Son Gohan and Trunks: Another Road - Android Saga Act I (Chapter 1)
Lazuli, Assumedly 20 something. Age 780 November 7th - Earth 2:07 A.M. Pepper Town
Two well dressed teens walked around a neon drenched sidewalk. The rain sprinkling down only added to the bright light's flare, throwing beams of colour all around.
"No cap sis, I fuck with Pepper Town heavy, deadass." A young boy with fair skin brushed his deep black hair to the side as he looked at his accompanying sibling.
"You know what, I'm digging it too. Neon's the vibe." The girl had a matching chin length cut with her sibling only she was blonde.
"Well I think we might wanna get inside soon. Our clothes are getting wet." The boy looked at his soggy black tee and flapped it in the air.
"You're right." She stated in tandem. "Should we go and see if there's like a JC Penny's or something?"
"You think Pepper Town has that? We should go to Hot Topic."
"Bruh." She responded with an eye roll and a dramatic brush of her platinum blonde locks. "You got me fucked up if you think we pulling up to Hot fucking Topic for my fit. Nah, I'll pass."
"You just don't want to diversify your fashion portfolio, sis. I simply won't stand for your goth e-boy erasure. I'm not the one walking around with denim on denim like I was going to a country concert."
"I'm done talking to you." She waved him off with a laugh-breath.
"Where are we gonna swap our clothes at? Rule number 1, come on now. We're looking pretty whack with these soaked accessories." The brother reiterated as he flapped his white undershirt next to his sister's face.
"They call it drip for a reason."
"Oh-ho." He was caught off guard a bit and stumbled his conversational pressure with a laugh. "Is that why they call it that?"
"I'm a trendsetter, what can I say?"
"Okay, seriously sis, Where ~ Are We Going?" He asked in a theatrical tone as if he were reading the title of a TV show.
"It's like midnight or something, everything's closed."
"Buuut we just blow open the windows, what's the problem?"
"The problem is that it's much better when there are people inside to look at our choices."
"You like that shit?"
His sister just batted her eyelashes and brushed her hair, the downpour increasing dramatically.
"Bruh if I catch another goofy motherfucker staring at my fit I'm gonna lose it. These randoms really think they're the high council of fashion."
"I think it's because your fits are whack. I'm sorry to say but I've literally never seen you follow rule number 1."
"The gall." The brother took a backstep and put his hand on his chest dramatically.
"I took it a little too far, I apologise."
"Ahh well. I certainly didn't think I came out here just to get done dirty like this. I'm appalled. I mean if apologies were enough why are there policemen and why do people go to jail?"
"Chill, it was one joke." His sister let out with a laugh.
"Fashion's not a joke sweetheart, I might even go as far as to say that it's a lifestyle."
There was a long moment of pause as the two siblings stared into the dark grey beyond. Rain pouring down in harsh volleys.
"I miss fighting those guys. We had like a whole month where we fought people who tried. That was lit."
"Mmm. Yeah, that bald one was pretty tough."
"Which one, there were like 3."
"I dunno, I forgot."
"I mean come on, was it the one with green skin? That's a better modifier than bald."
"I think it was the small one with the dots on his forehead." The brother gestured, poking at his brow.
"The little guy? Really?"
"Say what you want sis, he was pretty speedy."
"I think that the green one and the guy with the three eyes were the toughest."
"That was the same fucking fight sis."
"Was it?"
"Yes."
"Uhhh…"
"Well you probably don't remember it because I was fighting the little guy."
"Oh. Huh. I guess he just never made an impression."
"Well he was fighting me so, you probably didn't even get to see his sick tricks for the kids."
"He had sick tricks?" His sister asked with a smirk and a raised brow.
"Whatever. Get off my fuckin' case." He replied, pushing her back.
The pair shared a laugh and continued on their way.
Trunks, 14y/o. Age 780 November 7th - Earth 7:01 A.M. West City Bay Area
"Gohan, is that a cloud?"
"It's The Nimbus." Gohan replied as he ran his hand along the orange surface of the doughy blobs.
Gohan stared longingly at The Nimbus, it's orange orbs shifted and weaved around as it purred.
"My dad…" Gohan let out strangely. "Used to ride this thing like it was a car back in the day. I guess I just put my weight on it."
Gohan hopped onto the cloud with some force and upon landing, sunk in deep before falling right through.
"Heh-heh. Damn, I was afraid of that."
"What?"
"You have to be pure of heart to ride The Nimbus. I think he tried, that's why I didn't fall immediately but…" He got up and dusted the rocks off of his turtle school uniform. "I'm not it."
Gohan scanned The Nimbus with a raised brow and curled in lips.
"What are you waiting for?"
"Huh?"
"Jump on the damn thing Trunks!" He commanded with a laugh and a hearty pat on the back, forcing his small student forward.
"Okay…"
Trunks put his hands on the cloud and threw his right leg over it like it was a horse.
"I guess that's one way to ride it." Gohan stated as the clouds parted to adequately support the stance.
"That's so cool." Trunks let out in a laugh with wide eyes.
"Good shit, Trunks." Gohan reassured with another pat on the back.
Trunks fixed his riding position and sat crisscrossed.
"Are you gonna swim then?"
"Well maybe The Nimbus will let me on if you're in the driver's seat." Gohan replied as he got on the back.
The clouds shifted and squealed out a bit before Gohan stabilised by holding onto his pupil's shoulder.
"Ahh… I see."
"What?"
"I need to be holding onto you in some way I guess. Because then you're the main point of contact..? Beats the hell outta me. I'm not gonna pretend I know how any of this magic shit works."
Gohan stood up tall behind Trunks and placed his left arm firmly on Trunks' right shoulder.
"Roshi's island is straight ahead, It'll just be a while."
The orange cloud kept a decent pace but didn't go all that fast. Gohan raised a brow at the phenomenon.
"I never remember it being this slow. Is Trunks just bad at driving it?"
So uhhh... hey! Chronoa here! And no, Trunks isn't driving it poorly. The Nimbus is attached to the driver's ki. The stronger you are, the faster The Nimbus will go. Trunks was really weak back when he was 14. Much weaker than even Goku was all the way back before he got taught by Roshi in this timeline. Sorry for interrupting!
The city was a grim grey, saturated by the light rain. Gohan gazed back with melancholy as Trunks stared ahead into the blue sea before him with a wondrous smile. He looked to his master, saddening his mood a bit. He maintained his focus on the waters after that.
"What am I gonna do if Roshi's dead? I can't sense him, hell I wouldn't really know what to look for. I never used Ki Sensing on him the last time I saw him. I hope to god this plan isn't a bust. I have no idea what I'm gonna do if it is."
Gohan's thoughts of failure were all that filled his being.
"I'm sure glad I have someone like Gohan to guide me, I've gotta put my trust in him. I'm sure he's gonna figure this whole thing out in no time."
Trunks' thoughts of success and hope drove The Nimbus a little faster.
Gohan, 20 y/o. Age 780 November 7th - Earth 6:41 P.M. Outside Master Roshi's Island
"Are we there yet, Gohan? I don't feel like eating ki fried fish again."
"You don't fuck with it?" Gohan asked with a full mouth, chewing leftovers.
The pair rolled along the orange seared sea. The shimmering water stained by the sunset. Gohan gulped down hard and studied the blue-orange fusion that spanned out for miles in front of them. He was in a lax pose, laying down comfortably.
"I think we're almost there." Gohan closed his eyes and sent out pulses of ki.
Ki panged back at Gohan's location like sonar and he nodded his head, opening his eyes.
"Why are they underwater?" Gohan thought aloud, drawing Trunks' attention to his face.
After 2 more minutes the pair saw a small blip comb over the horizon.
"Is that it!?" Trunks asked with glee.
"Think so." Gohan replied, standing up tall.
"You stay on The Nimbus, get an aerial view of the place. The androids can be anywhere. I haven't told you yet but they can't be found using Ki Sensing."
"What!? That's pretty important information!"
"It's not important since you don't know how to Ki Sense."
"But what about you, Gohan?"
"If worse comes to worse I guess I'll try to out swim em'." Gohan stated pretty lax, shrugging his shoulders.
Trunks looked on with worry, rising into the air with Nimbus.
"Be careful Gohan!"
Gohan just waved him off with a limp hand. His brow turned down sharp and he walked around on the soft khaki coloured sand. Gohan scoffed at the grains and leaped onto the grass, wiping away at the bothersome minerals. He turned his attention to the light pink with a red roof square in the middle. Palm trees breezed by in the wind and he looked to the red letters on the side: Kame House. Gohan sent another sonar of ki throughout the house and got nothing.
"Okay. So I wasn't incorrect. Must be some sort of submarine then. I can feel 3 distinct energies."
Gohan traced his path back onto the sand after throwing his vest, undershirt, and boots onto the grass. He took a couple of steps with a light jog before diving into the sunsetted waters. Gohan sent out another blast of ki in search of the 3 beings. Two very small auras panged back and then a decent aura reverberated after.
"Good, I think Master Roshi's in that thing." Gohan thought to himself as he opened his eyes and swam to the aura.
He swam down and rounded the rocks to see a yellow submarine submerged in the water. A large rectangular glass window was facing the outside. A pig with overalls fell onto its ass in an exaggerated manner before running out of frame to drag an old man to the window. He lifted up his glasses and it almost looked as if his eyes were to fall out of his sockets. The man pointed up with his staff while making eye contact with Gohan. He nodded and swam up to the top.
"Yes!" Gohan exclaimed with tightly balled fists as he broke through the blue barrier.
The demon student launched from the water onto the grass and shook away the wetness. He rotated his shoulders and stretched it out with his father's pose, one leg at a time. The yellow submarine came above, the very top of the vehicle breaking the surface and the hatch squealing open.
"Come on down, Trunks! We're all clear!"
Trunks just shouted back down.
"What!?"
"Get your ass down here!"
"Huh!?"
Gohan frowned and launched into the air with blinding speed, attempting to snatch his student out of the air. The Nimbus had plans however and moved out of the way, barely weaving Gohan's grab.
"Huh?"
"What is it, Gohan?"
"Coast is clear." Gohan stated, blinking in wonderment.
"Oh, okay!"
The pair of them descended onto the grass and Roshi looked on with raised brows.
"Well I'll be."
"Are you Roshi, sir?" Trunks questioned as he got off The Nimbus.
"That's me, alright. Who are you? You're riding The Nimbus like it was made for you, boy." Roshi laughed sincerely, stomping his staff into the sand.
"My name's Trunks. I think my mother knew who you were."
"Bulma?"
"Yeah." Trunks replied sheepishly, scratching his head
"You've got her eyes."
"I guess I do..?"
"Nice to meet you, Trunks." Roshi greeted before looking to Gohan. "Are you who I think you are?"
"Who do you think I am?" He responded with a smirk.
"If I didn't know any better I'd think you were Gohan. But gosh you're massive. Far bigger than Goku ever got."
Gohan's eyes glazed over at the statement and he got lost in the sandy beach for a moment. Roshi picked up quick and tapped him on the chest with his staff.
"Chin up boy, hard to believe you're Goku's kid when you look like that. I'm not talkin' about the size either. The spirit. I can tell you're pretty drained."
The old man turned around and headed up the pink steps.
"This guy really is Yamcha's boy!" Puar floated up to Trunks. "Nice to meet you!"
"Uhhh, hi?" Trunks let out awkwardly.
"Wow! They really do make those Saiyans pretty big. I think you're as tall as Raditz was." Oolong let out with a grunty voice. "Good to see you again, kid!"
"Hey Oolong. It's good to see you too."
"Well don't just stand out here, you're probably pretty hungry. Come on in!" The pig waved the pair up the stairs and filed in through the green screened door.
"I don't suppose you're here just to visit?" Roshi asked shakily, taking off his sunglasses and staring into Gohan's soul.
"No sir. I need you to tell me everything you know about my father's training and teach me whatever you got left. We're going after the androids too."
"Aheheheheh." Roshi laughed weakly. "I shoulda' known. You guys are way too reckless for your own good."
"If you don't have anything old man, we're just gonna leave." Gohan leaned against the wall with angst.
"Now hold on, you young ones always think the answers gotta come quickly." Roshi poured out a cup of coffee with the steaming coffee maker on the counter.
The old master knocked it back and inhaled deep.
"What do you want to know?"
"I need to polish my techniques and find out each place my father went to on his way to growing stronger. You taught him, so what have you got for me, Roshi?"
"I only have a few claims to fame. I got the After-Image technique, Kamehameha, and Lightning Surprise."
"How about starting with After-Image? I already know how to do Masenko so we don't need another beam."
"Fine by me. Give me a second, boys, you all caught me at a bad time." Roshi said as he waltzed up the stairs and into the back of the house.
Gohan looked on with a furrowed brow before returning his focus to the floor. Trunks walked over in front of him with a wide smile.
"Lightning Surprise? That sounds dope!" Trunks looked at his master with glee.
Gohan just nodded with low energy. Trunks looked around the room and turned his attention to the others.
"Sorry guys, hah-hah. I didn't really introduce myself properly last time. I'm Trunks, and you are?"
"Name's Oolong. Unlike Roshi I actually went on adventures with Goku to look for the Dragon Balls. I'd actually be the one to ask but it appears that Gohan's brain wasn't big enough for that conclusion. You forget about me or somethin', buddy?"
"Wishing for panties in the Tsurumai-Tsuburi Mountains isn't what I'd call big brain Oolong but go off."
Gohan's smile finally rose to the surface.
"There we go! Glad you remember!" Oolong ran over and punted Gohan in the shin.
"I was like 5, bro, cut me some slack! I can barely remember things that happened last week."
"It's causa' those damn androids! Everything just blends together."
"Mmhmm."
"Are you really gonna go fight them, Gohan!?" Puar sing-songed the question.
"You see anyone else around here?"
The room was a deafening silence after that until Roshi came plodding down the stairs. He was wearing the turtle colours with the orange kung fu top and blue pants. He fixed his new pair of shades and spoke loudly.
"Come on boys, what are we waiting for!?"
Master Roshi, 350 y/o. Age 780 November 7th - Earth 7:02 P.M. Kame House
"The first step is to make an accurate picture of who you are or what you want to be. Only when you have that is when you can make an After-Image. The second step is…"
His being flickered out of existence and Gohan scanned the surroundings with ki.
"You're on top of the house."
"Hmm?" Roshi looked back down. "How'd you figure that out?"
"Your ki. Your energy is almost non-existent in this thing." Gohan swatted away at the After-Image. "I'm not really sure After-Images will work against the androids, they can sense energy too, they likely won't be fooled by a trick like this."
"It's not a trick, boy." Roshi lashed back as he landed on the sand. "If that's the case then maybe you could focus your energies and maximise the effect of the After-Image."
Rohsi closed his eyes and then 3 different versions of the master all stood in a circle with closed eyes. Gohan furrowed his brow and studied the 3 old men. After a minute he swatted at one of them and the others dissipated.
"Not good enough, old man. It's not gonna work on the androids if I can see through it."
"I think you're judging too quickly."
"What's to judge? The androids killed everyone and they all practiced techniques like this. It wasn't enough then. I'm not sure it's gonna be enough now."
"Let me try, Master Roshi!" Trunks blurted out quickly.
Gohan stepped back and sat down on the grass.
"The first step is to imagine a strong image of yourself. What do you think of, Trunks?"
"Uhm…" Trunks closed his eyes and jived around as he thought. "Uhh Capsule Corp. Uhh, small guy I guess?"
"Come on Trunks, you don't got any better than that?" He asked with a laugh, shoving the boy back.
"Hah-hah! I dunno!"
Gohan smiled a bit at Trunks' innocence.
"I forgot, does Trunks know how to use ki?"
"No."
"Well then the After-Images aren't gonna work because you still have to use at least a little to get them to stick."
Gohan got up.
"This is more what I came here for anyway." Gohan said as he rotated his shoulders. "I think the androids would have a harder time coming to a place like this. And I'd get Trunks sped along faster in his ki training. What do you think would be the easiest method?"
"Well Goku and Krillin were actually like prodigies, they learned much faster than I ever did. I guess we'd want to start with ki blasts. That seems to make the most sense to me." Roshi looked to Trunks for confirmation who nodded with vigour. "I guess that settles it!"
Gohan, 20 y/o. Age 780 November 7th - Earth 7:30 P.M. Kame House
"You've got to believe."
Gohan and Trunks sat crisscrossed across from each other as the sun was setting in its final stages.
"Okay." Trunks replied with closed eyes.
"If you don't think you can do it, the ki will never come to you. You have to want it with all your heart, only then will the ki respond to your command."
Rohsi walked around the pair, his staff flicking the sand about lightly.
"Open your eyes."
Trunks looked at Gohan's hands which produced a yellow sphere.
"No way." Trunks responded with wide eyes.
"It's too risky to even attempt large blasts so I would like to limit the amount that we do this. I'm mostly gonna string you along on the basics till we can find a solid place for you to cast freely. Got it?"
"Got it." Trunks nodded with wanderlust.
Gohan let loose some orbs like he were screwing in light bulbs, providing four exactly before standing up and wiping off his pants.
"Those aren't very strong. They're not gonna hurt you so feel free to touch em'."
"Oh!" Trunks let out as he smiled.
"Get a good idea of how they feel in your hand and then try to replicate that feeling. I gotta go talk to Roshi."
"Okay." Trunks answered with a bright smile.
"What's the Lightning Surprise?" Gohan asked with a sharp brow, crossing his arms just like Piccolo.
Roshi fixed his shades and answered with solemnity.
"It's my best attack. I thought about using The Evil Containment Wave against the androids but after Piccolo told me that they're not humans I don't think that'd work against them."
"Yeah, he mentioned the same thing to me a long time ago. So what does it do?"
"Well…" Roshi answered with a slight nod of the head. "It shocks em', leaves em' paralysed for someone else to come do a follow-up. You're kind of too busy shockin' em' to do something else."
"Makes sense. How do I do it?"
"Alright. The best way to learn is to have it used on you."
"Fire away." Gohan proclaimed as he stepped back, flaring out his arms wide.
"LIGHTNING SURPRISE!" Roshi cackled out before clapping his hands together and surging the son of Son Goku with potent yellow bolts of electricity.
"Gohan!" Trunks yelped with concern.
TTTTTZzzzzzUTTT! KRAKKCLE!
"Thought so." Gohan remarked as the lightning did little to impact his frame. The lightning did force a few muscle twitches but he mostly had full control and shook off the attack with a wave of his left arm.
FWOOFF! Zzzztt~
"Not good enough."
"Not good enough? Boy you barely tried! It didn't work and you just assume it won't!"
"Assume it won't? Sorry sir, but that technique was literally Just proven otherwise."
Oolong and Puar looked on with duck faces, getting a little hype at Son Gohan's outburst.
"Why..? Why are you always so negative!?" Roshi fought back, pointing his staff at Gohan's chest.
"There's not much to be positive about! That technique is literally for restraining the enemy and it can't even restrain Me! It's not gonna work against the androids! It's fucking useless!"
Roshi looked on worriedly as sweat drained from his forehead.
"You got anything else, Old Man?"
"No."
"Tcheh. Unbelievable. Sorry Trunks, looks like I wasted your time."
"Gohan."
"What?"
The old master and the new master locked eyes across the beach.
"Try Korin's Tower. I don't know if that old cat is still up there but I'd be willing to bet he has something for you."
"..."
"I'm sorry."
"No... I'm sorry. That was uncalled for." Son Gohan apologised with a deep kneel.
"... Stand up, boy. I don't want to see you down there."
Gohan stood up from the kneel and shook his head, averting his gaze to the now mostly nighttime sky.
"It's just… we can't make any more mistakes. If we go…"
"..."
"That's it."
"..."
"Ya know?"
Roshi nodded through his thick beard as Son Gohan gazed out into the last glitters of sun.
"Gohan?"
"..?" The Half-Saiyan turned his head to look at the blue cat.
"Can I go with you?"
"Puar! What are you saying!?" Oolong chimed in with wide eyes, jumping up and down in defiance. "You heard what he said, if they go, the show's ova' baby! Kaput! We're in the shitter! You wanna throw your life away!?"
"..." The little blue cat had tears drain down his face. "There's no life without Yamcha! I'm going!"
Puar floated over and hugged Trunks tight, holding on for dear life. Oolong looked on with a grumpy demeanor.
"You know what? Fine! I'm comin'! One last adventure! I've had enough! If we die tryin' that just means it was a good a time as any! This one's for the record books!"
"That's the spirit!"
"What? Dying? That's the spirit? That's a fucked up spirit, Puar." The Pig answered as he stood in front of Gohan, putting his hands in his overalls and looking up at him. "Oolong, at your service. Let's win this thing."
"... Can either of you fight?"
"Nu-uh."
"Nope."
"Fantastic." Son Gohan laughed it off.
Swuuuuluuuuuu~ Slshhhhhhhhh~
The navy blue waters splashed upon the shore in delicate waves as The Half-Saiyan gazed deeply into the shades of Master Roshi.
"You comin'?"
Slashhhhhhhhhh~
"One more for the road couldn't hurt."