The knock on her door was light, and if she hadn't been listening for it she probably wouldn't have noticed the sound. Saliya straightened her shoulders and leveled her head. He would see her as he should. Strong and persevering. She wouldn't be weak anymore.

"Come in!" She allowed. Saliya did not raise her voice, but instead allowed it to carry. By this, he would not think her eager.

The door slid open, and Galvan Marquish stood in the frame, observing her with casual eyes. He smirked and strode in easily.

"Saliya! You look well," he began. She stood up, and held her breath. He was so beautiful, she wanted to turn away. However, she dared not, for that would show him her weakness.

"As do you, Galvan." She finally managed. Slowly, she regained the rhythm of her breath intake and straightened her posture. She was nearly as tall as he, but not quite.

"So, have you missed me?" He smiled, revealing his straight white teeth. His lips were so inviting, she ached for them. She had to turn away.

"Why should I miss you?" How had she done it? That hidden bit of strength she maintained had been summoned yet once more. Saliya was proud of herself, even when she knew that she lied. Galvan was silent behind her and so she turned back to him. For a moment, hurt was writ plainly upon his features. And for a fleeting second, Saliya would have taken back all she had said. Then, Galvan remembered himself and his face conformed to coldness.

"You worshipped me you bitch! Now you just leave, thinking I'll care?"

"I loved you, but you showed no emotion. All you wanted was an easy fuck and plenty of attention. I held nothing back from you and you used me like a doll. I won't be played with anymore." Who was talking? This wasn't her. Those were not her words. Saliya was numb to her new found strength, and could only wish she knew where she got it from. Galvan looked down upon her.

"So, it's come to this? You turned from a lovesick slave to an independent woman overnight, did you? Well, I hope you're proud of your new strength. A lot of good it will do you!"

"It's not a new strength, Galvan. I've had it for a long time. The only thing I had to do was realize something." Galvan laughed and smirked. Crossing his arms he leaned forward to stare directly in her face. Saliya's countenance did not stir.

"And," Galvan began. "Just exactly what did you come to realize?" Saliya smiled. She genuinely smiled. Something inside her was suddenly so happy.

"I've come to realize, Galvan," she finally replied. "That I don't need you anymore."

****

"So," she said, cocking her head to one side. "Are you ready for me, big boy?" Vegeta raised an eyebrow. Was that really Bulma talking?

"Come on you bitch, just try and show me what you've got!" She laughed darkly and levitated into the air. When her humor diminished, she looked down upon him.

"Very well!" Lightning struck Adria, or at least, that's what it looked like. Bulma began gathering power around her. The odd ki surrounded her in a plethora of colors ranging from greens to blues and reds. It was quite a formidable sight. The entire alleyway was lit up with her power as she summoned it from within.

Her insane smile added to her swirling red eyes which were augmented by the beams of power that were encircling her. Her back was slightly arched in the air as the amount of her power began to form. Soon, she had collected a giant sphere of ki that encumbered her body. Bulma was at the core of the electricity and she was loving it. As the colors moved faster around her, the ball of power turned into one plain color.

Red.

The crimson of it resembled fire, as if the very flames of Hell had ignited to devour Bulma. Yet she thrived in their wake. Sparks flew as the rotating ball of red grew larger. Vegeta levitated and then backed up mid-air.

'What the hell am I supposed to do against this?' He hated asking the animal for assistance, but never before had he seen a ki attack that looked so strange. Or deadly. Chimera growled and backed up himself.

'I have some strength, I can try and aid you. However, defeating the Blood Rage is an impossible task by strength alone. You must stop her with the power of your mind. Let me guide you!'

'I don't think I want to be in her head right now! She's fucking insane, I'd be lost in her mind!'

'I will defend you! Her body is not her own right now, you must go within and seek her true self.'

'And while I'm in there, what happens out here?'

'She fights you...'

'Even if you did defend me, I'd be completely open to attack!'

'Then lend me your body!'

'Hell no!'

'You'd rather her die?' Chimera turned to Vegeta. Outlined by the red ki that was behind him, the blazing orange beast looked quite formidable. Vegeta looked from him to the woman inside the bloody red ball. Finally he sighed in resignation.

'Very well.' His consent seemed to startle Chimera, but the beast did not waste time.

'Brace yourself. This is going to feel, a little odd.' Vegeta fell backwards as the creature entered his mind. The force of Chimera's telekenesis was painful. His thoughts were ripped from his body and sent forward at the speed of light, where they impacted with insanity. Vegeta wanted to scream at horror of what he confronted now, but he no longer had a mouth. His mind was by itself, and his thoughts the only defense against Bulma's madness.

The body stood back up and Chimera's eyes shimmered within Vegeta's pupils. The beast's body was laying unconscious before him, and Chimera turned the head to see himself.

Now Vegeta was within Bulma's mind. That thought alone was not comforting. Chimera moved his new arms and legs. This body was well equipped that was true. Unhappily, he raised his head to the threat at hand. How he would be able to hurt her, he did not know. Giving Bulma any amount of pain hurt him even more. However, if it would save her life, it was the only way.

Let it begin.

****

The amount of power he felt was painful. He couldn't believe someone could be so strong. Not even Galvan had this ki! Trunks sped forward as the power began to consume his senses. He knew something was amiss, and he had a feeling it had to do with his mother.

Worried thoughts took over his mind. If she was in danger...

He couldn't lose her now, not when he had just got her back. At nights her still saw her sad face as she begged forgiveness, still felt her arms around him as he cried on her shoulder. He needed her so much. His father needed her too.

But could any of this be realized now? Or was she destined to be apart from them forever? Why was he forced to have to consider these possibilities?

He rounded the corner and came face to face with agony. Trunks stopped himself quickly as he gazed upon the scene.

With all of his will power, he kept himself from interceding.

****

Earth was lonely. ChiChi wanted to laugh at the thought. How many years had it taken her to understand this simple truth? She sighed and placed the last clean dish in the cabinet.

Time was something that had never been important to her. Days came and went as they always did, the next just the same as the one before. She'd come to measure the years by when Goku was home and when he wasn't. Everything was referred to as, 'Before the battle with Cell,' or 'After the fight with Frieza.' And so it would be.

He was gone again. Wasn't he always? Perhaps he could cope with their marriage by not being near her that much. That way, he could stand her in the short intervals that he was home. Then, off again to another dangerous battle that he assured her was, 'nothing to be worried about.' Oh but she did worry, and the pain of it had eaten her alive for so long.

She turned to the mirror that hung on the kitchen wall. The reflection was sickening. Was she really so old? Where had those wrinkles come from? As they years passed ChiChi had become an old woman, and Goku was still the boyish youth he had always been. The only thing that had altered with him was strength. She shook her head and turned away.

At least he loved her.

That was a thought she liked using to sustain herself. It helped her on the long cold nights when the only thing she could hold onto was a pillow. That bed of theirs was so big. It was made for more than one. She felt wrong in it by herself. And yet, for half of her lifetime she had lain in it in solitude.

As she mounted the stairs to begin her lonely trek to the bedroom her face softened. Goku would be back, he was always back. He wouldn't leave her, he had promised that. She smiled to herself and entered her bedroom.

The sudden collision that followed made the house shudder. As the space pod opened next to her house, only silence welcomed it.

ChiChi lay unconscious upon the bedroom floor after being thrown back against the wall by the impact. So still she lay, that only death could have chilled her more.

****

Author's Note: Welpers, that's something different! Thought I'd give y'all a lil somethin' somethin' to take you out of the regular schedule! Ooooh... sub-plots, don't I just love 'em! This is, unfortunately, my all time last update until Monday! =( Forgive me for leaving everyone hanging! Alrighty now, goodbye till then!

Special Note: THANK GOD H_A finally posted! In fact, I do believe I was inspired to add this chapter, just because of her! So everyone applaud Ms. Hidden_Angel for helping JZero write!

Much luv to everyone, especially those who love Vegeta!
That is all
~JZero