Realllyy sorry for taking so long posting. Life has been a little crazy, and I've been writing little bits when I can. As a token of appreciation I had some character art done :D
I worked with a artist named Shannon, and she has a tumblr page -
It is shannonsketches dot tumblr dot com
here if you are interested in getting any art done by her. She is wonderful. Anyway, the link to the character art will not show up within the chapters I post, so if you want to see a full bust or the entire image message me and I'l send it to you. There is a small bit of it as the image for the chapter also. It was supposed to be for chapter 17 so keep that in mind as far as her appearance goes. As always, comments are welcomed as are reviews.
Gusts of dry wind rose up and pushed passed Calina's frame. The tiny sharpened grains getting stuck in her eyes and lightly scraping against her face. However, the young Saiyan didn't blink or bother wiping the dirt from her eyes, she was too perplexed with what was going above her.
Vegeta had become a Super Saiyan and Calina couldn't have been more thrilled. The 'Prince of all Saiyans' had finally ascended to the highest level of warrior. Unlike the other fighters she had gotten to know, she was the only one who truly honored and respected Vegeta (at least she believed so). Only she knew of the type of hell he had come from, and for that she shared his accomplishment. Not as some symbol of hope or some other strange mirage, but a something much less. She admired Vegeta for how much he had overcome, regardless of how ruthless or pride filled he was. Vegeta was still a warrior who had lost his Father, his people and on multiple occasions, his pride. He still kept his head high, and for that Calina respected him.
Calina began to smile and let a laugh escape her lips. He had finally done it.. But…When would she…
Vegeta wasn't modest about his power, and when android 19 attempted to ambush him, Vegeta quickly put the android in his place. Over a course of ten minutes the android had gone from a devastating creature with the ability to kill whom ever it wished, to a play thing that Vegeta could and would dispose of in minutes. The group of warriors watched in suspense and eventually had to move. Vegeta was preparing to kill the android but everyone else was getting in the way.
The tides nearly turned when 19 grabbed Vegeta's hands and tried to steal his energy. Again, the prince mocked the cyborg and broke free of his grasp, ripping off the androids arms in the process. Within seconds the bot was blasted to pieces, the only remnant that remained of him was his head, which rolled along the uneven ground for twenty or so feet.
Landing Vegeta shot an ugly glare to the other humanoid robot. The creature took a few steps back, startled at what he had just saw.
" Oh well, your friend there sure took a lot out of me.. Now's your chance, you had better attack while my energy is low." Vegeta spoke to the android with a wicked smirk. Following the rash comment with a shrill laugh. While talking Vegeta's hair had dropped back down to its normal form. Calina smiled behind the group, she knew what type of game he was playing.. She had done the same thing years before.
The android paused, taking in his options before turning and laughing. " You're not going to be so arrogant when I activate 17 and 18.." The Android laughed and let a large chi release go into the ground below him. Sending dust and debris into the air.
" YOU..Give me one of those beans.." Vegeta scoffed rudely, letting his shoulders relax as his breaths became more labored.
Krillin reached into his pocked and counted how many beans he had left. Casually he tossed Vegeta one, muttering to himself that he would give the prince the smallest one.
Vegeta snatched the senzu bean and crunched it down with a satisfied gulp. Immediately transforming back into a Super Saiyan. Calina's arms were crossed and she looked over to Gohan as he questioned why Vegeta even needed a Senzu bean. Piccollo chimed in before she could speak.
" Vegeta bluffed his way out of the fight, just now.. He didn't have enough energy to fight the android.. so he bluffed him out.." Piccollo smiled, he was impressed.
" I don't understand.. There are more androids.. why are there more androids.." Calina was confused, weren't these two the androids that strange boy was talking about earlier?
The rest of the group was also in shock, why had the boy from three years ago warned them about the other androids that existed…
" He's going to his lab, huh.. Where the hell did I.." Bulma spoke over the group and began to think to herself, Trunks asleep on her shoulder.
" I'm going on without any of you.. You'll just get in my way.." Vegeta barked at the group and turned. Jetting up and off the ground, pumping waves of sand and debris at the group.
" THAT'S IT! " Bulma exclaimed with a small jump. " Gero's lab is right outside North City.. its hidden within one of the mountains that surrounds it. I saw it in one of my father's science magazines.. Its really sad, Gero was so talented.. Immagine where we would be today with his brains... " Bulma trailed off and began to bounce Trunks around. " He's such an evil man.. Isn't he, isn't he little trunks! " Bulma began to speak to her baby, bouncing him around as the child laughed.
It wasn't long after Vegeta's departure that Bulma had decided to get her and her newborn child into the safety of the aircraft and to meet them further towards the new fighting location.
" Piccollo.. what should we do? " Gohan looked up at the Namek. Piccolo smiled and agreed that they should follow the android. It was a few moments later that Tien arrived, and told the group that Yamcha decided that he could take Goku home by himself. Calina hands were balled up into tight fists, she was itching to fight. She began to fidget uncontrollably. Without any other words and relaxed her arms and hovered in the air for a few moments, immediately taking off she headed in the same direction Vegeta did.
" You should have waited for everyone, Calina…Calina are you listening? " Piccollo's voice became more of a growl and Calina immediately stood up straight and turned her head to him.
"..you're always so slow.." Calina paused, " I'm sorry.."
Piccolo sighed, he didn't dwell on the previous issue and immediately brought up the one at hand. " Lets fan out.. Gero is going to try to go back to is lab.. we can't let him do that.."
" Wait, what if we find him.. or the lab.. How should we signal to one another that we found it?"
Krillin's question made the group pause, he was right.
" We'll raise our energy levels.. that will be the signal that we have either found Gero, or his hideout.." Piccolo looked at everyone in the group once more before everyone spread out.
It was at least twenty minutes before any commotion happened. Calina was far from the group, and in the minute she had taken to find everyone, the commotion was almost over.
Gero had absorbed a large amount of energy from one of Vegeta's ill placed Chi blasts and had tried to drain all of Piccolo's chi after that, however the doctor ended up becoming cornered by both Vegeta and Piccolo.
Gero was not prepared for the fight that ensued with Piccolo, and ended up getting one of his hands ripped off in the process. In an effort to retreat, he unleashed a large chi technique up and around him. Everyone evaded the blast, however by the time the light faded from the attack, everyone was gone. Calina jerked her head up to the sky where she began to sense a new energy.
To her surprise it was Bulma and her child, Trunks, being carried by none other than the boy from three years ago. The one who had killed Freiza.
Gero's blast had hit Bulma's aircraft and instead of crashing to the ground, she and the baby were both saved by the stranger with the bowl cut.
" We're wasting time! I'm going to follow him! " Vegeta blurted out amongst the commotion. The stranger from earlier set down Bulma and the baby. He immediately looked up at the hovering Vegeta with anger.
" He has time to worry about the androids but not about his own child.." The stranger growled under his breath, quickly shooting up to confront Vegeta.
" Well isn't this a surprise, the kid who killed Freiza.. Out of my way boy, I have androids to kill."
The stranger from earlier was quiet for a moment, taking in Vegeta's features and contemplating a response.
" There is no time to argue, we need to get to Gero's lab before he does! " Piccolo belted at the two Saiyans hovering above him.
" Gero's hide out… Hmm.." Bulma spoke allowed, seeming unfazed by the events that just unfolded. Calina paused and looked behind her. One of capsule corp's flying air crafts was blown into a few large pieces, and Calina soon realized that the stranger had not just saved his mother and baby Trunks, but also a fat, short human man who was complaining in a fit of fear.
" Calina are you alright.." Calina's concentration was snapped for a moment as she looked down to who was speaking to her. Gohan looked wearily across the group and at her, without hesitation she smiled and nodded.
" I think everyone deserves to hear why you are here.." Piccolo spoke up as he brushed some debris off his arms and shirt. " We can go and look for Gero's hide out after.."
The stranger from earlier paused nervously and lowered himself to the ground, Vegeta hovered in the air in his Super Saiyan form. Taking a few seconds of his time to find out whom exactly this mystery man was.
The man paused and sighed, looking up at the group. He shifted his shoulders and scuffed his feet as he tried to come up with words.
" My name is Trunks and I'm from the future. I'm the son of Vegeta and Bulma.. I'm from a time where everyone is dead except for only a few of us, everyone that's here right now is dead in my time. I've come back in time to try to make your time right, and to prevent the travesties that have happened in my time, from happening in yours.." Trunks spoke allowed and everyone was shocked except Piccolo.
" Amazing.." Tien spoke allowed looking at the violet hair warrior.
" So, you're this Trunks? " Calina spoke walking over to Bulma's position, she paused for a moment and help up her hand near the baby. Trunks instantly reached out and began to pull on her fingers with his tiny ones.
The man who was no longer a stranger nodded. Calina glanced up and even noticed that Vegeta was in a slight stupor. This must have been a huge shock for him.
"Well this is a great family reunion, but if you don't mind I'm leaving to stop a mad man from destroying the planet." Vegeta scoffed at the group before powering up a little and taking off and into the sky.
" Wait! " Trunks blurted as he jetted into the sky after him.
" We need to move any ways, Gero could already be at his Lab by now."
Bulma chimed in, bouncing her small child up and down. " Well North City is about twenty minutes away, and the mountain range near it is only a few minutes off it."
" Gohan, I think it would be best if you take Bulma back to her home. We can handle everything out here." Gohan tried to protest, but eventually gave him.
" Yeah, and don't forget me! " The fat, short human, who Calina had not yet been introduced to yet, was complaining.
" I'll see you later okay, we can meet at your house later and see how your father is doing.." Calina spoke pulling away from baby trunks only to have him reach out for her.
Within a few moments everyone separated, Gohan took the human, who Calina was told that his name was Yadrobi, and Bulma with the baby. Leaving into the sky with the three passengers.
Without hesitation everyone jumped into the sky and jetted towards the direction where Gero had fled.
Twenty minutes had passed and Calina was standing with Piccolo observing the sharp deep desert mountains. He literally, could be anywhere.
" This would be ten times easier if we could just sense his power, even a little.. I just don't-"
Within seconds Calina and Piccolo both turned towards one direction. Krillin had begun to steeply rise his energy level, and that only meant one thing; he had found Gero's hide out.
It only took a minute to reach his location, but the Saiyan Prince and his adult son had gotten there before them.
Gero had cleverly hidden the hideout within the side of a mountain, even with Krillin's energy level spike, it was still difficult to find.
" Blow that door down Vegeta! " Tien roared from behind them, Vegeta and Trunks were the at the front of the line.
" No.. No I think that I would like to see what these androids are made of.."
" Are you KIDDING ME! You need to DESTROY THEM NOW! " Trunks roared at his father, " If you don't do anything I will! " Trunks spoke stepping forwards, However Vegeta turned and slammed the young man in the stomach, sending him reeling backwards.
Calina stayed quiet for a moment before speaking up.
" These androids destroyed everyone in your time right, Trunks?.. So no one was a match for them, not Vegeta, not me and not Gohan.. That's a little bit of a risk to take, Vegeta.." Calina spoke, sounding much older than she actually was.
" Obviously I wasn't as strong as I am now in Trunk's time. " Vegeta growled, Calina could smell the drive coming off of him. The new power was going to his head.
" Bulma's blood and your infant son's blood is on your hands if these androids are somehow stronger than us.." Calina spoke calmly, and everyone in the group remained silent, looking nervous. Calina could tell they agreed with her.
Vegeta let out a growl and a snap, " IF IT WILL GET YOU TO SHUT YOUR STUPID TRAP I WILL BLOW DOWN THIS DOOR! " Moments later the door was shot down and a thick wind of debris shot through the small tunnel they were currently standing in. Everyone was quiet.
It was only a few moments later that the thinning debris lifted and four standing shadows stood. Gero was accompanied by three other androids. Calina was surprised at how human they looked, more human than Gero even.
Within seconds of Gero speaking, one of the androids jolted forwards and slammed his foot into Gero's head. Immediately Gero's neck broke and his head went flying. Everyone was silent, except gero who was now furious that his head had been detached from its base.
Calina thought that the three androids looked cold, they didn't blink and they she really couldn't feel any energy coming from them. There were three of them left now, one was much taller than the other two and had a orange Mohawk. The two that remained were the same height and looked similar, as if they were two sides to the same coin. The male android had jet black hair that stretched down to his shoulders with a orange bandana around his neck and jeans, while the female looked more fashion savvy. Having beautiful blonde hair that also stretched down to her shoulders, and wearing a skirt with tights and a long sleeved white shirt with a vest.
The android with the black hair quickly quieted Gero by stepping forwards and smashing his head in with his foot. Immediately he looked up at the group. Calina noticed now, that each set of eyes, all three of them, were a cold icy blue color. Similar to her own.
" I'm not going to let anyone die! " Trunks stepped up and forwards, immediately turning super saiyana and letting out an explosive blow forwards.
Calina felt a grip on her wrist as Piccolo yanked her from the tunnel and from the blast. She had enough time to see the lab, that was hidden within the mountain, explode and crumble to pieces. However, the act of heroism from Trunks was short sighted. The androids didn't have a scratch on them.
" Well that was rude, he got dirt all over my cloths.." The blonde android spoke with a condescending tone as she began to pad off her clothing. The android with the black hair spoke up.
" Did you want to get rid of them before they become annoying? "
Everyone in the group was in shock. These creatures were not only completely unharmed by a powerful attack at point blank range, they were toying with them.
" We need to find Goku and destroy him.." Everyone turned their head to face the larger android with green armor. He stared blankly up and at the sky.
" So he does speak.." The female android smiled and laughed.
" He's right, killing of these weaklings isn't much of a challenge. Finding and destroying Goku will be much more enjoyable."
There was a moment of silence before all three of them looked at the group.
" Should we beat them into the ground until they tell us his location? "
The woman android spoke before there was another pause.
" Now where is the fun in that.. besides we already know where his house is.."
" Lets go then, I'm getting bored."
The androids spoke amongst themselves before jetting off and into the sky.
" The nerve of those two! To think they just dismissed me as some sort of invisible wall.. I'll show them.."
Vegeta's hot tempered voice boomed and echo'd off the pillars of rock and rubble around them. Without another word he shot up and off into the sky.
Trunks followed Vegeta, screaming that he wouldn't let him die. Calina was still a little confused as to the whole future time traveling issue.
" I'm going too.." Calina spoke in a low tone. Every one turned and looked at her like she was nuts.
" I've been training hard and I want to see where I stand.."
" So this is the best time for something like that? What if they kill you or kill Trunks? "
Calina was quiet, she kept her eyes on the direction Vegeta and Trunks just left in.
" There's no point, she's already gone.." Piccolo spoke looking over to Calina who was no longer listening to what they were talking about. Calina powered up and jetted into the sky after Vegeta.
Calina had noticed a large surge in energy about six miles from where she was currently placed. She was alarmed to feel Vegeta's Chi fading, and Trunks's Chi wasn't at maximum capacity either.
Krillin and Piccolo had decided to follow suit and were about ten minutes before Calina, Tien had turned back to warn ChiChi about the androids and begin moving Goku to a new location.
Wind pushed against Calina's face and growing hair, she was closing in on their location.
Calina immediately noticed the smell of blood. Vegeta was broken open pretty badly and Calina landed in time to see Android 18 land a brutally hard kick to the side of Vegeta's face. The area she had just landed in was tore up, but luckily it was just forest area and no civilians could get hurt.
17 and 16 were sitting quietly in the middle of a paved road that led down a spiraling mountain. Android 17 had a satisfactory smirk on his face while 16 seemed to be completely removed from the situation, as he was more concerned with exchanging pleasantries with a bird and a squirrel.
Calina landed next to Trunks and noticed how unnerved he was.
Although there were distractions around her, Calina still couldn't get over how tall and aged Trunks was. She, after all, had been there when he was born and had played with him in her free time while at capsule corp.
" Have faith in your father Trunks.." Calina spoke in a calm, low tone. Trunks's posture relaxed as he glanced down at her. Unsure of her and the situation around them.
Unfortunately the situation turned bad in a matter of seconds, as Android 18 got a quick shot at Vegeta's abdomen and proceeded to grab his left arm. With her free hand she sent a powerful, bright chi blast into his ribs and torso. Vegeta's body flew and skidded across the ground, only to come to a rolling stop as his hair faded back to black.
Trunks seemed to lose control of his inhibition to stay put and immediately took a shot at 18. However within seconds he too was put down, suffering the same strategic move his father just received.
Calina was starting to understand that she had no chance in this fight, however she was still going to try. If both super Saiyans were unable to even mark this woman, what chance did she have?
" Here comes the little one.. We don't have too much information on you.." Android 18 spoke with a wide smile. Her mouth was closed, but her facial expression still made Calina uncomfortable. 18 was a foot or so taller than her, and had beautiful blonde hair with fair skin. If Calina had to be honest, she thought she was beautiful.
" You're the small Saiyan from Namek.. and her name is Calina, I believe." Android 17 spoke from behind 18.
Calina didn't wait any longer, her comrades were in danger, and she was going to do everything she could to help them.
Within seconds of Calina focusing her energy android 18 materialized infront of her. The android's speed was unreal, and Calina was surprised just enough for the android to land a hard punch to the side of her jaw.
Calina was sent back, but she caught her self before falling. Pulling herself back up and regaining her composure Calina charged the android. Sending a furry of kicks and punches at the woman, followed by a brief surprise chi blast. However, the android evaded everything and Calina began to feel her three years of training slip away from her. She was never going to be strong enough to protect those she loved.
Calina could sense that Piccolo was near by, and as was Krillin and Tien. The young Saiyan was relieved that Gohan had been forced to leave earlier with Bulma and baby Trunks. It erased the risk of him getting hurt at the moment.
"Are you trying to plan something.. it won't work.." 18 spoke with a wicked smile. She flipped her hair over her left shoulder and sighed. She was playing with Calina. She understood that now.
Calina had been on hundreds of missions, her ability to take in a scenario and produce ways to evade or guard her enemy was vast. Much more advanced than most of the fighters on Earth. Still she did get caught up in moments like this and had to take a moment to reevaluate the situation and think of a plan.
Vegeta and Trunks both had ascended and reached the Super Saiyan level. Calina hadn't even touched the threshold of that type of power. She had to defend the boys and train for her next meeting with the androids. If she survived this one.
When Piccolo, Tien and Krillin arrived Calina wasn't in the best shape. She was exhausted and could hardly stand. Within a few minutes, however, they too wouldn't stand a chance.
The world seemed to be moving very fast. Calina watched Piccolo get struck down by 18 and then Tien. She tried to move, but only ended up getting in the way.
" Piccolo! " Calina's voice was cracked and dry, the sound of desperation rattling from her chest.
Piccolo's body was shot hard into the rubble. Tien suffered the same fate, flying into the ground in the opposite direction.
Calina staggered to her feet.
The young Saiyan was beginning to regret having long hair. The thick, long strands stuck to her neck and face. Her eyes constantly blinking to wash the flow of sweat and blood running into her eyes.
18 was getting bored. 17 was rushing her from behind and Calina took a few sparing seconds to absorb the situation and come up with a solution.
The beautiful, blonde android was ready to make her exit and insisted on not leaving anyone behind alive. Calina felt the huge surge of Chi swell around and then focus into her left hand. She had to act fast.
Piccolo wasn't moving and Calina could tell that this was where the attack would center from. Dashing forward as 18 released the attack, Calina's body came to a dusty and rough stop as she dug her feet into the desert earth below her and over piccolo.
Turning up for just a few moments, her body shielding over Piccolo's. She cared more about the namekian than she'd like to admit.
Piccolo had helped train her, smiled at her innocence and naïve nature. He had helped her grow, and although he had a personalized way of showing affection, Calina knew he cared for her.
She wasn't going to let him get blown up because she hadn't worked hard enough training.
The blast was moments from connecting with Calina and the young Saiyan faintly heard Trunks scream her name. Glancing over, her brilliant blue eyes met with his. Calina was surprised to see how much pain was in his facial expression.. Why did he appear to care so much for her.
Calina felt the androids blast slam into her body and immediately a burning sensation took over her skin and muscles. The blast blinded the small area that everyone was being held in. A violent wind pushed out and brought dust and debris with it.
To everyone's surprise Calina was still alive, and her power level was dramatically increasing. Piccolo looked up at Calina with one eye completely shut and one barely open. His mouth was slightly gaped open in shock. Calina's entire body seemed to begin to pulse and enlarge. Within seconds her brilliant light blue eyes were now a shade of vicious red.
In an attempt to both annoy and shock the androids, Calina used the blast to trigger her Oozaru form. They didn't seem to have much patience and Calina's ape form would prove to be time consuming. Calina hoped this strategy would work.
The transformation into a great ape isn't something fun or inviting. It's exhausting and painfully excruciating. Your body rips the muscles off its own bones and breaks its own self down to build a new one. Calina had learned to hide the pain, but that didn't mean it was a walk in the park. Every transformation hurt like hell. The rush of power that was achieved after was the only perk.
Calina transformed into the massive ape creature and with a cruel laugh 18 ridiculed Calina. She wasn't even remotely entertained.
Calina's body took up the entire area, and had to make sure she didn't step on any of her fallen comrades. In response to the laugh she charged and prepared to release a beam from her mouth, howling in the process.
18 continued to laugh but 17 warned her from afar to make sure to avoid all contact with the beam that was about to exit Calina's mouth.
" This is unreal.." Calina's fine tuned hearing picked up Trunk's faint whisper as he gawked over up at her.
The moment the beam left Calina's ape body the air around the beam seemed to become more electric. It became thicker and harder to breath in.
17 swooped in and grabbed the back of his sister's shirt. Pulling her out of the way as the beam completely vaporized the small hill behind her and continued on. Completely disintegrating everything it touched. There was no rubble or after math because everything the bean touched vanished.
" Now just imagine that was your head.." 17 mocked 18, who was now completely speechless.
" This would be an annoying fight to continue.. we really don't have time for this."
Calina's large body released a ground rattling roar as she took a stomp forwards.
".. You're right.. Goku can't wait forever.." 18 agreed with her brother and casually touched down to talk to 16 for a moment.
Years and years of training had allowed her to control this form. And although the pure power was intoxicating, she knew the aftermath that would happen. Her young body wasn't as well adjusted to the transformation as most Saiyans.
Calina didn't let the androids out of her sight for a second and was surprised to see Krillin standing up on a ledge of rock to her left. Looking down at the group. 18 stopped by him for a moment before leaving.
With one last glaring look the three of them left. Calina's body seemed to relax as her massive form let out a harsh sigh. Her breath was so hot you could see its form come out of her mouth and hold in the air.
Calina hadn't mastered untransforming without removing her tail, it was incredibly painful and just another thing to list under being a warrior.
A small wince and shriek. The tail was removed by Calina and thrown into the desert. Within seconds of being removed, Calina's body began to shrink and her more human like characteristics started to show.
Finally able to rest, Calina was on all fours, her limbs barely able to support her own weight. By now everyone had slightly recovered and was conscious. Calina's back heaved up and down in an attempt to get her the highest amount of oxygen possible.
Piccolo didn't say anything. He sat next to her, telling her how well the distraction tactic had gone.
" That's what you're going to talk to her about!? How we almost got killed and how great it is that she was able to send them off?!" Trunks seemed furious but Calina couldn't tell. Her primary focus was at the ground she was staring at. Besides, Piccollo never really was the nurturer type.
Calina's entire body had a light red tint to it, as though she had laid in the sun for a few too many hours.
"Quiet boy.. She doesn't need to be caudled.."
Trunks looked at both Vegeta and Picollo in disbelief. Calina's body was practically naked. She shifted around nervously. Body still raw. She didn't want to be naked, in the hot sun and dessert with any of these men.
Piccolo glanced at her and didn't say a word. He took off his white cape and tossed it over her hunched over body. Calina didn't say anything in return, but sighed in relief as she wrapped her upper torso in the white cloth and tied it. Trying to stand up.
Piccolo was silent as Trunks admitted that these androids were stronger than the ones in his time line. Calina listened as she brought herself up to her knees. Taking a deep breath and running a dry hand through her sopping wet hair.
Krillin had made his way down to the group and had begun handing out senzu beans.
Tien regained his composure and walked over to the group as well.
" Man had I forgotten about how scary the Saiyan ape form is.." Krillin spoke with a laugh after glancing over to Calina. Calina had made it to her feet and was now staring at him with a small grin.
He tossed her a senzu bean, and Calina happily ate the small offering. Within seconds she began to feel better.
" So what's the plan from here.." Tien looked on at the group. With a swirling rush of chi, Vegeta powered up to his super Saiyan form and turned to the group.
" If anyone follows me, I'll kill you.."
There was complete silence followed by a huge rush of air as Vegeta's body disappeared into the horizon.
" No, Trunks.. Don't bother.. " Picollo began but Trunks protested as he prepared to follow him, it didn't matter what anyone else said.
"You were raised on Earth so you wouldn't understand.." Caline paused, her voice became a little softer. Everyone turned to look at her for the moment.
" As a Saiyan, all you really have is your pride.. Your loved ones will eventually die, whether its by some one else's or your own hands.. Your friends will often betray you, or die. Your entire life is based around survival and killing other species and the one thing you always have to fall back on is yourself.. You pride yourself, and your heritage for keeping you alive.. For right now Trunks, if you love your father you need to give him some space to find himself."
Everyone was quiet for a few minutes. Trunks stared out and into the sky in the direction where his father just left. After a small sigh, he agreed.
" I think the best course of action would be to go to Goku's house and work on relocating him. The androids went in the opposite direction of his home. They're not in a hurry to get to him." Tien spoke with a gruff cough as he stretched on his feet.
The group agreed, and Calina took a deep, relaxing breath. The senzu bean Krillin had given her, had literally given her new life. Her torn muscles and aching bones from her Oozaru transformation had healed and she felt well rested. The only draw back now would not be eating for twenty four hours. Calina glanced up a Piccolo and rotated her left arm, smirking up at him. She was thrilled that she could move more freely. Calina looked away from him as he then affectionately looked down at her. His soft stare breaking as he spoke.
" I'm leaving and I don't want anyone following me.. I need to get stronger." Piccolo spoke abruptly, sounding as if he was about to hurt someone.
The group turned to him with question, and as they did he immediately and without warning, sent a chi blast into the group. Causing ruble to rise up and break all around them. He was gone by the time everyone gained their composure.
" lets head out to get ChiChi and get Goku.." Calina spoke without another word. Beginning to hover she prepared to leave.
" Should we go after him?" Krillin paused and asked Trunks and Tien.
Tien shook his head and smiled. " Piccolo knows what he's doing, besides we don't have much time to waste."
Chichi was in hysterics, her husband was still inconsistently breathing and having night terrors. Calina did her best to calm her, but she was beginning to break down.
Gohan only spoke to her briefly, he was upset about his father but for his mother's sake, didn't show it. Everyone boarded a ship, Bulma had been gracious enough to come along and bring transportation. As a group, Goku, Gohan, ChiChi, Tien, Krillin, Calina, Trunks, Yamcha, and Bulma all boarded the plane and headed to Capsule Corp.
Gohan talked to Calina about his father's condition and how he was improving. He mentioned how worried his mother was and how he wished he could do more for him. Calina looked out the large, curved glass next to him within the ship. She reached up her hand and ran it through his hair, A gesture he gladly accepted. Closing his eyes, his head shifted which ever way Calina rubbed. He was stressed, and she wished that there was more she could do. Calina listened and heard Trunks whining from the front of the ship. Getting up and making her way to the front of the ship Bulma gladly handed over her infant. She was maneuvering three different activities while driving and was distracted.
" Hang on guys, I have some weird news." Bulma spoke as everyone in the ship looked to the front where she was driving. Trunks held up and waved his arms around at Calina. The young Saiyan had olive skin and bright blue eyes, Calina warmly smiled down at him and bent down to pick him up. Taking a few steps back she allowed Bulma enough room to see everyone.
" I got an e-mail from a man about one of our ships being on his land. The only problem is that the description of the ship doesn't match anything Capsule Corp has available to the public. Infact.." Bulma held out her hand as the dashboard infront of her printed out a colored copy of what the man had sent her.
" It looks a lot like your ship Trunks."
Trunks rushed to the front of the ship, with a startling gasp he unbelievably stared at the picture.
" Okay, here's the deal. We need to go and investigate the machine and I wanted you to come with me."
Gohan immediately stood up. " I'm coming too."
Trunks looked over his shoulder and smiled. Nodding at him.
" Oh are you Gohan.. Have you been working on your homework? Hmm?" Chichi's tone was building up to a big outburst and everyone on the ship immediately became tense.
" But mom, they need my help…"
" They.. THEY need your help. What bout me Gohan, and your father. Who's going to help us."
Gohan got quiet and then proceeded to push his point.
" Oh please mom.."
There was a brief silence before Chichi gave in and allowed her son to leave yet again.
" Calina, would you mind watching Trunks while I'm gone. I know he'd love to spend the time with you.."
At first Calina looked a little weary. She wanted to fight, and to keep up to date as to what was going on. However, Trunks pulled at her hair and began rubbing it on her face. The small child was either being playful or enjoyed her scent. Either way the small child won her over.
" Okay baby Trunks.. you win again." Calina spoke with a growing smile. She lifted up the infant and hugged him against her shoulder, where he instantly pressed his face into he nape of her neck and began to rub his face yawning.
" Hey guys I was thinking about this, how about we bring Goku to Master Roshi's place? I mean, the androids did go in the direction of the City, maybe we'd be better off. They know where Bulma lives too.."
Everyone became quiet and then agreed. Goku, Yamcha and Chichi would stay at Roshi's house until the incident with the androids blew over.
Within a matter of minutes, various routes were planned as everyone prepared. Calina would drop off Goku at Roshi's, Bulma would leave to investigate the machine and Calina would return to Capsule Corp with the child.
Calina held Trunks against her and peaked down at his back. Pulling down his diaper she looked at the circular white scar that was imprinted on him. His tail was removed immediately after his birth.
" I really wish you would have reconsidered keeping his tail Bulma.." Calina spoke as she began to rub the small child's back. Trunks began to fall asleep in her arms.
" You know how I feel about that. We don't need a rampaging ape in West City."
" But between me and prince Vegeta, we could have easily maintained the child's form and ability."
Bulma smiled and shook her head.
" Maybe when you're older.." Cailna whispered to the infant in her arms. Having a tail was such a big part of Saiyan heritage, she was surprised that Vegeta had chosen to not grow his back as well.
Adult Trunks looked over at her and the baby, catching a hint of pink on his cheeks as he realized Calina was looking at him.
" What about you, do you have your tail?"
Trunks shook his head. Calina sighed.
" How long was I alive in your time.." As Calina finished her sentence, Trunks began to look upset, shifting his eye contact from her to the scenery outside the ship.
" Uh, much longer than the others. You and Gohan survived until I was thirteen or so."
Everyone in the ship was looking at him, Calina could tell she had made him uncomfortable.
" At least your good looking like your mother, not a scowl faced jerk like your father." Bulma laughed from the front of the ship and so did everyone else. Calina decided to drop the subject, Trunks had been though enough today already.
Bulma, Gohan and Trunks said their goodbyes and left the ship, and within thirty minutes Yamcha, Goku and his wife were at the Kame house. Calina, Tien and Krillin were the only ones that remained.
Capsule Corp felt more like home than any other place to her. She was immediately greeted by Mr. Briefs and his wife, both whom took the baby from Calina and woke him up in the process. Calina informed them as to what was going on.
Calina didn't enjoy waiting, at all. Her patience was disintegrating with every hour that passed.
" I'm going to be upstairs, let me know if anything happens." Calina spoke to Krillin and Tien. The two nodded in agreement and Calina made her way up and to the far west wing of the building.
She could finally shower and change her cloths. An opportunity she wouldn't pass up. Not even an hour later she was called for.
" Calina, get down here.." Calina could faintly hear Tien's voice, and the moment she did she quickly got dressed and rushed downstairs.
Yamcha and Tien were gawking at the television that was in the living room. A frightened news reporter was frantically screaming at the camera. A town or small city named Gingertown was being attacked. Calina looked at the scene beyond the reporter. There was no building damage or fire. However there were, what looked like, many, many abandoned pieces of clothing scattered in the area. She was beginning to think this was a joke.
" There is some kind of creature here." The reporter spoke, his image cutting out and then back in. His voice, however, was clear.
" Its.. its sucking the life out of the people that live here in Ginger-..No.. No.. " The reporter began to scream and without notice the angle of the camera dropped to ground level. The audio picked up the man's screams, which quickly became muffled and then non existent. A green appendage then stepped infront of the camera. A foot, maybe? The image quickly cut out and the broadcast stopped.
" We need to move.." Calina nodded. Trunks would be fine with his grandparents for now.
Calina had to put her hair up and back into a ponytail. Her Saiyan hair was growing rather quickly and getting quite long. The trip to gingertown took only a half hour, however the three fighters soon discovered that they were not alone in the search for the creature that had devastated the town.
Piccolo was waiting for them on the outskirts of Gingertown. Looking a little distressed, he filled them in on what was going on.
" Your power Piccolo, its incredible. " Calina spoke, a little taken back. He hadn't been gone but a few hours. What had happened to him.
Piccolo had merged with Kami, the unanimous god of Earth, in an attempt to protect it. Piccolo had also ran into a new threat while investigating Gingertown. Someone named, Cell. Piccolo explained that Dr. Gero had been secretly taking DNA from every fighter in their group, he had also taken DNA from King Cold and Frieza when they came to Earth, as well as piccolo himself. Calina and Trunks had been excluded, as enough Saiyan DNA had been taken. He was a creation of the late doctor, designed to destroy Goku. The being had been made in the basement of Gero's lab and left to grow for years.
Calina was shocked, so much was happening at once. Piccolo insisted that they rush to find the creature before more lives were lost. The group left the area and began to search.
The creature wasn't trying to hide any evidence of its location. Tien, Piccolo, Krillin and Calina all heard a woman scream and darted through the surrounding area trying to find her.
By the time the group found her, all that remained was her white, floral colored dress. The creature that stood above it was her killer, and his appearance wasn't the least appealing.
Cell was a strange insect looking creature. With variations of green throughout each appendage and large pointed wings that clung down his back, He had a beak like mouth and a disturbing long tail in which he used the pointed end to drain his victims.
" Looks like you've found me, and oh look.. you've brought friends."
Tien and Krillin separated from Piccolo and Calina in an attempt to surround Cell.
" Do you really think that this is going to work, hmm? I'm made from each one of you.. except for you.. young girl." Cell spoke nodding at Calina.
Within a minute of meeting this new creature, Trunks and Gohan arrived. The creature paid special attention to Trunks, keeping his eyes locked onto him at all times.
" Well it appears that at this time, the odds are not in my favor. So I'll be going."
Piccolo snarled at Cell's remark, " You're not going anywhere.."
However, within moments of saying this Cell leapt up into the sky and held up his hands infront of his body, " SOLAR FLARE!"
Shocked and caught off guard, the group was stunned by the surprise attack that Tien himself had trademarked.
The affects of the flare lasted a full minute, everyone within the group was stunned. Trunks began to speak.
" That creature isn't from this time line. He used one of capsule corp's time machines and made his way to this time. Me and Gohan found a time machine that was over twenty years. That monster has been waiting out his time until he was ready to strike." Trunks spoke and Piccolo added.
" When I met Cell for the first time he thought he had me cornered and divulged his plan.. He was created to kill Goku, but also to absorb android 17 and 18. He said that after he did that he would be unstoppable."
" Hey didn't you say that the cell we just fought is from the future, does that mean that we have our own cell here in this time?" Krillin spoke with an uneasy tone, he nervously rubbed her already bald head.
" You're right, we need to go to Gero's lab and destroy cell before he grows any more.." Gohan spoke and Krillin nodded.
" I'll go with you two, everyone else can go back to Capsule Corp where my mother is waiting." Trunks spoke and without much more hesitation, everyone dispersed.
The fly to Gero's lab was painstaking, Calina was so curious as to what else they might find within Gero's basement. Trunks, Gohan and Krillin all rushed and as they neared Gero's destroyed lab, Calina remembered how powerful the androids were. If a creature was to absorb not one, but both of the androids and gain their power, there would be no stopping it.
The basement of the lab had large, humming computer boards and machines attached to them. Cell was suspend within a large clear tube in green liquid. He couldn't of been larger than a can of soda.
" What.. are these.." Trunks spoke as he sifted through the table next to the small, infant monster.
" Blue prints, these are the base mechanics to building a remote to destroy the androids." Trunks spoke with a contagious smile washing over his face. Calina couldn't help but smile with him.
" Lets get out of here.." Krillin spoke up. " This place gives me the creeps."
The basement was destroyed, and while hovering over what was left of the lab, Trunks handed the blue prints to Calina.
" Give these to my mother, I'm going to go and find my father." Gohan and Krillin went to protest but Calina remained silent and nodded. After handing over the blue prints, Calina, Krillin and Gohan left for capsule corp.
Krillin, Gohan and Calina all arrived while a great excitement was in the air. Goku had woken up and was at Capsule Corp catching up with everyone. He was in the kitchen eating and talking to Bulma and Piccolo.
" Cell, huh.. Well to be honest I'm not-" Goku spoke but was interrupted by Gohan, who ran at his father and hugged him. Krillin ran into the kitchen as well.
" Man is it good to see you Goku!" Krillin greeted Goku right after Gohan, Calina entered the room short after.
" Piccolo's been catching me up on what's going on, to be honest guys I don't think I'm ready to fight the androids or cell right now."
Everyone within the room got quiet. Goku was the go to man in situations like this, if he didn't think he could do it, who could?
" I'm going to take Gohan and go into the hyperbolic time chamber for a day, which would be a whole year of training for us. Is that alright with you?" Goku spoke with a grin looking back at his son, Gohan was all smiles.
" Its good to see you too Calina." Goku spoke, leaning back in his chair and smiling at her.
Calina felt her cheeks blush a little. Everyone in the room was looking at her. " You too. Glad you are feeling better."
Goku picked up some Saiyan training armor from Bulma and proceeded to say goodbye again.
" I'm going to go and find Vegeta and ask him if he wants to train in the chamber too. Be careful everyone, please be safe. Me and Gohan will be done before you know it."
" I'm going to come with you." Calina spoke with a small smile. She wanted a chance to train with the legendary Goku and if she managed to spend some extra time with Gohan, she wouldn't complain.