The kids were making their way to the VIP box slowly. They knew that Hotaru was heading out with the Changeling queen to make an announcement and they wanted to talk to both her and Yamcha at the same time. "I guess I can see why they don't believe you." Cheri said as they walked to the Runner. "If I didn't know you guys so well I wouldn't either. But you know how adults are. They think they know so much more and better than we do."
"Well, they're right most of the time." Sakura admitted. "But it is frustrating that they wont listen to us just because we're kids. I mean, if it was Videl getting the visions instead of Akemi they'd be all over that."
"But your people have all kinds of mental powers." Trunks said. "So why don't they believe you just off of that?"
"Because." Akemi said, staring at her feet as she walked. "No one has ever seen the future before."
Sakura nodded. "She's right. Mom told us that. There's never been a Tanarian in all of history with the power to see the future. So she says it's not an ability we can have and that means what Akemi sees are just dreams, nothing more. But we've seen them come to pass. And Akemi has mental abilities far more advanced than any other Tanarian I know of."
"Maybe it's the halfling effect?" Trunks suggested. "That's what grandpa calls it with Gohan, Goten, and I."
"Thought of that." Sakura said. "And Human DNA does affect us. It's why Akemi and I can use our Ki already. But I have next to no mental abilities. The lowest of any Tanarian, actually. So mom and dad say that Human DNA reduces mental powers, not enhances them. Which means...."
"Another reason not to believe." Cheri said with a sigh. "Well, like you said this morning, they wont have a choice soon. Espeically if Akemi sees it again and can give more specific details so that they can't just call it a coincidence later."
The five kids climbed onto the Runner as they listened to the speech outside playing through the stadium speakers. They were silent the rest of the journey to the VIP box and when they got there the speech outside was only just coming to an end. They made their way to the VIP box to wait for Hotaru's return, they knew they'd not be leaving just yet as the grown-ups wanted to hold a quick meeting there before heading off.
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Galactic Games Arena, VIP box
"Are you sure?" Mijima asked. She currently had a cell phone up to her ear and was talking to the woman she'd left in charge of Capsule Corp. when she'd left Earth. "And still no idea what the cause was?" she continued a moment later. Finally she sighed. "Alright, keep looking into it, call me if you find anything." she said hanging up.
"What's wrong?" Bulma asked.
Mijima shook her head. "An explosion at the North City plant." she said. "Remember I mentioned the power issues we'd been having? Well apparently something just caused a massive backfeed of energy into the reactor and overloaded the entire thing...." She closed her eyes and let out a long breath. "Half of North City is gone."
"Half of... oh my...." Bulma said slowly. North City was a big city, at least four hundred thousand people lived there. "And they don't know the cause?"
The blonde shook her head again. "No idea. We still hadn't figured out what was causing the power issues."
"Power issues?" Vadora asked. "What kind of power issues?"
"The reactor was generating power but it wasn't going out to the plant." Mijima said. "We'd gone over it for months and couldn't find the cause no matter what we did. Maybe I should have just had them shut it down for good, until we'd figured out the cause...."
"I wonder...." Vadora said, thoughtfully.
"What is it?" Gohan asked.
"I'm wondering if that plant was having the same problem as us with the generator for the barrier." she explained.
Bulma's eyes widened a little as she sat up. "I hadn't even considered that. I suppose it's possible.... Mijima, call back to Earth later and have them run a full energy pattern scan with the satelite network. They're looking primarily for Transal Energy but have them scan for all kinds."
The blonde woman nodded as the door opened and the kids entered the room. The five of them moved over to a corner away from the others and took a seat. "So, how are we going to explain this anyway?" Cheri asked. "Just go 'Akemi saw the future again' or what?"
Sakura shrugged. "I'm not really sure. But I do know I'm going to make them listen." she said. "Especially with the differences to her vision this time. If those other scenes are related to what she's been seeing here...."
"Well if they don't listen we'll just tell them to!" Goten said, scowling. "We've already shown them there's more to us than they thought."
Sakura smiled and ruffled Goten's hair. "Yeah, who would have thought a little runt like you would be stronger than Trunks' grandfather?" Goten's scowl vanished and was replaced by grin.
"Speaking of that," Trunks started. "Sakura, do you think you could teach me the Kinryoku?"
Sakura laughed. "Sure." she said. "You know, I'm surprised the future you never learned it." she said after a moment. "In all the stories and videos we've seen he never once used it, but Goten's proven it can be used as a Super Sai-jin. And my future self knew it so she could have taught him."
"Probably didn't think it would work." Cheri said. "When mom was teaching me the Kaio Ken I'd said I wanted to learn the Kinryoku too, like dad. But she said Sai-jin's can't use the Kinryoku."
"But we can both use it!" Goten cried.
"We're half Sai-jin." Cheri corrected. "And until I used the Kinryoku for the first around mom she didn't think it made a difference but it apparently does. So my bet is the future Trunks never bothered to try it thinking it wouldn't work."
"Makes sense." Trunks said. "It's why I never bothered to learn it before."
The five of them stopped as the door opened again and those who'd made the speech re-entered the room. They all glanced at each other and nodded as they got to their feet and made their way over to where the adults were all gathered. "...it's going to be a long process, decades at the least." Nova was saying.
"But it's a start." Hotaru replied. "I doubt it'll be at all smooth but it's something for them to chew on."
"Exactly..." the younger Vegeta said. Before he could say anything more he noticed the five kids standing just off to the side of their group and staring at them, fidgeting a bit. "What?" he asked them, drawing the attention of the others as well.
"Sakura? Is something wrong?" Hotaru asked, seeing the look on her daughter's face.
"Akemi saw it, again." Sakura said. "And more this time." Her mom went to say something but she scowled and interupted her. "I know what you've said but I know that you're wrong. I know what Akemi can do."
"What are they talking about?" Vadora asked.
"Akemi can see the future." Cheri explained.
Vegeta's eyes instantly darted down to the little girl and he stared at her. But it was Yamcha that spoke as he shook his head. "Hotaru's already explained that isn't possible." he said.
"What?" Trunks started. "Just like it isn't possible for us to be Super Sai-jins? Or it isn't possible for a Sai-jin to use the Kinryoku?"
"Or for someone to willingly transform into an Oozaru?" Cheri added.
Sakura glanced back at them both, smiling, and then turned back to them again. "She's been seeing it for months, she's been seeing this arena for months, since before we'd ever seen it. Only this time it was different because... well, we're not sure. Something... caused there to be more."
"More?" Bulma asked. She'd noticed Vegeta staring at Akemi and she knew why. She was the only one in their group that knew about Vegeta's recuring dreams. Dreams he'd become convinced were, somehow, visions of the future. And she knew that last night there had been more to his as well.
Akemi nodded. "Yeah... it was... different." she said slowly, scrunching up her face. "It felt like someone else was there with me but there wasn't anyone. And I wasn't here at first but in this city that was smashed and on fire." She turned her gaze up to Vegeta then and their eyes met. "He was fighting some guy with a tail and wearing red and black armor. And then it went dark and the tail guy was standing over these others saying..." her face scrunched up more as she tried to remember.
"And this is where it ends." Vegeta said, his voice barely above a whisper. The words had been burned into his mind as he'd poured over them, and the entire vision, most of the morning. "Your time has expired, your power has gone...."
Akemi's eyes widened. "That was it!" she cried. "That's what he said!"
"That was... you I saw..." Vegeta said slowly, as he thought of the small form that had and hadn't been there, at the same time, during his dream.
"What's going on Vegeta?" Yamcha asked.
The Sai-jin closed his eyes for a moment and when he opened them he was still looking at Akemi. "What else did you see?" he asked.
Akemi stared at him for a moment and then smiled and nodded. Finally! Someone believed! "After the dark place I was at home on the beach but everything was on fire! And then I saw all these people and faces and heard all these voices... I couldn't make out a lot on that. After that... after that was..."
Sakura rested a hand on Akemi's shoulder as the girl started to tear up. "It was her normal vision after that." she said. "Here, at the arena, with a lot of fighting going on all around the place and me... dead."
Bulma turned to Vegeta and put a hand on his arm. He glanced back at her and nodded as he moved over to the com panel and pressed a button. A moment later a voice came over the line. "Rowan, palace operations."
"This is King Vegeta. I want the entire guard and defense force put on maximum alert status, now."
"I... yes sir." she said before he cut the line.
"Vegeta?" Hotaru asked, confused. "What...."
Vegeta glanced from her to the kids again and spoke to Akemi once more. "When you were in the city at the start." he began. "What did you see, exactly?"
Akemi frowned a little as she thought, trying to remember exactly what she'd seen. "The guy with the tail said something to you and made you mad." she said. "You attacked him but he knocked you away and he was walking toward you when two others showed up... they looked..." She shook her head a bit. "They reminded me of Goten." she said. "But they got knocked away too. They got up to do something and then it changed to the beach."
Vegeta sighed. He'd been hoping she'd have a few answers but she'd only seen what he usually saw, though a bit more of it.
"Would someone mind explaining to me what's going on?" Piccolo demanded.
Vegeta glanced at the Namek and then turned to Hotaru and Yamcha. "I don't know what you may or may not think about your daughter's powers but I can tell you this right now, she's right. She is seeing the future. At least, I believe she is."
"But... why?" asked Yamcha.
"Because what she saw, she just explained... I've been seeing it for years. Since before Namek. Since my battle with Nappa."
His father stiffened a little as he looked toward his son. "The nightmare you mentioned the night you... kidnapped Bulma... to go to Namek?"
Vegeta nodded. "One and the same." he said. "I don't know how far off it is, though. I do know that the destroyed city she mentioned is West City."
"What!?" Yamcha cried in shock.
"I've seen the ruins of Capsule Corp." Vegeta explained. "Since before I even knew what a Capsule was. And I believe that... the man she saw me fighting... is Raven's mate."
"But... this just isn't..." Hotaru said slowly. "It's not possible. It's just not possible, Tanarians don't have ability to see the future."
Sakura looked up to her mom. "It's like we've told you before, Akemi's got a lot of power. I mean, she can even leave her body! She's..." Sakura shook her head and then turned to her sister. "Show them."
"Show them what?" Akemi asked, a little confused.
"Remember what we talked about before we left the palace back home?" Sakura asked. "How we were going to try to convince mom and dad after the tournament?"
Akemi thought for a moment and then suddenly smiled and nodded. "Yeah! I remember! Ok, I can do that!" Everyone watched in silence as Akemi closed her eyes and then just stood there, her face scrunching up slowly as she concentrated. Chi-Chi suddenly let out a gasp of shock as the chair she was sitting in, along with all the other furniture in the room, began to float into the air.
The furniture floated up a good two feet, stayed there for a moment, and then floated back down again until it touched the floor. Finally Akemi's look of concentration faded and she opened her eyes. "Hehe. It's getting easier Sakura!" she cried, looking toward her sister. "I didn't have as much trouble this time!"
Hotaru and Yamcha were just staring at their daughter in shock. It was a moment before Hotaru could find any words. "How is that...." Her mouth suddenly closed as one possibility, one big and incredible possibility, dawned on her. The Tanarians had a legend, something believed to be pure myth and fantasy, that was thousands and thousands of years old. "The Oracles...." she breathed softly.
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Planet Namek, Namek's Lookout
Azura opened her eyes and sighed. "So, at last, they know." she said softly. She had sensed it when Akemi was born. A birth like that... it was impossible for her to miss. The Kais still didn't know, and they likely wouldn't for a while. But more than Hotaru's realization, Azura was interested in what Akemi and Vegeta had spoken of.
Not even she or the Elders knew who Raven or her mate were, or where they were. In fact, they barely knew more about them than Hotaru or the others. That was something that had never before occurred. But that was a matter that would have to be resolved later. Right now there was something more pressing at hand. She closed her eyes again and contacted her counterpart on Planet Vegeta. -Tatamo, can you hear me?- she asked.
-Azura, what is it? Has something happened?-
-No, not just yet.- she replied. -But it seems like I was right. The child, Akemi, has the power to see the future, and she has seen a battle. All indications are that it will occur before the Galactic Games come to a close.-
-I already had that impression. I sensed... something, just a little while ago. Some... presence. An evil unlike anything I've ever felt. What should we do? The Kais should be made aware of what we know....-
Azura tought for a moment. She hadn't felt anything out of the ordinary. But perhaps she'd been so focused on those on Planet Vegeta and the gathering of the galaxies defenders that she had missed it.... -They know as well, to an extent.- she said at last. -I'm afraid there is nothing more we can do but wait and watch.-
-If this really is as big as you think...- Tatamo began. -I wont just stand by and watch.-
-No, I had expected not.- Azura replied. -Unfortunately I have... no other choice. But remember....-
-I know. I have not said anything for ten thousand years, I have no intention to do so now.- There was silence for a moment before he spoke again. -This Akemi you spoke of. She's the one Piccolo fought today, isn't she? Is what I feel from her what I think it is...?- he asked.
There was a long silence before Azura responded. -Yes.-
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Unkown Location
"Interesting." Ravenna said as she listened to the conversation in the VIP box on Planet Vegeta. "I hadn't known Vegeta was able to see the future."
"Nor had I." said Raven's mate. "Interesting that it started after his fight with Nappa."
"Do you think there's a connection?" Ravenna asked.
"I don't see how." said Raven.
"I do." replied Razor as he entered the room. "Do not forget that our manipulations of time can have an effect on those within the time stream still. We gave Nappa his power through my abilities, not one of the fruit. I unlocked in him his dormant powers through a transference by way of a temporal shift.
"As I explained before-hand, the temporal shift is not an exact thing. So it existed before and after I did it. It is entrirely possible Vegeta was influenced by some residual energy from that shift. I did say that it was an unreliable process. It's why we have only used it to kick start efforts or with those direct contact was not possible, such as Nappa."
"Do you think this could be a problem?" asked Ravenna. "I mean, if they know for a fact that they lose to us...."
"I thought you doubted they could even survive what is coming?" Raven asked, smiling a little.
Her daughter glanced at her for a moment and then turned back to the monitors again. "If Vegeta is seeing our attack then they must survive this... somehow."
"That explosion the Cyborg mentioned." Razor said, walking toward one of the consoles. "Let's see...." he glanced at the display on the screen and smiled. "Ah, seems I was right. That was the crystal shattering, the backwash must have caused the explosion when it entered the reactor."
"So, it's time." said Raven's mate. "Now we simply wait for him to make his move and the chaos to begin."