The sky is dark, and the storm rages. A rat crawls across the road in the pouring rain. The city is lifeless, the smell of ashes and the smoke of the once beautifully crafted buildings lingers in the air. The cold wind sweeps the bare streets.
Approaching footsteps clears the area of the filthy rodents. These were the footsteps of one of the only people living since that one day...the day that changed history...changed the world.
As the girl walked down the streets, she shuddered. She looked down at a mangled, blood-filled body. It was halfway into decomposing, and had maggots feeding on it. The girl slowly walked between the rubble on the streets. She stepped on a piece of paper. She kneeled down in her muddy dress and took a look at the picture. It was a child's drawing. It was a picture of a girl's family...her mom, sister and her...father. The girl dropped the picture, and tears streamed down her face. She walked along, letting the picture blow away into the evening sky.
"Where have you been Marron? I was worried sick."
"Oh, I just went for a little walk," she replied, walking into the kitchen where her mom was sitting.
"I can't believe how long this has been going on for, all those people...killed. When will they stop this madness?" yelled Marron, her eyes filled with tears.
"I know Marron," android 18 said, putting her hand on Marron's shoulder. "I miss your father too."
"But...why doesn't anyone just stop them?" yelled Marron, half crying. She went up to her room and slammed the door.
"Gohan," said Videl sadly. "We have to look again. I'm sure she's alive. We can find her!" she yelled.
"Videl, I know how scared you are about Pan, but after that attack, I'm not sure what to think," said Gohan. "They killed my brother...and took my arm when I tried to save him. And my father can't even fight anymore. He's been in a coma for 3 months now, and we think he's never going to be able to fight again.
"But still, I think there's still hope. We can't give up on our daughter!" yelled Videl.
"Okay Videl," said Gohan. I'll go look for her."
Gohan put on his fighting gi and stepped out of the door. He walked down the steps of his house, and took off into the air. He searched the streets looking at the openings in the rubble of the destroyed buildings. Gohan landed for a minute. The echo of his feet tapping the ground sends a chill down his spine. He slowly walks through the rubble.
"This is about the right spot," said Gohan, looking down at a charred piece of an old apartment building.
Gohan started digging in the rubble, hoping to find Pan. He had been digging through the broken down old places since Pan went missing. This was 3 weeks ago, and since then he was out looking for her ten hours a day. He was always looking out for the Dark Elite-an elite force of female saiyans who entertain themselves by killing others. One of the saiyans, Kale, a 5'7", long dark haired saiyan, wore the same armor that Vegeta used to wear. She also wore a necklace with a half moon on it. The other saiyan, Selerie, was 5'4", had short spiky hair, and also had a half moon on a necklace.
Gohan picked up a piece of a mirror and looked at himself in it. He had scars all over his face, and he was in really bad shape. He threw the mirror onto the ground and smashed it. Gohan had lost all hope in finding Pan. It had been to long. Pan had probably already starved to death. Gohan walked home sadly.
Trunks and Bra sat in the cold, dark town hall- the only building that was still in rather good shape since the incident.
"What's going to happen Trunks?" asked Bra as she sat in the corner.
"I'm not sure. We have to go and live with Gohan and Videl. We'll be safer if we get there."
"B...but Trunks…" stuttered Bra "What if they find us when we're going there?"
"Well, that may be a risk we must take," said Trunks as he stood up. Trunks cautiously looked out of the door of the town hall. He took Bra's hand and started to fly.
"Trunks!" yelled Bra. "I'm getting wet!"
"Oh well!" yelled Trunks as he flew quickly.
Meanwhile, back at Dende's lookout, things weren't going too good.
"I can't believe I've failed as guardian of the earth," said Dende, clenching his fist tightly. Mr. Popo stood beside Dende.
"Everything will turn out in the end," he said. "It always does."
"But none of the warriors can fight anymore. We're all doomed. Those saiyans are going to destroy the whole earth," said Dende.
"Dende!" yelled Mr. Popo. "What about the dragon balls?" he said excitedly.
"Oh yeah!" exclaimed. Dende. "But…who's going to go collect them? There's only a few people who can, but what if the saiyans spot them?"
"We must do this before it's too late," said Mr. Popo.
Mr. Popo got on his magic carpet and flew over to Gohan and Videl's house. He knocked on the old, rickety door.
"Is Gohan there?" said Mr. Popo, as Videl opened the door.
"No…he went to look for Pan, but you might be able to find him. He went that way," Videl pointed to the area.
"Oh, he's coming now," said Mr. Popo. Gohan walked over to the two.
"What's happening Mr. Popo?" he asked.
"We need you to find the dragon balls so we can wish everyone back" Mr. Popo said. Gohan's eyes lit up.
"Great! I'll go now!" yelled Gohan.
"Gohan," said Videl. "Be careful." Gohan flew off to find the dragon balls.
Marron, still in her room, looked at some pictures of her and her father. She also thought of all the others who had died, or were thought to be dead: Goten, Bulma, Vegeta, Trunks, Bra, Pan, Yamcha, Piccolo, Tien - all of them dead, or nowhere to be found. Marron lay down on her bed on her back. She looked out of the window at the foot of her bed. She thought she saw a shadow. She slowly got off of her blanket, and went over to her window. She looked outside and saw a strange figure. It was someone stumbling. It all of a sudden fell over.
Marron ran out of her room. She went over to the doorway and looked outside. She went slowly over to the figure. It was Pan. Marron knelt down and looked at her. Her clothes were torn, and she was dripping in blood and rainwater. She was very thin, for she hadn't eaten in weeks. Marron ran into the house and got #18.
"Mom! It's Pan! She's alive, and we have to help her!"
"Alive?" #18 said. She went outside and saw Pan.
"She's unconscious…we have to help her." 18 picked up Pan and brought her inside. She treated Pan's wounds, until Pan finally awoke. She looked around, and saw a familiar setting. Marron came over and hugged Pan.
"Here, you're going to need this," said Marron as she fed Pan some soup while #18 held up her head.
"I…I survived," said Pan as she fell asleep.
"Pan!" yelled Marron, in a worried tone.
"It's alright Marron, let her sleep," said 18, as she cleaned up some towels. Marron sat by her friend, in hopes that she would be okay.
"Trunks, I'm so hungry. Can't we stop?" said Bra as she held her stomach.
"Okay, but look for something over there, said Trunks, pointing towards an old, charred restaurant. Trunks landed and Bra ran towards the restaurant. Trunks walked over to a small toy, lying on top of a pile of rubble. It was a little doll that used to belong to a girl around the area. Trunks picked up the doll. He remembered Pan, and all the great times of peace, but his memories were shattered by the painful truth of the reality he must face. The death and pain of his friends, and his own mother and father.
"Okay, Trunks. I got some food," said Bra as she held a handful of old bread and salad. "Ummm…Trunks, what are you doing with that doll?" asked Bra as she stuffed the food into her mouth. Trunks blushed and threw the doll onto the ground.
"Well, I'm getting tired, Bra. I think we should hurry and find a safe place to rest.
"Good…I'm getting all wet and tired," said Bra, looking at the ground. Trunks walked over to Bra and picked her up. He slowly floated into the air.
"I sense something," said Trunks, as he looked around frantically.
"What is it? It's not the Dark Elite, is it Trunks?" A drop of sweat went down Trunks' forehead. Bra cowered a bit.
"This isn't good. This is very bad…we have to hide!" Trunks yelled as he landed on the damp grass by the side of the old, cracked street. Trunks and Bra ran, stumbling over piles of garbage. They heard approaching footsteps…but it was only one set of footsteps. Trunks slowly looked over the top of the junk pile ha and Bra were behind.
"Who is it, Trunks?" asked Bra as she sat with her back to the junk pile.
