~*****~

Bulma decided to take a hot bath after her nap and stewed inside while I remained in the living room. "Why she needed two baths, I'll never know..." I hum miserably. A familiar voice echoed out from outside. I stumbled over the furniture as I burst through the door. "Gohan! Krillen! You're back!" I exclaim in relief. I leapt at Krillen and wrapped him up in a tight hug. My eyes wander and I gaze at the small Namekian boy behind them, gazing into the cave nervously. "Oh my goodness!" I coo and shove Krillen to the side. "You are the cutest thing I've ever seen!" I kneel down in front of him and hold my hand out. "Hello, my name is Mara! What happened out there? Krillen and Gohan wouldn't have brought you if you didn't need help!"

"How 'bout we go inside, first," Krillen suggested sluggishly. "Then we'll tell you the whole story."

I grin brightly. "Okay! Bulma's just about done with her second bath, and I heard her talking to her Dad. She got excited over something, so it must be good news."

At that moment, Bulma burst out of the house. "Dad said Goku is on his way here!" Bulma chirped happily. "To Namek! And brace yourselves-- He'll be here in six days! That's right! He's using a replica of the Saiyan ship he came to Earth in as a baby! My dad worked all day and night to fix it up for him! And he's still training, too! So he'll be ready to take on the bad guys! Whaddya think?"

"My dad's coming here?" Gohan asked excitedly. He and Krillen began to dance and cheer with the little Namekian boy.

"I don't believe it! Goku!" Krillen exclaimed happily. "This means we still have a fighting chance!"

~*****~

The little Namekian boy just gazed at me curiously as I stared at him with my spare sketchbook in my hand. "You know, our outfit is just the cutest thing ever. And I bet it's so comfortable, too." I mention. "See, I make clothes back on Earth, and to see other cultures across space having such stylish wardrobes is like-- a dream!" I flip the sketch book over and show him a dress styled off of the Namekian culture. "What do you think, kid? Should I add anything else?" The Namekian boy just flushes at the attention and peers down at his lap. "Aren't you going to eat?" I ask as I slip into the seat besides him. "I know it's probably not very good, but you should probably try to eat something. You'll need your strength." I explain.

"NOT VERY GOOD!?" Bulma barked at me. I dodge the slice of cake she lobbed at me.

"HEY! WATCH IT! I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW, MY CLOTHES ARE VERY EXPENSIVE TO MAKE! DON'T RUIN THEM WITH YOUR BAD CALORIES!" I shout at her.

"HOW COULD YOU THINK MY FOOD IS DISGUSTING, WHY'D YOU EAT EVERYTHING I'VE GIVEN YOU?!" Bulma shrieked.

"YOU LOUDMOUTH!" I shout at her. "He's Namekian. He's probably not used to food like ours. It probably tastes bad to him."

Bulma's face flushed brightly for a moment before she took her seat. "S-Sorry... Well, I'm pretty sure he's just too upset to eat. I mean, after everything that's happened."

I hum in response. "I know. But you know, something in your belly will make you feel a bit better, you know." I hum sweetly as I rub at the boys head.

"I'm sorry... But we don't eat." The boy responds.

"Really?" Krillen hummed in confusion. "But... wait a second, you guys had fields full of vegetables out by your village. I saw 'em myself."

"The field you saw were Ajissa plants." The boy explained.

"Whoa-- Ajissa plants?" Krillen stammered.

"Well, the elders say that the Planet Namek used to be a very different place than it is today. They say our world was once lush and beautiful, alive with forests of Ajissa. But one day, a massive storm darkened the skies. Violent winds tore across the planet, stripping the Ajissa plants of their delicate leaves. The forests were destroyed. In fact, all life on our planet was brought to the brink of extinction. The eldest Namek remembers how the Ajissa plants brought beauty to our planet, and helped make the soil rich. That's why we're trying to grow more of them. We hope this will bring out world back to life."

"Oh, wow..." I sigh.

"You know, I just realized, you haven't told us your name yet," Gohan mentions.

"I'm sorry. It's Dende," Dende states softly. "And who are you? What brings you to Planet Namek?"

My stomach turns as a strange feeling envelops the room. "Oh, no--" I gasp.

"That doesn't feel good," Krillen agrees. I followed after Gohan and Krillen.

"Hey, what is it, you guys?" Bulma cried as she exited the cave. "Did they find us? Is someone coming?"

"No, it's a whole bunch of power levels." Krillen explained. "And they're... They're all fading!"

"It means... somewhere out there, the Nameks are dying!" Gohan explains.

"It's Vegeta..." I murmur helplessly. "He's attacking one of the villages!"

"That bastard!" Krillen growls. "Those Namek's never even had a chance!"

"He's a savage--" I bark.

"Yeah, and from the looks of it, now he knows how to sense power levels without a scouter. So we're stuck. 'Cause if we try to fly anywhere, he'll find us!" Krillen explains. "I don't know if he's working with Frieza or not. But if either one of them gets their hands on all seven Dragon Balls, we're gonna be in some serious trouble. I don't think anyone'll be able to stand up to them!"

"We may not be able to fight them directly," I explain quickly. "But if we can manage to find just one of the Dragon Balls, and hide it, we can stop them from making a wish!"

"No, that's not enough," Gohan murmurs. "It won't stop them from looking for it! They'll kill every Namek on this planet until they find it!"

"What are we supposed to do..." Krillen groaned as he slumped to his knee. "I mean, Vegeta on his own is bad enough. But... Vegeta and Frieza and together?! Man, I don't even know if Goku's strong enough to fight 'em both! Dammit!" He hit the ground. "I-- I should've killed Vegeta when I had the chance!"

"I... I still don't understand... Who are you?" Dende's meek voice echoed out. "You seem to know everything about the Dragon Balls and these evil men who attack my people. Please... Please tell me that you've come here to help us!"

I give him a soft smile and kneel down to Dende again. "I'm sorry. As I said earlier, I'm Mara. This is Bulma, Krillen, and Gohan. We've come from Planet Earth, where we had our own set of Dragon Balls. You see, our planets guardian was a Namekian as well, and he created the Dragon Balls long ago. Unfortunately, he and a friend of ours were connected, so when our friend had been killed when the Saiyans invaded our planet, our Dragon Balls disappeared with them." I explain gingerly. "We lost a lot of friends that day... So, you see, we thought if we came to Kami's home planet, there might be another set of Dragon Balls here. We hoped we'd be able to wish all our friends back to life. That's all we're trying to do. Not only that, if our wish is granted, it means the Earth's Dragon Balls will come back, too."

"Oh," Dende sighed. "Thank you for telling me your story. So, your world has been terrorized by these men, too." Dende clenched his small hands. "Then we must fight them! Together! And I know someone who can help! I must take you to see the Eldest Namek!"

"And who's that?" Krillen asks.

"And how can he help us?" Bulma adds.

"Oh, he is very wise. He is the father of all Nameks! He alone survived the terrible storm that nearly destroyed our world. And he is the one who is responsible for repopulating it so far! We are all his children! I myself am his 108th child." Dende explains.

"But, um... well..." Bulma stammered. "How exactly did your father have a child all by himself?"

"What... Do you mean, how?" Dende asks. "He spit the eggs out of his mouth, of course."

"Bulma, please stop..." I whine.

"Wait, so what you're saying is, he is actually a she, right? A female?" Bulma kept going.

"Female? What's a female?" Dende asked.

"Bulma--" I hiss to try and stop her.

"Well, there's two types of people, right?" Bulma asked. "Males and females? And they're... They're different! So like for instance say... You have brothers and you have sisters!"

"What? Different types?" Dende asked again. "No."

"Can you believe this? There's no different genders here!" Bulma exclaimed. "They're all one type! I'm sure glad I'm not a Namek! Talk about boring!"

"Anyway..." I trail off irritably. "So, you really think going to see this Eldest Guy'll do us some good?"

"Yes... But, it's important that we go quickly. The ones who attacked my village already have five of the Dragon Balls. And, if another village is being attacked right now like you say, unless Nameks can hold them off, they'll be looking for the Eldest Namek, soon!"

"Sorry, kid. I think it's all over." Krillen mentions.

"I'm not sensing anymore power levels. It doesn't feel like Vegeta left any survivors." Gohan added.

"Oh, no..." Dende whimpered. "If that's true, then there are only a few of us alive now...."

"Wait a sec... So, if Vegeta got the sixth Dragon Ball in that village, and if there aren't many Nameks left out there... Then, does that mean the Eldest Namek has the last Dragon Ball?" I ask.

"That's right." Dende nodded.

"This is bad!" Krillen exclaimed. "It might take Frieza's goons a while to find him without their scouters, but that won't stop Vegeta! If he has any kind of power, Vegeta will sense him from miles away! For all we know, he could be on his way there already!"

"Exactly! And we must warn the Eldest Namek that he's coming!" Dende cried. He ran to Krillen and grasped onto his training gi. "Please! Please, you have to help me! Come with me, please!"

"It's risky, but I'd say we'll be in even more danger if we let Frieza or Vegeta get that Dragon Ball." Gohan explains.

"'Kay, let's go. You lead the way. I'll follow." Krillen states to Dende.

"Can I go?" I ask meekly.

"We can't afford to put out any more energy but carrying you, Mara, I'm sorry--"

I cut Krillen off. "Krillen, I know how to fly, too, you know. And I put out the least amount of power of anyone on this planet, so if I go, it won't make a difference." I snap irritably.

Dende hummed. "Empathians generally hold a high status among the universe. Eldest Namek used to tell us that the act of harming an Empathian was often Taboo." Dende explained.

"See? One side says it's taboo to hurt me." I mention.

"Yeah, but the other side wanted to use you to repopulate his race." Krillen reminds me.

I ignored him. "Let's get going--" I hum politely before looping my arms around Dende and lifting into the air. "Krillen, don't fall behind."

"Y-Yeah..." Krillen stammered. "See ya! You guys be extra careful!" Krillen exclaims.

"You, too! Bye!" Gohan called loudly.

~*****~

"Hey--" I gasp out softly. "If we keep flying--" I suck in another breath. "How long will it take us to get there?"

"Well... I'd guess about five more hours." Dende retorts.

Krillen and I both sag. "God, I've never flown this long before," I sigh in exhaustion. I drop from the sky and land on a small mountain structure. "Krillen-- hold on!" Dende grasps onto my hand as I set him down.

"Oh, man! You know!" Krillen exclaimed. "It's Vegeta! He must have sensed us! He's heading this way! And fast! He'll be here any second!" Krillen grasps my wrist, and the three of us duck to cover. "C'mon, hurry! We've gotta get outta sight!"

I clenched my eyes shut as I curled around Dende's body, praying and hoping he'd overlook us. At the last moment, when I thought it was all over, Vegeta left in a different direction. "Why'd he take off like that?" I ask breathlessly.

The two of us swallowed thickly at the high power level rising up. "There's another big power level..." Krillen mentioned. "Vegeta must be after him."

"Then let's get outta dodge while he's distracted!" I order. We start flying again. We stumble in the air as an explosion rings out behind us. "Whoa-- Those power levels are insane!" I exclaim.

"I guess that's where Vegeta ran off to in a hurry! Yeah, that's him all right! He must be fighting one of Frieza's goons or something. Well, good. I say let 'em fight. Maybe we'll get lucky and they'll take each other out. 'Cause if either one finds us..."

"Hang on tight, Dende!" I exclaim as I readjust the Namekian boy. "We've got to move up the speed, Krillen! If we hurry, we might be able to get to the Eldest Namek while they're still fighting!" I explain.

"Let's just hope they're too busy beating each other up to notice!" Krillen added and the two of us sped up.

~*****~

"Are-- Are we getting any-- any closer?" I ask through my ragged breathing.

"It's not far now." Dende answers.

"Good. We've gotta hurry, I'm not sure how much longer Vegeta's fight is gonna last." Krillen explains. "You know, there's been something I've been meaning to ask you." Krillen hums. "It feels like we've been on your planet for days, but it's still so bright! I mean, doesn't your sun set?"

"Not all at once," Dende answers. I gape at him. "We have three different suns. So there's always at least one out in the sky."

"So... On your planet, you never have night?" I ask.

Dende shook his head. "No, we don't."

"No wonder you're green." Krillen hummed.

"Don't be rude--" I snap.

Krillen began laughing nervously. "Oh, man, those power levels are intense," Krillen murmured as he changed the subject. "Even from this far away!"

"Yeah, tell me about it," I retort irritably. "Let's keep going before they stop and head this way!" I exclaim. The power levels shot down after I had spoken. "They dropped..." I murmur.

"Guess that means the fights over." Krillen added.

"So then... who do you think won?" Dende asked.

"I don't know..." Krillen hummed. "But I'm sure it's not good for us either way, let's keep moving!"

"Didn't I just say that?" I ask irritably. Krillen laughed nervously again before we took off.