So dark… Floating…. Cold….  "Where am I?" Roger wondered.

After Cordell ripped himself from Rogalle's/Roger's mind, Roger seemed to be set adrift.  He had no idea how long he'd been floating in this… nothingness…  All concept of time seemed to be gone.  He could not feel his body at all, he felt completely detached

"Wait, not completely…   What is that?" Roger wondered.

"Roger!  Roger!  Please fight!  Hang on!!" A disembodied voice cried.

"Yambia?  Is that you?" Roger said.

"Yes!!  It's me Roger!  You're still there!  I thought I'd lost you!"  Yambia exclaimed happily.  "What the hell happened?  First you wouldn't answer any of us, you looked like you were in a trance, and then you clutched your head, screamed, and fell over!"

"Someone attacked my mind Yambia.  I was talking, or rather another me was talking to Cordell." Roger tried to explain.  "Wait Yambia, something is happening here!"

All around Roger, his "mindscape" began to swirl and change.   Roger found himself standing on a rock-strewn beach along a very rocky shoreline.

"Hello Roger." A voice from behind him greeted.

Roger turned fast in a defensive posture ready to face..  himself..

"W-who are you?" Roger stammered.

Essentially, I am you.  Or more accurately, you are the reincarnation of what I once was.

+++++++++++++++

Goku looked over at Vegeta.  Goku knew that the Saiyan Prince was very worried about Roger even though Vegeta struggled to remain passive.

"What has happened Kaioshin?" Goku asked. 

"Roger says he's been attacked. Mentally attacked by Cordell." Yambia interrupted.

"You are in contact with Roger?" Kaioshin exclaimed.

"Yes, through our bond." Yambia said. "But now he seems to be talking to someone else."

+++++++++++++++

"Ok, no more riddles, who are you?" Roger demanded.

"I am, or was, a man by the name of Rogalle.  I lived 400 years ago.  I was the leader of the Turtle Masters." Rogalle said.

"Turtle Masters….  Goku mentioned that the old man we seen on New Namek was a Turtle Master.  Roshi was his name." Roger explained.

"Yes, Roshi was a 10 year old boy when I died.  I promised him I would be back if I was needed.   Cordell stole the last three scrolls that Roshi needed to complete his training so he never did gain the strength that Cordell or I had." Rogalle explained.

"So, what has happened?  Am I hurt or dying or something?  Why can't I wake up?" Roger inquired.

"When Cordell mentally dug in and ripped away, he meant for the attack to be fatal.  However he thought that you, or rather we, were human.  If it weren't for this fantastic Saiyan form we are now in, we would indeed be yesterday's news.  As it is, we only suffered some mild mental and physical trauma which will be healed pretty quickly, thanks again to our Saiyan metabolism.  The reason you can't regain consciousness is because I'm currently holding you here." Rogalle explained.

"Wha? Why?" Roger stammered.

"How old do I look Roger?" Rogalle asked.

"Umm…  40, 45 tops." Roger answered.

"Actually, when I passed from the mortal dimension, I was 287 years old." Rogalle confided.

"Whew! Turtle Masters live a long time!" Roger exclaimed remembering the part of Vegeta's story where he said that Roshi was in excess of 400 years old.

"Think about this Roger, 287 years of life experience, 287 years of combat training and experience.  287 years of Turtle Master techniques.  It's all locked up in your subconscious with me Roger."  Rogalle continued.

"What are you saying?" Roger asked.

"I'm proposing that we merge our memories Roger, merge our lives." Rogalle explained. "If we do that, then you would have access to all of my memories, my training, my fighting experience, everything.

"Would I still be…?  Well, would I still be me?" Roger wondered.

"Yes, your identity would still be intact." Rogalle reassured.

"What would happen to you?" Roger continued.

"Other than in your memories of me, I would cease to exist as Rogalle.  Don't take it too hard though Roger, that's what should have happened when I reincarnated anyways.   I knew that going in, you know?"  Rogalle said.  "I actually cheated to retain my memories in your subconscious.  Called in a few favors.

"Cease to exist?  I don't know Rogalle that would feel like I killed you or something.  I can't do that." Roger said.

"Roger, I've been dead for hundreds of years, you cannot kill me.  And this is for the good of all existence.  You will need the skills I'm offering in the upcoming battle."  Rogalle pleaded.

Roger thought for a long moment, unflinchingly looking into Rogalle's eyes.  "Okay then, what do I need to do?"

"Nothing, just stand right there." Rogalle said floating down to where Roger stood.  Without another word, Rogalle simply walked into Roger's form.   For just a second, Roger felt like he had been hugged by his brother.   Ten seconds later, Roger opened far wiser eyes to behold the face of his mate.

"Hey everyone he's awake!" Yambia yelled.

"You don't have to yell brat, we're all standing right here!" Vegeta said.  "Oof!" Bulma gave him the infamous elbow to the ribs." 

"Be nice Vegeta!" Bulma scolded.

Vegeta gave her a bit of a death glare, then smiled real big.  "Yes dear." Vegeta's retort dripped with sarcasm.

"Roger, are you okay?" Yambia asked with a worried look on her face.  She appeared to have been crying recently.  "We thought you were gone for a few minutes.  Like poor Dabura."

"Dabura is gone?" Roger asked.

"Yes Roger, apparently whatever force ripped through your mind was channeled through Dabura, and subsequently ripped through him.   It killed him." Kaioshin said sadly.  He's gone from all the known dimensions now.

"So, what happened Roger?  Why were you attacked like that?" Goku asked.

Roger spent the next 20 minutes telling them everything that happened from the time Rogalle pulled Cordell into his mind.

"So, you have all the fighting skill and knowledge that Rogalle had?  Fantastic!" Goku said, looking at Roger as a possible sparing partner for the first time.

"Yes, I guess so.  I just hope I can use these skills as well as he did in his life." Roger said.

"Alright, we got to discuss plans for this guy's coming." Vegeta warned.  "From what I understand, we know who to expect, and we know when to expect them, is that right?"

"Yes!" Kaioshin exclaimed.  "Dabura said that the barrier between the Demon Realm and the Mortal Realm will be thin enough in a year and three months, Earth time, to allow the denizens of the Demon Realm to freely pass back and forth for three days.

"So we have a year and three months to prepare." Bardock stated.  "You know, we don't know the full powers of this Cordell guy.  Is it wise to have everyone training in this dimension leaving The Mortal Realm completely unguarded?"

"Grandpa's got a point Dad.  Some of us should be on Earth at all times." Goten said.

Bardock wasn't sure that he liked being called Grandpa at all.  But he accepted it graciously enough.

"In addition to that, someone has to keep tabs on the day-to-day operations of Capsule Corporation as well." Trunks said.   "I've got some very good office managers looking after things right now, but there are various operations and situations that require my signature and presence."

"Not to mention our families, we can't just leave our wives and husbands for over a year to fend for themselves." Gohan added.

The three newly revived Saiyans looked at each other wondering why anyone would be concerned with something so petty when the fate of all existence was in the balance.  "If we lose this battle, your Capsule Corporation, whatever that is, and your families aren't going to be around very long anyways." Nappa scowled.

Both Gohan and Trunks started to get angry at the big Saiyan.  But they both realized that Nappa was absolutely correct.  Rude, but correct.

"Look, I understand about your lives and your families, I lost my mate and my children when Vegeta was destroyed, but if we go into this training in a half assed manner, we're gonna get our butts kicked.  Didn't you hear what that guy Dabura said?  Hundreds of millions of Demons!  Even if they were all had a relatively low fighting power, they could overwhelm us with sheer numbers!  And then there are those other demons, what did he call them?  Okras?" Nappa wondered.

"Orkrans" Vegeta supplied.

"Yeah, that's the ones!"  Nappa continued. "We have to be in this training to the extreme and 100%!" Nappa finished.

"I agree with Nappa" Vegeta said. "But whatever details the brats need to take care of can be done outside of the training schedule, isn't that right?"  Vegeta looked pointedly at Trunks, Trunks Jr. Gohan, Goten, Pan, and Bura.

"Yes Father/Vegeta" they all answered.

+++++++++++++++++++

"Alright then." Kaioshin said.  "We need to work out a schedule of who will be training on Earth, and who will be training here, that way we can satisfy all of your concerns, and still get the needed training time in."

"Can I go train on Earth?" Raditz suddenly lit up like a Christmas tree.

Bardock knew where his son was coming from. "Sure son, I don't see why we all can't spend some time on your brother's planet.   Maybe we'll all see what he sees in it."

"Is there a possibility that Cordell could attack sooner than we expect?" Bura asked.

"Anything's possible" Kaioshin said. "But judging by what Dabura said, one wouldn't think that he could get his Demon Army here before the barrier thins, otherwise Dabura himself would have attacked The Mortal Realm many centuries ago.   As I recall, this particular conjunction only happens once every 33 million years or so."

"Do we have any idea about where the barrier might thin the most?  That's the most likely point of entry for the Demons." Kirillin suggested.

"Good question Kirillin.  One that I don't currently have the answer for but I will try to find out." The Supreme Kai said.

"Ok, then it's settled.  Piccolo will be in charge of training here on Kaioshin's planet, and I will be in charge of training on Earth.  I assume there is no objections to that arrangement?" Vegeta said looking around.   No one would deny that Vegeta is the best man for the job.   Goku is also an excellent instructor, but has a tendency to be a bit too soft.

"Good.  Raditz, Nappa, and Bardock will come with me this time.  They will need more clothes and other personal items they can't get here." Vegeta continued holding his nose for added emphasis.

"Thanks Vegeta." All three of them sort of mumbled.  It had not escaped their notice that with the return of their lives, the accompanying body odor also returned.

"Additionally, Goten will come to Earth as well." Vegeta added. "Kirillin, you will stay here and train under Piccolo until the World's Martial Arts Tournament next month.  Vegeta continued. "Goku, you and I will need to meet to train under Super Saiyan Five when we can schedule the time."

"Looking forward to it Vegeta!" Goku said.

"I need to go back to Earth as well Vegeta.  I need to tell Videl where I'm going to be, and I need to arrange a sabbatical from my position at the University." Gohan said.

Trunks decided that he could stay at Kaioshin's planet. Since he learned his new teleportation technique, he could pop in and out of the office as needed.

Roger glanced over in Trunk's general direction. "Well, I suppose I need to arrange the time off with my boss."

Trunks smiled. "No problem Roger.  In fact I had been considering you for a promotion anyways.  You've been a good employee and now you're saving all existence.  I think we can double that check you send home to your parents every month."

"MY PARENTS!" Roger suddenly realized. "I wonder how I'm going to explain all of this to them when I get back?   I mean, not being human anymore and all!  It's going to come as quite a shock!"

"Then you have to explain me, lover." Yambia cooed in Roger's ear.

"I'm in deep doo-doo." Roger lamented.   Roger's father wasn't a hardcore bigot.  He believed that everyone deserved an equal chance and an equal shot in life.  Hell, he even protested unfair admissions practices based on race at the University he attended back when he was a student.  However, his father was just bigoted enough to make his feelings known about how people should stick to their own race where marriage and grandchildren were concerned.  And Roger had not simply gone outside of his race, but outside of his species.  "Hell, I'm outside of my species!" Roger dreaded facing his family.

"Dad's going to freak out Yambia, at least at first." Roger said, wondering why he hadn't considered this before.

Yambia just smiled. "My father would have had the same reaction..  ummm... well probably worse in fact.  We'll get through it Roger, you'll see."

"Um… Vegeta?" Roger smiled sheepishly.

"Yes Roger?" Vegeta answered

"If it's all the same to you and the rest then Yambia and I will stay here, at least for now, and train." Roger stated.

"Well, so much for Mr. Fearless." Yambia teased.

"It's not that…. Well, ok it is that, but I just need some time to figure out how I can approach my family with this, ok?   I know that I do have to confront them sooner or later though." Roger said.

"I understand.  Take whatever time you need."  Yambia smiled.

Vegeta smirked. "Okay then we will periodically rotate the place where people are training so that everyone gets the benefit of the experience of everyone else.  Anybody have any questions or comments?   No?  Good, let's get to work!"