Supreme Kai did his best to conceal a gasp, but Kibito had been sitting near him, and glanced at his master, concerned. 'Supreme Kai?' he asked telepathically, knowing the ancient being preferred their conversations not be overheard by Goten, who was currently off training with his father.

'The entire Namekian race has disappeared from the living world,' came the mental reply, the ruler's sadness clearly felt. 'They destroyed themselves to prevent a tyrant named Frieza from getting the dragon balls,' he explained.

Kibito frowned at that, glancing off in Goten's direction. 'What of the boy's mate?' he asked.

'In danger. But I sense she will receive help soon. No need to worry Goten,' Supreme Kai said, and turned his eyes to his student, who was currently transformed and fighting his father. 'Besides, he will probably come to feel it himself. More and more the boy thinks like us. It is nearly time to have him try to pull out the Z sword,' he said, as suddenly Goten's hair turned black, and his eyes began to glow as before.

Goku stopped immediately, having come to expect this, and hovered in the air next to his son, who was in the throes of whatever mental leap he was currently undergoing. "Pel," his son's voice came from everywhere again, and Goku remembered Goten talking about her. Bulma had apparently raised him together with her and Yamcha's daughter, Pel. They were the last two beings alive in the universe with human blood. He knew Goten cared for her a great deal. Goku did not try to speak to Goten, knowing from things Goten had told him, that he wouldn't hear him. "1-8-3-5-2-epsilon. Coordinates 174-02-16-47. Defiant Stare, Captain Bonona. Tell him about the Namekians…" Suddenly, Goten collapsed to the ground, his sides heaving, sweat pouring off of him. "Pel! She's in danger!" he yelled, tears streaming down his face.

The Supreme Kai was there in moments. "Goten, I know what you are going to try, but you can't. Your atoms would be spread around the galaxy," he warned.

Goten scowled. "I don't care, I have to try! She needs me! She needs-"

"She needs access codes, coordinates, and somewhere to hide," Supreme Kai stated. "That was precisely what you gave her."

Goten shook his head. "Those numbers? They didn't even make any sense!"

"They will to her!" Supreme Kai raised his voice, something he had never before had to do with Goten. "What can you possibly do with your presence, but distract her and get her killed?!" he pointed out, trying to reason with his student.

"I CAN FIGHT!" Goten shouted, and suddenly his energy rose, and he transformed again, electricity forming around him. "I CAN PROTECT HER!"

A heavy pressure formed around him then, and Supreme Kai's eyes widened. "NO! You can't teleport yet, don't try it!" he pleaded with the boy.

"I HAVE TO PROTECT – " Goten began to yell, but suddenly his eyes rolled upwards, his hair turned to black, and he crumpled to the ground, his father standing behind him, hand extended. Goku was scowling down at the boy, and it didn't take much for the Supreme Kai to realize Goku had struck him.

The Supreme Kai took a deep breath, regaining his composure. "Thank you, Goku. I'm sorry you had to do that," he said softly.

Goku continued to scowl. "You could have gone to help her yourself. You could still help her now," he said, his voice low.

The Supreme Kai met his eyes sadly. "Do you remember the people of Maltek, Goku?" he asked.

Goku's fists clenched, his scowl deepened, but he looked away. "I couldn't help them. The Ginyu Force was too strong…" he growled.

"Holding the entirety of Creation together is no easy task. Neither is maintaining the balance between life and death. Countless details must fall into place exactly for life to continue to exist. That is the burden of the Kai. My burden. Your son's burden. Do not confuse our involvement with your son with how the universe is supposed to work. We must not involve ourselves with the living, or life itself will be thrown out of balance, and eventually cease to exist. The more we Kai touch life, the more we weaken it. Do you, who train your own son in combat, seek to prevent his every injury? Or only those which threaten his life and well-being?" the Supreme Kai lectured, scowling up at him. "Pel will be fine. The coordinates and information Goten gave her will lead her to safety. That was more than I should permit, but I allow it, for your son's sake. He is still learning, his heart is still mortal. But make no mistake, Goku. The moment your son fully becomes a Kai, he will have to adhere to our every rule. He will no longer have the luxury of caring for only a select few. He must become more than that. The kindest thing you can do for him is to prepare his heart to let those he cares about go," he said.

With that, the Supreme Kai turned and walked back to the top of the hill, and sat down to meditate.

Goku gazed down at his unconscious son, thinking about all the Supreme Kai had said. He couldn't do it. There was no way Goku could ever shoulder the responsibility his son was learning to carry. He didn't envy his youngest son, his heart broke for him. "Oh, Chichi…" he whispered softly as he picked his boy up off the ground and carried him to the tree he usually slept under. "Why do our boys have to have such a hard time?" Gently, he stroked the hair out of Goten's face, his fingers brushing against the lock of white hair, evidence of the trauma of learning to become a god. Then, he found himself doing something he had never done in life, even during his toughest battles. He closed his eyes, opened himself to the universe, and prayed to whoever was listening. 'Please give my son the strength to face what no one else can.'

It was the Supreme Kai's voice in his mind who answered him back. 'I'm doing my best, Goku.'