Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Ball Z. The manga belongs to Viz/Shonen Jump, and is written by Akira Toriyama. The anime belongs to Toei Animation Company Ltd. I'm only borrowing the characters for use in this fan fiction. I make no money from this and it means no harm to the series. I own Stellari though! Many thanks to Unwanted Empathy, butterfly V, surfersarah, and Project shadow, my new reviewers and everyone else who has been faithfully tuning in!

Royal Namekian Blues

Atomic Transfer

Infinity batteries, Raditz thought. That's what he realized she had attenuated the scouters to trace. The minute pulses of the unique power surging through the android's system. Not discernible to any of them save the traces of technology. It seemed appropriate to fight fire with fire. Now Raditz surged with anger and the vengeance to take back what was rightfully his. Moments before his scouter buzzed with the energies of two traces heading towards their home. Goku felt his brother's ki spike, and he turned 180 degrees in his flight.

"Raditz what…" Goku asked, dark hair flapping in the stream of his ki.

"Something's attacking our home! Those tin cans!"

"Darn it," Goku cursed. He swung around himself, surging after Raditz as fast as he could fly. Around them blurred the evening and stars into streaks of urgency to outpace whatever threat was posed by the androids.

When at last they felt the massive flaring of ki, they saw Piccolo gripping his side. A hovering figure traded blows with him. Barely was he managing to hang on as a familiar shape rained him with blows. Not hard enough to kill, but enough to keep Piccolo from being able to divide his attention. "It's Tienshinhan!" Goku gasped.

"Stellari!" Raditz gritted, his face filling with horror.

"I'll handle this! Go!" Goku shouted. Raditz grunted in understanding, and then rocketed towards the other source. Lying on the ground were two traces barely flickering to life. Landing, Raditz rushed up to the first. It was Chichi, lying on the sofa but breathing easily in a state of unconsciousness. Realizing she was unhurt Raditz rushed to the other trace.

"Gohan!" he shouted, seeing his nephew lying amongst the wreckage of what had once been the Son's home. A good portion of the building was in shambles, while most of the bedroom and kitchen remained. Pushing off bits of masonry and sofa, Raditz reached the half Saiyan's side. Covered with bruises and blood, Gohan's head twisted to one side. He murmured, "Can't let you win…"

"Gohan! What happened?" Raditz sharply demanded, crouching over him. Gently he probed for any broken bones. A few cracked ribs and a broken leg and arm met his sense and he growled low. Barely hanging to consciousness Gohan's eyes fluttered open and he looked up with relief at Raditz.

"They… they took the babies. I tried but I couldn't stop them. I'm sorry, Uncle Raditz!" he coughed. A trickle of blood burst down his gi. Gently Raditz moved his head and shoulders onto his knees and supported Gohan's neck.

"You fought hard like a true warrior. I must get you aid," Raditz murmured.

"Mother… is she…" stammered Gohan.

"Your mother is out cold, but she's alive with no major damage. You on the other hand…"

"Sensu beans… I think… I can't reach them, I hurt too badly. I can't let them get away with it…" Gohan nodded weakly with his head in the direction of a ruined cabinet.

"Who did this?" demanded Raditz, rubbing blood off his nephew's brow.

"Android 17… he called himself. I couldn't stop him. He was too strong… he took them… took the babies. I'm sorry," Gohan groaned before passing out. Angrily Raditz picked up Gohan and found a few cushions to rest his nephew's battered body on. He quickly grabbed pieces of wood and tore strips from the curtains nearby. Soon he splinted Gohan's injured leg and arm to protect them while he moved onto something else.

Then his nostrils twitched with the smell of more blood. He rushed outside to its source, realizing he was so concerned with helping Gohan that he had missed it entirely. Burned flesh flared his senses when he came upon the curved female body lying there on the ground. Dark hair matted with blood, she lay still.

"Mother!" Raditz shouted. He bent down to grab her head and shoulders. Barely the spark of life flickered in her. Slowly he seized her head and shoulders trying to rouse her, but only a pale rasp of breath hissed over her lips.

"Gohan!" Goku shouted. Raditz gathered his mother's form onto his lap, fighting the angry tears.

"He's over there, Brother!" Raditz barked, flicking his head back. Slowly he lifted his mother's battered body and carried her towards where Goku hunched over Chichi and Gohan. Considerately Raditz had laid mother next to son so they could be easily found for attention he could not give.

"Chichi's okay, but Gohan… oh no…"

"They will pay for this Kakarotto!" Raditz snarled. "Look what these things did to Mother!"

"Oh no… quick… I think there are some sensu beans there…" Goku said, rushing over to dig through the rubble.

"It's too late she can't eat them in her state!"

"Goku!" shouted Piccolo, staggering over the ruined bits of wall.

"Get Gohan and Chichi, we've got to fly them to safety," said Goku angrily.

"Mother… she's hurt and Stellari…" Raditz trembled, standing with his mother's body limply draped over his arms.

"Goku, use that damn instant transmission and take everyone to a hospital. I'll take that sensu and help Raditz track the others down! I'm sure 17 went the same way Tien flew off to," Piccolo said, snatching the bag from his hand. He quickly helped himself to one, and tucked the pouch in his belt sash.

"Please brother, she's close to death! And I see no sign of father!" Raditz lamented.

"I promise I'll come help you! Do you know what direction Tien flew to?" asked Goku.

"I'll go after him. And I've got a feeling that you'll go after your woman, Saiyan," Piccolo grunted to Raditz.

"Those bastards will beg for mercy when I'm finished with them," said Raditz through clenched teeth.

"I'll be right back. I promise," Goku said, reaching for Kinoha's body. Gently he laid her next to his son and Chichi, and then squatted down to wrap and arm around all of them. He managed to touch the fingers of his other hand to his forehead and snatch them all away.

"So that coward flew off?" Raditz exhaled.

"Yeah. I guess he was just a cover. He didn't do lethal damage. But whatever did this to Gohan is going to pay. I wouldn't mind joining your little vendetta for his sake. Enough's enough," Piccolo nodded.

"Good, then we're of one mind, Namekian," Raditz nodded.

"Let's get those pieces of garbage, with or without Goku," said Piccolo, with a mean grin on his green face. "You can track Tien with your toy, right?"

"Yes. And get my family back," Raditz nodded. "Follow me, green man!"

Both of them blasted off, leaving the ruins of the home they had once thought was safe. United in purpose they followed the traces of Raditz' scouter. A gold trail and a violet trail lit up the night with their brilliance then faded.

A green comet blazed in a similar direction, and for a similar purpose. As he sliced through the air with his ki, Burdock slowly marshaled his body's energy and reached for a bar of food concentrate in his belt. He nibbled on it as he followed the pinging bleeps of his scouter.

"Stupid lowlife pig! Nobody takes my daughter in law and gets away with conking me out!" Burdock cursed. Blood trickled down his forehead from the gash he'd suffered when the android carrying Stellari had thrown him headlong into a pile of rocks. It had knocked him out long enough for whomever to be long gone. Still Burdock had his scouter, and could follow Stellari's life trace with ease.

He traced it towards the distant sea, and his face curved in a mean smirk. Suddenly two huge battle blips beeped on the edge of his scouter's range, and he grunted. Narrowing his eyes at the large exponential numbers he saw their course was taking him to the same destination. "Must be Kakarotto and that Namekian. I'm sure those bums will try and take the fun from me. More the merrier I say."

Still they were miles away, and Burdock had at least a thirty-minute's head start from them. Summoning more strength he surged his body with energies and soon the night air cracked with the sound of his sonic boom. Burdock could ironically fly faster than either Piccolo or Raditz when hard pressed. Not caring if those androids could see his power trace he blazed over the inky blackness of the sea below. In his wake the white waters stirred up with the green blaze reflected. Burdock lowered his flight path to a few thousand feet above the waves. Mist flew up, partly obscuring him from any visual tracking.

At last his sharp Saiyan eyes spotted the shape of an island below. He righted his course and swooped down towards it, circling about. Then he dropped his altitude so he was only a few feet from the sea surface. With his emerald ki he stirred up more of the seawater to choppy foam, blending it with the surging waves crashing on the beach. After creating his foaming vortex the waves suddenly broke more heavily against the beaches.

In the distraction Burdock landed and clamped down his ki like Goku had once told him. Slowly he levitated just above the ground. His scouter pinged with three traces now, just inside the large craggy mountains rising in the center of the island's interior. Through the trees he flew stealthily, and then turned off his scouter. Smells and sounds of the jungle came to him, and he smelled a trace of Stellari's scent.

It took him to the huge double doors marked with two sideways triangles with their points merged. Two R's in either triangle told Burdock he was close. Slowly he made his way around to the doors, and pressed himself into the rock wall when he heard voices. First one, then another rush of air told him someone had taken flight. In that moment the door was open, Burdock shot his body through at hyper speed into the gloom of the interior. Behind him the doors clanged shut.

Only minute blips of light pinged around him. He crept on all fours, smelling Stellari and the scent of two Saiyan whelps. His grandchildren no doubt. Loud cries squalled in his sensitive ears, giving him a direction. Ki clamped to zero, Burdock meandered through the warren of hallways till the sounds of the cries were loud and he energized into sound and light. From one angle came the flickering buzz of circuits, while the smell of a petro plastic right next to it wafted his nostrils with ozone.

He heard two voices among the female one, "What will you do now, master?" asked the tenor voice.

"Stay here and guard the woman. I'm going to go after the main show," said the gritty accented bass voice.

"I thought you were going to wait till the games," said the first.

"A little P.R. won't hurt. Besides, 16 will make sure the boy doesn't decide to get an attitude on him. I've gotta let the good folks know who's gonna save them from those space monkeys. Your job is to keep the broad and her brats on ice till your buddy gets back."

"I wish you'd let Tien stay here with me instead of chasing off after Krillin and Chaotzu. But if we can convince them you're on our side I guess it's worth it," said the younger male voice. Slowly Burdock crawled behind the furniture and huddled behind the large armchair that creaked with the weight of its occupant. Long black hair spilled over the back, and he smelled the petro plastic of an android sitting in it. Peering around he saw the massive hulk of an Android standing nearby, and a sofa where a woman lay with two babies wrapped in her arms.

"Wait a minute, I'm sensing some eavesdroppers," said 13.

"Who?"

"Well well, seems like we have two uninvited guests. Stay here and I'll teach those varmints not to crash a party, boy," 13 said.

"But I can…" Yamcha started.

"Shut up and stay here! It's time to test what these parts can do!" 13 answered. With each step the whole floor vibrated. Burdock crouched in wait for the larger android's departure, and then squeezed himself down to find a chance to strike.

Clearly the other one was on guard duty. His eyes peered around the back of the chair, and he wondered if the android could detect him. Stellari blinked as one of the babies began to cry again. Behind Burdock the chair stirred and its occupant stood up. Judging from the voices Burdock could picture what they must have been doing even though he dared not look.

"They get hungry pretty quick don't' they?" he said.

"Yamcha, you're still here?" she asked. Yamcha... that was one of the warriors turned tin can, Burdock remembered.

"I'm protecting you, of course," Yamcha answered. "You should eat something."

"Aren't you afraid I'll try to escape," Stellari said in a slight mocking tone.

"Go ahead and feed them. I don't mind watching a woman nurse. And if you need formula, there's plenty here."

"Yamcha, I'm not going topless for your benefit," she answered. Something sounded like a sheet landing on a surface and he guessed it was something Yamcha threw so Stellari could drape it around her.

"I'd stay there if I were you, Stellari," Yamcha warned. "I may have my back turned but I can tell if you try anything. Your ki flares just when your plastic's being formed. I've watched you and I know how to stop you. Don't try to escape or I might have to hurt you."

"You don't want to hurt anybody, I know," she said. Yamcha's voice diminished and he heard the sounds of a cooling unit opening and shutting. Footsteps passed where Burdock scrunched himself behind the leather recliner, and he was nonplussed Yamcha hadn't detected him.

The sound of a bottle being passed and the sheet rustling told Burdock that one of the brats was now being bottle fed while the buckling of a strap indicated she had refastened her armor. He had seen Stellari set one twin on her lap to suckle at a breast while she held the other sitting atop the privacy sheet. Her wrist curled around to prop a bottle in the infant's mouth. That way she could hold both Saiyans on her lap, sitting with her body braced at the end corner of a sofa. Judging by the quiet he knew they were again nursing in this manner.

"I could hold one," Yamcha said. Again the recliner creaked, and the back pushed Burdock against the floor when the lever was pushed back.

"Stay back, I can handle. I've had more than enough 'help' from you already, Yamcha," she said sternly.

"Stellari, please, I'm only doing this for you…"

"Bullshit. You attack my home; scare my children and my family. What gives you the right to take such liberties?" asked Stellari. A whimper came and he heard a change in position as someone was being leaned over a knee and a hand applied gently to burp a child. Stellari would lay the Saiyan baby across her arm resting on the sofa, patting its back to burp it, and then return it to nurse at the bottle. From the sounds of the whimper he knew it was Planck, the boy who was bottle-feeding.

"Stellari, don't say such things," came a quiet threat. Again the recliner shifted, and Burdock felt the human sitting up erect. Slowly the steps moved towards Stellari's voice and he heard the creak of a weight on another piece of furniture.

"Stay back and do you duty, Yamcha," she said.

"Relax; I'm only trying to help as I said before. Just because you're being held here doesn't mean we can't be friends like we were," he said. "Can't you hear me out? The Androids aren't going to harm humankind; they're going to protect us!"

"You honestly believe that?" she asked.

"13 has stopped 17, 18 and 16 from killing anyone else. The minute Tien and I joined them, 13 saw we were only trying to help. He asked the computer to give us upgrades. So we could protect Earth. They scanned our minds and we showed the computer how wrong it was to let the other units kill. Tien and I won't allow them to destroy anyone!"

"That may be, but 13 wants to kill Goku," said Stellari sharply.

"Again Tien convinced 13 the logic of holding the Android Games. If 13 is defeated in battle with Goku, he will let him live. Provided the other Saiyans are forced to leave Earth never to return he will spare Goku's life," said Yamcha.

"That's ridiculous! The Saiyans have no place to go," she snorted. "And if Raditz goes, I leave with him."

"I hoped you wouldn't think that necessary. You really think he wants to stay tied to one planet and time? Who knows how many women he might have promised to be with? He's a killer, like all Saiyans. Goku's the only one I trust! And I'll do whatever it takes to make sure he and us stay alive!" said Yamcha fiercely.

"You're wrong," she said. "I love Raditz. He's my husband and nobody can separate us. He'd die before he let you…"

"Stellari, he's an animal. He's turned you against me. I only care for Fermi and Bohr. I even care for these two precious children here. With the right parenting they'll be peace loving just like Gohan," said Yamcha.

"Give it up. I'm not going to betray Raditz and that's final!"

"You're a human being! How can you think they will come in peace? By the time 13's plan goes through, no Saiyan on Earth will be safe! You might as well accept that your children are safer with me protecting you! I have the power now to do so! I'd do anything to make sure that you…"

"Yamcha, stop it!" Stellari shouted. The sounds of two babies whimpering came with the creak of a sofa, and the rustle of cloth.

"Let me help you please! Raditz and Vegeta just want to conquer earth and use it as a stepping stone to conquer other worlds! You can't change the Saiyans! Only Goku and Gohan and Trunks can be trusted, and that's because they were brought up as humans!" Yamcha said. "What does this Raditz give you that I can't?"

"Keep AWAY From us, I mean it!" Stellari shouted. A loud smacking slap caused Burdock to wince.

"You shouldn't have done that, Stellari," said Yamcha in a low tone. "I'll forgive you but you'll only convince me more that the Saiyans have corrupted you."

"Don't you dare lay a finger on my children, you bastard," Stellari gritted.

"Your power level is far too low. You'd endanger your children just to fight me? Stellari please, this isn't the right way! Don't' make me fight you!"

"Enough is enough," Burdock grunted. He caught a glimpse of Stellari backing away with both howling Saiyan babies clutched to her. The strap of one side of her armor waved while trying to keep the armor decently covering her left breast by holding Radzia there.

Yamcha's hand blazed with energy. "I suppose I'll have to do this the hard way," he said. A sphere grew slowly to life flicking with rainbow sparkles.

"What the hell are you thinking?" she demanded. Gathering her energy a thin film of plastic suddenly flickered to life between her and Yamcha.

"The spirit ball won't hurt you or the babies. But if you can't keep calm awake, then asleep is just as good. It'll just knock you out so I can take care of your children and prove to you I won't harm them," Yamcha said sadly.

From behind the sofa Burdock launched himself. Yamcha turned to sense the flare of ki, but not before Burdock could lock his hand and arm around his neck in a sleeper hold. "Stellari, get out of here now!" Burdock shouted.

"What the… Father!" she shouted. Caught off guard, Yamcha's spirit ball sizzled up and wildly bounced around the room.

"GO, now!" Burdock gritted. "Run!"

Biting her lip she grabbed her children and rushed away. Burdock squeezed tightly, but Yamcha suddenly braced himself and flicked his body. Burdock sailed across the room, smashing into a wall. With a flick of his wrist Yamcha gained control of his spirit ball.

"You'll pay for that, bastard!" Yamcha hissed. Burdock shook himself off; standing between Stellari's retreating form and the Z warrior.

"C'mon, try me, you coward," Burdock meanly grinned. Gesturing with a red wristband he took a fighting stance.

"So de kan!" Yamcha shouted, flicking his fingers. The whizzing sphere suddenly crashed towards Burdock, whizzing back and forth before he could stop it. Blinding pain ripped through Burdock’s body as the spirit ball penetrated his heart and vital organs, only to whiz up and zoom down again. Yamcha's scarred face twisted into a frown as he directed the sphere, which grew to the size of a bowling ball. With each impact Burdock arched his body in agony.

Meanwhile Stellari broke into a desperate run. Holding her babies she reached the door and kicked it open with her foot. Thanks to her greater strength the door swung enough so she could squirm out. Holding tightly she felt the tails of her babies wrapping onto her arms to hold and they quieted against her. Small hands grabbed her hair and body and Stellari pushed off the ground with one foot. She rapidly soared up over the island, her babies safely in her arms.

Burdock’s angry howls of pain echoed in her ears. He had given his life for her freedom and she knew that for his sacrifice to be of worth she would flee. Suddenly out of the nothingness two figures exploded. Stellari felt intense relief to see Piccolo and Raditz soaring at full pace towards them.

"Precious one!" shouted Raditz.

"Raditz, it's Father, he's getting slaughtered!" she cried.

"Go now!" Raditz shouted. "He's mine!"

"Dammit where's Goku when you need him?" asked Piccolo.

"Get her out of here! This is my fight!" said Raditz.

"No way, I'm NOT letting you have all the fun! I'm staying here till Goku arrives. You think you can hide somewhere lady?"

"I'll stay right here where you can see me, Piccolo," she nodded. Grunting, Piccolo descended to the beach to wait for help that could take Stellari away from the battle with her babies.

Raditz heart pounded as he raced into the base. Smell and sound gelled into the scents of his father. Distantly he heard the crashes and grunts of someone being tossed around like a rag doll. Burdock had a snowball's chance in hell of surviving an android attack. Still flashes of green energy flickered as Raditz punched through walls towards his father's energy ki.

His eyes took in the scene. Burdock covered in blood and gore was barely standing with his armor in tatters. One hand held up flickering with energies as the Android Yamcha drew his sword and swung in blinding arcs. The whole room was in shambles, pieces of broken furniture, baby bottles and other items strewn around the once lounge.

"I'm STILL standing!"

"Give up! You're half dead!" Yamcha gritted. His scimitar sizzled down, and Burdock lunged away. Unfortunately he crashed over into the remains of the recliner he'd hidden behind.

Yamcha's next stroke whistled close to Burdock’s heaving body. Suddenly something blocked with two wrists. IN between them blurred the angry form of Raditz, pushing with gauntlet wrists. Yamcha was tossed backwards.

"Please, you don't have the strength to face me!" Yamcha laughed. "You're outclassed man!"

"Get away from my father, you worm," Raditz snarled, bringing up his foot to kick Yamcha away. Unfazed Yamcha righted himself and came forwards with his weapon sizzling in arcs.

"You can't stop me with your ki!" Yamcha laughed. Raditz brought up his hands and peppered him with a series of kiko ha. With a few swings of his sword he fended them off to fly and Swiss cheese the wall around them.

"No more hide and seek!" Yamcha shouted. Both he and Raditz charged, fists raised. Raditz ducked under each swing, punching as hard as he could while Yamcha then whirled and fended him off with his feet. A bright line of red bled against Raditz's bare arms when Yamcha flipped over and landed only three feet from him.

"No more games!" Raditz gritted. Again Yamcha's sword swung, but suddenly a barrier stopped the blade.

Confused, Yamcha saw his sword sink deep into a plastic lump that Raditz had formed on his one hand. The next instant Raditz fist connected with his face, cracking it back. Then Raditz wrenched the sword out of Yamcha's hand and threw it away.

"How the HELL did you do that!" Yamcha demanded, snapping his head back into place.

"Wouldn't YOU like to know," Raditz laughed. "Come fight me!"

"You asked for it, creep," said Yamcha. "Wolf fang FIST!"

Raditz met his punches, dodging and blocking them easily. Then Yamcha fired a ki blast point blank in his face, and Raditz parried with a solid barrier. Harmlessly the ki dissipated and Yamcha backed up, blinking in shock to see Raditz shielded by a thin curve of plastic much like Stellari's.

"Atomic Spike!" Raditz gritted, throwing his hand back and forming something from a splinter of ki. One after the other a series of spikes shot towards Yamcha. He raised his hand to bat them, but felt the pain of solid shards biting through the coating on his flesh. One after the other Raditz threw with both hands a whole hailstorm towards the hapless Z warrior.

"RRRAGGH! Nano spear!" Raditz shouted, charging forwards. In the fingers of his right hand a longer spike of ki solidified into a thick rod of plastic with a sharp point on the end. Yamcha blocked with one hand, and then grunted as something punctured his shoulder. He barely managed to twist so Raditz weapon sank into the part of his chest where no vitals were housed. Gasping, Yamcha landed hard against the wall. It gave way under his falling body.

"Carbon DAGGER!" Raditz shouted, hurling another spike downwards. Yamcha cried out in pain as another sharp spike half the size of the rod sticking out of his shoulder shot down and stabbed his belly. Raditz maniacal face twisted inches from Yamcha as he pinned the warrior down with his body.

"FIELD ON!" Yamcha shouted. Raditz howled in pain as volts of ki shot through him and flung his spasming body aside. Still the plastic remained, pinning Yamcha down to the floor. He reached down to pull the spikes from his body. Struggling to stand Yamcha grabbed at the plastic dagger piercing his upper chest.

"You'll PAY for that!" Yamcha vowed, dropping his hands to his side generating flickering ki between them. "Ka… me… ha…"

"Perspex!" Raditz shouted, bringing both hands up to block.

"Me HAHHH!" Yamcha shrilled. Blinding energies surged through and slammed into Raditz raised wrists. Crouched on one knee a shield of ki resistant plastic formed and blocked the beam. It cracked but held, and the beam pushed Raditz steadily backwards.

"Goku's naive and trusting. But I can see the kids can find a much better life under his training then yours. They'll never know the monster their father was. With you out of the way Goku can adopt them as his own, thinking you died in battle," echoed a male voice through a dark haze. "Says YOU!" Raditz roared. Hearing his son's anger Burdock groaned, his head ringing like a gong. He heard the solid impact of fists on bodies and then blinked up to see his son taking on the android single-handed. Raditz smashed through the wall, his hands raised to block a beam with some strange plastic shield. "That idiot," Burdock wheezed. He reached for something in his boot pocket, and weighed it in his hand. The small object was something that Goku had recommended he take, and Burdock was still not sure what it would do. "Time to see if this works," he mumbled, then popped the thing in his mouth. Tasting faintly of fish it slid over his tongue and shot down his dry throat. Eyes widened in shock as a huge jolt of energy exploded over his body. Wounds stopped bleeding and every ache and pain vanished. "Huh, instant rejuvenation tank. Now that bastard's going to get a piece of some real fighting," Burdock thought. He teleported easily from the wreckage, moving into the main chamber where Raditz struggled against the beam. Still the android known as Yamcha poured in more power. Focusing his scouter, Burdock bit his lip at the numbers. "He can't get out from under. What is that idiot doing?" Burdock wondered. Infinity batteries flared, but he saw no power sign in his scouter from the flaring energies of the android continuing his beam war against the plastic shield Raditz held up. "I'm way stronger then you can imagine! Give up!" Yamcha shouted. "You… I'll kill you yet," Raditz gritted, digging in his heels. "Nobody has the right to do what you have done to me and mine!" "I'm not the one who's going to die today, jerk face," Yamcha snickered. "Riot javelin don't fail me now," he thought, teleporting behind Yamcha. Burdock fisted his hand to the side, summoning the new ki crackling over his rejuvenated body. To his delight the near fatal injury he'd recovered from had considerably doubled his power. Such was the legacy of a full-blooded Saiyan, snatching victory from defeat stronger than ever. "Here's something from me to you, for what you did to my brat's brats!" Burdock shouted, flinging the green sphere directly into Yamcha's back. "What the hell…" Yamcha gasped; suddenly feeling green light slam hard into him. While it didn't penetrate, it broke his concentration so his Kamehameha wave petered out. Raditz dropped his shield, and threw up both hands. "Double Sunday!" he roared, power swirling in crescent shaped arcs before charging into twin beams of death. They slammed into Yamcha full force, thrusting him back into the far wall. It shattered, sending masonry everywhere. Having more than enough holes punched in it, the structure's roof crumpled. Burdock and Raditz easily avoided the debris, then stood only feet from each other. "What are you doing here, old man?" Raditz grunted. He brushed hair out of his face that had slipped loose from the metal bands confining the rest. "That's a fine thank you, you ungrateful sod," Burdock shot back. "When I saved your ass!" "I don't need YOUR help!" Raditz barked. "Of course you do, idiot!" Burdock glared at him. "You've got all that power but you don't have any finesse! Takes more than raw energy to make a good fighter! Haven't I taught you anything?" "Kakkarot's trained me to be far stronger then…" Raditz boasted. He didn't notice that over his shoulder the android climbed out of the hole he'd punched through the wall after Burdock’s blast. "So de kan super!" Yamcha howled. "Look out moron!" Burdock shouted. Charging headlong with a loud battle cry, Yamcha raised his hand, flinging a sphere forwards. "Oh really?" Raditz asked. "Saturday Crush!" "Gimme a BREAK!" Yamcha laughed, jerking his fingers. He twisted them in a c shape, and the spirit ball split into two. He stood his ground, blocking Raditz sphere with the first, and then sending the other after Burdock. "Here, try THIS," Burdock said, zipping quickly with the missile directly behind him. He doubled back towards a startled Yamcha, and then phased out at the last moment. "Oh crap," Yamcha cursed. His own spirit ball slammed into him before he could dissipate it, causing each of his muscles to clench all at once. Circuits fizzled with the sudden power overload, freezing him in place. Moments later Burdock roared and slammed him with a roundhouse kick from behind. "RAAAH!" Raditz shouted, cracking his fist into Yamcha's head from the other side. Both Saiyans pummeled Yamcha with kicks and punches from every angle, not giving him the chance to regain his equilibrium. However they made little damage. "FIELD ON!" Yamcha shrilled. Both father and son were hurled away by the blue sphere radiating from Yamcha's spread arms and legs. "Now what?" asked Raditz, flipping over and landing in a squat while Burdock rolled like a log and pushed his way to his feet. "Final Avenger pattern! I'll set him up!" Burdock shouted in Saiyan. "You sure?" Raditz asked. Burdock winked, then slid his arms behind a staggering Yamcha to squeeze him in a hold under his armpits. "You can't stop me with that simple trick! I'll break your arms off!" Yamcha slurred his automatic compensatory trying to adjust to the pummeling. "Nano spear!" Raditz snarled, hand upraised. A long shaft of plastic solidified from the spike of ki, and Raditz thrust it forwards. Burdock flipped up just in time, avoiding the spike that thrust through Yamcha's shoulder and came out the other side with a sound much like Chichi cutting a ripe pumpkin. Burdock and Raditz flipped back, standing a good distance. They nodded at one another, then exchanged more words in Saiyan tongue. Yamcha coughed up blood, grabbing the spike, and trying to tear it out. "You can't kill me with a piece of plastic! I'm… far stronger than either of you could imagine. I'm not the weakest link anymore!" "Shall we?" Burdock asked. "Be my guest. This is what you get for harming my family and humiliating my reputation, time to die!" Raditz barked. "You're toast for messing with what's mine, human," Burdock added for good measure. "Heat Phalanx!" Hot plasma streamed from the flat of Burdock’s hand, mingling with the ki blast that Raditz forced from his. Together the energies combined and formed a shaft of blinding power. The beam cracked into Yamcha full force, pushing through the hole already made by Raditz spear of plastic. Yamcha howled, crumpling to the ground as energy cut him down. Then Burdock again phased out, and hit him with a left hook followed by an uppercut. Seizing him from behind, Burdock slammed his knee into Yamcha's back, grabbing by his shoulders. Yamcha screamed as he felt the repeated motions of Burdock’s bones pushing Saiyan flesh to its limits. Hurling him towards Raditz, Burdock gave his son a deadly nod. Raditz caught Yamcha's flying body, and then pushed his hand in the android's face. Yamcha gasped for breath as something solidified over his mouth and nose. Raditz tossed him back against the wall, and threw his hands in several fast motions, shouting, "Razor quill!" Fine shards of plastic pinned Yamcha to the wall by his clothing. Although the former Z warrior now turned Android bled from the puncture wound in his shoulder, he struggled to tear out the spike. As Burdock raised his hands to generate a blazing green blast, Yamcha rasped out, "Go ahead! Kill me! Show me that you really ARE just monsters!" "Fine by me," Burdock nodded with satisfaction. Raditz felt a pang in his chest. Suddenly he felt ill in his stomach, wondering why he grabbed his father's hands. He regretted the weakness of his next words, "Father, enough." "Why? Are you soft hearted?" Burdock snorted. "HE... he's not worth the energy to kill. Let him suffer the humiliation of defeat," Raditz quickly babbled, thinking of a reason that wouldn't bring attention to the soft quality of mercy. Had living on earth reduced him to this? Still, he guessed that if Stellari knew he killed Yamcha, she would be saddened. Goku was friends with this man after all, or had been. Something bleeping his scouter caught his attention, and Burdock whirled his head around. "Raditz, look out!" he shouted. "YAMCHA!" screamed a voice. "Blast cannon!" Burdock cannoned into Raditz, knocking him clear of the thigh diameter blast. It crashed into the flickering circuits of the computer, drilling a smoking hole through it that opened into the night. Rolling over, Raditz looked over his father's shoulder to see a green robed figure with outrage on his face. Panting with fury, Tien appeared near Yamcha. He grabbed the slack jaw of the warrior; flipping Yamcha's inclined head to the left and the right. He gasped, "Oh god what did they do to you…" "Nothing that I can't recover from," Yamcha joked. "My systems are repairing it, but I’m down for the count. That damn spike disrupted my power core!" "I'll pay these bastards for what they've done," Tien vowed. "He's not dead, for what that's worth you human. Though I only saved his hide because I don't want my mate further upset," Raditz panted, untangling himself from Burdock. Father and son moved apart, their eyes and senses trying to anticipate the new arrival's next move. Angrily he fixed a ternary gaze on the two Saiyans, eyes flaring white-hot. Around his body objects began to levitate and swirl. He rose off the floor to hover at a height of nearly two feet. From every side objects loosened from the remaining walls, pummeling Burdock and Raditz who had to crossed their gauntlets before their faces. Necks craned to press their chins into their collarbones down while their eyes squeezed open to mere slits against the barrage. "Is THAT all you can muster?" Burdock challenged. "You'll pay for this!" Tien screamed. "And since there are two of you… four will do!" Burdock blinked as he suddenly moved fast with a rapid series of arm movements. Soon Tien split in half, and then that into another division. No less than four replicas fanned out from the source and raised their hands to generate a beam at the index finger. "Dodon ray!" all four of them chorused. "Scatter!" Burdock shouted. "RAAAGGH!" Raditz shouted. Arms spanned wide his form blazed with bright gold energies. The two Tienshinhan replicas pursuing him stopped up sort when their beams were blocked with the flat of the massive hand. Gathering size and strength, Raditz stood calmly before him. Teal eyes blazed with fury along with the top spikes of his hair standing up. The hair seemed to grow longer in the back, swirling like a waterfall of gold. "That won't do you any good. Even as a Super Saiyan you're nowhere near Goku's power. And I know exactly how to fight a Super Saiyan too!" Tien said. "Friday blaze!" Raditz growled, spanning his arms wide. Two beams pulsed in a Y configuration, then formed a single beam to target one Tien. As that one dodged, Raditz arced the beam around just as Goku had showed him to do with the Kamehameha wave. Meanwhile Burdock zipped in an intricate pattern, avoiding the long straight beams that the two other clones sent his way. His scouter bleeped, showing each had only 1/4 the power of the first judging from the infinity batteries. Still the two of them seemed to keep up easily with his movements. "Solar prominence!" one of them shouted. A bright blinding light flared into Burdock’s retinas, causing him to cry out in pain. Then a flickering tongue of plasma lashed into him as well. "Father!" Raditz grunted, hearing Burdock’s groan and a crushing crack of crumbling masonry. "Worry about yourself," the other two Tiens said. All four of them suddenly surrounded Raditz in a square. "Now what?" Raditz wondered. He levitated up, but each of the Tiens lifted their hands, shouting in unison. "Tribeam!" they chorused. Raditz hurled a series of blasts down, but the four beams angled to track him and formed a pyramid in the middle. From its top shot a thick beam vertically, painting the crumbling base in blinding white light. Howling Raditz was almost knocked unconscious from the combined blast. He crumpled to the center of the square of four androids. A smile crept over each of the Tien's lips and he said, "Well that worked well. Considering it was last used on Goku I think it's appropriate to use it again to destroy you!" "Solar FLARE!" shouted someone that teleported above. All four of the Tiens howled in pain at the overload to their senses. Goku shot down, grabbing up Raditz in his arms and teleported out of the center of the square. Raditz panted, looking up into the face of his younger brother. Teal eyes regarded each other, and Goku said, "I thought you could use a hand here." "Brother… what about…" Raditz protested. "Piccolo sent me a mental flash. He's protecting Stellari. Don't worry, I'll get you and Burdock out of here," said Goku. "I demand revenge," he panted. "Now's NOT the time," Goku said. Cursing the four Tienshinhans blinked. "Compensating… there," Tien said. All four androids merged into one again, leaving Tien to catch sight of Goku carrying his fallen brother. Still stunned from the combined attack, Raditz dropped out of Super Saiyan form. "Tien, stop it now!" Goku shouted. He settled Raditz over his shoulders in a fireman carry, and then stood up to his full height. The flat of one large hand raised to cover Tien's blasts. Easily the Dodon ray deflected from Goku's palm into the remaining walls. Pieces of masonry dropped around Goku, but the sheer gold light of his aura vaporized any flack before it could pelt him. "Goku, I don't want you dead. You've got one chance to leave now, for old time's sake. Before Android 13 comes and kills you!" Tien said. "Who?" Goku asked, blinking at him. "I don't know who that is, but you've got to listen to me." "No Goku, it's YOU who should listen. Allying with these Saiyans only will bring misery for you and your family! Before long they'll be the most hated beings on the planet!" "What do you mean?" Goku asked. Tien drifted forwards, levitating much like Chaotzu did. Telekinetic powers crackled along his body. "He's on his way here. You might have destroyed his computer, but Super Android 13 has more than enough power to wipe you out Goku if you don't leave now…" "I can't leave without them," Goku said. "I can't let you save them. Either leave now or prepare to face me. And I'm much stronger then you can imagine, Goku. I might even be able to hurt you badly. And I don't want to do that," Tien said quietly. "But we do," said another voice. "I can handle this!" Tien said. "Target located. Identified. Destruction of Son Goku primary objective," said 16. "Oh man," Goku cursed. He grabbed up Raditz and backed away. Sensing Burdock’s energies he grabbed him up as well. "Stay back!" Tien shouted, turning to face 16 and 17 hovering above. "Finally we get some fun and you have to ruin it? Lame!" 17 snorted. "Goku get OUT Of here!" Tien shouted. "Thanks Tien, you won't regret this," Goku nodded. He rushed over to grab up Burdock and hold him at his side. As Tien prepared to take on the others, Goku zipped out of the ruined Red Ribbon base. Images swarmed with the feeling of movement. Burdock forced his way to consciousness only to see the ocean zipping along under him. Someone was carrying him with their arm tucked under his waist. Twisting his head around he saw the brilliant gold of his rescuer's hair. Teal eyes blinked down along with the concerned frown. "S… Son… Kakarotto… you…" Burdock grumbled. "Let me go!" "Can you fly on your own?" Goku asked. "Watch me! I'm not some weak kid!" Burdock grunted. Goku released his father, and Burdock floated with his own power. "We have to get out of here now," Goku said. "Grab my shoulder." "All right," Burdock nodded. Now able to reach his fingers to his forehead Goku transmitted them far from the exploding red ribbon base. He trained on the signal given him by Piccolo's mind, and soon materialized near the Orange Star hospital's ER entrance. Out of the lobby rushed the familiar shape in green armor almost identical to Burdock’s own. In either arm she carried the Saiyan pups with their tails twisted around her upper arms. Like a silent sentinel Piccolo turned around, cape flapping in the wind. From beneath his turban he regarded Goku, his brother and father grimly. "Took you long enough." "Raditz, father!" Stellari cried, rushing up. "You're okay!" Goku cried. "But Raditz got hurt pretty hard." "You'd better take him inside. Bulma's cordoned off a whole wing of the hospital for them," said Stellari. "I suppose I'll have to take him in," said Piccolo. "Considering how Chichi says you are around hospitals!" "Thanks, Piccolo!" said Goku, helping hand Raditz over. Burdock rushed over to his daughter in law, standing close as she rushed over to her mate. "Take it easy with him!" she urged. "Stay back here girl, the Namekian's got it covered," Burdock said. "Too bad I only had one of those beans." "No worries," Goku nodded. "You okay?" "As best as I can be," she panted. "Thank you Father, for what you did." "Don't make a big deal out of it. I did what I had to. Can't let these pups become someone's science fair project, can I?" "I'll take him for a minute," Goku said, gently scooping the whimpering Planck from Stellari's trembling arm. The experience had taken its toll and she was almost dead on her feet. Grumbling Burdock moved over and slid an arm around her waist on her other side, stopping her from pitching forwards. Goku toddled his nephew, falling out of his Super Saiyan form. "Easy there little guy. Uncle Goku's here. And your grandpa!" Burdock brushed strands of hair out of his granddaughter Radzia's face. Looking at her reminded him of his mate, and he did not know how horrid her battle had been. The bond they shared had ended in silence, and Burdock sensed she was badly hurt. She whimpered a bit, and he stroked the baby's cheek tenderly. "Takes some getting used to. I'll admit. Is Kinoha…" "I don't know. The last I heard Bulma was putting her into a regeneration tank. Chichi and Gohan are inside. Chichi didn't want her son put in a tank…" "I'll talk to her," Goku sighed, rolling his eyes. "Stubborn woman," Burdock chuckled. "Let's go in."