Takira gritted her teeth. Even the air rushing over her arm felt like sandpaper on her skin. 'No matter,' she thought. 'With time it'll heal to just another scar.' She had all the time in the world, now. Freed from the burden of revenge, she felt impossibly light and free. She'd never felt this kind of freedom before. A blissful smile crossed her face.

"You look happy," Trunks commented.

"I am--for the first time in a quite a while," she sighed. "I never really expected I could defeat Kor--Mordrig. Now that Vegira's death has been avenged, I'm free to engage in other pursuits."

"Such as?"

"Well, for one, seeing if I can work that transformation again."

"You did it before; why couldn't you do it again?"

"I don't know if I could get that upset again. At least, I hope I never have reason to. If you have to get your guts ripped out for me to transform, I want no part in it."

"How comforting," Trunks grimaced.

They were approaching the ravaged hilltop, but much to their surprise, two other figures stood atop it, standing over the mutilated body of Koretz. The two Roc turned as Trunks and Takira approached. One stepped forward boldly.

"Did you do this?" he snapped, pointing at the body.

"No," said Takira. "Koretz was killed by Mordrig during the battle. Mordrig is dead."

"At last," Shael sighed. "Was it Koretz who killed him?"

"No," she said softly, "I did."

"You?! You're a human!"

"Not quite," murmured Trunks. Shael looked confused, then shrugged.

"Well, whatever you are, the Roc are deeply indebted to you--"

"No," she interrupted. "There is no debt. Koretz saved my life twice. Perhaps in killing Mordrig I repaid what I owed him."

"Agreed. We must go now. Thank you and goodbye."

"Farewell."

Shael walked back to Dolmit, spoke softly to him, then with twin bursts of ki, they incinerated Koretz's remains. With a final nod to Takira, they climbed into their cramped pod and took off for their ship.

"Well, that's one less thing to worry about," Takira muttered. "Your sword's down there, Trunks, go ahead and grab it. I think the wakazishi flew over here somewhere." She scanned the grass as Trunks inspected and resheathed his sword. At last she found what she sought and replaced it in the scorched scabbard. They were silent, looking at the crater, the shattered earth, the bloodstains on grass and rocks. Takira sighed.

"I suppose we ought to get back," she said unhappily.

"You don't sound too thrilled."

"I'm just an outsider, Trunks, I've no place at these family affairs. I've gotten too used to my solitude. You go ahead, I'd just get in the way."

"Forget it," he said firmly. "You no longer have any right to call yourself an outsider. Even if you weren't related to half the people in that room through Goku, by your actions you've proved yourself as an ally and a friend. Your presence will be welcomed and expected."

"You think Bulma's just going to accept the fact that I bore her husband's child?"

"It doesn't matter, Takira, but I think she will. She knew Vegeta pretty well, and whatever she may tell you, she did develop a degree of respect for him. I can't imagine she would hold your past against you. Come on," he urged. "You are always free to leave if you want."

"You keep saying that," she spoke softly, "but I'll tell you something: I don't really think I could leave, even if I wanted to, even if you let me. I just couldn't do it." Trunks smiled faintly.

"I know. I was hoping you felt that way. Now let's go, before they send out a search party."

*****

Chichi paced back and forth between her sons, fussing over them in spite of their protests. She was just too full of energy to sit still. They'd been muttering cryptic comments about some girl named Takira and Goku, but she couldn't imagine what they meant. When she asked them to explain, they hemmed and hawed and said to wait for Takira to return. In Chichi's opinion, they had been waiting far too long.

At last there came a tap at the window, and she ran to open it. Trunks stepped in, followed by a girl Chichi assumed to be Takira. She decided to waste no time, reaching out to shake the girl's hand.

"You must be Takira." The girl nodded. "I'm Chichi, Goku's wife. Gohan and Goten said something about you knowing Goku. What's the relationship there?"

"Oh, not much," Takira murmured nonchalantly. "He's my little brother, is all."

Bulma, Bra, and Chichi stared dumbly for a moment, before Chichi managed to speak:

"How?" Takira smiled wearily.

"I'll give you the cut-and-dry version, seeing as we don't have a whole night to kill. Would you mind if I sat down? For some reason, I'm just exhausted." Trunks snorted.

"Can't imagine why--" he said under his breath. Takira gave him a look, and with a deep breath to gather her thoughts, launched into the tale.

*****

"--and that, approximately, is where the rest of you came in," Takira finished. She was so tired she could barely sit up, but she dared not disappoint her audience. "All in all, it's been an interesting 36 hours." Grunts of assent came from her fellow warriors. She tried to force her eyes to focus. She'd used more energy in her last attack on Mordrig than she'd really had to spare, and now she was feeling the effects profoundly. It was a stupid mistake to have made, but she'd wanted to be absolutely sure of Mordrig's destruction.

She saw Trunks coming toward her and thought she heard him say something. Gently, he pushed her back until she lay on the pillow, then lifted her legs onto the bed. She sighed and shut her eyes; a moment later she was asleep.

"Well, when she's right, she's right," Trunks said quietly. "You wouldn't think it possible for that much to happen in that short of a time."

"Yeah," Chichi murmured. "I was hoping she'd stay awake a little longer, though, so we could talk and get to know her a little more personally."

"Let her sleep," said Goten. "She's been up for days, fought with Trunks, Yamcha, me, and Mordrig, and raised Trunks from the grave. I think she deserves a little rest."

"There'll be plenty of time to get to know her, Chichi," Bulma pointed out. "She's staying at Capsule Corp., but between Gohan and Goten, I'm sure she'll be up at your place often enough."

"What's she going to do now?" asked Pan. "All she's been living for is Mordrig's death and a reunion with Vegeta. One's done, and the other's out of reach."

"I'm sure she'll find some other purpose," said Trunks. "She may seem delicate but underneath it all she's as tough as any other Saiyan. She won't give up the ghost now that she has a whole new life ahead of her."

Just then the doctor returned. He looked anxious and apologetic.

"There's just been a huge accident downtown; a building collapsed, and we need every available bed. I don't mean to rush anybody out, but if any of you is well enough to go home, it would be of tremendous help."

Goten was still quite painful, but decided that he could stand the trip home. Gohan and Yamcha were deemed too early in recovery to risk going home, and Videl and Bulma agreed to stay with them for the time being. Chichi left with Goten and Pan, and Bra got in Bulma's car, helping her brother arrange the still-sleeping Takira in the back seat. Trunks sat with her to make sure she didn't fall, and they returned to Capsule Corp. Trunks carried Takira up to her room and laid her out on the bed, covering her with a blanket and drawing the curtains so the sunlight wouldn't wake her up. He had a feeling, though, that nothing short of Armageddon would be able to wake her.

*****

Gohan lay still, eyes closed. Videl probably thought he was asleep; he didn't care. With his mind he called out again to Kaio-sama.

'Yes? What is it, Gohan?'

'I hope I'm not interrupting anything--'

'Not at all. I was about to congratulate you on defeating Mordrig.'

'I didn't defeat him, Kaio-sama. I nearly got us all killed.'

'Nonsense. If you, Goten, and Trunks hadn't gone down, Takira never would have transformed and you'd probably all still be fighting.'

'I suppose. What do you think of her?'

'Who, Takira? I really don't know. There's a lot of potential there, but I fear she lacks the discipline to make something of it. I don't know if she can train seriously without a specific goal in mind; she strikes me as the type who needs something to fight for.'

'Maybe she'll find something here. She seems rather fond of Trunks.'

'That may be putting it too strongly, but she's definitely protective. Since she feels she failed in protecting Vegira, it's only natural that she'd try to watch over Vegeta's other son.'

'I don't think Trunks needs another mother. Bulma's already stifling him.'

'Takira's not the motherly type. I doubt if she mothered Vegira too much. Woman or not, she's a fighter at heart. She reminds me of Goku that way.'

'No kidding. She'll probably pick a fight with me the moment I'm out of this bed.'

'Consider taking her on, helping her train. You've done well so far with Videl and Pan.'

'Thank you, but I don't know if she'd let me. I don't think she trusts me.'

'She's only known you for a day, Gohan; at this point she won't trust anyone unless she has to.'

'I know. Maybe that's why she makes me nervous. It would be so easy for her to turn on us--'

'--except for the fact that she would gain nothing by it. Even if she has no higher standard of ethics, it's in her best interests not to cross you. Keep an eye on her, but I doubt she'll take action against you without good reason.'

'I wish that were more comforting. There was something else I wanted to ask you, though.'

'Yes?'

'I can't help but wonder about Mordrig. Virtually everyone we've fought so far has had a least one other associate, usually more. Was Mordrig really working alone?'

'Gohan, I wish I could tell you. All I can say is this: if Mordrig was working as part of a larger organization, you'll find out soon enough.'

'I was hoping you wouldn't say that. It's exactly what I was thinking.'

'There's nothing to be done for it now, Gohan, so you may as well get some rest. You won't be able to do much of anything in your present condition.'

Gohan sighed. 'True enough. Thanks, Kaio-sama.'

'Anytime Gohan.' Gohan drifted off to sleep and Kaio was left alone with his thoughts. 'It seems almost too strange to be a coincidence. Whatever Takira's purpose was in coming to Earth, I don't think she's finished yet.'