Obligatory copyright disclaimer: Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball Z and relative characters are intellectual property of their respective owners. I'm using them without permission, but this is only a no-profit Fan fiction.

Author's notes:

Half-beastdragonsoul: Thanks! Actually they can't. They are using their Ki, not the planet powers. About Tarble, I sent you a PM with the (long) explanation.

Jewlbunny: I have plenty of information files. I like having a consistent background before writing. Usagi's misadventures just started. ^^

AnonymousZGirl: It's because she's so loving and understanding. The reason for the kiss will surprise you… can't tell why! Thanks!

Crystal: Wow! Ten happy faces! You made my day, thanks!

SeleneAnadyomene: Read on, their showdown is in this chapter. Thanks!

Sunshinekc: There's a reason for the kiss… there will be fireworks indeed! Here's the fight. Thanks ^^

Whiteling: Read on, you'll see ^^

Chapter 14, The Duel

Jean's voice, unearthly and metallic, accentuated the alien appearance of the small blue and red lightning crackling over her body. "Who's first?" She said, looking at the girls.

The most shocked however was Tarble. "W-what are you doing? Who are you?" The young Saiyan never met Jean before, so he assumed she was a friend of Ami and the others. But now…

The runner raised an eyebrow at his comment. "Whoops! I forgot 'bout him! Look! A flying grokk!" She said pointing behind him.

Tarble, being a good natured and trusting young man immediately turned to see the strange beast. Jean chopped her hand on the back of his neck, downing him. "The oldest tricks always work!" She said smiling.

"Tarble!" Ami gasped at the scene. "There was no need to stun him!" Kneeling beside the poor boy she checked his conditions. He was knocked out cold but otherwise fine.

"Jean-san! That was an act of brutish rudeness on your part!" Usagi chided the woman, annoyed. She had the knack to make her angry whatever she did. Makoto and Minako nodded in agreement, while Rei sighed.

"She was right to stun him. We must keep our real identities secret. However Jean, you should have waited to be alone with us before starting the fireworks!" Rei shook her head at the woman, ignoring the gasp of disbelief from her friends.

"Rei-chan! You are defending her now?" Ami asked while still tending Tarble.

Before Rei could reply, the Runner stopped them. "Yeah, yeah! I forgot him, sorry for that. Don't quarrel because of me. We should bring him somewhere safe and we need a place where scouters can't find us. Anyone knows of such a place?"

"The science tower." Ami replied immediately. "Tarble told me it is shielded."

"Yes! I tried to contact her all day, but the scouter could not find Ami!" Usagi told them excitedly.

"Well, let's fly there. I'm the strongest so I'll pick up Tarble" Jean said, but Ami was not of the same opinion.

"You have done enough, I'll take him." She said coldly, while lifting Tarble from the floor and taking him on her shoulders. She immediately took off towards the tower.

"Uh…" Mumbled Makoto. "I c-can't fly… I'll c-come by foot…" She stammered, trying to slip away.

Blinding fast, Jean moved behind her and grabbed her waist. "No need to worry, I'll carry you. To the tower!" She said taking off before a struggling Makoto had the time to scream.

Looking at them and hearing the faint voice of her friend yelling desperately, Usagi whispered to herself. "I don't like her at all…"

Rei and Minako joined her. The Shinto priestess sighed. "She's a loner. Remember Haruka and Michiru when we first met them?" She started to levitate slowly.

"Yes, but as I disliked their methods, I don't like hers. And… why are you so slow, Rei-chan?" She told her, noticing her meager fly speed.

Rei blushed red. "I learned to fly this morning, by accident! This is all I can do at this moment!" She replied, annoyed by Usagi's remark.

"Ku Ku Ku, I'll call you Snail-chan! I'm going to wait for you at the tower! Byeeeeeeeeeeeaaargh!" Usagi started to say, before rocketing away in the wrong direction, upside down!

Minako sighed. "I'll catch her; meanwhile you should go to the tower." She said, gracefully flying after Usagi.

Rei concentrated on her power, slowly increasing her speed. "This will be a long night, I feel it!"

~o~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~o~

When they were finally together at the science tower, Usagi and Minako were amazed by the sight.

"Wow! It's like being in a Museum! What's this? And that?" Chirped Minako while touching buttons.

A computer voice announced coldly; "Nuclear Self-destruct sequence initiated! You have one minute to leave the tower. Thanks for your cooperation!" Ami rushed to the computer station with a terrified face, immediately deactivating the sequence.

"Mi. Na. Ko! Don't touch anything, don't breathe on anything, be elsewhere!" The young genius scolded her, cold sweat still running on her brow. "This place is full of dangerous devices, please!" She added pleading to her friends.

She had already brought Tarble to his station, where the young Saiyan had a comfortable armchair. It was not a bed, but he could rest in it while recovering from the stunning attack. She looked venomously at the Runner.

Jean sweat dropped feeling the deathly stare on her back. "I already apologized! Please Ami; don't stab me with your eyes!"

The young woman sighed. It was difficult for her to feel anger for a long time. "OK, but next time, speak before acting." She replied.

"Well, returning to our little duel situation, I was asking who's first?" Jean glowed again.

Makoto stopped her, still pissed by being forced to fly. "Whoa, whoa! Wait a minute! What are you planning to do? I don't entirely trust you, you know? After all, it's you that brought us here in the first place!"

The runner shrugged. "Technically, it was Usagi's tampering with my duel to start the chain of events that brought you here, however I can understand your reluctance. I'll try to explain."

She sat cross legged on the floor. "My real powers are not physical. To make it simple, I can 'feel' with my senses all the probable consequences of an event. Any event I can experience with my senses. If I can see it, touch it, taste it… hear or smell… I can feel all the possible outcomes." She sighed at their puzzled faces. Ami was the only one to nod in understanding.

"It's easier to comprehend speaking of sight. I 'see' images superimposed to my normal vision. For example, I see Usagi scratching her itching nose now. But I also 'see' her picking her nose and also scratching her ear, and pulling her hair, all together! By the way, doing that isn't a lady's thing, miss!" She scolded her.

Usagi gasped in annoyance. "I've done nothing of that! It's unfair…"

Jean smirked. "You could have… The more probable is an effect the more vivid the image. I chose to interrupt you, thus selecting your following action, in this case 'complaining'. This way I can manipulate events to my liking. I even 'see' them in differing colors. Red tinted for the good ones, Blue for the bad ones. Good and bad in the karmic sense of the word, mind that."

Rei was starting to understand. "That's why you spoke of karma. It's like the Shinto belief about Kyome and Kegare! So if you interfere in positive ways you build good karma and the events get more and more positive?"

The Runner smiled at her. "Yes. My power lets me influence greater events, until I can defeat the Void and absorb his bad karma. Then I use it to open a dimthread and run to another universe, nullifying it. End of story."

"So, the Void's power is linked to bad karma, the opposite of yours? But what happens if you use your power to gather bad karma?" Rei had a foreboding feeling about this.

"Bad karma means bad things. Very bad. But enough digressing, better stick to our current situation. That is, I can use my power to make you aware of your real power. Any still unknown skill, ability, achievement, whatever. You will know how to gain it, at least in theory. Getting it could still be difficult though. No easy button sorry."

Makoto snapped her fingers. "This is how you could easily defeat the Saibai man, when we first came here!"

Jean nodded. "Yes, I used my last karma to find this body's real power. I felt in me the ability to generate an enormous strength for a limited time and to a great risk for my health, and used it. It's a technique that multiplies your base power, but it is damaging. The strain is tremendous. I trained for two full months every moment Nappa was away, and I still can't manage to do more than tripling my strength for half a minute. However I can reach a power level of twelve thousands now…"

"Twelve thousands!?" The girls were awed, with a power like that one could destroy a mountain!

"Yes, for thirty seconds and breaking every bone and muscle in my body! And no, I can't teach it to Rei. It requires too much time to train to use it safely. However this is my hidden power. Yours could be different. You only have to try. Let me use my karma on you and we'll see."

Looking at each other, the girls were obviously hesitant. Rei was the first to volunteer. "I made the mess, I'll go first. Work your magic!" She bravely told her.

Nodding, the woman placed the hands on her back. "This could be unpleasant. Try to bear it."

Rei gulped, having second thoughts, but she had made up her mind. "Go ahead." She replied.

Immediately the world imploded on her! For a moment, shorter than a blink of an eye, she was the universe, and the universe was her. Infinite worlds, life-forms, matter, power and over everything… infinite understanding. Her face darkened to black, stars and galaxies shimmering within, while a shroud of flames enveloped her. She staggered for a moment, then the universe faded back and she regained her senses.

"Rei-chan!" Usagi was the first to help her, followed immediately by the others. "How are you?" She asked her, concerned for her well-being.

Rei could only muster the strength for a whisper. "A-Absolute k-knowledge! I-I…" She shook her head. "F-for an instant I knew! I knew everything! I was the universe! I could see everything and relate it to me… it was… so humbling, and… comforting at the same time. Oh, I could feel your love for me, my friends! Thank you so much! I love you too!" She hugged them wholeheartedly, almost crying.

Usagi looked at Jean perplexed. "What have you done to Rei-chan? Is she possessed?"

"Usagi! I'm thanking you and you make fun of me! You… undeserving…" Rei was very annoyed by the comment, and stuck out her tongue at Usagi.

"Oh, now I recognize her! That's better!" Usagi replied, sticking her tongue back at Rei.

They all laughed out loud, save Jean. The runner was a bit tired. "Are you Ok, Jean-san? Asked her Minako, still laughing.

"Yes. It was… intense. I was surprised, that's all." She sighed. "Now all Rei has to do is meditate on the experience. She will find the answer she needs in a short time. Meanwhile I'll power up you four."

And she did. Makoto zapped her with lightning, Minako shone with golden light, like a beacon. Ami froze their feet on the floor and they had to break the ice to move again.

Only on Usagi the procedure had absolutely no effect. Strangely enough, Usagi was relieved. "Probably because I can already transform into Eternal Sailor Moon. My power is so great I have no hidden power left." She told them smiling. "I felt so lonely being the strongest one. Maybe now you can all transform into Eternal form!"

Jean looked at Usagi, puzzled by the lack of results. "It's a possibility. Still, it should have given us some sign or whatever. Well… Rei has priority, let us help her."

The Shinto priestess was meditating on her experience. Feeling the universe in her was strange but enlightening. Were her seer powers affected? She needed a fire to try. She was going to ask for one when she 'felt' Tarble awakening. "Ami, Tarble is regaining his senses." She told her softly.

While her friend ran to help him, Rei looked at Jean. "What will you do now? We need his help. I know he is not going to betray us." She told her, surprised of the confidence she felt.

"Are you sure?" The woman asked her.

"Yes. I feel it. Please we need to be honest with him." All her friends nodded in agreement.

Jean sighed. In her experience sincerity was rarely useful when you were an alien creature from another universe… "OK, your choice! But I will not be responsible for the inevitable doom this will bring on us, mind that."

Ignoring her, the five girls gathered around Tarble. "Ouch, what happened? Something hit me!" He was still groggy and weak.

Ami smiled sadly at him. "Tarble, I need to tell you something…"

While Ami and the others started to explain the situation to their friend, Jean grabbed Rei by the arm, dragging her in a nearby room. The young priestess followed her without struggling. She guessed her intentions.

"We have no time to spare, so while they speak we train. I'm going to show you how to use your inner strength to increase your power up. You know the basics of Ki, do you? You may know it by other names, like Qi or Ch'I or Chakra."

Rei nodded. Her priestess training included basic Ki harnessing.

"Well, my master showed me how to use it in combat. First thing, you must be able to gather it around you, like this…" She started to breath slowly, and a feeble aura of vaporous light enveloped her.

"This is a basic skill. I'm sure you can do it easily now. Saiyan bodies are full of life energy. Try to make it flow around you."

Rei succeeded in a few minutes of trying.

"Now you must learn how to suppress it. This way you will be able to avoid wasting power when not needed. This is a bit more difficult. Try to imagine the light pressed inside your body. This way you will vanish from scouters. I tested it, very useful."

Again, it was very easy for her. As if she already knew how to do it.

"Excellent. Now for the difficult part. You have to let it burn, like a flame all over your body! When you manage it, try to hold it as long as you can. The bare minimum for combat should be around three hours. We don't have the time to… whoa!" She was surprised by the sudden flare of power. Rei's aura burst out in a fiery red color, while the scouter reacted to her new level.

"Oh, that's good! You went from a little over one thousand to more than three thousands! Try to keep it!" She was amazed by the girl's ability. "She is a sailor senshi after all… I should have known." She thought smiling to herself.

Rei was feeling great. The power flowed about her like flames. She loved fire and now she was fire! She remembered the sensation of being one with the universe, trying to feel it once more. She was part of it, her light shining like a star over the blackness of space. She felt the need to let it out, to burn freely.

"Stand ready!" She yelled at Jean, while clasping her hands together with the two index fingers pointing outwards. A fireball formed at the tips of her index fingers, shooting towards the Runner while she shouted "Fire… Soul!"

Her power increased to almost ten thousands on Jean's scouter. The Runner immediately gathered her power, while her aura flared to a deep crimson and her muscles bulged out. She pointed her right hand towards the fireball concentrating all of her power there.

Her hand glowing with power, she grabbed the fire ball, struggling with the powerful attack for a few seconds, trying to contain it. At last, she managed to crush it in her hand, and the fire sizzled away. Looking at her burned hand she nonetheless managed to smile at Rei.

"Good work; this attack can kill Nappa if you can hit him. But he is very fast and experienced. You will only have one chance. Remember that."

Rei smiled at her. "Thank you Jean-san. I feel more confident now. Sorry for your hand."

"Nothing a good med-pack can't handle. Try to hold your power again, when you will be able to hold it for at least half an hour you should be ready. We don't have much time. Five hours to the duel and you have to rest at least three hours."

Without wasting time, Rei resumed her training. This time holding her ki was more difficult. After firing the Fire Soul she felt drained. When she was transformed into Sailor Mars attacking never made her weak. "I used my own power, this is the difference. I'm sure of it. Without mars power I can still use fire attacks, but I must be careful not to drain myself." She told to herself.

Meanwhile Jean returned in the main tower room. Tarble stared at her. "What? Never seen a burned lady?" She asked ironically.

Ami was looking at the floor, clearly sad. The young prince stood up. "Ami and her friends told me the entire story. I can't still believe it! Alternate dimensions, monsters from the void, wormholes! You can't expect me to buy it, don't you?"

The Runner smirked. "What you think makes no difference to me, ord. I will find the void and I will destroy it. If your planet gets wrecked in the process, so be it. You are a Saiyan, 'win at all costs' should be easy to understand. Now, Nappa expects me to be on his side, so I'm going to grab a few hours of sleep. We will meet again tomorrow morning for the duel." She started to float away towards the balcony.

Usagi stopped her. "Wait! Do you think Rei is ready?"

Jean shrugged. "If she is, she is. Otherwise she'll die. I can't do anything more. Sorry." She flew away in the night at great speed.

Makoto shook her fist angrily. "Here she goes again! I have this need to punch her… Conceited bitch…"

"Cool down, Mako-chan. To help Rei-chan we have to stay calm. Let's go." Usagi told her walking in the room where Rei were still training. Minako and Makoto followed her.

Ami and Tarble lingered in the tower. The young prince was starting to speak but Ami stopped him. "I'm so sorry Tarble. I-I never wanted to lie to you, b-but the other Saiyans were so ruthless. We had to survive and…" She stuttered, her eyes still fixed on the floor.

"Eh… I can understand your fears. I lied to my father for years about my 'Saiyan pride'. I never wanted to fight or to kill, but I lied to keep him 'loving' me. What a fool I was. Still, if they find you out, they will kill you for sure. I don't want you to be killed. So I'm going to keep this secret. I will help you with the device you need to return to your world. But if you lie to me again…"

His aura got stronger, remembering Ami she was talking with a Saiyan. A gentle pacifist, but still a Saiyan. "I will never lie to you again, Tarble. I promise. I'm so sorry… This world is so cruel… I was afraid. All that happened… I…"

She was on the point of crying, when he lifted her face with a hand under her chin, looking in her eyes. "I believe you. Don't cry Ami. I believe you." He smiled.

Meanwhile Usagi, Makoto and Minako were sparring with Rei. It was Makoto's idea, to test Rei's new power. They worked together to hit her, but she always managed to dodge their blows, as she was aware of their intentions. "I can feel your attacks a moment before they happen! It's incredible!" She told them while dodging another combo from Minako and Makoto.

"That's good!" replied Makoto, sweeping away the sweat from her brow. "If you can keep him on his toes until you find an opening to use the Fire Soul, you will win!" Her friends nodded in agreement.

"I'm so tired… We should rest now, or tomorrow morning I will sleep throughout the duel!" Rei was completely spent and could only think of sleeping.

Usagi smiled at her. "You are right! We'll return to our quarters and…"

Rei had other ideas. "Maybe we should sleep in my new room in the castle… You will like it!" They returned in the main room telling Ami and Tarble of Rei's invite.

Tarble shook his head. "Sorry friends. I can't enter the castle anymore; I will wait here for good news."

Rei bowed to him. "Thank you for your help and again I apologize for having lied to you."

Tarble blushed. "Don't bow to me; I'm not a prince anymore. I hope you'll win. Nappa is a sadistic brute. Give him a good thrashing!" He waved at them while they flew away toward the castle.

When they were out of sight he sighed. "Extra-dimensional aliens! What a story! I will check the database on this topic, maybe something useful will show up." He started to work on his station, unaware of the cold eyes looking at him from the shadows.

The Void smiled to itself. It could not see who Tarble was speaking at, but it guessed them to be Runners. Spying the foolish prince had produced an unexpected boon. Praising silently his lord, the Faceless One, the creature slipped away in the darkness.

~o~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~o~

The next morning the five friends were waiting in the plaza behind the palace.

"A real bath! A bed with silk pillows and sheets! And clothes! Jewels! You told us nothing about this!" Usagi was pestering Rei about her huge apartment in the castle.

"I figured it was not vital! I had a duel to think of!" Rei replied annoyed.

"A real bath is vital!" Usagi yelled at her. "We don't take a bath since we arrived here! It's been two months! We only had those sonic showers! My skin was all dry and rough and…"

"Usagi please!" Minako was trying to calm her, while Ami and Makoto, blushing, pretended not to know her.

The bickering ended when a crowd of Saiyans gathered in the plaza. They heard about the duel and went there to witness the slaughter. Most of them were sure of Nappa's victory. Many bets were accepted on the length of the duel or about how many pieces of Rei would be left at the end.

Some warriors however made bets on Rei winning. Bardock and his squad mates were searching for Makoto. Little Radish waved at her. "Makoto! Hey! We are here! We betted on your friend's victory!"

The two groups met near the duel grounds. Makoto blushed deeply when Bardock grabbed her by the waist. "You forget our agreement, woman. You cook and keep the house clean and I train you and the boy! I forgive you this time. Duels are fun and I wouldn't like a woman who deserts her squad-mates."

Makoto grunted, trying not to hit him. This whole 'training = date' thing was grating her nerves, but she needed to learn from him and the boy needed his father. So she restrained herself and ignored his boorish attentions and Minako and Usagi's heart shaped stares.

Meanwhile their friends were making acquaintance with Radish and the other warriors. Minako was already friend with Toma and Seripa and they started to talk about Volleyball. Usagi immediately loved Radish, chatting with him about Makoto's virtues.

Then Maizen reached them, followed by Nizuki and five other Saiyan warriors. Bardock and his squad mates immediately snapped at attention, followed by Usagi. The girls looked puzzled at their friend but followed her example. Nizuki pointed two fingers at her own eyes, and then pointed the same fingers at them.

"She's keeping an eye on us." Usagi whispered to her friends.

"At ease warriors." Maizen told them. "I'm here to witness the duel. I'm betting on you winning, Seer Rei. I'm sure you can show captain Nappa the limits of his strength. May bravery and strategy win over brute power!" He nodded at her, waiting for Nappa to arrive.

Rei gulped, very aware of the possibility of dying. She faced death a lot of times as Sailor Mars. This time however there was a difference, her friends could not help her. Otherwise they would be killed on King's orders; such was the rule for Saiyan's duels. She was unable to conjure a vision of her future, so she asked her friends to promise not to interfere. They refused, obviously. "I have to win at all costs, or they will be in danger!" She told herself while waiting.

Nappa arrived flying a short time later, smug and sure of himself, Jean landing beside him together with some of his subordinates. Their burly captain walked to the center of the plaza, taking a fighting stance. "Come on woman! I'm ready!" He shouted towards Rei.

The young woman left her friends bravely, entering the fighting grounds. When she was about twenty meters from her enemy, she took a basic karate guard stance Makoto had taught her that night.

The King, just then showing up with his son Vegeta and the generals, raised a hand. "Commence!" He shouted.

~o~~~o~~~o~~~o~ Rei vs Nappa ~o~~~o~~~o~~~o~

Nappa started glowing, small lightning bolts dancing upon his skin. "It's Time! I'll show you no mercy! Haaaaaaa!" He shouted, charging Rei at full speed!

Jean was surprised by her teacher's quickness. "He's faster than usual!" She shouted.

Nappa's charge was so fast he was upon Rei in a moment. He focused his power in the right fist, trying to hit her on the head.

Rei immediately felt that parrying such a blow would be fatal, so she tilted back her torso almost touching ground with her head, dodging the attack. Her Saiyan muscles straining with the effort, she sprang back on his right side, taking advantage of his momentum, striking him with a right knee blow in the liver.

The attack failed to do any damage, and Nappa swung his arm again, trying to hit her with an elbow smash. Rei jumped with all her strength, dodging again. She found herself twenty meters in the air, directly above her opponent.

Nappa smirked, jumping over her and tumbling upside down. He kicked at Rei, too fast for her to dodge, smashing her on the head! Fortunately for the young woman, she had foreseen the attack, focusing her power in the arms and parrying most of the blow's strength. She was pushed down on the ground, landing on all fours to mitigate the impact. She stood up immediately, looking upwards.

Nappa smirked again, charging energy in his right index and middle fingers. He slashed at her releasing a terrible wave of power. Rei Jumped back with all of her strength, aware of the danger. The wave blasted the ground, digging a very deep trench in the earth. The detonation pushed her back but she managed to keep standing.

Nappa was very angry; the woman gave him the impression of being able to guess all of his moves. "Grrrrr! You little bastard! Keep dodging, I will catch you sooner or later!"

Rei replied immediately. "You think dodging is for cowards? Then stay right there where you are!" She clasped her hands together with the two index fingers pointing outwards. Concentrating all of her power she formed a little fireball at the tips of her hands.

"She would never hit him from this distance! He will dodge it!" Shouted Minako, fearful for her friend's life.

Bardock smiled reassuring her. "He won't dodge. She challenged his honor, spitting back at him his very words. The big fool!"

Nappa, now furious, shouted at the girl all of his hate. "Then show me your power, stupid wench!"

"You want my power? Take it! Fire… Soul!" At the same time the little fireball grew larger, almost three meters wide! Then it shot towards the big warrior.

Nappa smirked at the girl while she was charging her attack, sure of his power. Then his scouter beeped madly. "What? Her power is increasing! Again this technique!" He looked at the numbers rising from a little more than three thousands to almost ten thousands! Many of the spectators gasped in surprise.

"I have to counter it!" He shouted opening his mouth to the limit and shooting from it an enormous wave of energy! The attacks crashed in mid-air, a huge detonation blasting them away.

The two warriors were pushed back but Nappa, being in flight, crashed on the ground opening a new crater. He stood up a moment later, his armor cracked and torn and with a few light wounds, but otherwise unharmed. "He he he, that was a good attack. You surprised me once, but you won't have a second chance!"

Rei could not believe that the monster could counter her attack. Her strength was waning and she was low on ideas. She gulped loudly, looking at her friends.

"Idiot! Keep looking at him!" Prince Vegeta shouted at Rei at the top of his lungs.

Looking back she found his enemy already upon her! Nappa charged again, punching her with all of his power. Unable to dodge Rei parried with her right arm!

With a sickening crunch, her arm bones snapped! Only the strong Saiyan tendons and muscles prevented her arm from being ripped away. "Arrgh!" She cried almost fainting from the pain.

Nappa kicked her in the guts, her armor saving her life. The strength of the blow pushed her back a few meters. She landed heavily on her back, trying to stand up.

Nappa was already over her, quickly grabbing the young woman with his arms, trying to slowly crush the life out of her body. Rei was too weak to evade, but she managed to keep her arms free. "Ha ha ha! Time to finish this ridiculous duel! I'm going to kill you slowly, wench!" He gloated.

Usagi and her friends were almost entering the duel grounds to attack Nappa when Rei managed to muster the strength to shout a warning. "No! I'm going to win! Stay out of this!"

They looked at her with disbelieving eyes, still unconvinced. At the same moment Prince Vegeta spoke again. "Don't play with him woman! I have other important things to do!"

Nappa could not believe his ears. "Prince Vegeta! The one going to win will be me! Why you..?" He was so distracted to not notice Rei's arms.

With extreme effort, the young woman succeeded in raising her broken right arm in front of Nappa's face. Clasping her hands together she invoked her power again, finding new strength she was only now aware of having. In agonizing pain, she was unable to shout, so she whispered; "Fire… Soul!" And a fireball materialized directly in Nappa's face!

"Arrrrrgh!" The burly Saiyan shouted in pain as the attack burned away his face! Letting go of the woman, he tried to put out the flames with his hands, but the fire was so concentrated his very flesh was burning. Finally, having no other choice he slammed his entire head into the ground, extinguishing the flames.

Meanwhile Rei staggered back, trying not to fall down. She knew Nappa was still not defeated, so she started to concentrate, ignoring the searing pain in her torso and arm. She pushed away everything, focusing all of her very being in her left fist. Flames started to burn white hot over her left arm, without hurting her.

Nappa's head emerged from the ground, horribly disfigured by the ordeal. "I'll kill youuuu!" He screamed charging her again. This time Rei was ready for him. She was again one with the universe!

In her visions, Nappa's charge had already taken place. She could see him clearly, trying again to punch her head. She moved slightly, positioning herself for the best result. When the huge warrior was upon her she dodged easily his attack.

Then she punched herself, hitting Nappa on the nose! The flames on her arm blasted her punch forward like a rocket, tripling her strength. She smashed Nappa's burned nose, cracking bones and tearing flesh. The impact made the warrior tumble a few times in the air, finally crashing on the ground, unmoving.

After a few tense moments, the king shouted, among the cheers of the crowd. "The winner is… Rei!"

~o~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~o~

The loudest to cheer were obviously Usagi and the girls, immediately running to help her wounded friend. "You scared us to death! Never do it again, Rei-chan!" Cried Usagi trying to help her.

"Careful Usagi-chan! She could have punctured lungs! Rei-chan please wait, I will fetch a stretcher!" Ami warned them.

"She will be attended by the castle's med-techs, step back women!" Prince Vegeta's voice froze them. Looking at Rei he smirked. "What a weakling! I'm eight and I'm stronger than you. I want you in the castle's training hall the moment you exit the medical machine. I made myself clear on this?"

Rei nodded despite the pain. "Crystal clear, your highness!"

"Tsk. Don't make me wait." With these words the prince walked away.

Makoto and Minako were glowering at Vegeta's back, but Bardock warned them. "He's the strongest Saiyan alive. You should be more careful."

Makoto was surprised. "That little boy?"

Seripa nodded at her. "His power level has already surpassed the King's. And he's only eight! Imagine his strength at maturity!"

Captain Maizen walked up to them, followed by his subordinates. "Congratulations Seer Rei. Your victory rightfully gives you the status of an Elite warrior. I would like to remind your friends that they have only one month to match your result, or they will be sent to 'clear' another planet."

He looked at Usagi. "Buns-head, I expect you to show up in my office in thirty minutes. Good day to you all." He walked away, Nizuki still standing beside her. "Don't be late!" She whispered following her captain.

A team of med-techs showed up, putting Rei on a stretcher and spiriting her away in the castle. Ami persuaded them to allow her inside, but her friends were locked out. No-one touched Nappa's body.

Minako looked at him. "Is he dead? Are they leaving him here?"

"His life belong to Rei now. No-one will aid him. Stealing a kill is taboo." Replied Jean matter-of-factly.

"It's barbaric!" Gasped Usagi, walking towards the hulking warrior. "I will bring him to a medical center!" She grunted trying to pick up the body.

Minako and Makoto hesitated. "Usagi… He tried to kill Rei! He is a sadistic murderer!"

"That is not the point! I'm not leaving him here! You can help me or not, I don't care!" Being his body too heavy, she resorted to drag him.

Face palming Makoto and Minako decided to help her.

Jean looked at the young women, shaking her head. "I have a bad feeling about this. You will regret this decision."

The three friends ignored her.

Ami's Scouter Data.

- Recording. Planet Vegeta. Day 72.

I found some interesting data about Saiyan's primitive society in the Tsufuru Archives. The recordings of a very old Tsufuru anthropological expedition in the north continent's forests.

- File 9978327.K451 – Observations on Saiyan tribal culture.

Note: The following notes were found in the blood soaked notebook of Professor Granmel, amidst the remains of his expedition. Someone tried to eat the notebook, and those were the only pages readable.

- Day one. We found a suitable hideout in the snowcapped mountain. Masking it with our camo-sheets we dug in comfortably. Our long range sensors will enable us to spy on a little tribe of Saiyans. No more than ten adult males, twelve adult females and six youngsters, four boys and two girls. They live in a clearing in the midst of the forest. Why they shun the more comfortable caverns of the mountain I can't fathom. The adults wear simple fur tunics, the young are naked. They constantly fight over anything! How can they survive here?

- Day five. We witnessed a hunt. All the tribe hunts, even the babies! They killed two vurglaks easily. The young ones faked fear and fled into a trap. The vurglaks followed them and were assaulted by the other Saiyans. A strong male immobilized the beast, allowing a young girl to kill it biting is neck! The kill seems an important part of the hunt. Maybe an adult initiation ritual? The girl skinned the beast and fashioned a crude tunic with it. I think they wear only the skin of beasts they killed themselves. We noticed their infighting rarely results in dangerous wounds. One of my students thinks they are really sparring to toughen up!

- Day twenty. Two Saiyans married today! At least we think they consider themselves married. Saiyan courtship is very physical. The male trailed the female regularly, trying to catch her off guard. They fought constantly for over two weeks! After ten days she finally allowed him to join her on a hunt. We lost track of them but when they were back they went straight to the chieftain. All the tribe gathered and the two lovers entwined their tails and kissed. I regret not having the occasion to plant microphones in the area. They cooked a lot of meat and played games of skill or strength. An old woman produced some beverage. Maybe fermented hukka berries? They can have fun when they want.

- Day sixty two. Another tribe attacked them! There was intense fighting and five tribesman and two women were left dead! The enemies lost five warriors in the surprise attack. They abducted the young ones and one woman. Maybe they need new blood to avoid inbreeding. 'Our' tribe packed their belongings and followed the enemies. Feuds must be very common here! We need to move our camp. One of my students reminded me Crystal is almost full, we have only three days to find another hideout.

End of file.