Chapter I: A Survivor
The Present:
13 year -old Trunks listened closely to the radio as his mother Bulma continued to drive.
"Attention citizens of Orange City! Everyone must evacuate immediately! You are all in terrible danger! The androids are among us! I repeat, you must..." Bulma turned off the radio with a quick turn of a button.
"Ugh! They're at it again! I'm sick of those androids! They're ruthless!" Bulma exclaimed.
Trunks could recognize the explosions and familiar screams in the background of the radio broadcast. And without realizing it he, began to shake in anger. However, he noticed a light pain in his jaws as a result of clenching his teeth too tightly. Trunks hated sitting and waiting to hear for those assassins' next target. He disliked hearing the repeated cries for help while he sat still doing nothing to aid the people. He couldn't just wait until the attacks were over to go find survivors, at least not anymore. People were losing their lives to these monsters! He had to do something!
"Mom, I want you to go home without me".
"Huh? What for, Trunks?"questioned Bulma. She then glanced down at her son's clenched fist and then at the infuriated expression on his face.
"No!" she exclaimed. "No, Trunks! I'm not going to lose my only son to those mechanical demons"!
Ignoring his mother's comment, Trunks flew off into the direction of Orange City.
"Man, Trunks!" cried Bulma. "You better come back alive kid! Thats all I have to say".
By the time he arrived in the city, everyone was gone; and all that seemed to be left were ruins. Trunks noticed a small antique rag doll laying in the middle of a pile of rubble. He picked it up, no longer able to see the doll clearly as wet streams began to cascade down his bronze cheeks.
Sensing that someone was approaching, Trunks looked up to see a young man land on top of the roof of a damaged building.
"Gohan! "Trunks exclaimed. "Why...why are they killing all of these innocent people"?
Gohan viewed the ruined city surrounding him, and then he turned his attention to Trunks who was obviously downcast. Trunks gazed into the eyes of his friend who was more like a brother, in hopes that he would find an answer to his question, but he did not.
Trunks and Gohan began to search for any possible survivors. Although, from the looks of it, the androids probably used a blast that no human would be able to survive. Gohan and Trunks looked for several hours through the city of rubble. However, they did not find anyone. They were about to head back home when Trunks sensed an energy level nearby that wasn't human. He used his ki to find where the energy was located. He sensed the power level near the outskirts of the city and followed it to a forest-like area. There he noticed a dark human shadow against one of the forest trees. He slowly walked towards the shadow, not wanting to frighten what was there. As he came closer he realized that it was a she, a girl who looked to be about his age. Although her energy level was less than his, he could tell that it was higher than the average human's. It was somewhere in between. Still, how could a young girl generate so much power?
She looked really beat up, and she definitely needed medical attention. Her arm was dripping with blood; and the red liquid was seeping through her light green t-shirt. Her black baggy sweat pants were torn at the knee exposing a deep wound. Her eyes were covered by her shoulder-length ebony hair which had a streak of sapphire blue. Trunks slowly reached out to grab the girl's hand which was covered with a black combat glove that had tiny emerald rhinestones on the knuckles; but before he could touch her hand she looked up at him with her large chocolate brown eyes. He could see the sadness in them.
"Who are you?" she questioned as a small teardrop fell down her copper colored cheeks. Without realizing it, Trunks reached out to wipe the tear from the girl's face with his thumb.
"It's alright, you don't have to be afraid. My name is Trunks, and I will protect you".
Not having made up her mind whether or not she should trust him, she let Trunks take her hand. Then at that moment, she knew that she was safe.
"I am... Sarene".