A burst of white light flared.
Vincent Fox's vision snapped into focus.
He stood in the middle of a busy street. Cars blasted past in both directions.
"This Zone really knows how to drop a guy," he muttered, slipping between bumpers and popping up on the curb.
"Hey, you trying to die?" a driver yelled, head shoved out the window.
Behind him, tires screamed and a string of cars shuddered to a stop, horns blaring in angry chorus.
"What are you honking at me for? It's that idiot up—"
The driver met Vincent's eyes and the rest of the curse died in his throat. For a heartbeat the young man on the curb felt less like a pedestrian and more like a predator. The driver's skin prickled.
"Stupid brakes," he mumbled, yanking his head back inside and gunning it away.
"What, you just run off?" someone behind him shouted, but the first car was already a speck.
Vincent turned away and sprinted, a dark streak cutting across the city. His target was a round, gleaming complex he knew from memory.
Capsule Corporation. Bulma's place.
If there was a landmark for the Universe 7 crew, this was it. He did not know exactly where the timeline sat, and if the roster for the Tournament of Power was already finalized, getting himself on the team would be a lot trickier.
He vaulted the last wall and landed outside the front gate.
"Guest?" Bulma was hosting a rooftop party when her pocket buzzed. She flicked open a control app and switched to the gate cam. The screen showed an athletic man, around six feet, handsome, still pressing the doorbell without giving up.
"Anyone know this guy?" She passed her phone around.
Heads shook. Vegeta tossed the phone at Goku, who was happily shoveling food into his mouth. "Kakarot, one of your friends?"
"My friend? Never seen him," Goku said, blinking. He peered closer, then grinned. "But he looks strong."
"Strong?" Vegeta snatched the phone back, squinted, and sniffed. "Maybe. Still weaker than me."
"No way," Goku said, reclaiming it and studying the feed with childlike seriousness. "Honestly, he might not be weaker than Gohan."
Gohan, midconversation with Videl, froze, scratched his cheek, and smiled helplessly. Videl frowned in his defense. "Gohan hasn't trained hard, but he is a Saiyan. Some random human won't be stronger than him."
"There are humans stronger than you think," Goku said, already playing out an imaginary match in his head. "Like Kril—"
He stopped, conclusion reached, and left it there. Gohan got the hint and laughed. "Uncle Krillin really is tough."
"Fine, I will go let him in," Bulma said, licking pudding off her spoon.
Outside, Vincent kept his finger on the bell, waiting. No response. His chest tightened. If they were already off recruiting, he had a problem. In this world he was a world-class navigator and still basically a tourist. If not here, three quarters of his leads evaporated.
"Shot down before I start," he sighed and turned to leave.
The door clicked. A blue-haired woman with a dollish face stepped out. Bulma. The richest genius on Earth.
"Hello, Ms. Rich— Bulma," Vincent corrected smoothly with a small smile.
"How do you know my name? Oh right, you must use my company's gear." She beamed before he could answer.
"Your capsule tech is brilliant," he said. "Those portable houses are lifesavers."
Bulma basked a little. "That is last generation, you know."
He seized the opening. "Is Vegeta home?"
"Vegeta?" Her brows rose. Handsome stranger shows up and asks for her battle-maniac husband. Not the usual order of events. "He is. Come on."
She was not worried. The two strongest men on the planet were on her rooftop, one stuffing his face, the other looking for any excuse to fight. If someone managed to kidnap her from under their noses, they deserved to retire.
They stepped out onto the terrace. Familiar faces turned in the sunlight: Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Videl, Mr. Satan with his afro and bluster, Beerus the God of Destruction lazing with a plate of snacks, and Whis standing at polite attention. Whis met Vincent's eyes and gave him a pleasant nod. Vincent returned it.
"There is my husband," Bulma said, pointing. Then she cupped her hands. "Vegeta, someone's here for you."
"Someone for me?" Vegeta started forward. The stranger blurred and was suddenly there already.
"Fast," Vegeta thought, a tick of interest creasing his brow.
"Nice to meet you. I am Warren Fox. First time visiting. I will be in your care," Vincent said, using his chosen Western alias and offering his hand.
"Warren Fox? Hmph." The prince of all Saiyans looked at the hand and left it hanging.
"Oh. Warren, I am Goku. Nice to meet you," Goku said cheerfully, stepping in and clasping Vincent's palm.
Power surged through the grip. Goku was testing him.
Vincent did not budge. He answered with his own pressure, steady and precise.
For a few seconds it looked ridiculous. Two men smiling politely, hands linked, neither letting go.
"Goku, what are you doing?" Chi-Chi marched over with a spatula. Gohan reached out to stop her, eyes narrowing as he watched.
"They are feeling each other out," he said.
Even Vegeta's interest met a faint spark. Their clasp tightened again, no strain on either face, only warmth and courtesy.
"Won't be long," Vegeta smirked, arms crossed. "That brat will be begging Kakarot to let go with snot and tears."
----------------------------------------------------
The deeper he goes, the more the truth unravels. Don't wait read ahead and witness Vincent's rise before the world catches up!
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