The Kakarrotto Saga

Chapter 11: Hard Consequences! The Aftermath!

By Claudius

I do not own any copyright to the New Mutants, any character in Marvel Comics, Tenchi Muyo, or Dragon Ball Z

The moonless night blended perfectly with the yacht that moved upon the watery floor. The 'yacht', black and covered with a labyrinth of glowing lines, was large enough to have a two-room house in the middle of its deck. On the prow side of the outer deck, a muscular man was upside down. Though considered exercises, the movements Goku was undergoing here looked like a balancing act, with every body part in the air except for two index fingers connected to the floor. The slight shaking of the ship was a challenge to this balance, as well as the darkness of the night and the user's lack of one eye. But this suited Goku's purposes very well. This exercise relied on the maintaining of this pose, with the difficulties helping in his way. The passing of a few minutes without fail helped show the success of his efforts, and he could continue it if left alone.

But he was not alone. The floor under him made a rebellion. It was slipping away from Goku like a carpet. A new challenge had begun for Goku, and he worked upon establishing control of his own situation. Goku's fingers tapped onto the moving floor. Soon the fingers were on different positions that kept changing. Soon came the realization to Goku that his floor and himself were no longer on the ship. The waters below the thin platform he was on featured a future destination. Predictably, the floor shrunk into the size of a flagpole, giving Goku not much to balance upon. But Goku would not fall unless he chose it. Descent was halted by the hand grasp of the pole, which bent greatly with his weight. The pole's sudden return upward gave Goku the perfect force to spring himself into the air. He somersaulted back on the deck, making a perfect stand. That it was, until the floor again pulled itself from Goku's feet. This time the challenged failed to counteract, hitting the floor.

This brought Kuririn, Yamucha, and Pu'al into the scene. "You okay?" cried Kuririn.

Goku scratched his sore rear end as he stood back up. His cheerful face gave no indication of pain. "Think I tripped," he spoke in a voice near laughter.

A voice spoke out, from the ship itself. "SELF- apologizes- FOR- balance- DEPRIVED- trip." Warlock's eyes and mouth appeared on the wall. "ACCIDENTS- predictable."

"That's okay." Goku smiled. He didn't have to worry about being rusty. The blackout he suffered didn't harm his physical abilities at all. He was in perfect condition, except for the one eye. That was not so reparable. Magical healing from Kami-sama or the Senzu seeds could do nothing, since they worked on repairing damaged body parts, not bringing back missing ones. Goku accepted this injury; he could rely on his other senses.

The mouth on the wall sagged all the way to the end. Goku's response was not what Warlock had intended.

Pu'al felt her ego shrink a little. This Warlock was capable of becoming bigger things than she can ever be.

Goku, meanwhile, felt suspicious. Warlock (Goku knew the creature's name) was troubled. Goku knew why, what with the 'ship's' friend being in a coma. The cause for the boy Doug's condition was a vague description in Goku's mind. He overheard a battle of some sort, with an unknown enemy. Maybe the fight occurred during his blackout? Was that where he lost his eye? A true answer was missing from Goku. No help came from Kuririn and Yamucha. They said they weren't present or conscious when these things happened (and Goku took that for their word, thinking it also meant they didn't fight the enemy). The New Mutants, as the kids were called, appeared unwilling to say anything either. An attempt to learn through telepathy went nowhere. Not only did the New Mutants refuse such a plan, they had some sort of mind defenses that blocked his thoughts.

Goku walked over to the house on the ship. Through an opening, Goku and his friends saw the patient. Doug was lying on the floor. He was not sleeping, unless staring into endless space without moving was a new way of slumber. Poor kid, Goku thought. He'd hate to see Gohan in that condition.

At one side of the kid, Betsy, the purple-haired girl, was watching over him, clasping her hands upon his. Maybe she was Doug's older sister or mother or something, Goku made his conclusion. She was really devoted to the kid, wanting to help by using her telepathy on him. Goku wasn't sure of that method. How could reading the kid's brain help?

Surrounding the room were the New Mutants. One of them, a kid named Tenchi, was speaking some bedtime story to Doug. Gohan was also in the room, very excited about what Tenchi was saying.

Sympathy was in Goku. "Boy, that bad guy must've been real bad news."

"Yes, they did." Kuririn spoke the truth in an uneasy way. Yamucha was temporarily invulnerable to the words. His eyes roved upon Betsy, recognizing her potential hotness. Sure, her porcelain doll-like features made her different from the tough girls he usually dated (especially a certain tough heartbreaker knocked up by a known killer). Maybe a change of type is what he needed.

Meanwhile, Goku thought about the mysterious enemy. "I wonder if I fought the bad guy."

Kuririn's unease grew with a gasp. He made a slow nod.

"Dammit," Goku blocked his fist with his other hand. "Wish I could remember fightin' it," Goku was in his own world, not seeing Kuririn's expressions. "It must've been a great fight! I did lose an eye and get naked after all."

A heavy burden on his shoulders, Kuririn attempted to remove it. "Um, Goku…"

But Goku was scratching his chin, lost in the possibilities. "Wonder how I got 'im? A Genki Dama? A Kamehameha wave?"

Nerves were fleeing from Kuririn. Goku looked so innocent. So unaware of what he had done. By what right should he break the news, hurting his best friend? On the other hand, did he have a right not to tell him? "Goku…you gotta know something about this villain."

"Or mebbe Piccolo helped out," Goku continued his suspicions. "Wish he didn't leave."

Kuririn sucked in his stomach. He closed his eyes, shrinking his neck into his shoulders, expecting the pain he would inflict. Here goes nothing. "Goku, you were the bad guy."

"Mebbe I went Super Saiy…" Hearing Kuririn brought all of Goku's thoughts and words to a stop. Slowly did his eyes leave his fist and straight to his friend. "What did ya say?"

Kuririn repeated his revelation, not feeling any easier about it. "You were the enemy."

Yamucha's eyes broke from the cute girl and fell to Kuririn's knowledge. "Guess it's 'bout time someone told me what's really goin' on. Shoot, baldy."

Kuririn turned away instead, veering toward the edge of the ship. Insecurity settled his decision. He hadn't thought of a better way to tell the truth. Why did he have to be the one? But it was too late now.

"Kuririn," Goku posed a serious question to his friend. A question he wanted to know. "What happened?"

Given that question, Kuririn spoke the events. He told how Goku had disappeared for a month. When he came back, he was a different guy. "You were just like Vejita," Kuririn gave the best description, an example that Goku and Yamucha clearly understood (though in different meanings). "Vain, cruel, ready to use the Dragon Balls to grant you immortality. Probably for some evil purpose."

Goku stood still, trying hard to calmly absorb what Kuririn was saying. The teller noticed this. Goku must be crushed now. Knowing you nearly threatened the world is no easy thing to realize. So Kuririn decided to speak about some positive things. Kakarrotto's appearance coincided with the arrival of the New Mutants. Explaining the latter part of that title was easier than the former one (which got the predictable question from both listeners). Seemed that a Mutant was a special kind of Earthling born with a super power. They were from a school ("…like Kame-sen'nin's?" Goku asked) created to teach mutants how to control their powers. This all happened on a different Earth.

How did they get here? One of the students was a teleporter whose power problems (among other things, Kuririn remembered with a sweat) sent the gang from their world to this one. Through Gohan's suggestion, the team needed the Dragon Balls to send them back home. "This conflicted with Kakarrotto's plans," said Kuririn, treating Goku's alter ego as a separate person (in hopes it would make him feel better). Being super heroes as well as schoolkids, the New Mutants made sure Kakarrotto didn't get the orbs. "And looks like they succeeded," Kuririn's remark was praiseworthy.

Goku failed to understand his friend's regard. Concentrating on the inhabitants of the other room, he detected no Kis from any of them big enough to stop him.

"You owe them big, Goku." Kuririn didn't let off his regard. "I was really worried about how this mess would end. With either you or them and me dead. But the New Mutants showed another way. They got screwed for their effort, but everyone got out alive. They're a remarkable bunch of good kids. They have my respect."

Touched by this achievement, Yamucha nodded. "Come t' think of it, Kuririn," he looked to the sky. "Though I was nowhere near the battle, from far away I still felt a really big Ki. And it wasn't Goku's."

Goku's curious stare turned next to the former bandit, growing firmer when Yamucha continued with "An' Go…Kakarrotto was a Super Saiya-jin."

"SELF- seconds- TESTIMONY." The wall gave evidence, much to Yamucha's flinching shock. "POWER- recognized- TENCHIFRIEND- alias- LIGHT-KEN."

"Who Warlock means is Tenchi." Kuririn smiled. "Y'know, Tenchi told me he possessed something called the Light Hawk Wings, but he said he got trouble activating it. Guess he finally got his chance."

"Amazing," Goku embraced this rich thought. Some of what Kuririn said was very troubling, but some of it was very interesting too. He had to look toward some good thing in this horror story. Somebody stronger than him? Cool. So this Tenchi might be the one who wrecked his eye, a thought Goku made in fascination instead of resentment. Goku looked to the opening again, noting Tenchi in a better view.

"Tenchi's just like Gohan," Kuririn added. "He's gentle and is both an earthling and an alien."

"So where did some of him come from?" said Goku.

"His great-grandfather is the king of a planet called Jurai, which makes him…"

"A prince," a frowning Yamucha interrupted with a growl. "It just had to a prince, right? And I bet all the girls flock t' him."

Confused by Yamucha's disdain, Kuririn still agreed. "He lives in a house full of alien girls. But he seems to be with Illyana. She's the blond girl over there." He pointed through the opening. Yamucha's view of her made him interested. "She's hot."

Kuririn tensed. "Better watch out! She's got some evil in her. Makes Frieza look like a party guest." Suddenly, Kuririn realized he made a bad judgment. "But she also got a good side. She actually feels sorry about her bad side."

The response had Yamucha, Pu'al, and Goku staring Kuririn down.

"Ooh-kay," Yamucha thought that Kuririn had now lost it with reality. Not that Goku's behavior made sense either. It was well and good that he wasn't suffering from the knowledge that he had turned into a supervillain. However, being totally ignorant to the point of actually noting Tenchi's abilities with excitement was really unexpected. However, Yamucha was no telepath, so he had no real understanding about what Goku was really thinking. Kuririn, on the other hand, was happy Goku found some good things about this awful news.

"SELF- seconds- KURIRINFRIEND'S- testimony- ON- illyanafriend, YAMUCHAFRIEND."

Yamucha liked the friendly sound of its name for him. Likewise, Goku couldn't resist the cute regard for him. "So what d'ya call me?" He smiled.

Fire moved Warlock's expressions. "KAKARROTTOMAGUS."

Kuririn cringed his teeth. Goku turned to him. "Is that another word for friend?"

The uneasy face of his friend proved it not to be so. "He's naming you after his father, the Magus!"

"Oh, that's nice."

"The Magus is out to kill him," Kuririn darkly corrected his friend's clueless response.

Goku's soft face became shock. "What?"

"Warlock comes from some nutty planet where the father and son battle each other to the death!"

"That's crazy," Yamucha's answer.

Goku shared the distrust to this ritual (though, come to think of it, it sounded really exciting) more than he considered the alien's regard of him. "Poor kid."

"SUPERFICIAL- sympathies- IMMUNE- to- SELF," Warlock made his/its point. "SELF- rejects- ALL- words- FROM- kakarrottomagus. WORDS- designated- FALSE- and- WRONG."

"Oh, don't feel like that," Goku's words were honey inside and outside. "Let's be friends."

"QUERY:" The wall spoke. "AFTER- actions- KAKARROTTOMAGUS- initiated- ON- selfsouldougfriend?"

"Who?"

Kuririn moaned. "He means Doug."

In his shock, Goku stared at the patient. "I-I did…that?" words of truth passed uneasily through his mouth. "But Kuririn, ya said…"

"I said I didn't see what caused Doug's coma. I was unconscious, remember?" Kuririn sighed in his difficult delivery. "But I'm afraid it don't take much to know who did it."

Goku's emotions expanded more to a darker feeling, but it was interrupted. Suddenly came a Ki electrifying the brains of the three. Something was happening in the sky above them.

The clouds underwent a series of flash, the electrical currents were being controlled by other forces beside nature. Magneto concentrated well within this charge. The currents channeled into his system like a conductor. The strain to do this was murderous to one strange to pain, but Magneto was not that. The paradoxical result to this strenuous feat was strength. The wounds he gained through battle were gone, his fatigue restored with stamina.

This step done, the Master of Magnetism hovered back to Warlock to face the problems ahead. His responsibilities had reached a new level of hardships. Exceptions such as Rahne's revived spirit countered little with the greater casualties of others. Amara had lost her previous fortitude. Doug's fate was worse. To fight the might of the Saiya-jin, Doug did another of his dangerous merges with Warlock. But the shock of destruction and restoration in techno-organic form proved too much for the boy, causing him to retreat into his mind. Their return to their own Earth would have to be delayed until his recovery. That could take time, Magneto's memory went to a previous case. Not that they had any choice. Illyana's powers of teleportation were unpredictable now, and the Dragon Balls had been damaged in the battle. Right now, its creator, a Namekian named Kami, was repairing the orbs.

Strange, Magneto considered, that he would accept such magical mumbo-jumbo. Then again, he had faced a God and had a student who ruled a magical netherworld. Perhaps it was some delusion of pragmatism that kept him from acceptance. But he had to be realistic. Their former enemy was now among his student's company. Kakarrotto's personality had apparently transformed back into the possibly benevolent personality of Goku. The consequences of his actions proved more permanent, however. The question to this situation was a philosophical one for Magneto. Should Goku receive punishment for his crimes? Magneto was not invulnerable to that consequence. His previous role as patriot and avenger doubtlessly would result in such execution. But he was now the Headmaster, carrier of Xavier's dream. Did he have a right for a merciless condemnation of Goku?

Then there was the matter about his students' constant contradiction to his authority. The New Mutants were a group he had little control of, with disaster the result. If his hair hadn't been already white, his students would have turned it so (Xavier had it easy, being bald). Matters seemed easier in the old days before his reformation. Force was the answer. His Brotherhood would respect his leadership by fear. But that too was a disaster. The Toad, Pietro, and Wanda all betrayed and left him. That was a failure. But his new method of gaining respect here had proved just as ephemeral. Xavier's path had become a hill, becoming steeper and steeper with every step for him to follow.

Magneto made his descent feet first to the 'yacht' below him. Sam had decided that the trip should be safer and easier. Warlock would provide the transportation. Magneto accepted it. First, he was aware of the proportions his alien student could provide; he witnessed firsthand Warlock portraying a Blackbird. Another reason, though one he wished not to disclose, was his own weakened condition. He was unable to transport everyone back to Mount Paozu. Fortunately, that problem was now removed.

"Warlock," he announced. "Prepare yourself for a boost of energy." Electricity exploded on his hands. Like a lightning rod, the Warlockian wall took the energy from Magneto, his/its circuitry veins plainly shown by the power it was absorbing.

This action drew the attention of Goku, Kuririn, and Yamucha. "Hiya!" Goku approached the glowing headmaster.

Magneto gave no answer. The energy amassed into him slowly lessened, returning him to a normal appearance. His steps moved from his witnesses.

Goku considered the silence to be due to a lack of hearing, so he followed Magneto to a touching distance.

"I did hear you," he spoke with a lack of warmth. "But my attentions are for my students."

Goku grabbed the man's arm. "Look, I hope you know I feel awfully sorry for hurting your kids."

Magneto stared at the attachment, viewing it like something to be amputated. "Such apologies," he loudly spoke, "cannot be so easily accepted." He broke his arm free, and continued his departure.

Goku remained at his spot. This left the continuation of his point to others. "He said he was sorry!" Yamucha shouted to the departing Magneto.

"Calm down," Kuririn urged some control. "He's just worried about his students."

"Guess so," Goku's optimistic reply carried a hint of worry.

There were two rooms in the house. One had Chichi, cradling Luna in her arms, protective as if she were the babe's own mother. The babe, along with Gohan, symbolized good sanity for the woman. Much had happened in the last twenty-four hours, with Gohan constantly in trouble, what with his mind getting sucked into Goku's brains or whatever (it was hard to make sense of these things).

And Chichi had some of the troublemakers as guests. True, some of the kids like Roberto, Tenchi, Rahne, and Sam were the type of friends Gohan should have. But there was also Illyana. That girl had bad news written all over her. That meant something, in comparison to Dani, what with her visions on Gohan. Was it really true, Chich thought, that those nasty death visions she had on Gohan were now gone? The good kids vouched for her word, but Chichi still had her motherly doubts. But she knew they weren't fully to blame for this mess. The real cause was a problem to her, in mind and in heart.

Shan entered the room. The reason for her presence was not lost to Chichi. "How's Doug," Chichi asked.

"Non recovery," Shan sadly explained.

Chichi was not cold to the boy's sad condition. Gohan could have ended up the same way. Why did children always put themselves through such dangers? Guess she wasn't the only one to ponder that question. Chichi didn't understand why Magneto couldn't just go into the boy's brains like he did Goku's to rescue her son and his students. His explanation was that Doug's problem was a different case.

Shan came to her point of presence. "How is Luna?"

"She's asleep," Chichi took some pride in that. "She has no clue 'bout this whole mess. Nothin' t' worry 'bout at all." Chichi remembered well her own fault in endangering the child. She must have been loony to confront Goku with Luna. But she kept this guilt inside. "What parents would put their kid into this?"

Discomforting facts filled into Shan. "I do not know. I never met them."

Chichi stared at the girl. "Y' mean ya never met Magneto's children?"

"Although I'm le Profeusser's secretary, I've only heard about his children. They're twins, a boy, this child's father, and a girl. They are very well known in my world." That was all Shan said about that, uncertain about what Chichi would make of Magneto's daughter being married to an android (not to mention that they were expecting kids). "Luna just came to us, right before this trip began."

"My word," Chichi grew unhappy. "Her parents must be worried sick."

"Certainly," Shan only considered Luna's mother in that regard. Again did she not want to tell Chichi about Luna's father going insane. Poor Gohan had a similar problem, though that appeared resolved…for now.

Chichi took note of Shan's silence, but saw a different conclusion. "Y'know, Shan," Chichi slowly spoke, lying Luna safely. "I understand that I might have made ya feel like a fifth wheel."

"Ce' la vie," said Shan. "I have helped my friends and your son." Shan clammed at that slip of information. Chichi was not told about close to death Gohan was. Swiftly did she cover her tracks. "I'm not Luna's mother. She just reminds me of my brother and sister. I've been away too long from them."

Chichi nodded in understanding. But she knew Shan was also being a little too selfless. "Shan, what do ya think ya should do wit' this adorable lady?"

To a stunned Shan, Chichi handed the baby to her. She then walked to the wall. It twisted and turned, taking on the shape of Warlock's face. Chichi kept her face still. She was hiding her fright well. Why did her son keep meeting these freaks? "How long 'till we git back t' my home?"

"ANSWER- unclear, GOHANFRIEND'S- feminine- SIRE."

"I'm his mother!" Chichi corrected with a mixture of unease but acceptance. Although she had trouble getting a full idea of Warlock, the creature was on her good side. For one thing, Warlock did what he (or it) was told.

The giant eyes that looked upon her began to sag. "PARDONS," he/it apologized. "SELF'S- knowledge- OF- human- LIFE- nil- AT- BEST."

"Ya don't hafta know," Chichi exclaimed. "Ain't ya got a mother?"

"SELF- never- POSSESSED- gender- CHALLANGED- sire- DESIGNATED: "mother"."

"That explains a lot!"

"SELF'S- sire- DESIGNATED: 'father'- SELF- designated: 'Magus'- INITIATING- deathhunt- FOR- offspring."

Chichi quieted down quickly from that surprise knowledge. "Oh…well." She strained for a way of apology. "That's…too bad. Well…go along."

Warlock's face dropped back into the wall. Chichi expected it. She had now welcomed Warlock's presence. More than she did her husband right now. Going into that area, Chichi's thoughts grew troubled. Even though Goku was back to normal (or so Magneto and everyone claimed), everything else failed to follow him. Last afternoon, Chichi reached a decision to give up on Goku. But the events of that confrontation had broken her resolve, making it too weak to rest her choice upon. Usually the confident wife and mother, making a choice and holding true to it, Chichi for the first time found herself unable to do just that.

"And the boy suddenly came to the shocking conclusion. This beautiful woman was the freeze-dried demon!"

Betsy found herself immune to the interesting details of Tenchi's ghost story, though the rest of the gang did (especially Illyana, who made a stern face with the expression Tenchi made when describing the beautiful demon). Her eyes, both optical and psychic, were glued to Doug. His own eyes were open, but blank and soulless. His inner self lacked such obvious evidence. A huge psychic wall guarded it, protecting its contents from her, anyone, and everything outside. The reason for it cut into Betsy's own heart. Who knows what pain Doug had undergone, so agonizing and traumatic that his mind automatically shut up? Betsy had known enough pain to accept it, but Doug was beginning his experiences with it. It wasn't fair.

Oh, how she wanted to travel inside Doug's mind, and shatter the wall that held him a prisoner! She could do it. She wanted to do it. But she did not. That was Magneto's choice, as well as Dani's. Not hers. They said a person's psyche is too fragile for such a cure. If Betsy cured Doug with her powers, then the trauma of his recovery would make him feel dependent on her. He would psychologically view Betsy as his savior. If any misfortune happened, he would look not to his own strength for comfort, but to her. That would be a horrible fate. Doug had to come out of this coma by himself, to face and survive the misfortunes of life by himself.

Betsy resented their warning a lot. It appeared that Magneto didn't believe in Doug's strength. If some dependency had happened, Betsy knew that Doug would have recovered.

But it seemed that Magneto's words had engraved itself within Betsy, as she did nothing.

The New Mutants were doing their best to keep a positive atmosphere. A hard thing to do, considering one of their own was in a catatonic state. The only thing they could do was tell Doug stories. Hopefully, their words might have an effect to call Doug out of his catatonic shell. Tenchi was the first storyteller. His tale was about a boy who disobeyed his grandfather's orders and entered a shrine where a demon is said to be living there. A good story, but Doug's frozen glare gave little indication that he was listening. It didn't endear the storyteller, who wondered for the umpteenth time since he started talking if this form of therapy was even worth it.

The same attitude could not be said about the audience. Gohan sat before Tenchi, listening to his every word as if they were food to his ears. For one experienced with demons, aliens, and the like, Gohan was engrossed by Tenchi's tale. He knew he wasn't the real audience. That didn't bother him. What did bother him was that it didn't help Doug. This failure only amplified the child's resentment on the one responsible for the problem.

"And then the boy went home," Tenchi continued his final words to the story with a reluctance. "He sat on his bed, pondering the madness that occurred before. He decided to forget it all. Letting it all go, he leaned back on his bed." Tenchi's voice then grew dramatic. "He felt a bump. Someone was in his bed. Fear creeping into his own heart, the boy pulled off the sheets…" Tenchi halted his words. He influenced an impatience on his friends, agonizing them. "It was the demon!"

Gohan's was filled with excitement and curiosity. "W-what happened next?"

His audience in the palm of his hand, Tenchi gave up in withdrawal. "He died."

"But why can't he use the sword?" Gohan attacked this finality to the story. "He used it before didn't he?"

Laughter was growing in the group. It was long in coming, but greatly desired.

"Gohan, don'cha get it?" Sam smiled at the boy's naïve response. "The boy is Tenchi!"

"Duh," Tenchi added a rude comment.

Gohan ignored the insulting word, too intoxicated with the exciting story and its exciting truth. His eyes spotted the hilt on Tenchi's belt. "Then that's the sword! Right?"

Tenchi had a frown but he nodded. He then took out the Tenchi-ken for closer look. This got the better of Gohan. He grabbed for the hilt. Tenchi pulled his arm and its possession far from contact. "Don't touch it!" he yelled. "You're not part of Jurai's royal family. You'll get a very painful shock!"

To his teammates, Tenchi had made his warning, but in a tone unnecessary. "Calm down, prince!" Roberto protested. "Gohan didn't know about it."

Tenchi got angrier, but looking upon Gohan, he held back the fires within him. "I'm sorry, Gohan. It's my fault." Seeing the mess he had made, he got up. "I need some fresh air."

Rather than have Gohan get added worries, Rahne intervened. "I wonder if Ayeka and Sasami could hold the sword?"

"Who're they?" asked Gohan.

"Princesses of Jurai," said Illyana. "Tenchi's aunts," her words were cold in that description. Before he was outside, Tenchi reacted subtly. That sounded like an insult.

"They certainly dinna look it," said Rahne. She subsequently clapped her hands. "Alright! I wish t' give all my story." Her wish was accepted by everyone, who in truth lacked such sources or didn't feel like it. Amara was part of the latter. The wealth of Roman stories she had was abundant. She could speak tales of Gods and Goddesses, of heroes selected for great missions, of gorgons and nymphs. But it appeared all useless now. To believe in them meant to be supportive of the gods, and they were no longer supportive to a sinner like her. She had betrayed that trust. The consequence she surmised was a cost to her.

Amara thought darkly on her sad existence. In previously darkest times, the gods were there for her. No more. It was like a part of her had been taken away. The protection and faith she felt had been rammed down, exposing a weak position inevitable for destruction. If that was punishment for her betraying the gods, then so be it. If only those words of defiant strength had a strong support. To herself, she apologized to Doug. Her problems were enough for her to handle.

Rahne walked closer to Doug. Poor boy, she genuinely felt. No pity supported it.

"Once 'pon a time…"

Tenchi was out of the "room," walking to the back of the Warlockian yacht. The sky was still black. The meaning of night, as a period of rest, was upon his knowledge. He should be exhausted, considerning he had been awake for two days (was it really two days?). But the Senzu seed that saved him from a future in paralysis also rejuvenated him.

Tenchi rubbed his hair, cleansed of the filth Carrot Guy gave him. He remembered his attitude to Gohan, to an increase of guilt. Gohan didn't need such rejection. Then again, it wasn't Tenchi's idea to make up this idea to tell stories. If telling stories gave no chance to helping Doug, Tenchi would have refused.

But the results were disappointing. Doug was still lost in himself. Tenchi could understand if the "ship" was feeling pain. He was sharing it himself. It wasn't fair Doug was in this condition, after all they have been through. Being with the New Mutants was now a different experience than being with the girls back home. The dangers were crueler. The worst that happened at home was Ryoko or Ayeka getting kidnapped. They didn't go into a coma or die. A bad feeling made Tenchi wonder if that last fate was in store for this team.

Why did having friends mean pain? Tenchi wondered about the agonizing cost of personal intimacy. Illyana, Warlock, Doug. Close relationships he had made, only to result in heartbreak. Maybe this explained his previous anger to Gohan, giving the kid a warning. For the boy's own good, he should keep away from him.

Heaven knows the boy has already paid a lot for loving someone. That 'someone' had brought harm to his own son as well as Tenchi's own teammates. On orders from Dani, the team was not to inform Goku about his actions as Kakarrotto. It was the basis that Goku didn't deserve to suffer for crimes he did not commit by choice. Whatever, Tenchi ignored the sympathy. Goku or Kakarrotto or Carrot Guy, all were the same man. The idea of split personalities proved an unsatisfactory excuse. The way Goku was now acting blissfully unaware made unfair situation grow a new cheat. Why did he have to be happy while Doug lay like a vegetable?

But as unsettled and resentful he was, Tenchi could not find any consequences to provide a better justice. What could he do? Kill Goku? That thought sickened him, bringing forth memories of hours ago. The madness of rage set him to destroy Kakarrotto for the evils he committed upon his friends. But the New Mutants stood for something better than revenge and murder. Tenchi couldn't retract the chance given to him. But that didn't make him feel friendlier to Gohan's father. Strange enough, this adamant reluctance also made Tenchi feel guiltier. Because of him Goku lost an eye, even though the victim brought that on himself. So was he feeling pleasure? Guilt? Guilt for feeling pleasure?

Not that he was the only one brooding. Amara was now being withdrawn. Formerly, a proud and unyielding girl, there was now weakness in her movements. The battle, for some reason, must have taken a great toll on her. Another point for Carrot Guy's score of crimes.

The other New Mutants appeared the same. Roberto was his usual angry self, probably more so in view of Carrot Guy. Maybe Bobby was seeing him as an avatar of his father. Tenchi found this view with ground.

Tenchi looked for Dani in the darkness. He could see a white distortion in the night sky. Brightwind, which meant Dani. The two had been flying around since Warlock left the shore. Gohan's mother had found out about Dani's ability to see ghostly images on a person predicted to die, with Gohan the next candidate. Although that situation was resolved safely, Chichi would not let the team near Gohan unless Dani stayed away. A bit nasty, but Tenchi warmed to Chichi's devotion to her child. He bet that Dani had a lot to think about. Leaders bear a lot of responsibility, for success and failure, and Dani must have been giving greater thought to the latter.

Shan, Sam, and Rahne appeared equally unscathed in his view. Rahne had really changed since his reunion with the team. She went from withdrawn to wild to withdrawn again to optimistic and open. And with the way she shared eyes with Gohan, Tenchi knew who may have played a part in her recovery. Too bad it was going to end soon. Gohan was going to be short two friends once the Dragon Balls were fixed. It was a shame, considering who the kid was going to be left with.

And then there was Illyana. The sudden thought of her brought Tenchi the most chaotic feelings. For what it was worth, Tenchi could find no support for her. She brought her own problems. Their relationship was a rocky one, becoming sharper when they decided to be a couple. The thought of her and their relationship was now giving him a level of amplified insecurity, one that now felt more like a burden than an asset. The old days of no commitment had become a rosy memory (not to mention an easier existence). Tenchi wondered why he abandoned it. Nevertheless, any restoration to that life was postponed. He had been avoiding Illyana throughout this voyage. But he would have to deal with her.

What a vacation! Tenchi forced a sense of humor. The doubt of being here reached its strongest pitch. He should be enjoying a vacation in Manhattan, not playing hero on other planets, nearly getting himself killed while worrying about his friends and fighting all the time. The luster of team spirit was vanishing fast. The return home couldn't be any more desired.

After Magneto's shrug-laden departure, Goku glanced at Tenchi, who was now outside. No message from the slender youth's image portrayed anything to do with a powerful being. It was incredible. What Kuririn told him was unbelievable. Goku didn't remember a thing about hurting anyone. But Kuririn wouldn't lie. Sure, he did steal a rock from him that left him without dinner, but that was long ago. Since that was so, Goku considered the ramifications like a razor on unprotected skin. He had hurt people. What's more, he hurt children. Many not far from Gohan's age.

Oh well. Goku's optimism overwhelmed the guilt. If he had done bad things, then he can also set things right! Now did Goku throw enthusiasm to how he can help the mutants. Right now they were trying to get back to his house with this Warlock. How can he help? Could he do Shunkan Idou? No, Goku realized. He needed a Ki at home to do that.

His mind found another idea. He dove into the waters.

Magneto entered the room where Shan and Chichi were with his granddaughter. "How is Luna?"

"She's asleep."

Magneto nodded. Be she awake or not, Magneto's granddaughter was cold to him. Not to be expected. Emotionally, it was like a wound. Luna was carrying on her father's dislike of him. The abandonment by his family that began with Magda's fearful departure from him still carried on two generations.

The sense of alienation was not lost to Shan or Chichi. But such thoughts changed when they became unable to stand. The whole room had gone into disorder. Shan, inexperienced in holding a baby during an earthquake, started to fall. Fortunately, Chichi, who trained herself for every part of motherhood, quickly grabbed Luna and rolled with the shakes.

In the other room, the others were sliding, flying, falling, and rolling to the constant imbalance. Only Doug remained stuck to the floor, secured by tentacles from the ship. Others more conscious grabbed onto anything. Names were being screamed with concern. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Then came the warnings. "Watch it, dope!" Illyana barely missed Amara falling on her.

A rush of excitement was pouring into some of the passengers. "This is cool!" Illyana smiled.

Betsy too felt the exhilaration, the adrenalin of this ride that emphasized how alive she was. Her mind scanned the outside for an attack. She knew what was happening now, and was not pleased by it. "Goku!"

"What?" Roberto made a downward cry in his slide. His willingness for this ride had retreated.

"Lemme check!" Sam rolled himself to the edge of the 'ship.' He fell out. His descent called for his mutant ability. Now he was in better control in the sky than he was in the ship, as well as a better view. Cannonball's eyes spotted an incredible feat of strength. Goku was at the bottom of Warlock, lifting it by himself. Sam knew he should take this act for granted, from what he had seen, but he was mighty impressed.

"Goku!" the boy shouted in anger. "What the hell are ya doin'?"

"Oh!" Goku's happy expression noted the mutant. "Sam is it?"

Sam gaped at the untimely question. "My question first!" cried Sam. "What ya doin?"

"Just gettin' this back home faster!" The man was in a state of indifference, not knowing the problems he was causing. Fortunately, as Sam saw, Warlock was doing a better job in helping. The floor that supported everyone was lifting from the rest of the 'ship.' Springs appeared in between, cushioning the vibrations away from the passengers.

Above, the only pleasure that Betsy's continued explanation gave the team was contentment on who was the cause. All excitement was drained by the hatred for the controller.

"What's that idiot thinkin'?" cried Illyana.

"He's not, evidently," answered Roberto, his thoughts black wherever Goku was concerned.

Gohan reacted by opening his mouth. He shut it. The defense of Goku had to be done by someone else willing to do so. "Lay off, Goku!" Yamucha yelled while maintaining balance. "He's tryin' t' make it up t' ya!"

"You lay off!" Roberto ricochet Yamucha's words back at him.

"Yeah, dickless!" added Illyana. "It was your rescue mission that got Doug playing vegetable!"

Hurt and anger made Yamucha glow red. "Don't mess with me!"

Roberto marched to his opponent. It was darkness, his reserve power had atrophied by now, and Yamucha was probably the better fighter. But the rage of Sunspot threw all these facts out the window.

"Hold it!" Gohan stood before Roberto. Kuririn did the same to Yamucha.

"This isn't the time or moment to act like children!" cried Shan, the only level-headed New Mutant at present.

Roberto was predicted to give his usual response to such an accusation, but Yamucha beat him to it. "He started it!"

A winged horse landed in between. "The only start I care about is the person who stops this first!" cried Dani. Her attention, like everyone else, went to the glowing electricity nearby.

From below, Goku could sense another Ki being emitted in his senses. He felt the 'ship' now under a new control. The undertow caused him to move forward without his possession, his fingers tearing lines through the ship. The scraping blended well with Warlock's screams.

Swooping into the air, Goku saw the new captain of the ship. On the top was Magneto, his powers holding the levitated ship to his control.

His return to the deck saw a great many faces looking at him. A great many grim faces.

"You could have told us 'bout this!" cried Dani on top of her horse.

"I just wanted t' help," explained Goku.

"We don't need your help!" The voice of Illyana was a growl. Her glaring eyes ruptured the beauty of her face. Yamucha and Goku started to wonder if Kuririn was right about this girl.

Goku quickly accepted this for another. "Mebbe I can…"

The synchronized scream of "No!" from eight mutants, one human, and a half-Saiya-jin pressured Goku's advice to remain silent.

It was Magneto who teleported the ship the rest of the way. Goku accepted this as what service was better preferred, but he felt disappointed over his failure. Getting these kids to warm to him was going to be a lot harder than he thought. It looked like Chichi was on the other side, what with the way she eagerly chose Magneto's choice of transportation. That did something to Goku. He had been on the opposing side of Chichi before, but here was a difference.

Speaking of family, Goku realized that he hadn't really talked to Gohan since he woke up. From what happened, the kid was probably worried about him. Poor kid. It was up to daddy to calm his boy's fears. Though not right now. The boy was now sleeping, huddled next to one of the mutants. A girl with red hair. Goku cautiously decided that he should wait until morning.

Magneto and the Warlockian ship reached the spot of the Son Family's original residence. Only Grandpa Gohan's hut remained of the area .

The Warlockian ship made a slanted bridge to the ground. Most of the passengers got down on their power, sleep-weakened as it was. Some had to be carried, like Gohan being in Roberto's arms. The kid was a very sound sleeper.

"I'll carry Gohan," Goku offered.

His wish was met with a shrug by the Brazilian. "Gohan is in much better hands than yours." Roberto made no effort to be nice.

Goku was passive only in physical allowance to let Roberto through. What was that supposed to mean? He was the kid's father. His hands would be better for Gohan! He had years of experience.

Despite the near empty place, the Son family and their guests were hardly homeless without Warlock. So said Chichi. She took out a capsule from her pocket. "This will do."

"Looks like the strain has been too much on her," whispered Roberto to his friends.

"Don't count on it," Tenchi responded in whisper.

Chichi's thumb clicked on the capsule's top. She flung it to the ground. Instantly, an dome-shaped house materialized before everyone's dazzled eyes. For a place that seemed to be in the prehistoric age, here were feats of technology that the so-called civilization from his world clearly lacked.

As the sun started to rise, Dani moved to a river with Brightwind. Stripped to nothing, she dropped her nude body into the cold waters. The freezing skin soon receded by the fatigue of laps she made in the swim. Such exhaustion did its best to make her forget what happened yesterday. It didn't work out. Dani's mind found nothing but trouble in the events of last night. Her leadership had created too great a cost. No way she could she justify her cocky actions by the consequences. What was that line Professor Xavier gave her about success being no guarantee of the quality of leadership? No satisfaction came from her decisions before, nor could she find content in the decision she would make once Doug recovered.

Pride. What a horrible feeling. Couldn't live with it. Couldn't live without it. It made her decision. It also gave her remorse. But hard feelings or not, she had made her choice. Once things improved, its rightness would be more apparent.

The brooding was broken by Brightwind's cry. "What's wrong?" Dani looked at her steed's nodding defensiveness. A large man made a cannonball into the waters. Dani defensibly protected herself from the tidal wave. When it was over, Dani saw Goku waving at her.

"Hiya!"

By looking at his well-made torso, Dani's emotions almost overwhelmed her reason. Goku was butt naked, and what a good nakedness it was…

Forget this! Dani submerged herself deeper into the waters. But she was calm. She was never the sensitive type of girl who would freak out if somebody saw her in the raw. Still, there was something called decency.

Goku saw a giant fish splash out of the waters. Giving no thought on where it came from, Goku went at the food. His strong hands grabbed the fish, its slippery skin and wiggling fins made it a test to hold on. Suddenly, the piece vanished into thin air. Confused, Goku's gaze returned to the river. Dani was missing from it. She was now behind her horse, getting dressed.

Goku moved closer to the shore "Did ya make that fish?"

"Yep," Dani was affixing her suede boots. She had conjured an illusion of something he wanted. It pleased her that Goku's present desire was nothing of the sexual side.

"Wow," said Goku in his childish amazement. Too bad he couldn't learn these powers. It would be fun to create illusions.

Dani was a little taken aback by Goku's innocent look. It increased when Goku started to rise from the waters. "Hey, hey," Dani fought the lusty fires within her. "Don't show me that! You're married aren't ya?"

Goku returned to the waters with a puzzled face. "I guess so."

"So," said Dani. "How's the eye?"

"Like having it closed, 'cept I can't open it back up."

Dani was amazed by the difference Goku had with Kakarrotto. This guy was more simple-minded, more naïve. His talk was also different, sounding more like Sam's yokel accent than Amara's self-important language.

"So are ya the leader?"

Goku's accusation cut like a knife. "Yeah," Dani's answer was in a sad tone. "So what about it?"

"Ya don't look strong enough,"

Dani's fingers made fists. This guy really knew how to throw salt on the wounds! But with that childish face, it appeared that any insensitivity on Goku's part was really accidental.

"Being able to change the course of might rivers or bending steel with your bare hands doesn't make the leader."

"It doesn't?" Goku scratched his cheek in thought. It was a short meditation. His face grew cherubic again. "Well! Ya kids did beat me! Mebbe y'r right!"

"Beat ya?" Dani's repeat of the word triggered some fear in her. "You remember!"

"Nope. Kuririn told me what happened." At that, the aloof expressions took on a sadder face.

"What about?" Dani checked for clues on Goku's new knowledge.

"That I turned rotten an' fought ya kids. I'm really sorry 'bout that."

"Bet ya are," Dani wondered if this sympathy was true. It looked like it. There was something in Goku that made him likeable. The fact that Carrot Guy lacked this factor further proved the difference.

This was not shared by Brightwind. The horse was at the point of starting a ruthless attack, ready to throw his front legs up with mighty effectiveness. By her rapport, Dani felt all his primal emotions. Hatred, cruelty, revenge. The sensitivity was almost overwhelming, making Dani ready to join her horse's wish and kill Goku. "Stop it, boy!" She shouted with command. Obeying, Brightwind turned his rear end to Goku. His hind legs struck at the dirt, tearing it and thrusting it at the waters behind him.

"Hey, watch it!" Goku threw his arm out in defense. Dani pulled at the horse's neck, declaring control through words. "Bad boy!"

"I'm sorry, Goku," she spoke without emotion. "Brightwind's isn't okay with people he don't like."

"That's too bad." Goku folded his arms, exposing his muscularappendages more.

Dani had to keep her eyes off this perfect form of man. "Look, for all it's worth, you got my vote. But I think the others might have different ideas."

"Well, if ya like me, then I guess that's all there is t' it."

An inner groan marked Dani's response to this man's naiveté. Oh boy.

Gohan's eyes opened with dim senses. His mind projected a thousand things at once to understand what was happening now. One thought did register above all. Was it all a dream?

But Gohan's eyes viewed the sleeping New Mutants around him. Their appearances true then, Gohan's senses hit the level of understanding. It was no dream. It took only a moment for every other realization of his experiences to return. Along with the pain.

The boy nearly cried. It wasn't fair, Gohan thought. Why did it happen? Despite the new friends he had met, Gohan would rather have wished them all to be figments of his sleepy imagination. That way, what his father had done to him would have been imaginary as well. Same thing with his final decision toward Goku. Never existed. Everything was happy again.

Only, it all did occur. The father's cruelty, and the son's decision. Gohan didn't want to be cruel. His gentle nature chafed at such negativity. But what was done was done. His moment of regret over, Gohan grabbed on to his choice with full strength. He couldn't let it happen again, or else he couldn't bear it anymore. Dying at the hands of those androids was a better fate than one more betrayal. So let him be cruel then. He hoped mom and Kuririn would forgive him.

Breakfast was served. Evidently, the capsule not only had a house inside it, but a full store of food as well. Most of the Mutants didn't notice, their reason blurred by their sudden awakening from what was a short sleep. But as minutes passed with their stomachs getting filled, the gang's minds returned to their normal level. They were especially comforted by Carrot Guy's absence. The memory of their previous supper, the harbinger to their present worries and problems, still remained fresh in their minds. The only strange thing (or rather, the new strange thing) they had to expect was Yamucha's cat friend Pu'al. The cat reminded them a little of Lockheed.

"Great cooking, Chichi," remarked Tenchi. "I have a friend named Sasami who's also a great cook. I bet you could teach her a few things."

"Thanks, Tenchi," Chichi charmed with the credit. It was very unusual to see some of the kids finishing their breakfast at their first plate (and very very unusual to see Warlock digest his/its food, by turning into a black solid, draining it of the energy within it). It has been so long since she had this many guests at her house.

"Where's Dani?" asked Rahne.

"Out on her morning exercises," answered Magneto. "With her absence, I suggest Sam take Rahne and Roberto for an exercise of their own. Your goal is to gain firewood through teamwork."

The sudden shift from relaxing breakfast to work bothered some of the members. Sam took it in stride. Work was work. "Ah wish Tenchi t' assist us."

Tenchi heard, and accepted.

"Very well," Magneto nodded. "Use his help as well."

"Hey, wait for me!" Illyana stood up from the table.

"No, Illyana," Magneto refused. "Your powers are incompatible for this exercise."

Illyana frowned. "So what? I'm going."

"You are staying!" Magneto's eyes were ready to take on the evil that was in Illyana. She sat back down in a pout, respecting her teacher's strength, at least for now.

Tenchi said nothing. He had no ill feeling about this. This indifference did not escape Illyana.

"Remember that you are being graded," Magneto's words were on demand. "I wish not any action that will ease the exercise without my demands. I will be watching you through Warlock."

Excitement filled into Chichi. Magneto was having class with his students! She had to get her son into this scholastic procedure. "Magneto, can my son Gohan also help?"

Again did Magneto nod his head. "Just as long as he doesn't do all the work. This is an exercise that requires all in teamwork. Failure to do so will be a drop of demerits."

"C'mon, Gohan!" Sam cried. Gohan willingly got off his chair and followed the departing group. Usually schoolwork was a chore, but having to do it with these friends was different.

Gohan guided the New Mutants to the area where his father would get firewood. Along the way, Roberto recounted to the boy the time he and the team were rescuing a friend from an evil White Queen. Sam, in the lead with Tenchi, sighed in disagreement to this view of the story.

"And how did we get there?" Roberto gave a smile that carried surprise. "A bus!" Laughter followed, more so by the earnest truth. "Here we are, going to an evil mastermind's stronghold for a rescue mission, and we get there by a bus. No plane! No flying! No dimensional teleportation! Just a bus."

Smiles studded everyone's face. But Sam spoke against the revision. "Hey Gohan! What Bobby's not tellin' ya is that the team eventually became friends with the evil Queen and her subjects."

"Says you!" Roberto didn't agree.

"I understand," said Gohan, brushing the near Wolfsbane's furry back. "Piccolo was also a villain. You told me Magneto was a bad guy too. Now they're good guys."

"That doesn't happen all the time." Roberto made an acknowledged remark to an exception.

Gohan's spirits lowered to a pragmatic level. "Yes…that's right."

Hearing this, Sam spoke softly to Tenchi. "Ah don't think Bobby's a good influence fo' Gohan."

"Mhmm," mumbled Tenchi, looking at the ground his feet stepped upon.

"The kid's already got his own issues with his pappy. Don't need Bobby t' make it worse."

"Mhmm," again mumbled Tenchi, his eyes still at the ground.

"Ah've done it wit' all the New Mutant gals plus Ryoko, plus Ayeka."

"Mhmm."

"Tenchi!"

"Wha?" Tenchi's reaction was like the awakening from a trance.

"Somethin' on y'r mind? You've been actin' dark since this mess got over."

Tenchi just stared at Sam, then returned his eyes to the ground.

"Tenchi, ya ain't Doug's only friend 'n the whole world. We're all worryin' 'bout 'im too."

Tenchi grew angry. "I can take care of myself. Always have."

Sam sighed in acceptance. He didn't like it. But he understood this problem Tenchi had, among others. "Fine, but be careful."

Once they reached the beginning of the forest, Sam gave his instructions on how everyone shall perform the exercise. As Wolfsbane, Rahne's senses guided her to a dead tree.

Gohan climbed and hugged the tree, waiting for the expected moment. Tenchi and Roberto stood at the opposite end.

"Go!" cried Sam.

Light-ken activated his sword. With a quick swing, the Tenchi-ken tore a line on the tree that was both thin and slanted. Gohan lowered the tree onto Sunspot's strength-enhanced hands. Sam was pleased. Hopefully, the teacher would be pleased. "'Kay, we're half-way done. Now…"

Goku materialized at the branch end of the tree. "Lemme do it!" He lifted the tree free from his son and Sunspot. He held the trunk in an upside down position. Protest was given, but Goku listened to none of it. He flung the tree into the air, than threw himself after it. One, or to the quicker eye, a countless slew of kicks later, the separated pieces of wood fell to the ground in a neat pile. Goku returned to the ground, pleased that he could help out, expecting everyone's pleasure.

By looking at the straining turns of Roberto's face, Goku should have known better.

"That was our job!" Roberto's tone was calm but gave no mask over his hostility.

Goku reeled back in confusion. As pointed out before, he should have known better, but he rarely has done such a thing. Instead, he went to the positive. "Hey, what's with the mean face? This job would have taken ya s' long by the way ya' were doin' it. Gohan could've done it all by himself."

Gohan toughened himself against the credit.

"That was the point, sir," Sam had the better communications in this moment, but was equally sharp in defense. He couldn't help it. When he saw Goku, he expected a punch in his face. "Bein' an exercise, it ain't supposed t' be easy."

"Why? Havin' ya all do it looked like a big waste of time."

Roberto's restraint was holding, but he was still able to let out some chaotic words. "It was teamwork, you brainless oaf! The New Mutants are a team! We work as one."

Sam and Tenchi supported Roberto's reasoning, despite their knowledge that the speaker hardly practiced such words. Gohan understood this team's need for cooperation. To Goku, unfortunately, these words had little effect. What he did was get the job done. And if it was some kind of exercise, couldn't one person do it by himself?

"Okay, forget this," Goku shrugged in total denial of the harm he was accused of doing. "If you really wanna have an exercise," he kindly asked, "than let me teach it t' ya."

Overconfidence was in Goku when he gave this advice. It weakened him. He was not ready for the mutants' response. They turned their backs to him.

"Hey! Come back! I wanna help ya!"

"Forget it!" The back of Roberto's head didn't deter the cruel pain of the words behind it. "We already have one villain as a teacher. We don't need another."

"Villain?" Goku repeated that word in a mumble, his mind on the situation. Did Roberto mean Magneto was a bad guy too? Nevertheless, Goku also thought about the referral to him. 'Villain' was such a new name for him. 'Idiot,' 'oaf,' 'moron' were familiar to him. 'Villain?' That was something he would say to someone like Freeza, but never himself.

The team became smaller in their distance, making the failure greater to Goku. With a sad face, he scratched his head in perplexed thought. He had come here to help these kids, but their refusal showed that they still wouldn't let bygones be bygones. What can he do to get their respect? Oh well. Again did Goku switch from pathos into optimism. Maybe he can look to Gohan for help.

He looked for his son. Gohan was absent. He was not with the Mutants, most of whom still kept their faces away from Goku. Only Rahne gave a last glance.

Magneto saw all this from afar. He felt the Warlockian telescope vibrate in his/its metallic skin at the target. Magneto shared in his student's disdain. He remembered well how his students' rejection of Goku paralleled his own situation with them. He also noted other parallels Goku had with his own life, if Gohan's abandonment from the scene was evidence. None of this, however, gave the headmaster a desire of camaraderie with the rejected. That bothersome Namekian, whose appearance was missing since the return to this place, was a better companion.

So too the blue cat that was becoming an annoyance. "As I said before, Pu'al," Magneto coldly told the cat. "I don't need your help."

Pu'al left, rejected and uncertain on what to do now. Master Yamucha was busy.

By now, Dani had returned to the house to get what was left of breakfast. At the table, she asked for some coffee.

"Ain't ya a li'l too young?" Chichi spoke disapprovingly.

"Weren't ya a li'l too young t' pop Gohan?" Dani boomeranged that remark.

"Feh," mumbled Chichi. Guess she should have kept her mouth shut to Betsy (if that worked for a person like her). She went for a cup.

Dani noted the wariness. As ever, Chichi was on the defensive. "Where's Gohan?"

"Away from you."

"That does it!" Dani confronted the woman with a vengeance. "Look Chichi. I'll give it t' ya for the last time. Please un-der-stand! The-death-vis-ion-is-gone! Gohan-is- per-fect-ly-safe! There is nothing my bein' here can do that will harm y'r precious boy!"

"Yes, yes, I know," Chichi met fierce words with calm ignorance, making the coffee. "But ya can't blame a mother for bein' protective."

Dani calmed down with a sigh. "No, I guess ya can't."

Outside, Yamucha saw his chance to make his move toward the beautiful woman. Betsy was leaning on the wall, drinking some tea.

"You're so strong," Yamucha hovered beside her with a smoothness that could attract two exact polarized magnets.

Betsy didn't need telepathy to read Yamucha's motives. In a normal mood she would be polite and understanding in her rejection. The mood was lacking from her right now, but she cracked a smile nonetheless. "I-I'm not interested." She passed him by.

"Hey, I understand, beauty." Yamucha followed on with his manner. He knew of women who gave refusal but meant admission. "But I think we got some chemistry here."

"I do not think so."

Yamucha leapt over her in a flawless display of acrobatics. "But I do." He faced her with closer movements, grabbing her arms. "Ya don't hafeta fear nothin' from me." He got ready for the kiss that will destroy her inhibitions.

Betsy returned his aggressiveness with a smile. A butterfly mask appeared on her face…

Everywhere was met with the scream of Yamucha.

Magneto, Pu'al, the New Mutants, Goku, Kuririn, Gohan. They all charged to the house. Goku beat them all by materializing at the place. He saw Yamucha sitting against a wall. His eyes were flapping with unknown intent. He blabbered unknown words through the saliva dripping from his lips.

"What happened t' you?" Goku kneeled before his fallen friend. Pu'al was equally concerned, transforming into a pillow.

A postured Betsy frowned with disapproval. "Your friend was making an indecent proposal to me. I fried his brain in return."

Fried his mind? Goku found her words a maze.

"Telepathy isn't just for reading minds," said Kuririn.

"It isn't?" said Goku.

The mutants were mixed in view of this side of Betsy. Those who went with her inside Goku's mind expected this. The others found such actions very unlike her.

Chichi's face was marked with approval. "Serves him right."

Goku stared at Yamucha's twitching face. "Will he be okay?"

"He'll be fine. But he will think again before even saying a word to me." Psylocke's wary face gave wariness to all who opposed her. It broke into pieces. Not of despair. Her consciousness had found a familiar link. Inside the house. "Doug!"

The conclusion was successfully deducted by everyone present. The place now had only Yamucha and Pu'al as its only occupants. Everyone else headed for the house. Most used the door (Wolfsbane leapt through a window). The room where Doug lay was now the crowded place to be. Doug was awake. He looked exhausted, but he was awake. Both his ears and shoulder received praise and welcome comments on his recovery. It was as if Doug had the ability to create happiness by just burping. "Knew ya always had it 'n ya," Sam softly tapped his fist onto the boy's head.

Doug sat up with a drooped head. His eyes carried a dull look, which blended with his overall glum expression. But humor still existed. "So we survived?"

"Got that right," smiled Kuririn.

Betsy also beamed a smile upon the boy. Her usual sense of self-control was forgotten in this release of earnest happiness. She kissed him, causing Doug's sad spirits to increase into a better level. Roberto snorted with a smirk.

Tenchi too couldn't help moving closer, though it was with a steady one. "How are you feeling?"

Doug was exhausted, rubbing his face and crinkling his blond hair. He began to lay back. He froze, his eyes upon something. Everyone copied this. Did Doug suffer a relapse? Calmer heads pointed to the entering Goku. Warlock, who was beside the man, was ready to attack him if given the word.

"Goku," said Magneto. "I suggest you leave for the health of my student."

"Okay," Goku sulked like a sad child, but he obeyed. He was gone from the room.

"It's a long story, Doug," spoke Kuririn, not realizing that Doug's frightened expressions still remained.

Warlock moved closer. His/its circuits heated up with a near-passion for his/its selffriend's recovery. "WORRY- not- DEAR- selfsouldougfriend. SELF…"

"Don't touch me!" Doug flinched to freedom away from Warlock's hand. He grappled himself, shivering greatly. His face quivered with fear. By his/its presence, Warlock had become pain to him. "G-Get away from me!"

A silence came to the room, increasing the sound of crushing bed sheets that Doug threw upon himself. The New Mutants, Kuririn, and Gohan threw their shocked glances upon the sudden change of events. Doug afraid of Warlock? That sentence was an unanswered question in the minds of everyone. To them, the possibility of such a thing could be compared to Roberto ever being a kind person (this was not shared by Roberto).

Betsy, Dani, Sam, and Rahne moved closer to the boy. Their presence did nothing to Doug, who remained in the defensive. "P-Please. J-Just get W-Warlock outta here!"

Tenchi was divided on whom he should turn for consoling. Doug or Warlock? Maybe he shouldn't turn to anyone. Everyone was hurting. Better he remained neutral.

Warlock's jaw sagged to the floor. Such cartoonish actions were alien to the mood here.

"C'mon Locke," Sam gently asked his teammate to join him out of the scene.

"What's the matter?" cried Rahne.

Magneto gestured for Psylocke to open her thoughts to him. Psylocke, he telepathically addressed the British telepath, Is there any mental damage?

Nothing physical, Psylocke made a cold answer. Doug's brain appeared normal, but psychological pain lacked such a symbol. The ice-filled shock in Doug's thoughts was not a lost cause for any of his familiars to decipher. Did the shock that sent him into his catatonic state create in Doug a fear of Warlock?

Warlock came to that answer quicker than Betsy or Magneto. Doug was treating self like Magus! But self was not Magus, not even if self defeated Magus in battle, an illogical conclusion that was frightening as it was nonsensical.

In swift motion did the techno-being access his/its memories. Conclusion was made about something to do with techno-organic virus. That was an illogical answer, thought Warlock. Doug never showed apprehension about infection, despite many warnings from self. His/its files moved to the recent forms of memory files. Their last co-existence in gestalt form. Result was a disaster, added by Kakarrottomagus' attack…

From the door, Goku was looking at Doug's situation with guilt. It was his fault the boy had been in the state he was in (though Goku had no clear memory on how he did that). However, he didn't understand the boy's fear of Warlock. Weren't the two of them buddies, as Kuririn said? He was wondering about this, unaware of the way Warlock's head was making a half-circle turn to his direction, complete with murderous eye sockets.

"YOUR- fault."

Those words grabbed Goku's attention. Regret to his ignorance surfaced once he got a look at Warlock's face. The creature's circular eyes were half-closed, but the slits were slanted to each other like a 'V.' The partially covered pupils were glowing red.

"KAKARROTTOMAGUS'S- fault!" dropped Warlock's jaw. The mouth connected to it became way too thin to have such wide jaws. Warlock looked like a cartoon, except everyone knew his/its present mood was no joking matter.

"Hey Warlock!" cried Sam and Dani shouted for restraint.

"Blow him away," whispered Illyana.

Warlock loomed closer at this person he/it refused to consider a human being. It made his/its resolve all the better.

Goku did not run, relying more on defense. If Warlock wanted to fight, then okay by him.

This suited Warlock just fine. His/its body sprouted a great many cannons and firearms. "KAKARROTTOMAGUS- harmed- SELFSOULDOUGFRIEND!" Screamed the techno-being. "SELF- inflict- WORSE- consequence."

"Warlock, please!" Kuririn protested.

"DIE!" Warlock unleashed his/its power. The techno-being had no measurement to what degree his/its power was. Self was unsure if self-power signature could destroy planets like Magus. Self didn't care.

Bolts of energy fell on Goku. The first strike created smoke. Once it passed, nothing was destroyed, organic or not.

The barrage was not repeated. All of Warlock's form was frozen, all functions rendered immobile.

Goku, Kuririn, and Gohan noted the energy field surrounding the alien. It was coming from Magneto, standing assuredly. His raised fist, and the frown on his face, gave the signs of aggression.

"Warlock, behave yourself!" His stern wish demanded command, almost impressive to the others.

"SELF-refusal!"

"You will show obedience to our hostess Chichi and her family!"

Warlock shut his/its mouth. The emotional circuitry grew over the rage infection within him/it. Headmastermagneto was correct. Self had misbehaved to Gohanfriend. The heat cooled within Warlock. "SELF…"

A Ki bolt shot Warlock, causing an explosion that blinded all sights and deafened all ears with squealing.

Once both senses were restored, all eyes went to Warlock. The techno-organic being was strung out like spaghetti. As before, furious eyes quickly went to Goku.

"Why the hell did you do that!" shouted Dani.

"Why?" Goku spoke to the girl's question like a response to madness. "He was attackin' me!"

"But I had restrained him!" Magneto's eyes were especially sharp.

"And he was beginning to calm down," added Roberto, swinging his arms to make the force of his words clear. "Before you decided to fire when ready!"

"Is this how you solve a problem?" Illyana joined in the attack. "By blowing things up?"

Goku's face looked innocent. "Well…yeah."

"Hate to say it, Goku," said Kuririn. "But that was a little too much."

Gohan winced, shaking his head disapprovingly.

Goku had had enough with the meaningless assaults to himself. He spoke back. "But Warlock attacked first!" he cried to Magneto. "Why didn't ya stop him 'fore that?"

Magneto's glare to Goku showed he had his reasons, but he gave them. "And yet you survived. I doubt Warlock's first attack would have phased you at first. I stopped him before he could."

"Can all of you just get outta here!" screamed Doug. Intensity filled his body, and his words.

The heat of the moment extinguished by their friend's pain, all the New Mutants obeyed, walking toward the door. Dani waited for all to leave before her. She looked to Warlockian spaghetti. "C'mon Warlock," said Dani.

"SELF-inert," mumbled the spaghetti.

"No you're not!" she impatiently contradicted her teammate's words. "Stop feelin' sorry for y'rself."

Like a flower, Warlock grew, pulling all his/its wiry form with him /it. He/it looked back at Doug, hoping for an expression of need. But Doug showed nothing. Bearing the pain, if not strongly, the techno-being left the room. No eyes were given to Goku.

"I'm sorry," Goku's apologized.

At that moment, Rahne tripped, almost hitting Tenchi. "Och, I'm sorry. Clumsy of me."

"It's okay," said Tenchi

Seeing this, Roberto turned to Goku. "That," he threw a finger at Rahne's position, "is an apology I would accept." He wasenjoying the words he was speaking. "But the things you have done to your family, your friends, and to us… an apology from you is impossible. I'd rather die than accept anything from you."

"Bobby!" Dani shouted.

Roberto left. Dani was the last one to leave. She didn't look at Goku. Doug's recovery had given her other things to think about.

If any of the New Mutants had bothered to look back, they would have seen a sad man in Goku.

"C'mon Goku," Kuririn's wish was friendlier. Goku obeyed.

Magneto was the next of last to depart. The room was emptied, but Doug knew he wasn't alone. His eyes spotted Betsy. "Go."

"Do…you want me to leave?" Betsy hesitated at her words, unsure of their meaning herself.

Seeing this, Doug looked away. "Yes...No. I dunno." His knees risen, Doug rested his elbows on each, their hands on his sad head. He was just one big nerve, feeling death at any sensitivity. "I don't know. I'm weak."

"No," Betsy gave a hand. Doug shrugged away from her gentle touch.

"It's true," Doug was starting to fall apart. "Ever since I went with the team, I've felt like a fifth wheel. I really can't do anything without anyone's help. My powers wouldn't win any battle. I lied to myself, thinking with Warlock I could be somebody. But now…" his sharp memories brought him to a sudden stop.

"No!" Betsy fought against this self-loathing disintegration. "Don't think of such things!" She was now sitting at his side. "Don't you remember how you saved me from Mojo? You did twice, and you didn't need Warlock for either. When I was Spiral's slave, ready to remain her property, you had me see the truth that I needed to be free."

Attracted to these words, Doug's head turned to Betsy and stared. She did the same. Doug saw her face. A need was growing. Betsy did not need her powers to know that. He had little clothes on. They were sharing a bed. These were implications. There would be consequences. Something was going to happen. It was wrong. But it was Doug.

Betsy felt all inhibitions break. She would touch Doug.

"Got some soup for ya!" Chichi entered the room with a tray of food she made after she learned the news.

Betsy stood back up, face as red as blood. Equally crimson, Doug lay back on the futon. Chichi saw that a separation occurred, and considered the reasons leading to it. But she said nothing. She kneeled down, placing the tray on Doug's stomach. "Ya need somethin' t' eat, Doug."

"I don't want any."

But Chichi did not take that for an answer. "That's what ya say now," she firmly stood back up. "Betsy, can ya help me for awhile?"

Feeling overwhelmed, Betsy obeyed, leaving the room, Doug, and her near-actions, behind.

To be Continued

Annotations:

Gohan and Kuririn are not supposed to know about Buruma's pregnancy until the day of the Androids.

Warlock has been able to become giant vessels, such as a starship in NEW MUTANTS ANNUAL 1 and a Blackbird in NEW MUTANTS#40.

At this point, Magneto's daughter Wanda (the Scarlet Witch), is married to the synthazoid the Vision, and is expecting twins (as portrayed in THE VISION AND THE SCARLET WITCH LS Vol. 2). Magneto's son Pietro (Quicksilver), Luna's father, is at this point insane due to his wife Crystal's infidelity (as well as Maximus the Mad's manipulations, as portrayed in X-FACTOR ANNUAL 2).

Magneto's rejection of Betsy's cure for Doug is based on Professor Xavier's own prohibition, as he told Magneto in the flashback in UXM#161 concerning the condition of catatonic patient Gabrielle Haller. It's possible that Dani knows about the dangers, since she met Gabrielle in NM#26-28.

Tenchi's bedtime story is how he first met Ryoko in episode 1 "Ryoko Resurrected" of TENCHI MUYO OVA Series 1.

The New Mutants relied on a bus to get to the Massachusetts Academy in NM#15. The evil Queen is Emma Frost, the White Queen, who became headmaster to some of the New Mutants (including Sam, but excluding Roberto) in NM#39-40.

Cypher had rescued Psylocke from Mojo and Spiral's control first in NEW MUTANTS ANNUAL 2 and UNCANNY X-MEN ANNUAL 10.

NEXT TIME: Hiya! This is Goku. A lotta stuff seems t' be happenin'n! Right Gohan? Gohan? What…are you sayin'?