Gohan looked in surprise at his wife and watched her pretty blue eyes narrow at their small daughter. Videl had pulled up short on the way to the mountain cave, the last in line. Pan was pouting, rebellious tears welling, and he could see Videl struggling to keep her expression neutral. Sighing softly, a cold breeze washed over them all and brought the conflicting smells of snow and new grass. It was peaceful here.

Goku, leading the procession with the two kais, turned back curiously. The Ultimate Kai, her long almond eyes almost hidden behind wavy white hair, blinked up at him and also looked back, waving her engineer to the door wedged in the rock face. Obediently, that one pulled two large iron keys out of the sash at her waist and began fussing with the locks.

Is something wrong? the Ultimate Kai, Elene, asked politely, folding her hands. Her voice was crisp. Behind her, the smaller woman wrestled the big iron-bound door open and disappeared on the other side of it. Several loud clicks announced she was unlocking the door's partner. Piccolo, who hadn't said anything for a while, eyed what was revealed behind this opening with great intensity. His broad back hid it from those directly behind him.

Eh heh, Gohan mumbled through a sheepish grin. He pushed his glasses, which he had taken out of his pocket from habit, farther up the bridge of his nose. He gazed at Videl pleadingly. One of her eyebrows twitched.

she repeated.

But I want to go with Grandpa! Pan piped up. Why can't I go? Her new tail curled angrily.

I don't want you putting yourself into such a dangerous situation, Pan! Videl exploded. You shouldn't have run out on your grandmother like that –

She broke off when Goku picked Pan off the ground and held her on his hip, then tickled the little girl's nose until she giggled and grabbed his finger.

But –

We're going now, Goku said as he rested his hand briefly on Videl's arm, before trudging back up the trail to the two waiting kais, Pan clutching him around the neck.

Videl commented. She folded her arms obstinately but allowed Gohan to hug her in parting. Please keep an eye on her, she whispered.

She's strong, Gohan whispered back. She will be able to help us.

A slight ruckus interrupted them. Trunks, pink in the face, was laughing at Goten, who looked as if he'd just been smacked by the kai engineer. She was frowning darkly at the two. Videl and Gohan grinned; but Piccolo scowled, obviously doubting whether or not the two kids were ready for such training.

Let's go! Goku said. The four men, the Namek, and the little girl followed the Ultimate Kai's outstretched arm into the cave mouth and left the three women waiting outside with their hopes. The doors clanged shut of their own accord with amazing finality.

Elene cast a fond eye on Videl. Come. We shall return to Dende and Mr. Popo. It is time to check on the others.

******

A Super Saiyan what? Neimi choked. She goggled at Vegeta, feeling raw animal power on the blazing ki-wind now. It was exhilarating, even if it was getting grit in her eyes. She wiped the back of her arm across them impatiently, not wanting to miss one second of this.

The two adversaries were a silver and gold blur on her vision, but she could focus on them, barely, using her other senses. They traded vicious blows on the ground and in the air, neither gaining on the other, each face set in crazed bloodlust. The dark storm boiling around them left after-images of their auras painted across the skies, and waves of energy continued to batter her where she fought to keep her feet connected to something solid.

Neimi wondered when Yule had found time to put his sunglasses back on after he'd tested his eyes against the Earth Saiyan's energy, and wondered how he was keeping them on. She kept expecting Vegeta's fist to smash those flimsy plastic frames as well as her brother's face; but it didn't happen. Then, when Yule collected a handful of the prince's long glowing locks and yanked spitefully, someone strong did the same to her own hair. So focused was she on the battle, she'd completely forgotten about Bern. Forgotten they weren't fighting Vegeta together.

she roared, both of her hands flying up. She dug her nails into the wrist she found attached to the hand entangled in her hair hard enough to draw blood, but not hard enough to make the steel-like fingers loose her. She felt a tight knot of pain as her head was twisted up and back, and she was looking into Bern's handsome face.

Yule planted his knee in Vegeta's midsection, but Vegeta straightened, the crown of his head cracking into Yule's chin, and delivered a mighty kick to the white Saiyan that sent him spiraling away. Impossibly, Yule disappeared-reappeared and rabbit-punched Vegeta in the back of the skull. Lightning crashed.

Headache . . . Neimi wished with all her heart the pain would just go away. She couldn't concentrate on the battle if every thought was like an agony of fire! She blinked blearily up at her lover. He smiled gently but tightened his hold on her hair. Trying to move with him and alleviate some of the pressure, she allowed her knees to buckle a bit, hating herself for this show of weakness.

Yule slammed into the ground with the force of a small rocket. Vegeta laughed at him from his vantage point near the clouds.

******


Elene bowed gracefully.

Dende replied quietly, returning the bow. He looked a little embarrassed as he glanced over his shoulder. There's someone here to see you.

Elene's elegant eyebrow raised into her hairline at the stooped figure standing with a mantle of injured pride just behind Earth's young guardian. The taller kai with the long straight hair standing next to him looked just as embarrassed as Dende. They made an interesting couple to Videl, who had seen neither before.

The Elder Kai scowled at the Ultimate Kai. You . . . you should have let me take care of it, he sniffed. That is no place for mortals.

What else would you have done? Your dream-sending didn't work out quite the way you had planned, did it? Elene asked lightly, dismissing his scowl with a wave of her hand. Then she turned serious. What I have done was . . . necessary. It's up to them now.

The two ancient kais locked eyes.

******

Hello, darling, Bern whispered against Neimi's cheek, and then licked her. He had his arm wrapped around her body, effectively pinning her backwards to him and rendering her hands useless, since he had easily pried her fingers off his wrist. Vegeta and Yule continued to rage against each other, oblivious of what was happening on the ground. Did you miss me?

Neimi gagged. This was Bern, and yet it wasn't. Gone were all emotions, gone was the familiar tang of his ki. Emptiness replaced it, and from his skin came a biting cold that seeped through her clothing.

He's doing well, Bern continued calmly, his voice reverberating, switching his gaze skyward. Vegeta will win. That disgusting kai was correct, my comrade's host is flawed and therefore useless to us. Fortunately, the prince is prime for control.

Bern's expression clouded, and Neimi could feel something now. Hatred, pure and evil. And within that hatred, centered in it, was Bern. Not the strange shadow-stuff of the Other inside of him, but truly the Saiyan named Bern.

We don't need him anyway, Bern said in his own voice. Blackness oozed out of his ears, his eyes, his mouth. Neimi sobbed, horrified, and he hauled on her hair with enough force to pull a bloody chunk out by the roots. His words came faster, disconnected, rambling. Insane. You always liked him better, Neimi. The freak. All this time, you two thought it was he the dark Creators favored. Not so. They came to me. It was my power they wanted! I, I am their disciple, I who could bring them what they want, and they who could give me everything – it's the perfect combination. They will give me everything if I can deliver the kais to them! Deliver the kais, using their own precious children!

He looked down at her, sad now. I wanted you. To share this with you. But you always liked him better. So now he can't have you. No one can.

Too late, Neimi realized what had happened. And through the wild protective love of her baby brother surged, once again, the immense fury of betrayal.

She cried out for love lost, home lost, history lost, putting all of her pain behind her voice, and energy exploded from her heart.

...continued...