GWB09E

**START**

**54. The Threat multiplies.**

Ami had gone over her calculations again and again and confirmed the information from the main observatories and surveillance satellites. When Setsuna called her to inform her of what she had seen, her worst fears were confirmed. The technicians and she herself had already ruled out the slightest hint of error. She then hurried to call Roy and Beruche, who was alone with Cooan at the time, picked up the phone.

- Hello? Hello Ami, how are you doing over there? - She wanted to know with interest and hope. -

-Bertie," - her friend replied with real concern in her tone of voice. - We have news and it's not good.

- What's going on? - Bertie asked her, darkening her face to receive her sister's restless and questioning gaze. -

- There are more meteorites, it's coming in a real shower, some of them big enough to be the base of operations, at least two more, others could be simple rocks or contain invading forces. We have no way of knowing which is which. What's worse is that they will fall at different points on Earth. Any one of them could be the central base. In addition, of course, to a terrible impact that could damage the environment.

- Oh no, and Roy and the others have gone to train in Heaven. We won't be able to warn them until they come back! - Beruche exclaimed. -

-If we find out anything else I'll let you know," - Ami said goodbye. - Until then, try to find them at all costs.

Her colleague hung up and remained thoughtful, that was a serious problem, and she would have to tell the boys as soon as they returned. Cooan then wanted to know what was going on and her sister told her.

-That is a serious setback, but we can overcome it. - She affirmed with her indomitable optimism. - Let's warn the rest of the girls for now.

-You're right. - Beruche agreed. - We'll get together and fill them in, but the boys will be back tomorrow anyway. We'll have time to tell them.

Cooan busied herself with starting to call them. Bertie looked at her without saying anything, but she couldn't shake the terrible thought that they might lose despite her efforts. If that happened, she would fight to protect the people too. At worst she would die and be reunited with Roy. She was sure the others would do the same. Although perhaps, considering that, according to Leval, they would survive, it was not in their best interest to take unnecessary risks. And speaking of that boy, how was it possible that he knew them so well? Did he have any relationship with them, but which one? Roy's face came back to her mind when he came back to her with the boy after that fight. His face was unhinged, and then his remorse and regret from the night before. At first, she thought it was because of the pressure, but now maybe there could be something else, in fact, her boyfriend looked almost as if he had killed his....

-Bertie. - Her sister distracted her -Do you have Emerald, Annie, Amanda and Petz's hotel phone number?

               The alluded one looked at her stunned and puzzled as she came out of her musings, but immediately reacted by answering.

-On the next table. To your left. - She pointed to a small round table that held some photographs and a small notepad. -

Cooan saw it without any problems and found the number, she immediately asked the hotel to put her through to her sister Petz's extension. She thus informed the latter who promised to warn the others and head there. Meanwhile, at Heaven, both Roy and Leval and the others were preparing to use the room. The boy looked around him in surprise, that immense white space of which he had only heard the stories that his mother remembered hearing from Roy. The rest of them were waiting for someone, and that person, who was none other than Landar, did not take long to show himself. The wizard, as usual, appeared from nowhere in particular, approached the group and spoke to them.

-I am glad to see you again, although I would prefer it to be under different circumstances. - He turned his gaze to Leval to add gently. - You are the young man who came from the future, I am glad to meet you.

-Hello, sir. How are you? - The boy greeted politely, surprised that the man knew about him. - Nice to meet you.

-This is Landar, Leval," - Roy introduced him. - A great wizard who helped us a lot in the past.

-Well, there is no time for more greetings. - The old man said. -

              He certainly seemed pleased that, for once, the boy showed respect for him. But he immediately put on a serious face to warn them.

- You should know that if you use the room for one more day, you will never be able to return to it.

- Well, that's funny! - Diamond interjected, crossing his arms in annoyance at this unexpected event. - So, we only have twenty-four more hours?

-Another thing. - The wizard added, who seemed to have nothing but problems. -The room is not at full capacity. You know how Goku, and Vegeta are, they were training in it and have left it somewhat damaged. Since they are permanently dead and don't share it with living beings, they can use it as much as they want. And many times, they don't worry about how they leave it. Well, those two don't bother to take care of anything but their training. - He sighed resignedly to inform them. - So, you will only be able to enter in small groups of two at a time.

They all looked at each other visibly surprised and annoyed by the situation.

-Nobody would lecture them. - Roy snorted. -

- They are very powerful, aren't they? - Leval asked with obvious curiosity. - I heard those names when I was a kid. - He added without wanting to reveal the identity of the one who told him about them. -

-I don't even know. They're God level! - Roy told him, leaving him speechless. -

- God level? - Leval repeated without understanding. - What's that?

-To be honest, I have no idea. What I do know is that it's way far beyond our Super Saiyajin levels. - His interlocutor replied. -

Roy told his friends about the time Vegeta, his great, great, great, great, and so on, grandfather, knocked him out with a single punch. Moreover, that didn't stop there, lying on the ground, writhing in pain, he could at least hear Son Goku come to his defense.

-Vegeta, I think you've gone too far. He can't face you on equal terms.

- Well, let him get better! - The legendary prince of space warriors spat, crossing his arms, and pleading disdainfully. - His strength is so derisory that he is not even worthy of being called an insect. I don't understand how he can carry saiyajin blood. I'm going to have to come up with a lower level than yours to describe him. Perhaps microbe would suit him better. - He riveted with a smirk. -

-You know well that, with effort and dedication, even a microbe can beat a god. - Goku replied with a half-smile. -

-That may happen in an exceptional case like yours. - The alluded one answered reluctantly, to add. - But I doubt it very much in yours. Your defeat against that pathetic little devil is insulting for someone who is a descendant of mine.

-He'll get better. - Goku assured him. - He needs to learn who he is and what he can do.

-For that, there is no better teacher than you. You admire lost causes. - Vegeta replied indolently, walking away. -

Roy remembered that his master approached him and helped him to get up. After a while he recovered and Goku commented with a jovial tone.

-Don't pay too much attention to him, he has a difficult temper.

-Yes, that's one way of putting it. - He sighed. -

-But he's right about one thing. You must improve. And for that you must keep training.

-It's true, even though I hate to admit it. - Roy sighed. -

Now, his companions brought him out of those memories, Nephrite took the floor to comment.

-In terms of personality, that Vegeta is even worse than Piccolo. But no one dares tell him that, as strong as he is.

- Couldn't they come to help us? - Leval asked, pleading. - Being so powerful, it would be easy for them to put an end to this threat.

-They are not allowed to. They ended their presence on Earth many, many centuries ago. Or so we were told. - Diamond answered. - So, we must train thoroughly for one more day in that room.

  Although after doing some quick mental calculations, it was Sapphire who took the floor and proposed to the others.

-I don't think we need that much time, brother. We can take turns, go in pairs, every eight-hour shift.

-That would be about four months in there. Yes, I think that would be enough time. - Ail agreed. -

-I agree," -Nephrite declared, who inquired without impatience, but with interest. - When do we start and who will do it first?

-Ail and I have an even level," - Sapphire responded. - "we will train together.

-All right. - The alien accepted - this way we'll both progress at the same time.

-Then Nephrite and I will go next. - Diamond proposed, to which his partner nodded. -

-Well, since only Leval and I are left, we'll be the last to train. - Roy concluded, wishing his friends. - Good luck guys!

              Before it was their turn to enter, Roy asked the old man.

-Hey Landar. I would like to talk to some of my ancestors and ask them about this situation, they lived a similar one if I remember correctly. They told me about it sometime during my previous stay here. But I don't quite remember the details.

But the wizard shook his head and refuted.

-What happens to you from now on is up to you. Although they are similar situations, they have nothing to do with each other. - He looked at Leval who remained absorbed in the contemplation of that immaculate emptiness and added. - And I will tell you something else. Time has undergone an alteration, for it obeys superior instructions. There are forces far beyond your understanding involved in this. They have caused very considerable changes in the time-space tide. And their consequences are unforeseeable, even to me.

-It must have been me coming here. - Leval mused, lowering his head and apologizing. -  "I'm truly sorry. I didn't mean to complicate things for anyone.

However, the wizard placed a hand on the boy's right shoulder and smiled encouragingly to rebut.

-No, it wasn't because of you. What's more, coming here you will help to solve all that. If you come out on top, as I hope you will. Listen, right now there are some dimensional variations that we will talk about in due time and that must be closed. To do this, the first thing is that you eliminate this threat that is hanging over the Earth...

For a few brief moments Roy thought he remembered, but it was as if he had lived it in a dream. He would swear that, at another time, he had heard something similar. As if the space-time continuum had been damaged before and repaired. And it gave him the impression that he had something to do with it. He wanted to say something, but the magician did not let him, for he said emphatically.

-This whole phenomenon has nothing to do with your ancestors, even if their experiences served as a model for them. You are only interested in knowing that you must avoid the future from which this boy comes and forge a different one in which other things must happen. For the good of all.

- And couldn't you look at the waters of time? - Roy asked, remembering the time when they all did it. -

-On this occasion it would serve you in the same way as the previous time. - Landar replied, asserting with a certain amount of trepidation. - They would even be of less use; they have become murky because of this situation.

-Well, but the previous time when I looked, I did see something. I didn't understand what it meant, though. I guess if there was no future, I wouldn't have seen anything then. - His interlocutor asserted convinced of that and above all trying to boost his morale. - Come on, I say...

The wizard didn't answer, he just walked away, and Roy knew he wouldn't tell him anymore. He had that irritating habit and so he commented it out loud, to provoke the smiles of the rest.

-Why do these wizards always have to be bearded and so nosey?

               If Landar heard him he certainly didn't act accordingly. Once the wizard had disappeared, the others looked at each other for a few moments. Now in earnest, Ail declared.

-See you in a few months, eight hours for you.

-See you later. - Sapphire added. -

             And they both entered the room. Diamond and Nephrite would be next. But there were quite a few hours left. Even more in the case of Roy and Leval. Therefore, they thought about returning to Earth.

-It would be better to stay there, rest and then come back to train.

-If that's the reason, it would be better to rest here. There will be some cloud to lie down on. - Roy commented with a jovial tone.

Once again, the rest smiled, "Only that boy could come up with such things! Although in this case, he added with more seriousness.

-I think it's better to stay here, even if we must wait. The four of us can train a bit and chat.

            So, they talked about some things, fought a little to loosen up and rested. Diamond and Nephrite found that, indeed, this young man already far outstripped them in strength. And when Leval was a little apart, Roy winked at them with complicity.

-When we leave the corner, I want him to be even stronger than me.

           The eight hours passed and the prince of Nemesis and his friend, the prince of the Four Heavens, took over from a much more robust and invigorated Sapphire and Ail. Sapphire had grown that beard again. Roy greeted them, commenting humorously.

- Again, Sapphire? Are you going to grow that beard again?

-Only until we defeat the enemy. It brought me luck last time. - He smiled. -

- At least your brother didn't shave his goatee! - Ail laughed. -

- What are you going to do? - Leval wanted to know. -

-If you don't mind, we'll go with our women. We must rest, if possible, in their company. We have become somewhat fed up with having only each other. - Sapphire replied. -

And as Roy pretended to look astonished, opening his mouth in an exaggerated way, Ail hastened to clarify, even a bit flushed.

- No, no, no! None of that stuff you're imagining in your dirty mind has happened.

-We're not into that kind of thing. - Sapphire immediately added. –

           Although his friend was already laughing his head off, making Leval himself smile and laugh a little without being able to help it.

-This guy is always the same. Pray he doesn't infect you with his sense of humor in there. - A laughing Ail commented to the boy. -

                   And after a few shared laughs that did them all a lot of good, Sapphire and Ail returned to Earth. Leval then asked Roy.

- Why don't we take the opportunity to go down for a while too? We're going to be gone a long time without seeing the others. Well, I mean, you'll have to be months away from Bertie.

-Don't be afraid of that. We'll be back. She'll understand, and besides, it'll only be a few hours for those of you who are away. - His interlocutor smiled, adding. - But what matters most to me is that you start to get used to the conditions here. They are tough, and those inside the Corner are much tougher. That's why I'm going to give you some extra motivation.

And with that said, he pulled out a CD of music from his favorite band. One of the songs was very appropriate for that. So, Roy said to him.

-Every time you listen to this song, imagine your enemies. That will make you stronger and increase your determination to exterminate them. And if this is not enough, think of that other song that marked you so much. When the time comes, you must bring out every bit of strength in you.

And without making any delay, he played that song that began with a kind of hammering. And an aggressive guitar.

***Machines, machines***

***Machines, machines***

***Machines machines***

***Machines, machines***

***It's a machine's world***

***Don't tell me I ain't got no soul***

***When the machines take over***

***It ain't no place for rock'n'roll***

***They tell me I don't care***

***But deep inside I'm just a man***

***They freeze me, they burn me***

***They squeeze me, they stress me***

***With smoke-blackened pistons of steel they compress me***

***But no one, but no one, but no one can wrest me away***

***Back to humans***

And a chorus of metallic voices resounded, getting into Leval's head who listened with a mixture of fascination and horror, that song indeed summarized well the ordeal that humanity lived in his time at the hands of those cybernetic beings.

***We have no disease, no troubles of mind***

***We are fighting for peace, no regard for the time***

***We never cry, we never retreat***

***We have no conception of love or defeat***

***What's that machine noise?***

***It's bytes and mega chips for tea***

***It's that machine, boys***

***With random-access memory***

***Never worry, never mind***

***Not for money, not for gold***

***Its software, its hardware***

***Its heartbeat, its time-share***

***Its midwife's a disk drive***

***Its sex life is quantised***

***Its self-perpetuating a parahumanoidarianised***

***Back to humans***

***Back to humans***

***Back to machines***

***Machines***

***Machines***

***Machines***

***Machines***

         And Leval clenched his fists, reliving images of the tremendous cruelty of those beings, although, seen now, that was not accurate. They were not cruel; they simply did not possess that kind of feelings or emotions. Therefore, deep down, he could not blame those artifacts but the perfidious living beings that directed them.

***Living in a new world***

***Thinking in the past***

***Humans***

***Living in a new world***

***How you gonna last?***

***Humans***

***Machine world***

***It's a machine's world***

***Living in a new world***

***Thinking in the past***

***Back to humans***

***Living in a new world***

***How you gonna last?***

***Machine world***

***Machine world***

***Machine world***

***Change***

***Machine world***

***Yeah, I'm coming***

***Back to humans***

***Back to humans***

***Back to humans***

***Living in a new world***

***How you gonna last?***

***Machine world***

***It's a machine's world***

**(Machines, QUEEN, credit to the artists)**

- We'll be back! – Leval shouted, inflamed as a super saiyajin, to sentence. - Even if I must give my life, the world will be for humans.

-That's the spirit. - Roy nodded approvingly, adding. - Well, that's how you should think and feel, every minute of the training we're about to begin.

           And after chatting a bit more and practicing with each other, they let the rest of the hours pass until Diamond and Nephrite came out.

- How did it go? - Roy wanted to know when he saw both also sporting beards and added with some mockery. - Have you made a bearded pact with Sapphire?

-I don't know, I'm going to shave when I get home. - Nephrite assured, smiling as he added humorously. - Amanda won't even want to touch me if I show up looking like this.

-I'll say the same thing. My goatee is more than enough for me. - His training partner added. -

-Well, now it's our turn. - Leval declared. -

-Good luck. - Nephrite wished them. -

After shaking hands with the newly departed from the room they said their goodbyes.  Roy and Leval entered the room. When they left, they had finally improved their abilities and increased their strength. Now it remained to undertake the rest of the plan. Landar and his companions were waiting for him at the exit.

- How about you? - Roy asked. -

-A while ago Landar told us that you were going out. - Diamond said, who was indeed clean-shaven, showing only his goatee. -

The same could apply to Nephrite who had his face completely shaved. The same as Ail. Sapphire did keep his "lucky beard".

-The time has come for you to face this threat. - The wizard declared. - You still have a short time to spend with your people. Do not waste it.

-We will not. - Roy affirmed: - "Thank you, my friend.

          And together with the rest of the group he set out to return to Earth. Landar waited for the group of the five comrades to be together and ready to leave and approached Leval before he left with them, commenting to him in an aside from the rest.

-Young man when it's all over come back this way to see me. There is something you will be interested to know. And I may need you.

-Very well, sir. - He nodded and added with concern. - But now I can only think of putting an end to this menace.

-That's as it should be. - Landar declared. - There will be a chance later.

-You are optimistic, you take it for granted that we will succeed. - The boy commented. -

-We must always go with that idea. - The wizard said, who smiled encouragingly. - Although sometimes, despite winning, we may lose things or people who are very dear to us. Well, keep this in mind. If you defeat this threat, the whole course of your future will change. At least in this dimension.

      The boy nodded. He remembered that time, with his Uncle Tom, in the island shelter. Days before making the trip. Then they were just talking about the possibility of going back in time. The latter, with his graying hair and with an expression marked by experience and suffering, said to her: "I have spent years studying the arcana.

-I have spent years studying the arcana. I wish the guardian of Time, Sailor Pluto, were here! However, we lost her along with the other sailors. When they tried to help us fight those monsters.

- Did they all die? - Leval asked. -

-I don't know. The fact is that they disappeared. I wish they could have run away. That would have meant they might return someday. But it's been many years now and we haven't heard from them.

-So, there's no chance we can go back? - The troubled boy asked, affirming. - I often see it in my mother's eyes. She has this secret hope. She's told me a lot about when you and Aunt Connie and the rest of you were young. What you had to face....

-I know, Leval. I know. And I had come to believe that all was lost. But when Kalie and Mazoui showed up, hope resurfaced. Your cousin is powerful. And he may possess the energy and powers necessary to carry out this enterprise. And not only him. The wife and daughter of Robert, that scientist who resisted the enemy at the cost of his own life. They are of the same species.

-That is something I cannot understand. - The astonished boy commented, arguing: - "You and my mother told me that, when you were young, you fought against the demons. That my father killed Mazoui's father. And now, however, they are our allies. Well, he is still the son of Aunt Kalie. But those two women...

-I didn't think it was possible either. But that's the way it was. And it's something that should serve as a lesson to us. Two enemies can cease to be enemies when they face a common threat. That's why I spoke to ILaya. She is here.

         The young man was surprised when, after saying that, his uncle opened the door to an adjoining room and a tall, brown-haired woman with green eyes entered the room. She was dressed in normal, ordinary clothes. A white knee-length skirt, a dark blue sweater, and black boots with a not-too-high heel. She greeted with a serious expression.

-It is a pleasure to meet the son of the mythical golden warrior. - She declared, offering her hand to the boy. -

Leval shook it, he could almost feel a shock. That woman was beautiful, she looked about thirty years old. She smiled, though, almost as if she could read his thoughts, and spoke.

-I'm quite a bit older than you.

- Is it true that you are a she-devil? - The young man asked, looking at her incredulously. -

- Is it true that you are a sun warrior? - She smiled in return. -

-We could say that both of you are what you say you are. - Tom explained now to the boy. - ILaya also has powers that will help us. Together with Mazoui and her own daughter, they will form an energy field which, combined with my spell and your own power, should be enough to open a rift in space-time and send you to the required place and time. The question is, are we willing to make that sacrifice?

- Sacrifice? - The boy was surprised. - I don't know what you mean. There could be nothing worse than this.

-Perhaps not. - The she-devil said with a reflexive gesture, to add. - However,...supposing everything went well and you succeeded, the history of each of us could be drastically altered.

And at the boy's surprised gesture, his uncle clarified....

-Any change in the events that have taken place would have a cost. Millions of people might be saved, but perhaps others would die. Some lives might be better, others worse. We can't know for sure what will happen. And, if you change the course of history we may never know.

Leval looked up at the ceiling then, sighed and after a few moments of silence, was able to reply.

-I understand what you are trying to tell me. However, according to what I have studied. Perhaps two parallel and distinct dimensions were created. Two alternative universes. Maybe I'm alive in one and dead in the other. Is that so?

-Something like that. - ILaya nodded. -

-In that case, I don't think we should worry about it. Our priority is to wipe out these invaders at all costs. And, if I could at least eliminate them in another dimension and spare the world this horror, I would gladly sacrifice myself. - Leval said. -

Both the she-devil and Tom exchanged glances. He then sighed, saying...

-We have all suffered much and made many sacrifices. But still, I sometimes hesitate. What if we were to make things even worse? – Tom commented, hastening to add. - And it's not that I don't sometimes think that my wife wouldn't be happy if we hadn't lost our second child when she had that miscarriage. I'd give anything to have three instead of the two I have, your cousin Alan and your cousin Idina. ....

-Yes," - ILaya agreed, now adding regretfully. - And I would trade myself without hesitation for Robert. - He died to save me and our daughter. In any case, I wish she had a better future than this. Doomed to fight and hide from those damn machines. For that reason, I will do whatever it takes to help you. Just like your cousin and the rest.

-I want to try. And I'd be lying if I didn't say that I want almost more than anything to meet my father.

-I do understand. - Tom said, resting a hand on one of the boy's arms. - Roy was a great guy. He was brave and fought along with the rest of our friends. They all sacrificed and set an example for us. That's all right. I have a little time left to finalize the calculations and finish writing the spell.

-It's a pity that those who dwell in Heaven don't want to help us. - The she-devil commented, affirming not without a bitter irony. - Perhaps my presence and that of my daughter, as well as that of Leval's cousin, is not too pleasant for them.

-That's not why. - Tom rebutted. - They can't intervene directly. We must do it ourselves. Maybe if Leval can get to the past, things will be different. -And he said, turning to the boy. - Your father did know how to transport to Heaven. His teachers taught him.

-In that case, I can't wait to go. - The boy commented somewhat impulsively. -

Those words made even the she-devil and her uncle smile. It was Tom who remarked with an affectionate and cordial tone.

-All in good time, Leval. All in good time... And never better said....

           That's what the young man remembered. When Roy called him with a jovial tone, bringing him out of those memories.

- Have you got a shock, boy? Come on, they're waiting for us!

             So, it was. So, he followed his father and the others to Earth. When they arrived home, Beruche told them about the alarming news from Ami, Leval was bewildered.

- It can't be," - the boy exclaimed in a disbelieving and frightened tone. - We only detected the sign of one in my future. This is not what I knew.

-You may have altered things with your arrival," - Sapphire conjectured. - Events may have changed from what you knew in your future. I don't know how, but it must be so.

The young man nodded regretfully. That was what his uncle had explained to him and what the she-devil ILaya had told him. Events could change and they had no way of knowing whether for the better or for the worse. However, there was no other solution than to face whatever had to happen.

-There is only one solution left. - Diamond told them. - To deploy and destroy the meteors as soon as they fall.

-The sailors have been warning us with precision of their approach to the Earth's orbit. They will fall within two days. - Cooan informed them. -

Although paradoxically Roy addressed the group with an air of great calm.

-Well, in these two days we will rest, prepare a plan, and distract ourselves, it will be the best thing to do.

-But we can take advantage of the two days we have left to train," - Leval replied, who was not so convinced. - We would become even stronger.

-I assure you that it is not necessary. - Roy reassured him. - We couldn't improve much in such a short time; we would only exhaust ourselves for nothing. The body and mind also must rest, my master Son Goku taught me that. Don't worry, we've already done all we could, just trust me!

-All right," - the boy nodded, trusting fully in that word, and wishing deep down to share as many moments as possible with his future parents. - I'll try to rest.

-Very well, then we will each go to our homes. - Diamond declared. -

- We will stay at Masters' islet. The warriors have faxed it to me. It is our headquarters at these coordinates," -Tom said, who took out a map and handed it to each of us. - In two days, remember, from there we are coordinating the tracking with Japan.

- It can't be! - Leval exclaimed without avoiding recognition. - It's the island where I grew up! The owner is Ian Masters!

- That name rings a bell. - Diamond commented, to which his brother recalled, one might even say, with a certain amount of sarcasm. -

- He's the one who has been sending you job proposals. The one you've said no to so many times.

- Yes, and the fact that you're going to work with him doesn't mean that I'm interested in him. - The prince of Nemesis declared with a pretendedly indifferent tone. -

- Are you going to work for that guy? - Emerald asked him, looking at Sapphire astonished. -

-It's a very good offer and he has the means and experts to do great things. – Sapphire responded. - It could be the engine of great advances for mankind.

-That is, if we get out of this well. - Nephrite reminded them. - Although as a secret base, if this guy has so many resources, I think it's the best option.

- That's right. Either way, now we'll have to go over there and work with him. If only because of the circumstances. - Diamond, who was not very happy that his brother was willing to be employed by that man, said. Adding as in his old days of sovereignty. - Emerald and the others stay here. We will take care of this.

However, the surprise of her partner and this topic of conversation was soon eclipsed by the refusals, led by Petz who replied decisively.

-I'm not willing to leave you alone. I will also fight.

-And me, we are Justicieras. - Cooan added decisively. -

-That's right, we won't stand idly by. – Bertie stated. -

-Especially if it means suffering without knowing what might happen to you. - Emerald added. -

The others seconded the idea with energetic nods, however Tom added with patient argumentation.

-The sailors have told us all to go, it is necessary, in case something goes wrong. The island is a safe place.

- Will they go? - Annie asked cautiously. -

-Of course. - Tom replied insistently. - It's the center of operations. We should all be there to coordinate efforts. -

-But it wouldn't be fair to leave the city alone. The people would be defenseless. - Cooan objected. -

-If we lose, there's nothing we can do for anyone. Believe me, I know that very well. You will be safer on the island, it is the only place from where you can organize an effective resistance and coordinate the rest of the groups that oppose these beings, if necessary. - Leval intervened somberly, lowering his head, and fearing that this could look more and more like his own destiny, so he said. - You must come with us.

No one objected to the boy's words, he knew better than anyone, only Petz intervened now worried about another issue they had almost forgotten.

- Karaberasu must be located," - she urged worriedly. - She must come with us too.

-It's true, if something happens, she will be lost. - Beruche affirmed with fear. -

-She can come with her son. - Tom affirmed. -

-This is looking more and more like my future," - Leval grumbled, clenching his fists. -

       And it was like a damned Deja vu, a loop that seemed destined never to end. He wished it weren't so.

-Relax," - Roy soothed him, placing a hand on the boy's right shoulder. - It's just a precaution, I assure you that it's not going to happen the same as in your future. I have no intention of getting myself killed. Besides, now we are both two super Saiyan and you have almost caught up with me in strength.

That seemed to calm the boy down, the others looked at their friend and Roy insisted with a strange charge of poise and rotundity.

-Things are not going to be the same. I'm sure of it.

And although the author of those words himself didn't know why he was so determined; he was glad that his harangue had an effect. No one objected. At last, it was Nephrite who took the floor to say goodbye.

-Good," - Nephrite nodded. - See you in two days, then.

They all left, each one spending that time as best they could, in the company of their respective partners. Roy, Beruche and Leval stayed together. They talked about many things and the boy had to control himself a lot not to give in to his feelings and confess the truth. The same thing happened to Roy who had maintained an admirable composure since they entered the room. Bertie for her part kept thinking and reflecting and did not lose detail of both. At last, though, the time had come. After those forty-eight hours of rest, they all met their respective brides at the appointed place. Some of the sailors came out to welcome them, specifically Usagi, Minako, and Makoto.

-Hello girls, how are you? - Makoto, who was wearing a fuchsia-colored swimsuit with brown decorations, greeted them. -

-Well, thank you Mako-chan. - Petz replied. -

- Did you have a nice trip here? - Minako wanted to know, dressed in another orange bathing suit, over which she wore a yellow sarong.

-We were flown in from JFK airport, first on a charter flight. We landed who knows where and a couple of helicopters were waiting for us. - Amanda told her, as always with visible interest in such matters, surrounded by so much secrecy. -

-In any case, we are glad to see you here. - Usagi, who was wearing khaki shorts and a light blue blouse, spoke. -

        Next to her was also the eccentric millionaire, a medium height and stout individual who wore square glasses and had short brown hair. He wore a summer suit without a jacket, a white shirt, and khaki pants. He greeted them by introducing himself as he led them all through a gate in a large rock that crowned the island. They went through it, walked down a long corridor to a large elevator that descended for a long time. No one had said anything, just watching their journey until the elevator stopped and they got out. They walked again and went through several more armored doors until they reached a room full of equipment. There, along with several technicians, were also Ami and Rei and the sailors from the outer solar system. They were dressed casually, basically in T-shirts and shorts. The girls greeted the group and the group responded in kind.

- Wow, Masters! - Diamond said, addressing the island's owner in a sarcastic voice - “Long time no hear from you, I missed you already!

-It's all right. I apologized before for my insistence, now is not the time for our personal disagreements, we all have a lot at stake. When we come out of this well, there will be an opportunity to talk.

-In that I agree," - the prince of Nemesis answered, now sincerely and with a conciliatory tone. - I admit that on this occasion you are right. Let's leave it, for now...let's see if he doesn't send me any more invitations for Christmas. - He emphasized those last two words without losing his smile. -

-Well, let's not dwell on it. - The millionaire added who seemed to ignore this last comment. - It's only a few minutes before the meteors hit the Earth and we have already located the impact zones, with a possibility of error of several kilometers.

- Several kilometers? - Nephrite asked incredulously. - "But aren't your detectors the most modern in the world?

-I don't understand it either," - Masters admitted. - But, by the looks of it, these meteorites produce magnetic disruptions in our equipment and make it impossible to be as accurate as possible. Your friend Ami will explain it to you.

The woman, who was nearby, intervened when she heard the magnate's allusion.

-Yes, that's true. Those meteorites must be rock-lined spacecraft. They will also have countermeasures for detection. It is impossible for us to accurately calculate their fall; we will only be able to do so when they crash.

-I grew up here. – “Leval said, glancing at the familiar contours, "and we were never able to detect the exact impact site of their base. It's like you said, miss. They must have had a shield that camouflaged them from the sensors.

Ami gave him a smile. Leval looked at her as if she were somehow familiar to him, though that impression soon passed. He then focused on listening to the others, with growing concern.

-We must assume that their technology is far superior to that of Earth. - Ail stated with visible concern. - This is going to be more difficult than we thought.

- Damn it, although the events are different, I have the impression that we are walking towards the same outcome, if we don't manage to discover their bases we will be lost! - Leval spat, visibly uneasy. -

- Don't be so pessimistic! -Roy encouraged him, giving him an affectionate pat on the back. - As soon as they fall, they'll be ours.

-Anyway," - Sapphire interjected thoughtfully. - What worries me is that they can regenerate instantly. We won't have time to destroy anything if they keep harassing us.

-Don't worry about that. - Ami reassured him. - We've been working in a hurry on some experimental disruptors, based on the idea Leval gave us. They may not stop them, but they'll slow them down for quite a few seconds. That would give you enough time to escape the area or destroy any targets.

-Okay, that's reassuring. - Roy exclaimed enthusiastically. - We'll attack those suckers with their own weapons!

- We also used the technique of firing bursts of energy beams at various locations so that their detectors would waste time analyzing them and then we would hide, reducing our power. - The boy commented to them, in case those disruptors failed. -

At that moment Rei observed one of the control screens and informed the group.

- The meteors have already fallen! The seismographs are vibrating like crazy bells.

Indeed, the meteors hit the Earth violently. And not only the seismographs of the island, but those of half the world shook. In an instant and based on the shock wave, their approximate position was detected. Its impact power would have raised an enormous amount of dust and would have surely also opened a huge crater in each collision. One fell in Australia, south of the Great Barrier, another in Alaska, near the Bering Strait and the last one in Tierra del Fuego. All at exactly 12:00 Greenwich Mean Time.

-There is no doubt that there is great intelligence behind this. - Diamond said when he learned all this information. - It's a very well-coordinated attack.

-Yes," -Tom agreed. - They form a perfect triangle that dominates the strategic points of the planet.

-We must spread out now. - Intervened Ail with the agreement of all, the alien then added. - Sapphire and I are leaving for Australia. Good luck, fellows!

-Yes, I've always wanted to visit the Opera House. - His companion added. -

          In fact, that's how Diamond's brother showed off his good mood. Both expedition members kissed their respective girlfriends. Ail also kissed his sleeping son on the forehead.

-Honey, be very careful, I couldn't bear to lose you again," - a trembling Petz whispered dominated by worry and fear. -

-Don't worry, this time I don't have a jacket to pick up. I have a future with you, and I won't give that up. - Sapphire smiled sententiously. - And besides, there are many plans for us when this is over.

          And she nodded hopefully. The young man caressed his girlfriend's cheek who returned a pale smile. The boy rose into the air with a wink.

-Remember you have a wife and child," - Annie said softly to Ail, caressing him serenely on one cheek in turn. - Don't take any chances for no reason, eh?

-I won't, don't worry, honey," - Ail was about to rise, but she remembered something and asked him. - When had I come back, will you do me a favor?

- What is it? - Ann asked curiously. -

-Roy told me you'd look very pretty in a wedding dress, so I'd like to check it out. Would you be willing to marry me?

- Of course, I would, darling! - the young girl exclaimed very happily hugging him. -

After this touching gesture, which caused everyone to smile, Ail finally rose into the air with Sapphire, both waved to the group and flew away at high speed.

-Well, we're going south too," - Nephrite said. -

-Be careful. Try to be punctual. - Amanda asked him with the same English sobriety with which he answered. -

-I will. Wait for me for dinner. I won't be long.

-Don't worry, I'll be back for dinner too. - Diamond said parodically and affectionately to Emerald, who also kissed him. -

-Take care of yourselves and come back. We have many pending plans. - She asked him, looking at him with a mixture of concern and pride. -

The two of them flew away. Only Roy and Leval were missing.

-Well, now it's our turn. - Roy declared, humorously indicating to the boy. - Leval, bundle up! We're going to Alaska.

Beruche approached him with an anxious face, but her boyfriend took care of hugging her.

-Calm down, everything is under control.

-The time that demon killed you, you told me the same thing. - She replied almost with a sob, now that the fight was about to begin, she could no longer control her nerves and asked him in a quiet voice. - Please, be very careful, both of you. - She added, also looking at Leval who nodded. -

-We are both super Saiyan.  We'll finish them off!

-You are so alike. - She whispered caressing them both on the cheek. - Be careful, protect each other.

Roy nodded, of course he would! He would never allow that boy, his future son, to suffer any more. So, he kissed Bertie on the lips. Leval kissed her on the cheek. They both waved to the others and disappeared. They reappeared in the air dozens of meters above the ground and flew quickly towards Alaska. The young woman watched them fly away from a distance. Then she made a discreet aside with Tom and Cooan and whispered to them.

-Tommy, you don't have to keep quiet anymore, I know who that boy is. - Her friend and Cooan looked at her in surprise, even more so when she revealed. - He is my son, isn't he? Or at least he will be in twenty years.

-Yes," - his friend admitted to the astonishment of his girlfriend who looked at the two of them with her open mouth -, "it's true, how did you know? Did Roy tell you?

- Did he know too? - Cooan asked astonished. - Your son? but how is it possible? - she asked, looking incredulously at her sister. -

-That's right, Cooan. - Beruche answered with tears in her eyes. - I noticed that Roy changed radically with him. That day when he hit him, he was jealous, but, when I left, I looked back for a moment and saw that you, Tom, were talking to him. I didn't hear you, but then I noticed his face. I'll never forget that expression and that look on his face, feeling so guilty, so broken! Then they came back together as if they were two lifelong friends. Roy started telling him all the things that had happened to him and me. How we met, the stories his parents told him. He wanted to do everything the boy missed. Share time with him. To do with Leval everything he knew that, in that other future, he could not. Roy has been acting like a father ever since, but I..., I haven't been able to. I haven't been able to tell him that I'm so proud of him. That I love him or will love him, I don't know... and that I wish with all my heart to be for him that good mother he has told us about... - She stammered remorsefully on the verge of tears. -

-Of course, you do, believe me, you have," - Tom reassured her, taking her gently by the shoulders. - For him you have been sweet and loving as that mother, although now because of your age you have been more like a big sister.

Beruche smiled comfortingly. The truth is that she could see the boy smile and that made her very happy. At least they had been able to give him some affection.

-Yes, that's true. - An emotional Cooan also corroborated, leaving a handkerchief for her sister to wipe away her tears. - Whenever you were with him, the boy felt very happy. You only had to look at him. Now that I know why, I can understand why, anyone would do it! Even if it was just for a few days, you and Roy made his dream come true, his two parents living together. No matter what happens, that will always be in his heart.

- I noticed from the beginning that he looked at me in a very special way, like he was my little brother, and I always knew that from the bottom of my heart. I told you Cooan. I only felt something like that for you. - Beruche sighed very excited. -

The two sisters hugged each other. The youngest sister mumbled in astonishment, almost without avoiding sobbing.

-I can't believe it, your son has come from the future to save his father and all the others.

- I'm sure he will succeed, he has as much strength and courage as his father, and he is as kind and courageous as his mother, there couldn't be a better combination! - Tom exclaimed full of confidence. –

              The girls nodded looking up at the sky as did the rest of their friends, all silently praying for their own. In the meantime, the three groups were moving at high speed, scouring the area towards their respective points of contact. That momentous battle for the future was about to begin.

**START**