It wasn't far, only three feet, then he could crawl into the space capsule, fly back to the base, be healed and then ... Then he would return and break the earth down into its atoms. Nobody would escape.

But Vegeta had been happy too soon. Kuririn was not as badly injured as it had first appeared and caught the Saiyan before he could escape into the capsule.

Yajirobi's machete shone dazzlingly in the sun as the bald ex-monk raised the blade. Before he could execute the decisive blow, however, he paused because Goku had contacted him telepathically and asked for Vegeta's life.

The prince used Kuririn's distraction to heave himself into the capsule, which turned out to be more difficult than expected.

~ Should I spare him? ~, Kuririn asked incredulously. ~ How can you want to let this monster escape? He's a ruthless killer and he wouldn't have hesitated for a second to wipe you and me ... the entire planet out !!~

~ I know ~, Goku replied calmly.

~ How ?! What does that mean again? WHY are you letting him go then? ~

~ Because he has a good core that he doesn't even know about ... ~

~ You are wrong ... ~ With a sad look Kuririn looked at his badly wounded best friend, who was immobilized on the ground, injured by the second last Saiyajin. The former monk slowly turned his head and watched Vegeta push the last few inches up.

"You will be sorry for that!", Vegeta promised arrogantly and reached for the button to close the capsule.

"You're wrong," Kuririn repeated this time out loud, raised his right arm and stabbed.

~ x ~ x ~ x ~

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH !!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Bulma sat up with a jerk and breathed heavily. Her face buried in her sweaty hands, she was no longer aware of her surroundings, and the tears that welled from her eyes did not affect her condition either.

This nightmare had tormented her for weeks, made her nights unbearable. The same pictures over and over ... Over and over again his death at the hand of one of her best friends. Again and again ...

A sound interrupted her dreary thoughts abruptly, and Bulma dried her cheeks in embarrassment.

Strong arms wrapped protectively around her shoulders, a strong hand stroked her back soothingly. But the result was only that she cried harder on his shoulder, clung to him like a drowning woman, in search of long-awaited rescue. A rescue that was not within reach.

She loosened up a little and looked into his familiar face, unable to pronounce the sentence that had been on the tip of her tongue for so long.

* This dream was so ... terrible ... * It would have saved her so much suffering, so many tears, so much fear. Maybe a little fun too, but the negative side weighed heavier. Only her son prevented her from saying the words.* ... but ... Sometimes I wish it had been ... *

"Lie down again and try to get some sleep. Working on the time machine will be exhausting."

"I know Trunks. I know."