Chapter Text
It happened in an instant, all across the earth, cities were thrown into complete chaos by impossible things. Statues appearing in San Francisco, a massive tree shooting out of the ground in New York, spaceships crashing into the Matterhorn, and the monuments of the world being thrown around like they were playthings.
Then the attacks started. People, floating with terrifying energy waves flowing off of them and firing off things only seen in fiction. Laser beams, energy blasts and strength that sent vehicles flying through buildings. The streets of the world were full of people screaming and trying to escape, with police, military and everything in between were doing their best to get civilians to safety.
“Okay…” one officer said, trying to lead a group of civilians through New York city as carefully as she could. People had managed to hole up in parts of the subway system, whatever group was attacking seemed to focus entirely on the surface. An explosion rang out, the group behind her screaming as shrapnel miraculously missed everyone. “Go! Move! Get to the subway!” the officer shouted, waving the group forward and running to the front.
It was all going to hell, the stairway in the plaza was barely visible through the amount of dust from a collapsing storefront. More of those… things were causing chaos, laughing as the group saw a family get reduced to nothing as they pleaded for their lives. People started going down the stairs, with the officer drawing her sidearm and taking aim to defend the entrance point as best she could. The amount of dust in the air giving the group just enough cover to start heading down the stairs, the officer sighing in relief for a moment and hiding behind an overturned car.
“Officer Rebecca Light to HQ,” she said, trying to get her radio signal through to let them know where she was. She took a breath, “I’m going to keep looking for survivors.”
A moment passed, the static giving way as a faint signal came through with a muffled “Affirmative.” She nodded and turned her radio off, moving quietly as the dust settled from another building being blown up. She managed to get halfway across the plaza before something flashed in the corner of her eye, and she slid to the ground. A beam of purple light flying over her head and causing another storefront to explode into dust and flames.
“Shit!” she shouted, scrambling to her feet and aiming her sidearm at her attacker, their black bodysuit flowing with that strange energy. Armor she recognized from somewhere protecting their body. Another flash of light, Rebecca diving to the side, aiming her gun and firing a single shot at her attacker, impacting right beside their nose and sending an explosion of blood out as her attacker fell to the ground completely limp. Normally she would’ve radioed in what happened to her commanding officer, normally she would be horrified with how she fired first with no hesitation.
Instead? A laugh she had only heard from her childhood rang out somewhere above her, causing the woman to break into a cold sweat.
“My, my… Another city gone completely to ruins.” Frieza said, his sadistically calm voice making Rebecca’s hands shake just from the pure impossibility of the situation as he slowly floated to the ground. “Good work, all of you.”
‘Don’t notice me, don’t notice me.’ Rebecca thought to herself frantically, managing to get behind another car as Frieza casually floated around the destroyed area. Her mind was racing, things were already impossible and now one of the most infamous characters from Manga was just floating less than thirty feet from her. She didn’t chance a look. If he saw her, it would be instant death for the normal human.
There was a crash, glass on the towering buildings exploding as a golden blur launched faster than the human eye could properly follow. A pair of blue booted feet impacting on the space tyrant’s face, sending him flying backwards into the sky. Rebecca’s eyes shouldn’t have been able to get wider, but they found a way. An Orange gi, spiked high energy yellow hair and the familiar symbols of the Turtle hermit school and King Kai’s training on the Gi.
Son Goku was directly in front of Rebecca and getting ready to fight his most recurring villain. She barely even registered a hand lightly grasping her shoulder and gently tugging her away. She was too out of it to properly recognize the person leading her away from the battle, nor the Capsule Corp logo on his jacket.
“Come on,” he said, Rebecca, snapping out of her stupor for a moment as a white robotic monkey floated next to Trunks’ head. “We’ve got to get you to safety.”
“Uh… Huh?” She said, moving with Trunks into the cover of a ruined storefront. The half saiyan taking out a white pocket watch looking communicator, and flipping it open.
“Piccolo, Gohan.” he said, Rebecca slowly looking at her hands and pinching herself to make sure she was still in reality. “I think I’ve managed to find as many survivors as possible. What about your end?” There was static for a moment, Trunks taking a deep breath before another voice came through.
“Almost done,” Piccolo’s voice carried through, just over a chorus of scared children hugging him. The voice switching to the other person in the call.
“We’ve got most of the people out, just this little group of kids and a few older people.” Gohan said, Rebecca once again making sure she wasn’t dreaming with a light pinch on her cheek.
“Wait…” she said, putting a hand to her head. “So… I’m not dreaming?” Trunks nodding slowly as Rebecca slowly pointed at him. “And… your Trunks from Dragon Ball? In real life? In the middle of New York?!”
“Yeah that, uh…” the half saiyan said, the communicator still opening with the sounds of Gohan and Piccolo directing people to safety. “That’s about all I can confirm right now, let’s just get you out of here, too.”
“Okay. Okay,” Rebecca said, taking a few deep breaths to try and calm down. “There should be another subway entrance not too far from here.”
“Okay good,” Trunks said with a relieved sigh. “Goku should have Frieza taken care of so now it’s just a matter of ti-” he was cut off, an explosion from the battle behind the pair causing part of the ground to give way. The dust obscuring any view Rebecca or Trunks had until piercing red eyes shined through.
“Piccolo! Gohan! I think the Venoms found you!” Trunks shouted into his communicator, a spiral beam of energy shooting out of the ground and blasting one of the invaders through the chest, the other two being taken care of by a large blast of blue energy. “Come on, we need to move, now!” the half saiyan said, grabbing Rebecca by the hand and taking off into a sprint.
Up in the sky however, the mortal enemies were still locked in a fight, Goku only losing his focus for a half second as the ground below them exploded. The saiyan catching a glimpse of people cowering behind Piccolo and his oldest son before Frieza’s foot collided with his jaw, sending him flying through a building.
“Getting distracted? Tsk tsk Goku, you should know what happens when you make a mistake like that!” Frieza mocked, pointing a finger at the crowd, purple energy forming at the tip. Trunks, Piccolo, and Gohan all starting to move, Rebecca’s hand getting free from Trunks and something inside her urging her to do something, anything.
Bang.
Without thinking, without consciously knowing what she was doing. Her hand was on the trigger of her sidearm, her finger pulling the trigger and a bullet harmlessly bouncing off of Frieza’s head. Another shot, the human doing something, anything to get his attention away from the crowd. For everyone, time slowed down, Rebecca seeing the energy blast leave Frieza’s hand and move towards her. Her mind racing as fast as it could to reconcile with her own death, with one thought giving her comfort.
‘I protected them.’ she thought, the energy blast tearing through her chest like a knife through butter. Trunks yelling as her body fell to the ground limp, her last sight being Goku’s super saiyan speed sending Frieza flying back with enough speed to create at least three sonic booms.
For Trunks? It was a flashback to something he desperately wished to forget. Someone standing, completely overwhelmed with fear and firing ineffectively at an unbelievably strong opponent only to be struck down with no effort. He gritted his teeth and grabbed the floating mechanical monkey.
“Navigator, give me an Umbras cube. Now!” he shouted, glaring at the robot as it processed his request.
“This is a violation of protocol 6-J932” it said, Trunks putting a hand on its head.
“I don’t give a damn! Give me the cube now!” he shouted, looking at Rebecca’s body. He didn’t have a senzu bean, if he did he would’ve tried that first.
“This is a violation of protocol 6-J932, please approve override.” the robot said, Trunks letting out a sigh.
“Override: authority Trunks,” he said, the robot glowing as a translucent blue and white cube materialized and fell into the half saiyans hand. “Come on this better work…”
“The chances of success are 0.002030-” navigator started, Trunks ignoring the robot and putting the cube against Rebecca’s chest wound. White light forming around the woman as something started to change in her body. “The chance of this human becoming a venom is impossibly high.”
“I know that!” Trunks shouted, standing and nervously watching the ball of light. “But I needed to try something!”
For Rebecca, her consciousness was in a strange in-between. There was nothing but an endless deep blue aura around her as she floated, different thoughts running through her mind.
‘I… died?’ she thought, not sure what she expected after death. ‘Are… are those people safe? Is Frieza still there?’ She looked down at her chest, the bulletproof vest melted from where she was blasted with a cybernetic cube looking thing filling the wound. ‘What…? Is happening?’ her foot touched something solid, the ground perhaps? She took a breath, air filling her lungs as her body felt stronger, much stronger.
The blue light started to fade, the sounds of high speed impacts making her ears twitch alongside the smell of concrete dust and smoke. She coughed, her eyes adjusting to the ruined sight of New York, Trunks, and the strange giant tree that had taken root. The officer didn't even have time to react before the half saiyan pulled her into a hug.
“I... can’t believe that worked!” He half shouted, Rebecca slowly coming back to her senses. The Navigator hovered next to Rebecca’s head as she gently touched her chest. The white Umbras cube was slightly poking out of her chest as she ran a finger over the edge. The smoothness was almost unnerving as she stared at it and her hand. Another crash overhead as Frieza was thrown through a skyscraper.
“It’s over, Frieza!” Goku shouted, the alien pulling himself out of the building. “We both know how this’ll end!”
“Yes, yes,” Frieza sighed, looking almost bored at his nemesis. “You destroy me with that attack of yours, I inevitably get resurrected, and we repeat this process again with similar results.”
“If you know that then why do you keep doing it!?” Goku shouted, Frieza grinning.
“Oh because, my eternal nemesis, this time I’m not relying on my own strength.” The alien said, snapping his fingers. “This time, I have minions actually strong enough to make you work for it!”
As if on cue, dozens of Venoms burst out of buildings. Goku looking around as the superpowered minions circled him, Frieza grinning as energy attacks charged up around the Saiyan.
“Goodbye, you filthy monkey.” Frieza laughed, Rebecca and Trunks watching in horror as a myriad of energy blasts moved towards Goku. The saiyan putting a finger to his forehead and with a cartoonish ‘Pop!’, he vanished. Rebecca watching, almost seeing it before it happened as Goku reappeared behind Frieza and smashed him into the ground with both fists. The Venoms turned to look at him as he disappeared again and sent another one flying with an uppercut before sending another flying towards Rebecca and Trunks with a roundhouse kick to the face.
“Sorry Trunks!” he shouted, dodging a high speed punch from a Venom. “Take care of that one!”
“Got it!” Trunks shouted back, getting in a fighting stance and motioning for Rebecca to take a step back. “Just stand back and let me… handle... it...” His words slowed down, the world, or more accurately Rebecca’s perception of it doing the same. Something in the woman changing as light blue energy flowed from the Umbras cube in her chest into her limbs. Her mind raced as something told her exactly what to do with it, she raised her arm and pointed at the Venom. The energy forming as a ball on the tip of her finger, Rebecca needing to brace her wrist with the other hand as time returned to normal.
And the energy flew forward, her body recoiling as if she had fired a high caliber gun. She knew this technique, she’d seen it countless times before growing up. Both her and the Venom flying away from each other, Rebecca flipping and swearing more than once before coming to a stop a few metres back.
“Son of a fuck!” Rebecca yelled, Trunks looking between her and the now destroyed Venom in surprise. A few others being sent flying by Goku in their direction, Trunks shooting off a Ki blast and dispatching one, another managing to fly past him and head straight at the recovering Rebecca.
For Rebecca, her perception of time changed again, this time the Venom was moving faster. As if on reflex, her body squatted down and rolled. Planting a foot just below the Venoms’ chest and her right leg shooting straight up, bones audibly breaking as her boot collided with her opponent.
“No way…” she said, her perception of time returning to normal as the Venom shot at least forty metres into the sky. A spiral beam of energy shooting it like her movement as coordinated with someone else. “Holy shit,” she gasped, Piccolo and Gohan flying out of the ruined subway and starting to fight the remaining Venoms that Goku was sending flying.
In a flash a bunch narrowly missed Rebecca’s face, her body dodging the venom’s attack on instinct. The speed of the punch creating a burst of air that almost forced Rebecca to fall to the ground. Instead she used the momentum of leaning back to send another bone shattering kick to her attackers jaw, teeth flying as the Venom flew up into the air and landed in a heap.
She would’ve said something again, but the pain was shooting through her arm and legs. Another Venom was flying at her, this time she could tell her body wouldn’t be able to react in time. A fist collided with her stomach, knocking the wind out of her and sending her flying back, colliding with a mailbox and falling to the ground in a coughing fit. The venom launching at her again only to be interrupted with a sword through its back, Trunks moving his sword just too fast for Rebecca to follow before the Venom dissolved into a red cube shaped mess.
“You okay!?” he shouted, putting his sword away and helping Rebecca up.
“I… think so?” the woman said, flinching as pain shot up her legs and through her arm again. Trunks nodding and carefully walking her over to Gohan and Piccolo, who were finishing up the last of the Venoms Goku had sent flying.
“She’s the last one?” Gohan said, Rebecca finding it hard to focus from the pain.
“Yeah, though I…”
“I heard,” Piccolo said, Rebecca just catching a grin on the Namekians face. “We’ll discuss when we get back to safety.”
“All right,” Trunk sighed, Rebecca trying to put some more weight on her legs and failing. “Everyone else was evacuated?”
“Yeah, we got them all out,” Gohan said, a calm smile on his face despite the resuming melee between his father and Frieza. “We should probably get back oursel-”
The characteristic yell of Frieza being punched in the stomach and sent flying cut him off, the group watching as Goku gave them an encouraging thumbs up and chased after his opponent. The group sighed in relief as Trunks pulled out his communicator.
“Trunks to base, requesting evac.” he said, the communicator staying quiet for just a moment as white light surrounded them. As Rebecca’s eyes opened she was in a completely different location, the sounds of birds, running water and the smell of fresh food from somewhere. Her focus was still shot to hell and back, the attacks she performed left her completely exhausted. She was barely lucid as Trunks flew to the medical ward, down tunnels in the base and past people who, were she awake, she more than likely would’ve gone into a stunned silence over.
A door opened, motion sensors detecting trunks and rebecca outside as he floated in. Medical staff looking as he gave an assuring wave and moved down a side hallway towards a specific office.
“Don’t worry,” Trunks said, knocking on the door. “We’ll get you feeling better in no time.” Rebecca murmuring something akin to a ‘Thank you’ as the door opened and he flew in.
“Really Trunks? Bringing home a girl when you already have Mai?” A stern but teasing voice said as his mother turned around in her office chair. Bulma grinning as she watched her son turn a bit red. “Don’t worry, I'm just teasing. A healing pod’s already been set up.”
“Thanks, Mother,” he sighed, knowing for a fact this wouldn’t be the last time Bulma teased him about things. Despite everything, it was calmer, they were able to actually act as a mother and son with less tension about the fate of millions of lives. The sleek healing pod Bulma had made for when the usual chaos of their world happened and they weren’t able to grab senzu beans opened, with a breathing mask and goggles for the occupant. Trunks gently adjusted the straps, made sure Rebecca was breathing steadily, and then activated the process. Healing fluid filling the pod and suspending the human.
“Okay so you’ll start to feel better soon, about twenty minutes or so,” Bulma said, going through a digital medical chart as biometric data started coming in, different sensors from the machine letting the scientist know what had to be changed. “Sprained muscles… dislocated shoulder… and whatever this is.” she continued, having the digital screen grow larger with a quick hand motion and pointing at the Umbras cube in the patient’s chest.
“That was…”
“You not wanting anyone to die,” Bulma said, giving her son a smile. “Do I need to remind you who built the Navigator? I heard everything.” Trunks nodding and sitting down, his body relaxing the moment he hit the chair.
“...We couldn’t save everyone.” he said softly, Bulma nodding and clicking a button on her desk. A small robot coming in with a warm mug of tea on a tray, stopping just in front of Trunks, who took a slow sip. “We were just a little too late, if we had gotten there sooner maybe-” his mother giving him an assuring pat on the shoulder, getting him to stop.
“According to population reports, you saved 84% of the population of that area.” she said, Trunks’ eyes widening at the number. “You saved millions of lives, just in that city alone. To a lot of those people, you’re a hero.”
“...I don’t feel like one,” he said quietly, Bulma sighing as he took another sip from his drink.
“I guess that’s just your father in you,” Bulma said with a smile. “Just succeeding isn’t good enough is it?” Trunks didn’t answer, his mother hitting the nail on the head. “It’s hard but you need to be easier on yourself, especially with what happened last time.”
“I know,” the half saiyan said, letting a smile form on his face. “Speaking of Father, has anyone heard from him?”
“Not yet, but knowing our luck he’ll be flying into this place covered in bruises and broken bones.” Bulma joked, Trunks snorting a bit as he took another sip of tea. Rebecca’s chart flashed as something needed an adjustment in the healing pod. “Just give it time and he’ll be back here yelling about how out of everyone he’s the strongest.”
Trunks had to stifle his laughter at that. For as strong as Vegeta was, the half saiyan was fairly certain a lot of people could give him a fair fight. Maybe not actually win, but certainly give him a run for his money. He relaxed a bit, the hum from the healing pod letting him focus on what was next. Bulma taking notes as more biometric data and scans were run on Rebecca, the woman looking more and more relaxed as her body was restored to full strength.
“This is… strange,” the woman murmured, looking at the data and with a few motions of her hand, enlarged the files visually. “Thanks to whatever this cube did, she…” Bulma paused, looking at more data.
“It… brought her back to life and gave her some sort of power right?” Trunks said, Bulma slowly nodding as he walked over and started looking at the data.
“Not… some sort of power.” Bulma continued, Trunks’ eyes growing large. “I’m getting energy readings that match Goku, your father, practically everyone here. Even some energy readings I haven't seen yet.”
The pod beeped, getting both of them to look as the fluid slowly drained out. Rebecca sitting contentedly as a heater started to dry her off.
“What does that mean?” Trunks whispered, his mother giving him a worried look.
“I think it means she’s the same as the Venoms, just... in control of herself.” Bulma whispered back as Rebecca yawned, the mask slightly muffling her voice.
Trunks hesitantly walked over to the pod, the mental image of accidentally bringing a Venom into their base terrified him. He put a hand on the side of the pod, and slowly looked inside. There she was, calmly sitting as sensors slowly raised off of her, and carefully removing her oxygen mask. No menacing aura, her eyes seemed to be normal, so he relaxed and offered her a hand to help her out of the pod.
Back in New York, Goku’s battle against Frieza was still going on. Both combatants having levelled part of the city, the saiyan managing to keep an upper hand despite Frieza having his Venom minions interfering.
“Well I would have assumed you’d be tired by now,” Frieza said, completely out of breath as he dodged another instant transmission attack from Goku.
“Sorry to disappoint you!” Goku said, not even trying to hide his smile at getting into a massive fight like this. Even despite the destruction on this unfamiliar world he couldn’t hide how much he loved a good fight. “But I think it’s time to end this!” he shouted, launching at unfathomable speeds and throwing a punch at Frieza, who attempted to block but instead wound up with a fist in the stomach.
The alien went flying, Goku chasing and managing to get behind his opponent, using a kick to send Frieza flying towards the ground. He kept the assault up, even with his energy feeling a little strained keeping up his super saiyan blue form he knew he couldn’t let Frieza destroy this world anymore.
At least in theory this would’ve been the beginning of the end for Frieza in this world. Goku preparing a Kamehameha mid air as he flew down, just catching his opponents smirk as a void opened up near the ground.
“Running away isn’t normally my style Goku,” the tyrant mocked, his body just entering the portal as Goku tried to warp to an angle he could attack from with his signature move. “However, sometimes a fight just needs to be a prelude, ta ta!” The void swallowing Frieza as he let out a laugh, the portal closing just as Goku touched the ground. He looked around, both his opponent and the ineffective Venoms now gone. He took a breath and dissipate the energy building in his hand as he returned to his normal state.
‘Nothing’ he thought, trying to sense Frieza’s energy elsewhere on the planet. He sighed, no abnormal energy readings anywhere that came close to Frieza’s. He put a finger to his forehead and stood still focusing before vanishing with an audible ‘Pop”
Back at the Umbras base, Rebecca was getting changed into a hospital gown. Bulma and other doctors on site wanting to check her before anything else. The police officer watched as her clothes were neatly folded, despite the energy blast tearing a hole where she was shot, and sent off to be washed and repaired.
“Right this way please,” a nurse said, Rebecca following as she caught a few scientists ready with notepads and digital screens, presumably to analyse her new power. “We’re going to start with a reflex test,” the nurse said taking out a simple rubber hammer and motioning for Rebecca to sit on a chair.
No one knew what they were expecting, a simple reflex test with a light tap on the knee. A normal kick? A normal sense of delay? They definitely were not expecting Rebecca’s leg to move fast enough to send her slipper flying into the ceiling and breaking through the material. Everyone, Rebecca included stared in shock, horror, and a little bit of awe as the slipper took 45 seconds to come back down through the newly created hole. Papers slowly fluttered down alongside dust and chunks of debris.
“OW” Rebecca shouted, her leg already seeming to be bruised from the sheer force she put out from her kick. The muscles straining in her leg as Rebecca clenched her jaw to stop herself from yelling. The nurse collecting themselves before grabbing an ice pack and putting it on Rebecca’s leg.
“So…” Bulma said, quietly taking down notes. “Her body can’t stand the superhuman strength after all.” a few other doctors and scientists nodding in agreement as the officer was given a fast acting pain medicine.
“Wrong,” an older woman said with a sigh, taking a sip from a large bottle of what was presumably alcohol. “If her body couldn’t take it, more than just a slipper would’ve flown off.” Bulma looking slightly annoyed at her tone.
“And you can tell that from all the way up here?” Bulma said, the doctor laughing as the clack of hooves on tile started to come near the room.
“I’ve been treating people since before you were born, girly” she laughed, swinging open the door as a large reindeer with a hat and backpack waited outside. “She’s an easy patient in comparison.”
“Easy patient indeed,” Bulma sighed, the door closing as she reminisced on dealing with her husband’s constant need to push himself to the limit, and the ensuing medical costs. She didn’t reminisce long once she remembered the bill. “Well at least she won’t run me a couple million zenny… I hope.”
Down below however, Rebecca was wincing at the cold temperature being applied to her leg. An ice pack was first, then came what she assumed would be an anti inflammatory medicine to prevent any further swelling or pain. She waited, taking a deep breath and turning her head away to not look at the syringe. A nurse started to apply a localised anesthetic to her leg as the door swung open. Everyone watching as an incredibly old woman and a reindeer walked forward with enthusiasm.
For most of the people here, even with the chaos of the past few days they seemed to be used to the woman and her reindeer’s presence. For Rebecca however, it took everything in her power to not have her jaw hit the floor. In the middle of a simple medical ward, was Dr Kureha and Tony Tony Chopper. The pair of doctors casually walking forward with Chopper shifting to his ‘human’ form and Kureha putting a finger on Rebecca’s forehead.
“Your temperature’s normal, girly,” she said with a small chuckle, Chopper politely taking the syringe from the nurse and setting it on a nearby side tray. Kureha lifting her patient’s left arm, Rebecca barely able to do anything but go with the flow as she stared at the duo of doctors. “Hmm… now this is a new one. Never had someone be this quiet when I’m treating them.”
“Sorry!” Rebecca squeaked, Kureha chuckling a bit as Chopper grabbed a stethoscope.
“Can I put this on your back?” The reindeer man asked politely, Rebecca nodding and letting him adjust her hospital gown to put the instrument on her.
“Well, still not at the point where you can do it by touch, boy,” Kureha chuckled. Putting her left thumb and a finger on Rebecca’s wrist. To both doctors surprise, Rebecca’s heart rate was through the roof. Not from adrenaline, nerves, fear or anything of the sort. “Shirt off. Now.”
“What?” Rebecca said, doing as the doctor asked despite her confusion. Both of them looking at the cybernetic part of her chest. Circuits, energy, and blood was flowing from it into the host's body. The pair of doctors leaned in close, the cubes soft blue light illuminating as for just a moment, the circuit like pattern grew on Rebecca’s chest as the cube merged with her body more.
Now naturally, as with any supernatural or scientific item there are proper procedures you must take when approaching it. As Chopper demonstrated by poking it ever so slightly with the flat of his stethoscope. To Rebecca, she didn’t feel anything. Not the stethoscope touching the cube, nor Dr. Kureha tentatively poking it with her finger. She definitely felt the more experienced doctor move her finger along the fused parts of her chest.
“A deep breath now, girlie,” Kureha said, Rebecca doing so and finding she was able to take in much more air than she thought she could.
“Her lung capacity has increased?” Chopper asked, Kureha nodding and motioning for their patient to exhale. Normally this should’ve been a simple exhale, but there was almost a physical impacting force behind her breath. This was not enough to move the doctors, but the breath carried across the room, sending papers scattering on the other side of the room.
“That uh…” Rebecca said sheepishly as other people in the room started cleaning up. “That’s new.” Dr Kureha standing up in response and sighing.
“Good news girlie, you’re in perfect health.” she said, frowning at her own good news. “The bad news is it’s increasingly perfect.” Both Rebecca and Chopper looking at her and tilting their heads in confusion.
“I… don’t understand?” Rebecca said, Kureha sighing in response. “If I’m healthy then what’s the problem?”
“The problem is that your body is changing because of that… thing in your chest.” She said, chopper now realizing what his teacher meant.
“Which means her body’s going to continue to change, right doctor?” the reindeer asked, Kureha nodding.
“In the half hour from me seeing you up above and ending this exam, you’ve already had a significant change.” Kureha continued, taking off her glasses. “Your arms have gained a small amount of muscle mass.”
Rebecca couldn’t think of anything to say, her hospital clothes didn’t let her feel any sort of change. Hesitantly, she looked at her arm, to her it didn’t seem any different. She tentatively put a hand on her arm, no tangible change to her touch.
“I… believe you but... I’m not feeling anything.” she said quietly, both doctors nodding as she tried tensing her arm muscles. “It feels the same.”
“Because you don’t know what to look for,” Chopper said, shrinking down into his frankly, incredibly adorable form. “But I can show you!”
For the next few moments any information Chopper and Kureha said was completely lost on their patient. The sheer cuteness of seeing Tony Tony Chopper’s brain point in real life was almost too much for Rebecca to comprehend. She simply stared at the reindeer as he happily said something along the lines of “A walk would be good!” and took her hand with a tiny hoof.
She nodded half aware of what was going on, Dr. Kureha reminding her apprentice that “At least get her in actual clothes.” with a gentle laugh as she was moved towards the exit of the room, her senses coming back just in time.
“Wait!” Rebecca shouted, Chopper stopping as the entire room looked at her. “C-Can.. Can I have your autographs?” Rebecca said, grabbing blank paper from a table and motioning at both medical professionals. “I can... I can cook anything you want as payment!”
To Dr Kureha, this was perfect. Money meant relatively little to the master physician. She chuckled, giving a wrinkled smile. “Then that’s your medical bill covered, provided it’s edible of course.”
“It is!” Rebecca asserted, Kureha laughing before motioning at her apprentice, who was happily wiggling and dancing in place.
“W-Wanting my autograph doesn’t make me happy you asshole!” Chopper said, obviously incredibly happy at someone asking for his autograph. Rebecca letting out a small noise at how cute Chopper was as he took a pen and the paper, and signed his name. Dr. Kureha taking the paper and giving a simple signature right above her apprentices.
Rebecca held the standard piece of paper like it was the most fragile thing in the universe. A chance at proof that this was real, and not some deluded fantasy from a near fatal injury. Chopper, still dancing, gently lead her to a different room across the hall.
“I think there’s some clothes in here!” he said, still pretending to not be bubbly and happy about the autograph. Rebecca nodding and staring at the paper as she walked in, not quite focused as she absentmindedly fell into the closet of spare clothes. It took her a while but eventually she collected herself and found a room to quickly change.
She came out after finding things that fit her. A simple white tank top, a blue leather jacket and blue sweatpants. Due to some divine miracle she found hiking boots that not only fit her, but felt nice and comfortable to wear, as well as happily discovered the pockets on everything were real pockets, and not the bullshit fake pockets she was used to forcibly modifying. She gently folded the autographed paper, and put it in her front pocket.
She took a few breaths, getting herself under control emotionally as she opened the door. Chopper happily greeting her as he looked over her outfit.
“You look cool!” the reindeer said happily, Rebecca now internally exploding just enough to still keep her head on straight.
“T-Thank you!” she said, trying and failing to maintain a sense of being in control mentally. The tiny reindeer motioning to grab her hand and getting a very quiet squeak out of Rebecca. The pair walked a bit, the human recognizing a few faces as they walked through the halls of wherever she was. There were only a few of them, but she at least recognized that they were all one thing, Shonen manga characters.
How many did she recognize? She had already seen Dragon Ball and One Piece characters around, it was getting to the point where she was getting more confused than excited.
“How… many people are here?” she asked Chopper, the reindeer pausing in the middle of the hallway to think.
“About seventy five.” he said after a moment, Rebecca nodding and trying to keep track of who she had seen already. People from One Piece, Dragon Ball, hell she had even used something from Yu Yu Hakusho if she was remembering what happened correctly. She looked at the tiny reindeer as they walked, did this mean that the rest of the crew was here as well?
She didn’t have to wait very long to find out as some shouting from down the hall caught her attention. Someone shouted, and a head was sent flying through a large set of double doors, still attached to his neck. Rebecca locked eyes with him, a steak hanging out of his smiling jaw before his head snapped back through the door, causing the doors to slam open again.
“Oh my god, he’s cuter in person” Rebecca said without thinking, watching the doors swing shut after Monkey D. Luffy’s head went back through them. Her escort stared at her, then back at the door, and then back at her.
“Cute?” Chopper giggled, Rebecca turning beet red before moving towards the dining room door and peeking inside. The door didn’t make a sound, and she was met with a sight that caused her jaw to hit the floor. She had accepted there were popular anime characters around, she really had. But looking at the people sitting and having a predictably chaotic meal, it left her speechless.
Fighting over a huge piece of delectable looking and smelling roast meat were Monkey D. Luffy, and Toriko. To their sides were Naruto Uzamaki, Kakashi Hatake, a giant white wolf happily munching on a giant bowl of popcorn, Roronoa Zoro, and Piccolo. Rebecca just, blinked a few times before Chopper pushed open the other door.
A few heads turned as the door swung shut, the roast meat slowly shrinking as the two gluttons went to town on it. The smells, the glorious smells coming from both sides of the room. Lemon, cumin, paprika, and the smell of meat frying in pans. No one could stop themselves from drooling a little if they were smelling it for the first time. And Rebecca, who had not eaten since she had woken up, was certainly not an exception.
She took a careful step towards the table, her eyes darting to the rapidly decreasing amount of food on the table. She drooled as her stomach growled, eyes going over everything before settling on a perfectly charred piece of meat. And then her appetite disappeared, the memory of her burnt flesh from the split second she was still alive after Frieza shot her in the chest making the growl change into an ache.
She barely registered Chopper touching her hand nervously, the reindeer shifting to his more humanoid form before touching her shoulder, getting her to snap back to reality. She took a moment to breath, her breath once again being strong enough to make a humming noise over the cups everyone was using. She looked up, and to her surprise, saw that every plate of food was replaced with salads, bread, and pasta dishes. Not a speck of meat in sight, not even on the more gluttonous pair of faces, as they continued eating everything in sight. She took another breath, feeling herself calming down as a tiny robot came out of a hole in the wall, carrying a very simple looking meal. Oatmeal with strawberries, blueberries and orange juice.
Her stomach growled again, the robot gently placing the food at the end of the table, seemingly waiting for her. She got a gentle nudge from Chopper, and slowly sat down to start eating. The oatmeal was fresh, warm, and most importantly, delicious. A hint of brown sugar and cinnamon, as well as small chunks of banana and chocolate mixed in. The berries were fresh too, with just a hint of honey on them for sweetness. She barely realized there was a second bowl ready and waiting for her as the food vanished. Shaking her head, she sent the robot away, the little machine rolling down closer to the others who happily took the extra food.
She drank the orange juice, smiling as the freshly squeezed juice filled her with a bit of energy. She finished it and accepted a refill from another robot before something caught her attention. Someone was staring at her. Just out of the corner of her eye, she saw a distinctive, cheerful smile. Monkey D. Luffy was staring directly at her with a playful grin on his face.
“Yo!” he said, raising a hand to wave at her as she stared. Rebecca felt her mouth go dry as she tried to say something, anything, to the man who would be the King of the Pirates. Instead she opted for downing the orange juice to give her some form of energy.
“Habladbhd” She managed to say, Luffy laughing at her tongue tied-ness and stretching his arm to grab a piece of bread from behind him. She tried to say something, only repeating her babble as Luffy continued to eat, giving her time to collect herself. One more glass of orange juice down before she slowly turned to Luffy and managed to get out a single word.
“Hi!” she squeaked, Luffy chuckling as she kept trying to calm down. One more glass of juice down, and the robot gave a happy sound as it rolled back towards the kitchen. ‘Okay Rebecca, you can do this,’ she thought, managing to get back her focus. She turned back to face Luffy, took a breath, and then put her face down on the table and wheezed.
“She okay?” Luffy asked Chopper with a chuckle, the doctor reaching over and grabbing Rebecca’s wrist to feel her pulse.
“I think she passed out,” Chopper said, Rebecca giving off a low wheeze as Luffy laughed. The doctor carefully checking over the woman and seeing just how flushed her face was. “I’ll get her some water!” As if in response to his words, the robot that had been bringing orange juice rolled out with a pitcher of water on its tray and beeped happily at Chopper. He reached for the glass, but the sound of metal clanging on the floor got Luffy, Chopper and even Rebecca to look over.
Toriko, ever the glutton, had a massive amount of pasta hanging from his mouth. Pasta that, as Luffy stood up on the table, hadn’t been his. Zoro just leaned back to lay down on the bench and to avoid the inevitable chaos. Piccolo and Kakashi, having incredibly good intuitions made sure to lean back as well. Naruto however wasn’t so lucky, as Luffy lunged at the gourmet hunter and tried to bite at the uneaten pasta, sending a bowl of raisins at the ninja.
“THAT’S MY FOOD, YOU BASTARD!” he shouted, Toriko hurriedly swallowing as much as he could while fending off the rubber-man. Rebecca let out a small giggle as she slowly took a glass of water and watched the chaos unfold. Naruto grabbed his food and took it off the table before the pair of gluttons could step on it or send it flying. Zoro let out a yawn, somehow managing to find the situation calm enough to sleep in, at least until Luffy stepped on his face.
“You shithead!” Zoro shouted, standing up and forcing Luffy to lose his balance, sending him falling to the floor harmlessly. He then made a grab for his own plate of food, which was challenged by Toriko suddenly sending it flying as he continued to wrestle with Luffy. Rebecca, now sipping her water, couldn’t help but take a moment to laugh as one by one, everyone was slowly involved in the chaos. She barely noticed the shadow now looming over her, at least until a large muzzle gently placed itself on her shoulder.
She turned, the soft blue face of Terry Cloth met her gaze. The Battle Wolf gently stuck his tongue out and gave an affectionate lick to Rebecca, with Chopper staring wide eyed at the two. Rebecca’s eyes went wide, the sharp teeth of the wolf very, very close to her face, making her sweat. Terry turned and let out a rather calm bark, before licking Rebecca’s face and plopping his massive head on her lap, sending her to the ground.
“He likes you!” Chopper laughed, the bark getting the others to stop fighting over food and bad table manners and look over. Terry now licking Rebecca’s face, not giving her time to verbalize anything other than laughter interspersed with the odd “stop!” here and there as she laughed. The other people in the room slowly stepping back and joining the laughter. Terry eventually stopped, and let Rebecca sit up before getting a good feeling of his fur.
“He’s so soft!” she gasped, the gargantuan wolf's tail wagging happily as Toriko walked over and put a hand on his companion’s head.
“Well, this is a surprise,” the large man said with a chuckle, Terry happily accepting the pets. “Since when did you become Mr. Social?” The wolf responded with a soft bark, Choppers ears twitching as he prepared to translate.
“He says she smells like Papa,” he said, not quite sure who this parental figure was. Toriko peeked around Terry’s muzzle to look at the tiny reindeer man.
“Wait, she smells like me?” he said, taking a deep breath through his nose. His eyes went wide for a moment as he cupped his chin and squatted down next to Rebecca, Terry placing the end of his muzzle on the woman as well. “Yeah, she does.”
Naturally, Rebecca was confused. It should’ve been impossible for her to have met Toriko before everything happened. She would’ve sat up, but Terry refused to move and instead kept her pinned on the floor. The gourmet hunter stood up and rubbed the back of his head, still looking confused.
“Anyone have any ideas? Cause I'm pretty sure I don’t have a kid sister.” He sighed, pausing for a moment. “Well, Star was out of nowhere with that whole twin thing…”
“Miss Bulma said it might have to do with her powers,” Chopper said, flipping through a clipboard. At least, for a moment before he heard the low giggling of Luffy, who was now staring at Rebecca with little stars in his eyes and around his head.
“Powers!?” he said, excitedly jumping away from the table and sitting cross legged next to Rebecca. “Like what? Can you fly? Can you make meat appear? Can you shoot a beam!?” Rebecca paused for a moment, and managed to wriggle her hand out from under Terry. She knew she fired off some kind of energy, even if ‘beam’ wasn’t the right way to word it. Could she fly? If she had super powers now, it certainly wasn’t out of the question that she might be able to fly.
“I can do… two of those things?” She said sheepishly. Questioning if she could even do a single one anymore. Luffy’s face went from utter joy to mild disappointment.
“Aww… you can’t shoot a beam?” he said, Rebecca forcing herself to stifle a giggle as he singled out the one thing she knew she could do.
“No, I mean I can’t make meat appear!” She said, letting out a laugh. Luffy’s expression returned to a joyful expression as she focused on her hand. Light blue energy moved up through her arm and formed into a very small ball on her finger. She took a breath, aimed her finger at the ceiling and let it loose. This burst of energy was significantly smaller, only making a small hole in the ceiling. Nevertheless, Luffy and Chopper were both looking at her in awe, while everyone else had a wary look about what she did.
“A BEAM!!!!!!!!!” Luffy shouted, stars forming around his head as he grinned. Both him and his doctor giggling like excitable children as Rebecca carefully her hand on Terry’s muzzle. Her hand didn’t feel any strain, and she felt completely fine this time.
‘Maybe it was the adrenaline?’ she thought, smiling at the two Strawhat pirates beaming at her as everyone else seemed to relax, except Zoro, who held up his fingers as if counting down to something.
“Join my pirate crew!” Luffy said, Rebecca’s train of thought screeching to an explosive stop as the words hit her. She blinked, her brain not processing the words right away. After all, how many times had she read those words? How many hours had she spent reading the books in her hopefully still standing apartment. Sure she had read other series, enjoyed some even more in all honesty, but those words? Those words said directly to her, a normal girl from New York, that hit her like a mountain.
Her throat went dry and her eyes started to water. Such a simple request threw everything so completely out of sync that she didn’t notice Terry move his head. She did however feel Luffy gently poke her forehead.
“So?” he said, still grinning. Rebecca nodded slowly and mumbled something akin to “yes please.” In a flash Luffy picked her up and put an arm on her shoulder. And with seemingly little effort, he started swinging her around with a huge smile on his face. Everyone else just kind of stared, apart from Chopper who happily joined in the nonsensical swing dancing.
“Whatever that was, it wasn’t any type of jutsu,” Kakashi sighed, the trio now unable to hear them because of all the laughing going on.
“It wasn’t a form of energy I recognized either,” Piccolo muttered, focusing on Rebecca. The woman looked like she was having the time of her life, despite how confused she was when she walked into the room. She was trying and failing to match the Straw Hats kicks for their strange dance, with a massive smile on her face. Both mentor figures paused. Kakashi, doing his best to get a read on if she had chakra, was stunned to find that she had a faint chakra signature.
No, scratch that, it was getting stronger. Both her chakra and energy were slowly increasing, almost like they each had their own individual heartbeats. Piccolo noticed it first, it was a small increase but it was an increase nevertheless. Both of the experts in the room decided to take a moment to think about how to address it before a large growl came from Rebecca.
She was completely red as she realized that yes, she was in fact still hungry. As if on cue, the robot from earlier happily rolled out with a piping hot bowl of oatmeal and fresh juice.
“Sanji!” Luffy shouted, letting Rebecca go to eat. “More food! We have a new crew member!”
“Sure thing, Captain,” a deeper voice said through the window to the kitchen. Rebecca looked up and saw a blond head of hair underneath a chefs hat moving fairly quickly as the delicious smells of soup, stir fry, and the sweet smell of fruit juice being made. She finished her second bowl of oatmeal, the bowl tasting just as delicious as the first before the robot took her bowl and utensils and the kitchen door swung open. A small fleet of robots dashed out with dozens of dishes ready to be eaten. Naturally, Luffy and Toriko both started chowing down, Rebecca happily took different vegetable dishes and began to eat.
Meanwhile in the kitchen, Sanji was happily preparing more food. The chef was used to having an enormous amount of food on board the Thousand Sunny, but a kitchen that was full of every ingredient imaginable? That was almost a dream come true for him. It was almost enough for him to ignore his captain's random recruitment with no input, did he finally convince that Goku guy to join? He sighed, finishing the dish he was working on before he peeked out the kitchen window.
Instead of a musclebound possibly steroid using berserker like some of the other people at the table, she was small, with a blonde head of hair and a blue leather jacket, happily eating next to his captain. His mouth switched into a dopey smile as he finished garnishing one dish, jumped over the robot who sadly beeped that it wouldn’t get to help, and spun out through the kitchen doors.
“Ahh, bonjour Mademoiselle,” Sanji said, his spiral eyebrow now in the shape of a little heart. “Enjoying the food we have prepared?” She had a soft smile as she started to speak, Sanji was looking at her almost unnaturally blue eyes like they were a deep ocean.
“Yes!” she said, internally screaming in delight as Sanji was less than three metres away from her and she had to keep some level of professionalism. “Everything’s been delicious!”
“Excellent!” Sanji said as Rebecca sipped her drink, the plat in his hand staying perfectly level as he walked around to sit next to her. He was always pleased to hear someone enjoyed his cooking, but something as telling him that this new woman was not being completely forward with him. “If you still have room, I have prepared a special dish for you.”
Rebecca didn’t even need to answer, the little blue lights floating around her head as she looked between him and the plate screaming “Yes please!” He smiled and set the plate down, one of his feet shooting up to kick Toriko and Luffy’s hands away without missing a beat. A Caprese salad with freshly made and ready mozzarella, fresh tomatoes that seemed almost like jewels in their presentation, the delicious green of a fresh avocado. All beneath a glaze of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, basil leaves, oregano and cracked pepper. Everything was arranged in a beautiful circular pattern and Rebecca almost, almost couldn’t stand to touch it.
Until she took a deep breath, the scent of the tomatoes and basil made the corner of her mouth drip with drool as Sanji, ever the gentleman, moved her empty dish out of the way and placed it in front of her. She picked up her utensils and made a move to begin eating when something hit her. When could she eat this much? Before, a standard TV dinner was enough to fill her up but now? Now she had consumed enough to feed an entire building of people by herself.
She stayed still, barely registering that everyone was confused at why she had stopped and was no longer responding to them. There was no response to anything, not even the dining room door sliding open to reveal Trunks, who joined everyone looking at Rebecca with concern.
At least until she took a bite of her salad.
“It’s delicious~!” She said, her face changing to a completely content smile as the food quickly disappeared. There was a slight sigh of relief from the other people in the room as a robot rolled up next to Trunks with a fresh plate of food.
“Good to see you’re feeling better,” he chuckled, Rebecca noticing him now that she had eaten her fill.
“Yeah! I feel… amazing.” Rebecca said, recognizing that despite everything she had just gone through, she really did feel like an entirely new person. “It’s… really weird.”
“Just be sure to take it easy,” Trunk continued, catching a slightly annoyed look from Sanji as Rebecca gave him a happy smile. “We’re still trying to figure out what that thing will do to you, so better safe than sorry.”
“Sounds good to me,” Rebecca said cheerfully, letting out a small laugh before she felt something in the floor move. Terry also felt it, his massive ears perking up as the floor started to move upwards, kitchen and all. “Wait, what the hell is happening!?”
“Don’t worry,” Naruto said, the young ninja giving Rebecca a smile. “This place just does this sometimes!”
“It’s the easiest way to get Terry in and out as well,” Toriko chuckled, the large wolf looked up at the opening ceiling and barked as fresh air came flooding in. Rebecca had to let her eyes adjust to the vibrant blue sky now above her, it only took a second before she caught a few things in her field of vision. A large tower, rising seemingly into the heavens. She caught the smell of an ocean breeze in her nose and heard the caws of seagulls, the sounds of forest animals chittering in the distance.
And then there was the 'What The Actual Fuck' brand of black void with cubes floating around it. She stared at it, utterly baffled at the apocalyptic looking nightmare void of fuck.
“Okay, what the shit,” she said after a few moments of staring at it. Everyone gave her a shrug in response, with Trunks taking out a small data pad and typing on it
“So far, we don’t know.” He said, data appearing on his tablet as he slid it to Rebecca. “Moth- Doctor Briefs, thinks it’s what caused all our worlds to slam into one another.”
“So a space fucky brought anime to my world?” is what she wanted to say. However she refrained from saying it and opted to hum in understanding instead. The data on the tablet seemed incomprehensible to her, seemingly random numbers and images that made her feel a little dizzy. After closing her eyes for a moment, she pushed the tablet back to Trunks.
“Don’t worry, I had the same reaction,” Trunks sighed, turning off the tablet before putting it away. “Now then, the Director should be coming by any moment now.”
“Wait, I thought Bulma was in charge?” Rebecca asked, Trunks shook his head in response.
“No, she was brought on to help make sure this place has everything it needs,” he said, the smile on his face growing larger as he talked about his mother’s work. “Clean water, building materials, anything and everything we need she’s funding, at least in terms of resources.” Rebecca would’ve asked more, but her thought process was interrupted with a telltale ‘Pop’ and Goku appearing behind the younger half saiyan.
Wearing a bright pink apron with hearts sewn onto it and “Kiss the Saiyan” in bright orange letters, was Son Goku.
“Hey, sorry I’m late!” he said cheerfully, everyone staring at the apron for a moment before he looked down. “Oh crap!” he popped away for just a moment before coming back, apronless. “Chichi would give me an earful if that got damaged!” he laughed.
“I see why, it’s really cute,” Rebecca said, seemingly not surprised by the Saiyan having something like that, and inferring that Chichi likely made it for him. He grinned and rubbed a finger under his nose.
“Yeah, she spent a week making it for me when I said I’d cook!” he laughed, Trunks sighed and turned to face him.
“Goku, I’ve been trying to contact you for hours,” he said, putting a hand on his head. “Couldn’t you have at least told us where you were?”
“Sorry,” Goku laughed, putting a hand behind his head in embarrassment. “I wanted to check on Chichi and well, one thing lead to another and I was cooking dinner!” Trunks groaned, getting another apology from the saiyan.
Meanwhile, Rebecca was staring at the skyline. She swore she could almost see the tower’s top and the oval shaped dome that by all rights shouldn’t work if modern physics was taken into account. But then again, now she could fire a laser blast so stuff like that was merely semantics. After a bit more of Trunks lecturing Goku about staying in contact, two people walked towards the group.
“It’s a lot to take in, isn’t it?” A deep voice said as people turned to look at him. He was a tall man with tan skin and thick rimmed glasses. Alongside an ornate coat with gold trim and from what Rebecca could see, the back of his coat trailed off into a split end. Beside him was a rather tall slender woman in a red coat with matching pants, light red-orange hair, and a long yellow scarf wrapped around her neck. “After all, you’re seeing a world straight out of a comic right before your eyes.”
“Director,” Trunks said, order finally reestablishing itself even with everyone relaxing on the table next to them. The man nodded and looked back at Rebecca.
“Welcome to Umbras Base,” he continued, Rebecca trying to follow his words but focusing on the woman next to him.
‘No. Way,’ she thought, noticing the silver haired baby in her arms look up at her. ‘Is that- Oh my god, it’s Francoise. Okay stay calm stay calm stay FUCKING CALM.” she thought as the Director continued.
“This is where those who battle with the Venoms come together to ensure humanity’s survival.” he went on, Rebecca trying as hard as she could to focus and not have another hour of being barely able to talk. “My name is Glover.”
And just like that he was doomed to be pictured as a sentient walking glove, mostly because if he had a last name, he didn’t give it.
“Rebecca,” she said, trying her best to keep herself focused as a small robot floated out from behind Glover. It was getting incredibly hard to keep an air of professionalism, thanks to the robot now hovering between them and looking like an adorable metallic monkey.
“Most of us are from the same world as you, myself included.” The man went on, smiling as the robot floated around the woman before settling near Trunks. “But as you can guess, not everyone is from our world.”
“Yeah I kinda figured that out already,” Rebecca said, putting a hand behind her head awkwardly. “When you wake up and your doctor’s a cute reindeer, you kind of know you aren’t in Kansas anymore.”
“Yes, that would be rather obvious wouldn’t it?” Glover said with a small laugh, Rebecca barely catching the baby Francoise was holding moved to look at the man. “Allow me to explain. There are whole other worlds out there, beyond our own reality.”
“These worlds are called Jump.” he continued, Rebecca fighting every urge to slap her own face at the name he presumably gave every other world as a designation. “Thanks to both the villains that have appeared from these worlds, and their minions known as ‘Venoms’ who fight beside them, our world has been plunged into chaos.”
“Why Venoms?” Rebecca asked, Glover looking a little surprised that she’d interrupt his big information dump. He paused, looking almost proud of himself as he adjusted his collar.
“Because wherever they go they spread destruction like an infectious toxin!” he said, no one really being amused with how much enthusiasm he talked about things that could level a city.
‘That’s not even close to what a venom is but go off I guess,’ Rebecca thought, catching a muffled snicker from someone despite her not saying it aloud. “All right,” she said, letting Glover continue.
“Thank you,” the man said, still smiling as he motioned towards the various Jump characters. “Fortunately, we have heroes who are ready and willing to stand against the threat this enemy poses. Together, they are known as the-”
“I’m not a hero, I'm a pirate!” Luffy interrupted, getting a snort out of Rebecca.
“I wouldn’t really call being a gourmet hunter heroic either,” Toriko laughed, glover sighing and putting a hand on his face.
“I mean, I guess me and Trunks are heroes,” Goku laughed, the half saiyan turning a little red at being called a hero by Son Goku.
“I think I could be considered a hero?” Naruto said, cupping his chin and thinking for a moment. Kakashi gave him a pat on the shoulder, “guess we’ll figure that out later.”
“I mean Protagonists!” Glover sighed, everyone going back on topic for a moment before Luffy spoke up.
“What’s a protagonist? Can I eat it?”
‘Oh my god Luffy,’ Rebecca thought, trying not to join in everyone’s laughter, and failing miserably. Even Kakashi couldn’t help but laugh as the group howled just due to the pirates bluntness. Glover stood there waiting for them to stop, then tapping his foot when it had been five minutes, before finally speaking up.
“We are known as Jump Force!” he shouted, getting everyone to calm down. “It is comprised of people from the Jump worlds. And Heroes like yourself.” He motioned at Rebecca, who admittedly was still wiping a tear from her eye.
“Wait, me? A hero?” She said, looking at him with confusion. “I mean, I was an officer until last Tuesday, but I don’t know if I’d count as a hero.”
“Regardless of how you feel on the matter,” Glover continued, seemingly glossing over Rebecca’s words. “You now have the power to fight alongside them. The cube embedded in your body has granted you power in response to your desire to protect people.”
‘The cube in my chest…’ Rebecca thought, her hand moving up to trace over her heart. In less In less than a day, everything she knew had been flipped on its head, and now she had something else keeping her alive. ‘Well, not everyone gets a second chan-’
“We call them ‘umbras cubes’,” Glover said, snapping Rebecca’s train of thought in half. “The ones that came from the Venoms you helped defeat is identical to the one in your body.”
Her face went into professional mode as her mind raced to comprehend that. She was the same as the things that attacked her home? That killed people indiscriminately? No no, she couldn’t be like that. Even if her body was far stronger she would never kill someone innocent.
Or maybe that’s what this cube wanted her to think. If it affected her mind, how much of these were her own thoughts? Her own desires? Was she a ticking time bomb waiting to go off and hurt someone? She tried to hide her heavy breathing, Glover miraculously pausing at the right time to give her a moment.
‘Nope, I’m panicking’ she thought, barely managing to keep her professional face on as the idea of her being a city destroying monster started to flood her mind. ‘What if I lose control? I could hurt someone- I could kill someone- I coul-’
‘None of that will happen,’ A child’s voice rang out through her mind. ‘You are in complete control, and it is unlikely that you will lose it.’ The sudden voice stopped her mind in its tracks, and let her slowly calm down. ‘No one will let that happen.”
She took a breath, catching a few of the people around her looking concerned. “I’m okay,” she fibbed. “Just got surprised is all.”
“I see,” Glover said, not showing any visible sign of concern for Rebecca as he resumed his speech. “As you can infer, the Venoms were once human. However, unlike you they are acting on malicious intent amplified by the power of the umbras cubes.” He took a moment to pause, expecting everyone to be on the same page.
However a few people looked confused. The man sighed, took a breath and continued. “It makes them evil and violent.”
“Ooooooooh!” Goku and Luffy said, laughing at the timing of their response. The rest of them had to stifle their laughter at the pair, while Glover stifled a groan.
“Anyway,” He continued, pushing up his glasses in annoyance. “The Venoms have been gathering evil-minded people, providing them with cubes, and as they grow their numbers they expand their territory.”
The idea was chilling, New York was just one of the first? Would they focus on larger cities or go along looking for more isolated areas? It sent a chill down Rebecca’s spine just thinking about it.
“To stop the Venoms, it is not enough to merely defeat them.” Glover went on, everyone focused on him again. “We must also collect all the cubes used to create new ones. So now, will you join us, Rebecca?”
“Absolutely,” She said, not giving herself a moment to doubt anything. “I’ll help in any way I can.” Everyone around her gave a victorious cheer as she formally agreed to join.
“Then it’s official,” Glover said with a wide smile. “Welcome to the Jump Force, I look forward to seeing what you accomplish.” Rebecca smiled back, despite the frankly silly name, she felt like she was doing the right thing. After all, she had always wanted to help people.
Back in the ruins of Times Square, two figures overlooked the destruction from on high. One was a tall, blue, broad shouldered man wearing gold insectoid armor. And the other was a green skinned woman with white hair in a large updo, wearing a red jumpsuit with matching thigh high boots.
“How is the plan proceeding, Galena?” The man said, his voice was incredibly deep, and he didn’t turn to face his ally.
“The so-called “Jump Force” is desperately trying to hold back the tide, but they won't be a problem.” she said calmly, watching the square as the massive tree slowly continued to grow. “Our numbers are growing steadily.”
“I see…” the man continued, keeping his voice level despite the destroyed cityscape around them. “That’s good to hear, but don’t get complacent. We can’t afford to waste any time.”
“Haha, so hasty.” Galena teased, turning to look at her ally who remained focused on the city in front of them.
“Of course,” he continued, his face not giving any hint of emotion. “There’s not a moment to lose, after all. This contemptible world must be changed.” He looked up to the sky and extended his right arm, which caused storm clouds to form overhead. “And I will be the one to change it.”