Chapter 2: The Dangerous Monster, The Helpful Stranger

As the time machine sped across the sky, Trunks and Gohan wondered where they could go.

"I have no idea," said Gohan.

"Well, why don't I punch in some random co-ordinates and see where that takes us?" suggested Trunks.

"Sure! Why not?"

Trunks shut his eyes and pressed random keys on the control panel and then pressed the activate button. The time machine gathered up some more speed and passed through several galaxies in outer space. After a few seconds, the time machine came to rest on a new planet. Gohan squished his nose up against the window, admiring the vast open countryside. It sure was peculiar. The grass was not green but blue, trees were multicolored, and the sky seemed to swirl in many hues of yellow and green.

"Hey! Have you taken a look at this place?" he questioned Trunks.

"Yeah, it's weird! Don't go outside until I launch the scouter, cos I wanna make sure that the atmosphere is reliable…" He went over to the computer and pressed some nearby buttons. A small machine called a scouter that investigated the surrounding area was released, allowing the computer to produce the planet's details.

"Ah! Here we go…" he said, as he scanned the screen. "The planet is inhabited, and they breathe oxygen, so that's good. The gravity here is 15 times heavier than that of Earth, but that won't bother us one bit!"

He looked to the seat next to him and noticed that it was empty. He hurried over to the window and saw Gohan already outside, checking out the scenery.

"You asshole, Gohan! Why the fuck did you go outside when I specifically told you not to?" he screamed through the glass.

"Jesus, quit your whining, Trunks! I'm still alive, aren't I?" Gohan said as he squatted down to stare at the pinkish water of the nearby lake.

Trunks sighed and rested against the control panel, only to hear a sharp click. He turned round to see what he had pressed and his face paled. He had pressed the return button- the button that would send him back to Earth!

OH SHIT! yelled Trunks inside his head. He launched himself at the door and yanked it open.

"GOHAN! Get your butt in here NOW!" he shouted.

"Huh?" said Gohan, tearing his eyes away from the small, strange creatures that resembled fish with six legs jumping in and out of the water.

"The time machine's about to leave the planet!" he roared. Gohan ran back as fast as he could, but it was too late. The time machine had already left the ground.

"I'm sorry, Gohan!" shouted Trunks. "I don't know when I'll be able to come back for you! It might take months, so be careful, alright? And don't get yourself killed!"

"What?!? But I don't even know if the people are friendly!" yelled Gohan, but the time machine was long gone.

Gohan just stood staring at the patch of sky where Trunks disappeared. He couldn't believe that Trunks left him behind!

Great. I'm stranded on an alien planet, with nothing but my chemistry book! As if that's gonna help… he thought as he threw his exercise book away. He looked around. Huh. There isn't so even much as a village close by! But why the fuck am I looking? The people are probably as hostile as Vegeta when I first knew him!

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When Trunks made it back to Earth, he was under ChiChi's wrath, when she had finally come over her initial shock.

"Trunks, you jerk! My poor Gohan will be scared being out there all on his own without me being there with him! And here I thought that burning the cake was my only problem! How is my baby ever going to get back home? WAAAAHHHH!!"

God, she still treats him like a baby, even though he's sixteen? Why won't she let the poor guy grow up? Thought Bulma.

"Calm down ChiChi," she reassured. "Trunks did say that he would be able to go back for Gohan sometime soon!"

"THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH! WHAT IF GOHAN IS KILLED 'SOMETIME SOON', HUH? MY HUSBAND'S ALREADY GONE, AND I DON'T WANT MY FIRST CHILD TO GO EITHER!!!" she bawled.

"Gohan can take care of himself, ChiChi. You don't need to worry! I'm sure he's fine."

"I suppose you're right Bulma," she said as she blew her nose in her hankie and evened out her temper. "But if anything bad has happened to him, I'm holding you personally responsible!" She said this as she prodded Trunks hard in the chest.

Trunks rolled his eyes. Why did this have to happen to me…?

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Gohan decided to go a walk in the forest nearby, but he lowered his power level to almost zero so that nobody would be able to sense him. He thought he would be safe in doing so, but he was wrong. A creature was watching him from the shadows. Threads of saliva were drooling from its corpulent mouth and its glowing turquoise eyes were viewing his every move. It inched forward and it inadvertently stood on a dry branch, which snapped loudly. Gohan stopped and looked behind him to see what it was that caused the sound, but he saw nothing. He shrugged his shoulders and turned back round, only to be faced with the creature. It had been stalking him, and it was drooling even more now. A pungent stench was emitting from its body, and Gohan had to hold his breath, otherwise he would have been sick. Even if the smell weren't there, he would have been sick at the sight of it.

Now that the creature had come out of the shadows, Gohan could see exactly what it was like. It was a grossly fat being, and if it stood up to it's full height instead of hunching over, which made it even fatter, it would be an entire foot shorter than Gohan. It had blotchy, greasy red skin, and sprouting from its head was oily, wiry black hair. Its teeth and claws were long, yellow and broken, and it was wearing a purple and white tattered garment that seemed to be made from reptile skin. Rolls of fat were hanging out from between the reptile skin and a tight, black strip of ragged cloth that barely covered its flabby legs. A set of small, scaly, bat-like wings protruded from its back, and they flapped restlessly behind the monster. Every time it breathed in, its throat emitted a rasping noise. It was the most grotesque creature he had ever seen, even more than Frieza and Cell put together!

Gohan took on a fighting stance as the beast advanced on him. Its grasping claws were groping the air and it licked it's discolored lips as more shoelaces of saliva dripped down. Gohan fired an energy blast straight at it, hoping that it would be destroyed, but the monster seemed to absorb his energy. He then aimed a punch at its stomach, but it was the biggest mistake he could have done. His arm was trapped in among the folds of putrid flesh, and the weight was crushing it as the creature drew him in closer. Gohan managed to free his now numbed and dislocated arm from the rolls of flesh, which angered the beast. The battle continued on between the two, with Gohan being slightly disadvantaged of only having one working arm. Because of this disadvantage, Gohan ended getting severe injuries inflicted upon him from the monsters' claws. At one point, he had swung a kick at the creature, but he missed and it sunk its jagged teeth into the side of his calf. He let out a scream of pain and tried to shake it off, but his attempts were futile. It eventually let go after he fell to the ground, and it jumped back and waited.

What's it waiting for? Thought Gohan, wincing at the agony coming from his calf.

That was just at that moment he felt a sudden rush of pain coursing through his whole body. The brute had injected potent venom that causes all of its victims' muscles to spasm. The paroxysms tightened Gohan's chest, causing his breathing to become difficult. He shut his eyes- it looked like he was going to die young.

Absolute joy. All that bloody studying was for nothing!

As the monster opened it's huge, chunky jaws to devour Gohan, it was suddenly knocked off balance and it crashed into the trees nearby. He sensed the new energy and he opened one eye and searched the area to see what attacked the creature, but nothing could be seen. Suddenly a flash of green light darted past him and it started to pummel the monster.

Whatever it is, it sure is fast… and strong… he thought, trying to stay conscious.

The creature had been knocked to the ground, and it struggled to get back up. Gohan noticed that the green light had stopped moving, and in its place was a young girl, about his age. She had long, spiky jade hair, but that was all he could make out before he slipped out of consciousness. The girl destroyed the monster and she walked over to the unconscious and wounded Gohan.

I wonder why this guy was wandering in the Forest of Eternal Shadow? Everyone knows it's dangerous here! Was he deliberately trying to get himself killed? I'd better ask him when he comes to. She lifted Gohan upon her shoulders and flew to her home at the other side of the forest. But first I'll tend to those wounds of his!

~tbc~

Typical bloody Gohan. Doesn't think to use his brain while he's fighting. If he transformed during the battle he might not have got in such a mess! But if he did transform, half of the story wouldn't exist and it would be totally pointless! So, who is this enigmatic newcomer? What part will she play in Gohan's life? More importantly, will he survive the potent bite from the creature? Stay tuned to find out more!

Ja Ne!