Chapter 3
Pan flew slowly, lagging behind the others. She knew the others wouldn't think much of her. She was a girl, and that was always to be her set back. Besides the fact that she was the only one who could not turn super saiyajin but that was beside the point.
" Maybe I shouldn't have come" Bura commented as she flew beside Pan.
Pan shrugged and didn't answer. Instead, she adjusted the strap of her back pack, the one carrying half the collection of dragon balls. The other half was with Bura. It was safer that way. Suddenly the group of men in front disappeared, all but Future Trunks.
" We should stop here. The battle field is close enough."
Pan was rather indignant about it.
" I can fight. Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean that I can't"
" This isn't a game. You probably could fight, being saiyajin would probably make you better than most people. But I made a promise and I intend to keep it" he interrupted.
" Oh and what's that promise?" Bura asked.
" I am to protect the both of you at any cost. This is my promise to Otou-san and Gohan-onii-chan."
" Well we don't need any help from you Future Trunks. I'm sure our fathers will understand if we chose to stay by ourselves."
" I promised you that I would protect you." He blurted out.
" WHAT?"
" Nothing."
Pan hmphed and gave up. She looked towards the battle field and watched. It was about to begin.
Gohan jumped back, breathing hard. Vegeta was still vigorously going at Cell 2. Cell 2 looked rather calm. He didn't even seemed to be fazed. Immediately, Trunks went to take his place in the fight but Gohan held him back.
" Get Pan and the others and go. It's too dangerous for them all to be here."
Trunks was about to refuse but he saw the look in Gohan's eyes.
" Tell Videl and Pan that I...love them."
Trunks put a hand on his shoulders before he went off again. He quickly grabbed his best friend from the fight and pulled him along as he flew faster and faster as a super saiyajin. When Goten turned super as well, Trunks let go. They flew over to where Pan, Bura and Future Trunks were standing around.
" Hey this place is going to blow. We have to get out of here."
Trunks and Goten landed and ran towards the trio. Pan got up from the ground and dusted herself off.
" What are you talking about?"
Future Trunks pulled out the capsule containing his time machine. They all stood back as it popped out.
" What are you doing um...Trunks? We have to get out of here!" Trunks said to his mirror image.
Future Trunks shook his head as he opened the door to the machine.
" I know what's going to happen. No one can survive this blast unless they're underground. We have to go."
" But what about Okaa-san? And Otou-san?" Bura complained.
" We have to. We'll find a way to save them all with the dragon balls" Future Trunks explained.
At that moment Pan disappeared.
" Shimatta. Where did that girl disappear off to? We don't have time for this!" Trunks cursed.
" Your right erm...Trunks. We have very little time. She can't save everyone." Future Trunks agreed.
Goten and Bura headed into the time machine which was much like the space ship Trunks, Pan and Goku had once flown in. Both Trunks waited outside for Pan to return.
" Go back and start it. We need to leave ASAP" Trunks said.
At that moment Pan returned with Dende.
" I don't even have time to yell at you. We need to go. NOW" Trunks said, ushering the girl and the namekan in.
" Well we needed Dende alive. He is the God of earth you know. With no god there are no dragon balls."
Pan did not get a chance to say any more. The time machine gave a very large jolt and they disappeared just as a very powerful energy was about to envelope the machine.
First Cell appears and now I'm going to travel in time...what more can there be? Can this get any worse?
The time machine landed in a thud on uneven ground.
" Where the hell are we?"
" We are in your future. The aftereffects of Cell 2" Future Trunks answered.
He opened the pressure door and they all piled out.
" That's got to be the worst ride I've ever been on." Goten complained.
" Where'd you learn to drive? A demolition Derby?" Bura complained.
Pan stood sullenly and kicked a piece of rock away from her feet.
" What happened to this place?" Trunks questioned.
Future Trunks scanned the area. It was totally uninhabited.
" The data reads no one is on this planet but us. Nothing is alive here." Bura said, looking over Future Trunk's shoulder to look at the computer.
" Smart. See what you can do with this while I go check on the machine." Future Trunks said.
With Bura, and both Trunks at work at the cockpit, there wasn't much to do for Goten and Pan.
" Hey Goten-chan. You wanna give me some help?"
Bura looked away from the computer screen to smile at Goten who had been looking at her with puppy dog eyes. Goten went off like a happy little puppy as Pan sat down on the ground, scanning the area.
" How degrading." She muttered as she brushed the dirt off her hands.
Suddenly she spotted something moving in the bushes. Everyone else was busily working, or flirting in Goten's case. There was definitely someone in those bushes.
Without anyone noticing she quickly found the Ki of the people in the bushes. Somehow they seemed familiar.
No matter. Let's find out who they are.
She quickly teleported to them. They were two little kids. She unceremoniously picked them up at the waist and walked back to the time machine.
" Let go or I'll er...tell mommy!"
The little girl had her purple hair pulled back into two braids. She couldn't see the girl's face at all because of all her kicking and flailing. The girl sent a decent sized ki ball her way but she hit it away easily.
" Let Yuki go!" the little boy said.
Pan smiled and let them go as they had requested and they fell to the floor.
" Hey Pan come over here...who are those kids?" Bura started.
Bura, Goten and both Trunks came out to see what the commotion was. Pan stood there with her arms crossed with two crying kids at the age of 7.
" What did you do to these kids Pan?" Bura scolded.
She walked over the little boy who was completely curled into a ball so no one could see what he looked like. She gently straightened him out to a sitting position.
" Mommy!"
Bura turned to the little girl with the purple pigtails. The girl ran for Pan and hugged her leg. Goten burst out laughing and infected Trunks with his laughter. Future Trunks was much more grim though the little girl seemed very happy.
Pan picked up the child awkwardly and examined her. Except for the hair and eye colour this girl looked exactly like her.
" Don't you remember mommy? I'm Yuki." The little girl chided.
Pan swallowed hard. There was the possibility that Yuki was her daughter but she didn't want to lie to the little girl.
" Yuki come here. You too Goku."
A man with a chilling voice and ice blue eyes came up to the group.
" Come back to daddy."
He grabbed her and was about to fly away before a hand caught him.
Yuki shook free of his grip and ran to Pan, holding her hands up to her, expecting to be picked up.
" Mommy...please? Please?"
" Yuki come to daddy. Don't misbehave. You too Goku. NOW"
Both Yuki and Goku held onto Pan for dear life. She could sense their fear for some reason.
" Mommy... say you remember us. It's me Yuki. Don't let evil daddy take us away"
Pan bit her lip. Saving these children could cost them a lot of trouble. Saving them would actually mean that she was their mother as they had said.
What are you thinking! These are kids, yours or not. You have to save them!
Pan held Yuki in her arms, her arms wrapped around Pan's neck as Pan's other hand gripped Goku's tightly.
She looked at the man closely. He had the same lavender hair and build as someone familiar to her.
" Trunks?" she whispered.
There was something different about this one. His sky blue eyes were dull and lifeless.
" How many Trunks are there?" Goten asked, realising at the same time.
" He is the Future Trunks of your time line. He has been possessed by Cell 2. I tried to save him at the last minute but I was too late."Trunks explained grimly.
Goku suddenly wrenched out of Pan's grip.
" Goku!" Yuki called to her brother.
Goku headed straight for Trunks who seemed a little disturbed. Who wouldn't be. You have 2 multiple copies of yourself.
" Otou-san! You're all better!"
A flash went through Pan making her heart stop in surprise. She froze, staring at Goku with wide eyes.
" What?" Goten asked stupidly.
" It means that Pan and Trunks have children in the future" Future Trunks said regretfully.
The group were so caught up in their conversation that what he said didn't really sink in. Trunks looked down at the two kids who clung to them.
" What's with the red faces?" Goten asked.
Bura whispered in his ear quickly and Goten's eyes widened.
" Don't worry." Future Trunks said quickly " This timeline might change when we go back."
Pan sighed with relief but Trunks fidgeted a little. She didn't have to look so happy about it. Bura wondered about Future Trunk's explanation. He had said earlier that this was they're future.
" Give me my children" Evil Trunks said.
Pan's anger flared up a bit.
" Who do you think you are ordering us like that?!"
The evil Trunks smirked and disappeared.
" Shit...where'd he..." Goten began.
Pan immediately teleported and stood in front of the two children. She held onto them for dear life. As she had anticipated, the evil Trunks appeared behind and was about to teleport away with the children but Pan was faster.
" Don't even think about it."
So Pan, Trunks, Goku and Yuki appeared next to Bura and Goten.
" Ah Pan. Just like before, smart and beautiful as ever"
Evil Trunks sounded like he had just noticed Pan.
" In this time line, Pan isn't alive any more. Cell took Trunk's body in return for Pan's life but she was dead already. The reason was unknown." Future Trunks explained to Goten and Bura. " Let's go. The machine is ready."
" But what about the children?" Bura asked.
" We'll have to take them too." Goten said.
" It'll be hard to distract Cell long enough to get all of them."
The trio quickly devised a plan and they set it into action. Bura disappeared into the time machine and Goten and Future Trunks flew at Evil Trunks. Pan looked around confused until she saw Bura gesturing to her.
She wants me to get into the Time Machine with the children.
Pan looked up and saw Evil Trunk's unrelenting gaze on her.
I can't go anywhere. He's forever watching me. He'd blow the machine out of the sky before it even got off the ground.
Pan put her hand on Goku's back, pushing him a little towards the machine. Goku's eyes showed understanding and took his sister off.
" Go." She whispered.
" Hai Okaa-san."
Pan squared her shoulders and began to walk into the battle. Ki balls and fists flew everywhere but she quickly hit them away or blocked. Nothing would stop her from reaching her goal.
" Stop it. You guys just go." She ordered.
Goten, Trunks and Future Trunks stopped mid air.
" What did you say?"
" I said to GO. You can't leave with me. If you do we'll die. Better one than all of us."
" What kind of a crappy plan is that?! You're coming with us!" Goten protested.
" Indeed my dear Pan. You are right" Evil Trunks said.
Future Trunks thought a moment.
I have a promise to keep. Protect Pan and Bura. I can't do this in two places at once. It's not possible. But I'm sure Gohan didn't mean to go against Pan's judgement and pride. I'd never forgive myself if I do what I think I should do.
" Goten, Trunks retreat" he said, finally making up his mind.
He turned and headed into the time machine with a hesitant Goten behind him.
" Bura start the Machine." He ordered.
The two kids were strapped into the seats and Bura sat at the controls.
" Sure thing. You set the times."
" What about mommy and daddy?" Yuki wailed.
Goten looked at the two and saw their point.
" What are we gonna do? I mean Trunks is definitely not one to quit."
" I have a theory. You don't need to be IN the machine. Just close enough to be transferred with it."
" But how close?"
" You have to be crushed to the side basically."
" It's a possibility but how are we gonna tell Pan?"
"I know what you're trying to do Trunks. I know you mean well but right now I wish you would get into that machine and high tail outta here."
Pan bristled in annoyance as she watched Trunks continually block her way.
" I'm not leaving you here with...myself..."
" I know how bad you can be. I'll be fine"
Trunks blocked a blow from Evil Trunks and sent him back a bit. Something within Pan's eyes flickered but it was replaced quickly with determination.
" I know you won't."
" So what if I won't? At least you'll get to live right?"
" But-"
Pan knocked Trunks down with one swift blow to the stomach.
" GOTEN! Help me grab him!!" she yelled.
Evil Trunks watched amusedly, waiting for Pan. Pan began to drag Trunks towards the time machine.
" I'll tell you something Trunks. Those kids...guard them with your life...for their sakes and for mine. You'll probably never see me again but if...no WHEN you see my parents tell them I loved them very much..."
" uhh..." Trunks groaned.
" and Trunks..."
" mmm?"
Goten climbed out and grabbed Trunks by the arm. Trunks opened one eye and watched Pan's mouth move.
What are you saying? I can't understand you.
Pan waved goodbye as the machine started up. She felt a hand rest on her shoulder.
" Say goodbye Pan. You'll NEVER see them again."
Pan bit her lip and prayed in her head.
Please let them leave safely.
Future Trunks waited until Goten strapped his 'twin' into a seat.
" Ok. Let's get out of here!"
Future Trunks looked sideways at Bura who was busy punching buttons.
" How about that plan Bura?"
" I'm ready to go."
Future Trunks pushed the machine forward with the control and began to pick up speed. Bura put on the head set and looked through the visor. She punched the button creating a huge explosion.
" Ok look out for Pan now!"
" There's no time! He's coming!" Dende announced.
" But what about PAN!? We can't leave her here!" Trunks yelled.
" ...We have no choice. We have to leave." Future Trunks grudgingly admitted.
" No! we can't-"
Not heeding anyone's cries Future Trunks pushed the button and they disappeared from outside view.
As the machine slowed down, Yuki opened her eyes. She looked around the machine for her mother.
" Mommy?"
She unbuckled her seat belt and opened the door of the time machine, jumping out.
" Yuki where are you going?"
Future Trunks caught her in his arms. His eyes widened as he realised where they'd landed.
" Oh shit"
A giant gorilla passed by ,eyeing them, with a little girl floating after it. Suddenly his ears twitched. He could swear he could hear some footsteps.
" ok...we have to go..." he muttered jumping back into the time machine. He hit the button before anyone could ask anything.