(You know, there were times I thought I'd never reach this point in this story.)

Chapter 48: Silent Lucidity

"Your mind tricked you to feel the pain
Of someone close to you leaving the game of life
So here it is, another chance
Wide awake you face the day
Your dream is over
Or has it just begun?"
Silent Lucidity-Queensrÿche

DBZ

Seripa and Frieza fell and Mejai slowly opened his midnight eyes. He glanced at Kami and let out a tired sigh. "It's done. Frieza won't be walking away from that one."

Kami met his gaze and gravely nodded his agreement. "Neither will Seripa, it seems."

The ancient Saiyan was unreadable as he stared at Kami in silence. After a moment he looked down and shook his head, his voice low as he replied, "No, she won't. She was killed almost instantly."

Kami frowned but nodded. "She fought well. They all did. But what happens now? I can still sense Frieza's ki."

Mejai nodded a confirmation. "Yeah, he's still alive. But so is Bardock and he's in a bit better shape than Frieza is right now. Especially with Berik's nanites. He'll finish him off soon enough once he awakens." He appeared thoughtful for a moment. "Or maybe Seluri. Either way, in the meantime I think it might not be a bad idea to locate some Wish Orbs."

Kami blinked. "The Dragon Balls? Ah." He nodded as he remembered Mejai's earlier suggestion. "Yes, I see. We can repair the damage and restore the fallen to life."

Mejai grinned, his characteristic mirth practically back in full swing. "Yeah, about that. I was wondering what Shenlong's limitations were."

"His limitations? As far as what?" Kami asked curiously.

"For wishing people back. Like how long they can be dead before it's considered too late for them to be brought back."

Kami blinked but then frowned. "I would think you would know his limitations. You did imply that you were acquainted with him already."

Mejai chuckled. "True. But when I knew him he could grant three wishes at once."

"Three wishes," Kami echoed, his tone almost one of wonder. "That is incredible. Shenlong is powerful, but he cannot grant three wishes now."

"How far back can he bring someone back from, though?"

Kami frowned and shook his head. "No more than a year, I'm afraid." He paused as Mejai almost seemed to deflate. "Until today I had imagined that a grand feat. What was he once capable of?"

Mejai sighed and lifted a hand to scratch the side of his head. That revelation had almost broken him. He'd been holding out hope that this version of Shenlong still retained at least some of the abilities of the one he had known so many years before. "When I knew him he could bring back nearly anyone so long as they had not been dead for more than a thousand years. So bringing the Saiyans back is out of the question. But the Gylderians are lucky. As well as anyone else Frieza and his family killed this year. 366 days, right?" he asked, giving Kami a slight questioning glance.

Kami blinked. "Uh, 365 actually. That was remarkably close, though."

Mejai waved a dismissive hand. "The universe is remarkably consistent. The galactic average is roughly 366 days at a galactic average of roughly 23 hours. So 365 days then. That's still quite a few people who we can give a second chance to, considering how many people Frieza killed on a daily basis. Not even considering those his father and brother have murdered." He paused and looked up as he mumbled to himself for a few moments.

He finally nodded and looked at Kami again. "So can you like, sense the Dragon Balls or something?"

Kami furrowed his brow. "No, unfortunately I am unable to do that." He paused and pursed his lips thoughtfully. "Hm." He looked around to stare in the direction of the battlefield. "Although, now that you mention it, there may just be a way to locate them in a short amount of time."

Mejai's ears actually twitched with sudden interest and he stared at Kami, keenly expectant. "And?"

The Namekian met his gaze. "Frieza currently has the two and four starred Dragon Balls. He took possession of them after his arrival, but what is of more importance is that the daughter of a human scientist was able to develop a device that can track the magical energy of the Dragon Balls."

The ancient saiyan's eyes went wide and he grinned. "Seriously?!"

Kami nodded. "Indeed, however I am uncertain as to whether or not the device has survived the battle. But if the daughter, Bulma, survived, then she should easily be able to recreate the device in a short amount of time. It took her only a few days to design and build the first one, after all."

Mejai grinned stupidly and grabbed Kami sharply by the arm startling the old Namekian into protest. "This is great news! We can undo all the damage before next week then!"

Kami offered the saiyan a smile and gently loosened Mejai's steely grip. "Indeed we can. I am only thankful that no one else must suffer at the hands of this Frieza. With such power he had I could only imagine what suffering he left in his wake."

Mejai chuckled. "Whatever you imagine, multiply it by three to account for his brother and their father."

Kami's staff clattered to the floor as he turned sharply to face Mejai. "His brother and their father?" he demanded with no small amount of frightened intensity.

The ancient saiyan grinned sheepishly. "Didn't I mention them earlier?"

DBZ

Seluri trudged wearily across the dark and devastated battlefield as the heavens showed their lamentations by trying to drown her under a veritable waterfall, her head still swimming from Frieza's vicious kick. Debris and shadowed craters slid by her through the darkness. Her nose was twisted at an odd angle, her lips swollen and stained with congealed blood. The rain had washed most of it away by this point, though. As she gingerly touched her black and blue cheek she had to note that the swelling had gone down and her nose hurt significantly less than it had when she'd first awoken, so the nanites had at least partially survived the ordeal.

She abruptly paused as the earth suddenly fell away from her and she gasped as she looked up and realized she was standing on the edge of a massive crater. She looked to her left and saw no end as it curved away from her and out of sight. She looked to her right and saw the same thing.

"Gods…" she whispered in terrified wonder. What had she missed out on? And where was everyone? Had anyone else aside from her survived?

She stepped away from the crater and turned to her right to trek around its rim. She couldn't sense anyone else right then and she sure couldn't see anyone or anything in this darkness, especially not with the rain coming down as heavily as it was. She had missed out on what seemed to have been a fierce struggle. What exactly had happened?

She felt a stirring at the edge of her senses and forced herself to full alertness as she realized she was almost on top of someone. The ki was there, too faint to recognize, but clearly alive. She glanced around and started moving away from the crater at an angle. She lifted a hand and conjured a small orb of white light that she then lifted above her head to light her path. She moved slowly and silently through rapidly gathering puddles, carefully stepping over chunks of earth and debris until her light revealed an all-too familiar being that made her blood run cold. She came to an abrupt stop and gaped at the downed tyrant, a massive hole burned clear through his abdomen. His tail twitched and jerked spasmodically, half-pinned under his unmoving body.

His fingers clawed weakly into the mud at his sides, his face screwed up so tightly in pain that his eyes were closed. He was completely unaware Seluri was even there. She frowned and swallowed the lump that had caught in her throat as she stepped closer. She was practically on top of him when she heard his pained chittering that had been drowned out by the relentless drumming of rain.

"W-where's my daughter?" she demanded harshly. If they had stuck to their original plan then Seripa would have joined the battle at some point. So she should be around, as well.

Frieza's eyes shot open and he looked at her in a fear she all-too clearly recognized; it was the same look of fear on the face of that first young Ice-jin she had killed so many decades ago.

"H...help...me…" the tyrant actually pleaded, one hand lifting to reach towards her. "Please…!" Water coursed the length of his arm, dripping into a swelling pool of red beneath him.

Seluri recognized the desperation in his voice and she recoiled as she narrowed her eyes in contempt. "You're begging? Really? How...how many people have begged for their lives before you, and you ignored them?"

Frieza either ignored the question or was so far gone already he simply hadn't heard, because he pleaded again, saying, "Please!" with much more desperate urgency than before. "Don't...let me...die like...this…"

"Where is my daughter you son of a bitch?!" she screeched despite herself. "Answer me!"

He stared up at her, his hand gripping the air as he reached out towards her, his face showing only his fear and his pain.

Seluri grimaced down at him in disgust. "You selfish bastard, you still cannot care even now? With your own mortality staring you in the face?"

Frieza continued his pained stare, his eyes blinking furiously as he continued to grip the air. "I cannot...move...I should be...immortal…"

Seluri scowled as she brought her glowing orb down to aim at the felled tyrant. She channeled ki into it until she was certain she had enough to completely obliterate Frieza once and for all. "Where the hell is my daughter?"

Frieza stared at the orb, his eyes growing wide as he recognized the threat. He looked up from the light and met her gaze and she saw the pained regret in his eyes for what it truly meant: Seripa was dead and his regret was that Seluri would never believe whatever lie he wanted to tell her.

Seluri fired her attack without a thought and Frieza was vaporized in a bright flash of light that faded to nonexistence almost immediately, leaving her enshrouded in a blanket of darkness once more. It was over in an instant. But the light had revealed another motionless shape across from where Frieza had been, and she started towards it. Her mind was sluggishly racing, a million and one thoughts flashing through her mind too quickly for her to focus on any one thing.

Frieza was finally dead and she hardly felt anything.

She paused as she came upon the lifeless body of her daughter, eyes wide open and staring emptily into the downpour, her face frozen in her last look of triumph. She was lying in a pool of fading red. Her armor and underarmor had been almost completely destroyed, leaving her more naked than clothed. A blast had torn a gaping hole clear through her chest, destroying her heart. She was likely killed instantly.

Seluri closed her eyes and knelt down heavily with a splash. She lowered her head and swallowed another lump that had jumped into her throat, which quickly turned into a sob she had been trying to suppress since the moment she'd awoken. The rain streamed in rivulets down her back and face, washing the tears away as she shed them.

"Oh Seripa," she moaned quietly. "I am so sorry." She sniffled and shook her head slowly. She opened her eyes and looked at her daughter's face through tear-blurred eyes. "My strong girl…" she gave a shaky smile and reached out to gently close Seripa's eyes. "I'm so sorry I could not be as strong as you. You took so much more after Turpin than you did me. He would be so proud of you." She sobbed heavily and lowered her head again, her shoulders trembling.

"Gods damn it, I should have been stronger!" she exclaimed, banging her fists into the mud in sudden frustration. She did feel something after all. Frieza's death didn't affect her in a way she had expected, she realized. She had thought maybe she would feel satisfaction or a sense of serenity. Instead she felt an anger she couldn't explain.

She was angry that he had pleaded for his life after everything he had done and she was angry that in the end, after all the trouble he'd caused and after all the people he had killed, he had been finished off by someone that under normal circumstances could never hope to face him. She was angry that her daughter was dead and that killing Frieza didn't change that fact. She was angry that she hadn't been there for her at the end.

She hunched over and tucked her head into her arms, clawing at the back of her neck in agitation as her sobs became hiccups.

"Seripa." Seluri jerked upright at the whispered name to see Bardock's silhouette looming from the darkness. She hadn't even felt his ki. He stepped forward and dropped heavily to his knees across from her, mud splashing onto Seripa's bare and blackened flesh, his eyes dark and defeated as he briefly noted the fatal wound. Just long enough to confirm she was dead. He reached out and caressed her cheek, his thumb lightly brushing her blue lips. "Damn it," he murmured, his tone heavy and flat.

Seluri stared at him as she slowly lowered her arms to her sides, her rage quickly subsiding. "Bardock," she said quietly, her voice shaking.

He slowly looked up at her. "Where's Frieza?" he asked just as quietly, slowly, almost reluctantly, withdrawing his hand from Seripa's icy flesh.

"Dead. Seripa...he…" she paused and took a steadying breath. "They...killed one another." She watched him as his eyes widened slightly and he looked down at Seripa again.

Bardock nodded and smiled sadly. "That's Seripa for you." His smile faltered and he looked sharply away. But not before Seluri saw the sudden tears. "Damn it, Seripa," he said almost angrily. "I'm so damn proud to call you my mate," he continued harshly. "You…" he broke off and closed his eyes before he whispered, "damn it, she's gone."

Seluri sniffled and frowned. Why did she suddenly get the vague feeling she was forgetting something very important? She stifled her sobs the best she could and glanced around as lightning flashed overhead. She blinked and looked up as she became aware of a group of approaching powers, just in time to see a small squadron being led by a female Flazerian descending towards them. She might have gone into defensive mode if she had not noticed the familiar bald Saiyan among the throng of alien soldiers, wearing what appeared to be a business suit, at the side of a boy she immediately recognized as the son of Vegeta, who was wearing what she suspected to be a sort of school uniform. She noted the makeshift sling around his arm as she slowly stood up to greet the ensemble.

She glanced at Bardock casting the group a dark look as they landed mostly in silence, the only sounds being those of their feet splashing in the gathering puddles and the relentless drumming of rain. The female Flazerian gave a signal and several of the entourage split up leaving Nappa, Prince Vegeta, and a silver-skinned woman with what appeared to be gold lightning bolts for stripes, black dreadlocks, and luminescent green eyes holding an agitated child as they quickly formed a defensive perimeter around them. She looked squarely at the mysterious woman and frowned. She looked familiar…Her gaze was drawn down to the woman's silver and gold tail wrapped snug about her waist.

Bardock slowly stood up and frowned at the woman as well. "Aurah?" he asked slowly.

Seluri looked at him sharply, her mouth falling open. She looked at the woman again and sure enough she immediately recognized the features of her daughter Leta in the woman's face. "Aurah!" she exclaimed breathlessly. "But...how?"

Aurah offered them both a gentle smile. "Frieza nearly killed Leta. This was necessary to save her life." She glanced past them and to the still form of Seripa behind them. Her smile faded and she looked at Seluri again.

Seluri looked down at Seripa and she felt her eyes beginning to sting. She sighed and looked up again. "So what now?"

Bardock glanced at her as thunder rumbled overhead. The rain was beginning to slack off finally. A silence fell upon them and they all exchanged glances, most everyone apparently reluctant to comment on future plans. Seluri sighed again and looked up at the darkened sky.

"We could find the other Dragon Balls," a tiny voice said quietly, breaking the silence.

Seluri looked down at the child in Aurah's arms as she shuffled around and pulled a violet pack from her shoulders. She opened it up and pulled out a small golden orb that seemed to glow in the darkness.

"Dragon Balls?" Seluri echoed as she frowned in confusion.

"Dragon Balls!" Bardock exclaimed, his eyes going wide and drawing several looks his way. He looked at Seluri with a grin plastered across his face. "Those are those wish orb things Mejai was talkin' about!"

Seluri's eyes widened and she looked at the orb again, a swell of excitement surging through her. "That's right! Mejai said those could be used to undo the damage after the battle. But…" she paused and frowned, quickly tempering her expectations. "Do you think they can resurrect the dead?"

"I hope so," the child stated firmly as she replaced the ball and produced a gray, circular device. "That mean Freezer guy sent my daddy away so I gotta bring him back somehow so my mommy won't cry." She clicked a button at the top of the device and a screen came to light, blinking with several golden lights shining at various points on a black and green grid. "We only need five more."

Seluri looked at the orb in the child's hand as raindrops bounced off it. Was it possible? Mejai had affirmed their abilities, but Mejai was less than trustworthy in her book. Not to mention it just seemed too good to be true. She frowned and glanced warily at Aurah, the living embodiment of impossible. Her frown deepened. Perhaps it was possible, but she remained reluctant to fully embrace the idea. Though she supposed it wouldn't hurt anything to at least make an attempt. Despite her reservations she realized she was ready to try anything to bring Seripa back.

She looked at Bardock to see him grinning, a look of weary relief weighing heavily in the set of his shining eyes. Too proud to be seen with tears in his eyes one moment, but the second he glimpsed an opportunity to have his mate back he'd cast his pride aside without a thought. She couldn't help but to smile at the sincerity of it. It was perhaps the first time she'd seen true hope in her lifetime.

She looked at the little girl staring at the device in her hands with such determination that she began to feel the victory. Finally, after so many decades, the universe had witnessed the fall of one of the most fearsome tyrants to ever exist.

She chuckled to herself and turned her face to the clouds, her eyes closing against the drizzling rain. The birth of a new world. New opportunities. She opened her eyes and looked at Prince Vegeta and then the human girl. She smiled again at the raw determination displayed on her young face. Perhaps even the rebirth of the Saiyans.

DBZ

The rain was finally dwindling to nothing when Aurah heard the rumbling of approaching Earthling vehicles. She turned to see a row of bright lights bouncing across the rough terrain heading directly for them and easily sensed the small but fiery ki of King Koku amongst the rabble. She barely suppressed a grimace as it occurred to her that she was going to have some difficulty in convincing the king that she was both Leta and Surah in one, not to mention still having to explain what exactly had happened here.

She sighed as Lerayo's squad turned to face the line of vehicles as they all skid to a stop and Earthling soldiers sprang from behind the vehicles and trained their primitive weapons on their group.

Vegeta scowled at the display. "Surely they're not dumb enough to attack us."

Aurah smiled and knelt to set Bulma on the ground. "They're understandably frightened after all they've seen today." She straightened up and turned to fully face the line of soldiers. "The danger has passed!" she said loudly, but not so loudly as to sound threatening. Her lilting voice carried easily and the soldiers seemed to relax in its cadence. She grinned apologetically and bowed her head. "King Koku, I do apologize for the damage, though."

She heard a door open and then close and the short-statured King of Earth stepped into the light and approached them, his face drawn and grim. He looked the group over as he paused before them, his gaze lingering particularly on Bardock and Seluri since they were the only other ones outside of Lerayo's squad that were dressed for, and appeared to have recently seen, battle.

Finally he looked at her and frowned in clear disapproval and she barely kept from cringing. "I...am admittedly less than pleased by what I see here. I have many questions for the Princesses, provided they survived this ordeal." He looked at the female Flazerian standing stoically at attention beyond Bardock and Seluri. "Lerayo, care to answer some questions until such time as their fates can be ascertained?"

Lerayo raised her chin in what almost seemed to be a showing of indignation. "I do, actually." She nodded her plated head towards Aurah. "I answer to Matron Aurah now."

Koku frowned at her response and looked at the hybrid before him, his gaze darting over her unorthodox appearance in reluctant confusion. "Ah, Matron Aurah is it? I apologize, but who exactly are you?"

Aurah smiled and bowed her head slowly. "Aurah is a fusion, Your Majesty. It may seem impossible, but I am Leta and Surah."

King Koku blinked at her, at first in astonishment but it quickly gave way to irritation. "Don't insult my intelligence with such nonsense."

"It's true," Bardock growled firmly, his arms slowly folding against his chest as he shifted into a more menacing stance.

Aurah sighed and looked at the wild-haired man, "Bardock, please. There's no need for this."

Koku blinked and frowned as he looked sharply from Bardock to Aurah. "Bardock? This is who Princess Leta called to fight Frieza?"

Aurah looked back at the king and nodded. "Yes. As well as my-that is, Leta's-blood sister, Seripa."

Koku looked at Seluri who shook her head and motioned to the as-yet unnoticed body of Seripa at her feet. He blanched and looked up at Aurah apologetically. "She...did not make it?"

She shook her head. "No, but she did manage to take Frieza down with her. Thanks in no small part to Bardock and Seluri here," she gestured at the latter in a sort of introduction, "as well as several others that did not survive the battle."

Koku was silent as he regarded the group before him, hushed voices whispering behind him through the wall of soldiers. "The battle was hard fought then." He nodded his head gravely and, with a sigh, removed his glasses to rub wearily at his eyes. "So let me see if I understand this correctly...You, Matron Aurah, are Leta and Surah in one body. Might I ask how that is possible?"

She gave him a gentle smile as he replaced his glasses and gave her an exhausted look. There was no telling the amount of pressure placed on his shoulders right now trying to lead such an immature people as the Earthlings. They would no doubt hold him personally responsible for everything that had transpired this day.

She nodded her acquiescence. "Leta told you of the battle on Jynn-jin 13 that claimed the life of her and Surah's mate, Tettuce."

Koku nodded, frowning and fidgeting at the memory. "Yes, I never did understand the...ah..ratio involved in that relationship."

Aurah laughed. "At the time Surah and Leta were joined as one…" and she gave a brief summary of how that had come to pass and their subsequent defusing after Tettuce died. She finished up by detailing how Leta had been injured and how Surah had, out of sheer desperation, recreated the fusion spell from memory to give birth to the woman that now stood before him.

He just stared at her, his tired face unreadable throughout the exchange. When she finally finished he merely nodded and sighed. "I will not pretend to understand what I just heard, but given the circumstances I will accept it as the truth. I'm honestly just too damn tired to argue. If you say you truly are Leta and Surah, then you are Leta and Surah. Let us leave it at that." He glanced back at the soldiers and scowled. "You can lower your weapons now. The crisis is over." He shook his head as the guns were lowered and he turned back to Aurah. "So Frieza is dead and Earth is safe."

Aurah nodded. "Yes, for now. His father and brother still remain, of course."

"Of course," Koku echoed. He sighed again. "I had forgotten about them. And you mentioned they were far more powerful than even Frieza was?"

"Correct."

"So how long until they arrive?" he asked pointedly. "Can they at least wait until I've had a moment to catch my breath?"

Aurah grinned sheepishly. "There is plenty of time right now. They fortunately still do not know the location of Earth."

Koku gave a dry bark of laughter. "Finally! Some good news!"

"Well," Aurah smirked and glanced down at Bulma who had produced a cell phone and pulled up what seemed to be a rather detailed map, and was diligently looking from the radar in her left hand to the phone screen in her right. "We potentially have even better news since we seem to have the Dragon Balls Frieza had obtained, as well as a means to find the others rather quickly."

Koku stiffened at the mention of the Dragon Balls and he darted a glance back to the soldiers. "Fall back! This is a private discussion." The soldiers all exchanged glances amongst themselves and several of the higher ranking ones stepped forward to protest. "That is an ORDER!" Koku barked so fiercely that Aurah was pretty sure even Bardock had jumped. She watched in something akin to awe as the soldiers piled into the vehicles and they all turned around and drove about a hundred yards away. She looked down at Koku as he turned back to face them.

"Erm…" Aurah said quietly.

Koku met her gaze and shook his head. "I know what those things are capable of and my predecessors, as well as I, have strove to keep their existence a secret from the public. We already fight amongst ourselves enough as it is, what with resources, land disputes, and even religious disagreements." He scowled and shook his head more firmly. "No, I will not allow their existence to come to light any more than they already have."

Bulma looked up at him and frowned. "They're gonna bring my daddy back."

Koku looked down at the girl as if he was just seeing her for the first time. He immediately recognized her for who she was. "Where is Dr. Briefs?"

"Freezer killed him," she replied, almost nonchalantly. "But the Dragon Balls're gonna bring him back so Mommy doesn't cry."

Aurah hid a smile as Koku blinked down at the young girl. After a moment he frowned and looked up at Aurah. "I want no part in whatever your intentions are with the Dragon Balls."

"To undo this damage and restore to life all those that died today," Seluri spoke up sourly. "If they truly possess this limitless power, that is."

"They do," Koku and Bulma said in unison, which made Koku give her a strange look that made her giggle.

"Ahem," he cleared his throat and looked at Seluri and then Aurah. "I have not seen their power for myself, but their capabilities were extensively documented in the past, and the records painstakingly preserved so that future generations understood the danger they carried. The first King of Earth made certain they were never used again after he used them to end a global war that nearly wiped out all life on this planet."

"Sounds a bit hypocritical of him," Lerayo spoke up dryly.

Koku flinched but nodded his agreement. "Yes, but that global war rewound time for the civilizations of the time. They fell into ruin and the First did what he had to do to preserve our mortality."

"You're preachin' to an endangered species, Earthling," Bardock growled. "The Saiyans you've met are more than likely the last in the entire universe thanks to Frieza. So we'll do what it takes to preserve our mortality."

As Koku glared at Bardock, Aurah spoke up, "I understand the need for caution and discretion regarding these artifacts, but there's a clear difference between caution and stubbornness. I understand," she continued as Koku opened his mouth to protest, "why you feel that way. Their power is far too great to allow for them to fall into the wrong hands again. But for now their power is needed once more." She lifted an arm and gestured to indicate the devastation all around them and hidden in darkness. "Imagine what you see here on a galactic scale. There's so much destruction to undo."

She smiled and met his tired gaze evenly. "And unfortunately we still have a war on beyond this planet. A war that may someday find its way here. Countless warriors that could turn the tide now have fallen to Frieza in the past. And against Coola and Cold we are going to need the likes of Seripa, Falmer, Zether, and Tettuce more than ever if we hope to topple this regime for good. By any means necessary we must succeed in this endeavor and the Dragon Balls seem too perfect an opportunity to pass up."

Koku shook his head. "There must be alternatives. Many have lost loved ones, I understand that and I offer my condolences, but-"

"What ain't you gettin' here?" Bardock interrupted, visibly annoyed by the King of Earth's reluctance. "It took everythin' we had to bring down Frieza, and his brother and father are even stronger. There ain't many folks like us that have a chance against their kind, and most of 'em died today!"

Aurah couldn't help but to admire the Earthling king as he met Bardock's fierce gaze evenly. She wasn't all that surprised after he had faced down Frieza the way he had, but it was still admirable to behold from one that understood just how weak he was against the likes of them.

She smiled and lifted a silencing hand as Bardock opened his mouth to continue. He folded his arms, scowled and looked away. But he fell silent. "Bardock is right, Your Majesty. The warriors that fought against Frieza today were the best in all the universe. If we are to have any sort of chance against Coola and Cold, we will need their strength."

Koku cleared his throat and looked up to the debris field that used to be a moon just becoming visible through breaks in the dark cloud banks. He sighed and seemed to deflate in the process. He could protest all he wanted, but she knew he understood the situation well enough to know what was necessary right now. If the legends were true then the Dragon Balls were the most dangerous weapon in the entire universe, and they had just barely avoided seeing the birth of an even more dangerous villain had Frieza attained his wish.

"Let's discuss this tomorrow," Koku said wearily, his tone betraying the fatigue he was clearly feeling. He looked out towards what remained of the Capital City and saw nothing in the darkness. "I must address the citizens. What happened today...The people have a right to know." He turned abruptly and lifted a signalling arm. Almost immediately engines roared to life and lights bounced towards them.

He turned to regard Aurah over the rim of his glasses. "I also wish to discuss with you your proposition on building an Earth Defense Force. My people must be better prepared for the future."

Aurah nodded her agreement. "Then we must seek out the best warriors your planet has to offer."

Koku nodded gravely.

A massive cylinder of what appeared to be pure light burst through what remained of the cloud cover drawing the eyes of the gathering at once. It dropped silently towards them, its illumination revealing the extent of the stark devastation around them. Aurah had to grimace at all the craters around them, but it was brief as she found herself watching the apparent ship descend and touch down in the center of the battlefield. To say it was huge would have been an injustice to the true scope of the smooth cylindrical ship. A fleet of Imperial Class Cruisers could have been housed in this ship and had room to spare for a fleet and a half. It was ridiculous.

Bardock chuckled and she gave him a questioning look. He grinned and nodded at the ship. "That's how we got here."

"Good of Mejai to finally join us," Seluri grumbled bitterly.

Aurah looked at her in turn. "Mejai?"

Seluri flashed her a look that spoke volumes of her disgust for this Mejai. "You will meet him soon enough."

"Mejai," Aurah repeated with a frown. The name...sparked something within her. She was sure she'd heard the name mentioned recently, while she was still Leta, but it had not meant anything to Leta.

"I met him when was I still little." Tettuce's voice echoed in the back of her mind. She remembered him telling her about a dream he'd had, but could only half remember. All he could really remember was that this Mejai had been in it and there had been a strange blue light that he could not describe to her.

She frowned and shook her head. It would be some time before she fully readjusted to existence. She hadn't felt like the old Aurah at first, but the longer she existed she remembered details from her old life. She still wasn't the same person as she had been then, but she was more Aurah with each passing moment than she was not. She imagined she would be recovering many memories she'd lost when she'd defused.

Koku, who had been busy talking with one of the higher ranking military officials, turned to her again. "Make your plans, Matron Aurah. I must go and address my people, but you and I shall meet tomorrow and have our discussions. I would also like an audience with General Zarbon and Lady Ma…" he paused as he tried to recall the proper pronunciation. "Lady Maseselyo," he continued, "regarding supplementing our forces until we can increase our might. I suppose we should also discuss how my people are going to garner such power."

Aurah grinned and bowed her head. "I may have a suggestion or two in that regard." She glanced back at Bulma as she spoke, darting a glance to Vegeta, which he of course caught, as she finished speaking. She looked back to Koku to see him eyeing Bulma and Vegeta as well. He met her gaze and frowned his confusion.

"To put it simply, anyone can learn to do the things we can do. It is, however, much easier to learn as children."

Koku nodded slowly. "Ah, yes. That makes sense. So you're suggesting an Academy?"

"Something to that effect, yes," she admitted. Leta had thought of the idea after the last time Vegeta's principal had called to tell her he'd hurt another child by taking a punch.

Koku nodded again. "Something to discuss tomorrow. Until then," he turned and walked towards one of the awaiting vehicles. "Rescue crews will be coming through soon," he called back. "They were delayed by earthquakes and explosions," he finished with a dry chuckle.

"What was that all about?" Vegeta demanded as the King of Earth climbed into the back of his awaiting escort. Aurah was actually surprised he'd stayed silent this long.

She grinned and turned towards him as the vehicles began doing their awkward turns to drive away. "Now is the time to look to the future, Vegeta. The earth is to be the home of the saiyans from now on, so we must do what we can to make it worthy of the home of a proud warrior race." She looked down at Bulma who was ignoring everyone and writing furiously in a notepad that she had conjured from her pack. She gave a soft chuckle and looked at Vegeta again. "I don't believe these humans are as fragile as they first appear."

Vegeta didn't respond. Instead he gingerly rubbed his injured shoulder and became oddly contemplative, the look on his face seeming to display a reluctant agreement. This amused Aurah, because he seemed to be pointedly avoiding looking in Bulma's direction. She wondered if his reaction had something to do with the girl. They were both too young to have any romantic interest so she knew that had nothing to do with it. But Vegeta had seemed strangely protective of her when she and Lerayo had found them aboard Frieza's ship. Time would tell, but she had to wonder what had transpired for Vegeta to behave so.

Admittedly Leta had noticed Vegeta's temperament calming down over time. He was still proud and boisterous at the most inappropriate times, but there were times he'd almost seemed to be laughing at the same time. As if he was enjoying a joke. He was almost acting like a real child, rather than something bred and born to be a killing machine.

She looked up as Bardock was kneeling to carefully scoop Seripa's body into his arms. He stood straight and turned to Seluri.

"Amotto's body is near here, I think."

Seluri grimaced but nodded, immediately catching his meaning. "I suppose Falmer's is around, as well." She glanced in the direction of the crater. "Zether was near to Frieza's ship, but it was obliterated. So…" she trailed off. They all understood her implication.

Aurah looked towards Lerayo who immediately saluted.

"We will retrieve the fallen so that they may be honored," she said to Aurah. She glanced around at her squad. "Aerial search pattern." She immediately sprang into the air, her six super-elites taking off after her before fanning out and sweeping away.

Bardock stepped past Aurah and carried Seripa towards the ship lighting up the world. Seluri hesitated a moment, glancing at Aurah as if she wanted to say something. But she decided against it and followed after Bardock in silence. She would have to speak with Leta's mother as soon as possible, but grieving came first.

She turned to Vegeta and Bulma to tell them to follow her, but paused as she looked at Nappa as if she was just now seeing him. She looked over his suit and the cell phone in his hand, on which he was furiously typing away like a madman, and she raised an eyebrow. Had he been on his phone the entire time?

"Nappa," she said simply intending to ask him as much, and he looked up sharply nearly dropping his phone.

"Oh, uh. Sorry." He stuffed it into his jacket pocket. "What'd I miss?" he asked, looking around. His eyes were oddly bright as he looked at Bardock and Seluri's retreating backs and then down at Vegeta, who scowled back, and then at Bulma.

Aurah frowned. "Quite a lot apparently. What were you doing?"

The giant grinned sheepishly and scratched the back of his neck. "Ah, heh. Well my girlfriend texted me and...well...She's...how do I say…?" he trailed off and chuckled almost humbly. "I've never had children before."

Vegeta looked sharply up at him. "You have a girlfriend?" he demanded incredulously.

Aurah threw her head back and laughed, the sweet sound of water on chimes echoing across the foreboding landscape.

DBZ

(Aw...Nappa's gonna be a daddy.)