0.6

Trunks watched as Rhuda's face lit up excitedly. She grinned like a cat who'd caught a mouse and pounded her flat palm, "Of course!"

"Hm?"

"Er-quit looking at me!" She barked.

He smiled a little with amusement, turning away obediently. It was pretty obvious that Rhuda was embarrassed about what happened earlier, and Trunks wasn't going to bring it up. Instead he cleared his throat and motioned around Conton politely, "So where have you been to so far?"

Rhuda said she'd been to see her Instructor at the Time Patrol and had looked through the shops. Trunks listened and added, "Sounds like you've gotten the basics. See that area over there?" He pointed to a golden roofed gazebo with Patrollers swarming it, some jumping over and over like they'd glitched, others continuously changing attire, "Those robots are designed to help you get stronger. There are missions available when we're not busy here at the Time Nest. If you're free, go check them out. It can help a lot. Other than that, we've recently added our very own Time Chamber to Conton. Only the Elite can go in there, and only for two days at a time."

"Time..Chamber?"

He nodded. There was a spark of enthusiasm in his blue eyes as he explained: "The Time Chamber is a dangerous place. I've been in there a few times myself and it's never easy. The farther you go in there, the harder it gets..."

Rhuda was curious about the Time Chamber but discarded the idea of going there, after all, she only needed the Super Dragon Balls to make it back to her real world. She shrugged, "Doesn't sound too bad. If you can do it, then.."

Trunks frowned at her. With a jolt she realized how rude she sounded and added, "I meant-ano-I just-"

"...Being a half saiyan, you mean?"

"No! Not at all!" She stomped her foot, leaving the swordsman wearing a heavier frown. He crossed his arms and said tightly, "...As a Half Earthling, I know the risks involved with training in there. Don't judge it before you even try-"

Rhuda flushed crimson and bent over, holding her head dramatically in her hands. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean it like that!"

"..."

She looked up and saw that instead of anger, Trunks was blinking in puzzlement. He glanced at her, away, and back again as if unsure of what to do. Rhuda realized her true self had came out and hurriedly said, "I just meant, oh-don't be mad, please-I just meant that I have you and Broly and everyone to help and-"

Understanding washed over Trunks. He smiled. "I get it. No worries; I'm not mad."

She let out her breath and could see that her hands were trembling slightly and quickly hid them behind her back. It was hard for her to express herself properly because she wasn't used to being able to, and as such didn't know if it was truly fine or not. For a time she remained still, and Trunks patiently waited.

Finally she looked through her spiked bangs and saw that he was watching her closely. Too closely. Like she were doing something strange instead of just standing, and she said, "Y-You're really mad aren't you? I mean, I didn't mean it like that. -I just know that you and Vegeta wouldn't let me go in there without backup..." Lamely she gnawed her cheek.

"Rhuda?" He asked.

"W-W-What?"

Trunks tapped over and put his hand on her tiny shoulder. "...I understand."

The hand on her shoulder was warm and gentle just like the man himself and gave Rhuda goosebumps. She shrugged him off; "Good! Great! So let's go, then!" She trotted off before he could say anything else.

Her mind ran wild. What had gotten into her all of a sudden? It was so uncool!

She led Trunks over to the group surrounding Shallot. All at once her motivation fled. He was a real life player after all, and had loads of experience in the game already. If she went up to him asking for advice, surely he would think she was lame. Rhuda stood there until Trunks caught up, "You here to pair up with someone?" He asked lightly.

"...No. Never mind..."

He caught her eyes and followed where her gaze went to and saw Shallot there. Trunks scratched his cheek. "Uh, well, maybe it would be good for you. What do you say?"

"I couldn't do that! Don't be silly!"

"It won't hurt to give it a go. Let's see...I'll find someone for you. Hang on."

He walked over and the crowd parted away from him like he was sort of king. Eventually Shallot saw Trunks going to him and stopped talking. Rhuda was too far away to hear what was said but saw Shallot look at her and smile, waving her over. His brown tail wagged happily.

Trunks introduced Rhuda to Shallot. "This is Rhuda, Broly's younger sister. She's new to Conton and needs a partner to train with when she isn't on missions."

Shallot nodded at her. "We've met. Sure, I'll help out. Don't mind helping the noobs every once in awhile."

Trunks laughed. "You'll find that she's a quick learner. It will be good for her to learn from an Elite."

They continued to have small talk for awhile until at length Trunks said, "I'm going to see if mom had a chance to look at the training simulator. Why don't you two do a quick mission? I'll meet you after."

Rhuda and Shallot nodded. They watched Trunks leave, and Shallot made a face: "That guy is sus as hell."

"Sus?"

"Yeah. If I didn't know better..." he squinted his brows together, "Nah, never mind, I'm probably wrong. Anyway! I've got a hunch you're not just here for a training partner. So what's up?"

Rhuda fiddled with a lock of her hair and summoned up the courage to ask, "...T-The story line...uhm, is it supposed to start with Broly being hurt and a villain named Fu showing up?"

Shallot's dark eyes widened. Clearly he didn't know what she was talking about and finally voiced, "...Seems like you've got a update we don't have. Hm. I wonder what that could mean. My story started with a mission to the past...yadda yadda, typical game beginning. But yours sounds like something way more interesting than mine. That's not fair.." his shoulders drooped with a sigh, "I'm a saiyan too."

Not wanting the player to feel left out, Rhuda placed her hand upon his shoulder and gave him a tiny smile. "...Ano, if it's possible for us to do co-op together, then...i-if you w-want to, that is...uhm.." her tan cheeks became sunburnt.

"Co-op? Sure! Sounds like it will spice up this place a little. I've been doing the same side missions over and over." He grinned. "I'm maxed out in levels and stats, so I'll take anything at this point."

They shared a smile of friendliness, tails wagging behind them. Shallot extended his fist out and Rhuda pounded it with hers, giggling. She was just beginning to think that this place wasn't all bad when she recalled the Super Dragon Balls. "Shallot? Do you know how to get the Super Dragon Balls?" She asked.

Shallot blinked a few times, "Super Dragon Balls? ...Those are for granting any wish, right? Why? What did you have in mind?" He leaned over and got almost nose to nose, "You're not thinking of becoming the strongest warrior or something lame like that, right?"

Waving her arms back and forth Rhuda quickly reassured him, "No! Not at all! I was-I was thinking of going home, you see. Back to the real world."

"Real...world?" Shallot reared away like she'd smacked him. He whistled and placed his hands behind his head. "Man! Hear I was thinking you'd do something cool. The Super Dragon Balls could theoretically grant you that wish...but you'd have to have a way to find them. And the only one who has a radar for that is Mr. Perfect."

"Mr...Perfect?"

Shallot nodded. "Yeah, you know, the genius leader of the Time Patrol. Trunks Briefs."

So Trunks had the only radar capable of finding the Super Dragon Balls. It made sense, considering he'd told her that he once found them and made a wish to bring everyone in his timeline back to life. Rhuda mulled over her options. She definitely wanted to go back to the real world, and to do that she'd need to get her hands on those big balls.

Dragon balls, get your mind out of the gutter.

Rhuda sighed in defeat. "As if he'd let me have that. It's hopeless huh."

"Not necessarily..." Shallot's mouth lifted at the edges. He glanced around and conspiratorially whispered, "...From what I've heard he's never had a girlfriend in his life! I bet that virgin would fall for you in no time. And once he's pussy whipped, BAM! Get the radar!" Shallot put his hands on his hips and looked all too pleased at his brilliant idea.

Rhuda flushed until her ears steamed. She covered them and huffed out, "W-W-Why would I do that? I couldn't do such a thing!"

Just thinking of getting closer to him only for that reason left her with a bad taste. No! No way!

Shallot sighed so hard his chest deflated. He rolled his eyes and replied, "You're forgetting this is all a game. So what? Break a few hearts; heh, I know I have."

"Eh? You've broken hearts?"

Shallot nodded. "Yup! Why do you think Vegeta doesn't like me? Me and Bra had a thing going for awhile. 'Course, when she found out about my little outings with Marron that kind of fell south. What a shame."

"You and who?"

"Marron. Krillin's daughter. Man is she just like her mom!" Shallot's grin grew perversely large.

Rhuda decided then and there that she didn't want to be like Shallot at all costs. The idea was revolting. Shallot had dropped a few points in her book. "...Anyway. I couldn't do that to Trunks no matter what, so I'll have to think of something else."

"I'd say you could kill yourself, but we both know you'd just respawn."

His words sparked an idea. And also brought to attention that her version of the game must be very different as it allowed for a no respawn. Rhuda gulped. "...Respawn. Right. Say, can we put off our training until later? I...want to do something."

"Sure. We've got all day anyway. If you need me I'll be here or over at Kame House."

They parted ways.

Rhuda looked to and fro, not seeing an 'NPC' nearby. It would only take enough damage to kill her, so she had to think big. What would be strong enough to kill her with one blow?

"The...Gravity Chamber!"