Taken

by Toto Yoshio

"Fuck you," she cried one last time in a strained voice. He could feel her warm breath against his skin and it was having an unsuspecting affect. Her blonde strands were drenched and sloppily parted across her pristine face. "Fuck you too…" he whispered huskily before capturing her lips in a heated kiss. M for rape, sex, bad language and violence.

10. Chapter 9: All Time Low

Chapter 9: All Time Low

Parsley city… the once prosperous town was now in the middle of an enormous recovery process. Nearly two months had passed, and while the worst was behind them, the citizens still faced a difficult road ahead. Natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes caused enough damage and devastation, but a relentless assault by two unstoppable androids was a different type of shit storm. The amount of destruction was simply incomparable. Not to mention, the duo was known for targeting and laying waste to entire regions. This humble town was just another one that bit the dust.

To put it simply, they weren't high on a list for receiving help from the world government since many other cities and villages have suffered the same fate at the hands of the cyborgs. Not to mention, rebuilding was being hindered by bureaucratic issues as well as funding problems. Of course, the news the mayor and reporters do damage control by releasing false statements about progress, but all the citizens with basic common sense knew the truth. A city without resources can only do so much on its own.

Just when things were looking like they couldn't get any worst, the people of Parsley were able to see the silver lining. Only two weeks ago, did King Furry release a global statement stating that he firmly believed the android threat had been eradicated. Since the report from channel 9 news about the blonde warrior battling the homicidal twins, there hasn't been a sighting of the androids or the angelic hero.

Though he knew he wasn't following protocol, the anthropomorphic dog had a hunch that those monsters were gone for good and as a being who was part animal, he had pretty good intuition. Besides, he was right about that young boy who defeated King Piccolo all those years ago, so his track record was decent enough.

Without further ado, King furry announced the universal restoration plan to prioritize the reconstruction of all the damage done across the globe. This project had been in place for years, but now it was finally being put to use. They had built up the funds and the man power for the day that they could restore all the regions of the world that were victims of this senseless violence to their former glory.

Since Parsley City was the place the king deemed to be "The end of it all", he decided to reward the town by placing it on the priority list. The only places that were receiving more government aid than Parsley were the four major Metropolis's that were positioned at each corner of the earth.

This couldn't be helped. North, South, East, and West city were the most heavily populated places on the planet. Each city had a population of over a million, plus the historical and financial purposes, gave them precedence over most regions. Still, Parsley was fifth on the list and which is still not bad when you consider how vast the planet is. Either the way, the town's residence were grateful, as their future was looking a little brighter.

"This is fucking insane,"

Travis chuckled in disbelief. With his forearms crossed over the steering wheel of his backhoe loader, he marveled at the setting that he was a part of. His fifth day on the job and he still hadn't gotten use to the sight. At least 40 construction workers were here alone, which was no surprise considering the masterpiece that they were recreating, but he wasn't use to working on a site with so many people. He could only imagine how many construction workers were on Main Street.

Scratching the growing stubble across his jaw, he continued to survey the area. Right now, everyone was on break so he had an opportunity to just sit back and observe his surroundings. There weren't just construction workers on the site either, glancing around he spotted what he assumed to be a civil engineer, as well an architect.

As a newbie, he just followed orders, so he didn't know all the finer details of the planning. Still it was refreshing to see all these people who weren't even from this city lending a hand. Unlike the majority of the construction workers present, he was actually born and raised in Parsley, so this was a big deal for him.

Travis is and has always been a hard-working person, from childhood till now. Unlike most men, he was more serious, not that he couldn't have a laugh, he just wasn't fond of goofing off and wasting time.

An abrupt knock on the window of his vehicle broke him out of his reverie. Peering to his left, he saw a tall lanky man wearing a hard hat standing outside his tractor waving a brown bag that was leaking grease. It was his best friend and child hood buddy Gavin, holding what appeared to be lunch. He could only assume the contents were unhealthy and full of carbs, not that he was complaining. Though he was quite muscular and kept up with his body, he was far from a health nut. There's no point in eating if there's no satisfaction, was his philosophy.

Gesturing with his hands, Travis mouthed through the glass, "Go to the spot."

In understanding, Gavin gave him the peace sign and headed toward the back of the site to their usual secluded hangout. There were a lot of workers on this site, and they didn't like listening to the other males boisterous bragging.

Most of the other hardhats were older and much more experienced yet they seemed so immature. Most of these guys were 10 years his senior and they only had one thing to discuss. All they talked about was sex… I mean he was use to that type of conversation being a young man in all, but you'd think the older generation would have more to bring to the table than typical primal talk about tits and ass.

His best friend yammering about banging some broad is one thing, but hearing geezers recall their glory days as young bucks was not on his to do list.

Unplugging his cellphone from the charger that was hooked up to a USB connector, he swiftly checked the percentage on the device. 60… not bad, stuffing it in his pocket, he snagged a pack of cigarettes and was off.

On the opposite side of the construction site, in front of a wired fence that read HARDHAT ONLY KEEP OUT, the two young men enjoyed their breaks away from the rest of the working crew. While they were at least 60 meters away from their designated working area, the location they were at currently was still in session, meaning the workers over here won't be taking break for another hour or so.

Since there was still productivity going on beyond the gate, they had to deal with the annoying sound of machinery in their background. With the sound of the bulldozer and fixed crane hard at work, the two males had to speak at a higher volume than usual.

"So Trav…" Gavin started loudly, slowly taking a bite into his triple decker cheeseburger. Chewing delectably, he hummed his elation. "What you got planned this weekend?" he inquired crudely in between bites. Flashing him a devious look, he went on to say, "Going to get drunk and watch romance flicks again? Reminiscing about old times… you shared with her…" the taller man swooned playfully and nudged his buddy, who only snorted in annoyance.

They were polar opposites, but they had been together since they were kids. Travis was the tan skinned rebellious kid with the attitude who couldn't stay out of trouble. He was always the smart one, but he was usually too lazy to apply his knowledge to anything useful. While Gavin was, the fair skinned popular type, who was always involved in sports, but wasn't exactly the brightest apple in the tree.

"Again, with this shit?" Travis rolled his eyes, as he tossed away the rapper from his finished cheese steak. Reaching for the stogie tucked behind his ear, he placed the cigarette between his lips and lit the end. Sparing the taller man a dreary glance, he exhaled slowly. "It's really getting old Gav…"

Burping obnoxiously, Gavin let out a satisfying sigh. "Damn that hit the spot," he said patting the muscle on his gut. Taking off his hardhat, he ran his hands through his sweaty blonde locks. Eyeing his partner with a side glance, he smiled in amusement. "You know what else is getting old? Seeing my best friend mope about over some gold digging slut. Depression is beneath a prideful guy like you," he finished patting the man's shoulder.

Travis's brow twitched and he grunted irritably, "Piss off… No one's depressed over that bitch."

"Really?" Gavin asked dryly before picking up the man's phone and clicking on the home screen revealing a picture of a gorgeous woman with orange colored strands. "Then why the hell is she still the background on your cell, bro?" He grinned.

"Fucking prick!" Travis snatched away the device promptly and shoved it back in his pocket before shooting the man a glare. "Keep fucking around Gav… and you'll return from break with a black eye." Since Gavin was a pretty boy who only used the gym for appearance, he's always been a lover not a fighter, while Travis was known for fighting since middle school. The muscular physique he gained in high school, only made him more formidable.

"Whoa! Calm down man... No need to get violent…" the blonde waved his hands nervously. The last thing he needed was to get punched by Travis. He was guaranteed to be seeing stars. "Listen Trav, I didn't mean to be insensitive, I'm just tired of seeing you like this. Lately you've seemed to really be out of it and that's not like you man."

Sensing the sincerity in his words, Travis relaxed his fist. "Sorry…"

"It's okay dude, I know you were really in love with her," Gavin remarked, trying to hide the pity he felt for his best friend.

"These things happen, nothing I can do," twisting the top off his water bottle, he took a swig. He wasn't going to lie, he still had feelings for Stacy, hence why he got so pissed with Gavin for touching his phone. Still…even though he missed her he wasn't going to bitch and moan. He'd just deal with his pain by getting drunk off his ass. It always seemed to be the most effective solution.

"Well, there is something you can do actually?" Gavin stated, casually looping his arm around his buddy's shoulder.

Travis shook his head, slowly removing the appendage. He was quite familiar with the man's manipulative side. "I already know what you're thinking. And the answer is hell no…"

"Oh, come on! We got to hit the club! It's been about 2 months since you've gotten some ass, correct?" Eyes forward, the dark-haired man paid him no mind, which only urged him on more. Gavin was persistent, one of his more annoying qualities. "I mean for fuck's sake, lets at least go to a bar!"

"I don't feel like dealing with bar skanks," was his only response before giving the blonde a peculiar look. "Besides, you've already got a nice woman. Don't tell me you plan on cheating on her too?" After all, Gavin was known for being unfaithful in relationships due to his popularity with women. However, since he started dating this girl a year ago, he had changed quite a bit. He seemed quite serious about her.

"And you call me stupid…" he said, somewhat annoyed with the accusation.

Travis merely smirked at his irritation, "Was I actually wrong this time?" he asked in disbelief.

"Yes! You're wrong asshole! I happen to be madly in love with my girlfriend!" Gavin roared, getting more irritated by the second. He knew had a track record for being promiscuous and cheating on various girls, but he was serious about this one. "I just want to go out with you to help you meet women and get laid, damn douchebag. I'll be your wingman just like we used to." He kept putting emphasis on you to make sure his point was getting across.

Out of nowhere, Travis started chuckling. "So, you're serious?"

"Yes… do you really think I'm that much of a bastard?" questioningly, his eyes bore into the other man's as if he were looking into his soul.

"No, I know you're not dude. I was just a little doubtful since you happen to be in a long-distance relationship. I've never heard of one working, so I was just a little skeptical." Travis grinned in good faith as he thought back to their childhood. While Gavin has always been a man whore, he has also always been upfront and completely truthful with him. "But I am happy to hear you've found someone worth changing for. Don't let her go," he remarked taking another drag.

The pretty boy smiled brightly, "Even, I'm not that stupid." He joked.

"Could have fooled me," and just like that the rugged young man was back to being a dick.

Flipping him the bird, he rolled his eyes. "Changing the subject," he started, but paused and looked in both directions to make sure no one was around to hear their discussion. Once he confirmed the coast was clear, he continued. "What do you think about the second half of King Furry's global announcement, Trav? Do you think it's true about all the missing bodies…That there's a monster out there eating us?" the skepticism in his voice was apparent.

Tapping the end of his stogie, Travis cleared the ash once more, took one last inhale, before stomping it out in the dirt. "No doubt, Gav." Suddenly, the man's hazel eyes became steely serious. "The fucking androids who ruled over us for 20 years were just randomly destroyed by some golden kid. Then there were also those warriors who had similar powers that were killed by the androids, when we were just brats running around in the sandbox. It's clear that there have always been supernatural beings in this world, so anything is possible. Being close minded is foolish and dangerous if you ask me," he finished solemnly with his fingers laced, staring at the ground deep in thought.

On the news, streets look completely abandoned instead of destroyed. Scattered across residential and public areas there were no people… only clothes. Just what does that mean?

Gavin nodded, after listening to his friend's words, "Well, That's that. Your instincts have always been dead on… so it must be true." Not many people knew except for those close to him, but Travis had the personality of a wise old man despite still having the same rough appearance he had back when they were children. "Fuck, it's like we can't catch a break," he said, shaking his head in dismay.

Brushing the sandwich crumbs off his lap, the dark-haired man slowly rose to his feet. "All we could do is pray for another miracle…That or for the golden kid to save our asses a second time. Other than that, there's no use worrying over things that are out of our hands."

"Too bad we don't have powers," Gavin sighed resting his fist against his cheek. "I think we'd really be quite the team."

Travis snorted, "Yeah… we would be the most mismatched duo in history…"

"Whatever you negative asswipe, but I'd like to think we'd fuck shit up…"

Interrupting their back in forth was the sound of someone calling them from a distance. It was Fergus, an older muscular man who happened to work the crane and some of the more complex machinery. He was one of the senior workers from the other side who actually knew a thing or two and didn't sound like a complete bigot every time he opened his mouth.

"Travis…! Gavin…!" The burly man paused out of breath, hunched over gripping his knees. He had been looking everywhere for these two and they were nowhere to be found. Now that finally caught up with them he was a little out of breath. Watching the man pant uncontrollably, the boys observed their seniors condition.

"Hold on their Fergus… where's the fire?" Gavin asked placing a hand on the man's back. By the looks of it he's been ripping and running throughout the entire construction site in search of them.

"Have you boys…seen Paulie?!" he asked breathlessly, glancing between the two in hunched position.

Paulie was their short, fat ass of site manager who happened to be a complete dickhole. Having bad bosses has been nothing new for Trav and Gav since they entered the working field at age of seventeen. Still, this guy was by far the worst they ever had. Nothing ever seemed to be good enough, the guy complained about the simplest things. They've only known the guy for two weeks and it's been five days since they started working under him and they already hated his guts.

The worst part was, as site manager, Paulie was the authority on site, since he was the building manager. His responsibilities were to make sure the project was complete within the time frame, managing the budget, health and safety checks, as well inspecting individual and group work that is carried out. Handling the communication between the different parties on site was also an important part of the job.

"I don't really pay attention to that lazy blimp, but if I remember correctly…" Travis paused to spit in the dirt, before resuming. "He was waddling across the street to get some food two hours ago, while we were still working," he answered, callously scratching his hair.

"Last time I saw him he was coming out of the shitter and…that was about two hours ago," Gavin supplied with a goofy yet lovable grin.

"What happened?" Travis asked.

After hearing both their statements, the middle-aged man's face fell in disappointment. Gripping his temples, he massaged them in circles to calm his nerves. Damn kids, only things they pay attention to are ass and food. Not to mention how can he be at two different places at one time? Finally getting a hold of his breathing, Fergus grunted before regaining his composure. "Morons… he hasn't been gone that long! But that's beside the point I guess… Anyways the contractor is here to talk with him."

"Another high maintenance fucker," Gavin rolled his eyes, as he put his hard hat back on.

Fergus sighed, but nodded. "Exactly…Which is why we need to find Paulie. The guys already bitching up a storm."

Travis grit his teeth, "Okay then… Let's split up and look for him."

"Good idea, I'll check with the guys working on the northern end here, ask if they've seen him around," Fergus gestured to the gate behind them while reaching for the keychain in his pocket. He was one of the few workers who had free access to the entire site, but this was due to his skill and his ability to improvise and fix the errors of the younger workers who were more green behind the ears due to inexperience. Every worker here was talented, but only few were capable of improvising without high tech Capsule Corp equipment. "Why don't you two go back and search your individual stations. There is a possibility that he's hiding away talking on the phone again or just busting someone else's ass…"

Nodding, the two younger men bolted in opposite directions in search of their overweight boss, while the senior male proceeded forward and unlocked the KEEP OUT gate. He had planned on looking around a bit before bugging the other guys who were still hard at work, but when he found someone up ahead walking by their lonesome, he figured it wouldn't hurt to ask. Calling out to the young man, Fergus jogged toward him.

Little did he know; an uninvited guest was within the proximity. Just beyond the gate he unlocked, there was mass of building materials to his left that created a small maze. Within said maze, was a large humanoid creature with a lime and emerald green complexion, to go along with an orange abdominal section. The monster's eyes were pink with black slits, similar to a reptile. Coming out of its lower back was a thick tail with a stinger.

"So…The androids were supposedly killed by some golden kid?" Cell mused nasally. Pondering the information, the android hummed while contemplating everything he had just heard. "Interesting, they must be referring to the power of the Saiyan's." though he was intrigued, just the notion of anyone capable of generating enough energy to destroy the androids was ridiculous.

He himself only recently devoured enough human life force to gain the required power to be more than a match for the androids. Then there was the fact that there was only one warrior left on Earth who can oppose the cybernetic duo and they were still way out of his league.

Young Trunks…Last I checked he was nothing special. Just your standard Super Saiyan. The mere thought of a worm like him defeating my babies is almost laughable…

"L-Let me...G-Go! Gahhhh!"

Pinned beneath his three-toed foot was a short balding fat man who appeared to be in his late thirties. He was wearing a dress shirt and tie to go along with your typical safety vest on a construction site. Usually he'd have his hard hat on, but it came off when he was forcefully dragged here after stepping out of the nearest portable restroom. He barely had time to zip up his pants, when he felt something encase his ankle in a vice grip, by the time he realized what was going on he was upside down staring into the evilest eyes. The fear alone caused the man to lose consciousness. Until now he was still in that state.

"So, you've finally awoken?" the android asked with a hint of glee. Ever so slightly, he loosened his tails grip around the man's fat neck, all the while still keeping his foot pressed down on his chest. "I was starting to get bored waiting. Well, it wasn't all too bad I suppose. I was able to hear some interesting stuff thanks to your pathetic self…"

With a panicked expression, the overweight worker asked. "W-Why haven't…you killed…me?"

Instead of answering immediately, Cell cruelly applied pressure to his foot to the point where he was crushing the man's abdomen. To ensure his screams didn't alert the rest of the workers, he re-wrapped his tail around his mouth. "Because killing someone while they are comatose is no fun. How can I hear your screams or enjoy your terrified face as you realize that these are your final moments? Hmm?"

The sadistic statement caused the worker's heart to sink in chest as his eyes bulged fearfully at the thought of what was to come. Desperately the man squirmed and tried to break free of the creature's clutches, but his mere human strength couldn't even begin to compare. Slowly, his eyes began to water once he realized how futile his struggle was.

"Yes! That's the look!" Cell exclaimed balling his fist in delight. It was rare when he got to enjoy treats like this. Out of the tens of thousands of people he absorbed, he probably only played with a 100, which is why rare occasions like this needed to be thoroughly enjoyed. "That's what I've been waiting for human. You have my thanks…"

Without warning, the stinger at the end of his tail punctured the back of his skull. "Since you gave me a show. I will make this quick and painless." And with those words the extraction commenced. Steadily, the man's energy was being pumped from his body and being transferred through the tail.

It wasn't long before his expansive body started to mummify in a hideous fashion. The flesh on his face slowly shriveled up and his fingers started to deflate. Not even a full minute had passed, and the construction workers body had been completely erased from existence. The only thing that remained were the man's clothes and a name tag that read site manager with the name Paulie underneath.

"That was a nice meal," Cell stated, feeling a little rejuvenated from the snack. "Now…Where to go from here?"

For two weeks, he had been in Parsley city, secretly feasting on its returning inhabitants. The whole reason he was here in the first place was the androids. There most recent attack on a human settlement was this location and that was a month ago, since then the trail has gone cold.

Did the androids stop killing humans? As strange as it sounded, it was the only conclusion to come to. This was the last place where they went on a killing spree and it's almost been two months since the last incident. He absolutely refused to believe that Trunks destroyed his children. There was just no way a weakling like him could muster up enough power to even be a challenge to the androids. Still, as much as he wanted to believe this, he knew the Saiyan's were capable of great feats so he had to keep an open mind.

The only way to find out what I want to know, is by seeking out Trunks…However if he really has gotten stronger I should probably eat a little more to be on the safe side. While he was confident in his abilities and he was almost certain that Trunks wouldn't be a problem, he still wanted to be cautious. It would be shame if he couldn't reach completion because of a lack of diligence.

Making his final decision, the monster cracked his neck and started to stalk off. "Next stop…West City."

---

"Listen Lady! Taylor isn't your damn chore boy so don't speak of him like that! Also! He's turning 13 next month and he still hasn't received any type of education. Yet he seems to be really handy at fixing crap and doing housework! Can you explain this?!" Bulma seethed, gripping the telephone to her ear tightly, seemingly annoyed. Irritably, she bit her lip awaiting the woman's retort.

The middle-aged engineer was currently on the phone with the director of the orphanage. Judging by the tired tone and sophistication of the female on the other end of the phone, Bulma could already tell that she was even older than herself. Which is why she initially tried to be patient and understanding towards the woman's profession, she could only imagine how stressful it could be to manage a facility full of children with different personalities and backgrounds.

Taking this into consideration, she dismissed the woman's condescension and rudeness, deciding to hear her out before showing her the enraged Bulma Briefs. She was able to keep up her pleasant façade until she realized what the lady was truly upset about.

She wasn't mad that Taylor spent the majority of his time at her home, nor was she worried about his well-being. This much was clear, by her lack of questioning. Most parental guardians that gave a damn, will at the least, wonder if the child under their care is being clothed and well fed while away from home. But it was clear they never really wanted him around to begin with, so why would they go through the trouble of seeing about him when he's gone?

Yes, she knew that Taylor was rough around the edges, when he first appeared over a year ago, he was the rudest little brat she ever had the misfortune of meeting. He cursed like a sailor, he didn't clean up after himself, and he was very ungrateful. Now, one year later he made a huge turn around in his behavior. While he was still pretty disrespectful to most adults, he treated her with utmost respect and he always showed his gratitude. If he was staying over the night, he'd even volunteer to do the dishes.

The truth was almost any child can change and learn if you take the time with them. Discipline is a factor, but patience and calmness is also important when it comes to reforming a troubled youth like Taylor.

Once the mistress of the orphanage finished her irate retort, Bulma decided to make some things clear. "Oh really?" she asked with a smirk as her blood boiled with frustration. "You're accusing me of child exploitation? I'm not even going to dignify that with a response…" She smirked as she leaned against the counter top. "But since we are on the topic, I could have any number of people investigate that shady little orphanage of yours. Does the last name Briefs ring any bells in that smug brain?"

Suddenly she heard the lady's breath get caught in her throat at the sound of the influential surname. Capsule Corporation was a global name and one of the largest companies in the world. You'd have to be living under a rock, not to know the Brief name.

Seeing as the older woman was now mumbling incoherently to herself in shock, she decided it was a good time to end their phone call. "I take it you understand now… I can have that entire facility shut down so fast your head will spin, so watch who you threaten. Anyways I think I've said enough now so I'll be hanging up." Before pressing the end button, the beautiful scientist remembered something important. "By the way, I'll be stopping by your children's home as soon as my schedule frees up, I hope that isn't a problem Ms. Director?"

On the contrary, the orphanage's head mistress tone had completely changed. At first, she was rude and inconsiderate, but now that she knew who she was dealing with her attitude went in a more positive direction. Adamantly, she let it be known that Bulma was more than welcome to stop by anytime and take a look around, and just like that the discussion had reached its conclusion.

"Ms. Bulma, I don't even know why you bother."

Sitting at the kitchen table in a slumped position, with his legs outstretched and hands in his pockets, was Taylor. He had been there during the entire conversation. Before Bulma had even gotten the call, they were having a discussion of their own which they often did whenever Bulma was cooking. He didn't understand why, but he liked the homey feeling he got when they had casual talks as she prepared their meals. Of course, he would never admit that out loud, lest he ruin his cool image.

"I bother because you matter to me Taylor, just because you don't care how those people treat you doesn't mean I'm going to tolerate it," Bulma stated arms crossed, before plopping down at the table. At this point the boy was practically her second child, with all the time he spent in her home.

Flattered, Taylor blushed and scratched his cheek, shyly looking away. "I'm grateful, but I've told you before…you don't have to go through such lengths for someone like me, besides at least they give me a roof over my head. And I get one cup of ramen noodles to snack on every day…" he grinned, but his smile faltered when he mentioned his eating habits. The one thing he couldn't really handle is the fact they didn't feed him anything. He could overlook the verbal abuse, the isolation, and even the neglect. But he had an appetite and he needed to eat, which is why he was always here. At Capsule Corp, he was guaranteed to never go without food.

"One cup of ramen noodles a day?" Bulma whispered dangerously. She doesn't care how bad a person is, everyone deserves to be fed. Especially children. No matter how disrespectful a kid was, she knew it was wrong to ever deny a child food. Enraged, Bulma reached for the phone. Before she could pick up the device, a larger hand covered hers gently.

While there was an earnest expression on his face, he didn't meet the woman's gaze. "Why not we leave well enough alone for today, Ms. Bulma?"

"Huh?" She seemed a bit bewildered by his tone and passiveness.

"You already have to worry about Trunks and his emotional self, I'm just added trouble," Taylor chuckled lightly. He may have been trying to distract her, but his words were true. His mentor had been acting strange as of late. If he had to be honest, he'd say he's been weird since he came back from the past. Ever since that outburst during their spar, Taylor had been watching the older male closely. The thing he feared most was Trunks losing control and hurting someone innocent, or worse… someone who was important to him. "Save your concern for your son, he needs it most," he stated sincerely.

For a while, Bulma stared at the child. Her lips were pursed as she observed him in contemplation. "You know…You're pretty wise for a kid?" she exhaled flashing the boy a smile. Easing back in her chair, she relaxed. "You're right, Trunks needs me now more than ever…"

Eyes closed, Taylor nodded. "Exactly…That's-

Derailing his statement, was the sensation of fingers running through his thick black hair. He opened his big green eyes to see Bulma grinning at him like a wily old fox as she massaged his scalp. "But my youngest son Taylor is such a handful that I just can't leave him alone for a second. What is a mother to do?"

In that moment, the young delinquent's heart threatened to burst with joy. He was so taken aback that he couldn't he even begin to hide the surprise and elation on his face. Hell, even his breathing was starting to accelerate. Any other time he could look the woman in the eye, but right now his gaze was permanently fixed on flawless tile floor of her kitchen as he blushed profusely. For good measure, he put his hoodie over his head to hide his face.

Before Bulma can tease him, the kitchen's intercom automated system activated, signaling a stranger had entered the buildings perimeter. "UNIDENTIFIED VISITOR, UNIDENTIFIED VISITOR, UNIDENTI-

Clapping her hands together swiftly, the computerized unit obediently went quiet. "It's been a while since we've had a new guest. I wonder who it could be?" she thought curiously.

Whoever they were, they couldn't be here on business. People knew better than to just to show up at their home to talk about such things. This was a house first and a company second, which meant that she had a family to look after. So, the stranger at the door had to be there on personal business.

"Here ya go," she said, sliding the phone across the table till it felt into the boy's lap.

Taylor quirked a brow as he stared at the phone. "Why are you giving me the phone?"

"I'm going to see who's at the door," she announced rising to her feet. Grabbing her lab coat off the back of her chair, she put it on with a flourish. "In the meantime, I want you to order some Pizza's for you and Trunks. I'm never going to be able to make lunch for you two with all these interruptions. Can you do that for me?"

"No problem," was his response hopping up swiftly. He kept his hoodie on as he was still a little embarrassed.

"Thanks kiddo," she grinned as she started to walk out the room. "Oh, and can you check on Trunks? He hasn't been out of his room all day today." Usually she would have checked on him by now, but she had been busy with a number of things since morning. Today she had to do another formula fuel extraction for the time machine and that was a process. Then she was on the phone making calls, while also checking company figures.

Slowly getting out of his seat, the child yawned. "Will do Ms. Bulma, I was just about to go harass the boy scout anyways."

---

Speechless or stumped? The brilliant woman really didn't know which word described her feelings best. She was always the type to expect the unexpected, since she worked in a field that had many possibilities, but still couldn't help feel a little dismayed. Bulma stood before the threshold of her home with the automatic sliding doors open, staring in wonder at a nameless yet incredibly gorgeous young woman.

Honestly, she was almost certain that it would be a business man at her door trying to talk her into being bought out by another company. Usually these people didn't have the nerve to show up at her door step and ask such a foolish question, but there were people out there who were brazen enough. Hell, she even thought it could be a kid selling scout cookies.

A young woman was the last thing she was expecting.

The girl was a fair skinned beauty with long flowing black hair that had a nice glossy sheen. Fashionable sunglasses concealed the color of her eyes, as the woman stood there chewing on a stick of gum.

Everything seems to be right where it needs to be… Bulma jealously bit her lip examining the girl body as if she were a scanning system. Her breast looked so luscious and perky in her simple white crop top. Her gaze ventured lower to her other half to see she was wearing torn black jeans that hugged her waist, giving her a sexy yet boyish appeal. On her head was a black beanie that read doll in white letters.

Damn, she'd even give the younger me a run for my money. And I had men eating out of the palm of my hand when I was her age. Still, it should be illegal to look that-

Suddenly, a friendly hand was being waved in her line of sight, which broke her out of her bitter contemplation. Damn… I was so mesmerized that I didn't even notice she was talking. "I'm sorry, let's start over from the beginning…It's been a long day. How can I help you again young lady?" she asked with a welcoming smile.

"Hello miss," the girl bowed respectfully. "I'm here to see Trunks. Is he home?"

She's here for Trunks huh?... I can see that, she seems to be around his age, maybe a tad bit older. If I had to guess, I'd say she's between the ages of 21 and 23. I wonder what her relationship with him is? Could she be his girlfriend?"

"Hi, I'm Bulma Briefs. Trunk's mother," she announced nicely before extending her hand in greeting. "And you're?"

The raven-haired woman graciously accepted the offered hand, "Of course, everyone knows you Ms. Brief. But I have to say, now that I've met you in person. I can see where Trunks get his stunning good looks. I'm Hazel…"

Being quite flattered and taken with the girl, Bulma put her hand to her chest in surprise. Most girls with her looks were complete bitches or at least a little stuck up. In her youth, she remembered walking around with quite the cocky attitude. It's nice to see she isn't your stereotypical attractive woman. "Beautiful and flattering, how rare. Well it's nice to make your acquaintance." Now fully interested, Bulma cocked her hip and leaned against the frame of her sliding door. Crossing her arms, over her breast she eyed the girl slyly. "So, Hazel…May I ask what your relationship with my son is?"

Though she was amused, this was also a serious matter. As much as she wanted to like this girl she couldn't just automatically give her a pass after saying some kind, yet obvious words about her beauty. She may have been middle aged, but there weren't many women who still looked as good she did. Chi-Chi was also quite pretty for her age, but just like in their younger days, she hid that rocking body beneath boring clothes.

Anyways, she need to find out this woman's intentions and how she was connected to her son.

With all that's been going on with Trunks, she needed to explore all potential factors. When it boiled down to it could be any number of things, not just his Saiyan heritage. Something bad could have happened to him during one of his battle in the past, or it could have been when he engaged the androids upon his return. He could have seen something that changed his life and now has him evaluating himself.

Or it could be something much more simplistic. Like a young woman bewitching her son, making him fall in love with her, then shattering his heart into a million pieces.

If that's happens to be the case, I'll make sure this little hussy pays for tormenting my boy…

"You see the thing is…" The girl started awkwardly, fidgeting in place all the while.

She's nervous, Bulma noted observing the way she rubbed her arm while searching for words was almost adorable…. Keyword almost. "The thing is…?" she repeated tapping her fingers to her arm, but kept the patience and pleasantness in her tone.

"This is…Kind of embarrassing," she shifted her eyes toward the ground and breathed deeply. From the looks of it, she didn't really prepare for this confrontation. Balling her fist, she finally found her resolve. "Your son and I…Hooked up a few times in the past," she blushed. At the moment, she was barely able to look the woman in the eyes despite wearing shades.

So, she's the one! She's the harlot that took my little boy's virginity. Truthfully, she held nothing against the girl, but she was just a bit surprised to meet the young lady responsible for turning her son into a man.

After her initial astonishment wore off, she was able to reach composure quickly. "Is that so?" Bulma asked calmly.

"Yes," Hazel nodded tardily, lifting her shades she wiped the tears that surfaced on her eyelids. Taking a chance, she rushed forward and embraced the older woman. "I'm sorry, if I'm being too forward! But I really like your son and I just don't know what to do anymore!"

Completely caught off guard, by this display. The scientist really didn't know what to do, so with much discomfort, she hesitantly wrapped her arms around the girl. "I-It's okay," She coolly soothed, as her overprotective mother persona was starting to simmer down, due to the girls emotional state. She can't be a bad girl if she this torn up over Trunks, could she? Either way, I need to get to the bottom of this, and find out what happened between them. "If you really like my son than what's the issue? Did he do something to hurt you?"

Just for a second, Hazel's body went completely limp, but she shook it off. "Well, in a way I guess you could say he did hurt me, but I don't know if it was intentional. At least I hope it wasn't."

Strange that doesn't sound like her Trunks. It was no secret that he was inexperienced when it came to girls and relationships, since Bulma kept him cooped up in the house do to the android terror. Nevertheless, she made sure to instill good values into her only child even if Vegeta wasn't around. Since he wasn't, she had to be a mother and a father to Trunks which wasn't easy, but she managed. So, he knew to be a gentleman and always consider a lady's feelings, these are principals that she hammered into his head when he was an adolescent.

Now a fully-grown 19-year-old man, he still exhibits well-mannered behavior, which was the opposite of the 12-year-old trouble maker she was raising currently. Whenever she and Trunks would go out shopping, if he saw an old lady struggling with her bags, he'd stop what he was doing and go help her without his mother prompting him to. If a young lady asked him out and he wasn't interested he'd respectfully decline or make up a decent excuse that would not damage the girl's ego.

The point was, the person that this Hazel girl was describing wasn't the boy she raised, yet that didn't mean she was lying either. Pulling back, Bulma removed Hazel's shades completely and looked into her hypnotic blues. "Calm down Hazel," she spoke softly placing her hands on her shoulders. "Tell me what Trunks did…"

"W-Well it's more or less, what h-he didn't do," she stuttered. Brushing her tears away, as her make-up was now ruined.

"What…didn't he do?" the scientist inquired, now greatly intrigued. This is more suspenseful than a damn Soap Opera. I mean seriously! When did physical relationships become so complicated between young people?!

"He didn't call…" she answered weakly, barely able to maintain eye contact. "After we slept together for the 3rd time, I told him really liked him and that I wanted to be more than sex friends. He agreed, but said there were things that he needed to take care of first before getting serious with me. I didn't know what he needed to do, but I knew it wasn't my place to pry."

The androids… Trunks must have been referring to them, Bulma thought inwardly. Which means he must have met this girl before he went back to the past.

"It's been almost three months, since I've last seen him and I like to think I've been pretty patient," the girl dejectedly remarked, showing that her hopes were fading. Woefully she gazed deeply into Bulma's orbs to the point where it felt like she was going to cast a spell with her hypnotic stare. "I just don't want to be toyed with Ms. Briefs. Not saying that's what your son is doing… but I feel like I at least deserve to no where we stand."

"So… that's what happened?" Finally, she knew the whole story… Well at least this girl's version.

Hazel confirmed, "Yes."

From the sound of things, it was a simple miscommunication on Trunk's part. He had been so preoccupied with dealing with the androids, and then on the same day his Saiyan genetics caused a strange change. She wouldn't be surprised to find that Trunks was keeping his distance from this girl for her sake.

Not to say that's a good excuse for Trunks to be dodging her, because unintentional or not, it had a bad appeal. From the outside looking in, he seemed like the run of the mill player and that was image she just would not stand for.

Rather she like this situation or not, it must be dealt with. "Hmm… Guess there's only way one way to resolve this," Bulma breathed irritably. Turning around, the sliding doors opened automatically upon sensing her presence. Proceeding to enter her home, she took several steps before noticing she was alone. Looking over her shoulder, she flashed the girl a curious look. "Aren't you coming Hazel?"

Immediately, the raven-haired girl perked up. "Yes ma'am!" she said jogging into the large building. The sliding doors quickly closed behind her as she fell in step behind the woman of the household. With her hands tied behind her back like a cute school girl, she happily followed. While Bulma face forward, a devious smile crept upon her face, as she licked her lips eagerly. "Please…Lead the way."

---

"Alright, Alright I'm fucking leaving you emotional prick," Taylor grunted, unnecessarily slamming the automated door behind him. If he was going to act like that I wouldn't have even made the fucking joke. Exhaling deeply, he leaned against the door frame and stared up at the hall's florescent lights. "Just what the hell is going on with you man, even I'm starting to worry."

These random mood swings, they just didn't make any sense to the young warrior. For someone like Trunks to behave like this was strange for him to see. He always held himself together so well, so to see him crumbling apart like this created many questions in the boy's head.

Is this a part of his Saiyan heritage? He pondered. Scratching his wild hair, he started walking back down the level 2 hall with his hand shoved in his pockets as he contemplated trunk's situation.

Interrupting his thinking process, was the sound of multiple footsteps coming from the opposite side of the hallway. This meant not only was there a visitor, but Bulma was allowing them to venture beyond the lobby, this was something she rarely did, so if she was making an exception this was definitely a personal matter. He wouldn't be surprised if this person had a previous affiliation with the Brief family.

It's definitely a woman, he thought, clearly hearing the female chatter steadily approaching. But I wonder who she is? An old family friend or maybe a young distant female relative that had never visited CC before. A perverted grin crept its way on his face, as he became a little giddy at the image of a young shapely woman in the house.

Unlike most boys his age, Taylor had a thing for older women. Girls his age were alright, but most of them were immature and didn't know what they wanted, which was unattractive for Taylor. He may be barely turning 13, but he already knew what he wanted out of life and definitely knew what he was looking for in the opposite sex. In many ways, he was more mature than most guys who were Trunk's age.

Damn it all…Ms. Bulma is there, so I can't just blatantly hit on her, what to do? were his pensive thoughts.

"Taylor…"

He was so preoccupied with staring at the floor that he would have bumped into Bulma if she didn't say anything. Abruptly, he stopped and lifted his gaze to see the woman of his house staring at him expectantly. But she didn't have that usual warm inviting look that he had grown accustom to, instead she seemed troubled and uncertain. Still, that wasn't the strangest thing he noticed.

Standing behind her, was a beautiful young woman with raven hair that flowed down her back. The unnamed woman dressed casually, but he'd be lying if he didn't say she looked hotter than hell in her boyish outfit. But what he found irritating and strange was the fact that she was wearing sunglasses in doors. When he took notice to the state of her running make up, he started to piece things together.

Oh shit... so that's whats going on!

"Did you order the Pizza's?" she asked, her tone was bit strained.

"Yeah I ordered a dozen, they should be here any minute."

"Good," she quickly interjected. Placing her hand on his shoulder she gave it a motherly pat. He's growing… he's almost as tall as me. "Go back down to level 1 and wait for me in the lobby," she ordered. Without uttering another word, she pressed forward with the nameless woman in tow. Glancing over her shoulder, the girl stared back at the child until she and the older woman completely disappeared around the corner.

The fuck was that about? Sighing, he shrugged and just continued walking in the opposite direction. "Usually, she makes damn sure I speak to guests, because its rude or impolite not to make people feel welcome, but the one time we have a sexy woman in the house I'm not supposed to introduce myself. Weird…"

Truthfully, though he's kind of happy that she didn't make him talk to that woman. Something about her, rubbed him the wrong way. While she was dropped dead gorgeous, he didn't like the feeling he got while he was in her presence. He had only been talking to Ms. Bulma for no more than ten seconds, but during that time frame he can feel the raven-haired girl's intense gaze and it wasn't a flattering one.

It almost felt similar to murder intent, but not quite as violent. Entering the elevator, he pushed the number 1 and eased against the railing. Rather she is Trunks girlfriend or not she spells trouble, I'm going to have to keep an eye on her.

---

"Annoying little brat," Trunks grunted while tossing a tennis ball across his room to hit the eastern wall, as expected it bounced back to him and he caught the sphere effortlessly. Growling, he repeated the process several times, each time he threw the ball harder than the last to increase frequency. He was surprised at how therapeutic it was for his nerves.

Presently, he was sitting on his king size bed wearing a form fitting black tank that hugged his muscular frame, grey sweat pants and socks. For the past three days, he hadn't left his room much, only to eat and used the bathroom, other than that he had completely isolated himself. Ever since Friday, he'd been feeling stressed and a little paranoid.

Having, no control of his emotions or how he felt on a daily basis was really troubling for Trunks, but sadly he was getting used to the phenomenon going on within. Not to say he was accepting this cursed fate, but he knew there was no point in complaining about things he had no control over.

"Little idiot, don't you know I'm doing this for your benefit too?" Trunks said staring at the ceiling.

The truth of the matter was, he was tired of having these mood swings around his mother and Taylor. A week ago, he had thought he found a decent balance despite the struggles. He was his usual upbeat positive self, until a random sensation of dread hit him like a ton of bricks. He didn't know if this had something to do with his new SSJ transformation or not, but something was the matter.

I need to snap out of this…It's like I'm expecting the worst. Taking a deep breath, the young man eased his back against the wall and let his head hit it with a thud. These feelings were beyond troublesome, but he needed to find clarity and the only way to do that was going to the past to talk with his father. I wonder how work is coming along on the time machine. The last thing he wanted to do was rush his mother, but the sooner he had answers the better. Just as he was thinking this, there was another unexpected knock coming from the other side of his door.

"Trunks," Bulma's called a bit louder than usual.

Rolling his eyes, Trunks shot an irritated glare at the room access point. "I already told Taylor I'm not hungry Mom! And I really don't feel like talking right now," he hollered from his lounge spot on his bed, as he sat there cross legged. He had just gotten rid of the know it all brat, the last thing he needed was another lecture from his mother.

She sighed, clearly not liking the young man's standoffish tone. "You have a visitor, son."

A visitor? What the hell? This struck him as weird since he only had so much extended contact with the outside world. Yes, he had made a few friends his age or even a little older who'd he see every now and then. But they weren't people he socialized with often. A couple years ago, when he was sixteen some guys invited him to a mixer due to his good looks, they though he'd be a good plus one. Still, that was the last time he really remembered mingling so casually with normal humans.

So, who the hell is here to see me?

Before he can contemplate further, he could hear his mother punching in the access code to open up the door to his room. Quickly, he scrambled off the bed to try and get to the door first but he slipped on a discarded magazine, causing him to fall comically onto the carpet floor. "Damn it… I really need to clean up all this crap," he cursed.

Just as he was thinking this, his door opened with a barely audible click, and his mother stepped over the threshold to see her son lying on the ground with a clueless expression. "What the hell are you doing on the floor son? You look… I want to say...uncomfortable…"

Feeling stupider than he probably looked, he smiled awkwardly at his mother. "I just took a little fall is all," he laughed scratching his light purple strands. He knew he looked a mess, so might as well find humor in the situation.

Bulma chuckled, as she noticed how his body was so strangely contorted. "Well, I'm glad that you're at least smiling again," she stated, crossing her arms over her breast with a grin. From Taylor's annoyed expression she figured he was still in a crappy mood, but he looked a little better. "Because there's a young lady here to see you Trunks," she remarked coolly.

A young lady? When's the last time I even flirted with a woman? In actuality he hadn't really tried to talk to a girl his age in a while. The last time a woman tried to hit on him was about four months back, when he was out running errands for his mother, an older girl hit on him. She was actually quite beautiful, but at the time he was too preoccupied with his busy life to be bothered with a relationship. So, again the question was, just who the hell came here to see him?

"You can come in now Hazel," she called over her shoulder.

Hazel… That's obviously a girl's name, but it's not ringing any bells. Just when the hell did I meet this girl. Did I do something in that other form unknowingly again? At the moment that was the only conclusion, he could come to. Did the transformation trigger while he was in his sleep? The last thing he needed to learn was that he was the Saiyan version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Two split personalities were just too much too handle, but he was starting to consider the possibility.

If that was the case, he really hoped he didn't do anything unpleasant. From what he knew, his transformation tended to make him much more aggressive and the last thing he needed was a repeat of what happened before. If he found out he committed the same awful act twice, he didn't know what he'd do.

As requested, said girl slowly entered his personal chambers and as soon as she came into view his jaw nearly dropped. Even from his position on the ground, he was able to appreciate her sublime beauty. She had long thick raven black hair that went down her back, and she was wearing what appeared to be expensive shades. They must have at least cost a thousand Zeni, but the rest of her apparel was pretty standard, she just looked damn good her clothing. The way the crop top complimented her perky breast and toned stomach almost made his throat go dry. He had to admit, he never really dug the torn jean look, but she still pulled it off marvelously due those nice legs of hers.

With a blank expression, she stood next to his mother and stared at him with the same confused expression his mother had earlier. Gulping from embarrassment, Trunks quickly rose to his feet and made himself presentable. Dusting the lent off his sweats, he smiled bashfully while rubbing his neck. "Haha, sorry I wasn't expecting company," was his sheepish excuse for his bum like appearance.

Hazel simply smiled cutely with a blush, not uttering a word in response.

Bulma grinned watching her son's goofball display. My word, he's almost as awkward as his father when it comes to this, she snickered covering her mouth. Well he obviously knows her and has some type of connection with her if he is fumbling around like a weirdo. Her eyes quickly shifted back in forth between the two, she nodded her head. I think I'll take my leave…

Swiftly turning around, she shoved a hand in her lab coat and waved as she retreated. "I'll be going now," she waved walking over to the door. Placing her hand on the door frame, she paused there for a moment. "By the way, I'll be checking on you kids periodically so I advise you to keep it in your pants." Not giving her son a chance to retort her presumptions, she smirked and exited the room, unlike her second child, she gently closed the door behind her.

Now the two young adults were completely alone in the room, which was eerily dark since he recently added curtains which happened to be billowing due to the nice breeze coming in through the window. Neither of them uttered a word, they both just stood there in complete silence. Hazel, eyes were strangely still on the door after Bulma left, while Trunks's gaze was fixated on her.

What do I do? What do I even say to her? I have no idea how we are connected or where we even met for that matter. The young half breed was drawing blanks in his head. Desperately he wanted to know the history between them but didn't know how to prompt her to speak. If he really did something bad to her in his other form, he needed to know so he could try and make amends. Finally finding his resolve, he took a deep breath. "Listen Hazel…. I don't-

"Shut your damn mouth," The raven-haired girl interjected rudely with a devious simper. Taking off her beanie, she turned to face him. Hand on her hip, she slowly removed her expensive shades and tossed them aside without care to reveal her unforgettable blue eyes. "Now that the hag is finally gone, I can drop this ridiculous facade," she remarked calmly.

That bored tone…Those eyes… No, it can't be! Now the sense of dread he had been feeling was starting to make some sense. He could feel his mouth becoming increasingly dry by the second.

While he was the cautious and paranoid type when it comes to outsiders visiting their home, he had dropped his guard because he wasn't use to young women visiting. The last female to visit was his Aunt Chi-Chi and she was only a tad bit younger than his mother. As shameful as it was for him to admit, he dropped the ball because he was thinking with the brain between his legs, instead of the one in his skull.

Just to further confirm his suspicions, the woman gripped her stunning black hair and tugged hard to remove the wig from her head. In her right hand, she gripped the expensive hair piece while flipping back her blonde shoulder length hair. "As I thought, no hair is more comfortable than your own," Android 18 nodded to herself.

His breathing was picking up due to the growing anxiety in his chest. He hadn't seen the woman in over a month and she shows up before him in a disguise.

This can't be! She really infiltrated Capsule Corporation! and even crazier she created this elaborate persona just for this occasion. There were other ways she could have snuck in but almost all of them would have triggered alarms, but why would she care if her whole purpose for coming here was to confront me. It would have been much easier just to knock mom and Taylor out and come upstairs…

"Stupid punk, do you really think now is the time to contemplate?" she inquired, her playful demeanor slowly transition into more serious behavior. While she enjoyed the mental torture she had inflicted on him with her over the top entrance, that wasn't her reason for being there.

In the blink of an eye, Trunks rushed forward and pinned her to the wall. Gripping her collar with both hands, he lifted her up off the ground. "The hell are you doing in my home android? And what's with the mind games? I thought we had an understanding," he seethed dangerously. There was no more time for panic, he needed to know this woman's incentive and quick. Damn! I'm such a blockhead! I should have realized something was wrong when the front door's alarm went off, and I wasn't able to sense even the slightest ki. Even the weakest human could not go undetected while in such close proximity. She made an error on purpose? She was hoping for me to answer the door…?

Glaring harshly back at him, she hissed at him in contempt. "If you knew why I was here…I wonder if you'd be treating me this roughly," she evenly replied. Her tough girl character, didn't lose it's cool until she became aware of something. She was so preoccupied with her anger that she hadn't realized their faces were so close that she can actually feel his breath, she turned away with a blush spread across her face. "Mamma's boy," she muttered feeling a bit mortified.

"Mamma's boy!" he repeated loudly in outrage. That was something he really hated being called. Just when was about to retort, something clicked in his head. What was that first thing she said? "Hold on… That previous statement, the hell are you talking about?" he asked eyebrows quirked.

Struggling to break free, she squirmed while in his clutches. When she finally realized, her actions were futile, she let her arms go limp at her sides. "Let me down…and I'll explain everything. Though I doubt you'll be happy to hear what I have to say."

Just by staring into her cybernetic blue eyes, he searched for signs of deceit, but then a thought occurred. If she came here to talk, then why would she lie? If she had ulterior motives, then this roundabout infiltration would serve no purpose. Still, even now he didn't know what her reason was for dressing up and creating a fake identity.

"Very well," he sighed, loosening his grip on her collar before lowering back down to the ground, glaring daggers at her all the while. Even if he did spare her life, he still could barely stand the sight of the woman. A few kind gestures between them wasn't enough to erase to decades of war between the Z warriors and the androids. Still the fact that she had several opportunities to harm his mother and Taylor, yet didn't take them spoke volumes. This told him that she had completely discarded all her plans for revenge.

Taking several involuntary steps back, Trunks nursed his head as he felt a headache coming on. He knew, he couldn't be short with her since she didn't come here with bad intentions, but he couldn't help but feel on edge. Her presence naturally made him feel apprehensive.

She's just so damn unpredictable. Just as he was thinking this, images of their previous encounter surfaced at the forefronts of his mind. Thoughts of him kissing her neck and fondling her ass, made him blush abundantly, with his heart rate picking up in the process. Shaking his head muttering to himself, he did all he could to rid himself of the lewd thoughts.

He's already panicking, I don't know why I thought coming he'd be of any help. He's just a brat himself… Rolling her eyes, she shifted her attention elsewhere. It's looks like your typical man's room, only much more spacious and expensive, she pondered observing her surroundings. T-shirts and other clothing were spread across the floor and he had box a cereal at the foot of his bed. This is almost as bad as 17's room, men are such pigs…

"You really need to clean up in here," she coldly remarked with a disgusted sneer, as she played with her blonde strands.

"Shut up and state your business," Trunks groaned plopping down on the edge of his bed. The sooner they got this conversation over the sooner she could leave. He didn't like this scenario at all, but he was sure the cyborg was relishing in the mental torment she was causing. Shit like this is what she lived for.

"Well aren't you a bit testy?" she noted mockingly. She would never admit it since she hated his guts, but she always found his grumpy uptight behavior towards her to be kind of cute.

Snapping his head up, he palmed his forehead. "Can you really blame me?"

"Guess not," she shrugged.

Shooting her a bored yet annoyed expression, he sighed. "Well come on…out with it…"

Fucking impatient jerk, Android 18 cursed inwardly. She knew he wasn't happy to see her, but was it necessary for him to be so hostile? She felt the same way about him, but at least she was trying to be civil. Then again…He doesn't know about this thing, she frowned looking down at her flat stomach that would soon blow up to the size of a basketball.

Glancing back up at Trunks, she glowered at him with contempt. And he has the nerve to be short with me after what he did to my body? She thought as she clenched and released her fist to find her calm. Well, I might as well get down to it, "We need to talk about what happened, on that day…" she remarked crossing her arms over her breast and turning away.

Observing her silently, his facial expression became dark and troubled. "In Parsley City?" he asked hoarsely, already dreading her answer. This was the absolute last thing he wanted to talk about actually. That battle in Parsley was the catalyst for everything bad that was happening to him now, not to mention what he did to her back then was still haunting him. If it was painful for him to think about, he could only imagine how hard it was for her, being the victim. This meant whatever she came to talk about with him was beyond dire.

"Yes," 18 nodded her confirmation. Easing back against the wall, she rested her foot against the partition not giving two shits about etiquette and manners. "More importantly, we need to discuss the repercussions of that day," she declared seriously, her eyes thinned out to let him know the severity of the situation. However, her words didn't exactly have the desired effect, she was hoping for.

All of a sudden, the room's casually awkward atmosphere shifted into something else that the cyborg was unfamiliar with. "Repercussions," Trunks repeated darkly with his fingers tightly interlaced. "Sounds pretty serious," he finished in an uncommonly deep voice that made goosebumps form all over 18's body.

Don't tell me…is he changing again?, cautiously she took several steps back. She didn't like the vibe she was getting at the moment. It was eerily similar to the feeling she got before she was raped by him back in Parsley. While he hadn't transformed, he had been speaking more aggressive than usual and that made her a bit apprehensive. Unfortunately for her, she was right to worry.

Still sitting on the bed with a stiff posture, his soft straight hair began to randomly spike up in an oh so familiar fashion, as the majestic golden hue started to settle in. His eyes were blankly white for a second before being replaced with a royal blue.

Android 18's eye bulged from fear and her body started shaking in suspense. Why did the word Repercussion have such a negative effect on him? I didn't even finish what I had to say. Hold on don't tell me this little shit already pieced everything together and is trying to silence me by killing me. Well if I'm going down… Quickly 18 powered up to her maximum and got into her signature battle stance. I'm going down swinging!

On the contrary, the android didn't even have the chance to do anything, because it was all too fast for her to process. One moment he was sitting on the bed and the next second he was upon her being. Not wasting time, he swept her off her feet in a princess hold and darted out the open window at a blinding speed that created a great wind.

They were traveling so fast, that 18 couldn't even begin to guess where he was taking her or what he was planning. All she knew was this is had to be the fasted she ever flew in her entire life. Well, she didn't have to wonder for long. As their speed reduced, she was able to take in her surroundings before they touched back down on the earth.

Once Trunks landed with her in his arms, she surveyed the area and quickly realized that they were now in the ravaged side of West City. What the hell are we doing out here? She wondered taking a look around the desolate area. Nothing here but destroyed buildings, wrecked cars, and rubble. Fifteen years ago, she and her brother had rampaged through this region, but some places were more intact than others. They bombarded the Capsule Corp location as well, which was why there weren't many homes or businesses surrounding the famous landmark. Since then the city had been under a slow rebuilding process, which only recently picked up. However, this location for whatever reason, had been completely overlooked.

Once her focus shifted to Trunks, she reclined her neck to gaze up at him questionably. What in the world made him want to transform and bring me to this little wasteland? More importantly… with trunks snatching her up so fast, she just barely registered that he was holding her bridal style. "Put me down," she demanded in a whisper, with her teeth clenched.

"What?" he asked quirking a brow.

"I said put me down shit for brains!" she screamed, as she squirmed out of his hold. When her feet hit the ground, she jumped back till she felt she was a safe distance away. Eyeing him suspiciously, she observed from afar.

This little fucker, what is he playing at dragging me out here? There's no one else around for miles, she cursed as she tried to piece his strange actions together. Everything seemed to be going relatively well until she said the word repercussions, which could only mean that he has figured it out. The only reason he could have for bringing me out here is killing me, right? Or maybe he is going to… quickly she shook her head…No… he wouldn't dare do that again, would he?

"Sorry about that, I bet you're wondering why I brought you all the way out here," Trunks started off slowly in a tired breath. Steadily his golden aura started to dissipate, while his spikey hair began to sit and fade back to its original lavender colored hue. Once he was done returning back to base form, he immediately noticed her distressed mental state.

She's even more restless than I was a few minutes ago, he noted. "Relax, the only reason why I dragged you here without warning was because I had a feeling someone might have been listening to our discussion. Out here we will have plenty of privacy," he informed her briefly to ease her nerves. He doubted she'd be able to say what was on her mind if she was constantly on guard and that would be a pain. They'd never get anywhere, plus this way he didn't have to worry about a certain ear hustler.

Android 18 skeptically stared back him, unsure if she could believe him or not. "So, you're saying you're worried about that little shit with the elf ears overhearing our conversation?" she asked disbelievingly.

"Yes, I know it's hard to believe, but those ears are for more than just decoration," the hybrid remarked, as he stared south in the direction of the CC building. I should be at least three miles away from home. Even Taylor can't hear us from this range. "His hearing is superhuman, but he can only fully exploit this ability when he is locked in and focused," he explained.

She remembered passing him in the hallway when she was being lead through the house by Trunk's mother. Though that kid was wearing a white hoodie, she still remembered those rather large elf ears of his from their first encounter, though admittedly she didn't think much of them at the time.

If what this asshole is saying is true, then this might have been the best course of action. Who knows how long that kid had been listening and what he heard, but if she had blurted out that she was carrying his child, things would have gone to shit for both of them. "I guess you had no choice then," she murmured weakly. Now she felt a little stupid thinking that he meant her any harm. "Still, don't you think he's going to follow you since he undoubtedly sensed your transformation?" she asked cocking her hip.

With a confident far off look in his blue eyes, he waved his hand dismissively. "Don't worry android, we are completely alone," he assured her.

The reason he wasn't worried about Taylor was because the kid hadn't completely learned how to suppress his energy, which was actually pretty basic, but then again, he was a backwards student. Difficult techniques he learned fast, while the ones that were easy for most, he struggled with. Not to mention, he has a limited hearing range, so drawing close without being detected would be hard for him to pull off and he was sure his student knew this as well.

Yawning, Trunks resisted the urge to sit down on an inviting stone. She was absolutely the last person that he wanted to have to spend extended time with, so it goes without saying that he wants to get this little talk over as soon as possible.

And maybe after this, she'll leave me alone for good…

"Anyways, what did you mean earlier by repercussions?" he inquired.

Android 18's body immediately tensed. No matter how much she tried to ready herself before coming over, nothing could truly prepare her for the news she was about to deliver. How will he react to finding out that I'm pregnant with his baby? Will he lose his shit and then will he try to kill me? Or maybe he'll just tell me to get lost and raise it on my own, she pondered. When it comes to this dickhole, you never really know what you're going to get.

Taking a deep inhale, she walked over to the Saiyan warrior to close the gap between them. She wanted to make sure, he heard her the first time she said this. Even as she stared into those fierce orbs of his, her resolve did not falter.

"I'm pregnant," she breathed.

There I said it! I set out today to tell him and I did! She screamed inwardly, feeling a sense of relief wash over her person. Prior to all this, she didn't think it would be so hard to tell a guy that she was knocked up, because she had never been impregnated. But during all that time she was fooling around, she always assumed if she did get knocked up she'd just kill the father, then off the baby and be done with the whole thing.

But that was her old self. The new android 18 who was incapable of killing couldn't just murder an innocent baby, even if it's father was a son of bitch that she wanted to go die in a ditch. Not to say she had gotten use to the idea of having a kid, she just realized after a long weekend that killing the baby was impossible.

Balled fist and arms straight at her sides, she awaited his response. What's he thinking? He's just standing there with that empty expression on his face, shouldn't he be flipping out right now? Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the hero responded, though it wasn't what the android was expecting.

"Are you…sure it's mine?" Trunks inquired hesitantly, anxiety swelling up all the while. The whole time he awaited an answer, he couldn't stop his body from trembling. It was as if he was entering some sort psychological shock. If he wasn't a candidate for PTSD before, he definitely was now after receiving such devastating news.

Anxiety wasn't the only thing that was picking up, all the negative feelings that he had been suppressing felt like they were about to hit him at full force. There's just no way that this is happening… this has to be a nightmare! This can't be real! Gripping his skull, he jolted his head rapidly as if he was trying to wake himself up.

He had always dreamed about being a father and settling down once he met the woman of his dreams, but this was the exact opposite of that.

No! Anyone but her!

18 frowned upon seeing his reaction to the news, he's taking it just as bad as I did when I first found out. Unable to make eye contact, she answered while staring at her feet. "Before the incident in Parsley, I hadn't been sexually active for months. So yes Trunks, I am 100% certain that you're the father," she assured with regret.

As much as she loathed him, she could really empathize with what he was feeling at the moment. When she had found out that she was carrying his kid her whole world felt like it was shattering apart. In short, seeing him so upset didn't offend her, it was actually what she was expecting. Any other reaction would have been just plain weird if she was being honest.

In a fit of rage, he slammed his fist into ground, plowing through the earth with ease. "Damn it," he roared as he yanked his arm out of the massive hole. Wait a minute… he thought as something just hit him like a ton of bricks. Lifting his field of sight, his eyes fell upon 18 as he stared at her in confusion and wonder, "Did…You just call me…Trunks?"

Ever since he first tried to fight them at age 14, neither she nor her brother bothered to call him by his name, not even once. Instead they would usually call him kid, brat, runt, and one of 18's personal favorites, "little shit." So, hearing her use his birth name made him feel…different, but surprisingly it wasn't a bad sensation. If anything, it distracted him and somewhat calmed his nerves.

"I guess I did," 18 said rubbing her arm up and down awkwardly with a slight blush. Where the hell did that come from. For the past year, I've known his name, but I refused to call him that… So, I wonder what brought that on? She was going to have to watch out and make sure she didn't get too familiar, she needed him too always remember no matter what happened between them, he would always be lower than dirt in her eyes..

This is just too much to handle, I can't be a father, especially to something that came out of her body. Playing with his growing chin hairs, he tried to think of a solution to this, but he really didn't have to think hard. Candidly speaking, there was really only one thing they could do.

"18, Have you… considered abortion?" he hesitantly asked. Usually Trunks was strongly against abortion, unless of course the woman's life was at risk or the woman was raped, and it just so happened that the latter applied to this scenario. Yes, almost two months ago, he raped android 18 while in a demented state of mind. This was something that he was not proud of and he would have to live with pain of knowing he committed such an awful act for the rest of his life. But why should she and the kid have to suffer?

With a pained smile, 18 leaned against a tilting building. "I'm surprised it took you this long to ask me that," reclining her neck she gaze up into sky to see the clouds. Despite all the bullshit, this is a pretty nice day. She nearly forgot how lovely the weather was here. "Abortion was the first thing I tried, but after so many attempts, I realize it was futile."

What…? She's already tried killing it? and what does she mean futile? All she has to do is visit a doctor, hell she already had a disguise so why not put it to use. Where she going with this?

Clutching her abdomen, she observed it with indifference. "For three whole days, I tried my best to eliminate this little abomination, but it was no use. Each time I was only a mere second away from killing it, but my heart would swell with fear and my hands would go numb…"

On Friday, the day she found out she was carrying the spawn of a stupid punk bastard... was the first time she tried abort the baby. That night, 18 tried to punch her own gut when the sensation she just described hit her like a freight train. Saturday morning, while she was peeling an apple, she tried to stab her abdomen, but once again that same feeling intervened and foiled her plans for a second time.

Sunday afternoon, she had just finished folding her laundry, when she decided to give it one last shot. Softly, she placed the palm of her hand on her belly and prepared to release a ridiculous amount of negative ki, but instead she ended up doing the opposite. Only a minute later, her core was overwhelmed by a great warmth that actually put her body at ease. Grinding her teeth, she glowered down at her uterus. You're a real pain in the ass…you know that kid?

It was a long dreadful weekend full of misery, one she would never want to relive. Still, despite the circumstances and everything that had transpired, she had made her decision. She thought long and hard about this and she knew for certain that she was going to keep this baby. Something bigger than herself was compelling her to do so, so she was going to follow these feelings even if it went against everything she believed.

While the android drifted off into her own world, Trunks studied her pensively biting the tip of his thumb. What is she saying? That some kind of unknown force is stopping her from killing it? How absurd… But then again, it sounds like the same sensation I've been feeling lately. What the hell is happening here? If I didn't know any better I'd say 18 and I are the puppets, and someone's out there pulling the strings. But the only person who could be doing that is…

"Isn't it obvious? I'm Trunks…The real Trunks!"

That bastard! Slowly but surely Trunk was starting to understand things, but he didn't want to start thinking too hard, he had enough on his plate at the moment. Worrying about his other self would have to come later, right now he needed to deal with the problem at hand and that was the baby she was carrying. "How about I take care of it?" he proposed sincerely.

Android 18 raised her head, and regarded him with a quirked brow. "Excuse me?" she didn't know why, but she was starting to feel uncomfortable.

"I can get rid of it for you," he told her again as he started stalking towards her with his fist balled.

Knowing what he was trying to do, android 18 became consumed with apprehension. What the hell is he trying to do? I never asked him to do this…? I-I don't want him to this, were her panicked sentiments. She could feel her body tremble as he drew closer. Frightened, she extended her hand and called on her energy.

"Stay back asshole!" she threatened, tears forming at her lids.

The threat was pointless, as the Saiyan disappeared out of sight, before reappearing right before her eyes. Not even giving her the opportunity to go on the offensive, he grabbed both her hands and pinned them above her head against the wall. "18, are you seriously trying to keep this kid?"

Struggling to break free, she thrashed around. Damn I forgot how fucking strong this asshole was! "And…what if I am you bastard?" She seethed between winded breaths.

"You're making a big mistake; do you really think you're capable of loving a child that was created in such a tragic way?" he asked earnestly with a cold expression.

The question alone was enough to make the cyborg stumped. From the get go, she already knew it would be hard to raise a baby who was the product of the worst experience in her life. She knew that there was a good chance that she'd probably hate the kid, just because of his father. Most importantly of all, she knew she had zero maternal instincts.

Nevertheless, the feeling that she had was now was indescribable, and instead of running from it, she wanted to further explore the sensation. Ever since she found out she was pregnant she had been worried, scared, and of course angry. But, she wasn't so preoccupied with those negative emotions not to notice the one positive thing about this whole situation.

She was no longer alone. This unborn baby gave her a sense of security.

Since this little bundle of hell entered her life, that empty feeling that she had was slowly starting to disappear. It was as if the baby was filling the void that 17 left with his death. I'll be damned if I let this bastard kill it...

"Understand?" Trunks continued, easing his grip before completely releasing her arms. Suddenly he raised his power level slightly, while cocking back his fist and preparing to strike her abdomen. "This child is a product of our shame and regret. It's not fair for it to have suffer because of our mistakes," and with those solemn words he started to do the deed.

What do you think you're doing… Trunks? Stopping mid punch, the hybrid froze in place as he tried to process what just happened. It's him again…but this time he's talking to me... while I'm awake?

Thankful for the distraction, 18 decided to capitalize on the moment. Kicking him hard in the chest, his feet skidded back roughly on the dirt until he was pushed back about fifteen feet. For good measure, she shot forward and smacked him across the eyes with all her strength, leaving a red hand print on his tan skin.

"Fucking selfish prick!" she grunted as she glared dangerously at him, malicious intent starting to brew. I should cut off his dick for trying something like that! "Do you really hate the idea of me carrying your child so much that you would fucking go so far as to kill it without my consent?! I mean for fuck's sake, as much as I can't stand you I expected better!"

For the cybernetic woman, this behavior he was exhibiting was quite disappointing. Although he was a teenage brat who got on her nerves at every encounter, she wasn't dumb enough not to notice that he was a good person, and that he had the qualities that she lacked to raise a child. Which is why she thought coming here was a good idea, but now she was having second thoughts.

The fact that Trunks wanted to abort the baby didn't surprise her, after all that's what she had planned on doing in the beginning. What bothered her was the selfishness behind his actions.

Nursing his stinging face, Trunks hissed while looking up down at the fuming blonde. "Why do you want to keep it so badly?" he asked with a scowl, shooting her a confused look. What the hell is wrong with this woman? Does she really plan on giving birth? Gulping, he frowned, "If you hate me as much as you claim, then why do you want to keep something that will forever remind you of me?"

His line of questioning was actually quite logical. Why would she keep something that would ultimately bring her pain and misery? Is she some type of masochist who is just a glutton for punishment? Because none of this makes sense, he contemplated as he observed the infuriated female.

"Because I don't want to be alone…"

Trunks felt his breath get hitched in his throat. "Huh?"

18 sighed, with sorrow filled eyes. "You heard me. I don't want to be alone anymore," her gaze dropped down to flat stomach as she rubbed it with tears running down his cheek. "I can honestly say right now that I loathed this brat almost as much I hate you, but at the same time I haven't felt this peaceful in a while. You see unlike you, I don't have any loved ones left in this world, so I guess you can say I see this as an opportunity. Maybe, I can... grow to love it…"

After hearing the cyborg's explanation for not wanting to kill the baby, Trunks felt completely dumbfounded and he also felt something else. Like a complete and utter asshole. Wow I feel like this biggest bastard on the planet, I was so caught up with the implications and presumptions, that I jumped the gun, thinking I was doing the right thing for both of us. Though in reality, I was only looking out for my own selfish interests…

Immediately, the young warrior nodded his head before taking a formal bow. "I'm sorry, it was wrong of me to do something so brazen without even taking your feelings into consideration. It was a truly dumb senseless action. Please excuse my behavior…"

Yeah…that's more like it, this is the guy I was looking for...Brushing the tears away with her sleeve, she crossed her arms over her breast. "Forget it," she shrugged indifferently with a sigh. As long as he realized his mistake, there's no point in crying over spilled milk. Still, I thinks it's time I made things clear since he understands the situation. Flicking dust off her nails, she grinned, "But now that we are on the same page, I think it's time we talk about the future"

Immediately, Trunks eyes widened as his mind started to race. "Future?" he repeated swallowing the lump in his throat.

Rolling her eyes, she palmed her head and shook tiredly. "I'm not asking you to marry me, you stupid… Idiot." Men are so annoying with that shit, damn asshole. I don't exactly want to settle down with you either you bastard, she cursed inwardly.

"Oh, thank heavens!" he breathed in relief. He did not like where that was going.

"Fuck off," she spat irritably with an indignant snort. You don't have to sound so thrilled. "Anyways, when I said future, I was referring to you assisting me throughout this entire pregnancy. Before you overreact, I'm not asking for you to be a father to the child. I'm just asking that you help me out till it's born. After that, it's up to you if you want to be involved, but until then I expect your assistance," she finished sincerely, with a nod.

Did I just hear her right? Trunks pondered staring back at her in shock, "Are you serious?"

"Was my tone playful to you?" she asked harshly.

"But how am I-

Lifting her finger to his lips, she silenced the troubled warrior. "Hush, hush, hush" she shushed, enjoying his panicked display. The look on his face is absolutely priceless, she smiled. "These are your options. You can either pay me 5 million zeni flat or you can be at my beckon call for the next 9 months," she sung deviously showing off her pearly whites. "If you can't comply with either of these alternatives, I will have to have a little chat with your mom about what took place back in Parsley."

The android's last statement didn't bode well with the half breed, if anything her words helped him connect the dots. Scowling, he balled his fist and dropped his head. "You witch… You planned this from the beginning, that whole disguise was for the purpose of locking me in this situation," he seethed. He couldn't believe how careless he had been. I should have answered the door, but I was too busy being a mental loner!

"You catch on fast for a spoiled brat" she remarked, turning her back to him. "But I didn't just create that disguise to blackmail you, I also did it to make your life a bit easier. Think about it…If your mom thinks you're going to visit your girlfriend Hazel, she will be none the wiser to what's really going on."

Hmm…she does have a point…the Hazel disguise will be useful if I'm going to be seeing more of her. If his mother caught wind of what happened between them he'd be done for. Still no matter how I look at it, I can't help but feel she's hoping for me to pick the second option.

Though the first option was actually more ideal for him, it would not be easy to pull off without getting his mother's attention. Going into the family's private bank account to pull out money for his own personal needs was one thing, but withdrawing over a million zeni from Capsule Corp's business accounts would be quite noticeable for his mother. What the hell am I supposed to do? He's heard of the saying "Stuck between a rock and hard place," but he couldn't really appreciate it till now.

Seems like he's finally starting to understand his predicament, she noted as she monitored him carefully over her shoulder. I think I'll take my leave now. Channeling energy to her feet, she slowly started to levitate. Once she was a good 10 meters in the air, she regarded the father of her unborn child, once more. "I'm going to be staying in a hotel in West City for the next few days. Today's Monday, so I'll give you till Wednesday to make your decision."

Somewhat frustrated with the time frame, Trunks scowled. "You're only giving me two days?"

Ignoring his inquiry, Android 18 charged up her energy as she prepared for take-off. "And don't bother looking for me kid, I'll be at your doorstep at sunrise on Wednesday morning." Flashing him a cocky simper, she gave him the peace sign. "See you then," she winked before jetting off eastward.

"She must be headed downtown," he murmured, as he watched her fly till she faded out of sight. West City, was such a vast place, that even she and her brother couldn't bother exploring every part. Which meant his hometown hadn't been completely decimated in their wake, something he was truly grateful for. And I bet she is too since she's going to be staying here for few days. Damn witch…

Running his fingers through his hair, he gripped his lavender strands and plopped down carelessly on a small boulder. For the longest time, Trunks sat there in complete silence. The only thing that could be heard were the strong winds blowing wildly through the barren wasteland.

All of a sudden, a smile crept up on his face. Out of nowhere, he threw his head back and laughed like a mad man, the sound of his mirth echoed throughout the streets of this deserted part of town. From the sound of it, one might think he was laughing out of joy, but that was not the case. The reason he could laugh so freely despite his current plight, was because he had already cried and raged enough. At this point, he could only find the humor in all of this misfortune.

Since his return from the past it's been one thing after another. He unconsciously rapes the woman he hates, which is something he deeply regrets, no matter the technicalities. Then he finds out that not only does he have a split personality, but it's becoming more dominant with each passing day. Finally, to top it all today he learns that the killer cyborg that has made his life a living hell is carrying his child, due to his lack of control.

Painfully, he exhaled while staring at the concrete, "I Think… I've finally reached an all-time low."

To be continued…