"Not while I'm around!" Goku shouted. He leaped forward, fist extended, closely followed by Piccolo, Gohan, and Trunks. The sudden rush apparently caught the creature by surprise: Goku's fist connected squarely with its jaw and sent it flying limply through the air. As its body crashed to the ground, the four of them surrounded it.

"Four against one isn't fair," it hissed, baring its teeth at them spitefully and wiping a trickle of blood from the side of its mouth.

"Did you ever play fair when you were killing little children?" Trunks retorted, his voice quivering with anger.

"You misunderstand me," the creature replied. It shot each of them a glance out of narrowed eyes. "I merely meant that I must change the odds in my favor." Its gaze lingered on Gohan before it turned abruptly and hurled itself at Trunks. The teenage Saiyan stumbled backward for a moment as the long claws sliced into his forehead. Blinded by the blood running into his eyes, Trunks nonetheless found his footing quickly. He struck out with a barrage of punches and, although still unable to see, managed to ram repeatedly into his opponent's stomach. The creature grunted with pain and fell, grabbing Trunks by the hair and dragging him down, as well. They rolled over and over in the dust, still struggling. As they came close to a nearby river, the snakelike being seemed to gain energy. With a mighty heave, it fastened its thin arms around Trunks, pulled him upright, and half stumbled, half dove, into the rushing water.

"It's trying to drown him!" Gohan cried out in fear.

"We're not gonna let that happen," Guku promised. He threw himself into the water, following the rapidly moving shadow of the creature as it dragged Trunks downstream.

"That thing swims too quickly for him to catch it," Piccolo told Gohan as he took off into the air. "We'll meet it where the river joins the lake." Gohan nodded grimly and followed his former mentor.

As fast as they flew, the creature swam faster. It burst out of the water ahead of them, attached to Trunks by what looked like thin ropes. The Saiyan was screaming with pain. It was hard to tell which of them was dragging the other through the air: one moment, Trunks was yanking at the ropes like a hooked fish; the next moment, the beast was pulling him smoothly through the skies.

Gohan let out an involuntary gasp and recoiled as he and Piccolo got close. The tentacles on the being's head had elongated into long white tendrils—tendrils that were buried in Trunks's mouth and nostrils. Trunks was thrashing and struggling to get free. His screams were muffled by the numerous tendrils filling his mouth.

"Let him go!" Gohan shouted, flying forward like a bullet. He was forced to stop short, however, when the creature jerked its tentacles and maneuvered Trunks right in front of itself, using him as a shield.

"Stop it!" Gohan screamed, on the verge of tears. The creature sneered at him. Suddenly a sizzling blast of energy dazzled Gohan. He heard the beast's scream mingle with Trunks's. When the light vanished, Gohan saw that a dripping-wet Goku stood below on the ground. Next to him, Trunks continued to convulse. Piccolo, whose hand was still extended from the energy blast he'd just thrown, wore a look of satisfaction. The creature now had few tentacles on its face that were not severed and bleeding. It gnashed its sharp teeth in pain and fury.

"What have you done?" it screeched.

Piccolo smirked. "I've evened the odds." With a roar, he rushed at the beast, who turned tail and pelted in the opposite direction. Gohan was torn for a moment, wondering if he should join in the fight or help his father. As the beast dropped neatly into the water with Piccolo just behind, Gohan decided that he couldn't wait any longer to see if Trunks was all right. He headed for the ground at top speed, his stomach taut with fear for his friend.

"Will he be okay?" he asked as his boots touched the ground. Goku shook his head helplessly from where he knelt next to the prone warrior, pulling the last few lifeless tendrils from the teenager's mouth.

"I don't know, son," he admitted in an undertone. He now had a firm grip on Trunks's shoulders to restrain the adolescent from moving too much. Trunks was still writhing as much as he was allowed, but his movements were gradually getting weaker. The normally tanned face was deathly pale, and green liquid trickled grotesquely from his mouth and nose.

"H-he's gotta be all right. . . he can't die, can he?" Gohan's voice shook as he asked a question that was more of a plea.

Goku again shook his head, gritting his teeth in frustration. He opened his mouth to assuage his son's fears, but was interrupted by an impatient growl from above.

"All of you are Saiyans, yet not one of you has any pride." The voice was unmistakably Vegeta's. The prince landed among them, his white-gloved hands clenched into fists.

"Fawning over a fallen warrior," he spat contemptuously. "At least battle to avenge him, instead sitting here like a bunch of mice."

"How can you talk like that?" Goku asked, his voice rising in anger as he stood up and glared at Vegeta. "He could die!" His statement was chillingly true: Trunks had finally stopped moving and lay on the ground, clutching his stomach and moaning softly. Gohan whimpered.

Vegeta, his face a mask of scorn, reached down swiftly and hauled a barely-conscious Trunks upright by the collar.

"Are you a Saiyan or an infant?" he asked in disgust. That said, he drew back his fist and punched the teenager in the gut.

Trunks's eyes shot wide open at the sudden pain. As Vegeta released him and stepped away, the purple-haired Saiyan fell to his hands and knees and vomited. The green liquid that had been a mere trickle before now gushed from his mouth in abundance. As the vile stuff hit the ground, it began to smoke sluggishly and eat away at the rock. Gohan shuddered with revulsion; he began to think he might be sick himself. Vegeta was watching stonily, his arms folded. Finally, Trunks stopped retching and collapsed onto his side, exhausted.

Vegeta grinned rather wickedly. "No one's dying here." Without another word, he flew off in the direction of the fighting. Goku shook his head in amazement, then helped Trunks gently to his feet, letting the younger boy's arm drape across his shoulders for support.

"Trunks, are you all right?" he asked. "Can you hear me?"

"Y-yeah," Trunks murmured. His eyelids still drooped, but the color was returning to his face. "I'm okay."

Gohan couldn't resist giving a little whoop of exultation. His father smiled at him.

"Listen, son, I'm going to take Trunks up to Kami's Lookout so they can take care of him. Grab hold of my arm." Gohan did as he was told. With one arm around Trunks, his father squatted down so that Gohan could keep hold of him while he lifted his first two fingers to his forehead. In an instant the world around them vanished, as Goku transported them all using Instant Transmission.

Just as suddenly, they were standing on the polished tiles of Kami's Lookout. Mr. Popo blinked at them, more out of recognition than surprise. Goku quickly explained the situation to him. Mr. Popo nodded solemnly.

"Of course we'll take care of him for you. Don't worry; he'll be in good hands." Goku shifted Trunks so that the weakened Saiyan could lean on Mr. Popo.

"Who would have thought that my dad would save me before I was even born?" he muttered for Goku's ears alone. The two Saiyans shared a grin, and Goku laughed.

"Get some rest, now," he advised Trunks more seriously, although the gleam of humor remained in his black eyes. He grabbed his son's wrist and pressed his fingers to his head. They vanished once more.