Future

In the ruins of West City, the sound of heavy panting echoed throughout the empty streets. A young, black-haired woman was sprinting to Kami knows where as a pair of malevolent shadows pursued her.

The panting came to a halt as the woman stumbled over a chunk of debris, falling down and clutching her leg. Turning back to her chasers, she glared defiantly at a male/female pair of twins.

"Well, you're certainly more tenacious than most others we play tag with," snarked the man.

The chased woman only grit her teeth as he approached her, his sister watching from the sidelines with a disinterested expression. "Why are we even wasting our time with this?"

"Hey, I never complained whenever you flirted with a random guy you thought was cute, let me enjoy this."

"Hmph, bull. You always rushed me and in the end you'd wind up killing them."

"Only that one guy for being a dick."

The two continued to bicker for moments, giving the black-haired woman a moment of hope. Stumbling to her feet, she tried to limp her way out of sight. Her desperate escape attempt was halted by a blast of light right in her pathway.

As she tried to stand again, the male twin quickly dashed atop her and pinned her down. Lifting her chin up to face him, he snickered. "Now that was uncalled for."

Before the woman could respond, she was struck in the forehead by his sister, her consciousness starting to wane."

"Don't you know how rude it is to walk away when people are talking?"

"Don't you know it's rude to gang up on a lady?"

Everyone present turned towards the sound of the new voice, the male twin getting struck in the face by a heavy blue boot. By the time the sister realized what happened, she'd been struck in the gut and blown back.

"Then again…you're no lady so I guess I can make an exception." The new figure revealed himself to be a tall-black haired man, a scar over his left eye garbed in an orange and blue martial arts gi.

Before the chased woman could make out what was happening, she could see another figure approaching. This one appearing to be a young boy, no older than 14. "Don't worry, we're here to help!" she heard.

She could only silently thank the boy as her she could feel herself being picked up, her vision beginning to blur. As they moved away from the combative trio, a bright golden flash filled the area. Glancing back, she could make out the silhouette of the same man in orange bathed in a golden light, his black hair now blonde and standing straight upwards.

'What is…? Am I…dreaming…?' Darkness followed as her consciousness finally faded.

[]

Light filled the area as the black-haired woman darted awake, gasping hard. "What…where am I?"

"Oh, you're awake." Snapping towards the voice, she came face to face with an older woman with surprisingly vibrant blue hair wearing a labcoat.

"Who are…agh…!"

"Take it easy," eased the older woman. "Nothing too serious, but you did get tossed around pretty harshly out there. You're lucky the boys found you when they did."

"The boys? Oh!" she swiftly recalled the man in orange and the voice of the teenage boy who said they'd come to help. "I remember now! There was a man wearing orange and a kid! What happened to…OW!"

The young woman rubbed her sored temple as her elder once again laid her back on the medical bed. "I told you to take it easy. I don't know all the details, but the guys who saved you are…well…one of them is just fine, but the other…"

Motioning to the side, the blue-haired rescuer unveiled another bed, the same man from earlier laying battered and unconscious.

"Oh my…!? They did that to him!? His…his arm!"

"Oh don't worry too much about that. That happened long ago," dismissed the blue-haired woman.

Sighing in relief, the black-haired young woman managed to steady herself on her feet and limped over to her would be savior. "Is he-?"

"Don't worry. He'll be fine when he wakes up. It's just a shame he couldn't finish those bastards off."

"He really fought them off to save me, huh?"

"It's what they do. Even if it isn't the most sensible choice, that man there will go through any lengths to save whoever he can." As she made her way towards the exit, she turned back to her junior. "You're welcome to stay a couple of nights if you want while your leg is healing."

"I appreciate the offer but…."

"Whatever you're thinking, don't worry about it. You're not the first rescue we've housed here, and I doubt you'll be the last."

"Thank you Miss…"

"Bulma, and you are?"

"Videl."

"Hey Mom! The lights died in the garage again!" came a prepubescent male voice.

Bulma giggled before heading out of the room. "You just stay here and rest. You should be back to full in no time Videl."

[Later]

Videl remained still on her bed, staring over at the unconscious fighter. Glancing back up at the ceiling, she thought back to their encounter in the city. Not only had he attacked the twins, he'd actually managed to blow them back. She was a pretty powerful fighter in her own right, but when she'd attempted to fight them, they hadn't even flinched. Plus there was also that golden light. The way it shone off his body, illuminating the darkened streets. Though the Androids looked unphased, she could still recall the warmth that emanated from that glow before she passed out.

As her eyes lay on his uncovered torso, she was drawn to his missing left arm. 'His arm is gone, but he's still fighting…and from what I made out of their conversation…this isn't the first time.'

"What are you?"

"Just…a friend…"

A startled Videl flushed and looked down to see her rescuer conscious, breathing heartily but smiling.

"Oh! Sorry did I wake you?"

"No, it's not you. Just finally able to feel myself again."

"Well, good thing you're up. Now I can thank you properly for saving me." Videl replied.

"Don't mention it. Enough people have died at the hands of those bastards. Sooner or later, their time will come."

Videl giggled at his spirited declaration. "What's so funny?"

"It's just…I've heard that line and others like it so many times, and every time I do, it just feels like the kind of big talk my father would make."

"Did he…?"

Videl nodded. "Yeah."

"I'm sorry…."

"Don't mention it. I've already accepted it…among a few other things…I just…"

"Want to make them pay?"

"Yeah."

"Hmph…well…I guess that makes two of us. They may not have gotten my father, but they still have plenty to answer for."

The two sat in solemn silence, their shared desire evident throughout their features. Finally that silence was broken by him. "Well…better go let Bulma know I'm awake."

"You'd better leave that to me. I think you're supposed to be resting."

"And you aren't? At least my legs are still good."

"I have one good leg and that's all I need."

"If you insist," the man giggled.

Videl sauntered towards the door, but turned back. "Before I forget, what'd you say your name was?"

"It's Gohan."