Disclaimer: Toriyama created DBZ, and Toei Animation Co and Funimation own it. I only own Fermi, Bohr and Stellari, my fan characters. This is for entertainment only and I make no money writing this.

Royal Namekian Blues

A Z fighter's Retribution

Vegeta and Goku's argument had led to an uneasy truce between Z warriors and the Saiyans. Daily the Saiyans acclimated themselves to life on Earth at the hunting lodge while the others dealt with any sightings of the androids. Burdock and Kinoha spent several days getting to know their son and his Earth family, and Raditz new one as well.

On one such night, the family was getting ready for dinner. Fermi and Bohr were staying at Ox King's home on Mt. Frypan. The jovial father of Chichi had volunteered to take them in for a break from fighting, and they'd eagerly agreed. To them it was like having an instant grandfather to dote on them. Most of their family was gone since the advent of Red Ribbon. Stellari had no idea if her real family was alive or dead thanks to Dr. Gero and Commander Red.

Memories of an attack surfaced in Stellari's mind of another type. The day that Yamcha and Tien had done what seemed unspeakable. Angrily Stellari faced the reality that Yamcha's self-righteous fury might consume her and the children. As she confronted this, she paced back and forth outside the Son house. Nearby she heard the sounds of her mother in law Kinoha sparring with her two children. Finally she decided to put some distance between herself and the others to think of her own. Quickly she crouched on the ground and pushed off with one foot into the sky.

Kinoha laughed at the toddling of her grandson, holding his little hands and guiding him to walk forwards for every step she made backwards. Her fanged grin spread across her lovely face. She laughed, "That's good, very good!"

"They are young yet, Mother!" Raditz complained, looking on from where his other child Radzia clung to his thigh. She had managed to pull herself to stand next to her father with her tiny tail wrapped around his leg. His hands reached down to pick her up and hold her close to him.

"Aww don't say that, they're not too bad… considering they're just little guys," Goku said.

"Where's that daughter in law of mine?" Burdock grunted. He strode out of the Son house, his long shadow casting across the path and overtop Stellari's head and shoulders as she faced the setting son in the west.

"Better take her something warm," Chichi said, holding out a coat.

Raditz moved over holding Radzia, his daughter, while Kinoha looked up from Planck. The little guy looked a lot like Gohan, holding his grandma's shapely leg as she stood there. Burdock grabbed the coat from Chichi and strode forwards to the curve of the hill. Raditz moved to stop him, "Father, give her time alone. She likes…"

"No boy, she needs to listen to what he has to say," said Kinoha, grabbing Raditz arm and holding him back. Goku blinked curiously at her.

"I don't get it, why all the hush-hush and stuff?" asked Goku.

"Now wait a minute!" Chichi spluttered.

"Saiyan tradition, boy," Kinoha said, turning to Goku. "Her battle goes on inside. I've smelled the tension and shadow of fear. He's going to have to get it out of her so she can focus on the fight ahead."

"She can't be expected to fight! Those androids will kill her!" Chichi spluttered.

"You don't know what you're talking about, girl," Kinoha barked.

"You might be Goku's birth mom, but don't talk to me like THAT in my home, sister!" Chichi snapped back, waiving her broom menacingly at Kinoha. The Saiyan female bared her fangs and hissed. Chichi growled and stuck her tongue out at the Saiyan woman.

"Hmm, you're pretty tough. I like that," Kinoha said, backing off.

"That doesn't cut it with me! Flattery won't cure disrespect!" Chichi barked.

"That will stop me from beating you senseless, young pup," said Kinoha, with a gleam in her eyes.

"Name the place and time. I'm not pushover," Chichi glared back, meeting her mother in law's gaze.

"Ah, ladies please… not in front of the kids?" Goku asked, waving his hands. "I mean if you want to spar I'll be happy to take the little guys…"

"Goku at last you're being sensible. I'm going inside," Chichi humphed and strode inside, turning her back to Kinoha. The feminine Raditz clone chuckled and folded her arms. Leaning down she picked up her grandson and patted Goku's shoulder.

"You're too soft, boy," she chided him.

"I'm an earthling first, don't you forget it, ma'am," Goku leveled his gaze at her. Raditz opened his mouth to protest, still holding his daughter safely in his grasp. She twisted her tiny fingers around his mane of hair.

"Mind your manners, Brother!"

"I just wanted to remind you that's all," Goku said. "Sorry ma'am."

"You apologize way too much, Kakarotto," she said.

"I'm sorry but the name's Goku," he said with a sigh, gently moving her hand off his arm. "I'm going to spar. Want to come with, Raditz?"

"He prefers his earth name, Mother," Raditz explained.

"It matters not. I shall watch over the children while you two spar," she said. "Come child…"

She took both grandchildren and trotted inside, toddling them as they wrapped their little tails around her gauntleted arms. Raditz sighed and turned to Goku. Nearby they heard Piccolo and Gohan's ki blasts accompanied by shouts and the meaty impact of fists on bodies.

"I'm sorry Raditz, but I don't know her as my Mother," Goku said quietly. "I'm just telling the truth."

"I expected as much," Raditz sighed. "Come, I'll spar with you. Show me what you've learned in that Time Chamber."

"Well sure you can keep up with me?" Goku grinned.

"You'll always be ahead of me, little Brother. That's destiny," said Raditz resignedly. He quickly looked back to where Burdock stood close behind his wife, their profiles highlighted in radiant blood red from the departing sun. Bands of crimson striated with blue slowly were fading against a chilly dome of quickening velvet black. Both Goku and Raditz blasted off, their white ki trails arcing behind them like comet tails. Nearby, Piccolo and Gohan nodded and then headed elsewhere to continue sparring before Chichi would shoe them inside.

As for Stellari she sank deep into thought. Whenever she glanced down at her hands encased in gauntlets lately she tended to remember those sessions in the GR chamber with Raditz. Images of the last day out flickered in her mind at just how more than human she'd become:

Those first steps outside caused Stellari to trip over her own feet. She landed on her side, bracing herself with one hand. Raditz instantly hovered over her so he could check and see if she was all right. More stunned than anything else she blinked up at her mate reaching down with both huge hands to pull her upward against his leg.

"Crap, you think I'd know better," said Stellari.

"Are you okay, oh my Kami!" Bulma yelped, clutching her cell phone in her hand.

"I'm… fine. Just my pride that's all," Stellari grunted. Raditz let Stellari lean against him and she realized that she had been walking as if still in Planet Vegeta normal.

"What the hell did you do to the floor?" Bulma swallowed, seeing the small indents.

"That was me," Stellari admitted. "I don't think training me in 10 gees was such a good idea after all Raditz."

"Nonsense, of course it was a good idea! You have to be able to face any menace to defend our pups after all! If something should happen… a Saiyan's woman always knows how to fight to protect her offspring…" Raditz interrupted.

"Um, guys, excuse me, it looks like you've got a bigger problem," said Bulma, pointing to the floor.

"I'll pay for it," Stellari said.

"I don't mean that. I can afford it. But Stellari you're going to end up like Goku if you don't watch it!"

"Now I know why," she mumbled, blushing. She and Raditz both wore suits of armor; he towered over them in the menacing brown and black of his original design while Stellari sported his blue and brown spare suit, except her tights stretched all the way over her legs and halfway down her arms.

"That's why I had you wear the armor before we emerged, love," Raditz explained. "I took a cue from Kakarotto. He always wears those training clothes to suppress his power level, I figured why not."

Leaning over Raditz grabbed something out of his boot and them wrapped two weighted bands around the base of her ankles of her blue boots. On her they came right to the knee, and the wrist guards to her elbows. One-size fits all didn't always mean it would fit a female QUITE like it would a male.

"This way Mr. Raditz, Dr. Stellari," one of the hovering bots indicated.

"Better go with them. I'll see you two soon. I've got to check in on Trunks, and your boys are still at school before going to karate school at Yamcha's dojo," said Bulma.

"I'm going to have to withdraw them," Raditz said menacingly.

Stellari saw the killer gleam in his eyes. Angrily he tugged Stellari by her gauntlet wrist towards the door.

"Enjoying the view of this little planet, girl?" Burdock asked.

She snapped to the present, mumbling, "Hmm what's that?"

"It's not such a bad place when you get used to it, is it?" asked Burdock.

"It's all I know, Father," she said, looking over her shoulder at him. Burdock’s hair fluttered a tiny bit in the breeze, while hers blew all over her face partly covered with the green tinted scouter visor integrated with glasses.

"That could change you know. There's a whole universe out there. Why limit yourself to this place?" Burdock asked.

"I just want a home and family. Too much fighting," she said.

"Bullshit. You're a fighter. You just don't like to admit you ENJOY it," Burdock prodded her ribs.

"Father, not now," she said.

"Girl, you have no time to feel sorry for yourself. Hasn't that son of mine told you about living in the moment? That's the Saiyan way," he said.

"I've given a LOT to the Saiyan way, Father. But I'm still a human," she glared at him.

"So I've heard. But like it or not you fight. Sooner or later you admit to yourself you are what you are and stop sulking and wallowing in the pity party the better for us. Or you're no use to us on the battlefield chattering like a weakling human female."

"If you're trying to goad me into a fight, knock it off, I'm not stupid," said Stellari, only slightly turning her head to look at him.

"You're too smart. Too smart to be a real fighter. Do you have what it takes, or are we going to have to drag you along like dead weight when your kids are threatened huh?" Burdock asked gruffly.

"Shut up, old man," she snapped, too irritated for niceties.

"That was a bit more Saiyan. But positively TOO polite, just like you humans are. Can't say I see why my son thought you were anything fit to be with one of us when there's still a bunch of Saiyan females happy to have his pups," Burdock laughed deeply, pushing her shoulder hard enough she almost fell over.

"I don't give a shit. Just leave me alone. I'm not in the mood to fight you."

"But I AM," Burdock snarled, shoving her from the side. Stellari yelped, leaning backward with her arms spinning almost comedically. One she righted herself then shot back as she pitched over the cliff. Burdock suddenly saw her plummet nearly a thousand feet. He shook his head, waiting and tapping his boot as he gazed down the precipice. Raditz would have his head for this but the girl needed a reality check.

He wasn't too surprised when something phased behind him, and a female elbow cracked at him from behind. His own wrist guard blocked, and he whirled around to face her second block with the flat of his hand shoving her back. "HAAAH!" Burdock snarled.

The force of his thrust shot her upwards at least fifty feet in the air. Stellari crossed her arms and intercepted the blazing ball of green energy surging towards her. It was soon followed by a volley of others. "Perspex!" she shouted, generating a shield with one hand and then zipping left and right.

"RAAAAhhh!" Burdock snarled, zooming straight at her.

"Try THIS you old man," Stellari snapped, zipping away in a half arc. As he shot out after her, she doubled back and then hurled something from her right hand while maintaining her circular shield on her left arm.

"Atomic spike!" she shrilled, forming another glittering dagger and hurling it soon after the first, gleaming hisses of ki pushing it towards Burdock like a missile. He easily evaded the barrage of charged spikes whistling towards him.

"Child's play! Try THIS!" Burdock laughed, from behind her. He slipped his arms under her and she felt herself jerked back with his knee in the small of her back. He pressed down on her shoulders, kneeing her up before trying to break her back with another collision with his other leg.

Stellari squirmed hard, gritting her teeth as she guessed what he'd do. Her mind escaped her, any strategies fluttering away like fleeing birds in a strong wind. Instead of anything fancy she parted her legs and clumsily caught his one leg between her calves. Then she turned and spat in his face.

Burdock was startled just long enough to loosen his grip and tore his leg from hers while something hardened on his face over his eyes. Back and forth Stellari shook, struggling to get him to stop squeezing down on her armpits. At the tips of her fingers crackled energy desperately as she fought to keep from passing out. Again he kneed her back and Stellari screamed, cocking one hand randomly and gurgling out something. Two spheres of light flickered and hit his shoulder joints. He then let go and she let herself drop like a stone towards the ground.

"Dammit," Burdock laughed, tearing the thick plastic off his eyes. She was unusual, but finally she was starting to show some promise.

She panted. Her scouter bleeped, telling her Burdock’s numbers were generating as he let out a whoop. Gritting her teeth she started to draw energy towards herself, knowing that whatever he was going to let off would probably be a big one. Too winded to generate plastic from the air around her she cursed, "Oh the hell with it."

"Riot javelin!' Burdock grunted, cocking back his hand and hurling a basketball sized blaze towards her.

Raising her hand high Stellari generated a sphere of swirling purple energies. "Saturday Crush!" she shrilled, lobbing it clumsily towards the gleaming missile almost atop her. She squeaked and crossed her arms over her face as she tried to block the blowback. Missiles exploded, knocking her and Burdock tail over head backward with its pressure wave.

"Huh, not too shabby. Amateur, but okay," Burdock said as he materialized next to where she hovered, panting. Sweat dripped on every square inch of exposed skin on her body, and Stellari turned to him, too winded momentarily to anticipate another attack.

"Go ahead, let's fight," she mumbled.

"That's more like it. But I'm done for now. You don't quite have the staying power yet, but you're not a pushover, I'll give you that," said Burdock, slapping her back playfully so she moved forwards. His other hand clamped on her right arm to stabilize her.

"Lucky me," she mumbled. Burdock opened his mouth to speak, but both of them saw the bleeping numbers flickering across their scouter lens. Except hers were in English while his were in Saiyanese.

"Drek, something's headed this way. 25 spans and closing from the north! Right for the house. And it's huge," Burdock grunted.

"Yes… but now it's gone…."

"Kinoha!"

"My babies," she spluttered at the same time. With a mutual nod they shot back towards the Son home as fast as they could go. Burdock’s green energy aura sizzled around him while Stellari's purple one managed to almost keep pace.

Stellari and Burdock’s duel had taken them a few miles from the Son residence. Back there things were heating up as they had months before.  On the ground Chichi grabbed Planck around the middle and leapt into her car. Kinoha hurled a series of ki balls heavenwards as their attacker sent several ki shots to explode the trees around them. "Get out of here!"

"I'm not leaving my house damn it!" Chichi gritted.

"Listen to me!" snapped Kinoha.

"Mom!" Gohan shouted as he shot out from the sky, soon followed by Piccolo.

"Gohan, take her and run," Piccolo ordered, zipping in between Kinoha and the next volley of shots raining from the other side.

"Wait, they're not trying to hit my home," Chichi pointed out.

"Those attacks look like Kiko ha," Gohan panted.

"Get the kids and get inside the house. You stay with her, lady," said Piccolo to Kinoha.

"I am a Saiyan warrior, a fighter, I will not stand idly by…"

"Gohan, get her the hell out of my way so I can fight! She's hopelessly outclassed!" Piccolo shouted.

"Sorry lady, but he's right," said Gohan, grabbing his grandmother's arm and yanking her as he took one of Stellari's twins under his other arm. Chichi already had made it to the door with the first.

"Dodon ray!" shouted the figure levitating overhead.

"Special beam CANNON!" Piccolo roared, touching his finger to his forehead and aiming the index and middle fingers of his other hand upwards to release the spiraling lance of death.

From inside the house, Chichi fought along with Kinoha to quiet two howling kids. Chichi held Planck while Kinoha had Radzia. Gohan rushed to the window to watch the fight, determined to protect his home at any cost. Kinoha rushed up to peer out over his shoulder.

"It can't be…" Gohan pointed in the sky ahead through the trees. "Mister Tien?"

"That jerk was trouble I knew it!" Chichi growled toddling a howling Saiyan boy. "Who the hell does he think he is."

"But he's one of our friends… why would he attack us here… he must not want to hurt us cause he's only using low intensity blasts," said Gohan.

"He's DEAD!" Kinoha roared, pushing Radzia into his hand and rocketing out the window. Before they could stop her she hurled a sizable blast towards the beam tug of war. Distracted by the unknown source of ki, both of them cocked their heads and let their blasts zing out of control. Piccolo's beam sizzled inches from Tien's ornate green robe, while the Dodon Ray exploded only a foot from the Son home.

"Not near the house!" Chichi hollered from inside.

"Please, you got to stay and protect mom, mister piccolo and I are the only ones strong enough to fight him," Gohan said firmly as he caught his grandmother's wrist.

"You dare order me around brat?" she panted.

"You know I'm right. He's my friend and he'd just kill you," said Gohan firmly.

"Very well then, Gohan. I'll protect your mother with my life," Kinoha grunted, and he released her. Gohan raised both his hands and generated a Masenkoo beam just before his forehead that hit Tien's next volley.

Kinoha tumbled into the house, catching up Radzia in her arms. She darted over to stand near Chichi who was retreating into the bathroom with the second howling twin. Both women grimly glanced at one another and knew from the glittering numbers on Kinoha's blue scouter that they were ants against dinosaurs out there.

"Piccolo don't stop me! I don't want to hurt you like before!" Tien shouted.

"What is your deal! Attacking Goku's house is the stupidest yet! Are you insane?" Piccolo roared.

"I WON'T let you hurt my mother! I don't care if you ARE my friend you don't DO that!" Gohan gritted, hurling blast after blast at Tien.

"I don't want to hurt Chichi. I only want the Saiyan female inside who's threatening you!" Tien said, diverting all Gohan's attacks with a volley of hand movements.

"Who?"

"Grandma Kinoha," Gohan breathed. "Mr. Piccolo he's talking about…"

"I know kid," Piccolo cut him off.

Meanwhile Burdock and Stellari materialized near the raging battle. Stellari stopped Burdock with a hand on his arm when she saw Piccolo and Gohan were exchanging blasts without suffering damage from the green robed figure with a feather in his Red Ribbon Chinese style hat. "Who's that? It must be one of those tin cans!"

"That's Tien. And he's talking to Gohan and Piccolo."

"They're fighting! Let me go woman!" Burdock gritted.

"I… AHH!" Stellari gritted. Burdock’s scouter bleeped at the same moment a ki blast from below knocked them both apart. Burdock managed to right his tumbling body before he crashed through a few trees. But

Stellari wasn't as fortunate. Drained from her fight with her father in law, she fell heavily ground wards, crashing through the canopy of trees.

Something green zipped in and seized her falling body before it could hit the ground. Burdock came to his senses and saw the bleeping of only one energy signature. A strange odor filled his nostrils, and he heard the impact, or rather didn't hear the impact of her body or a cry of pain to his surprise. Quickly he rocketed towards where his scouter pinged, only to block a sizzling blast.

"Show yourself!" Burdock snapped. The figure turned, holding Stellari balanced across his shoulders in a fireman's carry.

"Take care of the Prof. while I get the brats," said another figure, handing her off as it grunted disdainfully.

"All right," said the first.

"Not if I can stop you," Burdock snapped. He hurled several green blasts, which illuminated the faces of the two unknowns. For a split second he saw a scar faced youth with long hair standing opposite a boyish elfin face with cold blue eyes. Both wore orange scarves around their necks, their shirts green and their belt buckles gleaming with the Red Ribbon logo.

"Oh please, don't tell me you're going to stop me, you old geezer," said 17, blocking Burdock as he raced forwards.

"Wait, that's Goku!" Yamcha stopped him.

"You're both wrong, and DEAD. Hand her over NOW!" Burdock snarled, stepping into the light. A ki blast did the talking as it exploded between them. Yamcha was tackled and pushed aside and up, still carrying Stellari and all.

"Well well," 17 said from far below. "I suppose I'll have the pleasure after all." Quickly he entered the Son home, a sneer on his handsome face. Once he took a step over the threshold, he glanced around at the small interior neatly furnished with second hand furniture and patched clothes.

"Lame," he said.

From out of nowhere a broom sizzled down. It broke into two pieces across his back. He slowly turned his head and looked into the dark furious eyes of Chichi Son. "Get OUT of my house, buster!" Chichi yelled.

"Oh please," he said. "Don't insult me."

He easily cuffed Chichi aside, sending her into the nearest sofa. She knocked it over with the force of impact, hitting the ground with a thud. A split second later, he whizzed his head around to train on the ki blast crackling and sizzling. Raising his hand he absorbed the energy through the nozzle in his palm.

"You there, get OUT of here!" a fierce female voice barked.

"Oh, yeah?" 17 asked. The longhaired figure pounced, her fist blazing with ki. Only one punch sent her hurling back the way she came, bricks and masonry flying back through the sizable hole she created in Chichi's wall. A small cloud of smoke hung in the air for a minute, which gave way to 17 stepping through it and kicking aside the female body that lay there.

Snarling the female grabbed his other leg and twisted her body again. 17 shot over, whistling into the nearest tree and breaking it with a splintering snap like someone breaking a hundred Popsicle sticks. Kinoha's eyes blazed bright, and she raised either hand to the level of her face, energies crackling from her fingertips.

"Double Sundae!" she cackled. Two beams swirled from her palms and shot forwards cutting through anything in their path. Instead of blocking, 17 merely rose and shook splinters off his body. He spanned both his arms, thrusting his chest forward to intercept the beams. To Kinoha's surprise he didn't look the least bit surprised when her signature attack adopted by her son exploded against him at point blank range. Cruelly she threw back her head and cackled at the demise of the stranger.

"Something funny, bitch?" 17's voice mocked with a small chuckle.

"But you… that was my strongest attack…" Kinoha stammered.

"You call THAT an attack. Don't insult me. You're hardly worth my time, monkey bitch. You only managed to singe my scarf after all," 17 said, striding forwards and brushing off the sleeves of his shirt.

"Then I'll have to try harder, you skinny girl boy," she taunted, zipping out. The sounds of combat echoed through the woods for miles but didn't last for long.

Against her brow, her head throbbed. Stellari recalled someone feeding a current through her that stiffened every muscle. While she couldn't move, she could still see and hear what was going on. Slowly sensation returned to her muscles. She began to feel the hard muscled shoulder of the being carrying her.

"Damn it," Stellari whispered as she was carried through the woods.

"Be quiet, I won't hurt you," whispered a familiar voice.

"What the hell… where are you taking me!" Stellari demanded.

"Please, you got to keep quiet! Don't make me hurt you! I don't want to hurt you of all people, Professor!" came the earnest voice.

"Yamcha?" she gasped, recognizing the voice at once. Still wearing her Saiyan armor she noticed Yamcha soon blasted off through the trees with her slung over his shoulder.

"Dammit let me go!" she shouted, struggling against him.

"Don't try to fight me, Professor. I don't want to hurt you!" Yamcha said. She then noticed that her arms and legs were bound with strong cords, and she could barely move. Also they were rocketing over the ocean. Close beside her she saw another streak of blazing energy come up.

"Where are you taking me?"

"Someplace those monsters won't find you," said Yamcha.

"I swear if you or the others hurt my children I'll…" Stellari gritted.

"I don't want your children hurt," Yamcha said. "Fermi and Bohr won't come to any harm. Just do as I say and you'll be okay. I promise."

"My children, the twins…" she panted.

"I couldn't stop 17 in time. I only hope Tien managed to get to them before he did," said Yamcha.

"You bastard!" she gritted.

"Quiet, relax," Yamcha urged. Still she could barely manage to control herky jerky movements. Yamcha's iron grip held her firmly over the glimmering waves only a few thousand feet below them.

Barely discernable was the white outline against the black waters of some sort of island. Then came the sensation of quickly free falling leaving her stomach behind. After that she heard the crunch of Yamcha's booted feet on a soft surface. Peering down his body she saw the sand of a remote stretch of beach. Stellari saw moonlight dancing on the waters as he carried her bodily towards a huge set of doors. Twisting her head up she saw the Red Ribbon logo on them.

"This is where Gero… his computer… I thought this base was destroyed, but if it's still here…" she stammered.

"You recognize this place?" Yamcha asked. Their voices echoed in a cavernous place. Dim lights flickered spasmodically. Then the doors clanged shut behind them. Air surged past her cheek, blowing her hair away from her sweaty face. It smelled of dust and age, tickling her nostrils.

"Yes. But what did you do to the others? If my children are harmed I swear…" Stellari slurred, regaining control of her cheek and tongue muscles every minute.

"Shh," Yamcha urged, striding into a passageway leading off the huge enclosed space. Fragments of service umbilical snaked over the floors, indicating they were once used to deliver fuel to war machines. Craning her neck she saw light gleaming off the scimitar bouncing against his hip. That very weapon was an extension of his own body as she recalled from what it had done to Raditz.

"You were badly hurt… how did you…" Stellari asked. Yamcha's swaying stride stopped. A more gentle incandescent light flickered on in a smaller area. Her body shifted upright then she felt the contact of her butt on a soft firm surface. Then she was looking up at Yamcha right side up from her seat on a battered sofa with wooden frame. To her immediate left glass windows came at shoulder level to reveal a view of another common space. It dawned on her that she was in an observation lounge of another research bay. Red Ribbon bases typically had such sitting rooms where top brass could observe scientists at work on their multitude of projects like spectators at an amusement park.

"I forgive you for almost paralyzing me, Stellari. Because you're under the thrall of those monsters," Yamcha said quietly.

"Central Technology…" she blinked. Peering through the window she gaped at the vast chamber as it clicked and whirred circuitry. Each terminal glowed with its own light, and she saw a complex series of lights shimmering like a series of lightening bugs somewhere over Yamcha's left shoulder. Part of the wall had been knocked down so its jagged shape gave them access to the lab beyond. Yamcha must have kept the sofa and furniture for some semblance of comfort. On the floor before the table he braced her ankles on a coffee table. She smelled a bitter scent and heard the bubbling of a coffee machine.

"You know this place then? I've only been here once. The computer told me to come here. Now you're going to keep quiet and try not to escape okay. Because if you do, I might have to hurt you. And I don't want to do that," Yamcha said softly, backing away.

He strode over and pulled a pot off the battered but gurgling machine on a trolley. Under it sat several mugs of which he took two and set them next to the coffee machine. Then she heard the dribbling of coffee pouring accompanied by the hiss of something being added and the clink of a spoon.

"Why are you doing this?" she demanded. Yamcha turned around, carrying two mugs, one in either hand. He sat on the sofa next to her, and set both mugs down next to her legs. She flexed her muscles against the bonds shackling her wrists.

"For your own good. And the good of the human race," said Yamcha. "Tien and I have tried to reason with these machines. And we've convinced them to help us, not hurt us."

"You can't be serious," Stellari blinked. Yamcha loosened the bond on her wrist, and she found while they were still shackled she could at least move her hands enough to catch hold of the cup shoved into it.

"You need to drink something," he offered.

"I want nothing from you," she snorted.

"Drink it," Yamcha said with a note of sternness. "I insist."

"Fine," she mumbled, realizing the deadly seriousness in his gleaming eyes. They were only partly human, and his scarred face twisted with tension. It was only relieved when she took a small sip of the coffee. Somehow humoring him might keep her enough in his favor in case she could use that to her advantage later. It dawned on her the horrid possibility that his abduction might be a result of unrequited feelings. The last thing she needed was to break a trust he forced on her. That a cup of coffee and gentle hospitality could somehow win her to his side seemed ludicrous. But a desperate man would grasp at any straw.

She decided to play his game. So she managed a little smile, and Yamcha relaxed. He sipped his cup and then said, "I made it just the way you like it."

"Thank you. I'm glad you're a gentleman still," she said quietly.

"I'm not a monster, Stellari. As long as you cooperate you'll be all right," Yamcha said.

"Then why am I here?"

"You'll find out. But don't do anything stupid, or I can't protect you," Yamcha said, squeezing her shoulder a bit tightly.

Out of the shadows strode a tall figure with red hair and bright gold eyes. Stellari saw them gleaming under the brim of his baseball cap with the red ribbon logo. His muscular chest was covered with a vest, suspenders holding up his green pants. Blue flesh shimmered with silver paneling on his chest and arms. "Well well, you brought our guests here boy. Good job. Now where's the others?"

"I'm not sure," said Yamcha quietly.

"Android 13… you survived!" Stellari shivered in fear as he stood near the small sitting area. It contained a television and other amenities. Yamcha turned to 13 and inclined his head slightly.

"Takes more than a few space freaks to keep me down, Professor," 13 laughed harshly. "And you've been a naughty girl. But now you're back where you belong thanks to the new recruits."

"So where's Dr. Gero? Is he pulling the strings?" Stellari asked quietly.

"The ol' professor met with a demise. The central computer's running the show," said 13, cocking a thumb over his shoulder. "And that's no less then ridding this planet of Son Goku and those other space monkeys."

"What about 17 and 18? IS he responsible for them…" she asked.

"You'd better be lucky we found your cute ass first, Professor. 17 and 18 are two honery little cusses," said 13 with a grin.

"17 killed Gero," said Yamcha quietly. "But luckily the computer here managed to fix 13."

"But you were junk. Raditz destroyed them both," said Stellari softly.

"Not really," Yamcha told her, holding his finger to his lips. She swallowed her coffee hard, and shivered.

"Let's just say I managed to adjust some attitudes," 13 admitted, closing the gap between them. He stood only ten feet from where she and Yamcha sat side by side.

"So you and 17 are working together?" she asked.

"That boy needed to learn to respect his elders. I managed to convince him to work for me in exchange for not blowing his ass away," said 13.

"But I saw 17 trying to attack and capture my children!" said Stellari. Yamcha grabbed her shoulder and held her down before she could try standing up.

"Relax, your children aren't hurt," Yamcha said.

"You can't tell me that he was working for you…" Stellari blurted out.

They heard a loud noise that sounded like a blast of energy. Two tall shapes entered the room. The one called Tien appeared in a blur of energy, carrying something under his arms. Near him appeared Android 17, holding another. Both Stellari's children were howling and screaming in rage, pulling at their captors.

"You bastards, let them go!" Stellari shrilled.

"They won't come to any harm, right Tien?" Yamcha said.

"How dare you they're only children!" Stellari raged.

"They're not gonna come to any harm. They're just gonna stay with us a while," said 13.

"Sit down, please," Yamcha reprimanded her. "I give you my word you or they will not be hurt. But I can't guarantee that further if you don't behave. Please."

"Yamcha please, if you're still my friend let me go!" Stellari shouted. Yamcha grabbed her tightly, pulling her close to his body with an unyielding grip.

"Please, don't make it harder!" he hissed. "Shut up and trust us."

"How can I… after what…"

"Stellari please!" he hissed. "For Fermi and Bohr's sake!"

"We won't hurt them, Professor if you cooperate and shut up," said 17 with a small smirk.

"My babies, give them to me!" Stellari cried.

"But they're monsters," said Tien.

"Gohan is a half Saiyan," said Yamcha. "Give her the children. They'll be quiet if they have their mother."

"Please I'll do whatever you want, just give them to me!" Stellari pleaded.

"Give her the children. I'll make sure she cooperates," Yamcha said sternly.

"Listen to the boy. The lady here misses her kids. We don't want them bawling and carrying on do we?" 13 asked, stepping threateningly towards 17.

"Whatever. Are we DONE with this mess or not?" asked 17 angrily.

Striding up, 13 snatched the Saiyan baby away from him and carried it towards where Stellari sat on the couch. He plunked the child in her lap, and then motioned to Tien. Yamcha moved over and took the other howling child from his friend, and both of them undid the bands around Stellari's wrists.

"You'd better not try and use your powers in any way, or else these kids might get hurt," said 13. "I've got no quarrel with you, Professor. You're just bait to lure Son Goku here so I can liquidate him properly."

"And the other space monkeys too, right?" 17 asked, arms crossed over his chest as he tapped his foot. "I'm getting seriously bored. You promised I'd have something that wasn't so LAME to do."

"Hold your horses sonny. You'll get plenty of action. But Son Goku is MINE," 13 said. "You can do whatever you want to with the others. Once you get your sister and 16 to see that what I say goes."

"I'm not my sister's keeper," said 17 haughtily. "She does what she wants to."

"Then you'd better convince her that she'd have more fun chasing space monkeys then finding herself new threads. Or do you both WANT to see what happens when you piss me off?" 13 asked, eyes glowing menacingly.

"Hey, whoa, fine… I'll talk to her. But don't expect miracles," 17 glared back.

"You go boy. And don't come back unless you get some word that little hussy's gonna see things my way. Do I have to send 16 with you?"

"Please," grumbled 17.

"Hey, 16, get your carcass over here!" 13 cupped his hand over his mouth. Out of the shadows strode the tall figure of 16, his blue eyes serenely taking in the sight before him.

"Fine, I'll go," 17 snorted, sticking hands into his pockets and kicking a nearby rock.

"But I was programmed to destroy Goku as you were," 16 protested.

"And you'll accomplish THAT as soon as you bring the little lady home. WE both know what the good Professor wanted. And it's all going according to the computer's plans, got it?" 13 said.

"As you suggest," said 16. 17 glared at 13 angrily and flounced off in a huff, followed by 16.

"I can't believe you got him in line," mumbled Stellari. She wrapped her arms around her children, hugging them tightly to her chest.

"You stay here with the lady, 22. 24, you can go on and fetch your own little lady now while I take care of some other business," said 13.

"What are you going to do?" Stellari blinked.

"The main objective of course," said 13. "Something tells me that Goku's going to come looking for you. And when he does, he's gonna get a warm reception from me. And that space monkey you shacked up with if he's unfortunate enough to be in the way will get it too."

"No," Stellari blinked.

"If he's smart he'll stay away," said 13. "Goku's mine."

"The Saiyans won't let you get away with this, you know," said Stellari.

"That's why you and some others are providing some insurance," said 13. "We'll settle all this at the Games all right, but someone's gotta deliver the message. And if Son Goku happens to see me before then, I won't object to finishing him off."