I don't own Dragon Ball Z or any of its associated characters or intellectual properties.

Chapter 2

1 week later

On the lookout, both its guardian and caretaker stood outside on its white tiles. Both stood in complete silence as the guardian of earth looked on down at the planet he had sworn to protect deep in thought.

Mr Popo looked at his friend in worry and had been waiting for the Guardian to say something before deciding to ask instead "Kami" said the genie getting the attention of the guardian of the earth.

"Yes, Mr Popo" responded the Namekian as he turned from the edge of the lookout.

"If you do not mind me asking what is it that has you so troubled," asked Mr Popo.

Kami was silent for a moment before responding "The boy…Gohan…His heart is pure and his power is enormous" Mr Popo nodded in agreement and waited for Kami to continue which he did "I feel I am wasting the potential of one so gifted."

"Do you plan to change your decision?" asked the guardian's caretaker.

"No, my first obligation will always be to protecting the planet and that cannot change… But there are other planets. Other people out there" said Kami as he looked up into the blue sky.

"They need help. So many lives needless destroyed, that could be stopped so quickly" said Kami mostly to himself confusing Mr Popo.

"What are you talking about Kami," asked the genie.

"I am talking about Frieza, Mr Popo. The evil being who will destroy so many innocent people from now until Goku can stop him and yet we have a being here who could stop him in an instant. And yet we are locking him up and wasting his potential to save trillions" finished Kami shocking Mr Popo.

"So what do you plan on doing," asked the caretaker.

"I…Have an idea," said Kami

Gohan had stayed in his room most days letting the sadness of never seeing his family or friends again eat away at him. He had gotten by, by eating the food that Mr Popo had given him but was still not over the shock of being stuck in the past.

Gohan lay on his bed the entire day before a knock on the door was heard, and the tall green figure of Kami entered the room.

The two were quite for a moment before Kami started talking "As I am sure you have already thought of, if you were to stay here that you would be unable to interact with any of your family or friends" said the Guardian which Gohan nodded to.

"But I feel as much as that would be the safe way of going about things I also think that would be a waste as well" Kami continued confusing Gohan.

"You have great power in you Gohan, as well as a righteous heart to do good. I believe that would be wasted if you would be stuck here doing nothing…. That is why I think you should go" said Kami.

Gohan was silent for a moment before answering "Go where" asked Gohan in confusion.

"You seem to forget that while it is true you are from earth you are no simple earthling. You have Saiyan blood running through you just the same as human" said Kami shocking Gohan.

"Wait are you saying you want me to go and help the Saiyans! But their monsters who kill and ravage" said Gohan in disgust.

Kami answered calmly "You judge the many by the few you have met… But at the same time have seen the change and good that they contain within themselves by watching your father and even Vegeta."

Gohan sat in deep thought as he heard that.

"I will not force you to go, as I have said before you may stay here as long as you wish that has not changed. But I will leave you with something to think about. What would your father do" asked Kami before calmly walking away as he closed the door to the room leaving the young half Saiyan to contemplate what he had just been told?

Gohan sat on his bed quietly in shock as thoughts, ran through his mind, "I can't leave earth by myself and to help Saiyans…what if I just mess up and make everything worse" thought Gohan as he worried about the idea throughout the day before falling asleep with anxiety and fear.

DBZ...DBZ...DBZ... DBZ...DBZ...DBZ... DBZ...DBZ...DBZ... DBZ...DBZ...DBZ...DBZ...DBZ...DBZ

Gohan suddenly looked around himself as he saw he was on a spaceship. I was the same one he had used to travel from Earth to Namek and could feel the ship moving and turned to the window. And saw where he was and could see the earth slowly fading away and realised he was moving away from the earth.

"NO this can't be happening I can't do this by myself" thought Gohan in panic as he turned away from the window to the rest of the room only for him to see pure white all around him reminding him of the time he spent in the hyperbolic time chamber.

"Where am i…What's happening" thought the young half-Saiyan as he look around himself only to see white as far as his eyes could see.

"I can't do this…I can't.I'm sorry dad, I'm not like you…I can't launch myself into the unknown and face it…" Gohan as he collapsed to his knees as tears dripped down his face.

Gohan felt himself cry as the feeling of loneliness; failure and inadequacy seeped into him.

"I'm sorry dad I'm not as strong as you," Gohan said to himself finally.

Gohan faced the ground on his hands in knees as he felt his doubt crush him from all sides when suddenly he felt something and turned and saw a figure walking towards him from the endless white void. The person became clearer and clearer as they walked towards him before the person was entirely recognisable. In his usual orange gi and blue undershirt and boots walking with his typical smile on his face as he came towards his son.

"Dad," asked Gohan in shock not believing he was standing in front of him.

Goku nodded in smiled as he got down on one knee and put his hand on his son's shoulder.

"Dad," Gohan said again in shock and happiness as more tears poured from his eyes but this time in joy as he hugged his father.

"It's alright son; I'm here now," said Goku as he wrapped his arms around his son.

"Dad it's horrible, I am trapped back in time and I can't use the dragon balls to go back home and know Kami is asking me to leave so I can help the Saiyans…But I can't do it, dad, I'm not like you" said Gohan.

Goku smiled at his son as he stood up taking his son with him before they were both standing up straight.

"It's alright son," said the older Saiyan.

"I know this is hard… it's the most difficult thing you have ever had to do. You are so strong and smart, yet you don't even know it, it's truly incredible. You know before this ever happened I wasn't sure if this was the right path for you." said Goku with a smile.

"What are you talking about dad," asked Gohan in confusion.

"I remember when you were born, your mother wanted you to be a scholar, and I wanted you to be a fighter. She was relentless with how she didn't want you to fight for a living like I had, and I figured she probably knew better. But I also thought that if life wanted you to be a fighter then you would be one. So I conceded and for the first four years I thought maybe your mother was right, as you never showed an interest in martial arts… and then everything happened with Raditz and Vegeta and the next time I saw you, you were this warrior, and I thought maybe I was right and that this was your destiny. You were powerful for your age, scared but brave. You did everything you could to save the planet. You made me so proud that day, but also scared me. It happened on Namek as well. You showed how brave you were, willing to fight warriors so much more powerful then you were to save the ones you cared about. You showed your incredible smartness when you returned and tried to keep Frieza on the planet because you knew he would come after you and earth. I don't think I would have been smart enough to realise that. I was so impressed and worried at the same time… I never told anyone this but when I was out in space after fighting Frieza I had actually decided not to train you and let you continue your studies. I didn't want anything happing to you, and I figured I could step up my own training to protect you. Make sure you didn't have to fight" said Goku with a light a smile pausing for a moment before continuing.

"Then Trunks came and told me about the future and I realised that one day the planet would need a hero that wasn't me and fate had decided it was going to be you. It scared me but I also realised there was no point in fighting it so I trained you, pushed you to your limit and over and over again you pushed past your limit, past my expectations… I don't think you realise how powerful you had gotten for your age. Then the androids came and you showed how smart you were once again by realising the androids had no energy shocking me… You did it again and again impressing me with your resilience and smarts. You even pushed me to push you to become a Super Saiyan… I don't think you even know how strong you are son, I continue to train myself outside our training sessions just to keep up with you … and it finally hit me that you are no longer strong for your age, you are strong period, stronger than me. You push me to my limits and beyond and are still ready to go. I realise now that it is my turn to pass on the role of protector of earth to you son, just as fate always meant it to be… there will be times when you will be in trouble and I will always try my best to help you, but if I am not there remember all you need to do is trust yourself son. Both your heart and your mind and you will never go wrong. You are so strong…and smarter than I will ever be and I just hope one day you realise that. You have made me proud my son."

DBZ...DBZ...DBZ... DBZ...DBZ...DBZ... DBZ...DBZ...DBZ... DBZ...DBZ...DBZ...DBZ...DBZ...DBZ

Gohan suddenly shot awake from his bed "Dad" yelled the half-Saiyan looking around.

Only to find himself in the same room on the lookout Kami had given to him where he saw the still motionless Android 18 lying peacefully in the bed next to his.

Gohan shifted over from his bed in sadness and in deep thought "That dream, I could have sworn it was real, dad's voice it was like he was right next to me… But I guess it just a dream."

Gohan sat on his bed for minutes before a smile adorned his face as he hopped out of his bed.

"No matter what happens dad, you're always there to help me and I will do my best to not let you down" thought Gohan as he exited his room and walked towards Kami's energy signal.

Kami turned as he sensed Gohan entering the room he was currently in "Ah Gohan your awake, Should I have Mr Popo make you some food" asked Kami.

"Sure that sounds great. But actually I came here to tell you I decided on what I wanted to do" said Gohan confidently.

"Oh really and what have you decided" asked Kami.

"I decided I will go out into space and see if I can help as many people as I can, just as I know my father would have done," said Gohan with a grin.

Kami grinned as he heard this "That sounds like a wise decision."

Gohan grinned in response before reply "I just have one question how do I travel in space when I don't have a ship" which Kami smiled at in response.

DBZ...DBZ...DBZ... DBZ...DBZ...DBZ... DBZ...DBZ...DBZ... DBZ...DBZ...DBZ...DBZ...DBZ...DBZ

1 Week Later

The lookout was full as a giant white sphere with sharp pegs that stuck out of it all of the place sat on its tiled surface as a group of 3 stood in front of it.

"So this is it," said Gohan nervously.

"Yes it is," said Kami with a grin.

"I'm really nervous," said Gohan with a shy laugh.

"It will be alright just trust yourself. You have been prepared; you have all the coordinates inputted into the machine. You have been taught all the basic functions of how to use my old ship and Mr Popo has given you a list of all the complex commands should you ever need them" responded Kami.

"I know, it's just I have so much I have to try to do. Besides trying to help everyone in space I have to find I doctor who can hopefully help 18" said the young Saiyan warrior.

"Yes I must apologise I was not able to help with that," said Mr Popo sadly.

"It's alright hopefully I'll find someone out there who can help" responded Gohan.

Gohan turned and walked towards the space ship before saying "Piccolo" as I white pad suddenly dropped down from the bottom of the vessel towards the floor where it levitated slightly above the ground.

Gohan turned around and smiled at the Guardian and his caretaker "Thank You for everything you have done for me… I guess I'll see you in 25 years when you need the ship again" said Gohan as he waved to the two and turned around and hopped onto the pad when he was suddenly stopped.

"How about we make that 18 years instead," said Kami suddenly shocking Gohan and confusing him.

"18?" asked the Saiyan.

"Yes I have thought this through enough and I believe in 18 years you can come back and use the dragon balls safely without affecting this timeline," said Kami.

Gohan grinned at his "Alright then, well I'll see you in 18 years, by" as he waved to the two who waved bye and wished him well on his trip.

"Piccolo," said Gohan as the pad went up and took him into the space ship he would be using for the foreseeable future.

Gohan walked over to a room which the door slid open into the wall as he peered in and saw the still unconscious form of the blonde android known as 18 causing him to sigh.

"Don't worry 18, I promise I will find someone to help you" said Gohan as he walked out of the room and towards the control panel where he entered selected the coordinates to Planet Vegeta.

"I still don't know how Kami got this" thought Gohan as he strapped himself in and the ship launched into space.

A few seconds later as the ship broke the atmosphere and was sailing through space. Gohan unhooked himself from his seat and walked over to window where he looked out at the giant blue sphere that was earth that slowly shrank into the distance.

"I promise you father that I will make you proud" thought Gohan as the planet disappeared from view.

Authors Note:

I am completely blown away by the response the first chapter got and I want to thank everyone.

First and foremost I want to thank everyone who reviewed: Egohan, divindemon1, RFK22, rrm232m WineIXI, Smithback, Patrick the almighty observer, darrius212 and the 2 guests. Thank You all for taking the time to review.

I also want to thank everyone who favorited and followed.

And finally I want to say that everyone's response and feedback pushes me to want to post more chapters. So I have decided to add a system for updates that provides just that. The way it will work is quiet simple, every 20 reviews (so the day of) I will post a new chapter EARLY. This gives everyone an incentive to review and me more feedback. But this is not a handcuff either, if this chapter literally gets 0 reviews, that's fine chapter 3 will still be posted next week, this is just a incentive to get it early.

So Chapter 3 will be posted when I get a total of 31 Reviews or 1 Week from now.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns please let me know and I will answer them the best I can.

My Deviantart Account has been posted onto my profile