Warm, spring sunlight filtered through the leaves above, casting lazy shadows that shifted as a gentle breeze moved the boughs. A tall figure strolled between the trees. Its emerald skin was dappled by light and shade. Soft rustling accompanied each of its steps as the white robe it wore swept against the grass. The soft moccasins it wore muffled every footfall.

The figure stopped before a scraggly bush with small blue berries. A gaunt, long fingered hand reached out and plucked some of the fruit, placing each with great care into a woven basket already half filled with other plant matter. Its eyes, framed by deep wrinkles, gazed at the plant with a distant sort of sadness.

"Not doing so well this year, hm?" the figure asked in slightly raspy voice. The words flowed out in an alien language full of purring Rs and Ps. The thin fingers quit their picking task, changing to stroking the scant yellowed foliage of the bush. "Time does get away from us, doesn't it? I have seen you grow from seed to stripling to blossoming youth. Now, you struggle to produce a few last seeds of your own to spread."

The bush didn't deign to answer, instead ruffling its leaves in the wind, perhaps offended by someone pointing out its age.

The tall green figure chuckled. Smiling, it admitted, "Oh, I know. I don't look much better."

It brought the stroking hand up to its face and traced the deep lines that carved into the leathery skin. The antennae on its forehead dropped a bit, looking themselves like withered stems.

The figure sighed, stirring a few leaves on its bush friend. "We can't stop time, can we? We can only try to bring our children to a place where they can grow strong and safe."

The sadness in the green figure's eyes sharpened at the thought. It blinked away gathering tears. It was an old wound and one it couldn't heal fully. It sighed again, not wanting to spend more time on a dream that was fated to remain a dream.

"Mida! Mida!" Another voice called from somewhere among the trees, the full alto of its tone adding the music of youth to the air and sweeping the sadness from the figure's eyes.

The tall figure smiled again and strolled toward the new voice. It carefully pushed aside a thin branch, stepping out into a small clearing among the trees. It questioned, "And what have you found, Maimai, that warrants such a loud summons?"

The wizened face tried to look stern and failed, its dark pupils twinkling with humor. It gazed down at a figure kneeling beside some large flowers. A younger version of itself was busy examining the plants. The young one's slender frame was bent over the blooms, nose buried in the supple violet petals. The iridescent color shimmered in the sunlight. A delicate featured face turned from the blossoms to look at the tall figure.

The youth grinned, showing pearly fangs. "Aren't they beautiful, Mida? I've never seen them before!"

The figure smiled gently. Coming a little closer, it looked over the shape of the petals and leaves. The older one didn't want to kneel down as its knees had begun to ache within the last year or so. If it got down, it might not get back up without a few grunts and some assistance. And there was something to be said for wanting a little dignity.

"Ahh... I've seen them once or twice in my life," the figure said. "They are so rare even the natives of this planet have no name for them."

"Rare?" The youth studied the flowers again with a thoughtful expression. Then it grinned more. "Then we should call them Reas. Like you!"

Rea chuckled at the suggestion. "Daughter, you have strange ideas."

Maimai frowned and shrugged. She continued, "But you are rare. And a wonderful example of the Namek female gender."

The youth added a decisive nod for emphasis.

Rea pursed her lips to keep from chuckling again. She thought she more closely resembled an old oak tree than she did a flower fresh from its bud. She shook her head. "Thank you, but I think we should leave the naming to the planet's people."

She stroked the top of her daughter's head, then moved away a little. Her face lost some of its humor as she said, "We should be moving on, Maimai. We can't afford to linger if we're going to take advantage of the early harvest available. Not much is left from winter and there is also planting to do."

Maimai leaned over for one last sniff of the flowers, then stood and brushed at the grass stains on her robe. She didn't mind the harvesting and planting, it gave them something to fill their days with. She did wonder if any mushrooms would be ready to be picked.

"Mida, Do you think-"

A thin, blue-white bolt zipped from between the trees and struck Rea hard in the shoulder. The carefully packed basket she carried tumbled out of her arms, spilling it contents onto the warmed ground. The old Namek grunted in pain. She stumbled onto her knees, clutching her wounded arm.

"Mida!" Maimai rushed to her mother's side. Her eyes widened at the sight of the purple blood seeping between the other's thin fingers. Her voice rose in panic, "Mida! Mida, are you ok? What happened?"

Rea pushed Maimai away, her bloodied hand leaving dark stains on the white fabric of her daughter's robe. She commanded hoarsely, "Maimai, run! Run fast! Now!"

Maimai shook her head frantically. She wasn't sure what it was that had struck her mother down, but she didn't want to leave. Not when Rea was injured. The youth put her hand over the wound and called on her healing abilities.

Rea snarled and grabbed the front of Maimai's robe. She used the leverage to force her daughter to lurch towards the trees. "Run!"

GO! The order shot through Maimai's mind, transmitted telepathically by her mother. Her feet moved of their own will, carrying her to the edge of the clearing. She hesitated as she reached the first tree. Looking back, she watched as Rea groaned and rose shakily.

Two figures emerged from the spot where the bolt had come from. The word "men" flit through Maimai's mind. They were natives, nearly as tall as Rea, wearing a shiny hard covering over their torsos and brandishing odd sticks in their hands. Weapons, those are weapons...

A tremor raced through Maimai. She didn't know if her mother could defend herself against these attackers. Her toughened skin was no match for those energy bolts. And the armor, could she get past that?

"Mida!" Maimai couldn't stop the word from expressing itself. Her feet reversed their earlier course. Pounding along the ground, she raced back toward Rea.

Rea half-turned, her face twisted with anger and pain. She flung out her hand. The palm faced the youth, fingers curled slightly. NO! Maimai, RUN!

Maimai felt as if an invisible hand had sprung up and caught her. Her shoes scraped on the dirt as it forced her back. She struggled against it, her mind pleading with her mother to let her stay and fight.

Another bolt shot out, streaking from the tip of one of the guns. It slammed into Rea's back. The old Namek cried out and crumpled to the ground. The invisible hand winked out, causing Maimai to stagger a few steps. Sweat trickled down her back. Her heart pounded and her mind was touched by waves of muted agony. She balanced herself, then took a few quick steps.

A third bolt raced from the gun and buried into Maimai's shoulder. Pain exploded at the impact site, sending fiery tendrils through her chest and arm. A scream echoed among the trees. Her hand came up and clawed at the wound, trying to dig out the fire that settled into the flesh.

Her chest seized around her lungs. Breathing became rapid, shallow. Vertigo threatened her senses and she pushed it down.

A roar, feral and maddened rang out. Maimai lifted her head, her vision still a bit wavy from faintness. Shock coursed through her as she saw Rea spring up from grass.

Her mother's old body moved with lightening speed. The enraged Namek launched herself at one of the men. A clawed hand swiped at him. The man barely raised his arm in time, his armor taking the brunt of the stroke. Talons screeched across the hard surface.

The second man took quick aim. He blasted the Namek at point blank range. The bolt ripped through her, causing her to jerk backward. Released from his attacker, the other man pointed his weapon at Rea and fired.

Maimai's mother stumbled back more. She gathered her energy around her, the grass waving in response to the power rippling the air. Another bolt zapped across the expanse. Rea stumbled again. The nearly born force fluttered. Another bolt, then another, dug into her.

The energy wavered and faded. More bolts riddled the old Namek's body. Finally, she slumped, the building ki fled. Rea fell backward onto the patch of violet flowers.

Maimai watched her mother fall. Her mind scrambled as she felt the ebbing of the other's consciousness. She desperately reached out and held onto her mother's thoughts. But they slipped away, too nebulous to grasp. There was a flicker of regret within the wordless cloud. Rea's spirit weakened and vanished like an early morning mist.

...no... Maimai's fingers curled into the grass, digging into the rich soil of the clearing.

No... Maimai's slightly open mouth quivered as Rea's purple blood pooled on the ground, forming rivers around the plants.

NO! Maimai's voice howled. Tears streaked down her cheeks and she tore clumps out of the earth beneath her hands. She raised her face to the sky and vented her sorrow and loss.

A sharp pain burst through the back of her head. An abyss swallowed her so completely, she did not feel it when her body struck the ground.

A hand shook her roughly. The pain was thankfully gone from her head and shoulder. Mai's eyes flew open and her clawed hand swung out. There was a muttered curse as someone grabbed her wrist.

"I don't know what sort of nightmare you were having, brat, but you don't get free hits from me." Brussi frowned down at Mai. Her hand gripped the Namek's wrist so that she couldn't bend it enough to use her nails.

Mai blinked at her friend. She squeezed her eyes shut and took a steadying breath. A dream. It had been a dream... no, a memory. One she wished hadn't decided to pay her a visit. The old sorrow made her heart ache. She shifted a little. Soft sheets rustled under her and the mattress squeaked a bit.

She opened her eyes again. A barely there breath of air cooled her cheeks, drying the wet trails down her face. Mai licked her lips, suddenly thirsty. "I-I'm sorry, Brussi..."

The Saiyan released Mai's wrist. The Namek rubbed it, the flesh throbbing a bit from the pressure that had been put on it. "I didn't mean to."

Brussi shrugged. Whatever the torment was, it had passed and her friend was herself again. She rubbed her ear and complained, "I could hear your screeching half way across the ship. Didn't know you could be so loud."

Mai gave a lopsided grin. "I'm sorry I disturbed you."

"Meh." Brussi shrugged again. She pointed her thumb to a glass of water sitting on the nightstand next to the bed. "I was coming anyway."

Mai nodded. "Thanks, Brussi. I am thirsty."

The older woman's face flushed a little and she grumbled something under her breath. She placed her hands under Mai's arms, dragging the Namek into a sitting position. She snatched up the water glass, then put it brusquely into Mai's hands.

"Think you can heal yourself so I don't have to cart around your heavy carcass?" Brussi questioned.

Mai sipped the water. Her parched throat begged for more, quickly, but she forced herself to go slow. She glanced at Brussi over the rim. She lowered the glass and responded, "Yes, I just need time. A day, maybe more."

Brussi looked at her askance. "You've been asleep for a day already."

Mai shook her head. "This sort of healing needs to be guided. My body can regenerate on its own, but it will be slower and doesn't always heal right."

Brussi grunted. She crossed her arms and nodded. "All right. I'll keep us going until then."

Mai nodded. She took another sip, then stared at her friend. The Saiyan was wearing some sort of dark body armor. A Doku-jin weapon hung over one of the side thigh pieces and her tail wrapped around the waist like a furry belt. There were ridged tan shoulder guards and another similar flap, though flat, which covered the front below her waist. Blue shorts and strips of red on her left upper arm and thigh completed the outfit.

"What are you wearing, Brussi?" Mai asked, one eyeridge slightly raised.

Brussi grinned wide. She thumped her fist on the front of the armor, giving Mai a glimpse of the form fitting article. "It's Saiyan body armor. Resilient and mobile. Perfect for fighting."

Mai bit the inside of her cheek. She didn't miss the obvious pride in her friend's voice. "Where did you get it?"

Brussi crossed her arms again, looking a bit disgruntled. "I found it locked away in a display case. A display case!"

The Saiyan made it sound like a crime against the universe. Mai took another sip to keep from laughing. She just nodded again. "Looks... uh... good, strong."

The grin returned to Brussi's face. "Too bad there was only one. You could use something tougher than that green hide."

"I think I'll prefer my own robe and vest, once I've got the extra energy to spare in making them," replied Mai with an apologetic smile.

Brussi tossed her a disbelieving look but didn't pursue the matter. "Get some rest, brat. I'm going to check on our course and raid the food stores. Nothing too appealing in there but better than nothing."

With that, the Saiyan gave a short wave and left the room. Mai watched Brussi exit through the sliding door, then went back to her water. She would need it for the task ahead.

+ + + + +

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