~*****~

After leaving the children to continue fleeing, we were once again on our way to Namek. Although we hit another mishap-- like landing on a fake planet that Bulma had insisted was Namek-- we finally arrived on the real planet. "I can't believe it!" Bulma cries. "I thought we'd never make it!"

"Beautiful!" Gohan cooed.

"Yeah, I've never seen anything else like it!" Krillen added.

"And this time it's the real Planet Namek!" I retort cutely. "We just got confirmation from the computer system!"

"We're here!" Gohan cries. "And only four days off schedule!"

"Yeah, well, our little detour notwithstanding... The shortcut those kids told us about was right on!" Bulma exclaimed. "Take us down, Mara! What are we waiting for!"

"You three!" I exclaim. "Now sit down! We're entering the atmosphere! Strap in, quickly!" The ship rocks violently as we began our descent. The ship echoed with a dull thud as he hit the planets surface. "A perfect landing! Someone needs to compliment me on my skills! 'Cause I sure got 'em!"

Bulma cheered and looped her arm around my neck. "You're the best, have I ever told you that~"

"Always~ But make sure to say it more often!" I chirp back.

"I'm going to use the atmospheric sensor that my dad and I build on Earth to tell us whether or not there's enough breathable oxygen on the planet to walk--"

Bulma's voice became muffled as I stepped out of the ship with Krillen and Gohan. I breathed in a delighted sigh. A flash of pain cracks over my head. "OW!" I yelp.

"DIDN'T ANYONE TEACH YOU TO LISTEN WHEN SOMEONE IS TALKING?!" Bulma shrieked.

"Well, freak out, why don't you?" Krillen murmured as he rubbed at the whelp on his head.

"No more doing anything without asking me, got it?" Bulma ordered.

I shook my head irritably and pulled out the dragon radar. I clicked it a few times and grinned brilliantly at the sight. "I've already picked up four Dragon Balls already! And they're close, too!" Krillen reached up and pinched at my cheeks. "What are you doing?!" I whine unhappily.

"I just wanted to check and make sure I wasn't dreaming, you know?" Krillen laughed.

"PINCH YOURSELF!" I shout as I slap his head. My cheeks are throbbing violently from the slight tugging already.

Krillen rubbed at his head with a laugh. "It's real!"

I shook my head with a sigh. Shivers flew up my back. "Hey... you feel that?" I ask.

"Yeah... Now that you mention it, I feel it too." Gohan agrees.

"Where?" Krillen asks.

"It's... Near! And strong!" Gohan hummed.

"I feel it, too, Gohan," Krillen nodded. "And I don't like it one bit!"

"You're worrying yourselves over nothing!" Bulma exclaimed. "Piccolo had a powerful energy level, it's only natural that his fellow people would as well. You're probably just sensing one of Piccolo's relatives while he's sitting at his house having dinner."

"No, this is... it feels wrong." I mention.

"Don't be sill! The only people around here are the local Namekians! And they're peaceful. They're no threat to us!" Bulma kept trying to reassure us. "Now come on. The Dragon Balls are this way. If we get those, we're over half way there. So let's go meet some locals and collect some Dragon Balls!"

"Okay, you're uh... You're probably right." Krillen finally agreed. "We got ourselves worked up over nothing." Krillen began chuckling. "I'm kind of embarrassed about it, actually."

A ship blew over us, and I immediately remembered just who that power level belonged to. "That feels like--" I stammer violently. "Like-- V-V-Vegeta!" I yelp. "I rec-- recognize that power-- power level!"

"That's just great!" Krillen growled.

"This can't be happening!" Bulma shouted. "It's just a dream!"

"Guys, mask your energies, now! Or he'll sense you!" I explain wildly.

"R-Right!" Gohan nodded.

"A-Are you s-sure it's V-Vegeta?" Bulma stammered.

I nodded. Drool is pooling on my tongue again, and I have to swallow. As bad as I knew he was, that kind of power-- it was intoxicating. "I still remember just how much it affected me, Bulma... That's definitely him. Goku's energy is clean, and refreshing. Like a dip in the water on a hot day... Vegeta's is like..." I trail off, my body shaking at the remembrance. "It's awful, that's the only thing I can think of to describe it." I snap. "He must be here for the Dragon Balls, too."

"Wh-What do we do?! We can't possible fight Vegeta!" Bulma exclaimed. "And if he gets to the Dragon Balls before us, we're doomed!"

"There's no way we're gonna let him get to them before we do... Bulma, Mara-- you gotta leave now. Go back to Earth alone." Krillen stated. "We'll take care of things here. Just leave us your radar, and Gohan and I will collect the Dragon Balls."

"We're not leaving you two!" I bark shrilly.

"Don't worry about us," Krillen chuckled. "I don't think we'll get into any trouble... We know what we're doing."

"Yeah!" Gohan nodded.

Bulma, however, had other plans. "Sure, I'll leave you guys here and go back to Earth, but I'm coming back with Goku! But I think that you guys should know, that'll take two months!" I narrowed my eyes at her. "But what's two months anyway?! Just sixty days! One thousand four hundred and forty hours! Eighty-six thousand, four hundred minutes! Five million, one hundred, eighty four thousand seconds-- RIGHT?!" She barked in my face.

"You... need to get some rest..." I murmur lightly.

~*****~

I pulled out one of my bags from the ship and began rooting through it for my running shoes when another ship rocketed off over our heads. "What's going on?!" I yelped. "Was that another Saiyan ship?! How many of them are there?!"

"This may be the most depressing day of my life..." Bulma whined.

"Yeah, today isn't starting off too well." Krillen hummed. "So, what do you think, huh? Who could have been in that second ship?"

Gohan shrugged as he stared at the sky. "What are we supposed to do now?"

"Well, it's not doing us any good just sitting here." Bulma mentioned. "So it's settled! We'll stick to the original plan! I'll hurry back to Earth and get Goku! Mara has the radar and tons of capsules, so you shouldn't have any trouble! See you in two months!"

"Hold on, Bulma! Give us a second!" Krillen exclaimed. He turned to the two of us. "So, Gohan, Mara-- whaddya say? The three of us, well, maybe we should go, too!" Gohan and I exchanged an unamused glance. "Hey, c'mon! Two enemy ships have already landed! Even with the Dragon Radar, the odds are stacked against us! It might be best to cut our losses! I'm not saying I'm scared or anything! I'm just looking out for Gohan and Mara! Chi-Chi would kill me if I let anything hurt her son! And I'm sure Lola would break my legs if Mara ever got hurt under my care!"

"We're not leaving now!" I snap at him. "If we do, then Vegeta get's the Dragon Balls!"

"Yeah, well, uh... Maybe we should let him have 'em." Krillen stammered. "I mean... we can always try again next year!"

I slap at his head again. "That's not funny! He already said he's coming back to Earth! What if he wishes for something powerful enough to destroy planets?!"

"Guys, wait--" Gohan stopped me from shouting at him. "Someone's coming!"

"Is it Vegeta?!" Bulma cried as I whipped my head towards the source.

"No way," I snort. "Their energy levels are way too low to be his." I mention.

"Who are they?" Bulma whined.

"Let's... hope they're Namekians..." Krillen stated.

Two men dressed similar to the three Saiyans that invaded Earth appeared. "God, why are all these people wearing Leotards!?" I hiss irritably.

"Those are definitely not Namekians!" Bulma cried.

"He said he was a Planet Broker...." I remind them shakily. "A-Are they with him?"

"Either way, it's not good." Krillen explained.

"They sure don't look friendly!" Bulma exclaimed. "Aren't you two gonna do something?! Protect us!"

"Gohan, keep your energy suppressed until we know what we're dealing with!" Krillen warned the boy.

"Wait, where are they--" I ask wildly just before a beam hits the ship, and blows a hole straight through it.

"Oops, did I destroy your precious ship? Oh, please forgive me~" The purple one chimes.

That weird feeling I got during Raditz attack suddenly comes raging back inside me. "M-Mara--" Krillen stammers as the ground shakes under me.

"You-- you--" I growl. "DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG IT TOOK FOR US TO GET THIS THING READY?!" I shout angrily and pull off my heel. It soars through the air like a bullet and cracks against the purple one's forehead, sending him crashing into the earth, in a motionless heap. "I GOT ONE MORE SHOE, YOU WANNA GO, BUDDY?!" I shriek as I stomp around. "YOU TWO BETTER TAKE CARE OF HIM BEFORE I THROW IT AT YOU NEXT!" I shriek at Krillen. I slump to my knees and begin sobbing as Gohan and Krillen go finish the other one off. "M-M-My ship--" I sob loudly. "I spent so- so much money on-- on it!"

"Come on, Mara, let's go," Krillen hums softly as he lifts me up. I sob louder and bury my face into his neck.

~*****~

We finally found a cave to lay low in-- after nearly find trouble. Luckily, we had our energy levels so low, they paid us no mind. Their leader, though... well, his power felt like death. It was horrible. As soon as got settled, Gohan and Krillen went to go investigate. Bulma was currently in the tub, and I remained in the living room, busying myself with the contents of my bag.

"Hey, guess what?" Bulma chirped as she burst from the bathroom. "My dad says he's about to find a way to get Goku here!"

I let out a relieved sigh. "Leave it to your dad-- he's always so resourceful." I chime. "I'm gonna shower real quick. Don't get too lonely, okay~"

Bulma laughs as I enter the bathroom. Once I'm done, I exit to see Bulma flipping through a magazine with her hair finally dry. "Hey, are those outfits in your bag from your new spring line?" Bulma asks.

"No, they're for the summer line coming up. I've been waiting for an opportunity to wear them. Although, I kinda wished I'd have an appreciative audience to receive them." I mention irritably. I toss my towel onto the free chair and tug on my panties. Bulma sighs loudly. "What?"

"I wish I had your figure." Bulma complains.

I snort. "Bulma, you've got such an amazing body. And you're got bigger boobs than me." I retort.

"Yeah, that's why I wish I had your figure. I'd rather have small boobs." She retorts plainly.

I laugh lightly and pull on my shorts and midriff top. "Is it just the fact I don't have to wear a bra, like, ever?" I ask.

"Sh-Shut up!" Bulma whined.

"How about I make you a cute top with pads? That way you don't have to wear a bra." I mention.

Bulma pressed her palms together with a cute smile. "I'd absolutely worship the ground you walk on."

"You don't already?" I ask. Bulma threw her magazine with a laugh.

~*****~

Bulma keeps gazing at me intently as I push a needle through one of her shirts. "Hey, Mara, can I ask you a question?" I hum lightly in response and gaze up at her. "When we were at Roshi's... I've never seen you react like that to someone's energy level. You've always said you could feel them, but that was the first time you reacted so violently."

"It's not... that it felt bad..." I mention softly. "Quite the opposite, really... It was... really good. Like I had gotten a super good buzz from it. And one point, I thought I was gonna go insane from how amazing it was."

Bulma hums. "It's kind of a shock to be honest. You've always been so self sufficient, and yet, you absolutely adore anyone who's super strong. It's not wonder you got along so well with Goku."

I laugh. "Goku was such a strange kid, but he sure grew up handsome, didn't he?"

"Yeah," Bulma agrees. "Too bad Chi-Chi got to him first."

"Wanna hear a secret?" I mention softly. Bulma leans over. "Before that tournament, when the two got engaged? Goku asked what kissing was."

"He did?" Bulma chirped in confusion. She gaped after a minute. "You didn't!"

I nodded with a laugh. "You bet your ass I did! Besides, it was only a kiss, and it was like, five seconds. Besides, Goku had no idea what to do, and he was genuinely confused. For a first kiss-- the man was a natural."

"No way--" Bulma gaped. "WHY DID YOU WAIT UNTIL NOW TO TELL ME?! THIS IS JUICY!"

I began laughing. "I felt embarrassed by it. I had no idea that Goku had promised Chi-Chi to marry her. That was like-- a kick to the back of the head to me."

"You've got the worst luck in men, huh." Bulma chimes. "First, Tien doesn't ask you out after months of dating casually, then Krillen says he wants to go out, and then doesn't follow through. What's next?"

"Growing old alone." I retort.

Bulma laughs again. I straightened up as a familiar power level began to rise. "Oh-- Oh my god--" I stammer, my hand covering my mouth in an attempt to stave off the grin.

"What's wrong?" Bulma asked.

I shook my head desperately and gazed towards the door. "It's... it's nothing. Why don't you go take a nap? I'll wake you when Gohan and Krillen return."

Bulma hummed again. "Okay."