CHAPTER 2: ALTERED COURSE

The wasteland stretched out in all directions, barren and windswept under the early morning sun. Andrew, Goku, and Kami descended from the sky, landing on a rocky outcropping that offered a view of the surrounding area. In the distance, a solitary figure hovered in meditation—legs crossed, cape billowing in the breeze.

"There he is," Andrew said, pointing toward Piccolo. Despite having trained with a version of him in the Time Nest, Andrew felt a flutter of nervous excitement at seeing the real Piccolo of this timeline. Not yet a hero or ally, but still the reincarnation of the Demon King, nursing ambitions of world conquest and revenge against Goku.

Goku stretched his shoulders, eyeing his former tournament rival with a mixture of caution and anticipation. "Let's hope he's in a listening mood. Piccolo's not exactly the friendly type."

"Allow me to approach first," Kami suggested. "My presence will at least ensure he pays attention."

Andrew shook his head. "With respect, Guardian, I think I should make the initial contact. I have information that might convince him." He checked his wrist device again. "Raditz's pod will enter the atmosphere in less than thirty minutes. We need to be efficient."

Without waiting for a response, Andrew lifted off, flying directly toward the meditating Namekian. As he approached, Piccolo's eyes snapped open, instantly alert to the incoming presence. His expression darkened when he spotted Andrew, then shifted to surprise as he noticed Goku and Kami following behind.

Andrew stopped a respectful distance away, hovering in the air. "Piccolo. My name is Andrew Slayn. We need to talk."

Piccolo uncrossed his legs and stood in mid-air, his cape dramatically flaring around him as his power subtly increased. "I have nothing to say to any friend of Son Goku or that old fool Kami." His voice was exactly as Andrew remembered from the series—deep, resonant, and filled with barely contained aggression.

Andrew met his gaze steadily. "Not even if I told you that a warrior stronger than both you and Goku combined is about to arrive on Earth? One who threatens your ambitions just as much as theirs?"

Piccolo's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"

"An alien warrior named Raditz is approaching Earth as we speak," Andrew explained, gesturing toward the sky. "He's Goku's brother, a member of the Saiyan race, and he's coming to either recruit Goku or eliminate him—along with anyone else who gets in his way."

Piccolo scoffed, but Andrew could see the calculation in his eyes. "And why should I believe you?"

"Because you can sense ki," Andrew said simply. "Focus your senses upward, beyond the atmosphere. You'll feel something powerful approaching—something alien and violent."

Skepticism still evident, Piccolo nevertheless closed his eyes briefly, concentrating. When they opened again, there was a new tension in his posture.

"What is that?" he demanded.

"That's Raditz," Andrew confirmed. "His power level is approximately 1,500—significantly higher than either you or Goku at present."

By now, Goku and Kami had joined them, creating a loose semi-circle in the air.

"It's true, Piccolo," Goku said. "This guy showed up with Kami this morning and warned us about all this. I didn't believe it at first either, but—"

"Spare me your babbling, Goku," Piccolo interrupted harshly. His attention returned to Andrew. "You don't move like an Earthling. Even standing still, you hold yourself..." His eyes narrowed further. "There's something familiar about your stance, yet I've never seen you before."

"That's a conversation for another time," Andrew deflected. "Right now, we need your help. In the timeline I know, it took both you and Goku working together to defeat Raditz, and even then, the cost was high."

"Timeline you know?" Piccolo repeated incredulously. "What are you, some kind of fortune-teller?"

"Something like that," Andrew said, unwilling to get into the full explanation now. "The important thing is that we have a chance to change the outcome. Instead of being caught by surprise, we can meet Raditz together, coordinated, prepared."

Piccolo looked between the three of them, his expression still distrustful. "Why would I help Goku? I've been training to defeat him myself."

"Because you can't conquer a world that's been destroyed or enslaved by others," Andrew pointed out. "And after Raditz, two more Saiyans will come—even stronger than him."

That gave Piccolo pause, exactly as Andrew had hoped. Self-preservation and ambition were powerful motivators for the Namekian at this stage.

Kami stepped forward, his ancient eyes fixed on his other half. "For once, our interests align, Piccolo. This threat is real, and it endangers everything—including your plans."

A tense silence followed as Piccolo weighed his options. Finally, he gave a curt nod. "Fine. I'll help fight this Saiyan. But don't mistake this for friendship or alliance. After we deal with this Raditz, nothing changes between us."

"Fair enough," Andrew agreed, relieved. Stage one of his plan was complete—the trio that had faced Raditz in the original timeline was assembled, but this time with foreknowledge and strategy on their side.

Andrew's device beeped again. "We don't have much time. Raditz's pod will land approximately seven miles southeast of here in just under twenty minutes. We should—"

He was interrupted by a brilliant streak across the sky, a fiery ball descending much faster than his device had predicted. The ground shook as it impacted the earth with a distant boom, sending up a plume of dust visible even from their position.

"That's... not right," Andrew muttered, checking his device again. The readout now showed:

「POD LANDED」
「POWER READING: 1,800」
「WARNING: TIMELINE VARIANCE DETECTED」

Andrew felt a chill run down his spine. Eighteen hundred? That was higher than Raditz's power in the original timeline. Already, things were shifting in unexpected ways.

"He's early," Andrew announced grimly. "And stronger than anticipated."

"How much stronger?" Goku asked, his expression serious but not fearful.

"About twenty percent more than I expected," Andrew admitted. "This changes things slightly, but our plan remains the same. We approach together, attempt to reason with him, and if that fails, we fight as a coordinated unit. No heroics, no one-on-one challenges."

Piccolo snorted. "You seem to know a lot about battle tactics for someone I've never seen in any tournament or martial arts circle."

"I've had good teachers," Andrew replied, unconsciously rubbing his shoulder where Vegeta had once dislocated it during a particularly brutal training session.

"We should move," Kami urged. "I will remain at a distance—my combat days are long past, but I can observe and provide guidance if needed."

The four of them took off toward the impact site, flying in tight formation. As they approached, Andrew could see the familiar crater with a spherical pod at its center, identical to the one he'd seen countless times in the anime. Smoke still rose from the scorched earth around it.

Just as they drew near, the pod hissed open, its door rising slowly to reveal the figure inside.

Raditz emerged, tall and imposing in his Saiyan armor, his wild black hair reaching down to his knees. He floated up to the edge of the crater, then paused as he registered the welcoming committee waiting for him. His scouter beeped as it assessed the power levels before him.

"Well," he said, his voice carrying a cruel amusement, "this is unexpected. A reception party?" His eyes fixed on Goku. "And you must be Kakarot. I'd recognize that face anywhere—the spitting image of our father."

Goku stepped forward, his stance guarded but not yet hostile. "My name is Son Goku, and this is my home planet. We know why you're here, Raditz, and the answer is no. I won't help you destroy worlds or kill innocent people."

Raditz's expression shifted from surprise to annoyance. "How do you—" He paused, his scouter beeping again as he deliberately scanned each person present. When he got to Andrew, he frowned. "What are you? You're not a Saiyan, yet your power level..." His eyes narrowed. "And your stance. That's an elite Saiyan combat position."

Andrew internally cursed. In his readiness for battle, he'd automatically shifted into the stance Vegeta had drilled into him during training. Already he was revealing too much.

"It doesn't matter who or what I am," Andrew replied, stepping forward to stand beside Goku. "What matters is that we know your intentions, and we're prepared to defend this planet."

Raditz laughed, a harsh sound devoid of actual humor. "Defend? You think the three of you can stand against a Saiyan warrior?" He tapped his scouter again. "Let's see... 416 for Kakarot, 408 for the green man, and... 1,500 for the mystery fighter." He focused on Andrew. "You might present a challenge, but the others are hardly worth my time."

Andrew knew the numbers were deceptive. Both Goku and Piccolo were suppressing their power, and both could raise it significantly during battle. But it was his own power reading that troubled him. He had hoped to match Raditz, giving them a clear advantage with three fighters, but if Raditz was now at 1,800...

"We're giving you one chance to leave peacefully," Andrew stated, forcing confidence into his voice. "Earth is under our protection."

Raditz's smile turned predatory. "Protection? You don't even know what's coming. I'm just the beginning. If you won't join us willingly, Kakarot, perhaps you need proper motivation."

He vanished suddenly, moving faster than either Goku or Piccolo could track. Andrew, however, had trained with Vegeta—a warrior far faster than Raditz. He spun around just in time to see Raditz reappear behind Piccolo, preparing a devastating strike to the Namekian's exposed back.

"Piccolo, down!" Andrew shouted, launching himself forward.

Piccolo began to react, but too slowly. Andrew intercepted Raditz's attack, blocking a kick that would have potentially crippled Piccolo. The force of the impact sent Andrew skidding backward through the air, his forearms burning from the block.

"Interesting," Raditz commented, genuinely surprised. "You move well for a non-Saiyan."

The battle erupted in earnest then. Goku charged forward with a flying kick, which Raditz easily evaded before countering with an elbow strike that sent Goku crashing to the ground. Piccolo attacked next, his stretching arm technique momentarily catching Raditz off guard before the Saiyan recovered and grabbed Piccolo's extended limb, using it to swing him in a wide arc and slam him into a nearby rock formation.

Andrew pressed his brief advantage, launching a flurry of strikes that forced Raditz onto the defensive. For a few seconds, they seemed evenly matched, trading blows at a speed that made them almost blur to the naked eye.

"You fight like a Saiyan elite," Raditz growled between attacks. "Like my commander, Vegeta. Who trained you?"

Andrew didn't answer, focusing instead on maintaining pressure. He knew that alone, he couldn't defeat this enhanced Raditz, but he only needed to keep him occupied until—

Goku rejoined the fray, attacking Raditz from behind. The Saiyan warrior spun to confront this new attack, giving Andrew a brief respite. He used the moment to assess the situation.

This wasn't going according to plan. Raditz was stronger and faster than anticipated, and their coordination was lacking. They needed to work together more effectively.

"Piccolo!" Andrew called out as the Namekian extracted himself from the rubble. "You need to start charging the Special Beam Cannon now!"

Piccolo's eyes widened in shock. "How do you know about that technique? I've never used it in battle!"

"Just trust me!" Andrew shouted back. "It's the only attack strong enough to penetrate his armor!"

Piccolo hesitated only briefly before bringing his fingers to his forehead, beginning the familiar charging sequence. Andrew turned his attention back to the battle, where Goku was now being brutally overwhelmed.

Andrew dove into the fight again, landing a solid kick to Raditz's side that gave Goku a moment to recover. Together, they pressed Raditz from both sides, working in tandem to keep him off balance.

"Your technique," Raditz spat at Andrew between exchanges, "it's not just Vegeta's. There's something else familiar about it."

Andrew realized too late that he was unconsciously incorporating Piccolo's style as well—movements and attacks that had been drilled into him during those intense training sessions in the Time Nest. This Raditz was more observant than he had expected.

The battle intensified, with Raditz demonstrating why he outclassed them both in power. A vicious combination sent Goku flying into a distant mesa, and a following energy blast forced Andrew to dodge rather than pursue.

"You're good," Raditz acknowledged, breathing slightly heavier now. "But not good enough."

He suddenly changed tactics, unleashing a wide-area energy attack—the Double Sunday. Andrew managed to deflect part of it, but the explosion still caught him, sending him tumbling across the ground. As he struggled to his feet, he saw Raditz turn his attention to Piccolo, who was still charging his attack.

"Whatever you're planning, green man, it ends now," Raditz declared, gathering energy for a killing blow.

Andrew saw it happening as if in slow motion. In the original timeline, this was when Goku had sacrificed himself, grabbing Raditz from behind to allow Piccolo's attack to pierce them both. But Goku was still recovering from being thrown into the mesa, too far away to intervene.

Without hesitation, Andrew launched himself forward, ignoring the pain from his previous injuries. He couldn't let Piccolo die—not now, not when they had a chance to change everything.

"Piccolo, keep charging!" he shouted, pushing his speed to its limit.

Raditz fired his attack, a purple beam of concentrated energy aimed directly at Piccolo's heart. Andrew intercepted it, throwing himself into the path of the blast. The energy tore through his gi and burned into his chest, but he managed to deflect enough of it that it wasn't immediately fatal.

The impact sent him crashing to the ground near Piccolo's feet, smoke rising from his charred gi. Pain radiated through his body, but he forced himself to look up at the Namekian.

"How... much longer?" he gasped.

"Thirty seconds," Piccolo replied, his expression showing a hint of surprise at Andrew's sacrifice.

"Hold him... off," Andrew managed, trying and failing to stand.

Just then, Goku reappeared, launching a furious assault on Raditz that drove the Saiyan backward. Seeing an opportunity, Andrew channeled his remaining strength and fired a ki blast at Raditz's feet, temporarily blinding him with dust and debris.

In that moment, Goku managed to grab Raditz from behind, locking him in a full nelson. "Now, Piccolo!" Goku shouted.

"But Goku, you'll—" Piccolo began.

"Do it!" Goku demanded.

"No!" Andrew forced himself to his feet despite the searing pain. "Aim... for his tail!" He staggered forward, gathering the last of his energy. "I'll hold... his legs!"

With a final burst of speed, Andrew lunged forward and wrapped his arms around Raditz's lower body, immobilizing his legs while targeting the base of his tail—the Saiyan weak point. Raditz howled in pain, his struggles weakening as Andrew applied pressure to the sensitive area.

"Now, Piccolo!" Andrew shouted.

"Special Beam Cannon!" Piccolo thrust his fingers forward, releasing the spiral beam of concentrated energy.

The beam shot forward with incredible speed, striking Raditz precisely where Andrew had exposed a gap in his armor while avoiding both Goku and Andrew. The Saiyan's eyes widened in shock and pain as the attack pierced through him.

Raditz collapsed as Goku and Andrew released him, blood pooling beneath his prone form. He wasn't dead—not yet—but he was mortally wounded.

"How..." Raditz coughed, blood speckling his lips as he stared at Andrew. "How did you know about the tail weakness? Only Saiyans know that..."

Andrew didn't answer, instead collapsing to his knees. The adrenaline was fading, allowing the full force of his injuries to hit him. The blast had burned through his gi and seared a significant portion of his chest. Every breath sent daggers of pain through his body.

Three months in the Time Nest, he thought bitterly as darkness crept into the edges of his vision. All that planning, all that training with Piccolo and Vegeta, and I forget the most basic preparation—getting senzu beans from Korin! What kind of Time Patroller makes such a rookie mistake?

Through blurry vision, Andrew saw Goku approach Raditz, standing over his fallen brother with a mixture of pity and resolve. Piccolo joined them, breathing heavily from the exertion of the Special Beam Cannon but otherwise unharmed.

"It's over," Goku said softly.

"Fool," Raditz choked out. "It's only... beginning. My scouter... transmitted everything. Two more Saiyans... coming. Much stronger than me."

"How long do we have?" Piccolo demanded.

"One year," Raditz laughed weakly. "One year to live in fear..."

His laughter turned to a final ragged breath as his eyes glazed over. Raditz, the first of the Saiyan invaders, was dead.

Andrew felt a surge of satisfaction through his pain. They'd done it—they'd defeated Raditz without Goku sacrificing himself. The timeline was already changing, branching away from the path of destruction that Chronoa had shown him.

But his satisfaction was short-lived as the severity of his injuries made itself known. His consciousness began to fade, his body slumping forward.

"Hey! Stay with us!" Goku's concerned voice seemed to come from very far away.

"Who is this guy?" Piccolo's voice demanded. "How does he know my techniques? How did he know about Saiyan weaknesses?"

Andrew tried to respond, but no words came. The last thing he saw before darkness claimed him was Kami approaching rapidly from the sky, Mr. Popo's magic carpet beneath him.

At least... I changed something, was his final thought before unconsciousness took him.

Andrew awoke to the sensation of cool cloth on his forehead and the distinct feeling of healing energy flowing through his body. He opened his eyes slowly, squinting against the light that seemed too bright after the darkness.

He was lying on a bed in an ornate room that he recognized from his time in the Time Nest—a healing chamber within Kami's Lookout. Mr. Popo stood beside him, hands extended, a gentle green glow emanating from them.

"Ah, you're awake," Mr. Popo said, his perpetually calm voice somehow reassuring. "Please remain still. Your injuries were quite severe."

Andrew tried to speak, but his throat was parched. Mr. Popo anticipated this, offering a cup of water which Andrew gratefully accepted.

"How long?" Andrew managed after drinking.

"Several hours," Mr. Popo replied. "Kami brought you here immediately after the battle. You were fortunate he sent me to observe—your injuries might have been fatal otherwise."

Andrew nodded, wincing at the pain that persisted despite Mr. Popo's healing efforts. "Goku and Piccolo?"

"Both fine, thanks to you," came Kami's voice as the elderly guardian entered the room. "They're outside, waiting for answers."

Andrew attempted to sit up, ignoring the protesting pain from his chest. "We defeated Raditz without losing Goku," he said, unable to keep a note of triumph from his voice despite his condition. "The timeline is already changing."

"Yes," Kami agreed, his expression serious. "But at what cost? You nearly died."

"A miscalculation," Andrew admitted. "I didn't anticipate Raditz being stronger in this timeline. And I forgot to prepare properly." He shook his head in frustration. "If I'd thought to get senzu beans from Korin beforehand..."

"You know of the senzu beans as well?" Kami raised an eyebrow. "Your knowledge continues to surprise me."

The door opened again, and Goku entered, followed by a scowling Piccolo. Chi-Chi and Gohan were nowhere to be seen, presumably still being kept safe elsewhere in the Lookout.

"You're alive!" Goku exclaimed, his characteristic grin flashing briefly before being replaced by concern. "That was some hit you took for Piccolo."

Andrew nodded, meeting Piccolo's suspicious gaze. "It was necessary. In the original timeline, both you and Piccolo were needed to defeat the coming Saiyans. I couldn't let either of you die."

"About that," Piccolo said, crossing his arms. "You've got some explaining to do. You fight with techniques I've never taught anyone—techniques I've developed in private. And you knew about that Saiyan's tail weakness. Who are you really?"

Andrew sighed, realizing the time for partial truths had passed. These warriors needed to trust him for what was to come, and trust required honesty.

"As I told Kami yesterday, I'm from another reality—one where the events of this world are known to me. I was sent by Chronoa, the Supreme Kai of Time, to prevent a disaster that destroys this timeline."

"Another reality?" Goku repeated, his head tilting in confusion. "Like... another dimension?"

"Similar," Andrew confirmed. "In my world, your battles, your lives—they're like legends we learn about. When the Supreme Kai of Time detected that this timeline was deteriorating, she chose me to intervene because of my knowledge."

Piccolo's scowl deepened. "That doesn't explain how you fight like me."

"I trained in the Time Nest before coming here," Andrew explained. "Three months with temporal echoes of you and Vegeta—one of the Saiyans who's coming to Earth."

"Me? Training you?" Piccolo looked incredulous.

"A version of you," Andrew clarified. "Pulled from a future that may no longer happen." He turned to Goku. "That's how I know about your Saiyan heritage, about Raditz, about everything that's coming."

Goku scratched his head, processing this. "So you know what's going to happen next? With these other Saiyans coming?"

"I know what happened in the original timeline," Andrew corrected. "But my presence here is already creating changes. Raditz was stronger than he should have been. You survived when originally you died and trained in Otherworld with King Kai." He looked at Piccolo. "And you survived the initial encounter rather than nearly dying from Raditz's attack."

A silence fell over the room as they absorbed this information.

"So what happens now?" Goku finally asked. "What do we do about these two Saiyans Raditz mentioned?"

Andrew pushed himself further upright, ignoring Mr. Popo's protests. "We train. We prepare. We gather Earth's strongest fighters and make them stronger. But first—" He looked at Kami. "We need to discuss how to get Goku to King Kai without him dying."

"Yes," Kami nodded. "I've been considering the guardian apprentice protocol I mentioned. It's unorthodox, but feasible."

"What about me?" Piccolo demanded. "Where do I fit into this new timeline of yours?"

Andrew met the Namekian's suspicious gaze. "In the original timeline, you took Gohan to train after Goku's death. You became his mentor, and eventually, one of Earth's greatest defenders. Your connection with Gohan changed you, Piccolo. It gave you something to fight for beyond conquest or revenge."

Piccolo seemed taken aback by this. "Me? Train Goku's son? Absurd."

"And yet," Andrew countered, "it's what made you truly strong. Not just in power, but in purpose."

Another silence fell, heavier than before.

"We have one year," Andrew continued, addressing all of them. "One year before Vegeta and Nappa arrive. One year to prepare for a threat greater than anything Earth has faced before."

He looked between Goku and Piccolo, the two rivals whose unlikely alliance had been the foundation of Earth's defense in the original timeline. "The question is: are you willing to work together, to trust each other—and me—to protect this world?"

Goku didn't hesitate. "I'm in. Whatever it takes to protect Earth and my family."

All eyes turned to Piccolo, who maintained his scowl for several long seconds before finally giving a reluctant nod. "For now. But this changes nothing between us, Goku. Once these Saiyans are defeated, we'll settle our own score."

Andrew smiled despite his pain. Another step completed. The foundations were being laid for a new timeline—one where fewer sacrifices might be needed, where Earth's defenders could be better prepared for the challenges ahead.

But as he relaxed back against the pillows, exhaustion washing over him, Andrew couldn't help but wonder what other changes his presence might cause. Raditz had been stronger than expected. What other surprises might this altered course hold?

Only time would tell.