CHAPTER 17 – Keep the Faith

"So, I see you've joined the cause...Sen? Ahhh, reliving your past can be a dangerous thing ...especially when you may return to the living. Wounds could be healed or made bigger. Sen? Hel-lo? Sen!"

Sen lifted her head and blinked a couple of times, trying to focus on the hovering individual that was speaking to her. She realized it was the fortune teller Baba. "What does it take to get a little peace around here?" She put her head down again. "You should go find someone who cares to listen."

"Well Sen, if you have everything under control, I will be happy to leave you to your thoughts. If I'm of no help..." Baba turned to go but stopped when she heard Sen laughing. "Hahaha. Help? I don't need help! It's you Earthlings that needs help...more like a miracle. Tell me Baba, how are things on Earth? Is Goku here?" Baba turned back around and adjusted her posture to appear more formal.

"Yes, I brought Goku back but he left. I believe he went in search of his eldest son, Gohan. As to your first question, the last time I looked, the boys are very close to mastering Fusion. And something really odd; Majin Buu has stopped his killing spree. It seems he's made a friend...two actually."

Sen's head snapped up. "What! Buu has stopped killing?" She looked over to the other platforms. They didn't seem as congested as before. She jumped up, almost knocking the old woman over. "This is fantastic! This could mean the fight for Earth is over! I've seen this before. Ha ha, I'll bet the pink Blob has turned over a new leaf."

Baba regained her balance and was busy straightening her dress. "I wish I could come to the same conclusion. This monster is very volatile to say the least. It feels no remorse for what it has done. Nope, I say this is the calm before the storm."

Sen reached over and slapped Baba on the back causing her to struggle to find her equilibrium again. "Don't be such a pessimist, Baba. You need to lighten up, life's too short...oops! Hahaha...for you that is."

With a furrowed look, Baba spoke sternly, "You seem to forget who I am, Sen. They don't call me Baba the Great Fortune Teller for nothing!"

Sen was still smiling as she planted her hands on her hips. "So tell me oh wise one! What is going to happen? You know so much!"

Embarrassed, the old woman looked down at her fumbling fingers. "Weeeelll, I can't tell you exactly what will happen, it's more of a finely honed intuition per say...but my predictions are rarely wrong. Earth is still in danger. That I am certain! Anyway, I'm not the only one who thinks so." Baba ventured to glance at the warrior. "After all, Sen, you still have your body."

Sen's eyes, shoulders and arms dropped with her heart. "Oh, I see your point." She sighed and crossed her arms then fell back to lean against the wall. "Then I guess I should be at the Grand Kia's place training. Do you know how soon it will be before I leave?"

"Hmm...it's hard to say. That bit of information is shared only between King Yama and the Grand Kia himself. I may be able to persuade the King to tell me, if you really want to know. The question is will your training be enough?"

"Between you and me, I don't see how. I might be able to deter the monster for a bit, but to actually destroy the thing...I don't think it possible. I mean, if Goku and Vegeta were unable to defeat him, what chance do I have?"

"Didn't you beat Vegeta?"

"Humph. Hardly, Vegeta's true strength is incredible. There is no question he was holding back. Gods, I would hate to think what would have happened if the jerk went Super Saiyan on me. No, I merely put him in a place he couldn't escape." Sen eyes dropped and she started to rub her arms as if to warm them. "I had to use his own ki against him to do it. When I absorbed his energy attack, I thought for sure it was the end. I barely survived. I've spent all of my power to control it... (sigh) and I've yet to recover."

"Let me get this straight, you have the ability to absorb a ki attack and use it as a weapon?" Baba stared at Sen, waiting for a response. Sen glanced at the old woman and nodded. "Ok, so you'll do the same to Majin Buu." Slowly, the warrior shook her head. "Why not? I'm sure with the Grand Kia's training..." Sen raised her hand to silence Baba.

"It won't work. My ki and my opponent's ki have to be structurally similar. In other words, I'm not compatible with this Majin Buu."

"How do you know?"

"Because he's not Tsufuru or Saiyan. You better then most should understand something of life forces. As it is, I haven't had much opportunity to practice the attack given the rarity of my race...s. Humph. The way it looks now, I may never get the chance again...I don't suppose there are other Tsufuru or Saiyan Heroes at the Grand Kia's place?"

"Ah, I don't know about any Tsufuru but as for Saiyan, I am quite confident, that Goku is the only Saiyan Hero in the Afterworld."

"I assumed as much." Sen went back to staring at her feet.

Baba's face softened and she moved a little closer to lay a hand on Sen's arm. "There is one other...you, Sen. And where there is a will, there is a way. Countless times, I've seen Saiyans triumph over unbeatable odds with pure determination and unwavering resolve." The fortune teller took her hand away and gestured outwardly. "Why, if it weren't for Goku and the others, there would be no Earth and for that matter, the Universe, or at least as we know it." Sen dropped her arms and stood tall with clenched fists. "Are you crazy?! There is only one thing a Saiyan is good for and that is fighting. They are a warrior race, plain and simple. Where you find warriors you find conflict. Antagonism surrounds them like planets to the stars. I assure you, your people would have fared far better without their presence."

Baba stopped to think for a moment, unconsciously tapping her fingers together. Then she returned her attention to Sen. "Hmm, a strong argument to be sure. However, currently we are under siege and what better than to have the strongest warriors at our side. Earth was Goku's and Vegeta's home. Both have fought to the death to protect us. Now their children will be taking up the cause. I have to say your view of the Earth Saiyans is muddled by your past."

Sen grunted and pushed the old woman aside. She hopped down from the roof and walked over to the edge of the platform. She stared at the yellowy orange cloud cover below. Her tail unwound from her waist and began lashing back and forth.

Baba hesitated before following Sen. She stopped a couple of meters away and called to her, "Will you still help us?" The warrior nodded once and Baba ventured to come nearer. "If there is anything I can do...?" Not getting an immediate reply, the old woman dropped her head and turned to go inside the palace. She stopped when she heard Sen mumbled something. "I'm sorry, Sen. Did you say something?"

"Strength... I still don't have my strength back. Maybe something to eat would help."

"Ah ha! I think I can do better than that." Floating to the front of Sen, she reached inside her collar and groped around. "No..not that...I know it's here somewhere...darn...wait...got it!" Sen cringed slightly, when the wily fortune teller withdrew her clenched hand. Slowly she opened it in front of Sen's face.

"Huh? What in the HFIL is that?"

"It's a bean."

"One bean!? Have you truly lost it, woman?"

Devilishly smiling, Baba picked the bean up between her fingers and studied it. "It's not just any bean, Sen. It's what we call a Sensu Bean; very rare indeed." The old woman blew on it to remove the clinging lint. "I've held onto this one for a very long time... (sigh). It's was a bit of health insurance so to speak. Or I could have used it for my retirement. You know, I could get a lot of money, err, I mean compensation for this thing." Baba held it out again, motioning Sen to take it from her. "Here, it's yours now. Take it! And good health to you!"

"Eh, you don't expect me to eat that do you?" Instead of taking it, Sen took a step backwards.

Baba followed her, shoving the bean in Sen's face causing the warrior to lean backwards, looking with horror at the nasty little thing. "Oh, come on!" Then serenading, "You'll get all your strength back!" Sen's eyes furrowed and took another step back to straighten her stance. "How will one little bean restore my strength? Baba, now I know you're insane!"

"Not only will it restore your strength, I'm guessing you'll be even more powerful, you being part Saiyan and all."

"What's it taste like?"

"Don't know, never had one. Oh, Quit stalling, just take it." She motioned Sen to open her mouth. "Come on, we don't have a whole lifetime. Hurry up before I change my mind."

"You sure this will work?"

Baba relaxed and took a deep breath. Then she scolded the warrior, "Well, we'll never find out unless you try it!" Now with more force she attempted to put it in Sen's mouth again. "Here!"

Sen scrunched her face up but didn't resist this time and allowed Baba to put the bean in her mouth. She didn't move at first, waiting for something to happen.

Rolling her eyes and planting her hands on her waist Baba yelled, "Chew it up!"

Unhurriedly, Sen chewed the bean making crunching sounds as she did so. Still not having any effect, the warrior looked to spit it out. Before she could, Baba grabbed Sen's shoulders and looked sternly at her. "Swallow it, Sen." Sen's expression changed as she found the dry pieces tough to swallow. Quickly, Baba produced a small flask and popping the cork with her teeth, she gave Sen a drink. Sen's eyes went wide. It was some sort of fermented beverage. It took everything she had not to choke on the stuff. Finally, she got it all down. Bending over and holding her knees, she began to breathe through her mouth, sucking in large amounts of air.

A sense of rejuvenation rushed over Sen. The feeling of nausea disappeared and she stood up with a look of amazement on her face. Something about her had changed indeed. The warrior not only felt restored but more. Looking down at her arms, Sen flexed her muscles by opening and shutting her fists.

Baba had backed up and spit the cork in her hand as she watched. The old woman went to place it back in the flask but hesitated, deciding to take a swig first. After putting the flask away, Baba wiped her mouth on her sleeve then gestured her hands outward. "Well? What did I tell you? Are you feeling better?"

"Definitely! Much better...and more!" Raising her clenched fists she searched for her ki and pushed it outward causing swirls of energy to dance around her. "This is fantastic!"

Baba lowered her arms that guarded her face from the outburst. "Now that's more like it! I'll go see what's keeping your ride. Maybe you should save some of that energy for your training, aye?"

With a nod, Sen ended the power display and walked over to Baba. "Why do you trust me, Baba? I tried to kill you before. Why put your faith in me now?"

"I have longed put my trust in you Saiyans. And yes, even with Vegeta...hmm, well maybe with just a few reservations, but never the less, your kind is our only hope now."

"But, I am Tsufuru. I have always rejected the Saiyan in me."

Baba kindly smiled, "Funny, that's not what I see." Then she floated past the confused warrior to go speak with King Yama.

Sen called over her shoulder. "Maybe you shouldn't put such faith in me or your Saiyans."

Baba didn't stop or turned but waved her hand and answered before disappearing into the palace. "Intuition my friend, intuition."