~*****~
May 12th

I gave a tired yawn as I lazily glided through the air with Mars attached to my front in a harness. His little arms were waving around wildly and he was letting out squeals of excitement. Vegeta had disappeared completely from our lives. I couldn't even sense his energy signature on the planet anymore.

Following Mars' birth, I'd thought that he would've stayed around, now that he had an actual family to be with him, but after leaving me in the nursery that day, I hadn't seen him again. Mars didn't seem to mind the new arrangements.

Speaking of which, the small infant in my arms kept squealing happily. He'd been born with a tail-- which Vegeta and I agreed to have removed immediately. It hadn't grown back, thankfully. I yawned again as I neared the meeting spot and landed gracefully. "Mara, what are you doing here?!" Yamcha's voice echoes out as I approach him.

I grimace as I gaze at the three eyed man standing off to the side. "Don't ask stupid questions," I mention irritably before unstrapping Mars from my chest and discarding the harness in turn for holding the infant. "There was no way you'd keep me away from this." I explain.

"B-But, you have a son, now, you know..." Yamcha murmured.

Mars cooed softly and gazed up at him. "Oh, jeez, must've forgot." I reiterate. "I'm fine. I wanted to see if Vegeta was going to be here."

Yamcha gave me a reassuring smile before pulling me into a hug. Mars, however, did not appreciate him being so close to me. He let out a series of unintelligible babbles while waving him off. "Man, he really doesn't like me, does he?" Yamcha laughed.

I bounced Mars a little with a smile. "He's my little bruiser, that's for sure!" I chirp affectionately. "It's good to see you, Yamcha... You, too, Tien." I greet the three eyed man.

"Yes, I uh... It's good to see you, too." Tien nods.

My gaze travels around and I finally notice a few others arriving. "Hey, look-- it's Goku!" I hum.

"Wow, it is him." Tien hummed as the two men turned their gazes onto him.

"It is him!" Yamcha exclaimed. "Hey, Goku! Down here!" He cheered. "You're late! What took you guys so long?"

"Mara!" Goku hummed in surprise.

"Wow, it is Mara!" Gohan added.

"Hey, guys!" I cheer as I hoist Mars up a little more. Mars clutched at my shirt, his uncertain whines echoing out. "I can definitely tell you've been training!"

"Mara! What in the world do you think you're doing out here?!" Goku asked worriedly.

"Well..." I trailed off. "I wanted.... to see the fight!" I quickly say.

"I hope you don't think I'm nuts for asking, Mara... But what's the deal with the baby?" Krillen asks.

"Yeah, that was gonna be my next question." Gohan asked curiously.

"He's my son." I laugh.

"WHAT?!" Krillen and Gohan yelp.

Yamcha chuckled. "Yeah, wait until she tells you who the father is!" Yamcha teased.

Goku chuckled and leaned over to gaze at Mars' uncertain expression. "I'll bet it's Vegeta, isn't it?" Goku hummed affectionately. Surprisingly, Mars began reaching for him. Goku took hold of the infant and held him up. "Isn't that right, Mars~" Goku cooed as Mars began giggling happily.

"Vegeta?!" Krillen exclaims.

"Who told you?" I ask irritably. "Yamcha and Bulma are the only ones who know." I reiterate.

Goku began laughing nervously as he cradled Mars. "Well, actually, I thought I'd take a guess! I mean, he kind of looks like Vegeta..."

"But you also guessed his name, too." I remind him.

"Yeah! What are the chances of that, huh? Maybe I'm psychic!" Goku stammers.

"Outrageous. Who would've guessed? Mara and Vegeta?!" Krillen exclaimed.

"Well, since we're on the subject," Piccolo hummed as he leaned away from Goku and the infant. Mars gazed at the Namekian with a childlike delight that I just had to smile at. "Where is Vegeta?"

I cast my gaze onto the ground and curl my arms around my waist. "I... I don't know. He disappeared one day." I explain. "Mars and I have been by ourselves for a few months now. I was hoping he'd be here..."

"He'll show," Goku reassured me as he handed Mars back over. "He wouldn't miss a fight."

"I left Chiaotzu at Roshi's," Tien mentioned. "To be honest with you, I don't think the little guy would stand much of a chance out here."

"Hey, Mara, what time is it?" Gohan asks.

"Well," I hum softly as I lift up my arm. "My watch says it nine thirty." I say.

"You and Mars better get out of here before it's too late!" Goku exclaimed. "Those androids are going to be here in half an hour!"

I hum irritably. "No." I huff. "I just wanna get a look at these things, and then I'll go. I promise."

Goku whined, but then agreed once Mars began reaching for Piccolo. The two of us began chuckling at the Namekian holding the child as if he were a dangerous animal.

~*****~

"He sure is small," Gohan mentioned. "But gosh-- his eyes are just like yours!" Gohan exclaimed. I giggled and smiled down at him. "Coochie, Coochie, Coochie, Coo~" Gohan cooed to the infant. Gohan continued to play with Mars, who in turn began giggling wildly. "Hey, Krillen! Let's see you try making Mars laugh!"

Krillen hummed. "Alright, so...." He stepped in front of us. "You new in town, or what?" Mars began laughing hysterically, waving his arms at Krillen. "Yep, I crack myself up, too, kid." Krillen grumbled.

We all began laughing in response. "Quiet, you guys!" Piccolo snapped. "Someone's coming..."

"Hey.... you think it's them?" Gohan asks.

"I can't tell yet." Krillen retorted softly.

I squinted lightly and peered closely at the being approaching us-- well, the flying car. "Yajirobe!" Goku exclaimed. "Hey, you came to help us fight the androids!"

I scoff. "Yeah, that's totally his plan."

"No way!" Yajirobe exclaimed as he hopped out of the car. "I just brought these Senzu Beans... From Korin."

"Aw, thanks a lot!" Goku cheered. "And give my best to Korin!"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Yajirobe huffed. "I'm outta here."

"Hey! Are you sure you don't want to stay and help us out?" Goku asked.

"If you guys want to stay here and get yourselves killed, that's your own business. But I'm taking off while I still can!" Yajirobe stated. And that's exactly what he did.

"Don't you think it's a bit strange?" Tien asked. "It's already ten o' clock. And there isn't a single sign of those androids!"

"Yeah, I forgot all about the time!" Gohan hummed.

"I can't believe I actually listened to that kid!" Yamcha exclaimed. "Androids! That's a good one!"

"Don't be so literal, you guys," I reiterate. "It's only ten seventeen. I wouldn't jump the gun just yet."

"Excuse me, but I think we would've sensed their power levels by now? Sorry to disappoint you, Mara, but those androids just aren't coming!" Yamcha retorted.

Mars began bellowing as an explosion fired off in the sky. "Whoa! What was that?!" Goku chirped.

"It's Yajirobe!" Krillen exclaimed. The vehicle he'd been driving landed in the water.

"You guys! It's the androids! Up there! I see them!" Piccolo shouted.

"They flew into the city!" Tien stated while Mars finally calmed down.

"But where'd they go?!" Yamcha asked.

"I don't know, Goku," Krillen hummed. "Did you see them?"

"I'm not sure! One second they were up in the sky and then... Poof, they just vanished! I didn't even sense their power levels!" Goku exclaimed.

"They're both androids, aren't they?" I mention. "We probably can't feel their power levels like we can with organic people. It would probably explain why I couldn't sense Frieza coming to Earth until he was already here. You can't sense the power level of a machine."

"That's crazy!" Yamcha exclaimed. "How are we supposed to find these androids if we can't even sense where they are!?"

"Well, if we can't sense their power levels, we'll just gave to find them the old fashioned way: with our eyes!" Piccolo stated.

"Right! Let's spread out, you guys!" Goku exclaimed. "Mara-- Look after these!" Goku exclaimed after tossing me the bag of Senzu Beans. It plopped into my waiting palm. "Now, remember! If you find the androids, don't try to take them on by yourself! Wait for the others! Gohan, go check on Yajirobe. See if he's okay."

"Right!" Gohan nodded.

Piccolo growled out angrily. "Let's go!"

"Goku--" I stop him. "If-- If you see Vegeta, tell him I'm pissed." I reiterate nervously. "No, just say I miss him."

Goku giggled and rubbed at his nose. "Will do, Mara!"

They all took off towards the city. I blew out a soft sigh before gazing down at Mars, who had his carmine eyes locked onto my face. "Wanna set out a blanket to relax on?" Mars cooed in response.

~*****~

I gaze off into the sky as Mars plays with the toys I'd brought him. His empty jars sat nearby, causing a deep sigh to rattle throughout my chest. "You're going to eat me out of house and home, aren't you?" I murmur to the infant waving his toys around. He dumped his toy onto the blanket before eagerly crawling towards me, his chubby palms pressing against my face. I snorted out a sigh as I leaned into his touch. "You're such a sweet baby." I hum affectionately. Mars hummed swiftly and turned his head as fast as he could. His large, carmine eyes were concentrating on the distance. "So, you feel it, too, huh?" I hum absentmindedly as I run my hand over his head. He begins to whimper softly. I got up and approached the men flying towards us. "Is that Yamcha?!" I yelp. "Did the Androids do this?" I ask as Krillen and Gohan set him down. I quickly fish out a senzu bean and hand feed Yamcha. He gasps in alarm and sits up.

He groaned loudly as he grasped his head. "It's them all right." Yamcha mentioned. "It looks like they just blew up half the city!"

"Yeah, no kidding," I huff as I lift up Mars.

"I just don't know how we're going to stop them, you guys," Yamcha hummed. "I hope Goku knows what to do..." Yamcha sighed. "Mara, you really shouldn't be here."

"Look! It's my dad!" Gohan exclaimed.

"And the Androids!" Yamcha added.

"Goku's leading them away from the city." I hum.

"Oh, no! We've got to warn him somehow, you guys!" Yamcha cried. "He doesn't know the Androids can absorb his energy!"

"Yamcha, I don't get it!" Krillen barked. "You said the Androids could absorb powers?"

"I don't know how he did it, but when the android grabbed me, I could feel all the energy being drained from my body!" Yamcha stated.

"Well, what in the world are you waiting for?!" I yelp. "Get moving before those androids grab someone else!"

"Oh, no... There's no time to lose! C'mon! We've got to warn my Dad!" Gohan exclaimed.

"I'm not so sure I wanna go back down there, Gohan!" Yamcha stammered. "I mean, I almost bit the big one last time! Maybe I could stay here!"

"Then stay here like a coward!" I snap at him. "Krillen, take the Senzu Beans with you!"

"Right!" Krillen nodded and caught the bag as I tossed it to him. He and Gohan took off to warn the others. "Those two don't have the foggiest idea what they're up against! And I know what those androids can do!" Yamcha kept stammering. "No! I won't let what happened to me happen to anyone else! I've-- Got to help my friends!" Yamcha finally found his resolve. "Wait up, guys! I'm coming!"

Yamcha took off, causing me to smile after him. "Yamcha's dumber than he looks!" Yajirobe snorted.

"You should go with them!" I snap ath im.

"Not on your life, Babe," Yajirobe hummed.

"And why not?" I snapped. "From what I hear, Yajirobe, you're a pretty good fighter and they need all the help they can get! So I suggest you quit being a coward and get yourself into gear!"

"Can't do it." Yajirobe hummed.

"God, you're so utterly useless!" I bellow at him.

"I don't even know how to fly, Mara!" He snapped back at me.

"You know what--" I scoff as I lift into the sky. "I'm going over there, now. You can do whatever you want, you idiot."

"Hey, wait! Can I have one of your capsules!?" He asks wildly.

"No!" I snap back at him before strapping Mars into his harness. Mars once again cheers excitedly as I start flying towards the battle. Yajirobe is shouting curses as I get further away. "Okay, okay..." I breathe out. "Don't worry, Mars. Mommy just wants to get a look at these things, and then we'll leave for a good nap, okay?"

Mars just squeals excitedly.