"GOHAN!" Piccolo screamed, shooting through the air like a bullet.

"Uh…aah! Uuuaah!" Goku's face twitched as his son fell, his entire body cold and frozen in horror.

Piccolo caught the young warrior before he hit the ground, instantly lashing his hands around Gohan's throat and using his energy to hold in the blood. Goku was half a second behind him, landing on his knees and grabbing Gohan's arm.

"Gohan!" Goku cried, bending over him as he held his son's hand to his chest, "Can you hear me? Gohan! Come on, son, please!"

Even Vegeta's face twitched at the scene. "How? How?! How could she have closed the gap so quickly?!"

Nevrrest narrowed her eyes sadly down at the fallen Gohan and turned away. "I warned you…" she murmured and tossed her right arm to the side, flicking the blood on her talons to the ground. The splatter landed several feet in front of the two young boys.

"Mmmm…mmmm…!" Goten bit his lip, his eyes fat with tears.

"Eggghh…mmmhhmmm!" Trunks trembled and clenched his fists.

"Gohan…!" Goku held his son's pale cheeks. A tormenting fire burned in his chest and he glared up at Nevrrest with his teeth clenched. "How could you?!" he shouted up at her, "Answer me, Nevrrest!"

Piccolo shook with contained rage as he held Gohan's life in his hands. "Goku…"

"You know damn well why, Kakarot," Nevrrest quietly replied, turned away and arms folded, "He wouldn't heed my warnings. He made himself a danger to the future we all dream of. Go ahead and blame me. I don't care what you think anymore."

"How many, Nevrrest?!" Goku continued to howl up at her as he cradled his firstborn, "How many lives are you willing to sacrifice for your twisted goals?!"

"Goku!" Piccolo barked at him, forcing his attention, "We don't have time for this. If we don't close the wound, Gohan will die."

Goku forced his eyes away from Nevrrest and nodded. "Right. I hope he can still swallow."

"What's the matter, Goku?" Nevrrest snapped as he turned his attention away from her, "Can't you just bring him back with the dragon balls?"

"WWEEAAAAAHHHHH!" Goten screamed, tears streaming from his eyes and his hair exploding into gold, "WHY-DID-YOU-DO-THAT-TO-MY-BROTHER-WHY-WHY?! I HATE YOU—I HATE YOU—I HATE YOU!"

"GOTEN, NO!" Piccolo cried as the boy berserked, shooting straight at Nevrrest.

Nevrrest's eyes widened with disbelief. "What?!" she stared as a small child tackled her right off the spire.

"I got you, Goten!" Trunks flew right behind him, his silky hair lighting gold as well.

"What is this?!" Nevrrest snarled with annoyance, swatting at the boys as if they were harmless flies. As for the boys, they pounded at her with everything they had, not even noticing or caring that she wasn't even slightly harmed by it. Her eyes narrowed and she hissed. "Children," she snarled, "More children!" She swept her arm through the air, the sheer force of the movement knocking both boys to the ground. "This is how it's going to be?! Fine! Bring the whole litter!" Her arms spread and red lightning shot across her span.

"Goten! Trunks!" Goku shouted at them, "Don't do it—it's too dangerous!"

"Oh right," Trunks grunted as he sat up, "We need to do the dance first. Come on, Goten!"

"Boys!" Piccolo urgently shouted.

But the two weren't listening. They assumed the stance. "Fuuuu…"

"Oh what are they doing now…?!" Nevrrest seethed as the boys started to dance, "Mocking me?! I'll teach you, you little brats!"

"…sion—aaah!" Trunks cried as Nevrrest cracked her tail across him as if hitting a home run. He flew off, bounced, tumbled, rolled, and slid across the rocky dirt.

"Trunks!" Vegeta cried after him.

Goten screamed with angry tears and threw his fist at Nevrrest. She caught his arm, lifted him up, and started repeatedly punching him in the stomach. Goten cried as blood flew from his mouth.

"No!" Goku cried, leaving Gohan's side and flying at Nevrrest. But just in that breadth of time in which Goku leapt, Nevrrest slashed Goten's clothes to shreds, pounded him into a living bruise, and threw him into Goku. Goku wrapped his body around his son as they both crashed into a crater in the earth. Goku cradled his boy in his arms as the dust settled and Goten's blood flowed and stained his father's clothes. "Goten…"

"Daddy…" Goten whimpered, coughing up blood.

"Hrrrrr!" Goku snarled, clutching his son and glaring all his rage up at Nevrrest.

Nevrrest glared coldly back down at him. "What's with that look, Kakarot? Something tells me, this isn't the first time you've failed your sons."

Terrible images of Cell and Buu flashed across his eyes and Goku snapped them shut, bowing his head and holding Goten even closer. "Damn you, Nevrrest…!"

"Hggrrrh!" cried an angry, young voice, "Galick…Gun!"

Nevrrest snapped her head to the side and put out a hand, catching a purple beam against her palm as Trunks glared with rage, pouring it at her. She pushed the beam aside and Trunks roared, tearing straight at her.

Vegeta's heart skipped a beat. "No, Trunks, no!"

Nevrrest grabbed Trunks by both arms and slammed her knee into his stomach. Blood flew from the boy's mouth, instantly losing Super Saiyan from that single blow. More blood spilled from the boy's mouth as she connected her fist with his jaw with an audible crack. She slashed her talons in multiple directions all over him, grabbed him again, and watched him scream as she first broke an arm and then a leg. Last of all, she seized him by the throat and gripped his purple hair with the other hand, pulling his head back.

"NEVRREST!" Vegeta's eyes burned green as he stood stooped with his wrists pressed together, his body crackling with yellow lightning as a ball of energy gathered in his curled fingers. "Release him."

"Or you'll what?" Nevrrest sneered, blood dripping down Trunks face as she held him, ready to snap his neck, "Blow us both away? Go ahead! That's right, stupid ape! I'm calling your bluff!"

Vegeta's whole body trembled, his teeth bared. "If you harm him any further…"

Nevrrest paused and raised a brow. "Well…this is something I hadn't even considered." Trunks shut his eyes and whimpered angrily as she pulled his head further back. "You're…terrified…aren't you, Vegeta?"

The energy in his hands expanded. "I'm warning you, Nevrrest—"

She laughed. "Look at you! The might Prince Vegeta…a terrified father! Scared to death he's about to watch his only son die. If I only known I'd see the day…"

"Nevrrest!" Goku shouted, watching with wide, desperate eyes as his friend and his foe stood off, "Please! I'm sorry, you're right! I made a mistake! Leave the boys out of this! I'm begging you!"

"Beg?" She whistled, her eyes shifting thoughtfully. "Beg…an interesting word. Thank you, Goku. That's just the word I needed." She looked pitilessly at Vegeta. "My sweet prince…beg."

A deep growl bellowed in Vegeta's throat. "Nevrrest—!"

"BEG!" She made Trunks cry out, pulling his head even further back. "Beg…I'll do it. I'll rip your son's head clean off right in front of you! What are you waiting for? Do you want to see your son die? BEG FOR HIS LIFE!" Her eyes narrowed and her teeth showed. "Beg…like I…begged."

Vegeta's whole body shook violently, losing control of the energy in his hands. He hissed helplessly and snapped his eyes shut. "RRRR—JUST LEAVE HIM ALONE!"

Her eyes turned to slits. "Not good enough…" She pulled back.

Pssstttttt—BAM! Nevrrest cried out as they were all deafened by the sound of a red laser beam striking her right in the neck. She lost her grip on Trunks and Vegeta tackled him out of the air, wrapping his body around him and rolling just Goku had done. The beam had hit its mark – the fusion band around her neck – cracking and shattering it into tiny pieces.

Bulma lowered the scope from her eye, the end of her laser rifle melted and smoking from the release of its one shot. "That's what you get for messing with my kid."

Heads slowly rose as the smoke wafted away from around Nevrrest, lying flat on her back in the dust. "Ah ha ha ha ha ha…" Nevrrest's chest heaved with the laugh. "Ahahahahahahaha!" Her hand tightened as they saw the glowing shard of ybora still in her grasp. "AHAHAHAHAHAHA!" She placed it to her neck. Like magnets, all the pieces of the band flew to their places on her neck, the shards growing together until the band had been completely reformed. She got to her feet, still laughing, and sneered at them all. "Did you really think…my Sepis wouldn't safe guard against such things?!" She blurred. Bulma screamed in her hiding place as her used laser rifle shattered in Nevrrest's grip and the still Ultra Quantum being lifted her by the front of her shirt. "Clever whore?!" She spread her talons.

The front of Bulma's shirt ripped and Vegeta's leg embedded so deeply in Nevrrest's stomach that her back buckled out before she was sent flying. Bulma gasped with relief. "Phew, just in time! For a second there—"

He sat her on her feet and shoved her away. "GET OUT OF HERE!" he roared before bounding like a tiger after Nevrrest.

Nevrrest was still falling when she saw Vegeta coming at her so fast, she thought she was seeing double. "Holy shit—!" He tackled her right out of the air and was waling on her before they hit the ground.

Bulma stared after the blur. "Bulma!" Goku appeared behind her, the battered and bleeding Trunks lying across one arm.

"Oh Trunks!" Bulma cried, instantly stooping and touching his face.

Trunks' eyes cracked open. "Mom…"

"Bulma, we have to go," Goku quickly stated, "All the boys are badly hurt and you're not safe here."

She took Trunks from him in both arms without hesitation. "Let's go then, Goku." He nodded. "And Goku." He stopped as she looked at him with the cold, angry eyes of a mother. "Make her pay for hurting our kids." Goku's brow lowered and he nodded again.

Piccolo looked up as Bulma and Goku arrived carrying the two boys. Gohan made whistling sounds as he tried to speak. "Quiet, Gohan," Piccolo gently scolded.

"Here." Goku dropped to his knees and fished around the pouch on his belt. He pinched a sensu bean between his fingers and held it out over Gohan's mouth. "Okay, Gohan. Open up." Gohan's lips moved as he whistled something again and turned his head away. "What? Come on, son!"

"What's wrong?" Bulma interjected, "Why won't he take it?"

"I don't know!" Goku said, a little panicked, trying to offer him the bean again, "Gohan! Your throat's been cut. Can you hear me? If you don't get healed you'll die!"

"Gohan!" Bulma snapped, "Listen to your father!"

Gohan shook his head again and Piccolo sighed thoughtfully. "He must have his reasons. Goku. Can you use your Instant Transmission to take us to Dende?"

"Sure," Goku briskly replied, putting the bean away. He looked tensely between Gohan and Goten. "Hang in there, guys…"

Bulma touched Piccolo and Goku rested a hand on her shoulder, the three of them each holding one of the boys as they flashed from that place. Nevrrest saw it from the corner of her eye and burned with rage. "Damn you all!" She was silenced as Vegeta screamed and blasted her with yellow energy poured from both hands.

(**Scene Break**)

Dende stood at the edge of the Lookout, as he had for some time now. He hadn't expected that strange power from a month before to return – nor for it to come back feeling so wicked. The strangest, most horrible thing was the screaming voices he could feel surrounding it. There were thousands of energy signatures, made slave to the presence's will and turning it into a supernova of power. Of course, at the center of it like always were Goku and his friends. Then, the worst thing had happened. They had started to fall.

So it was with worry, not surprise, that he turned and ran toward them as they appeared on his Lookout. "Guys! I'm so glad you came! I was worried!"

"Dende—" said Piccolo.

"Yes, I know," Dende assured. He came around and stooped next to the young man in Piccolo's arms. "Gohan…what have you gotten yourself into this time, my friend?"

Gohan gave him an affectionate and pained look, closing his eyes as Dende put his hands on him and the Namekian's magic shimmered around him. Gohan started coughing and sat up, holding his healed throat as he hacked out several globs of blood. "Thanks, Dende." He looked at Goku. "Dad, get back there. Vegeta's going to need your help."

Goku nodded. "Okay, Gohan."

"And Dad? You and Vegeta each take one of the sensu beans." His brow fell back with shame. "I'm sorry. I didn't follow your instructions and pace myself. So you didn't get a chance to rest and Goten and Trunks—"

Goku put his hands on his shoulders. "It's okay, Gohan. Nevrrest was too dangerous for you to fight. I should have never put you up to this."

"You're wrong," Gohan looked down, "You should be able to depend on me. Instead, all I was was a burden."

"Gohan," said Piccolo, "Now is not the time." He looked at Goku. "I'll stay here and guard the Lookout. I'll keep them safe."

"Then I'll make sure to win," Goku replied and vanished.

"Wait!" Dende moved and then sighed, "He didn't even give me a chance to heal him."

"Goku will be fine," Piccolo assured, "He won't take any more chances after what Nevrrest's done."

"Come on, Dende," Bulma irritably insisted, cradling both Trunks and Goten against her, "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and heal the kids!"

"Oh, Bulma!" Dende straightened. He cupped his hands together nervously. "How's…the baby?"

"Now!"

"Right!" He put one hand over each boy, Bulma watching intensely as Trunks and Goten were healed.

The boys grunts, helping each other get up and examining themselves. "Well that could have gone better," said Trunks with embarrassment.

"Yeah…" Goten looked down and then clenched his fists, "Wanna try again?!"

"Yeah, this time with Gotenks," Trunks agreed.

"No," said Piccolo so harshly they both recoiled, "Neither of you are going anywhere near Nevrrest."

"You two weren't even listening when Goku tried to call you off!" Bulma scolded, standing up and shaking a finger, "I don't care how strong you two are when fused! You two are too irresponsible to handle that crazy bird!"

"But Mom—!" protested Trunks.

"Guys, she's right," Gohan added, standing with the other adults, "Even I couldn't handle her. This woman…she doesn't play by our rules. She's got one goal and the only ones who can stop her are our dads."

"But that's not fair!" Trunks shouted, throwing his fists down and shoving his head up in a tantrum, "Gohan! You know how long I've been waiting to get back at her! She took Dad! She messed everything up! I wanna bring her down!" Bulma slapped him, leaving a bright pink mark on his cheek. "Mmmggrrmmm…"

"That's enough," Bulma ordered, "I wanted to stop her too. But we can't. And I'm not going to allow you to go get yourself killed – and Goten too – just to make yourself feel better." She saw her son's eyes well and she sighed, holding her belly as she awkwardly got to her knees. Trunks grunted angrily, but gave in and hugged her. "Let's trust your father…okay? He made it home, didn't he? He's not leaving us again. Not ever."

(**Scene Break**)

"HHHHUUUUUUURRRR!" Vegeta screamed as he ran up the length of Nevrrest's underbelly and cracked his skull against hers. His eyes ate into her as she reared and he drove his elbow back into her chest plate before slamming his fist up into her chin. No thoughts ran through his mind as he acted. Driven by pure feeling, he kicked and blasted her, screaming his fury with every strike.

She seized him. "You…cannot…save them!" Nevrrest screeched as she struck him repeatedly, "Whatever you do—I will find them! I will hurt them! They will die! You will die! End of story!"

"HHHRRAAAARRR!" Vegeta screamed, rabbit kicking her face and slugging her away. He spat blood angrily and hurled an energy blast with all his might.

Nevrrest's talons pursued him like a rabid wolverine she was trying to slay, his every attack an insult to her attempts. Vegeta pummeled her like a savage, sitting on her shoulders with his legs wrapped around her neck. He tore his knuckles on her rough scales, not caring or feeling a thing. Even Nevrrest's vicious words didn't faze him. The only sound he heard was the ring of Bulma's scream and Trunks' cries in his ears.

Vegeta howled again as he threw a punch. It missed and the momentum carried him past his opponent. His glowing green eyes flashed as he saw her tail blades coming at him and turned in mid-motion, both of his hands coming forward, palms out. "DEFIANCE WAVE!" he screamed without thought, pouring from his hands that same powerful burst he had conjured to defeat Un. Nevrrest squawked as the rapid, powerful attack struck her full in the chest. The golden, swirling beam carried her far across the desolate landscape and crashing into a mountain on the edge of the horizon.

Vegeta panted heavily and growled, lowering his arms. "Vegeta!" Goku shouted, appearing and running to him. The other saiyan stopped abruptly and gasped. "Vegeta! Are you alright?"

"What?" Vegeta growled and then looked down at himself. It was only then he realized he was absolutely covered in gashes and cuts, his mouth and hands bloody. On top of it all, he even had a nasty stab wound in his side. He hadn't even noticed. Suddenly feeling the pain in his side, he grabbed it and dropped to one knee.

"Whoa, hey," Goku caught his shoulders, steadying him, "Nevrrest…?"

Vegeta turned his head and spat blood. "Not a scratch," he snarled.

"I see. Well you did a good job holding her off. Everyone's safe on the Lookout."

Vegeta ripped the sensu bean pouch from Goku's belt. "I don't have time for your damn assurances." He shoved a bean into his mouth and chewed it fiercely.

"Alright. What do you—BMM!" Goku flailed backward as Vegeta slammed his palm over his mouth, shoving a sensu bean in.

Vegeta's skin sparkled with fresh gleam as he grabbed Goku by the shreds of his prison uniform and dragged him under the shadow of the crashed Hammer. "Listen well!" he barked, "We have seconds at best."

"Whoa, okay!" Goku cried as he swallowed.

Vegeta shoved the sensu bean pouch back into his hands and seized Goku by the back of the neck, hauling him down to his level. "Fuse with me, Kakarot," he commanded, pointing a finger in his face.

"DWAAAH!" Goku flailed with shock, falling over backward. He stared up at Vegeta from his position on the ground. "Did I hear you right? Did you just ask me to fuse with you?"

"Are you deaf as well as stupid?!" Vegeta screamed down at him, shaking a fist, "Yes!"

"But…but Vegeta," Goku protested, blinking, "You hate fusion."

Vegeta gave a deep growl. "I am aware of that."

"Then why?"

The saiyan prince turned aside and glared over the horizon. His knuckles cracked as he clenched a fist at his side. "Because, Kakarot, for the first time in my life, my rage has surpassed my pride." He snapped his glowing green eyes to Goku's, the fur on his clipped tail standing on end. "I'm ending this, Kakarot. I don't care what it takes." The mauve flames of Oom'Bagu's power flared in his eyes. "I will endure any humiliation if it bring her low."

"You…sound pretty serious," Goku admitted. He got to his feet. "But I'm not sure if you're thinking straight. I mean, we didn't use fusion to beat Buu in the end, right? We don't need it! Besides, we agreed we wouldn't fuse again."

"Well I am annulling that agreement!" Vegeta shouted, going so far as to get on his toes as he got in Goku's face.

"Come on! We can still beat her the way we are! We just need to come up with a new strategy!"

There was a gust of air. "Having a nice chat, are we?" The blades on Nevrrest's tail opened and whipped to the side. Instantly, everything else melted away from Goku and Vegeta's faces. Both super saiyans turned to gaze upon her – hard, burning, and focused. "Ah. I see. Your expressions tell me that you're finally ready to take me seriously…" A trilling purr rumbled up and down her throat. All the blades on her dragon-like body fanned out and she grinned. "Good."

Something dropped from the hole in the ship. "Hey. Nevrrest." They all paused and turned.

Goku gasped. "Horkion! Laswe!"

The tiny rock-man carried his unconscious friend on his arm. The ponachi prince draped in the minarite's embrace like a murdered bride, golden cape shimmering and rippling with every step Horkion took. He walked right between Goku and Vegeta, eyes on Nevrrest. The Ultra Quantum being followed his progress as he walked right up to her and dropped to his knees, lying Laswe on the ground.

"…He's dying, Nevrrest," Horkion stated quietly, gazing down at Laswe, "They're all dying…you're killing them."

Nevrrest's blades slowly flattened. "…I know."

"…Do you care…?"

"Yes."

"Then stop."

"I won't."

Vegeta's eyes shifted and he elbowed Goku impatiently. "Kakarot."

"Shh!" Goku snapped back, putting a finger to his lips.

Horkion creaked, brushing his thick fingers over Laswe's triangular face. "Well. At least you had the decency not to say 'can't.'" He paused. "Nevrrest. Despite our differences, I want you to know that you are my friend."

"I feel the same, Horkion," Nevrrest assured. She gently stepped around him, her tail low to the ground. "I'm sorry."

"…So am I…"

Nevrrest froze like she'd been struck as Horkion suddenly leapt to his feet and hugged her in an intense embrace. She stared down at him in shock. "What…what are you…?"

Goku and Vegeta both jerked as Horkion's body glowed with yellow crevices and became like molten rock. He hugged her closer to himself, his body melting and enveloping her own.

"What?!" Nevrrest squawked. She moved back and Horkion came with her, his body now a semi-solid blob sliding its way across her body. She screeched angrily and started slashing at him, causing spurts of yellow, slushy blood. Suddenly, she stiffened like a statue, completely frozen in place. Horkion's pebble eyes floating on her chest, his body sank through her scales and became integrated with her flesh, bits of rock intermingled all over between glowing yellow crevices. "Ack! What is this?! What have you done?!"

"Invaded your cells with my own," Horkion sadly stated, his voice a crystalline echo, "It's a technique created by my masters…a technique only I can perform. It's called Union Elegy. By the time it's complete I'll have merged my ki with your own. And then…all this will end."

"I don't like the sound of this…" said Goku, anxious and serious.

Nevrrest chuckled. "Oh I get it. How quaint of you, Horkion. You're latching onto me so you can blow yourself up. Very heroic. But it won't work."

"I'm not going blow myself up." Her smile fell. "You are."