A/N: Here's the second revised chapter, and I've finished it in less than a week! Yay for me.
The reality jumper lurched to a halt, flinging Goten and Trunks forward into the control panel. With Goten's arms wrapped so tightly around him, Trunks couldn't brace himself, and his head smashed into the panel. Roughly pushing his comrade off of him, the purple-haired youth rubbed the tender spot on his head. Goten sat up and peered out through the glass shield.
"Trunks-kun, where are we?" he asked in a trembling voice.
The older boy crawled over next to him. They stared out at the empty plain that stretched out in every direction.
"I have no idea," replied Trunks.
He turned to study the machine that had carried them away on this excellent adventure. He recognized the device as being almost identical to the blueprints Mirai Trunks had shown his mother for his time machine. Taking this fact into consideration, Trunks assumed that this machine must function in roughly the same manner. While the control panel was a mass confusion of bright buttons, blinking lights, and various levers, the boy noticed a display labeled "destination time." A scrap of paper that was taped next to the panel had the words "our time" and what appeared to be random numbers written in his mother's familiar scrawling cursive. Doing quick calculations in his head, Trunks figured there was roughly fifteen years difference between the two sets of numbers. Factoring in the negative sign in front of the destination time, he assumed that meant they had traveled back in time. Next to the numerals was an electronic display indicating "variation 3."
Trunks leaned back and rubbed his chin as he placed the pieces of the puzzle together. He remembered his mother explaining that not only could one travel back and forth in time, but one could also travel "sideways" through time. Doing this would send the person to an alternate timeline. Mirai Trunks had done so to return to his own timeline. Suddenly, it all made sense.
"This machine is used to travel to variations of our timeline!" cried out Trunks excitedly.
Goten scrunched up his nose, the generic Son "puzzled look" spreading across his face. "Huh?"
Trunks sighed and glanced wearily at his companion. From past experience, he knew it was nearly impossible to explain anything of a scientific nature to Goten. Still, it was better not to leave the young Son completely clueless.
"Not only is there the existence of our timeline, what we know as our past and present and potential future, but there also exists variations of that time line. Like alternate realities."
The black-haired boy scratched the back of his head and blinked several times. Trunks took a deep breath and continued.
"Realities where things turn out differently than our own. Like one big "what-if?" scenario. Only it's real."
Goten shrugged, deciding that Trunks probably knew what he was talking about.
"So, you're saying that we're in one of these different realities?" he asked.
"Yes! Do you know how cool this is? My mom is such an awesome genius! Scientists are still debating whether or not alternate universes even exist, and here she builds a machine that allows us to travel to one!"
Trunks scanned the control panel again, his baby-blue eyes lit up in fascination. Goten couldn't help noticing that he looked a lot like Bulma- san when she announced her latest invention.
"Trunks?"
The purple-haired boy turned to his friend. "Huh?"
"How do we get back?" asked Goten, fear evident in his voice.
"Simple," stated Trunks. He snatched up the piece of paper that had been taped to the panel." These are the coordinates of our original timeline. Mom must have been planning on testing the machine soon since she put these here. All we have to do is punch in the numbers and start up the machine."
With a flourish, Trunks tapped the number keypad, entering the correct coordinates into the computer system. Smiling widely at Goten, he hit the ignition button.
Nothing happened.
Frowning, Trunks punched the button again. Still nothing. Frustrated, the boy began pounding the control panel.
"Arg! Why isn't it working?" he growled.
"We're stuck here, aren't we?" Goten whimpered, tears filling his eyes.
"Cut that out. Shesh. Crybaby."
"Am not!"
"Goten, we don't have time for this conversation."
Trunks studied the display panel, chewing thoughtfully on his bottom lip. There had to be a logical explanation for it failing to activate. He spread out across the cushioned seat and rummaged around underneath until he found a copy of his mother's blueprints. Two parts were circled in a bright red marker. Trunks assumed that these were the parts that must have been giving his mother trouble.
"We need to get replacements for these," commented Trunks, pointing to the diagram.
"Um...Trunks? Where are we going to find that sort of stuff?"
"Where else? Capsule Corp." Popping the protective glass shield open, Trunks jumped out of the machine.
"Capsule Corp.? Are you serious?" squeaked Goten, following his friend.
"Yeah. It should be easy. There are always school tours going on around the place. All we have to do is sneak in with a group and then wander off mid-tour. We find my mom's lab, get the parts, get out, go home. Simple."
Trunks hit a button on the exterior of the reality jumper. With a poof, the machine shrank into its capsule. He bent over and retrieved the machine, stuffing it into his pocket. Looking at his watch, Trunks hit the small homing button which could locate Capsule Corp from anywhere in the world. The clock face vanished and was replaced by a grid. An arrow pointed off towards the boys' left.
"Home's that way," stated Trunks, pointing in the same direction.
"OK. Let's go!" Goten levitated into the air, ready to set off.
"Get down here you dummy!" shouted Trunks, taking hold of his friend's leg and dragging him down. "If we fly, everyone will sense up our kis and attack us."
"Why would they do that?" asked Goten, frowning.
Trunks rolled his eyes. "Because they'll think we're enemies, stupid. We've gone back in time about fifteen years. We haven't been born yet. They won't recognize us."
"Oh. Does this mean we have to walk?"
"Yes."
"It would be faster if we fly."
"I know that. But do you really want your dad attacking us, thinking we're some sort of enemies?"
Goten tilted his head in thought. "No."
"Then we walk."
After two hours of walking, Goten was getting bored. And when he was bored, he tended to whine. At the moment, he was whining about not having anything to eat. Thanks to their little misadventure, they had missed lunch. Trying to ignore his comrade's near-constant complaints, Trunks stared at the ground before him. His mind was absorbed with his current situation: they were lost; they were going to break into Capsule Corp.; he wasn't sure how to repair the machine, even if they got the parts. The situation looked grim.
Suddenly, Trunks collided with something solid, knocking him over onto his back. Picking himself up, he glared up at the obstacle that had so rudely knocked him out of his train of thought. Glaring back down at him was a tall, bald man. He sneered down at the boy, his muscles flexing underneath the unusual armor he wore. However, Trunks eyes were locked on the monkey's tail that was wrapped around the man's waist like a belt.
"Hey, Radditz! Come take a look at what I found!" the man called, leaning down into Trunks' face. "It's a purple-haired freak!"
"What is with this species and its unusual hair colors? That woman that was with them had that hair color as well," replied the other Saiyan as he came to stand by Nappa's side.
Trunks immediately recognized the pair from his father's description. This was not good. The boy hesitantly backed away from the two Saiyans. Goten snuck up behind him and peeked from around his back.
"Radditz, that brat looks a lot like your delinquent brother," pointed out the taller alien.
"You're right, Nappa. What are two little boys doing out in the middle of no where anyway?" he demanded.
"Er...we're part of a Boy Scout troop. We got separated from our group, and we're trying to head back towards civilization," answered Trunks politely, stepping on Goten's toe to keep him from contradicting the story.
Nappa smirked and glanced at his companion. "Hey, why don't we have some fun with them, Radditz? Let's see how fast they can run."
"Leave them be. The minute we try anything, those pathetic earth warriors are going to be on our tails. These scrawny creatures aren't worth the wasted energy."
Frowning like a child who was just told that he couldn't go outside and play, Nappa nodded towards the other Saiyan.
"Get lost, brats, before we change our minds."
Struggling to swallow his pride after being insulted, Trunks smiled and walked past the two aliens, dragging Goten along behind him. Once they were past the taller Saiyan, the two boys ran as fast as possible.
Nappa and Radditz laughed at the retreating pair.
"This species is pathetic," sneered Radditz. "I wish this were a little more challenging." He frowned as he watched the two boys disappear in the distance. "I still think it's suspicious that such small children would be out here all alone."
"You're right," muttered Nappa. He turned towards a form that was hidden within the shadows of a nearby tree grove. "My Prince," he stated solemnly. "Should we follow them?"
The figure stepped out of his hiding place. Vegeta, Prince of all Saiyans, sneered.
"Yes. I have a strange feeling about them. Especially the purple-haired one."
Bowing, Nappa and Radditz left to follow the unsuspecting Goten and Trunks.
Slumping onto the ground, the two boys panted for breath. The sight of the Saiyans had been very intimidating. Even if they did have the capability to turn Super Saiyan, that was one fight that neither boy was too eager to get into.
Once he caught his breath, Goten voiced a concern he had since they first had seen the Saiyans.
"Trunks, I thought Radditz hadn't been here with your father and Nappa. Didn't he die before they showed up?"
The other boy nodded.
"Yeah. That's what my father told me. I guess that must be one of the variations of this timeline. Instead of Nappa and Radditz being killed, they survived. This isn't good, Goten. We need to get out of here quick. Let's keep going."
The two boys stood up and set off again for the Western Capital. Trunks only hoped that they wouldn't encounter anymore familiar faces.
The lock on the doors deactivated, and Bulma and Vegeta ran into the now empty lab. The scientist collapsed in the middle of the room where the machine had been. Wrapping her arms around herself, she began to rock back and forth.
"Trunks-kun," she whispered, tears forming in her eyes.
"Enough, woman."
Vegeta roughly pulled Bulma to her feet. She moved closer to her husband, throwing her arms around his neck and crying into his shoulder. Sighing, Vegeta wrapped his arms around her and murmured in her ear.
"Bulma, stop. You would only have reason to cry if Kakkarot's brat was by himself. He's too dull-witted to take care of himself. Our son is a prince. He can handle whatever they face. I'm sure Trunks will figure out a way to bring them back."
Sniffling, Bulma pulled away and looked into her husband's eyes. He smiled slightly down at her. She leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the lips.
"You're right. Trunks is the son of a genius! There's nothing to worry about."
Vegeta snorted, his lips twisting as he resisted smiling. Bulma smiled as well, but the smile soon vanished.
"What's wrong now, woman?" growled the Prince, irritated by his wife's resistance to his comfort.
"I just realized....we have to tell Chi-Chi about this."
The couple exchanged a horrified look. Vegeta couldn't help but think that Goten and Trunks were probably a lot safer than he and his wife were.
