Disclaimer: I don’t own Dragon Ball Z. The anime/manga was created by Akira Toriyama, and is owned by Shonen Jump and Toei Animation Co. Ltd. This is a work of fan fiction and means no harm to the anime or manga it pays tribute to. I’m not making money for this.

 

A/N: Thanks to all the reviewers including butterfly V and everyone else!

Miles away Goku and Gohan entered the time chamber. Suits of white armor gleamed on their chests, overtop blue skintight suits. A last wave to Mr. Popo and Dende later, they vanished behind the vast doors. Far below, tethered to Kami's lookout only by the long thing shaft of the power pole Korin's tower vanished behind the higher clouds. Two figures leaned on the railing. One with turquoise eyes watched his mate began to patch up his battered armored suit. Next to him, the feline carefully observed the palpable tension building up between the two lovers. Since they had emerged from their tryst, neither spoke much to the other. Perhaps, Korin mused, it had something to do with the bright gold hue to Burdock’s upswept mane of spikes. Around his brow he carefully tied a red blood stained headband to hold the hair from his eyes.

Skillfully Kinoha took bits of melted polymer and worked them into the holes and shattered pieces. Around her sat several sizes of mixing bowls filled with various concoctions of natural resins Korin had provided her with. Just the right mixture would serve, and Kinoha knew all that was involved with repairing Saiyan armor. She shouted, "You there, bring that piece over!"

"Hey I'm NOT your slave, lady," Yajerobe stuck his tongue out. Burdock chuckled and leaned over to pick up the stray piece of armor that had escaped his mate's notice. Glancing up at Burdock, Kinoha's eyes met his for a long moment. Hands touched with the passage of the missing piece, and she quickly fitted it into place with the adhesive glue she'd mixed up.

"Almost done," she nodded.

"You spoil me. I could have used you on many a mission… if you'd been open to it," Burdock said wistfully.

"How the hell did you fix that hunk of junk. It was in a thousand pieces!" Yajerobe grumbled with disbelief. Wide eyed he stared at the suit beneath Kinoha's hands. Burdock reached down to tug up his long green pants to his waist overtop the black spandex undershorts he wore.

"Not all of us spent time proving how many planets we could clear," said Kinoha. "I made Saiyan armor for a living."

"Not all of us had much of a choice, or cared how much we got noticed staying inside," Burdock retorted.

"There's no use in bringing up the past," said Kinoha, regret in her face. Memories of a violent explosion shot through her brain. Through their shared rapport Burdock felt the searing pain of his mate's body vaporizing along with their home world.

"I'm sorry," he murmured. Kinoha watched him turn away, and wander over towards the railing.

"What's with THEM?" whispered Yajerobe to Korin. Leaning on his staff, Korin let a low purring hum escape.

"Lover's spat. I'll handle this one," Korin said.

"Whatever. These Saiyans are too weird," Yajerobe wrinkled his nose. He tromped downstairs into the lower levels free of moody Saiyans. Uncomfortable silence passed between Burdock and his mate, who both pretended to ignore one another.

Korin thoughtfully stared towards Burdock, who leaned up against the railing. Turing about he faced the distant invisible point on the horizon and shaded his eyes with one hand. Saiyan sight allowed him to peer through intermittent gaps in the cloud and see the earth far below. Burdock had no idea how expansive it was. He beheld the breathtaking vista of the land of Korin stretching out like a golf green.

"Like the view?" Korin asked.

"I have to say I didn't think much of this little planet. But I can see why Kakarotto loves it," Burdock sighed, leaning heavily on his forearms. Bare from the waist up, he wore his newly repaired and cleaned suit pants. Behind him, his furry brown tail threshed indecisively.

"Doesn't take a mind reader to see you've got a lot on your mind," Korin said.

"What you going to ask me if I want to 'talk about it'?" Burdock snorted. "No thank you. Saiyans don't pour their guts out and 'share their feelings and all that soft hearted stuff."

"Who said anything about sharing feelings? I was just making an observation, that's all," Korin shrugged. "Coming from someone else who has a tail, it's not too hard to tell you're stewing."

"Dammit," Burdock mumbled. He wrapped his tail around his hips, and continued to glare off into the distance.

"Your power's gone up an amazing amount. Even more then when Goku drank the ultra divine water," said Korin. "You should be proud of yourself. Not everyone can unlock hidden powers, even in a whole year."

"My son mentioned you trained him…"

Korin smoothed his whiskers with the side of a tongue moistened paw. "Mainly gave him a few pointers. He did the hard work himself. And Kami had a hand in it too. Assuming he told you that too. Unless it escaped his mind. Knowing him he wouldn't think it was important unless you asked."

"He took Gohan into the chamber, and he's training him now. The stubborn fool!" Burdock growled.

"I measured Goku's power level before he went back in. It's pretty high, but not as much as he'd like it to be," Korin warned him. "He must think things are pretty desperate if he's dragging the kid into it."

"Pfft, just like his mother in some ways," Burdock whispered. Kinoha coughed from behind them, causing them to both flinch.

"Your armor's done. See if it suits you, Burdock," she called out. Bringing the finished armored coat over, she held it out before her. A slow smile spread across Burdock’s face and he reached out to touch the faithful suit.

"Well well, you've worked a miracle again, woman," Burdock nodded. He carefully took the armor from her, holding the coat by its shoulder straps so it dangled in front of him. Across its green surface minor dents and scuffling showed the armor was well used. However the vast majority of cracks and holes he had suffered were gone.

Burdock raised the armored coat over his head, pulling his arm and head through with practiced ease. Gripping the front he tugged it down to his waist overlapping his high cut pants. Kinoha made no move to assist him. Rather she watched him proudly swinging his torso back and forth. He bent over to one side, then the other to touch either toe.

"Nice work," Korin nodded.

"I've heard much about how my son trained here. He must have been quite the warrior to see as a whelp," Kinoha commented.

"Not that most of us needed to see our brats every second of the day. He grew up pretty well on his own it seemed," Burdock interrupted.

"Even if it was among soft hearted humans?" Kinoha needled. A series of loud sharp taps vibrated the floor.

"Hey, just a minute! Would you two cut it out already?" Korin interrupted, driving the end of his walking stick up and down. "Take your lover's quarrel someplace else! If you start fighting then do it someplace where I can watch from a DISTANCE."

"Apologies," Kinoha muttered.

"Yeah, apologies," Burdock added.

"I thought you two were happy to see each other the way you were carrying on downstairs. What happened?" Korin asked.

"Nothing," Burdock muttered.

"And everything," Kinoha answered.

"You two should be ashamed of yourselves. Here fate gives you a chance to start fresh and you waste it arguing over what should be ancient history. If there's anything I learned from watching the world up here is that time is precious. And it might not be something we have a lot of with those androids, if you know what I mean," Korin scolded them. From one shamefaced Saiyan to the other he glanced, then shook his head.

"Apologies for showing weakness," Kinoha relented. "And bringing up personal affairs to you, our host."

"Get over it already, sheesh," Korin slapped his hand to his forehead. "Don't you learn ANYTHING?"

"What does he mean?" Kinoha frowned.

"Something that should have a long time ago," Burdock sighed. Slowly he strode over to his mate, holding out his hand toward her. Gaze level with hers he rested his hand on her shoulder.

"You have something to say to each other, don't you?"

"Kinoha, I should offer you apologies," Burdock said. Stiffly he slid that hand down her bare arm, then back again.

"Burdock…" Kinoha's tanned cheeks took on a rosy hue, and she was unable to look at him directly. She drew up her hands to rest on his armored chest. Shyly, and very odd it was to see such an expression on her face, she stepped into her mate's arms. Burdock slid his arms around her waist and nipped her ear. She leaned up to do the same, lightly lapping the blood she'd drawn. Tails fell from around their waists and swirled back and forth behind them both.

"That's more like it," Korin nodded. "Now if you'll excuse me I've got some more watching to do. Unless you want to get back to what you were doing before…"

"Actually, could you tell me about how it was to train our son?" asked Kinoha softly. Still they stood in one another's arms, fully showing their bond in front of someone who wasn't Saiyan, and wasn't family.

Gold locks streamed behind Raditz' head like a comet's tail. The very tip of the cascade blended into the golden aura of his super Saiyan ki. Like water it surged over both of them, protecting them from the friction of the atmosphere. In her own words she updated him, and Raditz felt both frustration and relief that the fighting had stopped for now. While Burdock and Kinoha had chosen to wait some of the time on Korin's tower for Goku, he had decided to return to Capsule and reunite with his foster sons and his cubs. Fortunately Chichi had gotten the hang of watching the two Saiyan brats.

"Actually Fasha is helping them, as are some of your father's friends," said Stellari.

"Mmm, it's good to know, because we might need their services a bit longer," Raditz purred.

Stellari's dark hair brushed past Raditz nose, causing it to twitch. He inhaled her warm delicious scent with a sigh of delight. As she related her tale he couldn't resist rubbing his cheek against hers. She shivered at the contact, then gasped as Raditz repositioned her in his arms. Stopping in mid flight he hovered at a dead stop thousands of miles above the earth. Still winded Stellari clung to him, marveling in horror at his exponential increase.

"You're even more powerful than before," Suddenly her scouter started to spark and she was forced to turn it off lest it explode. Even with the increased levels Raditz ability flared way off the scale.

"How much?"

"Nearly one and a half times the level that blew up your scouter when you first saw Goku turn Super Saiyan," she stammered, placing the scouter on her belt. "… how long can you keep this up?

"As long as it takes. My brother recommended once father and I achieved it to keep in it as long as possible," Raditz explained.

For a split second he let go, then swung her around and caught her against his broad chest. Gripping handfuls of the glowing orange gi she shrieked in terror. Her legs wrapped around his waist, barely circling it above the blue sash. "Raditz… what the HELL are you doing?"

"Calm down precious one. I tire of this talking and wish to taste you, that is all." Seeing her wonder and smelling her fear, he leaned forwards and caught her open lips in a kiss. Despite her effort to pull away he growled, dipping his tongue into her mouth. Achingly tight he closed his arms so she had no hope of escape. Granted she had kissed him before but she had kept the lip touches short. Clutched tightly to his body clad in Goku's spare uniform Stellari felt the slight buzz of an electric charge on her mouth. It was that sensation that caused her to shrink away when she first kissed him a half hour before. The new intensity had increased ten times that Raditz normal fighting level.

For a moment he drew back, letting her catch her breath. Fear and lust burned brightly in his body, and hers as well. Yet he saw the doubt and it saddened him. He murmured, "I would never drop you. Am I truly terrifying in this form?"

"What do you mean?" panted she.

"I saw how Chichi looked at Kakarotto. With revulsion and horror when she first saw him like this. Do you feel the same way?" he murmured. Raditz rubbed her back gently, repositioning her so her knees gripped him close to his golden tail twined fast above the blue sash.

"Of course not! What are you talking about?"

"She was frightened of him… like he was some sort of monster," Raditz whispered.

"She hadn't told me… but surely…"

"Do you still worry that I might become a monster as well, Stellari?" Raditz wondered, teal eyes plaintively fixing into hers. The inner glow his skin possessed had not faded, but it had diminished significantly.

"No, Raditz. It's just you feel… so DIFFERENT than before. I got so used to your energy that seeing you this powerful… it's like an excited state of an atom… it has to go down sometime to its ground state," babbled she.

"Stellari, look me in the eyes and tell me truthfully," requested he. Cupping her cheek with one powerful hand he stroked her hair. Looking deep in his gaze she saw no mad lust for power, only a calm burning resolve of acceptance. It was the same gaze that she often caught in Goku's fighter face.

"Can you accept this?"

"Raditz, it is… terrifying, but I know it's still you. I'm sorry Chichi's scared of Goku, but just because she is doesn't mean she won't accept it any less then I am trying to now. You have to admit seeing a Saiyan with any hair except jet black is scary… unless you think of Trunks and it's still unnerving," she admitted.

"Why do you think I've been feeding my power into yours, Stellari?" Raditz grunted. "For the last half hour I've slowly been giving you more of my ki so there won't be such a gap between us."

Glancing down she saw her own skin had taken on a purple glow. Her hair sparked and fluffed out as if fried with static electricity. Raw power surged down every muscle, flooding the cells of her already powerful body. Red Ribbon science genetic engineering had gifted her with this form, but Saiyan Training had taken her to an even more superhuman level. "I want you to feel a mere fraction of the power I now have. A power that I won't use to destroy and dominate, but a power to protect and avenge."

"Your willingness to share it…" she trailed off. "Proves to me you're no monster. If only Chichi thought the same…"

"Precious one," Raditz purred, again turning his head to the side and claiming her lips. Any further protestations vanished from her throat muffled by his mouth opening to hers. Huge hands squeezed her backside and her neck to him. Because of the soft cloth, it was easier to tell Raditz state of arousal through his gi.

Momentarily she thought of Chichi and Goku, her mind shivering at the memory of Chichi's flinching. Goku had walked Gohan from the time Chamber and Chichi had screamed in great fear. Stellari had remembered her sister in law's frantic story with sadness. It had happened only shortly after Burdock had first met them, those months ago.

Raditz held Stellari close to him like something precious. Every passing second confirmed the illusion she didn't wish to remain in the company of a super Saiyan. Just why he did not know. Why couldn't he expunge the nagging doubt growing inside him? Despite all the caresses and kisses he knew there was only one avenue open to him. Through the action of mating perhaps he could assuage her fears.

Not only did humans closely associated with Saiyans fear for their lives, but also the common folk living in the cities of the world. Raditz heard of Fasha and Toma's feats from Stellari, and mused the consequences. Fasha had spoken of a small girl who had acted with bravery, and had piercing blue eyes. Though to Saiyans such a color was outlandish, Fasha had said she had the gaze of a true warrior. IT gladdened Raditz to know his father’s comrades were making strides with bridging the gap between Saiyan and human.

"She said she was the daughter of a champion," Stellari said.

"Who?"

"The girl Fasha said she met. And I think I know who it was," said she.

"Champion?" Raditz asked.

"The Great Hercule, the winner of the World Martial Arts tournament last time," said Stellari.

Far below the daughter of a champion shivered at the thought of that week's occurrences. The vast living room stretched around them, dominated by a six foot television set taking up the entire front wall. Across from it stood a sectional sofa and deluxe recliner chair covered in butter soft leather. Both his feet were propped up on the footrest as Hercule leaned over to grab a cigar from the wooden box to his left. In his right hand he held a conical glass, his fingers wrapped around its long stem. Draped around his muscular body was his ever present brown bathrobe with a pair of white comfortable pants.

That afternoon the world's martial arts champion and Strongest Man in the world sipped a martini and watched the news coverage along with his daughter. Earlier that week she had indeed rescued all twenty fellow passengers on her school bus when the bridge had collapsed under them. Of course the world champion knew four strange beings had assisted his little champion, but they were obviously using strange tricks to do so. They were called Saiyans, and he wasn't entirely sure he trusted them.

"Who does that clown think he is interrupting my daughter's moment of glory," Hercule shook his fist at the TV. He almost threw his drink at the television when a shot of his daughter helping save schoolchildren during a bridge accident was preempted by a special news update.

"Wait Daddy, that's the creep who's been on the news channels at school, isn't it?" Videl asked.

"Why that piece of trash thinks he can stop your news coverage is beyond me!" Hercule raged. Then his stream of curses stopped at the appearance of a hideous blue faced being coming into view. Reporters cringed and shivered in the presence of the hulking giant.

"I'll say!" Hercule blinked, shirking back in his chair a bit and taking a drag on his cigar. "That jerk's been hogging all my publicity! He says he's some big hero and he didn’t even STOP to acknowledge that I’m the champion! I can't believe he's trying to fool all these people with that stupid costume!"

"But he's saying something about Saiyans," Videl hushed her father. Both of them riveted their blue eyes to the screen and listened to the voice of the reporter holding his microphone up to the stranger.

"So you claim you're here to help us from what exactly?" asked the TV newscaster.

"From the menace of the Saiyans. They're only trying to deceive you," he said.

"That's not true!" Videl shouted at the TV.

"But how can you explain the rash of such beings saving people if they are here to harm us? And is it true that you are one of those… androids?"

"Perhaps I may be. But it would be wise of people everywhere to heed my warnings. Accept my protection or else disaster might prevail. Any who wish to question the validity of my motives can challenge me…"

"Is it true that you've been challenged to face some of the world’s heroes in a martial arts tournament?" asked the reporter, stepping back. Drawing back his head, the hulking blue giant laughed.

"Indeed. Everyone will see that my intention is only to protect this world from danger. And those foolish enough to question my validity will see that their fears are unfounded," he stated with a voice that held icy calm.

"Just who does he think he is?" Hercule complained. "Claiming such a pack of lies! It's all some big publicity stunt! He's probably paying people to cause disasters and probably is in cahoots with those so called Saiyans to make himself look good!"

"Are you so sure Daddy?" Videl blinked up at him.

"That's exactly why I'm going to go and kick his blue butt to find out for sure," Hercule boasted. "But I'll let my other fighters soften him up… and anyone ELSE who might show up."

"Like the Saiyans?" asked Videl quietly.

"Heh, it'll be good publicity to have this loudmouth kicked off TV when I beat him at his own game. And then I'll be number one again!" Hercule nodded. Videl glanced down to see his knees were knocking together, and shook her head. Her father just had to turn any situation into an opportunity to further his career. Sometimes she wished he would never have won the world championship at the Tenkachi Budokai.

Fresh in her mind were the sensations on board the school bus. Around her the children had laughed and carried on during the bus ride from Orange Star Elementary school to the various homes outside the town. Crossing over the bridge all eyes had drifted to the harbor complete with boats. Unfortunately smiles gave way to frowns and then open mouthed shock.

Suddenly the tractor trailer immediately in front of the bus had dipped out of sight. Frantic eyes of the bus driver glanced from just ahead to the whispering children hunched in their seats. Everyone was jostled forwards as the brakes squealed and Videl almost launched herself over the seat. Next to her she gripped the back of someone's shirt and kept them from suffering the same fate.

"Keep calm children," the bus driver shouted back, glancing over one shoulder. Other vehicles had screeched to a similar halt, and all eyes snapped forwards to stare out the window. Although they were brought to a dead halt the bridge itself began to sway dangerously back and forth. As if a giant had taken hold of one edge of the bridge and swung it back and forth like a jump rope. Back and forth the bus lurched, along with the entire span around them.

"Oh my gods look at that… some of the cars crashed," whispered one child before the daughter of the champ. She stuck her head over the seat and rapidly stared around her. Through the windows she saw people struggling to climb out of their cars or turn them around to clog the already crowded lanes of traffic. Huge cables seemed to snap just outside, waving in the wind of the bay.

To the lane on the left cars tipped off the end of a gaping span of jagged road. Videl could see the bits of pavement dropping like breadcrumbs to infinity below. Then the bus lurched forwards, and the children shoved one another and screamed. Instinctively they tried to get out of their seats and madly rush to the front.

"Someone HELP us!" they cried.

Videl leaped over the seat and rushed to the front of the bus. Being the daughter of the World Martial arts champion gave her certain clout and she blocked the aisle standing on the white like. Throwing her hands to either side she shouted back, "Everyone what she said! Everyone get to the BACK of the bus NOW!"

Blue eyes gleamed brightly and the small voice piped through the chaos. All the children scrambled back to the rear seat, and Videl grabbed the stunned bus driver. Shocked a small child of seven could grab her and toss her like a sack of potatoes, the bus driver landed harmlessly into the seat halfway back. Videl pushed other children back who wouldn't listen.

"Everyone back! The bus will tip off the bridge if you don't go to the BACK!" Videl hollered in a voice that nobody dared disobey. Her sudden thinking paid off for the bus leaned backwards out of danger. But she could tell the front tires were dangerously close to the jagged edge. Hands grabbed the emergency exit handle but couldn't wrench it free.

"Stand back!" she shouted. Almost atop each other the children parted and let the small girl with the pigtails back up. With a loud Kyai her sneakered foot slammed into the door, kicking it open.

"Everyone out!" the bus driver shouted. Children began to scramble out, but then the very bridge continued to sway. In the cars and vehicles people were scrambling over one another to try and get out of their cars before the angle of the bridge tipped even more. Those lucky enough to do so grabbed onto the bridge railings while their cars scooted inexorably towards the end of the forty five degree roadbed. It pitched to a greater seventy five degrees, sending some of the children still in the bus tumbling back in. Videl grabbed the slim edge of the doorway, snatching the shirts of some who were close. Others held on to one another hand in hand, linked in a human chain. People screamed around them in a cacophony, and all the vehicles slid down, pushing the ones closest to the edge off.

Videl's heart came into her throat as she felt herself go weightless. What good was being the daughter of the champion if she couldn't even save the lives of her fellow students. Then came a jarring thump that caused the bus to arrest in mid fall. Ten students still clinging to their seats and Videl all caught the breath they'd held.

"Stay inside, kids!" shouted a male voice.

Videl peered out the door and the other children still left on the bus shouted and pointed. Just outside a portly man with strange armor shot down out of sight. Three other specs darted by. Glancing through the jagged hole of the emergency exit door, Videl saw that these newcomers were flying towards the bridge, catching vehicles and people as they fell. One blue armored speck had grabbed the bridge front and was struggling. Each of them was flying to her shock. The entire bus rocketed up and then landed gently on the roadbed again.

Videl stumbled out of the bus, determined to find out what was going on. Still people clung to the bridge, now leaning at a less steep angle. Darting around the bus front she saw the blue armored figure grabbing the roadbed with his hands, his face creased with effort. Around his body glowed white tongues of fire. Magically it seemed this figure was using some unknown force to pull the bridge back into a flat position. Overhead she saw cables being dragged into place by another armored figure. Flashes of energy emanated from her palm, welding the broken cables together. Across the jagged gap, a massive male with triple scars on his forehead was ferrying fallen vehicles and people along with the portly armored man she had seen fly past.

"Who are you?" Videl cried.

"Watch out!" shouted a female's voice. Videl turned her head to see a massive loose cable swinging down towards her. It slammed into her, knocking her towards the railing where people were climbing down. A pink blur rocketed down and gripped her around the waist, yanking her back from the side.

"You should stay out of the way, little one," the female said, holding Videl around the waist. Looking up into the face of a strong female Videl gasped in disbelief. Both of them hovered hundreds of feet above the ruined bridge. From this vantage point she could see the three other armored strangers flying to and fro to pick up people and set them back near their vehicles as well as struggle to secure the bridge again. The scarred faced man and the handsome one with the ponytail were using beams of some strange light form their hands to melt pieces of roadbed into the gap that separated the two halves of the broken bridge.

She then realized the woman carrying her in flight was the one overhead who had been welding the snapped cables back together to the main tower of the bridge. Unwittingly she had missed one, and that had been what almost swept Videl over the side to certain death. She could hit the water like concrete from such a height. Gold flashed off the earring in the female's right ear. Over her left eye gleamed a strange green lens attached to what appeared to be an earphone. Close to a black armored chest Videl was clutched, stretched over the ample bosom of the unknown woman. Like the fighters her father promoted the woman was solid with muscle and slender. Her hair was cropped in a short cut around her face, giving her the look of someone who meant business.

"Who are you?" Videl demanded. "And what are you doing?"

"We're friends, small one. No need to worry. I'm Fasha… I saw you trying to help those people before I grabbed your bus," she said.

"You… grabbed the bus… you're… flying… no way," Videl stammered, her gloved hands gripping Fasha's arm. Her toes dangled only a few inches from the white booted knee of Fasha. "It's some trick! It's got to be."

"No trick, little one. Just relax. We're all here to help," Fasha explained. "But I'll have to get that cable before I put you down, so you'll have to hang onto me tightly ok?"

"Okay," Videl promised, grabbing Fasha around the neck. Her rescuer swooped down and grabbed the wagging cable, then shot down towards the other half dangling from the bridge's railing. Once she held the ends of either cable between her white gloved hands, Fasha strained to tug them together. Her hands glowed, causing Videl almost to lose her grip around Fasha's neck. Energy surged, melting the cables together again like water flowing and then hardening to ice.

Finally Videl felt Fasha's arms around her again. They dropped, wind whistling around them, but she trusted Fasha wouldn't drop her. Gently the white boots tapped against the pavement, and she gently set Videl down. Videl's pigtailed head came only to Fasha's waist, and she saw the people standing around in shock at the three other strangers there.

"Everybody it's over. Go back to what you were doing," the blue armored male said.

"That's Toma, Borgos and Shugesh," Fasha pointed to the others, in answer to Videl's unspoken question.

All around the four figures gathered members of the crowd. Choruses of "Who are you guys?" and "They must be superheroes…" echoed along with murmurs of "They're freaks… aliens…"

"We're Saiyans," said Toma, who appeared to be the leader of the group. The tall Borgos glanced around at the humans he towered over while the dubious Shugesh wrinkled his nose in annoyance.

"You must be super heroes?" came another few voices. Stares and whispers dominated the shocked crowd, and the four Saiyans tensed, standing back to back.

The portly Shugesh shouted to the closest humans, "Enough of the staring already!"

"Everyone it's okay!" Videl said , realizing she had to use her father's influence to convince people from suddenly panicking again.

"Isn't that Hercule's daughter?" asked some of the citizens.

"She won the junior division of the martial arts tournament!" said another.

"They saved us," Videl shouted to all people who were huddling against one another in fear. Her white tank top flapped in the breeze, swirling around the legs of her exercise shorts like a miniskirt. Under it she wore a purple T. Something about the determined look in the blue eyes told Fasha this was a warrior.

"That's right," someone said.

"They're heroes," said another.

"Way to go! They saved us!" shouted ten more. Soon the four Saiyans were swarmed not by a crowd of enemies but an audience of grateful people. Shugesh and Borgos exchanged glances, laughing at the hands reaching out to shake theirs, or the arms of the people hugging their knees. Before any knew it there were packages of food, soda cans, and even wads of zenni being pushed in their direction. Borgos eagerly snatched the packages of food while Toma accepted any money. None of them were about to turn down the gratitude of those who had saved them. They were Saiyans, not fools.

"You seem to be pretty important, little one," Fasha leaned down to look at Videl.

"My dad's the strongest man in the world," she said proudly. "Although he does talk a lot and he's always trying to make money promoting himself…"

"Your father's a fighter then?" Fasha chuckled. "And you look like you're a warrior yourself!"

"I sure hope so! My daddy trained me himself to be the best," she pointed to herself in pride. Reaching down Fasha ruffled the girl's hair.

"Quite a kid," Torah winked at Fasha. The whole crowd buffeted them, pushing them towards the far side of the bridge. What seemed like weak humans were banding together to lift each of the Saiyans up and carry them on their shoulders towards Orange Star City.

"Whoa," Fasha yelped as she was picked up and balanced on the shoulders of two strong men. Videl shrugged and accepted the children who were bearing her aloft.

"This is how they treat heroes huh?" Borgos looked to Shugesh.

"Not a bad deal. This saving lives pays off," Shugesh chuckled.

Since that day, she knew the Saiyans were most likely friend. Still she wondered what tricks they had used to create welding beams from their hands or to fly. When her father heard about it he'd grabbed her up and showered her with kisses. Then he had spent the next hour hamming it up with the press how his daughter had saved the lives of the schoolchildren on her bus, and lead the strange beings to save everyone on the ruined bridge. Some earthquake was said to have jostled it loose, and Videl groaned as cameras were shoved in her face along with microphones.

Later on she had sat with her father while he spoke with another bevy of reporters. It was quickly decided these Saiyans must have advanced jetpacks or something to fly around so easily. A flurry of speculations flew like a blizzard and then she was left to ponder the strange woman named Fasha who had saved her.