AN: Sorry about the brief absence. A bit of an emergency popped up. I swear, this is the summer where anything that could go wrong does. Is it possible to take a vacation away from your vacation?

Chapter 38

It was deathly quiet for several long moments that seemed to stretch on for an eternity. Gohan's legs had given out from underneath him a long time ago. Goosebumps sprouted all over his skin which had little to do with the chilly atmosphere. His numb mind slowly processed the information as reality seemingly slipped of it's axis. It was like a nightmare was coming to life. He turned toward the others helplessly. Vegeta and Kibito continued to shoot icy glares at one another, completely ignoring the darkening bruises blooming on their faces. That Kibito was able to hold his own against the enraged Saiyan prince spoke volumes. He may not be the strongest but he sure as hell knew how to throw a punch. Goku glanced between the tall pink man and his smaller but powerful superior with awe and curiosity. Dende and Mr. Popo looked on humorlessly, maintaining their respectable distance just in the advent that Vegeta's temper flared once again. Piccolo hardly shifted from where he stood stoically though the teenage Saiyan had no doubt the Namekian was just as shaken up as he was.

"How come you left this magic ball Majin Buu is sealed in on Earth?" Goku finally asked.

"Yes, wouldn't it have been the most opportune time to attack while the monster slept?" Piccolo pressed. The Supreme Kai slowly shook his head.

"I couldn't guarantee that the external stimulus wouldn't awaken him or somehow undo Bibidi's seal."

"What if we had accidentally awakened Majin Buu?" Gohan asked quietly. The simple question gave them all pause. What if indeed. The battles against Vegeta, the androids, and Cell shook the very planet itself. Solid rock quaked. Freak storms sprang up from the clashing ki. Animals and even the very clouds up high fled from the battle field in a bid of self-preservation…

"Majin Buu has been dormant for millennia. It would take much more than the gentle rocking of the earth to awaken him from slumber." Kibito assured them. Vegeta visibly bristled, taking offense from the implied insult to his prowess. Goku quickly intervened before the Saiyan prince decided to pick up his bout with the towering assistant where it had been left off.

"So how is Babidi going to go about awakening Majin Buu?"

"First he'll collect a vast amount of ki to rouse him from his slumber, like how Earthlings drink coffee first thing in the morning to wake themselves up." the Supreme Kai answered. "Or, should I say, steal it." Gohan's eyes widened in realization.

"So that's what those weird weapons were! They suck the ki out of people!" Kibito nodded grimly.

"Exactly. But as the denizens of this planet are considerably weaker due to their lack of exercise of ki, I suspect that it will take him quite a bit of time to gather it all."

"How long?" Piccolo prompted.

"From ordinary humans? Years or perhaps even decades." Goku nearly chocked on his own tongue.

"Are you serious?" he shouted. "Decades?"

"Then why the hell are you so concerned about it now?" Vegeta inquired. "Babidi could very well die of old age before he finishes collecting the necessary ki."

"Because he's not targeting normal humans. He's targeting me." Gohan spoke, head bowed in horror and shame. Horror over the potential catastrophe. Shame in knowing that by meddling in the Papaya Island incident he may have very well started the Earth's destruction. The Supreme Kai slowly shook his head.

"Not just you. Your father, Vegeta, Piccolo, anyone possessing stronger ki than the rest of the inhabitants of this world." The teenage Saiyans heart sank further. Anyone with stronger-than-average ki. That meant Videl and his mother may be targeted as well. "Your ki combined could awaken Majin Buu much sooner." Vegeta snorted ruefully.

"Please. All we have to do is kill Babidi. Without him, Majin Buu can't be released. Right?" The Supreme Kai gave the Saiyan prince a measuring look.

"Theoretically, perhaps. But killing him means that if Majin Buu does somehow awaken, no one can reseal him within the ball. And finding him won't be easy. We've already scoured the Earth in search of him, even looked where the magic ball holding Majin Buu was last seen."

"You mean it's gone?" Gohan exclaimed.

"Yes." Kibito sighed regretfully. "More than likely Babidi found it and moved it to a more secure location while he goes about gathering ki."

"So, what do we do?" Vegeta demanded. "Just sit around and wait for Babidi to make the first move?"

"Until we can get an idea of what he's exactly up to, yes. We may just be playing into his hands if we do anything more. He's a wizard and is able to control others through the darkness that lies in their hearts. Some of the worst beings in the universe have become his thralls. We have to act carefully. Kibito and I will keep on searching for his base of operations and a way to defeat Majin Buu if worse comes to worse. Keep alert and thwart his minions should they appear." Kibito silently put a hand on his lords shoulder. The Supreme Kai offered a parting wave and the two simply disappeared in the blink of an eye.

"Whatever happened to fighting face to face?" Goku asked more to himself than anyone in particular.

"Nothing. Our opponents are simply getting smarter." Piccolo told him.

xXx

Gohan and Goku went about breaking the bad news to the others. Tien and Chiaotzu took it somberly, vowing to train even harder than ever in order to face the threat side-by-side with the Saiyans. Yamcha was eager for some action, having become bored with normal life long ago. Roshi's island was their last stop and one that Gohan for one wasn't looking particularly forward to. Videl would be there, perhaps taking a small break from her intense training. Her progression was incredible though she still had a ways to go to catch up to Roshi or Krillin's prowess. But all her newfound strength may not be enough if faced with one of Babidi's minions. If the Supreme Kai admitted that they were some of the best, or worst as the case may be, in the universe then he'd have to take his word for it. Gohan felt horrible that he was once again dragging Videl into a mess that had nothing to do with her despite his father's assurances that none of it was his fault and that it probably would've happened anyway sooner or later. The teenage Saiyan winced as he saw Hercule's jetcopter sitting on the white sands of the tiny island. Marron waved at them cheerfully when they gently landed on the shore. Sixteen sat under the shade of a nearby palm tree next to a lounging Seventeen with some gulls for company, barely acknowledging their presence with a tilt of his head.

"Gohan! Goku! What brings you here?" Roshi exclaimed, poking his bald head through the window. Father and son shared a look.

"Well…" Goku began, grinning sheepishly and scratching the back of his head nervously, "It's long story." Roshi frowned, perhaps sensing that something was up purely by reading his former student's uneasy demeanor, but didn't press the matter. Yet.

"Then come inside! You might as well get comfortable if your going to be telling stories!" Much to Gohan's chagrin, Erasa, Videl, Sharpner, and Hercule were sitting on the couch catching up with each other. They turned to smile at him while Hercule settled for a fairly civil nod. Apparently the teenage Saiyan was starting to grow on him. Krillin and Eighteen looked up from were they were folding laundry at the kitchen table to greet the two.

"What's up?" the short bald man asked, noticing the slightly guilty look on Gohan's face. Goku explained everything in excruciating detail. He even explained what the Kais were and why they were important for Videl, Hercule, Erasa, and Sharpner's benefit. No one spoke a word. They all just stared at them with wide disbelieving eyes. Gohan was surprised how easy his father made it all look. But that was just how the older Saiyan was, honest and calm if a little goofy at times. The teenage Saiyan half expected Mr. Satan to jump up off the couch blame it all on him. He didn't, probably because his overwhelmed mind simple couldn't register the fact that he should be angry. The was a long heavy silence when Goku finished.

"So…just how are you going to tell Chi-Chi all this?" Seventeen asked from the window, having overheard it all thanks to his inhuman hearing. Gohan couldn't help it. Laughter spilled from his mouth before he could stop it. He slapped a hand over his mouth but it did little to stem the tide. Krillin and Roshi soon joined him. All three rolled in laughter. Videl and the others blinked in confusion.

"What's so funny?"

"Chi-Chi never reacts well to this kind of news." Krillin managed to rasp out once the laughter had somewhat subsided.

"Oh come one! She'll understand!" Goku protested.

"You said that when you brought Gohan along to the Cell Games against her wishes!" Roshi pointed out. "Even after you had died and were brought back to life she was still angry with you!"

"But this time instead of arguing about letting me fight, it'll be Goten." Gohan added. "And you know he's going to want to."

"You two are more than welcome to stay with us for a while if she kicks you both out of the house." Krillin offered.

"Will she really?" Erasa asked.

"Are you kidding me? They'll be lucky if they get away unscathed!" Roshi answered.

"She's not that bad!" Goku insisted.

"She's not that nice either!" Roshi shot back. Erasa, Videl, Sharpner, and Hercule shared a look. Just how bad could Chi-Chi really be?

xXx

Omake

Yamcha stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom shirtless, going over his physique with a critical eye. To many it would appear flawless. But the baseball star saw flaw after flaw. His muscles appeared smaller than they once were and parts of his body were a little more flabby than he would like. Perhaps he should've been more serious about his training instead of girls and his baseball career. He never thought that he'd ever admit Vegeta being right about maintaining a training regimen just in case of such a situation. If he ever wanted to be able to keep up he'll really have to put his nose to the grindstone. Luckily it was almost the off season. Other than a few exhibition games and public appearance he'd be free to train as long and hard as he wanted. Or needed as the case may be. Yamcha jumped a little when his cell phone rang on the bathroom counter.

"Hello?"

"Hey handsome." a sultry voice responded. It was his latest squeeze. "Are we still on for tonight?" Yamcha bit his lip. She was down right sexy and a kind of girl that men could only dream of. He had run into her at a bar purely by chance. There was no doubt in his mind that the only reason she agreed to go out with him was because he was rich and famous as there had been plenty of other men vying for her attention. A few fights had even broken out over her. But he should really get right to training. The world was in danger and the others were counting on him. "I just can't wait to see you again…" she added suggestively

"Of course we're still on!" he replied a little louder than necessary.

Translations:

Ki- energy

AN: Please be nice! I know that I'm a bad person for making you all wait so long!