~*****~

I feel tiny hands clutching at my hands, and they're shaking wildly. "M-Mara-- Please-- wake up--" Gohan's sobs are so soft as I come to. My head is pounding and it feels as if I went toe to toe with Goku in a head butting contest. I lift my free hand and palm at my forehead, a groan escaping in my throat. "Mara!" Gohan cried again and collapsed onto my front. I let out a grunt and chuckled as I patted at his head.

"You okay, little man?" I ask softly.

He's sniffling loudly, big fat tears are soaking into my shirt, and snot is dribbling down his lip. "Uh-huh-- b-b-but you wouldn't-- wouldn't wake up--" Gohan sobbed.

"Hey, hey--" I shush him softly. "It's okay, I'm okay--" I reassure him as I start rubbing at his back. "Take a deep breath, okay? I'm not going to leave you alone. Do you mind if I try to get us out of here?" Gohan nods gingerly as he wipes at his nose and scoots back in the little space we're confined in. I blew out a breath and gazed around. It all looks so strange, and it's nothing like I've ever seen before. Gohan starts sniffling again and I start messing with my hair. "Wanna see something cool?"

"Y-Yeah..." Gohan nods as he wipes at his eyes.

I pull a small device from my hair and flip it open. An array of screwdrivers pop out. "Pretty cool, huh? I keep 'em in my hair just in case." I explain cutely. Gohan giggles as I start poking at a metal panel. It opens up after a moment of fiddling with it, and I'm gazing at a bundle of wires.

"I'm here to get my son back!" I hear someone shout. "Where is he?!"

"That's my daddy!" Gohan cries as he flies to the window and presses against it.

"Leave it to Goku--" I sigh. "I'll try to get us out of here."

Gohan is peering closely out the window, a strange energy level starting to radiate off of him as Goku begins to shout in agony. I hedge my bets and reach into the panel and grasp all the wires, and tug as hard as I can. A strong electric current flies through my body, making my teeth buzz uncomfortably.

The door pops open a little and I grasp the little boy against me, and kick at the door. It shunts open immediately and I leverage myself with Gohan latched to my back. The pod explodes behind us as I scramble up the side the crater.

My mind wavers as Gohan's energy begins to burn at my body. "How did you--"

"Goku, look over by the crater!" Piccolo shouts. "She has your son!"

"M-Mara-- take Gohan and--" Goku stammers.

The ground below me begins to crack and crumble against me as I hunch forward, my hands dangling in my field of vision. It's strange. I suddenly felt so angry, so overwhelmed. I couldn't handle it. "She's absorbing his energy--" Raditz chirps and rushes towards me to attack.

My gaze flinches up and I swing my arm out, cracking the back of my fist against his face and send him flying. "You-- You dirty rat--" I seethe. "How dare you-- Hurt Goku-- I'll destroy you--" I bite out and kick off the ground, my elbow slams against his chest plate, and breaks through it like porcelain. "And you're going to what-- I'm sorry-- LET ME BEAR SAIYAN CHILDREN?!" I shriek my hands grasping at his long hair and throwing him over head. I slam my bare foot against the back of his head and I pull roughly. I feel his hair beginning to pop from my force. A sizeable chunk rips free. "YOU BASTARD!"

Gohan slumps against my back, and all the fury and energy I had disappears in an instant. I waver on my feet and slump to the ground. Raditz stands up to his full height, his hair wild and choppy due to my aggressive hair cut. "Even for an Empathian, you have absolutely no control over the power you receive. But even so, you are the first being to ever damage me like this," Raditz sneers as he digs his hand in my hair, tugging my head upwards. "And so, I'll give you and the brat a death befitting the worthiest of Saiyans." Raditz tosses me to the ground as my vision glazes over. Just before I doze off, I see Goku grappling Raditz.

~*****~

My gaze is bleary when I come to. I'm in the hospital. It's kind of comforting, but then I sit up with a gasp. My chest is heaving painfully as I take in my surroundings. Krillen is snoozing in a chair with Bulma in the other, already getting up at the sight of me. "Mara, you're all right!" Bulma gasps softly and grasps at my face. "The doctors said you wouldn't wake up for a long time, there was a lot of damage to your muscles-- like you'd been electrocuted."

I chuckle. "Well, I did rip wires out of that old pod Raditz had us in." I explain gingerly.

"A shock like that wouldn't cause that kind of damage. They said it looked liked lightning struck you twice." Bulma explained.

I rub at my neck and sigh softly. "Bulma... do I seem... weird to you?" I ask gingerly. Bulma raises an eyebrow. "Yeah, no-- not like that-- I mean, am I strange looking person? That guy seemed to think I was... what did he say?" I wonder softly. "Empathian? Do I look like an alien, is what I'm asking."

Bulma laughed. "Mara, out of everyone I know, you seem like the most human person I know. Aside from your ears, that is. Maybe that should've been a sign."

"I like my ears." I retort as I cover my slightly pointed ears.

"I do too," Bulma laughs again. Krillen finally stirs and sits up immediately when he notices us staring at him. "So... Do you want the bad news first? Or the good news?"

Krillen's relieved expression twisted and he frowned. I smile sadly. "It's okay... I know..." I explain softly. "I can't...sense Goku's energy anymore... Which means... He-- He died.... didn't he?" Krillen nods after a moment of silence. "I see.... Where's Gohan? Did he make it back to Chi-Chi?" I ask urgently.

"He... He's been taken by Piccolo, for training... that's the other bad news. That guy Raditz says that two more Saiyans are on the way right now. They'll be here in a year's time." Krillen explains.

"S-So let's wish Goku back already!" I exclaim. "He needs to train to get ready, doesn't he?"

"We thought it best to wait until the year is up to wish Goku back." Krillen reiterates. "That way, he's able to train in otherworld! Piccolo says Kami has a plan for him."

I bite at my lip gingerly and fight back tears. "So... what now? Are you going to find Tien and Yamcha to train?" I ask.

"Yeah..." Krillen nods. "Listen, I know you've always liked to see a fight up close and personal, but... I think this time, you should stay out of the fire."

I shake my head with a chuckle. "Way ahead of you..." I mutter. "These guys... are on a whole other level than anyone else we've ever seen. I can tell... they're a long ways away, but if Raditz is hoping for some revenge from his buddies, then they've got to be stronger than him. I'll stick to what I do best, and that's work."

"That's the spirit!" Bulma chirps. "I know, you and I can go gather the rest of the dragon balls to have them on hand, and when he's ready to be wished back, we can pull them out!"

I laugh. "Yeah, that sounds great."

Bulma hums affectionately and helps me stand. "Let's get you back to your apartment. I know we're technically supposed to wait until you're discharged, but I know how much you hate not having your own shower at your disposal."

"Thanks. Krillen, I'll see you later, okay?" I mention softly as I follow Bulma out with a heavy coat shrugged over my shoulders.

Krillen nods as a flush covers his face.

~*****~

My studio apartment felt cold today. Yamcha was sitting on the couch, gazing at a photo album I had put together from when we were younger. His bag was packed up besides him, and he was ready to leave at any moment. "Yamcha," I recite loud enough for him to hear. "You know it's okay to leave. I'll be all right."

Yamcha smiled. "I know. You've always been strong. You know, I appreciate you letting me crash here. Between breaking up with Bulma, and trying to find my place in the world, well... it's been hard. You're a good friend."

I snort. "Thank you. Now get out of here. You've got to train." I shoot back.

"I got it," Yamcha laughed and stood up, his bag shrugged over his shoulder. "I'll see you soon, Mara."

I hum in response and gaze out my window again. The skies are so dark from way up here. I sigh softly and settle down onto my large bed. Heaving out an exhausted yawn, I slowly drift off to sleep.

~*****~

A few days before the deadline, I had been called over to Capsule Corp to discuss a collaboration on some products I make.

I gazed at Dr. Brief's with tears burning in my eyes. The offer he had made to me-- it was way too good to be true. "Why, Mara, I don't see why you're crying-- I think it's a fair offer." Dr. Brief's explains with a friendly smile.

"Dr. Brief's-- It's way too much. All I'll be doing is making the micro bots for your capsules." I explain. "They don't cost that much."

Dr. Brief's laughed. "I wouldn't think so! But it's not just your collaboration I'm asking for! Why, I'm asking for your partnership! Lush and Capsule Corp creating goods together? There's endless possibilities to pursue! Of course, the proceeds to Lush Caps will be split 60-40, with you on the higher end." He explains. "The whole world needs to see just how brilliant you are, my dear!"

Bunny giggles. "Just accept the offer, dear, you know my husband can be. Besides, every bit of clothing in this house already holds your logo, might as well start making Lush products, too!" Bunny chimed.

I laughed through my tears and nodded breathlessly. "Okay, okay-- I accept." I agree happily, my palms furiously wiping at my cheeks.

"Wonderful! Now, how about a spot of lunch, eh?" Dr. Brief's suggests.

Bulma enters the meeting room and beams. "Oh, she accepted then? Good! I say we get the chef to make us some Chinese!" I chuff out a laugh and get up to follow after the Brief's.

Over the next few days, we finally all met at Kame House to watch everything go down. With Easy City destroyed, I was more than grateful for Capsule Corp's collaboration. I'd lost three boutiques in the attack. I couldn't stop the tears. Yamcha and Chiaotzu had fallen in battle, and here I was, sobbing violently while Tien fought for his life with one arm. "C-C'mon-- Tien, you've got this!" I mutter.

"He's on fire!" Bulma reassures me.

"You're not kidding! He's tearing it up!" Oolong exclaims. "Maybe he'll win!"

"Yes, there's no question that Tien is full of spirit at the moment... But I'm afraid he's fighting on heart alone! I just hope he can keep this up." Roshi explains softly.

"He has to!" I shout at him. "H-He has to..."

Bulma lets out a cry of indignation. "There is goes again!" Bulma cries as the TV cuts out again. "And it's doing the same thing on every channel!"

"It's the energy from the fights-- it's jamming the signal." I explain softly. The TV cuts back on just in time for us to see Tien unleash his Tri-Beam attack. Unfortunately, it barely left a scratch on the taller one. Just as he's about to kill Tien, the shorter Saiyan stops the fight, although, I'm not to sure why. I just begin to sob as Tien falls, his energy level disappearing completely.

"As you can see, each side appears to be waiting for something. The three remaining members of the Earth's Special Forces have already defeated six deadly green men!" A newscaster exclaims as the view changes. "But they seem to have reached a stalemate with the large muscular alien! Let's move in closer! Thus far, it appears the smaller alien has not joined in any of the fighting! We are currently attempting to approach the battlefield tot get a better view of the aliens now that the action has subsided. Perhaps we will also gain some insight as to why the cease-fire has been called. But for the moment, the reasons for this lull in the fighting are anybody's guess."

"Why do you think they're waiting?" Bulma asks.

"I'm not too sure... It doesn't make sense." Master Roshi hums. "But whatever they reason, with any luck, perhaps they'll wait long enough for Goku to make it back. Let's just hope Goku's strong enough to beat them..."

"Of course he is!" I shout. "Goku's never lost a fight-- not when everything is on the line!"

"But these guys are aliens! What if he's not strong enough?!" Oolong questioned. "I mean, what's going to happen to us? Come on, tell me the truth! I can take it!"

"What do you think is going to happen?!" I bark at him. "They're here to take over the planet and sell it! It'll be the end of the world as we know it-- The end of my company!"

Oolong groaned loudly. "No! Please! I don't want it to end! Oh, I can't take it... Why did you have to go and tell me that, Mara! You know that I'm highly allergic to danger!"

"YOU MEAN THAT YOU'RE A COWARD!" I shout.

"I-It's a medical condition!" Oolong shot back.

Chi-Chi groaned loudly. "Where am I?" She whined.

"Chi-Chi, you're here! You'll be okay!" Ox King exclaimed.

Chi-Chi gasped loudly and sat up immediately. "Oh, Dad! Is Gohan all right?!"

"He's just fine," I explain. "It seems the fighting has stopped."

"It's all over?" Chi-Chi asks.

I shake my head. "I think they're taking break."

"What? But why?" Chi-Chi asked once again.

"We don't know, hun..." Ox King answers.

"Where in the world is Goku?!" Chi-Chi cries.

"Now, now, please, Chi-Chi! You need to try and stay calm!" Ox King exclaims. "You know Goku, dear... Wherever he is, he's trying his absolute best to get there!"

"Yeah, Chi-Chi, don't worry," I reassure her. "Goku's never let us down."

"It looks like the large alien is airborne!" The newscaster shouted, causing us to gaze back at the screen. "This one has done all of the fighting so far, and has attacked several press vehicles as well! He is considered to be highly dangerous!" The larger Saiyan flew straight towards the camera. "It uh... it appears he's flying right at us! He's about to fly right over our heads!" Screaming began echoing through the screens. "FLOOR IT! LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!"

The screen went black after a bright flash of light. "Oh, wow.... He blasted 'em!" Oolong exclaimed.

"Oh, my Gohan..." Chi-Chi whimpered.

A subtle thump was heard as I gazed at the black screen. "Chi-Chi! Somebody! Bring me a cold washcloth!"