Adrenaline can make anyone feel like a super saiyan.

It's the very thing Lace believed to be what motivated her the most during an intense battle. They even say that if a child is trapped under a car, a regular, human mother or father could lift the car in a panic. While adrenaline rushes are scary things for humans, they're also addicting.

People spend their whole lives searching for a high like an adrenaline high. They become addicted to drugs, alcohol or sometimes even hurt themselves to find that rush. On a healthier note, some people turn to bungee jumping or sky diving. Sometimes it can be climbing the world's tallest mountains until they're near death. But sometimes, that rush comes when things happen that weren't supposed to happen in the first place.

A person never thinks that it will be their friend who is killed in a car accident. It will never happen to them, they think. It could never happen so close to home. The heart may be a strong organ, but how strong does it need to be when your loved ones die suddenly? How strong does it need to be to survive the most devastating loss a person can feel?

Lace never understood quite how powerful adrenaline could be. She'd been in fights that could have killed her. She'd been kidnapped, beaten up, and even survived what could have become rape. Was an adrenaline rush what caused Seth to rip the arms off of the man that could have done unspeakable things to Lace in that alley and then kill him? Was it adrenaline that coursed through her veins when the unknown saiyans broke her leg like snapping a twig outside of the collapsing hotel?

It had to be.

Nothing else would have gotten her through seeing Cody stripped of his memories, his power and more importantly, his dignity.

That familiar adrenaline rush was filling her body with dread as she stood in her foyer waiting for her parents with the front door wide open. It was building up and boiling over from the second her father hit the pavement running. It was clouding her vision and blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. It was bringing her heart rate to an astonishingly high level, pumping her blood though her veins like white hot lava burning down a volcano. It paralyzed her in place.

That feeling that it couldn't happen to them was right in the front of her mind. Not their family. They were the strongest beings on Earth, maybe the universe. They were invincible. It wasn't happening. It couldn't happen. Not now. Not today.

She saw her father rush past her with his arms covered in blood. She saw her mother chasing after him in the yard. Bra was screaming like she was dying. Gin was holding her back with all of his strength. His little body was doing its best, but she broke free and chased after Goten. Seth pushed past Lace and grabbed Bra while she screamed. He underestimated her strength and fell to the ground trying to keep hold of her when Gin caught up and helped keep her away from Goten.

Lace turned around in what felt like slow motion and felt her heart burst into a million pieces as the scene before her unfolded like a nightmare. Goten was on the floor and completely hysterical. He was yelling and cursing, screaming over the body he clutched like his life depended on never letting go of it. He was scrambling to hold onto his normal state, trying his best to avoid transforming and destroying their home.

That was impossible.

The room lit up with his super saiyan flames and his fists broke through the marble floor like it was paper. The ground shook and the neighbors started to rush outside. She could feel their prying eyes on their broken, alien family from outside where her mother screamed uncontrollably. Their anonymity would be destroyed, but Lace didn't care anymore.

She walked forward slowly, dragging her feet felt like bricks. Her breathing was slow, but fast at the same time. She pushed herself onward. It wasn't possible. It wasn't real. There was no possible explanation for this horror scene unfolding right in front of her.

"No…" Lace whispered.

Bra's uncontrollable wailing filled every inch of Lace's senses and haunted her down to her bones. The neighbors began to rush into Lace's yard to help Seth and Gin calm the ailing mother. Suddenly, Lace panicked. They couldn't see Goten like this. She could live with the world knowing about her, but outing her family just wasn't an option. She had to protect what little shroud of dignity Goten had. She couldn't let him end up as lost and destroyed as Cody.

Lace found the strength to grab the front door at its sides and slam it shut. She fell and rested her forehead on the door. She felt her hands slide down to the cold, marble floor and shivered uncontrollably. Her mother's screams continued to echo in her ears as sirens began to wail. The police had arrived. If she was going to stop Goten from showing his saiyan colors to the world, the time was now.

"My baby girl!" She heard Bra scream.

"Out of the way, you fools!" Vegeta's voice echoed.

If Vegeta had arrived, he'd sensed Goten's distress. Trunks wouldn't be far behind, neither would Cody.

They were of royal blood. They knew the secret they hid from the world was too precious to divulge to the humans. They wouldn't allow Goten to spiral out of control.

Or would they?

Vegeta burst through the front door with Trunks trailing behind him. Vegeta stood frozen for a moment, staring down at Lace in horror. Her face told him all that he needed to know. He ran past her into the kitchen where Goten could be heard beating the ground with his bloody fists. Trunks ran to the front porch and entered the house, carefully avoiding Bra's outstretched hands. He bent down and placed a hand on Lace's shoulder.

"Come on…" He whispered, "Up you go."

He pulled a petrified Lace up and held her steady. Lace looked out the door and saw Bra being pulled to an ambulance by Cody and Seth together. Gin was holding his head in horror as two cops spoke softly to him.

What was happening?

"Call Goku. Something's coming…we can feel it. With Goten and Bra out, we'll need his help." Trunks said softly.

Lace could barely hear him. He sounded like he was underwater. Trunks snapped his fingers in her face and shook her slightly. Lace's eyes opened wide. The power…he was right. She could feel something approaching from the sky. It was huge.

Suddenly, a loud bang exploded and filled the air with smoke. Fire rained down from above. Explosions could be heard from miles around and debris flew in all directions. Trunks dove forward and knocked Lace onto the staircase, taking the blunt force of a powerful ki blast.

"Get to the basement! Hurry! Go!" Trunks screamed.

Lace saw Vegeta pulling Goten along, but he was resisting and fighting to stay where he was. His powerful energy exploded into an angry burst of fire. He took off into the orange and yellow sky, straight for the light appearing above.

Was that a spaceship?

"Dad!" Lace screamed after him.

She broke away from Trunks' grip and left him below as she took off after her father. She transformed into her pink super saiyan form and blazed after him frantically, but he was hard to keep up with. He was furious and insane. He stopped suddenly and began to muster a massive Kamehameha wave. She stopped and watched as the blue burst headed straight for the ship, but to her horror, it was reflected right back at him.

It hit Goten head on. He flew backwards and slammed right into Lace. She felt the wind whip past her as they plummeted back to Earth. The ground gave way below them when they hit. Soon, dirt and rock completely surrounded them. Lace felt her head bleeding, but she couldn't reach up to touch it before Goten blasted off once more. This time, his opponents were visible.

An army began to emerge from the ship. They wore steel armor resembling Vegeta's formal battle wear, but it was different. It looked like it could withstand anything. They all had jet black hair and soulless, black pits for eyes. They were cold blooded killers. They were the true form of the saiyan race. Ruthless. Angry. Vengeful.

Where did they come from?

Before she could pry herself from the Earth, Goku appeared in front of her with two fingers placed on his forehead. Beside him stood her uncle Tarble holding onto Goku's shoulder. Lace blinked a few times, forgetting for the briefest moment that Goku could teleport. He held out a hand and pulled her from the dirt.

"Hold onto me." He said calmly, as only Goku could at a time like this.

They jumped upwards and back onto solid ground, but the sight unfolding in front of them destroyed what little hope Lace was holding on to.

Houses burned. People screamed. The city was under siege and she couldn't stop it. Was this the end of everything as she knew it?

"Kakarott!" Vegeta called.

Goku looked up and burst into his godly super saiyan form. The blue aura was a small glimpse of hope in a dark hole of despair. He blasted into the air and began fighting alongside Vegeta, leaving Lace below to spectate with Tarble.

The armored saiyans couldn't keep up with Lace's grandfathers. The blue super saiyan form was clearly not planned for, especially two at once. Soon enough, Trunks and Goten appeared in the sky fighting gallantly alongside the two blue saiyans.

"I need to help them. Please, go to your house and get to the shelter. You must go immediately!" Tarble pleaded.

He shot upwards to join the fight. Suddenly Lace felt a pair of hands grab her arm and yank. She turned ready to fight, but Keiko's panicked face was there.

"We gotta go!" Keiko shouted desperately.

Keiko began to pull Lace back towards their burning home. Lace cried out, too scared to see Brie's body again. She couldn't bare it.

Where was her mother? Where was Seth?

"Heads up!"

Keiko's twin brothers landed in front of them and blasted an impressive, joint-galick-gun directly in the face of a rather large, evil-looking saiyan. They winked at Keiko, pushing her forward with Lace. Keiko simply nodded and pulled Lace along.

"Keiko, I can't! I can't go in there! We have to stay and help!" Lace screamed.

"I am helping. I'm helping to keep you alive. They're after you, dammit! Aren't they always?" Keiko answered with a hint of sarcasm, running at full speed with Lace firmly in hand.

Lace saw a door open in the ground ahead. She hadn't seen it before and had no idea where it led, but she allowed Keiko to continue dragging her towards it. They reached the door and peered down a long set of stairs. Lace looked at her cousin, hesitant to go in after her.

"Go. I can't let my dumbass brothers fight alone." Keiko said firmly.

"What? No! Come with me!" Lace screeched through her tears, "If I can't protect you…then you have to come with me!"

"You think I can't stand my ground?" Keiko smirked.

Lace's emotions overwhelmed her. She flew forward and tossed her arms tightly around her best friend.

"You can't die, too!"

Keiko hugged her back and leaned her head on Lace's shoulder.

"I promise. I won't. Now, go!"

Before Lace could say another word, Keiko pushed her down into the darkness and slammed the door shut. A lock could be heard sealing Lace inside.

"Is…is that her? Lacey?"

Lace saw a light illuminate part of the hallway. Someone had opened a door and was standing just inside of the doorway. Lace began to move closer.

"You had us worried sick. Get your ass in here!"

Lace's aunt Caulifla had her arms crossed and was smirking like usual. She stood aside, revealing a room full of Lace's family members.

"Thank God!" Bulma sighed, running over to Lace and squeezing her.

Lace looked around and saw Gin sitting with their cousin Kole, the only son of her uncle Cabba and aunt Caulifla. Kole was comforting Gin and holding his blue inhaler in one hand. Lace rushed forward and dropped to her knees in front of Gin, grabbing him into a tight embrace.

"Gin…are you okay? Are you hurt?"

Gin shivered in her arms. He buried his head in her hair and cried.

"He only had one attack. I'd say he did pretty well considering everything…" Kole answered calmly.

"What the hell is going on? How did you even get here?" Lace demanded.

"Goku brought us from Japan. Vegeta showed us this shelter…Bulma built it just in case before you guys moved into this house."

Lace felt dumbfounded. She rose her head and looked around. Just then, another door opened to reveal Bra. She gasped and ran forward to Lace desperately. She collapsed onto the floor with her son and daughter.

"My babies…" Bra cried.

Lace felt her heart pull.

Where was Brie's body? What happened to her? Why was any of this happening?

"Mom…where…where's Seth?" Lace sniffled, trying not to think about Brie.

"He was right beside me when they were trying to put me in the ambulance…so was Cody. A blast hit the road where the ambulance was parked and crumbled it to nothing. I managed to get myself out of the debris, but when I did…both Seth and Cody were gone. I couldn't sense them anywhere."

"What?" Lace screamed, "Is he hurt? I have to help him! I…I have to get back out there!"

"No!" Bulma shouted.

They all looked at Bulma. Lace was shocked by her angry tone.

"But why? Why can't I be out there? I'm the most powerful…"

Bulma held up her hand.

"Exactly. I believe they already have half of what they came here for…"

"What do you mean?" Lace asked frantically.

"We can only assume at this point that they have Cody and they're looking for you next."

Lace's world stopped. Knowing that Seth was potentially captive to the horrible army of saiyans was hard enough, but Cody, too? What had he done to deserve this?

Lace's memory flashed back to the night that changed everything. She remembered it like it was yesterday. The accident in Japan seemed like it had just happened when she pictured it.

She pictured Cody's face as he wept, knowing that many innocent people died just to test their strange, alien power. Tokyo University had declared it a domestic terrorist attack. He couldn't live with that. He wanted to come clean and tell the world what they were. He wanted to clear the air and take the punishment, whatever that may be. He was inconsolable that night. Vegeta screamed at him, as did Trunks. Even Goten snapped and told him that he would be the weakest link to ruin them all. She knew it was because he was only half of their blood. His mother wasn't one of them. Cody was nothing more than an accident from Trunks' childhood.

"Cody…I'm here…" Lace whispered, holding her cousin in her arms and rocking slightly.

They'd retreated to his room after a huge family confrontation turned brainstorming session to keep the Brief-Son name out of the story completely. Bulma's research couldn't be public knowledge. The secret had to be protected.

"I feel so…filthy. I'm a monster. We're monsters, Lace." Cody cried.

"No…we're not…" Lace answered, "We're just different…"

"If you really believe that…you're a fucking idiot!" Cody hollered, "Just leave me alone!"

"You're not alone in this, Cody! I did this, too! It's my fault, too!" Lace said urgently in a soft tone.

"You are not a monster…you could never be a monster." He answered.

She buried her head in his hair and continued rocking back and forth with him on the floor. His tears dripped down onto her jeans. She nuzzled his head. Her heart was heavy, but also full. She'd never been so close to him for so long. The love she felt for him may be wrong, but it felt so right in that moment. It was the perfect moment. She never wanted it to end. From such tragedy came at least one good thing.

"Cody…I love you…I will always love you…I'll never leave you." Lace whispered, barely audible.

He stopped sobbing and peered up at her. His orange eyes shined as the yellow ring around his pupils glowed brightly. His mouth fell open.

"You mean that…" He answered.

"Of course I mean it." She smiled, "We are two parts of one whole."

The kiss was real. It filled her up to the brim and sent her spiraling back down to Earth. She took his warm cheeks in her hands and held him there, unable to break away. The moment was so sweet it was hard to believe. His lips parted hers and locked in place. She leaned back onto the floor, allowing him to crawl on top of her. The passion engulfed them both. They couldn't stop.

Suddenly the door opened. They shot upwards and Lace covered herself quickly. Caught in the act, they stared awkwardly in a panic.

Bulma stared back. Her mouth hung open. Her hand clenched the doorknob. She closed her mouth slowly and backed out, closing the door again. They held perfectly still. Once they heard her head back down the stairs, Cody panicked. He threw on his shirt and got up. He walked over to his window and smacked his forehead against it.

"Cody…" Lace began.

"Don't…just don't…" He whispered.

"It's okay…grandma understands us. She knows what we are."

Cody laughed.

"Does she? Do we even know what we are?"

"What are you talking about?" Lace asked, getting up and joining him.

"Don't touch me!" He snapped, swatting her hand away.

"What the hell, Cody? What was that just now, huh? Guilt? Lust?"

"I don't fuckin' know." He answered.

"I…I thought you…loved me…"

He turned his head slowly and stared at his younger, naïve cousin. It was wrong. He couldn't allow himself to become even more evil than he already felt that he was.

"This can't happen."

Lace stared at him blankly.

"They want to move to America. I heard them talking about it…even before the experiment. I'm going to stay here and help somehow. I'll help rebuild Tokyo U…I'll do anything. But not with you. I can't bring you down with me."

"Cody…" Lace urged.

"Don't make me say it, Lace."

"Say it." She said angrily.

He turned and looked at her. He wanted to tell her that he didn't love her. He wanted to push her away. But how could he? She was only sixteen. She was so innocent and pure. She didn't choose this horrible power inside of her. She didn't choose the devastation their powers could bring if they combined.

"I don't want to be with you. Not like that. I don't feel the same way. I don't…"

"Say it!" She growled.

"I don't love you, Lace!"

She felt her heart break into a million pieces. She stormed out of his room and slammed the door. Two weeks later, their family moved to America. She'd gotten him to promise to keep texting her, but he said that's all it would be. He said he was her friend. He wouldn't take it any further.

Lace's mind snapped back to reality. She was still standing in the metal basement with Bulma, Kole, Caulifla and her brother. She noticed Marron was also in the room, but she was sobbing quietly and refusing to be a part of the conversation.

"They took Cody…to get to me…didn't they?" Lace whispered.

"Yeah…I think so. But we can't give them what they want…there has to be another way." Bulma answered.

Marron sniffled loudly, "God, what the hell is happening out there?"

"I have to go after him. I can't let them do this!" Lace shouted.

Lace grabbed her head and panicked. She ran straight for the exit. Despite her family's protests, she ran out in the dark hallway and straight for the steep stairs. She flew up them and burst through the heavy door, but when she hit the surface, she saw her family heading towards her. They were badly injured and leaning on each other for support.

The ship was gone. The army was gone. Everything was gone.