Night Crawlers

Chapter Three

"Hey Piccolo!" Trunks shouted as he arrived near the waterfall, "Gohan met a girl!"

Piccolo's eyes popped open. "A girl?" The Namek turned and looked at the lavender haired boy. "Where?"

"In town. But, don't tell him that I told you! He'd kill me!" Trunks smiled, hovering Indian style beside his friend. "She is a good fighter….and she's pretty."

"Does Gohan like this girl?" Piccolo couldn't help but smile at the thoughts of Gohan having a more normal life.

"Well, I think he does. But, he won't admit it. He's too much like you!" Trunks laughed.

"Me?" Piccolo looked at him sternly but Trunks was already gone. He watched as the boy flew up to the cave.

"Androids were easier to understand that teenagers." He said to himself.

About a week had passed. Gohan was continuing Trunks' training. From dawn to dusk he pushed the young boy, hoping to enrage him enough to find the Super Saiyan that was inside him. Piccolo too helped in the training. While Trunks took well-deserved breaks, Gohan pushed himself still, sparring with Piccolo.

That was just Gohan's way.

At night, Piccolo and Gohan meditated while Trunks was content to draw. Meditation was just not his thing.

"We're heading to town!" Gohan told Piccolo. "Should be back in about two hours."

"That is fine." Piccolo said. "You know where I'll be." Piccolo had been using his split form for training today while Gohan and Trunks had sparred.

Once in town Gohan and Trunks were greeted heartily. Trunks hurried to the paper stand to get some supplies. While he was busy with this, Gohan headed to see Vale's father.

The tent was busy, people buying vegetables. However, as soon as Gohan arrived, the man took notice of him. "It is you!" He said loudly. The man moved slowly, but as fast as he could to Gohan's side. He reached out his good arm to shake Gohan's hand. "I owe you my life…and the life of my daughter." He said humbly. "Please, come inside."

Leaving an assistant to run the vegetable stand, he escorted Gohan inside. "Please, sit down, son."

"Thank you sir." Gohan said. "I came to check on your arm. It seems to be healing well."

"Yes. It is. Hardly any pain." He smiled at Gohan. "I am Mr. Miagi. It is a pleasure to finally meet you."

Gohan smiled. "Come here and let me examine you." Mr. Miagi did as he was asked. Gohan put on some fresh bandages for the splint. As he was finishing up, Vale arrived.

She was slightly startled when she saw Gohan there, but smiled. "It is good to see you again, Mr. Hero." She said playfully.

"And you." Gohan said. "Your father's arm seems to be almost healed. Maybe another two weeks."

"I can't wait to get this contraption off!" The older man said. "It itches!"

Gohan smiled. "I'm sure it does."

"Well, I must return outside before that helper of mine runs off with all our profit!" Mr. Miagi thanked him again and left.

"Where is the other boy?" Vale asked. "Trunks?"

"He's out in the market. Reeking havoc on unsuspecting shop keepers." Gohan smiled.

They both felt an uncomfortable silence that seemed to drag on for minutes.

"I guess I'd better go." Gohan said.

"Ok…" Vale replied. "Thanks for coming by."

"Sure." Gohan told her. "See ya later!" He hurried outside. "Good bye Mr. Miagi! See you in a couple weeks!"

Once he was gone, Mr. Miagi scolded his daughter. "You could have asked him to stay for dinner."

"Dad….please…I hardly know him." Vale told him. "Besides, he probably has business to take care of."

"Right." Her father smiled. "Lots of business."

Vale poked her father in his good arm and went back inside to put away the different plants and herbs she had acquired on her shopping.

It was well past dark when Gohan and Trunks finally arrived back at the cave. Piccolo had just bathed under the waterfall and was relaxing in the cave.

"I'm going to the waterfall!" Trunks shouted and grabbed a bar of soap. "See ya in a bit!"

Gohan smiled. "That kid is way too hyper!"

"Reminds me of another kid I used to know." Piccolo said. "You need to learn to relax now. Take some time for yourself."

"I do." Gohan said. "I just have to keep my responsibilities straight. Right now, training is my priority."

Piccolo didn't say anything else. It was useless. Gohan was as thick headed as he mother had been.

When Trunks came up, Gohan went next.

As nighttime came, they all settled inside the cave. Piccolo in meditation, Trunks and Gohan sleeping. After years of practice, Piccolo had managed to drown out their loud snores.

It was well past midnight when they heard the scream. Then a loud shout as the mountains echoed a voice. All three warriors flew down into the valley.

What Gohan found angered him.

It was Vale. She was covered in scrapes and scratches, tears running down her face.

"VALE!" Gohan screamed and rushed to her side.

"The village…" She said weakly. "Creatures have attacked the village." Falling to her knees she sobbed.

"What kind of creatures?" Piccolo demanded. "Tell us!"

"Horrible…." Vale told him. "Large…" Then as if all her strength left her, she collapsed. Gohan was quick to reach down and pick her up in his arms.

"I'll take her back to the cave and meet you in the village." Gohan told Piccolo.

Nodding, he and Trunks flew away.

Gohan put Vale down on his sleeping bag and was about to leave when she stirred. "Shhh." He told her. "You stay here. We'll handle the creatures."

"My father…" Vale said. "Please find him for me."

"I will. Now stay put. This cave is at least three hundred feet above ground." She nodded as he left.

When Piccolo and Trunks arrived in the village, they saw familiar horrors. Tents were in flames, bodies lying in the streets. "Not again…" Trunks said. "Please….not again."

"Get ahold of yourself." Piccolo said firmly. "It's not Androids. We can handle this…now, stay by my side."

Piccolo and Trunks flew low over the street, trying to sense the energy of the latest threat. But, they sensed nothing. "Maybe they have left already." Trunks said.

"No…even if they were miles away, we should be able to pick up on their ki's." Piccolo told him. He looked around, noticing the bodies in the street. "There is no blood." Piccolo observed. He flew down to take a closer look.

Piccolo reached down and turned over the body of a man. There were no marks on him but he was obviously dead.

"PICCOLO!" Trunks shouted. The Namek moved quickly to the young Saiyan's side. "This one is alive." He held up the body of a woman. Piccolo looked into her aged face. Her eyes were open and she was indeed breathing, although shallow. Piccolo reached up to touch her face and jerked his hand back as if he had touched fire.

"Put her down!" Piccolo yelled at Trunks.

Trunks hesitated and Piccolo reached up and pulled the woman's body out of his hands. "Get away from her!" Just as Piccolo spoke, the horror began. No sounds came from the woman's mouth, as her body seemed to explode. Piccolo grabbed Trunks and pushed him aside. When they looked up, Trunks gasp in horror.

The woman's form split down the center from her throat to her groin. Out crawled a large hideous creature. Now covered in red blood from its host's body, the red eyes looked around at its surroundings. He hopped down on four of its six legs and spotted Piccolo and Trunks immediately. However, they were hovering in the air. It hissed and lunged at them, but was unable to jump very high.

"What….is…" Trunks tried to speak, but his attention was drawn to another area of the street where other creatures were being hatched.

"Don't get near them. Until we know how they get inside the bodies, we can't get too close." Piccolo snarled. He sent several large blasts down toward the first few creatures, killing them easily.

Piccolo and Trunks continued to blast the creatures as they were hatched.

A few miles away, on a mountaintop, a solitary figure watched as his children were destroyed. He stood on two legs, and although he resembled the creatures below, he was obviously more evolved. Spreading his enormous wings out behind him, he lifted off.

THANKS FOR READING! PLEASE REVIEW!