Nappa and Radditz watched from a dark alley as Goten and Trunks joined a group of school children about to enter Capsule Corporation. Radditz's eyes narrowed.
"Now what could those two possible want from there?" he murmured.
"Isn't that where the blue-haired woman who knows your brother lives?" asked Nappa.
The other Saiyan nodded.
"She is considered a scientist on this planet. She must be fairly intelligent if she figured out the language of the scouter that I lost during battle."
"What are we going to do about those boys?"
"We can't go after them. I feel those pathetic warriors' kis. Let's head back and report to his Majesty."
Nappa nodded to his companion. A few pedestrians let out shouts of fear when the two Saiyans darted out of the alley and up into the air. They speed off back in the direction where Vegeta was waiting for them.
****
Trunks and Goten sat at the kitchen table. Bulma had offered them some food in exchange for their story. Goten was gorging on his fifth plate, content to allow Trunks to tell the story of how they arrived. The older boy had explained about Bulma's machine, and how they had come to Capsule Corp. in hopes of repairing the machine and returning home. He divulged the fact that they were from a potential version of the future and that Goten was indeed Goku and Chi-Chi's second child. He left out the details of his own parentage. In fact, Trunks was hoping that he could get through all of this without letting anyone know that he was related to Bulma. Because once that fact was known, he knew they would want to know who his father was. And they wouldn't like the answer.
The group of adults just listened in shock. Gohan was the only one remotely excited about the situation; he had always wanted a brother or sister to play with. His wish had been granted and he hadn't even had to look for the Dragonballs.
Trunks looked over at Yamcha, feeling pity for the man. From what he could tell, his mother was still with Yamcha at the moment. They were currently sitting next to each other, with the man's hand resting lightly on Bulma's leg. Trunks wanted to slap him for that.
With a sigh, Trunks finished his narration and took another small bite out of his food. He didn't want his Saiyan appetite to be apparent.
"So," he began casually. "When we were on our way over here we ran into two men with funny tails named Nappa and Radditz. Who are they?"
Goku's smile was immediately replaced with a stern look.
"Those are Saiyans. They came to this planet to find the Dragonballs. Radditz, unfortunately, is my older brother. He came back to take me to Freeza. While fighting Piccolo, he found out about the Dragonballs and sent for Nappa and another Saiyan named Vegeta. Right now we're trying to keep them from finding all seven balls and summoning Shenlong."
Trunks nodded, absorbing all of this slowly.
"Is the other Saiyan on this planet?" he asked cautiously.
"Yes. Vegeta's the Prince. He's a pretty nasty guy," replied Goku.
"Yeah, he's a really big jerk. Goes around bragging about being the Prince of a dead race," added Krillian.
Goten opened his mouth to comment, but Trunks kicked him quickly under the table.
Bulma was studying Trunks intently from behind the blueprints. His blue eyes were hauntingly familiar. She recognized them from when she looked in the mirror. Somehow she knew that the boy had to be her son, but she also realized that for some odd reason, he didn't want them to know that. She had noted that the boys had deliberately not mentioned Trunks's last name. Noticing that she was studying him, the purple-haired boy blushed and looked down. She laughed in response.
"Hey you two, since you have no place to stay, why don't you spend the night here? I can work on figuring out your machine and get you two back home. Gohan, you're more than welcome to stay too if it's ok with your mom and dad."
"Alright!" shouted Gohan. "Do you guys want to go play outside?"
"Sure!" replied Goten, bouncing down from the table and following the other boy.
Trunks left the table a little more calmly. Turning to Bulma he smiled.
"Thanks for letting us stay," he stated, bowing slightly.
The three kids went outside and were soon rough housing as if they had been friends forever.
Piccolo noticed how Bulma was watching Trunks. She knew. And he knew that Trunks had to be Bulma's son also. And he had a feeling he knew why the boy was being so quiet about it. Yamcha wasn't his father. The Demon-King couldn't pinpoint who was, but he could definitely tell it wasn't his fellow Z warrior.
"I can't believe this," stated Krillian as the group watched the three children. "The future?"
"This is amazing," added Chi-Chi. "That little boy is my son!"
"Sure is," commented Bulma.
They exchanged a motherly-instinct look that told Piccolo that he wasn't the only one to pick up on the similarities between Trunks and Bulma.
"What are we going to do?" asked Yamcha. "I mean, should we ask them if we defeat the Saiyans? But obviously we do if they're alive because that means Earth still exists and Vegeta never gets the Dragonballs."
"I think it would be dangerous asking them questions about the future," commented Tien. "We might not like all of their answers."
"At least we know we're all still alive. They seemed fairly use to all of us, like they know us personally," reasoned Choatzu.
"Just think, if Goku and Gohan are so powerful, imagine how powerful Goten can be!" added Krillian excitedly.
"Yeah. I would like to spar with him, see how advanced his techniques are. He's bound to know a lot of new stuff," said Goku.
Bulma sat silently, watching Trunks. She had wanted children for so long. He was a glimpse of that hope fulfilled. She wondered what it must be like living with him. She almost felt sorry for him. Being friends with Goten must be tough; Goten would naturally be stronger since he was a half-Saiyan. Not to mention that Goten was probably more respected as a fighter among the Z warriors. In fact, she didn't even know if Trunks possessed any true fighting skills. Yamcha wasn't really a very strong fighter.
But what if he wasn't the father?
That thought had been nagging Bulma since she first realized that Trunks was her future son. She tried to push the idea out of her head. Of course Yamcha was his father. Who else could it possibly be?
****
Vegeta frowned at Radditz and Nappa, pondering the news they had just brought him. According to their report, the two mysterious boys had snuck into the residence of one of Goku's friend's, that baka woman named Bulma.
"What do you think they are up to my Lord?" asked Radditz reverently.
Vegeta sneered at him, unimpressed by his formality. He knew that Radditz would stab him in the back in a heartbeat if it best suited his interest. Fancy words couldn't fool him. That was the Saiyan way of life.
"There's only one way to find out, isn't there?" asked Vegeta, smiling cruelly.
Radditz and Nappa smirked in response. The three Saiyans set out for Capsule Corporation. It was time to have some fun with those pathetic Z warriors.
****
Goku and the others suddenly tensed.
"What's wrong?" asked Chi-Chi, sensing the change in their mood.
"The Saiyans are on their way," replied Piccolo.
The men quickly exited the building, followed closely behind by Bulma, Chi-Chi, and Master Roshi. Trunks, Goten, and Gohan were all expectedly watching the sky having also sensed the approaching enemy. Trunks shuddered slightly. His father's presence had never felt so....scary.
The three Saiyans landed in front of the group, Vegeta standing in front of the other two. They sneered at the Z warriors. Moving his attention away from the adults, Vegeta studied the two boys. He noticed that one looked remarkably like a small version of Goku. The other reminded him of the blue-haired woman.
"What do you want?" demanded Yamcha.
Vegeta laughed at him.
"What makes you think that I have to answer to someone as pathetic as you?"
Yamcha clenched his fists, only causing Vegeta to laugh harder.
"We just wanted to know who your new friends are," commented Radditz.
Nappa waltzed over to Trunks, bending down so he was in the child's face.
"If it isn't the little purple-haired freak," he stated, snickering.
Trunks glared at him bitterly.
"Get out of my face."
"What did you say to me?" asked an astonished Nappa.
"I said, get out of my face," repeated Trunks slowly.
Nappa straightened himself out.
"Did you hear what that kid said to me?" he asked Radditz and Vegeta.
The pair laughed in reply.
"Getting told off by a mere child. Pathetic," stated Vegeta.
Nappa growled and spun back towards Trunks.
"You little brat! You're going to get it!"
The Saiyan swung for the child. To his surprise, Trunks caught his hand mere inches from his face.
"No. You're gonna get it," the boy stated simply.