When Chi Chi opened her eyes again all she could see was darkness. Oh my god I've gone blind! Her panicked mind raced. She felt her face, fingers running over her eyes, checking for outside damage. There were not cuts, no bruises, her skin was still raw from the wind but there was no blood. She closed her lids and pressed gently, she could still feel her eyeballs. But why couldn't she see? Her breath was coming in panicked gasps as she tried to figure this out. I can't see, but my eyes seem uninjured. If I'm not injured then there is another reason. She told herself. Then she started to feel around her. The floor was cold stone. Maybe even a little wet, but it was hard to tell.

"Hello?" She called out and her voice seemed to echo a bit. The answer came to her and felt like smacking herself for acting like a child and panicking.

"I'm in a cell, of course!" She hissed. Of course I can't see if there's no light. This room probably underground or something. She mentally scolded herself. Slowly she began picking herself up off the floor. Her muscles ached and she had scuffs on her hands and knees from hitting the floor earlier. Her head was also pounding. She managed to get one foot under her and using her knee as leverage pushed herself into a half standing position. Her hair fell unfamiliarly around her face. She couldn't even remember the last time she let it come lose like this.

"I must have hit my head harder than I thought if I am worrying about hair." She laughed to herself. Gingerly Chi Chi began shuffling forward with her hands outstretched. It didn't take long for her to find what she was looking for, the wall. It was made from the same stone as the floor, and was equally cold. She leaned against it and began walking forward, putting one foot directly in front of the other, heel to toe, counting each step.

"One, two, three, four, five, six…" she came to the first corner. Then turned and began her count again. This time she made it to twelve before she stubbed her toe into another wall. She turned again. This time at three felt the surface change. It was a metal door. She ran her hand over it. No nob or lever, not that she really expected that, but it seemed to be covered in bolts. She felt for the edges of them, maybe one could be worked lose? If nothing else it could be a weapon. No such luck they seemed to have been welded to the door after being driven home. Next Chi Chi pulled her had back and slammed it into the door. It just made a smacking noise and stung like hell. No clang or echo. The damned thing was solid, thick and not in the slightest bit lose.

"Great." She hissed through clenched teeth. One more thing that hurts. After passing the door she finished her circumnavigation. She was in a rectangular room, two walls, including the one with the door, were about eight of her feet long and the others just over twelve. Other than the aggravatingly solid door there were no openings. Which left the disturbing question of air. How much did she have left? It didn't feel like any had been coming from around the doorframe.

Chi Chi sank down the wall opposite the door and collected her thoughts. Her head was still throbbing, her hand stung and everything else had settled into a dull ache. She leaned back against the cold stone and it eased some of the pain in her muscles. Ok time to think. I was waiting for Gohan in the kitchen and then that vortex, portal, thing appeared. She took a breath and felt along her arm. The cut from the shattered plate was still there. So she hadn't dreamed any of that. Next I was in that room. With those two people.

"Goku!" She sat bold upright. That voice, he knew Goku, he knew where we lived. The portal was meant for Goku. Does this mean Goku was coming home when that thing opened? The way they talked it sounded like they got be on accident. She was fully alert now mind racing once again. In some way she was now glad Gohan had taken off. At least he hadn't been sucked into this as well. If Goku was home, then Gohan would be safe. Her husband was a lot of things, a glutton, a dope, a constant source of stress in her life, but he was also a good, powerful man and would do everything he could to keep their son safe. But is Goku safe? That voice, the one with power, it, he, was looking for Goku. If he could make me talk using just his words, what else can he do? Chi Chi began to tremble. There were very few times in her life that she had been truly and completely terrified. The first had been when Piccolo had blasted a hole in Goku's chest, the second had been when her father's castle had burst into flames with him still in it and the last had been watching her son fight the Saiyans when they came to earth. Each time she had felt scared and helpless, unable to lift a finger to protect her loved ones. But each time she had at least been with other, been able to see the danger. Now, now she was alone and blinded. Now she was trapped didn't know what the danger was. And that was somehow so much worse.

She sat there trembling with cold and with fear.

…

"Alright let's head home!" Goku grinned at Piccolo and Gohan. "Grab hold I should be able to instant transmission us right there." He motioned for Piccolo to grab his shoulder as he placed his hand on Gohan's.

The big namekian heaved a sigh and placed a clawed hand where indicated. Gohan grinned up at him. Placing his two fingers to his forehead Goku began searching for Chi Chi's ki. That's odd. He thought. He couldn't find it. Sure Chi Chi didn't train anymore, but she still had some pretty substantial ki for a human. Especially if she was angry. And he had a feeling if she had any idea Gohan was out here and not in his room studying she was angry.

"Hm, well I can't seem to find your mom's ki at this distance so it's looks like we'll be flying there." He said to Gohan with a shrug. At this Piccolo removed his hand and looked at Goku questioningly.

If the damned woman's ki wasn't strong enough to locate at a distance than why'd he bother trying. Doesn't the idiot know his own wife's ki? Piccolo thought irritatedly. He didn't like physical contact unless it was in a battle.

Gohan just nodded and the three of them took off. I hope mom isn't too angry I left. Gohan thought. Oh who am I kidding I'll be lucky if she doesn't bury me in textbooks the minute I step through the door. Maybe she'll be so happy dad's back she'll forget to be angry! He shook his head at the absurdity of that thought. Who am I kidding, she managed to stay mad even when dad came back from the dead. If there is one thing mom is good at it's being mad.

Goku's thoughts were back on the problem of the androids. How to convince Chi Chi to let Gohan train? He pondered and then sighed. I think defeating Freeza was easier than this is going to be. If anything Chi Chi was scarier than Freeza when she was angry. That brought his thoughts back to the curious problem from earlier. Why couldn't I find her ki? He thought.

"Hey Goku." Piccolo called to him over the rushing wind. Goku turned and looked at him.

"Yeah Piccolo?"

"You seemed a bit lost in thought there. Not a look I'm used to seeing on you." The namekian smirked. "Thinking about how to get ready for these androids?" He asked.

"Yeah just working that out in the ole noggin." Goku laughed. No need to tell Piccolo he was mentally cowering from his own wife.

They continued flying for close another hour, occasionally discussing training tactics and bringing each other up to speed on their lives for the past year.

"Wow so Garlic Jr. came back? For real? I thought we dealt with him for good when he went to that dead zone place!" Goku exclaimed.

"Well apparently not, because he and his cronies made a real nuisance of themselves with that black water mist crap." Piccolo scowled.

"Yeah but we took care of them Dad." Gohan grinned. "Although, I don't think I've ever seen Mom that scary before in my life!" Goku frowned at this. They were only a few miles from the house. At this range he should be able to sense even Bulma's ki. But even after casting out his senses he still couldn't feel Chi Chi's. Maybe she's at her father's place. He reasoned. Mt. Fry Pan was far enough away that, if she wasn't angry or otherwise worked up, he might not be able to sense her. Assuming that her ki had somehow diminished in the past year. Which was the assumption he was working with as nothing else seemed to make sense. Also, if she had been visiting Ox King then she wouldn't have noticed Gohan leaving. Then she wouldn't be angry. Oh that would be fantastic! He thought with a grin.

"Speaking of your Mom Gohan, was she at granpa Ox King's when you left?" Goku asked.

"No." Gohan responded looking confused. "Actually she is probably going to be pretty mad when we get there. I kind of took off without asking permission." Gohan said sheepishly.

Well there goes that theory. Goku thought. Now things made even less sense. If she was home and as mad as Gohan says she should be, then I should be able to sense her ki by now. Heck I should have been able to sense it back at the ship. Goku thought with a frown.

"Huh well we'll just have to duck then won't we ha ha ha. Say Gohan she isn't sick or anything right now is she?" If Chi Chi was sick then maybe, that would explain why he couldn't sense her? But no if she was home then he would be able to sense her at this range. Hell he could sense the deer in the woods at this range.

"No, not that I've noticed. Why?" Gohan asked. At this point Piccolo was looking at Goku. His thoughts seemed to be going along the same track. The house started to come into view and the three of them began their descent. Gohan was already pushing his index fingers together and chewing his bottom lip. Clearly worried about what his mother would say, or scream, when she saw them.

Goku on the other hand was worried about something entirely different. Something is not right. He thought. All three touched down on the grass and Goku froze. He could smell blood. Chi Chi's blood.

"Gohan stay outside for a second with Piccolo will you?" Goku said looking at his son.

"Sure Dad." Gohan responded hesitantly.

Goku strode over to the front door. The smell wasn't strong, but combined with the fact that he couldn't sense Chi Chi anywhere. It didn't feel right. And the last thing he wanted was for Gohan to come home to something… Just something not right.

"Chi Chi…" Goku called as he gently pushed open the door. The scene that greeted him was something out of a disaster movie. Dishes were smashed, the chairs and table were in splinters, photos had been ripped off the wall and everything was piled up in the middle of the room. As if something had sucked it all together and smashed his home against itself. Goku moved to the pile of debris and began digging. Half hoping and half not hoping to find his wife at the center of this. He still couldn't sense her ki, but he could smell blood so if she was there then she was… But if she wasn't there then where was she!? Goku pushed aside the last of the fragments of wood, fabric and ceramic that had once been the furnishings of his home. No Chi Chi.

"Dad." A voice called from the door. Goku turned around to see Gohan and Piccolo framed there. "Where's mom?" Gohan asked in a small frightened voice.

"I… I don't know." Goku whispered.