Kera:

She could not believe her eyes. Beerus' aura disappeared and he landed slowly.

"Please tell me who that is," Piccolo begged her again, while he helped Menka to stand up again. Gratefully, she smiled at Dende. Kera laid Reyak on the ground so Dende could heal him too.

"He is a god, isn't he?" asked Dende.

Kera nodded. "The god of destruction."

"That explains why we can't sense his ki," said Piccolo.

"Please don't."

Kera turned quickly to Vegeta, whose hoarsely whispered words stopped her from replying. She followed his gaze. Beerus had walked towards Whis, but had stopped in the middle of the decks because Bulma had addressed him. Kera only saw Bulma reach out with her hand and slap Beerus across the face. This could not end well.

Beerus' head had moved only slightly to the side because of the slap. He had certainly hardly felt it and had tilted his head more out of reflex, but the act itself was an unparalleled insult.

Beerus now lashed out and backhanded Bulma in the face. She crashed to the ground.

Vegeta cried out. "Nobody hurts my Bulma!"

His energy rose explosively. His hair turned golden. His aura surrounded him and seemed almost tangible. So much power. Kera could understand his feelings. She would also freak out if someone so much as touched a single hair of her mate or her children. At the same time, she was amazed at how happy Vegeta's outburst made her. Bulma meant more to him than anything.

"He doesn't stand a chance, does he?" Piccolo stood close beside her.

"Who knows. Maybe a new power has been awakened in him."

Fascinated, she looked at her twin brother. No, he didn't really stand a chance. His kicks and punches hit, but Beerus didn't even seem to feel them. If he had hit Kera with them, it would certainly have hurt a lot.

Beerus was just toying with Vegeta. He allowed himself to be hit, but he quickly grew tired of the game. He flicked Vegeta against the forehead and he flew towards the earth.

Quickly Kera jumped up and caught him before he hit the deck of the ship.

"Good fight," she said.

"Wasn't quite enough, was it?" he replied, breathing heavily.

"Was close," she said with a smile.

If the earth was already going down now, they would meet their fate with smiles.

Beerus was still hovering over the ship. He had his right hand extended upwards. A large ball of energy gathered above his palm.

"Lord Beerus, dinner is ready!" shouted Whis, who had not moved. Beerus seemed to hesitate. Did they have a chance after all?

"Hey, Beerus, if you want more food, I can always get you a refill," called Bulma, who had recovered from Beerus' blow. A red streak ran across her left cheek.

Beerus lowered his arm. The ball of energy disappeared. A sigh of relief went through all present.

"Here, Lord Beerus, I had all these delicacies packed for us for the journey." Whis had come to stand beside his master. He held a cloth-wrapped parcel in his hand.

"Oh, to take. I can destroy the earth now after all." Again Beerus raised his hand.

"Stop it!"

Kakarrot! He stood on one of the ship's funnels and looked down at the group. When he was aware of everyone's attention, he jumped down and landed gracefully between his friends and Lord Beerus.

"You again," Beerus said with an annoyed expression.

"I have an idea how we can find out who or what the Super Saiyan God is. I just need some time to do it."

Beerus seemed to consider. Then he nodded. Hope was rising. "All right, then."

"Bulma, where's the dragon radar?"

"If you want to look for the Dragon Balls, you can save it. They're all here on the ship."

"Why is that?"

"I had chosen them as the first prize for the bingo game."

"Wonderful, then please fetch them."

Quickly Vegeta's mate hurried away.

"Kakarrot, how long have you been here?", Vegeta snapped at him.

Kakarott turned and scratched his head in embarrassment. "Not that long."

"What are you going to do with the Dragon Balls?" asked Kera.

"I want to ask Shenron what the Super Saiyan God is."

"Oh, okay, good idea."

Bulma came back with the seven Dragon Balls and placed them in front of Kakarrot. He summoned the dragon.

The sky darkened and lightning flashed through the billowing clouds. Shenron appeared. He looked around. When his gaze lingered on Beerus, the huge dragon flinched and seemed to slump a little. Did the dragon know the god of destruction?

"Please tell us: who or what is the Super Saiyan God."

"If three full-blooded Saiyans with pure hearts transfer their power to one, then a Super Saiyan God will rise." The dragon's voice boomed over the ship.

"Alright, thank you very much. You can go again."

The dragon nodded in relief and disappeared in a flash. The bullets scattered in all directions.

'Too bad we only have two Saiyans with pure hearts,' Kera heard Piccolo's voice in her head.

She turned to face him. Her eyes flashed at him in annoyance. 'We have three full-blooded Saiyan with pure hearts. Kakarrot, Vegeta, and me."

"I have to say that, though. Vegeta has changed a lot," Kakarrot agreed with her.

Piccolo raised his hands defensively, but Kera had already turned around again.

"Alright, who do we transfer our powers to?"

Silence. Most looked to the ground, hoping they shouldn't say who should receive the powers.

Vegeta, Kakarrot and Kera exchanged glances. Then Kera took a deep breath. "Kakarrot should be the one."

"Why?" immediately roared Vegeta.

"We haven't equalised our training levels since the fight against Buu. You won't like to admit it, and you also know I'm right."

Vegeta remained silent for a moment and then nodded curtly. "Come then."

He held out his hand to Kera. Together they walked towards Kakarrot. He stood with his back to them. Kera placed her left hand on his back, Vegeta his right hand.

"Always Kakarrot gets to go first," Vegeta grumbled.

"If it works, you're next," Kakarott retorted.

"Quiet now," Kera shouted.

Kera focused on her energy inside her, on her power. She activated it. On her own, she transformed into a Super Saiyan. She imagined her energy like a glowing orb that formed inside her. She directed that orb into her left arm, letting it leave her body and enter Kakarrot's. Vegeta beside her did the same.

Kakarrot transformed into a Super Saiyan as well, as if the energy he received would show itself instantly. A wave of energy released. It was so bright that they all had to shield their eyes, breaking contact with Kakarrot.

"Do you feel different?" asked Vegeta immediately.

"I ... I don't know," Kakarrot said hesitantly.

"Apparently none of you were really listening. The Holy Dragon said that three Saiyans transfer their power to one, which means you need a fourth Saiyan." Whis stared boredly into the sea as he spoke.

Again they exchanged glances. "But we don't have a fourth full-blooded ..." began Kakarrot.

"Yes, of course we do!" cried Chi-Chi and stepped forward. Gine walked by her hand.

"Of course!" Kera smiled and leaned down to Gine. "Can you transfer your energy to Uncle Kakarrot?"

Gine looked at her from below. "Make energy flow?"

Kera stumbled. "Who showed you that?"

Gine gestured to the group of her friends and family. "Menka."

Kera looked to her daughter, who was standing next to Dende, looking shyly over at her. Kera smiled gratefully at her. Menka seemed to have a gift. A gift that seemed to whisper to her what people and what skills might be needed in the near future.

Taking Gine by the hand, she walked back to Vegeta and Kakarrot.

"Do you think that's a good idea? She's just a child," Vegeta indicated.

"But she's the only full-blooded Saiyan within reach right now. Tarble's too far away and we don't know anyone else."

"Who's that?" Beerus looked curious.

"My daughter Gine," Kera replied.

"If she is full-blooded, who is the father?"

Indecisive, Kera looked to Vegeta, who avoided her gaze.

"Vegeta? I'd be burning to hear this story," Whis exclaimed excitedly.

"Not now. I want to see the Super Saiyan God first," Beerus interrupted his companion.

Kera led Gine to her brothers. "Will you please take Papa 1's hand?"

Vegeta held his hand out to her. Again Kera and Vegeta touched Kakarrot on the back and began to concentrate their energy. Kera felt the energy she had given to Kakarrot earlier was back. She should have known by then that the transformation to the Super Saiyan God hadn't worked. Again, they were all transforming into Super Saiyan. Even Gine.

Kera didn't know if she should still be surprised by Gine's transformation. Had Reyak trained with her and taught her already, or was this an instinct she was following? Kera felt her daughter's energy pass over her. She channelled it through her and passed it on to Kakarrot. A golden aura emanated from Gine. It expanded and enveloped Vegeta and Kera as well.

When the golden aura reached Kakarrot, he too transformed into a Super Saiyan. Kera looked down at Gine. "Are you okay?"

The little girl nodded and smiled. She didn't seem to mind transferring her energy.

Then Kera lost her footing beneath her feet. All four of them floated upwards, but none of them seemed to do so consciously. The air around them began to move, like a golden whirlwind.

"Somehow I feel strange." Kakarrot moved his head back and forth uncertainly.

"Don't make such a fuss. I'm happy to take your place too," Vegeta nudged him.

The gold faded into a dark blue. There seemed to be a pillow on Kera's ears. She was no longer aware of anything outside the circle. Even the auras of the others were wiped away. As if they were now alone on the entire earth.

Suddenly a beam of energy detached itself from the centre of the circle and shot up to the sky. It split the clouds from which all spectrums of weather could be seen for seconds. Rain, hail, snow and lightning chased across the sky.

Kera knew it had worked. She released her hand from Kakarrot's back and floated back on her own. Together with Gine and Vegeta she landed on the deck of the ship. Immediately she went down on her knees, Vegeta as well. The loss of energy was clearly noticeable. It would take them a while to recover. Gine, however, seemed to feel nothing. As soon as they had solid ground under their feet again, she turned and ran towards Piccolo.

Kera's gaze wandered to Kakarrot. He shone in a red light, which blinded her. She only vaguely recognised his outline. For a moment she could still feel his aura, which felt different from usual, then it was as if he was suppressing his aura. She continued to fixate on him. Yes, his aura was still there, but different. If she didn't pay close attention, she couldn't feel it.

The red light dimmed and then went out. Slowly, Kakarrot sank to the ground. His hair was red. He turned to face them. His pupils were also red. His body, in contrast to his transformation into a Super Saiyan, looked much slimmer.

"Beerus, sorry to keep you waiting so long."

Beerus stepped forward, clapping his hands as he did so. "Now I'm excited."