Hercule Satan slowly eased himself out of bed, years of practice of moving without disturbing the sheets allowing him to slink off the mattress with a nimbleness that he knew would surprise many people who didn't watch him fighting in the ring. Everyone saw him and just assumed he got by with his strength but Hercule was also quick on his feet and rather limber as well. He prided himself on that; being able to move like a jungle cat. It was what allowed him to defeat so many of his foes who tended to be far bigger and bulkier.

He took a single step only to hear a murmur.

"That was good… I didn't even feel you get up."

"Miguel!" he exclaimed only to drop his voice to a whisper. "you're supposed to be sleeping."

"I did sleep," she assured him as she slowly got up, smiling at him with half closed eyes and a lazy smile. "And now I'm awake."

"But-"

"Herc," she said, reaching out with her right hand and stroking his arm. "I'm fine. I don't need 16 hours of sleep anymore."

Hercule shook his head. "We don't know that-"

"I do," she said, cutting him off. "Its working, Hercule. Just like Avo Kayos told you… its working. I can feel it."

He didn't dare hope.

Even though the Brief Family had gone over how the medicine worked, to the point that he'd gotten them to take him down to the lab to show him how they made it (granted it included so much technical stuff that he'd been utterly lost). Even though he had been assured there would be doctors nearby in case anything went wrong. Even though said doctors gave Miguel a daily checkup.

Even though everything seemed to be going RIGHT…

Hercule didn't dare hope.

Hope was the silent killer. The one that crept up to you and slit your throat.

And yet he couldn't' deny what he was seeing with his own eyes. His darling wife, who had only 2 months ago been so weak she barely could keep her eyes open when she did manage to wake up, was sitting up in bed. Her cheeks had color again. Her voice wasn't a whisper. The shadows under her eyes had lessened and while she had always had sharp features her face was no longer so thin that he could see every vein just under her skin.

She was getting better.

"Listen here, Herc," she said, giving his wrist a squeeze, "I know you are worried-" and of course she had read his thoughts and known what he was thinking… she was so smart, "-but I don't need you to coddle me. I am grateful for all you've done for me but I don't need you to waste your time being fearful anymore. What I need you to do now is to just be there for me."

"I know, I just-"

She leaned over and he quickly moved to catch her, afraid she was falling, only for Miguel to easily support herself and kiss his nose.

"I'm fine," she said. "Though if you want to help there are plenty of things you can do."

"Like what?" he said quickly, eager to help her with whatever she needed.

"Tell me that this place has a decent shower."

That made Hercule laugh. "The water gets very hot and the pressure is great. The tub is large too, almost like a hot tub, and-"

"I'm not interested in the tub," Miguel replied with a teasing tone, rolling back to her side of the bed so she could more easily get up. Hercule leapt over the bed in a single bound, landing on his feet and spinning to face her so he could help her up, much to her clear amusement.

"Perhaps it would be better. You can lie back and relax-"

She cut him off again, flashing a steely look even as she smiled. "I am not lazy like you."

It was an old joke amongst them. Hercule far preferred his baths; being able to lounge in the tub, feeling the heat soak through all his muscles. When he'd been younger and training it had meant curling up in a tiny tub but recently they'd redone their bathroom and given him a tub big enough to lounge in. And he had all his soaps and shampoos he loved to use. One that scented the water (NOT bubble bath as Miguel loved to tease him), one that could make it fizz if he needed a bit more of a tingle. Shampoos for his hair and each one had a different area of expertise. As he had explained to his bemused wife, back when they were dating and she'd seen his bathroom (and assumed that he was dating someone on the side) hair on the head was different from beard and mustaches which was different from body hair. Each one needed a different type of shampoo and conditioner. Same with his bathing gels; he wasn't going to use the same soap he used on his feet on his face!

It was the reason why, despite the two of them having a very active sex life before her illness, they'd only attempted to make love in the shower ONCE. When he'd see her use the same washcloth to scrub her face that she'd used on her armpits…

He repressed a shudder.

"Do you need me to wait for you to finish?" he asked.

"I'll be fine," she said before letting out a low whistle as she looked over the bathroom. "Okay… I know I've been in and out of it but…"

Hercule understood what she was getting at. The bathroom was bigger than their first apartment and definitely more expensive. The first time he'd stepped in there he'd been afraid to touch the hot and cold knobs on the sink, scared to death he'd break something. It wasn't gaudy, which was nice, but it was VERY well done. Like the finest hotels.

'And this is just the guest room,' he thought.

When he'd agreed to join up with what was being called the Z Initiative he'd assumed it would mean leaving his family for a few months to… well, he didn't really know. Perhaps it would be like the National Guard. Go and train a few weekends out of the year and then be on his merry way, back to his normal life. But instead Avo Kayos and Bulma Brief had set him up at Capsule Corp along with the other members of the team. Told him to bring his family along. That Capsule Corp would be delighted. He hadn't been sure about that but his need to be there to watch over Miguel and Videl… even if he could afford now to pay for a 24/7 nurse he still preferred to be there…

"Was that chair always there?" she asked, pointing to the seat in the shower.

"Yes," he assured her. "It wasn't put in for just you."

Miguel nodded after a moment. "Okay then. Can you get my C-Pod? I want to-"

Hercule merely wagged his finger, shaking his head. "Say what song you want."

"huh?"

"Say what song you want."

Miguel pressed her lips together. "Dancing In the Moonlight."

At once the song began to play.

"You can also tell it if you want lyrics or instrumental," he said and he was rewarded with a beaming smile as Miguel realized just what was being offered.

"I might never leave," she said as she flicked her reddish brown hair over her shoulder. "Though…" she tugged on the strands, "I might not be able too. Ugh, I need this taken care of NOW."

Hercule chuckled and stepped out of the bathroom, the door shutting just as Miguel began to sing. While not as strong or powerful as he was used to it still made him feel SO much better to hear her be able to sing again.

'No matter what they are payin' me… takin' this job was worth it,' he thought as he began to get dressed.

The money was wonderful, of course. It gave him a chance to finally give his family a bit of stability. While they had never been starving there had been plenty of times where the need to constantly go to tournaments or put on shows had resulted in Hercule not being there for his family. But the Z Initiative meant he was always there and knew where they were. Clean clothing that was washed after only one time being worn instead of making it last by scrubbing stains out in the sink and spraying cheap cologne on it. Buying actually school supplies instead of relying on handouts or discount sales.

But… the fact that Miguel was getting better, regaining her strength?

That made it all worth it.

Stepping out into the hall he made his way to the stairs, taking them two at a time as he jogged towards the kitchen…

"Daddy!" Videl called out… not that Hercule could see her. She was hidden behind a tower of pancakes. "Mrs. Brief made us breakfast!"

"So please help yourself, there is plenty to go around!" Mrs. Brief declared happily, gesturing at the multiple stacks of pancakes that were waiting for him. "I so do miss cooking for others."

"It is delightful to have the house full, isn't it?" Dr. Brief said from where he sat at the table, reading through a newspaper while slowly alternating between feeding himself and his cat bites of pancakes.

Hercule shook his head, knowing there was no way he would be able to get out of a big filling breakfast. The Brief family had been very open from the moment he had shown up with Videl and Miguel that they were to treat the compound as their home. And it wasn't the snooty aristocratic way of saying it either… they weren't proclaiming that they should "treat it like home" and then looking down on them for any minor mistake. No… Dr. Brief and his wife had gone out of their way to make him and his family feel welcome.

Movie nights, as in the Brief family having a giant theater with a concessions stand and even bringing a bed in for Miguel to lie in so she could enjoy the movie too. Playing pool with Dr. Brief as he explained how Avo's friends were able to 'manipulate the energy of the world'; he still was a bit leery of that but at least having a scientific explanation assured him it wasn't a scam. Swimming lessons for Videl… and for Hercule as he tended to flounder around a bit. Mrs. Brief and the little girl making sugar cookies and then helping her decorate them. Dr. Brief insisting that they go buy some new clothes on his dime because he wanted to work on his weather machine and it might get cold (and Hercule would never forget Videl's squeals at seeing snow for the first time).

"Now then, Videl, are you ready to help me down in the lab today?" Dr. Brief asked. "The tutor droids tell me that you are well ahead in your studies so you have earned a fieldtrip!"

"Yes!" Videl said with a mouth full of pancake, only to quickly swallow when she caught her father staring at her. "I mean… yes Dr. Brief."

Hercule smiled at that, walking over to Mrs. Brief and whispering, "Thank you again for all your help with Videl. I know she's an energetic little demon at times."

"Oh, think nothing of it!" Mrs. Brief said. "We're delighted to have her."

Hercule nodded at that, smile softening a touch. "You know… I didn't know my parents, growing up. I have no idea who they are… if they are even still out there. Honestly I don't mind either way… I have no desire to see them. Nothin' bad, ya know? Just… they would be strangers to me." He selected a plate of pancakes and began to cut into the top most layer, standing at the bar watching as Videl and Dr. Brief discussed what they would do that day. "I don't mind but I always regretted Videl not havin' grandparents. Miguel's folks… well, they ain't grandparent material. And I always wished that Videl could have a grandma and a grandpa to talk to. Course, you're too young ta be a grandmother-"

"Oh nonsense," Mrs. Brief said with a wave of her hand. "You can flatter me all you wish but you can't change things." He looked at her and she smiled quite happily. "I'm aging VERY gracefully" Hercule huffed at that. "Honestly I'm glad you brought it up… I know my husband has been wondering when he should approach you about Videl… even after Bulma and her friends come back he wants to stay in contact with all of you."

"I'd like that a lot," Hercule said just as Launch entered the kitchen.

"Ah, Launch!" Dr. Brief said. "Come for some breakfast?"

"Yeah and thanks," she said with a nod, grabbing a plate and settling down next to Videl who, to Hercule's amusement, was staring at the woman with clear hero worship. "Hey squirt, how are ya?"

"Good!" Videl said with a beaming grin. "Dr. Brief and I are going to play around with plants!"

"Plants, huh?"

"Well, Avo did ask us to look into the Senzu Beans, to see if I could find a way to make them a bit more hearty."

"Won't work," Yajirobe stated as he shuffled in and grabbed two plates of pancakes, sitting just so he was out of Launch's eyeline; the woman and leader of the Z Initiative had told him if she had to watch his disgusting table manners one more time the only way he'd be eating would be via a feeding tube. "Korrin has to be very careful with the Senzu beans, so they don't wither. That's what gives them their healing properties."

"Oh I understand that," Dr. Brief said. "I won't be able to fully replicate them. However I am hopeful that I might be able to create a lesser form."

"A lesser form?" Launch asked.

Dr. Brief nodded, setting his newspaper down. "The Senzu Beans can do amazing things but sometimes you don't need amazing. Sometimes simply good is, well, good enough."

"Like throwing a punch that knocks someone back vs. knockin' them out?" Hercule asked.

"Exactly!" Dr. Brief declared. "Avo complained, rather frequently and forcefully, that the Z Fighters rely too much of the Senzu Beans for the most minor of scraps. He wants to develop something that would be useful for healing but wouldn't work on major injuries… something that would help the body repair after an intense workout but not also leave you full for a few days."

Hercule considered that. He knew that the Senzu Bean had been part of the regiment that had helped Miguel but he could also see where having a smaller, weaker version of it would be very helpful. Some might have seen it as cheating but was it cheating to drink a sports drink to replenish you? Or to eat a pasta meal before a big fight to load up on carbs? He didn't think so.

"Still think you'll fail," Yajirobe stated before tucking into his food.

"Oh, its entirely possible. But failure is the best teacher."

"What do you mean?" Videl asked, brow furrowing at that.

"Well, take your father for example," Dr. Brief said. "He didn't master each of his moves instantly. He had to train… and many times he made mistakes that he needed to correct. The same is true of me and my work!"

"Oh… I guess that makes sense," Videl said.

"Launch, will all of you be training all day?" Mrs. Brief asked. "Because I was thinking it might be fun to do a bit of shopping…"

"Hey, I'm game," Launch said. "We need to be ready in case something does attack but I'm all for a bit of splurging."

"Which will leave me and Yajirobe to do the trainin' for ya!" Hercule declared.

"Uh… what?" Yajirobe said, looking up at Hercule as he moved to join the others at the table.

"Come on now, you must have gained a few kilos since ya came to stay here! We need to work that weight off."

"I have not!" Yajirobe declared only for Launch to snicker.

Hercule smiled as he watched the two feud.

Yes… no matter what might happen next… this was all worth it.

~MC~MC~MC~

"You thought that you could stand against me? Thought you had any chance of being able to defeat me. Well, don't you feel foolish now?"

Emperor Pilaf sneered as he looked down at his hated foe… which was only possible because he'd commanded Mai to lift him up so he was above them. Still, he was looking down upon them and that was all that mattered.

"Everything you believed was a lie and now with this most sacred of texts I have gained full control of this situation! You have no choice but to obey my command!" He threw back his head and laughed.

His hated foe… blew a bubble before sighing.

"Sir, this receipt is outdated."

At once Pilaf stopped laughing.

"Wha… what?"

"It clearly states that it was from last year. Our return policy is 90 days with receipt."

"…no! I refuse to accept that!"

"Boss?" Shu said, looking up at Pilaf. "Maybe we should just take the store credit. After all we shop here all the time."

"He is right," Mai added. "We don't want to be banned like we were from WcDonalds."

Pilaf sputtered at that. "That wasn't my fault, Shu!"

"You didn't wear shoes, sir," Shu reminded him.

"My feet were sweaty! They needed to breathe!"

"Sir," the MalWart clerk said with a sigh, "there are other customers waiting."

"And they will wait until you return this damaged copy of Battle Bouncers 2: The Bouncening!" Pilaf demanded, wiggling his legs in outrage. "It has a scratch on it!"

"I-"

But then another voice cut in. "I would be willing to buy that DVD off of you for full price… assuming you agree to join me for lunch."

Pilaf tried to twist around to look at who was talking but, thanks to the way Mai was holding him, he couldn't see well. He wiggled to try and shift in her grasp but that caused Mai to gasp and suddenly her hands spasmed and sent him crashing on top of her before he fell and landed on Shu's head before dropping to the floor himself. The result was all three of them lying there in front of the service desk, groaning and shaking their heads before they looked up and stared at the man that had approached them.

He was about as non-descript of a man as one could find. Tall with dark hair and a long face, he was wearing a black suit and holding a briefcase in his hand. He also, Pilaf noticed, had a wad of zeni in his hand.

"Uh… who will pay for lunch?" Pilaf asked.

"I will, of course."

He turned and pointed at the service desk worker. "You have lucked out! But don't think that I will ever forget this, Miss…"

"None of your business," the woman said dryly.

"Miss Noneofyourbusiness!" Pilaf got up, dusted himself off, and followed after the suited man, trusting his minions to follow right after him.

Ten minutes later all of them were seated in the WichWay, looking over their 12 inch hoagies and deciding on which end they should bite into first. The only one that wasn't doing that was the suited man who, much to Pilaf's surprise, pulled out a fork and knife and began to cut into his sandwich, nibbling on little bites.

'He might be even more evil than me!' he thought, forcing himself to puff up a bit so he didn't let the other man think he was weak. "Well… you were very interested in talking to me… whatever can I do for you Mr…"

"Agent, actually. Agent Mutton. And I wished to speak with you concerning threats to our world." Mutton reached over and took a sip of his soda (he had been VERY firm that it was called Soda. Never Pop. So very evil) before continuing on. "I don't know how much you have been paying attention to the world and what has been happening but we are being threatened… by aliens."

"Aliens?" the anthropomorphic dog ninja said with a laugh, turning to his short demon Emperor who had sought out magical balls that could summon a wish-granting dragon. "Everyone knows that aliens aren't real!"

"oh, they very much are real. I have been tracking them all my life. Look here." He pulled out photos of normal looking people, at least to Emperor Pilaf's eyes. "See… they try to disguise themselves as us but they always fail."

Mai though leaned forward and stared at the photos, a frown forming as her brow creased due to how intently she was studying the images. "I… don't see it."

"Neither do I," Shu commented, lifting one photo up and twisting it one way and then the other, as if that mere act would suddenly reveal the alien within. "Is it like one of those magic eye things? Do I need to blur my vision so it pops out and I see the sail boat?"

"Or maybe its like Where's Frollo?" Mai suggested. She practically pressed her nose to the image. "I think… is that… no, that's a shrub."

Agent Mutton didn't seem disturbed at all by the antics of the two. No, he in fact merely smiled. But it wasn't a kind, sweet smile. The small grin he wore was far more patronizing than that. "I'm not surprised you can't see it. Only the truly intelligent have any hope of being able to detect these aliens. Its why they are able to hide amongst us so easily."

At once Pilaf spoke up. "Of course! Of course!" He grabbed one of the photos and, at random, selecting a feature. "The nose on this man! Only an alien can have such a nose!"

Mutton glanced at the photo and slowly nodded. "Indeed. You spotted that rather quickly."

"Just like I can tell from this man's ears-" He jabbed a finger at the photo Shu was still holding, "-and this woman's… lips." He waved his hand at Mai's photo, not even bothering to look at the image.

"Correct on both counts."

"Of course it is." He glared at his two minions who at once cringed and shrunk down in their seats. "Without me you two would never be able to do anything right! You're lucky I am not only intelligent and observant but also forgiving!"

"Y-yes sir!" Shu said, Mai bobbing her head up and down.

Pleased with that Pilaf turned to Agent Mutton. "So then, now that we've established just what I can do when it comes to aliens… what is it you wish of me?"

"My associate and I have learned that the company known as Capsule Corp, which you might not be aware of-"

"Oh, they make Capsules, right?" Shu said.

"We know of them," Mai added.

"Capsule What?" Pilaf said. He swore he'd heard the name before but he tended to forget things rather quickly if they proved of no need for him.

Mutton just continued on as if none of them had interrupted. "-but one that has managed to do some rather… other worldly things."

"You think that they are secretly aliens?" Shu asked.

"Or that they are using alien technology to make those capsules?" Mai added.

Mutton chuckled at that. "Of course not. Dr. Brief is a genius. However, I have learned that his daughter, Tights, has been in regular contact with an alien menace." He passed over a photo of a blond girl chatting with a man while smooth skinned alien stood off to the side, looking annoyed.

"Yeah, that guy's an alien!" Shu declared, pointing at the being in the outlandish outfit.

Mutton though shook his head. "Ah, a common mistake. That is, I believe, one of Dr. Brief's covert security agents."

"But… he looks just like an alien!" Shu declared.

"Of course," Mutton said with a slight shrug. "What better disguise than one so outlandish that people will stop and stare? Because they would never think someone trying to avoid staring would want people to stare at them so they would go with an outfit that would clearly make them something for the people to stare at even as they avoided the true stares of those trying to stare at them… often from stairs."

"…say 'stare' again," Mai said.

Pilaf, not wanting to upset their meal ticket, er, friend, er… meal ticket… spoke up quickly. "That makes perfect sense to me!"

Mutton pointed at the man Tights was talking to. "He, however, has all the traits of an alien invader."

"…right!" all three said, having figured out the game (though, admittedly, Pilaf was beginning to actually believe Mutton).

"Capsule Corp," Mutton said as he collected the photos, "is clearly harboring alien life. At best it is because they have been tricked into believing that they are innocents, deluded by the false tales of them being stranded and needing aid. At worst they have sold out humanity in order for them to be the last ones that need to go down and work in the acid mines."

"Oh, I don't like the sound of that at all!" Mai said.

"Yeah… work." Pilaf shuddered.

Mutton nodded once more. "I have approached you three because I wish for your help in dealing with this menace. My associate and I are looking for strong, capable people that can help us in taking out this alien threat."

"This all seems… rather impressive," Pilaf stated. "But what do we get out of it."

"You serve your planet in its time on need."

"…what do we get out of it?"

"The feeling that you have done a grand and noble thing."

"…what… do… we… get… out… of… it?"

Mutton seemed utterly undisturbed by the demands Pilaf was making. "Of course, we can't expect any of you to assist as you currently are. Which is why we will be providing you with the latest weapons and gadgets available."

Shu and Mai instantly perked up. "Weapons?" the two asked.

"Of course. Ones capable of easily taking out those alien invaders. Powerful ones."

"And we'll get to keep them?" Shu asked slowly.

"Or you'll leave them someplace where we can easily steal them… not that we would do that!" Mai flashed a charming smile.

"Of course," Mutton said. "One never knows when another alien will attack and I'd rather have you armed and ready."

"Group huddle!" Pilaf demanded and he along with his minions leapt away from the table, pressing their heads together. "So we get a lot of free weapons out of this… weapons we can use to destroy my enemies."

"And I bet he'll keep paying for our food, which is a plus," Shu added.

"We could finally fumigate the caste, sir," Mai suggested. "Get the flea problem taken care of?"

"Yes… if he puts us up in some nice hotel we could do that…" Pilaf grinned, as did the two servants, before they all turned back to Mutton. "We are in!"

Mutton smiled and gestured for them all to have a seat. "Very well. That-"

"Hey, I don't mean to interrupt…"

The four of them all slowly turned to stare at a dark haired teen that was leaning back in his chair so he could talk to them easier.

"…but I couldn't help but overhear what you were talking about and was wondering if you were accepting more applicants?"

"Are… are you insane?!" Pilaf screeched. "We were selected because of our greatness! You can't just barge your way in here and demand to be made a part of this!"

"Huh. I assumed you were picked because no one would miss you if you suddenly disappeared, taken off to be probed." He slowly looked Pilaf over. "I bet you might even enjoy it." That caused Pilaf to stiffen before he began to screech and scream, flailing about wildly. But the teen just continued on, not bothered at all by the Emperor's antics. "And hey, I don't mind taking that risk if it means free food and a chance to have some fun."

Mutton considered the boy for only a second. "You're in."

"WHAT?!" Pilaf, Shu, and Mai cried out, falling out of their chairs.

"The more help we get the more aliens we can defeat," Mutton reasoned.

"You… but you came to recruit us!" Mai exclaimed.

"And I did recruit you. He's volunteering."

"And my sister too," the teen said… just as the service desk worker that had refused to take back Pilaf's dvd walked up.

"What have you gotten us into?"

"free room and board to fight aliens."

The woman shrugged. "Shit, I'm in. Better than dealing with morons who bring in old receipts."

Pilaf glared at her. "Miss Noneofyourbusiness!"

That made the dark haired teen chuckle. "Oh, did we get a new last name?"

His sister shrugged before taking a seat. "So, fighting aliens, huh?"

"Indeed," Mutton said, ignoring Pilaf and his sputtering. "Now, if you will follow me…" He rose and the five new recruits quickly joined him, following him out into the MalWart parking lot. "My associate didn't wish to come inside… he is a touch eccentric like that."

"Okay, so I know we just met him," the blond teen said to her brother, "but I assumed you weren't leading us to a windowless van." She gestured at the van, very nondescript… which made it a bit more threatening. "If anyone offers us candy I am out."

"Relax, sis, I'm sure it will be fine," her brother said.

The side door of the van opened and Mutton gestured for them to get inside. "Normally," Pilaf stated as he took a seat, "I ride in much more style. I hope this won't be a recurring thing."

"Not in the slightest," Mutton said as he shut the door and moved to the driver seat. His partner remained in the passenger seat, refusing to turn towards them.

"Now, how long should this drive be? Because I might need to take a bathroom break…"

"It will feel like no time passed at all," the passenger said as Mutton shut the door… and put on a gas mask. The passenger turned to reveal he had on a gas mask too… and Pilaf's eyes widened as thick fog spilled into the van. Mai, Shu, and the teenagers coughed once or twice before the collapsed but Pilaf struggled, fighting to stay awake… "Yes… these ones will do well."

The last thing Pilaf heard before darkness took him was Mutton stating, "I am glad you approve, Dr. Gero."