"Ah-aah-AAAH!" Sepis squealed as he scrambled to grab something and once again failed. He tumbled and bounced off the walls and ceiling several more times before he found himself flying at the computer bank. He finally latched both hands onto it – hurting his fingers – and clung on for dear life as everything around him continued to spin. "Computer! Status report!"

"The Hammer has sustained loss of all primary engines and gravity generators," the computer calmly replied, "Damage to rest of fleet has been avoided. However, there is a forty-five percent chance of a critical reaction from Engine Number 5. This explosion would result in the loss of thirty percent of The Hammer's crew. Recommending complete system shut down."

"Oh no," Sepis squeaked, "What about the emergency engines?"

"Emergency Engines four, seven, and nine have sustained critical damage and are inoperable. The remainder of emergency engines remain functional."

"That's enough," Sepis breathed and then cringed as his stomach grew queasy with the motion, "Computer…initiate Waterfall Protocol."

"Protocol accepted." The ship began to vibrate violently as the emergency pulse engines fought against the ship's current momentum. "Calculating nearest habitable world…located. All crew members, prepare for emergency crash landing."

(**Scene Break**)

"What's going on?!" Bulma cried as the video feed on the television went haywire. It was like the camera had started spinning and everything around it as well. The screen became a wild, indiscernible blur. But just as all this happened, someone came running down the hall.

"Mom!"

It was the most beautiful sound she had ever heard. "Trunks!" Bulma cried, running to him. She dropped to her knees and caught him in her arms, breathing in his violet hair and smothering him in kisses.

"Mooom," Trunks complained, holding her close, "Come on, cut it out."

Bulma laughed and pressed her cheek to his. "Oh Trunks, I'm so happy to see you again! I missed you so much!"

"Trunks, you're back!" Goten shouted, leaping off the couch from his mom.

"Hey Goten," replied Trunks, going to meet his best friend with a cocky smile, "Did you miss me?"

"Boy did I ever!" Goten eagerly answered.

"Hey, but listen," said Trunks, coolly putting an arm over him, "I need you to fuse with me again."

"Okay!" Goten chirped.

"Oh no!" Chi-Chi bemoaned, clasping her face in her hands, "You two aren't going to turn into that delinquent again?"

"Not now," firmly stated Piccolo, entering the room as though he'd appeared out of thin air, "Remember, you two can't stay fused for long. We have to wait for the right moment."

"Oh hey, Piccolo!" Goten smiled, "I didn't know you were here too!"

"Piccolo, what's going on?" Bulma interjected, standing up and heaving her stomach.

Piccolo looked like he was about to say something, but instead jerked, turning around. "Uh, it's coming here!"

"Wait, what is?" Bulma piped, "You mean Goku and Vegeta?!"

"All of it!" Piccolo answered, still gaping upward.

Just then, a tremendous boom struck the air, everyone in the house crying out as all the furniture rattled. An instant later, Bulma grabbed her laser rifle.

(**Scene Break**)

All the wildlife in the trees below wailed with fright as the powerful sound and gust of air shook everything.

"Holy cow, what was that?!" Krillin cried, spinning around in midflight.

"Krillin, look!" said Gohan, craning his head.

The clouds were obliterated one by one as a massive black object glided through the sky – the trail of mean, grey smoke that followed in its wake nearly as big.

"Is that what I think it is?!" exclaimed Krillin.

"That's the ship that Dad and Vegeta are on," Gohan confirmed.

"It's huge!" continued Krillin, "I've never seen a ship that big before in my life! That thing looks like it could flatten a whole town!"

The ship sputtered like a thunder crack, small engines firing as it plummeted through the sky. "We better follow it because it looks like it's gonna crash!" Gohan urged.

"Let's hope it doesn't land on something!" Krillin nervously agreed, both of them rocketing after it.

The giant ship glided precariously over the forest, the animals still squealing and running. It dipped and struggled to stay airborne, making it past the trees and further hills, clipping the tip off a mountain before it finally reached a barren landscape filled with dust and rocky plateaus. The ground broke as the belly of the ship touched the planet's surface and the pillars of rock crumbled against the bow as it slid, carving a new canyon in the wilderness. Krillin and Gohan caught up and flew alongside of it as it continued to plow down the landscape. Gohan was starting to wonder if he should try to slow the ship's momentum when finally it did it on its own. Several more rock formations crumbled as the giant, black ship came to rest in a cloud of dust and smoke. The ship immediately after went incredibly quiet as all the machinery within shut down.

Gohan rubbed at his head. "Wow. Dad always knew how to make an entrance, but this is getting ridiculous."

"There's so many people in there," Krillin sensed, "I hope they're all okay!"

"Let's have a look," Gohan agreed, the two of them floating down.

The ship seemed even bigger once they reached the ground and the mass was towering over them. Gohan and Krillin glanced at each other before investigating further. Gohan dared to place his hand against the hull, which had buckled under its own weight like crumpled paper.

"Dad…he's close, Krillin!" he said excitedly, "Vegeta's not far either."

"Yeah, but how are we going to get them out of there?" Krillin wondered, glancing around, "I don't see any doors – if you know what I mean."

"I got it," Gohan assured. He squared himself and drove a punch to the metal – his eyes bulging wide and crying out as he shook his knuckles. "Holy crap!"

"Uuuuh…" Krillin stared, not sure what to say. He laughed a little. "Come on, Gohan, I know you haven't been training lately, but are you really that out of shape?"

Gohan grunted as he kicked the hull instead with just as much success. "I'm serious, Krillin!" Gohan complained, "Whatever this thing is made of is rock solid! I'm not even putting a dent in it!"

"Seriously?!"

"Yeah, looks like it's going to take a lot more than just regular hits to get through it."

Just then, several paces down the bent hull bloated out like a toad, slowly growing red hot before finally bursting in the wake of a blue energy wave. The wave ripped up the few remaining stone pillars nearby before exploding in the distance. The two earthlings watched the steaming hole before a roughed-up man with long golden hair came stumbling out.

"Dad!"

"Goku!"

They both went running to him, Super Saiyan Three Goku panting and resting on a knee. Goku looked up at them and smiled a little. "Oh hey Gohan. Hey Krillin. It's been a while."

"Are you okay, Dad?"

"What happened?" Krillin added.

"I think I broke the ship," Goku cluelessly replied, glancing back.

Krillin and Gohan jerked nervously as high above little probes started pouring out of the ship and scanning wildly. At the same time, several shapes flew over the distant mountains and swooped down alongside the crashed ship.

"Gohan," said Piccolo as he landed at the head of the pack, "I see you got here first. Glad you could make it."

"You too, Piccolo," the young man replied, "This is a mess."

"Daddy, you're back!" Goten celebrated, jumping on him.

"Whoa, hey!" Goku laughed, catching him and standing up, "Good to see you too, Goten. Is your Mom okay?"

"Yeah, she's fine," Goten assured.

At the very back, a ship landed, the bubble hood flipping back while a very pregnant Bulma wiggled out. "Goku!" she called.

"Oh hey, Bulma!" Goku called back, "Even you're here?"

She huffed and puffed as she ran up to him, her laser strapped to her back. "That's right, Goku…now where's Vegeta?"

"I'm here," Vegeta grunted, shuffling out of the hole Goku had made and gripping the lip of the cooling metal.

"Vegeta!" she exclaimed happily, running to him.

"I'm fine," he grunted before she could get a hand on him.

"I'm fine? Really?" she snapped as he stumbled the rest of the way out, "You haven't seen your beautiful wife in over a month and all you can say is 'I'm fine'?!"

"Don't patronize me, woman," he snapped back, "I saw you just a few days ago and you know it."

"While I was inside that plant body?! Like that counts!"

"Krr," he shuffled past her, joining the circle of warriors, Trunks immediately at his hip.

"So," said Piccolo, "What exactly is our situation right now?"

"Yes, being here on Earth does change things a bit," Vegeta stated, giving Goku a sideways glance.

"How did we get here anyhow?" asked Goku.

"Obviously," Vegeta grunted, "When you smashed up the ship they had to crash it on the nearest habitable planet. Which just happened to be Earth."

"We all saw the fight being broadcast on the television," Piccolo informed, "So we have an idea of what we're up against."

"Tsk, somehow I doubt that," Vegeta snidely remarked, folding his arms.

"Nevrrest is way stronger than she should be because she's using other people's energy," Goku explained, "It's hard to say how strong she really is right now."

"I don't imagine we have much time," Piccolo cut back in, "So what do we do?"

"Stay out of our way," Vegeta harshly advised, "No one asked you for help, Namekian, or anyone else."

"No wait, Vegeta, this could work," Goku said excitedly, his wild golden mane rustling as he stooped, "I mean, my plan was to help you burn off Nevrrest's extra energy so you could fight her, but I'm starting to think that's going to be hard to do on my own." He straightened up and smiled warmly at his eldest son. "What do you think, Gohan? You up for it?"

"I wouldn't have come if I wasn't sure I was," Gohan confidently replied, "It's been a while since I trained, but I know I can still pull it off."

"Great!" Goku pumped and then held up a finger, "Now I gotta warn you, though, this opponent isn't exactly a picnic. You're gonna have to come at her with everything you got. Of course, you don't have to win. You just gotta wear her out." He looked down at Goten at his side and Trunks by Vegeta. "You two can help out too, boys. I bet Gotenks could really keep her busy."

"Yeah!" they both cheered.

"Hmph. Well one thing's for sure," Piccolo stated as he looked at the boys, "Gotenks is anything if not exhausting."

"And after you three are tapped out," Goku continued, "Then I'll take my turn and burn off whatever's left. Then she's all yours, Vegeta."

"You seriously expect me to sit on the sidelines for that long?" Vegeta pointedly accused, "I had to watch you hog the fight for long enough, Kakarot."

"Okay, then you can just share my turn with me too!"

"You're ridiculous. It sounds to me like you just want to see the boy fight." Vegeta gave Gohan an irritated glance.

"No, it's not like that!" Goku protested.

"It's a good strategy," Piccolo cut in, "Besides, you two look like you could use a chance to rest."

"Hey, wait a minute!" Bulma snapped, using her stomach to shove her way past Vegeta, "I happen to have a plan too, you know!"

"Bulma," Gohan hushed nervously, "I don't think it's a good idea—"

"Would you just shut up and listen?!" she shot back, shutting him down. She got the laser off her back and balanced it on her belly. "I made this to take out that device on that stupid bird's neck! One clean shot and I can cut it to pieces!"

"You wouldn't dare," Vegeta barked, his teeth so on edge it startled her. He cut an arm through the air. "It's out of the question!"

"Why?" she shot back, leaning in his face, "Because you're too proud to let your wife help you in one of your stupid fights?"

"Idiot woman, she will kill you!" he shouted, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her, "Without a moment's hesitation! The moment she lays eyes on you she'll destroy you completely!"

"Hey! I'm not stupid, you know!" she angrily replied, "I've been in dangerous situations before and I know how to take care of myself!"

"Like hell you do."

"And I've been a big help to you guys plenty of times before! And I didn't wait around this whole time for you to come home just to have you taken away again!"

Sometimes struck Vegeta's senses, widening his eyes. Instantly, he grabbed Bulma and lifted her over his head. "Earth man!" he barked at Krillin just before he chucked her screaming into the distance.

"Holy cow!" Krillin piped, rocketing after her.

Bulma continued to scream the whole trip, holding the laser to her chest, finally stopping as Krillin caught her just above ground. "That jerk!" she angrily flailed, "How dare he throw me?! He is so going to be sorry when I'm done with him!"

"Bulma," Krillin cautiously said as he put her down, "I hate to say it, but I think he's right. It's too dangerous for you to be around a battle like this. I mean come on…think of the baby…"

"Rrreerrr!" Bulma shrieked, making him practically bend over backward as he leaned away from her, "I'm so sick of hearing that, Krillin! Think of the baby! Think of the baby! As if I don't notice!"

"Bulma—"

"No! Vegeta said he'd be there for this baby and I'm making sure that happens! I'm not making another one of my kids go through what Trunks had to!"

"Look, I don't know about all that," Krillin protested, "But I do know this opponent is serious business! So…stay here, okay?" He leapt into the air and flew off before she could answer.

"Rrr!" She shouldered the laser. "Like hell I will," she muttered, beginning the long trek back.

At this same moment, a red hand gripped the edge of the hole, black talons digging into the softened metal. Everyone watched, tense, as a towering bird covered in armored scales climbed out of the hole, covered in dust and debris. She shook herself like a dog till her feathers were gleaming again and then narrowed her eyes at the gathering.

Krillin landed at the back of the group and gulped. "Is that Nevrrest?"

"Who's asking?" Nevrrest answered, appearing next to the tiny human.

"Yipe!" Krillin cried despite himself, staring up at her with a droplet of sweat, "You're…a lot bigger than you looked on the TV."

He fumbled back as Nevrrest leaned down into his face, hot air puffing from the nostrils in her beak and rustling in his hair. "A native," she remarked with annoyance, "Leave. This is no concern of yours."

Krillin swallowed and steeled himself. "That's where you're wrong," he replied, "Goku's my friend and I'm here to help him."

Nevrrest rolled her eyes and stepped clean over him. "Of course you are…" she muttered, Krillin ducking as her tail whipped past. She glanced around. "Strange…I remember this planet being a lot…greener last time I was here."

"I don't think you came here to see the sights," Piccolo flatly reminded.

Her glowing yellow eyes shot to him. "Oh I'm sorry, I didn't come here at all! I crashed here." She whirled, pointing a talon at Goku. "Because you broke my ship!"

Goku held up his hands, looking embarrassed. "It was an accident, I swear!"

"How is it I can't even kill you without you frustrating the living wits out of me?!" Just then, a whirling sound came from the distance and a pack of helicopter flew in. Nevrrest's feather's ruffled as earthling reporters poured out with their equipment and started to set up. She shifted her shoulders and cracked her neck before disappearing. A whirlwind blew dust everywhere as the reporters and all their stuff were seemingly sucked back into the vehicles and disappeared.

"What the…I didn't even see what happened!" cried Krillin.

"Incredible…" said Piccolo with amazement.

Dust blew up as Nevrrest reappeared in front of them. "Now then—"

"What did you do with them?!" Gohan angrily cut her off.

Her feathers ruffled once more. "Relax," she answered, walking along the edge of the group, "I simply took them to the other side of the planet where they won't get in the way. The last thing I need is natives getting injured in the crossfire. This day has had enough problems as it is."

Gohan relaxed, blinking with surprise. "Oh."

"Why even bother?" Vegeta mocked her, "You've already done so much damage already. Why stop now?"

She laughed at him, still strutting around the circle. "Because I am Nevrrest, the guardian of the galaxy. I don't needlessly harm innocents, dolt."

"But I'm guessing if it helps you in your goals, that changes," Piccolo stated.

She stopped mid-step and appeared in front of him. If it weren't for her Super Quantum state, they'd be eye to eye. Still, she didn't have to crane down far as she observed him. "I remember you now…the Super Namekian. Your 'avatar' was at the trial. You're the one that made the original set of dragon balls."

"So you've done your homework."

She cocked a brow. "Well I'm not all muscle." She leaned back and folded her arms. "And let me guess, you're here to 'help Goku' too."

"Oh don't worry," Piccolo confidently replied, "Goku doesn't need my help."

The corner of her fleshy mouth rose. "I like you." She walked past him. "But you're right. Goku is going to die with or without your help."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Piccolo warned.

"Being sure is what I'm all about," she replied, not looking back, "So sure that there isn't even the slightest chance of failure. That is how I operate. But that is becoming less and less reasonable by the second." She turned, facing them all, gazing at Goku and Vegeta. "So I've decided to stop being reasonable." She touched her band. "Sepis, are you ready?"

"Yes," said the Arlian without strength, "And you promise it will be over after this?"

"Without a doubt," she replied, gaze unwavering.

Goku stiffened. "Nevrrest, you wouldn't! Sepis, don't do it!"

"Wait, what is she talking about?!" Gohan exclaimed.

"Do it, Sepis," Nevrrest stated.

"Sepis, no!" Goku screamed.

"Just make it stop…" Sepis whispered.

Nevrrest watched the transmission close just as the terrible power hit her body. It was so great this time that the Hammer creaked as it was moved, blown sideways across the wasteland. Red and mauve energy sparked around her, the planet shaking. She could hear Goku screaming at her through her pain, bent over her like a terrified old friend. In the madness of her suffering as she lay on the ground, his face almost looks like Sepis's. Her eyes opened fully as she saw a distant mountain crumbling.

Suddenly, the warrior in her mind took the reins. She grabbed Goku's wrist and hissed, pulling herself to her feet as lightning shot from her body. "Don't worry," she told him, "If I fail, I won't take your planet with me. I…am just!"

All the gathered warriors were blown back as she shot up like a rocket. The burning red star rose higher and higher into the atmosphere until she blazed among the heavens. Goten and Trunks held onto their fathers' arms, watching the distant spectacle. A whisper came and then a tremendous boom that struck the whole planet as red exploded, washing across the surface of the sphere.

"Ha…!" Vegeta cried, staring upward with the rest as the energy dissipated, not a cloud left in sight.

"What…what just happened…?" Gohan stuttered.

Goku said nothing, his teeth clenched and chest heaving.

Trunks' eyes searched the sky. "Is…is it over?"

The sudden crater that appeared behind them sank so deep that Krillin fell backward into it, crying out as he tumbled and rolled head over heels. His momentum finally stopped as a hand grabbed the back of his shirt.

"Thanks, Gok…uuuuuuuuu…uuuu…" His eyes grew wide as the dust started to clear and his scream made all the others charge down into the crater, crying out his name.

But instead of being hurt, they found him carried against a monster's chest like a toddler. It rumbled as it sat him down at the edge of the crater, Krillin sputtering as he floundered to the back of the group. The red dragon waved its tail, a fan of feather-shaped razors opening at the end. As it moved, bolts of energy occasionally shot out of it, every sharp spine on its back and on its arms and legs flashing as it caught the light.

Goku looked at her with angry pity. "Nevrrest…what have you done to yourself?"

(**Scene Break**)

As a member of a species that only sleeps for two days once a month, unconsciousness wasn't an experience Horkion was accustomed to. Maybe that's why he was able to wake up, even though he felt half-dead. He opened his eyes quickly and pushed away the bench that had landed on top of him. The Ghost System was swirling sideways now, so he followed the movement of the magical stars till he found the lamp lying on its side. Brushing it off with his stony hand, he picked it up and blinked twice, gathering his thoughts.

"What happened?" A second later he fainted again. Eventually, his eyes blinked back open, his fingers twitching against the lamp. "Why…?" His black pebbles drifted down to gaze at his fusion band glowing violently against his chest. "No…"

Almost in a trance, he stumbled out into the dim hallway, the emergency lights flickering against the golden lamp in his palm. The halls were as empty as expected. All the civilian personnel would still be locked in their rooms. Except…they had crashed…which should have triggered the evacuation protocol. So where was everybody? He grunted, trying to gather himself enough to reach out with his energy sense. He was terrified when he didn't sense anything at first, but then realized they were all just extremely weak. And not moving. Of course…

He knew the truth. But he didn't want to think about it. He couldn't. He refused to allow himself to until he came upon a hall strewn with collapsed guards. Their ashen faces stuck him to the core, having to stoop and touch them to convince himself they were still alive. Alive, yes, but just barely. And fading. It was only a matter of time. He started running, the Ghost System's galaxy trailing behind him like a star-filled cape.

First, he went to Oom'Bagu. He found Dr. Leaton lying on the ground in the same state he'd found the guards – eyes whited out and barely alive. Oom'Bagu's condition was a little hard to gather. The old warrior was still in a coma. He was shocked and confused when he saw the mauve energy band around his neck. Maybe it was something Oom'Bagu had done to protect his mind? In any case, he was also alive, but not well.

He started running again and finally found Laswe. It took all of Horkion's remaining strength to clear the rubble, using his energy to lift it into the air and send it flying away. What he found looked like a dramatic painting of a fallen emperor. Laswe lay in a fetal position over his brilliant golden cape, his body paint mixed with his translucent blood, turning it to various shimmering colors. Horkion felt cold as the lamp fell from his grasp, bouncing across the floor and rolling away. It was like moving through water as he sprinted to Laswe, stooping and landing at his side. He scooped him up and cradled him over his one arm.

Barely alive. Even less so than the others he encountered. And how long would they all hold onto life? Hours? Minutes? Less…? He pressed his forehead to Laswe's, some of the sticky blood catching his brow. Minarites didn't cry. Instead, a low, moan – like something breaking deep inside the crust of a planet – emerged from his throat. He lifted his head and the moan deepened and eradiated out with booming intensity, everything around him vibrating with the sound.

(**Scene Break**)

They all were distracted for the moment as a disturbing moan rose from somewhere inside the Hammer.

"Wh-what's that?" Krillin nervously stuttered.

"It came from someone inside…" Piccolo observed, looking seriously at the ship.

Nevrrest frowned for a moment as well before stepping up, her red scales flashing in the sun. "Goku. Vegeta," she said, drawing the attention back to her.

"Yeah?" Goku irritably responded, "What is it?"

Her meaty tail slithered over the dirt. "While I was in the atmosphere, I realized something. I looked at this world and saw it is a beautiful one. And then, I had a passing thought." Her talons extended. "That this world has suffered the existence of saiyans on its surface long enough. All your foolishness and corruption – this is the heart of it. I won't let this planet be any further damaged."

"What on Earth is she talking about?" Gohan gaped with confusion.

She planted her hand against the ground, arching her tail. "So I'll end this quickly…so you can't bother it any further!" She leapt and a green blur blocked her way. "Tsk. And what do you want, Namekian?" she snarled.

"I don't think you want to rush into this fight," Piccolo advised.

"Oh I really think I do," Nevrrest snidely replied. She took a step forward and Piccolo planted a hand against her chest. "Are you joking?" she admonished.

"I don't take you for a fool," he calmly replied, "Perhaps desperate, but not unwise."

"Your point?" she impatiently demanded.

"That form of yours…" They all watched it spark with rogue bolts of red lightning. "You're barely containing the energy inside it as it is."

"I noticed."

"Are you really willing to risk all that power getting loose?"

"Not particularly," she snipped back, "All the more reason to finish this quickly."

"A rushed job rarely works out in your favor."

"What are you, my advisor?"

"Perhaps." Piccolo removed his hand from her chest. "I don't have any interest in helping you win. But I also happen to care about this planet. Seems to me, you also don't want to see it come to harm."

She blinked at him, eye to eye with him as she'd normally be. Then she laughed a little – a gentle, kind laugh. "Well now. It's almost refreshing being on a planet where for once nobody knows who I am. Yes, Namekian. I don't harm worlds. I save them."

"Seriously?" Gohan angrily called out, glaring at her, "How can you be someone who saves people after all the awful things you've done?!"

"Don't try to wrap your head around it, Gohan," Vegeta grunted, standing off to the side dismissively, "You'll only exhaust yourself."

"What I'm proposing is this," Piccolo answered, the two towering figures ignoring the others, "That you use me as your sparring partner before you fight. Give yourself a chance to control your power before you use it."

Her eyes shifted anxiously. "All right, but briefly. We don't have much time."

Piccolo's expression flattened, suddenly nervous. "What do you mean?"

She put a finger to her ybora gem, its insides swirling with light. "I mean I had to tap into my people's vital life energies to achieve this level of power. If I don't finish this quickly, some of them may start dying."

Horror swept over them like a tidal wave. "No way!" Trunks exclaimed, "You mean you're sucking the life out of people to just to make yourself stronger?!"

"That's insane!" Gohan shouted, "How could you do something like that?!"

Piccolo grunted with frustration. "So you're really that desperate to defeat Vegeta and Goku?"

"Yes," she candidly replied, "I'm that desperate."

Anxiously, Goku cupped his hand by Vegeta's ear. "What do we do? We can't drag this fight out now. It could kill people!"

"Quiet," Vegeta hissed back, "I'm trying to think."

"Hey, guys," Krillin whispered from behind them, drawing their attention, "Don't worry about it, just stick to the plan. I'm not going to be of use in this fight anyways, so I'll fly inside that ship and share my energy with anyone who gets too low."

"Hm, that won't do anything for the fleet members who are still in space," Vegeta stated with consideration, "But at least it will buy us some time for now."

"You sure about this, Krillin?" Goku prompted.

"Yeah, don't worry about it," the human assured. He took a pouch off his belt. "Oh, and here. A few sensu beans. I was only able to get three, but I hope it helps."

"Oh yeah!" Goku brightly smiled, taking the beans, "Thanks, Krillin!"

"Well," Piccolo relaxed, looking to Nevrrest again as his sharp ears overheard the conversation, "The offer still stands."

"I said I'll take it," she irritably shot back, shifting uncomfortably, "I'm getting a little sick of the extra damages that keep piling up. It's time to do this right."

They both floated up into the air. As they rose, Piccolo gave Gohan a brief look over his shoulder. Gohan nodded, understanding.

"Gosh, what do you think Piccolo's doing, Trunks?" Goten innocently wondered.

"He's probably gonna pull some kind of smooth move on her," Trunks answered with false knowing, "You'll see."

"Hey, guys," Gohan hushed, "Pay attention to the bad guy, okay? Piccolo's giving us a chance to study her before our fight."

"Oooooh," Goten understood.

"Yeah, 'course, I knew that," Trunks stated, folding his arms and shifting his eyes to the side.

"Would it be alright if I asked you something?" said Piccolo as his white caped flapped in the open air.

"Make it quick," the dragon-like Nevrrest replied, "I wasn't kidding when I said this form…this Ultra Quantum State will eventually start killing my people."

"That's exactly what I wanted to ask you about. You seem awfully concerned about this planet, yet you're willing to risk letting your own people die. That doesn't make sense to me."

Nevrrest closed her glowing, slotted eyes. "Let me ask you something, Namek—" She paused. "I'm sorry, that seems rude. Your name?"

"Piccolo."

"Piccolo…like the instrument. That's actually a beautiful name." Her eyes reopened. "Tell me, Piccolo…have you ever watched someone die?"

"I've seen my share."

"And what of failure?"

"My share of that as well."

"Something really important?" she pressed.

Piccolo's gaze shifted over to his friends, wandering from Goku, to Vegeta, to the three boys. "There have been times. One in particular I don't entirely regret."

"I never have." She waited as he looked at her again. "Not once. I always win. I make sure of it."

Piccolo's expression lifted a little with understanding. "I see. So you've never tasted defeat. And you're terrified of it."

Her brow and miniscule remainder of a plume flattened. "I never said I was afraid."

"You are," Piccolo assured, "I can see it in your eyes. That's what this is really about. The truth is, you don't want to hurt anyone who's not directly involved in this fight. But you're so scared of losing, you're willing to risk whatever it takes to avoid it."

Nevrrest blinked tightly. "Hmph." Piccolo reared back and tensed, gasping and clenching his pointed teeth as her curled-finger palm was right in front of his chin, the gust of the force blowing his hat clean off. "Why don't you take off that weighted armor you're wearing, Piccolo? You're going to need to be limber if you're going to help me do my warm-ups."

Vegeta sneered with frustration, curling his lips into a deep scowl. "She's gotten even faster."

"Yeah," Goku agreed, letting his locks shrink back to a Super Saiyan Two, "And who knows how much stronger."

Piccolo grunted as he removed his training armor, it making a load crash as it impacted the ground below. "I hope you aren't planning to take this too seriously."

"Oh don't worry, I know you're no threat to me." The blades that were once her feathers rose up and fanned out on various places on her body as she moved into attack position. "Though I almost wish you were." She smiled. "There's something strangely comfortable about you. Not like a familiarity, but almost."

"Oddly enough, I feel the same," Piccolo admitted, also readying himself, "Which worries me."

"What?" she gently inquired.

"You being anything like me," he answered, "Because I know just how dangerous I am."

"You're right to be worried." Wild energy sparked around her arm as she held it up. "This will be the exercise in control for me. But then, that's the very reason I'm sparring with you. If I can't manage to control this new power, this planet is doomed. And that's a sacrifice I'd rather not make."

"As for me," Piccolo replied, smiling a little, "I have no reason to hold back!"

As to back that sentence, he instantly unloaded on her. Gohan's heart skipped a beat as the yellow explosion washed over where Nevrrest had been a moment before. It'd been some time since he'd witnessed his unwitting godfather attack so aggressively. Nevrrest leapt over the attack with all the grace befitting her position, her tail coming around her tight body and striking Piccolo downward. The ground erupted like a nuclear explosion, dust and debris flying upward in a gigantic plume.

"Ah!" cried Goten and Trunks.

"Piccolo!" shouted Gohan, running to the edge of the crater.

Nevrrest landed lightly next to him, observing the young man as though he were a yipping dog and frowning at the impact zone. "Are you alive?" she flatly called.

"Don't be so soft." Piccolo emerged from the dust cloud, holding his right shoulder and wincing slightly. "This may be just a sparring match to you. But I haven't been this serious in a long time!"

He flew forward, fists tucked into his sides and rearing as a tremendous aura lit around him. Veins bulged under his green skin, his claws extended and his eyes intensely wide as he unleashed a storm of fists. Nevrrest didn't seem to move at all, her dodges so rapid and subtle that Gohan could just barely perceive them. She was like wind cutting through a kite as she moved with Piccolo's attacks – much faster than she had to just because she could.

However, once in a while the Namekian would surprise her. She laughed when she saw the Hellzone Grenade surrounding her, her glowing yellow eyes wide with glee. "Such a vicious attack!" she declared. Gohan had to squint to see her move as she bobbed her way through the attack, some of the explosions glancing off her harmlessly. "We're kindred spirits, aren't we, Piccolo? Perhaps when this is over I'll invite you to join me in The Justice."

"No thanks," he replied, shoving his claws at her chest, "I've got all the excitement I need right here on Earth."

Nevrrest chuckled and gave him a blow that sent him flying into the distance. "Not wise to say no to a proposal before you even know what you're being offered!" She took off after him so fast it was as though she simply vanished.

She hasn't seriously injured him yet, but I still don't want to risk that any longer than I have to, Gohan thought as Piccolo re-engaged the dragon-like foe, So far I've seen that she has a similar fighting style to Piccolo. She uses both energy and physical attacks alternately and prefers offense to defense. She's also extremely aggressive in her techniques and tries to put her opponent off balance. And then there's her speed...keeping her at close quarters would probably be best. If she manages to get any distance on me, tracking her will be nearly impossible.

Piccolo leapt back several times as Nevrrest playfully poked at his defenses. There's little point in me sparring with her much longer. I doubt she'll buy my excuse for controlling her power for long anyways. Yet I can't help but feel I've failed to reveal some aspect of her character as a warrior...

At that moment, Nevrrest's tail whipped around his wrist, stopping him mid-punch. "That's enough," she stated with finality, "If I haven't lost control by now, I'm not going too." Her tail slithered off his green arm. "Perhaps someday we'll spar again. But for now..." She shot at Goku and Vegeta like a rocket.

"Not so fast." An apparition blocked her path and solidified as a young man. Gohan put a thumb to his chest. "I'll be your next opponent."