In the vast orbital headquarters of the Justice League, Batman stood before a holographic display, his expression as unreadable as ever behind his cowl.
The footage playing showed a lecture hall in chaos - students cowering in fear, Scarecrow moving among them with clinical detachment, and then a sudden, violent tremor shaking the building.
"At 14:37 last Thursday, Gotham Academy experienced what was initially reported as an earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale," Batman explained, his voice flat and clinical.
"The epicenter was precisely located within the lecture hall where Jonathan Crane, aka Scarecrow, was holding seventy-three students and faculty hostage."
The footage continued, showing the windows shattering as a figure appeared in the center of the room - a young man with dark hair, his expression one of cold fury.
As the League members watched, the man's hair briefly rose, strands transforming into golden light, his eyes flashing emerald for just a moment before returning to normal.
"The tremors were felt as far as Boston," Batman continued. "Seismologists were baffled by the event, as Gotham sits on no known fault lines."
Superman leaned forward, studying the footage with intense focus. "And you believe this man caused the earthquake?"
"I don't believe. I know," Batman replied. "My sensors detected an unknown energy signature emanating from him at the exact moment the tremors began. The energy output was... significant."
Wonder Woman crossed her arms. "Who is he?"
"Goku Son. Twenty years old. Student at Gotham University, double major in Physics and Philosophy.
Legal guardian to three teenagers - Mark, Lelouch, and Mikasa - whom he formally adopted two years ago after aging out of the Gotham Orphanage system himself."
Flash raised his hand. "Hold up. If the cameras were fried during this incident, which I'm assuming they were based on that energy spike, how do you even have this footage?"
Batman's expression didn't change. "I have my own monitoring devices throughout Gotham."
"Including Gotham Academy?" Green Lantern asked, raising an eyebrow.
Batman didn't elaborate, though privately he reflected that his surveillance of the academy was primarily due to Dick Grayson's attendance there, along with several other members of the young team he was mentoring.
"The point," Batman continued, "is that we have a meta-human of unknown power levels living in Gotham, whose abilities appear to be triggered by emotional states.
Furthermore, based on my surveillance, his adopted son Mark also possesses meta-human abilities - super strength, enhanced durability, and flight capabilities that have been emerging over the past month."
"Have they broken any laws?" Martian Manhunter asked.
"No," Batman admitted. "Until the Scarecrow incident, I had no intention of making contact. They kept to themselves, maintained their civilian identities, and showed no signs of hostility."
"But now?" Superman prompted.
"Now we have evidence that at least one of them possesses power levels that could pose a significant threat if not properly controlled."
Batman gestured to the footage, which showed Goku manipulating the fear toxin in the air, condensing it into a sphere between his palms before making it vanish entirely.
"What happened to Scarecrow and his men?" Wonder Woman asked.
"They were found unconscious, with no memory of how they were subdued," Batman replied. "Though I suspect that's less about memory manipulation and more about simple fear keeping them quiet."
Superman stood up, his decision made. "So what's the plan, Batman? What do you think we should do?"
Batman shut off the holographic display. "As I said, before the incident, I was content to let them be. They weren't breaking any laws or endangering civilians.
Now, however, it's clear that Goku's power may be volatile when his emotions are involved. It would be prudent for the League to make contact - specifically, I suggest you and I approach him."
"Just the two of us?" Superman asked.
Batman nodded. "He's extremely protective of his family. A full League approach might be perceived as threatening.
Our goal should be to offer assistance in controlling his abilities and potentially extend an invitation to Mark to join the younger team if he's interested in heroics."
The League members exchanged glances, silently debating the merits of Batman's proposal.
"I agree with Batman," Martian Manhunter finally said. "A minimal approach would be less intimidating."
"As do I," Wonder Woman added. "Though I would like to be kept informed."
Superman nodded. "Alright, Batman. You and I will make contact. When?"
"Tomorrow," Batman replied. "They typically train together on Saturday mornings in a remote area outside Gotham.
It would be the optimal time to approach them - away from civilians, in an environment where they feel comfortable."
"Then it's settled," Superman concluded. "Tomorrow, we meet this Goku and his family."
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The sound of fists striking with controlled precision echoed through the training room in the basement of the Son family home.
Mark and Mikasa circled each other, both moving with the fluid grace of experienced fighters, though their styles contrasted sharply.
Mikasa's movements were economical, precise - each strike and block executed with the efficiency of a soldier who had learned that wasted motion could mean death.
Mark, on the other hand, fought with a more dynamic, improvised style, his movements powerful but still learning discipline.
"Watch your guard, Mark," Goku called from the sidelines, where he stood observing with Lelouch. "Mikasa's looking for an opening on your left."
As if on cue, Mikasa feinted right before launching a lightning-fast strike toward Mark's left ribs. He twisted away, barely avoiding the hit, and countered with a sweep that Mikasa jumped over with practiced ease.
"Your reaction time is improving," she noted, landing lightly and immediately resetting her stance.
"Yeah, well, getting my face punched in by you for the past week has been great motivation," Mark replied with a grin, circling again.
Goku nodded approvingly. "Mikasa, try incorporating that Ki redirection technique we worked on yesterday. Mark's strength gives him an advantage in direct exchanges, but energy can be redirected."
Mikasa nodded once, her expression focused.
As Mark launched forward with a powerful strike, she shifted slightly, her hand moving in a circular pattern that seemed to catch his momentum and redirect it past her, leaving him momentarily off-balance.
She capitalized immediately, landing three quick strikes to his exposed side before he could recover.
"Ow! That's new," Mark complained, rubbing his ribs.
"That's strategy," Mikasa replied, the faintest hint of satisfaction in her voice.
Meanwhile, Lelouch was performing push-ups beside Goku, his face reddening with exertion as he struggled through the set.
"Forty-three... forty-four..." Goku counted, his tone encouraging but firm. "Your mind may be your greatest weapon, Lelouch, but your body is the vessel that carries it. Balance is essential for Ki manipulation."
"I'm... beginning to think... you enjoy... torturing me," Lelouch gasped between push-ups.
Goku smiled. "Consider it character building. Your soul and courage provide excellent Ki potential, but your physical foundation needs strengthening to balance the equation."
"Forty-eight... forty-nine... fifty!" Lelouch collapsed onto the mat with a groan of relief. "There. Satisfied?"
"For now," Goku replied, offering a hand to help him up. "Your Ki sensing is progressing well, thanks to your Geass perception. The physical training will catch up eventually."
The training session continued for another hour before Goku called a halt. The four of them moved to the kitchen, where Mark immediately raided the refrigerator while Mikasa prepared protein shakes.
"I think that's enough for today," Goku said, accepting a glass of water from Lelouch. "You're all making excellent progress."
Mark, his mouth full of leftover pizza, mumbled something unintelligible before swallowing. "So, uh, I've been thinking about something. Something I think we need to talk about."
The sudden seriousness in his tone drew everyone's attention.
"What is it?" Goku asked, setting down his water.
Mark took a deep breath. "It's about what we discussed before - about possibly going back to my world. To save my mom and stop Nolan."
The room fell silent as the weight of Mark's words settled over them.
"You know I died fighting him," Mark continued, his voice quieter now. "He was going to destroy everything, kill everyone.
And my mom - Debbie - she's still there, probably thinking I'm dead, dealing with all the crap he did. I need to help her, to fix what he broke."
"And how long would you be gone?" Mikasa asked, her voice carefully neutral though her eyes betrayed her concern.
"I don't know," Mark admitted. "As long as it takes to make things right. Then I'd come back here with Mom, if she wanted to come."
"We're going with you," Mikasa stated simply.
Mark's head snapped up in surprise. "What? No, you guys don't have to-"
"Did you seriously think we would let you face that alone?" Lelouch interrupted, his tone incredulous. "Your world, your enemies, your past - none of that matters. You're our brother."
"More specifically, you're our little brother," Mikasa added with the faintest hint of a smile.
"By like two weeks!" Mark protested, looking at Lelouch.
"Still older," Lelouch replied with a smirk. "The point stands. We go together or not at all."
Mark looked between them, clearly touched by their immediate support. "But how would we even get there? It's not like we can just book a flight to another dimension."
All eyes turned to Goku, who had been quietly observing the exchange.
"I might be able to help with that," he said finally. "I have an ability I've recently come to call 'World Cutter.' It allows me to cut through the fabric of space and time in this reality. With proper focus and direction, I believe I could create a gateway to your original world."
The three teenagers stared at him in shock.
"You can do that?" Mark asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Just... cut open a doorway to another universe?"
Goku nodded. "The challenge will be timing. If I do it correctly, I may be able to reverse that universe's time flow to return to the exact moment of your death.
But what we must hope for is that the time difference between realities works in our favor - that this world moves faster, meaning little time has passed there."
"You can reverse an entire universe's time?" Lelouch asked, his analytical mind struggling to comprehend the scale of such power.
Goku shrugged, looking somewhat uncomfortable with their awe. "I don't know for certain, but I should be able to. In my... final battle," he said, carefully navigating around the compulsion that prevented direct reference to his past life,
"I created a tear in reality itself. This would be similar, though more controlled."
Mark's eyes had grown wide, and to his own surprise, he felt tears welling up.
He raised a hand to his cheek, feeling the wetness there with confusion before the emotion overwhelmed him.
His shoulders began to shake as the realization hit him - there was hope. Real hope that he could save his mother, save his world, that he hadn't failed after all.
"I can go back," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I can fix it."
Without a word, Mikasa moved to his side, wrapping her arms around him in a rare display of physical affection. Mark leaned into her embrace, the tears flowing freely now.
Lelouch watched the scene with a mixture of discomfort and sympathy. Emotional displays had never been his strong suit, even in this new life.
But as Mikasa turned her head to fix him with a stern look, he sighed and reluctantly joined the embrace, awkwardly patting Mark's shoulder.
Not content to let Lelouch suffer alone, Mikasa reached out and grabbed Goku's arm, pulling him into the group hug despite his startled "Hey!"
As they stood there together, Goku's initial surprise faded into a warm smile. Looking at the three teenagers - his children in all the ways that mattered - he made a silent, solemn vow: Nothing would harm them.
Not in this world or any other. He would protect them with every ounce of his power, would destroy anything or anyone that threatened them, no matter what or who it might be.
The family remained in their embrace, united in purpose and bound by something stronger than blood - choice.
They had chosen each other, and together they would face whatever challenges lay ahead, in this world or the next.
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(Author note: Hello everyone! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!
Do tell me how you found it.
We may be going to the invincible world soon, so I hope you all looking forward to that.
Also, the reversing the flow of time thing.
To me, if Ki can be so big that it envelops an entire universe in battle's then Goku can with his World Cutter, that is said to cut through space and time itself,
Then he can with his Ki, almost do a Whis-like Rewind, cut the river of time connected to invincible's world, cutting the events, the essentially time branch,
in a way that doesn't create a new timeline i.e. not in a way that things truly never happened, but a true Whis-Rewind.
Rewinding placemenets, souls, etc, but events happened, memories remain, etc.
I think it could logically work, would be very difficult tough, but is doable in my opinion. Dragon Ball characters have done more insane shit, and this Goku has Samael's creativity.
So yeah, do tell me how you find this and the chapter and I hope to see you all later,
Bye!)