Protection the Raditz Way

Moonlight Madness

By StarbearerTM
Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Ball Z or Raditz. Toriyama does. I do own Dr. Atomica Stellari, Fermi and Bohr, and other minor fan fiction characters that are not part of the DBZ universe. This is a work of fan fiction for entertainment purposes only. I don't get rich off this.

***

Dr. Stellari happened to wake up in the middle of the night. She wrapped her bathrobe around her and tied the silky sash. Already her belly rounded with the growing life planted inside her by one of the last members of a nearly extinct race. Her body seemed to change to accommodate the new life. Feelings of primal aggression burned inside, and the silvery light shining in the window seemed to exacerbate her. Millions of tingling pinpricks made it near impossible to sleep.

Quickly she exited her room, and strode down the hallway towards the twin's room. Fermi and Bohr slumbered there in the bunkbeds, she could tell by the gentle breathing. Minds shimmered silently with dreams. She hoped they would continue to sleep. Quietly she crept in, then leaned down to kiss Bohr on the cheek.

"Mommy, you awake?" he muttered.

"Go back to sleep, sweetie," she whispered. Bohr accepted her kiss and pressed one to her lips as well.

"G'nite Mommy."

Fermi blinked from his bed and looked down. His voice murmured, "Mom, why are you awake? You worried about the moon?"

"What about the moon?"

"You're all crawly like. It's like you can't sleep?" he said.

"Go back to sleep hon."

"No Mommy are you scared?" Fermi persisted. The five-year-old moved to the front of his bed, and looked down.

"I… yes I am. But it's nothing for you to worry about," she said, leaning up to kiss his forehead. "Can you be a brave boy and stay here and look after the house while I go out?"

"I want to come with you," Fermi said defiantly. "You shouldn't go out alone, Mommy."

"Take us, Mommy," Bohr said sleepily. "Please!"

"All right you two, but its straight back to bed," she said. Inside she was grateful for the company of her boys, although they were only six years old. Seeing how Goten and Trunks grew incredibly strong, she figured their powers would defend her if she could not protect herself. To expect mere boys to fight, as a warrior should was unfair, but it was their choice.

Fermi slid down, and Bohr rubbed dust from his eyes. Fermi's pajamas were the flannel ones with dinosaurs on them, while Bohr had chosen red ones with various sports equipment dotting it. They quickly put on slippers at their mom's watchful insistence. She strode into her room and changed into a pair of loose fitting Capsule sweats and sandals. By the time she returned both boys were tying the belts of martial arts clothes.

"Boys, we aren't going to spar," she said.

"It seemed right," Bohr said.

"We don't know what's out there. How can we protect you Mommy if we're not in costume?" asked Fermi. He extended his hand to her, and she took it. Bohr moved on her other side, his arm around her waist. Both twins bracketed their mother while she strode towards the balcony. Fermi shoved the door open, his dark eyes peering out. Silvery threads of moonlight beamed down. Dr. Stellari felt the tingling in her spine moving all over her body.

"The moon is beautiful, but why are you scared?" asked Bohr, holding tightly to his shivering mother. Fermi narrowed his eyes, and automatically stretched out ki probes.

"There's a BIG ki over there," said Fermi, pointing with one finger towards the distant mountains.

"And a big full moon," said Bohr, pointing to the silvery orb drifting over the hills. Dr. Stellari was afraid to face it, wondering what would happen.

"Are you scared for Uncle Raditz?" asked Fermi quietly.

"He's not here, is he?" said Bohr. "Did he turn into a big monkey?"

"I… don't know where he is," she whispered. "And I'm scared to look at the moon. I'm… the babies…"

"We'll be with you Mommy," said Fermi. "Keep your eyes closed and we'll see for you."

"Here Mommy, make a blindfold," said Bohr. She leaned down and let either twin hand her a cloth. She tied it around her eyes. Silent winds whipped her hair, and she felt reassured that they could lead the way. Taking her hands, both twins, squeezed tightly.

"I feel that big ki. There's more than one," said Bohr.

"Let us help you see, so you won't see the moon," said Fermi. Ki crackled around her two sons, nestling under either armpit. Atomica allowed her ki to envelop her as well. Three figures rose into the night, one of them led by two youths. Through their eyes they saw the silvery moonlight, extending their perceptions to their mother. She had never seen the full moon in her pregnancy; concerned that it might trigger some horrendous change for the half Saiyan-children she carried. Why had she never asked Raditz about this?

A loud growl echoed. She felt them touch down for a landing. Wind whistled through trees, and she heard the rustling of leaves. Through her psychic rapport she saw the shape of the hills merging to a cave. It smelled of fresh blood and the ashes of a fire. "There," Fermi said.

"It's him, inside there," said Bohr. "You sure you want to see him? He seems kinda sad."

"Raditz!" she called out quietly. "Are you there?"

No answer came. Fermi let go of his mother's hand, dropping into a defensive stance. Bohr remained back with his mother. A look passed from one twin to another as they saw their mother tense in fear. "Hey! Are you in there or not?" called Fermi.

"Come out come out wherever you are!" Bohr added. Small voices echoed against cliffs and rocks.

A sudden snarling caught her ears. Fermi and Bohr turned, their eyes broadcasting the images they saw into their mother's mind. On the hilltop above the cave she saw two figures standing and facing the moon. One of them had a long fall of hair, while the other's bald head gleamed in the silvery light. Neither one seemed aware or cared about the newcomers. Bohr helped levitate his mom up while Fermi moved on her other side.

"Stay close to me, boys," she said softly.

"I'm masking our chi," said Bohr.

"They look like they're hypno-tized," Fermi observed.

Blue lightening crackled down their backs. Tails unfurled from their waists, swishing about. Their eyes raised to the full orb, beaming and gleaming along their muscular bodies. Fully dressed in armor, the figures of Nappa and Raditz merged and blistered. Throwing back their heads they roared to the night. Fur erupted down their bare skin while their eyes glowed blood red. In a matter of seconds their bodies ballooned and erupted skywards. Growing height and mass their voices deepened to growling rumbling snarls.

"Watch out!" Fermi shouted as one of them turned around. Shaggy fur covered the bodies of the huge apes snarling moonwards. Glowing red eyes whirled to face the intruders. Jaws opened, lightening crackling in them.

"Shield!" Bohr shouted, throwing up his hand. Fermi did the same, forming a barrier of psychic power to ward off the blow. Atomica twisted her body, carrying her children with her.

"Boys, let's leave!" she called.

"RRAAAGGGH!" the larger of the two apes snarled, stamping towards them. Fermi and Bohr maintained their shield, pulling Dr. Stellari with them. All they worried about now was protecting their confused and scared mother.

Just then the other ape whirled around. He reached out with a massive paw to grab the shoulder of the first who must have been Nappa. Long jagged spikes spilled down his back, and his eyes glowed deeper read. A snarl escaped his mouth and he yanked the other around to face him. Loud snarls from Nappa were answered with growling and bared sharp fangs from Raditz. Nappa stopped his nostrils flaring.

"You'd better watch it, or we'll fight you!" Fermi shouted.

"Don't tempt me, small fry!" came a loud growling snarl.

"Don't touch them!" Atomica shouted. "Don't you recognize us?"

"Leave!" shouted the first. "Get outta here shrimps or you'll get hurt!"

"Go away," snarled the one named Raditz. "It's not safe…"

"Raditz?" Dr. Stellari shouted. "It's us!"

"We're not scared of you!" Fermi shouted. "You're just two big monkeys!"

"You won't scare us or Mommy, or the people in the city!" Bohr answered.

"Go Nappa, leave!" growled the shaggy haired great ape. "I'll handle this."

"Have fun, whelp," growled Nappa. He stomped off, his huge bulk moving through the trees of the wild. Huge footsteps vibrated till he vanished behind the nearby hills.

"Mommy?" Bohr asked. "You sure you wanna stay?"

"You don't scare us," Fermi answered. "With your changing and stuff! You worried Mommy!"

"You should not be here," the voice answered. "Take your mother and go home."

"I'm not frightened of you Raditz, I want to understand," said Dr. Stellari. "This too."

"She does, please listen to her, Uncle Radish-man," Bohr pleaded. "She's scared to look at you cause she's scared looking at the moon will hurt the babies!"

"WHAT was that?" the Great ape form of Raditz growled deeply. His huge head tipped from side to side, undulating impossibly long locks. Bohr wrapped his arms around her waist, covering her belly with his small body. He hugged her around the chest, his back facing Raditz, as if to shield his developing siblings from any danger. Fermi moved to shield both his brother and mother with hands held up. A glimmering shield of psionic power wreathed around the trio, generated by the twins. It solidified into chi as solid as that of a Saiyan's energy attack.

"Is it harmful for me, pregnant with Saiyan children, to look at a full moon?" Atomica Stellari asked.

"She asked you a question, if you please Uncle. Are you gonna answer or what?" Fermi asked.

For a six year old, he was quite articulate. Though they were identical twins, either boy had a distinct personality. Fermi was bold, adventurous and brash, while Bohr was more cautious and sensitive. Both were halves of a whole being, never separated from one another. Being psychic they each shared one another's pain and joy, linked in an intimate bond that few humans could comprehend. Such a bond extended to their mother Atomica, no matter how much distance separated them a piece of her mind was in theirs. Theirs was a bond that started the moment the boys became aware in their mother's womb, and their fledgling powers unfolded. A bond through close contact did not easily diminish.

"Bold are you, boy?" Raditz laughed with amusement. "I think they inherited THAT brashness from your side, do you agree Precious one?"

"Hurry up with the mushy stuff and answer so Mommy and us can go back to bed, okay?" Fermi asked.

"You gotta speak to him with respect," Bohr cautioned him. "He's married to Mommy, remember?"

"Our whelps are NOT at risk if you look at the moon, love," Raditz growled down at her, still sitting o his palm. "You are human not Saiyan. And the whelps are unable to look at the moon growing in your belly as they are!"

"But they can see with an inner eye," Fermi said quietly. "That was why she was scared."

"You said that Saiyans are telepathic. When I was carrying these two around, they could see through my experiences," said Atomica. Fermi moved back to her other side, thrusting his shoulder under her armpit to aid in her levitation while Bohr moved away from her front.

"That is not the case now, small ones," Raditz rumbled, extending a huge gauntleted hand. "Bring your mother here. She is tired and there is much we need to discuss."