AN: Ah! I'm sorrrrrrry to my readers. I'm horribleeee. It's been a long while since you've seen any activity in this story... And I won't give you excuse after excuse. Let's just say that after a long year of school, me being in and out because of illness, I failed some courses. So I've been doing summer school over the last 2 months. And silly me I started a story before that, thinking I could do both. But when I started school I found out committing myself to a story was probably a bad idea.

ANYWAY, courses are done (thank GOD). Updates should come WAY more often now! SORRY AGAIN.

Chapter 3:

Friend or Foe?

2 hours and 5 stores later, Gohan took to the sky and started the long journey home. He tried to ignore the grumbling that was coming from his stomach, begging for only a small bite of one of the many things that were in the 10 grocery bags that he held in each hand.

His mind wondered to the bank robbery he had attempted to stop. Yeah, attempted because that Satan girl came from nowhere and ruined everything. What was a girl doing just coming and knocking out two armed criminals…? She was about his age, but he was a different story. She was a normal human, teenage girl, he was… well, not.

His mind was pulled away from the robbery as he felt something from the east. He stopped and turned his head towards the empty fields that went for miles. He had only felt it for a slight second, but he was certain that he hadn't imagined it.

A power level, surprisingly strong, coming from the east. He racked his brain, trying to see if he had recognized it. But as he felt it again, he knew that it wasn't one of his friends, it was someone new.

Taking off at a faster speed than before, Gohan went towards the strong ki. He was flying for seconds when he saw something coming from out of the clouds. Stopping, he watched as the object sped to the ground, where it hit with a large explosion.

Gohan lowered himself to the ground, close to the object. He dropped the bags of groceries by a nearby tree and stepped closer to the steaming crater that the object had created. Whatever was in it was still very much alive, he could still feel the strong ki.

Two ki's came to Gohan's attention. One was coming from the west, the other coming from the northwest. He recognized them straight away as Vegeta and Piccolo. He waited for them before stepping any further. Both fighters landed on each side of Gohan, keeping their eyes on the crater.

"What's going on?" Vegeta snapped, stepping away from Gohan and Piccolo and getting closer to the crater. Gohan went to reach out, to stop him from getting too close, but decided that wouldn't go over to well. He sighed and followed the older saiyan with Piccolo close behind.

Working their way through rocks and small cliffs, they shortly reached the middle of the large crater. Vegeta was the first to go straight up to the object, which resembled a rocket and looked to be made of some sort of metal. The saiyan price drew back his foot and kicked the metal object hard.

"Vegeta! There's someone in there." Gohan said stepping closed.

"I know, that's the point." Vegeta snapped, drawing his foot back once again. Before he could land another kick, the metal object started buzzing. All 3 stood back and watched as the rocket seemed to take it's self apart. Layer after layer of the metal slowly peeled away, until it was the same rocket, only smaller in size.

They watched in silence as part of the rocket opened slightly, then moved over to the side, leaving an exit for whomever, or whatever was inside. A mechanical voice came from inside, speaking an alien language.

Gohan and the others readied themselves as something came into sight. Steps came down from the rocket and touched the ground. The figure came into the light, surprised to see Gohan and the others standing there.

Gohan examined the stranger. He, she or it, was defiantly not from this world. Although it was mostly covered in a large drape like coat, Gohan could see what looked like red skin and sharp green eyes. It stepped down the steps and touched its feet to the ground, examining the strangers in front of him. Gohan cleared his throat, and was the first to talk.

"Uh, Hi." Smooth, Gohan, smooth. Right now his worry was on figuring out just what this stranger had come here for. There'd been many strangers that came to earth, and sadly, most of them weren't friendly. "I'm Gohan, that's Vegeta." Gohan motioned over to the shorter man. "And that's Piccolo…" With my luck, this guy doesn't even speak English…

"Hello, I am Joufu, of the 73 planet region. Not too far from your home planet, Namek." He eyed Piccolo, then switched his gaze to Gohan and then to Vegeta. "Am I wrong, are you not from Namek?" His gaze went back to Piccolo.

"No, he's from Namek. Uh, we were just wondering… we've had many visitors over the years. Most unfriendly an-"

"You would like to know if I'm friendly." Joufu cut Gohan off. He took down his hood, revealing his features. He looked almost Namek like, except his ears were more human, his skin red, and the hair, that was pulled back in a tight ponytail, was pure white. "I'm happy to tell you, young friend, that I am friendly." He took his hand out from under his coat and held it out. Gohan studied it, before smiling and taking the hand.

"Nice to meet you." He could feel Vegeta's and Piccolo's glares. This guy claimed to be friendly, but if he wasn't, would he have come out and admitted it? Gohan kept his guard up, even though he almost trusted the red alien.

"Why have you come here?" Piccolo snapped. Joufu turned to him and frowned. "You say you're friendly, but what is you're purpose here, so far away from your home?" Joufu sighed, looking to the ground.

"Though I mean no harm to you, I do bring news of someone who does." Joufu looked up and eyed each of his welcomers. "Namek, or should I say Piccolo, you've heard of The Hiru, have you not?" Piccolo imediattlly shook his head.

"The Hiru? They're all dead." Vegeta snapped.

"So you've heard of them?" Joufu turned to Vegeta. The stranger took in the saiyan, examining his features. "A saiyan might." Gohan was a little surprised this stranger knew Vegeta was a saiyan, but he did not get a chance to voice it.

"Of course I've heard of them. Energy stealing low lives. They're all dead now." Joufu almost smiled at the mans anger. He was most definatly a saiyan.

"Yes, so you think. But before landing here, I was under the idea that all saiyans were dead." Joufu sighed and turned his face to the beautiful sky. "No, I'm sorry to say the Hiru are very much alive. And up to their old tricks." Joufu sighed. He tried not to show the strangers the pain, but in that moment, it became too much. He clenched his side.

"Hey, are you okay?" Gohan asked, stepping forward as Joufu bent forward, one hand going to his side, the other holding himself up against his ship. Joufu held his hand up, stopping Gohan from coming closer.

"I'm... my last encounter with the Hiru... let's just say I just barely escaped. I'm short on energy." Gohan watched as the red alien sighed and composed himself again. "I've been following... the Hiru...for..awi-" Joufu stumbled over, falling to the ground.

"He's out cold." Gohan said, studying the alien. He noticed a blue spot on his jacket, he lifted it to see where it had come from. "Ouch." He whispered, eyeing the large gash that had ripped through Joufu's clothing. It was slowly oozing a blue liquid. "We have to get him some help."

"How do you suggest we do that? Bring this red guy into the local ER?" Vegeta asked. Gohan bit his buttom lip, searching his brain for the answer. He lit up and looked over to Vegeta.

"Take him to Capsule Corp. Bulma has people that can help him."

"You're wrong if you think I'm letting that alien stay in my house. You're too trusting boy, for all we know, he'll wake up and attack while we're sleeping. He speaks of the Hiru, when I know for a fact that they are dead." Vegeta crossed his arms and turned away from Gohan, who was now holding up Joufu.

"Aw, come on, Vegeta. I'll be there first thing in the morning, I can talk to him and see why he's here. Send him on his way. We can't just leave him here to die! And don't act like you won't be able to defend yourself." Gohan pleaded, looking to Piccolo for some help. The Namek just shook his head.

"Of course I would. That's not the point." Vegeta took one last look at Gohan and the alien he was supporting, and took off into the sky.

"I'LL SPAR WITH YOU." Gohan shouted. He regretted the words as soon as they had come out. He knew that the Saiyan prince was egging for a good fight, and if he could not fight his rival, then why not his rival's son.

By the looks of it, Vegeta liked that idea. He stopped 10 feet from the ground, turned and smiled down at Gohan. "Deal." He agreed, taking off. Gohan sighed. He turned to Piccolo and shrugged.

"I guess I'll see you tomorrow morning?" He asked. The Namek agreed before he went off in the direction of his home, leaving Gohan alone. Gohan gathered the groceries that he had hidden earlier, and took off into the sky, following an already far ahead Vegeta.

"What...is that?" The blue haired human pointed to the slumped form of Joufu under Gohan's arms. "Did Piccolo get a sun burn?" Gohan ignored the woman, stepping past her and into her lab. He gently set down Joufu's limp form on Bulma's table before turning to the woman.

"I need you to do me a favour." He requested, explaining how he came to meet the red alien. Bulma, who would have been shocked of the situation in her younger years, nodded firmly and told Gohan she would help. Gohan thanked the woman as he went to exit Capsule Corp., hoping against hope he would get to the door without running into the saiyan he had promised a spar.

"I'll take that offer now, boy." Gohan sighed and stopped. He turned to Vegeta and gave him the largest grin he could muster before laughing and rubbing his neck.

"Gee, Vegeta. I really wish I could. But my Mom's going to start worrying if I don't get home soon!" Without another word exchanged, Gohan ran to the door and took into the air, the over exadurated smile still covering his face as he waved down at Vegeta's slowly vanishing form.

"Child." Vegeta mumbled as he turned to enter his home. He quickly forgot about his rival's sons escape from training as he set off to find his woman to make him something to eat.