Facing the Future
Chapter 1: A New Life
A/N: Facing the Future is an idea I had for a story revolving around Android Eighteen and her connection to the future timeline, where I'll aim to explore some plot threads that were left unaddressed in the main series. Android Seventeen and Future Trunks will be featured prominently as well, so as referenced in the title summary you can probably guess that this story will involve a bit of time travel. The time when this story takes place is roughly a year and a half since the ending of the Cell arc, during the time skip before the Buu arc.
This will also be my first attempt at writing a proper story, so I hope to make a decent attempt at it. If you see some room for improvement or have any feedback at all let me know as I'm always looking for ways to better my writing.
Anyway good reading, thanks Literal.
Eighteen had to admit, this shopping centre was one of the best she'd visited in a while now. There had been plenty of clothing stores available and she had made sure to visit them all over the course of the day. She preferred the smaller shops around here as they were usually less crowded, giving her time to browse without anyone else bothering her.
Krillin had accompanied her like he usually did, politely showing interest in what she was buying and waiting patiently as she took her time looking through the products. She knew he didn't share her passion for shopping but appreciated his willingness to come along nonetheless.
Normally she wouldn't care at all for other's company but Krillin was an exception, she liked having him around and when he didn't come along she found it was never as enjoyable for some reason.
She had definitely enjoyed today's trip to South City, getting several new additions for her wardrobe, but with the afternoon sun setting in she figured it was about time they headed back to Kame Island.
As if reading her mind Krillin spoke up about it at that moment.
"Hey Eighteen did you want to head home now?" he asked, walking beside her whilst holding some shopping bags.
Eighteen nodded in reply, while she would like to stay longer she knew it would take a while to get back to the island by air-car. She found it rather annoying travelling in a slow car when they could fly much faster themselves, but Krillin had been worried that flying into a crowded city would draw unnecessary attention so she begrudgingly put up with it.
As they made their way to the parking area, Eighteen noticed out of the corner of her eye Krillin gripping his hand over his chest in some form of discomfort and she narrows her eyes at him suspiciously. She remembered him doing something similar a few times earlier in the day and she found that it was now starting to bother her.
She had assumed that if it was something serious that he would have spoken up about it, but looking at the slight pained expression he was wearing currently she figured that it couldn't hurt to ask him instead. They had become somewhat close over the last year or so and though she tried her best not to be obvious about it, she had to admit that she cared about him.
"You feeling okay Krillin?" she said casually, being careful to mask the concern behind her question.
Krillin's expression changes to one of surprise as he quickly pulls his arm back to his side.
"Oh yeah I'm fine, just feeling a little bit sore in the chest is all!" he replies cheerfully, before pausing briefly and adopting a thoughtful expression as he seems to recall something.
"You know it's probably from that sparring session we had yesterday! You know, the one where you were mean enough to send me flying into the ocean!" he said, giving her a mock look of annoyance before adopting an amused grin.
His joking attitude quickly dispersed any worries she had, as she recalled how ridiculous he had looked walking back onto the beach, soaking wet and covered in some seaweed.
"Well if you bothered to train more then you wouldn't get your butt kicked so easily!" she said matter of factly, smirking at the indignant look he gave her in return.
Shrugging off her playful jab Krillin throws the air-car capsule and the two get ready to head home, with Krillin piloting the car into the sky as Eighteen absent-mindedly looks out of the window, watching as they ascend above the city streets.
They soon leave the city behind, being replaced by the vast ocean with the only things in sight being the odd island or boat. Eighteen of course found all of this extremely boring and she sighed as she let her thoughts wander in an attempt to keep herself occupied.
Before she knew it Eighteen was reflecting on the past year or so of her life and she marveled at how things had ended up the way they were, finding that she couldn't really complain to be honest, as she was living a life that was quiet and peaceful.
She could even say that she actually felt content with her life, a reality that would have seemed impossible back when she had been roaming the world with Sixteen and Seventeen.
That past was full of nothing but danger and hardship, and she was grateful to have gotten out of it alive, as well as being able to place her previously reckless actions behind her.
Krillin had played a huge part throughout that whole experience and she didn't doubt that without him, she would never have made it to this point at all. He had helped her get through some difficult times and while she didn't always show it, she was quite thankful for everything he had done for her.
Glancing at him sideways, she couldn't help but let a small smile form as she recalled the time he had destroyed the shutdown remote, or when he had wished the bombs out of Seventeen and her. He was a good person and she found that just by simply being around him, he somehow made her feel better about everything.
Krillin soon picks up on Eighteen staring at him and he looks back at her, returning her smile.
"What's up, something on your mind?" he said with a quizzical expression.
"No, nothing," she said, quickly looking back out the window in an attempt to hide her embarrassment at him noticing.
Eighteen could almost see his confused look when he didn't say anything else, and she didn't look back hoping he would just go back to focusing on flying.
They would have little moments like this sometimes and when they happened she would always seem to get flustered for some reason. Eighteen was usually quite good at keeping her emotions in check, but when it came to Krillin something was different and she honestly had no idea why.
She found it rather annoying being unable to figure out what was going on and she certainly wasn't about to bring it up to Krillin either, feeling awkward at just the thought of talking to him about it.
Eighteen was glad when they finally landed at Kame Island and she quickly grabs her shopping bags, proceeding to walk into the house whilst leaving Krillin to capsule the air-car.
Entering through the main door she unfortunately finds Master Roshi and Oolong hollering at their adult 'entertainment' videos and resisting the urge to slap them senseless, she tries her best to ignore them as she makes her way up the stairs to her room.
After organizing her purchases into her wardrobe Eighteen comes downstairs a little while later, finding that the two perverts had thankfully finished with their repulsive videos. Roshi was sitting in his chair reading a magazine, Oolong was on the couch watching a television programme and she could hear Krillin making dinner in the kitchen.
She then walks over to Oolong and quickly snatches the remote off him before he could do anything about it.
"Hey what's the big idea, I was watching something!" Oolong said indignantly, staring up at the blonde cyborg with an irritated look.
"You've had all day to watch your trash so beat it!" Eighteen replied in an agitated tone, "How about you do something useful and help Krillin prepare your dinner?" she finished, giving the pig a fierce glare that left no room for argument.
Unwilling to test Eighteen's patience, Oolong begrudgingly gets off the couch with an annoyed look and walks into the kitchen whilst muttering something under his breath.
Eighteen then sits down, and she begins flicking through the channels in an attempt to find something interesting to get her mind off her frustration.
That pig was one of the two downsides to living on Kame Island, the other being Roshi with both of them never ceasing to get on her nerves. They had even tried making some inappropriate moves around her and she had to really hold herself back from giving them some serious injuries.
There was always the option of living with her brother Seventeen in his mountain cabin, and the thought of moving out had crossed her mind a few times now, but even he could be annoying at times and the more spacious room of the island was certainly a positive.
In the back of her mind she also knew that Krillin would take it hard if she moved out completely, and she did not like the thought of making him sad like that.
Once dinner was ready Eighteen didn't bother getting herself anything as she technically didn't need to eat, though she could if she wanted to. She sees Krillin get his portion before coming over to sit next to her, and she gives him a quick smile of greeting as they begin watching the television together in silence.
She soon notices however, that Krillin wasn't eating much at all and is surprised when he stands up, proceeding to walk over to the fridge to place his bowl away. Eighteen then watches curiously as he comes back into the living room, noting the tired and drained look in his eyes.
"Hey guys I think I'll just go rest up in my room, I'm not feeling all that hungry and I think the day must be catching up with me!" Krillin said whilst covering a yawn.
"Yeah? Well that must have been from all that shopping with your girlfriend today huh?" Oolong said with an obnoxious grin, before his expression turns to fear as Eighteen sends him a dangerous look.
Eighteen however quickly returns her attention to Krillin who was starting to make his way up the stairs, and she finds that her concern from earlier today resurfacing.
She was tempted to bring up his odd behavior again but quickly stops herself, reasoning that Krillin could look after himself and she shouldn't be worrying herself every time he did something out of the ordinary.
"Why the hell am I so worked up about this? It's most likely nothing anyway!" she thought to herself in irritation as she turned back to the television, trying her best to push away the lingering feeling of unease.
He woke to find his body being overwhelmed by excruciating pain.
His chest felt like it was on fire, his breathing was heavy and his heartbeat was pounding loudly in his ears.
Krillin gritted his teeth in pain as he rolled onto his side, trying his best to push himself upright and he briefly glimpses at the time, noticing that it was very early in the morning.
Taking in that little piece of information he then focuses on getting to his feet, proceeding to shakily hold himself up with his arms that felt like chunks of lead. As he goes to stand however, he finds that his legs are too weak to hold him up and he quickly collapses to the ground in a painful thud.
As he lies face down in even more agony, he finds that he is unable to move at all despite his desperate attempts to push himself back up.
Left sprawled on the floor completely helpless was the worst feeling Krillin had experienced in his entire life, and he couldn't stop the intense panic that enveloped him as the horrifying reality of his situation set in.
His vision then begins to blur and he could feel himself rapidly losing consciousness, the terrifying thought of himself dying here racing through his mind.
"No… it can't... end… like… this..." Krillin struggles to get out as his eyes shut and everything then fades to black.
Eighteen was up and awake in her room, looking through some of her purchases from today and matching them with various other items already in her wardrobe. She didn't need much sleep compared to most people, and usually she would stay up for several days at a time before finally resting.
Her thoughts were interrupted however when a muffled thud seems to come from downstairs and she quickly turns her attention to the door, listening intently.
She doesn't hear anything else after a few moments, but still not feeling comfortable she walks over to open her door and goes down the stairs, glancing around suspiciously.
She soon comes up to Krillin's door and stopping for a moment she listens for anything of concern. To her shock she hears what sounds like a faint groan of pain coming from the other side of the door and Eighteen's expression turns to one of worry as she lightly knocks a few times.
"Hey Krillin, is everything okay?" she said, her tone sounding slightly fearful.
When there is no response Eighteen decides to open the door regardless, a strange feeling of dread coming over her as she comes into his room and turns the light on.
Eighteen is greeted by the harrowing sight of Krillin face down on the floor, with traces of blood splattered around his mouth. Absolutely Horrified Eighteen quickly runs over, kneeling down and rolling him onto his side whilst holding him steady.
"Krillin can you hear me? Wake up, say something!" she said, her voice frantic and shaking a little.
His only response is to violently cough up some more specks of blood onto the ground.
Eighteen's panic doubles at that, her mind going into overdrive as she thinks of ways to help him in his clearly serious condition, quickly coming to a conclusion that Roshi might have some kind of medicine for this or at least knows what's going on.
Making sure that Krillin is stable first, she rushes out the door and down to the other bedroom of the house, not hesitating in the slightest as she slams the door open, almost breaking it off its hinges with her strength.
"Both of you get up! Krillin is in some serious trouble and needs help!" she yells, causing both Roshi and Oolong to jump awake.
Oolong, startled by Eighteen's abrupt entry, just looks at her in confusion for a few moments.
"What the heck are you on about? Don't you know what time it is?" Oolong said, sounding quite annoyed.
Roshi however, upon noticing Eighteen's panicked expression, gets up and nods in acknowledgement as he then follows Eighteen as she heads back up to Krillin's room. When he arrives at Krillin's bedroom, Roshi couldn't help the gasp of shock that escapes him as he takes in the sight of his former pupil.
"Oolong get the first aid kit quickly!" Roshi yells down the stairs, before joining Eighteen at Krillin's side.
"He's not responding at all! What the hell is happening to him Roshi?!" Eighteen said to the old master, desperately hoping that he had some way of helping.
Roshi lightly takes the small fighter's temperature and his expression changes to one of serious concern as he sighs heavily.
"I've seen something like this once before and I'm afraid it's very bad news. I can't be completely sure, but if it's what I think it is then Krillin is in serious peril!" he said solemnly as he frowns fearfully at the small fighter on the ground in front of him.
"Fine then I'll get him to a hospital right now!" she replied motioning to pick up Krillin, but is quickly halted by Roshi when he grabs onto her shoulder abruptly.
"Wait, you can't take him to a hospital! If it's the virus I think it is then the only person who could hope to cure him is Bulma!" Roshi states hurriedly, looking quite hesitant with Eighteen's suggestion.
"What, that doesn't make any sense! What aren't you telling me about his condition?" Eighteen replied with a suspicious glare, as she angrily shook his hand off.
"Please just trust me on this Eighteen! Get him to Bulma as quickly as you can and then I'll explain everything to you once I get over there myself!" Roshi said determinedly, giving her a look that said there was no time for arguing on this matter.
Eighteen gives him a scathing look at that but decides to do what he says regardless, carefully picking up Krillin in her arms before she hurries downstairs.
Oolong meanwhile having grabbed the first aid kit, was just about to head upstairs when he was suddenly bowled over by Eighteen on her way down, the force sending him flying across the room.
Completely unfazed by this and barely registering Oolong's presence, Eighteen continues outside and quickly takes to the sky in a burst of energy. After a few moments Oolong staggers to his feet as Roshi comes down the stairs as well.
"What the hell happened? I felt like I got hit by a truck!" Oolong states groggily, feeling quite dazed from his impact with a wall.
Master Roshi doesn't pay Oolong much mind however, as he walks outside to look up into the night sky where Eighteen had flown off just moments before.
"I hope like Goku, you can make it through this Krillin, not just for our sake but for hers as well," he muttered solemnly to himself, standing there quietly for a few seconds before turning back inside.
A/N: So there we go that is my first entry of this story. It may have started sort of slow but I felt that it was necessary to establish where Eighteen was at in terms of her character development, showing how she has changed in the time since Cell.
On that note I hope the characters felt realistic to themselves, I find Eighteen in particular a bit tricky to write so let me know if you felt she or anyone else in the story feels out of character.
Anyway thanks for reading and please let me know what you think of this chapter, thanks Literal!