The four of them landed on a rocky outcropping with a lovely view of the sunset taking place in the valley below. Goku wasted no time in filling Piccolo in on what had taken place earlier that day.
". . . so we flew home and dried off. We were just getting ready for dinner when you showed up," Goku finished with a slightly mournful tone.
"I think we have bigger things to worry about than your next meal," Piccolo said dryly. Turning to Trunks, he asked, "Was that thing in the lake one of the androids?"
Trunks shook his head slowly. "I've been thinking about that. I didn't get a good look at it, but I don't think it could have been an android. The androids I know aren't the type to hide at the bottom of a lake." He scowled. "They prefer to destroy cities and kill innocent people."
"Then what is it?" Goku asked.
"I don't know, but whatever it is, we've got to stop it before it hurts anyone else," Trunks declared.
"But we don't even know what it wants," Gohan spoke up for the first time. "How do we know it's not just lost, or scared?"
"Whatever it may want, nothing justifies hurting innocent people," Goku said fiercely.
"Gohan may be right," Piccolo pointed out thoughtfully. "We have to defend this planet if anything threatens it," he acknowledged firmly, "but that doesn't mean we should be attacking without knowing what we're up against. We don't want to make any enemies because of our actions, especially enemies that could threaten all of Earth."
"A wise policy," an unfamiliar voice replied. The four of them whirled around, and their eyes widened at the sight of a sinuous creature before them. It was covered in tiny scales that were of such a deep violet color that they were almost black. Though it seemed comfortable perched on its two ostrich-like legs, the webbed hands and feet implied a watery habitat. Thin, dainty white tentacles framed the sides of its face, and the green eyes glinted in a menacing—and familiar—way.
"You're the one that tried to kill Gohan!" exclaimed Goku furiously. Before he could leap toward the creature, Piccolo grabbed his arm.
"Ask questions first; attack later," the Namekian reminded him in an undertone. Addressing the eel-like thing in front of them, he said, "Why did you attack them this morning?"
The thing shrugged. "I was hungry."
"So you were planning to eat him?" Goku shouted, growing increasingly angrier.
"Do you find it so surprising?" The creature was smirking. "Fish are so easy to catch. Earthlings, too—especially little ones. The little male and his brother were tasty, but it was no challenge to drown them. I could feel that the boy was not from Earth—he was too powerful to be. So I thought I'd try for a meal that presented more challenge." Its lips, so like a fish's, curled with displeasure. "But I underestimated his power."
"You mean . . . you killed two children?" Trunks's question came out in a stunned whisper.
"Earthlings taste so much better than fish," the being said with a sharp-toothed grin. "And you four are like me: you are not from this planet. Your blood is richer, sweeter even than that of the Earthlings." It licked its lips. By now the three Saiyans and the Namekian were glaring at it with hatred and disgust. "But perhaps my words make you angry," the creature continued lightly. "Perhaps you want to kill me yourselves, and rid your adoptive home of my presence." Its eyes glinted with bloodlust. "Attack me, then. I will slaughter you all and feast on your flesh."