71.0

Gohans Home - Orange City

It was well into the night before Trunks came home.

For Rhuda it had seemed an entire lifetime since she'd saw him, and the events of the day purged from her mouth. For the kind of heart saiyan woman to be so distraught, upset Trunks Briefs more than what had occurred, and he told her as much. The two fell into a slumber eventually.

The next day came. It was around mid morning, Videl watching the news in the living room when things got out of hand. Rhuda had been only attempting to greet Gohan when the half saiyan began snapping a rowdy tongue at Trunks, whom had been away.

"You could have called her!" Gohan said. He angrily bit into his bagel and cream cheese, glaring across the dining room table at Trunks.

"I couldn't. The Time Nest has a special barrier. It's impossible," Trunks told him. "If you were a Time Patroller you'd know that."

"I'm not, but that's no excuse!"

"Ano..." Rhuda touched Gohans shoulder to say something when he frowned up at her.

'Ahh, Gohan is upset with Trunks. Surely, they won't start fighting?'

"We're not going to fight, Chisa," Gohan said, "I'm just letting Trunks here know that he should have called you."

Trunks scowled and finished his own bagel, washing it down with orange juice. "I lost track of time, and I already apologized to her about it."

All fell quiet when Videl walked in holding the remote. She was ready for work as usual, and said, "Good morning, Chisato, Trunks. I was watching the news and saw something you might want to see."

They filed to the living room and looked on the television, and all gasped in shock.

"No way!"

"But that's not right!"

"No...but aren't they orange?"

Trunks quickly pulled back his trench coat and dialed his mothers number. "Mom. We've got a big problem."

[Bulma: What is it?]

"A archeologist found a Dragon Ball. Apparently it's the third one. But get this; they're red, with white stars!"

[Bulma: Another set of Dragon Balls!? No way! There's only the ones Kami made!]

"My thoughts exactly. I'm betting this is part of Game Masters plot...he's definitely up to something." Trunks looked up from his watch and over to his worried wife, "I'm coming over ASAP to get the Dragon Radar."

[Bulma: Alright. I'll have to dig it out of the Lab. It's a mess in there right now.]

"See you in a bit."

As the call ended Gohan grabbed Trunks bicep, heated again. "Really, Trunks? You're leaving again already?"

"Of course. It's my job to protect history, and this isn't normal at all." Trunks said. "Chisato understands my job."

Rhuda nodded solemnly. "...Yes. Trunks is the protector of everyone, not just of me. Please, be careful."

('Don't worry. I'll be back in time for dinner, promise.')

'Yes. I'll make you a very yummy meal, then.'

Trunks hugged and kissed his wife, nuzzling her ear. "Looking forward to it."

*

*

*

Real World - Shallots Home

"Oh crap!"

Shallot grabbed his monitor, but it was useless. The game which had been loaded at his home, due to its seclusion and privacy, had been ejected from the gaming desktop. "It was just here yesterday! Shit!"

He paced back and forth, "This is bad. It had to be Game Master. Dammit! Trunks is going to kill me!"

'If I hadn't wasted time worrying over Chisato I might have gotten here before the thief struck. This is all my fault!'

Shallot left his home in a flurry and flew over the rooftops, two blocks away before landing with a bang. His team, ready and waiting, grew alarmed.

"It's gone you guys," Shallot told them.

"Gone?!" Bra repeated. "No way!"

"...Yeah. We've got a big problem now," he said.

Granola crossed his arms. The Cerealian looked deep in thought. "Then the girl is in deep trouble, isn't she?"

Shallot nodded. "Yeah. If the game is in Game Masters clutches, he can tamper with it easily. Maybe even undo that barrier Trunks made around Gohans home. If that were to happen---noodles...would be a goner. She doesn't even know she's in danger!"

"I'll go and retrieve her. If she's in the real world, he can't harm her here as easily." Granola said. He moved aside his scarf and said over his shoulder, "Stay put until I return."

Shallots team nodded.

*

*

*

Gohans Home - Orange City

Rhuda pulled the cookies from the oven carefully and sat the pan onto the stove. "There!"

A dozen chocolate chip cookies for her hard working husband. She smiled, imagining him eating them with relish. "I hope he'll like them."

"Wahh...!"

Her son upstairs had awoken from his nap. She flew up to him in his crib, flailing around, tail and all, and hoisted him out. "It's okay, Kolard. Mommy's here."

That's when a great darkness fell over the room. It was if someone had turned the lights out--all of them. She was in total blackness.

'Eh? What's going on?'

Rhuda padded over to the window and peered outside, seeing the sky lighting up with a storm. "A..storm? From out of nowhere?"

Her son was crying again, this time louder than before. It wasn't from hunger but something else, something even Rhuda didn't realize at the time. "What's wrong?" She asked, rocking him, "Your diaper feels fine...ahh, maybe it's your mouth."

Thinking it nothing more than a toothache she didn't fret. It was just strange timing, nothing more.

"Chisa!"

Gohan burst into the room, "Get away from the window with Kolard! Now!"

"Eh?"

"Someones called the Dragon!"

Gohan was too late, however. Kolard had been awake and crying all until he spotted the moon shining in the darkness. His green eyes began to drink the bluntz waves into his saiyan body.

As he began to grow and grow, Gohan grabbed Rhuda and said, "He's turning into a Great Ape! C'mon, we need to get out of the house before it collapses!"

"Yes! But I can't just leave him!" She watched in horror as her room became rubble around his growing body. Gohan threw aside some of the falling ceiling, protecting her, and swiftly flew out of the hole.

"This is bad..." Gohan said.

They both hovered above his home, seeing their son transform into a hairy giant of a baby. "No! Kolard!" Rhuda began to fly to him but Gohan held her fast.

"It's too late, Chisa. We need to get rid of his tail."

A ringing sound began. It was her wedding band, and Rhuda swiveled it and heard, "Chisato! Are you okay?!"

Trunks.

"Yes. But Kolard, he saw the moon and began transforming!"

"Dammit! Is Gohan with you?" Trunks asked.

"I'm here." Gohan answered.

"Get her to Conton!"

Rhuda shook her head, "I can't leave him! He's my baby!"

"Right now he isn't! Kolard is a legendary great ape! You're in danger!" Trunks yelled, "I'm trying to make it to the Dragon so I can't come over right away. Whoever found those Dragon Balls beat me to it, and I have to stop them from making a wish!"

It was their misfortune that Broly had gone to spar with Goku that morning. Only another Legendary super saiyan could possibly stop Kolard in his beastly size.

'Leave Kolard? Here? I can't do that!'

Rhuda stood firm and watched her son beat his chest, sniffing around. "...I'll stop him, Trunks. All we need to do is cut off his tail."

"Chisato, don't!" Her husband yelled. "He could kill you without meaning to!"

Yet his wife eyed Kolard with determination. "...Even if he does, I won't abandon my son."

She swiveled the ring to end the call, needing to focus on the task.

Gohan took her hand in his and nodded. "I'm with you. One of us will need to distract him while the other gets rid of his tail. If you can handle it, I should be able to use Krillins destructo disc."

"Alright. I'll keep his attention on me."

[Primal Form Activated]

Rhuda flew over to Kolard and hovered at the end of his snout, where his hot breath blew into her face. "Kolard! Mommy's here!"

His green eyes locked onto the tiny form of his mother and he snarled, "GGGUUURAH..."

Swipe

She barely dodged his arm, which had attempted to grab at her.

'He's fast!'

Down below was Gohan, who was readying a desctrutco disc. The spinning yellow energy he held aloft with one arm. Gohan released it right to his sons tail, but Kolard easily jumped up and avoided the attack. He swatted away his Dad. Gohan crashed through the remains of his home unseen.

"Gohan!"

Rhuda flew down to check on him and ended up becoming her sons chew toy. He snatched her into his furry grip and rose her to his glowing green eyes. One, two squeezes he did, crushing his mother.

Her scream echoed off of everything.

"Chisato!" Gohan was back, and blasted the arm holding her with a Kamehameha wave. It did little. "Let her go!"

Kolards fast movements were too hard to work around, even at the monstrous size he was. Kolard tail swiped Gohan again, smacking him down into the fountain below and denting through it.

'Oh no! Gohan!'

Rhuda powered her energy higher and glared at her son. "Stop this! Right now!"

"GURRAHH!"

In response he took his mother and shook her up and down vigorously. Her senses fizzled out until she slumped forward, unconscious. Kolard placed her atop his snout proudly and began walking away.

"Not so fast!"

Gohan was in mystic form and snagged Kolards tail in his hands, holding him back, even though his feet drug through the yard. "Hurk! Dammit! He's way too strong!"

It was that moment a figure flew through the sky and snatched Rhuda right from Kolards nose, swirling down to Gohan.

"Granola!" Gohan said in shock.

"Trouble already arrived I see," Granola said. He held the unconscious Rhuda. "She's not safe here in the Game World. The one which was running at Shallots residence was stolen recently. I'm taking her with me. But I'll help you first."

"No way..." Gohan let Kolards tail go in alarm. "Then....Game master could kill her? Is that what you're saying?"

"Whether he plans to harm her or not I'm unsure. But if she is here, it will be easy to do. I suspect that's why Kolard has become a great ape."

"Tch...! Man..." Gohan looked from his rampaging son to his mate, trying to determine just what to do. He was between a rock and a hard place with no good options.

Granola hoisted Rhuda onto his shoulder. "I'll draw him to me and teleport away. While I do this, get rid of his tail."

"Alright. I'll do my best."

Gohan made another destructo disc and waited for the opportune time to release it. Granola IT to Kolard and shot his face a few times, startling the ape, who began swatting him away. Granola dodged the attacks and kept sniping him. "Now!" He shouted down at Gohan.

"Here goes!" Gohan threw the energy disc and it sliced across his sons tail, which thudded heavily onto the ground and formed a crater.

"It worked..." Gohan sagged in relief. He caught Kolard as his son returned to normal size, tucking him to his chest. "You caused quite a stir little guy. I won't be forgetting that anytime soon."

"Wahh...!"

Granola tapped down with Rhuda, just as the sky returned to its normal blue color. Whoever had called the Dragon was done making their wish.

"Thanks, Granola. I owe you one." Gohan said.

"Don't mention it."

Rhuda began to stir, seeing them, and cried out with pain.

('My ribs...!')

"She needs healed," Granola said.

"Granola...?" She asked with confusion. "You're here?"

"I must take you to the real world for now. I'm sorry."

"W-Wait. Give us a moment, please," Gohan begged. He helped Rhuda stand as Granola gave them privacy.

She began to cry right away, "Gohan...!"

He hugged her, kissing the side of her head, cheek, and ear. "Shh. It's going to be okay, you hear me? I'll watch over Kolard. Trunks or me will come get you when its safe."

"I can't do this...! Leaving you all here, even my baby! He needs me!"

"Look at me, Chisa."

She did so. Gohan smiled gently and kissed her lips, telling her with his feelings he would do as he said. She accepted him into her mouth, and they caressed each other fondly, only pulling away to gaze at one another. "I love you, and I love our son. Let me protect him." Gohan whispered, swiping away a tear from her green gems.

"Hic...and I love you both as well. Please...watch over him."

Rhuda summoned the courage and swiped her ring. "Trunks. I'm going to the real world with Granola. Come find Gohan when you can. And...stay safe. Please! And remember that I'll love you always. I'll be waiting."

She didn't give him time to respond, knowing he was most likely in battle or worse. 'I'm going back. To the real world. I only hope that nothing will happen. Everything I hold dear is here.'

Granola walked over and bowed, holding his gloved hand out. "Let us go."

"Yes."

[author] Another situation begins already! I hope you all recall Trunks notes to himself, 'Don't let Rhuda go to the real world'! [/author]