Cosmic Crisis 3 - A New Enemy

Note: Yes, another author's note. From now on, until Trunks and co. is off Vela, I am going to call the younger versions of Reena, Ceres, etc. "Chibi Reena" or "Chibi Ceres". This should minimize confusion. Thanks!

Chapter 20 - Termination

As Reena and Goten danced, she suddenly formed a smile on her lips and chuckled lightly to herself.

"What is it?" Goten asked.

"Nothing...I just remembered something really funny." She replied.

"Something funny?" Goten asked. "Tell me."

"When I was ten years old...ten being in Vela years, I came to this very same party." She said.

"Yeah, I know. I kinda...ran into you." Goten said, laughing nervously.

"I know...I remember." Reena replied.

"What do you mean...it happened 5 minutes ago?" Goten said, confused.

"Goten time travel is a strange concept for you, isn't it?" she joked. "Think about it. Even if we are two separate entities in this room, we're the same person, and anything she experiences is relayed to me."

"O...oh." Goten said, still looking a big lost.

"Forget about it." Reena said, smiling, and leaned her head onto Goten's chest.

After the song was over, the couples stopped dancing and each sat down at a table.

"Where's Reena gone?" Carina asked, looking around. "I still haven't seen her...I'm getting worried."

"Sit down, she'll turn up." Orion said, sighing. "You're going to waste all of your energy on worrying."

The lights in the room went dim and the music low. Carina looked up at the front of the room just as her parents stepped up to the podium.

"Oh great." She whispered, resting her chin in her palm.

Orion snickered and looked at her as she rolled her eyes.

"They're giving another speech. How boring." She continued.

Trunks and the others all sat down at one of the round tables, turning their heads to face the king and queen.

"What's going on?" Goten whispered.

"Just a speech." Reena replied. "It's customary."

"A speech? On what?" Trunks asked, joining the conversation.

"Political affairs...can't go wrong there." Ceres replied, laughing softly. Sirius eyed them, as if he knew something that they didn't. Then, Reena and Ceres stopped smiling and looked at one another.

"Oh no..." Reena whispered. "I remember this part."

"What? What is it?" Goten asked. "Does something bad happen?"

Reena just looked forward, not answering or even acknowledging Goten.

"Welcome to the biannual council party." Queen Melina said, addressing the room.

Trunks couldn't see her very well, since she was on the opposite side of the large room, but her voice was obviously amplified and rang clear throughout.

"We hope you enjoy the evening's events. Tomorrow, there will be a council meeting in this same room, and we hope you will all attend." She said, while gesturing to Aries.

After a few more minutes of speaking, the king and queen stepped down, and the music grew louder once again.

Goten was still itching with curiosity.

"Reena what happens?" he pestered.

"Goten hush." She said.

People began to head towards the buffet, getting their share of food, and sitting back down at the tables.

"Yeah, another opportunity!" Goten said, and scooted his chair back in preparation.

"Oh no you don't." Trunks said, grabbing hold of Goten's wrist. "You're not going anywhere."

"Aw, Trunks come on. I'm so hungry."

"You just ate half an hour ago!" Trunks cried.

"I can't help it, I have a big stomach."

Carina sat at the table, both of her elbows resting on the edge, and fiddled with her gloved fingers.

"Aren't you hungry?" Orion asked.

"Not really." She replied. "I'm too nervous to eat."

"What for?"

"I don't even know...I just have this really bad feeling...."

"Do you want to leave?" Orion asked. Carina looked at him.

"You know, I really wouldn't mind. But I can't." she replied.

"Sure you can."

"No, I feel obligated to stay." She replied.

"We'll come back then. You just look like you need to get away from the crowd."

"Well...okay." She said, standing up slowly. She shakily walked toward the door, followed by Orion.

From a distance, chibi Reena watched her friend walk out.

"I knew it." She said, watching the pair leave silently. "It was bound to happen."

"Hey Reena, why the sad face?" chibi Ceres asked, stepping up to her friend.

"Nothing. I just feel really stupid." Chibi Reena answered. "I saw Carina leaving with Orion, though."

"Oh really?" Ceres asked, narrowing her eyes and looking towards the doors. "Hmph, I don't know what he sees in her."

"What?" Chibi Reena asked.

"Uh...I said I don't see her." Chibi Ceres stammered. "So she probably left."

"That's what I just said." Chibi Reena commented.

"Oh, of course." Chibi Ceres laughed nervously. "Anyway, Cronus wants me, so I'll be back later." She said, and then left, disappearing among the people.

"Why do I have a really bad feeling about all of this?" chibi Reena asked herself, leaning against a wall.

Sirius watched as Carina and Orion left, his muscles tensing. Trunks noticed the jump in his ki and looked over.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

"Nothing is wrong." Sirius replied, his face hard and cold, like stone, and his eyes burning like fire.

"I don't think so. All three of you are acting really weird. Is there something we should know?" Trunks asked.

"You will find out soon enough, I promise." Sirius replied.

Trunks raised an eyebrow. Did this have something to do with Nat?

Carina slowly walked down the main hall, which was completely empty with the exception of Orion and herself. Her shoes tapped the stone floor daintily as she walked. Orion quickly caught up with her and grasped her arm.

"Hey, where are you going?" he asked. Carina turned back to look at him.

"I feel really...strange." She said. "Like there's some foreign presence, very close by."

"I don't feel anything." He said. "I think it's just your nerves."

"Probably." She replied. "Probably..."

Orion embraced her and looked into her eyes.

"Probably." He said. Carina felt warm and safe in his grasp, and started to loosen up. She raised her chin and their lips met, as they stood alone in the hall.

Suddenly, there was a sudden chill in the air, and a dark figure appeared, facing Carina's back. He extended his index finger, and there was a sudden flash.

Carina's entire body jumped, and she felt a sharp, piercing sensation in her chest that brought her to her knees. She brought her hands out in front of her to keep herself from falling. Orion's eyes grew wide when he saw it...almost the same color as the dress she was wearing. A steady flow of crimson blood poured out of a hole, about the size of a quarter, in her chest.

All three Sidra-jins jumped as a bright flash appeared outside the doors to the room. Trunks and Goten perked up and looked towards the door. After a few seconds of complete silence, the room was filled with panic.

"What's going on!" Trunks yelled over the screams and cries of the crowd.

"The moment we were waiting for. Come on!" Sirius said, and raced towards the door. Trunks paused for a few seconds, not understanding what he meant, but followed him anyway, with the three others close behind.

When the five managed to push their way through the crowds, they burst out the door. Trunks and Goten stopped in their tracks immediately.

"Trunks, Goten!" Sirius called. "Shut the doors and keep them closed. We can't let anyone out!" Goten immediately complied, and rushed over to barricade the doors, but Trunks didn't move. His eyes were locked on her.

Angered, Sirius stepped in front of Trunks, blocking his view of Carina's body.

"Trunks we've gone over this. Now do as I say and block the doors!!" he yelled. Trunks finally snapped out of his daze, and ran over to help Goten.

Orion knelt down and took Carina in his arms.

"C...Carina...?" he said, shaking her gently. "Oh god..."

Ceres immediately pulled out a mini computer, which had apparently been strapped to her leg to be concealed by her dress.

"He's hiding himself." She said, typing away furiously.

Then, that same chill blanketed the room in its icy presence, and the figure appeared again, taking on the form of a male. He had his back turned to the Sidra-jins, facing Orion and Carina.

Orion suddenly jumped up.

"YOU!" he screamed furiously, powering up a ki blast in his bloodstained left hand.

The figure laughed evilly, causing Trunks to shiver. This was far worse than the time Orion had showed on Earth.

"It was me, warrior, but what are you going to do about it?" he spoke. He had long, grey-silver hair, which was tied in a loose ponytail, extending about a third of the way down his back. He was wearing a completely black suit with a white cape flowing behind him.

Orion gritted his teeth and held the blast in his hand.

"You should tend to your fallen princess." He said. "She's not going to be around much longer."

Orion's muscles tensed and he clenched his fists, allowing the blast to dissipate, as two tears rolled down his cheeks. Trunks' eyes locked onto Orion.

"Oh Kami...Goten, look." He whispered shakily, taking uneven breaths. "Orion...he's..."

"Crying." Goten finished.

All of a sudden, there was an enormous explosion, knocking Trunks and Goten across the hallway and into the far wall. They quickly stood up and turned around to see the queen stumble into the hall. She screamed when she saw her daughter lying in a puddle of blood on the floor.

"Carina, NO!" she cried, and started to run towards her, but Sirius grabbed her arm.

"Your highness, don't. He'll only kill you too." He said, holding her back.

"Let me go!" she cried. The figure just laughed and turned to face her.

"Melina...nice to see you again." He said, smiling maliciously.

"What have you done to my daughter!" she screamed, struggling to free herself from Sirius' grip.

"What do you mean?" he said, folding his arms. "I only re-routed history. Nothing major."

Melina was hysterically trying to get free.

"ARIES!" she cried.

Aries, who had been holding people inside, turned and saw the scene.

"Take your hands off of her!" he yelled at Sirius, advancing toward him. Suddenly, an enormous ki blast shot past them and slammed into Aries. When it cleared, his body was completely gone.

Melina screamed again.

"MURDERER!" she cried.

Orion held Carina's body in his arms, shielding her from the ki blasts.

"Carina...please say something." He pleaded, shaking her gently. Her raspy breaths grew slower by the minute as her life drained before his very eyes. Finally, her body shuddered and went limp, her ki completely gone. Trunks and Goten felt it as well, and Trunks forced himself to stay rational.

"Melina, I think you should know my name before I leave this place for the last time." The figure spoke in an evil tone. "I am Hermes."

Melina's eyes narrowed, tears hindering her vision.

Hermes turned and looked at Orion holding Carina's lifeless body.

"Did you enjoy the show?" he said mockingly. Orion jumped three feet into the air and powered up an enormous ki blast once again, aiming it towards Hermes. Unfortunately, Hermes was prepared, and shot his own attack at Orion.

Trunks watched as the energy surrounded Orion's body and shone intensely. When it disappeared, Orion stood on the ground, an emotionless expression on his face. His pupils dilated and his body went limp as he fell, landing next to Carina.

Hermes laughed again and started to glow.

"Get ready Ceres." Sirius whispered to the blonde haired Sidra-jin.

"I'm ahead of you." She said, focusing in on his ki. Melina ceased to struggle and turned her head to look at Sirius.

"Did you say Ceres?" she asked in a soft, weak voice. Sirius nodded, releasing his grip on her arm. The queen nodded back at him and ran back into the conference room, where most of the people were passed out on the floor. She made her way over to chibi Reena, who was coughing and starting to stand up.

"Reena." She spoke.

"Melina-sama...what happened?" she asked.

"You must find Sirius and Ceres." She said.

"What? Why?" chibi Reena questioned. "What's going on out there?"

"I don't have time to explain. Just find them."

"We're right here." Chibi Sirius spoke, standing on the other side of Melina. Chibi Ceres stood a couple of feet to his left.

"You three guardians..." Melina spoke. "You have to leave this place."

"But...what about the princess?" Chibi Reena asked worriedly.

"Reena...Carina is dead." Melina spoke, forcing herself not to break down again. Chibi Reena paled.

"You have to go get help...so you can come back here when the time is right."

"But what do we do, and where will we go?"

"The Saiya-jins..." Melina trailed off.

"New Vegeta?" Chibi Sirius asked.

"No...Earth. Prince Vegeta-sama...he is there. Find him. Find everyone you can." She pleaded.

The three guardians nodded.

"You will know what to do...I trust you." She said, smiling weakly. "Go. Leave this place before it is too late."

Without further delay, the three guardians took off, running down the hall towards the main entrance. Hermes spotted them and powered up a ki blast.

"You three aren't going anywhere." He said, and hurled the energy towards them.

"Duck!" chibi Sirius cried, grabbing the wrists of Chibi Reena and Ceres, pulling them to the ground as the blast exploded, hurling them out of the building and slamming them into the stairs. They did not stop, however, they picked themselves up, continued on to the north wing where the space pods were located.

Hermes redirected his attention to the queen, who had reentered the hallway.

"Now it's your turn." He said, powering up another blast. Sirius stood in front of her protectively, but she pushed him out of the way.

"No, you have to get out!" she cried. "Please..."

Sirius looked into the eyes of his queen.

"That's an order." She said. Sirius looked at the other four and nodded his head toward the door. Ceres, still tapping on her device, took off first, followed by Reena, Goten, Trunks, and finally, Sirius, who stole one more glace at Melina before leaving.

"I don't think so." Hermes said, and fired at the five. Melina looked directly into the eyes of Hermes, and smiled, before jumping into the path of the blast. She formed a ki shield using all of the power she had, forcing back the wave of energy. When she was certain that the five had escaped, she dropped her defenses, and was engulfed in the blast.