The Red Ribbon Army's Revival

Pan's Training Begins

Pan finishes kindergarten and is picked up by Piccolo, filling in for her busy parents. At his house, Pan says she wants to be a superhero like Goten and Trunks. After she bravely catches a frog leaping off a cliff, Piccolo decides she is ready to start training.

At the Sunset City Police Department, Sergeant Nutz and Krillin brief officers on the Red Ribbon Army. They outline how Magenta, president of the front company Red Pharmaceuticals, intends to recruit Dr. Hedo once he leaves prison in three months. At Red Pharmaceuticals, Carmine feeds Magenta the same intel, and the pair resolve to grab the scientist the moment he walks free.

Magenta's Pitch

Dr. Hedo exits prison to find Magenta and Carmine waiting. Hedo already knows Magenta's identity through his cyborg spy wasp Hachimaru. During the car ride, Magenta explains his organization's history with Dr. Gero and offers a billion zeni per android. Hedo resists at first, insisting he cares only about building the strongest androids ever. Magenta reframes the Z Fighters as an alien threat linked to Capsule Corporation, claiming they plan to invade Earth. The story hooks Hedo's hero complex, and he agrees to ally with the Army.

Gohan Gets a Wake-Up Call

Having spotted Krillin tailing the car, Hedo sends Hachimaru to attack. The wasp strikes Krillin at full speed while his guard is down, costing the police their chance to locate the secret base. Six months later, Pan trains steadily under Piccolo, showing more talent than her father. Piccolo assures the frustrated three-year-old that flying and ki blasts will come in time. The next morning, Videl calls Piccolo to pick Pan up again, bribing him with a plushie. Annoyed, Piccolo confronts Gohan, who is busy writing about glowing ants. When Gohan brushes off a warning about looming danger, Piccolo attacks him. Gohan blocks the first blow but takes a punch to the gut. Piccolo conjures weighted clothing for him and heads home, where he is ambushed by a figure bearing the Red Ribbon insignia.