Calina's mind reeled as she replayed the scene over and over. A hint of a smile cresting her lips as her limp body was carried miles and miles from the tournament. Gohan's strong, but gentle tawny colored eyes stayed with her. They resonated within her, bringing up feelings she'd repressed for so long. She'd dreamt of meeting him again, so many times in so many different places. The thought of seeing him again was what had kept her going for years and years until finally, she began to block him out. That sickening sweet daydream about seeing him again had left a sour taste in her mouth, as she realized she'd never see him again. So she tried to forget.

She'd forgotten his kind smile, the smooth taut sound of his voice. She'd forgotten the polished features of his face, his rounded tip nose, and his infectious laugh. She'd forced herself to forget the imperfections that had made him perfect. The single dimple on one of his cheeks, and the way he second-guessed his decisions and how they'd impact others. The gestures he'd do, always putting everyone else's needs before his, Gohan's selflessness was one of the biggest features that had caught Calina's attention. Not a Saiyan trait in the slightest, Gohan's human side was what made him more alluring. She'd forced herself to forget everything, and all at once, at this moment, it was coming back to her.

Turnick landed temporarily, Calina's body becoming a little too much for her small frame to handle. She was let down gently, Turnick's frame groaned and growled some as she finally stretched to relieve her body of the weight she'd been carrying for miles. Calina's long raven hair was tousled and messed, falling over her torso and face as her tired body hesitated to move. Her eyes strained to open as the bright sun flooded her sight and warmed her body. Her lips curved into a full smile, and Turnick looked at her comrade, completely stumped.

" I'm glad you're happy, you're a lot heavier than you let on. "

She sat next to Calina, huffing for a moment, " We need to keep moving, I'm sure one of your humans will be after you now that you blew our cover. "

Turnick's blunt words and corse attitude was merited, Calina had ruined their stealthy stay. They were only supposed to visit for a short time before leaving again. The nightmare they'd left behind still on their heels, she was sure Tulse would eventually escape and come after them. She needed to get off this planet, she would never forgive herself if anyone got hurt or killed because of her. Calina rolled over and pushed herself up off the ground, her knees only wobbling for a moment as she steadied herself.

" Those creatures aren't far off Cal, about 600 meters or so. "

Turnick spoke with a stink, nodding off into the distance as the outline of a craft could be seen. So far the young saiyan wasn't entirely fond of this planet and was eager to leave. She'd much rather just be done with the two men that had attacked Gohan and leave the planet. She looked up at Calina, only coming up to Calina's bust.

A familiar feeling crept on as Calina was hit with a hard breeze. They were in a clearing, just on the edge of a forest. Ahead of them was a vast growing landscape of unforgiving sand and rock, void of many people or living things, it would be an ideal place to find these two monsters and put an end to them.

The wind carried with it a mixture of water and earth, the sensation made her heart slow as she took in a deep breath. Remembering all of the days, months and years she'd spent living in the forest with Gohan, his family, and training with Piccolo. All of it was overtaking her sense of concern as the enemies ahead of her grew further away and the familiar faces from the tournament grew closer.

She felt better, the sunlight had helped bring her back from the brink of collapse and she felt more eager to find the men who had tried to harm someone so important to her. Turnick noticed the change in Calina's eyes and began to grin. Knowing what was going to come next, she was eager to move forward and kill something.

They tracked the men out to a desolated location, both cowards slowing down and eventually stopping as they neared some kind of ship that was built into the ground. Calina and Turnick landed a half-mile away from the ship, trying to get a better look at what was going on. Calina's mind began to clutter as her heart raced. She could feel the hair on the back of her neck begin to rise as more energy signals closed in on their location. She wouldn't be able to avoid seeing them much longer.

Her striking blue eyes widened some as she slowly shifted them to behind her. She rolled her shoulders, her lips pursing into a thin, nervous line. Calina felt her stomach tighten as she turned and looked over her shoulder, seeing seven figures close in on them in the distance.

" You stink, " Turnick barked under her breath at Calina, turning with her to face the oncoming group.

" You're afraid Calina? "

She spoke again, this time looking up at her suspiciously, not familiar with Calina being so thrown off. Her Saiyan nose cringing, confused by Calina's change in demeanor. This made her a little more hesitant as well, having full confidence in her companion's judgment.

The seven bodies landed, one after the other, each of them lining up unevenly in front of her. They had bigger problems right now, Calina was sure of it. Those two men from earlier were fairly strong, they were clearly human but reeked of something else. Something more sinister. But, they'd have to wait. She was sure that Gohan and the others would have more questions for her, and that finding those two men from earlier could wait.

There was an unusual silence between her and the group, one that became more uncomfortable the longer it lasted. There was so much she needed to say, too much to explain in the few brief minutes they'd all have together. Still, she could tell they wanted it, needed it. They needed some kind of explanation as to why she'd been gone as long as she was.

Turnick looked to Calina for direction. Her body was turned, ready to fight at a moment's notice, looking at the group with distaste. To Turnick, it was Calina and her against the world, and right now these strangers were making her only guardian in the universe uneasy.

There was a new energy signature that had emerged from behind them. Strong but readable, and Calina could smell the same tainted blood from earlier. Knowing that this creature, whatever he was, was connected to the two men from earlier that had attacked Gohan.

" You'll be happy to know, none of you will suffer. "

A demon with red skin and towering figure loomed off in the distance, warning them of his intentions. Her attention drawn behind her, she noticed that the monster had a brand on his forehead in the shape of an M, vivid yellow eyes, and a smug smirk. He spoke again, elaborating more on what his intentions were.

" In a few short hours, all of you will be part of something much bigger. "

Calina's hands twitched as her tail unraveled and flickered, she could feel something about to happen. She looked down at her side at Turnick, " You need to leave. "

Calina spoke in a low, stern tone, " You need to head back to the tournament and find the other boys, Trunks, and Goten. "

Turnick's face twisted and puckered, she was hesitant to follow Calina's instructions.

" You need me here by your side to help you. I'm much stronger than most of your comrades on this planet anyway. "

Her fierce attitude and brave words were encouraging, but Calina knew if she stayed, she'd be a liability. If anyone tried to hurt the young Saiyan, Calina wouldn't be able to keep her cool. This was about her trying to keep her safe more than anything.

" Do as I say. "

Calina's tone shifted some, her voice deeper than before as she changed her benevolent tone to a more serious one. Turnick immediately recoiled, her tail tucking into her waist as she reluctantly nodded.

" Two hours. "

Calina spoke again, extending a reassuring hand and tightly grasping the young Saiyan's shoulder. She gave a small time frame that Turnick could be gone, and when she'd expect her back. Under normal circumstances, Calina would be fearfully worried, but she knew Turnick's abilities and had faith that the young Saiyan would stay safe.

Turnick left reluctantly, flashing a less than pleased scowl at the group that had decided to follow them, before jetting off away from the danger ahead. Calina made sure Turnick was well and gone before moving her attention to the group of fighters that had gathered in front of her.

So she stood there, exhausted and a little ashamed. Calina's feet were planted firmly, the family she hadn't seen in years in front of her and the enemy she needed to kill behind her. She needed to say something, anything, but what would the right words be? ' I'm sorry,' or ' It's been a while. '

No. They deserved more than that, and she knew they'd expect more. She'd been through so much shit, so much carnage, but this? This was so much more frightening.

A solid wind pushed past her, causing her raven hair to blow over her shoulders and behind her, showing her lean frame and startling blue eyes. She looked on, a million things rushing through her mind before finally taking a sharp breath in.

" Gohan. "

Just the sound of his name coming from her lips made her weak, she looked on, watching the only man she'd ever loved push past his father and friends, intent on getting closer to her. There was a voice behind her, coming from the red demon spitting venom and hate, but she didn't hear a thing. The only thing Calina could see was Gohan.

He stopped just out of arms reach, his hands extending for a moment before falling to his side. Gohan's figure slightly towered hers and she could feel her body pull towards his. There they stayed for a few fleeting moments, quiet, taking each other in.

" Calina, how? "

The lingering tension was cut abruptly as the new player introduced himself to the group.

A searing blast shot past Calina and Gohan, the heat of the force shocking her and causing her to realize the true gravity of what was going on. The red demon cackled and shot another blast, this one impacting one of the group members that Gohan had traveled with, impaling his chest and killing him on contact.

Debris lifted into the air, temporarily disrupting the field as the creature lunged forward, now fully attacking the group of warriors behind her.

Calina's footing shifted as she jumped into action, knowing she had to do everything she could to protect Goku and the remaining others. Only the moment her foot left the solid dirt, her strength left her body, as she realized she hadn't fully recovered from helping Gohan just a short while ago.

She stumbled, and where she was weak, Gohan was there. Not hesitating to grab her before she could fall to the ground. Wrapping a firm arm around her stomach, he caught her and eased her down, completely overwhelmed, Calina remailed still.

The warmth from his body wasn't comprehensible. She had dreamt of it, craved it for so long that she'd forgotten what it felt like. It was intoxicating and brought back a flush of emotions she wasn't ready to deal with. So she stayed there, quiet for just a few seconds, ignoring the death and fighting in front of her, and enjoyed these few fleeting moments she had with him.

He'd helped her up, guiding her to her feet, never letting his eyes leave hers as he tried to summon the strength to ask a question. That question that was on the tip of everyone's tongue.

Where had she been for these last several years?

She wouldn't have time to reminisce, their reunion was short-lived, and in their absence the demon attacked the group of fighters, spitting a vulgar attack at Piccollo and Krillin, leaving them lifeless and as cold as stone. This jumpstarted Calina out of her purgatory state and flushed her frightening Saiyan blood back through her body.

" You've been summoned by my master, and only by defeating me will you save your friends. "

The red creature taunted them, the black engraved M on his forehead now much more clear, as he tilted his head back to sneer at them. Outnumbered, he quickly fled to the ship behind them, luring them into an obvious trap.