Goku blinked as he was once again faced with the difference in time zones. The evening vanished to reveal a fresh morning, the sun still rising above the trees. He still held onto his dreamcatcher as he looked around, smiling as he spotted Tien busy chopping wood, and Sabriena sitting next to the fire pit outside, stirring a pot of something, both of them bundled up against the cold. He was happy to see them, the talk with grandma Arthusia had helped a lot. He didn't know why he couldn't see it before. "Hey guys!" He walked over, taking a deep breath in, smelling the campfire, the pine trees and fresh water. "It's been a while!" He didn't know what was different, whether the uninterrupted rest, the hot meal, or the precious gift he held in his hand, but he felt happy. He didn't realize he had been missing this.

Tien drove the head of the axe into the stump and turned, wiping his forehead on the back of his wrist. "Hey Goku!" he grinned. "Where ya been? We haven't seen you in a few weeks!" Tien looked tired, like he'd been working too hard all day, but it was still early morning.

"GOKU!" Sabriena cried cheerily and bounced over to him and Tien. "Ooooo! What's that?" she asked, leaning forward and peering at the dreamcatcher he had in his hands. "Oh, I love those things! Where'd you get it?"

Goku smiled at her, looking down at the dream catcher, seeing it in the sunlight was even more spectacular, the way the different colored stones caught the light and reflected it. "Grandma Arthusia made it for me. I just got back from seeing her." He swallowed, looking back up at them both, feeling more confidence than he felt in a long while. He didn't feel like these two would laugh at him or tell him he was being ridiculous if he was honest with them. "Actually, I just came from there. I... I've been having nightmares. Last night it was so bad I woke up, uh… screaming. Chichi kicked me out of the bedroom awhile ago and I couldn't think of anywhere else to go. So I went to see Gramma. The dreams, the nightmares, they're about the upcoming war." He sighed and moved to sit down on a log in front of the fire, looking at the dancing flames, reaching over to warm his hands over it. "I keep seeing myself, doing those terrible things we saw in Leelee's vision. And worse."

Sabriena and Tien shared a look of concern. "Aw, shit," Sabriena muttered.

"Language," Tien growled.

She pointed a finger at him, "Don't start with me." He gave her a warning look before they both sat down beside Goku. Sabriena looked at Tien again before she licked her lips, trying to choose her words carefully. Tien had been doing the same thing. Waking up in a cold sweat, yelling in his sleep, fighting something that wasn't there. But Tien couldn't remember his dreams when he woke up. "How long have you been having these nightmares?" Sabriena asked carefully.

Goku looked over at her, studying her face, but he didn't see anything judgmental about her look, just concern and worry. He shrugged, "I couldn't tell you. I think maybe they started a month ago or so. I know I had a few of them when we were staying here for training, but they keep getting worse." He rubbed at his face. "It's hard to tell when you can't get a full night of sleep. It all starts running together." He looked at them both, Tien especially, the faint circles under his eyes, the exchanged look with Sabriena, "You too?" He was running his thumb over the soft leather of the dreamcatcher absentmindedly. He didn't know why, but it just felt right to have, like he had been missing something. Maybe he still was, but he felt closer to it now.

Tien stared at his hands in his lap. "Yeah," he answered, "for a few weeks now. It's not every night, but it has been happening a lot." He was really worried now. If Goku was having dreams similar to his own, it couldn't be mere coincidence. This was bad.

Sabriena swallowed, casting a nervous glance at Tien. "He keeps waking up shouting or... or fighting something in his sleep."

"I can't remember my dreams, though," Tien said quietly.

"It freaks him out pretty bad," Sabriena muttered. "Freaks me out, too, when it wakes me up."

Goku blinked at her for a moment before looking over at Tien. "You said you can't remember what the nightmares are about? I wish I didn't." He sighed and looked down at the ground, pushing a stone with his boot, "I keep seeing what looks like me and I know I would never do anything to hurt anyone but then I remember when we were looking for Paige and that spell." He swallowed harshly and pressed his lips thin, looking back up at both of them. "I don't want to be controlled like that again. But what if the dreams are omens? That they have some way to control us… me... again?"

Sabriena chewed her lip for a minute, "That WAS scary."

"Sabriena!" Tien scolded.

"Well it was! You weren't there in that castle! Would you wanna fight him if he was trying to actually kill you?" she shot back. She drew a long breath, "Goku, I'm not trying to be rude. I'm just saying, that's a really frightening thought. Because last time, they weren't trying to use you or the others to kill us outright. They were trying to wear all of us down so we'd be easy targets. I doubt they'd make the same mistake this time. If they did control you again somehow, they'd want to do it quick. And that's really freakin' scary."

Tien groaned and looked up at the sky, shaking his head. "Noooo tact. No tact whatsoever."

Sabriena leaned across Goku and slapped at Tien's arm. "I do too have tact!"

He shook his head again.

Sabriena huffed, "What I'm TRYING to say is, IF you think that's their plan, then we need to figure out how to not let it happen!"

Goku chuckled at them a moment before he sobered up, "I don't know. I don't know what's going to happen. I didn't realize other people were having these nightmares." He rubbed at his head, sliding his fingers through his hair, "I'll have to go talk with Vegeta about this. Maybe he has an idea or heck, maybe Jenny will have some idea, some part of the protective spell she can put into the armor to keep us from losing ourselves to another spell." He sighed, looking at them sheepishly, "I should have come and talked to you guys sooner. It's good to know that I'm not the only one. I thought for sure you guys were going to laugh at me, or think less of me because I'm, well, you know, scared of a dream."

Tien cocked an eyebrow. "Think less of you?" The disbelief was all over his face. "I would never think less of you, Goku."

"I might laugh at you for worrying about us judging you," Sabriena snipped, but winked at him. "Seriously, Goku, you can talk to us. Besides, if you're worried about us telling anyone, you shouldn't be. You're the only one who comes to see us! Who on earth would we tell anyway?" she asked with a laugh. She patted him on the back. "You can tell us anything."

Tien nodded in agreement, "She may seem like she's got a big mouth, but she is trust-worthy. I promise."

Sabriena scowled at him and turned back to the fire, stirring the gravy she was making for their breakfast.

Tien leaned back on his hands, losing himself in thought for a minute. "Our dreams have to be connected. I think you're right. I think it's some kind of warning. And if it is, then we both have the right to be scared."

Goku nodded, letting out the breath he didn't even realize he had been holding. He needed to hear that. It was comforting to know that there had been people who would listen to him. He felt that contentment settling back into him and he let himself slip off the log to recline against it. He smiled and looked up at the sky. "Thanks for listening to me. I'm glad I'm not the only one, but I suppose that only makes it more complicated." He sighed; he had things to do. He briefly wondered if Goten was having nightmares... Gohan... maybe even Vegeta. Or hell, maybe not even another Saiyan, if anyone else was having these dreams, maybe it was time to make a list and see why it was happening. He would have to go back home and hang up the dream catcher first. Then maybe get Goten and head over to Gohan's and talk with him. Lindsey had a connection with her grandmother, maybe she might have a few ideas that could come in handy. "I think I need to go talk to some of others now, but would it be alright if I came back later and we sparred some?"

"Yeah, that's fine, Goku," Tien answered finally getting back up and brushing himself off. "We gotta get our chores done anyway. Come back this afternoon if you want. We can spar then."

Sabriena jabbed at Goku's shoulder. "And you better come back! You've stayed away too long this time. If you don't show, I will hunt you down," she teased.

He leaned his head back as he laughed and nodded, poking her back in her shoulder, "Oh You wont have to worry about that. You're going to have a hard time getting rid of me."

"I nearly died and you didn't even know it," she muttered.

"Do what?!" he cried, blinking widely at her. "What happened? Were you guys attacked?"

Tien shook his head. "She fell in the spring, nearly froze to death before I got to her. She's okay now. She's just looking for attention," he accused, narrowing his eyes at her.

She blew a raspberry back at him.

Goku gave a violent shudder. He couldn't imagine how that must have felt. He frowned, something panging in his heart at the thought of how he would feel if she had died. They'd become very close friends and after hearing how much Tien loved her, he couldn't imagine what they would do without her now. He suddenly grabbed her up in a hug, squeezing her tightly. "You be more careful from now on," he warned. "We don't want to lose you, okay?"

"Awww," she said, hugging him back. "Don't worry about me. I'll be okay. I was just giving you a hard time. But seriously, don't stay away so long anymore."

Goku nodded and squeezed her a little tighter before he stepped back and grinned. "You bet." He waved to them, clutching at his dream catcher. "Thanks again you guys, really." He pressed his fingers to his forehead, concentrating on the house, vanishing in one second and reappearing outside in the backyard next to the hot tub. He swallowed, holding his gift carefully, eyeing the place he called home warily. For some reason, there was unease here. Was it from the bad dreams? Something else? He moved and carefully pushed open the door without a sound. He would hang the dream catcher in the living room. If his son was having nightmares, maybe his gift would give some protection to him as well.

Chichi stood in the kitchen, her arms crossed, watching her husband sneaking into the house. She tapped her foot impatiently. He had already left the house before she and Goten got up that morning. Out training with those no-good friends of his, no doubt. "And just where have you been?!" she demanded, making him jump. "If you're sneaking in here hoping for breakfast, it's too late, mister! You missed out!"

For once, this didn't bother Goku and for some reason her harsh tone didn't seem to make his heart twist. He just smiled, "No thanks, Chichi. Grandma Arthusia made me a giant dinner like an hour ago. I'm good." He carefully gripped his gift and moved around his wife to head into the living room where his "bed" was. He shrugged and went to the window that had sunlight streaming through it. He pushed the curtains apart and hung the little leather strap over the window lock, the large catcher hanging perfectly in the center of the window, the stones and feathers catching the light brilliantly and it almost seemed to glow. Already he could feel a warm, healthy energy starting to radiate outwards from it and he sighed in relief.

"ARTHUSIA?!" Chichi raged. "What on earth were you doing seeing that crazy old devil woman?! Goku, you KNOW how I feel about her! She probably poisoned you! You're going to end up in the hospital!" She followed him into the living room, her voice carrying throughout the house. "And what on earth is that ugly thing?! Ewwwww! Feathers?! Get that thing out of this house! It's made from dead animals! And go wash your hands!"

Goku felt a brief flash of anger at the words that came out of Chichi's mouth just then, but they were gone the next second and he adjusted the catcher so it was level before he took a step back and admired it, the way the stones caught the light, speckled the room in a beautiful splash of color. He felt happy and calm. "She's family, Chichi. I went to see her last night about my nightmares. This is going to help keep me from having them." His eyes sparkled at it, grateful to Arthusia for the beautiful gift. "She spent a few hours weaving it for me. It's beautiful. Can you believe she wove those stones into it? Look at how they bend the light." He smiled, wanting to go wake up Goten and see how he was doing. "I'm going to show Goten. I hope he hasn't been having nightmares."

"You are NOT putting that thing on display in our house. Do you have any idea how hard I work to keep this place nice and clean? No, of course you don't! Because you're never here!" Chichi was shaking, her hands clenched into fists. Angry tears burned the corners of her black eyes. "I'm not letting any of that voodoo crap into this house!" She stomped across the living room to the window, intent on ripping that thing down and flinging it into the trash. She reached out to grab it, but just as her hand neared it, she froze, withdrawing her hand. A sudden chill ran down her spine and she felt she couldn't bring herself to touch it. It didn't hurt her or shock her or cause her harm in any way. But it felt... dangerous. Like she had no business touching it and something horrible would happen if she did. She stepped back, staring at it for a moment before she drew a long breath through her nose and reached for it again, determined to get it out of her house. But yet again, when her fingers were mere centimeters from it, a chilling fear ripped through her and she pulled her hand back again, her eyes wide. "That thing doesn't want me to touch it," she breathed, disbelief all over her face.

Goku wasn't listening to her, walking down the hallway and knocking lightly on Goten's door before he carefully pushed it open, smiling softly as he saw his son sprawled out on his stomach, lightly snoring away, his pajamas riding up in the back, exposing his skin. He crossed the room, sitting down on the edge of the bed, tugging down the shirt before he placed his hand on his sons back and rubbed him gently. He seemed to be sleeping just fine. He ruffled the spiky black hair on his head, before leaning down and nuzzling into it. Maybe he hadn't been having nightmares. Relief flooded over him and he smiled, reaching down and pulling the covers up over his son. And if he had been having nightmares, now that the dreamcatcher was in the house, maybe they would all be able to get some shut eye. He carefully left the room, deciding to let Goten sleep in, closing the door behind him.

He smiled widely as he saw Chichi just standing looking at the dream catcher, "Oh! Good! You left it up! Hopefully it will take care of our nightmares. I'll need to go talk to Vegeta about them too. It's related to the war somehow I'm sure. Tien was just telling me he had been having them too. "

Chichi looked at him and rolled her eyes. "Oh, so you went to see him, too, huh? Figures. Do whatever you want, Goku. I'm really starting to just not care anymore." She eyed the dreamcatcher warily. Hideous, evil thing. "And the only reason I'm leaving that up is because I'm afraid of getting cursed again! I know she was behind it when I lost my voice last spring!" Chichi threw her hands in the air in exasperation. "Go play with your friends, Goku. Go whine and cry some more over your nightmares. Obviously your friends mean more to you than your family does. But while you're out goofing off, just remember I'm going to be here cleaning and trying to figure out how to get all the bills paid!"

Goku frowned at her, "Oh Chichi, she's too nice, she never would have cursed you. I don't think she does curses any way, just good things." He sighed and looked over at her, going to her, reaching out for her. "Let me help you Chichi. I can clean the house. You know I'm just trying to do what I can to save our family. I wish there wasn't another war coming, but it is. I can't ignore that. If something were to happen to you, Goten or Gohan or anyone of our friends, I could never forgive myself."

She withdrew from him, frowning. "NO. Just nevermind, Goku. I'll do it myself." She skirted around him, heading back for her already perfectly tidy kitchen. "All you care about is fighting and I just don't understand. I thought you'd grow out of this. I did! Why can't you? Oh, that's right. Because you think the whole world depends on you. You know there's plenty of others to fight this war. I just don't understand why you always have to be Mr. Involved all the time!" She filled her mop bucket and began to wash the floor. "Just go, Goku. You'd only be in my way anyway. And you'd screw it up and make more work for me." Her voice sounded flat, like she'd just completely given up.

He swallowed hard, remembering what Arthusia had said to him about being a keystone. Something in him told him not to bring it up, just drop it or she would find another way to slander that good woman's work and name. He smiled at her anyway and said softly as he turned to go. "I love you, Chichi."

She pretended not to hear him and kept scrubbing the floor, her back to him as she worked. She ever so slightly shook her head, her mind preoccupied with that ugly thing hanging in her front window and how she could get rid of it once he was gone.

Vegeta felt Goku's energy the moment he appeared in Capsule Corp. He sighed and waved at Jenny. "Take a break. Kakarot's here." He punched in the code to deactivate the gravity room and opened the door. Goku was standing in the hallway, right outside, just as Vegeta knew he would be. "What do you want, Kakarot?"

Goku smiled at Vegeta, waving to Jenny who waved at him, grabbing a drink of water from a bottle before she plopped down on the ground. He looked back to the Saiyan. "Hey, sorry to interrupt training. Do you think we could talk for a moment?" He thumbed down the hallway. "I've been having some nightmares, and I wanted to know if anyone else has been having them."

Vegeta raised a skeptical eyebrow but headed down the hallway wordlessly. He didn't have time for this, but he knew the sooner he got it over with, the sooner he could get back to training. Vegeta rounded the corner to the family room, barking at Trunks and Catie, "Out."

They got up and left without question. They knew that tone. Trunks smiled and gave a half-wave at Goku as they left.

Vegeta turned, crossing his arms to stare at the taller Saiyan. "This better be good, Kakarot. I don't have time for a bunch of nonsense."

Goku gestured with his hands as he spoke, "Well, I... I've been having these horrifying nightmares for about a month or so. I find myself waking up screaming, covered in a cold sweat. And it turns out Tien's been having nightmares too." He sighed and sat down, wincing at the look that Vegeta was giving him. "He can't remember the dreams, but I do and they're terrible. They remind me of that time when Paige was kidnapped and we were trapped in that castle. They cast that spell on us... controlled us."

Vegeta snorted. "Poor Kakarot afraid of his dreams, huh? Pathetic. Not surprised that Triclops is shaking in his boots as well. If this war's going to be too much, perhaps you should sit this one out." He gave Goku a sneering look. What had gotten into him? He'd never seen Goku frightened before. Not by anything they ever came up against. He always met the challenge head-on with excitement and overwhelming enthusiasm. "And if you think for one second that that trick of theirs is going to work a second time, you are sadly mistaken. I have no intention of being captured or manipulated again. I think the pressure's getting to you, Kakarot."

Goku ran a hand through his hair. "Maybe." He looked back up at the other Saiyan. "But Vegeta, I remember my dreams vividly." He swallowed, "I keep seeing myself and I'm killing everyone. Women and children..." He felt sick just talking about it. Remembering the shadowy figure in the dream, it matched his silhouette, the hair, the build. "And it's weird. Sometimes it's like I'm on the outside watching it and sometimes I see it as if I'm doing it. I don't know what it means Vegeta. I don't know if I am letting the pressure get to me or if it's a warning. I don't want to hurt anyone! Not again! If they found another way to control us..." He shook his head, "I couldn't forgive myself. I don't know what it means."

Vegeta's expression softened ever so slightly. He knew what it meant. There were details he'd left out when he'd told Goku about his father's crew. Vegeta huffed. "Sounds to me like your dreams are predicting the war and what you will face in it. There are... issues... regarding the squad your father led that I left out. Don't you dare think me soft for one moment, because I didn't do it to spare your feelings. But I know you, Kakarot. You can let your emotions cloud your judgment. And that can be fatal in battle - for yourself and everyone around you. I've worked too damn hard to have the life I do now to see you err in judgment when we go up against these enemies." He lowered his hands to his hips, shifting his weight to one leg. "Don't you remember seeing the Saiyans in that vision who looked like you?"

Goku thought hard about it. "All I remember is the female Saiyan and the big guy who was crushing people's hearts. And Hybris. I remember her," he said thoughtfully as he shuddered. "I remember others with the hammers, but I didn't pay much attention to what they looked like."

Vegeta nearly rolled his eyes. "That's why you're seeing someone who looked like you. You're seeing yourself in these dreams you're having because two members of that crew are your father's brothers. Your uncles."

Goku blinked at Vegeta, his mind getting caught up on the first part. Vegeta was still as worried about this war as he was. The second part hit him like a truck, "Uncles?" He swallowed harshly, feeling sick, "I... my relatives... are the ones doing this?" He drug a hand through his hair, tugging at it. He felt a minor weight lifting from his shoulders, knowing that it wasn't himself in those dreams, but someone who shared his blood - something about that was crushing, "Oh gods..." How could he kill his own kind when there were so few of them left? But, then again... his own kind... He and Vegeta were the only ones left...the only ones that mattered and together on this planet they had a new family and a new kind all together. He had even sacrificed himself to kill Radditz and had felt little remorse for that. Was there no one good in his biological family at all? Perhaps that was what was bothering him more than anything, knowing the kind of people whose blood he shared. "What do we do?"

"What do we do?" Vegeta repeated. "Have you lost your mind? We face them in battle, same as any other opponent!" He growled and shook his head. "This is why I didn't tell you! You're too soft, Kakarot! I guarantee they know you're here. And they know who you are, that you're Bardock's son. And they intend to kill you anyway! There's a REASON Frieza sent them to that god-forsaken planet at the edge of the galaxy. They were nuts! Even by Saiyan standards, they were ruthlessly brutal. You saw that vision. They take exceptional delight in torturing others. And they will not hesitate to do the same to you and all that you hold dear." Vegeta paused to snort again. "What do we do? We act like the Saiyans we are and destroy those who threaten our home!"

Goku had to admire Vegeta. He could see the natural born leader in him, prepared to fight and die for his home, his family, his people. Goku thought about it. Family. Family would not be plaguing loved ones with nightmares, staining hands with blood... not his family. The image of the children they killed in his dream, if Goten was one of them... Gohan... Lindsey… his grandson... No. No, he couldn't let that happen, no matter who he had to go up against. His gaze steeled and he looked back up at the prince of all Saiyans who had given him a verbal kick in his ass. "Thanks Vegeta. I needed to hear that." He swallowed, "Grandma Arthusia gave me something for my nightmares. I'll be able to focus better now, hopefully after I get a night's rest."

The corner of Vegeta's mouth twitched. "You went to see that old crone, huh? Enigma of a woman if I ever met one. Whatever she gave you, take care of it. I imagine it'll work the way she told you it will. Damned if I can figure out how she knows the things she does."

Goku looked at him a moment longer "Is there anything else we can do to use this to our advantage? Any moves that you know or fighting styles that you know they used?"

Vegeta went silent for a minute, thinking. "Not really, Kakarot. I trained with the elite. I never saw them fight. I only heard the stories. The techniques they were using in that dream are foreign to me. It's obvious the Atlantians have taught them magick. But it doesn't matter. No matter what they do, we've got a few aces up our sleeve." He sighed at Goku's questioning look. "The girls, you idiot. And the armor. Bulma and Jennifer are nearly done with it. I guarantee Bardock's crew won't have magick-infused armor."

Goku smiled at that, "No. No they won't. Not like what they've come up with." He couldn't wait to see the finished designs. Gods knew that they had worked long and hard on it. He chuckled at Vegeta recounting Arthusia, grinning, "You know, I asked her what she wanted in return and she said I could visit her more and bring you along with me." He snickered, "You and Gramma, Vegeta, who knew?"

Vegeta clapped a hand to his eyes, fighting the burning heat he felt across his cheekbones. "Crazy old woman." He shook his head, trying not to snicker. Flattering it may be... no. Just... no. He lowered his hand, covering his mouth and glanced at Goku. "You know that old bat said she'd give Bulma a run for her money?" He shook his head again. "She may be useful, but you keep her away from me, Kakarot. I heard about that love potion she helped Jennifer concoct. I will have NO part of that."

Goku tilted his head back and laughed, deep and rich. He felt much better. He looked back at him, "Thanks, Vegeta. Those dreams really were getting to me. I'll be ready by the time they make their move." He stood up and stretched, trying to think of where else he needed to go next. "I'll let you get back to training. I appreciate it."

Vegeta gave a nod and left the room, bellowing, "Jennifer! Get back in the gravity room now! We're not finished here!" as Goku vanished from sight.