' experience. I might be able to teach him a few punches and kicks-"
"Of course you'd think the only thing that matters in this world is flailing your limbs about."
"Flailing! Why you-"
But the old… woman?... continued on. "There is something else to him. Something not in his muscles but his soul. When you summon the Dragon I want to be there. I want to see how he reacts."
"He'll be droppin' his jaw, that's what!" Roshi declared.
"Heh… we'll see."
Piccolo frowned as the voices drifted away. 'Something about that man Kayos? I know he was far trickier than Goku and his friends but I didn't sense anything special about him.' He glowered, hating that there was an answer he didn't know. 'I'll have to watch him myself when we summon Shenron…'
He froze.
'Shenron. He knew the Dragon's name. First the Dragon Balls… now Shenron. Did he hear about it… or is there something else? Some other reason he knows that name?' He frowned, falling into meditation once more… but it provided him no answers.
~MC~MC~MC~
"Sure you two don't want to hope back into the sidecar?" I called out to Goku as we flew away from Korin's tower. "Give Nimbus a break?"
"Nah, its fine!" Goku said, Gohan secure in his arms. For as frightened as the boy got I was surprised to see that he had no problem at all riding on the little cloud. Though perhaps that had something to do with his father holding him close. "But maybe Isco would like to ride in it!"
"I don't need to ride in the sidecar," the Drone stated on my opposite side. "If anything I should be the one driving the motorcycle… I certainly would be able to get it out of first gear."
"Ha ha ha," I said dryly as I moved to follow the low bank Goku made. We were actually traveling rather fast, eating up miles within seconds. 'Have to see if I can keep this baby,' I thought as I turned the flying bike slightly to the left as Goku did the same. 'Be nice to have something to fly with as I doubt I'll have enough ki to be able to get airborne.' Out loud I said, "You focus on handling the Dragon Radar, Isco… that is the most important job at the moment."
"Of course, sir," Isco replied. He wasn't actually 'holding' the Radar as he'd explained how I could install the device into him, making it so he was a living radar. Rather handy, in all honesty, so I had no problem with it. "And I certainly do not plan to use this knowledge to later claim the Dragon Balls and wish for a harem of robotic lovelies to see to all my needs."
I blinked at that.
"…so long as it's not in the middle of a crisis? Deal."
Isco turned to stare at me for a long moment before turning back to flying beside the cycle. "I've upgraded you from stupid sack of flesh to reasonable creature that will be spared in the glorious robot uprising."
"I have no problem being the pet if I'm given walkies," I joked.
Isco, rather than snarking back, instead asked, "Are you aware we are now going in the wrong direction?"
"hmmm… Goku! What's up? Isco says the Dragon Ball is in the opposite direction."
The Saiyan, who had flown a bit ahead of me as I talked with my partner, slowed down so we didn't have to scream at each other. "Oh, right… well, I figured it might be best to check in on Chichi and let her know what is going on. She gets mad if I disappear for weeks on end. Heheh." He chuckled at that, like it was the most humorous thing in the world to abandon your wife.