Kera:

"No," she breathed. Then louder: "No!" She searched for Vegeta's aura. It was no longer there. There was nothing there. Just nothing. As if he had never existed.

She began to tremble and wrapped her arms around herself. "Vegeta, no!" Uncontrolled sobs shook her body.

"He sacrificed himself for us," Piccolo said softly. "Here, Krillin, fly the children to Bulma's house. I'll meet you there." He handed the still unconscious Goten to Krillin.

"And what are you going to do?"

"We're going to see if ..." Piccolo didn't speak any further. Kera knew what he was going to say. He was going to see if Vegeta was really dead. He didn't need to. She knew it anyway.

Kera did not turn to Krillin and her children. Grief paralysed her. She could feel them flying away.

'Come.' Piccolo held out his hand to her.

Hesitantly, she placed her hand in his. Warmth spread through her body. It didn't drive away the pain of loss, but it helped.

Piccolo:

They landed in the crater. "Where's Vegeta?" she asked quietly.

Piccolo looked around before answering, "I'm afraid his body couldn't handle the massive energy drain."

"Are you saying his body has dissolved?"

Piccolo nodded.

Kera cried out, falling to her knees and pounding her fists on the earth. "Why?!" Tears of anger and grief streamed down her face. "Now I can't even bury my brother." She sobbed and cowered.

Piccolo felt her pain. He didn't even need her soul connection for that. Her pain was physically tangible. Her soul seemed on the verge of tearing. He knew she blamed herself for Vegeta's death. Even though he had dismissed her from his service, she saw it as her duty to protect him. And then she had failed.

He wanted to take her in his arms, to comfort her, and took a step towards her. Then he heard a voice.

"Buu! Help me! Buu! Where are you?"

It was Babidi. How was that possible? He'd killed that lousy little mage after all. Where was he? Then he perceived something else. Little pink orbs moving across the earth as if by magic, heading for a common point at the edge of the crater. To Kera.

"Kera!"

She hadn't noticed anything yet. She seemed deaf and blind at that moment, giving herself over entirely to her grief.

'Kera! He called out to her in thought, causing her to startle. She turned to face him and at the same moment saw what was happening. Immediately she jumped up.

"What is it?"

"I suspect bad things," was Piccolo's matter-of-fact reply.

The pink spheres continued to move towards a point. Fascinated, they both watched what happened next. A mini version of the demon formed from each sphere and rose two yards into the air and remained there. Each mini demon attached itself to the large mass and a few seconds later everything began to deform and the features of the demon Buu formed.

"Get out of here!" Piccolo was the first to break his stiffness, grabbing Kera by the arm and pulling her with him.

"Let go of me! I'll show this fat guy the ropes."

"And then get you killed too?"

Instantly, Kera gave up her complaining. Defiantly, she flew up beside him. "What do you suggest?"

"I don't have an idea yet. We should meet at Dende's palace first. Gohan is probably dead. I can't feel his aura anymore. And what about Goku ..."

Kera stopped mid-flight. "Oops!" Questioningly, Piccolo looked at her. "Kakarrot is unconscious. We fought each other ..."

"You what?" Kera started to say something, but he interrupted her. "I don't think I want to know. Where is he? I can't sense his aura."

Kera concentrated. "I can."

"How?"

She shrugged. "I'll go get him."

"Good, I'll meet you at Dende's. I'll collect the children."

"OK. See you later." She turned, just then Piccolo held her once more by the arm.

"Kera." He pulled her close without explanation and kissed her briefly. "Take care of yourself."

A brief smile flitted across her lips. "You take care of yourself too, my green one."

He watched her for a moment, then sped up his flight to catch up with Krillin and the children. He would certainly not be happy about these developments either.

He quickly caught up with Krillin and the children. Trunks was still hanging unconscious over Reyak's shoulder, Krillin had the motionless Goten under his arm. Menka's face was tear-stained.

He gave his daughter a quick hug and patted Reyak on the head.

"Change of plans. We're flying to Dende."

He saw the corners of Menka's mouth twitch upwards. The prospect of seeing Dende seemed to instantly put her in a different mood.

"Why?" asked Krillin.

"Buu is still alive."

"Wha-what, then Vegeta is ..." Krillin didn't finish the sentence.

"We need to figure out how to proceed. Kera went to get Goku."

"So he's all right?"

"He's probably unconscious. They were fighting each other before the demon awoke." He looked to Krillin. "Don't ask."

Kera:

She didn't know why she could sense Kakarrot's energy while Piccolo couldn't. Kakarrot's and Vegeta's aura had always felt different to her than Tien Shinhan's, Yamcha's or Krillin's. She had always blamed it on the fact that Kakarrot and Vegeta were Saiyans, but she wasn't so sure anymore.

Her senses had not deceived her. She found Kakarrot on the plain near the spaceship. He was still lying there just as Vegeta and she had left him.

She landed beside him and nudged him. "Hey, Kakarrot. Wake up!" He didn't move at first until she nudged him again. He opened his eyes and looked up at her.

"Kera?"

"Come, I'll help you up."

She propped Kakarrot up into a sitting position. He rubbed the back of his neck where Vegeta had hit him. Kera bit her lips at her guilty conscience.

"What happened?"

"The demon has awakened. We gave it enough energy with our fight."

"Shit!"

"Vegeta and I fought him."

"Vegeta fought with you?"

Kera had to smile. "I didn't give him a choice." Then her features darkened again. "But the demon was too strong. He almost had us incapacitated if the children and Piccolo hadn't intervened."

"The children were there?" He fell silent for a moment. "Where is Gohan? I can't feel his aura." Kera looked to the ground. "Answer me," Kakarrot rumbled.

"We don't know. He's probably ..."

"No," he breathed. "This can't be happening."

"I'm sorry." Tears streamed down her face.

"Where's Vegeta?"

Kera couldn't answer. She began to sob. It all seemed so pointless to her. Wordlessly, Kakarrot pulled her into a hug and waited until she could speak again.

"Vegeta sacrificed himself. He wanted to take Buu with him to hell. But it was for nothing. The demon survived."

Kakarrot clenched his fists and glared grimly ahead.

Then suddenly the sky darkened.

"What ...?"

"Someone must have summoned the dragon," Kakarrot concluded.

"Probably Bulma and the others. They must be trying to revive the spectators who were killed in the stadium."

"But if Buu is still alive, we'll need the Dragon Balls later, very badly. We don't know how many more casualties there will be."

Kera nodded. "Can you teleport us to Bulma?"

Kakarrot put the index and middle fingers of his right hand to his forehead and concentrated for a moment. Then he held out his hand to her. Kera grasped it and she felt a tingling sensation run up her entire body from the soles of her feet in the next moment. Even her fingertips and scalp seemed to be electrified. Tense, she closed her eyes.

The next moment, the ground beneath her feet felt different. It was no longer the sandy uneven ground, but straight paved path. She opened her eyes.

They were behind Bulma, who had not yet noticed her sudden appearance. In front of her was Yamcha, looking up at Shenron.

"... except the bad guys!" he was just finishing his sentence.

The dragon's eyes lit up. "Your wish has been granted."

"No!" gasped Kera. "We are too late."

Surprised, Bulma and Yamcha turned to them.

"Goku!" Only now did Kera notice Chi Chi, who had been standing a little apart, as well as Videl, who was holding the baby in her arms, Oolong, Puar, Chi Chi's father, 18, Maron and the Turtle Hermit. "Where have you been?"

"Please, not now, Chi Chi," he snapped at his wife, who paused mid-motion, completely perplexed. Again Kakarrot put his index and middle fingers to his forehead, but did not disappear, instead speaking aloud. "Dende, can we just send the dragon away like this and use the open wishes later?" Kakarrot waited a moment, nodded and stepped in front of the dragon. "Thank you, Shenron, we'll call you back later."

The dragon grumbled, but then retreated into the balls. The balls rose and scattered in all directions. The sky became bright again.

"Bulma, pack up what you need. Then I'll take you all to Dende," said Kakarrot.

"Why? What ...?"

"I'll tell you all about it in a minute," Kakarrot stifled Bulma's question and waited impatiently for Bulma to come back with a backpack. Chi Chi stood beside Kakarrot and looked at him questioningly. Wordlessly he pulled her into a hug and gave her a kiss on the top of her head.

"What about your parents?"

Sadly, Bulma shook her head. "They said they wanted to stay here since they could be revived."

"Alright, everyone hold on to each other. I'm going to teleport us."

Kakarrot held out both arms. Chi Chi stayed at his side, Kera stood at his other side and waited until everyone had formed a chain. "Let's go." Again Kera felt the brief tingle all over her body. Again the floor changed and there were tiles beneath her.

They were in Dende's palace.

Immediately Kera looked around. Piccolo was standing not far from her. Menka and Reyak at his side. She took a step forward, dropped to her knees and hugged her children.

"So, Goku, now please tell us what is going on!" demanded Bulma energetically after the human chain had broken loose.

In brief words, Kakarrot summarised what had happened so far. Kera added to his narrative in a few places.

"So this demon is now running free here on earth, happily killing people? Haven't we had that before?", Yamcha sarcastically summed up Kakarrot's story.

"Wait a minute! Where is Gohan? He flew away with you and Vegeta, didn't he? And where are Goten and Trunks?" asked Chi Chi.

Kakarrot lowered his eyes. Kera swallowed and looked at Chi Chi. "We can't sense Gohan's aura anymore."

"No!"

Kera saw that Chi Chi wanted to scream, but all that came out of her mouth was a huff. She tried to reach for something, looked for support, found nothing. Her eyes tipped back. Kakarrot jumped forward and caught her before she hit the ground. Gently, he picked her up in his arms.

"Goten and Trunks are lying here in the palace. They are unconscious," Piccolo said before there could be any misunderstanding. "They fainted ... during the fight. Unfortunately, we have no more Senzu Beans. I think they'll wake up soon, though."

Bulma nodded, obviously relieved that her son was alright. Kakarrot seemed relieved as well.

"Where's Vegeta?" Bulma's eyes darted back and forth between Kakarrot and Kera.

Again Kera lowered her eyes. She felt so empty.

'I'm with you,' she heard Piccolo's voice in her head.

She straightened up and turned to Bulma while everyone else remained silent and stared at her, spellbound.

Slowly Kera sank to one knee and bowed her head. "I'm sorry. Vegeta died in battle."

"You ... you let him die?"

Kera swallowed. That hit hard. "I ..."

"Isn't it your job to protect him? Why are you here and he's not?"

Kera began to breathe faster. She didn't want to have this conversation. She was still grieving herself.

"Bulma, let her talk first," Piccolo asked the blue-haired woman.

An uncomfortable silence spread.

"Tell!" squeezed out Bulma.

Stumbling, she told of Vegeta's decision. She had to keep pausing and fighting back the tears. When she had finished, there was silence for a moment.

Then Bulma also fell to her knees and hugged Kera. She cried on her shoulder. Tears were now running down Kera's cheeks haltlessly as well.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't want to leave him alone. He told me to and released me from his service. I will be there for you," she whispered on Bulma's shoulder.

"We can work this out."

"He told me he loved you. And he gave the baby a name."

"Really? Which one?"

Kera wiped her face and straightened up. She beckoned Videl with the baby to her and took the baby from her. Beaming with joy, the girl looked up at her. Kera rested her forehead on the baby's.

"I welcome you into this life, Gine."

"Vegeta named the baby after our mother?" asked Kakarrot in surprise.

Kera nodded and straightened up. She took one deep breath. She had to focus on ridding the world of this demon first now. "Now how do we proceed?"

"Goku, can't you fight Buu directly?" asked Krillin.

Sadly, Kakarrot shook his head. "I'm not strong enough. I wouldn't stand a chance."

"Then Earth be damned." Krillin clutched his head.

"With Gohan or Vegeta, I might have had a chance. But like this ..."

"What about me?" asked Kera, slightly annoyed that he had passed her over.

"And I hardly think you would have stood a chance with those two by your side," Piccolo interjected.

"Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I learned a technique in the afterlife where two people who are of similar power and body build can fuse into a new person."

"I have heard of it. Beings from the planet Metamor have mastered this technique," Dende said.

Kera's gaze darted to Piccolo. He was proof that fusion made a fighter stronger.

"Then we can fuse," Kera suggested.

"Learning the technique takes time and I can't stay on Earth forever," Kakarrot called to mind.

"What about the children?"

Surprised, they all turned to Mister Popo.

Kakarrot slammed his fist into his other open hand. "That's the idea!"

"Wait a minute, you mean my son?" interjected Bulma.

"Or mine?" exclaimed Kera.

Kakarrot glanced back and forth between the two women. He actually seemed unsure who he actually meant now.

"That's even better, actually! We have four children and thus several options for fusion!"

"You really want to let our children fight this demon? When you already have no chance?" Bulma was upset.

"The being created by a fusion is not just as strong as the two fighters it is created from, but many times stronger."

This realisation then did make everyone ponder.

"We must begin training immediately. Piccolo, Kera, I will teach you the technique too and you will continue training with the children when I have to go back."

Kera and Piccolo exchanged glances and then nodded.

"Hello Earthlings," a voice suddenly boomed. It was in her head and when Kera looked around she knew everyone else could hear it too. "Why don't you all close your eyes and you can see me too?" Kera followed the instruction, albeit hesitantly. In her mind's eye she saw the mage as well as the demon Buu. They were hovering over a city. Judging by the size, it could be one of the capitals, but Kera was not sure.

Babidi continued to speak. "My name is Babidi and this is my dear demon Buu. We were just doing nice things when some beings got in our way and made us very sad. I will now show you their faces."

The image of the city disappeared and an image of Piccolo appeared. Then one of Goten and finally one of Reyak.

"Tell these three to report to me and nothing else will happen. Do they not do this ..." He paused and pointed at Buu. He swung his head-mounted antenna forward, from which a pink flash shot. As he did so, he shouted, "Become sweets!"

Lightning struck the city, enveloping it in a pink bubble for a moment. Then Boo raised his hands and countless small round balls rose from the buildings. Kera gritted her teeth.

"He didn't really ..."

"I'm afraid he did," Piccolo grumbled.

Boo took a deep breath and sucked in all the sweets. His cheeks puffed out for a moment like a hamster's, then he swallowed and burped.

Disgusted, Kera grabbed her neck.

"Now, destroy the city!" ordered Babidi to his demon.

He took another deep breath, this time he blew. As if he were blowing out the candle on a cake, the buildings collapsed, stones were swept away as if they were as light as a feather. Within seconds the city was razed to the ground.

"If the three we are looking for do not report to me within five days, we will destroy more cities. If you have any clues to their whereabouts, you are welcome to contact me. To do so, all you have to do is think of me very strongly and say my name in your thoughts. Until then!"

Abruptly the connection broke.

Piccolo growled. "I'm going to turn myself in."

"No way," Kera cried immediately, fighting down the urge to cling to him.

"I don't think that's a good idea. You need to train the children. Besides, we can revive the humans with the Dragon Balls," Kakarrot interjected. "If the fusion fails, you can always turn yourself in. It also pains me that we can't do anything else right now." He gave Piccolo's forearm a quick squeeze, then turned to Mister Popo. "Can you please get Trunks and Goten?"

Popo nodded and turned.

"What happened to the Supreme Kai, anyway?" asked Kakarrot.

"I don't know. I can't really sense his aura, but that doesn't mean anything," Piccolo replied.

"Why?"

"He is a god. Only gods can sense the auras of other gods. I sometimes only sense something like a nuance, but always too briefly to be able to grasp it properly. Let's hope he's still alive."