A/N: Okay, guys, I know you're all ready to see the final showdown, so hold on to your seats, we're doing a time skip!

Pel finished bandaging the little purple-skinned girl's arm, and smiled as the child thanked her and ran off. She gazed around at the now empty (though for how long?) medbay, and stretched her tired muscles.

She hadn't been the Defiant Stare's healer for long, but the last six months on this ship had made her feel at home, in ways that even Namek couldn't. She supposed it was because of the mental challenges, the access to technology, or maybe it was just being around more action and excitement. Although, action and excitement could be overrated sometimes.

Pel sighed wistfully. "Just finishing up for the day, Goten," she said softly. Ever since that strange moment on the ship, when she had been running for her life from Frieza's men, she had developed the habit of talking to her absent love. She had known it was his voice in her head that day, it had been nothing short of a miracle. There was no other possible way she could have known the exact access codes and coordinates she needed to get to safety. She certainly would have died, if it had not been for him.

He had never spoken to her again, after that. But it didn't keep her from talking to him. She only did it when no one was looking, of course, but it was enough, and it made her feel less lonely. And, she had a feeling he could hear her.

She gathered the spare bandages and diagnostic tools, and put them away. "Treated fifteen burns and four broken bones," she said conversationally. "I don't have the energy to heal everyone on the ship, not with the way Frieza's men keep coming after us. I've just been using my energy on the worst ones, and patching everyone else up the old fashioned way. I'm trying to get my hands on a healing pod, one of those would really come in handy. Too bad Earth never had technology like that, or I could access Mom's records and build one," she said, and made her way to her bedroom in the back. Everyone on the ship was considered 'on call', so she mostly just rested and ate in between patients. She enjoyed her work, though… she loved helping people, and desperately wanted to keep her promise to Master Dende. "Do you ever see Master Dende where you are, Goten?" she asked, curiously. "I sometimes wonder if he's proud of me. I think he would be. I'm proud of what I do, now," she said softly, pulling out that day's rations. "I still haven't told anyone here about you, and I think that Captain Bonona's flirting with me. At least, I think that's how Portukans flirt with females. He keeps spitting on stuff and handing it to me, with a big smile on his face. I don't think we're biologically compatible, but these days, with Frieza's empire taking over so much of the known universe, I think people are settling for basic companionship, wherever they can get it," she said softly, and sighed. "I don't blame him. I could use some companionship, too, Goten. I miss you. I…" She sat down, opening her ration box. "I know we were just kids when we were separated, but I loved you, even from then. I used to watch you fight, and bring you food, just to see you smile at me, to hear you say nice things about me. I…" Pel wiped a tear from her eye. "I only love you, Goten. I have faith that, one day, I'll see you again. When I do… I'll be ready for you. You're the other half of my soul. I won't be complete without you. When I… when I die…" Pel said, tears in her eyes, "then the human race dies, too. Our species, our people, will be completely gone," she sobbed, then dried her eyes. "But I won't give up. You wouldn't give up, and neither will I. I am going to keep my promise to Master Dende, and spend my life helping people. I'm going to wait for you, to come to me, because you're the only person who should be keeping me company. I'm going to wait, and hope, and pray, and one day, we're going to be together again. I just know it," she said, smiling tearfully. "Please come to me soon, my love…" she prayed, then took a deep breath and began to eat what few bites she could before the next patient came in.

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"Ka…me…ha…me…ha!" Goten shouted, and a bright blue beam shot from his hands to a far off boulder, demolishing it into a million pieces.

Standing on his left, arms crossed, was Goku. He gave Goten a nod of approval, then looked to the Supreme Kai, who was standing on Goten's right.

"Now, Goten… remake it exactly the way it was before," the Supreme Kai instructed.

Goten did not move his arms from the position from which he'd fired the Kamehameha. He imagined the beam coming back into his hands, pulling each piece back along its same trajectory, towards the single point at which the blast hit.

Every shard slowly came back, beginning from the center and building outwards, until the entire boulder was put back the way it was.

Supreme Kai inspected it closely, and smiled. "Very good, Kai Goten. Now, draw your sword."

Goten relaxed his body and mind, and then stuck his hand through the air. His entire arm disappeared, and he focused, calling the Z sword to his hand. When he felt the metal against his palm, he pulled it out, causing his arm to re-appear with the heavy sword.

The sword was too heavy. Goten's muscles had toned to the point where he could lift it without a problem, now, but that wasn't the issue. The weight of the sword had nothing to do with… well, weight. It was weighed down by something else, and Goten had yet to find out what. The Supreme Kai had admitted he did not know much about the Z sword, that it had been on the Kai planet for longer than he'd existed, and that all that was known about it was just legend. It was known only that, whoever wielded the sword would have great power. Some interpreted that to mean that wielding the sword gave you great power, others that one had to have great power to wield the sword. Either way, the Supreme Kai had said, it only made sense that Goten wield it. With the universe at stake, he could use all the help he could get.

The Supreme Kai gave a nod to Goku, who transformed into a Super Saiyan and got into a fighting stance. "Now, Goten, close your eyes. Focus only on the sword. Let your instincts protect you from your father's attacks, but keep your focus on the blade in your hand. Allow the sword to guide you to the answers you seek," he said, and quickly flew back a ways.

Goten closed his eyes, willing his focus to the sword's blade, when the first attack came. At the last second, he side stepped, never losing focus. A fist came towards his face, he leaned back a centimeter so it would miss. A knee went for his side, he used his energy to move himself in the direction of impact, just outside of his father's range. On and on it went, Goku trying to fight him, Goten neatly dodging each blow, focused completely on the sword.

Goten's eyes began to glow beneath his lids.

Time stopped.

Goten opened his eyes to see his father's foot inches from his face, frozen mid-kick. The sword was glowing, and one glance at the Supreme Kai's knowing gaze told him he had stepped outside of time again.

It always unnerved him how the Kai could be frozen in time, yet their expressions implied they were seeing and hearing everything that he did. The Supreme Kai had told him that he would understand when he was transformed completely. For now, he turned his attention back to his sword.

'Your sword? How impetuous!' a crackled voice chided him, and Goten's eyes went wide. The sword was talking?

'Is someone there?' he asked, never having had one of these visions where he talked to anyone other than himself.

'Is someone there? What a silly question. You brought me here, didn't you?' the voice complained, taking Goten aback.

Truth. 'You're inside the sword. That's why it's so heavy,' Goten said in realization.

'HA! Well, what do you know? The little mortal's trying to be a Kai,' the voice said, causing Goten to raise an eyebrow. 'And what exactly do you plan to do with me, anyway? Run me through some guy's chest? Use me to peel potatoes? Do you even know what you're doing?' the voice demanded.

Kai Goten thought about it. 'I guess I'm supposed to use you to fight the evil that's supposed to destroy the universe,' he said thoughtfully.

'Ha! Doing a lot of supposing, aren't we?' the voice chided. 'And, I suppose you suppose I'm going to let you use me like some kind of weapon?'

Goten gazed at the blade curiously. 'Are you not a weapon?' he asked, confused.

'NO! Well… yes…. and no! Definitely no! With a little bit of yes, yeah, that's about right,' the sword said, causing Goten to laugh. 'What's so funny?' the sword asked.

Goten stopped laughing, and grinned. 'That's a Kai answer. You're a Kai,' he said sagely, causing the sword to sputter indignantly.

'Wh-hat, of course I'm a Kai, you nitwit! What else would I be, trapped in a sword like this for all eternity, who else but a Kai would have that kind of staying power? Now… tell me, little boy, what do you plan to do with me?' the sword asked.

Goten bit his lip. 'Well… do you want to be free?' he asked the sword.

The sword cackled at him. 'Well, you're not too bright, but at least you're a kind little nitwit. Asking me what I want. Yes, I want to be free, I'd love to go frolicking about, picking daisies, but that's not exactly how the universe works. You know where the Kai come from, don't you?' he asked the boy.

Goten nodded. 'They're born as shinjin from the Kaiju trees,' he said.

'Ah, someone's been telling mortals all our secrets! No, nitwit, I mean, tell me WHY the Kai are BORN!' the sword scolded.

Goten frowned. 'Because the universe needs them,' he said.

'Well, you've got a little sense, I suppose. And, tell me, what happens to a Kai when the universe no longer needs him or her?' the sword asked.

Goten's eyes widened. 'Oh. You think you've been replaced already, so there's another Kai taking your spot, so you'll just disappear or something, right?' he asked.

The sword was silent for a long moment. 'How can you sound so idiotic and be right, all in the same breath?'

Goten's eyes went to the frozen Goku, then back to the sword. 'I don't know where I get that from,' he said, knowing his father would laugh if he could hear their conversation. 'Well, you don't know for sure if you'll be erased. Maybe the universe will need you for something else?' he suggested.

'Doubtful. The universe only needs one Supreme Kai,' the sword lamented morosely.

'You were the Supreme Kai?' Goten asked, his eyes wide. He glanced at the Supreme Kai, and could swear he saw a flicker of surprise in the Kai's eyes, though his expression remained the same. Creepy. 'What happened? How'd you get trapped in this sword?' he asked.

'That's a story for another time, nitwit. You still haven't answered my question. What will you do with me?' the sword asked impatiently.

Goten sighed, thinking for a long moment before speaking. 'I need to become a Kai,' he said softly.

'Then you're asking to be robbed,' the sword retorted.

'Robbed?' Goten asked.

The sword cackled at him. 'Don't you realize how good mortals have it, boy? You're born, you make friends, you have fun, you die, you get reincarnated and do it all over again! Why would you want to go and mess that up? And for what… the chance to sit by and watch everyone else have all the fun? For an eternity?'

Goten had never truly thought about it like that before. He looked down. 'The universe needs me. I have to stop a great evil that's going to destroy everything,' he said.

'How very noble of you. And, you feel you've lived a full life, then? Done everything you wanted to do? Once you become a Kai, you won't have another chance, you know,' the sword egged him on.

Goten blushed. 'Well… there is one thing…' he said, thinking of Pel. Sometimes, when he slept, he could hear her talking to him, calling to him. He always reached out for her, he wanted to finish his training, so he could be with her, at least for a little while, before the great evil came.

'A girl, huh? And last of your race. Oh, look at that, she's cute! Nice rump on that one!' the sword said, causing Goten to scowl furiously, growling low in his throat.

'Watch it,' he threatened, feeling much, much more violent than normal.

'Ooooh, that would be that Saiyan blood running through your veins. Never gonna be a Kai with that stuff going through you. All those instincts, they have a purpose, you know. I remember when the Saiyans were first created. Talk about survival instincts!' A low growl from Goten had the sword cackling again. 'Take, for instance, your instinct to mate. Never going to be able to give up mortal life, not with that Saiyan blood, not without first leaving your mark on the universe! Which, of course, would be bad, since you'd be leaving a child fatherless. But then, it might be just what you need. What you both need. Especially considering she's part of what's holding you to mortality,' the voice rambled, and Goten frowned.

'Pel's keeping me mortal?' Goten asked, and the sword cackled again.

'Yes. And no. She's keeping you mortal… and she will also be what you need to become a Kai,' the voice explained.

'Thank you, ancient Kai… sword… thing. I think I know what I'm going to do,' Goten said, and began to return the sword back to the pocket realm where he'd learn to keep it.

'With me! You're supposed to figure out what you're going to do with-' the sword ranted, until it was closed behind the portal.

Goten stepped well out of the way of his father, then willed time to return to normal. "STOP!" he said, holding up his hand.

Goku blinked at him curiously, and powered down. "But… we just got started…" he objected. "What's wrong, Goten?" he asked, concerned.

Goten smiled at him. "Everything's okay, father. I just need a break, is all," he said softly, a hint of color on his cheeks. "I just had a long conversation with the sword, and…" he turned to the Supreme Kai. "Um, he suggested, and I was wondering, uh…" he scratched the back of his head, his cheeks blushing furiously. "Can I go see Pel? I mean, I know my training isn't over, but…"

The Supreme Kai smiled at him knowingly. "I would prefer you train a little more, but… the truth is, we don't really know what skills you will need to beat this thing, only that you will be the one to face it. Besides, I believe my ancestor may be right," he said, smirking.

Goten's eyes widened. "You did hear everything! That is really… weird," Goten said with a shudder.

The Supreme Kai chuckled. "It will be normal to you soon, Kai Goten. I approve your 'break'. But," he said, and his expression became very serious, "you must still abide by the law of the Kai. You will take no mortal life while you are in the Living World. You will change no major course of events. You will not reveal yourself to be a Kai. AND," he began, then looked between Goku and Goten. He sighed. "Any other rules I leave to your father," he said, surprising both Saiyans. He looked deep into Goten's eyes. "Kai Goten, the next time I see you, will not be pleasant. I would like to apologize in advance. You have given so much, and all I have offered is pain and separation. I wish fervently that things could have been different, that you didn't have to do this," he said softly.

Goten swallowed. 'You're asking to be robbed,' the sword had told him. He gave the Supreme Kai a smile back. "You gave me a choice. I chose this. It's not robbery, if what you're taking is being given to you," he said softly. He could see an ocean of emotion in the Supreme Kai's eyes, and he bowed reverently.

The Supreme Kai responded by taking the boy into his arms, embracing him fully.

Then he was gone.

Goten looked back at his father. "I meant what I said, before," he said softly, causing Goku to glance at him, confused. "I will restore what you lost. I'll find him, father."

Goku looked away. He was still unable to talk about his oldest son to Goten, and the boy, who somehow seemed to know about him despite having never been told, had never pressed the issue. It was only further proof that his son was becoming something more than Saiyan or Human. He swallowed hard. "Don't…" he started to say, and took a deep breath to steady his voice. "Don't waste your time with Pel looking for him," he finally managed. "I… I gave up on him. I couldn't find him, and I gave up, and that's my burden to bear, not yours. And… if I hadn't, you'd never have been born," he said, swallowing hard. "I failed, but I didn't make a mistake. Don't you make the mistake of neglecting Pel by trying to fix my failure," he said, and turned to Goten, his eyes hard. "That's my rule for you, Goten. Go to Pel. Gohan…." the older man's voice broke at his eldest son's name. "Gohan and I will see each other, when he dies, King Yamma promised, no matter… no matter where he ends up," Goku said. "You just focus on Pel right now. That's an order," he commanded his son.

Goten could feel his father's pain, and swallowed. "Yes, father," he said softly.

With that, the two Saiyans embraced, and Goten whispered, "See you on the other side, Father."

"I'm so proud of you, son," Goku replied, smiling tearfully.

Goten released him, and stood back, smiling. Suddenly, Kibito was there, standing behind him, his hand on Goten's shoulder. "Kai Goten," the larger warrior said, smiling down at him fondly.

Goten glanced up and grinned. "Here to take me to her?" he asked. At Kibito's nod, he waved goodbye to his father, then felt space and time fold around them…