Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ or have any rights to it.
Gohan stared at Trunks with a blank expression. He was ready for anything.
A confident grin appeared on the super saiyan's face. He got out of his fighting stance and put his sword away.
"You might want to think this through Gohan. I am a super saiyan. You of all people must know how strong they are, considering that you were trained by Vegeta."
Gohan's lips curled into a grin, as if he knew something that nobody else knew. He remained in his fighting stance.
"My training with Vegeta has given me the opportunity to see the strengths and weaknesses of the transformation. Don't get cocky. You've given me no reason to think I can't win."
Trunks' expression became serious again as he dropped back into his fighting stance. His eyes moved to Juu for only a split second, just to make sure she wasn't doing anything.
Juu was now leaning against the ship. He arms were crossed and she had an impatient look on her face. She wanted the fight to begin.
Gohan saw Trunks' momentary distraction and decided to take advantage of it.
Just as he turned his attention back to Gohan Trunks felt a fist connect with his cheek. The blow made him fly back and eventually skid to a stop in the grass.
"What the hell was that for?" Trunks' anger was clear.
The super saiyan got to his feet in a flash and glared at Gohan.
"You should never look away from an enemy. Don't worry, this is a strictly one on one match."
Trunks wiped his cheek and grimaced when he saw the blood on his hand. Was Gohan's attack really that powerful?
"What's the matter Trunks? I thought you wanted to fight me."
Trunks turned back to Gohan with a serious expression on his face.
"I'll take that as a yes."
Gohan vanished and reappeared behind Trunks. He tried to elbow him, but failed as Trunks phased out and reappeared above him.
"Is that your best Gohan?" Trunks voice was filled with more hatred than disappointment.
Gohan phased out before Trunks could deliver a blow to his head and reappeared in front of Trunks. He had a smug grin on his face.
"Why don't we skip the warm up and start the real battle?" His voice sounded cool and calm.
Trunks let out an irritated growl. "Don't toy with me."
The two hybrids circled around in the sky before exchanging blows. Shockwaves erupted in the sky as their blows collided.
Juu looked on with interest. Gohan seems to be faring better than I thought. He seems unusually strong for a non-super saiyan.
Gohan caught a punch from Trunks and used the outstretched arm as leverage to flip over him. He took advantage of his position behind Trunks to deliver a powerful blow to his side.
Trunks cried out in pain as he dropped to the ground. When he landed he gave Gohan a look of anger and hatred.
"Damn you! That hurt!"
Gohan gave Trunks his trademark smirk. "I hit a weak spot. You don't know much about the saiyan body do you? If you had you would have seen that coming and blocked it, or you would have strengthened that area beforehand."
"Don't you teach me how to fight! The version of you from my timeline was twice the man you are! He's the only one who has any business teaching me!"
Gohan gave Trunks a questioning look. "I trained you?"
"That's right! The version of you in my world was a sworn enemy of the androids! He respected his father, and swore to protect Earth at all costs! He was my best friend and master!"
Gohan sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "Guess that's why he's dead."
Trunks let out an angry battle cry and flew to Gohan at top speed.
Gohan blocked a punch from Trunks, but was taken by surprise as Trunks tripped him in mid air. Trunks grabbed hold of Gohan's legs and spun him around before throwing him into the distance.
Gohan caught himself with his hands and pushed himself back into the air. He barely dodged a punch from Trunks before being kneed in the gut.
"I'll make you pay! Nobody insults my friends!" After saying those words Trunks sent Gohan to the ground with a haymaker to the back.
Juu became alarmed as Trunks' gaze shifted to her.
Trunks pointed at her and said "you're next android! I'll get to you when I'm done with him."
Gohan stood up and dusted off his armor. He looked up at Trunks with a scowl. "You've got some anger issues. Are you seeing a psychiatrist?"
Trunks let out an angry growl.
Juu smiled at Gohan. He was so cool when he acted like this. He reminded her of how Seventeen would toy with his victims.
Trunks' golden aura grew as he charged at Gohan again.
Gohan grinned as he caught Trunks' fist. He then unwound his tail and used it to hit Trunks in the gut. He then grabbed Trunks' other arm with his free hand and threw the super saiyan a few feet
Trunks recovered quickly and started exchanging blows with Gohan again.
Back on Earth, in his secret lab, Dr. Gero was planning to test out his newest and most powerful androids yet.
The time has come for them to awaken. He pressed the red button on his remote, causing the pod labeled Seventeen to open.
Seventeen emerged shortly after the hatch was open. After taking a few steps out of the pod he gave Dr. Gero a blank stare.
"Ah, android Seventeen."
"Dr…Gero?"
"That's right. I am your creator. Now to awaken your sister."
Dr. Gero pressed the red button again, this time pointing it at a pod labeled Eighteen. After doing so he kept his finger hovering over the blue button on the remote.
The hatch opened and Eighteen stepped out. She made eye contact with her brother before turning to Dr. Gero with a blank stare.
"Hello Doctor."
A smile crossed the doctor's face. Good, those two know who I am. Perhaps I should unleash them now.
Dr. Gero folded his arms behind his back, but kept a finger hovering over the blue button.
"The time has come for you to fulfill your mission. You must go out and destroy Goku. Kill all who get between you and your objective."
Dr. Gero pointed to the door. "Go now and complete your mission."
The two didn't move. They both grinned maliciously at the doctor.
"What are you two waiting for? I told you to go out there and kill!"
Seventeen took a step towards Gero and said "we'll kill, but we won't be doing it outside just yet."
Realization dawned on him, and Dr. Gero quickly pushed the blue button before Seventeen and Eighteen could attack.
The two twins collapsed onto the lab's floor as they lost consciousness.
Dr. Gero put them back in their pods and closed the hatches. He sighed and sat back in his chair.
"Perhaps those two need more programming. They still have a sense of revenge against me. I'll have to try and fix the problem."
Dr. Gero started to type furiously on his computer. His heart was racing. He had nearly been killed by his own creations.
As they continued to exchange blows Trunks thought that Gohan was getting faster and stronger.
"Don't toy with me Gohan. You can't beat me by holding back." Trunks then managed to punch Gohan in the face.
Gohan staggered back a few feet before recovering. He gave Trunks a malicious grin. "I was never holding back Trunks. You're just growing tired."
Trunks' eyes widened. His breath had quickened, Gohan's hadn't, at least not nearly as much.
Gohan chuckled as he watched realization dawn on Trunks. "Ah Trunks, you're finally feeling the side effects of the super saiyan."
Trunks clenched his fists, and spoke in an angry voice. "What side effects? What're you talking about?"
Gohan let out another chuckle, eliciting an angry growl from Trunks.
"Answer me!"
"You mean you still haven't figured it out. I was expecting someone who has access to this transformation to at least know its main weaknesses. I guess my alternate counterpart didn't cover that…or maybe he didn't know them himself."
"Enough! Just tell me what they are!"
Gohan smirked. "Make me."
Trunks let out an angry battle cry before charging at Gohan again. He launched a barrage of punches and kicks. None of his attacks were hitting Gohan.
Gohan put some distance between him and Trunks and continued taunting. "I think you're losing your touch."
Trunks drew his sword and tried to slice Gohan in half. He ended up cutting through air, and sensed Gohan's presence behind him.
Gohan crossed his arms and taunted Trunks some more. "Now you're resorting to weapons to beat me? You're quite pathetic for a super saiyan. Then again what would I know, I'm not even a super saiyan yet."
"Stop running and start fighting!"
Trunks thrust his sword at Gohan. Gohan dodged the blade and grabbed Trunks' wrist. He got Trunks to let go of the sword by twisting the wrist.
Trunks retreated after Gohan let go and started stroking his wrist.
"Awe, did the little super saiyan hurt his hand?"
Trunks ignored the pain and growled as he tried to hit Gohan with a punch. Gohan dodged the punch and countered with his own punch. It made contact with Trunks' cheek, and sent Trunks flying back.
"You're starting to bore me," said Gohan with a hint of disappointment. I was expecting more from a super saiyan."
Gohan extended his arm. As the energy formed between his three fingers he yelled "Galic Crusher."
Trunks caught himself, but couldn't dodge the attack. He avoided serious damage by blocking with his arms. He was pushed onto his back by the sheer force of the attack.
Gohan landed in front of him and stared down at him with a disappointed look. "You look really pathetic. You didn't even know the weaknesses of the transformation. You assumed that I would be that much weaker than you, and look at you now; lying in the dirt like a loser."
"W-what are the weaknesses?"
A sadistic grin crossed Gohan's face. "You really want me to teach you? I promise it will be painful."
Gohan's heel made contact with Trunks sternum. An audible crack was heard as he applied more pressure.
"Lesson one; the super saiyan transformation uses a lot of energy. Even maintaining the form causes fatigue. The spiking of hair, change in eye color, and glowing aura all use up tremendous amounts of energy."
Gohan remove his heel from Trunks sternum and then kicked him in the side, eliciting a groan from him.
"Lesson two. The transformation intensifies emotions. This makes super saiyans especially prone to mind games. The resulting rage reduces judgment and leaves the super saiyan open to counter attack by an enemy that's strong enough."
Gohan's grin broadened as he used his foot to flip Trunks over. He then applied pressure to Trunks' back with his foot, causing Trunks to drop out of the super saiyan state. He was barely conscious.
"Lesson three."
Gohan turned to Juu, receiving a grin from her. He then turned his attention back to the barely conscious Trunks. "An enraged super saiyan blindly attacks his opponent relentlessly, resulting in an even greater loss of energy."
Trunks was knocked out with a final kick to his side.
Gohan walked towards Juu with a satisfied look on his face.
"Gohan, I never expected you to be so…sadistic."
"Do you object to my methods?"
"No. In fact, I like them."
"Don't get too used to it. I don't do it for just anyone. That punk was just special."
Juu shrugged her shoulders. "Whatever. Let's just leave and catch up to Cold."
Gohan and Juu entered the ship, and the hatch closed behind them. The ship took off a few minutes later.
As they flew through space Juu stared at Gohan as she sat on a couch. Gohan was currently staring out into space. She could easily replace his image with that of her brother, but Gohan had his own qualities, qualities that she liked.
Gohan caught her staring and gave her a questioning look.
"Something on your mind Juu?"
"Huh…oh nothing…you just remind me of my brother a little, that's all."
Gohan walked over the couch and sat down next to her. "Why don't you tell me more about him? I'm interested."
Juu smiled at him. "Sure, if you tell me more about your life with the saiyans."
"It's a deal."
"Right…my brother was fun loving. He used to drive cars over people just for sport. He would also prolong death, while I would go in for a quick kill and move on to the next person. He was also more likely to let people life. He wanted to savor the planet."
"He doesn't seem…that much like me."
"Well, when you were…teaching Trunks…"
Gohan gave Juu a knowing smile as he caught on. "I have my moments, but I usually don't torture someone to death. I'm like you; going in for the quick kill."
"My brother was also cool and calm during most battles. He enjoyed messing with his opponent's head. He exploited those same weaknesses you mentioned when he fought the you in my world."
"I guess that's one thing we have in common."
"He also offered me comfort whenever I needed it. He was the only person like me in the world after what that crazy scientists did to us." Juu's tone was becoming sadder.
Gohan put a hand on her shoulder. "Why don't you tell me about it?"
"Sure." Juu tilted her head to the side so her cheek now rested on Gohan's hand.
Back on Uralda, Piccolo regained consciousness. He slowly stood up and stretched a little to loosen up.
His eyes widened as he looked around and saw his defeated comrades. Even Trunks was down, and Gohan had left with the android.
He walked up to Krillin's body and took his bag of senzue beans. I don't need one, I can heal myself, but the others do need them…especially Trunks.
Piccolo started with Trunks. The youth's eyes shot open as he finished swallowing the bean. He sat up and looked at Piccolo.
"Piccolo. I…I'm sorry. I failed."
"Don't sweat, we all underestimated them, which was a mistake."
Piccolo reached into the bag and handed two senzue beans to Trunks.
"Here. Distribute these to Tien and Chaotzu. I'll do Krillin and Goten."
Trunks nodded, and set to work with Piccolo. All the Z-fighters were on their feet in a matter of minutes.
Krillin looked around and saw no sign of Gohan or Juu. "What happened? Trunks…Piccolo?"
Trunks gritted his teeth. "Gohan was too strong for us. We failed."
Tien's eyes widened. "B-but you were a super saiyan!"
"I know! I just wasn't strong enough! Why is there always something standing between me and retribution?"
Trunks' aura started to flare as he powered up, though he didn't go super saiyan.
Krillin raised his arms defensively. "Hey Trunks; let's just calm down. We just need to train. Then I'm sure we'll stand a better chance…besides, we could go to Namek and wish Goku back. Then we might stand a chance against them."
The others nodded. They then took off towards the ship.
As he was about to take off, Trunks noticed Goten standing still. He hadn't made a move to follow them.
"Goten? Common, let's go back to the ship."
Goten was lost in his thoughts and couldn't hear Trunks. Gohan! Why did you betray us? Why? Why won't you just understand?
"Goten." Trunks' voice was raised slightly to get Goten's attention.
"What?!"
Trunks flinched at Goten's tone.
"What's wrong Goten?"
Goten realized his mistake and quickly apologized. The two then left for the ship.
Back on the ship, Juu had finished her story.
"That's how it happened. How I became the killer android those Z-fighters want to kill."
Gohan felt sorry for her. She might have looked like a powerful goddess on the outside, but buried beneath was a sad girl who had been scared, mutilated, and rejected, and now her brother, the one person who could comfort her was gone, or at least beyond her reach.
"I'm sorry Juu?"
"Sorry? For what?"
"I'm sorry about all the trouble you went through. I would be lying if I said I could relate to you, but I think I can understand some of the emotions you felt. I felt fear when I saw Frieza plow through my Galic Crusher when I was fighting him on Namek. I was completely powerless against him. I thought that if I failed everyone I care about would die. It would have been the case if my father hadn't become a super saiyan. I also feel frustrated about loosing Cold every time I'm so close. I did feel some level of rejection when more saiyans arrived. They at first wouldn't accept that I was one of them…but Vegeta kinda…forced them."
Juu smiled and gave Gohan a pat on the back.
"Now it's your turn. Tell me about your past so I can better understand the experiences you told me about."
"Right…" Gohan started telling Juu his life story, or what he could remember of it.
Juu listened with interest. She wanted to know what molded Gohan into the man he was today.
Reivew questions:
1-What did you think of the battle, and of Gohan's lessons for Trunks at the end?
2-Does Gohan seem somewhat like Seventeen to you?
3-What are your thoughts on Goten's development?
4-What are your thoughts on the scene with Dr. Gero?