CHAPTER NINE!

Meeting the others

M. Trunks woke up from a long sleep. It was the next day as he could tell, and he got out of the bed. He trailed down the stairs into a hallway which held doors to more bedrooms, all empty. He looked on the wall to see a picture of Bulma, Mr. Briefs, Vegeta (obviously not amused), himself, and baby Trunks. He smiled at that memory, it was taken before he left. He looked at a picture beside it to see all his friends and family, one that was also taken before he left for the future, his now destroyed world. On the picture was Krillin, Tein, Choutzu, Vegeta (still not amused), his mother, baby Trunks, Mr. Briefs, Yamcha, Master Roshi, Puar, Piccolo, Chichi, and Goku. "Hmm." He noticed Gohan in the far distance of the picture, he couldn't make out his face, but he could see a halo over his head. "That's funny, Gohan wasn't alive then, and still isn't, but he still showed up on the picture. Funny how spirits do that." He went on his way. He went down another flight of stairs and through 2 more hallways until he reached the living room, he could hear talking. He crept behind a corner to see what it was all about, it obviously would have stopped if he showed up.

"I wonder just what this thing Trunks talked about?" Hunter said while putting a questioning finger to his mouth while looking down with a puzzled look on his face.

"Just who is that guy?" M. Trunks asked himself when he fully noticed Hunter, he had never seen him before, not even in his timeline.

"I don't know..." Tein started, "but it sure can't be good."

Yamcha held up a fist. "Dang it. If only I could fight this thing, I would show it a lesson or two."

"Easy, Yamcha." Piccolo told Yamcha. "Trunks is still powerfuller than you are, and he couldn't beat this thing."

"I wonder if it has a name." Scorpion suggested.

"Man, if only we could get a glimpse of him." Tein argued while slamming a fist into the table.

"Hey!" Bulma shouted. "Don't break my furniture, you can still easily break that, you know."

"Heh, sorry Bulma."

M. Trunks observed them. "Wait, where is Gohan." He sighed. "Probably gone again."

"So..." Yamcha started. "What exactly do we do?"

"I will tell you what." Goku told the group. They all turned thier heads to look at him. "If this thing is as strong as Trunks says he is, then we best prepare. Remember when he first warned us of those androids, #17 and #18 were alot stronger than we imagined, but this time, we only have 1 year, not 3."

"I am sure Gohan could beat this thing." Tein suggested. All of them snapped thier heads toward him. "Gohan could beat Baby in just one punch with the power he has, not to mention he took care of Omega Shinron without even going Super Saiyan 2."

"Hmm, well..." Goku said. "I don't know, Gohan might not be here this time."

"So..." said a voice behind M. Trunks, which startled him. "enjoying the bliss, are we. Listen Trunks, your power level is substantuly weak compared to ours, even Tein's. I am sure we can handle this thing no problem. And when it all works out, you can settle here and have a happy life, since your time is destroyed by this thing."

"I don't know, Gohan-" M. Trunks started

"Come on Trunks! Don't do this to yourself, what are you possibly going to do there now?" Gohan asked.

M. Trunks sighed. "I don't know. I can't do anything there now, but I don't belong here."

"Trunks." Gohan told him while looking deep in his eyes. "You belong where you are needed, and that place needs you no more, but this one does and will. I am sure of it. Now, go to the hyperbolic time chamber and get stronger there. But first, I want you to give everyone my goodbyes, I gotta go."

"Wha, what! You, you can't leave yet!"

"Sorry Trunks, but my time here is up. See you in a couple of years, but for you, it will be one." Gohan floated up waving to him and slowly vanished.

M. Trunks just stood there, gawking at the ceiling. "Ok... mentor." He looked down, then entered the living room. Everyone looked at him. #18 shot up to see the boy. "Hey everyone. Listen, Gohan told me to give you all his goodbyes."

The entire group jumped like they saw a ghost.

"He is, gone!" Goku asked M. Trunks.

"Yeah." Trunks said while nodding his head in dissappointment. "He said he would see us in 1 year."

"Good." Hunter said while holding up a fist and smiling. "We will have good odds of winning then."

"Just who are you? I have never seen you before." M. Trunks asked Hunter.

"Well..." Goku started. "We once met him on Namek, but never saw him again until after Majin Buu."

"Here, let me explain." Hunter suggested. "It all started when Gohan and his friends, Krillin and Bulma landed on Namek. I came after Vegeta arrived. You see, Goku, Raditz, Vegeta, and Nappa were not the only Saiyans left alive in the universe after Frieza destroyed planet Vegeta."