Kera:

"Piccolo!" Kera shouted, but he did not turn around again. She tried to follow him, but someone held her back by the arm.

It was Krillin. "Let him be. I think I know what he's up to."

Tears veiled her gaze. Desperately, she tried to contact him mentally through her connection, but she couldn't reach him. The connection was there, she was sure, but it seemed blocked.

"What's he up to?" She had to concentrate to make sure her question came across clearly and wasn't drowned in tears.

"I think Piccolo wants to fly to Kami to reunite with him. He wants to get stronger."

Kera was stunned. "But why doesn't he say anything?" Why doesn't he tell me, she added in her mind.

"I have no idea."

Tien and Trunks had been silently eavesdropping on the conversation between Krillin and her, and seemed to be wondering why she was so taken back by Piccolo's departure. Kera crossed her arms in front of her chest and looked in another direction. She didn't want to be spoken to now.

"We should get Goku to safety first," Trunks said.

Nods of agreement were given to him. Together they rose into the air and made their way to Kakarrot's house.

Furtively, Kera rubbed her wrist where Piccolo had inscribed his name. Was Krillin right and he wanted to reunite with Kami? Then why didn't he say anything to her and had shielded his bond with her as well?

"What is that?"

Kera winced. She hadn't noticed Krillin flying right next to her. She followed his gaze and saw what he meant. He pointed to her tattoo.

"That's Piccolo's name," she said softly.

Krillin whistled through his teeth. "So I wasn't looking at it wrong earlier, then."

Earlier. It seemed like days since they had been this close, yet only a few hours had passed. So much had happened in that time. Two androids had taken her out, but three new ones had reappeared, Kakarrot had fallen ill and Piccolo was no longer talking to her. She sighed.

"I can't reach Piccolo."

"What do you mean?"

"We have a special connection that allows us to keep in touch telepathically." She didn't want to explain all the details to him.

Krillin patted her shoulder encouragingly. "I'm sure he'll be back."

Gratefully, she smiled at him.

"Guys, I'm going to turn here and get Chiaotzu. I'll meet you at the Master Roshi's," Tien called out to them and flew off in another direction.

"Trunks, how long will it take for Goku to get better?", Krillin wanted to know.

"About ten days."

"All right. Then we'll have to take him off the radar for that long."

Piccolo:

Piccolo landed on the platform of Kami's palace. Kami was already expecting him. They eyed each other. Piccolo was sure that Kami knew why he had come here, but he said nothing, just stood leaning on his stick, waiting.

'He looks really old,' Piccolo thought as he looked his counterpart up and down. Then he took a deep breath, concentrated and conjured up a new suit and cloak and turban that he had left behind on the battlefield.

"I suppose you know why I'm here?" he said after a while.

"Of course I do. As a god, nothing escapes me."

Piccolo took a step towards the elder. "Then let's fuse."

"Not yet. I will observe a little longer to better assess the situation." He stepped to the edge of the platform and looked down.

Piccolo had to hide his surprise at Kami's reaction. He had seen how strong the androids were and what a threat they posed to humanity. What made him hesitate now? But he had no choice. "I will wait," he finally said and sat down on the ground with his legs crossed.

Kera:

Krillin, Kera and Trunks reached Kakarrot and Chichi's house. Excitedly, Gohan came running towards them from the hut.

Kera got down on her knees and hugged the boy. "Where's Piccolo?" he asked softly next to her ear.

She froze. On the approach, she had been wondering whether she should tell Gohan and Chi-Chi how Piccolo had insulted and even attacked her before he flew away without explanation and had come to the conclusion that Kakarrot's safety had top priority, but Gohan's question stung her and she felt tears welling up. Chi-Chi, who had now also come out of the house, immediately recognised the situation and knelt down beside Kera to hug her tightly.

Kera leaned against the other woman and suppressed a sob. Silent tears ran down her cheeks. Chi-Chi said nothing, just held her close.

Krillin cleared his throat. "Chi-Chi, we must get Goku to safety. The androids are looking for him. We'll fly to Master Roshi. Yamcha, do you have a plane?"

The addressed, who had seemingly not left Kakarrot's side since his collapse, nodded and went back into the house to get a hoipoi capsule. A few seconds later, a plane was parked next to the house.

"I need to gather some things quickly," Chi-Chi said, slowly detaching herself from Kera.

Kera wiped the tears from her cheeks and nodded. Now was no time to sink into self-pity and doubt. She had to support Chi-Chi and Kakarrot. Secretly, she admired the black-haired woman. She had to fear for her husband's life and had just learned that she had to hide from the androids, but she remained calm.

Kera stood up and straightened. "I will help you."

Together they went into the house and packed the most necessary things as quickly as they could. Clothes, food, toiletries and Kakarrots medicines. In the meantime, the men had carried Kakarrot into the plane and laid him on the ground in the back and strapped him down.

Trunks, Krillin and Gohan sat down on the benches in the front of the plane, Yamcha took the controls. Chi-Chi took a seat on the ground next to Kakarrot and Kera squeezed into the far corner next to the cargo hatch. Yamcha started the plane.

Kera kept casting quick glances at Kakarrot. He was sweating and sleeping very restlessly. He seemed to be in pain. Chi-Chi kept dabbing the sweat from his forehead. Kera blocked out the others' conversations as best she could. She tried to make contact with Piccolo again and again, but it was as if she ran into a wall. Incessantly she rubbed the writing on her wrist. Had Piccolo really not meant all that?

Piccolo:

"You blocked your connection to Kera." Kami didn't look at him as he spoke. He was still staring down at the earth, spellbound.

"What's it to you?" he snapped at the elder.

"Well, if we merge, I'll be a part of it too."

Piccolo just made a growling sound.

"You have a really special connection, Piccolo. In the entire universe, something like this only happens once every few hundred years."

Piccolo was getting curious now after all. "What's so special about that?"

Kami was preparing to answer when he widened his eyes in shock. "It can't be!" he breathed with horror in his voice.

He turned to Piccolo. "Something has come to this earth in a time capsule. It's the worst thing we've ever seen."

"What did you see?" Piccolo stood up to add emphasis to his words.

"I don't need to tell you. When we are merged, you will know anyway."

A surprised expression flitted across Piccolo's face briefly before he got his features back under control. He hadn't expected Kami to decide to merge so quickly. "But I don't want your wrinkles! I only want your power."

"That's all right. You are younger and better looking. I provide the knowledge and the power. I submit. I just hope you can really defeat him. It's your responsibility now." Piccolo touched him. "The world needs my power, not a god."

For a moment they looked deeply into each other's eyes. Mister Popo, who had been standing silently beside them the whole time, began to cry.

"I thank you for your service," Kami said and looked at the little man again briefly. Then he turned back to Piccolo. "You know we can never part again then?"

Piccolo nodded. He didn't think there would ever be a situation that would make him merge with Kami again. But here they stood now. Slowly, Piccolo placed his right hand on Kami's upper body.

Kami cried out and began to glow. A bright flash bathed Piccolo in a white light. Blinded, he squinted his eyes and concentrated on not withdrawing his hand. It was similar to the fusion with Nail, only much brighter. Piccolo felt a strong energy moving up his arm. The force took him completely. It seemed to want to tear him apart from the inside. Piccolo sank to his knees.

As the light faded, Piccolo gasped. He had to support himself with both hands on the ground to get to his crouching position. Fascinated, he looked at his hands and arms. Then he stroked his face. As far as he could tell, he looked the same on the outside as always, but the strength that now coursed through him surpassed anything he had imagined.

"Are you all right?" asked Popo cautiously.

Piccolo nodded, walked to the edge of the platform and allowed the memories Kami had brought with him to sink in. He knew now what Kami had been so afraid of. What had moved him to the fusion.

With one last look at Popo, he rose into the air. "Well then, take care."

Kera:

As they landed, Kera awoke from her trance. Yamcha and Krillin carried Kakarrot into Master Roshi's house and Kera helped Chi-Chi unload the luggage. On the upper floor of the small house, the Turtle Hermi had prepared a guest room for Kakarrot and Chi-Chi, where Kera put the many bags.

She felt exhausted. Not physically. The Senzu Bean had healed her and restored her energy, but mentally she felt drained. As if Piccolo had taken an important part of her strength. She didn't feel like talking to the others, who had all gathered in the living room, and went outside.

She sat down on the sand, tightened her knees and stared at the sea. She let a ball of energy form in her hand and looked at it. Kera had feared she would have trouble controlling her energy again, but it felt like it always did. She wondered if Piccolo had really wanted to hurt her. What had gotten into him?

Kera sighed and let the energy ball disappear again. At some point someone sat down next to her. A quick glance to her right told her it was Trunks.

"You should go see your father. I'm not in a condition to do that right now," she said sadly.

"So it's true?" asked Trunks.

"What?"

"That you're Father's bodyguard."

Kera nodded. "But a pretty bad one."

He squeezed her shoulder briefly. "Father is fine. He's hurt in his pride because he couldn't do anything against the androids."

"I can understand that," she murmured. After a pause, she asked a question that had been burning on her mind for some time. "Do we know each other in the future?"

Trunks hesitated, but then nodded. "Yes. Quite well, in fact. After Father died, you came to stay with us often. At some point, you moved in with us. When Gohan wasn't training with me, you were teaching me everything."

Kera had to smile and squeezed the younger man's hand. "I'm glad." After a pause, she asked, "Was I ... with Piccolo?"

Trunks waited even longer than before to answer now. Sadly, he looked at the sea. "Yes," he then said softly.

"I see." Piccolo had indicated that he had overheard more details in the conversation between Trunks and Kakarrot three years ago, but had not wanted to reveal them so as not to upset her. He had not looked at her when he did so. Kera had suspected that either she or he would die fighting the androids. Probably him, since Trunks had mentioned that all the fighters had died one by one and not revived. So the Dragon Balls were no longer available. She wondered if she had also formed such a close bond with Piccolo in the future. How had his death felt to her?

Then she changed the subject. "Where were you earlier with Gohan, anyway?" Only now did it occur to her that they hadn't landed on the island with her at all. They must have gotten off sometime during the flight when she had just been staring ahead as if in a trance.

"My ... Bulma had called us. A farmer had spotted a Capsule Corporation machine on his land and contacted her. Gohan and I met Bulma there. It was a time machine. The same one I have, but it must have been there for a long time because it was completely covered in moss. We also found a huge egg, but no life form had come out of it. Bulma took it with her to examine it."

Before Kera could answer, someone from inside the house called out to Trunks. He jumped up and ran. Hearing excited voices, Kera stood up as well.

Gohan came rushing out of the house. "I'll go see what's there!"

"You stay here!" Chi-Chi ran after him.

"But mum, if dad can't fight, I have to!"

"You must protect your father." And after a pause, she added softly, "Please."

"What's wrong?" asked Kera, looking at Chi-Chi and Gohan in turn.

"Bulma called. She heard on the news about a creature destroying Ginger Town. Trunks and I suspect it's this creature, which probably came here with the time capsule," Gohan answered her question. Krillin, Yamcha and Trunks had also stepped in front of the house.

But Kera was not really listening to him. She sensed an energy. No, two auras. "Piccolo," she whispered. Her hand moved to her chest and settled over her heart.

The others used their senses as well. "That's Piccolo. But twice. I can feel Frieza's aura too. That can't be!" said Krillin.

"I also sense Frieza's aura. And King Cold's," Trunks interjected.

"And aren't Vegeta and Goku?" asked Yamcha, leaning against the doorframe of the house.

"But Goku is asleep upstairs. He can't be anywhere else." Chi-Chi's voice trembled.

"Trunks, Krillin, let's go check!" Kera was already leaping into the air without waiting for them to react.

Krillin and Trunks nodded grimly and followed her.

Piccolo:

Piccolo now knew everything that Kami had known. This creature was indeed worse than anything he had seen before. He had to stop it somehow and flew to the city where it was currently making its mischief. He landed.

A fat man crawled across the ground. When he saw Piccolo, he raised his arms imploringly, but he ignored him. Instead, he searched the surroundings for other auras. But there was no one here. He felt only the faint presence of the overweight man and another. Was that Frieza?

He glanced up. Someone was approaching and landed a few steps away from him. That had to be the cause of the population loss.

The creature had a green skin colour with irregular dark green spots on it. It reminded Piccolo of an insect. Its mouth, or where you would expect a mouth to be, was just a yellow oval area. Piccolo sensed several auras emanating from this creature. Goku, Frieza, even Vegeta. How was that possible?

"You sure are ugly. I didn't expect that at all."

The being twisted its mouth into a disparaging grin. It radiated pure malevolence. Behind him, a tail with a spike the length of a forearm whipped back and forth restlessly.

The man had looked on in horror at the creature's arrival and slowly began to crawl away. The creature's eyes locked onto the man. "Hmm, I forgot someone else." It took a step towards him. Panic spread across the man's face, a silent scream was on his lips.

"Let him be. Even an asshole like that deserves to live," Piccolo said, also taking a step forward.

But the monster swung its long tail forward in a flash and stabbed the tip into the man's body. Piccolo heard sour noises and a few seconds later there was nothing left of the man except his clothes, which the wind blew away. Piccolo thought he could feel the man's weak energy in the monster for a moment, but then it was gone.

The monster turned to him, "Now it's your turn, Piccolo, Demon King."

Piccolo was surprised that the creature knew who he was. But before he could ask a question, the monster began to gather its energy. Stones were thrown up, windows were shattered, cars flew up. What Piccolo had only perceived subconsciously was now confirmed. It was clearly the auras of Vegeta, Goku, Frieza and even his own. How was that possible?

Piccolo waited out the storm of energy. Stoically he looked at the monster and tried to analyse this being. When it quieted, Piccolo asked, "Who are you?"

"I am your brother."

Piccolo raised an eyebrow, then grinned. What kind of bullshit was this monster talking? Instead of an answer, Piccolo now demonstrated his energy as well. The spurs of his amplified aura pushed the green creature a few steps across the ground before it clawed its long toes into the earth and braced itself against the storm. Dismissively, Piccolo regarded his counterpart.

"I'm sorry. You've got me mixed up. I'm not the Demon King anymore." Lightning appeared around Piccolo's body. "But good thing there's no one here already. Then I don't have to hold back."

Piccolo leapt up and remained suspended above the rooftops of the city. He concentrated several yellow balls of light in front of him, which coalesced into one large ball that he sent hurtling down on the city with momentum. Within a few seconds, not one stone was left on top of another.

Piccolo no longer saw the monster. Had it been that simple? Hope died the moment the dust settled. The lizard-like creature peeled out from under a pile of stones. Its energy did not seem to have diminished one bit. He could not underestimate it.

For a moment the lizard looked up at him, then it raised one arm and sent a beam of energy up to him. Not just any energy beam, it was the Special Beam Cannon Piccolo noticed as he dodged it. He cursed inwardly. What was this creature? It claimed to be his brother and knew Piccolo's attack.

Piccolo remained suspended in the air, letting his thoughts flow. What was it trying to do? Where was its weak spot? Why did it know Piccolo's attack? A grin flitted across the lizard's mouth as it brought its hands together at its side. Surely it wasn't going to ...?

"Kame ... hame ... HA!"

"Shit!" Piccolo ducked away under the blue energy beam and at the same time thought about how to counter, by then the lizard was already behind him and wrapped its arms around Piccolo from behind. He grabbed his upper arms so tightly that Piccolo could hardly move. With clenched teeth, he tried to pull himself out of the grip, but then he felt a burning pain in his left arm.

The monster had drilled its sharp tail tip into his arm. Immediately, Piccolo heard a smacking sound. When he looked at his arm, he saw the monster's tail working like a pump. He felt his energy draining away. His arm was getting thinner, more wrinkled. He was losing substance.

Somehow he had to free himself. If this creature kept sucking on him, he would lose all his energy. Determined, he threw his head back and hit the lizard with such force that it let go of him in surprise. The sting came out of Piccolo's arm and he put as much distance as possible between the attacker and himself. Breathing heavily, he came to rest on the ground. His left arm hung limply, just a caricature. An empty shell. A few steps away, the creature landed and wiped some blood from its mouth. Brief satisfaction touched Piccolo before he spoke up. "Well, I guess you beat me there. Now you can tell me who you are, too."

The monster smiled. "Allow me, Cell. Dr. Gero created me by collecting cells from all sorts of warriors. Inside me are cells from Goku, Frieza, King Cold, Vegeta and you. Dr. Gero used small robots to gather the material. But he did not finish the project. His computer kept calculating diligently and calculated that I must absorb 17 and 18 to reach my perfect form. But in my time these two did not exist and so I stole the time machine from Trunks. To fit in there, I had to evolve back into an egg. When I got here, I had to regenerate and grow first."

"I see. Thank you for that information." With a yelp, Piccolo yanked on his arm and separated it from his body.