Chapter 63 The Search

Bulma tapped away at her keyboard, entering calculations and tracking coordinates as her massive machine whirred away. The machine was struggling with so much information trying to process it all, and looking over the data herself Bulma couldn't blame it.

She was dealing with a great many parameters, and trying to comprehend it was taking a great deal of work. Gohan was far, far away. It was extremely good forethought that she had combined technology from the time machine into her device. Not only had it been able to scan through time distortions, but its design had also necessitated an incredible range. That range had almost not been enough.

The tapping away from behind her had begun to grate on her nerves quite some time ago. But given that she had needed to work in silence for quite some time and hadn't given Goku any kind of update, she had been content to forgive him. The way he was looking over her shoulder and getting frustrated that he couldn't understand what he was looking at though, that was beginning to get even more annoying.

"Goku please, I need some space. I can't work when you're hovering over me like this."

To his credit, he did quickly take a step back, but his pensiveness remained.

"Sorry Bulma, I just… what's going on? Have you found him yet?"

"I… I'm not sure." He stilled, and Bulma quickly tried to put his mind at rest. "Listen, the signal that I found, and you sensed, was definitely Gohan. But that was a blip that has disappeared since and I can't find it again. He's… there's no easy way to say this, but Gohan is in a different reality and timeline."

The news did not calm Goku down at all. She turned to look at him, seeing the poor frustration on his face as he tried to comprehend what that all meant and even more importantly, what they would do next.

"So we just need to travel through time and go somewhere far away? That shouldn't be too hard right?"

Her eye twitched. She took a deep breath to calm herself, but this had been an immensely taxing project that had taken not only all of her genius, and her fathers genius, it had also taken her genius again from a future timeline. Learning new science from herself had been a strange experience, though certainly a rewarding one.

"It's not that simple Goku. Timelines don't all work on the same scale, no time does. I have a record of where he was for one instance, but that doesn't tell me where he is now."

Goku frowned, but she could see he wasn't fully understanding. Before she opened her mouth to explain further, another question was raised by Tien.

"If we have a time machine, can't we travel to where we detected him? He'd be there, right?"

Goku's hopes immediately began to raise, and Bulma swallowed down her irritation towards Tien. He and the rest of the Z fighters had once again reconvened to discuss their plan and perhaps even execute it. Whilst most of them had been silent or quietly supporting Goku, all of them were eager to act and that could cause some friction if she wasn't careful.

She took a deep drag of the cigarette in her mouth and exhaled slowly, preparing herself.

"Theoretically, we could. But here's the problem with timelines. We have a coordinate for one fixed point in time, without a second point we can't track the timeline itself in its entirety. If we travel to the fixed point, we create a split timeline. We'll find one Gohan, but there's another that will be left behind."

Confused hesitation washed over their faces. Yamcha was the first to speak up, looking more openly frustrated than the more composed others.

"Was it this difficult when Trunks travelled back to warn us before?"

"Firstly Yamcha, this is time travel. That this is possible at all is a miracle of science. Secondly, these parameters were known when Trunks travelled before. That was travelling to the same planet, in the same universe. Any issues of time scaling could be tracked because we already had data of our world. That was done with a lot more than two points as well, future me could extrapolate spatial data from every single day and create a very accurate prediction."

In frustration, she opened one of her desk drawers and rifled through until she found what she was looking for. Holding up a small piece of flexible tubing, she pulled it straight and made sure everyone could see it.

"Imagine this as a timeline. Each end is a start and end point of time. This end point is what aligns with our present day, travelling to here isn't really time travel, it's basically Goku's instant transmission." She held up a finger mid-way down the pipe. "This is the coordinate we have now. If we jump here, we create a timeline split, something that doesn't happen if we travel to his latest point."

She pinched the pipe at the endpoint and pinched again closer to the end of the pipe. "With two coordinates, we can extrapolate to the end and travel to the accurate point in time. But," she bent the tube in her hands so it formed a curve, "two points in time only gives us a general accuracy. With only two points, we draw a straight line, when it's actually a curve, where we arrive will be way off target."

She placed her hands fully over the tube to represent multiple points of data. "When Trunks travelled here, they knew every point, and every way the timeline bent. That's how Trunks could hit just in time before Frieza arrived and be on the planet at all."

"So wait, you're saying even if we get a second point in time, we're just going to be guessing where the end point is?"

Many things could be said about Krillin, but he was remarkably attentive and quick on the pickup when he needed to be. Sadly, Bulma's sullen expression confirmed his theory before she could get out any comforting words.

"Kind of. But it'll get us a lot closer than we are now, and we can jump from there closer and closer until we get it right."

"Or, we go get him now." The deep voice of Piccolo deadened any murmurs in the room. The man's mood had been incredibly testy since Gohan's disappearance, and the tension in the room had been palpable ever since his arrival. He seemed perpetually angry now, frankly reminding Bulma of when she'd first met Vegeta only even worse.

"That's the question."

Bulma didn't have an answer, the only one who could decide was Goku. She hated having to force such a choice onto him, but sadly it was his duty as a parent. Between saving his son but causing a split that would leave another left behind or having to wait until they managed to find a way to save Gohan fully.

"I… I can't-…"

Goku put two fingers to his forehead and teleported away.

"W-what!? Where did he go!?"

Bulma sighed at the outburst. Yamcha could sense energy when she couldn't, yet even she knew where he had gone.

"He's gone to Chi Chi. He can't decide something like this alone."

Sighing, Bulma stood and stretched, her body sore from having been hunched over her computer so much. She really needed to take better care of her posture.

"Sorry guys, he might be a while. Feel free to help yourself to anything in the kitchen if you want."

It was probably around time for breakfast, but she doubted anyone was in much of a mood for eating. Piccolo stalked off outside, but she didn't hear the telltale sound of him powering up and flying away. Most likely he'd gone to meditate. He did that a lot, even more than usual.

A handful of the others remained, mostly out of politeness, but Krillin took his leave to go and check up on Marron before she woke up. 18 had stayed to look after her, though if they had been heading off she'd already given her word that she would help out. 18 owed Gohan a high debt.

With a roll of her neck, Bulma walked out of the room and down the hall. She could hear the sounds of play down the hall from Trunks and Goten. Goten had been over for a sleepover, though obviously all the sudden arrivals had woken them up and they'd gotten active already.

She should make sure they got something to eat soon, otherwise they'd be getting frustrated. Did she blame Saiyan biology, or simply just them being children? Either way, she wasn't ready to deal with it yet. She was emotionally taxed, needing herself a bit of private time.

It was at times like these she felt that being with Vegeta was a mistake. Having someone to hold her, to have those intimately soft moments, that would have been wonderful. But Vegeta was not that man. She loved him though, and loved the child they'd had together, as unplanned as Trunks had been. Still… a bit of emotional support wouldn't have been missed.

It was all on her.

Goku was drowning in guilt and regret, living a fractured and broken life with Chi Chi and Goten. The struggle to keep going day after day was wearing on the both of them, and she knew it well. Bulma was their key to salvation, to hope. But after so much time of producing nothing, she had struggled heavily with the pressure of it all.

Goku wouldn't pressure her directly, he knew she was doing his best and he was tireless in his own investigation. But Goku trusted her implicitly. He fully believed in her, and the disappointment in his eyes each and every time she gave him the bad news broke her heart. It would be easier if he blamed her, if he got angry, but he never did. Just a constant disappointed expression, and a muted "ok".

Without even realising it, she had wandered into her father's laboratory. He wasn't there, he was still asleep in bed and would be for a while. Even so, she felt a sense of comfort being present in the room. This was where he had invented so much, where his genius had been put into practice. Maybe it was just being in a room of science that felt nice for her, like the general osmosis of the room would give her an idea of what to do.

She didn't think of anything.

When Goku reappeared, she didn't know how long it had been as she waited alone with her thoughts. He looked worse if that was even possible. The bags under his eyes were heavier, and his eyes himself seemed hollower. One conversation and he had aged tremendously.

"Bulma…"

"How did you go?"

He was hunched a little, slowly taking a seat by her side before he spoke.

"We're… we're going to wait."

She smiled sadly and leaned in to hug him. He didn't hug her back, but he did lean into her slightly. It was no wonder that he looked so suddenly worn, he and his wife had just had to make the choice to leave Gohan behind. Until the time came anyway. She had sworn to herself long ago that she would find a way to get him back. It would just… take some time.

"I know this is hard for you Goku. But we'll find a way. We're already much closer now than we were before. I know it might be hard to understand, but we are getting there."

"I know." His voice was sullen, defeated, but he wasn't completely out of hope. "I… I felt him. For one moment, he was real again. All these years and then there he was. I almost thought I'd forgotten what he was like. His energy. His warmth. But then there he was, and I just…"

He looked at his hands in yearning. Bulma knew instinctively what he had felt. That urge to reach out, to grab him. But Gohan was beyond his reach still. They were getting closer though, agonisingly so.

"Listen, I'll do what I can okay? Maybe we can extrapolate something and speak with King Kai. If this is really another universe, maybe he can help us get there quicker."

Goku gave a small and weary nod. The poor guy was working himself to death trying to find something, anything. But even death had never stopped Goku, and Bulma knew that none of them would ever stop.

Without another word, Goku slowly put his fingers to his head and teleported away. Bulma remained for a brief moment more before she too rose and left the room. She didn't head back to the others, instead she made her way to her sons room. As she thought, he and Goten were both awake and playing with his toys. As Goten said gave her a cheery hello, she sat down and pulled Trunks in for a cuddle.

"Mom! Let me go!"

"No, I think I want some cuddles Trunks. As your mother, what I say goes, and I say cuddles." He squirmed against her as he always did when she wrapped him up in her hugs. He never used his actual strength of course, it was a symbolic gesture of complaint.

"Ugh, mom you're so lame!"

"That's right, just a big lame-o. I'm still getting those cuddles though mister." Even his moaning couldn't wipe the smile from her face. It was hard to believe how small he'd been only a few short years ago. He grew up far too fast for her tastes.

Goten still enjoyed cuddles though, and he merrily joined in the pile with a grin on his face. She held Trunks tighter, desperately praying that she would never have to go through what Goku was.

Gohan held the hug tight, holding onto Petra as the two of them laid on the medical bed together. It was the first bit of real intimacy they'd been able to have since the battle had ended, but it was brief at best. Doctors were coming in and out constantly, as were various military personnel trying to speak with him.

Travelling from the underground city to the hospital that had taken the two of them in for care hadn't taken long with Gohan's speed. Since then, the two of them had spent quite some time being checked over and having doctors help them heal. Petra would likely make a reasonably full recovery thankfully, with some consistent pain and limitations in her back movements. Considering how she had nearly died, it was a good result.

For Gohan, the situation was sadly much worse.

He had several tendons that had been cut, and he'd lost a great deal of his previous mobility. Without a senzu bean or modern medical technology, he would be permanently limited in his movements. Arms, legs, everywhere had been damaged in one way or another.

It was bad. Had Gohan not been half Saiyan, he may have been crippled by the number of wounds he had taken. Instead, he could still move, and he could still fight. He would need to do both much sooner than he would have liked.

"You should go. Commander Erwin will be getting impatient."

Despite Petra's words, Gohan was disinclined to follow them. After all he had been through, he was feeling selfish.

"He can wait, I'm cuddling."

She chuckled, her breath washing over him in a way that was bizarrely comforting.

"You know cuddles like this don't normally happen until much later in a relationship. We haven't even had a proper date yet."

"Are you asking me to stop?"

She squeezed him tighter, telling him no despite them both knowing that he really should be moving. At another knock on the door however, she did sigh and force herself away from him.

"You really do need to go."

He groaned but relented, hovering out of the bed and to his feet. He was careful not to put too much pressure on his legs, he really didn't want to show any kind of limp to those outside.

"When I'm done, we need to go on a date. A proper date. Dinner?"

"Don't think they'll let me leave." She smiled sadly.

"I'll bring something nice, straight from the capital." With their date promised, he opened the door and stepped outside.

There was a soldier waiting by his side, already opening their mouth to request something of him. Gohan however, didn't wait to hear what the person had to say. It was probably rude of him, but if he was going to move then he wasn't going to wait around. He moved down the corridor as the soldier followed him, relaying again that Erwin and Pixis wanted to speak with him at the capital.

Gohan nodded absent mindedly until he reached his desired location. Even if he hadn't been able to sense them, he'd already been to visit Eren and Mikasa. Mrs Jaeger was there too, currently sleeping on a makeshift bed while Eren sat silently by Mikasa's side. She was recovering but had gone through quite the ordeal. As well as the blood loss which had kept her constantly tired, Mikasa had been told the other terrible news.

The stab through her stomach had pierced her womb, and doctors believed she would never be able to safely have children.

Being with Mikasa when she'd been told the news had been an unsettling situation. She had always seemed like a girl entirely focused on her martial abilities, principally in defence of Eren, never seeming the girl to want or even think about children or romance. She had not taken the news well however. Perhaps Gohan hadn't understood her as well as he thought or had simply overestimated her disinterest in romance.

Perhaps more likely, Mikasa had simply been devastated by being robbed of any chance or choice.

She had cried that day, and the day after. In the silent moments of reflection she had to herself. Gohan had been there for her, in what little way he could, but it had been Mrs Jaeger to comfort her the most. As a mother, and effectively as Mikasa's mother, she had been the closest to truly understanding her feelings.

That was not to say that Eren had not done the same. In something of a reversal, Eren was near inseparable from her. He helped her with everything without a word of complaint. He fed her, he dressed her, he adjusted her pillows and blankets. He wiped away her tears and held her close when she cried. He took away her bedpan, helped keep her bandages clean and change them as needed.

He did everything he could physically, and emotionally too.

They had spoken about that day, when Eren had raced off in blind vengeance for her sake. He had apologized for not being there for her, but in discussing their feelings she had forgiven him. Whatever confusing mix of emotions their relationship had been before, it had certainly changed now. Gohan would just have to wait and see what it could bloom into.

There were others he could visit, but most were in the general recovery wards and did not have private rooms like Petra and Mikasa did. If he visited, he would be more of a distraction than he liked.

He could see the eyes lingering on him. The constant looks of awe and the whispers. There was no sense in putting it off any longer, he may as well make his move.

He headed out into a clearing and powered up. There was no billowing wind or tremble of the earth as he did so. His power was smooth, controlled, and immense. He didn't power up to Super Saiyan for his flight, yet he arrived within moments. He flew past startled guards and workers, arriving right by the two commanders with a soft and gentle landing.

The two showed momentary surprise, breaking out of the trance they had been as they looked inside a meeting room that was being cleaned and repaired.

"This room," Erwin began, "was where the purge began. They killed Nile and those loyal in his entourage. Premier Zackly as well, where that chair just there is now."

"Such pointless violence." Mused Pixis, hand twitching as in reflexive reach of a flask. "I spoke with Marie recently. She'd doing her best for the children but come time for the funeral I believe she will break."

Erwin nodded gently. "I'll see if I can arrange for someone to help her in the meantime." He turned on his feet and slowly began to walk down the corridor with Pixis in step. Gohan followed them with a lingering look inside of the room, imagining the attack that had taken place. "Nile's funeral won't be the last. We were planning on holding a large-scale ceremony for all those who had lost their lives during the revolution. I know it would mean a great deal to the public if you were at the head of the procession."

A surprising request, but not one Gohan had issue with. "I'll need someone to walk me through what to do. I've never given speeches before."

"You aren't counting the one you gave in that Titan realm?" Pixis had said the words with a dusting of humour, but there was an undercurrent of inquisitiveness to the way he spoke.

"You spoke with a lot of passion that day." Erwin continued for Pixis. "Your words, your deeds, your resolve… You've become the greatest hero this country has ever had."

Gohan could see a few soldiers dropping to sharp salutes as they passed by. He could also see the white bandana being worn by more than a few of them, and their awed eyes following him as they walked.

Two soldiers opened a pair of large double doors to a separate meeting room, this one still in usable condition. A selection of fine finger foods lay scattered around the table alongside various refreshments. Erwin and Pixis took their seats as the doors closed behind the three of them, Pixis reaching out and plucking a piece of fruit.

"I won't mince words with you Gohan, our country trusts you." Erwin locked eyes with him as he sat down. "Our country trusts you a lot more than it trusts us, and with good reason. Our government has failed its people deeply, and as far as anyone knows they recently betrayed their own guardians in the military. You however, are the saviour of us all. You removed the walls, you killed the biggest Titan anybody had ever seen, and you killed every Titan on this island. I speak without exaggeration when I say you have my eternal gratitude."

Gohan fought back his instinctual 'it was nothing'. He felt his usual humble nature might be a little offensive given what was being discussed.

"Thank you."

"You're very welcome. Of course, we did not just wish to meet with you to discuss funerals. We must think about the future now. The future of our nation… and beyond."

"Marley." Pixis was clear on the danger, not that it was needed. None of them had forgotten that the origin of the attack all those years ago had been from a nation that clearly wanted them exterminated.

Gohan slumped slightly in his chair. "I've been thinking about them. Not just the nation, but all the Eldian people stuck in the ghetto's. All the people in other countries too. I don't know enough about this world, but I know I won't leave the people to suffer."

Whether it be Titans, or war, or simple human cruelty. Gohan had taken on a duty to protect the Edlian people. The bloodshed and hatred had not stopped, and though the Titan threat had ended, the war had not.

"In due time," Erwin continued, "we will address the concerns of the world. First, we must fix our own problems. The recovery of the various districts goes well. Casualties from the wall collapse were relatively few among the civilian populous. But with the walls gone, comes the question of expansion and reclamation. Not just Maria, and Shiganshina. But of the whole island. Already people are beginning to celebrate. There will be a baby boom over the next year, a lot of new mouths to feed and homes that will need to be built. Roads, infrastructure, new villages and leaders. But with this expansion, comes risk of separation. The people love you and are in a period of joy. But we are government now without a king. Many of the nobility have been arrested for their involvement in treason, and the people do not want a military head in command of the nation. Neither do we."

"A decision must be made," Pixis chimed in, "on how our nation shall be led, and by whom."

The two levelled their gaze onto him.

"Whoa whoa whoa! You can't mean me can you!?"

Erwin chuckled and held up a placating hand. "No no no, of course not. You are undoubtedly a great and just man Gohan, but we do not think that leading a nation fits your character."

"You are kind and protective, but a leader must sometimes make harsh decisions for the sake of their people. You would not do well at this." Pixis smiled too as he spoke, and Gohan felt no insult from his words.

"Fair. Also I'm not really an Eldian."

"Also true." Erwin leaned forwards in his chair to look Gohan in the eyes. "However, every Eldian alive trusts you. They trust you more than anyone else. The one's who began to believe in you at Trost, the ones who dubbed you an angel, they have only grown in number and influence. I dare say within a few weeks the entire nation may have become your followers."

"Yeah, I have seen some of that…" he awkwardly rubbed at the back of his head. "I need to do something about that."

"Before you do, we believe it would be best to make use of your influence. There is no clear candidate, or structure, for our new government. Whomever you choose, or whatever you choose, if you endorse it then the people will follow. It is the best path to a frictionless transition."

Gohan sagged a little, already feeling the weight of the moment building on him. "You want me to choose your next leader?"

"We have gone through the liberty of preparing a few candidates of our own." Pixis pulled out a folder from within his jacket and placed it on the table. As he opened it up, he laid out several different pieces of paper with drawings of people and summarised details about them. "Here are some of those we feel would be best suited to the position. However, if you feel someone else may be best, the nation will still follow you."

Gohan sagged even further. Great, now all he had to do was endorse someone for leading a country he had only lived in for a few years, with two of those being in effective isolation and the rest in the military. No pressure.