Thanks to anyone who favorited my story or put it on their alerts. Chapter 1 didn't receive any reviews. Reviews are what help writers to imrove their stories and to let them know how they're doing. I would gretaly appreciate any comments even if you say that it sucks. This is going to be a long haul so it will take some time for the plot to really take off but bear with me; we're getting there.
Chapter 2: A Better Way of Living
Three days passed and word of the android's demise had begun to spread throughout the underground survivor's colonies. As is human nature, people added various embellishments and outright lies as to just how it happened, but the point everyone took away from the stories was that the androids really were gone. For three days there hadn't been a single reported android sighting or attack; but some were too cautious to allow such stories to free them from their fear so quickly.
"I don't believe it" said one man after overhearing some youngsters whispering about the supposed demise of the killing machines. "I won't believe they're gone until I see their bodies with my own eyes."
His companion snorted and said "You ain't gonna see no bodies if them androids were blown up like I heard they was."
The first man rolled his eyes. "Blown up? And how exactly do you blow them things up? Every army on earth tried blowin' 'em up before and nothing worked."
"I heard some guy used some of their own secret powers against 'em. They said he was glowing all gold and stuff when it happened."
"Psshh. Yeah right. You really believe some whoppers don't you Ed?"
Nevertheless, enough people were sufficiently satisfied by the three days of peace that they were brave enough to venture out of their hiding places and speculate out in the open. At 10:00 the third morning the relative silence of a world without androids was ended by the sound of a loudspeaker usually used for reporting android sightings in nearby areas. Many people looked around fearfully; they were so used to that loudspeaker announcing impending doom that they never considered that the announcement might be about something else.
"Attention Pepper Town, there will be a special press conference held in West City at 11:30 a.m. at the remains of the former Capsule Corporation compound. For discussion will be the mysterious disappearance of the androids and an interview with the man who claims to have defeated them. Again that's 11:30 in West City at the former Capsule Corporation compound." The line went dead.
After about five seconds the sound of whispers and excited discussion began to fill the ruined city as more and more added their voices to the growing speculation regarding the androids. Meanwhile, thirty miles away, Trunks was pulling on the Saiyan armor his past timeline mother had designed for training in the hyperbolic time chamber. Trunks decided that he would continue to wear this armor; not only because of its protective qualities but because of its connection with the year he spent training with his father. Trunks was the son of the Saiyan Prince after all; it only made sense that he should carry on the tradition of wearing the battle armor of his forefathers, even if there were no other Saiyans to recognize it. If everything went according to plan that would soon change.
As he was pulling on his white boots there was a knock on his bedroom door. Bulma entered the room and gazed lovingly at her son. She still could hardly believe it; her son, the little baby too young to remember a time when all the earth's greatest warriors were actually alive in his own timeline was the savior of their world. It seemed so poetic. Trunks had explained in great detail his weeks spent in the past. He spared no details, explaining in full what it was like being locked in another dimension with no one but Vegeta for company; he explained all about the new levels of power they had reached and about the battles with Cell. He had momentarily hesitated when arriving at the part about his own death but quickly resumed his story with talk of how 11 year old Gohan had ascended to Super Saiyan 2 and became the most powerful being in the known universe.
"Yes" Bulma thought. "It just seems so right that both Gohan and my Trunks are the heroes in this." Their Gohan, the one from this timeline, had spent thirteen years fighting those androids and saved countless lives in the process, including hers and Trunk's. After Gohan was killed, Trunks picked up where his master had left off in the battles with the androids. They had been the only two left who could make a difference. It just seemed right that it was Gohan, albeit a different Gohan, who brought peace to the past and her Trunks who brought peace to their present. It was like the two half-Saiyans were still working together even after all these years.
"Hey mom" said Trunks. "What's up? Are you ready for the press conference?"
Bulma nodded. "You bet babe. I just wanted to get a look at you before we head out. I still can't believe how much you've grown in just these few short weeks. I know you spent a year in that room in the past but still…you look so much like Vegeta now it's unnerving."
Trunks flushed slightly. Knowing what his father had been like as well as he did now, Trunks wasn't sure how he felt about being compared to him. Sure Vegeta was arrogant, prideful, cocky, and way too strict a taskmaster when it came to training…but there were other things about him as well. Say what you will about the Saiyan Prince but he was an extremely powerful warrior and probably one of the most brilliant tacticians the Saiyan race had ever produced. And somewhere, deep down in that heart of his, he cared. He cared enough about his son to consider him an equal and to attack a much more powerful enemy in a fury because that enemy had taken his son from him. He cared enough to stay behind even though he could have flown the coop at any time and resumed his earlier career of Destroyer of Worlds.
Not knowing how to react, Trunks merely smirked making him look all the more like his father. Bulma followed her armor clad son out to the front doors of Capsule Corp. where what remained of the press were huddled together as one mass with cameras, microphones, and questions at the ready.
"Ms. Brief's, you are Ms. Brief's are you not?"
"Tell us, what is the meaning of this press conference?"
"Do you know anything about the androids?"
"Has your company been secretly developing some weapon to use against them?"
Bulma held up her hands and cleared her throat. Silence fell upon the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have called this press conference because I have excellent news to share with the world. The nightmare is over. Androids 17 and 18 are dead."
More questions came on quickly but Bulma again called for silence.
"I can confirm that statement through my son Trunks who was present when the androids were destroyed. He, in fact, destroyed them."
"Ms. Briefs, how exactly was it done?"
"How can we all be sure of this?"
Bulma looked annoyed; it had been many years since she'd had to deal with the overbearing weight of the press. She took a breath to compose herself.
"My son is an extremely talented member of the Earth's Special Forces, an elite group of men whose goal it is to protect the earth. About twenty years ago now, when the androids first appeared the majority of the men were killed off. There was one survivor. His name was Son Gohan. You may recognize the name of his late father: Son Goku, winner of the last World's Martial Arts Tournament."
A gasp emanated from the excited journalists. They may have all endured twenty years of hell but Son Goku was not a name most would quickly forget. His matches at the old tournaments were the stuff of legend; many of the reporters at the press conference today had been on hand to cover some of those old tournaments. Nobody had ever seen fights like that before or since; Son Goku was a legend.
Bulma continued. "Unfortunately, Goku died of natural causes before the androids arrived. After the rest of the elite forces were killed, Son Gohan continued their battle on his own for thirteen years. During that time he trained my son Trunks in the ways of the elite. However, six years ago, Gohan too was killed by the androids. Some of you may remember seeing a blonde haired warrior dressed mostly in orange defending our cities against those monsters. If you do, that was Gohan."
A ripple of understanding flowed throughout the mass of reporters; Gohan's escapades were not forgotten. Bulma pressed on.
"Only three days ago, my son returned from weeks of intense training in preparation for this showdown. The showdown commenced three days ago; he won. My son, a super elite, defeated the androids. He is the reason our people are free. I know some of you may find that hard to believe. But let's open our minds a bit people. Biomechanical androids with superhuman powers weren't supposed to be possible either but the last twenty years prove that to be false. If you would like to see firsthand a free demonstration of the power my son used to defeat the androids, then please be prepared; it may get a tad breezy."
Everyone stared in amazement at Bulma's words; could everything she'd said really be true? Was there really a super elite group of fighters who used to protect the earth?
Trunks stepped forward so that the cameras could focus in on him. Pulling deep inside, Trunks let out a fierce yell and half the press corp. flew back several feet. They watched as Trunk's hair changed from lavender to gold, his muscles bulged and lightning crackled around him. Trunks sent an energy bolt into the sky only to disappear himself in the blink of an eye to bat it off into the distance where it collided with an abandoned skyscraper and exploded.
Everyone watching, in person or on the television was stunned; these were the same powers used by the androids! People didn't know whether to be in fear or in awe of the fantastic display they had just witnessed.
Trunks powered down to his regular state. This time, he took front position at the podium.
"Fellow citizens, please do not be afraid. I know this is a lot to take in right now but it was necessary to show you these things because we, my mother and I, have a plan that will make all of our lives a whole heck of a lot easier and enjoyable. You see, years ago Capsule Corporation developed earth's very first intersolar space ship. It was capable of flights both in and outside of our solar system. This ship was only flown on one official mission. My mother and two of the members of the elite forces traveled on that very first mission to a very distant planet called Namek. It is inhabited. There are friendly beings on that planet whom my mother forged a special bond with. These beings have in their possession, objects that could restore to life everyone that was killed by the androids. Our parents, children, husbands, wives, brothers, and sisters can all be returned to life as long as they didn't die of natural causes!
"I know this sounds difficult to believe; I know you're skeptical but please hear me out. We're confident that we can make another trip to the planet Namek and we're confident our friends there will be willing to help us. The problem is…after the androids showed up, my mother destroyed the only intersolar spaceship we had. She was afraid that if the androids ever got hold on that technology they would've taken their terror to other parts of the galaxy. She couldn't allow that to happen so she destroyed it. We can rebuild it. It will take time but it can be done.
"We know our resources are limited; we know that there are many who are in need of homes, fuel, food and other necessities. But we have a chance to undo every terrible thing those monsters did to us for the last twenty years! Do you want to see your family and friends again? Do you want the members of the Earth's Special Forces to return to earth so that they can protect us once more? If you do, if you want to take back what is rightfully ours, if you believe that your life is worth improving, if you believe that hiding underground is a pitiful way to live, if you want to experience a better way of living, please, I beg you…Allow Capsule Corp. the resources needed to build this spacecraft. Allow my mother the resources she needs to bring our friends and loved ones back!
"You won't regret it. I promise. Please help us; let us help each other." Trunks finished his speech and marched off to take his position behind Bulma who then opened up the floor for questions.
Six months passed since the press conference. It had taken several weeks to convince the masses that they should give their precious resources to a middle aged woman and place all their hopes on a bunch of aliens on a strange planet light years away. Still, they had finally agreed and now, six months later, Bulma was well on her way to completing her project. It was amazing how much had been accomplished in just six months. Bands of people had come together to help set up new houses for the survivors and the infrastructure of some of the major cities, including West City, had been refurbished to the point of almost resembling a real city.
Throughout this time, Trunks had flown from town to town and city to city assisting the survivors with their rebuilding efforts. He especially devoted his time to the building of orphanages for the children who no longer had anyone to look after them. After spending weeks in the past on a planet with over seven billion people, it was heart wrenching to see that only about two million had survived the androids; that was the scale of the destruction. During his time traveling the wastelands of earth, Trunks encountered many people who were grateful for all he had done for them; after all he had saved their lives. Others however, were fearful and didn't know how to react to his power.
Then too, there was the happy reunion with Master Roshi, Oolong, and Puar who had spent the last 20 years in an underwater submarine. Though having never met them in his time, Trunks had gotten to know them from the past so it wasn't a totally awkward experience. As Trunks prepared to depart a city in the Southern Districts, he was stopped by a small woman with stylishly cut blonde hair. She looked to be some years older than Trunks but like his mother, she retained vestiges of great beauty, marred by two decades of terror; Trunks didn't peg her as being anywhere near as old as Bulma though. The woman was wearing an emerald green top that flowed elegantly at her forearms and the neckline seemed to plunge at just the right place. Trunks fought to keep his eyes focused on her face, her eyes…those stunning green eyes…
"Umm, hi" he said. "Well hello there cutie" said the woman in a rather girlish voice. "You're the guy from that press conference a few months ago. You're the one that beat the androids!" Trunks rubbed the back of his head in a gesture inherited from years of association with Son Gohan. "Yeah, uh, that's me. What's…what's your name ma'am?" The woman giggled in a way very reminiscent of a schoolgirl. "Oh please, you don't have to call me 'ma'am', that's so formal; it makes me sound like I'm 50! I'm only 29 you know! Oh, my name's Erasa by the way. And you're Trunks. That's an interesting outfit you have on" she said, gesturing towards the Saiyan armor. "What is it, like, battle armor or something?"
Trunks stared at the woman in front of him. He had never heard someone so talkative before! Figuring he should be polite, he replied "Uh, yeah actually. This is battle armor patterned after the type my father used to wear. He…wasn't from around here." Erasa smiled broadly. How did she manage to have such sparkling teeth? "Your father huh? Was he a member of the 'super elite' you and your mom were talking about?" Trunks nodded. "Yes. He was the elite of the elite. But he was killed many years ago." Erasa clucked her tongue sympathetically.
"I'm so sorry. I lost my family too; and a very dear friend as well." Her face darkened. Trunks didn't like that look. It was too ugly for such a pretty face. But Erasa brightened rather quickly. "But" she said, "according to you, there's a way to bring back all the people the androids killed? Do you really believe that's possible?" Trunks smiled at her and nodded in encouragement.
"Yes. I do. It's been done before, though not on such a large scale. Many years ago my mother and the Earth's Special Forces saved the race of people from the planet Namek from a terrible destruction. Not that we wouldn't do it again in an instant but they kind of owe us a favor, you know?"
Erasa looked dazed. "Umm…not really, but hey, who am I to doubt you? I saw what you can do on camera. That was really neat! How did you change your hair like that?"
"Umm, it's kind of a special technique I learned. But the change in hair is a byproduct of the tremendous power boost you gain from this technique. I wasn't the only one that could do it; there were at least three others including my father."
Erasa just nodded, her eyes getting an almost hungry look in them. Trunks flushed deeply. "Umm, so…I was just leaving actually…I, uh," Erasa looked crushed.
"What? You're leaving? No! Hey why don't you stick around a little while and I'll show you around. It's not every day I get to meet the savior of the world you know. Let me show you a…good time."
Trunks fumbled with his words. "Well I uh…I don't know if I can…there's…" But before he could say another word, Erasa took him by the hand and led him off somewhere into the bowels of the city. The half-Saiyan could think of nothing that would deter this woman short of flying off into the sky without her. But he was drawn to her. Her smile, her warmth, her plunging…eyes. Yes, it must be the eyes. "Gosh, was this what Gohan felt like every time with Videl?" he thought. Erasa led Trunks down a couple of streets, and into an apartment building that he supposed was her home.
As Erasa placed her key into the lock, she shot a rather devious look towards the lavender haired warrior who had saved the world through his strength. This was his reward for his bravery and her opportunity to relieve the pent up frustration of decades. This, Trunks guessed, was a better way of living.